<p>Joey Thurman: It's the first Friday of the month in Aurora. That means it's First Fridays, where local businesses get together with the community to celebrate life with music, art, fashion, food. And today is Sugar Skull City, the Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead, where they honor those who they lost with life and happiness. This is Sugar Skull City, First Fridays.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: Shannon, we're standing in front of your new location, Wyckwood House.<br /><br />Shannon Gutierrez: Yes.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: It's a good spot.<br /><br />Shannon Gutierrez: Thank you.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: What do we have going on right now?<br /><br />Shannon Gutierrez: Well, so we're participating in First Friday, like we always do, but we decided since we are going to be moving in the beginning of next year, why not give people a little taste of what's to come?<br /><br />Joey Thurman: Why not, and what's to come?<br /><br />Shannon Gutierrez: We are going to have all the fun things that we currently have at our location downtown on Downers. So, boutique clothing, a lot of handmade items that make great gifts.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: Okay.<br /><br />Shannon Gutierrez: And then we're adding a cocktail lounge.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: Everybody loves cocktails.<br /><br />Shannon Gutierrez: Right?<br /><br />Joey Thurman: Right.<br /><br />Shannon Gutierrez: We will have some mocktails, as well.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: Mocktails?<br /><br />Shannon Gutierrez: So those that don't want to partake in the alcohol, they can have something special too.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: Okay, like Sober November or anything else that you want to do?<br /><br />Shannon Gutierrez: Exactly.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: Okay.<br /><br />Shannon Gutierrez: Yes.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: And why is it important for you to a part of First Fridays?<br /><br />Shannon Gutierrez: Well, we love Aurora. We love what's going on down here. We feel like there's so much great energy, and the town is coming back to life.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: Yeah.<br /><br />Shannon Gutierrez: And so even before I opened Wyckwood, I came down and volunteered when First Fridays was going on, and so I just love it so much.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: We're here with Jose who is dressed much nicer than me. Jose, what do we have going on here?<br /><br />Jose Torres: We have a display of the ofrendas that's a present in Mexico, like never before. It's 12 years celebration. Actually, it's going to be 13 years.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: Really?<br /><br />Jose Torres: Since the beginning. So it's 13 years already [inaudible 00:02:05] great town of Aurora.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: What's the significance of painting the faces or different clothing pieces?<br /><br />Jose Torres: They paint the faces to represent the dead people, but they are live. We are celebrating the life and the dead people also, they are here with us, but at the same time we combine everything and this is life, not death.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: Okay. So even though we leave this earth physically, you guys want to celebrate all of your loved ones for who they were and who they continue to be?<br /><br />Jose Torres: Right. That's the main point, celebrating life. And remember those that are no longer with us.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: And what about Aurora? Just embracing all the multicultural people around and you've got, let's see Latin culture. You've got the Day of the Dead. You have everybody involved. How important is it for you that Aurora is able to do this?<br /><br />Jose Torres: For me, I feel so proud that tomorrow is going to be the second part of Day of the Dead, here in the parking lot and then turn on Broadway, Broadway is close to the French Bakery. I'm going to have the first model Russian celebrating Day of the Dead.<br /><br />Joey Thurman: Amazing.<br /><br />Jose Torres: Which is amazing to me.</p>