Bright Lights, Big City

When the city's performing-arts complex was still wishful thinking, planners anticipated that the swath of park along northbound Speer Boulevard between Champa and Arapahoe streets would become an expansive entrance into downtown, an introduction into this city's cultural life. More than thirty years later, that vision is about to be realized as the city celebrates its new Denver Theatre District with Fridays in the Park, a free music series that kicks off today at 4:30 p.m. in the Denver Performing Arts Sculpture Park, right by the Borofsky sculptures (better known as the dancing aliens). "It's where downtown starts the weekend," says Erik Dyce, marketing director for the city's Division of Theatres and Arenas. The series runs through August 17.

Love.45 is the featured band this week; on subsequent Fridays, the Railbenders, Ten Cent Redemption and others will get in on the act. And when the party officially ends at 7:30, revelers can spill over to 14th Street and beyond. "It's an opportunity to successfully craft the theater district," says Dyce.

Let the show begin! For details, go to www.myspace.com/fridaysinthepark.
Fridays. Starts: June 15. Continues through Aug. 24