Party on: The Mi Casa Resource Center for Women celebrates its 27th anniversary with tonight's Fiesta 2003: Carnival!, a party featuring cool cocktails, spicy food and sizzling hot entertainment, including performances by guitarist Manuel Roybal, Miss Gay Colorado Sasha High and Extasis. The annual fundraiser for Mi Casa, a nonprofit serving low-income Latinas, will also present an auction of artworks by Daniel Luna and dancing to Latino orchestra Mood Express. Fiesta 2003 takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Seawell Grand Ballroom at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Champa streets; tickets, $75, are available at the door. Call 303-539-5603 or go to www.micasadenver.org for more information.
Friday, August 22
Colorado may be landlocked, but it's got a thriving Asian-Pacific community. For proof, catch the wave to this weekend's ninth annual Boulder Asian Festival, where dance, theater and martial arts blend with culture-based crafts and traditional foods to conjure faraway lands. In the children's area, for example, little ones can learn how to make shadow puppets or Koinobori wind socks. Sponsored by the Boulder Asian Pacific Alliance, the free festival runs today from 5 to 9 p.m. and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Pearl Street Mall and the Boulder County Courthouse lawn. Call 303-499-0108 or visit www. bapaweb.org for details.
Start your engines: Copper Mountain will switch from mountain bikes to motorcycles this weekend for the Suzuki Cyclefest. Get a little windblown, if you want, from motorcycle rides and demos, the Fay Myers Suzuki Supermoto Classic, or the ATV track. And don't forget: safety first, especially in the kids' area, where lessons will be given. Cyclefest will also sport a motorcycle mall stocked with the latest gear and rockin' concerts by Three Degrees of Freedom and the Kory Brunson Band, among others. Daily admission is $15 for adults, $8 for kids ages five to twelve; "Big Dog" weekend passes ($35 for adults/$15 for "little dogs") are available in advance at 1-866-677-1692 or www.cyclefestco.com.
Saturday, August 23
Beer lovers and environmentalists can drink in green surroundings today on the Summer Sustainability Beer and Bus Tour. It's a quick trip to Fort Collins on the "Buff Bus" -- which runs on vegetable oil that's been converted to biodiesel fuel -- for a presentation and tasting at New Belgium Brewing, America's first wind-powered brewery. While there, riders can sip on their favorite New Belgium brews -- from Fat Tire Amber Ale to Sunshine Wheat - as they tour the alehouse. Sponsored by P3, a Colorado organization that promotes sustainable business, the Buff Bus pulls out at noon from the park-n-Ride at 27th Way and Broadway in Boulder and returns at 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 for P3 members, $15 for the general public. Only sixty seats are available, so visit www.p3colorado.org or call 303-430-5887 to claim yours.
A little closer to home, rock out at today's inaugural Mile High Stonehenge Fest, a bit of musical mayhem that showcases both local and national acts, including Weedeater, Dixie Witch, Jumbo's Kill Crane, Black Lamb and Half of Zero. The party starts at 2 p.m. at the Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer Street. And if the music gets a little loud (that's the point, isn't it?), head for the patio, where tasty barbecue will be served up well into the evening. Tickets to the 21-and-over event are $10; call 303-291-0959 or log on to www.larimerlounge.com for info.
Looking for something a bit more mellow? Then mosey on out to Parker, for the second annual Art in the Park, a free art show held today and tomorrow in O'Brien Park, at Parker Road and Main Street. Sponsored by the Parker Artist Guild, the event features the work of more than sixty local artists, including pottery, jewelry, metal works and stained glass, along with live bluegrass, jazz and swing music. Art in the Park will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days; for more information, call 303-841-2709 or visit www.parkerartistsguild.com.
Sunday, August 24
The romaine lettuce will fly tonight at the fifth annual Greatest Caesar in Denver Competition and Silent Auction, where six of Denver's premier chefs -- Duy Pham, Cyd Anderson, Goose Sorensen, Ian Kleinman, Jenna Johansen and Michael Degenhart -- will compete using egg yolks, anchovies and parmesan cheese as their weapons. Sponsored by the Colorado Chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food, this food fight is going down in the Grand Ballroom at Pinehurst Country Club, 6255 West Quincy Avenue, starting at 6 p.m.; the evening will also include decadent appetizers and desserts and a wine tasting. Tickets are $35 for AIWF members or $40 for non-foodies; reserve yours by calling 303-333-2378.
Shine up that big ol' belt buckle and step into your favorite cowboy boots for tonight's Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame Ball and Dance Contest, featuring a performance by country legend Red Steagall - who also happens to be this year's honorary inductee. The party kicks off at 5 p.m. at Lakewood Elks Lodge #1777, 1455 Newland Street in Lakewood. For details, call 303-478-8719.
Monday, August 25
From The Bachelor to Who Wants to Marry My Dad?, reality TV seems to be here to stay. And why just watch it when you can read about it, too, in Jennifer O'Connell's debut novel, Bachelorette #1? O'Connell herself will read from the book -- the tale of a feisty journalist who goes undercover for a magazine to write a tell-all exposé about the latest craze -- tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Tattered Cover Book Store, 2955 East First Avenue in Cherry Creek North. Call 303-322-7727 or visit www.tatteredcover.com for all the facts.
Tuesday, August 26
As of today, Pussycat, you have only 140-some hours left to hit this year's Colorado State Fair. What are you waiting for? Jump in the SUV and head south to the Pueblo fairgrounds for the Centennial State's annual extravaganza of mutton-busting, horse shows, rodeos, Ferris wheel rides, boxing matches, concerts and more. Classic crooner Tom Jones hits the stage tonight at 8 p.m.; tickets for that show are $17. General admission is $5 Monday through Thursday, $7 Friday through Sunday; call 303-830-TIXS or visit www.coloradostatefair.com. Whoa-whoa-whoa-o!
Wednesday, August 27
Burn one down: Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals will jam alongside surfer/songwriter Jack Johnson tonight and tomorrow night at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison. Harper is setting the charts on fire once again with his newest release, Diamonds on the Inside, and Johnson, who hit the big time with his 2001 debut album, Brushfire Fairytales, is hanging tough with the recently released On and On. With this much talent on stage -- from laid-back lyrics to electrified percussions -- it's gonna be a hot one. The show starts at 7 p.m.; for tickets, $35 to $40, call 303-830-TIXS or log on to www.ticketmaster.com.
