Dana Cain

Five places to shop for mom -- or just take her along when you go

You really don't have to celebrate Mother's Day like everyone else. Modern moms are an independent bunch, and they may not want to spend their big day knitting by the hearth or enjoying whatever stereotypical pastime they're supposed to prefer. Moms just aren't like that anymore. Following are five ... More >>

100 Colorado Creatives: Artist and Westword Artopia participant Kym Bloom

#89: Kym Bloom Working with resin, photography, digital mediums and candy, Kym Bloom's work is a striking and unique take on pop art. A member of Zip 37 and co-owner of Kanon Collective, Bloom is also an integral to the creative community as both an artist and a supporter of others. In advance of h ... More >>

The arts in Denver: Ten people to watch in 2013

The Denver Art Museum was on a roll in 2012 and it isn't slowing down in the new year, with exhibits showcasing Georgia O'Keeffe and Nick Cave's Soundsuits on their way. At MCA Denver, the Ladies Fancywork Society will soon have its day in the sun its own exhibition. The folks at the Denver County F ... More >>

Queens Nina Flowers and Ongina bring art from Louis Recchia and Zoa Ace to life with Pop Drag

As both the official photographer for the weekly Drag Nation and a longtime supporter of local art, Koko Brentano had a vision: to see the two worlds collide. Friday night's Pop Drag at EXDO Event Center is the result, a convergence of the work of artists Louis Recchia and Zoa Ace with the multidime ... More >>

Add your slice of the pie to the Denver County Fair's new online "fair-raiser"

How much does it cost to put on a county fair? According to Tracy Weil of the Denver County Fair, about $200,000 -- and the DCF isn't funded in any way by the county, unlike most traditional fairs. Of course, that's also what helps sets the DCF apart from all the other fairs: Weil and fair director ... More >>

Five prizeworthy parts of the 2012 Denver County Fair

During a long weekend at the new, improved, second annual Denver County Fair, one thing became very apparent: There's no way to see everything, and there's nothing you'll want to miss. We caught spelling bees and speed-knitting contests, an art gallery that seemed like an endless maze, cooking and c ... More >>

Denver County Fair Freakshow Pavilion: "You can't call it a freakshow unless you have a freak"

Ukulele Loki knows a thing or two about what makes a freakshow a freakshow. He's been active in the circus and sideshow arts (yes, that is a thing) for years, honing his craft as a "talented talker" (or what the squares might call a barker, a term he rejects as vulgar) and delving into the history a ... More >>

Reed Weimer talks new work, gallery drama and the birth of Navajo Street Arts District

Reed Weimer has been integral to the Navajo Street Arts District since its unofficial birth in the early '80s. He and his wife, Chandler Romeo, have worked side-by-side as both artists and landlords in this now-thriving art scene. Weimer -- whose paintings and prints hang in the Denver Art Museum, t ... More >>

A Wide Canvas

MasterMind Awards honor our eighth class of artistic entrepreneurs

On Saturday night, Westword introduced the eighth class of MasterMinds -- artistic entrepreneurs who are changing the cultural landscape. Since we started the program, we have given more than $130,000 in grants to artists and arts organizations. The latest winners (click on the link for profiles): M ... More >>

Westword's MasterMind Awards for 2012

Readers: John Waters, what's with the stache? And the serial killers?

​John Waters is the guy who came in from the cult. In advance of his visit to Denver next month -- for an event aptly titled An Evening With John Waters -- we've been wondering what questions to ask him about his formidable movie career. So we asked readers to contribute some ideas. From Diam ... More >>

Denver County Fair unveils 2012 poster

Are you ready to "open up a can of Yee Haw!" at the Denver County Fair? While you'll still have to wait until August 10 for the second edition to start -- filled the National Western Hall of Education with a carnival, vendors and pavilions, and the return of the Freak Show -- the fair just unveiled ... More >>

Fifteen best Denver ART moments in 2011

Bicycle vs. Homing Pigeon vs. Moped from Village Voice Media on Vimeo.We've been rolling off lists this week like there's no tomorrow, and maybe there isn't, considering that pesky 2012 Mayan prophecy and all that. Earlier this week, Jef Otte presented his 10 best moments in Denver arts list, riffin ... More >>

The ten best moments in Denver arts: 2011

​It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Okay, It actually wasn't either of those things -- but 2011 was pretty okay in its own right, and at certain times it was downright awesome. Because we're in the business of thoroughly cataloging things, we've cataloged the definitive best ... More >>

Thanksgiving on a stick! The Denver County Fair throws a party for its cookbook

​The folks who put on the Denver County Fair last July didn't have a lot of control over the food sold at the event: The concessionaires came with the National Western Stock Show venue. But they're making up for any complaints about that with their very tasty Denver County Fair Cookbook, which ... More >>

Event of the Mid-Century

Denver County Fair and balanced report: Kenny Be's Worst-Case Scenario

​ My 45-hour-long art exhibit at the Denver County Fair was filled with fun, but there were some highlights...

Seedy cartoonist to bedazzle urban farmers at Denver County Fair: Kenny Be's Hip Tip

​ The illustration above appeared as the third panel of my "Predictions 2011" Worst-Case Scenario comic in the December 30, 2010 issue of Westword. I was predicting that the success of the Denver County Fair would turn all loft and apartment residents into rooftop and balcony farmers. But, in ... More >>

What is an X-Treme Pancake Breakfast without Earl Grey butter, Kimchi and Lil Smokies?

Anthony Camera​Culture collector Andrew Novick has been throwing his annual summer "BreakfastBQ" -- an outdoor barbeque-style pancake party -- for his friends in Denver for over a decade now. But this year, he's going big. Coined the "Andrew Novick's X-treme Pancake Breakfast!" by Denver Count ... More >>

Mythica von Griffyn on the Colorado Bigfoot, Bat Boy and the tattooed, bearded lady

​Mythica von Griffyn has a long history in the haunted house business, where she first started working when she was only fourteen, and she's also known as a multi-talented poet, chalk artist and body painter. That considered, Mythica is a match made in heaven as the Freak Show manager for the ... More >>

LoDo Bites, Colorado Cocktail Contest and more on this week's culinary calendar

​>Tomorrow is the longest day of the year, and this could be one of the biggest weeks of 2011 for food and drink events, culminating in the long-awaited Colorado Cocktail Contest. Here's a taste of what's ahead:

Update: Devo at the Denver County Fair tickets go on sale

​Update: Yay! DEVO Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. this morning! Get yours at the Denver County Fair website. It's official: As previously reported here a few weeks ago, Barry Fey joined the Denver County Fair fold to help Dana Cain and Tracy Weil wrangle a high-profile act music headliner fo ... More >>

Summer 2011: All's fair in Colorado this summer

Barry Fey lured out of retirement to join Denver County Fair team as musical director

Legendary local concert promoter Barry Fey, who retired in 1997, is back in the game. We just received word from the Denver County Fair owners, Dana Cain and Tracy Weil, that Fey has been tapped as musical director. The Rockfather will be booking the talent for Saturday night's concert and will als ... More >>

Over the weekend: My date with a cupcake. And another. And another...

Jeff Ball for the Colorado Chocolate Festival​I've been at Dana Cain's Colorado Chocolate Festival every year for the last few, both as a contest judge and as an appreciative chocoholic fool. There, I've tasted everything from chocolate sauces to artisan truffles, but none of it prepared me fo ... More >>

Sweet! The 2011 Colorado Chocolate Festival

J. WohletzNaughty, naughty chocolate sauce.​Not all festivals are as interesting at the Colorado Chocolate Festival, which a Dana Cain creation that started out with chocolate-covered Twinkies, wine slushes, a guy dressed up like a box of Swiss Miss cocoa, some fine local chocolate makers kic ... More >>

Local blog 12 Questions has the answers

Wait, how many?​People are into questions right now (they always have been -- just ask that Plato dude). It's the new black. Watson's recent run on Jeopardy brought them (what is) record ratings, and in case you haven't heard, he won. Watson, of course, is the IBM super-computer built solely t ... More >>

Tonight: DADA and Dana Cain launch an Art Collectors Summit series

Mark Penner Howell, "ONE," acrylic, ink, and spray paint on three canvas panels.​ Dana Cain makes no secret of her blossoming identity as a collector of works by local artists, and is always looking for ways to share her fervor: Her latest, the Art Collectors Summit series, debuts this evening ... More >>

Dana Cain's Art Collection: Brandon Borchert and Kym Bloom

​Dana Cain is the lady with her thumb in a million pies: The local maestra of event-planning throws several well-attended collectors expos, art shows, parties, chocolate fests each year. Her latest -- and biggest -- project is next summer's Denver County Fair. But Dana is also an avid art coll ... More >>

POP PANDEMONIUM

Lauri Lynnxe Murphy will say bye-bye to Denver after the Biennial

Culinary calendar for the week ahead: Wine, bourbon and Burning Can

Marcus Samuelsson heats up Frasca.​There are cooking classes, specialty dinners and wine events galore this week, including tonight's weekly Monday Night Wine Dinner at Frasca Food & Wine, 1738 Pearl Street in Boulder, which is pulling out all the stops: Attendees will enjoy a special four-cou ... More >>

Independents' Day

Four art galleries celebrate the Fourth of July in creative style.

Best Free Service

DVD rentals