As the final weekend of the month approaches, Denver creatives have packed the upcoming days with a bounty of entertainments at the city's concert halls, DIY venues, breweries and even churches. And while some of the town's hottest tickets will cost you a pretty penny, readers can attend any of the following ten events for less than ten dollars.
Dikeou Literary Series Presents Burns Night
Thursday, January 25, 7 to 9 p.m.
The Dikeou Collection
Free
Though he's regarded as something of a national hero in Scotland, Robert Burns has lacked a place to be properly honored in Denver — until now. A celebrated poet, lyricist and champion of Scottish dialect and folklore, Burns wrote peans to the dignity of the underclass that still resonate with contemporary readers, which makes him a fitting subject for the Dikeou Collection's Literary Series. Join host Ashley Colley for an evening of food, poetry and song at Dikeou's Burns Night, and dine on traditional Scottish fare (guests are encouraged to bring their own dishes) while enjoying live readings and musical accompaniment from songwriter Brian Laidlaw. Admission is free and open to the public; check out Dikeou's events calendar to find out more.
Cartoons and Comedy Five-Year Celebration
Thursday, January 25, 10 p.m.
Deer Pile
Free
Over five years, Cartoons and Comedy has changed venues, tinkered with its format, and welcomed a murderer's row of the country's best comics (including Ron Funches, Rory Scovel and Jenny Zigrino, to name but a few) to local stages. A Mystery Science Theater 3000-inspired riff fest, Cartoons and Comedy invites comedians to make fun of classic Saturday morning cartoons and vintage toy commercials, which are carefully edited into joke-friendly chunks by host and producer Chris Baker. Tonight, Baker's baby is officially old enough for Kindergarten, and he's planned an appropriately momentous bash to celebrate the occasion. The lineup includes Brad Galli, Minori Hinds and Caleb Synan, plus a secret surprise guest. So make haste to the Deer Pile, pour yourself a generous bowl of Lucky Charms, and enjoy a joke-driven trip through childhood. Visit BakerFace Productions' Facebook events page to learn more.
Sexpot Comedy Presents Caleb Synan
Friday, January 26, 7 p.m.
Syntax Physic Opera
$7
After a few months of dormancy, Sexpot Comedy's headliner showcase triumphantly returns to Syntax Physic Opera this weekend with a real humdinger of a lineup. With Katie Bowman as the master of ceremonies, the show spotlights local favorites Anthony Armstrong and Jose Macall, as well as New York's Minori Hinds opening for headliner Caleb Synan. A prodigiously talented young comic, Synan competed on the most recent season of Last Comic Standing and has appeared on Conan twice. Visit Sexpot Comedy's Give Back Tickets page to buy tickets, $7, and learn more.
Three Charlie Chaplin Films Accompanied by Dorothy Papadakos
Friday, January 26, 7:30 p.m.
Saint John's Cathedral
Free
A unique opportunity to recapture the spirit of the silent-movie era in ecclesiastical surroundings, this triple feature of Charlie Chaplin comedies at Saint John's Cathedral would be a wise way for cinephiles and music lovers alike to start their weekends. While it's easy to track down The Cure, The Immigrant and The Adventurer on the Internet, seeing the classic films projected onto a cineplex-sized screen with live musical accompaniment from organist Dorothy Papadakos puts the viewing experience into a wonderfully tuneful context. Visit the Saint John's Cathedra Facebook events page for more details.