Welcome to 2016. Did you resolve to have save money in the new year? That doesn't mean you can't have fun. This week you can become a tea sommelier, learn how to write comedy or see some pretty scenery and ugly environmental realities about ski resorts — all for free. Add a comment if we missed a bargain, and check the Westword calendar for a complete lineup of events.
Introduction to Herbal Tea Blending at Artemisia & Rue (7 p.m. Wednesday, free)
It's a new year and a new you, so put a hold on mixing up the booze and start mixing herbal tea instead. Once you learn how to blend tea properly, not only will the brew delight your taste buds, but it will make your body happy as well. Find out how the flavors fuse together, how to properly prepare tea, and how to create personal blends to give to your friends. Give Artemisia & Rue a call at 303-484-8982 to register for the class, because space is limited.
Talkin' Shop with Rick Kerns at Mutiny Information Cafe (7 p.m. Thursday, free)
There are many ways to be involved in the comedy community without hopping up on stage in front of a crowd. For example, you could become a ghost writer for other comedians. Denver's Rick Kerns has made a lucrative career out of writing comedy for some household names; you can find out how tonight at a live taping of Anthony Crawford's podcast. Kerns has been friends with people like Sam Kinison and Bill Hicks, so you know he has some wild stories to tell. If you can't make the event, you can download the podcast here.
Jumbo Wild at Neptune Mountaineering (8 p.m. Thursday, free)
We sure do love our ski areas, but sometimes you have to consider the environmental impact these winter wonderlands have on Colorado. Check out this beautifully shot documentary about the 24-year fight to conserve an area in the Canadian Rockies where packs of grizzly bears roam free and hardcore skiers have some of the best backcountry trails in the world, an area being eyed for an expansion by a local ski resort.