It so happened one year that I found myself in the seaside town of Swansea, Wales, two weeks before Christmas. A friend of my good friend and traveling companion lived there, and he took it upon himself to show us around. One night he led us through a dark, smoky bar and up a staircase to a private holiday party. The banquet hall was fairly bursting with dancing townspeople, twirling to such classics as the Happy Days theme song, spun with zeal by a mustachioed DJ. My friend and I stood in the corner watching, pints in hand, completely out of place in our identical North Face fleeces.
A surly old man stumbled over.
"Who the fock'r you?" he inquired, spitting in my face.
"We're friends with so-and-so," I explained, pointing and smiling, trying my best to be friendly and not intrude.
"Fock," he sighed, exasperated. "Piss off."
In that moment, I realized I loved Wales.
And Wales loves lovers, as evidenced by St. Dwynwen's Day, an annual celebration of the Welsh patron saint of lovers. A local tribute to the Cambrian cupid takes place today at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2015 Glenarm Place. The free program features traditional music, love poems, folk dances, a mummers' play and a potluck dinner. And if that doesn't appeal to you, well, piss off.
For more information, call 303-786-8201. -- Adam Cayton-Holland
Bling Fling
A benefit for the DAM offers a roomful of views.
FRI, 1/21
When Baby Gangsta dropped the hit "Bling Bling" in the late '90s, he probably never thought the term would end up in the dictionary, let alone be the name of a fancy art-gallery party. But the design council for the Architecture, Design & Graphics department of the Denver Art Museum calls 'em like it sees 'em -- hence tonight's Bling Bling: Design After Dark, a fundraiser for the DAM's contemporary design collection. Beginning at 6 p.m., the Walnut Foundry, 3002 Walnut Street, will be filled with tableaux of various American design periods, including the Golden Age of Hollywood, featuring a Jean Harlow look-alike; a Punk, Rock and Shock Lounge, complete with a Camaro and psychedelic posters; and a contemporary silk-and-velvet "minimalist" lounge. There will be silent and live auctions, as well as enough food and cocktails to do the theme justice.
Tickets to the soiree are $35 to $100; the design council will also be selling off pieces of the rooms. For information or reservations, call 720-913-0046. -- Jerri Theil