It’s easy to spend a summer wasting away inside, with the air-conditioning cranked high. But even though it’s easy, that doesn’t mean it’s right. Denver is full of great events this weekend that are cheap and cool — in spirit, if not in actual temperature. From films made in just…

Jenny Lawson grew up in West Texas as the daughter of a taxidermist and a lunch lady -– a childhood that loaded her with bizarre experiences, from her father bringing home dangerous wild animals to using a dead squirrel as a hand puppet. And although she was often embarrassed as…

This weekend is sure to be out of this world. Whether you’re witnessing the newest mission to Mars, browsing ethereal art, or journeying to a Harry Potter world of magic, you won’t need more than a Hamilton to escape reality at these exciting events. Have a blast, get out there,…

Though laugh tracks conjure up unfunny sitcoms and forced chuckles, the Laugh Track Comedy Festival offers real belly laughs that don’t need to be cued by a sound engineer. The organizers of the festival, now in its third year, have added another day and another venue to the fun, so…

When Gil Reyes realized that TV news was doing little to cover the passing of beloved musician Elliott Smith, he decided to go out searching on his own. What he discovered through interviews with the artist’s friends, former bandmates and the girlfriend who many blame for his death, is a…

Down to your last few dollars before rent is due next week? Don’t worry about it. You can still have fun without forking over a lot of cash. From a Dragon Boat Festival to movies in the park, this town will be full of things to do for under $10…

While making his documentary Searching for Elliott Smith, director Gil Reyes discovered that the late musician’s story was a little different than he’d expected. “I approached the film thinking that he was a sensitive singer-songwriter who was all-around depressed most of the time,” says Reyes. “And he wasn’t.” By interviewing…

Too broke to hand over big bucks for a pricey music festival wristband this weekend? Don’t worry. There are plenty of other things on the agenda that won’t cost you more than a Hamilton. And we’ve got them all in one place. From a Cinema Q dance party to a…

Sex trafficking and gender violence continue to be serious problems around the world, says RedLine director PJ D’Amico, which is why the art gallery and studio is showing Off the Beaten Path: Violence, Women and Art, a traveling exhibition that focuses on female empower-ment and awareness. Curated by Randy Rosenberg…

Throughout 92-year-old Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani’s long and tumultuous life — losing his citizenship during World War II, then regaining it after the end of the war; being homeless in New York after 9/11 — there has been one constant: art. The Japanese-American artist creates brightly colored drawings that tell his…

The folks at Obscene/Courageous Theatre hope that after you see one of their productions, you’ll leave feeling entertained — and a little bit disturbed. The company’s modern staging of the macabre Jacobean drama The Revenger’s Tragedy — which tells the tale of a young man who plots his revenge after…

It’s rare to see the work of George Peters and Melanie Walker in an art gallery; it’s usually in the sky. The two are known for creating colorful kites, mobiles and installations that fly all over the world. “The thing that we really like about making kites is that it…

Since you’re probably spending every extra dollar on the air- conditioning bill this month, it’s hard to find money for fun stuff. Help is at hand, with this week’s list of ten events you can participate in for under $10: art shows, meeting a punk legend, eating a pancake breakfast…

“No matter how much money you have, no matter how much power you have, everyone’s gonna die,” says Emmanuel Gallery director Shannon K. Corrigan. This is the concept that will be thoroughly explored through the skeletal images of Mexican illustrator and political cartoonist Jose Guadalupe Posada in the gallery’s two…

Donning elbow-length gloves and an evening gown, Natasha Leggero delivers biting commentary on everything from reality television to women who think InTouch Weekly is a book. Her verdict on almost all pop culture? Terrible. Whether she’s delivering witty observations about what TLC should stand for (toddlers, lunatics and cake) or…

First Friday means two things. One: you just paid rent and are probably broke. Two: lots and lots of art openings. Luckily, art openings are free and usually include free wine and snacks. In addition to art shows, there are dance parties, magazine launches and plenty of other things to…

In over 35 years of flying, pilot Buck Roetman had never put so much as a scratch on a plane — until recently. While flying at an air-show preview in Idaho a few weeks ago, Roetman’s plane suffered a system failure and crashed, wrecking the aircraft but leaving the pilot…

The great outdoors is hot, but so is the city, with an incredible array of things to do that won’t set you back more than $10. From comedy shows to vegan dance parties to cute dogs jumping through hoops, you’re sure to find something to do this weekend that won’t…