Denver Life

In order for artists to live in Denver, we need the city to be affordable, and we need to be able to create, practice, perform and gather in our spaces without fear of raids.

From dogsledding to light displays, there’s no shortage of family-friendly activities around Denver in December. Celebrate the season of joy with your loved ones at a few of our favorite local events and institutions.

Puzzah has established itself with its “puzzle rooms,” a variation on escape rooms that rely heavily on computer-controlled electro-mechanical puzzles custom-made in Denver. Now, the company is hoping its unique take on entertainment can find a fresh audience in the suburbs.

Stocking stuffers might be the best gifts of all. Not only are they affordable, but they’re often functional or just plain fun. And not only are they good to give, but since these are the items we usually don’t bother to buy for ourselves, it’s particularly nice to get one…

Lauri Lynnxe Murphy, honored for her work pushing and promoting Denver’s arts scene as a member of Westword’s first class of MasterMinds in 2005, took a break from writing about The Mayday Experiment, her tiny-house project, to pen a defense of DIY in the wake of the Ghost Ship fire and the…

Seriously: It’s time to wrap up that holiday shopping and put a bow on it. But you can still get it done conscientiously, mindfully and locally, thanks to these last-chance markets showcasing Colorado makers, artisans and artists. We’ve wrapped up twelve holiday markets in metro Denver this weekend where you can snag great gifts for everyone on your list.

Tokyo’s Akihabara district is a gamers’ paradise — and now Brandon and Tiffany Osha have brought Akihabara to Westminster, turning that suburb into a mini-gamer’s paradise. The grand opening of the Akihara Arcade and Bar last weekend attracted a crowd of gamers eager to take a turn at twenty different Japanese…

#43: Raymundo Muñoz El Paso-born artist Raymundo Muñoz brings a can-do attitude to the Denver arts community, not only as a self-taught draftsman and block printer, but also in a series of interrelated roles: as co-curator at Alto Gallery, board president of the arts nonprofit Birdseed Collective, and editor of…

A fire at DIY space Ghost Ship in Oakland, California, that killed 36 people has thrust similar artistic communities around the country into the spotlight. On Thursday, December 8, the Denver Fire Department inspected longtime DIY space Rhinoceropolis at 3553 Brighton Boulevard, in the heart of what’s now hot-hot RiNo,…

Seman works with Denver Arts & Venues and Colorado Creative Industries, the state’s art council, and the community at large to connect and foster the local creative economy. A veteran of the national DIY music and art scene, Seman has spent decades playing house shows and warehouse venues with acts like his long-running band, Shiny Around the Edges.

While strolling along the 16th Street Mall, you might have noticed a female mime making balloon animals or playing the violin, eye-catching in monochromatic black and white outfits and theatrical makeup. She’s Mikki Von Weber — aka Mikki the Mime. Born and raised in Denver, Von Weber is a whiz at pantomime, magic,…

The holidays are a time of giving — and looking good. You can get a head start on both at fashion events around Denver in December, where you can shop for loved ones or pick up something new for yourself. Here are the ten best fashion events in Denver this…

If you’re having a hard time girding for holiday shopping this year, you’re not alone. The weather’s been weird and so are the politics, and it’s hard to turn your thoughts to trimming the tree and filling the space beneath it when nothing feels quite right. Here’s a secret…

#44: Ron Doyle For a guy who’s built a freelance business at home, Ron Doyle still spreads himself around town, whether he’s co-hosting and producing the Denver wing of The Narrators, a live show and podcast for which local creatives weave personal stories around a monthly theme, or pulling strings…

For gamers, Tokyo’s Akihabara district is a kind of promised land. Located in the heart of the Japanese capital, “Electric City” is a neon enclave of all things geeky, home to seven-story arcades, maid cafes and stores selling everything from retro consoles to computer parts. “There’s big game stores, there’s…

Before entering the grand hair and fashion show that was the capper of Denver Fashion Week, we spotted local fashion designer Mellissa Wiley, off the runway and looking amazing. So we stopped to ask her about her clothing line, the Metal Monkey, and found out what inspires her punk-rock Cruella…

More than a decade ago, when a then-twenty-something Kelly Shortandqueer and a friend first opened the doors of the Denver Zine Library in a backyard Baker neighborhood shed, he never imagined it would still be going — and thriving — in 2016. Always a volunteer-run project of the heart, the…

#45: Josie Quick Violinist Josie Quick is the penultimate laid-back career musician, though she’s always busy, whether she’s teaching, serenading a romantic wedding proposal, jamming with herself via looping or laying down tracks in the studio with Perpetual Motion, a jazz duo with her guitarist husband, Tom Carleno, and Coyote…

#46 Clark Richert Artist Clark Richert’s fascinating history began with a stint at the Drop City commune near Trinidad in the late 1960s, where his interest in the theories of Buckminster Fuller played out in the formation of geodesic domes and, eventually, in the direction of his painting style, an…

The dog has pulled the turkey carcass off the table, the relatives are sleeping off some extra drinks and you didn’t get punched on Black Friday. That can only mean one thing: It’s time to start planning your holiday movie watching! We’ve gathered all of the winter classics that will…

Throughout November 2016, there are plenty of options for leisurely and off-the-wall gift shopping in Denver that won’t break your budget — or your brain.

We found the street-style look of the month on a red carpet rather than asphalt, when actress Emma Stone arrived at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House for opening night of the 39th annual Denver Film Festival. The romantic musical-comedy La La Land made its Denver premiere that night, and the…