History by the Book

Artist Eric Matelski sometimes curates shows in non-traditional spaces — bars, restaurants, even the MacSpa, a business co-owned by his wife. He also admits to having a thing for Denver history — which helps explain why Art & Writing, a show of local art he puts together for the annual…

Wandering Free

Between the venue changes and the schedule additions, there’s a lot that’s new at Wanderlust this year — and the event has just gotten bigger and better. “As Wanderlust has grown, we found ourselves needing a bit more room to stretch in the village,” says Wanderlust co-founder Sean Hoess. Hence…

Arts on Fire

Though the heart of the annual Cherry Creek Arts Festival, now in its 24th year, is the art (this year there are 250 artists in thirteen media categories), there’s always something new to look forward to. The 2014 edition kicks off this morning with just such a novelty: Mayor Michael…

Going Big

Glendale’s Infinity Park is home to the region’s burgeoning rugby scene, but in the summertime, it’s also the place to go for Monday Movie Madness, a bi-weekly outdoor family film fest. And tonight’s offering is Big, the all-ages Tom Hanks blockbuster that celebrates what’s good and not so good about…

House Of Cards

Leave it to Warm Cookies of the Revolution to come up with a highly entertaining way to illustrate political machinations. High Stakes: Poker and Politics is “a Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament — but we’re changing a few rules,” says co-organizer Evan Weissman. “One is the initial amount of chips…

Drawn Out

Long before Denver Comic Con packed the halls of the Colorado Convention Center with fans of comics and geek culture, a small band of artists was carving out a comics scene in town. “We used to do a little comics fanzine and did some comic cons back in the ’80s,…

Living History

History Colorado offers live-performance programming to supplement its educational offerings for a couple of reasons. “We bring in live performers to help history come to life,” says visitor-experience coordinator Alison Salutz, “as well as to showcase the amazing amount of talent we have in our state.” Salutz notes that the…

The ten best comedy events in Denver this July

July days, with their sweltering afternoons and late evening sunsets, are filled with a kind of sun-dappled shapelessness; days once described by Ada Louise Huxtable as “jeweled balm for the battered spirit.” Balming the battered is also a standup comedian’s job description, and this month promises a healing wave of laughs washing over our arid city, featuring seasoned chortle-mongers from across the country. From one-night only theater appearances from sitcom stars to comedy nerd heroes headlining our local clubs over the weekend, battered spirits from across the spectrum of comedy fandom will have plenty of opportunities to laugh in air-conditioned comfort.

Playbill: This week’s performing arts picks

As a break from this weekend’s flag-waving and fireworks, wouldn’t it be nice to cool off indoors in a darkened theater for an hour or two? Here are some options — ambitious, naughty or light-hearted, depending on your mood — to chill with over the holiday. See also: Dead Man…

Ten ways to join the train gang in Colorado this summer

All aboard! Colorado has a strong railroading heritage, and with Denver’s Union Station reopening this month, now is the time to get out and ride the rails. Train fans marvel at the tourism lines running in this state, which wind through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world…

Ten best fashion events in Denver in July

Summer is finally here, and the winter clothes are safely tucked away. It’s time to celebrate Denver’s hottest season at a series of cool events, everything from Neiman Marcus’s Last Call sale to fashion workshops offered by Fashion Denver. Here are our ten favorite fashion-forward activities in Denver this month…

Top five interviews with Denver tattoo artists

For the past six months, Westword has been talking to tattoo artists around town, exploring the talent and diversity of the Mile High ink scene. While there are different styles and philosophies, most artists agree that succeeding in the tattoo industry requires passion, creativity and hard work. Here are five…

The ten best movie events in Denver in July

July is a perfect time to bask under the stars at one of Denver’s many outdoor screenings or to cuddle up in an air-conditioned theater and get out of the heat. This month’s picks for movie events include throw-back classics, one queer festival and two killer new releases. See also:…

Another 100 Colorado Creatives: Thomas Scharfenberg

#70: Thomas Scharfenberg As an artist, Thomas Scharfenberg isn’t so interested in getting ahead. Instead, he prefers to brighten the underground with patterned murals and painted rocks placed in unexpected settings. He borrows a little from street art, the DIY movement and his one-time mentor at the Rocky Mountain College…

Photos: The Inkmonstr Pool Party splashed down on Denver on Saturday

Denver isn’t known for its beach scene, but last Saturday, the EXDO event center was filled in with sand and covered with inflatable pools for Inkmonstr’s Pool series. Westword photographer Aaron Thackeray was there to capture all the games and pool splashing, and you can view the entire Inkmonstr slide…