Before the harsh realities of 2014 slap you in the face, the Hotel Boulderado is offering a fantasy escape of classy flirtation and cock-sure danger at its New Year’s Eve James Bond Ball. “Bond is an enduring character who’s been so iconic through the decades, and the Hotel Boulderado has…
There’s a holiday for everyone, and in the African-American community, today marks Umoja. It’s the first of seven days of Kwanzaa, which kicks off with a nod to unity and, in Denver’s Five Points community, with the lighting of the first candle on the Grand Kinara — a giant, seven-pronged…
Think of the last thing you would ever dream of doing on a chill winter’s day, and that’s how you could, um, celebrate the new year. Intrepid adventure-seekers will welcome 2014 with a leap into frigid waters at today’s 31st annual Boulder Polar Plunge, a tradition that draws a surprisingly…
The annual Blossoms of Light and Trail of Lights at the Denver Botanic Gardens’ two locations have been holiday traditions for years, and with each turn, the displays have gotten bigger and better. And although both include hundreds of thousands of LED lights, each display still has a distinct feel…
Whether you’re a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences cramming before the Oscars or just a film buff who likes to go to the movies over the holidays, there’s no better way to nerd out than a trip to Aspen Film’s 22nd Academy Screenings festival…
Nothing gets folks into the holiday spirit more readily than holiday lights — there’s just something about the way the whole world turns into a sparkling wonderland just when the days are at their shortest and darkest. Plus, they’re mostly nondenominational (if you ignore that big to-do about the Denver…
Breaking bread in the kitchen is a major part of the human experience, wherever you live, but Museo de las Américas director Maruca Salazar thinks her own Mexican kitchen culture illustrates the importance of cooking in a particularly sensual way. So after much discussion within the Museo community, she put…
We’re taking a break, but it won’t be for long — after spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with our families and friends, Westword’s Show and Tell team will be back on the job early Thursday, December 26 with a focus on the past and the future of Denver’s arts…
How do you like to celebrate the impending Christmas holiday? For lots of Denver bar-hoppers, it made lots of sense to don Santa suits — and other Christmasy nonsense — to hit the town’s taverns en masse, as similar groups are known to do in cities like New York and…
Guys, 2013 ruled! I don’t know about you, but I fell in love, went tanning, went to Starbucks a lot, visited a porn palace in San Francisco with my family, continued my quest for landmark status of Casa Bonita and entertained the idea of writing about how Dunkin’ Donuts is…
All photos courtesy of Sony PicturesAmerican Hustle, directed and co-written by David O. Russell, is undeniably the must-watch film this holiday season. With outstanding performances by an A-list cast (Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence), the period film is loosely based on the real-life Abscam FBI Sting…
When I’m traveling, adventure seems so much easier to fall into. I spent a good portion of 2013 on the road touring with my band, Lust-Cats of the Gutters, and without the pull of day jobs and responsibility, I’m much more likely to say, yes, let’s jump that fence. But…
As a cosmetologist and make-up artist for more than a decade, Amanda Hume says she’s fielded questions from customers about what, exactly, the products she was using were made of. When she represented large cosmetic companies, a quick glance at the ingredient — including many chemicals she could not identify…
Though it may be tempting to stay inside and watch holiday specials on YouTube, there’s plenty to do in Denver this week between viewings of the Pete and Pete Christmas episode and the Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special. Our top three events include a concert with tacos, an evening of orchestral…
You can find art all over town — not just on gallery walls. In this series, we’ll be looking at some of the local artists who serve up their work in coffeehouses and other non-gallery businesses around town. Colorado native and outdoorsman Greg Marquez of Artquez can’t get enough of…
It may seem downright unChristmasy to be talking about the dead, grateful or not, at this time and season. But if you’ve got an eccentric, contemplative, bookish, introspective type on your shopping list, then I have a suggestion: Dayton Foster’s The Dead Do Speak To Us…of Love, Life & Death…
On January 30, the second annual Westword Whiteout will kick off Denver’s 2014 fashion season at the McNichols Building. The evening — which raises funds for the American Transplant Association — will include live music, specialty vendors, classic cocktails and some of the city’s top designers in a signature runway…
There’s nothing stuffy about Adam Lerner, whose whimsical yet intellectual sensibility propels everything that happens at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, where he’s the museum’s director and “Chief Animator.” The same goes for his annual holiday message to MCA visitors, supporters and friends. This year’s greeting, entitled “Caffeinated History,”…
If you’re not yet in the holiday spirit, this weekend will get you there. Denver’s stocking is stuffed with festive events, from Santa conventions to Christmas tuba concerts to holiday burlesque, and none of these activities will cost you more than $10. Check out the Westword calendar for more events,…
Smiles for the frowners / Salutes to the uppers / Boosts for the downers / May the day be the bowl of cherriest / And to all, the Merriest! — June Christy My Westword cohort Josiah Hesse just wrote a screed about why you should boycott Christmas — and I…
Headed for the hills for the holidays? Here are a few suggestions for how to make the most of the winter break on the slopes, including big news from CBMR, one of Colorado’s best worst-kept secrets. See also: Get the Edge on winter fun in Colorado…
While there are dozens of great markets and fairs highlighting Denver’s burgeoning artisan and craft scene during the holidays, Kalina Ross wanted more. The event planner saw a need for something other than just a place for shoppers and creators to cross paths — she wanted to see direct connections…
