Reader: It wasn’t cute to vandalize the Big Blue Bear

One of Denver’s most beloved pieces of public art, “I See What You Mean,” better known as the Big Blue Bear, got hit by a big smear of green paint over the weekend. There have been other pranks involving Lawrence Argent’s sculpture of a giant bear peering inside the Colorado…

A field guide to the five worst types of hecklers

At some point during their comedy careers, every standup has to deal with a heckler. A truly annoying heckler can derail even experienced comedians as well as make audiences uncomfortable. While most hecklers think they’re being funny and can be shamed into silence with a pithy rejoinder from a talented comic, there are a few heckler sub-species that simply refuse to shut up, regardless of the comedian’s reaction.

The ten best local drag queen names

The drag scene in Denver is bigger and better than ever — in 2013, Miss Queen of Aces showed the city what it took to put on a successful and community-driven beauty-pageant fundraiser. Tracks’ Drag Nation also took a turn in the spotlight for its Best Ongoing Drag Event. Inspired…

Photos: Drag Nation re-interprets Girls Gone Wild at Tracks

For the latest Drag Nation night at Tracks, performers tackled “Girls Gone Wild.” The night’s energy and costumes certainly fit the theme as personalities including Nina Flowers and Chad Michaels strutted and danced their stuff. Continue reading for highlights from the evening, and visit our full slide show for more…

Fifty best steampunk costumes at AnomalyCon 3

At three years old, Denver’s annual AnomalyCon is still young, but it has rapidly found its following of steampunk, science fiction and alternative history fans. During this weekend’s three-day convention at the Double Tree Hotel in the DTC, scores of fans donned fun and fancy costumes, and Westword’s Danielle Lirette…

Five things Prince Harry should do in Denver

God save the Queen and her adorable, stilted royal wave; Prince Charles gets a few brownie points for sorta making an honest woman outta Camilla; poor Prince William got his mother’s pretty face but his father’s rapid receding hairline, and Princess Kate has a baby bump that the Brits are…

Scary monsters and sideshow freaks in Daniel Crosier’s Showdevils

There are precious few opportunities in life to assist a human puzzle piece and his comely, sword-swallowing sidekick defeat a mutant goldfish. When such an opportunity does arise, it’s best to seize it without concern for danger or reward. Luckily, in the case of Daniel Crosier’s Showdevils Kickstarter campaign, the…

3 things to do for free in Denver this week, April 1-4

What better way to start off April than with a terrifying Belgian horror movie? See the scary flick Calvaire, learn about the music business from industry professionals, or help raise awareness about sexual assault this week in Denver — all without spending a dime. No joke! Read the Westword calendar…

Playwright Sharr White returns to Boulder with The Other Place

Sharr White’s plays have been workshopped and mounted around the country over the years, and he has received several awards — but it was The Other Place, his piece about a brilliant woman scientist’s battle with dementia, that brought him to Broadway last year. Laurie Metcalf played the scientist, Juliana;…

The ten best comedy shows in April

As we inch our way toward the glory of summer comedy festivals, Denver has already begun heating up with a variety of shows featuring whip-smart young comics and world-wise icons of days past. We’ve got a DIY music and comedy festival (with a bouncy castle!), two feature players from Chelsea…

Local ghosthunters on the Bio channel’s My Ghost Story Saturday

Spirit Realm Investigative Project, an all-female ghost-hunting crew, spends much of their time in the dark, seeking out spirits. But at 8 p.m. tomorrow, March 30, they’ll be in the spotlight on episode sixty of the Bio Channel’s My Ghost Story , sharing spooky experiences at Colorado’s Gilpin County Jail…

Closing time: An end-of-season ski and snowboard splash-down countdown

The 2012-2013 ski and snowboard season begins winding down this weekend — with the first round of closing-day parties at Ski Granby Ranch, Powderhorn and Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort — despite the fact that snow conditions are actually quite good, with more snow in the forecast. Here’s a rundown…