Westword July 29, 2010 : Page 22
FRIDAY PAGE 24 Scoot awayatMile High Mayhem 13. S ATURDAY PAGE 25 Salsa Wars has plenty of hot stuff. TUESDAY PAGE 26 Hit the Rocks with The Lost Boys. NIGHT+DAY WEEK OF J U L THURSDAY|7.29 [COMMUNITY DINNER/BENEFIT] YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT There’s no better way to describe Denver mover (and WestwordMasterMind) Ashara Ekundayo than the way she does it herself: “I’m an artivist,” she proclaims. Her goal has always been to instigate change through a cultural lens, taking the sting out of race issues byblazing pathways of positivity through the mire of urban blight. Her most recent foray into artivism, Blue and Yellow Logic, bases itself on the model of Oakland’s Grind for the Green and Brooklyn’s Go Live!, concentrating on bringing the possibilities of urban gardening and sustainability in black and brown commu-nities straight to the folks, right where they live. “Our overall construct was to expand the conversation on sustainability in urban Colorado communities,” Ekundayo says. “And the most acceptable entry into that discussion is food: issues like food justice, food security and the health disparities con-nected to our diet.” It’sin that spirit that Ekundayo,who has partnered with Go Live! and Flobots.org, is throwing tonight’s Biennial-related Go Live!: Live, a multimedia cabaret and locally sourced soul food dinner, beginning at 6 p.m. at Green Spaces Colorado, 1368 26th Street. “Everybody loves to eat,” she says. “Every-body can stand up and say, ‘Yeah, I want a plate of organic food.’” And the lesson you learn from eating is the capper to the evening. So pack your own plate (this is a zero-waste event) and pile it on; admission is $5 to $10 on a sliding scale. Afterward, guests are invited to hop over to the Meadowlark, 2701 Larimer Street, for Ekundayo’s party of a different stripe: The We Are Haiti Benefit Part2, a continuation of her fi rst Haiti benefit, which happened not long after earthquakes leveled parts of the island. Part 2, she notes, will be more focused on live performance as it raises money for the Lambi Fund Food Justice Delegation to Haiti. Hit the ’Lark from 9 p.m. to close for a dance party with live music and performances; admission is a $10 donation. For information, visit http://cafenuba. — SUSANFROYD com. [KITCHEN TALK] FLAVOR SAVORSIN THE KITCHEN There’s more to fresh food than eating it 22 Lyle Lovett headlines eTown’s Green Rocks at Red Rocks. See Friday, July 30. fresh, says author and speaker Eugenia Bone, who specializes in canning and preserving food as a way to keep the goodness going. “The kitchen ecosystem is an idea that you can apply to your kitchen that will help you understand why the food you make tastes the way it does,” she explains. “And with that understanding, you can improve the way your food tastes.” That’s the crux of The Kitchen Ecosystemtalk Bone will give tonight at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Here’s the idea: When you visit the farm-ers’ market for fresh tomatoes, pick up a few extra and preserve them for future use in your kitchen. “It’s effi cient, because you’ve got foods that are canned, you’ve kept your dollars local through the winter and away from multina-tional irresponsible corporate food conglom-erates — always a good thing,” she says. “You havelowered your carbon footprint, the food you’re putting in your children’s bellies is more nutritional, and it’s a time-saver, because if you’re preparing the components of a meal, by the time you get to cooking your dinner, you’ve got the stuff done three months before.” Sound tasty? Bone’s program starts at 7 p.m. at the Gardens, 1007 York Street; tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Itwill be preceded by a 5:15 tour of the All-America Selections Garden (an additional $5) and a 6 p.m. tasting with Slow Food Denver.Visit www.botanicgardens.org to sign up. — AMBER TAUFEN FRIDAY|7.30 [FOLK FESTIVAL] THIS MAN ISYOUR MAN Woody Guthrie’s impact on American cul-ture hasn’t dimmed over the years — nor has his infl uence on popular music. In celebra-around the globe battle their way through slalom, slopestyle, cross-country and downhill competitions on the Trestles Bike Park, Sorenson Park and other Winter Park trails. “This is the first year since the new Freeride Mountain Bike Association took charge, and all the riders havebeen rallying around the tour and making sure these are good, solid events with epic courses,” says Bob Holme, Winter Park’s program director and terrain park manager. “It seems like every year everything gets a little more difficult, a little more technical and a little more chal-lenging. These guys are going tobe going for it.” The events get under way today with the dual slalom time trials at 9 a.m.; register for the head-to-head melee or just come for the (free) spectacle. Weekend highlights will include the dual slalom finals at 3:45, a Best Trick competition on Friday at 3:30, downhill and super downhill races all day on Friday and Saturday,and a pro and amateur downhill race sanctioned by the International Cycling Union on Sunday.Some trails will be open tothe public all weekend, with bike demos and ride guides available toshow you how it’s done. For registration, lodging deals and more info, visit www.crankworxcolorado.com. A — COLINBANE | | A UL Y 29 -A U LY 2 9 -AU GUS T 4 tion of the legendary singer’slegacy, Swallow Hill Music Association is hosting the Woody Guthrie Festival: Weaving the Threads. In addition to performances byheadliners Jay Farrar of Son Volt (tonight) and byWoody’s granddaughter, SaraLee Guthrie (tomorrow night), a range of musicians will pay tribute to their hero. A variety of Woody experts and collectors will also be on hand to exhibit memorabilia, discuss the man’s life and work, and lead a sing-along workshop. “All of the artists on the festival bill em-brace the creative legacy of Woody Guthrie in the mu-sic they create to-day,” says Swallow Hill spokesman Chip Herter. “Be it a wry observation of American culture or a timeless Ameri-FIND EVENT MANY MORE LISTINGS ONLINE AT WESTWORD.COM cana melody, the performing artists pay homage to Guthrie in their music and lyrics.” The Woody Guthrie Festival begins today at 5 p.m. at Swallow Hill, 71 East Yale Avenue, and continues tomorrownight at the L2 Arts & Culture Center, 1477 Columbine Street. Admission to the all-ages fest is $30 for each night’s concert (or $25 for members); Satur-day’sGuthrie exhibit/ continued on page 24 CRANK IT AT WINTER PARK [THURSDA Y 7 . 29] s action sports go, downhill freeride mountain biking is about as gnarly as it gets. This weekend’s Crankworx Freeride Mountain Bike Series will combine guts, glory, gravity, grime, and some good old-fashioned gruesomeness as riders from JULY29-AUGUST4, 2010 WESTWORD | BACKBEAT | CAFE | ART | THEATER | MOVIES | NIGHT+DAY | CITY LIMITS | OFF LIMITS | ¡ASK A MEXICAN! | LETTERS | CONTENTS | WORST-CASE SCENARIO | westword.com
Night & Day
THURSDAY|7.29
[ C O M M U N I T Y D I N N E R / B E N E F I T ]
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
There’s no better way to describe Denver mover (and Westword MasterMind) Ashara Ekundayo than the way she does it herself: “I’m an artivist,” she proclaims. Her goal has always been to instigate change through a cultural lens, taking the sting out of race issues by blazing pathways of positivity through the mire of urban blight. Her most recent foray into artivism, Blue and Yellow Logic, bases itself on the model of Oakland’s Grind for the Green and Brooklyn’s Go Live!, concentrating on bringing the possibilities of urban gardening and sustainability in black and brown communities straight to the folks, right where they live.
“Our overall construct was to expand the conversation on sustainability in urban Colorado communities,” Ekundayo says.
“And the most acceptable entry into that discussion is food: issues like food justice, food security and the health disparities connected to our diet.” It’s in that spirit that Ekundayo, who has partnered with Go Live! And Flobots.org, is throwing tonight’s Biennial-related Go Live!: Live, a multimedia cabaret and locally sourced soul food dinner, beginning at 6 p.m. at Green Spaces Colorado, 1368 26th Street.
“Everybody loves to eat,” she says. “Everybody can stand up and say, ‘Yeah, I want a plate of organic food.’” And the lesson you learn from eating is the capper to the evening.
So pack your own plate (this is a zerowaste event) and pile it on; admission is $5 to $10 on a sliding scale. Afterward, guests are invited to hop over to the Meadowlark, 2701 Larimer Street, for Ekundayo’s party of a different stripe: The We Are Haiti Benefit Part 2, a continuation of her first Haiti benefit, which happened not long after earthquakes leveled parts of the island. Part 2, she notes, will be more focused on live performance as it raises money for the Lambi Fund Food Justice Delegation to Haiti. Hit the ’Lark from 9 p.m. to close for a dance party with live music and performances; admission is a $10 donation.
For information, visit http://cafenuba.Com.
— SUSAN FROYD
[ K I T C H E N TA L K ]
FLAVOR SAVORS IN THE KITCHEN
There’s more to fresh food than eating it fresh, says author and speaker Eugenia Bone, who specializes in canning and preserving food as a way to keep the goodness going.
“The kitchen ecosystem is an idea that you can apply to your kitchen that will help you understand why the food you make tastes the way it does,” she explains. “And with that understanding, you can improve the way your food tastes.” That’s the crux of The Kitchen Ecosystem talk Bone will give tonight at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Here’s the idea: When you visit the farmers’ market for fresh tomatoes, pick up a few extra and preserve them for future use in your kitchen. “It’s efficient, because you’ve got foods that are canned, you’ve kept your dollars local through the winter and away from multinational irresponsible corporate food conglomerates — always a good thing,” she says. “You have lowered your carbon footprint, the food you’re putting in your children’s bellies is more nutritional, and it’s a time-saver, because if you’re preparing the components of a meal, by the time you get to cooking your dinner, you’ve got the stuff done three months before.” Sound tasty? Bone’s program starts at 7
p. m. at the Gardens, 1007 York Street; tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. It will be preceded by a 5:15 tour of the All-America Selections Garden (an additional $5) and a 6 p.m. tasting with Slow Food Denver. Visit www.botanicgardens.org to sign up.
— AMBER Tbr />
[ T H U R S D AY 7 . 2 9 ]
CRANK IT AT WINTER PARK
As action sports go, downhill freeride mountain biking is about as gnarly as it gets.
This weekend’s Crankworx Freeride Mountain Bike Series will combine guts, glory, gravity, grime, and some good old-fashioned gruesomeness as riders from around the globe battle their way through slalom, slopestyle, cross-country and downhill competitions on the Trestles Bike Park, Sorenson Park and other Winter Park trails.
“This is the first year since the new Freeride Mountain Bike Association took charge, and all the riders have been rallying around the tour and making sure these are good, solid events with epic courses,” says Bob Holme, Winter Park’s program director and terrain park manager. “It seems like every year everything gets a little more difficult, a little more technical and a little more challenging.
These guys are going to be going for it.” The events get under way today with the dual slalom time trials at 9 a.m.; register for the head-tohead melee or just come for the (free) spectacle. Weekend highlights will include the dual slalom finals at 3:45, a Best Trick competition on Friday at 3:30, downhill and super downhill races all day on Friday and Saturday, and a pro and amateur downhill race sanctioned by the International Cycling Union on Sunday. Some trails will be open to the public all weekend, with bike demos and ride guides available to show you how it’s done. For registration, lodging deals and more info, visit www.crankworxcolorado.com.
— COLIN BANE
FRIDAY|7.30
[ F O L K F E S T I VA L ]
THIS MAN IS YOUR MAN Woody Guthrie’s impact on American culture hasn’t dimmed over the years — nor has his infl uence on popular music. In celebration of the legendary singer’s legacy, Swallow Hill Music Association is hosting the Woody Guthrie Festival: Weaving the Threads. In addition to performances by headliners Jay Farrar of Son Volt (tonight) and by Woody’s granddaughter, Sara Lee Guthrie (tomorrow night), a range of musicians will pay tribute to their hero. A variety of Woody experts and collectors will also be on hand to exhibit memorabilia, discuss the man’s life and work, and lead a sing-along workshop.
“All of the artists on the festival bill embrace the creative legacy of Woody Guthrie in the music they create today,” says Swallow Hill spokesman Chip Herter. “Be it a wry observation of American culture or a timeless Americana melody, the performing artists pay homage to Guthrie in their music and lyrics.” The Woody Guthrie Festival begins today at 5 p.m. at Swallow Hill, 71 East Yale Avenue, and continues tomorrow night at the L2 Arts & Culture Center, 1477 Columbine Street.
Admission to the all-ages fest is $30 for each night’s concert (or $25 for members); Saturday’s Guthrie exhibit/workshop is $10. For tickets and info, call 303- 777-1003 or visit www.swallowhillmusic.org.
— JASON HELLER
[ A R T/ FA S H I O N ]
SHOW YOUR COLORS
As if this month’s Biennial-driven Untitled happening at the Denver Art Museum (based on the doubly delicious theme of “Two” and celebrating diptychs, artistic duos, biennials and other things that come in twos) didn’t already have enough going on inside the museum, Denver’s fashion community is going to make unplanned waves outside by hosting a Fashion Flash Mob that should give local fashionistas a place on the map during all the Biennial hoopla. Inspired by a blog about New York City’s ongoing Sidewalk Catwalk event in the garment district, for which haute designers dress mannequins to display in the streets, Denver designer Tricia Hoke and others brainstormed the idea for a flash mob and invited their friends and colleagues to join in. According to Hoke, the response has been great, but who knows what will happen? “It’s a flash mob,” she says simply. People just show up at a flash mob; one can’t predict what they will look like or do before they disperse.
But here are a few clues: Brandi Shigley will lead a parade from her nearby Fashion Denver headquarters. Mona Lucero is planning a Hollywood-slinky collaboration with artist Jason Appleton and jewelry maker Amy Kahn. Hoke’s model will wear one of the designer’s trademark morphing outfits, making adjustments to the look as she walks the walk. People might or might not line up two by two, carrying “Designed in Colorado” signs. There’s no telling. They’ll all be converging on the sidewalk outside the DAM, 100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, at 6 p.m. That’ll leave plenty of time to enjoy the regularly scheduled events inside, including a gallery takeover by the nomadic poetry performance party Cafe Nuba, lindy hop lessons, Biennial-sanctioned video art and more, all of which is included in the general DAM admission fee and continues until 10 p.m. For details, go to http://untitled.denverartmuseum.org.
— SUSAN FROYD
[ S C O O T E R R A L L Y ]
BORN TO BE MILD
At one point in the not-so-distant past, riding a scooter was as much about tribalism as transportation. Affiliated with the mod and Brit-pop subcultures, Denver’s original scooter rally, Mile High Mayhem, was an annual gathering of that tribe. Resurrected last year, MHM is once again planning to bring together those Denverites who ride scooters as a way of life — although, as organizer Phil Lombardo points out, there’s not quite as much mayhem in Mayhem thirteen years after its inception.
“Instead of a big ride out to the mountains on Saturday like we used to do, we’re just riding to Sloan’s Lake for a picnic,” says Lombardo with a laugh. “Riding scooters used to be more of a counterculture thing, but we’re all getting older. Now, Mayhem is as just much about showing off our babies as it is about showing off our scooters.” Mile High Mayhem 13 comes together tonight at 8 p.m. at the Beauty Bar, 608 East 13th Avenue. Djs Chris Irvin, Scott Dammit, Jedi Scott and DogBoy will spin a wide variety of tunes for the dance fl oor.
Admission to the 21+ party is free. A range of scooter riders and events are planned for the weekend; for a full schedule, visit www.milehighmayhem.com.
— JASON HELLER
[ E -T O W N ]
GREEN, RED AND FUNKY
eTown has always had an environmental conscience: The long-running radio program, which airs performances and interviews by socially aware musicians recorded in front of a live audience, has focused on green issues from the get-go. And they’ll take that awareness even further with Green Rocks at Red Rocks, the annual eTown extravaganza that kicks off tonight at 7:30 p. m. with Lyle Lovett and Taj Mahal.
In keeping with the green theme, eTown is offering free biodiesel shuttle buses running from Denver to Boulder (be sure to sign up in advance, as space is limited). There will also be incentives for carpoolers with four or more people in a car, plus information tables, demonstrations, eco-products and more.
Mayor John Hickenlooper and Governor Bill Ritter are both planning to attend, so you’ll be in good company. Admission is $34.50 to $65.50; buy tickets and get information at http://etown.org.
— AMBER Tbr />
[ T H E A T E R ]
PRETTY TOUGH GUYS
Now that Leonardo DiCaprio has been tapped to play J. Edgar Hoover in an upcoming biopic, America will be hearing a lot more about the controversial FBI director.Before that, though, the Theater Company of Lafayette is staging the satirical G-Men in G-Strings, a show comprising nine one-act plays that shed light on the closeted life of one of America’s most notorious public figures.
“From our overly zealous military to our thirst for gladiator-style sports, American culture is uniquely steeped in machismo and heterosexual masculinity,” explains Erich Toll, the show’s co-director. “Yet from political and religious scandals to persistent rumors about Hollywood action stars, it seems this machismo often covers up a reality that is precisely the opposite.The FBI, especially in its crew-cut, ’50s heyday, seemed the epitome of American masculinity.So it’s fascinating that its legendary leader was, in fact, a cross-dresser with a penchant for gay lovers. Oh, the irony!” G-Men in G-Strings opens tonight at 7:30 p. m. and runs through August 7 at the Mary Miller Theater, 300 East Simpson Street in Lafayette.Seats are $10 to $12. For tickets and info, call 720-209-2154 or visit www.tclstage.org.
— JASON HELLER
[ M O U N TA I N C L I M B I N G ]
CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN
Dashboard Confessional frontman Chris Carrabba’s been touring in support of his band’s latest, Alter the Ending, and he’s taking that title literally: Today he’s asking his fans to hike to the top of Pikes Peak to join him at 14,110 feet for the Love Hope Strength Foundation’s Pikes Peak Rocks concert and to register for the foundation’s “Get on the List” bone-marrow registry to save a stranger’s life while they’re at it.
“When you get your driver’s license, you should sign up to be an organ donor. When you go to a concert and see our tent, you should give us some saliva and get on the list, potentially becoming a living donor,” says Shannon Foley, the foundation’s director.
“What’s the coolest thing you could possibly do with your life? Save someone else’s life.” Foley’s crew has hit every Red Rocks concert this summer, as well as other high-profile events. “In the last year, we’ve signed up more than 5,500 people for the registry, and we’ve found more than thirty matches,” he says.
The climb begins at 6 a.m., with a performance by John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light along the way. Registration is $79 at www.LoveHopeStrength.org and includes meals.
— COLIN BANE
SATURDAY|7.31 |
[ C A M P F U N D R A I S E R ]
KIDS HELPING KIDS
At Camp Wapiyapi, a retreat near Estes Park offering respite for kids dealing with childhood cancer, ill children and their siblings don’t escape the toll their suffering takes so much as they learn that they’re not alone with it. They get to take a break from it all and do what every kid wants to do: relax and have a good time. And then, in one of the nicest ways possible, they give back to the community that took them in.
“Every year, they make artwork at camp specifically for selling at auction,” notes spokesman Jimmy Sellars. “The proceeds then go to help other kids get in to the camp next year.” It’s a very cool gesture and the basis for the annual Art for Wapiyapi fundraiser, which includes an auction of not only Wapiyapi camper art, but also works by local artists, including Sellars and his sister Jessica, Kelly Schurger, Kirk Norlin, Marie Gibbons, Joanne Mascorro and others. This year’s expanded format includes artwork displays in three gallery spaces between 4426 and 4430 Tennyson Street, live music by three bands, face painting, food and general family fun, in addition to the silent auction.Place bids and enjoy the day today from 4 to 8 p.m.; for tickets, $15 per person (or $35 for a family), go to www.wapiyapi.org or call 303-534-0883.
— SUSAN FROYD
[ A R T I S T B E N E F I T ]
SAVING A LOCAL TREASURE
Michelle Barnes might be one of Denver’s best-kept secrets. Her illustrations have graced the pages of many a national magazine, and she’s led ongoing salons and art talks, kept a gallery newsletter and been an advocate for the arts community. But within the community she’s supported so well, she’s no stranger, and Denver’s artists are now coming out in force to give Barnes some much-needed reinforcement as she finds herself hurting financially in the wake of breast cancer treatment. Today’s Midsummer’s Night Benefit Party for Michelle Barnes, 6 to 11 p.m. at Ironton Studios & Gallery, 3636 Chestnut Place, is pure proof of how much Barnes is truly appreciated by her colleagues.
“Michelle has been a huge advocate and mentor to other artists in Denver over the years,” says friend and spokeswoman Heather Shannon, who adds that the enthusiasm for this event has been overwhelming.
“It’s a real testament to Michelle Barnes and the closeness of the arts community in Denver. We take care of our people.” Partyers will be treated to more than one art exhibit, including one of Barnes’s works and another featuring an eclectic mix of local artwork. There will be live music by Boba Fett and the Americans, Reed Weimer & Moe Perdue and an ambient-music duo, as well as food by La Cueva and wine by Joy Wine & Spirits. Contributions can be made to a money tree, and raffl e tickets will be sold for a chance to win one of Barnes’s beautiful illustrations.
Admission is a suggested donation of $10 at the door; get details at http://rivernorthart.Squarespace.com/crow/midsummers-nightbenefit-party-for-michelle-barnes.html.
— SUSAN FROYD
[ S AT U R DAY 7 . 3 1 ]
HEATING UP WITH SALSA WARS
We Denverites have an unwavering affinity for Mexican food; we love our green chile more than our children, subsist on breakfast burritos rolled with scrambled eggs, potatoes and chorizo, and lap up bowls of salsa — the spicier, the better. And we argue — often heatedly — over our favorites.
It’s the salsa that’s under scrutiny today at the Denver Public Library, which is hosting a SALSA WARS throwdown as part of its Fresh City Life series devoted to arts, food, culture and education. Self-proclaimed salsa warriors submitted recipes (all original), and the salsa gods at the library whittled the submissions down to a half-dozen finalists, all of whom will re-create their winning salsa recipes for a public tasting. It’s the panel of expert salsa judges, though, who have the final word. The grandprize victor walks away with a $200 shopping spree to Whole Foods and two VIP season tickets from Su Teatro theater company.
If you can stand the heat, the battle begins at 12:30 p.m. in the Central Library’s Level B2 Conference Center, 10 West 14th Avenue Parkway.Tastings and recipes are free for attendees.
To reserve your space, go to www.denverlibrary. org/content/salsa-wars-recipe-contest.
— LORI MIDSON
SUNDAY|8.1
[ B O O K C L U B ]
GRAPHIC TALK Book clubs don’t have to include stuffed shirts discussing “literature” or soccer moms fawning over Oprah’s latest selection. Just take the Koelbel Library’s Adult Graphic Novel Book Club as an example (by the way, that’s adult as in “for grownups,” not adult as in porn).
Every 28 days, fans of the graphic novel meet to break down the best books in the cuttingedge form in a casual, fun atmosphere.
Led by the library’s Nick Taylor, the club started a year ago to help draw attention to the library’s underutilized graphic novel section. “There’s an audience for [mature graphic novels],” he explains. “The trend in comics is to make a lot more mature, kind of deeper comics rather than standard kind of superhero stuff.” The current selection is Warren Ellis’s Orbiter, a haunting sci-fi epic. You can pick up a copy at the front desk of the Koelbel Library, 5955 South Holly Street in Centennial. Then come back for the discussion today from 2 to 4 p.m. Next up, the club meets on August 29 to discuss Charles Burns’s Black Hole, a satirical story about a fictional STD called Bug. For more info, visit www.arapahoelibraries. org or call 303-542-7279.
— CORY CASCIATO
[ B I K E R A C E ]
GET A GRIP WITH THE YETI BETIS
Ladies love dirt, too, and the mountain-bike racing Yeti Betis are out to prove it today with the first-ever Beti Bike Bash at Bear Creek Lake Park. “The Yeti Betis are all super-active in all aspects of racing,” says Beti spokeswoman Sarah Rawley. “We wanted to have an event that encourages any woman — even first-time racers or people who haven’t ridden a lot — to experience that women’s field racing is a lot different than men’s.
“It’s just a very positive, encouraging atmosphere, and we felt that a lot of women were missing that,” she adds. “We just kind of wanted to break all that down and have a no-barriers event where anyone could come and race, have a good time, feel accomplished and maybe learn something new.” The Bike Bash kicks off today at the park, 15600 West Morrison Road in Lakewood, and offers an array of categories, including professional/open, sport, beginner, junior women and a relay race, truly allowing something for everyone. Afterward, an expo will be open with product demonstrations, a massage therapist and brews from Great Divide. The race is $30 to $40; register at www.active.com or go to www.betibikebash. com for information.
— AMBER Tbr />
MONDAY|8.2 |
[ B O O K S I G N I N G ] PLANET WAVES Science and sci-ficollide in What If Earth Had Two Moons?: And Nine Other Thought- Provoking Speculations on the Solar System, a new book from University of Maine professor of physics and astronomy Neil Comins that theorizes about the possibility of life on an Earth thrown willy-nilly into physical scenarios other than the existing one. Comins toys with our planet’s axis, its age, its mass and more, and in turn, the speculations spread to the rest of the universe and the idea that somewhere out there, there’s another planet with conditions ideal for supporting life. And he does all with a contemporary sleight of hand supported by the latest scientific research.
Maybe it’s just a twist of fate, but Comins will ask the question “What if?” tonight at 7:30 p.m. when he discusses and signs the book at the Tattered Cover LoDo, 1628 16th Street; for more information, go to www.tatteredcover. com or call 303-436-1070.
— SUSAN FROYD
TUESDAY|8.3 |
[ F I L M ] A VAMPIRE MOVIE THAT DOESN’T SUCK Despite the tragic death earlier this year of star Corey Haim — not to mention a regrettable, never-should’ve-been-filmed sequel in 2008 — The Lost Boys remains one of the most enduring, rewatchable vampire movies of all time.
The Two Coreys,Haim and Feldman, co-starred in the 1987 blockbuster, the story of the new kid in town who winds up taking on the local vampire population with nothing but wits, guts, good friends, and a little technique called “death by stereo.” Perfectly suited to the ’80s but in no way reliant on nostalgia, The Lost Boys is one of the few teen movies that have transcended the decade, and in doing so influenced everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to today’s current hormonal-bloodsucker trend. Twilight, eat your heart out.
The Denver Film Society presents Film on the Rocks: The Lost Boys — with pre-movie music by Denver’s aptly dark and sinuous indie-rock sensation Snake Rattle Rattle Snake — tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.Admission is $10; $60 gets you a Party Bus package that includes dinner, drinks, transportation and VIP seating. For tickets and info, call 303-595-3456 or visit denverfilm.org.
— JASON HELLER
F I L M F E S T I VA L ]
DENNIS HOPPER, REVISITED
A major exhalation of grief rippled through the film world on the day that Dennis Hopper died, and it must have been because he was a rebel, a troubled one molded by the influence of classic anti-hero James Dean. On screen, he fascinated people, and it was a characteristically crooked look in his eye that gave life to so many of his roles, from the maverick stoner Billy in Easy Rider (which he also directed) to the alcoholic coach in Hoosiers or the gas-sucking psychopath of Blue Velvet, a permanently skewed gaze that was just part of the package. With that in mind, choosing to memorialize the counterculture symbol with a month-long series is a no-brainer for the Denver Film Society, which will host Hopper, a mini-fest featuring five of his best films, on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in August.
Hopper will don Billy’s buckskins and straddle that big hog one more time when the series begins tonight at 7 p.m. at Starz FilmCenter with a screening of Easy Rider, an era-defining landmark work that broke tradition with Hopper’s naturalistic, improvisational direction, sweeping vistas and profound performances. In the following weeks, come back to see Colors, Hoosiers, River’s Edge and Blue Velvet. Starz is in the Tivoli building on the Auraria campus; visit www.denverfilm.org for information.
— SUSAN FROYD
WEDNESDAY|8.4 |
[ P E R F O R M A N C E ] ADVANCED IMPROV Denver actor/comedian/poet Matt Zambrano is the free spirit behind 10 x 10: Deviations on a Theme, a new variation on the open-mike concept that began two weeks ago at BINDERY | space, 770 22nd Street, home of the Lida Project and other left-ofkilter visiting performance groups. But in the hope of setting it apart from other open-mike events in town, such as the Bug’s Freak Train, Zambrano and Lida’s Julie Rada determined that this one would be themed and would feature ten performers or teams — some invited and some who sign up on a lark — for ten minutes each session.
“The idea is to let people who’ve given a lot to us artistically a chance to take a night and run with it, but we want it to happen in a more controlled way,” Rada says. “The goal is to be as ‘cross-genrefied’ as possible, with more of a cross-section of artists in the Denver area coming in to hang out, have some beers and share some work.” That, she adds, might include poetry, visual art, film or other disciplines.
For a sense of where things might go in the coming months, the inaugural theme was “Sex, Drugs and Bossa Nova”; tonight’s is an ambiguous “Undercover.” “The performers can interpret that however they like,” notes Rada. “It could be about what happens in the shadows and underneath things. Or it could be more of a film noir thing — detective novels, Mickey Spillane, those sorts of things. It could be about cover tunes or cover artists.” The only way to find out, of course, is to be there when the cabaret-style fun starts at 8 p.m. 10 X 10 runs the first and third Wednesday of the month at Bindery; admission is $5 at the door, and performer sign-up begins at 7:30 p.m. See http://www.facebook.com/ event.php?eid=141699725841313 for details.
— SUSAN FROYD
[ A R T E X H I B I T ]
PERSONAL VISIONS
Judy Hagler, owner of Translations Gallery in LoDo, has made a specialty of presenting contemporary work by artists active in the Western U.S. The venue’s new shows, which open tonight, pairs an Arizona artist with a Colorado one. The former is Sandhi Schimmel Gold, made up of portraits constructed from cut-up scraps of junk mail, and the latter is Laura Carpenter, which comprises abstracted landscapes done in oil and glazes.
“We chose to exhibit both of these artists together because their personalities shine through their artwork,” says Hagler. “Sandhi’s approach to the contemporary portrait is truly unique, with a combination of painting and mosaic tiles from recycled materials, while Laura is a talented emerging artist who captures the Colorado landscape with a unique style and color.” Translations has shown Gold’s pieces before, but this is Carpenter’s first outing in Denver. An emerging artist, she is currently finishing up her MFA at Colorado State University. Both Gold and Carpenter will be in attendance at the opening reception on Friday, August 6, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Translations, 1743 Wazee Street; both shows run through August 31. For details, go to www.translationsgallery.com or call 303-629-0713.
— MICHAEL PAGLIA
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