Celebrate Earth Day This Weekend!

April 19, 2018

Colorado is a great place to be anytime, but when it comes to appreciating the earth, you just can’t beat Denver and Aurora! The entire family can celebrate Earth Day this weekend —including a giant jamboree at the Capitol! Exciting musical theatre also sweeps into town with Tommy—the classic pinball-wizard tale from the 1960s! And future diplomats now in middle school can participate in the Colorado Model UN!

Thursday-Saturday, April 19-21

CATCH UP-AND-COMER BRENT MORIN!
Variety named Brent Morin one of 2013’s “10 Comics to Watch,” and he has certainly lived up to the challenge! Morin is best known for his role as Justin Kearney in the NBC sitcom Undateable, and his one-hour stand-up special, I’m Brent Morin!, is currently streaming on Netflix. 

As a relatable Millennial who admits he doesn’t have luck with the ladies, Morin has plenty to say on the topic of dating (“Don’t date rich girls—they’re INSANE”) and is happy to share his wisdom when he appears on shows such as Chelsea Lately, Conan, Comedy Central, Brooklyn 99, The McCarthys, and Ground Floor. With a loyal fan base that’s growing by the minute, you’ll want to be a part of the movement!

Comedy Works-Downtown, 1226 15th St., Denver
Thurs., 8:00 p.m.; Fri., 7:30 p.m. & 9:45 p.m.; Sat., 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$26
Phone: 303-595-3637

Thursday-Sunday, April 19-22

EARTH DAY THEATRE – NATIVE GARDENS
Celebrate Earth Day weekend with an exciting new play that revolves around a prize garden! Also on the table in this drama by celebrated Latina playwright Karen Zacarias, are some hard questions about what it takes to become a good neighbor. When Pablo and Tania, a young Latino couple, move into a well-established DC neighborhood, long- time residents Frank and Virginia have the best intentions for making the new couple feel welcome next door. But first the two couples must come to terms with their own biases in order to become good neighbors. 

A disputed property line causes both men to dig in their heels—Frank is worried he will lose his prize garden while Pablo feels certain he is being cheated out of what is rightfully his. Both women would rather worry about other matters, but it requires everyone to take a hard look at the root of their problems if they are ever to find a way to connect.

Space Theatre/DCPA, Speer Blvd. at Arapahoe St., Denver
Thurs., 6:30; Fri./Sat.,7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: $37-$72
Phone: 800-641-1222

Friday, April 20

KIDS NIGHT OUT WITH DINNER AND A MOVIE!
Treat the kids to a fun-filled evening complete with dinner, arts and crafts, games, and a movie—and have a parents’ night out of your own! The Lakehouse YMCA provides a safe and fun event for potty-trained kids up through the age of 12! Your kids will be happy in the company of Bing Bong and the rest of the gang from Disney’s award-winning animated film, Inside Out, and you’ll relax, knowing they are being well taken care of! Registration is required.

The Lakehouse, YMCA Southshore, 27151 East Lakeview Dr., Aurora
6:00-10:00 p.m.
Cost: $15-$17
Phone: 720-870-2221 

Friday-Sunday, April 20-22

EXPERIENCE THE WHO’S TOMMY!
It’s the perfect time for a revival of the 1969 classic, Tommy, by one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, The Who. In an uncertain and unforgiving world, a teenage boy must figure out a way to recover from his traumatic past, with no hope on the horizon. But when Tommy discovers a newfound talent for pinball, he is swept up in the fame and fortune of his success. The electrifying music and lyrics of The Who’s stadium rock underpin this tumultuous journey with a raw energy that remains unparalleled in musical theatre.

This groundbreaking version is directed by Tony-nominated Sam Buntrock, renowned for his innovative work in theatre, film and animation. His edgy style was last seen on stage when he directed Frankenstein in 2016, and he will reunite with Frankenstein Scenic Designer Jason Sherwood for this musical!

Stage Theatre/DCPA, 1101 13th St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: $30-$80
Phone: 800-641-1222

WAGNER’S THE RING – WITHOUT WORDS!
As originally conceived, Wagner’s epic The Ring of the Nibelung is a cycle of four music dramas that takes four evenings at the opera to perform in its entirety! Luckily, conductor and composer Lorin Maazel found a way to condense it into its fundamental sequences, performed in this concert by the Colorado Symphony without words.

Imagine something like Lord of the Rings—as an opera! There is a dwarf and a magic golden ring. The scale and scope of the story is epic. It follows the struggles of gods, heroes, and several mythical creatures over the eponymous magic ring that grants domination over the entire world. Preceding the concert, Music Director Brett Mitchell will describe the leitmotifs in a musical demonstration. Then the symphony will continue with this once-in-a-lifetime performance! This is an illuminating and rare performance of The Ring that will resonate with all audiences.

Boettcher Concert Hall/DPAC, 1000 14th St. #15, Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$89
Phone: 303-623-7876

Saturday, April 21

FREE MULCH IN AURORA!
Warm weather is here and that has everybody thinking about gardening. Do you need mulch for your yard? It retains soil moisture, reduces weeds and increases soil fertility and soil structure. Bring you pickup truck or trailer and the city will load it full of mulch for free! Or bring your own shovels and pitch forks and serve yourself. It’s the first Freeloader FREE Mulch Day of the season in Aurora this Saturday!

City of Aurora, East Hampden Ave. and Dawson St.
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
While Supplies Last!

COLORADO MODEL UN
Do you have a middle school student endowed with the gift of gab? Or perhaps a sensitive thinker who cares deeply about the state of the world? The YMCA Colorado Model UN Program is the perfect platform for them to explore and develop their skills and interests in the context of how things work in the real world!

The Model UN Program provides an unprecedented simulation of the UN that highlights the themes of collaboration, cultural understanding, and problem solving that are at the core of the organization’s real-life goals. Students will have the opportunity to develop their debate skills and find their voice in a one-of-a-kind, multifaceted program that brings together servant leadership, public speaking, and global problem solving.

Cherokee Trail High School, 25901 E. Arapahoe Rd., Aurora
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Register: FREE
Phone: 303-515-0439

EARTH DAY AT THE CAPITOL
Celebrate Earth Day in a big way! Come on over to the Capitol for Colorado Earth Day, featuring yoga, live music by The Broadcast, an opening ceremony by Four Winds Native American Council, interactive booths for the whole family, a beer garden, a children’s zone, and guest speakers including Olympic gold medalist and coach Justin Reiter, Tay Anderson and Colorado State Representative Joseph Salazar. 

If you care about making a difference for the earth, join thousands of other motivated individuals who are also looking for ways to help with the fight for clean air, water and healthy communities. Last year’s event drew more than 13,000 attendees to the Capitol, and it’s important to build on that momentum at this critical time for environmental movements.

Colorado State Capitol, 200 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Register: FREE
Phone: 303-292-3279

Sunday, April 22

DIG IN! EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
A delicious way to honor Earth Day is to celebrate the many ways food helps us appreciate our planet while making it a sustainable place to live! Join Slow Food Denver and its partners to celebrate Mother Earth! The day will be filled with gardening and seed saving activities, speakers, a film screening, and delicious bites. 

The documentary Deeply Rooted: John Coykendall’s Journey to Save Our Seeds and Stories is the story of master gardener John Coykendall, who has been preserving the seeds, traditions, and oral histories of a small rural farming community in Louisiana. Using a mix of historical photographs of the region and its residents, the film chronicles how Coykendall has tracked down and safeguarded rare and heirloom varieties of crops historically grown in the region. In addition to the film screening, the event will feature a demonstration about seed saving, traditional foods to sample, and a number of tables where you can sign up to take action!

Infinite Monkey Theorem, 3200 Larimer St., Denver
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: $25
Phone: 301-233-6568

GETTING MARRIED? GET INSPIRED!
Planning a wedding? Come to the biggest ballroom in Colorado to see your wedding ideas spring to life from the wedding magazine pages, websites and Pins you’ve been obsessively poring over! You are planning the event of a lifetime, so you owe it to yourself to come to the one place that can bring all those inspirations together, the Rocky Mountain Bridal Show!

With a spectacular bridal runway fashion show and displays from the area’s most trusted wedding professionals, you will find everything to make your wedding day magical, including invaluable advice, information and inspiration! Whether you are planning a glamorous production or an intimate affair, this is a wedding designing event you don’t want to miss.

Colorado Convention Center, Mile High Ballroom, 700 14th St., Denver
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$15
Phone: 303-650-0674

DIY EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
What better way to celebrate Earth Day than making your own self-regenerating salad bowl? No, it’s not magic, it’s a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-to-work building project—a custom raised bed for your deck, patio or lawn! Situate it close to your kitchen window or on your patio for easy lunch access and snacking.

By the time you are finished with this three-hour class, you will have learned basic building techniques and leave with your own plant-ready 2’-4′ raised bed. Just add earth and seeds and a good amount of love! All tools and materials provided. Celebrate our planet’s ability to grow and sustain by creating your own salad dream garden!

The Craftsman & Apprentice,1325 E. 22nd Ave., Denver
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $110
Phone: 303-718-3012

Visit Planet Southshore This Weekend!

We take care of our corner of the planet in the master-planned community of Southshore! It’s lakeside living in Aurora, with easy access to shopping, restaurants and entertainment. Stop in and tour the stunning models and designs from Toll Brothers in Vista Point, Century Communities in The Hills, and Richmond American Homes at Lakeview. Ranch and two-story models in this master-planned community are priced from the upper $300s to the $700s.