Escape Those January Blues!

January 21, 2021

With a mix of virtual and IRL (In Real Life) events going on in the Denver and Aurora area this weekend, you and your family should find plenty to do! Online offerings include virtual concerts from Boston Pops-inspired music to indie artist Juliana Hatfield. IRL museum events include special exhibits including LEGO art and Mexican Modern art. You can even build a magical fairy garden!

TODAY/TONIGHT, January 21

POPS GOES TO THE ORCHESTRA
Spend a delightful afternoon with the style of music made famous by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops! All of the great orchestras of the world have embraced this lighter and more “popular” style of instrumental music, imminently hummable and memorable! 

This virtual concert will be an exploration of works by renowned composers including Tchaikovsky, Rossini, and Leroy Anderson, as well as many tunes you’ve heard before by composers you may not have heard of—Emil von Reznicek, Franz von Suppé, Jules Massenet, Pietro Mascagni and Émile Waldteufel. This event is sponsored by Springbrooke, Garden Plaza of Aurora, Five Star Residences of Dayton Place, Kaiser Permanente, and HealthONE.

Active Minds Webinar Zoom Link
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Phone: 303-364-7485

Thursday-Sunday, January 21-24

LEGOS GALORE
You’ve probably heard about this awesome special exhibit at DMNS—isn’t it time to see for yourself? Imagine great works of art, skeletons of dinosaurs, and original sculptures all made of LEGO bricks!

Contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya is a genius at duplicating so many familiar artworks into LEGO creations—including Van Gogh’s Starry Night and the Venus de Milo. He also built the famous Yellow Man, a life-sized sculpture with thousands of yellow bricks cascading from his chest!

Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver
Thurs./Sat./Sun., 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Fri., 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $7 – $9 (plus Museum Admission)
Phone: 303.370.6000

FINAL WEEKEND FOR FRIDA KAHLO 
Maybe you were lucky enough to score some tickets for this special event—or maybe you want to keep trying! If COVID restrictions ease up, additional tickets MAY be released for this phenomenal exhibit!

The collection of Mexican Modernists on display includes the collection of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and other revolutionary Mexican artists. This exhibition takes a closer look at the role that art, artists, and their supporters played in the emergence of national identity and creative spirit after the Mexican Revolution ended in 1920.

Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20 – $26 (includes Museum Admission)
Phone: 720-865-5000

GRATITUDE HEARTS
Get ready for Valentine’s Day by contributing to the Gratitude Wall that’s being created in the Stanley Marketplace! It’s easy to take part and you’ll get a warm feeling inside by contributing your own Gratitude Hearts to the wall!

Just stop by the Trunk Nouveau Boutique and fill out a Gratitude Heart for anyone you are grateful for in your life. It could be a significant other, a family member, a health care worker, a neighbor—-the more you start thinking about who makes your life better, the more grateful you’ll be! A $1 donation to Stanley’s Denver Feed It Forward program is recommended for each heart you fill out.

Trunk Nouveau, Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St. #170, Aurora
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Sun., 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Donation: $1 suggested

CARNE Y ARENA VIRTUAL REALITY
The cutting-edge virtual reality project, Carne y Arena, takes you on a journey amongst a group of immigrants and refugees as they strive to find a better life for themselves and their families. The virtual reality sequence is a multi-narrative space with human characters, based on true accounts.

Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora
12:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$55

TAKE A SPIN ON THE POND
Only in winter do you get to enjoy the magical sensation of gliding over water with two skinny little blades attached to your feet! Whether you are a fan of ice skating or new to the sport, the Pond at Southlands is where everyone meets to enjoy this fun activity!

The Pond at Southlands, 6155 S. Main St., Aurora
Thurs., 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.; Fri., 4:00 – 10:00 p.m.; /Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.; Sun., 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $12
Phone: 303-627-5000

Saturday, January 23

LATIN DANCE CLASS
This sizzling Latin dance class is just what you need to warm up! Head to the park for a socially-distanced outdoor Zumba class, where you’ll get a great workout while learning some impressive dance moves. All ages and abilities are welcome. Afterwards, enjoy half-price beer and non-alcoholic beverages!

Cheluna Brewing Company, 2501 Dallas St., Suite 148, Aurora
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Register: $6

JULIANA HATFIELD LIVESTREAM CONCERT
Indie singer-songwriter Juliana Hatfield is helping to ease the monotony of the pandemic by playing an entire album once a month and livestreaming it to the world! This month, Hatfield will perform her entire 1998 album, Bed, with just an acoustic guitar. The show is pay-what-you-want!

Q Division YouTube channel
2:00 p.m. MST
Link: Pay what you want

ITALIAN CULINARY DATE NIGHT
What a great way to spend a cold winter’s night! You and your significant other can have a date at home, learning how to make a restaurant-quality Italian dinner! The price includes an ingredient kit portioned for the number of attendees, a recipe pack, information on equipment you’ll need, and access to the live Zoom session. 

Then you’ll cook along with the chef in real time! The menu includes Bruschetta with Tapenade, Risotto Cacio, Pepe e Bisi, Pan Roasted Chicken Saltimbocca, and Olive Oil Cake.

Cook Street School of Culinary Arts Online
6:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Register: $50
Phone: 303-308-9300

Saturday-Sunday, January 23-24

BUILD A FAIRY GARDEN
Treat the family to a whimsical outdoor adventure! Kids ages 5 and up will be delighted to create a miniature landscape for fairies and other mystical creatures, and you’ll be there to share in the joy! 

The project fee includes all the materials you’ll need, including a garden container, plants, and access to a variety of natural and manmade materials to use for decoration. The self-guided and self-paced program will give you suggestions about which plants fairies fancy, so that you can design, plant, and landscape your own tiny fairy oasis! Online pre-registration is required.

Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver
9:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 1:00 p.m., or 2:30 p.m.
Register: $12-$15
Phone: 720-865-3500

Family-friendly activities in the Southshore area!

There’s always something to do near the family-friendly community of Southshore! Enjoy Life at the Lake with plenty of cultural and entertainment activities in the surrounding area! Check out the beautiful model homes from Richmond American Homes, Toll Brothers, and Taylor Morrison, and picture yourself in your very own dream house! With ranch and two-story models available, new homes are priced from the upper $400s to the $700s.