We’re now a month into spring and coming up on a majorly important holiday: Earth Day. “Earth Day?” you ask, unsure of my categorization of “major” holidays. Yes, Earth Day. Because what holiday could be more important than one celebrating the physical reason we’re all able to be alive!
This month in Denver, you’ll find a suite of late April events designed to make the Earth a better place—some in an environmental sense, some in humanizing ways, but all geared toward making this planet infinitely more awesome. Now that’s something we can all get behind, right?
Apr. 21: Hubble Space Telescope’s 25th Anniversary
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into space on April 24,1990, and forever changed our view of the universe. It’s fitting that the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS) will celebrate 25 years of the Hubble on April 21, the day before Earth Day. The Earth is so small when compared to the vastness of the universe, isn’t it?
As the Hubble has aged, she’s been spruced up. The DMNS has gathered a group of panelists who have played a major role in the Hubble’s work over the last 25 years. You know how much we love learning about space? Infinity times! And we hope you do, too!
When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 21
Where: Denver Museum of Nature and Science Phipps IMAX Theater, 2001 Colorado Boulevard
Tickets: $8 member, $10 non-member
April 22: Earth Day Denver
At this Certified Green event, produced by the City and County of Denver, residents can learn to live more sustainably. Go green and do your part to reduce-reuse-recycle, thanks to interactive displays and demonstrations about everything from recycling to solar panels to urban gardening and making your own cleaning products. You can even test-drive electric cars and bikes! This event is the most literal on our list, as in you can literally make the world a better place by using the lessons you’ll glean from Earth Day Denver. Who wouldn’t want to do that?
What: Earth Day Denver
When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday, April 22
Where: Civic Center Park, E. Broadway Ave. & Colfax
Tickets: FREE
Apr. 22: Denver Botanic Gardens SCFD Free Day
What better way to celebrate the earth than to meander through flora and fauna on Earth Day and support a cultural institution dedicated to preserving botanical life and providing a home to native insects and birds? Take full advantage of living in a city that supports culture and head over to the Denver Botanic Gardens on Earth Day for an SCFD Free Day. Since 1989, the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) has kept arts and culture at the center of the Denver-metro lifestyle. SCFD distributes funds from a special sales tax (1/10 of 1%) across seven counties in the metropolitan area and makes it possible for institutions like the Botanic Gardens to open their doors to the public at free and reduced prices. See all the 2015 locations with free days at http://scfd.org/p/free-days-calendar.html.
What: Denver Botanic Gardens SCFD Free Day
When: Wednesday, April 22
Where: Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street
Tickets: FREE
Apr. 24-26: Denver Music Summit
Here at WideFoc.us, we’re firm believers that music makes the world a better place. We’re also firm believers in the mission of the Denver Music Summit. A biennial event, the summit is dedicated to bringing together musicians, industry professionals, civic leaders, and music enthusiasts for educational programming, live performances, and policy engagement. Okay, so I might be a little biased since I serve on the planning committee, but that should only solidify how worthy and incredible an event this is!
The three-day summit begins on Friday night with a performance from QBala, Land Lines, and a collaborative supergroup made up of local and national acts. Professional development sessions hosted on Saturday and Sunday include presenters like Thao Nguyen (Thao and the Get Down Stay Down), Joe Gittleman (Mighty Mighty Bosstones), George Schwindt (Flogging Molly), Sean Moeller (Daytrotter), Martin Atkins (NIN, Ministry), Shannon Daut (Alaska State Council on the Arts), and Bodie Johnson (7S Management). But wait, there’s more! Saturday night’s performance is a collaboration between storytellers from The Narrators and the Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra; Sunday night is sponsored by National Public Radio’s All Songs Considered. Isn’t this a heck of a way to spend the weekend and improve your music worldview?
What: Denver Music Summit
When: Friday, April 24-Sunday, April 26
Where: McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 W. Colfax Ave
Tickets: $10 for individual events or $35 for the full weekend pass
Through Apr. 26: Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia
When an artist is asked to take over an entire museum, that’s a pretty special event. And when that artist is Mark Mothersbaugh, a prolific drawer, sculptor, photographer, and mixed media creator (who also happens to be the frontman of the band DEVO), the result is beyond special. If you haven’t seen this magnificent show, which opened at the MCA Denver back in October, you’re in luck! The retrospective—spanning Mothersbaugh’s career from the early 1970s to the present—has been extended through Sunday, April 26. Go and bask in creative genius. After all, the Earth without art is just “eh.” (Hey! Sometimes bumper sticker wisdom is actually wise.)
What: Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia
When: Through Sunday, April 26
Where: Museum OF Contemporary Art Denver, 1485 Delgany St
Tickets: $8 ($5 after 5PM)
Did we miss something noteworthy and you want to give us grief about it? Tweet to us at @WideFocusCO and our office fish, Pluto, will splash some sass back your way!
—by Leah Charney
Leah Charney is sassy yet classy and is most excited by the things she can't stop writing about, like food, music, and people. She directs operations for the WideFoc.us team, which is just a fancy way of saying she is chief cat herder.
