It’s been a wet and soggy spring here in the Queen City of the Plains. (Who do we think we are, Portland? Sheesh!) Whether you’re ready to get outdoors, or happy to relax inside, this month in Denver we celebrate summer by crushing on annual events and serieses. Tell us which ones make your list!
Beginning June 11: MCA Denver’s Mixed Taste 2015 Season
Horror films and the sun? What could possibly be more different? Well, fern bars and George Orwell, for one. But that’s the whole point of Mixed Taste!
Mixed Taste: Tag Team Lectures on Unrelated Topics pairs two speakers, who each talk for twenty minutes on completely unrelated subjects. A question and answer session follows. During the presentation portion of the program, no connections are allowed between the topics, but during the Q&A, anything can happen. The first Mixed Taste of the season is, actually, Fern Bars & George Orwell, presented by Nicola Twilley and Helen Thorpe on June 11. Or, show up on June 25 for Mixed Taste #2, and see Horror Films & The Sun with James Fiumara and Steve Tomczyk. We have a feeling it’ll be a summer of interesting segues. The series goes through August and truly is a mixed bag — in the best possible way!
What: Mixed Taste: Tag Team Lectures on Unrelated Topics
When: 6 p.m., every other Thursday, June 11 through August 20, 2015
Where: Holiday Event Center, 2644 W. 32nd Avenue
Tickets: $15 members, $20 nonmembers, $80 members only VIP Season Pass
June 12: Be Beautiful Be Yourself Hollywood Ball
Come one, come all (as long as you’re 16 or older), to the fourth annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Hollywood Ball! The Global Down Syndrome Foundation invites adults with Down syndrome, their family and friends, and all community supporters, to enjoy a night of dinner and dancing. This year’s theme is “Gold & Glam.” It should be a night of Gatsbian-level dancing and glitz. Full disclosure, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation is a WideFoc.us client, which makes us even more excited about this year’s big party. We can’t wait to get our glam on while supporting this fantastic cause! Who’s ready to glam it up with us?
When: 6 p.m., Friday, June 12
Where: Four Seasons Hotel, Cottonwood Ballroom, 1111 14th Street
Tickets: $50
June 20: Westword Music Showcase
The Westword Music Showcase, now in its 21st year and finally of legal drinking age, is a celebration of our state's vibrant music scene. Colorado is home to internationally renowned bands, indie artists, and Grammy winners, so this annual music event provides a prime opportunity to take in both local and national acts. Flume, MisterWives, Black Angels, Robert DeLong, and hundreds of other bands will be taking the stage to dazzle Denverites with tons of tunes.
Get ready to see performances in just about any genre you can think of — and probably ones you can’t! This all-day music fest has become a summer staple and we can’t wait to take it all in again this year. Which acts are you just dying to see?
What: Westword Music Showcase
When: 12-10 p.m., Saturday, June 20
Where: Golden Triangle District, Denver
Tickets: $40 general admission, $100 VIP
June 21: Denver PrideFest
Did you know that this old cow town boasts one of the country’s largest gay pride celebrations? Dust off that rainbow feather boa and help Denver celebrate its 40th pride anniversary (yes, 40th!) by coming down to the weekend-long PrideFest in Civic Center Park. Let’s not forget the parade that runs down Colfax from Cheesman to Civic Center on Sunday and the tons of other fun activities in between!
If you were curious, one of those activities happens to be a Dogs in Drag contest. Community Manager Sara Grossman promises to dress her mini schnauzer Maddie up for the occasion, because, we know: pictures or it didn’t happen.
What: Denver PrideFest
When: Saturday June 20 & Sunday, June 21
Where: Civic Center Park
Cost: Free!
June 27: Brews & Bites
‘Ello Gov’na! The folks at Imbibe Events have an excellent evening of food, drink and fun lined up for us in "Colorado's Home," the beautiful Governor's Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. Built as a private residence for the Cheesman family in 1908 (yep, as in Cheesman Park), the house was gifted to the State of Colorado and has been available for use by Governors since 1960, both as a home and for official Governor's Functions.
Enjoy tastes of Colorado Brewers Guild members’ masterfully crafted beer paired with the culinary creations of well-known Colorado chefs while wandering the mansion’s many rooms and gardens. Cheat on your diet for this one; it’s for charity! The proceeds from your ticket purchase benefit the Governor's Residence Preservation Fund, an inclusive, non-partisan 501(c)3 dedicated to preserving the historic Governor's Residence at the Boettcher Mansion for the people of Colorado to enjoy.
What: Brews & Bites
When: Saturday, June 27
Where: Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion, 400 East 8th Ave
Tickets: $80 general admission, $200 VIP
June 30: Steamboat Bill Jr. Silent Film
One of our favorite events is back in (silent) action this summer. You may already know we’re big fans of the silent film series up at Chatauqua in Boulder. They keep us coming back for more every summer. On June 30, experience Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928), starring Buster Keaton—a man who Operations Maven Leah Charney has a framed photo of on her bedroom wall!—with live musical accompaniment by The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. We can’t think of a better reason to wear suspenders in the summer. (We’re all looking for more reasons to wear suspenders, yes?)
The Colorado Chautauqua Association is committed to making the Colorado Chautauqua the country’s “greenest” National Historic Landmark. They do this by creating a sustainable and eco-friendly environment for concert-goers, campers, and silent film watchers alike. So come for the evening or stay a while. Keep it authentic and even order a picnic basket for the event!
What: Steamboat Bill Jr.
When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 30
Where: Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder
Tickets: $6-12
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 and Sara Grossman
