Moody's Picks

THE PICKS (July 3-6)

Fireworks. They're everywhere this weekend. Including the electric transformer in the back of my yard! Happy 4th!

(Between beers, take a second to remember what it means and the people that made it so.)

THEATER

 


DENVER CENTER THEATER COMPANY CELEBRATES IT'S 30TH SEASON!!

QUILTERS
May 22-July 12
The Stage Theatre

(This rousing musical originated here and has won raves around the country. Now it's back! Don't miss it!)

DENVER CENTER ATTRACTIONS 

CHITTY, CHITTY, BANG, BANG
July 23-26
Buell Theatre

Delightful musical production of the children's story by Ian Fleming. There's no dramatic "heavy lifting" in this, but I found myself just captivated. Fun for the entire family.

AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY
July 24-Aug 8
Ellie Caulkins Opera House

This won the Tony award as Best Play a few years back. An emotional roller coaster that leaps between comedy and drama as you meet one of the most interesting dysfunctional families that has ever graced a stage. Fascinating work. I could see it a hundred times and still find new emotional or comic nooks and crannies within. Beautifully written.
 
TICKETS AND INFORMATION TO ALL SHOWS AT THE DCPA:
(303) 893-4100
Or use that link right over there -->
 
BIG RIVER
July 14-Aug 9
Arvada Center

NOW OPEN:

ANNIE
Boulder's Dinner Theater
(303) 449-6000

The classic Broadway musical is a family favorite for any number of reasons -- here -- it's not only the great music, but the cast as well, including both newcomers and staples of the BDT stage. Directed by Scott Beyette with choreography by Alicia Dunfee. 

GIRLS ONLY
Galleria Theater
(303) 893-4100

GIRLS ONLY will return this fall to the Garner Galleria Theater. The Denver Center will produce the show and tour it around the country ... if not the world. And we saw it first! Well, I didn't. I'm a boy. But -- many women in Denver did. I think they're really going places.

CHECK ON GROUP TICKET SALES -- YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SAVE A COUPLE OF BUCKS ON CERTAIN NIGHTS FOR ALL THESE SHOWS!!! GET A BUNCH OF FRIENDS TOGETHER AND ENJOY A NIGHT AT THE THEATER!
 

MOVIES

NOW OPEN:

PUBLIC ENEMIES
R
Johnny Depp
Christian Bale

Based on a great book, it's got some great action scenes and insight into the times, but I felt strangely disconnected from it all. Good, not great. A Hollywoodized history of John Dillinger.

TRANSFORMERS 2
PG-13
Shia LaBoeuf
Megan Fox

There's a subtitle on this, but I can't remember what it is. Though fast moving and chocked with action, I have no cultural tie to these movies as I never had the toys. Go. Enjoy. Make it a part of your life. I'll be fine right here.

MY SISTER'S KEEPER
Rated PG-13
Cameron Diaz
Abigail Breslin

A daughter who was born to provide spare parts for her leukemia afflicted sister, sues her parents in an effort to set her own destiny.

THE PROPOSAL
RATED PG-13
Sandra Bullock
Ryan Reynolds
Betty White

It's nice to have Sandra Bullock back in a rom-com. Betty White, too. And, it's nice to have Ryan Reynolds get more than the two lines he did in X Men Origins.

THE HANGOVER    RATED R

Buddy comedy in Vegas. Great word of mouth. Could be breakout comedy of the summer.

 
TAKING OF PELHAM 123   
RATED R

Remake of classic heist film. Looks more like terrorism now.

UP
Rated PG

The latest from Disney/Pixar, a touching, thrilling, hilarious adventure about life, growing older and never letting the child inside die away. I JUST LOVED THIS!!!!! Best so far this season.

STAR TREK
Rated PG-13

Chris Pine
Zachary Quinto
Leonard Nimoy

A restart, reimagining of the Star Trek universe that reintroduces all our favorite characters from the very start of their "Five Year Mission." Amazing action, wonderful fun.
 

MUSIC & EVENTS

TOUR DE FRANCE
July 4- 26
Versus Cable Channel

I'm not really supposed to talk about other forms of TV, but with names like these in play -- Lance, Alberto, Cadel, Carlos, Levi, Mark -- you know you're going to have high drama on the high roads of France. Let's just hope that this year's version is as clean as they're promising it will be. Hey -- you know where I'll be for the next three weeks. Call me there.
 
COLORADO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
(303) MAESTRO 
coloradosymphony.org

Magnificent musical works every weekend -- from the Masters to the Pops. One of Denver's great arts organizations. Take them in and find yourself enriched.  

Sounds of America
July 4, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood
Scott O'Neil, associate conductor
Katie Mahan, piano

PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCE
300 Rock Posters from The San Francisco Bay Area
Through July 19
Denver Art Museum
(Ticketed Show)
($15 for adults/$7 children to age 18)

A very colorful and mind altering journey through the musical landscape of the late 60s and early 70s. I didn't even remember The Amazing Charlatans, but just about everybody else has a portion of my income from those years. A wonderful journey back in time.  

MILE HIGH MUSIC FESTIVAL
July 18-19
Grounds of Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Widespread Panic
Tool
The Fray
3OH!3
Buddy Guy
India.Arie
Many Many Many More
milehighmusicfestival.com
tickethorse.com

RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
ALL SUMMER
LARKSPUR
Discount Tix at King Soopers
Great Fun for the Entire Family
Food, Music, Games, Shows

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: KOOZA
Under the Grand Chapiteau
Pepsi Center Grounds
Opens August 20
Tickets on Sale Now
cirquedusoleil.com
ticketmaster.com
OR -- look at the top of this page. We've got a link. 

DENVER ZOO
FREE DAYS 2009

October 7 & 25
November 8 and 11

DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE
FREE DAYS 2009

July 13, August 12, September 13, October 4, November 2, November 22.

DENVER ART MUSEUM
FREE DAYS 2009

First Saturday of Every Month (Free to Colorado Residents)

(This free day does not include admission to: THE PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCE: ROCK POSTERS FROM SAN FRANCISCO. That is a ticketed show ... but tickets are a modest $15 for adults/$7 for kids up to age 18)


*****************
 
LANNIE'S CLOCKTOWER CABARET
16th and Arapahoe
(303) 293-0075

EVERY THURSDAY:
Naughty Pierre's Comedy/Burlesque Extravaganza
A lost style of American comedy and dance is presented every week on the Clocktower Stage. I'd suggest this be for Mature Audiences. 


Check this place out. There is ALWAYS something going on!

DVD This Week

 

JULY 7:

KNOWING
Rated PG-13

Nic Cage figures out all the world's disasters based on a bunch of numbers found in a time capsule. Oddly enough -- there were no numbers corresponding to this disaster of a movie.

THE UNBORN
Unrated

Enter a world of terror ... wait, that's the blurb from the back of the box. Scary movie. Woman plagued by bad dreams. OOOOOooooOOOOOO.

    
IF YOU ARE INTENT ON BUYING THESE -- SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST DEALS!! OTHERWISE -- YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT JOINING A BY MAIL OR ON LINE RENTAL CLUB -- FOR A FLAT MONTHLY FEE -- YOU CAN RENT A TON OF NEW MOVIES. THE RATE BEATS ON-DEMAND PRICES AND MOST RENTAL SHOPS.

RESTAURANT

 

RESTAURANT NOTES FROM RIDE THE ROCKIES:

GLENWOOD CANYON BREWING COMPANY
Glenwood Springs

Ah, the name says it all. Have the Nut Brown Ale.

THE GOLDEN BURRO
Leadville

I know I was looking for comfort food after the windblown ride from Salida to Leadville, but I don't think I've EVER had a better grilled cheese and tomato soup. A wonderful small town diner.

THE TROUGH
Gunnison

Good ribs. And I love any place called The Trough. I drank my birthday there.

THE ITALIAN UNDERGROUND
Glenwood Springs

Ah, what a way to cap Ride the Rockies. Good Italian food in a wonderfully intimate atmosphere.

BOOKS

 

PUBLIC ENEMIES
Bryan Burrough
$16
Penguin

Look, the Johnny Depp movie is based on a part of this book, but the book is SO much better, following all the major bank robbers of the period and exploring the birth of the FBI. Fascinating look at the cultural landscape of the Great Depression.