Director Todd Haynes on Carol, His Cinematic Love Letter

Filmmaker Todd Haynes has been on the cutting edge of queer cinema for years, transporting viewers through a gay fantasia of unique periods, from Velvet Goldmine’s glam-rock glitter to Far From Heaven’s Technicolor-soaked yearnings, with plenty of dramatic time travel in between. Now, just in time for Christmas, comes Carol, an…

Concussion Takes on the NFL — but Offers Little Drama

Concussion isn’t much of a movie, but it’s a fascinating bellwether for where the National Football League currently stands on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain disease associated with many of its former players. As it happens, the human brain isn’t supposed to whip against the skull like a…

Tarantino’s Bloody Hangout Western Refuses to Play Nice

Here’s to Quentin Tarantino’s cussed perversity. The Hateful Eight, his intimate, suspenseful Western splatter-horror comedy, has been shot at great expense in the long-gone 70mm format, but the movie itself is set almost entirely in cramped interiors. He’s hired Ennio Morricone to score the thing, but don’t expect any rousing…

Meet the First Six Artists Announced for Artopia 2016

It’s cold outside, but plans are heating up for Artopia 2016 on Saturday, February 20 — a night of art, culture and fashion at City Hall. And cocktails, of course, which you can enjoy as you move through seven rooms of art installations and exhibits, curated by Jolt from Guerilla…

Photos: The XXX-Mas Craft Fair at MCA Denver

Holiday drinks and Playboy cut-outs made for a festive time at the XXX-Mas Craft Fair, a risque co-ed ornament-crafting evening at MCA Denver on December 18. Photographer Danielle Lirette captured the all naughty masterpieces crafted with love, glue and a little T&A. Now see the full XXX-Mas Craft Fair slide…

Chris Gethard on Chaos, Humanity and the Weirdo Comics of Denver

Chris Gethard is a hero to a certain mawkish cadre of alternative comedy fans. An Upright Citizens Brigade-hewn improviser, Gethard has branched out into writing, acting and standup, but has never wavered in his good-natured if unsettling commitment to absurdity at the core of the UCB ethos. The Chris Gethard…

Three Things to Do for Free in Denver This Week, December 21-24

Your shopping is done — bring on the fun! There are many free events this week to keep you entertained — and also amuse your out-of-town guests. You can welcome winter around the fire, laugh at some video games or check out a couple of classic Christmas films. If you…

Silverton Mountain Is Open: Here’s What’s New for 2015

Silverton Mountain, Colorado’s highest, steepest ski area, is open. You can read about every Colorado ski resort in the Edge, our winter sports guide, as we roll it out online. Each description lays out what’s new, what the signature experience is, what to splurge on, how to go cheap and,…

Street Style: Blogger Amber Wilkerson Spotted at the Four Seasons

We stumbled into some serious style when we spotted Amber Wilkerson, owner of  a local spray tan business, Amber Spray Tans, and author of the blog Every Once in a Style, after Larimer Square’s Winter Fashion Show at Edge in the Four Seasons. “It was awesome,” she said. “I love seeing local…

Powderhorn Ski Mountain Is Open: Here’s What’s New for 2015

Located 45 minutes east of Grand Junction, Powderhorn is Colorado’s westernmost ski area, and so far this season, conditions there have reportedly been great. You can read about every Colorado ski resort in the Edge, our winter sports guide, as we roll it out online. Each description lays out what’s…

Gallery Sketches: Four New Shows in Denver This Weekend

Local galleries and co-ops are in the holiday swing, offering year-end group showcases and lots of affordable art. Take a break from the malls and the non-stop Christmas music and feed your soul by looking at something awesome — and then take it home with you. Kanon Tenth Anniversary Show…

The Ten Best Westerns Filmed in Colorado (Before The Hateful Eight)

Quentin Tarentino’s The Hateful Eight opens this week, the latest chapter in a long tradition of Westerns filmed in Colorado. The state’s epic scenery has made this a destination for filmmakers for more than a century, and many of them made Westerns. From film’s beginnings to the early 1960s, Westerns were…

New Year’s Eve: The Naked Truth About One Wild Night

For some people, New Year’s Eve is the greatest night of the year. For others, it’s time to stay home, solo and safe. And for a few people…well, keep reading for this epic account from Robbie Herst, the winner of our My Best/Worst New Year’s Eve contest. As I ran…

Star Wars and Potty Training: The Two Poles of Parenthood

This past week has been a big one at my house, with two ongoing major life milestones for my little girl. First, my wife decided that now that the kiddo’s fourth birthday is on the horizon — she’s almost exactly three-and-a-half — it’s time to stop fucking around and get…

Ski Granby Ranch Opens Today: Here’s What’s New for 2015

Ski Granby Ranch opens today with a limited amount of terrain. The resort is hosting a holiday food drive in conjunction with its opening called Carve Away Hunger. If you bring three food items, you will receive a discounted all-day lift ticket. You can read about every Colorado ski resort in…

How Star Wars-Style Fantasy Violence Conquered Our Culture

A while back, a friend expressed concern that her son, a ten-year-old, was watching too much My Little Pony. “It’s sweet,” she said, “but not what I’d choose.” I asked what she would prefer that he watch. “Well, his dad started him on that new Star Wars cartoon.” That cartoon…