Zak Hennessey stood on a dusty stage that would not look out of place at an underground punk show. A collection of multipurpose spotlights illuminated his excitement as he ran through the story of Denver Entertainment Art and Design Academy — for at least the third time that day. This…
Summer is on its way, and the best way to greet its start is with some hot fashion events. From celebrating Denver Fashion Truck’s first anniversary to a steamy pool-party fashion series, here are ten must-attend events to put on the June calendar. See also: Host a fashion swap party…
#78: Buntport Theater Brian Colonna, Hannah Duggan, Erik Edborg, Erin Rollman, Samantha Schmitz and (sometimes) Evan Weissman are Buntport Theater, and it’s not too far off the mark to think of this sextet of personalities as a single entity — that’s just how they work, slinging ideas back and forth…
By nearly all accounts, the New York City of the late ’70s and early ’80s was a complete shithole. Crime-ridden, rundown and sketchy as fuck, it was the kind of place where you didn’t want to find yourself alone late at night (or even in the middle of the day…
#79: Brad K. Evans Brad K. Evans is a different kind of leader, one who casts a skewed entrepreneurial light upon all his pursuits — of which there are many. And he does it all with a sense of humor and adventure. Artist, designer, dumpster diver, realtor and bike advocate,…
Clothes to Kids Denver, a non-profit organization that provides free clothing for school-aged children, has temporarily closed its doors for a construction project. But when all of the work is done, Clothes to Kids will have doubled its physical space — allowing the organization to serve more kids. See also:…
When #YesAllWomen began as a hashtag on Twitter over the weekend, I sat back for a while and observed. As a woman who writes for the Internet — and often writes about misogyny, feminism and the world I experience as a woman — I have learned that you don’t always…
Sam Yamini has come a long way since getting his first tattoo in a trailer. Originally from Las Cruces, New Mexico, he has been tattooing for fourteen years and is a founder of Dedication Tattoo with Andy Canino, Jason Boatman and Brian Thurow. Westword recently sat down with Yamini, who…
Watching period dramas like Mad Men, it’s easy to think that the elaborately costumed women of yesteryear just had an innately sophisticated sense of style. But that’s not the case — the Joan Holloways and Betty Drapers of the era were well-instructed in the art of dress by a group…
J-Chans Designs are what art looks like when it comes to life. Jessica Rowell, the creative soul behind J-Chans Designs, blends her background as a painter, costumer and DIY aficionado to design some of Denver most unique pieces of art-infused fashion. Some of those pieces will be featured at tonight’s…
The legalization of marijuana has put Colorado at the forefront of social change, and the fashion community is evolving as well. Danica Harcourt and Jason Brown recently founded Imperfect Circle Apparel, a local clothing company that specializes in making more visually pleasing weed-fashion. Smokewear is going mainstream! See also: Menswear…
#80: Katie Kruger When we think of “creatives,” we often think of “creators” — artists, authors, musicians and actors. But Katie Kruger breaks out of that box. From her vantage point as board co-chair for the Denver Art Museum’s CultureHaus young professionals group, which works to encourage cultural philanthropy in…
If you were born after, say, 1980 and/or you didn’t grow up as a huge geek, you probably have no idea that, for a brief time, RPG hysteria was a very real thing. That’s right, for five or six years in the early to mid-’80s (and probably to this day…
In the social network age, it’s easier than ever to take on new hobbies, thanks in part to online communities like Colorado-based Craftsy.com, which offers streamlined instructions on the web. To celebrate its third anniversary, today the website is giving away all the lessons it typically charges for today. See…
Becky Tate was the last speaker to take the stage last February during Ignite Denver 16 — a periodic event that invites people to give five-minute, twenty-slide presentations about anything they want — and she was a good choice: Tate’s talk was about sex, and it was called “30 Days…
Many times in my life, others have assumed I was a vegetarian. At a work function or a family dinner, someone would attempt to pass me some kind of animal product, only to pull back the offering abruptly and say, “Oh, I forgot. You’re vegetarian.” But I’m not a vegetarian…
#81: Stephen Batura Colorado native Stephen Batura is a painter’s painter, best-known for his large, monochromatic works on wood panels inspired by Charles Lillybridge’s photographs of everyday life from a century ago. Also known for working big, Batura created “Rehearsal,” a detailed mural he painted to sprawl above the bar…
Our current cover story, Alan Prendergast’s “Party in the Park,” looks at how Denver’s park rangers are gearing up for a busy summer season. In response, Westword writers are weighing in with appraisals of their own favorite Denver parks, continuing with Susan Froyd’s tribute to Garland Park. Despite the recent…
Andy Canino started out with a basic tattooing kit and a natural talent for art. He figured out how to tattoo on his own, and has been tattooing professionally for almost a decade. He is now co-owner of Dedication Tattoo. Westword recently sat down with Canino, who talked about making…
In 2008, The Advocate published “Is Gay the New Black?,” an article comparing the gay rights struggle to the civil rights movement. The story unleashed a fury of critique: How could people compare the fight for gay marriage to the abolition of Jim Crow and segregation? But as a string…
Robin King and Lynn Till had been running in the same social circles for years before the two sat down and realized they shared a passion for beauty products. “She just randomly said to me one day, I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but would you like to…
Denver’s park-going public have long enjoyed whiling away summer afternoons sunning on the gently sloping hills of Cheesman Park. Whether strolling through the park’s neoclassical pavilion, enjoying the view of the distant cityscape over the treetops, or happening upon an especially festive Quinceañera, there are always good times to be found in Cheesman Park –along with the occasional human skull.
