FRIDAY
What is art?
FOLK ART|The title gets to the heart of the matter: “Carhenge: Genius or Junk.” A new 30-minute documentary, created by University of Colorado at Denver faculty and students, explores the re-creation of Stonehenge in Alliance, Neb., using junk cars. Some people scorn it. Others love it. What is undeniable is that it has become a popular tourist destination|screening, 7 p.m. today |Recital Hall, King Center, Auraria campus; free; 303-352-3500 or cudenver.edu/cam/events.
SATURDAY
One night of Watts
SYMPHONIC MUSIC|Andre Watts, one of the most widely known pianists of the past several decades, joins the Colorado Springs Philharmonic for a special one-night concert. Featured will be Sergei Rachmaninoff’s popular Piano Concerto No.2. |8 p.m. Saturday|Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs; $35-$75; 719-520-7469 or 866-464-2626 ticketswest.com.
SUNDAY
Ballet series
DANCE|Ballet Hispanico Artistic Director Tina Romero and her 13-member ensemble mount two dances revealing Latino cultural history and humanity during a one-night performance marking the beginning of the University of Colorado-Boulder’s annual Artist Series|7:30 p.m. Sunday|Macky Auditorium, CU-Boulder; $10-$47; 303-492-8008; cuconcerts .org.
Fun for foodies
FESTIVAL|The Denver Food and Wine Classic offers more than 300 wines and spirits, taste-plates from several local restaurants, trendy cocktails and food competitions. The event is sponsored by the Colorado Restaurant Association Education Fund and Southern Wine & Spirits of Colorado|2-6 p.m. Sunday|Universal Lending Pavilion, 1700 Seventh St.; $50-$60 via Ticketmaster or 303-830-2972.
THE WEEKEND
Alsop returns
SYMPHONIC MUSIC|Just days after winning a MacArthur “genius grant,” Marin Alsop returns to Colorado to lead the Colorado Symphony. Now the orchestra’s conductor laureate, she will join French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet for a program including Edvard Grieg’s beloved Piano Concerto in A minor|7:30 p.m. today and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday|Boet-
tcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets; $15-$65; 303-623-7876 or coloradosymphony.org.
All aboard!
FAMILY FUN|It has been 60 years since the introduction of “The Railway Series” children’s books that featured Thomas, a locomotive, and his friends. To celebrate, Thomas is chugging around the country taking children on 25-minute train rides|8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. today-Sunday|Colorado Railroad Museum, 17155 W. 44th Ave., Golden; $14; 800-365-6263 or crrm.org.
Mama mia!
ITALIAN CULTURE|The Italian Food and Wine Festival features a red-sauce cook-off, wine tastings, chef demonstrations, Central City Opera performers, free movies and children’s story times. Gli Sbandieratori, flag throwers from Florence, Italy, will perform. Vendors will sell everything from sausages to sculptures|10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday|Belmar, West Alameda Avenue and South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood; free; 303-742-1520 or belmarcolorado.com.
Picnic opens garden
SCULPTURE GARDEN|The $300,000 Dickinson Sculpture Garden is finished, and the Foothills Art Center is celebrating with a picnic and garden festival. Jesus Moroles, who oversaw the garden’s design and created a set of sculptures for it, will speak at 1 p.m.|11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday|Foothills Art Center, 809 15th St., Golden; free; 303-279-3922 or foot hillsartcenter.org.
THE WEEK
Hip-hop benefit
NIGHTLIFE|The Colorado Hip-Hop Coalition continues its two-part fundraising event, “Kickin’ Katrina to the Curb!” with a local music showcase featuring rock and rap acts. Proceeds benefit such grassroots organizations in Louisiana as the St. Mary Community Action Agency and the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic|8 p.m. Wednesday|Polly Esther’s, 2301 Blake St.; $5; 303-359-9414.
Oceans of beer
FESTIVAL|This year’s Great American Beer Festival features 1,669 brews from 380 breweries, the largest gathering of U.S. beers in one festival. Mayor John Hickenlooper opens the Connoisseur session/medals ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Saturday|5:30-10 p.m. Thursday-Oct. 1.|Colorado Convention Center, 14th and Stout streets; $35-$50, designated drivers $15; 303-447-0816 or beertown.org.
Art of the West
ART|Views of the American West are always changing, just like the vast region itself. A continuing exhibition explores contemporary takes on the West by painters from across the country, including Skip Whitcomb of Fort Collins and Joellyn Duesberry of Denver. A corollary show highlights another Colorado artist, “John Hull: Pictures from Sonny’s Place”|Through Dec. 22|University of Wyoming Art Museum, Laramie; free; 307-766-6622 or uwart mus@uwyo.edu.
