Dress for the holidays
Ballet 101: Nutcracker Trunk Show
Free. 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Denver Public Library Central Branch, B2 Conference Center, 10 West 14th Ave. Parkway, Denver
Although we have hardly begun to contemplate who might sit next to whom at Thanksgiving dinner, apparently the holiday season is in full swing. Parades of lights, holiday markets, it’s all happening already. To more gently ease ourselves into the spirit of the season, we’re recommending the Colorado Ballet’s low-key trunk show of artifacts from the troupe of dancers who bring you “The Nutcracker” each year. There will be talk about the show and the history of ballet, plus some insider dirt on the life of dancers and their performance. The company will also bring some of the costumes that will be used when the curtain rises on “The Nutcracker” in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on Nov. 26.
TODAY
11 a.m.-5 p.m. – Steamboat Festival of Trees featuring 26 festive Christmas trees decorated by local businesses and nonprofits. | Through Nov. 21 | Tread of Pioneers Museum, Eighth and Oak, Steamboat Springs | Info: 970-879-2214
MORE THIS WEEK
TUESDAY – A new peek at Pike’s Western expedition presented by Colorado State University professor Jared Orsi as part of the Colorado Historical Society’s Legends & Legacies lecture series. 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. | $7.50, $6 members, reservations required, 303-866-4686 | Colorado History Museum, 1300 Broadway, Denver.
TUESDAY – Lamont Guitar Ensembles concert conducted by Masakazu Ito and Jonathan Leathwood, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. | Free. | Hamilton Recital Hall at the Newman Center, University of Denver. Info: 303-871-6412.
TUESDAY – The wraps come off of the “Narnia”-themed holiday display in the Grand Court at Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Wander through a group of giant, interactive snow globes or pass through the magic wardrobe into a 20-foot-tall globe in which theatrical snow is falling. The first 100 visitors get a copy of the C.S. Lewis book that inspired the movie “The Chronicles of Narnia,” a snow globe, a bag of Turkish delight candy and a free green-screen photo that puts them in the movie. 8:30 a.m. | Free | Cherry Creek mall, 3000 E. First Ave. Info: cherrycreekmall.com
WEDNESDAY – The Dream: Never Forget photo exhibit documenting the lives of Italian immigrants in Denver, Chicago, New Orleans, New York and San Francisco opens. | Archivio Centrale Dello Stato, Rome, Italy, moving to the Colorado History Museum in February 2007
NEXT WEEKEND
Haute holiday, tout suite
Sugar Plum Festival
Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center at the Gunnison County Fairgrounds
Gunnison’s 31st-annual event promises some sweet deals on handmade gifts from 75 local artists. Look for wreaths made from sagebrush, tree decorations, table runners, stained glass, pottery, jewelry.
ALSO NEXT WEEKEND
FRIDAY – Opening Day | Crested Butte Alpine Center | 620 Second Street, Big Mine Park, Crested Butte | Info: cbalpine.org
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY – Alpine Orchestra Concerts | The all-volunteer symphony opens its 15th season with three performances of an eclectic program that includes Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” and the patriotic “Fantasy on America.” Performed Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Annunciation Church in Leadville, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at John Held Auditorium in Salida, and at 3 p.m. Sunday at Mountain Heights Baptist Church in Buena Vista. | Free | Info: alpineorchestra.org
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY – Denver Botanic Gardens’ Holiday Sale | Get there early to get a shot at the coveted herbed vinegars made by the Gardens’ Guild from herbs harvested at the gardens. Get there late, and you’ll still have a good time poking through the wares of more than 50 vendors offering handmade and imported goods. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. | Free | Mitchell Hall and Gates Hall, Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St., Denver | Info: 720-865-3500 or botanicgardens.org
