FRIDAY
Parson goes solo
ART|Charles Parson, who heads the visual arts at the Community College of Denver, is among the state’s most widely exhibited artists. A solo show featuring seven of his outdoor sculptures and a selection of small indoor works opens today and will remain on view through July 22.|Opening reception, 6 to 8 p.m. today|Artyard, 1251 S. Pearl St.; free; 303-777-3219.
Butterflies take wing
ART|Butterflies and dragonflies are among nature’s most beautiful and intriguing insects. A new exhibition offers a range of graphic impressions of these flying creatures by 25 local and regional artists. It opens today and runs through July 15.|Opening reception, 6 to 9 p.m. today|Open Press Gallery, 10 E. Ellsworth Ave.; free; call 303-777-7539 or visit openpressltd.com.
SATURDAY
A midnight bite
FILM|”Jaws” starting at midnight? Now that’s scary, kids. The Esquire continues its midnight-madness series with the swim- stopping blockbuster, promising to clear the beaches for the whole season. Let’s hope everyone will shout out in unison, “We’re going to need a bigger boat!”|midnight Saturday|Landmark’s Esquire Theatre, East Sixth Avenue and Downing Street; $7; call 303-352-1992.
Speaking of jaws
DINOSAURS|The Friends of Dinosaur Ridge holds its first Dinosaur Discovery of 2006. Guides stationed along the portion of West Alameda Parkway that goes over the Hogback will share information, answer questions and give demonstrations. Admission is free; shuttle bus rides will be available for $2. Children’s activities will take place at the visitor center.|10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday|Dinosaur Ridge, 16831 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison; free; 303-697-3466
or dinoridge.org.
THE WEEKEND
Songs by Sondheim
MUSICAL THEATER|By any measure, Stephen Sondheim ranks among the giants in American musical theater. Opera Fort Collins will present a production of his 1973 classic “A Little Night Music,” which includes the familiar song “Send in the Clowns.”|
7:30 p.m. Today and Saturday|Colorado State University, Edna Rizley Griffin Concert Hall, 1400 Remington Ave., Fort Collins; $30 and $40; call 970-482-0220 or visit operafortcollins.org.
Mountain strings
YOUTH MUSIC|The Denver Young Artists Orchestra is teaming with four of Steamboat Springs’ top young musicians. Conductor Adam Flatt will lead a one-hour concert including such audience-friendly works as Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings. The event opens the Strings in the Mountains’ 2006 summer season.|4 p.m. Sunday|Strings Music Festival Park, Steamboat Springs; free; call 970-879-5056 or visit stringsinthemountains .com.
Time to rev it up
CAR SHOW|The Goodguys Colorado Nationals expects some 2,000 vehicles for its ninth annual show. They will include 1972 and earlier hot rods, customs, classics, street rods, muscle cars, street machines and trick trucks. The show also features a swap meet along with vendors selling rod and custom parts and accessories.|8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday |Larimer County Fairgrounds and Events Complex, 5280 Arena Circle, Loveland; $6-$15, 6 and younger admitted free; larimer.org/theranch.
THE WEEK
Shorts session
FILM|Joaquin Villalobos begins “Deadbeat” by interviewing his mom. What did she think when she learned he was going to be a dad – a very young one? As personal a start as this is, Villalobos goes beyond his own story to craft a revealing 33-minute documentary about young mothers and fathers, and the children they conceived but don’t raise together. “Deadbeat” is one of four shorts the CU-Boulder film grad will screen at this month’s Denver Film Society Colorado Filmmakers Showcase. |7 p.m. Monday|Starz FilmCenter at the Tivoli, Ninth Street and Auraria Parkway; $5.50-$8.50; call 303-893-FILM.
Eclectic
CELTIC MUSIC|Boulder singer-songwriter Beth Leachman has made an international name for herself in the world of Celtic music. Leachman, a Colorado native, performs with Celtic harpist Margot Krimmel and with her “celt-eclectic” band Parting Glass, which includes Boulder musicians Kevin Dooley, Steve Mullins and Chris Engleman. She also has a pub band called The Chancers, with Marianne Gardiner and Jim Abbott. This concert is billed as Beth Leachman and Friends. |6:30 p.m. Wednesday|Four Mile Historic Park, 715 Forest St.; $2-$7; call 303-777-1003 or visit swallowhill.com.
Some of this ‘n’ that
PERFORMANCE ART|The term “performance art” implies a trip into the new and unusual. In reality, it can be just about anything. Farouche, a loosely affiliated group of artists, dancers, musicians and poets, will venture into this realm with an appearance next week. The program will range from the comical “Milking Machine” to “Näcken,” a work involving live violin, video projection and water.|6:30 p.m. Thursday|Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 1750 13th St.; $8; call 303-443-2122 or see bmoca.org.
