FRIDAY
Mind-expanding
MUSIC/ART|Tired of the same old record release parties? Rocky Mountain Records in conjunction with Object+Thought will present a unique event tonight for “Angkor,” the new ambient electronic CD from Kelly David. Video projections and art from mixmaster Dr. Nez will augment the already mind-expanding sounds.|Tonight|3559 Larimer St., Denver; Music starts at dusk. Libations provided. Free.
SATURDAY
Celtic, African music
EQUINOX FESTIVAL|Planet Bluegrass celebrates the autumnal equinox and end of its summer festival season with Festival of the Mabon. Musical acts spanning Scotland to Africa include The Duhks (pictured below), Shooglenifty, Toubab Krewe, Johnny B. Connolly & Bridgetown, Tornaod and more. Arrive Friday to camp along the St. Vrain river.|11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Saturday|Planet Bluegrass Ranch, 500 W. Main St. in Lyons; $25 for tickets, $10 for camping, free for kids 12 and under.
SUNDAY
It’s free!
MUSEUM DAY|Parents with restless children, now is your chance. The kid- friendly Denver Museum of Nature & Science will host a free day, including demonstrations from “paleopuppeteer” Mr. Bones, planetarium shows, tours, scavenger hunts and more.|9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday|Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd.; free; 303-322-7009.
THE WEEKEND
Long Live Almodovar
FILM|Spanish director Pedro Almodovar has one of the most impressive bodies of work of any modern filmmaker, and his movies always dance along that fine line between art house hit and breakout picture. With his highly acclaimed “Volver” coming out this fall, the Landmark theaters across the nation have rolled out a “Viva Pedro!” festival showing prints of the master’s past works each week. “Law of Desire” starts today, and “Bad Education” and “Live Flesh” begin on Tuesday. See the Landmark website for daily show times. |Ongoing. |Landmark’s Mayan Theatre, Broadway and First Avenue; usual ticket prices; (303) 352-1992
That’s Italian
FESTIVAL|Hey, mambo over to the Festival Italiano offerings at Belmar. The lifestyle complex hosts the Italian Food and Wine Festival. In addition to 65 purveyors of fine food, wine, crafts, there will be a bocce competition, Italian lessons, movies. Saturday afternoon, the 70-piece Jefferson Symphony Orchestra will perform. Still not wowed? Kids can stomp the fruit of the vine to benefit Children’s Hospital.|10 a.m-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday|West Alaska Drive and Saulsbury Street at Belmar, Wadsworth Boulevard and Alameda in Lakewood; free; 303.742.1520 or visit belmarcolorado.com
Sacred chants
DEVOTIONAL SINGING |Denver’s PeaceJam may have ended earlier this week, but you can still catch devotional singer Snatam Kaur on her “Celebrate Peace” tour this weekend. The Colorado-born Sacred Chant artist will be backed by GuruGanesha Singh’s signature guitar work and Krishan’s hip tabla rhythms.|Friday-Saturday|Friday at Temple Events Center, 1595 Pearl St. in Denver; Saturday at Unity of Boulder, 2855 Folsom St. in Boulder; 7:30-9 p.m.; $20.
Spanish colonial
ART MARKET|History, dancing, art and food converge at The Tesoro Foundation’s fifth annual Spanish Market & 1830s Rendezvous. The event takes its name from the variety of educational and entertainment options faithfully recreating Spanish colonial culture.|Saturday-Sunday|The Fort, 19192 Highway 8 in Morrison.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; $6, $3 for senior citizens and students, free for children under 12.
Pick a winner
SHORT FILMS|The Bug Theatre is among those in 72 cities in 14 countries hosting The Manhattan Short Film Festival. Nearly 500 short films were narrowed to the 12 finalists that will be shown. Audiences get to vote for a winner to be announced Sunday in New York. The films, no more than 15 minutes each, come from Cuba, Ireland, United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, Israel, Poland, Germany and the United States.|8 p.m., tonight and Saturday|3654 Navajo St.; $8; 303-477-9984.
THE WEEK
For drummers
CYMBAL MAKERS|Cymbal titan Sabian, a name synonymous with rock ‘n’ roll drummers, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in a novel way: by touring the country with its master craftsmen. Local drummers can get up close and personal with specialists like Mark Love, who’s created custom cymbals for Neil Peart (Rush) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), plus hammering and lathing demonstrations.|Saturday, Monday and Tuesday|Drum City/Guitarland in Wheatridge (Saturday), Rupps Drums in Denver (Monday), Colorado Drum and Percussion in Fort Collins (Tuesday); Free; 310-578-7050 for information.
“Nimrod Flipout”
THEATER|Stories on Stage, with the Buntport Theater, present “The Nimrod Flip- out,” a night of storytelling devoted to the hilarious and anguish-ridden short stories of Etgar Keret. Israel’s Keret is part court jester, part national conscience. His unusual viewpoint is part fantasy, part universal truth.|7 p.m., Wednesday|717 Lipan St.; $10; 720-946-1388.
