SATURDAY
Urban design
ARCHITECTURE|A new exhibition, “Building New Ideas: The Art of Progressive Urban Design,” offers a glimpse at the future of architecture in Colorado. The show explores the work of eight emerging Denver firms, including SOLiD architectural design, Groundworks design and AlvarezMorris architectural studio.|Opening reception, 5-9 p.m. today, discussion, 6 p.m.; exhibit today through Dec. 1|Sprocket Design-Build, 1150 Delaware St.; free; 303-825-2313.
I, You, We Robot
SCIENCE EXHIBIT|Robot-crazy kids and their families can do everything from watch a robot parade to interview people who build robots, at the Robot Expot this weekend at the science museum. The expo will feature a robot talent show, artists displaying their robot designs, information on the latest in artificial intelligence studies, and much more. |9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday|Denver Museum of Nature and Science; museum admission fee; 303-322-7009
Maestro’s debut
SYMPHONIC MUSIC|Michael Butterman, the Boulder Philharmonic’s new music director, makes his debut this weekend. The maestro will lead a program of popular, and, in some cases, technically challenging, works designed to showcase both the orchestra and his talents on the podium.|7:30 p.m. Saturday|Macky Auditorium, University of Colorado at Boulder; $10-$65; 303-449-1343 or boulder phil.org.
Chamber program
BAROQUE MUSIC| Are Mozart and Beethoven a little too modern for your tastes? If so, the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado invites you to take a trip further back into musical history. The group will perform Georg Philipp Telemann’s Suite for Viola da Gamba and Strings as well as works by such composers as Johann Christoph Bach and Marin Marais.|7:30 p.m. Saturday |Hampden Hall, Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway; $15-$20; 303-806-8196.
SUNDAY
Holidays for troops
BENEFIT CONCERT|A gaggle of celebs descends on the Paramount Theatre to perform in a benefit concert called Operation Holiday Spirit, which hopes to raise $100,000 to send holiday support packages to troops overseas. The roster includes Jeff Timmons (98 Degrees), Denver’s own Opie Gone Bad, Mario Lopez (“Dancing With the Stars”), Robert David Hall (“C.S.I.”), Jackie Zeman (“General Hospital”), Michelle Stafford (“The Young and the Restless”) Kimberly Locke (“American Idol”) and Jordan Knight (New Kids on the Block).|7 p.m. Sunday|$49-$60 (includes parking); go to TicketMaster.com or paramountdenver.com.
Radio, film comic
COMEDY|Harland Williams, who can now be heard from 3-7 p.m. weekdays on The Fox, 103.5-FM, headlines this weekend at Comedy Works. Williams also appears in the new Dane Cook movie, “Employee of the Month.”|8 and 10 p.m. today; 6:30, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday|1226 15th St.; $28; 303-595-3637 or comedyworks.com.
Something new
NEW MUSIC|Although the Bottesini Project will perform in a jazz club this weekend, the experimental group doesn’t fit snugly into any conventional music category, including jazz. The six-member band’s basic mission is to draw on a variety of musical genres while pushing free improvisation to the limit. It’s not surprising, then, that the concert is co-sponsored by Creative Music Works.|7 p.m. Sunday |Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge, 930 Lincoln St.; $10 cover; 303-839-5100 or dazzlejazz.com.
THE WEEKEND
Multimedia show
MODERN DANCE|Get ready for a dance inauguration: The new ATLAS Black Box Theatre at CU-Boulder will host its first dance show, “In the Event of an Absence,” a concert with choreography by Leslie Merrill and Angie Yeowell. The impressively varied multimedia presentation spans Greek myths, ’60s hippie culture and ballet.|8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday|University of Colorado at Boulder, Building No.87; $6-$10; 303-492-8181, colorado.edu/theatredance.
THE WEEK
Election Laughs
COMEDY|From one funniest mom to the next mommy star – you can avoid any election-night blues by joining the Nick at Nite Funniest Mom in America tour, hosted by Colorado’s own winner from the last contest, Rubi Nicholas. Nicholas will lead the evening’s tryouts for candidates hoping for a lost in “Funniest Mom 3.” The eventual winner takes $50,000 and hosts Nick at Nite programming.|8 p.m. Tuesday
|Comedy Works, 1226 15th St.; $12 plus two-item minimum purchase; 303-595-3637.
“The Magic Flute”
OPERA|Can’t distinguish between Pamina and Tamino? Wondering what makes the magic flute so magical? A preview of Opera Colorado’s upcoming production of “The Magic Flute” might be just the thing. Peter Russell, the company’s general director, will present an overview of the piece, and singers Heidi Stober and Frederic Antoun will perform live excerpts. The preview will be followed by a broadcast of Opera Colorado’s spring production of “The Abduction from the Seraglio.”|7 p.m. Tuesday|Colorado Spotlight, Colorado Public Radio: KVOD 90.1-FM in Denver, KCFP 91.9-FM in Pueblo, KPRE 89.9-FM in Vail and KPRU 103.3-FM in Delta; cpr.org
“The Story of Hope”
DANCE|”The Story of Hope,” the Arvada Center Dance Theater’s 19th annual fall concert, filters stories of Colorado pioneers through modern dance sensibilities, telling the story of our state’s homesteaders with jazz, ballet and modern dances.|7 p.m. Sunday and Monday|Arvada Center Main Stage Theater, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd.; $8; 720-898-7200 or arvada center.org.
