MOVIES
Faced with a slate of Friday releases that don’t beckon? Consider heading to Boulder for the annual Toofy Film Festival. The indie extravaganza is sponsored by the Onion (this generation’s cracking-wise Weekly World News). That’s gotta tell you something about the fest’s DNA. And if it doesn’t, here’s a bit of backstory: “Toofy was born the only son of a Hippie artist and small woodland creature after a drunken tryst near Eldorado Springs.” Read the saga for yourself and find out about tickets, screenings, fashion and rock shows at (Sept. 6-9) | Lisa Kennedy
ARCHITECTURE
Some of Denver’s best residential architecture can be found in the Curtis Park neighborhood. Thirteen of the district’s homes will be showcased during Historic Denver’s 34th annual house tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 9. Organizers have chosen a wide variety of architectural styles, including Italianate and Queen Anne, giving participants a look at both interiors and outdoor spaces. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on the days of the event. 303-534-5288 or | Kyle MacMillan
TELEVISION
“The Liberace of Baghdad” is a colorful profile of Samir Peter, a once-famous Iraqi pianist, now a lounge act who entertains mercenaries and military contractors in a heavily fortified Baghdad hotel catering to foreigners. A bizarre little film by director Sean McAllister, airing at 6:30 p.m. on Sundance. | Joanne Ostrow
VISUAL ARTS
Good design is not only found in upscale stores and chic housing developments. “Substance: Diverse Practices From the Periphery,” showcases 30 architects and designers who work across socio-economic borders and cultural divides to improve the quality of life of everyday people worldwide. The show at the Center for Visual Art, 1734 Wazee St., opens Thursday with a free lecture at 6 p.m. and public reception from 7 to 9 p.m. It continues through Nov. 9. 303-294-5207 or | Kyle MacMillan
STAGE
Denver Center Attractions’ squeaky-clean confectionary musical journey through the Fab ’50s comes to an end Sept. 16, when its home-grown production of “The Taffetas” ends its six-month run at the Garner-Galleria Theatre. Based on the Wisconsin girl group The Chordettes (“Mister Sandman”), The Taffetas are four Indiana sisters auditioning for a spot on “The Ed Sullivan Show” with a cavalcade of 58 confectionary ditties like “Where the Boys Are.” It’s easy on the ears and the eyes, thanks to a beautiful and talented all-local cast of Juliana Black, Melinda Dickson-Smart, Reyna von Vett and Elizabeth Welch. Bubble gum never tasted so sweet. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Denver Performing Arts Complex. $34-$40, 303-893-4100, 866-464-2626, King Soopers or John Moore
POPULAR MUSIC
For fans of modern rock – especially the ones who can’t score tickets to Monday’s intimate Killers show at the Fox Theatre in Boulder – it doesn’t get much better than that same night’s Projekt Revolution tour. Projekt brings two of FM radio’s most prominent bands – Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance – to Coors Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village on Monday. Linkin Park is enjoying the spoils of its “Minutes to Midnight.” And My Chemical Romance is digging into the familiar material from “The Black Parade.” Expect lots of boys in make-up running around. And a bonus for the cool kids: Placebo is also on the bill. More info: . Tickets, $24.50-$70, are available via . or 303-830-8497. | Ricardo Baca
DVDS
“The Office” returns to NBC on Sept. 27, but you can warm up by watching the four-disc set of season 3. The show may be modeled after the British version that starred Ricky Gervais, but the great Steve Carell made the role his own as the obnoxious and oblivious Michael Scott – regional manager. The set ($49.98) includes three hours of deleted scenes, bloopers, cast commentaries, “The Dwight Schrute” music video and a lot of other material that you might regard as fun or just clueless. | Edward P. Smith
NIGHTLIFE
First Friday, Denver’s citywide celebration of art galleries on the first Friday of every month, takes a fashion bent this Friday with Art in the City’s Fashion Edition. The event features a runway show with local designers, four fashion photographers displaying their work, ales by Flying Dog, spirits by Pravda Vodka and St. Germaine and wines by Swirling Dervish Vineyards. A full spread of appetizers and tunes by DJ Japadapta will round the festivities, with tips going to local arts beneficiaries. As with any fashion event, dress to impress. Cluster Studios, 3881 N. Steele St. Unit B, 9 p.m., $5 suggested donation. | John Wenzel
