Pianist Fliter teams with CSO
Friday-Saturday. Pianist Ingrid Fliter, the 2006 winner of the prestigious Gilmore Artist Award, has become a Denver favorite since her debut here in 2007. As a musician, she marries technical brilliance with rare depth and expressiveness, infusing everything she plays with an irrepressible musical joy. Fliter will rejoin the Colorado Symphony for a season-opening pair of concerts at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday, performing Schumann’s Piano Concerto. Also on the program will be John Adams’ contemporary classic, “Short Ride in a Fast Machine.” $15-$75. 303-623-7876 or . Kyle MacMillan
POP MUSIC
Street music
Saturday. Block party, RiNo-style. Denver’s River North district is all the rage, with its many emerging galleries and rock clubs. The Walnut Room is bringing it all together on Saturday with the RiNo Neighbors First Annual Block Party — an outdoor soiree featuring food, drink, art and live music from Rocco Deluca (above) and the Burden, Matt Morris and the Flash Mob. The best part: Admission is free. Deluca is a Southern California boy whose soulful blues-rock and well- connected buddies (including Keifer Sutherland, who signed Deluca to his Ironworks Records imprint) have gotten the attention of many fans. Morris is a Denver-based songwriter who has written for some of the bigger names in the game — including Kelly Clarkson and his childhood buddy Justin Timberlake — and is getting ready to break out on his own. More: thewalnut . Ricardo Baca
TELEVISION
Harber on the move
Tonight. TV chat.Aaron Harber, the local public- affairs chat-show host whose style is nonpartisan civil discourse rather than confrontation, moves to a Friday-night time slot on Channel 12 this season, starting tonight. The three-segment season opener nabs some big national headliners, impressive for a local production: Dr. Deepak Chopra, Goldie Hawn and Dr. Mehmet Oz (Oprah’s “Dr. Oz,” who plugs his new syndicated daytime show) are the guests on “The Aaron Harber Show” at 7 p.m. Joanne Ostrow
THEATER
Buntport loses it, wins it
Tuesday. Battle of Denver design stars/ Buntport Theater’s monthly “Third Tuesday” is a fun and unique artistic “competition” that pits the company’s members against fellow artists at their own game. In the first installment, for example, the stacked audience decided that Buntport actually made a better hip-hop group than the Flobots. In the second installment, they decided the wacky thesps actually titillate better than the girls from V Burlesque. Can Buntport keep up its winning streak? On Tuesday, the troupe takes on four designers from The Fabric Lab in a “Project Runway”-style challenge. The fashion unfolds at 8 p.m. at 717 Lipan St. $10. Reservations recommended. 720-946-1388 or . John Moore
Arvada’s big show
Tuesday-Oct. 11. Broadway favorite. Tuesday promises to be one of the biggest openings in Arvada Center history: It’s the lavish Vietnam War musical “Miss Saigon,” starring Broadway veteran Herman Sebek (one of the original “Cats”) as the Engineer. One of the burning questions: Will there be a helicopter? 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1 p.m. Wednesday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 11. $45-$55. 720-898-7200 or . John Moore
FAMILY FUN
On track
Saturday-Sunday. Familiar favorite. Thomas the Tank Engine rumbles back to Colorado this weekend. The lovable locomotive is offering rides to his fans at the Colorado Railroad Museum, plus a full day of activities. The highlight of each visit is a ride on Thomas’ train, of course, but there also will be storytelling, videos and Legos galore. And don’t forget to wander the grounds of the railroad museum and check out the vintage train collection. Thomas will also be offering rides Sept. 19-20 and Sept. 26-27. Rides start at 8:30 a.m. at the Colorado Railroad Museum, 17155 W. 44th Ave., Golden; 303-279-4591. Tickets are $18, available at . Visit . for more information. Kathleen St. John
Highlands Ranch, past and present
Today-Saturday. Celebrating the city. Learn about the early years of Highlands Ranch at the Highlands Ranch Days festival. Held at the historic Highlands Ranch Mansion, the event shows the ranch as it once was, with wool spinning, livestock displays, blacksmithing, hayrides and historical re-enactments. Show up early Saturday for a pancake breakfast to start the day. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; Highlands Ranch Mansion, 9900 Ranch Road. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children. Kids age 2 and younger are admitted free. Saturday’s pancake breakfast is $6 for adults, $4 for kids under 12. See . for more details. Kathleen St. John
Race against cancer
Saturday. Run for a cause. Gather the gang and run (or walk) to defeat pancreatic cancer at the Golden Gallop. Adults can choose from 5K or 10K runs for their weekend workout, and kids can test their mettle in a 1K fun run. Strollers are welcome on the adult courses, too, and leashed dogs can join in the fun as well. Afterward, enjoy family entertainment and enter a raffle. Proceeds from the race benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Racer check-in and registration begin at 6:30 a.m.; races start at 7:30 a.m. Splash Aquatic Park, 3050 Illinois St., Golden. Advance registration is $25 for adults, $10 for kids age 12 and younger. On-site registration is $40 for adults, $15 for kids. For more information, visit . Kathleen St. John
Powwow at 20
Saturday. Indian fete. Join in a Denver tradition at the 20th annual Friendship Powwow and American Indian Cultural Celebration at the Denver Art Museum. The museum’s Acoma Plaza will be filled with artists and vendors during the festival, plus plenty of music and hands-on activities. Don’t miss the dancers making their grand entry at noon — and don’t miss the fry bread, either. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Acoma Plaza at the Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway; 720-865-5000. Free.
Kathleen St. John
Ready, set, go!
Saturday. River run. The whole family can expend some energy at the third annual Hop, Skip and a Jump Start at the Children’s Museum of Denver. The field day starts with a family-friendly 5K along the South Platte River — strollers are welcome. Then, the kids can compete in “Mini-Meets” — like the “Toddler Trot” and “Infant Crawl” — and other activities. Race registration includes museum admission, snacks and a T-shirt — or a cute onesie for the littlest racers. The family 5K starts at 9 a.m. Mini-Meets begin at 10 a.m. Children’s Museum of Denver, 2121 Children’s Museum Drive; 303-433-7444. Registration for the 5K is $35, registration for the Mini-Meets is $15 with 5K registration, or $25 without. Visit . for details. Kathleen St. John
COMEDY
Mike Epps stands up
Today-Sunday. Stand-up. The Improv at Northfield Stapleton has made a name for itself as a hotbed of “urban comedy” — industry shorthand for African-American performers — and the club continues its string of big-name black comics with Mike Epps. A veteran of such films as “The Hangover,” “Hancock” and “The Honeymooners” remake, Epps is also a longtime stand- up who got his start on the Def Comedy Jam tour in 1995. His latest film, “Janky Promoters,” was written by his “Next Friday” co-star Ice Cube. At the Improv at Northfield Stapleton. 8246 E. 49th Ave. $35. 303-307-1777 or . John Wenzel
