POP MUSIC
A visit from the bard
Wednesday. Roots rock.Bob Dylan is one of the most highly regarded songwriters in history, yet earlier this week, he baffled longtime followers with “Christmas in the Heart.” Dylan releasing a Christmas album is nonsensical business, especially since the songs tackled include “Winter Wonderland,” “Little Drummer Boy” and others. Yes, it’s weird, but the record is actually getting lukewarm to medium reviews. Fear not, though, fans: Dylan will play from his more traditional catalog when he performs at Magness Arena. Tickets, $49.50-$59.50, are available via ticket . Ricardo Baca
Indie and hot
Wednesday. Canadian import. Taking folk concerns and weaving them together with indie-rock sensibilities, the Great Lake Swimmers are one of the most inspired voices in modern Canadian music. The indie buzz band will stop in Denver to play the Larimer Lounge. Wooden Birds and Brothers O’Hair open the show. Tickets, $15, are available via . More: . Ricardo Baca
THEATER
Looking East
Today-Sunday. Play plus insights. Naropa University is exploring the Tibetan Book of the Dead with a performance of “Luminous Emptiness,”described as “a beautiful Butoh-styled interpretation of the bardo journey.” The project began with the directive from the late Naropa founder, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, to create a “Book of the Dead” stage or film adaptation. “He wanted to explore new ways to share the essence of this sacred text with the modern western world,” said writer Douglas Penick. “The bardo journey is filled with extraordinary sights and sounds and is the key to how to live our lives fully every day, every moment.” 8 p.m. today and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday at 2130 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder. $5-$15. 303-245-4798 or 79202. John Moore
DANCE
Chicago’s best
Tuesday. Modern dance. Founded in 1977, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago first emphasized jazz, but the 17-member repertory company has since branched into a range of contemporary styles. At the same time, it has gained a solid national profile with its regular touring. The popular company will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Gates Concert Hall under the auspices of the University of Denver’s Newman Center Presents series. The program will include Alejandro Cerrudo’s “Lickety-Split,” which the company premiered in 2006, and Nacho Duato’s “Gnawa,” set to the sounds of Spain and North Africa. $28-$48. 800-982-2787 or . Kyle MacMillan
FILM
Reviewing critics
Today through Sunday. Writers on screen. Film critic Gerald Peary of The Boston Phoenix stepped behind the camera to make “”For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism.” The thought-provoking documentary ponders what has become, if not a dying breed, an endangered species (at least in print). “For the Love of Movies” features a number of critics, Andrew Sarris, Roger Ebert, A.O. Scott among them. Harry Knowles of “Ain’t It Cool News” represents the Internet upstarts. And the ghost of The New Yorker’s Pauline Kael is ever-present. Peary will also be guest director at the Documentary Cinema Institute’s filmmaker seminar at 4 p.m. today ($25; space is limited). The movie plays through Sunday. Starz FilmCenter at the Tivoli, 900 Auraria Parkway. $6-$9.50; or call 303.820-FILM. For today’s seminar, go to or call 303-444-1351. Lisa Kennedy
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Celebrate Sergei
Today-Sunday. Symphonic music. Sure, you’ve heard Sergei Rachmaninoff’s famous piano concertos, but there is a lot more to his accomplishments than those few pieces. To broaden understanding of this surprisingly wide-ranging composer, Russian pianist Olga Kern joins the Colorado Symphony for a two-weekend festival of his music. They will present the first two of four different programs this weekend, with performances at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $15-$75. 303-623- 7876 or . Kyle MacMillan
China journey
Tuesday. Piano music. Chinese pianist Hsing-ay Hsu explores her cultural heritage through an ongoing series of multimedia concerts titled “China Through the Lens of Piano Music.” The lineup continues at 7:30 p.m. with a performance as part of the University of Colorado at Boulder’s faculty series in Grusin Music Hall in CU’s Imig Music Building, 18th Street and Euclid Avenue. Hsu will be joined by guest vocalists Wei Wu and Yang Bo in a program that will include video clips about China and the pianist’s upbringing. Free. 303-492-8008 or . Kyle MacMillan
FAMILY FUN
Haunted history
Today-Saturday. Old-school scary. The Molly Brown House Museum will be filled with spooks and scary tales at the house’s 18th annual Victorian Horrors event. Lit only by candlelight, the mansion will host the “ghosts” of famous authors like H.G. Wells, Edgar Allan Poe and Sarah Orne Jewett. There’s a specter in almost every room of the house, and each has a story to tell. 6-9 tonight and Saturday, and Oct. 23-24. The Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St.; 303-832- 4092. Tickets are $16 for adults, $13 for seniors, children and Historic Denver members. For advance tickets, call or visit . Kathleen St. John
A fun exercise
Saturday.Mini-marathon. The Denver Marathon is strictly for grown-ups, but kids can join in their own way at the McDonald’s Mile Kids Race.Held the day before the marathon, the race starts right with a good, long stretching session. Then kids race others in their age bracket from ages 3 to 15. A Kids Expo will be on site during and after the race, and everyone can celebrate at a post-race party. 9:15 a.m. at Civic Center, Broadway and Colfax Avenue. Registration is $20. For more information, visit . Kathleen St. John
Scary Littleton
Saturday. Creepy place. The Haunts of Littleton Walking Touris a journey through the town’s sordid past, with stories of ghost trains, catacombs and ladies of the night who still peek out of windows. Colorado’s most famous maybe-cannibal, Alfred Packer, is buried in Littleton — expect to hear something about him, too. Additional tours Oct. 24 and Oct. 30. 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Arrive 10 minutes early. Meet at the Littleton light-rail stop in front of Romancing the Bean at 5800 S. Prince St. Admission is $13 for guests age 14 and older, $2 for kids age 13 and younger. Free. RSVP for tours at . Kathleen St. John
