Critic’s pick
Catch the fire dance in Northglenn
Saturday. “Bharatanatyam” is more than a mouthful, but it basically means “fire dance.” It’s also the oldest, most popular classical dance in India and the subject of Puja Allepalli’slatest show. Allepalli, who began her dance training at 4 years old and has performed internationally, will premiere the graceful, exquisitely detailed “Nrityanjali”this weekend, with live music from Flute Raman’s Musical Ensemble. 7:30 p.m. Saturday at D.L. Parsons Theatre, 11801 Community Center Drive in Northglenn. $10-$15. 303-254-6368 or . John Wenzel
Family Fun
Historic rarities to take flight over Fort Collins
Through Sunday.Get a hands-on history lesson when the “Wings of Freedom” tour lands in Fort Collins. The traveling exhibition displays historic aircraft from World War I and II, including some serious rarities: The only operational Consolidated B-24J Liberator and P-51C Mustang aircraft in the world, and one of a handful of skyworthy B-17 Flying Fortresses. 2-5 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport, 4900 Earhart Road, Loveland. $12 for adults and $6 for kids under age 12.
Colorado Irish Festival’s big fun in Littleton
Through Sunday.Get your Irish up at the 17th annual Colorado Irish Festival. The Eire extravaganza features three stages of live music every day. Learn about Irish history or settle in and watch a game of hurling or camogie. There’s the pub element, too: Colorado-brewed Killian’s Irish Red is a festival sponsor. 5-10 tonight, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Clement Park, 7306 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton. Friday admission is free before 7 p.m., $5 after 7. Saturday and Sunday gate admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students, seniors and military. Free admission for kids ages 12 and younger all weekend. Discounted advance tickets at and King Soopers locations.
Come cool your heels with ice cream, stories
Today. Combat summer boredom and soaring temperatures at the same time at the Children’s Museum of Denver: Ice Cream and Storytime starts today. Sponsored by Blue Bell Ice Cream, the series lets kids enjoy an outdoor story reading complete with Blue Bell Ice Cream. The stories — and the ice cream — are included with museum admission. Future dates: July 15, 22, 23, 29 and 30. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Children’s Museum of Denver, 2121 Children’s Museum Drive; 303-433-7444. Admission is $8 for guests ages 2 to 59, $6 for 1-year-olds and seniors age 60 and older.
Watch the last space shuttle launch in style
Today.Witness history in the making at a live screening of the final space shuttle launch at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. DMNS curator of planetary science Steve Lee will discuss the shuttle history and what will happen on this final mission. Then guests can watch a high-definition live feed of the launch. Make sure the launch is on schedule: A variety of circumstances can postpone launches. Begins at 8:45 a.m. Friday; launch scheduled for 9:26 a.m. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd.; 303-370-6000. Museum admission: $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for juniors and students.
Dance
Ballet premiere
Saturday. Boulder dance champion Robert Sher-Machherndl’s tiny, tenacious Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet is one of the few progressive companies to premiere new works over the summer, so it makes sense he’s setting his latest during Chautauqua’s Summer Series. “Anilla” is his first — and, we hope, not last — collaboration with Michele Wiles, principal dancer with American Ballet Theater. 8 p.m. Saturday at Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road in Boulder. $28-$44. 303-440-7666 or .
John Wenzel
Classical music
“Virtuoso Violins” fest gets a seasonal start
Sunday. The Colorado Music Festival begins “Virtuoso Violins,” its four-concert mini- festival devoted to the violin, with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Boulder’s Chautauqua Auditorium. Soloist Karen Gomyo, right, joins conductor Michael Christie and the festival orchestra in a pairing of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” with a contemporary take on the same theme by Astor Piazzolla. Rounding out the mini-festival will be concerts on Thursday, July 15 and July 17. Mini-festival packages are $100; single tickets are $12-$49. 303-440-7666 or . Kyle MacMillan
Takács Quartet, plus two, in Aspen
Saturday and Tuesday. Colorado is one of the few states lucky enough to have a world-class string quartet in its backyard. The Takács Quartet, which is in residence at the University of Colorado at Boulder, is a regular at the Aspen Music Festival. Its appearances there this summer will take place at 8 p.m. Saturday and Tuesday. The latter will feature the addition of violist James Dunham and cellist Darrett Adkins for a performance of Brahms’ String Sextet No. 2. $50. 970-925-0942 or . Kyle MacMillan
Family-friendly stage fare: It’s murder!
Summertime can be murder at local live theaters, where silly, interactive, family-friendly mystery whodunits always make for popular hot-air, hot-weather pastimes. This weekend alone, Till Death Do Us Party opens “Murder 1952: George Armstrong Custer” at Gold Hill’s Bluebird Lodge; Adams Mystery Playhouse bows its colorful “Murder at the Luau,” and Baldpate Mystery Theatre unlocks “The Seven Keys to Baldpate,” pictured above. Take your pick: Murder on the filming of a madcap 1950s B-grade Western (Gold Hill); murder on a tropical cruise ship (Adams); or murder in a remote inn where a best-selling author whose plans to win a bet by writing a novel in less than 24 hours are interrupted by bribery, blackmail and worse (Baldpate, performed on an outdoor stage). If that’s not enough choice, Heritage Square Music Hall is now presenting Sunday-night mysteries in Golden. Its “Who Done It at the High School Reunion?” takes a deadly turn when popular Rhonda Bodacious is found facedown in a cake. Call for performance times, prices and meal options: Gold Hill Inn: 401 Main St., Gold Hill, 303-443-6461 or . Adams Family Playhouse: 2406 Federal Blvd., 303-455-1848 or . Baldpate Inn: 4900 South Highway 7, Estes Park, 970-586-6151 or . Heritage Square: 18301 W. Colfax Ave., Golden, 303-279-7800 or .
John Moore
