Family Fun
A chocolate paradise
Saturday. Chocolate is lovable in all its forms, and you can try out its many delicious permutations at Arvada’s 11th annual Chocolate Affair. Events will pop up all over Olde Town Arvada, from tastings to treasure hunts. Stop by “A Taste of Chocolate” at the D Note and sample decadent treats from local bakeries, chocolatiers and restaurants. Team up with choco-pals to roam Olde Town on a free Chocolate Treasure Hunt, or go solo with your chocolate skills and enter the Chocolate Cookie Contest. Face-painters, storytellers and horse-drawn carriages will add to the foodie fun. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The D-Note, 7519 Grandview Ave., Arvada; cookie contest at Di Cicco’s, 5660 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada. Admission is free; sampling tickets are six for $5.
A free rock concert
today. Catch up with a “kindie” rock hitmaker when Katherine Dines performs a free concert at the Denver Puppet Theater. The Denver-based children’s musician released a CD of her most-requested songs, “Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Hits,” on Tuesday, including tunes like “All the Way Around the World,” “Dad on Diaper Duty” and “Are We Ever Gonna Get There?” Youngsters can settle in with some apple cider and a cookie and jam out. Bring along a nonperishable food item to donate, too. Doors open at 6 p.m. today; show is at 7 p.m. Denver Puppet Theater, 3156 W. 38th Ave.; 303-458-6446. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Call to save a seat.
An inside look at the symphony, opera
monday-tuesday. Budding music lovers get an insider’s look at classical music in the latest season of Tiny Tots Inside the Orchestra. Presented by Central City Opera and the Junior Symphony Guild, the series of shows lets preschool- and kindergarten-age kids experience a kid-friendly concert with plenty of room for participation. Dance along to music from Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Copland’s “Rodeo” and even music from “Looney Tunes.” Opera is back, too: CCO ensemble artist Chad Reagan performs the famous “Largo al factotum” aria from Mozart’s “The Barber of Seville” (think “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro!”). Can’t make it this week? Two additional shows are scheduled for Feb. 13. 9:30 a.m. Monday. Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets. 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Temple Sinai, 3509 S. Glencoe St. The suggested registration donation is $5. Make sure space is still available by calling 303-355-7855 or visit .
“Phineas and Ferb,” live
through saturday. Summer vacation arrives a few months early when “Phineas and Ferb: The Best Live Tour Ever!” comes to the Wells Fargo Theatre. In the musical show, the two mischievous stepbrothers from the Disney Channel cartoon use the remaining days of summer vacation to work on their latest invention. It’s so awesome that even their sister Candace, who usually hates all their experiments, joins the fun. Perry the pet platypus goes on an adventure of his own, as usual, using his secret “Agent P” identity to track down evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz. 7 p.m. today; 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday. Wells Fargo Theatre at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St.; 303-228-8000. Tickets are $16-$27, available at or by calling 800-653-8000.
Family-friendly theater goes “shipwrecked!”
thursday-Feb.25. Go on a fantastic voyage in “Shipwrecked! The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself),” presented by the Boulder Ensemble Theatre. The show features the whimsical musings of de Rougemont, international wanderer, bold survivor and Victorian celebrity. He spins quite a tale, filled with exotic characters and thrilling scenarios — but keep in mind he’s not afraid of a little embellishment. This cheeky play is appropriate for kids age 6 and older; a special family matinee at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 25 welcomes the age-4-and-up crowd. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays. Dairy Center for the Performing Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder; 303-440-7826. Tickets are $24 general admission, $22 for seniors, $19 for students; all tickets are $15 on Thursdays.
