Gaming: Pinball, arcade games, more
Through Sunday. Warm up your flipper fingers for the ninth annual Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown and Gameroom Expo. The classic-gaming conclave features more than 100 pinball and arcade games for play, with all games included in the price of admission. (In other words, don’t worry about bringing a roll of quarters.) Gamers can join age-bracketed pinball tournaments, or just play for fun. There also will be film screenings, talks and a sale of pinball machines. 11 a.m. to midnight today; 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Embassy Suites Denver Tech Center, 10250 E. Costilla Ave., Centennial; 303-792-0433. $20 a day for adults, or $50 for a three-day pass; $10 per day for kids ages 7 to 12, or $25 for three days. Age 6 and younger free. 303-638-2119 or pinball . Kathleen St. John
Classical music: CSO shuffles, mixes and smashes classical
Tonight. The Colorado Symphony Orchestra always cooks up something interesting for its “Inside the Score” series, and this evening’s program, created by conductor Scott O’Neil and meant to show the links between classical and pop music, is a good example. On the program for “Shuffle:” music by Bjork, Seal, Pat Metheney, Philip Glass, Bach, Elgar and Prokofiev — not your usual mix. Guest performers include Sydney Fisher and Will Chase, above (he’s known for work on the TV series “Smash”). 7:30 p.m., Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex. 14th and Curtis streets. $15-$65. 303-623-7876 or . Ray Mark Rinaldi
Classical music: When chamber music goes extreme
Sunday-May 6. Here is a challenge for classical-music fans: Take in the entire cycle of Beethoven quartets, all 16 of them. If you dare. Friends of Chamber Music is making it possible with a rare presentation of the cycle, spanning two seasons. Things get underway at 4 p.m. Sunday when the Pacifica Quartet kicks off the marathon with three pieces. They’ll play three more at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday , and two more at 4 p.m. May 6 . The second half will come during the Friends 2012-13 season, when the quartet returns. All performances at The Newman Center, 2344 E. Iliff Ave. 303-871-7720 or
Ray Mark Rinaldi
Dance: Pivoting on a whole different axis
Saturday. The dance offerings at the Newman Center Presents series will come to a close Saturday as the Oakland, Calif.-based Axis Dance Company takes over Gates Concert Hall. Founded in 1987 by artistic director Thais Mazur, the company’s singular vision of elevating dancers with physical handicaps has produced a fascinating new vocabulary of movement — and brought a community otherwise isolated from the dance world into the fold. It’s also led Axis to performances around the world and attracted some of today’s hottest choreographers to create original works. Watch the company redefine its physical space at 7:30 p.m., University of Denver campus, 2344 E. Iliff Ave. $27-$49. 303-871-7720 or . John Wenzel
Festival: Legos galore
Through Sunday. Local Lego-maniacs, unite! The Lego KidsFest takes over the Colorado Convention Center for the weekend, starting today. Fans of all ages are invited to join the party — each day is divided into separate 4 1/2-hour sessions, giving everyone a chance to play. Each session includes the same set of activities and exhibits: a “Master Builder Academy” to learn building skills, Lego car races, a reading nook, themed Lego-building areas, Master Builder demonstrations and, of course, loads of Lego sets for sale. 4-8:30 p.m. today; 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3-7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St.; 303-228-8000. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for kids ages 3 to 17 and seniors age 65 and older. Children age 2 and younger are admitted free. Buy tickets in advance at or call 860-953-4500. Kathleen St. John
