Warm Cookies’ decade-long shindig
Sunday. The quirky, civic-minded nonprofit Warm Cookies of the Revolution has been holding free cultural and political events for a decade now, helping diverse audiences become more engaged in their own neighborhoods and demystifying bureaucratic institutions.
On Sunday, Dec. 11, Warm Cookies will celebrate 10 years in Denver with a birthday “shindig” featuring food from Urban Burma; a screening of its Community Almanac focusing on the subjects of housing and roots; updates on current and upcoming work; a performance from Miguel Espinoza Fusion, and new swag like winter hats and lunch bags.
The free event takes place 1-4 p.m. at the McNichols Building at Civic Center, 144 W. Colfax Ave. RSVP at . — John Wenzel
Festival del Tamal y Atole turns 2 in Westwood
Friday-Saturday. Join Cultura Chocolate and Hecho en Westwood for the 2nd annual Festival del Tamal y Atole, featuring more than 50 varieties of tamales and atoles made by local professional and community chefs. Tamales are a favorite holiday dish in Latino culture and atole is a traditional Mexican winter beverage made with masa harina, cinnamon and vanilla.
Buy a packet of sample tickets in advance for $25 (for 15 tickets) at . One ticket gets you one sample; sizes vary and are decided upon by each chef. Single tickets will cost $2 on the day of the event. The tamale festival runs from 4-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec. 10, at the RISE Westwood Campus, 3738 Morrison Road in Denver. — Jonathan Shikes
Mountains of holiday sound
Saturday. Denver’s all-male Sound of the Rockies and Boulder’s Timberliners will join forces on Saturday, Dec. 10, to make a mighty sound. Their a cappella and barbershop-influenced numbers in “A Night in December” combine classic Christmas carols, holiday pop hits and storytelling for all ages, organizers said.
This year’s shows take place at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Gates Concert Hall at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff Ave. on the University of Denver campus. Tickets are $24-$37. Call the box office at 303-871-7720 or visit to buy or for more information. — John Wenzel
Bribing judges — for a good cause — at Rise Comedy
Friday-Saturday. The Ballpark neighborhood’s Rise Comedy, which hosts classes and shows for improv, stand-up and sketch, will this weekend turn its gut-busting forces toward a good cause — in this case, the Boulder nonprofit TGTHR (“together”), which works to end youth homelessness and provide job training and life skills.
The first Rise Comedy Cup, as the “competition” is called, will benefit TGTHR with an appropriately absurd conceit: judges of the improv contest can (and want to) be bribed, and the audience can donate money to four-person comedy teams to help them advance.
Shows take place starting at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec. 10, and different levels of competition run 11 p.m. each night. Tickets: $14-$18 per session. 1260 22nd St. in Denver. or — John Wenzel
