WEEKLY EVENTS: December 20 – December 26, 2013

Dear Denver, the holidays are here…are you ready?  I sort of am.  I will actually be heading back to the East Coast to get my feliz navidad on, but I wish everyone the happiest, merriest, warmest, cuddliest, cheeriest, healthiest, and non-drama-iest holidays this year.  Thank you so much for reading my blog these past 6 months and sharing it with your friends.  It really means a lot to a gal.  Love you Denver, xoxo.

(And as always, check-out Westword’s 10 things to do for $10 in Denver blog for free/low-cost events this weekend.)

Friday, December 20 & Saturday, December 21, 2013 @ 11am – 9pm: Last weekend of the German Christkindl Market at Skyline Park

If you have yet to check-out the downtown’s German Christkindl Market, I implore you to go this weekend.  I’ll admit that usually I avoid downtown like the plague (especially on the weekends), but this traditional German market is really neat.  German music, big beers, a heated beer tent, Gluhwein, soft pretzels, Christmas knickknacks, and twinkling lights will make you forget you are in the heart of BroDo.  Come after work, grab a big beer and just enjoy this new holiday tradition.  Please note: The market will also be open on Sunday, December 22nd, but they will not be serving booze.  Boo.

Friday, December 20, 2013 @ 7 – 9pm: Black Sheep Fridays at the MCA Denver

Mixing hip with the weird, Black Sheep Fridays runs weekly October 11–December 20, 2013, from 7 – 9pm in the MCA Café.  Visitors can stop by anytime during the evening to experience the fun.  This week’s theme is XXXmas Craftfair: Make pasties with Vivienne Vavoom and decorate erotic holiday cookies.  Keep the X in Xmas, y’all!

Friday, December 20, 2013 @ 8pm: Holiday Sausage Fest at the Oriental Theater

National comics Sean Patton and Mike Lawrence join local favorites Ben Roy and Jordan Doll for a night of straight-up LOL, LMFAO and ROFL.  Tickets are just $15 and include a FREE LARGE PIZZA at Sexy Pizza’s new Jefferson Park location.  Haaaaaaay…

Friday, December 20, 2013 @ 9pm – 2am: Lipgloss at the Beauty Bar

Before the wrath of holidays take over your soul, come dance it out with Mike Disco, Electric Cameltoe, Lipgloss founder boyhollow, and resident DJ Tower.  $5 cover after 10pm, free before.

Friday, December 20, 2013 @ 9pm – 2am: Reeewind & Roll: Winter Wonderland at the Exdo Event Center

Do you prefer dancing with skates on your feet?  Well bust out your ugliest sweaters, your classic 80’s ski gear, your best hot chocolate drinking attire, and get ready to hit the slopes (aka the roller skating rink). Prizes for best/worst ugly Christmas sweater, including cash, Denver Nuggets tickets, and more!  18 years old to enter; 21 to drink.  $5 pre-sale, free admission between 9 – 10pm, $10 after.  Admission includes access to roller-skating and a hip-hop dance party at Tracks.  Get it.

You may or may not look this cool on the Winter Solstice Bike Ride

Saturday, December 21, 2013 @ 12pm: Denver’s Littlest Big Christmas Beer Fest at Hops & Pie

This session will feature more than 15 different Christmas or holiday beers. Flights and individual pours will be available. Some of these beers are hard to find and you won’t want to miss them. Click this link to see all of the different beers that will be available. This fest lasts all day long.

Saturday, December 21, 2013 @ 12 – 5pm: Love Actually and Holiday Market at the SIE FilmCenter

Join the Denver Film Society (DFS) from 12 – 5pm in Henderson’s Lounge in the SIE FilmCenter for the first annual DFS Holiday Market. Market will feature local artists, designers, crafts, and food.  Screening of Love Actually will begin at 2pm; tickets runs $7 – $10.

Saturday, December 21, 2013 @ 4 – 8pm: Winter Solstice Bike Ride at Our Mutual Friend

To celebrate the winter solstice, BikeDenver will hold its annual nighttime bike ride!  BikeDenver will provide free handlebar lights to the first 50 riders.  Red-light reflecting lights (good for clipping to backpacks) will be provided and donated by the Downtown Denver Partnership.  Our Mutual Friend Brewing will be hosting the Winter Solstice Bike Ride start/end points, and will be offering $1 discount on drinks for all ride participants  The Source (in collaboration with Zeppelin Development) will showoff its stellar space and host light hors d’oeuvres and drinks to help warm riders.  Denver B-Cycle will wave usage fees for any rider participating in the Winter Solstice Bike Ride.  Ride will begin promptly at 5pm.

Saturday, December 21, 2013 @ 8pm: Winter Solstice Party featuring Varlet and Oblio’s Arrow at Illegal Pete’s South Broadway

Varlet draws from influences like Harry Nilsson to Billie Holiday, The Kinks and The Beatles, but takes those influences to a trippier, weirder place. Come see the band play a FREE, ALL AGES winter solstice celebration party at Illegal Pete’s South Broadway with Oblio’s Arrow (an Oblio Duo reunion).

Saturday, December 21, 2013 @ 9pm: Star Wars Holiday Special at the SIE FilmCenter

Sunday, December 22, 2013 @ 1 – 3pm: Bingo Brunch at the Squeaky Bean

Come nosh on some tasty eats at the Squeaky Bean, and try your luck at the ‘go.  Each week features a different comic, with this week’s host being the very funny Elliot Woosley!  Make your reservation today.

Sunday, December 22, 2013 @ 8pm: American Culture + Pizza Time + Lisa Prank at the Lion’s Lair

Squeeze in one more night of rock ‘n’ roll before you have to spend time with your family.  FREE.

Monday, December 23, 2013 @ 7 – 11pm: Christmas Carrotmob at Marquis Pizza

What is a Carrotmob? Carrotmobs are a special way for a community to demonstrate their buying power as consumers, support vegan-friendly business, and encourage awesome local businesses to keep up the good work.  Come on out to Marquis Pizza for $10 all-you-can-eat vegan pizza!  (And no joke, this pizza is the bomb).  All ages, free live music to boot.   Everyone is welcome.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013 @ 2 and 4:45pm: Christmas Movie Quote-Alongs at the Alamo Drafthouse

Come watch/quote along with two of your favorite Christmas time movies!  A Christmas Story plays at 2pm and Elf at 4:45pm.  Tis the season!  Tickets are $12.50

Tuesday, December 24, 2013 @ 8:30pm – 2am: Heebonism 2013 at the 1Up Colfax

This Christmas Eve, help break in The 1Up Colfax’s new event space!  Social lubrication hour of power from 8:30 – 9:30 pm with free cocktails from Golden Moon Distillery; return of the Bamboo Booth | Modern Photo Booth; games, Skee-Ball; life-sized video games; 40s; and prizes.  Special guests The Samples and DJ Savior Breath will round out the evening.  Tickets are $18 in advance; $25 at the door.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013: Merry Christmas, y’all

Hope you have a wonderful day celebrating with your family, or your friends that have become your family.  Take a moment to appreciate all of the nice things that have happened this year, and your ability to persevere through the not-so-nice stuff either.  Also, maybe drink some sort of festive Christmas ale and eat some pierogies.  That’s what I plan to do.

Thursday, December 26, 2013 @ 8pm: These Things Matter at the Lost Lake Lounge

These Things Matter Podcast is throwing a par-tay!  DJ Josiah Hesse will be spinning some tunes, plus Lisa Prank and SPELLS will be performing.  The chosen theme of the night?  John Cusack!  There will be some Cusack movies shown, the bands might cover some Cusackian songs, and there’ll be a cardboard cut-out of the man himself in the photo booth.  Plus!  Kevin and Taylor will be in the crowd recording anyone who wants to chat about John C.  Have you had an up-close and personal encounter?  Did Lloyd Dobler change your life?  Did you want Hoops McCann to draw you a cartoon in One Crazy Summer?  Anyone at all can come blah blah blah for a few minutes and be a part of the show.  Don’t miss out Denver.