Major incident
Friday-Sunday. Taylor Swift may be all the talk this weekend, but Colorado favorites, The String Cheese Incident, will also light up the stage for the band’s annual stand at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, running July 14-16. Rock legend John Fogerty will join SCI on Friday, followed by openers Kitchen Dwellers on Saturday, and Thievery Corporation on Sunday.
Saturday’s show also marks the 50th time that the jam band has played at Red Rocks — a monumental occasion. Doors to the all-ages shows open at 6 p.m. each night and the music starts at 7 p.m. Tickets, $65, are available at axs.com.
Going graphic on West Colfax
Saturday. Opening a new store focused on comics and graphic novels is nearly unheard of these days, given the low margins on such excellent but modestly priced items. That hasn’t dissuaded Clifton Thompson, who’s taking advantage of the attention around Casa Bonita’s reopening to launch his own store, Danny the Comic Shop, just off West Colfax Avenue.
The shop’s name is “inspired by the beloved Doom Patrol comic book character Danny the Street,” Thompson wrote. His free, mini-block party runs from 2 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 14, with a DJ, refreshments and plenty of visual treats. The shop, at 1580 Teller St., is about a block west of the big, pink Bonita in the 40West Arts District. RSVP at eventbrite.com or visit dannythecomicshop.com for more.
Ale of two cities
Friday-Saturday. Two Denver-area breweries will rock their blocks on Saturday with two separate block parties celebrating their beery anniversaries. Joyride Brewing, 2501 Sheridan Boulevard, in Edgewater, kicks off its two-day, ’90s-themed 9th anniversary bash on Friday by closing off part of 25th Avenue. There will be a silent disco, ’90s bands, limited-edition merchandise for sale and multiple beer tappings, including a collaboration with Cannonball Creek Brewing.
Across town, Novel Strand Brewing, 305 W. 1st Ave, will close off part of Cherokee Street and fill it with an outdoor bar, two food trucks, a paleta ice cream cart, a DJ and lawn games. There will also be tents, water stations, extra bathrooms and seating. Novel Strand is celebrating its fifth anniversary with five new beers; the party runs noon to 7 p.m.
Flower power
Saturday-Sunday. Lavender is so hot right now. You can find it in $15 cocktails and in restaurant pasta dishes and desserts. It’s brightening up weddings and gracing gardens, and its scent is used in linen sprays to produce a lovely calming effect. To celebrate this purple flowering plant, the Denver Botanic Gardens hosts a Lavender Festival on July 15-16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its Chatfield Farms location, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road in Littleton.
“More than 2,000 lavender plants set the scene for this family-friendly celebration,” which includes demonstrations in our dye garden and working blacksmith shop, a chance to talk with horticulturalists and farmers, art presentations, live music, a kids’ craft area and more, DBG said. Vendors will be selling food and drinks, while vendors selling lavender-related products will be on hand as well. Timed tickets, $9-13, are required and can be purchased at botanicgardens.org.
