Wagon train
Friday. Dry January has become such a big part of the scene over the past few years, that its end at the beginning of February is inspiring parties of their own. Resolute Brewing, at 7286 S. Yosemite St. in Centennial, will be one of several breweries and bars in metro Denver hosting congratulatory events with the Fall Off the Wagon Party on Friday, Feb. 2.
The Country Western-themed event features a Western barbecue menu from Hesher BBQ Catering from noon to 8 p.m. on the patio, along with the release of Saga of The Undead Imperial Stout, which was brewed with cacao nibs and vanilla. There will also be free Resolute bandanas (while supplies last) to help embody a “hootin’ hollerin’ good time.” — Jonathan Shikes
Celebrating John Fielder
Through Jan. 27, 2025. As of last week, visitors to the History Colorado Center can see a new exhibition celebrating the late Colorado wildlife photographer and conservationist John Fielder. It’s part of a five-year run of rotating exhibitions in the new John Fielder Mezzanine Gallery, kicking off with “Flow: On the River with John Fielder,” which highlights the significance and beauty of the Colorado River and its tributaries, according to organizers.
Fielder, who died at age 73 on Aug. 11, 2023, said as much before his death in an interview with The Denver Post: “No matter what happens to me in the next six months, my photos are there at History Colorado,” he said in May. “Whatever we can do to stave off the impacts of climate warming, maybe my photos can be part of that.”
The exhibition is included with admission to the museum at 1200 S. Broadway in Denver. $15 for adults, free for kids. Open every day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 303-447-8679 or visit historycolorado.org/history-colorado-center. — John Wenzel
Exploring Black History Month
Through Feb. 29. In addition to History Colorado’s excellent, ongoing Blaxplanation series, which explores the stories of Colorado’s Black diaspora outside the context of slavery (see historycolorado.org/blaxplanation for the schedule), the metro area is hopping with events celebrating February as Black History Month.
Purnell Steen and the Five Points Ambassadors, who have dedicated themselves to preserving and playing the jazz and blues music of Denver’s historically Black Five Points neighborhood, will play Dazzle’s Lunch Bunch starting at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, so swing by if you’re near the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1080 14th St. Tickets: $10 for table seating, via dazzledenver.com.
Related: Five Points’ Jazz Roots series, with events on Feb. 17 and 24, featuring an all-ages format with dancing, poetry, and visual art. See fivepointsbid.com/jazzroots for the lineup. Also check out the self-guided tour of Denver’s public art pieces created by Black artists (denverpublicart.org/tours) and the free Black History Live tour events (Feb. 9, 10 and 12 in Denver and Greeley), with a first-person dramatization of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., followed by a Q&A about their lives. coloradohumanities.org/programs/black-history-live — John Wenzel
Bugging Out
Monday-Feb. 11. How’s your tolerance for eating bugs? If it’s high, then you’re in for a crunchy treat starting on Monday, Feb. 5, when Chef Jose Avila, the owner of La Diabla Pozolería y Mezcalería, 2233 Larimer St. in Denver, brings back his second annual Festival de Bichos.
The restaurant’s special menu, which runs through Feb. 11, includes a wide variety of dishes made with edible insects – all of which are commonly eaten in Mexico and some other countries. A $75 sampler platter includes tortillas with flying ant larvae (escamoles) and yellow mole; pork with flying-ant (chicatanas) sauce; a grasshopper tostada with stinkbug salsa; chocolate-covered scorpions; and much, much more. (Individual items are $15 each.) “This event is open to all, no reservations required,” according to a press release. –– Jonathan Shikes
