Sweat at the Rocks, dream of powder
Saturday. Denver’s SnowShape Winter Fitness series at Red Rocks Amphitheatre begins Saturday, Sept. 17, to help skiers and snowboarders prepare for winter fun. And if you can’t make it this time, it continues for the next four weeks.
Led by professional trainers from Fitness in the City, the program targets four core fitness principles: stability, endurance, strength and power. The price is $17 per session or $64 for all four. The final session on Oct. 8 is right around the time when Summit County ski resorts begin making snow, weather permitting; the first ski area openings generally happen around Oct. 22.
Sessions run from 8-9 a.m. Tickets are available at redrocksonline.com. — John Meyer
A chip off the ole’ block party
Saturday. Foot traffic in downtown Denver declined significantly due to the pandemic, and in many parts of the urban corridor, it has yet to return to previous levels, putting businesses in jeopardy. That’s why this year’s Woods Block is especially important, organizers say.
The annual celebration of community, craft beer, music and more takes place noon-10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the intersection of California and 22nd streets – both of which will be closed off. There will be live music, a vendor market, Mexican wrestling, drag and burlesque show, food from El Rey Taco and beer from the party’s host, Woods Boss Brewing.
Entry is free and all ages. Visit woodsbossbrewing.com for more. — Jonathan Shikes
Raising money, fun to clean up Sloan’s Lake
Saturday. West Denver mainstay Sloan’s Lake Park is under a lot of pressure, and not just from the rapidly changing and growing neighborhoods around it. The health of the lake itself has been declining, according to the nonprofit Sloan’s Lake Park Foundation, which has been trying since 2019 to raise money to help Denver’s parks department come up with solutions.
“(We want) to bring back the days when swimmers frolicked in the lake, an amusement park graced her shore, and competitive water-skiing was a regular event,” the Foundation’s board said. “Once upon a time, in the not-too-distant past, the lake was 18-20 feet deep; it is now an average of 3 feet. It takes a village to bring about a change of this magnitude, but concerned neighbors, both old-time Sloan’s Lake residents, and newbies alike are taking up the challenge.”
On Saturday, Sept. 17, the Foundation hosts its 6th annual Jamming on the Jetty music festival and fundraiser, which runs from 2 to 7 p.m. at the boat house on the north side of the park. It includes three bands: Bianca Herbert & The Flyboys, Dzirae Gold’s 6-Piece Soul Band, and 2MX2, a 6-piece Latinx pop and hiphop band. There will also be beer, cocktails, margaritas, and food trucks, as well as a kids zone and yoga. Get more at sloanslakeparkfoundation.org. — Jonathan Shikes
Scared spaces, writ large
Saturday-Monday. When Denver’s Cleo Parker Robinson Dance goes big, it goes really big. The performing ensemble, one of the country’s most accomplished Black-dance organizations, will this weekend take over the historic, 2,225-capacity Ellie Caulkins Opera House — quite an upgrade from its cozy, converted-church headquarters in Five Points — for the new show “Sacred Spaces?” (yes, the question mark is intentional).
The fall concert will include a new work by founder Cleo Parker Robinson in collaboration with Adonis Rose of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra — which will perform live at the Saturday, Sept. 17, and Sunday, Sept. 18 shows. Shows at 1385 Curtis St. Tickets are $25-$125 via cleoparkerdance.org.
Also at the Ellie this week: Community Minded Dance presents the Denver Jazz Festival, running Friday, Sept. 16 to Monday, Sept. 19 at The Studio Loft at the Ellie 980 14th St. Tickets: $35 per day or $109 for 3-day passes at axs.com. — John Wenzel
