Q marks the spot
Thursday-Sunday. Founded in 2009 “to celebrate queer voices, queer visions, and queer visibility” on screen, the four-day CinemaQ Film Festival returns to the Sie FilmCenter on Aug. 10-13, showcasing “the best in new and classic LGBTQ+ cinema from around the world.”
Things kick off Thursday with an opening night party and the presentation of “Bottoms,” a comedy about two queer high school girls who start a fight club for cheerleaders. In the ensuing days, the fest features live Q&As with filmmakers, panel discussions, and a dozen films and shorts like “Saint Drogo,” “Perpetrator” and “Gussy.” There will also be a double feature of restorations of two Andy Warhol horror flicks from the 1970s. The festival wraps up with an ice cream social, marketplace, and a showing of “Problemista,” another comedy.
The Sie is located at 2510 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver. Festival passes are $70 and individual tickets are $15. Get more information at denverfilm.org. — Jonathan Shikes
Timeless fun
Friday-Sunday. Not a lot of locals are aware that, decades ago, Wheat Ridge and the surrounding areas were home to nationally acclaimed carnation nurseries. While the industry has mostly dried up there, the city continues to honor its past with the 54th annual Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival, which runs Aug. 11-13 at Anderson Park, at the intersection of 44th Avenue and Field Street.
And attending is like traveling back to that past as the festival includes a big-top circus, a classic car show, a parade, two nights of fireworks, a spaghetti dinner and pancake breakfast, along with food vendors, kids activities and live music from more than a dozen musical acts. The festival is free to attend; get more information at thecarnationfestival.com. — Jonathan Shikes
History alive
Saturday. For the past several years, Colorado Asian Pacific United has been retelling the story of Denver’s historic Chinese community in the 1800s and the challenges and racism they faced, as well as gathering information about the neighborhood where early Chinese immigrants lived, which no longer exists. As part of that effort, the group will host a block party for Reimagining Denver’s Chinatown, when it will officially reveal a new mural and several historic markers.
The event, which takes place on Aug. 12 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Denver’s Fire Station 4, at 1890 Lawrence St., includes food, music, performances, fire station tours and other activities. The mural, painted by Nalye Lor, depicts the past, present, and future of Chinatown, and attendees will have a chance to vote for its name. Get more information at coloradoasianpacificunited.org. — Jonathan Shikes
A Red Rocks double-header
Tuesday-Wednesday. Indie rock fans get two for the price of one next week when artists Beck and Phoenix stop through on a co-headlining tour that spans two nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Aug. 15-16. The bands, both fixtures of the early 2000s, will play separate sets to hit the highlights of their acclaimed discographies.
But fans should also expect a few crossover tunes, not the least of which is “Odyessy,” a new song that Beck and Phoenix released together that channels the pop flair of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” (So go on and have some!) Japanese Breakfast and Sir Chloe open the show. Tickets start at $90 via axs.com. — Tiney Ricciardi
