Things to do in Denver when you're gay: Denver Urban Trails

Spring has sprung and it's time to get out and about Denver.

Did you know that Denver Parks and Recreation offers more than 80 miles of urban trails within the City and County of Denver for your strolling, walking, and jogging pleasure?

Tips for Guncles: Mammoth host free NLL Playoffs viewing party

The Colorado Mammoth organization will host a viewing party at Brooklyn’s at Pepsi Center on Sunday, May 3. The Mammoth will be in Calgary that afternoon for their first round NLL Playoff Game against the top-seeded Roughnecks. The event will be free to attend, but fans are asked to RSVP by email to Mammoth@PepsiCenter.com.

YouthLink summer activities guide

The 2009 "YouthLink," summer activities guide is now available. The guide, sponsored by Councilman Linkhart and the Denver Community Service Fund, lists hundreds of opportunities for metro-area youth.

"I am committed to making Denver the most viable and healthy community for youth by expanding the opportunities for kids and increasing awareness of existing programs. Through this guide we've made available an extensive list that is sure to have something for everyone," said Councilman Linkhart.

The bilingual guide lists 149 organizations located throughout the city. The activities, many of which are free, include summer sports; such as tennis, gymnastics or river rafting, to jobs in community-based service programs,
GED and language classes and culture and arts programs. The guide features a map indicating the location of each program.

Beginning next week the guide will be distributed to Denver public and private schools, and will also be available at Denver Public Libraries, Denver Recreation Centers and on Councilman Linkhart's website at www.douglinkhart.org. The publication can also be acquired by calling 720-865-8000.

Latino Rhythms tonight

Lighthouse Lit Festival at Mercury Cafe

On Tuesday, June 10, at 8 p.m., five writing instructors from Lighthouse Writers Workshop, including Out Front Colorado managing editor Matt Kailey, will be reading from their books at the Mercury Cafe, 2199 California St. in Denver. This event is part of the annual Lighthouse Lit Festival going on now. Lighthouse Writers Workshop is an independent creative writing program in Denver, founded and operated by working writers and university-level teachers of writing, and features writing classes year round. For information about Lighthouse or the Lit Festival, go to www.lighthousewriters.org.

Memorial Day BBQ with Brothas4Ever

Join Brothas4Ever on Memorial Day, Monday May 26, for a BBQ at Cheesman Park, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the picnic tables on the West side of the park, near 9th Avenue. Please bring bring what you can, a side dish, a beverage, or some meat to grill. For more information, call Lavelle at 720-275-6910. Bring a Brotha or two!

The Movies That Missed Us at Starz

It's no easy task pulling together a program of 175-plus films every year for the 11-day cinematic blowout that is the Starz Denver Film Festival. Sometimes, amid the planning and programming, the screenings and selections, a film gets left behind. There are myriad reasons for the omissions: other film festivals' premiere policies come into play; a single print gets booked elsewhere for the dates we want to screen it; distributors devise complex roll-out strategies that don't match our festival dates; the list goes on. The Movies That Missed Us presents four films Keith from Denver Film Society deeply loved but was unable to book at the time of their release. To the best of Keith's knowledge, these films have never screened in Denver-until now.

More at DenverFilm.org.

Sneak Peek: Hamburger Mary's Patio

I grabbed a sneak peek Hamburger Mary's patio and I have to say, I was impressed. They've obviously put a ton of time and money into it and I can very easily see it becoming the place to be in the months ahead.

Newsflash - Strippers at Boyztown are hot

Newsflash - I stopped by Boyztown last night Wednesday and was pleasantly surprised to find that every single stripper they had performing was hot. In years past, they've been kind of skinny and hungry looking but these guys were all buff and goodlooking. Nice work, Boyztown. You have earned the MileHighGayGuy Stamp of Approval.

* photo from guidemag.com

Ed Hardy fashion show at Beta

Friday, May 16, is the date for the official ED HARDY FASHION SHOW EVENT at Beta nightclub. Every prediction I've heard about this event is that is should be nothing short of amazing!

Mile High Music Festival and Denver's ArtDistrict on Santa Fe team up for fine art extravaganza

In an effort to give festival-goers the ultimate regional experience, the Mile High Music Festival and Denver's ArtDistrict on Santa Fe have agreed to work together combine the finest of art with the finest of music. The Mile High Music Festival will bring a diverse selection of music to a diverse demographic. Festival-goers will now have the opportunity to enjoy a unique accompaniment to the music as the ADSF and the MHMF seek out the best regional artists to participate in the Festival's Fine Art Marketplace. Applications are going out this week to artists in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona with the goal of attracting up to 50 artists who will have retail booth space at the Festival.

The ADSF is spearheading the effort and looking to include contemporary art as well as folk art and novelty pieces. All art will be for sale at the Festival.

"This is going to be an extraordinary experience," says Judy Hagler, president of Denver's ArtDistrict on Santa Fe and owner of Translations Gallery. "Artists have the opportunity to get an enormous amount of exposure while festival-goers will enjoy a most unique and possibly curious retail environment. This is the chance to really be a part of something special."

To apply, artists must live within the above-specified region and artwork must include at least one of the following mediums: painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, mixed media, fiber, fine art jewelry or fine art prints. Deadline for entry is June 7, 2008, and artists will be notified by June 16, 2008. To select participating artists, the ADSF has assembled a diverse and local-minded jury to review the applications.

The Mile High Music Festival is Denver's first world-class music festival and will bring more than 40 bands to Denver over the course of the weekend of July 19 and 20, 2008. Bands include Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Steve Winwood and The Roots. These are just a sampling of the bands that is intended to attract more than 100,000 people throughout the weekend from Denver and beyond. The Festival grounds are located on the Outer Fields of Dick's Sporting Good Park, just off of I-70, so there is plenty of room to enjoy the best music and art, all under the auspices of the Colorado sunshine.

The String Cheese Incident in Hi-Def

Shot in high definition, Virtual Venues Network presents a life size and on-stage premiere screening of The String Cheese Incident's final two performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on August 11th & 12th, 2007. On a "virtual tour" to theatres and colleges all summer long, The String Cheese Incident - Hi-Def from Red Rocks brings SCI fans together to celebrate the energy and magic of The String Cheese Incident in hometown venues everywhere. With more than 3 hours of live footage, this virtual concert experience is sure to thrill live music lovers everywhere, and give people a feel for what it was like to be at one of the world's premiere outdoor venues for these very special SCI shows.

Wednesday, May 14th @ 8:00pm (Doors @ 7:30pm)
Venue 515
515 Manitou Avenue, Manitou
Tickets $10.00 adv $12.00 dos / Ages 21+ Welcome
For more information please contact 719-685-1861 x10



Thursday, May 15th @ 8:00pm (Doors @ 7:00pm)
Bluebird Theater
3317 East Colfax Avenue, Denver
Tickets $10.00 adv $12.00 dos / Ages 16+ Welcome
For more information please contact 303-377-1666



Friday, May 16th @ 9:00pm (Doors @ 8:30pm)
Fox Theatre
1135 13th Street, Boulder
Tickets $10.00 adv $12.00 dos / All Ages Welcome
For more information please contact 303-443-3399



Saturday, May 17th @ 9:00pm (Doors @ 8:00pm)
Aggie Theatre
204 South College Avenue, Fort Collins
Tickets $10.00 / All Ages Welcome
For more information please contact 970-482-8300


Sunday, May 18th @ 8:00pm (Doors @ 7:00pm)
Belly Up
450 South Galena Street, Aspen
Tickets $10.00 / Under 16 needs parent
For more information please contact 970-544-9800

Free Art Tours

Denver Performing Arts Complex (DPAC)
14th and Curtis

Tour dates/times:
Saturday, May 17, 1:00 PM
Saturday, June 14, 1:00 PM
Saturday, September 13, 1:00 PM
Saturday, October 11, 1:00 PM
Saturday, November 15, 1:00 PM

Tour will include:
Ellie Caulkins Opera House (works by Dale Chihuly, Herbert Bayer, Steven Batura, John DeAndrea)
Buell Theatre (works by George Woodman, Vance Kirkland)
Atrium and exterior (works by Fernando Botero, Victor M. Contreras, Jonathan Borofsky, Marcus Akinlana, John Powell)

This tour will gather in the DPAC atrium near Infinite Energy (large abstract bronze in the open area between Boettcher Concert Hall and the Bonfils Complex) fifteen minutes prior to start time.


Colorado Convention Center
14th and California

Tour dates/times:
Saturday, May 17, 11:00 AM
Saturday, June 14, 11:00 AM
Saturday, July 19, 11:00 AM (tour will extend to the grounds of the Denver Performing Arts Complex)
Saturday, September 13, 11:00 AM
Saturday, October 11, 11:00 AM
Saturday, November 15, 11:00 AM

Tour will include:
Interior (works by Erick C. Johnson, Jim Green, John McEnroe, Kirk Johnson & Jan Vriesen, William Matthews, Trine Bumiller)
Exterior (works by Lawrence Argent, Jonathan Bonner, Barbara Jo Revelle, Bernar Venet)

This tour will gather in front of I See What You Mean (a.k.a. the Big Blue Bear) fifteen minutes prior to start time.


Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center
15th and California

Tour date/time:
Saturday, May 24, 11:00 AM

Tour will include:
Interior (works by Robin Ault, Steven Altman)
Exterior (works by Shannon Kelly, Joseph Kosuth)

This tour will gather in the lobby of the hotel fifteen minutes prior to start time.


To sign up for a FREE tour, please e-mail Rudi Cerri at rudi.cerri@denvergov.org or call 720-865-4307.

Wilde's Grand Opening

Wilde dancebar & lounge is officially in business, throwing open their doors this past Friday to a standing-room-only crowd that seemed very excited to have a new club make it entry into Denver's gay party scene.

"It's a great space," said my friend Matt, "I like all the different rooms and nooks and crannies."

A former residence, Wilde is big but not cavernous and each room or area has something different going on. There was DJ Chaotic on the second floor, a couple of different seating areas on the main floor, pool and darts upstairs and a restaurant in the back (there serving appetizer type items for the moment but have plans to open up a full kitchen soon) and there was a lot of movement from room to room. The layout of club definitely encourages mixing and mingling.

Wilde's grand opening party was exactly that and a welcome kick-off for Denver's club season. I would have to say the place seems destined for plenty of 'wilde' and crazy times ahead.

Twisted Drag Queen Bingo at JR's

Wednesday nights at JR.'s are more than just a celebration of
"hump day", they're letting you play with their balls! Roxy and
Shanita Lawya continue Twisted Drag Queen Bingo for the 2nd
season of card and dabber fun!

Underwear Night Every Tuesday at The Eagle

There may be snow on the ground but you'll stay warm in your underwear at The Eagle.

BJ's Carousel

BJ's Carousel is a gay Denver landmark. They're known for their drag shows and fundraising for local charities and they've got something different going on every night of the week.

Denver Gay Bar & Club Directory

Barker Lounge
BJs Carousel
Charlies
The Compound
The Eagle
The Wrangler
Hamburger Mary's
Lannies
JRs
Tracks
Wilde

Denver Dog Parks: Doggone Good Times

I've been lucky enough to have a lot of free time on my hands lately and one of my new favorite activities has been taking my dogs, Pax and Charlie, for jolly romps in Denver's off-leash dog parks. Our favorite by far is Barnum Park, a big beautiful grassy area which, up until now, has been one of Denver's best-kept secrets.

Denver's off-leash dog park areas are located in the following parks:

Berkeley Park - Sheridan and West 46th

Barnum Park - Hooker and West 5th

Jason Street - 678 South Jason Street (operated by Denver's Municipal Animal Shelter)

Kennedy Park - Hampden and South Dayton

Fuller Park - Franklin and East 29th

Green Valley Ranch East Park - Jebel and East 45th

Stapleton - East 24th Avenue & Syracuse Street


All visitors must adhere to posted rules and regulations. Bag dispensers are provided at each park, and visitors are expected to clean-up after their pooches.