Issue 96

Denver Museum of Nature & Science Ghengis Kahn Exhibition

Experience life in 13th-century Mongolia, including the tents, battlegrounds, and marketplaces of a vanished world. Explore Genghis Khan’s life and those of his sons and grandsons during the formation, peak, and decline of the Mongol Empire. The exhibition is full of family-friendly activities and live cultural performances by traditional Mongolian singers and musicians. More than 200 spectacular objects — many of which have never been seen outside of Russia or Mongolia, including gold jewelry and ornaments, silk robes, musical instruments, pottery, and sophisticated weaponry — are on display.

The first person to email the correct answer to the trivia question below wins a pair of tickets!

What was the name of the civilian and military code Genghis Khan created for the Mongol Empire?

*Must claim prize voucher in person at the Denver Magazine office (1610 Wynkoop St., Ste. 400).

Exhibition runs through February 17, 2010.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science
2001 Colorado Blvd.
303.322.7009
dmns.org/GK

Denver Magazine Presents: A Night at the North Pole

Kick off your holiday shopping with Denver Magazine in Cherry Creek North. For one night only, enjoy a VIP night of holiday shopping with more than 50 participating stores, including 10 fantastic holiday cocktail stops and more than 20 food stops. Don’t miss the savings, giveaways, and special in-store events. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit ArtReach Denver.

Tickets: $25 (advance), $30 (door)

Tickets available now at
denvermagazine.com/northpole

Sonny’s Rocks Grand Opening

Join Sonny’s Rocks and Denver Magazine for bling, bubbly, and Billups to mark the store’s grand opening. After 17 years in Cherry Creek North, Sonny’s has a new name, a new location, and a new approach to jewelry and diamond shopping. Denver Nuggets star player Chauncey Billups and Regis University men’s basketball coach Lonnie Porter will be on hand to sign autographs and share information on the Porter Billups Foundation (a Sonny’s Rocks beneficiary). Guests can enter to win rock & roll prizes while enjoying sparkling cocktails, live music, and holiday shopping specials.

RSVP: rsvp@sonnysrocks.com

Wednesday, December 2, 6 – 9 pm

Sonny’s Rocks
1501 Colorado Blvd.
(corner of Florida & Colorado)
303.329.3315
sonnysrocks.com

Vuka

If you hit the Starz Denver Film Festival, you probably noticed the funky cans of Vuka in the hands of moviegoers. Vuka, which means “wake up” in Zulu, is a recently launched, Denver-based, all-natural energy drink. Vuka offers a range of energy drinks catering to different occasions. They are not intended to keep you awake for an all-night rave or as fuel for an extreme sport but simply to help you aim higher and accomplish more in whatever you do. Available in four sparkling flavors for $3.49 each.

When you purchase Vuka directly from the Website, you can support the company’s official charitable partner, the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect with the “Round-It-Up, Pay-It-Forward” program.

For a list of where to buy:
vuka.com/locator

Aspire Cosmetics Trunk Show

Great fashion isn’t just from the neck down, and the perfect accessory to a stylin’ outfit is a fresh face. Garbarini is now the exclusive Colorado retailer for Aspire Cosmetics — a full line of luxe makeup. The first 10 people to make an appointment get a free lip gloss and a cosmetic consultation by Tina, local make-up artist extraordinaire.

Thursday, December 3, 1 – 7 pm

Garbarini
3003 E. 3rd Ave.
303.333.8686
garbarinishop.com

Sky Hotel

If you’ve purchased the Aspen/Snowmass Classic Pass, you can also save big on a swank place to stay this season. The Sky Hotel in Aspen, a Kimpton property that’s home to one of the best après-ski scenes in town, is offering Classic Pass holders a 15 percent discount off their room rate Thursday – Saturday nights and 30 percent off their room rate Sunday – Wednesday nights. This offer is valid November 25, 2009 – April 11, 2010, and the pass must be presented upon check-in to confirm the discount.

The Sky Hotel
709 E. Durant Ave., Aspen
970.925.6760
theskyhotel.com

9News Parade of Lights

A Denver holiday tradition, this celebration of lights, music, and dazzling floats is a great way to fall into the Christmas spirit. The parade travels a two-mile route and downtown Denver’s skyline provides a stunning background for the lights and sounds of the parade. This year, the event is proud to celebrate the cultural and ethnic diversity of the region by featuring Colorado Mestizo dancers, a Denver Taiko group, the Fort Hays University Chinese Student Association, Grupo Folklorico Semblanza de Mexico, and the Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu Association.

Free admission along route or grandstand seating ($17)

Friday, December 4, 8 pm & Saturday, December 5, 6 pm

The parade starts in front of Civic Center Park and the City & County Building on Bannock Street at 14th Avenue.

denverparadeoflights.com

A Christmas Carol

The Denver Center Theatre Company presents one of the most popular holiday productions: the time-honored story of the transformation of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge by the ghosts of Christmas. Warming hearts again this season is actor Philip Pleasants (The Voysey Inheritance, Plainsong) in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. He is joined by Sam Gregory (The Voysey Inheritance, Noises Off) as Bob Cratchit, Linda Mugleston (Quilters) as Mrs. Cratchit, five-year-old charmer Charlie Korman as Tiny Tim, M. Scott McLean as Fred, Mike Hartman as the ghost of Jacob Marley, Stephanie Cozart as the ghost of Christmas past, Ellie Schwartz as a fan, Michael Fitzpatrick as Fezziwig, Leslie O’Carroll as Mrs. Fezziwig, Renée Brna as Belle, Larry Bull as the ghost of Christmas present, and Andy Jobe as the ghost of Christmas yet to come.

Special holiday tours of the Performing Arts Complex are available Saturdays from November 21 through December 28 at 10 am and 11 am. Holiday tours are $10 per person and include a gift bag.

Performances November 27 – December 26

Tickets: from $18

The Stage Theatre
303.893.4100
denvercenter.org

Rocky Mountain Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run

More than 46 million Americans are living with arthritis, and it’s one of the nation’s leading causes of disability. Each year, thousands of runners and walkers pound the pavement for the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis, a fun and festive 5K through Washington Park. The name of the race says it all; participants are encouraged to tie jingle bells to their shoelaces and don holiday-inspired costumes. Proceeds raised directly benefit the Arthritis Foundation in order to increase awareness and allocate funds to find a cure for the disease.

Registration: $40 (individuals), $30 (team members), $15 (children 12 and under), $15 (senior 65 and over)

Sunday, December 13, 8 am

Washington Park
303.756.8622
jinglebellrundenver.kintera.org

Buy Local Week

Join local business owners, community leaders, and lovers of all things local to kick off Denver’s Third Annual Buy Local Week. The event includes complimentary food and drink and the opportunity to hobnob with other small business owners. A brief auction benefiting the work of the Mile High Business Alliance will feature unique goods and services from area companies, ending with a dessert reception. The evening will conclude with performances by Cliff Eberhardt and Chris Daniels.

Pick up your holiday shopping guide at the event or in participating local retailers, including The Tattered Cover Colfax and Twist and Shout. Buy Local Week runs November 28 through December 6.

Kickoff Event
Free admission for activities prior to show; concert tickets: $17/$15 (advance); $19/$17 (door)

Saturday, November 28, 6 pm

Swallow Hill Music Association
71 E. Yale
303.777.1003
coloradolocalfirst.com/buylocalweek

Jewish Family Service Reel Hope Take 14

Community leaders Brent and Julie Morse and David H. Friedman are this year’s honorees at the annual Jewish Family Service movie premier event. The festivities will feature the awards presentation, a JFS agency video, and a special movie screening of a major Hollywood film. Reel Hope is produced in partnership with Variety of Colorado and benefits the programming of JFS.

Thursday, December 3, 6 pm

Tickets: $180

Regal Cinemas Continental Theatre
3635 S. Monaco Pkwy.
303.597.5000
jewishfamilyservice.org