By Clara Geoghegan, for Denverite
Break out your Mardi Gras beads and winter coat.
It's the Friday before Lent, which also means it is Mardi Gras! For my family, that means king cake and my godmama's black beans. In the spirit of decadence, go out and have some fun this weekend.
For those looking for a Bourbon Street party, try Mardi Gras at EXDO on Saturday. Or check out some live jazz with Gumbo Le Funque Friday night at Ophelia's Electric Soapbox. If decadence means some good southern eats, head to Stoney's Bar and Grill for a proper by-the-pound crawfish boil.
For something you've probably never seen before, go to the first annual Downtown Open Rail Jam. Catch skiers and snowboarders in Civic Center Park, with live music and drinks to boot. Or mix up your reality at the VR arcade at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science where. If you go on Sunday, tickets will be more affordable.
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Friday
Just for fun
Friday Evening Hours. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Free-$19.
VR Arcade. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. $8-28.
The Science Behind Pixar. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9:10 a.m. - 8:50 p.m. $8-28.
Seedlings: Garden Detectives. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. $10-12.
Black Sheep Friday: Sock Puppet Karaoke. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 6 p.m. Free-$5.
Art, culture and media
Friday Tours. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 5:15 p.m. Free-$5.
Viva Casa Bonita -- Opening Fiesta. Next Gallery, 6851 W. Colfax Ave, Unit B, Lakewood. 6-10 p.m. Free.
Colorado Dragon Film Festival: Lucky Grandma. Denver Film Society, 1510 York St. 7 p.m. $12-15.
Comedy and theater
The Improvised Shakespeare Company. Garner Galleria Theatre, 1101 13th St. 7:30 p.m. $42.
The Secretary. Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma St. 7:30 p.m. $38-44.
Eats and drinks
Vintage Brunch w/ David Lawrence Trio. Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 20th St. 11 a.m. No cover.
Dinner with Ryann and Jesse. Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 20th St. 5 p.m. No cover.
Music and nightlife
Local Set - Horizon Line & No Touch. Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison. 6 p.m. $60.
Snapcase. The Oriental Theater, 4335 W. 44th Ave. 7 p.m. $27-150.
Danny G. Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. 7 p.m. $12.
TOBYMAC Hits Deep Tour. Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt St. 7 p.m. $15-103.
Beethoven Missa Solemnis featuring the Colorado Symphony Chorus. Boettcher Concert Hall, 1000 14th St. 7:30 p.m. $15-89.
Satasang. The Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 7:30 p.m. $17-35.
An Evening with North Mississippi Allstars. The Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood. 8 p.m. $23-25.
Electric Guest. Summit, 1902 Blake St. 8 p.m. $21.
Passafire-Keepin' On Tour. Cervantes' Other Side, 2637 Welton St. 8:30 p.m. $19-20.
EKALI. The Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $25-30.
Stonefield. Lost Lake, 3602 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $15-17.
Willie Watson. Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St. 9 p.m. $20-25.
Kyle Emerson / Tuvy Organ / Panther Martin / DJ Crystal Seth. The Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway. 9 p.m. $12-14.
Yacht Rock Revue. The Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. 9 p.m. $30-75.
Mile High Mardi Gras w/ Gumbo Le Funque. Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 2oth St. 9 p.m. $10-27.
Saturday
Just for fun
VR Arcade. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. $8-28.
The Science Behind Pixar. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9:10 a.m. - 3:50 p.m. $8-28.
Colorado Garden and Home Show. Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. $10-12.
Art, culture and media
Colorado Dragon Film Festival. Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. $12-15.
InSights & InPerson: Mother/Daughter Creative Connections. History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway. Noon-2 p.m. $5-10.
Public Tours-Saturdays. Clyfford Still Museum, 1250 Bannock St. 2-3 p.m. Free-$10.
2020 Fly Fishing Film Tour. The Oriental Theater, 4335 W. 44th Ave. 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. $20.
Comedy and theater
The Secretary. Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma St. 7:30 p.m. $38-44.
Sofia Niño de Rivera -- Lo Volvería a Hacer. Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Pl. 8 p.m. $50-90.
Eats and drinks
Crawfish, Mardi Gras & Craft Beer. Monkey Barrel, 4401 Tejon St. 1-5 p.m. No cover.
2020 Denver Winter Tequila Tasting Festival. Blake Street Tavern, 2301 Blake St. 3-6 p.m. $35-60.
Dinner w/ Izcalli. Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 20th St. 6 p.m. No cover.
Stoney's 10th Annual Mardi Gras Boil. Stoney's Bar and Grill, 1111 Lincoln Street. 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. $25 and $55 (2 lbs and 5 lbs of crawfish).
Music and nightlife
Denver Mardi Gras 2020. EXDO, 1399 35th St. 6-11 p.m. $39-99.
Rapsody. Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. 7 p.m. $20.
TOBYMAC Hits Deep Tour. Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt St. 7 p.m. $15-103.
Beethoven Missa Solemnis featuring the Colorado Symphony Chorus. Boettcher Concert Hall, 1000 14th St. 7:30 p.m. $15-89.
The Glorious Sons. The Gothic Theatre, 3262 S. Broadway, Englewood. 7:30 p.m. $25-30.
Dash Berlin. Summit, 1902 Blake St. 8 p.m. $20-28.
Ezra Furman. The Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. $18-20.
TAUK and Friends: Squad Tour 2020. Cervantes' Other Side, 2637 Welton St. 8:30 p.m. $22-25.
Dashboard Confessional. The Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $35-80.
Brightside. Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St. 9 p.m. $15-17.
Proxima Parada. Lost Lake, 3602 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $13-15.
Ian Ferguson. Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St. 9 p.m. $12-15.
Matoma & Two Friends. The Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. 9 p.m. $27-100.
Bud Bronson & The Good Timers / Colfax Speed Queen / Pout House. The Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway. 9:30 p.m. $10.
Sports
Downtown Open Rail Jam. Civic Center Park, 101 W. 14th Ave. 5-10 p.m. Free.
Sunday
Just for fun
SCFD Community Free Days and Free Nights. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
VR Arcade. Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. $8-28.
Colorado Garden and Home Show. Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $10-12.
Art, culture and media
Colorado Dragon Film Festival. Denver Film Society, 1510 York St. 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. $12-15.
Comedy and theater
The Improvised Shakespeare Company. Garner Galleria Theatre, 1101 13th St. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $42.
Eats and drinks
Brunch w/ Wes Watkins. Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 20th St. 10:30 a.m. No cover.
Dinner w/ The Grande Orquesta Navarre. Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, 1215 20th St. 6 p.m. No cover.
Music and nightlife
Beethoven Missa Solemnis featuring the Colorado Symphony Chorus. Boettcher Concert Hall, 1000 14th St. 1 p.m. $15-89.
Marafiki's Mardi Gras. Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St. 7 p.m. $12-15.
Led Zeppelin 2 plays III: A 50th Anniversary Celebration. Summit, 1902 Blake St. 7 p.m. $9-15.
Vader. Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. 7 p.m. $20.
Chastity Belt. The Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. $15-18.
Dweezil Zappa. The Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood. 8 p.m. $43-80.
Mark Guiliana-Beat Music w/ Dandu, Chronologue. Cervantes' Other Side, 2637 Welton St. 8 p.m. $18-22.
Sports
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets. Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Cir. 4 p.m. $20 and upwards.
