By Cassidy Ritter, Special to Denverite
Happy February! It's the start of a new month and you know what that means? Black History Month exhibits, celebrations and events and First Friday art walks.
Other happenings this weekend include Denver Lunar New Year celebrations, DFW Spring's Designer Challenge Fashion Show and the Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.
Looking to get out of the city? Check out our new "worth the drive" section below.
Whatever you get up to, make it a great weekend!
Notes: Events with an * are taking place virtually or outdoors.
Friday, Feb. 2
Kids and family
First Friday Button Making. Denver Public Library at ReCreative Denver, 765 Santa Fe Dr. 6:15-9 p.m. Free. All ages.
Comedy and theater
The Sklar Brothers. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $28.
Rotating Tap Comedy. River North Brewery - Blake Street Taproom, 3400 Blake St. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free.
Lewis Black. Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place. 8 p.m. Starting at $45.
Arts, culture and media
Nomadic Daydreams. Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th Ave., Unit A. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
Rough Gems: Dirty Abstraction. Union Hall, 1750 Wewatta St., Suite 144. Noon-6 p.m. No cover.
First Friday Art Walks. Santa Fe Art District, from 13th to Alameda avenues and Kalamath to Inca streets. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Free.
First Friday Pop Up Art Gallery. The Source Hotel, 3330 Brighton Blvd. 6-9 p.m. Free.
The Rise and Fall of Mining Towns in Colorado Exhibit Opening Reception. Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St. 6-8 p.m. $45-$45.
Eat and drink
Zymos Grand Opening. Zymos Brewing, 5180 S. Lowell Blvd., Littleton. Starting at 1 p.m. No cover.
Date Night: Japanese Izakaya. Stir to Learn at the Ice House, 1801 Wynkoop St. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $220 (per couple).
The Blossom Party - A Night of Drag. The Block Distilling Co., 2990 Larimer St. 7-10:05 p.m. No cover.
Music and nightlife
The Delta Sonics. Dazzle, 1080 14th St. 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Prices vary.
Sports and fitness
*Denver Nuggets vs. Portland Trail Blazers. Watch on Altitude or listen at 92.5 FM. 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 3
Just for fun
Orchid Sales. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free (entrance for members), $7.50-$15 (entrance for non-members), prices of orchids vary.
Denver Lunar New Year Celebration. McNichols Building, 144 W. Colfax Ave. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.
DFW Spring '24 Designer Challenge Fashion Show. The Arch, 3001 Walnut St. 7:30-10:30 p.m. $25-$250.
Kids and family
The Learning Lab Presents: Inside the Orchestra Trio. Ross-Broadway Branch Library, 33 E. Bayaud Ave. 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Ideal for ages 7 and younger, when accompanied by an adult.
African Drumming with Bob Hall. Sam Gary Branch Library, 2961 Roslyn St. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. All ages.
Kids' Matinee: The Playmakers Family Brunch Presents "Where the Wild Things Are, a Musical". Dazzle, 1080 14th St. Noon. $5.
*Juanita Gray Community Service Award & Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame Ceremony. Online or at Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton St. 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Ideal for ages 5 and up. Advanced registration required.
Comedy and theater
The Sklar Brothers. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $28.
Rotating Tap Comedy. Barquentine Brewing Company, 5505 W. 20th Ave. 8-10 p.m. Free.
Hannah Berner. Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place. 9:30 p.m. Starting at $35.
Art, culture and media
Nomadic Daydreams. Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th Ave., Unit A. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
Rough Gems: Dirty Abstraction. Union Hall, 1750 Wewatta St., Suite 144. Noon-6 p.m. No cover.
Lumonics Immersed. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73rd Ave., Unit 11. 8-10 p.m. $15-$25.
Eat and drink
Wynkoop's Day of Darks 2024. Wynkoop Brewing Co., 1634 18th St. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $15-$45.
Fresh Pasta Workshop: Raviolis, Agnolotti & Tortellini. Stir to Learn at the Ice House, 1801 Wynkoop St. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $129.
Chocolate Cherry Stout & Cheesecake Pairing. Woods Boss Brewing Co., 2210 California St. 2-5 p.m. $12. Advanced registration required.
Croissant Masterclass. Reunion Bread Co., 3350 Brighton Blvd. 3-5:30 p.m. $180.
Date Night: Rustic Tuscany. Stir to Learn at the Ice House, 1801 Wynkoop St. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $220 (per couple).
Sports and fitness
Cupid's Goat Yoga. The Orchard Town Center, 14584 Orchard Parkway, Suite 250, Broomfield. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. and noon-1 p.m. $30.
Sunday, Feb. 4
Just for fun
Lunar New Year on Havana Street Festival. Stampede, 2430 S. Havana St., Aurora. Noon-6 p.m. Free.
Comedy and theater
Sheng Wang. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 6 p.m. $30-$40.
Sunday Funday Comedy. Zeppelin Station, 3501 Wazee St. 6-7 p.m. $10.
Alingon Mitra. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7 p.m. $25-$30.
Eat and drink
Charcuterie + Coffee + Ice Cream Social. Aviano Coffee, 244 Detroit St. 5-7:30 p.m. $30.
Sports and fitness
*bRUNch Club 5K/10K. Postino LoHi, 2715 17th St. 9:30 a.m. Free (5K/10K), prices vary for brunch.
*Colorado Mammoth vs. San Diego Seals. Watch on ESPN+. 4 p.m.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets. Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. Watch on Altitude or NBA TV, or listen at 92.5 FM. 6:30 p.m. Prices vary.
All Weekend
Just for fun
*Ruby Hill Rail Yard. Ruby Hill Park, 1200 W. Florida Ave. 5 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. (Read more here).
Orchid Showcase. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members), $7.50-$15 (non-members).
Art, culture and media
Black History Month Public Art Tour. Locations vary across the Denver metro. Anytime. Free.
*Boulder International Film Festival 20th Anniversary Classics. Online Anytime. Free. Advanced registration required.
Wild Color. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members, children ages 2 and under), $19.95 (guests ages 3-18), $21.95 (seniors ages 65 and older), $24.95 (adults). All ages. Advanced registration recommended.
All Stars. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (guests ages 5 and under), $5 (members, guests ages 6-18), $23 (Colorado resident), $27 (non-resident).
Blaxplanation. History Colorado Center, 1200 N. Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children 18 and under), $15 (adults).
Museum of Illusions Denver. 951 16th Street Mall. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (Friday and Saturday) and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (Sunday -Thursday). $20 (children ages 5-12), $22 (seniors and active military), $24 (adults). Advanced registration required for timed entry.
The Museum for Black Girls. 500 16th Street Mall. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $30. (Read more about the museum and its creator here.)
Spookadelia: Doubt's Echo. Spectra Art Space, 1836 S. Broadway. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (Friday and Saturday), 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (Sunday). $12-$30.
Cowboy. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. Noon-7 p.m. (Fridays) and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Saturdays and Sundays). Free (children 18 and under), $9 (college students, military members, teachers, seniors ages 65+), $12 (adults).
Sports and fitness
*Downtown Denver Rink. Skyline Park, 1600 Arapahoe St. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (Friday and Saturday), 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (Sunday). Free, rentals are extra.
*McGregor Skate. McGregor Square, 1901 Wazee St. Noon-9 p.m. (Friday and Saturday) and Noon-6 p.m. (Sunday). Free (children 2 and under, seniors 65 and older), $6-$9 (children), $6-$15 (adults).
Worth the Drive
*Goldens in Golden. Downtown Golden along Washington Avenue. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.