I ponied up for a glass of wine at the concession stand at the Aurora Fox Arts Center because I was there to see Squirrels, and the billing for it made me wonder if I was about to see an interation of CATS, but with more incest and a political agenda. It seemed like wine might be the drop of social lubricant needed to help me appreciate the experience. Here’s how it went. The setting of Robert Askins’ play is a drey (a squirrels nest) and it’s a time of inequality and distress. The fox squirrels, hailing originally from “the other side of the 7/11,” have encroached on the territory of... Read More

I’ve mentioned in previous columns that “immersive theater” is having a moment. At the Aurora Fox Arts Center, it’s having an orgasm. Or perhaps a petit mal seizure. Or maybe both. Petit mal, petit mort…whatever; I walked into Control Group Productions’ staging of Cutting Room Floor and walked out 90 minutes later, not quite sure how that time-loss had happened, but desperately hoping to make it happen again. The idea is this: the historic Fox Theater, founded in a Quonset hut in 1946 and thriving for decades as a movie house, was gutted by a fire in the early 80s, by which time it... Read More

Motto: “The Sunrise of Colorado” 1. Get wild at the Morrison Nature Center The Morrison Nature Center, located within Star K Ranch, is home to protected wildlife such as mule deer, painted turtles, snapping turtles, red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, western meadowlarks, great horned owls, blue jays and coyotes. Visitors can spend time outside on self-guided tours to see the animals on the trail, or they can read more about what they saw inside in their extensive catalogue. 2. Chow down at Stanley Marketplace The Stanley Marketplace began as a place to gather to drink a few beers... Read More

I’ve never had much truck with communism. I was born in the 80’s and have only the faintest memory of the Berlin Wall coming down. My ultra-Conservative scholastic education impressed upon me that the only success of the Soviets and the “Red Chinese” (yes, that was the actual term used) was to slaughter and starve millions of people. This impression was not wrong; Stalin and Mao weren’t fun people at parties. And it left me with a deep distrust of anything labeled “The People’s,” whether that’s an army or an industry. Thus, it was with some skepticism that I learned that there’s... Read More

Tucked in an unsuspecting little suburb outside of Denver, sits a stellar brewery with a fabulous reputation, that’s only matched by its ability to roll with the punches. More about that later. Ursula Brewery has been a staple of the Fitzsimons neighborhood and it’s safe to say: it’s a favorite of many! Back in 2014 they opened their doors under the name Coda Brewing. With the unique mission of pairing beer and music. After the owners, Scott Procop and Luke Smith, parted ways in early 2016 – Ursula Brewery emerged! Both the guitar pick background and the Fender-esque font of their current... Read More

In Aurora off the corner of Kentucky and Buckley tucked back behind the 7-Eleven lies an amazing hidden gem – Launch Pad Brewery. Open seven days a week this “rocket-themed microbrewery and taproom” (as Google states) is decked out in all sorts of aeronautics gear including several scale models of satellites and rockets. Their small taproom boasts a decent amount of seating and is indeed dog and child friendly. The staff here is exceptional! Having frequented Launch Pad Brewery over the past few years (primarily due to its close proximity to Community College of Aurora); I was hooked. All... Read More