Skip to content

Local music for a good cause, ice skating outdoors, wizardly beer

Greetings, City Casters!

It’s Friday, the best day of the week (in my opinion, anyway.) While our usual newsletter wizard Peyton Garcia is out enjoying her honeymoon, producer Paul Karolyi and I teamed up to bring you a short list of fun stuff to do, read, and see this weekend. We know the snow doesn’t deter true Denverites from getting out and about, even when the roads are a little crappy. We know you can brave it!

— Bree Davies, Host of City Cast Denver and All-Weather Enthusiast

🎸SOMETHING TO JAM OUT TO

Concert For A Cause
Get out and see some local music and support the community at the same time. This Saturday at the famous Eck’s Saloon in Lakewood, Colorado musicians will be taking the stage to raise money for victims of the Marshall Fire. The Sky Choice Band, The Keeps, and more are set to play for just $5 at the door.

⛸️ SOMETHING TO SAVOR

One of the final frozen winters at Evergreen Lake
Every winter since 1928, the people of Evergreen have laced up their skates to enjoy the unique and exhilarating pleasure of ice skating outdoors. The tradition has grown more popular over the years, as the population of the Front Range grew, and now locals report around 2,000 people enjoying the frozen lake every day. But this tradition won’t be around forever. According to a new report from The Colorado Springs Gazette, the ice needs to reach a certain thickness to allow for safe skating, and thanks to climate change, that’s been happening later and later each winter. Skating season used to start as early as October. This year, they couldn’t safely skate until New Year’s Eve.

For hours and directions, click here.

🍻SOMETHING TO DRINK (AND SEE!)

Genius Wizard Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Release
Calling all beer fanatics! This Saturday, Ratio Beerworks is rolling out the red carpet for the release of its Genius Wizard Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout. An evening’s ticket includes a four-pack of the stout, a two-pack release of bourbon and rye from Laws Whiskey House, a small-plate paired dinner by chef Dana Rodriguez (you know, of Casa Bonita fame), and a Genius Wizard Rastal glass. Oh, and beyond the beer and fancy snacks, the brewery will be awash in video projection-mapped imagery from photographer Shadows Gather, along with a set from DJ Novelli.

🏒 SOMETHING TO WATCH

The best hockey team in the world plays in Denver
Thanks to a come-from-behind win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night, the Colorado Avalanche now boast the best record in the Western Conference. The Avs are now neck-and-neck with the Florida Panthers to lead the league. Star winger Nathan Mackinnon suffered a mild injury, so he may be out of commission for this weekend’s games, but that only leaves space for the rest of the Avs to shine. And they have been shining! Defender Cale Makar is putting together another Norris Trophy-caliber season, and winger Nazem Kadri has taken a huge step forward this year – once a reliable depth scorer and grinder, Kadri qualified for his first ever All Star Game next month. 

The Avs are in the Windy City to take on the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at 6:30 p.m. but they’ll be back home on Sunday to face off against the Buffalo Sabres at 6 p.m. Check your local listings for the Altitude broadcasts…. or set sail on the open sea! 🏴‍☠️

🔎 SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON

🎙️ SOMETHING YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

A look back at our shows of the week

  • TODAY: Westword’s Patty Calhoun joins the crew for another Friday chat. We’re talking about grocery stores and Colorado’s Black history.
  • THU: Disability affirmative Phamaly Theatre Company shines in new doc, “imperfect.”
  • TUE: Exploring Denver’s tattoo history in Alicia Cardenas’s own words.

👉 Find all our shows at denver.citycast.fm.

A quick note

Thanks to proud Littletonian listener Matt Duffy, we have been alerted to an editor’s error in yesterday’s newsletter. We told you that “Little Shop of Horrors” would be opening this Friday at Aurora’s Town Hall Arts Center when in fact the Town Hall Arts Center is in beautiful downtown Littleton. Thanks, Matt!

-Paul