Thursday, November 20

The winter season does not officially start until the new Warren Miller flick is released and for the 59th time the sage of snow does not disappoint. Traversing the globe from Japan to Austria to British Columbia to Alaska to Iceland, the film features jaw-dropping performances from some of the top skiers and snowboarders in the land. Closer to home, the Miller crew swung by the skijoring competition in Leadville along with shooting footage at Silverton and Crested Butte.

This story focuses on another aspect of Helen Keller's life, following Anne Sullivan who is a teenager fresh out of an institute for the blind to care for Helen. Anne soon senses Helen's bright mind and uses her intense determination to give Helen the gift of language and world fame. This is a very powerful play that debuted on Broadway more than 50 years ago.

For too long wine has ruled absolutely when it comes to pairing alcohol with food. Thankfully, AiX and Great Divide Brewing Company are throwing a coup d' tat only with beer as opposed to bullets. Denver's premiere microbrewery and the Uptown restaurant have teamed up to offer a five course meal paired with some of the Divide's most impressive brews. And no, it's not all bratwurst.

The Handsome Little Devils premiere their latest lunacy "The Squirm Burpee Circus: A Vaudevillian Melodrama" at the Oriental Theater over two nights. Catch Dashing Dave, Lovely Little Lolo, Mike the Handsome and Baron Vegan von Hamburger for their juggling, dancing, comic adventure. From slapstick to chainsaw acrobatics and human cannonballs to swing dancing, this wild show is sure to entertain.

In Ancient Greece, Ephesus was a city of Anatolia and rested where the Cayster River flowed into the Aegean Sea. It is also thought that the Gospel of John may have been written there. Flash forward a few millennia and Ephesus is an alternative rock band belting out powerful lyrics and slightly countrified rock riffs. They play Herman's Hideaway with the Carey Pearsall Band and Adison Harvest.

New to the Denver music scene, Black Market Empire sounds like a lighter Joy Division. Mixing elements of indie rock, pop and shoegaze with New Wave sensibilities, BME plays the Bluebird with Goodbye Champion, Brad Sucks and The Quills.

There just are not enough old-time string bands touring these days. Thankfully Nashevill's Old Crow Medicine Show is here to remedy that detriment. A mix of bluegrass, folk, Americana, roots and Lawrence Welk revue, Old Crow plays music any generation can appreciate. Along with original works, the band also covers many pre-World War II blues and folk songs.

One of France's most popular DJs, David Guetta is riding the wave stateside bringing his epic and dynamic sets to Beta. Guetta has played at the top clubs and festivals around the world to crowds of up to two million and was ranked the number one house DJ by DJ Mag. His song "Love is Gone" was number one on iTunes Dance USA for three months.

Straying from their home ranch in Seattle, Brent Amaker & The Rodeo saddle up to Bender's. Dressed all in black with a two-piece drum kit and minimal electric lead guitar, it's Amaker's deep Cash-esque voice that defines the Rodeo's sound. With lyrics that walk the line between simplicity and depth and irony and honesty, these cowboys bring out the hillbilly in everybody and will have you laughing and crying at the same time.

While Denver might be more of a football town, it barely edges out hockey as the city's most popular sport. Head over to the Walnut Room to watch the Colorado Avalanche game and have a chance to win tickets to the December 9 Avs vs. Kings game.

Incubus bassist Ben Kenney brings his solo project to the Walnut Room. The former Roots guitarist, Kenney has been known to play six different instruments on stage and will even get behind the drums to kick out a couple solos from time to time. His groove-oriented sound for Incubus was a departure from founding member Dirk Lance's funky bass lines. He is joined by Heavy Young Heathens.