MURALS, AND THEIR CHICANO ROOTS
THROUGH SEPT. 30» As popular as mural fests like Streetwise Boulder and Denver’s Black Love Mural Festival are, they’re only a slice of the larger scene. And as others flow in to join it — see the Sept. 3-5 Colfax Canvas Mural Festival — Denver’s Chicano Humanities and Arts Council (CHAC) is reminding us where it came from. This month, the nonprofit opened the “Denver Muralists and Street Artists, Their Legacy” art show — the second part of an intergenerational series that celebrates the creativity and influence of Chicano artists.
“Legacy” features works from Colorado pioneer Emanuel Martinez, graffiti veteran
Jher451, father-and-son muralists Jerry and Jay Jaramillo, and more CHAC artists. Seeing the show is free at
Converge Denver, 3327 Brighton Blvd. Parking at The Source. chacgallery.org
— John Wenzel
The funny thing about Kurt Braunohler.
SUNDAY» Prepandemic, comedy-special tapings were common in Denver, with dozens of national stand-ups traveling here to
perform and record at Comedy Works, the Gothic Theatre, Red Rocks Amphitheatre and other friendly venues. The latest is the brilliant Kurt Braunohler, who may be best known for his podcast “Bananas” and his character roles in TV shows and films such as the Oscar-nominated “The Big Sick” (with buddy Kumail Nanjiani).
He’s also a longtime collaborator with “Hot Tub” co-host Kristen Schaal (”Bob’s Burgers”), who hails from Longmont, and a trickster who has used skywriters and a giant, flatbed-filling human posterior (which stopped at MCA Denver) to tickle his fans. On
Sunday, Aug. 29, Braunohler will record his latest special at the Gothic Theatre while unleashing a cage-full of new material. Bring your tasers (figuratively, please). 6:30 p.m. at 3262 S. Broadway in Englewood. $12.75, 18-and-up. gothictheatre.com — John Wenzel
Make it a whiskey-filled weekend.
SATURDAY» You’ve almost made it through the week, and that calls for a toast. Stop by Blake Street Tavern on Saturday, Aug. 28, for the Denver Summer
Whiskey Tasting Festival, where more than 10 spirits purveyors will be pouring samples. The event features local distillers, such as Golden Moon Distillery of Golden and Longmont’s Copper Sky Distillery, as well as a few nationals. Whiskey is the star here, fittingly, but tequila samples also will be on deck. General admission costs $55 before tax and gets you 15 tasting tickets and two hours at the fest. Food and more drinks will be available for purchase. eventbrite.com
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