RiNo Walls mural fest
Through Saturday. Hot, sunny weather is forecast for this weekend’s Denver Walls mural festival, which makes being outside easy during an event that unites muralists from Denver with a smattering from around the U.S. and the globe. In addition to live painting, the event offers an interactive map that guides you through, scavenger hunt-style (with digital rewards).
That’s alongside a free block party and skateboard competition at RiNo ArtPark (closing night, Saturday, Oct. 5, free and open to the public), an afterparty at No Vacancy (also free and open), and a gallery show exploring the history of graffiti at RedLine. Friday, Oct. 4, is devoted to project mapping, according to the website.
The festival began on Oct. 2 and continues through Saturday, Oct. 5 at various locations in the River North Art District. denverwalls.com — John Wenzel
Get frisky for whiskey
Saturday. Whiskey lovers will congregate at The Brighton this weekend, where more than 200 different spirits will be available for sampling side by side. Distilleries from across the country will also be there to serve their finest tipples.
Buzz-worthy brands include Uncle Nearest Whiskey from Tennessee, Balcones Distilling from Texas and local favorites like Laws Whiskey House and Old Elk. Attendees can taste the nuance between pours of various bourbons, sip on flavored whiskies and even try cocktails curated by the companies attending the fest. The ticket price includes bottomless samples, so be sure to arrange a safe ride home.
Whiskey Riot, as the event is called, takes place at 3403 Brighton Blvd. in Denver, 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5. Tickets: $90 for general admission or $120 for VIP at whiskeyriot.com/buy-tickets. — Tiney Ricciardi
Where is Denver’s Chinatown?
Thursday. An intriguing new exhibit titled “Where Is Denver’s Chinatown? Stories Remembered, Reclaimed, Reimagined” opens on Thursday, Oct. 10, at History Colorado Center. Tracing the development and life of the city’s long-gone Chinatown, which was centered in what’s now known as Lower Downtown, the exhibit features historical accounts, artifacts from the museum’s collection and artistic reimaginings of the neighborhood.
That includes a re-creation of a typical home in the area, one of the city’s most diverse in the late 1800s and early 1900s, as well as information about racism and violence suffered by residents. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 1200 Broadway in Denver. Tickets: $15 for adults; admission for kids 18 and under is free. historycolorado.org — John Wenzel
A new art lab for kids
Saturday. The brand new Groundworks Arts Lab is promising a state-of-the-art creative facility when it opens on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Boulder. The 12,500-square-foot building at 3750 Canfield St. in the northeast part of the city will include a programming space, a central gallery, and a private event rooftop deck with mountain views, according to a press statement.
The location is home base for a program that already offers classes at two additional locations. Students can work with clay, metal, glass, print and wood media as Groundworks combines its previous Studio Arts Boulder and Pottery Lab operations under a single banner.
An all-ages community open house is planned for 2-7 p.m. on Saturday, with a public ceremony at 5 p.m. Community members can RSVP at eventbrite.com or facebook.com/groundworksartlab. — John Wenzel
