Staff Pick Big Gigs

Tony Bennett with Antonia Bennett

Think you've heard Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" enough to last a lifetime? Sorry, I've got you beat. Prior to a move from the Midwest to SF, a friend gave me a mixtape to play on the way, insisting I not put it on until we hit the road. Turns out it was an endless loop of the aforementioned signature song, which is now imprinted in my DNA. Bennett reprised many of his other hits on a 2011 duets album that features the likes of Amy Winehouse ("Body and Soul"), Queen Latifah ("Who Can I Turn To"), and Lady Gaga ("Lady Is a Tramp"). You can catch him live at 7 tonight and tomorrow in the outdoor ambience of Denver Botanic Gardens (1007 York St., Denver, botanicgardens.org). Tickets are $100 and up, which is what you get when you're the last Sinatra-era crooner standing. — Bill Forman

Staff Pick

The Odd Couple

The Odd Couple wasn't Walter Matthau's first break, but it was his biggest, and he knew it. "Don't ask me to explain it," he told the Associated Press for a story printed Nov. 25, 1965. "I've starred in 20 plays, and nothing like this happened before. ... even without having a personal press agent, the publicity poured in." Chalk it up to folks caught up in the brilliance of Neil Simon's comedy about what's now one of the most clichéd cinematic tropes: the two unlikely roommates. See Springs Ensemble Theatre (1903 E. Cache la Poudre St., springsensembletheatre.org) produce its take tonight — or most any Thursday through Sunday until June 23 — at the 7:30 opening. Tickets are $15. — Bryce Crawford

Staff Pick

Wily & Wonerful Things

Break out the leather vests and corsets, the sprocket-y gadgets and top hats. This isn't an invite to a BDSM gathering, rather, the 5 p.m. opening reception for Wily & Wonderful Things, an art show of all things outsider and steampunk at Cottonwood Center for the Arts (427 E. Colorado Ave., cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com). The show's juried by local artist Phil Lear and Denver's Timothy C. Flood, who's currently accepting pieces to send digitally to the moon. (Visit tinyurl.com/lunarart for more on that.) In addition to that revelry, expect work by the one-and-only Myles Pinkney, Colorado Springs' premiere fantasy and steampunk artist. — Edie Adelstein

Staff Pick

Sisters of Loretto

The Sisters of Loretto ain't playin'. You've got Sister Mary Ann McGivern, who, according to the New York Times, in 1987 stormed the annual meeting of defense contractor Honeywell to accuse the company of "fueling the arms race" in "the hope for profit." Then you've got Sister Jacqueline G. Wexler, who the same newspaper says took on the Vatican, in 1967, to win autonomy from the church for Webster College, a Catholic women's school in Missouri. They're lively ladies, and the El Pueblo History Museum (301 N. Union Ave., Pueblo, historycolorado.org) pays tribute to that heritage with the traveling exhibit Sisters of Loretto: 200 Years Working for Peace, Acting for Justice. Adult admission today, or any Tuesday through Saturday until July 27, is $5. — Bryce Crawford

Staff Pick

Fab Lab and Recycling Center

The power of rhyme compels you: Attend FAB LAB from 3:30 to 5:30 today (or any Wednesday) at the Business of Art Center (513 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, 685-1589). Crafty local nonprofit Concrete Couch is your host in the wood or metal shop, or "OutBAC," as you create something artsy (from mosaic backsplashes to "weird welded things," in the words of Concrete Couch svengali Steve Wood) or fix a broken item (hand tools, chairs, etc.) that you're encouraged to bring. Think: creative community handymen. There'll be banging. Maybe some welding. Dust and sparks will fly! Things will be re-purposed for the good of all mankind, and occasionally people will high-five afterward. It'll be ... fabulous. — Matthew Schniper

Staff Pick

The Joy Ride

As you read this, the temperature is likely somewhere in the 70-degree range, which means it's another gorgeous day on the Front Range (and that it will probably snow soon). So what should you do? Steal a car, drive it around, then ditch it! Wait — no. No, that's the wrong definition of "joyride." What you should really do is grab your bicycle and hit the free, weekly Joy Ride at McCabe's Tavern (520 S. Tejon St., upadowna.com). Bikers depart at 6:30 tonight for a three- to six-mile route around downtown. Discounts on New Belgium Brewing Co. beers apply post-ride, and those who ride five times or more are eligible to win a cruiser from the brewery at the end of summer. — Bryce Crawford

Staff Pick Members Pick

Muldooniacs Running Club

You get a free margarita each time you participate in the weekly 5K or 10K with the Muldooniacs Running Club (5710 S. Carefree Circle, josemuldoons.com). But if that isn't enough incentive to join this newly formed group, wait until you've run 12 times, and you'll get a T-shirt that's almost magical: It'll earn you a free margarita whenever you visit either José Muldoon's — east-side or downtown. So grab your running shoes and your friends and head to José's between 5 and 6 p.m. for an outing on the nearby Homestead Trail. — Ellie Cole

Staff Pick Members Pick

SouthSide Johnny's Running Club

Meet CrossFit: "Workouts comprised of constantly varied functional movements (like pushing, pulling, squatting, lifting, running) executed at high intensity," says CrossFit SoCo's website. Watch CrossFit run at SouthSide Johnny's (528 S. Tejon St., crossfitsoco.com), where crazed athletic-types meet to traverse a roughly three-mile route — hitting America the Beautiful Park, Fountain Creek and CrossFit SoCo's main location on West Las Vegas Street — then back up South Tejon for grub and drink specials, as official members of the new, hybrid SouthSide Johnny's Running Club. See CrossFit at 6 tonight, and find it every Wednesday night thereafter, running — run CrossFit, run. — Bryce Crawford

Staff Pick Members Pick

Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz

Staff Pick Members Pick

Word Wednesdays

Would you like a little haute culture with that martini? No? How about some stand-up comedy or slam poetry? Hump Day is now Local Talent Day thanks to Word Wednesdays open mic nights at the V Bar (19 E. Kiowa St.). Every Wednesday, poets, singers, comedians and actors are invited to sign up before 8 p.m., when host Patrick James opens the show. Meanwhile, the audience benefits from an extended happy hour, including $3 shots and the chance to call a coin toss and get any drink for a dollar. Call or text 313-0683 for more information, or search "Word Wednesdays at V Bar" on Facebook, where 190 people like it already. — Claire Swinford

Staff Pick Members Pick

Springs Mountain Sangha

offering Zen meditation sessions Monday evenings from 6:10-8 p.m. (newcomers please arrive at 5:45); Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 a.m.; and Saturdays 6-8 a.m. (winter).

Staff Pick

Spun: Adventures in Textiles

From the 1940s to the '70s, Seydou Keïta was the portrait photographer in Bamako, Mali. Keïta's work captured not only the personalities of his subjects, but also the culture of Mali as it emerged as an independent country and slowly westernized. This is apparent in his sitters' garments; men were first to adopt Western-style suits, and in the '60s women began to don dresses and skirts over traditional robes. In his work you can track change and heritage via textiles, and that's the idea behind Spun: Adventures in Textiles, up through Sept. 22 at the Denver Art Museum (100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver, denverartmuseum.org). Whether it's Navajo blankets, depictions of cloth in paint or tapestries, Spun covers it, museum-wide. Tickets are free for members and $3 to $13 for nonmembers. — Edie Adelstein

Staff Pick

Catalyst

Emmett Culligan is a pretty busy guy. When not visiting orphans in Myanmar, he's building sculpture that makes you feel the hardness of the earth in your muscles. And along with 11 other Colorado artists (including Pard Morrison, Robert Mangold and Patrick Marold), he's outfitting the Denver Botanic Gardens (1007 York St., Denver, botanicgardens.org) with 3-D outdoor work as part of Catalyst: Colorado Sculpture, which debuted this week and will be up into next January. Go online for a schedule of artist-led tours, studio visits, demonstration talks and more. Admission is free for members, $9 to $12.50 for nonmembers. — Matthew Grieson

Staff Pick

The Zombie Hero Workout

I'll wager that your regular workout doesn't include aspects like "basic melee weapons training," "how to sneak up on zombies and hooligans" or "basic parkour." Sucks for you. Maybe you wanna check out the Zombie Hero Workout that's launching on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. (as soon as 15 of you zombie enthusiasts sign up at helpzombies.com) in Palmer Park (3650 Maizeland Road). Local creator Kevin Bond calls the $30-per-month program a mix of 60 percent fitness and cardio, 30 percent zombie info and preparedness, and 10 percent self-defense. Shuffle and moan your way through his website for all the details. — Matthew Schniper

Staff Pick

Soul Mechanics

Take me back to the robot. To the days when dancing happened low, on cardboard, and floor rocking turned seamlessly into the back spin, then the freeze; to the days when "Rapper's Delight" was going strong and loud on every Conion ghettoblaster. Breakdancing is candy to the senses, the streets' ballet, and tonight local B-boy crew Soul Mechanics wants to feed your sweet tooth at Ormao Dance Company (10 S. Spruce St., ormaodance.org). Let the Mechanics take you back to the age of LL Cool J, Run DMC, and the Beasties with a free public dance jam happening tonight, and every Monday and Wednesday, at 9. — Miguel Bustamante