The life path of Mike Nile—musician, producer, songwriter turned director and filmmaker—has over the past 60 years been filled with inspiration, tragedy, and joy. He says he’s been blessed to have worked with many great musicians and bands, including Spirit, Fleetwood Mac, Bonnie Raitt, Firefall, Little Feat, Dolly Parton—and even Orson Welles. He’s experienced great
Mike’s Camera offers both camera cleaning and repair services, but why should you repair your old camera and what challenges can be faced? In -House we can make repairs to many basic parts of an older camera from the screen, buttons, doors and other external elements as long as parts are still available. For many
The technical aspects of art aren’t what most of us are considering when we attend an art show. Fundamental aspects aren’t as glamorous as the aesthetically effective renderings that may be created by using them. We’re just there for the art. But without the underlying science of pigment, there would be no “magic.” Art on
When artist Chad Harr joined the Wheat Ridge Art League in March and registered for the Carnation Festival Art Show, he had no thought of winning an award. But that’s just what happened. Much to his surprise, his oil painting “Grandpa’s Train” won Best of Show. “I whipped it out so quickly, I really wasn’t
Wait what? You can just imagine my reaction when the Wheat Ridge Theatre company asked me to run an ad for their next play titled “Bad Jews”. I mean our city is already home to one of the largest Nazi music distributors in the country, and I’m thinking “now what???” Turns out it’s an award-winning
Jeffco and Denver-area art lovers will have a unique opportunity to discover the two bold painting styles of Joe Cauchi, on First Friday, September 6, 2024, at Artcentric, 7172 W.38th Ave, in Wheat Ridge from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Joe Cauchi’s early work is a visual tour of the 1930’s, depicting field workers, city
This year, the Wheat Ridge Art League (WRAL) celebrates its 50th anniversary. According to the league’s former librarian Shirley Nakamoto, a member since the late 1970’s, the art show was created decades ago as an attraction for the Carnation Festival. The City of Wheat Ridge has sponsored the art show since that time. The league
When Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital opens August 3 at 12911 W. 40th Ave., visitors will see a 110-piece hanging sculpture in the lobby. This dazzling work of art is one of more than 600 interior and exterior works created by about 50 local and Colorado artists for the hospital that replaces the Lutheran Medical Center
Summer is a season of wanderlust, beckoning you to explore new destinations and create lasting memories. Whether you’re embarking on a cross-country road trip, jetting off to exotic locales, or simply enjoying a staycation in your own backyard, summer offers endless opportunities for adventure and discovery. And what better way to preserve those cherished moments
Vicki was born with blindness, but the minute her fingers first touched piano keys, the sound of the music became her favorite form of communicating with the world. “I’ve loved being able to share music,” Vicki said. “I really don’t know strangers. People are always coming up to me and talking to me or sometimes
The American Burying Beetle, listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, feeds on decaying animals and helps them decompose. While that may sound pretty gross, insects of all kinds play a vital role in sustaining life — not just as nature’s undertakers, but through a variety of functions like pollination, pest suppression,
The annual music festival at Citizen’s Park in Edgewater is back with the same spirit of great live local bands, drinks, food and community connection but with a new name and schedule. The Edgewater Music Festival, formerly the Blues & BBQ Festival for Better Housing, will happen on Saturday June 22 from 2 p.m. to
Eight-year-old Karalynn Johnson clutched her copy of Jacqueline Woodson’s book “The Year We Learned To Fly” as she and her family found their seats stage right in the auditorium of Jefferson High School in Edgewater on April 5. The Lumberg Elementary School student was eager to see the author of her newest favorite book in
Wheat Ridge city councilors voted to move forward on a $160,000 on a futuristic robotic art installation for the Ward Road pedestrian bridge during their April 8 meeting. Oregon-based artist Tyler Fuqua’s Mechan and Celestial Vines robotic art piece was selected out of 169 other submissions after a 2023 national call for entries seeking a
If you have a hobby, a creative or business idea and need a place to make it happen in Wheat Ridge, the Clear Creek Makerspace is now open. Localworks, a nonprofit organization focused on the city’s economic development, launched what might be its most visible project yet with a March 30 grand opening of the
A pink desk and pink diary helped a then-Wheat Ridge child learn to write. Her exploration of Denver more than two decades ago resulted in Jill Carstens’ first book. “Getting Over Vivian: A Memoir” tells a story of “family, love and loss set against a backdrop of familiar Front Range settings,” wrote Kathryn White in
Kevin DeForrest is the most interesting man you’ve never heard of. He reluctantly admits that he’d like to change that. “My brother asked me once ‘why do you write songs, anyway?’ I said ‘I just want to write better and better songs all the time, right?’ And he said ‘bulls*** — I think you want
Family interest in magic led Gerald Robinson to achieve professional goals Like most Colorado natives, a young Gerald Robinson and his family enjoyed meals, cliff divers and magic shows at Casa Bonita. Now, the adult Robinson is part of the tradition at the recently reopened Lakewood restaurant. Robinson, 24, of Edgewater, now works as a
The Wheat Ridge arts community is growing rapidly, and this growth can largely be credited to its interconnectivity and diversity. “This is really just a group of artists that support one another,” said Sandra Davis, a local Wheat Ridge artist, member of the Wheat Ridge Art League, and board member of the Wheat Ridge Cultural
“Acting is about trying on a different hat. Life is like that, too,” says Selena Naumoff, a founding member of the Wheat Ridge Theatre Company. “The idea is to challenge yourself to do something you’ve never done.” With degrees in theatre and religion, Naumoff brings an unique set of skills to the theatre, where in
Gleaming plaques frame Erik V’s head as he leans over his client, eyes sharply focused on the needle. Best Tattoo of Show, 2005. Best Back Tattoo, 2016. Best Overall Male, 2022. But these accolades are not on Erik’s mind when he’s at work. For Erik, the art of tattooing lies not just in creating a
“My paintings are about Colorado,” says Theresa Joyce, Denver-area artist. “Nearly every one of them is a painting of where I’ve been, where I hang out, or where I ski. The first thing Joyce does before starting a painting is to ask herself why she wants to paint that particular scene. “I try to remember
Methodical. Intentional. Thoughtful. It’s both how Chris Mora speaks and how he welds. He’d much sooner lapse into minutes-long silence than say something he doesn’t mean. And he’ll sure as hell never commit a weld that is messy, rushed or anything short of beautiful. Mora is a metalworker and artist. He makes robots, primarily, along
“The very first song I ever performed was Gene Autry’s version of ‘Buttons and Bows,’ in third or fourth grade,” says Edgewater’s Western award-winning singer and songwriter Patty Clayton. “I wrote my first song in 1976 – can’t remember the name of the song, but it was about riding a horse on a beach, trying
