By Linda Y. Brown with Ta’Shia Asanti

Summertime is here and there is a lot to enjoy in the Mile Hi City.  From backyard barbecues to card parties, fishing trips to cultural festivals, spa escapes to musical concerts – Denver’s summertime is full of great events and exciting places to go.

This year’s preview includes listings for family fun, adult gatherings, cultural and art events and some of Denver’s coolest spots to relax and unwind.  Pick one, two or three events or do them all. Denver is your oyster. Open her up and treasure the beauty and splendor of summertime in the Rockies.   

Places to Take the Entire Family

It’s that time of the year when the entire family comes to visit.
Well…wonderful for some.  Pack up the kids, the grandparents and the in-laws and keep them busy all day at some of these great spots.  You didn’t mean to get lost, now did you? 

Take in the fragrant bliss of the Denver Botanic Gardens in Denver. It’s unlike anything in the country. You and your family will leisurely browse through 23 acres of 32,000 oxygen rich plants, rare flowers and other botanical wonders from all over the world. For more information, visit www.botanicgardens.org.

Also visit the Denver Botanical Gardens at Chatfield and drive through 750+ acres of wildlife and native plant refuge in Littleton for just $5 per passenger car. Sorry, you can’t take Fido as no pets are allowed. For more information call 720-865-3577. 

The Denver Zoo has plenty for the family to enjoy. A s pecial date to remember is Family Night on July 6 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Enjoy crafts, games and family fun while mixing with animals from favorite myths, fables and fairy tales. For more information, visit www.denverzoo.org.

On August 26, the Denver Zoo and the Colorado National Speedway team up for a fundraiser at the Speedway for the 2nd Annual Race Against Extinction from 3 to 6 p.m. For more information call 303-376-4800.

Body Worlds 2 at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science has been extended through July 23. This is a must see exhibit of real human bodies. For information, visit www.dmns.org.

Children’s Museum of Denver is the place where a kid can be a kid. The museum has a variety of offerings for your child to indulge in like making piñatas, sidewalk chalk parties, building a town with blocks, playing basketball on a child size court and much, much more. For more information, visit www.mychildsmuseum.org. Good luck getting your pint size NBA star off the court when it’s time to go home.

Turn off the TV and engage your family in a day of literature and reading.  Denver Public Libraries across the city offer a plethora of summer programs for kids and adults .Start with The Great Safari Magic Show on July 7 by Jim Loshbaugh at the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library at 24th and Welton. On July 8, find out how to start you genealogy search with Beginning Genealogy at the Central Library located at 10 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. For more information, visit www.denver.lib.co.us for a listing of all libraries.

The Colorado State Fair runs from Aug. 25 through Sept. 4 at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo. Some of the entertainment over the 16-day fair includes Rick Springfield, Howie Mandel and the tantalizing vocals and Latin rhythms of Los Lonely Boys. On the Pepsi Stage, you’ll find local groups performing for free. Make sure you check out the rodeos, rides and food. For more information, visit www.coloradostatefair.com.

Lu Vason presents the 26th annual Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo on Aug. 19 and Aug. 20 at the Adams County Fairground in Henderson, Colorado.  Experience the Black West at its finest --unlike anything in the world. For information, call 303-373-1246.

Playtime For Parents And Adults

The kids are asleep and the babysitter is on guard. Now, it’s time for the adults to go out and play.

A funky good time will be had at A Jazzy 4th of July in the historic Five Points community on east 24th Ave. and Washington St. Get down with Confunkshun, Nestor Torres and Denver’s own  Mary Louise Lee Band. You must be 21 to enter, and tickets can be purchased at Tickets West outlets or by calling 303-292-0348.

You don’t have to be a wine connoisseur to check out the Keystone 9th Annual Wine, Jazz & Art Festival on Aug. 26 and 27.  But if you are, for $35 a day for a 1-day pass or $60 a day for a 2-day pass, you can let your palette experience a variety of wines while enjoying the fine art and jazz ensembles as you stroll around the festival. The festival is free for those who want to pass on the wine and just enjoy the ambiance of festival goers, jazz and art. For more information, visit www.keystone.snow.com.

From New Orleans Jazz to Benny Goodman swing, the Evergreen Jazz Festival has it going on from July 28 to 30. If you didn’t buy your three-day pass in June at $85 you’ll pay $135 for the weekend, still a great bargain. For more information, to purchase tickets or to see the entire lineup of entertainment, visit www.evergreenjazz.org.

Amidst the beautiful backdrop of the Colorado Rockies, enjoy the nationally celebrated Winter Park Jazz Festival July 29 and 30. The Sunday show will feature jazz legendaries Stanley Clarke and George Duke who’ll team up for their latest jam session, the Clarke/Duke Project. Other performers at this don’t- miss festival are Boney James, Rick Braun, Lalah Hathaway, Chieli Minucci and Special EFX, Brian Culbertson, Kurt Whalum and Leela James. Colorado favorites Hazel Miller, Dotsero and Mango Chutney will also perform. For more information, visit www.winterpark-info.com/events.

Two decades ago, Paul Simon introduced the musical genius and boundless spiritual energy of Ladysmith Black Mambazo to the pop music world via his groundbreaking 1986 recording, Graceland.  Ever since, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has increasingly gained the international limelight in the tradition of great South African artists like Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela. The group, which performs its own style of traditional deep Zulu vocal harmonies known as “isicathamiya,” has overwhelmed many international audiences, including the Pope and the Queen of England to the Summer Olympics and Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform July 22 at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, in Arvada . For more information, visit www.arvadacenter.org.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo will also be performing at the Boulder Theater on July 23.

To top off the summer concerts, sit back and listen to the sweet guitar of George Benson and the stylistic vocals of Al Jarreau at CityLights Pavilion at the Pepsi Center on Sunday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Enjoy the beautiful Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado, with Steely Dan and the unforgettable voice of Michael McDonald on July 31 at 7:30 p.m. This team first came together in 1972 when McDonald was  part of Steely Dan. Later, he was the voice of the Doobie Brothers before going solo. For more information, visit www.redrocksonline.com.

Escape The Heat, Rejuvenate The Spirit

Go ahead, you’ve earned it.  Cut off the cell phone, put away the Blackberry and the Palm Pilot and close the laptop. Take the time to heal and recharge your battery at one or both of these proven havens for tired and stressed out spirits.  You won’t regret it….

YaYa’s Spa & Nail Salon professionals will assist you in releasing the everyday stress of life in the big city.  Experience their sumptuous hot stone massage or their signature chocolate raspberry pedicure and almond oil manicure. Make a day of it and invite all your friends. For more information, visit www.yayaspa.com.

Don’t have the energy to drive to the spa?  Experience the bliss of Oh My Precious Feet, a mobile spa unit that brings the healing properties of raindrop therapy, reiki, reflexology and massage right to your front door.  If you’ve been wondering what to get your significant other for that special day, this could be your salvation. Treat him or her to 30 minutes or two hours of absolute total relaxation. The tech even brings the sounds of the rainforest or the soothing rhythms of the ocean. Give the gift of self- pampering to someone you love.  For more information, call 720-308-9413 or write to senakhu@hotmail.com.

Outdoor Concerts And Festivals

If your money is funny and your change is strange you can still have a good time.  Get out for lunch or enjoy a picnic in the park as you check out the City Free Concert Series lunch concerts and evenings in the parks, presented by the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs. Lunch concerts are held throughout July and August at Skyline Park between the 16th Street Mall and 17th Street, Fridays, from noon to 1:15 p.m. Enjoy an end to a hectic day listening to the Colorado Symphony Orchestra at City Park Meadow on July 13, at Sloans Lake on July 25 and at Cheesman Park on July 27.  All CSO concerts start at 7:30 p.m.  The Latino Rhythms and Artsfest will be featured at Sloan’s Lake Park on July 24 at 7 p.m. Kick up your heels at the Midsummer Night’s Dance Concert at City Park Meadow on August 3 at 7:30 p.m. Featured groups are the Colorado Ballet, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble and Kim Robards Dance. For concert series info, call 720-865-4320 or visit www.denvergov.org/DOCA.

The creative works of over 200 international artists can be seen at this year’s Cherry Creek Arts Festival from July 1 to 3 in the Cherry Creek North shopping area. Works in photography, ceramics, wood, jewelry, mixed media and more will be on exhibit. Don’t miss festival feature New Vision Cirque with their unique acrobatic and comedic performances all three days. For more information, visit www.cherryarts.org.

The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival begins its sixth year at Sloan’s Lake Park on July 29 and 30. Seventeen different Asian cultures are represented at this colorful cultural event with music, dance, food and shopping. But the main event, of course, is the dragon boat races. It gets crowded out there, so take advantage of the free parking available at INVESCO Field at Mile High Stadium where a shuttle bus will take you to the festival. For more information, visit www.coloradodragonboat.org.

The City of Aurora Cultural Arts Program presents the Banks in Harmony summer music concert series in Delmar and Meadowood parks. All concerts are free on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. through Aug. 17 and feature everything from salsa to swing beats. For more information, visit www.auroragov.org.

A Taste of Colorado begins on September 1 and runs through September 4. This Colorado favorite gets better every year. Experience 50 restaurants, local entertainment, kids’ activities, arts and crafts , marketplace and carnival rides. For more information, visit www.atasteofcolorado.com.

El Centro Su Teatro cultural arts center presents Summer Pachanga, the 10th annual Chicano Music Festival and Auction, August 4 to 6, a celebration of Mexican roots music born this side of the border. For more information, call 303-296-0219 or visit www.suteatro.org.

Experience Culture at Its Finest in Denver

Back Do’ Studio is the new home of the Sankofa Arts Collective located at 3030 Downing St. Look for their upcoming exhibits at the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, along with art exhibits from the Chicano Humanities & Arts Council in July – Finding Common Ground, the works of Ernest Leigh in August, and Remembering Katrina in September. For more information and show listings, call 303-394-4069.

Café Nuba: It’s Hot and It’s Black, the award-winning open mic poetry, spoken word and political prose is set for July 28 and the last Friday of every month all summer long.  World- class poets, spoken word performances, indie film screenings and political prose can be found at 3131 Walnut St. For more information, visit www.cafenuba.com or www.paas.org.

And who says there’s nothing to do in the Mile Hi City of Denver?