Swallow Hill Concert in Denver April 7

Tired of expensive concert prices. Check out Swallow Hill Music. On Saturday April 7, when the Owen Kortz Trio (OKT) will perform. A folk/rock group featuring three-part vocal harmony and acoustic guitars, the group's repertoire includes original songs and stylized arrangements of covers by Outkast, Men at Work, Pure Prairie League, and others. Based in Denver, they perform at festivals, concert series, and showcases throughout Colorado. Their sound has been compared to Simon and Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and James Taylor.
$10 Advance; $12 Day of Show. $2 discount for Swallow Hill Music members.
Purchase tickets online here.
71 East Yale Ave., Denver.

All Aboard for Rocky Mountain Train Show March 3-4

Don't forget that a FREE day at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden is Saturday March 3, and Denver is hosting the Rocky Mountain Toy Train Show at the Merchandise Mart  on Saturday March 3 and Sunday March 4. Admission is $8 for adults. Uniformed military, scouts in uniform and kids under 12 FREE. Admission is good for both days.

Museum hours are 9-5. 17155 W. 44th Ave. Golden.
The Merchandise Mart is at 451 E. 58th Ave., Denver.

Rocky Mountain Horse Expo March 9-11

Don't forget that the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo is being held March 9- 11, 2012 at the National Western Complex here in Denver. The myriad of ticket prices and packages are too complicated to explain here, but essentially you can feed your horse craving for a $4-$8 ticket. There are coupons to be printed on the website and some daily deal sites have been offering packages, so keep your eyes open.

The Expo features dozens of booths and presentations on everything from horse anatomy (Susan Harris and the her Visible Horse) to preserving wild horse herds. During the evening "Mane Event" (requires its own ticket) you can catch a parade of breeds and riding styles, including local dressage trainer Frances Carbonnel riding her magnificent Andalusian horses. Plus, all three days of the Expo offer the Colorado Pinnacle Horse Show, showcasing miniature horses and Shetland ponies as they strut their adorable selves around the show ring. Pinnacle show schedule here. Horse rescue groups and various equine and clothing/jewelry/book vendors are also part of the mix.

Expect to pay for parking. And if you attend, keep in mind that National Western's food and drink can be fairly mediocre and grossly overpriced, so you might want to pack in some of your own chow and water. Wear comfortable walking shoes and enjoy!

FREE Day at Denver Nature and Science Museum Feb. 27

Denver Museum of Nature and Science in City Park is offering FREE admission for Colorado residents, Monday, Feb. 27.

"Beast of Babylon" at Bug Theatre -- $10

Check out the Bug Theatre's new play, "Beast of Babylon" at The Bug Theatre. Feb. 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 8PM. Details here. For only $10 you can enjoy this show, which blends live music, swashbuckling, mythology, traditional heroic epic, and Hollywood camp in a tale of blood, blades, babes and beasts! Tickets $10 at babylon.eventbrite.com or at the door. 654 Navajo St., Denver. We recommend that you go to Patsy's across the street for a slice and a beer before the show.

Organ Concert at St. John's Cathedral Jan. 27

St. John's Cathedral will offer a organ concert by organist Lyn Loewi, starting at 7:30PM on Friday Jan. 27. No admission price per se, but the cathedral is asking for freewill offerings, so pay what you can. 1350 Washington St., Denver.

Scan the Skies at Chamberlin Observatory

Here we are in the middle of a massive solar storm, so what better time to check out DU's Historic Chamberlin Observatory? Watch a multi-media astronomy presentation and enjoy telescopic views (weather permitting) of the moon, stars, planets and galaxies. Just about every Tuesday and Thursday nights. Reservations recommended. Adults $3 and kids $2.

Organ Concert at St. John's Episcopal in Denver

There will be an organ concert at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral in Denver, at 7:30PM on Friday Jan. 20. More info here. Cost of admission: Freewill offering.

Hypnotize Your Date at Denver Comedy Works Jan. 18-22

Denver 2-for-1 Tix is offering affordable tickets to comedian/hypnotist Flip Orley's shows that run at the Comedy Works (Denver Tech Center) between Weds. Jan. 18 and Sunday Jan. 22.  That's between $15-$23 dollars for two people, depending on the show. There are more than one show per day, so check out the schedule.

Saddle Up For Denver's National Western Stock Show Jan. 7-22

Westernaires and Color Guard in Downtown Denver

Downtown Denver was crawling with cattle, Rodeo Queens and farm machinery on Thursday, as Denver's National Western Stock Show kicked off with its annual parade down 17th Street. Plenty of people turned out for the parade, and plenty more will want to attend the Stock Show V. 106, which runs from Jan. 7-22. Tickets aren't cheap, and refreshments are ridiculously expensive, but here's our advice based on years of attendance: Buy a weekday matinee ticket to the rodeo for $10 and get FREE grounds admission. Do what the exhibitors do, and pack your own lunch and snacks, and don't forget the drinks, which cost a small fortune. Once you buy your grounds admission you can wander over to the Event Center, which will be teaming with FREE horse events every day. That is a good afternoon of entertainment for only $10 smackers. Save your chump change for the good stuff, like funnel cakes! Ticket info and National Western Stock Show schedule here.

Stock Show Parade Downtown Denver Jan. 5

The National Western Stock Show kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 5 at 12 noon at Union Station in downtown Denver. The sight of Texas Longhorns being driven downtown s is one you will not want to miss, so plan your lunch hour accordingly! The parade hoofs it down 17th Street and ends near Broadway. In addition to cattle the parade features marching bands, floats, horseback riders and more. The Grand Marshal is DIA Godfather and former Denver Mayor Federico Peña. Around 11:30AM mosey over to the the atrium of the Wells Fargo Building at 1700 Lincoln St. for Western music, a VIP western fashion show and yummy BBQ. Meal tickets are $9 and benefit the 4-H International Youth Group.

FREE Guided Hikes @Colorado State Parks Jan. 1

Why  not start the new year with a hike at one of Colorado's beautiful state parks? After all, not far from Denver, state parks Barr Lake,  Castlewood Canyon,  Cherry Creek,  Chatfield,  Lory State,  Eleven Mile,  Cheyenne Mountain,  Roxsborough,  Eldorado Canyon,  Mueller, and Stagecoach all are offering FREE guided hikes on Jan. 1, as part of the national First Hike Day program. Info on the guided hikes in participating Colorado state parks can be found here.

Denver's Dangerous Theatre 2 for 1 Tix

Voted "Best Comedy" at the Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival, "Kama Sutra" @Denver's Dangerous Theatre is offering a great deal of  two tickets for the price of one -- $20--at Denver's 2 for 1 Tix. The deal is for Dec. 2.