Arts events start year going strong

Rebekah Durham is the Arapahoe Philharmonic’s new concertmaster as the orchestra continues its 70-year history with conductor Devin Patrick Hughes. In addition to classical music, she performs indie rock and bluegrass in the area. e rst concert, “Rhythm and Blue,” will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at Lone Tree Arts Center., 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree. Box o ce: 303781-1892, arapahoe-phil.org.

Douglas County Libraries

Douglas County Libraries presents area authors and more ... CJ Box, bestselling Western author, will appear at 7 p.m. March 1 at Lone Tree Library with KOA Colorado talk host Ross Kaminsky to talk about his new Joe Pickett novel, “Storm Watch.” Sandra Dallas will appear at 6 p.m. April 22 to talk about her new novel, “Where Coyotes Howl.” Books will be sold at these events. Parker Library will host its Local Authors Showcase on March 11 at 1 p.m., where a panel will talk about their new books and then sell them. Also, Douglas County Libraries will host a traveling photography show — “ e Sammy Project Photography Show” — giving personal stories of people dealing with mental health issues, at Castle Rock Library, through Feb. 28 and at Highlands Ranch in March; Parker in April and Lone Tree in May. See dcl.org.

Arapahoe Libraries

Arapahoe Libraries present graphic novelist R. Alan Brooks, who will spend an evening via Zoom with adults and teens on Feb. 23 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. His graphic hovels include “ e Burning Metronome and Anguish Garden” and he writes the weekly comic “What’d I Miss” for the Colorado Sun. Register and get Zoom information at 303-542-7279.

Lakewood Cultural Center e Takacs Quartet will appear at 7:30 p.m. March 4 at Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Pkwy.,

Lakewood, with music by Haydn, Britten, Schubert. Tickets start at $25, 303-9877845, lakewood.org/ LCCPresents.

Big dogs e Dumb Friends League says adoption fees for big dogs (40 pounds and over) will be reduced by 40% through February. Both the Denver and Castle Rock DFL Centers have more large dogs than they can easily manage this winter.

Cly ord Still Museum e Cly ord Still Museum in Denver will exhibit “AWful Bigness,” a collection of the artist’s biggest paintings, beginning this week, through Sept. 10. 2023. e museum is at 1250 Bannock St., Denver. 720-354-4875, cly ordstillmuseum.org.

Kirkland Museum

”Vance Kirkland’s Cosmos” is open at the Kirkland Museum, 1201 Bannock St., Denver, with a changed display of Kirkland’s art selected by curator Hugh Grant and deputy curator Christopher Herron. 303-832-8576, kirklandmuseum.org.

Soprano performance

Soprano Michelle DeYoung will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 30 at the Newman Center, 2344 E. Ili Ave., Denver. Tickets start at $34. 303-8717720, newmancenterpresents.com. She appears regularly with national and international symphony orchestras and opera companies.

Bird count e Great Backyard Bird Count, conducted nationally by the Audubon Society, is this week. Take 30 minutes to count birds at your back yard feeder and report to the national organization. e local Audubon Center is looking for new members, including members of the Young Birders Club. See their website at denveraudubon.org for information — and pay a visit if you are not yet acquainted. Potential Master

Birders Program members, who train for a year, will begin in July 2023. Check the website for young birder’s outings, Nature walks for adults and more... Urban Interns train March to May. 303979-2473.