READER

to provided information.

Visit https://mcadenver.org/exhibitions/anna-tsouhlarakis for all you need to know.

Pick your fighter — ‘Barbie’ or ‘Oppenheimer’

If you’re not keeping up with the lm community, you may not be aware that the weekend of July 21 is the biggest weekend of the year in 2023 — it’s the release day for Greta Gerwig’s“Barbie”and Christopher Nolan’s“Oppenheimer”. It’s been built up as a kind of clash of the titans or cinephile’s Christmas, depending on who you ask, but either way, we’re getting two of the year’s most anticipated lms on the same day.

So, which will you see? And if you do a double feature, what is the proper order? Do you start your experience with the neon-pink fun and satire of “Barbie,” or the mind-blowing visuals of “Oppenheimer”? ere’s no right answer, but I hope to see plenty of discussion about both options and the lms. So, head

Guest Column

ough I loved my job in Cañon City, I had a hard time making friends out there, with it being a small town and most of the people I was exposed to were those in the courthouse being accused of some sort of felonious criminal activity. So, after about a year, I found out that Colorado Community Media was hiring a reporter for the Highlands Ranch Herald. I applied, got the job, and came back to the Denver area. Highlands Ranch was full of great stories, as it is today. I vividly remember covering a pink chair painting e ort for breast cancer awareness. I also met a Holocaust survivor. And, I did a story about the woman who ultimately led me to Dr. David VanSickle, the neurosurgeon who performed my dad’s deep brain stimulation surgery to alleviate some of his Parkinson’s symptoms.

en I moved to my next adventure, reporting for another CCM newspaper, the Golden Transcript. I fell in love with Golden, and have so many fond memories, from Bu alo Bill Days and Colorado Whitewater’s kayak rodeos to the Candlelight Walk and holiday parades. Of course, there was also a good dose of news from city council and planning and zoning issues. I covered the discovery of Baculite fossils during the Linking Lookout road construction project. I got to know a lot about Golden’s small businesses and breweries, local Sherpas (during the April 2015 Nepal earthquake), county issues and the history of the Transcript on its 150th anniversary. I recall the over to your local theater and I’ll see you at the movies.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Je Tweedy at the Boulder Theater opening of a time capsule and putting newspapers with my stories in it for the next time it’s opened. And there’s more. en came another opportunity when the former editor of CCM’s monthlies (Life on Capitol Hill and Washington Park Pro le) announced she was moving out-of-state. I was encouraged to apply and it was probably the hardest decision I’ve made thus far in my career because it meant leaving Golden. But, ultimately, I did so for three main reasons: 1) I already knew I loved Denver. Who doesn’t? 2) I would get to learn new skills as an editor. And, 3) I was staying local, so I could visit Golden anytime I wanted.

If you’ve followed the great Chicago band Wilco over the years, then not only have you been treated to a lot of great music, but you’ve been able to witness frontman Je Tweedy’s journey from enigmatic songwriter to beloved cultural gure. He’s made his own music, written three books and even acted a few times. No matter what he’s doing, I always nd his work rewarding and worth the time.

All this makes it incredibly thrilling to have one of indie rock’s leading gures out and about on his own, and Tweedy will be performing at the Boulder eater, 2032 14th St. in Boulder, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 21. is tour is being billed as intimate performances and with opener Le Ren on hand, this is bound to be a special evening. Secure tickets at www.ticketmaster. com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.

I ew in a WWII ghter jet, reported on the USA Pro Challenge’s inaugural women’s cycling race, and covered Coors, skate park renovations, the Golden Lions Club, Colorado School of Mines. I could go on and on.

Little did I know that COVID was on its way and three months later, would lock down the entire world.

Denver welcomed me with sociallydistanced open arms, as only Denver could. It’s exciting to be celebrating my 10 years with readers in Denver. It’s fun to share the stories of the local artists and authors whose works o er joy and education to all. I enjoy learning about the nonpro ts that work tirelessly to make the city be the best that it can be. I love telling the stories of neighbors who care so deeply about their community.

And I’m looking forward to the many more stories to come — and always welcome tips from you.

Being a journalist is the best job there is, in my opinion, because it’s everything one could ask for in a career. It’s rewarding. It’s challenging. It’s exciting. I wouldn’t change it for anything.

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

They proudly call themselves the B.O.B. from the 303, bringing the Big Easy up to high altitudes with their soul-gripping blend of music stylings with New Orleans jazz.

Known for its vibrant nightlife and colorful buildings is the French Quarter. e French Quarter is the heart of New Orleans, and jazz is its heartbeat.

Breathing life into Bourbon Street are the sounds of brass instruments and drums continuously owing out of numerous jazz clubs. With just a trumpet, clarinet, berry sax, alto sax, trombone, snare, bass drum and tuba, the Brothers of Brass are bringing that one and only soulful heartbeat to Colorado.

“It’s a cultural tradition that most of the country doesn’t have,” said Armando Lopez, a member of the Brothers of Brass.

e group’s repertoire is a simmering mix of slow and angsty tunes and fast-paced tempos with a kick of familiar melodies. e Brothers of Brass blend of other genres like R&B, hip hop and psychedelic jam rock into each set.

A day after a tornado hit Highlands Ranch in late June, the Brothers of Brass dished out a much-needed evening of fun for the community. Soon, everyone went from clapping to full-out dancing, allowing concertgoers a chance to relax.

“It was nice to see so many kids, like, actually getting up out of their seats and the older people getting up and dancing and enjoying the music,” said Khalil Simon, who is originally from New Orleans. “It’s not so often that we get to play like New Orleans brass music for a crowd like this and appreciate it, that’s pretty unique.”

Not only did the band members interact with one another on stage throughout the night, they got the crowd involved by singing along and repeating after them. Although it was an outdoor concert, there was no excuse for the crowd not being loud enough.

Among some crowd favorites were “Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr., and “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers. And of course, they couldn’t call themselves a brass band without playing the beloved spiritual hymn “When the Saints Go Marching In.” e strong, powerful notes of brass instruments and the beautiful harmo-

In true New Orleans fashion, each band member was called out to do a solo, each one emoting a di erent feeling.

As the music continued and the sun began to set, the crowd let the good times roll as more children and adults came to the front of the stage, dancing as if it were Mardi Gras.

Just when the sun went behind the buildings, the Brothers of Brass were kind enough to strap on their instruments for an encore, playing “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child.