60 APRIL 6-12, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | tion in 2021. No matter the name, the four- day summer event has remained a favorite for geeks in Colorado and beyond. Whether you’re into comic books, Lord of the Rings, superheroes, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dun- geons & Dragons, cosplaying or all of the above, FAN EXPO is the convention of the year. In 2022, the con returned fully in per- son for the fi rst time since 2019, and guests included all the hobbit heroes from LOTR (Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd, Sean Astin and Dominic Monaghan) and a spectacular set of Star Wars stars (Anthony Daniels, Ming- Na Wen, Katee Sackhoff). Best Game in Denver Frick Frack Blackjack 720-464-5467 frickfrackblackjack.com Need an unforgettable game to blow away your guests at your next event? Frick Frack Blackjack is a no-cash, no-limits, barter- style blackjack game in which all the deal- ers perform as comedic, paisley-clad carny characters who pull you into an epic, imagi- native world where everything — except money — goes. Bring your weirdest, wacki- est items to bet at this funfest, where you can win anything from an original Battle- ship game to a human tooth, and if you run out of items, not to worry: You can always bet your soul on the Willy Wonka-esque contract the dealers provide. While the game is constantly traveling around the country to music festivals, you can still fi nd it at many events around Denver. Be sure to follow the Frick Frack Blackjack Facebook and Instagram pages to stay updated about game nights near you. Best Cabaret Shows Clocktower Cabaret 1601 Arapahoe Street 303-293-0075 clocktowercabaret.com After a fabulous renovation by Lonnie Hanzon, the intimate cabaret venue be- neath the Daniels & Fisher clocktower on the 16th Street Mall celebrated its sweet sixteen last year with a bang. The space is perfect for a date night or a hang-out with friends, with lush velvet curtains in reds, purples, blues and gold covering the walls and minimalist dainty wooden tables. An escapist retreat, Clocktower Cabaret hosts music, burlesque, comedy, drag and dance shows, plus much more. Consider it Den- ver’s very own Moulin Rouge. Best Drag Show Cellblock M with Felony Misdemeanor X Bar 629 East Colfax Avenue 303-832-2687 xbardenver.com Without Felony Misdemeanor, we would not have the Denver drag scene we know and love today. Not only has she been set- ting the standard for Colorado drag for decades, but she’s birthed a whole new gen- eration of drag performers as the mother of the House of Misdemeanor. Every fourth Saturday of the month at 10:30 p.m. at X Bar, Felony hosts Cellblock M, where you’re likely to fi nd your favorite Misde- meanors kicking and bucking alongside some of Colorado’s best up-and-coming talent (after all, Felony did give RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar Yvie Oddly her fi rst- ever booking). DJ Blaque Gurl, who was recently named Best DJ at the 2023 DI- VAs, keeps the party going between perfor- mances with hip-hop and R&B hits. Bring extra dollars for tipping, because the cast brings it every time. Best Comedy Night New Talent Night Comedy Works 1226 15th Street 303-595-3637 comedyworks.com For more than thirty years, Comedy Works has been highlighting local and national comedians. Every Tuesday at its New Talent Night, the original downtown club gives nascent local comedians the opportunity to showcase their work; the evenings have included guest drop-ins from the likes of Josh Blue, Ron White and even Dave Chappelle, who has done several spur-of-the-moment secret acts at the spot, as have comedians Wanda Sykes and Dave Attell. And throughout March, Comedy Works hosts a March Madness- style tournament with newer comedians in Denver. Join the club for free through its website to receive texts and emails with the most up-to-date info about special events and secret shows. Best Instagram Account for Denver Street Art @coloradostart Affi liated with the nonprofi t Colorado Street Art, which works to support Colo- rado muralists, the account @colora- dostart began posting photos of art and graffi ti around the state back in 2011. See works from Denver graffi ti greats such as Tuke and Emit, as well as mu- rals by the likes of Gamma Gallery, Sepia and Jeremy Burns. Get acquainted with some of the Mile High City’s longstand- ing artists who were painting the town before this account was even created. And if you see street art that moves you, be sure to post it with the hashtag #colo- radostreetart so that @coloradostart can highlight it, too. Best Nature Photographer to Follow on Instagram @colorado_picture_guy One look at Aaron Tuleja’s account and you’ll be training to hike one of Colorado’s fourteeners. Tuleja takes stunning photos as well as drone footage from around the Rocky Mountains, giving us looks at the sun rising over the peaks of the San Juans, a luminescent blue Lake Haiyaha in Rocky Mountain National Park, and sweeping pan- oramas of the Continental Divide. In every post, Tuleja shows the natural wonders of the state, inspiring his followers to get outside and experience the beauty around them. Follow him when you’re ready to start planning your next adventure in the Rockies. Arts and Entertainment continued from page 58 continued on page 62 History Art Culture Littleton Museum 6028 S. Gallup Street Littleton, CO 80120 303-795-3950 A community museum dedicated to creating exhibits, events, and programs that provide immersive experiences in history, art, and culture museum.littletonco.gov
