Paper jam
A previous 1st place winner at the Paper Fashion Show. (Blu HartKopp)
Thursday. Do you hear something crinkling? It’s the 18th Annual Paper Fashion Show, which showcases extravagant clothing and fashion made entirely out of paper. This year, there will be 35 designs on the runway, all from local designers. The paper was donated by paper companies, and the money raised supports The One Club for Creativity Denver and Downtown Aurora Visual Arts.
The show takes place Thursday, April 18 at 5:30 p.m. at The Sports Castle, 1000 Broadway. Tickets range from $35 to $135 and are available at paperfashionshow.com or eventbrite. The fashions are judged by a panel of Denver-area designers and artists. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour from 6 to 7 p.m. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
The gift of Swift
Friday. Maybe you got enough of Taylor Swift during her world tour, movie release and romance with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce — or maybe you didn’t. If you fall into the latter category, then you’re already aware that Swift’s 15th album, “The Tortured Poets Department” drops on Friday, April 19. And there are a few listening parties scheduled around Denver.
One of the largest takes place at the Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., which hosts Taylor’s Version: Swiftie Department Listening Party starting a 9 p.m. The event features a DJ playing Swift songs, including those from the new album. Tickets are $22.50 at axs.com.
The right spin
Saturday. It’s Record Store Day — when people around the world line up for new vinyl releases and celebrate the culture of music stores. In Denver, the city’s oldest vinyl purveyor, Wax Trax, will host events at both of its locations, the 49-year-old store at at 638 E. 13th Ave., and its new Wax Trax Broadway Bazaar, 200 S. Broadway (which is also a vintage clothing shop). Both will feature hundreds of official Record Store Day releases and turntable giveaways from Victrola.
There will also be local bands playing at the 13th Avenue location, which will open at 8 a.m. and feature the widest selection. “Everything worth getting,” said owner Pete Stidman. “We’ll have the Noah Kahan/Olivia Rodrigo thing, the Team Sleep thing, the 100 Gecs thing, and more.” There will be DJs at the South Broadway store, which opens at 10 a.m.
David Rounds, on vacation from Chicago, walks along the Ute Trail near Trail Ridge Road at the Rocky Mountain National Park on Aug. 11, 2021.
Saturday. It’s National Park Week (through April 28), which means that admittance is free today to more than a dozen National Park Service properties in Colorado, including the big four: Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Mesa Verde National Park.
Some of the parks are hosting programs, events or activities to attract more people to the parks. At Rocky Mountain, for instance, the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center near Estes Park will set up a variety of booths and activities for all ages (but mostly kids) that include lab activities, tree cookie decorating, Junior Ranger badges, hiking safety and more.