Arts & Culture in Arvada

Elvis Cinemas invites wide-eyed audiences to plunge into the ocean, soar above the clouds, and traipse across stretches of barren desert, all from the comfort of a theater seat. Its trio of theaters shows Hollywood blockbusters but keeps ticket prices down by playing them slightly after their initial release, when the characters have learned from their mistakes and changed their movie’s plot accordingly. Unlike the massive movie corporations whose theater complexes pop up in every city and shopping mall, Elvis Cinemas is Colorado owned and operated and focuses all its attention on just three theaters.

A movie palace to its core, The Cinema Grill favors a vibrant color scheme rarely seen outside the early days of Technicolor. The lobby's multi-hued walls surround the checkerboard box office with bright yellows, blues, and purples, while neon curlicues on the ceiling beckon movie-goers toward their movie. The menu of American staples mirrors the colorful decor with glowing margaritas, desserts topped with maraschino cherries, quesadillas speckled with green peppers, and deep-fried rainbows. Once ensconced in their swivel chairs, guests bathe in the high-definition (and sometimes three-dimensional) glow of the silver screen as servers take food orders and keep eating areas laden with plates of buffalo wings and shrimp fettuccine alfredo. Beers, cocktails, or glasses of wine are also available.

The Secret Garden runs from May 26 through September 6, and Aesop fables from September 22 through November 7. Shows are performed Fridays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. There's no show on the 4th of July, but there will be special Monday matinees of The Secret Garden on May 31 and September 6 at 2:30 p.m.

From basement beginnings to their own bona fide theatre space, the Bovine Metropolis Theater has nourished the improv community of Denver for over a decade. Co-owner and artistic director Eric Farone, who cut his comedic chops at famed Chicago institutions such as Second City and iO, and his cohort Denise Maes, have trained over 700 actors in the art of improvisation. Now with seven different shows and up to eight performances per week, the Bovine Metropolis Theater ensures that Denver never has a drought of quick-witted, off-the-cuff talent.

On Saturday, July 14, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., the classic board game Clue springs to life throughout the city of Denver during the Mile High Murder Mystery Race. Dozens of teams, each with two–six people, race around the city to sleuth out the who, why, where, and when of the dastardly deed—and, of course, recover the weapon, be it candlestick, pistol, or expired jar of mayonnaise. Teams uncover clues that lead them to each destination. In scavenger-hunt style, they find items along the way that ultimately help them solve the whole whodunit.

The day starts at 8 a.m. at Stoney's Bar and Grill, where racers can revel as they await the start of the race, comparing team names such as "Mystery Machine" and "CSI Vegas" or slipping on the final elements of their costumes. Teams must be there by 10 a.m. for registration and race announcements, and the caper officially begins at 11 a.m. After the race, hardworking detectives will be duly rewarded—there are cash prizes of $300, $150, and $75 for first, second, and third places, respectively, as well as awards in categories such as best team name, best tweet of the day, and best costume.

Though the race gives participants the chance to play hero for the day, 10% of the proceeds will fund the actually heroic mission of Cops Fighting Cancer: to support Colorado cancer patients and their families both financially and emotionally.