Things to Do in Englewood

Gayle Lynne first took to the sky when she was 53, and was instantly hooked. Her dancing and ice-skating experience hadn’t prepared her for the joys of careening through the air on silks and hoops, but she quickly picked up on the skills, and was inspired to create a studio in which adults and children of all ages could also explore the sky. So Aerial Dance Over Denver was born, hosting air-borne maneuvers with 35 rigging points and seven aerial stations.

Gayle handpicked a fleet of experienced instructors, each primed with a background in dance, to lead students through classes and camps that introduce them to silk fabrics, trapeze work, and contortions—in which patrons increase their flexibility and learn to cram into small spaces, such as an unsuspecting family member's lunch box. Dangling from their material of choice, students perform a routine that builds strength and flexibility, scaled to suit beginners with slow and low maneuvers or veteran airborne artists with high-flying choreography.

• For $15, you get a canvas-painting class for kids (a $30 value). • For $50, you get a four-week pottery-wheel class for kids or adults (a $99 value). • For $10, you get $20 worth of drop-in art projects.

Martin Percival starred in the principal role for Michael Flatley's North America–touring Lord of the Dance and played the original Flatley role of "the lord." This knight in tights and his lovely team of jig-jumping instructors will lay down the law of rhythm and greens with beginner-level dances like the reel and light jig.

Shannon Long's path to the American dream went in the opposite direction than that of most people. While many work in retail to support their dreams of becoming artists, Shannon molded clay over steel substructures, sculpting half-scale abstract figurative art while dreaming about starting a fly-fishing business. As a boy growing up in popular Lake Havasu, he frequented a small Western-themed shop where the owner was always chatting with customers who shared his fascination with the independent spirit of the American West. In a turn of serendipity, Shannon got married and happily followed his wife to her native Colorado. Sometime after, he opened the fly-fishing shop he had always dreamed of, and found himself becoming the shopkeeper chatting with and educating customers in their shared interests.

Today, Shannon oversees a guide service manned by a staff of veteran fly-fishing experts. On full-day and half-day fly-fishing trips, guides lead anglers for the grand slam: rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brown trout, and brook trout all caught in a single trip. The Rocky Mountain landscapes surround fishermen in dramatic scenery, including towering pine trees, giant red rocks, and bright-blue skies as the sounds of colliding bighorn sheep occasionally ring out over the water. In addition to guided trips, the staff also leads classes, including courses designed for women and families, that cater to both beginner and advanced anglers.

At Butts Rental, Inc., chainsaws and lawn mowers purr in the lot, punctuated by the cold hiss of filling propane tanks. The selection of rental equipment helps in the completion of home projects with dollies, floor polishers, and other tools from brands including John Deere. Party planners wander among rental chairs and ice tubs as well as popcorn machines, which help feed guests and give a nervous Robocop somebody to talk to.

Anya McManis's art has been featured in galleries and shows from Colorado to Europe—with recent honors including a spot in the 2011 Florence Biennale—and her graphic-design company has won awards since its inception. But her most lasting piece of work is Spellbound Art. Half gallery and half school, Spellbound hosts exhibitions of up and coming local artists and grants guests the chance to explore the art and expression that hides within. Anya’s workshops delve into diverse media ranging from poetry and collage to painting and interpretive salad-making, and open-studio sessions let artists take a stab at painting or mixed media with provided materials.