10 things to do for $10 this weekend, April 8-10, 2011

Evert Brown

Hungry? Why wait? Grab an edible book.

​April is here, which means we've got weird weather that causes us to question what on earth we should be wearing at any given point. We blame April specifically for the jeans/flip-flops phenomenon that ruins our mental state on a yearly basis. Thankfully, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep you out of the otherworldly weather, including lots of different dance parties, art shows and more.

Jenny Shank at Tattered Cover LoDo (Friday, free)
Denver isn't the most popular place to set a novel, in fact, we usually get nothing more than a passing mention in the great literary fiction of the world. Sure, we had bits in On the Road, but the majority of fiction opts for the big cities like New York or Los Angeles. Author Jenny Shank wants to change that, which is why she wrote The Ringer, a novel that takes Denver seriously in its history and its setting.

Jared Smith

​History Composed: A Poet Guided Tour at Loveland Museum/Gallery (Friday, free)
Poets M.D. Friedman, Jared Smith and SETH will be at the Loveland Museum tonight to help kick off National Poetry Month by reading a few poems. While you're there, you'll be able to take a tour and hang out at the reception, where -- if poets are involved -- there should be ample amounts of scotch. Okay, maybe not, it's a museum after all, but you'll still be able to hear some words and get a bit of an education.

​Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation at Beauty Bar (Friday-Saturday, free)
Spike and Mike have been showcasing weird and unusual animation since the '70s, but it's been a long while since the festival has made it here to Denver. If you've been itching to get grossed out, surprised or amazed by some truly unusual and interesting animation, you have no excuse not to get down to Beauty Bar this weekend.

Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Poster Show at Super Ordinary (Saturday, free)
Yesterday northern Japan had its second earthquake in less than a month, which makes Saturday's benefit all the more important. All the proceeds from poster sales go directly to the Red Cross, and it should be a pretty kick ass collection of artists selling posters on the cheap. It all goes to a good cause, so why not break out your pocketbook and prepare yourself to walk home with some great design?

Dave Palmer

​Dave Palmer at Plastic Chapel (Saturday, free)
Dave Palmer has shown his work at Plastic Chapel before, and without fail, he almost always sells out of everything within the first hour. That's partially due to the fact that he makes great stuff, but it's also because he prices things ready to move. You'll want to get up there right when the show starts, around 7 p.m., if you want to have a chance to pick something up.

Denver Handmade Homemade Market at Green Spaces (Saturday, free)
Today marks the launch of the second season of Denver Handmade Homemade Market, and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today you'll be able to pick up marketable goods from 35 different farmers, crafters and foodies. It's a great place to support local creative types and grab some tasty food in the process.