Chris Hardwick is performing five shows at Comedy Works May 2-4.

"Normally, whenever I'm doing a show, I like to find out what people do for a living. Should there be a zombie apocalypse -- which there will be -- I want to find out if their skills are applicable," comedian Chris Hardwick told his Comedy Works audience last night after doing extensive crowd-work. He spoke to a banker, a data analyst, a cancer research doctor, and a Comcast employee (who received boos from the crowd). "And so far, from everyone I've talked to, you're all going to be the first to die."

See also:
- Comedian Chris Hardwick on hipsters, sobriety and the true meaning of being a nerd
- Anthony Jeselnik celebrates baby-death, bulimia and domestic violence at DU
- The ten best comedy events in May

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All photos by Mauricio Rocha.

It finally happened last night: Thanks to a number of great sponsors and designers, Westword welcomed the 2013 Whiteout fashion show at the McNichols Building last night. While we all focused on the live runway show, with models dressed by eight local designers, there was no shortage of fun fashion from attendees on the other side of that runway. Continue reading to see what the crowd wore to the event -- and to read the attendees' reaction to the fashion.

See also:
- Slide show: The 2013 Whiteout Fashion Show
- Slide show: The Whiteout Fashion Show Through Instagram
- Meet the designers and boutiques showing at Westword's Whiteout Fashion Show

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All photos by Mauricio Rocha.

Last night fans of the London-based Bloc Party gathered to see the band play the Ogden Theatre. Many were dressed for the occasion, and University of Wyoming student Kendall Farrell looked particularly stylish in her combination of lace and flannel. Continue reading to find out what she is studying, where she shops, and what she put in in her bag for this occasion.

See also:
-Womenswear Wednesdays: Musician Beanca Walker
- Womenswear Wednesdays: Violinist Erika Gamez takes on pin-up girls and Gucci glamor
-What's in your bag? Biology notes, eyeliner and more!

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Gregg Ziemba, center, with bandmates Kyle Gray and Alex Raymond.

For our New Year's guide that was inserted in the issue of December 13, we asked thirteen of the town's cultural tastemakers several questions -- and the answers were entertaining, informative and, in many cases, enlightening. Although we posted their individual Q&As on Show and Tell last month, we're doing another round here, this time highlighting some of their resolutions for 2013.

See also:
- Lucky '13: Comedian and Fine Gentleman Sam Tallent
- Lucky '13: Musician and DIY venue operator Gregg Ziemba
- Lucky '13; Stand-up comedian Heather Snow
- Lucky '13: Keith Garcia, programming manager for Sie FilmCenter

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Kevin O'Brien hosts Arguments and Grievances every third Sunday at Vine Street Pub.

Over the past two years, Kevin O'Brien's weekly comedy event, Arguments and Grievances, has showcased some of Denver's finest comedic talent in a setting designed for maximum hysteria and controversy. Taking the the age-old format of binary debate performance, O'Brien hosts an evening of hilarious bickering over arbitrary topics like Punk vs. Heavy Metal, or Baths vs. Showers, each side going to increasingly spirited and maniacal lengths to linguistically destroy its opponent, and then letting audience applause decide the winner.

Last night the event celebrated its second birthday, and we were on hand to witness the Lincoln/Douglas style battle between some of the city's wildest characters. Here's a rundown of the night's heroes and villains.

See also:
-Too Much Funstival comedians on how Denver's scene has evolved
- Fine Gentleman's Club to record album at Comedy Works on Halloween
- Kevin O'Brien on the These Things Matter podcast and Mile High Sci Fi
- Squire Lounge Comedy Night: It lives! It lives!

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Hats, scarves and other wintery things.

Last night's Holiday fashion Swap at Cantina Laredo inside The Streets At Southglenn went well, despite some vendors' concerns that a fire across the street would impact turnout. Earlier in the day, the massive, empty retail space that's slated to hold an H&M in 2014 had caught fire, but the blaze was extinguished and the area soon safe again for pedestrians. So the fashion show and clothing trade went on as planned, and from the looks of the almost-empty racks of dresses and tables of shoes, it was a success.

See also:
- H&M grand opening at FlatIron Crossing draws crowds of shoppers
- And Then She Saved Clothing Swap a swapping success
- Sprint employees fired for capturing shoplifter

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John Sie.

The opening evening of the Starz Denver Film Festival always focuses on the love of movies, and last night was no exception. But this year (the fest's 35th), the event was also about...a huge pile of cash. Before a big crowd at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, fest vet Ron Henderson revealed that philanthropists John and Anna Sie have gifted the Denver Film Society with $2.5 million with which to buy its current home, the Denver Filmcenter/Colfax. Not that it'll have this name for much longer.

See also: Photos: Starz Denver Film Festival: Opening Night 2012

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Other than the hat, this man in no way resembles the wreck of Katt Williams I saw last night.

I can't imagine that I was the only one who felt trapped by the mania of Katt Williams as I sat inside the less-than-half-full Wells Fargo Theatre last night.The first of two Denver shows on his Ghetto National Convention Tour, this was a car wreck from the start. From the late start of the show -- tickets said 8 p.m., but a very disorganized collection of six opening comedians didn't get started until well after 9 p.m. -- to Williams' Jekyll & Hyde personality conversion when he finally took the stage almost two hours later, the night was badly off-course. And Katt was not in control. Whether he was high or anxious or angry or affected or all of those things combined, everyone in the theater -- although many had left by then -- saw a very public wreck.

See also:
- Videos: Katt Williams loses his sh*t on Denver heckler, gets booed offstage
- Five things Katt Williams taught me about life
- Denver's T.J. Miller hosts Comedy Central's Mash Up series, premiering tonight

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Is Big Bird endangered? If today's Internet anger counts, maybe not.

The wild round-about that was last night's presidential debate came with a big load of soundbytes ("And by the way, I like coal"), none of them more Google-friendly than Romney's take on the large yellow star of Sesame Street. Romney told the world he loves Big Bird but would still cut funding to PBS. "I'm not going to keep on spending money on things to borrow money from China to pay for," he said.

For fans of the world's bizarrely proportioned bird, this was the shot heard round the world. And the morning after, the Internet has exploded with fake (and funny) social media accounts devoted to the fair-feathered mutant -- and hundreds of memes to go with them. Continue reading for our twenty favorite takes on the beef between Romney and Big Bird.

See also:
- Debate 2012: Romney and Obama attack, Jim Lehrer loses control -- the media room view
- Slide show: People of Denver Debate 2012
- Mitt Romney's debate victory: Did Denver help elect the next president...again?

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Photos by Nathalia Velez

Nick Casias dressed up for The Book of Mormon debut.

Coloradans and visitors from other states put on their short-sleeved button-up shirts, ties, backpacks and bicycle helmets and made their way down to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House last night for the opening of The Book of Mormon. And even if they didn't don full-on Mormon attire, these fans felt lucky to be attending opening night of the show by Colorado natives Trey Parker and Matt Stone. And we know, because we spoke to a handful of those who scored tickets for the hottest gig in town. Click through for more photos and hometown reactions to the Tony award-winning hit, starting with the fan above.

See also:
- The Book of Mormon: Twenty reasons you've got to see it, courtesy the cast and crew
- The Book of Mormon: Catch up before you go with our ten best posts on the play
- Slide show: Waiting for The Book of Mormon
- Denver's toughest tickets: Did Mumford, Book of Mormon or GABF make the list?

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