“Say My Say” is a collection of new paintings by Craig Marshall Smith of Highlands Ranch at the Core New Art Space Nov. 11-28. Smith, a retired art professor, says “Rashomon (Tribute to Sara Sisun)” pictured, “is as much a drawing as a painting. Dedicated to a kid who is a Quang Ho protege, studying at San Francisco Art Institute. She is brilliant. But said if I didn’t name a painting after her, she’d turn me into a unicorn or a Republican.” A reception will be 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 12 at the gallery, 900 Santa Fe Drive, Denver. Hours: 12 to 6 p.m. Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays; 12 to 9 p.m. Fridays. 303-297-8428.

Muggles are invited to spend an evening at the magical Hogwarts School, aka Bemis Library, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 12, in anticipation of the arrival of the film “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I,” due soon in area theaters. Activities will include charms and potions classes, wizard jeopardy, a quidditch tournament, divination class and more… The program will be presented by costumed instructors from the Avistrum Academy of Sorcery. Bemis Library is at 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton. 303-795-3961.

The Parker Writers Group will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 14 to hear author Robert Spiller talk about Humor in Writing at the Parker Library, 10851 Crossroads Drive. (Meeting Room A). A teacher, Spiller has been a stand-up comic, carnival barker, and singer/guitarist in the world’s worst rock ‘n’ roll band, he says. Open to all. Information: parkerwritersgroup@gmail.com.

Music of the Civil War will be featured from 2 to 3 p.m. Nov. 14 at Bemis Library’s Sophies Place with Liz Masterson and Rex Rideout in period costume, tracing a path from capture of slaves to freedom in the north. The pair will play vintage instruments. Free. Bemis is at 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton. 303-795-3961.

“Ranches of Colorado” will be John Fielder’s topic when he addresses the Nov. 15 meeting of the Highlands Ranch Historical Society at 7 p.m. * Note: Due to Fielder’s popularity, the meeting is moved to The Atrium at Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 E. Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch. Light refreshments at 6:30. Call to reserve a seat, Caroline Smith, 303-471-5611. Copies of Fielder’s books and nature photographs will be available for autograph and sale. Free. Guests are welcome.

Is there an extra coat in the closet? Participating Downtown Littleton merchants (Look for a sign in the window) are collecting clean useable coats and gloves for the national organization called One Warm Coat through Nov. 30. For information, see: www.onewarmcoat.org.

Sing out! The Castle Rock Orchestra invites all area adult and chuild singers to join its Christmas Chorus. The orchestra and chorus will perform Leroy Anderson’s “Christmas Festival,” John Williams’ “Home Alone Suite” and two Christmas Carols” by Peter Warlock. Performances will be 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 12 at First United Methodist Church of Castle Rock, 1200 South Street. Rehearsal times to be determined. For information, visit www.castlerockorchestra.org or contact Matthew Rose, 303-408-0980, mathewleerose@comcast.net.

Back on Main Street! Andy Marquez Gallery will hold a grand opening of his photography gallery at a new location, 2960 W. Main St., Downtown Littleton. After recovering from a life-threatening illness, Marquez and his wife Theresa have leased the former Littleton Electric building, which faces west at the end of the street and will offer a selection of his nature photographs. 303-797-6040 after Nov. 18.

A free performance of “A Children’s Rainforest Odyssey,” David Taylor Dance Theatre’s signature piece, will be offered at 7 to 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at Hampden Hall, 2nd floor Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway.

“The Holiday Express,” and annual exhibit at the Depot Arts Center, is open at the little red Santa Fe Depot, 2069 W. Powers Ave., just north of the Courthouse. Fine arts and crafts by Littleton Fine Arts Guild members and invited guest artists. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. 303-795-0781.

Pam O’Mara of Centennial, who teaches at Arapahoe Community College, has started a SoHa Happenings Art and Cultural Event Site, with free event and course listings for regional artists, performers, educators, schools and nonprofit ventures. Her boundaries will include Hampden Avenue and south to and including Larkspur; east to the edge of Centennial and west to Ken Caryl. Submit listings at The www.sohappens.com. For information, contact O’Mara at 720-839-8104, pam@andthenpress.com.

The 45th Annual Own an Original Arts Exhibition opens with a reception 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Datura St., Littleton. Entrants will be from throughout Colorado. Juror is painter Susie Hyer. The show will continue through January 16, 2011. 303-795-3950.

Jurgen deLemos, former Principal Cellist of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the Littleton Symphony, will be joined by harpist Rachel Starr-Ellins for a concert of romantic music at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at Littleton United Methodist Church, 5894 S. Datura St., Littleton. Free. 303-794-6379.

The Arapahoe Community College Orchestra, directed by Rene Knetsch, will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Waring Theatre at ACC, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. The program will include: Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik;” Vaughn-Williams’ “Fantasia on Greensleeves” with guest artists Yuri Machihara, harp; Allison Hapgood, Melody Durso and Judy Campbell, flutes; Bruch’s “Kol Nidrei” with Kathleen Romanyshyn, cello and Machihara, harp; “Elegy” for strings, composed by me when I was 16 years old; Bartok’s “Rumanian Dances.” Free.

Littleton’s Candlelight Walk returns to Main Street for a 27th year, starting at 5:15 on Nov. 26. Hot cider will be serves 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. at Bega Park, Town Hall Arts Center, and Bradford Auto Body (Where visitors will find live reindeer, co-sponsored by Western Welcome Week). Santa will arrive at the Courthouse at 6:30 and march west on Main Street to the west end, where a child’s name will be drawn to help Santa throw the giant switch that lights up the community Christmas tree. Free parking at Arapahoe Community College. Questions? 303-795-3863.

A Soulfonix Concert will beat 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at Buck Recreation Center, 2004 W. Powers Ave., Littleton. Jazz, neo-soul, R&B and 80s rock: Nat King Cole to Led Zepplin. Tickets: $10/$8, 303-730-4612.

Classical guitarist Peter Fletcher will perform at 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridgegate Circle, Lone Tree. Presented by South Suburban with the Lone Tree Arts Council and the Douglas County Libraries. All ages, free. 303-708-3513. A Skanson Strings Concert, Darren Curtis Skanson and ensemble will present classical, Spanish and modern music for a young audience at 2 p.m. Nov. 21 at Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridgegate Circle, Lone Tree. A Passport to Culture event. $1 per person 2 and over. 303-708-3513.“Secrets and Lies” is the title for Stories on Stage’s Out of the Box performance at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Su Teatro at the Denver Civic Theatre, 721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver. Josh Robinson, Jeanine Serrales and John Hutton will read stories by T. C. Boyle, Laurie Sleeper and E. L. Doctorow. (The Laurie Sleeper story is a contest winner from Lighthouse Writers Workshop). Tickets: $25, 303-494-0523, storiesonstage.org.Backstage Pass is a new free series offered by Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma St. Denver. Included: public performances, discussions, classes and community-cast readings. While they are related to a play, they may be attended without buying play tickets. Cash bar. Next: Nov. 11, 7 p.m. “This Day and Age,” a panel of youth leaders discuss how to counsel youth in this day and age, when new frontiers (sexting, Facebook, etc.) are growing faster than an agreed-upon moral code can be developed. Nov. 14, 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Backstage at “Astronomical Genius:” Einstein’s Mozart” music of Mozart by the Colorado Chamber Players paired with David Russell and Gabriella Cavallero reading Kate Light’s poetry. Nov. 27, 7 p.m., “Foreword,” a discussion with director Chip Walton. “Big Picture Art Theatre” with painter Scott Freeman, will by presented by God’s Grace Community Church at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Nov. 14 at Rock Canyon High School, 5810 MacArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch. Freeman creates a painting onstage, combined with music and movement, providing a theatrical and spiritual experience. (See: www.bigpicturepainter.com). For directions or questions, www.GodsGraceCC.com.“Cathedral Brass: Xxxtreme!” will be performed by the Denver Brass, to suggest castles and cathedrals of long ago, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 and 13 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 E. Hampden Ave., Englewood. Tickets: 303-832-HORN, www.denverbrass.org.“Cats and Dogs” is the annual family concert by the Musica Sacra Chamber orchestra, based at Augustana Lutheran Church. “Which is better, cats or dogs?” is the question and reference is made to Nora, the New Jersey piano playing grey tabby rescue cat, whose fame has spread nationwide via YouTube, TV, National Public Radio and more . Two performances are scheduled: 11 a.m. Nov. 13 at Abiding Hope Lutheran Church, 6337 S. Robb Way, Littleton and 3 p.m. Nov. 14 at Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 E. Alameda Ave., Denver. Free. 303-388-4962, www.augustanaarts.org.A “Grapes to Grad” wine tasting event hosted by the Arapahoe Community College Foundation will be held 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at Leo Goto’s Riverfront restaurant, 2852 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton. Lido Wine Merchants is donating the wine and Leo Gotos will provide heavy appetizers. Tickets: $20 before Nov. 8; $25 after. 303-797-5881, at Lido Wine Merchants, 2529 W. Main St., online at www.arapahoe.edu/donate.The Roxborough Art Gallery at the Marketplace will host a second Friday of the Month party 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12, 8357 Rampart Range Rd. #106. It’s located in the shopping center at Waterton Road and Rampart Range Road.“Chicago” auditions: 5:30 to 10 p.m. November 28 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Downtown Littleton. Directed and choreographed by Nick Sugar. Production dates: April 1 to May 1, 2011. By appointment only: clambert@townhallartscenter.com. Must be 18 or older. Ethnic minorities, cultural varieties encouraged. All roles non-equity, paid. Prepare one minute comic monologue and 24 measures of upbeat theater music. Bring sheet music, resume and headshot.“Waiting to be Invited” auditions 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 13, Crossroads Theatre at Five Points, 2590 Washington St., Denver held by the Afterthought Theatre Company. The play by S.M. Shephard-Massat calls for one man and five women. It’s a tale of four middle-aged black women who travel to an Atlanta whites-only eating establishment to test their newly acquired civil rights. Production dates: Jan. 14-16, in honor of Martin Luther King. Afterthought is also auditioning for “A Soldier’s Play” by Charles Fuller, performance dates Feb. 12 to 27. Twelve men are needed. To schedule an appointment: 720-365-7754. Information: www.afterthoughttheatre.com. Production positions are also available with Afterthought.The Palmer Lake Historical Society presents “Women Miners in Colorado with Bridget Hollingsworth’s account of actual roles women played in mining camps. The free program will be at 7 to 8 p.m. Nov. 18 the Palmer Lake Town Hall, 66 Lower Glenway Street, Palmer Lake. www.palmerdividehistory.org.Littleton author Diana Armstrong, who wrote “Somewhere South of Tuscany,” her account of buying an ancient home in a small Italian town (plus recipes), will appear to teach at the Compleat Gourmet, South University at Dry Creek Road. On Nov. 15, she will offer a 6 to 7:30 p.m. cooking class with recipes from the book ($25). 303-290-9222.The annual Starz Denver International Film Festival runs through Nov. 13 at various venues, For complete schedule and ticketing information, see the festival website. “Chasing the Sublime— a Shared Experience in Art:” Ballet Nouveau Colorado brings three world premier ballets to the stage, by three choreographers paired with three visual artists on Nov. 12, 13, 14 at the Performing Arts Complex at PCS, 1001 W. 84th Ave, Denver. Tickets: $17 to $44. Performing Arts Complex at PCS, 303-466-5685, www.bncdance.com.