Painter Lisa Calzavara’s “Illuminated Plant” was the 2008 Best of Show winner in the annual Own An Original exhibit, sponsored by the Littleton Fine Arts Committee. That win brought her an invitation for a one-woman show. Her “Listening to the Light Series” will be exhibited from July 17 through Sept. 13 at the Littleton Museum, 6021 S. Gallup St., Littleton. “Imagine yourself walking into a dimly lit room. There is a partially-curtained window with the light streaming through. Your eyes only have a moment to adjust, but in that moment, you see shapes and shadows…” The artist says that by listening, she could feel the essence of the environment, capture a moment. Calzavara has been a self-employed artist since 1993, exhibiting her work in juried shows and exhibits and galleries. Her training in multiple media including oils, acrylics and watercolor, as well as encaustics and portraits, was at Arapahoe Community College. She works from her large collection of photographs shot in historic locations and she views the resulting painting “like a still life, that will invite people in.” In 2007, she won first place in the Kaleidoscope show at ACC and she is represented by Rejuvanest Gallery in Highland Square.. Museum hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. 303-795-3950.

Are the natives growing restless? Take the kids to South Platte Park and check out an Explorer Backpack with binoculars, a bug net, bug magnifiers, field guides and more, including an activity guidebook. A family can spend all or part of a day exploring this huge natural park. Rental fees: $3, district, $6, non-district plus a $2 refundable deposit. Packs must be returned by 3:30 p.m. each day. The park is at 3000 West Carson Drive, entered from the northwest corner of the Park ‘n Ride lot. Carson Nature Center is open 12 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free. 303-730-1022, www.sspr.org/nature.

Quilters and other needleworkers, gardeners, cooks, photographers and others can enter the 2009 Arapahoe County Fair, scheduled July 22-26. Visit www.arapahoecountyfair.com for rules and entry forms or call 303-730-1920 for an OpenClass fair Book. Entries July 20 and early July 21. Judging begins at 1 p.m. 7-21.

The Highlands Ranch Concert Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 15 as background for the Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District Ice Cream Social at Civic Green Park, 9370 Ridgeline Blvd. Traditional band music is on the menu. See: www.hrcb.org.

The new Regal Riverpoint Stadium 14 at Santa Fe and Hampden in Sheridan offers preview events July 11-13 with $2 movies, popcorn and drinks, with benefits to local charities. Grand opening, with first-run films, including “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” is July 15. Free popcorn and drinks for ticket holders July 15 to 23. REGmovies.com/grand-openings.

Adventures in Dance at Woodlawn Shopping Center, 1500 W. Littleton, has moved upstairs at the east end of the center, giving it a larger ballroom space and elevator access. For class and event scheduling, see adventuresindance,com

Museo de las Americas, 861 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, announced the appointment of Maruca Salazar as new executive director. She has been arts coordinator and staff developer for the Denver Public Schools and an activist in the arts community. See www.museo.org for summer programs, including summer camp sessions for kids. 303-571-4401.

Theatre of Dreams in Castle Rock presents “Dream Masterz Magic” with Joe Givan and Carol Massie at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 11. Tickets $20+ tax for two people. 303-660-6799.

The Parker Chamber Picture Show Series will show free outdoor G and PG-rated films for families at about 8:30 p.m. every other Saturday night through the summer at O’Brien Park in Downtown Parker. Next scheduled evening is July 11. Early arrival is suggested, since about 1,000 are expected. Bring a picnic or the chamber will sell popcorn, candy and sodas. Pets on a leash invited. Visit www.parkerchamber.com for information and movie lineup.

Auditions for “The Second Tosca” are scheduled 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only, July 20 and 21 at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada. No out of town auditions are scheduled. This is an Equity production, but non-Equity actors may audition. See www.arvadacenter.org/on-stage/auditions for details. Production dates: Oct. 20 Nov. 22. 720-898-7200.

Nominations for the 2010 listing of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places are due by August 1 at Colorado Preservation Inc. Readers who are aware of a threatened historic site can nominate. Visit coloradopreservation.org to download a nomination form and information, or sendan email to jlandes@coloradopreservation.org with questions.

Old South Pearl Street announces summer music festivals, in conjunction with Swallow Hill Music: Third Annual Blues and Brews on July 11, featuring John Lee Hooker and others and BrewGrass on August 8, featuring Band of Heathens, Blue Canyon Boys and more. Admission: $5. 303-734-0718.

“Venice on the Creek” is open for boat rides on Cherry Creek, 5 to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. 16-foot long boats, poled by a boatman, can accommodate up to six adults. Rides start and end at Larimer Street, a half block west of Larimer Square. A 60- to 70-minute Full Ride during the day or a 40 to 50 minute Candle Ride in the evening costs $30/ adults; $25 seniors/children; half ride, $20. Age 3 and under free. For information: www.veniceonthecreek, 303-893-0570. This is run by the Greenway Foundation.

Firehouse Quilts’ 4th Annual Quilt Show will be held July 17 (12 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and 18 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 E. Grace Ave., Highlands Ranch, exhibiting about 100 quilts and a group of vendors’ booths. The fundraiser plus area donations allow the organization to supply snuggle quilts to fire departments throughout the state for children who lose homes to fire. The group also makes quilts for battered women’s shelters and the Denver Rescue Mission. To connect and sew with FHQ, or for information about the show, see www.firehousequilts.org. Tickets to the show cost $7 at the door, $6 in advance.