Michelle Baldwin, a.k.a. Vivienne VaVoom, will lead the first Feminism & Co. discussion at the Lab at Belmar.

Frank discussions about gender and sexuality are often relegated to either the academy or the dorm room, but the new Feminism & Co. series seeks to make the topics relevant, interesting and most importantly, fun. The three-part series kicks off Thursday at the Lab at Belmar with “History and Politics of Burlesque,” and continues through April with titles like “Girls! Girls! Girls!” and “Women and Work.”

We talked to co-organizer Gillian Silverman, a professor at the University of Colorado at Denver, about the innovative program, which mixes lectures with films, performance, guest speakers and open, two-way discussions.

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Will Coleman, owner of the Purple Martini, recently opened Elixir in Boulder.

It seems that the lounge will never die. And perhaps with good reason. Hot, sweaty nightclubs have their place, but often it’s preferable to just relax on a couch, listening to tasteful music and sipping a drink with a friend. But not at home because home gets boring pretty quickly.

There’s an abundance of lounge-style bars in Denver. Sadly, many open with the intent of providing an oasis of calm in a sea of drunken shenanigans, only to morph into a typical bar scene months later. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, right?

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Check out Brigid McAuliffe’s new works at City, O’ City starting on Friday.

We already know that City, O’ City — the former home of Watercourse Foods between Sherman and Grant Streets on 13th – is a great place to pop open your laptop, quaff a beer or share stories with friends. But eagle-eyed customers will also notice the coffee shop/bar frequently features some of Denver’s most daring, innovative art and photography…

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If you like straight-up Vietnamese, check out An’s Lemongrass Grille.

When An’s Lemongrass Grille opened in the Highlands this winter, it generated a great deal of excitement among residents on top of the latest restaurant opening in their ever-changing neighborhood.

What those who celebrated this no-nonsense Vietnamese eatery my not have known, however, is that the An’s on West 32nd Avenue opened at the request of fans of the original An’s, which has been quietly tucked into the middle of a busy downtown block for more than five years…

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Comedian Daniel Tosh plays the Boulder Theater on Saturday. Photo from Time Out New York.

Daniel Tosh lives the comedy good life — at least as good as life gets in the relatively thankless world of stand-up comedy. Despite not being a household name, Tosh is a college favorite that headlines venues across the country, including a sold out Boulder Theater on Sat., Feb. 23.

His fresh-faced, frequently rapid-fire routine and conversational demeanor belie his biting punchlines, which were showcased on last year’s “Completely Serious” and various “Tonight Show” appearances.

We talked to Tosh in advance of this weekend’s Boulder date.

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