Nature writer Mary Taylor Young of Castle Rock will speak at a Highlands Ranch Historical Society meeting at 7 p.m. April 20. The location is the upstairs auditorium at Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch. Guests are welcome. She will talk about geology, history, wildlife and personalities. Copies of her book, “Rocky Mountain National Park: The First 100,” will be available. Email: Info@HighlandsRanchHistoricalSociety.org.

Pottery sale set

The Arapahoe Community College Clay Club will hold its Spring Pottery Sale from April 23-25 in the Colorado Gallery of the Arts, in the Annex on the east side of the Main Campus, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. Admission is free and the sale is open to the public. (Need a gift for a graduate or a bride?) Hours: April 23, 4-8 p.m.; April 24, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; April 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Broadway star

Jarrod Spector is cast in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” on Broadway, but will fly to Denver on April 26 for his 7:30 p.m. appearance at Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree. He will perform favorites from Frankie Valli to the Beatles and Paul McCartney to Freddie Mercury. Tickets: 720-509-1000, or LoneTreeArtsCenter.org.

'Beyond' exhibit to open

The annual “Greenwood and Beyond” photography exhibit opens with a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on April 18 at Curtis Arts and Humanities Center, 2349 E. Orchard Road, Greenwood Village. The show’s theme is “The Past: Traditional Process; The Present: Digital; The Future: Anything New,” which will be juror Jim Sidinger’s lecture topic on April 23. Sidinger is a black-and-white interpretive landscape photographer with a passion for the Great Plains. Admission is free. Gallery hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. 303-797-1779.

Parker writers to meet

The April meeting of the Parker Writers Group will be from 2-4 p.m. on April 19 in the Parker Library Meeting Room, 10851 Crossroads Drive, Parker. “Tapping into the Culture of Your Reader” will be speaker J. Christine Richards’ topic. By using our culture, including history, mythology, religion, politics, social unrest and other factors, we create a deeper connection with our readers. All are welcome — no reservations needed.

Doors Open Denver

The Denver Architectural Foundation presents “Doors Open Denver” on April 25 and 26 at many significant buildings in the city. Most are not open to the public otherwise. For information on locations and scheduled events, see doorsopendenver.com.

Anderson will be here

StarFest Denver will be held April 17-19 at the Marriott Denver Tech Center, 4900 S. Syracuse St. (just north of Belleview/east of Interstate 25) in Greenwood Village. Richard Dean Anderson (Stargate SG-1) is a headline guest. As Jack O’Neill, he appeared in over 177 episodes of “Stargate: Atlantis” and “Stargate: Universe.” Opens at 3 p.m. April 17 and runs until 6 p.m. on April 19. Tickets: $55 weekend pass; $35 Saturday or Sunday; child: $15/$24. StarFestDenver.com.

Mothersbaugh extended

“Mark Motherspaugh: Myopia” is extended through April 26 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, 1485 Delgany St., Denver. Curated by Adam Lerner, MoCA director, it will be sent to six other museums across the country. Hours: noon to 7 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays; noon to 9 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays. Tickets: $8/$5, 12 and under free. 303-298-7554, mcadenver.org.

Free for kids

The Denver Art Museum announced at the end of March that admission to all youths 18 and under will be free for the next five years, thanks to a grant from museum trustee Scott Rieman and the Rieman Foundation. A one-year grant from Kaiser Permanente also supports this program. Denverartmuseum.org.

Also free at the museum

Dia Del Nino Celebration will be from noon to 4 p.m. April 26 at the Denver Art Museum Complex, Denver Public Library, Clyfford Still Museum, History Colorado Center and Byers-Evans House Museum. A special presentation with live music and dance will be at the Denver Art Museum, which will offer free admission April 25-26 as part of Doors Open Denver.

Musical legacy celebrated

The Englewood Historic Preservation Society will present “J.L. Gerardi and his bands, an Historical Contribution to Englewood” at 3 p.m. April 24 at Englewood Library, 1000 Englewood Parkway. Dr. Gerardi was band and orchestra leader at Englewood High School from 1963-1988 and directed the Broncos’ band for many years. He was Englewood’s Citizen of the Year in 1994. Open to the public. Free admission. 720-254-1897.