Most of what is on display in a museum is an exhibit. The focus with exhibits is to plainly educate and entertain at the same time. And then there are experiences, like the new Mazes & Brain Games, which just opened at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

“The Mazes experience is an open-ended way to avoid the summer slump for kids who are getting off of school while keeping the brain sharp and busy,” said Kelsi Cowan, a program coordinator at DMNS. “It’s a family-friendly activity for people to do in the three months of summer they have off.”

Mazes & Brain Games, created by Minotaur Mazes, runs at the museum, 2001 Colorado Blvd. in Denver through Sept. 25. The experience is included in a general admission ticket. While it is fun for people of all ages, it is specifically designed with children and young people in mind.

“It’s been several years since we’ve opened an experience made specifically to engage our youngest of scientists, and we can’t wait to see what mastery and ideas the experience inspires,” said George Sparks, DMNS President and CEO, said in a statement.

According to provided information, the experience includes both 3-D puzzles and full-body games of all kinds. Some of these games include a giant Maze of Illusions, the Junior Explorer Music Maze, the Web Maze and the Puzzle Maze.

“So many of these activities require the use of the full body, but we also have finger mazes and pocket science from our volunteers,” Cowan said. “All of this is a great way to focus on brain health and attendees are actually learning, whether they’re aware of it or not.”

The experience pairs well with the museum’s other major exhibit — “Egypt: Time of the Pharaohs.” Visitors can immerse themselves in learning about one of the world’s most important civilizations and then get out their energy by solving some puzzles.

“I don’t think anyone will walk away from the experience saying it was easy to solve every single puzzle,” Cowan said. “All of these activities have been shown to enhance everything from mental process to short term memory. So, you can have fun will helping your brain to function better.”

For information and tickets, visit dmns.org.

Inspiration is key with the LSO

The Lakewood Symphony Orchestra is closing out its 2021-2022 season at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 2 at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, with a concert titled “Inspiration is the Key!”

The concert will include performances of Weber’s Overture to Oberon, Tchaikovsky’s 2nd Symphony and Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, performed by featured young artist, Rhianna Lingle. She has been playing the violin since she was 4 years old and has held various leadership positions in both the Denver Young Artists Orchestra and the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Orchestra. She recently participated in the Side by Side concert with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

Get tickets and all the details at lakewoodsymphony.org.

Soothe the ears with fantastic jazz

The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra Sextet is bringing some fantastic jazz to both Northglenn and Lakewood with An Evening of Sass, Swingin’ and Standards featuring Marion Powers.

The group will stop at The Parsons Theatre in Northglenn, 1 E. Memorial Parkway at 7:30 p.m. on June 3, and at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, at 7:30 p.m. on June 4.

According to provided information, the evening will feature classic jazz tunes and fresh arrangements by CJRO artistic director, Drew Zaremba. Powers, an award-winning artist whose “dynamic improvisation skill and fresh and modern arranging style” has made her a draw all over the country, will join Zaremba, Eric Erhardt, Shane Endsley, Eric Gunnison, Gonzalo Teppa and Mike Marlier.

Get tickets for either show at https://www.coloradojazz.org/concerts.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Gary Clark Jr. at Red Rocks

You really can’t get past the blues. And with guitarists like Gary Clark Jr. doing their thing, why would you want to? Over the course of his albums — both studio and live — easily prove him to be one of the finest torchbearers of the genre and his live shows are absolutely not-to-be missed.

So, don’t miss Clark Jr. at at 7:30 p.m. May 30 Red Rocks, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison. If one of the best bluesmen around isn’t enough to tempt you, he’ll be joined by Durand Jones and The Indications, a woefully underrated R&B group that makes some of the genre’s most thrilling music.

Grab tickets to this truly special pairing at www.redrocksonline.com/events/gary-clark-jr-425562/.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.