Despite all the oceanic exploration humans have done over the years, it remains a largely unknown and mysterious place. But visitors to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s new exhibit, “Unseen Oceans,” will get to glimpse a world that most of us can’t begin to imagine.

“Over 70 percent of the Earth’s surface consists of oceans. This exhibit highlights the life that lives at every level of the Earth’s oceans,” wrote Dr. Paula E. Cushing, Senior Curator of Invertebrate Zoology at the museum, in an email interview. “It also highlights the amazing technological innovations that have allowed humans to explore deeper and deeper and to continually discover new species living under the waves.”

“Unseen Oceans” runs at the museum, 2001 Colorado Blvd. in Denver, through Sunday, April 9. The exhibit is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York.

According to provided information, visitors will get to explore a series of galleries that showcase the vast variety of marine environments and introduce some of the scientists who are using the latest tech innovations to do their work.

“Visitors will be introduced to some of the tiniest life forms (the plankton) that make up the majority of species living in the shallowest zone of the ocean, to the most bizarre creatures living in the deepest depths,” Cushing wrote. “Visitors will also get to interact with shadows of fish `swimming’ on the exhibit floor and will even get to experience driving a submersible and sampling life on the ocean floor.”

Other highlights include a “fish tornado” that shows the various color and bioluminescent adaptations that different fish have evolved to live in the low light conditions of the deeper layers of the oceans and an example of specimens from the museum’s own collections.

At a time when the planet is losing much of its biodiversity, understanding and protecting life in the ocean is more important than ever. So, while the exhibit provides an opportunity to explore and entertain, enlightenment certainly isn’t off the table.

“Visitors will exit the exhibit with a greater appreciation of the evolutionary adaptations species have evolved allowing them to live in the extreme conditions of darkness, cold, and pressure found in the deeper layers of the oceans,” according to Cushing. “The exhibit also touches on the challenges facing the Earth’s oceans through climate change but it does not emphasize these challenges, which I find refreshing, in these days when we seem to be bombarded with `doom and gloom’ messages.”

For more information, visit www.dmns.org.

Good grief! Hear Charlie Brown music at Dazzle Jazz this Christmas season

For my money, you can’t say you celebrated Christmas without at least one listen to Vince Guaraldi’s immortal soundtrack, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” For those looking to experience the wonderful music with the perfect ambience, you’ll want to head to Dazzle Jazz, 1512 Curtis St. in Denver, for pianist Annie Booth’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” concerts.

Performances are at 5:30 and 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22, 11 a.m., 5:30 and 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 23 and 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24. Booth will be joined by longtime bandmates bassist Patrick McDevitt and drummer Alejandro Castaño and other guests.

I can’t think of a better way to mark the last few days before Christmas, so get tickets at https://dazzledenver.com/upcoming-events/.

Take a worldwide ride at Union Station

For New Year’s Eve, Union Station is tapping into the luxurious legacy of the Orient Express with an evening full of activities to ring in the new year.

Union Station’s, 1701 Wynkoop in Denver, Orient Express event begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31 by “departing” to Vienna and arriving in “Prague” right before midnight.

There are different cabin levels available to attendees: The Main Cabin, The Bar Car Inside the Terminal Bar, The Dining Car at the Cooper Lounge, Overnight Cabin Experience at the Crawford Hotel and Grande Suite Experience at the Crawford Hotel. Each one offers food, drinks, music and much more.

Tickets are limited and advanced reservations are required. All guests must be at least 21 years old. A percentage of ticket sales will be donated to Children’s Hospital Colorado.

For information and tickets, visit www.denverunionstation.com/events/orient-express-new-years-eve-party/.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — The Roots at Mission Ballroom

Philadelphia’s The Roots have been mainstays of the rap scene since 1987, producing fantastic albums and adding musical wit to late night TV for more than a decade. This year, vocalist Black Thought reminded listeners that he’s still one of the best rappers in the game with his Danger Mouse collaborative album, “Cheat Codes.”

Just two short days after Christmas, The Roots will be joined by southern rap icon Big K.R.I.T. in a tour stop at Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Get tickets at www.axs.com.

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