For many of us, we don’t exactly know what makes a piece of architecture or interior design appealing. There’s just something about it we respond to.

Fortunately, there are organizations like the Denver Architecture Foundation and its annual Doors Open Denver event, which provide the opportunity to not only peek into some exclusive spaces, but help to put our finger on why we like a piece of design so much.

“This year we are exploring the ways in which large institutions have influenced the architecture and design of Denver,” said Pauline Herrera, president and CEO of the foundation, in a provided statement. “Attendees will get insider access to some incredible spaces and be encouraged to ask big questions about some of our most significant educational and cultural campuses.”

Doors Open Denver returns from Monday, Sept. 26 through Sunday, Oct. 26, and features both new in-person and virtual tours as well as archives featuring virtual tours from previous years.

The 2022 event features 24 in-person tours that highlight Denver’s cultural and education hubs, including the Denver Zoo (which is being showcased with tours for the first time), the University of Denver, the Auraria Higher Education Center and the Denver Center of the Performing Arts complex.

In addition to the in-person options, the curious can use eight new virtual free experiences to explore spaces in the metro area and Colorado Springs — including the Historic Elitch Theatre, Red Rocks and the United States Air Force Academy.

In addition to the tours, there’s the annual Y/OUR Denver photography competition, which is hosted by the architecture foundation and the Colorado Photographic Arts Center. It is open to all photographers and participants are invited to submit their photos of architectural spaces in the metro area that capture their imagination. According to provided information, all forms of architectural imagery are welcome: black and white, color, exterior, interiors and detail images. 30 images will be selected from the submissions to be showcased on an online exhibit in December.

No matter what kind of spaces connects with you, you’re bound to learn something and get a healthy dose of inspiration. For all the necessary information, visit denverarchitecture.org.

Dance the night away with Miners Alley Playhouse

If you’ve been paying any attention to the tremendous work Golden’s Miners Alley Playhouse has been doing over the last few years, then you know how innovative and welcoming a real community theater company can be. And that was just act one.

To kick off the company’s next act, celebrate all that has been achieved thus far and honor the current production of “Hair,” Miners Alley is throwing its “Let the Sunshine In” Gala fundraiser at the Colorado School of Mines Green Center (Freidhoff Hall), 924 16th St. in Golden, from 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30.

Attendees will be treated to live entertainment from the cast of “Hair,” dancing, full buffet dinner and cocktail reception, and more. Get all the details at https://minersalley.com/.

Walker Fine Art examines the natural world

It takes only a casual news reader to see that there’s a reason so many people are worried about the state of the climate and environment. Mixed in with all the beauty the world offers are danger and fear about the future of the planet.

“Environmental Reflections,” the latest exhibit at Walker Fine Art, 300 West 11th Ave., No. A, in Denver, gives six artists — Theresa Clowes, Elaine Coombs, George Kozman, Bryan Leister, Heather Patterson and Zelda Zinn — the opportunity to explore their understanding and appreciation of landscape, climate and habitat.

The exhibit runs at the gallery through Saturday, Nov. 18. Find all the information at www.walkerfineart.com.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Jackson Browne at Red Rocks

I’m of the opinion that if you write a song as good as “These Days,” you should be able to basically coast for the rest of your life. The fact that Jackson Browne wrote that song when he was 16 and went on to have a decades-long career full of other stunning songs is straight up not fair - I mean, “For A Dancer?” “Running on Empty?” “The Pretender?” Just straight-up bulletproof.

It’s a treat that one of rock’s greatest songwriters will be playing at Red Rocks, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison, at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25. Don’t miss the chance to see one of the best there is - get tickets at axs.com.

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