Top Five ToDos in Aurora — March 3 to March 10

From homespun versions of Irving Berlin's "Putting on the Ritz" to a new exhibit at Red Delicious, there's plenty going on in A-town this coming weekend.

1. “The Best of Irving Berlin”

Irving Berlin’s unique songwriting style and flair for rhythm caused cultural waves across the world in the early decades of the 20th century. Berlin, a Russian immigrant to the United States, penned classic pop songs during a career that spanned 60 years; tunes like “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz” and “Always” became standard numbers in the canon of American jazz and pop canon. The Aurora Singers will put their own distinctive spin on the songwriter’s classics during a pair of local performances. The Aurora Singers will present their “Best of Irving Berlin” show at 7:30 p.m. on March 5 and at 2 p.m. on March 6. Tickets start at $10 and both performances will take place at East Middle School, 1275 Fraser St. For more information log on to www.aurorasingers.org.

2. “Place: A Travel Memoir” at the Red Delicious

Artist Fawn Atencio found inspiration in her travels to Asia and Africa. Atencio, a member artist at the Red Delicious Press gallery in Aurora, drew on imagery from her travels for her latest collection of work. “Place: A Travel Memoir” comprises print works that share a common theme: the enrichment and growth found in a foreign environment. The exhibit will run at the Red Delicious gallery, 9901 East 16th Ave., from March 11 to April 30. The opening reception is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 11. For gallery hours and other information about the exhibit, call 303.366.2922 or log on to www.reddeliciouspress.com.

3. “Metal Mania” at Southlands

Aspiring artists and craftspeople can take their first steps at one of Aurora’s largest shopping centers this week. The Southlands shopping center is set to host “Metal Mania,” a free embossing workshop aimed at new artists. The lessons represent a partnership between Southlands, the Downtown Aurora Visual Arts gallery and the YMCA. The lessons will begin at 4 p.m. at the Southlands administrative offices, 6155 S. Main St. For more information, call 720-810-7310 or e-mail troberts@denverymca.com. 

4. “A Millinery Tale”

Women’s love for fashionable hats goes back centuries. The exhibition titled “A Millinery Tale: The History of Ladies Hats” running at the Aurora History Museum until April 17 traces the history of feminine head wear to its European roots in the 16th century. European artisans titled “Millaners” earned their nicknames from Milan, where hatmakers would get the best ribbons and straw. The exhibit includes samples from across the years, including a collection of fashionable hats from the 1960s. The museum, located at 15051 E. Alameda Parkway, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 303-739-6666 or visit www.auroramuseum.org.

5. “Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World”

The Hebrew phrase “Tikkun Olam” means “heal the world,” and the Mizel Museum’s exhibit seeks to find that healing through a shared acknowledgment of pain. The exhibition includes pieces by 54 participants from 27 countries, works that express suffering, transition and recovery. The contributors share personal stories of challenge and triumph, experiences that stem from the darkest moments in modern history. The exhibit will run until March at the Aurora Central Library, 14949 E. Alameda Parkway. For more information, call 303-739-6600.