This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Monday, March 14

Like bats? Want to see them up close and learn more about them? Well, shoot, this will work out just perfectly. The City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation department is hosting an animal-education program called See Live Bats today from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling Street. Organizers invited the Michigan-based Organization for Bat Conservation to attend, and its members will bring with them an African fruit bat, otherwise known as a flying fox, as well as a variety of species native to North America. Handlers will offer a firsthand glimpse at these elusive and intriguing creatures. Tickets are $2 at the door; for information, call 303-231-1300.

Tuesday, March 15

A lot can happen in ninety seconds. NCAA basketball teams can pack more lead changes into the last ninety seconds of a game than a first-time local-theater director. And last year, in a mere ninety seconds, James Lee of Boulder devoured 89 oysters, slurping, gulping and sucking his way to the gold in the Charitable Mollusk Oyster Eating Competition. Tonight at 8 p.m. at Jax Fish House, 928 Pearl Street, Boulder, Lee intends not only to defend his title, but also to set a new Guinness World Record in the process. Beforehand, eager upstarts wishing to dethrone the mollusk king can get some practice in at Jax, where oysters are 75 cents all night, every night, until the competition is over. Organizers hope to raise $8,000 to contribute to a tsunami-relief fund. Those interested in participating through competition, donation or sponsorship should call Jax at 303-444-1811 or log on to www.jaxfishhouseboulder.com.

Wednesday, March 16

What do a seamstress from Thornton, an apartment-leasing director from Lakewood and a customer-service representative from Denver all have in common? The possibility that they can all sing better than you or me. The three, taped earlier this month, will appear with other pop-star wannabes in a segment of Gimme the Mike! at 9 p.m. tonight on KTVD/UPN 20. Producers have whittled the group of contestants down to 42, from over 700 candidates who tried out. Tonight, the second batch (there are six in all) will compete for the opportunity to sing on stage at Red Rocks. The panel of celebrity judges includes musician and entertainer Lannie Garrett, Opie Gone Bad's Jake Schroeder, Jason Miller of House of Blues and KS 107.5's Larry Ulibarri.