Alyssa Chutka

In 2001, Denver Post reporter John Moore organized a one-night-only event at the Bluebird Theater to showcase local acts. For $5, attendees got to see four bands, with Denver-born DeVotchKa (which would go on to score the film Little Miss Sunshine) headlining. Though it quickly found a following, the Underground Music Showcase didn’t find a permanent home until 2006, when it moved to Broadway. There, the event grew into a multiday festival featuring more than 200 artists at a variety of venues.

From physics to health care to candy so sweet it sticks to your teeth, Colorado has long been a land of invention. In honor of the state’s 150th anniversary, we rounded up nine wonders of Colorado ingenuity. 1. Post-It Notes In 1968, 3M researcher Spencer Silver was trying to create an adhesive so strong it could be used to build airplanes. Instead, the CU Boulder alum’s experimenting spit out one that was tacky yet easily removable. Slap it on to a square piece of paper and, voilà, the Post-It. 2.

Where: 1400 E. 17th Ave., Denver (City Park West) The Draw: Ample portions of zesty hand-pulled noodles at good prices The Drawback: Some sauces skew sweet; crowds come fast but reservations aren’t offered. Noise Level: Medium What To Order: Dan dan noodles, Mongolian beef noodle stir-fry, Iberico pork wontons, crystal mushroom dumplings Price Per Person: $25 (before drinks) It’s mesmerizing, really: a long, thick cord of dough transforming faster than my eyes can follow.