Every Monday, we post The Five Best Things to enjoy in the upcoming week. These things are selected by the Plum TV staff and often times by you.

They range from humble to haute and include exciting events, festivals and performances as well as dining, shopping and playing at various treasured spots, shops and institutions.

This week we're looking forward to...

**********

EXPERIENCE

1) Calling all avid, reluctant, or lapsed readers...don't forget about The Big Read! Presented by the Aspen Writers' Foundation and going through Tuesday, October 27, this initiative is designed to restore reading to the center of American culture by aiming to get as many people in one community to read and talk about the same book simultaneously. This year, the AWF is inviting everyone in the Valley to read and celebrate the classic To Kill a Mockingbird, and there's a huge roster of events & activities based on the award-winning novel, including author presentations, film screenings, book discussions, theatrical presentations, and children's story hours. Sounds like a fantastic way to bring reading back to the forefront of our lives! Visit the website for more information about dates & times of these special events. More books on Plum:

- AWF's Winter Words Series (Watch Video)

- AWF'S Summer Words Series (Watch Video)

**********

SEE

2) Come see a very interesting night of music and collaboration at the Wheeler Opera House on Friday, October 16 with the Works Progress Administration. In many ways the opposite of a super group (except for all the star players involved!), this band came out of an authentic and vibrant music community, in this case the L.A. club Largo. The eight members, all longtime friends, decided to pool a bunch of unrecorded material together and make a band! Includes members of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Nickel Creek, and the Jerry Douglas Band. Show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $25.

- Nickel Creek at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival (Watch Video)

- Rap Pioneer DMC at the Wheeler Opera House (Watch Video)

- Map, Directions & Video for the Wheeler Opera House

3) More great shows at the Belly Up this week...on Saturday, October 17 at 10 p.m., head on over to one of our favorite local venues to see Cash'd Out. Now, these guys aren't just another Johnny Cash tribute band...they are actually endorsed by (and even linked to) the official JC website! Some even say that they bear a strong physical resemblance to the man and his old band. Come find out for yourself when these guys rock Aspen with some of those classic Cash numbers. Don't miss!