38th Annual Vettes on the Rockies – August 4-7, Breckenridege. Corvette lovers gather for four days of events including autocross, self-guided mountain tours, and pit crew challenge ending with a Sunday Show-N-Shine of 350 Corvettes on Frisco’s Main Street.

Douglas County Fair & Rodeo – August 4-7, Castle Rock. All one expects from a county fair with 4H, FFA and culinary competitions, carnival, live bands, livestock sale plus PRCA rodeos and bull riding.

Teller County Fair – August 3-7. Cripple Creek. Livestock and 4-H judging, rough stock rodeo, equipment rodeo, ATV barrel racing, demolition derby and Sunday cowboy church.

39th Annual Crested Butte Art Festival – August 6&7, Crested Butte. Elk avenue turns into an art gallery with 175 visual artists’ booths. Artist and chef demonstrations, live entertainment, children’s activities and and an art auction fill the weekend.

Covered Wagon Days – August 4-7, Del Norte. Talent show, pancake breakfast, parade, kids games, live music, beer garden, mud volley ball, horseshoe tournament, airport fly-in and mud runs.

5th Annual Colorado Rocky Mountain Bicycle Tour – August 7-13, Grand Junction. Cyclers set off Sunday morning for a weeklong, 493 mile ride through the Colorado Rockies. Event ends August 13th back in Grand Junction.

High Plains Chautauqua – August 2-6, Greeley. An unique blend of theatre, history and humanities at a living history festival under a big tent in the tradition of early 20th-century Chautauquas. FREE.

Adams County Fair – August 3-7, Henderson. In addition to the typical county fair activities there’s a BMX stunt team, demo derby, fireworks, petting zoo and appearances by the Weinermobile and the Denver Bronco cheerleaders celebrating 107 years of Adams County.

15th Annual Bluegrass & Beer Festival – August 6&7, Keystone. Three stages of mountain bluegrass accompanied by over 40 frothy brews and down-home cooking.

Leadville Boom Days & International Pack Burro Race – August 5-7, Leadville. Celebrate Leadville’s heritage with mining competitions, craft fair, live entertainment and a 21-mile pack burro race.

Olathe Sweet Corn Festival – August 5&6, Olathe. Thousands celebrate the hometown crop of sweet corn at the popular family festival.

3rd Annual West Elk Wine Trail – August 5-7, Paonia. Nine wineries in the West Elk Viticultural Area open their doors for wine tasting and food parings feature ingredients grown in Western Colorado. Tour vineyards, wineries, orchards and gardens located along the North Fork of the Gunnison River near Paonia and Hotchkiss.

Steamboat Wine Festival – August 5-7, Steamboat Springs.Wine takes the spotlight in classrooms and restaurants, on the mountain and around town with a multitude of ticketed events.

35th Annual Telluride Jazz Weekend – August 5-7, Telluride. World class jazz comes to Telluride featuring classic, mainstream, blues, Brazilian, African and Latin genres. Daytime session on outdoor stages with night time performances in historic concert halls and intimate clubs.

26 Annual Mountain Arts Festival – August 6&7, Woodland Park. More than 75 vendors stage an outdoor fine art fail at the Ute Pass Cultural Center.

Breckenridge Main Street Art Festival – July 29 – 31, Breckenridge.

Collegiate Peaks Music Festival – July 28 – 30, Buena Vista.

40th Annual Carbondale Mountain Fair – July 29 –31, Carbondale.

Rocky Mountain State Games – July 29 – 31, Colorado Springs. More than 10,000 athletes compete in over 34 sports.

Crowley County Days – July 30 & 31, Ordway.

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival – July 30 & 31, Denver.

Denver County Fair – July 28 – 31, Denver. First ever, held at National Western Complex.

76th Annual Durango Fiesta Days –July 27 – 31, Durango.

Evergreen Jazz Festival – July 29 – 31, Evergreen..

Dinosaur Days – July 29 & 30, Fruita.

Buffalo Bill Days – July 28 – 31, Golden.

Arts Picnic – July 30 & 31, Greeley.

Weld County Fair – July 27 – August 1, Greeley.

San Ignacio Fiesta – July 30 & 31, Ignacio.

Colorado Renaissance Festival – July 30 & 31, Larkspur. Last weekend for the 2011 festival.

National Little Britches Final Rodeo – July 25 –30, Pueblo.

Vail International Dance Festival – July 31 – August 13, Vail.

Crankwork Colorado – July 28 – 31, Winter Park.

Wray Daze – July 28 – 31, Wray.

Breckenridge Main Street Art Festival – July 29 – 31, Breckenridge.

Collegiate Peaks Music Festival – July 28 – 30, Buena Vista.

40th Annual Carbondale Mountain Fair – July 29 –31, Carbondale.

Rocky Mountain State Games – July 29 – 31, Colorado Springs. More than 10,000 athletes compete in over 34 sports.

Crowley County Days – July 30 & 31, Ordway.

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival – July 30 & 31, Denver.

Denver County Fair – July 28 – 31, Denver. First ever, held at National Western Complex.

76th Annual Durango Fiesta Days –July 27 – 31, Durango.

Evergreen Jazz Festival – July 29 – 31, Evergreen..

Dinosaur Days – July 29 & 30, Fruita.

Buffalo Bill Days – July 28 – 31, Golden.

Arts Picnic – July 30 & 31, Greeley.

Weld County Fair – July 27 – August 1, Greeley.

San Ignacio Fiesta – July 30 & 31, Ignacio.

Colorado Renaissance Festival – July 30 & 31, Larkspur. Last weekend for the 2011 festival.

National Little Britches Final Rodeo – July 25 –30, Pueblo.

Vail International Dance Festival – July 31 – August 13, Vail.

Crankworx Colorado – July 28 – 31, Winter Park.

Wray Daze – July 28 – 31, Wray.

This summer Colorado weekend brings county fairs, wine, tea, cherry pies and music –Americana, Celtic, jazz. Wherever in the state you are join the fun.

**Aspen Arts Festival – July 23&24, Aspen

**Arapahoe County Fair – July 20-24, Aurora.

**Rocky Mountain Tea Festival – July 23&24, Boulder.

**El Paso County Fair – July 23-30, Calhan

**Celtic Weekend – July 23&24, Canon City.

**Castle Rock Wine Fest – July 23, Castle Rock

**Wine and Food Festival – July 21-24, Crested Butte.

**Fiesta Days – July 23-31, Durango.

**Eagle County Fair & Rodeo – July 23-30, Eagle.

**Mesa County Fair – July 19-23, Grand Junction.

**Cherry Pie Festival – July 23, Loveland.

**Americana Music Weekend – July 20-23, Telluride.

**Alpine Artaffair – July 23&24, Winter Park.

**Winter Park Jazz  – July 23&24, Winter Park.

Photos courtesy of Eric Yackel.

A century-old world of creativity and inspiration opened as we stepped into the domain of famed Taos artist E.I. Couse (1866-1936). By pre-arrangement, we met Couse’s granddaughter Virginia in the garden of his home and studio. For nearly two hours we were captivated by the stories she shared of her grandfather, one of the founding members of the Taos Art Society as we walked through rooms filled with family furnishings, collections, sketches, prints and original paintings. We left inspired not only by Couse’s art but the family’s commitment to preserve his legacy through The Couse Foundation.

Tours must be arranged in advanced. No fee is charged but donations to the foundation are gratefully accepted. When you go be generous for this is worthy of support.

For the afternoon we headed to the Taos Ski Valley and lunch at the Bavarian Lodge and Restaurant. The 19-mile drive from Taos ascends through the Carson National Forest into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The restaurant sits at over 10,000” altitude, transporting guests to an alp-like ambiance. After a filling German lunch we stroll the Village of Taos Ski Valley, considerably quieter than a wintertime visit.

Returning to Taos we stop in the quirky village of Arroyo Seco. It’s impossible for me to pass through Seco twice without a stop at Taos Cow Ice Cream. I consider the day a total success when one of today’s choices is Pinion Caramel, my absolute favorite. Across the street we “need” to do some jewelry shopping at Claire Works. Bob is now supplied with gifts for my birthday and Christmas.

In light of spaetzle and ice cream we make a workout visit to the Taos Spa. The facility accommodates regional visitors with reasonable priced day passes or multi-visit punch cards.

We peacefully conclude the day back at the casita with music, wine and books – a fantastic Friday.

We’ve arrived for our long anticipated yearly sojourn in Taos, New Mexico. Next week Bob attends a watercolor workshop given by Taos resident artist/potter Stephen Kilborn. Driving from Colorado our traditional first stop is lunch at Orlando’s, a personal favorite consistently serving excellent New Mexican fare.

Today we savored every tantalizing taste – Bob a shredded beef chimichanga, Nancy a combination platter of cheese and onion enchilada in a blue corn tortilla, chile relleno and a shredded beef taco in soft shell blue corn tortillas, accompanied by posole and beans. Yum! Although many Orlando’s menu items are ones similar to those found on Tex-Mex menus there’s a world of difference in the rich New Mexican flavors.

Filled to the gills, we declined one of the homemade dessert treats. During our Taos visit I’m planning on several more visits to enjoy the shredded beef burrito, the fish tacos and grilled shrimp burrito plus dessert at least once. The flan is always exceptional and the frozen avocado pie uniquely refreshing.

For the third year we’re delighted to settle into Casa de Las Abuelas, an adobe guest house. I’ll share more about this exceptional property in a separate posting. The convenient yet secluded location provides much needed tranquility after a day of travel, museum and gallery visits, or outdoor activity. After threatening afternoon skies we peacefully watched evening descend as mere whiffs of clouds inched across the sky. A perfect beginning to a Taos vacation.

Colorado Weekend – Twenty To Do

July 15 – 17, 2011

***Kidspree – July 16 & 17, Aurora. Colorado’s largest outdoor festival just for kids. Entertainers plus more than 50 hands-on activities at the 16th annual Kidspree held at Bicentennial Park. Admission and activities are FREE.

***Open Arts Fest – July 16 & 17, Boulder. Visual art showcase for local artists and those from around the country, and demonstrations. Held on the Pearl Street Mall.

***Breckenridge Beer Festival – July 16, Breckenridge. Rain or shine celebrate brews and views  accompanied by live music.

***Cheyenne Wells Tumbleweed Festival – July 16 & 17, Cheyenne Wells. Softball, horseshoe and golf tournaments, games, car show, and rocky mountain oyster fry.

***Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Days – July 12 – 16, Colorado Springs. The 71st annual PPoBR kicks off with a parade through downtown on Tuesday. Rodeos begin on Wednesday evening. Family-friendly pre-rodeo events – gold panning trick roper demos, pony rides and mechanical bull rides. Nightly live music at the Coors Roadhouse Saloon after the rodeo.

***Crested Butte Wild Flower Festival - July 11 – 17, Crested Butte. Enjoy a rich variety of wildflowers and butterflies while hiking, birding, biking or 4×4 touring. Classes include art, gardening all levels of photograph, medicinal with botanical ingredients, cooking with wild flowers and yoga.

***Colorado Black Arts Festival – July 15 – 17, Denver. The 25th annual celebration of visual, literary and performing black arts and culture. All events are free and open to the public – film, drum and drill team exhibitions, Boogaloo parade, marketplace, entertainment – at Denver City Park West.

***Molly’s Birthday Jubilee – July 17, Denver. Celebrate the 144th birthday of the “Unsinkable Molly Brown” at the Molly Brown House Museum. Enjoy a Victorian afternoon with lawn games, kids’ activities, birthday cake and free Blue Bell ice cream.

***Orthodox Food Festival and Old Globeville Days – July 16 & 17, Denver. Sample foods from Russia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Eritrea, Greece and Mexico at the 8th annual festival in Argo Park. Includes music, dance, arts, tours of historical landmark Orthodox church.

***Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo – July 12 – 17, Estes Park. 85th annual PRCA rodeo includes saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, bare-back and bull riding and barrel racing. Western parade, Behind the Chutes Tours, kids complete in mutton bustin’ and calf catch.

***Fort Collins Jazz Experience – Fort Collins, July 12 – 16. Downtown Sessions Free Festival Day – July 16th with 13 live jazz groups on two stages. Jam sessions, numerous venues, crawfish boil – and more.

***Buffalo BBQ Weekend – July 16 & 17, Grand Lake. Celebrate Grand Lake’s cowboy and pioneering heritage with pancake breakfast, 5k fun run, parade, barn dance and, of course, farm raised buffalo BBQ.

***Cattlemen Days – Through July 17, Gunnison. Ten days of events wrap-up with a parade, rodeo, cowboy church and Family Night Rodeo.

***Longmont Jazz Festival – July 16 & 17, Longmont. The best jazz bands of Northern Colorado, including the Queen City Jazz Band, entertain for a free weekend of music at Roosevelt Park. Refreshment by Smoke Shack BBQ.

***Pagosa Springs Renaissance and Pirate Festival – July 15 – 17, Pagosa Springs. Events include archery, belly dancing, sword making, mysticism and activities for the wee ones. Feast on turkey legs and ale.

***Colorado Lavender Festival – July 15 – 17, Palisade. Lavender gardens, farm tours, wine reception, lavender lunch, seminars, aromatherapy, lavender wands and wreaths craft projects, kid activities, music.

***Logger Days Festival – July 16 & 17, South Fork. Men and women competitions in logging skills – axe throw, wood chop, choker race, cross cut, accuracy fall for example. Also music, wood carving, children’s games, arts & crafts and food at this family friendly weekend.

***High Country Kitchen and Garden Tour – July 16, Steamboat Springs. Event benefits the Strings Music Festival, tour 5 kitchens and 6 high altitude gardens, 9:30am-3:30pm.

***Telluride Yoga Festival – July 14 – 17 Telluride. For all levels – yoga from beginners to advanced students, workshops, meditations and yoga dance presentation.

***Sol Shine Music Festival – July 16 & 17, Winter Park. Free festival presenting national, regional and local musicians, food & beer garden. Events in Hideaway Park on Saturday and Cooper Creek Square on Sunday.

Two railroad relics rest in Cheyenne parks commemorating the importance railroads have played since Cheyenne’s founding. The massive Big Boy steam engine #4004 proudly stands in Holliday Park. The coal-fired Big Boy was designed to pull a 3600-ton train over the steep Union Pacific grads between Cheyenne and Ogden, Utah. Ranked as the world’s largest steam locomotive, Engine #4004 ran from 1941 – 1958 and is one of only eight remaining Big Boys on display in the United States.

Wyoming’s oldest locomotive is retired to Lions Park on the north end of Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. Nicknamed “Ol’ Sadie” by Union Pacific crews, #1242 was built in 1890 in New Jersey. The coal/steam powdered engine ran the Walcott-Saratoga-Encampment spur line until 1954.

While visiting “Ol’ Sadie” note the unique fence created by Floyd Young, the last engineer to operate the locomotive. In retirement Young collected Western and railroad relics, forming them into a fence around his home. After his death the family donated the fence to the Botanic Gardens to enclose Young’s beloved #1242.

I really, really wanted to like the Black Forest Restaurant in Nederland. Sadly, reality during a recent visit makes me admit that the food was a huge disappointment and both the service and ambience could use some spiffing up.

The Black Forest opened in the quiet mining town of Black Hawk in 1959 and successfully continued in that location for 42 years. When gambling arrived in Black Hawk the property gave way to a casino. Wilhelm Lorenz built a new restaurant 11 miles north in Nederland, the Black Forest home since 2000.

I think the large building has an Old World feel, as if picked up somewhere in the Alps and re-deposited in the Colorado Rockies. The Garden Room with an indoor waterfall and greenery looks toward the Continental Divide. With aspen trees immediately outside the windows the booths around the edge of the room almost feel like sitting in a tree house. The Hunting Room offers a more formal location for evening dining. The large Lounge must be a busy location after the nearby ski lifts close during the season.

We stopped for an early lunch the day after a busy holiday weekend; therefore, I will cut them a little slack. Some of my disappointment could be caused by shortages. Our waitress apologized for disappearing midway through our lunch saying, “They sent me to the store.” A waiter did pick up her duties while she was gone.

I ordered wiener schnitzel which the menu clearly states is a veal cutlet. I’m not an authority but would swear my blackened (not blackened in the Cajun sense but in the too long on the grill sense) meat was pork. I’ve never seen veal of that texture. The red cabbage could well have been out of a jar, nothing special or homemade in the taste. Ditto with the German potato salad, which was served cold. The bread was definitely a store bought multi-grain just like the loaf on our kitchen counter at home. Something’s wrong when the best dish of the meal is an iceberg lettuce salad with one cucumber slice and two grape tomatoes. The red onion vinaigrette dressing was nicely balanced.

Bob found his sauerbraten acceptable. But, he’s pretty easily pleased. His potato pancake had been on the grill with my meat – too long. We had no complaints with the accompanying chunky applesauce. Bob ordered two servings of the “Homemade Ice Cream”. The molded dessert was so cold it was impossible to get more than a mere shaving at one time. While the chocolate bits added flavor there was no hint of creaminess. Our tab came to $40 + tip, too much for the quality and quantity.

Service was quirky. When we were seated the tables were set with silver pitchers of ice water. Halfway through the meal a waiter came by and picked up the pitcher – without a word and never to return. Why? This was not the case at any other table.

Much of the décor feels dated and well used. Near the door I couldn’t ignore the old movie screen and other items stowed behind a plant looking more discarded than stored. The open newspaper and glass of water on a bar table made me think the cook had probably been there only moments before. First impressions do make a difference.

When I Google “Black Forest Restaurant Nederland” I find their domain has expired. This seems indicative of the overall operation.

I do wish this Colorado tradition could live up to its potential. Soon!

Colorado Weekend Twenty To Do

July 8 – 10, 2011

*Aspen Antiuqes & Fine Arts Fair – Aspen, July 1 – 10. International and national exhibitors  showcase fine antiques, paintings, jewelry and objets d’art at Aspen Ice Garden.

*Breck Bike Week – Breckenridge, July 6-10. All Breck Bike Week events are free. Join a wildflower ride, women’s skills clinic, yoga for bikers session,prime and paint your helmet. Numerous kids activities.

*Little Britches Rodeo & Parade – Cedaredge, July 8-10. Rodeo contestants range in age from 8-18, with mutton ‘bustin for ages 4-8. Saturday morning parade and evening street dance.

*Central City Opera – Central City, July 9 – August 6. Three more operas added to the season’s scheduled. Many special events including family-friendly focus.

*Teddy Bear Days – Colorado Springs, July 9-10. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo highlights grizzly and teddy bears. Discount rates for kids 12 and under accompanied by a teddy bear. Bear grotto and grizzly bear demonstrations and a teddy bear clinic for those need a bit of repair plus lots of TLC.

*Greenhorn Valley Arts & Music Festival – Colorado City, July 9-10. Dozens of groups play Root Music – Celtic harp to Western folk. Three dozen specialty artists – cut paper art to woodturning. Parents, check out “Circus in 60 Minutes” by The Salida Circus.

*Woodcarvers Rendezvous – Creede, July 9-15. 20th Annual gathering or carvers presents a multitude of classes for ability levels from beginners to advanced. A dozen non-carver glasses – pine needle baskets to art glass.

*Four Corners Gem & Mineral Show – Durango, July 8-10. Three days of lapidary demonstrations, jewelry, jewelry making equipment, gold panning, gems, minerals, fossils and beads.

*Music in the Mountains – Durango, July 9-31. The 25th Anniversary Celebration kicks off this weekend. More than 30 classic and world music concerts in the majestic San Juan Mountains.

*Grand Lake Antique Boat Show – Grand Lake, July 9. Enjoy the craftsmanship of historical boat building and see the classics.

*Cattlemen’s Days – Gunnison, June 8-17. Colorado’s oldest and longest running rodeo and horseshows. More than a week of dances, horse racing, parade, concert, carnival and BBQ in addition to rodeos and livestock shows.

*2011 Wine & Jazz Festival – Keystone, July 9-10. Wine tastings, seminars including Up and Coming Varietals and Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles From Around the World, and lots of jazz – soulful bebop to smooth jazz by Dotsero.

*Colorado Irish Festival – Littleton, July 8-10. All things Irish at Clement Park – food, music, merchandise, dance, culture village and Gaelic sports.

*Summer Fest in the Rockies – Loveland, July 8-10. Loveland celebrates summer with events, events, events – Spirits at Sunset, class car show, fly fishing demos, kids sidewalk chalk contest, Loveland Loves Barbecue, Master’s of Magic, Saturday night fireworks, Sunday morning Songs of Joy.

*San Luis Valley Folk Arts and Fiber Festival – Monte Vista, July 8-10. Demonstrations, vendors, workshops and contest in celebration of handmade and traditional arts.

*Bluegrass in Paradise – Mt. Crested Butte, July 9-10. The base area at Mt Crested Butte rings with hours of bluegrass music. Headliners include Gypsy Social Club, Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys and the Nashville Bluegrass Band.

*Colorado Brewer’s Rendezvous – Salida, July 9. Specialty Colorado craft brewers at the 15th annual event in downtown Salida’s Riverside Park. Over 50 Colorado brews plus music and vendors, root beer for the kids and designated drivers.

*Hot Air Balloon Rodeo and Art in the Park – Steamboat Springs, July 9-10. Over 40 balloons launch each morning during the 31th annual balloon rodeo at Bald Eagle Lake. The 37th Art in the Park fills Lincoln Park, Steamboats largest art and craft festival.

*High Mountain Hay Fever Festival – Westcliffe, July 7-10. Festival hosts Sons and Brothers welcome more than a dozen bluegrass groups. Two full days of workshops including High Mountain Hay Seeds just for kids 12 and under.

*Insectival! – Westminister, July 9. The Butterfly Pavillion explores wonders and mysteries of the insect world. Bug hunt, magic shows, carnival games, bubble machine and butterfly encounter.

On Going Colorado Summer Events

*Aspen Music Festival – Aspen

*Theatre Aspen – Aspen

*Colorado Music Festival – Boulder

*Crested Butte Music Festival – Crested Butte

*Colorado Renaissance Festival – Larkspur

*Strings Music Festival – Steamboat Springs

*Bravo! – Vail

Top photo courtesy of Eric Yackel.