Category Archives: Denver

National Western Stock Show – Denver, Colorado – 1-10-2010

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What’s Scheduled?

Sunday – January 10,  2010

 

Head out for the second day of the 104th Annual National Western Stock Show, Horse Show and Rodeo. Check the NWSS schedule web pages for times anNWSS - Cattle Showd locations.

Sunday Judging Events:

  • Colorado Fiddle Championships

Religious Events:

  • Mass
  • Fellowship of Christian Cowboys Service

Awards:

  • 4-H/FFA Livestock & Meat Judging Contest Awards Breakfast
  • Catch-A-Calf Show, Photo Session & Awards

Especially for Youth – these events run throughout the show:

  • Pony Trails
  • Petting Zoo
  • Youth Art Show
  • Stick Horse Rodeo
  • CSU Ag Adventure at Children’s Ranchland 

Exhibitions, Classes, Programs and Events:

  • Quarter Horse Performance Classes 
  • Gelbvieh & Balancer Pen of Bulls Show
  • National Gelbvieh Junior Heifer Show NWSS - Reining
  • Limousin Junior Heifer Show
  • Dancing with Dogs
  • $15,000 Dodge Invitational Freestyle Reining  – Ticketed Event
  • Gelbvieh Sale Cattle Parade
  • Llama/Alpaca Show
  • Maya’s Secret

Sales:

  • National Gelbvieh Sale

In the Coliseum – Ticketed Events:

NWSS - Matador

  • 2:30pm – Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza – featuring Jerry Diaz, Escaramuza Charra, Mexican Bullfighters, Mariachis, Bronc Riding, Paso de La Muerte, Bull Riding, Westernaires, Mutton Bustin
  • 7pm – PRCA ProRodeo – featuring Miss Rodeo Colorado Coronation, Westernaires

Also check out the ongoing livestock exhibits, Hall of Education, the Coors Western Art Exhibit and the hundreds of exhibitors that make the National Western the largest consumer show of the year in Colorado.

Photos courtesy National Western Stock Show

Previous Post – What’s Scheduled, Jan. 9, 2010

Previous National Western Post

Diego Zhang’s Burger Cafe – Centennial, Colorado

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Not  Your Ordinary Burger Joint

Diego Zhang's Exterior What in the world is a Diego Zhang’s? As stores and restaurants open in the redeveloped Streets at SouthGlenn we’re eager to discover our new neighborhood options. Seeing the sign “Diego Zhang’s” simply raised questions – even though it also said “Burger Cafe.” To find out we headed over for lunch.

Burgers are featured but not the typical American burger. A helpful employee explains that Diego Zhang’s burgers are, “Globally inspired mini burgers with the listed ingredients hand mixed with the meat. Each burger is 6 ounces, about half the size of a normal hamburger.” She gave us time to read through the list of a dozen choices: Centennial, Genoa, Shanghai, San Juan, Havana, Yellowstone – a world of flavors. There are also a half-dozen salad and five daily soup selections.

Diego Zhang's Pork Green Chili Bob chose a cup of pork green chili and a “Denver”  described as a simple blend of beef, bacon, sautéed mushrooms and onions. Wanting a variety of flavors I opted for a “Kansas City” – mesquite rubbed ground pork with caramelized barbeque sauce – and a Bangkok – Thai peanut shrimp with fresh vegetables. With each burger we had a choice of white or whole wheat bun.

We ordered at the counter, got our drinks and browsed the menu while we waited for the burgers to be delivered to the table hot off the grill. We learned that Diego Zhang’s mother came from southern climes and father from the east, hence the interesting name mix. The idea for globally-inspired mini-burgers came from a tapas cafe in Barcelona.

Diego Zhang's Burgers Bob gave a thumbs  up to the spicy green chili. I give a big nod of approval for both my burgers. Noted on the menu with two chile peppers meaning slightly more spicy, the Bangkok had a definite kick that lingered but didn’t overpower. The peanuts and fresh veggies lent a crunchy texture. Not spicy hot but packed with flavor, the Kansas City was equally enjoyed. I was impressed with how well matched and balanced the flavors were  in each burger. The whole wheat bun was fresh and grainy. I’ve heard people refer to these as sliders but found them to be larger than the majority of sliders. Two where plenty for a satisfying meal.

Families will appreciate the children’s menu including PB&J, mac & cheese, grilled cheese and noodles – buttered or with cheese/red sauce. Adults find  beer and wine available in addition to soft drinks. The breakfast menu offers a variety of egg sandwiches on English muffins and Arepas, South American corn cakes with cheese, red peppers and green chiles.

I’m already eager to return to further my world journey of mini-burgers.

When You Go: There are two locations for Diego Zhang’s in Centennial, 6851 S. Gaylord in The Streets at SouthGlenn and 12073 E. Arapahoe Road (Arapahoe and Peoria). Hours vary by location and day of the week, check their website for details.

National Western Stock Show – Denver, Colorado – 1-9-2010

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What’s Scheduled?

Saturday – January 9,  2010

 

The 104th Annual National Western Stock Show, Horse Show and Rodeo kicks off in Denver January 9, 2010. Check the NWSS schedule web pages for times and locations.

Saturday Judging Events:

  • Western National 4-H Horse Judging Contest
  • 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest
  • 4-H/FFA Meats Judging Contest
  • Poultry Judging
  • Colorado Fiddle Championships

Especially for Youth – these events run throughout the show:NWSS - Stick Horse Rodeo

  • Pony Trails 
  • Petting Zoo
  • Youth Art Show
  • Stick Horse Rodeo
  • CSU Ag Adventure at Children’s Ranchland 

Exhibitions, Classes, Programs and Events:

  • Quarter Horse Halter and Performance Classes 
  • Gelbvieh Bull Futurity
  • Antique Tractor Exhibition
  • Junior Poultry Showmanship
  • Equine Therapy Demonstrations & Interactive Programs
  • Llama/Alpaca Show NWSS - Paint Horse Show
  • An Evening with a Llama/Alpaca

Sales:

  • Mile High Select Quarter Horse and Paint Horse Sale

In the Coliseum – Ticketed Events:

  • 2pm – PRCA ProRodeo – featuring Pikes Peak Range Riders
  • 7:30pm – Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza – featuring Jerry Diaz, Escaramuza Charra, Mexican Bullfighters, Mariachis, Bronc Riding, Paso de La Muerte, Bull Riding, Westernaires, Mutton Bustin

NWSS - Mexican Rodeo 1

Also check out the ongoing livestock exhibits, Hall of Education, the Coors Western Art Exhibit and the hundreds of exhibitors that make the National Western the largest consumer show of the year in Colorado.

Photos courtesy National Western Stock Show

Previous National Western Post

Denver Art Museum – Denver, Colorado

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Finimageal Week – Charles M. Russell Exhibition

Only one more week to see the retrospective show of paintings, bronze sculptures and letters of American artist Charles M. Russell at the Denver Art Museum. The exhibition of over 60 important pieces was co-organized by the Denver Art Museum’s Petrie Institute of Western American Art and Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Self Portrait, 1900. Watercolor on paper.
Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming.

 

I’ve seen Russell’s work in numerous venues including private collections, Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming and the CM Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana. The current show in Denver offers a perspective imageinto Russell’s growth as an artist. I found it fascinating to examine a series of Buffalo Hunt oils painted over a span of 24 years – a graphic demonstration of Russell’s evolving experiences,technique, palette, and increased usage of accurate detail. I can almost taste the dust and feel the vibrations of thundering hoofs.

                                                                                Buffalo Hunt [No. 39], 1919. Oil on canvas.
                                                                                 Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas.

Russell was known for the illustrated letters he sent to friends and family. Ones included in the exhibit collect an interested audience. Russell’s creativity is demonstrated not just in tRussell Letter Coverhe artwork but also his spelling, no doubt a result of his lack of formal education. Although he was from a well-to-do St. Louis family he had little interest in school and left home at age 16 to work on a  Montana Territory sheep ranch and later as a cowhand. Russell’s works depicted his life, work and love of the American West – wildlife, landscapes, native life, trappers, cowboys, lawmen and outlaws.

 Book cover Charles M. Russell, Word Painter

The Masterworks of Charles M. Russell: A Retrospective of Paintings and Sculpture is well worth the effort to make it to the Denver Art Museum in the next few days. After closing in Denver the exhibition will travel to the Gilcrease Museum, February 6 – May 2, 2010, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, June 6 – August 29, 2010.

When You Go: The Denver Art Museum’s Russell exhibit runs through Sunday, January 10, 2010 and is included in the general museum admission fee. The Denver Art Museum is open Tuesday – Sunday, check their website for hours.

National Western Stock Show, Horse Show and Rodeo – Denver, Colorado

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Find Your Western Spirit in Denverwesternaires1

In mid-January Denver shakes off its 21st-century metropolitan persona and struts it’s "stuff" as a cow town. Polish the boots and dust off the Stetson, the National Western Stock Show, Horse Show and Rodeo takes center stage in Denver, January 9-24, 2010.

Even the most die-hard city slickers will discover their Western Spirit with the jammed-packed schedule of competitions, events, exhibitions and shows.

  • Professional Rodeobullrider5

  • Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale

  • Evening of Dancing Horses

  • Wild West Shows

  • Sheep Shearing Contest

  • Parade through Downtown Denver

  • Western Fashion Show

  • Livestock Judging and Sale

  • African-American Heritage Rodeo

  • Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza

mexicanrodeo3

 

Kids, from the city or the ranch, find activities and events designed just for them:

  • Catch-A-Calf  Contest stick%20pony2
  • Stick Horse Rodeo
  • Children’s Ranchland
  • Pony Trails
  • Petting Farm
  • Mutton Bustin’

Exhibitors fill 900 spaces throughout the National Western Complex to comprise Colorado’s largest trade show. You’ll find everything from ag supplies to original art; or, a new pair of boots and Stetson. See bison, cattle, goats, horses, llamas, poultry, rabbits, sheep, stock dogs and yaks.  Join in the fun – Find Your Western Spirit.

 

bison When You Go: Event tickets include grounds admission for the day. Grounds admissions ticket available without an event – allows access to the world’s only carload and pen cattle shows, Coors Western Art Exhibit, Children’s Ranchland, cattle judging, horse show classes, dog pulls, stick  horse rodeos, sheep shearing, exhibitors and food vendors. Online ticket sales available.

 

Photos from National Western Stock Show, Horse Show and Rodeo

21st Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering – Arvada Center

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Roundup of Western Music & Poetry

My favorite way to spend a January weekend comes to the Arvada Center January 14-17, 2009. This marks the 21st year for the event. There’s much to celebrate, the Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering has grown into a gang-buster event of  three evening concerts plus a Sunday matinee and three full days of  daytime poetry & Western music sessions. One doesn’t have to be a cowhand to appreciate the poetry and music by some of the most genuine people you’ll meet anywhere.

Cowboy Poetry_Arvada Center 2010 Events kick off Thursday evening when Baxter Black, perhaps America’s most recognized cowboy poet headlines. Black captures the flaws and foibles of everyday cowboy life in his humorous poetry and presentation. Unfortunately, for those of us without reservations the evening is already sold out.

Popular Michael Martin Murphey leads the Friday night lineup with poet Doris Daley serving as host. Pop Wagner is sure to bring laughter to the stage and 
Gary Robertson shares his western perspective. In addition to MMM, Prickly Pair and the Cactus Chorale offer musical entertainment.

The smooth voices of the Sons of the San Joaquin star on Saturday night. We’ve been fortunate enough to see this California trio in Arizona and made sure to get our tickets early for this show – as well as the one on Friday evening. The incredible energy of Wylie and The Wild West will fill the stage for the Sunday matinee.

The daytime sessions are my favorite part of the weekend. Friday and Saturday, six, hour-long sessions are held in four venues simultaneously with four performers/groups featured at each venue. More than a dozen themes help us choose which session to attend, favorites include – Western Humor, Lovesick Cowboy, Songwriter’s Circle, Women of the West and Modern Ranch Life. A full day of entertainment for $20/adult – a fantastic bargain.

Milton Taylor comes all the way from New South Wales, Australia to share his Australian bush poetry.  When we hear his presentation we know why he’s earned dozens of bush poetry championships. He can have us in both side-splitting laughter and tears during one session.

Popular Colorado poets and performers include Bob Huff, Bill Barwick, Liz Masterson, John Nelson and the Yampa Valley Boys from Steamboat Springs. Regional artists come from all over the West – Texas to Washington state, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. Nevadan Richard Elloyan, one of my favorites, returns this year. New to us is Skip Gorman from Grafton, New Hampshire. Gorman has appeared on Prairie Home Companion and his music has been featured in Ken Burns’ documentaries. I’m anxious to hear his traditional American folk music.

We always leave with an assortment of CDs and books to enjoy until the next gathering. Soup and sandwiches satisfy hunger pangs between sessions. Polish the boots and join us in Arvada for an inspiring and entertaining weekend.

Map picture

When You Go: Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering at the Arvada Center, January 14-17, 2009. Tickets in advance strongly advised for the evening and matinee concerts. Tickets for daytime sessions in advance or at the door.

Tocabe – An American Indian Eatery – Denver, Colorado

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Celebrating Fry Bread

I well remember my first taste of fry bread. Under a shady ramada in the middle of the historic Taos Pueblo a grandmotherly woman removed the golden puffed pastry Tocabe Fry Bread from a cast iron skillet. Handing me the laden paper plate she pointed to a squeeze bottle of honey. Yum – every bite was quickly consumed, I’d found a new culinary treasure.

I soon learned fry bread also served as a base for Indian Taos, piled high with meat, beans, cheese, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and salsa. Over the decades I’ve consumed Indian Taos and fry bread dusted with powdered sugar or dripping with honey at pueblos, pow wows, festivals, and restaurants on the Navajo reservation. When I heard there was a restaurant featuring the Native American staple opening in North Denver I put Tocabe on my “Must Visit” list.

Tocabe Neon Sign Like that first fry bread every bite at Tocabe disappears quickly. The menu is simple: American Indian Tacos, Stuffed Indian Tacos, Medicine Wheel Nachos, Little Osage Pizza – made with fry bread, of course. The soup choice changes daily – green chili clam chowder on Friday. And, for dessert, fry bread with honey, cinnamon or powder sugar and dessert tacos – fry bread topped with hot apples or cherries.

Located at 44th and Lowell in the Highlands Neighborhood, Tocabe welcomes hungry patrons to a clean, crisp, contemporary space. The rough stone wall with candle cradling niches reminds me of standing amidst the remains of earlier cultures at Mesa Verde or Chaco Canyon.

Tocabe Stuffed Fry Bread A friendly staff assists with choices for our made-to-order taco. Each piece of fry bread comes directly from the kitchen steaming hot. We begin by adding meat and beans: ground beef, shredded beef, chicken, ground buffalo, extra meat or vegetarian, black beans, pintos or chili beans. Followed by yea or nay to cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and purple onions. Choose two from the hominy or white corn salsas, mild or hot, red or green chili. Top everything off with sour cream, chipotle sauce – or both. On our most recent visit Bob and I attacked our plates as if a time clock were ticking, slowing consumption only for complimentary murmurings.

Who can leave without sharing a fry bread with honey for dessert? Not us. As Tocabe approaches their 1st anniversary in business we’re convinced Denver diners are extremely fortunate to have their very own American Indian Eatery. Celebrate fry bread.

Tocabe Hands 

 

Map picture

When You Go: Tocabe, 3536 West 44th Avenue, Denver, CO, 720-524-8282, is open Monday through Saturday 11am to 9pm and Sunday noon to 8pm.

Hammonds Candy Cane Festival – Denver, Colorado

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9th Annual Candy Cane Festival

Red Candy Canes Along with thousands of others we stopped by Hammonds Candy Factory for the 9th annual Candy Cane Festival today. After a week of extremely cold temps, grey skies and snow everyone was ready to bask in the pleasantly warm sunny day, visit with Santa and stock up on holiday sweets.

Families waited patiently for tours of the factory to see candymakers at work. Lines also formed for rides on ‘Lil Spike’ the motorized train and hay rides drawn by a handsome team of draft horses. Entertainment, story time, face painting and inspecting emergency vehicles kept visitors busy. Blue Face

Of course, there was a full array of Hammond candies for sale. Buckets of the hand-formed candy canes in a rainbow of colors and flavors, baskets of old-fashioned ribbon candy, giant lollipops and peppermint pillows tempted shoppers. Bags of candy coal reminded us of those who were more naughty than nice this year.

Although the 2009 Candy Cane Festival is over one can always stop by the factory for a free tour or visit the retail store Monday – Saturday.

View the slide show for more photos of the 2009 Candy Cane Festival. A sweet time was had by all.

Hammond’s Candies – Denver, Colorado

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 Candy Cane Festival ‘09

Each December Hammond’s Candies in Denver hosts the Candy Cane Festival – Dec. 12, 2009, 9am-5pm. Take a tour, finish off your Christmas shopping, whisper your list to Santa, feed his reindeer or enjoy the variety of activities. Caroling, storytelling, gingerbread cookie decorating, carnival games, face painting and trolley rides keep everyone entertained.   nancy-shopping1

ribbon-candy1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The delight of a child- toddler to teen – Santa’s lap is sure to boost your holiday spirits.                      

why-wait                                                                       

After your visit to Hammond’s I bet you won’t be able to wait till Christmas for your first sweet treat.

Yum!

Hammond’s is located at 5735 N. Washington Street, Denver, Colorado. Candy store open Monday-Friday 9am-4:30pm and Saturday 10am4pm. Directions and online shopping available on their website.   

Front Range Autumn Day – Colorado

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Plains to Peaks

After mountain road closures due to snow and ice, rain, chill and morning frost  along Colorado’s Front Range the day dawned with crisp blue skies. A halo of clouds hugged the shoulders of Pikes Peak. A day too perfect to stay home and attend to chores.

Castwood Canyon SP - Lucas Homestead We headed southeast of Denver to Castlewood Canyon State Park outside of Franktown. The park straddles five different life zones from short grass prairie and caprock to coniferous forest and riparian. The mixed shrubland has begun its autumnal color transformation. We drove the unpaved road along the west side of the park from CO86 to Lake Gulch Road. The route passes the Lucas Homestead Historic Site, the popular Westside Trailhead and the ruins of Castlewood Dam which burst in 1933 flooding downstream Denver with a 15-foot wall of water.

 

Yak's On our way out to CO87 we passed a yak farm. As Bob snapped a few pictures of the long-haired Asian bovines I noted the farm’s website  – www.greeneggsandyak.com. We didn’t stop to purchase either yak or eggs but I did come home and visit their web pages. Now we’re intrigued and Bob’s ready to try yak.

Avoiding Interstate travel we skirted Colorado Springs on the east and were amazed at the growth and development.

Our next destination was one of Colorado’s newest state parks, Cheyenne Mountain, south of the city west of US115. A stop at the “crown jewel” Visitor Center gave us a bit of history and information on the facilities and trails. Twenty miles of joint use (hiking/biking) trails span terrain from grasslands to mountain slope pine forests. Campgrounds and picnic sites are nicely situated among scrub oak and mountain mahogany.

Hungry tummies directed us to Conway’s Red Top, a Colorado Springs classic famous for their burgers filling a 6-inch bun. Never fear, you can order a half burger. We split a half cheeseburger and a half Senor Red Top with jalapeno and pepper jack cheese. Bob indulged with a cherry milk shake so thick the spoon was much more useful than the straw.

We chose the pastoral, foothill horse country between Palmer Lake and Sedalia for our homebound journey. Peaceful and unhurried we happily left behind the aggression of I-25 traffic, soaking in mountain views bathed in autumn sunshine and color.