Tag Archives: Denver

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.

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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 

 

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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

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

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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.   

Cemetery Walks – Colorado

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A Walk with the Spirits

 

Crested Butte Cemetery Arch A leisurely walk through an historic cemetery relates intriguing details of the region’s settlement and struggles. Styles of enclosures, markers and headstones reflect cultural, ethnic and societal influences. Inscriptions tell of epidemics, natural disasters, gunfights or the steadfastness of a man’s character. A chiseled boulder in the Cripple Creek Mt. Pisgah Cemetery states, “He died as he lived, honest, loyal and an upright man.”

Crested Butte Child's Grave Children’s graves were frequently enclosed with wooden or wrought iron fencing, or carefully laid stone borders. Headstones with carved lambs denote infant burials. Poetry abounds. Especially memorable is a monument in a Central City cemetery marking the graves for one family’s five children – all who died before reaching their first birthday.

Graveyards near ghost towns and mining camps remain worthy of investigation. Spend a crisp autumn afternoon strolling the distinctive cemeteries near Alma, Central City, Cripple Creek or Leadville for a Colorado history refresher coarse.

The Littleton Cemetery on South Prince Street is the permanent (?) resting place of Alfred Packer, the only man in United States history to be convicted of  the crime of cannibalism.

The tombstones in Cripple Creek’s Mt. Pisgah Cemetery tell so many stories of the town’s famous and the infamous. On September 26, 2009 the Gold Camp Victorian Society planLeadville Grave with Aspens a day of Mt. Pisgah tours with character reenactments throughout the cemetery. Tours start at the Cripple Creek District Museum located next to the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot. The tour begins with a ride aboard the historic trolley. The first tour leaves the museum at 9:30am; the last departs at 2:00pm. Donations to benefit the society’s historic preservation efforts are $8/adult, $15/couple and $5/child under 12. I’m sure you’ll meet Pearl.

Under the October full moon, Riverside Cemetery is the site of a History & Mystery Tour on October 2 & 3. Tours at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30pm each evening with tickets priced at $12/adult, $10/child. Required reservations can be made by calling 303-322-3895 or emailing heritage@fairmountheritagefoundation.org. On Halloween, Oct. 31, Crested Butte Cemetery Open Gate free tours are planned every 15 minutes between 2:00-3:15pm. Historians and actors will share the stories of influential Colorado residents such as Governor Evans and Augusta Tabor. Reservations are encouraged.

In Glenwood Springs, costumed historic characters recall their lively pasts as lantern led tours visit the “spirits” of Linwood (Glenwood Pioneer) Cemetery. Doc Holliday is reportedly buried here … or is he? Join the Annual Historic Ghost Walk to hear the story. The walks are planned for Oct. 16-18, Oct. 23-25 and Oct. 30-31, 2009. Tickets are $15/person and go on sale Oct. 1. These annual walks sell out quickly, purchase tickets as soon as they go on sale by calling the Frontier Historical Museum at 970-945-4448.

Leadville Sunken Graves We’ve tramped around many of Colorado’s cemeteries through the years, especially those near early mining camps. Each has its own distinctive characteristics and slate of citizens with fascinating stories. Leadville’s Evergreen Cemetery contains graves from 1879 to the present, graves with ornate headstones and those with rotting crosses. One early section with sunken graves ranks as the spookiest I’ve ever visited. Judge Neil Reynolds introduces the spirits of  Evergreen Cemetery during Halloween Cemetery Tours, Oct. 30-31 at 8:00pm each evening. This popular event usually sells out – call 719-486-3900 or 888-532-3845 for tickets, $10/person.

*Colorado Weekend* – July 24-26, 2009

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Arapahoe County Fair – July 22-26, Aurora.

Collegiate Peaks Music Festival 2009 – July 24-26, Buena Vista.

Carbondale Mountain Fair – July 24-26 , Carbondale.

Old Town Showdown – July 25-26, Colorado Springs.

Crested Butte Land Trust Wine and Food Festival – July 23-26, Crested Butte.

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival – July 25-26, Denver.

Fiesta Days – July 23-26, Durango.

Eagle Championship Ranch Rodeo – July 24-26, Eagle.

Empire’s 2nd Annual Art Walk – July 25, Empire.

Evergreen Jazz Festival – July 24-26, Evergreen.

Breckenridge Adventure Xstream Adventure Race –  July 25, Frisco.

‘Vettes on the Rockies – July 26, Frisco.

Golden Buffalo Bill Days – July 24-26, Golden.

Mesa County Fair – July 21-26, Grand Junction.

Greeley Arts Picnic – July 25-26, Greeley.

Keystone Mountain Art Gathering – July 23-26, Keystone.

Bent County Fair & Rodeo – July 25-Aug. 1, Las Animas.

Crowley County Days – July 25, Ordway.

Telluride Americana Music Weekend – July 23-25, Telluride.

Alpine Artaffair – July 25-26, Winter Park.

Winter Park Jazz – July 25-26, Winter Park.

3rd Annual Protecting the American Dream Bike Rally – July 24-26, Woodland Park.

*Colorado Weekend* – July 17-19, 2009

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Fee-Free Weekend –  National park entrance fees will be waived at eight Colorado parks and monuments.

Aspen Arts Festival – July 18-19, Aspen. Free event with 170 exhibitors offering jewelry, pottery, sculpture, glass, ceramics, paintings, prints in Wagner Park.

Kidspree – July 18-19, Aurora.

Downtown Boulder’s Artfair – July 18-19, Boulder

Breckenridge Beer Festival – July 18, Breckenridge.

Cheyenne Wells Tumbleweed Festival – July 18-19, Cheyenne Wells.

Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb – July 19, Colorado Springs.

Orthodox Food Festival and Old Globeville Days – July 18-19, Denver. Sample foods from Russia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Eritrea, Greece and Mexico at the 6th annual festival in Argo Park. Includes music, dance, arts, tours of
historical landmark Orthodox church.

Copper-Penny Horse Show – July 17-19, Estes Park.

2009 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships – July 16-19, Granby. Thousands of amateur and professional mountain bikers compete on the terrain of SolVista Bike Park, SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch.

Cattlemen Days – Through July 19, Gunnison. Ten days of events wrap-up with a parade, rodeo, cowboy church and draft house pull.

Pagosa Springs Renaissance and Pirate Festival – July 18-19, Pagosa Springs.

Logger Days Festival – July 17-19, South Fork.

High Country Kitchen and Garden Tour – July 18, Steamboat Springs. Event benefits the Strings Music Festival, tour 6 kitchens and 7 high altitude gardens, 10am-4pm.

Fat Tire Classic – July 18-19, Winter Park. Family-friendly pledge event benefiting the National Sports Center for the Disabled and the Mile High Chapter of the American Red Cross.

*Colorado Weekend* – July 10-12, 2009

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  • Aspen Antiques & Fine Arts Fair – Aspen, July 9-12. Forty exhibitors from around the world showcase fine antiques, paintings, jewelry and objets d’art at Aspen Ice Garden.
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  • Crested Butte Wild Flower Festival – Crested Butte, July 6-12. Enjoy a rich variety of wildflowers and butterflies while hiking, birding, biking or 4×4 touring. Classes include art, all levels of photograph, medicinal with botanical ingredients, cooking with wild flowers and yoga.
  • Four Corners Gem & Mineral Show – Durango, July 10-12. Three  days of lapidary demonstrations, jewelry, jewelry making equipment, gold panning, gems, minerals, fossils and beads.
  • Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo – Estes Park, July 7-12. 83rd annual PRCA rodeo includes saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, bare-back and bull riding and barrel racing. Plus a Western parade or Behind the Chutes Tours.
  • Fort Collins Jazz Experience – Fort Collins, July 9-11. Downtown Sessions Free Festival Day – July 11th with 14 live jazz groups. Al Jarreau and Ramsey Lewis Trio – ticketed events at Lincoln Center.
  • Colorado Railroad Museum – Golden, July 11-12 . 50th anniversary celebration at the museum dedicated to Colorado railroading heritage, includes an unusual train parade.
  • Wooden Boat Show – Grand Lake, July 11. Enjoy the craftsmanship of historical boat building and see the classics.
  • Cattlemen’s Days – Gunnison, June 10-19.  Colorado’s oldest and longest running rodeo and horseshows. More than a week of dances, horse racing, parade, carnival and BBQ in addition to rodeos and livestock shows.
  • Uncorked Mountain Wine Festival – Keystone, July 11-12. Wine tastings, seminars, pairing dinners plus jazz music.
  • Colorado Irish Festival – Littleton, July 10-12. All things Irish at Clement Park – food, music, merchandise, dance, culture village and Gaelic sports.
  • Boil ‘n Boogie – Mead, July 11. Eighth annual Cajun crawfish boil, six-hour concert, children’s games, and crafts.
  • San Luis Valley Folk Arts and Fiber Festival – Monte Vista, July 10-12. Demonstrations, vendors, workshops and contest in celebration of handmade and traditional arts.
  • Colorado Brewer’s Rendezvous – Salida, July 11. Specialty Colorado craft brewers at the 13th annual event in downtown Salida’s Riverside Park.
  • Snowmass SkateMass – Snowmass village, July 11. Skateboard event  and competition at the new Snowmass village Skate Park.
  • Steamboat Balloons Hot Air Balloon Rodeo and Art in the Park  – Steamboat Springs, July 11-12. Over 40 balloons launch each morning during the 29th annual balloon rodeo at Bald Eagle Lake. The 35th annual summer art show in Lincoln Park is Steamboats largest art and craft festival.
  • Telluride Yoga Festival – Telluride, July 10-12. Friday sunset Kirtan, workshops, meditations and yoga dance presentation.
  • Insectival! – Westminister, July 11-12. The Butterfly Pavillion explores wonders and mysteries of the insect world.
  • Winter Park Music Festival – Winter Park, July 11. National, regional and local live music in Hideaway Park. Free, but ticket required.

 

On Going Colorado Summer Events

*Colorado Weekend* – June26-28, 2009

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Bikes, Brews, Blossoms and Bulls

Accompanied by Lots of Music

Welcome web visitor – I’m on the road in the Pacific Northwest, the laptop is in for repairs in Spokane and I’m trying to get this out from a motel business center. No details this week, if something sounds interesting or you’re going to be in the aBikers near Crested Butterea click on the link for more information. Enjoy the weekend!

*Colorado Weekend* – June 19-21, 2009

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Bikes, Boats, Cars and More Cars

Father’s Day weekend seems filled with modes of transport. Cars reign supreme in Grand Junction, Holyoke, Steamboat Springs and Walsenburg. Pedal in Breckenridge, Colorado Springs and Salida. Competitions focus on outhouse races in Breckenridge and tractor pulls in Simla.Pack Mule Sculpture in Breckenridge

  • Gold Strike Festival – Arvada, June 20-21. The 8th annual celebration of Lewis Ralston’s 1850 discovery of gold in Ralston Creek with kid and pet parades, activities and live music.
  • Kingdom Days – Breckenridge, June 20-21. Gather a team, build an outhouse, then push or pull it to the finish line in Breckenridge this weekend. Part of the 1859 gold boom the Kingdom of Breckenridge parties with gold panning, historic sites and mine tours, Wild West gun fights on Main Street and activities for all ages.
  • Starlight Spectacular! – Colorado Springs, June 20, 11:5Garden of the Gods Formations9 pm. Bike the night away on this non-competitive ride that begins and finishes at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and  Nature Center. Routes for all ages and abilities range from 14-25 miles through downtown Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City and Garden of the Gods. Proceeds benefit the Trails and Open Space Coalition.
  • Denver Juneteenth Celebration – Denver, June 20. Denver’s Five Points Neighborhood commemorate the day that Texas slaves learned they were free with a 9am parade and festival from 10am-6pm.
  • Greek Festival – Denver, June 19-21. One of Denver’s largest and longest running  ethnic festivals features traditional Greek music, folk dancing and tons of good food. Events include a Greek boutique and tours of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Don’t miss the homemade desserts including baklava.
  • Highlands Street Fair – Denver, June 20. The Highlands neighborhood in Northwest Denver parties at the 27th annual free street fair from 10am to dusk. Enjoy three stages of live music, classic car show, kids fun zone, 150 vendor booths plus food and drink.
  • Day Out with Thomas – Durango, June 19-21. Take a ride on a full-sized Thomas the Tank Engine on the Durango and Silverton rails. Every young railroader’s favorite engine is the star this weekend. Meet Mr. Topham Hatt, listen to music and storytellers.
  • Teddy Bear Picnic – Estes Park, June 20. Teddy bears and their human companions will gather Saturday for the 25th annual Teddy Bear Picnic at Estes Ark.
  • Colorado BBQ Challenge – Frisco, June 19-20. Sixty teams compete in th2 16th annual event sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society. Cooking demonstrations by grillmaster Troy Black and Southern Living magazine.
  • Fort Collins Irish Festival – Fort Collins, June 20-21. Enjoy the luck of the Irish in Fort Collins this weekend with Irish culture, history, dance, music, music, music and plenty of Guinness.
  • Motorcycle at Gateway Western Colorado Vintage Motorcycle Club Rally – Gateway, June 20. First annual (?) at the stunning Gateway Canyon Resort and Auto Museum.
  • Strawberry Days – Glenwood Springs, June 19-21. Colorado’s oldest community festival, 112-years-old, includes carnival, entertainment, parade, pie eating contest and ice cream social.
  • Car Show – Auto Fest 2009 – Grand Junction, June 20-21. 34th annual exhibit of foreign, domestic, antique, classic, custom, rod, motorcycles, tractors and trucks in Lincoln Park. Friday evening Cruise Night.
  • Dandelion Daze – Holyoke, June 19-20. Auto show, Grease Lightning parade, rockin’ the oldies, antique auction and NASCAR simulator Friday night and Saturday.
  • Gold Rush Music Festival – Idaho Springs, June 20-21. Three bands play each day, each a different style – jazz, rock, big band, swing, country, oldies – all part of the year long 150th anniversary celebration.
  • New Belgium FIBArk – Salida, June 18-21. America’s oldest and boldest whitewater festival in its 61st year with events from international competitors to pancake breakfast, carnival to mountain bike races.
  • Simla Days – Simla, June 19-21. From Friday night dinner to Sunday services in the park this is a busy weekend in Simla. Saturday starts with pancake breakfast and ends with Dance @ Dusk.
  • Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup – Steamboat Springs, June 18-21. 21st annual roundup of Mustangs – the automobile variety. Friday autocross and Saturday Show n’ Shine with 450 Mustangs lining Lincoln Avenue.
  • Telluride from Gondola Telluride Bluegrass Festival – Telluride, June 18-21. Hugh festival weekend in Telluride’s summer of festivals. Ten thousand fill venues all over the mountain valley.
  • The Black Diamond Jubilee – Walsenburg, June 19-21. Recall when coal was king in this southern Colorado region. Events include classic car show, baseball tournament, vendor booths and Sunday pancake breakfast.

Bob at Palouse Falls State Park

Happy Father’s Day to fathers everywhere, especially to Bob – hubby and father of our three sons.