December 31, 2008 
 
 
Looking for more fireworks and other free celebrations to bring in the new year 2009?  Here are a few more choices in addition to the big shows in downtown Denver:

Beaver Creek - Fireworks display & Torchlight Ski-down
Parents and children are invited to participate in a special glow-worm ski down from the top of the Buckaroo Express gondola. Registration begins at 6 PM and uploading begins at 6:30 PM. Open to all ages, level 5 ability or higher.

Copper Mountain – New Year’s Disco evening
Burning Stones Plaza will be transformed into the old 54 featuring the band Disco Mountain.  Big Screen with true Studio 54 clips and a spectacular torchlight parade put on by the Copper Ski & Ride School.  Disco dance/best costume contest, and 2 firework shows @ 7:45 PM (West Lake) and 10 PM (over the Mountain).

Keystone Resort – Torchlight Parade and Fireworks
Visit River Run for the torchlight parade at 8:45 PM followed by fireworks at 9 PM.

Monarch Mountain – Torchlight Parade & Fireworks Show
Starts at 5:30 PM

Ouray – fireworks visible from main street at midnight

Pikes Peak – AdAmAn Club fireworks from the summit
A unique tradition since 1922:  The Pikes Peak AdAmAn Club is a group of mountaineers who climb Barr Trail to the top of Pikes Peak.  At midnight on New Year’s Eve, they set off a fireworks display on the summit, often visible for hundreds of miles.

Sol Vista Basin -  Torchlight Parade & Fireworks
A kid’s parade tradition will begin at 6 PM with a synchronized ski down and fireworks display. Glow sticks will be available to children 12 and under.

Vail – Celebrate with fireworks and a street party in Vail Village as well as a torchlit ski down at Golden Peak.

December 31, 2008
9:00 PM show and Midnight show
16th Street Mall

Good news for welcoming the New Year for both early birds and late owls!   You can enjoy a spectacular fireworks display downtown at 9:00 PM or wait until Midnight to enjoy another.  Or, if you’re really into fireworks, and have plenty of warm cloths, why not hang out for both shows!

The fireworks will be launched simultaneously from 2 locations along the 16th Street Mall, so you’re sure to have a good view no matter where you choose to watch from.

We wish everyone in Colorado and everyone who likes to read about Colorado a very healthy and happy new year.

November 22, 2008 

Dear Denver,
Happy Birthday.
You don’t look a day over 145!

Here are some fun ways to celebrate Denver’s birthday:

Free admission to Denver Zoo, Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado History Museum, and Museum of Contemporary Art — plus, the first two are serving birthday cake at noon.

Free movie for the kids at Ellie Caulkins Opera House at 11 AM.

Free performance of “Girls Only” at 2 PM at the Garner Galleria Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.  Tickets will be distributed starting at noon.

Free author event “A Dozen on Denver: Stories to celebrate the city at 150” at Tattered Cover (Colfax) at 2 PM.

For more information, visit www.denver150.com or www.denverartsweek.com

So dear Denver, place of my birth, may I wish you a very happy birthday and hopes for another great 150 years!

P.S.  To celebrate Denver’s birthday, perhaps a visit to the state capitol building might be in order.

I had to ask, “What’s a pop-up museum?”

“[Pop-ups] are basically temporary spaces that ‘pop-up’ in a location that may be unfinished or is normally used for other purposes,” I was told by Denver Community Museum curator, Jaime Kopke.

The Denver Community Museum is a temporary, free, community art museum located in Riverfront Park, across the Millenium Bridge from Downtown.  Each month, local residents are encouraged to submit objects, videos, drawings, stories, or whatever based on a theme, or “Community Challenge”, announced in advance. For example, in October 2008, the Community Challenge was “The Missing Map”, and participants were encouraged to create a globe or any size, material, and message. 

The current Challenge to be displayed during November 2008 is “Mummify Me”.  Artisans are instructed to “mummify” anything they might want to preserve, using any materials they wish.  Thankfully, they are also asked to be sure their submissions are inanimate and non-decaying.

The museum is free and open to the public and there is no charge to submit items for each Challenge.  Denver Community Museum will exist for less than one year (in its present location, at least), so don’t delay too long in visiting or participating in a Challenge.

Museum Hours and directions

September 27, 2008

Visit one of our wonderful State Parks, National Parks or Monuments for free on Saturday, September 27, and have the opportunity to give something back, as well.  According to the National Public Lands Day website:

National Public Lands Day keeps the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the “tree army” that worked from 1933-42 to preserve and protect America’s natural heritage.

This annual event:

* Educates Americans about critical environmental and natural resources issues and the need for shared stewardship of these valued, irreplaceable lands;
* Builds partnerships between the public sector and the local community based upon mutual interests in the enhancement and restoration of America’s public lands;
* Improves public lands for outdoor recreation, with volunteers assisting land managers in hands-on work.

We are so lucky in Colorado to have an abundance of outstanding lands preserved for us to enjoy.  Our Parks need help, however, to keep them accessible and environmentally healthy. 

There are many special events and projects happening this day at places like Shelf Road, Castlewood Canyon, Curecanti, Eldorado Canyon, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, and Roxborough State Park.  Volunteer projects to help maintain or build trails, bridges and fences, plant trees, and to restore archaelogical sites can be found listed here.

Some special events will happen on September 27 as well.  At Colorado National Monument, you’ll have the opportunity to walk, run or cycle along a stretch of Rim Rock Drive while it is closed to motor traffic. 

Contact the visitor center at a National Park, National Monument, or State Park to find out if they have special plans for this day.

October 9, 2008
Civic Center Park

Try to imagine…Peace.  October 9 is John Lennon’s birthday, and his iconic song “Imagine” seems to become even more relevant as time passes.  Celebrate Peace by attending the Imagine Peace Paint-In.   You can do some painting, or simply observe the artists and listen to music (featuring songs by John Lennon and songs about Peace, of course).   Perhaps you’ll wish to donate to this special event — 100% of  profits will go to local organizations:  Student Peace Alliance, the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Colorado Campaign for the Dept of Peace, and the Metro Denver Gang Coalition.

Imagine…

Peace organizations operating on local, national and international levels… groups targeting domestic violence, gang violence, and international war… all represented in one place, educating and accepting donations.

Imagine…

A day of art, music and inspiration that you’ll never forget… free to all, on John Lennon’s birthday.

This event is inspired by Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace e-book, projects, and website.

October 12, 2008
10 AM to 8 PM

Summer is slipping away, there’s some snow in the high country, so perhaps your thoughts have turned to relaxing on a tropical beach in Hawaii.  A little too pricey?  You’re in luck.  Just head to Longmont for the Colorado Aloha Festival!

Watch a Hula film called “Na Kamalei – The Men of Hula” (Ladies, you don’t want to miss this one!)  Attend cultural workshops, stroll among the vendor booths enjoying Hawaiian arts and crafts, and let your mind float away to the tranquil beaches of the Hawaiian islands.  A live Hula performance will also be presented, but it is not free, and requires a ticket (hurry — this is almost sold out).

The festival takes place at Vance Brand Civic Auditorium, 600 E. Mountain View Ave. in Longmont.

Yo!  Are you in 5th Grade this year?  Did you know you can get FREE lift tickets at 21 ski resorts just because you’re in 5th Grade?  Waaaaaaay cool.

Are you a 6th Grader who had a great time skiing for free last year, and want to hit the slopes again this winter?  Sorry, unless you flunked, you’ll have to spend some money this year.  Still, there’s a bargain for you as well.

To check out these special deals, visit Colorado Ski Country USA for details.