Ahh, Thanksgiving: A time to reflect on all that is good in our lives and express gratitude for it. A holiday to celebrate life properly stuffed with relevancy and technology. With an Internet connection and a search engine, anyone can be a top turkey these days. Furthermore, on the Web we can discover and learn new things.
Great gobblin’ gadgets: The @ sign is now the season’s symbol. In 1863 when Lincoln declared the holiday, photography was the most radical technology to be had.
Here are our source code choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to help you think technology, turkey and thankfulness while feasting on bits and bytes:
3 Cinema has championed some of the most awe-inspiring technologies in visual arts. See 200 titles during the Denver Film Festival at the Sie Film Center and at the Ellie, Nov. 4-15. Information: 303-595-3464.
3 You won’t see old tintypes but there’s a photo tribute to the Who at Robert Anderson Gallery, Nov. 6-Jan. 2. Information: 303-388-1332.
3 Enjoy pageantry, music and classic flair at Opera Colorado’s Aida playing Nov. 7-15 at the Ellie, 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Information: 303-698-2334.
3 Featuring a central location and select merchandise this year’s Mile High Holiday Mart is Nov. 13-15 at DU’s Gates Field House. The Junior League event is a shopping extravaganza. Information: 303-692-0270.
3 Whether you crave holiday choices or local favorites, the entire family can feast affordably at the Monaco Inn. Information: 303-320-1104.
3 Recycle the leaves gathering outside at the Cherry Creek Transfer Station 8 a.m.-2 p.m., weekends 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Information: 720-913-1311.
3 Keep those tech toys plus watches and autos charging with batteries from newly opened Battery Giant @ 6th and Grant. Information: 303-832-1454.
3 Make plans to take in the 39th edition of Central City Opera’s L’Esprit de Noel Nov. 20-21. Considered Denver’s signature holiday event, this Year’s walking tour will feature homes in Denver’s historic Country Club neighborhood beautifully decorated by local florists and table designers. The homes are in the area first developed as a residential neighborhood in the early 1900s. The earliest homes were built on Franklin Street. The tour features some of these historic homes, which have been updated for modern family lifestyles. Information: 303-292-6500, ext. 114.
This month you are likely thinking ahead about the details of your Thanksgiving Day. Whether you are making travel plans, emailing relatives about dinner reservations, or planning your shopping list and holiday meal, using your tablet can serve as one place to consolidate all needs and preparations to keep things organized and streamlined.
There’s talk today about how technology separates us. Families gather around the table to eat together but end up giving gadgets more attention than they do each other.
However using the technology can also bring us closer together. Skype and others give us the opportunity to talk face to face with friends and loved ones, no matter where they are in the world. With a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone, people are leveraging tech devices to ease holiday stress versus using fowl language.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.