by Valley Gadfly | Nov 21, 2014 | Valley Gadfly
Don we now our gay apparel for holiday merrymaking. This is the season to be jolly: Fa la la la, la, la, la, la. Now garish tinsel! Now latkes! Now cider and punch! On cocoa! On toasty holiday drinks! This is not the season for subtlety. This is the season for good old-fashioned family fun, whether festive Christmas lights or eight nights of lights.
The music to Deck the Halls is believed to be Welsh in origin and reputed to have come from a tune called “Nos Galan” dating back to the 16th century.
Here are our holiday jingle, mingle and mix choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to fill the season with joy and deck out the blazing Yule before us:
3 Catch the Valley’s all-time family-fave holiday production, Colorado Ballet’s Nutcracker featuring dazzling costumes and onstage blizzards. Shows are at the Ellie, Nov. 29-Dec. 27. Information: 303-837-8888.
3 Dash over to Sixth Avenue United Church to view and buy ceramics and jewelry at the Denver Potters Show, Dec. 4-7. Information: 303-377-5535.
3 The hot cider and cookies will be delightful during Paulino Gardens Christmas Open House, Dec. 5-7. There’s great gift ideas plus daily drawings for poinsettias and gift certificates. Information: 303-429-8062.
3 View “When Wishes Come True,” the Arts at Denver holiday show with an Encore reception Dec. 5, 5-8 p.m. Information: 303-722-0422.
3 Enjoy Colorado Hebrew Chorale’s Hanukkah Concert with candle lighting and food at Four Mile Park Dec. 18, 6:30 p.m. Information: 720-865-0815.
3 Feast in The Weber at the Inn at Cherry Creek featuring special Christmas (Dec. 24-25) and New Year’s Eve menus. Information: 303-377-8577.
3 Slip into the Roaring ’20s and flap into the New Year at the White Rose Gala in the Ellie, Dec. 31, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Information: 303-321-4304.
3 For a crackling New Year’s Eve take in the spectacular fireworks along the 16th Street Mall, 9 p.m. and midnight. Information: 303-534-6161.
3 Celebrate the season in Victorian fashion with the family during A Colorado Christmas at Four Mile Historic Park, Dec. 14, 12-4 p.m. Holiday-themed activities include traditional games plus arts and crafts. Learn the history of Christmas in the Cherry Creek Valley while visiting Father Christmas. There will be roasting chestnuts and families can help decorate the Four Mile Tree. Information: 720-865-0800.
The air is crisper, Jingle Bells can be heard on the streets, holiday wreaths top buildings and the Valley’s business districts are twinkling with festive lights. From the rich history anchored in the holiday hustle and bustle on Larimer Square, to the glow of frosty window displays in Cherry Creek, the season is always a rich mix of holiday life.
Cherry Creek and the Mall were once the crown jewel for holiday shopping. Will holiday magic miraculously brighten the district’s construction-damaged image?
Enjoy the month in merry measure, while I tell of Yule time treasure: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men, and Batteries not included! As you take pleasure in hot buttered rum, don’t forget to share with loved ones. Nor be surprised if Deck the Halls sneaks its way into your head. ’Tis the season to jingle, mingle and mix: Fa la la la, la, la, la, la.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
by Mark Smiley | Nov 21, 2014 | Glendale City News
by Brent New
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
Following a season where they gave up way too many second chances to their opponents — almost on a weekly basis — the Glendale Raptors got the best of its kind en route to their first Women’s Premier League national championship.
The Raptors beat the Twin Cities Amazons 16-15 in the women’s finals, two days after their loss in the semifinals was negated by a disqualification.
Hannah Stolba was named the MVP with 11 points in the finale; none bigger than her penalty boot that gave the Raptors their first lead of the match in the second half. And her team was able to hold off a furious attack from the WPL reigning champions down the stretch to preserve the win in Marietta, Ga.
None of it, however, would have been possible if the Atlanta Harlequins weren’t forced to forfeit after they knowingly used an ineligible player during their 13-7 win over the Raptors in the WPL semifinals.
“There were conflicting emotions within our team,” captain Laura Miller said. “There were people who were excited. There were people who felt we didn’t deserve it because we had lost.”
The Raptors would use it as motivation toward a goal that was now all the bigger and more important.
And as a sign of support and respect (and a sign of complete disregard for hygiene), they chose to wear the socks of Harlequins players in the championship game against the Amazons.
“It was tough for me personally because I was told before Friday’s kickoff that the Harlequins had forfeited, but they would appeal. It messed with my head,” said Michael Fealey, the first-year coach of the Raptors. “In any case, they outplayed us. They played their hearts out. And they deserved to be represented in the final, at least in that small way.”
Atlanta’s center Patty Jervey defended her team’s choice to play an ineligible player on her personal Facebook page.
“We were told going into today’s match that if we played the player, we would forfeit,” Jervey wrote. “I understand the rules, and for the most part, choose to abide. But I also understand that rules are usually created in response to something unfair or unjust or unbecoming.
“…Moreover, we believe that in CIPP’ing the player two days after the arbitrary deadline did not give us an unfair advantage over any team in the league.”
Compelling thought. Didn’t matter.
Stolba stepped over two defenders late in the championship game and dove in for the try to give the Raptors a 16-10 lead, before Kaelene Lundstrum scored on a try with two minutes remaining in regulation time to cut the deficit to 16-15.
The Raptors, who lost in the first round last season, and came up short in the finals the year before, stuffed the Amazons for the rest of regulation and held firm in more than six minutes of extra time to hoist the cup.
It ended a season of mostly good and some bad. A season where they started fast, stumbled late, and finished on top.
It ended a season where fortune favored the resilient.
“It feels like a massive weight off our shoulders, like we finally healed and came together after a turbulent season at times,” Fealey said.” I’m a very happy man right now to say the least.”
by Mark Smiley | Nov 21, 2014 | Editorials
Brian Vogt
In letters and e-mails to the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle, readers have asked us if we remember as many people working for the City and County of Denver that are totally devoid of ethics and competency as there are under Mayor Hancock. We admit that individuals like Lauri Dannemiller, the Manager of Parks and Recreation; Scott Martinez, City Attorney; and Brad Buchanan, Executive Director of Community Planning and Development, are sadly lacking in the skills and morals that any decent administration would seek along with many of the Mayor’s disgraceful appointments at the Sheriff’s Department. But that does not mean there are not tremendous people who work for the City and County of Denver.
One of the greatest of the public servants in Denver is Brian Vogt, the CEO of Denver Botanic Gardens. Appointed in 2007 to his post during the Hickenlooper administration he hit the ground running at the Botanic Gardens and hasn’t let up. In addition to being a highly adept businessman and administrator his warm outgoing personality has won the Botanic Gardens myriads of friends in the areas around the facility which has not always had the best of neighborhood relations. Given the enormous growth involving construction at the Botanic Gardens during his tenure the good neighborhood relations is no small feat.
Vogt came to his position as the ninth CEO of the Botanic Gardens with extraordinary curriculum vitae. He went to the University of Colorado at Boulder and spent a year in England studying Greek Stoic Epicurean philosophy. He served for 14 years as the president of the South Metro Chamber of Commerce, growing that organization into a regional powerhouse. He occupied three cabinet positions in Governor Bill Owens’ administration including the director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development where he supervised the Colorado Tourism Office and the Colorado Council on the Arts. After leaving the employ of government when Bill Ritter came to the governor’s office he had his own consulting company, ProCounsel Co. LLC. where he was able to understand the challenges of running a small business up close and personal.
He needed all of his skills developed over a lifetime when he began his hegemony over the organization. Attendance was down with a perennial lack of funds for projects and poor morale among the employees. He first addressed staff concerns by providing opportunities for employees to use their own initiative for projects which paid enormous dividends for the Gardens. He then hit the street looking for additional funding, a task that is an ongoing critical part of this job. He discovered he was good, very good, at raising funds for the Botanic Gardens.
As a result of the fundraising efforts, there began an $80 Million Master Plan Development Plan which included a badly needed three story parking garage, a visitor’s center, a greenhouse and a Children’s Garden that has been a spectacular hit. The building and renewing has never stopped and this last year a Japanese Garden and a Bonsai Pavilion and Tea Garden opened up.
Making the Gardens a fresh new and abundant experience is all part of the challenge. Having overseen the Colorado Council on the Arts he recognized how the visual arts could greater further the Botanic Gardens mission of bringing plants and people together. He brought in the sculptures of Henry Moore to the Gardens in 2010 to rave reviews. In 2014 came the incredible art of Dale Chihuly to the Gardens which to Vogt’s delight the exhibit was controversial to some greatly increasing attendance. The exhibit was such a success that Chihuly himself came last month to the Gardens and generous donors paid for one of the sculptures to be permanently installed.
The difference between Brian Vogt and Brad Buchanan, Scott Martinez and Laura Danamiller is that the former is trying to make something great for the people of the City and County of Denver and Colorado as a whole while the latter are individuals hoping to line their own pockets or at least are so desperate for a government sinecure they will do anything to retain their jobs.
We all would like to think that the majority of the employees of the city are closer to an admirable Brian Vogt than a widely reviled Brad Buchanan. Yes the appointees of Mayor Michael Hancock are by and large a disappointment to all honorable citizens of the city but they are only a fraction of the whole. Hancock and his real estate developer overlords hold sway today but even they will pass on and hopefully there will be enough Brian Vogt types who will remain for a great city to build anew from all the damage that the greed and avarice of the Michael Hancock era has brought.
— Editorial Board
by Mark Smiley | Nov 21, 2014 | Feature Story Middle Left
Dear Santa,
I am writing my annual letter to you asking for a few things. I know I’ll be lucky and grateful to receive even one item on this list. There are those who are less fortunate, so please take care of those in need first. Regardless, in case you’re struggling with what to give me this year, here are a few ideas:
An iPhone6 without a power button on the side of the phone. How can Apple let this happen? Do they expect us to hold the phone with two fingers to avoid pressing the button during a conversation thus ending said conversation? Do they expect us to use the uncomfortable provided earbuds? Move back to the top of the phone, please.
iPhone training classes for Grandpa App. My Dad, recently retired after mis-delivering mail for the past 35 years with the USPS, now has an iPhone. He doesn’t own a computer and thought wifi on the door of a restaurant was a food special. I’m now teaching him how to use the phone. It’s as if I added a third kiddo to the house. Oh, and FaceTime. He loves it. Uses it all the time and gets mad if I cannot communicate in like fashion. Welcome to the 2000s Dad!
Giving our readers some neat apps and tech gifts, such as: Venmo | Mobile payment. Now your friends can’t duck out of repaying you. Think of it. You buy lunch (again) because your friend forgot their wallet. I bet they didn’t forget their phone. Send them a link to Venmo for payment on the spot. MapQuest Roadside Assistance | Using the Denver-based MapQuest app, roadside assistance can be requested without the need of a traditional, expensive membership. Refuel Smart Propane Tank Gauge | Device attaches to your propane tank to deliver on demand propane levels via wifi or by pressing a button on the gauge. App shows the level of propane in the tank. The button gives a green or red indicator light. JBL Clip | Wearable Bluetooth speaker. Flux Capacitor USB Car Charger | Yes. The flux capacitor theme from Back to the Future. Worth the Google to check out the image.
Ask our stores to honor one holiday at a time. I believe I witnessed a first, but definitely not last (unfortunate) trend in October. Target had an aisle for Christmas next to the Halloween aisle. In fact, on November 1, the Halloween decorations were down, Christmas decorations were up, and above the soda machine was a sad little sign that said, “Happy Thanksgiving.” The Pilgrims must be so disappointed.
Michael Buble’s voice. You can ask, right?
Touchscreen Gloves. November was frigid! Touchscreen gloves allow you to interact with your device’s screen without removing your gloves. Check out Amazon.
A free year of Amazon Prime. Streaming videos, free two day shipping and now unlimited cloud photo storage. Did you hear that? Unlimited photo storage. When your device is connected to wifi (no Dad, not the restaurant lunch special), photos sync automatically. You had me at hello!
Lots of gift cards. I never know what I want so gift cards are always the gift that keeps on giving. Try cashcard.com to buy or sell gift cards. The site lists cards from 1-35% off face value at most major retailers. A $75 card will cost only $52.50. They’ll also buy your gift cards up to 92% of face value. Gyft is an app that will manage all of the gift cards for you. No need to haul the cards back to the mall.
A parking spot in Cherry Creek. With a purchase from a restaurant or store in Cherry Creek North, you can use the complimentary valet. Check out cherrycreek north.com for valet locations. If you are lucky enough to find a parking spot at the mall, use FindMyCar to set the location, add a note and take a picture.
Less time in line to see you. We need to take the annual, awkward family Santa Claus photo, but I dread the thought of waiting in line. Can someone tell me why there is not one Santa location in Denver with an app allowing us to sign up for the line in advance? The Santa photo business must be profitable based on the absurd amount of money I’ll pay for a goofy photo. Let’s see, 500 families in line at $50 per family. You get the picture. Bass Pro Shops offer a Bass Pass, which gives you a 30 minute window for the line. If you’re looking for a listing of Santas, check out milehigh onthecheap.com/see-santa/. This site is fabulous. Each Thursday, they list things to do for that weekend for free or at a nominal cost. The YMCA at Infinity Park will have Santa visit on December 11.
In all honesty Santa, I’m blessed with a great App Family. You can pass along our gifts to others in need. Cheers to you and yours!
Do you have a favorite app you’d like to share? Contact Brian at brian@brianzabro ski.com, on Twitter @BrianZab or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/brianzab.
Brian, a Corporate Account Executive with NetSuite, has spent nearly 20 years in the telecommunications and software industry. Businesses use NetSuite software to run and manage all of their business applications. It’s web-based, so businesses can access their information from anywhere. It’s flexible, which allows the software to be customized for their business; and, it is built on a single platform, which businesses appreciate since they can often eliminate multiple software solutions. Trending companies, such as Box, GoPro, FitBit and Dropbox use this software to run their business. Reach out to Brian to learn how your business can benefit with this software.
by Mark Smiley | Nov 21, 2014 | Feature Story Bottom Left
Every December, in the spirt of the holidays, I rip off a Christmas carol and change up the lyrics and I use my column to write a poem. Last year I wrote “Randolph the Unlucky Dater” to the tune of Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer and I must say I love that piece, if you haven’t had a chance to read it you can find it on www.themoderndater.com.
This year I was inspired by an old friend and mentor of mine, Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle columnist Peter Boyles. A month or two ago I was reading one of Peter’s articles titled “My Life Sucks, Part Two,” when I couldn’t help but be touched by his words, mainly because of how well I know him and how enormous this man’s heart is. Essentially Peter wrote about what it is like for him to be old and lonely and how he feels like finding love has passed him by. I truly believe it is never too late for love and that there is someone for everyone. In that spirit, this year I dedicate my Christmas poem to Peter! So without further ado and many apologies to Frosty the Snowman I present to you, “Talker The Old Man.”
Talker the old man, what a very empty soul,
With a microphone and a radio show, and two ex-wives with half his dough.
Talker the old man, is a lonely guy, they say.
He’s really low, ’cause the ladies know he has a limited time to play.
There must be magic left in his heart that he had found,
Finding true love is what he wants, before he’s six feet in the ground.
Oh, Talker, the old man, is alive as he could be;
But the women say I think he’s old and gay,
And he’s not the one for me.
Vroom vroom vroom, vroom vroom vroom, Look at his motorcycle go.
Talker the old man, he knew the sun was out that day,
So he said, “Let’s ride, and we’ll have some fun, all I have is today.”
All through the village, with his throttle in his hand,
Searching here and there, for a woman who’s fair,
Sayin’, “there must be one for this old man.”
He burned rubber down the streets of town, where his back tire popped;
He paused for a moment, when he heard her holler, “Stop!”
For Talker, the old man, had to hurry on his way,
But when he waved goodbye she had a tear in her eye and they fell in love that day!
The moral to this poem is, Peter, everyone, no matter how hard you look for love, love will always find you. The kicker is you never know when it’s going to happen and you always have to be open and ready.
I want to use my column this Christmas as a gift to Peter, to help love find him. Now more than ever I know he’s ready. This column has a great female readership and I know one of you ladies out there would love to have a man like Pete. I’m not too sure how Peter is going to feel about this but I’m going to roll the dice and work my magic and set him up on some holiday dates. If you’re interested shoot me an email at themoderndater@gmail .com with a photo and a few words about yourself and why you think you would be a good match for Pete. Because I know Peter as well as I do, I think I have a good idea of his type of lady. If you fit that type I’ll set up a date. Of course I will write a follow up article that will update you on Peter’s journey to find love.
In other news The Modern Dater date club is shaping up with a great group of single men and women from the Denver area. The club is big enough now that we can all go on some great excursions that I am cooking up. If you want in on The Modern Dater club drop me an email and I’ll give you more information on how you can join in.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I look forward to talking to you all again next year!
Your Pal,
Santa Sheik
