“Candles burning low, lots of mistletoe, lots of snow and ice everywhere we go.” Those were the words that made Stevie Wonder a miracle of popular music. This is the season when words set to music melt our hearts. Thus as this year — seemingly more than any other — comes to an end, “We’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for Auld Lang Syne.”
As we bid farewell to 2019 and turn our thoughts to 2020, we reflect on the year just past and ponder what to change about ourselves, our lives and our community.
Here are our choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to fill the holidays with food, fun and good fortune plus an auspicious New Year full of kindness yet:
3 See a live-action adaptation of the beloved children’s tale How The Grinch Stole Christmas as he comes down from his mountaintop home to DCPA’s Buell Theatre stage Dec. 3-8. Information: 303-893-4100.
3 Attend this year’s Jewish Family Services Winter Soiree honor event at Infinity Park Event Center Dec. 5, 6 p.m. Information: 720-428-4633.
3 Take the kids for sandwiches and treats at the Oxford Hotel Dolls’ Tea with ballet recital Dec. 8, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Information: 303-628-5400.
3 Wear a tacky sweater for the Christmas Sweater 5K run-walk at Wash Park Dec. 15, 9 to 11 a.m. Information: coloradorunnersevents.com.
3 For a relaxing weekend break from the busy holiday shopping season go to Denver’s original brunch spot since 1971, the Bull & Bush Brewery. Brunch served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Information: 303-759-0333.
3 For your holiday travel needs and great gifts go to Colorado’s top luggage store for nearly 40 years, Paradise Baggage. Select from premium travel luggage that’s both sensible and stylish. Information: 303-320-4646.
3 Allow the Colorado Symphony to march you into 2020 playing polkas, waltzes and marches at Boettcher Dec. 31. Information: 303-893-4100.
3 Then go to the 16th St. Mall to see New Year’s Eve Fireworks synced to music to sparkle the city, 9 p.m. and midnight. Information: 303-233-8837.
3 Don’t miss Denver Botanic Gardens’ signature holiday event for three decades, the Blossoms of Light now through Jan. 3. The holiday extravaganza transforms the York Street site into a twinkling winter wonderland. There are fresh and exciting new features this year including a 360-degree immersive light experience along with each year’s fun fan favorites, 5-9 p.m. Information: 720-865-3500.
Beyond diet and workout pledges, as the ball drops and we pop champagne with family and friends, remember the New Year stands for change. As we sing the Old Scottish folk song Auld Lang Syne, we hope the nuance of the song’s message resonates with us even if most of us don’t know the lyrics or even the song’s name.
As we pass the moments before midnight, consider 2020 as an opening to replace this year’s social media bitterness and hatred with brimming cups of kindness.
The song’s rhetorical question suggests, “a cup o’ kindness” should be had in order to look back on the past and begin to build for the future. It will make life so much better for family, friends and those around us “for the sake of old times.” It is a chance to spark new friendships and rekindle those we’ve allowed to fade. Happy New Year!
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
