After shivering through February’s cold and snow there’s finally signs of a Wee Bit O’ Green tint to those winter blues. As the calendar turns over to March we begin contemplating four leaf clovers, leprechauns and a fairytale spring. As we give a wink to St. Patrick’s Day our kinships and blood ostensibly retains an Irish green tint.
According to Irish myths and folklore, good luck will pursue you morning and night, thus your pockets will be heavy and your heart light by just pushing your luck.
Here are our lucky charm choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to make sure flowers line your path and sunshine lights your day as if on the Emerald Isle:
3 Open your heart as you enjoy dinner and entertainment and have a ball at this year’s black tie Denver Heart Ball fundraiser in the Hyatt Regency Convention Center March 7, 6 p.m. Information: 303-801-4630.
3 Taste food from 20 eateries with wine and cocktails at Great Chefs of the West at EXDO March 12, 6 p.m. Information: 720-748-9991, ext. 451.
3 Take your youngsters to see the updated version of The Velveteen Rabbit at the Arvada Center through March 13. Information: 720-898-7200.
3 Get in step for spring by attending the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade in LoDo March 14 beginning from 19th and Wynkoop at 9:30 a.m. Information: dspdp.com.
3 For slumbering spring-summer sleep, purchase one or more cozy eco-friendly mattresses from SleepNation’s half-dozen Valley locations including at 1390 South Colorado Blvd. Information: 303-954-9435.
3 Enjoy mounds of perfectly seasoned Irish corned beef and cabbage, boiled potatoes, fresh carrots and celery at the Monaco Inn Restaurant for lunch and dinner on St. Patrick’s Day March 17. Information: 303-320-1104.
3 Attend Denver Jewish Day Schools annual dinner and biggest fundraiser at the Grand Hyatt March 18, 5:30 p.m. Information: 303-369-0663.
3 Learn impact of tree varieties, tilling practice at the Tree Diversity Confab at the Botanic Gardens March 20, 8:30-4 p.m. Information: 720-865-3500.
3 Let the spirit of the spring season dance into your world by attending Colorado Ballet’s Tour De Force at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House March 6-8. The program includes the world premiere of an all-new work by Julia Adams, and closes with Celts, by choreographer Lila York. The finale is an astonishing array of dance images of Ireland that is both insightful and electrifying. Information: 303-837-8888, ext. 2.
The Irish would unquestionably say March is “raithe an gheimhridh” or winter-time from glen to glen and down the mountain side here in Colorado. The days, however, do start to warm rapidly. Denver averages a daily top temperature for the month that’s between 50-58 degrees Fahrenheit, warming-up another 8°F by the month’s end.
If it’s cold outside at night even if there’s a clear sky, every single Irish person tells their nearest and dearest to watch out and be careful on the morning roads.
Sure and begorrah: The astronomical first day of spring begins this year on March 19, 6:50 p.m. Denver time. That hopefully means increasing sunlight, warming temperatures and the rebirth of plants and flowers. A time for sun and a bit o’ cheer and may a guardian angel always be near. But alas, don’t delight in too much green beer.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.