Awwtumn: Yes, this month begins the mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, cider sipping, and keeping warm by the fire season. Wavering winds and shorter days ebb and flow in a refreshing flux as the month begins. Transitions are always inspiring, lifting our spirits with thoughts of new possibilities. It is the perfect time for us to hit the pause button.
Precious time to gather our thoughts by taking a long stroll outside embracing the fall foliage. By enjoying the superb splendor of life and nature we find inner peace.
As we lose flowers and gain fruit, here are our leaf-peeping choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to warm you up for that annual trip to the pumpkin patch:
3 With witty dialogue and memorable characters catch the classic, hilarious play Steel Magnolias live at the Wolf Theatre on the JCC campus, Fri.-Sat, 7:30 p.m. and on Sun. 2 p.m., Oct. 1-24. Information: 303-800-6578.
3 Hunt for art, other fun stuff at the one-stop Junk In The Trunk garage sale at the Owl Saloon, Oct. 2, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Information: theowlsaloon.com.
3 Don’t miss alternative music’s Dead Can Dance and singer Lisa Gerrard playing the Mission Ballroom, Oct. 5, 8 p.m. Information: 720-577-6884.
3 Attend Jewish Family Services dinner-program the Faces Of JFS at Infinity Park Event Center, Oct. 13, 6 p.m. Information: 303-597-5000.
3 For scrumptious food, delicious drinks, plus live music and Glendale-Cherry Creek’s best late night menu go to Inga’s Alpine Tavern. Open Tue.-Sat. to 2 p.m. Sun.-Mon. until Midnight. Information: 720-389-6203.
3 Begin the admission process to enroll your child at St. Anne’s Episcopal School by attending the Parent Previews and tour the campus Nov. 6, 9 a.m. Information: 303-756-9481, ext. 210 or stannes.org/parent-previews.
3 Attend the Full Circle pre-opening tour of Denver Art Museum’s Martin Bldg., new Sie Welcome Center, Oct. 21-23. Information: 720-865-5000.
3 Get in the Halloween spirit at Oct. 30 Costume Contest with gift card prizes at Rocket Fizz, 1 to 3 p.m. Information: OnHavanaStreet.com.
3 Start the fall season off by attending the annual Pumpkin Harvest Festival at Four Mile Historic Park, Oct. 1-3. Event has been refined with catered food, watering holes, s’mores station, and live music from Swallow Hill Music. Kids can build their own scarecrow, take tractor rides. There’s an art district plus marketplace. In addition people can pick perfect pumpkins from the Four Mile Pumpkin Patch. Information: 720-865-0800.
With the dog days of summer’s smoke and severe heat behind us, we can begin planning ways to usher in cooler weather. Are you ready to finally trade out those sandals for boots? What about a brisk walk among the changing leaves? Or, perhaps you’ll hop in the car for a drive to Colorado’s mountains for some of the best leaf-peeping anywhere.
Of course, there’s Halloween to look forward to. For many of us, there’s something inherently fun about thinking of a whacky new costume to wear.
Then in a blink of an eye as we take off our costumes, “ber” month ushers in the holiday season. We think of Nov.-Dec. as peaceful months, but filled with festivities that can also be stressful. This month’s Harvest Moon — acutely bright in the sky is Oct. 20. But don’t worry the moon isn’t hungry because it is already full. Happy Fall, y’all!
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.