It’s been over 50 years since Ed and Connie
Thomas first met here in Denver, nearly 47 years since they bought their first
and only home together, and 25 years since Connie was diagnosed with
progressive multiple sclerosis.
Friends Of The Family: From left, Barbara Betcher, Ed Thomas and Ashlie Woods.
The first 15 years after the diagnosis
Connie seemed to be doing okay, but eventually the disease advanced to the
point where she couldn’t work and had to retire. While Ed took care of her in
the beginning of her diagnosis, he could no longer handle the responsibility of
caring for his wife. He had to make the difficult decision to move his beloved
Connie into an assisted living facility, and soon the house became too much for
one man. So, he resolved to sell their family home.
A former Denver City Councilman, a police
officer of 23 years with the Denver Police Department, and former editor of the
Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle, Ed Thomas has played an important role in the
Denver community. With his decision to move, he soon found himself seeking
support from the community that he helped serve and protect for so many years.
Friends of the family, Ashlie Woods and
Barbara Betcher, two brokers from the local Denver real estate firm Leonard
Leonard & Associates, stepped in to assist Ed with the sale of his home.
Woods and Betcher, who have known Ed for over 20 years, told him, “we’ll get
you through this and we’re ready to help in any way we can.”
Woods and Betcher were there from the
beginning, in 2016 when the decision was made to move Connie into assisted
living, for not only the physical process of moving but the emotional process
as well.
“They took control of the entire process
and did everything that needed to be done. I was a basket case, and they
handled everything,” Ed recounts. The decision to sell did not come easily.
Ed’s home meant, and still means, everything to him. It’s where he spent his
adulthood raising his family, a son and a daughter, and where he welcomed home
his three grandchildren. It is the only place he had known for years.
The Thomas Home: The family home at 7th and Cook — purchased in 1972.
Woods describes the entire process as “a
hands-on project, from beginning to end.” First, they needed to clear out the
house and downsize Ed’s belongings. Ashlie took the time to walk through with
Ed, often a couple times a week, to determine what needed to go and what he
could keep.
Next, Woods and Betcher needed to get the
house in shape and ready to show. They began with making small repairs
including updating the flooring, plaster fixes, and other jobs to ensure the
house was in saleable condition. They hired a staging company, while Betcher
helped with most of the staging.
Thomas proclaims, “It was absolutely
perfect and spotless.” So much so, that the first weekend the house went up for
sale, one of the first couples to walk through the door said, “We’ll take it.”
The house went under contract quickly,
selling for asking price the first weekend it was on the market.
With the quick sale of his home, Thomas
needed to move, and do it soon. When moving day came, Woods was there, stepping
in for his daughter, who could not be there to help. Without hesitation, Woods
assumed the role and offered her help.
Family Photo: Photo taken just after Connie was diagnosed with MS.
In helping find Thomas a more permanent
home, Betcher found the condo Ed resides in now, making sure he didn’t overpay
and negotiated the best deal for him.
Woods describes Thomas as a “real trooper
throughout this whole process.” With just his son here in Denver, Woods and
Betcher assumed the role of family and not just the professionals they are.
Taking the lead throughout the entire
process, Woods and Betcher went above and beyond what was required of them, all
without taking a commission for three years worth of work.
While life didn’t quite turn out as
expected, Thomas feels blessed to have his wife still with him despite this
disease. He is grateful for his life and what it has afforded him and is
appreciative of the community that gathered around him in a time of need.
Simply put, “You don’t get that lucky in
life very often,” Thomas expresses with gratitude.
Thomas says he would not have survived this
situation without his children, Betcher, or Woods. And for those who find
themselves in a similar situation, Thomas shares this sentiment: “Cherish the
love of your family and friends because one day you will need them.”
Strong Family: A family that has stayed
together with the help of their community.
Denver Union Station puts on quite the show
every holiday with a variety of events, festive decorations, and classic
holiday cheer for the entire family to enjoy. Don’t miss the quintessential
holiday celebration at Denver’s iconic landmark with these events and
activities that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
Photo courtesy of Denver Union Station
Grand Illumination
Friday, November 29, 5-8 p.m.
The holidays officially kick off with the
Denver Union Station Grand Illumination event. Join in the merriment of the
season with the ceremonious lighting of the Union Station building and the
40-foot Plaza Christmas tree. Entertainment is taken to the next level with a
vintage holiday performance by the Denver Dolls, holiday jingles by the Denver
Bronze, and a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Open to the public and free to
everyone, with the lighting taking place around 6:15 p.m.
Union Station’s Holiday On The Plaza
November 30-December 31, 2019
Monday through Friday, 3-10 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Join the first ever Union Station’s Holiday
on the Plaza event as the Terminal Bar’s Patio will be transformed into a
holiday winter wonderland! Throughout December, join Union Station for themed
family-friendly DIY crafts, Christmas trivia, live carolers, and more!
Santa At The Station
Sunday December 1, 8, 15, and 22
Santa Claus: Visit Santa at the Station on the first four Sundays in December. Photo courtesy of Denver Union Station
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Kris Kringle will make his annual trip from
the North Pole to Union Station the first four Sundays in December. Check-in
when you arrive with Union Station’s new text-to-wait system and enjoy all the
station has to offer. Visits with Santa are free and open to the public, but
they are also offering a paid option called the St. Nick Express Family Pass.
For only $50, you can reserve a time slot and go directly to the front of the
line at the time designated. The pass will also include a commemorative Union
Station Christmas ornament.
Breakfast With Santa
Saturday, December 14, 8-11 a.m.
Visit Santa himself at breakfast with
Santa. Bring the kids and enjoy a curated breakfast buffet, story time, and of
course photo opportunities. For adults, Christmas cocktails will be provided
alongside breakfast. To help remember the event, attendees will receive a
commemorative Union Station ornament.
Shop & Dine
Get your Christmas shopping done early with
a visit to Union Station. With several shops located inside, you are bound to
find something for all those on your wish list. For the bookworm in your life,
stop in at a slightly smaller version of Tattered Cover Bookstore or pay a
visit at the 5 Green Boxes and walk away with a locally made craft, jewelry,
and gifts for those on your list. After you’ve crossed everyone off your list,
be sure to stop in at one of the many gastronomic choices that call Union Station
home. From breakfast at Snooze to an elegant dinner at Stoic and Genuine and
drinks at the Terminal Bar, there isn’t a reason to go anywhere else!
Grab A Drink At The Cooper Lounge
Add a little flare and a bit of decadence
this holiday season with Denver’s most glamorous lounge, The Cooper Lounge.
Enjoy views of downtown and Union Station’s Grand Hall Christmas tree, all
while sipping on one of their holiday drinks. Indulge in high-end, hand-crafted
cocktails, an extensive wine list, and food to pair it all with, for the
perfect night out this holiday season.
New Year’s Eve Party
Tuesday, December 31, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Start the New Year off right with Denver
Union Station’s New Year’s Eve party. Enjoy one evening, with three different
dazzling experiences.
Ring In The New Year: New Year’s Eve at Denver Union Station.
The Great Hall Silent Disco & Light
Show brings an epic light show to Union Station’s Great Hall all while dancing
to your choice of three live silent disco DJs, using provided wireless
headphones.
The VIP Speakeasy is a great way to start
2020 with the new “Roaring Twenties” and an exclusive VIP speakeasy in the
historic lower level of Union Station. VIP tickets include unlimited
complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a musical piano performance, and
access to the Great Hall Silent Disco and Light Show.
Or enjoy table service at The Cooper
Lounge. Partake in a selection of passed canapes and a complimentary midnight
toast with Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne. Plus, patrons will enjoy access
to the Great Hall Silent Disco and Light Show.
Meow Wolf, an immersive art experience,
will soon make its debut in Denver come 2021. But in the meantime, the popular
art destination wants to get the Mile-High City pumped up with the anticipation
of its arrival with its latest event, the Meow Wolf Dark Palace Dance Party.
Twists and turns through one of many rooms at the Meow Wolf: House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe, NM. Photo by Kate Russell, courtesy of Meow Wolf
Meant to engage all your senses, the Meow
Wolf Dark Palace: A Dance Obscura is a three-night dance party coming to the
National Western Complex this Nov. 22-24. The party is headlined with some
popular electronic names that are sure to set the stage for one heck of a dance
celebration. In addition to the musical line-up, there are set to be and soon
to be announced, local artists creating captivating art installations, all meant
to enhance the entire experience.
Meow Wolf got its start in 2008 in Santa
Fe, as an art collective with the original concept designed to be a unique and
immersive art experience using installations with multimedia elements. Through
these interactive experiences, audiences of all ages can explore the world of
art beyond their imagination within a fantastic realm of story and explanation.
An out-of-this-world arcade room at the Meow Wolf: House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe, NM. Photo by Kate Russell, courtesy of Meow Wolf
Its heightened popularity came in 2015 when
the art collective decided to renovate a vacant bowling alley to make a permanent
venue for visitors, which would soon become Meow Wolf: The House of Eternal
Return. With help from the city of Santa Fe and a Kickstarter campaign, plus a
few million dollars from Game of Thrones author, George R.R. Martin, they
opened the Meow Wolf Complex in 2016. Here visitors will encounter
teleportative fridges, psychedelic painted walls, fairyland villages, a
simulated underwater black-light experience, and plenty more to keep your mind
wondering for hours.
The new 90,000-square-foot location will be
at I-25 and Colfax. The new complex is set to rise 70 feet high, making it
visible from multiple vantage points. Compared to the original location in
Santa Fe the Denver complex will be three times the size of the Santa Fe
location, with plans for artists’ installations, of which further information
will remain a mystery until opening week.
While exact details of what the space will
offer and what artists will be contributing, one thing is for sure, Denver and
Santa Fe are certain to collaborate to make another outrageous and unique
experience for people to admire art, play with art, be dumbfounded, be inspired
by, or to simply step back and appreciate.
The announcement of Dark Palace follows
Meow Wolf’s latest Kaleidoscape installation at Elitch Gardens. This
“other-worldly” dark ride is based around the concept of immersing yourself in
pieces of contemporary art. The installation at Elitch Gardens and the Dark
Palace dance party are meant to give Denver a taste of what’s to come when Meow
Wolf finally opens in the Mile-High City.
With its growing popularity, the art
collective announced plans to not only expand to Denver but Las Vegas as well
(in 2020).
Tickets for Dark Palace and the grand opening of Meow Wolf are now on sale at Meow Wolf’s website at www.meowwolf.com.
Big things are happening at the Denver Art Museum (DAM).
With recent announcements regarding its phased re-openings of their latest
renovations plus the highly anticipated Claude Monet exhibit, all eyes are on the
DAM.
Claude Monet Waterlilies and Japanese Bridge: Claude Monet, Waterlilies and Japanese Bridge,1899. Oil on canvas; 35-5/8x 35-5/16 in (90.5 x 89.7cm). Princeton University Art Museum: From the Collection of William Church Osborn, Class of 1883, trustee of Princeton University (1914-1951), president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1941-1947); given by his family, 1972-15. Photo Credit: Princeton University Art Museum/Art Resource, NY.
Opening October 21, 2019, the DAM will be the host to the
most comprehensive collection of Claude Monet paintings that the United States
has seen in more than two decades. Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature will
feature about 120 works spanning the famed artist’s entire career, focusing on
his extensive travels and intimate relationship with nature. The exhibit will
examine Monet’s interest of changing environments, the reflective qualities of
water, and the effects of light. Plus, the exhibit will explore his journeys to
various places including the Normandy coast, London, Norway, and the
Netherlands.
“Throughout his career, Monet was indefatigable in his
exploration of the different moods of nature, seeking to capture the spirit of
a certain place and translating its truth onto the canvas,” said Angelica
Daneo, Chief Curator and Curator of European Art before 1900 at the DAM.
The exhibition will fill three distinct galleries totaling
about 20,000 square feet. Featured works will include artworks from the
beginning of his career with View from Rouelles, the first painting Monet
exhibited in 1858 when he was 18 years old, up to his later work of The House
Seen through the Roses, completed just a few months before his death. Other
highlights will include Under the Poplars from a private collection and Water
Lilies and Japanese Bridge from the Princeton University Art Museum.
Ponti: The Ponti is named after the original Martin Building designer and Italian architect, Gio Ponti. The restaurant will offer a distinct space for museum visitors and the surrounding areas. Rendering of The Ponti, provided by BOSS architecture.
In coordination with Museum Barberini in Postdam, Germany,
the DAM will be the single U.S. venue for this exhibition from October 21, 2019
through February 2, 2020, moving to the Museum Barberini in the spring of 2020.
Beyond the DAM’s latest exhibit, other exciting
announcements were recently made regarding the museum’s renovations. In June
2020 the DAM will begin its phased reopening with the reveal of the three
levels of the Martin Building (formerly known as the North Building), the new
Sie Welcome Center, and the Bartlit Learning and Engagement Center. To
commemorate the building’s 50th anniversary, the completed renovation will be
revealed at the end of 2021.
New Restaurant: Café Gio, will be a fast-casual dining option open seven days a week during the museum business hours. Rendering provided by BOSS architecture.
Coinciding with the first reopening phase of the DAM’s
Martin Building will be the unveiling of two new dining establishments (located
inside the Sie Welcome Center) set to open in June 2020, The Ponti and Café
Gio. Named after the original Martin Building designer and Italian architect,
Gio Ponti, both restaurants will offer two distinct spaces for museum visitors
and the surrounding areas.
New Welcome Center: View of welcome center from 14th Avenue Parkway. The new Sie Welcome Center will be unveiled in June 2020. Rendering by Fentress Architects and Machado Silvetti.
The Ponti brings a big name to the table with Jennifer
Jasinski as the consulting chef. As a James Beard Award winner and popular
Denver chef of Euclid Hall, Bistro Vendome, and others, Jasinski will develop
menu concepts and have a strong influence in the selection of the restaurant’s
culinary staff. Combining art and dining, The Ponti will offer a seasonal menu
with locally sourced ingredients with an emphasis on vegetables, handmade
pastas, plus meat and fish. The artfully designed and well-crafted restaurant
will boast both indoor and outdoor dining, with its expansive outdoor terrace.
“Creativity at the Denver Art Museum won’t stop at the
galleries when we begin our phased reopening. We’re delighted to present artful
dining experiences to the museum visit, alongside an incredible staff with the
expertise to bring our vision into reality,” said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick
and Jan Mayer Director of the museum.
New Courtyard: Courtyard view toward Welcome Center. Rendering by Fentress Architects and Machado Silvetti.
The other restaurant set to open, Café Gio, will be a
fast-casual dining option open seven days a week during the museum business
hours. Visitors will be able to enjoy both indoor and outdoor seating, as well,
at the café.
With the first day of fall coming up on September 23, 2019,
it will be about that time again when the state of Colorado transforms into a
vivid array of color, from the dense aspen groves in the high country to the
fiery red sugar maples in the city of Denver.
Washington Park: Over 70 varieties of trees are within the park’s boundaries. {Faina Gurevich}/{creative collections} via Getty Images
While most think of aspens providing the front-row seat to
the color show that happens every fall in Colorado, there are plenty of other
trees in the Denver metro area that provide the complementary shades of red,
orange, and a sprinkling of purple. As the color starts to fade in the
mountains, continue the fall season with these places to leaf peep in and
around Denver.
Washington Park
Washington Park’s 155 acres of manicured gardens, two lakes,
shade trees, and a 2.5-mile gravel path make a classic choice for leaf peeping
this fall. With over 70 varieties of trees within the park’s boundaries, a
diverse color display shades visitors and offers a beautiful complement to any
walk in the park.
Sloan’s Lake
Sloan’s Lake: Colorful trees fill the park offering a picture-perfect scene with views of the Denver downtown providing the backdrop. {Jeremy Janus}/{Creative collections} via Getty Images
Sloan’s Lake is a great place to people watch, enjoy outdoor
activities, and leaf peep in the fall. Rumored to have been created by accident
when a local homesteader hit an aquifer when digging a well, the lake today
lures in SUPers, water-skiers, and fishers, while the 2.6-mile path brings in
runners, walkers, and even roller-bladders. In the fall, colorful trees fill
the park offering a picture-perfect scene with views of the Denver downtown
providing the backdrop.
Drive Down University Blvd.
A simple drive or walk down University Blvd., starting just
north of the 1-25 exchange up to Cherry Creek shopping district, will make you
want to stop and say, “awe.” The canopy of trees that seems to encircle the
street provides much-needed shade in the summer and a beautiful color display
in the fall.
Highline Canal Trail
Reconnect with nature right in the middle of the city and
explore the 71 miles of gravel trail that make up the Highline Canal Trail.
Towering Cottonwood trees, low-lying brush and a wide variety of plants make
the perfect pallet for a spectacular fall color explosion. The stretch between
Orchard Road and East Belleview Avenue creates a classic fall scene with
distant mountain views to complete.
City Park
Denver City Park: City Park is home to a variety of color-changing trees, including a beautiful ash varietal. {benedek}/{creative collections} via Getty Images
What’s more iconic than a walk around Denver’s City Park on
a crisp fall day? With an ideal blend of wooded areas and open lawns, City Park
is home to a variety of color-changing trees, including a beautiful ash
varietal, creating the perfect playground for fall. So, pack a picnic, take a
stroll, and take in the fall color.
Cherry Creek Trail
From downtown Denver to Cherry Creek State Park, the 40
miles of the Cherry Creek bike trail offer plenty of colorful hues every fall.
The tree-lined (mostly) paved path offers bursts of different colors at almost
every turn, but the most notable sections are up near the Cherry Creek Mall and
near downtown.
Platte River Trail
South Platte River Trail: Following the Platte River, the trail provides mountain and lake views, coupled with an exceptional presentation of reds, yellows, and oranges along the way. {milehightraveler}/{creative collections} via Getty Images
Extending from downtown Denver and south to Chatfield State
Park, for more than 40 miles, the Platte River Trail meanders through much of
Colorado’s front range. Following the Platte River, the trail provides mountain
and lake views, coupled with an exceptional presentation of reds, yellows, and
oranges along the way. Extend your time and continue into Waterton Canyon where
the fall show continues and almost always promises a bighorn sheep sighting, or
two.
University Of Denver Campus
Get your fall fix and maybe learn a thing or two with a walk
through the University of Denver campus. With the bustling sidewalks back in
full swing with students walking to and from class, the feel of fall is all
around, from the campus’ large oak trees and maples. Set against the beautiful
architecture of this prestigious campus, you can’t help but feel excited about
fall in Denver.
For optimal viewing, Denver’s color show typically begins
early October and can last through mid-November.
