Boris’s Upholstery
Christmas At Gaylord Rockies Until January 3, 2021
Save Up To 40 Percent With Ticket Bundles
by Mark Smiley
The Covid-19 global pandemic may have dampened the spirits of some but at Gaylord Rockies in Denver, they are doing their best to keep the spirit alive with their Christmas at Gaylord Rockies. Mistletoe Village on the convention center wing of the hotel still features Build a Bear Workshop, cookies with Mrs. Claus, a gingerbread house decorating station, gift shop, and the all new I Love Christmas Movies exhibit. All of these are more spread out than years past, offering a chance for guests to feel more comfortable and social distance.
The west side of the hotel features acres of twinkling lights and decorations and holiday activities including snow tubing, ice bumper boats, Merry-Go-Round and ice skating. The I Love Christmas Movies pop-up experience replaces the Ice exhibit this year (although Ice will return next year). A guide takes small groups through replica movie sets from movies such as Polar Express, Christmas Vacation, Elf, A Christmas Story, and A Year Without Santa Claus.
Although the Christmas spirit is alive at the resort, they have set up stringent safety protocols to keep their guests safe. The resort has directional arrows for walking through the resort and hand sanitizing stations throughout. The Pinyons bar now forms a single file line to order drinks which allows for social distancing. For the time being, the other restaurants offer food to go only. However, the resort does allow outside food to be brought in. Convenient options are services such as Uber Eats or GrubHub.
The demanding standards of cleanliness have risen to an even higher level with new protocols for the current circumstances. Gaylord Rockies has elevated their cleanliness standards and changing hospitality norms. As a part of Marriott International’s family, they have put in place a multi-pronged approach designed to meet the health and safety challenges presented by COVID-19 as outlined in Marriott’s Commitment to Clean.
Enhanced technologies, including the testing of electrostatic sprayers and implementing the highest classification of disinfectants recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization are being used to sanitize surfaces throughout the hotel and convention center.
Gaylord Rockies has implemented extra-stringent daily cleaning procedures that are focused heavily on high touchpoint areas. Public spaces, including, but not limited to, the lobby, aquatic areas, fitness centers, and meetings and convention spaces, have dedicated staff to sanitize frequently throughout the day.
In guest rooms, they have added detailed cleaning practices, requiring all surfaces to be thoroughly cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants and that this cleaning is done with increased frequency. They have also placed disinfecting wipes in each guest room for guests’ personal use. For more information on their protocols, visit www.gaylordhotelsclean.marriott.com.
Gaylord Rockies is near Denver International Airport and is a Marriott property that opened in December 2018. The 486,000 square feet of convention space makes it the largest combined resort and convention center in Colorado. It is the fifth Gaylord property to open with the others located in Washington, D.C., Nashville, Orlando, and Dallas.
The Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center is located at 6700 North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard. For more information about the resort or to make a reservation, visit www.gaylordrockies.com. Christmas at Gaylord Rockies runs until January 3, 2021. For more information or for tickets to the events, visit www.christmasatgaylordrockies.marriott.com.
Year 2020: Going, Going, Gone!
The year 2020 has been a year to remember, but between the pandemic and politics one most of us would probably prefer to forget. With Covid-19 turning everyday life on its head and ending the lives of so many, a lot of aspects of the last 12 months are easily lost from memory. One element of 2020, however, was in fact a “golden year.”
Though most of us don’t consider the rat as an adorable rodent, based on last year’s Chinese lunar calendar, pandemic plagued 2020 was the year of the Golden Rat!
Here are our glam, twinkly light choices for shopping, dining and entertaining to give champagne glasses and glittery tiaras extra sparkle to lighten up the New Year:
3 For a colorful, stunning start to the New Year view the final days of Begin Again on view through Jan. 9 at Walker Fine Art in the Prado Bldg. Work was created to inspire healing and hope. Information: 303-355-8955.
3 Learn history of the Great Sioux War at the Jan. 10 Jerome Greene lecture in History Colorado Center, 2 p.m. Information: 303-557-8679.
3 View work by 18 artists who created art exploring challenges facing the New Year at D’art Gallery, Jan. 14-Feb. 7. Information: 720-486-7735.
3 If you missed it during the holiday, the Blossoms of Light display lingers at the Botanic Gardens through Jan. 16. Information: 720-865-3500.
3 Celebrate the New Year at Bull & Bush Brewery that finished its first batch on New Year’s Day 1997. Seating in heated tent, patio. Last call for alcohol 8 p.m., kitchen closes at 10 p.m. Information: 303-759-0333.
3 Bank on a brighter New Year at Denver headquartered Sunflower Bank. Build long-term relationships at a bank remaining true to its community roots. Not too big and not too small. Information: 313-297-0333.
3 Catch music of DJ Ravenscoon as he plays hip-hop and punk rock at the Black Box Jan. 22-23, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Information: blackboxdenver.co.
3 See Dreams In Bloom, exhibition of photos by Fares Micue on display in the Freyer-Newman Center, Jan. 23-May 16. Information: 720-865-3500.
3 Begin the New Year in a universe beyond earthly troubles by attending Celestial Chaos at the Exdo Event Center, Feb. 4-28. The circus production features aerial dance, acrobatics, juggling and live music. The four ring circus of otherworldly delight will boost spectators into the clouds. The production offers audiences connection, inspiration and hope for the New Year. Information: Rainbowmilitiaariel.com.
China’s 2020 Year of the Rat festivities began in mid-Jan. and lasted for 15 days, culminating with the Lantern Festival. As the New York Times reported, China’s Health Commission voiced concerns about the emergence of a little-understood coronavirus. China’s Li Bin warned on Jan. 22 that the number infected had risen tenfold in a week.
By the lunar calendar, 2021 is the Year of the Ox: “This year no explosive or catastrophic events will occur, and it is a year favorable for economic recovery.”
Here’s to a bright New Year and a fond farewell to the old as the clock strikes 12. No one will miss 2020 when it’s gone, and hopefully this year will bring brighter days ahead. Here’s to the things that are yet to come and the good memories that we hold. Raising a bottle of bubbly to Chinese good fortune, we wish you “Ox of Luck!”
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
Meal Prep 101
by Rosalie Shanks, Registered Dietitian and a Lifestyle Coach, YMCA of Metro Denver
Meal prepping can sound like a daunting task, but its purpose is just the opposite — to make your life easier. Less desirable food choices are often made when hunger levels are high, and time is limited.
Let’s face it, it’s much easier to pick up pizza on the way home from work than to cook dinner from scratch. Like all nutrition recommendations, meal planning requires an individualized approach. It’s important to find out what works for you and your lifestyle! Here are some helpful tips to get you started.
Shop Smart
• Take inventory of your refrigerator, freezer and pantry before making a grocery list.
• Keep your grocery list simple and plan for meals that have similar ingredients throughout the week.
• Organize your list based on the main food groups (fruits, vegetables, lean meat, dairy, whole grains, healthy fats) to ensure a balanced meal plan.
Make The Healthy Choice
The Easy Choice
• After grocery shopping, rinse and cut fruits and vegetables for an easy grab-and-go snack. Store the prepped produce in a clear container at the front of your refrigerator as a helpful visual cue.
Batch Cook
• Batch cooking means cooking staple foods in a large batch to use in multiple dishes. If you are interested in trying batch cooking, a good place to start is with meat, grains and beans.
• For example, instead of cooking one cup of quinoa for dinner, make several cups. Have the quinoa as a side for dinner that night, add it to your salad for lunch, make a grain bowl, use it in a frittata, bake a casserole, or throw it in a soup.
Stick To The Basics
• Choose recipes that meet your needs, whether it’s family favorites, 30-minute meals or plant-based recipes.
• Pick a few staple recipes that you enjoy and already know how to make. When you don’t have time to try something new, use these types of recipes as your back-up plan.
• Opt for a recipe with little prep and clean up, such as a sheet-pan meal.
Plan For Leftovers
• Avoid the worst part of cooking — the clean-up. Double or triple your recipe and freeze it for a busy day down the road. Foods that freeze well include soups, casseroles, burritos, chicken, meatballs and breads. Avoid freezing cream-based meals or produce with a high water content.
Utilize Technology
There are endless recipes, apps and tips and tricks at your fingertips! Listed below are a couple of meal-prep apps for smart devices.
• The app Yummly creates a recipe with ingredients you already have at home.
• The app Mealtime has a variety of different recipes that will adjust to any food preference. You can select a few recipes to make for your week and it will populate a grocery list.
Meal prepping can save time and money, improve health outcomes, reduce food waste, add variety to your weekly meals and lower stress around the never-ending question, “what’s for dinner?” There is no right or wrong way to meal prep, the goal is not to start from zero each night!
Visit https://www.denverymca.org/ to learn more about fitness and nutrition programs at the YMCA of Metro Denver.