by Valley Gadfly | Sep 28, 2022 | General Featured
From treat streets and haunted houses for kids to ghoulish grown-up parties and pub crawls, Denver is known for its haunted days and nights of fright. To get you screaming back into the Halloween scene, here are our suspenseful, spooky choices for fang-tastic fun:
Halloween — 2022
Dance
Cult Classic: Treat the family to Colorado Ballet’s captivating, colorful Dracula playing at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the DCPA complex, Oct. 7-16.
Dracula, Oct. 7-16 — Back by bloodthirsty demand, Colorado Ballet opens the season at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House with Bram Stocker’s legendary gothic love story set in 19th Century Transylvania. Ballet features choreography by Michael Pink plus Philip Feeney’s original score. Spotlighting the Colorado Ballet Orchestra, haunting ballet promises goosebumps. When: Oct. 7-8 & 14-15, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 8, 15 & 16, 2 p.m. Information: 720-865-4220.
Family Events
Halloween Spooktacular, Oct. 30 — The Colorado Symphony plays film-TV music at Boettcher. Costumes encouraged, with the best invited on stage at spooktacular event for boys and ghouls. Scott O’Neil conducts the orchestra. When: 2:30 p.m. Information: 720-865-4220.
Pumpkin Harvest Festival, Oct. 8-9. Enjoy sights-sounds, smells of fall at Four Mile Historic Park. Select perfect pumpkin and enjoy live music. There’s face painting, craft stations for kids, plus private bar for adults. When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Information: 720-865-0800.
Glow at the Gardens™, Oct. 18-23. Wander through spooky Denver Botanic Gardens at nighttime with luminous carved pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns with grins and grimaces. Performing artists bring spirits and specters to life. When: 6 to 9 p.m. Information: 720-865-3500,
Harvest Hoot, Oct. 28-30 — Dress in your favorite costume to enjoy fang-tastic bites and fall activities at the Children’s Museum on the Marsico Campus. Enjoy carnival games and boo-tiful crafts, but no trick or treating. When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: 303-433-7444.
Ghost & Garden Tours
Ghosts of Capitol Hill, Oct. 1-Nov. 11. Visit the sights that inspired the movies The Changeling and Poltergeist, plus Colorado’s most haunted home. You also visit haunted mansions with paranormal activity. When: Thur.-Fri.-Sat., 8 to 10 p.m. Information: 720-372-3849.
Cheesman Park Ghost Tour, Oct. 1-31. Hear hair-raising accounts of paranormal activity at the Cheesman Park Pavilion. Uncover how bodies were moved from the cemetery and decide if park is haunted. When: Weekdays, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Information: 720-778-1170.
House Of Horrors: For spine-tingling excitement, creep through the Molly Brown House, Oct. 14-29. Visits with spirits played by actors last for 45-60 minutes.
Victorian Horrors, Fri.-Sun., Oct. 14-29 — Creep room to room in the spine-tingling Molly Brown House, hearing horror tales by actors. The 45-60-minute spirit visits enliven their existence. When: Entry times from 6 to 9 p.m. Information: 303-832-4092.
Music
Spooktacular XII, Oct. 15-16 — The “Director Strikes Back” with the 12th Mile High Freedom Bands’ haunting of Historic Grant St. Symphonic band musical has an all-age matinee followed by a show with alcohol. When: 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Information: 720-515-6432.
Disney’s Hocus Pocus, Oct. 21-22 — Musical about deserted house, witches, and mystic cat at Boettcher. Exploring house, the brother-sister awaken witches. They steal the witches’ book of spells to stop from becoming immortal. When: 7:30 p.m. Information: 720-865-4220.
HalloQueen 2022, Oct. 22 — Two sets at the Ogden Theatre: Jukebox the Ghost, then a costume contest. Second set as Queen, has Ben Thornewill on piano/vocals; Tommy Siegel, guitar/bass/vocals; and Jesse Kristin on drums/vocals. When: 9 p.m. Information: 303-832-1874.
by Jessica Hughes | Sep 28, 2022 | Travel
by Jessica Hughes
Up close, tarantulas seem larger than life reaching up to two inches in length.
This autumn, while many will head out west to see the state’s fall foliage, take the time to travel east for a change of scenery to see the Tarantula Trek. Beginning in September and through the month of October, many tarantulas scurry across the southeast portion of Colorado’s Eastern Plains near La Junta.
While there are numerous species of tarantulas, the Oklahoma Brown Tarantula is the one you are most likely to spot. This dark brown to black species is common here because its females prefer to make their burrows in the plentiful quiet prairies on the Comanche National Grasslands of Southeast Colorado.
While this phenomenon has always been called a migration, it is actually an annual mating ritual performed by male tarantulas. “We have traditionally called it a migration,” says Pamela Denahy, the director of tourism for the city of La Junta. “We are currently in the process of re-branding to call it the Tarantula Trek.”
The Comanche National Grassland creates the perfect habitat for mating tarantulas. Visit La Junta photos
The process for seeking out a mate begins when male tarantulas reach maturity at the age of eight to 10 years old. Prior to this, the males have not left the grasslands at all, until they reach mating age. During mating season, you are likely to spot one at a time, but you may be lucky enough to see a group of these males using their sense of touch and vibration to locate the females.
The tarantula can grow up to two inches in length with a leg span of up to five inches.
They can travel as far as 20 miles and oftentimes are in groups searching for a mature female. Males who have reached sexual maturity will travel up to a mile to find a mate, and once he finds one, he’ll perform a courtship dance. Certain body language cues and rituals are used for mating. One of these is “drumming” or “tapping,” which a tarantula may use to indicate interest in a potential partner.
A male tarantula treks through Vogel Canyon near La Junta.
Using the 443,000-plus acres of the Comanche National Grassland, the male tarantulas roam far and wide looking for their mates. But there are certain areas accessible to visitors for easy viewing. Popular places include Vogel Canyon (15 miles from La Junta), Sierra Vista & Timpas Picnic Area (about 20 miles from La Junta along Hwy. 350), and Delhi (36 miles from La Junta on Hwy. 350).
A short drive from La Junta, Vogel Canyon is the most popular destination for viewing the tarantulas because of its accessibility. Plus, it has something for everyone — with four hiking trails that take you to the mesa top or canyon floor, plus quiet picnic areas, making this an ideal day trip for visitors.
Denahy says a great driving route to consider is La Junta to Timpas (on Hwy. 350), east on County Road N, south on County Road 25, east on Forest Service Road 2200, north on Hwy. 109 back to La Junta.
The best time for viewing is an hour before dusk during mid-September thru October and even into early November — depending on the weather. September is peak season, starting mid-month. They don’t really like it too hot, and they don’t like to be out after the first freeze.
But the common question everyone asks Denahy says is “is it safe?” “Yes, it is safe to view them. Tarantulas are much more terrified of you than you are of them. Despite common misconceptions, they are not aggressive. In fact, they are more likely to flee from a larger-than-life human being,” assures Denahy.
Join the city of La Junta for the Tarantula Festival, October 7 & 8, 2022, with fun activities and educational facets for the entire family to enjoy.
Contact the Comanche National Grassland Resource Office for additional ideal viewing locations in and around La Junta at 719-384-2181 or info@visitlajunta.net for additional information.
by Glendale Sports Center | Sep 28, 2022 | Glendale City News
by Eileen Eastridge, for the YMCA of Metro Denver
Eileen Eastridge, left, and her Livestrong class at the Littleton YMCA.
On June 22, 2020, (my daughter’s birthday), I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. The cancer was found in my breast, lung, and liver, as well as boney areas of my L3, sacrum, and left iliac. My L3 had broken and collapsed twice, and I was in severe pain and had difficulty walking.
My family and I were shocked and devastated at this news, but I did feel a sense of relief to finally know the reason for the symptoms I was experiencing. This diagnosis is a terminal one, which means that I will be dealing with treatment, symptoms, and side effects for the rest of my life, however long that may be. My husband and I discussed that we want the main perspective for my care to be “quality of life.”
The doctor prescribed a series of radiation treatments to the boney lesions, which was grueling, and made it necessary to use a walker. The radiation, coupled with monthly injections, provided miraculous results, and my bones and nerves have healed significantly.
I was also prescribed a hormone blocker and an oral chemo, which I am blessed to be able to take at home each day. This combination has done above and beyond what was expected and has even shrunk my tumors. Unfortunately, these medications come with side effects, including physical stiffness, fatigue, and low moods. I was getting weaker and weaker, and the sadness was becoming a real problem.
To help alleviate the side effects, my doctor gave me information about the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program at the YMCA of Metro Denver, and I joined the group in December 2021. This program is a free 12-week program for cancer survivors to rebuild health and build community.
I expected to exercise and was happy to have accountability to help keep me on track. However, the icing on the cake came in the social support I found. The LIVESTRONG group is a strong dose of the very best medicine! I found a new community of supporters who understood what going through cancer is really like.
According to research from the Yale Cancer Center and Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Institute, participants in the LIVESTRONG program at the YMCA experience improved fitness and quality of life, as well as significant decreases in cancer-related fatigue. We all know that exercise can help you feel better no matter your age or skill level. However, it is especially important for people living with cancer.
LIVESTRONG at the YMCA classes teach exercise methods that are safe for people who have cancer. Over the 12 weeks of the program, the group became stronger, more flexible, and more energetic. The instructors are trained in cancer survivorship, post-rehabilitation exercise, and supportive cancer care. Survivors receive a membership at the YMCA for the duration of the program.
If cancer has impacted your life, this class can help. To learn more, visit denverymca.org/livestrong.
by Charles Bonniwell | Sep 28, 2022 | Editorials
We now know that Denver Mayor Michael Hancock is planning to leave the City and County of Denver for Miami, Florida, at the end of his 12 years of wreckage. It also appears that large sections of the Denver business community have decided to abandon the city as well. The Denver Post reported on August 23rd of this year that restaurants are leaving Denver due to rent hikes and labor shortages. A report from the Downtown Denver Partnership shows the downtown workers are refusing to return to work, with only half the number of office workers coming to downtown compared to 2019, thereby badly hurting Denver’s business district.
Roughly a quarter of the office building space is empty and there are even proposals to turn office buildings into apartment houses. Denver police report that arrests are down 64% over 14 years but crime is up by 50%. The homicide rate is on track to break Denver’s all time high of 100 homicides set in 1981. According to the real estate firm Redfin (and reported in the Denver Business Journal) one in every four Denver homeowners are looking to relocate out of the Denver metropolitan area. Over half of that relocation was due to concerns over, crime, as well as cost of living, taxes, and quality of schools.
Quality of schools is always a key indicator of the future health of a city. There was white flight out of Denver in the 1970s and 1980s over the school issue. The business community began to becom
e involved in Denver School board races so that the teachers’ union was not the only voice in an election. Denver began to start and implement charter and specialized schools which were highly popular with Hispanic and Asian communities. But several elections back the business community stopped funding races. As a result, the Denver School Board and the Denver schools are a mess as reported by Glen Richardson on the front page of this month’s Chronicle.
Denver’s 710 KNUS radio host Stephan Tubbs has declared that Denver is “irretrievably lost.” We are not quite so pessimistic. But we do believe that the mayor’s race this spring is, however, absolutely critical. The truly horrific Michael Hancock is finally term limited. If the choice is between a destructive social justice warrior or another high-density whore like Michael Hancock, then Denver will be in real trouble. The business community (sans high density real estate developers) needs to coalesce behind a candidate that actually cares about the many wonderful Denver neighborhoods (and not just how to destroy them); cares about downtown Denver (and not just how to make it a homeless encampment); cares about the parks and open space (and not just how to blow them up for high density projects); understands that ever increasing fees and taxes make the city ever more unaffordable to live in; understands that many Denver cultural institutions are worth preserving; and, most of all, will cause all Denverites to feel welcomed and not just always dividing everything into identity politics.
Is there such a candidate in Denver and will the business community support him or her? The future of the city is depending upon it.
— Editorial Board
