Pumpkin Harvest Festival
A Night Around the World
October: Devilishly Divine
In September we escorted/pushed kids back to school, while November and December bring major holidays and added stress. Thus October has become everyone’s favorite fall month. Halloween, crunchy leaves and football add to our enjoyment. Moreover this is the fall month that encourages us to relax and find our inner kid.
It’s finally time for cozy sweaters, carving smiles into a thousand pumpkins, beer festivals, soft pretzels, tasty bratwurst and outlandish Halloween parties.
Here are our eerie, spooky, hair-raising, spell-binding choices for shopping, dining and entertainment for a mellow, messy, leaf-kicking perfect send-off to fall:
3 Catch the spell-binding opening of the Colorado Ballet season as it performs Don Quixote at the Ellie, Oct. 4-13. Romantic work features stunning Spanish sets and costumes. Information: 303-837-8888.
3 See rugby teams from 12 nations vie at the USA Women’s Sevens at Infinity Park Stadium, Oct. 5-6. Information: usawomens7glendale.com.
3 Attend Safehouse’s signature Hope Gala Oct. 12 with entertainment and a buffet dinner at the Ritz-Carlton, 6 p.m. Information: 303-302-6126.
3 Get the flavor of fall at Project Angel Heart’s A Taste For Life at the Hyatt Convention Center Oct. 17, 6-10 p.m. Information: 303-407-9420.
3 Make your home sparkle for this holiday’s expected and unexpected company with custom drapery and Roman shades from Cherry Creek Shade & Drapery on E. 6th Ave. Information: 303-355-4223.
3 Carve-out Thanksgiving Day plans early by making reservations for your family and friends to dine at the Monaco Inn Restaurant. Traditional holiday choices, serving 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Information: 303-320-1104.
3 Make the season special by going to the annual Fall Chili Cookoff at Joy’s Wine & Spirits Oct. 20, noon to 4 p.m. Information: 303-744-6219.
3 See the sole U.S. exhibit of the landmark Claude Monet exhibit The Truth of Nature at the DAM, Oct. 21-Feb 2. Information: 720-913-0130.
3 For devilishly divine diversion catch some of the 250 blockbuster films showing at the Denver Film Festival, Oct. 30-Nov. 10. There’s a red-carpet opening Oct. 31 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House followed by an opening-night party at the McNichols Bldg. Many of the films are being shown at the Sie FilmCenter and UA Pavilions, other venues plus two more screening at the Ellie. Information: 720-281-0813.
Ah, fall — there are so many reasons to totally love the season: The weather is just about perfect, which makes it absolutely ideal for heading to the pumpkin patch. Jeepers Creepers, just about everyone enjoys decorating pumpkins and dressing up in bizarre costumes for all the Halloween parties (especially the kids).
Irish-Scottish immigrants brought All Hallows Eve (Halloween in the U.S.) here so we all need to send a silent thank you to our ancestors for the spooky gift.
Whether parties, marathon horror movies or the wonders of nature, October is about enjoying the last waning days before the onslaught of the holidays and New Year’s resolutions. As L.M. Montgomery wrote in Anne of Green Gables, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” This month if you’ve got it, Haunt It!
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
Four Things To Do During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
by Justin Seymour
It’s October, and that means the color pink will start appearing everywhere — and for good reason. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an international health campaign promoting prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cures. Here are four ways to make the most of this important month.
Be Aware. This month starts with just being informed. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, about 1 in 8 women in America will experience breast cancer during their lifetime.
While men can get breast cancer too, it is much more common in women, with women over 50 being most at risk. That said, about 11% of all new cases of breast cancer are found in women younger than 45.
Check your health. This month is also a good reminder for women to check in with themselves, as there many uncontrollable genetic factors that can put them at risk:
• Gender: Women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than men.
• Age: Two out of three women are diagnosed after age 55.
• Genetics. A family history of breast cancer can put individuals more at risk.
• Early menstruation or late menopause. Breast cancer is also associated with early menstruation (before age 12) and late menopause (after age 55).
Further, if they haven’t done so already, October is also a good time to get in the habit of having regular breast exams. A mammogram — the screening test for breast cancer — can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat. In addition, one of the first lines of defense against breast cancer is being vigilant with self-exams. Experts recommend checking breasts every month both visually and by touch, paying attention to any changes in how the breast or nipple looks or feels.
Improve your lifestyle. During this month, another proactive step is to make changes in your lifestyle that can both improve your health and reduce your risk of cancer and other disease and health issues. This is called lifestyle medicine, and it involves addressing nutrition, physical activity, and chronic stress in order to live healthier.
To help prevent breast cancer:
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer, especially after menopause.
• Stay physically active. Breastcancer.org reports that exercising at a moderate or intense level for four to seven hours per week can lower the risk of breast cancer.
• Do not smoke. Smoking is linked to a number of diseases, including breast cancer in younger, premenopausal women.
• Watch your diet. Eating too much saturated fat and not enough fruits and vegetables increases risk.
• Cut back on alcohol. Also according to Breastcancer.org, women who have three alcoholic drinks per week have a 15% higher risk of breast cancer, compared to women who don’t drink at all.
Spread the word. Lastly, an important thing to do during Breast Cancer Awareness Month is simply raise awareness. Most people can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. Talk to others about risk factors and lifestyle changes. Encourage your loved ones to get regular exams. Reach out to a loved one who is experiencing breast cancer and lend your support. And, join local events and races that raise money and create even more awareness.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers found in women. During October and every month, take steps to stay healthy. Everything you do counts.
Justin is the Lifestyle Medicine Coordinator at the Glendale Sports Center managed by the YMCA of Metro Denver. He has worked in the fitness industry since 2015 and received his BS and MS in Exercise Physiology from Western Kentucky University. He joined the Denver YMCA in 2019 after moving from Bowling Green, KY.
