by Valley Gadfly | Apr 21, 2023 | Main Articles
Make Plans, Reservations Early To Honor Mom; Mother’s Day Is Denver’s Busiest Day At Restaurants
“She set me straight and then set me free, And that’s what the word ‘mother’ means to me.”
— Karl Fuchs
by Glen Richardson
Pillar Of The Rockies: There’s a wide range of events from grateful children, husbands, brothers, and sisters to honor mom on Mother’s Day, May 14.
It goes without saying that moms deserve it all and then some! That’s why there’s an entire day to celebrating moms. A gift and Mother’s Day dinner hardly seems like enough. Celebrated on the second Sunday of May, Mother’s Day this year is May 14. Roughly 84% of U.S. adults are expected to celebrate in 2023.
Family celebrations include grandmas, aunties, sisters, caregivers, and guardians. It is a big holiday where grateful children, husbands, brothers, and sisters show their appreciation for the mothers in their lives. Moreover, the holiday is celebrated in more than 40 countries worldwide.
Believe it or not, it’s a holiday that is generally without controversy. Those who love it see it as a day set aside to simply honor their mother and mother figures in their life. To get your Mother’s Day celebration plans started, here’s the Chronicle’s guide for finding fine food and fun things to do:
Feast With Mom
Take mom and the family out for brunch or dinner on Mother’s Day. Mom will love the food, beverages, and festive family time without the cooking and cleanup.
Brunch
Beach Brunch: The Lake House at Pelican Bay in Cherry Creek State Park is hosting a Mother’s Day brunch with breathtaking views May 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Lake House Brunch
Take mom and the family to Denver’s only lakeside venue for a special Mother’s Day brunch in the Lake House at Pelican Bay May 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Located in the heart of Cherry Creek State Park, this one-of-a-kind location offers breathtaking views, lifestyle amenities, and pure leisure. Information: 393-220-5253.
Local Jones
The bistro in Cherry Creek’s Halcyon Hotel is featuring a Mother’s Day bubblies and brunch fête, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. The brunch is paired with a special moment for mom, curated by Link x Lou, the nationwide Denver-based jeweler.
Jax Fish House
Enjoy a special brunch menu with mom and the family at Jax Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar just off Colorado Blvd. in Glendale, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Information: 303-756-6449.
Brunch Downtown
Grilling Gala: Mom can help judges decide winner of Denver’s top steakhouse chef at Rare, a one-of-a-kind steak contest May 25 at DCPA’s Sculpture Park.
For families taking mom downtown, these are your top options: If you’re taking mom to the DCPA, the Edge Restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel hosts a brunch from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Information: 303-389-3050; For brunch or tea, the Brown Palace Hotel is sure to impress. Ellyngton’s in the Brown offers a brunch from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Information: 303-312-5924; or for art aficionados, The Ponti in the Denver Art Museum has a Mother’s Day Brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Information: 720-913-2761.
Dinner
Chocolate Lab
If your mom is a chocoholic, take her to this newly opened eatery on the corner of 3rd Ave. at Holly. The 32-seat spot that incorporates chocolate in every dish — entrees, cocktails & desserts — tripled its kitchen size and doubled the bar space. More: Patrons can also buy chocolate candy and other creations. Information: 720-536-5037.
Monaco Inn Restaurant
Feast with mom and the family from noon to 8 p.m. at this enjoyable holiday eatery offering five Mother’s Day specials for $25.95 each. Or, you can order from the regular menu. Specials are New York Steak & Deep-Fried Shrimp, Lamb Chops & Grilled Shrimp; Lamb Shank, Grilled Salmon, and Trout. Specials are served with Greek Potatoes and a Greek Salad or Avgolemono Soup. Specials include either a dessert or glass of Prosecco wine. Information: 303-320-1104.
Dinner Downtown
Well-liked spots downtown serving Mother’s Day dinner include: Posh yet casual Panzano, the Italian eatery in Hotel Monaco featuring Northern Italian cuisine. Information: 303-296-3525; or for dazzling weekend dining, treat mom to dinner and jazz at Dazzle, offering menu service. Information:303-839-5100; or uptown’s Humboldt Kitchen + Bar, featuring fresh, fish-centric choices. Information: 303-813-1700.
Rare Or Smoked
Food & Finery: The bistro in Cherry Creek’s Halcyon Hotel is featuring a brunch paired with a special moment for mom, curated by jeweler Link x Lou.
RARE is May 25 at DCPA’s Sculpture Park, 5:30-10 p.m. It’s a one-of-a-kind steak contest pitting 25 of Denver’s steakhouses in a thick cut of beef grilling competition. Mom can help judges decide on the winner, as chefs try to win the hearts of steak lovers. Information: 720-865-4220.
If mom is the barbecue fanatic in the family, treat her to the fifth annual Denver BBQ Festival, May 27-28 at Empower Field at Mile High. Information: denverbbqfest.com.
Events-Diversion
Home Tour & Street Fair
Tour East Wash Park homes May 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Stroll the properties while enjoying local artisans, vendors, and entertainment at the Mother’s Day Street Fair on the 500 block of South Race St. Hosted by Steele Elementary’s PTA, funds raised support school programs-services. A percentage also benefits Virginia Village families through Steele’s sister school, Ellis Elementary. Information: steelewpht2023@gmail .com.
Les Miserables
Take mom to one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history, playing at DCPA’s Buell Theatre, May 10-21. Songs include “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” and many more. Information: 720-865-4220.
Breakthroughs
Choices Count: New York Steak & Deep-Fried Shrimp is one of five Mother’s Day specials at the Monaco Inn Restaurant, serving from noon to 8 p.m.
If mom enjoys art, she’ll love this juried exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art through May 27. A celebration of RedLine Art Center’s 15th Anniversary, it presents artworks made within the last two years, most on view for the first time. Information: 303-298-7554.
Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty
Let mom page through the original Treaty, at the History Colorado Center through May 23. On display in Denver for the first time ever, the document expanded the United States and set the stage for Colorado’s statehood. Information: 303-447-8679.
Books & Birds
If mom’s a bookworm, treat her to an afternoon at the Bookies Bookstore in Glendale. The store hosts author Mary Taylor Young for the launch of her newest work, Bluebird Season, May 7, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Then on May 9, the Family Book Club discusses How Birds Sleep by Sarah Pedry & David Obuchowski, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Information: 303-759-1117.
by Ashe in America | Apr 21, 2023 | Feature Story Bottom Left
On Monday April 10, former Mesa County Clerk & Recorder Tina Peters appeared in court for sentencing on her Obstruction of Government Operations conviction last month.
Accused of attempting to prevent officials from seizing her iPad, Peters was sentenced to four months of home detention with an ankle monitor, 120 hours of community service, and an almost $800 fine. Peters is appealing the sentence.
“I don’t even have a traffic ticket,” Peters told me. “This is pretty harsh for a first-time offender and Gold Star mom with no prior criminal history.”
Peters made headlines in 2021 when she did a full back up, as required by law, of her county’s electronic voting machines prior to the State’s “Trusted Build” software update.
What followed was a whole-of-government effort to demonize and persecute the duly elected Clerk in an effort to discredit the shocking truth her actions would reveal.
The state took over the Mesa County Clerk’s office, ousted Peters’ loyal staff, and engaged in one of the greatest coverup operations in the history of Colorado.
But the damage to the official election narrative was already done.
A series of reports by cyber and technology experts revealed multiple state and federal violations of election law by the Secretary of State and election vendors.
The first Mesa County Forensic report, delivered September 15, 2021, revealed, “…election records, including data described in the Federal Election Commission’s 2002 Voting System Standards (VSS) mandated by Colorado law as certification requirements for Colorado voting systems, have been destroyed on Mesa County’s voting system, by the system vendor and the Colorado Secretary of State’s office.”
In case you think the local authorities in Mesa County are serious about finding and exposing the truth, within seconds of the report being delivered to the County Commissioners, it was leaked to reporters.
Before the Commissioners read it, they leaked it.
The second forensic analysis, delivered March 1, 2022, revealed that Mesa County’s electronic voting systems contained 36 separate wireless devices, allowing connections to the internet and/or other outside devices that can connect to the internet.
Now remember that, at the time, the standard narrative was that our electronic voting systems “cannot connect to the internet.” Despite that lie being uttered, repeatedly and under oath, across the nation, it was immediately memory-holed.
At once, the narrative shifted to “the systems weren’t connected to the internet,” and the Colorado Secretary of State now issues guidance to local clerks to monitor election systems to ensure they don’t accidentally reconnect to the internet. Notably, no one was monitoring for this during the 2020 election. Back then, the machines “couldn’t” connect to the internet.
The second report also revealed that Mesa’s system was set up to automatically delete audit records and system log files during the “Trusted Build,” despite the legal requirements to retain all records and log files for 22 months federally and 25 months in Colorado.
The third report, delivered March 19, 2022, revealed the creation of shadow databases, in the system back end — as well as illegal software and actual vote swapping — without the knowledge of election officials.
This is the equivalent of keeping a separate set of books in accounting, and this finding was so explosive that District Attorney Dan Rubenstein had to pretend to investigate to explain it away. Rubenstein’s “investigation” was conducted in collaboration with Dominion Voting Systems — yes, really — and he shakily explained away the damning discovery as human error and “time drift.”
Revealing the truth about our elections — and the level to which career elected officials are covering them up — is Tina Peters’ real crime.
Tina Peters will be back in court on May 5 for a “Contempt of Court” charge relating to recording a public, livestreamed hearing. The main trial on Peters’ indictment on seven felonies and three misdemeanors is set for October 17.
Remarkably, Peters remains faithful and unphased. “I am taking some time off to relax, spend time with God, and seek where He wants me to go, and what He wants me to do next.”
As the persecution of Peters has shown, true leadership in the face of overwhelming opposition is both remarkable and rare.
She deserves our gratitude. And she certainly has mine.
Ashe Epp is a writer and activist. You can find all her work at linktr.ee/asheinamerica
by Valley Gadfly | Apr 21, 2023 | Valley Gadfly
“April is the cruelest month,” T.S. Eliot wrote. Cold snaps and harsh winds last month were unkind. But May is here, so say goodbye to April showers and say hello to May flowers.
“The Lusty Month of May,” is how Lerner and Loewe described it for their Broadway musical Camelot. In short, the lyrics stated of May, “There’s simply not a more congenial spot.”
Here are our “Make May Memorable” choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment as you Go Round the Maypole and begin to feel a sense of renewal and energy as gardens grow:
3 Don’t miss seeing-hearing celebrated Israeli “guitar god” Rotem Sivan and his band entertaining at Dazzle@Baur’s May 3, 7-8:30 p.m. Information: 303-839-5100.
3 Enjoy concerts, learn to play the fretted string dulcimer during Colo. Festival at Saint James Church May 5-6, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Information: ColoDulciFestinfo@gmail.co.
3 Delight as DYAO’s musicians and the Symphony Chorus do Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Boettcher Concert Hall May 7, 2:30 p.m. Information: 303-433-2420.
3 Joyce DiDonato performs in the Ellie for Opera Colorado’s 40th B-Day Bash, followed by dinner in the Seawell Ballroom May 13. Information: 720-865-4220.
3 Enroll your youngsters — Boys & Girls Grades K to 8 — in Glendale Youth Rugby’s Spring Try League, May 1-June 24. Practices are Mon. & Wed. at Infinity Park, games on Sat. Players are placed on teams according to age, weight, and ability level. Infor-mation: 303-630-4713.
3 Treat mom and the family to a delicious Mother’s Day meal at popular pub, Alpine Tavern. Choices include a huge selection of sandwiches and sweets. Enjoy a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere with a patio and a caring staff. Serving 11 a.m. to midnight. Information: 720-389-6203.
3 Catch the Denver Brass season finale Ain’t Misbehavin’ with bites and bodacious brass in the Seawell Ballroom May 21, 2:30 p.m. Information: 303-832-4676.
3 Enjoy concerts under the glow of candlelight by the Nexus Strings Quintet at Wings Over The Rockies May 25, 6:30 and 9:15 p.m. Information: 303-360-5360.
3 View fine arts and crafts at 24th Denver Arts Festival with music and Kids Art Zone at Central Park’s Conservatory Green, May 27-29. Information: 303-330-8137.
Attend and bring friends to Rooting for Change, a night of art, giving, and connection at Raices Brewing Co. May 4, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The fundraiser is sponsored by Circle, the local non-profit that mentors and equips young people in education and community work. By supporting the celebratory night, attendees will enjoy a catered meal, two drink tickets, a folkloric dance performance by ArtisticCo Dance Company, and live art by painter-muralist Julio Mendoza. Attendees can also bid on donor-contributed wellness and experience-based items during silent and live auctions. Circle works with young people, schools, and other organizations to address systemic inequity and interpersonal inclusiveness. Information: 720-324-8550.
May has always been an inspiration for writing songs that teach us about spring weather. Moreover, the songs stimulate us to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Mothers’ Day, and Memorial Day. May’s full moon, called the “Flower Moon,” appears on Friday, May 5, reaching peak illumination at 11:36 a.m. Step outside to see that big, bright disk here from 11:47 a.m. to 3:32 p.m.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
by Glendale Sports Center | Apr 21, 2023 | Glendale City News
by Amanda-Scates Preisinger, MPH, Senior Director of Health and Well-Being, YMCA of Metro Denver
Some say fitness is mind over matter, but true health requires both mind and matter. Mental health is how we think, act, and feel; We all have mental health. During Mental Health Month (this May), mental self-care is front-of-mind for us at the YMCA of Metro Denver, especially since we aim to provide workshops and experiences that promote mental health in our community.
Just ask Betsy Schwartz, Denverite and YMCA of Aurora member. “It’s all so connected — mental and physical health,” she shared with us recently. “I can see when I’m looking at the mirror in Body Pump class how much stronger my arms are, which is good for my mental health… There’s also endorphins that release when you really work up a sweat, and so I’ll bike.”
She is not alone. Recent studies have found that physical exercise can significantly improve mental health, and that regular, positive activity boosts cognitive function and can combat depression. This is true not only for older adults, but also for teens and pre-teens.
It’s particularly encouraging to work out in a space where you’re known and appreciated, which is why the YMCA is committed to providing Denverites a safe, encouraging community with opportunities for physical as well as mental self-care. “It’s all the benefits of physical exercise plus the community,” as Betsy has said.
In addition to improving physical health, finding ways to grow social/emotional skills and mindfulness can have other significant health benefits as well. The YMCA focuses on incorporating social and emotional elements throughout our programs. Samantha Church, manager of YMCA Out of School Time, manages teams that “build social and emotional pieces into our curriculum and check in with the kids every day. We have conversations about what it means to be a friend and how to express emotions in a healthy way.”
Her team members are also part of regular learning cohorts on trauma-informed care and how to provide kids with consistent emotional and social support.
Because of its importance, our YMCAs also offer a variety of programs focused specifically on mental health, including mindfulness. Betsy and a fellow member Jane recently joined the Y’s Mindful Eating Program and were both surprised about how much they learned to appreciate food and other aspects of life in the process.
“It’s slowed me down a little bit — to be aware,” Betsy explained. “It made me look at food not as a reward or something to avoid, but something to hopefully live with for a long time, slow down, taste it, and enjoy… It’s journey and a practice, kind of like yoga.”
“With mindful eating, you start applying the same tactics to other things you do,” Jane added. “It teaches you to appreciate what you have.”
In an increasingly stressful world, it is more important than ever before that we support each other mentally and emotionally to lead happy and healthy lives.
To learn more about our mental health workshops, events, and resources at the Y, please visit denverymca.org/mentalhealth.
