by Mark Smiley | Sep 25, 2017 | Feature Story Bottom Left
Eeeeek, Mommy’s Little Pumpkins Are Carving Out Groovy, Ghostly, Ghoulish Holiday Fun
There are many tales of ghosts and demons in Denver — especially in certain city parks — but it is the paranormal at local cemeteries that spook people most. On occasion locals claim to hear footsteps. And voices! “Is this hell?” the voice asks. Such reports are why the Mile High City deserves a spot among America’s great Halloween towns.
From Dracula at the Ellie to the Pumpkin Harvest Festival at Four Mile Park there are many amazing Halloween festivities for families to choose. You’ll find pumpkin beer on tap, late-night shows plus an assortment of low-key, kid-friendly events with costume competitions.
Here’s the Chronicle’s roundup of events to let you go batty this Halloween:
Kids Activities
Denver Zoo
The annual Boo at the Zoo, Oct. 29-30 offers more than 20 trick-or-treat stations, creepy crawly animal demonstrations and exciting family-friendly entertainment under the canopy of Denver Zoo’s fall foliage. Activities are free with zoo admission. Boo After Dark offers visitors a nighttime trick-or-treating experience. Information: 720-337-1400.
Four Mile Park
Celebrate the arrival of autumn with old-fashioned fun at the annual Pumpkin Harvest Festival at the park Oct. 7-8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Build your own scarecrow, select your favorite pumpkin from the patch, and tour the park in a horse-drawn wagon. Explore how 19th-century Coloradans lived and prepared for the season, with historic demonstrations and tours of the Four Mile House Museum. Try your luck at county fair games, and enjoy delicious treats from the beer garden and local food trucks. Information: 720-865-0800.
Denver Botanic Gardens
For Halloween, the Gardens on York St. will light up at night with Glow at the Gardens, Oct. 18-19 and 25-26. Jack-o’-lanterns and luminaria-lined pathways, LED circus performers, scavenger hunts, costume contests plus fall-themed activities will be fun for all. Evenings will include free face painting until 8 p.m. Come for the pumpkins and stay for dinner and hot beverages at the Offshoots Café. Information: 720-865-3500.
Denver Children’s Museum
For three days Trick or Treat Street is hosting costumed kids and adults for a wonderland of fun, Oct. 28-30. Families can march from one Treat House to the next on the Marsico Campus and collect goodies, create Halloween crafts and play carnival games. It’s the ultimate safe Halloween adventure. Information: 303-433-7444.
Elitch Gardens
On weekends, once the sun goes down through Oct. 29 the theme park is transformed to Fright Fest, a scream park. During the day, little ones squeal in glee over the free candy on the Trick or Treat Trail. At night, haunted creatures lurk around every corner. Free with regular admission. Information: 303-595-4386.
Colorado Railroad Museum
It’s full steam ahead for tricks, treats and trains on the Trick or Treat Train, Oct. 28-29. The Railroad Halloween Town is a safe place to enjoy trick or treating. Catch a ride behind a historic Denver & Rio Grande Steam Locomotive in vintage passenger cars hosted by conductors and engineers in full costume. Information: 303-279-4591.
Eek-A-Boo Bashes
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Colorado Ballet opens its season with the Halloween-favorite Dracula, October 6-15, at the Ellie with music performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. “I encourage you to stock up on garlic and sink your teeth into this ballet full of terrifying excitement,” says Artistic Director Gil Boggs. Dracula tells the story of Jonathan Harker, who travels to Transylvania to do business with the infamous Count Dracula. Dracula becomes enamored with Harker’s fiancée Mina and travels to England to pursue her. The men follow Dracula into a crypt to stop him. Only daylight and a stake through his heart can stop him from taking Mina as his own. Information: 303-837-8888.
Molly Brown House Museum
Take a literary journey of Victorian Horrors with renowned authors like Poe, Wells and Lovecraft at the Museum, Oct. 13-14, 20-21 and Oct. 27-28. You’ll hear soul-searing tales of unspeakable horror and madness — all inside the suitably spooky — quite possibly haunted — Molly Brown House. It is a great inclement weather option with live music, face painting, hands-on crafts and LED circus performers. Information: 303-832-4092.
The 16th Street Mall
Thousands of the undead and blood-splattered crazies will gather at Skyline Park and drag down the Mall for the Denver Zombie Crawl, Oct.7. It starts at 11 a.m. with the Organ Trail, a 5K run-walk-crawl in which zombie teams solve clues to find locations and move to checkpoints in an exercise in creativity. That’s followed by the Undead Parade at 2 p.m. During the procession, you’ll see bodies missing heads, bodies carrying their heads, and bodies with holes in their heads. Information: denver zombiecrawl.com
The Clocktower Cabaret
Join the adorable Clocktower Clockettes at The Clocktower Cabaret as they pay a spooky burlesque tribute to all the thrills and chills of America’s spookiest holiday, Oct. 26-29. The Halloween Boo-Lesque & Comedy Show features aerial feats, jugglers, magicians and comedy hosted by Naughty Pierre. It’s old-fashioned fun with interactive comedy and costume-contest prizes. Information: 303-293-0075.
Riverside Cemetery Tours
Halloween isn’t complete without a visit to Riverside Cemetery, Denver’s oldest boneyard. It has it all: Spooky old head tombstones, twisting paths, majestic mausoleums and statuary plus 6,700 bodies buried beneath its soil. Tour dates are Oct. 13-14, 20-21 and Oct. 27-28. Located at 5201 Brighton Blvd., late night tours have been added. Information: 303-399-0692.
Best Boo Balls
The Curtis Hotel
Coloween at The Curtis Hotel, Oct. 28 is one of the most anticipated Denver costume balls. There is a mind-bending labyrinth of haunted hallways and hair-raising entertainment. Attendees enjoy three ballrooms featuring live music and DJs, sexy theatrical performers, and 28 bartenders serving open bar. Come ready to compete in a lavish costume contest hosted by a secret celebrity guest. Information: 303-571-0300.
McNichols Building
Imagine 20-foot spiders, a mausoleum, haunted house, performers, bands and DJs all under one roof. The Paranormal Palace in the McNichols Building is a Halloween party like no other, Oct. 28. Enter through the mouth of a 25 ft. skull, where multiple DJs pound the palace walls and three floors of party environment. There is a costume contest with $2,000 in prizes. Information: 720-507-1376.
Sherman St. Event Center
Enjoy an unlimited open bar all night, a $1,000 “Best of The Ball” costume contest plus live entertainment and DJs at the Halloween Costume Ball, Oct. 29. The Ball takes place in the Grand Ballroom of the historic Sherman St. Event Center, featuring some of the city’s most creative Halloween costumes. 303-863-9999.
Diamond Cabaret
This is the 18th year in a row for The Naughty Ball at the Diamond Cabaret, Oct. 7. Attendees come dressed in sexy Naughty costumes with lace, feathers and body paint. Ball has seven stages, six rooms, a maze of hallways and 95 performers. Information: 720-503-1376.
Haunted Houses
The 13th Floor
Hailed as “the scariest haunted attraction in the U.S.,” the 13th Floor — now located at 3400 E. 52nd Ave. — takes guests through a frightening tour of horror, Oct. 1-31. Brave souls will learn just why the 13th floor is so often omitted from building plans — if they make it through to tell the tale. New thrills with intricate sets, highly selective casting and special effects makeup are sure to make reality and fiction blur into terror. Information: 303-355-3327.
The Asylum
The Asylum at 6100 E. 39th Ave. is Denver’s top-rated haunted attraction. Back for another year Oct. 1-31, this 1800s-era themed “hospital for the mentally insane” has been taken over by the patients and prisoners. Tapping into some of our greatest fears, the haunted experience is a head trip in which tortured souls scream inside the once orderly insane asylum. Information: 303-355-3327.
by Mark Smiley | Aug 30, 2017 | Feature Story Bottom Left
by Ruthy Wexler
Every neighborhood wants one — and now Mayfair has got one: a bar like Cheers. For those too young to remember, Cheers was a TV sitcom about a bar whose salient quality got expressed in the show’s theme song: Where everybody knows your name. That idea — a friendly neighborhood haven — was what Mia Peterson and Michael Bruntz had in mind when they bought the Aqua Lounge on Krameria and 14th a little more than a year ago.
A Vision For Mozart’s
The first thing Bruntz and Peterson did was restore the bar to its original name: Mozart’s. Then they looked around. “Whatever was good, we kept,” Bruntz recalls, “like the hardwood floors, the old walk-in coolers, the grand piano. Then we redid the surfaces, painted the walls, bought new furniture.”
In addition, the partners sought to replace the old bar’s persona. The Aqua Lounge was an LBGTQ bar; the new partners wanted to welcome everyone: gay, straight, young and old. They changed the front window by installing a garage door — which, rolled up expands the space invitingly.
“That stated our vision,” Bruntz explains. “We were opening Mozart’s up to the whole neighborhood.”
They had the old neon sign restored back to Mozart’s Lounge and held their Grand Opening in November 2016. Now — almost a year later — the partners believe Mozart’s is becoming everything they imagined.
“I realized we’d achieved our dream on New Year’s Eve,” Bruntz recalls. “People came in to drink and dance and celebrate. A lot of them walked over. Then someone came up to me and said, ‘I was looking for a bar where we could dance tonight … and I remembered seeing this was open again …’”
Mia’s moment of recognition arrived when a friend from Brooklyn visited this past spring and exclaimed, “You’ve literally built a Cheers!”
Someday We’re Going To Own This Place
When Bruntz and Peterson met at work more than 15 years ago, they had no idea they’d end up as business partners. They were just good friends who happened to live in the same neighborhood, Mayfair, and enjoyed hanging out at the then-Mozart’s Lounge. During one of those visits, they realized they shared a vision: to create a community gathering place. “Someday,” they vowed, “we’re going to own this place.”
They tried to buy it several times but the purchase didn’t go through until 2016 — at which point the two fell headlong into a huge learning curve. “That next year was the longest and quickest ever,” laughs Peterson. “I enjoyed applying some of the business practices I learned in the corporate world to our little mom and pop. I’ve always embraced the entrepreneurial spirit.”
Bruntz had to step out of his comfort zone to buy the bar. “Up until this I was doing what I was supposed to, thinking about retirement, my IRA, all that. And running a bar isn’t known as a big security move. But I’d turned 50. I wanted to do something really meaningful to me.”
Family And Fun
On a Wednesday evening in July at Mozart’s, Bruntz appears happily in his element, sharing a laugh with a Vietnam vet who stops by most every night, giving a hug to Laura Sanford, another regular, whose friends have thrown her a birthday party at her favorite bar.
Watching Laura return to her confetti-laden table, Bruntz beams. “I love the people part. I love my customers.”
Asked why she loves Mozart’s, Laura didn’t hesitate. “It’s family.”
“The owners,” she confides, “
are absolute sweethearts.”
Explaining their business philosophy, Peterson explains, “We think community is what’s important. So we emphasize local — beers from local breweries, musicians from around here. We also have a great bar staff, which makes everything easier.”
Live music — an eclectic mix of jazz, funk, classical and old-school rock — happens on weekends. On weeknights, Mozart’s offers lighthearted fun — Music Video Bingo on Wednesday; Karaoke on Thursday and darts twice a week. Connecting goes on all the time.
“A neighborhood couple just celebrated their 20th anniversary here,” Peterson smiles. “That’s what we like to see.”
Socializing Then And Now
The original Mozart’s started out as a place to connect: Mozart’s Hall opened on Larimer Street in the late 1800s as a bar and social center for German immigrants (some of the original equipment made the move from downtown). In the ’50s, the bar relocated to its current spot at 1417 Krameria, changing owners a few times in the process.
And now Bruntz and Peterson are at the helm. They look forward to a busy football season, celebrating with free Broncos touchdown shots, starting an Open Mic night, hosting private events and holiday parties, building out the modest menu (currently standard pub fare) — and continuing to make sure the neighborhood has a fun, safe and friendly place to hang out.
“It’s extremely rewarding to see new faces from all walks of life,” says Bruntz, “and from all parts of the city, come and enjoy the bar.”
He adds, “When we did this, Mia and I decided to not look at risks but at rewards. I have truly found my passion. I love realizing the potential of this place. Seeing what could be and making it that way.”
by Mark Smiley | Jun 23, 2017 | Feature Story Bottom Left
by Mark Smiley
The Glendale Sports Center is best known for its sports, fitness, and teen programs. Many are unaware it offers music lessons as well. The arts and humanities division of the Glendale Sports Center currently offers private piano, drum, and guitar lessons. Lessons are $36 each hour and sold in groups of four.
Music lessons are open to the public so one does not need to be a member of the center. Group lessons are offered at a discount if you have membership. Instruments are provided so participants do not need to bring their own.
Lessons are one hour. Lessons are open to all ages. Alex Tripp (piano), Kevin Lee (guitar), and John Olson (drums) are the instructors who are lined up to teach participants. “With music no longer offered in schools, the Sports Center has been a great resource to ensure my son is getting this fundamental curriculum,” said Kristal Steeves, parent of a participant.
Emily Andrews, Program Coordinator for the Glendale Sports Center has been with the Center for almost a year and is committed to building the programs. “Our instructors are phenomenal,” said Andrews. “We are very lucky to have such a dedicated and committed team to offer these great programs.”
Private pickleball and tennis lessons are also available. These lessons can be either 30 minute or 60 minute. Prices vary so call the Glendale Sports Center for more details.
To sign up for a lesson, visit www.sportscenterglendale.com or call 303-639-4711.
by Mark Smiley | May 26, 2017 | Feature Story Bottom Left
by Kurt Woock
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
Name the only two days each year when no teams from any of the four major sporting leagues play.
Who was Tom Cruise’s first wife?
If you know the answer to either of those questions, consider attending Trivia Night, a fundraiser for the YMCA of Glendale and for the Glendale Youth Rugby programs, which will be held on July 22 in the International Ballroom of the Infinity Park Event Center.
Trivia Night began 851 miles away in St. Louis. Mike Boese grew up there. As he puts it, “On any given weekend, there’s probably 20 different nonprofit trivia events going on.” There’s a website dedicated to keeping track of them. The events are a true community effort. “Most of these events are in a Catholic school gymnasium,” he said. “It’s a potluck evening.”
Boese and his family moved to Denver about five years ago. He works as a financial advisor with Country Financial. He joined the Glendale Chamber of Commerce to meet people, and soon found himself on the local Y’s board of directors. Last year, he pitched the idea of hosting a trivia event for a fundraiser to Nicole Limoges, executive director for the YMCA Sports Branch & the Glendale Sports Center at Infinity Park. She told him to run with it. “From my point of view, I owe so much of this to Mike. He really threw his expertise into this. This was all his idea.”
Following the St. Louis template, last year’s Trivia Night was a potluck event, with Boese as MC, and was held in the Denver Jewish Day School gym. Boese even recruited his Aunt Colleen to travel from St. Louis to help keep score. It was a success, as 65 people brought dishes to share and took their shot at trivia glory. “Not only are you able to give back, but you have a pretty good time doing it.”
Giving back is at the core of the event. Limoges said the goal is to raise $20,000, which will be split between the YMCA and the Glendale Youth Rugby programs. “The YMCA serves the Glendale community, and there are families in need,” Boese said. “They need scholarships, otherwise they couldn’t take advantage of these programs.”
A few changes are in store for this year’s event. First, the event won’t be in a school or church basement or gym: The City of Glendale has donated use of the International Ballroom at Infinity Park Event Center. “This year, a lot of credit goes to Linda Cassaday (Glendale’s Deputy City Manager) for getting on board and saying ‘we’re going to step up and make a difference.’” Also, the potluck has been replaced by a catered dinner from one of the night’s sponsors, Biscuits & Berries. Guests will also receive two drink tickets, and a cash bar will be available all night. Tickets for the night costs $40 for an individual, $75 for couple, and $300 for a team of 8. People or companies can sponsor the entire night, or even just a round of questions.
After an hour of food, drink, and socializing, the trivia begins. If all goes well, Aunt Colleen will again be on hand. “She and I have been working on putting together questions,” Boese said. Boese will lead the crowd of up to 300 in 10 rounds of 10 questions each. He said for each round, he tries to include two questions that nearly everyone can answer and two questions that are unquestionably difficult. The rest of the questions are where the night is won or lost.
Traditionally, each round has a theme. For some rounds, each clue involves a video, photo, or audio clip; a good pairing given the International Ballroom’s A/V capabilities. Short breaks between rounds are an opportunity for other entertainment. This year, there will be a silent auction, with opportunities to bid between rounds. Last year, guests had the option to participate in a “last person standing” type game in which Boese reads the name of a public figure, and participants guessed whether that person was currently living. After each name, those who guessed incorrectly sat down. Those who guessed correctly played another round. The last person standing won half of the total one-dollar entry fees collected (which that person ended up donating to the night’s total proceeds).
In the end, though, the main competition is for the trivia crown. Each table of 8 works together. Last year’s winning score was in the low 80s out of a possible 100 (though tables are able to purchase one mulligan per round).
In just its second year, Trivia Night has the markings of an annual tradition.
Two more important pieces of information: The day before the MLB All Star Game and the day after are bad days to watch sports: Nobody is playing. And on May 9, 1987, Tom Cruise married Mimi Rogers.
by Mark Smiley | May 3, 2017 | Feature Story Bottom Left
Signing 5-year Extension with Shopping Center
By Charles C. Bonniwell
Tim Schmidt the managing partner of Elway’s Restaurant has indicated to the Chronicle that the restaurant has decided to sign a five-year extension for its space on the western portion of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center on top of the two years left on its present lease. Elway’s has been in the Shopping Center for 13 years.
Schmidt stated that: “In our opinion the Cherry Creek Shopping Center is the best shopping center in Colorado if not the entire rocky Mountain region. We like to associate ourselves with the best brands as we believe we also have one of the best brands in Colorado.” In addition to the Cherry Creek location there are Elway’s Restaurants in downtown Denver, Vail and at Denver International Airport.
Schmidt acknowledged that the restaurant had previously been exploring whether to expand to the empty Cool River Café location in Greenwood Village as reported in the April issue of the Chronicle, but not in lieu of the Cherry Creek space.
Schmidt acknowledged that the Shopping Center is going through a period of transition and the Shopping Center may redevelopment the western portion of the project with Bed Bath & Beyond leaving this fall. Elway’s would adjust it space to fit any redevelopment. The parking fees charged at the mall are less of a concern to Elway’s as it validates for parking.
Schmidt has had extensive discussions with his partner football great John Elway and the Shopping Center’s manager Nick LeMasters about the real estate risk concerning the Cherry Creek area with all the recent and expected development. He however, remains extremely optimistic about the Cherry Creek and the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. He notes that the thousands of expected new apartment dwellers, condominium owners and hotel patrons will be wanting to dine somewhere and he expects Elway’s will garner its share of that new market demographic.
by Mark Smiley | Apr 28, 2017 | Feature Story Bottom Left
Array Of Choices Include Tea, ToursAnd A 5K Run; Make ReservationsFor Busiest Dining Day Of The Year
Momma Mia, lest you forget May 14 is Mother’s Day! Want to pamper and delight mom? Are you “At Wit’s End?”
That’s what Erma Bombeck — her column titled At Wit’s End ran in 900 newspapers for years — would write. She was the patron saint of motherhood comedy. Her material was carpooling, drive-through-everything, lost clarinet reeds, dirty ovens, and bumbling husbands who drift through the house opening cabinets and never closing them.
Thinking about Mother’s Day always reminds us of Bombeck’s columns and all the mothers juggling between family, career and kids. Mum’s the word, but here are our suggestions of what to do, where to go so mom will have a relaxing time on her special day with the kids and grandkids:
Baseball
Coors Field
Looking to make this Mother’s Day extra special? How about a fun-filled day of baseball and celebrating mom at Coors Field May 14, 1:10 p.m. Bring mom to Coors Field on Sunday, May 14 and have your family picture taken on the field by the team photographer. It includes a ticket to watch the Rockies take on the Dodgers. More: Exclusive post-game field access for your family photo plus digital rights to the photo sent vie email. Information: 303-292-0200.
Comedy
Comedy Works South
Comedy Works South at the Landmark is hosting a Mother’s Day Family Show with John Heffron on May 14, 3 p.m. Heffron won the second season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Information: 720-274-6800.
Paramount Theatre
Attend matinee Mother’s Day show, Saturday, May 13, 3 p.m. With sharp wit, comedians Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood take the live stage for a hilarious, original show. Information: 303-623-0106.
Dining
Ambli
Serving dinner menu for Mother’s Day from 11:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Enjoy tapas, salads, flatbreads plus entrees. Information: 303-355-9463.
Barn At Raccoon Creek
Enjoy brunch with mom at this Littleton event venue on West Bowles Ave., 9 a.m-3 p.m. Information: 720-287-8193.
Four Winds
Treat mom to native cuisine at the American Indian
Council — 205 W. 5th Ave. — May 14, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy three sisters finger foods, puddings, fruit and berries, hot and iced teas. Information: 720-456-8251.
Monaco Inn Restaurant
Mother’s Day always brings families out to enjoy time together at this popular eatery. This year’s specials are Lamb Shank, Lamb Chop & Grilled Shrimp, New York Steak & Fried Shrimp or Grilled Trout. The regular menu is also available plus brunch will be served from 10:30-2 p.m. Information: 303-320-1104.
Shells & Sauce
Treat your mom on her special day to brunch or dinner at this favorite Valley neighborhood Italian Bistro. Features creative fare plus house-made desserts mom will love: Information: 303-377-2091.
The Weber
Lavish time with mom and the family in the intimate, inviting yet calm and relaxing atmosphere of The Weber. Located inside the Inn at Cherry Creek, the food and friendly service here offer the comfort and familiarity of home. Information: 303-377-8577.
Entertainment
Stories On Stage
For a humorous and heartfelt celebration of Mother’s Day, take mom to see Motherhood Out Loud playing May 7 at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the Su Teatro Cultural & Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Dr. Information: 303-494-0523.
Gifts
Paulino Gardens
One of Colorado’s largest garden centers, you’ll find a huge selection of houseplants, flowers and vegetable plants for mom. There’s also a variety of pottery, specialty food items, wicker baskets plus decorated gift plants and wind chimes that make great gifts. Information: 303-429-8062,
Trinity United Methodist Church
Looking for something special for mom? Trinity United Methodist Church on Broadway is holding a Mother’s Day Alternative Gift Sale May 7, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Jewelry, food and craft items are offered from nonprofit groups. Information: 303-839-1493.
Running
Mother’s Day MD5K
Join the 8th annual Mother’s Day 5K May 14. The starter’s gun goes off at 9:30 a.m. at Denver’s City Park. The race will be followed by a brunch in the park. Information: Info@Mothersday5k.com
Tea
Brown Palace
With the sounds of a harpist or pianist floating in the air, afternoon tea at the Brown Palace Hotel is an experience your mom won’t soon forget. The longstanding tradition comes with tea pastries, scones and tea sandwiches. Information: 303-323-3111.
Molly Brown House
Tea honoring Margaret Brown and all the great moms, including yours is May 13, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Mom will love the savory sandwiches, sweet treats and specially blended tea, plus a chance to stop in the museum store. Information: 303-832-4092.
Tours
Fairmount
On May 13 — the day before Mother’s Day — take mom on the special two-hour tour Famous Women of Colorado, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mothers and grandmothers are free when with a paying adult or child. Expectant mothers are also free when accompanied by a paying spouse or a significant other. Information: 303-399-0692.
