by Valley Gadfly | Oct 20, 2025 | Valley Gadfly
Once our days start to get shorter and sleepless nights get longer, we know the leafless, frostbitten, and dreary days of November have come. No sun, no moon, nor proper time of day.
The very heart and hearth of the month is Thanksgiving, which stimulates the travel economy. Folks stream back to hometowns and family, boosting grocery store spending.
It’s the traditional food holiday between Halloween and Christmas. Here are our turkey trot choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment to make this a November to remember:
See the most beloved opera of all time, Verdi’s La traviata playing at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Nov. 1-9. It’s the story of a 19th century Paris courtesan’s passionate love affair with a young nobleman. Information: 720-865-4220.
Singer Mende Harston and the Queen City Jazz Band do jazz and blues numbers from WWI to the 1930s at Dazzle Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m. Information: 303-839-5100.
Hear the music of violinist and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird playing with the Symphony at Boettcher Hall Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.
Hungry or thirsty? Sam’s No. 3 in Glendale offers a full menu — literally more than 100 items — for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Or, just stop by to relax and enjoy a cold beer, cocktails, or milkshakes with neighbors. Information: 303-333-4403.
Planning a new build, remodel, or home addition? Marlena Design Group helps design, select, specify, and manage interior-exterior finishes. They work with homeowners, builders, and investors on projects. Information: 720-335-8202.
Participate in a full day of banjo workshops and concerts at Swallow Hill Music’s annual BanjoFest Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: 303-777-1003.
Canadian singer and music producer Bryan Adams who has sold 75-100 million records entertains in the Ball Arena Nov. 24, 7:30 p.m. Information: 303-405-1100.
Lead vocalist Justin Pierre and Minneapolis rock band Motion City Soundtrack plays the Fillmore Auditorium Nov. 29, 6:30 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.
Attend the Denver Heart Ball at Wings Over the Rockies November 12, 6 p.m. This fun night of fundraising will help people to live longer, healthier lives. Sponsors will be celebrated, and heroes will be honored. The evening will include a live auction, live music, and lots of fun living’. Information: 303-801-4633.
The last full month of fall, November bids us to appreciate the transition from fall to winter. As Sir Walter Scott put it, “November’s sky is chill and drear; its leaves red and sear.”
The eleventh month of the calendar year, November begins the changeover from fall to winter. It is the month of calm before the storm of winter, Christmas, and New Year’s plans.
November has come, no shade, no shine, no leaves, no flowers, just turkey, talk, and tangy weather. How did the turkey get home for thanksgiving? It took the gravy train.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com
by Valley Gadfly | Sep 19, 2025 | Valley Gadfly
Brisk and cool, October is the first sign that the year is coming to an end. Time to gather your thoughts, find your inner peace, and appreciate the exquisite beauty of life and nature.
What we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits. This is the year’s last, loveliest smile. The perfect time of year for taking a long stroll outside to enjoy the mellower season.
It’s the time of year when autumn finally feels like it’s kicking into high gear. Here are our cozy choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment to embrace the beauty of fall foliage:
For a marvelous start to the month, catch the Gabriel Santiago Orchestra playing jazz and Brazilian music at Dazzle, Oct. 1, 7 p.m. The orchestra delivers a sonic experience that is both intricate and deeply expressive. Information: 303-839-5100.
Don’t miss a night of acoustic music with Americana-Blues singer David Starr in the Tuft Theatre at Swallow Hill on Oct. 2, 8 p.m. Information: 303-777-1003.
From Beatles to Wings, to solo hits, hear the music that defines decades as Paul McCartney plays Coors Field on Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m. Information: 303-292-0200.
Looking for tasty casual dining spot in Cherry Creek North? Try the café in Town Pump Provisions that also has a Little Man Ice Cream counter. The eatery serves sandwiches, salads & burritos 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Information: 303-535-7876.
Lowry Speaker Series hosts Little Rock Nine’s youngest member Carlotta Walls LaNier in the Eisenhower Chapel, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. Free and open to public, she talks about integrating Little Rock High at the age of 14. Information: 303-344-0481.
Catch Canadian electronic pop band Purity Ring starring multi-instrumentalist Corin Roddick at the Mission Ballroom Oct. 21, 8 p.m. Information: 720-577-6884.
Singer-guitarist Justin Furstenfeld and the Houston-based rock band Blue October entertain in the Mission Ballroom Oct. 24, 8 p.m. Information: 720-577-6884.
Country singer Lukas Nelson — front for Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real — plays at the Paramount Theatre October 31, 8 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.
Support A Splash of Pink celebrating its 25th anniversary at the Cable Center on Saturday, October 18, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event is presented by Empower and will feature an open bar, live music, plus a three-course dinner. Funds raised benefit Colorado breast cancer patients in need. Information: 303-669-3113.
Ah, October, a beacon of pumpkin spice lattes, cinnamon-scented candles, and Halloween décor. Moreover, we get breathtaking views of colorful leavers everywhere we look.
This month is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. With Mother Nature giving us a blanket of colorful leaves, plus a fresh crop of pumpkins in the patch, it’s a season to behold.
Autumn skies and pumpkin pies, fall is proof that change is beautiful. What’s the best type of joke to tell to an oak tree in October? Acorn-y joke. Oh, my gourd, I love fall!
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com
by Editorial Board | Jun 20, 2025 | Valley Gadfly
Editorial —
With little fanfare the Godfather of the Colorado GOP Establishment, Phil Anschutz, has given up on the Colorado GOP which he has indirectly controlled for over three decades until the rise of the grassroots and President Trump. The signs of his abandonment have been popping up for months.
The Anschutz RINO conservative media empire has been in full retreat. The Colorado Springs Gazette and the Denver Gazette are hidden behind pay walls now therefore the opinion pieces by RINO columnists like Dick Wadhams and Jimmy Sengenberger have little readership or reach. His RINO blog site Colorado Politics is not updated for long periods of time.
His flagship enterprise, the Independence Institute, was once a beehive of activity with almost a score of employees, now just limps along. Anschutz’s Complete Colorado website acted as and looked like a Colorado Drudge Report. Its Page 2 section provided original RINO reporting. The Drudge-like format and most of the original reporting are now a thing of the past.
The face of the Anschutz media empire for over two decades has been Jon Caldara. Originally a quick witted, irreverent firebrand, is now an old, tired, sad, and bald lion in winter.
Anschutz disillusionment with the Colorado GOP dates to the Fall of 2022 and heartbreaking election losses suffered in that year’s midterm races by the Colorado GOP Establishment. Anschutz and his Establishment allies had finally got a GOP election lineup it had long dreamed of with Joe O’Dea for U.S. Senator; Heidi Ganahl for Governor; Pam Anderson for Secretary of State; John Kellner for Attorney General; and Lang Silas for Treasurer.
For the Establishment, there were absolutely no God, guns, anti-gay, climate deniers. Anschutz adamantly believed that this was exactly what Coloradans hungered for. GOP Chair Kristy Burton Brown put together a vague and bland pro-business platform that all Colorado Republicans could run under that would offend absolutely no one. Best of all 2022 was going to be a big Red Wave year nationally and Colorado would be part of the tsunami with business friendly RINOs taking back Colorado from the extreme, socialist Democrats.
The big day came but there was no Red Wave nationally and the beautiful Colorado RINO slate was crushed with individuals losing by overwhelming margins. How could this have possibly happened?
Uncle Phil and his brain trust at the Independence Institute did a long deep intellectual dive and came up with the answer. It was, of course, the fault of Donald Trump. Yes, suburban women in Colorado hated Trump and took it out on the beautiful Republican slate even though none of the Colorado Republicans running for statewide office liked or supported Trump.
This conclusion is outlined and explained in an extraordinary column in Colorado Politics penned by Jon Caldera on May 8th (“Will Open Primaries Rescue Republicans”). According to Caldara suburban women and in particularly the dastardly single moms, hate Trump with such a passion that it “turns to hatred of his political party [the Republicans].” Caldera went so far to state: “Any candidate running with an ‘R’ behind his name in swing districts might as well have a swastika behind his name.”
The concept explains everything. The wonderful 2022 RINO slate did not overwhelming lose because the voters did not like them, but their hatred of Trump blinded them.
Suburban women in Colorado according to Caldara are “pro-gay, pro-abortion, pro-weed and, until the blackouts hit, believe climate change is Colorado, not China, caused.”
Men apparently don’t vote in suburban districts according to Caldara or if they do their votes don’t really count. How Trump won countrywide the popular vote by over a million votes in the 2024 election including all seven swing states is not explained. Colorado women in the suburbs are just a different breed than anywhere else in the country.
So how can Republicans win in a state where suburban women view Republicans as “Nazis” even the wonderful meek pro-business RINOs that Anschutz adores.
Independence Institute and Jon Caldara have figured it out. In order to save the State and the Colorado GOP we must destroy the political parties and go to jungle primaries just like California.
But didn’t the Colorado voters just reject jungle primaries in the 2024 election along with three other western states? In Colorado, this rejection happened notwithstanding Kent Thiery and the proponents of jungle primaries outspending its opponents by a 10 to 1 margin. Well according to Caldara, Thiery needs to spend millions to bring it back to the people but this time no ranked choice voting.
In Caldara’s view jungle primaries will result in the swing suburban districts persons unaffiliated with either party running and winning. These winners are really RINOs but without any party affiliation. They would then caucus with the rural Republicans and save us from socialist Democrats who are destroying the state.
The mere fact that that is not what happens in any jurisdiction that has jungle primaries is of no importance to Caldara. What, in fact, will happen only candidates with rich backers like Phil Anschutz can win in such a system. The Republican Party apparatus will be destroyed and along with Grassroot Republicans.
For many Republicans in Colorado whatever value the Independence Institute and John Caldara once had is past its due date. Time to put both out to pasture.
— Editorial Board
by Valley Gadfly | Apr 18, 2025 | Valley Gadfly
Valley Gadfly
Tra la la, it’s May. “That lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray. It’s mad, it’s gay, a libelous display. That gorgeous holiday,” Lerner & Loewe composed for Camelot.
May is one of the best months of the year with flowers blooming, green grass, graduation parties, and proms happening. A poignant reflection on the transformative power of May.
Among the changing months, May is the sweetest, and fairest colors dressed. Here are our warm choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment for those big, bright, sunny days:
For a marvelous start to month, plan to attend the annual Hattitude Luncheon in DCPA’s Seawell Ballroom, May 1. The event funds women playwrights and directors, plus produces their innovative plays. Information: 303-892-4100.
Don’t forget Cinco de Mayo returns to Civic Center Park for a weekend of food, fun, and Latino culture May 3-4, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Information: 303-534-8342.
Grammy Award winner Daniel Ho headlines Ukefest’s 2025 concerts, workshops, and master classes at Swallow Hill Music, May 10. Information: 303-777-1003.
Looking for tasty Italian American dishes plus Stone-Hearth pizza and baked goods? Try Pomodoro in the former Monaco Inn space. Sauces, dough, dressings, desserts made in-house with best ingredients, top service. Information: 303-320-1104
Attend Swallow Hill’s seven Wednesday summer concerts at Four Mile Park, June 4 to July 16. Rumours — Fleetwood Mac’s 11th studio album — is concert opener. Doors open 5:30 p.m., concerts 6:30 p.m. Bring the family. Information: 303-777-1003.
Enjoy the pop rock, blazing jazz, and improvisation of guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan entertaining at Dazzle, May 22, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Information: 303-839-5100.
Music meets visual artistry and the sounds of Pink Floyd come alive in a stunning Laser Spectacular at the Paramount Theater May 24, 8 p.m. Information: 303-623-0106.
Grammy violinist Augustin Hedelich plays Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Symphony at Boettcher Hall, May 30-31, 8 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.
Support new beginnings by attending the Storybook Ball Gala in the Art Museum’s Strum Grand Pavilion, May 16, 6-9 p.m. Funding will help Ronald McDonald Charities to renovate its Aurora House to serve more families. Attendees will enjoy cocktails, and dinner, plus a silent and live auction. Information: 303-832-2667.
You feel like singing. It seems like every May is like a new beginning. Glendale-Cherry Creek is alive with life, and all the birds are singing. The air is fresh, and flowers flourishing.
The bees are as happy as can be, and the birds are too. They seem to have so much to say, and so much to do. Eggs are hatching, babies are born, in this marvelous month of May.
With a warm wind blowing, we sink into spring with a mix of sunshine and showers. May is here with cheer and skies so clear, “Ne’er cast a cloud till May is out,” the saying goes.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com
by Mark Smiley | Mar 28, 2025 | Valley Gadfly
Gentle breezes, chirping birds, picnic baskets, and flowers in bloom. Best of the best: It’s the end of winter! It was the Beatles’ George Harrison who sang it best: “Here Comes the Sun.”
Goodbye clouds, hello bright April skies. April brings new sounds, like bird songs at dawn and frog croaks by ponds. April’s flowers, the daisy and sweet pea, bring joy to April-born.
Beautiful, sun-kissed days. Cool, crisp nights. The sights and smells of spring. Here are our fresh, fragrant choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment to put a spring in your step:
View the film and musical montage for Naruto in Denver for the first time at the Ellie April 1, 7:30 p.m. Sing along with the two-hour event synchronized to a live orchestra performing Toshio Masuda’s original score. Information: 720-865-4220.
Enjoy the arrangements, harmonies, and onstage energy of the musical foursome Windborne entertaining at Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall April 4, 8 p.m. Information: 202-777-1003.
Youth concert Destination Denver with Robinson Dance, rapper Nelo Tyler, and the Symphony plays Boettcher Hall April 17, 2:30 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.
Want warm, hearty comfort food? Sam’s No. 3 — Glendale & downtown — serves over 100 breakfast, lunch, & dinner items. Large portions, fair prices. Downtown since 1927, Glendale since 2013. Denver 303-534-1927; Glendale 303-333-4403.
Join Glendale Sports Center’s Adult League basketball, outdoor soccer, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, & pickleball. No joining fees or contracts. Membership includes classes. Leagues all year. Fitness programs for all ages. Information: 303-639-4711.
Touring band Daruma plays at Dazzle in The Arts Complex April 17, 7 p.m. Group plays blend of improvisation, electronics, & grooves. Information: 303-839-5100.
See and hear Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. — formed in Dublin in 2014 — entertaining at the Mission Ballroom April 22, 8 p.m. Information: 720-577-6884.
Catch the music of Tempe, Ariz.-based rock band Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers coming to play at the Bluebird Theater April 24, 8 p.m. Information: 303-377-1666.
Hear CNN Anchor & 60 Minutes Correspondent Anderson Cooper at the JFS Executive Luncheon in the Sheraton Downtown Hotel April 22, noon-1:30 p.m. Event supports life changing services of Jewish Family Service that help everyone in need regardless of race, faith, age, or income. Information: 303-579-5000.
Blossom by blossom the new spring begins with all its splendor, all its birds, and all its blossoms. The promise of warmer days, plus its simplicity, playfulness, and unpredictability.
As this month begins, it brings the soft laughter of April’s sun, along with the shadow of April showers. April is recognized as “the angel of the months, the young love of every year.”
On April Fools’ Day believe nothing, trust no one. Just another day. Why do omelets love April Fools’ Day? They enjoy practical yolks. Summer texted us; she’s on her way.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com
by Valley Gadfly | Feb 19, 2025 | Valley Gadfly
Time marches on may sound like a cliché, but this is already March 2025. “Left, right, left, right,” time paces us. To get ahead requires making strides, and advancing forward.
“In like a lion, out like a lamb,” is the proverb that describes this month’s transition from winter to the beginning of spring. What an exciting renewal feeling the March transition evokes.
Here are our purposeful, exhilarating choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment to start your march into springtime. Days when it’s summer in the light, and winter in the shade:
If you’re a fan of powerful vocals, timeless ballads, and a night full of heart, you’ll want to experience Cha’Rel’s soulful tribute to legendary artist Adele. The event will be at Dazzle Denver March 1, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Information: 303-839-5100.
You’re in four-leafed clover, the Irish-American rock band The Young Dubliners play at Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall March 8, 8 p.m. Information: 303-777-1003.
The road is sure to rise up to meet you at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade beginning in front of Coors Field March 15, 10 a.m. Information: 303-321-7888.
Levin’s Deli has opened a Wash Park restaurant & wine shop in the retail center at 300 E. Alameda Ave. (where Legacy Pie is located). New space offers a sourdough pizza category in addition to groceries and gifts. Information: 720-893-7540.
Spring ahead with quality window covering and custom window treatments to beautify your home from Cherry Creek Shade & Drapery on E. 6th Ave. Stop in or book an in-home consultation with experienced staff. Information: 303-355-4223.
Catch the 2024 three Grammy winner and Indian tabla drum player Zakir Hussain playing at the Newman Center March 18, 7:30 p.m. Information: 303-871-7720.
Be sure to hear Oundjian conduct Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony at Boettcher Concert Hall March 21-23, 7:30 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.
Canadian singer and musician Martha Wainwright with seven acclaimed studio albums plays at the Bluebird Theatre March 27, 7 p.m. Information: 303-377-1666.
Attend the 25th Anniversary T1D (Type 1 Diabetes) Dream Gala in the Hyatt Regency at the Convention Center March 15, 5 p.m. It’s a glamorous, black-tie optional fundraising soiree with seated dinner, award winning entertainment, silent and live auction in support of the diabetes community. Information:303-770-2873.
As winter transitions to spring, March brings both moments of reflection and celebration, like St. Patrick’s Day. As the weather shifts, there’s a sense of anticipation for the season ahead.
March invites us to spend more time outdoors watching mother nature awaken. The trees are budding, birds are chirping, and flowers are starting to bloom. Everything seems possible.
March 9 starts Daylight Saving Time, which begins at 2 a.m. Denver time. Set clocks ahead one hour. You’ll know the March worm moon has gotten enough to eat when it’s full.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
