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Winding Down the Season

Free Carriage Rides in Golden Colorado

Today is the last day to take a free carriage ride downtown.  Thanks to the Golden Chamber for sponsoring the rides this season, and thanks to Clear Creek Carriage Company for providing them.  Clydesdales Nick and Wallace (and their drivers, Margaret and Frank) will be available from noon – 3PM outside of Wings of Eagles, 805 12th Street.

Miners Alley Playhouse - Golden Colorado

Today’s afternoon performance of A Christmas Carol at Miners Alley is sold out, but there are still a few seats available at the 6PM show.  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday are sold out, but there are still tickets available for Thursday and Friday at 7:30.

Do it while you can!

Holiday Art Market at Foothills Art Center

Have you visited the Holiday Art Market at Foothills Art Center? They have hand-crafted pieces by dozens of artists, in a wide range of prices. This is, of course, a major fund-raiser for the Art Center. Foothills is open from 12-5 today and 10-5 every other day of the week.  The Holiday Art Market runs through December 30th. Go see them!

The Golden History Museum is about to close down for several months while they remodel, so you should make a point of getting in there before December 30th to see the current exhibits.

The Buffalo Bill Museum will be changing out their exhibit, “A Better Place Could Hardly Have Been Chosen” at the first of the year, so you only have about 3 weeks left to see it.

Miners Alley Playhouse will perform A Christmas Carol twice today–at 1 and again at 6.  This play runs through December 23rd, so you have less than two weeks left to see it.

Free Carriage Rides in Golden ColoradoToday will be sunny and low 60s–a good day for a carriage ride, and perhaps lunch or a bit of shopping downtown. The carriages, which are sponsored by the Golden Chamber, will be giving free rides from 12-3PM.  There’s only one weekend left for the carriage rides, so do it while you can!

 

The Golden Fleece Fiber Fellowship will meet at the library from 2:30-4:30. It’s double the high fiber fun at the Golden Library! Do you sew? Knit? Crochet? Embroider? Spin? Weave? Want to? Come to Golden Library’s DIY Lab on the first Tuesday of the month (and selected Sundays) to show us your work in progress. Or bring a project idea and your curiosity and we’ll get you started. Suitable for: Adults.

Santa Sightings

Free Carriage Rides in Golden Colorado

This is a wildly busy day for Santa Claus. He’s scheduled to visit several places, some of them simultaneously. But really–isn’t that the skill he’s known for?

Santa Claus at the Colorado Railroad MuseumSanta’s first appearance will be at the Golden Chamber’s sold-out Breakfast with Santa at 8:30. Then, of course, he’ll be in the Olde Golden Christmas Parade at 10:30.

The Applewood Valley Methodist Church is offering photos with Santa from 10-1, with a gift for each child.

Santa will be at Avenue Gifts from 11-3.

He and Mrs. Claus will be at the Railroad Museum from 11-2. (This one has a sentimental place in my heart, since the Railroad Museum is where we always took our daughter to see Santa!)

Don’t forget that Santa keeps a mailbox at the Golden Visitors Center, and letters received by December 15th will be answered.  (Please include a return address in your letter so he can respond.)

Jolynn’s Food & Spirits (1224 Washington Avenue–map) is offering Brunch with the Christmas Bear from 10AM-2PM.

The Chamber is offering FREE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES from noon till 3PM.  The rides start in front of Wings of Eagles, at 805 12th St.

The Golden Hayride will be at Gold Mine Cupcakes, and will give free rides for an hour after the parade.

Kids can make their own bagpipes from 11:30-12:30, courtesy of LifeStyle Realty & Consulting at 1111 Washington Avenue.

Golden Victorian Carolers will stroll the Avenue from 12-2.

Miners Alley Children’s Theater will perform The Story of the Nutcracker at 11 and 1.

This is the final day for the Library’s Holiday Book Sale, which will run from 9-4.

Spinster Sisters will donate 10% of their sales today to Girls, Inc.

The Briarwood Inn is serving a Holiday Tea from 10-3. Reservations required: 303-279-3121.

Foothills Art Center is offering a Kids Workshop from 1-4. They can construct a Gingerbread House while you shop at the Holiday Art Market! Foothills will also have three artists (Sunny Monaco, Chris Stuart, and Lelija Roy) working in the gallery from 2-4.

Foothills Animal Shelter is hosting a Percentage for Pets Pottery Sale from 1-6.

For more information on any of these events, check the Christmas Calendar at www.goldentoday.com/christmas.

or

Click here for a one page list that you can print and take with you.

Sunday in Golden

Jefferson Symphony Orchestra - Golden Colorado

The Jefferson Symphony‘s wildly popular holiday concert, with special guests, the Golden High School 24th Street Singers, takes place this afternoon at 3PM. The Green Center on the School of Mines Campus is about to close for refurbishment, so this will be the Symphony’s last concert in the Green Center for a while. Learn more….

This is the final day for the Geology Museum’s Book and Garage Sale, so get in there between 9AM and 4Pm for mineral samples, books, maps, etc.

The Golden Women in Business are having their Health & Wellness Holiday Expo today from 12-5PM at Connects Workspace in the Armory Business. You’ll find skin care products, wine and art gifts, healthy food and drinks, essential oils and lotions, and inspiring speakers. Admission is free.

Clear Creek Carriage Company in Golden Colorado

The Chamber is sponsoring free horse-drawn carriage rides downtown from noon-3PM. Say “hi” to Clydesdales Wallace and Nick (and their drivers, Margaret and Frank)!

The Buffalo Bill Museum is launching a new event this afternoon from noon til 4PM–Christmas with Cody. Buffalo Bill loved the holidays, and he loved children, so what better way to wrap up our year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Cody’s death and burial!

The Golden Library’s Adult Makers Guild will meet today from 12:30-2:30. Calling all makers! Have a project idea but not all the tools? Want to learn a new skill? Golden’s DIY Lab gives you a place to meet other tinkerers and use our Maker Space to work on your latest project. Become part of a like-minded community of adults while exploring the possibilities, from fiber arts to hand tools to robotics.

Don’t forget Da Vinci & Michelangelo: The Titan Experience at 8PM tonight in the Green Center.  This is sponsored by the CSM Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.  It’s free, and the public is welcome!

Olde Golden Christmas on Parade

Free Carriage Rides in Golden Colorado

The Golden Chamber’s parade starts at 10:30 and will finish up at about 11. The downtown merchants are having their Holiday Open House today. That means that they’ll all be doing something special–samples, entertainment, sales, etc.

Four local authors (including me!) are having a Holiday Book Fair from 12:30-2:30 at 1111 Washington Avenue. We will discuss and sign our regional books. Jill Allen & Associates are very kindly hosting this event in their conference room.

Connie Billings is a fourth generation Colorado native. In 1868, Golden typified the Wild West with gunslingers, carpetbaggers and entrepreneurial politicians. Connie wrote Redemption’s Bell.

Book: Olde Golden ChrirstmasLaura L. Padgett lives in Lakewood. Author of Dolores, Like the River. Contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Merry Christmas 2015 and contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Possible 2015.

Mary Ramstetter is a Golden native and author of Eldorado Trilogy, novels of the American West 1846-1869. She also wrote Over the Mountains of the Moon, Ride, Boldly Ride. And many more!

Barb Warden, owner of GoldenToday.com is the author of Olde Golden Christmas, the Guidebook to Golden Colorado (now out of print), and Funiculars of Golden Colorado.

Santa Claus will be at Avenue Gifts from 11AM-3PM, so here’s your opportunity for a photo.

Gardner History & Preservation will be open from 11AM-3PM, selling their famous Historic Golden Calendars. 805 13th Street. (I get one every year!)

The Golden Hayride will be giving free rides for one hour after the parade, starting at Gold Mine Cupcakes, 700 12th Street.

Free horse-drawn carriage rides will be available from noon-3PM, starting at Wings of Eagles, 805 12th Street. (Insiders tip–they’ll be there on Sunday too, and the lines will be shorter.)

Spinster Sisters will be serving hot spiced cider today, and 10% of their proceeds will be donated to the Colorado State Beekeepers Association.

Aegis Realty at 514 9th Street is celebrating “A Goosetown Christmas” from noon till 3PM, with food, music, and free pony rides!

The Golden Concert Choir is giving their holiday concert today, “Icicles & Carols.” Performances are at 3 and 7PM at the Wheat Ridge United Methodist CHurch, 7530 W. 38th Avenue (map).

There is a lot more going on today. See www.goldentoday.com/christmas for the full holiday calendar.

Both “Ooh!” and “Ah!”

Golden Chamber of Commerce's 30th Annual Candlelight WalkThe Golden Chamber’s Candlelight Walk is my favorite Golden event of the year, and tonight will be a beautiful night for it–unseasonably warm, with an almost-full moon. Meet at 6PM at Foothills Art Center (15th and Washington) for the walk. Bring a candle or glow stick, or buy one there. The crowd will be led by Santa Claus and will start down the hill at 6:30. When they get to the Visitors Center, the Mayor and a local girl will flip a switch and light the lights along the creek. It’s an “ooh” and “ah” moment! Afterwards, we’ll have a brief fireworks display, courtesy of the City.

Leadership Golden 2017 OrnamentThen you can walk around and enjoy a number of fun things. There will be a Christmas carol sing-along in Parfet Park, by the dragon statue; dancers performing in the Rotary Amphitheater along the creek; music and free admission at the Golden History Museum; more music and cookies at the Golden Library. The Golden Kiwanis Club will be serving roasted chestnuts at the Clear Creek History Park. The artist who designed this year’s Leadership Golden ornament (Julie Leidel) will be signing ornaments at the Visitors Center.

Christmas at Baby Doe's Clothing - Golden ColoradoDon’t forget to visit the downtown stores, because many of them are planning live music and free treats this evening. The Candlelight Walk is an enchanting event–Golden at its best.

For the complete run-down on the Candlelight Walk, tomorrow’s parade and other downtown events, and everything Christmas in Golden, check the calendar at goldentoday.com/christmas.

Summer Weather and Winter Events

We’re due for more ridiculously warm weather! Today and tomorrow are predicted to be in the 70s.

Christmas Parade in Golden Colorado

Nevertheless, we’re homing in on the month-long Olde Golden Christmas festivities downtown. The Golden Chamber’s 30th Annual Candlelight Walk is this Friday, December 1st. Saturday morning (December 2nd) will be the first of three Christmas parades. There will be craft fairs, concerts, holiday open houses, and horse-drawn carriage rides throughout the month.

Make sure you don’t miss the events you really want to do–check our special CHRISTMAS CALENDAR at goldentoday.com/christmas.

Dancing, Discussion, Desserts, and Endorsements

The Quilt Museum is hosting a cultural event this afternoon.  The Filipino-American Community of Colorado will present dancing, discussion, and desserts from 2-4.  Learn more….


Chili Cook-Off and Beer Tasting

Congratulations to the winners of the Chamber’s Chili Cookoff and Beer Tasting:  Elizabeth Kleinhanzl and Van Westerburg Partners!


The County will be mailing out ballots this week, so it will soon be time to vote for City Council, School Board Candidates, and the Solar Garden.

We’re fortunate in our choice of City Council candidates this time–they are all reasonable choices.  The City recorded the City Council Candidates Forum; you can watch it here.

The Golden Good Government League (3GL) has interviewed the candidates and posted their endorsements.  3GL is a non-partisan group that seeks to ensure that the City of Golden has solid candidates for City Council positions. They interview all candidates, looking for individuals who are open-minded, well informed, dedicated to the City of Golden, mindful of the importance of representative government and who are capable of providing professional governance for Golden.

The School Board candidates will appear in a candidate forum at the Jefferson Unitarian Church (map) this Tuesday, October 17th, from 7-9PM.  This event is hosted by the Jefferson County League of Women Voters.

Golden voters will also decide whether we should allow a Solar Garden (that’s an array of solar panels) near the Rooney Road Sports Complex.

Affordable Housing Projects


The Golden Urban Renewal Authority will meet tonight at 6:30 in City Council Chamber. GURA has three current urban renewal zones in Golden–on 8th Street, in the Central Neighborhoods, and along Colfax. They also have some sway in their former urban renewal product, the historic downtown, because they have a $2 million reserve fund that they can use if an appealing project in downtown comes along.

Tonight, City Staff will ask the board which types of affordable housing they would support in GURA districts. The meeting memo says, “Given the likelihood that GURA will be approached with an application for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance from a number of projects in the future containing some element of affordable housing, it may be appropriate for the board to consider any policies you may wish to develop in advance of any formal requests.”  See the meeting packet to learn more….

Tomorrow (Tuesday August 15th)
Tomorrow morning at 10, the Railroad Museum will hold their monthly Storytime and Craft.  Today’s story is Here Comes the School Train by William Bunce.  This is suitable for children aged 4-6.  It’s free for museum members, and $2 plus general admission for non-members.

The Tuesday night book group will meet at the library from 6-7 to discuss Bone Gap by Laura Ruby.

From 12:30-1:30, the Jefferson County Business Resource Center and the Golden Chamber of Commerce will present a Lunch and Learn EventCustomers, Debtors or Defendants? The Collections Process for Small Businesses.  This will take place at the Golden Library.  It’s free, but advance registration is appreciated.

Golden: Seething with Culture

The Golden Cultural Alliance had its monthly meeting yesterday. As usual, the reports on what everyone has planned were interesting.

Golden Library‘s new branch manager will start next week. On July 26th they will kick off Buffalo Bill Days by hosting the author of Buffalo Bill, Boozers, Brothels, and Bare Knuckle Brawlers. The summer reading program will end on July 31st.

The CSM Geology Museum changes their exhibits every year, and they’re currently shifting out the old and bringing in the new. One of the new exhibits features a recently-donated collection of antique Colorado gold coins made by private mints during the gold rush era. All of the new displays will be up in time for their September 13th open house, which is always scheduled during Denver’s Gem & Mineral Show.

Traffic at the Golden Visitors Center is up 33% compared to last year. The Golden Chamber is getting ready for next week’s Buffalo Bill Days luncheon. The deadline to get an event into their Christmas brochure is 9AM on September 8th. Visit Golden is working with Foothills Art Center to put together an “Orb Hunt” during September. They’ll be hiding “orbs” all over town–one per day.

Golden History Museum has a couple more weeks of summer camps remaining, and an ongoing series of lectures. They have big plans for next year, with upgrades to the building and several exhibit changes. Some or all of the museum will be closed for much of 2018, so see the current exhibits now, while you can. The feasibility study for the proposed beer museum is nearly finished and will be presented to Council soon, so they can decide whether to pursue it.

The Quilt Museum will spend Sunday the 23rd taking down the current exhibits (Under the Western Sun & Quilting the Wild West) and hanging their next exhibits (Civil War Era Quilts & Pagtinabangay: Quilts of Caohagan Island). The museum re-opens on Monday.

Golden Landmarks is one of the sponsors of Buffalo Bill Days.  They will be on hand in Parfet Park Saturday and Sunday (July 29th & 30th), selling framed and unframed prints from their collection of historic Golden photographs.

The Golden Concert Choir is partnering with the Steamboat and Yampa Valley Choirs to perform Mozart’s Requiem (in Steamboat, unfortunately).

Goldentoday.com magnets - Golden ColoradoThe Golden Library is currently giving away GOLDENTODAY.COM refrigerator magnets–free while the supply lasts!