Affordable Weekend Fun

The Great Pumpkin Harvest Festival

Four Mile Historic Park

                                    Saturday & Sunday, October 4 & 5

                                   10 am to 4 pm

                                   715 South Forest Street

                                   Free admission

Fun for kids of all ages

Pie-eating contests, pumpkins, scarecrows and music.

 

Golden Triangle First Friday Art Tour

5-9 pm

free bus shuttles get you to the galleries

http://gtmd.org/companyinfo.aspx?companyid=55

Affordable Weekend Fun

October Fest

Friday, September 26, 5 pm to 1 am 

Saturday, September 27, 11am to 1 am

                                                Sunday, September 28, 11am to 5 pm

                                                Larimer Street, between 20th and 22nd Streets

Free Admission

Childrens activities, music, dance performances

Food and beer for sale

http://www.oktoberfestdenver.com/

 

Free Day at Botanic Gardens

Saturday, September 27, 9 am to 5 pm

                                                1005 York Street

Photo by Scott Dressel-Martin

http://www.botanicgardens.org/

Neighborhood Profile: Stapleton

 

from Montview Boulevard to 56th Avenue, Quebec and east (eastern boundary is irregular)

Built on the abandoned grounds of Stapleton Airport, Stapleton was conceived as a new-style urban community.

Restaurants, retail shops, sports and recreational facilities, schools and office space make this development almost self-contained.

30% of Stapleton is open space and parks!

The 80-acre Central Park has increased Denver’s park system by 25%.  Pocket parks throughout the development nurture the sense of community, welcoming walkers, dog-walkers, and baby carriages.  Many homes were built with large front porches, encouraging neighbors to get to know each other.

With a mix of single family homes, lofts, condominiums and townhomes, many different lifestyles are accommodated.

Sustainability is a fundamental principle of the developers, Forest City Enterprises, Inc.  Since 2006, all new homes have been Energy Star certified.

There’s so much to explore and experience at Stapleton:

http://stapletondenver.com/

On My Soapbox: Speed limits

Disappoinment.  Dismay.  Confusion.

That was my reaction when I learned that the speed limit on I-225 between Parker Road and I-25 was increased from 55 mph to 65 mph.

I thought we were trying to reduce carbon emissions.  Some studies indicate that REDUCING speed limits from 65 to 55 reduces emissions by 10%.  Most of the cars and trucks we drive get optimal gas efficiency between 45 and 55 mph. 

Just what is CDOT thinking?  They’ve defended this decision saying it is safer to drive at 65 than 55 on this stretch of   I-225, because the average speed on this road is 70 mph.  Why don’t they just enforce the legal limit, instead of indulging the speeders?

http://denver.yourhub.com/Denver/Stories/News/Traffic/Story~519950.aspx

http://drive55.org/content/view/39/1/

Help the animals, help the planet

What do you do with the cardboard rolls from toilet paper and paper towels?

Did you know The Denver Dumb Friends League will take them?  They also need towels and washcloths, blankets and large paper bags.  And, although they don’t list newspapers on their website, they’ve been taking mine for years.

If you find yourself near The Denver Dumb Friends League periodically, why not consider bringing your cardboard rolls and used towels and washcloths to help nurture the animals?

Here’s a link to the full wish list on their website:

http://www.ddfl.org/pdf/WishListDetailed.pdf

Free events for kids at Denver Public Library

Storytime and craft time are back

The Denver Public Library offers storytime for children 6 months and older at various neighborhood libraries around town.  And on Saturdays, there are educational programs for the kids. 

Upcoming programs include a magic act, a pirate show and drumming class.

Check this link to find the activities nearest you:

http://kids.denverlibrary.org/index.html

Sustainable Living Fair in Fort Collins

Sustainable living is about more than recycling.

This affordable fair is the place to learn about renewable energy, alternative vehicles, organic farms and more.  There’ll be workshops, speakers, exhibitors, entertainment and activities especially for children. 

 

Saturday, 10am to 6 pm

Sunday 10 am to 5 pm

$5/day, free to those under 12

Rocky Mountain Raptor Center

720 East Vine Drive

Fort Collins, CO

For more information, use this link:  http://www.sustainablelivingassociation.org/thefair/

Controversial Proposal in Denver

Denver Councilwoman Carla Madison has proposed that downtown Denver be off-limits to automobiles one Sunday this year.  There has been a range of responses.

New York City banned cars from the Brooklyn Bridge to East 72nd Street on three Saturdays last month.  Bogata has a similar program. 

Some folks are concerned about the impact it would have on downtown businesses, where parking is free on Sundays.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/sep/11/one-day-car-ban-eyed-for-downtown/

Neighborhood Profile: WINDSOR GARDENS

 Alameda Avenue and Clinton Street

Designed and run for adults 55 and over, Windsor Gardens is located on 143 acres. 

With 3500 residents, this community bustles with activity.  There’s a 3 hole golf course and a huge community center offering  a restaurant, classrooms, an auditorium, meeting rooms and a library.  Windsor Gardens may be for “older” folks, but provides an abundance of goings-on for the healthy and energetic member. 

Among the classes available are yoga, ballroom dance, tap dance, bridge, Spanish, chorus and ceramics.

There’s an outdoor pool and jacuzzi, and a community shuttle bus.

Twenty-four hour security and the Highline Canal make this a pleasant place for walkers.

If you are over 55, and are thinking of condominium/townhome living, Windsor Gardens is certainly worth exploring.

CSU Going Green

Carbon Neutral by 2020

 

 

Goal set by college President Larry Penley

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_10440814