Jeffco Crew #003 - Model Trains, Cookoffs, and Board Games
Good morning, and welcome to the 3rd edition of Jeffco Crew!
🙏 Jeffco residents survey
This week, share your ideas for the best 🛷 sledding hills in Jeffco. I'm working on a master list to send everyone in next week's issue.
🔑 Some reader tips
Great time of year to join your neighborhood associations - Lakewood has a list here. Do other Jeffco communities have lists somewhere? A reader suggest this is one Lakewood's best pizza joints. Another says for Chicago style, but not deep dish (iykyk), head to Nicolo's. A specialty fish market, maybe the best in the state (their IG account is great). A sneaky-great liquor store is tucked up towards Red Rocks.
❤️ Thanks to Nora, Jennifer, Troy and Nancy for tips this week. Share your tips here.
⚡️ Highlight Happenings
☃️ International Snow Sculpture Championships
This weekend in Breckenridge marks the kickoff for Viewing Week of the completed snow sculptures from the finalists in this international competition. Artists will transform 12-foot-tall, 25-ton blocks of snow into intricate works of art, creating a temporary outdoor art gallery in historic downtown. They will have been sculpting 24hrs a day for five days when the viewing window opens up on Friday. Saturday is the only day that requires FREE reservations, all other days until January 29th are open for viewing without any prior reservations.
🐂 Western Stock Show wraps up
The iconic 16 day event wraps up this weekend with activities for all ages every day until Sunday. Dancing horses, llama and alpaca shows, and of course the semi-finals and championships for the Pro Rodeo.
🍝 Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit RMDS
This Friday from 5:30 - 7:30pm the Rocky Mountain Deaf School is hosting their annual spaghetti dinner to support MS/HS students' youth programs & trips this year. They're making adorable Instagrams about it, and they're having a silent auction as well.
🗓️ Upcoming Things to Do
This section is a work in progress, and your feedback or ideas are appreciated!
––– Tuesday 1/21 –––
1:30 - 3:30pm / Lakewood Library (Lakewood) - 📕 Local author presentation, as Kady Martin reflects on the turmoil of growing up with a schizophrenic father offering a poignant tale of adversity, hope and faith as portrayed in her book, Life in the Shadows.
5:30pm / Golden Trail Runners (Morrison) - 🏃🏻♀️ Bear Creek Lake Run, route is a mix of concrete trail, road, and dirt for a 6.75 mile loop that takes you around the lake and up Mt. Carbon to the look-out. Meet at 5:30, first steps at 5:45 - libations at Roof Top Tavern in Morrison afterwards.
––– Wednesday 1/22 –––
9am / Gateway Trailhead (Golden) - Golden Walks, a weekly meetup open to anyone who'd like to stroll along the Peaks to Plains trail adjacent to Clear Creek with some local company.
6pm / Odyssey Beerwerks (Arvada) - 🎿 Hot Wax and Pint Night, bring your skis or snowboard in for a hot wax and pint of beer for only $20.
6 - 8:30pm / Cactus Jack's Saloon (Evergreen) - 🎶 Live music with Violet Breeze, a Denver duo making stripped-down, heartfelt renditions of songs across various genres, including country ballads, 90s alternative, reggae, soul, blues, jazz, and more.
6:30 - 8:30pm / New Terrain Brewing Co (Golden) - 📚 Women's Wednesday Book Club, a fun intelligent group of women getting together for a recurring women's book club. Finishing the book is not required to attend, this month's book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
––– Thursday 1/23 –––
5:45pm / Runners Roost (Lakewood) - 🏃 On Demo Run Club. Complete a lap while taking some demo shoes for a test run around Belmar Park (2.5-5 miles), with social time, refreshments and snacks to follow
6pm / Runners Roost (Golden) - 🏃 Run Club. First time runners, walkers, and competitive athletes who show up, run and enjoy great conversations, some snacks and a refreshing beverage. They have a GroupMe chat too.
6 - 9pm / New Terrain Brewing Co. - 🎶 Live music with the Bill McKay Band, formerly lead singer of the Derek Trucks Band, Leftover Salmon, and lots of other projects.
6 - 8pm / Barquentine Brewing Co (Edgewater) - 💻 Denver UX Meetup, a tech meetup to network, make friends, meet mentors, learn about job opportunities or simply to hang out - for anyone working in or interested in UX.
6:30pm / Little Bear Saloon (Evergreen) - 🎶 Live music with Jon Lundberg
6:30 - 8:30pm / Resolute Brewing Tap & Cellar (Arvada) - 🧩 Puzzle Competition by Missing Piece Puzzle Exchange, be the fastest group to complete a 500 piece puzzle to win prizes and bragging rights.
7 - 8:30pm / Clear Creek Makerspace - 🤖 Maker's Meetup focused on electronics, robotics and other technologies - recently a special focus on ESP32 and Arduino projects. You don't need a project started to attend.
––– Friday 1/24 –––
12pm / Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls & Toys - 🚞 Model Train Operators Weekend kicks off and lasts until Sunday, get hands on with some trains as you attempt a switch puzzle & take control of the engines on a vintage 1970s layout. Fun for all ages.
5 - 9pm / Kanon Collective - 🖼️ Art Rehoming Show, a chance to get your hands on great deals from artists looking to clear out some inventory and space in their studios.
5:30 - 9pm / Over Yonder Brewing Co (Golden) - 💍 Lala Links Popup Shop, featuring simple, modern, meaningful permanent jewelry. Bring your friends and family for a little pop-up shopping while you sip.
6pm / The Bluegrass Olde Town (Arvada) - 🎶 Live music, with singer-songwriter Scott Fowler
7pm / Rockabillies (Arvada) - 🎶 Live music from The Marmot Kings, a cover band that play everything from Jimi Hendrix to Merle Haggard, and all points in between
7pm / Buffalo Rose (Golden) - 🎶 Live music with LIVE WIRE: A Tribute to AC/DC and Devil INXSide, both self-explanatory cover bands - grab tickets here.
7:30pm / Miners Alley Performing Arts (Golden) - 🎭 Morning After Grace opening night, a heartfelt, charming comedy by Carey Crim that explores unexpected connections and second chances. See the play Thursdays through Sundays until early March.
7:30pm / Little Bear Saloon (Evergreen) - 🎶 Live music with blues, jazz and funk guitarist Austin Johnson
8pm / What If Theater (Lakewood) - 💃🏻 Improve Cabaret, an improvised musical where you get a menu of song & dance types, so the audience gets to pick what comes next. Grab tickets here.
8pm / Cactus Jack's Saloon (Evergreen) - 🎶 Live music with high-energy rock band Ethan Michael and The Fuzzheads
8:30pm / Prismajic (Lakewood) - 🤣 Don't Tell Comedy, a touring comedy show that reveals the exact location at 8am the day of. 21+ and $25 general admission, and this Facebook event suggests it may be at Prismajic in Colorado Mills Mall.
––– Saturday 1/25 –––
11am / 350 Indiana Street (Golden) - 👁️ Vision Board Party, bring your goals and dreams to life with creativity, inspiration, and fun. Materials provided—just bring your imagination!
11am - 2pm / Pet Wants Denver (Lakewood) - 🐶 Dog Adoption Event with POSO Dog Rescue (who just roadtripped 1200 miles to save a pup).
12pm / Resolute Brewing Tap & Cellar (Arvada) - 🖼️ CO Wood Panel by Canvas and Cocktails, a paint and sip social event that includes a staggered wood panel to paint with expert step-by-step guidance and a free drink for $60.
1 - 4pm / Green Mountain Beer Co - 🌶️ First Annual Chili Cookoff, $15 gets you a tasting bowl and a drink, judging at 3:30pm.
4 - 6pm / Ole 121 Brewhouse - 🎶 Live music with Matt Hynes of The Inablers
6pm / Over Yonder Brewing Co - 🎶 Live music with Mountain Duo. Hot guitars, high-energy grooves, and crowd-pleasing tunes.
6pm / Resolute Brewing Tap & Cellar (Arvada) - 🐲 DnD Night by Dungeons & Drafts, great drinks, food, and company to play a D&D one shot adventure.
7pm / Teller's Taproom (Lakewood) - 🎶 Live music with Teague Starbuck
8pm / Little Bear Saloon (Evergreen) - 🎶 Live music with Taylor Scott Band, featuring Benny from iconic funk band LETTUCE.
8pm / Cactus Jack's Saloon (Evergreen) - 🎶 Live music with DJ Williams, who was lead guitarist for widely acclaimed band Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe.
8:30pm / The Woodcellar (Evergreen) - 🎶 The Evergreen Get-Down II, a hip-hop showcase featuring four different MCs from around the country.
––– Sunday 1/26 –––
1pm / Fade It Golf And Social Bar (Arvada) - 🥕 A Dip Off, similar to a chili cookoff but for savory and sweet dips. Bring your favorite dip recipe, taste everyone's dips, and then vote on winners. Prizes for favorites in two categories: Savory and Dessert Dips.
1:30 - 5pm / Little Bear Saloon (Evergreen) - 🎶 Live music, as their Reggae Sundays series continues. All ages day show.
2 - 5pm / Painting With A Twist (Lakewood) - 🧶 Chunky Knit Workshop, where you’ll handcraft a luxuriously soft, oversized knit blanket — perfect for chilly nights or gifting someone special. No knitting experience? No problem.
5:30pm / Buffalo Rose (Golden) - 🎶 Live music from Chris Duarte, a punk blues artist, with opener Michael Morrow & The Culprits - grab tickets here.
––– Monday 1/27 –––
6pm / The Bluegrass Olde Town (Arvada) - 🎶 Live music, with Rusty Gears, three veterans of the Denver music scene playing a wide range of live and acoustic songs
💣 Help Your Community
The section where we help our neighbors if we can.
Know of any late-night coffee shops for board games? Ski wax spots? Your go-to for a decent men's haircut is? A new resident needs some tips for keeping their 5yr old entertained. What about younger toddlers? Another neighbor is looking for a pediatrician recommendation for a newborn on the way. Jean needs home insulation assistance - I hope she's warm today. Jo's heat broke so she's looking for free firewood to use while it's. And Li is hoping to find a tattoo apprenticeship. Meanwhile, Jake's considering using some of his office space to offer artists studio space.
🏚️ Pocket Change
Fun real estate finds in Jeffco that the Crew can all go in on together... someday.
⛰️ Mountain Crash Pads
Hunting down "eccentric" cabins in the area that don't break the bank.
That's a wrap
Again, thanks for being an early member of the community, and please don't hesitate to send feedback, tips or insights on your favorite things about living in Jeffco!
Derek
