Jeffco Crew #007 - Coffee Spots, Pompeii and Winterfest
Good morning, and welcome to the 7th edition of Jeffco Crew!
I'm experimenting with a new format today, because there is a lot happening around Jeffco and your inbox probably doesn't need a 5,000 word email in it.
So below you'll find a small sampling of fun stuff to explore this week. Links to the full list of every day's activities are included so you can explore just the days you're most curious about.
Best of both worlds - an easy-to-scan email and all the detail you want whenever you choose to check it out.
Let me know if you prefer this, or the old "huge email" method.
🧠 Tips from ya'll
Last week I asked what your favorite coffee shops are.
Here's a sampling of your fantastic tips:
Sam suggests Huckleberry while a different Sam (yes really) calls out Bardo & Mountain Milk Coffee (inside Wolf + Wildflower) in Wheat Ridge.
In Golden, Julia digs Humble House (who has a cocktail concept coming this Spring!) and Pangea Coffee ("Especially great for when you have your kids and hands full - walk up window, good coffee and lovely humans!").
Emily seconds Pangea, adding Atlas Coffee (Ken Caryl + Littleton locations) if you're in their area.
Over in Kittredge, Suzanne loves Amano Coffee and Plants.
And to throw in my own hat, I adore Bean Fosters in Golden (or Littleton) with their used books for sale and super cozy vibes.
Now let's hear your best bakery suggestions in Jeffco - thanks to Jayden for the idea, I'm pumped to hear these because come on who doesn't love a great bakery?
🏔️ Jeffco's 2045 Comprehensive Plan
This is our home - we can shape how it looks in 20 years. I know I plan on being here then, so I care how it looks and feels. The Comprehensive Plan is a working document laying out plans for housing, the economy, environment, transportation and more, and you can share your thoughts directly on the core document itself. Just click around and comment - kudos to the planning group for such a tech-forward approach for residents. Grab a coffee or a glass of wine and spend some time contributing to our future together.
Featured Events
A few events worth noting.
🍺 Pliny the Younger Release
Pliny the Younger, a distinguished lawyer, prolific writer, and a keen observer of the Roman Empire's social and political life, is most famous for his firsthand account of the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius that buried Pompeii. His uncle, Pliny the Elder, was of considerable influence and renown in Roman intellectual and military circles - and he set sail across the Bay of Naples on a rescue mission upon seeing the volcano's eruption cloud, which ended his life.
Which is a long way of saying that Russian River Brewing Company's Pliny the Elder and it's much less common counterpart IPA, Pliny the Younger, are two of my favorite beers. The latter typically arrives at locations across 6 states in February and promptly sells out. This serves as your notice that there are 3 more opportunities left to try Pliny the Younger in Jeffco - at Westrail Tap on Thursday, Teller's Taproom on Saturday, and The Golden Mill on the 27th.
❄️ Arvada Winterfest
Who doesn't love a good streetfest? Winterfest is a free outdoor multi-cultural celebration in the heart of Olde Town Arvada. Since its inaugural year in 2018, Winterfest highlights the variety of cultures in the community, allowing attendees to learn, and enjoy diverse arts, culture, and entertainment. Ice sculpting, a beer garden, performances and all kinds of kid-friendly activities abound.
🎬 CO Environmental Film Festival @ School of Mines
From the Great Plains in the U.S., to the coral reefs in the Maldives, to the fjords of Norway, to the rain forests of Madagascar, learn about a range of environmental issues and meet fascinating people from diverse cultures taking action across the continents. The festival highlights over 60 films from filmmakers around the world, and includes live viewing, virtual viewing and lots of other opportunities to get involved.
🗓️ Upcoming Things to Do
This is a work in progress, and your feedback or ideas are appreciated!
Tuesday 2/18
5 - 7pm / Morris & Mae (Golden) - 🚴🏼♂️ Girls, Gears & Beers Meet & Greet, open to any women interested in MTB
6 - 8pm / Kokopelli Beer Company (Westminster) - 📚 BYOB(ook) Group, read any book in this month's "Romancing the Stone" theme
6pm / Cannonball Creek Brewing Co (Golden) - 📚 Books & Benders, a new book club kicking off with Vox by Christina Dalcher
Wednesday 2/19
12:30 - 2:30pm / Jeffco Fairgrounds (Golden) - 🍎 Fruit Tree Pruning Class, a free presentation and demo of how to prune your fruit trees - dress to be outside!
Thursday 2/20
2pm / Marmalade Lounge (Arvada) - 🍸 Spring Cocktail Naming Party, sample 3 cocktails and submit name ideas (what a brilliant event)
5:30 - 7pm / Evergreen Arts Center (Evergreen) - 🎨 Intuitive Art w/ Jessica Loving, workshop without a rigid plan or preconceived outcome, no experience necessary.
6 - 8pm / Outer Range Brewing Co. (Frisco) - 🍻 Backcountry Beauties Summit County Meetup, connect and build relationships for backcountry skin touring, outdoor adventures, and friendship (they meet in Jeffco as well)
6 - 8pm / Jeffco Library (Evergreen) - 😩 Parenting in our Stress-filled World, parents will leave with tools to help address their family's needs with kindness and compassion.
Friday 2/21
6pm / The Bluegrass Lounge (Arvada) - 🎶 Live music, with Scott Fowler
8pm / Cactus Jack's (Evergreen) - 🎶 Live music with The Grobes, a Ween tribute performance
7pm / Buffalo Rose (Golden) - 🎶 Live music with cover band 6 Million Dollar Band, specializing in the best of 80s New Wave, 80s Synth Pop, and good old fashioned 80s Rock & Roll
8 - 10pm / Landlocked Ales (Lakewood) - 🤣 Rotating Tap Free Comedy Show, featuring comedians seen on Netflix, HBO, Comedy Central and more
Saturday 2/22
12 - 5pm / Aspen Creek Cellars (Bailey) - 🍷 Barrel Room Tasting Experience, Sommelier Michelle will guide you through their top rated winemaker's selection of 6 wine samplings - book ahead here
1 - 4pm / Lookout Mountain Preserve & Nature Center (Golden), ✍️ Nature Journal Club: Sketching Conifers, learn how to draw conifers including individual trees and coniferous forests. So cool - and free!
1 - 4pm / Over Yonder Brewing Co (Golden) -🐶 Adoption Event w/ Animal Rescue Of The Rockies & Old Dogs New Digs, meet adoptable dogs, sip on delicious beer, and support a great cause
6:30pm / SomePlace Else Brewery (Arvada) - 🧩 Tetris League, free to play double elimination bracket, head-to-head 2 min rounds. Most lines wins!
7:30pm / Gnarly's (Golden) - 🤣 Satur-Date Night Comedy, featuring Steve Gastineau and special guests
Sunday 2/23
2pm / Cactus Jack's (Evergreen) - 🎶 Live music with Matt Flaherty Solo
4 - 7pm / Over Yonder Brewing Co (Golden) - 🎶 Live music from singer-songwriter Angela Perry
Monday 2/24
👋 That's a wrap
As always, don't hesitate to reply to these emails with suggestions, tips or requests.
Derek
