The response by the local community to The Americas Roundtable dialogue series has been tremendous,” said the president of The Americas Roundtable, Jim Polsfut. “Upon release of tickets to the general public, more than half of the main floor seats in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House have already been sold, amounting to more than 6,000 tickets.”
The Americas Roundtable will take place on July 6, 7, 8, 12, and 28 in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, located within the Denver Performing Arts Complex in downtown Denver. The Roundtable series is a primary component of the Biennial of the Americas. Timed with the bicentennials in 2010 of Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia as well as the centennial of the Organization of American States, the Biennial of the Americas serves to promote cohesion and collaboration among the 35 countries of the Western Hemisphere.
The Americas Roundtable is comprised of seven distinct sessions – on trade, education, energy and climate change, philanthropy, poverty reduction, health, and women in leadership, as well as a Summit of Former Heads of State and a Bilateral Summit of Ambassadors.
Among confirmed participants in The Americas Roundtable series are: U.S. Cabinet officers including Sec. Hilda Solís of Labor and Sec. Ray LaHood of Transportation; 14 former heads of state including President Alejandro Toledo of Peru and President Vicente Fox of Mexico; members of the diplomatic core including Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer, U.S. Ambassador to the Argentina Vilma Martinez, and Panamanian Ambassador Jaime Alemán;
Senior government officials from the Western Hemisphere including Colombia’s Minister of Education Cecilia María Vélez and the Vice President of Ecuador Lenin Voltaire Moreno Garcés; and directors of international organizations including Secretary General José Miguel Insulza of the Organization of American States and President Luis Alberto Moreno of the Inter-American Development Bank.
Actor and Founder of Hollywood Unites for Haiti Jimmy Jean-Louis as well as Nely Gálan, TV producer of successful shows such as “The Swan,” also will take part, along with numerous other leaders representing business, academia, media, and non-profit organizations.
Scheduled for July 12, the Summit of Former Heads of State has received particular attention as one of the events of The Americas Roundtable. “Never before in the United States have so many former presidents from the Western Hemisphere appeared together,” Polsfut said, “numbering 14 former heads of state in all. Their presence in Denver provides what is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for the general public,” Polsfut added.
In November of last year, the former presidents delivered at the Ibero-American Summit held in Portugal a formal Social Agenda, complete with recommendations on 16 pivotal social issues. In Denver on July 12, the former presidents will discuss that Agenda for the first time in the United States.
Tickets for The Americas Roundtable are available on www.TicketHorse.com and are priced at $12 for general public admission with discounts for seniors, students and members of the military.
For more information, visit BiennialoftheAmericas.org.
BAM at Telluride Jazz Fest, Dazzle, Broadway Music School
The Telluride Jazz Celebration presents the Bob Montgomery Al Hermann Sextet and BAM the first week end in August (August 6, 7 and 8).
Take a world class rhythm section: Marc Sabatella, piano, Ken Walker, bass, Mike Marlier, drums, and add a front line of Al Hermann, trombone, Marguerite Juenemann, vocalese and Bob Montgomery, trumpet, performing a combination of familiar and unfamiliar music arranged for this unique combination of brass, voice and rhythm.
Creatively entwined in improvisational performance, BAM presents a fresh musical adventure for your ears and your heart. Don’t miss this terrific new ensemble at the Telluride Jazz Celebration. Dazzle Jazz will present the Bob Montgomery Al Hermann Sextet and BAM for shows at 7 p.m. and 9 pm on Saturday, July 31. BAM will also be appearing at the Broadway Music School on Friday, July 16, at 1940 S. Broadway.
For more information, visit telluridejazz.org, dazzlejazz.com and broadwaymusicschool.com.
Biennial of the Americas Kicks Off
Mayor Hickenlooper hosted a kick-off press conference to officially launch the Biennial of the Americas last month at the McNichols Building in Civic Center Park.
The largest international event in the United States this year, the Biennial of the Americas is a month-long celebration featuring the culture, ideas and people of the Western Hemisphere, hosted by the City of Denver.
Throughout the month of July, Denver will welcome national and international visitors for a cross-cultural experience bridging and unifying the artistic, intellectual and political progress of the hemisphere’s 35 nations.
The Biennial of the Americas will include hundreds of cultural events and provocative discussions by world leaders.
Originally built in 1909, the expansive three-story McNichols Building will house the main Biennial of the Americas exhibition, The Nature of Things, which features 24 contemporary artists from throughout the Americas.
For more information, visit biennialoftheamericas.org.
Boat Ride Like No Other! Venice On The Creek
Fourteen summers ago when the first boat launched on the Cherry Creek, history was made. The first British punt to take to American waters was also the first real boat to be able to make its way up and down the Cherry Creek since the early pioneers had laid claim to the land that would become Denver.
Less than six inches deep for most of the year, the Cherry Creek was hardly the easiest place to set up a boating operation designed to capture the imagination of Denver’s residents about what could be possible along this urban stretch of creek. The task required constructing a one-of-a-kind lock-and-dam system in the Cherry Creek that would, for the first time in its history, allow for enough water for a boat to float. Not to mention that the system had to be designed to only temporarily make the Cherry Creek deeper to avoid raising water levels too high within the flood channel.
That first summer, the boats floated on a 15-minute “tour” though one boat lock. This summer our fleet of six boats (two of which were hand built in Denver) will glide on 40-minute trips through two of four total locks on the creek. The two new boats are wooden, and a truly unique in their look, design and origin.
This summer, for the first time ever, we are offering two distinct floats on the Cherry Creek. One will embark from Confluence Park, the birthplace of Denver, and travel upstream into LoDo before turning around to head back, and the other will start at Creekfront Plaza in the heart of Lower Downtown and float downstream before making the turnaround.
Floating on the Cherry Creek in 2010, is a totally different experience than it was in 1996. Empty and abandoned buildings have been replaced with high end Lofts. Empty dirt lots are filled with new glass buildings, and the trails are packed with walkers, joggers, bikers and commuters who use the urban greenways to find a patch of green in the heart of the city. What took imagination to envision for our urban waterway in 1996 is reality today.
Join us this summer for a gentle float up and down the Cherry Creek. It is truly a one of a kind experience, and the best part is that all of the proceeds from the boat rides are invested right back into youth employment, education, free events, and enhancements to our urban greenways so that what we can only imagine today can be a reality tomorrow.
Venice on the Creek is open (weather Permitting) on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. through August 14. Reservations can be made by phone or online.
For more information, veniceonthecreek.com.
Dovetail Solutions Aids Gardens
Dovetail Solutions (dovetail solutions™), a Denver-based public relations and branding firm, completed its annual community service day recently. This year Dovetail Solutions, along with clients, friends and family, partnered with the Denver Botanic Gardens and volunteered their morning to help develop the Children’s Garden.
Volunteers took part in a number of activities, including moving dwarf conifers and transplanting and potting perennials. The Dovetail team enjoyed the great weather and breathtaking landscapes at the Denver Botanic Gardens. About 250 trees and perennials were planted in the Children’s Garden on Saturday that will be seen for years to come.
“It was great to have the entire dovetail team, clients, friends and more come out to give back to the community,” said Andy Boian, CEO and founder of Dovetail Solutions. “We truly believe in community investment and take pride in our annual service day.”
The Denver Botanic Gardens’ mission is to connect people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing pleasure and enlightenment to everyone. Denver Botanic Gardens strives to entertain and delight while spreading the collective wisdom of the Gardens through outreach, collaboration and education. Their conservation programs play a major role in saving species and protecting natural habitats for future generations.
Dovetail Solutions is a public relations and positioning firm that focuses on the idea of strategic community investment being a cornerstone of any marketing and business development platform to promote brand awareness and improve the bottom line.
For more information, call 720-226-9595 or visit dovetailsolutions.com.
Parks and Rec Trains Behavior Coaches
In an effort to crack down on poor adult behavior in youth sports Denver Parks and Recreation (Colo.) has trained more than 200 coaches in the past year alone through the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS).
The special training is part of Denver Parks and Recreation’s ongoing efforts to help ensure that its programs are protected from unacceptable behaviors and it has emerged as one of the leaders in Colorado in coaches training.
Along with more than 3,500 other communities across the country, Denver Parks and Recreation is a member of NAYS, which means their volunteer youth sports coaches are trained and insured through NAYS’ coach membership organization, the National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA). The training sessions are aimed at helping adults maintain proper perspective in youth sports and also hold them accountable to a strict code of ethics.
Requirements such as these are becoming commonplace in youth sports leagues today in response to the growing epidemic of poor adult behavior at youth sporting events.
Denver Parks and Recreation is dedicated to providing the safest and most positive youth sports environment possible for children and NYSCA and its long-standing reputation as the industry leader in volunteer coach education has proven to be the perfect fit.
Traditional NYSCA clinics are held in classroom-like settings which promote group discussion. However, an ever increasing number of communities are opting for the more convenient online option which can be completed from the comfort of a home computer.
Coaches who attend NYSCA trainings are eligible to receive the full benefits of NAYS membership, which includes excess liability insurance up to $1,000,000, an annual subscription to SportingKid magazine, information on skills and drills, access to the NYSCA Coaching Forum, discounts on various background check providers and sports equipment manufacturers, and much more.
To ensure that Denver Parks and Recreation’s coaches uphold the standards of behavior set forth by NYSCA, Denver Parks and Recreation is given access to the easy-to-use NYSCA Coach Rating System. This innovative feature, which is exclusive to NYSCA members, allows parents to evaluate their child’s youth coaches anonymously with just a few clicks of a mouse. League administrators have full access to evaluators’ identities and results, while coaches are only able to see anonymous overall results.
Evaluating a coach’s performance mid-season is something that NAYS strongly encourages. They serve as a great tool for coaches to attain useful and immediate feedback on how they are performing at anytime during the season.
EATS Outdoor Café at Civic Center
Located in Denver’s historic Civic Center park, Civic Center EATS is Downtown Denver’s award-winning outdoor café with live music and an urban flair.
Civic Center EATS Outdoor Café provides an opportunity for downtown employees, residents and visitors to experience Civic Center Park, enjoy a delicious outdoor lunch in spectacular urban and historic surroundings, listen to live music, and connect with the community.
Our first week was filled with delicious and diverse vendors, great energy, and many loyal customers. Join us this Tuesday for another wonderful Civic Center EATS with live music from the Lovely and Talented. Tuesdays, through August 31, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the Central Promenade at Civic Center Park.
Sabor at Botanic Gardens
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver is proud to present the 3rd Annual Sabor, a gastronomic showcase featuring international wines, beer, spirits and signature food from Denver’s top restaurants and distributors.
Sabor is an opportunity for sponsors, businesses, and professionals to network while enjoying over 40 vendors. With over 2500 attendees last year, our sponsors receive great promotional exposure.
Sabor will take place at the Denver Botanic Gardens where attendees can experience Henry Moore’s monumental sculptures in a wide range of gardens and collections that illustrate an ever-widening diversity of plants from all corners of the world.
A VIP Pre-Taste at the Denver Botanic Gardens will kick off Sabor by offering early entrance to exclusive samples and tastes. When Sabor concludes, our sponsors and VIP guests will have access to our VIP Post Party for great entertainment and networking. August 6, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with pre-tasting 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. VIP Post Party will be from 9 p.m. to midnight.
To purchase tickets, call 303-534-7783 or visit hispanicchamberdenver.org. Tickets also available at King Soopers.
Jefferson Rubin Exhibit, Documentary, Fundraiser
In association with the Jefferson D. Rubin Memorial Fund, Colorado Public Television (CPT12-KBDI PBS) invites the public to the Mercantile Ballroom at the Wynkoop Brewing Company, 1634 18th St. on Monday July 26, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., for a special one night art exhibit in remembrance of sculpture artist Jefferson D. Rubin (1959–1995).
The exhibit and fundraiser for the upcoming CPT12 documentary Jefferson Rubin: The Hero’s Journey are free with donations accepted.
Inspired at the age of 11, on a family vacation to Italy, by the sight of Michelangelo’s David, Jefferson Rubin set off on a journey of artistic perfection. In his early twenties, after attending East High School, graduating from Manual High School in 1977, and CU Boulder in 1981, Jefferson Rubin returned to Italy. Rubin toured Europe by bicycle and the young artist found inspiration, and began to acquire the skills to mould himself into a world class sculptor.
The documentary Jefferson Rubin: The Hero’s Journey will reveal the passionate story of the artist in his own words and through the remembrances of family, friends and art world aficionados. Combining his knowledge of archaeology with his love and fascination for Greco-Roman and Renaissance art, Jefferson followed his artistic vision to create figurative sculpture out of clay, stone, and bronze. The male and female torsos, that Jefferson called “frammenti” were at once classical and contemporary.
His artwork was widely collected and exhibited in museums and galleries. After studying and working in Italy and New York, Jefferson returned to his native Colorado, where he founded La Scuola Classical Sculpture in Denver. His untimely death from an unfortunate mountain accident at the age of 36 robbed the world of a passionate soul and a true artistic maestro.
Jefferson’s artwork can be seen in the Fresco Fine Art Publication: Frammenti Della Vita, The Art and Writings of Jefferson D. Rubin.
Underwriting contributions to help with the production costs of the documentary should be made out to CPT12, noted Jefferson Rubin Project and (if unable to attend the event) mailed to CPT12 PBS, 2900 Welton Street, Denver CO 80205, or call 303-296-1212 for credit card donations.
For more information, visit jeffersonrubin.com.
Healthcare Networking Mixer
Colorado Healthcare Communicators (CHC), the state’s public relations and marketing society for healthcare professionals, has scheduled its Annual Summer Networking Mixer. Please RSVP early. This year’s CHC Annual Summer Networking Mixer will be held at the Cork House, 4900 East Colfax Ave.
CHC’s Annual Summer Networking Mixer is scheduled for Wednesday, July 21, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cork House. It is free for CHC members ($10 for non-members), so RSVP now for this excellent opportunity to mingle and network with the best and brightest healthcare professionals in Colorado.
There will be hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, as well as raffle prizes. CHC is also offering current and new members the opportunity to renew their membership at the Cork House and receive a free breakfast seminar.
For more information, visit healthcarecommunicators.org.
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile continues its run at The Barth Hotel through August 14 and tickets are still available. Thursday performances, $25; Friday performances, $35; Saturday performances, $45.
For more information, visit Senior Housing Options online.
Mile High Dance Festival
Celebrate the Americas through the art of dance July 17 at the Mile High Dance Festival. The acclaimed Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre presents an evening of entertainment that celebrates the cultural and historic connections between dance in Colorado and the Americas.
In honor of Cleo Parker Robinson’s birthday and the Biennial of the Americas, the event will host the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Fiesta Colorado, Hannah Kahn Dance Company, Kim Olson/Sweet Edge, Folklorico Sabor Latino and more.
Take in the international experience of the Mile High Dance Festival for an evening you won’t forget. Mile High Dance Festival, at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre, 119 Park Ave. West. Saturday, July 17, 7 p.m.
For more information, call 303-295-1795 or visit cleoparkerdance.org.
Skyline Park Free Movies Concerts
Skyline Park will be filled with entertainment this summer with free showings of family favorites like Field of Dreams and performances from talented local musicians. Make the most of a fun and friendly atmosphere and swing by Skyline Park for an evening movie or a Friday lunchtime concert.
Skyline Park Free Summer Concerts: Fridays, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.; Coles Whalen, July 16; Bob Skism, July 23; Halden Walford And The Hi Beams, July 30. Mile High Movies: Kung Fu Panda, July 17; Madagascar, July 31.
Skyline Park Free Concerts/Movies Skyline Park (16th and Arapahoe) sponsored by the Downtown Denver Partnership and Southwest Airlines.
For more information, call 303-534-6161 or visit downtowndenver.com.
DDP Forum Advantages of Working Downtown
A Downtown Denver business address can be valuable for employee retention and recruitment. Hear insider tips and learn how to capitalize on your Downtown Denver location.
Attendees of this event will be able to: Articulate the value of a Downtown Denver location to employees and employers; learn about amenities, transportation and events in downtown; get inside information on Employee Appreciation Week. Thursday, June 17, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Grand Hyatt Denver, 1750 Welton St.
To register, contact bwarnick@ downtowndenver.com. (registration closes noon on June 16).
The response by the local community to The Americas Roundtable dialogue series has been tremendous,” said the president of The Americas Roundtable, Jim Polsfut. “Upon release of tickets to the general public, more than half of the main floor seats in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House have already been sold, amounting to more than 6,000 tickets.”