LoDoNA Hits New Year Running

Join new and old friends at the first WeeBoT of 2012, and celebrate the newest restaurant opening in LoDo, World Famous Charlie Palmer’s District Meats. Free appetizers and drink specials during the entire event, and a great opportunity to connect with your neighborhood.

Don’t miss this opportunity to try out this great new restaurant and have the opportunity to win great door prizes. January 12, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 pm, at District Meats, 625 Wazee St.

LoDoNA and DDRO are co-hosting a public safety forum to address issues affecting residents such as sleeping on the mall, graffiti, and other quality-of-life issues. Councilwoman Judy Montero and others will be on the panel. January 19, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wynkoop Brewery, 1634 18th St.

Plan to attend the most-fun-you-will-ever-have-at-a-meeting event: the LoDoNA Annual Meeting on February 8, at the newly renovated Saddlery Building, featuring an opportunity to learn from some of the signature chefs here in LoDo. LoDo has become a international culinary destination, with more than a dozen award-winning restaurants in every cuisine. Celebrate all that our neighborhood has to offer, and find out what we have in store for 2012. February 8, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at 15th and Wynkoop. See ads on pages 6 and 9.

Get State Straight Weekly on RMPBS

Each week on Rocky Mountain PBS, Cynthia Hessin, an Emmy-Award-winning broadcast journalist, convenes a group of expert guests to discuss topics in the news, from the economy and the environment to education and other issues pertinent to the Colorado audience.

Colorado State of Mind draws journalists, policy makers and experts from a range of fields and every point of view for a balanced, informative discussion. The program is part of the network’s Friday night public affairs lineup, which includes the PBS NewsHour, Washington Week and Need to Know. Join the discussion every Friday at 7:30 p.m. or online at rmpbs.org/stateofmind.

Each week, 1.2 million people throughout Colorado turn to Rocky Mountain PBS to discover inspiring local, national and international programming; find diverse viewpoints; score front row center seats to world-class performances; and experience lifelong learning opportunities.

Rocky Mountain PBS celebrates its 55th anniversary on the air this year. The network began in Denver in 1956 as Colorado’s first public television station. It is now Colorado’s only statewide television network.

For more information, visit rmpbs.org.

SnowFest Blizzard Hits Denver

This year, Denver will once again be the center of the snow sports universe when the SIA Snow Show, the world’s largest snow sports trade show, is staged in the Mile High City, January 26–29. To welcome the show’s 19,000 attendees in high style, Visit Denver is sponsoring the third annual Mile High SnowFest, a four-day celebration of all things snow, January 25–28.

Mile High SnowFest showcases the many ways that Denver rolls out the white carpet to the VIPs of the snow sports industry, including: Winter on the Rocks, the first-ever winter concert at Red Rocks; Art of Winter, a multi-site, snow-inspired exhibition of original ski and snowboard art; free ice skating at downtown’s Southwest Rink at Skyline Park, activities at the Denver Pavilions and, as always, great events and deals at Downtown Denver’s top restaurants, bars and clubs.

Events and specials are listed on the Mile High SnowFest website, with new events and deals throughout the month.

“Denver is the number-one snow sports urban center in America, and we want to show the 19,000 delegates coming to the Snow Show, that nobody knows the industry like the Mile High City,” states Richard Scharf, president & CEO of Visit Denver, The Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Activities during Mile High SnowFest include: Winter On The Rocks, January 27: The first ever winter concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, will feature multiple acts for Snow Show attendees. Icelantic Skis and AEG Live Rocky Mountains are teaming up to produce the show, featuring top hip hop band Atmosphere as well as R&B superstar Common.

Southwest Rink At Skyline Park, through January 28: Skyline Park is the place for family fun during SnowFest. Take advantage of free ice skating seven days a week. Skate rental is just $2 or bring your own pair and skate for free. Snowdown 2012 is Colorado’s largest kickoff party during the Snow Show, bringing headlining national and local entertainment to Denver’s City Hall on January 26. Snowdown features an all-nighter line up of performances on five stages with headliner Dilated Peoples and special guests.

Catch a green ride to-and-from Denver Pavilions on the 16th Street Mall to the Colorado Convention Center via Pedicabs. Pedicabs will run complimentary round trip service during the show from Denver Pavilions.

Witness the creation of a spectacular 3-D chalk drawing in anticipation Denver’s historic winter concert at Red Rocks. Come see how it’s done as local artist Stephen DeOrio turns Denver Pavilion’s plaza pavers into a picturesque 3-D interactive chalk drawing of the epic concert venue. Pose for photos on the drawing and be entered into a Facebook contest for prizes.

Snow-inspired exhibitions feature the works of Colorado artists including: Colorado artist and designer, Sam Mobley, commissioned to create an installation of hanging cardboard gondolas in the lobby of the Colorado Convention Center. Using everyday objects and re-imagining them, Sam Mobley inspires people to think big but start small. This installation will consist of three full-size gondola cars on display during the Snow Show.

Colorado is home to many of the world’s most acclaimed outdoor filmmakers. Through film, they capture the stories of adventurers and risk-takers who inspire others to take action in pursuit of their dreams. Five recognized filmmakers share their most inspirational and awe inspiring footage by weaving a series of short vignettes to be shown throughout the Art of Winter on select LEDs in downtown Denver.

With non-traditional canvasses made out of recycled skis and snowboards, select Colorado artists are challenged to create snow sport-inspired masterpieces. The resulting original works from more than 20 artists and designers will be displayed outdoors, against the backdrop of winter on Historic Larimer Square.

13th Annual Transworld Snowboarding Riders’ Poll Awards, January 27, at Filmore Auditorium: The awards honor the sport’s best athletes of the year, with the winners determined by polling the world’s most respected riders in snowboarding. Snowboarding’s top professional athletes and the industry’s elite will honor the best in the sport.

Throughout Mile High SnowFest, great deals and events are being offered at Denver’s best restaurants, bars and clubs.

For more information, visit Mile High SnowFest online.

Women Plus Film Festival

The Denver Film Society’s Women+Film Voices Film Festival, March 6–11, announces the MacSpa Mobile Movie Making Workshop and On-line Mobile Film Festival to run in conjunction with the W+F Voices Film Festival held at the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax.

Produce a two-to-three minute video, created on a mobile device, about a woman who inspires you or who has an interesting story to tell. The video will promote the mission behind the W+F Voices Film Festival to celebrate inspiring stories and help women claim their voices in society.

The video must be shot and created on a mobile device, such as the iPhone, Android, iPod Touch or iPad. Anyone can participate. Participation from one person or a team is permitted but there can be only one submission per team. Sign up for the Mobile Film-Fest by sending an RSVP to tammy@denverfilm.org; additional information will be provided upon your email. Deadline is 10 a.m. Monday, January 16.

The MacSpa Mobile Moviemaking Workshop and informational meeting will be held Tuesday, January 17, at 6 p.m. Basic information on the Mobile Film-Fest will be discussed and MacSpa of Denver will give a short workshop and overview of shooting and editing on mobile devices. Completed videos will be posted and showcased on-line thru the Denver Film Society starting Sunday, February 19.

In addition to the on-line showcase the most popular videos will play as shorts before films at the W+F Voices Film Festival. Winners will be announced at a reception on Tuesday, February 28, and prizes will be awarded to the top five favorite videos.

For more information, visit denverfilm.org.

Cowboy Gathering to Honor Heritage

The Colorado Cowboy Gathering celebrates 23 years of cowboy heritage starting Friday, January 20 through Sunday, January 22. This year’s event features an exciting line-up of headlining performers, including:

Baxter Black, arguably the best known Cowboy Poet of all time. Black wears the hat and weaves a great cowboy rhyme. Enjoy an evening with this legend of the prairie. Dave Stamey, one of the most popular Western entertainers in the world, who has been has been voted Entertainer of the Year, three times.

Gary McMahan is more than a triple threat performer, he is a nationally recognized cowboy poet, songwriter, entertainer, storyteller and humorist. Carol Heuchan is Australia’s award-winning bush poet extraordinaire and Performer of the Year.

This three-day roundup includes two evening performances, two full-days of popular theme session matinees, authentic chuck-wagon cookin’, and the first-ever televised Cowboy Variety Show in the Gathering’s 23 year history. The weekend captures the true spirit and lifestyle of the Cowboy heritage through poetry, song and verse. At the American Mountaineering Center in Golden. Easy access and ample free parking.

For more information, visit ColoradoCowboyGathering.com. Tickets online or at 888-718-4253.

Give Hope Center 50,000 Lights

Hope Center has entered its 50th year of service as a community agency based in the Heart of Denver. In existence since 1962 providing quality Early Childhood Education (ECE) for children from all backgrounds and Vocational services to adults with developmental disabilities.

Nationally accredited since 1984 and an ECE program with a 4-Star Qualistar rating for over 10 years, the agency’s programs have benefited from servicing around 50,000 combined families, community members and individuals in its lifetime. Hope Center attributes its success to highly skilled staff, teachers with degrees specializing in Early Childhood Education, committed families and extended community partners.

One of Hope Center’s Community Partners, Mile High United Way, featured a five year old student from Hope Center in an article about MHUW’s School Readiness Initiative. Another highlight featured Hope Center in the Denver Post titled “School lays foundation for youngsters.”

Hope Center’s success for another 50 years and ability to impact another 50,000 lives relies on you. The demand for high quality early childhood education services and vocational programs are greater than Denver’s current ability to supply. Hope Center is in need of monetary donations designated for tuition scholarships, funding for the purchase of quality resources in the classroom, revenue for building improvements and renovation in efforts to maintain safe and secure learning environments and so much more.

Hope Center’s premier ECE program is located at 3400 Elizabeth St. and Vocational program at 3475 Holly St. in Denver. Hope Center is a non-profit 501(c) 3, whose funding stream depends on gifts and grants from individuals like you. Currently, their ECE program serves over 200 families predominately from lower socio-economic households with over sixty-seven percent in need of aid for tuition assistance.

To celebrate its 50th year, Hope Center invites all to attend its 7th Annual Vintage Vegas, Million Lights of Hope Fundraising event on Saturday, March 10. The Agency’s desire is to raise more than $50,000. Your light will shine bright when you make an investment in Hope Center today. Invest by volunteering, attending a Fundraising Event or make a financial contribution.

For more information, call 303-388-4801 or visit hopecenterinc.org.

Red Rocks to Host First Winter Concert

Yes, the rumors have proved true and Red Rocks Amphitheatre will open its concert doors for its first-ever winter concert on January 27.

Red Rocks will host Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks, brought to you by Icelantic and AEG Live Rocky Mountains, featuring Atmosphere, Common, and Grieves + Budo. This landmark event celebrates winter in Colorado at one of the most iconic venues in the world.

Tickets through Ticketmaster and the Ogden Theatre.

Donation Planning Demands Good Research

In the current economic climate, it is more important than ever to ensure your monetary donations are going to legitimate causes and being allocated properly.

According to charitywatch.org, there are close to 1.9 million nonprofit organizations in the United States today. These organizations are the fastest growing sector in the U.S. economy. For the most part, you can trust the organizations soliciting you for donations. However, there are some untrustworthy organizations and people who use respectable organizations to run scams.

While it is important to research an organization in order to avoid being a target for a con, it is also a good idea to fully research legitimate organizations to better understand the causes you are supporting and where your dollars will go.

Where can I research charitable organizations? Many organizations exist to help donors evaluate nonprofit organizations. Here are just a few you can use to determine the charity to best fit your interests: Better Business Bureau, American Institute of Philanthropy, charitywatch.org and 2.guidestar.org

Research their websites. Most reputable charitable organizations will have at least a basic website where you can find more information about their mission and how they use their funding.

Contact the organization directly. If the website doesn’t provide adequate information, look for an e-mail address or phone number to contact the organization and ask questions. Beware of organizations that reach out to you and don’t provide specific information. Also pay attention to the name of the organization. Some scams will use an organization name that sounds similar to a well-known charitable organization to entice people to donate.

Request written information. If the organization doesn’t already provide additional information on their website, ask for more information when contacting the organization directly.

It is perfectly acceptable to ask how much of your donation goes to the different areas of a nonprofit organization. For example, part of a donation might go to general administration and fundraising expenses, while another part might go to a program or service provided by the organization. The American Institute of Philanthropy Charity Rating Guide states that most highly efficient charities are able to spend 75 percent or more on programs. However, this percentage might vary depending on how big the organization, how well-known the cause is to the public and how established the organization is.

Avoid paying donations with cash, when possible. Rather, pay with a credit/debit card or a check. This will allow you to keep a record of your donations for both bookkeeping and tax purposes.

When researching a charitable organization, determine whether or not a contribution is tax deductible. Some nonprofits are tax exempt, which means the organization does not have to pay taxes. This is different from tax deductible, which means your contribution can be used as a deduction on your income tax return.

Some employers offer matching programs for charitable donations in which your company will contribute the same amount as you up to a specific maximum dollar amount.

For more information, contact Erika.Whitman@umb.com or 303-605-6000.

See ad on page 18

Delightful History Colorado Tours Slated

Tea in the Wyman Historic District. Friday, January 20, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (16th and Race St.) Brush up on your knowledge of tea and architecture as we spend an afternoon in the Wyman Historic District. A walking tour will include the Trinity Temple Building, Milheim House, Castle Marne, the House of 1000 Candles, and other homes in the Wyman Historic District.

Following the tour, you will enjoy high tea at one of Denver’s best destinations for afternoon tea: the Denver Tea Room, tucked into the Victorian Holiday Chalet Bed and Breakfast. Media and patrons alike praise the Denver Tea Room for its inspired tea selection, delicious food and elegant interior. Owner Margo Seymour is a certified Tea Master. $42 members, $52 nonmembers

History Colorado 2012 Tour and Trek Summit. Thursday, January 26, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Grant-Humphreys Mansion, 770 Pennsylvania). What better venue for announcing our exciting year of treks than a Summit? Mile-high folks just love the altitude, and this event will take you to new heights. Join us at the second annual History Colorado Tour and Trek Summit where we’ll share the entire year’s menu of tours, answer questions and get your calendars full of more fun. We also want to hear about the tours you would like to see in the future, especially after our new building opens. Refreshments provided. RSVP to Cheryl Graham at 303-866-4686.

Loveland Valentine Tour Friday, February 3, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (1310 Bannock St.) Join us for a tour to the heart of love in Colorado, the city of Loveland. The Valentine’s Day Re-Mailing Program keeps the postal system in Loveland busy, stamping and sending out more than 200,000 envelopes filled with love every year. You’ll get your valentines personally stamped, ready to send off to the sweetheart of your choice.

We’ll also visit the museum to see the valentine poems and art of the past. We’ll even take in one or two of the city’s famous statues and more. The tour includes an hour for lunch; bring some money to cover your meal. $41 members, $51 nonmembers

Cherokee Ranch Castle Tea and Tour (meet at castle in Sedalia). Thursday, February 9, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The sun of February may be brittle, but the warmth of tea and turrets will surely compensate. Join us at the Cherokee Ranch Castle, where antiques and artwork will lead to oohs and aahs. An exclusive tour of the historic mansion for History Colorado guests will leave you wondering if you have ended up somewhere on the Continent. Exquisite and not to be missed. A formal tea, that most civilized of affairs, will make the day complete. $52 members, $62 nonmembers

A Leap Year Chocolate Tour, Wednesday, February 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (1310 Bannock St.) At Roberta’s Chocolates, Candies and Nuts, you will meet the extended family that whips up unexpected combinations such as chocolate dipped jalapenos and pickles along with more conventional sweets. At Sweet Nothings Chocolate Company, you will learn about owner Ashley Walsh’s experimentation and how she infuses chocolate with flavors such as hibiscus or tea. The owners will share their techniques, demonstrate processes, and provide samples.

We will stop for lunch at Cake Crumbs, a Park Hill treasure. Participants should bring money to buy goodies and something more for lunch. $36 members, $46 nonmembers.

For more information, visit historycolorado.org.