So Many Activities for the 4th of July in Golden!

Gosh - where to start with talking about all the fun things to do in Golden this coming holiday weekend?

Friday, July 3, is Golden's First Friday, plus the downtown Midsummer Block Party. Stores will be open late, and there will be all sorts of sales, along with music and other entertainment, and activities for adults and kids. The free horse-drawn carriage rides will be available, too. After you've visited the merchants for their specials and events, stop by the block party in the parking lot between 12th and 13th at Arapahoe for free hot dogs, music from the Coors RV, Coors beer, Chipmunk Express rides, face painting and balloon animals.

Nina Storey will be performing Friday and Saturday nights at Vintner's Cellar Winery, 700 12th Street. http://www.vcgoldenwinery.com/

Over the River and Through the Woods continues at our local live theater, Miner's Alley Playhouse. http://www.minersalley.com/ (Discounted tickets for Dove Inn B&B guests.)

Saturday, July 4, begins with the Farmer's Market on 10th Street next to the library from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday evening is the monthly Super Cruise through downtown -- see vintage cars from all eras. Saturday night is our wonderful fireworks display sponsored by the Lions Club in Lions Park. http://www.goldencochamber.org/ for more information.

Update from Becky, our assistant innkeeper

Now that I have been introduced as the Dove Inn’s new assistant innkeeper there is something I must get off my chest. I have never stayed at a bed and breakfast.

During our annual family vacations we have stuck to either camping or staying in hotels. The possibility of staying at a bed and breakfast never even crossed our minds, especially with three kids in our group. My only exposure to the B&B world was on my very favorite TV show, Gilmore Girls. And I must admit the episode did not cast them in a positive light.

However, now that I've worked here for three weeks, my family and I are ready to take the plunge. I’ve realized that it is the perfect way for us to spend our vacations. We always start our days early and a continental breakfast never seems to hold us over until lunch. Our trips are so packed with activities that we usually don’t return to the hotel until well after the hotel pool has closed, which is the only amenity we really look forward to using.

It seems that the best part about staying in a B&B is the people you meet, both guests and hosts. There is a great opportunity to learn about the town you’re visiting, without taking a tour. Little known facts, special shortcuts, and must see attractions are shared all throughout breakfast.

We will be taking a vacation soon and I’m hoping we get the chance to stay in a B&B. As long as our last minute traveling doesn’t prevent us from getting a room, I’ll be sure to take some pictures and retell my first experience as a Bed and Breakfast guest!

Becky

Please check out our website, http://www.doveinn.com/, our Facebook page, and our Twitter page. And thank you for reading my Innkeeper's Blog.

Annette

Introducing Our New Assistant Innkeeper

Since 2005 Bill and Annette have been running the Dove Inn all on their own. It’s about time an extra pair of hands be added to the mix and those hands belong to me, Becky. I will be working as the assistant innkeeper for the rest of the summer. So far, I have learned some wonderful breakfast recipes and met lots of great people. It has been a very enjoyable way to spend my summer.

This fall I will be entering my last year at the University of Illinois and studying Landscape Architecture. I love spending time in Golden during my breaks from school and come back every chance I get! When my family moved here 8 years ago, the first place I went was the creek. Now it is the first place I go each summer and there is always something new to see. In my spare time I love making, and eating, cupcakes. I plan on baking something special for our guests soon!

I have learned more about innkeeping than I ever imagined in the few weeks I have been here. I am looking forward to a great summer at the Dove Inn!

Check out the inn's website, www.doveinn.com.

Making Our B&B More Environmentally Friendly

Our overall aim at the inn is to provide hotel-like amenities in a homey atmosphere, and we've been rethinking some of our practices to see how we can reduce our impact by doing more to conserve resources and eliminate waste. We've been doing many things along this line for years: recycling, taking measures to avoid wasting food, allowing guests to opt for re-using towels and linens, sending confirmations by email to reduce paper use, using energy saving light bulbs. Lately, we've adopted some new practices.

It’s important to stay hydrated in our climate, so we have provided complimentary bottled water in our rooms. This resulted in quite a large volume of recycling. Now we're offering filtered water in re-usable, BPA-free bottles. We sanitize the bottles between uses and also offer them for sale in our gift shop. We do keep some commercially-bottled water on hand for guests who prefer it.

For several years, we have provided high-quality conditioning shampoo, bath gel, and hand soap in dispensers in each room's private bath, in addition to individually-bottled amenities and wrapped bar soap. Now we've stopped including the small bottles and the bar soap, except in the Yankee Girl Room and the Shakespeare Room because the shower configuration in those rooms doesn't allow for dispensers. The products we use are Environmentally Sensitive Amenities brand available from Accent Amenities in Oregon. We will still provide the individual amenities if guests request them.

Some of our initiatives are behind the scenes. We shop with re-usable bags. Our landscaping features hardy plants that need less water. We have an energy-efficient washer and dryer (plus an older, conventional set, so we’re halfway there), and an energy-efficient dishwasher. We heat water for the inn with our boiler, which is more efficient than water heaters.

Many B&Bs are leading the way in efforts to "green" their establishments and reduce their impact. We're pleased to be a part of that effort.

Thanks for reading my Innkeeper's Blog!

Annette

Another Big Weekend Coming up in Golden

Gosh, there is so much happening this coming weekend, it's hard to know what to talk about first!

Here are some notices from local organizations:

JUNE 20: SUMMER SOLSTICE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Celebrate the official start of summer with the Golden History Museum's annual fundraiser at Clear Creek History Park. The fun is Saturday, June 20, 2009 from 5-9:30. Spread your blanket on the natural hillside amphitheater and enjoy a variety of toe-tapping live country, bluegrass, and folk music from
Halden Wofford and the Hi Beams, Dan Craig, John William Davis, and The Mile Markers. Great BBQ from the Big Kahuna will be waiting for you. Cold MillerCoors beer will quench your thirst.
Ticket prices are adults $12, Youth ages 10-17 $5, Youth under 10 free. Buy your adult tickets in advance and save $2. Tickets are non-refundable. All proceeds support the good work of the non-profit Golden History Museums. We thank MillerCoors for their sponsorship support.

(Comment: We've been to this when we've had a chance to get out -- which Innkeepers don't always get to do :) -- and it's a fun family event)

JUNE 20 & 21: Colorado Railroad Museum: FATHERS’ DAY TRAIN
9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. 303.279.4519

Colorado Railroad Museum, 17155 W. 44th Avenue, Golden, CO 80044 http://www.coloradorailroadmuseum.org/

Father's Day is coming around the track and this year, Colorado Railroad Museum has the perfect ticket to celebrate. It's the Father's Day Train Steam Up at the Colorado Railroad Museum, Saturday and Sunday June 20th and 21st. Dad gets free admission, of course, to a day full of railroad adventure. The whole family will enjoy rides throughout the day behind the 346 steam locomotive in a passenger car from another time in Colorado history. Lose track of time at the Colorado Railroad Museum this Father's Day.

(Comment: the Colorado Railroad Museum is one of the best RR museums around. It features a whole lot of rolling stock and many special events. We've had international guests who've come to Golden just to visit this museum.)

JUNE 20-21: Colorado Mountain Club: MOUNTAIN FEST 2009
11 a.m. - 7 p.m. June 20; 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. June 21 $10 members, $15 non-members

mailto:chriscase@cmc.org American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th Street, Golden

Join us at Mountain Fest (www.cmc.org/fest), a celebration of the Colorado Mountain Club, the state's premiere mountain-adventure organization dedicated to recreation, conservation, and education. Designed for beginning to expert outdoor enthusiasts, this annual event is a weekend of exciting mountain activities, music, and more.

Live Blues by Mojambus, great food, and happy hour

Booths by top outdoor companies (i.e. free stuff!)

Incredible silent auction

American Mountaineering Museum tours

Hiking, climbing, and trail maintenance

Skills clinics and demonstrations (including llama packing, bike fit demos, backcountry cooking basics, hiking 500 miles through Colorado, and many more)

Indoor rock climbing

The Colorado Mountain Club is committed to making Mountain Fest a low-waste, environmentally friendly event.

(Comment: The Colorado Mountain Club is an amazing organization dedicated to enjoyment of the wonderful outdoor activities Colorado has to offer.)

MINERS ALLEY PLAYHOUSE
Over the River & Through The Woods

Written by Joe Dipietro (I love You, You're Perfect, Now Change)
Directed by Rick Bernstein
Featuring Chris Bleau
Sue Leiser & Roger Simon
Wendy Moore & Bob Moore & Emily Norman

A Romantic Comedy: Food, fidelity and family in Hoboken, NJ. This endearing, heart-warming comedy is about the tug-of-war between ambition and meatballs! It happens when a grandson’s loyalty to his two sets of eccentric, old-fashioned grandparents is upset by a job promotion that threatens to separate them. In one of our most amusing and touching modern American comedies we find the grandparent’s leaving nothing to chance in their battle to keep their Grandson in Hoboken, even setting him up on blind dates.
For reservations call 303-935-3044 or purchase on line at http://www.minersalley.com/
(Discounts for Dove Inn guests!)

Don't miss our SECOND SATURDAY CELEBRATION

Immediately after the show you are all invited to join us for a conversation with the cast and director. This Saturday June 20!

(Comment: Miner's Alley Playhouse is our local professional theater organization. They are fabulous! We've attended as many of their plays as we possibly can -- again, we don't get out much... -- and they've all been absolutely worthwhile. Their ticket prices are incredibly reasonable, and they always deliver!)

____

And throughout the summer, here are some more great events:

TUESDAYS THRU AUG 4: Clear Creek History Park: THE GOOD OLD DAYS
10 am -2 pm FREE! frontdesk@goldenhistorymuseums.org 303-278-3557

Join Pat Hughes at the Clear Creek History Park every Tuesday from 10-2, starting June 2nd, for some fun activities, including ice cream making, gardening and pioneer games, to name a few. She'll be ready to share her knowledge of the Clear Creek History Park and her pioneer expertise with anyone passing by.

SUNDAYS THRU AUG 9: Clear Creek History Park: GUIDED TOURS
11:00, 12:00, 1:00, and 2:00. Tour included with Golden History Center and Astor House Museum $6.00 combination ticket. frontdesk@goldenhistorymuseums.org 303-278-3557

On Sundays starting June 7th scheduled tours of the historic cabins and school-house start at Meet at the East entrance. 20 person maximum per tour.

_____

The amazing thing about Golden is how much there is to do here. It's not only a beautiful location and close to Denver, Boulder, Red Rocks, Rocky Mountain National Park, Idaho Springs, et.c, etc., it's also a destination in itself! We're always amazed at how much goes on here in the summer.

Come see us! And thanks for reading my Innkeeper's Blog....

Annette

Big Weekends Coming Up In Golden

There's a lot going on this weekend in Golden, Colorado!

• Friday, June 5, is Golden's First Friday when shops stay open till 8 p.m. and feature sales, entertainment, and refreshements. The free horse-drawn carriage rides are always a First Friday hit.


• Saturday, June 6, the Farmers Market opens for the season; hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Next weekend is even bigger!

• Friday, June 12, the evening is devoted to celebrating Golden's 150th anniversary with a parade, entertainment, a laser light show. Details are at http://150goldenyears.com/.


• Saturday, June 13, is the Wild West Auto Roundup. Over 130 cars will be featured, along with entertainment and refreshments.


• Saturday, June 13, the Farmers Market is on from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.


• Saturday, June 13, at 9:30 a.m. the Golden Diner (700 12th St.) will host a Pancake Eating Contest.

Some items of interest from our Downtown Merchants:

• Baby Doe's Clothiers and Urban Escape Day Spa are partnering for a special promotion. Buy a swimsuit at Baby Doe's and be entered for a drawing for a special treatment at Urban Escape. Or purchase a special treatment at Urban Escape and be entered to win at Baby Doe's. See http://www.babydoesclothing.com/ and http://www.urbanescapespa.com/home.aspx.


• Creekside Jewelers is offering 20% off on pearls during June. See http://www.creeksidejewelers.com/.

There are lots of great reasons to visit Golden this summer!

Thanks for reading my Innkeeper's Blog --

Annette