Golden's First Friday September 4

Golden's upcoming First Friday on September 4 will feature a wonderful event at Spirits in the Wind Art Gallery: a dozen or more artists will be on hand for their Colorado Fall Show, which will include wine tasting with Turquoise Mesa Winery and live music by Josh Williams.

Windy Saddle Cafe will feature live music, a kids' cupcake walk, and dinner specials on First Friday.

In addition, the Golden Quilt Company holds a First Friday Sew-In called Quilt Til U Wilt. For $5, you can bring your sewing machine and project, and a snack to share, and sew together with other quilters from 5 p.m. to midnight. Golden Quilt Company sends out for pizza and supplies soft drinks.

Golden Hotel will have free live music by Elephant Revival on their creekside patio from 6 to 9 p.m.

We're still getting information about other First Friday activities for September and will pass them along as they come in to us. First Friday in Golden is a great way to start your Labor Day weekend.

Check out our website, www.doveinn.com -- and find us on Twitter and Facebook -- and thanks for reading my innkeeper's blog!

Annette

Becky's Last Day

As usual, the summer has gone by way too fast! Today is my last day as the Assistant Innkeeper and I'm sad to say goodbye. I've been thinking back to when I first applied for this job and how excited I was about the possibility of working at an inn. Just like my other classmates, I had given up on finding an internship at a firm. Being an assistant innkeeper was something I really knew nothing about but it sounded so interesting and fun.

I've loved learning about what it takes to run a B&B. I realized after my first day that it takes much more work than I expected! And after a whole summer I've found out that every day is unique. I've met so many friendly and interesting travellers, which always makes the day more fun.

I can't say enough good things about Bill and Annette. When we first met they asked me what qualities my ideal boss would have. I think I can add a few things to that list after working with them! They have been so kind and helpful this summer making it easy to come to work each day. Plus they have led such interesting lives, I've loved hearing their stories at breakfast as much as the guests!

Unfortunately, it's time for me to head back to school in a few days. It has been such a pleasure working with Bill and Annette. Bill has given me some great advice to help me find a real job after I graduate and Annette has inspired me to continue writing. I have enjoyed writing posts for this blog so much that I just applied for an internship with an online magazine.

Even though I won't be posting anymore, I'm still going to be a regular reader of the Innkeeper's Blog. Thanks for keeping up with my posts this summer!

Becky the Assistant Innkeeper

Golden Fine Arts Festival This Wekend - Aug 15 & 16

The Golden Fine Arts Festival, one of the biggest summer events in Golden, Colorado, is this coming weekend, August 15th and 16th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. This juried event brings together 140 artists from all over Colorado and the US who work in a variety of media, including ceramic arts, fiber arts, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, and sculpture. The quality of art is always amazing, and the show always includes much that is affordable for us ordinary mortals.

The image above was created by Evergreen, Colorado, artist Jennifer O’Meara as the poster for this year's event.

The artists set up in the open air along 11th Street, so visitors can enjoy the beauty of the foothills and Clear Creek as they browse. There is no admission fee for the Festival, which features a variety of entertainment and events in addition to the artists' booths. Free horse-drawn carriage rides through historic downtown Golden, free live musical entertainment, artists’ demonstrations, and a special hands-on Kids Art Zone operated by ArtReach will be featured. In addition, many of Golden's downtown merchants and galleries host special art-filled events and activities. Golden’s Clear Creek History Park, located alongside the Fine Arts Festival, will be free throughout the weekend with blacksmith and pioneer cooking demonstrations.

On Saturday, the 15th, the Golden Farmers Market will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for festival-goers.

Hope to see you at this wonderful event -- and thanks for reading my innkeeper's blog.
Annette

Tons of Events in Golden This Weekend

We’re happy to be back from our summer vacation to Michigan. (I’m posting pictures and details of our adventures on my travel blog.) Our Colorado Palisades peaches and Rocky Ford melons are ripe and ready to be part of our full breakfast menu for the next couple weeks.

And once again, this coming weekend offers a multitude of activities for visitors to Golden. (At right is one of the many wonderful bronze statues featured in our hsitoric downtown.)

The current production at Miners Alley Playhouse is Enchanted April, an old-fashioned romantic comedy about four disenchanted women who rent a villa in Italy to get away from their lives and end up finding joy in their lives once again. Dove Inn guests receive a discount on tickets.

The first annual DocuWest Documentary Film Festival, presented by Foothills Art Center and the Artful Journey School of Fine and Visual Arts, runs today through Sunday, August 6-9. DocuWest features 37 feature-length, medium-length and short documentary films that will spark immediate debate and provoke the widest range of human emotions from their viewers.
At the American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th Street, and Foothills Art Center, 809 15th Street, both located in downtown Golden. Ticket prices for the festival are $5.00 per seat and are available to purchase on the DocuWest website, http://www.docuwestfest.com/, or at Foothills Art Center.

This weekend is the Quilt Shop Hop around the Denver metro area, but our local shop, the Golden Quilt Company, is holding its annual “Not in the Shop Hop” sale Friday (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.), Saturday (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and Sunday (Noon to 4 p.m.). All fabric, notions, patterns and books will be discounted 20% (minimum cut 1 yard), plus every shopper will receive a Reward Card worth $10 on a future purchase.

August is the last month to enjoy the special summer treatments at Urban Escape Day Spa. They also have some great back-to-school specials.

The historic Cody Inn Restaurant on top of Lookout Mountain (303-526-0232) is offering a featured menu Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: Jicama Cole Slaw Salad, Grilled Lamb Chops, Rosemary Balsamic Reduction Pork Chop, Risotto Milanaise, Minted Carrots, and Palisades Peach Cobbler. They are also featuring four wines from Napa, France, and Spain. Tom Becker will be performing on the patio Friday night, August 7, from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m.

Every Friday night through September 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. the Golden Hotel has live music on their creekside patio. This Friday, Coral Creek will be playing.

The Colorado Railroad Museum is hosting a Wine and Cheese Train Saturday, August 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. Guests will ride behind the historic 346 locomotive in one of the museum's classic passenger cars, while sampling a variety of wines and elegant hors d'oeuvres. Ticket for Adult Passage: $40.00 in advance, $30.00 without wine, $50.00 at the door.

Clear Creek History Park will have blacksmiths demonstrating their craft on Saturday, August 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free admission. Dates and times are subject to change and weather conditions. Please call to verify - 303-278-3557.

It's also Golden's First Friday August 7. Stores are open late, there are free horse and carriage rides, and entertainment abounds.

And next weekend is the Golden Fine Arts Festival. More about that later. In the meantime, check out our Dove Inn website and thank you for reading my innkeeper's blog.
Annette

The Adventures of K.C. and Kirk

K.C. and Kirk have been here at the inn for two weeks now and have done an excellent job keeping everything in perfect condition. It’s been a busy few weeks with a house full of wedding guests and some travelers from Switzerland and Germany! Despite the large crowd, K.C. and Kirk have found some time to enjoy their first summer in Golden.

Their favorite stop that they recommend to future guests is the trip to Mt. Evans. After a half hour drive to the beautiful Echo Lake Park it was only another 45 minutes to the mountain. Not unlike a Dove Inn breakfast, they met an interesting family. K.C. fell in love with a little fluffy white goat they found hiding behind his mom. She affectionately remembers his as Marshmallow. And the best part of their trip was getting out of the car and taking the scenic hike to the summit. All that and they were back in time to welcome new guests!

Exploring Golden never gets old so luckily they were able to find time to enjoy some of our favorite summer events. They found some great items at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday and caught some of the Buffalo Bill Days Parade and Wild West Show.

It’s been great working with K.C. and Kirk for the past few weeks. They have worked so hard to make our guests feel welcome with delightful breakfasts and travelers tips.
Make sure to check out K.C.’s website at http://www.kcsinnsiting.com/and ours at http://www.doveinn.com.

Thanks for reading our Innkeeper’s Blog!
Becky the Assistant Innkeeper