Community Announcements
Lights, Camera, Santa!
Begin your holiday season at the spectacular 41st Annual 9NEWS Parade of Lights. The two-mile parade route in Downtown Denver is the stage for Colorado’s brightest holiday tradition. The holiday spectacular is free to all and features marching bands, ornate floats, and a special appearance by Major Waddles the Penguin and Santa! Grab your hot chocolate and earmuffs, and head downtown. The Parade of Lights is Friday, Dec. 4, beginning at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 5, beginning at 6 p.m.
Memories of Heaven On the Avenue
Join Unity on the Avenue Church for its book club meeting and discussion the first Sunday of each month. The book for December is Memories of Heaven, written by Wayne Dyer and released Oct. 13. Memories of Heaven is Dyer’s new and final book and is about children’s astounding recollections of the time before they came to earth. The book club meets Sunday, Dec. 6 at noon, at 4670 E. 17th Ave Pkwy.
Denver Drifters Gift Giving Project
The black women’s service club, Denver Drifters, is sponsoring its annual Holiday Gift Giving Project and Meal on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 5 to 7 pm at a Colorado Coalition for the Homeless residence for homeless families with children. “This project is a highlight of the year, as 18 families in our community are served a meal and given presents by their sponsors,” said Project Chairwoman Kristina Wilburn. Sponsor families are invited to share dinner. Volunteers and contributions of nonperishable food and household products are needed. Please call Antoinette Gomez for more information, including location, at 720-495-9282.
Teach A Child To Read
The Children’s Literacy Center (CLC) is seeking volunteers to provide one-to-one tutoring in reading to help struggling readers reach grade level proficiency. Tutors pitch in one hour, twice a week, at one of three locations in the Denver Metro area. At Montview Math & Health Sciences Elementary in Aurora, tutors meet with their students every Tuesday and Thursday, from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. The program at Martin Luther King Jr., Library runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. or from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Saturdays.
The program in the Green Valley Ranch area is at Z Place on the Evie Dennis Campus. Tutoring there is held every Monday and Wednesday, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
No prior teaching or tutoring experience is required. Training is provided in person or online and volunteers 18 years of age or older must complete a background check. If you enjoy working with kids and would like to make a difference by helping him or her build strong literacy skills, gain confidence, and discover a passion for reading, this is a great volunteer opportunity. For more information, contact Pamela Polke at 719-471-8672 or email pamela@childrensliteracycenter.org. Visit the website at www.childrensliteracycenter.org.
Winter Concert At Montview
Join Montview Community Preschool & Kindergarten for its Winter Concert. The concert is Saturday, Dec. 5, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Miller Center at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia St. It’s a family friendly concert, geared toward kids. Tickets are available in the Montview Office, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cost is $6 per person $20 for a 4-pack (additional tickets are $5/pp). For more info, call 303-322-7296
Mission and Fair Trade Market
The Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church Christmas Mission & Fair Trade Market is set for Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 6 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market features handmade gifts, clothing, food items, cards, books, and sacred art from around the globe as well as supporting the work of local artists and groups. Proceeds from the sale of their items benefit women, children, and families from each of areas and countries. All proceeds directly benefit the organizations represented. The market is open to all, at the church at 1980 Dahlia St.
The Music of Mendelssohn
Join Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church for its annual Christmas Concert: Glorious Music of the Season with the Orchestra & Choirs of Montview. This year’s concert is Sunday, Dec. 6, at 5 p.m. Everyone is welcome. The concert is conducted by Montview Minister of Music Adam Waite, and features the beautiful Gloria by Francis Poulenc, and the music of Mendelssohn, Gardner and Wilberg.
Slow Down and Look
Art Gym Denver’s first member exhibition is currently up and running, through Dec. 23. Titled Art of Slow, the show is inspired by a Robert Hughes’ quote, that embraces the ideal of slow art – “art that holds time as a vase holds water: art that grows out of modes of perception and making whose skill and doggedness make you think and feel; art that isn’t merely sensational, that doesn’t get its message across in ten seconds…”
As such, Art Gym’s members have created work that provides a counterpoint to the frantic nature of the holidays, presented as an opportunity to pause and discover the joys of looking closely at art. The exhibition runs through Dec. 23. A curated Fine Art Festival, featuring handmade and artisanal items and gifts, runs Dec. 4 from 5 to 8 p.m., and Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 17,000 sq. ft. Art Gym is at 1460 Leyden St. and offers creative workspace and access to the tools necessary for emerging and seasoned artists to make art. Tools include multiple printing presses, lapidary and jewelry making equipment, sculpture room for large-scale sculptures, performance space, commissary kitchen, and a newly opened café. Visit www.ArtGymDenver.com for more information.
Fairfax Holiday Market
On Dec. 19, Share Denver presents its third Fairfax Holiday Market in Park Hill.
The holiday market will feature contemporary and innovative work by 20 artisans, crafters, and makers with a curated focus on the Denver handmade community. The market is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Share Denver, 2829 Fairfax St. There is no entry fee. The following artisans, crafters, and makers will be represented: Sage 8 Studios, Helliemae’s, Bella Calla, Remy & Rose, Denver Fashion Truck, Doppio’s Coffee, Katy Zimmerwoman, Blue Spruce Vintage, and Spinster Sisters. For more info contact Becky Hensley, sharedenver@gmail.com, 7206080623.
Go Ahead And Think Already
South Africa, France, Venice On Tap In December
Active Minds is a Denver-based organization devoted to expanding lives and minds. It provides educational programs in select locations. Most programs are free, require no RSVP, and are open to all ages. Here are a few of their Park Hill and nearby December offerings.
South Africa: Nelson Mandela and the Journey from Apartheid
Join Active Minds to discuss the history of South Africa, its struggle with Apartheid, Mandela’s legacy, and the country’s journey to rejoin the international community since Apartheid’s end in 1994. We will discuss the pivotal role played by Mandela, the impact of immigration/colonialism, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and end with a look at the current challenges and opportunities for South Africa. Saturday, Dec. 5, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
, at the Blair-Caldwell Library, 2401 Welton St.
France’s Struggle
Recent events involving radical terrorism in the country provides an opportunity to review France’s complex dynamics around minorities and immigration. We will also explore the history and current challenges facing the country in general, and how French culture and values impact current national and regional issues. Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the
Heather Gardens auditorium, 2888 S Heather Gardens Way.
The History of Tea
Other than water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world and one of the oldest, tracing its roots (so to speak) to at least the 5th century BCE. Join Active Minds as we explore the role tea played in colonial empire building, the different types of tea, how it is grown and processed, who grows and drinks the most (which are not the same), and much more. Thursday, Dec. 10, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. at the Sam Gary Library, 2961 Roslyn St.
Paris: Biography of a City
Join Active Minds for the story of the City of Lights. We will trace the city’s history from its Celtic origins through modern times. In the process, we’ll visit with some of the city’s most colorful characters and notable places, including the Eiffel Tower, which was despised by Parisians in its day. So, don your beret and come sit with us on the banks of the Seine. Saturday, Dec. 12, from 11 a.m. to noon at the Park Hill Library, 4705 Montview Blvd.
History of the Atomic Bomb
August 6 and 9 marked 70 years since the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Join Active Minds for a look at the origins and history of atomic weapons. We will discuss the achievements of the Manhattan Project and the subsequent nuclear arms race during the Cold War, and end with a discussion of current nuclear proliferation concerns. Thursday, Dec. 17, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Windsor Gardens, 597 S Clinton St.
Venice: Biography of a City
Perhaps no other city in the world conjures such distinct images as the gondolas plying the canals of Venice. Join us for a virtual tour of this beautiful and historic city that is visited by more than 20 million tourists each year. We will cover the history, the most notable features, and end with a look at what the future holds for this city which is both sinking and shrinking as the waters rise and full time residents move away. Thursday, Dec. 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. at the
Sam Gary Library, 2961 Roslyn St.
The Year in Review
Join Active Minds for a program that highlights the important issues and events of 2015. We’ll cover international events, economic challenges, social and political issues and more. Active Minds Co-Founder John Henderson will also take issues from the audience and seek to place them within the broad context of the world in which we currently live. Tuesday, Dec. 22, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Tattered Cover, 2526 E Colfax.