13-LIFE-Color
The News-Press 13 November 14, 2013
South MetroLIFE
Satisfied singer in lofty crowd
Surrounded by children, Santa makes his way through Park Meadows’ Dining Hall to Santa’s Village shortly after his Nov. 9 arrival. Photo by Jane Reuter
HERE COMES
SANTA
Annual event kicks off holiday shopping season By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Highlands Ranch residents Casey and Stella Oyloe may only be 6 and 4, but their Christmas lists reveal their technological maturity. “An iPhone and pixie dust,” 6-yearold Stella said as she, her sister and two cousins waited to see Santa Claus at Park Meadows mall Nov. 9. “An iPhone and a baby doll,” 4-year old Casey said. Cousin Patrick Westhoff, 7, of Commerce City, had an equally adult request. “Avalanche tickets,” he said, struggling and failing to think of anything else he wanted. Zoe Westhoff, meanwhile, has her
hopes set on a more traditional childhood-variety gift. “My Little Pony and a Princess Twilight Sparkle doll,” the 7-year-old said. Around the corner, Castle Rock 4-yearold Emma Maddaford, attired for the morning in a sparkling red sweater dress, said she wants a mermaid tale and Christmas pajamas. Her 3-year-old brother Miles explained his fondest desire in detail. “I want the Polar Express train that goes around the tree, and then we can push a button and it goes around the tree,” he said. The six were among hundreds of children waiting at the Lone Tree mall Saturday morning to greet Santa Claus and kick off the holiday shopping season. Santa, known to some as Sterling resident Larry Propp, arrived in grand style on a South Metro fire truck. As he stepped out of the cab, a small girl broke free from
the crowd of onlookers and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. He quickly was surrounded by excited children, who accompanied him on a walk through the mall to Santa’s Village — a section of the mall reserved for Santa and his visitors from now through Christmas. Children weren’t the only ones happy to see Santa. The day of Santa’s arrival at the mall is typically one of the busiest of the year at Justice children’s clothing store, manager Cori Wagner said. “I think this is going to be a better shopping season than last year,” she said. “I think now that the furlough is over, people will be spending money.” Lego store supervisor Courtney Morgan said a shorter shopping season meant the season started early this year. “On Halloween night, we put all our Santa continues on Page 15
Small artworks for sale at gallery By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe@ourcoloradonews.com Art on the Edge, the Greater Castle Rock Arts Guild’s gallery at 314 Wilcox St. in Castle Rock, offers a show called “Small Packages” to lure the holiday shopper. Small works by guild members will be replaced as they are sold, including
at the monthly Final Friday event. Gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. 303-814-3300. GCRAG also has put out several Calls for Artists for future shows: details on entry rules and fees at info@gcrag.com for all shows. • “Artistic Expressions”: My Funny Side/My Meaningful Side/ My Blue Side.
Deadline, Nov. 30. • “Brush Away the Blues with Color, Color, Color.” Deadline: Dec. 15. • “Masks, Carnivals, Music and Dancing.” Deadline Jan. 10, 2014. • “Wearable Art: Glitter and Fluff Over the Top.” (A 3-D show to run with the Mardi Gras show.) Deadline Jan. 10, 2014. • “Romancing the Arts” annual show at the Philip S. Miller Library in Castle Rock. Deadline is Jan. 10, 2014.
Ask local vocal Chris Daniels how he’s doing three years after his bone marrow transplant, and he channels legendary soul singer James Brown: “I feel good,” Daniels told me last week during an interview before his Nov. 8 induction into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. “Do you ever say cured? No, but I say that’s OK,” Daniels adds. Daniels was diagnosed with a fierce form of leukemia in 2010. After receiving a “perfect match” bone marrow transplant from his sister, Jane Moffett, he set his sights on getting back on stage to perform with The Kings, his band of nearly 30 years. Daniels, along with other Colorado musicians — legendary folk singer Judy Collins, the Serendipity Singers and Bob Lind — was inducted during a concert at the Paramount Theatre. “Judy was a hero to me and a lot of other musicians because she was not as operatic a singer as Joan (Baez),” Daniels said about his famous fellow inductee. “She had soul and grit in her beautiful voice and she was a great guitar and piano player. My mother’s favorite song was Judy’s version of `Both Sides Now’ by Joni Mitchell. It’s an amazing honor to go into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame with her.” In between writing music and performing, Daniels teaches music business at the University of Colorado-Denver as an assistant professor for the College of Arts and Media. “I really wanted to get back into teaching,” Daniels said about his post-transplant days. “It really refocused me. I was grading papers and working with substitute teachers when I was in the hospital. One time I was doing lectures by Skype. (The students) are 19- or 20-year-old wise apples ... I really have great hope and enthusiasm for this generation coming out.”
For the kidneys
Through Nov. 17, DaVita, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. and a provider of kidney care services, partners with three Denver-area restaurants to build awareness for kidney disease with kidneyfriendly and diabetes-friendly menus in honor of November as National Diabetes Awareness Month. Each restaurant will offer at least one appetizer, entrée and dessert that are kidney- or diabetes-friendly. Participating restaurants for dinner service are: Table 6, 609 Corona St., (www.table6denver.com); beast + bottle, 719 E. 17th Ave., (www.beastandbottle.com) and YaYa’s Euro Bistro, 8310 E. Belleview Ave., Greenwood Village, (www.yayasdenver.com).
Overheard
Eavesdropping on a man to a woman playing cards at an adult day care center in south Denver: “She beats me all the time. Even when I cheat, she beats me.” Penny Parker’s “Mile High Life” column gives insights into the best events, restaurants, businesses, parties and people throughout the metro area. Parker also writes for Blacktie-Colorado.com. You can subscribe and read her columns (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at www.pennyparker.blacktie-colorado.com. She can be reached at penny@blacktie-llc.com or at 303-619-5209.