Live Music; A Great Way To Connect!

can grab a delicious sandwich or panini at the Riverwalk Cafe and eat while you can be purchased at www.historicparktheatre.com or at their box office before the concert.

After the show, there will be a Gypsy Jam for musicians at the American Legion Post 119 - out on the front lawnunder the big tent. Locals and visitors alike are welcome to come jam with others (and perhaps some of these great musicians?). The Legion will be open late and serving from the bar for those who wish to keep the experience alive a little longer.

Have you been to Mother’s Cafe at the 18 hole golf course yet? A quiet, idyllic setting, right along the green, Laurie Emmer is whipping up yummy breakfast and brunch items Sunday morning, August 13th to the soothing tunes of Max O’Rourke and Greg Loughman, playing from 9 to 11 a.m. Max and Greg play innovative originals and beautiful renditions of Jazz standards~such a perfect pairing with Sunday morning relaxing. ahhhhh…..

Finally, the pièce de résistance happens at Performance Park, Sunday afternoon 1-6 p.m. August 13th

Why do we love live music so much?

There’s pure magic in the air when we see and hear musicians performing skillfully and when they, simultaneously, can see us enjoying and appreciating their skills. This connection is incredibly powerful and raises our collective vibration, not only performer to listener, but listener to listener. There is a connective power of music and listening to it live has a unique way of giving us a boost, a break from tensions and concerns. . . it gives us an opportunity to connect with ourselves, to feel good and more balanced.

Music is a universal language that all of us can share ~ listening to it live takes it to a deeper level and gives us the opportunity to connect with those around us and to experience a greater sense of community.

The Colorado Gypsy Jazz Festival is this weekend, August 11, 12 & 13th and it promises to connect us as a community, bring a high level of quality music to Estes Park, offer opportunities for connecting with family & friends and raising our mood with the beauty of listening to live music!

Perhaps you are one of those who says “I’m not really into jazz . . . ?” Let us assure you - this isn’t “American jazz” - it predates it - and has discernable melody lines and rhythms. Still not sure? Go to our website www.gypsyjazzcolorado.com and give it a listen, as we have posted several links there. But commit to dipping your toes in and listen LIVE this weekend. It’s oh, so much better!

Maybe you would like to come to Twin Owls this evening, Friday August 11th, to have dinner and an “amuse bouche” (to amuse the mouth with a little taste) ~ and hear young Henry Acker skillfully glide his fingers across the guitar strings, creating a most incredible listening experience as he plays along with Rhythm Future Quartet, our headlining band for the festival. Max O’Rourke and Greg Loughman of RFQ will also be performing.

Laura Iyengar’s lovely voice will be adding a beautiful dimension to the Aaron Walker Quartet, singing like a Parisian chanteuse in a café on the River Seine. It could melt away your cares, even if just for the evening.

Are you familiar with Brazilian Choro? What a great introduction you will have listening to Fogo no Trio—a group comprised of two Brazilians and a North Carolinian, offering a happy rhythm of virtuosity, improvisation and cultural richness.

Make your reservations at taharaa.com to reserve your space for a beautiful evening of delicious food and gorgeous music.

The festival stretches across Estes Park over the weekend, giving us several opportunities in different, beautiful, local settings to meet up with friends to listen to living, alive, live music ~ Saturday, August 12th 2-4 p.m. at Avant Garde Aleworks featuring Fogo no Trio, a delightful blend of strings playing more Choro while you sip your favorite brew.

On the heels of this great offering, is the Aaron Walker Trio at Snowy Peaks Winery 4-6 p.m.~a delicious blend of Gypsy Jazz standards and clever originals. Sit & sip…relax & enjoy. Aaron is this writer’s mother’s favorite ~ she heard him perform live in Estes Park just two years ago and still raves about him.

Our headlining band, Rhythm Future Quartet, returns to Estes Park for their fourth time, bringing their newest (and youngest) member, Henry Acker, known as a “powerhouse guitarist. A child prodigy who began playing at age 8 and performing professionally at age 9, his talent and abilities have developed into nothing short of astonishing.

Historic Park Theatre is the perfect setting for our evening concert offering, including the delightful Alicia Jo Straka on accordion and rich vocals—serenading us pre-show on the riverwalk. It’s an easy walk from Snowy Peaks and you listen to Alicia’s clever stylings. It’s a perfect break from the bustle of summer life in this town—you’ll feel you’re in Paris for the evening.

Tickets for this show are only $20 and

We are calling this our Gypsy Jazzapalooza and we are excited to be sharing six bands for an afternoon of connecting as a community while listening to some of the best this genre has to offer.

Bring the whole family (kids 15 and under don’t need a ticket when accompanied by an adult) and Fido, too, to this first-ever in Estes Park, pet and family friendly Gypsy Jazz Festival Finale—a great way to close out a weekend of incredible music.

Boulder’s Jeremy Mohney & His Band will hit the stage around 1pm, serving up sweet Swing (standards and originals) for our listening pleasure.

Next on stage will be Swing Je T’aime, a fun & full band out of Denver, featuring the very talented Aaron Walker & Laura Iyengar. “

Laura sang at Performance Park with Aaron Walker & Gonzalo Bergara in 2019 to a big, happy crowd.

Next in line is Fogo no Trio ~taking the stage performing Brazilian Choro and Gypsy Jazz alike, they will wow us with their incredible stringed virtuosity and fun stage energy.

There is no doubt that we will all thoroughly enjoy their performance.

On stage next will be LAPOMPE, “playing a classic, fun and funky style of jazz inspired by the roaring 1920s and early days of jazz, LAPOMPE finds a very relevant place among the vibrant world of Denver’s music scene."

Drawing from the music of Django Reinhardt and the "hot club" style of early 20th century jazz, their music is a fresh collection of classics and original compositions. Presenting complex and virtuosic arrangements with a rustic and acoustic instrumentation including acoustic guitars, upright bass, violin, they have described themselves as "mountain swing" - the kind of music that fits as well in a log cabin as it does in a speakeasy or on the big stage. They are a fun group you don’t want to miss!

Alicia Jo Straka will make you love the accordion and if you already do, make you love it more. “Alicia’s repertoire spans a wide variety of musical genres, including; jazz, pop, french musettes, opera, folk songs, polkas, contemporary, classical, romantic, and techno. She often features her own arrangements in concert. Known for accompanying herself on operatic arias, and playing modern styles like techno, pop, and jazz; she is passionate about reinventing the face of accordion in today’s world.

We are lucky to have Alicia join the festival on Sunday, too, playing and singing between sets during the Jazzapalooza.

Last but not least, Rhythm Future Quartet will take the stage with their accomplished and very professional performing eloquence, entertaining and educating us in true Hot Club style. These guys are the creme de la creme in the Gypsy Jazz world and a town favorite. Their skill will blow you away!

“This acoustic jazz ensemble, Rhythm Future Quartet has a straightforward agenda: to keep the spirit of Gypsy jazz alive and expanding in today’s musical universe. The virtuosic foursome, named for a Django Reinhardt tune, offers up a newly minted sound, influenced by the classic Hot Club of France, yet wholly contemporary.

They will perform their mesmerizing set and then invite the previous bands onto the stage for a Gypsy Jazz Festival Finale ~ playing altogether a few of the late Django Reinhardt’s classic Gypsy Jazz tunes. Be prepared to be wowed, awed and moved by this group effort to bring us their very souls as they play in our beautiful mountain setting, altogether, just for us

I can already hear us roaring in our grateful applause as they lovingly close out the very first, Estes Park’s inaugural Gypsy Jazz Festival.

You don’t want to miss this—get your very affordable $25 tickets at www.gypsyjazzcolorado.com (scroll down to an eventbrite link) and come out to share a day of beautiful community connection with world-class music, local food trucks (Rations, Mangia Mangia Pizza and Walrus Ice Cream out of Fort Collins), local brews, wines and whiskies and love

Speaking of love, we want to tell you that this festival wouldn’t be possible without the loving support of our generous sponsors. We take our hats off to all of you; Estes Arts District, Visit Estes Park, Trailblazer Broadband, 7522 Automotive, Mountain Song Lutherie, Human Centered Leadership Group, Ridgeline Hotel, Twin Owls Steakhouse, Bird & Jim, Premier Members Credit Union, Pet Supply of Estes Park, Richardson Team Realty, Hunter’s Chophouse, Ziggi’s, Estes Park News, Snowy Peaks Winery, Avant Garde Aleworks, Tom Thomas Mountain Living, Raven’s Roast, Omnibus, SkyRun Vacation Rentals, Café de Pho Thai/Elevations Eatery, Guy & Leslie Van der Werf, Estes Park Lumber, Rocky Mountain Majesty, Barb Marshall, Longhorn Liquors, American Legion Post 119, Nick Molle Productions, Rations, Patterson Glassworks, and Kind Coffee. Our deepest gratitude to you and for all you do to make our community great.

Gratefully,

Erika Metzler Greg Miles of M&M Productions

HOW ARE YOU WHEN IT COMES TO THE ‘AG’ BUSINESS?

I was talking to a managerial person recently who said: “I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. I’m unhappy with people, I’m really sad, I don’t know why.” I sensed that I knew the answer… because I was struggling with it also. Both of us had recently had quite a few people we have been working with and have been very close to this summer, who have or are in the process of leaving due to the onset of school or sports or other activities. I said, “What we are dealing with, in the counseling community, is called ‘AG’ – ‘Anticipatory Grief’. Simply stated, it states that when people face the reality that someone in their close circle is leaving or being taken from them, they ‘grieve’…are sad, forlorn, and depressed, even before that person is actually physically gone from them. A song writer of many years ago stated it simply: “I miss you already and you’re not even gone.” And it can happen in many settings.

Some years ago, I was assisting in a prison ministry in the Nebraska Center for Women correctional facility. I had been visiting and counseling with one ‘resident’ (inmate) who had served several years in the Center, during which time she had built strong friendships among both ‘residents’ and staff, and, now, she was on the verge of being released from incarceration, having ‘paid her debt to society’. Several weeks before her release date I visited with her at our usual appointment time. She was very distressed. She said. “Bob, I don’t know what’s happening! It seems like none of my friends want anything to do with me. They don’t talk to me, sit at my table like they used to, or invite me to participate in anything they are doing, like they used to. What have I done wrong? I can’t imagine what I might have done that turned them all against me.” As we visited, we came to the realization that all those close to her and who knew she would soon be leaving, would be grieving and sad at their loss of her presence and friendship, and they were starting to distance themselves from her early so it wouldn’t hurt as much when she actually left. She felt so relieved that she could still know they cared, but were dealing with their own ‘anticipated’ loss at her leaving. She was able to continue to love and appreciate them because she could put herself in their shoes and realize how they might feel like it would be easier withdrawing gradually now, instead of when she was actually gone.

We see ‘AG’ in other settings as well. Many times when a person is gravely ill and their passing seems imminent, those closest to them might be less attentive to their needs and condition than others expect. Others might be critical of this, seemingly uncaring, attitude, and fail to realize that those people are already dealing with the ‘soon-to-be’ realized loss they are dreading. It’s not an indication of how much they love their family member or friend, they are trying to ‘steel’ themselves against what they see as the inevitable loss of someone dear to them. So all of us must try to understand and be encouraging to both them and the one they dread losing. Perhaps it will help us to remember the ‘feelings’ and ‘actions’ of the Pandemic.

One of the things that this brings to our attention is that many of us are afraid of these ‘losses’ to the extent that we refuse to build strong relationships with others, because it ‘hurts too much’ when we lose the object of our affection. We see it in such things as our relationship with a favorite animal…that beloved dog or cat or horse…that passes away after so many years of a joyous relationship. We know the strong attachment that exists between owner and pet…just consider the many Memorial Gardens for Pets that are found throughout our country, with massive amounts of money spent to ‘lay to rest’ our beloved ‘friend’. How many of those owners refuse to get another pet, because it hurt too much when they ‘lost this one’.

When it comes to people-friendships it is even more evident. One wonders how many of our ‘homeless population’ people have become ‘wanderers’ because they refused to build strong friendships because they had lost a spouse or other mate, or other family member, and it ‘just hurt too much’, or they were just afraid of how it would hurt. Sadly, they choose to be a ‘loner’, missing out on so much in life in the process. Someone has well said, “It’s better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all!”

And that’s the note we want to leave on. We need to ‘Love the Lord our God, our neighbor as ourself!’, and so many others around us. “The greatest of these…is love!” We need to love everyone God brings into our lives, loving them in every way that we can…and love them to the very end… even if it hurts so much when we lose them. Our ‘AG’ can be lessened if we know that we did so… and, hopefully, for many of them and you, it won’t be the end. As a Canadian friend, dying of cancer, whom I drove a thousand miles to see two days before he died, said after we had prayed for the last time together, “See you on the other side!”

Bob Lewis

Third Monitored Weed Drop-Off August 19

August 11 - August 17

Please

read, heed, and weed responsibly!

The Estes Land Stewardship Association (ELSA) has been serving the Estes Valley for over 16 years in promoting good land stewardship, weed identification and education, and free educational materials including the most popular Twenty Ob-Noxious Weeds in the Estes Valley Identification and Management Guide. Now is the time to remove mature noxious weeds that contain seeds that will be next year’s -- and many more years -- weeds. The next Monitored Weed Drop-off will be held Saturday, August 19 from 9:00 a.m. to noon located north of the Waste Management lance) are considered theft of services. No bags of non-noxious weed materials and general yard waste will be accepted at this event. Paper yard bags are available for purchase at local hardware stores.

If you want ELSA to continue to sponsor these events, please adhere to the guidelines. Owning property in the Estes Valley can be challenging and different! Bagging mature weeds this time of year is not ideal weed management and not how you want to spend your time. Be proactive – learn your native plants and manage the invasive plants in a timely manner with a weed management specialist if you don’t have the transfer station at 666 Elm Road. No early birds or illegal drop-offs; the gate will be closed until the 9:00 a.m. start. Do not block the driveway entrance shared with recycling. The line will form up-the-hill/north of the entrance on the east-side of Elm Road. Estes Land Stewardship Association (ELSA) volunteers will be on hand to answer weed questions at-a-distance and direct traffic flow. You will unload your paper yard bags into the dumpster or truck. We have limited dumpster capacity, so a maximum ten paper yard bag limit will be imposed – no plastic bags. When we are at full capacity, the drop-off will end. Noxious weeds only, not native plants! No slash, pine needles, pine cones, trash, yard waste or dirt! Please remove/shake off dirt from plant roots. Excessive weight of wet weeds and dirt is a safety hazard for our volunteers. Bag flowers and seed heads rather than entire plants. Read our weekly Estes Valley’s Weed Alert articles (published April through September) to help identify invasive plants and manage seed producing plant parts for disposal. Unauthorized dropoffs at this location (w/video surveil- time, energy or expertise to manage your property. A list of weed management specialists who can help is available at larimer.org/naturalresources/weeds/applicators. Also refer to the information and Helpful Documents at estes.org/weeds.

These events are being made possible with the support from Estes Land Stewardship Association, Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, and donations. Depending on participant adherence to regulations and funding sources, another Monitor Weed Drop-off/ Weed Roundup will be held September 16. Free Twenty Ob-Noxious Weeds in the Estes Valley Identification and Management Guide weed booklets are available year-round at the Estes Valley Library, Ace Hardware, and Town Hall Public Works and Police offices. Electronic versions are posted on the Town of Estes Park website: www.estes.org/weeds

ELSA meets the first Thursday of the month (February, March, April & November) at 9:30 a.m. in the George Hix Room at US Bank. For more information about ELSA contact: