Inside Longmont The Magazine - October 2014 by Inside Longmont

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October 2014

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October 2014

insideLONGMONT THE MAGAZINE

insidelongmontthemagazine@gmail.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brian T. Wolf WRITING & PHOTOGRAPHY Brian T. Wolf Mari Wolf

MARKETING & ADVERTISING Mari Wolf insidelongmont@gmail.com

COVER PHOTO: Golden Ponds by Mari Wolf insideLONGMONT The Magazine is published monthly by Inside Longmont, LLC. Copyright 2014 by Inside Longmont, LLC. All rights reserved. The entire contents of insideLONGMONT The Magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the express written consent of the publisher. Inside Longmont, LLC is not responsible for unsolicited materials.

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Contents 10

Business Profile: Macâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place

Non Profit Spotlight: The Family Garden

In the Community: TinkerMill

Music: Foxfeather

Theatre: Shrek the Musical

Theatre: HOPSCOTCH! the Musical

Arts & Culture: Day of the Dead

Things to Do: 5 Family Activities to Do This Fall

Happening In Longmont

Upcoming Events

iL Business Network

iL Non Profit Community

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October 2014

Business Profile

Who knew something as innocent as donating to a silent auction could eventually lead to a whole

new path in life? Well, that is exactly what happened to Keith and Teresa Macphail. They were invited to provide an auction item at a local fundraiser and, having a flair and love for cooking together, they offered up a home-cooked dinner extravaganza for the lucky winner. Little did the winner know what was in store for them. The feast was complete with costumes, atmosphere, and most importantly, great food. All of the guests were more than impressed and ended up helping to plant seeds that the couple should be cooking for a living! The more Teresa and Keith thought about it, the more their vision came into focus, until the concept for Mac’s Place became clear in their minds. Their slogan, “A Family Run Diner in a Family Run Neighborhood,” sums it up pretty well. “We want to make it convenient for people to come and get what they want, and we want to cook what people want to eat,” Teresa said. It was also important for them to create a true neighborhood feel in their diner, where, more than likely, you are going to run into someone you know. Regular customers are greeted by name and new customers are treated like old friends. Even though Mac’s Place has only been open less than a year and a half, they have already established their own unique culture with customers. Take, for example, the variety of origami dollar bills that are on display at the counter. “That’s something that just happened one day,” Teresa said. Within the first few weeks of their opening, a customer folded his tip into an origami t-shirt and left it on the table. 10

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When Teresa saw it, she thought, “Aw, that’s really cute,” and decided to keep the bill at the register. Soon after other customers would come in, see the origami, and want to make one of their own. The next time you stop by Mac’s Place, make sure you see the collection they have already established. And if you’ve got the skills, feel free to add a piece of your own! The Mac’s Place display on the wall is another easily recognizable signature piece of the diner. While they were looking to design their logo, Keith found a font that he liked for the letters and the idea came to have the letters printed on plates. Originally Keith wanted to use black ink on white plates, but Teresa insisted that the plates should be fun and colorful. And they didn’t just buy them, as a family they went to Crackpots and made all of the plates themselves. The giant knife in the display was made by Teresa’s dad. And the smaller, signed knives? On the blade side, they are the signatures of all the friends and family who played an important role in getting Mac’s Place started. “They either helped paint the

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wall, hang lights, or other things like that. They all had something to do with getting the diner going,” Teresa told us. The handle side of the knife is gradually being filled with the names of regular customers who come in 2-3 times per week. “That’s been a lot of fun and I think it gives people a little bit of ownership, too. I don’t know what we will do when we run out of space, but we’ll think of something.” One of the most recent additions to the Mac’s Place experience has been live music on the patio.

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Music on the patio at Macâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place.

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Earlier this summer, the Macphails began inviting Longmont singer/songwriters to perform their music for the customers while they enjoyed their meals. It is important for them to give local artists a place to play and to show the people of Longmont the kind of talents we are fortunate to have in our community. Already a number a local favorites have performed on the patio at Mac’s Place, including The Prairie Scholars, Denny Driscoll, Nick O’Connor, Chaeus, and Defunkt Railroad. Upcoming shows include return lunchtime performances by Nick O’Connor on 10/18 and The Prairie Scholars on 11/1. And as the Colorado winter creeps in, there are plans to move the music inside, so keep an eye on their calendar for more lunchtime shows in the coming months. Even with all of these great elements, what has really established Mac’s Place in the hearts and minds (and stomachs) of the their customers is the amazing food that they serve. There simply isn’t a better place to go for a truly home cooked breakfast or lunch. Almost everything on the menu is made from scratch, and they even cook their tater tots and potato chips right there in the kitchen! In most cases they are also able to accommodate people’s needs by offering both vegetarian and gluten-free options. When talking about the menu, Keith is quick to point out that their Classic Reuben, made with corned beef they season and cook at the diner, is their best selling sandwich. And the made from scratch biscuits with homemade sausage gravy is a favorite, as well. Mac’s Place has a fixed breakfast and lunch menu, but they are always experimenting with new recipes and trying out these new dishes as the daily specials. One very unique item on their menu that is available only on the weekends is their Breakfast Calzone, the East Coast answer to the breakfast burrito. In addition to serving breakfast and lunch, the Macphails are looking to expand more with their catering and boxed lunches. Mac’s Place offers on-site catering for special events, or you can rent out the diner for birthday parties, wedding receptions, graduations, etc. As part of the service they will even sit down with you and create a personalized menu specific for your event. Just take a look at the extensive catering menu on their website to get a taste of the many options available. If you haven’t had the pleasure of eating at Mac’s Place yet, what are you waiting for?! They are open for breakfast and lunch from 7am to 2pm every day except Mondays. If you want to see their full menu, visit them online at www.macsplaceco.com. And you can find their new app now available on iTunes which allows you to order your meal to go before you even leave the house. Download it today!

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Non Profit Spotlight

Few things in life are both as scary and exciting as the birth of a child.

The unknown for new mothers can often cause fear, anxiety, and concern. Fortunately, someone in our community has stepped up in recent years to change all that by taking away some to the scary and focusing more on the exciting. Since 2012, The Family Garden has been a Longmont community resource offering classes and services designed to educate and inspire families throughout pregnancy, birth, and early childhood. It is a place where families can draw support from each other during a time that can be stressful and overwhelming for first-time parents, or even second- and third-time parents. It is a source of information on the different philosophies and approaches to childbirth and parenting without judgement or advocacy for any single view. And for Founder and Executive Director, Debbie Lane, who is a practicing doula and childbirth educator with a long history in Longmont, it has been the realization of one of her life’s passions. From her experience, Debbie has learned that preparing moms-to-be for childbirth is one of the most important things that The Family Garden can do. Being prepared for childbirth can dramatically increase a woman’s chances of having a safe, natural birth, and educating yourself helps take away the anxiety of the unknown surrounding birth, especially if this is your first baby. These days doctors are usually busy and often don’t have the time to spend at each appointment educating new moms, and yet education is a significant key to getting the birth you want. 14

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“Women who educate themselves often have quicker and easier births,” Debbie said. Taking one of the many different childbirth education classes offered by The Family Garden can reduce some of the unknown by learning how the baby is growing and what is going to happen during the birth process. Being physically ready for the birth can play a significant role as well. This can be achieved through classes like Prenatal Yoga and Dancing for Birth. And for many new moms, the peer support from other women in the same life phase is worth more than words can say. Of course, the birth of your child is just the beginning. As Debbie has said, “This is a right of passage in your life and the life of your family. It’s not a single moment, it’s a journey that never really ends.” And The Family Garden will be there to help along the way. In addition to all of their of prenatal programs, The Family Garden also has a wide range of services available to support families throughout all of the phases of childbearing and child rearing. For new mothers “it can sometimes be difficult to know what to do with the little ones when you first bring them home,” Debbie told us. This time is often called the fourth trimester because the babies are still adjusting to the big change from life in the womb to life in the outside world. To help make this process easier, there are a number of classes like breastfeeding education, newborn care class, and baby massage, as well as support groups like Mothers with Infants. Other classes explore parenting techniques, nutrition, family bonding, and stress relief. They also offer several fitness and family exercise classes to help you get fit and stay fit. Some of these classes, like Mommy and Me Yoga and Toddler Yoga, enable moms to exercise with their young ones, while other workout classes are just for moms. These just for mom classes are made easier to attend by the child care offered at The Family Garden for children 4 months old to 4 years old. While moms are busy getting back into shape, the children are busy hanging out with other kids, playing, and being entertained by the caring Family Garden staff. In addition to classes, they also offer a variety of support groups on specific topics, including a support group for moms who work outside the home, a breastfeeding support group, and a postpartum support group. Though most of the focus is on the new moms, there are also support

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groups for dads, too. Dr. Tyler Perkins of Active Family Chiropractic hosts a Dads Group on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. Dads are encouraged to bring questions and share their experiences. As a non-profit community resource, The Family Gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal is to make their services available to everyone in the community, regardless of income. Many of the groups like Parents with Infants, Postpartum Support Group, and Dads Group are free to attend. There are also educational classes like Choosing a Childcare Provider and Nutrition Talk that anyone can participate in for free. For the programs that do have a fee, The Family Garden offers discounts determined by a sliding scale based on household income that can save families from 10% up to 50% of the total costs! In order to be able to offer their many programs and services for free or at discounted prices, The Family Garden relies on the support of the community through donations and grants. The fees that they do charge families cover only a small portion of their total operating costs. If you would like to help The Family Garden, you can make an online donation easily through their website. To learn even more about The Family Garden or to see the complete calendar of their upcoming classes and activities, you can visit their website, www.family-garden.org or call 303-678-1144.

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In the Community

We have all heard the saying, “necessity is the mother of invention”, but how often have people

invented something amazing simply because it was a cool idea? Cultivating these cool ideas is the driving force behind the recent phenomena around the world of forming community hackerspaces and makerspaces. Though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a real difference between the two. Hackerspaces typically focus on electronics, computers, or programing, while makerspaces utilize tools and machinery to design and build things. Fortunately for all of us in Longmont, TinkerMill is the best of both worlds. TinkerMill is a community workshop where creative people can come to learn from each other, to teach other, and to create ideas, products, or even companies. They have an incredible wood shop, a full machine shop, welding shop, forge, brewery, sewing shop, jewelry shop, and a data center for the computer users. They offer a variety of workshops and classes, so if all you have is an idea they can help you by providing the tools and experience to turn that idea into a reality. And they offer a place where creative people can just get together and have fun with game nights, garage band nights, and movie nights. The members of TinkerMill are a diverse combination of technologists, families, kids, artists, and business people, an amazing cross section of creative people in our community. Which is exactly what original founder Scott Converse believes is a key to success. As he is fond of saying, “If you want to make extraordinary things, you have to have engineers sitting next to artists. That’s what we do here, so I expect amazing things to come out of TinkerMill.” 18

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TinkerMill has already come an amazingly long way in a very short amount of time. It all began last May when Scott created the very first meeting through Meetup and wondered if anyone would show up. That first day 6 people attended, then the next week it was 12, and over the following weeks attendance continued to grow. By the end of June, the group had about 40 members and waas large enough that they moved into their a permanent space at Twin Peaks Mall. This was their home for the next year, until they had to leave because of the renovation at the mall. By this time there were over 100 members and they were ready to move into their current space. Today, TinkerMill has 130 paying members and is still growing. They are the largest hackerspace/ makerspace in Colorado or any of the surrounding states. They regularly have up to 15 events/ activities scheduled every week. And yet in many ways they are just getting started. TinkerMill is quickly becoming an innovation center, a place where people can bounce ideas off each other, and a place where members can create the prototypes that turn their ideas into reality. “I think every city in America should have a makerspace like TinkerMill,” Scott said. “It’s where hundreds of insideLONGMONT.com

ideas happen every year!” As the organization continues to grow, more and more people in Longmont will see the benefits of their work. Earlier this year, members began working with the Longmont Museum to design and build a 2400 sq. ft. robotics display. Next summer this large interactive exhibit will allow kids to learn about robotics and technology, hopefully sparking their interest and inspiring the next generation of makers. There are also plans for creating programs at Front Range Community College and even with the city itself. Looking ahead, members have realized that TinkerMill can even become an innovation engine that will be able to help create all kinds of economic develop-

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ments for the city. Founder Scott Converse believes, “If we can turn Longmont into a true startup city, where people want to come and start companies and bring true creativity here, that would be awesome.” Once someone is interested in being part of TinkerMill, how do they get involved? Scott has a simple answer: “Come hang out with us!” Every week TinkerMill offers three different opportunities to learn

more about the organization. Every Tuesday night, there is a Member Meeting that is also open to the public. This is a time for members to talk about what is going on at TinkerMill in the current week, what has been happening over previous weeks, and any other topics that might be of interest. Organizers will then open the meeting up to the group to see if anyone has a project that they are wanting to work on but need help getting started. In one meeting, a boy raised his hand and told the group, “I want to make a sword.” Six members of the group came together to help and within 3 weeks they had a blacksmith shop built where kids are now able to make swords. “That’s how things start here,” Scott told us. There is also a time for show and tell where people can bring out their projects and talk about them with the group. And then the Member Meeting closes with an open house where everyone is encouraged to network and socialize. There is also Work From TinkerMill Day, which happens every Thursday. For the entire day, anyone can come and work at TinkerMill’s space. People are welcome to use their internet, talk with other creative people and share ideas, or simply see what the space is like. And then every Sunday TinkerMill hosts an Open House and BBQ, at least while the weather is still warm enough. This is yet another great opportunity to meet other creative people and see what the organization is all about. Tours of the facility are given all afternoon. All of these events are held at their makerspace/ hackerspace at 1840 Delaware Place, Unit A. At any point anyone can sign up to be a member, as long as you are over the age of 18. They offer both individual memberships at $50/month and family memberships for $75/month and you can sign up right from their website. TinkerMill Members then have access to all of the equipment available from the machine shop and wood shop to the 3-D printer and laser cutter, although training is required for some of the equipment. And the classes at TinkerMill are free to members or come at a discounted rate. To learn more about TinkerMill and see the full range of benefits that come with becoming a member, visit their website www.tinkermill.org.

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Music

foxfeather Longmont certainly has more than its fair share of brilliant singer/songwriters, but we can’t help but notice the growing number of talented artists springing up throughout out Colorado. From the first time we heard Boulder’s Carly Ricks Smith and Laura Stratton, the lovely ladies of Foxfeather, we were immediately drawn in by the powerful vocals, strong guitar, and soulful melodies of their new-folk sound. While they have been performing together for over 9 years, it is only recently that the duo have begun to take the local music scene by storm. And with their first CD now available we don’t see them slowing down anytime soon!

Even though Carly and Laura both attended high school together, it wasn’t until they started college at CU Boulder that they became close friends. Almost immediately the two formed a musical partnership and began playing together with Laura on guitar and Carly on vocals. Like most musicians just getting started, they played mostly covers at local open mic nights and small venues. It was the summer following their Freshman year that the duo would write their first song together. “Carly came to me one day with these lyrics,” remembers Laura. “We ended up making it into an actual song. It’s a really funny one, but it stuck and people still love it.” 22

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In the years that followed, Laura and Carly continued writing songs together and performing occasionally, at least one or two times a year. They also wrote songs on their own and played with other musicians in Boulder. Throughout this time they often considered playing more regularly and even forming their own band, but the timing just never seemed to be right. According to Laura, “It wasn’t until last August that we looked at each other and asked, ‘Is this the right time?’” And indeed it seemed to be, as suddenly everything started falling into place for them. “We were really just tired of not doing it,” Carly told us. Once the decision was made, they set their sights high and started moving forward. “We thought, if nothing else we’ll play some gigs and make a CD and then see where we are at after that.” One of the last pieces to fall into place was actually settling on their name. “We didn’t even have a band name until seven months ago,” Laura admitted. At that point they were still performing simply as Laura y Carly. They had been toying around with different names, but nothing really stood out. One day, a good friend named Megan suggested the name Foxfeather. “It’s based on our spirit animals,” Laura told us. “Which are totally self-assigned,” Carly was quick to add, laughing. “I’m an owl and Laura’s a fox.” Together they were able to see the possibilities and the name has since stuck. “We really like the imagery,” Laura said. It was only a short time after this that Foxfeather came to our attention for the very first time when

they participated in the first Longmont Live event of 2014 in March. Together, they joined Longmont musicians The Prairie Scholars and Bella Musser for a music showcase that was held at the Kay Carol Gallery and Priscila Working Art Studio in Downtown Longmont. Foxfeather performed a 45-minute set of original songs and quickly had the audience hanging on every word and melody. We couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the intoxicating sound that Carly and Laura create. More recently, Foxfeather was one of the musical acts at the “2nd Annual Rockin’ for the Inn” fundraiser for the Inn Between of Longmont that was held at the end of August. While they most often perform as a duo, at this event they were also joined on stage by bassist Patrick Coleman and drummer Ben Batchelor and it was an entirely new experience hearing the unique sounds of their music filled out with a complete band. “They are such awesome musicians, they really help bring our sound together,” Laura told us. During this past year, Foxfeather was also hard at work recording and co-producing their very first album. Having only performed live up until this point and with no experience in the recording process, Laura and Carly turned to fellow singer/

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songwriter Justin Roth, who they have known as an instructor at the Rocky Mountain Song School for over seven years, and asked him to produce their CD. For four months, they repeatedly made the trek from Boulder to Fort Collins to record in Justin’s home studio. In the beginning, Carly and Laura thought they would simply go in to record and then turn it over to the producer to finish, but they ended up all working together as a team throughout the entire process. “We talked things through with him and we communicated really well,” Carly said. As each song was finished, they would listen to it and Laura would think, “That is exactly how I heard that song in my head!” Following this four-month recording process, Foxfeather was finally able to complete Foul Moon, a sixsong CD. The songs span nearly the entire career of Carly and Laura working together with one of the tunes going back as far as 8 years and a few as recent as this past year. All six songs fit together well and serve to really showcase their unique sound. “It was a good first project for us,” Laura told us. “We love every song on there.” To celebrate the release of Foul Moon, on October 10th Foxfeather hosted the CD’s official release party at Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place in Boulder. The room was completely filled from front to back and side to side with friends, family, and fans! They of course played all the songs from the new CD, as well as many other crowd favorites and even a few classic covers. It was fantastic to once again hear the full sound of Foxfeather, with Carly, Laura, Patrick, and Ben also joined by Tyler Rennix on mandolin. Towards the end of the evening, they even brought up a few additional friends to perform with them, including Jessica Eppler from The Prairie Scholars on her accordion. Not ones to disappoint, Foxfeather kept the music going late into the night, much to the delight of everyone in attendance. If you are in the mood for some catchy folk-based music with powerful melodies and beautiful storytelling, pick up a copy of Foul Moon. In his review of the CD, Andy Eppler described their music as “energetic without being manic and feminine without being girly.” How could you go wrong with that? You can hear Foxfeather for yourself on November 14th when they perform at Still Cellars here in Longmont. And be sure to keep your eyes open for more Longmont performances by Foxfeather. Look for their calendar and even a few tunes on their website, www.foxfeathermusic.com.

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Scenes from Foxfeather’s CD Release Party for “Foul Moon”

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Theatre

coming soon!

Logo Designed by Niwot High School 30

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He’s big. He’s green. He’s an ogre. And he’s coming to Niwot this November. That’s right, over four nights next month the cast of students at Niwot High School will be bringing to life Shrek the Musical. For those familiar with the animated film, the musical follows the general story of the movie and features all of the memorable characters like Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, Farquaad, and the many fairy tale creatures. And it has the same humor that made Shrek so great to watch. But there are some differences, too. “The plot is more sophisticated in the stage version,” Artistic Director Kim Watkins told us. “They really took the skeleton of the movie and created something more interesting on stage.” This stage version spends more time developing the relationships between the characters and expanding the roles of many of the famous characters. The audience gets to see more of the friendship that develops between Shrek and Donkey. They also get to see a more fleshed out Farquaad by learning about his backstory and what really motivates him. Best of all, the audience will see more of the fairy tale creatures and get to know many of the characters better, like Pinocchio and Gingy. “While there are leads in the show, each part has its own moment in the spotlight,” Daniel Fiamengo, a Sophomore and one of the two actors cast as Shrek, told us. “A lot of the characters have more of a personality,” added Joe Castinado, a Senior and the second actor playing the role of Shrek. insideLONGMONT.com

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Of course, the most significant difference between the movie and the stage version is the music. The musical is filled with a variety of songs and dance routines that bring a whole new dimension to the story of Shrek. “When you add music to a story, it always adds more depth,” Onnika Hanson, one of the Seniors who will be playing Fiona, told us. “That’s why I love musicals.” And then there are the costumes. When the cast of Shrek take the stage in November, they will truly become the characters they are portraying, thanks in large part to the costumes provided by the Boulder Dinner Theater. Fortunately, we were able to get a sneak preview of the makeup and costumes that the Niwot students will be wearing in the show on the day that the cast tried them on for the very first time. Normally, this doesn’t happen until the dress rehearsals start during the final weeks before the show opens, however for Shrek they started more than a month in advance. “These costumes are very complicated,” said Bella Musser, a Senior and the second Fiona in the cast. “This is the most complex technical show Niwot has done in years. There are so many different costume pieces and makeup designs and wigs and quick changes that I think it is really good that we got acquainted with all of that so early.” Over the course of two different days, the cast spent time going over the makeup and costumes required for the show. On the first day, the cast was given a crash course in stage makeup by Shelly Cox-Robie, the musical’s Staging Director. While there will be a technical crew helping out during the show, the students themselves will be responsible for their own makeup application. “This is what people think stage makeup is because you are over-exaggerating everything with the fairy tale creatures,” said Bella. “All the colors are so vibrant, it’s really cool and really different from anything I’ve done before.” In addition to the makeup, some members of the cast will have masks to wear and for Joe and Daniel, they will wear a complete prosthetic as Shrek that covers their head and shoulders. On the second day, the students were able to try on their costumes to see how they fit. Debbie Spaur brought in an assortment of wigs for both guys 32

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and girls and helped everyone put on the colorful pieces. Seeing the wonderful cast of characters, from the Three Little Pigs to Shrek himself, parade through the classroom, it’s exciting to think how the show will look on stage. “It’s just very weird and silly and fun and crazy,” said Luke Kleekamp, a Junior who will be playing Farquaad. “All the costumes are meant to look ridiculous.” But the most impressive thing about this upcoming production has to be cast. “Everyone is really talented,” Luke told us. “We have great actors, great singers, just great all around people in the cast. It’s so much fun to work with all of them.” Not only are they talented, they are dedicated, too. The number of hours that the students put into this show, on top of their academic demands, is really an incredible commitment. From the start of rehearsals in August through the final show in November, students average 12 hours of rehearsal time every week. “I’m very proud of how committed they all are to the process,” Kim Watkins told us. “It’s really ambitious. Shrek is a crazy show to tackle, but I really like this cast,” Chantal King, a Sophomore who will be playing Donkey, said. “We’re all really excited and we’ve been working really hard,” said Haley Jacks, a Junior who will also be playing Donkey. “This show is so much fun, there’s really nothing like it.” “We have so many people and we know the challenges with this show,” Joe said, “but we are all giving 110% to make sure that the people who see this show will want to come and see it again because it is that good. Everyone is trying their hardest.” Shrek the Musical will run for four nights only, November 13-16, at Niwot High School. There will be three evening performances with a matinee on Sunday. Tickets are only $12 for students and $15, so plan on coming out to support this superb group of students. And be sure to look in next month’s issue for more on Shrek the Musical with a behind-the-scenes look at their full dress rehearsal! insideLONGMONT.com

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Theatre

HOPSCOTCH!

the musical The cast and crew of HOPSCOTCH! The Musical are hard at work bringing all the pieces of this amazing musical production together. From learning songs and choreography to rehearsing lines and stage placements, it’s already been a tremendous journey for everyone involved as they prepare for their January 2015 debut and we are excited to see how everything is progressing. In our previous issues, we shared the story of how this production came into being and explored the music that is the driving force of the show. This month, we were invited to rehearsals while the cast performed the song “Head of a Pin” for the very first time and took the opportunity to meet two of the show’s real-life characters.

Many of the stories within HOPSCOTCH! The Musical were inspired by the people who Robbie Kudla, the show’s playwright and songwriter, has encountered throughout her life. On this day of rehearsal, we arrived just in time to hear Robbie tell one of her favorite stories involving Susan Swanson. Robbie recalled the day when Susan walked into her office with her coat on saying, “I’m so mad at myself!” When the coat came off, Robbie saw that underneath Susan was wearing a huge, ugly unisex kilt. When she asked, Susan told her that she had purchased the kilt because the salesperson was really nice and Susan wanted him to like her. This led to a very important conversation talking about choosing people for the wrong reasons and giving up parts of ourselves to be accepted and loved by someone who could not reciprocate. That interaction stuck with Robbie for years and when she was writing HOPSCOTCH! she knew it would be a perfect scene for the show. “Remembering how funny Susan was, I thought that this story could be turned into something that would really teach people, in a joyful and funny way, that we all do stupid things to make somebody else happy,” Robbie told us. “The story is so outrageous, but it drives the point home, which is love yourself and do not sell out!” Much like Susan, it was a life altering moment with Vickie Mastron that set Robbie Kudla on a quest to tell her tale. Vickie once shared a story during a group session about her son and how a mother looked through the eyes of her child. “He once told me, ‘Mom, I think of you as being really strong, not as in a physical sense, but in an emotional and spiritual sense. You do what you have to do and you never give up.’” It was know-

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ing how her son saw her that made Vickie question the words she and others used to describe her. The term “victim” was one of the most commonly used, but she didn’t want to be seen as a victim. Even the term “survivor” held a bad taste for her. “It just means you used to be a victim.” During one particular conversation with her son, the perfect description emerged. “You’re a victorious overcomer.” That day in session, when Vickie revealed the term, it struck a chord with Robbie. Now, when asked what it’s like to know that she was a catalyst for Robbie’s story and then to see what that story has become, Vickie simVickie Mastron ply says, “I see it as a gift.” Once these two women learned that they had inspired characters in the production, they were only too happy to join the cast as their characters. But playing yourself leads to more paths than one might want to go, especially when that path includes a dark and painful time in your life. Being a part of the characters’ journey, having been there in real life, can lead to its own set of challenges and rewards. “That’s why I am overcome with emotions hearing these people sing their parts,” Vickie said. Having practiced only with Robbie up until now, this was the first day for the group to rehearse the song, “Head Of A Pin”, all together. “To hear women sing their story, it’s very moving and very emotional for me. It draws me back to a reality that was very challenging, very hard. It also makes me feel very kindred to women who have these horrific experiences.” Being able to come out the other side is a bond they share. For Susan, dealing with the transparency and vulnerability of playing herself can be daunting. “Sometimes I do get overcome with emotion thinking about stuff that happened, not just to me, but when someone else shares their story and that makes me feel very vulnerable,” she said. “Other times, I’m completely overcome with joy and happiness because this is the way to really heal. It’s important to get this out. Sure, I find myself wondering if that

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guy who sold me that kilt will see this, but then I just think, ‘So what, I’m doing this for myself!’” One of the overarching themes in HOPSCOTCH! is redemption, shown in the lives of the women who are reliving that sense of overcoming. “I couldn’t wait until life is different because life was so hard for such an extended period of time that getting to the other side was the goal.” Getting to that point is a part of the journey that typically happens when you least expect it. “It’s not like it happens and you say, ‘Oh, good, I’m glad that’s over,’” said Vickie. “You don’t realize it until you’re through it and it hits you one day. I remember driving in my car one day and knowing that I was on the other side and it felt good.” Both women have clear intentions for speaking up about the tough situations they have been through and showing it to the world, literally on stage. For Vickie, it is all about getting through the darkness and not only seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but reaching it, too. “It’s about speaking out to women and having them realize that they can victoriously overcome these horrific life experiences. You can make it through this and life will be better on the other side.” In Susan’s experience, she sees her involvement as a way to empower other women who are in places where she used to be with relationships. There is also a reason that is much closer to home. “I see this opportunity as another growing experience. I’m just going to grow more from this and learn more and become a better person because Susan Swanson of it.”

Over the coming months, we will continue to take you behind the scenes leading up to the debut in January at The Rialto Theater in Loveland, CO. You can find out more about this production, including seeing the full cast and crew information, by visiting www.hopscotchthemusical.com.

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October 2014

Arts & Culture

Catrina by Rob Yancey

The annual Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, exhibit is back for its 14th year at the Longmont Museum. Celebrated on November 1-2, this Latin American holiday brings communities together to honor deceased loved ones and to reconnect with their memories. While the passing of a loved one is always a somber event, Day of the Dead is a time for celebration and joy as departed family and friends rejoin the community for these two days.

The Longmont Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day of the Dead exhibit is considered the largest in Colorado and one of the top 10 celebrations in the country. More than 6,000 people from across the Front Range and beyond will attend the exhibit, family event, and related programs. Originating in Mexico several hundred years ago, this holiday has spread around the world and is being embraced more and more throughout the United States. Here in Longmont, the celebration has grown from the Museum into Downtown Longmont as earlier this month a number of downtown businesses created Day of the Dead altars in their locations and the Firehouse Art Center will have a Catrina Ball later this month. If you are not yet familiar with Day of the Dead, now is a perfect time to visit the Longmont Museum to learn all about it. And if you already know about Day of the Dead, then you will certainly want to come and see all of the new exhibits on display this year. One of the most important traditions of Day of the Dead is the building of altars, or ofrendas, where photographs, personal items, and even favorite foods are displayed to honor the memory of the deceased. The altars are also typically decorated with candles, flowers (particularly marigolds), bread, ceramics, folk art skeletons, and skulls made of sugar. Keeping with this tradition, the central feature of 38

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the Museum’s exhibit every year is the Altar Room, which displays a variety of creative altars built by members of the Longmont community in honor of their deceased loved ones’ memories. This year there are 13 different altars on display in the Altar Room with more than 160 volunteers contributing to the exhibit. You will see altars that are more traditional in their design and altars that are more symbolic in nature. Some altars represent family members who have passed, from grandparents to children, while other altars represent famous figures like Nelson Mandela and JRR Tolkien. And there is one altar honoring fallen soldiers. If you would like to participate in next year’s exhibit by building your own altar for display, contact the Museum for an application. Anyone can submit and spaces are given on a first come, first serve basis. On October 29th, you will have the opportunity to join this year’s volunteer altar builders in a discussion about the altars they created for the exhibit. The event is described as a great way to “learn

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October 2014

about life, love, symbolism, and the adaptation of Day of the Dead in Longmont, Colorado.” This is free to attend and starts at 7pm at the Museum.

a number of elaborate alfombras on display that were created by volunteers at the Museum.

Another important part of the Day of the Dead In addition to the Altar Room, there is an inter- exhibit is the Arch of Compassion. Visitors are pretive side of the exhibit that changes every year. encouraged to write the name and memory of a This year, the exhibit highlights Day of the Dead loved one on paper tags that are available and atas it is celebrated in Oaxaca, Mexico, through the tach them to the arch. For the past several years, photographs of Denis Defibaugh. Over 20 years, this display of paper marigolds has been a great Denis has travelled to Oaxaca to capture the fes- way for people to participate in the holiday. tivities and his series of framed photographs highlights the dramatic costumes and colorful celebra- The celebration of Day of the Dead at the Longtions that are such a big part of this holiday. Be mont Museum finally culminates on November sure to look for a copy of his book in the gallery 1st with the Family Celebration from 11am - 4pm. with more examples of his work. This free event features music and dancing, sugar skull decorating, face painting, and more! AttendThe exhibit also explores the Oaxacan tradition ees are encouraged to wear their best calaca, or of creating handmade sawdust carpets, which are skeleton, apparel. called alfombras. These alfombras are popular in Mexico and in some areas they are also made The Day of the Dead exhibit runs now through with flowers, beans, pine needles, and even fruit. November 9th. Admission is only $5 for adults, Similar to Buddhist sand paintings, the sawdust $3 for children and seniors, and free to members. carpets are meant to be walked on and destroyed, For information about this exhibit and more, you thereby representing the temporary nature of life. can visit the Longmont Museum’s brand new webWhile you won’t be able to walk on them, there are site at www.longmontcolorado.gov/museum. 40

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October 2014

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October 2014

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This year the Portal Gallery features relief carvings by Denver artist Rob Yancey. In this installation he tells the story of Day of the Dead through history with a series of figures representing the Aztecs, Catholics priests, migrant workers, Lady Catrina, and more. Each piece is beautifully carved and painted by hand with the kind of detail you just have to see in person. Also known as El Guero Santero, or the blond wood carver, Yancey will be visiting the Longmont Museum on Wednesday, November 5 at 7pm to talk about his art and the inspiration behind his series of figures. Stop by for this free presentation and an opportunity to meet the artist!

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October 2014

Things to Do

Family Activities To Do This Fall by Elaine Waterman

Fall is finally here, or as I like to call it, “the small amount of time between the summer heat

and the winter misery” (put on the coats, take off the coats, put on the coats, take off the coats!!!). But it truly is here and FINALLY the calendar and the thermometer agree. I couldn’t be happier, because I LOVE FALL. I love the crispness of the air, the color of the leaves and the bright blue skies. I love Halloween, Thanksgiving, school parties, dances, and Jogathons. Apple picking, pumpkin picking, apple printing, pumpkin painting, apple sauce, pumpkin spice, hot cocoa and leg warmers also make my (apparently long) list of Fall loves. Are you the same??? If so, put on your leggings, pull on your riding boots, and grab your pumpkin spice latte, because if you are a mom of school aged children or younger, you’ve got a lot to cram into these Fall months.

Miller Farms If you are looking for bang for your buck, then start with Miller Farms. GET DIRTY while you harvest carrots, onions, potatoes, pumpkins, zucchini, tomatoes and even corn. WARNING: your tractor ride through the fields will take around 1 ½ hours, (there are 180 acres) but you will return with BAGS of veggies. What is there to do? Petting Zoo, Corn Maze, Jumping Balloon (this is awesome- trust me and go on it yourself), fire trucks, hay bale hills, go karts, picnic tables (bring your own food) and antique cars (Lightning McQueen and Mater). Tip #1- Do whatever it takes to get a wagon when you get back from the fields. 10 bags of produce are heavy and if you have small children you will probably be carrying them to the car as well. Tip #2- Pick before you play, or spend a day playing without harvesting. There is TOO MUCH to do at Miller Farms and if you play first, your kids will be wiped out and won’t want to harvest. If you manage to get them on the tractor, they will melt down in the onion field 50 acres from your car. 46

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Tip #3- Go in a group of 10 or more people for a $5 discount per person. Tip #4- Weekdays the playground and corn maze are free. Labor Day through mid November 9 am - 6 pm daily Adults (13+)- $20 per person or a family of four is $65. Each additional person over first four is $15 per person. Children (4yrs-12yrs)- $15 per person, 3 and under are free Groups of 10+- $15 per person, 3 and under are free All activities and harvesting are included in the cost of admission. Admission allows each person to pick up to FIVE bags of produce each. ($10 for each extra bag) ***Admission to playground and corn maze ONLY- weekends- $3, Free on weekdays Perfect for all ages Miller Farms, 13912 CR 19, Platteville

Sunflower Farms The kids LOVE Sunflower Farms. What’s not to love? (Okay, maybe the crowds…) Sunflower Farms pairs a working farm with a place where children can explore, dream, grow, learn and connect with nature. As its website says, it’s “not polished and perfect; but real and organic”. Sunflower Farms has been open for 11 years, and that’s enough time for EVERYONE to know how awesome it is. It is crowded, but even so, you and your children will find lots of fun within their 55 acres, from baby animals, pony rides, huge shade trees with incredible tire swings, sandboxes, sidewalk chalk, bicycles, tractors to explore, and hammocks to free-roaming chickens, giant tree houses, and a zipline (our favorite). Tip #1- Go right at 9am. Sure, you give up your leisurely morning of sipping coffee while the kids play quietly, but you will beat the majority of the families there if you arrive at opening time. Tip #2- If your child happens to be the kind of kid that harasses the pig, provide extra supervision so that he or she does not get bitten. Mondays- Fridays- 9am- 1pm; $7 per person; under 12 months free; Food is not available. Sundays: 9am- 3pm; $10 per person under 12 months free; Food is available for extra fee. Includes haywagon ride, access to pumpkin patch, and occasionally live music. Good for ages walking through 9 years old. Sunflower Farms, 11150 Prospect Road, Longmont

Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch Rain or shine, it’s pumpkin time! On the weekends visit the PUMPKIN CARNIVAL filled with carnival fun and a pick your own pumpkin patch. You and the kids can celebrate the harvest with Pony Rides, Carnival Rides, Hay Mazes, Paint your own Pumpkins, Petting Zoo Animals, and Bouncy Castles. This is the perfect fall activity if you have littles under 5 and even older kids will enjoy. You can probably exhaust your fun options in under 1 ½ hours, as opposed to the 3 hours at Miller Farms (which sometimes is TOO much fun, and you know what I mean if you have ever had to deal with an overstimulated toddler). Not only a great place to pick a pumpkin, but they have a local organic farm stand open 7 days a week and offer self-guided/school tours during the week. insideLONGMONT.com

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Tip #1- Stick to your guns on how many tickets you purchase for each kid. Like the Carnival, those tickets can add up fast. Be like a rock when they come back to you begging for just one more. Saturdays- 9am- 6pm Sundays- 9am- 6pm No entry fee onto the grounds, parking is free, pay per activity (Activities require tickets which are $1 each and activities vary from 1-5 tickets per activity per child). Food- cotton candy, caramel apples, hot dogs and the like, pretzels, popcorn and more. Good for ages walking through 9 years old, although rides top out at around 6yrs old. Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch, 9059 Ute Hwy, Longmont

Day of the Dead - Family Day at the Museum Every year the Longmont Museum hosts the coolest Day of the Dead Celebration for families. There will be traditional music and dance, sugar skull decorating, paper flower making, face painting and more. Serving Pan de Muerto and hot chocolate - yum! Tip #1- You CAN keep your sugar skull for 6 years without it degrading. Not really a tip, but a fact. Tip #2- Participate in the fun with your child. This is a fantastic cultural experience and not just a free family event. November 1st- 11am- 4pm Good for all ages FREE Longmont Museum

Halloween Parade and Trick or Treat Street Dress up in your Halloween costume for a march down Main Street. Afterwards visit the downtown merchants for trick or treating! Tip #1- To avoid whining, use strollers or wagons for young children. Tip#2- Do not plan an elaborate costume for your toddler which he will remove half way through the parade. October 25th- 9:30 line up and 10am start near Roosevelt Park Free

I may not like Pina Coladas or getting caught in the rain, but give me a hot spiced apple cider and take me on a walk through the changing leaves, and I am a happy camper. I hope to see you at a fun event this October and Fall, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell Spring, but you will always be my favorite!

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October 2014

Happening In Longmont

October 2014

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Family Harvest Festival

On October 5th, The Family Garden hosted their Family Harvest Festival at The Shupe Homestead and it was a fantastic time for kids of all ages! This annual FUNdraiser is a celebration of families with engaging activities that included face painting, pumpkin decorating, lawn games, and much more! Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s musician Eric West invited folks to join him front and center for a special group jam session on some quite unique instruments. Later, the crowd was captivated by Rosy the Magical Tree Faerie who kept everyone on their toes with sleight of hand, tricks, and theatrics. Finally, Jeff Brinkman took the stage and filled the room with catchy tunes. It was a very enjoyable afternoon of fun for the whole family! To find out more about The Family Garden, visit www.family-garden.org.

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October 2014

Happening In Longmont

The Sweet Taste of Longmont

The Inn Between held their 7th Annual Sweet Taste of Longmont fundraiser at Pacific Event Center on September 27th and there was plenty of sweet desserts and appetizers from a variety of local chefs, shops, and bakeries to keep everyone happy. The eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proceeds went to benefit the Innâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program services for homeless families, youth, and individ-

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uals. Throughout the evening, attendees walked around scouting dessert options and double checking their silent auction bids. Entertainment for the night included the music of Acoustic Harmony, a special dance routine created specifically for this event by Broadway Performing Academy, and a performance by singer Rhianna Starr. Needless to say, throughout the night we got more than our fair share of sugar, but we wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have it any other way! Find out how you can support The Inn Between of Longmont at www.innbetween.org.

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October 2014

Upcoming Events

October Events

October 4 Centennial Pool’s Birthday Bash

Friends of the Library Book Sale

Veterans Helping Veterans Now Spaghetti Dinner

Live Music: Chaeus

“The Rocky Horror Show”

October 18 Friends of the Library Book Sale

“Driving Miss Daisy” October 5 Family Harvest Festival

Live Music: NIck O’Connor

“Driving Miss Daisy”

Live Music: The Prairie Scholars

October 9 Monster Movie Fest: “Dracula”

“The Rocky Horror Show” October 19 Friends of the Library Book Sale

October 10 2nd Friday Downtown Art

Live Music: The Prairie Scholars

Live Music: Nick O’Connor Longmont Dance Theatre October Showcase

October 20 Live Music: Nick O’Connor

October 11 Taste of Wellness Fair

October 23 Live Music: Nick O’Connor

Pumpkin PIe Days Antique Show

Pink Power Happy Hour

Longmont Dance Theatre October Showcase

Monster Movie Fest: “Night of the Living Dead”

October 12 Pumpkin Pie Days Antique Show

October 24 “The Rocky Horror Show”

Live Music: The Prairie Scholars

Catrina Ball

BLAME IT ON HOBOKEN, Live!

October 25 38th Annual Halloween Parade

October 16 Arts and Ales

“The Rocky Horror Show”

The Prairie Scholars Happy Hour

October 26 Live Music: The Prairie Scholars

Friends of the Library Book Sale

October 28 Live Music: The Prairie Scholars

Live Music: Jeff Brinkman Live Music: Vic Anderson October 17 Live Music: Nick O’Connor

Pink Power Happy Hour October 30 Live Music: Nick O’Connor & Jessica Eppler

For details on these events and many more, visit our on-line Calendar of Events at www.insidelongmont.com 54

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November Events November 1 Fathers Are Forever

November 16 Live Music: The Prairie Scholars

Day of the Dead Celebration

“Shrek the Musical”

Live Music: The Prairie Scholars

“The Miracle Worker”

Live Music: Nick O’Connor

November 18 Community Dinner @ Lucky’s Market

November 5 Guero Santero Artist Talk at the Longmont Museum

November 20 Arts and Ales Friends of the Library Book Sale

November 8 “Normal Heights”

November 21 Friends of the Library Book Sale

Longmont Live

“The Miracle Worker”

40th Annual Longmont Turkey Trot

November 22 Live Music: Watersong

November 11 Live Music: Nick O’Connor

Friends of the Library Book Sale

November 13 “Man on Wire”

“The Miracle Worker” November 23 The Prairie Scholars Happy Hour

“Shrek the Musical” November 14 “Shrek the Musical”

Friends of the Library Book Sale

“The Miracle Worker”

November 15 Fathers Are Forever

November 25 Live Music: The Prairie Scholars

Romantic Russia

November 30 Live Music: The Prairie Scholars

“Shrek the Musical” “The Miracle Worker”

For details on these events and many more, visit our on-line Calendar of Events at www.insidelongmont.com

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October 2014

Visit www.insidelongmont.com

And Learn More About The Great Businesses In Our Online

Business Network

October 2014

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October 2014

Visit www.insidelongmont.com

And Learn More About The Caring Non Profits In Our Online

Non Profit Community

The Family Garden is a resource hub offering education, inspiration and networking for families throughout pregnancy, birth and early childhood. Many different philosophies and approaches to child birth and parenting are presented without judgment or advocacy for a particular view.

The Inn Between strives to help families and individuals who are facing homelessness in our community to be self-sufficient and sustainable to no longer be homeless. By providing housing and critical services, we work with our residents to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed for self-sufficient living.

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Longmont Dance Theatre strives to enliven and to elevate the human spirit by means of dance, specifically ballet. A technique of movement born in the courts of kings and queens, ballet has survived to this day to become one of the most elegant, most adaptable, and most powerful means of human communication.

Mountain States Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home extends Christian services to wounded children in an effort to meet their physical needs, heal their emotional hurts, challenge their minds, and teach them moral principles in order to reach the goals of reuniting them with their families or preparing them for independence.

The OUR Center helps people move toward self-sufficiency by unifying community resources. The organization provides emergency services to help people through short-term financial crises and also works in partnership with our clients to develop case plans for those needing longer-term assistance.

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