22 minute read
ON THE SCENE
s the complexities of real life continue to make 2021 a very strange place, who would have thought that the spooky traditions of Halloween and the fall might offer a bit of escape from all of that?
After a series of cancellations and virtual events last year, organizers behind two local fall events say that they ’re doing their best to ensure that families and fans have a safe and fun chance First up are some changes to the Catrina Ball, a popular annual ode to the ancient Aztec goddess of death featured in skeleton-like makeup and figures, as seen during MexicanAmerican Dia de los Muertos celebrations.
Elaine Waterman, executive director of the Firehouse Art Center, said that the resurgence of COVID has once again led do a downsizing of the regular event, but hopes that a couple of early October events will help make up for a cautious approach.
Brightly painted skulls echo their sweet sugar skull counterparts. (Courtesy The Firehouse Art Center)
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“We will be having our Gigantes Procession and Family Fiesta outdoors from 2 to 6 p.m. on October 9, in partnership with the Longmont Museum and Cultural Center and the City of Longmont, ” she explains.
During the event, you
’ll be able to join a procession of dozens of gigantes, which are traditional oversized puppets made by local artists, worn on the shoulders of revelers. Waterman says the gigantes will be dancing through downtown Longmont, departing from the Family Fiesta at 6 p.m. The parade will begin and return back to 4th and Coffman, and will be led by Grupo Azteca Tlahuitzcalli, a group of traditional Aztec dancers.
“We will also have our community-painted Catrinas available by silent auction to benefit the Firehouse during the event, which will also be the community opening of our Dia de los Muertos exhibit, ” she adds.
For fans of haunted houses and horror movies, the good news is that the Dickens Horror Film Festival will indeed be back in person at the Dickens Opera House, located upstairs at 300 Main Street.
The event, held October 16, is a day-long tribute to the terrifying and fantastic in film, and will feature filmmaker presentations, sessions with speakers and a 12-hour curated schedule of films from across the spectrum of horror, the paranormal, mysteries and the supernatural.
Jackie Brennan, executive producer and social media coordinator for Colorado Festival Productions, said this year’ s seventh annual Dickens Horror festival is designed to help get people ’ s minds off the
The Gigantes Procession makes its way through downtown with costumed revelers. (Mark Ivins/Firehouse Art Center)
Traditional Aztec dancers lead the procession. (Mark Ivins/Firehouse Art Center)
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peculiarities facing us daily in 2021 and to offer a bit of escape – with less blood and gore than the event’ s title might suggest.
“It’ s become a very popular film festival for fans of the paranormal and the supernatural, and has developed a good following over the years, ” she explains. “It’ s a great pre-Halloween event, compete with costumes and a costume contest. ”
After the 2020 festival was largely moved online, Brennan says the current plans are to provide a comfortably-spaced indoor setting for what “There ’ s not going to be a lot of slasher or ‘Walking Dead’ kind of selections, but you ’ll still see some vampires and zombies, ” she explains. “But there ’ s still some blood, of course. The atmosphere at our 2020 event was surrounded by the Colorado wildfires, and that was scary enough. ”
Brennan is hoping the event will also feature some of the filmmakers taking part in the event, allowing audiences to interact and ask questions.
Costumes are encouraged and members of the Project Nerd podcast will
Jose’ Porfirio Gonzales giving his presentation at Dickens Horror Film Festival 2020. (Courtesy Dickens Horror Film Festival)
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Emerald Boes giving a presentation on her dark art magazine, Horrid, in 2020. (Courtesy Dickens Horror Film Festival) Brennan said the Dickens Opera House setting is still ideal for this sort of seasonal event, even if recent renovations at the music venue have slightly toned down the Victorian-era ambience of the place.
“It is absolutely haunted, still, and in the past we’ve had tours of the building conducted by a paranormal investigation team – we had a contest and provided winners with the chance to go along with them and spend the night there,” she says.
A full ticket for the entire event is $50, or fans can also check the schedule and come for smaller chunks. Event details are available at coloradofests.com.
Terror in the Corn
If you’re willing to go a little further afield, what could be better than a haunted corn maze? Terror in the Corn is a perennial favorite in Northern C l rado and all its thrills can be had for a short drive south to Erie at Anderson a perennial favorite in Northern Colorado and all its thrills can be had for a short drive south to Erie at Anderson Farms. t all the fright of a haunted house rolled into the fun of a corn maze, complete Get all the fright of a haunted house rolled into the fun of a corn maze, complete h zombies and chain saw horrors. with zombies and chain saw horrors. ur best bet is to pre-purchase timed tickets online and save yourself hours of Your best bet is to pre-purchase timed tickets online and save yourself hours of iting in line. If you really want to expedite the process, take a look at the quick waiting in line. If you really want to expedite the process, take a look at the quick ss or platinum pass options. A quick pass has a separate entrance that alpass or platinum pass options. A quick pass has a separate entrance that alws you to bypass the general queue. While it won’t completely eliminate wait lows you to bypass the general queue. While it won’t completely eliminate wait e on busy nights, it will still get you in faster. The platinum pass allows you to time on busy nights, it will still get you in faster. The platinum pass allows you to lk right in at your allotted time with the added attraction of instant access to walk right in at your allotted time with the added attraction of instant access to mbie Paintball and extra swag. Zombie Paintball and extra swag. ce Fall Festival admission is included with your ticket, you’ll be able to enjoySince Fall Festival admission is included with your ticket, you’ll be able to enjoy her fun activities and attractions until your terrifying time slot comes up. other fun activities and attractions until your terrifying time slot comes up. derson Farms opens for the season on September 24 with Terror in the Anderson Farms opens for the season on September 24 with Terror in the rn running from 7 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays and 7 to 11 p.m. Corn running from 7 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays and 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Come spend the day around a fire pit with friendson Fridays and Saturdays. Come spend the day around a fi re pit with friends d family, pick your pumpkins and see if you can survive in the corn. and family, pick your pumpkins and see if you can survive in the corn. ere: Anderson Farms, 6728 County Road 3 1/4, Erie Where: Anderson Farms, 6728 County Road 3 1/4, Erie en: Thursdays and Sundays 7-10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 7-11 When: Thursdays and Sundays 7-10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 7-11 Tickets: $33 Friday or Saturday, $30 Thursday or Sunday Tickets: $33 Friday or Saturday, $30 Thursday or Sunday QUICK PASS: $48 Friday or Saturday, $45 Thursday or Sunday PLATINUM PAS: $125 *Terror in the corn is a Timed Ticket Attraction.
(BPT) - As the pandemic began, many professionals quickly switched from working in the office to working from home. What started as a tentative few weeks turned into a few months and now over a year later, many people are still working remotely. Furthermore, more companies are transitioning indefinitely to hybrid or full-time remote work.
Perhaps realizing the convenience for employees and the cost savings for organizations, companies nationwide are making the move permanent. In fact, an April 2021 report from Garner found 74% of CFOs intend to shift some employees to remote work permanently. This appears to be a welcome change for most workers. A Harvard Business School survey found 81% of professionals either don’t want to go back to the office or prefer a hybrid schedule.
If you will be working from home more permanently, it’s smart to take a fresh look at your work environment. Many people transitioned quickly to working at home last year and makeshift offices became the norm. Now that you know you’ll be working from home regularly, making updates to the work environment can support productivity, professionalism and overall success.
Create a designated work space
Even if you don’t have the luxury of a designated office, you can still make changes to make remote work a bigger part of your home life. If you have a flex room, designate it as an office during work hours. Some people renovate a closet or corner nook into an office with a desk and other necessities. If space is limited, consider a mobile office such as a desk on casters so you can bring your desk into the room when working, and tuck away at close of business. Monitors, such as LG’s unique Ergo models, can replace a conventional monitor stand with a desk clamp to free up even more room in your work space without sacrificing performance or screen size.
Upgrade technology
Upgrade your laptop with technology that keeps up with your professional needs. For example, the LG gram lineup is a top choice among premium Windows laptops. LG gram laptops are sleek, lightweight and powerful, with a vivid display. They feature a 16:10 aspect ratio screen which is larger than the typical 16:9 screens found on most laptops, and maximizes work efficiency. With a long-lasting battery, you extend time between charges. Plus, the lightweight design makes it easily portable, so it can roll with your routine.
Assess the light
Proper light when working benefits you more than you think. First, adequate light prevents eye strain. Good light can also help you look your best on video. A good overhead light is a must, so upgrade bulbs if necessary. Natural light is also beneficial; by setting a desk up to face it, the light will illuminate your face, which is great for video. If no natural light is available, a desk lamp can be helpful. Avoid being backlit as it can cause shadows on video and reflections that cause visual discomfort.
Implement good ergonomics
Forget the uncomfortable kitchen chair or the too-comfortable bed - it’s worthwhile to invest in ergonomic office equipment to support your wellbeing. Some of the most beneficial include a comfortable yet supportive office chair and a hands-free headset. Be mindful how you type and interreact with technology as well. Ergonomic navigation is essential, which is why LG enlarged the gram’s keyboard and touchpad for extended comfort and efficiency.
Set some rules
Working from home can come with many challenges, from distractions and interruptions to the temptation to work through lunch and extend the work day into evening hours. Set some boundaries, including designating times for breaks and start/stop times on your digital calendar. To focus, add white noise or use noise-canceling headphones, depending on your preference. Talk with family about respecting office hours and your workspace, and never underestimate the value of an old-fashioned do-not-disturb sign on the door.
COMMUNITY Willkommen to 2021
BY ANDY STONEHOUSE for LONGMONT MAGAZINE
What started as a 19th-century marriage celebration and horse race has become one of the world’s most popular ways to celebrate the magic of beer.
The very first Oktoberfest was a tribute to the union of Prince Regent Ludwig and Princess Therese, a royal wedding that captured the popular imagination of the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1810. A Bavarian soldier proposed an epic, five-day party for the royal couple that would culminate in a horse race. That party immediately gained the status of hallowed tradition, and the annual revels spread across the country, the continent and the world.
Fast forward more than 200 years, and you’ll find the legacy of that Bavarian blow-out right here in Colorado. The format is certainly different – our local nod to
the Germanic traditions don’t include the horse races or the agricultural festivals of those first Oktoberfests. Instead, the focus has turned to one of Bavaria’s other lasting cultural touchstones: good beer.
Northern Colorado organizationa have taken the traditions of the Bavarians to heart. Across the region, locals have turned to German tradition to celebrate the arrival of fall. There’s no need to travel to Denver for its annual Oktoberfest on Larimer Square to pay tribute to the tradition, or to brave the crowds of the yearly Great American Beer Fest at the city’s convention center to enjoy some of the world’s best brews.
Berthoud Oktoberfest is guaranteed fun for all ages. (Photos courtesy Ad Sortium Media/Berthoud Oktoberfest)
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From Longmont to Berthoud, northern Coloradoans have put their own spin on the 200-yearold tradition.
In Longmont, the local Oktoberfest celebration is a way to enjoy all of the standard trappings of the event, while contributing to charitable causes in the community.
The Left Hand Brewing Foundation will run the Longmont Oktoberfest event from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25 at the city’s Roosevelt Park, and will offer attendees a mix of live entertainment, local food trucks and, of course some of the best brews the region has to offer. What’s more, the general admission fees, which run from $10 for entrance to $35 tickets for beer tokens and an Oktoberfest commemorative glass, will all benefit a good cause.
“All event proceeds from Longmont Oktoberfest will benefit A Woman’s Work and the Left Hand Brewing Foundation, both dedicated to supporting our local
Above: The Left Hand Brewing Company Foundation brings food, vendors and beer together for one stellar good time. (Photos courtesy Left Hand Brewing Company)
Love is more than you ever imagined.
The Longmont Oktoberfest will feature a musical lineup that fuses the traditions of old Bavaria with distinctively Coloradoan strains of folk, rock and bluegrass. Featured bands include Denver’s Thirsty 5, the Neue Polka Band, FoxFeather, the Parlor Pickers and Wood Belly. Live music will find a complement in competitions that reflect the spirit of the event, including a stein holding contest and a malt sack race. Those with the best Oktoberfest costumes will also be celebrated.
Local food vendors will join a stunning array of beer experts, including Left Hand Brewing Co., 300 Suns Brewing, Bootstrap Brewing, Fritz Family Brewers, Oskar Blues Brewery, Rock N Roll Brewery, Shoes & Brews, Wibby Brewing, Wild Cider and others. Food vendors will include Abo’s Pizza, Gaijin Street Food, Georgia Boys BBQ, Scratch Kitchen and XLVII’s Bakery.
Kids and non-drinkers are also welcome, and the event will include family-friendly events. For more information, visit lhbfoundation.org.
The Berthoud area’s Oktoberfest, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 2 at Fickel Park, will feature a similar mix of fun, food, music and beer. John Stehle Jr.’s Rocky Mountain Dutch Hop Boys and the Neue Polka Band will provide the soundtrack for a menu of events that includes a costume contest and a pretzel eating competition. Local vendors will accept credit cards for food and brews, but general admission to the family-friendly event is free. For more information, visit berthoudcolorado.com/Oktoberfest.
While none of these Colorado Oktoberfests will feature a royal wedding or a fancy horse race, they’ll all capture the spirit, fun and celebration of a 200-year-old tradition.
Above: Of course, there will be many Left Hand brews on tap at Longmont Oktoberfest. (Photos courtesy Left Hand Brewing Company)
IF YOU GO...
LONGMONT OKTOBERFEST
Saturday, September 25, 11a.m. - 9 p.m. Roosevelt Park, 700 Longs Peak Ave, Longmont lhbfoundation.org/longmont-oktoberfest/
Fickel Park, 620 Mountain Ave, Berthoud berthoudcolorado.com/Oktoberfest
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
TAHINI-GINGER NOODLE SALAD
the answer to zucchini overload
Gretchen McKay, Pittsburgh PostGazette (TNS)
Like many home cooks who also garden, I get great satisfaction using the herbs and vegetables I grow each summer in whatever I’m cooking that day. As such, one of my favorite things to do during my early-morning walks is to check out other people’s gardens to see how my green(ish) thumb stacks up.
When it comes to summer squash, I always lose out to an elderly neighbor who grows some of the best-looking zucchini I’ve ever seen in an unlikely spot: behind his garage, on a tiny patch of grass alongside an alley.
It’s not even August yet, and his zucchini are already twice as large as mine, with smooth, glossy skin. Another year, another bumper crop. I’m so envious!
I ask him every year how he does it and I always get the same response: a sheepish shrug, followed by, “Maybe because my daughter gets the plants in West Virginia?”
Maybe. locally grown zucchini will be showing up before long at farmers markets, farm stands and grocery stores, and that after you’ve made your umpteenth loaf of zucchini bread, you’ll be looking for a few new recipes. This salad will hit the spot with its East-Asian flavors and pretty summer colors.
It starts with zoodles — long, raw zucchini noodles made with a spiralizer or vegetable peeler. They’re tossed with sliced bell peppers, charred broccoli, shredded carrot and green onion, then dressed in a dressing made with tahini, rice vinegar, ginger and soy.
The result is a low-carb, fresh summer salad that bursts with taste, color and texture.
If you use store-bought squash, look for smaller, in-season zucchini, which have thinner skins and fewer seeds.
A zucchini noodle salad with an East Asian-inspired tahini-ginger dressing is an easy, low-carb summer dish. (Gretchen McKay/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS)
PG tested
For dressing 1/2 cup tahini 5 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar 4 teaspoons grated ginger 1 tablespoon honey 2 teaspoons hot sauce, or more to taste 1 garlic clove, minced 1/2 teaspoon salt
For salad 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil 12 ounces broccoli florets, cut into 1/2 -inch pieces 2 ears corn, off the cob 1 pound zucchini noodles, from 2 zucchini squash 1/2 red and 1/2 yellow bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and cut into strips 1 carrot, peeled and shredded 4 scallions, sliced thin on bias 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
Prepare dressing: Process all ingredients in a blender until smooth, about 30 seconds. If it seems too thick, add a little more vinegar or soy sauce, or more hot sauce if you like it extra spicy. Transfer to a large serving bowl. (Dressing can be made and refrigerated up to 24 hours in advance; whisk to recombine before using.)
For salad: Heat oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmery. Add corn and broccoli to pan and cook until softened and spotty brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to plate and let cool thoroughly.
Add zucchini, bell pepper, carrot, scallions and corn and broccoli to bowl with dressing and toss to combine. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, and serve.
Serves 4-6.
Niwot Tavern earns Rotary award for innovative entertainment
BY SHELLEY WIDHALM for LONGMONT MAGAZINE
When the pandemic shut down indoor dining, the co-owners of the Niwot Tavern went to takeout like other restaurants but wanted to go one step further.
Stacy Szydlek and Tara Shaheen set up a makeshift stage on the patio, so that diners could have some entertainment while they hung out in their vehicles or the parking lot. They brought in musicians on a nightly basis, something they continued to do after things opened up again but not as often.
“Before, we didn’t have music. We only started it so (the musicians) could survive and we could survive just to help each other,” Shaheen said.
The Rotary Club of Niwot presented Shaheen and Szydlek with the thirdannual Community Achievement Award on Aug. 5 at Rock & Rails for giving back to their community. The award, established in 2019, recognized them for their community outreach and support of Niwot and for their “service above self,” the motto of Rotary Club International.
“I was very surprised because we were just doing what needed to be done when it needed to be done. We were trying to help everybody survive at the same time. It just wasn’t about us,” Shaheen said.
Shaheen and Szydlek threw everything they had into keeping their business afloat, while also doing what they could for their community. Szydlek came up with the idea for the patio music as a way to bring people together at a time when they were stuck at home from the state’s stay-athome executive order.
“We never did any of it thinking we would win any award. It was doing what we had to do,” Szydlek said.
Shortly before the pandemic struck, Szydlek and Shaheen purchased Niwot Tavern, in business for 16 years, on Jan. 1, 2020. They changed up the lighting and floors, giving the restaurant a small update, keeping the feel the same. They operated like normal until March, when they were forced to shut down along with other eating establishments across the state.
With the return of limited food service in July 2020, Szydlek and Shaheen shifted to takeout service and, seeing a need in their community, started giving out food and meals. They offered students free meals to replace school lunches, established a food bank at the hostess stand, and gave out 40 holiday meals on Easter and another 100 on Christmas, 40 at Roosevelt Park and the rest to people living in their cars in Longmont.
“That was eye opening to see what was happening in our own community,” Shaheen said.
In an effort to support local musicians and businesses, Shaheen and Szydlek converted the 10-by-10 patio into a stage for the musicians to use and moved the 13 patio tables there out into the parking lot.
The musicians got paid a meal and a couple of drinks for their performances, plus tips from those ordering takeout. The takeout came not just from the restaurant but the nearby establishments, such as Winot Coffee, Abo’s Pizza, Fan’s Chinese Cuisine and Raza Fresa Mexican Kitchen in Cottonwood Square.
The patio is fenced in, with the musicians the only ones allowed inside to maintain social distancing. The musicians performed 5-7 p.m. every night, taking the opportunity to get in front of an audience when many venues were temporarily shut down.
Regional bands of all genres came out, plus nationally touring Jauntee took the stage, as well as Al Laughlin from the Samples, who performed half a dozen times with his band Highway 50. There was acoustic, big band, jazz, African drumming and many other types of performers, and hundreds of people showed up each time with lines out the door for Niwot Tavern’s takeout.
“We worked together as a team to make people feel some sort of normal in such crazy times,” Shaheen said.
Customers in the parking lot socially distanced as they ate and danced to the music. They tailgated, sat in their cars or at the tables moved to the parking lot or those at nearby restaurants, or brought their own chairs and blankets.
