Gambler Celebrating 20 Years Serving Colorado’s Gaming Community y www.coloradogambler.com coloradogambler cogamblerr
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December 13 - 26, 2011
See V Coupons oanluable page 11
CHRISTMAS
Christmas shopping in Victorian Denver was a family affair Page 6
NEW BUSINESS
Central City gets a new barber shop – Moment for Me Page 7
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HOLIDAY
Holiday dining, promotions at Black Hawk & Central City casinos are bright Pages 12 - 13
TRAIL’S END
Experience the holiday season in Victorian Colorado settings Page 21
COUPONS • COLORADO HISTORY • CA SINO GUIDE •GAMING • MAP • ENTERTAINMENT
Publisher’s Column By Robert Sweeney
New mattresses are the best Christmas lights await gaming visitors
Gambler and reads every issue before departing for the casinos. One of the lead stories in that issue is “Gaming Dollars Benefit State Historic Preservation,” relating that the state had taken in $36 million since gaming began in 1991. Look for our upcoming Year In Review issue to see where those number are to date. We hope that casinos will add some sports betting in 2012; maybe gaining approval for such betting from the Gaming Commission. May you find a few blackjacks in your Christmas stocking this season!
The Christmas lights are on the buildings and the roads through the casino towns and are worth taking an evening drive up the mountains to see. Thank you to the casino general managers for doing such a great job of lighting up the towns and welcoming the Christmas season. Inside the casinos, visitors will find a wide assortment of games, buffets, gaming tables, and a busy buzz of people intent on doing their thing. It could be just dining on the crab legs, carved tenderloin, shrimp, hot soups, and tuna and chicken salads. One can eat diligently or sparingly and many complimentary player card points can be accumulated for a free meal. It’s kind of an inside joke among gamblers about what that “free meal” really costs a player. Generally, these casino folks know what they’re doing in feeding clients so very well with wonderful food and drinks. After all, these are gaming establishments and most of us go to play our favorite games. Along the way, we get hungry and actually may go to a specific casino because of the buffet, the friendly bartender, the ease of parking and those great Gambler coupons. We note that the Gaming Commission has given casinos approval to download promotions and earned player points directly on player’s cards. This saves a whole lot of printing and postage mailing out premiums and accumulated points. All the more important that one possesses a players club card and receives bonus points for money spent on slots and table games. It doesn’t take much to reach that buffet spread. Since we’re in the business to be cheerleaders for the industry, and not critics, we rarely take the low road, it doesn’t pay these days to be bad messengers. The Romans killed the bad messengers and there is enough bad news abounding that we need to get away from that and enjoy ourselves. Some great things we have heard in the past week are about the new beds and mattresses at Fortune Valley, which will be renamed by the end of the year. “These are the best beds we’ve ever slept upon,” an Estes Park Gambler reader said. Other tidbits we heard about included the wonderful rack of lamb at the White Buffalo Grille at The Lodge in Black Hawk. “Greatest lamb chops ever eaten,” the email said. And on a dessert note, “The mint ice www.coloradogambler.com cream at The Isle is just the best ice cream in the world.” And bless Steve for sending us an original copy of the May 7, 1997, Colorado Gambler, yellowed with age but a prized souvenir of this famous gambling gent who loves the
Gambler
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THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
coloradogambler
cogambler
December 13 - 26, 2011
Farraddays’
www.black-hawk. isleofcapricasinos.com Holiday Gifts Galore
Every Wednesday in December, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., you will receive a holiday themed gift of the week once you earn 30 unadjusted points. Plan your Wednesday’s now, because each week is a different gift – collect all four for the complete set. Gifts are limited to one per guest per promotion day and are available while supplies last.
Holiday Hot Seat
Win up to $1,000 on Tuesday, Dec. 13 and 27 in the Holiday Hot Seat Drawings. Two winners per hour will be selected to pick a present between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Winning is easy, just be playing your favorite game to be eligible to win.
New Year’s Eve Cash Spree
Your guide to live entertainment and events at Colorado’s casinos
What’s Rockin’
Ring in the New Year at the Isle and win your share
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of the New Year’s Eve Cash Spree. Drawings will take place every half hour from 6 p.m. – 1 a.m. for $500. One name will be drawn every half hour. If the person is not present, the cash rolls over to the next drawing. Begin earning entries at 8 a.m. with each set of 15 unadjusted points.
Enjoy crab legs seven days a week
Holiday special for bus riders
Christmas Day at Calypso’s
Do you ride the bus to Black Hawk? Just for the holidays, The Isle will refund your bus fare up to $20 and give you a $5 bonus. Through December, simply earn 35 unadjusted points on your IsleOne card and present your return bus ticket to the guest service center or the IsleOne club. Table games players will receive their bus fare back with four hours of consecutive play.
Paradise 50 Plus
All guests age 50 or better can join the NEW Paradise 50 Plus club Sundays and Mondays. You will receive 3X points on all slots, a free soft serve ice cream and a Free Calypso’s Buffet after earning five unadjusted points. For complete details, visit the IsleOne club. Point multiplier is not valid on video poker games.
Calypso’s dinner buffet serves up the biggest and best crab legs in all of Black Hawk, seven days a week. Enjoy the succulent buffet Sundays through Thursdays, 3:30 – 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 3:30 – 11 p.m.
Leave the cooking Christmas Day to the chefs at Calypso’s Buffet. A special holiday menu will be served, including your favorite Christmas Day favorites from 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. for just $24.99. From 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., the buffet will also include brunch items.
Fantastic 40 Plus
All guests age 40 or better can participate in the Fantastic 40 Plus club on Thursdays. Guests will receive 4X points on their favorite slots, a free buffet after earning five unadjusted points or earn 50 unadjusted points and receive $40 to Farraddays’. Point multiplier is not valid on video poker games.
Poker room MNF Blitz
Pull up a seat to experience the comfort and all-in
Fortune Valley Hotel Black Hawk
321 Gregory St., Central City • 303.582.0800
Dec. 16: Stinson Brothers (Elvis Presley Tribute) Dec. 17: Stinson Brothers (Jimmy Buffett Tribute) Dec. 22: Comedy Works presents Jeff Harms (doors open at 7 p.m.) Dec. 23: House Band Dec. 24: One Night Out Stinson Brothers Dec. 29: Something Underground The Lava Room entertainment – all Dec. 30: Hot Posse concerts are free, from 9 – 11 p.m. doors Dec. 31: Romeo Delight open at 8:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).
www.fortunevalleycasino.com
excitement at Black Hawk’s newest poker room. Win your share of $600 every Monday with the $600 Monday Night Football Blitz. Starting at noon, earn a square for every hour of play. Prizes will be awarded at the end of each quarter during the game.
Play $30 - $60
$30 - $60 players can get a discounted buy-in or play for free in the $25,000 Hi-Roller Poker Tournament on January 8 by playing at the Isle in December. Play 30 hours of $30-$60 and receive a voucher for $270 toward the tournament buyin. Play 60 hours of $30-$60 and get a free $540 buy-in to the tournament. In addition, $30-$60 players earn a free hotel room Sunday through Thursday or a $59 Friday-Saturday rate for just 3 hours of play.
New members receive a free buffet
Beginning Dec. 1, all new members of the IsleOne club will receive a free Calypso’s Buffet after playing just 30 minutes on their new IsleOne card. Once you have played the 30 minutes, just present your new card to the hostess in Calypso’s to receive.
Farraddays’ has a new menu that you simply must try. Many favorites from the old menu return this spring and Chef David Oliveri has added new original and delicious selections as well. Farraddays’ offers exceptional quality for a great value. Farraddays’ is open at 5 p.m. nightly. Reservations are recommended at 303-9987777.
Menu at Tradewinds
Tradewinds at the Isle has a new menu that features what we believe to be the best hamburgers in Black Hawk. Whether you try the classics, a green chile and chipotle, the black & blue or mushroom and Swiss burger you will not be disappointed. Tradewinds even offers a mouthwatering cheeseburger burrito.
Pet friendly
The Isle Hotel has Pet Friendly rooms available for a small fee. Furry friends less than 50 pounds can enjoy a stay at the Isle with you. Pet friendly rooms will offer your pet use of a doggie bed, food and water bowls and a fenced doggie area. Disposable litter boxes will be available for feline guests. For reservations in a pet friendly room call 303-998-7777. Rooms are subject to availability.
401 Main Street, Black Hawk, CO 80422 1-800-THE-ISLE
Walker Williams Relax to live entertainment on the Caribbean Cove bar stage Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. & Sunday from 5 – 9 p.m.
Play at the Canyon Casino every Saturday in December to win Up to $1,000 instantly. Nine lucky winners will be chosen to select a stocking stuffed with cash. Drawings will be held between 6 – 10 p.m. with an early drawing time on Dec. 24, 3 – 7 p.m.
Pit Appreciation
Play your favorite table games daily in December and earn entries to win a 55” 3D LED TV, 3D Blu-ray player and 4 pairs of 3D Glasses. Plus we will also be giving away 4 pairs of pro Hockey tickets. Prize drawing will be held on Dec. 30, 9 – 11 p.m.
Free Gift Day
Earn 150 base points and receive a free Santa sugar and creamer set. Earn an additional 100 base points and receive the matching Santa salt and peppershakers.
7 Minute Madness
Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk Dec. 16 – 17: Walker Williams (Country) Dec. 23 – 24: Soul X (Rock & Top 40) Dec. 30-31: Chase N the Dream (R & B, Dance & Blues)
Stocking stuffers
www.canyoncasino.com $5.99 Prime Rib Dinner
In December the Canyon Grille will feature a Prime Rib Dinner for $5.99 with your Canyon Club card. Served all day every day.
Play at the Canyon Casino Monday, Dec. 26 thru Thursday, Dec. 29 between 2 – 4 p.m. daily. Winners will be selected every 7 minutes to win up to $250.
New Year’s Eve
Spend New Year’s Eve with your friend at Canyon Casino. Cash winners will be selected every 15 minutes to win $250-$2012. Just simply play on your Canyon Club card between 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. to be entered.
www.black-hawk.isleofcapricasinos.com
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
December 13 - 26, 2011
Christmas
Christmas shopping in Victorian Denver was a family affair By Rosemary Fetter
D
uring the late 1800s, Colorado ranchers and farmers generally ordered holiday gifts from the Montgomery Ward catalog, but Victorian Denverites had plenty of shopping alternatives when Christmastime rolled around. The entire family usually went Christmas shopping together, according to John Monnet in A Rocky Mountain Christmas, “The Saturday before Christmas during the last two decades of the 19th century might find a proper Victorian family leaving their fashionable home on Capitol Hill to board a cable car or, by 1892, an electric trolley that ran along 15th Street. After lunch at the Windsor or Brown Palace hotels [the Denver Dry Goods Tea Room didn’t open until 1924], the family would join crowds of people prowling the shopping district.” Along 16th Street throngs of holiday buyers shopped for bargains in the days before Black Friday and the Internet, The Denver Times newspaper portrayed Christmas shopping in Denver as an adventure, at least for the children. According to The Denver Times, “From store to store go
patient mothers, marshaling the eager youngsters shouting unlimited wants amidst abounding bright decorations, heaps upon heaps of wondrous toys and mountains of multi-colored sweets. The surging throngs will go the rounds, adding parcel after parcel to already cumbersome loads, bowing and declaring in the same old way that another year will find them through with shopping fully a month ahead so that Christmas week will not catch them belated in Sixteenth Street.” (Sound familiar?) Prices were hard to beat in those days. In 1889, the May Company was selling men’s suits and overcoats for $10 and $20, while women’s gold-tipped umbrellas went for $1.65 and cashmere scarves only $10. (At this writing, a major department store, which will go unnamed, sells them for $75.) Twenty years later, in 1910, prices hadn’t changed much. Silk scarves at the Denver Dry Goods Company ranged from $2 to $59, women’s shoes went for $2.35, and small Axminister rugs (for the practical giver) were $1 to $2.10. Charles H. Schreiber at 1510 Broadway offered sets of children’s dishes for five cents, Theodore (aka Teddy) bears for $1.25
A Christmas tree in the home of a relatively affluent family, circa 1900.
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and rubber dolls (water squirters) for a quarter. Monash’s Christmas Fair sold tree decorations such as 12 tin candleholders for a nickel. Great bargains and super sales always have been part of the holiday picture. In 1910, Denver Times columnist Ellen Egan was attracted by the following newspaper ad: Special sale for one day only. 5,000 regular 20-cent handkerchiefs will be slaughtered at 19 cents, only 2 to a customer. “It sounds grand,” she tells readers, “and the next day at noon you postpone your luncheon indefinitely and hurry to the big store. Through the crowd you wend your way slowly until you arrive at a table surrounded by women and bearing the sign, ‘Special sale, fine handkerchiefs, 19 cents each.’ You finally attract the attention of a girl after waiting 45 minutes and you spend 10 minutes selecting the two with the most embroidery, and then hasten back to your duties. You proudly exhibit them to your chum, telling her of your great buy. ‘Well, they’re not the ones on sale,’ the friend enlightens you. ‘Those were all gone at 9:30 this morning. That was the regular price you paid.’ And you know how you hate that girl forever after that.” For the confused shopper, gift guides were plentiful in the newspapers even then. In 1910, Rocky Mountain News reporter Phoebe Forrest suggested ladies’ gifts such as genuine seashell hatpins and ankle watches, the latter presumably more practical now that hemlines were rising. She wrote with a touch of condescension, “It is now considered to be in perfectly good taste for a woman to wear imitation jewelry, and so no matter how slender your purse, you may have all the barbaric and bizarre ornaments that the present fashion in gowns demands.” Newspapers also provided helpful suggestions for homemade gifts. In the pre- Hobby Lobby era, a 19th century Martha Stewart wannabe could fashion a
Christmas shoppers on 16th Street search for bargains, circa 1910. Photos courtesy Denver Public Library, Western History Department
homemade lampshade from yellow cardboard decorated with a pencil design. After cutting out the design, the artisan would paste the back of the shape with red transparent paper. When the shade on the lamp, the light shone through, providing a contrast between the red and the yellow. Another craft project, a toy “whip” for baby, sounds positively deadly. Readers were directed to cover a short, round stick, approximately 19 inches long, in brightly colored crochet, narrowing the work beyond the wood until it came to a point and fastening a tassel at the end. “Leave enough room to allow the tiny hand to grasp the stick firmly, and beyond this fasten a row of six small bells. This will be found a never-ending joy to baby,” the article states, carefully avoiding mention of possible injury to household pets and unsuspecting siblings. Perhaps it’s fortunate that Victorian children received toys only on Christmas or their birthdays. Like today, wily merchants stressed the educational value of their products in preparing the tyke for the adult world. During the late 19th and early 20th century, toys for young boys began
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
to reflect the new technology that was revolutionizing the country. (Girls were still expected to stick with dolls). Although horsedrawn carts and fire engines were still popular, the modern electric motor had already been invented and the internal combustion engine would make the cheap Model T Ford available to middle class families by 1908. Roll photographic film was available in 1888, the radio or “wireless telegraph” in 1896, and airplane appeared on the scene in 1902. Boys’ playthings reflected all of these advances, but the ultimate toy for both son and father was a miniature railroad. In 1901, Joshua Lionel Cowen invented a toy train that used dry cell batteries, a discovery heralding elaborate train sets that miniaturized the masculine world of powerful machines and the prophesized the high-tech future. Since the industry was flourishing, parents considered employment by the railroads a worthy goal for their sons. Eventually, the scale model miniature locomotive became a Yuletide fixture, taking its place alongside candy canes, paper angels and, as one writer put it, “hellish tangles of colored lights.” December 13 - 26, 2011
Spotlight on Business Central City gets a new barber shop Moment for Me is here to serve you By Suzanne Paulman
There is a brand-new, red-whiteand-blue barber shop pole hanging at 109 Eureka St. in Central City across from the Teller House. This is the location of the Moment for Me barber and beauty shops owned and operated by DJ, a local resident who lives in Apex Valley. DJ is originally from Albuquerque, N.M., and having wanted to live in the mountains all his life, recently finally found his perfect home in Apex. Moment for Me has been in business for just more than three weeks. According to DJ, “business has been awesome,” and word-ofmouth advertising has generated a lot of walk-in customers. The shop’s waiting area is relaxed and comfy with a window DJ opens his new barber shop in Central City – Moment for Me. Schedule your appointment today.
Photo by Sharon Sweeney
December 13 - 26, 2011
view, plenty of sunshine, and two huge leather armchairs for customers to sit in while waiting for service. And in the time-honored service of traditional barbershops, DJ keeps a personalized shaving mug and razor to use for each of his gentlemen clients during their visit. DJ’s passion for his barber and beauty businesses created his shop in Central City. Moment for Me offers a wide variety of services, including haircuts for men for $15. Haircuts for women with styling and blow-drying are $20. Manicures, including full set acrylic nails or gel polish for hands, and pedicures are also available. Ladies, with the holiday festivities here, stop by DJ’s and let him arrange that special occasion or up-do hairstyle for you. DJ offers satisfaction with his work, guaranteed. He wants you as
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
his customer to be happy. If you’re not happy with his work, come back within a week and he’ll fix it for you. There are several ways to make an appointment at Moment for Me. Stop by the shop and schedule a time, visit his website at www.momentfor.me to set an appointment and view his entire list of barber and beauty shop services or call DJ at 303-647-8865 for an appointment too. The shop’s hours of operation are currently Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Stop by and check out the newest barber shop in Central City – it’s worth the visit.
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Gambler Profile Can’t keep these 2 away thanks to food, promos, giveaways
Colorado Gambler keeps gambling couple informed about Black Hawk, Central City By Sharon Sweeney
I finished up a meeting in Black Hawk on a Friday afternoon and popped into the Shamrock Café located in the Fitzgerald’s Casino in Black Hawk for a late lunch. Before I sat down at the little table by the window, I was engaged in fashion talk with Diana, who momentarily would be sitting next to me. Once she found out I was part owner of the Colorado Gambler, this friendly, and most outgoing woman, shared a plethora of information with me and it was too good not to share with all of you. Diana told me she had a copy of the Gambler in her car at the moment and that she reads each issue cover to cover. She told me she’s
husband, who sat quietly and listened to the two of us carry on while he devoured his large plate of lasagna that he said, “was very good.” Diana had the fish and chips and she enjoyed Bob and Diana Tait enjoy everything Black Hawk her dish as well. and Central City have to offer, including casinos, Bob’s quiet dining and the shops. Photo courtesy of Diana Tait demeanor just might be the key always looking for something she to their 48 years of marriage or the doesn’t know or needs to be re- fact he has never failed to buy his minded of about the gaming towns. bride two gifts every December. He As a gambler, Diana said it was buys her one for the birthday that very important to print the same in- falls on Dec. 23 and one for Christformation every week because there mas. I asked the couple who has are a lot of casinos and information won the most money up at the cathat people can’t always remember. sinos and Diana was quick to let me She also likes when the casinos run know she has “won the most” but coupons in the Gambler. By the she said she also spends the most. Bob and Diana are happy that way, I failed to mention Bob, her
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Diana - Dec 23!
the casinos are located in Black Hawk and Central City rather than Denver because they love the beautiful drive from Longmont through Boulder Canyon and Nederland. They venture to the casinos about every 10 days. “Once we arrive, we really enjoy the food and drinks and in a seven hour day, we probably visit five casinos,” the couple said. About every fourth visit up to their favorite Colorado casinos, the two stay the night just to get away from home. She visits the thrift store in Central City each time she comes too. Diana said her favorite place to eat prime rib is at Mardi Gras and said the homemade soups at The Gilpin and Canyon casinos can’t be beat. One of her favorite meals was a shrimp stuffed tilapia special that she enjoyed at 50 percent off at the Canyon Casino. Diana loves the Reuben at Fitzgerald’s, which she says is so big that her and Bob usually have to split the sandwich. Another favorite of Diana’s is The Gilpin’s Tuesday and Thursday
Central City Nuggets Free Bingo www.fortunevalleycasino.com Holiday Car & Cash Giveaway
Drive home in a 2012 Dodge Durango! The more you play, the more you earn! Earn entries from Dec. 1 – Jan. 2. Drawings held every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. There will be 21 winners each night. Win your share of $15,000 in cash. Winners will receive a cash prize and a qualifying entry for the car. Last Chance Drawing is on Monday, Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Find complete details and rules in the Players’ Club.
Fortune Valley Slot Tournaments
• Tuesdays and Thursdays in December • 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily • Win cash at 5 p.m. • Please see Player’s Club for complete details and rules PAGE 8
Play free bingo in the Lava Room every Monday and Wednesday at 2 p.m.
The Celebrity Zone
• A Showcase of the newest games on the market • 130 slot and video poker machines • Loose bar-top video poker machines • Big screen HDTV and the fastest complimentary drink service in town. • Up to 5X points on select machines.
Market Street is now open
Welcome Java Express – open 24 hours that includes gourmet coffee, specialty paninis, pastries and desserts. Chef’s Kitchen offers a place where you can build your plate with the chef. A breakfast, lunch or dinner experience where the chef serves you a made-to-order gourmet meal. Enjoy the Pizza
Pub, where you can get calzones, appetizers and ice cold beer.
www.famousbonanza.com 2X Mondays
Earn 2X points all day on all machines, including video poker. $1 = 1 Point
40 & Getting Better
For those guests 40 and older, earn 2X points all day on all machines every Wednesday. $1 = 1 Point. Earn 200 base points and receive half off one menu item at Millie’s Restaurant.
Join us on your Birthday
Come celebrate your birthday with the Famous Bonanza and Easy Street Casinos and receive 500 free points. Players older than 55 years of age will receive 800 free points.
New Players
Points earned on your first visit will lead to great benefits on your next visit: • 125 Points Earned = $5 Cash Back • 250 Points Earned = $10 Cash Back • 500 Points Earned = $15 Cash Back • 1,000 Points Earned = $20 Cash Back
The Parlour
Located on the second floor of the Famous Bonanza Casino, we offer 2 deck pitch blackjack, roulette and 3-card poker. $5 minimum to $50 maximum on 2 deck pitch blackjack and $3 minimum and all shoe games. The Parlour also offers pool and darts!
2X Mondays
Earn 2X points all day on all machines, including video poker. $1 = 1 Point
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
half-price food and double points for seniors. “Why wouldn’t you eat where you get 50 percent off?” Diana said. Diana had a great experience playing on a Thursday Bingo Day at Century Casino in Central City. She said the first time she played she won the first and second game and was rewarded $100 per game. Her biggest winning so far is when she won $400 at Ameristar and again at Century while playing the 2X Penny slots. Diana said she and Bob also love the new look and remodel of Fortune Valley Hotel and Casino. “Overall The Gilpin has been the best and the nicest to us,” she said. When asked what she liked best about coming to Black Hawk or Central City, she said, “I can’t think of anything that we do for entertainment that doesn’t allow us to win some money or bring us some rewards and winning is a natural high”. “I don’t understand people who don’t think they should have to pay for entertainment. If we leave a little money up here, it’s no big deal.”
40 & Getting Better
For those guests 40 and older, earn 2X points all day on all machines every Wednesday. $1 = 1 Point. Earn 200 base points and receive half off one menu item at Millie’s Restaurant.
Join us on your Birthday
Come celebrate your birthday with the Famous Bonanza and Easy Street Casinos and receive 500 free points. Players older than 55 years of age will receive 800 free points.
New Players
Points earned on your first visit will lead to great benefits on your next visit: • 125 Points Earned = $5 Cash Back • 250 Points Earned = $10 Cash Back • 500 Points Earned = $15 Cash Back • 1000 Points Earned = $20 Cash Back
Fun for Kids
Bring your children to the lower level of the casino to enjoy a wide variety of arcade games for our younger than 21 guests. Continued on page 9 December 13 - 26, 2011
Holiday Food
Homemade cookies at Christmas bring back fond memories
By Margaret Malsam
C
hristmas is just a couple weeks away, and it’s the season for mistletoe, holly, sugarplums, elves and cookies. Making cookies is a delightful way to celebrate the holidays. The wonderful smell of freshly baked cookies is part of the enduring magic of Christmas. Who can resist the taste and aroma of homemade Christmas cookies? There’s something special about homemade cookies. The aroma can bring warm memories to us and to those who visit us during the holiday season. Homemade cookies look so appealing, taste delicious, and are satisfying but not too filling. It’s a delightful way to please drop-in holiday guests. A few homemade cookies arranged handsomely on a platter or on a holiday paper plate can be an attractive treat to offer guests or give to friends. We can give them as a “thank you” for favors received during the
past year. They also make delectable gifts for family and friends during the holidays. I have tried to pass down the joy of Christmas cookie baking to my grandchildren. When my grandchildren come to bake cookies before Christmas, I make up a traditional sugar cookie recipe and let them cut them into fancy Christmas bells, stars and Santa cookies cutters. Sometimes they don’t turn out to be works of art, but they have lots of fun cutting, baking and decorating them. Because they have made them, they enjoy eating some while they’re still warm, and I send the finished cookies home with them to proudly show their parents. Another way to celebrate the holidays is to host a cookie exchange party. Wouldn’t you love to have many different kinds of fancy Christmas cookies to serve during the holidays and not have to make so many different recipes? If so, why not consider hosting a cookie exchange party? My friend hosted a cookie exchange party for her friends for many years. It really was a festive and fun occasion as we gathered together. We brought extra cookies to sample and our hostess furnished us hot drinks. For the adult-only cookie fare, it’s fun to make bourbon balls to add some extra holiday cheer. It’s time to start them soon as they need about a week to mellow in the refrigerator. Try using rum instead of bourbon if you prefer the flavor. Warning: nibbling on these cookies can give one a gentle, warm kick.
Central City Nuggets
Bourbon Balls
1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs 1 cup chopped pecans 1 cup powdered sugar 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey or rum 1 1/2 teaspoons light corn syrup 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar for decoration Combine wafer crumbs, finely chopped pecans, 1 cup powdered sugar and cocoa. Blend the bourbon and the corn syrup together. Add the crumb mixture and mix well. Cool in the refrigerator until firm. Shape into 1 inch balls and roll in confectioners’ sugar. Store in a covered container for about a week or more in the refrigerator before serving to blend the flavors.
Holiday Stocking
Colorado Avalanche drawings
During every game in December and at the end of each period drawings will be held to spin the wheel for cash and food prizes and T-shirts and/or mugs. Must be a player’s club member to qualify and receive a free entry.
Broncos football madness Casino Employees Only (CEO)
Dec. 1 – 31, CEOs (Casino Employees Only) get a players card and qualify for every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday in December. Earn 20 base points and earn a coupon for a free cocktail and one free food item.
Birthdays
Dec. 1 – 31, earn 10 base points on your birthday and receive a free mug or T-shirt. Must be member of player’s club to qualify.
December 13 - 26, 2011
During every Broncos game in December, receive tickets for drawings at the end of each quarter and win cash prizes and Broncos merchandise by spinning the wheel, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Must be a player’s club member.
Tuesday Senior Day
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve
drawings every half-hour to win cash or merchandise
live entertainment 8 pm - 1 am champagne toast at noon & Midnight
Every Tuesday is Seniors day. Club members 50 years or older earn 2X points and qualify for 50 percent off a single food item.
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
118 Main St. • 720-253-1669 PAGE 9
Pacific train meets disaster in November 1855
31 lives were lost in Gasconade tragedy By Anna Lee Frohlich
T
homas Allen’s timing was right. During his term as president of the fledgling Pacific Railroad, he served in the Missouri State Senate from 1850-1854 doing much to advance the future of railroads in that state. In 1854 he declined re-nomination to the Senate and retired from the presidency of the railroad. For the next few years he concentrated on private affairs and improving his property in St. Louis.
An excerpt from a personal account by Jos. T. Keyte, 16 years old “All at once there was a noise of crashing timber ahead, and now I know a man can think mighty fast when he is in a close place. I thought of my whole lifetime. It seemed in review…soon, so soon it was over. I found myself lodged between seats and people I had been sitting with on a seat on the south side. I was thrown farther west. I worked hard to extricate myself but was unable until I saw a man who had gone to the eastern part of the car and looked out and shouted all was over (that end of the car was raised several feet above the ground and slid on broken timbers). I called to him to come for God’s sake and help us, which he kindly did. After being extricated I walked up to the east end (my hands became bloody by holding to parts of the car as I moved forward… not aware until then that I had been hurt… the other train which took us all to Hermann where I stopped with an old man named Pommer who furnished me a doctor and took the best of care of me for about two months when I was put on a steamboat and sent home. The Herman people, may the good Lord forever bless them.” PAGE 10
On the first of November 1855, the citizens of St. Louis turned out to celebrate a railroading landmark much as they had four years and four months before on a beautiful Fourth of July in 1851 when they celebrated the groundbreaking of the Pacific Railroad. Again there was band music, and the gathered crowd cheered the departure of the first train to Jefferson City, Missouri’s capital 125 miles to the west. This was the first major stop on the railroad’s journey to the western border of the state and hopefully to the Pacific Coast. The name of the railroad reflected the dream, as did the names of many future railroads harboring the same goal. Unlike the day in 1851, this day was dark, and it was raining heavily. The guest list for those on the train included politicians and other citizens of influence who planned a grand public dinner at the capital with the Missouri governor to promote further development of the line. In Hermann another car was attached that had soldiers and a band onboard. The 40-ton engine “Pacific” and its train continued through the rain to its destiny with the worst railroad disaster in the history of Missouri. (From here accounts vary, so this is pieced together as accurately as possible.) The plan had been to stop the train before the Gasconade River Bridge to show the passengers the new structure, 760 feet long, but, as they were behind schedule, the fateful decision was made to proceed over the bridge without pausing. As the train moved over the river at a speed later estimated to be about 15 miles-per-hour, the temporary wooden trestle work between the east side of the river and the first pier was unable to hold. The bridge collapsed when the engine reached the first pillar, pulling seven passenger cars 36 feet down into the river. Other cars fell down the embankment that curved toward the bridge leaving only one of 14-passenger cars on the tracks and the engine with its wheels upward facing the opposite direction than it had been going. About 31 people were killed, and scores were seriously injured. Those people not as badly off came to the aid of those in most need, attempting to answer cries for help and to extricate victims from the splintered and twisted remains of the cars. While people were fighting for their lives or helping others, heavy rain and thunder continued. “Survivors of the catastrophe remembered the scene as one weird and awful beyond description,” one report said. Thomas O’Sullivan, the chief engineer of the Pacific Railroad and the husband of
one of Thomas Allen’s sisters, was killed, as were men who had played an important part in the history of St. Louis. There is no record of whether Thomas Allen was on board. Hudson E. Bridge who succxeeded Allen as president of the Pacific Railroad was in the engine but was not seriously harmed. The hapless passengers, suffering from exposure, were met by a rescue train from Hermann. Heading back toward St. Louis they encountered a rain-swollen St. John’s Creek. The passengers who could walk crossed the bridge on foot. As that point the bridge collapsed. The train retreated to Miller’s Landing. While the citizens of that town awaited a steamboat to take it’s sad burden to St. Louis, the people of the landing built 31 coffins and prepared the dead for burial. Others cared for the wounded. The mayor of St. Louis declared Nov. 5 a day of citywide mourning and prayer. The chief engineer, Thomas O’Sullivan, had passed over the bridge the night before on a heavily loaded gravel train at about 4 miles-per-hour. The train was heavier, but the engine was much lighter than the Pacific. He had returned with an unloaded train crossing the bridge at about 12 miles-
per-hour. This experience had made him believe the bridge was safe. Later in November, the directors of the Railroad appointed a commission to study the causes of the disaster. The majority report concluded, “We are therefore of the opinion that the immediate cause of the disaster was the high rate of speed at which the train was moving at the time of the accident.” The minority report was harsh and quite different: “The cause of the disaster was the breakage of the wooden structure in and the superstructure over the bay between the eastern abutment and next pier west, a consequence of their entire insufficiency.” It also maintains that running a train full of people over the bridge could “only be ascribed to incompetency, recklessness, and infatuation.” Regardless of the accident and the conclusions, the town of St. Louis did not give up its love affair with railroads and neither did Thomas Allen.
“We tried to spare effort and met disaster.” – Henri Petain
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
December 13 - 26, 2011
Herbert won $8,900 playing Double Blackjack at Canyon Casino.
real deals
Bill won $1,298 playing a Diamond Line machine at Canyon Casino in Black Hawk.
December 13 - 26, 2011
Carl won $3,341.20 playing Pompeii at Canyon Casino.
New Player Sign-Up Offer Earn 100 points on your Player’s Card and receive $5 in cash
The Gambler
Expires: 12/31/2011
Coupon can be redeemed at the Cashier’s Cage or Player’s Club. Valid until date above. Limit one per person. Must be 21 years of age and be a Player’s Club Member. Management reserves all rights.
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
Prize Code: $5 Gambler Cash
PAGE 11
Holiday Dining Holiday dining, promotions at Black Hawk & Central City casinos are bright Dinner bell next to casinos indicates the casino will be having a special Christmas and/or New Year’s menu or meal.
Black Hawk Holiday/ New Year’s Deals Ameristar Resort Casino
111 Richman St., 720-946-4000, www.ameristar.com/Black_Hawk.aspx The Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk is “spreading some holiday cheer” at its spa. Buy $100 in spa gift certificates and get a $20 bonus gift certificate free to give or save for you. Stop in at the spa or call 720-9464300. The hotel is sold out for New Year’s Eve. The Ameristar has a full slate of events in December in its Bar 8042. Visitors can catch the musical variety of the Steve Thomas Band on Dec. 1617, Tiny Barge and the Big Chill on Dec. 23-24 and Phat Daddy on Dec. 31. In December, Sundays – Thursdays through Dec. 29, players receive a complimentary buffet after earning 25 base points from 4 a.m. – 11:59 p.m., on your favorite slots or table games. On Dec. 25, The Centennial Buffet features a Christmas Day Brunch and Buffet from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. It offers holiday specials and other buffet favorites allowing visitors to “tour the world” and dine from Italy to China. The Fireside Kitchen will not have a special Christmas menu but offers breakfast dishes such as crepes, pancakes and skillets along with lunch and dinner specials featuring signature burgers, specialty shakes and malts and authentic Asian cuisine. It’s open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Timberline Grill also features its regular menu on Christmas.
Bullwhackers
101 Gregory Street, 800-GAM-BULL, www.bullwhackerscasino.com In December, Bullwhackers Casino features its “Stocking Stuffer Saturdays.” The promotion features 20 “hot seat” winners from 2-7 p.m. on Dec. 17 who get to choose a “lucky stocking” stuffed with cash, points, comps or prizes. Winners could take home up to $500 cash. To participate, guests must be a “Lucky Bull Players Club” member and be present to win. To celebrate the season, players can
PAGE 12
also expect special holiday treats delivered to them while playing with their player’s club card. The “Holiday Memories Gift Giveaway” continues at Bullwhackers on Dec. 16. Patrons can take home a photo album with 250 points earned. Each album could contain a certificate redeemable for jewelry valued up to $1,000. Bullwhackers Casino features the Casino Café, which offers Italian favorites along with a variety of fast options like chicken quesadilla, chili cheese dog, nachos, chicken fingers, and subs. The restaurant always has something new including daily $4.99 specials. Contact the casino for holiday and Christmas Day specials. Also, on Thursday’s in December, guests enjoy their favorite food for free with 200 points earned. The casino celebrates the New Year with a couple of promotions. On Dec. 30, Bullwhackers is giving away $50 to four winners from 6-11 p.m. It is also offering patrons a chance to win in its “New Year’s Eve Cash Blast,” beginning at noon on Dec. 31. Winners get a share of $1,000 cash with a grand prize drawing at 12:30 a.m. with a $2,012 cash prize. Also on New Year’s Eve, guests can pick up some lucky beads and if they wear them while playing could be randomly selected to win a share of $1,000. Beads will be available while supplies last.
Canyon Casino
but its popular $5.99 prime rib special will be available.
The Gilpin Casino
111 Main St., 303-582-1133, www.thegilpincasino.com Lucille Malone’s at The Gilpin offers monthly dining specials and in December the specials: an Italian wrap for $7.49; carne asada tacos for $7.99; and a turkey, cucumber and herb cream cheese sandwich for $7.49. As always, the outstanding steak and lobster dinner is available for $9.99 daily. Lucille Malone’s will feature an enticing Christmas Day dinner of baked ham with spiced raisin sauce, green bean casserole and candied yams for $8.99. As part of the continuing holiday celebrations, a special dining menu will also be available from the day after Christmas to New Year’s Day. The restaurant offers lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with late night dining available on Friday and Saturday until midnight. Check with Lucille Malone’s regarding other available dining offers and if a Winner’s Club card is required for these offers.
Fitzgeralds Casino Black Hawk
131 Main St., 303-777-1111, www.canyoncasino.com The Canyon Casino has a variety of holiday-themed December “stocking stuffer” promotions. Guests can win $1,000 instantly every Saturday from 6-10 p.m.; on Christmas Day, patrons can earn 2X Points on all slots and video poker; table game players can earn entries all month to win a 55-inch 3D, HDTV bundle on Dec. 30 from 9-11 p.m.; and special New Year’s Eve drawing will give patrons a chance to win a share of $10,000. On Dec. 26-29, from 2-4 p.m. guests can take part in the “Seven Minute Madness” giveaway and win up to $250 instantly. The Canyon Grille is the only restaurant at the Canyon Casino. It’s menu offers breakfast, soup and salads, sandwiches and burgers. It also features Mexican items like chile relleños, tacos and burritos, as well as chicken fried steak, salmon and a New York strip steak. On Christmas, there are no plans to offer a different menu
101 Main St., 303- 582-6100, www.fitzgeralds.com
Fitzgeralds offers two restaurants, the Shamrock Café for casual walk-in dining and Don B’s Steakhouse for a relaxed but elegant dining experience. Both restaurants will be offering special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dinner menus. The Shamrock Café will feature two dinners. The first is a choice of honey glazed ham, mashed or au gratin potatoes, and mixed vegetables with a dinner roll for $7.77. The second dinner will feature slow roasted prime rib with grilled shrimp, mashed or au gratin potatoes, and mixed vegetables with a dinner roll for $21.99. Desserts of pecan or pumpkin pie will be available for $2.50. Don B’s will offer a four-course meal for $40. The dinner begins with winter beef barley or cream mushroom soup; steakhouse or classic Caesar salad; and fresh baked bread. There will be three entrées to choose from for dinner. One choice offered will be spiral sliced glazed ham served with mashed sweet potatoes,
au gratin potatoes and chef’s vegetable blend. A second choice will be garlic roasted pork stuffed with cornbread dressing, served with garlic mashed potatoes and chef’s vegetable blend. A third choice will be slow roasted prime rib and grilled shrimp served with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. The dessert choices feature chocolate mint torte or pumpkin cheesecake. Shamrock Café is open daily, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Don B’s Steakhouse is open Thursday through Friday, 4 – 10 p.m.; Saturday, 3 – 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 3 – 9 p.m. Call Don B’s for reservations.
Golden Mardi Gras
300 Main St., 303-582-5600, www.goldencasinogroup.com Golden Mardi Gras offers Lucky’s restaurant for casual American dining with new Asian specialties. The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. and on Friday and Saturday for 24 hours. Café on 3 is a full-service restaurant offering a breakfast buffet, 7 – 11 a.m. for $4.49. Lunch and dinner are served from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. A special Prime Rib dinner is available for $5.99. The Café’s hours are Sunday through Thursday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Café on 3 will feature a unique Holiday Buffet from Friday, Dec. 23 – Sunday, Jan. 1. The buffet will feature ham, pork tenderloin and turkey with all your favorite holiday favorites of salads, potatoes and veggies. The Holiday Buffet is superbly priced at $7.99 and served from noon to closing on the above days.
Isle Hotel Casino Black Hawk
401 Main St., 303-998-7777, www.black-hawk-ladyluck.isleofcapricasinos. com The Isle offers four dining areas with the Tradewinds Marketplace offering a refreshing quick bite to eat with snacks, sandwiches and desserts available 24 hours, seven days a week. The Orchid Garden is Isle’s newest restaurant featuring authentic Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine and is located in the skywalk between Isle and Lady Luck. The restaurant is open Monday
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
through Thursday, 5 –11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. – midnight; and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Calypso’s Buffet offers an all-youcan-eat wide variety of cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is served daily, 7 – 10 a.m., for $7.99 and lunch is served Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. for $16.99. Dinner is available Monday through Thursday, 3:30 – 9:30 p.m.; on Friday and Saturday, 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.; and on Sunday, 3:30 – 9:30 p.m., for $19.99. Brunch is available Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. for $15.99. Calypso’s will be offering a special Christmas Day menu in addition to its Asian, Italian, Mexican, salads, soups, desserts, and regular buffet cuisine— including its famous crab legs. This Christmas Day buffet will be offered, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., for $24.99. Isle’s fine dining restaurant, Farradays’, features fresh, locally produced food in an elegant and relaxed setting. Farradays’ is open Sunday through Thursday, 5 – 10 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday, 5 – 11 p.m. Please call in advance as reservations are recommended.
Lady Luck Casino
340 Main St., 303-998-7777, www.black-hawk-ladyluck.isleof capricasinos.com The Otis and Henry’s Bar and Grill restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring delicious homemade favorites. O&H will be offering a special Christmas Day menu in addition to their regular menu. Call the restaurant for details about their Christmas Day menu. O&H is open Sunday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.
The Lodge Casino
240 Main St., 303-582-1771, www.thelodgecasino.com The Lodge features five restaurants: Jake’s Deli, Java-n-Crème, Pho Noodle Bar, Seasons Buffet and White Buffalo Grill. Jake’s Deli offers sandwiches and pizza and is open Sunday through Thursday 10:30 a.m. to midnight and on Friday and Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
December 13 - 26, 2011
Holiday Dining to 2 a.m. Java-n-Crème offers coffee and yummy treats, 6 a.m. – 3 a.m. daily. Pho Noodle Bar offers specialty Asian cuisine and is open Wednesday through Sunday, 3 –11 p.m. The Lodge will be offering a special Christmas Day menu at the Seasons Buffet. A Christmas Champagne Brunch Buffet will be offered, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and will include breakfast items plus surf-and-turf from the grill, succulent prime rib and leg of lamb from the carving stations, and all-youcan-eat crab legs. Following the Champagne Brunch will be a Christmas Feast with dishes such as prime rib, surf-and-turf and all you-can-eat crab legs will also be included. Your choice of brunch or dinner is only $18.99 plus tax. The White Buffalo Grille offers fine dining with wine suggestions to complement your favorite entrees. The Grille is open Sunday through Thursday, 5 – 9 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday, 5 – 10:30 p.m. Call in advance as reservations are requested.
Red Dolly Casino
530 Gregory St., 303-582-1100, www.reddolly casino.net The popular Red Dolly restaurant on the second floor of the casino offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition to a variety of other daily specials, a delicious Deluxe Prime Rib Dinner is offered for only $5.99. Red Dolly will be offering a Christmas Day Glazed Ham dinner featuring mashed potatoes, butternut squash, peas with pearl onions, dinner roll, and chef’s choice dessert. Call the restaurant for other details about their Christmas Day menu. Red Dolly’s restaurant is open on the weekdays from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. and on the weekends from 8 a.m. – midnight.
Riviera Casino
444 Main Street, 303-582-1000, www.rivierablackhawk.com The Riviera Casino gets into the spirit of the season with its “Ben’s Bag of Baubles” promotion. Monday through Friday through Dec. 30, players’ club members are eligible to win cash prizes in hourly hot seat drawings. Random computer selected hot seat drawings will be conducted each hour from 3 – 7 p.m. Winning players will select an ornament from Ben’s Bag of Baubles and win the amount shown on the ornament. The casino offers live entertainment every Friday, Saturday and
December 13 - 26, 2011
Sunday from 8 p.m. – midnight and Sunday from noon – 6 p.m. Upcoming performers include Kari & Jerry playing blues, rock and oldies on Dec. 16-18; Alias on Dec. 23-25 and Saxy Lady’s jazz and R&B on Dec. 30-Jan. 1. To start the new year, the casino is giving away a fleece blanket Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. when players earn 300 points on their players’ club card. Also on New Year’s Eve from noon to midnight and Jan. 1, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., players can win $500 each hour in the “New Year’s Rockin’ Riches” promotion. Entries are earned with each 300 points earned. The Riviera Casino operates one of the larger and more popular buffets in Black Hawk. It offers a wide variety of items for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, and features an award-winning chef along with nightly hand carved prime rib and fresh seafood favorites. On Christmas, dinner is available from 4 – 10 p.m. Contact the casino for details about its holiday specials. The casino also offers its Creekside Deli, which serves pizza, salad and a great selection of sandwiches, for lighter fare.
Central City Holiday/ New Year’s Deals
Century Casino
102 Main St., 303-582-5050, www.central-city.cnty.com The Century Casino recently began its December Holiday Money Tree drawings, which take place Fridays 4-11 p.m. and Saturdays 2-11 p.m. Guests who are picked from the drawing barrel will select a prize from the bottom of the Holiday Money Tree. The prize will tell them to stop picking, and award at least a $100 cash prize, or give the player a cash prize to add to their total and send them to the next level of the money tree to pick again. Players who climb all the way to the top of the tree will win $1,200. Casino guests can earn entries all week with every 150 base points played through Dec. 31, but the barrel or entries is emptied every Saturday after the 11 p.m. drawing. On Christmas, the casino’s Mid City Grill at Century offers a selection of appetizers, entrees and desserts for breakfast, lunch and dinner with children’s favorites. According to General Manager Mickey Rosenbaum, the restaurant will offer an $8.99 holiday special of ham, au gratin potatoes, vegetables and other holiday favorites. Mid City Grill will be open 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. on the holiday and regular menu
items will also be available. The Retro Deli, next to the Mid City Grill, offers quick-order menu items including fresh pizza, sandwiches and daily specials. Expect a patron favorite as a special on Christmas. The casino celebrates the end of the year with a “New Year’s Eve Bash” featuring party favors and a midnight countdown with a complimentary Champagne toast. There are no plans to offer special New Year’s Eve packages, but in addition to its regular rates, the casino’s hotels offers a “Weekend Romance Package” for $189 a night that includes one night accommodation in a standard guest room, champagne gift basket in the room and breakfast at the Mid City Grill.
Doc Holliday Casino
131 Main St., 303-582-1400, www.dochollidaycasino.net Doc Holliday Casino celebrates Christmas with a special holiday event on Dec. 16, 4-8 p.m. The “Santa’s Gone Wild Holiday Extravaganza” includes an appearance from Santa Claus along with gifts and cash prizes available to win in ten drawings, one held every half-hour. Patrons must be present to win. The casino offers signature deli sandwiches and “great food at great prices” at Doc’s Deli and Snack Bar. Its menu features items $5 or less. It will offer it’s normal fare for Christmas.
Crystal Palace Casino
118 Main St., 720-253-1669, www.crystalpalacecasinocolorado.com The Crystal Palace Casino has a busy December calendar of activities for its patrons. The “Winter Winnerland Slot Marathon” runs through Dec. 30 featuring a weekly winner – revealed at 7 p.m. on Fridays – that takes home $250, and grand prize winners that can win up to $500 more. Participants must be present to win. During “Football Madness,” held during Broncos games on Dec. 17 and 24, patrons are eligible to enter drawings every 30 minutes to spin a wheel for cash and other prizes. Drawings are held at the end of the first and third quarters, half-time and end of the game. During Avalanche games in December, including games on Dec. 23, 26, 27, 29 and 31, player’s club members get an entry into drawings at the end of each period to spin a wheel for cash and prizes. The casino’s “Christmas Eve Stocking Giveaway” takes place Dec. 24-25,
11 a.m. – 11 p.m., each day. Every halfhour, a winner will choose a stocking filled with a prize, including mugs, Tshirts, $50 cash and other gifts. Every guest with a player’s card gets a free entry, but you must be present and playing to win. On Dec. 31, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., the following morning, the casino holds its first “New Year’s Eve Party,” featuring a midnight countdown and Champagne toast. During the event, progressive cash drawings are held every half-hour. Player’s cardholder get a free entry and all “hand-pay, machine lock-ups” get a bonus entry.
Dostal Alley
116 Main St., 303-582-1610, www.dostalalley. net Dostal Alley is celebrating the holiday’s with a Christmas Party on Dec. 17, 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. There are drink specials, munchies and music from DJ Tendo. The casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to award-winning micro-brews, the casino and brewery offers cooked to order pizza, calzones, and sandwiches at all times. The casino, however, is not doing any food specials for the Christmas holiday.
Easy Street/Famous Bonanza
120 Main St. & 107 Main St., 303582-5914, www.famousbonanza.com Celebrate the holidays at Famous Bonanza and Easy Street casinos with a variety of promotions and food specials. The casinos are giving its guests a special Christmas Eve extra based on the Broncos game. When the Broncos score, guests score with point multipliers every time the home team gets points. On New Year’s Eve, the casinos will offer patrons hors d’oeuvres and a Champagne toast at midnight. It is also giving away more than $2,000 in cash and prizes. Cash drawings are held 9 p.m. – midnight. The first day of the year brings more benefits for Famous Bonanza patrons. The casino is again offering a promotion that gives guests point multipliers every time the Broncos score. There is also a Champagne and dessert toast at noon planned. Local favorite Millie’s Restaurant, upstairs in the Easy Street Casino, serves snacks and appetizers, soups and salads, burgers and sandwiches, entrees, as well as a late breakfast. On Dec. 25, Millie’s is offering a “Christmas Special” for $12.99. The menu
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
features stuffed tenderloin with Merlot sauce, rosemary potatoes, sautéed asparagus and a dinner roll. Reservations can be made by calling the casino. On New Year’s Eve, the restaurant will offer a surf and turn special for $12.99. Stella’s Restaurant at Famous Bonanza serves its normal menu items – sandwiches, burgers, salads and wraps – Fridays from 6 p.m. – midnight, Saturdays noon – midnight and Sundays, noon – 10 p.m.
Fortune Valley Hotel and Casino
321 Gregory St., 303-582-0800, www.fortunevalleycasino.com The Fortune Valley Hotel and Casio is offering its guests a chance to win the “Holiday Car & Cash Giveaway.” There are 21 winners every Friday and Saturday night in December at 8 p.m. Winners receive their share of $15,000 in cash prizes, and a qualifying entry for the car giveaway. The grand prize winner will drive home in a 2012 Dodge Durango. There is a “Last Chance Drawing,” Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and the final car drawing is 8 p.m. on Jan. 2. Fortune Valley’s gourmet Ardore steakhouse, a quaint and elegant room with Italian and Tuscan flare, is open Friday through Sunday starting at 4:30 p.m. including on Christmas. Contact the casino for additional details about specials on the holiday. The brand new Market Street Café next door will be open as well. Market Street is a quick and casual dining experience set up for patrons to grab a quick meal or drink. Inside Market Street is a coffee bistro called Java Express; The Chef’s Kitchen, a “we serve you” food line with chef’s favorite specialty dishes; and a pizza and beer hang out, called the Pizza Pub, where patrons can get a slice of pizza and beer for $2.99.
Johnny Z’s
132 Lawrence St., 303-582-5623, www.johnnyzscasino.com Johnny Z’s has plenty to offer in December beginning with holiday drinks from Starbucks. The casino is also conducting daily drawings through Dec. 29 where guests choose a drawer with an envelope and wins whatever amount is in drawer. Players can get an unlimited amount of entries with every 250 points earned. The casino host draws a name every hour beginning at
Continued on page 15 PAGE 13
Gaming
Central City
Top 10 list of things NOT to say at a poker table
poker talk
BY LARRY JOHNSON
Police Chief Terry Krelle with the remains of a handgun found during construction on Main St.
Keeper of the Peace
Chief of Police Krelle enjoys policing his small town By Linda Jones
Terry Krelle came to Central City as chief of police two weeks before legalized gaming opened on Oct. 1, 1991. He relished the challenge of gambling coming to the town and the “unique challenge” of organizing a growing, progressive department from the ground floor up. He continues to enjoy that challenge every day and stays put. “I could’ve left several times but I like the historical aspect of this town. I’m fond of Central City – it’s a crazy town with a crazy cast of characters,” Krelle said. After 20 years he knows his town well. “I absolutely prefer small town policing because you get to know people on a first name basis. People are usually more cooperative when you know them. That’s the fun side. The gaming side gives you some unique calls; gaming brings a weird dynamic to the table – a senior citizen may be your suspect,” he said. The Division of Gaming officers stationed in Central City handle most gaming crimes. Krelle says the Central City Police Department only gets involved if an underage gambler is involved or with patron-on-patron “stuff,” which is usually a purse or cell phone left behind when a gambler moves on to a new game. Chief Krelle said, “We’re spoiled out here.” These acts of carelessness and theft are all videotaped and the thief is detained by the security department of the casino involved until the police arrive to book the suspect. When questioned about what offenses create the most
PAGE 14
calls, Krelle answers, “domestic violence, half of it local, half imported.” An apt description of this police chief would be laid-back, easy-going. He began policing in Nebraska on a part-time basis; his first full-time assignment in Colorado was in Lafayette. The department he now heads consists of five officers, including Chief Krelle. Krelle lives in Conifer with his wife of 27 years. Their three children have flown the coop; one is a Jefferson County deputy, one is a corrections officer at the Women’s Corrections facility in Denver and one daughter works outside of law enforcement. Krelle was active in the Westernaires organization when his children were younger and he continues to volunteer to man the first aid station for their shows and as a wrangler. He and his family camp and ride their ATVs all over the state. Krelle is active in the Eureka Treasure Hunters Club and thrives on the excitement of finding bits of history buried for decades. The city’s Main Street has been thoroughly dug up and dug down for several months in order to repair and replace water and sewer pipes and create a pleasing streetscape. During this upheaval, members of the Eureka Treasure Hunters Club have been asked to search with their metal detectors to find and identify the buried history under Main Street. Krelle has found “bullets, tokens, horseshoes and tons of square nails.” The most exciting find is a handgun, but its provenance cannot be traced until it’s thoroughly cleaned.
Do you remember the scene in the crazy college movie Animal House where a bunch of frat boys are playing poker at a party, Flounder walks up, sticks his head in the mix and says, “You guys playing poker?” It’s always good for a hearty laugh but in truth, players say things like that all the time. In some cases it’s simply an uneducated player and in others it’s just the terminology of the game. Be careful though – there are players who will put on the “good ol’ boy” persona, but in reality are lulling other players to sleep. Then they pounce when the time is right – scooping up the chips. So, in the grand old tradition of any good “Top 10 list” here we go.
10: Bet your hand
No kidding. Saying it while a player is deciding what to do is a clear sign of nervousness and weakness. Some players will also say it when they think another is going to try to check it down. No need – just do it.
9: I was going for a Gut shot
If you hit, it demonstrates you are a chaser and obviously the entire table can see that. Or if you don’t hit, it shows that you will chase and pay off for weak draws. Neither is good for your image.
8: I’ve got a bad beat story or any variation
Who cares? We all have them and unless there is something very unique (not involving the cards – we have all seen almost any combination come up), people really don’t want to hear them and tune out. Even worse, in almost every case another player will chime in with another story and it will continue.
7: You’re a Jack off
Means a player needed a Jack and did not catch and just sounds funny.
6: There are more low cards than high cards
I heard this when a player called 2 raises in a $30 - $60 game at The Ameristar with a 3h – 6h. When the dust cleared the player had lost over $380 in the hand chasing a heart
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
draw and a 2nd pair against Kh - Kd. Yep, there are as many low cards as high cards but they always need help to win. The kid spent the next ½ hour complaining how he could never hit a draw and how unlucky he was. The funny thing was not one player contradicted him – they all wanted him to keep calling with all those low cards.
5: Cheater
I was at a table at The Lodge Casino when this disparaging remark was directed at a lady by a gentleman who thought she was colluding (playing with someone else) – without realizing that other person was her husband. The next thing I knew, the husband had punched the guy and the guy was in the process of picking up a chair to toss (with entire room ducking like a wave.) Dick – a dealer who was actually a World Champion in Martial Arts – tackled him and he ended up going to jail /all because he said the wrong thing.
4: But it’s suited
Cards being suited only add a few percentages to the chance to win at the most and should not be the decision-maker. Stating it makes a player appear to be one who will chase and always comes out sounding like an excuse.
3: Can I Straddle
In reality the player is referring to doubling the bet in front of the blind to get the last bet. But – when said on a quiet table the comment always draws smiles.
2: I knew you had Aces but had to call
What? By saying this, the player is acknowledging they knew the other player had the best hand in poker and still called. Why not just hand that player all your money?
1: And …..(Drumroll please)
The No. 1 thing not to say at a poker table is “Sorry”. As Tom Hanks said in A League of their own, “There’s no crying in baseball” except in this case it should be “There’s no “Sorry” in Poker.” If the player is truly sorry about winning the pot – push the pot the other way. Otherwise, in truth there is no sorrow and saying “Sorry” just twists the knife a little bit. In the old day’s (outlawed currently by Colorado Gaming) we could toss a chip (scoot) back to the loser and that was a good way to say sorry. Anyway – keep your ears open / it’s amazing what you will hear. Remember … Play your game. December 13 - 26, 2011
holiday humor
Gifts for the person on your list who has everything F or the person on your gift list who “has everything,” trust me, they don’t have this: A his and hers chocolate portrait – a photographic portrait rendered in chocolate that goes for a mere $110,000. Make sure By Dorothy Rosby the lucky recipients drosby@rushmore.com don’t hang it over their fireplace though – unless they like really expensive s’mores. The chocolate portrait is one of many extravagant gifts I found while surfing the net on Cyber Monday, the big Internet shopping day. It falls on the Monday after Black Friday, which, as you know, immediately follows Fat Thursday. In the end, I didn’t order anything because I believe in shopping locally and because the cheapest thing I looked at was $25,000. However, I did make a shopping list
Holiday dining, promotions at Black Hawk & Central City casinos are bright Continued from Page 13 noon until 10 p.m., or 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and if the player is present, they get to play. There is also a “Tailgate Party” featuring appetizers and prizes on Dec. 18 at 2:15 p.m. for the Broncos vs. Patriots game and Dec. 24 at 11 a.m. for the Broncos vs. Bills game. Guest may win up to $25 cash with the amount doubled if the winner is wearing party attire. The casino’s full-service CR’s Restaurant offers “outstanding food at outstanding prices.” It’s menu features the popular Z’s Famous Baby Back Ribs and the Z-Cut 16 oz. Prime Rib Dinner. Other items include jumbo shrimp, fish and chips, roasted chicken, salmon crab legs and pasta. The casino’s restaurant, located on the second floor, is offering a special menu for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. The special menu includes baked scallops; tenderloin roulade with spinach, blue cheese and pecan bacon; baked yams; asparagus; garlic mash; roasted apple cobbler and red velvet cake. Quick food items, including a popular shrimp cocktail, are also available on the first floor at the casino’s ZBar while the Z Bucks Café upstairs offers sandwiches, ice cream, smoothies, desserts, coffee and more.
Compiled by Jeffrey V. Smith and Suzanne Paulman December 13 - 26, 2011
for anyone who has that much to spend. And any one of these actual gifts would be a great boon to the economy – THE economy, not YOUR economy. For the lady on your gift list, how about a golden sable fur coat for just $39,500? If my husband gets that for me, which is unlikely, I’m sure it will be the first one in my neighborhood. Honey, you shouldn’t have. You REALLY shouldn’t have. Same goes for the No. 1 Imperial Majesty perfume. This is a limited edition collector’s version of the world’s most expensive perfume, Clive Christian’s No. 1, also known as the Smell of Money. The Imperial Majesty version comes in a handcrafted crystal container adorned with a 5-carat cut diamond and includes “Rolls-Royce Personal Security Delivery” for a grand total of $215,000. My question is, should you ask the delivery person to stay for Christmas dinner? My other question is, are you kidding me? Is anyone on your list in need of a new cell phone? How about the diamond-encrusted
Vertu mobile phone, a steal at $75,000 – though I’m not sure who’s being stolen from. You probably shouldn’t get this for anyone who regularly misplaces her cell phone. Me, for example. I am on your list, aren’t I? If your loved one still uses a watch to tell time, you might choose the Breguet Double Tourbillon with a clock-stopping price of just $402,000. Heart stopping too. But keep in mind, it would be less expensive and equally as impressive to check the time on a new $75,000 diamond-encrusted cell phone. For the kids, we have the Ferrari Testarossa go-kart, which will set you back about $25,000. Let’s see: A go-kart or college? Hmmm. I did find a cheaper Ferrari go-kart for just $2,695. I’m sure my son would be just as happy with that. He’s not getting it though. At $85,000, your daughter could have Diamond Barbie. The world’s most expensive Barbie comes wearing a gown adorned with 160 De Beers diamonds, because diamonds are a little girl’s best friend. And finally, for the pampered pet, we
have the 52-carat Amour Dog Collar, dubbed “the Bugatti of dog collars.” It features 1,600 handset diamonds, and it’s yours for a mere $3,200,000. That would definitely max out my credit card. And every dog I know would be happy with cubic zirconia on its collar. Or rhinestones. Or nothing. I don’t know about you, but I hate to spend 3 million bucks on someone who doesn’t appreciate the gesture. I think I’d go with the diamond and sapphire Amour de la Mer collar instead. It’s just $8.99. Oh wait. I forgot the zeroes. That’s $899,000. But it still beats 3 million. With the money I save, I could get a good security system – and some common sense. (Send your gifts to drosby@rushmore.com or see www.dorothyrosby.com.)
Holiday Events DONATIONS Be a Santa to a Senior
Through Dec. 19. Program collects, wraps and delivers gifts to needy seniors in Arapahoe, Denver, Adams and Jefferson counties. Nov. 21: Trees go up in area stores and businesses; Dec. 15: Community gift wrapping party (the general public is invited to come and help) Dec. 19, delivery of gifts to seniors in the community. Visit www.beasantatoasenior.com.
‘Cookies with Claus’
Dec. 17, 1 – 4 p.m. at Family Sports Center, 6901 S. Peoria St., Centennial. Decorate three cookies and receive a special gift from Santa. $5/ child.
NEW YEARS Ring In The New Year Ring in the New Year with a Big Bang at your favorite Colorado casino. New Year’s issue Dec. 27. See pages 12-13 this week for meal specials and festivities.
PERFORMANCES ‘A Christmas Twist’ Through Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11, John Hand Theater, 7653 E. First Place, Denver. A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist collide to create this holiday comedy. Wear an ugly Holiday sweater and get $2 off on tickets on Opening Night. A post show party will include the Ugliest Holiday Sweater Contest and Karaoke Christmas Caroling. Reservations at 303-562-3232. Visit www.firehouse theatercompany.com.
‘The Eight: Reindeer Monologues’
Through Dec. 18, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 6 p.m. Sundays, The Edge Theater, 9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood. No performance Nov. 25, Dec. 31, 9 p.m., New Year’s Eve performance followed by party. Scandal erupts when Vixen, Dancer, Blitzen, Dasher, Donner, Hollywood, Comet, and Cupid tell you what’s really going on at the North Pole. Tickets: 303-232-0363 or www.theedgetheatre.com.
‘A Christmas Carol’
Through Dec. 18 (no shows Dec. 3 or 4), noon and 3 p.m. Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, Mainstreet Center, 19650 Mainstreet, Parker. Lighter touch to this classic holiday tale, utilizing local actors, puppetry, creative movement and eye popping special effects. Visit www.ParkerArts Council.org or call 303-840-5406.
‘A Christmas Carol’
Through Dec. 24, Stage Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, Denver. Original songs, ghostly chills, laughter, and warmth deck the halls, as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is haunted by the spirits of his past, present, and likely future. Visit www.denvercenter.org.
Colorado Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Through Dec. 24, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 14th and Curtis streets, Denver. Tickets: www. coloradoballet.org, 303-837-8888 ext. 2.
‘Irving White Christmas’
Berlin’s
Dec. 13 - 23, Lone Tree Arts Center Main Stage Theater, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree. Tickets at www.LoneTreeArtsCenter.org or call 720-509-1000.
Messiah by Candlelight’
Dec. 13 – 14, 7:30 p.m., Montview Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia St., Denver. Handel’s revered oratorio set to the warm glow of candlelight at one of Denver’s loveliest and most sacred spaces. Visit www.colorado symphony.org.
‘Christmas Faves’
Dec. 16, 7 p.m., Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Park Road, Broomfield. P’zazz Children’s Choir (Ages 9 – 12) and Dynamix Singers (Ages 13 – 17) perform jazzy arrangements of Holiday favorites. Tickets in advance at the Broomfield Auditorium Box Office on Thursday, Friday and Sunday afternoons or held in will call at 720542-9209 (messages only) and are available at the door at 6 p.m. Visit www.singpzazz.com.
The Classical Brass Holiday Benefit Concert
Dec. 17, 1 p.m., Grace United Methodist Church, 4905 E. Yale Ave., Denver. Holiday concert to benefit Women’s Education. Cookies and coffee follow the show. Visit www.theclassical brass.com.
‘The Boy is Born in Bethlehem’
Dec. 18, 3 p.m., Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 E. Alameda Ave., Denver. Kantorei celebrates the holiday season with a memorable afternoon of holiday a cappella choral music. Calling 303-388-4962 or visit www.augustana arts.org.
‘Christmas with the Bartels Brass’
Dec. 23, 7 p.m., Hampden Hall, 1000 Englewood Parkway, Englewood. Justim Bartels, trumpet and host. Tickets www.englewood arts.org, 303-806-8196 or at the door.
SHOPPING Holiday Show and Sale at Studio 12 Gallery Through Jan. 7, 209 Kalamath St. #12, Denver. Includes original hand crafted paintings, sculpture, jewelry and accessories starting under $20. Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., and during special events: www.studio12gallery.com.
‘Holiday Masterworks Concert - John Denver Christmas II’ Fine Art Market Show & Sale Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m., Vista Peak High School, 24551 E. 1st Ave., Aurora; Dec. 18, 3 p.m., Grandview High School, 20500 E. Arapahoe Road, Aurora. The Aurora Symphony Orchestra and John Denver tribute artist John Adams perform traditional holiday music, plus John Denver-inspired holiday favorites. Visit www.aurorasymphony.org.
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
Through Dec. 18, 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., MondaySaturday, noon – 5 p.m. Sundays, Roxborough State Park, Littleton. Opening Reception Dec. 8, 5-9 p.m., Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada Free and open to the public. Visit www.arvada center.org. PAGE 15
Casino•Guide Casino
Table Games
Slots
Lodging
Food
Parking
Contact
Ameristar - 24/7
BJ, P, C, R, VP
over 1400 536 rooms
B, D, SD, Starbucks
free valet and self parking
720-946-4000/.ameristar.com/Black_Hawk.aspx
Black Hawk Station
VP
120
No
SD,SB
city lot
303-582-5582/ blackhawkstationcasino.net
Bull Durham
VP
188
No
SB
city lot
303-582-0810/.bulldurhamcasino.com
Bullwhackers - 24/7 Fri/Sat
VP
400
No
SD
free valet and self parking
1-800-GAM-BULL/bullwhackers.com
Canyon - 24/7 Fri/Sat
BJ, C, R, VP
415
No
SD, SB
free valet and self parking
303-777-1111/canyoncasino.com
Fitzgeralds - 24/7 Fri/Sat
BJ, C, R, VP
700
No
SD, SB on weekends free covered valet
303-582-6100 (1-800-538-LUCK)/fitzgeraldsbh.com
Gilpin - 24/7
BJ, C, R, P, VP
460
No
SD
free valet across the street
303-582-1133/thegilpincasino.com
Golden Gates - 24/7
BJ, P, C, VP
280
No
D
free valet and covered self parking
303-582-5600/thegoldengatescasino.com
Golden Gulch
VP
140
No
V
free self/free valet
303-582-5600/thegoldengatescasino.com
Golden Mardi Gras - 24/7
BJ, C, R, VP
680
No
SD,SB,D
free valet and covered self parking
303-582-5600/goldenmardigras.com
Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk - 24/7 BJ, C, P, R, VP
1308
238
B,D,SD
free valet and self parking
1-800-The-Isle/theisleblackhawk.com
Lady Luck - 24/7
BJ, P,C, R, VP
500
164
SD,SB
free covered valet and self parking
1-888-Lady-Luck/ladyluckblackhawk.com
Lodge - 24/7
BJ, C, R, P, VP
975
50
B, D, SD, SB
free valet parking
303-582-1771/thelodgecasino.com
Red Dolly
VP
149
No
SD
free self parking
303-582-1100/reddollycasino.net
Riviera - 24/7
BJ, C, R, VP
766
No
B
free valet and self parking
303-582-1000/rivierablackhawk.com
Sasquatch
No
70
No
D
No
720-880-1616
Wildcard
VP
220
No
D
city lot
303-582-3412/thewildcardsaloon.com
BLACK HAWK
CENTRAL CITY Century Casino - 24/7
BJ, P, C, R, VP
520
26
SD,D
free covered self parking
303-582-5050/cnty.com
Crystal Palace
VP
101
No
D
free city lot
720-253-1669
Doc Holliday
VP
178
No
SD
free city lot
303-582-1400/dochollidaycasino.net
Dostal Alley - 24/7
VP
64
No
SD
free self parking
303-582-1610/dostalalley.net
Easy Street
VP
205
No
SD
free self parking
303-582-5914/famousbonanza.com
Famous Bonanza
BJ, P, R, VP
244
No
SD , D
free self parking
303-582-5914/famousbonanza.com
Fortune Valley - 24/7
BJ, P, C, R, VP
665
118
SD
free valet and self parking
1-800-924-6646/fortunevalleycasino.com
Johnny Z’s
BJ, C, R, VP
288
No
SD, D
free covered parking
303-582-5623/johnnyzscasino.com
CRIPPLE CREEK The Brass Ass - 24/7
BJ, P, C, R, VP
250
No
SD
free covered self parking
800-635-LUCK/triplecrowncasino.com
Bronco & Buffalo Billy’s - 24/7
BJ, P, C, R, VP
750
23
SD
free self parking
877-989-2142/broncobillyscasino.com
Century Casino - 24/7
BJ, C, R, VP
437
21
SD
free self parking
719-689-0333/cnty.com/casinos/cripplecreek
Colorado Grande - 24/7
BJ, R, VP
211
5
SD, SB
free self parking
877-244-9469/coloradogrande.com
Double Eagle & Gold Creek - 24/7
BJ, P ,C, R, VP
700+
158
SD, SB
free valet and covered self parking
800-711-7234/decasino.com
Johnny Nolon’s - 24/7
VP
255
No
SD
free self parking w/validation
719-689-2080/johnnynolons.com
J.P. McGill’s - 24/7 Fri/Sat
VP
300
40
SD
validated self parking
800-635-LUCK/triplecrowncasinos.com
Midnight Rose - 24/7
P, VP
400
19
SD, B
validated self parking
800-635-LUCK/triplecrowncasinos.com
Wildwood Casino- 24/7
BJ, P, C, R, VP, TH 530
68
SD, D
Climate controlled self parking
877-945-3963/playwildwood.com
Table Games Key
Food Key
BJ - Blackjack, P-Poker, C-Craps, R-Roulette, TH - Texas Holdem’, VP-Video Poker
B-Buffet, D-Deli, SD-Sitdown, SB-Snackbar, V-Vending Machine
This information is subject to change without notice.
Gaming
The sporting side of poker The question pops up frequently, especially since playing cards is a component of ESPN programming: Is poker a
game or a sport? The definition of sports competition implies physical dexterity, which would exclude poker players. Yet, the combination of skill, strategy, competitive spirit, and cerebral input it takes to play the game successfully just may place poker in a sporting category all its own. Surely there are qualities about tournament poker that are unlike any competition in which you can be involved. The object is to eliminate and win. It›s an endeavor that engages participants mentally and physically, when you take into account marathon playing sessions over the course of a number of days, even weeks. The famous quote widely attributed to NFL coaching legend Vince Lombardi, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”, may be one quality that separates poker from traditional sports. Ultimately, winning a poker tournament is the only thing, but along the way there has to be some losing to set the stage for the outcome. Every hand that makes up a poker game or a tournament is a competition all its own with a beginning and an end. There are winners and there are losers. It›s the combination of those decisions, which determine the ultimate decision, but
Battle at the WSOP
On Day 4 of the recently concluded World Series of Poker, Vanessa Rousso had played brilliantly and was in first place at her table with 1.2 million in chips. David Bach had 250K and was at Rousso’s table. It was hard to believe that in three hands, Rousso would bust out and Bach would be among the chip leaders. Hand No. 1: Bach has pocket aces against
because there are so many strategic layers involved in getting there, the correlation of poker to sports gets complicated. The mechanics of the game create the tempo for the playing experience. The subtleties which revolve around timing and decisionmaking are what give it life as a sport. In tournament poker, just as in team or individual sports competition, success seems to feed on success, or better yet, a position of strength. The bigger stacks of chips, the more daring you can be and the more gambles you can take. The damage created by mistakes is minimized by the cushion you enjoy over your opponents. Conservative play, or playing with “scared stakes,” dilutes the disciplined, tactical behavior that is required to succeed consistently under tournament conditions. One mistake can spell defeat. Failure in poker feeds on impulsiveness and desperation. When you are compelled to gamble big on one hand to get back in the game, hoping that luck will be on your side instead of relying on skill and strategy, you set yourself up for defeat. The general consensus of opinion among poker experts is that the biggest mistake players make is playing too many hands. Waiting for the opportune moments and then striking while the iron is hot gives credence to the genuine philosophy behind winning poker: Patience… plus some nerves of steel.
Rousso’s A/K. She plays her hand strong but he traps her by check raising all-in on the flop (3 babies) and Rousso folds. Hand No. 2: Rousso has pocket 6s, Bach has QJ, and Joe Sirock has 10/9 suited. All three players call to see an amazing flop of 6/9/10. Bach checks, Sirock bets 25K, at which point Rousso raises to 50K. Bach then goes all-in with a straight draw. Sirock folds his top two pair and Rousso calls with trips aN 8 falls on the turn giving Bach a Straight and leaving herself to pair the board or lose the hand. She missed and became short stacked. Hand No. 3: The very next hand, Bach again has pocket aces and Rousso has QJ offsuit. The flop is 5/J/6 sealing her fate when Bach puts her all-in on the turn and she gets no help on the river.
Gambler PAGE 18
Thinking about Poker: BTB – No. 1
FULLHOUSE By Drew Chitiea
People who over-use acronyms really make me P.O.’d, so I’ll explain the BTB in the title: It means Back To Basics. I was thinking about poker play, style, strategy and tactics prior to playing in a local tournament when I had what is called a BFO: a Blinding Flash of the Obvious. I have read many poker books, thumbed through a ton of poker articles and even written a few now and again, but that day a thought hit me. Do I feel so good as a poker player that I’ve forgotten some of the fundamental tenets of the game? Am I so confident of my skills that I cannot go back and rekindle awareness of the game’s essentials? Hmmm… So I dug into the box of poker books I acquired over the years to explore some factors I learned so long ago. I wanted to refocus on fundamentals, the Back to Basics mentioned in the title. I did a lot of thought on these topics and my style of play; what I do – and should do - when I enter a game. Here are some of the pointers I came up with: No need to thank me for all this research, my rewards are the public accolades I receive via these articles and the huge stipend I get from the publisher of this paper. No. 1 – Don’t Play Right Away. Sure, we’ve driven all that way to play poker, but think to yourself “Whoa, hold on thar, podnah!” Poker is a game of decisions; the more accurate your decisions are, the better your results will be. Jumping right into the game does not allow time to ascertain the make-up of the game nor a chance to make the players. Your decisions may likely be based on assumptions [anyone ever broken down the word assume to you?*], gut feelings and the plain old ‘Wish Poker’ syndrome. Good decisions are based on information; sitting out a few hands can give you an idea of who the players are and how they play. Even if you know the players in the game, their emotional state may be different from what you normally are used to.
The people part of this game is one of the most important factors [some say poker is a card game played with people; it really is a people game played with cards]. Your opponents could be winning, losing, hungry, satiated, anxious, complacent or on tilt and looking to exact revenge against someone else at the table. How are you going to know this if you just dive right in? You could get caught in the cross-fire immediately and find yourself trying to dig yourself out of a hole right from the git-go. Take some time when you first sit down and watch the table action while you get yourself situated; if the game requires a post to begin play, pass it along without comment. Dealers will continue the game without you for the time being and then, when time comes for your blind, you can enter the game having had a few minutes to reconnoiter the game, the people, the mindset and the game dynamics. #2 – Be aware of negative influences. By that I mean negative factors that will affect your game. Is the game a passive limp-fest or is it a rammin’-jammin’ game. Is one player running over the table with hyper-aggressive betting and putting everyone else on slow-burn? Is there a degree of check-raising going on, trap-setting or what Mike Caro called FPS – Fancy Play Syndrome? Do preflop bettors make continuation bets after the flop or do they hold back when an Ace hits the board or a coordinated flop occurs? If you don’t take a little time at the beginning of your session to figure some of these things out, you’ll figure them out when you have chips in the pot. That can get real expensive real fast. By holding off playing for the first few minutes you get some uncomplicated and unpressured time to get an initial idea of where the table and players are in the psychological scheme of things. That’s information you can use; since poker is a game of decisions based on partial information, the more data you have to work with your decisions are potentially that much better. From there with a more solid and accurate idea of the game’s dynamics, you can go on to fine-tune your tactics and ultimately walk away a winner. More next article…
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COGambler
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
:
December 13 - 26, 2011
One factor you’ll never read about By Richard Harvey
There are many blackjack issues that never make it into the old school blackjack columns and one of those issues is how the number of players affects not just your game but your probability of winning. This is a Blackjack 101 kind of factor that impacts your game in many important ways. Yet I dare you to find a reference to it in any of the old school books. I’m not aware of any that mention it, let alone show an understanding of what it means to a blackjack players’ bottom line and ability to get an accurate read on the cards through a state-of-the-art card analysis method. Among the reasons for this paucity of critical information elsewhere: Most old school writers have not done research of their own; if anything, they purchase old school data from a central source of old school data
All old school research and data - to my knowledge - have traditionally been based upon computerproduced blackjack “simulations” (instead of real card data, real blackjack action like you’ll experience at the casino) - and these are produced by a computer’s Random Number Generator, which cannot properly reproduce the card action you see in the real casino game I am the only one - to my knowledge - who has ever researched the influence the number of players has on your likelihood of winning and your game in general After having collected painstakingly-recreated casino-style blackjack card action data over the course of nearly four years, I then took all the cards dealt during that time and fed them, in order, into one, two, three, four, five, six and seven player situations. Then I collected the results - that is, statistics on how often the dealer busted or beat the players, what the players’ winning percentages were in each situation, etc. Although tedious and time consuming, this experiment produced fruitful results and historic discoveries. I uncovered the fact that there indeed is a linear correlation between the number of betting spots
in action and the dealer’s busting rate, for example. I also found that this helped lead to a linear correlation between the number of spots in play and players’ individual winning rates. Investigating these results further for what caused all of this, I discovered that one of the operational forces producing these realities is that players’ card decisions can actually affect the dealer’s outcome, over time. So, at the very least, this Epiphany shouts to players that they need to take into consideration the number of betting spots being played. Their fortunes rise and fall with these numbers. So players need to choose tables carefully and then, once seated, they need to pay attention to any changes in the number of betting spots being played, perhaps even taking action with any changes either by: 1) sitting out a hand (as when any “Wongers” come to the table to play just one or two hands; 2) taking another betting spot if on a winning streak (should someone not play a hand or leave the table); and 3) leaving the table if too many other players leave. I’ve described my research, provided the numbers and given
What conditional expectations say about betting the Odds at craps Many casino games proceed in stages. Bets on Pass at craps are illustrations. Prospects involve the chance of 1) winning or losing immediately – on the comeout roll – or establishing one or another of the box numbers as the point, and 2) subsequently winning or losing on the point. The chances combine to form the “joint probability” of success solid citizens face at the start of a coup. When the initial throw neither wins nor loses the but establishes a point, focus shifts to the “conditional probability” of winning if the number is repeated before a seven appears. Probabilities are eight out of 36 to win even money with seven or 11 and four out of 36 to lose with two, three, or 12 on one roll. The other 24 out of 36 chances are ro establish points – three out of 36 for a four or 10, four out of 36 for a five or nine,
December 13 - 26, 2011
and five out of 36 for a six or eight. Players are sitting pretty on the come-out with twice as many ways to win as lose. If the wager isn’t resolved on the first throw and bettors could take it down, they’d have a huge edge in the game over the casino.. But the bets are considered contracts which must be left in action even though, after a point is established, edge shifts to the house. This, because the bet progressing through the come-out to the point still pays only even money, while the conditional probabilities of winning are adverse. In particular, fours and 10s have three paths to glory with the numbers and six to the doghouse with a seven so the conditional probability of winning on either of these points is 3/9 = 33.33 percent. Similarly, the conditional probability of success on fives and nines is 4/10 = 40.00 percent and on sixes and eights, it’s 5/11 = 45.45 percent The disadvantage on the point roll is tempered by two factors inherent in the game and one which players can control. The inherent factors are 1) the liability on the
point is partially offset by the advantage coming out, and 2) the lower the conditional probability of a number to win, the less its likelihood of becoming the point. The third factor is that players can augment their original “flat” wagers during the point phase of the roll by taking Odds. This doesn’t affect the probability of winning. However, the additional money pays in proportion to the difficulty of success, thereby raising the return percentage on the gross sum at risk and lowering the house’s edge. Make believe a table has a $10 minimum and offers triple (3X) Odds. Your strategy is to start the sequence with $10 on Pass and add $30 (three times the flat bet) when the point is established. Say the point is a four or a 10. With no Odds, the conditional return is [(3/9) x $20]/$10 = 66.66 percent and the house edge is [(3/9) x $10 - (6/9) x $10]/$10 = - 33.33 percent. On fours and 10s, Odds pay 2-to-1. Therefore, with $10 flat and $30 Odds, payoff is $10 plus $60 and you recover your $40 for a $110 overall return. This is a [(3/9)
Gaming details on all this in Cutting Edge Blackjack, in which all of these revelations were first introduced. But there are other reasons for paying attention to how many betting spots are in play. And one of them is to more easily and quickly get a precise read on what the cards already dealt tell you about what cards are most likely to come next and therefore what the dealer’s and your likely outcomes look like. I’ve developed many state-of-theart methods (initially for myself, before I even considered writing books) to analyze the cards that have been dealt because all smart players and researchers (even the old school researchers) realize that the imbalance among the cards already dealt tells you much about the imbalance that’s in the cards not yet dealt - the cards that can reveal to you all the probabilities you want to get a handle on in order to play the most accurate game (from both a card and betting strategy standpoint). In other words, for example, my card research has revealed that 13 cards, on average, are dealt per round at a table with four betting spots in play. How powerful is that information?! What does that tell you? A LOT!
With 13 cards on the table, a balanced mix would reflect the mix of cards in a suit of cards, perfectly! So at a four player table, if the cards are balanced, you should see four 10-point cards and one of all of the rest. If not, there’s an imbalance and any imbalance causes the numbers the old schoolers like to think are constant to change (making their reference numbers, the ones they used to recommend card moves and bets, wrong). (And FYI: the cards are rarely if ever balanced.) And with any change in the card balance your fortunes change. So you need to get a grip on what imbalances are in play and what they mean. With an understanding of what you should see on the table alone based upon the numbers my research has revealed vis a vis what you should expect with 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- and 7-player tables respectively, you will get the most accurate read on what to do in any given player variation. And you can take that to the bank! Have blackjack questions? Send them to rharvey2121@netscape. net. For more info see http://www. blackjacktoday.com.
x $110]/$40 = 91.67 percent return and a [(3/9) x $70 - (6/9) x $40]/40 = -8.33 percent house edge. On points of five or nine, with no Odds, conditional return is [(4/10) x $20]/$10 = 80.00 percent and the house edge is [(4/10) x $10 - (6/10) x $10]/$10 = –20 percent. Odds pay 3-to-2 so $30 gets $45. The conditional return with 3X Odds is accordingly [(4/10 x $55)/$40 = 95.00 percent and house edge is [(4/10) x $55 - (6/10) x $40]/$40 = -5.00 percent. When the point is six or eight, with no Odds, conditional return is [(5/11) x $20]/$10 = 90.91 percent and house edge [(5/11) x $10 - (6/11) x $10]/$10 = -9.09 percent. Payoff for the Odds is 6-to-5 so $30 gets $36. The $10 bet with triple Odds therefore wins $46 and gives back the original $40. Return is therefore [(5/11) x $86]/$40 = 97.73 percent and edge is [(5/11) x $46 - (6/11) x $40)/$40 = -2.27 percent. Improvements in conditional return percentage and house edge increase as the Odds multiple gets larger. On a five, for instance, 10X Odds with$10 flat pays $160 and recovers $110. Return rises from 95 percent with 3X Odds to ((4/10)
x $270)/$110 = 98.18 percent and edge falls from -2.27 percent with 3X Odds to [(4/10) x $170 - (6/10) x $110]/$110 = 1.82 percent. This information underscores the wisdom of deciding the total you’re comfortable having at risk on a Pass bet and apportioning it by reducing the flat component and increasing Odds, consistent with table limits and your own loss tolerance. If you’re comfortable with a total of $50 on the line at a $10 table, $10 flat and $40 Odds would be statistically preferable to $20 flat and $30 Odds or $25 flat and $25 Odds. On the other hand, some craps aficionados find tables with exceptionally high Odds multiples – 10X or even $100X – and add more money then they can afford after the point is established. They do, indeed, get a high return percentage and low edge. But they’re vulnerable to being wiped out by normal swings in the game because they overbet their bankrolls. The inkslinger, Sumner A Ingmark, captured this conundrum with the couplet: To optimize criteria, you must decide what’s scarier, A profit less than you would like, or dealers saying “take a hike.”
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
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Colorado History
Elkhorn Lodge
Elkhorn Lodge in Estes Park is currently being threatened by a $50 million “Western Heritage Wonderland” idea that would turn the historic lodge into an amusement park like place. Photos by Linda Jones
Historic lodge in Estes Park is threatened By Linda Jones
T
he last of the great 19th century mountain lodges surrounding Estes Park is currently being threatened by developers. The Elkhorn Lodge sits on 65 [coveted] acres on the western edge of the town. Because of its remarkable historic integrity, Colorado Preservation Inc. declared the lodge a “Most Endangered Place” in 2010, calling the Elkhorn “the most unique property in the entire region.” From its first settler, Joel Estes, who moved to the isolated Tahosa Valley in 1860, to today, the area around Estes Park has attracted swarms of visitors with its scenic beauty, its fishing and wildlife. The Elkhorn is the oldest continuously operating lodge in the entire Rocky Mountain region, outlasting dozens of competitors. A Fort Collins minister, Rev. McCreery, discovered the lovely valley on the Fall River and built a small summer cabin in 1874 as a retreat. Two years later a shopkeeper from Syracuse, N.Y., named William James came to hunt and fish and became infatuated with the area, as many have. He wired his wife Ella back in New York to sell the general store and the family home, pack up the kids and head West. The James family originally homesteaded in the Black Canyon
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area, intending to start a cattle ranch, but the land there was higher and less hospitable to cattle, so James talked to McCreery and they traded their homesites. McCreery was now a half-day closer to Fort Collins on horseback and James was now on the Fall River. The McCreery cabin was too small for the James family, which included three sons - Homer, Howard and Charles – at the time. Eleanor was born later. The James family built a one-story farmhouse in 1877 and began hosting people who came to fish, hunt and camp out in their meadow. Business was brisk and James switched his plans to feeding and boarding people, not cattle. As popularity grew, so did the Lodge. The farmhouse was added onto and became the original lodge; the tents evolved into tent-cabins and eventually to cabins, which are the ones used today. Still the family needed more rooms, so in 1900 a cottage was enlarged into the Main Lodge. Three wings were added to this Lodge and the James family began purchasing Stickley furniture for the lobby. Today the lobby contains some of the finest examples of Stickley furniture in America and the Stickley Museum has made offers to purchase some of the pieces. The Elkhorn ranked first in reputation among the dozens of lodges in the 1890s and into the 20th century. When F.O. and Flora Stanley
were constructing their house, they chose to stay at the Elkhorn and the two men maintained a friendly competition for years. Other famous guests included Cornelius Otis Skinner, Paul Nitze, then Secretary of the Navy, and Augustus Busch, St. Louis beer baron. Guests usually stayed for a month and often for the entire summer. By summer’s end, everyone had become one large family. Many of Estes Park’s “firsts” were built at the Elkhorn: first chapel, first schoolhouse, which served for three years, first golf course, first icehouse, first swimming hole, first fish hatchery and the first publiclyfunded trail through a National Park. The Main Lodge has stayed rustic, with no TV or telephones in the rooms, but every room, except for one, has its own bathroom. Pillow count in the Main Lodge is between 65 – 70 visitors. In addition to the sleeping rooms, the lodge has a large lobby, meeting rooms, dance hall and a 200-seat dining room. There are a total of 37 historic buildings on the 65 acres. The James family ran the lodge for 84 years. After William James died in 1895, his wife Ella carried on with the assistance of son Homer, who graduated from medical school, and son Howard. (Charles died at the age of 20). Ella died in 1917 and Howard and his wife Edna managed the popular hostelry until Howard Sr. died in 1928, then his wife, Howard Jr. and Eleanor as-
sumed management. Howard Sr. was known as “the best fisherman in the valley.” He once invited 140 guests to a fish fry in Horseshoe Park, then headed there to fish; when the guests arrived at noon, he had more than enough trout to feed the crowd. As one local noted, that feat was only dwarfed by Jesus in the Bible. In 1961 Howard Jr. sold the lodge, ending the association between the family and the Elkhorn. Howard Jr. ended his hotel career as CEO of Sheraton International Hotels Corp. The Elkhorn Preservation Society was formed in 2010 to “help save, restore and preserve the last
The Main Lodge has stayed rustic and many of the lodge’s original furniture is still in place.
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
of Estes Park’s original tourist lodges.” The Preservation Society has an ambitious goal of restoring every building on the property: the Chapel, schoolhouse, the cabins built in the 1880s, the original 1877 farmhouse and the trout pond. The $50 million plan envisions a Western Heritage Wonderland with employees in period costume, ceremonial Native American dancers, a blacksmith, mountain men, stagecoaches and wagons. The restored buildings will include a Wounded Warriors retreat with handicap accessibility. They envision a pavilion for the chuckwagon dinners, restoring the Main Lodge to its turn-of-the-20th-century appearance and restoring the kitchen and restaurant. A large outdoor stage would attract concerts, horse activities will be expanded and a 2.5-mile zip line will be installed. Most of all they envision a yearround adventure park, with crosscountry ski trails and a mountaintop restaurant/event center. Currently this plan is one of five projects vying for tourism-related state sales-tax subsidies. Only two plans will be chosen by the Office of Economic Development; the other four are a tourism and commercial project in Montrose County, a mile-long riverfront development in Glendale, a downtown riverwalk project in Pueblo and a sports complex/park in Douglas County. As Estes Park Mayor Bill Pinkham sees it, “We are sort of a David against Goliath.”
December 13 - 26, 2011
Trail’s End Experience the holiday season in Victorian Colorado settings Colorado’s Victorian mountain hamlets are particularly charming during the holiday season. The cold crisp air and glistening snow lend to the atmosphere By Linda Wommack and scenery, as do the festive decolwomm3258@aol.com rations, bright lights, music, and hustle and bustle of the busy streets. There seems to be something magical, nostalgic and very special about visiting, strolling along and shopping in these first communities of Colorado’s past.
Georgetown
This holiday season, Georgetown once again hosts the finest of Victorian seasonal events, a tradition in the hallmark community of mountain mining history. The Grace Episcopal Church, built in 1870, has a tradition of hosting the High Teas complete with dessert in the tradition of yesteryear. Stroll through Strousse Park, where an outdoor market will be lined with booths offering everything from fresh baked breads and pastries in the Swedish tradition, to hot roasted chestnuts. There are glorious jewelry items, many handmade, as well as a large variety of blankets and quilts, clothing and decorative ornaments. Singers, children choirs, carolers in Victorian costume, and individual flutists and guitarists merrily provide the entertainment for any visitor or shoppers mood. While you are in
The large Christmas tree is decorated with electric lights, which were available to affluent families in the early 20th century, at the Molly Brown House Museum in Denver.
December 13 - 26, 2011
Georgetown, take advantage of a true Victorian horse-drawn ride through town. The experience will become tomorrow’s memories for a lifetime. The charming Victorian homes of Georgetown are also available for tours. This year five homes are open to visitors. Of course, the historic Hamill House is top of the list. Available for tours throughout the year, during the holiday season, the beautifully decorated house is not to be missed. The Taylor house is on the list this year. Built in 1882, the Victorian charm of the holiday season is splendid throughout the house, as are all the houses on the tour. Finally, the Hotel de Paris, a Georgetown landmark since inception, when silver was queen, will be well worth the time spent to tour the majestic native relic of Georgetown. For further information on tours, and shopping, call the Georgetown Community Center at 303-569-2888, or email preservation@historicgeorgetown.org.
Leadville
Another charming mountain hamlet located at a little more than 10,000 feet, the highest incorporated city in the United States, is historic Leadville. Rich not only in silver, but Victorian history, legend and lore, the town offers a unique Victorian holiday experience. The many shops and eateries along Harrison Avenue are brightly decorated for the holidays, including the gas-powered streetlights, complete with winding garland. Just about everything in the way of Victorian shopping can be found along Harrison Avenue. From jewelry to handmade items, specialized clothing,
charming antiques and unique one-of-akind items, all are on proud display. When in Leadville, make sure not to miss out on the history. The Leadville Mining Museum has some of the best displays in the state, as well as the most comprehensible history of mining in the Rocky Mountain region. The Tabor Opera House is a step back in time for a view of Victorian entertainment. The Leadville Victorian Home Tour has been a tradition since 1984. This year’s tour includes several Victorian homes and 19th century businesses, and then concludes with a wonderful dinner. Among the stops are the American National Bank, at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Fifth Street. Built in 1891, original hardwood floors, and staircases are the main attraction. At each stop along the tour, costumed hosts will greet you with the history of the establishment, while choral singers provide the mood during the walking tour. For more information, call the Leadville Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-933-3901.
Gold Camp Christmas
For a truly unique winter holiday experience, there is nothing more spectacular than an evening drive above the hills of Cripple Creek and Victor. Billed as the Gold Camp Christmas, the headlight attraction (pun intended) of the holiday season is the Lighted Headframes of the mines of the Cripple Creek Mining District. A self-guiding map is available or take the shuttle from the Aspen Mine Center in Cripple Creek, which includes a bonfire, caroling and festive entertainment. As always, the headframes are lighted throughout the holiday season. While you are in town, don’t miss the Sugar Plum Gift Shop that has great holiday gifts, or walk historic Bennett Avenue that offers great shopping, caroling and open roasted chestnuts, and free hot chocolate and cider. The Butte Opera House hosts the seasonal production of the delightful A Cripple Creek Christmas Carol performed by the Thin Air Theater Production Company. A winter holiday experience in Cripple Creek and Victor is a joyous excursion for the entire family.
of the Brown’s opulent 1889 home, and enjoy the rich history of this house and then step back in time with a Holiday High Tea afternoon. The museum is decorated with Lush garlands, mistletoe and twinkling lights during their most popular event of the year. The special Holiday High Tea is approximately a two-hour event and tickets are required. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 303-832-4092.
Downtown Littleton
Downtown Littleton offers a special charm all its’ own. While the shops along Main Street and all of downtown are open daily, a night visit brings about the true charm of Littleton during the holidays. Streetlights glow amid the cold frosty evenings, while the warm shops offer everything from one-of-a-kind gifts, to handmade items, furniture, art and antiques. Many of the restaurants stay open to offer a warm reprieve from your holiday shopping. During the busy holiday season, why not take the time to enjoy the true spirit that many Colorado communities offer, an experience of holiday tradition from the Victorian past. Happy Holidays.
Denver
A bit closer to home, The Molly Brown House Museum, Denver’s Victorian jewel, offers their time-honored holiday tradition of High Tea events throughout the holiday season. The former home of Margaret Tobin Brown, now a museum, presents the architectural preservation of the treasured dwelling, as well as interpreting the life of Colorado’s first Suffragette and survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Take a tour
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
Take advantage of a true Victorian horsedrawn ride through the town of Georgetown this holiday season.
PAGE 21
Rollin’ Dough Send us your recipes!
in the
To be featured in Rollin’ in the Dough: Send us a recipe, your name, a little about yourself, why you chose that recipe, a little about your cooking style, and of course your phone number in case we have questions. Email gambler@villagerpublishing.com or mail to 8933 E Union Ave., Suite 230, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Questions? Call Sharon at 303-503-1388.
-- Recipes courtesy of Shirley Klotz, volunteer for the Colorado Gambler
jelly center cookies 4 Cups Flour (unsifted) 1 Cup Butter 1 Cup Crisco 2 Eggs
No Fat Fudge
1-1/2 Cup Sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon salt
Measure flour, adding salt. Blend butter, Crisco, sugar together using electric mixer. Add eggs. Blend flour into first mixture – 1 cup at a time. Add vanilla. Refrigerate for one to two hours. Form into walnut size balls, using the palms of your hands. Make indentations in cookies w/index finger. Prepare 1 small bowl with red jelly, another with green jelly. Soften jelly in each cup by stirring with a teaspoon. Using a pointed tip spoon, fill each cookie with your choice of red or green jelly. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets @ 350° for 7-1/2 minutes; completely turn cookie sheet in oven and cook another 7-1/2 minutes. Remove cookie sheet from oven, cool, turn out on paper towels. Dust with powdered sugar while warm. This is a long-time Christmas favorite in our family and our adult children have fond memories of their grandmother baking them. It’s also a fun baking adventure with young children. As a special bonus jackpot – for our family’s summer visits she made these cookies with grape jelly. Yummy either way!
3 Cups Sugar ¾ Cup Butter 2/3 Cup (6 oz.) Evaporated Milk 12 oz. Semi-sweet Chocolate Bits
7 oz. Marshmallow Creme 1 C. Nuts 1 teaspoon Vanilla
Combine sugar, butter and evaporated milk. Bring to a rolling boil (stirring constantly). Boil 5 minutes over medium heat (stirring constantly). Remove from heat, stir in chocolate bits, marshmallow creme. Add nuts and vanilla. Pour fudge into a greased baking dish (13-3/4” x 7-1/2”), cut into squares when cool. This fudge recipe has been tried-andtested by our family and lots of folks – mostly during the Christmas holidays. You simply can’t miss using this recipe!
Horoscope SAGITTARIUS - (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21) Your honesty can be blunt. Go gently on anyone who isn’t expecting such candidness. Any stress you may be feeling in your relationship might be stemming from your own or another’s defensive and damaged ego. Try to keep it fun. Your imagination and creativity are active and inspirational. Life may seem boring but a little meditation or prayer may make you ecstatic. Lucky Numbers: 1, 19, 31, 43, 57, 78 CAPRICORN - (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20) You›ve done more than your fair share to help and demonstrate your love. Don’t let yourself get caught up in a family spat. Responding with irritation is a sure way to escalate conflict. A point is being made so don›t miss a chance for being a peacemaker and humor. Plan to stick around the house and share with your loved ones. You might miss the company of a loved one. Lucky Numbers: 5, 24, 35, 41, 55, 79 AQUARIUS - (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) Pay attention to the details of what is happening around you. There›s something brewing behind the scenes, and it could be big. You don’t want to have the rug pulled out from under you. Things may seem uncertain, but things hidden will expose themselves. Money matters may determine significant choices. Someone may guide you towards a healthier way of life or solution. Lucky Numbers: 11, 13, 36, 37, 56, 69 PISCES (Feb 20 - March 20) You may celebrate the holidays a few days early and may find it›s best to stay on budget in gift giving. Keep gift giving to the immediate children and your effort and time in providing the holiday meal. You may find yourself traveling or trying to make too many family house calls to demonstrate your care. Try to make this season an extended holiday instead of being overwhelmed. Lucky Numbers: 10, 18, 26, 45, 49, 73
ARIES - (March 21 - April 20) This week quiet yourself and listen to the wind, for calmness will soon replace the chaotic time that surrounds you now. Some unavoidable choices must be made or responded to. In the end, you›ll have some new and exciting paths and opportunities to choose from. The holidays will require your helping hands and a conscious effort to extend goodwill. Lucky Numbers: 9, 12, 27, 40, 50, 67 TAURUS - (April 21 - May 21) You may feel stymied, overloaded or are currently blocked at work, possibly because someone is leaving or is absent. A woman friend enters the picture to lend a helping hand or your female will be helping you to participate in her plans. Patience runs short. The approaching weekend needs a list to navigate. Lucky Numbers: 4, 17, 28, 38, 51, 64 GEMINI - (May 22 - June 21) You may have an opportunity to renegotiate a financial situation. Take the lead when it comes to future growth of your retirement fund or savings. Avoid an emotional outburst at work or home. It really isn’t worth the hard feelings and can be carried through the holidays. Your desire to take on more of an education or spiritual path has arrived. Lucky Numbers: 3, 22, 33, 44, 60, 61 CANCER - (June 22 - July 22) This week has you unbelievably busy at work and more than on edge. Words may leave hard feelings unless you take the initiative. Last minute touch-ups getting the home and food ready for the holidays plus final gift getting requires extra help and lists. There are accident aspects and a chance of losing valuables. Request help when you need it. Lucky Numbers: 7, 21, 27, 46, 52, 77
LEO - (July 23 - Aug 22) Your daily work routine may require more responsibility than it has in the past. Health will also take the lead as an important priority in your life. You may attract unusual people from different walks of life who can assist you in attaining your goals. With Mars in the sign of Virgo, your energy should be high and should help you obtain your financial goals. Lucky Numbers: 8, 20, 30, 42, 59, 63 VIRGO - (Aug. 23 - Sept. 23) Your efficiency will help you accomplish the holiday tasks and you may forge to the head at work and get extra strokes for all your help at home. You may find this time leading you to success and may meet others that are like minded and may advance your goals. Management, a raise or bonus should advance your goals. A meeting with important people will help you. Lucky Numbers: 6, 23, 32, 48, 54, 75 LIBRA - (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23) Make plans to escape from the heavy load that has been put on you this holiday. Don’t take yourself, others or life so seriously. If there›s no time to get away, make your home an oasis. You›ll find yourself caring for or missing a loved one. You won’t easily be talked out of anything you believe in. You’ll hold your ground, be a bit too assertive, adamant or even righteous. Lucky Numbers: 8, 15, 29, 47, 58, 72 SCORPIO - (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You may find yourself working more than taking a holiday. Some long awaited money may finally come in. Brick by brick you›re approaching some very lucrative goals. Remember to dress to impress. A romantic or business partner needs you to look your best. Someone may be considering your proposition or presentation. Don›t alienate needed allies; you need to be an asset. Lucky Numbers: 12, 14, 25, 39, 49, 62
Contact Mary Nightstar at marynightstar@yahoo.com and type “horoscope” in the subject line. PAGE 22
THE COLORADO GAMBLER – Celebrating 20 Years
December 13 - 26, 2011
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