An eye on getting wild at The Wild Eye Gallery

Last Friday Gallery Walk at the Wild Eye Gallery
The Wild Eye Gallery showcases a variety of artists, the featured artist Friday was Mary Judy. Mary is a multi-media artist with an education in commercial art and design. She is currently working with ceramics. All of her work is slightly off center and loaded with color and whimsy. Mary's wall crawling iguanas, wiki waki bowls and serving dishes are colorful, kooky, and one of a kind. They are hand built from slab construction, using low-fired white ware clay and fired with lead free non-toxic glazes.
Carol Lombard, with Mountain View Magazine, and author of a History of Jefferson County, available at the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce, interviewed Mary Judy. Lorna, the special event coordinator for the Evergreen Lake House, was at The Wild Eye Gallery to support her friend, Mary. No, the guy in the sunglasses is not a local musician, he's a local rancher.

Dennis Dunn, owner of The Wild Eye Gallery, with assorted characters.

Friday Night at Stoneheart Gallery

Cynthia Reid, the featured artist.

Contemporary Impressionist.
Cynthia uses a palette knife technique to juxtapose complementary, vibrant colors, recreating the joy, beauty, and texture of the natural world. There is a particular emphasis on the shifting of light and shadow. Cynthia believes that painting is about trusting her intuition and the process, while being open to the unpredictable.

I want to point out that I have not become a master art critic, I copied the above info from Cynthia's website. Cynthia quotes Thomas Aldrich (Leaves from a Notebook) on her website. I think it explains Cynthia's philosophy.

"I like to have a thing suggested rather than told in full. When every detail is given, the mind rests satisfied, and the imagination loses the desire to use its own wings."

Eccentric, Eclectic, Electric Evergreen!

Friday Morning, May 28 and downtown Evergreen is already filled with an assortment of tourist, locals and eccentrics. Tonight is the "Last Friday Art Gallery Walk". The weather is beautiful and everyone is ready for a night out. Evergreen is so much more than "downtown'. It stretches from I-70 to Kittredge, with gourmet restaurants, hot dog stands, boutiques, furniture and design centers, and everything you need for a quality lifestyle. But tonight it is all about the Heart of Evergreen.

Flowers, Art, & Shortbread

Walking down the sidewalk in search of my car, I was suddenly surrounded by colorful flowers, vibrant art, and a chalkboard with the words banana bread and shortbread. None of theses things had been there 45 minutes before.

STONEHEART GALLERY has a new addition, Jill, who is as colorful and vibrant as her art. Jill breeds Labradoodles and has a great recipe for shortbread. Her mother got the recipe from a Scottish neighbor decades ago. It was some of the best shortbread I've ever had. Approximately a year ago Jill taught her then 83 year old mother to paint. Her mother paints folk art (the cabin above), but doesn't want anyone to know.

The Recipe:

1/2 lb. (2 sticks) of butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 2/3 cup flour

1 scant cup cornstarch

Knead in bowl. Pat into 13x9x1 baking dish. Pierce w. fork overall. Bake 350 30-35 min.

until a light tan Cut Warm.

Murder at the Brook Forest Inn

And I did it! I write and facilitate murder mystery events.

This is Miss Pinkie Precious and her 18 bride's maids, lying, denying, blackmailing, and stealing. And, murdering! Just a typical Saturday night.

DARE!

DARE is a fashion forward boutique in Bergen Village. Mona's style savvy is reflected in every piece of clothing. DARE is staffed with fashion stylists who will assist you in updating your current wardrobe or your look.

Dandelion's, a New Breed of Weed

As fresh as spring, Dandelion's offers All Natural

(90% organic) Artisan Pizzas, baked in a stone oven, sandwiches, salads, soup, fresh vegetable juices, desserts and daily specials.
Kristin and Andrew opened March 9th with a dedication to quality and service, everything is made on site. The best way to describe their menu is "simple gourmet." Dandelion's also offers gluten free alternatives. You can have your cake and eat it too!

They're located on Castle Ct. off Bergen Parkway and opened Monday - Friday 11-7. Sat. 11-5.

If you do not have time to enjoy their outdoor dining, pick up something To Go: 303-674-5000.

The Shirt Off Her Back -

And, what a great looking shirt it is!

Pati's business background is as interesting as the shirts that fill the walls of Evergreen Resort Apparel Outlet on Main Street Evergreen. They have a "locals discount". They also carry a cute little tee that is buy one get - get one free. This summer you can find Pati at the concerts at the Lake. Evergreen Resort Apparel will be selling a "throw it in your car, sit on the grass, picnic blanket" that's perfect for evenings at Evergreen Lake.

Jody & Chloe at Ski Country Antiques

SKI COUNTRY moves to other side of mountain

Ski Country Antiques (I-70 and Floyd Hill) is moving into the Rocky Mountain Home and Design Center on the other side of I-70. Ski Country is a warehouse filled with fine European antiques, art, vintage skis, interesting furniture and accessories and has graced Floyd Hill for decades. A family owned and operated business, the Kleinwachters (and Bradley) have always been innovative in their approach to business and big on customer service. Over the decades their clients have become friends, allowing the Kleinwachters to hand pick antiques for their homes.

After the move they are off to Europe again and they always return with unique pieces.

FYI: They would rather give you a great price on a piece of furniture than pack it up and move it. NOW IS THE TIME TO GET A DEAL AT SKI COUNTRY ANTIQUES.

They ship! www.skicountryantiques.com

Lunch with Martha at Creekside Cellars

Fine wine, good food, interesting conversation

What I like in bed -

Good quality sheets! There is something so wonderful about being engulfed in fine linens after a stressful day. It makes me feel rich and pampered. I am excited about Martha Weeks Green becoming a sales rep. for Private Quarters. The line carries sheets, towels, feather beds, coverlets, robes, and simple pleasures. Martha's doing a kick off on Sunday, June 4th at 4:00, with wine and gourmet snacks. Private events are also available making this perfect for a bridal shower. The bride can hand pick every item, making this convenient for her guests. I'm all about saving time without sacrificing style.

The first time I met Martha I immediately learned two things about her. First she is brilliant and second she is passionate about fine sheets and towels. Martha, her husband, Joel, and their sons moved to Evergreen from the East Coast and opened a vacation rental home. Martha was particular about everything that went into the house, especially the linens. She wanted to give her guests a quality experience. Martha and Joel also offered their guests coupons from local businesses, maps, and recommendations. (And, a great view!)
Where did all the wonderful vacation home rentals go?

Sunday Afternoon in Downtown Evergreen

The Ambassador Committee at the ribbon cutting for Evergreen Sports Apparel in Downtown Evergreen. Betsy Hayes, membership and ad representative for the Chamber, organizes the ribbon cuttings.

The Ambassador Committee in action at The Ice House. This is a great group of people, committed to their community. Special thanks to Betsy Hayes, she is a new business's first contact with the Chamber. If you want to know why you should be a member of the Chamber, contact Betsy or an Ambassador. Find out how you can make the Chamber work for you!

www.evergreenchamber.org

Bikers' Bang Broad on Little Bear's Boardwalk

I was thinking, I was looking pretty good. I had my 4" high heel boots on, my leather jacket and I was styling. I was almost to the entrance between The Little Bear and The Ice House when suddenly I was on my ass on the boardwalk. There was a man and woman in full leathers standing over me. I had no clue where they came from or why I was sitting on the boardwalk. They were extremely concerned and apologizing profusely. They were exiting The Little Bear and the door hit me (The door opens out onto the boardwalk.) I was stunned and muttered something about The Ice House. They helped me up and into The Ice House. Alex Witt, owner of Force Fitness and Breakout Marketing came to my aide, followed by Kristin Witt, local author and motivational speaker. Kristin assured the concerned biker couple that I was fine and the minor disorientation was my norm.

The Little Bear is a legendary and notorious rock and roll bar. The building and adjoining building, The Evergreen Hotel, dates back to the late 1800's. The building was a church and then a drug store. The Little Bear is rustic, filled with decades of memorabilia and of course bras hanging from the beams. It is world renown!

Check out their website www.thelittlebearsaloon.com

Thursday night The Little Bear has a burger, fries and draft beer for $5.00 for "the locals". You need to purchase a VIP pin for a $1.oo before Thursday night.

Friday, May 21st, there is a half off admission to Strike III. You can print the coupon off their website.

The Little Bear is not the only place with music. The Ice House, next door, has open mike night on Thursday. Always a local favorite.

Cactus Jack's Bar & Grill, in the heart of Evergreen, at the base of the dam, has music on the deck overlooking Bear Creek. They have nightly drink specials and 40 cent wings all day Sunday. www.cactusjacksaloon.com

Cactus Jack's is also "green" they recycle everything and is one of the driving forces in the "green movement" in Evergreen.

The Stagecoach Grill is in its first month in its new location. It was The Rib Crib, an Evergreen favorite for decades. They will be having bands on the outside patio. Sorry, their website is not up and running yet.

And, of course there are the free concerts at the Lake. Enjoy a weekend in Evergreen!

THE BAG LADY IS BACK!!!

It's been four years since I did Business in the Bag. I collected coupons for businesses, stuffed them into brown bags, took my folding table and went to every art show, craft show, Jazzfest, Rodeo, etc. There were a few events that were a surprise, like the Evergreen Animal Protection League festival at the Hiwan Homestead. The day before a tarot reader had warned me that I would be attacked be a very big black dog and would take years to recover. The place was filled with big black dogs!!!
There were no big black dog incidents, but a few weeks later on my only "hike" into nature, a mile into the trail to Mt. Falcon, I encountered a black bear. I dropped my German Shephard's lease, and said run Nicki, run, and damn it the dog did.
I walked quickly, and the bear followed me slowly, and I hoped my friends would find the humor in me, the Vegetarian, being eaten by a bear. Nicki was waiting next to the car. And, that was the last time she would ever go near the car.

Okay, back to The Business in the Bag. On July 8th thru 11th, the Evergreen High School classes of 1973-1977 will be in town for their class reunion. Thursday, the 8th is their welcome reception at Mt. Vernon. I'm putting together "Opportunity Bags" with coupons from our local businesses. The bags are 7x3.5x15, so make your coupons fit. Lelah Doyle is the organizer of the reunion, she thinks she will get 800 guests. I'm planning for 500 guests, I think it will be mostly couples, so I'm going with 250 "Opportunity Bags." I will pick up your coupons June 14th-19th, email me when your coupons are ready myevergreenbiz@gmail.com No, there is no charge ! This is an opportunity to generate additional business and maybe convince some of these former residents that this is a great place to move back to.