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What's Happening in Golden - Saturday, Apr. 6th

News and events in Golden, Colorado. Saturday, Apr. 6th

,   and  Barb Warden
8 min read
Click to enlarge

Pretty in Pink

Photo by Carol Freza

What's happening in Golden today?

Events for Saturday, Apr. 6th

Golden History Tours
Saturday Train Rides
Family Time
Virtual: Dungeons & Dragons for Beginners

For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar

Clearing the Site for the New Mines Dorm

Photo by Patrick Klein

Works has begun on clearing the site for the new 800 bed Mines dormitory. Crews are removing the trees along the Welch Ditch.

10AM Coffee with Councilors

Join your neighbors for Coffee with Councilors the first Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m. in the Golden Community Center Bear Creek South room (1470 10th St.) unless otherwise noted on the calendar. 

This month’s speaker will be Matt Wempe, Principle Planner—Long Range, who will share updates on the downtown parking program, including an introduction to Interstate Parking, the City’s new contracted parking management company.

After that, the Councilors are available to discuss other City issues. If you've been wanting to know more about a new city hall, the Heart of Golden project, or any other municipal issue, this is your chance to discuss it with the decision makers.

Please note an online/remote option to attend will no longer be available for Coffee with Councilors in 2024, so please plan to attend in-person.

Golden Community Center
1470 10th Street (map)

Last Chance to See Amelia!

Today is your last opportunity to see Amelia's Big Idea at Miners Alley Children's Theater. Performances will be given at 11AM and 1PM.

Ten-year-old Amelia Smart wants to build a dog park. Her pet Gadget needs a safe place to play, but her big idea to transform Townville will take a lot of work! Along the way, Amelia needs help from the Mayor, the Librarian, Mr. Delivery, and others. Kids (suggested ages 4-12) learn about teamwork, community, and civic life through catchy songs and interactive fun. Warning: You might take some big ideas home with you.

Purchase tickets

Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
1103 Arapahoe Street (map)

10AM-4PM Fun Florals with Janet Nunn

Painting florals gives you an opportunity to paint with bright colors. In this class we will paint florals of the season, using contrasting bright colors. There may be some splattering and layering of paint to achieve the vivid colors of the season. A materials fee of $5 will give you all the supplies needed for the class.

Non-members $120 / Members $90 Register Become a member

Foothills Art Center
809 15th Street (map)

Closing Weekend for A Jukebox for the Algonquin

You have only two chances left to see A Jukebox for the Algonquin. Remaining performances are tonight at 7:30PM and tomorrow at 2PM. Here's a fun thing to contemplate as you watch the play: the man playing the unassuming janitor is the playwright!

The residents at the Placid Pines Senior Care Center really want a jukebox. When it costs more than the center can raise, a small band of former Brooklyn and Bronx residents hatch a plot to prove that aging is not a New York state of mind. Don't miss the regional premiere of this serious comedy about sex, drugs, and rocking chairs! A Wilde Award Winner for Best New Play of 2023-24.Age recommendation: 13 and older, for adult subjects and older adult humor.

Purchase tickets

Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
1103 Arapahoe Street (map)

Live Music for Saturday, Apr. 6th

    Southside Mike @ Buffalo Rose
    • 5:30 PM-8:30 PM: Southside Mike @ Buffalo Rose @ Buffalo Rose
      Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)
    • More Live Music
      5-9PM       Live Music @ Bridgewater Grill
      5-8PM Live Music @ Eddy Taproom
      6PM Frisk & Friends @ Dirty Dogs
      6-9PM Dylan Kishner Band @ Goosetown Station
      9PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern

    For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar

    Golden History: Scenic Trip Through Clear Creek Canyon (Part 2)

    Part 1 of Bill Robie's tale of early travels through Clear Creek Canyon appeared yesterday. Today, we continue on to the dramatic climax at the Georgetown Loop.

    The view above, looking down the canyon, shows the three huge boulders called “The Three Brothers” on the north bank of Clear Creek. The location is a mile or so west of both the west end of Tunnel 3 and where Elk Creek empties into Clear Creek. The elevated grade of Hwy 6 in this area places most of the boulders under the highway fill.

    "Forks of the Creek" shows a white depot with "REFRESHMENTS" sign next to narrow gauge tracks.

    This view is looking up the canyon just prior to where Hwy 119 heading to Blackhawk now diverges from Hwy 6. This was another popular spot for refreshments as the trains stopped here before proceeding to either Black Hawk and Central City or to Idaho Springs and Georgetown. Notice the embellishment of craggy mountain peaks to make the view more spectacular.

    "The Lone Tree" shows a tall pine at the bottom of a canyon with a creek and narrow gauge tracks nearby.

    Further up the canyon from Forks Creek, in this view looking downstream, is “The Lone Tree” on the north bank of Clear Creek. The location is about opposite the east entrance to Tunnel 6.

    Many sections of the old railroad grade can be seen today on the opposite side of Clear Creek from Hwy 6, or even walked along by accessing segments of the new Peak to Plains Trail.

    GEORGETOWN LOOP POSTCARDS
    The Colorado Central Railroad reached Georgetown on August 14, 1877. The line went no further until 1884 when the Union Pacific subsidiary, Georgetown, Breckinridge and Leadville, began construction west with the intention to tunnel under the continental divide and, according to its name, reach Leadville. Silver Plume, a little more than 2 miles straight line from Georgetown was about 642’ higher, creating a grade far too steep for a railroad. The solution was to design an alignment with many sharp reversing curves and a full “loop” which allowed the track to cross over itself. The track distance between the two towns was about 4.2 miles and the average grade was about 2.8%.

    Sepia-toned postcard showing tracks looping through pine forest and over a creek.

    This is an unretouched photo image of the Georgetown Loop valley from a very frequently used view point.

    Hand-tinted postcard shows the looping railroad with a steam locomotive crossing a very tall bridge.

    This highly embellished postcard is viewed from a location a little further distant than the photo above. Almost all elements have been either modified or simply added by hand. The entire central background is artistically created. The track shown switchbacking up the side of the fabricated mountain in supposed to be the Argentine Central, but the alignment actually went up the north-facing side of the mountain to left, out of view. Also note the added snow-capped range of Rocky Mountains on the skyline.

    Hand-tinted postcard shows the Loop bridge with one train passing over and another passing under.

    The 300’ long curving viaduct was on a 2% grade and crossed over itself 74’ above the track below. This rendition is fairly accurate, except for the two trains, each drawn in by hand.

    A fanciful cartoon shows a mustachioed man looking up at a train passing over a loop. The moon has a human face.

    The Georgetown Loop viaduct was considered a pretty awesome structure during its day and prompted this wildly imaginative and death-defying version.

    Of course, the reconstructed Georgetown Loop can be ridden today.

    Many thanks to Bill Robie for sharing his knowledge and his archive!

    Weather

    Overnight's Weather

    Overnight: A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 41, with temperatures rising to around 48 overnight. Southwest wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

    Saturday's Weather

    Saturday: Snow showers likely before 9am, then snow showers likely and patchy blowing dust. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. West northwest wind 12 to 44 mph, with gusts as high as 62 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

    Saturday Night's Weather

    Saturday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind 45 to 55 mph, with gusts as high as 82 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

    Supporters

    Many thanks to the people and organizations who support What’s Happening in Golden?  If you would like to support local news, please CLICK HERE!

    Sponsors:
    Buffalo Rose, Buglet Solar, Foothills Art Center, Golden City Brewery, Golden Cultural Alliance, Golden History Museum, Miners Alley Playhouse, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Morris & Mae Market, Miners Saloon, Joy and Jack Brandt, Tom Reiley, Bud Rockhill, Michael Mason, Lisa DeCaro and Len Matheo

    Friends:
    Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing Paul Haseman, Donna Anderson, Carol & Doug Harwood, Beth Bidwell, Greg Poulos

    Supporters:
    Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Forrest Jones, Barry & Liz Bettis, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Marjorie Sloan, Chris and Joyce Davell, Rick Flint, Forrest Jones, AC Development

    Members:
    Brad Miller & Julie Bartos, Holly Thomas, Jim and LouAnne Dale, Ann Pattison, Thomas Hoffman, Carol Abel, Brian Quarnstrom, Sandra Curran, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Kathy Smith, Karen Smith, Carlos & Nancy Bernal, Robert Storrs, Michele Sannes, Elaine Marolla, Dixie Termin & Ron Miller, Carol & Don Cameron, Frank & Marsha Hanou, E Tom Hughes, Crystal M Culbert, Patrick A. Madison, Alice Madison & Jim Kalivas, Deb Goeldner, Christopher Ball, 6th Chair Home Services, Dot & Eric Brownson, Rosemary Coffman, Emeline Paulson, Casey & Gina Brown, Sandy Schneider, Mark Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, Carol Abel, Frani R Bickart, Jennings and Litz, Bill Sedgeley, Nancy Hughes, Justin L Wade, Kathi Eggers, Traci Case, Donna Owen, Leslie D Lutz, Karen Oxman, Catherine Skokan

    Followers:
    Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Bill Fisher, Mariane Erickson, Susan Gray

    Highlights