Scientific Porcelain
Photo by Linda Cobb
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Saturday, Jan. 31st
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Colorado Cowboy Gathering @ The Buffalo Rose
- All day - Golden History Tours
- All day - Golden Sports
- All day - UllrGrass Festival
- 8AM - Saturday Morning Run and Social Walk
- 10AM-3PM - Brunch at the Rose
- 10AM-3PM - Saturday Train Rides
- 10:15-10:45AM - Family Time - Registration Required
- 12-1PM - Hack Your Health: Balance Blood Sugar
- 12-5PM - Ready, Set, Throw
- 5-6:30PM - Golden American Legion Dinner
- 5-8PM - Harleys After Dark
- 7:30PM - The Odd Couple (Female Version)
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
Monthly Appeal
Scenes from Golden - January, 2026
Thank you to everyone who supported GoldenToday during January. If you are not contributing, this would be the perfect time to start!
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Power out AGAIN
My power was out for about eight hours yesterday. I'm glad it was daytime, so the house was light and it wasn't too cold, but it is hard to produce a newsletter on a cellphone.
The City has scheduled a meeting this coming Tuesday to tell us about non-Xcel power sources.
Tuesday, Feb. 3rd 6–7:30PM
Keeping the Lights On: Powering Your Golden Home During Outages
Power outages happen. Learn what options are available to keep your home running when the grid goes down. Join us for a community conversation about home energy resilience and backup power solutions.
Topics include portable power stations, generators, solar + battery systems, and EV-to-home power. Hear from local residents, ask questions of experts, and explore costs, installation, and what solutions make sense for your home.
Panel discussion: 6–7PM.
Info tables open: 5:30–7:30PM.
Location:
Golden Community Center
1470 10th Street (Map)
Colorado Cowboy Gathering @ The Buffalo Rose
The Colorado Cowboy Gathering celebrates cowboy heritage, traditions and entertainment, which grew out of the traditions of cattle drives in the American West. If you've never been to the Gathering and you like stories, poetry and songs with a Western theme, then this is the event for you. Tickets and more information
There are two shows today:
Location:
Buffalo Rose
1119 Washington Avenue (Map)
12-5PM Ready, Set, Throw @ Foothills Art Center - Creative Campus
Join us during our Ceramics Open Studio at any time in the afternoon to give pottery a try with little commitment! Come dressed in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, and be ready to unleash your creativity. You will receive basic personalized instruction and get a good feel for our FAC studio atmosphere. No prior experience necessary.This class provides clay and tools for you to experiment with. Purchase of one ticket provides admission for one person for a two hour time slot between noon and 5 PM on the selected Saturday. Register
Location:
Foothills Art Center - Creative Campus
809 15th Street (Map)
The Golden Word - 01/31/26
Live Music for Saturday, Jan. 31st
- 5:30-8:30PM Amanda Hawkins @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)
- More Live Music
5-8PM Live Music @ Eddy Taproom - 6:30-8:30PM Rin Tarsy @ Etta Jeanne
9PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern
For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar
Golden History: Penny Night
Taylor Miller American Legion Post 21 – Previously the Loveland Fire Station
Click to enlarge
For many years, the Golden Fire Department was staffed entirely by volunteers. They also had to raise funds to buy their firefighting equipment. Generally, they did this by selling tickets to dances hosted by the firefighters.
During the Depression, the Loveland Hose Company (one of three firefighting companies) came up with the perfect fund-raiser for the times: Penny Night. At this event, everything cost 1 cent: admission, the games, sandwiches, coffee, and dances. This was an event that most community members could afford.
Merchants donated prizes, and there were so many that in 1933 they gave away a prize a minute for the duration of the event. The grand prize was a big ham.
The first Penny Night took place in 1933. It attracted approximately 500 people, and 75 couples stayed for the dance. The event was so successful that they repeated it in 1934, ’35, ’36, ’38, ’40, ’41, and ’42. Most years, the newspaper did not report on the amount collected, but the 1935 Night cleared 7500 pennies ($75).
Penny Night was so popular that they always exceeded the capacity of the Loveland Fire House (apparently, they didn’t have fire codes at the time). In 1940 and again in 1941, they moved the event to the Golden Plunge Recreation Center (now the Buffalo Rose), Rhe prices had gone up by then: admission to attend the dance was 11 cents for ladies and 41 cents for gentlemen.
The final Penny Night was held on April 25, 1942. They moved back to the Loveland Station that year. World War II had started by then, and the Transcript commented that pennies were now being used to buy defense stamps and war bonds, but if you have a few strays, bring them to Penny Night.
The Transcript doesn’t explain why Penny Night ended, but it's likely that the fire department just didn’t have the manpower to run it. Many of the firefighters were probably serving overseas. In any case, it was the perfect fund-raiser for the Depression years–a great way to raise both money and spirits in the community.
Weather
Overnight: Mostly cloudy. Low around 25, with temperatures rising to around 29 overnight. West southwest wind around 9 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 55, with temperatures falling to around 52 in the afternoon. West northwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Low around 38, with temperatures rising to around 40 overnight. West wind around 12 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly Clear, 38°F
Sunday: Mostly Sunny, 61°F
Sunday Night: Mostly Cloudy, 40°F
Monday: Partly Sunny, 59°F
Monday Night: Partly Cloudy, 33°F
Tuesday: Chance Light Snow, 51°F
Tuesday Night: Chance Light Snow, 31°F
Wednesday: Sunny, 53°F
Wednesday Night: Mostly Clear, 35°F
Thursday: Sunny, 63°F
Thursday Night: Mostly Clear, 35°F
Friday: Sunny, 59°F
News About Golden - January 31, 2026
GPD INVESTIGATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT INCIDENTS
City of Golden Police Department
The Golden Police Department is investigating two daytime sexual assault incidents in the community. In both incidents, the victims were walking alone in isolated public areas.
At this time, it is unknown whether the incidents are related; however, both cases remain open and are being investigated concurrently. No suspect(s) have been identified. The Golden Police Department remains committed to the safety of our community and recommends citizens exercise a higher level of caution in public locations... Read more...
State regulators get an earful on Xcel power shutdowns from Coloradans left without electricity for days
By Mark Jaffee
Colorado Sun
In December, Rainbow Schultz was preparing for Xcel Energy’s announced shutdown of power lines to cope with high winds since her restaurant — the Jamestown Mercantile — had lost $8,000 in the utility’s safety shut-off eight months earlier... Read more...
Jefferson County Commissioners Issue Statement on Ice Operation
Please see the statement below from the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners... Read more...
Goldens in Golden 2026: Top 10 Tips to Know Before You Go
Visit Golden
The world-renowned Goldens in Golden is back February 7, 2026, in Golden, Colorado. This year’s canine carnival will be bigger than ever, with a larger festival ground, more vendors selling a wide assortment of puppy merchandise, and of course thousands of golden retrievers.
To make your visit as enjoyable as possible for you, your golden (the dog) and Golden (the City), please review the following Goldens in Golden Know Before You Go tips... Read more...
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:
($100/month and up)
Buffalo Rose, Buglet Solar, Foothills Art Center, Golden Cultural Alliance, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Miners Saloon, Golden Hayride Outpost, Unite Fitness, Clothilde Elingbow, Michael Mason, Goosetown Station, and Earth Sweet Boutique
Friends:
($50-99.99/month or $550/yr)
Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, Goozell Yogurt & Coffee Paul Haseman, Donna Anderson, Carol & Doug Harwood, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Mary & Don Parker, Saré Merrigan, The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Vic DeMaria, and Joy Brandt
Supporters:
($25-49.99/month or $250/yr)
Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Forrest Jones, Barry & Liz Bettis, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Marjorie Sloan, Chris and Joyce Davell, Rick Flint, Forrest Jones, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer, Bud Rockhill, Steve Enger, Kristie Brice & Mike Schwartz, The Golden Hotel, Kurt & Janet Siegfried, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, Robert Thresher, Tonie Mattox, Centennial State Wealth Advisors, Steve & M.L. Richardson, and Jeremy & Stephanie Keller
Members:
($10-24.99/month or $110/yr)
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, 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, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, 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, Ross Fraser & KC Gilliland, Lynne Haigh, Elizabeth Hilliard, Frank Young & Terre Deegan-Young, Kathy Hirons & Jack Markin, Jess & Anthony Monasterio, Heather Duncan, Lee Ann & Pete Horneck, Carol Cameron, Cheryl Williamson, San Daugherty, Jim Garner, John and Carol McEncroe, the Golden Welcome Center, the Golden Transcript, Koshare Eagle, Ken and Colleen Krantz, Traci Neuman Lacey, Jo Barber, Jamie Cookinham, Kermit Shields, Meridee Cecil, Vicki Olson, Colleen & Michael Ramey, Nancy & Pete Torpey, Jax Baker, Simon Maybury, Rose McLaughlin, Cameron Chambers, Joyce Gravina, Patrick Klein, Barb Robie, Richard Caldwell, Janice Waring, Sam & Marilyn Baron, Carmen Johnson, Mary Eiberger, Kevin Nichols, Ed & Carol Freza, Laura and Curtis Moore, Ruth Hund, Shelley & Jerry Devitt, Eileen Masterson, Kate Olivier, Amy Korengut, Pam Logan, Clare Shier, Wendy Weiman, and Marge Frueh
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser, Mel Perkins, Bob Hamilton, Steve Stevens, Vicki Olson, Emily Kurzinski, Nanette Johnson, Peyton Gibson, Sally Berger, Kristen Morgan, Joyce Sutton, Mary Rains, Craig Champlin, Stan Swisher, Bill Way
