Bike to Work Day

Image courtesy Pixabay

The Denver metro area is home to the second largest Bike to Work day celebration, so Happy Bike to Work Day, fellow Coloradans! According to a March 2015 CBS 4 report, Denver bike commuting increased by 43% when compared to the previous year. Were you among the 20, 067 people who registered to "bike to work" today? If so, you may have taken advantage of free breakfast or other freebies, but just because you may have forgotten to register or ride, that doesn't mean you have completely missed out on the bike to work incentives. Here are some of the benefits of biking to work, from the official Bike to Work Day website.

• Exercise and commute combined - we're all busy, so why not multi-task?
• Save money - from filling up the gas tank to car insurance, driving adds up, and so does bus fare.
• Environmentally-friendly - riding a bike does not add pollutants to the air! 

If you cannot take part in any of this year's festivities, but would still like to consider biking to work as a transportation option, here are some things to consider:

• Map out a plan: Plan your route to work ahead of time, taking things like bike lanes and heavily congested vehicle traffic areas into consideration. It may be helpful to plot your route on Google maps and keep your smartphone handy as you ride (safely, of course).
• Check the weather: Nobody wants to arrive at work dripping in sweat or soaked to the bone from the rain. Perhaps bring a change of clothing and shoes.
• For additional tips on a smooth driving to biking transition, read this recent article from The Denver Post.

Another thing you can do to increase your involvement in biking is to register for an upcoming ride! Bike Denver is a useful resource on upcoming biking races and rides.

If you choose to bring biking into your life, Outlook Golden Ridge has an on-site Peddle Pad for any repairs or tune-ups your bicycle may need! What are you waiting for? Summer is the perfect season to not only hit the trails, but hit the streets and refresh your method of transportation!

Weekend Food & Wine Events

Image courtesy Pixabay

Whether you are in search of an event to take Dad to for Father's Day (yes, it's this Sunday) or are looking for something to do with friends and family over the weekend, look no further! There are a couple of big events going on this weekend in the Golden area for food and wine enthusiasts For vegetarians or vegan readers, there is VegFest Colorado, and for the winos, there is the Golden Wine Tasting!

VegFest Colorado
VegFest Colorado takes place Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. VegFest is a health and environmental fair geared towards those living as vegans, or those considering the lifestyle. Guests will learn from world-renowned dietitians and chefs about how to create vegan dishes at home, and will have the opportunity to interact with like-minded citizens about environmental issues as they relate to veganism. Guests will enjoy food samples and learn from professional and nonprofit vendors. There will also be a children's area for younger guests. Event tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the door. Guests ages 16 and under may attend at no charge. VegFest will last from 10 AM to 6 PM. The Jefferson County Fairgrounds are located less than a 10-minute drive away from your future apartment home at Outlook Golden Ridge.

Golden Wine Tasting
The Diamonds and Denim Golden Wine Tasting is celebrating its 95th year! The event will be held tomorrow, June 20 at Red Rocks Country Club in Morrison. The evening features a silent auction, live jazz music from Gregory Goodloe. Partial proceeds from this event will benefit the Golden Chamber Scholarship Fund. Tickets to the wine tasting are $45 if you purchase today and $50 tomorrow. Sit back, relax and enjoy the views from the country club as you sip on a glass of wine. Red Rocks Country Club is a 15 to 20-minute drive away from Outlook Golden Ridge, and the evening lasts from 5:30 to 8:30 PM.

What is on your agenda for this weekend in Golden? Whether or not you're attending these events, we hope you're spending Father's Day with Dad! Happy Father's Day!

Additional sources consulted:
Golden Chamber of Commerce

Golden Music Festival

It is summertime in Golden, Colorado and the living is easy! One of the main reasons we love living in Golden is the tight-knit community atmosphere. This weekend, citizens of Golden and beyond will gather for one spectacular community event - the Golden Music Festival! Celebrate three days of summer, bluegrass and great company, all in our beautiful city.

The Golden Music Festival will be held tomorrow, June 12 through Sunday, June 14 at Clear Creek History Park's amphitheater. The headliners of this year's festival are The Adam Kinghorn Quartet (Saturday) and Thunder and Rain (Sunday). Other festival performers include Groundscore, Ragged Union, Long Road Home, Blue Canyon Boys, Chain Station, Dr. Harlan's Amazing Bluegrass Tonic and Monocle Band. Beer, food and other refreshments will be on hand for guests to purchase at the festival, including MillerCoors brews. On Saturday from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, a brewmaster will be on-site to answer any and all of your beer-related questions!  Be sure to bring some blankets or lawn chairs to the event so you can have a great spot along the hillside to enjoy the bluegrass and folk music. To learn more about the bands, ticket information and sponsors, visit the official event website.

Single day tickets purchased in advance cost $15 ($20 at the event), and three-day passes are $30. I you are a museum member, advanced tickets are $10. Children 12 and under may attend for free. Click here to purchase tickets online. Advanced ticket sales end later today.

The 2015 festival marks the 19th year of the event, which raises funds for the Golden History Museums' programming and education efforts.

From the apartment homes at Outlook Golden Ridge, the trip to Clear Creek History Park is about 9 minutes by car.

Come on out and enjoy some of the best of what Golden living has to offer! Have you attended any of the past Golden Music Fests? Will you be there this year? Share your thoughts with us on Outlook Golden Ridge's Facebook and Twitter pages! Happy summer!

Additional sources consulted:
Colorado
Visit Golden

2015 PrideFest

According to a Gallup poll published in The New York Times, the Denver metropolitan area has one of the highest LGBT populations in the country at 4.6%. As the city and its residents do each year, we are gearing up to celebrate our LGBT residents at 2015 Denver PrideFest! PrideFest is not only celebrating the LGBT life, but its 40th year!

2015 PrideFest will be held on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21 in Civic Center Park and the surrounding areas, when more than 365,000 people are expected to attend over the weekend! Highlights of PrideFest include the CoorsLight Parade, Walmart Family Area, The Big Gay 5K, Denver Dyke March, Equality Cake and the live entertainment. There will be entertainment at three stages throughout the weekend, featuring performances and music from Mya, DJ Chula, Victor Morales, Nora del Mar, Coles Whalen and Smirnoff Dance World. The CoorsLight Parade will march down Colfax Avenue from Cheesman Park on Sunday, and will be live-streamed on the web and on Comcast channel 56.

According to Denver.org, here are the top 4 ways to enjoy PrideFest:

1. Don't miss the Dogs in Drag Parade on Saturday.
2. Bring the whole family. Denver PrideFest has been independently rated as the most family friendly Pride in the nation.
3. Come early to Sunday's parade to get a good spot. This event is a favorite event every year with colorful floats from sponsors, nonprofits, local businesses, organizations, and politicians filling the streets.
4. Catch some of the other events happening around town in celebration of PrideFest, such as Women's Pride at Tracks Nightclub (June 19, 2015), presented by Babes Around Denver, or the Big Gay 5K (June 20, 2015, 10 a.m.), which is open to walkers, runners, kids, adults, gay and straight. 

If you plan on attending this year's PrideFest, it is not too far from your future apartment home at Outlook Golden Ridge. The drive to Civic Center Park, where the majority of the festivities will be taking place, is about 25 minutes. If you're interested in attending the parade at Cheesman Park, it will be closer to a half-hour drive.

Have you attended PrideFest in the past? Which events are your favorites? Share your thoughts on Outlook Golden Ridge's Facebook and Twitter pages!