12 10 9 gift guide ii

McGuckin Hardware Has Something for

EVERYONE ON SANTA’S LIST!

200,000 ITEMS • 18 DEPARTMENTS • 1 GREAT STORE

2525 ARAPAHOE • In The Village • Boulder • (303) 443-1822

2 December 10, 2009

Gift Guide II ’09 Boulder Weekly

SPECIALIZING IN FAIRLY TRADED

jewelry, furnishings, crafts, toys, body products & edibles

1625 Pearl St. Boulder, CO 303.440.7744 www.ourmomentum.com Monday – Saturday 10-7 Sundays 11-6

Boulder Weekly Gift Guide II ’09

December 10, 2009 3

staff

Digi-gifting for the 2009 holiday season

Publisher, Stewart Sallo Editor, Pamela White Managing Editor, Jefferson Dodge Special Editions Editor/ Marketing Assistant, Marissa Hermanson Associate Editors, Quibian Salazar-Moreno, Ryan Casey Editorial Assistant / Office Manager, Kaitlyn Curtin Art Director, Susan France Graphic Designer, Mark Goodman Production intern, Erin Robertie Circulation Manager, Cal Winn Inside Sales Manager, Aiko Knapp Associate Director of Sales & Marketing, Dave Grimsland Senior Advertising Executive, Allen Carmichael Account Executives, Rich Blitz, Francie Swidler Circulation Team, Dave Hastie, Dan Hill, George LaRoe, Jeffrey Lohrius, Elizabeth Ousley, Lowell Schaefer, Bob Okun Assistant to the Publisher & Heiress, Julia Sallo 9-Year-Old, Mia Rose Sallo

N

othin’ honors those ever-soworthy kith and kin on your shopping list each holiday season like gadgets — handheld, hi-def, mobile-on-the-go, ergonomic, rechargeable, solarpowered, or just plain noisy and cool. Green shoots are for suckers — the economy is still in the tank, and there’s no better way to keep us all distracted from that unfortunate reality than plug ’n’ play gizmo swag.

Here are a few ideas to keep stimulating the economy, your local retailer and the lithion battery denizens from Planet Electronica.

Motorola Droid Price: About $200 ­— the usual contract terms apply w/Verizon Take that, Steve Jobs. Hands down the hottest phone of the season is the new Motorola Droid, the unappealingly named phone/PDA device that, according to reviewers, more or less thrusts the iPhone into so-last-year oblivion. Powered by Google’s Android operating system, sporting 16GB memory and built-in navigation, a 5MP camera with built-in flash, embedded Facebook app, swapable batteries, onboard Google maps, full qwerty keyboard and a slew of other goodies too numerous to list here. The Droid is a responsive and lethally slick little toy, at a lot less than the troubled first-generation iPhones. Practically walks the dog for ya.

Also check out: BlackBerry Bold 9700 (T-Mobile, ~$200), HTC Hero ~$180

by Dave Kirby

battery life than its predecessors. We say it every year, but it’s still true — if you (or your gift recipients) love to take pictures, life’s too short not to own a Nikon at least once. This one’s a beauty.

Also check out: Panasonic Lumix DMCZS3 (12mp, ~$300), Sony Cyber-shot DSCW290 (12mp, about $200)

Toshiba mini NB205-N325BL Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Price: $60, give or take.

One of the most anticipated video games in recent memory, CoD:MW2 is a lauded sequel to the hugely successful warenvironment video game of last year.

Frighteningly realistic environments, special gameplay modes and enough flying lead to keep you looking over your shoulder, this is the premiere Xbox 360 title of the year.

Also check out: Assassin’s Creed II Xbox 360/PC ($50), Dragon Age: Origins Xbox 360/PC, ($50)

Nikon D5000 Price: About $650, depending on accessories. Drop in to visit Mike’s Camera.

We’ll confess to dropping some hints at Santa for one of these. Kind of a newermodel hybrid of the very successful D60 and D90 digital SLRs, the D5000 sports a 12MP sensor, a tilt/swivel LED screen, 24 frames/sec movie mode and a broader ISO range (better low-light shooting) and longer

Price: About $400 The netbook is quietly but assuredly chewing its way through the small-PC market, primarily for those ultra-mobile users who grow weary of lugging around mediaspectacular laptops everywhere, or moderate power-users who need a decent second computer. This Toshiba model has a 10.1” screen, a single-core 1.6GHz processor, 1GB Ram, 160GB storage and Windows 7 Starter. The guys at CNET like this model a lot (plan to use headphones, as the audio isn’t very good). Perfect for the student or as a second, travel-friendly companion.

Flip Video MiniHD (2nd Generation) Price: About $225 The followup to Flip Video’s original HD mini video recorder, the newer version features same HD picture quality (720p), enough memory for about two hours of HD video recording and enough battery for the same two hours between charges, a brushed see DIGI-GIFTING Page 4

4 December 10, 2009

Gift Guide II ’09 Boulder Weekly

DIGI-GIFTING from Page 3

metal case and completely damnfoolproof ease of use.

Great for a vacation gizmo (as long as you can periodically download the video), taking it to the game or just horsing around … impressive image quality and easy enough for anyone to use.

YouTube awaits.

Also check out: Pure Digital Flip HD (~$200), Creative Vado ($175)

A few “under the tree” ideas: Digital Photo Frames: We got one of these (a “name” brand) a couple of years ago, and it quit after about six months. Then we picked up an offbrand, and it’s still running great after two years. Go figure, right? The Sony DPF-V900 9” photo frame has 512MB

of people are saying this is the future of books. Plenty of competitors out there, also check out Barnes and Noble’s nook.

A few ideas for:

onboard memory and will run you about $200. Recommendation: Get a decent-sized screen for a large room, and the wood frames (even the faux wood) look nicer than the plastic ones.

Device chargers: Swimming through a pasta-bowl of wires to keep your phone and iPod charged? Might want to look into a Powermat, which charges handheld devices wirelessly. Just drop your gadget onto the mat … and zap. About $100 — be sure your device

is supported (most are) at www.powermat.com.

Kindle: Someone decided that turning pages was too much work, hence the sudden infusion of wireless reading devices … Amazon’s Kindle ($259) being the flagship model.

Download and read literally thousands of books from Amazon, at discount prices … adjustable font size, online book browsing, wireless access to Wikipedia. Call us skeptical, but a lot

The PC junkie: Flash drives (no one uses 1.4MB disks anymore), blank DVDs, external hard drives for media storage, upgrade PC speakers The music junkie: Apple iPod Touch (16GB), high-performance earbuds.

The game junkie: Rechargable Wii controllers, Guitar Hero World Tour guitar controller, Spore (Mac or PC) The photo junkie: Mini tripod, infrared light, large-capacity memory cards.

Have a stylin’ holiday season!

Ho ho ho.

Tap into Boulder County’s seasonal brews

by Marissa Hermanson

B

oulder County — where the beer flows like wine, and where the women instinctively flock like the swallows of Capistrano. No, wait, that’s Aspen. But the beer does, indeed, flow like wine here in the Foothills. Boulder County boasts 23 breweries, brewpubs and meaderies. With 103 breweries in the state, Colorado is second in the nation for most breweries (California leads the way with 221), according to the Brewers Association. Now, that’s a lot of beer!

This holiday season bring your own Boulder County brew (BYOBCB) to a holiday party. There are plenty to choose from. The local brew masters have their seasonal lagers, ales and Belgium brews on tap and in liquor

stores, ready for the drinking. So head down the street to your neighborhood brewery, grab a stool and order a winter warmer (make sure not to fall off your stool) — or pick up a six-pack from your corner liquor store and imbibe with holiday spirit. Bottoms up!

Twisted Pine Imperial Porter Style: Imperial Baltic-style porter Flavor: full-bodied chocolate malty flavor with sweetness Alcohol: 9 percent

Availability: 22-oz. bombers Note: Silver medal winner at the 2006 World Beer Cup and took the bronze at last year’s Colorado State Fair Reilly’s Oak Whiskey Red Style: Scottish ale Flavor: sweet, malty, bourbon Alcohol: 6 percent Availability: fourpacks Note: 2007 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal winner Pumpkin Brown Ale, Sour Brown, Belgium Style Porter and Truffle (Raspberry Espress) are currently on

tap. Twisted Pine has rotating seasonals on tap, which are available by the growler or pint. Looking for a gift? Gift certificates to the Ale House are also available, as well as gift baskets filled with beer, glassware and Twisted Pine apparel. Another great gift is a gift certificate for parties of one to three to spend the day brewing with their master brewers. Visit www.twistedpinebrewing. com for more information.

Avery Old Jubilation Ale Style: English strong ale Flavor: Hint of hazelnut, with mocha and toffee see BEER Page 6

6 December 10, 2009

Gift Guide II ’09 Boulder Weekly

BEER from Page 4

Alcohol: 8 percent Availability: six-packs Note: Uses five specialty malts — two-row barley, special roast, black, chocolate and victory.

Flavor: Smoky Alcohol: 6.5 percent Availability: $14/growler at Vine Street, Southern Sun and Mountain Sun

Czar Russian Imperial Stout Style: Russian imperial stout Flavor: Spicy and floral. Hints of English toffee, rich mocha, molasses, candied currants and hint of anise Alcohol: 11 percent Availability: 22-oz. bombers Note: Store additional bottles for three to four years; Czar becomes denser and more complex with age.

Winter Lager (official name TBD) Style: Lager Flavor: Flavors yet to be disclosed Alcohol: 8 percent Availability: $14/growler at Vine Street, Southern Sun and Mountain Sun Note: Known for their hoppy beers, the Mountain Sun rarely brews lagers, so this is a special occasion.

Their last lager was brewed three years ago.

Visit www.mountainsunpub.com for more information.

Mephistopheles’ Stout Style: Belgium imperial stout Flavor: Black licorice flavor, vine-ripened grapes, anise, chocolate-covered cherries, rum-soaked caramelized dark fruits and double espresso finish Alcohol: 15.1 percent Availability: 12-oz. bottle (limited quantities) Note: Ages even better than the Czar. Store for five to 10 years.

Old Jubilation Style: English strong ale Flavor: Nutty hazelnut, mocha and toffee flavors Alcohol: 8 percent Availability: six-packs Note: Most brewers add spices like cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg to their holiday brews, but Avery uses five different kinds of malts instead.

Visit www.averybrewing.com for more information.

Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery Hollers Haze Style: Smoked porter

Walnut Brewery Mountain Rescue Ale Style: Belgium double Flavor: Fruity with cloves Alcohol: 6.7 percent Availability: $11.95/ growler Note: Proceeds benefit Rocky Mountain Rescue Group Old Thumper Barley Wine Style: English barley wine Flavor: Sweet and malty Alcohol: 10 percent Availability: 10-oz. or pints (Sorry, no growlers) Note: Limited amount, so hurry on down before the keg is dry!

Visit www.walnutbrewery.com for more information.

New Belgium Brewing Co. Frambozen Style: Belgium-inspired brown ale Flavor: Spiced with raspberries

Alcohol: 6.7 percent Availability: six-packs 2˚ Below Style: Deep amber ale Flavor: Tawny-roasted malt, floral notes with a hint of pepper spice Alcohol: 6.6 percent Availability: six-packs Visit: www.newbelgium.com for more information.

Odell Brewing Co. Isolation Ale Style: English winter warmer, brown ale Flavor: Rich and sweet malt flavor with spice hop finish Alcohol: 6 percent Availability: six-packs Visit www.odells.com for more information.

Boulder Beer Company Obovoid Style: Oak-aged oatmeal stout Flavor: Black and chocolate malts give it a bittersweet chocolate finish, being oak-aged allows vanilla to come through Alcohol: 6.8 percent Availability: 22-oz. bombers, growlers Never Summer Ale Style: Winter warmer Flavor: Dark caramel malt Alcohol: 6 percent Availabily: Six-packs, 22-oz. bombers Visit www.boulderbeer.com for more information.

Boulder Draft House Barrel-aged Imperial Chocolate

Porter Style: Imperial porter Flavor: Whiskey, wood and chocolate notes Alcohol: 8.5 percent Availability: It’s a one-barrel batch, so grab a pint before the Draft House is out.

Note: Aged in a Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey barrel for six months During January, the Draft House will have a Belgium double pale ale on tap. It was fermented with golden raisins and dried apricots, giving it fruity characteristics and bitterness. It will be dryhopped like an American pale ale, but have the fruity taste of a Belgium beer. One pint of this 10-percent alcohol beer will warm you up this winter.

Visit www.boulderdrafthouse.com for more information.

Left Hand Brewing Co. Fades to Black Style: Stout Flavor: Licorice, espresso beans, molasses and black cardamom notes Alcohol: 8.5 percent Availability: six-packs and kegs

Upslope Brewing Co. Colorado Christmas Ale Style: English old ale Flavor: Orange, ginger, allspice and juniper berries Alcohol: 6.7 percent Availability: $7/22-oz. bombers, $4/10-oz. pour in Belgium glassware Note: One batch in taproom

8 December 10, 2009

Gift Guide II ’09 Boulder Weekly

Give the Gift of Comfort & Warmth!

Gift Cards Available ON THE DOWNTOWN MALL 1425 Pearl St. 303-449-5260 & IN THE VILLAGE next to McGuckin 303-449-7440

comfortableshoes.com

We’re proud to be a Boulder company and we look forward to showing you why our lightweight hammocks and Eco Tote reusable bags have been featured everywhere from Sport Diver magazine to Martha Stewart’s Body + Soul.

With prices starting under $10 and Gift Certificates also available, we’ve got something for everyone on your list.

Visit us online and join our mailing list to receive valuable coupons that will help you save this holiday season.

Boulder Weekly Gift Guide II ’09

December 10, 2009 9

DVDs make last-minute shopping easy

by Bruce Dancis

F

rom the latest hit films to a favorite TV series to classic movies appearing for the first time in Blu-ray, DVDs remain excellent gift choices this holiday season.

Rather than listing obvious choices such as the Pixar-animated Up or the second season of Mad Men, we’re concentrating here on more offbeat stuff — boxed sets, anniversary editions and special releases from the past year. (List prices are included, but discounts may be found at many stores and online outlets.)

Anniversary editions Two from 1939: Two of Hollywood’s all-time favorite films celebrated their 70th anniversaries this year with lavish Ultimate Collector’s Editions from Warner Home Video. The Wizard of Oz ($69.92 DVD/$84.99 Blu-ray, rated G), in which the teenaged Judy Garland discovers she’s “not in Kansas anymore,” looks great in remastered Technicolor and is accompanied by 16 hours of extra features detailing the film’s inception, production, marketing and legacy. Gone With the Wind ($69.92 DVD/$84.99 Blu-ray, rated G), the historically dubious but masterfully produced epic about the Old South, the Civil War and Reconstruction, comes with more than eight hours of bonus material. Both films are packaged in handsome boxes, featuring hardcover books, reproductions of the original mar-

Where to snag these, and other, DVDs Video Station 1661 28th St., Boulder (303) 440-4448 thevideostation.com In Boulder for more than

keting guides or publicity programs and additional memorabilia.

Disney’s Pinocchio, though it premiered in February 1940, also received the 70th anniversary treatment with its high-definition debut from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (two discs, $29.99 DVD/$35.99 Blu-ray, rated G), including never-before-seen deleted scenes and an alternate ending.

The 45th anniversary of Mary Poppins the Disney live-action/animated musical starring Julie Andrews, resulted in a special edition (Disney, $29.99, rated G) featuring information about the Broadway version of the musical, a musical reunion with Andrews, costar Dick Van Dyke and composer Richard Sherman, who with his brother Robert wrote the Oscar-winning score and song (“Chim Chim Cheree”) and more.

Also from 1964, Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb, a brilliant political satire about the scary subject of U.S. nuclear warfare strategy, made its Blu-ray debut in a 45th Anniversary Special Edition (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, $38.96, rated PG). The black comedy, featuring Peter Sellers in three memorable roles, is packaged with a fine documentary on the making of the film and more.

Not anniversary editions (but who cares) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,

25 years, the Video Station claims the largest selection of videos in the state — more than 50,000.

North Village Video 3990 Broadway St, Boulder 303-443-5990 While mostly dabbling in

Disney’s breakthrough animated feature film from 1937, made its Blu-ray debut (Disney, $29.99 DVD/$39.99 Blu-ray and DVD combo pack, rated G) with a bevy of bonus material.

One of the great holiday films, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life (from 1946), starring James Stewart, is available in both a new DVD gift set and a new Blu-ray edition (Paramount Home Entertainment, $29.99 DVD/$39.99 Blu-ray, not rated), each including both the original, fully restored black-andwhite version and a colorized version of the movie.

TV series The comedy producer who changed the face — and content — of network television, beginning in the 1970s, is honored with The Norman Lear Collection (Sony, $159.95, not rated). This 19-disc boxed set includes the first seasons of seven Learproduced shows — All in the Family, Sanford & Son, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman — plus six hours of interviews and reminiscences by Lear and his stars.

A shout-out to Rome, the outstanding HBO series that unfortunately lasted only two seasons but managed to include such memorable events as Julius Caesar’s assassination, the dalliance between Marc Antony and Cleopatra and the rise to supreme power of Octavian (Augustus), as well as a fictional tale of two ordinary soldiers in the Roman

rentals, North Village Video also sells previewed copies of movies.

Black & Read Music, Books & Games 7821 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada 303-467-3236

army. All 22 episodes are included in Rome: The Complete Series (HBO Home Entertainment, $99.98 DVD/$139.99 Blu-ray, rated TV-MA), along with some invaluable material on the history of the Roman Empire.

Great directors and actors For films of an entirely different sensibility — or nonsensibility — check out The Mel Brooks Collection (Fox, $99.98 DVD/$139.99 Blu-ray, available Dec. 15), an assortment of eight comedies including Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Fans of Brooksian humor will also enjoy “The 2000-Year-Old Man: The Complete History,” a 3-CD/1-DVD boxed set (Shout! Factory, $59.98, not rated) featuring the five comedy albums and assorted TV specials and interviews starring Brooks as the storytelling title character and Carl Reiner as his straight man/ interviewer.

Paul Newman, who passed away last year after a 50-year acting career that included 65 movies, is honored in The Paul Newman Tribute Collection (17 discs, Fox, $89.98, various ratings). Thirteen of Newman’s films are presented, including Special Collector’s Editions of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Hustler, The Verdict and The Towering Inferno. The boxed set also comes with a 136-page photo-filled book about Newman’s life and work.

— MCT

blackandread.net 9,600-square feet of new and used CDs, DVDs and books.

Showtime Video 1745 Main St., Longmont 303-772-0370 Large selection of videos,

both new and previewed.

Video Vault 950 Elgin Ave., Longmont 303-774-6519 Package deals for preowned movies; carries new releases as well.

10 December 10, 2009

Gift Guide II ’09 Boulder Weekly

What to read (and give) this season

B

ooks make for great holiday gifts. Here’s a quick roundup of what’s out this season. Snag your copy from the Boulder Book Store (1107 Pearl St.; www.boulderbookstore.com) or the Colorado “On the Hill” Bookstore (1111 Broadway; www.colorado.bncollege.com).

Evening’s Empire

By Zachary Lazar; Little, Brown and Company 228 pages, $24.99 Zachary Lazar’s remarkable Evening’s Empire — his novelized investigation into the killing of his father, Ed Lazar, in the stairwell of a Phoenix parking garage in 1975 — breeds anger, and it’s cosmic anger that runs true crime stories.

Hollywood Moon

sues nearby, feel your heart race or break out in laughter while you read it. But it’s a fast, easy read and a sweet story.

The Museum of Innocence

By Orhan Pamuk, translated from the Turkish by Maureen Freely; Alfred A. Knopf 544 pages, $26.95 At more than 500 pages, “Museum” can be slow going, although the action picks up considerably toward the end. Even when the plot is at a standstill, however, the grace of Pamuk’s prose makes it a delight to luxuriate in the company of his delusional, sad-sack main character.

The Ghosts of Belfast

By Joseph Wambaugh; Little, Brown 352 pages, $26.99 Veteran author Joseph Wambaugh weaves together several seemingly unrelated vignettes for a darkly comic, gritty look at street cops and identity thieves in Los Angeles in Hollywood Moon.

By Stuart Neville; Soho Crime 326 pages, $25 In his stunning debut, Stuart Neville delivers an inspired, gritty view of how violence’s aftermath lasts for years and the toll it takes on each person involved. The Ghosts of Belfast also insightfully delves into Irish politics, the uneasy truce in Northern Ireland, redemption, guilt and responsibility.

Under the Dome

The Untamed Bride

By Stephen King; Scribner 1,075 pages, $35 Stephen King’s new novel, Under the Dome, is nearly 1,100 pages of stuff so scary that you’ll realize early on that even if Mommy were Wonder Woman, she couldn’t help you out of this nightmare.

By Stephanie Laurens; Avon Books (2009) 356 pages, $7.99 Reading a Stephanie Laurens book is a lot like panning for gold. You have to sift through a lot of boring stuff to find the shiny material, but once you unearth it, it’s definitely worth keeping. Laurens gives readers a new series, and it’s a good one.

A Creed Country Christmas

By Linda Lael Miller; HQN Books 253 pages, $16.95 A rather tepid, but nice, romance. You won’t need tis-

War Dances

By Sherman Alexie; Grove 208 pages, $23

Boulder Weekly Gift Guide II ’09

December 10, 2009 15

Visions of sugar plums

Your guide to where to get your treats this holiday season

W

by Marissa Hermanson

hether you are looking for a gift or a dessert to serve yourself, Boulder County has notable bakeries for everything from holiday cookies to fruitcakes to yule logs to satisfy your sugar cravings.

Frontage Rd. Call 303-678-1014, or visit www.bavarianbakeryonline.com for more information.

Louisville

Can’t choose what kind of cookies to leave out for Santa? A Grand Boulder A Yule log from A Grand Finale Patisserie A gift box of assorted cookies from A Grand Finale Patisserie Finale Patisserie offers a large selecTee & Cakes offers a tion of cookies — variety of holiday desserts, holiday cookies. Buy one, a dozen or two dozen. holiday thumbprints, gingersnaps, Russian from decorated cupcakes and sugar cookies to pies They also bake festive holiday cakes. Spruce teacakes, chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies, and cakes. Tee & Cakes has an extensive selection of Confections is located at 767 Pearl St. and 4684 mini and full-sized pies — cherry, pumpkin, pecan, Broadway. Call 303-449-6773 for more information. oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies, raspberry linzer cookies, apricot rugalach cookies and coconut chocolate bourbon pecan, apple, sour cherry, key macaroons. Want to ship a delicious dessert to a lime and many more. Stop by and try the daily tea Longmont family member or friend across the country? No bread. The pumpkin chocolate chip and cranberry problem. A Grande Finale does it for you. The orange both sound delightful and are sure to please.

The Bavarian Bakery offers delicious breakfast bakery also has brandied fruitcakes, yule logs and The bakery also has croissants, muffins, cinnamon goodies, fruit breads and desserts. Filled with dried cream pies. This month’s dessert is chocolate peprolls, biscuits, bagels and scones. Just about everyfruits like lemon, orange and raisins, as well as permint cheesecake, the perfect holiday treat. thing is baked in house, and they always have fresh almonds, the fruit bread is a delicious holiday indulThe bakery also offers dessert gift boxes for brownies, lemon bars and cookies. Tee & Cakes is gence. The bakery is well-known for its Danish pasan assortment of holiday cookies or brownies. located at 1932 14th St., off Pearl Street Mall. Call tries, cheese and fruit-filled Danish, strudels and Or fill a gift basket with cookies, truffles, des720-406-7548 or visit www.teeandcakes.com for kringles. Almond croissants with marzipan paste, sert balls, fruit bread or fudge. A Grand Finale more information. cinnamon rolls, bear claws and rispies are also is located at 641 Main St. in Louisville (303Spruce Confections’ holiday pies — pumpkin, mouth-watering treats. Or how about rum balls, 926-4084) and at 489 North Hwy. 287 in apple, cherry, pecan and peach raspberry — are the rogulah or almond horns?

Lafayette (720-890-4906). Visit www.agrandfiperfect after-dinner treat, ranging from $11–$16.

The Bavarian Bakery also boasts fruit pies and nale.com for more information.

Spruce Confections also has frosted and decorated cakes for desserts. The bakery is located at 613

A

Grand Finale Patisserie is hosting the 2nd annual rally to bring back the real fruitcake on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 2 p.m. in Louisville. Join bakery workers as they march down Louisville’s Main Street handing out samples and information about real fruitcake.

“The typical old fruitcake — heavy as a brick — is the butt of many jokes around

BRING BACK THE FRUITCAKE Christmas time, but traditional fruitcakes, as made in many European countries, are far moister and richer than their American coun-

terparts,” says Nicole Hedlund of A Grand Finale. “A well-made, traditional fruitcake is meant to be eaten. It should contain equal amounts of dried fruit, nuts, cake and brandy and is a gift that will be appreciated and enjoyed by everyone who receives it. This is what A Grande Finale Fruitcake is — decadent and delicious, and we want everyone to experience it.”

16 December 10, 2009

Gift Guide II ’09 Boulder Weekly

Gifts for the gear nut

Headlamps are a hot outdoor gift idea for the holidays

by Jefferson Dodge

T

he technology used in headlamps for backpacking and camping has continued to grow by leaps and bounds over the past year, and local outdoor equipment shop managers put them at the top of their list for holiday gift-giving.

The newest headlamps on the market today burn longer and brighter than their predecessors — and some models don’t even need batteries.

Lenny Enloe, manager of the Boulder Army Store, sells a headlamp with a solar panel that charges its battery during the day.

He says six full hours of sun provide enough energy to power it all night long.

Other solar- and human-powered items have also been a hit this holiday season, Enloe says, citing the fact that he is sold out of hand-crank lanterns and flashlights, which provide an hour of light with only about a minute of cranking. He also says solar-powered panels are being made for everything from tents to backpacks — and they can charge anything from a cell phone to a laptop to a car battery.

Among battery-powered headlamps, Enloe says LED (light-emitting diode) technology is still advancing at an incredible rate. “LED headlights have come eons, even over last year,” he says, adding that the same models that only put out 25 lumens last year are now emitting 50. Only three LED lights are now enough to provide bright light for dozens and dozens of hours.

Unlike bulbs, the diodes are efficient, put off very little heat and can last about 160 hours on a low setting. Standard incandes-

cent bulbs in previous headlamp models only lasted about seven hours, Enloe says.

His advice on which one to buy?

Depends largely on the batteries. “Don’t buy a headlamp with batteries that cost a lot and that you can’t find.”

Enloe says his store and McGuckin Hardware have become the prime local places to go for last-minute holiday gifts for the outdoors, such as headlamps.

Tracy McDermott, a manager at Neptune Mountaineering, recommends the Petzl TIKKA PLUS 2 headlamp, which she sells for about $40. An upgrade over a previous model, it has a very simple design, she says. Another model that makes for a good holiday gift is the Mammut Lucido TX1, which runs about $80 and which McDermott says is good for people who want a super-bright lamp that is not too big and bulky.

REI Store Manager Ali Bennett

suggests buying that special jogger in your life a Black Diamond Sprinter, a headlamp that is specifically made for those who run at night. It is ergonomically balanced across the front and rear and can shine up to 50 meters. Bennett says it also has a red safety strobe in the back and a removable strap that can provide additional support.

She also recommends another type of light, the Gorillatorch LED flashlight.

It is made by Joby, which is widely known for its Gorillapod camera tripods with flexible legs. The Gorillatorch is a flashlight that has similar legs that let you attach it to a tree branch while cooking dinner in the woods, for instance. It costs about $30 and can burn for up to 80 hours on the economy setting.

Other popular gift ideas recommended by Boulder outdoor store managers include:

Therm-a-rest NeoAir sleeping pad — Available for $120 to $170, depending on the size, this pad is one of the lightest-weight pads on the market, at 13 or 14 ounces. Bennett says it is three times warmer than uninsulated (air-filled) pads and has a reflective barrier that returns heat back to the body.

Jetboil Flash Cooking System — For about $100 you can pick up the newest version of this award-winning system, which combines burner and cooking vessel in one compact unit. With the click of a button, it can boil two cups of water in two minutes, and it has a thermochromic indicator that tells you when the contents are hot.

STABILicers — Enloe calls them “snow tires for your feet.” They fit over your regular shoes and have metal spikes on the bottom that help you keep your traction on ice and packed snow. They cost $20 to $40.

Guyot Squishy Bowl and Cup Set — Nearly indestructible, this $15 set can be folded, squished and crammed into a pack and always bounces back to its original form. It is temperature-resistant to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

REI Flash 65 Backpack — This $149 item can serve as a full-service pack for multi-day trips, or you can remove its frame sheet, stays and top lid to scale it down to a two-pound daypack.

Leatherman or Swiss Army Knife — An oldie but a goodie. Enloe says he still sells a lot of these over the holidays.

“How many people have had theirs taken away at the airport this year?” he asks.

18 December 10, 2009

Gift Guide II ’09 Boulder Weekly

Not Only New York Style, REAL New York Food!

Real NY Meats, Breads, Bagels & Smoked Fish Also Knishes, Chopped Liver, Eggcreams, Macaroons, and Eclairs Buy a Gift Card & Get a FREE Sandwich! New BIGGER and BETTER location with lots of indoor and outdoor seating!

Open for Breakfast M-F @ 7am • Sat-Sun @ 9am

Full Dinners Coming Soon 1515 Main Street · Longmont, Colorado 303.684.8400

Boulder Weekly Gift Guide II ’09

Y

ou can get a friend or a loved one tickets to a game, or you can get them tickets

December 10, 2009 19

Your resource to the top sporting events

to the game.

But there’s an art to picking the right game to give. Here’s a head start:

Denver Broncos How much you’ll spend: $45–$410 Where to buy: www.to.denverbroncos.com Why the Broncos: Because this state is crazy about them. Because coach Josh McDaniels just might go off on a random fist-pumping spree that you don’t want to miss. Because it’s the NFL. vs. Kansas City Chiefs Jan. 3, 4:15 p.m.

The Broncos started the season 6-0, and, man, were they a lock for the playoffs. Oops. Following a four-game losing streak coming off their Week 7 bye, things weren’t so locked up anymore.

This game against the Chiefs in the final week of the regular season very well could determine Denver’s playoff fate.

Denver Nuggets How much you’ll spend: $10–$474 Tickets: www.nba.com/nuggets/ tickets/index.html Why the Nuggets: Because they have a talented roster (finally) led by homegrown guard Chauncey Billups.

Because it’s a fast-paced, fan-friendly atmosphere. Because it won’t cost you an arm and a leg — unless you want it to. vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Jan. 8, 8:30 p.m.

Set to be televised nationally on ESPN, you have two options: sit at home and watch the game, or go to the game, make a sign and let your friends watching at home see you. Oh, seeing LeBron James in person isn’t a bad deal, either. vs. Orlando Magic Jan. 13, 7 p.m.

Give the right game

by Ryan Casey

the chance to reminisce when the Devils roll into the Pepsi Center? Who could forget the teams’ seven-game battle for the Cup in 2001, with Ray Bourque finally getting a chance to hoist it?

If you’ve got a kid that’s a fan of Superman, the Magic’s Dwight Howard may just be the closest human equivalent. At 6-foot-11, 265 pounds, the forward does freakishly athletic stuff that should not be physically possible on this planet.

Just a few short years ago, no one ever would have dreamed that the Portland Trailblazers would make for a must-see game. Well, things have changed — thanks to a talented young roster led by Brandon Roy, Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge.

vs. New York Rangers Jan. 31, 6 p.m.

Former fan-favorite Chris Drury now leads a Rangers squad that also features the always-explosive Marian Gaborik. Henrik Lundqvist may just be the best goalie in the NHL.

vs. Utah Jazz Jan. 17, 7 p.m.

The Jazz may not have one superstar who stands out, but there’s a reason Utah has started off the 2009-10 season as well as they have. Besides, there’s always an excuse to see this Nuggets’ Northwest Division rival.

vs. Milwaukee Bucks March 20, 7 p.m.

There has been no rookie as explosive as the Bucks’ Brandon Jennings in the early-going of the 2009-10 NBA season. In his first 19 games, he poured in 20 or more points seven times — including a 55-point outburst against Golden State in mid-November.

vs. Phoenix Coyotes Feb. 12, 7 p.m.

Sure, they were this close to becoming the Hamilton Blackberries, but the fact is that the Coyotes have arguably the best young core of players around — and new coach Dave Tippett is doing wonders with the squad.

vs. Los Angeles Lakers April 8, 8:30 p.m.

In a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals, this is the final regular-season meeting between the two teams. Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Andrew Bynum — need we say more? Besides, when someone asks you on April 9, “Hey, did you catch the Lakers-Nuggets game last night?” you’d be much better off saying, “I was there.”

vs. Detroit Red Wings March 1, 7 p.m.

It’s lost some luster over the years, but a Wings-Avs game always has the potential to be bloody. Getting a chance to see Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg is a plus, too.

vs. New Orleans Hornets Jan. 23, 7 p.m.; March 18, 7:30 p.m.

Chris Paul may very well be the best point guard in the NBA right now.

In his fourth year, the 6-foot, 175pound sparkplug knows how to run an offense — something that could make an impression on young, developing hoopsters. vs. San Antonio Spurs Feb. 11, 8:30 p.m.; April 10, 7 p.m.

One day, Tim Duncan will be in the Hall of Fame. He’s got a pretty talented and exciting supporting cast, too, from rookie DeJuan Blair to eight-year veteran Richard Jefferson. vs. Boston Celtics Feb. 21, 1:30 p.m.

Champions two years ago, the Celtics could very well be the most prestigious team in the history of the NBA. It’s not like the 2009-10 version are slouches, either: Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce dot the roster. vs. Portland Trailblazers March 7, 8:30 p.m.; April 1, 8:30 p.m.

Colorado Avalanche How much you’ll spend: $25-$216 Where to buy: www.tickethorse. com/sports/hockey/colorado-avalanche Why the Avalanche: Because goalie Craig Anderson may have been the best off-season pickup in the NHL. Because 18-year-old Matt Duchene is the future of the franchise. Because when a hockey player gets cut, he gets stitches on the bench so he doesn’t miss a shift. vs. New Jersey Devils Jan. 16, 1 p.m.

Sure, it was almost nine years ago now, but what Avs fan would pass up

vs. Vancouver Canucks March 9, 7 p.m.

Bitter Northwest Division foes, the Canucks may well have replaced Detroit as Colorado’s main rival when Todd Bertuzzi sparked a brawl a few years ago by breaking Steve Moore’s neck. vs. Los Angeles Kings March 24, 7 p.m.

Former Av Ryan Smyth returns with the youthfully talented Kings, including the speedy Anze Kopitar. vs. Chicago Blackhawks April 9, 7 p.m.

Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are the best young tandem the NHL has to offer this side of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Don’t miss a chance to watch them in action.

20 December 10, 2009

Gift Guide II ’09 Boulder Weekly

U T T L ES H S

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VOT BEST ED BOU OF LD 2009 ER

Boulder Weekly Gift Guide II ’09

P

ut down the eggnog and open your liquor cabinet.

Dust off those alcohol bottles and invite some friends over for these classic and curious holiday cocktails created by mixologists from the Happy Noodle House’s Bitter Bar and Tahona Tequila Bistro.

Cheers!

December 10, 2009 21

Merry mixology

by Marissa Hermanson

Tom & Jerry (serves one) by mixologists James Lee and Mark Stoddard at the Bitter Bar Ingredients: 1 egg 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 oz aged rum 1 oz Cognac 1 oz hot milk 4 oz hot water Nutmeg 1 allspice berry 1/2 clove Directions: Separate the egg white and yolk in two bowls. Add rum and brandy to the yolk and beat together until frothy. Beat the egg white until it peaks, then add milk, sugar, ground allspice and clove. Fold in the rum, brandy and yolk into the other bowl. Stir again. Strain into a mug and top with hot water. Top it off with ground nutmeg.

About the Tom & Jerry: A classic winter cocktail that was originally devised by sports writer Pierce Egan in the 1820s to help publicize his book and play called Tom and Jerry, or Life in London. Bowls of this rich warm cocktail were the staple at countless 19th century saloons as soon as the first snow.

Holiday Pimm’s Cup (serves five to six) by mixologists James Lee and Mark Stoddard at the Bitter Bar Ingredients: 3 cucumber wheels (about 1/5 whole cucumber) 1 lime, quartered 1 lemon, quartered

The Happy Noodle House's Bitter Bar Holiday Pimm's Cup and Holiday Rum Punch.

1/2 orange, quartered 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 1/2 cup Pimm’s No. 1 Liqueur 1/2 cup Charbay Green Tea Vodka 1/3 cup Leopold Bros. Three Pins Alpine Liqueur Ginger ale Directions: In a shaker, muddle separately: cucumber, rosemary, lemon, lime and orange.

Fill pitcher 3/4 full of ice, pour muddled ingredients on top.

Add: 1/2 cup Pimm’s No. 1 Liqueur, 1/2 cup Charbay Green Tea Vodka, 1/3 cup Leopold Bros. Three Pins Liqueur. Stir and top with ginger ale About Holiday Pimm’s: Pimm’s No. 1 is a gin-based aperitif that was invented in the 1820s in England by oyster-bar owner James Pimm. Its secret formula is a refreshing combination of dry gin, fruit juices and spices. Bitter Bar bartenders are crafting the famous Green Tea Pimm’s with a holiday twist. The result is a refreshing, seasonally appropriate cocktail with all of the fresh flavors of the coveted Green Tea Pimm’s. In addition to the winter spice flavors in the Leopold Bros. Three Pins Alpine Liqueur, the addition of fresh rosemary releases its aromatic oils and imparts an evergreen

spruce flavor.

Holiday Rum Punch (serves eight to 10) by mixologist Ben Foote at the Bitter Bar Ingredients: 1/2 cup Dark Rum (Myers, Appleton Estate or Gosslings) 1/2 cup Batavia Arrack van Oosten (Colonial Indonesian rum, just for punches) 3/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice, strained 3 cinnamon sticks 2 cloves 3 allspice berries, cracked 2 star anise Peel of one orange 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup cranberry juice 6 dashes Angostura bitters 1/2 cup ginger beer 1 cup water For garnish: One large block of ice in punch bowl (as an aesthetic touch, freeze sliced fruit into ice block). For each serving glass, garnish with 1 orange slice and 1 cinnamon stick.

Directions:

Prepare one day prior to serving.

In a bowl or shaker, muddle orange peels (to extract oils) and angostura bitters. Add water, lemon juice and brown sugar, and stir until dissolved.

Pour into large, sealable mixing vessel. Add remaining ingredients, and stir for five minutes. Seal and store in refrigerator to infuse overnight. The next day, strain punch through a chinois to remove spices and peels.

Combine with a large block of ice in punch bowl, and serve with ladle into glasses. Garnish with orange wedge and cinnamon stick.

About rum punch: The spices used in this punch make it a great holiday treat. Punch recipes are said to stem from an ancient East Indian recipe of five ingredients. The term punch is derived from panch, the Hindi word for “five.” Arrack (Southeast Asian rum; the Bitter Bar uses Batavia Arrack), tea or spices, sugar, water and citrus are the five ingredients found in most punch recipes.

British sailors of the 1700s were very fond of the concoction. They spread the punch recipe to seaport taverns.

There, the original punch recipe was tinkered with, of course, and many came to consider themselves “master punch brewers.”

Spiked Pumpkin Chai

by Tahona Tequila Bistro bartenders Ingredients: 3 oz steamed milk or soymilk 1 oz 1921 Crema 1 oz Pumpkin Infused Tequila* 3 oz Chai Concentrate (Tahona uses Third Street) *Pumpkin Infusion: Can be made in large or small batches (one small pumpkin to one liter of tequila). Cut pumpkin into squares and steam until soft. Add spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, etc. to flavor.

Add three liters of your favorite blanco tequila and let sit for about six to eight days.

The longer, the better.

22 December 10, 2009

Gift Guide II ’09 Boulder Weekly

Winter

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Hand-knitted Sweaters Are Our Specialty

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Cornerstone Farm

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GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE for individual, half-hour private riding lesson, or a 5-pack of lessons now through January 1st Along with your printed, personalized gift certificate, you will receive a detailed lesson information packet.

Cost is $50 for 1/2 hour private, $240 for 5 pack.

For further information on how to order your gift certificates, contact: Contact: Jennifer Shannon jennikay@frii.com 303-828-9040

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Whether you're just getting started or returning to the saddle, we have a program to fit your needs.

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These horses know their job and can safely teach you how to ride.

Cornerstone Farm is located at Triple Creek Ranch, 4255 Nelson Road, Longmont.

¡Cultiva! youth harvesting vegetables

Join the club

Membership gifts offer chance to share

by Ryan Casey

E

verybody’s doing it. You can too — or give someone else the chance to.

Memberships are popular gifts during the holidays, if only because they offer a chance to give camaraderie, or an opportunity to experience off-the-beat monthly activity.

The most intriguing of memberships around Boulder County are wine clubs.

But wine, often times, is a mystery.

It’s not exactly one of those things you can pick on a whim — or a pretty color.

That’s where The Boulder Wine Merchant comes in. Literally experts in the field — featuring two Master Sommeliers — they offer five club memberships, which become increasingly popular during the holidays.

Each member receives a monthly choice of a red or white bottle during their 12-month membership, handpicked by the staff.

“They come in and we describe it to them and they can pick which one they want, so they don’t have to be pigeonholed,” says Juliana Madrone, an assistant manager at The Boulder Wine Merchant.

“We try to pick interesting things that are, in our opinion, very good, but maybe not what you would buy off the shelf because you don’t know anything about it. That

way, people get to try new stuff that is definitely worth trying.”

The tiered clubs start at $100 and go up to $290. Each 12-month membership is based on the purchase date.

Memberships can be gifted as either a certificate or the first month’s bottle.

For more information, visit www. boulderwine.com or call 303-443-6761.

The Boulder Wine Merchant is located at 2690 Broadway.

Other neat membership ideas: Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. With memberships ranging from $25-$1,000, you can choose the package that’s right for you. Benefits include unlimited exhibit admission, advance ticket purchase opportunities and discounts on select items. More information: 303-443-6761 or www.bmoca.org.

Boulder Digital Arts. At just $45 a year, you’ll get discounts on BDA’s training programs, which include classes and workshops. Discounts to various retailers, such as Mike’s Camera and People Productions, are also included, as are invitations to exclusive members-only events. More information: www.boulderdigitalarts.com.

The Colorado Mountain Club.

With more than 1,600 members, this organization plans outings for every style

24 December 10, 2009

Gift Guide II ’09 Boulder Weekly

Holiday Calendar 2009 Thursday, Dec. 10 Music Leahy Family Christmas — Traditional Christmas carols and Celtic medleys. 7:30 p.m. Macky Auditorium, 1595

Plesant St., Boulder, 303-492-8008.

Events Boulder Ice Rink. One Boulder Plaza, 1801 13th St., Boulder, 303 209-3722, open daily through Feb. 15, 2010.

CO Skies: Winter Skies. 7:30 p.m. Fiske Planetarium, CU campus, Boulder, 303-492-5002.

Gingerbread Wishes — I Have A Dream charity event.

St. Julien Hotel, 900 Walnut St., Boulder, 720-406-9696, daily through Dec. 18.

Holiday Story Time. 7 p.m. Barnes & Noble, 2999 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-444-0349.

It’s a Wonderful Life: A 1940’s Radio Play. 7:30 p.m.

Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Ave., Golden, 303-935-3044, through Dec. 20.

The SantaLand Diaries. 7:30 p.m. The Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-245-8272, through Dec. 20.

WinterSkate — Outdoor ice skating. Historic Downtown Lousiville, Steinbaugh Pavillion, 824 Front St., Louisville and Flatiron Crossing, The Village, Broomfield, www.bceproductions.com, open daily through Feb. 15, 2010.

Planetarium, CU campus, Boulder, 303-492-5002.

A Tuna Christmas — With Coal Creek Community Theater. 7:30 p.m. Mary Miller Theater, 300 E. Simpson St., Lafayette, 303-665-0955, through Dec. 20.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. 7 p.m. Longmont Theatre Company, 513 Main St., Longmont, 303-772-5200, through Dec. 20.

Not a Creature Was Stirring ... Not Even a Moose. 8 p.m. The Festival Playhouse, 5665 Old Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada, 303-422-4090, through Dec. 13.

Nuncrackers — The Nunsense Christmas Musical. Dinner 6 p.m./7:45 p.m. show, Jesters Dinner Theatre, 224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980, through Dec. 13 and Jan 2-10, 2010.

The Nutcracker — With Ballet Nouveau Colorado. 7:30 p.m. Performing Arts Complex at Pinnacle Charter School, 1001 W. 84th Ave., Denver, 303-466-5685, through Dec. 20.

Friday, Dec. 11 Music Christmas Carols — With Christy Wessler. 8 p.m.

Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s SantaLand Swallow Hill, 71 E. Yale Ave., Denver, 303-777-1003.

Diaries Holiday Concert. 7 p.m. Longmont Senior Center, 910 Longs Peak, Longmont, 303-678-7869.

Home for the Holidays — With the Ars Nova Singers.

7:30 p.m. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1419 Pine St., Swing into the Holidaze! — Aerial dance with Boulder, www.arsnovasingers.org.

Frequent Flyers Productions. 7:30 p.m. The Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-245-8272, PeaceJam Christmas Party. 7 p.m. D Note, 7519 through Dec. 20.

Grandview Ave., Arvada, 303-463-6683.

Rock ’n’ Roll Christmas — With Academy of Rock. 7 Saturday, Dec. 12 p.m. Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Park Rd., Broomfield, 303-464-5835.

Music Songs of the Mother & Child — With The Cantabile A Voice, a Chime, a Chant Sublime — With The Singers. 7:30 p.m St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 3700 Longmont Chorale. 7:30 p.m. First Congregational Baseline Rd., Boulder, 303-499-8502.

Church, 1500 9th Ave., Longmont, 303-651-7664.

Trace Bundy’s Acoustic Holiday — With Damien Boulder Chorale — In the Moon of Wintertime: Songs of Jurado. 7:30 p.m./6:30 p.m, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., the Season. 7:30 p.m. Boulder First United Methodist Boulder, 303-786-7030.

Church, 1421 Spruce St., Boulder, 303-554-7692, through Dec. 13.

Events Holiday Harp Concert. 10:30 a.m. Boulder Public A Carol Chirstmas II — With California Actors Theatre.

Library, Canyon Theater, 1000 Canyon Blvd., Boulder, 7:30 p.m. Twin Peaks Mall, 1250 S. Hover Rd., Longmont, 303-441-3196.

303-774-1842, through Dec. 20.

Lyons Holiday Benefit Concert and Food Drive — A Christmas Cactus. 7:30 p.m. The 72rd Avenue Theatre, With The Lyons Christmas Council and Spring Creek. 8 7287 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, 720-276-6936, through p.m./7 p.m. doors, Rogers Hall, 4th and High Street, Lyons, Jan. 3, 2010.

303-823-6433.

A Christmas Carol. 7 p.m. University Theatre Mainstage, Mojo's Music Academy Holiday Party. 6-9 p.m. Deli CU campus, Boulder, 303-492-0554, through Dec. 27.

Zone, 1240 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont, www.mojosmusiA Colorado Christmas II. 7:30 p.m. Aspen Lodge Ranch cacademy.com.

Resort, 6120 Hwy. 7, Estes Park, 970-586-9203.

The Christmas Rescue. 1:30 & 3 p.m. The Heritage Astronomical Star of Bethlehem. 7:30 p.m. Fiske Square Music Hall Children’s Theatre, 18301 Colfax Ave.

D-103, Golden, 303-279-7800, through Dec. 30.

Events Gingerbread Teas. 12/12:15 p.m. & 2:30/2:45 p.m. Jill’s at the St. Julien Hotel, 900 Walnut St., Boulder, 720-406-9696, every Saturday and Sunday in December.

A Hillbilly Christmas Carol. 1:30 p.m. 73rd Avenue Theatre Company, 7287 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, 720276-6936, through Jan. 4, 2010.

Caroling Through the Woods — With Theatre-Hikes Colorado. 3 p.m. Chautauqua Park, 900 Baseline Rd., Boulder, 303-413-7270, through Dec. 20.

Holiday Craft Fair. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jamestown Elementary School, 111 Mesa St., Jamestown, 303-4445053.

Once Upon a Holiday — With Peanut Butter Players.

11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Harlequin Center for the Performing Arts, 990 Public Rd., Lafayette, 303-786-8727, through Dec. 19.

2nd Annual Rally to Bring back REAL Fruitcake. 2 p.m. A Grande Finale Patisserie, 641 Main St., Lousiville, 303-926-4084.

St. Nicks on the Bricks — Kids can visit with Santa. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1300 block of Pearl St., Boulder, 303-449-3774.

Sunday, Dec. 13 Music The Christmas Revels: Celtic Roads. 2 & 7 p.m.

Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder, 303-7867030.

John Adams — A John Denver christmas tribute.

7:30 p.m. Nissi’s, 2675 North Park Dr., Lafayette, 303666-2757.

Events Children’s Health & Harmony Expo. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. St. Julien Hotel, 900 Walnut St., Boulder, 828-6282036.

Christmas Cantata — Special worship service. 8:30 a.m. Broomfield United Methodist Church, 545 W. 10th Ave., Broomfield, 303-466-2068.

Storyteller Series: Solstice Stories. 2-3:15 p.m.

Boulder Public Library, Canyon Theater, 1000 Canyon

Blvd., Boulder, 303-441-3196.

Tuesday, Dec. 15 Music COMBO X-Mas Show — Feat. Grisle Gals. 7 p.m. D Note, 7519 Grandview Ave., Arvada, 303-463-6683.

Kailin Yong — Fiddler for Peace.12-1 p.m. Boulder Public Library, Canyon Theater, 1000 Canyon Blvd., Boulder,

303-441-4492.

Wednesday, Dec. 16 Music Holiday Benefit Concert — With the Denver Municipal Band. 7 p.m. Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Park Rd., Broomfield, 303-464-5835.

The Velvet Elvis — A holiday tribute to Elvis. 7:30 p.m.

Nissi’s, 2675 North Park Dr., Lafayette, 303-666-2757.