Upcoming Events
With summer seemingly so far away, you might be wondering what to do to get out of the house. Here are a few things around town you can head to while banishing that winter boardom. Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival February 7-11 Loveland Fire & Ice Festival February 9-11 Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-Off February 10 Manitou Springs Denver Mardi Gras February 17 Boulder International Film Festival February 22-25 Denver Restaurant Week February 23 – March 4 Colorado Garden & Home Show February 24 – March 4
All Aboard the Winter Park Ski Train!
If you’re like most Denverites, you’re probably pretty tired of crawling along I-70 at a snail’s pace in dark and treacherous winter highway conditions – it’s almost enough at times to take the fun out of winter mountain sports altogether. Take heart, dear ski and snowboard traveler, there’s hope for your peace and serenity now that Amtrak’s popular Winter Park Express is up and running on a regular basis for the second year in a row. There’s no time like the present to take advantage of this opportunity to travel in proper style at high altitude. Every Saturday and Sunday morning now through March 25, the Winter Park Express train, with a capacity of more than 500 passengers, departs Union Station at 7 a.m. and arrives at a new, modern platform at the base of Winter Park Resort a mere two hours later. Return trains depart Winter Park for Denver at 4:30 p.m. The high mountain route traverses 30 tunnels, including the 6-mile Moffat Tunnel, the third-longest rail tunnel in the United States. Just imagine yourself[...]
Winterizing Your Home
The cold weather is upon us, and it’s time to get your home winterized to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your investments safe, secure and operating properly. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Use our handy checklist to help stay warm and dry! OUTSIDE 1. Disconnect hoses and turn off water, sprinkler systems and fountains to prevent the lines from freezing and bursting. 2. Cover patio furniture and appliances, such as grills, to prevent rust. 3. Consider a fresh coat of sealer for your deck, this will help it weather the freeze/thaw cycle of winter. 4. Drain the gas from your lawn mower. 5. Clean gutters and down spouts to prevent ice buildup. Install leaf guards to keep gutters clear. 6. Have your chimneys inspected, and cleaned if needed. 7. Cover your air conditioning condensing unit. 8. Have your roof inspected and replace any loose or missing shingles. 9. Buy a good snow shovel and/or blower and ice melt before the big weather hits. INSIDE 1. Inspect wood[...]
Winterizing Your Car
As temperatures drop, we might not think about how to stay safe during winter storms. Here are vehicle maintenance and driving tips for staying safe on the road whether you’re going 5 or 500 miles away. Car Winterization Checklist: • Check battery, tire inflation, tire tread, and windshield wipers. – This will ensure that you don’t get stuck in the cold or snow, or are unable to drive because you can’t see. • Install snow tires. – Snow tires are made specifically to help you get better traction in the snow, and will work better than all-season tires. • Check antifreeze. – This one is especially important, as antifreeze not only cools down your car down in the summer; it helps to prevent the engine from freezing in the winter and is a key part of providing heat inside the car’s cabin. • Change out summer windshield washer fluid for winter windshield washer fluid. – Winter windshield washer fluid won’t freeze in the winter cold. If you don’t want to buy more fluid, add 16 oz.[...]
Coffee Beers for Around the Fireplace This Winter
There is no better pairing than coffee and beer – coffee brings rich, complex flavors to beer that you can’t get from anything else. Try one of these local brews the next time you’re looking for a little buzz with your beer. Epic Brewing: Big Bad Baptist This beer has its base in Epic Brewing’s Imperial Stout, transformed through barrel aging. The stout is transferred to three different barrels during the aging process to infuse it with unique flavors you can’t get any other way. Coffee and coco nibs are added in the last stage, when each barrel gets its own “seasoning,” resulting in rich caramel and chocolate hints with a touch of whiskey from the barrels. Fate Brewing: Moirai Coffee IPA Fate Brewing brings together its popular Moirai IPA and coffee to create a new level of beer-tasting experience. A bright orange citrus flavor complements the coffee, creating a lighter, hoppier beer sure to leave you wanting your next sip. New Belgium: La Folie Grand Reserve Geisha A combination of New Belgium’s award-winning sour beer[...]
Coffee Rubbed Steak
Mix up the regular holiday fare at your next party or family gathering with this coffee rubbed steak! Coffee Rubbed Steak 2 tbsp. ancho chili powder 2 tbsp. finely ground coffee beans 5 tsp. brown sugar 1 tbsp. hot smoked Spanish paprika 1½ tsp. dried oregano 1½ tsp. black pepper 1½ tsp. ground coriander 1½ tsp. mustard powder 1 tsp. chile de árbol powder (or ¾ tsp. finely ground red pepper flakes) 1 tsp. ground ginger 1 tbsp. kosher salt, plus more 2 16-ounce boneless NY strip steaks (about 1 in. thick) 2 tbsp. vegetable oil • In a small bowl, mix ancho chili, coffee, brown sugar, paprika, oregano, pepper, coriander, mustard, chile de árbol, ginger, and 1 tbsp. salt. • Season steaks with salt, then coat with 5 tsp. coffee rub per steak. Place steaks on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. Chill uncovered 3–6 hours. • For quick and even cooking, let steaks come to room temperature for 1 hour. • Preheat oven to 400°. • Heat oil in a large[...]
Colorado Old Towns for the Whole Family
How about some old-fashioned holiday charm, cheer and fun for the whole family? With something for every age and interest, the metro area’s many quaint old-town downtowns make ideal whole or half-day holiday-season destinations, especially for visiting out-of-town family and friends. No matter where you where you live, there’s a walkable “Main Street” near you. From Golden to Longmont, Morrison to Fort Collins, and Parker to Boulder, you’ll find a warm welcome and amazing small town charm. Check out the free community events, locally owned coffee roasters and restaurants, walking tours, art galleries, vintage and antique stores, and quirky, one-of-a-kind shops that you’ll find nowhere else. We’ve picked a few of our favorites, but you don’t have to take our word for it. Get out there and see for yourself what makes these places special and unique. Strolling around Main Street and beyond, you’ll be sure to discover something new and unexpected. And, of course, remember to bring the camera to capture the good times shared! Old Town Golden It’s no surprise that Golden is[...]
Holiday Skating in the Metro
What better way to have fun this holiday season than ice skating outdoors, enjoying holiday cheer and fresh air with family, friends and the local community? We’re fortunate to have a variety of locations in the metro area to choose from, each with a slightly different flavor. Here’s a few of our favorites: DENVER DOWNTOWN Southwest Rink at Skyline Park, 16th Street Mall at Arapahoe Open: November 17 to February 14 (Valentine’s Day) Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cost: free to skate, rentals $6-$8 Information: 303-825-6787 EVERGREEN LAKE Evergreen Lake House, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road Open: December 21 to March 4 Cost: skating $5-$7, free for children 3 and under Season passes, punch cards, classes and hockey Skating Hot Line: 720-880-1391 Information: 720-880-1311 or bbednar@eprd.co BELMAR AT LAKEWOOD The Rink at Belmar, 464 S. Teller St. Open Daily: November 16 to January 7 Open Thursday-Sunday: January 11 to 28 Cost: $5.00-$9.50, includes rental Free for children 2 and under, seniors 65 and older Information: 303-742-1525 LONGMONT DOWNTOWN Longmont Ice Pavilion at[...]
Coffee on Deck: I Take Mine with Honey
One of the nice little perks of my work is good, and frequent, coffee. Whatever time it is when I go to a perspective client’s home to consult with them about our custom decks and outdoor additions, whether it’s morning, afternoon, or evening, I’m often welcomed with an offer of coffee. This is never a problem, as I really enjoy the brew. I have memories going all the way back to early childhood of going to my grandparents’ home for a weekend breakfast or brunch, and bring served “coffee milk” made with coffee, sugar, and milk, while the adults drank cup after cup of the real thing. Fast forward several decades and it seems like today the country runs on coffee, for better or for worse. I can remember when coffee was just coffee (and beer was just beer). Now the choices are endless, just like the controversies. There is way too much about history about coffee to go into in this brief piece. However, when it comes to coffee, the facts and history are amazing[...]
Picture This! Contest Winners
We would like to thank everyone who submitted pictures for the Picture This! contest. This year we saw increased participation, and love seeing you love your deck. This year we helped nearly a hundred people design and build their dream outdoor living space. It is with humble thanks that we thank you all for choosing DeckTec and allowing us to work on your beautiful homes. We hope we’ve enhanced your outdoor living, and that your outdoor room will create lasting memories with friends and family for years to come. The DeckTec Team First Place Winner: Jackie Friesth Second Place Winner: Rich Hakkarinen Third Place Winner: Matt Fullerton
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