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HeidiTown on the Radio – Ullr, Estes & Stock Show, oh my

January 8, 2013 — Leave a comment

Ice rink at the Estes Park Winter Festival in 2012. This year's event is Jan. 18-21, 2013.

After a week off, it’s time for another installment of the Mayor on KRFC 88.9 FM, community public radio in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Starting in February, these shows will occur on the 1st and 3rd week of each month. Life is just getting too crazy to do a show each and every week.

Remember, if you’d like to catch the show on the radio, I’m on at 5:55 p.m. on Wednesdays, immediately before Bikes & Beer and on Fridays at 5 p.m.

On this week’s segment I talk about what I’m up to this week – it’s ULLR FESTIVAL – and preview one of my favorite winter festivals in Colorado.

LISTEN HERE.

Top 10 Memories from the Mayor of HeidiTown, Colorado for 2012

December 31, 2012 — Leave a comment

It has been an AMAZING year here in HeidiTown…

and 2013 is going to be even better.

I have so many great memories from this past year, like emceeing a freezing/cold/snowy Berthoud Oktoberfest, attending the Great American Beer Festival for the first time and speaking multiple times at Metropolitan State University. There were some real standout moments however, so without further ado, here are my Top 10 Memories from the Mayor of HeidiTown, Colorado for 2012 (in pictures):

March – MyHandleBar HeidiTown ride in Fort Collins, Colorado

May – The HeidiTown banners are revealed

June – Champagne in the gondola & dining at the top of Keystone Resort during TBEX

Champagne on the gondola in Keystone for TBEX June 2012 HeidiTown.com

June – Being a judge at the kick-off of Loveland Loves BBQ , Bands & Brews

Haivng a laugh with Lauren Hoff at kick off for Loveland Loves BBQ Brews & Bands June 2012 HeidiTown.com

July – Gorging ourselves on food cart delights & wine at Unwined Denver

Cupcakes from Denver Cupcake Truck at Unwined Denver 2012

July – Enjoying a really big pretzel and German dancing with my main squeeze at the Biergarten Festival

Biergarten festival big pretzel July 2012 HeidiTown.com

August – My first hot air balloon ride at Sweetheart Balloon Rally in Loveland

Sweetheart Balloon Rally August 2012 HeidiTown.com

August – Ziplining at Copper Mountain & riding the chairlift with beers

zip lining at Copper Mountain HeidiTown August 2012

October – Staying at One Steamboat Place for the Governor’s Tourism Conference in Steamboat Springs (via Moving Mountains Chalet)

One Steamboat Place Diamond Peak

December – Laughing our butts off at the Cripple Creek Jail Museum & winning on Elvis at The Rush Casino

The Rush Casino Cripple Creek December 2012 HeidiTown.com

Thank you to everyone who has helped make this year so special & now? Bring on 2013!

P.S. A special thank you to my husband, Ryan, the person I most enjoy taking adventures with – now and always!

In Festivals, Travel 2012, beer, city, Colorado, culture, entertainment, event, festival, food, Front Range, German, Germany, Museums, rocky mountains, ski, things to do, Top 10, tour, tourism, town, Travel, vacation, wine

Featured Festival: Denver Christkindl Market

December 7, 2012 — Leave a comment

A grand welcome to the market by Ms. Laura Kantwerk.

It seems rather appropriate for the Mayor of a place called HeidiTown to have a connection to the German Chamber of Commerce – Colorado Chapter. Full disclosure: This organization has been advertising their events with HeidiTown for a while now and it’s a match made in heaven.

This organization puts together well-organized and top-notch events that I am more than happy to slap my endorsement on. Their Biergarten Festival is a summer party my husband and I look forward to every year.

The GACC-CO’s winter event is the Denver Christkindl Market. In operation for 12 years, this year there’s a new look, but the market hasn’t lost its intimate, European feel.

Christkindl markets have deep roots in Germany where the oldest recorded Christmas market dates back to 1310 in Munich. Held in front of churches, the markets were often part of a person’s church visit. Today, these markets are still held in town squares across Germany.

Tour the Denver Christkindl Market to find unique, handmade gifts for nearly everyone on your list. I found lots of knit hats and beautiful artisan jewelry that I’d love to find under the tree this Christmas.

Pastries at the Denver Christkindl Market.

The best part of the market, in my illustrious opinion, is the food and the beer/entertainment tent. I’d recommend coming hungry, having some delicious European-style food and a beer or two and then going shopping.

While we were visiting the beer tent last weekend, the Chalet Dancers from Castle Rock were peforming and their authentic German dances impressed the crowd, me included. Under the tent you’ll find a full lineup of entertainment on the weekday evenings and weekends.

Sipping a beer or gluehwein (spiced wine), you’ll be transported to a different time and place, and this is what I love the most about the Denver Christkindl Market and the Biergarten Festival – it’s a chance to experience a little German culture right here in Colorado. Our state is rich with German heritage, but we don’t always get a chance to see it, taste it and feel it in action. I applaud the German Chamber of Commerce – Colorado Chapter for keeping this culture alive and well.

Keep in mind that the market is a wonderful event for children – from entertainment to delicious pastries, make the Denver Christkindl Market a part of their childhood memories this Christmas.

Chalet Dancers from Castle Rock, Colorado.

Denver Christkindl Market

Skyline Park (16^th & Arapaho)

November 23 to December 22, 2012

Sunday – Wednesday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday – Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Join the Denver Christkindl Market on Facebook

www.denverchristkindlmarket.com

In December, Festivals beer, beer tent, children, christmas, Colorado, culture, dancing, Denver, entertainment, event, family, family friendly, festival, German, Germany, heritage, historical, history, holiday, holidays, lodo, Mile Hi, Music, shop, shopping, singing, spirit, tourism, Travel

Channel your inner Bob Ross at a paint while you drink studio

October 24, 2012 — 2 Comments

HeidiTown is about festivals, events and destinations in Colorado, and this post falls under the “events” category. Last month, we were invited to a friend’s birthday party at one of these new drink while you paint studios that are popping up all over the country. Google “paint & drink studios” and you’ll get about 1 million results.

My husband's painting in progress. Photos by H.M. Kerr-Schlaefer.

When we got invited to this party, I was not exactly excited. I am a creative person, but I am not an artist. I draw stick people and bubble flowers. The fact that I could drink wine while painting, however, made the idea more bearable.

The concept behind this type of event is to expose people to painting in a relaxed and nonthreatening environment. For the price of admission (usually between $30 and $50) attendees get a blank canvas and the use of the studio’s paint and paint brushes. A teacher stands at the front of the room and walks the group through a painting, step by step. Drinks are available for purchase – wine, beer and even cocktails at some establishments.

Our session was on a busy weekend evening and every chair in the place was full. Our birthday party of six, each a husband/wife team, had three professional artists in the mix, including a successful graphic designer, an art teacher and my husband, a furniture designer.

My blank canvas & wine at the ready.

As someone who draws at a six-year-old level, this made the evening even more daunting, but I ordered a glass of wine, squirted paint on my paper plate palate and got ready to make some art, or something akin to art.

The painting we were to produce on this evening was called Twinkle Tree, and looked like something from a Dr. Seuss book. Once things got underway, and I started working on my second glass of wine, things began looking up, not because I was good at this – I am not – but because it was a blast.

An hour or two later, everyone in the room had completed a painting that looked more or less like Twinkle Tree. Of course, some of the artists in our group had given the tree their own amazing twist – show offs.

close up of ryans painting at studio vino

My husband's finished piece was one of the best of the night, although I may be bias.

I don’t think this is something I’d ever choose to do by myself, but with a group, it’s an entertaining way to spend an evening. The painting that I created won’t ever find its way on to the Antique Roadshow, and in fact, probably won’t even make it on my own wall, but despite my apprehension, it turns out that painting and drinking wine is a lot of fun. I highly recommend this event for your next girls’ night, birthday party or date night.

painting night with friends at studio vino

The works of art produced by our group at Studio Vino.

NOTE: We painted at Studio Vino in Loveland, Colorado. Find them online at StudioVino.biz, or join them on Facebook here.

In Uncategorized amateur painting, art, artistic, beer, beverages, cocktail, cocktails, Colorado, date night, drinking, entertainment, evening, event, lounge, paint, paint & sip, painting, palette, studio, wine

HeidiTown on the radio – Oktoberfest & Colorado Fall Travel

October 2, 2012 — Leave a comment

Oktoberfest Gingerbread It’s time for another segment of HeidiTown on the radio. If your curious about when these air, you can hear me at noonish on Wednesdays and during your drive home on Fridays around 5:30 p.m. on KRFC 88.9 FM.

Some of the info in this week’s segment will seem like old news to my avid readers, because I’ve already written about Berthoud Oktoberfest on previous occasions, but it will be new information for my radio audience.

This radio show also has some advice on traveling in Colorado during the fall. Both my birthday and my husband’s birthday are in the fall, and we tend to do weekend getaways to celebrate, so we’ve learned a lot about traveling the state during this time of year.

Listen to this week’s segment HERE.

Friday’s Featured Festival: Greeley Oktoberfest

September 21, 2012 — Leave a comment

Volkstanzgruppe Dancers at Oktoberfest in Greeley, Colorado

The Volkstanzgruppe Dancers entertained the crowd and gave free lessons. Photo by H.M. Kerr-Schlaefer.

This is not the first time I’ve mentioned the Greeley Oktoberfest on HeidiTown, and long before they became an advertiser here, I thought this was one of the best Oktoberfest in Colorado. One of the reasons this fest is so successful is that the entire Greeley community is invested and comes out to the party.

This year’s fest runs Friday, September 28 through Saturday, the 29^th.

Greeley Oktoberfest is a signature event in Northern Colorado, and there are lots of reasons why. Admission is free and families can come and stay all day without anyone getting bored.

There’s a full lineup of entertainment for all ages, including the always popular beer pong with giant balls and buckets. It’s a hoot and Ryan and I totally got addicted to it when we played.

This is a huge festival and it takes up nearly all of Lincoln Park in the heart of historic, downtown Greeley.

The event kicks off Friday evening, September 28, at 5:30 p.m. with the Tom Allan Grengs Polka Band. From 7:30 to 10 p.m. BeatGrass, a bluegrass band with a twist, takes the stage.

On Saturday, September 29, the festival gets underway at 11 a.m. with the Children’s Chorale, followed by the Mayor’s Proclamation at 11:45 a.m.

The rest of the day’s entertainment includes UNC Jazz, Vokstanzgruppe, Kyle Redman and Ronnie Ekhart and the Dutch Hop Makers.

Greeley Oktoberfest commemorative tasting glass 2012

The 2012 commemorative tasting glass.Photo from Greeley Oktoberfest on Facebook.

New this year, a VIP Beer Tasting Tent open on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Visitors to the tent receive a commemorative tasting glass, get to sample reserve beers and meet and greet professional brewers. Tickets are $30, and can be purchased on the day of the event.

Lincoln Park provides the ideal setting for the event, and the best part of Greeley Oktoberfest is the ambiance. I write a lot about what makes a good festival and this Oktoberfest ticks all the boxes.

Head out to Greeley next weekend for a beer, a brat and a little polka – you won’t be disappointed.

To keep tabs on everything happening in downtown Greeley, go to www.GreeleyDowntown.com and be sure to join the Greeley Oktoberfest on Facebook.

In Festivals, September beer, Colorado, destinations, entertainment, Events, family friendly, festivals, Front Range, German, German culture, German dance, German heritage, German music, northern Colorado, polka, Travel, Weld County

Loveland, Colorado ~ everything you love

July 24, 2012 — 1 Comment

Ten years ago, if you asked a Coloradoan where Loveland was they’d point to the mountains. This is because, for many years, Loveland Ski Area was better known than the city with the same name, but that has changed.

The City of Loveland is working hard to make sure everyone knows that they are open for business, and last week I had the opportunity to attend the unveiling of Loveland’s new tourism branding and billboard on I25.

So why should you visit Loveland, Colorado?

Art Lovers

Loveland is located just 40 miles north of Denver, and has an renowned reputation as a sculpture community. On the second weekend of August in Loveland, there’s a huge, international celebration of the city’s most well-known commodity – sculpture. I’ve written a post about the festival here.

Benson Sculpture Garden, located near Lake Loveland, is a park where you can see many sculptures year round. Go here to see a photo gallery of pictures I took on a trip to the garden this past spring. The streets of downtown Loveland are also lined with sculptures.

Beer & Spirit Lovers

Northern Colorado is often referred to as the Napa Valley of Beer, but most people automatically think of Fort Collins when they plan a visit to the area’s breweries. Loveland, however, has its fair share of outstanding microbreweries, including Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, Big Beaver Brewing Company, Loveland Aleworks, and Verboten Brewing, set to open in about four months.

For more information read my post, A Beer Lovers Guide to Hidden Gems in Northern Colorado.

Loveland is also home to an award winning distillery, Dancing Pines, and one of Colorado’s only absinthe makers, Trinity Absinthe, made by Overland Distillery.

Festival Lovers

In addition to sculpture show weekend, Loveland has an impressive lineup of festivals throughout the year. Loveland Loves BBQ, Bands & Brews, previously blogged about here, has become a well-attended regional event.

On the first weekend in August, hot air balloons take to the sky during the Sweetheart Balloon Rally & Airstream Show at The Ranch, and at the end of August, Loveland throws the corniest event in Northern Colorado. While Loveland may not officially be a “small town” anymore, the Old Fashion Corn Roast Festival captures that small town, Americana-feel with a parade, corn shucking contest, family-friendly fun and more.

The Larimer County Fair is held in Loveland and features the Gnarly Barley Festival, a beer event being held this year on Saturday, August 4. In September, Loveland throws another festival embracing their beer and distillery culture with Spirits at Sunset.

During the winter months, Loveland hosts a wildly popular snow sculpture event that will be sanctioned for the first time this year. Stay tuned to HeidiTown for details on the 2012 event, and read a previous post about the 2011 event here.

So there you have it, just a few of many, many reasons to visit Loveland, Colorado. As the city’s new tagline states, “it’s everything you love.”

In Travel art, artistic, beer, Colorado, creative, culture, destination, entertainment, Events, family, fest, festivals, food, Front Range, fun, I25, liquor, microbrewery, NoCo, tasting, things to do, tour, tourism, Travel, vacation, visit

Win passes to Colorado Brewers’ Festival in Fort Collins, Colorado

June 7, 2012 — 47 Comments

Northern Colorado is known as the Napa Valley of Beer for a very good reason – people here LOVE beer, and everyone fancies themselves a beer snob, and whether they enjoy stouts, IPAs, wheats or reds, it’s gotta be Colorado-brewed.

Today, you’d be hard pressed to throw a rock and not hit a brewery in Northern Colorado. More than a dozen new breweries popped up in just the last year, with several more in the works.

Northern Coloradoans live in Beer Heaven, so it makes sense that they should have one of the longest running beer festivals in the state in their backyard every summer. The 23rd Annual Colorado Brewers’ Festival, referred to by locals as Brewfest, is June 23 and 24, at Civic Center Park in Fort Collins, Colorado.

This year, patrons will have the opportunity to taste 70 beers from 40 Colorado breweries. There’s also a full lineup of music scheduled including a special Brewfest reunion show from 12 Cents for Marvin. There will also be a Beer Experience Tent – I believe this is new – with beer talks and demonstrations.

This year I’m giving away two pairs of passes to this fun, fun, fun event. That means that two of you will be winners – of course, all of you are winners in my heart. The pass gets you into the fest and includes 10 free tasting tokens. This year, tokens are good for the purchase of beer, soda and food.

Just leave me a comment letting me know your favorite taproom in Colorado. This is a difficult questions because there is a wide variety of taprooms across the state. I enjoyed the taproom at the Dolores River Brewery in Dolores, Colorado, and I love the ambiance of Equinox Brewing in Fort Collins.

Leave me a comment and you’ll be entered to win. I will choose a two winners by using Random.org next Wednesday, June 13 at 3 p.m.

Tickets to Colorado Brewers’ Festival are $20 online and $25 at the gate. For the full band line up and more details about the fest go to DowntownFortCollins.com.

Note: You must be 21 or older to enter this contest. IDs will be checked at the festival gate.

~ CONTEST CLOSED ~

In Contest bands, batch, beer, brewing, Colorado, craft brew, craft brewing, culture, destinations, drinking, entertainment, Events, festivals, Front Range, Ft. Collins, handcrafted, hops, keg, live, micro brewery, micro-brew, Music, northern Colorado, tap, taproom, taste, tasting, Travel

Learn about & win tickets to the 1940s WWII Era Ball in Boulder, Colorado

May 31, 2012 — 21 Comments

Courtesy of the 1940s WWII Era Ball. Click the picture to join the ball on Facebook.

Put on your reddest lips and slip on your most comfortable dancing shoes, it’s time for one of Colorado’s most unique events, the 1940s WWII Era Ball.

I have been to the ball and it was a terrific experience. The Big Band Christmas Ball, produced by the same folks, has also become a tradition in my family. The popularity of these two events has resulted in a third ball being added in September, the Voodoo Island 1940s & 1950s Tiki Exotica Ball.

Being involved in these parties has even inspired Ryan and I to take swing lessons, so that we can cut a proper rug on the dance floor at these events. We’re usually the ones salsa dancing to big band music, which can be done, but just doesn’t look as good.

The 1940s WWII Era Ball is held annually at the Boulder Airport, an ideal location for an event that includes vintage airplanes, a 40s car show, military vehicles and re-enactors. The ball is taking place Father’s Day weekend and features a 1940s USO style show with Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and the Andrews Sisters. The world famous Las Vegas Bob Hope impersonator, Bill Johnson, has been booked for the ball this year.

My favorite part of the ball is dancing the night away to the tunes of The Hot Tomatoes, the Rocky Mountain’s most sought after big band. It’s impossible not to get up and boogie when this band is on the stage.

The airport grounds are transformed into a festive atmosphere with food vendors and cocktail stands. I recommend getting to the ball early enough to tour the vintage cars and airplanes while it’s still light out so that you can take some photos.

The event is a salute to “The Greatest Generation,” and many of these men and women come to the ball. In fact, there is a vast array of ages and faces at this event, and everyone is friendly so be ready to make a few new friends.

The Mayor showing a little leg at the 1940s WWII Ball

This year’s theme is Casablanca and the hanger at the airport will be transformed into Rick’s Café American, complete with belly dancers, Rick, Sam and a working roulette table.

This is truly a night to remember, and last year the ball sold out. This year, the 1940s WWII Era Ball will be held Saturday, June 16 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance through the website and $35 at the door. Children under 12 are not permitted.

Now here’s your chance to win a pair of tickets to this fantastic event. Just leave a comment here telling me your favorite classic film. I know many of you love “Casablanca,” but my favorite is Hitchcock’s “Rear Window.”

The winner will be chosen using Random.org on Monday, June 4 at 3 p.m.

Good luck!

In Contest 1940s, airplanes, beer, big band, boulder, Boulder County, cars, classic, cocktails, Colorado, dance, Denver, drinks, entertainment, event, festival, forties, impersonator, live big band, live music, military, movies, Music, re-enactors, remember, rockabilly, salute, sing, swing, tap, tribute, vehicles, vintage, war planes, World War II, WWII

What’s happening in Colorado this weekend,June 1-3, 2012, & beyond (HeidiTown on the Radio)

May 29, 2012 — Leave a comment

It’s the first weekend in June and the following is the transcript from my radio show on KRFC 88.9 FM. Find out what’s happening around Colorado this weekend, plus a look ahead at the busy month of June.

If you’d rather listen to the show CLICK HERE.

***

Hi, my name is Heidi and I’m the Mayor of HeidiTown.com, a blog about festivals, events and destinations around Colorado.

In just a couple weeks I’m heading up to TBEX, the world’s largest gathering of travel bloggers. This year the event is being held right here in Keystone, Colorado and writers from around Sydney, Australia to Paris, France are attending. I’m excited to be representing Colorado at this event. Tourism is one of the most important industries in our state, and I’m proud to have carved out my little niche in this dynamic industry.

Now… on to the show.

Here’s the lineup for June 1 through June 3, 2012.

It’s First Friday Art Walk across the state this weekend, and I recommend using this as an excuse for a date night!

This Saturday, here in Fort Collins check out Global Village Museum’s World Rhythms in Old Town Square. Seven bands will perform live World Music from 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.. Dance to the beat of African drums, swing your hips to some Latin tunes and tap your toes to Celtic jams. Enjoy craft beer, international vendors booth, and new this year, the Rio Patio featuring margs and salsa. For more information on this events and other fun happenings in Fort Collins go to DowntownFortCollins.com.

Also on Saturday it’s the 58th Annual Berthoud Day in Berthoud, Colorado. I am excited to announce to the KRFC listeners that I will be emceeing this event. The day starts with a huge parade at 11 am that winds through this charming small town, followed by a big celebration in Berthoud Park with several stages, a pizza eating contest, a beer garden and lots more. Bring the entire family out to enjoy Berthoud Day. Go to BerthoudColorado.com to keep tabs on this event and this town.

Looking for a foot-stomping good time? Look no further than the third annual Rocky Mountain Old-Time Music Festival. The event will be held at Parrish Ranch just west of Berthoud, Colorado on June 1 through 3rd, and the ranch will be alive with the sounds of fiddle, banjo, guitar, washboards and more. If you love old-time music you won’t to miss this musical event. For info go to the Central Rockies Old-Time Music Association website at TheCROMA.org, that’s TheCROMA.org.

Lots of stuff is happening in Denver this weekend, here are the highlights… the long awaited Toyota Elephant Passage is opening at the Denver Zoo. The 41st People’s Fair is taking place in Civic Center Park. This is a laid back event where I enjoy listening to the many different bands, doing a little shopping, a little drinking and a little people watching.

While in Denver, check out the Chalk Art Festival in Larimer Square. I have not yet had the opportunity to experience this event, but I’ve been told it’s really amazing. You can check out some of the past chalk paintings at DenverChalkArt.com or follow them on Facebook.

I want to mention that Film on the Rocks starts Monday, June 4 at Red Rocks. If you’ve never been to this event, it’s a good time. This year’s movie lineup includes one of my personal favorites, Office Space, and other films such as Bridesmaids and Wayne’s World. For everything happening at this iconic Colorado venue this summer go to RedRocksOnline.com.

Lots of other stuff is going on this weekend, but I’m going to take this opportunity to look ahead at some June events that should be on your calendar, including one of my favorite events of the entire year, the 1940s WWII Era Ball. This year’s ball takes place on June 16 at the Boulder Airport. Watch for a write up about this one-of-a-kind event on HeidiTown.com on June 1st.

Also, I hope you’ve already marked June 23 and 24th on your calendar. It’s the 23rd Annual Colorado Brewers’ Festival in Fort Collins at Civic Center Park. This is one of the most highly anticipated beer events in the State, and for good reason. More than 40 Colorado breweries will be represented this year, and there is also a reunion show scheduled for 12 Cents for Marvin. More at DowntownFortCollins.com.

I’m running out of time, so I have to wrap up, but for more be sure to visit the blog at HeidiTown.com and join the town’s block party on Facebook at Facebook.com/HeidiTown.comonFB.

You can also follow me on Twitter @HeidiTown where I tweet tons of event and festival info or circle the town on Google Plus.

Thanks for listening! I hope to see you at a festival this weekend! Happy 1st weekend of June!