It feels like spring already with the temperatures in the 60′s along the Front Range of Colorado.  This weekend will take another step towards the spring feeling with Daylight Savings Time beginning in the early morning hours on Sunday.  Yes we will lose an hour of sleep, but we will also gain an hour of light in the evening to take advantage of the nice weather.  Also in Denver this weekend:

• Today is the first game of the season for the Colorado Rapids.
• This afternoon the second annual Seed Swap and Garden Teach-In takes place at Grow-Haus located at 4751 York Street.
• Sunday at the Colorado Convention Center is Grow Big at the Denver Expo.  The cost to get in is $10.
• On Monday the B-Cycle program returns to Denver.

What are you planning this weekend?

It’s 303 day here on the first weekend of March.  It’s shaping up to be a nice weekend as our snowiest month begins in the Denver metro area.  So what is going on this weekend around Denver…

• Denver Restaurant Week kicks continues with plenty of options available, just remember to book ahead of time as many locations are sold out for the dining specials already especially as it gets closer to the end of the event.
• The Rocky Mountain Toy Train Show is this weekend at the Denver Merchandise Mart.  This is the largest event like this west of the Mississippi.
• The Colorado Avalanche are at home this evening against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  The puck drops at 7:00pm at the Pepsi Center.
• The New Gardener Boot Camp is being held today at the Denver Botanic Gardens.  This starts at 9:00am, so be sure to contact them before hand to see if there is space available.
• Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, and Larry the Cable Guy are performing this evening at the Wells Fargo Center.  This event may be sold out, so be sure to check out StubHub or other options.
• The 21st annual Colorado Watercolor Society State Exhibition has kicked off at the Foothills Arts Center.  This event runs through March 21st.
• March Madness hits gallery nrc in northwest Denver with their 2012 March Madness sale, now through March 9th.
• The opening reception for the 10th Annual Lone Tree Photography Show and Sale takes place from 3-5pm today at the new Lone Tree Arts Center.
• Today is a free day at the Colorado Railroad Museum and Denver Art Museum.
• Sunday is a free day at the Denver Doll & Toy Museum as well as the Boulder History Museum.

What are you planning to do this weekend in Denver?

The end of February is rapidly approaching, and this year we have an extra day in February.  The last time there was a 5th Wednesday in February was 1984.  However before the leap day of 2012, we have the weekend in Denver.  Here are some of the items going:

• Denver Restaurant Week kicks off with plenty of options at this huge two week event.  Just remember to book ahead of time as many locations are sold out for the dining specials already.
• The 2012 Jewish Film Festival has kicked off in Denver and runs for the next week.
• Speaking of movies, the Denver Film Society has an Oscars viewing party in Denver.  This gala and silent auction is a fundraiser as well with tickets at $100.
• The Tennyson Street Cultural District has a kick-off event at The Oriental Theater on Sunday at 2pm.  Find out more about this art district and experience what the area has to offer.  The event is free, and food samples will be provided by some of the restaurants along Tennyson.
• The Colorado Symphony has a couple of performances this weekend of led by world-renowned conductor Claus Peter Flor.
• The Colorado Baby & Kidz Expo takes place at the National Western Complex today, which is the largest family expo in Denver.
• Monday is a free day at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

What do you have planned this weekend in Denver?

Just a few days before Valentine’s Day and of course there is still plenty of leftover snow around Denver.  So what is happening in Denver this weekend?

• The 7th bi-annual ARTMA art auction which benefits The Morgan Adams Foundation and the research of pediatric oncology.  This event is tonight from 6:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.
• There may be piles of snow still in your garden, however the Colorado Garden and Home Show has kicked off at the Colorado Convention Center and runs through February 19th.
• Up in the mountains is the inaugural Winter Teva Mountain Games.  Not quite like the X-Games, but something you may want to check out this weekend.
• Monster Jam is taking place this evening and tomorrow (Sunday, Sunday, Sunday) at the Pepsi Center.

Anything fun you are planning to do this weekend in the Denver area?

With the majority of snow of our more recent storm past us, it is time to get out and about in the city this weekend.

What is happening in Denver this first weekend of February?

• The inaugural Evergreen Winter Festival is today at Evergreen Lake. Feature snow sculptures, ice skating, a rail jam competition throughout the day.  It is free to attend during the day and there is an entry fee for the evening events.
• You may have missed the polar plunge this morning in Colorado Springs, however there are still two opportunities to take the plunge in the metro area.  This event benefits the Special Olympics of Colorado.
• Today is a free day at the Denver Art Museum while Sunday and Monday it is free to get to the Denver Zoo.
• Two events today at the Pepsi Center.  The Colorado Avalanche take on Vancouver this afternoon at 1:00 P.M., while the Colorado Mammoth take on Edmonton this evening at 7:00 P.M.
• The Oriental Theater in the Berkeley District will have the Super Bowl on their big screen for free this Sunday.

Anything else you plan on doing this weekend, or will you just get out of the house and enjoy the fresh blanket of snow in the Denver metro area?

The final weekend of January is here (already).  What’s going on this weekend around Denver and into the mountains:

• The Mile High Snowfest continues this weekend with some various events around town as well art art exhibits.  This is being run along side of the SIA Convention at the Colorado Convention Center.
• The X Games are in Aspen this weekend.  While it is a little bit of a drive from Denver, it is one of the premier venues for extreme sports.
• In Breckenridge the annual International Snow Sculpture Championships takes shape with judging today and the ability to view the creations through next week… of course depending on mother nature.
• The newest photography show opens at the Denver Art Museum on Sunday January 29th. Women Are Beautiful will be on display through July 8th and comprises of fifty images by Garry Winogrand.
• Sporting event wise the Colorado Mammoth are at home against the Rochester Knighthawks at the Pepsi Center, while at the National Western Complex a different type of horse power moves in with arenacross.
• Monday January 30th is a free day at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

What are you doing this weekend in the Denver area?

The end of the week has blown into Denver with some high winds the past few days along the Front Range paired with warmer temperatures as well for this time of year.

Coming off a three day weekend, a little bit of a quiet weekend around town but all of the fresh snow in the mountains will attract people west.

• The Stock Show finishes it’s 106th run on Sunday at the National Western Complex. This will also mark the end of the holiday lights on the City and County Building as well
• The University of Arizona visits the University of Colorado for a men’s basketball game this afternoon at 4:00 P.M., I have heard this game is sold out however.
• The Colorado Indian Market takes place through Sunday at the Merchandise Mart.
• On Friday the 27th, Winter on the Rocks will take place which is the first-ever winter concert at the world famous Red Rocks Amphitheater.
• Through February 14th, the ice skating rink at Skyline Park will be open.

Do you know of any fun events for this week?

This weekend brings a three day weekend to many people here in the Denver area.  As a reminder most state and federal offices will be closed on Monday for the MLK holiday.  In addition there is no mail delivery, and in Denver parking meters are free.

A parade through downtown Denver always kicks off the annual stock show.

Some events you may want to check out this weekend:

• The National Western Stock Show continues the 2012 edition on this middle weekend of the show.
• If you are in the Longmont area you may want to check out the show “Street Creed: Graffiti Art from Concrete to Canvas” which runs through January 22nd at the Longmont Museum.
• It may be winter, but the Denver Boat Show has dropped anchor in Denver this weekend.
• After an overtime win this past Sunday, the Broncos play in New England on Saturday evening.  The game is on CBS.
• The Colorado Mammoth kick off their 2012 season at Pepsi Center this evening.
• Up in Aspen the Winterskol four-day festival is taking place.  Look for plenty of activities around the town as well as fireworks.
• On Monday, the annual MLK Marade takes place from City Park to Civic Center Park.  The Marade starts at 9:00 A.M.

You know of any other events happening this week in Denver?

The first week of 2012 is wrapping up and in the Denver it has been one of colorful sunrises and sunsets as well as some above normally temperatures.  One of these sunrises was on January 1st.

With the start of the new year there is also plenty happening in the Denver area as well:

• The National Western Stock Show kicks off this weekend and runs through the January 22nd.
• On Sunday, the Denver Broncos make their first appearance in the NFL playoffs since 2005.  They will be playing at Sports Authority Field against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• If you are heading to the mountains, Ullr Fest kicks off on Sunday and runs through January 14th in Breckenridge.
• Through January 8th, the International Sportmen’s Expo is at the Colorado Convention Center.

Do you know of any other events to check out this weekend in Denver?

Over the past few weeks you have been receiving presents and cards from friends and family as well as people you do business with on a regular basis.  For the most part this is kept to the holidays as a way of saying thanks.  However like the New Year’s resolution you set just a few of days ago why do we limit it to just this time of year.  The end of the year and the start of the year marks a set time in our mind where we perform tasks like saying thanks.  Let’s look at the resolution you created earlier this week.  If the resolution was so important why didn’t you start it on any other day instead of waiting until the first of the year?

As I looked at the holiday greetings I received this holiday season, I have noticed the difference between a card received via “snail mail’ and one which was sent in an e-mail or even yet a link to a web page with a generic holiday greeting.  This is one of the first years I have really have noticed the difference between getting a note in the mail and one electronically.

At the gallery which I own in Denver, this season I received one holiday card in the mail and countless others by e-mail.  The one card which I received in the mail hung alone for a few weeks waiting for others to join it, but the only greetings were via e-mail and after a quick scan they were quickly deleted from my inbox.  I can clearly tell you the name of this individual who sent the holiday card and if they inquire about having a show at the gallery in the future it may help them get added to the schedule.  Should preference be given to someone who sends a physical card versus an electronic card?  The process of communicating with a potential business partner is to make yourself memorable when doing so, and in this instance the physical card was memorable.  Will this be the same in 2012?  Most likely it will be, but I will find out in less than a year from now.

I know there is much discussion these days about being green and stewards for the environment when it comes to printed items.  This is the reason why a lot of people have moved to the electronic or ‘e’  method of saying thanks at the holidays or at any time during the course of the year.  Or is it for other reasons, including the savings in purchasing cards or even more so the speed in which the electronic cards can be sent quickly removing one additional task from our busy lives.  Hopefully this is not the same way you are treated when doing business with this person.

The bottom line is customer service is king in today’s business place.  Taking the time to write a thank you note is something which is appreciated by the person who received the card.  Who knows, one of those business cards you include in a handwritten thank you note can make it to some they know resulting in a new customer for you this year.  I am sure that alone will be worth the couple of minutes which is took to say thanks.

If you do want to have a resolution for 2012, why not make it setting aside fifteen minutes each week and writing a handwritten thank you note.