Medieval Fun will be had by all at the Renaissance Fair

Food, shows, and fighting are just some things to look forward to in the Renaissance Fair this summer.  This is the fair's 36th season celebrating the 16th century traditions of jousting, minstrels, and maidens.  There is something for everyone so take a day this summer and head over to West Perry Park to see this spectacle come to life.


The Colorado Renaissance Festival is set to kick off its 36^th season this weekend, offering old-fashioned revelry in a spectacular outdoor setting.

The festival, held in nearby Larkspur, celebrates 16th-century style -- with jousters, jesters, minstrels and maidens roaming the grounds to dazzle patrons.

Arts and crafts are also a big part of the festival and a variety of artisans displays their work, including glassblowing, wood and leather working, pottery, blacksmithing and fine arts.

“We have something for everyone,” says Jim Paradise, the festival’s director of marketing. “There are things here that you can’t experience anywhere else in the state.”
Here we run down the Top 5 tips for a memorable step back in time.

Question: What can’t I miss at this year’s renaissance festival?
Answer: Three acts, Paradise says, are the must-see entertainment of the 2012 season.
-- The endangered cat show. Found at the festival’s Castle Rose stage, the show seeks to raise awareness for rare and endangered feline species. Spectators can expect to see appearances from the black panther, caracal, lynx and other exotic cats.
-- The Washing Well Wenches. At the Washing Well stage, Winnie and Myrtle (played by Kerri Slavin and Sara Sincel, respectively) make their laundry chores fun.
-- Arsene of Paris. Don’t miss this renowned juggling mime, sly illusionist and sharp comedian. Look for Arsene’s show at the Globe stage.

Q: When is the best time to go? Now or should I wait until later in the summer?
A: To avoid the biggest crowds, consider visiting earlier in the summer. Paradise notes that the festival tends to be busiest towards the end of its season, with the final two weekends being the most crowded. Saturdays also tend to be busier than Sundays.

Q: Which attractions generally have the longest lines?
A: Returning traditions, such as the jousting events and sword fighters Puke & Snot, continue to attract long lines, so be sure to plan ahead. The endangered cat show, energetic band Celtic Legacy and the Washing Well Wenches are also quite popular and often attract crowds. The festival has a variety of lively entertainment options, though, so you’ll never run out of things to do. Find a complete summary of the Colorado Renaissance Festival’s acts and shows at their website.

Q: What else is there to take in?
A: While enjoying the array of entertainment options and art displays, don’t forget about the festival’s food and drink. Highlights include steak on a stake, sausage on a stick, roasted corn and an assortment of ales. The festival’s most popular food item, by far, is their grilled turkey drumsticks. Approximately 100,000 turkey legs are served over the course of the summer.

Q: Where can I get the best bang for my buck?
A: While the entire event is a great value, Paradise says, you can’t miss “an Italian ice on a summer day.” Sometimes referred to as “orange balls,” these sweets are tasty and refreshing.

Q: What’s the best way to get there?
A: From Colorado Springs, take Interstate 25 and get off at Exit 172 to Larkspur. To avoid heavy traffic, though, you may want to consider approaching from the south, by way of Palmer Lake. From Colorado Springs, take Exit 161 off Interstate 25 to Monument. Follow Highway 105 until you reach Highway 18; turn north. Continue on Highway 18. Turn west onto Larkspur Road. Larkspur Road eventually becomes West Perry Park Avenue.

For more details on the fair go to coloradosprings.com

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Spend Your Summer Rafting and Kayaking

Looking for something new and adventurous to do this summer?  How about learning how to Raft and Kayak?  Your instructor will teach you all about rafting and kayaking so you can eventually go out on the water yourself and enjoy a nice warn Colorado Springs Day.  Learn more about the programs offered below.

BEGINNER KAYAKING POOL CLASS
Get ready for summer now; learn all the basics of whitewater kayaking in a safe, controlled, WARM swimming pool. Your expert instructor will teach you all about your equipment, how to maneuver the kayak, and – most importantly – the Eskimo Roll and wet exit! This class is a prerequisite for our summer kayaking classes on the Arkansas River. For details, click here.
Dates: Available year round by request.
Cost: $15-$20/hour per person (cost depends on the number of participants).
Sign up deadline: No later than one week in advance.

WHITEWATER INFLATABLE KAYAKING TRIPS

Be the master of your own whitewater destiny. Navigate nine miles of Class III-IV rapids of the Arkansas River’s Bighorn Sheep Canyon in an inflatable kayak. Enjoy the challenging rapids, beautiful scenery and an exciting time on the river. Click here for more information.
Dates: May 25 through August 12
Cost: $50 per person for half day rafting
           $80 per person for full day rafting
Sign up deadline: 48 hrs prior to trip departure

Whitewater Rafting
Just 45 minutes away, Bighorn Sheep Canyon and the Royal Gorge sections of the Arkansas River make up our most popular raft trips. Experience the adrenaline pumping action throughout the magnificent 1100 foot deep Royal Gorge. All the required river gear – helmets, life jackets (PFD), etc. – are provided along with a picnic style lunch, river guide and roundtrip transportation.

WHITEWATER RAFTING – Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 25-August 12, 2012
 
Thrilling. Exciting. Awesome. On the half-day trip, paddle nine miles down Bighorn Sheep Canyon’s Class III rapids, and then have lunch. On the full-day trip, you will travel the same stretch of river through Bighorn Sheep Canyon, stop to have lunch, and then continue through the Royal Gorge on a challenging stretch of Class V rapids. Click here for details.
Dates: May 25 through August 12
Cost: $50 per person for half day rafting, $80 per person for full day rafting
Sign up deadline: 48 hrs prior to trip departure. Call 556-4867.

WHITEWATER RAFTING – GROUP PRICING
Groups of 20 or more get a 10% discount. Private groups: $60/person for half-day trips; $90/person for full-day trips.
Sign up: Please call an Outdoor Adventure Programmer for reservations, 556-4867.

For more information about these programs check out Rafting and Kayaking.

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Meadowgrass Music Festival Opens This Weekend

Head on over to teh La Foret Conference & Retreat Center for the Memorial Day Weekend MeadowGrass Music Festival.  The weekend is full of music and activities for the entire family.  Listen to music, enjoy the outdoors and even take a dip in the swimming pool.  Multiple musicians are headlining the festival with performances that you do not want to miss. 

The sun. The vistas. The beer. And of course, the music.

Since 2008, the MeadowGrass Music Festival has virtually defined the early days of summer for Pikes Peak music lovers — and increasingly every year, those far beyond the region.

“The first MeadowGrass was just 100 to 150 people a day,” says Steve Harris, event organizer and voice of KRCC’s Grass Roots Revival. “The next year was 400 to 600. Last year was over a 1,000 each day. All indications look like it will be bigger than ever this year.”

More than 20 bands are featured this year. Headliners include national acts — Son Volt, Elizabeth Cook, the Barr Brothers, Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks, and others — as well as bands that have made their bones in the area — Grass It Up, The Flumps, Mango Fan Django, Edith Makes a Paperchain and others.

“Some people come to me and say, ‘I don’t like bluegrass,’” Harris says. “But we’ve tried very hard to make it clear that it’s a diverse offering, all loosely grouped under Americana.
“We’ve been very successful at bringing acts that you may not heard up of but are on the cutting edge and up-and-coming.”

And in an interesting riff on the usual suspects, the Chamber Singers of the Colorado Springs Chorale will perform composer Carol Barnett’s “A World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass” with Jake Schepps & the Expedition Quartet.

For more information about the festival and the performers head to Coloradosprings.com.

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Welcome home to our soldiers!

In the past two weeks more than 700 soldiers returned home to Colorado Springs, after a year deployment in Afghanistan.  The 2nd Brigade Combat Team was in charge of security, building governmental capacity, and communicating progress to the Afghan people.  Families and friends waited a year for this day, but now are so happy that their loved ones our home.

 

More than 300 Fort Carson soldiers are scheduled to return from overseas this week after 400 were welcomed home Sunday night and Monday afternoon.  About 200 members of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division came home Sunday night, with about 200 more returning Monday. These soldiers assisted Afghan Security Forces and the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to help defend and provide for the Afghan people.


The ‘Warhorse’ brigade partnered with Afghan Uniformed Police, Afghan Local Police, Afghan National Army and district-level government officials to defeat the insurgency by expanding security, building governmental capability and capacity and communicating Afghan progress to the Afghan people.


At the homecoming Monday afternoon soldiers said it was good to be home.  "It's wonderful. You can't beat it, nothing like it," Staff Sgt. John Dalgleish said.


Some found it hard to put into words what it felt like.  "It feels great to be back, I can't even describe it," Spc. Nathan Head said.


After nearly a year of being apart, some family members couldn't believe their loved one was actually home.


"It's surreal. It's definitely surreal. I won't believe it until he's taken out the garbage," Jessica Knicely said.


About 200 more soldiers from the brigade are scheduled to return Tuesday afternoon.  The brigade replaced the 1st Brigade Combat Team when they deployed in May and June of 2011.  Early Wednesday morning, about 130 soldiers from the 615th Construction Engineer Company will be welcomed back to the Mountain Post.


These soldiers were deployed to Bahrain for post-wide security operations and operated out of Isa Air Base. They were required to provide tower security around the post; provide Airfield Security for all naval aircraft entering and exiting Isa airfield and were personally responsible for all vehicle inspections conducted prior to venturing onto the base.

For more information please see the Colorado Connection.

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Neighborly Love For The Colorado River

The Associated Press has a great feature piece on our neighbor, the Colorado River. If you haven't gotten to make the day trip out, we highly recommend it. The views are great and the experience is awesome.

Recreation on the Colorado River and its tributaries contributes about $17 billion in direct spending annually to the economies of six of the states that depend on its water, according to a study released Friday.

The report was commissioned by Protect the Flows, which represents small businesses such as fishing guides and others who rely on the Colorado River basin in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

 Not to mention the fact that supporting our local businesses is reason enough to make use of the bounty of natural beauty.

The figure of $17 billion in direct spending from river recreation would likely be higher if visits from outside the region were included, said Sarah Sidwell, manager of Tag-A-Long Expeditions in Moab, Utah. Sidwell said 40 percent of customers for her rafting and off-road business are international.

"Our stake in this is huge," Sidwell said of keeping the river system healthy. "We need to have a flowing river in order for me to have a job and 100 part-time employees to have jobs."

Rhett Bain, owner of Reel Deal Anglers in Jackson, Wyo., said a seasonal guide for his business earns about $30,000 in 90 days including tips.

"We're supporting jobs in an economy that has no jobs," he said.

By comparison, a 2006 study that Southwick conducted for the Outdoor Industry Foundation estimated outdoor recreation nationwide contributed $730 billion to the U.S. economy annually.

To put the $17 billion in spending in context, Southwick said the figure tops the annual revenue of some top companies, including General Mills Inc.

"It's tough to know the value of water until it's gone, but the Southwick report starts to put some good numbers on the economic effect of keeping water in our river," said U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, a Colorado Democrat and former mountain guide.

The report comes as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation reviews ideas for how to solve an imbalance in supply and demand in water on the Colorado River.

"Fundamentally, it's an asset we've got to find a way to preserve and protect," said U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.

Santana Garcia of the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce said even businesses that don't depend directly on the Colorado River focus heavily on conserving water because businesses contribute to spending for reservoir projects.

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Reduce Clutter

Still working on your spring cleaning? Reduce clutter with these vanity storage solutions (h/t Apartment Therapy) http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/no-clutter-vanity-flip-up-mirror-170225

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Upcoming mega-sale will help fill, purge kids' closets

What a great event! Make sure to take advantage of the early birdie shopping – looks like a great deal!

Whether your child’s closet is as full as a grocery cart on payday or as empty as a snack drawer after a sleepover, Just Between Friends’ upcoming sale may be able to help.

The semiannual event — which will feature gently used children’s toys, gear and warm-weather clothing — will take place Wednesday, April 11 through Saturday, April 14 at the Colorado Springs Event Center, 3960 Palmer Park Blvd.

Military moms, consigners, volunteers and first time parents and grandparents will have a chance to shop Tuesday and Wednesday morning before the sale opens to the public at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

It’s not too late to sell at JBF, though many first-time consigners who try to prepare their items at the last minute underestimate the task, said Lynn Jennings, co-owner of JBF’s Colorado Springs franchise.

“It is a process to get the clothes tagged and all that,” Jennings said.

Potential consigners have through April 6 to register at the JBF website.

Though readying consignment items per JBF’s directions takes time and patience, Jennings said the work can pay off.

A few of the benefits: Items tend to seller quicker than they do at consignment shops, consigners get a higher percentage of sales, and payment comes in the form of a check — not in-store credit.

“It’s faster, and they get their money quicker,” Jennings said. “They can drop off as much as they want. We don’t have a limit.

“They can pretty much purge their house in a week.”

For those simply looking to fill up empty closets, Jennings said the sale’s items will be free of holes, stains and smells and tagged at 50 to 90 percent below original retail price, with many reducing by an additional 50 percent on Saturday.

“We do an inspection process when consigners drop off,” Jennings said. “We want to take the best quality we can. We even do a recall check on items such as strollers, car seats and toys.”

Many consigners choose to have their unsold items donated to Airman’s Attic — a Peterson Air Force Base organization that donates children’s clothing and other essentials to service members — at the end of the sale.

“We usually fill a moving truck,” said Jennings of the donated leftovers. “They benefit greatly, which is wonderful for military families.”

For more information on the sale, visit the Colorado Springs JBF website here.

Read more: http://articles.pikespeakparent.com/articles/help-75-whether-kids.html

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Easter egg hunts: Fun for people AND pets

This is a neat idea! Would you ever hold an Easter egg hunt for your dog?

Easter egg hunts are for people and dogs — at least that’s Kyle Davidson’s take on the matter.



Davidson, the owner of The Fur Seasons Pet Spa, organized this Saturday’s Fur and Fun Easter Egg Hunt, to take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. outside the Shops at Voyager, 11550 Ridgeline Drive.


Kids, pets and adults will all have a chance to search for eggs filled with goodies.


Kids’ eggs will hold candy.


Adults’ eggs will hold coupons for deals at Davidson’s pet spa, Café Velo, Rosie’s Diner and Pro Fit Strength & Conditioning.


Dogs’ eggs will hold gourmet treats — no run-of-the-mill Milk Bones here.


“All of the treats are natural,” Davidon said. “That’s the theme of our store. We’re going to be hiding some bison tendons, some peanut butter and blueberry biscuits, some fresh salmon jerky.


“All of the eggs will be color coded. Hopefully kids won’t be picking up the eggs and eating the dog treats.”


Davidson says he’s yet to hear of another local Easter egg hunt that involves families and their furry friends.


“There are some where you may be able to bring your dog and go out into a field and look for eggs, but none with treats for dogs hidden in the eggs,” he said. “This is a full-scale deal.”


For more information, visit the Fur and Fun Easter Egg Hunt event page here.


Read more: http://articles.pikespeakparent.com/articles/easter-69-people-egg.html

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Family Easter Crafts: Little Egg Creatures

It's almost Easter! Here's a great themed craft the whole family will enjoy.

Dyeing for a new way to decorate Easter eggs? Here's a recipe for fun that's hard to beat: With basic crafts supplies -- crepe paper, pipe cleaners, felt, yarn, thread, and glue -- kids can make cows, pigs, and lots of other eggs-traordinary creations from plain white eggs. Quail eggs (look for them at specialty grocers) are the right size for smaller animals (paint works better than dye to color their spotted shells). And brown eggs are a natural choice for creatures with dark fur or feathers. We've provided some egg creatures templates, but who knows just what will hatch from a child's imagination?


Basic Egg Preparation:

Blowing
Emptying eggs lets you save your creations. An adult should pierce egg at both ends with a utility knife, widening one hole a bit. Poke a straightened paper clip through wide hole; stir yolk. Place ear syringe in smaller hole; squeeze. Contents will pour out. (Wash hands well.)

Dyeing
It's easy to make dye: Cover the work area with paper towels. In a jar, mix 1 teaspoon vinegar, 20 drops food coloring, and 1 cup warm water. Submerge the egg (keep it down with a paper cup containing water). Soak 5 minutes for light colors and 10 minutes for darker shades. Remove the egg with tongs. A homemade rack of pins and foam board makes for even drying and quick cleanup.

Decorating
Dye or paint should be fully dry before beginning. Affix features with white glue (on crepe paper, use tiny dots of glue); let dry at least 20 minutes. Glue on feet or legs first so egg will stand. For ears and combs, dab glue on edge of felt or crepe paper, affix piece, let dry, then fold up. Add small details like eyes with tempera paint or a marker.

See our Egg Preparation Guide for more tips on blowing, dyeing, and decorating eggs.

Lovely Ladybug How-To
Ladybugs who lunch don painted-on faces and construction-paper attire (dots are made using a hole punch). Each pair of legs is one piece of yarn glued underneath; antennae are embroidery floss dipped in glue and dried to stiffen.

Big-Eared Bunny How-To
Why is this bunny so chubby? From munching crepe paper-topped carrots! He's a bit harebrained but has fine felt ears, teeth, and feet (a hole cut in the center of his feet keeps his body standing up). Twitching a pom-pom nose and embroidery-floss whiskers, he finishes his snack.

Country Cow How-To
How now do you make a brown cow? With brown eggs, of course. An udderly adorable calf starts out as a speckled quail egg, and a pair of Holsteins gets their spots from black paint. All have crepe-paper features and embroidery-floss or yarn tails. Use a piece of pipe cleaner (add spots with a marker) for each pair of legs.

Puddly Pigs How-To
This mama and her round little piglet are pretty in pink touches, fresh out of the carton -- but not for long! They're headed to a cool puddle of construction-paper mud as fast as their pipe-cleaner legs (bent into a V) will carry them. For the nose, glue on a button (use tape to secure while glue dries, then gently peel off). To make the curly tail, run a thumbnail along one side of plain embroidery floss.

Cheeky Chickens How-To

This brood is all smiles, er, beaks as they pose for a family portrait to welcome their latest addition. (The photo hanging behind them was taken before the baby was born.) Mr. Rooster crows that his new son is a good egg, and Mrs. Chicken is pleased that both children inherited the family's felt features.

Bumbly Bees How-To
These insects are spinning a yarn about how they came to bee: Glue the end of a strand of yellow yarn to the tip of a quail egg. Once dry, coil the yarn around the egg, alternating yellow and black sections, and gluing as you go. Glue on the wings and antennae, tucking between the strands with a toothpick. For the hive, use a regular egg; the door is cut from felt. Use poster putty to make the hive stand up.


Read more at MarthaStewart.com.

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Keep your elbows off the table, chew with your mouth closed, know your salad fork...

Would you ever sign up your kids for etiquette classes?

A local woman who wants to help others negotiate some of the trickier points of society is offering etiquette classes to kids, teens and adults.

Heather Buchman started teaching etiquette to cadets at the Air Force Academy in 2007, and sees her instruction as a way to help people become more confident and successful in all aspects of life.

In promoting her classes, Buchman cites studies by Harvard University, Stanford Research Institute and the Carnegie Foundation that indicate as much as 85 percent of your career success is directly connected to your social skills.

Buchman named her company Social Survival Skills and says her instruction gives students just that.

“Giving children the skills they need to be comfortable and confident in their ability to handle life’s social activities early in life just helps them be more confident and successful people forever," Buchman said in a news release.

"Our program is about teaching kids and young adults how to navigate the world they live in now, with teaching methodologies that are fun—not stuffy," said Buchman, the mother of two boys.

To learn about Social Survival Skills classes, visit Buchman's website,www.socialsurvivalskills.net, or contact Heather Buchman at 440.4949 or heather@socialsurvivalskills.net.

Read more at PikesPeakParent.com. 

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Better Homes & Gardens Awards Best New Household Products for 2012

The votes are in! Check out the top products for 2012. Which of these have you used before? Do you think they deserve their title?

Venerable nesting magazine Better Homes & Gardens has announced the results of their consumer based Best New Products poll. We're familiar with most of the items on the list but we also found a couple of new things we're going to keep our eye out for.

Better Homes & Gardens partnered with BrandSpark International to poll consumers about their favorite new products. The products are broken down into three categories: food, health and beauty, and household. Of the household products, the following seem to be the most exciting:

• The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber with Febreze is larger than the standard Magic Eraser and includes a dissolving cleanser for removing soap scum.

• I love that manufacturers are starting the make cleaners available in smaller packaging. The Windex Mini Concentrated Refill Pouch can be poured into an old spray bottle of your own. It was also Best All Purpose Cleaner by consumers.
• We're not familiar with Purex Complete Crystals Fabric Softener but the brand was voted Best Fabric Softener. The crystals are added to the wash before the cycle starts.

Check out the full list over at Better Homes & Gardens: Best New Product Awards. The magazine has also put together a handy printable shopping list with all of the award winning items.

Read more at apartmenttherapy.com.

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Vote for Colorado Springs!

Make sure to vote for Colorado Springs as one of the Best Weekend Getaways!

While you’re trying to unwind around town on the weekends, are you starting to feel a bit more crowded?

It may be that your new neighbors have read a recent travel article in U.S. News & World Report that lists Colorado Springs in its roundup of “best weekend getaways.”

Here’s some of what the article has to say: “Views of purple mountains majesty and amber waves of grain make for a very photogenic weekend. Prime picture-taking real estate can be found at the top of Pikes Peak, but when you’ve seen enough, spend the rest of your weekend experiencing other truly American institutions. Sports fans should visit the Olympic Training Center, while the Air Force Academy’s flight demonstrations awe visitors of all ages. You’ll be able to tackle these three top attractions and still have some weekend time to spare.”

Readers can rate the listing, which has the Springs at No. 6, by voting yes or no on each city choice.

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/top-134734-weekend-getaway.html#ixzz1odY0log8

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Springs native claims title at UFC 144

Congrats to our local champion!

Colorado Springs native Ben Henderson claimed the UFC lightweight title with a unanimous decision over Frankie Edgar at UFC 144 on Saturday night.

Ryan Bader survived a frightening fall onto his neck to win every round in a unanimous decision over Japanese favorite Rampage Jackson in the co-main event of the UFC's first show in Japan since 2000.

Henderson, the former WEC lightweight champion who was born in the Spriings, picked apart the smaller UFC champion with an effective all-around attack, highlighted by a vicious kick from a prone position in the second round that bloodied Edgar's nose and face.

"I wanted to use my size to my advantage," said Henderson, who now calls Federal Way, Wash., home. "Making weight is really (a struggle) for me ... so I want to make sure my opponents feel that pain when we have 25 minutes inside this octagon."

UFC 144 was held on Sunday morning for the North American pay-per-view audience, but Saitama Super Arena still was sold out for a large show from mixed martial arts' dominant promotion.

Along with the popular Jackson's loss, two major Japanese stars were beaten in front of their fans: Jake Shields earned a unanimous decision over Yoshihiro Akiyama, and Tim Boetsch rallied after two terrible rounds to stop Yushin Okami in the third. Heavyweight Mark Hunt stopped Cheick Kongo midway through the first round, and lightweight title contender Anthony Pettis impressively stopped Joe Lauzon in the first round.

Edgar repeatedly caught Henderson's kicks and managed a handful of takedowns, but Henderson countered much of Edgar's trademark work rate with his significant size advantage.

Henderson staggered Edgar with a perfectly placed up-kick late in the second round, with his right heel connecting squarely with Edgar's head while Henderson was prone on the canvas. Edgar survived the round, but the kick left blood pouring from his nose, and the wound opened up again in the third round while Edgar's left eye closed from an earlier shot.

Henderson pressed his advantages into the fifth round, bouncing around the canvas and inciting the crowd before landing several big shots. Edgar couldn't find his way inside Henderson's defense, and Henderson landed significant strikes into the final seconds.

The judges favored Henderson 49-46, 48-47 and 49-46. Edgar disagreed with the decision, saying he landed more strikes and takedowns.

"I thought I did enough to win," Edgar said. "That's what my guys told me, but those are the breaks. Congrats to Ben."

Henderson embraced his mother, Song, in the stands on his way out of the octagon.

Edgar hadn't lost since taking the lightweight title away from B.J. Penn in April 2010, fighting through injuries and winning his trilogy against Gray Maynard with a fourth-round stoppage last October.

But Henderson had won three straight UFC fights since losing to Pettis in the last fight in World Extreme Cagefighting history before the promotion was absorbed by the UFC. When Pettis couldn't get a title shot at Edgar due to injuries, Henderson slipped in front of Pettis for that shot at Edgar.

Earlier, Bader (14-2) pounded out the biggest victory of his career by spending most of the fight on top of Jackson (32-10), who missed the 205-pound weight limit by 6 pounds. Jackson, a superstar in Japan after spending several years in the Pride fighting promotion, will forfeit 20 percent of his purse.

Jackson nearly ended the fight in the second round when he picked up Bader and threw him directly onto his head and neck, bending Bader's left arm at a freakish angle. Bader was stunned but apparently unhurt, and he recovered to dominate the former UFC light heavyweight champion.

"Beating Rampage here in Japan is an amazing experience, an amazing feeling," Bader said. "I was rocked a little bit there, but I came back to my feet, and my arm is fine."

Jackson has lost three of his last five fights, and hasn't stopped an opponent since December 2008.

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/saitama-134225-springs-title.html#ixzz1nxyAiVqH

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Upcoming events in Colorado Springs

Lots of great events coming up! Are you planning to go to any of them?

Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner

Saturday, Mar 3 5:00p
Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Colorado Springs
Pikes Peak Council will host a reception and dinner for all new 2011 Eagle Scouts on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Broadmore Valley Road, Colorado Springs, CO.

Trout Unlimited Membership Meeting

Tuesday, Feb 28 7:00p
Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado Springs
Who: Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Colorado Springs, CO (Members and Non-Members Welcome) What: Trout Unlimited Membership Meeting Where: Colorado Division of Wildlife Building 4255 Sint

Feb Club 2012 -- February 29,

Wednesday, Feb 29 7:00p
Colorado Springs Mall, Colorado Springs
7pm Wednesday, February 29, at Nosh, 121 S. Tejon, Colorado Springs, CO

The Drowsy Chaperone

Friday, Feb 24 7:30p
Fountain Valley School of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Fountain Valley School will be presenting The Drowsy Chaperone on Friday, February 17 and 24, and on Saturday, February 18 and 25, at 7:30 PM with a Sunday matinee at 2:00 PM on February 19.

Vagina Monologues

Friday, Feb 24 7:30p
UCCS - The Lodge, Colorado Springs
Join TESSA and UCCS for the Vagina Monologues Vagina Monologues presented by UCCS portion of the proceeds benefit TESSA February 23rd 7:30pm February 24th 7:30pm and February 25th 2pm

Read more: http://events.gazette.com/colorado_springs_co/events/february+events+in+colorado+springs+co

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EVER WONDER: Memories of El Paso County blizzards

Wild stories from snowstorms past, including “one of my plows ate a Volkswagen that was hidden in a drift.” What’s your strangest storm story?

Last week I tried to settle a bet about blizzards. Was Colorado’s 2003 worse than 1997's or vice versa?

The National Weather Service had recorded 7 feet of snow in the Rocky Mountains on March 18-19, 2003 and Denver area recorded almost 22 inches on Oct. 26, 1997. Denver biggie: 45.7 inches which fell over five days in December 1913. Colorado Springs record snowfall over 24 hours:  25.6 inches on March 11, 1909.

Well, I learned a whole lot about Colorado blizzards after the column came out and I’m sure there are other amazing stories out there, too.

Here’s more:

Leslie Jakeman remembered the one in 1997: “The blizzard was in Denver on Oct. 25, 1997 NOT Oct. 26, 1997. I know because my brother Greg got married in Denver on Oct. 25, 1997. It started snowing on the 24th and didn’t stop until the 26th. None of us will ever forget that day. The wedding was at the cathedral in downtown Denver. The ceremony was delayed 2 hours. The musicians, the ring bearer and many of the guests were unable to get there. There were more homeless people in attendance than invited guests. I-25 was closed for three days and we were stranded at the Sheraton Hotel in Lakewood during the Trekkie (“Star Trek”) Convention. The blizzard was a nightmare but the wedding was beautiful.”

Jim Mesite was El Paso County Emergency Program Manager during both the 1997 and 2003 storms.

“The 1997 event put almost the entire county, including most of the City of Colorado Springs, at a standstill for almost 3 days.  It began overnight Friday, and turned out to be much bigger than the U.S. Weather Service anticipated.  My supervisor at the time could not even reach the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) downtown, and called me to tell me, in Peaceful Valley, not to even try to get in, as they had already heard of two people buried very close to my house.  (In all, 4 fatalities were directly related to the storm).

“When I finally was able to get out to relieve him there was only one lane on Marksheffel Road passable. The snow on both sides of the lane was at least 10 feet high!  We got pictures later of drifts estimated to be 12 feet high completely blocking the Big R store entrance east of Falcon. Some roads out east could only be cleared and searched for stranded motorists, with a three-vehicle convoy consisting of a front-end loader in the lead to break down the drift to plowable height, the biggest plow-trucks the county had behind it, and a Humvee of soldiers from Fort Carson behind it, to search for buried cars with long poles to stick in the banks! Reports from multiple sources, including the Weather Service, were that in some areas at least 48 inches of snow had fallen, with many drifts as large as described above.

“The 2003 event was pretty bad, but the worst problems we dealt with were school busses that could not get children home from the Eastern School Districts.  Most of them were stuck and taken into private homes for a day or two.  The City of Colorado Springs was affected much less.  In addition, most roads were able to be opened in about half the time it had taken to dig out after the 1997 storm.”

Gary Dugan, retired from CSPD and the Street Division, said the worst blizzard he remembered was actually March 1977. In a 1991 interview with The Gazette, longtime county public works director Max Rothschildtold the reporter that 1977 was indeed the worst winter he recalled, when five people died. A large number of cattle were killed and the eastern half of the county was buried under drifts.

In the interview Rothschild said, “It was the first time I ever remember driving through cliffs of snow 16 to 18 feet high” created when plows sliced through drifts hiding hundreds of abandoned cars. “One of my plows ate a Volkswagen that was hidden in a drift,” he recalled.
A major problem with this 1977 storm was the wind, 82 mph strong east of the city. Team that with 13.4 inches of snow. The storm hit hardest between Colorado Springs and Limon and there was $4 million in damage and loss.

Another reader remembered a snowstorm when it was “illegal to drive” in Colorado Springs. And then there was the storm that for a time buried a police officer in his cruiser, creating headlines from the 1960s TV sitcom, “Car 54, Where are You?”

Read more: http://www.coloradosprings.com/articles/blizzards-13773-county-tried.html

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Sweet Valentine’s Day Deals from our Downtown Partnership Members

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! If you’re still looking for “that perfect gift,” check out some of the offers below.

Antlers Hilton Hotel- 4 S. Cascade

Romance package includes chocolate covered strawberries, champagne and breakfast for 2. Call 955-5600 for reservations.

Cook Veterinary Hospital- 21 West Cimarron Street

$200 dental cleaning special throughout the month of February! Price includes full exam, IV fluids, anesthesia, blood work, and monitoring. Full mouth x-rays are 20% off.  Extractions and medications are an additional cost. For information call 633-7769 or visitwww.cookveterinary.com.

Colorado Springs Philharmonic- Pikes Peak Center 190 S. Cascade Ave
A Broadway Romance on 2/11/12 at 8:00pm Patty Goble and Stephen Bogardus. Visitwww.csphilharmonic.org for information.

Cottonwood Artists' School's Tejon Street Gallery- 8 S. Tejon St.

2/14/12, 5-8pm, featuring local and regional artists with a Valentine's Day theme.  Call 520-1899 for info.

Crowne Plaza- 2886 S. Circle Drive

Fabulous Valentine's Dinner for 2 for $49

--Mixed Green House Salad-Choice of dressing

--Blood Orange Sorbet Intermezzo

--Mini Beef Chateaubriand with a Port Wine Demi alongside Jumbo Shrimp Scampi, Herb Roasted 

  Fingerling Potatoes with Smoked Paprika, fresh vegetable sauté.

--Strawberry mousse cake, dark chocolate truffles

--Bottle of house champagne (or other non alcoholic beverage)

We have overnight king bedroom, now through Valentines $89 a night. Call 540-8388 for info

Healthy Balance Massage- 711 S. Tejon St., Ste. 200

Sweetheart Offer:1 1/2 hr massage for 1 hr- $50/hr (Save $25) or 2 for $70 (one for you, one for your sweetheart or friend) Your Valentines Day massage inclues: full body massage + anti aging face mask + sea salt scrub for hands/feet ='s you feeling Renewed, Restored, Rejuvenated!  Call 651-5848 or visit www.healthbalancemassage.vpweb.com.

Hunan Springs- 24 E. Kiowa St

Purchase a minimum $20 dinner for 2 and you and your sweetie will receive 2 free glasses of wine. Call 634-0800 for more info.

Jack Miller Jewelry Designers- 111. N. Tejon Suite A 

SWEET thru Feb 14! 20% off (Excluding .50+ Diamonds) Call 232-8122 or visit www.jackmillerjd.com

Jack Quinn's Irish Ale House and Pub- 21 S. Tejon St.

Special prices and menu for " Dinner for two." Call Martin or Yvette 385-0766 or visit www.jackquinnspub.com

Sonterra Grill- 28B S. Tejon St. 

Scarlet Snapper/ Chocolate Chile Rubbed Filet. Visit www.sonterragrill.com for full menu.

Slaytons BBQ- 28A S Tejon St.

Whiskey Peppercorn Steak/ Mahi Mahi Dijonaise. Visit www.slaytonsbbq.com for full menu.

Sparrow Hawk Cookware- 120 N. Tejon St.

Surprise your love with a Nespresso Pixie and 2 FREE espresso cups.  See photos on facebook. www.facebook.com/SparrowHawkCookware

The Bank at Broadmoor- 515 S Tejon St.

Hosting a customer appreciation in honor of their 32nd Anniversary, with complimentary roses and chocolates. www.bankatbroadmoor.com

Terra Verde- 208 N. Tejon St.

15% off any one piece of jewelry purchased on Valentine's Day. Open Tuesday 10-6pm. Call 444-8261 for more info.

The Great Southwest Jewelry & Art Store- 76 S. Sierra Madre

In time for Valentine's Day- Santa Fe Artist Richard Lindsay trunk show 2/12/12. We pay the sales tax! Call 471-7772 for info.

 

Read more http://www.downtown80903.com/events/vdayoffers

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Ultimate Superbowl food: Wings or nachos?

We’re getting close to the Super Bowl!!

For a day that’s all about the rough and tumble, you need to serve your guests something bold and flavorful, that isn’t afraid to play hard. What is your ultimate pigskin party food - wings or nachos?

CHORIZO AND PINTO BEAN NACHOS

Yield: 8 servings

1 pound Mexican chorizo, casings removed

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 cups cooked pinto beans

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large bag tortilla chips

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Chopped onion, jalapenos, sour cream, salsa and chopped black olives, for garnish (optional)

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In large skillet, cook chorizo, garlic and cumin until chorizo is thoroughly cooked. Drain most, but not all, of fat and add pinto beans, chili powder and salt. Cook until heated through.

2. On large ovenproof platter or cookie sheet, spread tortilla chips and top with chorizo-bean mixture. Repeat with another layer of each and top with cheese.

3. Bake until cheese is melted. If desired, serve with chopped onions, jalapenos, sour cream, salsa and olives.

Nutrition data not available.

Source: Ellyn Bouts

CHICKEN WINGS

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup water

3/4 cup soy sauce

1 level teaspoon dry mustard

2-3 pounds chicken wings

Procedure:

1. Combine first five ingredients in a pan to make a marinade, bring to a boil and simmer a few minutes.

2. Pour over cleaned chicken wings in slow cooker and cook 5-6 hours low. Alternative method: Set aside a little marinade, then steep wings in remaining marinade at least 8 hours in refrigerator; bake 1 hour on a flat pan at 350 degrees, basting with the marinade that was set aside.

Read more http://www.pikespeakparent.com/blogs/ultimate-superbowl-food-wings-or-nachos.html

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Valentines Dinner Class

Looking for a unique way to celebrate Valentines Day this year? Why not try a Valentine's Dinner Class!

This class includes 3 courses including chocolate desert and wine pairings, and only costs $25. Class will be held at the Savory Spice Shop in Colorado Springs, and is on Monday Jan. 30th.

If you wish to attend you must hurry, as seats are limited to the first 30 PAID registrants!

More details can be found by clicking here!

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Around Town

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Check out how the city is celebrating:

Several events are planned on Monday to honor the man who led the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Festivities to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day will begin at 8 a.m. with the All People’s Breakfast at the Cornerstone Arts Center at Colorado College, near the intersection of Cache la Poudre Street and Cascade Avenue.

The event, which is $7, will feature a speech by Rosemary Harris Lytle, president of the Colorado Springs branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

It is one of several events to honor King, who led the civil rights movement and gave his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. He was assassinated five years later in Memphis, Tenn.

Two presentations — one titled “Martin Luther King’s Vision” and another called “Race: The Power of an Illusion Episode Three: The House We Live In” — will be held beginning at 2 p.m. at the Butler Center, 1001 N. Nevada Ave.

An art exhibit titled “Gandi, King and Ikeda” will run through Friday at Colorado College’s Worner Campus Center, 902 N. Nevada Ave.

Government offices and libraries are closed today, as are many schools, banks and credit unions.

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/day-131806-events-mark.html#ixzz1jdGz2F9a

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Christmas shopping…in January

Just because Christmas is over doesn’t mean you can’t still go shopping for it! This mom bought her entire list for Christmas presents a full year in advance by taking advantage of the January mark downs. How amazing would it be to know that all of your shopping is done a year in advance?

I love bargain hunting, and January is my favorite month for shopping. It’s one of the best times of the year to find great deals on non-grocery items, particularly toys and clothing.

Why January? Let’s take a break from discussing grocery couponing and focus on shopping for the best seasonal discounts.

Every December, department and clothing stores bring in a lot of new merchandise. Everyone’s shopping for gifts, so stores stock up on holiday goods. Shelves are packed with new clothing and toys. When the New Year rolls around, stores can be stuck with leftover holiday inventory. Their pain is our gain.

Time for a clearance! There are more clearance sales in January than in any other month. Stores are eager to clear out holiday decorations, Christmas tree trimmings and other similar seasonal items. By mid-January, keep an eye on clearance aisles for toy bargains, too. Stores typically bring in lots of toy inventories before Christmas. About a month after Dec. 25, they slash the prices on whatever is left over. Any toys that were brought in for the Christmas season will take a big dip in price, with discounts from 50 to 75 percent off. Even stores that stock toys year-round will hold clearance sales. Any merchandise beyond their standard inventory will be marked down dramatically.

Shoppers eager for a bargain can usually do even better at a store that doesn’t stock toys throughout the year. These stores are quicker to discount holiday inventory in order to optimize shelf space for regular merchandise.

For the past five years, I have completed an entire year’s worth of toy shopping in January. All of it! That includes toys for my kids’ birthdays, other children’s birthdays, Toys for Tots donations and toys for the following Christmas season. It’s wonderful to know I’m already done with some of my holiday shopping a year in advance! I try to stick to toys that never really go out of style. I’ve bought everything from a basketball hoop (reduced from $15 to $2) to an electric slot car track (originally $50, marked down to $12.50).

January is also a great time for clothing clearances. Many department stores clear out not just excess holiday inventory, but end-of-year inventory, too. Any merchandise that didn’t sell during the year is brought out and priced to move. And unlike other times of the year, when stores spend big to advertise Labor Day, Fourth of July or back-to-school sales, they don’t usually announce January clothing clearances too loudly. I always scout the clothing sales in January since I learned that clearance racks will be bulging with bargains.

I buy most of the clothing my children will need for the coming year in January. Even though the weather is still cold in most parts of the country, winter coats will already be on sale because stores move them out to make room for swimwear!

And don’t forget to use as many coupons as you can for optimal savings. I always try to combine several coupons – for example, a coupon that’s good for $10 off a $50 purchase and a 20 percent discount coupon – during January clearance sales to capture even greater savings. It’s always worth getting on store mailing lists, either via snail mail or email, to stay notified of promotions. Happy shopping!

© CTW Features
Jill Cataldo, a coupon workshop instructor, writer and mother of three, never passes up a good deal. Learn more about couponing at her website, www.jillcataldo.com. Email your own couponing victories and questions to jill@ctwfeatures.com.

Read more http://www.pikespeakparent.com/blogs/christmas-shopping-in-january.html

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Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year to you and your family.  If you are making a resolution this year, you might find it difficult to keep as the year progresses.  Here are some great tips to keep you on the straight and narrow path all year long:

1. Create a Plan
Setting a goal without formulating a plan is merely wishful thinking. In order for your resolution to have resolve, (as the word "resolution" implies), it must translate into clear steps that can be put into action. A good plan will tell you A) What to do next and B) What are all of the steps required to complete the goal.

2. Create Your Plan IMMEDIATELY
If you're like most people, then you'll have a limited window of opportunity during the first few days of January to harness your motivation. After that, most people forget their resolutions completely.

3. Write Down Your Resolution and Plan
… commit your resolution and plan to writing someplace, such as a notebook or journal.

4. Think "Year Round," Not Just New Year's
Nothing big gets accomplished in one day. Resolutions are set in one day, but accomplished with a hundred tiny steps that happen throughout the year. New Year's resolutions should be nothing more than a starting point. You must develop a ritual or habit for revisiting your plan.

Check out the full article with even more tips here: http://www.mygoals.com/about/NewYearsTips.html

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