Well, I did it again. I decided to order a pizza to pick up and totally forgot about the final Super Cruise of the season happening last Saturday. I write about it in my column, tell friends about it and remind my wife not to send me to the grocery store at that time, and then…I end up circling around the road closure obstacles with my phone sending me messages saying “Your pizza is ready for pick up” 10 times. Sometimes I swear my hair didn’t fall out, it just seeped into my head and clogged my brain.
Oh well. I won’t have to worry about that until the six times I forget again next summer.
So, let’s dig into what’s going on around here this week and a bit beyond.
We’ll start things off on the right foot with chili and beer. That usually makes people happy and means it’s time, once again, for the annual Golden Beer Tasting & Chili Cookoff. This years event will be taking place from 1-4 p.m., this coming Saturday, Oct. 9, in Parfet Park right in downtown Golden. That’s located on the corner of 10th Street and Washington Avenue.
Here’s how it works. For the price of your ticket you get to sample over 30 different beers as well as dozens of different chili entrees from various individuals, businesses and restaurants in the areas. They will all be bringing their best cooking skills to the table as this is also a competition for them with prizes awarded.
They have several categories for the chili including red, green, veggie as well as a showmanship award and guess what? You get to vote for your favorites!
Tickets run $40 at the gate with kids 12 yrs. and under admitted free. Proceeds benefit the Golden Chamber of Commerce programs and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. You can find out more information on their website at www.goldenbeerchilicookoff.org.
Ghoulishly good fun on the go
Last week I mentioned one creepy Halloween walking tour, but there are two more happening during the season as well. The first on is called the Golden Ghosts and Spirits Tour and it still has some time slots available on most Thursday nights in October. It’s presented by Golden History Tours.
The 2.5 hour tour kicks off at Goosetown Station, located at 514 9th Street in Golden, and moves through town with guides and storytellers touching on some of our town’s “otherworldly” residents and history. It’s actually a pub crawl too with drinks included at the meeting place. More cocktails are available along the way, but they aren’t included in the ticket price.
This one runs $45 and you can find out more, plus make a reservation at www.goldenhistorytours.com.
The next on is called the Talking Dead Pub Crawl Ghost Tour and will be presented on Saturdays, October 16, 23 and 30 gathering in the Mesa Room in the Golden Hotel, then proceeding along Clear Creek and circling through town as another walking/pub stop tour. It runs from 7-9 p.m..
This tour also features guides who will take you through some of Golden’s spookier side with stories and a bit of history. Tickets are $48 for this one and include a drink at the meeting place as well. For more information and to order your tickets head over to www.goldenghosttour.com. That actually redirects you to the right place, so don’t worry if it jumps around a bit on your device.
A few things to keep in mind. If your tour passes my house, it just looks haunted. There are no ghosts actually residing there … yet. Also, you should refrain from bringing any ghosts home with you. They don’t eat much but they do tend to keep you up at night. These do not make good pets.
John Akal is a well-known jazz artist/drummer and leader of the 20-piece Ultraphonic Jazz Orchestra. He also is president of John Akal Imaging, professional commercial photography and multi-media production. He can be reached at jaimaging@aol.com
