Labor day is this weekend, which to me means the official end of summer. Hope it was a great one, but the real ones know that fall in Colorado is the number one season! Hope you get out there to enjoy it. - Tyler

MOUNTAIN OASIS

In the 1920s, Denver was home to a thriving African American population, largely living in the Five Points neighborhood just north of downtown. Unfortunately with rising racial tensions, many African Americans faced hostility in their own neighborhood. In 1922, Two local Black businessmen, E.C. Regnier and Roger Ewalt, took matters into their own hands and co-founded Lincoln Hills Development Company, and set off purchasing 100 acres west of Denver, tucked along South Boulder Creek, in Gilpin County.

Black families - barred or unwelcome at most resorts - could buy small lots, pitch tents, build simple cabins, and enjoy the splendor of the high country. In total, Regnier and Ewalt sold over 600 plots of land to middle class African American families from all across the west, making Lincoln Hills the only resort community of its kind west of the Mississippi River.

The community’s cultural heartbeat was Winks Lodge, built by Denver businessman Obrey “Winks” Hamlet in the late 1920s. Perched among pines with shingled walls and a lively dining room, the lodge became a social hub for vacationers and touring artists who couldn’t stay in Denver hotels. Oral history and contemporary accounts list guest like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lena Horne, Langston Highes, and Zora Neale Hurtson - linking the Rockies to the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance.

A short hike up the hill, Camp Nizhoni added another dimension. Established by the YMCA, the camp gave black girls from Denver and beyond a place to hike, swim, study nature, and enjoy the outdoors when most segregated camps excluded them at the time.

At its peak in the 1930s and 1940s, Lincoln Hills offered a full rocky mountain summer circuit: fishing and horseback riding by day; communal evenings of music, readings, and lively conversation at Winks. The resort was both an escape and affirmation- a place where outdoor leisure could be enjoyed by all.

As it usual goes, change happened slowly, and then all at once. Economic hardship post depression thinned vacation budgets, and after World War II, civil rights gains were being made at other hotel and clubs. Ultimately Lincoln Hills as a resort community faded by the mid 1960s.

In 2007, a local Denver entrepreneur purchased the property to preserve it. A non profit operates out of the site, expanding access to the outdoors for Black and Latino Families in the Denver region. Additionally, Lincoln Hills Fishing Club provides exceptional fly fishing, by invite only, along Boulder Creek, which reportedly has some of the finest dry fly fishing in Colorado.

Lincoln Hills endures as more than a footnote. Its proof that the outdoors are for everyone, and the benefits nature can give us are as immense as the mountain ranges.

FOOTHILLS PROPERTY

This home, on the outskirts of Golden, is one of the coolest architectural houses I’ve seen in quite some time. Yes, the price tag is hefty, but at least you can marvel at the design and quality of this building. Maybe get a little inspiration for some of our (more reasonable) home improvement projects on the honey-do list.

VOTE RESULTS

Well… this was a tough one, and we had our most hotly contested poll in Foothill Crew history. While last week’s vote about changing up the format for events was technically a passing grade (D’s get degrees, as some have justified) with a little over 60% of you all in favor, we’re going to not rock the boat. To make grand, sweeping changes, I’d like to see more of a majority, so we’re going to keep the event format the way it has been - grouped by day of the week.

This one put me in a pickle, with great points from each side. Thank you to everyone who voted, and shared feedback.

THE BRIEFING

Sunrise 6:22 AM
Sunset 7:40 PM
Fire Bans - Yes, Stage 1
Clear Creek Status - Green Flag, Open to All Uses

Want a Featured Event? Reach out and say hello.

Care to submit an event? Send it here.

Boone Mountain Sports in Evergreen is sending summer off in style with a famous parking lot party. Swing by this weekend for deals on ski gear (almost that time), live music, free beer, and good ol fashion fun.

TUESDAY

The Eddy Taproom & Hotel, Golden- National Dog Day Celebration, 3-7pm. Woof Woof

Lair of the Bear, Indian Hills- Mountain Bike Ride w/ Jeffco Mountain Bike Club, 5:30pm. Big climbs

Green Mountain Brewery, Lakewood- Weekly Run Club, 6pm. Run, then beers

Celebration Plaza, Golden- Golden Bike Cruise: Sitcom Characters Cruise, 5:30-9pm. Dress up

Gnarly’s Theater, Golden- Trickster Tuesday Family Magic Show, 7-9pm. Laughs all around

WEDNESDAY

New Terrain Brewing, Golden- Bike Demo Days w/ Lenz Sport Mountain Bikes, 2-7pm. Test ride

The Golden Hotel, Golden- FINAL Wednesdays on the Creek Summer Music Series: Andrew McConathy, 5-8pm. Check it out

Miners Saloon, Golden- Live music Wednesdays, 6-9pm.

The Woodcellar, Evergreen- Brian Kassay in concert, 6-8:30pm. Woodcellar Debut

Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, Golden- SCRIPTprov improv show, 7:30pm. Tickets

THURSDAY

Morris & Mae, Golden- Golden Startup Happy Hour, 4pm. Big ideas

Evergreen Lake House, Evergreen- Friends of Buchanan Park Fundraiser, 5:30pm. Support

Flying J Ranch Park, Aspen Park- Social Mountain Bike Ride with Girls, Gears, & Beers, 5:45-7:45pm. Sign up

Cactus Jack’s, Evergreen- Evergreen Chamber Orchestra Season Preview, 6pm. Get your tickets

Runner’s Roost, Golden- Weekly Run Club, meet at 6pm

BP Run Co, Wheat Ridge- Weekly run club, starting at 6pm. Lace ‘em up

Center for the Arts, Evergreen- Community Jam Circle, 6-9pm. Bring your instrument

New Terrain Brewing, Golden- Music by the Mesa: Taylor Scott Band, 6-9pm. Troubadour Americana

Goosetown Station, Golden- DJ Drake: EDM & Funk Jams, 6:30pm. Buy tickets

Cactus Jack’s Saloon, Evergreen- Almost Famous Open Mic Night, starting at 7pm

Mad Macks Brewing, Golden- Adult Spelling Bee, 7pm. Show off your smarts

FRIDAY

The Golden Mill, Golden- Rooftop Yoga, 9:30-10:30am. Rain or Shine

Cheese Ranch Artisan Deli, Golden- Fondue Friday, 5pm. Call ahead

Luki Brewery, Arvada- End of Summer Final Friday, 6-9pm. Celebrate

Barrels & Bottles, Golden- Live music with Mathew Rising (and special Food Truck from The Shuck Brothers), 6-9pm. Oysters and good beats

Golden Welcome Center, Golden- Colorado Haunted History “Murder, Mayhem, and Madness” Tour, 7:30pm. Save your spot

The Woodcellar, Evergreen- RowHouse 43 Blues Band, 8pm. Bluesy Night 

Clear Creek Valley Park, Arvada- Outdoor Movie Night, 8:30pm. Bring a blanket

SATURDAY

Golden Library Parking Lot, Golden- Golden Farmers Market, 8am-1pm. Fresh

Parfet Park, Golden- Yoga in the Park, 9-10am.

Hiwan Park, Evergreen- Outdoor Yoga with Free Range Yoga, 9-10am. Stretch it out

Snowpack Taproom, Conifer- Saturday Morning Yoga, 10-11am. Flow state

Boone Mountain Sports, Evergreen- The Big Stoke Parking Lot Party (Day 1), 1-5pm. Send Summer off

Holidaily Brewing, Golden- Live music with Gabriel Coda, 5-7pm. Come hang

Buffalo Rose, Golden- Smokin’: Best of Boston, 8pm. Rock show

Little Bear Saloon, Evergreen- The Street Deacons in concert, 8pm. Jazz & Funk

Etta Jeanne, Golden- Late Night DJ with Golden’s own Tyler Smith, 9pm-12am. Join the party

SUNDAY

Olde Town, Arvada- Farmers Market, 9am-1:30pm. Fresh produce and fun

Golden Outpost, Golden- Country Market, 10am-3pm. Yeehaw

Buffalo Rose, Golden- Sunday Bluegrass Brunch with Timber, 10am-1pm. Mountain music wake up

Boone Mountain Sports, Evergreen- The Big Stoke Parking Lot Party (Day 2), 1-5pm. Send Summer off

The Golden Mill, Golden- Latin Music Series with Nico Martinez, 3-6pm. Jam out

Snowpack Taproom, Conifer- Rocky Mountain Pro Live Wrestling on the Beach, 4-6pm. Check it out

Mountain Toad Brewing, Golden- Board Game Night, 5pm-close. Have fun

Etta Jeanne, Golden- Live music by Lucas Wolf, 7-9pm. Soulful Sounds

MONDAY

Golden Game Guild, Golden- Teach Me to Play Mondays, 6-9pm. Learn new games

New Terrain Brewing Co, Golden- Yoga on Tap 🧘 Yoga from 6-7pm, beers anytime. Get your ticket

The Eddy Taproom & Hotel, Golden- Rooftop Tango, 6-7pm. No experience needed

🤝 If you think someone else would enjoy these updates, please pass along. The more the crew grows, the better it gets for everyone.

💌 If you have good friends who were kind enough to forward this to you, skip the middleman and join the crew directly! 👇️ 

See you around the next bend!