BEHIND THE BAR

Before it was a rock-and-roll icon, the building that houses the Little Bear Saloon led a quiet, respectable life. Tucked into the heart of downtown Evergreen, this legendary venue is far more than a bar; it's a century-spanning timeline of Foothills history.

The Church and The Dance Hall (1870s – 1950s)

The structure’s cornerstone was laid around 1875, originally serving as St. Mark's in the Wilderness Episcopal Church. After being moved to its present location, the building retired its sacred duties, morphing into Prince McCracken’s Drug Store and the Round-Up Dance Hall. During Prohibition, local legend holds that it was a profitable hub for bootleggers, giving the old church its first taste of rebellion.

The Jazz Age (1960s)

In the 1960s, the space was known as The Red Ram and hosted a different kind of legend: the giants of jazz. Imagine Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and members of the Glenn Miller Orchestra gracing the tiny stage. This established the venue's reputation as a mandatory stop for serious musicians.

The Bear Emerges (1970s – Today)

The building gained its current, defiant soul in the 1970s, rechristened The Little Bear (in honor of Bear Creek). The rock-and-roll era dawned, the dollar-bill tradition began, and acts like Willie Nelson (who lived nearby), Joe Walsh, and Stephen Stills helped forge its identity as the raw, raucous mountain saloon we know today.

From quiet sanctuary to notorious speakeasy, jazz club, and rock venue, the Little Bear continuously morphed with the changing times, ensuring its legendary places remains tied to the very heart of the Evergreen community.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

The fine folks behind The Golden Outpost and Golden Hayride businesses have been dealt a tough blow (which you can read about in their own words here) and have unfortunately shut down operations indefinitely. The community is thinking about the Fowler Family, and has set up a couple of ways to support for those inclined. There’s a Go Fund Me Page set up raising some funds to help out, and also a Meal Train to take one less stressor of their plate.

Thanks for lifting them up in this time of need.

THE BRIEFING

Sunrise 7:11 AM
(amazing sunrise this morning for those who caught it)
Sunset 4:36 PM
Snow Report: Mountains got dumped on last weekend, and things are looking up

Want a Featured Event? Reach out and say hello.

Care to submit an event? Send it here.

TUESDAY

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

Holidaily Brewing, Golden- Paint & Pints, 6-9pm. Register

Golden Community Center, Golden- Get your pictures with Santa, 6:30-8pm. Cookies, Crafts, & more

WEDNESDAY

Morris & Mae, Golden- Golden Startup Coffee, 9-11am. Learn more

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

Scully’s Cafe, Golden- Open Mic Night, 6-8pm. Stage is yours

The Eddy Hotel & Taproom, Golden- Cowboy Christmas Cookie Decorating, 6:30pm. Yee Haw

Buffalo Rose, Golden- Country Line Dancing Night, 7pm. Boot Scootin’

THURSDAY

Colorado Mountain Club, Golden- Backcountry Film Festival: Backcountry Beginners, 5-9pm. Tickets

Mountain Home, Evergreen- Holiday Wreath Workshop, 5-8pm. Festive Cheer

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

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

Cactus Jack’s Saloon, Evergreen- Thank you Thursday. Locals get 10% off all day while the kitchen is open, and a great warm up for Open Mic Night 👇️ 

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

Bivy Beer Bar, Golden- Books & Brews: Pop Up Bookshop, 6-8pm. Great reads

New Terrain Brewing, Golden- Music by the Mesa: Daddy Good Times, 6-9pm. Daddygrass

Bentgate, Golden- K2 Film Night Benefiting CAIC, 6-8pm. Check it out

Genesse Pub, Genesee- Open Mic Night, 6-9:30pm.

FRIDAY

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

The Woodcellar, Evergreen- Chris King Band, 8pm. Get down

Little Bear Saloon, Evergreen- Slay & Stinson, 8pm. 2025 Rockygrass Winner

What If Theatre, Lakewood- What the Dickens!? holiday show, 8pm. Info

SATURDAY

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

Downtown Golden- Holiday Parade, 10:30am. Family Fun

Evergreen Lake House, Evergreen- Frostival! Holiday jam band, winter market, and more, 11am-3pm. Get Tickets

Olde Town, Arvada- Holiday Winter Pop Up Market, 11am-3pm. Holiday Spirit

The Golden Hotel, Golden- Cookies & Cocoa w/ Santa, 2-6pm. Join the fun

SUNDAY

The Golden Mill, Golden- Santa Paws: Festive dog-loving event, 11am-3pm. Woof Woof

The Eddy Hotel & Taproom, Golden- Charlie Brown Cookie Decorating, 1:30pm. Come decorate

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

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

downtown Evergreen, ~1950

🤝 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!