Crystal Valley Blog

Inspiration abounds! Whether you find it by skating your way to a New Year’s fitness resolution, learning a new skill — from mindfulness to making homemade beer — or by escaping to a 3D movie theater, you won’t be disappointed by the events happening near Crystal Valley in Castle Rock this weekend!

TODAY/TONIGHT, Thursday, January 11

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF URAVAN
During the mid-20th century, the Western Slope of Colorado was a hub for uranium extraction and processing, and at the heart of it was the mining town of Uravan. But if you visit the site where the booming town once stood, no sign of it can be found today. Join Castle Rock Historical Society and Museum for their free monthly presentation revealing the fascinating story of this ghost town in Colorado’s not-so-distant past.

Cindy Malone of Malone Media Group leads the presentation about the old mining town and its untimely demise. Refreshments will be served.

Philip S. Miller Library, 100 Wilcox St., Castle Rock
6:45-8:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Phone: 303-814-3164

WINTER CULTURAL SERIES KICK-OFF: THE LAMONT JAZZ ORCHESTRA
You don’t need to venture far to find top-notch entertainment near Castle Rock. The first of four professional performances in Highlands Ranch this winter from the award-winning Lamont Jazz Orchestra (LJO). 

The group returns for a second year to perform original music by students and faculty as well as the standard canon of modern jazz literature: Count Basie, Thad Jones, Duke Ellington, Ted Nash, Bob Mintzer, Bill Holman and many others. Made up of five saxes, four trombones, four trumpets, piano, bass, guitar and drums

the LJO is the area’s premier large jazz ensemble. Under the direction of multiple Grammy-nominated artist and co-chair of Lamont Jazz Studies, Steve Wiest, the LJO is sure to brighten even the darkest winter night.

Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 Grace Blvd., Highlands Ranch
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$15
Phone: 303-791-2500

Thursday-Saturday, January 11-13

HIGH-ENERGY COMEDY WITH DOV DAVIDOFF
Hyper ADD can be intensely funny when Dov Davidoff takes the stage, amusing audiences with his acute take on everything. Named in Variety’s “Top 10 to Watch,” Davidoff has established himself as a must-see act on the stand-up scene.

A regular on late-night and comedy TV, Davidoff has performed on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Chappelle’s Show, and has had his own Comedy Central specials. He has also performed on several Comedy Central stand-up specials including Russell Simmons Presents: The Ruckus, Gabriel Iglesias’ Stand-Up Revolution, and Showtime’s Live from Amsterdam.

Comedy Works-South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village
Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:15 p.m. & 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $17-$25
Phone: 720-274-6800

Thursday-Sunday, January 11-14

DREAM BIG! A 3D MOVIE
Let your imagination soar on the Giant Screen with Dream Big: Engineering Our World, the first movie of its kind to celebrate the human ingenuity behind engineering marvels of every size and description. Academy Award®-winner Jeff Bridges narrates how engineers push the limits of innovation in unexpected and amazing ways. With its inspiring stories of human grit and aspiration and extraordinary visuals for the world’s largest screens, Dream Big reveals the compassion and creativity that drive engineers to create better lives for people and a more sustainable future for the world.

CU South Denver, 10035 S. Peoria St., Lone Tree
11:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.
Tickets: $8-$10
Phone: 303-315-9444

COMMUNITY ICE SKATING
With the Winter Olympics just around the corner, get inspired by the spirit of the games and practice your own skating routine! The Rink at the Rock is Crystal Valley’s community recreational ice-skating rink, where you can meet up with friends and partake in some old-fashioned winter fun.

Rink at the Rock, 414 Perry St., Castle Rock
Thurs., 4:00-8:00 p.m.; Fri., 4:00-9:00 p.m.; Sat., 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Sun., 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Cost: $6-$11
Phone: 303-688-7488

Friday, January 12

EMBRACE EACH MOMENT, FIND FULFILLMENT
Join Jule Lane, a mindfulness practitioner, as she shows how mindfulness awareness can lead to a happier life. This form of mental training helps us recognize how our minds exaggerate the severity of a setback, so we can avoid believing it as truth. As a result of mindfulness awareness, new neural pathways can be created and change the brain, all without medication so we can embrace each moment and find fulfillment.

James H. LaRue Library, 9292 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Phone: 303-791-7323

Saturday, January 13

LESSONS AND LEMONADE
The Parker Artists Guild sponsors two Lessons and Lemonade classes per month for student in grade four through eight (ages 9 through 14) at the Hobby Lobby in Parker. Registration is required, but kiddos will spend a fun two hours learning hands-on lessons from the pros!

Hobby Lobby Classroom, 10901 S. Parker Rd., Parker
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Cost: $5
Phone: 720-542-8187

HOME BREW CLASS
What could be a better way to spend a winter’s day than learning how to make your own craft beer? The Castle Rock Home Brew Supply professionals will brew a five-gallon batch during this class and demonstrate how anyone can make a great home brew. You will get to sample tasters of home-brewed beer along with provided snacks, At the end of the class you’ll be able to purchase the supplies needed to brew your own craft beer at home.

Southridge Rec Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Rd., Highlands Ranch
2:00-5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $30-$35
Phone: 303-791-2500

BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE!
Make your way to the hottest blues concert in town, an intimate evening with multi-Grammy nominee, Bobby Messano, as he works his magic at Cherokee Ranch and Castle. A blues veteran who has played with Steve Winwood, Gloria Gaynor, The Allman Brothers and Boston, Bobby is still one of the most relevant artists on the scene today. As the 2017 Winner of the Hollywood Music in Media Award and with his latest release debuting at number one on Siruius/XM B.B. King’s Bluesville, Bobby is hotter than ever.

His one-night performance at the castle includes hot drinks and a selection of light appetizers, with a cash bar also available. A meet-and-greet photo op with Bobby follows the performance, plus castle tours. Concert-goers must be 18 years or older to attend.

Cherokee Ranch & Castle, 6113 N. Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia 
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $50
Phone: 303-688-5555

BALLET5280 PRESENTS VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS
As the newest dance company in the Mile High City, Ballet5280 puts a positive spin on the dancer, and shines a spotlight on diversity and inclusivity. This performance showcases the company’s critically acclaimed ballet to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in an originally-choreographed work based on classical ballet technique. Challenging tempos and choreographic twists highlight two new works that also debut at this performance. 

Ballet5280 is a unique ballet company that believes it is important for our future dancers and our children to see “themselves” on stage in a mélange of diversity and exclusivity.

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$26
720-509-1000

DOGFIGHT – THE MUSICAL
A hauntingly beautiful musical by the Oscar-winning writers of La La Land, this Vietnam War-era story takes place the night before three friends are deployed. The boys’ night out takes a turn when Corporal Eddie Birdlace meets Rose, an awkward and idealistic waitress whom he enlists to win a cruel bet with his fellow recruits. She rewrites the rules of the game and teaches him the power of love and compassion.

This performance is a Fine Arts Center (FAC) Theatre School Benefit Performance, with proceeds from ticket sales benefiting the FAC’s Youth Repertory Program along with the other Theatre School classes. 

Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $40-$50
Phone: 719-634-5581

Sunday, January 14

DENVER BRASS: A SPACE ODYSSEY
A bold new approach to a bold brass band! You will be swept up to other-worldly places with this transcendental performance, teeming with adventure. Selections from Holst’s The Planets, Apollo 13, Independence Day, and Star Trek will have you soaring long after the last note has faded away.

The internationally-acclaimed Denver Brass is a one-of-a-kind brass chamber ensemble comprised of 14 of Colorado’s finest professional musicians: not just a band, not just an orchestra, but an entirely new sound. One of only a few professional large brass ensembles in the world, this unique group defies conventional definitions and is known for its eclectic and energetic shows. 

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $17-$47
720-509-1000

Entertainment Close to Home in Crystal Valley!
Inspiring events await you just outside your door near the master-planned community of Crystal Valley! Homeowners here love the access to entertainment venues and recreational things to do nearby. Next time you’re in the neighborhood, visit the beautiful new homes offered by D.R. Horton,  Kauffman Homes and Richmond American Homes. Imagine yourself in a brand new ranch or two-story model, priced from the high $300s!