Holiday food and festivities that you can make plans for now

Well it’s two weeks until one of those floating holidays with dates that fluctuate will be rolling around. This time it’s Thanksgiving. We all remember it’s on some Thursday in November, but most of us have to look it up on a calendar to know which one and what the dates going to actually be. So, to save you that trouble, it is Thursday, Nov. 24. That gives you a couple of weeks to gather up what you need or make reservations someplace or make plans to volunteer to help at some community program feeding the less fortunate.

Of course the highlight of Thanksgiving is always the dinner but some families are either kind of small or have members that just don’t want to tackle a big feast in the kitchen. For those of you who would prefer to celebrate by dining out there are some great choices right here in the Golden area. Keep in mind that these have gotten very popular over the last few years so reservations are recommended.

I have a few places that I would highlight on your list. Two are pretty spectacular buffets right here in the middle of downtown Golden. Both the Bridgewater Grill in the Golden Hotel and the Table Mountain Grill and Cantina in the Table Mountain Inn have extraordinary buffets featuring all your holiday favorites as well as loads of special dishes and desserts for the occasion. You can’t go wrong with either one of them.

Both offer special prices for Seniors and Children too. Rather than list everything here, I’ll direct you to their websites so you can check out all the details. Go to www.bridgewatergrill.com/special-events/thanksgiving or www.tablemountaininn.com/dining/special-events.aspx. The complete menu and pricing are there. Both are located on Washington Avenue.

Another place I recommend is Mimi’s Caf . Rather than a buffet they offer a traditional Thanksgiving dinner as well as all of their regular menu in a “sit down” fashion. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is that of an old French country village, plus you can just order what you like. This is a great option for those of you who have oddballs in your family, like I do, that for some unfathomable reason don’t like turkey. There always has to be one, doesn’t there?

Mimi’s caf is located near Colorado Mills shopping center at 14265 W. Colfax Ave. in Golden. You can call them at (303) 384-9350 or check out www.mimiscafe.com.

My favorite place to shop

When it comes to the holidays and gift giving I like to find things that are unique and something people will keep and treasure. They don’t have to be expensive, just something that is a little bit special and different than what you see advertised on TV. Now that being said, I would have no objection to receiving one of those flashy Mercedes sports cars that Santa drives in their ad, but that’s probably not going to happen.

So, for those of you who probably don’t have $ 50,000 to drop on a gift, let me direct you to the Foothills Art Center’s Holiday Art Market. It’s opening Thursday, Nov. 10 with a Member’s-Only Preview but will continue to be open daily through Dec. 30.

Basically they transform the whole center into a wonder world of treasures from over 100 talented local artists. You’ll find ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, paintings, woodworking, photography and much more. Plus, your purchases of these one-of-a-kind treasure helps support both local artists and the Foothills Art Center. They even have cards and Christmas ornaments.

The Foothills Art Center is located at 809 15th Street at the top of the hill on Washington Avenue. The Holiday Art Market will be open daily (except Mondays) with extended hours on Thursdays and weekends. For information call (303) 279-3922 or go to www.foothillsartcenter.org.

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