Castle Rock Crew #045

Well, I immediately fired the person responsible for last week’s timing issue, and then reluctantly hired myself back on because I need the job. That said, I’m now on a strict Performance Improvement Plan.

Anyways, it’s Veterans Day, and I want to thank all the veterans for their service.

I was struggling to find the right words to express that thanks without it sounding glib or boilerplate, so I spent some time reading quotes from people who said it far better than I ever could. I hope you find them thought-provoking too.

• “This country has not seen and probably will never know the true level of sacrifice of our veterans.” — Thomas M. Smith

• “On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.” — Dan Lipinski

• “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” — John F. Kennedy

• “We don’t know them all, but we owe them all.” — Unknown

• “Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” — Winston Churchill

Along these lines, I recently met April, a veteran who owns a business that opened downtown a few months ago. Her shop, Niche & Co., will be part of the event below, so a special shoutout to her.

Sip & Stroll | Downtown Castle Rock | December 4

Last year, the team at Mod Mountain Boutique came up with a simple but great idea: what if downtown shops stayed open late for one night, offered a few festive sips and snacks, and made holiday shopping feel like a stroll with friends instead of a chore? That’s how the Castle Rock Sip & Stroll was born.

Last year was such a hit that we’re bringing the event back on Thursday, December 4. It’s the perfect time to grab some friends and family and enjoy Downtown Castle Rock in all its festive glory while supporting your favorite hard-working local businesses. In addition to shopping at downtown businesses, you can enjoy the festive lights and the annual horse and carriage rides trotting through the streets, which have become a true holiday hallmark.

How it works: pick up a passport at any participating business, stop in for drinks, bites, and shopping, and get your card stamped along the way. Turn in a passport with at least six stamps, and you’ll be entered to win one of fifteen $25 gift cards, one from each participating shop.

This year’s lineup includes everything from festive mocktails, dirty sodas, hot chocolate, and chai to poppy seed bread, peppermint bark, and a frankly dangerous number of cookies. All of the stores are running deals too, like free gifts with purchase, 10% off storewide, or 25% off select items.

You’ll see plenty of familiar faces along with a few new additions to downtown. Castle Toys is joining in (I’m already eyeing an AT-ST LEGO — Star Wars nerd stuff for all you cool kids out there). As mentioned, Niche & Co. is taking part as well, along with Goldie Links and Petals & Pop, which both bring great variety to the mix.

Please do yourself (and your neighbors) a favor and get as much of your holiday shopping done right here. I really don’t want to have to pull out the stats showing how much more of every dollar stays in the community when you shop local, but you know I will if I have to.

This event is free to attend.

📅 Thursday, December 4 | 5pm–8pm
📍 Downtown Castle Rock

Participating Businesses
Mod Mountain Boutique • Life at Home • Castle Toys • Goldie Links • Castle Rock Music • Niche & Co • Sunday Afternoon • Miss M’s Tea Parlour • Nixon & Co • Sudden Fiction • Everything Alpaca • Petals & Pop • The Garden Path • Playa Bowls • Golden Fly • Douglas County Libraries

👉 RSVP on Facebook: Sip & Stroll Facebook Event

Stay tuned on Instagram for sneak peeks.

Four Seasons Lighting Co.
Colorado’s Premier Jellyfish Lighting Installer

Love Christmas as much as Buddy?

Avoid becoming an angry elf and have Four Seasons Lighting Co. put up permanent lighting this season for all seasons.

No ladders. No storage. No stress.

Get a quote for lights Buddy would approve of here.

Pet Adoptions

Want to see your pet in lights? Through Humane Colorado’s Tails on the Tower initiative you can have your pet’s face up on the Daniels and Fisher Tower on December 13, 2025. Learn more here.

Bye Hi, Felicia: love hiking? Apparently this sweet girl is the one for you then! She loves to get outside and explore!

Reach out if you’re interested in sponsoring the newsletter. [email protected]

Sports

Broncos - well, the Raiders game was one of the most atrocious showings of sport I’ve quite possibly ever seen. Statistically speaking that game was…you don’t want to go there, actually. The fact that we’re 8-2 is nothing short of astonishing, but I think we’re in for a rude awakening against the slow starting Chiefs who look really good right now, especially with the return of Rashee Rice. If I did my math right, the combined record of the teams we’ve beaten is 24-48-1, versus the teams we’ve lost to, which is a respectable 15-5. I don’t know. I said we looked like a team that should be 4-6, but others countered with 5-5 and 6-4…game against the Chiefs, who are 5-4, is on Sunday, November 16 at 2:25pm. Thoughts and prayers are with Alex Singleton, who underwent a procedure for testicular cancer after a random NFL drug test flagged indicators that prompted further evaluation. Statement from them on Instagram here.

Nuggets - Nugs are 7-2 putting us at 3rd in the Western Conference. We won all three of our games this past week beating the Heat 122-112, blowing out the Warriors in the Group Stage of the NBA Cup 129-104, and defeating the Pacers 117-100. We’re on the road where we face the Kings on Tue, Nov 11, the Clippers on Wed, Nov 12, and the Timberwolves on Sat, Nov 15. Then, we’re back home to host the Bulls on Mon, Nov 17.

Avalanche - we’re 10-1-5 with 25 points (most in NHL) after beating the Lightning (3-2), demolishing the Oilers (9-1), and outlasting the Canucks in OT (5-4). Nice home stretch here as we host the Ducks on Tue, Nov 11, the Sabres on Thu, Nov 13, and the Islanders on Sun, Nov 16.

Rockies - just when I thought we were done with the Rockies, they go ahead and hire Jonah Hill — I mean, the guy Jonah Hill portrayed in Moneyball — Paul DePodesta. He was the A’s assistant GM to Billy Beane back in the day and will be our new President of Baseball Ops. He was most recently with the Browns as Chief Strategy Officer. And, unfortunately, he’s been there for a while and was definitely involved in the extremely questionable trade for Deshaun Watson…some seem to believe he can turn the team around even after a decade-long hiatus from baseball. Fingers crossed.

Events:

Tuesday, 11/11:

The Office Co. | Bar & Kitchen (every day) - Happy Hour - 2:00pm–7:00pm

Courtyard Social (every weekday) - Happy Hour - 2:30pm–5:00pm

Bien y Tu (every weekday) - Happy Hour - 2:30pm–5:00pm

The Whiskey Lodge - 85¢ Wings - 3:00pm–10:00pm

Bucketlist Tavern (every weekday) - Happy Hour - 3:00pm–6:00pm

Hideaway Bar & Grill (every day) - Happy Hour - 3:00pm–6:00pm

Provision - Bardstown Tasting Event - 6:00pm - tickets

I.C. Brewhouse - Trivia - 6:30pm–8:00pm

Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co. - Geeks Who Drink Trivia - 7:00pm–9:00pm

Elizabeth Brews - Trivia Night - 7:00pm–9:30pm

Wednesday, 11/12:

Wide Awake Eatery - Happy Hour - 4:00pm–6:00pm (Wed-Sat)

Alidade Brewing - Music Bingo - 6:00pm–8:00pm

Downtown Castle Rock - Castle Rock Crew Dinner Club - 6:30pm

Hideaway Bar & Grill - DJ Trivia - 7:00pm–9:00pm

Thursday, 11/13:

RNK Running - CHOG - 6:00pm

Crowfoot Valley Coffee and Crowbar - Trivia Night - 6:00pm

Sunday Salmon - Thankful Thursday - 5:45pm

Wide Open Saloon - Country Dance Night with Dance Instructor Marla Gifford - 6:00pm–10:00pm

Alidade Brewery - Pumpkin Succulent Centerpiece - 6:00pm-8:00pm

105 West Brewing Company - Rock/Blues Jam Session - 6:00pm

Übergrippen - Ladies’ Climbing Night - 6:30pm–9:30pm - tickets

Philip & Jerry Miller Library - Monthly Presentation: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - 7:00pm–8:00pm

Hideaway Bar & Grill - Karaoke with Big E Entertainment - 8:30pm–12:30am

Friday, 11/14:

The Grange - Holly Jolly Boutique - 11:00am–7:00pm

Wide Awake Eatery - Colorado's Top Dueling Pianos Shows - 6:00pm–9:00pm - tickets

Wide Open Saloon - Duncan Coker - 7:00pm–10:30pm

Sinners and Saints - LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALTAR: Christopher C. Romero - 8:00pm–10:00pm

Saturday, 11/15:

Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Petrified Wood Hike - 10:00am - tickets

The Grange - Holly Jolly Boutique - 10:00am–5:00pm

Outlets - Jingle Bucks - 10:00am–8:00pm

Wide Open Saloon - 2025 MRA Awards Ceremony - 12:00pm - tickets

Outlets - Annual Tree Lighting - 5:00pm–7:00pm

105 West Brewing Company - Live Music: Chancer's Hooley - 6:30pm–9:30pm

Wide Open Saloon - Aces & Eights - 7:00pm–10:30pm

Sunday, 11/16:

Alidade Brewing - Hooves & Hops - 12:00pm–3:00pm

Honnibrook Craft Meadery - Mac & Cheese Competition - 2:00pm–3:30pm

Monday, 11/17:

Elizabeth Brewing - November Succulent Box - 6:00pm–8:00pm

Heads up on events that are further out:

105 West Brewing Company - Live Music: Country Jam Session - Nov 20, 5:30pm

Online Event - LEGACY: A Real Estate Masterclass - Nov 20, 7:00pm–8:00pm - Registration

BoxDrop Mattress & Furniture - November Charity Clearance Sale Benefiting Colorado Kids Belong | Facebook - Nov 21-23, 11:00am

Honnibrook Craft Meadery - Live Music! Josh Blackburn - Nov 21, 6:00pm–9:00pm

Wide Open Saloon - Brian Brooks’ Sundown Rising - Nov 21, 7:00pm–10:30pm

Sinners and Saints - LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALTAR: Scott Uhl - Nov 21, 8:00pm–10:00pm

Downtown Castle Rock - Castle Rock Starlighting - Nov 22, 2:00pm–6:00pm

Turkey Rock Trot - 5K Family Fun Run/Walk/Stroll - Nov 27, 7:30am - tickets (use code CRCREW25 for 15% off)

The Ridge Golf Course - Tree Lighting Celebration - Dec 5, 5:00pm–7:00pm - tickets

The Ridge Golf Course - Movie Night - Dec 6, 5:00pm–7:00pm - tickets

The Ridge Golf Course - Holiday Carriage Rides - Dec 13, 4:00pm–8:00pm - tickets (SOLD OUT, JOIN THE WAITLIST)

The Ridge Golf Course - Holly Jolly Brunch - Dec 14, 9:00am–3:00pm - tickets

The Gardens, Highlands Ranch - Ornament Decorating Party! - Dec 26, 11:00am–4:00pm

Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Sinatra Tribute Show LIVE! - Dec 27, 6:00pm - tickets (ALWAYS SELL OUT, SO BUY AHEAD OF TIME)

Worth the drive: other Douglas County Events can be found in our sister newsletter, DougCo Drop — subscribe below

*We are working on an events calendar via our sister brand that will provide both advance notice and greater variety for events - feel free to provide feedback: https://dougcodrop.com/events/

⚠️ Please verify event details and availability with the respective venues or organizers, as schedules may change.

Let us know of any events, locations, establishments, or businesses that you would like us to highlight in coming editions. [email protected]

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