DougCo Drop – August 20th – Local Spot That's Definitely Not Baaaad, Happy Early Birthday to Lone Tree, and a TedxTalk

Hope your adjustment to school starting was seamless, whether you’ve got kids in school or not…I know I made a big mistake this past week running an errand in the middle of the afternoon…just because school is in session doesn’t mean events just stop — we’ve got plenty of good ones in this edition, plus I REALLY enjoyed this latest “Tried & True”.

Saddle Up

🎤 Music & Concerts

🌅 Summer Sunset Concert 
📅 Date: Friday, August 22
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Civic Green Park, Highlands Ranch
🌅 Detail: Songs from Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks plus other sounds of the 70s and 80s.

🎤 HRCA Summer Concert Series: Iron Prophecy 
📅 Date: Saturday, August 23
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Highland Heritage Regional Park, Highlands Ranch
🎤 Detail: Tribute to the legendary Bob Markley with food truck treats.

🎤 Tunes for Trails/Perks for Parks Free Concert: Linger - A Tribute to The Cranberries 
📅 Date: Thursday, August 21
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Amphitheater at Miller Park, Castle Rock
🎤 Detail: Celebrate the summer season with live music, and participate in a good cause.

🎤 Live Music On the Patio: Sarah P and The Dirty Logger 
📅 Date: Thursday, August 21
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Tailgate Tavern & Grill, Parker
🎤 Detail: A vocal/guitar and Cajon duet covering great songs.

🎤 Live Music On the Patio: The Barlow 
📅 Date: Thursday, August 21
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM
📍 Location: Tailgate Tavern & Grill, Parker
🎤 Detail: A rugged, four-piece band brewing Colorado country music.

🎤 Live Music On the Patio: Kevin Austin 
📅 Date: Saturday, August 23
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Tailgate Tavern & Grill, Parker
🎤 Detail: Classic, Outlaw, and Modern Country.

🎤 Live Music On the Patio: The Fuzzheads 
📅 Date: Saturday, August 23
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
📍 Location: Tailgate Tavern & Grill, Parker
🎤 Detail: Music from the likes of Tom Petty, The Cars, Neil Young, The Doobie Brothers, The Chili Peppers, Van Halen, and Elton John.

🎤 Live Music: David Chapa 
📅 Date: Thursday, August 21
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Brothers Bar & Grill, Lone Tree
🎤 Detail: A Nashville recording artist, songwriter, and producer.

🎤 Live Music: Wendy Woo Band 
📅 Date: Saturday, August 23
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Brothers Bar & Grill, Lone Tree
🎤 Detail: A poly-ethnic, power pop, song-rock, 6 piece band with sweet vocal harmonies and shuddering grooves.

🎤 Live at The Castle: Face Vocal Band 
📅 Date: Friday, August 22
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Cherokee Ranch & Castle, Sedalia
🎤 Detail: An internationally acclaimed all-vocal rock band.

🎵 Rock the Mountain Concert Series: Jay Casmirri
📅 Date: Saturday, August 23
⏰ Time: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Outlets at Castle Rock
🎵 Detail: Good vibes, great music, and tasty food trucks.

🎤 Rock the Mountain Concert Series: Hot Boots Duo
📅 Date: Sunday, August 24
⏰ Time: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Outlets at Castle Rock
🎤 Detail: Enjoy music, food trucks, and a great atmosphere.

🎷 Jazz in the Park
📅 Date: Wednesday, August 20
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Festival Park, Castle Rock
🎷 Detail: Summer evening jazz outdoors.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family

🎉 Party in the Park 
📅 Date: Saturday, August 23
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍Location: Elk Ridge Park, Castle Pines
🎉Detail: Live music, laser light show, beer & wine, vendor booths, and fun for the kids.

🎶 ‎Summer Ball and Kids Concert; Welcome to the Jungle 
📅 Date: Saturday, August 23
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
📍Location: Amphitheater at Miller Park, Castle Rock
🎶 ‎Detail: Live music from The Man Cubs, games and activities, photo ops and high-energy fun.

🎉 Family Fun Fridays 
📅 Date: Friday, August 22
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
📍Location: Outlets at Castle Rock
🎉Detail: Kid-friendly activities, live performances, and entertainment.

🧘‍♀️ Fitness

💪 Free Fitness Fridays | Zumba with Christina 
📅 Date: Friday, August 22
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
📍 Location: Amphitheater at Miller Park, Castle Rock
💪 Detail: Great workout in fresh air for all fitness levels.

🧘‍♀️ Yoga in the Park 
📅 Date: Sunday, August 24
⏰ Time: 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
📍 Location: Amphitheater at Miller Park, Castle Rock
🧘‍♀️ Detail: Focusing on awareness, breathing, and stillness outdoors.

🧘‍♀️ Free Yoga in the Park 
📅 Date: Saturday, August 23
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
📍 Location: Civic Green Park, Highlands Ranch
🧘‍♀️ Detail: Yoga for adults of all skill levels.

🎨 Arts & Culture

🗣️ TedxCherryCreekHS: Everything AI 
📅 Date: Sunday, August 24
⏰ Time: 1:30 PM
📍 Location: The Schoolhouse, Parker
🗣️ Detail: Bringing the inspiring TEDx platform to Colorado, showcasing twelve original thinkers with ideas worth sharing on “Everything AI”.

🎨 Art Reception: Mosaic Perspectives 
📅 Date: Thursday, August 21
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Location: PACE Center Gallery, Parker
🎨 Detail: Live music by Rick Vaught and light refreshments, highlighting creativity, craftsmanship, and diversity of contemporary mosaic art.

🤝 The M.E.N. Summit hosted by BeMen 
📅 Date: Saturday, August 23
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM
📍 Location: The Schoolhouse, Parker
🤝 Detail: Seeking to foster healthy masculinity, calling together males 13+ to connect and examine relevant topics.

🍽️ Food & Drink

🍴 Taste of Douglas County 
📅 Date: Thursday, August 21
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Douglas County Events Center, Castle Rock
🍴 Detail: Food samples from dozens of area restaurants and food service establishments, beverages from Pepsi and others, and live entertainment.

🍷 Vino in The Village 
📅 Date: Friday, August 22
⏰ Time: 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Location: The Village Shops at Castle Pines
🍷 Detail: Over 75 exceptional wines and spirits to sample as you stroll through the Village.

🍓 Larkspur Farmers' Market
📅 Date: Wednesday, August 20
⏰ Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Larkspur Community Park, Larkspur
🍓 Detail: Fresh produce, artisanal products, and live music.

🥒 Parker Farmers' Market on Main Street 
📅 Date: Sunday, August 24
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Main Street, Parker
🥒 Detail: Local produce and handmade goods.

🍅 Castle Rock Farmers' Market  
📅 Date: Sunday, August 24
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Festival Park, Castle Rock
🍅 Detail: Fresh produce and handmade products.

🥕 Highlands Ranch Farmers’ Market
📅 Date: Sunday, August 24
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍 Location: HR Town Center, Highlands Ranch
🥕 Detail: Colorado-grown produce, local vendors, and artisan goods

🍹 Nightlife & Entertainment

🕺 90's Dance Party: City of Lone Tree 30th Anniversary Celebration
📅 Date: Saturday, August 23
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree
🕺 Detail: A DJ spinning all your favorite hits, delicious bites from a variety of food trucks, outdoor games, and a video game trailer with 90’s favorites.

🔍 A Night With the Coroner
📅 Date: Wednesday, August 20
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (doors open 5:00 PM)
📍 Location: Deep Space, Parker
🔍 Detail: Join Lone Tree Sgt. Jeff Roepke & Det. John Hastings for a true crime investigation. $20 cash only at door. All proceeds benefit Second Wind Fund for suicide prevention therapy for kids.

🎤 Karaoke with Avery Every Wednesday! 
📅 Date: Wednesday, August 20
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
📍 Location: Tailgate Tavern & Grill, Parker
🎤 Detail: Fun and exciting singers with mixes of dance sets.

Hometown Headlines

Douglas County’s Summer Homeless Count - 72
TLDR: Douglas County reported just 72 individuals experiencing homelessness in its latest summer count. Outreach efforts by HEART teams, local partners, and resource fairs played a key role (e.g. Strive to Thrive), with notable drops in unsheltered populations. Leaders credit community collaboration and expanded shelter options, while acknowledging ongoing challenges in ensuring long-term housing stability.

Care Compact: Transforming Mental Health & Crisis Support in Douglas County
TLDR: Douglas County’s Care Compact is changing lives by uniting local agencies to support adults facing complex mental health, substance use, and developmental challenges. Since 2020, it’s connected 170+ people to 850+ services—cutting crisis calls by 87% and law enforcement contacts by over half. This award-winning program has now inspired a Youth Care Compact Pilot, ensuring compassionate, coordinated care for even more families. 

Douglas County Invests in Local Recovery: $667K Awarded to Fight Opioid Crisis
TLDR: To strengthen prevention and recovery efforts of opioid addiction, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved $667,000 in funding for two local organizations ($227k was awarded via the Opioid Settlement). HardBeauty will receive $567K to expand peer-led recovery services in the County Jail and Sky Ridge Medical Center, while Valley Hope of Parker will receive $100K to help patients transition into sober-living environments. These investments, guided by the Douglas County Opioid Council, reflect the community’s united commitment to supporting recovery and addressing the ongoing opioid crisis. 

Sterling Ranch Creates Safe & Inclusive Space with Sensory Swim
TLDR: Sterling Ranch is making waves in inclusivity with its Sensory Swim program, held Tuesday mornings in the summer. During these sessions, the pool limits attendance, silences whistles and music, and creates a calm, controlled environment for individuals with special needs. Families like the Hoels, whose daughter Caitlin has Aicardi syndrome, say the program offers a safe, joyful place to enjoy the water without sensory overload. Supported by nonprofit Miles for Madison and an on-site occupational therapist, Sensory Swim is helping children and adults with special needs experience the confidence, exercise, and freedom of the water—together. 

Broncos Sign FB Adam Prentice, Place OG Nick Gargiulo on IR
TLDR: Less than 24 hours after their dominant preseason win over the Cardinals, the Denver Broncos made key roster moves. Fullback Adam Prentice was signed after injuries to Nate Adkins (ankle surgery) and Michael Burton (hamstring), while promising young guard Nick Gargiulo was placed on season-ending IR after suffering a serious leg injury.

Prentice, who previously spent time with the Broncos in 2021 and later played under Sean Payton in New Orleans, brings valuable experience—appearing in 17 games for the Saints last season, contributing on both offense and special teams. With roster cuts approaching, Denver will be keeping a close eye on depth at fullback, including undrafted rookie Caden Prieskorn (TE), who filled a hybrid TE/FB role in Saturday’s game.

Broncos Depth Shines in 27–7 Preseason Win Over Cardinals
TLDR: The Denver Broncos dominated the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night, rolling to a 27–7 win behind big performances from their depth players. With Bo Nix and many starters sitting, Jarrett Stidham led four scoring drives and threw for 240 yards and two TDs. RJ Harvey scored his first TD, while Jaleel McLaughlin’s 36-yard burst and strong outings from Tyler Badie and Blake Watson kept competition fierce behind J.K. Dobbins. TE Evan Engram showed off with a 48-yard catch, rookie Troy Franklin grabbed two TDs, and Pat Bryant added 70 yards on four catches. Denver’s reserves stepped up for the second straight week, holding Arizona to just one score.

Tried & True

🐺🍑 Tried & True: Wolf Peach - Parker

I’m stuffed just writing this. Wolf Peach came highly recommended, so I made the quick trip to Parker to check it out — and it lived up to the hype.

We kicked things off with their whipped ricotta, topped with strawberries and hot honey, stacked on crostinis with apple slices. They served so much ricotta they had to bring out extra crostinis — no complaints here. The brussels followed, paired with carrot hummus and candied pecans that stole the show.

For mains, the bison ribs came glazed in cognac maple, plated with parsnip puree and broccolini — rich, hearty, and worth the order. But the real winner? The lamb, crusted with espresso cocoa. Next time, I’ve got my eye on the burger with bacon jalapeño marmalade and brie.

Dessert was bread pudding with peanut butter crème — supposedly “bite-sized,” but definitely not…I still finished every bite. Add in a lineup of cocktails, craft beers, wines, plus mocktails and NA beers, and you’ve got a menu that really covers everyone.

What makes Wolf Peach even better is the weekly rotation of specials: Mussels and Brussels Tuesdays (10% off), Board & Bottle Wednesdays (31% off charcuterie + wine), and a Friday/Saturday happy hour (4–5:30pm). Bonus: they refresh the menu every 6–8 weeks, so there’s always something new to try.

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