Amanda Hendershot, Exit Realty DTC

The Park Meadows Shopping and Entertainment district in Lone Tree has started opening its' newest creation. While there is still a small amount of constuction underway, for the most part the outdoor mall area is open. The beautifully crafted strip is on the south side of the mall, adjacent to where Eddie Bauer has always been. The sidewalks are beautiful flagstone with decorative rocks and aspen trees. Small iron and wood bridges cross a stream that runs peacefully through the center. The stores are open, such as Ann Taylor Loft, Bath Junkie, Lucy and Johnston & Murphy. There are a few more restarants that will be coming soon, includung a sushi bar and the White Chocolate Grill.

We spent time here on Wednesday, dining at Brio, a Tuscan Grill. The service and food were wonderful. The prices are a little high for the portions. They have a nice patio area which I can imagine will be packed weekends in the summer. The bar is a good size with TV's. We had the chicken Risotto which had a wonderful rich sauce, and the crabcake with roast vegetables. It was moist and delicious. Average meal was $12.

I returned that evening with my sister and tried out the new CRU wine bar. This place is a hit downtown. The food was very good, a hot and bubbly cheese fondue, served with apples, pears, bread and carrots. It went well with our Wine Flight. We had the Sexy Reds. We also had a pizza with roasted mushrooms, good but the texture of the shrooms was a little weird for me. The wines are expensive. You will spend a lot more here than other bars in the area. Both of these could host a perfect date night. As the rest open up I think it will become a very hip area to hang out, see you there.

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The True Meaning of Labor Day
It seems ironic that Americans celebrate labor by taking the day off. Does Labor Day mean nothing more than watermelon, baseball, barbecues and beer? Or here in Colorado - college football!

While we may have forgotten it, Labor Day is about celebrating the American worker, who in recent days has come under attack as companies export more and more jobs to foreign soils. Labor Day is a time for everyone to remind themselves of the accomplishments of American workers, who continue to set records for productivity.
According to the US Labor Dept, the annual holiday "constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country."
The holiday has a rich history.

The First Labor Day
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The CLU held its second Labor Day holiday a year later, on Wednesday, September 5, 1883. There is disagreement on who the founding father is.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. By 1894, 30 states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September a legal federal holiday.
Guidelines for the observance and celebration of Labor Day were outlined in the CLU's original proposal for the holiday - a street parade to exhibit "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the workers and their families. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. In 1909, the American Federation of Labor designated the Sunday preceding Labor Day as Labor Sunday, which was dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of Labor Day celebrations has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. However, Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are still given coverage by newspapers, TV and radio. Whatever your plans keep in the back of your mind why we are celebrating. Feel the pride of a hard days work - and a job well done!

Information from the US Dept of Labor: DOL.gov.

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Did I get your attention? It's all about generating interest, right?

During the Wednesday DNC we took a break from the chatter and played 9 holes at the Highlands Ranch golf club. Here's the inspiring shot. It was a perfect day with beautiful blue skies. On the second hole we had this view of the Denver skyline - reminding us to be thankful we weren't downtown in the mess of street closures and protesting.

It was a great time, it was interesting to watch 3 lefties play at once! The course is in decent condition after the summer. It is surrounded by huge old trees and a canal, so people are occasionally walking or jogging by. The club house is smaller than I thought it would be. It would have been a nice place for banquets. Here are some nice pics from out front.

The homes in the area have some amazing views of the front range and of the city to the north. There isn't too much for sale which is good for the homeowners here. There is a community pool and very easy access to the highway - leading in all four directions - west to littleton, east to the Tech center, north on Santa Fe to Denver, and south to Castle Rock. Also close to the Town Center where there are shops, restaurants, Kaiser permanente, a library and civic green park.

Want to learn a little more about the suburbs? Email me with your area in question and I'll give you more detailed information. Or go to our home search at

www.5280exit.com

Move-A-Thon

It will take place Aug 29th for A & C Tracks and Sept 12th for B & D Tracks. Please support your neighbors as the kids need to get pledges. Redstone is our neighborhood school, ranked excellent - one of the best in Douglas county. This is how we exceed other schools - community support. Thank you!!