Looking for fun and cheap activities to do with the kids this summer in Stapleton?  If so “Summer Movie Fun” at the Northfield 18 in Stapleton is for you.  Harkins is showing 10 movies for kids, one each Wednesday, and the total cost is just $5 per kid!  The first movie, Mirror Mirror, will be May 29th but even if you miss a few at $5 for all of them it’s still worth it to jump in later.  They’ll be showing movies such as The Lorax, Madagascar 3 and March of the Penguins.  For a full list of the titles click here.

I’m sure I’ll join my daughters for at least one of the flicks this summer, hope to see you there!

Joe Phillips | Synergy Real Estate Team | (720) 545-9003 | joe@synergyret.com

I was recently invited to the second annual Denver Daddy Daughter Dance by a friend and I wanted to share it with other Stapleton dads with daughters who may want to join in.  I wasn’t aware of it last year so this will be my first time attending but from the looks of it my two young daughters will love it.  A chance for them to get dressed up and dance….they’re always up for that even if it’s just around our house!   I’ve heard about these types of dances before and how great they are for strengthening bonds between dads and their daughters.  I’m not always great at it but I’m sure time invested with daughters early will pay off down the road in a good relationship.

The event is organized in part by Stapleton resident Chyrsan McCoin.  The event is Saturday May 18th from 6 – 10PM.  Click here for more details about the event, location, pics from last year and a chance to register!

Hope to see you there!  All are welcome so please forward this on to anyone you know who may be interested, inside or outside of Stapleton.

Joe Phillips – Synergy Real Estate Team – (720) 545-9003 – joe@synergyret.com

Time for another free kid’s clinic at Stapleton’s Home Depot on Saturday April 6th.  If you haven’t done one of these free clinics with your kids before its a great way to get them active and working with their hands.  My girls love it, every time we drive by Home Depot they ask when we’re gonna go build something again.  The kid’s clinics are free and they start at 9AM and last till noon.  I think we usually stay about 30 -45 minutes total so it’s not a big time commitment.  Great activity for dads to catch up with their kids after a busy week.  They have snacks for the kids and all the materials that are needed so it’s fun and easy.  The bird feeder may be a great gift for Mother’s Day coming up soon…just a thought.

For those not living in Stapleton the Home Depot is located at 3870 Quebec St (click here for a map).  Hope to see you there!

Joe Phillips – Synergy Real Estate Team – (720) 545-9003 – joe@synergyret.com

Anyone doing any urban gardening in Stapleton?  I’m gonna give gardening a go this year so I’m on a mission to learn  more about it.   Why not?  I like activities that I can do with my kids and that serve multiple purposes.  Seems like a great thing to do with my daughters, I need the healthy food, I can save money (maybe), we can share it with neighbors, it goes hand in hand with cooking new things, etc.  I’d love to chat with other people that have been doing it in the area to learn what works and what doesn’t.  I’m taking a series of classes on how to grow your own food at “The Garden” restaurant in N Park Hill (Not familiar with The Garden..click here).  Each monthly class will tell me what I’m supposed to be doing during that time of the year.  So last month I learned how to set up an environment in my basement where I can germinate seeds and grow them indoors for about 8 weeks before they are ready to be planted outside.  My phase 1 of this basement setup is in the picture in this post…yes I know what it looks like but that’s legal in CO now so we’re good.  They’re onions I swear.

If anybody else wants to learn more about how this all works I can catch you up on the class you missed and the next one is coming March 16th from 2-4 PM at The Garden which is located at 3435 Albion St Denver, CO.  The class will be focused on planning your garden and how to prepare it for planting.  This planning will be key since our yards are, for the most part, so tiny in Stapleton.  Sharing with others that are growing will likely be key so we can all get what we need.  The class is $15 and you can pay the day of the event. I brought my 4 year old last time and even though she was the only kid she did great and she was definitely welcome.  Their website doesn’t have info on this class up yet but I’m sure it will soon.  Hope to see you there!

Joe Phillips – Synergy Real Estate Team – (720) 545-9003 – joe@synergyret.com

Did you know the Sam Gary library in Stapleton has regularly scheduled reading events for kids each week?  Click here to check out the schedule, they have events that would work for stay at home parents as well as those who can only take their kids in the evenings.  I just found out about these so I haven’t had a chance to go with my girls yet but I’m sure we’ll be there soon.  I’m starting to have way too many kid show songs memorized (Anyone else find themselves singing Doc Mcstuffins, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, etc to themselves throughout the day?)  We might need to turn off the tv and read a little more.  This looks like a good option on these cold days and nights when its a little tougher to find things to do.

If you haven’t checked out the library for yourself it’s great.  Tons of books, magazines and movies plus you can check out books straight to your kindle so when they’re due they just disappear…you don’t have to do anything.  Click here for the library’s website for more info.

Joe Phillips – Synergy Real Estate Team – (720) 545-9003 – joe@synergyret.com

On February 9th at the Central Park Rec Center the Stapleton MCA will be hosting it’s next “Kids Night Out” program for kids age 7-12.  The MCA just posted some details about what these events are like:

I don’t know the first thing about Karate so when I was introduced to Mike Giles from Mike Giles Family Karate in Stapleton I was curious to learn more about his business.  Check out the brief video below to learn more about Mike and what they teach.  It sounds like they have a lot of great programs for kids and adults and the lessons go way beyond kicking and punching.  As a parent I love to hear that they’re teaching character development, how to listen, how to develop good habits, how to deal with bullying, how to be aware of strangers and much more!

Mike and his wife Karen are both fully committed to teaching karate and between them they have 30 years of experience so you know you’re dealing with experts!

If you’re interested for yourself or for your kids the first class is free so you can try it out.  Mike Giles Family Karate is located at 7506 E 36th Ave #480 Denver, CO 80238 and you can call them at (303) 377-kick (5425).  Don’t forget to check out the video below with owners Mike and Karen and feel free to share it with anyone you know who may be interested.

Joe Phillips – Synergy Real Estate Team – (720) 545-9003 – joe@synergyret.com

Come join us at the Stapleton Home Depot this Saturday Dec 1st for the next free Kids Clinic.  This week they’ll be showing the kids how to build a picture frame which of course makes a great Christmas gift for Mom and Dad.  The clinic starts a 9AM and goes until Noon.  It only takes 20-30 minutes so don’t think that you’re going to have to stay at HD for 3 hours!  My girls (ages 2 and 4) love it.  They still have things they’ve made there in the past and every time we drive by they ask when we’re going to go make something again.  (That’s right after they ask if we can go to Mcdonalds).  Anyway, hope to see you there and let me know if you need any more info.

Joe Phillips – Synergy Real Estate Team – (720) 545-9003 – joe@synergyret.com

 Just a quick note that Stapleton’s “Winter Welcome” is coming Nov 16th in the 29th Ave Town Center.  If you haven’t been before it’s a lot of fun, especially for the kids.  It’s the perfect chance to grab some cider, hang out with family and neighbors and get in the holiday spirit.  There will be a tree-lighting, hot chocolate, carolers, a jazz band and the stores usually offer some goodies as well.  The event is from 6-8PM and it’s free.  See you there!

Joe Phillips – Synergy Real Estate Team – (720) 545-9003 – joe@synergyret.com

All are welcome to come out and enter the Jack O Lantern carving contest on the Founders Green at 5:30 – 7:30 on October 28th.  (If you want to enter a pumpkin come at 5:30 with your already carved pumpkin, judging starts at 6PM) Carve your best pumpkin and bring it down to the free contest for a chance to win cool prizes including the top prize of an ipad!  Last year there were approximately 70 pumpkins, all of which get displayed on the Green which is really cool to walk around and check out with the kids.  It’s a fun event but it’s also for a good cause, they will be collecting food for The Gather Place and Food Bank of the Rockies.  For more details click here to go to a post about the event on Stapleton Connect.

I’m sure we’ll be there with our girls to check this out, hope to see you there.

Joe Phillips – Synergy Real Estate Team – (720) 545-9003 – joe@synergyret.com

Wanna keep your kids off the street and in a safe place for Halloween, check out the Halloween Party & Haunted House in Stapleton.  The event is sponsored by the Denver Police Department and this is their 19th year in a row hosting the event.  It’s free and there will be tons of candy, games to play and an awesome haunted house for the kids.  The event is hosted at the Denver Police Academy at 2155 Arkron Way near Montview & Yosemite.  The party will be from 5:00PM – 8:00PM on Wednesday October 31st.  Have fun!

Interested in going on a walking tour of Stapleton to learn more about the area?  Walk2Connect will be guiding two tours in October, I’m gonna go to the one on October 20th and I’d love to see you there.  Check out the brief video below I made discussing the event.  Below the video you’ll find all the details of how to rsvp for one of the walks.  I went on one of these guided tours last week and it was a great way to learn about the area, what the community has to offer, meet some people and get some exercise at the same time.

There are two walks in October in Stapleton, one is Thursday October 18th from 8AM-2PM and the other one is Saturday October 20th from 8AM – 2PM (don’t worry…there are lots of stops and a lunch break!).  You can always bail out a little early if needed.  To sign up for one of the free walks and get more information you can email jonathon@walk2connect.com or (303) 908-0076.  Hope to see you there!

For information on other walks that Walk2Connect has to offer click here.

This walk will be a great way for people to learn about Stapleton.  Feel free to foward this on to someone you know of who may want to learn more about the neighborhood.  As always, if you hear of someone looking to buy or sell a home I’d love to help!

Joe Phillips – Synergy Real Estate Team – (720) 545-9003 – joe@synergyret.com

Come join us Saturday June 2nd at 9:00AM at the Home Depot in Stapleton, they’re gonna show the kids how to build a Father’s Day organizer.  I remember my parents always telling me that gifts that I made them, rather than buy them, were the most meaningful gifts.  Now that I’m a dad I know it’s true.  We did one of these workshops a few months ago and the kids loved it.  It’s a blast and it only takes 30-45 minutes at the most.  Good chance to go have coffee or breakfast afterwards.  Hope to see you there.  In case you need it the Home Depot address is 3870 Quebec St Denver, CO 80207.  The Kids Clinic is from 9AM -12PM but we’re going at 9AM cause they run out of materials some times.

Modather Ludin, a senior at DSST, has completed his senior project on Afghanistan and all are invited to his free photography event about they country on May 2nd from 6:00PM -7:30PM.  The event will feature many life size photos of Afghanistan, artifacts as well as free desserts and beverages for all who attend.   Modather’s goal in the event is to change America’s perception of Afghanistan.  I think it’s a great idea and a good chance to learn something about Afghanistan through a different lens other than the one provided by our media which in my opinion sensationalizes  most things and typically only gives us the bad news.  For more information about the free event click  here.

The MCA’s annual Egg Scramble is coming this Saturday April 7th at 10:00am on the east side of The Green.  There are different start waves for each age group.  The youngest age group will start the scramble.  Children ages 0-3 will start their wave at 10:15am.  The next age group, children between the ages of 4-6, will begin their hunt at 10:45am.  Adults will not be allowed inside the fenced-in area with this age group.  Children ages 7 and up will begin their hunt at 11:15am. 
There will be fabulous prizes given away during the Egg Scramble.  Each age group will have a variety of candy-filled eggs and a few special gold eggs.  You MUST redeem your gold egg prizes at the Stapleton MCA booth on Saturday, April 7. 
The Easter Bunny will be here this weekend and will be located on the west side of The Green.  Remember to bring your camera and a basket or bag for your egg collection!  We hope to see you on The Green.

Wanna teach your kids at an early age that they can make a difference in thew world by helping others?  I think all parents would love a spirit of giving to be instilled in their kids early when they are most formative.  Through a recent Greater Stapleton Business Association meeting I heard about the Young Philanthropist Foundation and their mission of helping teach kids learn to make a difference in the community as kids.  The Foundation is hosting the Bash and Dash event for kids in Stapleton on May 5th at 8:00AM.  The Bash and Dash will be a collection of fun activities for elementary and middle school age kids to participate in which will teach them to give, make a difference for others and work as a team.  There is also a great breakfast to be served after the events.  For all the details click here.

Have fun!