Last night was def. not a normal storm. I don't think I've seen anything like it in my 10 years here. That had to be several thousand lightning strikes!

I must have been out cold asleep then. I've been stuck at home with Covid this week.

BQ2001 said:

---

there should be a southside meetup for people with kids. I'd love to go to a watch party at Sloans Lake but going all the way there with my 8yo isn't fun. Any places over here with a fenced in area to keep the kids busy?

---

Back in the early 2000s when I lived in Highlands Ranch, the local A&M Club would do a picnic with Blue Bell Ice Cream in a park on the south side. Can't remember where but from memory, I think it was somewhere near County Line and University and usually in July, I think.

62strat said:

---

Man I got an invite to the suite for game 5, but we tweaked our upcoming summer trip and are leaving Friday now.

Probably once in a lifetime to go to a possible Stanley Cup win in a suite!

---

Agreed.
Back in 2002 during the Avs playoff run, I got to sit on the glass for the Game 7 between San Jose and Colorado. It was amazing. We also had access to a Suite for that game (corporate tickets from a friend).
It's been 20 years and I've never experienced anything like that since.

A southern burbs / TexAgs game-watching that can be distinguished from the DAMC club event sounds fantastic.

Most conservative areas between Colorado Springs and Fort Collins? Coming from small town Texas, looking for a place that feels somewhat like home, but having trouble with that. So far I've liked Golden, Larkspur, Monument, and I'm trying to learn more about Castle Rock based on everyone's comments.

Any recommendations? I go up there for work once a month so I have plenty of opportunity to check things out in person.

Priorities:

Schools
Community feel
Good for younger kids
Looking for either small acreage, or at least a half acre lot

COSCAG67 said:

---

Most conservative areas between Colorado Springs and Fort Collins?

---

They're over 100 miles away from each other, so that's a pretty massive area you're talking about to find the "most" anything. Most conservative area between the two probably isn't in Denver metro.

DougCo is red… for now anyway. The left is moving in the northern areas (Castle rock, castle pines, lone tree, Parker and the ranch) in droves the last decade or so. I wish they'd choose aurora, Denver or JeffCo instead.

East a bit is Elbert county. Elizabeth, Kiowa, etc. This is even more red country.. acreage, horse owners, cowboys, big trucks, etc. The last blue president to win Elbert is FDR.

Aggie_Boomin 21 said:

---

COSCAG67 said:

---

Most conservative areas between Colorado Springs and Fort Collins?

---

They're over 100 miles away from each other, so that's a pretty massive area you're talking about to find the "most" anything. Most conservative area between the two probably isn't in Denver metro.

---

From what I've seen so far, there's not a lot of options for what we are looking for, hence the large area… and also because I'm mainly looking at areas not inside denver metro.

I see a lot of comments about douglas cty schools getting political… just curious what they are all referring to

Parker feels a lot like Texas but we just got here. Maybe some of the long time former Texan Coloradans can chime in.

Does anyone else get the free epic school kids passes for your kids?
If you didn't know, kids get a free epic pass every year up until like the 6th grade.

Anyway, what bugs me is, every year as part of the 'renewal', I have to bring them in and show proof of school age, for which I use their birth certificates. It seems ridiculous that every year I have to do this, as if my kids are aging faster than time would allow. It's not an update the picture thing, because last year, they didn't take a new picture, they kept the same ones. Why they can't just mail me their cards (like they do mine), up until they are no longer in the age range, is beyond me!

AggieLandman04 said:

---

Parker feels a lot like Texas but we just got here. Maybe some of the long time former Texan Coloradans can chime in.

---

I was in Houston for 22 years, and Parker now for 10, and I've never had that feeling. Don't think my wife has either.

What is it that reminds you of TX?

The houses/architecture look different (very little brick), the weather is certainly different, it's 95% white people, which is different from most areas of TX.. and then for the negative, it's not green throughout the year like most of TX is and everyone doesn't have a pool in their backyard!

62strat said:

---

AggieLandman04 said:

---

Parker feels a lot like Texas but we just got here. Maybe some of the long time former Texan Coloradans can chime in.

---

I was in Houston for 22 years, and Parker now for 10, and I've never had that feeling. Don't think my wife has either.

What is it that reminds you of TX?

The houses/architecture look different (very little brick), the weather is certainly different, it's 95% white people, which is different from most areas of TX.. and then for the negative, it's not green throughout the year like most of TX is and everyone doesn't have a pool in their backyard!

---

I've been able to at least drive through most of the areas around denver, up to fort collins, and down to colorado springs… the only place that reminds me of home (rural central texas) is the area between monument and castle rock but east of I25 and long 83. It's a bunch of horse farms with rolling hills of pastures… only with the mountains visible in some areas as a bonus. I'm sure I'm missing areas, but that's my experience so far.

COSCAG67 said:

---

62strat said:

---

AggieLandman04 said:

---

Parker feels a lot like Texas but we just got here. Maybe some of the long time former Texan Coloradans can chime in.

---

I was in Houston for 22 years, and Parker now for 10, and I've never had that feeling. Don't think my wife has either.

What is it that reminds you of TX?

The houses/architecture look different (very little brick), the weather is certainly different, it's 95% white people, which is different from most areas of TX.. and then for the negative, it's not green throughout the year like most of TX is and everyone doesn't have a pool in their backyard!

---

I've been able to at least drive through most of the areas around denver, up to fort collins, and down to colorado springs… the only place that reminds me of home (rural central texas) is the area between monument and castle rock but east of I25 and long 83. It's a bunch of horse farms with rolling hills of pastures… only with the mountains visible in some areas as a bonus. I'm sure I'm missing areas, but that's my experience so far.

---

they look like TX in everything but the price!
We drive 83 often. Pretty nice out there, but it's all $1m and up.

62strat said:

---

Does anyone else get the free epic school kids passes for your kids?
If you didn't know, kids get a free epic pass every year up until like the 6th grade.

Anyway, what bugs me is, every year as part of the 'renewal', I have to bring them in and show proof of school age, for which I use their birth certificates. It seems ridiculous that every year I have to do this, as if my kids are aging faster than time would allow. It's not an update the picture thing, because last year, they didn't take a new picture, they kept the same ones. Why they can't just mail me their cards (like they do mine), up until they are no longer in the age range, is beyond me!

---

Yes. Epic kids pass is awesome. It blows my mind that some of my friends buy their kids Ikon passes every year.

I think they make you go in the store in hopes you buy something. It worked on me, new pair of skis last year.

62strat said:

---

AggieLandman04 said:

---

Parker feels a lot like Texas but we just got here. Maybe some of the long time former Texan Coloradans can chime in.

---

I was in Houston for 22 years, and Parker now for 10, and I've never had that feeling. Don't think my wife has either.

What is it that reminds you of TX?

The houses/architecture look different (very little brick), the weather is certainly different, it's 95% white people, which is different from most areas of TX.. and then for the negative, it's not green throughout the year like most of TX is and everyone doesn't have a pool in their backyard!

---

I guess I should have clarified that a bit. Politically it feels very conservative, seems to have a lot of Christians, and it has a bit of a country vibe (to me) that reminds me of Texas.

BackRoad Dan said:

---

62strat said:

---

Does anyone else get the free epic school kids passes for your kids?
If you didn't know, kids get a free epic pass every year up until like the 6th grade.

Anyway, what bugs me is, every year as part of the 'renewal', I have to bring them in and show proof of school age, for which I use their birth certificates. It seems ridiculous that every year I have to do this, as if my kids are aging faster than time would allow. It's not an update the picture thing, because last year, they didn't take a new picture, they kept the same ones. Why they can't just mail me their cards (like they do mine), up until they are no longer in the age range, is beyond me!

---

Yes. Epic kids pass is awesome. It blows my mind that some of my friends buy their kids Ikon passes every year.

I think they make you go in the store in hopes you buy something. It worked on me, new pair of skis last year.

---

Ikon passes in general for anyone that lives in Denver and doesn't have a house/condo/ time share in Winter Park is crazy to me. All my coworkers bought Ikon over Epic this winter and it was around 1/3 more cost wise ($600 vs $800 at the time). Winter park is a great place to ski, and I know A Basin is a local favorite, but I don't hate Vail resorts near enough to spend $200 more for something that isn't an obviously better option IMO.

Aggie_Boomin 21 said:

---

BackRoad Dan said:

---

62strat said:

---

Does anyone else get the free epic school kids passes for your kids?
If you didn't know, kids get a free epic pass every year up until like the 6th grade.

Anyway, what bugs me is, every year as part of the 'renewal', I have to bring them in and show proof of school age, for which I use their birth certificates. It seems ridiculous that every year I have to do this, as if my kids are aging faster than time would allow. It's not an update the picture thing, because last year, they didn't take a new picture, they kept the same ones. Why they can't just mail me their cards (like they do mine), up until they are no longer in the age range, is beyond me!

---

Yes. Epic kids pass is awesome. It blows my mind that some of my friends buy their kids Ikon passes every year.

I think they make you go in the store in hopes you buy something. It worked on me, new pair of skis last year.

---

Ikon passes in general for anyone that lives in Denver and doesn't have a house/condo/ time share in Winter Park is crazy to me. All my coworkers bought Ikon over Epic this winter and it was around 1/3 more cost wise ($600 vs $800 at the time). Winter park is a great place to ski, and I know A Basin is a local favorite, but I don't hate Vail resorts near enough to spend $200 more for something that isn't an obviously better option IMO.

---

Copper. Eldora. Taos. Road trip to Big Sky and low cost upgrades to Asoen and Jackson Hole.

Both are great passes. Go enough and it doesn't matter over a whole season, especially with gas prices

Yep. Aspen alone makes Ikon worthwhile. Steamboat is icing on the cake.

Anyone on here priced out a new build lately? Curious if the sf cost for the house is close to Texas prices when not considering the land.

I've lived in HR for a few years and Castle Rock the last five. We love it here. I often joke that we live in Mayberry just b/c it's an old fashioned type of place....old town square, parades, fireworks, knowing your neighbors real well, schools are much better than back home, and we found a church that really works for us.

But douglas county is good in general. If anyone is getting a little liberal, it would be the wives in HR...so keep that in mind. That said, I have a lot of friends that have moved to Monument and even Larkspur recently. Those smaller communities seem to be popular as CR has exploded in population.

I'd be down for a local game watching party for families as well.

Just got an email from the new Denver A&M Club president, Travis Pollock '12. Is he on this thread?

Either way, they got some events coming up:

Aggie Night @ The Rapids - Aug 20
Aggie Night @ The Rockies - Aug 23

Best news is that they moved the Aggie Football watch party to Stoney's Cantina off Broadway!

https://g.page/stoneyscantina?share

AggieLandman04 said:

---

62strat said:

---

AggieLandman04 said:

---

Parker feels a lot like Texas but we just got here. Maybe some of the long time former Texan Coloradans can chime in.

---

I was in Houston for 22 years, and Parker now for 10, and I've never had that feeling. Don't think my wife has either.

What is it that reminds you of TX?

The houses/architecture look different (very little brick), the weather is certainly different, it's 95% white people, which is different from most areas of TX.. and then for the negative, it's not green throughout the year like most of TX is and everyone doesn't have a pool in their backyard!

---

I guess I should have clarified that a bit. Politically it feels very conservative, seems to have a lot of Christians, and it has a bit of a country vibe (to me) that reminds me of Texas.

---

I agree that Parker has way more of a Texas feel than other places… people, country feel/farms/horses, conservative, etc.

Texas isn't green most of the year, 62strat. It's always yellow when I go back in the summer.

p said:

---

Texas isn't green most of the year, 62strat. It's always yellow when I go back in the summer.

---

Summer??? I was comparing winter lol.
I guess Texas is a pretty big place, so should probably specify; I go to my parents almost every year out in far northwest Houston, and they are surrounded by green trees, grass and foliage pretty much year round. Maybe it's the trees/foliage that make the big difference, since we are in a <15 year old neighborhood, so aren't surrounded by really mature landscaping. And a south texas winter, even if it is brown, it's only from mid nov to early march; not early oct to early may like at my house.

Here is june,



Here is november.

News in San Antonio the other night said they've had just over 5 inches of rain in 2022. For the year. Nothing is green.

I've got pics on my phone for the last couple years where it's much greener here in late October to mid November than the Texas pic from June. I've been to Austin, Houston, and the Valley several times over the last few years in June-August, and it's always yellow/brown with some light green mixed in.

I think of weather here in terms of golf conditions/seasons:

-May to mid-November are mostly perfect (maybe a couple cold stretches/light snows in late Oct/Nov and May).
-Mid November to mid December & mid March to late April are 65/35 good conditions. Our soccer team starts practicing outdoors in mid March and playing games in late March, and we typically have to go indoors for 3-5 practices and reschedule 1-2 out of 9 games during Spring season.
-Mid December to mid March is offseason. I've played golf in 70* weather every month, but there's maybe 5-7 playable days/month in this timeframe.

I lived in Houston for 5 years before moving to Denver. The weather is the main reason I could never go back. Most years seemed like summer from April to November (with extra bad heat/humidity from May to September), with an early fall feel from November to March… and if lucky, some colder/winter temps for a few weeks.

I'm too lazy to look back further, but I looked at Accuweather for 2021 in Lone Tree:

October: 67* average high
November: 60* average high (15 days of 60+)
December: 53* average high (12 days of 60+).

We're gonna have to back up some; My initial comment was 'weather is certainly different, and then the negative, it's not green as much in denver as where I lived in houston.' to which you commented on the color in TX vs CO.

Now you've gone on a weather tangent, and I agree with everything you are saying, and that the weather here is absolutely a positive. But I was debating color, and only color. We lose leaves here in early october and get them back in early May. That is 7 months out of 12 that we have no flowers/shrubs/leaves and mostly brown grass, compared to the 2-3 months in south texas; and even that's a stretch as many trees don't lose leaves at all in Houston and our grass was never fully brown. I'm not comparing TX summer to CO summer; they are both really green imo, from my perspective of NW houston. That is why I lol'd about your summer comment.

And to play a bit of devil's advocate; fall/winter of 2021 here was like no other, not even close. No snow until Jan which blew the previous records.

Any watch parties in the Fort Collins/Loveland area this season? Been in Windsor just over a year now and don't plan on driving to Denver to watch a game

Sold

How much are you asking for them?

just what we paid which was $298.60 for the 4. they were artist presale and the AXS app is set for transferring so easy to do since they are electronic tickets.

sorry i had the date wrong on my previous post, still Thursday but 15th instead of 16th of September

When looking at houses in colorado dont just look at price. A 800k house in TX will have 15k+ in property taxes. A million dollar house in colorado will have 3500k in taxes.