Your Lucky Deals

In keeping with our commitment to the four charities we support with every daily deal purchase, we want to make sure you know how you can support them even when you’re not purchasing one of our fantastic deals.

All next week, Denver Rescue Mission will be partnering with Keller Bros. Auto in Littleton for their Oil Change to Change Lives fundraiser. It’s pretty simple – just bring 10 cans of food or a package of diapers when you come to Keller Bros. for that oil change you’ve been meaning to get to, and the fine people at Keller Bros. will give you $20 in cash. When you turn around and immediately donate that money to Denver Rescue Mission, you’ll be entered to win one of lots of great prizes!

Some folks from Denver Rescue Mission will be at Keller Bros. from 12-5pm on Friday, July 29^th to wrap up the oil change fundraiser with lunch, a car wash, and what’s practically guaranteed to be a good time! All proceeds from this fundraiser will directly benefit Denver Rescue Mission and all of their much-needed services in our fair city.

So be sure to treat that AWD vehicle of yours to some fresh oil next week, and support an organization that’s close to our hearts. No matter how you look at it, you can’t lose!

Who: Denver Rescue Mission
What: Oil Change to Change Lives
When: Monday, July 25^th to Friday, July 29^th
Where: Keller Bros. Auto
250 E. Dry Creek Road
Littleton, CO  80122

It has been definitively established that we Coloradans (native and non-native alike) love our beer. After all, Colorado didn’t get the moniker “Napa Valley of Beer” for nothing. Although we have easy access to a multitude of yummy brews year-round, there are few among us who don’t appreciate access to dozens of brews all at once. Enter the Denver Summer Brew Fest.

Though the Denver Summer Brew Fest hasn’t reached the enormous proportions of an event like the Great American Beer Festival (held in Denver, FYI), it’s an opportunity for locals to get out and try more than 125 brews from over 45 craft breweries – many of which are located in our own beloved city and state. In fact, it’s not uncommon for you to chat with the person who concocted the tasty beverage you’re drinking in the same moment you drink it. What could be better?!

As one of Your Lucky Deals savvy patrons, we’re know you’re wondering how you will get home after imbibing all that beer. Fear not! For only $10, your designated driver can gain admission to a special lounge area of the fest and have unlimited access to snacks and soft drinks (in addition to your undying gratitude). If you can’t find a designated driver, it’s the perfect opportunity to utilize Denver’s fantastic public transportation system and interact with the many colorful characters of this fair city.

If you’re feeling fancy or you’re due for a Date Night, VIP tickets are available for just 10 dollars more than general admission. Not only will you be the first in the door, you’ll get to taste some exclusive brews and enjoy cheese samplings from MouCo (local!) expertly paired with various beers. Whether you’re a VIP or lumped in with the rest of us common folk, the Summer Brew Fest is an event worth going to! But be warned – tickets often sell out, so avoid disappointment and buy yours in advance!

What: Denver Summer Brew Fest
Where: Mile High Station (2027 West Lower Colfax Avenue)
When: Friday, July 22^nd; VIP Session from 6-7pm, GA from 7-10pm
Cost: VIP: $40 advance/$45 day of event
General Admission: $30 advance/$35 day of event

It’s obvious that citizens of Denver are some of the smartest folks in the country, if only by virtue of the fact that we choose to live in this amazing city. And residents of the Mile High City know that living in Colorado comes with the bonus of gaining extensive knowledge (and love) of certain topics, two topics in particular – beer and bicycles. Every day provides a new opportunity to combine our love of brews and bipeds, though there’s always one day that seems to stands above the rest.

The Urban Assault Ride (UAR) began in Austin, TX in 2003 with the goal of combining the insanity and fun of scavenger hunts, bike races, and music festivals into one incredible event. Well, that goal was achieved and now the ride has spread to 10 cities across the nation and is one of the largest bike events in the nation! And with Colorado being the only state with two stops (Denver and Ft. Collins), it’s clear that the organizers of UAR realized that Coloradans take this event seriously!

Now that you’re sufficiently intrigued, we can tell you the amazingness of what UAR actually entails. You and a teammate will hop on the bicycle of your choosing – helmets are non-negotiable – and go on a quest to complete obstacles at various checkpoints throughout the city. And these aren’t some dinky, boring checkpoints … think inflatable slip-n-slides, roller coasters at Elitch’s, and even a couple of mystery checkpoints. While not required, many teams compete in costumes of their choosing or have a “team theme.” Costumes or not, you and your teammate are guaranteed to have an excellent time.

When the ride ends and you’re properly drenched from the slip-n-slide checkpoint or riding an inflatable duck through a community pool (hypothetical scenarios, of course), you’ll head over to the back yard party for a massive celebration of brews and bipeds. And because Colorado’s very own New Belgium Brewery provides the brews, you know you’re in for a tasty celebration!

Over the past several years, New Belgium Brewery has teamed up with UAR to make this fantastic event possible and promote a love of all things bicycle. To those familiar with New Belgium, this comes as no surprise; the brewery was founded after an idyllic bike ride through Europe, prides itself on being “alternatively empowered” and sustainable, and is known for being one of the most bike-friendly and bike-loving businesses in the country. See what we mean about Coloradans’ dedication to and love for beer and bikes?

You’ve likely now moved beyond being intrigued to feeling an urge to sign up for the Urban Assault Ride, RIGHT NOW! But know this – because the July 24^th UAR in Denver is one of the “biggest and baddest” in the country, registration is capped. Meaning, it might not be a bad idea and give into that urge you were just having, especially since registering before July 10^th means a discounted registration fee. (Go here for all your registration needs.)

So, Denver-ites! Take advantage of this incredible opportunity to celebrate your love of beer and bikes, and show all those other cities why living in Denver better than living almost anywhere else.

Part of what makes Your Lucky Deals unique is our commitment to supporting local charities. Whenever you purchase one of our daily deals, 10 percent of the proceeds from your purchase go to one of four local charities of your choosing – MaxFund, Denver Rescue Mission, SafeHouse Denver, or Educate!. In addition to the donations provided with each purchase made through our website, we want to make sure you know how you can support these very worthy organizations when you’re not buying one of our fantastic deals.

Each month, MaxFund holds adoption events throughout the Denver Metro area. Whether you’re looking for a canine companion or a feline friend, MaxFund has plenty of critters that are looking for their forever homes. And with three adoption events remaining in the month of July, there are plenty of opportunities to go pet some pooches and maybe even find your new best friend.

Saturday, July 16^th: 11am-3pm at urban dogg (695 E. 19^th Avenue)
Saturday, July 30^th: 11am-3pm at Pets N’ Stuff (7777 W. Jewel Avenue)

What better way to fill the pages of your recently purchased PhotoBin deal, than with pictures of your new furry friend? We certainly can’t think of one!

The work week is waning on, and you’re probably counting the seconds until the beginning of the gloriously long holiday weekend. You have visions of fireworks and hotdog buns dancing in your head, all the while hoping that your crazy great-Aunt Sally will forgo her customary patriotic bikini at this year’s family BBQ. Before the madness of 4^th of July celebrations ensues, why not start your weekend with some Denver culture?

On the first Friday of each month, the Art District on Santa Fe hosts First Friday Art Walks. From 6-9pm, the general public is able to peruse the art of local artists in over 60 galleries, art studios, and restaurants in the Art District – often getting to schmooze with the artists themselves. In addition to the art hanging on the walls, you’re likely to find a performance art troupe or two displaying their many talents (juggling fiery batons, for example) along these blocks of Santa Fe.

Many of the galleries and studios along the way generously provide wine to sip and snacks to nibble while you admire the many talents of Denver’s art community. If a sip and a nibble simply isn’t enough, there are always a few of Denver’s gourmet food trucks around, ready to serve you some delicious street food (or maybe it’s art for your taste buds).

As the name itself implies, this event only happens on the first Friday of each month. Why wait until August to experience such a magical part of Denver’s city life? So grab your crazy great-Aunt Sally, and start the long weekend off in a classy way. And if great-Aunt Sally’s patriotic bikini happens to disappear while she’s out admiring art … well, our lips are sealed.

It’s a romantic notion that seems to be made for the movies – a crisp summer night in a local park, sitting on a blanket next to your sweetie-pie, noshing on the yummy picnic you packed, watching an old movie on the big screen. Guess what? That romantic notion is easily made into reality in this amazing city of ours.

This Saturday, June 25^th, Denver Parks and Recreation will kick off their 2011 Movies in the Parks Series – a summer experience you don’t want to miss! This is the sixth year for the Movies in the Parks Series, and it’s safe to say that this event is only getting better with age. Fourteen movies will be shown at four parks around Denver (Governor’s Park, Civic Center Park, Skyline Park, and Lincoln Park) this summer, kicking off with a showing of the cult classic Beetle Juice at Governor’s Park this Saturday at sunset.

Denver Parks and Recreation partnered up with Outdoor Cinema Network (a local company!) to bring you the best outdoor movie experience possible – all movies will be shown in Blu-ray format on inflatable screens that are more than 24 feet tall! Best of all, you can go see these 14 movies absolutely FREE. And because you can bring a picnic or take advantage of the amazing pre-movie food options available at each park, you don’t have to worry about trying to sneak in snacks in your friend’s/sister’s/mom’s/girlfriend’s/wife’s huge purse. (You know you do it! We all do.)

Whether you want to enjoy the company of friends, snuggle up to someone special on date night, or have a memorable family night with the kiddos, Movies in the Parks offers the opportunity for a unique experience in a phenomenal city for just about anyone.

Did you know that when you buy a Your Lucky Deal, 10% of the proceeds go to one of four fantastic local charities? If you didn’t, you certainly do now! We are affiliated with MaxFund, Denver Rescue Mission, Safehouse Denver, and Educate!. Our goal is to let you know when these charities are hosting events and/or activities, so you can continue to support them even when you’re not purchasing one of our daily deals.

You know how we talked about owning a bicycle being an integral part of living in Denver? Well, our guess is that it’s just about the same situation when it comes to having a dog in this magnificent city of ours. From the smallest to the largest, we Denver-ites LOVE our pups. Given this fact, it’s saying a lot that you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who loves canine pals more than the folks over at MaxFund. MaxFund is a Denver-based no-kill shelter that provides love and care for injured and homeless animals.

This Saturday, June 26^th, MaxFund will be hosting their 15^th Annual Lucky Mutt Strut at Washington Park to raise money to help care for the homeless and injured animals taken in by these kind folks. This event is a great opportunity to (hopefully) enjoy some Denver sunshine and make new pals (human and canine, alike), as well as support a fantastic cause.  You’ll also have the opportunity to meet local vendors and sample their wares – Fido may even get a free treat!

Location: Washington Park
Date: Saturday, June 26^th
Time: Day-of Registration begins @ 7:30am; Walk/Run begins @ 9am
Cost: Adults: $30-$35 and Children: $20-$25 (includes H20 bottle and/or t-shirt!)

To register for the Lucky Mutt Strut and support one of our favorite organizations, go here! And if you can’t strut your stuff this Saturday, you can go here to support one of MaxFund’s furry friends and/or teams.

You only have to be in Denver for about five minutes to recognize that we Denver-ites LOVE our bicycles. Rumor has it that you’re not allowed to live in Denver for longer than a year if you don’t own a bike. Just kidding! But with our population’s passion for pedal-pushing, it’s easy to see why Denver came in 12^th in Bicycling Magazine’s rankings of “America’s Best Bike Cities.”

The most fervent of Denver’s bike lovers will tell you that every day is a great day to hop on the saddle for a ride, and maybe they’re right. But if you (like most) need a little motivation to dust off that old Schwinn and get those legs pumping, next week is your week!

As any person in Denver without air conditioning will tell you, summer already appears to have a firm grip on our city. However, the first official day of summer is June 21^st – Summer Solstice. In celebration of the advent of summer, BikeDenver is hosting their 3^rd Annual Summer Solstice Ride on – you guessed it! – Tuesday, June 21^st. Perks of the ride include live animal demonstrations and a free admission ticket to the Denver Zoo at the beginning of the ride in City Park, the rare opportunity to cycle through the lovely Denver Botanic Gardens, and a yummy (and free!) post-ride picnic sponsored by Illegal Pete’s and Avery Brewing Company. But don’t delay in registering for this ride – the free post-ride picnic is limited to the first 400 registrants!

After you and your bicycle are sufficiently warmed up from the Summer Solstice Ride, you’ll be ready to participate in this year’s Bike To Work Day on Wednesday, June 22^nd. As expected, the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCG) does not take such a day lightly. If avoiding traffic on Broadway and Speer isn’t enough to motivate you to ride your bike to work, DRCG has made sure that there are official t-shirts to be worn, breakfast stations to be visited, and competitions to be won. What’s more, you could win some really awesome prizes (we’re talking stuff like a new bike, Rockies tickets, or a membership to Colorado Athletic Club) just for participating! And who knows? You might have just found a cheaper way to get to work from now on … which means you’ll have some extra money to buy the Your Lucky Deal you’ve been eyeing. Just saying.

The moral of the blog story is this – NOW is the time to free your bicycle from the corner of the garage where it has been collecting dust, grab your helmet, and enjoy bike-friendly Denver on two wheels. Happy pedaling!

It’s the middle of June, which means summer has finally arrived in Denver. It also means that Father’s Day is upon us (June 19th for those of you now frantically searching for your calendars). We doubt that dear ol’ dad will want flowers and a fancy brunch like mom got last month, and let’s face it – there’s only so many neckties dad needs in his closet.

Lucky for you (and for dad), we live in a vibrant city that has plenty of ways you can show dad how much you love him this weekend.

Is dad a guy that likes to get his hands dirty, or maybe take his 4WD for drives in the mud? Well then he might just love the new Marvelous Mud exhibit at the Denver Art Museum! Between getting to observe an artist working a potter’s wheel and getting dirty playing with clay in The Mud Studio (for kids of ALL ages), dad and the kiddos are sure to have a good time.

Location: Denver Art Museum (Civic Center Cultural Complex)
Dates: Exhibit runs through September 18th
Times: 10am – 5pm, Saturdays and Sundays
Cost: General Admission (click here for prices)

Maybe dad is a guy that enjoys listening to old records while drinking a cold beer and grilling up copious amounts of red meat. Then there’s no doubt that he’ll love spending this Sunday afternoon at Randolph’s Father’s Day Blues, Brews, and Bar-B-Que. All afternoon, dad can enjoy all-you-can-eat BBQ and all-you-can-drink brews from Colorado’s very own Breckenridge Brewery while enjoying the summer sun on Randolph’s wrap-around patio. Just don’t forget to bring the antacids and a designated driver!

Location: Randolph’s Restaurant and Bar
Date: Sunday, June 19th
Times: Noon – 5pm
Cost: $19 per person

Perhaps dad is the type who constantly reminisces about the “old country” and enjoys indulging in savory treats “like grandma used to make.” If that’s the case, dad is sure to find some kindred spirits and good eats at The Denver Greek Festival this weekend. After all, who wouldn’t love enjoying some homemade baklava while basking in the summer sunshine (while wearing proper SPF protection, of course)?

Location: The Assumption of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Denver
4610 East Alameda Avenue
Date: Friday, June 17th through Sunday, June 19th
Times: 11am – 11pm, Friday and Saturday; 11am – 8pm, Sunday
Cost: Free admission!

Whatever you decide to do for Father’s Day this weekend, be sure to give dad a big hug and tell him how much you love him. And remember, neckties are optional!

The Downtown Denver Arts Festival is dedicated to supporting and showcasing Colorado visual artists. Downtown Denver Arts Festival holds its annual premier event each Memorial Day Weekend at the Denver Pavilions. The fine art and fine craft exhibition features over 130 of Colorado’s best artists with over 150,000 people expected to attend.

We will be celebrating our 13th Anniversary in 2011. Many of you may remember the event when it began as the Celebrate Colorado Artists Festival. The original vision of the event is still to promote artists that call Colorado their home. We are expecting the 2011 festival to be the best yet. The quality of the art was exceptional in 2010 and the crowd showed their appreciation by spending over $500,000 with the artists.

Dates: May 27-30, 2011
Times: Friday 4-8PM, Saturday 11-8PM, Sunday 11-5PM and Monday 11-4PM
Location: Denver Pavilions
500 16th Street
Denver, Colorado, 80202

Visit their website for more information.