The EatDenver Dining Deck is back for 2016 with $560 in gift cards to your favorite independent Denver restaurants.

The 2016 Dining Deck is currently available for purchase online at http://bit.ly/1Xqu6wM, as well as The Tattered Cover. It also will be available at select Denver Metro Whole Foods locations starting Tuesday.

Give the gift that keeps on giving all year long, and help support local, independent restaurant owners at the same time.

The 2016 Dining Deck includes 56 $10 gift cards redeemable towards the purchase of $25 or more of food, valid Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2016. Full list of participating restaurants can be seen at http://bit.ly/1Xqu6wM.

The Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St.,  announces the opening of Running Dialogue Thursday through Jan. 5. An opening reception will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday.

The exhibit showcases the work of five Colorado artists who work in five different mediums, including:

• Ken Elliott – oil and pastel – Elliott is a landscape artist with a keen focus on color and composition. His works are direct, showing the lessons of the impressionist as well as modern schools.
• Victoria Eubanks – encaustic – Eubanks brings 30 years of graphic sensibility and design experience to her studio. Her work pulls from the common place, with objects or themes richly portrayed in the translucency of wax. Through layers of color, imagery and texture, she enables the mundane to become exotic
• Janice McDonald – collage – McDonald creates collages with fragments of paper and recycled imagery collected from her daily life and wanderings. She is especially intrigued with the often-overlooked backgrounds, colors, textures, shapes, and negative spaces in everyday printed materials.
• Carol Ann Waugh – fiber – Waugh is an award-winning mixed media fiber artist. Her work explores unexpected connections and juxtapositions that can lead to new ideas and artistic expressions.
• Mary Williams – wood sculpture – By combining striking colors and bold imagery, Williams creates playful sculptures and wall installations that reach out to all ages. Her inspiration comes from patterns in nature that she carves as shapes, lines, and textures to create abstract imagery.

The artists exhibiting in Running Dialogue have shown their work together for the past five years at Denver area venues including the Madden Museum, aBuzz Gallery and Denver International Airport.

Running Dialogue can be viewed during LTAC open box office hours: weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and two hours before live performances. Performances include theatrical, musical and educational productions for all ages throughout the year. The line-up of performances at LTAC and more information about the City of Lone Tree’s public art programs are available at www.lonetreeartscenter.org or by calling 720-509-1000.

Art by Ken Elliott (above),) Janice McDonald (bottom) and Carol Ann Waugh (bottom) that will be exhibited at the Lone Tree Arts Center starting Thursday. The Running Dialogue gallery continues through Jan. 5.

Eavesdropping on a woman: “When it comes to artificial Christmas trees and breast implants, they may look good, but they never look real.”

More than 20 years after visionary planners conceived of a modern globally connected airport with an on-site hotel and rail service to downtown Denver, Thursday’s opening of the Westin Denver International Airport completed that decades-old vision.

Denver International Airport joined with Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Westin Hotels and Resorts in celebrating the opening of the Westin Denver International Airport hotel and conference center and its adjoining open-air plaza, which sit upon the airport’s new transit center that is set to open in April 2016. Together, these projects make up the DEN Hotel and Transit Center.

The glass and steel structure comprises more than 433,000 square feet. The modern hotel and conference center offers 519 guest rooms, 35 spacious suites and a 37,500-square-foot conference center. The conference center includes two ballrooms and 15 additional meeting rooms and boardrooms of varying sizes. The largest ballroom encompasses 7,500 square feet, accommodating up to 750 people. The meeting space’s most dramatic feature is a 10,000-square-foot prefunction area showcasing a panoramic, three-story, floor-to-ceiling glass wall that is approximately 100 feet wide.

Guests of the Westin Denver International Airport will enjoy ongoing programs, events, entertainment and relaxation at this new airport destination. Beyond that, guests will be connected to Denver’s downtown via RTD’s new University of Colorado A Line – scheduled to begin service on April 22 – that will take passengers from DIA to Denver Union Station in about 37 minutes.

“Today, we open an entirely new chapter in our international airport’s history,” Hancock said. “With this stunning new hotel, conference center and open-air plaza, we are elevating Denver and the Rocky Mountain region to new heights. The hotel and commuter line set to open in April are the first steps toward leveraging DIA as an
economic powerhouse that will create tens of thousands of new jobs and bring more business opportunity to Metro Denver.”

The mayor continued, “Thank you to the strong leaders, visionaries and a tremendous community for making today possible. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and prouder still of the future we have forged together.”

Designed by global architect, Gensler, and built by MHS, a tri-venture comprised of contractors Mortenson, Hunt and Saunders, the towering LEED certified building honors flight and aviation, symbolizing wings of a bird in flight hovering above the plaza and the iconic tents of the Jeppesen Terminal.

Gensler also designed the 82,000-square-foot, open-air plaza, framed by two 150-foot canopies that connect the terminal to the hotel and transit center. The plaza is set to become Denver’s newest venue for arts, entertainment and relaxation, connecting the community to DIA.

“(The) opening of the Westin Denver International Airport marks the achievement of a major milestone towards our goal of solidifying DEN’s place on the world map, expanding economic growth in our region and elevating the overall travel experience in and through the Mile High City,” said airport CEO Kim Day. “This state-of-the-art addition will further the transformation of Denver’s airport into a destination in itself, with easy connectivity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountain region have to offer.”

Soon after opening, guests will be able to check in right from their phones with SPG Keyless Entry, completely bypassing the front desk. Each room will include one of Westin’s signature Heavenly Beds and Heavenly Bath amenities, including the Heavenly Shower. Business travelers can rejuvenate and relax with Rocky Mountain views from the top-story WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio, while families swim in the pool, both located in the “saddle” of the building.

“Denver is growing, and travelers from around the world flock to Colorado to enjoy the pristine Rocky Mountains. Now, business and personal travelers alike can enjoy every aspect of Westin’s brand promise for A Better You, right at the airport,” said Tom Curley, general manager of the Westin Denver International Airport.

In addition to all of its Heavenly amenities, guests at the Westin will also enjoy first-rate dining at the Grill & Vine Restaurant, complete with a spacious outdoor patio. Complimenting Westin’s core brand values, its menu will support wellness with simple, light, fresh foods while also focusing on locally sourced items, handcrafted cocktails and wines.

The expansive public art program at DIA and at the new Hotel and Transit Center will make traveling to Denver a topnotch artistic experience as well. The large-scale public art at the Hotel and Transit Center is focused on the three main public areas, starting at the train arrival area, at the escalator that ascends from the train hall to the plaza, and the plaza itself. All of DIA’s public art, including art within the hotel by Colorado artists, embrace aspects that reflect the region and enhance a sense of place at the airport. More information on the public art at DEN can be found at www.flydenver.com/art.

I’ve said it before, but when you Google “customer service,” Steve Thomas’ picture pops up.

Thomas, a 14-year assistant golf pro at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, was roasted and toasted Thursday night at the historic Cherry Creek North home of the golf course owner and head of Oakwood Homes Pat Hamill.

The jovial party, held at Hamill’s Harman House, attracted Green Valley members, employees, family and fans of Thomas, the employee who exemplified hospitality and had a knack for making every player feel special.

He is leaving the golf club, where he’s worked since it opened, to work with at his brother’s trucking business as well as trying his hand at day trading.

Hamill, who spoke during the festivities, warned Thomas that the testimonials would be a combination of “honoring and roasting.”

“This occasion gives me a heavy heart,” Hamill said. “You will always be a part of the family.”

GVR President Kevin Laura called Thomas “the king of guest service.” He said, “You are the ambassador of GVR.”

To honor Thomas’ 14 years, Laura presented the man of the hour with the first Steven Mark Thomas Certificate of Merit, an award that the golf club plans to award annually to an employee who exhibits outstanding hospitality. Laura also awarded Thomas a lifetime honorary membership to the golf course – including a golf cart – the highest level of membership.

Thomas, who seemed a bit overwhelmed by the attention, said, “I’m fighting back tears. Every last one of you guys are family to me. We were there, and we did that.”

I will miss you Mr. Handsome. You are a doll.

A master swordsman severs champagne bottles with a Napoleonic saber. Moet Chandon cascades down a two-story pyramid of glasses under 100,000 twinkling lights. You could only be at The Brown Palace.

This annual tradition continues from 11 am. (with a special appearance by Santa to turn on the holiday lights including a 25-foot chandelier donned in gold and silver beading, 100,000 lights and 4,800 ornaments) to 1 p.m. Sunday. The event is free and open to the public with viewing on floors four through seven.

The Downtown Denver Partnership and Southwest Airlines invite you to join them at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to kick off the sixth consecutive year of the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park at 16th and Arapahoe.

Southwest Airlines and the Downtown Denver Partnership have invited families from Children’s Hospital Colorado to the Southwest Rink to be among the first to skate on the freshly-frozen ice. Free hot chocolate and cookies will be served on opening day.

Rink season is from Tuesday through Feb. 15. The Southwest Rink offers free ice skating seven days a week. Skaters are welcome to bring their own skates or rent a pair for $2.

For more information and rink hours, please visit www.SouthwestRink.com.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock will join elected officials and leaders of Colorado’s Jewish community to light the Chanukah candles at JEWISHcolorado’s public menorah in southeast Denver starting at 5 p.m. Dec. 9.

“We are honored to have Gov. Hickenlooper and Mayor Hancock join us in lighting the Menorah,” said Doug Seserman, CEO of JEWISHcolorado. “Together, we are dedicated in sharing the light of Chanukah across our community, in Israel and around the world.  We share the light of hope, the light of justice, the light of understanding and the light of faith.”

Last year, more than 150 people attended the ceremony. The Chanukah celebration is in collaboration with the Jewish Community Center of Denver. The event is open to the public and is for all ages.  It will include light refreshments as well as a musical performance by the JCC Early Childhood Center. The event will be held at the JCC upper parking lot, 350 S. Dahlia St.  Please visit www.JEWISHcolorado.org for more information.

Eavesdropping on a man’s Facebook post: “Sign on Colorado Blvd: ‘Nothing says Thanksgiving more than pumpkin pie wrestling at Shotgun Willies!’ Geez, try answering the question, ‘What is pumpkin pie wrestling, Daddy?’ from your 5-year-old daughter.”