Tom Downey, whose storied career includes stints in private law practice, working for then-U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, head master at The Children’s Museum, foundation fundraiser and head of Denver’s Excise and Licenses department, has returned to his roots as the new director of Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC

In an e-mail blast, Downey said, “My law practice will continue to focus on helping my clients navigate all aspects of regulatory law, particularly licensing.   See www.irelandstapleton.com/people/attorneys/director/tom-downey/ for more details.

“Denver-based Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC, founded in 1926, works with businesses, individuals and government entities on matters involving business law, corporate tax, litigation, real estate, employment, environmental, energy, bankruptcy, estate planning and special districts law.  The firm is the Colorado member of the law firm network, SCG Legal.  Member firms of SCG Legal practice independently and not in a relationship for the joint practice of law.  To learn more about Ireland Stapleton, go to www.irelandstapleton.com.”

Congrats, Tom, keeping it real!

In honor of Colorado’s 138th birthday, History Colorado museums will be free to the public Aug. 1 and 2, offering visitors two days to celebrate Colorado’s wild, colorful, historical, traditional and modern culture.

The two-day Colorado Day celebration at the History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway, will include food, music, dance and hands-on activities as well as a chance to recognize how Colorado’s past has shaped today.

“No other organization can help Coloradans understand the present in the context of the past, the way we can,” said Kathryn Hill, History Colorado chief operations officer. “We celebrate Colorado’s places, stories and cultures of Colorado everyday, and this is evident the minute you enter our museums. On Colorado Day, we offer even more for visitors of all ages to spark imaginations and stimulate conversations about our state’s issues and future.”

Beginning at 8 a.m. Aug. 1, History Colorado and its partners, the Department of Agriculture, the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Visitor Services will meet on the west steps of the Capitol to honor the occasion. The Capitol will be decorated for the event, and will feature square dancing, Colorado candy and birthday cake, living history preservation and other special programs, followed by a procession from the Capitol to History Colorado.

Colorado Proud will hold a press conference at the History Colorado Center immediately afterward to recognize Aug. 1 as Colorado Day and to launch the Colorado Proud Choose Colorado Tour – a month-long, statewide road trip to celebrate food and agricultural products that are grown in Colorado. The Choose Colorado Tour, scheduled from Aug. 1 through 27, integrates 10 agricultural communities, celebrates farmers who help our state thrive and educate and influence consumers along the journey.

History Colorado Center festivities include an indoor/outdoor farmers market featuring local farms and Colorado Proud products, getting dirty with adobe brick making, craft and food demonstrations, and live performances all day long. These festivities are presented in partnership with the Colorado Tourism Office and AngloGold Ashanti North America Inc. In addition, the much renowned traveling exhibit Food: Our Global Kitchen will be open throughout August — the last chance Coloradans will have to see, touch, and taste this exhibit before it travels cross country.

History Colorado, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is on Facebook.com/HistoryColorado and on Twitter@HistoryColorado. For more information visit www.HistoryColorado.org, www.HistoryColoradoCenter.org, or call 303-447-8679.

Eavesdropping on two women golfing at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club: “I think I’ll hit another one in case I can’t find my first ball.”

“You mean you want to hit a prohibitional?”

“Uhhh, that’s a provisional.”

Let’s get crackin’, Colorado!

The official national holiday is Friday, but the party starts early and carries through the weekend, so time to break out the red, white and blue.

Denver is one of the top destinations to celebrate the Fourth of July, according to the travel booking site Travelocity.com. From live music in one of the top outdoor venues in the world, and spectacular fireworks displays, to free arts festivals, thrilling pro sports and outdoor adventures, there are plenty of ways to celebrate your independence in The Mile High City this year.

Here’s a list of fabulous Fourth events as compiled by www.visitdenver.org.

* A free and fireworks-filled Independence Eve celebration, beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday at Civic Center Park. Get the long weekend started in star-spangled style. The concert will feature patriotic and pop favorites from MIX, CU Denver’s award-winning a capella group; the Hazel Miller Band and the Denver Municipal Band. Seating is first-come, first-served.

* Red Rocks concerts July 3 through 6 at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre. Celebrate Independence Day Weekend at Red Rocks, the top outdoor amphitheater in the U.S., according to “Rolling Stone”. July 4 brings jam band favorites Blues Traveler back to the Rocks, and they’ve stacked the lineup with 1990s alt-rockers Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth and Uncle Kracker. July 5 sees the improvisatory, jam-band genius of Umphrey’s McGee arrive, and July 6 highlights the copious good vibes of the SoulShine Tour, with Michael Franti & Spearhead, Brett Dennen and Trevor Hall. The show begins with a mass yoga and acoustic music jam with Michael Franti & Friends at 4 p.m. ($15 drop-in fee for yoga; concert tickets sold separately).

* End the long weekend with a free concert, beginning at 6 p.m. in City Park. City Park Jazz takes place Sunday evenings in July. The July 6 show features soul singer SuCh, a powerful live performer. Dancing is encouraged.

* Since 1991, the July 4th holiday weekend has been centered around Colorado’s signature cultural event, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival. This world-class and award-winning celebration of the visual, culinary and performing arts enjoys an annual attendance of 350,000 visitors. Special exhibits and interactive family activities on Artivity Avenue are great for the whole family, while Culinary Avenue features tasty treats and live cooking demonstrations from some of Denver’s most popular eateries.

* Downtown Denver will be transformed into an immersive street arcade during Oh Heck Yeah, a one-of-a-kind event Thursdays and Saturdays through July on Champa Street from the 16th Street Mall to 14th Street. The arcade will be powered through a combination of Denver Theatre District’s LED screens, projections, street art, social media, local media and a website.

* “Frozen,” the latest Disney animated blockbuster will be shown for free July 5 at Skyline Park at the corner of Arapahoe and 16th .under the stars in the heart of downtown Denver. “Frozen” tells the story of Princesses Anna and Elsa and their adventures in the icy kingdom of Arendelle.

* With more than 53 rides, plus a splash-filled, 10-acre water park, musical stages, stunt shows and arcades, there’s something at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park for just about everyone. Plus, on July 4, the nations’ only downtown theme and water park will put on an unforgettable fireworks show.

There’s nothing more independent than a small-town 4th of July parade. When we lived in the Dam West in Aurora, the annual neighborhood parade, penny dive, softball game and DJ blasting tunes on the greenbelt was a never-miss event in our family.

Add the plucky pioneer spirit of the Mile High City and the deeply rooted community pride of the Park Hill neighborhood to the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for a laid-back, family friendly Independence Day celebration. The Park Hill 4th of July Parade is celebrating its fifth year with its biggest blast ever —nearly 60 registered groups and more than 700 participants on the roster. Last year, more than 2,500 people turned out to enjoy the festivities, making it the largest Independence Day parade in metro Denver.

Like the neighborhood that spawned it, the parade celebrates diversity. And so, in addition to the Boy Scout troops, preschool class floats and classic cars, visitors will also be treated to the Mile High City’s flare for the unexpected. Where else might you find a fleet of gleaming low-rider automobiles, cruising alongside a vegan community outreach group? An award-winning high school marching band, trailed by a phalanx of Tae Kwon Do black belts? A gaggle of costumed princesses followed by the 501st Legion of Star Wars re-enactors? Only in Park Hill.

This year’s parade again will be presided over by Mayor Michael B. Hancock and attended by a number of additional elected officials, neighborhood groups and other grass-roots organizations. Representatives from Denver’s first responder community will add to the event’s patriotic vibe, while High Country Brass, the Maple Lake High School Marching Band, One World Singers and others will keep the crowd dancing. And of course, Clementine — Park Hill’s cupcake truck — will be on hand to serve sweets to the sweet.

The fifth annual Park Hill 4th of July Parade runs from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on July 4. The parade will march through the historic Park Hill neighborhood along 23rd Avenue from Dexter Street to Krameria Street, where it will culminate in a street fair on the 2200 block of Kearney offering up sweet treats from Cake Crumbs Bakery, savory snacks from Oblio’s Pizza, live music food trucks and more.

Parade visitors are encouraged to set up blankets, chairs, umbrellas and coolers anywhere along the route. Details at www.parkhillparade.org.

(Park Hill Fourth of July 2013 photos)

Oakwood Homes presents Chase ‘N The Dream on July 4 with a free concert followed by a fireworks display choreographed to popular music. The band appears as part of the Summer Concert Series at the Green Valley Ranch Amphitheater, 4890 Argonne Way.

Michael “Chase” Pittman has performed in the U.S., Europe and Asia over the past 25 years and has opened for many national acts.  Pittman’s show is appropriate for the family audience.  The band’s repertoire includes vocal-oriented favorites covering R&B, Motown, dance, reggae, jazz, pop and blues.

The Summer Concert Series continues on four consecutive Wednesday nights, July 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Additional concert information is available online, including directions to the Amphitheater at: http://www.skylineusa.com/oakwood_concert_series.asp.

Free parking is available next to the amphitheater and in the Oakwood Homes parking lot located at 4908 Tower Road.

Guests may bring a picnic dinner and soft drinks in cans or plastic bottles. Pets and barbecue grills are not permitted at the amphitheater on concert days. No alcoholic beverages are permitted in the amphitheater in accordance with Denver City Park ordinances.

The Denver Botanic Gardens is all abuzz with the news that The Hive Garden Bistro, an alfresco dining experience alongside the Monet Pool, has opened in time for the spectacular Chihully glass art exhibit, which is on display through Nov. 30.

The new restaurant is in the same location as the previous Monet Café but features a larger deck and an expanded menu, that serves includes snacks, lunch and dinner. Catering by Design operates The Hive.

Hive features a large menu of made-to-order sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads. Gourmet wood-fired pizzas will be introduced soon. A children’s menu is available. Soft-serve ice cream and rotating agua fresca flavors such as
strawberry mint, cucumber basil and lime tarragon are also offered.

Produce from the adjacent Le Potager Garden and the Chatfield CSA are incorporated into the menu when possible, creating a sustainable, farm-to-table dining experience. Many other ingredients including meat and produce are locally sourced.

Summer hours: open daily 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. through Sept. 28. Last entry to the Gardens is 8 p.m. On early closure days for special events, The Hive closes at 3 p.m. The Hive reopens at 6 p.m. on York Street Summer Concert nights for pre-concert meals or to-go food to eat during the concert.

Late fall hours: open daily 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Winter: closed. More information at www.botanicgardens.org.

Water For People is hosting Whiskey Rebellion Denver from 6 to 8:30 p.m. July 10 at the Curtis Hotel (1405 Curtis St.), part of the Craft of Water series celebrating the integral but often unnoticed role of water in the creation of everyday products, food and drink.

Whiskey Rebellion Denver, a showcase of American brown spirits, highlights the role of water in the American whiskey distillation process. (Fact: water typically constitutes 60 percent of a barrel of whiskey.) The event, focusing mostly on bourbons and ryes, features a number of whiskey producers and suppliers including Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey, Breckenridge Distillery and Downslope Distilling among others.

Attendees will have the opportunity to sample 12 American whiskeys, attend a cocktail demonstration and enjoy complimentary snacks. Tickets are available at http://yeswhiskey.com/denver for $37 on a first come first serve basis, with a $75 super support ticket for additional fundraising for Water For People.

Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to support Water For People’s efforts to bring safe drinking water to communities across the globe. The Denver-based organization brings together local entrepreneurs, civil society, governments and communities to establish innovative, collaborative solutions that allow people to build and maintain their own reliable safe water systems.

Learn more at http://www.waterforpeople.org.

Eavesdropping on myself in honor of the Fourth of July weekend: “Have a blast!”