The Forecast

It's a chilly, white wonderland outside! The snow's still falling, with temps headed down to the single digits. So does that mean I should take the bus tomorrow to avoid having to chisel the snow and ice off the car and navigate snowy streets? Or drive so I don't have to stand outside a long time waiting for the bus and then walking the couple blocks to work? Decisions, decisions.

If you decide to go out, there are free tours of the governor's mansion (Boettcher Mansion) this week, 10am -2 pm.

FREE outdoor ice skating Thursday, 11/30, at Belmar in Lakewood, with a neon 80s theme. Brr. Bundle up. Maybe it'd be a better day to stay in w/ the NFL and watch Baltimore and the Bengals on TV.

On Sunday, 12/3, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is having a free day!

Desserts in Denver

If you're in downtown Denver looking for some good dessert, here's where to go and what to get.

_LUCA D'ITALIA (on 7th and Grant in Capitol Hill): The only constants on the dessert menu are the almond cake and tiramisu. The pastry chef Angela changes up all the rest with the seasons. Right now, I'd say order the apple crostada with ginger gelato. Mmmm. I would get the ginger gelato alone, but the crostada smells delicious and has the mix of the crispy crust and soft apples inside. Otherwise, the orange/vanilla panna cotta is light, and it comes with pistachio toffee and brandied cherries. The cherries I could do without, but the toffee I liked better than I thought I would. Amanda at the bar will help you choose a good dessert wine. Each dessert is about $7

_CUCINA COLORE (on 3rd and St. Paul in Cherry Creek): Bread pudding. Bread pudding. Bread pudding. It's the sauce that makes it. Yes, tiramisu is on the menu, and it's fine, but just try the bread pudding. YUM! It's $6

_CREPES 'N CREPES (2816 E. Third Ave -- that's between Detroit and Fillmore --, Cherry Creek): This is a sweet little French place, with a charming French cook who will talk with you if you sit at the bar and watch him cook. I'd say go for the crepes with the strawberries, banana and Nutella. It's big, so two could share, but I have seen one small man devour a whole one. Prices vary, but two crepes and a wine are about a $21 bill, including tip.

_THE MARKET (Larimer Square, look for the blue and white awning, 1445 Larimer St.): Spring Fling. I'm pretty sure that's what it's called. It's this tall cake with tons of fruit layered on top including kiwi, grapes, strawberries, possibly peaches if I'm not mistaken. It is something like $6 a slice, just so you know.

If you're on the cheap and hankerin' for tiramisu, there's a Chinese restaurant on Broadway near Decade and all those shops by 1st, Bayaud, Ellsworth area. Sorry I can't be more precise, but I can't remember the name of the place or it's address. What can I do. Just look for the Chinese restaurant on the east side of the street that sells Hello Kitty gear, hardcore. For some reason that I haven't determined, they offer tiramisu on the menu for like $4. I'm pretty sure they don't make it there, but it's available.

***If you happen to be in Boulder, then my goodness, stop in to Sushi Tora @ 2014 10th Street, if not for sushi then at least for dessert. Take your pick from the dessert menu.

Jigga

Follow Jay-Z as he gets back into the game!!!

The Forecast

Big night at the Hi-Dive this Friday (11/17)! Hot IQs celebrate their CD release, so does Lion Sized. Plus the Hi-Dive celebrates its anniversary. Get on over there.

Tomorrow night, (11/16) don't miss Moonrats and Conner, which always seems to find new fans in Denver every time they play.

Talib Kweli at the Ogden 12/1.

Denver Starbucks

Hey, Denver: If you see a cabbie or someone else driving around town with a coffee cup on top of their car, stop and tell them, and you could get a free cup of Starbucks, according to the Seattle Times. It's part of Starbucks' holiday campaign. Details here

It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes to vote on Tuesday. How 'bout you? I voted at the Denver Botanic Gardens, 8:28 p.m. I had chances to vote earlier in the day at the Wash Park Rec Center (but there were 300+ people in line) and Tattered Cover downtown (estimated wait, three hours), but decided not to get in line and just go after work instead. Two of my co-workers tried to vote Tuesday _ one even tried to go twice _ but they gave up on the long lines and never made it to cast a ballot. Little did I know, FairVoteColorado.org had posted online a list of vote centers with short lines. None of the ones with short lines were near where I live or work, but next election, I'll know what to do. If you believe the Denver Election Commission, tech problems should be fixed by the next election, so there shouldn't be such atrocious waits at any vote center anyway.

Behind the Scenes

If you've followed what's been going on with Ted Haggard, formerly pastor at the 14,000-member New Life Church, I think you'll agree true life can be just as weird as anything on TV. 9News has been working the story since August. Scuttlebutt is they were trying to catch Haggard visiting the gay escort and had made arrangements for a hidden camera, but Haggard didn't go to the guy's apt. after August. On Friday reporters' cars lined the road outside the driveway of Haggard's house (his property has more than a couple acres, bordered with white fence, electronic gate at the foot of the driveway, a fountain in front) waiting for a comment. One resident leaned out the window as her car rolled past and screamed at reporters to go home, but other residents slowed down their cars to get updates on what was new. On Friday, the bookstore at New Life still had a full shelf up of Haggard's books and copies of books on his recommended reading list. Church members are supporting Haggard right now. I'm sure "Law and Order" will jump on this with a new script in coming months