Cariboo Chilcotin Coast: Barkerville Historic Town tips its hat to a century of cowboy culture

In the 1860s, Barkerville boomed with a population of prospectors eager to claim their fortune in the region’s gold fields. Fast forward to 2011 and, seemingly, not much has changed at this historic draw, northeast of Williams Lake. Here, at the largest heritage attraction in western North America, cowboy culture is revered. Need proof? Dust off your boots and hit the trail for the inaugural Barkerville Cowboy and Drover Jubilee — a three-day fest set to corral the masses with a lineup of cowboy music, spoken word, and dance. Set for September 9 – 11, numerous musical venues, including the oldest wooden “Cowboy Church” in British Columbia, will showcase classic crooners Butch Falk and Allen Christie alongside up-and-comers at the Northern Star Amateur Singing Competition, while a cowboy poetry tent will gather the townsfolk for a contemplative reflection of life in the saddle. And that’s not all: during an afternoon stroll along Main Street, you can drop in for sweet treats at the Goldfield Bakery, take in an uproarious show at the Theatre Royal, and interact with characters plucked from the 18th century. After all, Barkerville is booming. www.barkerville.ca

The Curtis Hotel in Denver-Location, Value and Fun!

Located across from the Denver Center for Performing Arts, the Curtis Hotel is the place to “Stay Happy” in the downtown Theater District. There are 40 restaurants within five blocks of the hotel and plenty of shopping and entertainment. “Loosen your tie, kick off your heels” is the theme at this fun contemporary hotel. Designed with good times and comfort in mind, the bustling bar and energetic dining rooms feature retro-chic interiors infused with intrigue.

Corner Office Chef, Carlos Ruiz’s progressive global comfort food is mixed with international flavors and gives traditional favorites a fresh twist. Unwind in the lounge with an extensive cocktail list and listen to a custom soundtrack that provides the pulse. Satisfying all tastes, The Corner Office serves up gourmet comfort food. I have never tasted a better version of Fried Chicken and Waffles…just the memory of that meal makes my mouth water! If you want great value, fun comfortable digs and a really relaxed memorable meal then the Curtis is for you! for more information visit www.thecurtis.com

Here are some fun facts about the Curtis from their PR Department:

-Say Wii if you’re having a good time: The front desk at The Curtis has been known to set-up impromptu Twister matches and organizes Guitar Hero tournaments on the Wii in the lobby so weary guests can get some playtime in before they go home.

-And for bedtime, he’ll be singing Blue Moon: Why settle for a jarring clock alarm when you can have Elvis? Guests at The Curtis can look forward to wake up calls from The King himself – or, at least, his trademark croon. Or, if Elvis doesn’t fit your fancy, Yoda is available to lend you some sage advice, or Austin Powers will let you know when it’s “time to let your mojo rise and
shine.”

-You sunk my battleship!: The Curtis takes playtime seriously, so creative meetings planners can forgo formal floral arrangements and make centerpieces out of Battleship, Connect4 and KerPlunk! Only for use during meeting breaks of course…

-Sit…Stay…Now roll over: The Curtis knows that your furry friends are part of the family, so hotel staff will throw your pooch a doggie bone or take him for a walk to make sure both canines and humans stay happy.

-“I’ll have a Bazooka Joe with a side of Etch-a-Sketch, to go”: Hungry for nostalgia? Stop by the 5 & Dime Store kiosk in The Curtis’s lobby and pick up some memorable merchandise from Orange Crush to Bazooka Joe bubblegum, and classic travel diversions like Etch-a-Sketch that are fun even when you’re sitting still.

-Saturday morning cartoons, all day every day: To make sure you’re staying happy from the moment you check in, The Curtis keeps Cartoon Network on in the lobby so adults and children alike can delight to Tom & Jerry or Dexter’s Laboratory no matter when you arrive.

-It was Colonel Mustard with the candlestick: If your feet are tired from walking around Denver all day, grab Stratego, Clue, Boggle or any number of games from the lobby for a game night in your room. And don’t forget to order room service — global comfort food — to top off the evening!

-Business travelers can come play, too: But what if you’re traveling by yourself and have no one to challenge to a Stratego game for the ages? Fear not! Just call the front desk and they can set-up a play date so you can match wits against a staff member.

-Absolutely do not disturb: To ensure privacy during an intense game of Boggle, hang a sign on your door that warns “If this sign is a-rockin’ don’t bother knockin’!” Or, for the more poetic, “What it was… What it is… What it shall be… QUIET!”

-And as if that weren’t fun enough: The lobby of The Curtis also features a psychedelic work of Lite-Brite installation art by George Scheer. The abstract work depicts colorful swirls and will make you want to re-create your own childhood masterpieces.

-Scrawling on the bathroom wall: At The Corner Office, The Curtis’ restaurant specializing in Global Comfort Food, guests are invited to “make their mark” by leaving Post-It notes on the wall in the bathroom filled with whatever message they want to leave.

-Now, wait a sec, what beats rock again? Along with their admirable talents at guest services, the Front Desk at The Curtis will offer advice on the toughest decisions by getting in on a timehonored game of “rock, paper, scissors.” Yes, you read that right. Now go ahead and challenge somebody to a match.

-More than mints on your pillow: For turndown The Curtis wants to make sure you’re still in a playful mood after a full day of sight-seeing or meetings, so they offer retro candy like Cowtails, Zots and Pixie Sticks on your pillow along with pop culture trivia and “knock-knock” jokes.

-We’ll meet you on the Big Hair Floor, or maybe Dun Dun Dunnnnn! Rather than rely on tired old numbers, The Curtis identifies each of its 13 guest floors by theme, with eye-catching art and installations throughout. Look for photographs of fetching hairdos and posters of the musical Hair on the Big Hair Floor (9) and pure evil on Dun Dun Dunnnnn! (the 13th floor), where Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance in The Shining and a vintage vacancy notice from the Bates Motel keep things creepy. Every floor also highlights a themed movie quote, with the 13th reminding you “the call is coming from inside the hotel”