Start your holiday season southwestern-style at the Christian Indian Center’s annual Christmas Bazaar, final day on Sat., Dec. 1, 9a.m.-6p.m., at 501 S. Pearl St. Shop for arts & crafts, silver & turquoise jewelry, baked goods, Navajo tacos, mutton stew and frybread. Info: 303-682-9540. Love a parade ... and art? Park once and enjoy color all night as the Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., plays holiday host prior to the 9News Parade of Lights, Sat., Dec. 1. Peruse the Artisans & Kings and Color as Field exhibitions, then enjoy snacks and warm beverages before the parade at 6p.m. Park all day at the Cultural Complex Garage ($10 event rate), 12th & Broadway. Info: 720-865-5000 or www.denverartmuseum.org. Pick the perfect pot for a present at the Denver Potters Association’s Holiday Show and Sale, at Sixth Avenue United Church, 3250 E. 6th Ave., Sat. & Sun., Dec. 1 & 2. 30+ artisans offer functional and sculptural ceramics, plus one-of-a-kind jewelry, glass, wood and other fine crafts. Hours: Sat., 9a.m.-6p.m.; Sun., 11a.m.-3p.m. Free. Info: 303-377-5535. Only a few free days remain in ‘07; enjoy them, thanks to the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District: Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., welcomes Colorado residents for free the first Saturday of each month (Dec. 1, Jan. 5). Info: 720-865-5000 or www.denverartmuseum.org. Denver Museum of Nature and Science in City Park has free admission Sun., Dec. 2. Info: 303-322-7009 or www.dmns.org. Shop for hand-crafted, distinctive items from local artisans at the Holiday Art Market, Sun., Dec. 2, noon-5p.m., at the Lowry Park Apartments Clubroom, 8501 E. Alameda Ave. Free. Holidays can be filled with merriment – or sometimes, loneliness. Offer your home hospitality to a senior at holiday times year-round. The Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., works to match up households that would like to invite a senior to share a holiday celebration – with seniors who would appreciate an invitation. To participate, or with questions, contact Elka Popack, 303-316-6358 or email epopack@jccdenver.org. Consider crime trends and prevention at Denver Police Dept. District 3’s Citizen Advisory Board meeting, Wed., Dec. 5, 6p.m. at 1625 S. University Blvd. Voice quality of life issues, and talk with your local police officers. Questions? Email Tech Tony Burkhardt at BurkhardtT@ ci.denver.co.us or Tech Cari Jimenez at JimenezC@ci.denver.co.us. Interested in enrolling in the only all-women’s higher education program in the Rocky Mountain region? Then attend an open house at the Women’s College of the University of Denver, Thur., Dec. 6, 6-8p.m., at 1901 E. Asbury Ave. The college provides weekend and evening classes for earning a bachelor’s degree. Advisors, students, staff and faculty will be available to answer questions. To register, call 303-871-6848 or visit http://womens college.du.edu/visit/openhouse.html. The Santa Fe Art District, from 6th Ave.-10th Ave. on Santa Fe Dr., draws a dedicated cadre of art lovers to their mass gallery openings on the first Friday of each month (Dec. 7, Jan. 4). In addition to enjoying the art, learn about the history of the District by joining Denver History Tours on the southeast corner of 6th Ave. & Santa Fe Dr. at 5:30p.m. Tours focus on three eras, the 1880s, 1920s and present day. To schedule, call 720-234-7929 or visit www. denverhistorytours.com. Come enjoy a craft fair, class demonstrations, music and CFU member appreciation at Winterfest, Sat., Dec. 8, 11a.m.-5p.m., at Colorado Free University Lowry, near 1st & Quebec. Free. Info: 303-399-0093, ext. 0, or www.freeu.com. Barack Obama 08 For America’s local Obama 08 Debate Party and New Volunteer Recruitment Party takes place Mon., Dec. 10, 5:30-8p.m., at Hamburger Mary’s, 700 E. 17th Ave. RSVP: Ann Ghist, 303-794-7045 or aghist@hotmail.com. Savor a traditional tea at the holiday-bedecked historic Byers-Evans House Museum, 1310 Bannock St., 1:30p.m., on Dec. 11, 12, 13, 18 & 19. Tour the mansion, then enjoy tea, scones, fruit, tea sandwiches and dessert. Children (under 13) $14, adults $18. Info: 303-620-4933. Enjoy a free guided tour of the Colorado Governor’s residence, resplendent in holiday decor, at Boettcher Mansion, Wed.-Sat., Dec. 12-15, 10a.m.-2p.m. No reservations necessary. Located at 400 E. 8th Ave.; park in the lot to the west. Info: 303-866-3682. View the heavens through the 20-inch aperture refractor telescope at the Dec. 15 Open House of the Denver Astronomical Society, starting at dusk at historic Chamberlin Observatory (north Observatory Park, E. Warren Ave. & S. Fillmore St.) Fee of $1/person. Also, look through members’ telescopes, and get answers to astronomical questions. The Society also hosts twice weekly Public Nights each Tuesday and Thursday (except Christmas Day) at the Observatory, with astronomy lecture and viewing. Reservations required; visit www.thedas.org or call 303-871-5172. There’s still time to submit spiritual art for Epiphany – A Feast for the Eye, the annual art exhibit at South Broadway Christian Church, showing Tues., Dec. 25-Sat., Jan. 5, at 23 Lincoln St. Paintings, drawings, fine art prints, photography, sculptures, glass works, pottery, textiles and (possibly) poetry, reflecting the post-Christmas feast, should be submitted by Sat., Dec. 15. For details, call 303-722-4679 or email info@ southbroadwaychristianchurch.org. Expect music and munchies a-plenty as the The Shops at 201 Steele St. host an Open House, Thur., Dec. 20, 4-7p.m. Music by the Lost Soul Jazz Band, prizes, hair consultations, happy hour 2-for-1 drinks, appetizers, massages and clothing sale. Details: 303-399-0534. 1918 needs actors! And Beyond Theatre Company seeks males and females, 17-65ish, for its spring play (weekends, March 14-April 4) by Horton Foote. Auditions, by appointment only, Fri. & Sat., Dec. 28 & 29, at the Historic Grant Avenue Theatre, 216 S. Grant St. Call 303-641-8796 for information. Low-cost feed when you’re fatigued, and calm play when you’re worked-out, at Washington St. Community Center, 809 S. Washington St. Feast on southern fried chicken on I Don’t Wanna’ Cook Night, Sat, Dec. 29, 4:30-6:30p.m. Cost: $5/adults and $3/kids ages 5-12. Delicious senior/community lunches, at exceptionally reasonable prices, also served each Tues., Wed. & Fri., at noon. Promote calm and focus in adults and children Tai Kwan Do classes at the Center, Mon., Wed. & Fri. Details: 970-690-2745. Info: call 303-733-4643 or visit www.wscc-denver.org. As the year ends, why not start a new book with a Denver Public Library branch readers’ group? (All libraries closed Tues., Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, and close 4p.m. on Mon., Dec. 24 and Dec. 31.) Scheduled meetings are: Central, 14th Ave. Pkwy. & Broadway, 720-865-1111. Downtown Bookies meets Dec. 11 (second Tuesday), 7p.m., to discuss Of Human Bondage by W. Sommerset Maugham. Thursday Afternoon Book Group meets Dec. 13 (second Thursday), 1p.m., for The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan. Decker, 1501 S. Logan St., 303-733-7584, first Monday each month, 6:30p.m., members vote on which book to read. Eugene Field, 810 S. University Blvd., 303-777-2301, Pageturners Book Club meets Jan. 19 (3rd Sat., no meeting Dec.), noon, for East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Ross-Cherry Creek, 301 Milwaukee St., 303-331-4016, Between the Covers Book Club, Dec. 18 (third Tuesday), 2p.m., Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell. Ross-University Hills, 4310 E. Amherst Ave., 303-757-2714, no meeting of Evening Book Club (fourth Monday); Books ‘n Brown Bag Book Club, Dec. 7 (first Friday), 12:30-2p.m., The Long Night of Winchell Dear by Robert James Waller. Schlessman, 100 Poplar St., 720-865-0000, offers Dawn’s Salon, Dec. 6 (first Thursdays), 2-3p.m., Articles of War by Nick Arvin, and Jan. 3, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson; Booktalkers Book Club, meets Dec. 13 (second Thursday),10:30a.m., for informal discussion of books read the previous month. Virginia Village, 1500 S. Dahlia St., 303-757-6662, second and fourth Tuesdays (third this month), 1:30-2:30p.m., Sweet and Low by Rich Cohen, chapters 20-26, Dec. 11, and chapters 27-epilogue, Dec. 18. No meeting of We Love A Mystery Book Club, (normally third Wednesday). Come Knit for the Homeless every Saturday, 9-11a.m., at Panera Bread, 240 Milwaukee St. Bring your needles – free yarn is provided by Coppelia’s Needlepoint & The Shivering Sheep – to create hats and scarves with other knitters. On-site help available. Each year, nearly 1,000 hand-made hats and scarves are provided to Denver’s citizens in need – both young and old – to help them fight the winter chill. For more information, call Shellie, 303-320-7776, email coppelias@msn.com or visit www.knitforthehomeless.com. Support Grant Avenue Community Center’s Historic Building Restoration Project through its bookstore, 216 S. Grant St. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9a.m.-4:30p.m. Increased inventory of non-fiction. Free parking on the south side of the building, one block north of Alameda; enter through the south doors. Donations are always welcome. New phone and email: 303-663-8861 and rolyndasanborn@hotmail.com. Choose from 20,000+ new and used volumes including rare, autographed and first edition books at The Book Stack, located on the DU campus, Mary Reed Building, 2199 S. University Blvd., first floor, south side. Proceeds benefit University of Denver’s Penrose Library. Regular hours: Tues.-Thur., 9a.m.-1p.m. & Sat., 10a.m.-2p.m. Drop off donations during regular hours or call 303- 871-3405. Volunteers are urgently needed to teach English to recently arrived refugees, persons fleeing war or persecution in their native countries. Recent closings of several large UN refugee camps have created a large influx of refugees being resettled in Colorado. Tutors do not need to speak their student’s langugage; all tutoring takes place in the student’s home. Many participants are homebound women with small children, adults who are disabled, or senior citizens, and live in Glendale or east- central Denver. Volunteers must attend a free training on Sat., Dec. 8, 8a.m.-4p.m., at Emily Griffith Opportunity School in downtown Denver. Preregistration is required. Contact Sharon McCreary, 720-423-4843 or sharon_mccreary@dpsk12.org or visit www.refugee-esl.org. Sign up for weekend co-ed doubles social mixers at Gates Tennis Center, 100 S. Adams St., held Sundays, (weather permitting) 10:30a.m.-12:30p.m. Mixed-up doubles format – no partner needed – just $10. Also on Sundays, 2-5p.m., Ball Machine Bonanza – $3/hour/person. Gates Center is open daily all winter, 9a.m.-5p.m. Sign up at the Center’s front desk, or call 303-355-4461. Info, visit www.gates tenniscenter.info. Second Chance Shoppe at E. Hampden Ave. & Pennsylvania St. is loaded with great clothes and household goods! All proceeds benefit Swedish Hospital Auxiliary projects. Open Mon.-Fri., 9a.m.-3p.m.; donations always accepted. Info: 303-788-6470. Cross some cultural bridges without leaving home: the Denver International Program seeks south Denver families to house foreign guests who need transit access as part of their internships and cultural exchanges. Host families provide a private room, a private or shared bath, and some meals. Program participants are screened; they are independent adult professionals who speak English. Info: call Claudia Theise, 303-871-2457 or visit www.dipusa.org.