Florence, CO: Watch The RIALTO THEATER Kickstarter Film

The Rialto Theater was completed in 1923 in the small town of Florence, Colorado. For many decades, that historical jewel has sat vacant while attempts have been made to restore her.

She started her place in the community as an opera house, but went on to be the center of the community and host vaudeville shows, movies and more.

The Rialto is one of the few remaining opera houses in Colorado that still is substantially the same as it was nearly 100 years ago. And it is also one of the few theaters anywhere in the country that boasts a 50-foot fly tower.

Right now there is an urgent need to raise funds to complete the restoration and a Kickstarter campaign is underway. But there is less than three weeks left for the project to be funded through Kickstarter. View the fantastic Kickstarter film here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1253025752/restore-the-historic-rialto-theatre?ref=nav_search

FLORENCE, CO: New STEAMPUNK & Wine Festival Youtube Video

It's happening April 9 and 10 in Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado! Florence is also the NEW unofficial steampunk capital of Colorado.

See if you don't agree, and attend the second annual Escape in Time To Steampunk & Wine Festival. Not only is this festival one of the premier steampunk events in Colorado--the festival is held against a backdrop of a real pioneer town filled with Victorians, historical buildings and other architectural and artistic delights. AND the town is home to over 20 antiques shops and galleries that have a huge selection of steampunk, industrial and Victorian items all year round.

Check out this fantastic new YouTube video featuring Florence's steampunk festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX6jFXHh0rg

If You Like Florence & Canon City: WATCH THIS

If you like Florence (the antiques capital of Colorado) and Canon City, then you might want to watch this: http://movingpostcard.com/canon-city-florence/

The moving postcard is exactly what it sounds like--and is edited by Luci Westphal, a German New Yorker currently exploring Colorado and the Wild West.

                                        Picture From Luci Westphal's website of Canon City

The moving postcards show Fremont County in a beautiful light. Hats off to Luci for visiting the "Wild West" and producing this visual treat.

Florence, CO: Florence Brewing Company

It was nice to see the Colorado Springs Independent do a story about one of their neighbors to the south this week when they highlighted the Florence Brewing Company in Side Dish by Matthew Schniper. Did I ever have any association with the Independent? I'll never tell--but hats off to the weekly newspaper in Colorado Springs for covering a great slice of Florence industry and creativity.

You can read the story at: http://www.csindy.com/coloradosprings/florence-brewing-company-opening-soon-howard-to-gogc/Content?oid=3688917.

Regular readers of this blog know that I extol all things southern Colorado--and especially Florence, so I am constantly keeping tabs on what is going on in Florence--and what coverage this fair burg receives.

I'm seeing a theme here. Even the Independent story captures it. The owner of Florence Brewing Company, Hans Prahl, according to the story was, "attracted to the tiny town of around 4,000..."

Yes, once you've been to Florence, it's hard not to be attracted. Is it the historical buildings? Perhaps. Is it the fact that we are in the 'banana belt' of Colorado and when it's snowing like a son of gun 30 miles away and we are sunny and mild with a few lackadaisical flakes? Perhaps. Is it our ridiculously low (compared to major metropolitan areas) real estate prices and property taxes? Perhaps.

But it's something more. Just the other day I was at an appointment with a professional who has a business in Florence, and he and his assistant told me in casual conversation that they have heard several Canon City(where they both live) business owners and  officials say, "We should do things like Florence."

There's just an atmosphere here. I can't totally explain it in words. But it's evident in all the little blog posts I do about local people and businesses. It's just the way Florence does things. And even though I've never met, Hans Prahl of the Florence Brewing Company--I understand why he was "attracted to the tiny town of around 4,000..."

But as in every "true story," the story is best told by the person living it. You can read more about Florence and the Florence Brewing Company at: http://www.florencebrewing.com/story

All I can say, is there will be a lot of happy people on May 14 (targeted date for the brewery's opening) in Florence when all of us will be able to sample this top-drawer craft beer.

Steampunk Window Displays: Spirit Riders

As you all know, I've been roaming around Florence-the antiques capital of Colorado to view some of the steampunk window displays in evidence as the town gears up for its 2nd annual Escape In Time To Steampunk In Wine Festival, April 9 and 10.

Of course, we'd expect Spirit Rider, at 111 W. Main, to have a tantalizing steampunk window display, because store co-owner, Barb Bierley, is the driving force and organizer of the steampunk festival.

Barb has done a fantastic job of of turning Florence's steampunk festival into a tour de force.

She's organized and inspired the town to embrace the steampunk identity. And it's an identity that Florence had all along--but just needed a festival to celebrate what it already had for many years.

If you've read previous blog posts, you know that Florence, with its many antiques shops and art galleries was already embracing the Victoriana, steampunk and industrials arts for years.

It took someone like Barb to organize the festival into an event that perfectly showcases what Florence had for years-a multitude of shops, artists and resources that embodies the spirit of steampunk.

And this festival is a double-win. No, it's more like a quadruple or more win. The festival not only celebrates the spirit of steampunk, but the small-town community feel of Florence and all the creativity that has always been here. It also celebrates a town treasure: The historic 1923 opera house, the Rialto. The event is a fundraiser to restore the town jewel that is the Rialto. And that's something we can all get behind.

See you there--on April 9 and 10!

STEAMPUNK-A-LICIOUS: Get your steampunk fix here

There have been a lot of steampunk posts on this blog. And it's no wonder, since Florence had a great inaugural steampunk festival last April and is gearing up for the 2nd annual Escape In Time To Steampunk And Wine Festival, April 9 and 10, 2016.

I decided to round up  the steampunk posts and put all the links in this one blog post, so you could get your steampunk fix and also see a bit of the evolution of steampunk in the fair burg of Florence. Florence is the official antiques capital of Colorado. And I've sassily dubbed it the unofficial steampunk capital of Colorado. Why? Because I can. Aw shucks, just read all or some of the huge amount of steampunk posts and you can come to your own steampunky conclusions. Links are below this year's steampunk festival poster.

Steampunk posts from this year below. I'll round up the numerous posts of what Florence was up to last year for the steampunk festival in another blog post.

#1 http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2016/03/florence-colorado-tour-of-legends-and.html

#2 http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2016/03/steampunk-window-display-legends-lace.html

#3  http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2016/03/what-i-found-in-florence-antiques_18.html

#4 http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2016/03/bloomn-gals-in-vineland-gear-up-for.html

#5 http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2016/03/steampunk-festival-window-florence.html

#6 http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2016/02/steampunk-wine-festival-florence-co.html

#7 http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2016/02/florence-unofficial-steampunk-capital.html

#8 http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2016/02/got-musical-talent-got-steampunk-then.html

FLORENCE, COLORADO: Tour of Legends and Lace Antiques

I was sneaking around Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado--taking pictures of the steampunk window displays. Legends and Lace Antiques, 131 W. Main St., has one of the best window displays in town. And while I was there, I thought, why not go on a virtual tour of Legends and Lace?

I've been saying for over a year (when Florence had its first steampunk and wine festival) that Florence should be the unofficial steampunk capital of Colorado. Not just because of the newish steampunk festival--but because Florence has so many shops that have carried steampunk, Victorian and industrial items, for years and years.

One of the best examples in town is Legends and Lace.

If you love Victoriana like I do--prepare yourself.

Yum! Legends and Lace also provides handmade, handsewn custom lampshades like the one above. I should know. I have a custom Legends and Lace lampshade in my over-the-top gypsy, Victorian decor at my own house.

Double yum! Downton Abbey--eat your heart out.

If you love vintage and vintage-style hats--the Legends and Lace is for you.

Meow! Yes, the whole shop is the cat's meow.

These boots are made for walking.

Hats off!

OK, the peach hat with the feathers would be perfect...

Ah ha! Plenty of totally intriguing steampunk goodies at Legends and Lace.

Steampunk ornaments. Have yourself a merry little Steampunk...

Steampunk all the way and EVERY day...In Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado AND the unofficial steampunk capital of Colorado.