Happy Hour at Foothills Art Center’s Historic Astor House Will Feature Art, Tapas and Stories
On Thursday, Sept. 11, Colorado Press Women kicks off the 2025 NFPW Conference with a welcome reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Foothills Art Center at Astor House (1133 Arapahoe St.) in downtown Golden, Colorado.
All conference registrants are invited to join in the fun of greeting old friends and making new connections! CPW has arranged for a shuttle service to transport conference goers to and from the reception. The shuttle will make at least two trips from the hotel to the center between 5 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Riders will be asked to sign up for transportation at the registration desk.
As conference attendees from across the country mingle and peruse the art gallery, they will get their first taste of Colorado, sampling light fare donated by local eateries like Serendipity Catering, Gold Mine Cupcakes and Happy Cones Co.; hydrating liberally with Eldorado Natural Spring Water, and, if they are so inclined, imbibing in locally handcrafted beer and wine from Holidaily Brewing and Balistreri Vineyards.
“We are honored to host the National Federation of Press Women for your reception at Foothills Art Center in the historic Astor House. Thank you for choosing our venue,” said Maura Adamson, the art center’s executive director. “We are happy to share this special place with a group dedicated to advancing the power of storytelling and communication.”
A community hub for art enjoyment, education and creative expression in the heart of Golden, Foothills Art Center—a conference Black Diamond Sponsor—is an inviting space for artists and art enthusiasts to explore, create and connect. Located in Colorado’s oldest stone hotel, the Astor House has welcomed travelers and community members for more than 150 years, morphing from hotel to boarding house to museum before emerging as an arts center in 2023.
In addition to offering classes, the center hosts regular exhibitions. On Sept. 11 the exhibits include the whimsical wood cutouts of dynamic duo Sarah Tenney and Jenna Annunziato; the vibrant, fanciful scenes of local painter Tom Van der Sloot; and the other-worldly, wearable sculpture of jeweler Jesse Mathes. Some of the artists’ work will be available for sale on-site.
Reception attire is casual and comfortable, in keeping with Colorado’s easygoing vibe. A light sweater or jacket is advisable, as evenings in September are cool once the sun goes down. The forecast for Sept. 11 calls for a high of 84 degrees and a low of 57 degrees.
After the reception, guests have the option of returning to the hotel via shuttle at 7:30 p.m. or staying in downtown Golden for dinner, taking advantage of discounts provided by the Foothills Art Center by showing a FAC visitor’s pass at several downtown establishments, including Atomic Cowboy, El Dorado Mexican Restaurant, Buffalo Rose and Golden City Brewery.
Those who choose take advantage of a free evening to check out Golden’s restaurants, charming shops, bars, parks and other attractions will need to carpool with friends or hail a ride service to return to the hotel, which is about 12 minutes from downtown Golden.