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I think about a lot of things. I have opinions about most. What good are thoughts and opinions when not shared? I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours. Issues related to education really get me going. I love to dine on the hot potatoes of school accountability, standardized testing, corporal punishment in schools (outlawed in only about 28 states), scrutiny of school staff before hiring, teacher performance standards, and the weeding out of bad apples in education. I promote fitness as the miracle drug most of us seek. No pill will duplicate the health benefits of working our bodies. I strongly support the adage, "Don't breed or buy while shelter animals die." The world does not need more puppies or kittens. A visit to a local shelter is proof. I consider myself schooled in basic personal money management, the entrepreneurial spirit, domestic adoption, motherood in middle age, Baby Boomer issues, Southern culture, and how to cook a meal in twenty minutes. Whew. So, where shall we start?

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Confession: The Old Stone Church restaurant rocks.

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Contributed by: Barbara Neff on 1/9/2007

Not often do I visit a restaurant and find the experience so terrific I rush home to write about it.

But, today I nearly jumped out of my seat at the completion of my meal at the Old Stone Church Restaurant of Castle Rock so I could get home quickly to tell about it.

For the nearly two years we have lived in the Castle Rock area, I have noticed the quaint little old church at 210 Third Street in downtown Castle Rock. The beauty of the building has caught my eye as well as the number of cars that seem continually parked beside it. I lost count of the number of times I made a mental note to stop in and give it a try.

Today my husband and I were downtown around lunch time and spotted the Old Stone Church Restaurant with its usual filled parking lot. We decided to investigate the draw.

I was impressed by the interior; small, cozy and elegant. We were seated near the old confessional booth, which now houses a table for two. Few seats stood empty on this weekday a bit past the lunch hour. The atmosphere was buoyant.

The Old Stone Church was built in 1888, the very first church building in Castle Rock. It was a Catholic Church, St. Francis of Assisi. Like so many in old downtown Castle Rock, the exterior is rhyolite stone, a popular masonry rock of the day mined at local quarries. From 1966 to 1975 the building sat vacant after the congregation outgrew it. In 1975 this beautiful historical treasure was remodeled to accommodate a restaurant.

Our server, Erin, was on the spot, friendly and filled with interesting information. My husband ordered the Jalapeño Catfish, ever the adventurous sort, and I settled on a Stone Church Salad with plans to save room for dessert; warm chocolate pecan pie with a scoop of homemade cinnamon ice cream on top.

Erin brought us the house flat bread while we waited for our lunch. The flat bread comes with a special dipping sauce from Argentina, "chimichurri", made of olive oil, red wine vinegar, basil, cilantro, parsley and crushed sweet chilies.

Maybe your mouth is watering at this point. But, trust me. The descriptions of the food at the Old Stone Church Restaurant cannot possibly do justice. I cannot recall a more delicious meal. Everything placed on our table was fresh, beautifully presented and delectable (and modestly priced).

Before leaving I chatted with our server, Erin. I told her a building of that age surely holds some secrets. I asked if any specters had made themselves known. "Only one," Erin said. "Some employees have seen a ghostly lady in white lurking in the old choir loft."

I knew it!

Maybe the ghost is a person who lived around the old church more than 100 years ago. I think the more likely scenario is, however, an Old Stone Church Restaurant patron who died in recent years simply cannot resist the place. After my dining experience there today, I can understand being drawn to the Old Stone Church Restaurant, even in the afterlife.

The Old Stone Church, open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday

Lunch entrees from $7 to $11

Dinner entrees from $13 to $24

210 Third Street

Castle Rock, CO 80104

(303) 688-9000

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Showing 1-10 of 28 comments

Submitted By: Barbara Neff

posted on 1/30/2007 @ 12:51:46 PM

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We are up to eighteen attendees on Feb. 1. I called and bumped up the reservation. This is going to be great!!!!!!

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Submitted By: Sandy Clifton

posted on 1/29/2007 @ 7:03:41 PM

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Ok I am in only if I can have a peak at that ghost! I will try and make it down, I work and usually do half hour lunches.

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Submitted By: Barbara Neff

posted on 1/25/2007 @ 1:56:35 PM

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I made reservations at the Old Stone Church for a party of 10 at 11:30 Thu, Feb 1. If I can get a show of hands, I might need to refine the number and let the restaurant know. If it's not too much trouble, can anyone and everyone who wants to join the fun email me at palms2pines@aol.com? Thanks!!

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Submitted By: Barbara Neff

posted on 1/24/2007 @ 5:22:11 AM

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Oh, I am thrilled to get to meet Gladys. I tried to get Gerald Ford or James Brown. Not available. But, the surprise guest that *is* available is terrific! She even sings, "I feel good...."

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Submitted By: William Boucher

posted on 1/18/2007 @ 11:58:45 PM

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Gladys Mercier said she'd come, too. It can't be Gerald Ford or James Brown.

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Submitted By: Barbara Neff

posted on 1/18/2007 @ 2:29:28 PM

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The surprise guest has RSVP-ed. Not a clown, not the Shagman. Most of you will slap your heads when you see the guest and exclaim, "Oh! It's you!" I am thinking of changing the name of this blog entry to "Old Stone Church Message Board."

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Submitted By: Brendan Leonard

posted on 1/17/2007 @ 2:20:12 PM

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If the local celebrity is a clown, I'm going to have to back out. Unless the clown promises to come without makeup on.

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Submitted By: Tabitha Dial

posted on 1/16/2007 @ 2:02:24 PM

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I would like to come, too. Great idea.

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Submitted By: William Boucher

posted on 1/15/2007 @ 10:31:46 PM

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Please let it be the Shagman. Feb 1st would be groovy. I get it now! Confession! Church! You are a witty one, Barb.

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Submitted By: Barbara Neff

posted on 1/15/2007 @ 8:40:47 AM

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OK. Let's go with Thursday, Feb. 1, at 11:30. I am trying to round up a surprise guest; a local celebrity, really. You can start guessing if you want, but I won't reveal the name. See you all there. Please spread the word.

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Showing 1-10 of 28 comments

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Barbara Neff

Castle Rock , CO

Barbara Neff has posted 121 blog entries and 769 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. Barbara Neff 's average blog rating is 4.97.

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