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Life on Capitol Hill Capitol Hill • Cheesman Park • City Park West • Congress Park • Uptown • Alamo Placita
Country Club • Cherry Creek North • South City Park • The Golden Triangle
FEBRUARY 2015
Secession in South City Park Frustrated residents form new RNO By J. Patrick O’Leary
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rustrated with the South City Park Neighborhood Association’s perceived lack of action on some neighborhood issues, about six dozen residents recently voted to form their own Registered Neighborhood Organization (RNO), Easthigh Neighbors. The new RNO, formed in December, encompasses a narrow strip bounded by 17th and Colfax running from Josephine east to the alley between Milwaukee and St. Paul. The parcel lies within northwest corner of the South City Park RNO’s boundaries, which are Colfax north to 23rd, and York east to Colorado. More than a thousand households are represented, said founding president Jim Hannifin. A handful of opinion-gauging and organizational meetings were held last fall, culminating in the formation and registration of the group Dec. 1. “We tried to get South City Park to address some of our issues,” Hannifin explained, but the previous leadership of that organization would or did not. “We felt we were getting snubbed.” He said South City Park elected a new president this year, but members of the new group felt it was a good idea to form. “South City Park doesn’t have a neighborhood plan,” said Hannifin, who has been active in neighborhood groups for more than 30 years. “It takes a long time, about a year, a lot of work. Then it has to be approved by City Council.” But it provides a blueprint for dealing with change, zoning, variances and other issues that does not change when RNO leadership turns over. Hannifin said they have a lot of issues with the city: the perceived attempt to turn East Colfax into an entertainment district (eight liquor licenses issued in the past year), needed restoration of Sullivan’s Gateway (Colfax & Elizabeth), traffic and development. Recent and potential high-density housing projects could bring up to 1,000 new households into the neighborhoods, Hannifin claims. And with more households and more pedestrians, many of whom (the elderly) may have trouble crossing intersections that have too-short crossing signals. And, he said, the stretch of Colfax from Steele to Colorado, devoid of traffic lights, has become a speedway. Hannifin recently stepped down as Easthigh Neighbors’ president, and Tony Vaida has taken the position. The board of the new RNO met Jan. 27 to set priorities for the coming year. For more information on Easthigh Neighbors, email Tony Vaida at tony@vaida.net.
Restaurant Week simplifies things
PHOTO BY JEFF HERSCH
CHRIS LOADED UP at Sprouts, 6th & Garfield. Perhaps he heard the forecast for New York City, which of course turned out to be incorrect anyway.
Colorado Bike Summit 2015: Connecting Communities By Christa T. Palmer
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he Colorado Bike Summit will be held Feb. 9-10 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 1420 Stout. The Summit is a two-day program geared to educate and empower attendees, and identify common bicycling issues and solutions in local communities. The event is also geared to dem-
onstrate the power of a unified voice to the state legislature and set priorities for improving the future of bicycling in Colorado. The Summit features two days of breakout sessions focusing on bike lanes, women and biking, moving biking forward and communities and related topics. Gabe Klein, commissioner of the Chicago Department of
Transportation and a visionary in the US transportation scene, will be the keynote speaker. The event is sold out for 2015 but sponsorships and donations are still needed. For information about the Summit, including sponsorships, contact Amy Morfas, the Bicycle Colorado Deputy Director at amy@bicyclecolorado.org or call 303-417-1544 ext. 15.
By Jason McKinney
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he 11th annual Denver Restaurant Week will take place Feb. 20-March 1. Last year the event was split between two weeks, one in February and another in August. This year, things are going back to how they were previously. There will be one week with multi-course meals, offered at $30 per person, which is the same price that was featured last year. In the past, prices have continued to go up, so this is good news for diners. Denver Restaurant Week pricing is in line with similar events in other cities across the country. “We talked to restaurant owners and employees, diners, sponsors and restaurant week fans, and the consensus was that seven days was too short, but 14 consecutive days was too long,” said Justin Bresler, vice president of marketing for VISIT DENVER. Restaurant participation dropped by 100 eateries during last year’s August period because of the large amount of conventions that are in Denver during late summer. The menus for 2015 (which feature over 300+ restaurants) are currently available online at denverrestaurantweek.com. Diners can search by cuisine, gluten-free and vegan options, and neighborhood, including eateries in Highlands Ranch, Westminster, Castle Rock, Lone Tree and other Denver suburbs. For the price of $30 per person, diners will receive a three-course meal that typically includes a starter, entree, and dessert. Certain participating restaurants will also feature drink specials and meal add-ons.
PHOTO BY JEFF HERSCH
AN ENTERTAINER ON THE 16TH ST. MALL was accompained his vicious guard dog.
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
Black History Month observed with wide-ranging events Films, museum exhibits, lectures & re-enactments offered By Christa T. Palmer
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he Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, 2014 Welton, is typically the hub for activity during Black History Month in February. The library will host a variety of exhibits, live presentations, films and discussions. Sunday, Feb. 21 Colorado Humanities will present “Black History Live, Frederick Douglass” at 2 pm at the library. National humanities and Chautauqua scholar Charles Everett Pace will explore African American history and culture during his vivid performance portraying the life and times of the abolitionist leader. Saturday, Feb. 28 a film & discussion, “Spies of Mississippi 2015,” will mark the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Learn about the widely unknown participation of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, the secret statefunded spy agency that worked to stop the tide of progress. The Colorado Railroad Museum, 17155 W. 44th in Golden, will host “African American Connections & Stories: A Celebration of Black History Month” Feb. 7, 14, 21 & 28. The museum will
have an informative display that tells the story of Denver, African Americans and the railroad. A 25-minute video documentary will be shown on Saturdays in Feb. at 10 & 11 am and 12 & 1 pm. The documentary is told through the memories of Martin, a member of the Fraternal Club of Diner-Car Waiters & Porters. He tells his story to his grandson of the glory days of the passenger lines. Admission is free for museum members and children under two. For non-members, admission is $5 for children and $10 for adults. Rail ride tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for children. Museum members receive a $1 discount per ticket. Tickets are available for purchase at the door. Metropolitan State University’s Department of Africana Studies will host its 32nd annual Black World Conference Feb. 18 & 19 at the St. Cajetans Events Center and the Tivoli Turnhalle, Speer & Auraria Pkwy., 9:30 am-1 pm. The keynote address will be presented by Dr. Thomas Mapfumo. The theme is “In Exile & Yet at Home: Rethinking Africa & its Diasporas.” Panels will discuss challenges faced by African immigrants to the US,
PHOTO BY JEFF HERSCH
NEITHER RAIN NOR... kept Maria from her appointed rounds last monrth. and “how Africa and its people engage each other in the wider concept of exodus, identities, transnational migration and Pan-Africanism.” For information call 303-352-7009 or email dvelarde@msudenver.edu. The History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway, will present an exhibit on “Herman Hall, African American Photographer of Denver” Feb. 26 1-2 pm in the Martin Room. The cost is $4 for members and $5 for non-members. From 1900-1915 Herman Hall, an amateur photographer, photographed the people, businesses and events of the Curtis Park neighborhood, which was a predominantly African-American community. For more information, visit historycolorado.org.
Life on Capitol Hill Capitol Hill • Cheesman Park • City Park West • Congress Park • Uptown • Alamo Placita
Country Club • Cherry Creek North • South City Park • The Golden Triangle
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The 26th annual Colorado Women’s Legislative Breakfast will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24 for breakfast and networking at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 1370 Grant, beginning at 7 am. The event will feature a legislative panel and a keynote address by Sue Bozinovski, who serves as the Community Support Manager for Adams County Specialty Programs. Her keynote speech will address the impact of Colorado’s rapidly aging population, deemed the “Silver Tsunami.” Individual tickets are $20 and there are organizational sponsorship opportunities at the $50 and $100 levels. Scholarships may be available for those who cannot afford to attend. Advance, online registration is preferred at cwlb.org/ register. For more information, contact Bridget Kaminetsky at 303-628-0925 or bridget@9to5.org.
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
There? what’s going on
A garage with condos on top? Penn Garage & the Rec Center By J. Patrick O’Leary
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t doesn’t look like anything’s happening, but the Penn Garage, 1300 Ogden, is on its way to becoming a five-story condominium tower by 2016, according to Chris Lonigro, managing partner of Generation Development, the developer of the project. “We’re pretty excited, but we’re still in the design process,” said Lonigro. The five-story building will have just under 30 residential units, with a mix of one-, two- and thee-bedroom layouts. “It’s a great old building, and we’re doing an adaptive reuse of an existing structure,” he said. “I believe it was built in 1926 and has always been an automotive garage. We intend to keep the whole first floor, and keep the whole street presence.” “The garage essentially becomes the parking garage. We’ll keep the doors, as long as the city allows us to.” Lonigro hopes to apply for permits this summer, and start building in the early fall. Range Design of Chicago is in the schematic design phase, he said, so renderings are not yet available. Generation Development has used Range Design for all its Denver projects, including the Goss Corner project in lower Highlands. That 25-unit, mixeduse development includes townhomes and commercial properties and is expected to finish in late June. The Penn Garage property was under contract several times in the past, but those deals fell through, said Lonigro. Although he had not met the previous potential purchasers, he heard through the grapevine that they had all proposed apartments. “To do that you need a lot more density, parking and so forth. We have a unique approach.” The property is zoned GMU-5, UO-3, allowing mixed uses and up to five stories. The previous owner will remain for a few more weeks, he said. Project updates will be posted on Generation Development’s website, generationdev.com.
Central Denver Rec Center design tweaked A revised design for the Central Denver Recreation Center, to be built at the former Church in the City site at Colfax & Josephine, was unveiled at a Jan. 7 project stakeholders meeting. The new layout has the entrance at Colfax & Josephine, and a re-alignment of the pool to reduce glare and add two additional lap lanes (for a total of ten). Current plans call for 100125 parking spaces, which is significantly less than other rec centers, but possible due to residential density and access to public transit. And, there’s much less room on the site. Groundwater contamination on the site drove the realignment of the pool, which will reduce the depth of excavation needed and cost. Officials described the contaminant as MTBE, a fuel additive used in the 1970s, but said the source was unclear, but possibly from a fuel tank at the nearby Sunmart. Popular amenities may be left out of the final design if additional funds are not found. The city has budgeted $23.1 million, and the bare-bones design will cost $23.78 million to build. The extras will come at a cost: $600,000 for adjacent retail, $830,000 for rooftop event space, $500,000 for a mezzanine-level indoor jogging and walking track, and $150,000 for an outside climbing wall. The difference between bare-bones and bells-and-whistles development is $2.8 million. The city could add on the amenities when funds are found, through grants, naming-rights sponsorships, loans to be paid off by rental fees, or selling off unused portions of the site. Although the voter-approved 2007 Better Denver Bond Program raised the $11 million to buy the east Colfax parcel, demolish the Church in the City building, and plan and design the project, it did not raise funds for construction. Ground-breaking is expected this spring or summer, with completion in spring 2017.
Dear Readers, After 21 years as publishers of Life on Capitol Hill, we have handed over the reins to new publishers, Shanna and Keith Taylor. This issue is our last and we would like to thank all of our readers, advertisers, writers, photographers and production partners who have made our time with the paper a wonderful experience. We have watched the growth of central Denver’s neighborhoods with fascination as they became fine examples of everything that is best in a metropolitan environment and enjoyed the success that becomes possible when everyone in a community work together to make their neighborhoods better. We are confident that our readers will appreciate the Taylors’ new vision and voice for Life on Capitol Hill. Be as vocal with them as you have been with us. Wishing everyone the best–we will be seeing you around the ‘hood! Rory Seeber & Hilleary Waters
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he History Colorado Center, 12th & Broadway, will exhibit “The 1968 Exhibit,” premiering Feb. 7 and running through May 10. The exhibit brings to life the pivotal American year through your photographs, artifacts, vintage business pop culture items and inter-active displays. Explore the exhibit and see the events that changed Colorado and America forever. In 1968 the death toll in the Vietnam War reached a new high. Riots and demonstrations
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raged across the country, Apollo 8 orbited the moon, and the nation was transformed by the tragic assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy. The 1960s also charted a dramatic road in America’s pop culture. Advertise us! Adult generalwith admission ticketsThere are $12, stuis noseniors better and way to dents reach (13-22) are $10, children your customers in six-12 central are $8Denver. and children five & under are free. Admission print 21,000 papers can beWe purchased online or at each month, with 16,000 the door. For more information delivered door-to-door. call 303-447-8679 or visit history colorado.org.
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The Denver Public Library, 13th &LifeOnCapHill.com Broadway, continues its free Classic Film series this month with an illustrious selection of dramas, titled “Dueling Divas.” The schedule: Feb. 3 Queen Bee (1955), starring Joan Crawford; Feb. 14, an “Anti-Valentine’s Day Party” with Xanadu (1980), starring Olivia Newton-John; and Feb. 24, Old Acquaintance (1943), starring Bette Davis. All films are free and will be shown at 7 pm in the B2 Conference Room on the lower level of the library (enter on the west side). Call 720-865-1206 or visit denverlibrary.org for information.
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Community Foresters needed Training begins March 2; four workshops necessary
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he Park People, a nonprofit organization, is currently accepting registrations from volunteers wishing to become Community Foresters. Participants must complete four mandatory Saturday workshops. Individuals who cannot attend the full workshop series will instead receive the title “Tree Steward” and will be able to volunteer in support roles. The first workshop, “Trees 101,” is a prerequisite for all ensuing classes and teaches important basics. The class will be held March 2, 9 am-1 pm at the Washington Park Recreation Center, 701 S. Franklin at Exposition. The schedule for ensuing workshops, all held at the same location for a four-hour period: “Tree Planting & Health,” April 6; “Pruning,” May 4; and “Tree Identification & Inventory,” June 1. The Community Forester program is a joint educational effort of The Park People, Denver Forestry, Denver Water, and the CSU Cooperative Extension. The corps of community volunteers benefits Denver’s urban forest by providing neighbor-toneighbor outreach and educa-
tion on how to ensure healthy trees through proper watering, pruning and care. They also partake in pruning efforts, tree inventories, and survival inspections, as necessary. The volunteers help keep tree care at the forefront of the public’s landscape concerns. Specifically, they work as a group in targeted Denver neighborhoods to share information and do minor structural pruning on public trees. Individually, Community Foresters also serve as neighborhood resources for information on keeping their neighborhoods’ trees healthy. After attending all four mandatory workshops, Community Foresters may also benefit from an optional “Volunteer Leadership & Management,” a free workshop scheduled for July 13, 9 am-12 pm. Those interested in receiving more information can contact The Park People by phone at 303-722-6262, or by email to info@theparkpeople.org. A registration fee of $20 per class (except July 13) covers the cost of training materials. A limited number of fee waivers are available for individuals facing financial hardship.
PHOTO BY JEFF HERSCH
ROOFERS, & OTHERS EXCEPT SKIERS & SLEDDERS, enjoyed the balmy January weather.
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Community Health Summit March 7 Event seeks to improve neighborhood health By Jason McKinney
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he 2015 Community Health Summit (CHS) will be held March 7, 8:30 am-3:30 pm at the Denver School of the Arts (7111 Montview). The sixth annual CHS seeks to improve local neighborhood health by “understanding and nurturing the Mind-Body connection,” which is this year’s summit theme. The CHS is presented by 2040 Partners for Health, a nonprofit that seeks to advance the health and healthcare of community residents through health discussions, research programs, and other community-based action with a collaboration between CU-Anschutz and the five neighborhoods of East Montclair, Park Hill, Northeast Park Hill, Northwest Aurora and Stapleton. The summit will be an opportunity to develop awareness, learn, discuss and strategize about pertinent community health issues and work on creating helpful solutions for all involved. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Ben Miller, director of the Eugene S. Farley, Jr. Health Policy Center and assistant profes-
sor in the Department of Family Medicine at the CU School of Medicine. Dr. Miller is trained in primary care psychology and is an expert and national speaker on the integration of mental health and primary care. There will be breakout sessions, including topics on food and nutrition, mental health, metaphysical therapies, the Affordable Care Act, student-community projects and more. There will also be 25 exhibitors and organizations on hand, showcasing resources and information for the community. The exhibitors will include Mi Casa Resource Center, Aurora Health Access, Aurora Mental Health Center, and the Denver District Attorney’s office. At the end of the event prizes will be awarded for a game of “exhibitor bingo.” The conference is open to anyone and is $25 per person for health professionals and $10 for community members and students. Lunch is provided. Registration is required and scholarships are also available. For more information and/or to register for CHS, see 2040partnersforhealth.org or call 720-216-0075.
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
CHOWDER ROOM OWNERS Matt Stein & wife Carrie show off the nautical decor in their new Denver seafood restaurant at 560 S. Bropadway.
ONE OF THE UNIQUE OFFERINGS AT KOBE AN, 231 Milwaukee, is a chance to dine in traditional Japanese tatami rooms that line the main dining area.
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Openings OK, the eatery’s slogan might be a bit tough to swallow.“It’s like kissing the sea on the lips” is the mantra, but the message is easy to digest. Fresh, fresh sea fare in landlocked Denver. Oh my. As a transplanted East Coaster, I had to take the drive to 560 S. Broadway to view Chowder Room for myself. Admittedly, it’s blocks outside my normal coverage zone, but I grew up digging clams and I often crave chowder when I least expect it. Chef/owner Matt Stein and his wife Carrie run this promising venture with some help from their sons. Stein brings over two decades of West Coast seafood experience and a stint cooking in Aspen to the venture, but he’s originally from Long Island in New York. He’s not the only one who’s far from his roots. “I’m from Maine,” I overheard one diner declare with a
note of challenge in her voice. “Can I sample your New England chowder?” Talk about pressure! The Steins have heard those geographic challenges daily since opening Jan. 14. Visitors from Baltimore, Boston, Seattle and other coastal areas are clamoring for real seafood. Every day there’s New England chow-da on the menu along with a spicy red that shouldn’t be confused with Manhattan-style. Stein also crafts a Chowder of the Day each morning. Those offerings include a Central Coast soup that resembles cioppino and Mexican shrimp bisque. Best of all, there’s a chowder sampler if you simply can’t decide. If shellfish is not your thing, there’s also seasonal vegan chowder. In late January, it was a green curry and coconut selection with tofu and roasted veggies. Since seafood is the original seasonal cooking ingredient – the harvest seasons are closely regulated – Stein won’t put lobster, halibut or wild salmon on
the menu unless it’s the proper time of year. He calls it “spinning the wheel of availability,” a process that must create extra challenges for his cooking crew. Oysters and peel-and-eat shrimp offer simple appetizers while a Hawaiian Poke with tuna, roast macadamia nuts and avocados illustrates how refined the menu can be. Stein predicts there will be more fresh fish added in coming weeks, as diners have been requesting more options. Currently, there are at least two fish dishes; the week I stopped by, swordfish with papaya salsa was one of the specials. If you’re just not into the sea scene, you can order a burger, salads or fried Red Bird chicken for an entree instead. Affordability is an obvious goal here. Wines by the glass run $4 to $8. A list of nautical cocktails includes some intriguing names like “Lost on a Winter Sea” or the “Nor’Easter” and they’re also reasonably priced. Walking in the door was a
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real nostalgia trip for me. From the vintage mermaid ads in the loo to the many sea-inspired decor accents, this casual cafe has seaside appeal whether it’s crab cakes, calamari or fresh fish you crave. Boat cleats are strategically located to hold a purse or coat. The space is bright and sunny and awash in countless shades of blue. Stein’s brother lent a hand in the design, which has totally transformed the former Big Fat Greek Cafe space near the Design Center and Stein is understandably pleased with the makeover given a tight budget. The result is a space that works for families or for singles. There’s a sprawling community table and lots of booths. And the kids will love the barracuda hanging above the eat bar that overlooks the kitchen. Stein and his family looked for their new home for about a decade. After Aspen in the 1980s, he wanted Colorado without the high-end drama, so Fort Collins and Durango were on his list, but Denver won the vote. Then the additional challenge of finding a space began. “When I say I looked at 60 locations, I’m not exaggerating,” he recalled. An 18-month hunt landed him on south Broadway near the booming Baker neighborhood. Chow-da hours are Tuesday
to Thursday 11:30 am-9 pm and Friday/Saturday until 10 pm. Sunday hours are currently being hammered out and might soon include a family-style dinner option. Stein says he may move his closed day from Monday to another day of the week, but Mondays are notoriously challenging for eateries that rely on sea fare flown in daily from the coasts. Chowderroom.com is the web address, but call 303-7773474 (FISH) if you want info on the daily specials. A different slice of fish is being dished up in Cherry Creek North (CCN) in the old Cherry nightclub space at 231 Milwaukee. Fans of sushi and Japanese cuisine may recognize a wellknown name as this space on the garden level is now home to Kobe An Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar, an eatery that operated for 35 years in Lakewood before its relocation. Owner/operator Kimie Loeffler said her old space closed last fall after developers announced plans to demolish the shopping center that housed her restaurant. What followed for Loeffler was a major hunt for a new location that took her all over town. Eventually she ended up near to her own home in CCN. “I can do exactly what I was doing in Lakewood and maybe even better,” she said of the new location. One change is the expansion of the sushi bar. Another improvement is the exclusive use of Kobe beef at the new eatery. “I think Cherry Creek people will appreciate that,” she added. In addition to a front bar and sushi bar, the space includes a private events room, a large dining area and six tatami rooms. These feature more traditional Japanese seating arrangements and more privacy. The menu offers a wide range of Japanese specialties and Loeffler makes many of the traditional sauces herself. She was born in Kobe, Japan but moved to the US to attend college years ago. One other item of note is dessert. Many Asian eateries pay little heed to America’s sweet tooth, but Kobe An has half a dozen offerings, including a tempura banana split and a green tea ice cream hot fudge sundae. Fans of the first Kobe An eatery have been giving a thumbs-up to the new venue since it opened in late January. Loeffler indicated she greeted many old customers that first
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FANS OF WAFFLE BROS., 700 E. 1st, will applaud the wide-open dining area along with the return of signature favorite waffle combinations like the ‘Full Monte.’ evening who were pleased to see her back in business after a three month hiatus. Parking continues to be a challenge for many businesses in CCN. Loeffler suggested diners try the lot at 299 Milwaukee for dinner after 6 pm or on weekends. Kobean.com is the web address. The number for reservations or information is 303-9895907. Lunch is served daily 11 am-2 pm. Dinner starts at 4:30 pm daily and is served until 9:30 pm except on Friday and Saturday when the kitchen’s open until 10 pm. Many years ago, another part of the globe gave the world waffles. Not the “pop it in the toaster” type but true Belgian delicacies known for their thickness and sugary nuggets. Now folks on the Hill have one of their favorite Belgian purveyors back in business. Waffle Bros. has finally opened its new space on the southeast corner of 1st & Washington. When the company vacated its space at 4th & Corona the goal was to create a new space that could really accommodate a waffle-focused eatery. “We needed to upgrade our space,” said owner John Power last year when the original Corona location shut. “It just took us awhile to find the right space.” Now, Power feels he has found that magic. “This is our prototype now,” he said. “We have franchises opening in Charlotte, North Carolina soon. Franchisees will train here.” The new location is 250sf larger and fans of the old space will likely appreciate the fact that the kitchen no longer intrudes into the dining area. It seems less noisy and more functional, too. Regulars will recognize the eclectic furniture and decor items that made the move after a brief refresh. The new spot has plans for a patio. The menu at 700 E. 1st is similar but burritos and smoothies have been removed from the menu. There are still an assortment of bagels, salads and sandwiches if you don’t favor waffles. For waffle fans, Waffle Bros. offers its original Belgian, which is a bit sweet, one called the “Traditional” that’s a less sweet treat, whole wheat ones, glutenfree options and a cranberry muffin waffle that’s vegan. You can still enjoy the “Full Monte” or “Da Cherry Bomb” preparations, too. Waffle Bros. second location at 17th & Lafayette in Uptown
remained open throughout the relocation of Power’s flagship store. Recently, that location eliminated table service and changed to a “walk up” model. The numbers for the new store are 720-485-4931 or 303333-1212. Hours are 7 am-4 pm daily. If you love to fly, this new biz could have major appeal in apparel. That is if flying to you means skateboarding. The venture is called Fly Life, a reference to the skateboarder world. It features unique attire from Antix Apparel Street Couture designed by co-owner KoKo Paige. “It’s an urban skater clothing store,” Paige explained. In addition to Colorado brands like her line of clothing, Fly Life also draws from LA designers and carries the BLVD brand amongst others. While most of the apparel is geared for men, some is unisex in design. Located at 3415 E. Colfax, the shop is cozy and intimate. “For a starter store, it was just the right size,” Paige added. The prices are down-toearth, with no gear priced above $60. Hours are 12-7 pm weekdays and 12-8 pm Saturdays. The number for Fly is 303-8864384. Vital Strength & Fitness is whipping folks into shape at the former Body Lab space on 8th just before Lincoln. This new venture, which opened several months ago, offers personal training, kickboxing, boot camps and yoga for a variety of fitness approaches. “We have everything from 1,000 square feet of turf for functional and athletic training, and an area complete with mats and heavy bags to plenty of cardio and weight machines, as well as a huge variety of free weights,” the company said. Membership includes access to all those facilities plus unlimited access to group classes. Best of all, there’s no annual commitment as all memberships are offered month-to-month. The center is open Monday to Thursday 5 am-9 pm, Friday 5 am-7 pm, Saturday 7 am-3 pm and Sunday 10 am-2 pm. It’s hard to have any excuse not to exercise with those generous hours. The number for more is 720-328-3897.
What’s New? Searching for Valentine’s Day dinner reservations? A pair of area eateries in or near CCN should be back in business be-
FRUITION CHEF/OWNER ALEX SEIDEL, right, says his eatery at 1313 E. 6th has its share of challenges but he’s pleased to celebrate his 8th anniversary with a major makeover of the front of the house.
fore the 14th rolls around. At Fruition, 1313 E. 6th, it’s the start of a new year even though January is long gone. The eatery is slated to reopen Feb. 6 – the 8th anniversary of its first day in operation – after a brief closure to update and refresh the popular space. Humble is not a word that immediately leaps to mind when one’s describing a top chef and local food celebrity, but for chef/ owner Alex Seidel it just fits. Eight years after Fruition hit the dining scene and became a runaway hit, Seidel’s still marveling at his success. It’s hard to believe given the fact that he recently opened a second space called Mercantile Dining & Provision in the new Union Station complex downtown. Fruition opened its doors in February 2007. It was Seidel’s first venture and one launched on a very tight budget. “I never imagined opening my own restaurant. It was never a dream of mine because working as a cook and working for others, I never thought it would be a possibility. The help of family and friends made it possible for me to realize a dream that I had never envisioned,” he recalled. The intimate eatery closed Jan. 28 to do a rapid remodel primarily focused on the front of the house. The goal was to make the space more comfortable while adding a touch of sophistication to the decor. Designer Jeffery Elliott, who headed up the interior remodel, says he envisioned creating an early New England dining room. “For Fruition, I wanted to design a timeless and understated space in this historic neighborhood that felt like it
had always been there,” Elliott said. The redesign includes a custom-built cherry wood wine cabinet that doubles the eatery’s wine storage. While longtime fans will see a new interior, the focus on upscale comfort foods remains firmly in place. It’s part of Seidel’s award-winning cuisine. He will also be at the stove a great deal, although he now splits his time between two ventures. “There will be a brand new menu when we open on Feb. 6. We do change our menu about five or six times a year,” Seidel said. Hospitality is big at Fruition. In line with that philosophy, the folks who dined here on opening day in 2007 have all been contacted and invited to come celebrate. “I thought it would be fun to invite all of the people who supported us on day one even though we could have invited thousands more that mean so much to us. We are so grateful for our incredible neighbors and our strong community,” he explained. “(My) recollection is that the night we opened we served about 35 people. We kept that list. Most were friends or supporters from the community. I would say 75% of the people who were here on Day One were really excited to help us come celebrate.” Seidel raises some of the produce and meats he serves at a five-acre farm he purchased six years ago in Larkspur. Hours for dinner are Monday through Saturday 5-10 pm and Sunday 5-8 pm. The number is 303-831-1962. Also reopened after a January makeover is Cucina Colore on the corner of 3rd & St. Paul.
This 20-year-old eatery closed for a remodeling and expansion in January. It has been a whirlwind redo that included all new plumbing and electricity in addition to many interior enhancements. A team led by Jordy Construction managed the rapid fix and flip, tapping into expertise gained redoing other eateries including Rioja and McCormick’s downtown. This Cucina evolution is much larger than its predecessor. The eatery’s owners have taken over the former Caribou gallery space next door to create a massive bar area, a hugely expanded front patio and a stunning open interior. The new center of the space is a three-sided wine bar that accommodates 25. There’s also a wall of wine on display anchoring that area’s north side. Plans also include space for a “semi-private” events room, frosted glass booths in the bar area and a makeover for the dining room. Cucina is a self-described trattoria featuring modern Italian foods and wood-fired pizza. Doors open for lunch daily at 11 am and the space also serves dinner. The new wine-focused area also promises small plates and tastes for light snacking as well as a new cocktail menu. The number is 303-3936917 and cucinacolore.com has the full menu. If you stop by to check out the new look, don’t forget the restaurant has one of the best private parking lots in CCN for your use. If you do plan to toast Valentine’s Day in the area, don’t miss the heART Walk sponsored by the art galleries and artisans in CCN on the 14th. See BUSINESS on page 8
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
WHILE THE ENTRANCE TO CUCINA COLORE, 3rd & St. Paul, still looks the same, inside diners will find a spacious new wine bar, new tastings & a much more open space.
Business Continued from page 7 It’s a Valentine’s Day walkabout that will include some eyecatching cherry banners hung in front of participating locations. “We’ll be pouring hearthealthy red wine and serving treats throughout the day on Saturday Feb. 14th,” said Tam O’Neil of Tam O’Neil Fine Arts on Detroit at 3rd. Hours for the event are 12-5 pm. An estimated 20 businesses will be participating. This is the first event planned by the Cherry Creek Arts District but perhaps not the last. Stay tuned for more to come as the group gets re-energized. Glaze by Sasa at 1160 Madison in Congress Park is now just Glaze once more. It’s back to their roots for the baum cake shop and eatery that briefly united forces with the Sasa sushi team. “We were both disappointed. It just didn’t work out,” said Glaze’s owner Heather Alcott. “We gave it about six months.” January 3rd the two businesses parted company but Alcott continued to make cakes. “We focused on the bakery business until we could test our lunch menu,” she said. Now Alcott and new chef Kris Paladino have created a menu that focuses a bit more
on savory items to pair with the popular layered baum cakes made in their impressive Red Dragon oven on revolving spits. Lunch service is already in full swing with plans for dinner and brunch in the coming months. Now that huge red oven is turning out pretzel bread that will be stuffed with lobster. Yes, a lobster pretzel roll is on the menu. Also on the menu is a pairing of sesame-crusted chicken with matcha green tea waffles and a pork belly hash made with Tender Belly pork products. Alcott’s venture has come a long way in just two years. Her baum cakes were a hit on a recent Cooking Channel show but her ultimate goal is a restaurant that serves the immediate neighborhood. She doesn’t want to be a place where folks feel they have to save up to sample. “We did have a lot of feedback about folks wanting more than the baum cakes,” she said. “The new concept embraces seasonality (and affordability). Our price point goes from $5 to a cap at $14.” Shortly before the brief marriage with Sasa, Glaze did obtain a full liquor license. Alcott hopes to soon enclose her small patio to allow outdoor liquor service, too. Hours are 9 am-6 pm daily, with lunch served 11 am-5 pm. Glaze is currently closed Mondays. The number is 720-308-2420.
CHEF KRIS PALADINO, RIGHT, has created some intriguing savory dishes to add to the sweets at Glaze, 1160 Madison, a Congress Park eatery known for its unique cakes.
Hooked on Colfax, the strip’s well-known coffee and meeting house between Saint Paul and Steele, is expanding again. Well, not expanding in the traditional sense of adding square footage, but rather expanding into a new venture. The firm’s owners have announced plans to open a new bike shop in the old Collins Bike space next door. It will be called Two-Wheel Feel. Collins was first established in 1932 and was run by three successive generations of Collins folk until Tito Collins was unable to continue the venture. The Collins family still owns the building. With a commendable regard for the space’s past, Hooked owners Scott and Malissa Spero are seeking input from the neighbors about the reincarnation. They are soliciting stories about Collins and old photos. Nostalgia contributions will be woven into the decor of the new space so this is the chance to share your photos or memories. I was a customer of Collins’ 30 years ago when I bought my first Schwinn in Denver. I also bought bikes for two kids there in the 1990s and have fond memories of Tito’s efforts to make sure they had a proper fit. TwoWheelFeelBikes@gm ailcom is one way to share mementos, or you can post recol-
lections on the firm’s Facebook page. Plans are to open the new space next month so expect more details then. The shop also plans to offer maintenance classes this spring for the do-it-yourself crowd. The plan was to open the former Krewe space at 11th & Lincoln as an expansion to Stoney’s Bar & Grill just in time for Mardi Gras, but in the restaurant biz these things and city inspections rarely go as scripted. Co-owner Stoney Jessup said the Feb. 14 party at the firm’s main location adjacent to the Krewe space will proceed despite renovation setbacks. “We will be having our Mardi Gras party regardless,” he told LIFE. “1,000 pounds of fresh boiled crawfish, Blue Krewe will be playing live starting at 5, and Jesse James will be spinning after that.” The New Orleans gig will also feature 3-for-1 Hurricanes and Abita Amber all day. Those specials will come back around on Fat Tuesday. It’s the fifth year that Stoney’s has hosted a Mardi Gras bash. The number for Stoney’s 303-830-6839. The building at 1227 E. 17th has enjoyed a colorful history. In its early years, it housed the EZE Mop factory. Now it’s a retail destination some call the EZE Mop shopping district. In the beginning of its cur-
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rent incarnation as a retail destination the east end of the building was a women’s clothing and gift emporium called Peppermint. Then in 2012 the owners of the venture who also operate Soul Haus next door and Pandora On The Hill at E. 13th near Grant decided to consolidate the two adjoining businesses. They opened the wall between the two spaces and Peppermint with its many bird-oriented offerings closed. Now owners Stephanie Shearer and Chris Bacorn have revived the original concept and dusted off the old Peppermint sign that once again hangs out front. “People kept asking for a Pandora-type business in this neighborhood,” Bacorn explained. The new Peppermint 2.0 features many of the gift items, cards and jewelry offered in its first incarnation. And yes, there are lots of items to appeal to bird lovers. The women’s clothing lines have remained part of Soul Haus. Hours for both ventures are Monday through Saturday 10 am-7 pm and Sunday 11 am-5 pm. The numbers are 303-8307685 for Soul and 303-861-4375 for Peppermint. Some days, you just don’t want to scrape off the windshield and go out to eat. That’s when delivery drivers haul in the tips. Brothers’ BBQ at 6th & Washington is offering delivery 10 am-10 pm. Order at brothers-bbq.com and don’t forget their “Bro Cup.” It’s a big dish with mashed potatoes, then your choice of meat and toppings. This location’s phone is 720-570-4227. Just doors west of Brothers’, Angelo’s Taverna at 620 E. 6th is also promoting their delivery service. Billed as Denver’s first pizza and oyster bar, Angelo’s can be reached at 303-744-3366 for delivery orders. The Health Center at Franklin Park, 1535 Park Ave. West, has just launched a new Memory Care Center for individuals dealing with dementia or Alzheimer’s. The entire top floor of the building was gutted and redone to accommodate 11 private rooms and five semi-private ones. In all, the new facility can care for 21 patients in a secured location. Spokeswoman Jane Runge said, “We decided to do this as many nursing homes over the past year have closed their memory cares leaving no place for these people to go. So we are
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5 giving back to the community, which is part of our Christianbased mission since we are a non-profit.” Many dementia and Alzheimer’s patients are very able to move around and have no physical limitations. Wandering off or getting lost is a real risk. The new center offers a secure location where patient safety has been planned in. Tours of the new center are available by drop-in or by calling 303-832-9323. There’s also an opportunity to view more at abhomes.net.
Closings After 25 years in business, PISMO Fine Art Glass on 2nd between Detroit and Clayton is hosting a retirement sale. Owner Sandy Sardella has decided its time to rest on her glass. The Denver store is slated to close by the end of March. She’s also closing stores of the same name in Vail and Aspen at the end of the ski season. I first talked to Sardella in 2010 on the occasion of the shop’s 20th anniversary. Pismo was originally launched in 1990 with a broad focus, because acquaintances told Sardella Denver wasn’t ready for an all-glass art shop. How times have changed! In 1995, Sardella narrowed her focus to glass only. In 25 years, PISMO enjoyed four different locations in CCN. A decade ago, a fire at 235 Fillmore prompted the move to 2770 E. 2nd for the gallery’s final decade. “I never considered any-
where else in Denver. I always knew Cherry Creek was where I wanted to be,” she told LIFE last month. During her tenure Sardella developed vital contacts with major artists and that was the cornerstone of her success. Those successful connections are something she just could not transfer to a new owner so she chose to close “going out on top” she said. She will be remembered as a supporter of famous glass artists but also as a mentor and fan of emerging talent. “I think it’s really fun to see young people who have talent. Because we’ve been around for 20 years, their opportunity to be shown in PISMO really makes their eyes light up. We like to give them feedback to help them improve what they’re doing,” she said in 2010. She says she’ll miss the independent merchants of CCN as well as her staffers. Some have been with her for decades. And then there are the regular customers. “We even have clients come directly to PISMO from the airport before they go visit their grandkids,” she added. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday 10 am-6 pm and Sundays 11 am-5 pm. The gallery’s number is 303-3332879. Sears at 1st & University in Cherry Creek North will soon be a vacant shell. Many folks may not even notice the closure since the retail operation lost much of its street visibility when the block was remodeled. Early indicators point to an
WITH THE REOPENING OF PEPPERMINT NEXT DOOR, SOUL HAUS at 1227 E. 17th has retained the women’s clothing lines that Peppermint once offered. The rebirth brings more jewelry, cards & gift items to the EZE Mop building. eventual demolition of the retail operation and its parking garage. I’d expect to see upscale lofts in the near future. Sears’ decision means the closure of the Sears Auto Center too. If you aren’t a regular, it’s located down the parking ramp and to the left before you enter the garage. Plans are to shut all operations by Feb. 28. Sources tell LIFE that about half the company’s tire inventory will
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be seriously marked down this coming month and that work like transmission and other fluid replacements will also be steeply discounted. Wiper blades and other car accessories are also likely to be on sale. The number to call for details or appointments is 303355-7629. Somehow I missed the closing of Good Food Colorado, a home-style meal service located at 20th & Lincoln that promised
to deliver family dinners to your doorstep. It seems the large kitchen created in that space is going to be used in another venture. Good Food closed in December. A new tenant is being sought for 3030 E. Colfax. The Car Guy used car lot has been stripped of all vehicles. No clue where that business might be located now. Send biz news to Jeanne@lifeoncaphill. com.
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
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THE BOSWORTH HOUSE, 1600 Josephine, has been the Assistance League’s home since 1966.
Assistance League celebrates 60 years Non-profit has eight philanthropic programs & fund-raising efforts that benefit the Denver community By Nancy Foster
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t may be that the Denver chapter of the Assistance League is most visible and best known to the public for its Thrift Mart located at Colfax & Humboldt. But don’t kid yourself, this all-volunteer army of mostly women, 275 strong, also get assistance from their PALS, (Partners of Assistance League), 15 men who are either husbands or significant others of members, the AL Auxiliary and sustaining members. Fortified with a “can do” attitude, the Assistance League has eight philanthropic programs and fund-raising efforts that benefit the Denver community, from infants to the elderly and those in between. As volunteer Angela Alexis noted, the motto of the Assistance League, a national organization, is “All for Service, and Service for All.” Although she downplays her role at the Thrift Mart and says she’s just part of the team, Alexis has been a stalwart volunteer for 35 years, which is more than half of the 60 years the Denver chapter has been operating. In 2015, the organization will celebrate six decades of dedicated service to Denver. Whether or not the local chapter will toss a big party to celebrate this anniversary is yet unknown, according to Nancy Murphy, who has been an AL volunteer since 2007. “We try to spend our money on the philanthropic programs,” she notes. The Denver chapter’s operating budget for 2014-15 is $556,985, which gets a dose of additional monies from grants awarded to the organization and through many other fund-raising activities. Murphy explained, “The genesis for the Denver chapter began in 1953. In 1955, with seven women in the fold, the chapter applied for full membership. The national organization grandfathered them in for the two previous years and the Denver chapter became official in
1958 after a five-year probation period. We are counting our 60 years 1955-2015.” Denver’s chapter was the first one founded outside of southern California, where the organization was established in 1919 by Anne Banning, a prominent woman who along with a small group of other women did philanthropic work. Initially, they provided food and clothing to families who were fragmented by the impact of World War I. Nationally, there are today 120 chapters with 26,000 paid members. Most of the chapters are located in the west, southwest and midwest, with a smattering of chapters on the east coast. Colorado Springs, Greeley and Pueblo also have chapters. The Denver chapter’s first philanthropic program, established in 1958, is their popular HELP, Hospital Equipment Lending Program. The non-profit is housed at the historic Bosworth House, 1600 Josephine, built in 1895 and owned by Lenore Bosworth 1904-1947. It has been the Assistance League’s home since 1966, when the League bought it from the American Association of University Women. The HELP program lends durable hospital equipment to anyone in the community who has a temporary or permanent disability and the need for walkers, two types of canes, wheelchairs, bath benches, transfer benches, toilet risers, commodes, toilet frames and other items. There is no cost for the equipment, but the folks at the HELP program encourage those who borrow equipment from the program to return it once the individual is through using it. HELP is open 9 am-1 pm Tuesday-Thursday. It closes during the Christmas holiday and in early November around the time of their “Christmas at Our House” fund-raising event. Last year the program served 1,590 individuals and provided 2,190 pieces of equipment, according to Mary Hartman, who heads up HELP.
“The program helps people and I like the idea of doing something that helps make life better for people, a lift over the rough spots,” she said. Hartman also mentions that the Assistance League’s program often collaborates with the Dominican Sisters at 2501 Gaylord, who have a similar equipmentlending program. The Dominicans also have a home health agency program for those whose incomes qualify (dominican sisters.org). If you’ve only driven by the Thrift Mart and never stopped by to “shop till you drop,” or pick up an item or two that you just couldn’t live without, you’re missing a wonderful gathering place of folks from every walk of life, economic and racial background. And regardless of one’s position, everyone is treated equally and with respect from the volunteer staff. “I receive respect from the volunteers I work with and from the public, and I think it’s important to treat all the customers the same way no matter their station in life,” said Alexis. Over the past couple of years the space at the Thrift Mart has been redesigned and has a sleek, bright look where the clothing items are well-arranged on hangers by color and size. Just recently a small area has been created to accommodate anyone who wants to try on items in private. Among the mix of wares for sale one can find a plethora of clothing, hats and shoes for men, women and children. They include all types of jewelry, beaded designer ball gowns and dress suits, and other pieces of clothing that may be less fancy but nonetheless are in good condition and fit the bill for everyday wear, work or recreation, including some athletic equipment. There’s something for everyone, including some real finds that one would pay dearly for at a boutique or department store in nearby Cherry Creek or downtown. In the mix one may find cooking utensils, flatware, vases, candles, glassware, dinnerware, furniture, lamps, mirrors, suitcases, used books, magazines, LP records, CDs, tapes and DVDs and on some occasions recording and video equipment, including TVs. Sealed cosmetics, lotions, perfumes, greeting cards, up-to-date calendars and perhaps some stationery, rolls See ALD on page 12
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Have a fun-filled, not a stress-filled Valentine’s Day Do something different this Valentine’s Day. By Christa T. Palmer
W
ould you like to do something a little different this Valentine’s Day? Are you tired of crowded restaurants and overpriced flowers? You’re in luck. There are lots of non-traditional activities you can attend in Denver alone or as a couple. If you’re a theatre buff, you can check out the final performances of Charles Ives Take Me Home at the Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma. You can purchase tickets at curious theatre.org, or call 303-623-0524. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York, will host a course called “Calling All Chocolate Lovers” taught by chef Elizabeth Buckingham. The class will cover the botanical properties of Theobroma cacao and how cacao is grown, harvested and processed in familiar treats. The course includes savory chocolate recipes and you’ll receive handmade chocolate treats just in time for Valentine’s Day! Registration is $47, $42 for members. Escape the winter cold and enjoy a floral wonderland in the Orangery and Marnie’s Pavilion during the Gardens’ annual Orchid Showcase. Hundreds of orchids and a fragrant citrus collection will be on display. The showcase is included with admission to the Gardens and is open 9 am-5 pm. Call 303-865-3501 or see botanicgardens.org. Join the Le Cours de L’Amour 5K/10K and kids’ run Sat, Feb. 14 at 9 am at City Park to raise awareness and funds for Heart & Hand, a small local non-profit that provides for at-risk youth in the local community. You can register as an individuals or couples. The kids’ run will include a quarter-mile course for young kids and a full 1K course for older kids. Register at featonthestreet.com. Take in a musical and comedic exploration of love “en el bien y el mal” at Su Teatro, 721 Santa Fe. There will be a Dia de San Valentin dinner and show featuring Amorcito Corazon on Valentine’s Day at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $40 per person and $70 per couple. Call 303-296-0219 or see suteatro.org. Check out Lannie Garrett’s Valentine’s Show “Comes Love– Swingtime in the Rockies” featuring The After Midnight Band. Enjoy champagne specials, cocktails, a concert and a decadent dessert buffet. The buffet opens at 7 pm and the show starts an hour later. Tickets are $50 per person. The
Off The Clock Late Night Burlesque Show will start at 11 pm. Regular tickets are $25 and VIP tickets are $25. Reservations are encouraged as shows regularly sell out. Tickets are available at lannies.com or by calling 303293-0075. Shows take place at the D&F clock tower at 16th & Arapahoe. Would you like to enjoy a side-splitting evening of comedy? The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is presenting See Jane Sing with Jane Lynch Feb. 14. The show will include musical comedy and wit as Jane Lynch explores her love of the beauty and absurdity of American standards and show tunes. Purchase tickets at denvercenter.org. You can catch the final few days of ice-skating at Skyline Park at 16th & Arapahoe. Skating is free if you bring your own skates or costs $2 for skate rental. Hours are Mon.-Thurs. 12-5 pm, Fri.-Sat. 10 am-11 pm and Sun. 11 am-7 pm. On Feb. 16, the final open day, hours will be 10 am-7 pm. The Denver Philharmonic Orchestra will present “From Russia with Love” conducted by Lawrence Golan with Jeffrey LaDeur on piano at 7:30 pm at KPOF Hall, 1340 Sherman. There will be a pre-concert chat at 6:30 pm and a photo booth will be open at all times except during the concert. There will be Valentine’s Day treats from Johnson & Wales University. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com. The Bovine Metropolis Theatre, 1527 Champa, will present Armando, A Show for Lovers at 7 & 9 pm Feb. 13 & 14. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the door or by calling 303-758-4722. The Denver Film Society and the Colorado Ballet will present a special Valentine’s Day show of Jean Cocteau’s La Belle et La Belle on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 4 pm at the SIE Film Center at 2510 E. Colfax. There will be a special pricing package that includes two tickets and two glasses of wine for $24, $20 for DFS members. Had enough of Valentine’s Day? Attend the Denver Public Library’s Anti-Valentines Party on Feb. 14 6:30-9pm at the Central Library at 10 W. 14th at Broadway. The library will show Xanadu starring Olivia NewtonJohn. The event will include appetizers and desserts from Whole Foods Market. It is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Pre-register for the event at denverlibrary.org or call 720-8651206.
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ALD Continued from page 10
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of wrapping paper, tissue, ribbons and goody bags can also be found in the mix. All the items that come to the store are donated by individuals or from estates, said volunteer Murphy, who added that what is unsuitable to sell is donated to the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado. The Thrift Mart is a terrific place to shop for seasonal items of all kinds, including attire for Halloween, which always brings in folks to find just the perfect costume for both kids and adults to party with or take to their neighborhood for trick-or-treat fun. Alexis, who came to the US from Sweden as an exchange student, had a long and successful career in business prior to retiring and enjoys every day she spends at the Thrift Mart. Her fellow volunteers appreciate her efforts and note that she’s always well-coiffed and looks like a million bucks donning a classy outfit and sporting small heels. She’s known for not taking breaks or a lunch and keeps tabs on everything that occurs in the store while maintaining an eye on anyone who might even think of not paying for an item. Again, though, she treats them with firmness, but with dignity. “The money we raise here is for the kids,” Alexis said. And she means business. “I’ve been known to chase someone down the street if I think they’ve taken something from the store,” she added. The store has security guard present and security cameras should anyone decide to tangle with the volunteers or shoppers. “I had a good career and feel like it’s my responsibility to ‘give back’ to the community,” Alexis said. And she has done that by donating not only her time but by donating plenty of clothing items to the Thrift Mart and is committed to other worthy nonprofit organizations in Denver. For anyone who is a regular shopper at the store and lingers towards the end of the day when the store is ready to call it a day, it’s always a treat to wait and listen to Alexis, who cheerfully announces the count-down to the day’s activities with her well-known comment, pacing out the minutes by beginning with, “Fifteen more minutes of glorious shopping.” That’s the signal to collect one’s items and stand in line to pay. Some folks just wait around to hear her familiar expression. The Thrift Store, which takes in on average $1,100 a day, is open 10 am-3 pm Monday to Saturday and is the main support to the Assistance League’s Operation School Bell program, which was once located at the store but now works in conjunction with K-Mart at Alameda & Broadway, to support the Assistant League’s program to dress Denver Public School children with new winter clothing items from Early Childhood Education programs to those in the 8th grade. Ninety per cent of the children are from homes that qualify for free or reduced lunch. Social workers from DPS meet with families to determine eligibility. Last year, the School Bell program served 3,000 children in Denver. It is a signature pro-
gram for the national Assistance League in which most most chapters participate. Although some children need a complete winter outfit, others need only a few specific items like underwear, socks, hats or gloves. All students receive a book of his or her choosing and a health kit. These items are provided by the AL’s Auxiliary members who work full-time or part-time and raise money for AL programs. The planning for this project begins in March and gets underway when the children return to school in the fall. Twenty-one schools participated during the current school year. Each year the schools rotate to offer opportunities to other qualifying DPS schools. The children and parents go to the K-Mart location on a specific day to choose the clothing they need within a budget using the help of the KMart staff. The Assistance League contributed $183,000 to Operation School Bell this year. “There is such a need to clothe these children, we wish we had more funds,” said Ann Muniz, who takes charge of the program with a lot of other AL volunteers. “It is such a joy to see the expressions of happiness on the faces of these children when they get their clothing. We want them to be able to concentrate on school and not on being cold.” Muniz notes that OSB got an infusion of $2,000 from the Embassy Suites Hotel in the Tech Center this year. Over a two-month period, the hotel had a number of fund-raisers, including ice cream socials, and they sent a large group of volunteers to help with the OSB event at K-Mart. A group of women knitters from Castle Rock donated 200 hats for the project. Freeman Co. donated backpacks to the cause. Speaking of caps, the Assistance League’s “Caps for Kids” is a program that this past year contributed 300 handmade caps to kids who have cancer at The Ronald McDonald House and Children’s Hospital. The hats are created lovingly and with cheerful designs by members of the AL and their friends. Additional baseball caps were provided to Camp Round Up Ranch in Gypsum. Founded by the late Paul Newman, the ranch helps kids who have life-threatening diseases. The campers are provided with artistic supplies to design their own special caps. “Art of Kids” is another program that encourages artistic endeavors for DPS Title I schools for students in grades K-5. Each year, five qualifying schools are selected and each school is provided with $4,000 which allows the school to bring enrichment programs to the schools or support the school in taking students to artistic venues to watch dance or other performances at such locations at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, the Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts or Inside the Orchestra. Another community program, which helps men, women and children who have been victims of a sexual assault, provides Assault Survivor Kits to these victims, who must leave their clothing as evidence once they have reported the assault. With no clothing to wear, it can put a person in a tough situSee ASD on page 21
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
Income tax woes? Get free help here Income qualifications apply; 14 sites locally By Jason McKinney
F
or those with low or moderate incomes, AARP Tax-Aide and Tax Help Colorado offer help with cumbersome income tax returns. Questions, assistance with filing, and general concerns can all be remedied at 14 different sites in the area, with particular attention being given to those 60 and older. Non-profit organizations in the metro area offer free services to help residents meet the April 15 deadline, whether filing taxes or getting questions answered. Low-income taxpayers don’t have to be retired or AARP members to receive the free assistance. Volunteers are trained in cooperation with the IRS and are tested annually. There are various locations throughout Denver that will be providing the complimentary assistance. Only locations convenient to LIFE’s circulation area are listed here. Filers should bring a copy of their 2013 tax return and pertinent financial materials and information.
Some sites are appointment only. All of the following locations are handicap accessible and offer e-filings in addition to the traditional hard-copy method. Double-check the hours before visiting the locations. Some sites are appointment only. For further information, including other locations, call 888AARPNOW (227-7669) or see aarp.org/taxaide. • Centro San Juan Diego, 2830 Lawrence. Mondays and Thursdays 4-7 pm, by appointment only. Bilingual and handicap accessible. Closed President’s Day and Holy Thursday. Call 303-295-9470. • Barnum Senior Center, 360 Hooker. Fridays 8:30-11:30 am, by appointment only. Bilingual facility. Call 303-937-4659. • Athmar Recreation Center, 2680 W. Mexico. Wednesdays, 8:30 am-12 pm. Appointment required. Call 303-937-4600. In addition to AARP, the Denver non-profit Denver Asset Building Coalition (DABC) and the Piton Foundation, through Tax Help Colorado, also provide free tax prep. The DABC will have six sites available in central Denver: • Mi Casa Resource Center, 360 Acoma, 303-573-1302 • The Center for Work Education & Employment, 1175
Osage, Suite 300, 303-892-8375 • Denver Human Services, 1200 Federal, Suite 1056, 720944-3666 • Mi Casa Innovation Lab, 3399 Holly, Suite 134 (bilingual service available), 303-388-8213 • Wells Fargo Bank, 9000 E. Colfax, 800-869-3557 No appointment is necessary and the wait time is usually less than 30 minutes. In order to qualify for assistance, families must make less than $52,000 and individuals less than $35,000 in total income. See denverabc.org for specific location hours. Tax Help Colorado, a program of the Piton Foundation, has three locations in Aurora: Aurora Central High School, Community College of Aurora and Pickens Technical College, and one in Commerce City at Adams City High School. Tax Help Colorado’s five central Denver sites are: • Emily Griffith Technical College, 1860 Lincoln, 720-4234700, Saturdays through March 21, 9 am-3 pm; Wednesdays to March 1, 1:30-8:30 pm; and Thursdays, Feb. 5-April, 9 5:308 pm. The school will be closed March 26 and April 2. • Community College of Denver at Manual High School, 1700 E. 28th at Franklin, 720423-6300 • Community College of Denver, 800 Curtis, 303-5562600 • Barnum Senior Center, 360 Hooker, 303-937-4655 • Bayaud Enterprises at Volunteers of America, 2877 Lawrence, 303-297-0408 Filing assistance is free for all households earning less than $50,000 a year. No appointment is required. For information about addresses and times, call 211 or visit piton.org/taxhelp colorado. All filers who seek to receive assistance should bring a copy of their 2013 return and all financial materials and information pertaining to their return. Emily Griffith Technical College, 1850 Lincoln, is offering free tax preparation to qualified individuals. Here is the press release explaining the program: “For the sixth consecutive tax season, the College of Business & Technology at Emily Griffith Technical College is partnering with the Denverbased Piton Foundation to help hard-working families by providing free tax preparation assistance through the Tax Help Colorado program. Beginning See TAX AID on page 22
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BALMY WEATHER HELPED THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ‘marade’ Jan. 18 to a record turn-out
Council corner
By Jeanne Robb District 10 Councilwoman
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’m proud of Denver, what a remarkable city! Last week the New York Times published an article touting ten things to do in Denver. Of course, a visit to Union Station, including a stay at the Crawford, was included. Alternatively, they recommended staying at Capitol Hill’s own bed & breakfast Castle Marne. But it’s not just Denver’s great transportation, cultural scene, cuisine and hospitality that make me proud. I’m most proud of our people, our citizens. And I’m proud of how we turned out for the Martin Luther King Marade this year. Truth be known, I did think about playing hooky, having a full day off in my busy schedule. But then I thought about Ferguson, Staten Island, and Paris. I thought about the passion of the youth who marched from East High to Civic Center, missing school but learning the importance of civic involvement. I thought about Officer John Adsit. So, of course, I was at City Park on Jan. 18. One of the largest marades in the country, this year’s Denver march was the best and most meaningful Marade I’ve attended. It wasn’t just that the weather was unseasonably warm. The speeches were inspiring and inclusive. For the first time I remember, people sang as we marched, aided by song leaders from the Flobots and the Spirituals Project. The crowd exuded kindness and unity. When I was a 17-year-old, I suppose I could have marched in Selma. The Sunday before the Marade, Rev. Ian Cummins, of Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, challenged his congregation: would you have marched? And the program included an excerpt from a letter that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote from a Birmingham Jail, in which he described the white moderate as “more devoted to a negative peace which
is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice.” Frankly, the quotation hit me in the gut and made me think about past and present approaches to homelessness also. I’ve said before that the hardest problem I have dealt with on Capitol Hill, in District 10 and the city is homelessness, the commensurate mental health, and quality of life issues. What is justice for the homeless? A handout? A shelter bed? A restroom? A Solutions Center? While this question can be answered with an array of opinions, how can the community come together positively to address the issue? In the last few months the Colfax Business Improvement District, the Crime Control & Prevention Commission, Police District 6, and the Coalition for the Homeless have been looking yet again for new approaches in Police Precinct 623 (Colfax from Downing to Broadway and south for several blocks). You may have read recently about the mayor’s proposal for social impact bonds which would up-front private dollars for housing and wrap-around services for the 300 homeless who are the most frequent and long-term users of Denver Health Authority, Denver Cares, our courts, and our jail. In committee briefings, mapping of frequent arrests and services to these individuals indicate a great number of them in Precinct 623. What you may not know is that currently approximately 38 of these individuals are participating in a pilot program called Recovery Court, overseen by the Crime Control & Prevention Commission. As I read in a constituent email this past weekend, “It could in one fell swoop shift the paradigm of our failed attempts to stabilize the Broadway-Downing Colfax sector through law enforcement tactics (which are short-lived and lack sustained political will) into a positive, well-financed collaborative effort that could pay huge dividends for all parties...”.
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
Neighbor Eyesore good
THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY attached to the white picket fence at 764 Clayton is a charming addition to the neighborhood & offers books for those on their way to Congress Park for a read.
THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE DUPLEX AT 6TH & CORONA could use a little bit of love both on the wood trim & along the 6th Ave. right-of-way, which remains barren & rock-strewn throughout.
Jewish Film Festival Feb 4-15 28 films are focused around a theme of ‘co-existence’ By Dina Berta
D
enver film fans can rejoice, as the Mizel Arts & Culture Center is about to host the 19th annual Jewish Film Festival. The films will run Feb. 4-15 at The Elaine Wolf Theatre at the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center, 350 S. Dahlia.. This year’s line-up of films looks quite impressive. The 28 films selected this year are focused around a theme of “co-existence: living together in peace despite our differences.” Several of the films chosen for this year’s festival are nominated for Ophir awards, which are the Israeli equivalent of the Oscar awards. Eleven of the festival’s selections are directed by women. Local financial advisory firm Wagner Wealth Management sponsors this much anticipated festival. Opening night kicks off Feb. 4 with a screening of the comedy about a dysfunctional Jewish family, It Happened in San Tropez. At least two screenings will feature a guest discussion by the director. Thursday, Feb. 5 the first audience discussion will be hosted by documentarian Nancy Spielberg. Nancy’s brother is the famous blockbuster director, Steven Spielberg. Nancy Spielberg’s movie, Above and Beyond, is a thrilling tale of a group of Jewish-American pilots who flew for Israel in its War for Independence in 1948. The second guest speaker will be director Lacey Schwartz as she leads an audience discussion about her film which explores Jewish race and identity, Little White Lie. This year’s centerpiece film, The Last Mentsch, will screen Feb. 7. Feb. 11 will be a night of short films, including the screening of executive producer Chelsea Clinton’s documentary short Of Many. Feb. 14 there will be a grand finale screening of The Outrageous Sophie Tucker, with a dessert buffet included. On the festival’s last day
all of the films presented will showcase the diversity of Israel as part of a separate series entitled, “Israel Through the Lens.” Seating is limited. There are
comprehensive ticket packages available. For more information about the films or to purchase tickets, visit maccjcc.org/film or call 303-316-6360.
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
Calendar life
LIFE Calendar listings are free. Local, special, free & non-profit events are given priority. Mail to P.O. Box 18344, Denver, CO 80218, Fax to 303-831-6090, or email to Editor@LifeOnCapHill.com. Deadline: 20th of current month for next month’s listings. Note that LIFE is published on the first Wednesday of the month. Readers are advised to call the appropriate number to verify dates & times. This calendar is also available at LifeOnCapHill.com.
COMMUNITY WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS: “Connect for Health” personal assistance, Central Presbyterian Church, 1660 Sherman, Weds. 3-8 pm, Fri. 9 am-3 pm. Also 3rd Sat., 9 am-4 pm. Free. Through March. Call 720-8916994. WEDNESDAYS & SATURDAYS: 16th & Josephine Recycling Center open 3-6 pm Weds. & 9 am-12 pm Sat. MONDAY, TUESDAY & FRIDAY, FEB. 2, 3 & 20: Free Days, Denver Zoo, 23rd & Steele. Call 720-337-1400. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4: Police District Six Citizen’s Advisory Board meeting, Natural Grocers, Colfax & Washington, 5 pm. Public welcome. FRIDAY, FEB. 6 & 20: Corona MOPS, a faith-based moms’ group offering friendship & support, 9-11:30 am, Corona Presbyterian Church, 1205 E. 8th. Open to any woman pregnant or with a child kindergarten age or younger; childcare & brunch provided. Call 303-832-2297. FRIDAY, FEB. 6: Community
Resources Forum, 9-10:30 am, Sterne-Elder Room of Exempla St. Joseph Hospital, Russell Pavilion, 19th & Lafayette. Free Continental breakfast, varying presentations. Free parking in Humboldt Garage off 20th. Continues the 1st Fri. of every month. Call 303-866-8889. SATURDAY, FEB. 7: Free Day, Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado, 10 am5 pm. Call 303-322-7009. First Sat. of every month free. Public welcome. Call 303-832-5000. SATURDAY, FEB. 14: Valentine’s Day. MONDAY, FEB. 16: Presidents’ Day. TUESDAY, FEB. 17: Free Day, Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York. Call 720-865-3500. MONDAY, MAR. 2: Free Day at all SCFD facilities.
FAMILY TUESDAYS: “Book Babies,” a language enrichment program for babies age six to 23 months, 10:30 am, Children’s Library of the Denver Public Library, 13th & Broadway. Call 720-865-1306. • Young Children’s Storytime, The Tattered Cover, Colfax & Elizabeth, 10:30 am. Free. Different topic each week. Call 303-322-1965, ext. 2731. FRIDAY, SATURDAY & THURSDAY, FEB. 2, 3 & 20: Free Days, Denver Zoo, 23rd & Steele north of City Park, 10 am-5 pm. Call 303-376-4800. FRIDAY, FEB. 6: Free Day,
Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest. Call 720-865-0800.
FRIDAY, FEB. 6 & 20: Together Colorado, 9-11:30 am, Corona Presbyterian Church, 1205 E. 8th. For pregnant women & mothers of preschoolers to five years old. Brunch, speakers, childcare provided. First visit free. Repeated every 1st & 3rd (& 5th) Fri. of the month. Call 303-832-2297. SATURDAY, FEB. 7: Free Day, the Denver Art Museum, 13th & Acoma, 10 am-5 pm. Call 720-865-5000. • Free Day, Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado, 10 am-5 pm. Call 303-322-7009. First Sat. of every month. Public welcome. Call 303-832-5000. MONDAY, FEB. 16: Free Day, Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York, 10 am-5 pm. Call 720-865-3500.
EVENTS MONDAYS: Denver Laughter Club meets, First Unitarian Center, 14th & Lafayette. Free. Call Meredith, 303-877-9086. WEDNESDAYS: Kiwanis Club of Denver, 12-1:30 pm, Maggiano’s at the Denver Pavilions, 16th & Glenarm. Program varies weekly. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4: Free Legal Night at El Centro de San Juan Diego, 2830 Lawrence. 20 volunteer lawyers, one-on-one consultations, 5:30-7 pm. First come, first serve. Spanish/English provided. Repeated the 1st Weds. of every month. Call 303573-1302.
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SANDRA PHILLIPS GALLERY, 420 W. 12th, is presenting new works by Colorado native David Griffin. Oftentimes Griffin breaks up the surface of his canvases to create a three-dimensional effect, in this case creating the illusion of viewing the subject matter through a window. Opens Feb. 5, 6-8 pm. 303-573-5969; the sandraphillipsgallery.com • Monthly meeting of Democratic Party of Denver House District 5, Colorado Democratic Party HQ, 777 Santa Fe, 7-8:30 pm. Repeated 1st Weds. of every month, varying location. Call 303-917-7971. WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY, FEB. 4-6: “Preservation in Plain Sight: Developing a Community Vision,” the 2014 “Saving Places,” conference, Colorado Convention Center, 14th & Stout. Educational sessions, hands-on workshops, tours & other activities. Varying hours, open to the public. Events $80$310. Call 303-893-4620. WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY, FEB. 4-8: “Creating Change,” 27th annual national Conference on LGBTQ Equality, Sheraton Downtown, 1550 Court Pl. Call 303-893-3333. FRIDAY, FEB. 6: Community Resources Forum, 9-10:30 am, Sterne-Elder Room of Exempla St. Joseph Hospital, Russell Pavilion, 19th & Lafayette. Free Continental breakfast, varying presentations. Free parking in Humboldt Garage off 20th. Continues the 1st Fri. of every month. Call 303-866-8889. THURSDAY, FEB. 12: “Sustainability Wins” Lunch & Learn, The Alliance Center, 1536 Wynkoop, 12 pm. Call 303405-6780. FRIDAY, FEB. 13: Monthly Downtown Democratic Forum Breakfast, 6:45-8 am, program at 7 am, Le Grand Bistro,
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1512 Curtis. Speaker Sen. Morgan Carroll. Buffet $17. Public welcome. Call 303-861-8050. TUESDAY, FEB. 24: 26th annual Women’s Legislative Breakfast, Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 1370 Grant, 7-9:30 am. Keynote by Sue Bozinovski Tickets $20, $50 & $100. Call 303-628-0925.
ARTS TUESDAYS: “Dueling Divas,” a free film series, Denver Central Library, 13th & Broadway, B2 Conference Center, all screenings at 6:30 pm. 2/3 Queen Bee (1955) starring Joan Crawford; 2/14, an “Anti-Valentine’s Day Party” with Xanadu (1980), starring Olivia Newton-John; and 2/24, Old Acquaintance (1943), starring Bette Davis. Call 720865-1206. • “Brown Bag Mysteries,” 30-minute storytime for adults, Denver Central Library, 13th & Broadway, Vida Ellison Gallery, Level 7, 12 pm. Call 720-8651206. THURSDAYS: Downtown Denver Euchre Club, All Fired Up, 1135 Bannock, 7 pm (promptly). Call 303-825-1995. SUNDAY, FEB. 1 & MAR. 1: Tattered Cover Film Series presents Floating Weeds (1959) 2/1 & Lacombe, Lucien (1974) 3/1, 2 pm, Sie Film Center, Colfax & Elizabeth. Discussion with critic Howie Movshovitz follows. Free, but limited number of tickets. Call 720-381-0813. • “Writers’ Church,” a “drop-in writers’ jam” hosted by Curious Theatre Co. the 1st Sun. of every month, The Acoma Center, 1080 Acoma, 10:30 am-1 pm. Free. Call 303-623-0524. THURSDAY-SUNDAY, FEB. 4-15: 19th annual Denver Jewish Film Festival, Mizel Arts & Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia, various times, 28 films. Tickets $10 & $12. Call 303-316-6360. SUNDAY, FEB. 8: Stories on Stage presents “Red, White and Sometimes Blue,” 1:30 & 6:30 pm, Su Teatro Cultural
17
L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5 & Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe. Tickets $15 & $28. Call 303-444-7328. TUESDAY, FEB. 10: “Downtown Bookies” book discussion group considers a different work each month, 7-8:30 pm, 4th floor meeting room of the Denver Public Library, 13th & Broadway. Repeated second Tues. of every month. Call 720-865-1312. SATURDAY, FEB. 14: St. Martin’s Chamber Choir presents “The Hardouin Masses, Volume 2,” St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, 1960 11th St. in Auraria, 7:30 pm. Call 303-2981970. TUESDAY, FEB. 24: St. Martin’s Chamber Choir & the Santa Fe Desert Chorale present “Live Together,” Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia, 7:30 pm. Call 303298-1970. FRIDAY, FEB. 27: “#74, “Statement Piece,” music, film, food, cash bar, the Denver Art Museum, 13th & Acoma, 6-10 pm. Regular admission, students 2-for-1 with IDs. Call 720-8653500.
GALLERIES MONTH-LONG: • “Living West,” History Colorado Center, 12th & Broadway. Explores the living dynamics between the people of Colorado & the state’s environment. Call 303-447-8679. • Works by Margaret Lee & Chad Dawkins, Dikeou Collection, 1615 California.
Call 303-623-3001. • “Losing Love,” a juried show, Core Main Gallery, 900 Santa Fe. Call 303-297-8428. • “Touches of White,” works by several artists, Artists on Santa Fe Gallery, 747 Santa Fe. Call 303-573-5903. • “Con•Form•ation III: Feedlots,” last of a three-part exhibit of photographs by Evan Anderman, Journey Through Landscape, 209 Kalamath. Through Feb. Call 303-8326200. • Annual Resident Artist Exhibition, Redline Gallery, 2350 Arapahoe. Call 303-2964448. • “Black Sheep Fridays,” Museum of Contemporary Art, 1485 Delgany. Call 303298-7554. • “Sweet, Sweet Life: The Photographic Works of John Denver,” Leon Gallery, 1112 E. 17th Ave. Through Mar. 3. Call 303-832-1599. • “Repurposed,” works from cast-off materials by Janice McDonald, Craig Robb, Karole Sharp & Ryan Valentich, North Wing Gallery, in the lobby of 1705 17th St. Through Mar. 28. Call 303-722-8676. • “Critical Focus,” paintings by Ian Fisher, Museum of Contemporary Art, 1485 Delgany. Through April 13. Call 720-236-1825. • “Edge of the Plains,” paintings by Sharon Feder, Denver Botanic Gardens lobby, through May 3. Call 720-8653500. • “Seen in Passing: Photographs by Chuck Forsman,” Denver Art Museum, 13th & Bannock. Through May 25. Call 720-865-5000.
• “Chicano,” based on the political movement of Chicanos in the 1960s, Museo de las Americas, 861 Santa Fe. Through May 29. Call 303-5714401. WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS: “Nooner Tours” of the Denver Art Museum, 13th & Acoma, noon. Different gallery each week, regular admission. Call 720-865-5000. SATURDAYS: “Secrets of the Dioramas,” a free 45-minute overview of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s dioramas, 2001 Colorado, 12:30 & 2 pm. General admission required. Call 303-370-6000. THURSDAY, FEB. 5: Opening of an exhibit of new works by Peter Illig, Ben Strawn, Chris DeKnikker & Kellie Cannon, Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th. Call 303-355-8955. • Opening of an exhibit by Emerging Artists, Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th. Through Apr. 4. Call 303-355-8955. • “Poetry of Place,” works by Stephen Dinsmore, Debra Salopek, Sara Sanderson & Stephen Dinsmore, William Havu Gallery, 1040 Cherokee. Through Mar. 14. Call 303-8932360. FRIDAY, FEB. 6: First Friday Art Walk in the Golden Triangle Museum District. Free bus, maps at all galleries. Free shuttle to the Santa Fe walk, below. Call 303-573-5095. • First Friday Art Walk, Santa Fe Art District, 6th to 10th on Santa Fe. Call 303-3332820.
ENCHANTED APRIL, a play by Matthew Barber based on a best-selling novel, is a romantic comedy set during the gloomy days of post WWI London. The play was nominated for a Tony in 2003. Spotlight Theatre Company, John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. 1st Pl., Feb. 21-Mar. 21, 7:30 pm, $19/$21. 720-880-8727; thisisspotlight.com
• Opening of “Accomplice,” new ceramics by Peter Pincus, Plinth Gallery, 3530 Brighton Blvd. Through Mar. 28. Call 303295-0717. • Opening of “Spatial Stories: Topographies of Change in Africa,” Center for Visual Art, 965 Santa Fe. Through April 4. Call 303-294-5207. • Opening of “The Family Dog Denver: Rock Posters & Music in Denver, 1967-68,” Byers-Evans House Gallery, 1310 Bannock. Through May 10. Call 303-620-4933. SATURDAY, FEB. 7: Free Day at the Denver Art Museum, 13th & Acoma. First Sat. of every month free. Call 720-865-5000. • Free Day, Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado, 10 am-5 pm. Call
303-322-7009. First Sat. of every month free. Call 303-832-5000. • Opening of “The 1968 Exhibit,” History Colorado Center, 12th & Broadway. Through May 10. Call 303-447-8679. MONDAY, FEB. 9: Closing of “Passport to Paris,” a suite of three French-themed exhibits, “Court to Cafe, Three Centuries of French Masterworks”; “Nature as Muse,” Impressionist landscapes; & “Drawing Room: An Intimate Look at French Drawings from the Esmond Bradley Martin Collection,” Denver Art Museum, 13th & Bannock. Call 720-865-5000. • Closing of “Pattern: Follow the Rules,” multiple artSee CALENDAR on page 18
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
CALENDAR Continued from page 17 ists, Museum of Contemporary Art, 1485 Delgany. Call 720-236-1826. THURSDAY, FEB. 12: Opening of “Losing Love,” various artists, Knoll Gallery, 900 Santa Fe, through Mar. 1. Call 303297-8428. FRIDAY, FEB. 13: Opening of “Diamonds in the Daytime: The Changing Fashions of Margaret Brown’s World,” Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania. Through Aug. Call 303-832-4092. SATURDAY, FEB. 14: Upper Colfax 2nd Saturday Art Walk, 7 pm, Bluebird District, St. Paul to Adams on Colfax. Free. SUNDAY, FEB. 22: Closing of “Modern Vistas,” works by Sushe Felix & Tracy Felix, William Havu Gallery, 1040 Cherokee. Call 303-893-2360. • Closing of “Western Works on Paper: Watercolors & Woodblock Prints by Jean Cole & Leon Loughridge,” Tam O’Neill Fine Arts, 311 Detroit. Call 303-355-7711. FRIDAY, FEB. 27: Untitled Friday #64, “Statement Piece,” featuring music, film, food, a cash bar & “off-beat encounters with art,” Denver Art Museum, 13th & Acoma, 6-10 pm. Regular admission, students 2-for-1 with IDs. Call 720865-3500.
SUNDAY, MAR. 1: Closing of “Just Playing,” Redline Gallery’s resident artist exhibition, 2350 Arapahoe. Call 303-2964448.
LECTURES MONDAY, FEB. 9: “Colorado’s ‘Hippie Problem’” in the 1960s, discussed by assistant state historian B. Erin Cole, 1 pm, History Colorado Center, 12th & Broadway. Call 303-4478679. TUESDAY, FEB. 10: “Wills, Trusts & Other Estate Planning Tools,” a free class at Denver Community Credit Union, 1041 Acoma, 12-1 pm. Light meal provided. Registration required. Call 303-573-1170. TUESDAY, FEB. 24: “Global Pandemics,” Tattered Cover, 2526 E. Colfax at Elizabeth, 5 pm. Call 303-322-7727. MONDAY, FEB. 23: “Motel or Motor Inn? Colorado Lodging in 1968,” presented by historian Lyle Miller, History Colorado Center, 12th & Broadway, 1 pm. Call 303-447-8679.
SEMINARS, CLASSES & WORKSHOPS EVERY DAY: Free “Computer Basics” classes at the Denver Public Library’s “Community Technology Center,” 13th & Broadway, Level 4, varying afternoon times. Large variety of classes & skill levels . Call 720865-1706.
SUNDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS: “A Course in Miracles,” on-going class based on in-depth study of ACIM, 1 pm Sun., noon Weds., 7 pm Thurs. at Unity Temple, 1555 Race. Offering requested. Call 303-3223756. SATURDAY, FEB. 14: Beginning Genealogy class, the Denver Public Library, 13th & Broadway, Gates Conference Room, Level 5, 1:30-4 pm (register at 1 pm). Repeated 2nd Sat. of every month. Free. Call 720865-1821.
SENIORS WEDNESDAYS: “Hospitality House for Seniors,” Assistance League of Denver, Bosworth House, 1400 Josephine, 10:30 am 1st (Crafts or movie, light lunch) & 3rd (book club) Weds., noon 2nd (luncheon & entertainment) & 4th (lunch & bingo). Free. Continues through June. Call 720289-0775. THURSDAYS: Chair & Moderate Yoga, St. Paul United Methodist Church, 1615 Ogden, 11 am-12:15 pm. Fee charged. Call 303-818-4181. THURSDAY, FEB. 12: Seniors’ Book Discussion Group discusses contemporary fiction available in book & audio formats, 1-2:30 pm in the Level Four Meeting Room of the Denver Public Library, 13th & Broadway. Repeated 2nd Thurs. of every month. Call 720-8651312. SATURDAY, FEB. 14: Free
WILLIAM HAVU GALLERY, 1040 Cherokee, presents ‘Poetry of Place,’ the landscape works of Sara Sanderson, Stephen Dinsmore & Debra Salopek. Enjoy the sublime, expressive movements of the sky & land that these artists express with great harmony. Feb. 5-Mar. 14, 303-893-2360; william havugallery.com
Day for seniors 64+ at the Denver Firefighters Museum, 1326 Tremont Pl. Repeated 2nd Sat. of every month. Call 303-892-1436.
ductory Class, Mercury Cafe, 22nd & California, 10:30 am. Free. Other classes available. Call 303-294-9258.
HEALTH & RECREATION
TUESDAYS: Denver Chess Club, 6:30-10:30 pm, basement of West First Ave. Presbyterian Church, 120 W. 1st. Call 720318-6496. • Moderate Yoga, St. Paul United Methodist Church, 1615 Ogden, 6-7:15 pm. Fee charged. Call 303-818-4181.
SUNDAYS: Yoga on the Hill, 10:10 am, 809 Washington. Free. Call MJ at 303-433-6280 for details. • Capoeira Angola Intro-
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5 • Argentine Tango, practice & lessons, Turnverein Event Center, 1570 Clarkson, 6:3010:30 pm. Call 303-710-2250. TUESDAYS-THURSDAYS: “Meditation at Noon,” a free, 30-minute, guided meditation, KMC Colorado, 1081 Marion. Call 303-813-9551. WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS: “Connect for Health” personal assistance, Central Presbyterian Church, 1660 Sherman, Weds. 3-8 pm, Fri. 9 am-3 pm. Also 3rd Sat., 9 am-4 pm. Free. Through March. Call 720-8916994. SUNDAY, FEB. 1 & MAR. 1: Women’s Self-Defense Classes, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, Tiger Kim’s Academy, Colfax & Steele. Repeated the 1st Sunday of every month. Cost is $5 donation to breast cancer research. Call 303-388-1408. MONDAY, FEB. 16: La Leche League of Denver meets, Natural Grocers, Colfax & Washington, 10 am. Call 720-273-0022.
RELIGION SATURDAYS: Church in the City-Beth Abraham, 16th & Gaylord, 10 am. Call 303-3225733. SUNDAYS: Catholic Mass, 6:30, 8:30 & 10:10 am, 12:30 & 6:30 pm, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Colfax & Logan. Call 303-831-7010. • Holy Eucharist, 9 & 11:15 am, St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1350 Washington. Call 303-831-7115. • Spoken Worship, 7:45 am; Sung Worship with nursery, 9:30 am; Informal Worship, 5:30 pm. All worship services include Holy Communion. St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 13th & Vine. Call 303-388-6469. • St. Paul Lutheran, 16th & Grant, Lutheran mass at 8 & 10:30 am. Call 303-839-1432. • Church in the City-Beth Abraham, 16th & Gaylord, 8:30 & 10:45 am. Call 303-322-5733. • Center for Spiritual Living Denver, Sunday celebrations: meditation 9:30 am, service & children’s church 10 am, 2590 Washington. Call 303832-5206. • Informal Service, 10 am
St. James Urban, 1402 Pearl (Network Coffeehouse). Call 303-830-1508. • Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church, 11th & Fillmore, 9:30 am worship, 10:30 am fellowship, 11 am education for all ages. Call 303-333-9366. • Services at 9:30 & 11 am at the First Unitarian Society of Denver, 1400 Lafayette. Call 303-831-7113. • Sunday service & Sunday School (for up to age 20), First Church of Christ, Scientist, 1401 Logan, 10 am. Call 303839-1505. • 10 am Worship, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 9th & Emerson. Call 303-831-7023. • Worship Celebration 10:30 am, Buddhist Christian Interspiritual Service 5 pm, St. Paul Church, 1615 Ogden. Call 303-832-4929. • Catholic Mass for lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender Catholics, 5 pm, Dignity Denver, 1100 Fillmore. Call 303331-0289. • Catholic Mass, 7:30 & 10 am, St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, 23rd & York. Call 303-322-8042.
SATURDAYS: Catholic Mass, St. Paul Lutheran, 16th & Grant, 5 pm. Call 303-839-1432. SUNDAY, FEB. 15: Third Sunday Evensong, St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1350 Washington, 3:30 pm. Preceded
MONDAYS & SATURDAYS: The Holy Eucharist followed by “Transformation through the Indwelling Spirit,” meditation using the Centering Prayer Method, & light breakfast, 6 am Mon., 7:45 am Sat., The Priory House, 740 Clarkson (Metropolitan Church of the Rockies). Allinclusive. Call 303-919-1764. WEDNESDAYS: Weekly Bible Discussions, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Christian Science Metropolitan Reading Room, 16th & Larimer. Call 303-534-3571. • Wednesday Evening Testimony Meeting, 7:30 pm, First Church of Christ, Scientist, 1401 Logan. Call 303839-1505. THURSDAYS: Morning Eucharist, 7 am, St. Paul Lutheran, 1600 Grant. A 30-minute liturgy of Word & Sacrament. Call 303-839-1432. • Choral Evensong in traditional English style, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church,
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MONDAYS: Grant Avenue Street Reach Meal, after 9 am, St. Paul Lutheran, 16th & Grant. Call 303-839-1432.
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by free concert by Baroque violinist Mary Harrison. Repeated 3rd Sun. of every month. Call 303-831-7115. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18: Ash Wednesday. SUNDAY, APR. 5: Easter. See CALENDAR on page 20
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
CALENDAR Continued from page 19
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WEDNESDAYS: Kiwanis Club of Denver,12-1:30 pm, Maggiano’s at the Denver Pavilions, 16th & Glenarm. Program varies weekly. THURSDAYS: Fillmore Community Network, focuses on sustainability, 7:30-9 am, 1633 Fillmore, 1st floor conference room. Location changes monthly. Call 303-399-2100. • Cherry Creek Toastmasters, 7-8:30 am, Temple Emanuel, 1st & Grape. Call 303399-9901. • Conquer the fear of public speaking at Body Shops Toastmasters, noon, Colo. Dept. of Health, 4300 Cherry Creek Dr. South, 2nd flr. Call 303-3984735. • Denver Socrates Cafe, 7 pm, Trinity United Methodist Church, 18th & Broadway. Discussions on a variety of important topics. Free. Call 303-861-1447. FRIDAYS: Daybreak Toastmasters, 7-8:30 am, 1525 Sherman, Room B-70. Cat got your tongue? Public speaking & more. Call Scott after 6 pm at 303-4679294. • “Thrillspeakers” Toastmasters, 12-1 pm, Century Link Building, 1801 California, 13th floor. Call 720-209-2896. • Denver IDEA Cafe, a business start-up & brainstorming group, 2 pm, Panera Bread, 1350 Grant. Guest speakers. Free. Call 303-861-1447. MONDAY, FEB. 2 & 16: Skyline Toastmasters, 6:30 pm, Kephart Architecture, 2555 Walnut. Visitors welcome. Repeated the 1st & 3rd Mon. of every month. Call 303-778-0064.
SWALLOW HILL MUSIC, 71 E. Yale, presents the legendary Karla Bonoff in concert. Bonoff’s material has been covered by the likes of Linda Rondstadt and Bonnie Raitt, but her strong, shining voice holds its own. Her instrumentation will be clear & spare, & worth every penny. Feb. 28, 8 pm. $29/$31. 303-777-1003; swallowhillmusic.org WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4: Monthly meeting of Democratic Party of Denver House District 5, Colorado Democratic Party HQ, 777 Santa Fe, 7-8:30 pm. Repeated 1st Weds. of every month, varying location. Call 303-917-7971. FRIDAY, FEB. 6: Monthly Downtown Democratic Forum Breakfast, 6:45-8 am, Le Grand Bistro, 1512 Curtis. Buffet $15. Public welcome. Call 303-861-8050. TUESDAY, FEB. 10: Capitol Hill Community Justice Council, 6 pm, Morey Middle School, 14th & Emerson (east side). Focus on crimes affecting the quality of life. Public welcome. Meets 2nd Tuesday of every month. MONDAY, FEB. 16: Monthly meeting of the Denver Garden Club, 7 pm, 1556 Emerson. Member Colo. Federation of Garden Clubs. All are welcome. Repeated 3rd Mon. of every month. Call 303-320-5983. THURSDAY, FEB. 19: Colfax Crime & Safety Coalition monthly meeting, Cheeky Monk,
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THE WALNUT ROOM, 3131 Walnut, presents Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, an accomplished acoustic folk band with a creative edge. The intimate space of the Walnut Room, & the price, make for a great evening of music. Feb. 13, 7:30 pm. $10. 303-295-1865; walnutroom.com
534 E. Colfax, 3 pm. Public welcome. • Monthly meeting of Financially Fit Females, 6 pm. First meeting free, location & topic change monthly. Call 303993-3939. SATURDAY, FEB. 21: Colorado House District 8 Democrats, 10 am-noon, Park Hill Library, 4705 Montview. Repeated 3rd Sat. of every month. Call 720-220-6876. MONDAY, FEB. 23: Monthly meeting of Assistance League of Denver, 14th & Josephine, 10 am. Repeated 4th Monday of every month. Call 303-322-5205
SUPPORT GROUPS SUNDAYS: Nicotine Anonymous, 12:30 pm, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 915 E. 9th. MONDAYS: Weekly meetings of Emotions Anonymous, 7:30-9 pm, CHARG Resource Center, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 9th & Emerson (use basement entrance on Emerson). Call 303-331-2493. • Weekly meetings of SMART Recovery for people with addictive behaviors, Nourished Health Center, 1740 Marion, 6:30-7:30 pm. Free. Call 303-593-2535. • Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, 7-8:30 pm, First Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1st & Acoma (1st Ave. side, downstairs). Call 303-425-9691. • Cocaine Anonymous, St. Paul’s United Methodist, 16th & Ogden, 8 pm. Call 303-421-5120. MONDAYS & THURSDAYS: Meetings of Life Ring Secular Recovery, a network of support groups for people who want to maintain continuous abstinence from alcohol & other drugs, Washington Park United Church of Christ, 400 S. Williams (alley entrance), 6-7 pm. 303-830-0358.
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L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
Classifieds capitol
ALD Continued from page 12 ation, but the Assistance League comes to the rescue once again. The volunteers put together kits that include clothing, footwear and personal care items. Started in 1966, the program has helped almost 1,000 victims and works with Denver Health, Porter Adventist Hospital, St. Anthony’s hospitals in Lakewood, Westminster and Frisco, and the Medical Center of Aurora. Additional liaisons have been developed with hospitals in southern Colorado and the western slope. With a goal to ease the trauma of children who find themselves in a crisis situation or being treated for cancer, the ALDO (Assistant League Denver Officer) program, started in the 1990s and operated by the AL Auxiliary, provides adorable new Teddy bears to paramedics, police and hospitals. “The Auxiliary does amazing things and this small gesture brings comfort to children in a time of crisis,” said Murphy. Another Auxiliary program, “Serves Our Seniors,” provides a luncheon and entertainment in a Medicaid facility twice a year. This past year they provided an ice cream social and a Christmas carol program. Hospitality House is a program scheduled every Wednesday, except in August or during the Christmas holiday season. It’s at Bosworth House and provides entertainment and lunch for low-income senior citizens. The entertainment can range from musical performances, movies, and a book club to speakers and of course, Bingo, which is a favorite activity. Most participants range in age 70-90. The Scholarship program was created to help students with book and tuition fees at Community College of Denver, Community College of Aurora and Pickens College Technical in Aurora. Students must apply for the scholarship through the financial officer at the schools and must have maintained a 2.75 grade point average to have a scholarship renewed. Approximately 55 students qualified last year for assistance and were
PHOTO BY JEFF HERSCH
ALAN, WHO GOES BY ‘FLUFFY,’ took a rest at Governors’ Park, 7th & Logan. awarded between $500-1,000, depending on the number of hours the student carried. The program offers older students and others who have in the past had challenges with educational institutions an opportunity for a fresh start. Other programs that support the Assistance League’s philanthropic work are Christmas at Our House, which offers a beautiful display of holiday decorations at the Bosworth House and a boutique of handcrafted items for gift-giving and stocking stuffers. The program is usually the first week of November and offers several different events that include shopping, dining, cocktails, music and fun. The Happening, a new annual fund-raiser in the spring, has had two one-night events, Balestreri Vineyards and at the Wildlife Experience. “Tablescapes” is a late spring event presented by the Auxiliary. It offers a Victorian tea, a tour of the mansion (which is available to rent), boutique shopping, and a display of table settings that have been created by professionals and amateurs. It’s a wonderful event to get some new ideas for home entertaining. Last, but not least, the League’s Gold Penny Fashion Shows take their show on the road by presenting fashion shows at retirement homes, civic
groups, church groups, and recreation centers. All of the clothing comes from the Thrift Mart and AL’s volunteers serve as the models. Volunteers are the heart and soul of this organization, which Murphy said operates “horizontally,” with no paid staff with the exception of a part-time administrative assistant. “It’s pretty amazing. People are willing to give their time and effort and make a commitment to our programs. Everyone does their thing and it gets done,” she said. “Most volunteers come to us through word-of-mouth, and we do some community outreach,” Murphy said. But anyone wishing to commit to the AL’s mission and who may have some technology skills to offer along with their time and energy is welcome to learn more about the organization and volunteering at an open public meeting the fourth Tuesday of each month 9:30-10 am, except for August. Coffee and treats are provided. Certainly, it appears that along with the Assistance League’s motto, “All for Service, and Service for All,” one could easily declare, “Mission Accomplished.” For information call 303-3225205 or visit denver.assistance league.org.
Employment
Pet Services
DO YOU HELP FRIENDS AND FAMILY PLAN THEIR VACATIONS? Why not get paid for it? Now expanding our travel business. Work from home, set your own hours. EARN as you LEARN! Perfect opportunity for a career change for the professional-minded person. Call 303-748-7018, Margaret, for interview.
“LUCKY DOG” WALKERS – Responsible dogwalking and pet-sitting for your best friend! Attentive, fun walks in your neighborhood. Kitty care, overnights, pet taxi available. Reasonable rates, bonded/insured, Pet Sitters International member. Please call “Aunt Patty” 303-733-7827, luckyd ogwalkers@earthlink.net.
IF YOU ARE IN GREAT SHAPE and love to work hard, get rewarded with good pay for delivering newspapers. Call ASAP Delivery Services. 303-537-4067. DOWNING ST. GRILL and Pizzeria is now hiring counter help and delivery drivers. Apply in person at 3090 Downing St. See Brandon Schlag.
House Cleaning WINDOW, GUTTER, HOUSE, BASEMENT AND GARAGE CLEANING. Also offering snow shoveling and leaf clean up. Call for your free estimate. 303-329-8205.
Massage MASSAGE QWEST Denver’s BEST Mobile Massage Therapy Unbeatable massage rates $45 for 45 minutes $55 for 1 hour $90 for 90 minutes www.massageqwest.com 303-949-6003
Services INTERIOR DESIGN. Affordable in-home consultations for a complete range of interior design needs including color consultations, kitchen and bath makeovers, carpet and window coverings, downsizing, home organization and more. Very reasonable rates. Local references. Contact me at 310346-6911.
Wanted ESTATE OR ANTIQUE JEWELRY WANTED. Also, large diamonds, sapphires and rubies. Morgan Sonsthagen Jewelry. 303733-1710. 2107 S. Downing St.
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TAX AID Continued from page 13 Saturday, January 24, IRS-certified accounting students from EGTC will prepare and e-file tax returns free of charge for individuals with annual household incomes of less than $52,000.” More than 30% of Colorado families are eligible to participate in the program, which was created to help alleviate the financial burden of tax preparation on families that are striving to achieve financial stability. Many of the families that qualify for free tax help are also eligible for valuable tax benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit, and the preparers at EGTC’s site specialize in ensuring that taxpayers receive the refunds they deserve. One of the nation’s most successful antipoverty tools, the EITC helps struggling families make ends meet. Last year students at Emily Griffith Technical College
assisted with 1,392 tax returns that amounted to $2,704,225 in refunds. For Rebecca Dickman, visiting Tax Help Colorado’s free tax site at Emily Griffith last year was about more than just getting free tax assistance. “I like the idea of helping students with their education process,” she said about the Tax Help Colorado program, which utilizes college students who take an accredited course in income tax preparation and then receive college credit for serving as tax preparers at the tax site on their campus. “It’s an awesome program that teaches students real-life skills,” she said. This free service, which is quick and confidential, will be offered at Emily Griffith Technical College, 1261 Glenarm. People getting their taxes prepared should bring the following documents: All W-2, 1099s and other income-related documents Proof of mortgage interest, property taxes, daycare pay-
ments, college education expenses, charitable contributions, and all other tax-deductible expenses For college expenses: In addition to Form 1098T from your college, you must bring your own records of expenses paid for tuition, books, fees and supplies. Social Security cards (or ITINs) for all family members. Photo ID for taxpayer required. A copy of last year’s tax returns, if available. Form 1095-A if you or any member of your household got tax credits to pay for health insurance. Bank account number and routing number to direct-deposit the refund. With direct deposit, refunds are received in 10 to 14 days. A list of all the Tax Help Colorado sites, as well as the locations of other free tax assistance sites in Colorado, is available by dialing 211 (it’s a free call), visiting piton.org/tax-help-colorado, or finding Tax Help Colorado on Facebook (facebook.com/taxhelp colorado) and Twitter (@Tax HelpCo).
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23
L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
capitol
Architecture rchitecture Better buildings through functional diversity
Story & photos by David Lynn Wise AIA
T
he loudest and most public debate regarding the daily street life associated with overbearing institutional buildings may have occurred in the early 90s, when the carpetbaggers initially designing Coors Field tried to replicate their god-awful and dead-to-theworld new Comiskey Park (now lyrically known as US Cellular Field). They were insisting on trivializing Denver’s context and demolishing the two historic buildings surviving on the site. Denver had good people, volunteer professionals and sophisticated, insightful neighbors, advancing solid urban design goals and principles. Architect’s HOK’s staff was clueless and inarticulate about Denver, about design, and most of all about urbanism. They were creatures of the architectural backwater known as “sports facilities specialists.”
Living above the store, Hermes style. Think of guys in ties at a big desk at ESPN trying to craft an important cultural social institution in a city not their own. As often happens, urban design, historic preservation and an organized inclusive dialogue yielded a better outcome than the “specialists” could imagine. Ultimately one of the two historic buildings was saved. The other was willfully disassembled and then lost. The saved building is now a year-round brew pub. Even off-season it anchors the modest commercial frontage that is vital to keeping Blake St. relevant throughout the year and connected to the city. Elegance, clarity and integrity are all good characteristics in the design of a building and the public image that it projects. The idea of openness at the street level and the openness of the entire facade of a build-
ing is not that the architecture be weakened or ambiguous, but that it be engaged in the life and activity that surrounds it. Buildings can express their internal activity and their essential purpose. When a district is made up of these expressive buildings the district as a whole is richer, more meaningful and worthy of revisiting. On a busy corner of east Colfax increasing the healthy connection between the sea of pedestrians and the businesses that front it is a high priority. Demonstrating a frustrating trend, there is a new commercial tenant which has chosen to close itself off completely from the neighborhood and the street. Although the building in which this enterprise is located has expansive glass walls, they are made as opaque as concrete by the increasingly common anti-urban interior device known as blackout blinds. It seems absurd that not a single activity of this business and
and card shop and an art gallery. Previous tenants included a cultural institution masquerading as a shoe repair shop and perhaps the only Venetian blind laundry in Denver. The building is extremely simple in form and in construction. It has virtually no customer parking. It faces north and it violates all of the conventions of energy efficiency and post-modern design flourishes. In spite of all of that it is a good and interesting neighbor. Not one tenant hides from the street, although we each have carefully modulated how much is revealed through our storefronts, which are entirely glass. It’s not that hard to set up that modulation without hanging blinds or smearing some sort of screening over the glass. There was a time when apartment buildings in Denver rarely had commercial uses on their streetfronts. In fact there are neighborhoods where the commercial uses would not be welcome or beneficial. On the other hand there are many types of developments, whether they are public, private or institutional, that can benefit from a blended set of uses that are tailored to do more to engage the city and provide more services for more people of different backgrounds. While I am out of the loop
Blinds that block out the street.
A very fine mixed-use building on Colfax.
A glass wall transformed into an oversize commercial sign. others along east Colfax cannot have a window looking onto the street in a gracious, friendly and welcoming manner. Meanwhile a landmark liquor store further west on Colfax has done many things right in replacing its former dingy building with one that has an inviting appearance, large windows, and even a pizza cafe tight to the street corner. A more modest and architecturally marginal new building on 17th successfully combines a restaurant and a cafe on the ground floor with up-to-date living units above. Our modest storefront studio is housed in a 100 year old building that also has apartments above. It’s a very old formula. Some tenants have lived in the apartments for decades. The commercial tenants include a coffee shop, a hair salon, a gift
on the planning for the new recreation center on Colfax, I can’t help wishing that it offer a mixed-use program of residential and retail uses to make the most of the very important location. Hindsight tells me that the elaborate new Botanic Gardens parking facility would have been an excellent location for residential units placed on top, with spectacular views over the gardens toward the mountains. As it is, it is a darkened hulk on an already desolate street at night in a location that should have connected with the Congress Park neighborhood to the east. Zoning today typically regulates the transparency of buildings in commercial districts. It is a recognized aspect of good design. Window opening size on commercial plazas was in fact
fresh city2 X 5
A mix of uses & expressive architecture enliven the street.
regulated by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand when they established the Law of the Indies in the late 1400s! The positive effects are still visible in the plazas of Santa Fe and Taos. So 600 years later we’re still crudely stifling the street life of our most important commercial districts with this selfish introversion of any number of enterprises. Of course, much of this is done innocently. However, in my role as a design consultant at Belmar and other parts of the metro area, we see national retailers in grocery and other businesses who stubbornly refuse to think out of the box, literally. It’s not that hard to see the ubiquitous examples of new paradigms, but refusal and less than half-measures apparently still suits them. This gets back to the phe-
nomenon of “specialized” architects and designers. They often are willing to learn, slowly, about urbanism, a truly ancient topic, but more often they are co-opted and lack in real design skill and creativity. Fortunately, planning regulations as well as successful business models are combining to steer the lumbering ship of commercial design toward buildings that are more urban and more healthy. Our new neighbor to the north, a multi-block hospital, has built vast new parking garages. A portion of the street level is clad in tall glass walls. Downing St. badly needs help as a pedestrian environment connecting 17th with the neighborhoods to the north. We can only hope that the vacant garage spaces are eventually developed into shops with doors directly on the street.
24
L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
capitol
School Scoop By Linda Katchen
M
RODICO & DALTON made some extra money last month. Residential walks should be cleared within 24 hours of snowfall.
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om, do we have an old shoe box that I can decorate for my school’s Valentine party?” Who doesn’t remember taking a box or a plain paper bag to school to decorate and make into a personal mailbox for the valentines that will come from other students in the class? February is the time of year when the stores are full of bright red packages of Valentine cards and treats. More chocolate is sold for this holiday than for any other, as are funny, serious and timely cards. How nice it is to have an excuse to let people know that someone cares about them. It provides a break from the studying and test preparation that are taking place in the schools at this time. Now that Colorado has joined other states by adopting the Common Core Standards for education, the state testing, which will take place early March to early April, is changing the way to evaluate how well students are meeting these specific standards. For more information about what the Common Core Standards are at each grade level, see standardstool kit.dpsk12.org/im-a-parent/. The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) developed tests that correspond to the Common Core Standards, and Colorado is implementing these tests this year. It will not be until the fall when states receive their first set of test score results that the states will decide how to set the “cut scores,” the markers that categorize scores and identify student performance. In previous tests, such as the TCAP, the cut score markers were Advanced, Proficient, Partially Proficient, and Unsatisfactory. It is unclear at this time whether the new tests will have the same markers. Schools and teachers have been evaluated on how their students performed on the tests in the past and on how much growth individual students show from one year to the next. The importance of the tests for students and schools is high, and much time and money goes into test preparedness. A task force was assembled to look at testing mandates and “is finishing up its work and it is clear that there are a number of ways in which testing can be streamlined.” Parents and community members can find information, including sample test items,
online at the PARCC website: parcconline.org/colorado. In addition, parents and community members can stay in contact with their schools to find out how they are preparing for testing, how much pretesting is being done, and what can be done at home to help the students. DPS superintendent Tom Boasberg will host two sessions of the Superintendent Parent Forum focusing on “Culturally Responsive and Differentiated Teaching” Feb. 26 at the PPA Events Center, 2105 Decatur. The first session will be 9:1511:30 am. It will be repeated 6:15-8:15 pm. To register for the event, either call 720-423-2283 or go online to face.dpsk12.org. Parents may have noticed that schools schedule hearing and vision screenings during the school year for students in grades kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Screenings are performed by the school nurse, teachers, principals or other qualified persons who have been authorized by the school district. Parents may object to their child’s being evaluated on religious and/or personal grounds. To find out more about this, visit dpsk12. org/pdf/ParentsStudentsRights. pdf. There is dental support for students who have no other dental resources through Kids in Need of Dentistry (KIND), an organization that partners with DPS to provide dental care. After the attack at Columbine, the Columbine Commission Report made a recommendation that students need a safe and anonymous way to report threatening situations and people, which led to the establishment of Safe2Tell, a non-profit organization based in Colorado Springs. Research has shown that in 81% of violent incidents involving students, someone other than the attacker knew it was going to happen but failed to report. Because they are worried they might make a friend angry, young people are often afraid to tell anyone if they feel a friend might be suicidal or presenting a threat to others. Safe2Tell provides young people and concerned adults a way to report any behaviors or activities that endanger themselves or someone they know in a way that keeps them safe and anonymous. People can contact Safe2Tell 24 hours a day at 1877-542-7233 or at its website, safe2tell.org. East High School, Colfax & Elizabeth, has launched the first DPS ice hockey program See SCOOP on page 27
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25
L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
capitol
Curmudgeon Songs of love By Todd Clough
H
ere we are in the month of Valentines. I have had the same Valentine for 31 years, and yes, that noise you hear is me knocking on wood. The other top-shelf loves of my life... my daughter, three dogs, my faith, and my work... are all healthy and happy and the knocking on wood continues. For some strange reason lately I have been pondering the question of if I had to live without one of my five senses which one would I choose. No way would I choose sight or hearing (even though I am half-deaf already). That leaves taste, smell or touch. I love to cook and eat, so cross off taste and smell, so by default I would lose touch. Not being able to feel my daughter’s world-class hugs, or feeling the touch of my wife holding my hand would be missed. Thank God this is a hypothetical. I was quick to answer “no way Jose” on sight or hearing. I pressed the issue in my brain about which one of these two are most important to me. Art and fly-fishing are two of my favorite things to do. Hard to cast a fly to a rising trout if you can’t see the little dimple on the water. Painting blind has been done, but not by me and I don’t want to start now. I have been putting off getting hearing aids for a couple years now, so is that an indicator that hearing is the one I would pick? But the more I pondered this question the more I realized I couldn’t imagine living life without hearing another great love song. So what should I get my honey Melissa for Valentines’ Day this year? She is off sweets, so chocolates are out the window. Diamonds are above my pay grade. I settled on writing her a love song. After days of struggling I decided to cheat. I have built her a love song from titles of classic love songs.
Here it is, sung to the tune of “Light My Fire” (The Doors), “Melissa” (The Allman Brothers), “I Can’t Fight This Feeling” (REO Speed Wagon), “You Are the Sunshine Of My Life” (Stevie Wonder), “You’re My First, My Last, My Everything” (Barry White), and “I Honestly Love You!” (Olivia Newton-John): Just so you know I am “Crazy For You” (Madonna) and you are “My Girl” (The Temptations) and “I Will Always Love You” (Whitney Houston) “Just The Way You Are!” (Bruno Mars), “Let’s Stay Together” (The Reverend Al Green), “Happy Together” (The Turtles) and “Always And Forever” (Heat Wave). “Have I Told You Lately” (Rod Stewart) “You Are So Beautiful?” (Joe Cocker), “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher And Higher” (Jackie Wilson) and I long to be “Close To You” (The Carpenters). “Love is All Around” (The Troggs) and I “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love” (Barry White). “When A Man Loves A Woman” (Percy Sledge), “Something” (The Beatles) ”Truly” (Lionel Richie) “Unforgettable” (Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole) occurs. “This Magic Moment” (Drifters), if you will, happens “Time After Time” (Cyndi Lauper). Know that “I’ll Be There” (Jackson 5) “Because” (Dave Clark Five) “I Love You (Climax Blues Band) “Truly, Madly, Deeply” (Savage Garden) and “I Swear” (All-4-One) “You’re The Only Woman” (Ambrosia) for me. “All My Life” (K-C & JoJo) and “Only You” (The Platters) “My Girl” (The Temptations) has “Always” (Atlantic Starr) “Love Me Tender” (Elvis) “Here And Now” (Luther Vandross) and indeed “Love Will Keep Us Together” (Captain & Tennille). “This Guy Is In Love With You” (Herb Albert & The Tijuana Brass). “Everything I Do, I Do For You” (Peter Frampton). I “Cherish” (The Association) you, you “Take My Breath Away” (Berlin) and “You Send Me” (Sam Cooke) and I “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You (Elvis).
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“I Only Have Eyes For You” (The Flamingos) and I am “Dedicated To The One I Love” (The Shirelles). “I Will Stand By You” (The Pretenders) “Lady,” (Lionel Richie) “In The Still Of The Night” (The Five Satins). “I Don’t Know Much” (Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville) and “Maybe I am Amazed” (The Beatles) that “La-La Means I Love You” (Delfonics) and it is “Sealed With A Kiss!” (Bryan Hyland). “Betcha By Golly Wow” (Stylistics) “Baby I Need Your Lovin’” (Four Tops), and you my darling are “The Look Of Love” (Dusty Springfield) and “You’re The Inspiration” (Chicago). I Am “Pledging My Love” (Johnny Ace) and “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Sinead O’Connor). “Ain’t Nothin’ Like The Real Thing” (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) “To Love Somebody” (The Bee Gees) and to experience the “Glory Of Love” (Peter Cetra) and “God Only Knows” (Beach Boys) how much I love you. “I Got You Babe” (Sonny & Cher) and with “Open Arms” (Journey) and with an “Eternal Flame” (The Bangles) “I Will Always Love You” (Dolly Pardon). Happy Valentine’s Day!
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26
L i f e o n C ap i t o l H i l l • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5
Music life
Welcome Back, John Sebastian By Peter Jones
A
n old axiom says if you can remember the 1960s, you weren’t there. Well, John Sebastian has proof, even if he does manage to recall a few details. His unscheduled recital at Woodstock, saved for posterity in the film of the same name, was as “memorable” for the musician’s drugged-out state of mind as it was for anything he managed to eke out on stage. Although Sebastian seldom gets his due in the annals of rock history, the leader of the Lovin’ Spoonful was a primary architect of the underplayed good-time end of the ‘60s folk-rock boom. In such sanguine hits as “Summer in the City,” “Daydream” and “Do You Believe in Magic?” the Spoonful put the fun in folk with nary a Dylan nod. The Spoonful, named for a song by Mississippi John Hurt, was one of the bands that tried to prove America’s muscle in the face of the British Invasion, oddly enough with electrified jug-band music, of all things. The band slowly began falling apart in 1967 when guitarist Zal Yanovsky was busted for pot and became a counterculture pariah after he “uncooly” named his supplier and wound up as a Canadian restaurateur. Sebastian entered into a low-profile solo career, whose greatest success by far was the theme to TV’s “Welcome Back, Kotter,” which became a No. 1 hit in 1976. The singer-songwriter is expected to perform a range of his solo and Lovin’ Spoonful material Feb. 15 at Swallow Hill, 71 E. Yale. As it happened, LIFE Music
failed to pin down this member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [and godson of “I Love Lucy” actress Vivian Vance] for an interview, though Sebastian was among my very first musician interviews in my halcyon days of radio. The following interview was conducted in the early 1980s in Boulder after a performance at Chautauqua Auditorium. LIFE: What’s the truth behind Pete Townshend hitting Abbie Hoffman with his guitar at Woodstock? Sebastian: It was a marvelous shot, I must say. The head plate of the guitar behind the neck, and just a little six-inch push, and that was all it took. LIFE: Do you think it was a political or personal statement? Sebastian: First of all, Abbie Hoffman shouldn’t have been there. Now, you’re hearing a performer’s viewpoint, right? I’m sure maybe a political activist might feel differently, but I absolutely felt that this was not a political moment. And yes, it seemed entirely inappropriate to be babbling, particularly as incoherently as he was babbling, and I don’t exclude myself, either, because when I played Woodstock I had no idea that I was going to be on the stage. I was completely psychedelicized by the time I got on stage because I had no idea that I was going to be on stage. I was just participating as an audience member and then they asked me to work. No, I wasn’t too fond of his performance, and I wasn’t too fond of mine, either. LIFE: What did you think of the folk-rock label? Sebastian: I hated it. I hated the label because I got started
LifeOnCapHill.com
in music because of Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino and Gene Vincent. It was only later when I was going to summer camps that I was seeking to impress some of the counselors in training with some folk songs that I began to know a little bit about folk music. As time went on, I did get very interested in some of the '30s jug-band styles because I felt there was an application there to electrify that music and give it a little bit more punch. But folk-rock, it just sounded so completely emasculated, like a little white hybrid in a test tube somewhere. This is just American music, and it does evolve. It can’t be helped. LIFE: Tell us about your first band, the Even Dozen Jug Band. Sebastian: It included a few very strong instrumentalists, David Grisman [interviewed in this column in August 2004], a fabulous mandolin player and exponent of dawg music, Stefan Grossman, who was a bit of a ragtime guitar virtuoso, Steve Katz, who ended up in Blood, Sweat & Tears, Maria D’Amato, who became Maria Muldaur when she started dating [Geoff Muldaur], one of the guys from another jug band, the Kweskin Jug Band. LIFE: Then came the Mugwumps, as the song sort of goes. Sebastian: With Denny Doherty, Cass Elliott and Zal Yanovsky and Jim Hendricks, the white Jim Hendricks, who was in a group with Cass before the Mugwumps. That was kind of a constructed group. I was only in it for two weeks and it was almost an afterthought. The group got together, I guess, as a reaction to the British Invasion, and it was a somewhat short-lived group by its very nature. I think the problem with the Mugwumps was that it was not a real selfcontained group. There was an arranger. There were managers trying to direct this thing so it would be the great American answer, and of course, that kind of thing really has to evolve naturally. Well, lucky for me, that thing was evolving naturally in the Mugwumps because for two weeks I got a chance to play with Zal and we had a ball. And then, the manager kicked me out for being a bad influence on Zal. So I went back to New York, continued to work as a sideman and studio musician. I knew this
JOHN SEBASTIAN, the former leader of the Lovin’ Spoonful, was a primary architect of the underplayed good-time end of the ‘60s folk-rock boom. group would eventually fold and that Zally and I would do something. We knew that a good six months before anything happened. LIFE: Among the biggest hits was “Do You Believe in Magic?” Sebastian: “Do You Believe in Magic” was maybe the fourth song I had ever written in my life. It was mainly out of need that I wrote the song because after we had explored the standard Chuck Berry repertoire and had gotten a few of the jug band tunes fairly well organized, the next thing was to have a good shuffle tune. At about that time, the Night Owl Cafe had been very much a club whose clientele wore black turtlenecks and long ironed black hair. All of a sudden in a two-week period when the Spoonful started to play there, there was this tremendous shift of clientele. There were suddenly all of these teeny boppers. In fact, the very name teeny bopper was a Cass Elliott word. The term came from an afternoon Mugwumps show. There was an amazing number of very little kids who would be into rock and roll and Cass named them teeny boppers and that name went right into the vernacular. LIFE: The Spoonful fell apart due to Zal’s drug bust? Sebastian: It was half an ounce of pot. It did contribute to the
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breakup of the band and I felt very betrayed at the time by the rock press who the week before had praised Zal Yanovsky as this great counterculture hero, and a week later, all of a sudden, he was a bad guy. I really think a responsible reporter could have found out what was really happening there and that it really was a situation of exploitation. It was very sad. We were beating our heads against the wall. The original chemistry had been lost and now it was time to move on. LIFE: Is it true you were once asked to join Crosby, Stills and Nash? Sebastian: Stephen [Stills] did actually say, “Look, we can’t find a drummer we like. We know you’re like an amateur drummer. You be the drummer ‘cause you can sing too and we can have one more voice.” That was at a point when I was fighting very hard to get my solo album out. It had already been made six months ago and MGM wanted to put it out as a Lovin’ Spoonful album. I was saying that’s really ridiculous because I’m the only member of that band that’s on this record. And it took another six months before Warner Brothers picked up the record and I was more or less visible again. So what I did was turn [CSNY] onto a really good drummer, Dallas Taylor. LIFE: You also played harmonica with the Doors. Sebastian: If you listen to “Roadhouse Blues,” that’s me. LIFE: How did the theme to “Welcome Back, Kotter: happen? Sebastian: It happened in a very standard way. A producer was speaking to a man who had just become my agent and said, “I’m looking for like a John Sebastian kind of a guy,” and of course, the agent said, “Hey, I represent him. You wanna talk?” It turned out that the guy was from New York and we were insulting each other within the first five minutes and getting along wonderfully. We became very good friends and this sort of jocular insulting style that is very much a part of New York street greeting and teasing went into the song. I had a ten-page synopsis of the TV series to go by and a first script. That was the biggest-selling record I’ve ever had. John Sebastian will perform Feb. 15 at Swallow Hill, 71. E. Yale. For more information, call 303-777-1003 or visit swallowhillmusic.org or johnb sebastian.com. Contact Peter Jones at peter@lifeoncaphill.com.
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SCOOP Continued from page 24 this season. DPS student ice hockey players have had to play on teams for other districts in the past. Now they can play for DPS. Monday, Feb. 23, 6:30-7:30 pm, East will host an English Language Learners Parent Night in the East Commons. On Thursday, Feb. 26 5-8 pm there will be a FAFSA night. FAFSA night is sponsored by the Denver Scholarship Foundation. Get help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Open to East High School seniors and their families, room 324. For more information: Angrith Na at 720-423-8595 or contact ana@denverscholarship. org Wednesday & Thursday Feb. 18 & 19 East High School Parent/ Teacher Conferences will be held 3:15-7:15 pm. East High Parents must register online. Foe more information call 720-423-8300. Denver Justice School, 300 E. 9th, will host a Parent Empowerment session Thursday, Feb. 19 6-7:30 pm. Here is a note from principal Jody Cohn at Bromwell Elementary,150 S. Pearl: “We are honored to announce that Bromwell was on the list of Top Public Elementary Schools in Colorado in 5280 magazine. Schools were evaluated in 19 districts located primarily within the boundaries of the seven-county metro area. The 52 schools on the list were specifically chosen for being in the top 15 percent of the total pool of 514 schools for proficiency in all three subject areas (math, reading and writing). Great job Bromwell! “Thursday, Feb. 5, 5:30-7:30 pm, Bromwell family and community members are invited to come to the Bromwell at Byers campus to enjoy multi-cultural dishes, dances, dress and much more during the Bromwell annual Multi-Cultural Night. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the talents of your kids and experience different cultural ways of living. Multicultural Week at Bromwell has two main purposes: To demonstrate knowledge of and interest in students, their cultures, communities, and/or their background experience. To demonstrate culturally responsive teaching in classrooms by integrating students’ cultures within the classroom and celebrating diversity. Multicultural Week kids off with an all-school dragon parade assembly in the gym, celebrating the Chinese New Year. During the week, students learn in the classroom and during special events about different world cultures. The week is packed with presentations by teachers, parents, and special guests. It all wraps up with Multicultural Night, which showcases the artistic, musical, and dance talents of Bromwell students and teachers and builds our community spirit with an open potluck. “Feb. 6, 2-6 pm, grab your friends and join us in Cherry Creek at 261 Fillmore for a WineTasting at The Vineyard. This is an opportunity to taste some fabulous wines and perhaps buy a bottle or two for the auction on March 21. All auction items are due by Feb. 9.” Teller Elementary School, 1150 Garfield, raised $2,500 for Penny Harvest, which is a record for the school. Students have decided that they want to donate to organizations that support kids
with cancer, Ebola aid and helping animals. By the end of February, students will meet to finalize which organizations will receive donations and how much money each will receive. Thursday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 pm Teller will have its Fourth Grade Silent Movie Night. Fourth graders have created very short films using clay animation with the app Stop Motion and adding music using a garage band. Students will describe their projects before each individual film is shown. The art and music departments worked together with the students on these projects. “Night of the Notables” will take place the following week on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6 pm in the gymnasium. Students from 2nd grade have selected an influential person who they have thoroughly researched. They will dress as their “notable” and parents/visitors will ask questions to try to guess who their person is. The students will then share the knowledge they gained throughout the experience. Dora Moore K-8, 846 Corona, has established a positive intervention program for behavior, because they believe in building positive relationships with stu-
dents in order to ensure success in school. The expectations for students, staff and families is that they will SOAR at Dora Moore. “SOAR” is an acronym with the S representing Safety, O representing Outstanding Attitude, A representing Always Respectful and R representing Responsibility. For more information about this program and the behavior matrix, go to the Dora Moore web page, doramoore@dpsk12.org. Specific behavior expectations are listed for students’ arrival and departure, hallway, classroom, assembly, cafeteria and outside/recess. Morey Middle School, 840 E. 14th, has two events on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The Morey Art Show will take place at 5 pm in Room 500. At 6 pm the Morey Band/Orchestra will perform in the auditorium. Good Shepherd School, 620 Elizabeth, reports on the National Geographic Geography Bee: “On Friday, December 19, 2014, ten Good Shepherd students competed in the National Geographic Geography Bee in front of a school audience. All students in grades 4-8 had completed the preliminary competi-
P/SL5 x 8
tion in their classrooms. After tie-breaker rounds, the following students qualified for the school round: Zoe McCoy, Vann Noland, Emma Stewart, Meggie Rasure, Matt VanDusen, Anouk Schembri, Rebecca Watts, Rex DePriest, Cameron Brickley, Summit Fedler, Jack Allshouse, and Alexandra May. Qualifying alternates were Josie West, Kaz Marczyk, Everest Fedler, and Nolan Baker. “After a lengthy, doubleelimination competition, 8thgrader Zoey McCoy came in
third, 8th-grader Vann Noland came in second, and 6th-grader Alexandra May came in first. Alexandra will now complete a written test as her entry to the state Geography Bee. The top 100 students in Colorado will compete at the University of Denver in March.” The Advanced Spelling Bee will take place Saturday, Feb. 28. A Community Art show will take place at St. Elizabeth’s School, 2350 Garfield, Friday, Feb. 6, 6-8 pm.
CERT ‘disaster’ training The Office of Emergency Management, Homeland Security, the Denver Police Department and other sponsors will offer a free Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) class at Denver Police District 1 headquarters, 1311 W. 46th, Feb. 5, 7 & 14. The disaster preparedness and response training will include how to plan for a disaster and will teach basic response skills such as fire safety, light search & rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. The schedule: Feb. 5 6-9 pm, and 2/7 & 14 8 am-5:30 pm. The training sessions will be paired with a field exercise in late April, site and time to be announced. The classes are open to anyone, but only 40 people will be accepted. All classes must be attended. For information or to register, contact Lorrie Kosinski at 720-458-8486 or lorrie. kosinski@denvergov.org.
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Garden arden life
‘Plant Select’ suggestions
By Julie Hutchinson
E
mbracing change is recommended as an antidote to boredom, a stimulant for the brain and a stress-reliever for life in general. Rearranging the furniture can perk up a room as well as its inhabitants. Just as a farmer rotates crops and a back-yard gardener knows not to plant tomatoes in the same spot every year, change in the landscape garden is a good thing, whether it’s forced or chosen. But making good changes in your landscape garden need not be a guessing game. If you’re looking for something new to perk things up, turn to Plant Select. If you need advice on what to plant in difficult conditions, turn to Plant Select. And if you just want to browse the latest and greatest information about plants, shrubs, ornamental grasses and trees perfect for Colorado, turn to Plant Select. It’s a non-profit that pools the expertise of the Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado State University and businesses that grow and sell plants. Every year Plant Select publishes a new list of plants ideal
for our high, dry landscapes. Gradually these plants work their way into the retail landscape, often with tags identifying them as Plant Select picks. Since the program started in 1997 many of the plants it has brought to the attention of Colorado gardeners have become mainstays in our landscapes, including three of my favorites: Husker Red Penstemon, Carol Mackie Daphne and Sunset Hyssop. Most of these plants thrive in dry, sunny rock gardens, although gardeners with shady urban settings as well as balcony gardeners will find choices, too. Here’s the list for 2015, along with the Plant Select rationale for the selection: • Windwalker Big Bluestem. This plant is described as a “regal, upright ornamental grass selected for its powdery blue foliage that turns plum/purple in September with burgundy seed heads.” The plant tops out at six feet, works great in a pot and takes full sun. • Silky Rock Jasmine. Described by Plant Select as a “charming yet tough little plant” that thrives in containers or the ground. “Furry gray-green
rosettes proliferate with strawberry-like red runners to form intricate, silky semi-evergreen patches. Clusters of fragrant pink flowers with yellow eyes rise on short stems in early summer.” Sun or part shade; smells good, too. • Arenaria Wallowa Mountain. “Evergreen, exceptionally short and compact groundcover native to Oregon. Fine-textured bright green foliage resembles moss yet is very drought-tolerant. Superb for xeric and fairy gardens, permanent containers, between paving stones,” says Plant Select. Thrives in sun or partial shade. • Engelmann’s daisy. Described as an “industrial strength” perennial that “forms decorative rosettes of crisp, ruffled gray foliage adorned nearly all summer with bright yellow daisies.” Part sun is OK. • Goldhill Golden Aster. This plant’s “tufted grey fuzzy foliage makes dense mounds in a sunny garden, clothed from late winter to fall with yellow daisies.” Best in full sun. • Woodward Columnar Juniper. Towering at 20' when mature, its dark green foliage turns grey-blue in winter and can take wind and heavy snow. Perfect for a living privacy fence or as a “living exclamation point,” it can take part shade. • Coral Baby Penstemon. Upright spikes with clusters of pink flowers in early spring and a magnet for bees and butterflies. Best in full sun. • Desert Beardtongue. “Mounds of deep blue-green, toothed foliage topped with wands of vivid purple-magenta trumpets for much of the grow-
THIS CAROL MACKIE DAPHNE, a 1997 selection for Plant Select, thrives in urban settings like this sunny front yard. ing season.” Nearly evergreen, it takes full sun and loves bad dirt. • Windwalker Royal Red Salvia. Beautiful in the back of the garden when it tops out at three to four feet, it’s described as a “robust grower with graceful stems crowned with blood-red flowers from late June through October.”
To learn more about Plant Select, find a demonstration garden or see more photos of these beautiful plants, visit plant select.org. Do you have a gardening question or comment? Email me any time at juliehutchinson@comcast.net.
URBAN DWELLER FEBRUARY 2015 May 2009
“Preserving the Improving the Present, and Planning forCapitol the Future “Preserving the Past, Improving thePast, Present, and Planning for the Future of Greater Hill” of Greater Capitol Hill”
2014 Good Neighbor Award Winners Congratulations to the 2014 Good Neighbor Award winners, who were honored in January at CHUN’s Annual Meeting. These deserving awardees were nominated by members of their community.
Calling all Exhibitors and Artists: chun 2015 CHUN Capitol Hill 5x8 People’s Fair!
Rob Weil Outstanding People’s Fair Volunteer Sean Mandel Colfax Avenue Award Kathleen Wells Jim Peiker Award for Outstanding Historic Preservation George Kruger Neighborhood Character Officer Mark Jacobson Safe Neighborhoods
Sonia John Parks and Public Spaces Frank Locantore Neighborhood Connection Mile High Behavioral Health Care Homelessness and Affordable Housing Councilwoman Jeanne Robb The Tom Knorr Award for Community Service
Applications are now available for this year’s People’s Fair! Categories range from non-profit to food, to fine artists and details can be found on the People’s Fair website (www.peoplesfair.com). Applications and details for fine artists and crafters can be found under the “Arts and Crafts” tab, and all others can be found under “How to Participate.” Please see the categories and due dates below: Community Partners - February 27 Fine Art - March 13 Handcrafted - March 13 Greater Capitol Hill Business - April 3 Personal Service - April 3 Gourmet/Pre-Packaged Food - April 3 Marketplace - April 3 Non-Profit - April 3 Food - April 10 Kids & Family - May 1
Tears-McFarlane House/CHUN Community Center Rentals Located on the north side of Cheesman Park, the historic Tears-McFarlane House is an ideal setting for your meeting, party or event! We can accommodate groups in a range of sizes utilizing the mansion or the adjacent community hall. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 303-830-1651 or email production@chundenver.org. For information or to schedule an appointment, please call Nicole at 303-830-1651. Non-profits and CHUN members receive a discount!!
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Join CHUN!