Monday, December 31, 2012

The Holiday Chalet

     
     The Holiday Chalet Bed and Breakfast in Denver’s historic Wyman District on Capitol Hill is a 3 Diamond, AAA-rated hotel providing the utmost attention to their guest’s comfort and enjoyment. The hotel is a fully-restored Victorian, brownstone mansion originally built in 1896 for prominent Denver jeweler Henry Bohm of Bohm Jewelers. Elegant period décor along with high ceilings, hardwood floors, intricate moldings, private baths, and kitchens make them Denver’s most alluring and comfortable bed and breakfast.

     From their eclectic Capitol Hill location visitors enjoy Denver’s best sight-seeing, shopping, music, art, and nightlife all within minutes of the front door—the neighborhood described in the Jack Kerouac classic, On the Road. Hotel Chalet enjoys the benefit of an exciting, high-energy central location within the vibrant heart of the city amid an eclectic mixture of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The creative spirit in their neighborhood appeals to artists, architects, designers, writers and musicians alike. However, enveloping warmth, charm, comfort, and security within the hotel also make The Holiday Chalet a convenient home away from home for business and leisure travelers alike.

     As a Bed and Breakfast they begin each morning in true style with a full breakfast served from 7:30 to 10:00 am. A variety of delicious homemade offerings are made fresh including, Cowboy pancakes, crust-less veggie or bacon quiche, French toast, eggs and bacon, fresh fruits, juice, tea, and premium coffee.

Whether it’s your first visit or one of many, owner Crystal Sharp and the staff of The Holiday Chalet are happy to go to every extent to make it comfortable, memorable and fun. Crystal looks forward to your visit!

 
Photos by Jonny Barber


Sunday, December 30, 2012

Fritchle Electric Car Company

     The Fritchle Car Company was once housed in what is now The Fillmore Auditorium (Colfax Avenue & Clarkson Street). Here is some fascinating history about the development of an idea way ahead of its time:


From HISTORY 100 Miles On One Charge -- The remarkable Fritchle electric car by Carl Sulzberger:

     The early years of the "Automotive Age," beginning about 1895, were marked by electric-powered motor vehicles being a significant factor in engineering innovation and in vehicle sales. However, faced with competition from continually improved gasoline-powered internal combustion engine vehicles and the limited availability of battery recharging stations, electric vehicle sales peaked in 1912 and then began a steady decline almost to the point of extinction by the mid-1920s. This article is the story of one of the truly outstanding early electric automobiles and its equally outstanding designer and manufacturer.
 
Oliver Fritchle
     Born in 1874 in Mount Hope, Ohio, Oliver Parker Fritchle graduated in 1896 from Ohio State University with a degree in chemistry. While working as a chemical engineer in the steel and ore smelting industries in Colorado in 1897, he became fascinated by electric motive power. Drawing on his chemistry training, Fritchle developed a superior 28-cell lead-acid battery weighing 400–600 lb that easily powered an 8-hp motor. He received a patent on his battery in 1903 and shortly thereafter established an electrical engineering firm and formed the Fritchle Electric Storage Battery Company in Denver, Colorado. Designing and building electric vehicles soon followed.

     The first Fritchle electric car was produced in 1905 and, by the end of 1907, another 20 or so had been delivered to customers in the Denver area. The Fritchle battery system permitted a driving range of 100 mi or more over relatively level terrain between overnight charges, a rare capability in the early years of the last century. Because few parts suppliers were available, Fritchle became noted for manufacturing both the batteries and virtually all of the mechanical and body components for his cars. Fritchle also maintained a repair center and charging station in Denver for the convenience of his local customers. The Fritchle batteries generally lasted for more than 10,000 mi and could be replaced at a cost of US$208. The cars were advertised and trademarked as "100-mile Fritchle Electrics," and they lived up to this claim. Another feature of the Fritchle was a regeneration system in which the motor became a generator when the car was coasting downhill, thereby partly recharging the batteries.

     Electric automobiles were usually advertised as town cars suitable for short runs over reasonably good roads in areas where recharging stations were readily available. Fritchle, on the other hand, promoted the electric as suitable for speed and long distance touring. As shown in Figure 1, Fritchle challenged other manufacturers to match their electric vehicles against his in a contest of speed, power, and endurance. Finding no takers, Fritchle promoted his cars by undertaking an endurance run from Lincoln, Nebraska, to New York City in a 1908 regular production two-seat Victoria model selling for US$2,000. The car weighed 2,100 lb, including 800 lb of batteries. He took along a set of tools, chemicals to service the batteries, and one extra tire and inner tube.

     So confident was he in his car that he did not bring any spare mechanical parts. However, he thoughtfully carried a camera with a remote control shutter to record and publicize his adventure. Starting out on the cold and damp morning of 31 October 1908, he arrived in front of the Hotel Knickerbocker in Times Square, New York City, on 28 November 1908 after a total driving time of 20 days. He covered the 1,800 mi over rough to poor to nonexistent roads with no mechanical breakdowns. He suffered only one flat tire, and he had to reline the brakes with camel's hair after a long descent of the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania. He followed a carefully planned route to assure the availability of charging facilities at electric central stations or at "electric garages" along the way. Battery recharging cost US$1/h and lasted up to 10 h. After a side trip to Washington, D.C., during which Fritchle drove up the driveway to the front of the Capitol Building, he and his car returned to Denver by train.

     The Lincoln-to-New York endurance run proved the durability and superior operation of the Fritchle Electric and earned Fritchle wide personal acclaim and nationwide advertising for his cars. He changed the name of his company to the Fritchle Automobile and Electric Storage Battery Company and expanded the line of cars to at least six different models plus a light delivery truck. Most cars were sold in the Denver area, but there were agencies as far away as Salt Lake City, Utah, and Los Angeles, California. The International Fritchle Company was formed after the 1908 endurance run, and a sales office operated for a time at 505 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Like most motor vehicles produced in small numbers, Fritchle cars were expensive. For example, the 1912 four-passenger electric touring car shown in Figure 2 sold for US$2,500 at a time when a 1912 five-passenger Ford Model T gasoline-powered touring car could be purchased for about US$700. The Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1805–1942 (see "For Further Reading") records that a total of 1,540 Fritchle motor vehicles were manufactured between 1905 and 1920. Peak production occurred between 1909 and 1914 when an average of 198 vehicles per year were built. After 1917, production fell dramatically as the early electric car progressively gave way to its gasoline-powered competition.


     In an unsuccessful effort to remain in the automobile manufacturing business, Fritchle introduced a hybrid electric/ internal combustion car in 1916, but few were sold. As automobile production fell, Fritchle developed a system to generate electricity using farmers' windmills. Between 1918 and 1923, over 80 wind-powered electric generators were built and installed in about 20 states and several foreign countries. In his later years, Oliver Fritchle worked for the Buick Motor Car Company for a time and remained active in the radio and electric industries until his retirement in 1941. He died in 1951 in Long Beach, California, one month short of his 77th birthday. Epilogue An immaculately maintained and fully operational 1914 Fritchle electric Colonial Coupe is on prominent display at the Colorado History Museum in Denver. One of the few remaining Fritchles in existence, the vehicle is on loan from its owners, Mr. and Mrs. C. Robert Lingo, other Lingo family members, and John Tucker. When it arrived in 1990, more than 75 years after it was built, it was driven under its own power through the streets of Denver. The museum display, which also includes a General Electric mercury arc rectifier and control panel for home battery recharging, is a fitting tribute to the creator of one of the finest lines of early electric automobiles.

For Further Reading C. Secrest, "Colorado's Fritchle electric auto: Cross-country in 1908," Colorado Heritage, pp. 39-44, Autumn 1999.
   

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Denver Young Artists Orchestra

Mission & History from dyao.org:

With offices at 1245 E. Colfax Avenue, Suite #302, The Denver Young Artists Orchestra (DYAO) was formed in 1977 under the auspices of the Denver Symphony Orchestra, now the Colorado Symphony Orchestra (CSO).  Founders Betty Naster and Carl Topilow organized the orchestra as a means for Colorado’s most talented young musicians to rehearse and perform together under demanding professional standards. DYAO has operated independently since 1979, and has maintained a close relationship with the CSO.

DYAO has become one of the leading youth orchestras in the United States, fostering the growth of young artists for 30 years. Its mission is to provide the finest possible youth orchestra programs, inspiring and educating young musicians through the performance of great works of music and offering valuable cultural opportunities to the community. The orchestra is conducted by Jurgen de Lemos, former principal cellist with the CSO and conductor of the Littleton Symphony Orchestra. Past music directors include Carl Topilow, Charles Ansbacher, David Lockington, Thomas Cockrell, Horst Buchholz, Matthew Switzer, Lawrence Loh, Adam Flatt, and Scott O'Neil.

Denver Young Artists Orchestra consists of five orchestras: DYAO, two Conservatory Orchestras, and two String Ensembles. The ensembles are composed of approximately 200 musicians representing 90 schools across the region.  Some drive from as far as Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Estes Park and other mountain communities. Competitive auditions are held each spring and musicians aged 8 to 23 are eligible. Repertoire for DYAO and the Conservatory Orchestras includes full orchestral and symphonic works in their original form, while the String Ensembles perform music geared toward younger string players.

DYAO performs regularly in Boettcher Concert Hall (home of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra) in the heart of Denver’s city center, as well as Gates Concert Hall (University of Denver) and Macky Auditorium (University of Colorado).  Every three years DYAO travels internationally, the most recent tour in June 2011 to Germany and the Czech Republic.  Other countries DYAO has toured include Argentina, Austria, England, France and Hungary.  The orchestra has also been invited to play for many venue openings, including Gates Hall at the University of Denver’s Newman Center in 2003, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver’s performing arts complex in 2005, and the intimate Hampden Hall in the Englewood Civic Center in 2006. Not only has the orchestra played in some of the best venues of the world, but it regularly has the opportunity to perform with some of the greatest performers as well. One such opportunity is the annual “Side-by-Side” concert with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in which DYAO members perform alongside professional symphony musicians. DYAO has also regularly featured as guest soloists young performers who are launching their own professional careers. Past soloists with the DYAO who have risen to international fame include Eugene Fodor, Yefim Bronfman, Shlomo Mintz, Joseph Swensen, Christopehr O’Riley, Dylana Jenson, and Christopher Taylor. Recently, DYAO has featured established performers as soloists, including cellist Wendy Warner and Van Cliburn Silver Medalist Antonio Pompa-Baldi.  Recent soloists to perform with DYAO include Edgar Meyer and the Marcus Roberts Trio in 2009, pianist Katie Mahan in 2010, and Linda Wang in 2011.

DYAO performing for Kathy Lee GiffordThe League of American Orchestras has awarded the DYAO the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Youth Orchestra Award for Creative and Adventuresome Programming in Contemporary Music. The League of American Orchestras and Meet the Composer awarded DYAO with a composer residency grant with composer Belinda Reynolds in the 2007-08 season, one of eight orchestras to receive the honor. The DYAO has additionally commissioned and premiered five works for symphony orchestra, was featured in CBS’s nationally broadcast special Christmas Every Day in December of 1998 with Kathy Lee Gifford and ‘N Sync, and has performed family concerts for the Breckenridge Music Festival and for the Strings in the Mountains Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

DYAO was recently recognized by the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation as a Catalyst Partner grant recipient. An extremely competitive program, the award will serve as a catalyst for artistic, programmatic, and infrastructural growth from 2007 to 2010.

Alumni of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra have matured into performing with prestigious orchestral organizations across the country, including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the Boston Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera and of course the Colorado Symphony.

Address

1245 E. Colfax Avenue, Suite #302
Denver, Colorado 80218

Hours

Monday-Friday
12:00pm - 5:00pm

Contact Info

Phone: 303-433-2420
Fax: 720-836-3335

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Monday, December 24, 2012

Scene on Colfax: Clint Eastwood




Clint Eastwood and Clyde in front of Sid King's Crazy Horse on Colfax Avenue in "Every Which Way But Loose", 1978

Saving Sid King Kickstarter Campaign

In the name of preserving the old, classic neon signs that once lined the nation's longest commercial street, Colfax Jack and ColfaxAvenue.com have started a kickstarter campaign to buy the old neon Sid King's Crazy Horse sign from a private collector, bring it back to Colfax Avenue, and have it on display at The Collection Gallery. Watch the video and then please join our kickstarter campaign!!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Friday, December 21, 2012

End Of The World Party at Tooey's Off Colfax


End Of The World Party on Colfax


End of the World with The Railbenders

The Railbenders
The Railbenders with Johnny Hickman & Band at The Bluebird Theater on Colfax Avenue
  • Day: Fri, Dec 21, 2012
  • Showtime: 9:00 PM
  • Doors open: 8:00 PM
  • Days until show: Today!
  • Ages: 16 & Over
  • On sale now
  • Advanced Ticket Prices*: $16.00
  • Day of Show*: $20.00  
    BUY TICKETS
     They’ve been called “country,” “alt-country,” and “outlaw country,” but the phrase that might best describe the Railbenders is "hard country.” This Denver, Colorado band has been playing unabashed, straight-no-chaser music that pulls no punches since 2000. Their music and dynamic live shows have made them one of the top draws in Colorado, bringing in a diverse fan base of all ages.

      Formed by Jim Dalton (vocals, guitar) and Tyson Murray (upright bass), the Railbenders took a mutual love of Johnny Cash, Waylon, Hank Williams, rock 'n' roll, punk, whiskey, and threw it all together to create their own sound. Powered by the steady rolling’ drums of Graham Haworth and the blazing guitar picking of Tony Nascar ("The Fastest Guitar in the West"), the band has garnered local awards, including “Top Country Band” by the Rocky Mountain News (2004 & 2005), and “Best Country/Roots Band” five years in a row (2002 to 2006) in the annual Westword Music Showcase.

      The Railbenders have opened for country greats Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Charlie Daniels, and David Allan Coe. As well, they’ve shared bills with rock legends like ZZ Top, John Fogerty, Peter Frampton, the Doobie Brothers and .38 Special. The Railbenders won a multi-year sponsorship from Coors Brewing Company in 2004, and in 2007, they had the honor of performing at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio,CA, where they opened a stage that featured Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Junior Brown, John Doe, Drive-By Truckers, and Alejandro Escovedo. And in 2008, the band played in the inaugural year of the Mile High Music Festival in Denver, sharing the spotlight with national headliners like the Dave Matthews Band and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Ignite Theatre presents Next To Normal

Ignite Theatre presents
Next To Normal
Music by Tom Kitt; Book by Brian Yorkey
Directed by Keith Rabin Jr.
Musical Direction by Jason Tylor Vaughn

     Ignite Theatre presents the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical "Next To Normal" December 21, 2012 through January 6, 2013 at the Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax, Aurora, CO 80010. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. with a special performance on Wednesday, December 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 Adult, $18 Student, $22 Group (6+) and available online at www.ignitetheatre.com or by calling 720-362-2697.
     The details of this Pulitzer Prize-winning musical are best discovered through the gorgeously textured score and the plain-spoken, but absorbing narrative. "Next To Normal" tells the story of a mother who struggles with a worsening bipolar disorder and the family's efforts to keep it from tearing them apart.
     Peter Marks of the Washington Post says, "It’s a work that sings from a bruised heart, not a contented one. But that doesn’t mean it’s a downer. Far from it. With an achingly poignant score by composer Tom Kitt and lyricist Brian Yorkey, “Next to Normal” seeks to find a melodic language for a wrenchingly every day ordeal: one woman’s up-and-down journey through mental illness."  New York Times critic Ben Brantley describes "Next To Normal" as "a feel-everything musical, which asks you, with operatic force, to discover the liberation in knowing where it hurts." 

The cast includes Margie Lamb (Diana Goodman), Zach Stailey (Dan Goodman), Madison Kitchen (Natalie Goodman), Casey Andree (Gabe Goodman), Alejandro Roldan (Hanry) and David W Kincannon (Drs. Fine and Madden).

     "Next To Normal" debuted off-Broadway in 2008 winning the Outer Critics' Circle Award for Outstanding Score and receiving nominations for Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Actress (Alice Ripley) and Outstanding Score.
     The musical opened on Broadway in April 2009. It was nominated for eleven 2009 Tony Awards and won three, Best Original Score, Best Orchestration and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Alice Ripley. It also won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, becoming just the eighth musical in history to receive the honor.
     "Anything that had an important story that felt like only musical theatre could tell that story in that way - that was what influenced "Next To Normal". So, I was as much influenced by the anger and huge emotion that I felt after seeing "Cabaret"; the visceral, jaw-dropping electricity of "Rent" and "Tommy"; anything with that kind of story - that unexpected, beautiful, human story - was what led me on the road to something like “Next To Normal.” -Tom Kitt, Pulitzer Prize Winning Composer of Next To Normal

Ignite Theatre presents
"Next To Normal"
The Tony award winning-musical about one family's journey through mental illness.
Dec. 21, 2012 - Jan. 6, 2013
Fri/ Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 2:30 p.m.; Industry Night - Wed, Dec. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Special matinee on Saturday, December 29 at 2:30 p.m.
  
$25 Adult | $22 Group (6+) | $18 Student
720-362-2697 or www.ignitetheatre.com
All performances at Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax, Aurora, CO 80010

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Imagine Dragons coming to The Fillmore

IMAGINE DRAGONS – Night Visions Tour
Fillmore Auditorium
Saturday, March 23

PLATINUM-SELLING BAND IMAGINE DRAGONS ANNOUNCE FIRST-EVER HEADLINING TOUR FOR SPRING 2013 

THIS YEAR’S BREAKOUT ARTISTS ARE RIDING HIGH ON MILLION-SELLING SINGLE “IT’S TIME” AND LATEST SINGLE “RADIOACTIVE,” IMPACTING MODERN ROCK RADIO

Live Nation presents IMAGINE DRAGONS Night Visions Tour at The Fillmore Auditorium on Saturday, March 23.  Special Guests Atlas Genius and Nico Vega will open the show. 
Show time is 8:00 PM.  Doors open at 7:00 PM.

This year’s breakout rock band Imagine Dragons, who have captivated fans across the globe with their platinum-selling single “It’s Time,” will continue their bid for world domination with their first-ever headlining North American tour with Atlas Genius supporting. The band has announced a U.S. and Canadian Spring 2013 tour that includes stops at NYC’s Roseland Ballroom and L.A’s Wiltern. Tickets can be purchased through livenation.com

Imagine Dragons are touring in support of their full-length debut album Night Visions which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Album chart selling more than 83,000 copies — the best first-week sales for a full-length album by a new rock band since May 2006. Night Visions also climbed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Albums chart. In its review, Billboard said that Night Visions “delivers its share of high-gloss pleasures, including the beat-heavy ‘Bleeding Out,” the rousing ‘On Top of the World,’ and ‘Tiptoe,’ an appealingly mystical number…”

The success of Night Visions has been fueled not only by the band’s thrilling live show while touring the U.S. (with AWOLNATION) and overseas and high-profile TV appearances (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live! Late Night with Jimmy Fallon), but also by the first single, “It’s Time.” The track is a multi-format hit at radio that has crossed over from Modern Rock to Top 40, Hot AC, and AAA and reached the Top 5 on Billboard’s Alternative and Rock charts after being used in a trailer for the motion picture The Perks of Being A Wallflower. Entertainment Weekly called “It’s Time” “a perfect misfit anthem,” while People Magazine dubbed it “an anthem with a rich melody that’s infectious but gritty.” Raved USA Today: “Imagine Dragons has learned to craft the massive choruses and propulsive rhythms needed to take a rock band into arenas.”

The second single from Night Visions is “Radioactive,” which is currently climbing the Modern Rock chart. The eye-popping video, which was directed by Syndrome (Eminem, Ke$ha, The Black Eyed Peas), premieres today on Vevo, and features actors Lou Diamond Phillips (Southland), Alexandra Daddario (Parenthood), and the puppeteers by the studio Puppet Heap (The Walt Disney Company, The Daily Show). The concept revolves around a mysterious female drifter who is on a quest to save her friends (Imagine Dragons) from the perils of a sinister, underground puppet-fighting ring. Check out: http://www.imaginedragonsmusic.com/videos/#!videos


IMAGINE DRAGONS are: Dan Reynolds (vocals), Wayne Sermon (guitar), Ben McKee (bass),
Daniel Platzman (drums).



TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14 @ 10:00 AM
at the Fillmore Auditorium Box Office, online at www.livenation.com or call 800 – 745 - 3000

Tickets are $25.00 GA plus applicable service charges.

The Fillmore box office is open Monday - Friday from 12:00 Noon - 6:00pm & Saturdays from 10:00am - 2:00pm.  On days of Fillmore shows, the box office is open from 12:00 Noon – 9:00pm. 
The box office accepts cash, MasterCard, Visa and American Express – No checks!  Service charges may apply. 

THE FILLMORE AUDITORIUM IS LOCATED AT 1510 CLARKSON ST. AT COLFAX.                              
CONNECT WITH US ON THE WEB
www.livenation.com  / www.facebook.com/LiveNationCO  /   www.twitter.com/livenationco 
Ages 16+

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Three Birds Pooping - The Art of Al Orahood

 
Al Orahood is new to painting. He made his living as a sculptor during much of the 1980’s and 1990’s. Al’s first pieces were traditional Western bronzes. He then formed a new sculpting process utilizing steel rod, wire mesh, and a mixture of paper pulp and epoxy cement. The sculptures made using these materials were whimsical, many a parody of Western art. All the work was sold with over 200 unique pieces now residing in private collections.
Al, a history enthusiast, began painting recently as a means to document old neon signs located on West Colfax Avenue. There is a sense of urgency as many signs are disappearing, some being replaced by shiny new versions. Al is attempting to capture a period in history that is rapidly fading. And he is having fun while in the process.
Orahood is a fourth generation Coloradan. He spends his time restoring and riding old motorcycles and has built two hot rods: a ’37 Ford 5 window coupe and a ’40 Plymouth sedan. Currently in the works is a ’37 LaSalle. He is actively involved in the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America and The Denver Timing Association. He also loves to ski and tries to play golf. Al and his wife have three children. He is grateful for their love and support.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Devotchka In-Store at Twist & Shout


Twist & Shout is very proud to announce a holiday extravaganza with Devotchka and members of the Colorado Symphony. On December 18th at 8pm we will host a very special event with Devotchka to celebrate the release of their latest album Live With The Colorado Symphony. The LP is now available at Twist & Shout, and customers who purchase the LP or CD starting today will receive a wristband which guarantees first entry into this unique experience. 


Customers can get their wristbands at the register of Twist & Shout; it will be one wristband per item, one person per wristband for folks 12 and up. There is limited space and we expect this show to pack the house, so get a wristband to secure your spot in line and for the autograph session afterward. Doors will be at 7:45pm with a start time of 8. Happy holidays and we look forward to seeing you for Devotchka live with the Colorado Symphony at Twist & Shout.

Devotchka's Website


Photo Of The Week: Aurora Democrat Office

Aurora Democrat Office (courtesy Aurora History Museum)

Taken in March of 1911, Raphael Gwynn, editor of the Aurora Democrat/Adams County News, sits in his office. Behind him hangs a 1908 map of Denver. His office was located at 9736 Colfax Avenue, however, at that time, if a newspaper wanted to publish legal notices for a specific county that paper had to be printed in that county. Mr. Gwynn wanted to include information for both Adams & Arapahoe counties, but his office was on the south side of Colfax (in Arapahoe County). In order to print Adams County legal notices, he set up a small press in the back of a barber shop on the north side of Colfax and printed the Adams County News in that location.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Scene on Colfax: Tone Loc

Tone Loc and Jon Shockness at The Ogden Theatre on Colfax Avenue

Scene on Colfax: Neal Cassady

In 1946, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and Neal Cassady lived in Denver for the summer. Cassady also met his future wife Carolyn Robinson.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Dixie Leadfoot & The Chrome Struts at The Lakewood Grill


     Dixie Leadfoot & The Chrome Struts is fronted by Frank Zappa alumnus Suzannah Harris who sings and plays upright bass. Dixie Leadfoot brings you the best in Rockabilly music for any kind of event--from home concerts to festivals and anything in between. We're talking fun music for listening or dancing.

     Suzannah's recording credits include Frank Zappa (as Thana Harris), Steve Vai, Bob Harris (Frank Zappa, Warren Zevon) and more. She is author of "Under the Same Moon: My Life with Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, Bob Harris and a Community of Other Artistic Souls" (warning: not a Frank bio). Her book is available on Ebay.

     Come see Suzannah at The Lakewood Grill Saturday night on World Famous Colfax Avenue!!


Friday, December 14, 2012

Basalmic Vinegar Tastings with Pete Marczyk

Balsamic Vinegar is a centuries old condiment with strict protocols around what can be considered 100, 30, 15, and 10 year products. There is seldom an opportunity to taste different “vintages” side by side, but here’s your chance!

When and Where: Saturday, 12/15, 3:00pm-5:00pm at Colfax and Fairfax.

Marczyk 2-year aged Balsamic. Start here. Great flavor for salads or as a finishing sauce. If a recipe calls for Balsamic reduction, here’s your vinegar. $13.99.

Saba. Acetaia Leonardi's Saba is unique. The family's Trebbiano and Lambrusco grapes are grown and gently crushed. The juice and pulp is coarsely filtered and the mosto (mash) is cooked (cotto) in an open copper vat. The concentrated mosto cotto is then cooled and placed in large oak casks. The Saba will stay in the casks for almost 4 years, giving a deep complexity to the Saba, without converting it to vinegar. The fruity character of Saba makes it an ideal addition to cheesecake, ice cream, fresh fruit and even panna cotta. $24.99.

Riserva di Famiglia Condimento Balsamico 15 year. Young, lean, straightforward.
Riserva di Famiglia (Family Reserve) is the Leonardi's family Balsamico. Aromas of tea and notes of sarsaparilla and sassafras reminiscent of artisan root beer. Coffee and bitter chocolate undertones. More acidic than any traditional balsamic of similar age, but purposely so. Younger, leaner and more straight-forward, this balsamic can enliven any pork chop, pork roast, flank steaks and glazes. The perfect condiment for plated salads with gorgonzola or sharp cheeses. $79.99.

L’Eccellenza Condimento Balsamico 20 year. Syrupy as a chocolate sauce!  Shades of brown with bright mirror reflections. Aromas of grapes, apples and caramel with a well-balanced hint of wild flower honey and maple syrup. Rich and vibrant on the tongue with a sudden lively finish and evolving caramel flavors of raisins and fresh cherries. Enjoy it in its purest form on top of beef Carpaccio, or as a finishing touch to charcoal grilled fillet mignon. Particularly suited to drizzle over a baked pear or grilled apples. $109.00.

Marczyk’s on Colfax

Almost due east of Marczyk Fine Foods, Marczyk Fine Foods on the Fax has opened at the corner of Colfax and Fairfax. Located in the old Ace Hardware building, which was originally a Safeway, Marczyk’s on Colfax features a full service deli, meat and seafood counter, fresh produce, pantry items, dairy, and cheeses from stinky to mild. Fairfax Wines and Spirits occupies 875 sq. ft. of the new building.
The facts on Marczyk’s on the ‘Fax:
Address
5100 E Colfax. Corner of Colfax and Fairfax.
Denver, CO 80220
Phone: 303 243-3355
History
Built in 1925 as a Safeway Grocery. Among other uses, it has been a hardware store since 1980.
Points of Interest
Fairfax Wine and Spirits, an 875 sq ft wine shop adjacent to the food store, sells great value wines from small producers.
There’s a kitchen, outdoor seating, and 19 parking spaces.
A beautiful wooden bow truss ceiling spans the entire space.
The pristine oak floors found under the old linoleum floor have been repurposed for the wine store.

PANTyRAID coming to The Fillmore

PANTyRAID
Fillmore Auditorium
Saturday, March 2

Live Nation presents PANTyRAID at The Fillmore Auditorium on Saturday, March 2.  
Special Guests TBA will open the show.  Show time is 8:00 PM.  Doors open at 7:30 PM.

PANTyRAiD is the product of two music producers that met on the West Coast of the United States and share the same appreciation for well-produced electronic dance music. Martin Folb (aka MartyParty) and Josh Mayer (aka Ooah) have always loved the art of songwriting instead of the typical club track production.

They set off to write melodic, musical journeys within the electronic genre. Each song has its own character, its own intention, and often crosses over many genres of electronic and traditional music. One thing is consistent in all PANTyRAiD production, attention to detail, not found in typical electronic production. Constant variation in the beat, and an almost overwhelming palette of instrumentation and audio tricks and techniques.

The combination of MartyParty and Ooah has started a movement back towards the power of the melody and instrumental composition. Together they have invented a formula for producing intense club songs that pull together gorgeous and modern electronic sounds with hard hitting beats, bringing the best of hip-hop, dubstep and other forms of experimental electronic music.  The music is a new flavor of urban beat, a fresh new sexy sound that draws those that love to dance.

TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14 @ 10:00 AM
at the Fillmore Auditorium Box Office, online at www.livenation.com or call 800 – 745 - 3000

Tickets are $25.00 GA ADV and $30.00 GA DOS plus applicable service charges.

A 4 PACK GA is available: $18.75 per ticket

The Fillmore box office is open Monday - Friday from 12:00 Noon - 6:00pm & Saturdays from 10:00am - 2:00pm.  On days of Fillmore shows, the box office is open from 12:00 Noon – 9:00pm. 
The box office accepts cash, MasterCard, Visa and American Express – No checks!  Service charges may apply. 
THE FILLMORE AUDITORIUM IS LOCATED AT 1510 CLARKSON ST. AT COLFAX.                              
CONNECT WITH US ON THE WEB
www.livenation.com  / www.facebook.com/LiveNationCO  /   www.twitter.com/livenationco 
Ages 16+

The Blue(bird) Period

Painting of the Bluebird Theater by Lee Reedy

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Air Dubai coming to The Ogden Theatre



From Jon Shockness' Facebook Page: "We went out to City Park for an acoustic sesh. Check it out! Come see us at the Ogden Theatre this Saturday!"

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe





December 12th, The Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the New World, is a day that has been commemorated in Mexico for almost five centuries and by Latinos in the U.S. Southwest for about half as long. And today, 12/12/12, Feast Day was also commemorated at Taco Mex, 7840 E. Colfax Avenue! (Photos by Colfax Jack)

International Roadie Day