Vintage Theatre's Got A Brand New Stage!

Opening night of "Young Frankenstein" is being pushed back one week to December 20....

but for a very exciting reason!

Executive Producer and Artistic Director Craig Bond explains, "Vintage Theatre has built a reputation on intimate staging; which we found challenging with the configuration of the Jeffrey Nickelson Auditorium.  Although our long awaited new stage has taken longer to produce than anticipated, we feel that opening a week later will give our audience the improved experience and a heightened look and feel to Young Frankenstein... and beyond. Imagine the theatrics of being able to fly a monster vs. mildly elevating him to face an electric storm."

Bond went on to explain these added benefits:

·         By lowering the stage we eliminated the IBEAM issue and height of 9 1/2 feet. The new higher ceiling elevations allow us to have a scale to the designs that show off the power of dramatic heights and vast length of set. 

·         We were able to increase the off stage playing area and wing space allowing us to have larger sets and to have more room to accommodate our bands. Young Frankenstein has a band of 11 players - nearly doubling the size of all other players in musicals to date for a fuller live sound.

·         Dramatic lighting throw will enhance the professional tone and atmosphere of the sets - as we no longer are "cooking the actors" by having lighting so close to their heads.
 

Vintage Theatre kicks off the 2014 season on December 20 with Mel Brook's hysterical musical "Young Frankenstein." The show runs through February 2, 2014 at Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and Tuesday, December 31at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $31 ($26 advance), Senior, Student, Group discounts available. Tickets are available by calling 303-856-7830 or online at www.vintagetheatre.com.

Vintage Theatre presents

"Young Frankenstein"

The Mel Brooks musical parody of horror films Frankenstein and Son of Frankenstein.

Dec. 20 - Feb 2
Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 2:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 31@ 6:30 p.m.

$31($26 advance)303-856-7830 or online at www.vintagetheatre.com

Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010

Scene on Colfax: The Pope

In 1993, the Pope flew to Denver expressly for a giant World Youth Day rally. While he took time to celebrate Mass with the bishops, to visit Denver's Catholics, the Vietnamese diaspora and the children of Mount St. Vincent Home, he spent his biggest chunks of time with WYD's instant community. Those assembled showered John Paul II with a love expressed in hugs, tears, cheers and applause.

On Thursday, August 12, 1993, his first day in Denver, a full house of 90,000 welcomed the pope at Mile High Stadium, a welcome also marked by a late evening rainbow. On Friday, he spoke briefly by remote hookup to conclude the Stations of the Cross. On both Saturday and Sunday, he spent nearly four hours with youth at Cherry Creek State Park.

Photo by Jonny Barber

A statue of Pope John Paul II, designed by Polish sculptor Jacek Osadczuk, was installed outside the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, at the corner of Logan Street and Colfax Avenue, on April 2, 2009, the fourth anniversary of the pontiff's death, and dedicated on May 17, 2009. The statue commemorates the event of Pope John Paul II holding mass at the cathedral for World Youth Day on August 13-14, 1993.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is home to the Archdiocese of Denver. The cathedral building, designed by Detroit architect Leon Coquard in the French Gothic Style, was constructed from 1902-1911 with a final cost of approximately $500,000. Influenced by the the 13th century collégiale Saint-Nicolas of Munster, Moselle, France--the birth village of bishop Nicholas Chrysostom Matz, who supervised its construction--the cathedral is made of Indiana limestone and Gunnison, Colorado granite and features two 210-foot spires. Its inaugural mass was held on October 27, 1912 and consecration in 1921. The cathedral was raised to the status of minor basilica on Christmas Day, 1979--one of only 29 American Cathedrals with that title.

Lelan's Bingo Road Show at Pit Stop Tavern

23rd Annual Holiday Miniatures Show at Abend Gallery

"Logan and Colfax" (Oil, 8x10") by David Shingler, appearing in the 23rd Annual Holiday Miniatures Show at Abend Gallery, 2260 E. Colfax Avenue. Show opens today, December 7th, 2013!!

Original Aurora's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting

ALERT: Due to below freezing temperatures the Tree Lighting scheduled for tonight has been postponed to next Friday! Friday the 13th from 6-7:30pm! Please Share and Join Us! Stay Warm!

The Dank All-Stars at Park House Tavern

Mayfair Center Renovation on Tap

Mayfair Center Redevelopment - Artist Rendering

Highlights:

• Key retail center in Mayfair being redeveloped.
• Chair Five Equities owns Mayfair Center at 14th and Krameria.
• One new tenant already is on board.

Chair Five Equities LLC plans to invest $2.25 million to restore the Mayfair Center at East 14th Avenue and Krameria Street to its former glory. In recent years, the 11,700 square-foot center had been ignored and fallen into disrepair. Chair Five Equities purchased the property in late 2012. In the past, the center’s tenants have included the Bagel Deli, Baskin Robbins, the Hair Bender and Milt’s Fine Meats.

“There are many reasons why this purchase and redevelopment make sense,” said Jamie Harris, managing member of Chair Five Equities.  “The more we looked at the community and the property, the more our improvement plans grew.”

He said it quickly became apparent that it would take a larger investment that was initially planned and it was needed “sooner rather than later,” to “benefit the neighborhood and add to the property’s success.”

Mayfair is becoming increasingly trendy and a derelict building won’t provide the draw for tenants that want to be in the neighborhood, he said. Mayfair is one of the hottest housing markets in Denver at this time, according to CoHomefinder.com. The median for sale price of a home is $350,000 and with some homes priced just under $1 million.

“The Mayfair neighborhood is on the rise and we can’t attract the kind of tenants the neighborhood wants with the property in its current condition,” Harris said.  “The bones of the center are in good shape, it’s just tired and needs a lot of help.”

The center is being designed as a place where people can come to eat, shop, and have a conversation with their neighbors.
Some of the improvements include:

• The installation of a large pedestrian sidewalk with patios that will replace the dated smaller walkways in front of the shops; 

• Benches and bike racks will be integrated into the design to enhance the shopping experience;

• A new two-foot high illuminated design band will follow the 1960’s era roofline;

• All of the individual tenant signage will be located on a new sign framework that will provide greater visibility for all of the businesses.

• The entire parking lot will be replaced and re-striped in December.

The project will create an estimated 40 jobs upon completion.

“This is a catalyst project for the Mayfair Town Center area,” said Hilarie Portell, executive director of the Fax Partnership. “It’s aligned with the community vision, eliminating blight and strengthening connections with surrounding neighborhoods. We look forward to organizing events there and attracting more new investment.”

The property is being leased by Jeff Germain of the Crosby Real Estate Group. The center can accommodate tenants from 605 square feet to 1,816 square feet. Germain already has landed the first tenant, the Garlic Knot. The family oriented, full-service Italian restaurant wants to take advantage to the site’s proximity to a King Soopers and a Safeway.

“It’s a great location,” said Joe Giampietro, owner of the Garlic Knot, which will have indoor dining, take outs, and provide deliveries of what he calls the best pizza and pasta in Denver. It is scheduled to open in the spring.

Have a story idea or real estate tip? Contact John Rebchook at  JRCHOOK@gmail.com. InsideRealEstateNews.com is sponsored by Universal Lending, Land Title Guarantee and 8z Real Estate. To read more articles by John Rebchook, subscribe to the Colorado Real Estate Journal.