This photograph, snapped at 4:12 p.m. January 14 on the 4100 block of Navajo, captures a handyman pop-top making creative use of recycled billboard shrink-wrap plastic. The structure seems to be occupied, although it also seems to be in violation of about a dozen codes — a status that inspired…
Several friends of mine had plans to attend the Stock Show this evening but have chosen not to because of the bitter cold, opting for the warmth and comfort of their homes instead. Lame. If only the organizers of the National Western Stock Show were taking advantage of the bitter…
What, you mean that you don’t have a reality show? Barely a week goes by here at the Westword office without our receiving a press-release alerting us to so-and-so’s hot reality show about life in the crazy world of, say, ride-pimping or labia-piercing. So we were surprised that we were…
President Dubya wants to send more troops to Iraq, but he doesn’t seem to be paying much attention to federal employees who say we need more boots on the ground right here –— specifically, more correctional officers in federal prisons, where the level of assaults is rising as staffing rosters…
After being greeted by this same scene outside my door in northwest Denver for the third morning in a row, I was inspired to compose the following: I followed the rules But the tree man won’t cometh. Help me, 311! — Joel Warner…
“According to the official scorekeeper, I beat ’em all last year, stickin’ like a tick to a beast with a bellyful of bed springs for a full 45 seconds!” brags Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown, winner of the mechanical-bull-riding contest at the 2006 Concerts for Kids Country-Western Fundraiser. This year’s…
Now, listen to me, ladies, if courtship’s on your mind, When it comes to pickin’ cowboys, beware of what you’ll find! They’ll make you fall in love with them if you give them half a chance, But there are certain cowboys that don’t know much ’bout romance. They’re used to…
This photograph, snapped by Kenny Be at the corner of Stout and Park Avenue West in late December, inspired the following: A burned-out building Not a good advertisement For fire and safety…
Another day, another Denver story in the national news. But at least the news was good early this morning — as opposed to yesterday’s prediction of another snowstorm snarling the country’s travel, and Sunday’s report of an avalanche at Berthoud Pass. As ABC wrapped up its news reports just before…
“It’s not exactly a secret that Bill Ritter’s people and John Hickenlooper’s people aren’t always filled with love toward one another. But maybe it truly was a coincidence that the inaugural 21-gun salute was fired toward city hall.” That’s the word on the front page — the front page! —…
OpenStage’s Splitting Infinity, which I review in the January 11 issue, made me think about the one Nobel laureate I have had the privilege of meeting: Nigeria’s Wole Soyinka, a forceful critic of colonialism and winner of the prize for literature in 1986. Soyinka was attending a conference on the…
The sight of the Steve Canyon sculpture in Idaho Springs draped in lazy, yet effective, holiday festoonery inspired this haiku: Posed like a hero Who cares if you’re a cartoon? The sky’s the limit…
The People’s Republic of Boulder is all about life, liberty and the pursuit of self-esteem. So it’s not surprising that local bureaucrats would come up with the first-ever Pinnacle Awards, a way of recognizing Boulder County employees “who exemplify the county’s guiding values.” But check out their website here for…
On Monday, January 15, the Denver Election Commission will start collecting mail-in ballots for the special, one-item election that Denver City Council approved on December 26. But before Denver voters can start turning in those ballots that could make Denver the 63rd out of 64 Colorado counties with an elected…
The unofficial Darrent Williams shrine at 11th and Speer not only survived the most recent snowstorm, but it’s grown. Mourners who marched from the Shelter, the club at 1037 Broadway where Williams was partying on New Year’s Eve, to the site of the shooting left more flowers, more cards, more…
On Sunday night, I spotted a few helpful bums settling their very drunk friend into a trash-filled cart for a comfy nap. It inspired this haiku: Lights out, no one home Only booze in residence. A long winter’s night. — Amy Haimerl…
Bad day for Denver on the national news. On Fox & Friends this morning, the five-minute hourly update included a piece on the Darrent Williams slaying, a segment on Denver’s third big blizzard (including a live report from the National Western Stock Show on the status of all those frozen…
Late word from Greg Goldfogel over at Ristorante Amore in Cherry Creek, who took possession of the former Sambuca address at 1320 15th Street (shown above) after New Year’s Eve. Goldfogel had already started a massive turn-around of the space (redoing the bar, tearing up floors, re-covering or replacing most…
Late word from Greg Goldfogel over at Ristorante Amore in Cherry Creek, who took possession of the former Sambuca address at 1320 15th Street (shown above) after New Year’s Eve. Goldfogel had already started a massive turn-around of the space (redoing the bar, tearing up floors, re-covering or replacing most…
A few hours after news broke that Darrent Williams had been shot dead, people started leaving tributes to the Bronco at the scene of the shooting — hats, signs, cards, flowers. Keith Schrum, associate curator of manuscripts at the Colorado Historical Society, decided to take a look at the unofficial…
At seven last Friday morning, as I shoveled my walk — again — I watched a city trash truck coming down a nearby street, pause so that the driver could contemplate the right-hand turn that would have led to my rutted, iced-in block — and then continue on in the…
I have realized the greatest dream of every attention-starved American. I was on reality TV. It wasn’t MTV’s booze-fueled LoDo soap opera, but rather the home-improvement show that refuses to die: TLC’s Trading Spaces. That’s how Westword contributor Michelle Baldwin starts her account of being a Trading Spaces star –…
