Fiesta Time

NEWSED is turning Santa Fe’s biggest First Friday into a party.

Comments (0) By Erin Vanderberg Thursday, Jul 31 2008

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“August is one of the most heavily attended First Fridays, so we wanted to take advantage of that and have a party,” says Andrea Barela, development director at NEWSED Community Development Corporation, the driving organization behind Santa Fe Drive’s revitalization and purveyor of premier Latino cultural events such as the Cinco de Mayo festival and, until this year, El Grito (celebrating Mexico’s real independence day). In lieu of El Grito, today’s first annual Denver’s Art Day on Santa Fe will turn Santa Fe between Seventh and Ninth avenues into one big block party from 1 to 10 p.m. All of the galleries will roll out onto the sidewalk, with food and drink opportunities aplenty — including two food courts, a wine pavilion sponsored by Balistreri Vineyards, and beer tents, where Heineken will pour its signature brew (but don’t forget the Dos Equis!). The musical entertainment — funk and jazz, for starters — kicks off around 4 p.m. Park at West High School for a nominal fee; 10,000 people are expected to attend, so fake sick and get down to the party early. Find a map and a live-music lineup at www.newsed.org/art.htm. ¡Viva el arte!
Fri., Aug. 1, 1-10 p.m., 2008