Welcome Back, Mizpah

There’s a small group of folks in Denver who would like to see the return of the “Mizpah” arch at Union Station. The arch, a relic of Denver’s past, once served as the city’s own unique Statue of Liberty metaphor, welcoming visitors from the time it was installed in 1906 until it was unceremoniously removed — as a traffic hazard — in 1931, but Union Station Advocates, headed by downtown maven Dana Crawford and developer Evan Makovsky, would like to bring it back as an old-and-new symbol of the city.

And because the arch oversaw a period when some eighty trains stopped at the grand old station each day, the group will host A Night in Old Union Station, a speakeasy-themed benefit to raise money for their effort, tonight at 7 p.m. in the beautiful bowels of Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street. Inside, the festivities will include local luminaries, delicious eats from area restaurants, live music, roaming carnival performers and a fabulous reception under the 65-foot ceiling in the building’s great hall; another high point will be a costume contest for partygoers in period dress.

It’ll be a grand old time for the price, ranging from $40 to $200; get tickets at www.blacktie-colorado.com (use rsvp code USA10/15) and information at www.unionstationadvocates.org.
Wed., Nov. 11, 7 p.m., 2009