Best Way to Save the El Jebel Shrine Temple 2001 | Build a fifty-story tower on the parking lot | Best of Denver® | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Denver | Westword
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Best Way to Save the El Jebel Shrine Temple

Build a fifty-story tower on the parking lot

The El Jebel Shrine Temple was designed in 1906 by the Baerresen brothers, Denver's kookiest early architects. The Shrine is a former Masonic temple, but it looks like an Arabian Nights fantasy plopped smack-dab in the middle of Capitol Hill. And like many good things in Denver, it's been in danger of falling into the hands of developers who would just as soon demolish it as cherish it. But now Denver developers Wes Becker and Martin Wohnlich may be coming to the rescue. They recently paid $3.9 million -- a steal considering all the barrel vaults and gold-painted plaster work inside -- to buy the building (the former home of the Eulipions theater group), with plans to preserve the many gorgeous interior spaces. To do so, though, they need the money that would be generated by building a fifty-story tower on what is now a parking lot next door to the temple. And they've taken a sensible, sensitive approach to that, too: They've already hired local architect David Owen Tryba to design the tower and supervise the restoration of the old building.

Best Way to Save the El Jebel Shrine Temple

Build a fifty-story tower on the parking lot

The El Jebel Shrine Temple was designed in 1906 by the Baerresen brothers, Denver's kookiest early architects. The Shrine is a former Masonic temple, but it looks like an Arabian Nights fantasy plopped smack-dab in the middle of Capitol Hill. And like many good things in Denver, it's been in danger of falling into the hands of developers who would just as soon demolish it as cherish it. But now Denver developers Wes Becker and Martin Wohnlich may be coming to the rescue. They recently paid $3.9 million -- a steal considering all the barrel vaults and gold-painted plaster work inside -- to buy the building (the former home of the Eulipions theater group), with plans to preserve the many gorgeous interior spaces. To do so, though, they need the money that would be generated by building a fifty-story tower on what is now a parking lot next door to the temple. And they've taken a sensible, sensitive approach to that, too: They've already hired local architect David Owen Tryba to design the tower and supervise the restoration of the old building.

Best New Radio Morning Team

Greg Thunder and Bo Reynolds
KALC-FM/105.9

The Greg Thunder and Bo Reynolds tandem, formerly heard on Alice during the afternoon shift, is a significant improvement over Jamie White and Danny Bonaduce, who are slated to return to Denver airwaves later this year on KTCL. Thunder and Reynolds offer up jokey, relationship-oriented talk and comedy à la White and Bonaduce, but they do so in a more accessible, less insulting way. A major upgrade, and a boost to a market desperately in need of new radio stars.

Best New Radio Morning Team

Greg Thunder and Bo Reynolds
KALC-FM/105.9

The Greg Thunder and Bo Reynolds tandem, formerly heard on Alice during the afternoon shift, is a significant improvement over Jamie White and Danny Bonaduce, who are slated to return to Denver airwaves later this year on KTCL. Thunder and Reynolds offer up jokey, relationship-oriented talk and comedy à la White and Bonaduce, but they do so in a more accessible, less insulting way. A major upgrade, and a boost to a market desperately in need of new radio stars.

Best Room With a Pew

The Eisenhower Chapel

On the second floor of the Denver Club Building, the Eisenhower Chapel is a perfect place for busy business types to escape the noise and motion of downtown: to pray, to meditate, to read or to just eat lunch while sitting on one of the long pews. The non-sectarian refuge, established by the Lions Club in 1955, is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; bring your own thoughts.

Best Room With a Pew

The Eisenhower Chapel

On the second floor of the Denver Club Building, the Eisenhower Chapel is a perfect place for busy business types to escape the noise and motion of downtown: to pray, to meditate, to read or to just eat lunch while sitting on one of the long pews. The non-sectarian refuge, established by the Lions Club in 1955, is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; bring your own thoughts.

Best Talk-Show Host

Reggie Rivers
KHOW-AM/630

Former Bronco and current Denver Post columnist Reggie Rivers recently had his airtime halved; his 3-7 p.m. weekday program on KHOW now ends two hours earlier. And that's a shame, because while his transition to a drive-time host wasn't entirely smooth, he's developed into an interesting and thoughtful presence who's much more willing than the vast majority of his colleagues to hear out callers with opinions that differ from his.

Best Talk-Show Host

Reggie Rivers
KHOW-AM/630

Former Bronco and current Denver Post columnist Reggie Rivers recently had his airtime halved; his 3-7 p.m. weekday program on KHOW now ends two hours earlier. And that's a shame, because while his transition to a drive-time host wasn't entirely smooth, he's developed into an interesting and thoughtful presence who's much more willing than the vast majority of his colleagues to hear out callers with opinions that differ from his.

Best Sports-Talk Host

Joe Williams
KKFN-AM/950

Joe Williams, who's been around this market since time immemorial, has honed his shtick to perfection on The Fan. The self-proclaimed "Voice of Reason" is a cranky, crotchety, argumentative blast from the past who makes up half of what can be a fine old-style comedy team. (Credit Irv Brown for providing the other half.)

Best Sports-Talk Host

Joe Williams
KKFN-AM/950

Joe Williams, who's been around this market since time immemorial, has honed his shtick to perfection on The Fan. The self-proclaimed "Voice of Reason" is a cranky, crotchety, argumentative blast from the past who makes up half of what can be a fine old-style comedy team. (Credit Irv Brown for providing the other half.)

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