Neighborhood Watch

If you’re one of the 200,000 people who moved to Denver in the last three years (thank you, U.S. Census Bureau), chances are you don’t know much about your neighborhood — at least not yet. Phil Goodstein, author, historian and walking-tour guide, is here to help.

“One of the purposes of my writing is to give direction to the city’s history as opposed to the instant redevelopment — or instant history — that’s going on now, where people know nothing and try and reshape the history, tear it apart and then claim that they are the pioneers,” says Goodstein. His latest book, North Side Story: Denver’s Most Intriguing Neighborhood, uncovers the ethnically diverse and sometimes sordid past of one of Denver’s most popular neighborhoods.

“People, even copy editors, don’t know where north Denver is,” says Goodstein. “North Denver is where North High School is, from the Platte River and West Colfax to the city’s northern and western boundaries. People always want to call this area ‘west Denver.’” Goodstein, who promises that his book delivers on all the good stuff often left out of history, like weird crimes, scandal and humanity, will sign copies tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Tattered Cover, 2526 East Colfax Avenue. For more information, go to www.tatteredcover.com.
Mon., Aug. 22, 7:30 p.m., 2011