When CORE New Art Space formed 35 years ago, Denver’s art scene looked very different — artists found that in banding together and creating a cooperative environment, they could thrive. This Thursday, December 31, the gallery celebrates three and a half decades of surviving the city — a tale of a…
DENVER DIY NEVER DIESAs the city’s older, less attractive face crumbled under the facade of a new, youthful and pricey cardboard cut-out of what is now being sold to the world as “neo-Denver,” our DIY music scene scurried under the rubble like a cockroach. But like that sturdy cockroach, it…
It’s easy to feel like you’re in the right place at the right time — if you know what you’re looking for before you get there. This past Monday, I joined a friend for the annual Winter Solstice celebration at Ironton Studios & Gallery. In the heart of what is…
The city’s been lit by the beautiful glow of LED and incandescent holiday lights for a few weeks now, but with this recent snow dump, the illuminated displays now feel like they have a true home in our winter wonderland. Even the icicle lights dripping from the trees outside Racines and…
Joseph Koncilja is a longtime preservationist who’s working to save historic structures in Pueblo. His interest in the vintage built environment extends to neon signs, which he has been collecting for years. Because of a preservation ordinance in the southern Colorado town, neon signs aren’t allowed on buildings facing the…
All through this year, it felt like 2015 had a lot of changes in store for Denver — some good, some not so good. Just a few weeks ago, Andre’s Confiserie Suisse announced it was closing at the end of December, meaning one more cherished institution is going the way…
The story of Denver is told by artists, comedians, writers, actors, musicians, politicians, curators, activists, poets, historians, illustrators and makers of all mediums. It’s an ever-evolving tale, one that is built on the experiences of the people who take the time to stop and look around and share what they…
I once commissioned an illustrator friend to draw an anniversary card for my boyfriend that said “You’re the Ad-Rock to my Kathleen Hanna,” with the living music icons’ likenesses drawn on it. The card never materialized, but the thought has always been there — the thought that to my riot…
For the remaining original members of Caramel Carmela, it wasn’t an easy decision to call it quits. After almost seven years as a band, Jack Roberts and Sha Gipson had weathered van breakdowns, geographical distance from other bandmates and a seemingly constant stream of fill-in members. The band’s hybrid of…
In a city bubbling over with craft breweries and themed cocktail spots, where do adults go who want to hang with the big kids but drink like a little one? Often non-imbibers are relegated to the limited options from a soda gun or a single pot of coffee that’s been…
It can be hard to explain the appeal of Andre’s Confiserie Suisse to some of my peers and younger friends. The tiny restaurant in Cherry Creek — which closes at the end of this month after 49 years in Denver — is more of a happening place for the senior…
“Being a white woman in hip-hop has allowed me to be invisible,” says Nicole Cormier, a writer and editor dedicated to Denver’s hip-hop scene. “It has allowed me certain rights that I don’t think a man would have in this community.” Cormier acknowledges that regardless of her identity, being a…
Chilly days are here to stay, so there’s no better time to check out Colorado’s many hot springs, including the ones on our recent list of ten great hot springs. Iron Mountain Hot Springs is the newest spot on that list; though the earthy, warm water source is obviously not fresh on…
A few months ago, I took a friend to Planned Parenthood to get an abortion. I had been to an appointment with her prior to that where she initially learned that she was pregnant. We talked about the options. It didn’t take long for her to make her choice. At…
In this legal weed-happy city, the evolving traditions of neo-Denver continually reveal themselves — especially during the holidays. Last year, for instance, I found myself at a marijuana-sponsored New Year’s Eve party, where nicely rolled joints sat on tables next to oversize mason jars packed with THC-infused truffles, which were…
I’ve been reviewing concerts since I first thought I could be a journalist. It was way back in the now more-popular-than-ever ’90s, when I was a staff reporter for my high school newspaper, the George Washington Surveyor. I took notes on punk shows and relayed my experience to my fellow…
MCA Denver just announced its “I’m an Artist” program, which will offer free museum memberships to Denver’s creative community. According to museum director and curator Adam Lerner, securing funding to underwrite a thousand artist memberships for the next three years represents just the beginning of big plans the museum has…
By the way the term is being used around this city these days, one would think Denver is the “luxury” capital of America. As new development bullies its way into our neighborhoods, “luxury” is the ubiquitous term used to sell it — “luxury apartments,” “luxury high rises” and “luxury living…
My mother calls it “The Boulevard.” That’s one of many small-town terms she uses to describe the city in which she grew up and raised me. My mom also often says she’s going “up the hill,” which can mean any direction and any destination. (I detailed her numerous local yokel…
The members of The Milk Blossoms take turns when they talk – as the conversation circles the table, each musician makes space for the next one to speak. Five minutes into this exchange, it’s clear that Michelle Rocqet, Harmony Rose and Brent Larson are not only bandmates, they’re friends. Good…
I grew up in a not-very-big house in Virginia Village where I shared a room with one of my siblings for most of my childhood. Even though we had pretty tight living quarters to begin with, my parents still opened our little home to anyone who needed it — throughout…
“Did you know that you can win awards for your work as a 911 operator?” asks Erin Hamilton over coffee. She’s explaining the winding road that led her to turntablism — a path that began with quitting what could have been a longtime career as an (award-winning) emergency dispatcher. She…
