The layoffs at Westword mentioned in this blog didn’t take place in a vaccum — and had I not been on vacation until today, I would have seen them coming thanks to a memo issued by Village Voice Media chairman and CEO Jim Larkin and executive editor Michael Lacey (pictured)…
In the December 18 blog “Westword: All About Us,” publisher and Village Voice Media Chief Operating Officer Scott Tobias offered a relatively sunny assessment of the paper’s health, particularly in comparison with daily newspapers in major metropolitian areas. But today, the forecast is far less positive. At a meeting that…
Our daily scouring of the blogoshere for mile-high goodness. Send tips to joe.tone@westword.com. Ain’t no sunshine in the Colorado statehouse this legislative session. (Colorado Independent) For the Great Depression, there sure is a lot of construction news in Denver. (Denver Infill) The Spin Cycle: Local PR folks make predictions about…
A true veteran of the Denver arts scene, Joshua Hassel’s done time as a professional gallerist, curator, art historian and video producer/director. But every hat he’s worn has hung on his reputation as an indefatigable local arts booster. When he isn’t touting someone’s works in a gallery, he’s making videos and documentaries…
We all think that our actions have sweeping repercussions — or at least that’s what I tell myself after being admonished by my team of therapists each week. But this time, it seems to me, I really might have, maybe, sort of, spurred last week’s sacking of longtime Denver Broncos…
Less than an hour ago at this writing, the Rocky Mountain News website published “7News, 9News Sharing Helicopter,” an uncredited item about a decision by these two longtime rivals to use a single helicopter in order to save money during these economically agonizing times. But while the story will probably…
In mid-December, news broke that MediaNews Group head Dean Singleton (pictured) asked unions to open negotiations on new contracts early in the hope of saving a combined $20 million at the Denver Post and the Denver Newspaper Agency. But, as mentioned parenthetically in a December 16 More Messages blog, this…
More envy than pity has accompanied Bill Ritter’s appointment of Denver Public Schools’ Michael Bennet to fill Ken Salazar’s soon-to-be-vacated U.S. Senate seat. But the folks at Face the State have found a reason to feel sorry for the rising political star: He’ll be making less money in his new…
Kudos to sharp-eyed Denver Post writer David Harsanyi for spotting a hilarious news clip from Channel 31. In it, anchor Ron Zappolo almost but doesn’t quite manage not to laugh while reading a story about a naked home intruder in Oregon named Michael Dick, who was arrested after an 88-year-old…
If you, like me, stepped out of the media bubble over the holidays, you may well have missed a curious New York Times editorial about Obama-cabinet-bound Colorado senator Ken Salazar, published under an unusual headline: “Is Ken Salazar Too Nice?” Too bad the answers provided by the piece aren’t as…
Around here, implying that the Fray is something less than the second coming of the Beatles borders on apostasy. In the world at large, however, the Denver band seldom gets special treatment — unless said treatment is especially nasty. Take the “Coming Reactions” section of Entertainment Weekly’s January 9 edition,…
The December 4 blog “Denver Dailies Didn’t See Possible John Salazar Cabinet Post Coming” now seems charmingly dated. The piece was prompted by word that Representative John Salazar, not his higher-profile brother, Senator Ken Salazar, was likely to be named to Barack Obama’s cabinet — a prospect few political prognosticators…
A recent alert from the Denver Disability Parking Enforcement Program announces that the city is recruiting citizens interested in ticketing those able-bodied but ass-lazy drivers who park in handicapped zones. Yes, you heard right. Denver uses volunteers to try to keep those parking spaces free for those who need them. The volunteers take…
Denver architect Peter Dominick suffered a fatal heart attack on New Year’s Day while he was cross-country skiing near Aspen, where he frequently vacationed. A prominent figure in the local architectural community, he was from an equally prominent family: his late father was a Colorado senator, also named Peter Dominick,…
Donald Westlake, who died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 75, wrote more than 100 books, mostly crime novels, over the past half century–almost all of them highly polished entertainments from a writer who knew his craft as few ever will again. I’ve probably read close to half…
I haven’t been so wrong about a political pick since I predicted that then-Lieutenant Governor Joe Rogers would lead a crowded pack in the Republican primary for the congressional seat ultimately claimed by Democrat Ed Perlmutter. Governor Bill Ritter just announced that he’ll hold a news conference at 2 p.m…
Sssssh. Don’t tell anyone. From 10am-6pm tomorrow admission at the Museum for Contemporary Art is only one cent per person. That’s a penny. With everyone trying to save money in this wonderful recession of ours, the place could get crowded if the word got out. So let’s keep this bit…
At gatherings on New Year’s Day, the talk was all about when Governor Bill Ritter will announce a new senator — and, of course, just who his pick will be to replace Ken Salazar, Barack Obama’s choice to head the Department of the Interior. Technically, there’s no hurry; Salazar’s confirmation…
Colorado made news in 2008, and we’re not talking about Barack Obama accepting the Democratic nomination for president. Nosirree. Even bigger news! John and Patsy Ramsey were officially cleared in the 1996 death of their daughter, JonBenét. Of course, you might have missed that if you were paying too much…
They were the shmucks, the shitheads, the asshats and the douchebags, the chodes, knobs, jerkoffs, buttmunches and assclowns. They embarrassed themselves, their families, their professions, their political parties and Colorado in general. And the year just wouldn’t have been the same without them. Continuing a time-honored tradition, Westword has inducted…
Mike Shanahan, who was fired Tuesday, wasn’t just the Denver Broncos’ winningest and longest-tenured coach, he was also a repeat Westword Best of Denver award winner, taking home Best Coach – Professional in 1998 and 2007; Best Sack of a Bronco in 2004; Best Sporty Marshall in 2001; Best-Dressed Coach…
New Year’s Eve means the future is almost here, and to welcome that sci-fi time yet to come, FM magazine and Automatica Media are bringing The Future Party to the hi-dive and Sputnik tonight. “The future is our theme,” explains FM’s Tuyet Nguyen. “I suppose it sort of plays into…
