The bloodletting starts at Clear Channel Denver

The December 17 blog “Clear Channel’s Lee Larsen Talks About Possible Layoffs at Denver Stations” noted strong rumors about impending staff cuts at the area outlets owned by the Texas-based mega-corp: five FMs — KTCL/93.3 FM, The Party/95.7 FM, KBCO/97.3 FM, The Fox/103.5 FM and KBPI/106.7 FM — and three…

Extreme snowshoeing? Yes, please!

Leave it up to us crazy Coloradans to turn anything into an extreme sport. Parallel parking, shadow puppetry, tax preparation — you name it, we’ll “extreme” it. The latest outlet for local adrenaline and bone-fracture junkies, it turns out, is snowshoeing. Yes, snowshoeing, that thing where you strap racquetball rackets…

A nation gathers, watches, listens, hopes

Like millions upon millions of Americans, I just took a break along with my co-workers to witness Barack Obama taking the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States and then delivering a speech that was simultaneously serious and stirring. And as I looked around the conference…

Those George W. Bush countdown clocks are going fast

Stopped by Twist and Shout yesterday to paw through vinyl 45s for my vintage jukebox, and when I arrived at the counter shortly thereafter to pay for my excellent finds, I couldn’t help noticing a stack of George W. Bush countdown clocks — small devices that ticked off each day…

History being made in Washington, D.C. — and the Super Bowl

During his regular midday show yesterday, KOOL 105 midday host Hollywood Henderson (pictured) talked about two impending events that he never thought would occur in his lifetime: today’s inauguration of Barack Obama as America’s first African-American president — and the perennially laughable Arizona Cardinals advancing to the Super Bowl. Kinda…

Leftovers

Michael Harrison celebrated his Martin Luther King Day trying to sell stuff he wasn’t able to sell during the DNC. Namely, Obama In a Bottle. It didn’t matter that the water bottles – which are stuffed with an American flag, an Obama lanyard, a cardboard party horn, an Obama button,…

Icing on the Marade

What’s a parade – or marade, for that matter – without free stuff? There was plenty of it today in Civic Center Park, the endpoint of the city’s official Martin Luther King Day Marade. (For those of you who are wondering, in the grand tradition of the cockapoo — half…

Kenny Be’s Yard Arteology

The study of neighbors through their lawn ornaments. Figure 2. Lincoln Park: Our Lavender Lady of the Plaster Pullets The Virgin Mary is the undisputed ruler of Denver yard art. She’s as common as snowstorms in January, and appears in drifts across the city. But like snowflakes, no two virgins…

Night and Day: Obama Inauguration parties in Denver

This morning’s Martin Luther King Day march took to the streets with an historic edge: Denver celebrated one African American who helped make it possible for another to become president all these years later. The elated nation that elected Obama Commander-in-Chief will be bumping the clouds tomorrow, from coast to…

Take stock in Barack

Artist Cassandra Cole made the rounds during the Democratic National Convention, selling posters, mugs and other gifts with copies of her unmistakable, farmer-hat-clad portrait of Barack Obama to celebrate his visit to Denver. Now Cole is back with a more dignified — dare we say more presidential — image of…

Being a movie usher isn’t just about cleaning gum off seats anymore

An aptitude for public speaking isn’t a typical requirement for working at a movie theater — unless you’re employed at the Bowles Crossing 12, a Kerasotes-owned venue located in southern Jefferson County. (It’s across the street from Clement Park; then-Vice President Al Gore gave a speech from its steps following…

A look at Hirschfeld back in its heyday

Back in 1994, Westword published  “Prints Charming,” a profile of Barry Hirschfeld, who helmed a then-almost-century-old local printing business. A printing business that last week announced that National Hirschfeld will soon will close up shop altogether — without paying severance to longtime employees, and just after passing the hundred-year mark.You…

Man’s head explodes after reading Woody Paige

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — A 42-year-old man died on Sunday when his head exploded while trying to decipher a story by Denver Post sports columnist Woody Paige. Joseph Patrick, a computer programmer and father of two, was waiting for his grande skim vanilla latte in a crowded Starbucks here when…

Hope, and hats, spring eternal in D.C.

So far, we haven’t sighted Barack Obama wearing a brand-new Stetson during the inaugural festivities, but hope springs eternal. On Saturday, Josh Shayne, a 25-year-old Boulder-based filmmaker (he moved back home with his parents after NYU film school, an act of desperation he documents in the web production Lowered Expectations),…

The Westword.com blog shortcut, January 16 edition

Blogus interruptus. Today in Cafe Society: • Fry me to the moon. • Candy Girls: Strawberry Charleston Chew. • Colorado’s fast-expanding, fast-improving fast-casual world. Today in Backbeat Online: • Mile High Makeout: Guerillas in the mix. • This just in: Thursday is the new Friday. • Update: Mile-Hi Fidelity stream…

Denver Blogs: It’s budget season! This oughta be fun

We roped some links today, as we do every day. Think they suck? Send better ones here. Kegger money could get harder to come by at CU. (Face the State) “Here’s your chainsaw, Governor, and here’s the budget. Try not to get any blood on your tie.” (Colorado Pols) 10…