Best Sports-Talk Host 2001 | Joe WilliamsKKFN-AM/950 | Best of Denver® | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Denver | Westword
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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.)

Best New Apartment Building

Capitol Heights Apartments

The Capitol Heights Apartments, designed by Denver's Studio Completiva and developed by Bruce Heitler, has just risen on what had been one of the bleakest vacant lots in Capitol Hill. The design is sharp, with retro-modern flourishes here and there, such as a striking porte cochere and tutti-frutti-colored walls. Naysayers may point out that the materials aren't as fine as the design -- but that simply proves that just because cheap materials like synthetic stucco are used, it doesn't mean the results have to be ugly.

Best New Apartment Building

Capitol Heights Apartments

The Capitol Heights Apartments, designed by Denver's Studio Completiva and developed by Bruce Heitler, has just risen on what had been one of the bleakest vacant lots in Capitol Hill. The design is sharp, with retro-modern flourishes here and there, such as a striking porte cochere and tutti-frutti-colored walls. Naysayers may point out that the materials aren't as fine as the design -- but that simply proves that just because cheap materials like synthetic stucco are used, it doesn't mean the results have to be ugly.

Best Save of an Old Building

The Byron G. Rogers Federal Building and Courthouse

After the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, the U.S. General Services Administration began exploring ways to make its properties more "user-friendly." Denver's Byron G. Rogers Federal Building and Courthouse was one of the first in line, and the GSA's original plans for the facility included demolition of the courtyard and trashing of the Edgar Britton-designed bronze sunscreen. Thankfully, the Colorado Historical Society's Dale Heckendorn reminded the GSA that the 1960s complex, by local luminary James Sudler, had been identified by Historic Denver as one of the city's most significant examples of modern architecture. Oops! To its credit, the GSA has come up with new plans that will enhance, rather than destroy, the elegant original.

Best Save of an Old Building

The Byron G. Rogers Federal Building and Courthouse

After the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, the U.S. General Services Administration began exploring ways to make its properties more "user-friendly." Denver's Byron G. Rogers Federal Building and Courthouse was one of the first in line, and the GSA's original plans for the facility included demolition of the courtyard and trashing of the Edgar Britton-designed bronze sunscreen. Thankfully, the Colorado Historical Society's Dale Heckendorn reminded the GSA that the 1960s complex, by local luminary James Sudler, had been identified by Historic Denver as one of the city's most significant examples of modern architecture. Oops! To its credit, the GSA has come up with new plans that will enhance, rather than destroy, the elegant original.

Best Protector of Downtown Denver

Kathleen Brooker

Kathleen Brooker, the president of Historic Denver, has had some successes over the years. But when it came to downtown, she, along with the rest of the good guys, often lost out. So Brooker tackled the problem head on and proposed that the city establish a downtown historic district that would prevent the destruction of significant buildings. Instead of fighting with owners who opposed the district, she focused on working with those who endorsed it, including such enlightened developers as David Cohen and Evan Makovsky. Eventually, inclusion in the district became a kind of status symbol, and owners clamored to get on board. And late last year, Brooker's dream came true with the creation of the Downtown Denver Historic District, which assures some of the city's best buildings of a happy future.

Best Protector of Downtown Denver

Kathleen Brooker

Kathleen Brooker, the president of Historic Denver, has had some successes over the years. But when it came to downtown, she, along with the rest of the good guys, often lost out. So Brooker tackled the problem head on and proposed that the city establish a downtown historic district that would prevent the destruction of significant buildings. Instead of fighting with owners who opposed the district, she focused on working with those who endorsed it, including such enlightened developers as David Cohen and Evan Makovsky. Eventually, inclusion in the district became a kind of status symbol, and owners clamored to get on board. And late last year, Brooker's dream came true with the creation of the Downtown Denver Historic District, which assures some of the city's best buildings of a happy future.

Best Radio Lefty

David Barsamian

Interviewer David Barsamian has turned the oddest of specialties -- interviews with liberal thinkers such as Noam Chomsky -- into a genuine career and a national reputation. His Boulder-based program, Alternative Radio, is syndicated on public-radio stations from coast to coast, and it's popularity among young tastemakers is exemplified by Keep Left, Vol. 1, an AR fundraiser/compilation CD featuring acts such as Olivia Tremor Control, Built to Spill and Pere Ubu. Barsamian's found a way to make intellectualism pay.

Best Radio Lefty

David Barsamian

Interviewer David Barsamian has turned the oddest of specialties -- interviews with liberal thinkers such as Noam Chomsky -- into a genuine career and a national reputation. His Boulder-based program, Alternative Radio, is syndicated on public-radio stations from coast to coast, and it's popularity among young tastemakers is exemplified by Keep Left, Vol. 1, an AR fundraiser/compilation CD featuring acts such as Olivia Tremor Control, Built to Spill and Pere Ubu. Barsamian's found a way to make intellectualism pay.

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