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NORTH DENVER — As the Dog Days of Summer begin to wane North Denver businesses and community organizations are hosting a celebration of all things Fido. Canines of all sizes, shapes, and colors are being feted with fundraisers, pet adoptions, fashion shows and community potlucks. Little Man puts on the dog Little Man Ice Cream […]
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DENVER — The summer season in Denver is as much about festivals and fleas as it is about camping and soaking up the Colorado sun. With endless food, culture, art festivals and flea markets to pick from, we have narrowed the list down to help you plan your summer fun now through Fall. Whether you […]
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<div class="content"> <h3>Above all, cops are paid to protect and serve...but if you were to ask the officers at the Dixon Police Department in Illinois, they'd probably say the job is about more than that.</h3> Helping the community, solving crimes, these duties are just part of the work...but no one said they had to take time out of their busy and sometimes dangerous days to do this.
Recently, these neighborhood kids were battling the summer heat by playing with water guns in their yard when all of the sudden, officers from the Dixon PD attacked them — with more water guns!
Basha Cohen | [email protected]
The Historic Elitch Theatre celebrates its 125th anniversary
BERKELEY — In everyone’s life there is a place that transports your soul back to childhood. It is a thing of rare beauty when that same place transcends your life and blankets an entire memory field for multiple generations. That is exactly what the Historic Elitch Theatre does. The Theatre and Zoological Gardens that John and Mary Elitch built in 1890 and 1891 have reached into the heart of multiple generations, and with a serious focus on its restoration, it promises to provide sweet memories for generations to come.
The theatre was originally opened in the summer of 1891. Designed by local architects Rudolf Liden and Charles Lee it featured a two-story open veranda surrounding the two-story octagonal enclosed auditorium. A backstage building anchored the west side, and the signature castle-like cupola crowned the roof.
In its 125th year, the building is the oldest standing wooden edifice in Denver, and provides one of the richest, most notable histories of any theatre around the United States. The theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and designated an Historic Landmark by the city in 1995. In honor of her birthday, and in recognition of her contributions to the State and the nation, Mayor Michael B. Hancock, presented an official Proclamation that Summer 2016 was to be known as the “125th Anniversary of the Historic Elitch Theatre.”
Events have been going strong all year to celebrate the milestone and the countless stars like Grace Kelly, Douglas Fairbanks, Debbie Reynolds, Edward G. Robinson and Christina Crawford who graced the stage of the theatre, often on their way to Hollywood superstardom. August brought the theatre and the carousel back in full glory. From Tennyson Street’s Hollywood Walk of Fame to theatre to music, Elitch’s was directly in the spotlight. If Mary Elitch were alive today she might have stood on the stage with lights upon her saying, “I’m ready for my close up Mr. DeMille.”
A Night at the Trocadero
On August 27 Governor John Hickenlooper welcomed the crowd of over 500 supporters at the theatre’s grand gala and restoration fundraiser, A Night at the Trocadero. As a long time Northsider he reminisced, “I remember back in 1981 when Elitch Gardens gave 2-4 tickets to all of the nearby residents so that the commotion of the Twister that came down every 25 seconds like a wave breaking wouldn’t bother us as much.” Hearkening back to my childhood memories, The Twister was a classic, wooden roller coaster that clacked and rattled its way to the top of its peak before its equally noisy descent. It was as scary to look at, as it was to ride.
Said Hickenlooper, “Everything I have learned about historic preservation, I learned from Dennis Gallagher. North Denver has always taken it seriously. I miss Elitch’s. Its closure was a great loss, but the theatre must be saved and restored. Our culture and history is what makes a city great. The Historic Elitch Theatre is one of the cultural icons that make Denver great.”
The event brought back the past with the brilliant big band orchestra, Sentimental Sounds, that had young and old-timers gliding on the dance floor to steps long forgotten, but beautifully revived, on the warm August night. Hazel Miller rocked the house and bridged the generations in the great melting pot that the entertainment carousel was built for. Aside from the night of pure memory-mirth, the theatre raised approximately $ 14,000 toward its interior restoration goal.
The Restoration
Behind every great moment in entertainment are the producers and directors that make it happen. Early board members like Chuck Perry, Lotte Lieb Dula and Jose Mercado helped lay the foundation for the theatre’s capital plan and restoration, and with Mercado’s production of Zoot Suit Riots in 2010, it was a real turning point for stoking the public’s interest in the theatre.
Today, a dedicated Board of Directors including Kirk Scheitler, Greg Rowley, Tracy Frickey, Christie Schwalbe and Edward Miller, as well as their board members Michael Bliss, Jennifer Kain-Rios, Florence Larsen, Rose Lewis, Amber McGimsey, Jennifer Murphy, Rachel Peoples, Chuck Perry and Nicholas Sanchez are the backbone of the theatre restoration. Frickey, who joined the board in 2010, said with heartfelt fondness, “I would lay down in traffic for every single person on this board. They are truly passionate professionals with no hidden agendas.”
The restoration was estimated at $ 13 Million when the project began in 2000. In phases one and two they tackled a major exterior renovation including restoring the dilapidated cupola, pouring the foundation, complying with ADA standards, and installing a fire sprinkler system. With a looming $ 10 million required for the interior restoration, the board began to address the restoration in more manageable pieces.
When the theatre was abandoned in 1991 the water and plumbing was removed leaving the theatre without any restroom facilities. For phase three, lobby renovations and installing restrooms are priorities. Once this is completed, the theatre can get a permanent occupancy permit, and regular programming can begin. From there fundraising will continue for the countless details needed to restore the theatre to its previous beauty.
New Works Festival
The beauty of the theatre, even in its work-in-progress state is that it is being used. One of the special highlights in August was the second annual New Works Festival. It put the spotlight on playwrights and actors, and the stage that holds them, with workshops and readings of new plays.
The New Works Festival encourages new playwrights, composers and lyricists to submit their work for the opportunity to be produced as a main stage show in the theatre’s regular season. For writers, the challenge has undeniable lure. During its inaugural year in 2015 more than 70 musical and non-musical works were submitted.
A reading selection committee comprised of a venerable whose-who in the nation’s best literary and theatrical community include directors, actors, choreographers, casting agents and authors who review submissions and choose six plays that are read during the festival. Two plays are selected for staging the following summer, and ultimately one is chosen for a main stage production during the 2018 season.
Mary Elitch Award for Excellence in Female Playwriting
This year Christina Crawford, a Dramatists Guild member and Elitch Theatre alumna who appeared on the stage in 1964 created the Mary Elitch Award for Excellence in Female Play- writing. The award was established to encourage more work from female playwrights dealing with women’s issues. According to “The Count” an article in the Dramatists Guild maga- zine, during a 3-year study only 14% of the playwrights in 2,508 productions were women.
Crawford said, “I am so honored to be a part of the new Mary Elitch Award encouraging women playwrights to achieve their potential, particularly at an historic theatre where I performed as a young actress.” In regard to the desultory number of female playwrights she pronounced, “I have been an activist all my life. This has to change!”
Crawford presented the first $ 1,000 award to Sandra Marie Vago whose stirring portrayal of a rape victim in her play, “Listen”, had the entire audience spellbound. Set in a small Southern town the story explores the re-victimization of a rape victim by the family and friends who love her. As unintended as this may be, it was a heartbreaking portrayal of love and loss, uncertainty and anguish.
Abusive behavior comes in all forms and Crawford is no stranger to the subject. As author of the acclaimed autobiography, Mommie Dearest, that delved into the dark corners of her childhood with superstar mother, Joan Crawford, she has experienced the effects of a fickle heart. Whatever the effects of the past were, her heart is wide open to building the future for dramatists and their showcase, the theatre.
I had the good fortune to spend time with Crawford during the intermission in the cavernous back stage. Her eyes actually glitter when she speaks, and with outstretched arms sweeping the expanse of the old theatre backstage she reflected, “They don’t build back stages like this any longer.”
We sat nestled together in the dark on an original tapestry couch that Mary Elitch owned. Both she and Elitch share a common trait, although they were born in separate generations. Both are extremely strong women who forged paths unknown before them. “Mary was 15 when she fell in love with John Elitch who was 32 years old. They started with a farm that turned into a botanical garden. Lore says PT Barnum gave them a lion as a gift and the zoological garden was born, followed by the amusement park and theatre. When John died Mary continued all of the operations. When you consider that before 1920 women didn’t have the right to vote you can understand what a remarkable woman she was. She loved animals, plants and entertainment and must have had a whale of a sense of humor to not go stark raving mad!”
Crawford’s experience as a writer led to one of her many accomplishments when she regained the rights to her novel, Mommie Dearest. She forged a path in the self-publishing field distributing the 25th anniversary edition of her story through Amazon in 1998. She reflected on the rise of the self-publishing industry that has overtaken traditional book publishing, “I don’t have any stock in Amazon so I am not trying to sell anything, but self-publishing has democratized distribution. Before the internet an author was limited to how many books fit in your trunk.”
As an actor, author and dramatist, Crawford is hardwired to understand and deliver communication effectively. In our brief time before the lights went up we hopscotched through a whirlwind mediums that influence today. On social media, “The competition for everyone’s attention is phenomenal. It’s a communication avenue, but not a sales tool.” On the demise of a book or newspaper versus an iPad or Kindle, “There will always be room for both.” On the role that regional theatre and community newspapers play in the world today, “I don’t appear on stage any longer, but I am an avid supporter in my home town theatre in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and in my relationship with Elitch’s. I actively help smaller community theatre and businesses. It is what I want to leave as part of my personal legacy.” She concluded, “It is all about getting things done in your community. As a local community newspaper, you reflect what is important to those around you. You are the community.”
More than any place in North Denver, Elitch’s represents our community. It is up to us to help return it to its heritage as a nationally renowned venue for the celebration of the performing arts.
To tour the theatre, join historians on October 7 First Friday at 6:00 and 7:30 pm to peek into the past. $ 10 online and $ 15 at the door. For tickets or to donate toward the restoration: https://Historicelitchtheatre.org
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By Basha Cohen | As the long days of summer reach their peak parks, library’s and outdoor music venues are alive with the sounds of music. It’s a great way for friends and family to gather over a picnic dinner, a morning cup of joe, a cool ice cream or graze from local food trucks. […]
North Denver Tribune
Denver is a destination worth visiting in itself, but the numerous parks located in the city are an especially attractive feature. Clearly, Denver residents take their leisure and recreation time very seriously, for Denver Colorado parks are some of the most well maintained and fully featured in the country.
One of the most popular Denver Colorado parks is the Cheesman Park located on Capitol Hill. Ideally suited for frolicking in the summer, the sun typically casts its rays until late in the afternoon during these months, so you can, amazingly enough, get a tan until 5 pm!
Of course winter is an entirely different story, and you will probably want to pack more than one sweater. On the plus side though, the winter months are perfect for trekking and other snow related activities in one of the most beautiful of the Denver Colorado parks.
One of the popular Denver Colorado parks is City Park, and this recreational area is slightly reminiscent of London’s famous Hyde Park. Some of the more popular attractions of this park are the zoo, the Museum of Nature and Science, the golf course, and the lake. Keep in mind that this is a positively huge park that you could easily spend the whole day in without noticing, so make sure you plan ahead if you have other Denver Colorado parks to visit!
Finally, dont forget to check out Washington Park, which is where many of the citys runners converge. Even if you dont feel particularly up to jogging yourself, this is a great place to sit back and have a nice picnic while watching other people work up a sweat!
This is only a small selection of the Denver Colorado parks, and there are many more waiting to be discovered by the curious visitor. Covered with lush greenery and boasting of numerous attractions, entertainment spots, restaurants and a lot more features, Denver Colorado parks
are more than enough reason to pay a visit to this most charming and enchanting cities in the United States.
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Denver is a great city to visit at any time of the year, but the summer months are particularly exciting for the many summer events in Denver that really serve to highlight the city’s numerous charms. Offering some serious competition to the city’s considerable natural attractions, the summer events in Denver are more than enough reasons to visit even if nature treks aren’t exactly your bag.
Given the virtual smorgasbord of summer events in Denver, it can be quite hard for the first time visitor to decide which ones to check out. A good choice to begin with is the Memorial Day series of events in which the Denver Arts Festival takes center stage. As many as one hundred artists from all over the world are in attendance at this high profile event, and it is a good way to get a glimpse of the modern day article scene filtered through the Denver experience.
The Capitol Hill Peoples Fair is another notable offering, and this is where you can shop around for arts and crafts from all over Colorado. This is one of those summer events in Denver that should appeal to the visitor who wants to learn more about the area and its customs, and you will surely walk away with a deeper appreciation for the unique and distinctive Denver culture.
Music is of course a large part of the Denver experience, and you can expect to find numerous summer events in Denver
in which music plays the front and center role. Full-blown rock concerts with all the decibels you can handle, soothing jazz combos and anything and everything in between, music truly runs the veins of the Denver residents.
Aside from the summer events in Denver , dont forget to check out the local cuisine as well. Denver prides itself on its numerous contributions to the culinary world, and the many restaurants, bars and cafes in the city are themselves worthy of the price of the plane ticket.
We have only just skimmed the surface of the many summer events in Denver
worth looking into. Book a flight today and experience firsthand what many already know to be one of the finest cities in the United States.
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Summer is almost upon us! While Denver is known for it’s beautiful summers and outdoorsy lifestyle, sometimes it’s nice to escape the heat and entertain your family indoors. Here are some fun indoor activities for this summer:
The Apex Center Treehouse Play Area – Not only is this play area free, but kids can spend hours crawling through tubes and sliding down the slides.
Downtown Aquarium – The aquarium is a great place to escape to, especially on a rainy day. Denver’s downtown aquarium has thousands of fish, and even tigers from when the museum was going in a different direction. There are also many kid-friendly activities, like a touch tank and eating lunch surrounded by fish.
Butterfly Pavilion – The butterfly pavilion is a great little museum for the price, and young girls especially love being surrounded by the hundreds of different butterflies.
Puppet Theater – The puppet theater is a great place to take your kids and is even ranked “the best children’s theater in Colorado” by The Denver Post.
Firefighter Museum – The firefighter museum is a perfect spot for boys age 3-7 who may already enjoy the trucks and firefighters and can learn more about what they do.
Pump It Up – This is an inflatable party zone filled with slides, obstacles and jumping areas for both parties or to fill a boring afternoon.
Story Time – The Denver Public Library, Jeffereson County Public Library and Boulder Public Library all host a story time throughout the summer. Story time is great for younger children, since it helps fill the education gap. If your child is struggling with reading, or if they just have a passion for reading, many libraries hold a separate Summer Reading Program.
Lyons Pinball Arcade – The Lyons Pinball Arcade may be more of a treat for mom and dad, since this classic arcade boasts having some of the best ‘80s style arcade games in all of Denver.
Wings Over the Rockies Aircraft & Space Museum – Another great summertime activity for children, especially boys, is the flight museum located in the east side of Denver, in a WWII-era Hangar. Not only can your son enjoy the exhibits, but on the second Saturday of each month from 10-2pm they host “Cockpit demo days” where your child can get an inside look into the planes.
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Summer is always the season when like to head out to somewhere thrilling to have fun and chill out. You will find a lot of people frolicking on beaches or chilling out at resorts while enjoying the cool water and getting that sun-kissed look. Summer concerts are also common leisure activities, too. Should you be preparing to watch a concert this summer, listed here are some tips.
Summer concerts won’t be as fun if you watch them without some buddies. Invite your buddies or family members to watch a concert. Try to locate your old friends, too; Make the summer event your get-together activity. Trace their whereabouts by making use of social networking websites and get their schedules so that you can plan the date of the special occasion. Gathering your pals won’t be as complicated since most of them may possibly be free throughout the summer vacation.
Save income ahead of the occasion. Tickets won’t cost as much, so you might save, a minimum of, several days or perhaps a couple of weeks prior to the concert. Before the summer vacation comes, allot a budget from your allowance to make sure that you can acquire tickets as the summer vacation approaches. If you are watching with pals, you could invite them to save funds together. If you are seriously determined to watch the concert, you may apply for menial summer jobs to make sure that you can have adequate funds.
Daytime concerts will surely make you sweat quite a bit. Standing under the harsh rays of the sun will not be excellent for the skin, too. If the concert is scheduled at daytime, make sure that that you bring adequate sun protection and water. Having a nasty sunburn is not going to make the rest of your summer vacation enjoyable. Better yet, you might watch the Denver summer concerts at night, too. That way, you will be spared from the risks of obtaining sunburn and dehydration.
You will surely get tired and hungry during the concert. Ensure that that you bring enough food and water with you. If it’s an outdoor concert, you could bring portable chairs or mats to ensure that you’ll be able to sit whenever you feel that your legs are tired. You’ll enjoy the outdoor Denver summer concert much more if you are not feeling too weary. Even so, some concert venues don’t allow packed food inside. Hence, make certain that you bring enough funds to obtain food with.
Summer events held today consist of other activities, too. They are not just about artists singing on stage or fans screaming and singing at the top of their lungs. Denver summer events, as an example, also involve film-watching for people who want to have a much more peaceful place to spend the night at.
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The summer in the city and county of Denver includes free musical entertainment for both residents and visitors alike. These free summer concerts starts off with the Five Points Jazz Festival. This yearly music event takes place every May of the years at Welton Street. The historical neighborhood of Five Points has been very important to the African-American community in Denver. The festivity draws the limelight towards some of the best jazz artists and bands in Denver. They will be performing their best pieces to celebrate their musical heritage and culture.
The main stage of the festival will also highlight a performance by the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. Other activities feature anecdotes on jazz music and traditions, as well as art exhibitions, bazaars, and other sights and sounds.
Memorial Day will have a highlight on music through the Denver Day of Rock that is held on May. People in Denver will be rocking all day long with more than twenty bands shake the four stages of this free rock music festival. Everyone can listen to some of the most popular bands in Denver and even discover budding groups. Denver Day of Rock also promotes awareness of children-centered community groups.
From June to August, Sunday nights are lit up by the lights of the al fresco jazz club at City Park Bandstand and Pavilion. The Denver summer concert club will feature Latin music of the Manuel Lopez Trio, the soulful melodies of blues and jazz by Hazel Miller, and the songs of Tuxedo Junction.
Fridays during summer also brings free lunchtime Denver summer concert at the Skyline Park which is just a walk away from the 16th Street Mall. You could set up a lawn blanket and have a lunchtime picnic while listening to the tunes of Bonnie and the Clydes, Coles Whalen, The Epilogues, etc. These lunchtime concerts are held in July and August.
The Colorado Symphony Orchestra also puts on a free classical Denver summer concert. This highlights the celebration of Independence Eve on the third of July at the Civic Center. The orchestra will play some of the favorite patriotic songs in the United States, to be accompanied by a dazzling fireworks display.
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