Community Announcements
Blueprint For South Park Hill
The City of Denver has kicked off a process to plan the future of the corridor through the southernmost boundary of Park Hill from Colfax to 23rd Avenue from Colorado Boulevard to Quebec. The East Area Plan also includes portions of the neighborhoods of Montclair, Hale, and East Colfax. The city is seeking input via an online survey to gauge the community’s ideas about the planning area. The survey is the first of several activities – both online and in person – that will take place in the coming months to establish the community’s vision for the future. The link to the survey is maptionnaire.com/en/3082/ (in Spanish at maptionnaire.com/es/3082/). The plan page website is DenverGov.org/eastplan.
Blueprint For Denver
Join Denver city planners at one of several Blueprint Denver workshops in September to review and provide input on draft maps and potential future growth strategies. Planning topics range from creating new transit corridors, employment and residential hubs, and ensuring residents have access to amenities, transportation, jobs, trail connections and quality open space. The planning meeting for the northeast area of Denver is Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 5:30 p.m., at Maxwell Elementary School, 14390 Bolling Dr. Planning meeting for central Denver is Thursday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at East High School, 1600 City Park Esplanade. Food, childcare and Spanish interpretation will be provided. Learn more at denvergov.org/denveright.
Voter Suppression: Fact or Fiction?
Join League of Women Voters of Denver and Secretary of State Wayne W. Williams on Monday, Sept. 18 for a discussion of voter suppression at Bogeys on the Park in City Park. Williams was elected Colorado’s 38th Secretary of State in 2014 after serving four years as the El Paso County Clerk & Recorder.
The League of Women Voters has a long history of protecting voting rights. Protecting the right to vote is indivisibly part of the League’s basic purpose and voting is a fundamental citizen right that must be guaranteed. One of the duties of The Secretary of State is to ensure the integrity of elections. Integrity of our elections is a “hot topic” that needs to be addressed. The gathering begins at 5:30 p.m. and is expected to last an hour. Bogeys on the Park is at 2500 York St. There is no cost to attend.
Maneuvering the I-70 Maze
Denver’s Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) is hosting a forum about the Platte to Park Hill stormwater diversion project (“The Ditch”) and the I-70 expansion and re-route project. There are currently four lawsuits pending from citizen organizations, in efforts to halt the massive project. This educational forum will focus on the heart of these lawsuits. The forum is Saturday Sept. 9, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Manual High School, 1700 E. 28th Ave. Panelists will include Bill DeGroot, a retired manager of the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District; Albert Melcher, MS, Captain, Civil, Engineer Corps; Dennis Royer, former director of Public Works for Boston and engineer at Denver Public Works; and civil engineer John VanSciver. Representation from CDOT and the City of Denver to be announced. The forum is open to the public, and there is no cost to attend.
The 5th annual Stapleton Open Studios is an opportunity to visit artists in their private home studios. The artists’ home studios will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 23 and 24. The public is invited to join the artists at the free kick-off reception, on Friday, Sept. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Cube, at 8371 Northfield Blvd. Suite C. The self-guided open studios tour is an open format and an ideal way to encourage dialogue between artists and enthusiasts. The 28 participating artists represent a range of disciplines, including painting, jewelry, photography, sculpture, glass and fiber art. Free tour maps are available prior to the event at The Cube. Additional information can be found at StapletonArtists.org.
Solar Decathlon Heats Up
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon will be open and free to the public from Oct. 5 to 9 and Oct. 12 – 15 at the 61st & Peña station at the University of Colorado A-Line commuter rail near Denver International Airport. The event features a sustainability expo, professional, and consumer and middle school education events. The Solar Decathlon is an intensive learning opportunity for consumers and homeowners and highlights the latest technologies and materials in energy-efficient design, clean energy technologies, smart home solutions, water conservation measures, electric vehicles, and sustainable buildings. Check out the Solar Decathlon website at solardecathlon.gov for updates.
The Future Of Bannock
The stretch of Bannock Street from Colfax Avenue to 14th Avenue remains closed to vehicle traffic through Oct. 1 while the city is studying traffic patterns and the use of the plaza as a downtown gathering space. Every summer, multiple events draw crowds to the area around Civic Center Park. This year, to avoid repeated openings and closings of Bannock Street to accommodate these events, Denver Public Works has temporarily closed the street to provide more consistency to the travelling public. While Bannock is closed, Denver Public Works will test a new traffic configuration on 14th Street that maintains left and right turn lanes onto Colfax, but with better signage and fewer barricades in an effort to reduce confusion for drivers. Denver Public Works will also study this section of Bannock as a pedestrian-friendly downtown plaza. Events coming up in Civic Center Park and along Bannock in September include:
• Aug. 30 – Sept. 5: Taste of Colorado
• Sept. 9-11: Fiestas Patrias
• Sept. 12: Department of Environmental Health’s Electric Car Campaign
• September 18-29: U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon & Panasonic Smart Cities Initiative
• Sept. 20 & 27: Denver Botanic Gardens Farmer’s Market
• Sept. 30-Oct. 1: Hot Chocolate Run
CherryArts Festival At Stanley
The CherryArts Festival at Stanley Marketplace takes place the weekend of Sept. 15-17. The free arts festival includes a nationally juried art show with nearly 100 exhibiting artists in 13 categories, including ceramics, mixed media, digital art, photography, metalworks and drawing.
For a complete list of participating artists, visit cherryartsstanley.org/exhibiting-artists/. In addition to the artists, visitors will enjoy children’s activities at Creation Station, interactive art installations, food trucks and live entertainment. The festival runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17. Stanley Marketplace is at 2501 Dallas St., just east of Park Hill.
Random Bonds With Art
Denver Arts & Venues calls for local artists to delight and surprise Denver residents, and create positive connections through art by committing to participate in World Art Drop Day Tuesday, Sept. 5.
World Art Drop Day occurs annually on the first Tuesday of September and was conceived by Utah’s Jake Parker with the goal of connecting people to one another, and generating random bonds between strangers through the act of creating and giving. Participation is simple: Artists commit to participate by filling out an online form at ArtsandVenuesDenver.com and creating a small, inexpensive piece or two to share on Art Drop Day. Then, on Tuesday, Sept. 5, they hide their art around town. Next, they drop hints and clues on social media so people can find the hidden works. Finally, the artists watch and wait for someone to discover their creations. The public can participate in the fun and search for art by following #artdropday and #artdropdenver on social media.
Our Neighbors, Ourselves
The fifth annual ‘Our Neighbors, Ourselves’ art gallery and fundraiser takes place on Friday, Sept. 22 at the McNichols Building in Civic Center Park downtown. The gallery will feature artwork from dozens of visual artists, as well as live musical performances by Tom Hagerman (of DeVotchKa) Ensemble, Bluebook, and DJ sets by Jonny DeStefano and Christy Thacker. The evening of art, music, food, drink and community will debut a collection of original artwork inspired by this year’s theme “Faces of US” – a look into the qualities embodied by the people of our country. All proceeds will go to support Project Worthmore, a Denver nonprofit that provides direct programs and services to the local refugee community, including English classes, a dental clinic, and a refugee training farm. The event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $50. More information is at projectworthmore.org/ourneighbors.
Active Minds – September Events
Examining Buddhism
Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world with some 500 million adherents. Join Active Minds to examine its origins, teachings, beliefs and practices, including the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). This program is Tuesday, Sept. 5, from 10-11 a.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. There is no cost; RSVP not required.
Water in Colorado
Population growth, climate change, urbanization and other factors have put increasing pressure on this finite resource in Colorado. Competing interests have affected Colorado’s history for over 100 years. The legal right to divert and use water in Colorado has been debated, legislated and litigated since before the time of statehood in 1876. The program is Saturday, Sept. 9, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Central Library, 10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. There is no cost; RSVP not required.
Opera as Popular Music
Even though opera began as courtly entertainment, it became one of the most popular music styles in the 18th and 19th centuries. We’ll look at the development and public reception of opera from Baroque era superstars to the commercial opera industry in Italy and France in the 19th century. The program is Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Tattered Cover, 2526 E. Colfax. There is no cost; RSVP not required.
Native Americans of Colorado
Join Active Minds as we tell the stories of the original inhabitants of Colorado. From Mesa Verde to the high plains, we will trace the civilizations of the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Pueblo and other tribes as we seek to understand Colorado’s Native American history and legacy. The program is Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Heather Gardens, 2888 S. Heather Gardens Way. There is no cost; RSVP at 303-751-1811.
Somalia
Somalia’s history is a story of Colonialism yielding to authoritarianism dissolving into anarchy. Chaos has reigned since the early 1990’s with rampant wars between rival clans, with no functional government in charge. Severe famine prompted the United Nations and the U.S. to intervene in the 1990’s with decidedly mixed results. The program is Thursday, Sept. 14, from 6:45 to 7:45 at Sam Gary Library, 2961 Roslyn St. There is no cost; RSVP not required.
Australia
Australia, The Land Down Under, is a land of diverse physical beauty, unique wildlife and many historical similarities to the United States. We’ll explore the history and landscape of this key U.S. ally.
We will review Australia’s beginnings as a prisoner settlement, its role in global conflicts and its modern challenges. The program is Thursday, Sept. 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Windsor Gardens, 597 S. Clinton St. There is no cost; RSVP not required.
Colorado Ghost Stories
Join Active Minds on Monday, Sept. 25, from 1 to 2 p.m. as we tiptoe through the haunted houses and ghoulish graveyards of the area. We will tell the ghost stories associated with the Stanley Hotel, Cheesman Park, the Molly Brown House, and more. This is a free virtual phone-in program. Call 303-502-5189 to participate. Limited to first 100 callers.
Afghanistan
In October of 2001, the U.S. led a coalition invasion of Afghanistan seeking to oust the ruling Taliban and find Al Qaeda leaders in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. We’ll take a look at Afghanistan, both before and since 9/11. The program is Thursday, Sept. 28 from 6:45 to 7:45 at the Sam Gary Library, 2961 Roslyn St. There is no cost; RSVP not required.