EDGEWATER MAYOR Milestones From 2018 And Early 2019 Updates Page 4
FITNESS CORNER The Science Behind Food Cravings Page 7
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Crown Hill Trees Serve As Living Symbols Of Life Page 12
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EDGEWATER
| SLOAN’S LAKE | WEST COLFAX | TWO CREEKS | WEST HIGHLAND January 15 – February 15, 2019 • ngazette.com • FREE
In With The New, ‘For Sale’ With The Old n By
Mike McKibbin
A
s Edgewater city officials settle into the new Civic Center building, the most recent city hall building could be under contract for sale in a few months. The city is negotiating a contract for the sale of the recently vacated municipal building at West 24th Street and Sheridan Boulevard. The building was constructed as an office furniture store in the mid-1980s and was sold to the city in 1995 to serve as the “new” city hall. At the end of last year, the building was replaced by the new $12.5 million, 55,000 square-foot Civic Center, about six blocks away at 1800 Harlan St. The Civic Center includes a 5,000-square-foot fitness center, 10,000-square-foot gymnasium, 10,000-square-foot Jefferson County Public Library, 6,000-square-foot police department, plus 6,000 square feet for administrative offices, 5,000 square feet of basement space, 3,000 square feet of public meeting, entry and atrium space, and 3,000 square feet of unfinished space for future use. Continued on page 2
WHEN FIRSTBANK BOUGHT THE STONEWALL MOTEL PROPERTY on West Colfax, they donated the sign to the Colfax Museum. “They delivered it here and everything,” says curator Jonny Barber. PHOTO BY LAURIE DUNKLEE
‘The Velvet Elvis’ Preserving Colfax History n By
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Laurie Dunklee
he story of Colfax deserves to be told,” says Jonny Barber, a musician, former Elvis impersonator and curator of the Colfax Museum. “Colfax was the richest street in Denver — the grand dame — but she fell on hard times. People gave up on her, but it’s important to reclaim that history.” The Colfax Museum, opening soon at Colfax and Pierce in Pasternack’s Art Hub, is stuffed with an eclectic collection of memorabilia, including neon signs from iconic former businesses on Colfax. Sid King’s Crazy Horse Bar, an infamous strip joint on East Colfax for 35 years, lives on in its neon sign, now repaired. “I also have both mannequins that were on display above the sign,” Barber says. The neon from Freedom HarleyDavidson on West Colfax also shines proudly, as does neon touting refrigerators and color TVs from former Colfax stores. The Stonewall Motel sign sits in the courtyard, which Barber plans to turn into a performance space. “It’s great to activate this key bridge between Casa Bonita and the 40 West Arts District, especially since 2019 is Lakewood’s 50th anniversary as a city,” says Barber. Barber was collecting Colfax items in his basement for 14 years, until he was offered a space in the back room of Ed Moore Florist on East Colfax in 2017. The building was sold this year and he moved into Pasternack’s, formerly a pawn shop, only to face several shut-downs and a flood. “Eighteen inches of water ran right through our building after a crazy summer storm. I had a feeling about it before it happened, so I moved everything to the elevated room [formerly the police holding room for confiscated items].” Barber loves all things Colfax. “No matter what the storyline, there’s
always a weird turn. Colfax is where the odd, eccentric and outrageous characters fit in. Whatever it says about me, Colfax is the street where I feel most at home, where I can be myself. I say, ‘Keep it weird.’” Inside the Colfax Museum hangs a giant beer-can airplane that hung over the bar at The Hangar Bar on East Colfax. “The Hangar Bar shut its doors last summer, just short of its 80th birthday,” said Barber. The collection also includes organs from Music City, as well as ephemera like
matchbooks, posters and photos from various venues. Among the mementos are a set of salt-and-pepper pigs from Eddie Bohn’s Pig ‘n’ Whistle restaurant on West Colfax; and a metal pin with two dangling skates from Mammoth Gardens’ days as a skating rink. In the “way back” department is a 150-million-year-old stegosaurus footprint, “quarried when they put the original Highway 40 through,” Barber says. Born in San Francisco, Barber got a taste for unusual characters early on. “My mom took banjo lessons from Jerry
Garcia, before he was Jerry Garcia.” At age 8 he started playing guitar; it was 1977, the year Elvis Presley died. Barber attended school in Salt Lake City and Seattle, where he found himself in the middle of the grunge music scene. “We opened for Nirvana. But I didn’t fit in with grunge — too depressing.” Barber brought his music and songwriting talents to Denver in 1995. Because making a living was “brutal,” he started Continued on page 2
NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS
Celebrate The New Year In The Art District n By
Nancy Hahn
P
irate Gallery, 7130 W. Colfax, has two stunning shows coming up. From Jan. 18 through Feb. 3 works by Justin Beard and Robyn Frances will be on exhibit. Beard’s work challenges you to examine your emotions. Frances describes her work as “female, sexy, divine, uncomfortable.” Check the show out, before you bring small children. Both these artists show the confrontation and playful combination of contemporary art. From Feb. 8 through 24, Pirate will feature Kelly Brewer’s stunning paintings, as well as, work by the CU Denver Sculpture Club. The CU Denver Sculpture Club has 121 members, so sculpture of any style and material might be displayed. Visit and enjoy Pirate’s variety of work. The 40 West Arts Gallery, 1560 Teller St., will hold an opening reception for its Members Exhibition on Feb. 1. The reception, from 5 to 9 p.m., will include wine or beer and light snacks. 40 West Arts Gallery has over 100 members, so their Member Showcase has a variety of art in a variety of styles. It’s First Friday so most shops are open late! Edge Gallery, 7001 W. Colfax, will hold their annual juried exhibition of their artists’ work beginning with an Opening Reception Continued on page 8
THE 40 WEST ARTS GALLERY, 1560 TELLER ST., will hold an opening reception for its Members Exhibition on Feb. 1. The reception, from 5 to 9 p.m., will include wine or beer and light snacks. IMAGE COURTESY 40 WEST ARTS DISTRICT