The response by the local community to The Americas Roundtable dialogue series has been tremendous,” said the president of The Americas Roundtable, Jim Polsfut. “Upon release of tickets to the general public, more than half of the main floor seats in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House have already been sold, amounting to more than 6,000 tickets.”
The Americas Roundtable will take place on July 6, 7, 8, 12, and 28 in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, located within the Denver Performing Arts Complex in downtown Denver. The Roundtable series is a primary component of the Biennial of the Americas. Timed with the bicentennials in 2010 of Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia as well as the centennial of the Organization of American States, the Biennial of the Americas serves to promote cohesion and collaboration among the 35 countries of the Western Hemisphere.
The Americas Roundtable is comprised of seven distinct sessions – on trade, education, energy and climate change, philanthropy, poverty reduction, health, and women in leadership, as well as a Summit of Former Heads of State and a Bilateral Summit of Ambassadors.
Among confirmed participants in The Americas Roundtable series are: U.S. Cabinet officers including Sec. Hilda Solís of Labor and Sec. Ray LaHood of Transportation; 14 former heads of state including President Alejandro Toledo of Peru and President Vicente Fox of Mexico; members of the diplomatic core including Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer, U.S. Ambassador to the Argentina Vilma Martinez, and Panamanian Ambassador Jaime Alemán;
Senior government officials from the Western Hemisphere including Colombia’s Minister of Education Cecilia María Vélez and the Vice President of Ecuador Lenin Voltaire Moreno Garcés; and directors of international organizations including Secretary General José Miguel Insulza of the Organization of American States and President Luis Alberto Moreno of the Inter-American Development Bank.
Actor and Founder of Hollywood Unites for Haiti Jimmy Jean-Louis as well as Nely Gálan, TV producer of successful shows such as “The Swan,” also will take part, along with numerous other leaders representing business, academia, media, and non-profit organizations.
Scheduled for July 12, the Summit of Former Heads of State has received particular attention as one of the events of The Americas Roundtable. “Never before in the United States have so many former presidents from the Western Hemisphere appeared together,” Polsfut said, “numbering 14 former heads of state in all. Their presence in Denver provides what is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for the general public,” Polsfut added.
In November of last year, the former presidents delivered at the Ibero-American Summit held in Portugal a formal Social Agenda, complete with recommendations on 16 pivotal social issues. In Denver on July 12, the former presidents will discuss that Agenda for the first time in the United States.
Tickets for The Americas Roundtable are available on www.TicketHorse.com and are priced at $12 for general public admission with discounts for seniors, students and members of the military.
For more information, visit BiennialoftheAmericas.org.
BAM at Telluride Jazz Fest, Dazzle, Broadway Music School
The Telluride Jazz Celebration presents the Bob Montgomery Al Hermann Sextet and BAM the first week end in August (August 6, 7 and 8).
Take a world class rhythm section: Marc Sabatella, piano, Ken Walker, bass, Mike Marlier, drums, and add a front line of Al Hermann, trombone, Marguerite Juenemann, vocalese and Bob Montgomery, trumpet, performing a combination of familiar and unfamiliar music arranged for this unique combination of brass, voice and rhythm.
Creatively entwined in improvisational performance, BAM presents a fresh musical adventure for your ears and your heart. Don’t miss this terrific new ensemble at the Telluride Jazz Celebration. Dazzle Jazz will present the Bob Montgomery Al Hermann Sextet and BAM for shows at 7 p.m. and 9 pm on Saturday, July 31. BAM will also be appearing at the Broadway Music School on Friday, July 16, at 1940 S. Broadway.
For more information, visit telluridejazz.org, dazzlejazz.com and broadwaymusicschool.com.
Biennial of the Americas Kicks Off
Mayor Hickenlooper hosted a kick-off press conference to officially launch the Biennial of the Americas last month at the McNichols Building in Civic Center Park.
The largest international event in the United States this year, the Biennial of the Americas is a month-long celebration featuring the culture, ideas and people of the Western Hemisphere, hosted by the City of Denver.
Throughout the month of July, Denver will welcome national and international visitors for a cross-cultural experience bridging and unifying the artistic, intellectual and political progress of the hemisphere’s 35 nations.
The Biennial of the Americas will include hundreds of cultural events and provocative discussions by world leaders.
Originally built in 1909, the expansive three-story McNichols Building will house the main Biennial of the Americas exhibition, The Nature of Things, which features 24 contemporary artists from throughout the Americas.
For more information, visit biennialoftheamericas.org.
Boat Ride Like No Other! Venice On The Creek
Fourteen summers ago when the first boat launched on the Cherry Creek, history was made. The first British punt to take to American waters was also the first real boat to be able to make its way up and down the Cherry Creek since the early pioneers had laid claim to the land that would become Denver.
Less than six inches deep for most of the year, the Cherry Creek was hardly the easiest place to set up a boating operation designed to capture the imagination of Denver’s residents about what could be possible along this urban stretch of creek. The task required constructing a one-of-a-kind lock-and-dam system in the Cherry Creek that would, for the first time in its history, allow for enough water for a boat to float. Not to mention that the system had to be designed to only temporarily make the Cherry Creek deeper to avoid raising water levels too high within the flood channel.
That first summer, the boats floated on a 15-minute “tour” though one boat lock. This summer our fleet of six boats (two of which were hand built in Denver) will glide on 40-minute trips through two of four total locks on the creek. The two new boats are wooden, and a truly unique in their look, design and origin.
This summer, for the first time ever, we are offering two distinct floats on the Cherry Creek. One will embark from Confluence Park, the birthplace of Denver, and travel upstream into LoDo before turning around to head back, and the other will start at Creekfront Plaza in the heart of Lower Downtown and float downstream before making the turnaround.
Floating on the Cherry Creek in 2010, is a totally different experience than it was in 1996. Empty and abandoned buildings have been replaced with high end Lofts. Empty dirt lots are filled with new glass buildings, and the trails are packed with walkers, joggers, bikers and commuters who use the urban greenways to find a patch of green in the heart of the city. What took imagination to envision for our urban waterway in 1996 is reality today.
Join us this summer for a gentle float up and down the Cherry Creek. It is truly a one of a kind experience, and the best part is that all of the proceeds from the boat rides are invested right back into youth employment, education, free events, and enhancements to our urban greenways so that what we can only imagine today can be a reality tomorrow.
Venice on the Creek is open (weather Permitting) on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. through August 14. Reservations can be made by phone or online.
For more information, veniceonthecreek.com.
Dovetail Solutions Aids Gardens
Dovetail Solutions (dovetail solutions™), a Denver-based public relations and branding firm, completed its annual community service day recently. This year Dovetail Solutions, along with clients, friends and family, partnered with the Denver Botanic Gardens and volunteered their morning to help develop the Children’s Garden.
Volunteers took part in a number of activities, including moving dwarf conifers and transplanting and potting perennials. The Dovetail team enjoyed the great weather and breathtaking landscapes at the Denver Botanic Gardens. About 250 trees and perennials were planted in the Children’s Garden on Saturday that will be seen for years to come.
“It was great to have the entire dovetail team, clients, friends and more come out to give back to the community,” said Andy Boian, CEO and founder of Dovetail Solutions. “We truly believe in community investment and take pride in our annual service day.”
The Denver Botanic Gardens’ mission is to connect people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing pleasure and enlightenment to everyone. Denver Botanic Gardens strives to entertain and delight while spreading the collective wisdom of the Gardens through outreach, collaboration and education. Their conservation programs play a major role in saving species and protecting natural habitats for future generations.
Dovetail Solutions is a public relations and positioning firm that focuses on the idea of strategic community investment being a cornerstone of any marketing and business development platform to promote brand awareness and improve the bottom line.
For more information, call 720-226-9595 or visit dovetailsolutions.com.
Parks and Rec Trains Behavior Coaches
In an effort to crack down on poor adult behavior in youth sports Denver Parks and Recreation (Colo.) has trained more than 200 coaches in the past year alone through the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS).
The special training is part of Denver Parks and Recreation’s ongoing efforts to help ensure that its programs are protected from unacceptable behaviors and it has emerged as one of the leaders in Colorado in coaches training.
Along with more than 3,500 other communities across the country, Denver Parks and Recreation is a member of NAYS, which means their volunteer youth sports coaches are trained and insured through NAYS’ coach membership organization, the National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA). The training sessions are aimed at helping adults maintain proper perspective in youth sports and also hold them accountable to a strict code of ethics.
Requirements such as these are becoming commonplace in youth sports leagues today in response to the growing epidemic of poor adult behavior at youth sporting events.
Denver Parks and Recreation is dedicated to providing the safest and most positive youth sports environment possible for children and NYSCA and its long-standing reputation as the industry leader in volunteer coach education has proven to be the perfect fit.
Traditional NYSCA clinics are held in classroom-like settings which promote group discussion. However, an ever increasing number of communities are opting for the more convenient online option which can be completed from the comfort of a home computer.
Coaches who attend NYSCA trainings are eligible to receive the full benefits of NAYS membership, which includes excess liability insurance up to $1,000,000, an annual subscription to SportingKid magazine, information on skills and drills, access to the NYSCA Coaching Forum, discounts on various background check providers and sports equipment manufacturers, and much more.
To ensure that Denver Parks and Recreation’s coaches uphold the standards of behavior set forth by NYSCA, Denver Parks and Recreation is given access to the easy-to-use NYSCA Coach Rating System. This innovative feature, which is exclusive to NYSCA members, allows parents to evaluate their child’s youth coaches anonymously with just a few clicks of a mouse. League administrators have full access to evaluators’ identities and results, while coaches are only able to see anonymous overall results.
Evaluating a coach’s performance mid-season is something that NAYS strongly encourages. They serve as a great tool for coaches to attain useful and immediate feedback on how they are performing at anytime during the season.
EATS Outdoor Café at Civic Center
Located in Denver’s historic Civic Center park, Civic Center EATS is Downtown Denver’s award-winning outdoor café with live music and an urban flair.
Civic Center EATS Outdoor Café provides an opportunity for downtown employees, residents and visitors to experience Civic Center Park, enjoy a delicious outdoor lunch in spectacular urban and historic surroundings, listen to live music, and connect with the community.
Our first week was filled with delicious and diverse vendors, great energy, and many loyal customers. Join us this Tuesday for another wonderful Civic Center EATS with live music from the Lovely and Talented. Tuesdays, through August 31, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the Central Promenade at Civic Center Park.
Sabor at Botanic Gardens
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver is proud to present the 3rd Annual Sabor, a gastronomic showcase featuring international wines, beer, spirits and signature food from Denver’s top restaurants and distributors.
Sabor is an opportunity for sponsors, businesses, and professionals to network while enjoying over 40 vendors. With over 2500 attendees last year, our sponsors receive great promotional exposure.
Sabor will take place at the Denver Botanic Gardens where attendees can experience Henry Moore’s monumental sculptures in a wide range of gardens and collections that illustrate an ever-widening diversity of plants from all corners of the world.
A VIP Pre-Taste at the Denver Botanic Gardens will kick off Sabor by offering early entrance to exclusive samples and tastes. When Sabor concludes, our sponsors and VIP guests will have access to our VIP Post Party for great entertainment and networking. August 6, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with pre-tasting 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. VIP Post Party will be from 9 p.m. to midnight.
To purchase tickets, call 303-534-7783 or visit hispanicchamberdenver.org. Tickets also available at King Soopers.
Jefferson Rubin Exhibit, Documentary, Fundraiser
In association with the Jefferson D. Rubin Memorial Fund, Colorado Public Television (CPT12-KBDI PBS) invites the public to the Mercantile Ballroom at the Wynkoop Brewing Company, 1634 18th St. on Monday July 26, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., for a special one night art exhibit in remembrance of sculpture artist Jefferson D. Rubin (1959–1995).
The exhibit and fundraiser for the upcoming CPT12 documentary Jefferson Rubin: The Hero’s Journey are free with donations accepted.
Inspired at the age of 11, on a family vacation to Italy, by the sight of Michelangelo’s David, Jefferson Rubin set off on a journey of artistic perfection. In his early twenties, after attending East High School, graduating from Manual High School in 1977, and CU Boulder in 1981, Jefferson Rubin returned to Italy. Rubin toured Europe by bicycle and the young artist found inspiration, and began to acquire the skills to mould himself into a world class sculptor.
The documentary Jefferson Rubin: The Hero’s Journey will reveal the passionate story of the artist in his own words and through the remembrances of family, friends and art world aficionados. Combining his knowledge of archaeology with his love and fascination for Greco-Roman and Renaissance art, Jefferson followed his artistic vision to create figurative sculpture out of clay, stone, and bronze. The male and female torsos, that Jefferson called “frammenti” were at once classical and contemporary.
His artwork was widely collected and exhibited in museums and galleries. After studying and working in Italy and New York, Jefferson returned to his native Colorado, where he founded La Scuola Classical Sculpture in Denver. His untimely death from an unfortunate mountain accident at the age of 36 robbed the world of a passionate soul and a true artistic maestro.
Jefferson’s artwork can be seen in the Fresco Fine Art Publication: Frammenti Della Vita, The Art and Writings of Jefferson D. Rubin.
Underwriting contributions to help with the production costs of the documentary should be made out to CPT12, noted Jefferson Rubin Project and (if unable to attend the event) mailed to CPT12 PBS, 2900 Welton Street, Denver CO 80205, or call 303-296-1212 for credit card donations.
For more information, visit jeffersonrubin.com.
Healthcare Networking Mixer
Colorado Healthcare Communicators (CHC), the state’s public relations and marketing society for healthcare professionals, has scheduled its Annual Summer Networking Mixer. Please RSVP early. This year’s CHC Annual Summer Networking Mixer will be held at the Cork House, 4900 East Colfax Ave.
CHC’s Annual Summer Networking Mixer is scheduled for Wednesday, July 21, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cork House. It is free for CHC members ($10 for non-members), so RSVP now for this excellent opportunity to mingle and network with the best and brightest healthcare professionals in Colorado.
There will be hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, as well as raffle prizes. CHC is also offering current and new members the opportunity to renew their membership at the Cork House and receive a free breakfast seminar.
For more information, visit healthcarecommunicators.org.
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile continues its run at The Barth Hotel through August 14 and tickets are still available. Thursday performances, $25; Friday performances, $35; Saturday performances, $45.
For more information, visit Senior Housing Options online.
Mile High Dance Festival
Celebrate the Americas through the art of dance July 17 at the Mile High Dance Festival. The acclaimed Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre presents an evening of entertainment that celebrates the cultural and historic connections between dance in Colorado and the Americas.
In honor of Cleo Parker Robinson’s birthday and the Biennial of the Americas, the event will host the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Fiesta Colorado, Hannah Kahn Dance Company, Kim Olson/Sweet Edge, Folklorico Sabor Latino and more.
Take in the international experience of the Mile High Dance Festival for an evening you won’t forget. Mile High Dance Festival, at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre, 119 Park Ave. West. Saturday, July 17, 7 p.m.
For more information, call 303-295-1795 or visit cleoparkerdance.org.
Skyline Park Free Movies Concerts
Skyline Park will be filled with entertainment this summer with free showings of family favorites like Field of Dreams and performances from talented local musicians. Make the most of a fun and friendly atmosphere and swing by Skyline Park for an evening movie or a Friday lunchtime concert.
Skyline Park Free Summer Concerts: Fridays, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.; Coles Whalen, July 16; Bob Skism, July 23; Halden Walford And The Hi Beams, July 30. Mile High Movies: Kung Fu Panda, July 17; Madagascar, July 31.
Skyline Park Free Concerts/Movies Skyline Park (16th and Arapahoe) sponsored by the Downtown Denver Partnership and Southwest Airlines.
For more information, call 303-534-6161 or visit downtowndenver.com.
DDP Forum Advantages of Working Downtown
A Downtown Denver business address can be valuable for employee retention and recruitment. Hear insider tips and learn how to capitalize on your Downtown Denver location.
Attendees of this event will be able to: Articulate the value of a Downtown Denver location to employees and employers; learn about amenities, transportation and events in downtown; get inside information on Employee Appreciation Week. Thursday, June 17, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Grand Hyatt Denver, 1750 Welton St.
To register, contact bwarnick@ downtowndenver.com. (registration closes noon on June 16).
Denver Hosted Elder Abuse Awareness Event
The City and County of Denver joined the world in raising awareness about elder abuse last month at the Webb Building by hosting the It’s Time to Speak Up and Reach Out: A World Elder Abuse Awareness Event.
Every year, elder abuse leads millions to live in fear. One in nine Americans over the age of 60 is estimated to have experienced some form of elder abuse in the past year, according to the Department of Justice. In Denver County alone, over 1,300 reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation were called into its Adult Protection Hotline last year.
Still, elder abuse, neglect and exploitation is widely under reported. It is critical for people to understand the signs of elder abuse and how they can help to protect at-risk adults and seniors.
Local agencies involved with issues dealing with aging include the Denver Office on Aging and Commission on Aging, Denver Department of Human Services, Denver City Attorney Office, Colorado Gerontological Society, the Denver Department of Human Services and Denver Office on Aging.
Doors Open Denver Photo Winners
The Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, Denver Architectural Foundation and Mike’s Camera are pleased to announce the winning photographs from the Doors Open Denver 2010 Photography Contest.
The winning photographs are: People’s Choice, First Place: Finishing Touches by Jeff Star; People’s Choice, Runner Up: Something Old, Something New by Eliza Donley Nolte; Exteriors, First Place: Denver Library by Damon Searles; Exteriors, Runner Up: Courthouse Columns by Susan Lawson; Interiors, First Place: The Grand Staircase View by John Salisbury;
Interiors, Runner Up: The Joslins Building/Courtyard by Marriott by Kristina Sheppard; Building Details, First Place: Building Bird by Guy Lowham; Building Details, Runner Up: Brown Palace Cherub by Don Morris; People & Architecture, First Place: Looking Up by Ernest Kuemmerer; People & Architecture, Runner Up: Snaking Through the Streets by Guy Lowham.
Winning photographs can be viewed at www.DenverArtsInteractive.org by going to the Doors Open Denver Photography Contest and clicking on the View Winners banner. All contest entries can be viewed by clicking on the Media Library tab.
During Doors Open Denver event, the public was invited to photograph their favorite Denver architecture and submit their photographs in the following categories: Interiors, Exteriors, Building Details and People and Architecture. Over 200 entries were received. The public was able to rate the entries and their votes determined the People’s Choice winner and runner up. A panel of judges reviewed the entries to select the winner and runner up in each of the other categories.
“The images we received this year for the Doors Open Denver Photography Contest represented an interesting cross-section of Denver’s places and spaces,” notes judge Marcus Farr. He added, “The contest creates an ongoing collaboration between the people of Denver and our architecture. The originality of the images was remarkable and it is exciting to witness how many talented artists we have in the area and to see their ability to document the city in new and exciting ways.”
Winning photographers will receive mounted large scale enlargements of their photographs provided by sponsor Mike’s Camera.
Eighty Top Dignitaries Attend Americas Roundtable
The response by the local community to the Americas Roundtable dialogue series has been tremendous, indicated Roundtable president Jim Polsfut. “Upon release of tickets to the general public, more than half of the main floor seats in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House have already been sold,” he explained, “amounting to more than 6,000 tickets.”
The Americas Roundtable happens on July 6, 7, 8, 12, and 28 in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, located within the Denver Performing Arts Complex in downtown Denver. The Roundtable series is a primary component of the Biennial of the Americas. Timed with the bicentennials in 2010 of Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia as well as the centennial of the Organization of American States, the Biennial of the Americas serves to promote cohesion and collaboration among the 35 countries of the Western Hemisphere.
The Americas Roundtable is comprised of seven distinct sessions: trade, education, energy and climate change, philanthropy, poverty reduction, health, and women in leadership, as well as a Summit of Former Heads of State and a Bilateral Summit of Ambassadors.
Among confirmed participants in The Americas Roundtable series are: U.S. Cabinet officers including Sec. Hilda Solís of Labor and Sec. Ray LaHood of Transportation; 14 former heads of state including President Alejandro Toledo of Peru and President Vicente Fox of Mexico; members of the diplomatic core including Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer, U.S. Ambassador to the Argentina Vilma Martinez, and Panamanian Ambassador Jaime Alemán;
Senior government officials from the Western Hemisphere including Colombia’s Minister of Education Cecilia María Vélez and the Vice President of Ecuador Lenin Voltaire Moreno Garcés; and directors of international organizations including Secretary General José Miguel Insulza of the Organization of American States and President Luis Alberto Moreno of the Inter-American Development Bank.
Actor and Founder of Hollywood Unites for Haiti Jimmy Jean-Louis as well as Nely Gálan, TV producer of successful shows such as “The Swan,” also will take part, along with numerous other leaders representing business, academia, media, and non-profit organizations.
Scheduled for July 12, the Summit of Former Heads of State has received particular attention as one of the events of The Americas Roundtable. “Never before in the United States have so many former presidents from the Western Hemisphere appeared together,” Polsfut said, “numbering 14 former heads of state in all. Their presence in Denver provides what is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for the general public.”
In November of last year, the former presidents delivered at the Ibero-American Summit held in Portugal a formal Social Agenda, complete with recommendations on 16 pivotal social issues. In Denver on July 12, the former presidents will discuss that Agenda for the first time in the United States.
Tickets for The Americas Roundtable are available on www.TicketHorse.com and are priced at $12 for general public admission with discounts for seniors, students and members of the military.
For more information, visit BiennialoftheAmericas.org.
Deadly Start to Summer Travel Season
It has been a deadly start to the unofficial summer travel season on Colorado roadways, even as two highly-visible enforcement periods concentrating on seat belt use and impaired driving were underway.
According to preliminary data from the Colorado Department of Transportation, 23 people were killed in traffic crashes between May 24 and June 6, during the two-week Click It or Ticket enforcement period and the four-day Memorial Day Weekend Heat Is On crackdown. More than one-quarter of the fatalities were a result of alcohol-related crashes. And 56 percent of the drivers and passengers killed were not wearing seat belts.
The disappointing news comes despite warnings and intensified enforcement of the state’s seat belt and impaired driving laws. The Colorado State Patrol and 88 law enforcement agencies that participated in the Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement report issuing 10,326 seat belt citations over the 14-day enforcement period. And during the Memorial Day Weekend Heat Is On crackdown, May 28–June 1, statewide law enforcement agencies report making more than 734 DUI arrests.
“If the results of these recent enforcement periods are any indication of what is ahead this summer, we’ve got our work cut out for us with a lot of education and enforcement,” said Colonel James Wolfinbarger, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Our target is always zero fatalities and we won’t stop until that happens. We ask everyone to help us reach our goal by driving sober, putting on a seat belt in a vehicle, or wearing a helmet and other protective gear on a motorcycle, each and every time.”
During Click It or Ticket, the following agencies and troops wrote the most seat belt tickets: Arapahoe County SO (1,016), CSP Troop 4-A Fruita (446), Aurora PD (406), Lakewood PD (377), Denver PD (353), Pueblo County SO (348), Northglenn PD (343), and Colorado Springs PD (342).
Click It or Ticket enforcement also resulted in many other violations, including 70 drug arrests, the capture of 43 fugitives and the recovery of three stolen vehicles.
For more information, visit SeatbeltsColorado.com or HeatIsOnColorado.com.
Justice Center Parking Garage Opens
The Parking Garage located at the new Denver Justice Center complex opened recently to the public. The Justice Center Garage entrance is located just south of 14th on Delaware.
The opening will provide additional parking options for the upcoming Downtown Biennial events and for those doing business on the Justice Center Campus.
Public parking is located on levels 2 and 3 in the numbered parking stalls (1 through 232). These levels are shared with the Post Office; however, their customer parking is separate and clearly marked. The Parking Garage is open 24 hours a day, Monday–Sunday.
Payment kiosks are installed in the elevator lobbies where customers can pay with cash or credit card. The current parking rates are: 4 hours, $5; 6 hours, $8; 10 hours, $10; and 12 hours, $15.
The United States Post Office and Parking Garage facility, part of the Denver Justice Center Campus, was completed in September of 2007 and achieved a Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the US Green Building Council.
The Denver Justice Center campus also includes the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center and the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse.
TAXI Secures Funding from Vectra
Already home to more than 60 creative and technology-based companies, Zeppelin Development’s TAXI continues to build momentum with the announcement that the $6 million project has secured funding through Vectra Bank and will begin construction this month on FREIGHT, the newest addition to the 20-acre TAXI campus.
Given the challenges of financing commercial space in this economy, Vectra recognized the unique features of the FREIGHT project in its decision to provide funding: The project’s focus on small and medium-sized new economy tenants, producing 11 leases between 500 square feet to 7,000 square feet comprising 60-percent of the project.
Vectra’s recognition of Mickey Zeppelin’s history of successfully identifying and developing in emerging neighborhoods - LODO, Golden Triangle and now River North (RINO).
The creativity of all the parties to develop a public-private financing structure with sources that include Denver’s Office of Economic Development, the American Recovery Act and White Construction (the project’s general contractor) as equity partner.
“Over the last 10 years, TAXI has established itself as uniquely suited to the needs of new economy entrepreneurs—smaller creative and technology firms,” said Kyle Zeppelin. “Vectra recognized that these groups are both the strength of the site and a key driver of the new economic reality. While other office buildings scramble to retrofit, TAXI already has features in place that add value to creative and technology firms: award winning design, sustainable features and common areas that promote collaboration.”
“Vectra Bank is pleased to be providing the financing for the next phase of the TAXI project, said Ted Trask, vice president with Vectra Bank. “There were several factors about the project that provided the bank with sufficient comfort to move forward, not the least of which was the successful track record of Zeppelin on the prior phase. Additionally, the equity structure represented a diverse set of funding sources, including the borrower, private and public sector funds.
Finally, the borrower was successful in achieving significant pre-leasing for the project, which is a key component for any transaction in this market. In moving forward with the FREIGHT transaction, Vectra Bank is able to support both its ongoing relationships with the project and borrower, but is also demonstrating its support for the small businesses that will benefit from the project.”
FREIGHT is the re-purposing of the 30,000 square foot mid-century trucking terminal located on the TAXI property. The building is already 60 percent pre-leased, including the 7,000 square foot Open Air Academy Early Childhood Education center (ECE), that represents the next evolution of the amenities on the site: first rate childcare in a cutting edge facility that will serve both TAXI and surrounding downtown neighborhoods.
FREIGHT is the culmination and logical next step in the concepts and strategies proven successful on the TAXI site. New Economy entrepreneurs are attracted to an environment that combines the ability of tenants to create environments that are unique to their individual identities with common areas that promote collaboration.
While most office developers focus on landing multiple floor tenants and building elaborate atrium lobbies, TAXI instead addresses the unique demands of these New Economy entrepreneurs. Ten years ago, TAXI 1, the repurposed former Yellow Cab headquarters and dispatch center, housed eight small businesses occupying 500 to 2,000 sq ft, and employing 10 people or fewer.
For more information, visit taxibyzeppelin.com email kzeppelin@ zeppelinplaces.com.
Eeny Meeny Miney No Mo
PublishAmerica is proud to present Eeny, Meeny, Miney, and No Mo a fantastic children’s book by Ruth A Wilcox. Based on a true story, this book depicts the delightful account of Maria discovering a nest of baby rabbits.
Lovingly, she rescues Eeny, Meeny, and Miney from nearly drowning. She raises them until it is time to let them go. Even though it tugs at her heartstrings to see them go, Maria is delighted when they often visit her garden throughout the summer.
Ruth was born in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1962. When she was four years old her family moved to central Florida, where she grew up in a rural area. Ruth has five children and two grandchildren. She now resides in Fraser, Colorado.
PublishAmerica is the home of 40,000 talented authors. PublishAmerica is a traditional publishing company whose primary goal is to encourage and promote the works of new, previously undiscovered writers.
As with more mainstream publishers, PublishAmerica pays its authors advances and royalties and makes its books available through all bookstores. PublishAmerica offers a distinctly personal, supportive alternative to vanity presses and less accessible publishers.
For more information, visit publishamerica.net.
Versatile New Police Facility Unveiled
City of Denver officials recently celebrated the completion of the first major Better Denver Bond Built structures creating a new, multi-purpose Police site on Park Avenue, which will enhance public safety and police services.
The site is home to two structures: the first is new construction consisting of a training facility with a state of the art police firing range and associated offices, as well as a new parking garage to serve Traffic Operations. The second structure is a remodel of an old warehouse to serve both the police traffic operations and traffic investigations bureaus, bringing them into one building.
The site is centrally located near downtown and major highways enabling fast response from officers as needed. Both buildings were funded by the Better Denver Bond Program.
“The Better Denver Bond Program has accelerated delivery of voter approved projects like the Police Site buildings. This project marks the successful completion of one of our first major new structures and big renovations,” said Don Hunt, Bond Program Implementation Manager. “2010 is the Program’s busiest time in terms of the number of projects in construction. We are accelerating projects, helping to put thousands of people to work, pumping millions of dollars into our economy, and improving the quality of life in our City.”
The new 9,770 square feet police training facility will allow hands-on training in life-like surroundings, enabling officers to improve their skills to better protect the public. The training firing range has a large space where vehicles can be brought into the range as part of the training scenarios, and a greater number of officers can train at once. The facility is a tactical range allowing for training up to 75 yards in distance and 180 degree capabilities. The firing range also features a separate simulator room to prepare officers for specialized situations. The facility also holds 12 workstations, bulk storage and locker rooms.
The new parking garage will accommodate motorcycles for Police Traffic Operations officers, 35 lockers for officers, 10 squad cars parking bays, and four police evidence cages utilized by the Traffic Investigations Bureau.
“With the help of JACOBS Engineering, Civil Technology, Haselden Construction, Humphries Poli Architects, and the Better Bond Team, the City of Denver was able to construct sustainable and modern facilities for the Police Department,” said Manager of Public Works and Deputy Mayor Guillermo “Bill” Vidal. “This collaboration will enhance public safety for all.”
The second structure on the site is the Police Traffic Operations and Traffic Investigations Bureau building. The 22,020 square foot remodeled structure occupies 88 workstations, locker rooms, roll call room, and fitness center. The DUI Unit, Accident Unit, City Enforcement Unit, Photo Radar Unit, Highway Unit, Neighborhood Enforcement Unit and a Special Events Unit will all be located in this facility.
“By having Traffic Investigations and Traffic Operations under one roof, it will improve communication between the two bureaus and establish a more centralized delivery of services to the public. The new location of our Firearms Bureau provides a versatile space that creates an opportunity for more in-depth training scenarios for our officers,” said Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman.
The $12.3 million project budget has allowed for facilities encompassing nearly 50,000 square feet of new and remodeled spaces. The facilities were designed and constructed with the goal of achieving a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver rating from the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The environmental certifications are currently pending.
The City & County of Denver’s Better Denver Bond Program works to preserve, renovate and create amenities that touch citizen’s lives, such as roads, libraries, parks, recreation centers, child care sites, hospitals, city buildings, and cultural facilities.
For more information, visit denvergov.org/betterdenver.
What’s in Denver’s Water?
It doesn’t get much better than mountain snowmelt, and Denver Water’s 2010 Water Quality Report, being mailed to customers this week, reveals what’s in the water we drink.
The utility’s Water Quality Report is an annual summary of the quality of water provided to Denver-area customers. It includes easy-to-understand information about where Denver’s water comes from, what it contains and how it measures up to standards set by regulatory agencies.
The good news is that the water is high-quality, safe and meets and beats drinking water standards. As in years past, Denver Water once again reports that it has never violated a water quality standard. Denver’s exceptionally high-quality drinking water can be attributed to the fact that the source water is diverted before passing through any major agricultural or populated areas.
That water is then highly treated at Denver Water’s treatment plants, which are staffed and monitored 24 hours per day. After treatment, drinking water is fed by gravity and pumps to a system of underground reservoirs and then sent into the system. More than 3,000 miles of pipe, enough to stretch from Los Angeles to New York, carry water to Denver Water customers.
Denver Water began issuing annual water quality reports in 1996. The 2010 report includes sources and levels of detected substances, both regulated and unregulated, and health effects associated with those substances. The report also provides information on bacterial testing, chlorine levels and mineral content, as well as special considerations for people with compromised immune systems.
Customers who receive Denver Water bills will receive a copy of the report. Customers who don’t receive water bills, such as apartment dwellers and those who have water quality concerns or questions, should call 303-893-2444.
For more information, visit denverwater.org.
Meaning What
Bobbing for Apples
Mac attack. My decades old war with PCs has finally ended with the bank-breaking purchase of a 15-inch MacBook Pro and 27-inch iMac that truly seem worth the investment, excessive as it might first appear. At odd intervals over the last several months, I have popped into the Apple Store at Cherry Creek to lust over the admittedly luscious looking merchandise, but the price tags inevitably drove me to scamper away empty handed.
“After all,” I reasoned, “I could readily purchase two, even three, PCs for the price of a single Mac.”
But Mac belies the old saws that “beauty is only skin deep” and “looks can be deceiving.” These machines appear to be well worth the price of admission—Macs perform as advertised, though I must caution that in no way can I be considered a geek or computer nerd and my new Macs and I are still in the honeymoon phase.
That said, our love deepens with each passing day. I am actually being productive as opposed to expending seemingly endless hours fiddling and rebooting computers. To wit: the Windows Vista operating system has long been repulsed by my admittedly dated HP 4P laser printer, frequently refusing to print unless I restarted the printer and inevitably printing an initial blank page with just enough “Greek” text at the top to render it unusable except for scratch paper.
Yes, indeed, I have downloaded and installed the latest drivers—repeatedly.
I figured my iMac wouldn’t recognize my 4P at all, but lo! It instantly embraced my aging machine. Much to my surprise and elation not only did it automatically link up but spat out perfect pages sans blanks without so much as a single error-message window popping up. Imagine!
The transfer of my address book was admittedly a hassle as my “Mac, the Missing Manual” had warned, but Apple waltzed me through the process in a relatively speedy 20 minutes thanks to a phone tech who appeared to actually reside in America, spoke perfect English and clearly knew what she was about.
The Mac display is phenomenal; razor sharp and brilliantly crisp and has yet to burp up the fuzzy, fragmented mess periodically coughed up by Windows that inevitably demanded a reboot to clear.
Another bug bear in Windows, specifically in Outlook, which perennially warred with my MSN service, was the bulk emails I send off as part of my public relations efforts on behalf of Purnell Steen and Le Jazz Machine, a popular quintet of master jazz musicians, who frequently headline at Dazzle and other popular jazz venues about town.
Would that I might reclaim the multitudinous hours wasted wrestling, pleading, begging, cajoling and cursing recalcitrant Outlook to transmit so much a single batch of 50 modest-size emails.
To reach the requisite 400 would often consume an entire day not including the dozens of frustrating hours on speaker phone with Microsoft and Qwest tech help.
“There must be a glitch in the system,” would come the belated conclusion. No doubt! Thanks for confirming the obvious.
After dumping my bulk emails into the Outbox, Outlook would proceed to cycle endlessly, all the while claiming to be sending, but eventually and predictably delivering the infuriating message: “Send-receive failed;” and there my emails sat, marooned for eternity in Outbox, until I finally dumped them and began the whole agonizing ordeal over again:
Dutifully run disk cleanup, shut down Outlook, close all other programs, shut down computer, reboot, restart recalcitrant Outlook, and join the battle once more.
On good-karma days the first few batches would eventually transmit for some reason known only to the Gods. Entire days would pass in endless iterations of the above before I would eventually get everything sent. Again, only the Gods know why.
My iMac registers nary a hiccup in simultaneously launching as many as 125 messages into the “cloud” as it’s called. Time wasted on computer issues has dwindled to minutes, and most of those are spent in stunned silence marveling at my increased level of productivity.
Animal Matters
Are Alpacas Right For You?
Alpacas are a lifestyle with benefits and opportunities for the whole family. From empty-nester, a family with children, the professional looking for an outlet to their daily stress, the person looking for an investment, or the couple ready to retire. The alpaca community is widely diverse in their backgrounds.
The fact that alpacas are friendly to the environment, easy to keep and friendly by nature makes them an attractive alternative investment. Owners still living in the city or suburbs can board their animals at many established alpaca farms, building their herds with an eye to the future when they can become more hands-on raising their alpacas themselves.
Unlike the stock market and other investment opportunities, alpacas are depreciable over five years, giving the investor an immediate investment return in tax savings. Breeding stock held for more than one year is subject to capital gains, and alpacas qualify for Section 179 of the I.R.C. which allows an alpaca farmer to depreciate the first $250,000 of the investment. Of course you should consult your tax advisor on how it might benefit you. As you raise your alpacas, all expenses (food, veterinarian supplies, computers, travel, equipment, advertising, etc.), are deductable. Since alpacas are “true livestock” you may see a significant reduction in your real estate taxes as well. It is also important to note that unlike the stock market and other investments, alpacas are 100% insurable.
The alpaca industry in the United States is still in its early stages of growth. Each year, more and more people make the decision to enter into the alpaca lifestyle. If this is something that interest you we welcome you to visit our farm and discuss in more details the facts associated to owning alpacas. Talk to your financial and tax advisors to see how investing in alpacas can work for you. Our farm is always open and we look forward to visiting with you.
See ads on pages 3 and 17.
Amazing Acro-Cats One Weekend Only
The Amazing Acro-Cats will purr-form for one weekend only at The Bug Theatre. The Acro-Cats will perform their usual feats of agility pushing carts, riding skateboards, rolling barrels, ringing bells, turning on lights, walking tight ropes, jumping through hoops, knockabout acts and more. These furry funambulists, aerialists and Pongers are no dog and pony show but real troupers.
The all cat combo: the Rock Cats, will rock your world. You’ll flip watching these cool cats really get down with some 18 karat sounds that’ll chill you. These cats can lay down some smokin’ hot licks.
A portion of the proceeds from this show will benefit Cat Care Society, Lakewood, CO. Cat Care Society is a cage free shelter for abused and stray cats dedicated to providing quality cat care to all with their feline only full service Veterinary Clinic providing reduced rates for qualifying low-income cat owners.
Did you know that most of The Amazing Acro-Cats were adopted from shelters? Keeping with that tradition, Samantha now fosters shelter kittens and trains them not only to perform tricks, but important emergency situation maneuvers. These foster kittens have become a heart warming part of the performance as they eagerly wait for their new fur-ever home.
The Amazing Acro-Cats, one of only four cat shows in the United States, are celebrated locally and Nationally to sold out venues. Samantha’s animal troupe have appeared in films, commercials and print advertising campaigns, as well as numerous local and international television shows, including TMZ, The Tonight Show, America’s Got Talent, and most recently, Animal Planet’s new series called Must Love Cats.
Shows are: Friday, July 16, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Saturday July 17, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, July 18, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets: $15 adults, $10 kids under 12. At the Bug Theater, 3654 Navajo St.
For more information and tickets, visit circuscats.com.
Duo Dogs Launched at Zen Dog Boutique
Duo Marketing & PR, a full-service marketing, public relations and communications agency, launches its first Duo Dogs event at Zen Dog Pet Boutique at 2401 15th St., Suite 180. The event takes place on Wednesday, July 21, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will include dogs and their owners socializing, dog-themed wine from Paris on the Platte (for owners only), dog goody bags with dog treats, coupons, and more.
“Here at Duo we love our dogs,” said Autumn Metcalfe, Co-Founder of the agency “That’s why we created the much-anticipated Duo Dogs. Each spring and summer month we meet at a local dog-friendly venue with other pet lovers. It’s a way for the community of dog lovers in Denver to come together, have fun and network.”
Zen Dog Pet Boutique is located on the trendy North Platte neighborhood (along with neighboring Paris on the Platte) and carries luxury dog and cat toys, organic pet food, healthy treats, aroma-therapies and many other desired pet paraphernalia while an eclectic collection of local doggie art provides comic relief.
“The Duo Dogs event will be a good time for chasing tale,” laughs Alex E’Aton owner of the boutique. “I partner with local pet-friendly organizations throughout the year and enjoy being a part of the Denver community.”
Duo Marketing & PR is a full-service marketing, public relations and communications agency started by two Colorado natives, and longtime friends, Maya Ellman and Autumn Metcalfe. Duo currently serves Boulder and Uganda-based Educate! that works to empower youth in Africa and Denver.
For more information, visit duodogs.posterous.com and duompr.com.
Railyard Dog Park Opens
Railyard Dogs recently received a great loan from Riverfront Park Community Foundation that functions like a challenge grant. For every dollar that they raise between today and Labor Day, Riverfront Park Community Foundation will match it dollar for dollar, up to $42,000. And it’s a loan that they don’t have to pay back. The Foundation has been a huge supporter of this park, contributing almost half of the funds to build it.
To donate, visit railyarddogs.org.
Adopt Sophisticated Cat for Free
Looking for a cat that’s been around the litter box? Throughout the summer months, the Dumb Friends League is waiving adoption fees for all sophisticated cats, 6 years or older. This adoption special is part of the League’s Cat Days of Summer campaign, in an effort to find homes for hundreds of homeless cats.
“We want to bring awareness to the benefits of adopting a cat and encourage more people to consider that option,” said Theresa Geary, Vice President of Operations at the Dumb Friends League. “Adult cats, particularly more mature ones, tend to get overlooked and stay longer at our shelters than puppies, kittens and adult dogs.”
There are many benefits to adopting an older cat, including: Developed personality, low maintenance, calmer but still playful, hours of entertainment, companionship and unconditional love, excellent snuggle buddies, comfortable silences, loving support when times are tough, trainable (cats can learn tricks, too), lower your blood pressure (they can make you healthier).
“These more experienced cats are really in their prime,” said Theresa Geary, Vice President of Operations at the Dumb Friends League. “Most cats live into their mid-to-late teens, so a cat that’s 6 years old or more will be able to provide many more years of fun and love.”
In addition to waiving the adoption fee, each cat adoption includes the following services: spay/neuter surgery, preliminary vaccinations, a microchip ID implant and registration, and a free office visit with a participating veterinarian. The adoption special takes place at both shelter locations: the Quebec St. shelter in Denver and the Buddy Center in Castle Rock.
To view pictures of adoptable cats and learn more about adoption specials at the Dumb Friends League, visit ddfl.org or call 303-751-5772. See pics left.
The response by the local community to The Americas Roundtable dialogue series has been tremendous,” said the president of The Americas Roundtable, Jim Polsfut. “Upon release of tickets to the general public, more than half of the main floor seats in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House have already been sold, amounting to more than 6,000 tickets.”