by Valley Gadfly | May 27, 2014 | Valley Gadfly
This may be coming from left field but then this is the time of year when we like to march to the beat of a different drum. With warm weather finally upon us our thoughts turn to creatures that symbolize the sights and sounds of summer including those creepy-crawly June bugs that come out in late spring that we find on our doorsteps.
Maybe you haven’t seen them yet but you are sure to recognize June bugs because they are the size of a Volkswagen with a hyperactive personality and really sticky legs.
Here are our choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to create fair and pleasant summer days without being bugged by mosquitoes, bees and other June critters.
3 A sure sign that summer salad days are here is the opening of the Cherry Creek Fresh Market, May 31-Oct. 25. More than 100 growers and other vendors sell their produce and other products at 1st Ave. and University on Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
3 Summer tabletop settings, a delectable tea, plus a garden and herb sale await those attending this year’s Tea & Treasurers event, June 5-7. The Assistance League of Denver event is at the Bosworth House, 10 a.m-3 p.m. Information: 303-322-5205.
3 Enjoy the great outdoors while sampling wine during the Colorado Urban Winefest at the Infinity Park Festival Plaza June 7, noon-5 p.m. Information: 970-464-0111.
3 Nothing makes a bigger summer splash than a coat of paint and Ireland’s Finest is again giving the lucky winner a free exterior painting of their home. To nominate someone deserving, go to the contest website: www.irelandsfinestinc.com.
3 June brings a special treat to art lovers, the Art Student League’s annual Summer Art Market on Grant St. around the school, June 7-8, 10 a.m. Information: 303-778-6990.
3 See classic cars, enjoy music as you sail into summer at the Cruzin’ Havana Car Show & Poker Run on Havana, June 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 303-360-7505.
3 Make the Inn at Cherry Creek your beer, bluegrass and grub hub this summer. Enjoy free entry with just $5 food and drink tickets as stars entertain on the hotel’s Rooftop Terrace June 27, July 25 and Aug. 22, from 5 to 9 p.m. Information: 303-377-8577.
3 Be smart and do as so many other Cherry Creek Valley families do and plan your Independence Day celebrations around the City of Glendale’s mega fireworks show. The powerful display of pyrotechnics will flicker across the skies on July 3rd at dusk. Gather at eateries, bars, patios and porches to view the dazzling aerial display, one of the Valley’s oldest and largest. Information: 303-759-1513.
The June bug, of course, is a type of beetle. Scientists have described more than 350,000 species, with many more undoubtedly undiscovered. They are about 40 percent of known insect species with the most diversity of any animal on earth. While they don’t serenade us like crickets, June beetles will squeal when you pick them up.
Some of the largest June bugs can be found in populated Southwest cities like Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and a bit surprisingly in Denver and the Cherry Creek Valley.
We interrupt our June bugs tribute for this special reminder: The Cartoon Network ran its first 48-hour marathon of Bugs Bunny’s June bug cartoons in 1993. They aired again last year on June 22-23. Shishkabugs: Now you likely recall that when you cross an insect with a rabbit you got the animated antics of Bugs Bunny!
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
by Mark Smiley | May 27, 2014 | Feature Story Bottom Left
The sun is out, the laundry is coming off and hormones are flowing like a spring runoff from the glorious Rockies. In my last column, “Secret Fishing Holes,” I wrote about places where you can find single women who are ready to be reeled in by the guy who is aware of how to use an effective approach. So to sum it up, the last article was all about the catch and this one is to help ensure you don’t end up with a dead fish by night’s end (if you are sensitive because I used a fishing analogy as a dating comparison, you may want to discontinue reading any further).
Dating season is a very important time of year if you’re single. But it can be as depressing as waiting in line at the DMV for what seems like days only to be turned away because you failed to bring all of your documents, forcing you to repeat the process. Date like you’re going to the DMV — be ready and be patient.
It breaks my heart when I hear from guys who tell me stories how “the big one got away,” meaning a woman they were really in to but she slipped through their fingers because they weren’t equipped with the proper technique. Yes, I said technique.
I hope the following dating techniques prove to be helpful to you, leaving your pond stocked for you to enjoy all summer long.
- Get your poop in a group. Personally, if you’ve read my column long enough you would know #1 should go without saying. But just like the DMV the smallest overlooked detail can send you packing. So for the sake of review make sure you are date worthy. Do what you can to be attractive and be aware of what attracts women. Get a haircut and get some color on your skin, it’s June for crying out loud, if you’re still pasty you scream inactive. Freshen up your summer gear and make sure the clothes you choose are geared toward the type of women you’re looking to attract. If you’re looking for an earthy stoner then buy some Birkenstocks and get a tie-dye. You get the picture. Obviously, not everyone can still have a body of a 21-year-old but do what you can to be healthy and feel good enough about the effort you put in, and that will translate into how you carry yourself. Women can sniff out an unconfident man in one-half of one second.
- Have options. Don’t have all your eggs in one basket. Speaking of confidence, I can’t impress upon you enough what confidence does to a woman. It’s a God-given aphrodisiac and it should be used to your full advantage. The key is building real confidence and keeping it while you’re battling all of the other fellow date warriors in this survival of the fittest world. You may say, “How do I build and sustain such confidence?” You’re good, that’s right, have options and lots of them, you’re dating after all. Don’t shoot the messenger but guess what, women like guys that other women want as well. Again, I didn’t write the book of nature, I’m just telling the story. I know it seems twisted and hard to wrap your mind around, but ladies don’t want “relationship guy” right off the bat. Unlike being in a relationship with a woman, when you’re dating she doesn’t want to feel like you need her. A needy guy who she knows will do anything for her at a drop of a dime is what she wants down the road, but not while she’s dating. Remember resistance causes attraction and women love a good chase. They can become more ferocious than men when they have their eye on the prize. Bottom line is having other options creates value and kills the needy bug in you. Remember this tactic only works if you are an open, honest gentleman. Word of warning, when you find a woman who is into you as much as you’re into her, you better start eliminating your rotation, quickly.
- Stay even. In other words, keep your cool. Here’s the deal: you will be tested whether it be by her or yourself. Remember guys, this is dating. This isn’t business where you can conduct yourself and make decisions in a logical, clear, fact-based thought process. Welcome to Emotionville, a town scarier to a man than living in New York, in the classic movie Escape From New York. First off, I say it time and time again; girls just want to have fun. Your biggest challenge while navigating the rough dating waters is to not let your emotions keep you from being upbeat or having a fun and even demeanor. These emotional obstacles could be as simple as having a bad day, perceived rejection, being shy, jealousy, non-ideal surroundings, the list goes on but you get the idea. She is going to test you as well, maybe not consciously, but your emotional limits and stability will be tested. A woman wants to know who she’s dealing with. She ultimately is looking for certain qualities in a man. They want to figure out if you can be strong in adverse situations as well as gauge your patience meter. A man that can take control of a situation with finesse and style wins every time.
If you can manage to go out there in datingland and arm yourself with those three techniques, you might just have yourself a fruitful summer and go into nesting season with quite a catch — no pun intended. If you get your poop in a group you will have more options allowing you to stay even so you can go have fun. Fun is the key boys, fun.
Shameless plug: If you want to read more of my musings or hear the podcast of my dating show “The Modern Dater,” which airs live Saturday nights live at 7 p.m. on 630 KHOW, visit www.themoderndater .com. Have fun and keep it classy!
— Sheik
by Valley Gadfly | May 27, 2014 | Glendale City News
by Glen Richardson
When the Glendale Raptors and San Francisco Golden Gate went toe to toe in the deciding clash of the inaugural Pacific Rugby Premiership season at Infinity Park May 17, it produced a match the likes of which even the best script writers couldn’t conjure up. Accompanying incredibly good rugby was a stack of subplots together with a controversial referee call that kept the huge crowd on the edge of their seats until
the final whistle.
There have been some monumental rugby games here — the Collegiate All-Stars, two Churchill Cups, and the North American Four among others — but none that have created more excitement and drama highlighted by bruising hits and jaw dropping tries. There were five lead changes during the 80-minute contest, but despite an up-and-under try by Glendale Center Chad London in the waning minutes, the Raptors came up one point short, 39-38.
Making the game all the more remarkable is that the Raptors were ranked at the bottom of the Pacific League’s power rankings at the start of the season. Going into the playoff, however, the Raptors were ranked number one with an 11-1 record, two games ahead of San Francisco. In their previous match-ups during the season they were tied with a win apiece.
Seesaw Action Game
Despite San Francisco’s early domination, Glendale moved surreptitiously back into the game with two quick bang-bang scores due to Golden Gate penalties. Fullback Dustin Croy scored first compliments of convincing decoy runs from Centers Landon and Justin Pauga. Then Pauga scored again after bouncing off a Golden Gate player at the try line and the Raptors had erased SF’s lead. Just as San Francisco threatened to score again, flanker Spencer Scott poached the ball and passed off to wing Bret Willis who scampered down field to score. With the conversion good, Glendale had a 24-15 halftime lead.
A nifty scramble by Golden Gate had them within inches of the try line to open the second period. On the next play San Francisco scored but the conversion was missed leaving the Raptors up 24-20. A penalty on the Raptors followed by big SF runs plus an easy conversion put them up 27-24. Kicking the restart deep Golden Gate cleared its lines with a boot. Glendale’s Croy committed two defenders and passed to Preston Bryant who moved downfield and passed to London. Following broken tackles and a ruck, Scot took the ball untouched for anther Glendale score. Graham converted and the Raptors were back on top 31-27 with 30 minutes remaining. Golden Gate hit back within minutes with a quick try to get revenge and back into the game. The conversion was missed, but they had reclaimed the lead 32-31.
Just as quickly Glendale’s Croy dotted down in touch. Believing Glendale had gone ahead for good, players and fans went delirious with excitement. After watching two video reviews, however, the points were wiped off the scoreboard as referees ruled that while Croy did dot down, he was touched before he could do so. With five minutes to go Glendale was caught playing the ball in a ruck. SF kicked the penalty to the corner and took a lineout. With a short plunge and conversion they were up 39-31. Down eight points with less than five minutes to play, Mike Graham chipped a kick over the defense and reserve wing Max Statler gathered the ball and passed to London who raced in for a Glendale score. With a penalty following the kickoff, the Raptors kicked for a lineout inside SF’s 22. Glendale won the set piece but Graham opted to grubber down one point and San Francisco scooped up the ball and kicked it to touch to end the game.
by Mark Smiley | May 27, 2014 | General Featured
by Keith Thompson
Glendale is one of the oldest towns in Colorado formed in 1859 with the building of what is now called Four Mile House by the Bratner brothers who sought to provide meat and produce to the just established city of Denver. The building became known as Four Mile House in the 1860s as it was the last stop on the stagecoach route before Denver, and the house was located four miles from the stage terminus at Broadway and Colfax. Four Mile House is today a park located in both Glendale and Denver.
Rite Aid, the third largest drugstore chain in the United States, is in the process of bulldozing two of the most historic buildings remaining in Glendale to put up a drugstore.
On the chopping block is the 4500 block of Leetsdale Drive just west of South Cherry Street that contains two of the four single family homes in Glendale, and the historic Chicago Dairy barn that, since 1967, housed the oldest sports bar in Denver, Four Mile Bar.
Rite Aid’s History
Rite Aid was founded in 1962 by Alex Grass with the first store called Thrift D Discount Center. In 1968, the name officially changed to Rite Aid Corporation and they made their first public offering and started trading on the American Stock Exchange.
In 2004, Rite Aid’s CEO Martin Glass (son of the founder) was sent to federal prison along with other Rite Aid executives for accounting fraud relating to the company. The company also agreed to pay $7 million to settle allegations that it had engaged in submitting false prescription claims to the federal government relating to United States health insurance programs.
Martin Grass was released from federal prison on January 18, 2010. Founder Alex Grass died of cancer on August 27, 2009.
Historic Glendale
Long before Glendale became Rugbytown USA it was known as Cowtown for the extraordinary number of dairies within the community. At the entrance to the town was a sign on a gas station that declared “Welcome to Cowtown — Where the West Remains.” Among the houses to be bulldozed is the one built by Agnes Riddle, a German dairywoman who was the first female state senator in Colorado. She is also credited for coming up with the name Glendale for the town. Glendale’s prior Recreation Center was named in honor of her. The house sits directly across Leetsdale Drive from the old Glendale Grange building that was built in 1897 and now is a commercial property.
In addition to destroying the Agnes Riddle home the development of the area will also scrap the former Four Mile Bar. The bar was located in a historic barn of the Chicago Dairy founded in the late 19th century by Harvey Sender and built by C. W. Snyder. It was purchased in 1903 by Lee Gasier.
The Chicago Dairy was closed down in 1967 and the old barn was converted into one of Denver’s first sports bars — Four Mile Bar. It was operated by Jack Casey for the next 46 years as a bar until last year when repeated liquor license violations forced the city to revoke the establishment’s liquor license and the property was put up for sale.
The Rite Aid Look
Rite Aid’s at times imperfect reputation extends to the physical look of its stores. “drugstores have never been known for their beauty,” stated John Gay, downtown resident. “But Rite Aid seems to some at times to have almost an intentionally shabby quality to them. Just look at their stores around Denver including the one at University Hills South Shopping Center on Colorado Boulevard. Their seedy look makes you assume that the prices must be rock bottom whether they are or not.”
On the remaining undeveloped ground it has been suggested that a bank might locate on the property. But Gay states, “I don’t see a bank wanting to house next to a Rite Aid. Perhaps a pawn shop or a payday loan operation might be a lot more synergistic.”
After the destruction of the Riddle home and the old Chicago Dairy structure, historic Glendale structures within the city limits are limited to the old Glendale Grange and the manor home of the Cambridge Dairy which was originally located on Colorado Boulevard and Cherry Creek Drive South. When that property was developed in the 1960s the manor home was moved to South Dexter near the Bull & Bush Pub and Brewery.
Few experts believe that the city of Glendale could have done anything to save the historic buildings even if it wanted to. “The property owner gets to develop his property any way he wants within certain parameters and Glendale is in general a fairly libertarian city,” states John Gay. “A drugstore is clearly a legal use. If Leetsdale Drive is now going to be a denser, uglier place what do you think is happening in the Denver portion of that roadway? It’s a brave new world and that is just the way things are today in the area.”
Rite Aid is projected to open in Glendale sometime in 2015.
by Valley Gadfly | May 27, 2014 | Main Articles
The jaw-dropping Glendale Fireworks — considered the Valley’s premier Fourth of July display — will again light up the Valley Basin on July 3.
One of the oldest and largest in the area, the powerful display of pyrotechnics has become a Cherry Creek Valley Independence Day tradition. Families and friends gather at eateries, bars, patios and porches from LoDo to the Dam to view the dazzling aerial display. The mega fireworks show will flicker across the skies at dusk (generally between 9 and 9:30 p.m.)
Best places to watch the mesmerizing fireworks are north of Virginia, south of Cherry Creek Drive South, west of Colorado Boulevard and east of Cherry Street. Many families gather in and around the parking lots at CitySet and at Whole Foods for close-in viewing. The City of Glendale sponsors the fireworks show. Rain date is July 26. Information: 303-759-1513 or www. glendale.co.us.
