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Valley’s Irish Celebrations Blossom Into Month Of Spring Green And A Bit O’ Cheer
Month Of Spring Green And A Bit O’ Cheer St. Paddy’s Day Parade, Block Parties, Leprechaun Gardens, Runnin’ Of The Green, A Bit O’ Corned Beef And Off-Kilter Music
by Glen Richardson
Leading up to St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, a sea of green is slowly rolling its way across the Cherry Creek Valley. No blarney: The Irish-American holiday celebration has turned into quite a party and fête. Pub crawls, cold pints of green beer, shots of whiskey and processions of marching bagpipers are everywhere. Bein’ green is no longer confined to just St. Patrick’s Day in the Mile High City. The mystical, universal Celtic spirit turns the moon-cycle green, rocking neighborhoods for 31 days, making March the biggest party period of the year.
Skewed toward the boozy, the Denver-centered celebration has grown into a Luck o’ the Irish destination for beer, spirits and a bit o’ cheer. Distilling a resurgence of green, restaurants, bars, hipster hangouts, speakeasies and dives are filled with lads and lasses, ladies and lords dressed in green and ready to revel in Irish customs and tradition.
Here’s the Chronicle’s lucky charm St. Paddy’s Guide — sprinkled with stardust by leprechauns — to help you pursue Irish myths and folklore from morning to night.
City’s Biggest Parade
As one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades west of the Mississippi, more than 200,000 people are once again expected to line the route for this year’s Irish street-stroll on March 14. Bellco Credit Union is celebrating its 15th year as presenting sponsor of the parade that’s now in its 58th year. This year’s parade is honoring police, firefighters and first responders.
The parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. but many arrive as early as 6 a.m. to stake out a viewing spot. It starts on Wynkoop at 19th, turns down 17th St. in front of Union Station and then turns northeast down Blake St., proceeding all the way to 27th. The best spectating spot is south of 20th Ave. on Blake St., renamed Tooley Ave. for the parade. Another top watching area is near the parade’s ending blocks along Blake St. from 23rd to 27th Ave.
There is a wee bit o’ added charm and glamour to this year’s parade as Madison Dorenkamp — last year’s Miss Colorado USA (2019) — is the 2020 Queen Colleen. In addition, Fox31 News Anchor Aristea Brady is the parade’s Grand Marshal.
Related Events
The Changin’ of the Sign Ceremony for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and downtown events will be held at 20th and Blake St. on March 12, 5 p.m. The street sign change honors full-time Irishman and longtime Denver District Attorney Dale Tooley.
The Fado Irish Pub St. Paddy’s Day Block Party is March 14, beginning at 9 a.m. The block party sponsored by the pub that closed its doors after 20 years in 2017, has become one of the city’s biggest. It features more than 10 hours of crackling music, cocktails, beer stations and food trucks. Drinks are from Mile High Spirits for the festive-bash at Revel Social, the eclectic nightlife space located at 22nd and Blake near the parade route.
Runnin’ of the Green, the annual St. Paddy’s Day family-oriented walk-run foot race benefiting Volunteers of America is March 15. It begins in front of Union Station at 17th and Wazee in historic LoDo March 15. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. and the race starts at 10:15 a.m. The tradition includes a 7K run-walk, a 7K challenged-athlete race plus a 2.2 mile un-timed run-walk. The race is followed up with a fundraising block party between 17th and 20th on Wazee. VOA is dedicated to rebuilding lives of those in need. In addition to LoDo’s annual Runnin’ of the Green there is a Lucky Charm Race March 14 designed to get you ready for the Lucky Laces & Little Leprechaun Fun Race the following weekend, March 21. Both are at City Park, 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Event offers a mile, 5K & 10K plus the kids fun run. Race is followed by an after party for a pint in the Park Mansion.
Off-Kilter Music
The Erik Martin Music School musicians that rock some of Denver’s best venues treat Valley residents to a St. Patrick’s Day Showcase in the Soiled Dove Underground at the Lowry Town Center March 1, 1-7 p.m. School performers are known for their stylish piano and drum performances.
Get into an Irish temperament by attending Celtic Castles & Cathedrals at Bethany Lutheran Church on E. Hampden Ave. March 7, 3-5 p.m. From riveting tales of love and war, to idyllic odes and picturesque landscapes, it’s music that resonates and leaves a lasting impression. In the church’s acoustically superb space, it you’ll hear your favorites along with new songs. Featuring brass, bagpipes and a pipe organ, it’s a concert for the ages.
Always one of the best annual St. Paddy’s Day musical celebrations, the Denver Brass returns to DU’s Newman Center for the Performing Arts for its yearly Celtic Obsession March 14, 7:30 p.m. and again March 15, 2 p.m. The all-embracing Irish show features brass, bagpipes, hammered dulcimer, pennywhistle and guitar plus some of the city’s best Irish dancers.
Two bands from Ireland are playing at Lowry’s Soiled Dove March 17, 7:30 p.m. From Connemara on Ireland’s West Coast, the trio HighTime combines Irish music with a blend of folk, creating a rich, unique sound and electric energy on stage. The second band, Réalta performs on dueling uilleann pipes, whistles, bodhran, guitar, bouzouki, double bass and vocals. Information: 303-830-9214.
The award-winning cast of Once — the Irish romantic musical drama film — performs music from the show along with Irish folk favorites, for one night only, at Miners Alley Playhouse in Golden March 17, 5:30 p.m. Show includes a performance by the Connolly Irish Dance Company.
To enjoy authentic, joyous Irish music with a touch of chamber music, attend the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with Colcannon at the Lone Tree Arts Center March 18, 1 p.m. Colcannon and singer-front man Mick Bolger play Irish music with panache, warmth and wit.
Leprechaun Gardens
Discover the legend of the leprechaun during Leprechaun Gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens, March 7-8. Attendees will discover the legend of the leprechaun as they design and create a miniature garden to attract these mischievous garden friends. Materials provided are appropriate for children ages five and up. Programs on March 7 are 2-4 p.m., 4-6 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Sunday programs are 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 1-3 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.
A Bit O’ Corned Beef
Once served for St. Patrick’s Day in every eatery-bar in the Valley during the heyday of Irish restaurants, Corned Beef and Cabbage has disappeared from all but a few private parties. Nonetheless Luck o’ the Irish to Ya, as the Monaco Inn Restaurant is again dishing up the Irish-American holiday delicacy for both lunch and dinner March 17.
Mmmm, the holiday plate is so doggone good that the Greek-American eatery off Leetsdale at Monaco and Tennessee has become the go-to restaurant on St. Paddy’s Day.
Served with traditional boiled potatoes, carrots and celery, the all-the-rage dish is both hearty and authentic. With such a rare food find, it’s good to be Irish for a day. Information: 303-320-1104.
Fun Food Picks
Head over to Lucked Up, an Irish event hosted by My Brother’s Bar on Market St. March 7, 4-10 p.m. The beat generation watering hole is always a great place to get a pint and a burger.
Then on March 13 plan to stop by the Keggs & Eggs annual breakfast bash at Jackson’s on 20th St. in LoDo. There are special performances by indie pop band Lovelytheband, plus Matt Maeson and Sub Urban. Doors open at 7 a.m.
Offering whiskey, pints and pub grub in a traditional Gaelic atmosphere on East Colfax the Irish Snug is one of the city’s Irish hot spots. Offering live music many nights, the Snug annually hosts the Capitol Hill Hooley on March 17, albeit the 2020 schedule hadn’t been announced at press time.
Enjoyable anytime, the Baker neighborhood’s Irish Rover on South Broadway is the perfect pub place to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day. Sit by the fireplace or in good weather relax on the huge rooftop patio.
Take a break from Irish pubs by spending time at Pints Pub on W. 13th Ave. The British-style bi-level joint known for single malt whiskey, also serves artisanal beers and American grub.
Pub Crawls
From Irish jigs, DJs, live bands and green drinks, Denver’s St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls are the perfect place to celebrate the green-filled Irish holiday.
One March 14 crawl sponsor is Howl at the Moon on 19th St. Participants can gallop from one LoDo bar to the next to enjoy hot parties and drink specials, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Another March 14 adventure has a noon start at Society Sports & Spirits on Blake St., continuing to 6 p.m.
A Block Party and Pub Crawl has been scheduled on March 17 beginning at the Ginn Mill on Larimer St., 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Denver Has A Lead Problem
International Expert Warns ‘There Is No Safe Level Of Lead Exposure’
by Julie Hayden
The Hancock Administration’s aggressive development projects don’t just endanger the City’s parks, open spaces and quality of life in its neighborhoods. Some worry they also put the health of the City’s most vulnerable residents — children and the elderly — at risk.
“Denver has a lead problem,” says community activist Bridget Walsh. “Just like in other cities like Flint, Michigan, the lead in Denver’s water in homes and schools, in our air and soil, has been quietly poisoning our children and us for decades.” Walsh is co-founder of CATE — Colorado Advocates for Toxin Education, a not-for-profit group of concerned citizens focusing on promoting education about toxins in our air, water and environment, and engaging in collaborative efforts to reduce the impact of toxins on Colorado residents.
To help get the word out and educate the community, CATE partnered with the Vasquez/I-70 Superfund Site Community Advisory Group (CAG) and sponsored a series of events featuring Dr. Bruce Lanphear. He is an internationally recognized expert on the destructive , cumulative impacts of even low levels of environmental contaminants and pollutants on all of us.
Forget everything you thought you knew about lead exposure and poisoning. Dr. Lanphear emphasizes, “There is no safe level of lead exposure.” He says 20 years ago, doctors mistakenly believed that low levels of toxins found in the blood were safe. But he says all of the current research makes it clear that “low levels of toxins cause irreparable harm and long-term effects.” He notes even the CDC, Centers for Disease Control, now states there is no safe level of lead in children’s blood.
Lanphear explains lead has been linked to physical and cognitive problems in children and impacts IQ. Lanphear cites studies that show even tiny doses of toxins like lead cause irreversible damage to children’s brains and bodies. It’s not just children who are harmed. Lead exposure is also linked to heart disease. Lanphear points out the common mythology is to blame everything on the individual and focus on lifestyle choices like smoking, obesity and exercise. But the truth is, Lanphear says science shows there is an undeniable connection between low level lead exposure and premature death from cardiovascular disease. Yet, he says, we aren’t doing enough to hold our institutions accountable for cleaning up lead and other toxic pollutants.
Walsh points to a study released in 2018 that revealed almost all Denver Public Schools tested positive for lead in the water. The District addressed the issue when the levels hit a high or “actionable” level but Lanphear notes again, “No level of lead exposure can be considered ‘safe.’”
CATE members additionally worry about lead impacting tens of thousands of Denver residents whose homes still have old lead water pipes.
The I-70 expansion is also stirring up the lead issue. Lanphear addressed the Globeville community about that. The I-70 expansion includes a drainage project involving the I-70/Vasquez Superfund site. Lead and other toxins have been found in the soil there. Neighbors and others like Walsh fear the development will stir up lead, metals and other contaminants. “Lead and other toxins like air pollution impact all of us,” Walsh says, “especially residents who live in heavily industrialized sections of Denver, close to highways and around big construction projects.”
CATE and CAG members hope Dr. Lanphear’s message about the cumulative impacts of toxins on our children will encourage policy makers to adopt what Lanphear calls population strategies that target lead and other pollutants. “We and our children are being exposed to unhealthy levels of lead and other toxins in our environment,” Walsh asserts. “It’s time for Denver residents to arm themselves with the latest scientific facts and demand that Mayor Michael Hancock and Governor Jared Polis not only recognize this public health emergency but immediately allocate sufficient funds to define the extent of the problems and clean it up.
No Safe Level Of Lead In A Child’s Body: International expert Dr. Bruce Lanphear addresses Globeville residents about the dangers of even low levels of lead exposure to children and others in the community.
