by Mark Smiley | Apr 28, 2017 | Main Articles
City Supplements Its Destruction Of Cherry Creek Retail With That Of South Broadway
by Mark Smiley
The City and County of Denver, fresh from creating chaos and consternation among Cherry Creek retail businesses by failing to plan and provide sufficient parking and traffic flow, has now set its sights on creative destruction of small businesses along South Broadway with the innovative use of bike lanes.
Le Grue’s Flowers and Gifts has been a small business anchor on South Broadway for decades. Today, there is a sign in the front window that says “Can’t find parking? Bike lane slowing your commute? Call City Council.” Owner Alan Bemel says his customers have plenty of complaints, but laments, “I don’t think City Council is listening.”
Some small businesses like Le Grue’s along this stretch of South Broadway are hurting and they blame Denver’s new bike lane plan.
Test Project
Last August, Denver Public Works built a temporary, “test” two-way protected bike lane along a half-mile stretch of South Broadway. It runs from Bayaud to Virginia Avenue. It’s part of the Denver Moves project, a plan to enhance bicycle facilities in the downtown area and throughout the city.
In order to build it, the City took away one vehicle traffic lane and installed a two-way protected bike lane next to the sidewalk. The City also had to sacrifice a significant number of on-street parking spaces to accommodate the bike lane. Denver Public Works spokeswoman Nancy Kuhn says there were
98 parking spaces along the half-mile stretch but now there are 79, a loss of 19 spots.
Businesses call it a “disaster,” but somehow the City of Denver has declared the South Broadway bike lane a “success” and is moving forward with plans to design not only a permanent but significantly longer bike lane, along the main corridor.
“It’s a nightmare,” lamented one owner behind the counter of a South Broadway liquor store. “A nightmare,” he repeated. “My customers can’t find a place to park and neither can the delivery trucks.” He says the loading zones are too small and delivery trucks have to endlessly circle the block, often forced to park in a through lane which further snarls traffic. He says the bikeway has definitely hurt his business.
Le Grue’s owner Bemel agrees. He says, “Last month my sales tax revenues were the lowest in I don’t know how many years. I attribute that to the bike lane.”
He explains his walk-in business has all but disappeared and even loyal customers complain they can’t find a place to park and therefore shop less at his establishment.
Simple Mathematics
Fat Willy, owner of Fat Willy’s NBS Electronics on South Broadway predicted problems when the test bikeway was first installed. At the time, he said, “It’s a simple matter of mathematics. If you’re going to take space for a bike lane you have to take it away from cars.” Recent posts on Fat Willy’s Facebook page complain his fears have come true. One post says, “I don’t know a single merchant who hasn’t lost money since the stupid thing was forced on people who didn’t want it and were never consulted in the first place.” The post writes that quick access places like restaurants, coffee shops and liquor stores are affected the most with some businesses down as much as 40% because of the bike lane.
Other businesses have also encouraged frustrated shoppers to contact Denver City Council and ask them to get rid of the bike lane. But one business owner sighed saying, “But I don’t think anyone is going to listen, I think they’ve made up their minds and it’s a done deal.”
It may well be. From the beginning, when Denver Public Works first installed the half-mile bike lane “test,” city officials admitted that barring an unexpected safety issue, the ultimate plan was to remove one lane of vehicle traffic and install a permanent bike lane all the way from I-25 and South Broadway to Colfax Avenue downtown.
City Argument
The Denver Public Works website says the city’s surveys and evaluations show the test bike lane dramatically reduced the number of people
riding bicycles on the sidewalk and that makes cyclists and pedestrians feel safer.
The City further claims taking away one vehicle traffic lane had almost no impact on drive time. Before installation of the bikeway, peak period travel time from Colfax to I-25 was an average of 11 minutes, 50 seconds. After installation, the average travel time was 11 minutes, 59 seconds. An increase of just nine seconds.
The Public Works says its website survey also shows strong support for the bike lane and bicyclists and nearby residents we talked to say they do think it’s a good idea.
Small Business Reply
But many small businesses and disgruntled city employees indicate that it is all of scam and a con by the City and County of Denver. They laugh that a website survey can be easily manipulated and the only persons that individuals in Public Works actually talk to are each other.
An individual with the City revealed (whose name was withheld due to his employment status and the sensitive nature of the project):
“Everyone knows Mayor Hancock and Planning Director Buchanan are more or less owned by the real estate developers who could care less about small retail businesses. The City is not planning for parking or traffic flow since that might negatively impact the approval of various projects.
“The undisclosed working model for the city is Saigon 1968 where most everyone got from point to point by bike or public transportation. You don’t need to worry about parking or auto traffic if there aren’t very many cars. What families with young kids do in mid-winter in Denver who knows, but this is a millennial oriented administration who doesn’t like the concept of young families. Those people who can’t go along with the program can all move to the stinking suburbs as far as the Administration is concerned.”
“They are going to build bike lanes everywhere. If the Saigon ’68 model doesn’t work who cares? Buchanan will be back at his big ranch in Strasburg, while Hancock will be on a beach in South Florida with all of his ill-gotten gains.”
The Public Works website says roughly 32,000 vehicles on average travel South Broadway between Bayaud and Virginia each day.
The city says over a three-month period, an average of 52 bikes used the bike lane each day.
Many of the small businesses along South Broadway question the City’s decision to inconvenience tens of thousands of drivers and potential customers for the sake of a few dozen bicyclists. They suggest if the City really feels a bike lane is necessary, simply put it a block or two over on a side street instead of on a main corridor.
City Plans
The city plans to ask for proposals to design a permanent bike lane along South Broadway, from I-25 to Cherry Creek within the next several weeks. Part of the plan will also include transitioning the current peak-only bus lane to a 24-hour bus lane. Spokeswoman Nancy Kuhn says they know that parking is important and part of any design plan will take that into consideration.
The money is available to pay for the initial design plans, but the city does not have the money to actually build a permanent bikeway on South Broadway. The project could be part of a bond measure that voters will decide on this November.
Councilman Jolon Clark whose District 7 includes South Broadway stated to the Chronicle that he was aware of the parking concerns of small businesses in the area and he believes the final bikeway design will address them. Regarding the virtually empty bike lane he believes that usage of the lane will increase significantly once it is extended all the way to Cherry Creek.
Some South Broadway business owners hope voters pay attention the next election. A Fat Willy Facebook post puts it this way, “This is what happens when green-weenie global warming bozos get a bee in their bonnets and decide to do something that doesn’t need to be done … Please try to remember what these fools have done to the small business people who can’t fight back when the next election rolls around.”
by Mark Smiley | Apr 6, 2017 | Travel
By Mark Smiley
Disney on Ice presents Dream Big opens at the Denver Coliseum Thursday April 6th and runs until Sunday, April 9th. This particular show features nine different stories, all of which have Disney princesses. Tinkerbell will take audiences on a journey from the classics like Cinderella and Snow White to the story of Tangled and Frozen. Frozen, now four years old, was added to the show three years ago and is an immense hit with audiences. New movies such as Moana are being considered to be added.
Erika Craven, Disney ensemble performer in Disney On Ice presents Dream Big
The Chronicle caught up with one of the performers, Colorado native, Erika Craven. Craven, 25, is an ensemble performer and is in just about every number in the show. She started skating at the age of 4 and after graduating from college in 2014 from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York , she was not ready to hang up her skates. She has been with Disney for three years and is in the last year of her contract. Law school is next for Craven but in the meantime, she maintains a grueling schedule of nine shows per city.
It’s imperative with this kind of schedule, that the performers maintain a certain level of diet and exercise. To handle the rigor of the daily routine, the skaters need to be in top physical form. Craven does yoga four times per week and gets a workout in six to seven times. “I sometimes have to get creative with my work outs so I usually run/dance for cardio and do a mixture of workout videos and at-home workouts when the gyms don’t have very much equipment,” said Craven.
After the shows in Denver, the tour heads to Phoenix, Arizona. “I love performing, it’s always rewarding to see the audience reaction and I love seeing the kids and adults dancing along,” said Craven. I also love the travel and the athleticism that comes with this job. It’s the complete package for me.”
Snow White will be featured in this show
“This is such a great show and it’s been fun to play Colorado and I’m excited to play Denver,” said Craven. “I hope everyone can come out and enjoy it with me.” Tickets start at $15 and are still available by clicking Disney On Ice Tickets or by calling (800) 745-3000.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 24, 2017 | General Featured
by Mark Smiley
Every year, the Glendale Sports Center managed by the YMCA raises money to help more families and individuals access the Y’s programs and activities for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Annual Campaign can make a real difference in the lives of people throughout Glendale.
A major contributor to this campaign since arriving in Glendale a few years back is Urban Phenix. Urban Phenix is the management company representing three complexes in Glendale and three in Denver. With headquarters in Glendale, Urban Phenix understands the importance of supporting the community.
“We value our partnership with the Glendale YMCA,” said Nick Lazzara, President of Urban Phenix. “The fact that they o
ffer an $8 per month membership for Glendale residents is a huge selling point for us.”
When the City of Glendale built the Glendale Sports Center, it retained the YMCA to manage the facility. In the past, some residents had little to no idea they lived within the boundaries of Glendale, as Glendale and Denver boundaries can be in some areas, highly irregular. When this plan was instituted many more people who thought they lived in Glendale, realized they live in Denver. The local zip code, 80246, is the same which adds to the confusion.
“We have people that come in all the time and swear that they live in Glendale to take advantage of the discount,” said Lynn Taylor, Membership Director. “We have seen it all when it comes to people claiming they live in Glendale.” The Sports Center also offers a $40 per month membership for those who work in Glendale. An adult Denver resident pays $50 per month.
Urban Phenix’s philanthropic efforts don’t begin and end with the Glendale Sports Center. They also have a Give Back program whereby any resident that lives in one of the complexes they manage and has a cause they support, Urban Phenix will help sponsor an event if the resident gets 10 people to participate. “It’s our way of encouraging philanthropic efforts amongst our residents,” said Lazzara.
Another cause Urban Phenix supports is Colorado UpLift. Colorado UpLift was founded in 1982 by Dr. Kent Hutcheson as a summer jobs program for urban, at-risk youth. Dr. Hutcheson’s passion was to help urban young people find hope in hopeless circumstances.
Colorado UpLift establishes a “pipeline of influence” model, in which UpLift staff members provide consistent instruction for students from elementary school through college age and have a better chance to emerge as successful, productive young adults. Since their inception, they have served approximately 30,000 urban youth in the Denver Metro area, and will impact more than 5,600 students in 2017. “98 percent of the seniors graduate that went through this program,” said Lazzara.
Colorado UpLift has an event scheduled May 4, 2017, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Infinity Park Event Center in Glendale. The 2017 event titled Urban Masterpieces will feature an evening with food, music by Hazel Miller, and stories of lives changed by a positive influence.
The Glendale Sports Center hopes to expand its partnership with Urban Phenix as the company establishes more of a presence in the greater Glendale community. Partnerships such as these are vital to the YMCA and the programs it offers year-round.
For more information about Urban Phenix, visit www.urbanphenix.com, for more information about the Glendale Sports Center, visit www.denverymca.org/glendale, and for Colorado UpLift, visit www.coloradouplift.org.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 24, 2017 | Feature Story Middle Left
Spring Flings And Easter Things Such As To Dye For Eggs And Scrumptious Spring Lamb
On Easter Sunday, April 16, something unusual is happening once again as two Easters are being observed on the same Sunday. In most years Western Protestants and Catholics celebrate Easter on one Sunday and the Eastern Orthodox Churches including Denver’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Glendale celebrate about a week later.
This year, however, the Eastern Orthodox Easter coincides with the Western Protestant/Catholic Easter. The rare occasion is due to the alignment of the Gregorian and Julian calendars. Next year (2018), for example, Easter Sunday is April 1 for Western Christianity — Roman Catholic, Anglican Communion and Protestant Churches — but 
not until April 8 for Orthodox Christianity and Eastern Orthodox Churches
The theological inconsistency of two Easters has remained a thorny problem for Christian Churches. Eastern Orthodox Churches apply a formula so that Easter always falls after Passover, since the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ took place after he entered Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. In Western Church, however, Easter sometimes precedes Passover by weeks.
Relation To Passover
Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is the holiday commemorating the Hebrews’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. It lasts seven days in Israel and among Reform Jews, and eight days elsewhere around the world. It begins on the 15th day of Nisan, which is the seventh month in the Jewish calendar.
The frequent overlapping of Easter and Passover — the Christian Holy Week with the eight-day celebration of Passover — merits attention. Unlike the yoking of Christmas and Hanukkah, Easter and Passover are festivals of equal gravity. Side by side they bring to light the deep structures of both religions. Both celebrate spring and hope, though there are major differences between them.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, a proposal to change Easter to a fixed holiday rather than a movable one has been widely circulated, and in 1963 the Second Vatican Council agreed, provided a consensus could be reached among Christian churches. The second Sunday in April has been suggested as the most likely date.
Easter Services
Cathedral Basilica
Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church. Located at the corner of Logan St. and Colfax in the North Capitol Hill neighborhood it is the m
other church for the Catholic community and the Archdiocese of Denver. On Aug. 13-14, 1993 (for World Youth Day), Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at the cathedral — one of only a few cathedrals in the U.S. so honored. Holy Saturday is April 15 with a blessing of Easter Food at 9 a.m. Easter Sunday Mass times are 7, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. and again at 12:15 p.m. There won’t be a 5 p.m. Youth Mass. Information: 303-831-7010.
Central Christian Church
Founded along the banks of the Platte River in 1873, the Central Christian Church 
of Denver is one of Colorado’s oldest congregations. The church has been housed in four different locations, moving to the current site in the Polo Club neighborhood on Cherry Creek South Dr. in 1971. Palm Sunday service is April 9 at 8:30 a.m. and again at 10:45 a.m. Adding to the community’s holiday enjoyment, on Wednesday April 12 there is a special appearance at the church by the Ugandan Kids Choir, 5:30 p.m. Good Friday service will be at noon on April 14. On Easter Sunday, April 16 there is an Easter Brunch and Egg Hunt at 9:15 a.m. followed by worship service at 10:45 a.m. Information: 303-744-1015.
Red Rocks Sunrise Service
Despite cancellation due to snow last year, the 70th Red Rocks Easter Sunrise Service in Morrison, is set for April 16, 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Father Michael Nicosia, Vicar of the Presiding Bishop to the Rocky Mountain Region of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion, will open the worship service with a flute meditation. This year’s speaker is Bishop Jim Gonia of the Rocky Mountain Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. From 1998 to 2009 he was the associate pastor of Atonement Lutheran Church in Denver. Prior to his election as bishop, he served the ELCA’s churchwide ministries as Global Mission Area Program Director for West Africa.
St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church
The cornerstone of the present church was laid on June 13, 1891. Families celebrated the most recent renovation of the iconic building at 13th and Vine St. last November. Easter Sunday Services are at 7:45 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. An Easter Egg Hunt follows the 9:30 service. There will be coffee, treats and tours of the church beginning at 11 a.m. Information: 303-388-6469.
Trinity United Methodist Church
Built in 1887, this historic church located downtown at E. 18th Ave. and Broadway will feature the Trinity’s Chancel Choir at 9 a.m. followed by the 11 a.m. Easter services. There is also a Pancake Breakfast being served by the youth in the Trinity Café from 8-11 a.m. Highlight for kids is a Children’s Eggstravaganza from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (ages two and up). Youngsters will celebrate Easter morning hearing the Easter story, making crafts, enjoying an egg hunt, playing games and eating special snacks. Information: 303-839-1493.
Passover Seder
Denver’s largest Jewish congregation Temple Emanuel, located on Grape St. in the Park Hill neighborhood, is holding a First Night Community Seder conducted by Rabbi Joe Black and catered by A Perfect Pear on April 10, 5:30 p.m. Information: 303-388-4013.
Chabad/Bais Menachem on South Holly is having an Intermediate Day Passover Seder on April 15, 10:30 a.m. Information: 303-329-0213.
The Congregational Seder at Denver’s Temple Sinai at E. Hampden Ave. and Glencoe St. is April 11, 5:30 p.m. Information: 303-759-1827.
Baskets & Bunnies
Bunny Trail
It’s one of the finest fun festivals in town allowing the kids to hippity hop into spring. 
This year’s Bunny Trail — the annual Children’s Museum event on the Marsico Campus — is April 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. It is filled with all kinds of blossoming fun including springtime art projects, face painting, tasty Teaching Kitchen samples plus meet and greets with Truffles the Big Bunny. Information: 303-561-0101.
Easter Eggstravaganza
Look for the Easter Bunny to be hopping around Glendale’s Infinity Park Sports Field (4599 E. Tennessee Ave.) again this year as the free family-friendly event returns April 15, 10 a.m. sharp! There will again be three special prize eggs including the big prize Golden Egg. Families will be able to take pictures with the Easter Bunny. In case of inclement weather the event will be in the Glendale Sports Center. Information: 303-639-4711.
CHUN Egg Hunt
Hundreds of kids from Capitol Hill neighborhoods get to hunt Easter eggs and sweet treats at the Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods Easter Egg Hunt. This year’s fun begins at 1 p.m. at the Tears-McFarlane House (1290 Williams St.) April 15, 1 p.m. In addition to the Easter Egg Hunt, there are refreshments, games with prizes and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny in person. Families are asked to bring their children’s Easter baskets to collect the eggs. Information: 303-830-1651.
Bunny Express
Let the rock of the rails transport you and the kids into spring at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden April 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The whole family can hop on the train, featuring the 1880s vintage passenger coach, and experience what it was like to travel 100 years ago. The Easter Bunny and Spike the Railyard Hound will be handing out candy. Information: 303-279-4591.
Bunny Bolt
You and the kids can work off those extra packages of peeps during the Kids 1k Rabbit Rush, plus a 5k & 10k for adults during this year’s Bunny Bolt in City Park April 15, 8:30-1p.m. Event includes a huge Easter Egg Hunt, free yoga classes for kids and adults, face painting and balloon artists. Word on the street is the Easter Bunny will also be making an appearance. Information: 303-358-8896.
Easter Eating
Monaco Inn Restaurant
It’s an ancient tradition, stretching back through time immemorial. Easter without Colorado spring lamb slowly roasted outside on rotisseries at the Monaco Inn Restaurant on Easter is hard to imagine. Savoring the fresh, roasted lamb with a glass of wine has become a Cherry Creek Valley tradition.
In Greece, Easter is the biggest
holiday and most everyone roasts a whole lamb on a “Souvla” which is a large spit. In Greece the feast of Pascha — known in the Western World as Easter — actually translates to “Passover.” The Greeks also refer to Pascha as “Lambri,” which translates directly to “brightness,” thereby referring to the sunny arrival of a new spring and new life.
The family-run eatery that serves traditional Greek fare plus American and Mexican specialties will serve the traditional rotisserie Colorado Spring Lamb April 16 from 12 to 8 p.m. The meal is served with roasted oven Greek potatoes, plus Greek salad or Avgolemono soup. Because the two Easters are on the same day this year, reservations are recommended. Information: 303-320-1104.
Inn At Cherry Creek
Easter Sunday is being celebrated in spirited and mouth-watering fashion at the Inn at Cherry Creek in Cherry Creek North Aug. 16, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy out-of-this-world Stuffed French Toast and Garden Eggs Benedict. Of course the chef’s menu also includes delectable holiday favorites like Rack of Lamb, Grilled Salmon and Glazed Ham and much more. Information: 303-377-8577.
Brunch Bunch
Brio Tuscan Grille
The Italian eatery in Cherry Creek Shopping Center opens early serving a special Easter brunch until 3 p.m. Information: 303-329-0222.
Capital Grill
The Executive Chef at the Larimer Square steakhouse is serving a prix fixe brunch including dishes such as Shrimp and Grits. Information: 303-539-2500.
Edge Restaurant
Restaurant in The Four Seasons Hotel downtown is serving brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Entrees include Eggs Benedict, Bagel & Lox, Pancakes plus Prime Rib and Pork Loin. Information: 303-389-3343.
Fire
The restaurant inside the Art Hotel in the Golden Triangle is serving a brunch buffet with carving stations, a seafood display and desserts. Information: 303-572-8000.
Ship Rock Grille
The eatery in the Red Rocks Visitor Center offers an Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet, 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Information: 303-697-4939.
