Devour Boone Now!

Yesterday afternoon I walked past Devour The 303, a restaurant and bar at the corner of Downing and Evans Streets here in Denver, which closed down a few months ago after never recovering from the pandemic. I know that the 303 refers to Denver's area code, but what "Devour The 303" means I have no idea. I suspect if I was part of the Millennial or Gen Z generation, or whatever the hell people in their 20s are called these days, I would instantly know the meaning, but in the end, who cares? In any case, when I first moved to Denver back in 1981, this place was called Boone's Tavern, and was a very popular spot for nearby University of Denver students.

Boone's Tavern went out of business years ago. It was named after the mascot for the University of Denver, which was a cartoon character designed by a Walt Disney artist and depicted a pioneer wearing a coonskin cap and a DU shirt. A student gave it the name Boone. During sporting events, a person wearing a Boone costume would walk up and down the stands, revving up the crowd. It has remained an especial favorite with alumni.

Eventually DU decided that since Boone was male, he was not representative of the many genders that now exist, and he was removed as the mascot. The person dressed as Boone, seen in the photo on the left that I found on the internet, still attended the games, but he or she was finally grabbed by DU security, thrown out of the Ritchie Center, where DU sports events take place, and banned from the premises forever. I wish I had a photo of them throwing Boone down those Ritchie Center stairs, but alas, no. These days, if Boone's Tavern was still in business, there would be constant trouble, since in addition to being male, Boone is a pioneer, which many at DU now also deem politically incorrect. Plus, Boone wears a coonskin cap, which the PETA people consider taboo. If still operating, there would be all kinds of different groups picketing, holding sit-ins around the bar, and God knows what else. Life is so much more complicated these days, but all in all, it is much better now, right? Right?