Remembering Key West. Again...

As I was going through my collection of old photographs looking for something to feature on a recent blog post, I ran across the photograph on the left that I took back in the late 1970s during a family trip to Key West. My sister Susan and I came down to Stuart, Florida from Chicago to visit our parents, Nelson and Mary, who retired there a few years earlier, and we decided to drive from there to Key West. I haven't been back since, although it was and still is a great place to visit. When I look at that photograph, I think of how Susan insisted on a hamburger from McDonald's instead of the sandwiches my mother had made, and we wound up at a park in Marathon, the mid-point  between Key Largo and Key West, to eat lunch.  On the other hand, Susan looked at the photo and noted it must be pretty old, since her hair was still it's original color - "ugh." Funny the things different people remember looking at family photographs.

Originally, Key West was a working class fishing village, and during the depression, when Ernest Hemingway lived there, most of the residents were on welfare. In the 1960s, it was a gathering spot for hippies, and later became popular with the gay community. Now, from what I have read, it is unaffordable for all but the rich, and many Key West natives (called Conchs) have moved to towns in northern Florida such as Gainesville, Lakeland, and Ocala, which are all far more affordable. And as I remember it, I took the photograph on the right of my parents around sunset at the Mallory Street Dock, where the crowd still applauds when the sun sets over the ocean. Are my parents not perfectly dressed for the 1970s, or what?

Bad Actors

I just finished reading Bad Actors, the latest "Slough House" novel by Mick Herron. I started reading these offbeat and humorous spy thrillers quite a few months ago, and really like them. Slough House is where British spies are sent after they screw up big time, and once there, given mind-numbing desk assignments to keep them out of trouble. Of course, their leader, Jackson Lamb, makes sure that he knows everything that is happening at Regent's Park, the HQ for the spy agency, and despite his crew of screw-ups, together they manage to solve numerous crises. This time, the top advisor for the Prime Minister wants to take control of British intelligence and throw the current "First Desk" out, over her strong objections. He has also inadvertently hired a Russian spy as his assistant, which causes no end of problems. I really enjoyed reading this book, and can highly recommend it. Pick up a copy at your local library today.

Whatever Happened To Little League?

I took the above photograph of Lacrosse Camp at the University of Denver one morning while I was walking my sister Susan's dog Blackberry. I was amazed at the number of kids there - learning to play lacrosse, no less. Do kids not play Little League baseball anymore? Is it all lacrosse and soccer during the summer?  A lot of universities like DU are not helping. When DU's long-time baseball coach retired, the school eliminated the baseball program and replaced the baseball field with a parking lot to satisfy Title IX requirements. This from a school that was regularly visited by major league baseball scouts. The world turned upside down in my opinion. But after all, I am just an old curmudgeon. And damn proud of it, too.

The White Sox Versus The Rockies - Two Teams Going Nowhere?

My friend Mark - seen on the right in the photograph on the left - obtained good seats for the two game series at Coors Field between the Colorado Rockies and my South Side heros, the Chicago White Sox, which we attended Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon. The seats were in the infield, right behind the batters box, a great location to watch those games, and happily, we were surrounded by fellow White Sox fans, there to  support their team on their way to the playoffs.

I really enjoyed going to Coors Field to see those games. It is one of the nicest stadiums in baseball. However, I must say, in all honesty, that the White Sox did not look like playoff contenders in either game. Tuesday night they won by a score of 2 to 1, and their ace closer, Liam Hendricks, did not seem sharp. All the White Sox fans were on pins and needles as he struggled, but eventually succeeded in getting the save. Yesterday, the White Sox were leading the Rockies 5-4 in the bottom of the 9th inning, and the White Sox closer, Kendall Graveman, walked the first three batters and then gave up a hit to lose the game 6-5. Seriously, World Series caliber teams do not do that. Especially against teams like the Rockies, who are not very good. And of course, true White Sox fans are not at all surprised. We always keep hoping, but I am glad I did not bet my life savings on the team winning it all this season. Perhaps next year, after I read the scouting reports during the off-season. Hope springs eternal, after all.

My Parent's Wedding Anniversary

Today would have been my parents Nelson and Mary's 82nd wedding anniversary if they were still around today. They got married in 1940 at a farm in Geneva, Illinois owned by John Tallman, who I believe was my Grandmother Hoyt's brother-in-law. My mother was not too crazy about getting married at that place, which she condescendingly referred to as that old farmhouse. I mentioned this to my Uncle Jack, my father's brother, when I was visiting him in San Diego a few years ago, and he got pretty defensive about it all, after almost 80 years no less. Never too late to stir up a dispute between in-laws, I guess. In any case, you can see my parents walking out of that farmhouse after the wedding ceremony in the photograph on the left.

Another thing someone did that my mother was not crazy about was put up a billboard advertising the wedding. I am not sure if it was just on the property or the main highway, since that farm was long gone by the time I came around. My sister Susan, however, who was born two years later, remembered staying at that farm and going with Uncle John to say good night to the cows each evening. I myself missed out on that and a lot of other things, too, but why be bitter? At least too bitter. In any case, in addition to the farm, Uncle John was a plumber, and had his plumbing shop in what later became the Mill Race Inn in Geneva, which is no longer operating but where Susan, her husband George, my mother and father and I had New Year's Eve dinner during a blizzard back in the 1970s. As I recall, we were the only guests who were able to get through to the place, and thus had very attentive service. So many family memories thanks to photographs. The best invention ever.

Sunday Afternoon In Manitou Springs

My sister Susan and I drove from Denver down to Manitou Springs Sunday afternoon, and I am happy to report that the place was packed with tourists, despite intermittent rain showers. This town has been a tourist attraction since the 1870s, and has retained its 19th Century character. It is also where you board the Pike's Peak Cog Railway, which takes you to the summit of that 14,115 foot mountain. You can also drive up there in your own car, although there is a charge for both driving or taking the train. The cheapskate's way is to hike the Barr Trail from Manitou Springs to the top, a 12.6 mile uphill trek. Of course, I did notice an article on the internet from May reporting that a hiker on the Barr Trail was found alive after spending two nights on Pike's Peak, but what the heck. You save money AND have an adventure. 

One of the more popular sights in town, besides the springs themselves, of course, is Miramont Castle, a Victorian home with 30 rooms, built in 1895 for a Catholic priest. I have to assume that the pay was much better for priests back then. I remember touring it years ago, and as I recall, it was quite impressive, although I can't understand why a Catholic priest decided to build a 30 room mansion in the first place. It was obviously built before the Small is Beautiful movement. All I can say is that he must have done a lot of entertaining. In any case, you can get a glimpse of that mansion in the background of the photograph on the right. And don't even think about the utilities bill for the place.

The 9th Annual Cheesman Park Art Festival

My sister Susan and I, along with her dog Blackberry, went to Denver's Cheesman Park for the 9th annual Cheesman Park Art Festival this past Saturday afternoon. I remember attending the first festival held there back in 2014, the year I started working at the Tattered Cover Bookstore, and it was a very modest affair. This year, however, 150 artists from across the country are participating, and it takes up the entire south end of the park. And, combined with the pretty setting, it makes for a very enjoyable festival indeed.

I was happy to see that there were a lot of photographers exhibiting their work this year, and a lot of it was very good, especially the horse photographs by Dona Bollard (thespottedponyphotography.com). Cheesman Park, as I have mentioned several times on this blog, along with the neighboring Denver Botanic Gardens, was once a cemetery, which the city decided to make into a park in 1907. The contractor hired to move the bodies to Riverside Cemetery was paid per coffin, and was to supply new coffins for each body. However, to make more money, he used coffins meant for children, hacked each body apart, and used as many as three coffins for each person. When word got out, the contract was canceled, but body parts wound up being scattered all over the place, and due to the work stoppage, many bodies remain there to this day. Which is why the place is rumored to be haunted. Try not to visit after sunset would be my advise.

The festival was very dog friendly, and it seemed like every other person had a pooch in tow. Susan's dog Blackberry is more of a people dog, and pretends not to see any dog that is bigger than her.  Probably wise, since not too long ago a German Shepherd walked out of the elevator in my building, growled, and then lifted Blackberry up in the air with its two front legs. Self-preservation is always a good trait to have for either people or dogs. Of course, the dog in the photograph on the right seemed quite friendly.

The festival attendees brought their dogs into the booths with them in order to let their pets enjoy the artwork, too. However, the one in the photograph on the left seemed more interested in visiting with Blackberry instead. All in all, it was a very pleasant afternoon, although pretty damned hot. And I would advise anyone heading to Cheesman Park to keep their dogs on a leash while there. It might decide to dig up or bone or two, and what it brings back might very well be of human origin. Of course, at the Denver Botanical Gardens next door, where they do a lot of digging, no one even bats an eye anymore when they uncover human remains. And being an avid fan of mystery novels, it makes me think that if someone did commit a murder, and needed a place to bury the body, what better spot than the Denver Botanical Gardens, where even if it was discovered, no one would care. Hypothetically speaking, of course.

Attempting To Clear Up Clear Lake Mysteries

My Grandfather Hoyt was born and raised in Clear Lake, Iowa, a pleasant little town that still retains much of it's 19th Century charm, before moving to Chicago to work for the Rock Island Railroad. I have photographs I know were taken in Clear Lake, but except for the photograph on the left of my grandmother Fleta, grandfather Claire, and father Nelson, I have no idea who anyone in the other photographs are. I would really like to identify my grandfather's mother, Sophie, and her father, Alexander Nelson, but can only guess which photos show them. Why couldn't they have labeled these photos so I would be able to figure it all out? Very inconsiderate.

What peaked my interest in the family back in Clear Lake was finding a photo and postcard album years ago that belonged to Viola Thayer, my grandfather's half-sister, who died at the age of 17 from complications of diabetes. She passed away on December 21, 1910, and I am guessing that the photograph on the right is of her from that year. There are three different photos in the album of this girl wearing the same outfit, and for that reason, I am guessing it is Viola. I also have photos that I believe are of her mother and grandfather, but again, it is only a guess. My only hope is that my cousin John, who is going through boxes of photographs that belonged to his late father, my Uncle Jack, will find some old family photos that will offer more clues. My advise to everyone out there is if you have family photographs, LABEL THEM FOR GOD'S SAKE! It will save a lot of time and trouble for people trying to identify you after you have been dead for 112 years or so. And yes! It is important!

Shadows Reel

I just finished reading Shadows Reel, the latest Joe Pickett adventure by C.J. Box. It took 4 months on the waiting list to get it from the Denver Public Library, but it was worth it. I thought this story was pretty damn good, and tells of two separate crises. First, someone leaves a photo album that belonged to a high-ranking WWII Nazi by the front door of the public library where game warden Joe Pickett's wife Marybeth works, and it soon becomes obvious that there are people out there who will kill to get hold of it. At the same time, Joe's friend Nate Romanowski, an ex-special ops guy and falconer who now runs a thriving local business, is on the trail of a violent man who stole his falcons and attacked his wife. This book is a real page turner and a quick read, perfect for taking along on your summer vacation, especially if you have been bumped off your flight and are spending a few days at the airport. Enjoy!

Arkins Promenade Is Open!

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock presided over the opening of Arkins Promenade last week - part of a new, mile-long pedestrian and bike path and green-space along the South Platte River. The promenade itself is a 400 foot long steel walkway that reaches 28 feet at its highest point. I read an article about it in the Denver Post and decided to check it out the other day. This linear park is located in the River North (RINO) neighborhood, which is a former industrial district that has become one of Denver's hottest neighborhoods. One of the criticisms of this area is the lack of park-space, and Arkins Promenade is a good first step toward rectifying this situation.

RINO is also known as the River North Arts District. After Lower Downtown (LoDo) became an entertainment hot spot, art galleries began moving north to RINO to take advantage of the cheap rents. However, developers soon began building apartment buildings there, and brew pubs and breweries began opening on every other block. Of course, the art galleries are almost all gone now. The neighborhood is divided into two sections by railroad tracks, the west side by the river originally all industrial, and the east side, especially along Upper Larimer Street, featuring 19th century structures among the warehouses and industrial sites. Frankly, it is a damn ugly neighborhood, but with all those expensive high-rise apartments with great views and brew pubs everywhere, it is a natural draw for hipsters. And the place seems like one big construction zone. It took me a long time to figure out how to get to Arkins Promenade, since virtually every street was blocked off due to even more apartment buildings under construction, some of which can be seen in the photograph on the right that I took when I finally arrived there. If you decide you want to live there, remember that all those places are totally unaffordable, and so you better find plenty of roommates to share the rent. Otherwise, forget about those brew pubs.

An Afternoon On Lookout Mountain

My sister Susan and I, along with her dog Blackberry, spent Sunday afternoon on Lookout Mountain, located just to the west of Denver. Our first stop was the Boettcher Mansion, located in the Lookout Mountain Nature Preserve. It was built as a summer home and hunting lodge in 1917 for Charles Boettcher, a Colorado pioneer who made his money in a variety of businesses, and was donated to Jefferson County back in the 1970s. It now functions as an historic events center, and can be seen in the photograph on the left.  

For somewhere that is only a 30 minute drive from Denver, this area has an amazingly rural feel, with views such as the one in the photograph on the right, which I took on the grounds of the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. Buffalo Bill actually wanted to be buried in Cody, Wyoming, a town he founded, but due to financial difficulties, he made some kind of agreement to be buried on Lookout Mountain instead. Some citizens from Cody tried to steal his body and take it back to Cody, but they were stopped, and afterwards Buffalo Bill was reburied under a substantial amount of concrete to prevent this from happening again. And can you believe Susan didn't even get out of the car to pay her respects at the gravesite? Go figure.

While at the Lookout Mountain Nature Preserve, we ran across the sign in the photo on the left at a trailhead, warning that black bears were in the area, and what to do if you encountered one. I myself would walk up to the bear and take a selfie (bear and moose selfies are very popular here in Colorado), but I didn't get a chance - Susan also refused to head down the trail to see if we could find one. I think we would have had a good chance, too, since we had Blackberry with us, and I suspect large black bears just love playing with dogs, especially small ones like Blackberry. I guess that will have to wait for another day.

Blackberry Visits The Beauty Parlor

My sister Susan's dog Blackberry has really been suffering from the heat, especially with the heavy coat of hair she has been carrying around, and so I was very happy that Susan decided to take her to Marie's Pet Grooming up in Fort Collins for a much overdue shampoo and haircut. They did not touch up the white hair under her chin and on her backside, which was disappointing, but I guess some dog groomers just don't like dyeing a dog's behind. Nevertheless, she now looks much younger than her 15 years, and is much more willing to head out on a walk in 90 degree plus temperatures, which is a good thing, especially for my carpet.

Baseball's All-Star Game Is Tonight!

Tonight is Major League Baseball's All Star Game, pitting the National against the American League, a contest that has been going on since the first All-Star Game on July 6th, 1933 at Chicago's Comiskey Park. Among the players in that first contest was none other than Babe Ruth, who put on quite a show, helping the American League beat the National League 4-2. I myself was quite young at the time, and didn't attend, but I did go to the first All-Star Game at Coors Field in Denver back in 1998, where I took the above photograph from my seat in the Rockpile. As I recall, the seats were expensive, very far away from the action, and the game itself was quite the slugfest, making for a very long evening. These days they use a humidor to compensate for the thin air, which cuts down on home runs, but that still didn't make me want to go to the second All-Star Game in Coors Field history, held there last year. Been there, done that. Could I be getting even cheaper in my old age? In any case, tonight's game is at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, and I don't intend to go to that game, either. Surprise!

The Pearl Street Arts Fest

My sister Susan and I drove from Denver up to Boulder this past Saturday afternoon for the Pearl Street Arts Fest, an annual affair that has returned after being canceled the past two years due to the Covid pandemic. The best part of this festival is that it takes place on the Pearl Street Mall, ground zero for all the action in Boulder, and the large crowd attending the arts fest made for great people-watching. As we approached Boulder Saturday, it began to rain heavily, but on the bright side, it made finding a parking spot easy, and after a short while, the sun returned and we headed to the mall, seen in the photograph on the left.

There were 90 artists displaying their work this year, and much of the art was pretty whimsical, as befits a place like Boulder, nestled against the Flatirons and often described as "25 square miles surrounded by reality." There were quite a few booths featuring photography, which I enjoyed seeing, and even my sister Susan, seen in the photo on the right,  found art she was tempted to purchase. As usual, we brought Susan's dog Blackberry with us. There are signs posted that say dogs are not allowed on the mall, but I noticed on previous visits that everyone ignores them and takes their dogs onto the mall anyway. This is, after all, the "People's Republic of Boulder," and the people seem to be saying that dogs are okay.

And as usual, the mall would not be the same without the street performers, such as the fellow in the photo on the left riding the unicycle, getting ready to juggle lighted torches. One of the most enjoyable things to do in Colorado is to head to the Pearl Street Mall on a Saturday evening during the summer and take in all the musicians and buskers performing along it's length, followed by a visit to the Boulder Bookstore to do a little browsing. It is a popular neighborhood gathering spot, and I usually never leave without buying something. And that is saying something, since I am a true cheapskate. More power to them.

Me And Travis McGee

Today I am featuring a photograph from the last century that my sister Susan took of me, posing with a plaque marking the location of Slip F-18, Bahia Mar Marina, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This was where Travis McGee, the hero of a series of adventure novels written by John D. McDonald, moored his houseboat, the Busted Flush. I just loved those books, and started reading them when I began working at the Walden Books in North Riverside, Illinois, just to the west of Chicago. Back then, I could simply rip off the front cover of the mass market paperbacks and take the books home to read. Travis McGee was a "salvage consultant," living on his houseboat, walking the Florida beaches, drinking Boodles gin, and helping out damsels in distress, righting wrongs while expressing his thoughts about modern society and the greed of Florida politicians and developers. The books are kind of dated now, but some things obviously never change.

The July/August Issue of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine

I just received a copy of the July/August issue of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine.  This magazine is geared toward the upscale traveler, and usually features exotic locales and very expensive resorts, restaurants, and tours, although one can certainly visit all those places and then just stay at the local Motel 6. Some of the articles are very interesting and informative, such as the articles on Miami and Sicily in the June issue, but some of them I just find irritating, such as the one in this month's issue where the writer reminisces about speeding down a road in an old Golf Cabriolet on a Mediterranean island, kicking up dust on the way to a midnight supper at a trendy bistro, her "espadrille-clad feet" on the dashboard, laces twisting around her "nut-brown ankles," while her boyfriend drives the car barefoot and shirtless. Perhaps I'm just jealous. Perhaps her boyfriend should have put on a shirt. And what the hell are "espadrille-clad" feet?

Lunch At Spanky's, Coffee At Stella's

I had a late lunch Wednesday afternoon with my friend Stuart at Spanky's Roadhouse, located just to the west of the University of Denver campus. I was happy to find that Spanky's still has boneless chicken wings on it's happy hour menu for $7.00, whereas other places in Denver put "market price" on the menu and charge up to $20 for them. No doubt it has something to do with supply chain issues, probably involving Chinese chickens stuck on ships off the Port of Los Angeles waiting for their turn to be unloaded. Or something like that. Afterwards, we had coffee at Stella's Coffee Haus, an institution on Old South Pearl Street, where I took the photograph above of Stuart on the patio. The coffee there is pretty good, and we were surrounded by fellow hipsters enjoying a late afternoon brew, everyone there no doubt living the dream.

Happy Bastille Day!

Today is Bastille Day, the French national holiday that celebrates the Storming of the Bastille and the start of the French Revolution. In Paris, crowds gather on the Champ de Mars to see a huge fireworks display set off from the Eiffel Tower, seen in the photograph on the left that I took on a trip to Paris in May of 2019. At the time, I was saddened to see that the Eiffel Tower is now surrounded by security fences, including the plexiglass security walls seen in the photo. I guess that is now what has to be done to protect national treasures from terrorists and crazies, who these days seem to make up a disproportionate share of the world's population. Best not to think about it and just watch the fireworks display - if you are lucky enough to be in Paris on Bastille Day, of course.

Keeping The Faith. Kind Of...

My South Side heros, the Chicago White Sox, seem to be healthy again after their best players were on the injured list for most of the first half of the season. I was hoping they would immediately start a major winning streak, but that has not happened, at least not yet. I watched their game Sunday on MLB.com against the Detroit Tigers, who are a pretty bad team, but the best the Sox could do was split the series. Currently they are playing a series against the Cleveland Indians (I refuse to call them the Guardians - that name is stupid), who are mediocre, but the Sox will have to win their game today to split that series too. I am actually amazed the White Sox have achieved a 42-45 record so far, just 5.5 games out of first place. Will they be able to make a run for the playoffs during the second half of the season? I always remember what humorist Jean Shepherd once said about the team, which was that if he was in the army and had to ask for volunteers for an almost certain suicide mission, he would first ask if there were any White Sox fans among them, since they are used to hopeless situations. Still true after all these years.

Escaping The Heat

My sister Susan and I, along with her dog Blackberry, drove to Echo Lake on Mount Evans this past Sunday afternoon to escape the 101 degree heat down in Denver. Echo Lake is located at an altitude of 10,600 feet, 14 miles from the mountain town of Idaho Springs and 14 miles from the 14,265 foot summit of Mount Evans. It was jacket weather at Echo Lake, and since reservations are required - and a fee charged - to drive to the summit, we decided we had driven far enough. By the way, there are plans to change the name of Mount Evans to Mount Blue Sky, due to the role John Evans, the governor and superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Colorado Territory, played in the Sand Creek Massacre, where mostly Native American women and children were killed. But what I want to know is if this means Evans Avenue in Denver will become Blue Sky Avenue, and the city of Evanston, Illinois will be renamed Blue Sky, Illinois? Not to be confused with south suburban Blue Island, of course. And God knows the chaos that will take place if everything named Washington and Lincoln will have to be changed, too. I'm just sayin'. 

The July Mutt Of The Month

I took this month's photograph of the July Mutt of the Month on the patio of Homegrown Tap and Dough, located on Old South Gaylord Street here in Denver. This is a pleasant street of shops and restaurants in the heart of the Washington Park neighborhood. It is a very popular destination for dog owners, who either dine on a dog friendly patio like the one in the photograph above, or tie their dogs up in front of a restaurant and bar like Reivers and head inside for a libation or two. In fact, the entrance to Reivers is one of the best places in the city to take dog portraits, at least during the summer months. During the winter, I have to use all my cunning to find a suitable subject, although I do draw the line at dognapping. I think that is illegal in the State of Colorado, although I'll have to Google it to be sure.

It's July! Another Britannia Flashback!

My family used to drive up to Britannia, a resort on the Lake of Bays in Ontario, Canada every year from Chicago for a two week vacation, meeting up my Uncle Bill (my mother Mary's brother), Aunt Elsie, and their two children, who drove up from Cleveland. I myself wasn't born yet, and by the time I came along, they were going to different, less expensive places - first Lumina, which still exits, and then Torpitt Lodge. We went to Torpitt, on Sparrow lake near Orillia, Ontario, in August of each year, but when the family vacationed at Britannia, my sister Susan tells me they went in July, and the waitress staff would sing the star spangled banner in a mocking but humorous way every 4th of July. It was evidently a very nice resort, where people dressed for dinner each evening, and in the morning, someone would walk through the hall singing "wakee wakee, rise and shine, breakfast is served at 8:00, not 9:00." The photograph above is an enlarged and restored copy of the original photograph that I have used on this blog in the past. In the back row, from left to right, are my Aunt Elsie, Uncle Bill, mother Mary, and father Nelson. In the front row are my cousins Linda and Judy, sister Susan, Grandmother Louise, and Grandfather Will (my mother's parents). It is definitely time to head back up there for a look once gas prices go down. Which will probably be a long wait.

Kingdom Of Bones

I just finished reading Kingdom of Bones, the latest Sigma Force adventure novel by James Rollins. These stories center around a special unit of the US government called on to deal with extraordinary crises, usually involving something from the distant past that has come back to threaten the world. This latest adventure tells the story of an ancient virus that started in the heart of the Congo, and is rapidly spreading throughout Africa. The Sigma Force has been tasked with finding the source of this virus and a cure that will save the world. This book is not one of Rollins' best, but definitely keeps you turning the page. Most of all, it reminds me why I never want to visit Central Africa. Ever. Virus or no virus.

Ferrari Automobiles - A Necessity In Denver?

I spotted a Ferrari in front of me as I was driving down the street a few weeks ago, and whipped out my camera to take a photo of it. Just as I did, it slowed down to make a left turn, but happily, I did not rear-end it. If I did, I am sure my insurance company would have had me killed, since those things cost something like $400,000. But of course, they are a very practical car for Denver. If you need to get up to the mountains in a hurry, this is the vehicle for you. Plus, getting to and from the local grocery store will take only seconds - no worries about your bag of ice melting in the extreme heat on the way home. I would buy one myself, but I have an outside parking space at my condo, and considering that Denver has one of the highest car theft rates in the country, I doubt it would stay in that space for long. Plus, if it sustained any kind of damage whatsoever - even a scratch - I would probably experience, as my health care provider describes it on the recorded message when I call to make an appointment, a psychiatric emergency. And if I called 911 as instructed, I am not sure how the operator would react when I told him or her that the emergency was a scratch on my Ferrari. Best just to stick with my Hyundai.

Taking Advantage Of A Free Day At The Denver Botanic Gardens

Since it was a free day, my sister Susan and I visited the Denver Botanic Gardens yesterday afternoon. They are located just a short drive from my condo, but the place was packed - surprise! - and so it took a while to find a parking spot. What I want to know is why, when leaving a place, people get into their cars, turn on the engine, brake lights go on, but they never leave. Are they texting every known acquantance to let them know where they have been, where they are going now, and what they have been up to the past 5 years? Even when they know parking spaces are at a premium and people are waiting for them to move? No matter. We finally found a spot, arrived right on time, and proceeded to walk through the gardens. The photograph above is of the Monet Pool, adding a touch of Giverny to the place.

The last time I was at the botanic gardens was years ago when I went there with a group of friends and former University of Denver coworkers to see an exhibit by glass artist Dale Chihuly, which as I recall was quite impressive. All of the pieces were artistically lit, and I took many photographs, which I have stored on an external hard drive somewhere that I am sure I will be able to locate within the next 5 years or so. Still another advantage of the digital age - having thousands of computer files instead of actual photographs.

The Denver Botanic Gardens is divided into different types of gardens, including the Shofu-en Japanese Garden and the Victorian Secret Garden, seen in the photograph on the left. There is also a very popular concert series on summer evenings called Music at the Gardens, which this summer features artists such as Mary Chapin Carpenter (appearing tonight!) and Judy Collins. I myself have never attended one of these concerts, since the botanic garden charges pretty serious money to get in. Free days are much more my style. And I am not a cheapskate - just frugal.

A Chicago White Sox Update

I watched the Chicago White Sox play a series against the San Francisco Giants - in San Francisco, by the way - on MLB.com this past weekend and was happy to see that they won all three games. I really believed that as their top players returned from the injured list, the Sox would start their march into first place. And so I was sad to see that they have lost the first two games of a three game series against their division rivals, the first place Minnesota Twins. They are now 6.5 games back, and I am beginning to worry that they might not make the playoffs this year.

On the bright side, the White Sox broadcasting team, Jason Benetti (on the left in the photo on the right) and Steve Stone (on the right) are very entertaining, and they make watching the game fun no matter what the score. Stone was Harry Carey's broadcast partner for the Chicago Cubs games on WGN back in the day, and Benetti, although a relative newcomer, attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Chicago's south suburbs, and thus has bonafide Southside credentials. I read in Chicago Magazine that even Chicago Cubs fans are tuning in, which is high praise indeed. And happily, the next opponent for the White Sox are the Detroit Tigers, who are absolutely terrible. Perhaps things aren't so bad after all. 

Exploring New Terrain On The 4th Of July

My sister Susan and I, along with her dog Blackberry, decided to drive from Denver out to Golden yesterday afternoon to celebrate the 4th of July at New Terrain Brewing, located on the opposite side of Table Mesa from downtown Golden. It is a bit tricky to find, located in what appears to be an office park, but it is right next to the trailheads for hiking and biking to the top of the mesa. I suggested to  Susan that we hike to the summit, but because the temperature was hovering around 96 degrees, she declined. Instead, we sat down at a table shaded by an umbrella, had a beer, and admired the view. And I must say, the beer is pretty good there. I can definitely recommend the place, although I do encourage you to hike to the top of the mesa first to work up a thirst.

A Tall Ships Kind Of Fourth

Today is the 4th of July, and in searching for a photograph from the past that I know for a fact was taken on this holiday, I remembered some photos I took on Independence Day back in 1976, when the country was celebrating it's Bicentennial. Back then, I had recently rented my first apartment - in Forest Park - just to the west of Chicago and a block from the "L" station. Since I had the day off, I took the "L" downtown to see the tall ships, which had sailed to Chicago from a variety of countries to help Chicagoans celebrate the Bicentennial. And what do tall ships have to do with the Bicentennial? After 46 years, I still don't know, but enjoyed seeing them nonethless. The photograph on the left, by the way, is of the Christian Radich, a sailing ship out of Oslo, Norway, which was tied up at Chicago's Navy Pier, which at the time was an event space, but now is a popular entertainment center.

Of course, for many people, the 4th of July is all about fireworks, and so I am also including the photograph on the right of fireworks over Coors Field that I took - and posted on this blog - last 4th of July. I was not able to get down there for this year's fireworks, and so if anyone out there is grumbling about using the same photo twice, keep in mind that ALL fireworks look the same - you only think they are different while you are watching them. And on the plus side, I didn't have to hang around outside the ballpark for hours on end this year waiting for the damn Rockies game to end and the fireworks to begin. Last year, as I recall, the game went into extra innings, to my dismay. I did get to see all the hipsters nightclubbing down in LoDo, but trust me - that gets very old very quickly. In any case, Happy 4th of July Everyone!

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival

This weekend the Cherry Creek Arts Festival is taking place here in Denver. My sister Susan and I visited the festival yesterday afternoon, and I must say, I was happy to see it back at it's traditional location on the streets of Cherry Creek North, and on the 4th of July weekend. Last year, due to Covid, it was delayed until September, and took place in the parking lot of the old Cherry Creek Shopping Center, which definitely took something away from the ambiance. Artists come from all over the country to exhibit at this festival, and the artwork is very impressive, although a bit on the pricey side. Susan saw a statue she liked of - I think - Alice in Wonderland, perched on a large base with a pithy saying, but balked at the $10,000 price tag. I myself saw several photographers exhibiting work that I liked very much, mostly of people and street scenes from Cuba, Europe, and other parts of the world. They were a bit pricey, too. One photographer was exhibiting a series of photos titled "Still Life With Chicken," which seemed to be priced a bit more reasonably, but I decided to take a pass. Go figure.

There were also musical acts taking place at the festival, including one at the main stage, as seen in the photograph on the right, although Susan was not crazy about the group as we passed by. In fact, she insisted on getting as far away as possible from them. They were indeed loud, which seems to be the fashion with music these days, whether it is live or recorded music played at such places as restaurants and sporting events. I am not sure why it has to have such high volume, except, of course, that people don't have to talk with each other, since they can't be heard. After all, that is what texting is for. In any case, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival runs today until 6:00. Be sure to stop by if you can. And don't miss the live music. Be sure to bring your cellphone so you can communicate with your companions via text, even if you are standing right next to them.

Biking Down The 16th Street Mall

I went for a bike ride from my condo across the street from the University of Denver to Lower Downtown the other day, going down the 16th Street Mall along the way. Just for the hell of it, I took a self portrait in front of one of the fiberglass cows from the "cow parade" that took place here many years ago. This was a charity event that has been held in many cities throughout the world, including Chicago and Florence, where it was taking place when I visited there. Artists are chosen to paint on blank fiberglass cows, which are then placed on display throughout the city. Afterwards, they are auctioned off for charity, and there are still a number of them left around Denver, including two on the 16th Street Mall. I really enjoyed that event, and wish Denver would host it again. That is probably wishful thinking, unless I want to take the initiative and organize it myself. Like that is going to happen.

Saints Of The Shadow Bible

I just finished reading Saints of the Shadow Bible, by Ian Rankin. I picked it up at a Little Free Library just down the street from where I live. I read the summary of the story on the back cover, and it sounded pretty familiar, but as it turned out, I had never read it before. And it was actually very good. It is an older work, and centers around Edinburgh Detective Inspector Rebus coming out of retirement and working two cases - one investigating the the murder of Scotland's justice minister, and the other investigating the handling of a murder case by a detective team he was once part of many years ago. It was well written and a real page turner, and I liked it even more than Rankin's newer mysteries, which feature a much older, retired, and crankier Rebus, still sticking his nose into police department business. All Rankin's books are good, however, and so whichever one you pick up, you will no doubt like it.