The Corner Grocery - Gone But Not Forgotten

I have passed by what used to be Joe's Grocery and Market up in Boulder, Colorado, a number of times now, and finally decided to stop and take a photograph of it a few weeks ago. During the 19th and early 20th Century, before the advent of supermarkets, the corner market was where people used to buy their groceries, and many of these buildings are still around, put to new uses. I am not sure what Joe's Grocery has become, but my guess is it has been turned into a residence, what with the privacy fence along its eastern side. Whatever it is, the good news is that the building itself still exists

My favorite former corner grocery is The Fair Market, seen in the photograph on the right. This building is located in the Lower Highlands neighborhood of Denver (LoHi), which was founded as a separate city back in 1858, but later annexed by Denver. LoDo is filled with Victorian homes and is now one of Denver's most popular neighborhoods. When I first saw this building, it was the home of Gallery Sink, a photography studio and gallery run by Mark Sink, a local photographer and the founder of Denver's Month of Photography, which takes place this coming March. When I took the photograph, it was home to Studio David, although I never actually saw it when it was open to the public. These days, who knows what it is? But again, the building itself is still there.

Just a short distance from my condo across the street from the University of Denver is another former market, now the home of an insurance agency, and seen in the photograph on the left. I have walked past this building many times, and knew it was pretty old, but had no idea it was formerly a grocery store until I was going through the Denver Public Library's historic photograph collection and ran across an old photograph of it.

I am not sure when the photograph on the right was taken but recognized the building immediately. Back then it was called the University Park Market. University Park is the neighborhood that was built just to the east of the University of Denver when it moved to its current location back in 1892. It is a pretty upscale place these days and still has a lot of late 19th Century Victorian homes, although a lot of the houses in the neighborhood have been torn down in recent years to build huge new residences. In fact, across the street from this building is Buchtel House, the former residence of Henry Buchtel, who was chancellor of the University of Denver from 1900 to 1920 and also the 17th governor of Colorado. The house was acquired by DU in 1927 and was once the official residence of the chancellor. But recently, DU has decided to sell it. They hoped to get top dollar for it, but despite opposition by DU, the neighborhood has become an historic district, meaning whoever buys the place can't tear it down and put up something more suitable, and much larger, thus lowering its value to a buyer. Poor DU. Foiled again.

Charlie Blackmon Is Back! After Just 4 Months!

I attended the Colorado Rockies' final game of the season at Coors Field last September, and the highlight was celebrating the retirement of long-time outfielder Charlie Blackmon, seen in the photograph on the left with his young son. But just the other day, it was announced that Blackmon has been hired by the Colorado Rockies as a special assistant to the general manager. Blackmon recently sold his home in Denver's Belcaro neighborhood, and I was wondering whether he might be regretting that decision, but when I went deeper into the article, I read that Blackmon would be spending much of his time scouting prospects in his home state of Georgia. In addition, he will be working with the team at spring training in Arizona and with young players at the Rockies' minor league parks. In other words, he won't be spending much time here in Denver, which is a shame, since he was the most fan friendly player on the team, and as far as I can tell, a really nice guy. But at least he is still part of the organization. 

Happy Hour At The Wynkoop! Always A Treat!

My sister Susan, seen in the photograph on the left, and I stopped in at Denver's Wynkoop Brewing Company for happy hour this past Friday night. The Wynkoop is Denver's first brewpub, started by former mayor, governor, and current U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (Hick to his friends) back in 1988. It is located in the J.S. Brown Mercantile Building, built in 1899, and this brewpub helped transform the Lower Downtown (LoDo) neighborhood into the Denver's top entertainment district. And sitting at a table in the bar area, you really do seem to be back in the 19th century, except for all those televisions over the bar, of course.

But I don't mind a few modern conveniences. Years ago, I visited the lounge on the second floor of the Buckhorn Exchange, which has been in business since 1893. It was Saturday night, and someone was playing authentic music from that era on, I believe, a harpsicord. I ordered a pint of beer and found out they had no beers on tap. Harpsicord music and no beer on tap might be authentic 19th Century experiences, but I much prefer the Wynkoop experience to that, where you can get a happy hour pint of IPA for $6.00 and enjoy a lively LoDo atmosphere. And I can't help feeling that if the Buckhorn Exchange truly wanted to recreate the atmosphere of the Wild West, they should go with candles and gas lamps instead of electricity, and have people use an outhouse out back when nature calls. As for me, I'm happy to stick with the Wynkoop.

Boulder In The Snow

Boulder, Colorado is a beautiful place any time of year, but it especially pretty in the snow. We had a little bit of snow here in Denver this past weekend, but as usual, Boulder received a lot more, due to its location right up against the Flatirons. I drove up there last Sunday, when the sun was finally shining again, although the temperatures were still in the 20s. The photograph on the left, which I took from my car window, shows the Pearl Street Mall under a coating of snow. The main streets were all plowed, but on West Pearl Street the parking spaces were not, and the snow looked pretty damn deep. I was afraid that if I stopped to take a photograph and parked there, I would never be able to get out again.

Instead, I headed to Chatauqua Park, located off Baseline Road, directly underneath the Flatirons. And yes, all the parking spaces there were indeed plowed out, allowing me to finally park and take a few photographs, including of Chatauqua's Dining Hall, as seen in the photo on the right. I noticed that there were no diners on the front porch, which is usually the prime spot to sit. I have had brunch there a number of times, but never in the winter.  Fun is fun, but the view is not worth dining out in the cold.

The photograph on the left shows the snow-covered bear in front of the Chatauqua General Store. I have been in the General Store exactly once, when I had parked in downtown Boulder and biked up the hill from there to Chatauqua Park. It was in the middle of summer, and the ride took a lot of energy. And so, I was dying of thirst by the time I arrived. I went into that general store and was happily able to buy a coke, although I do remember it did seem a bit pricey. But not enough to keep me from buying it. I am a cheapskate, but not insane. Crazy, but not insane.

And I must say, the parking spaces along the start of the hiking trails were all filled, and lots of people were out and about, including the fellow on cross-country skis in the photograph on the right. The park in front of the Dining Hall is relatively flat, but just to the west the trails quickly get pretty steep as they wind into the Flatirons. It has been quite a few years since I last hiked in them, and only once did I try it during the winter. I wound up almost falling down quite a few times, as I remember. As humorist Dave Barry famously says, "The problem with winter sports is - follow me closely here - they take place in the winter." I can't agree more.

Remembering Dana Crawford

Historic Preservationist Dana Crawford passed away last Thursday at the age of 93. Crawford was responsible for preserving much of what was left of Denver's historic buildings after the Denver Urban Renewal Authority leveled much of downtown Denver. Back in the 1960s, Crawford's car overheated in the 1400 block of Larimer Street, which at the time was Denver's skid row. The urban renewal people thought that if they leveled all the buildings on that street, including the Windsor Hotel and Tabor Opera House, the bums would just disappear. But Crawford looked around that particular block and immediately knew it needed to be revitalized. She fought very hard to save it, eventually making it the most vibrant part of downtown Denver and seen in the photograph on the left.

Crawford also was instrumental in preserving Denver's Lower Downtown neighborhood, which is now the city's main entertainment district. In conjunction with that, she redeveloped both the Oxford Hotel and Union Station. She also worked on projects in Pueblo, Trinidad, and Idaho Springs, Colorado, where she was most recently helping to turn the Argo Mine there into a major tourist destination. And not only were the places she restored important historical areas, Crawford also had a vision of how they could become both important parts of the community and economic successes. She will be missed.

My Mother's 109th Birthday!

Today would have been my mother Mary's 109th birthday if she was still alive today. She passed away back in 2009 at the age of 93, after living almost 30 years at her condo in Stuart, Florida. That is the place where she was happiest, and where she made more friends than at any other time in her life, which is why I'm featuring a photograph I took of her in front of that condo next to some of the flowers she planted around the place. My sister Susan and I took back that condo, which we had been renting out for the past 15 years, this past June, and it is much the way she left it, except for a few necessary updates. Lots of happy memories every time we head back there.

Two Days Left To See The Denver City And County Building's Holiday Lights

Denver's City and County Building's annual holiday lighting display is a popular sight to see during the holidays here in Denver, and has been since 1922, when a city-employed electrician named Johnny Malpiede first came up with the idea. Some people think the display is a bit tacky (including my ex-wife Lisa), but as far as I am concerned, if it isn't flashing, it is perfectly fine. And for a reason I don't understand, it is a tradition in Denver to keep holiday lights, including at the City and County Building, up until the end of the National Western Stock Show, the last day of which is this Sunday. So be warned, holiday lights lovers - you have only two days left to come down to Civic Center Park, admire that fabulous lighting display, and take a few photos, such as the one seen in the photograph above. Plus, just to let you know, if anyone still has any holiday lights up after this Sunday, expect to get some strange looks. Trust me, I know. They don't call me "Crazy Old Man Hoyt" for nothing.

The Great Hall Has Been Renovated! Again!

Back in 2012, Denver's Union Station underwent a major renovation and was turned into an upscale gathering place featuring the 112 room Crawford Hotel and assorted restaurants and retailers. The central part of the building, "The Great Hall," which was once a huge waiting room, was transformed into a space with couches, chairs, desks, and other furnishings where people could sit, eat, drink, and work, and was nicknamed "Denver's Living Room." The old ticket counter, part of the Terminal Bar - named for the original Terminal Bar, a Jack Kerouac favorite, once located a few blocks away - was turned into a window where you could order a drink and then take a seat anywhere you wanted. Last year, that central space underwent still another renovation, at a cost of 11 million dollars, and was walled off for 6 months. 

Yesterday, after dropping off my wristwatch to be repaired, I stopped into Union Station to have a look. The Great Hall looked just as cozy as ever, but what caught my eye were all the signs that instructed you to wait to be seated by the hostess. Did that mean you can no longer order a pint at the ticket counter and sit wherever you want? I was going to ask the hostess, but decided to wait until I got home and look it up on the internet. Evidently, a lot of other people had the same question that I did. Many just sat down anyway and weren't bothered. Evidently, the aim is for only paying customers to use the space, which makes sense to me. That's how a retail business works. But I suspect the real reason for the signs are to keep away the homeless, who have been known to frequent the place. And by the way, after the original remodel, the actual waiting area for train passengers was reduced to a row of benches along the back wall of the Great Hall. I couldn't help but notice yesterday that that row of benches has been halved after the most recent renovation. And yes - it looked like those passengers waiting for the Amtrak train to Chicago were packed pretty close together. It actually made it look like trains were popular again. Perhaps that is the whole point.

Wash Park In The Winter

No matter the day of the week, Denver's Washington Park is usually filled with people walking, jogging, biking, you name it. Even during the winter. And year round, guys of all ages wear shorts no matter the temperature, no doubt to show what a wonderful year-round climate Denver has, even if it does happen to be 20 degrees. Of course, during the recent polar vortex, which was felt over much of the country, the park was mostly empty. When the high temperature is 9 degrees, and the low minus 10, with minus 25 wind chill temperatures, even the heartiest among Denverites decide to stay indoors. However, despite the cold, I myself went for a short walk in Wash Park on one of those bitter days. Only the geese were there during my short stay, who for some reason have decided to stay in Denver year-round. I think that is why the phrase "bird brain" was coined.

And what, you may ask, was I doing there in those dangerous temperatures? Taking photographs, of course. But instead of walking to the park from my condo and then around Smith Lake, as seen in the photograph on the right, I just drove there, walked a short way into the park, and got right back into my car. The building in the background of the photo, by the way, is the Washington Park Boathouse, which is now used as an event space during the summer, especially for weddings. It is open to the elements, but with the budget problems Denver is experiencing these days, I would think the city would want to rent the place out for weddings in the winter, too. At a big discount, of course, to help lower the high cost of those nuptials. A bit chilly, but think of the money all those young couples could save. Just mention on the invitation that long underwear under formal wear is recommended, and all will be fine. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Hot Property

I just finished reading Robert B. Parker's Hot Property, a Spenser novel written by Mike Lupica, who is continuing Robert Parker's Boston private detective series for the Parker estate. This is the second book in the series written by Lupica, replacing Ace Atkins in that role. I myself am glad that they are keeping these Spencer stories going, and I really enjoyed reading Hot Property. This time, Rita Fiore, Spencer's friend and a prominent defense attorney, has been shot and is clinging to life, and Spenser, along with his sidekick Hawk and Paradise police chief Jessie Stone, are determined to find the shooter. Thus begins a story that involves cutthroat politics and ruthless real estate developers who will do anything to achieve their goals. It is an exciting story, and I recommend you pick up a copy today.

The Polar Vortex Is Over! At Least In Denver

Most of the country has been dealing with a polar vortex this past weekend, many experiencing subzero temperatures. But starting today, temperatures will begin warming up. While Chicago remains close to 0 today, here in Denver, after 10 below zero temperatures last night (with a 25 below zero wind chill), Denver will reach 40 degrees this afternoon. As you can see from the photograph above, yesterday was not a very busy day for Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, which usually has a line out the door. But today, I am sure people will be back in shorts, tee-shirts, and flip-flops, waiting in line for their ice cream (people are indeed crazy here). And I can't wait to join them - in July.

Inauguration Day 2025!

Yes! It is finally here! Inauguration Day 2025! Donald Trump returns to the White House for another 4 years. And possibly more if he has his way. What exciting times we will be experiencing. Mass roundups and deportations, wars with Greenland and Denmark, Panama, and even Canada. Yes! Canada! The end of birthright citizenship. The arrests, trials, and imprisonment of the enemies within - the Joe Biden crime family, the Obamas, the Clintons, Nancy Pelosi, Mike Pence, the traitorous Liz Cheney, just to name a few. All necessary to "Make America Great Again!" And I have heard rumors that plans are well under way to add his face to Mount Rushmore, which will no doubt soon look exactly like in the photograph above. Can't wait.

Celebrating My 72nd Birthday Today

Well, actually, celebrating is not exactly the right word. Pondering is more like it. How did I get from being my most charming best, as seen in the photograph on the left of my Grandmother Spillard (my mother Mary's mother) and myself back in Chicago's South Side Brainerd neighborhood, to where I am now? When I was working at the University of Denver Bookstore as the Finance Manager, my friend and co-worker Doug sometimes referred to me as "Crazy old man Hoyt." He was, of course, kidding (I think), but now it is more true than not. Best to just not think about it. In other words, "Keep calm and carry on." You can quote me on that. I just made that expression up.

Celebrating My Sister Susan's Birthday!

Today is my sister Susan's birthday, and so in honor of this I am featuring a photograph that I took of her at Stuart Beach years ago. Back then she really enjoyed going into the ocean with that boogie board. Sadly, I threw it away after we began renting out our Stuart, Florida condo which we inherited from our mother Mary. Now that we have taken the condo back, she keeps telling me how much she misses that boogie board. I keep offering to take her to Walmart and buy her a new one and even give her a push out to sea the next time we are at Stuart Beach, but so far, she hasn't taken me up on it. Sadly, since we are currently in Denver, we will not be able to celebrate her birthday at Stuart Beach today. It will have to be a dinner and a movie instead of taking a boogie board out to sea, but perhaps that is for the best. Susan is no kid anymore, but then again, neither am I.

Lunching With Stuart At Qdoba Mexican Eats

I had lunch with my friend Stuart, seen in the photograph above, yesterday afternoon at Qdoba Mexican Eats on South Colorado Boulevard here in Denver. Once again, instead of baseball, we talked politics, what with Donald Trump about to return to the presidency this coming Monday.  I suspect Stuart isn't talking baseball right now because he doesn't believe any of us will be around by Opening Day with Trump back in charge. I myself think we will still be around, but it will be a very scary 4 years. We will all just have to have faith that Republicans have a line they will not cross, and rein Trump in when he decides to invade Greenland, Canada, and Panama (all at the same time?) among other scary ideas. Will they realize that destroying the country in order to save it will not work? Maybe. Maybe not. Best answer I've got.

Visiting The National Western Stock Show - Part II

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog post, I went to the National Western Stock Show this past Tuesday to take a few photographs. Grounds admission was free that day, which is too tempting to miss. However, the downside is that Tuesday is only the 4th day of the stock show, and many of the animals have not yet arrived. The cattle barn was half empty, and the cattle in the other half were not interested in anything but eating, with the exception of the one in the photograph on the left, who seemed like it really wanted to have its portrait taken. And by the way, why the hell do they put rings in their noses? And is that real gold? Many questions, no answers.

There were a fair number of goats in the pens at Murdock's Junior Barn, where I took the photograph on the right. All of the goats in this area are raised by youngsters, and there was a stock show competition taking place in that same barn, although so many people were crowded around the arena that it was impossible to see anything. All of those goats were wearing masks, by the way. Are they especially susceptible to Covid? And why is that goat wearing what looks like an American flag? I understand they want to keep their animals warm, but a flag outfit? I imagine that since all of the exhibitors at the show are from rural areas, most of them must be Trump supporters. Hence the flag suit. A sad state of affairs in our country when even goats become politicized.

The best place to take photographs is, of course, at what is called the Petting Farm, where I took the photograph on the left. The only problem is that this is a very popular spot, and the compound is relatively small, making for a very crowded environment. And all those animals keep running around looking for people who have food, bought at the entrance, to feed them. If they don't stand still, it is really hard to get a good photo, which is why you have to take at least 500 photographs in the hope of getting several decent shots. But no problem. It's the digital age. No longer any need to buy expensive film. Just expensive external hard drives to store all those photographs.

The horse barn was completely empty on Tuesday, except for a few stalls that feature longhorn cattle and a few horses that are exhibited by the stock show itself, such as the horse in the photograph on the right. All in all, it was a fun experience visiting the stock show this year, although I must admit the only places I visited were the livestock stalls on the ground level and the Petting Farm up on the 3rd floor. Of course, to get there you have to go past something like 50,000 booths selling farm equipment, western wear, cowboy hats, various food items, and God knows what else. But still, I definitely recommend paying a visit to the National Western before it ends on January 26th. Just be sure to avoid attending a rodeo. As my old boss at the University of Denver Bookstore always says, "once is interesting, twice is a mistake." And even once was too much for me.

Visiting The 2025 National Western Stock Show

I visited the National Western Stock Show yesterday afternoon to take photographs of the animals, and happily, found many willing to pose for the camera, such as the sheep in the photograph on the left. Tuesday was a free day for grounds admission, which is my favorite price point. Plus, since it is a weekday, you can always find a parking spot in the lot next to the Denver Coliseum, where the event is being held. On weekends, or at night, you often have to park at Coors Field and take a shuttle to the Coliseum, which is a real pain. In any case, I spent several hours taking photos in the livestock barn, the petting zoo, and also outside, where those sheep were hanging out.

I took the photograph on the right at the petting zoo, which was packed with young children and their parents, not to mention a large number of animals. If you wanted, you could buy food at the entrance to feed them, and believe me, they were not shy about pushing you out of the way to get to a person who actually had food. And it was pretty damn hard to get a good photo, since as soon as you tried to take one, they would wander over to another possible food provider.

The little guy on the left was willing to let me take its photo even if I didn't have any food to give it. That little goat would make a great house pet, although my HOA would probably nix the idea. I suppose I could always try to pass it off as a mixed breed dog, but it would be a tough sell. In any case, I am glad I went to the show yesterday, because, in addition to it being a free day, an Arctic cold front is expected to hit Denver in a few days, and the temperature will plummet. It was cold enough walking around in that livestock barn with temperatures in the 30s. But it was still a fun experience. The stock show will take place in Denver through January 26th, and I definitely recommend everyone to visit it. Just be sure to bring a jacket.

The Waiting

I just finished reading The Waiting, Michael Connelly's latest Ballard and Bosch novel. Renee Ballard is in charge of the Cold-Case Unit of the Los Angeles Police Department. This series features Ballard and former LAPD detective Harry Bosch, who assists her on especially complex cases. However, Connelly has the irritating habit of aging his characters in real time, and since Harry is now in his 70s, he has been considering killing Harry off, which would be a shame, since Harry has been his most popular character for many years. This time, Harry does indeed appear in the book and helps Ballard on a non-LAPD issue - recovering her stolen police badge - which leads to the investigation of a possible mass shooting. Meanwhile, Ballard is working on several cold cases, including one known as the Pillowcase Rapist case and another focusing on the infamous Black Dahlia affair, on which she is assisted by Harry Bosch's daughter Maddie. Could Connelly be planning to replace Harry permanently in this series with daughter Maddie? Only time will tell. As usual, Connelly writes a very good story, and I did enjoy reading it. All I ask is that Connelly not kill off Harry, no matter how old he gets.

Chicago's Beverly Neighborhood: A Tourist Destination? Who Woulda Thunk It?

My web browser is Microsoft Edge, and its home page is filled with articles and news items that continuously change throughout the day. One of the sites they frequently use is an online travel magazine called Islands.com, which recently featured an article featuring the South Side Chicago neighborhood of Beverly. Beverly is located just to the west of the Brainerd neighborhood, where I grew up, and I am very familiar with Beverly. The article calls it one of the most historic and beautiful neighborhoods in Chicago, which I have to agree with, but a destination for tourists? Seriously? Back in 2010, I returned to Chicago for a visit for the first time in 30 years and found both Brainerd and Beverly still very nice. The article hypes the historic homes located there, as well as the Irish roots of the neighborhood. The photograph on the left that I took back in 2010 shows Beverly's train stop, with the business district on 103rd Street in the background. What used to be the Rock Island when I lived in Chicago, which takes you downtown, is now called Metra.

To me, the nicest part of Beverly is Longwood Drive, a beautiful tree-lined street which runs along a hillside, on which are located big houses with large, beautifully landscaped lots. The first buildings date from 1873, and in 1887 a real estate developer named Robert C. Givins built Givins Castle, as seen in the photograph on the right, a replica of a castle Givins had visited in Ireland. The Chicago Architecture Center gives tours of the neighborhood, including a stop at this building. I considered taking this tour when I returned to Chicago in 2010, but there were none available at the time. I checked their web site just recently, and there are still no tours available, and so definitely check well in advance if you want to take one. The article also hypes the Irish pubs and microbreweries in the neighborhood, most of which were established long after I moved to Colorado. What I do remember is the Original Rainbow Cone, which has been in business since 1926 and which our family went to when I was a kid. I also remember the Dan Ryan Woods, which I used to bike through during the summer.

Beverly also has 4 Frank Lloyd Wright homes, one of which is the Raymond W. Evans House, located on Longwood Drive and seen in the photograph on the left. I also remember Longwood Drive as the location of the annual Memorial Day Parade. I played the trumpet back when I attended Fort Dearborn Grammar School, and every year our band would take part in that parade, marching down the street past all those big homes. And not too far away was Ridge Park, where my sister Susan took swimming lessons at the pool there, and where I attended day camp one summer. I even think they might have given me a few swimming lessons, too, but memories of that specific summer are sketchy.

The Morgan Park neighborhood borders Beverly, and right around the corner from Longwood Drive is the Morgan Park Library, in front of which I am posing in the photograph on the right. This was the library our family patronized, well known to both my sister Susan and me. I remember my father getting large stacks of books each time we went there. He would set them on a table next to his chair in the den, put a bunch of Fannie May candies in a circle on the smoking stand in front of him, and go through the books one by one. It is still a library, at least the last time I visited, but was closed the day I was there. Just down the street from there was (and possibly still is) the church that my Grandmother and Grandfather Hoyt attended every Sunday. And so, as you can tell, to us Beverly, and of course Brainerd, was just a place where we went about the business of living our lives, not a tourist destination. But like I said, it is indeed a very nice place to visit if you happen to be in the area. Especially now that they have an Irish bar and restaurant with an outdoor beer garden called Cork and Kerry, and a microbrewery called Open Outcry Brewing Company. I'll definitely check them out the next time I am in town. Be sure to check out the most recent article about Beverly at https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/a-lively-chicago-neighborhood-brims-with-irish-culture-art-craft-beer-and-historic-homes/ar-AA1w1oKc?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=44aa822099fb423b8670db97827fff59&ei=44 and a Chicago Magazine article about Beverly at https://classicchicagomagazine.com/exploring-the-best-of-beverly-in-chicago-il/. Hell, perhaps it really is a tourist destination.

Watching Leeds Play Harrogate With Mark And The Leeds United Colorado Supporters

I went with my friend Mark, seen in the photograph above, to watch Leeds United play Harrogate Town at Denver's DNVR Bar with the Leeds United Colorado Supporters yesterday morning. It was an Emirates FA Cup match, once one of the most prestigious soccer tournaments in the UK, and Bo, the head of the group, hoped to get 100 people to DNVR to watch the game. And I think he succeeded. Virtually every seat in the house was taken, and Leeds won the match by a score of 1-0. This group is a friendly bunch, and one couple even gave up their seats to Mark and me (probably due to my advanced age) so that we could sit in front. Everyone was in a great mood, especially since Leeds dominated most of the game. DNVR Bar is a popular place to watch sports in Denver and was featured on the local television news last Sunday when it was packed with Broncos fans watching the final game of the season. It looked like it was pretty wild there, and I suspect it will be even wilder today when the Broncos play their first playoff game in 9 years. Be there or be square, as we hipsters say. Otherwise, see you at the next Leeds soccer match.

Dining With Wally And Susan At Poppies

My sister Susan and I had dinner with Wally, my friend and former University of Denver Bookstore colleague last night at Poppies, located on South Colorado Boulevard here in Denver. Wally made reservations for us, which was very wise, since the place was packed, and it was a 45-minute wait for a table. And that would mean being seated after happy hour - talk about disaster. In any case, Wally is doing well and "baching it" while his wife Linda is in San Francisco visiting their son Peter and his wife, who are expecting their first child, this after their daughter Lydia and her husband, who live right across the bay in Walnut Creek, just welcomed their first child. Wally is still wondering what he will ultimately be called now that he is a grandfather. Gramps, Grampy, PopPop, Boompa? The possibilities are endless. But I do like Boompa.

Poppies has been around a long time and has a reputation as being popular with an older crowd. There is no music blasting from speakers there, thank God, and so you can have a conversation with the person sitting across the table from you without having to text each other on your phone. However, last night it looked like a very diverse age group was there. We all enjoyed our dinners, and it was fun catching up with what Wally has been up to. However, there were so many people there (it was a Friday night, after all) that both Wally and Susan thought the din was a little too much. I myself, being a sophisticated hipster type, did not mind. After all, those are my people. Right? Right?

The 2025 National Western Stock Show Parade - Where's The Beef?

I went to take photographs at the National Western Stock Show on 17th Street in downtown Denver yesterday and was surprised and disappointed to find that the most popular part of the parade, cowboys driving 30 Longhorn cattle through the heart of the financial district, did not happen. I stayed around hoping that the Longhorns would come at the end of the parade, instead of the front, but no such luck. It had snowed that morning, and the winds were pretty damn strong, but by the time the parade began, the snow had stopped and the streets were dry. And so, my only thought was "what gives?"

For some reason, I have always thought that those Longhorns were kept at the National Western Complex, located a few miles to the northeast of downtown Denver, and just driven over in livestock trailers, or perhaps via Uber. But later on, I was watching 9news Denver and chief meteorologist Kathy Sabine, who was the Grand Marshal of the parade this year, seen waving to the crowd in the photograph on the right. She talked about how dangerous whiteout conditions had kept the Longhorns from appearing. Evidently, those Longhorns come from a ranch located 10 miles east of Colorado Springs, over 70 miles to the south of Denver, requiring them to be driven over the Palmer Divide, which at an altitude of 7,300 feet can be quite treacherous during a snowstorm with high winds, which explains the whiteout conditions.  I don't see why they couldn't have put everyone up at the local Motel 6 the day before, setting up temporary holding pens in the parking lot. But what can I say? Nobody ever asks me for advice. Their loss.

In any case, considering the cold, there was a good turnout for the parade, including parents with their kids, including newborns, and lots of people wearing cowboy hats and their finest western wear. And by the way, in the background of the photograph on the left is the Oxford Hotel, in which is located the Cruise Room Bar, which opened the day after prohibition ended in 1933 and features stunning Art Deco decor. And probably much warmer than watching the parade out on 17th Street. 

The January Issue Of Chicago Magazine

I just finished reading the January issue of Chicago Magazine. Although this month's issue did not have any nostalgic articles about events from the city's past, which I especially enjoy, it did have some interesting articles. The cover story was "Top Docs," which I did not bother looking at, since I have not lived in Chicago since 1981 and the odds of me needing a doctor there are very slim (and have I just jinxed myself? Hopefully not). There was also an article about "Our 25 Favorite Things To Eat Right Now," which I did peruse, finding a number of items that actually seemed edible. Surprise! The "312" section featured an 1889 Victorian home for sale in west suburban Elgin, which features eight bedrooms, a tower, turret, and wraparound porch, listed at just under $600,000. Talk about a bargain - the small wood-framed homes here in Denver's University Park neighborhood are selling for almost that, thanks to Denver's crazy, overpriced real estate market. Of course, property taxes in Illinois are at out of this world levels these days, and so what might seem like a bargain perhaps really isn't. Finally, there was a piece in the "My Neighborhood" section by John R. Daley (one of THE Daleys?) about favorite places in his Bridgeport neighborhood. Amazingly, Guaranteed Rate Field, the home of the Chicago White Sox, is not one of them. Go figure.

Five Weeks Until Spring Training!

Pitchers and catchers report to baseball spring training camps in Florida and Arizona in just over five weeks, with the rest of the team reporting a few days later. Early predictions are that my South Side heroes, the Chicago White Sox, will lose 114 games this coming season, while my adopted hometown team, the Colorado Rockies, will lose 105. I know that both teams will probably not be playoff contenders, but will they really be that bad? Who are the geniuses who make these predictions, anyway? Do they see what a team does last year and add or subtract a few games in predicting their 2025 record? It would not shock me if the Sox and Rockies are that bad, but anything can happen in baseball, so I will keep a positive attitude. At least for now. As for those North Siders, the Chicago Cubs, they will, of course, tease their fans with the possibility of a postseason run, and then blow it during the last week or month of the season. A heartwarming tradition every Cubs fan is familiar with. In any case, I took the photograph above of Coors Field yesterday afternoon. Hopefully it will not look like that on Opening Day. I do not plan on attending the game, since due to the advent of "dynamic pricing," tickets that ordinarily would cost $30 will be selling for over $100 that day, and with my luck, if I did buy a ticket to the game, it would probably wind up being even colder and wetter. In any case, it is definitely time to start thinking about baseball once again. Holy Cow!

The January Mutt Of The Month

I took the photograph above last month of the January Mutt of the Month at Maria's Cafe in downtown Stuart, Florida, a popular and inexpensive breakfast spot on Osceola Street. Sitting on the outdoor patio, you get a ringside view of all that is happening in the downtown area, which becomes more and more crowded as seasonal tourists and residents (the snowbirds) head south for the winter. People are very friendly in Stuart, and as you can tell from the photograph, so are their dogs, including the one above, who was more than happy to pose for a portrait. See you again at Maria's in a few months, guy.

Epiphany!

Today is Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, the day the 3 wise men arrived in Bethlehem. This is also the last day you can leave your Christmas tree and decorations up without neighbors starting to remark on it. Of course, here in Denver, it is considered good etiquette to leave your Christmas decorations up during the National Western Stock Show, which takes place at the Denver Coliseum from January 11th thru January 26th.  And that is why the Denver City and Country Building keeps its colorful light display up thru the last day of the stock show. Which means I myself can leave our Christmas tree up until then, too, before people start referring to me as crazy old man Hoyt again. Life is good! And by the way, the photograph above is of my mother Mary taken during Christmas 1996 at my sister Susan and brother-in-law George's condo up in Fort Collins. And Susan, I might add, used to leave her tree up some years until Easter. And they call me crazy?

Sunset Over The St. Lucie River - Counting The Days

As I have mentioned in previous blog posts, my sister Susan and I had to leave Stuart, Florida earlier than expected when I had to fly back to Denver to repair a detached retina. Now that the operation is over, I have to wait for at least 2 months to fly again, due to some sort of gas (laughing gas, classical gas?) that was injected into my left eye. I very much miss heading to the Sailor's Return Restaurant's patio (the Jolly Sailor Pub to me) along the St. Lucie River, just a mile from our condo. There is nothing like having a beer and watching the sunset over the river, as seen in the photograph above, but between going blind and waiting a few months to head back to Stuart and having that beer, I am perfectly okay putting that trip off. Besides, this time of year, it can get pretty nippy there, too. Even I draw the line at having a beer with a cold breeze coming off the water. That is just for tourists.

A Death In Cornwall

I just finished reading A Death in Cornwall, Daniel Silva's latest Gabriel Allon thriller. Silva writes a very good mystery, and this novel is no exception. It begins as Allon visits London to attend a reception celebrating the return of a stolen self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh, which Allon had a major hand in recovering. While there, he gets a request from a Devon and Cornwall police detective, an old friend who Allon knew as a boy, to come to Cornwall to help investigate the murder of an art historian. This art historian was hired to find a Picasso that was looted during the Holocaust, and when the rightful heir to the painting, who hired her, dies in Paris under mysterious circumstances, Allon realizes there is a very dangerous adversary out there that must be stopped. He assembles a team to find both the painting and the killers, and soon learns it is a much more sinister conspiracy than originally thought. This book moves at a very quick pace, and I found it a very enjoyable, exciting read. I recommend you pick up a copy today.

The 2025 CTA Historical Calendar Is Here!

Yes! It's true! And right on time! The 2025 Chicago Transit Authority Historical Calendar has been released and is now available online for anyone to download onto their computer. This is an annual calendar that features historic photographs of both Chicago and the various forms of public transit the CTA has used over the years. This year's edition features many photographs from days gone by, including one of the Argyle 'L' Station back in 1910, when it was still located at ground level. Looking at these photographs, I am still amazed that years ago, automobile manufacturers bought up many transit systems throughout the country and closed them down, in order to increase car sales. And now, many cities have had to put them all back again. Here in Denver, when the RTD West Light Rail Line first opened, it was reported that it was built on the path of a previous rail line that was closed down years ago. Talk about the short-term thinking. In any case, be sure to download your copy of the 2025 CTA Historical Calendar today at https://www.transitchicago.com/historicalcalendar/. And not only can you download this year's edition, but you can also download all the past calendars, too. For those like me who grew up on the South Side of Chicago, I recommend checking out the photographs in the 2007 calendar. I especially like the one of the streetcar on the 111th Street hill near the Beverly neighborhood, taken back in June of 1948. Happily, except for the streetcar, the neighborhood looks exactly the same. It just needs for the CTA to put that streetcar back in service. Do it now, CTA!