Catch Me If You Can and The Glider Contrast at The Vic

by Craig Williamson

First published in the North Denver Tribune

Northwest Denver’s Victorian Theatre is presenting two shows in repertory, with Catch Me If You Can on weekends and The Glider on weeknights. The Vic’s Catch Me is a clever and comic mystery with many twists and turns, and The Glider, produced by And Toto Too, is a tear-jerker about three sisters working through issues and secrets after their mother’s funeral. We cover both of these productions in this review starting with the mystery. Read more

School board should focus on solutions to problems in existing schools

by Elisa Cohen |

First published in the North Denver Tribune

On June 26, 2008 the Denver Public Schools voted to approve two new charter schools under one charter application. The Envision Schools promise to bring small, digital media rich, project-based 6th through 12th grade high schools to Northwest and Northeast Denver. With the leadership from Donnell-Kay and the backing of Piton Foundation along with community support by Padres Unidos a community organization in North Denver, the school board grappled with the idea of saying yes to another Charter school knowing that in the past some charter schools have lived up to their promises, some have fared no better or worse than surrounding schools, and some have struggled miserably. And closing a failing charter school has also proven to be extremely difficult. Despite these concerns the DPS school board voted to approve these two schools as an attempt to provide excellence to 1,400 students. After spending a year teaching at North High, this decision by the school board saddened me, as I have yet to see a board meeting in which I see solutions to the problems facing existing schools. Read more

Affordable sweet and savory crepes satisfy in charming setting

by Elisa Cohen

First published in the North Denver Tribune

LODO – Much to my children’s sorrow, I am not a sweets lover. That means their pleas for dessert stops and candy shopping  fall on unsympathetic ears. So when they started advocating strongly to review Crepes ‘n Crepes for the newspaper, I put them off.  Apparently during some moment of weakness, I promised this French bistro to be our next review. Never wanting to be accused of lying, we donned our helmets and rode downtown for a late breakfast, early lunch. After enjoying a deliciously savory and filling lunch crepe, I was happy that my kids had been so insistent on this destination. Read more

Throwaway/Runaway Powerful and Meaningful

by Craig Williamson

First Published in the North Denver Tribune

At Riverfront Plaza, the nexus of expensive new brick and glass high-rise condo buildings and run-down areas that have traditionally attracted some of Denver’s homeless population, a group of young people staged the world premiere a performance of their own creation called Throwaway/Runaway. Through Artlab, a collaboration between the Platte Forum and Labyrinth Arts Academy, these youths and others spent a summer researching homelessness, interviewing homeless youth, and creating characters and a theatrical production based on who they met and what they learned. Read more

DPS Board approves Envision Charter School

by Elisa Cohen

First published in the North Denver Tribune

NORTH DENVER – In a effort to bring innovation to Denver Public Schools, the district put out a call for alternative schools to add to the educational mix available to Denver students. On June 26, the DPS School Board voted to approve two such schools with a stated desire to serve students in Northwest and Northeast Denver.  Although by the time the plan reached the vote, the charter application had eliminated the location as part of its application, several board members spoke of the need for such a middle school to serve students in Northwest and Near-Northeast Denver. The Envision Schools Colorado will be 6th-12th grade. This board approval means the new 6th-12th grade school will be up and running by 2009 with 6th and 7th grade students. The school will add grades each year until the school reaches its 705 enrollment goal. Read more