El Senor Sol hits and misses

by Elisa Cohen

JEFFERSON PARK – El Señor Sol sits grandly in the large, old brick building that formerly housed the Zang Brewery across the street from the Denver Aquarium. Its sign proclaims that this place serves REAL Mexican food. We checked it out this past week and found that we enjoyed several of the meals, but we also found others bland and unremarkable. Read more

Su Teatro Tells Painful but Important Story with Braided Sorrow

by Craig Williamson

El Centro Su Teatro brings the world premiere of poet Marisela Trevino Orta’s first play to the stage in Denver.  Braided Sorrow interweaves the heartbreaking story of the murders of young women in Ciudad Juarez and the Mexican folk character of La Llorona.  While this play and production have some shortcomings, this is an important story to tell, and a powerful way to tell it.  Read more

Amending Colorado’s Constitution

by Shiloh Tillemann-Dick

COLORADO – Register to vote by October 6. If you want one, ask for a mail-in ballot by October 28. Or go to the polls on November 4. Hopefully, somewhere between registering to vote and voting, you will pull up a chair and start reading. This year’s ballot, in addition to presidential options, is full of amendments to Colorado’s constitution. As a helpful guide for our readers, we have put together this short cheat sheet about the amendments. In addition to this guide, readers should go to  http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/bluebook/2008EnglishVersionforInternet.pdf to download a copy of the Blue Book to read the exact language of the ballot as well as short arguments for and against these proposed amendments. Read more

NW Denver’s FasTracks

by Elisa Cohen

NORTH DENVER – At the last RTD Board study session, board members discussed the options facing the transit agency. The promise made to voters of the FasTracks plan included “…a $4.7 billion, 12-year program to expand rail and bus service throughout the RTD service area. Scheduled for completion in 2017, FasTracks will create six new commuter rail and light rail corridors, extend three existing corridors, build 18 miles of Bus Rapid Transit, add 21,000 new parking spaces, redevelop Denver Union Station and expand bus service across the entire eight-county District.” But now RTD is facing a financial crisis and may not be able to build out all lines quickly and simultaneously. Construction costs coupled with dwindling revenue are currently forcing RTD to reassess how much it can get done with the current resources. The board now is grappling with whether or not to ask the public for additional funds to get it all done on its originally proposed schedule. Read more

Windows Dressed Up brings fashion to NW homes and businesses

by Elisa Cohen |

BERKELEY – Rich linens, lush brocades, patterned jacquards, and clean wooden shades share functional display space in the small but incredibly diverse showroom dedicated to dressing up windows in the most fashionable and practical manner. Windows Dressed Up, owned by long time North Denver residents and window covering innovators Bob and Linnie Leo, will wow anyone confused about window coverings and their accompanying technologies. And while the array of options can be almost overwhelming, the Leo’s have developed a business model that allows them to quickly show customers different options and designs to meet the customers’ budget. Read more