Shernick Photos: March 2007

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Tulip Circle

A circle of tender young tulips found in the yard of the Starkey International Institute of Household Management at 1350 Logan Street. Website: http://www.starkeyintl.com/

The institute trains personal assistants, butlers, maids, chefs and nannies in the professional managment of luxury homes and the estates of the ultra-rich. Their gardener certainly does a splendid job. Spring is here at last!

Bender's Tavern

This striking mural at Bender's 13th Street Tavern always catches my eye. According to their website, Bender's features "local and national country, rock, Americana, punk-rock and metal acts, as well as weekly dj nights and karaoke." See upcoming events and a photo gallery here:

http://www.benderstavern.com/

Moxie Hair Co.

Moxie (aka Babooshka's) hair salon at 13th and Sherman, a favorite punk hangout. For rave reviews, see: http://denver.citysearch.com/review/1827023

Next door: The "city o city" coffee shop. Down the street: Bender's 13th Street Tavern.

The Colorado Ballet

The Academy of the Colorado Ballet at 1278 Lincoln Street is just a hop, skip and jump from the Colorado Art Institute. Actual performances are given at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. They just wrapped up their 2006 - 2007 season on March 25. See: http://www.coloradoballet.org/

Church and Art Institute

"The Church" nightclub at 1160 Lincoln Street stands right next to the Art Institute of Colorado. If you look closely at the stained glass windows you can see that the figures are a bit, um, unorthodox.

The Church: Tekno-Trance Dance Club

Yup, it's a night club. In fact "The Church" -- located at 1160 Lincoln Street -- is one of Denver's hottest and trendiest discos. They serve sushi, drinks, and all manner of music. See: http://local.yahoo.com/details?id=19598767

It used to be St. Mark's Parish Church, designed by William A. Lang and Marshall Pugh in 1889. It's on the National Register of Historic Places. Style: Gothic. http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/CO/Denver/state5.html

dopehouse

Yes, it's all true what they say about Colorado.

Rare Bird Vintage Clothing

A clothing store next to Cricket on the Hill at 13th and Downing.

Cricket on the Hill

"This ain't no coffee shop!" says their website. A popular night spot at 13th and Downing, Cricket on the Hill offers funk, blues, live hip hop and many other varieties of eclectic sound to Denver pub crawlers. http://www.cricketonthehill.com/

Envy

Envy, a hair salon at 13th Avenue and Downing Street, subtly promotes the deadly sin of pride, whilst a mural on the wall of Kelly's Superette promises to revitalize one's spirits with a powerful energy drink. What a wonderful balance of yin-yang!

For those who don't care about their chakras, there's always beer and music at the bar next door: The Cricket on The Hill.

11th of September Memorial

Spring blossoms surround the 11th of September Memorial at 13th and Pearl.

Wax Trax Window

Colorful posters in the window of the Wax Trax Record Store at 638 East 13th Avenue, Denver.

FashioNation

A clothing store at 13th and Pearl. The cheerful grey and black color scheme seems to be popular in this neighborhood.

American Gothic Snake Pit Lobby

Through the gritty glass of the Snake Pit's window, one spies some major strangeness going on in the lobby: clear references to the DaVinci Code, Grant Wood, and the Camel he rode in on.

The Snake Pit

I have no doubt that Satan likes to shoot pool at the Snake Pit, a popular club at 614 East 13th Avenue. He probably wears clothes from FashioNation, across the street, and buys all of his Marilyn Manson CDs at Wax Trax (half a block away).

The Monarch Society

The Monarch Society, at 1534 Pearl Street, Denver, is a funeral service and crematory that comforts the bereaved within the setting of a beautiful Victorian mansion.

http://www.monarchsociety.com/main.php

The Avenue Theatre

The Avenue Theatre at 17th Avenue and Logan, owned and operated by Bob Wells and Dave Johnson, is home to the World Humor Organization (WHO) and Chicken Lips Entertainment. They are presently celebrating the 300th birthday of Benjamin Franklin by staging a solo piece, "Benjamin Franklin, Printer, Etc." starring Burdette Parks. Tickets run about $22.

http://www.avenuetheater.com/

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Stained Glass Glimpse

After a pleasant afternoon at Cheesman Park and a spicy Chai at the Gypsy House coffee shop, I wandered past St. John's Cathedral at 14th and Washington, only to hear the angelic voices of the Eton College Choir of Men and Boys singing a heavenly piece by Brahms. This photograph, taken as I stood outside listening with amazement, does not do justice to the magic of the moment.

Inside the Gypsy House

Interior of the Gypsy House coffee shop at 13th Avenue and Marion Street. It really is owned by Gypsies! They have beautiful dark hair and amazing eyes.

Gypsy House: Mysterious Blonde

A blonde wearing sunglasses and smoking a cigarette sits outside the Gypsy House coffee shop at 13th and Marion.

Pavilion at Cheesman Park: Sunday Afternoon

This Pavilion has graced Cheesman Park, near downtown Denver, since the 1920s, when it served as a memorial to those who had fallen in the Great War. Today, it's a favorite place for roller blading, wedding photos and sitting in the shade. The atmosphere is every bit as peaceful and soothing as a contemplative garden in Kyoto, and brings peace to the soul.

Pavilion Steps: Denver Skyline

The pools in front of the Cheesman Park Pavilion remain empty all winter, and have not yet been filled. By summer they will be a brilliant blue, with fountain mist making rainbows. For now, however, on this Sunday afternoon in late March, the summer is still a wistful thought. The citizens of Denver sit reflecting on cement.

Pavilion: Woman Sleeping

In the background blue mountains, in the distance people lolling on the green, and in the foreground a woman enjoying the balmy Spring weather by napping on a park bench. The marble of the Pavilion adds a smooth and creamy feeling that's just delicious -- like a scene dreamt up by Maxfield Parrish.

Pavilion: View of Denver Skyline

A view of the Denver skyline taken from the Cheesman Park Pavilion on the afternoon of Sunday, March 25, 2007. Spring is only four days old, and already people have their shirts off!

Pavilion: Biker pops a wheelie

A sign next to the Cheesman Park Pavilion strictly forbids biking or roller blading -- which makes biking on the Pavilion's smooth marble surface that much more fun. What better way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon?

St. Germain Foundation

The pure white facade of this huge and beautiful mansion at 975 Seventh Avenue drew my attention. Surely it has an interesting history, and it definitely has a nice spiritual "aura."

I was not surprised, therefore, to discover that the sign in front reads: "Saint Germain Foundation. I AM Sanctuary." A search on the internet turned up this website:

http://www.saintgermainfoundation.com/ and a Wikipedia article on the I AM Activity can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_AM_Movement

A quick perusal of the material at the Saint Germain website confirmed that this outfit shares much in common with the Church Universal and Triumphant, which was founded by Mark Prophet (who called himself Saint Germain) and Elizabeth Clare Prophet. The I AM movement places the same emphasis on Saint Germain and meditation on the Violet Consuming Flame of Divine Love.

The Prophets began their offshoot of the "I Am" Activity in Colorado Springs, back in 1966.