Denver Arts Festival Sign

On the Memorial Day weekend, Denver held its annual "Fine Art and Fine Craft Exhibition," otherwise known as the Denver Arts Festival. The sign seen here was on display right beneath the huge "Denver Pavilion" sign that is a landmark on downtown Denver's 16th Street Mall.

The Avenue Theatre: Night Panorama

A crowd takes a smoke break outside The Avenue Theatre, 417 E. 17th Avenue, in the Uptown and/or Capitol Hill neighborhood, Friday 25 May 2007 at 9:10 p.m. Currently showing: a comedy titled "Dog Sees God."

Williams Tavern: Night Panorama

William's Tavern at 423 E. 17th Avenue the night of Friday 25 May 2007, around 9:10 p.m.

Steuben's and Tail Light Blur

Steuben's: Night Panorama 1

Steuben's restaurant on 17th Avenue must have been a garage at one time --they've got a neat set up where they simply raise the windows like garage doors on nice nights, and this Friday was a lovely night indeed -- perfect May weather and the first evening of the Memorial Day holiday. It's about 9:15 pm, but the tavern scene is in full swing, some young people here dining al fresco.

The food at Steuben's is good ol' fashion American, with some interesting specialty dishes, a wide variety of appetizers and drinks, and all reasonably priced, making it one of my favorite places to dine with friends and family from out of town.

Steuben's: Night Panorama 2

This is 17th Avenue looking eastward towards The Tavern (right) and several other popular pubs and restaurants serving the yuppies of Uptown and Capitol Hill. Taken Friday 25 May 2007 around 9:15 p.m.

Steuben's: Night Panorama 3

This is Steuben's again. And a pick-up. Everyone in Colorado and their dog drives a pick-up.

The Tavern: Night Panorama

The Tavern, Uptown, at 538 E. 17th Avenue, has a small back room where people lounge and watch sports on the big-screen TVs. Seen here around 9:15 pm on Friday 25 May 2007, it is nearly deserted and painted in the orange glow of the street lamps.

17th Avenue: Neon and Shadows

Denver residents enjoy the warm evening of Friday 25 May 2007, first evening of the Memorial Day weekend. After a long hard week, there is no better place to find a yuppy tavern in Capitol Hill than on 17th Avenue, which offers several blocks of trendy venues.

I set my camera on "Night Landscape" mode to capture the bright colors and warm glow of the restaurant windows, using a tripod and a two-second timer to keep the images as tack-sharp as possible. One may see the strange side-effects of keeping the shutter wide open: neon flare with plenty of moving shadows and ghosts.

The Avenue Grill: Window View Panorama

Late night diners at The Avenue Grill, 617 E. 17th Avenue, Denver. Taken Friday 25 May 2007 at around 9:20 p.m.

The Avenue Grill, Night Panorama 1

Reverse angle shot of the Avenue Grill, looking west on 17th Avenue toward the downtown skyline. Friday 25 May 2007.

The Avenue Grill, Night Panorama 2

17th Avenue, Friday 25 May 2007, about 9:20 p.m.

Hamburger Mary's, Night Panorama 1

A popular restaurant on 17th Avenue. The windows are wide open because the weather was blissfully perfect -- the first Friday night of the Memorial Day weekend, 25 May 2007, 9:30 p.m. Five vertical shots combined using ArcSoft Panorama Maker Version 3.

Hamburger Mary's, Night Panorama 3

Friday 25 May 2007 9:35 pm. A very flawed pano. The camera was listing three degrees to port, and I mistakenly left it on auto-meter, so when it hit the bright "Open" sign it stopped up, creating a darker muddy frame that doesn't mix with the others. If there's a way to fix this in PhotoShop I haven't found it yet.

The 17th Avenue Grill from Afar

The 17th Avenue Grill, seen from the northeast. Friday 25 May 2007 9:40 p.m.

Hamburger Mary's on Friday Night

A popular restaurant seen from across the street, 17th Avenue, Friday 25 May 2007. The 17th Avenue Grill is just to the right.

Aix Restaurant, Night Panorama

Friday 25 May 2007. Aix Restaurant is across 17th Avenue from Hamburger Mary's and the 17th Avenue Grill, right next door to JR's Bar & Grill (seen in the background).

JR's Bar and Grill, Night Panorama 1

17th Avenue, Friday 25 May 2007.

JR's Bar and Grill, Night Panorama 2

Friday 25 May 2007 about 10 p.m. A popular bar on 17th Avenue, very crowded on the first day of the Memorial Day weekend.