Old bar, new people

Though the smoky atmosphere, John the bartender will recognize you and know what you drink, he will have it poured by the time you sit down. If he knows you, your favorite drink will be ready by the time you say 'hello.'

If you drive too fast you may miss the old neon sign that flickers "Don's Mixed Drinks;" the bar between Clarkson and Washington on 6th avenue in Denver that celebrates its 60 year anniversary on June 20, 2006.

The first impression is of a smoky, rustic dive bar, the pint-sized shuffle board, the pinball machine and pictures on the wall of patrons past remind everyone just how long Don's has been pouring booze.

Sentimental pictures on the wall show character, the old photography portrays the intimate history of the bar whose longevity relies on those people to return.

The smell of vintage tuck-and-roll vinyl mixes with the booze, as you order another cocktail and spy the old operational telephone booth in the back that hints of the nostalgic essence of the bar over the new music on the juke box.

Johnny rolls his eyes as two patrons make barnyard noises in the background.

"We won't kick you out for making animal noises at the bar," he said with a smile, odd behavior is accepted, even expected at Don's.

Besides the neon sign out front and word of mouth, there is little advertising, yet the bar fills every night with regular and newcomer alike.

Guest bartenders are welcome to invite their friends some Tuesday nights, this keeps the crowd fresh and the service exciting.

A microcosm of the entire night at Don's is the Bus Bomb (shown before and after). This is a concoction similar to a car bomb, but bigger, and made in a pitcher! Half a pitcher of Guinness, three shots of Jamison and three shots of Bailey's Irish Liquor go down the hatch as quickly as possible, making this a one-per-visit kind of drink.

Before Bus Bomb:




After Bus Bomb:

Don's Mixed Drinks will continue to thrive for years to come with the thirsty patrons of the neighborhood coming back for more. It is worth the cab ride out of downtown to make sure you don't miss Don's. It dosn't stick out obnoxiously in the street like some bars, so don't blink, you might drive right past!

Peaceful protestors filled the streets

They planned for 50,000 people; they got 75,000 enough to fill Red Rocks Amphitheater seven and a half times.

Immigration issues have become the main topic of discussion from the classroom to the workplace to the bar.

While each side of the story has its own valid points, one thing is clear, something needs to be done.

The protest was peaceful; Denver cops reported no serious problems between protestors and their opposition.

It seems as though the view from legal immigrants and politicians alike is that if you come to our country, fall in, be an American. Coming into America and trying to change the national anthem is an insult to citizens and legal immigrants alike.

President Bush even agrees that re-writing our national anthem is like Americans trying to cross into Canada and rewrite their anthem, it's just rude.

If these immigration marches happened anywhere else, illegal immigrants would likely be forced out without remorse, but that is the beauty of this country, it was founded by immigrants. There is room for more as long as they make responsible contributions to the economy and culture.

High tech pedestrian mall

The 16th Street Mall went Wi-fi Monday, May 1st, making it as easy to surf the web as it is to window-shop.

Until now, Denver wireless internet users had to pay for connection services at Starbucks and Kinkos locations, now anywhere along the stretch of the 16th street mall, you can uplink for free.

Tiny antennas along the mall from the Civic Center station to the Union Station help users connect to the network called the Downtown Wi-fi Zone.

Connectivity is intended for outside use including Skyline park on Arapahoe. Some parked cars on the mall's cross streets also receive the signal.

The Downtown Denver Partnership offers the free service, giving Denver a technological edge that is desirable to tourists and residents alike.

Who makes the show go?

They sound like referees talking about a football game after the night is over, when the stage comes down the guys that make the show are still analyzing the fine points. The people that make the show go take their job seriously; they are the air-traffic control of a kamikaze concert. Hours after the show is over, they load cases into trucks.

"The hours are brutal, and the work is tedious, but it is the people that make it worth-while," says Pat Dickinson, Union Steward for the Fillmore. He has met more rock stars in the past week than most people ever do.

Right: Dickinson rolls road cases
from the stage to the truck.


Hours before the doors open, the crew and the engineers work hard to make sure the bands play without a hitch. If you have ever been to a show where the sounds or the lights go out there is a person who scrambles to get it back. If this person does not lose his or her job, there is someone breathing down his neck until they solve the problem.

Problems are rare on the scene because preparation is extensive. First on the set is the sound crew, at most shows, they stack and raise the PA. This speaker system is controlled from a mixing board in the middle of the room, and blasts the audience during the show. The sound crew also sets up the on-stage speakers, called monitors that allow each musician to hear the other. This system is controlled from a mixing board on either side of the stage. Each system requires its own engineer and is checked and re-checked before the doors open to the public.

The lighting crew arranges the light truss and raise high powered spotlights above the audience and stage. The lighting engineer programs each light for a separate motion to create rolling effects or set the mood.
between bands, the stage crew replaces one band's equipment with the next band's gear. The sound board must be patched over for each different set. Each band has different set lights as well so the sound guy and the lighting tech all have something to do while the house music plays between sets.

At the end of the night, all of the crew has to clean up after the bands. (Famous bands don't move their own gear.) Often this process, called loading out lasts for hours, but there is still no job they'd rather do.



The applause can last minutes after the show; it would be nice to think that some of that appreciation is for the people who ensure the show.

Left: Jay Sayler and Pat Dickinson move more cases at 1 a.m.

For the shaken

No matter what city you visit across America, you'll find them high and low, strip clubs are entertain everywhere.

Some are classy and some are not, some are downright wrong, but there are a few worth going to.

Portland Oregon is known to have the most strip clubs anywhere, but Atlanta Georgia could compete closely, some of the most far out stuff is in the Deep South.

Denver has its fair share, a variety of different clubs sprinkle the city. From the Oasis up north, to Shotgun Willie's and the Penthouse club down south, Denver has something for everyone.

La Boheme, in downtown Denver is a walk from the 15th Street Tavern and a cab ride from the Pepsi Center. There is a private VIP lounge in the back and three main tables are the main attraction. It is a typical club with plenty of girls, but La Boheme offers a decent menu as well.

The Penthouse Club, S. Colorado Blvd, is a classy club, their VIP is upstairs and there are more tables with poles. The menu is incredible, gourmet steaks and seafood plates, served at tables with a clear view of the whole floor.

Bachelor party or just a night out with the guys, there are plenty of entertainment options to choose from. The best loop starts with the Penthouse Club, moves to Shotgun Willies right across the street, then up to the Diamond Cabaret in Downtown, across the way from La Boheme who seems to have the latest last call.