What is Cool and Hot at the very same time?
GB Fish and Chips
What is Cool and Hot at the very same time and just across the pond (the pond, in this instance, being Sloan’s Lake on Denver’s West End?) The GB Fish & Chips restaurant on Sheridan Blvd. might be the answer to Denver’s serious lack of ocean views. OK, so Sloan’s Lake ain’t an ocean, just a small park-lake in Edgewater (21st & Sheridan Blvd.) so…
On the night of the last full moon I was heading over to The Edgewater Inn (Howdy Paisano) for a Moscow Mule and saw the familiar GB Fish and Chips sign (I’ve been to the So. Broadway location several times) across the street from Sloan’s Lake. I made a mental note to return on another night, after taking in the view. A very full moon was rising over the city beyond the lake. The reflections of the downtown lights and skyline as well as the brilliant “Planting Moon” were shimmering in the water. Wow! No doubt one of the best summertime, night views the city of Denver has to offer.
The following night I returned, took a walk in the park, snapped a few photos then entered the restaurant. I basically knew what to expect. What I didn’t expect, after grabbing a beer and walking around to the side patio was the familiar feeling of being in a place I know - a restaurant on the beach in Hermosa Beach, CA. That’s a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s darn close. Denver is not exactly a beach town.
GB Fish and Chips
GB Fish & Chips is a English-style fish & chips restaurant with football (soccer) on the TVs, soccer jerseys on the walls, wooden picnic tables, booze, and for sure, Fish & Chips. Also on the menu, they offer: Bangers (Al La Carte, $5.95 - Meal, $8.45,) Shepherd’s Pie ($6.95 - $9.45,) Pork Pie ($4.15 - $6.65,) Pasties ($6.50 - $9.00,) Sides (Chips, Beans, Slaw, Potato Chips $1.50) and Soup (Clam Chowder $3.95 - $5.95.)
Back to the Swimmers, battered and deep fried: Cod, Tilapia, Prawns, Oysters, Squid, Scallops and Combinations: Half (Just Fish $5.50 to $7.65,) Half Meal ($8.00 to $10.15,) Full (Just Fish $9.95 to $14.25,) and Full (Meal $12.45 to $16.76.) View the complete menu on GB Fish and Chips Official Website
All meals include one side and a soft drink.
The meal I had on this particular night: Cod with baked beans and cole slaw was very tasty. The fish was light and golden. The sides were small, but adequate and the beer was cold. I’m not really a fish person but someone I know who is a fish person says it’s the best in town. ‘Nuff said!
The side patio (on the left in the photo) is a cozy little outdoor cave with wooden picnic tables and THE view. One can order stuff through a serving window without having to walk inside. Bartender, another beer please.
Not too many years ago the little grouping of businesses (in a several block area along Sheridan Blvd. where GB fish and Chips is located) was seedy at best. You can turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse. Maybe it’s not all that, but this area is blossoming like a rose bush in a back alley. Years ago there was an Italian restaurant on the block. The owner knew the value of that view, but the neighborhood finally brought him down. He gave up and moved on. I wonder if he’s seen the new block?
Speaking of Italian, in the context of this post, would you call GB Fish and Chips proprietor, Alex Stokeld “THE CODFATHER?”
Official Website of GB Fish & Chips including menus, locations, maps and more
Walk a half-block south to The Cooler
FYI - Yeah I know most people refer to the lake as “Sloan’s Lake,” so I did as well. I’ve read park signs and history articles that name the park pond “Sloan Lake,” but who’s count’n.
Entire post, including the word “CODFATHER” is protected under copyright [C.2010-LasVegasBuffetClub]
Memorial Day
In Memory of our Honored Dead
The following paragraphs are from the US Memorial Day website:
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, “Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping” by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication “To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead” (Source: Duke University’s Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860’s tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis’ birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee read more Memorial Day History
Access the home page of US The Memorial Day website with more history and other links
May 27, 2010
Full Moon Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 4:07 P.M.
Full Moon
The moon will be 100% full Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 4:07 P.M. Las Vegas, Nevada time.
“American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. Since a lunar month averages 29 days, the dates of the moons change from year to year. Here are titles most closely associated with calendar months.”
This paragraph is from Western Washington University
According to WWU: in the Cherokee (East Coast, Carolinas) language the May moon is “ansgvti” or “planting moon.”
Cherokee Woman wearing Haute Couture
Western Washington University
The Shoshone (Great Basin, Nevada, Wyoming) name for the May moon is “buhisea’-mea’” or “budding.”
Shoshone Woman & Child
Western Washington University
Access The Old Farmer’s Almanac for more detailed information on the moon.
May 24, 2010
The Famous Denver Roller Dolls
Joan (Joanie) Weston
Sports Illustrated - 1960s
The vintage photo is of the late JOANIE WESTON, pop-skate-tart of the Roller Derby scene. Tart as in the “flavor.” Her persona was that of a very tough lady who was loved by anyone who ever saw her perform. JOANIE WESTON was one of the definitive, cool chicks of the real Rock ‘n Roll era (50s-60s,) not unlike Bettie Page. If her sport had more credibility she would have ranked with top Pop-Culture stars. Roller Derby was sort-of-like old-school pro wrestling, not quite top shelf.
The following text is from WikipediA
“The Denver Roller Dolls (DRD) is a flat-track roller derby league based in Denver, Colorado. The league was founded in December 2005. The DRD is a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
On January 21, 2010, the Denver Roller Dolls announced a partnership with Kroenke Sports Enterprises and AEG Live Rocky Mountains. The partnership includes the Roller Dolls moving to the new 1STBANK Center (formerly Odeum Colorado and Broomfield Events Center) in Broomfield, Colorado, as their dedicated home venue for 2010.”
Broomfield! Is that where Witches and Warlocks dance under the full moon? I actually have some serious connections to Broomfield. My uncle Art had a working cattle ranch in Broomfield five decades ago, around the days of Joan (Joanie) Weston and The Bay City Bombers - see photo above. Uncle Art was also a practicing lawyer, but he was a good guy, a gentleman rancher.
We used to ride the open-range west of Broomfield. My best recollection and a “fact” I’ve repeated many times is that the range from Broomfield to Boulder was what westerners call “Open Range.” No fences. The horse (Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in New York anymore] I was most fond of was a Pinto/Paint called Patches.
Sundays would find us out at the ranch - riding or watching the automatic milking machines (first of the kind in the area) sucking on the cows’ teats (automatic suction cups were attached to the teats.) [ WHAT DO YOU CALL A COW AFTER SHE'S HAD HER BABIES? ]
FYI - Would you believe that there was a tollbooth half-way between Denver and Boulder! I think the charge was a nickel. A little booth was erected between the east and west bound lanes and a guy took your money. They were raising dough to pay for the road. No traffic jams on that road. One car would pass by about every ten minutes, if I recall correctly..
The subject of my first real ROMANCE (when we were 16 - in the 50s,) later on in the 70s, opened a Country & Western Bar and Dance Hall in Broomfield. Watch out for those first romances.
One other connection to Broomfield, I guess, is that Big Time promoter Chuck Morris ran a club I played guitar in (for a one performance stand) - Ebbets Field in Denver. This ties in: The Roller Dolls are based in Broomfield at 1STBank Center, formerly The Broomfield Events Center.
“A passion for speed and service. A craving for hard knocks and hard-core business. A commitment to the community, our fans and each other. We’re the Denver Roller Dolls, Denver’s premier roller derby league. And we’re proud to be part of America’s fastest-growing female sport.”
“Founded by 20 intrepid skaters in December 2005, the Denver Roller Dolls has gained skaters and fans from throughout the Denver metro area. The draw? Extreme athleticism and full-on fun. For us, roller derby is more than a hard-hitting sport. It’s a place where women of all sizes, backgrounds and skill levels can compete in an intensely athletic and supportive atmosphere. It’s a chance to explore our community through service and volunteerism. And it’s an opportunity to hone our business skills through a completely skater-owned and -operated non-profit organization.”
“When the Denver Roller Dolls aren’t honing their speed, balance and skating skills, putting on public appearances and fundraisers, or volunteering for Denver-based charities, they’re successful businesswomen, sisters, wives, mothers, moms, and friends. What’s more, they’re part of a nationwide revival of one of the nation’s most unique and compelling sports. Not bad for a bunch of dolls!” from the Denver Dolls Official Website
Anyway the Dolls are skate’n the West, check ‘em out.
The Denver Dolls Official Website
DE-CALF-EINATED
May 14, 2010
Is BALD the new “DOO?”
Bald Headed Haircut
Anybody notice all the new skin ‘Doos out there?
I’m seeing a bunch of bald headed, white guys out there. Many more than I’ve ever seen.
What’s up with this?
Well…not at all like the image above, but real-deal, shaved bald heads.
What’s up with that?
I’m just “playing around” but seriously, it doesn’t take rocket science to figure out the what’s behind this mid-2010 phenomenon.
Photo is from www.grimmemennesker.dk
May 9, 2010
Mother’s Day - May 9th, 2010
Happy Mother’s Day, Moms, from the Las Vegas Buffet Club.
“The history of Mother’s Day is centuries old and goes back to the times of ancient Greeks, who held festivities to honor Rhea, the mother of the gods. The early Christians celebrated the Mother’s festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent to honor Mary, the mother of Christ. Interestingly, later on a religious order stretched the holiday to include all mothers, and named it as the Mothering Sunday. The English colonists settled in America discontinued the tradition of Mothering Sunday because of lack of time. In 1872 Julia Ward Howe organized a day for mothers dedicated to peace. It is a landmark in the history of Mother’s Day read more from dayformother’s.com
DayForMothers.Com has everything there is to know about Mother’s Day: history, facts, jokes, poems, gifts, etc. etc. etc…
May 5, 2010
Cinco De Mayo - May 5, 2010
Repost from MSN
Battle of Puebla
MSN photo
“Cinco de Mayo (May 5) commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over French forces in 1862. Since then, it has become a day to celebrate Mexican culture across the United States, but only in some parts of Mexico.”
“Where it all began: The city of Puebla (where’s that?) is the epicenter of Mexico’s Cinco de Mayo festivities.”
“Not to be confused with: The Mexican Independence Day, which takes place on Sept. 16 and celebrates Mexico’s independence from Spain.”
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Reposted from MTV
May 5 2010 1:36 PM EDT
Cinco De Mayo: Celebrate Mexican History Across The U.S.
Limp Bizkit, the Phoenix Suns and your local Mexican communities offer up plenty of ways to party
By Rochell D. Thomas
“Every year on the fifth of May, Mexican flags can be spotted waving at homes and businesses across the United States. There are parades and dances. Schools and theater groups put on special presentations and bars offer drink specials. But despite what many people think, Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Fourth of July. (Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain on September 16.)”
“Though it’s a holiday commemorating the Battle of Puebla against the French in 1862, Cinco de Mayo has become an ethnic holiday that celebrates Mexican culture and the Mexican army’s never-give-up spirit. Mexican-Americans — and, really, anyone who likes to root for underdogs fighting the good fight — celebrate the holiday in many ways. Here, we list a few of the major festivities going on around the country on Wednesday (May 5) and beyond.” read more…
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