Baker residents Ben Olsen and Rob McGowan, founders of Fin Art, a design and woodworking collaborative, make furniture from discarded materials they find in the alleys of Baker. Ben and Rob have their first show at Fancy Tiger on Oct. 2. Click here for details.
Of course you’re a fan. But have you declared your love of Baker on Facebook?
43 of your neighborhors have already gone on record online.
Bees massed in a tree on First Avenue on Tuesday.
Ron Tarver sent the photos to the Bark, giving this explanation:
bees swarmed from a nearby hive. chris [Andersen] cut off the limbs that they were clinging, and then put them n the limb into a large box later to be put into hive box located somewhere within neighborhood in a back yard.
Ron’s estimate: 10,000 bees
The Baker neighborhood makes a brief but memorable cameo in Kent Haruf’s 1990 novel Where You Once Belonged (Random House):
It was early evening then. It was in the fall of the year and the trees standing up in front of the old houses in the neighborhood were just beginning to turn. The apartment they had rented was in an old established area of Denver. Formerly it must have been an attractive part of town; there were many large brick houses, built before the turn of the century, but the houses were nearly all divided into apartments and the streets were lined with cars. We walked five or six blocks south along Bannock Street and then turned west where we could see the mountains, high and blue-looking out beyond the city, and then north, and then east again to make a circle. It felt good to be walking. It was pleasantly cool outside and we saw a number of Hispanic families sitting out on the big porches of the neighborhood houses, playing music and drinking beer and talking, while handsome little black-haired kids played games in the yards or rode bicycles on the sidewalks, and I thought there was a sense of life in the neighborhood, of things happening which would be interesting to know about.
According to the book’s timeline, Haruf is describing what Baker would’ve been like in the early 1980s.
The jacket indicates that Haruf (who also wrote the acclaimed Plainsong) divides his time between Illinois, where he teaches English, and Colorado. It doesn’t specify exactly where in Colorado, but judging by this passage, he seems to have developed a good sense of the neighborhood.
By all accounts, the 20th annual Baker Bargains was a major success, with excellent buyer and seller participation, and not a single tornado or hail storm!
This seller didn’t turn a big profit, but the beautiful weather and neighborhood camaraderie more than made up for it.
Thanks to all who made it happen—particularly Doug Pimple, Baker’s treasurer and tireless promoter. The neighborhood is well on its way to restoring the reputation of this storied event.
If anyone has photos from the BB that they’d like to share, please email me (Jeb):
newsletter [at] bakerneighborhood [dot] org
We’ll give you credit for any images we post.
Stay in the neighborhood loop
SUBSCRIBE TO THE BAKER BARK NEWSLETTER
Got any pics of the neighborhood? Send ‘em along!
newsletter [at] bakerneighborhood [dot] org
[Update: Ask and you shall receive! Bakernow.com/photos]
Editor’s note: the following article, written by Doug Pimple, was originally published in the April edition of the Baker Bark.
The 20th annual Baker Bargains Bonanza, a neighborhood-wide yard sale, is this Saturday, June 13!
With this event only days away, we thought it would be a good idea to suggest some “dos and don’ts” to refresh the seasoned yard-saler as well as provide an introduction for novice buyers and sellers. (Our thanks go out to Baker neighbor Gary Giem who has been successfully buying and selling at yard and estate sales for several years.)
Participating in the Baker Bargains Bonanza should be fun, but it can also be a good money making proposition. The following tips are presented to maximize profits and minimize chaos:
The graffiti virus is not as terrifying as H1N1, but it is certainly damaging to spirits and property values. Thanks to Brian Peek for passing along the following pictures, which were taken this month.
The city is issuing free construction permits for certain home-improvement projects done between June 1 and June 15.
A variety of home improvements are covered by the Home Renovation Bonanza, including:
- Basic Interior Remodel of existing 1 or 2 Family Dwelling (existing Kitchen, Bath or Bedroom) Basement Remodel of existing 1 or 2
- Family Dwelling
- Residential 1 or 2 Family Roof Covering Repairor Replacement
- Wall Insulation
- Replacement of water heaters
- Change out central heating and air
- Residential Photo Voltaic Systems
- Stucco or siding home exteriors
Who: Denver Parks and Recreation
What: Public Meeting to discuss a new Master Plan for Dailey Park
When: Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 - 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Where: First Avenue Presbyterian Church, 120 West 1st Avenue, Denver
Why: DPR’s goal is to provide a forum where individuals will have an opportunity to provide inpit on preferences and priorities for future improvements to the park.Please contact Jennifer Kovarik with questions at Jennifer.Kovarik@denvergov.org
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