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Denver North [Change Location]

Blog Entry 30 of 32 The Cole Chronicles
This is a blog about all things Cole...the Cole neighborhood, that is, in NE Denver, bound my MLK (south), 40th St. (north), York (east) and Downing (west). It's a little corner of the world that I've called home for ten years now. I've seen it change in unimaginable ways, especially after 5280 named it tomorrow's hottest neighborhood. This blog is about chronicling the ongoing revitalization of one of Denver's oldest neighborhoods. It's a wonderful, diverse area, full of characters and stories. It's Royal Drug and a Carnegie Library and striking architecture accented with hidden pocket parks, panaderias and the stately Wyatt Elementary, which happens to be my favorite building in all of Denver. People hang on their front porches in this 'hood; neighbors help one another. What it's not: white, suburban or gang-free. It's not always pretty. Sometimes the smell from the nearby Purina plant gets local dogs howling. Sometimes there are gunshots. This area still carries a stigma that's hard to erase. Regardless, this is my home, and watching it change and push back and find its way in this vibrant, fast growing city is worth noting. And so I do.

Perspective is Everything


An editorial in yesterday's Denver Post summed up much of what I've been circling for awhile now...when it comes to issues of race and class in today's Cole neighborhood, that is. Read the column here... Playing with Fire.

The accompanying cartoon was perfect too...because no one is blameless when it comes to this contentious, hot-button issue.

This morning as I wake up with coffee and the soothing sounds of the fountain, I am also greeted by two pomeranians and a chihuahua, new to the corner neighbors (at least one of them is), all of which sound like they are being killed slowly, perhaps prepared for the spit. Nasty image, I know, but they call forth things in my mind that shock even me. Their barking is incessant and ear piercing, and I have entertained thoughts that I will not admit to publicly, thoughts that involve tainted meat or secret missions of kidnapping in the dark of night wherein these not-dogs find new homes in, say, Wiggins. But because I am a dog lover, I cope. And the barking, for now, has stopped, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that Ray, the neighbor directly behind the yappers, is about ready to do away with those critters himself. I mean, Ray can't even stand to see my dog walk on his (rented) lawn.

Off into the week I merrily go...and it's my birthday week, no less! I shall start my insufferable "Well, it IS my birthday so, I get to ______" soon enough--I love birthdays, mine and everyone elses--but not quite yet. Work and deadlines beckon.

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