Jennifer Koskinen

A scene from last year's Better Block Project.

What could a fresh coat of paint, live music and a comfortable place to enjoy a meal outdoors do for a block in your neighborhood? Residents of Five Points could find out this Saturday, May 11, when Denver's second Better Block project focuses on the 2400 block of Welton Street -- home of Sonny Lawson Park. The one-day mini-makeover of a city block will also include dance performances, food vendors, gardening demonstrations, walking tours and more.

Last year's edition focused the Jefferson Park area, and the block of West 25th Avenue where the event was held is indeed looking better. In advance of Saturday's block party, Westword spoke with Gosia Kung, director of WalkDenver, the organization behind the project, about last year's success and this year's goals.

See also:
- Photos: Better Block project transforms Jefferson Park spot
- Five Points community gets to the point at cultural potluck today
- Photos: Corner House opens today with chef Matt Selby behind the burners

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Tracy Weil in his urban-farming guise, with a cameo by his coonhound Silo.

Tracy Weil is a master at the art of breathing life into ideas. He calls it branding, and that's the business end of his skill, but it's also about being engaged in the community, which is what makes it so special. An artist, urban agriculturist, designer and Westword MasterMind, Weil is part of the brain trust behind the booming RiNo art district, an area he pioneered before it had a name. He helped put a face on the Denver County Fair and shared his acumen again as a consultant when Lakewood created its 40 West Arts District.

See also:
- Meet the MasterMinds: Jill Hadley Hooper and Tracy Weil, River North Arts District
- Best New Idea, 2011: Denver County Fair
- Get In The Spirit: The City Spirit Cafe Reunion

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RedLine

Artist Laura Shill's strange and beautiful installation at RedLine

In the '60s, art happenings were all the rage. People got together to experience unique cultural gatherings that would never be repeated. Now RedLine is planning to provide Denver with a modern version of these aesthetic landmarks with its Artist's Studio series, which will feature events designed and facilitated by resident artists on Second Saturdays throughout 2013 and 2014.

See also:
- RedLine's group photography show is earning double takes
- Material Engagements highlights the work of RedLine artists
- RedLine Brings the House

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Tenn Street Coffee and Books

It's ironic that nearly all the businesses mentioned when we named Tennyson Street the best neighborhood shopping district in 2011 have left the block or closed their doors (see the link below), including some that were strangled by prolonged street construction in the heart of the district. But now that the street's been put back together, the new Tennyson is blossoming with both new and renewed businesses. Healthy commerce is returning to Tennyson, and here are ten reasons why.

See also:
- Best Neighborhood Shopping District - 2011: Tennyson Street, Berkeley
- The Bookery Nook, an independent bookstore and ice cream parlor, is closing
- Tennyson Street businesses creating promotions to offset disruptive construction

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ArtSmyths

It's been a long wait, but RTD's spanking new West Rail Line officially opened to passengers this morning. Tomorrow, however, the parties begin, as the transit organization opens all of its rail lines up for free rides, with themed community celebrations, also free, scheduled at most of the new West Line stations. Hop aboard! Continue reading for a list of sanctioned parties and one impromptu one, and then visit RTD online for maps and more information.

See also:
- The Rail Thing: RTD W Rail Line Grand Opening Celebrations
- A new RTD light-rail station is "convenient to nothing"
- Photos: Union Station tour digs dirt on transit hub, light rail

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Jesse Dawson

Lowbrow's Tymla Welch and Lauren Seip.

We gave the Broadway/Baker retail strip the award for Denver's Best Neighborhood Shopping District two years in a row -- in 2012 and 2013 -- for so many good reasons: The area is spilling over with hip, modern creative ventures. But some of that contemporary spark flares further south, too, along Antique Row. Here are ten of our favorite local retailers on Broadway: Some are old, some are new, but every one of them rocks.

See also:
- Best of Denver: The ten best local drag queen names
- Best of Denver: Denver's ten best comedy nights
- Best New Public Art: Our picks for the past decade

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Finally, something floating around the cesspool of Facebook that we can care about enough to actually unify over. The "Judgmental Denver map" appeared in my newsfeed yesterday and has since been reposted at least forty times by people I know -- people who either think it's funny or are pissed because the map is "inaccurate," according to what they think about where they live.

Though the origins of this map are unknown, I'm willing to bet the area labeled "Cool Kids" is probably where the cartographer(s) reside. But regardless, guys, this map has everything: racism, classism, sexism and homophobia from all angles!

See also:
- Virginia Village: I'll be out reppin' my transitional neighborhood like a mascot
- Here, transplants, have Denver: It's all yours (except for Hooters)
- From a Colorado native to a transplant: Your altitude problem is my attitude problem

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Streetcar trekkers stop for beer at Hops & Pie on Tennyson Street.

To the stroller-pushing mommies and patio-side drinkers who lined West 32nd Avenue on Sunday afternoon, it probably looked like just another Cruiser ride, as thirty folks on bikes trekked up the Highland hills in Sunday's 100-degree heat.

Yet this sweaty mass, organized by the Denver New Rail~Volutionaries, was on a mission to retrace a living thread of Denver history: The Denver Tramway Company's Number 5 streetcar line.

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Denver Public Library

If social media is the communication tool of the future, the Denver Public Library doesn't want to be left in the dust, and that's why the library will launch its ambitious Creating Your Community (CYC) social archive -- a participatory opportunity for people to share stories of their Colorado heritage and family history -- today on its existing interactive website.

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The lights are very bright on Broadway, and 2012 is shaping up to be the year that SoBo, with its growing lineup of independent shops and boutiques, second-hand emporiums and quirky dining spots, becomes a solid destination.

The biggest news on the hip and funky stretch of Broadway between First and Alameda avenues is the upcoming, side-by-side alliance of Fancy Tiger and Buffalo Exchange. Fancy Tiger, which is now split into two locations -- the crafty DIY supply store/workshop and the youthfully leaning clothing store -- will be reunited in a new space opening at 55-59 Broadway on January 4 or 5 after a swift post-Christmas move; at the same time, Buffalo Exchange, a longtime Capitol Hill stalwart at 230 East 13th Avenue, will move in next door (Buffalo Exchange plans to reopen on Broadway the day after Christmas).

This development also opens the door to other moves. For example, Sewn -- a collaboration between seamstress/designer Jil Cappuccio and clothing upcycler Kirsten Coplans of Pearl Clothing -- will soon find a home in the former Fancy Tiger Clothing space at 18 South Broadway. The final link in the switcheroo will be Happy Coffee, set to open in the former Fancy Tiger craft store space at 1 South Broadway, adjacent to Sputnik and the hi-dive.

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