The Player

I'm a movie guy (just look at my blog and podcast listed over in the sidebar). So, when I hear the words "The Player" I think of the 1992 Robert Altman film. However, when you're in the LoDo area of downtown Denver, The Player is the name of the sculpture that sits outside of Coors Field.

Though the statue is of no player in particular, it does serve as a bit of a tribute to one of baseball's most important figures, Branch Rickey. A quote of his is featured on the statue's base. 

The statue was erected by the Rotary Club of Denver in June of 2005, 10 years after the opening of Coors Field. It was created by artist George Lundeen.

The player stands in front of the home plate entrance of Coors Field, at the intersection of 20th and Blake. Coors Field is at 2001 Blake St in Denver.

The Purple Seats at Coors Field

I still think of the Colorado Rockies as being a "new" Major League Baseball team. The truth, however, is that they have been around for almost 30 years. That big anniversary is next year! The team's home stadium, Coors Field, opened at the start of the 1995 season and was a big factor in revitalizing the city's LoDo neighborhood. It's a great park to visit and it has many unique features. One that often leaves out-of-town visitors scratching their heads is the fact that in the upper deck there is a single row of seats that are bright purple, while every other seat in the house is green. What's up with that?

As you probably know, Denver is called the "Mile High City." So, the row of purple seats is marking the spot where you are officially a mile above sea level at Coors Field. So, if you're from out of town and are already having trouble with the thin Colorado air, imagine what it's like when you're watching the ball game from the purple seats!

Now, I know what you're thinking. Over on the other side of downtown Denver is the Colorado State Capital Building where just a few feet from ground level is a step that marks the spot where you are a mile above sea level. How can that spot be ground level at the capital, but way up in the upper deck at the ballpark? Well, it can be cleared up when you think about the name of the neighborhood where Coors Field is. It's referred to as Lower Downtown, or LoDo. This is confusing if you look at a map because LoDo is in the upper west portion of downtown Denver. How is that "lower" downtown? Well, it has to do with elevation. It's Lower Downtown not because of its position on the map, but because the elevation is slightly lower there. So the mile marker can be at ground level at the capital, and be up in the purple seats a few blocks away. Makes perfect sense, don't it?

Bonnie Brae Ice Cream

I don't know what it's like where you are right now, but here in Denver it's been HOT! I mean, it is summer, after all. Plus, it'll just be a few weeks until the possibilities of snow re-enter our daily lives, so I guess we can take the heat for a bit. Of course, one thing that's great on a hot day is some really good ice cream. Lucky for me, my wanderings on a hot day took me into the vicinity of one of Denver's best places to go for Ice Cream...Bonnie Brae Ice Cream.

Located at the corner of University and Ohio Ave, Bonnie Brae Ice Cream is a charming neighborhood shop that has that old-time kind of feel. The family business was started in 1986, and no, it wasn't started by a lady named Bonnie Brae. That's the name of the neighborhood, silly. 

The shop offers well over 30 different unique flavors, and as their awnings proudly proclaim, "Yes! We Make It Here!" A scoop of Banana Strawberry in a sugar cone was my choice on this most recent visit.

This is the kind of establishment that we see too few of these days...a great neighborhood hang out. Of course, it's a very popular spot, especially in the summer. On weekends the line is usually out the door and down the block, but it moves fast and is worth the wait. I didn't have to wait at all when visiting on a weekday afternoon, but just as I was leaving a charter bus full of high school girls pulled up and...well, the line got huge! Also, be warned that there is no parking lot. Parking in the neighborhood behind the shop is usually best, but the streets are narrow and there are usually many cars parked on the street. 

Bonnie Brae Ice Cream is located at 799 South University Blvd in Denver

Sakura Square

Denver, like any other city, is made up of many diverse peoples from all over the world. Each of these people bring a little something to help make the city what it is today. If you head up Larimer Street in downtown Denver, you will find a small area that celebrates Denver's Japanese community known as Sakura Square.

Before 1940, Denver's Japanese community was quite small. This would change, though, during World War II. At a time when Japanese Americans on the west coast were being taken to internment camps, including Amache near Granada, Colorado, Governor Ralph Carr opposed the internment of American citizens. This stance may have cost Carr his political career, yet thousands of Japanese Americans came to Denver. A statue of Carr now stands in Sakura Square, recognizing his stand against injustice during the war years.

The square also features statues of two important Japanese Americans who made an impact on the Denver Community. The first is of attorney Minoru Yasui. Yasui fought against the discrimination of the war years and spent his later years in Denver. The second statue is of the Reverend Yoshitaka Tamai. He was a native of Japan who came to Denver in 1930 and served the Buddhist community of Colorado and the surrounding states for the next 53 years. Sakura Square is adjacent to the Denver Buddhist Temple, which dates back to 1916.

The square also features a small shopping center featuring a few shops and Japanese eating options. The square also hosts an annual Cherry Blossom Festival each summer. There is talk of some improvements being made to the Sakura Square site in the coming years. For now it's a quaint little spot that celebrates the history of one of Denver's many unique communities.

Riverboat Car Wash

Back in the 70's, when I was a kid, not every gas station had a car wash. In fact, they were pretty rare. You had to specifically go to a car wash, or do it yourself. My dad always did it himself and it was a blast for us as kids to help. Grandma and Grandpa, on the other hand, had moved beyond washing the car themselves, so it was always a treat to go with them to get the car washed. After all, when you're a kid, the simple things are extremely entertaining. So riding in Grandma's car while it gets suds upped and slapped with a bunch of big blue brushes, that's like the coolest thing ever. In Denver, though, there's an extra level to the coolness when you can have that experience in a car wash shaped like a giant riverboat!

It's called the Riverboat Car Wash, for obvious reasons. I mean, what else do you call a car wash that looks like a giant white, three-level riverboat? It's even got two big black smokestacks popping out of the top! It is an odd sight, for sure, to be driving down a busy Denver road and suddenly see a large riverboat parked just behind Grease Monkey.

I guess part of what makes it such a weird sight is that Colorado is not an area that is really known for that Mark Twain sort of river culture. Sure, the Platte River goes right through Denver, but it's not the sort of waterway that could handle a vessel this size. I'm not complaining, though. This is just the sort of roadside oddity that I love to experience. 

You'll find the Riverboat Car Wash about three-quarters of a mile east of I-25 on Hampden Technically, the address is 3480 S. Poplar in Denver.

Fairmount Cemetery

On the far east side of Denver, almost right on the border with Aurora, is the city's second-oldest cemetery, Fairmount. With 280 acres to explore, it is a place where you can enjoy a long peaceful stroll. That is, if you're not creeped out by walking around a cemetery. If you've followed any of my other posts, you know that I rather enjoy walking around in cemeteries, and Fairmount is one of the best in the Denver area for doing just that.

Founded in 1890, the cemetery is known for being the final resting place of many of Denver's more well-to-do past residents. That means you will find many large and impressive tombstones, statues, and mausoleums. Among those who now call the cemetery home, you will find several Colorado Governors, Senators, Representatives, Denver Mayors, and other notable citizens.  As you walk around the grounds you will find several markers that echo names of Denver area streets and landmarks, such as Speer, Boettcher, Buell, Elitch, Byers, Lowry, and Iliff. You'll also find one notable grave that brings to mind one of Colorado's darkest days; that of John Milton Chivington, the army colonel responsible for the Sand Creek massacre. 

At times the cemetery hosts some unique events that you wouldn't necessarily expect to find at a cemetery. Outdoor movie screenings have become a recurring feature at Fairmount, as has an annual classic car show.

The pictures in this post were taken last fall, when the leaves were dropping. Honestly, though, Fairmount is beautiful at any time of the year. Fairmount is at 430 South Quebec St in Denver.

Denver Art Museum - Martin Building Level 7

Well, we've made it to level 7; the top of the Denver Art Museum's Martin Building. This level houses my favorite exhibit, which is why I often start at the top of the museum and work my way down. Strangely, though, on my recent visit, I didn't take a whole lot of pictures of this level. I guess I just got too caught up in enjoying the art.

The focus of this level is the Western American Art Galleries. Having moved to the Denver area from the midwest over 25 years ago, I definitely still get caught up in the western history of this region. So seeing so many works of art depicting the history of the west are endlessly intriguing to me.

Well, thanks for joining us on this floor-by-floor journey through the Martin Building. Be sure to check out the exhibits for yourself at 100 W 14th Ave in Denver.

Denver Art Museum - Martin Building Level 6

We are continuing to work our way up the levels of the Martin Building at the Denver Art Museum. Today we arrive on level 6. 

This level primarily houses the European Art Before 1900 Galleries. Not a name that exactly rolls off the tongue, is it. It is, however, a very intriguing exhibit. You'll find Gothic style, Baroque, Rococo and more. The sixth floor also features the Textile Art and Fashion Galleries as well as the Photography Galleries.

Next time we make it to the top of the museum with a visit to level 7.

Denver Art Museum - Martin Building Level 5

Let's keep going with our look at the exhibits in the Denver Art Museum's Martin Building. We're on Level 5, which is devoted to Asian art. The collection features over 850 items, spanning over 5,000 years of history. This is one of my favorite levels of the Martin Building. Perhaps it reminds me of my love for Asian cinema, especially all those Shaw Brothers martial arts movies.