Category Archives: Events

Event 3: Photography meetup

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Late this afternoon I joined a couple of dozen people – including my friends Sam and Ted – for a photo meetup just west of downtown. The idea was to get some dusk-to-dark pictures of the downtown skyline, on a night when a lot of the office buildings might have their lights on in honor of the Stock Show.

It was chilly. The buildings weren’t particularly lit up. I had a good time in general. But I was woefully under-prepared to get the best from my camera in that situation. And I learned that my cheapo tripod is better than nothing. Just. Yes, I was out of my comfort zone, and not just because it was cold. Which is a good thing.

I added three pictures from yesterday to my Cityscapes album on Zenfolio.

Denver January evening I’m glad I went, and learned from the experience. And that crummy digital pictures can be deleted!

Place/Event 2: Denver Art Museum, Hamilton Building (Docent tour)

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Chairs at DAMI’m a volunteer in the Community Technology Center of the Denver Public Library (aka a “technology docent” which does sound special, doesn’t it?). The terrific CTC staff shower us with thanks and praise, and social events. Including last Saturday’s tour of the Library building and the adjacent Denver Art Museum.

DPL Tour

An early stop on the DPL-DAM tour for CTC docents

Our tour guide was a very well-informed DPL docent named Gay, who led us through some of the interesting places upstairs in the library building. Specifically, in the main building (1995) designed by Michael Graves, which incorporates on the North side the smaller 1955 library building designed by Burnham Hoyt.

Then we took the short walk next door, to the Western art area (7th Floor) of the DAM’s main building. Seems that the DPL owns some fine Western paintings that are currently on display at the DAM, and vice versa.

DAM Hamilton Building seen from DPL

Hamilton Building (right) seen from the DPL on a snowy day

Finally, Gay took us to the Hamilton Building part of the DAM. I’d never been inside before, intended to visit but never had, so it counts for my assignment list.

It was a free admission day at the DAM, and the place was packed. I decided I probably like the Hamilton building more than I thought I would, and that I will go back later for a less crowded experience. For one thing, I want to take a good long look at those chairs (first picture above) on display in the Hamilton Building. I barely got a photo of some of them as I shuffled among the crowd.

Live Music 1: CSO world premiere

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William Hill

William Hill, photographed by the Denver Post

Yesterday I read this article about the symphony composed by William Hill. It was commissioned by the CSO, and had its premiere performance last night. Which was part of our season ticket package.

After reading the article, I was cautiously optimistic but my mental soundtrack equates “modern” orchestral music with random noise. The program also included Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra and the Roman Carnival Overture by Berlioz.

Expectations shattered CSOMy expectations were exceeded.

No. I lie.

My expectations were stomped, shredded, and kicked to the curb, where they were last seen shivering in the company of filthy old gum wrappers, gravel, and cigarette butts.

It was all good. It was way better than good, and it was fun. Hill’s Symphony #3 was melodic, dramatic, and thoroughly satisfactory. I’d love to own a recording of it. Afterward, my friends and I learned that each of us had experienced it as a soundtrack. One envisioned an urban thriller story. Another was thinking of Africa. I was in LA for the first movement, Africa for the second and mostly Denver for the third.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Bartok Concerto. I’m shopping for a copy of it to listen to again.

Event 1: Stock Show Parade

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WesternairesFinally. I went to the annual National Western Stock Show kickoff parade through downtown Denver. The weather was beautiful and unseasonably warm. I had no other obligations. It was my kind of parade: lots of animals, and not enormously long.

And I had my brand new camera, about which I’m squeaking with joy. I took an unreasonable number of photos at the parade, and have posted a fraction of them in an album on zenfolio.

After I got home yesterday I learned that the night before when I carefully went through all the camera setup steps – I’d entered the wrong date. So all the pictures from yesterday show in my zenfolio album as having been taken today. Oops. On the other hand they show as having been uploaded the day before they were taken. Which is kind of gratifying for a world class procrastinator.

After the parade I walked down the 16th Street Mall, and on an impulse went into the Visit Denver info center at 16th and California. I was looking for a printed map of Denver’s city (and mountain) parks, but not expecting much. Happy surprise, they’d just received a shipment of new updated maps from Parks & Rec. Now I just need to pick out 35 of those parks for my assignment.

Assignment: 35 events/places

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London - Embankment March 2010

Outside London Embankment station, March 2010

Assignment: visit places, attend events, a total of 35. Meet people. Take pictures. Make notes.

A “place” can be a city, town, nature spot, park, or specific “attraction” of some kind. It can be a place I’ve never been before. It can also be a place I’ve passed by, or spent just a bit of time in when I wanted to stay longer and explore.

I’ve added “events” to this category, because January wasn’t a week old when I went downtown to see my first ever Stock Show parade. Took pictures and talked with people. I’ve certainly been to 17th & Arapahoe before but not to see a parade.

If I had the money I’d hop a plane to London, my favorite city in the world, and see 35 places and events in Great Britain. But I don’t, and I won’t. Maybe next year I’ll get there again. In the meantime, here’s a picture from March 2010.