Denver update episode III

[Parsnip Totin Jack ★]

Today was the first day of the conference. A boring 8 hours but we were fed breakfast and lunch so that was ok. 

After lunch I walked around the block, up to the 16th street mall and back. 16th street mall is a tourist trap in downtown Denver. Restaurants, bars and chain shops competing for your cash. On the way back to the hotel was an old black man wearing a velvet crown. His name was Claude and he was the only living shoe shine dude left. He told me that God made him the shoe shine King and that the others were pretenders.  A shine was $5. I sat and listened to him as he worked or ten minutes. My shoes shine. I gave him $6. He said my shoes were calfskin and made in Italy. According to Claude there's no such thing as leather only animal skin and you got to respect the animal that gave it to you. Claude was alright and a shoe shine is good for your soul as well as your shoes. Claude was right about my shoes.

Tonight was a reception at Great Divide brewing with three food trucks. We drank some beer. I had a chicken and roasted chile taco, a pork taco and a side of crispy Brussels sprouts. There was a wood fired pizza truck but I passed on that.

Afterwards we walked to the 16th street mall to people watch. Two people with us walked to the dope shop to check it out but it was closed. Some peeps at the next table were puffing away on a peace pipe but nobody from our table went over to partake. 

There is a big homeless problem in Denver. I think that it's much bigger than anticipated. A lot of new housing is being built but the value is getting too high for people to afford and they are getting priced out of the market. Downtown looks like a failing social experiment.

[Randomguy]

I am still waiting for further episodes...

[Airehead]

Please keep the reports coming

 

[Parsnip Totin Jack ★]

That was two years ago. I haven’t been back. I wouldn’t mind returning to CO for bike rides and off roading but I wouldn’t miss Denver. 

[Randomguy]

12 hours ago, Old#7 said:

That was two years ago. I haven’t been back. I wouldn’t mind returning to CO for bike rides and off roading but I wouldn’t miss Denver. 

Skip the explanation and make with more reports already!

[Parsnip Totin Jack ★]

The next morning I woke early and went to the hotel fitness center. They had a running/walking track on the roof of an adjacent building. I walked several laps, got the heart rate up and watched the sun rise and chase the night shadows from the city below. The conference provided breakfast. It was good for the price but if I had to pay I’d shop elsewhere. Since it was still early,  I headed to the Starbucks next to the hotel for coffee and to kill some time. Sixteen ounce cup of dark roast and a comfy chair by the door was a good place to chill before the day started. It was also a good place to people watch. I enjoy reading Sherlock Holmes books and try to use his techniques of deduction to tell myself tales of the customers. One person stood out from the rest. He was young and appeared homeless. Matted dreads the color of tired straw leaked down from his knit cap. A green Army fatigue jacket was stained and dirty denim ended at shoes worn out months ago. I figured he was here for the bathroom to clean up, consume drugs or get a cup of hot water for a dime.  How wrong I was, when I heard a shout from the register. “Dude! Really!” The homeless kid ran past me and out the door to wick for me to stick out a leg to slow him down. He was chased by the cashier, who kept up her mantra of Dude, really? He snatched a fistful of dollars from the tip jar and bolted. I wish I had stopped him, but that’s life in the big city. 

[Randomguy]

11 hours ago, Old#7 said:

The next morning I woke early and went to the hotel fitness center. They had a running/walking track on the roof of an adjacent building. I walked several laps, got the heart rate up and watched the sun rise and chase the night shadows from the city below. The conference provided breakfast. It was good for the price but if I had to pay I’d shop elsewhere. Since it was still early,  I headed to the Starbucks next to the hotel for coffee and to kill some time. Sixteen ounce cup of dark roast and a comfy chair by the door was a good place to chill before the day started. It was also a good place to people watch. I enjoy reading Sherlock Holmes books and try to use his techniques of deduction to tell myself tales of the customers. One person stood out from the rest. He was young and appeared homeless. Matted dreads the color of tired straw leaked down from his knit cap. A green Army fatigue jacket was stained and dirty denim ended at shoes worn out months ago. I figured he was here for the bathroom to clean up, consume drugs or get a cup of hot water for a dime.  How wrong I was, when I heard a shout from the register. “Dude! Really!” The homeless kid ran past me and out the door to wick for me to stick out a leg to slow him down. He was chased by the cashier, who kept up her mantra of Dude, really? He snatched a fistful of dollars from the tip jar and bolted. I wish I had stopped him, but that’s life in the big city. 

I liked hearing of this, it felt like it could be any of us in the coffee shop.

Well done, sir! 

We must have more.