A few of my favorite photos from the year, including too many of the prized pup:

A year that begins in Africa can be nothing short of magical; 2011 didn’t disappoint.

Holy crikes. That’s how you do a year right. Thank you 2011! (I hear your younger sister 2012 brings great promise.)

~K

It isn’t like Phoenix is without the western influence — but I paid little attention. Like those metal kokopellis on houses of folk you know must be new to town, I never paid a lick of attention to the boot and Wrangler shops in Old Town.

Apparently it took a move to get my inner cowgirl to giddyup. And boy, does she love some boots. And chunky turquoise and silver jewelry. And the “western morality” any cowboy here will gladly share. I blame the wedding this summer in Wyoming for stoking my love of all things western. Stores like Cry Baby Ranch in Larimer Square simply fan the flames. This store is my heaven — a perfect mixture of cowgirl western and Mexican Frida influence.

Yee haw!

~K

Just another odd sight to be seen walking through this lovely city.

~K

Love how this store in the Highlands not only sells flowers, as the mural would suggest — but booze too.

He’s doing some heavy thinking about that little plant.

This mural on Colfax tells a non-profit’s story.

This architecture firm is housed in an old neighborhood market.

A handful of buildings like these near Coors Field that are being renovated from industrial sites to urban lofts. I love how the street signs are painted on the sides of the buildings.

(Many thanks to my trusty sidekick BJ, who patiently stopped the car a dozen times to let me photograph this weekend.)

~K

Civic Center Park — where Occupy Wall Street protesters were camped for weeks — sits between the courthouse and the capitol dome. The Greek Theater in the park is my favorite. How lovely would it be to see a play or a concert here during the summer?

{Okay, okay. I’m not going to lie. I see places like this and at this point in my life immediately think “OOOH! I could so get married right there. Then I stand there for a few moments and imagine exactly what it would look like. Because sadly, I am not immune to wedding hysteria that arrives in tidal wave force once you reach your early 30s. So much so, I see a cold gray set of stairs and ampitheater and immediately think, “HERE COMES THE BRIDE!”  You should see me standing in front of the dress boutique by my yoga studio. Lord, have mercy.}

~K

Toxic Schizophrenia — a public art installation by Tim Noble and Sue Webster — is one of my favorite sights in the city at night. This thing lights up and twirls, as a giant bleeding heart statue should.

(I’ve been called a bleeding heart once or twice.)

~K

That is one devious looking gorilla.

~K

Technically not in Denver, but one of the adjoining burbs — this building is within a large cemetery. It is a beautiful, 200-plus acre space, with giant ancient trees and memorials that vary from ornate to bizarre. There are soldiers from the Spanish American war buried here, to give you an idea of how big those trees really are.

Perhaps the scariest aspect are the coyotes that live on the property. They are the size of golden retrievers and I’m convinced are looking for a Willie Nelson Mandela sandwich. Coincidentally, over my dead body.

~K

This downtown mural reminds me of two things:

A:

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Not to be confused with his canine counterpart.

and, less fun — B:

The many, many people living on the streets in downtown Denver. While I cannot imagine such a life is ever anything less than brutal, it is dang cold here.  To see folks curled up on corners breaks my heart. The line wraps around the Denver Rescue Mission every day. Our food bank is busier than ever. Listening to the news and hearing stories of the working poor, I get it more than ever. There are simply so, so many people hurting right now. It is hard to not be overwhelmed by the task at hand.

One day, smile and warm meal at a time.

In the meantime, Mamas, I think it is just fine if you want your babies to grow up to be cowboys. I know a lot of lovely men who fancy themselves weekend wranglers:

Photo courtesy of the Wright wedding

The older I get, the more I respect those back-breaking blue collar jobs that go with little mention. Cowboys? They are pretty fantastic.

Giddyup,

K

The Daniels + Fisher Tower was once the tallest building west of the Mississippi, and part of a department store. The 2.5 ton bell still tolls, even though today the space is used as a restaurant.

19 more days of this photo project. I’m thinking I’ll spice it up; photos of restaurants I love, more murals and perhaps some zoo shots. Is there anything in Denver you’d like to see?

~K

I appreciate how many brick buildings have mural messages painted on them in Denver. Some for aesthetics, some for political shouting and others like this — to support the buisness within the walls.

-k

There are a series of pedestrian bridges in downtown Denver, but the Millennium Bridge is one of my favorites. It looks like a giant sailing ship, with its mast reaching for the heavens. Apparently it is the first of its kind worldwide too.

 

As a nod to my friend Candace –who does a great job photographing murals in Phoenix — I’m incluing a few of those I’ve been able to find in the Denver area.

  This is in the LOHI neighborhood. 

Liberty for Viola.

~K

 

I looked at these in Wyoming when on vacation this summer. I cannot believe my tastes have changed so much, but man. One of these shirts in black with bright embroidery? Gorgeous. And perfect with cowboy boots, of course.

~K