AT THE PERK

STUDY NIGHT: Monday, January 23rd 5-8pm throughout shop. Study night organized by our staff, low key music, special offers and hourly dance/stretch breaks.

WRITERS MEETUP: Wednesday, January 25th 7-9pm in The Living Room.  Led by the widely published Kelli Jae Baeli. 

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL GROUP: Sunday, January 29th, 2-4pm at Wash Perk Community Table.

TUMBLER EXCHANGE still happening until end of the month!  Bring in your retired but usable TRAVEL MUGS for us to keep on hand for when peeps forget their travel mugs.   We’ll give you a FREE MEDIUM DRINK CARD. Thanks for helping us reduce paper cup use (even if they are compostable!). 

AT THE PERK

CLOSE EARLY, 6pm, for Staff Meeting: Tuesday, January 17th at 6pm.  As always, we apologize for any inconvenience.

WRITERS MEETUP: Wednesday, January 18th 7-9pm in the Living Room.  Led by the generously published Kelli Jae Baeli. 

We say goodbye and good luck to MK SAGARIA, who has been our interim manager at Wash Perk.  She generously stayed a few weeks beyond her initial commitment.  This week we welcome SHARON HEALY to her new responsibilities as manager.  You already know her as a barista, and she will keep one shift a week back bar.  As many of you know, Sharon is an accomplished large canvas artist.  Her beautiful works can barely fit on our walls! We also welcome RYAN JEFFERS, as he begins his training as a barista this week.   Ryan is a multi-lingual student, specializing in grammar and linguistics.  He will help us with shifts given up by Sharon and KRISTEN BAIR.  Kristen will be going to New Zealand in February for her semester abroad.

AROUND THE PERK

POLAR BEAR 5K:  Sunday, January 22nd 10am at Washington Park.

Santa returns next Saturday to the Perk.

 AT THE PERK:

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS: Tuesday, November 29th 7-9pm. EWB Denver hosts their monthly meeting.

STEELE ELEMENTARY ART SHOW OPENING: Thursday, December 1st 6-7:30pm.  Art teacher, Miriam Unger has worked very hard to create this exhibit and Wash Perk feels honored to host. Weaving and Ink Paintings from the artists of Rooms 202 and 208.  LIVE MUSIC by Trevor Morris.  Savory croissants and cookies provided by Wash Perk.

NEW WEEKEND HOURS BEGIN: Friday 6am-7pm, Sat/Sun 7am-7pm.  We’re shortening Friday and lengthening Sat/Sun. Udi’s desserts will be available again for evening hours.

SANTA PICTURES: Saturday, December 3rd 1-3pm. Santa returns, bearing small gifts and ready for pictures by Edwin Demafiles.  Pictures will be available for download from web and disk, at no charge to you.  Tip donation only.

We are experimenting with new items from our current vendors to try to fill the hole left by Simple Sugar Bakery.  Please give us your input. 

AROUND THE PERK

BUY LOCAL WEEK: November 25th-December 2nd.  Americans do most of their holiday gift shopping the week after Thanksgiving, starting Friday (i.e. Black Friday). So do your shopping locally!  Lots of local retailers have specials this week.  Colorado Local First campaign and The Mile High Business Alliance.

GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE!!!!!

HOLIDAY HOURS:

Wednesday, December 21st: Close at 5pm for staff holiday gathering.

Christmas Day: Closed

New Year’s Day: Open 7am-1pm.  Kate, Kelly and Mekenzie wanted to be open and start the new year off with YOU!

Here’s what I did on Thanksgiving Day while our staff were working hard at Wash Perk!  I was learning to disassemble, clean and reassemble an espresso machine.  One of the many things I love about KALADI COFFEE is that they support and educate to increase autonomy and knowledge in their staff and wholesale accounts like us.

WASH PERK welcomes anyone in costume to ask for a treat throughout the day.  We will have candy behind bar for all ghosts, goblins, superheroes, etc.  Have a wonderful, safe, fun day!

***DAYLIGHT SAVINGS next Saturday, November 5th.  Fall back after midnight! ***

AT THE PERK:

STUDY NIGHT: Monday, October 31st 5-8…..but this week you’ll have to listen to ghoulish tunes and know that goblins will be coming through the shop!

NaNoWriMo BEGINS: Tuesday, November 1st -30th.  Wash Perk wishes to support you creative procrastinators in getting your novel out of your head and on to paper!  NaNoWriMo creates the incentive. Come write your novel at Wash Perk and ask for your 5% off each day in November. (not combined with other discounts; we want to stay in business while being supportive!).  HAPPY WRITING!!!!!!

GRAVITY MEETING: Tuesday, November 1st 7-9pm in Living Room.

PERK PUPS PARTY: Saturday, November 5th 5:30-7:30pm.  End of season celebration. ****Shop will CLOSE EARLY for this event, 5pm CLOSE. ****

AROUND THE PERK: 

PERK PUPS SOCCER: Saturday, November 5th 10am at Wash Park.  Final practice!

HOMEMADE FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Saturday, November 5th at The Washington Street Community Center. Shop the artisan creations made by the talented members of the West Wash Park neighborhood and beyond.  Bake Sale happening, too!!!! Please come by and support our community center; EVERY BIT COUNTS, especially in small non-profits.

CHANGES AT SHOP:

Our friend, Bear, helped us move our pastry counter sideways to give baristas breathing room and hopefully define our customer line better.

Ongoing World Cafe’:  You will notice white paper on our community table and sometimes on other tables, that will either ask a question or invite you to ask a question, and always it will invite you to answer the question.  This came out of a conversation with Debbi, in which I said “I wish we could conduct World Cafe’s at the shop, because people are so smart and something magical grows in groups.”   And she said, “Well at least the community is always there, not like you need a special gathering.”  I think it will be fun to see how ideas can unfold when it’s spontaneous and shared among peeps we may not know, or typically think to ask.

Halloween Safe Route Photos:  Thank you all for making it so fun! 

Picture Kelly O took in Italy. Our espresso blend from Kaladi Coffee is named after this town.

 AT THE PERK:

CLOSE EARLY on Monday, Sept. 12th at 6pm for Staff Meeting.  As always, we apologize for inconvenience.

BW4W NETWORKING EVENT on Wednesday, September 14th 6-8pm in Wash Perk Living Room. By Women For Women is a community of women entrepreneurs.

WASHINGTON PARK CARES will be at shop on Saturday/Sunday, September 17th/18th 9am-1pm and available to discuss with peeps their mission in our community to help our seniors maintain independence.  They are a young non-profit and eager to grow support.  Their 3rd annual Fall Fundraiser is Sunday, Sept. 18th at Max Gill and Grill. 

PERK PUPS SOCCER practice on Saturday, September 17th at 10am in big field near Ohio and Downing.  They just can’t get any cuter than this.

AROUND THE PERK:

FANS Meeting: Tuesday, September 13th 5:30-6:45 at St, John’s Lutheran Church.  This will be the FINAL PUBLIC MEETING to discuss the plan for Wash Park’s south entrance, near Louisiana and Gilpin. Check out FANS website or our Google Calendar for more information.

AT THE PERK

LABOR DAY! Hours: 7am-3pm. Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September  that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers. Yay! Laborers on every level.  We need everyone’s contribution, that’s for sure!

THE PERKOLATOR will be at South High bright and early on Labor Day to support volunteers and early finishers at the Aetna Park to Park 10K to benefit pancreatic cancer.  BLUEPOINT BAKERY has once again, generously provided mini pastries at no charge for Wash Perk to distribute.  They have been repeatedly supportive of so many Wash Perk fundraisers and events to which we donate.

LESBIAN BOOK CLUB: Thursday, September 8th 7-9pm in the Living Room. Check our calendar for more information. 

MAME’S BURRITOS has NEW LUNCH BURRITO FLAVORS:  Spinach/Swiss, Chipotle Beef/Potato, and Cilantro Pesto.  They are FANTASTIC and flavorful.  This week only, if you mention this posting through Friday, Sept 9th, get a

**FREE BAR DRINK with a Mame’s LUNCH BURRITO PURCHASE**

AROUND THE PERK

PERK PUPS 2011 SEASON BEGINS!!  Saturday, Sept. 10th at 10 am in the field near Ohio and Downing.  Look for the WASH PERK banner if you want to go watch.  It is a sight to see!  This is the Perk Pups 3rd season, led by Coach Joe Lindwall and there are a total of 30 Pups and Puppies this year.  What fun!

PERK PUPS 2010 Team

WELCOME back, KELLY O’LAUGHLIN!!! This is Kell’s first week back from Italy.  She will return to Italy to tour with a theater company in January.  We are lucky to have her for a few months again and she feels lucky to be back with all of us.  Who could ask for more??  Appreciation abounds!

Jeremy and Teri hold the 1000th energy efficient lightbulb before he installs it in Wash Perk!

The Department of Environmental Health reached out to Wash Perk after seeing The Perkolator on 9News back in May.  The city has created a new certification program for SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES in Denver and Janet Burgesser came to find out about Wash Perk’s practices and to offer help with improvements.  We are very proud to announce that we had few new practices to add. We secured insulation around our a/c vents in the basement and Jeremy Lauffenburger changed out a good amount of our lightbulbs to more efficient ones.  We were the lucky business to be the recipient of the 1000th FREE energy efficient lightbulb!  It’s not easy or inexpensive to keep our waste down, and we know sometimes it requires extra effort from you and all of our staff.  In the long run, we feel better about reducing our waste and possible harm, and hopefully utility costs.  We think it’s great that The Department of Environmental Health  is trying to support businesses to reduce energy costs, waste and to improve sustainability awareness.  Craig Williams from Infinite Future continues to look in to ways that we can reduce costs, hassles and waste around Wash Perk.  THANK YOU all, including our customers that support and encourage us.

AT THE PERK

CLOSING EARLY: Monday, August 29th at 7pm.  So sorry for the inconvenience.  LABOR DAY we will be open 7am-3pm.

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS:  Tuesday, August 30th 7-9pm in Living Room.  For more information: ewbdenver.org

SEPTEMBER ARTIST: Wash Perk welcomes new artist for September Dan Ericson, aka, DUNN.  He was able to hang his work early.  His work is unique and sustainable!  He was featured this month in 5280 MAGAZINE.  check it out next time you are in.

AROUND THE PERK

Public Meeting on Mini Master Plan for Wash Park: Tuesday, August 30th, 5:30-7:30pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 700 S.Gilpin.  Thanks to Cindy Johnstone and FANS for keeping us in the loop.

Courtesy of Kristen Bair, aka K$

At the Perk

BW4W Gathering: Wednesday, Aug. 17th 6-8pm: By Women For Women – an organization dedicated to providing the resources and support women entrepreneurs need to be successful in a business they’ve created. Our website is http://BW4W.org.

Around the Perk

Perkolator at Washington Park: Saturday 11-2pm, Sunday 8-12 noon. NW corner of Smith Lake in front of Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and Dos Chappell Bathhouse.

Race for Research:  Sunday, August 21st 8:30-noon. 15th Annual Race for Research 5k Fun Run/Walk.  Benefits The Cancer League of Colorado.

NOTES: Perk Pups Soccer Team to begin for their 3rd season September 10th-November 5th, 2011.  Coach Joe Lindwall and (new this year) Coach Katie Bellon will get creative in keeping those 3-5 yr olds engaged in fun drills. This is mostly an “active social” group, allowing kiddos to romp and parents to connect, and Wash Perk is the VERY FORTUNATE sponsor

Contact Joe at joelindwall@hotmail.com before August 18th if you haven’t already.  This year we will create a sub group of “Perk Puppies” for the <3yr old siblings!

PERK PUPS 2010

Sunrise last week, courtesy of MC3 Photography.

AT THE PERK

Bike to Work Day! Wednesday, June 22nd.  Ask for your 10 % off all through the month of June if you ride your bike to the Perk.  It’s Bike Month!  Follow our friends at BikeDenver to stay in the cycling loop.

Dessert Thursday: Our wonderful neighbors and bakers at Simple Sugar Bakery will delight our senses with a scrumptious dessert option.  It’s different each week, and we announce on our Facebook wall on Tuesdays.

LIVE MUSIC: Jeff Friedlander: Sunday, June 26th 11a-1p on the patio, weather permitting. Folk fun and funk. Come enjoy Jeff and the lovely patio and planter flowers.

AROUND THE PERK

Summer Solstice Bike Ride with VOC: Tuesday, June 21st, It’s free. Join BikeDenver, Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Zoo and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) for a Summer Park-to-Park bicycle ride from City Park, through the Denver Botanic Gardens, to the Dos Chappell Bathhouse at Washington Park to celebrate green volunteering and the summer solstice.  The Perkolator will be on hand, selling Udi’s sandwiches, Sweet Action Ice Cream Sandwiches, Cookies and drinks.

Perkolator at Wash Park: Tues, Wed,Th 4-7pm; Sat 11-7/Sun 8-4pm.  East of Boathouse, near Recreation Center. The

Clarkson Street Yard Sale: Saturday, June 25th 9a-4pm.  Sandi Segal is leading the way again with the annual multi-home yard sale from Alameda to Buchtel. Perkolator will be accompanying MK and Andrea this year as they take complementary coffee and pastries to our neighbors. Thanks, Sandi!

Lucky Mutt Strut: Sunday June 26th, 8a-12p at Washington Park, benefitting the incredible work of the Max Fund no kill shelter.  Wash Perk and the Perkolator will be donating to the Max Fund and it’s volunteers in various ways this morning.  Volunteers get a free bar beverage at shop; Perkolator sales this morning will 100% go to Max Fund.  Thanks to MK Sagaria and her coordinating efforts to help this to happen.

A Spirited, Wild Bunch!

Steve Meyer, winner of our coffee bike naming contest, and his MS150 team, The Wild Bunch, created an upbeat back drop on a dreary day this past week when 9News came to Wash Perk.  Jennifer Ryan introduced the video piece she created about our cargo coffee bike.   Steve Meyer won the naming contest when his submission, The Perkolator, received the most votes from customers.

Vince Nickols, the Team Captain and his Wild Bunch will cycle in the 2 day ride June 25th and 26th raising funds for The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  Various members of the group will join our baristas at The Perkolator in Washington Park the weekend of June 4th and 5th.  Wash Perk will donate all proceeds from the weekend to the team and their MS 150 efforts.

AT THE PERK THIS WEEK:

Thomas Hine: LIVE MUSIC Saturday, May 21st 3-5pm in the Living Room.