February Blizzard, courtesy of Edwin Demafiles

Thanks to Kate, Kristen and Jonathan we were able to open on Friday, at least until 1pm.  It didn’t make sense for more peeps to risk the drive, but we all appreciated those three getting us started  Thanks to all of you that helped with shoveling through day, after our first clearing by The Krazy Lawn Gal.  Two inches an hour was a lot with which to keep up.

 AT THE PERK

STUDY NIGHT: Monday, February 6th 5-8pm.  Organized by our staff, low key music, special offers and hourly dance/stretch breaks.

GRAVITY GATHERING:  Tuesday, February 7th 6-8pm in The Living Room.

LESBIAN BOOK CLUB: Thursday, February 9th 7-9pm in The Living Room. Contact:Cynthia McDonald cmcd1070@yahoo.com for more information:)

AROUND THE PERK

VALENTINE’S DAY 5K: Sunday, February 12th 10am-12pm at Wash Park.

COMING UP:

Next MONDAY and FRIDAY nights we will have LIVE MUSIC.   AUNT MARTHA will play on Monday, February 13th from 5-7pm.  JAMIE BENDELL will play Friday, February 17th from 4:30-6:30pm.

The above photos are courtesy of Edwin Demafiles, Pete Kelly, then Edwin again for last two!  Thank you both!

AT THE PERK

STUDY NIGHT: Monday, January 30th 5-8pm. Study night organized by our staff, low key music, special offers and hourly dance/stretch breaks.

DENVER ENERGY CHALLENGE: Tuesday, January 31st 3:30-5:30pm in The Living Room. FREE Energy Savings Workshop presented by The Mile High Business Alliance.

BW4W Networking Meeting: Tuesday, January 31st 6-8pm in The Living Room. BW4W (By Women for Women) is a community where women entrepreneurs can find the resources and support they need to be successful in a business they created.

REAL COFFEE THURSDAY:  Thursday, February 2nd 5-7pm at The Community Table.  Local realtor and Life Coach, Sandi Segal is available to discuss real estate or anything else that could enhance both parties  Sandi often brings in a guest speaker.  Sandi is also the president and founder of The Merchants Association of West Wash Park. Contact her at SandiSegal@Gmail.com

SUPER BOWL 5k: Sunday, February 4th 10-12 at Washington Park.

ARTIST OF THE MONTH: Wash Perk welcomes RICHARD OTT as our February artist.  Mid week his work will go up. Dick is a trial lawyer and gifted artist.  He enjoys oil and watercolor painting as well as drawing.

AROUND THE PERK

FANS MEETING: Wednesday, February 1st 6-7:30pm at the Dos Chappell Bathhouse in Wash Park.  Topics will be The Running Trail Realignment and the Future of FANS.   It’s been a tough year of battling and advocating for FANS, and your input would mean a lot if you are interested in exploring ways to care for Wash Park.

SHARON HEALY ART OPENING: Friday, February 3rd 7pm at Benders Tavern.  Sharon is our manager and an incredible artist.  Her show will be at Benders through February.

UPCOMING

Wash Perk’s 4th Birthday is approaching on April 1st, 2012.  We would love your ideas about how to celebrate, that day and through the month.  We love to collaborate with community non-profits and to find ways to show our appreciation for our loyal and supportive customers/neighbors/friends/community.   We always have a visit from the Easter Bunny and we usually have several hours of free food and celebration.  Last year we had the Park to Perk Bunny and Bike Ride, and we may combine that with a mini egg hunt.

Share your ideas on our Facebook page or on our World Cafe’ Sheet on Community Table.  Thank you!

****PS: We’ve recently had to remind ALOT of peeps that we don’t allow outside food and beverage in our shop.  We don’t want to police peeps, and we need your support in order to survive as a business.  Please help us to reinforce the culture of exchange that Wash Perk depends upon. *****

AT THE PERK

LESBIAN BOOK CLUB: Thursday, January 12th 7-9pm. Contact: Cynthia McDonald

cmcd1070@yahoo.com for more information

AROUND THE PERK

RUNNING TRAIL REALIGNMENT MEETING:  Tuesday, January 10th 6pm at Steele Elementary School.

CHILDREN’S WASH PERK SCRAMBLE CHALLENGE

(for pups up to age 12)

How many different words can you find in the letters of WASH PERK????

Submit your hand written words and totals by next Saturday, January 14th and the person with the most words will receive a $25 Wash Perk gift card.  We will announce on Sunday, January 15th.

Happy 2012!!!!

AT THE PERK

GRAVITY MEETING:  Tuesday, January 3rd, 6-8pm in the Living Room.

LIVE MUSIC: Thanks To Philo, Thursday 4:30-7:30pm in the Living Room. TTP play covers by artists like Bonnie Raitt, Brandie Carlile, Grace Potter, KT Tunstall, Robert Plant and Alisson Krauss while peppering in some original music as well!  this is Thanks To Plilo’s first performance at Wash Perk.  Please come help them feel welcome!

TRAVEL MUG EXCHANGE:

Wash Perk likes to keep travel mugs on hand for when customers forget their own, or would just like to reduce our paper cup use.  We try to keep enough around so that it’s easy for you to take with you, and return sometime in the future.  There are always peeps that forget to return and then our stockpile dwindles.

CALLING ON ALL RETIRED BUT USABLE TRAVEL MUGS…… if you have any from us, please return.  If you have any to donate, we will give you a FREE MEDIUM DRINK in exchange for each USABLE tumbler you leave for community use.

When you are at the shop, please feel free to borrow our tumblers and help decrease our cup cost/waste

THROUGH JANUARY, or until we get too many for Teri to manage in her basement office!!!!!  THANK YOU!

Our Crew: Jon,Teri,Mekenzie,Sharon,Amber,Andrea,Helen,Debbi,Jason,Kelly,Leah,Kristen,Chelsea and Kate!

 Wow!  Hard to believe it’s the final week of 2011.  We enjoyed a festive gathering at the shop last week, with past and present staff and spouses.  Both Debbi and I feel so fortunate to work with such amazing peeps, and it was fun to celebrate them as we close out the year.  Happy New Year to each of you!  THANK YOU for bringing Wash Perk in to another year of business!

Mekenzie, Andrea, Amber and Leah

 AT THE PERK:

20% OFF ALL RETAIL THIS WEEK, including TRAVEL MUGS, CERAMIC MUGS, WRAP n MATS, BAMBOO CUTLERY, TEES, BIBS and HATS.  (excludes greeting cards, gift cards, beans and all non-profit merchandise)

ORGANIZING FOR AMERICA:  Tuesday, 6-8pm at the Big Table.  OFA representatives hoping to field questions and give information about campaign and plans for future.

Please welcome Jess Engman, our newest barista in training the next few weeks.  We will be training her in preparation for Kelly’s return to Italy. She heads back January 5th, and we are thrilled for her.  See Jessica’s bio on our staff page.  We also welcome back barista Kristen Bair, who is on break until late January.  She is in between a semester at sea and a semester abroad…. poor baby

Kristen and Kelly

Steele Elementary Art Show. Their Opening was a huge success! We are so honored to display their work.

AT THE PERK:

SAY YES! GATHERING: Wednesday, December 7th 6-8pm in the Living Room.

LESBIAN BOOK CLUB: Thursday, December  8th 7-9pm in the Living Room. Contact:Cynthia cmcd1070@yahoo.com for more information

BEET BOX vegan pastries and donuts are back.  We had simplified to only gluten-free goodies from Beet Box, but yummy vegan options were in demand!

Santa visited on Saturday. Professional photos should be ready by Tuesday.

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.

Simple Sugar Bakery Team: Alison, Tiffany and Peggy

 Goodbye to Simple Sugar Bakery

It is never easy to say goodbye, but I find it especially sad when it is a fellow small neighborhood business that is closing it’s doors.  SIMPLE SUGAR BAKERY is the second beloved bakery vendor to Wash Perk that has had to close because of these trying economic times, narrowed margins and rising costs of commodities and coverage. SOGNI DOLCE BAKERY was the first.  We have loved and enjoyed their high quality products and unbeatable customer service. We will miss the cinnamon rolls, scones, and whoopie pies. We will especially miss their kindness to all of our staff, and the unexpected treats! We wish them luck in whatever they each pursue.

It makes us at Wash Perk even more grateful for your daily support and the culture that values small neighborhood businesses.  Every once in a while someone slips in our side door to use or internet or hangs out on our patio without purchasing…. but honestly, I’m amazed at how many of you truly get how much support a small business needs in order to survive.  The MILE HIGH BUSINESS ALLIANCE was born just 4 years ago and they have done an amazing job in supporting, promoting and informing small businesses and consumers.  Next week is their 5th Annual BUY LOCAL WEEK : November 25th-December 2nd.  Wash Perk participates each year, not because it actually helps us directly, but it matters so much to support the people and groups that help our communities stay strong.  Local does matter, especially these days.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY is also next week, November 26th.  Wash Perk will offer 20% off all retail next weekend: Fri-Sunday, the 25th-27th.  Come by for t-shirt, travel mug, bamboo cutlery or a Wrap N Mat. 

AT THE PERK

STUDY NIGHT: Monday, November 21st 5-8pm.  Our baristas will play music conducive to studying with hourly stretch/dance breaks. FINALS WEEK!

THANKSGIVING HOURS: Thursday, November 24th 7am-1pm.  Stop by before the Turkey Trot!

SANTA VISIT and pictures: Saturday, December 3rd 1-3pm. Our 4th Annual visit.  Edwin Demafiles, our generous professional photographer on hand, photos will be available for free download later that week.

Our visit to the best and smallest breakfast spot in Portland, OR: Bertie Lou's

AT THE PERK:

STUDY NIGHT: Monday, November 14th 5-8pm.  Our baristas will play music conducive to studying with hourly stretch/dance breaks.

CLOSE EARLY 6pm: Tuesday, November 15th for Staff Meeting.  As always, we appreciate your understanding.

FREE MOVIE NIGHT: Friday, November 18th 6-7:30pm in Living Room of Wash Perk. We will be showing RATATOUILLE! $3 cookie/drink for kiddos. **This night we will also have popcorn available for donation only to help with our monthly donation to The Fugees Family School Fund.

AROUND THE PERK:

RUNNING TRAIL REALIGNMENT MEETING: Wednesday, November 16th, 6-7:30 pm at Steele Street Elementary School Auditorium.

BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU: Friday, November 18th 7:30-10:30pm at Grant Avenue Community Center. See Merchant’s Association website for more information. A night of wine and celebration, to support the neighborhood Merchant’s Association.

 UPCOMING:

 Thanksgiving Day: open 7am-1pm to fuel you up for The Turkey Trot and your Thanksgiving celebration