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!). 

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.

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.

Both Zoe and Kristen will be headed off to school at week’s end  We will miss them greatly.  We welcome Bryan Wilson and Helen Heasely as new bus-peeps!

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MEETING:  Sunday, Aug. 28th 2-4:30pm, at Wash Perk Community Table.

AROUND THE PERK

Venus de Miles Bike Ride: Sunday, Aug. 28th 8am-noon in Longmont.  We will be riding with the Babes Around Denver Team.  This ride benefits The Greenhouse Scholars

Welcome BEN EASTER as our newest Perkolator Peep!  A wonderful, warm and talented man.  He can serve up a tasty beverage AND sing a song to our Wash Park patrons

LESBIAN BOOK CLUB:  Thursday, August 11th 7-9pm in Living Room.

AROUND THE PERK

THE PERKOLATOR:  Saturday  August 13th, 9am-2pm and Sunday August 14th, 8am-12 noon at Dos Chappell Bathhouse in front of VOC.  Donating 100% weekend sales to THE WASHINGTON STREET COMMUNITY CENTER!!!!! Please come by to support a great community touchstone.

The Perkolator

GOODBYE and HELLO!

There are lots of transitions that have been happening and will continue in the weeks ahead.  I’ve shared already about JASON “BEAR” BERRETT coming on board and that ASHLEIGH EDELMAN will be leaving us after nearly 3 years at the Perk…. A few more losses for us in August:  ZOE LEANZA  will head to Macalester College in St. Paul, MN;  KRISTEN BAIR will embark on her semester at sea in the Caribbean!!! (part of her Scripps College curriculum); MADELINE OVERLY is taking on an adventure, moving to the pacific northwest and challenging herself to learn and grow.  We will so feel their absence…and we remain grateful and happy about the times we’ve shared.  Zoe and Kristen will return on their breaks!

And the new faces to welcome are CHELSEA ACERS and CODY McLAUGHLIN as baristas extraordinaire, both experienced and both lovely people; MK SAGARIA will begin as our weekday manager (she has been our Perkolator Ambassador since March); BEN EASTER will join us at the Perkolator;  and we will welcome back HOLLIE CAZZANIGI since she gave birth to her second child, Emma Grace.

AT THE PERK

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS MEETING: Tuesday, 7/26  7-9pm in the Living Room.

MERCHANTS OF WEST WASHINGTON PARK Business Meeting: Wednesday, 7/27 6:30-8:30pm on the Patio.

LIVE MUSIC: Allen Smith, a Farewell Show : Saturday, 7/30 10am-noon on the Patio.  This Allen’s final performance before he  heads out on his European trek.  Follow him at www.LiveGoodVibes.Blogspot.com

AROUND THE PERK

THE PERKOLATOR at Wash Park:  Tuesday/Wednesday/Sat/Sun: Back at our first location in front of VOC and Dos Chappell Bathhouse.  You can see us from Downing Street again  We will have a new Perkolator Ambassador, a dear friend to Wash Perk, BEN EASTER starting next Sunday.   Coming on August 13th and 14th we will welcome THE WASHINGTON STREET COMMUNITY CENTER representatives to join us at the Perkolator and we will donate 100% of our weekend bike sales to their great work.

MUSIC AT THE PARK: The Denver Municipal Band, Sunday, 7/31 , 7:30-9pm in the big field, off Kentucky and Franklin.

If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.  ~Robert Quillen

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.  ~William Arthur Ward

FEELING FULL

There are only a couple of events to promote this week, so I thought I would take a moment to express some deeply felt gratitude for a few of our community members who have recently helped Wash Perk.  

Many of you are aware of the fact that Wash Perk, along with many small businesses in this economy, has struggled to become a viable neighborhood business and keep up with rising costs.

I’ve often said how very much you matter, and that sure hasn’t changed.  Every purchase in a small neighborhood business matters.  Your energy, your smiles,  your ideas, your telling peeps about us, your presence … matters.

This past month we’ve had 3 customers significantly help us for little to no charge at all, because they are invested in Wash Perk getting and staying strong.  JASON BERRETT came on board to help organize our retail area and to improve operations behind the scenes.  He is often at shop after hours, improving our building efficiency and making repairs.  ELLEN URELL offered to help with book keeping and she has helped create such informative financial spreadsheets that I can now sleep at night, knowing we are on track!  DEBBIE DALRYMPLE is the IT person that has tirelessly and patiently addressed our WiFi access issues and I believe FINALLY fixed it!  Debbie is the neighbor who runs FARMYARD CSA, growing and distributing veggies throughout the Wash Park neighborhood.  STEPHEN REDDEN has offered IT brainstorming without charge during this process as well.

It’s times like these that remind both Debbi and me how very fortunate we are to live and do business in this neighborhood.  THANK YOU all.  

AT THE PERK

LIVE MUSIC: Allen Smith on Saturday, July 23rd 10am-12pm on the patio.

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.

AT THE PERK

SWEET ACTION ICE CREAM: Now carrying Sweet Action Ice Cream Pints and Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches.  Yuuuuummeee!  Vegan/GF sorbet options available.

DESSERT NIGHT THURSDAYS: Every Thursday we’ll feature a new dessert from Simple Sugar Bakery.  We will announce the dessert on our Facebook and Twitter accounts each Tuesday.  Feel free to give us suggestions!  Dessert available 4p-8p.  Pair it with our  Happy Hour Lattes M-F from 6p-7p, $2/12 oz. latte.

LESBIAN BOOK CLUB:  Thursday, June 9th 7-9pm in the Living Room. See google calendar for details.

Contact Cynthia at  cmcd1070@yahoo.com for more information

PLANTERS: Our shop planters have been adopted and planted by GROW,  Krazy Lawn Gal, Infinite Future and ReVision International.  They all look so beautiful already.  We are fortunate to have such great peeps give so much for our general benefit. They have designed, paid for or grew from seed and installed their planters. Most importantly,  these peeps are generously adding to the collaborative atmosphere of Wash Perk.  THANK YOU, Kristen, Esther, Craig and Eric.  And we finally have our “wormies” set up for composting on patio, thanks to Julie North.

WASH PERK BOARD GAME: Kelly O’Laughlin made us a wonderful board game before she left for Italy.  We played this past week and the game is at the shop for anyone to play.  She made it so that the rules can be added to as well as the questions on the game cards.  It’s very fun, and very Perky

Our BIRTHDAY/EASTER/BIKE celebration will take place next SUNDAY, APRIL 17th from 11am-1pm.  Brian Spinner and Vicki Phillips had the idea to host a PARK TO PERK BIKE AND BUNNY RIDE from Wash Park (Exposition and Downing) to Wash Perk.  We are encouraging all participants to decorate bike and/or themselves and enjoy a fun short procession behind the Easter Bunny and our new COFFEE BIKE.   We’ll leave park at 10:45 am and head to shop where we’ll enjoy FREE TREATS, PHOTOS with BUNNY, LIVE MUSIC (Jeff Friedlander and Friends) and CRAFTS for kids.

Debbi and I and all of us here at Wash Perk feel so grateful for all of your support in getting us to our 3rd Birthday. THANK YOU.

AT THE PERK:

Lesbian Book Club: Thursday, April 14th in the Living Room 7pm-9pm.  All are welcome to join discussion. Contact: Cynthia cmcd1070@yahoo.com for more information.

LIVE MUSIC: Emma Hill and Her Gentleman Callers, April 15th in the Living Room 5pm-7pm.  Check out her site and u tube. She’s got a fantastic voice and they are just passing through on their way back to Portland.

HAPPY HOUR:  Every week day, M-F from 6-7pm, $2 lattes.  Join us on Facebook/Twitter to receive other specials/discounts.

AROUND THE PERK:

FANS Meeting: Wednesday, April 13th 6pm at the Dos Chappell Bathhouse.  This month’s topic will be  presented by Candice Stuart from The Wild Bird Center, “If you hear the birds sing, it must be spring”.

Bird Walk: Sunday, April 17th  9am. Meet Candice again at The Boathouse for some bird watching.  Bring your binoculars!  FREE for paying members, $5 for non members.