Columbines at shop, courtesy of Sharon Healy

 AT THE PERK

THE ELVIS ACERS MEMORIAL CAT FOOD DRIVE for RMFR:  MAY 20th-26th.  Bring in your donation and receive 50% off any MEDIUM BAR DRINK.  Thanks for your support; kitties count, too!  The RMFR will be having their benefit walk at Stapleton Central Park on Saturday, May 26th.  Elvis was our barista, Chelsea’s cat.

TUESDAY PROGRESSIVES: Tuesday, May 22nd 9:30-11:30am at The Community Table.

BW4W NETWORKING MEETING:  Tuesday, May 22nd 6-7:30pm in The Living Room.  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.

LIVE MUSIC: LIL’ ROCKERS PERFORMANCE:  Friday, May 25th 6:30-7pm in cafe’.  Lil’ Rockers is a Denver-based after-school music education program founded by Jen Lapinski.  This performance will be comprised of Steele Elementary students.

UPCOMING

MEMORIAL DAY: Open until 2pm.

ART AUCTION TO BENEFIT the MS 150 and THE VENUS de MILES:  In the month of June, we will display and sell the art of  our generous artists and photographers that have each donated a piece of their work.Wash Perk’s goal is to raise $1000 for each cycling benefit.  The MS 150 is June 30th-July 1st; The Venus de Miles is August 26th and benefits The Green House Scholars.

AT THE PERK

MWWP MASTERMIND GROUP:  Monday, May 14th 8:30-9:30 am at  the Community Table. Meeting of neighborhood business owners to discuss ideas for business goals and growth. For more information, contact Sandi Segal at sandisegal@gmail.com .

OFA PROGRESSIVES MEETING: Tuesday, May 15th 9:30-11:30am at The Community Table .

FREE PRESENTATION: ONE SOLDIER’S HEART: Thursday, May 17th 8-9pm in cafe’.   A conversation on the emotional impact of war.  Presented by Ted Englemann, a veteran of the war in Viet Nam.  Ted embedded with American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan to better understand the high rate of emotional wounds among our soldiers.  Community awareness can start acceptance and support of the men and women veterans reintegrating back into our lives.

LIVE MUSIC: HOWARD OSTROW  Sunday, May 20th 10-12 noon on the patio.  Howard has generously offered to play at Wash Perk most Sundays, from 10am-noon.  Please let us know what you think!

 THIS WEEK’s OFFER:

 Buy any SPRUCE CONFECTIONS  product and get a FREE MEDIUM COFFEE

with mention of this ad.  We just began carrying their products again!

Check out metroseen’s video of Spruce Confections:

COMING UP:

CAT FOOD COLLECTION DRIVE for The Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue: NEXT WEEK!!! MAY 20th-26th.  Bring in your donation and receive 50% off any MEDIUM BAR DRINK.  Thanks for your support; kitties count, too!  The RMFR will be having their benefit walk at Stapleton Central Park on Saturday, May 26th.

MEMORIAL DAY: Open until 2pm.

ART AUCTION TO BENEFIT the MS 150 and THE VENUS de MILES:  In the month of June, we will display and sell the art of  our generous artists and photographers that have each donated a piece of their work.Wash Perk’s goal is to raise $1000 for each cycling benefit.  The MS 150 is June 30th-July 1st; The Venus de Miles is August 26th and benefits The Green House Scholars.

Wash Perk was represented on the bike path today

AT THE PERK

OFA PROGRESSIVES MEETING: Tuesday, April 24th 9:30-11:30am at Community Table.

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS: Tuesday, April 24th 7-9pm in The Living Room. www.ewbdenver.org

BW4W By WOMEN FOR WOMEN: Tuesday, April 24th 6 – 7:30pm at The Community Table.  This is a business networking group.  For more information checkout http://BW4W.org

LIVE MUSIC: OSTROW AND MIMLITSCH: Friday, April 27th 4-6pm on the patio. Howard Ostrow and Paul Mimlitschplay creative instrumental guitar orientated music incorporating a unique blend of jazz, new age and ambient styles.

Howard Ostrow

COMING UP:

FURRY SCURRY WALK benefitting the Denver Dumb Friends League. Saturday, May 5th 9am-noon at Washington Park.

WSCC “Share our Future” Silent Auction: Saturday, May 5th 4-8pm at the Washington Street Community Center. 

P.E.A.C.E. Project Africa Benefit Walk:  Sunday, May 6th 9-11am.  Starts at Wash Perk.

WASH PERK’S 4th Birthday is coming up on  Sunday, April 1st!!!  We will of course have our annual celebration, Park to Perk Bunny and Bike Ride (kiddos join us, the Perkolator and the Easter Bunny first for a small egg hunt, then for a short bike ride from Wash Park to our shop), Live Music, Snacks, Prizes, Photos with Bunny and whatever else we can dream up. Festivities will go from 10am-3pm. See schedule below.

AT THE PERK

STUDY NIGHT: Monday, March 26th 5-8pm in cafe’.  Study appropriate music with periodic dance breaks.  Managed by our baristas on shift. Might still be quiet since some of you are on break!

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS:  Tuesday, March 27th 7-9pm in The Living Room. This cohort of EWB Denver’s goal is to better the living conditions in Malingua Pamba through drinkable water, irrigation fro crops and erosion control. Come to our program meetings to get involved with this effort! Contact Chris Kurtz at chrispkurtz@gmail.com  for more information.

BW4W (BY WOMEN FOR WOMEN) NETWORKING: Wednesday, March 28th 6-7:30pm in The Living Room.  BW4W  was established to help women entrepreneurs become more successful, and stay in business, a profitable business, longer.

APRIL 1st SCHEDULE:

10:30am mini pastries and hot cocoa at Wash Park West Flower Gardens at Exposition and Downing Sts.

11am: Mini Egg Hunt with prize coupons/candy inside

11:15am: Group Bike Photo

11:30 am: Child friendly bike procession with the Easter Bunny and Perkolator from Park to Perk, guided by our fierce crossing guards (10 volunteers)

12pm: Prize distribution, snacks, entertainment by Molly Kaufmann

12:30-1:30pm: Photos with Easter Bunny

2pm: Blessing by Reverend Catherine Volland, our dear friend who happens to be an Episcopal minister.

3pm: ya’ all will have to start paying for stuff! Party is over:)

THROUGH THE END OF THIS WEEK:  We will invite customers with each transaction to log a vote for one of eight non-profits to be the recipient of our birthday donation.  Our staff and I chose these local organizations based on our mutual relationship and the fact they that each are in alignment with Wash Perk’s values of Community, Caring and Sustainability.  Wash Perk will donate her proceeds on April 1st, our staff will donate their tips, and we will also include the money raised from this month’s hockey stick auction (thank you, Bear and Colorado Avalanche). On Sunday we will sell raffle tickets for Wash Perk stuff to be given out every 30 minutes from 12:30 – 3pm.

Remaining organizations will each benefit from a future Hockey Stick Auction.  The wonderful organizations included are: WSCC Washington Street Community Center, FANS Friends and Neighbors of Washington Park, VOC Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Hinote’s Heroes, The Gathering Place, Mission Wear, A Little Help (formerly Wash Park Cares), ReVision

REMINDER: Daylight Savings Time next Sunday, March 11th. 

Turn your clocks FORWARD Saturday night!

AT THE PERK (check our calendar for details)

STUDY NIGHT: Monday, March 5th 5-8pm in cafe’.  Study appropriate music with periodic dance breaks.  Managed by our baristas on shift.

ORGANIZING FOR AMERICA: Tuesday, March 6th 9:00-11:30am at the Community Table.

GRAVITY: Tuesday, March 6th 6-8pm in The Living Room.

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

LIVE MUSIC: BLEU MONDE: Friday, March 9th 4:30-6:30pm in The Living Room. ’Pink Martini” style with lots of slinky female French Caberet melodies and a good dose of Jazzy Latin shuffle, Basanova,Tango and Middle East rhythms.  The instrumentation of the 5 person group includes a soft electric jazz guitar, violin, fret-less bass, hand percussion (me) and a lead female vocalist.

Every staff meeting I torture them with a photo op

Friday night with Jamie Bendell

 AT THE PERK

STUDY NIGHT: Monday, February 20th 5-8pm throughout cafe. Yes, even on a holiday!  Pleasant music with stretch breaks, organized by our staff.

CLOSE EARLY:  Tuesday, February 21st at 6pm for our Monthly Staff Meeting.  Thanks for understanding!

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MEETING: Sunday, February 26th 2-4pm at Community Table. Cherry Creek High School students, led by Kate Gunneson.

THANKS TO CHANNEL 7 and ANA CABRERA for coming to shop on Friday to interview all of us.  Thanks to all of you who were willing to be interviewed on our behalf.  The show will air this Tuesday or Wednesday between 6-7am.

WELCOME ERIKA SEDMAK to our staff.  Erika is a photographer, musician and vocalist.  She is an experienced barista and it’s been wonderful getting to know her.   Now that Kelly is in Italy and Kristen is in New Zealand, we’re holding on to the rest of our staff’s passports…… 

AT THE PERK

LIVE MUSIC: AUNT MARTHA: Monday, February 13th 5-7pm in the Living Room.  In lieu of STUDY NIGHT.   Here’s how they describe themselves: We are Aunt Martha, band of men. We hustle north, south, east and west playing our instruments for beautiful people who listen to us. Aunt Martha is band based out of New England, but Tim, the lead singer, has been touring here the past few months. Such a mellow, beautiful voice. We are happy to welcome him to Wash Perk, and happy he decided to come by. Studiers are still welcome to come and enjoy a different pace of music

LIVE MUSIC: JAMIE BENDELL: Friday, February 17th 4:30-6:30pm in the Living Room.  Another great voice, gracing us with talent. Jamie’s music is singer-songwriter pop with inflections of folk and soul, a cross between Carole King and India Arie with endearingly neurotic lyrics and catchy melodies.  She has toured extensively in New York as well as up and down the east coast with select dates in Colorado, California, and Tennessee.  We proud to be a “stop”.

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!

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.