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.

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

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.

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

AT THE PERK:

STUDY NIGHT: Monday, November 7th 5-8pm.  Our baristas will play music conducive to studying with hourly stretch/dance breaks.

LESBIAN BOOK CLUB: Thursday, November 10th 7-9pm in Living Room. Contact:Cynthia McDonald cmcd1070@yahoo.com for more information

AROUND THE PERK:

The Race for Fetal Hope: Sunday, November 13th 10 am at Washington Park.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

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.

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.

Trophies and gift bags for our Perk Pups

2011 PERK PUPS SOCCER TEAM

AT THE PERK

STUDY NIGHT: Monday, October 17th 5-8pm.  baristas play low key music with hourly stretch breaks.

CLOSE EARLY: Tuesday, October 18th at 6pm for STAFF MEETING.  As always, we appreciate your understanding.

LOCAL BIZ COFFEE MEETING and FLAVOR GUIDE RELEASE PARTY: Wednesday, October 19th 8:30-10am in Wash Perk Living Room.  Mile High Business Alliance will roll out our very first West Washington Park Local Flavor Guide!

MOVIE NIGHT: Friday, October 21st 6-7:30pm. MONSTER HOUSE viewing in Living Room.  $3 for cookie/kid’s drink.

AROUND THE PERK

SCREAM SCRAM: Friday, October 21st 6pm at Washington Park.  The Annual 5K in costume to benefit the Boys and Girls Club.

SPECIAL THANKS to the generous individuals and groups that planted and cared for our outdoor planters: 

GROW and Kristen Adams. Kristen has been a major supporter of Wash Perk in several ways: she had organized the running group, helped with landscaping (her love) and this year contributed the entire planter.

INFINITE FUTURE and Craig Williams. I met Craig at a class and he offered to volunteer his time and expertise to help refine Wash Perk’s sustainable practices.  He has been an amazingly generous contributor to so much behind the scenes at our shop.

REVISION INTERNATIONAL and Eric Kornacki.  Eric is a former barista and founder of ReVision, a non-profit that is doing amazing work in Denver.  Early on he helped Wash Perk decrease waste behind our bar and he participated in developing our initial sustainability policies.

THE KRAZY LAWN GAL and Esther and Micki.  This is their first year in business and they have been so generous to Wash Perk and our patrons.  They organized a seedling event early in the season, they maintain our landscaping and remove our snow.

They each donated, planted, cared for and shared all of the beauty, abundance and produce with us. Please support them in any way you can.   THANK YOU ALL!!!

Kate's beautiful pumpkin from Saturday's carving party.

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

Good luck to CHLOE BILLS, one of our amazing bus peeps.  She is entering her final semester at South High and beginning her college curriculum AND her family is moving to Centennial!  This will allow her to visit us at the Perk to study, but not enough time to keep a work schedule.  We are very happy for her, her choices and the person that Chloe continues to be.  These young peeps provide me so much anticipation of where our world may be headed

NOW AVAILABLE: Bhakti Chai and Lightly Sweetened Bhakti Chai in 16oz bottles, $4.

AROUND THE PERK

MUSIC AT WASH PARK: The Denver Municipal Band plays in the Meadow, Sunday, July 31st, 7:30-9pm.  Take a dessert picnic and enjoy the evening

FANS MEETING: Wednesday, August 3rd. 6:00-8:00 p.m, St. John’s Lutheran Church.  DISCUSSION:Park Improvements, don’t miss this if you are able!

Please note the date and time!  This is a special meeting presented by Denver Parks and Recreation for improvement planning  along the Diagonal.

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.