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pandemicperipatetics · 3 years

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Two Weeks in Denver

The Verdict:

We spent 13 nights in Denver (well actually, just south of Denver in Greenwood Village). With the beautiful outdoors, friendly people, and the best/chillest drivers of anywhere we've driven in the U.S., it was our favorite stop so far! It seems like a wonderful place to live. Denver is large and seems to have lots of stuff to do in the city and surrounding areas, so this post covers just a fraction of the options.

Things to Do:

Hiking (Ranked in order of our most to least recommended)

Rocky Mountain National Park (~2 hrs drive): Check out our RMNP blog post!

Boulder (45 min drive): We didn't have a chance to hike in Boulder, but we hear it's awesome. We had hoped to stop by Chautauqua Park to check out the trails (we read that Enchanted Mesa Trail was a good 4-miler) or El Dorado Canyon State Park. We did enjoy walking along Pearl Street, where there are plenty of tasty treats (we enjoyed smoothie bowls) and appreciated the free parking in the city's covered parking garages (we parked at 1500 Pearl, which was a perfect location). Logistics: Waze told us there was a toll on the Interstate to Boulder, but Google Maps thought it was a toll-free drive. The answer? There is an optional toll lane on the highway, but you can make the trip in the toll-free lanes.

Red Rocks (30-40 min drive): This is a naturally occurring amphitheatre that is best known for evening concerts against an incredibly scenic vista. While we weren't looking for a crowded concert during the pandemic, we visited in the morning and were blown away by how beautiful the amphitheatre was (and how many stairs there were to get to the top!). We also walked the beautiful 1.4 mile Red Rocks Trading Post Trail loop, which also had a moderate amount of uphill/downhill. It was VERY hot and sunny when we got there around 10:30 a.m.; though the weather app said it was below 80 degrees, the sun was really beating down. Next time, we'd go earlier in the day (later can be tricker due to concerts in the evenings) for better weather and hopefully smaller crowds. Logistics: We just entered Red Rocks into Google Maps and it took us to a parking lot near the amphitheatre. The trail was just a couple minutes' walk from the parking area, near the Trading Post building. Parking was free and not too hard to find.

Vail/Breckenridge area (~90 mins drive): We didn't have a chance to visit, but it sounds like there's very nice hiking around here in the summer.

Garden of the Gods and Pike's Peak in Colorado Springs (~1 hr drive): When we got a nail in our tire and had to get the tire replaced, the nice guy at Firestone highly recommended we visit these areas for beautiful scenery. While we didn't make it, we read that Garden of the Gods can get very crowded, especially with Instagram-focused tourists more so than a hiking acrowd. We also read that it's not quite as nice as the Utah National Parks or Sedona. Pike's Peak also sounds touristy; there is a coveted tram that takes you to the top, at 14K feet of elevation -- after moderate altitude sickness at RMNP, we decided to sit this one out.

Denver Neighborhoods & Sights (Ranked in order of our most to least-recommended)

Denver Botanic Gardens (free with American Horticultural Society membership): This is one of the most beautiful botanic gardens we've ever seen, anywhere. It was also excruciatingly crowded on a Saturday morning and a very un-fun experience to find parking. Despite how stunning the gardens are, we preferred the much less crowded walk through Cheesman Park and the cute surrounding neighborhood. Logistics: If the Botanic Gardens parking garage and parking lot are full, park for free at nearby Congress Park, Cheesman Park, or on a random side street a 5+ min walk from the gardens. Be observant of street signs to make sure you haven’t parked in a residential area that requires a parking permit.

RiNo (River North Arts District): About a 10 minute drive from downtown, RiNo is a hip area full of breweries, street art, and run-down looking houses. On a Saturday around 2pm, street parking was sparse (but free) and the breweries seemed packed with people. We read that the street murals are at their best on 26th-31st streets between Larimer & Walnut, and we weren't blown away in comparison to Plaza Walls in Oklahoma City or The Mission in San Francisco. Due to the extreme heat we didn't stick around, but we were interested in checking out Finns Manor (cocktails + food trucks), Denver Central Market (High Point Creamery apparently offers an ice cream flight?!), and a few breweries. Maybe next time! Logistics: Street parking is free.

Washington Park: This is very nice park for a stroll. When we went on a Saturday evening around sunset, it wasn’t very crowded. The surrounding neighborhood looks very nice, and there seem to be good places to eat nearby (our friend suggested Sushi Den, though we didn’t have a chance to try it out). We saw someone paddleboarding on the water, which looked picturesque! Logistics: There are parking lots and ample street parking around the park.

Sloan’s Lake (near Highland neighborhood): The park has a beautiful lake with a sizeable trail going around it. It reminded us of Lake Merritt in Oakland. When we went on a Sunday evening, it was somewhat busy with people running, walking, biking, and on scooters/skateboards/roller blades, and there was lots of goose poo everywhere. The surrounding area wasn’t quite as nice as that around Cheesman Park or Washington Park, but we still liked the lake. Note there were no water activities allowed -- signs indicated the water sometimes gets too unclean to enter. Edgwater Market is a few minutes away (we recommend driving as the walk isn’t very nice) and has a cute outdoor patio and lots of different types of ethnic food to try out (we especially liked the veggie pesto crepe at the crepe stand). Logistics: There are parking lots at the lake and the market.

LoDo (Lower Downtown): The downtown area is meh, you can skip it if you're short on time. If you go, you can walk through Larimer Square, a small, cute block of shops and eateries with outdoor seating that is roped off from cars; check out Union Station, where the Amtrak goes and there are a bunch of places to eat/get coffee (including the overrated Snooze AM eatery - reserve your spot in line 1-2 hrs in advance if going and be sure to get the sweet potato pancake); walk the 16th Street Mall, a very touristy street of more shops and eateries (not as cute as Larimer Square, but a pro is there is a free bus that takes you up and down this long street); and walk by Coors Field if you're a baseball fan. Logistics: Parking lots are very expensive, but we didn't find it too difficult to find 2-hour street parking ($1/hour, you can pay by card at the meter or with the PayByPhone app; free on Sundays and holidays).

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (free, 20-30 mins from city center): This is a beautiful area in northeast Denver that you can drive through, listen to their excellent guided podcast, and spot some neat wildlife. The area is known for bison, deer, prairie dogs, and birds; we saw some of these animals. This was a great option to stay in our air-conditioned car on a very hot day, rather than being out for a hike. Logistics: There is a Visitor Center that you can stop by if you’d like (we didn’t), otherwise just download the Rocky Mountain Arsenal podcast on your phone and start the drive!

What to Eat (Vegetarian Edition)

We did not take advantage of Denver’s food options, so what we are sharing here are mostly recommendations from our friends / places we would love to try if we had more time here.

Safta (Mediterranean) - Upscale; close to downtown. Appears to have outdoor seating and advance reservations are recommended

Uchi (Japanese) - Upscale; close to downtown. Has a separate vegetarian menu including a multi-course tasting. Reservations can be hard to come by if you don’t book well in advance. They also accept walk-ins, and they do have outdoor seating if you’re COVID-conscious (or just like eating outside!)

Brunch places with hype: Snooze AM Eatery (multiple locations, get on the Yelp waitlist at least an hour in advance, known for excellent pancakes), Sassafrass (we didn’t try it), and Root Down (we also didn’t try it)

Markets: Denver Central Market (in RiNo), Edgewater Public Market (by Sloan Lake / Highlands neighborhood; we loved the crepes and thought the Ethiopian food was mediocre), Stanley Marketplace (Aurora)

Other places that were recommended to us were Ash Kara (Mediterranean), El Five (Mediterranean, good views), Sushi Den (Japanese), and Vital Root (which is apparently by a lot of good vegetarian-friendly restaurants + breweries near Berkeley/Tennyson Street), Sputnik

Dessert: I very much wanted to try High Point Creamery (multiple locations) as it seems to have many vegan options and an ice cream flight! Little Man Ice Cream also came recommended

Where to Stay

We're definitely not experts on this, but here are a few thoughts based on our trip!

Near Cheesman Park and Washington Park seem like a lovely areas to stay -- the parks are really nice and the surrounding neighborhoods seem pretty safe and upscale. We didn't come across any available airbnbs in this neighborhoods.

Greenwood Village (~20 mins drive south of Denver, close to Centennial, CO). We stayed in the Marriott Residence Inn Tech Center (the 2 bed/2 ba is good for two people working from home during the week) and loved the area. Within a 5 minute drive there are cute parks for a morning jog, plenty of fast casual eateries (we were partial to the Torchy's and Schlotzsky's nearby), and even the excellent Peak View Brewing Company (okay so it’s a brewery in a suburban strip mall, but the outdoor patio is great and the jalapeno pretzel and the peanut butter porter were a hit!). Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Safeway are within a ~10 minute drive.

#denver

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sheridanfalls · 4 years

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1X02

1x01 |

Tazia rolled over in the bed, Fletcher laying shirtless next to her above the sheets. The room was dark except for the glow of two phones. She gently pushed the blankets off her body as she took her phone of the charger.

20 missed calls.

She glanced back to make sure Fletcher was asleep before slipping into the bathroom. She locked the door and sat in the large jacuzzi tub as she took a deep breath before hitting call on the first number.

It didn’t ring long, “Ana.” The voice was relieved for a moment but layered with something else.

“Hey Key.” Her voice unsteady, “is it true, or did I make a total fool out of myself on National TV for no reason.”

“It’s true Ana, Willa is really gone.”

“How did Mom take it?” She wrapped her arms around herself, keeping her eyes on the door.

Her brother sighed, “Not good, not as dramatically as you, but um, not well.”

“And Dad?”

“He’s been sitting in his den since he got home today.”

“At least Belle is with you.”

“She’s out of town, she’s on a girl’s weekend with some college friends. She won’t have phone service until she comes back on Monday.”

Tazia scrunched her face up, “I’m sorry.” She looked away from the door, “I’m going to come home. I’ll be on the first flight in the morning.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I can sneak into the state pretty undetected. Besides, people will just think that I’m going to rehab. That’s the narrative surrounding me right now, isn’t it?”

“Unfortunately.” He wanted to say more, “You can stay at my place, instead of the ranch.”

“I’ll figure it out, I don’t want to impose on you and Belle.”

“You’re my sister, my other half Ana.”

“Do you think Mom would let me stay at the ranch?”

“Dad will, and she would just have to accept it.”

“I’m going to go and book a flight right now.”

“Ana, please don’t bring Fletcher.”

“I had no intention of doing so. He can hang out in LA for all I care.” Tazia let her eyes drift to the door again, “I don’t want him to know about Willa, I don’t want that as part of my story.”

Keaton sighed, “Willa is a part of our story, if she wanted to be or not. I don’t think you need to share it. I don’t think any of us need to share it.”

“Kara showed up, didn’t she?”

“Yeah, she brought a casserole.”

“Hey Key.”

“Yeah Ana?”

“Is it true we have a niece?”

“Yeah, but that is a whole other can of worms I’m not ready to open. We can talk about that when you get home.”

“Yeah, I’ll text you the details. I love you Key.”

“I love you too Ana.”

***

Belle rested her forehead against Mitch’s, their bodies glistening from the evening activities so far. Every touch felt deeper, filled with more passion then she could remember every feeling outside of this cabin.

Mitch kissed her neck, his fingers feathering down her body. “I can’t get enough of you.”

She moaned at his touch as he pulled her closer for more. Any thoughts, any care for her life outside of the cabin were forgotten as she allowed herself to get lost in the moment. Clinging to Mitch she cried out his name as she threw her head back on the couch.

His put his foot on the floor to regain balance, hitting the TV power button as he did so.

This afternoon pop star Tazia collapsed on live television before performing her latest single. Her manager Fletcher Curtis explained that she was exhausted from preparing for her tour and will take a short vacation before it starts this summer.

Neither heard the TV, just the sounds of their own desires being met as they continued enjoying their limited time together.

***

Georgina Woodward finished taping up the final box in her living room. She just had a few more things to pack up in the kitchen and bathroom. In the morning the movers would arrive, and everything would be loaded onto a truck and brought to Sheridan Falls.

She wasn’t thrilled about the move, but she understood why her husband Mitch wanted to move out of Denver. He was able to work anywhere, and why be in the city when you could just be in a nice small town.

Yet he had arranged for this move to happen when he was off at a conference in Dallas. She could strangle her husband, if she didn’t love him so damn much.

She picked up her phone, hitting the icon to call him, feeling her stomach sink when it went to voicemail, “Hey babe, everything is packed, I’m going to take a shower, get ready for bed. The movers will be here early, I just wish you were here for this. I love you Mitch.”

Running her hands through her dark chestnut hair she sighed, her whole life was packed up in boxes, tomorrow she would be starting a new chapter, it just felt weird her husband wasn’t with her for this.

***

“Hello, and welcome to another episode of Coffee, Donuts, and Crime. I’m your host Kara Greene and I’ve got an update for you on the case of Willa Hughes.” Kara spoke into the microphone, surrounded by the low lights of her salt lamp and a couple of candles as well as the dimmed overhead light.

She was alone as she spoke to the camera, as though she were just having a video chat with friends. “As you all know this case as stayed with me since I first started looking into it. Willa Hughes ran away from home in the spring of 2000. Her mother Rosemary never gave up hope that Willa would be found and return home.”

Kara took a sip from her coffee mug, “Unfortunately, this afternoon we found out that for all these years Willa was okay, she was happy, married, and had a daughter. She was also killed in a car accident in Utah this morning.”

Tucking her blonde hair behind her ear she continued as she focused on the camera, “Willa Hughes, for the past almost twenty years has been known as Willow Chase, the wife of Bennett Chase the leader of the Fire Yoga movement. It’s understood that their teenage daughter was not in the car with them. The Hughes family has not made a public comment at this time.”

“Also, this afternoon, Pop Princess Tazia passed out on live television. Social Media immediately began to come alive with theories of substance abuse. Her manager however said it was simply exhaustion.” She took another sip of her drink, “We all know Tazia loves the spotlight, who can forget her feud with Joel Riley after they broke up. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have a feeling we’ll be seeing far more headlines about Tazia before too long.”

“I’ll be back soon as we dive into a new case, and with more updates about past ones when possible. Until then have some Coffee and a Donut, and we’ll meet up soon for another chat. Bye all.” Kara reached forward clicking the camera off and watching as the file uploaded to her laptop.

She turned the lights up, before she pulled up her editing software. She just had a few things to put in. If she was lucky tomorrow Rosemary would call her up and arrange a new interview. Rosemary was always willing to talk about Willa, she would even brag about Keaton.

Kara felt the memory flash over her for a moment. Keaton close to her, his eyes clear with fire. She could feel the heat rising in her body. He came close to kissing her in the barn that day. She was still sure of it, yes, he’d been engaged at the time—he was married now to the lifestyle vlogger, but Keaton had wanted her.

As Kara went through the motions of her editing she glanced to her phone, seeing multiple text messages from her sister Sharon. She pulled them up, rolling her eyes.

Did you see him?

Do you just want to rip his shirt off and lick his chest?

He threw you off the ranch and told you to burn in hell, right?

Sex with him would probably be the hottest thing on the planet.

She quickly began to type a reply. Keaton was the only one their when I brought over a casserole. He pretty much told me to stay away. I’m sure Rosemary will reach out soon. I have no desire to have sex with Keaton Hughes even if he was the last man on earth.

Before she even put the phone down, she saw that Sharon had replied. She ignored her for now, she had a video to get out.

***

“She’s not going to call you.” Alec Riley looked over at his older brother.

“Who?” Joel took a sip from his pint glass as he glanced up at the tv above the bar.

Alec laughed, “You’re telling me that you don’t expect to hear from Tazia? She’s going to come; Rosemary would never let her live it down.”

“Tazia is a myth, a figment.” Joel looked at the golden drink filling half his glass, “Ana, she’s real, lost in a shadow, needing to be the good daughter.”

“It doesn’t matter what name she is using. She cheated on you with her manager. She’s been attached to him ever since.”

Joel rolled his eyes, “I expect to hear this stuff from Phoebe, not from you. What are you doing following only TMZ on twitter?”

Alec leaned back in his seat, a smirk on his face, “Come on Bro, I’ve been following this ever since you’re dance battle.”

“That didn’t happen.” Joel whined, “We didn’t get into a dance battle. You can’t believe everything you read on those trashy websites.”

“Come on Joel, I really love the mental picture of you and Tazia fighting it out via dance. Like, come on, the picture just paints itself.” Alec looked around, “I can almost hear the music playing, first it would be one of her songs, then your dance hit, the really bad 2000s outfits, I mean come on.”

Joel knew what night his brother was speaking about. It was the last time besides an award show they had been anywhere near each other. For a moment Joel believed that if he and Ana got to talk, that they would clear up everything. Then he saw the way Fletcher Curtis slunk his arms around her on the dance floor.

It might not have been the dance battle that TMZ had reported or lived in the legend of old gossip sites long abandoned. Joel had pulled his back up dancer Chloe out onto the floor. Kept her close, even closer when he felt that Ana was looking. Did he kiss Chloe at one point on the dance floor, yes? When he pulled away did he see Ana locked in a hot and heavy kiss with Fletcher? He sure as hell did.

“Joel, Joel, Joel!” Alec snapped, about ready to slap his brother in the face.

“Sorry, I spaced out.”

“You never got over her, did you?”

“You never get over your first love.” Joel let a smile cross his lips as he thought about the first time, he an Ana kissed, it was the night before Willa ran away.

“I’ll take your word for it.” Alec shook his head, “Remember, I’m the heartless one who has never been in love, while you’ve written some of the most annoying love songs ever. Seriously, if I have to go to one more wedding and hear Summer Dance again I might kill you in your sleep.”

Joel rolled his eyes, “At least I’m not the one who sings it.”

“Thank God for small favors.” He sighed, “Well, it’s late. We should get back to the ranch.”

Joel tossed some cash onto the bar, “I can’t wait until we have the ranch set up and going. It’ll mean less trips into town.”

“Yeah, coming into town is totally the worse thing ever.” Alec froze as the door opened, in she stepped with her pitch-black hair, precious moment eyes, and full lips.

“Alec, you coming?”

“Yeah, sorry.” He followed his brother outside, glancing towards the window once more.

“Who is she?”

Alec shrugged, “No idea.”

“Let’s go.” Joel pushed him towards the truck. “We have an early morning.”

“Remind me why I agreed to be your foreman?”

“Because I’m a spoiled popstar with money to burn, and willing to pay you, give you a place to live in my giant house, let you swim in my indoor pool, oh and because I’m your brother.”

“I liked it better when you called yourself a spoiled popstar.” Alec took one more look towards the bar, wondering who the raven-haired beauty was.

***

Fletcher reached across the bed, pulling a pillow against him, breathing in its scent before realizing he was alone in the bed. “Taz?”

The morning sun was starting to come through the curtains. He threw the sheets aside and went to check his phone, at that moment that her phone was gone. He looked at this screen.

Had to go to Colorado. I need to see Keaton, twin thing. Do. Not. Follow. Stay in NYC, manage the whole passing out on live TV thing. Thanks.

He groaned. Every damn time she went back to Colorado, which thankfully wasn’t often he had to calm her down. Anytime she had been around her mother she would come back spiraling. Though he wasn’t as worried about her dealing with her mother, it was just a hassle. It was that Joel fucking Riley had texted her after the incident on TV.

He pulled open a drawer, pulling out a pair of sweatpants a t-shirt before he found the number, “Why the fuck did you let her leave?”

***

She hadn’t packed anything, she just got on the first flight she could. While she’d been waiting for it to board at JFK, she reserved a car at DIA, and put together a curbside pickup order for Target.

Her hair was pulled in a simple braid, she had no false lashes on, no makeup at all. She wore a pair of jeans, and a CU hoodie. She just looked like any average woman flying out. She had her purse of course, which she had filled with the few things she could think she needed.

In all honesty, she couldn’t recall the last time she had packed for herself, and since she had no idea how long she would be in Colorado, she didn’t know what to pack. So, while on the target app she ordered the basics of what she might need for a couple of days, including a basic black dress, everything was done under her real, legal name.

After she’d picked up her order at Target, she drove through the mountains to Sheridan Falls. She pulled over to the side of the road, taking a moment for herself. She had to decide now, did she go to Keaton’s house or her parents?

The dread in her stomach told her what she knew. Going straight to Keaton would be cowardly, she would have to go to the ranch first. However, her parents reacted would determine if she stuck around or went to spend the night at Keaton’s.

She started the car, pausing for a moment as a familiar voice hit her ears. Of course, it would be this song as she entered Sheridan Falls. Joel, he’d left her. Just walked out one day, and then a scathing song about her, accusing her of cheating.

Tazia felt cold as she remembered how it felt when she realized her was gone. And then the day that song came out, the music video dropping. She wouldn’t have to see Joel if she didn’t want to.

She did have to see her mother no matter what.

Might as well get it over with as soon as possible.

***

Keaton locked the front door of his house. He hadn’t slept much, but he had finished painting Belle’s office. He moved down to his truck, realizing that a moving truck was blocking his driveway. Sighing he moved towards the street, “Excuse me, you’re blocking my driveway.”

“Sorry bud, we’ll be out of the way in a minute.” The mover insisted.

Keaton wasn’t so sure as he walked around the truck, but they were almost empty. The team of men moving quickly to bring stuff into the old Windsor house.

“I’m so sorry.” A female voice came from behind him, “I’m trying to get them out as soon as possible.”

“It’s okay, they’re almost done.” Keaton turned to her, she was probably his age, with red hair lit by the son, “I’m Keaton Hughes.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Georgina Woodward, my husband Mitch and I are moving in. Unfortunately, he’s out of town right now.”

“Oh, that is a shame. If you need anything my wife Belle and I are usually around. She’s out of town this weekend, but she’ll be back Monday.”

“That’s so very nice of you.” Georgina kept her eyes on the movers, “I hope your not in a hurry?”

“Actually, I’m not.” He confessed, the last thing he wanted to do was deal with his parents and sister. “So, no need to rush them if you don’t have to.”

“Okay, thank you, still it should only be about fifteen minutes more.”

Keaton nodded, “Thanks.” He was already moving back towards his house.

***

Mitch nuzzled Belles neck as she poured a cup of coffee. She turned the TV on, “Do you want sugar?”

“You know what I want” His hands slipped along her waist.

Belle giggled, “Mitch, I need to at least get some coffee first.”

“Fine.” He sighed as he pulled away and began to fix his own. “Oh, did you see this yesterday?”

Belle looked to see what he was referencing, “What?”

“That pop star just totally passed out on TV She was probably high as a kite.”

“Wait, no, that’s not why.” Belle put her coffee mug down, “I have to go Mitch I’m sorry.”

Mitch reached for her, “What, why?”

“That missing woman they found, that’s Keaton’s sister, and that pop star who fainted in front of that news report, is also his sister.”

Mitch dropped his hand, “Go. It was short, it was sweet, next time will be longer.”

Belle felt the knot in her stomach, “Yes, next year.”

Mitch watched as she left for the bedroom, next year would be far too long. Belle would just have to be surprised to find out he was her new neighbor.

#Season One #Episode 1x02

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newstfionline · 7 years

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Women’s marches: More than one million protesters vow to resist President Trump

By Perry Stein, Steve Hendrix and Abigail Hauslohner, Washington Post, January 21, 2017

More than 1 million people gathered in Washington and in cities around the country and the world Saturday to mount a roaring rejoinder to the inauguration of President Trump. What started as a Facebook post by a Hawaii retiree became an unprecedented international rebuke of a new president that packed cities large and small--from London to Los Angeles, Paris to Park City, Utah, Miami to Melbourne, Australia.

The organizers of the Women’s March on Washington, who originally sought a permit for a gathering of 200,000, said Saturday that as many as half a million people participated.

Many in the nation’s capital and other cities said they were inspired to join because of Trump’s divisive campaign and his disparagement of women, minorities and immigrants. In signs and shouts, they mocked what they characterized as Trump’s lewd language and sexist demeanor.

The marches provided a balm for those eager to immerse themselves in a like-minded sea of citizens who shared their anxiety and disappointment after Democrat Hillary Clinton’s historic bid for the presidency ended in defeat.

“We just want to make sure that we’re heard,” said Mona Osuchukwu, 27, a D.C. native. “I want her to know that she has a voice,” she said of her 3-year-old daughter, Chioma, who was with her at the march. “No matter what anyone tells her, especially as a black woman in America.”

The Washington demonstration was amplified by gatherings around the world, with march organizers listing more than 670 events nationwide and overseas in cities including Tel Aviv, Barcelona, Mexico City, Berlin and Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories, where the temperature was 6 degrees below zero.

In Chicago, the demonstration was overwhelmed by its own size, after 150,000 demonstrators swamped downtown blocks. It forced officials to curtail their planned march, although thousands of protesters still paraded around the Loop. In Boston, police estimated a gathering of 125,000. In Los Angeles, officials temporarily closed some side streets to accommodate the crowds.

New York, Miami, Denver and Seattle also had huge gatherings.

In Juneau, Alaska, one man marveled that the crowd was the biggest he had ever seen on the state Capitol’s steps. In Philadelphia, marchers filled city bridges. In Lexington, Ky., they shut down streets. In New Orleans, participants played brass instruments.

Marina Knight, a 43-year-old executive assistant, and her 9-year-old daughter were two of the tens of thousands marching in London.

“This is her first march,” Knight said, referring to her daughter. “It’s the first time we felt it was vital to march. I feel the rights we take for granted could go backward, and we owe it to our daughters and the next generation to fix this somehow.”

In the United States, the crowds marched in weather ranging from balmy to snowy. But common to every gathering was fiery rhetoric, pink knit hats and repeated references to the boast that offended so many women: Trump’s infamous taped comments in 2005 about groping women’s genitals.

Among the thousands of signs that marchers dumped at the end of the day in front of the Trump International Hotel, just blocks from his new home at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.: “P---y Power” and “This P---y Bites Back.” Protesters got as close as they could to the presidential mansion, crowding metal barriers less than a block away as police and Secret Service personnel watched closely.

Although the marchers were mostly female and white, men and people of color also joined the throngs.

John Fischer, a 34-year-old locksmith from Grand Rapids, Mich., drove more than nine hours with his wife, Kara Eagle.

I’m here to support my wife,” Fischer said. “I don’t care who you are, women impact your life, and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t have the same rights as men.”

Trump’s election was the wake-up call that progressives needed, said Erin Edlow, 28, the membership director of the Virginia Beach Young Democrats. She was in town with her sister to demonstrate her support for the rights of immigrants and of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

“Democracy is not a spectator sport,” Edlow said.

The march turned into a star-studded event, with celebrities such as Madonna, Janelle Monáe, Scarlett Johansson and Ashley Judd making appearances. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) introduced herself as a proud “chick mayor” and implored the Republican majority in Congress to stop meddling in the District’s local lawmaking.

Activist filmmaker Michael Moore ripped a copy of The Washington Post in half, noting the headline “Trump takes power” and declaring, “I don’t think so.” Actress America Ferrera said that “our new president is waging a war” on the values that define the country with “a credo of hate fear and suspicion of one another.”

As the march grew in prominence, it highlighted long-existing racial and political rifts in the feminist movement. The initial organizers were white women--a group that narrowly voted for Trump in November--although they quickly handed its leadership over to a diverse group of longtime organizers from New York.

They have embraced an imperiled liberal agenda, in sharp contrast to much of what Trump laid out for his presidency. The march platform focused on issues such as workers’ rights, reproductive rights, environmental justice, immigrant rights, ending violence against women and more.

But a group of women who oppose abortion also came, beseeching the larger march to recognize their variety of feminism. Whether to include the conservative viewpoint sparked controversy in the days before the event. Antiabortion activists said they were excluded.

#women's marches #women's issues

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cyberpoetryballoon · 4 years

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How to Support Black-Owned Restaurants Right Now

George Floyd was a Black man and a father; he was described by his loved ones as a "gentle giant," and was once an active part of the Houston hip-hop community. On May 25, Floyd died in Minneapolis after police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Late last week, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced that Chauvin will now face charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, but protests have continued nationwide in support of justice for Floyd and the Black community, demanding an end to police brutality and institutional racism. Building on the Black Lives Matter movement, which was founded in 2013 in response to the killing of Trayvon Martin, the current protests are a call for the dignity and protection of Black lives, and a denouncement of the white supremacist systems that threaten Black people and communities. According to Mapping Police Violence, Black people are three times more likely to be killed by the police than white people, and though they constitute just 13 percent of the US population, Black people account for 24 percent of all people killed by police.

While participating in protests or donating to bail funds might seem like the most direct course of action right now, supporting Black communities in the United States requires longer-term efforts, too; having received $20 million in support, the Minnesota Freedom Fund has since encouraged people to divert their money to the Floyd family's GoFundMe, as well as community organizations like Black Visions Collective and Reclaim the Block.

One of the easiest ways we can show lasting support for the Black people in our communities is by putting our money where our mouths are. That means actively supporting Black-owned businesses in everyday life, including Black-owned restaurants. As writer Angela Burke explained in Eater, "Black restaurant owners, [B]lack women especially, are in a more precarious position from the get-go," noting that Black- and brown-owned businesses are three times as likely to be denied loans and that Black restaurant workers are the lowest paid in the industry. The precarious nature of these businesses has been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, which has disproportionately infected and killed Black people in the US.

Many of us are seeking ways to show up for Black communities in this time of crisis. Attending protests and sharing information on social media are useful to raise awareness, but long-term efforts toward change require longer-lasting support. If we believe that Black lives matter, then we must ensure that moving forward, our everyday actions speak to our values.

Here are some resources for getting started.

Find and support Black-owned restaurants in your area.

Below are some of the many articles and spreadsheets compiling these businesses in most major cities in the US.

Atlanta (h/t Atlanta Eats)

Austin (h/t Austin360)

Baltimore (h/t WillDrinkforTravel)

Boston (h/t the Boston Globe)

Charleston (h/t @broccoli__boy)

Charlotte (h/t QCityMetro)

Charlottesville (h/t The Charlottesville 29)

Cincinnati (h/t the Cincinnati Enquirer)

Cleveland (h/t Cleveland Scene)

Chicago (h/t Aaron L. Oliver)

Denver (h/t 303 Magazine)

Detroit (h/t Detroit Metro Times)

Greenville (h/t Greenville News)

Houston (h/t Houston Chronicle)

Indianapolis (h/t Visit Indy)

Kansas City (h/t the Community Voice)

Las Vegas (h/t Las Vegas Black Owned Business Network)

Los Angeles (h/t Kat Hong)

Memphis (h/t @blackinmemphis)

Miami (h/t Zachary Fagenson)

Milwaukee (h/t MKE Black)

Minneapolis (h/t City Pages)

Nashville (h/t Ali Humbrecht)

New England (h/t Yankee Magazine)

New Jersey (h/t NJ.com)

New Orleans (h/t Kara Johnson)

New York City (h/t Hannah Goldfield, Rachel Karten, Joseph Hernandez)

Oklahoma City (h/t Kieran Mahoney)

Omaha (h/t Sydney Peterson)

Orlando (h/t Orlando Weekly)

Portland, Maine (h/t TravelNoire)

Portland, Oregon (h/t Support Black-Owned Restaurants)

Philadelphia (h/t Kae Lani Palmisano)

Phoenix (h/t Phoenix Black Collective via Twitter)

Richmond (h/t BLK RVA)

Rochester (h/t Leah Stacy)

Sacramento (h/t Sacramento Bee)

San Antonio (h/t San Antonio Magazine)

San Diego (h/t Packs Light)

San Francisco Bay Area (h/t Soleil Ho)

Seattle (h/t Naomi Tomky)

Tucson (h/t Roux Events)

Tuscaloosa (h/t Brian Oliu)

Washington D.C. (h/t Anela Malik)

Don't see your city? These resources will help you find Black-owned restaurants and food businesses near you.

Consult directories like Black People Eats, Eat Black Owned, Support Black Owned, and the Eat Okra app.

Websites like ShoppeBlack and TravelNoire put a focus on Black-owned businesses.

Follow hashtags like #blackownedrestaurants.

This post from VegNews shares Black-owned vegan restaurants across the country.

The BAOBAB Directory is an organization of Black-owned businesses in the Bay Area.

The AfroBiz directory is a resource for Black-owned businesses across Europe and across Canada.

UK Black Owned Businesses is a resource for Black-owned businesses across the United Kingdom.

@blackbeertravelers has created a map of Black-owned breweries, taprooms, and vineyards across the US.

Instagram accounts like @officialblackownedchicago and @blackownedbklyn highlight Black-owned restaurants and businesses.

These campaigns directly help Black-owned businesses and families in need following recent protests.

This Twitter thread and this Twitter thread share Black-owned businesses that have been affected by the protests and ways to help.

Support Trio, the first 100% Black-owned vegan restaurant in Minneapolis. Owner Louis Hunter—a cousin of Philando Castile, who was killed by a police officer in 2016— closed his restaurant the night protests began in Minneapolis in solidarity with the community, as he told Bon Appétit.

Support the family of David McAtee, a Black man and beloved barbecue chef who was fatally shot after police and national guard soldiers "returned fire" on a crowd of protestors in Louisville, Kentucky. McAtee's YaYa's BBQ was known for donating food to shelters and feeding police officers for free, per Buzzfeed News.

Some Black-owned Minneapolis food businesses, like Bole Ethiopian Cuisine, Mama Safia's Kitchen, and Scores Bar, have already reached their goals—but consider offering them some extra funds as well.

And of course, even if you don't have money to provide at the moment, there are ways you can help Black-owned restaurants.

Know of a Black-owned restaurant in your area, but don't see it included on the above lists? Reach out to spreadsheet organizers or restaurant directories so it can be added. Share their posts and tag them on social media to help them pick up attention online. Don't see a spreadsheet of Black-owned restaurants for your city? Start one and circulate it on Twitter for people in your community to contribute. New Yorker writer Helen Rosner has aggregated many of these spreadsheets on her Instagram story highlights, and sharing that is easy.

Remember that information and amplification are also resources that we can share, and in the big picture, even the small choices we each make each day matter.

via VICE US - undefined US VICE US - undefined US via Mom's Kitchen Recipe Network Mom's Kitchen Recipe Network

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carolrhackett85282 · 4 years