Colfax Boulevard

[Cito Pelon]

Anybody have memories from that notorious line of dives and whores? There were some class businesses in my neighborhood of 14th and Monroe - The Golden Ox, Bastiens. Then further west was the Zanzibar and that pisshole Capitol Hill, God only knows what went on there. National Jewish at Colorado and Colfax.

I remember Colfax as Bum Central. My god, what a parade of bums there were on that street. They were classier bums than those downtown on Larimer. My Mom was a sweethearted woman and one day a bum came and asked her for something to eat and a drink off the hose. Jeez, that guy obviously made a mark on the sidewalk or something, because every summer after that the bums magically came knocking at the door. It was funny in a way, because I had to stand behind the door with a baseball bat in case one of them wanted to come into the house. My Mom was fairly crazy, now that I think about it. There was only two times I had to step out and say "Hi". My Mom was nuts, just plain crazy. You'd have to put a gun to my head to move anywhere near Colfax. Been there, done that.

[broncocalijohn]

Hey, little Ethiopia and Rock n Roll Blvd just up on Colfax. Nothing like Guardian Angels walking around while I go to the Blue Bird and such. If you stay at the Ramada on Colfax, they call it Rock n Roll Hotel. The bands stay there when playing the venues around Colfax. Would I live there? If I was poor.

[crush17]

Colfax is not nearly as bad anymore. The city has been working hard on urban renewal projects up and down the whole section from I-25 to Colorado...

It's not quite in the clear when it comes to crime and mischief yet, but it's MUCH better.

[RhymesayersDU]

I was walking around downtown this past weekend, and some crazy homeless guy came up and started talking to the girlfriend and I.

He asked for 15 cents because he wanted to become the next American Idol. When I told him I had no change, he started rambling about how hard it was being homeless, and that he really wanted to preach the word of God, but that it was hard because he was a drunk. He let off a couple other choice gems before going on his way.

Oh, and he had an eye patch. I feel bad that he lost his eye, but man did it just add to the hilarity of the whole thing.

[RhymesayersDU]

Originally Posted by broncocalijohn

Hey, little Ethiopia and Rock n Roll Blvd just up on Colfax. Nothing like Guardian Angels walking around while I go to the Blue Bird and such. If you stay at the Ramada on Colfax, they call it Rock n Roll Hotel. The bands stay there when playing the venues around Colfax. Would I live there? If I was poor.

I absolutely love the Blue Bird. Such a cool little venue.

And word, all the bands playing at the Blue Bird, or the Ogden, or the Fillmore, always stay at that Ramada.

[Swedish Extrovert]

Punk Rock shows in Junior High at the Ogden/Bluebird/Fillmore

[Steve Sewell]

I grew up on 17th Avenue Pkwy and Jasmine. My bro and I used to ride the bus on Colfax to get places far away. There isn't a crazier place in my childhood than the RTD on Colfax.

There's still a ton of ho's working the Aurora part of Colfax, btw. At least they look like it!

[Steve Sewell]

Originally Posted by RhymesayersDU

I absolutely love the Blue Bird. Such a cool little venue.

And word, all the bands playing at the Blue Bird, or the Ogden, or the Fillmore, always stay at that Ramada.

I remember when the Blue Bird was a porno theater . The place kicks ass though! I remember telling my mom I was going to the Blue Bird for a show and she almost fainted.

[ak1971]

The Lions Liar was always a place to get a cheap beer buzz...Petes Kitchen at 3am for some greasy food

[Swedish Extrovert]

Originally Posted by RhymesayersDU

I was walking around downtown this past weekend, and some crazy homeless guy came up and started talking to the girlfriend and I.

He asked for 15 cents because he wanted to become the next American Idol. When I told him I had no change, he started rambling about how hard it was being homeless, and that he really wanted to preach the word of God, but that it was hard because he was a drunk. He let off a couple other choice gems before going on his way.

Oh, and he had an eye patch. I feel bad that he lost his eye, but man did it just add to the hilarity of the whole thing.

Was this guy tall? I think I ran into him last December. I had just eaten/gotten a little buzzed at the Wynkoop, and was on my way to an Av's game at the Pepsi Center, and a guy like you described walked up to me.

"Where are you from," he said, and I ignored him. He kept asking until he was like "don't be scared I just want to know where you're from," I was finally like "here, I'm from Denver." He's like "God bless you."

Maybe we should do what Giuliani did and euthanize them all... put them in a room... get them really high on opium and nitrus... just keep getting them high into a glorious climax... then most of them will all just OD. The ones that pass out.. IDK, you got the Platte river... or, we're always looking for alternative fuel, right?

[Steve Sewell]

Originally Posted by RhymesayersDU

I was walking around downtown this past weekend, and some crazy homeless guy came up and started talking to the girlfriend and I.

He asked for 15 cents because he wanted to become the next American Idol. When I told him I had no change, he started rambling about how hard it was being homeless, and that he really wanted to preach the word of God, but that it was hard because he was a drunk. He let off a couple other choice gems before going on his way.

Oh, and he had an eye patch. I feel bad that he lost his eye, but man did it just add to the hilarity of the whole thing.

I usually take them to McDonald's or something and get them a value meal. You never know, you may be helping Jesus, right?

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by broncocalijohn

Hey, little Ethiopia and Rock n Roll Blvd just up on Colfax. Nothing like Guardian Angels walking around while I go to the Blue Bird and such. If you stay at the Ramada on Colfax, they call it Rock n Roll Hotel. The bands stay there when playing the venues around Colfax. Would I live there? If I was poor.

Yeah, I got tired of having to carry a knife and nunchuks many years ago in that neighborhood. Denver is a rough town.

[Steve Sewell]

Originally Posted by MightySmurf

Maybe we should do what Giuliani did and euthanize them all... put them in a room... get them really high on opium and nitrus... just keep getting them high into a glorious climax... then most of them will all just OD. The ones that pass out.. IDK, you got the Platte river... or, we're always looking for alternative fuel, right?

Wow, you're a massive piece of ****. Congratulations to you.

[Swedish Extrovert]

wait wait wait.... or.... we could just give them our money

I know people with theories as to how Rudy cleaned up NYC like he did.

Colfax is pretty bad, but there are a lot of little nice hotspots.

[Steve Sewell]

Go volunteer at a homeless shelter, meet some of these people and learn their stories, and get back to me.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Colfax from downtown to Colorado was nothing but head shops, liquor stores and record stores when I use to hang there.

[Man-Goblin]

Hmmmmmm...

Would have to be the time I saw Old Dirty Bastard play the Ogden. He did a **** show and everyone was pissed off.

Anyways, after grabbing some breakfast with some friends we were driving back down Colfax, and who do we see just wandering alone in front of Smiley's Laundromat? ODB. So we stopped briefly and we all yelled "ODB!!" and he points at us and says "Sup boys." Good times.

[NYBronc]

There used to be a head shop on Krameria and Colfax right by 7-11 or was it Holly St.? I blame that place for my memory loss.

[Swedish Extrovert]

If they're veterans, then I'll care a lot more.

The majority of homeless people I know are just really stupid people who have made a ton of bad decisions.

Like one in my family... I remember growing up when she was making choices and I constantly find myself thinking "do you really have any idea how stupid that would be."

I think if we fix our educational and health care system, get better funding for tuition, rase minimum wage, and stop ****ing our war veterans... that would go a long way into stopping homelessness.

[Los Broncos]

I don't think ive ever been down on Colfax, what im i missing?

[crush17]

Oh and BTW it's Colfax Avenue not Boulevard.

[Swedish Extrovert]

I actually prefer the downtown life, and there are a lot of good things on Colfax.... its the cheap motels that suck.

[Steve Sewell]

Originally Posted by NYBronc

There used to be a head shop on Krameria and Colfax right by 7-11 or was it Holly St.? I blame that place for my memory loss.

I think it's closer to Hudson or Holly and it's still there. Forget the name of the place but it had a catchy name.

[Swedish Extrovert]

Originally Posted by Lynchmob72

I don't think ive ever been down on Colfax, what im i missing?

In the episode of South Park, where the kids go to Afghanistan, where everything is abandoned, dilapadated, and everybody is getting shot up, Cartman says "ewww Afghanistan is a ****hole, it looks like East Colfax"

these are from from wiki -

Pop culture references

In the Erection Day episode of South Park, Jimmy tries to buy a hooker at Colfax Pt., a reference to sections of the avenue noted for prostitution. Another episode of South Park features a visit to Casa Bonita, a Mexican-themed restaurant and entertainment complex located on west Colfax in the city of Lakewood.

Denver area punk band The Colfax Stranglers takes its name from this district.

Ska/Punk band consisting of Denver area natives Five Iron Frenzy have a song called "Where the Zero Meets the Fifteen." The songs lyrics describe how an experience at Colfax & Broadway made the singer feel as though he would be unsuccessful in his continuing attempts to save the world.

In the movie About Schmidt, Jack Nicholson's character drives his RV along a stretch of East Colfax near Ogden Street. The viewer can clearly see the Royal Host Motel and the Ogden Theater in the screenshot.

In the movie Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead Jimmy 'The Saint' Tosnia picks up a prostitute along East Colfax in front of the Blue Bird Theater.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by Steve Sewell

I grew up on 17th Avenue Pkwy and Jasmine. My bro and I used to ride the bus on Colfax to get places far away. There isn't a crazier place in my childhood than the RTD on Colfax.

There's still a ton of ho's working the Aurora part of Colfax, btw. At least they look like it!

Colfax is a trip, that's for sure. You can get anything you want on Colfax. I'm shut of it myself. I had enough of that street long ago. I had a job as a busboy at the Whitespot on Harrison and Colfax and some knucklehead went nuts on the cops just as I was walking out at midnight with my paycheck in cash. The cops tear gassed him and he backpedaled into me and they arrested me too.
The madder I got about that, the madder they got. They beat the crap out of him and I shut up quick. I shed myself of that neighborhood long ago.