The SC and Diana took to the streets to explore the growing and vibrant food truck scene at Civic Center Park, which borders the State Capitol, the City and County Building and the Denver Art Museum.  Downtown Denver provides a majestic background for our romp through the park. Civic Center Eats HERE takes place at lunch most Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer. Before I launch into this week's Denver Discovery, I want to thank everyone who participated in my inaugural monthly Hat Attack series which began on August 1st and continues through midnight on Wednesday, August 7th.  You still have time

 Photo by Daniel N Welcome to the first edition of Hat Attack, a monthly series taking place on the first day of every month.  Please display your hat, headwrap, headpiece, fascinator, hair flower, headband or other adornment for your head that you love and give The SC a hat attack.  I can't wait to see the beautiful creations that you have to share. In celebration of the first edition, The SC is wearing a red straw wide-brimmed chapeau trimmed with poppies by Frank Olive HERE from his Private Collection.  We loved to go to his show room in New York twice

The SC took time off from exploring Denver to visit her 93-year-old mother in Minnesota, accompanied by Camille.  My mother Norma continues to live in the assisted living facility that has been her home for five years.  She remains energetic, in good spirits and as 'sharp as a tack.'  Camille and I cleaned the rings in her extensive collection, which she wears when playing bridge with other residents and at the senior center down the street from the facility. Camille took the above photo of the two of us walking the halls of the facility. Due to macular degeneration my

Diana and The SC headed out to the River North Art District HERE to take in a few of the many art galleries and creative businesses that are flourishing in this north of downtown Denver area.  We visited the Ice Cube Gallery HERE, an artist run cooperative, and came upon an exhibition, Electromagnetic Transformations, by Linda Graham HERE. I felt the sensation of floating with the planes of colorful translucent plexiglass in my yard sale floral silk chiffon Diane Von Furstenberg dress.  The recycling goddess has been with me all summer, and the priceless and unique pieces that I've found in

I love to discover fascinating places that have in the past escaped my radar.  In this case the Lovely Diana and The SC headed under the Speer Avenue viaduct to play amidst the murals by painter, sculptor and muralist Emanuel Martinez HERE.  "Confluent Peoples" is one of the many public artworks HERE created by this highly esteemed and nationally recognized Colorado artist.  This was the location we were searching for several weeks ago when we came upon Centennial Flower Gardens HERE,  just a few blocks away from the viaduct. The SC's NYC street vendor multicolored fabric hat (which plays nicely with

The SC and Diana headed to the Mercury Cafe HERE, which was created by Denver icon Marilyn Magenity in 1975 (on The SC's birthday the year she moved to Denver) and "this exploration of food, the arts, politics and community that surround food" has settled in a highly visible north of downtown location.  We attended a fundraiser, "Not Forgotten, Denver For Haiti," and I decided that fuchsia and orange were my inspiration for this festive event.  Not a big surprise, as these colors frequently pop out at me from their resting places, eager for an outing. The Mercury is a Denver

Diana and The SC continued their "Denver Discoveries" series at "Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art" HERE, located about seven minutes from home.  A treasure of a museum, we planned to take photos in front of its beautiful exterior. As we were playing near the entrance, the museum staff opened the door and gently informed us that we had appeared on their security cameras, but then warmly and generously invited us to enjoy the outrageous beauty inside.  An unexpected and irresistible gift on a Thursday afternoon! We were in awe of the numerous glass display cases which held objects that

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013   Veronica at the Tattered Cover Bookstore book signing by Juana Bordas.

On our way to another destination not far from downtown, Diana and The SC discovered Centennial Flower Gardens. We had not been aware of this space that immediately drew us in and we spent time exploring its many areas of sculpture and beauty.  The Gardens are patterned after the Gardens of Versailles, with paths and patterned flowerbeds showcasing native species along with other flowers that grow well in Colorado’s arid climate. The Speer Avenue (named after a former mayor of Denver HERE) viaduct is on display in the background.  You never know what you might find when you get in the

Diana and The SC took to the streets and decided to do a series of photo shoots throughout Denver over the next few weeks.  After all it's summer and easy to navigate the city, searching for spots that we love.  Today we settled on Cheesman Park HERE and its Walter Scott Cheesman Pavilion, which is just minutes from my home by car. Unlike the brilliant and dearly departed Nora Ephron, most of the time I feel good about my neck, next to the columns built in 1908.  They both have an interesting and intriguing patina.  Patina is such a beautiful word.

The SC knew she was in for a change when her nail polish color went from neutral to a vivid coral.  In the distant past I wore a shade of orange on my fingers and toes during the summer, but during the era of crisis it didn't seem to work.  This week that suddenly changed and here I am decked out in 'ginger,' and I hardly recognize the crone hands that currently move in front of me.  I stare at them in amazement as I arrange my headwrap in knots and folds.  This evolution affected my outfit choice, which I

The SC has finally made it to the garden!  The purple iris have just passed their prime, and play parallel with the cherub on pedestal that I discovered at an estate sale several months ago. I have a late start, but have been motivated by a dear friend who has fallen in love with my rose garden.  Marge is a retired nurse with a beautiful, warm and engaging smile and a heart of rich gold.  She enters through my back gate once a week at 6:30 am and stays for at least two hours.  She is lovingly transforming this small

"Curiosity Sparks" is a sculpture created by Barbara Baer, located in front of a residential building a block from my home and across the street from City Park.  Camille was born in this building, which was formerly the home of Mercy Hospital.  I've been wanting to use the sculpture as background for some time now, as I drive or walk by it almost daily.  It calls to me with its bright blue and yellow features which spiral upward. There are so many ways to play on a sculpture, which became an analogy for a change I wanted to make in

This past week The SC was honored and thrilled to be included in a feature in Look.UK, the best-selling fashion magazine in the United Kingdom.  Click The Pensionistas to view the article.  Jean and Valerie, The Idiosyncratic Fashionistas who were also in the piece, wrote about the feature HERE with their usual brilliant and witty commentary. I decided that the only thing to do in celebration would be to lounge in leopard while savoring this fun and unexpected surprise.  To be in the company of the magical and phenomenal Jean and Valerie, Tziporah Salamon, Lynn Dell, and Linda Rodin has me over the moon

A tip of the hat to mothers and all who nurture others along life's journey.   In recognition of this day, The SC wears a 60's beaded straw hat with tall crown, purchased at a flea market last week. It called to me from the rack of vintage beauties as I entered the urban venue and it didn't let go.  A hat that is destined for my hat room somehow magically finds its way into my heart. This black wooden cane was used in the hat shop to capture headwear perched high above our reach. It continues to be used in

In celebration of her 60th birthday, my dear friend Kelly held a croning ceremony and invited friends to her home in the mountains outside of Connifer, Colorado, which she shares with Susan, her partner of over 30 years. For this event, The SC wore a vintage teal feather Eurona hat from Fabulous Fanny's NYC, a large reversible shawl with floral embroidery and skirt with drape, both sale items from Mieko Mintz, and estate sale vintage green gloves, all on black background. The ceremony was held on the anniversary of Nelson's death, which allowed The SC to focus on the continuation

My scarf installation gives me much pleasure, and was completed just in time for the party.  I had a vision of how I wanted my scarves displayed and it took many months of talking with friends, artists and builders for this project to come to fruition.  After the structure was built and painted, Rachel and Brittni, the students from the Art Institute of Colorado who have been creating magic in my home, arranged the scarves with perfection.  My vision has become reality! I have been collecting scarves since the 70's (almost 40 years), mostly from estate sales, flea markets, thrift shops,

A week ago Sunday took me to the Wynkoop Brewing Company to an art exhibit by Lindy Lyman HERE.  Flourishing Forth, The Colorado Years 1974-2013 is a retrospective of her work in painting, mixed media and sculputre. I was informed of this colorful and uplifting exhibition by Carol Markel, the remarkable blogger, milliner and artist of Femme et Fleur HERE.  Lindy was a student of Carol's husband Richard Cramer at Elmira College, graduating in the class of 1967. However, as the week unfolded, I was overcome by an unexpected force that grabbed me with a now unfamiliar strength that was surprising

The SC enjoyed the April storm that arrived this week, giving momentary relief to the parched earth. Though the daffodils were covered with the softness of white snow, I welcomed any relief to the shortage of moisture, bringing water restrictions and encouraging the planting of drought resistant gardens. The back garden finds itself in a state of confusion, as tufts of green peek forth between the flagstone pathway and snow covers the juniper in the background.  New life is emerging despite the dry soil, and dreams of the renewal of my garden float through my thoughts. I remembered wearing most

Last week after a routine visit to my physician, I was sent to the lab for a series of tests.  Health is my number one priority and thankfully all of my test results were within normal limits. However, in the process of having my blood drawn, the phlebotomist noticed on my paperwork that I had recently turned 70. He commented on my age in a respectful and bantering manner, and I responded with, 'Well, how old are you?'  He quipped, '52.'  'In reality, you're young enough to be my son,'  I replied, throwing caution to the wind.  And he said,