Alan Wonderful, the founding father of Turin Bicycles in Denver, fell in love with European light-weight bikes early on. “My pals and I explored the world on our bikes,” Wonderful says. “There’s a second if you get on the market, on high quality bike, the place the bike disappears, and it’s simply you flying via the air.” So getting a job at Chicago’s Turin Bicycles, one of many first within the U.S. to import high-end bike components from European distributors within the Sixties, was a no brainer for the 22-year-old bike lover.
At Wonderful’s suggestion, Turin expanded to Denver in 1971, bringing the then-humble cow-town one thing its small-but-devoted group of significant street cyclists wanted: entry to imported upper-end bikes and bike gear. Components weren’t the one import, although. Regardless that town’s oldest bike store simply closed its doorways after 51 years in enterprise, Turin ignited a full of life tradition of street biking that’s nonetheless in style in Colorado right this moment.
From the start, Turin captured one thing in Colorado. It didn’t take lengthy for cyclists from throughout the West to flock to Turin’s first location at 711 Grant Avenue. “We began to tug away from the pack and weren’t simply that neighborhood bike retailer anymore,” Wonderful remembers. “We had been getting prospects from all over the place since you couldn’t get the merchandise we had.”
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Turin Bicycles ultimately bought its personal single-story constructing on Lincoln Avenue in 1991, the place the store would spend the remainder of its days. Turin’s longtime involvement with the biking group—“We sponsored plenty of golf equipment and charity races through the years,” Wonderful says—attracted each loyal prospects and constant staff. Mike Stejskal, a supervisor at Turin Bicycles, was employed in 2000. “Half my life has been spent on this store,” he says.
However as different biking retailers got here to city and the web loomed giant, Turin’s aggressive benefit light. Then, in 2020, the pandemic and the ensuing provide chain challenges arrived. It began taking twice as lengthy—and will value twice as a lot—to get bike components manufactured in Europe and Asia to the cabinets, and the store merely wasn’t in a position to get its prospects what they wanted in time. “The pandemic created what we felt was changing into inevitable for some time,” Stejskal says.
Wonderful, Stejskal, and long-time supervisor Dave Wileden determined in early March to shut the store. On the shop’s remaining day, April 2, folks from throughout town got here to buy bike merchandise with significantly decreased costs.
David Wrap, a bicycle owner for Radio Free Denver Biking Membership, perused the shop on its remaining day. “I’ve been coming to Turin for 25 years,” he says. “It’s an establishment, and the closure goes to depart a void locally.” (San Francisco-based condominium developer Camel Companions bought Turin Bicycle’s Capitol Hill actual property, and plans on growing an 18-story condominium constructing rather than the historic bike store.)
Wonderful hopes that his bike store is remembered as an asset to the group and for offering worthwhile service. “I’m joyful for what I’ve accomplished, and I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished,” Wonderful says. “I’m additionally prepared to not have the accountability of it anymore.” He’s wanting ahead to spending retirement along with his spouse, Deb, at their residence in East Denver. Though he isn’t biking as a lot anymore, Wonderful nonetheless reads business magazines to get the newest information.
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Stejskal and Wielden have determined to halt their plan to reopen a motorbike store for the following few months, although the pair nonetheless intend on opening a service-oriented bike store within the metropolis. “This expertise has definitely made me stronger,” Stejskal says. “I’m going to take a while off and really experience my bike as an alternative of occupied with it in the course of the night time.”
Dogs like Bailey — the former Dog of the Week in The Denver Post’s Adventurist newsletter — will be in good company at the first Denver Dog Fair this weekend. (Provided by Barbara Ellis)
Denver Dog Fair
Saturday-Sunday. Woof! If the last few weeks have left you panting, why not surround yourself with unconditional love? The first Denver Dog Fair takes place on Nov. 22 and 23 with the promise of unending poochie goodness. There will be dog adoption booths, “celebrity” dogs, performances and tricks, a dog-fashion show, vendors, a dozen food trucks, kids’ bounce house, crafting, and more.
It takes place indoors at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, 25690 E. Quincy Ave. in Aurora, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets: $20, good for both days; 5 and under free. $5 per dog. Price includes all entertainment and activities (minus adoption fees and food/drink). denverdogfair.com
Christkindlmarket and the Mile High Tree
Friday. The annual Mile High Tree at Civic Center park has quickly become a modern classic in Denver, with its 110-foot-tall display of 60,000, color-changing LED lights. Its location next to the annual Christkindlmarket and across from the brightly decorated Denver City & County Building makes it a one-stop shop for free family holiday fun.
At the 24th Christkindlmarket you’ll find local vendors plus Glühwein (mulled spiced wine), German biers and hot chocolate, Bavarian-style pretzels, fresh smoked salmon, Knödel, goulash, Nürnberger sausages, pastries, caramels and European chocolates. The tree’s light-and-music shows run from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly.
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The market and tree both open on Friday, Nov. 22, with the market running through Dec. 23. The market is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. denver.org/milehighholidays/mile-high-tree or christkindlmarketdenver.com
Charlie Fausette, 6, from Tampa, Fla., ice skates with her father Rob at Downtown Denver Rink in Denver on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Free ice skating downtown
Through Feb. 2, 2025. Whatever the weather, you can get a bit of holiday fun in by stopping by the popular Downtown Denver Rink. The rink, which basically bisects the 16th Street Mall’s Skyline Park (just outside the Daniels and Fisher Clocktower at 16th and Arapahoe streets), is a public rink where you can rent or bring your own skates.
It’s open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Entry is free; skate rentals are $12 for adults and $9 for kids 12 and under. winterindenver.com/rink
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be ready for photos at the Denver Christmas Show, this year moving to the National Western Complex. (Provided by Michelle Ellis)
A very merry Denver Christmas Show
Friday-Sunday. You don’t have to be in the market for gifts to get something out of the Denver Christmas Show at the National Western Complex. It’s a family-friendly affair, with Santa visits (and photos), daily storytime and hot cocoa with Mrs. Claus, live music, dancing, and more.
Of course, if you want to pick up some candy or chocolate, local gifts, or holiday decor, that will be right there too (with free gift wrapping), as well as plenty of other vendors. Tickets for the Friday, Nov. 22-Sunday, Nov. 24, event are $14 for 14-and-up, and free for 13-and-under. It runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 4655 Humboldt St. in Denver. denverchristmasshow.com
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Dallas Mavericks (8-7, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (8-5, fifth in the Western Conference)
Denver; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
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BOTTOM LINE: Dallas seeks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Mavericks take on Denver.
The Nuggets are 4-5 in Western Conference games. Denver is fifth in the league with 46.2 rebounds led by Nikola Jokic averaging 13.7.
The Mavericks have gone 6-6 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 17.2 fast break points per game led by Luka Doncic averaging 4.6.
The Nuggets make 46.8% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.1 percentage points higher than the Mavericks have allowed to their opponents (44.7%). The Mavericks average 115.6 points per game, 0.5 more than the 115.1 the Nuggets give up to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Porter Jr. is shooting 47.9% and averaging 18.3 points for the Nuggets.
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Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.3 points and 5.2 assists for the Mavericks.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 119.7 points, 45.4 rebounds, 30.7 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points per game.
Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 118.0 points, 44.3 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.2 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Aaron Gordon: out (calf), DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Nikola Jokic: day to day (personal).
Mavericks: Dante Exum: out (wrist).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Pop music icon Billie Eilish had a very important request before performing a sold-out show at Denver’s Ball Arena on Tuesday night: She wanted to snuggle with some animals.
Two Front Range shelters were more than happy to bring some furry friends for a backstage meet-and-greet with Eilish and her team, Brighter Days Dog Rescue founder and director Becca Orin said.
Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary first got the request through the venue, and the Commerce City sanctuary teamed up with Brighter Days in Boulder to bring puppies, kittens and a pony to the arena.
Billie Eilish snuggles with a puppy and pony from Brighter Days Dog Rescue and Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary before performing at Ball Arena in Denver on Nov. 19, 2024. (Courtesy of Becca Orin)
Eilish, her mom and team were “amazing,” Orin said, and showered the animals with love – particularly Samson the pony, who was overjoyed by all of the attention and cookies.
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Brighter Days shared photos of the visit in a post on Facebook, with Eilish grinning cheek-to-cheek with a puppy and getting a nuzzle from Samson.
“This is not the first time we have brought animals to Ball Arena for the artists ahead of their performance, but this was the first time the artist was kind enough and generous enough to let us take pictures and give us permission to post them on social media,” Orin said.
Eilish is set to perform a second sold-out show at Ball Arena on Wednesday night as part of her Hit Me Hard And Soft Tour.
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