We’ve created a dedicated COVID-19 Resource Page with updates on all of the latest relief programs available, along with some ways to support our local businesses.
We will keep this page updated as more information becomes available.
Check it out at http://www.bluebirdbeat.com/covid-19/
The wellness of our community is extremely important to us here at the Bluebird District. We want you to know that we’re monitoring all recommendations and updates from government officials surrounding the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. The first priority for everyone is to take appropriate steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 and ensure our entire community remains healthy.
During this time of changes in events, work schedules, and travel, we encourage you to remember our many small, independent businesses throughout our community and to continue supporting them even if you can’t visit them physically. As always, follow guidance from public health officials regarding social distancing and proper health etiquette if and when visiting businesses and public spaces.
Please share these pages for easy ways to support our local businesses!
We’ve compiled the latest info on city, state, and federal funding opportunities here. You’ll also find information on Lease/Loan Negotiations and Unemployment. We’re keeping this document updated as new information becomes available.
Energize Colorado Gap Fund – The Energize Colorado Gap Fund will provide more than $25M in small business loans and grants to boost small business enterprises that are the economic engines throughout the state. Sole proprietors, businesses and nonprofits with less than 25 full-time employees can apply for up to a $15,000 grant and a $20,000 loan for a possible combined total of $35,000 in financial assistance.
Applications and awards will be done in rounds to provide assistance through December 2020. The process will not be first-come-first-serve, it will be a competitive process that will help those in need receive priority access to assistance. Apply here starting August 31st.
We will keep this page updated as more information and resources become available. Visit Denver Public Health & Environment and the CDC for important health information related to COVID-19.
The wellness of our community is extremely important to us here at the Bluebird District. We want you to know that we’re monitoring all recommendations and updates from government officials surrounding the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. The first priority for everyone is to take appropriate steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 and ensure our entire community remains healthy.
During this time of changes in events, work schedules, and travel, we encourage you to remember our many small, independent businesses throughout our community and to continue supporting them even if you can’t visit them physically.
Here are a few ways you can support our local businesses – including many that don’t involve leaving your house!
First and foremost, prioritize and take all health and safety precautions for yourself and others in our community. Our health as a whole depends on working together, and our local businesses are the heartbeat of our community. We want to make sure they continue to thrive while maintaining appropriate public health safety measures.
Questions? Concerns? Contact us at staff@bluebirddistrict.org.
Note: A version of these recommendations originated from Downtown Raleigh Alliance and are being shared through the International Downtown Association.
Attention, Colfax poets! Ever wanted to see your art on Colfax? Your chance is coming in March.
We’re excited to be a sponsor of a Denver Arts & Venues PS You Are Here grant winner, Bluebird Haiku.
The project will collect poems from the public, selecting 20 in total based on creativity and how they capture the essence and history of Colfax Avenue. Then, students from East High School will cut the stencils and apply them to neighborhood sidewalks.
Submissions will be accepted from March 1-21 via bluebirdhaiku.com. Good luck!
We’re so excited to be the sponsor of a grant winner from Denver Arts & Venues’ “P.S. You Are Here” (PSYAH) program. This funding will bring more public art and creativity to the Bluebird District.
The project, Bluebird Haiku, will collect poems from the public, selecting 20 in total based on creativity and how they capture the essence and history of Colfax Avenue. Then, students from East High School will cut the stencils and apply them to neighborhood sidewalks.
Read more here.
The 2019 Annual Boo n’ Brew on Saturday, October 26th was a huge success. An estimated 300 kiddos took to the streets of E. Colfax between Colorado Blvd. and Josephine, to trick or treat in a safe, fun, family friendly environment.
The sun was shining on an unseasonably warm October day as our favorite street came alive, with an incredible, eclectic collection of businesses opening their doors and their candy bowls to the costume’d kiddos (and adult friends too!). Over 35 businesses participated with everything from salons and tattoo parlors, to Tough Mudder and Bishops, Twist and Shout, to many of our favorite dining establishments and watering holes, to the neighborhood anchor itself – the Bluebird Theater – there was no shortage of candy and treats for the kids that came out to celebrate the 13th annual Colfax tradition.
Live music, pumpkin decorating, hair painting and a prize wheel with Bishops, a Haunted House at Hooked on Colfax, face painting at Machete, a photo opportunity with Tough Mudder, obstacle course at Tiger Kim’s Academy, and of course SO MANY AMAZING COSTUMES rounded out the afternoon.
The evening brought Trivia Night at Annie’s, a scavenger hunt, drink specials galore, a free show at Lost Lake Lounge, a kids after party at Tiger Kim’s, an anniversary party at St. Paul’s Tavern and some amazing costumes of course.
Thank you to all of the incredible businesses that participated and to everyone that made Boo n’ Brew a part of your weekend plans. Check out some photos from the day below. We hope to see you next year!
A very special thank you to Tiger Kim’s Academy, Bishops, Hooked on Colfax, Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs, Middleman, Annie’s, AEG/Bluebird Theater, and Trattoria Stella’s for their extra support for Boo n’ Brew!
The Bluebird BID Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday, October 16th, 2019 at 10:30am at Annie’s Cafe (3100 E Colfax Ave).
On July 23, Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, the Bluebird District, and WalkDenver co-hosted a temporary Vision Zero traffic calming demonstration event during the 11th Annual Tasty Colfax event.
The Colfax & Madison intersection is home to an increasing number of popular restaurants, bars, and other neighborhood destinations and has seen a corresponding increase in pedestrian traffic in recent years. Anyone familiar with trying to navigate Colfax outside of a car knows how difficult and at times dangerous it can be.
With a Bus Rapid Transit project being planned for Colfax that would include adding more safe crossing locations, the pop-up traffic calming demonstration was a great opportunity to reimagine Colfax as a more people-friendly street in the future.
Click here for the full report from WalkDenver and make sure you check out the video recap here!
The 13th annual Boo n’ Brew, hosted by the Bluebird Business Improvement District, will once again take over Colfax Avenue between Josephine and Colorado Blvd. on Saturday, October 26th.
The event is two parts – one-part Kids and Family fun and one-part Adult self-led Halloween bar crawl. From 1-4pm, Colfax will come alive with the cutest costumed kiddos, a family-friendly block party, complete with trick-or-treating at more than 20 Colfax businesses, live music, pumpkin decorating, face painting, food and drink specials and MORE! It is an opportunity to meet, greet, celebrate fall and say hi to neighbors and business owners alike!
The first 100 kiddos to check-in will receive a one-of-a-kind Boo n’ Brew pillow case to fill with all of the LOOT! Come see what’s happening in the neighborhood and join in the festivities.
Later that day, Boo n’ Brew welcomes back the adults (or maybe just don’t ever leave?!), for a spooktacular bar/restaurant crawl. Participating businesses will offer the best drink specials in town, live music, costume contests and more.
Participating crawlers will be entered to win a grand prize! The hunt winner will be selected on Sunday October 27th and announced on the Boo n’ Brew Facebook page.
Stay tuned for a list of participating businesses, event schedule, scavenger hunt score card and details coming soon at www.bluebirdbeat.com.
To volunteer for the event please sign up. For general inquiries or sponsorship information please email cody@collaborativeevents.com.
The Bluebird BID Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at 10:30am at Annie’s Cafe (3100 E Colfax Ave).