A Glamorous Ambulance

Seen in Old Colorado City last Saturday. Funny!

Down the Rabbit Hole

On Saturday I had a portrait shoot in Old Colorado City. I had told my clients that it would be relatively quiet since tourist season hasn't started yet, and I was very wrong -- the place was thronging with people. Upon closer inspection I noticed that a lot of them were dressed in sort of Alice in Wonderland cosplay getups, so I stopped a passerby and asked what was going on. It turns out that it was Mad Hatter Saturday! Certainly I would have loved to wander around Bancroft Park and capture all the cool outfits, but I was on the clock. I did manage to grab a snap of these two, though. I'll try to get ahead of this event next year so I can be part of the fun with a camera in hand.

Who Gives a Scrap?

I met up with my friend Teresa this weekend at Who Gives a Scrap. I just love this place! They have some pretty fun stuff. It's basically sort of a thrift store for makers -- you know, knitters, crocheters, sewists, artists of all kinds, scrapbookers... you can donate your unwanted crafting stuff (and it's a non-profit, so hello tax write off!), and you can buy pretty much any crafting supply you can think of here for cheap. Some of their offerings are pretty interesting and you never know what they're going to have in stock. I'm not exactly "crafty" but I do love to sew and knit, so Who Gives a Scrap is right up my alley. I think every city needs a place like this.

Wishful Thinking

Winter must be a lonely time to own an ice cream shop! The Creamery in Old Colorado City is positively legendary, but as you can see, the delights within were not enough to lure in many (or any) patrons on this sunny but chilly January day.

Business as Usual

The world may be going to hell in a handbasket, but it's business as usual in Old Colorado City.

A Little Pick-Me-Up

Well I don't know about you, but for me the news cycle just in the last few days has been utterly insane, which is causing me a lot of stress, sleeplessness and a petite soupçon of depression. Today I just about had enough when I saw our batsh*t crazy president's letter to the PM of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre. After processing that nonsense I was treated to a horrible video of ICE agents violently smashing in the windows of a woman's car while simultaneously screaming at her and her passenger not to f*cking move and to f*cking get out of the car. How could they possibly comply with both of those orders? That was enough to make me jump in my car with a camera just to chase a few moments of sanity. I was looking for anything to focus on that might cheer me up when I drove past this cute little house on West Colorado Avenue that I've never noticed before. It's like someone just plopped it down there to lift my spirits.

The Second Midland School

This old school on the deep west side was built in 1902. It's known as the Second Midland School because there was a previous Midland School; this one was presumably built to replace it when more room was needed. In turn, there's a third, more modern Midland Elementary School nearby, servicing grades kindergarten through five. The Second Midland School now houses offices and I'm giving serious consideration to relocating my studio here. We shall see.

Tree House

I first noticed this house a couple of years ago. It's actually behind a Victorian home that faces onto Colorado Avenue at about 10th Street, and when it originally caught my eye it was under construction. Upon closer inspection today, it appears to be a second story in the process of being added to an existing cinderblock structure (I could be wrong), and even though it's come a long way, to my eye the project still looks unfinished. I wonder what's taking so long! I'm not sure if this is part of the property in front of it or a separate domicile entirely. At any rate, what an interesting way to integrate the tree into the structure rather than just chopping it down.

November 2025 Theme Day: Breakfast

It's already Theme Day again! Every month on the 1st, City Daily Photo bloggers participate in a different theme, and this time it's breakfast. This rather uninspired photo was taken on Thursday as I was lunching with my mom at Bon Ton's. Both of us ordered breakfast food for some reason, even though it was past noon. Bon Ton's is just one of the many restaurants that Pat and I frequent for breakfast or brunch on the weekends when we have time for it. Others include the Omelette Parlor, Mo's Diner, the Patty Jewett Clubhouse, Sheldon's Luncheonette, and the East Coast Deli (my personal favorite). I love breakfast, although weirdly I don't really like eggs! But I'll eat 'em if they're in a burrito, an omelet, or a skillet like this. With lots of cheese, ketchup or salsa. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. How about you?

For  more takes on breakfast from City Daily Photo bloggers all over the world, click HERE. Enjoy!

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A view looking east on Cucharras at about 25th Street. I finally got to eat at Monse's Taste of El Salvador (it was so good!) with my friend JB last Friday, and this is where we parked. This is one of my favorite old neon signs in town so I thought it deserved to be featured on the blog again.

Monse's Taste of El Salvador

This is a restaurant I've been meaning to check out for ages, and still haven't done so. I've heard it's excellent and they have great vegetarian/vegan options. Yesterday, my friend JB and I had an impromptu late lunch at Bon Ton's, where Pat and I are regulars. As we left, we drove past colorful Monse's just a block away, and both of us thought darn, we could have had lunch there instead! Old habits are hard to break, I guess, and I do enjoy Bon Ton's! But next time, next time... Monse's, I swear I'm going to eat there soon!

Rex Tire and Mr. Garman

We were at Rex Tire today because my car needs new shoes. This place has been around forever. While wandering around their lobby I noticed this piece, unmistakably the work of local artisan Michael Garman. If the tiny sign over the tiny door in this diorama is to be believed, Rex Tire has been in business since 1939, which is also around the same time Mr. Garman was born, coincidentally. His sculptures are very popular around here and he was regionally quite famous. Unfortunately he passed away in 2021 at age 83, but his studio lives on as a museum, and the floor above it is designated as affordable studio spaces for local artists (including my friend and second shooter, Joy).

Much Better

Another new-ish mural, and I think this one's far better than the one in yesterday's post. This particular building seems to get a new artistic paint job every year or two, it's strange (you can see one of the more recent iterations HERE). You can find it on West Colorado between Walnut and 8th Street. What a cool mural, I like it a lot!

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Just a tranquil little moment at Sondermann Park a few weekends ago. We're in winter now, so those sunny and mild fall days have given way to more unpredictable weather for now. Hopefully we'll get another lovely warm day soon, so I can get out there with my camera and take a few new pictures for you.

Sunday Style!

A lovely little sundress/swimsuit cover-up in the window of Vestina Vintage, created by the proprietress, Jessica. This is a one of a kind garment and I think it's so pretty!

Watery Reflection

The little pond in Sondermann Park, apparently created by beavers, which is so cool! I think it's kind of a pity that development has encroached so much on this part of the city that there are now tract houses overlooking this once hidden park. You can see them in the background.

Burger Break

Last week we stopped into Cy's for lunch. Cy's is the real deal, a 1950s drive-in diner serving burgers, fries, shakes and the like. Not fancy schmancy burgers with bleu cheese and caramelized onions or whatever. Just burgers. I don't think their menu has changed since... ever, I guess! Pat had a burger (naturally) and I had a grilled cheese sandwich. So good! I especially love their french fries. Do you have an authentic drive-in diner left in your city? Cy's is a Colorado Springs institution!

Hang 'em High

I met a friend for coffee at Jives in Old Colorado City today. There was much chatting, and when I finally left, it was late in the day. I stood on the sidewalk in front of Jive's, looking for something interesting to take a picture of, but nothing really caught my eye until I looked up. The sky was so blue! The lights strung back and forth across the street had a kind of geometric appeal against the organic cloud formations above.

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Hope you had a good V Day, if it's your thing! Here's a lovely image from the archives, looking eastward from the northwest part of town, above the abbey. This one was taken on January 13, 2019.

Vestina Vintage

Consider this post more of a personal bookmark rather than anything of particular interest for my readers (sorry!). Pat noticed this tiny sewing shop, Vestina Vintage, a couple of weeks ago on the west side, and made it a point to show it to me last weekend. Unfortunately it was closed at the time so I'll have to go back during their open hours. I'm dying to explore it. Apparently they sell vintage fabrics, along with luxury fabrics and custom sewn clothing. Oh and they do sewing classes. I'm so intrigued!