62 APRIL 6-12, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | Best Instagram Account for Denver Nostalgia @olddenver One thing we hear constantly is that people miss “Old Denver” — whether before the swath of transplants or when the Denver skyline consisted of only a smattering of skyscrapers. The account @olddenver shares vintage photos of now-closed Den- ver spots, such as the Breakfast King or the 20th Street Cafe, as well as ones that have stood the test of time, like Lucero’s or Dandy Dan’s. Perhaps our favorite post is a carousel of images of Dandy Dan’s revolving signage with sage sentiments such as “Your wife calls it a problem. We call it a solution!” Best New Novel That Showcases Old Denver White Horse Erika T. Wurth erikatwurth.com The Mile High City stars in too few major works of literary merit, which is why it feels so good when a book comes along that really gets Denver, right down to its roots. Local author Erika T. Wurth’s novel White Horse has been getting lots of positive national attention since its debut last fall, and that’s defi nitely one reason to check it out if you haven’t. But just for good measure, here are a few more: Do you recognize the titular White Horse bar — recently shuttered on West Alameda after years of beer-slinging? Do you have fond memories of bygone times at Lakeside Amusement Park and Casa Bonita? Have you ever wondered if that chill in the air is just the mountain air... or the ghosts you share it with? If you answered yes to any of these, this book is for you. Best New Fiction by a Colorado Author Woman of Light Kali Fajardo-Anstine kalifajardoanstine.com Kali Fajardo-Anstine became a household name in local literary circles and book clubs after her acclaimed short-story col- lection Sabrina & Corina arrived in book- stores in 2019. But its followup might fl y even farther. Fajardo-Anstine leapt from that collection’s slices of Latina life to Woman of Light, a fully realized, five- generation Chicano family saga released last summer. Beautifully written, with an inborn knowledge of her subject, Woman of Light celebrates strong women in a culture built over centuries. Good news if you’re on a budget: The paperback edition is due April 18. Best Punk-Rock Memoir Glory Guitars: Memoir of a ’90s Teenage Punk Rock Grrrl Gogo Germaine erinkbarnes.com A rollicking rampage of rebellion ensues in Glory Guitars, a memoir written by Meow Wolf public relations manager Erin Barnes under her punk-rock moniker, Gogo Ger- maine, and published by University of Hell press. In the book, which was released in October to rave reviews, Barnes confronts the good, the bad and the ugly while re- counting her teenage years growing up in Fort Collins, where she and her girl gang snuck into clubs and hung out with punk bands, skipped class to drink out in open fi elds, partied hard and loved even harder. One read may inspire you to unleash your own inner Gogo Germaine, and maybe even get into a drunken Jell-O wrestling match with your best friend. Best Place to Find Reviews of Books About the Centennial State Colorado Book Review history.denverlibrary.org Since 2009, local historian Tom “Dr. Colo- rado” Noel has edited the Colorado Book Review, which is located in the Western History & Genealogy section of the Den- ver Public Library’s web page. Whether you’re a native or are new to Colorado, this is the place to fi nd critical reviews of titles ranging from The Denver Dry Goods: Where Colorado Shopped With Confi dence, by Mark A. Barnhouse, to Colorado UFOs, by Richard Estep. Watch for an upcom- ing review of Alan Prendergast’s GANG- BUSTER: One Man’s Battle Against Crime, Corruption, and the Klan, his story of bat- tling Denver District Attorney Philip Van Cise, which was excerpted in the March 30 issue of Westword. Best Place to Have a Beer, Buy a Book, Get Caffeinated and Even Published Wolverine Farm Publick House 316 Willow Street, Fort Collins 970-682-2590 wolverinefarm.org Wolverine Farm, a nonprofi t entity, is like a tree where every branch carries a differ- ent kind of fruit. First and foremost, there’s a small, small press turning out esoteric journals and occasional stand-alone short works. But this is also a public facility with a congenial cafe, a coffee shop, a beer bar, a gallery and the Perelandra bookstore, named after C.S. Lewis’s sci-fi trilogy. On any given evening, there might be a concert, reading, lecture, market, open mic, work- shop or technology-free gathering, giving the place a hands-on energy that’s a rare fi nd these days. Arts and Entertainment continued from page 60
