Yesterday began like a typical 4:20 Day..took my daily walk smoking a fat one and coming home to eat a marijuana infused edible. Last year Covid killed any public 4:20 events but since returning to Colorado, I havent participated in any 4:20 events. 4:20 in Colorado since legalization has become very commercial with no recognition of the political struggle or of those individuals (like the late Ken Gorman) that made Colorado a pioneering cannabis state. I was sitting in my apartment with no plans to go out when I got a text from my friend Valerie stating she was at the bar and wanted to know if I would come down. Valerie and I generally meet up once a week at the bar. Normally we meet later in the week, but I have plans to see the grandkids in Fountain this weekend, so I agreed to meet her there. Seemed like it was 10 seconds after I agreed to go when word came that the verdict would be coming down in the Chauvin trial. For a split second I thought about changing my mind about going to the bar, but then I thought it might be better to not be alone when the verdict came down. Also, the bar happens to be just a few blocks from Colorado's State Capitol, should Chauvin get off, any action in protest would likely take place there and the journalist in me would be there to report it. Besides,my bus stop home is across the street from the Capitol.
Denver's Nob Hill Inn is 5 blocks away from the State Capitol. It's located on Colfax Ave, a street with a reputation of being "lively" Every city seems to have at least one bar on one street or in one neighborhood that when you mention it,eyes are immediately raised. In Minneapolis it would be Lake Street and even a better description would be Lake Street of the '80s. Nob Hill Inn is a dive bar in the classic sense..cheap beers and a cast of characters ,some interesting and others you probably wouldnt want to know outside of the bar. Closest comparison would be the Palmer's of my West Bank days..edgier than present day Palmers. During the pandemic when only bars and restaurants that had patios or bubbles could be open,"The Nob" as its called put tables and chairs that could seat 10 people in the back alley. Since the uprising following George Floyd's murder, the front door and windows have been boarded up and while most places in Denver are not boarded any more the owner is fine with people knowing its open only by word of mouth and having to go to the back door in order to enter,in addition to it being a dive, there's the sense of a 1930's speakeasy added to it now.
I arrive at the bar about 20 minutes before the verdict is to be announced. Regulars at the bar call me "Minnesota" since I've been dubbed that,I often go to the Nob wearing my Minnesota Gophers sweatshirt or my Palmer's hoodie. Yesterday it was the Palmers hoodie. Maybe I gave it away by my face because the words were the same but there was a different tone to the greeting I received when I walked in. "How you doing Minnesota?" Reggie, an older black man and a regular asked me again "Are you sure?" I dont think the question came because I was stoned as there's a good chance I would be stoned any number of times I've been there. The TV was on CNN quietly in the background and music from the jukebox was blaring. After I got my beer,Angie the bartender announced that the jukebox was going off and the volume on the TV would be turned up when the verdict was to be announced. This didn't go over well with one of the regulars but one cardinal rule at the Nob is you dont want to mess with Angie. She's friendly as bartenders go but can be tough as nails. A bartender working at a Colfax Ave bar has to be. One clue of her toughness..she's a Trump supporter and a Raiders fan working a Denver bar. When the verdict came on and the person complained she told him where he could go. I had my bases covered as I was switching between Unicorn Riot and KARE 11 (a local Minneapolis TV station) on my phone. The bar got quiet. I think however even with social distancing at the bar probably everyone heard the pounding of my fist against the bar with every guilty charge. Nob Hill Inn broke out in applause after the verdict was announced. Angie the Bartender declared "Justice was Served" I sat stunned for a moment..then began sobbing I hadnt finished my first beer at that point. Couple folks made sure I had a couple more beers before leaving. It was quiet in front of the Colorado State Capitol when I caught my bus home..
