Third Friday art walk and stroll will be February 17th, 6-9pm.  Come join the fun and  enjoy some wonderful art, meet the artists and experience the completion of ALL the sidewalks!

Construction is nearing a close with recent work on the park and contruction to the sidewalks around 44th.Check out the beautiful expanse of sidewalk!  

Metro Frame Works will be celebrating an amazing year with some of our favourites and lots of small gift ideas.  We will have small prints, small mirrors, and artist Barbara Gilhooly, Chris Vance and Keith Couture to name a few.  Stop by and enjoy a glass of wine with the staff and pups!

We do recommend good walking shoes as the sidewalks are still pretty rough.  All the shops, restaurants and galleries will be open until 10pm. 

Businesses in Denver's Berkeley neighborhood say they are relying on their reputations to keep their doors open until improvements to Tennyson Street are completed and can give them an identity boost.

Denver Public Works is giving the street a $2.9 million face-lift over a six-month period. However, the makeover is straining businesses along the torn-up street.

Tracy Frickey, owner of MODesTEA and a member of the Berkeley District Merchant Association board, said she is hearing businesses across the board are down 20 percent to 30 percent.

"Like every project of this magnitude, it does affect business," she said.

Big Hoss Bar-B-Q owner Hoss Orwat said his business is off about 10 percent since May, when the project began in earnest, but still is overall ahead of last year's sales.

"But I'm hearing people say they are down by as much as 75 percent," he said.

He has worked hard to build the reputation of his restaurant for the past five years, so he doesn't worry about his clientele dropping off, even if parking and access to the restaurant are more difficult.

The Bookery Nook almost closed its doors in May, owner Shannon Piserchito said. In her part of the business district, there has been some sort of construction since January, she said. In May, she decided to invest $15,000 to add a counter to serve Liks ice cream.

"My business is down about 30-40 percent right now," Piserchito said. "I wish I could say it is all the construction's fault, but it's a combination of factors."

The strip of hip businesses between West 38th and West 44th avenues is often confused as being part of the West Highland neighborhood, which is something Frickey would like to see change.

"It is a community, and we look out for each other," Frickey said. "The neighborhood really supports us. They are stepping up right now, and that's why I'm there."

She said she sees the streetscaping project as a way to step out of the shadow of the Highlands and announce to Denver that Berkeley is its own neighborhood. The street spruce-up includes widening sidewalks and adding benches, bike racks, trash bins and trees, plus new street lighting and changes to make corner crossings more friendly to pedestrians.

Despite some unexpected hitches in the project, which also includes new curbs and gutters and storm-drainage improvements, it is on time and on budget, said Denver Public Works planner Karen Good.

One surprise was the need to bury more deeply Xcel Energy gas lines in front of more than two dozen businesses. Some business owners may not have expected the scope of the project, Xcel spokesman Mark Stutz said.

"A lot of our guys are trying to frequent the businesses there," he said. "We know it impacts the business."

Wendy Sjogren's Clotheshorse consignment boutique has nearby side-street parking, and thus still plenty of shoppers coming in.

Construction workers are even helping some of the customers cross the street to the shop, said her business partner and sister, Sue Sjogren.

"Business has been a little more challenging," Wendy Sjogren said. "But when women want clothes, they will climb over tractors to get there."

First Friday on Tennyson was a wonderful night with people out enjoying the beautiful weather and the wonderful art.  Construction was evident on every corner but it didn't slow the crowds down.  Thanks North Denver for supporting us through this challenging weeks.  

Whether you're a Berkeley 'hood regular, or visiting us for the first time, the Tennyson Street Artwalk is sure to delight.
So bring the kids and the dogs and enjoy an Artwalk on Tennyson Street!