13th Ave, where Wax Trax has been selling records since 1978, has a special place in our hearts. Customers often share their 13th Ave memories with me, such as “This is where I got into my first fight” or “I met my husband here.” I really love the feeling of being on 13th because I always get to see someone I know - whether its my father-in-law pricing used records, Nick the manager over at Jelly who always asks about how my kid’s doing, or Jennie or Tristan at The Common Collective who are never short on complements on whatever I’m wearing. This block is a second home for our family.
That’s why this past Saturday, it felt so satisfying to share this special place with so many visitors for the first Third Saturdays on 13th, a monthly event where Wax Trax and our neighbor businesses host a line up of events and special discounts for folks to spend the day on Capitol Hill. The next one will be September 19th.
As an organizer in my former work in public health, this part of my job as Wax Trax’s Communications Manager is exciting. I drop in on meetings of small business owners in the Highlands, on South Broadway, and over at Stanley Marketplace, and lately I’m helping other businesses on 13th revive a newer and improved version of the 13th Avenue Business Group, this time incorporating all of Capitol Hill. Your neighborhood Wax Trax is partnered up with other 13th Ave favorites, canvassing the neighborhood, talking to hard-working small business people, and starting to determine and work on our common goals. A small but active core of our 13th Avenue businesses are at the lead, including Hudson Hill, Common Collective, and Jelly Cafe.
As an organizer at heart, this part of my job overseeing our external affairs as Communications Manager is exciting - canvassing the neighborhood, talking to people who are working hard at running and growing their businesses, and working on a common goal. After chatting with our neighbor businesses, we decided that the goal of Third Saturdays on 13th is to showcase to Denverites and visitors how much there is to do up and down our block - from museums, to cafes and restaurants, and retail businesses.
In addition to finding new friends on 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th and 14th in Capitol Hill), we’ve also created Third Saturdays on 13th. It’s not just another day of events, it’s a day of businesses you love supporting artists they love, both living and dead. Divas join you for breakfast, DJs serenade you while browsing records, then you check out Molly Brown’s harpsichord and take in some live music at Hudson Hill
This first event on August 15
- drag brunch at Jelly - performers dancing at the lunch counter and out on the sidewalk in front of a packed house.
- Wax Trax hosted Saturday Spins with an all vinyl DJ set by KDJ Above as customers browsed the racks.
- Kilgore Books was giving away books and stickers to customers and,
- The Common Collective had discounts for vintage hunters all day.
- Molly Brown House Museum admission was $10 for Capitol Hill residents.
- Hudson Hill hosted a chill jazz quartet, Lazer Dave.
Next month you can expect another fabulous Jelly drag brunch, DJ Erin Stereo at Wax Trax, live music at Hudson Hill, and discounts and giveaways at Kilgore’s Books, The Common Collective, and The Molly Brown House Museum. Landmark Tattoo is also set to join the lineup with flash tattoos and we hope to add more businesses all along thirteenth in Capitol Hill.
Follow the socials for updates!
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