Urban Life Wash Park

Urban Life Wash Park We are Wash Park. art • culture • words • support local • women owned • community • neighbors • family
www.urbanlifewashpark.com Don't live in the area?

Founded by Sam and Shaleen DeStefano, this four color neighborhood magazine gets hand delivered monthly to 5K doorsteps of the Wash Park residents, with a readership of 27K. Our goal is to connect the community, because supporting local is so important. Try Bonnie Brae Liquor, CLP Jewelry, Sweet Action, Pearl St. Liquors and a handful of other locations!

J U L was all about summer nostalgia. Our cover was by our brilliant friend Risa Friedman. In the center spread I penned...
08/06/2026

J U L was all about summer nostalgia. Our cover was by our brilliant friend Risa Friedman. In the center spread I penned a piece about what summer used to feel like when we were kids. It’s not another piece urging you to be present…but rather a nudge to steal elements from our past and make them habits today.

Our front feature introduces you to Kyle Soule. She talks to us about how she went from Kindergarten teacher to Founder of Revive Skinfx, a thriving med-spa. Born and raised in Denver, she is a woman to know.

This month we introduce you to friend, neighbor and Mahjong maven, Sam Powell of Samantha Powell. If you’ve been wanting to learn, Sam is a kind and knowledgeable instructor who shows you the ropes effortlessly. Check her out and learn how to join her weekly gatherings at Reivers Bar & Grill.

Mel of philanthropyexpert generously writes for us each month. Her article in July really struck a chord with so many of you. We’ve received countless emails showing gratitude for her nod to Old Denver and how it’s being immortalized through Native 303 apparel.

Links to all of the above articles are in our bio. As always, thank you for continuing to read + support local!

If you grew up in Denver before Y2K, you know the city had a distinct feel. As the city has changed, many of those legen...
07/31/2026

If you grew up in Denver before Y2K, you know the city had a distinct feel. As the city has changed, many of those legendary spots have vanished.

For Denver native Rob Steck, watching those pieces of his hometown disappear from afar was tough. The tipping point came when someone sent him a photo of what looked like a pile of garbage. It was the interior of the historic Bonnie Brae Tavern after it had been cleared out. Resting on top of the debris was a torn piece of turquoise vinyl from an old booth.

“To someone new to the neighborhood, it was wood, metal, and fabric. Garbage,” Steck says.” To me, it looked like a crime scene. That booth wasn’t just furniture—it was birthdays, family dinners, first dates, and neighborhood gossip. A whole life of Denver memory was sitting in a dumpster.”

That moment sparked Native303, a nostalgia brand built around the defunct restaurants, bars, and hangouts that once defined Denver.

“A throwback photo lives for about six seconds online before it gets buried,” Steck explains. “But a t-shirt has legs—literally. It walks around in the world. If you wear a Bonnie Brae Tavern or Celebrity Sports Center shirt, you’re putting up a bat signal for other Denver people. It’s a secret handshake you can wear.”

Read Mel’s (Mel Ulle) full story in our latest issue, then find your piece of Denver nostalgia at Native303: https://www.native303apparel.store/

There was a time when summer didn’t need a plan.There were backyard campouts where nobody actually slept and drive-in mo...
07/28/2026

There was a time when summer didn’t need a plan.

There were backyard campouts where nobody actually slept and drive-in movies where half the fun was piling into the car with blankets and snacks. Watching Jaws for the tenth time and somehow convincing yourself there might actually be a shark in the deep end.

Michael Stipe was on to something. To this day, that opening piano from “Nightswimming” can transport me back in an instant. Sneaking into the neighborhood pool felt less like breaking the rules and more like a rite of passage. Floating on your back beneath a sky full of stars, the water impossibly still... the whole world felt different. Time slowed down. Summer felt endless because we weren’t counting the days. We were just living them.

Somewhere along the way, though, we stopped letting moments be enough. Not all at once, but gradually. We’ve trained ourselves to fill every quiet moment with something, anything, and in the process we’ve forgotten how to simply sit where we are.

Presence isn’t something we achieve. It’s something we allow. It happens when we stop asking, “What’s next?” long enough to notice what’s already here. The smell of sunscreen. A neighbor watering tomatoes. The laughter drifting across the pool.

Let’s get better at noticing the little things that quietly become the big things. Maybe that’s the gift of summer. Not that it gives us more time, but that it reminds us we were never missing time at all. We were missing our attention. So here’s to pausing the urge to capture life, and instead letting it happen.

Mel of philanthropyexpert digs into the history of Denver’s parks, the vision that created them, the hidden landmarks mo...
07/10/2026

Mel of philanthropyexpert digs into the history of Denver’s parks, the vision that created them, the hidden landmarks most people miss, and the people working to protect these places.

“There was one time in my life when I didn’t live in Colorado.
I learned that other places are nice, but not Denver-nice. Other places are pretty, but not Denver-pretty. Other people are cool, but not Denver-cool.

I missed Denver so much I started drinking Coors Light out of pure nostalgia. (Which is saying something.)

But more than anything, I missed Washington Park.

We all have that park—the one that quietly holds our memories, where we learned to ride a bike, fell in love, walked off a hard day, or simply remembered how lucky we are to live here.”

Read the full feature linked in bio and tell us which Denver park feels like home to you. ♥️

There’s something we’ve been noticing for months now, and maybe you feel it too. People are craving what’s real again. N...
07/01/2026

There’s something we’ve been noticing for months now, and maybe you feel it too. People are craving what’s real again. Not polished. Not filtered. Not another thing living only on a screen. Real conversations. Real places. Real community. Something you can hold in your hands, walk into, sit inside, and remember.

The rise of analog feels very real to us. Neighborhood bookstores. Printed magazines on kitchen counters (hint hint). Handwritten notes. Dinner with no phones out. Shopping small and talking to the person behind the counter, because you know them. Events where people actually look each other in the eye. Experiences that ask us to be present instead of distracted.

Maybe after years of living so much of life digitally, we’re remembering what it feels like to be human in the physical
world. We’re GenXers through and through, so craving this nostalgic feeling of experiencing real life in a very raw fashion, is palpable.

That’s part of why this magazine matters. Urban Life Wash Park was never meant to be just content. It was meant to be connection. A love letter to local businesses, local people, and the kind of community that still believes showing up matters.

Tangible things still carry weight. The places we gather. The stories we share. The neighbors we support. The moments that don’t need to be posted to matter.

Tell us your favorite way to “go analog.”

M A Y in the morning light. In this issue we featured the dreamy work of 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨 on the cover and center spread. ...
06/23/2026

M A Y in the morning light.
In this issue we featured the dreamy work of 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨 on the cover and center spread. andi Calistro creates ethereal worlds with her art. Her work pulls you in with images of beautifully haunting women, wild nature, and layers of symbolism. Based in Denver, she has spent years shaping the city’s creative landscape through painting, murals, and tattooing, all while staying unmistakably true to her own voice.

Next up, we take you inside Erica's Boutique and Skin Care. It is one of those neighborhood gems that feels like a true find. Tucked in Englewood, this thoughtfully curated boutique is entirely rooted in making people feel cared for the moment they walk in. From mahjong to pickle ball, they have gifts for everyone in the family.

Our neighbor in May is the brilliant and kind Kristin Anne Semels Ryder of Ryder Educational Consulting. There are some people who simply make a community stronger, and Kristin is one of them. A trusted friend, thoughtful leader, and longtime advocate for children and families, she has spent decades helping kids find the environments where they can truly thrive. She brings deep experience, compassion, and an unmatched understanding of schools to families navigating some of the most important decisions they’ll make.

In May Mel Ulle of philanthropyexpert pens a beautiful piece about Denver’s park system. One of the city’s greatest assets, thanks to a century-old vision and the endless work of dedicated residents, who believe our city is only as great as our beautiful open spaces.

Thank you for continuing to read and support local!

Links to all of the above features are linked in our bio.

Joon Tajadod’s work doesn’t sit still, and neither does the story she’s telling. What begins in florals quickly unfolds ...
06/20/2026

Joon Tajadod’s work doesn’t sit still, and neither does the story she’s telling. What begins in florals quickly unfolds into layered compositions that echo Persian rugs, ritual, and memory, each piece an exploration of identity that feels both intimate and expansive. Through painting and immersive Sofreh installations, she’s not just creating art, she’s creating space: for heritage, reclamation, and connection.

Now calling Denver home, Joon moves between grounding and discovery, gathering inspiration from new landscapes and returning to the studio to translate it all into something thoughtful. Her work encourages us to consider how identity is shaped, through movement, through ritual, and through the courage to claim our full selves. Full feature linked in bio.

When you step inside the gorgeous space beyond the Food Lab doors, you know you’re about to take part in something speci...
05/22/2026

When you step inside the gorgeous space beyond the Food Lab doors, you know you’re about to take part in something special, and cooking is just the starting point. Founder and visionary Casey Easton has created a space where both adults and children can build confidence in the kitchen while connecting directly with their community. When we first met Casey, we were overwhelmed by her passion. She built something incredible and we are so lucky to have her vision come to life right here in the neighborhood. She sat down with us to share her story of how she worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality. Full feature linked in bio 💛

A P R much like Spring, landed on 5k doorsteps in an explosion of color. This cover featured the gorgeous, layered work ...
05/11/2026

A P R much like Spring, landed on 5k doorsteps in an explosion of color. This cover featured the gorgeous, layered work of . Madeline’s art is fearless, maximalist and unapologetically, unwilling to shrink itself down. We’ve loved her work for a long time, expect a full feature in the very near future.

Our center spread highlighted the annual Wash Park Home Tour. An event that not only opens doors to incredible homes, but directly benefits our beloved local elementary school, Steele. A true community event that we are proud to amplify.

Next we visited the newly opened in Platt Park. Founded by the incredible Casey Easton, this woman-owned cooking school, feels more like a gathering place than a business. From kids camps and cooking classes to community dinners and events, she is creating connection through food in a way that feels deeply thoughtful.

Our Meet Your Neighbor feature introduced readers to whose work explores identity, memory and womanhood through rich florals. There’s an emotional depth to her pieces.

Finally, of penned a considerate piece called “We Must Save Denver’s Soul” a conversation around the loss of local culture, character and human moments found in local restaurants. Pointing to and everyone in the industry, fighting the good fight.

Thank you for continuing to support local artists, woman-owned businesses, neighborhood storytelling, independent publishing and community builders. Links to all features in bio. ♥️

“You do not have to choose one or the other: a dream or a dreamer, the bird or the birder. You may be a woman of commoti...
05/10/2026

“You do not have to choose one or the other: a dream or a dreamer, the bird or the birder.
You may be a woman of commotion and quiet. Magic and brain. You can be a mother and a poet. A wife and a lover. You can dance on the graves you dug on Tuesday, pulling out the bones of yourself you began to miss.”

– Kate Baer

This month, we’ve been thinking about motherhood. Not as a single experience, but as something far more layered.

Because for some, this season is full. For others, it’s complicated. Some are in the thick of raising children. Some are longing to. Some have lost their mothers. Some are navigating relationships that were never what they needed them to be. And some have built entirely different versions of care and connection that don’t fit neatly into a definition.

Motherhood is not one thing. It’s biological, chosen, shared, and sometimes deeply felt in its absence.

And still, there is a kind of care that shows up again and again in our community. In the neighbor who checks in. The friend who remembers. The women who hold space, who carry more than anyone ever sees.

And it’s heavy.

Not in a way that needs pity. But in a way that deserves acknowledgment.

So much of this work happens quietly, behind the scenes, without applause or recognition. But it does not go unnoticed. It shapes our homes, our neighborhoods, and the way we care for one another. It is the thread that holds so much together. Here’s to the mothers, the motherless, the mother-figures and every nuanced layer in between. Happy Mother’s Day.

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201 S. Humboldt Street
Denver, CO

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+13035187493

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