Another Neighborhood Gem: M&D's Barbeque Cafe

I finally stopped into a local eatery that I had been eyeing since we moved into the neighborhood: M&D's Barbeque Cafe. Located on the southeast corner of 28th and Race (I think it's actually Whittier Neighborhood, or maybe City Park West I guess) in a clean, inviting brick building, M&D's is an ironic gem in the midst of the neighborhood's regenesis.

I say ironic, because each time I passed by the place on my bike or walking the dogs, the beautiful building shined like a beacon on an otherwise yet-to-be-renovated block. So much so that I thought it had to be a new business, banking on what the neighborhood was going to become (like us).

Needless to say I was quite surprised to find out that M&D's is actually a veteran of the neighborhood, residing at this very location since they originally opened their doors in 1977. According to the hostess, they renovated in 2003 (and it shows). Their building is so nice, so clean, it almost doesn't do the home-made cooking served within justice, as it wouldn't look out-of-place next to a Chipotle or Starbucks somewhere in suburban hell.

Anyway, I stopped in there the other day for lunch. I have to tell you, don't even go there if you're trying to diet, as a mouth-watering aroma of barbecue sauces greeted me at the door, and at that moment, I knew I was going to have to take in the whole experience (not just a measly salad or something!).

The place was very warm and friendly--A nice, eclectic mix of people that usually bodes well for the food quality--Good eats are a pretty universal language. The hostess greeted us promptly and with a smile, and quickly led us to a half-booth near the back of the dining room. Our server was similarly efficient and friendly in greeting us. We started off with some catfish nuggets for an appetizer, with barbecue sauce to dip. Being quite the chile-head, I ordered the hot barbecue sauce, my friend Christian, who finds Hunts ketchup on the spicier side of things, threw caution into the wind and ordered the medium. I tried them both before settling on the medium myself--While the hot was admirably so, the medium had more depth to the flavor and a sweetness that was familiar to my barbecue experience.

They have everything on the menu from your normal barbecue chicken, ribs, briscuit, catfish, even whiting, but it all sounded good to us. Christian settled on the briscuit sandwich, I had the smoked and marinated barbecue burger, and our late-arriving friend had the catfish plate.

The food turned out to be on par with the friendly service. Christian's briscuit sandwich was "like candy" he said; my smoked burger was unlike anything else I had ever had (and in a good way!); and our other friend seemed content with his catfish as he ate about half of the huge plate.

We were in a hurry, so we didn't take advantage of the extensive, and very tasty selection of home-made desserts they had on the menu. That will have to wait until next time.

So, if you're looking for some tasty southern cooking, some take-out barbecue or even catering for an event, give M&D's Barbecue Cafe a try. I think you'll be glad you did. And of course, you'll be investing in the success of the neighborhood.

Oh, and be sure to tell them you learned about them from The Cole Neighborhood Memoirs.

Thanks for reading.

Crime in Cole

There won't be any sarcasm or humor in this post. It is with a heavy heart that I write about a tragedy that happened less than a week ago in Cole--In fact, only a few blocks from our home.

18 year old Gilbert Garcia (left), a Cole Resident home from college to visit his family was shot.

I was home the night the shooting occurred--It was like any other night spent at home relaxing with our two rotweillers for me, but only a few blocks away, life was taken from someone that was clearly very special.

Beyond the horror of such a violent crime happening so close by, it is even sadder that a young person with so much potential, and so much love in his heart was the victim. A guy that beat the odds of growing up in Cole, and worked hard to go to college. A guy that gave endlessly to his family and friends. After reading about Gilbert's short time on this earth, I find myself feeling guilty for not giving of myself more to my loved ones, despite having nearly twice the time to do so than Gilbert had. Please join me in keeping Gilbert's family in your thoughts, as their lives have been profoundly changed forever--in an instant by a yet unidentified, small-minded individual.

I really don't know what to say, other than I hope that whomever did this somehow is found. I'm probably not taking the most mature position when I say this, but personally, I think if the idiots that participate in gangs want to kill each other, go for it--that's natural selection--But leave the innocent, and beautiful individuals like Gilbert out of it. What did he ever do to deserve this? Nothing. Nada. Zip.

Awkward Segue--Hearing about this murder made me think: People often ask us if we feel "safe" in Cole Neighborhood, and we don't hesitate to say yes. Maybe we've become accustomed to the dark side of city life after 6 years in urban Denver, but most of the things we witness in Cole are relatively benign nuisances more than anything that we truly fear. Do bad things happen over here? Of course. As anyone (honest) that has lived in the city (any city) will admit, shit happens there. Cars or homes get broken into, there is drug activity, or worse, someone gets hurt or killed from time to time.

What many people fail to realize or admit, however, is that shit happens everywhere, even in sterile, cookie-cutter Highlands Ranch, or even sleepy Golden, Colorado. Heck, it even happens in podunk Laingsburg, Michigan, where I grew up. But I'm the first to admit that it happens more often in the city.

But we've lived in Cole now for about a year-and-a-half, and have been consistently amazed at how quiet it has proven to be relative to our last residence on 32nd Avenue and Zuni in the Highlands. I tell everyone without embellishment that in the four years we lived there, I witnessed enough criminal behavior to earn me the opportunity to be the "eyewitness" on every episode of COPS.

Now anyone that knows Denver knows that Highlands is "The Place To Be" and Cole still has a ways to go to catch up with the rapid pace of gentrification there. So why is it more quiet in Cole?

Honestly, we're on a relatively quiet block. Anyone that knows Denver also knows how "pocketed" the city is--Meaning you can walk through a neighborhood and block to block go from a quiet, pretty street with well-kept houses to a block that looks like it came right out of Boyz In The Hood. While we were on a major thoroughfare in the Highlands, and in sight of one of the city's eleventy-billion liquor stores, we're on a quieter side street; and as we're learning, one of the better side streets in the neighborhood.

So how does Cole really compare to other urban Denver neighborhoods then? I wonder that a lot, given the wide range of people's perceptions of our neighborhood, and especially when something bad happens like last Thursday. Some of my friends think we're nuts for living over here, but others see the potential and vitality that we do.

It's a hard question to answer. As a visitor to this site pointed out the other day, there isn't much information about Cole, or the other neighborhoods, let alone real hard facts on crime, available online. I did find a great website put together by a realtor specializing in Metro Denver that has a wealth of information about Denver neighborhoods, and crime statistics for metro Denver and surrounding suburbs.

But, based on their data for 2005, our modest neighborhood finished a distant 42nd out of the 78 neighborhoods listed, in terms of "number of incidents" (crimes). What neighborhoods of note had more "incidents" than Cole's 532 in 2005?

• Ritzy (and expensive) South Park Hill (560)


• Always en vogue Washington Park (611)


• Much more desirable West Highland (668) and Berkely (677)


• Cherry Creek (yes, Cherry Creek) (808)


• Everyone's talking about Stapleton... (884)


• And our hold 'hood, where we couldn't afford to buy a house: Highland proper (983)

Does this tell us anything really? Well, I say that it supports the assertion that crime happens everywhere, including in fancy, affluent Cherry Creek.

One might also hypothesize that the crimes committed in Cherry Creek are largely theft and burglary (If I was a thief, that's where I would prowl) and potentially more violent in Cole; and unfortunately for us there is data to support that assertion. Cole had one homicide in 2005 compared to Cherry Creek's zero, but easily outpaced Cherry Creek in terms of "aggravated assault" 46 to 4. Cole lost the contest for burglaries 97 to 199.

But does it surprise anyone that Cole doesn't compare favorably with Cherry Creek when it comes to crime? I mean, we're talking about the richest, snootiest section of town compared to a transitional, poverty-stricken urban neigborhood in the thick of gentrification. What about the Highlands, where we used to live, and which was much like Cole even five years ago?

Well, in terms of its total number of incidents, it ranks #10 on the list, not an admirable achievement. What about the specific nature of the crimes? Highland matched Cole's one homicide and eclipsed us in terms of assaults (60) and burglaries (122). Keep in mind that when we were house-hunting there a year or so ago, you couldn't find an 800 square foot townhome there for under $200,000.

Does this data make me feel any better about that young man getting shot in our neighborhood last week? Of course not. If anything, I find the data sobering, in that even when this neighborhood turns the corner like "better" neighborhoods Highlands, West Highland, Berkley, etc., we'll still have significant problems to deal with.

The only thing that gives me hope is the knowledge that there are an increasing number of people in Cole committed to turning it around, and an equally, if not more-committed police force.

While thus far I haven't been able to find any crime data for the calendar year 2006 as a whole, I found one article showing that at least mid-way through 2006, crime was down 7.4% in Denver (After publishing this post, I heard a report on 9news stating that the numbers are in, crime was down 10% in Denver for 2006 as a whole). I'm also ready to do jumping jacks and cartwheels, as the Denver Police Department is about to unleash the Broken Windows program on the bad guys in our neighborhood. While some "experts" question the program's effectiveness, pointing out potential flaws in the perceived success the NYPD enjoyed after implementing a similar program, I'm all for the increased police presence. And knowing the high caliber officers we have in District 2, I think they're really going to make a difference.

And we're committed to sticking it out in Cole, and doing what small part we can to support the continued redevelopment and regenesis of the neighborhood. It won't bring Gilbert back, but hopefully we can make his home someplace beautiful again.

Thanks for reading.