Opinion: Joyful chaos on Colfax: Homelessness, cartoon anthems, Playboy limo

Photo byEmre TurkanonUnsplash

When I experienced homelessness in Denver in 2019, seldom did I ever smile. But I could not help but grin – laugh even – when I’d walk up Colfax to Capitol Hill.

Next to Nob Hill tavern, which blasted opera music (and maybe still does) from a loudspeaker, was a vehicle repair place that played music of its own at full volume. This auto shop played the Looney Tunes theme song. You can listen to the song to jog your memory.

If you are like most, the tune takes you back to Saturday morning cartoons as a child. No worries about being homeless back in those days, at least not for me. Those were the best mornings of all, where I could avoid the bullies at school and just watch cartoons.

The Looney Tunes theme song is perfect for Colfax Avenue. The strip’s cast of characters could make Las Vegas regulars blush.

When I experienced homelessness, the opera music blasting from Nob Hill and the cartoon song shrieking from the car repair place created a soundtrack of chaos for anything-goes Colfax Avenue.

Who does the Playboy limo belong to?

I have not been to Capitol Hill in a long time, and I do not know if the car place is still there or if they still play the song. I asked members of the Facebook group, “The Sh*t You See on Colfax” about the song. Indeed, they remembered and thought the music was coming from a business next to Nob Hill.

Another Colfax mystery that has me stumped is the white Playboy limousine that frequently can be seen running up and down the strip. I tried to get to the bottom of that one several months ago, but nobody knew for sure who owns the limo. It is not an actual Hugh Hefner limo, but it does have the Playboy bunny emblazoned on it. It is the perfect Colfax Avenue mascot, just as the cartoon theme song is a great anthem for the street.

Colfax Avenue can be very dangerous to people experiencing homelessness. But for those with a sense of humor, it also can be a great place to laugh. As someone once told me about Los Angeles, Colfax Avenue is a caricature of itself.