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| Denver's Most Intimate Venue (Westword, 2008) Denver's Best Outdoor Stage (Westword, 2009) The building that houses Denver’s Most Intimate Venue was built in 1885, before electricity as evidenced by the exposed gaslight pipes in bar. Originally built as a drug and general store, the upstairs was created to house men, and there were outhouses where the Meadowlark’s famous patio now stands. A part of Denver’s historic Ballpark Neighborhood, 2701 Larimer Street is a true gem with its ornate tin cornice and cast iron store front, which was built in Pittsburgh, PA and then shipped all the way to the Queen City upon the building’s construction. The Meadowlark Bar was opened on December 27, 2005, on the Feast of St. John. The bar’s name is a metaphor for the owner’s love of the lonely openness of the American prairie. The construction of Meadowlark is of particular note – for it is what visitors and patrons notice, immediately. The most pronounced element is that the least likely floor was chosen for the bar’s construction: the basement. But it was the basement's rock walls that sold the owner on creating the bar down below the street – for its warmth and sensation of comfort. During construction, many changes occurred. However, the primary aim was always in-tact: the entire bar was hand built and this was preserved by only employing a very select number of laborers and carpenters. The prime example of this philosophy stands at the center of the space: Meadowlark’s bar is a one-of-a-kind wooden bar, hand crafted, planed and beveled in such an unorthodox manner that a bar of its kind is nearly impossible to replicate. As well, all the paint on the exterior of the building was removed to recapture the initial look of the 1885 structure. Conceptualized as an art bar, the bar’s owner knew that lighting was of primary importance. And therefore, this served as the initial impetus for how the bar would operate, and look. To this day, Meadowlark is an art gallery, housing monthly exhibits by some of Denver’s most provocative visual artists. After its opening in 2005, patrons of the bar were involved in further development. The idea was always that if you involve those around you, the conversation about how the bar was created and why would always remain and furthermore, help evolve the concept. An example of this is the indoor stage and the highly-acclaimed outdoor patio and stage. For the last couple of years, on account of the leadership and the dominant ideals that were set forth, Meadowlark has become one of Denver’s most prized music and art venues – a true king in the Queen City of the Plains. |
