"Huh!" Followed up by the universal head nod.

In casual conversation the Danvurian can use one word and head gesture to agree, get their point across or to ask for repetition of an utterance. Huh? you ask? The word "huh" is a very important word used by the Danvurian in expressing themselves.

Huh can be used in numerous ways. One of the many uses of the word "huh" can be agreement. For example, say you're dissatisfied with your job and you happen to work with a Danvurian who shares your discontent with the work place. Simply turn to the Danvurian and express your displeasure with your job: "Oh I just hate it when they have us run these reports every morning!" The Danvurian will take notice of your disgust and agree with the following: "Huh!" (The universal head nod follows the word huh.). Doing this gesture conveys the Danvurians empathy to your situation.

Another use of the word "huh" and head nod is an exclamation expressing surprise or excitement and frequently introducing a question. The Danvurian is good at expressing themselves with filled pauses or one word sentences. This is a way for the Danvurian to express emotion. Example: "Huh, he got knocked the fuck out!"

My last example is used as a part of an utterance not properly heard or understood. For example say you are asking a Danvurian a question from another room and they can't hear because they are watching the Bronco game in the other room. Example: "Hey Rudy, want cheese on your smothered?!" "Huh bud, I am watching the game?!"

Danvurians are very expressive people who love to get their point across with minimal effort and lots of emotion. To the right people we are very open and talkative, but if we hardly know you and you want to engage in conversation, do not be insulted if we reply with a single interjection..."Huh!"

I-70 purina plant

The infamous drive down I-70, just east of the mouse trap is a drive that makes every Danvuian cringe with disgust. Heading east, past the Stock Show, and Coliseum, just yards away in all it's glory, the Purina Plant. If you live in Denver and have traveled I-70 east you know the aroma that is Purina.

When I was a little kid, my mom would take I-70 east to go to work, and I knew it meant passing the Purina Plant. So just like clock work my bro and I would cover our noses with our shirts in preparation of the musky, sweet-fecal smelling stench that emanated out of those huge smoke stacks. The stench would linger almost as far as Vasquez blvd and give my mother a headache. For years it was rumored in the hood, the stench came from a slaughter house and not Purina. Once the Slaughter house closed down a few years ago, there was no argument to where the stench comes from.

There are two small towns that surround the Purina plant, towns that I like to call the "Armpits of Danvur" . In the hood, we associate the stench with the lil town known as Swansea, a.k.a "Swampton!" The other town, Globville is within walking distance of Purina, this is the town I like to call "The Land that time forgot". Growing up in Globeville you get use to the smell because of the several other odors that make up the town Globeville.

If you find yourself gridlocked, during rush hour, on I-70 between Washington and York. Roll down the window, take a deep breath, and take in the rancidity-rankness that is Purina.

"Chicalian foods!" Subway, Lechuga's and Patsy's Form the Danvur Triumvirate!

Mangiare! Mangiare! Or should i say: Comer! Comer! Mmm, Italian cuisine, delicious, savory, delicate and pleasantly satisfying. There's nothing like sitting at a table family style, drinking vino and eating healthy portions of home cooked Italian food. With ingredients like: olive oil, tomatoes, peppers, sausage, seafood, cheese and wine, Italian food is one of the most popular foods in America. Spaghetti is possibly the most recognized Italian food Americans love to eat. In Sicily making spaghetti has been a tradition since 12th century AD. Ingredients vary by region but we can all agree that Italian food has some of the most appetizing and gratifying dishes in the world.

In Danvur we have the 3 main italian hot spots in the hood that have been around for decades. In what I like to call "Chicalian food" (Chicalian - a hybrid of Southern Italian and Chicano/Tex-mex foods.), Subway, Lechuga's and Patsy's form the holy triumvirate of Danvur!

The holy trinity that is Subway, Lechuga's and Patsy's is home to some of the best Chicalian food in town! If you live in Danvur you've heard of these 3 joints, that is unless you've been living under a rock for the past 30 years. Back in the day, about 40 years ago the North Danvur hood was mostly populated by Italian Americans. With well known Italian families opening little shops and meat markets around the North Danvur area, the Italian community thrived for years. With the changing times, Chicano's have became the majority in the North Denver hood, but the the Danvur triumvirate restaurants remain as signifigant as they did 30 years ago.

"Chicalian Food!" yep, that's right, this is a word I created because where else can you get a Cannoli with Jalapenos, smothered?! Only at Lechuga's, Subway and Patsy's! Being a fellow Danvurian I know my peeps love food that is "Smothered!" Usually Cannoli's are a sweet desert, what's that?! To a Danvurian a "Cannoli" will always be a pastry filled with a meat, marinara and cheese, oh and SMOTHERED of course. These 3 establishments have the same distinct "Danvur Chicalian" taste. the marinara and sausage are pretty much the same at all 3 places. They keep it real by buying all their ingredients local. HiLoians, take note because we know how you like to "Keep it local!".

You want Chiken scallopini, Carbonara or rabbit catchatori? Heh, not at these 3 heavy weights of Danvur, Lechuga's, Subway and Patsy's keep it simple with a Danvur flare! On the go? A Mini Devil is the food of choice for the Danvurian. Lechuga's keeps it Chicalian by putting Jalapenos inside a mini calzone which satisfy's any Danvurian with the munchies "wink".

The next time you roll to the hood and are looking for the best rib sticking Italian food, try the Danvur Triumvirate that is Subway, Lechuga's and Patsy's!

Carlos Santana - The Patron Saint of Danvur

Santana, the patron saint of Danvur is a Mexican-born American rock god! Santana is best known for being a pioneer of rock, salsa-fusion in the late 60's and early 70's.
To Danvurians, Santana is the pinnacle of success and we look up to him like the smooth uncle who plays guitar in our family. As Danvurians growing up, we've all had cousins and uncles who try to emulate his style. From wearing bandanas, guayabera's and growing their hair long, I remember being a little kid and watching my uncles play the bongos, light up fatoljays and try to jam along to Santana alubums. No matter the occasion a Santana song can surely get a Danvur party started.

If you've ever attended a Danvur bar bq, party or bar, you know that Santana is a safe selection when playing music. The mere sound of "Oye Como Va!" playing will soften the hardest of Danvurians! Upon hearing this track, the Danvurian quickly goes into groove mode. When attending a Danvur Party, you can bet someone will slip in Santana's Greatest Hits (the CD with the African male holding a dove), this happens like clock work. Playing this CD will ensure everyone that the party is still live and will be for hours to come.

No matter what your music preference is, Santana is a way for all Danvurians to have a common ground. For instance, the music nazi friend who refuses to listen to anything mainstream, and will opt for more of the unattainable alternative sounds. Santana is a perfect ice breaker for this kind of music enthusiast, but of course the music nazi friend will most likely gravitate toward the more obscure Santana tracks like: "The Santana Brothers album."

Santana is a god to all Danvurians and remains an important force in the Danvurian culture. This is why Santana is the patron saint of DANVUR!

Oh Thank Haven fo Saven Elaven!

An easy way to blend into the Danvurian culture is learning how to speak the appropriate dialect. pronunciation and delivery is everything when socializing with Danvurians. One of the most common examples is pronouncing "E" like "A". For this brief exercise I will be using one of the most popular varieties of the Danvurian vocabulary, The word "Denver". Taking the "e" sound in Denver and changing it to the "a" sound gives you "Danver", that's it! I will now use "Danver" in a simple sentence:
"Psssh, it gets "Allcold" in Danver, spashly in tha winner!"
Notice I used a Danvurism from a previous lesson, the compound werd; "Allcold". I also took out the "t" in winter and completely butchered the word "especially". These are more advanced words and will be taught in future posts.

This concludes our Danvurism lesson for the day. Make no mistake, under the laid back demeanor of the Danvurian lies a complex human being that is yet to be fully understood or studied. Deciphering their vocabulary is the first step in understanding the life of the Danvurian!

Danvurisms: PSsssh, i'm ALL~tired! PsssH, i'm ALL~hungry! Psssh, i'm ALL~pissed!

It's a known fact that Danvurians love to get their point across by means of persuasive authority at an unnecessary volume . Even with everyday activities the Danvurian can always turn a simple day at the DMV into a full fledged adventure. If you happen to engage in casual conversation with a Danvurian make sure your experiences DO NOT overshadow their experiences. Whatever you have been through, could never come close to what the Danvurian has experienced. This is when the simple word "ALL" comes into play as part of the Danvurian vocabulary.

(All: b : having or seeming to have in conspicuous excess or prominence)
ALL is a very powerful word used by the Danvurian to create emphasis on the subject. To a Danvurian ALL in conjunction with an adjective, makes up an extensive list of compound words that only Danvurians can decipher. For instance if you are hungry you simply say: "I am hungry!" but a Danvurian will express themselves a little differently, for example: "I am ALLhungery!"
At this point you can't possibly be as hungry as the Danuvrian, by placing ALL in front, the Danvurian automatically has the upper hand and become a lot hungrier than you. A Danvurian isn't just tired, the Danvurian is "ALLtired!" We all want to drive our point across, but make no mistake, the Danvurian will always win in a battle of over-emphasis!

Danvurians love phở soup!

Phở, a Vietnamese dish that includes flat, rice noodles, beef broth, and is often served with basil, lime, bean sprouts and peppers. With French and Chinese influences, the word phở comes from the French feu (fire), the French method of adding charred onions to broth, which separates phở from other Asian noodle soups.

In the late 1970's, as Chicano Danvurians in the inner city, we grew up enjoying the Vietnamese culture. I remember going to my friends house to eat delicious Vietnamese cuisine prepared by his mother and sister. In return I would bring my friend over to my house for taco's de lengua and menudo. But nothing could prepare a Danvurian for the love of phở! As Danvurians grew into the pubescent stages, more and more phở restaurants popped up in the surrounding Denver areas. Eventually Danvurians were introduced to the phở soup in astounding numbers. Like menudo is to us Danvur Chicanos, phở is to the Vietnamese Americans. So now that Danvurians have exposed their pallets to foods other than tex-mex and burgers, phở has become a fan favorite in todays Danvur communities.