Feeling nostalgic? If you’ve spent more than a few decades in Denver, you might find yourself reminiscing about the old Denver of yore. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking about the people, places, and things you knew either while you were growing up or raising a family, you’re sure to remember most or all of the then-and-now mentions I’m about to make.

Dining

• The Organ Grinder pizza had a pipe organ in it, and showed movies on a screen.
• Casa Bonita–still there on Colfax, still awesome (except for the food).
• Jims Burger Haven on Federal in Thornton–the neighborhood has changed, but Jim’s hasn’t.
• The Yum Yum Tree, the Hungry Dutchman, and the Northwoods Inn–all long gone, except for the memories.

Entertainment

• Lakeside Amusement Park opened for its 100th season May 2nd, 2009–Some of the historical homes in Lakeside are being preserved, too.
• Big Mac Arena and Rainbow Music Hall–Replaced by newer, fancier venues with commercial names, no doubt.
• Celebrity Sports Center–Gone since 1994, it was one of Glendale’s more, um, wholesome forms of entertainment.

Shopping

• Villa Italia and Cinderella City–If you’ve ever wanted to live in a mall, now you can. Both of these are now real estate developments and full-fledged communities.

Other

• Cruising Colfax–Although you can probably still do it, you’re going to feel awfully lonely.
• The Daniels & Fisher tower–Still standing, although there’s no more May D&F there. Now the renovated tower hosts offices and lofts, and in the basement you can find Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret.
• Lowry Air Force Base–Now “Lowry” is a neighborhood and urban community.

Photo courtesy of Shankbone, under the Creative Commons license.