On The Inside at COLFAX CENTER DELI
1510 Humboldt St.,
303-830-7283

When you think of a deli, you probably think bankers and lawyers sitting around sterile circular tables with a fattening paper-wrapped hoagie in one hand and the Wall Street Journal in the other. This New York City tradition does have its certain charm, even out here on the dusty prairie, and there are dozens of delis downtown to fill your solo power munching needs. When you think of something called the Colfax Center Deli, however ... I don't know, maybe a sub-Subway yellow-and-beige underworld of mishandled meats and mystery vegetables ... something gross anyway.

Nothing could be further from either truth. The Colfax Center Deli is a clean well-lit place tucked behind Streets Of London Pub at 1510 Humboldt, serving up sandwiches as tasty as those downtown eateries, but with enough character to remind you that you're only a smoker's jog away from Colfax. With an inviting wood deck for outdoor summertime lunching, and a gracefully (if eclectically) appointed sitting room for those who actually enjoy time away from office, Colfax Center Deli provides an extremely comfortable environment for any lunch hour; here, you don't power lunch so much as power up. Conducting business here feels less like nuanced board room arm wrestling, and more like, well, a first date.

The hand-made sandwiches are delicious with detail, each item on the menu more carefully thought out than a PhD thesis. Sandwich artists Daniel Dufresne and Michael Roberts don't miss a trick. They've got your traditionals-- the "B.L.A.T." introducing avocado to the old bacon-lettuce-tomato bit, and the "Black-N-White" fusing bacon with egg salad over two types of bread. They've got your nutty Californian stuff-- the appropriately named "Boulder Boulder" contains, get this, pesto cream cheese, avocado, sprouts, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and basil mayonnaise. They've got your soups and salads-- the interior room is littered with old Campbell's paraphernalia, including a post-war cookbook and several fat little Campbell's cherubs smiling on the walls.

But most of all, they've got the specials. A deli lives and dies by its specials, and by that measure, Colfax Center is alive and thriving. Every day's surprise surpasses everything on the regular menu; one recent rainy day, they even had the gall to serve up plain old fried bologna and cheese, and damned if it wasn't the best fried bologna and cheese I've ever had.

Luckily, if you just can't get away from your conference table to enjoy the quaint space off a not-so-quaint street, they deliver. My recommendation: count the number of hungry people at your meeting, weed out the vegetarians, and order daily specials all around. If the food doesn't get ink on that multi-million-dollar contract, maybe you're just not as good as you think you are.

--Chris J. Magyar

The Colfax Center Deli is open weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm, and Saturdays from 10 am to 6 pm Delivery is available weekdays only from 10 am to 3 pm by calling 303-830-7283.

Fashion Clip

The buzz in fashion is revolving around summertime accessories. The economic woes might be hitting bottom lines in apparel, but accessories are red hot. Shoppers are using accessories to inexpensively update their wardrobes. Rhinestones, studs, as well as other edgy glamour adornments are ablaze in the world of sunshine accessories.

"Toe rings are traditionally a summer favorite," said Heather Oviatt of Pandora's Jewelry.

This season everything is shiny and sparkly-- even on feet-- and a sterling adjustable rhinestone toe ring costs just $6 at the store.

Definitely don't be caught dead this summer with a naked ankle. Ankle bracelets are being strung with everything from captured beads and frilly charms to tiny silver stars. Pandora's Jewelry has a good selection of these ankle ticklers available for just $5.

Crystal gem adhesive tattoos in butterfly, star shaped, and tribal band designs are going to stick around this summer, as well as an increased interest in garnet encrusted hair bands and barrettes.

Summer can't even simmer without breaking out the newest view in sunglasses. This season the Aviator takes on a new look in frameless, but glides on through the trend season with a continuation of last year's variegated lens color and shape. But true trendies are discovering, and loving, the unisex style of goggles.

"Goggles are available in lots of cool colors," said Stacey Megyesi of Pandora's. "Besides their fun, chrome and totally spacey."

"Summer is always a successful season for accessories," Oviatt said, "and this summer will be no exception."

Pandora's Jewelry is located between Grant and Sherman on 13th Avenue. The eight-year-old Pandora's is an essential visit when hunting for urban accessories and is stuffed full of affordable fashion accents for even the prissiest of style hungry Divas.

--Kity Ironton

Film Notes

Land of the free, home of the lawsuit. The American Italian Defense Association is suing the makers of the HBO television series "The Sopranos,"claiming the extremely popular cable TV series wrongly portrays all Italians as mobsters. The group is not seeking monetary damages or cancellation of the cable series, but rather a declaration that the show offends the dignity of Italian-Americans. (Kind of like how "Jackass" has to run a disclaimer that it offends the dignity of the human race.) The group is suing HBO's parent company, AOL/Time Warner, under the "individual dignity" clause of the Illinois Constitution.

William Hanna, who with partner Joseph Barbera created such classic cartoon characters as Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear and Tom and Jerry, died recently at the age of 90. The cause of death was not immediately known, but Hanna had been in declining health for the last few years. The Hanna/Barbera cartoon empire has recently enjoyed a renaissance thanks to programming on The Cartoon Network, but will probably always be best remembered for its classic output in the '50s and '60s.

In related cartoon news, production began in Australia in February on the live-action Scooby-Doo movie. The film stars Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, and Linda Cardellini as Velma. The movie is expected to be released in 2002.

Casting notes from all over: Director Kevin Smith has added Carrie Fisher, Shannen Doherty, and Tracey Morgan to the cast of Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, making it the first time that Carrie Fisher and the already-cast Mark Hamill have worked together since the Star Wars films; Ashley Judd will star in Warner Brothers' live-action Catwoman film; and a prequel to Beetlejuice is being considered, dealing with Beetlejuice's life before his death, though no word is out on whether Michael Keaton will reprise his role.

--Chris J. Magyar