Smugs Shutters Temporarily

The local DU watering hole Smugs, formerly known as Fagan's, has closed, allegedly for major renovations to its sewer and plumbing lines. Anyone who has spent time in the bar knows that it has that funky bad sewer smell, so we are glad they are sprucing the old girl up. Temporarily

R.I.P. Rocky Mountain News

They say newspapers don't close, they die. As such, Mrs. P's Friday plans include hosting an Irish wake for the Rocky Mountain News, the city's oldest newspaper, which today has been laid to rest by Scripps Howard. Since the Rocky was born in bar, it only seems fitting that visitation will begin at 5 p.m. at Smugs (formerly Fagan's) on Evans and Downing. Smugs has a great happy hour, so this should be an affordable au revoir for all concerned.

Kudos to the Rocky for the great farewell issue, particularly to Ed Stein's great cartoon, The End. http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/stein/

Sigh. We knew the end was coming, but it still feels like a kick in the gut.

Now we'll see if the Denver Post can step up to the plate. There are a lot of Rocky loyalists out there who despise the Post and some journalism pundits question whether the Denver Post can capture even 20% of Rocky readers. We certainly would have preferred to see the Post pick up more Rocky reporters and fewer columnists, but who are we to question the wisdom of Dean Singleton. Ahem.