Jonathan Phillips Photography » Capturing Life Through The Lens - Denver Based Photojournalistic Wedding, Portrait, Commercial and Event Photography

Denver’s Sensatia Cirque Cabaret at The Arch

September 13, 2023

A yellow brick building sits amidst the booming construction off of Walnut St. in the RiNo Arts District of Denver. Behind the doors that lead inside, not all is what it seems. The Arch is a Non +Plus Ultra event space, one of six in the Mile High City, that brings performances and events to culturally historic properties waiting to be redeveloped and The Arch has brought Sensatia Cirque Cabaret to entertain and titillate the masses for the next four weeks. As the name insinuates, the cabaret spectacle brings together show stopping songs and music, a bit of mystique with fire performance and contortionists and a bit of circus with aerialists and more in a intimate gathering space that feels like every seat in the house is perfect.

Denver Nuggets NBA Championship Rally at Civic Center Park

June 15, 2023

For the first time in the 47 year history of the Denver Nuggets, the team brought home the NBA Championship title. Needless to say, Nuggets fans and the city as a whole is excited. With the Game 5 win on Monday, the city celebrated the team with a parade and rally on Thursday, June 15. The parade started at Union Station and made it’s way through the city ending up at the Denver City and County Building with hundreds of thousands of fans descending upon Civic Center Park to watch their favorite team celebrate their historic win.

Travel in the United States: New Orleans, a City Steeped in Music and Soul

May 23, 2023

The city of New Orleans is mythical in stature. Anyone who has spent time within the confines of the Crescent City or maybe more appropriately, The Big Easy, knows that this city has a pulse all of its own and that pulse is steeped in the tss ti ti tss of jazz. One could roam the streets, not only of the French Quarter or Frenchman Street itself, but the city in its entirety and let your ears lead you on adventures of sounds, sights smells and tastes. Although massive crowds descend upon New Orleans for Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest, the city’s pulse remains the same throughout the year. Brass notes and guitar riffs drift out of doorways, the smell of po-boys and fresh seafood swirl on the gentle breeze, French, Spanish and Haitian architecture create a dazzling display of colorful and vibrant streets. Roll that all up and the base of N’awlins comes into view. Add in trips to some of the city’s must experience stops like Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral, beignets and coffee at Cafe Du Monde, strolling through the French Quarter, catching some live music on Frenchman Street, walking through the giant oaks covered in Spanish moss at City Park and you get some spice added to that base.

Denver’s Golden Triangle Creative District Spring Fling

April 22, 2023

Fundraising events are always fun and the best part is that they help with much needed money for good causes that help the community. The Golden Triangle Creative District encompasses Denver’s downtown area including the Colorado Capitol Building, Civic Center Park, the Denver Art Museum, the U.S. Mint Museum as well as over 500 other businesses and open spaces that brings the neighborhood to be internationally recognized as a celebrated arts and culture destination by encouraging urban revitalization, economic development, and support for community creatives. To continue this initiative and grow into one of the best places to travel to, the district puts on their Spring Fling, a fundraiser complete with music, food, a silent auction, an appearance by mayoral candidate Kelly Brough and a chance to rub elbows with some of the community’s influential.

2023 Colorado Rockies Baseball Home Opener at McGregor Square

April 7, 2023

Baseball is back for the year and the Colorado Rockies home opener was April 6th meaning thousands of baseball fans descended into the city of Denver and Coors Field. McGregor Square hosted a pre party for Rockies fans with food and drink, a photo booth, cattle branded baseballs and a live pre-game broadcast from the newscasters at KOA.

2023 High West Oyster Fest at the Velvet Elk Lounge in Boulder, Colorado

March 26, 2023

The High West Oyster Fest has been around in some form since 1998, when Big Red F Restaurant Group and Jax Fish House founder Dave Query started an oyster eating competition. Now is has evolved into a charity event that includes not only an oyster eating competition, but a shucking competition, an all-you-can-eat extravaganza and an all around great time. Shuckers were required to present 12 opened bivalves, with points awarded for speed, presentation and quality (contestants were docked for mangled meat and shell fragments). Oyster eaters attempted to down as many of the slippery suckers as possible in 90 seconds; past winners have averaged more than one per second and first place this year took down 112 oysters in that short amount of time. This year, proceeds from the event went to help the Rise Against Suicide foundation which helps provide mental health services to at-risk teenagers. All in all, 5,500 or so oysters were shucked and consumed during the four hour event at the Velvet Elk Lounge in Boulder.

Celebrating Chamblee

March 2, 2023

With a small town feel and a large city food scene, the city of Chamblee sits just inside the perimeter of Atlanta in Dekalb County. The former rail town has transformed into a progressive and vibrant international city, bordered by the famed Buford Highway corridor, abound with Asian and Hispanic food and culture from a multitude of countries, as well as Peachtree-Dekalb Airport, the second largest in the state of Georgia. Home to nine beautiful parks and a destination for antique store lovers, the downtown district is a thriving business community with a unique sense of entrepreneurship and optimism that is a cultural mecca.

2022 Events Wrap Up

February 3, 2023

If there is one thing I can say about Denver is that there is always something happening around town. The Mile High City boasts events year-round and 2022 was no different than normal. From city-sponsored picnics for employees to free outdoor movies at the Denver Performing Arts Complex to a multitude of arts festivals all around town, Denver has it all. So much in fact that certain events like the German Christkindl Market and McGregor Square have separate posts encompassing many days and nights worth of photography all on their own. So whether you’re a Denverite or one of the millions of visitors who come each year, I’m sure 2023 will have just as many, if not more, awesome experiences in store.

City Spirit Luncheon at Civic Center Park:

Cheesman Park Art Festival:

Sunset Cinema at the Denver Performing Arts Complex:

Mother Cabrini Shrine’s Fundraising Gala:

1940s WWII Era Ball:

And because I travel extensively for work I had the opportunity to photograph the Rio Grande Art Festival which coincides with the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico every year…

Denver’s 2022 German Christkindl Holiday Market

February 2, 2023

The Christkindl Market in Denver has come and gone, celebrating the season and spirit of the holidays! From right before Thanksgiving until right before Christmas eve, Civic Center Park has been transformed into a wonderful German holiday market to shop, drink, eat and get into the festive season. For 22 years the Christkindl Holiday Market has been celebrating all things Christmas with a German twist. Craving some gluvine (hot spiced wine)? Or some stout beer? Or hand crafted ornaments, garments and toys? The market has you covered.

Want to hear some live music? Members of Denver Symphony Orchestra have been spotted up on stage in years past. So have polka bands, accordionists, and some local celebrities such as the mayor, radio personalities and newscasters. Hungry? There are plenty of authentic German food vendors serving salmon, sausages, and so much more.

You get the idea….

For those of you who are wondering what is a Christkindl I can be of some help. In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and other countries of that region the Christkindl is literally translated as the Christ Child but thought of more as a sprite like child usually depicted with blonde hair and angelic wings, dressed in white. The Christkindl ushers in the holiday season with the help of St. Nicolas who, on December 6th, brings presents to children in the same way Santa Claus visits on Christmas Eve. The market is regularly visited by the Christkindl, as well as St. Nicholas and Krampus.

2022 McGregor Square Wrap Up

February 1, 2023

McGregor Square, right next door to the Colorado Rockies’ Coors Field and just a couple of blocks from Union Station, is a hot spot when it comes to fun events in downtown Denver. Throughout the year, the square puts on silent discos, themed parties, cornhole tournaments, movie nights, game watches, ice skating, Santa sightings and one of the best New Years Eve parties in the city. Take a scroll through some of the best 2022 had to offer…

The Throwdown Cornhole Tournament: