My assigned muse was unavailable this week due to a long-foretold vacation, and the gods were unable to find coverage for her. As I understand it, they’ve been struggling with scheduling issues for the last few eons, and I’m on the free starter plan so I both don’t get that many sparks and don’t have priority muse access. (I was offered Terpsichore and Urania, but while they’re both great at what they do they really aren’t helpful for newsletters.) Which is to say, this week there is no weepingly sentimental or fun or overly long intro. I’m considering upgrading my plan, but in the meantime please know (or remember) that I love you and am grateful for you and that I’m wishing you well, or that I probably would if we ever met.

—Ivan

Happenings

This week:

Creative Writing Workshop: Thresholds, Monday, April 6

(Already passed, but as usual I’m leaving it in for the record)

Once again: 90 minutes of lightly directed writing around a theme. For the fourth workshop, our theme is Thresholds.

The theme will be explored through a series of prompts, and we’ll have progressively more time to respond to each. At the end of the night, we’ll have the chance (though not the requirement) to share.

Note that this workshop is not for feedback or editing—the purpose is to generate new writing.

Bring yourself and something to write with.

$10, free for members

Too late to join, but you can wonder about the next one →

Weekly Wednesday Worknight, Wednesday, April 8

The Company is about combining creative work with good friendships. Make an appointment with your side project this (or any) Wednesday at a Worknight, where we oscillate between enforced, focused, quiet time and optional chatty social time.

$5, free for Company and Moonlight members

Work together →

Future Weeks:

Glint: Boundary, Tuesday, April 14

True, personal stories, told live, without notes. Pretty much exactly like The Moth, except without the competition, on Tuesdays instead of Fridays, and everyone knows each other (or is about to). Our next theme is “Boundary“.

Have you ever been at the edge of something? Have you ever had to set a boundary? Have you ever broken one? Have you been stopped from something? Have you pushed past? Have you found belonging? Felt excluded? Have you ever gone away? Have you discovered your limits, crossed a threshold, have you transcended yourself? Whatever your interpretation, we want to hear it.

Come hear from me, Madeleine, Anjali, Morgan, Megan, Omar, Derek, Lauren T. Christof, and Ryan, or join the list to tell your own story.

$10, or free for tellers and members.

Make it to the end →

In the Making, Thursday, April 23

A show and tell for original, amateur, creative works in progress. Each presenter has 10 minutes to spend however they choose (any mix of presenting, Q&A, workshopping, getting feedback).

We’ve got three slots left for presenters, so sign up using Whiteboard or reply if you’re interested!

$10, or free for members and presenters

Make an appearance →

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Also coming up: Creative Code Denver (April 20), Prom (April 25), Mary Ann’s Book Club: Invisible Women (April 27), PowerPoint Party No. 38 (May 2), Creative Writing Workshop: Wonder (May 4)

Nostalgia

Do you remember our hike to REI? How our walk along the river was prevented by the mysterious giant pipes?

Or the night of the tiny bookclub? How I ate so many snacks before we departed?

The day of Norton’s move? How we explored the basement again, and listened for footfalls, and watched the movers unload his belongings?

How recess that day got us caught in the rain?

The heavy news and the hug resupply? How we held court indoors because of the rain? How you weren’t planning on having those feelings?

Or our post-work, pre-salsa visit to Tony P’s? How we talked about what we were each carrying, and it was enough?

The big Friday? How it was loud, and there was networking, and lunch, and then it was full but quiet?

Do you remember the PowerPoint Party? The credentials, the talk of space, and passion, and people and things and gardens often overlooked? How we drifted over to bartaco, and then to sleep?

Bureaucratic Minutiae

• Norton now lives beneath The Company! While our hours of operation have not changed, we now have a better relationship with our downstairs neighbor.
• As noted in last issue, Sabrina finished deep cleaning all of the floors! On behalf of all those who lick our floors, we are so, so grateful.
• Mary Ann’s Book Club rated North Woods 4.56 stars.
• At Worknight: Jessica S. investigated inventory adjustments and sent forms; Ryan created 3 new templates; Case discussed Cyborg Camp with Management and worked on onboarding Microsoft vendor; Ivan taught Madeleine how to use Notion; Camden completed test method drafts; Mary Ann [redacted] and readied Ridwell recycling; Livvy planned to ask her parents for a favor; and Madeleine learned how to use Notion.
• At PowerPoint Party No. 37: Dan changed our perspective on symbols, Becky seeded a curiosity about moon trees in our minds, McKenna told us about many different aspects of film, Mark explored the wisdom of a fluffy mind, MiCaela gave us dating advice, Michelle took us to a very strange restaurant, Lauren corrected a grievous oversight, Harrison taught us a good deal of insider baseball, Gabby exegeted the Bad Bunny halftime show, Marissa tried to convince us to invest in real estate for imaginary beings, Jacob told us about what he knows about how we know things about space, and Alex reported his findings and reflections on observing the observations of his dog.

• We have a time clock. Partially because, hey, we’re a Company! And mostly because we love having a physical record of (almost) everyone who’s been in the space. People punch in and out when they visit. At the end of each month, we stack up all the cards by visit count in the Fibonacci sequence. Here’s the data for March 2026:

  1 visit: 60 people
  2 visits: 20 people
  3–4 visits: 8 people
  5–7 visits: 10 people
  8–12 visits: 5 people
  13–20 visits: 4 people
  21+ visits: 2 people

  Total people: 109
  People who came more than once: 49

  Other notes:

  • Thanks to Alex for help numbering and sorting punch cards this month.
  • There are two suspiciously similar Matts in the first 1 column, but they punched in and out at different times on the same night. 🕵️‍♀️
  • Norton has a card again. 🥲
  • This was one of the rare months in which the visitors in the 5+ column exceeded the visitors in the 3+ column. The only other months in which this has occurred are February and November of 2025.
  • Note: We don’t generally record visitors to Cuppa if they are only stopping in for Cuppa. Many people came through the space that are not represented here!
  • Inevitably: incomplete and messy data.

• Finally, a reminder that The Company is a member-supported gathering place, and if you know any of us, you’re welcome to pop in any time for free (outside of events). If you know that one of us is here and you’d like to come by, reach out and we can let you in.

Photos

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This issue of Paperwork was written by Ivan, and was shot by Ivan, Livvy, Jessica S., Beth, Madeleine, and Allyson. Photo selection and editing by Ivan and Jessica S. Editorial support was provided by Livvy. This issue, and The Company itself, was made possible by the support of our members, Halie, Drew J., Justin, Mason, José, Mary Ann, Trevr, Allyson, Lizzie, Elijah, Michelle, Jim, Jacob, Mark, Sabrina, Beth, Dani, Chris, Will, Marcia, Rebeca, Sarah, Alex, Jessica P., Jessica S., Ben, Sam Ad., Christof, Ryan, Lauren T., Madeleine, Simon, Adam B., Gus, Lauren S., Earl, Maddie, and Bennett.

Do you know anyone in the Denver area who might be looking for creative community? Feel free to forward this email along to them. Everyone loves Paperwork.

😘