Everything We Know About Denver

Yay! West Elm is open in Denver. It is across from Neiman’s on 1st across from Cherry Creek Mall - old Tattered Cover location. I was having a hard time hunting down their store info, so here it is: 303.320.1001, Fillmore Place. Reported last November here, and now confirmed here and here.

Looking for some fun summertime ideas that are a little out of the ordinary? Here are a few for you:

Venice on the Creek - June thru August, take a Gondola-esque tour of the Cherry Creek (often mistaken with the Platte). Open in the evenings for a historical boat ride or a candlelight romantic ride. Should run you about $30 for an hour. Check the site to make reservations.

Check out a free concert at Confluence Park on 15th and Platte. Usually the park has free movie night as well - but in 08 is suspending flicks for the DNC. Check back in 09 for River Flicks!

Visit Denver’s drive in theater! The 88 drive in (Cinderella City Drive in was closed last year ) Call 303-287-7717 for showtimes or visit their site. Here are directions.

See a movie at the Red Rocks Amphitheater - Film on the Rocks 2008. Schedule TBD at this time.

More to be added soon!

“I love Paris in the springtime! I love Paris in the fall! Why? Oh, Why? Do I love Paris?”. I wouldn’t go to Paris to have the best cup of coffee or a beautiful view of the Platte River. It has neither. The service is not really that great either, you’re lucky if the waiter comes back to your table more than twice. But why do I love Paris so much? It is truly a coffeehouse. Meant for gatherings and conversation with friends or a place to be completely left alone (including by the staff). It is loud and one of the greatest places to people watch, currently a lot of emo teenyboppers are around and a nice grouping of techie adults (is techie a word?) And well, this could be a downer for some, but you can smoke inside there (ps. recently the front room became non-smoking). If you’re wondering about that they became a cigar bar so its legal to smoke there. As a non-smoker I buck it up go because there aren’t many places where they could care less how long you sit there, use the internet for free, that stays open till 2am, annnnnd has some of the best sandwiches in town. That’s the secret about this place… de li cious fooood! Homemade hummus, salsa, pastries, cakes, sandwiches, and pizzas. Seriously great sandwiches. I personally like their tuna melt and veggie melt, and some kind of eggplant sandwich too. Oh yah, they also have milkshakes which are pretty tasty. If you also are nearby in the AM, they do a breakfast burrito to-go, also tasty. It’s not busy in the mornings and its quiet then too. And if the smoking really gets to you the own the attached wine bar called Paris Wine Bar. No smoking, no coffee, same food, lots of wine! Smaller more intimate. Both places are great…so check it out the sandwich is worth it…so is the atmosphere there is nothing like it Denver.

Wondering about those crashed cars parked around Denver with caution tape around them? I’ve sighted one at Coors Field and one at Market Street station so far.  It’s part of a seat-belt campaign in Denver.  Buckle up people!

Fresh fashion market is this weekend on May 10th at the Oriental Theater, noon to 7 p.m.  B. Shigley spearheads these once a quarter - this being Spring’s market. It’s a gathering of local designers you can shop from or just stop by to check out.  Fashion shows included.  Each market benefits a non-profit (this one goes to Dress for Success) and costs $5 admission.

Doors Open Denver is an opportunity to see 150 years of Denver Architecture dispersed throughout the city. This Saturday and Sunday (April 12th and 13th) from 10 am to 4 pm. Just stop by Union Station as early as 8:30 am on either day an register for one of 28 guided tours or get info to take a self-guided tour or an urban adventure (also self-guided but themed). More info on Doors Open Denver 2008 here.

I’m particularly excited about this event because Denver is not exactly pictured as a design center or city full of architechtural marvels. I’m an avid reader of Dwell and the only denver mention I’ve seen in the past two years is this one. I’d love to see Denver more “on the map” as a design center. Events like this are step in that direction - so go out and check out your surroundings, and support Doors Open Denver - after all, it’s free!

Other event-related Denver links to check out:
Colorado AIA
ASID Colorado
Colorado Landscape Architects
Colorado Homes & Lifestyles Mag

After the Derby Party on Saturday, I just couldn’t let the night end. So, naturally, post-after party I went to Earl’s followed by some real Denver gems including the Skylark and The Rock Bar.

At the Skylark Lounge (140 S. Broadway), we listened to some Johnny Cash covers by A Band Named Sue & Truckers Daughter downstairs in the dimly lit back booth, and then headed upstairs to hear a serious assortment of tunes surrounded by pool tables and the Roller Derby girls after party. This is a place that everyone should check out if you are in the Broadway area.

Next, my love the Rock Bar.  Dubbed Westword’s best new club 07, this Colfax bar has the variety you’ll love. Located at 3015 E. Colfax (Colfax and Milwaukee) at the front of the All Inn Motel. Some really great comments on it here. Best part: in an extremely ghetto hotel for those nights you just feel like really living it up, cheapish drinks, good crowd (variety - of people and music - which can be hard to come by in Denver). Worst: nasty bathrooms, can get a bit cancun-y sticky feeling in there.

So this weekend was Derby Party ‘08 at the Denver Botanic Gardens and it was fabulous — fabulous in the way only a bunch of Denverites dressed up in seersucker suits and garden dresses can be.

It was my second time to go, and compared to last year’s festivities the weather was warmer, the hats were more impressive and the day went by even faster. I thought everyone stepped up their game when it came to their outfits and was impressed with the millinery creations. Next year I think I’ll do feathers, and Holly promised she’ll incorporate a bird’s nest somehow.

The horse I picked didn’t win and mint juleps were conspicuously absent (I may not have been trying the right bartenders.) Other than that the day was a success. The sold-out event benefited the Sean ‘Ranch’ Lough Memorial Scholarship Fund.

We hit up one of two official post parties at Max Gill and Grill, which provided shuttles to and from. While a departure from the fancier fare of the restaurant, I’m pretty sure I ate one of the best burritos I’ve ever had. Of course, I might need to verify this in the light and clarity of day sometime. But it was yummy.

If you get a chance to go to next year’s event, make sure you do it!

Real.Ideal says: I concur with Court, with some additions. First of all, I bet on horse 5 - sadly, Eight Belles was my horse who got put down. This was a definite downer on the event. All the same, the Derby was fabulous - and great weather which wasn’t expected. The highlight of the event for me was HB rolling down the grass hill in her derby dress. But that’s just me. While last year’s Derby was a unique experience due to the mojito’s and mint juleps (this year I have to say the wine was a little to bad to be drinking all day and the champagne ran out to quick) - the event was still fantastically put together. Loved the Derby themed music and the botanical gardens was a great venue once again. Kudos to the Sean Lough foundation once again for another successful Derby. Can’t wait for Derby Party 2009!

Great post that a friend sent me today about free days in Denver from A mom in the burbs. If you know of more, feel free to add it in the comments.

2008 free days!
Denver Zoo
2300 Steele St. , Denver, 303-376-4800

Monday, January 14
Saturday, January 26
Thursday, January 31
Thursday, February 14
Tuesday, October 7
Saturday, October 18
Sunday, November 2
Sunday, November 9

Denver Art Museum,
100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver, 720-865-5000
The art museum is free the first Saturday of every month:
Saturday, January 5
Saturday, February 2
Saturday, March 1
Saturday, April 5
Saturday, May 3
Saturday, June 7
Saturday, July 5
Saturday, August 2
Saturday, September 6
Saturday, October 4
Saturday, November 1
Saturday, December 6

Denver Botanic Gardens,
1005 York St., Denver, 720-865-3500
Monday, Jan. 21 (Martin Luther King Day)
Monday, February 18 (Presidents’ Day)
Monday, March 17
Tuesday, April 22 (Earth Day)
Monday, July 21
Saturday, September 27
Saturday, October 18

Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield,
8500 Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton, 303-973-3705
Friday, January 4
Friday, February 1
Friday, March 7
Friday, April 4
Friday, May 2
Friday, June 6
Friday, August 1
Friday, October 3
Friday, November 7
Friday, December 5

Denver Center for the Performing Arts,
1101 13th St., Denver, 303-893-4000
“Our House ” January 10 · 6:30 p.m. · Space Theatre
“Lydia” January 17 · 6:30 p.m. · Ricketson Theatre
“Plainsong” January 24 · 6:30 p.m. · Stage Theatre
“Gee’s Band” March 13 · 6:30 p.m. · Space Theatre
“The Merry Wives of Windsor” March 20 · 6:30 p.m. · Stage Theatre
“Doubt” April 3 · 6:30 p.m. · Ricketson Theatre
“3 Mo’Divas” May 8 · 6:30 p.m. · Stage Theatre

Denver Museum of Nature & Science ,
2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, 303-322-7009
Wednesday, January 16
Sunday, April 20
Saturday, May 3
Wednesday, June 25
Wednesday, August 13
Sunday, September 7
Wednesday, October 22
Sunday, December

Project Angel Heart is a Denver organization that promotes the health, dignity and self-sufficiency of people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses by providing nutritious, home-delivered meals with care and compassion. I’ve volunteered for the organization before, driving around town to deliver food to their recipients.

Tonight, May 1st, is the night to Dine out for Life and support Project Angel Heart through participating restaurants. 25% of your meal price goes to the organization.