If you’ve read our blog for any length of time you’ve heard this from me before – ride your bike around Denver. It’s amazing how many recreational bike paths we have throughout the city and with the Building a Better Denver Bond Program we’ve seen repairs and additions that really make a difference. Cheesman Park has better pedestrian/bike flow and the Cherry Creek Greenway has a entirely new section between Holly and Monaco.
My clients buying homes in Denver often request to focus their home search in areas near recreation trails and in Denver we are lucky enough to have miles of trails that span the city. Trails often bypass busy intersections and that’s nice to get to the path and not have to worry about biking across busy streets and having attention focused on the obstacles of riding on the street. Bike maps are available online or in print to help cyclists navigate the trails of Denver.
Kim posted on Denver B-cycle Bike sharing which is a great idea if you don’t own a bike but want to get in the saddle. Just grab a B-cycle at one of the B-cycle stops and get on the Cherry Creek path or the Santa Fe River trail. Happy Cruising and I hope you’re making the most of your Denver summer, it’s not too late – there’s still 51 more summer days left to enjoy!
Loving Denver Life,
Vali Hooker
Even if you’re not a baseball fan, I highly recommend going to a Rockies game at Coors Field! I must admit that I hadn’t been to a Rockies game in a few years so I had forgotten how much fun it was and how many people were out and I really loved the energy that I felt as we were walking to the game. It’s addictive! If you’re on a budget, or just don’t want to pay a lot for tickets to a baseball game you can buy tickets for as low as $4.00 in the rockpile section. Based on past experience, the rockpile is a really fun and obnoxious section to sit to be prepared! Take the light rail down to Union Station so you don’t have to pay for parking or hop on a B-Cycle.
If you’re meeting up with friends or perhaps wanting to meet some new ones I recommend the patio at Lodo’s Bar and Grill or the Tavern Downtown but get there early if you want to get up on the rooftop deck…it’ll be packed! There are plenty of other great restaurants near the Stadium and another favorite of mine is the Chop House or Fado’s which are located just west of the stadium.
Loving life in Denver!
Kim Beethe Byerss
Rock Bottom Brewery in Downtown Denver
Head downtown for happy hour at Rock Bottom Brewery and stay for the free concert on the patio! That 80′s Band will be playing tonight and you like 80′s music, you’ll love this band! The patio opens at 4:00 and live music starts at 5:00. It’s a huge patio and don’t worry if you’re not a beer drinker, they offer a full bar and fabulous food! My favorite is the Asiago Cheese Dip appetizer. The patio is great this time of year even if there’s not a concert going on. You get to sit right out on the 16th Street Mall and people watch while you enjoy a great meal.
Here’s the schedule for the rest of the summer;
July 30th – That 80′s Band with Six Foot Joe and the Red Hot Rhinos
August 6th – Funkiphino with The Champions
August 13th – Soul Sacrifice with Beki Hemingway
August 20th – Hazel Miller with Pat Emerine (get there early because it’s sure to be a packed patio!)
August 27th – Xiren with Above Ground
Loving life in Denver!
Kim Beethe Byers
Yoga Night - August 3rd 2010
An evening full of heart-inspired yoga practice to live music that will revitalized you and put a smile on your face. August 3rd from 6 -8:30 PM at the Temple Events Center at 1595 Pearl St. in the Uptown neighborhood. A friend invited me to the last event and I went with an open mind and left amazed how energizing and fun it was to practice to live music with a community of more than 200 people. The evening is donation based that puts Karma yoga into action. The event hosted by Anahata Project on August 3rd will support Marley Vigdorth’s efforts to raise $20,000 for the non-profit, Off the Mat and Into the World, Global Seva Challenge. Marley will be raising the money for her travels to South Africa next year to join the fight on HIV/AIDS through the Seva Challenge.
The power of Denver’s yoga community is remarkable and completely alive during this event. Come enjoy your practice with other Denver yogis and yoginis. It starts at 6 Pm but doors open at 5 PM and I strongly suggest going early.
Loving Denver Life,
Vali Hooker
Green Spaces Colorado and Westword are teaming up to bring Denver a festival that celebrates LOCAL food, misic and culture in a sustainable way at the Green Route Festival. Saturday, August 28th from 2-9 PM on 26th St. between Blake and Larmier – Denver’s RiNo Art District (River North). Advance tickets are being sold now for $12/adult ($20 at the door) and kiddos under 12 are free. There will be Live painting, kid’s chalk area, fire dancing at dusk and Live Colorado music.
Sustainable food vendors include the vegetable oil/solar power run, Steuben’s Truck, the Steamin’ Daemon, City O’ City and Watercourse Foods’ brand new food cart. Oh, how I love Denver food carts! The food alone is reason enough to go to the Green Route Festival. But let’s talk about the music with a little Rock by The Rouge – Denver’s next band going big time. SOULAJU presents a mash up of progressive hip hop and Neo-Soul with world music influences. The day also features Air Dubai with a Hip Hop base that is merged with some drums, bass guitar and trumpet completing a eccentric sound that is uniquely their own.
Denver’s RiNo District has slowly progressed with lofts, shops and music/event venues. The Green Route Festival adds much to the zest of the RiNo neighborhood, an art district coming alive.
Loving Denver Life,
Vali Hooker
The "beach" at Confluence Park
I was shopping at REI yesterday and then ended up spending most of the afternoon walking around the neighborhood and Confluence Park. It was a gorgeous day and there were tons of people enjoying the park and the water. If you haven’t been to Confluence Park, you really need to go…it’s a little water oasis located in the midst of downtown, Lo-Hi and Riverfront Park neighborhoods.. You can oftentimes watch people kayaking down the Platt River or bring your own tube to have some fun in the rapids.
Sadly, the summer concerts are winding down but you still have time to go to the last one so check it out!
Loving life in Denver!
Kim Beethe Byers
One of the many works at Sipping n' Painting
The Lower Highlands neighborhood is already a top pick in Denver for great location, food and urban homes. And now it’s even more complete with the addition of a painting studio open to ALL people! Creativity is the theme of an evening at Sipping n’ Painting in Lohi. Artist or not you are invited to spend a few hours painting and sipping wine – don’t worry if you’ve never painted before, you’ll get step-by-step instructions. Sipping n’ Painting offers a ‘featured’ painting each night and guided instruction so that participants can create a work of art of their very own. Canvas, paints, brushes and aprons are all provided and once you’re finished you get to keep your masterpiece. Painters are also encouraged to paint what reflects their own tastes so if you have a different vision then you can paint that instead.
The atmosphere is relaxed with music and a good amount of time is given to work through each instructed step. The instructor will take a few minutes to demonstrate the step and then turn up the tunes and give time for each person to sip n’ paint. It’s great fun, even if you have no experience painting and it takes about 2 hours. Advance reservations are recommended and the studio is open at 6 PM Thursday and Friday and 4 PM on Saturday. The cost for the class, supplies and a glass of wine is $40 – what a steal for a unique evening. Please visit their website for the calendar of featured paints for each night and all the other important details for your night of fun.
Loving Denver Life,
Vali Hooker
