VZ City Guides: Denver, CO

By Alysse Dalessandro
Published: June 17th, 2009 | 9:15am

Nicknames: The Mile High City, Queen City of the Plains

Population: 2.8 million, Denver Metro Area

Happening ‘Hoods: Capitol Hill, Highlands, South Broadway

This rockin’ city, nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains with an elevation of one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level, recently played host to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Denver is also home to indie bands Dressy Bessy and DeVotchKa, mainstream rockers The Fray, and (perhaps most importantly) the oh-so addicting Chipotle. Although South Park, Colorado is not quite as entertaining in real life, you can catch lots of Denver references on the Comedy Central show. And though you may only know it as the city that legalized marijuana possession in 2005, Venus Zine will show you why Denver is high on our list.

Dates:
People in the Denver area love to be outdoors, and who wouldn’t, with their purported 300 days of sunshine? In late June, the historic and trendy northwest neighborhood, Highlands, hosts a summer street fair now in its twenty-seventh year. The fair is a chance to sample music, cocktails, food, and, arts and crafts vendors. Get to know this colorful neighborhood while supporting local business.

The Underground Music Showcase held in July transforms the already awesome boutiques, bars, and venues of the South Broadway neighborhood into an all day musical stage. Some bands strip down their traditional five-piece sound and opt for acoustic performances to fit the boutique’s ambiance. This festival is a true showcase of the rich Denver music scene.

After a summer of festivals, it is time to get drinking and Coloradoans are serious about their hops and barley. In the fall, beer enthusiasts from across the country can celebrate by sampling more than 1,800 beers at the Great American Beer Festival at the Colorado Convention Center.

Sights:
Denver may not have a lot of cheesy double-decker bus tours to see the sights, but adventurous visitors who want to get around the city can opt for a bike ride or a scenic walk along the Cherry Creek Bike Trail. Meandering for 15 miles along Cherry Creek, this trail takes you through some of Denver’s most popular neighborhoods. If you run into bike troubles, stop off at Salvagetti for helpful service close to the trail.

When it comes to art, you can continue to bask in the sun because Denver is home to many public art pieces. From the demon red-eyed Bronco near the Denver International Airport to the broom and dustpan in front of the Denver Art Museum, these pieces stand out — though not always in a good way. Take advantage of photo ops with these awesomely (ahem) “unique” works of art.

Denver’s outdoor venues put a new spin on the drive-in movie. At Red Rocks amphitheate r , the Film of the Rocks series brings together music and film. A flick under the starts in the mountains makes an unbeatable summer night.

Fare:
When it comes to Denver dining, you can eat for a cause or simply stuff your face. For breakfast, Roast Italian Diner and Coffee House in Englewood serves up sweet and savory American basics with an authentic Italian twist. Lunch can have a purpose at Café Options where 100 percent of the proceeds benefit Work Options for Women, which trains women to be chefs. SAME Café is a non-profit restaurant based on the “pay what you can afford” model with a lunch menu in daily rotation.

Denver is known to put the “hip” in hippies so, of course, there are some fantastic vegetarian restaurants, including our pick, Watercourse Foods. From tempeh chorizo to buffalo tofu, this is animal-free indulgence at its finest. Capitol Hill’s City, O’ City is the accompanying vegan bakery/coffeehouse and bar. Mercury Café is a quintessential Bohemian hangout and restaurant that hosts poetry nights twice a week, but if you’ve looking for organic upscale dining and a neat day-trip destination, check out Sunflower in nearby Boulder.

True to its Western location, Colorado puts its own flair on Mexican. Tacos Jalisco serves up free chips with four salsas including a special creamy avocado salsa. And if you can possibly make room for dessert, visit Highland’s Little Man Ice Cream.

Nights:
South Broadway’s Hi-Dive only opened in 2003, but has a certain historic feel. Owners Matt and Allison LaBarge are Brooklyn transplants who, upon landing in the Mile High, decided to create a hip spot to make them feel at home. Their venue now brings in some of the best musical acts while also offering a little of everything from karaoke to movie screenings. Next door sits Sputnik — restaurant by day, bar by night. In addition to crafty cocktails like The Communist Daughter Martini, they feature nightly events including Monday Bingo with the founder of Fashion Denver, Brandi Shigley.

The Meadowlark hosts Disco Nouveau every second Friday of the month. With DJs Tyler Snow and Mike Disco spinning their vinyl record collections, dancers can shake it in this intimate underground spot. The mood is psychedelic — reminiscent of the underground dance scene circa 1970s New York.

If you can’t decide what you want in your nightlife venue, how about something a little unconventional? Rhinoceropolis, one of the best underground venues in the city, fuses music, dancing, and art all into one night.

Merch:
For Denver shopping, follow your animal instincts. The must-visit spot in South Broadway is Fancy Tiger, which has both a boutique of handmade goods as well as a craft store across the street. The collective hosts a free craft night every Tuesday and a local designer showcase the first Friday of every month.

The Safari Seconds thrift store has a bit of everything and even hosts a free giveaway on the last Friday of every month. With proceeds benefiting refugee resettlement through the African Community Center of Denver, there is no reason not to show this thrift store some love. For vintage, check out the well-organized selection at Boss Vintage or brave the plastic skeletons at Flossy McGrew’s where treasures (like that hot pink beehive wig you’ve been scrounging for) are buried in disorganization.

You may know Wax Trax! Records as the now defunct record label out of Chicago, but the still-thriving record store first showed its face in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The legendary store offers an extensive collection of music and specializes in vinyl and obscure 45s – like that copy of “Rocky Mountain High” you’ve always wanted.

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If there is a special city you'd like to see, or a killer hot spot we somehow overlooked in this guide, email VZ City Guides editor, Erica Phillips, at cityguide (at) venuszine (dot-com).

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JohnWenzel (over 2 years)
Nice piece, Alysse! Thanks for the mention of The Denver Post's annual South Broadway music fest July 23-26. Just one nit-picky note, though: It's actually called the Underground Music Showcase (as opposed to Festival). Hope to see you there!