DIA 🍺🌲☀️🏔✨

Apr 17, 2014
5 min read

It was such an amazing sight flying over the Rocky Mountain range. Though, it was also a bit strange, to be surrounded by land on all sides. When I touched down, I took an Uber directly to my Airbnb. Upon arriving in the neighborhood of West Colfax, I noticed I could still see the mountains. There were not many tall buildings downtown or here, so the mountains, beautifully, would always be visible. I met the host and her sweet dog, Bella. She showed me to my room and gave me a house tour. I took a quick shower and sat in the sun in the backyard on the hammock. While planning out my evening, two other guests came outside and began turning on the grill and making conversation. They invited me to join them, I happily did. We all ate together and being Denver, we smoked a joint. God bless you, Colorado. I decided to start where I usually do, Downtown. West Colfax is about a half an hour via public transportation from Downtown Denver. In my opinion, no matter the city you're traveling to, chances are Downtown/City Centres will be a great place to start. Prices will never be ideal directly in any city. You find more cost-effective activities, food, & drink when you move away from city center and explore.

Waking up on the first day, there was light snow in place of dew outside. It was a bit disappointing, it being Spring Break and you know, the whole being out West thing. There were giant flakes, but not enough to stick. Within an hour or so the sun was out and the snow was gone. Later as the week progressed it got hotter & hotter. It was so nice for the change in weather. I got to lay out, drink a beer in the sun, get a little color on my high yella 😂. The city really is mile high. The altitude did get to me at some points. It was while hiking or reaching the top of a flight of stairs, or while drinking you seem to get drunker quicker.

In Lower Downtown, LoDo if you're cool 😎, it’s so awesome! I adored the architecture. Some of the buildings had more than likely been old factories. I love that old industry city feeling. Especially when its maintained well and somehow matches the modern building nearby. Do you see that old red brick next to that modern hurricane-wind withstanding glass? Gorgeous, Take a look:

*Top photo was taken on the platform at Union Station, the bottom: a from below shot of the Rockies Stadium, & the middle an example shot of those rust brick buildings; taken on Wynkoop St.

I also visited the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art. There, I saw one of my favorite pieces by Barbara Kruger. I also saw a small but lovely Georgia O’Keefe. These women are two of my favorite artist. Shout out to you, IB/International Baccalaureate Programme.

There was even a Keith Haring I hadn't seen before.

The art was even on the streets, and in the canal ways. I don't believe in a city who only keeps art under lock and key in a museum.

As for eats in Denver, I am not too sure how to go about this. Popping in and out or a few bar/restaurants and review a couple of menus online, I noticed something. Denver seemed to be more concerned with crafting beers than menus. There wasn't any very outstanding on any menu. A lot of basic or home-cooked meals. I hit Trader Joe's, one of my favorite places. There not being one for miles in Buffalo, I got a few things. When I did eat out, it was Einstein Bro. Bagels for breakfast. (They have an awesome cinnamon sugar bagel that is great toasted with cream cheese. ) For lunch or dinner, I had bar flair. The only impressive thing I ate out at a brewery/restaurant was at Breckenridge Brewery, Downtown. It was warm goat cheese in herbed olive oil served with toasted crostini. In addition to this the green chili at Dive Bar, which is exactly what it sounds like. It was my favorite place for drinking. It had cheap drinks, all locals, and a boat complete with diving equipment in the middle of the place.

My other favorite well to drink in was a place in LoDo called The 1UP. If you're a gamer, you know what’s coming next. I’m talking any game you grew up playing. This place had Mortal Kombat, giant outdoor Jenga, Skeeball, Spyro, Mario Kart, Donkey Kong, and more. Like it got real nostalgic in there. I’m always interested in things I find in bar bathrooms. I liked this a lot, kind of reminded me of the Old Pink in Allentown, Buffalo.

As for the lovely people of Denver... they purchase park passes, not beach passes like at home on Long Island. The entire time I was there, I saw about fifteen women not wearing a bra. There was no real fashion sense, I felt overdressed the entire time. There seems to be a huge tattoo culture here, everyone men and women alike are covered with them. All very well done. In short, Denver gives off a very hippie, eccentric, healthy lifestyle vibe to it. The culture is active lifestyles, dogs, art, and, BEER

I may be wrong, but it seems like the city is catering to beer lovers, not foodies. There were so many breweries and microbreweries, I could not keep count. I got the chance to go to a few: Breckenridge which is in Fort Collins. I took a $10 Bustang bus from Downtown. It took about an hour. They send postcards on site for free. Prost is a German beer-focused Brewpub also in Fort Collins. They were both my favorite. Apparently, Prost has a rooftop bar in their downtown Denver location that is sick. Wynkoop is another sweet brewpub in downtown Denver. Then there is Great Divide in LoDo. It's cool that the bars around the city sell the beers the local breweries make. I made the mistake of trying for a Riesling at a more upscale restaurant. Not a great idea. Denver is not for the winos of the world. It is more the Napa Valley of beers. Two additional places I did enjoy thoroughly were 1. Das Gee in West Colfax, near my Airbnb. It's a Korean BBQ place, that also offers hot pots. It was very reasonably priced. 2. was Los Chingones in Five Points. Hands down the best thing I ate out all week & the happy hour prices could not be beaten.

My favorite activity was climbing and hiking around the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. It was about an hour and fifteen minute drive from Downtown Denver. Here's me in action: