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Ordinarily Extraordinary Denver

by Rich Rubin
Denver, Colorado Skyline

In many ways (you’ll see later why this is the ultimate compliment) it’s just an ordinary city, and that’s perhaps the thing I love best about it.

Rich Rubin

DENVER Resources

LODGING 

The Art, a Hotel, 1201 Broadway. Tel: 303-572- 8000. Doubles $200-$375. Right in the Golden Triangle Museum district, with sleekly fashionable rooms (many with great views). www.thearthotel.com

Clayton Members Club and Hotel, 233 Clayton St. Tel: 303-551-1600. Doubles $279-$429. A winner in Cherry Creek, with a super-nice staff, great restaurant, and comfy rooms. www.claytondenver.com

The Maven, 1850 Wazee St. Tel: 720-460-2727. Doubles $229-$349. Right on the edge of the Dairy Block, with a winning contemporary style. www.themavenhotel.com

The Rally Hotel, 1600 20th St. Tel: 720-907-1234. Doubles $190-$450. New baseball-themed hotel at the heart of LoDo, with nice rooms and a convenient location. www.therallyhotel.com

DINING

ChoLon, 1555 Blake St. Tel: 303-353-5223. Modern Asian cuisine with more than a few delectable twists. www.cholon.com

El Five, 2930 Umatilla St. Tel: 303-524-9193. LoHi wonder dishing up a variety of Mediterranean cuisines. www.elfivedenver.com

Il Posto, 2601 Larimer St. Tel: 303-394-0100. Refined and delicious Italian food in RiNo from one of Denver’s best chefs. www.ilpostodenver.com

Leven Deli, 123 W. 12th Ave. Tel: 303-325-5691. Fabulous deli near the Art Museum, large appetites required. www.eatleven.com

Market Halls, various locations. Scattered throughout the city and a great way to sample a wide variety of cuisines and great food—not your stereotyped image of a food court! www.denver.org/conventions-elevated/bear-facts/gourmet-markets

Mercantile Dining and Provision, 1701 Wynkoop St. Tel: 720-460-3733. Outside Union Station and perfect from breakfast to dinner. www.mercantiledenver.com

Of a Kind, 233 Clayton St. Tel: 303-551-1600. Remarkable restaurant in the Clayton Members Club and Hotel, not to be missed. www.claytondenver.com/food-and-drink/of-a-kind

Tamayo, 1400 Larimer St. Tel: 720-946-1433. Contemporary Mexican food right on Larimer Square. www.eattamayo.com

Ultreia, 1701 Wynkoop St. Tel: 303-534-1970. Portuguese and Spanish influenced cuisine from James Beard winner Jennifer Jasinski, right in Union Station. www.ultreiadenver.com

Wynkoop Brewing Company, 1634 18th St. Tel: 303-297-2700. Microbrewery with appealing food at the heart of LoDo. www.wynkoop.com

COFFEE, ETC.

Aviano Coffee, 244 Detroit St. Tel: 303-399- 8347. Comfy Cherry Creek coffeehouse. www.avianocoffee.com

Corvus Coffee Roasters, 1740 S. Broadway. Tel: 303-715-1740. Some of the best coffee in Denver, in an off-the-tourist-grid locale on South Broadway. www.corvuscoffee.com

Huckleberry Roasters, 1800 Wazee St. Tel: 866- 558-2201. Great for everything from espresso to cold brew with limeade in the Dairy Block. www.huckleberryroasters.com

Little Owl Coffee, 1555 Blake St. Tel: 720-328-5574. Tiny spot just off the 16th St. Mall with fantastic coffee and lovely service. www.littleowlcoffee.com

The Molecule Effect, 1201 Santa Fe Dr. Tel: 720-502-6966. Coffee, drinks, and light meals in this friendly spot in the Santa Fe Arts District. www.themoleculeeffect.com

Pinwheel Coffee, 3659 Navajo St. Tel: 720-733- 0823. Great coffee while also supporting projects for local youth – a double winner! www.pinwheelcoffee.com

Queensberry Rules Coffee, 3408 Navajo St. Tel: 720-287-0546. LoHi coffee shop offering a nice range of coffee drinks, including some surprise entries. www.queensberrycoffee.com

Denver Omelette in Denver, Colorado

Denver Omelette

ACTIVITES

Beer Spa, 3004 N. Downing St. Tel: 720-810-1484. Relaxation therapy from an armchair massage to a soak in a “beer tea” tub. www.thebeerspa.com

Clyfford Still Museum, 1250 Bannock St. Tel: 720-354-4880. An astounding collection of works by this abstract expressionist, tracing the artist’s progress and delighting the eyes. www.clyffordstillmuseum.org

Convergence Station, 1338 1st St. Tel: 720-792- 1200. An unmissable excursion to many worlds, guaranteed to be unlike any experience you’ve ever had. www.convergencestation.com

Denver Art Museum, 1400 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. Tel: 720-865-5000. Denver’s leading museum, with a new renovation providing yet another reason to pay a visit. www.denverartmuseum.org

Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. Tel: 720- 865-3500. Many worlds of flora in one Cherry Creek location. www.botanicgardens.org

Santa Fe Arts District First Friday Art Walk, Santa Fe Dr. from 7th Ave. to 12th Ave. Tel: 720- 773-2373. Art viewing, gallery-hopping, food truck eats, and party all in one.
www.denversartdistrict.org/first-friday

Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, 1201 Bannock St. Tel: 303-832-8576. Furniture, ceramics, high-design kitchenware and much more at this newly reopened museum. www.kirklandmuseum.org

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison CO. Tel: 720-865-2494. Park, concert venue, natural wonder: the one must-do day trip from Denver. www.redrocksonline.com

NIGHTLIFE
Blush & Blu, 1526 E. Colfax Ave. Tel: 303-484- 8548. Welcoming and cozy lesbian bar right at the heart of the LGBTQ scene on Colfax. www.blushbludenver.com

Charlie’s Denver, 900 E. Colfax Ave. Tel: 303-839- 8890. Country/western themed bar with events from “Monday Undies” to Friday’s “Dueling Pianos.” www.charliesdenver.com

Clocktower Cabaret, 1601 Arapahoe St. Tel: 303- 293-0075. A wide variety of fun performances at this very welcoming spot on 16th St. Mall. www.clocktowercabaret.com

Tight End, 1501 E. Colfax Ave. Tel: 303-861-9103. Denver’s only gay sports bar, with numerous TV screens and a nice patio. www.tightendbar.com

Tracks, 3500 Walnut St. Tel: 303-863-7326. The city’s premiere LGBTQ dance club, a cavernous space where something’s always going on. www.tracksdenver.com

Trade, 475 Santa Fe Dr. Tel: 720-627-5905. Kink/leather bar that’s a mainstay in Denver. Overwhelmingly male but welcoming to all in the queer communities. www.facebook.com/Tradedenver

Triangle Bar, 2036 N. Broadway. Tel: 303-658- 0913. Cocktails, food, friendliness, and all kinds of fab entertainment. www.thetriangledenver.com

X Bar, 629 E. Colfax Ave. Tel: 303-832-2687. Nice gender and age mix gathering at this Colfax spot with dance floor and nice, spacious patio. www.xbardenver.com

INFORMATION
Visit Denver’s website is the best source of information: www.visitdenver.com

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