Posted by the editors
Travel | 18 Aug 07 | Comments (4) | Stumble
Click on the map above to see all of Jaime's favorite places.
COFFEE
City O' City | 303.831.6443 | watercoursefoods.com | 206 East 13th Ave, Denver, CO
From the owners of Denver's beloved vegetarian restaurant Watercourse comes City O' City, a combination bar/restaurant/coffee house that works surprisingly well as all three. The interior is warm and welcoming with art adorned walls, a long wooden bar and a corner filled with comfortable couches. The menu includes a delicious variety of vegetarian pizzas as well as freshly made vegan pastries. Whether you are looking to get some work done on the laptop, enjoy happy hour with friends or join in on the weekly craft nights, City O' City provides the perfect atmosphere with unpretentious style.
DESIGN
P Design Gallery | 720.259.2516 | pdesigngallery.com | 2590 Walnut St. Denver, CO
The P Design Gallery has been working hard to bring cutting-edge, contemporary design to Denver ever since it opened its doors last July. Owners Paul and Pifuka Hardt carefully curate their showroom with a variety of lines ranging from the high-end outdoor furniture of Gandia Blasco to affordable accessories by D-Bros and Tord Boontje. Unlike other retail stores in town though, P Design has a gallery space which exhibits the work of today's most noted emerging and professional designers. Recent shows have included couture quilts by Denyse Schmidt, collective works from Citizen:Citizen and an exhibition of Colorado designers.
THEATER
Buntport Theater | 720.946.1388 | buntport.com | 717 Lipan St., Denver, CO
Based in a warehouse off of Denver's popular Santa Fe arts district, Buntport Theater is creating some of the most innovative and imaginative productions in town. The six person company does everything from writing to acting in-house, often utilizing creative means to augment their small ensemble. In a recent adaptation of Hamlet for instance, Ophelia was played by a goldfish, while the role of Polonius was skillfully handled by Teddy Ruxpin. Other original performances include audience favorites such as Titus Andronicus! The Musical and Kafka on Ice. With a full calendar of programming that includes two bi-weekly live sitcoms, it's easy to see why fans of Buntport are some of the most devoted theater patrons you'll ever meet.
SHOP
Colfax Avenue may be best known as the country's longest commercial thoroughfare, but in recent years an influx of neighborhood restaurants, galleries and independently owned shops have brought a community focus back to the area known as East Colfax. One of the pioneers in the Colfax comeback is Mod Livin', a modern and mid-century home furnishings showroom that is a must-see for any design lover. The revitalization has also brought in newcomers such as the Fabric Lab, a boutique which features clothing and accessories from over 60 local designers. Just a few doors down is Plastic Chapel, Denver's hip designer toy store, which also hosts regular openings for area artists.
Mod Livin' | 720.941.9292 | modlivin.com | 5327 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
The Fabric Lab | 303.321.3604 | thefabriclab.com | 3105 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Plastic Chapel | 303.722.0715 | plasticchapel.com | 3109 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
DRINK
Thin Man | 303.320.7814 | 2015 East 17th Ave, Denver, CO
Patrons of the Thin Man enjoy this Denver hot spot because it's the every-man's bar. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere cozy and the variety of homemade flavor-infused vodkas can't be beat. There's an outdoor patio and garage door that stay open during summer months while in the winter, customers warm up by the wood stove inside. The clientele tends to lean towards the 30-something range, though you'll find everyone from pedi-cab drivers to the after-work set mingling at this neighborhood haunt. And if it's caffeine you're craving, not cocktails, the adjoining St. Marks Coffee House is only a few steps away.
I do have to say that Jamie missed a great design studio/showroom in Cherry Creek called One Home Design. Not only do they have the best verity of lines but also carry local designers as well. Check them out www.onehomedesign.com!!!
check out Tastings on Tennyson between 42nd and 43rd...art gallery/wine bar...aesthetic unlike any i've seen...and the people-watching is superb
The place on Tennyson is called Tastes. The design is a bit busy for me, but they do have both Chimay and Lindeman's (the woman who owns it is Belgian), and pretty good light food too. The people watching is only good on a first Friday art walk- otherwise that part of Tennyson is dead.
I would also add Composition as another good design store, mostly housewares, stationery, and accessories. It's in Belmar, a kind of interesting new urban style development that the developers did in a more modern style rather than trying to ape a 1920's small town. Also in Belmar is The Lab, an interesting gallery with a great lecture series.
For food you have to hit Arada, in the heart of the Santa Fe gallery district, and undoubtedly the best Ethiopian restaurant in the city (and that's saying something, as we have a lot of good ones).
And for bars, there is nothing cooler than the Cruise Room, a tiny, red-lit 1930's art deco bar in the Oxford Hotel, opened the day Prohibition ended. The best bartenders, the best classic juke box, and the best urinals (down in the basement) in all of Denver.
Jaime's other picks are spot on- I'm surprised I don't see her every week, because I spend a lot of time in almost all those spots.
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the other suggestions - it was really hard only picking 5 spots. I can second the Cruise Room and Composition, both great additions. The rest I haven't been to, but will definitely check out. I must say though, P Design is hands down the place to go in town for cutting-edge design - there is nothing else like it here.
SJB and others, you should check my blog designklub for local happenings. I'm taking a little break right now, but I usually have a list of Denver design events there...so maybe we will all run into each other!
Thanks,
Jaime