Things to do in Denver when you're Dem

This post is inspired by one found on Face the State

In it, the independent Colorado state and local politics news source laments outsiders (such as the Economist and NYT) trying to sum up what to do in Denver during the Convention and makes a few of its own suggestions.

To which, I would add:

1. Eat Uptown - 17th Ave between downtown and York is always hopping after work and through the late dinner hour (which seems to be around 7pm in Denver). Restaurants include Uptown Tavern, Steuben's, Hamburger Mary's, Las Delicias, Strings, and Pasquini's, to name a few. Further down, there are a handful more restaurants which are smaller, but close to the cool spots of St. mark's Coffee Shop and The Thin Man (bar). ALSO, smack in between is JR's (a gay bar, but SO fun who would notice) and the vegetarian mecca, Watercourse restaurant and bakery. 17th Ave is also dotted with other unique places like the Wrangler (another gay bar) and that breakfast place where the waiters serve you in drag...

2. Cruise Colfax - It's the Boulevard of Broken Dreams, people! As described by Jack Kerouac when he lived in Denver. While Colfax still has a seedy reputation, you can safely walk from Downtown eastward... until you get to La Cueva (which is the end of my personal experience walking along Colfax). Highlights are too numerous to mention here, but TRUST ME - the places you find on Colfax will be the ones you remember, whether it be the hip new places or the hip old places (broken up by the inbetween divey places). Also, Denver's own Tattered Cover bookstore is now on Colfax and definitely a place to visit. If you like books.

3. Shop and Bar-Hop Along Broadway - I am partial to Broadway because I live one block away. Broadway is home to the indepent theatre, the Mayan. During the day, you can check out Broadway's unique shops (my fave: Decade), the thrift stores (the new Goodwill is AWESOME, but don't forget BigLots and Arc (a little further down). There are numerous bars and pub crawls along Broadway are always a good time. The ones that come to mind (and, keep in mind, I am neither a big drinker nor a regular pub crawler): the Hornet, 3 Kings, Irish Rover and SoBo. There are also some really good restaurants (Mona's, Blue Bonnet) and some good dance clubs (Vinyl).

4. Don't Forget Lincoln - Which reminds me, Lincoln (the street I live on) is also very cool. Basically, Broadway south of 3rd Ave is the place to be; Lincoln north of 6th--got it? On Lincoln: DC10 bar and club (I have only been once, but I picture very pretty people there--all the servers wear '60s throwback stewardess outfits), Sutra (another lcub, but the bar attached seems to have good drink specials), the Church, Dazzle (a jazz club, even for those who aren't into jazz) and the Funky Buddha (think martinis and techno spun by a DJ, but also a great rooftop area). Plus, the Beauvallon (a residential development around 10th--you can't miss it) has a bunch of restaurants and bars. The one on the corner (of 11th, I think) is great--basically a gourmet take on comfort food (they have Rice Krispy treats on their dessert menu). Oh! and Le Central which is a truly affordable French restaurant.

So, I guess I would lump the places on Lincoln as more upscale than those on Broadway, but not by much.

Anyways, there is much, much more as I have only covered a few areas near where I have recently lived. I will have to post again!