Want a place that makes you feel at home? Need a spot where they’d scream your name in greeting if they knew it? Tired of going out late to find no grill open?

Shelby’s is the place for you! Shelby’s Bar and Grill- where the locals have been gathering since 1906. Located at 18th and Glenarm, Shelby’s is the last free standing bar in Denver. The building started as a private home and even did a stint as a mortuary! Now, however, it is an unassuming and delightful treat of an establishment. Dark green booths and wooden tables, a small back room with books lining the walls with publication dates that ring back to the 1880’s. Drink specials and a menu that has something for everyone, whether you are craving bar food or something more substantial. The drinks are the tried and true kind, nothing frue frue or blended, but something that will pack a punch and make you say, “Cheers!” with abandon.

Open Monday through Saturday from 11:00am to 2:00am.
Shelby’s also hosts two separate Happy Hours:
4:00pm to 6:30pm
11:00pm to 1:00am

519 18th Street
Denver, CO 80202
303-295-9597

[photo-SXC]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Have no fear, if you are visiting Denver from the east, or have always longed to see the Cyclone up close and personal- we have one here.

Lakeside Amusement Park is the proud home of The Cyclone roller coaster- built in the honor of the original in New York. It is tall, intimidating, and- true to form- wooden. There are people who travel the world over to ride on wooden roller coasters and in all of these groups Lakeside’s Cyclone is on the list. I have ridden both of these roller coasters and they are indeed worth the thrill. Lakeside’s Cyclone was an experience from my youth and I remember being quite taken a back by its rickety-ness and very obvious weathered wood. It was just a few years ago that I rode Coney Island’s Cyclone and I was so scared I couldn’t scream.

Go for it thrill seekers, why not let the western version of the Cyclone take you away.

Lakeside Amusement Park is located at 4601 Sheridan Boulevard , just off of I-70 and Sheridan. You can’t miss it! They can be reached by telephone at 303-477-1621, and are open every weekday at 6pm, with all major rides operating by 7 and by noon on weekends. The Kiddie Playland opens at 1 pm every day, so bring the little ones along! It’s just 2.50 per person to get inside!

[Photos- SXC 1 2 ]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Right on the edge of town, where Speer Blvd crosses Colfax Avenue is a diner befittingly named, The Denver Diner. It sits across the street from the downtown Fire Station and above Cherry Creek which runs just below street level along Speer Blvd. A good sized neon sign alerts you to its presence and the four sided wall to wall windows allow you to see the heartbeat of action inside.

The Denver Diner is open 24 hours a day, this fact alone makes it quite a commodity in the Mile High City. There are old school vinyl booths and steel topped tables – all with a view to the street outside so you can watch the city wander by. The coffee is always ready and there is pie for dessert- even if the only meal you had planned was dessert.

As Diners go, the menu is pretty good and varied enough to offer something for everyone. Whether you are in need of a traditional breakfast, a quick business lunch, a fun dinner before you head home or an after show munchies attack- the menu will not let you down. Alicia and I went the other night and she had the catfish which came with jalapeno hush puppies. I could have made a meal of those hush puppies alone. When you are in the mood for a diner, to feel a slice of home or to prolong a great day, the Denver Diner will not let you down. The service is excellent, with friendly and attentive staff to help you find exactly what it is you are looking for. Try the Rocky Mountain Trout, or the delicious array of pies, or the Lemon Herbed chicken. I can’t vouch for fish or the chicken as a vegetarian, but Alicia says they are delicious! I can tell you that the green beans are just like Mom used to make at home, and that’s something!

Located on the south east corner of Speer and Colfax with a good sized parking lot and hours you cannot beat- 24/7. The Denver Diner has what you need.

740 West Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80204
303-825-5443

[All Photos-©2008 Alicia T.]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

The Cyber Sidewalk Sale works like this- businesses, restaurants, and stores have partnered with radio stations to offer gift certificates for full value but at half price! So you can buy a 50 dollar gift certificate for $25.00. There you have it- it is that simple.

If you are planning a trip to Denver on a budget, this is a great resource that you can take advantage of before you even leave for the airport. Click on over to the following links and stock up. Do not wait too long as some offers are only for a limited time.

KOSI & KEZW Cyber Sidewalk Sale

KIMN- Mix 100.3 has a similar sale they call Meals and Steals. Every Thursday morning at 9:00am they present a new restaurant that you can dine at for half the price of the gift certificate value.

Perhaps the best part of these deals is that you don’t have to think up a crazy stunt, keep your hand on a car for a week or be the 9th caller. All you have to do is cyber shop.

[photo-SXC]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Warwick Denver boasts a touch of elegance and rightfully so as far as we can tell. Their 219 rooms are the largest in square footage in Denver, marking in at 500 square feet, and are adorned with European antiques. Each room has a private balcony and floor to ceiling windows that offer a nice view of the city and the Front Range. The roof of the Warwick Denver has a heated pool that is open all year long. They are more than adequately equipped with meeting and banquet rooms. A Fitness Centre is available for guests as well as a 24 hour Business Center. A few blocks away is the 16th Street Mall and hence- the free 16th Mall Shuttle.

Don’t feel like going in to town for dinner- Warwick Denver presents Randolph’s Restaurant & Bar. Randolph’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily with the bar ready to accommodate drinks. One could even meet friends on the veranda for a garden like setting. The neighborhood of Uptown Denver also offers plenty of hip and fun restaurants and coffee houses as alternatives to conquering downtown.

Room Rates run from $100 to over $400. Though they do have an internet saver rate and sometimes they do pop up on other internet discount sites.

Take a look for yourself by clicking over for a Virtual Tour!

Post from: The Denver Traveler

The 16th Street Mall

Spanning the expanse of Downtown, The 16th Street Mall is one of the most convenient and accessible places Denver has to offer. Pick an end of Denver, either Civic Center at Broadway and Colfax, or Market Street Station- the 16th and Market side or hop on one of the FREE 16th Street Mall Shuttles and ride the Mall from start to finish.

The Shuttle Buses run every few minutes and the Shuttle stops are on every block on both sides of the street. They are free, handicap accessible and you can bring your bike on with you. Many residents and tourists utilize the readily available shuttle buses to get to all points in Downtown Denver. This works fantastically as 16th Street is fairly central, so once you get to the block you need it is only a few blocks walk to where you are going!

One can truly use the 16th Street Mall as an epi-center and its Shuttle to navigate all of your Downtown Viewing or Business. Take it to Civic Center and you are across the street from the Capitol, The City and County Building, The Central Library, The Courthouses and the Basilica. Hop off at Arapahoe Street and you are two blocks away from The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, The California stop brings you within two blocks of The Convention Center. The possibilities are endless!

16th Street Mall has something to offer everyone with plenty of shopping, a plethora of restaurants for your every taste and craving, and Civic Parks for relaxing in the shade. There are many hotels either on the mall itself or within walking distance so that you may stay in the heart of the action, and businesses that cater to anything you could think you might need – including barbers, drugstores, knick knack shops and sundries. Don’t miss the Street Vendors, buskers, game tables, the public art installations, and so much more!! And don’t forget – transportation up and down the mall is free with the shuttle, but if you must drive, the parking meters are free on Sundays!

If people watching is your sport of choice- plan a visit around lunch time and the 16th Street Mall will delight your senses even more as the business folk mingle with the teens who are mingling with the performers who will no doubt mingle with you!

Post from: The Denver Traveler

The Colorado Renaissance Festival has opened for the season! Featuring artisans showcasing their hand made crafts (everything from swords and knives to clothing and jewelry) and plenty of great food, the Renaissance Festival is open every weekend from June 14th to August 3rd! Located just 30 minutes from Denver in Larkspur, Colorado, it’s a short day trip that is sure to be full of fun for the entire family! Check out their suggestions for a more “scenic route” from Denver if you’d like to avoid the sometimes heavy traffic on I-25. Colorado is beautiful, and if you have an adventurous spirit, the detour will be right up your alley. I know I love taking back roads and little used highways to get somewhere because sometimes you see the most interesting things off the beaten path.

The Festival features Theme Weekends, including an Ale Festival, Celtic Fling, Children’s Festival, and Wine Revelry. Each weekend the fair is open will feature a different Theme, so if you’re into something particular you might want to plan your trip down to Larkspur accordingly. The crafts and food offered won’t change, however, so if you’re just going for the atmosphere and to see a little jousting, have no fear, you can go any weekend you choose! The last weekend, August 2nd and 3rd, is a birthday party for King Henry (his 517th!) which is sure to be a rollicking good time for all attending.

Tickets are available online, or at the gate, or at King Sooper’s locations, and you can get discount coupons at local Wendy’s restaurants. Until July 11th, tickets are sold at a discount, so get them early, even if you don’t plan on going until later in the month!! If you’re thinking of tying the knot as a Knight and Lady, well, they can accommodate that too! There is plenty of Entertainment for the whole family, including roaming jesters and musicians as well as featured performers including a tribal circus, ventriloquists, and “washing wenches”. A map of the festival is available here (Adobe Acrobat required), and at the entrance gates to help you get around the festival proper.

Don’t let the Festival pass you by! Head on down to Larkspur and jump into the past! It’s a weekend you won’t soon forget!

[All Photos - SXC - Fairy, Jousting]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

This isn’t such a bad thing- Denver International Airport has a lot to offer.

Public art was commissioned for the terminal and concourses. A fountain greets you as you embark off the escalator from the airport train and into the Main, Jeppesen, Terminal. There are many recognizable chain restaurants, a deli or two, coffee shops and even a few unique cantina’s to give you some local flavor. If you are in the mood for shopping, DIA will not let you down: Book Stores, Clothing Stores, Luggage Stores, Souvenir Shops, Newsstands, Duty Free Shops, The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and so many more.

Denver International Airport has banks, a post office, plenty of ATM’s and just about anything else you may need. Take a walk outside and look up at the airport itself, it is quite the sight! Wander through each terminal and concourse, why even while waiting in the screening line- look to your left or right and there is an aviation display that is museum worthy. The airport itself is built on a Native American burial ground. To honor that heritage, is a permanent display down Concourse A- it is walk-able and worth it. Listen close, and you can hear the sounds of our land ancestors.

If all of this exploring leaves you a little sore- A Massage Inc. is ready and waiting in the Main Terminal and down the B Concourse. A Massage is a full fledged massage spa right in the airport! No appointment necessary, only walk-ins are welcomed. One can indulge in a chair or table massage, no matter your time crunch or ailment.

If your layover is long enough to venture into the city proper- Go to level 5 and catch the Skyride. This RTD bus will take you all the way into the city (be prepared for at least a forty minute drive) and drops you off at Market Street Station. From there you can walk all around downtown or catch the free 16th Street Shuttle to travel from one end of town to the other. The return bus stop for the Skyride is at the exact same spot as the drop off. Easy as pie. Remember to pad your return trip in case there is traffic, which is inevitably the case on I-70, the highway the bus takes to and from the airport.

Denver, not such a bad place to touch down after all!

Post from: The Denver Traveler

For over a century Elitch Gardens thrived and survived. Adding amusement rides, a kiddie park, letting go of the zoo element, hosting big band dances, being the nation’s leading distributor for carnations, and scaring young children with an incredibly tall wooden roller coaster called Mister Twister. (Okay, maybe just my young self!)

It was an adventure to go to Elitch Garden’s Amusement Park, known as Elitch’s. Nestled in North Denver with its gardens growing tall along its hedges and tall trees offering shade, entering the park was like walking into another dimension. One that was happier, daring and way more exciting than real life.

Then in 1994 it was bought by Six Flags and moved downtown. They planted trees but not enough to fight the concrete and tar main ingredient. The cost of admission seemed similar to a down payment of some sort and the rides were new and shiny- no more nostalgia and wooden engineering feats. There was a water park, which was new and a big parking lot. Yet it felt sterile, too commercial and nowhere in the park could you feel the Denver vibe.

Well- welcome back to the pulse wherein you were born Elitch’s! You are now a privately owned park, you are no longer a sponsor for a chain, your residence can once again afford to grace your grounds! Your trees still need to grow a bit, but now you are at least heading in the right direction.

The Denver Traveler recommends you buy a season pass as the price is equivalent to two admissions and you get to go as many times as you may choose. It also includes their summer concert series.

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Via Baca, which has been nominated for AOL’s Best Pizza in Denver, is offering Tavola for Two! Enjoy a meal for two from a three course menu and select a Bottle of Wine- all for Via Baca’s Mile High signature price of only $52.80.

We cannot think of a better excuse to share some time and a fine meal together- Escape to Italy by way of Via Baca and you’ll only have to go as far as the Lincoln Shopping Center in Lone Tree. No passport required, just a Tavola (table) for two.

[photo - SXC]

Post from: The Denver Traveler