Soundwalk is an art installation by Jim Green and was set into the northwest sidewalk of Curtis Street in 1992. If you can plan a walk down this block every day you are in town, we highly suggest it- for the sounds change and you never know what you might get to experience. When I first indulged in the pleasure of Soundwalk I was delighted to hear elephants roar and Tap Dogs tapping! When I took Alicia to Soundwalk we heard a train speed under us in succession as we passed over the grates.

The six grates produce 40 to 100 different sounds an hour from a tape recorder in a nearby building. Though I like to believe it is magic! Whether you like the wizardry of sound unveiled or prefer to remain whimsical like me- Soundwalk is a Must Hear! If you get a chance to take this walk and are intrigued by the innovative work of Denver Artist Jim Green, take a side trip to the DAM, Denver Art Museum, to witness Mr. Green’s Singing Sinks or head over to the Convention Center for his Laughing Escalator.

[Photos - SXC 1 2]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Henry Cordes Brown, who was originally from Ohio, brought his family to Denver and homesteaded on the 160 acres that is now known as Capitol Hill. Over the years he built up the neighborhood into one of the most swank in Denver at the time. Unfortunately he lost his fortune in economic crisis of 1877 and was forced to sell his estate. not one to be kept down long, he was back in the flush by 1880. Several years later when he was refused entrance into Denver’s fanciest Hotel, The Windsor, because he was wearing his cowboy clothes he set out to make a Hotel just right for his kind.

In 1892 The Brown Palace opened its doors for the first time- and in no time at all surpassed any grandeur that preceded it. Built in the Italian Renaissance out of Colorado Red Granite and boasting 26 hand carved medallions of Rocky Mountain animals, the lobby inside is adorned with imported Onyx and Marble and was the first atrium lobby in a Hotel surrounded by balconies up to eight floors! The Hotel was soon known as the best in town and settled in for that reputation to remain alive for over century. Located on the unique corner of 17th and Broadway, The Brown Palace has a triangular shape that accommodates the odd converging of those streets. In its early days the food was provided by its own farm, water was from its own artesian well, generated its own electricity and had its own incineration facility. The furnishings were the finest money could buy inside the rooms and throughout the entire hotel.

Legend has it that tunnels ran under the Brown Palace and under the streets to The Navarre Building where there was a Gambling House and a Brothel. The tunnels supposedly hid the statesmen and famous guests from being exposed while using the amenities across the street. Also, on May 24, 1911 one of Denver’s most notorious murders took place in The Brown Palace- the tragic outcome of a love triangle.

There have been many reports of ghost sightings. The Hotel itself offers a haunted tour! If you fancy yourself a ghost hunter make a reservation for room 904. Once inside unplug the phone and bring some friends in to tell them the story of a socialite who lived in room 904 from 1940 to 1955 and suffered a love loss so severe she never recovered. Then go downstairs and ask the front desk if there have been any calls from room 904. Yes, this has been known to happen- so frequently that the story has been removed from being mentioned on the haunted tour. There is a great recap of this tour over at a neighbor blog of ours, LiveDowntownDenver.

And be sure to check out The Brown Palace when you are next in downtown Denver. It started as a place for one man to feel at home and has become one of our Must Sees!

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Turns out, that’s exactly what it was.

Being someone who enjoys the macabre from time to time, I knew I had to get in there and see what was inside that skull arched doorway. Shawn Marie laughed at the time and said, “Oh that’s just Flossy McGrew’s. It’s a vintage costume shop.” Turns out it’s much, much more than that.

It’s a shop for the weirdo in all of us.

With skeletons hanging from the ceiling and a large selection of costumes both new and vintage, Flossy McGrew’s is one of a kind. You can buy or rent the costumes, which encompass just about anything you could ever have wanted to become for Halloween or just a fun night of going out. Not only will they be able to hook you up with that Victorian gown or sailor’s suit you have been dying for, but they have literally thousands of accessories to make your look as authentic as it can be. Practically every Local I’ve run into knows about Flossy McGrew’s, and has a story about taking a visitor to the city there and watching their eyes light up. Perhaps with fright, perhaps with awe, it’s all in the heart of the person as they step into this alternate universe on south Broadway. My Mom was excited to go to Flossy’s when she was here back in September. We didn’t end up with enough time to get Mom there, but I know it’s on her Must See list when she comes for a visit!

You’ll want to set aside a good amount of time for browsing through the multitude of items you’ll find inside. Everything from wigs to fake teeth to masks, Flossy’s is bound to have what you’re looking for. All of the costumes are on racks which are clearly marked with the era or style they belong to (40’s, 50’s, Cowboy, Medieval, etc) and there are several cases full of costume jewelry, which isn’t always for Halloween! They also carry group themed costumes, so if you were just itching to be a set of reindeer or a sextet of dwarves, you won’t be disappointed.

The staff is friendly and more than willing to help you find that awesome costume. Give them an idea of what you need, and they’ll be sure to help you put together something that will have everyone talking for years to come. No doubt while shopping you’ll run into Flossy herself, with her brightly colored hair and flamboyant attitude. Her name is Suelynn Gustafson, and she’s the proud owner of Flossy McGrew’s. The subject of a documentary called Grandma Goth, she’s one of the more colorful locals here in Denver.

Gustafson is the proprietor of Flossie McGrews, a used clothing and costume shop on Broadway in Denver, who has always been fascinated with morbid things. She purchased an old church on South Sherman Street to live in and house her collection of death-related items–coffins, Victorian tear catchers, photos of dead, tombstones, and an old hearse. The purple-haired Gustafson says that she laughs when she sees the young people who call themselves goths these days. “You know, I was grandma goth. I did this forty years ago, but I did it for a different reason.”

Goth or not, you have to check out Flossy McGrew’s if you find yourself in Denver. You won’t be sorry!

Flossy McGrew’s is located at 1824 South Broadway. They don’t have a website, but they can be reached by phone at 303-778-0853. They’re open Mon-Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm.

Post from: The Denver Traveler

The name of this awesome place?

Why, Casa Bonita, of course!

If you aren’t a Denver native (or anyone who has lived here for a while), Casa Bonita may not seem like some place that you should laugh about when you mention their food. You might wonder why people get a glint in their eye, a little smirk at the corner of their lips.

Well, to put it in a word, Casa Bonita is….. Wild. As you come toward the 85′ tall pink tower (adorned with one of three real gold covered domes in Denver – one of the others is the Capitol Building itself!) outside, you might think to yourself that this place cannot be that big. Oh ho! Casa Bonita is HUGE inside!! Boasting a 30 foot waterfall in the middle of the restaurant, they also have a full arcade, Black Bart’s Cave, a photo booth (where you can dress up in costume and have your photo taken), and multi-leveled dining areas. Strolling guitarists serenade you as you eat and watch the cliff divers leap from the waterfall’s edges into the large lagoon below (and sometimes they set the lagoon on fire). And of course, the one thing people always go for when they visit the Beautiful House…. the little red flag on each table.

The little red flag, you see, brings you the best part of Casa Bonita. The sopapillas. Always served warm with a generous amount of honey, the sopapillas are divine. You’ll want to save a lot of room for these pillows of deliciousness, because they are all you can eat! All you have to do is raise the little red flag, and the awesome wait staff will bring you another basket full of sopapillas.

A must see sight when you come through the Mile High, Casa Bonita is a great place to take the kids and relax. Make sure you check it out! And have a sopapilla for me!

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Mainly though, there are geese. Tons and tons of geese. They are everywhere, from parks to school yards to grassy shoulders of the highway. And apparently, they are also invading Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies. What could they do, what with Spring Training around the corner and a whole bunch of geese nibbling the grass and then… well… doing what geese do with grass that has been eaten.

What to do, indeed. Meet the new outfielders at Coors Field. I don’t think they’ll be great at bat, though.. They are plastic coyotes! Anyone who has ever hung a fake owl to scare off other birds knows what’s going on here. The hope is that the coyote, especially in a “hunting” posture, will be enough to scare the geese into finding somewhere else to eat and poop.

When I shared this story with Heather over at the Las Vegas Adventurer, her only question was, “Where did they find plastic coyotes?”

I have no idea, but now I sort of want one.

Post from: The Denver Traveler

As we have mentioned before, Denver has yet to produce a President- but we do have a few Dolly Madison Ice Cream shops and Bakeries! Dolly Madison was first lady to President James Madison.

We also mentioned the connection between President Eisenhower and Denver, but failed to let you know that Mamie Eisenhower, his wife and therefore First Lady, though not born here- grew up here.

John Hinckley, who tried to assassinate President Reagan because of his love for Jodie Foster, planned the assassination while staying in a motel on West Colfax where he reportedly walked across the street to eat every meal at the McDonalds

In 1908, Denver hosted The Democratic Convention, nominating William Jennings Bryan as their candidate. William Jennings Bryan ran for president and lost- three separate times.

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Traffic was a nightmare on the commute tonight when a 40 foot sinkhole collapsed part of I-25 north bound. The cause of the sinkhole was said to be a water main break, and estimated to be up to 16 feet deep.

The sinkhole is located a quarter mile north of the Interstate 70 interchange, locally known as the Mousetrap, right near 56th Avenue.

For me, it took me two and a half hours to make the trip from my work to my home, which usually takes about 20 minutes in the afternoons. There’s no word on when it will be cleared up and repaired. People are advised to avoid the area if possible, and use the side streets as much as possible.

Post from: The Denver Traveler

A Bengal tiger cub was confiscated today in Centennial, Colorado, after police were sent photos of the tiger traveling through Denver in an SUV, and other reports that had come in that there was a tiger living in someone’s backyard. Police moved in today with wildlife agents to take control of the tiger and place him in a safe habitat until they figure out where he will be placed permanently.

Apparently you are allowed to have a tiger in Denver, but only with proper licensing and adequate caging. The owner of this tiger, however, was lacking the license and the caging.

No word on what will happen to the owner, or if he will get his tiger back.

Post from: The Denver Traveler