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

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 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

Whether you’re a vegetarian looking for some good natural eats, or someone who wants to hear some great live music, or even someone who needs to learn a new dance step, the Mercury Cafe is for you!

Serving up both vegetarian and meat dishes, the Mercury Cafe is an all natural foods eatery designed to excite even the pickiest eater. Vibrantly painted murals cover the walls, and the staff is super friendly and ready to help you find just what it is you’re craving.

Set on the outskirts of downtown at 2199 California Street, the Mercury Cafe is known for more than just their tasty dishes. Offering up dance classes, concerts, poetry slams and film showings, the Mercury is truly a community center in every sense of the word.

They’re serving up dinner Tuesday through Sunday, brunch on the weekends, and late night desserts and coffee. The Mercury boasts a full bar for your enjoyment, and they serve some of Colorado’s finest wines. Bring cash or a check, because the Mercury doesn’t take credit cards!!

[photo- SXC]

Post from: The Denver Traveler