Art and Landscape Beautifully Combined in Denver
March 7th, 2010 categories: Life In Denver
Nature and art came together today - with a glorious early-spring afternoon at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Denver is on the map for our vibrant and growing art scene, our wonderous natural landscape and our unbeatable weather. Today was the perfect convergence of all three.
Henry Moore sought inspiration for his sculpture from the natural landscape, and what better place to exhibit 20 Moore sculptures than at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The pieces are very organic, and while the themes are human, the works feel like they could be natural rock formations or downed trees. The play of light and landscape create a humbling feeling next to these massive pieces.
The Henry Moore exhibit will be at the Gardens until January 2011, offering visitors the chance to see the sculpture during varied seasons and at different times of the day. We plan to visit often, and joined as members so we can drop by for a few minutes or hours any time we feel the desire for sculpture and landscape.
Oh - and the crocus are up too!
Today was an unbeatable Denver day - capped off with a walk around the lake at Washington Park with Duke. Spring is literally in the air!
Gretchen Faber writes LifestyleDenver, offering real estate advice and Denver lifestyle comments. Search for your next Denver home at www.GretchensDenver.com, Gretchen Faber’s comprehensive real estate web site.
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Cherry Creek North Parking - Quarters Not Required
January 31st, 2010 categories: Life In Denver
The Cherry Creek North neighborhood - Denver’s “Gold Coast” - added a call-in parking alternative in November.
This seems like a great alternative to saving quarters, or trying to keep the parking machines from tearing up your credit card. So far, though, the buzz is that people aren’t taking to the phone-in alternative.
Setting up an account is easy, but thinking about it ahead of time is probably part of the problem. Shoppers don’t usually plan in advance. Diners in the neighborhood rarely make a reservation, and more often just troll the restaurants looking for an available table.
This is a great solution for Cherry Creek regulars or workers.
If you’d like to try the phone-in option for Cherry Creek parking you can call 888-480-7275 or go to www.paybyphone.com.
Once you sign up for the service, you’ll call the toll-free number and enter your location number. Your credit card will be charged and you’ll get the added bonus of a text message reminder before your parking time expires. Another convenience is that you can add to your time (up to the 3 hour limit) without having to walk back to your car to do it.
The Denver Public Works Department is trying this new system for a 6 month trial. If it doesn’t catch on, they may eliminate it. If it does, they’ll look at expanding the program to other areas of the city.
I have plenty of quarters, but when I run out, I may try this system. If you want to look for houses in the Cherry Creek area, let me know - I’ll cover the parking!
| Discussion: 4 Comments »
Top 5 Things to Do at Denver’s Stock Show
January 11th, 2010 categories: Life In Denver
Having grown up in Southern California, I was more a beach bum than a horsey person when I relocated to Denver nearly 28 years ago.
In fact, one thing I completely rejected about my new hometown was anything to do with western wear, western culture or cows.
My boots were ski boots, and my jeans were definitely not boot cut. I attended the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo a couple of times, and while it was somewhat fun to watch the little kids chase pigs and the high school girls proudly carry flags on their horses, I couldn’t stand the smell. The odor of cows, pigs, horses and fried food definitely got me down.
About three years ago, I got a new attitude. I went to the stock show twice that year and once the next year and had a blast. I embraced my “new” hometown’s culture and even bought cowboy (or girl) boots. I love them! It’s true what they say, those boots are comfortable!
So from a novice’s perspective, here are the top 5 things you should see or do at this year’s Stock Show. It runs two more weeks, until Sunday, January 24th at the Denver Coliseum. Just follow your nose and you’ll find it.
1. The Rodeo: Bareback riding is an awesome feat. Watching those guys ride their bucking broncos gives new meaning to buns of steel. The barrel racing is an exacting sport of speed and finesse. The rodeo is an inspiring ode to Americana and regardless of the smell, something everyone should see.
2. The Horse Show: The horse shows feature many styles of riding and breeds of horses - hunters and jumpers, Arabians, American Saddlebreds, Appaloosas, Morgans and equitation classes. A fun show for anyone who’s ever ridden a horse or would like to. This is what we would aspire to.
3. The Shopping: This should probably be number 1 coming from me. In the concourse of the Expo Hall there are hundreds of fun and unique booths. This is where I got my boots. You’ll also find hats, leather goods, beautiful artisan pieces, fun clothes and crazy things like cedar furniture, bobcats (for driving around your farm) and beer bottle nightlights.
4. The Exhibit Halls: Bring your children and wander through the exhibit halls. You’ll find many beautiful and interesting animals. Calves, sheep, chickens, lambs and more varieties of cow than I knew existed. Remember your hand sanitizer, last year a few children got sick after visiting the petting zoo.
5. The Junk Food: I’m not a junk food junkie. We stay away from all that and lean more toward brown rice and salad. However, you can’t visit the stock show without eating something fried. Fried anything. Grab a snack or a meal, find a table in the concourse and get back out to the show!
Have a great time at Denver’s Stock Show 2010!
And if 2010 includes the prospect of a new “ranch” for you, contact me for help in buying the new one or selling the old!
| Discussion: 3 Comments »
This Store Has Gone to the Dogs
December 29th, 2009 categories: Life In Denver
On Christmas Eve, I ran one last errand in Cherry Creek North to the tailor. As I came out to the car I saw a very excited Golden Retriever running down the block with his owner behind saying, “That’s right boy! Go see your friends!”
I looked across the parking lot to see where the pooch was headed, and there was a store called Two Pals & A Pup.
“Duke needs a stocking gift!” I thought. So I hurried over to run one last errand.
Inside I found a warm and inviting shop filled with everything dog. Home made treats in the bakery case, toys, collars and lots of love for the doggie and human customers.
If you have a dog in your life, stop over to Cherry Creek and check out this adorable new addition to the neighborhood.
And if you’re in the market for a tailor - I highly recommend Cherry Creek Tailoring. I’ve been a customer of Hamdi and Kiraz Sahin for over 24 years - I discovered them when I was an undergraduate at the University of Denver and needed a formal altered. They are fabulous tailors and lovely people. Customer service is very important to them, and I wouldn’t go to any other tailor in Denver.
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
Top 4 Colorado Places to Chop Your Own Christmas Tree
December 1st, 2009 categories: Life In Denver
Have you ever hiked into the woods in early December, trudging through several feet of snow to chop down your own Christmas tree?
Have you ever done it in tennis shoes?
I have, and my former father-in-law never failed to remind me that girls from California should seek footwear advice from a local before heading to the Rockies to chop down a tree in December. (Ex-father in law, you see.) He took great enjoyment from reminding me of that little faux pas.
Which is sort of like my father asking me if I remembered to turn on the oven whenever I’m cooking a turkey. Ha ha!
Colorado offers some lovely places to chop down your own tree. I’ve chosen the top 4 closest to Denver. Most are less than 2 hours away, many even closer. It’s really a treat to hike out into the forest, find just the right tree and haul it back to the car - only to discover that it’s actually 12 feet tall and your ceilings are 8 feet. Beware - the trees look a lot smaller in the forest than they do in your living room.
We went into the national forest at Red Feather Lakes to get our tree. That was fun, good for thinning the forests, and you get a really natural organic tree. Plus, the price is right! Typically $10 for a permit.
1. State and national forests:
Christmas tree permits, which allow you to cut your own Christmas tree on public lands, are now on sale at National Forest/BLM offices and some retail outlets. Permits come with a brochure, which explains regulations and offers helpful tips. National Forest/BLM offices also sell maps and offer free advice on the best areas for tree harvesting, and the best species of tree to cut.
- Denver & Front Range Areas: Four primary cutting areas along the Front Range in the Arapaho, Pike and Roosevelt National Forests serve metro Denver and surrounding communities. See their website for more information on permits, etc.
- Permits: $10 each. One tree per permit. Limit 5 permits per person. All sales are final.
Area Entry Hours: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm - For your safety, no entry is allowed before or after these hours.
2. Colorado state forests:
Christmas tree cutting permits at Golden Gate State Park - A limited number of permits are usually available for the Golden Gate Canyon State Park, just 30 minutes outside of the Denver metro area. This usually takes place over 1 weekend. Areas for both four-wheel and two-wheel drive vehicles will be available, with some hiking required. The tree permits will be available at the Golden Gate Canyon State Park Visitor Center located at 92 Crawford Gulch Road, 15 miles west of Golden. To reach the Visitor Center, turn west on Golden Gate Canyon Road, off of Highway 93. Permits will be sold from 9 am to 4 pm daily, while supplies last. Permits may also be purchased over the phone with a credit card by calling 303-582-3707. Visitors must pick up their permits at the Visitor Center prior to cutting. A detailed map with additional information is provided with each permit. The 2008 permit cost was $20. Permits were discounted to $10 for those with a State Parks Pass.
3. Christmas Tree Acres:
This tree farm has been selling cut-your-own trees since 1986, and the owners are there to help. They point out that a fresh tree will last much longer than trees that were chopped down weeks ago and trucked in from a different climate.
For prices and directions call: 970-284-6061
23003 County Road 39, La Salle.
4. U Cut Tree Farm
This 80-acre lot offers several varieties of trees, including Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir and Blue Spruce. You can ask the owners about the pros and cons of each, but here’s a description from the US Forest Service site.
At U Cut, you’ll drive up for directions and then you can take your car out into the lot to find your perfect tree.
For prices and directions call: 303-660-477011200 Colorado 83, Franktown.
Best wishes from my family to yours for a fun and safe holiday season. Enjoy your Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s. Remember that for your 2010 Denver Real Estate needs, I’m just a click away.
| Discussion: 16 Comments »
Be Thankful - A Denver Thanksgiving
November 26th, 2009 categories: Life In Denver
Holy pumpkin pie, Batman! A year has gone by since my rumination on tofu turkey.
This year, I’m thinking about store-bought pumpkin pie. I have gourmet friends, and friends who can’t cook to save their lives. I even have a friend who owns her own catering company - she’s a handy friend to have! Some will prepare pies, others will pick them up from Safeway.
One person will turn her nose up at “store-bought” another doesn’t really care.
I’m just thankful that there’s such a thing as pumpkin pie at all. Who could possibly stomach pumpkin without all the sugar, cream and crust anyway?
Here’s what else I’m thankful for this year:
- My husband’s love and support. He says, “you look nice today” every single day when I’m leaving the house!
- A loving and supportive extended family.
- Terrific, fun and funny girlfriends.
- A fabulous company, The Kentwood Company, with wonderful colleagues and ownership dedicated to making our company the best.
- Denver Real Estate - my career and life.
- My eyes - I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t read.
- My son isn’t behind the wheel yet - but I only have two more weeks to be thankful for that…
- The bounty we enjoy and sometimes forget to recognize.
Enjoy your pie, pumpkin or not, your turkey, your potatoes and all the fixins’ on this 2009 Thanksgiving Day! It’s 65 degrees and sunny here in Denver - aren’t we lucky?
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
Whole Foods Denver - Cherry Creek is Busy!
November 25th, 2009 categories: Life In Denver
Shopping at Whole Foods in Cherry Creek can be an exercise in frustration. Trying to pick up a few last minute items there on Thanksgiving Eve is completely insane.
The store has lovely displays, great produce, hormone-free meats and amazing cheeses. It also has parking issues and high prices. Nonetheless, I find myself there at least twice a month picking up a few things that Safeway or King Soopers don’t carry.
I was there this evening. Next year, I need to plan ahead better. The time it took to get into and out of the parking lot was more time than it took to do the shopping.
I did manage to find a beautiful bouquet of flowers and picked up my favorite tuna salad with cranberries.
If you need a few quick items, you may prefer the Whole Foods on Colorado Boulevard or on Hampden Avenue - fewer parking issues. If you want to pick up some information on Denver Real Estate - read the latest article in the Denver Post. I was quoted about yesterday’s Case Shiller report and what the trends bode for our local real estate market.
Real estate sales in Denver are up from last month, prices are down just a little. The price reduction is most likely due the change in seasons from summer to fall. It’s also a reflection of what specific properties have sold.
Enjoy your holiday and stay away from the crowds on Friday!
| Discussion: 4 Comments »
Denver’s Dog Love Affair
September 7th, 2009 categories: Life In Denver
My sister often says, “you can’t live in Denver without owning a dog!”
She’s only half exaggerating. Her two passed away a few years ago, and with a traveling job and two young children, she’s decided to hold off on adopting another.
I married a cat person, and since my dogs were also long departed, it made no sense to add more chaos into our blended family. Actually, my husband is an animal person in general, he just so happened to have cats when we met.
Last year, I was taking my son to the sporting goods store for a few things, and we noticed a doggie adoption clinic going on next door in the parking lot. It was the weekend of Hurricane Ike, and most of the dogs had been brought up from Texas. I told Joe that we could go say hi and give the dogs some love, but we wouldn’t be taking one home.
One took us home.
Duke was the cutest, and saddest dog I’ve ever seen. He reeked of depression and desperation. He looked up at us with his big brown eyes and said, “Get me the hell out of here.” The other dogs were doing flips and handstands to get the attention of anyone willing to take a chance on them. Duke was laying in his cage with his back to it all and didn’t move a muscle, even with flies crawling on his face. Joe said, “Mom, I like this one!” So did I.
I called my husband and he said, “Where are you and what’s all that noise?” I asked him to come see if he liked this dog named Duke who needed a home immediately. He declined coming over, suggesting that if he came we’d be taking them all home. His only questions was, “Does he look like he can run with me?”
Duke has been in our family for one year now, and I think my husband loves him more than he does me! We all love Duke, he gets loads of attention, lots of exercise and he’s totally come out of his shell. He’s truly the best dog we’ve ever had. He walks off leash and would never run, he stays in our yard, he listens, he plays well with all other dogs and never tries to get into a pecking order battle and he gets protective when he needs to.
We’ve entered Duke into the Cutest Dog Competition as a way to bring attention to rescue dogs. While I love full-bred dogs, for sure, I think this mutt is king. We had him DNA tested and he turns out to be a Golden Retriever/Shar Pei mix.
Please go to Duke Faber’s site for the cutest dog and vote for him every day this week. The voting started yesterday and ends on Saturday 9/12. There’s another dog way ahead, so we need to get out the vote! You can vote once per day for the same dog, and they’ll ask you to register first with your email so they can tell that the voting is fair.
So help out needy animals and vote for Duke!
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
In Real Estate, Life is Like a Bowl of Craisins
August 24th, 2009 categories: Life In Denver
Sometimes sweet, sometimes sticky, usually fun, but with a tart side too.
My loyal reader (you know who you are) complained to me recently that I’m not posting as often as I used to or should be. “Are you losing interest?” he asked.
No I’m not losing interest - but today was like this:
My dog’s day was like this:
Well, at least someone in our family is enjoying the Colorado lifestyle.
Sales have been brisk lately, the office is running well, but needs constant attention and my brand new laptop had to be rebuilt two days after I got it. Too much on my plate, and not enough cups of coffee.
Posts I’ll be writing soon:
5 Steps to Selling Your House in a Crazy Up and Down Market
Buyers - Understand Procuring Cause and Why You Should Call Your Agent
Take care! I’ll be back to the keyboard soon. Promise.
| Discussion: 3 Comments »
2009 Denver Fireworks On 3rd & 4th!
July 3rd, 2009 categories: Life In Denver
If you’re planning on watching fireworks for this year’s Independence Day, take note - many municipal fireworks shows are tonight, July 3rd.
Here’s a list of fireworks around Central Denver. We particularly love the Glendale fireworks, and plan on checking the show out tonight after a neighbor’s bar-be-que.
Glendale
- Infinity Park - 950 S. Birch St. - Glendale; July 3 : 9 p.m.
Coors Field
- Coors Field - 2001 Blake St - Lodo; July 3 : 6:10 p.m.
Edgewater
- Citizens Park - 2431 Chase St. - Edgewater; July 3 : 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Invesco Field
- Invesco Field at Mile High - 1701 Bryant St. - Denver; July 4 : 7 p.m.
(Fireworks begin after the Outlaws game.)
Four Mile Historic Park
- Four Mile Historic Park - 715 S. Forest St.; July 4 : 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Have a fun and safe 4th of July.
If you’re hanging around wanting to look at pictures of homes for sale, check out GretchensDenver.com for the most up-to-date available listings in the Denver Metro area.
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