Denver

[CooterBrown 17,724]

17 minutes ago, mdmost said:

mdleast and I are headed to Denver in mid-August to watch some baseball. We plan to rent a car to tool around the Rocky Mountains NP and Boulder. What's the best place to stay to be in the middle of things? We don't have to stay downtown since we'll have a car. Will definitely pour through the thread for food and beer places. I've been there briefly and went to Epic Brewing before jumping on a bus to Red Rocks. 

I just went to RMNP two weeks ago.  You'll want to get a car pass.  One tip is that 40% of the tickets are held back for release at 7pm the night before.  I was able to easily get a pass for my arrival window with zero issues the night before.  I recommend getting the pass with the Bear Lake Road add-on.  If you go to the end of the road, there's a big parking lot and some pretty easy but enjoyable hikes...one goes by 3 lakes and then the loop around Bear Lake.  There was still a lot of snow and ice on the ground two weeks ago but I'd bet it's gone now.  I had brought my hiking boots without GoreTex so my feet wouldn't get hot but it would've been better wearing them since I had to pick my path to avoid getting my boots wet.  If you backtrack down the road, there the Glacier Gorge Trail and Alberta Falls.  You can fill up the day with those trails.   Back in Estes Park, there's a run down burger joint called something like Burgers-Gyros.  It was a damn fine burger.

If I was mostly staying in Denver, I'd just stay downtown and have that extra 45 minutes drive to RMNP.

[6th Street 6,270]

Maven is a good spot, right by Coors Field and has the Milk Market inside. Rally Hotel with McGregor Square is across the street. 

For more upscale there's Jaquard and Halcyon in Cherry Creek. 

[Chewbacca 7,617]

mdleast and I are headed to Denver in mid-August to watch some baseball. We plan to rent a car to tool around the Rocky Mountains NP and Boulder. What's the best place to stay to be in the middle of things? We don't have to stay downtown since we'll have a car. Will definitely pour through the thread for food and beer places. I've been there briefly and went to Epic Brewing before jumping on a bus to Red Rocks. 

Depends on where you want to be. Can't go wrong with Boulder or Golden. I would pick Boulder, personally, but it's a little farther from Coors Field.

[CO Horn 151]

21 minutes ago, Chewbacca said:

10 hours ago, mdmost said:

mdleast and I are headed to Denver in mid-August to watch some baseball. We plan to rent a car to tool around the Rocky Mountains NP and Boulder. What's the best place to stay to be in the middle of things? We don't have to stay downtown since we'll have a car. Will definitely pour through the thread for food and beer places. I've been there briefly and went to Epic Brewing before jumping on a bus to Red Rocks. 

Depends on where you want to be. Can't go wrong with Boulder or Golden. I would pick Boulder, personally, but it's a little farther from Coors Field.

Not that much farther, plus you can take the light rail into Coors Field.  Personally, I would still choose Boulder

[mdmost 42,316]

9 hours ago, Chewbacca said:

19 hours ago, mdmost said:

mdleast and I are headed to Denver in mid-August to watch some baseball. We plan to rent a car to tool around the Rocky Mountains NP and Boulder. What's the best place to stay to be in the middle of things? We don't have to stay downtown since we'll have a car. Will definitely pour through the thread for food and beer places. I've been there briefly and went to Epic Brewing before jumping on a bus to Red Rocks. 

Depends on where you want to be. Can't go wrong with Boulder or Golden. I would pick Boulder, personally, but it's a little farther from Coors Field.

So we're there for 2 full days, 2 travel days. We arrive on Thursday late afternoon and leave late afternoon on Sunday. Friday will be heading to RMNP. Saturday is exploring downtown and the baseball at night. Sunday we figure we'd look around Boulder before heading to the airport. I'll take a look at Boulder and Golden. We obviously want to hit RMNP as soon as our reservation allows. I'm aiming to get a 9am entry. It opens up for our day on Monday morning. 

[MrX 683]

Stay in Boulder. 
 

Downtown got killed by the pandemic. 

[royiv 9,044]

2 hours ago, mdmost said:

Saturday is exploring downtown

Don't bother. Downtown Denver is terrible. Find another neighborhood to explore and then Uber to Coors Field for the game.

[MrX 683]

Hang out in Highlands, LoHi, RiNo (fuck me it’s trendy though), or Sunrise - anything northwest/north/northeast of downtown. Lots of fun stuff up there. Hit up one of the Sweet Cow ice cream locations while you’re here. 

[mdleast 8,091]

For you beer nerd types such as I, any recs for breweries in the area (let's say generally in the Denver/Boulder/metro area) to check out? It's kind of a choice overload as I look at the options.  When looking at out of town places, I am always looking for (i) primarily, the best local beers we can't get back here in Texas and (ii) maybe secondarily, breweries we get distributed here in Texas but have a great brewery/taproom that's worth the visit.  TIA

Edited June 30 by mdleast

[Southland 35]

4 minutes ago, mdleast said:

For you beer nerd types such as I, any recs for breweries in the area (let's say generally in the Denver/Boulder/metro area) to check out? It's kind of a choice overload as I look at the options.  When looking at out of town places, I am always looking for (i) primarily, the best local beers we can't get back here in Texas and (ii) maybe secondarily, breweries we get distributed here in Texas but have a great brewery/taproom that's worth the visit.  TIA

My go to breweries are:

Bruz: Love Belgian beers and theirs are solid.

Avery: Big fan of their barrel aged beers. Restaurant is really good too with cajun and southern food. I usually get the gumbo.

New Terrain: The Mirage mosaic/sour is one of my favorite beers.

Bull and Bush: British style pub that brews their own beer. The food is really good here and if you are into whiskey, their selection is one of the best in Denver.

Trve Brewing: Heavy metal themed brewery. A little heavy on IPAs on their menu, but I always find something I like.

Denver Beer Company: A few different locations around the metro area. Juicy Freak and Princess Yum Yum are great summer beers.

There are a few others I usually hit a couple of times a year, but these are my top ones.

[4th&Five 41,111]

Our Mutual Friend is a fun one. That area in general is full of good places. 

[Js1 82,948]

OMF is great. Went to Bull & Bush last week, big fan. Liked Fiction Beer Co as well 

[6th Street 6,270]

Improper City in RiNo for the outdoor area and food trucks in the back

New Terrain in Golden - love that key line kolsch on a warm day and the views are nice too

 

[Herbie Hancock 7,272]

Tap Fourteen has a badass selection of taps and they are all local brews. If you want to taste a lot and never have to leave your seat go see them.


As for the imbecile that said he couldn’t find anything to eat or drink Denver, consider the fucking source. I’m in Denver for work 6-8 times a year for the last 9 years and I have yet to have a bad time. Stay at the Rally. Don’t eat from the taco truck on Blake St.

[Texzilla588 765]

Lots of great food in Denver. At all costs avoid BeauJo’s Pizza. It’s horrible from a regional chain that some locals love. Imagine an 8 pound doughy pizza covered in honey. No thanks.

[mdmost 42,316]

On 6/28/2024 at 12:59 PM, CooterBrown said:

I just went to RMNP two weeks ago.  You'll want to get a car pass.  One tip is that 40% of the tickets are held back for release at 7pm the night before.  I was able to easily get a pass for my arrival window with zero issues the night before.  I recommend getting the pass with the Bear Lake Road add-on.  If you go to the end of the road, there's a big parking lot and some pretty easy but enjoyable hikes...one goes by 3 lakes and then the loop around Bear Lake.  There was still a lot of snow and ice on the ground two weeks ago but I'd bet it's gone now.  I had brought my hiking boots without GoreTex so my feet wouldn't get hot but it would've been better wearing them since I had to pick my path to avoid getting my boots wet.  If you backtrack down the road, there the Glacier Gorge Trail and Alberta Falls.  You can fill up the day with those trails.   Back in Estes Park, there's a run down burger joint called something like Burgers-Gyros.  It was a damn fine burger.

If I was mostly staying in Denver, I'd just stay downtown and have that extra 45 minutes drive to RMNP.

Thanks. Got our timed entry+ this morning for the day we're heading to RMNP. Excited to get back. I haven't been there since I was in junior high. 

[6th Street 6,270]

Hike out to Emerald Lake from the Bear Lake lot. Amazing views 

[fwtxbevo 91]

9 hours ago, Texzilla588 said:

Lots of great food in Denver. At all costs avoid BeauJo’s Pizza. It’s horrible from a regional chain that some locals love. Imagine an 8 pound doughy pizza covered in honey. No thanks.

FYI. You can have your pizza there made with thin crust, saving you about 7 of the 8 pounds. Plus, the honey is for the left-over crust. The pizza is decent, but the atmosphere, especially the one in Idaho Springs is fun.

Edited July 1 by fwtxbevo

[CooterBrown 17,724]

14 hours ago, fwtxbevo said:

FYI. You can have your pizza there made with thin crust, saving you about 7 of the 8 pounds. Plus, the honey is for the left-over crust. The pizza is decent, but the atmosphere, especially the one in Idaho Springs is fun.

The thin crust is "prairie style". It's solid pizza. 

[Texzilla588 765]

FYI. You can have your pizza there made with thin crust, saving you about 7 of the 8 pounds. Plus, the honey is for the left-over crust. The pizza is decent, but the atmosphere, especially the one in Idaho Springs is fun.

I only ate at one of the restaurants once and it sucked. However the company I worked at would often bring in lunch for meetings and the secretary often had BeauJo’s brought in. Eight pounds, bland sauce, a mountain of junk, and still throbbing after delivery. I can find positives in nearly any pizza and could not with this. It was 20 years ago so I never saw any thin crust then.

[Texzilla588 765]

When we lived in Broomfield our favorite “fancy” spot was Mizuna in Denver. It was a perfect cozy place on cold snowy nights. I’ve lived in Memphis, DFW, San Francisco, Portland, and travelled all over the country and eaten some fine food in great places. Mizuna in that 02- 05 time was near perfect.

Is it still as good? That’s a long run for a restaurant.

[That Guy 950]

On 6/28/2024 at 11:59 AM, CooterBrown said:

Back in Estes Park, there's a run down burger joint called something like Burgers-Gyros.  It was a damn fine burger.

Burgers were damn good!

Fried pickle spears > fried pickle chips.

[Js1 82,948]

2 minutes ago, That Guy said:

Fried pickle spears > fried pickle chips.

[Aqua Buddha 14,107]

On 6/26/2024 at 8:04 PM, billfromlaketravis said:

I think I’m doing Denver wrong. I didn’t venture outside of downtown this trip, but it was a completely uninspired restaurant and bar scene. And also hot AF, just for fun. 
 

It’s giving me strong to very strong Atlanta with mountains vibes. Airport hub city with mediocre food and $20 cocktails on every corner. 

Denver is the White Atlanta.  Once I heard that, I couldn't un hear it.

[Etexhorn13 3,013]

Any recs for a casual dinner spot in cherry creek?

[royiv 9,044]

4 hours ago, Etexhorn13 said:

Any recs for a casual dinner spot in cherry creek?

Cherry Cricket for very casual.

[PRONG HORN 3,086]

 

[huge 3,774]

Any recommendations on Red Rocks transportation?

[Herbie Hancock 7,272]

Any recommendations on Red Rocks transportation?

How many people?

[Chewbacca 7,617]

5 minutes ago, huge said:

Any recommendations on Red Rocks transportation?

If you have a rental car, just drive.  Park downhill from the venue on the road near the steps.  You'll be in and out quickly.  If that's not an option, I'm not much help.

[topochico 1,048]

Parking is fairly easy. If you want to shuttle, RR offers several pick up and drop off locations for $65/person.

https://redrocksshuttle.com

I have never used a ride share service, but I hear that can be a bit of a mess. 

[6th Street 6,270]

If you Uber make sure you know how to get to the pickup area. Otherwise you'll never find it in the dark after the show. 

[mdmost 42,316]

I used these guys when I went to Red Rocks in 2018. I didn't have a car so I just took an Uber to the Epic Brewing taphouse (RIP) that they picked up from.

https://bustoshow.org/

[CooterBrown 17,724]

10 hours ago, 6th Street said:

If you Uber make sure you know how to get to the pickup area. Otherwise you'll never find it in the dark after the show. 

The only time I used Uber at Red Rocks, the driver happened to be a former employee of the venue.  He dropped me off at the handicap dropoff which is at the top of the venue.  There's zero wait up there and you're on level with the merch stands and food vendors.  It was much faster and easier than waiting in the long line and walking uphill for a mile at the regular entrance.  

I didn't think of it until right now but I wonder if you can also request an Uber for pickup in that same location.  The regular Uber pickup took over an hour. If I ever used Uber there again, I would request the Uber during the last song.

All that said, I would just drive. It's easy and if you're relatively quick walking to the parking lot, there's minimal wait to exit.