Live Denver

Viral Video Contest - Why I love to live at Stapleton.

Want a chance at your 2-minutes of fame while expressing what moves you about your neighborhood?  Stapleton is having their viral video contest that deals out some racy awards.

August is the last month to get your 2-minute video put together and enter it into Stapleton's viral video campaign "Why I love to live at Stapleton".  The contest gets Stapleton residents the opportunity to express why Stapleton is the place to be and if your video is voted the most popular on You Tube you get to take home a couple of scooters from Sportique Scooters.

So, if you live in Stapleton and you have got something to say about it then take advantage of the two remaining weeks of the viral video contest.  If you want to see the current viral video entrants click out them out at the Stapleton Contest at You Tube. 

The videos are great, some of them are really funny and catchy.  Get involved and vote for the one that tickles your fancy.  For all the contest details go to www.StapletonDenver.com and get the scoop.

I can already fell the wind blowing through my hair--oh, wait I don't live in Stapleton--Darn, can't play!  Hmmm, at least I can dream of a new, orange scooter.

Sunflower Farmers Market ~ Serious & Silly.

Sunflower Farmers Market

4700 West 38th Ave. (38th & Wolff)
Denver, CO 80212

www.sfmarkets.com
303.433.2350

Welcome to the 'hood, Sunflower!  The Berkeley, Sunnyside & Highland residents have anxiously been awaiting the arrival of the market with great quality food at 'Silly' prices.  I really enjoy shopping here and have become addicted to the weekly sales.  A tip to shop Sunflower:  Go on Wednesday when you can take advantage of last week's sale items that overlap with the current week's sale items.  The deals are plentiful but be warned--it's a well known fact that Wednesday's are Double Ad Day so be prepared for the crowd.

The Healthy Grocery retailer not only offers low prices but also rewards customers for being environmentally conscious with reserved parking for low emitting & fuel efficient vehicles, credits for bring your own sacks to bag the groceries and also a nutrition & cooking educational series for consumers.

My favorite part is the coffee selection which features international varieties that are organic and/or fair-trade for the steal of $5.99 a pound.  They really aren't kidding when they say "Serious Food ~ Silly Prices!"

Sunflower Markets feature local products and have a focus on organic and minimally processed items.  The silly prices are not only a great marketing sloan but a nice savings at a health foods store, for a change!

Denver real estate quickie. July 2007.

Is the media ever going to stop the gloomy news flashes of the burst housing bubbles, exurbanite number of foreclosed homes and the general horrible real estate climate?  Yes the cycle is making a turn that is not upward and Yes there are rising interest rates, however, it's better to read between the lines of what sells papers to find the real truth about what the Denver real estate market is doing.

Through 2006 and into first quarter of 2007 we've seen high levels of inventory throughout Denver at all price points.  The wave of summer buyers has been sweeping up some of the available homes bring our currently available inventory down 5.37% from this same time last year.  This is a positive sign as we step into the third quarter of 2007 with less homes available sellers can look forward to having less direct competition in their neighborhoods.  Building permits are down 46% from this time last year as builders brace themselves for the slowing market.

	Home Sales Price Change
Single Family Homes	-3.86%
Condos	-0.93%
Combined	-3.47%
	Average Home Price
Single Family Home	$316,024
Condo	$192,885
Combined	$289,294

Currently the average days a home for sale will stay on the market is 95 days and in July 2007 the Denver Metro area sold a total of 4,980 homes for the month.  The Denver real estate market is not turning circles on itself but it is holding steady--read: a mildly rolling wave on a graph as opposed to the media portrayal of sea sickening undertow that draws downward eternally off the chart.

When it's all said and done now is still a good time to purchase real estate in Denver-- interest rates are reasonable and there are solid investments and good homes currently on the market. Investment opportunities such as buying at pre-construction pricing on new construction or a fixer in a good neighborhood are great ways to take advantage of the stable market. 

The Denver real estate industry is having some difficulty wading through the disappearance of sub-prime financing and the tightened leashes of the lending industry. As always, reading between the lines of the media is the only way one can make logical sense of the media reports.  The fact is newspapers with positive news don't sell so relying on a trusted resource is the best way to get solid facts about the current Denver real estate climate. 

Denver. Art Walk ~ First Friday Style.

Art anyone?  The first Friday evening of every month is when the local art studios and galleries open their doors so the public can get a glimpse of local and international art.  Even if art isn't your thing the city's art walks are a great place to people watch and enjoy the free wine & snacks.  The Art Walks are not overly pretentious and open to all walks of life and open to everybody who is interested in the talent that is displayed.  Here's where the Art Walks happen:

Santa Fe Art Walk.
Lincoln Park (80204)
Santa Fe between 5th & 10th

This is the original Art Walk in Denver and features the largest number of studios and galleries in one swoop, 30 to be exact. First Friday Art Walk is one of the many events that goes on here, 'click' out www.artdistrictonsantafe.com for the full deal & other weekly happenings. 

Tennyson Art Walk.
Berkeley (80212)
Tennyson between 38th & 45th.

Tennyson Art Walk features 15 galleries and stores.  Tennyson Art Walk is zesty and has a much different feel, one that is a combo of shopping, art & perhaps some food. 

Golden Triangle Arts.
Golden Triangle (80204)
Colfax/Broadway/Speer

This First Friday offers a Free art bus sponsored by Golden Triangle Museum District that will cart participants around the Golden Triangle to the galleries that are a bit further from one another.  It's a cultural evening that is free and fun--can't beat that.  The maps for featured galleries are available at www.gtmd.org  or for info 303.534.0771.

The Art Walks have become really popular through the years and are a great way to spend an evening doing something a little different in Denver.  They are held year- round but the summer nights create a perfect backdrop to stroll the street and see what Denver's art culture has to offer. Check it out and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the art, food, people & fun. 

Stapleton DOES feel different.

The questions come in all the time about what the old Denver airport, the New urbanism development Stapleton is all about.  There are skeptics out there, after all how can you make 4700 acres of old airport space and runways and a rickety old airport an urban suburbia minutes from downtown?

Master developer, Forest City Enterprises, pulled this one off, making the vision of a neighborhood brimming with new homes, quick downtown access, socially interactive blocks and huge open-space parks and rec paths into a reality.  They are not only pulling it off but it is really turning out to be a cool community.  Stapleton has the parks--and lots of 'em, they build green with sustainability at the top of their priority list, and they have homes to fit most all pocketbooks. 

Stapleton is located to the Northeast of downtown, south of I-70 & Quebec which is about a 10-15 minute drive into the city.  The location is a coin flip that seems to be it's biggest draw and biggest deterrent at the same time.  Many urban dwellers searching for a place to call home complain that the 'east' location is just too far from the action--action in the mountains that is.  This couldn't be further from the truth, actually Stapleton's location gives direct, immediate access to to I-70 to fly you directly west and get you into the hills in less than 25 minutes which is better than many other neighborhoods that are 'as the crow flies' closer to the Rocky Mountain Range.  The area also has it's vantage point to gaze at the Front Range from afar which more often than not equates to a more spectacular mountain view. 

I am a huge fan of green building and those who are leading the pack to what our eco-friendly future looks like and Stapleton gets a pat on the back for their green efforts.  The developers require that all home builders in Stapleton must build to meet the government's Energy Star program which promote energy efficient homes.  The voice of the community is heard here and the voice states loud and clear that efforts to promote a better environment now and in the future really do make a difference.  One of my favorite recycled aspects:  The "Staple Stone" is huge blocks of the old runways and airport parking lots used as curbs, drainage systems and in landscaping throughout the 1100-acre park system and through Metro Denver.  The smaller home lots conserve space and the provide a neighborhood that is connected and made for easy walking.  I noticed people out on the street walking their dogs and children playing on each block.

The development will be celebrating the grand opening of it's 80-acre Central Park which will be a public park, the third largest in the Denver Parks & Rec system, this coming Fall (2007).  The community already has a lengthy list of events from the summer concert series to the Sunday farmer's market.  The interactive, 'meet your nieghborhoods' vibe is clearly apparent in Stapleton.  All events are open to the public and are a great way to enjoy the summer days, experiencing one of Denver's newest additions to the list of pretty cool neighborhoods.  There are events for everybody, click out www.StapletonDenver.com for the full scoop.  They even have a baby stroller exercise conditioning class for mom's & dad's to get fit, meet other parents and take advantage of the parks--Do you have to have a baby to participate?!

Currently Stapleton is five years old with 12,000 residents.  The area has about 15-20 years more of growth, residential and commercial.  When it's all said and done the  4700 acre area should have 30,000 residents and 35,000 workers.  Summer of 2008 will bring 15,000 employees to Fitzsimons, many of whom will be searching for a home sweet home and Stapleton is a great option.  Those who will be working at the new Fitzsimons hospital complex can say goodbye to a long commute, well unless one considers 10 minutes a long haul.

Currently there are 17 builders in Stapleton selling condos, lofts, single-family homes & estate homes.  The homes range for affordable living (it's income qualified) to park-front estate homes.  The price point starts in the high 100's and go up from there.   I enjoy the mixed architecture of the community which promotes different styles home after home, giving a varied look to the community.  The culmination of classic and modern styles gives Stapleton a unique look and doesn't look similar to many other neighborhoods in Denver. 

Stapleton is change, a change in the right direction to a more sustainable Denver with the look and feel of a contemporary community. Stapleton looks good on Denver.

Backpacking the Colorado Rockies- Routt Nat'l Forest

Trekking around Colorado is one of the many blisses that the summertime has to offer.  There is nothing like getting out of the city and into the expanses  of the Rocky Mountain wilderness.  Recently we took a trip up to Routt National Forest near Steamboat Springs, Colorado which is about three hours from Denver, Colorado.  This particular area of the Rockies is called the Flat Top Mountains-yes, they are flat across the top.  They look as if somebody came by and sliced the top part of the mountains off leaving large, flat plains on top of 11,000-foot mountains.

Our getaway was a three day, two night backpacking adventure through the series of the Lost Lakes, summiting the Chinese Wall and crossing the terrifying Devil's  Causeway--sounds scary does it?  Actually it was a little scary at the Causeway where you cross on a 3-foot wide path that is a 1500-foot drop on either side.  It definitely shook my nerves but it's a mind over matter thing, keep your eyes on the path not the plummeting cliff steps away.

Wild mountain flowers sprinkled the hillside as we worked our way back into the valley where the pocket lakes dotted the landscape.  The lakes provided a beautiful backdrop for camping and fishing but I had never seen so many mosquito's in Colorado. My suggestion is bug spray and lots of it.

The final leg of our three day journey was a summit of the Chinese Wall and follow the ridge that would complete the loop and take us back to the trail head at Stillwater Reservoir.  The Chinese Wall Trail is above timberline so it is completely exposed to the elements.  We decided to beat the sun, wind and afternoon showers by starting before the sun rose. We packed up camp and were off hiking by 4 am.  Climbing the vertical part by headlamp we were able to watch the sun wake from the top of the Chinese Wall.  It's those events that are a gentle reminder that moments like those are what we live for and to make those moments as frequent as possible. The sun bathed us in light as we summitted the ridge and quickly warmed up the open meadow.  We hiked all morning and arrived back at the car by mid-morning before the sun roasted us through.

The trip was just another example of the lifestyle that our everyday Colorado has to offer.  These adventures are in Denver's backyard and are minutes away from the concrete jungle of downtown. 

This particular loop was 22 miles which we did at a leisurely  pace.  The loop ranges from 10,200 feet to almost 12,000 feet in elevation and is rarely more than a moderate hike.  The trail is clearly defined the entire way due to the horse excursions that share the path on occasion.  There is no road access to the Lost Lakes so there aren't many people in the area--We saw a few fishermen and one backpacker the entire three days.

To get to Stillwater Reservoir take County Road 7 west for 17 miles for Yampa all the way to it's end.  The trail head is clearly marked, very easy to find.  This trail is hikable July to September and can be windy so bring the correct gear.  Water is everywhere except the Chinese Wall so prepare accordingly.  The Devil's Causeway is undoubtedly a thrill but it is not impossible to cross nor as scary as many say it is.  You will be able to cross it, after all crossing it shaves six miles off your trek that should be motivation enough.  Please enjoy this trek as much as we did.

2020 Lawrence

2020 Lawrence
Denver, CO 80203

Downtown Denver condos that get a big, 'green' thumbs up.  This project is 60 residential units with parking garage floors and ground-level commercial/retail.  The Building is located in Ballpark at 20th and Lawrence. 

Currently the condos are for sale, pre-construction, and range from about $277,000 to $712,000 for 1000 square to 1760 square feet.  The condos are LEED Silver certified with features such as the optional upgrade for energy by rooftop photovoltaic solar panels, translation:  Earth friendly electric source.  The solar power panels will give a unit 100% of it's electric power. The flooring will be sustainable wood floors and carpet will be wool which is durable, naturally stain-resistant, and promotes better indoor air quality.  The bathrooms are equipped with dual flush toilets which use much less water than traditional bowls and resident parking will have reserved parking spaces for hybrid vehicles.  Denver's sky scape will be enjoyed by residents on each condos individual balcony. 

This Zocalo Development project is planned to be completed around the Summer of 2009 and currently pre-construction prices are available.  These condos can be added to Denver's ever-growing list of treehuggin' Denver, Colorado buildings.

Independance Day Celebrations in Denver, CO.

Let's kick off this 4th of July in style!  If you find yourself in the city this 4th of July then get to one of the many events and enjoy the festivities:

Liberty Run.  Washington Park.  7 am.
This morning run will let you enjoy your hot dogs, hamburgers & beer at the 4th of July afternoon BBQ's guilt-free!  Registration is at 7 am and the 4-mile run and 1-mile walk start at 8 am.  There's live music and a kid's fun run so you can bring the whole family.

Blues Traveler Concert.  Red Rocks. 6 pm.
The Annual 4th of July Blues Traveler Concert at Red Rocks.  One of my personal favorite places to spend the 4th, where you can listen to good music with the incredible view of Denver city lights and fireworks as the backdrop.  You can see all the fireworks in the whole city as you watch the concert, can beat that!

Colorado Rockies vs. New York Mets.  Coors Field.  6:05 pm.
See the baseball game and watch Denver's grandest fireworks show.  This 4th of July game is usually sold out so your best bet for tickets is to have a good friend who knows somebody.  Or scout for tickets through online ticket vendors or show up and buy them outside Coors Field.

Denver Independence Day Celebration.  City Park.  7 pm.
Denver's City Park invites you to spend the evening with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for an All-American Program.  Bring the family, a blanket or chairs and enjoy the music and fireworks.  Go early for good seats if you want to be close to the performance.

My advice is to take advantage of public transportation or alternative modes of transit if you are headed downtown.  Independence day is one of the most difficult days of the year to find parking in Denver so use the light rail, ride your bike, hail a cab or just walk.  Enjoy your 2007 Independence Day wherever you end up--Have fun and Be Safe. 

Pooches Palace ~ Denver's Premier Doggie Daycare.

Denver pooches ponder how can I keep my convenient, urban lifestyle without giving up my liberating suburban existence?

Don’t you urban pups worry your furry little heads for one second longer.  Doggie Daycare brings the suburban into the urban with open-play areas, obedience training, grooming and over-night care! Canine critters don’t have to stay at home alone while their human goes to work. Gone are those days, now they can hitch a ride with a human and enjoy a fun-filled day of doggie socialization.

In 2000 the idea of daycare centers for the dog was laughed at and now there are 10 doggie daycares within a five miles radius of downtown Denver.  Jennifer Fiechuk, co-owner of Pooches Palace, says that since they opened their doors in 2003 they can barely keep up with the demand. 2007 brought over-night boarding to Pooches Palace in the Denver Metro area and a high demand for their custom doggie condos.

With lifestyle changes in the downtown, human population urban dwellers are opting for pets rather then children. Demanding work schedules for young professionals make it difficult for them to be with their animals and doggie daycares give them the flexibility to still delight in the joy of pets.

Pooches Palace offers daily care while you are at work or over-night boarding if you need to go out of town and can't bring the pup. Daycare centers encourage you to get on the waiting list for over-night boarding as most of the good 'doggie condos' are booked through holiday weekends and the summer season--sounds like all the good vacation spots!

Pooches Palace
1277 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80204
303.892.5556

www.poochespalacedenver.com

Inca 29. Denver Brownstones.

2900 Inca Street
Denver, CO 80202

Prospect Park's newest urban residential units now have phase two complete.  29 Inca are multi-floor townhomes with no neighbors above or below each unit.  The brownstones offer different floor plans with two or three bedroom layouts, views for days from the rooftop patios and exquisite finishes.

They are situated just north of 20th and Chestnut, steps away from Coors Field and LoDo in Prospect Park.  This is the second phase and there are units that are currently marketed for sale priced from the mid-500's up to $1.2 million.  The brownstones range in size (about 1450-3000 square feet) and are 3-stories: the first level is garage and storage, The middle two levels are living space, topped with a private rooftop deck.

The standard features are anything but standard with Viking appliances and European cabinets in the kitchen, glass tile accents in the kitchen and bathrooms, gas lines to the deck and the list goes on.  Level Development and PBA Architects put good thought into what home buyers are looking for and it shows in the high-grade features and flow of the floor plans.