In 2019, our fearless founder and chief squirrel, Tara Bardeen, is trying something new every single week. She explains, “I’ve traveled to 40 countries (and counting) and often yearn for my next voyage, but ultimately what draws me to wander is the wonder of newness and the respite from routine. So, as I save up for my next trip, I’ll find new adventures to be had right here. What should I try next?”
Blossoms of Light
What is it about lights on a chilly night?! There’s such wondrous magic to wandering through a landscape of lights on a winter evening. Blossoms of Light Denver Botanic Gardens is a favorite family tradition for us. The event changes a bit each year, so there’s something new to see even if you’ve been before. Evenings often sell out, so buying tickets ahead of time is a good idea. Share an experience and make some memories! Runs nightly (yes, Xmas Eve, Xmas and NYE too) 5p-9p now through January 1, 2019.
Tara Donovan: Fieldwork
Artist Tara Donovan explores materials in a myriad of ways and the results are completely fascinating and engrossing. Her exhibition has taken over MCA Denver and includes works incorporating slinkies, plastic index cards, straws, tar paper, folded Mylar and more. On view until Sunday, January 27th. See it!
Neighborhood Ties: Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is bounded by Speer Blvd., 6th Ave., the Platte River and Colfax Ave.
“Every house in that neighborhood is 120+ years old. Our house is 127, I believe. It’s a 1,400-squart-foot Victorian with a great yard. And it’s historic from a foliage perspective too. We have great old trees.”
-Ricardo Baca, Lincoln Park neighbor
Neighborhood Ties: Highlands
The Highland neighborhood, also called Highlands, is bounded by Federal Blvd., 38th Ave., Inca St., the South Platte River and Speer Blvd.
“I think people forget how cool the river is, I mean the Platte. We see so much wildlife down there. For being in the heart of the city, we’ve seen bald eagles down there, coyotes, hawks, beavers, huge turtles, muskrats; pretty consistently you’ll see something. I think that people forget that that nature fix is right there, just a 10 minute walk from downtown.”
– Carl Reichley, Highlands neighbor
Neighborhood Ties: Globeville
Globeville is roughly bounded by Inca St., 52nd Ave., Franklin St. and the South Platte River,
“People actually live here. It’s not just someplace to drive through. There are things going on here and people living their lives here.”
-Antonia Montoya, Globeville neighbor
Neighborhood Ties: Cherry Creek
Cherry Creek is bounded by University and Colorado Boulevards, 6th, Alameda and the Cherry Creek.
“Where else in the city can you just walk out the door and walk to everything? There’s no where else, really. I walk to the grocery store, to the post office, to the library, to the dentist; there’s everything here. It’s so European.”
-Marianne Orkin, Cherry Creek neighbor
Neighborhood Ties: Stapleton
Stapleton is generally bounded by Quebec, Montview/26th, I-70, Havana and 56th.
“I feel like there’s a real sense of community here in a way that I did not think there would be. I thought it would be fake or something, but I joined this moms club and I met like a hundred other moms–a hundred!! And I hang out with them and I think that’s so cool. It’s just our neighborhood group.”
-Rebekah Henderson, Stapleton neighbor
Neighborhood Ties: Five Points
The Five Points neighborhood is bounded by Downing St., Park Avenue, 20th St., the Platte River and 38th St.
“Some of the greatest musicians and entertainers passed through here. I mean, they were walking up and down Welton Street. So it’s like, okay, Count Basie was here and I’m walking where he used to walk? It’s that connection to the past that I just really love.”
– Cha Ka, Five Points Community Advocate
Ball Park? Curtis Park? RiNo? That’s all Five Points. This neighborhood is home to some of Denver’s oldest homes and some of its newest developments. It’s a neighborhood that has always attracted creatives whether musicians during the Jazz era or artists who now make their studios along Larimer. Vibrant and dynamic, the past seems to be very much in dialogue with the present in Five Points and it is this layering of eras, cultures and stories that make this one of Denver’s most fascinating neighborhoods.
Neighborhood Ties: Washington Park
The Washington Park neighborhood is bounded by University Blvd., Downing St. Cherry Creek and I-25.
“I grew up in L.A. and I was trying to describe Wash Park to someone out there, so I said, it’s like a beach in the middle of a city. A beach community is small and tight, and there’s always lots of activity all over the place, all of the time. The park is the big draw here and there’s so much activity going on all the time. It’s an amenity that’s really a plus for the neighborhood, just like a beach would be.”
-Janet Lammens, Wash Park neighbor
