Art & Culture Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Travel: Art & Culture Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Travel
by maribeth
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Viva Italia, Viva Italian Americans, Viva la Dolce Vita in Denver
The Sweet Life: Italian Style
Clemente. My name ends with a vowel, just like Delgato, Cardaluccio, pizza. When my grandparents emigrated from Italy our name was actually spelled Clementi. They Americanized it somewhat with an “e.” Even Frankie Valli once contemplated making his stage name Vally with a “y.” But he opted to be a good ‘ole Jersey Boy and settled on Valli and in so doing preserved more of his Italian heritage.
Jersey Boys: Italian American Guys
My dad is a Frankie, too. Not from Jersey but from Troy, New York. Close enough. Recently the music of the Jersey Boys helped him to reconnect with his roots. I spent a lot of time back east this past summer helping my father get through a difficult passage in his life and every step of the way we were serenaded by the melodious and memorable sounds of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. We became Jersey Boys addicts. My dad had seen this explosive Broadway show that recounts the story of four Italian American guys and their rise to fame last spring. Their hits from “Sherry” to “Oh, What a Night” to “My Eyes Adored You” to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and more buoyed him up to a place of joy he had not known in quite some time. Through this music, I could tell my dad was retracing part of his own story. And I was right there with him, rediscovering a sound and a slice of Italian American culture I had not paid much attention to in quite some time.
Art & Culture Denver Hotels & Lodging Shopping: Art & Culture Denver Hotels & Lodging Shopping
by maribeth
Comments Off on Holiday Time in Denver
Holiday Time in Denver
Ebenezer Scrooge at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Having grown up in upstate New York, a trip to the big apple was almost a tradition around this time of year to take in the festive ambiance, glittering decorations, holiday entertainment specials and a bit of shopping. For many of us, Denver is the big city and I already know a lot of people planning a trip there before winter truly sets in. For shopping, a trip to Cherry Creek Shopping Center is a must. Cherry Creek Mall and Cherry Creek North serve as home to some of the most alluring stores in the Rockies. I suggest you stay at Loews Denver Hotel, a luxury property that is offering screaming deals on weekend travel (Thursday-Sunday) with rates beginning as low as just over $100. a night. They’re a short shuttle ride away from the mall and they offer a ton of perks and discounts on Cherry Creek and more that will make your stay pay for itself. Entertainment-wise, you’ll want to take in at least one of the exciting shows at The Denver Center for the Performing Arts. A Christmas Carol and Jersey Boys are sure to be tops, and in my opinion, the perfect antidotes to any bah humbug sentiments brought on by these blustery times. Denver has become quite the arts capital, you know. Why, it almost reminds me of New York City.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center, 303-388-3900, www.shopcherrycreek.com
Loews Denver Hotel, 303-782-9300, www.loewshotels.com/denver
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 303-893-4100, www.dcpa.org
A Christmas Carol Finale
Art & Culture Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Travel: Art & Culture Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on More LoDo Love
More LoDo Love
Larimer Square (photo courtesy of DMCVB)
My late-August jaunt was such a flash trip to Denver that I didn’t have time to hit my favorite haunts, most of which are located in LoDo, Denver’s historic Lower Downtown, a 26-block area between the main part of downtown and Union Station. This section is fun to explore by foot so that you can best take in its abundance of high western Victorian buildings, many of which house interesting stores, art galleries, restaurants, bars and hotels.
Colorado Denver Restaurants Romance & Relationships Shopping Travel: Colorado Denver Restaurants Shopping Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Night Out in Denver
Night Out in Denver
I love visiting a place when it’s in the throes of a big happening. It couldn’t have gotten much bigger recently in Denver during the Democratic National Convention. The streets were buzzing with all kinds of people from all over the country, all over the world, in fact. I had never seen so many fashionable looking people in the mile high city—the old cow town myth has certainly been put to rest!
After a short while though I was feeling rather alone in the crowd. So I went and sought comfort at Tattered Cover, one of my all-time favorite bookstores and certainly one of the finest book emporiums in our country. Their LoDo, or Lower Downtown, location pleases me the best; this worked out well since that’s the area where most of the Convention hoopla was taking place.
Fortunately just as I was beginning to tire from checking my e-mails from my cozy armchair at this most welcoming bookstore, I received a call from David Craig, General Manager of Hotel Teatro, Denver’s award-winning boutique hotel. It was time for some distraction and I was more than willing to receive it from this charming man, certainly one of Denver’s most eligible bachelors.
Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Travel: Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Close Encounters in Denver
Close Encounters in Denver
I’m a real people person. But I like being alone a lot, too. I often like traveling by myself, at least part of the time. Sometimes I just need to be on my own schedule without having to consider another’s wants or needs. I also have more encounters—interesting or otherwise—when I’m alone.
The Lobby at Denver’s Hotel Monaco
This turned out to be the case recently at Denver’s Hotel Monaco. I was to stay at this stylish hotel a couple of nights before flying out to the east coast. When I arrived, their wine hour was in full swing. I made a mental note to be sure to check it out the next evening. The hotel’s boldly colored lobby beckoned.
After the bellman provided me with a brief tour of the room, I noticed a goldfish in a big round bowl on the desk. I peered down at it and read the adjoining notice that talked some about the fish, its environment and what not to do to it. I learned that I was not to share the crumbs from my granola bar—or anything else—with it for example. I looked at it again and registered one thought: gimmicky.
