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.
Food & Wine Shopping: Food & Wine Shopping
by maribeth
Comments Off on Even More Great Online Boutiques for the Holidays
Even More Great Online Boutiques for the Holidays
A Larimer Square Keepsake
O.K., if you’re anything like me you’ve only completed about half of your holiday shopping. The remainder you’re perhaps planning to do by the end of the week. I suggest you keep it simple, shop online and have the goods mailed directly to those on your list (including yourself). There’s still time!
I just returned from a quick trip to Denver and as always, I’m in love with Larimer. That would be Larimer Square, one of the most happening places in the country, an historic neighborhood populated with exciting restaurants, bars and shops. If you’ve been there you know that colorful banners typically adorn this quaint area, also known as Larimer Street. You can actually own a piece of this landmark destination by purchasing a Larimer Messenger Bag, a fun fashion accessory—great for guys and gals—crafted out of the banners that once flew high over this part of Denver’s renowned LoDo (Lower Downtown) district. They’re a green shopping choice as well.
Napa Soap Harvest
I’ve also discovered some wonderful soaps and bath products for men and women from Napa Soap Company. They’re handcrafted in Napa Valley, California and yes, you guessed it, most include a dose of wine in their mix. If Soapignon Blanc, a rich mixture of grapeseed, olive, avocado and sunflower oils and white wine, grapefruit and pomegranate sounds good to you, you’ll love how it feels on your skin. Their Body Butter combines brown sugar, grapeseed oil and white wine, so, of course, you’ll have to pick up at least one of these for yourself in addition to having them shipped off to your friends. Yum!
If you’re looking for wines to drink, be sure to order some nectars from Quady Winery. Their sweet wines serve as the perfect accompani-ment to your holiday desserts. No time to whip up an unctuous delight for your special feast? (You know you’ll be tired of Christmas cookies by then.) You absolutely must order your pièce de résistance from the Sticky Toffee Pudding Company. Wow! English baker Tracy Claros hand makes these little wonders and packages them with so much love and attention they’re sure to woo you and the top gourmands on your list. Her English Lemon Pudding is award winning, but try the chocolate and toffee confections as well. Best served warm with cream or ice cream.
Remember that Ruth’s Toffee and Telluride Truffle are offering ten percent discounts when you mention BonjourTelluride.com.
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.
