The Week of August 22nd

Hey Ya’ll,

So for the next week all you readers are in for a special treat. I’ll be gone from Denver, but I’ll be documenting my Colorado Mountain West roadtrip! I’ll make sure to fill you in on fun activities to do, great places to stay and eat all while passing through much of Colorado’s mountain towns, like Aspen, Crested Butte, Pagosa Springs, Telluride, and Buena Vista. But since I’ll be out of touch with Denver for the next week or so, I figured it would be nice to mention some of the fascinating events going on while I’ll be gone.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge

Now that the Tour de France is over its time for the next best thing: USA Pro Cycling Challenge comes to the Rockies this August, and its finish line party is right in the heart of Denver! After a grueling 518 mile, 7 day journey through the rugged Colorado Rockies, 128 of the world’s greatest riders will cross the finish line on Broadway; right in front of the State Capital. Revel in the cycling sport and relax with riders at the finish line festival. Featuring live music, good food, the latest cycling gear and a full fledged beer garden this stage is sure to be the best of the race. Make sure to get there on time as the winner of this seven day ride will be crowned in the Mile High City. The race starts in Salida and ends on Sunday August 28 at Civic Center Park in Denver. For more information on the race please visit their website at www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com.

The Denver Croquet Festival presents Through Hoops to Hope, which will be held on Wednesdays from August 24 – September 21 at Republic Plaza. The Festival will be raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association to raise awareness of the disease of dementia and increase the quality of life for those suffering with the disease. If you’re interested, there are 3 ways to play in the festival. You and a partner can enter as a team of two and play on specified Wednesdays, you can reserve the court for an hour, or you can simply swing by for free play. Courts can be reserved between 1 – 4 p.m. while open play is from 1 – 5 p.m. No experience is necessary, so swing by Downtown and bring some friends to have a laugh and hit some balls.

Denver Cruiser Bikes Parked and Ready for Action

Ever felt like taking a bike ride with a few friends? How about a few hundred? Every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. the Denver Cruisers hit the streets of downtown. Starting from three Denver area bars and restaurants, these riders go out for a one-of-a-kind tour of Denver. If you don’t have a bike, see this as an opportunity to utilize your local B-cycle station! Feel free to dress the part, each week there is a new theme for the riders (this week’s is Angels & Devils). Although the aim of the Cruisers is to have fun, make sure to ride safe. Please visit their website for appropriate rider safety: www.denvercruiser.com

Come explore one of Denver’s best Open Air Market on Thursday, August 25 Downtown at Skyline Park. Denver’s Urban Market will be open from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. with an amazing array of local arts and crafts sold direct by the artist. Also, clothing, jewelry, antiques, furniture, holistic services, unique treasures, delicious food and just about anything else you could want. Come out and have fun in the sun while supporting your local artists, businesses, and community at Downtown Denver’s premier outdoor shopping paradise. For more information on this open air market and others around the city check out www.coloradoevents.net.

Shoes & Brews Block Party

Finally! A Downtown Date Night where there’s something everyone will agree on: Brews and Shoes! So ladies slip on those fashionable heels and men grab your favorite mug and join one of Downtown Denver’s hottest block parties! Benefitting the Love Strength Hope Foundation, one of the nationa’s leading cancer funds, this year’s Shoes and Brews event features some of Denver’s greatest restaurants offering unique food tastings and complementary wine and beer. There will be multiple bands playing throughout the evening as well as a DJ and other live performers. And don’t forget about the night’s main event: A Best Shoe Contest where the grand prize winner receives a year’s supply of Steve Madden shoes! More than $10,000 in gift certificates will also be awarded across 15 different categories. The night kicks off at 5 p.m. and goes until 8 p.m. at Writer’s Square in Downtown Denver (between Larimer & Lawrence on 16th St Mall). For more info on the night out, please visit their website: www.shoesandbrews.org.

And don’t forget about the Green Route Eco Music Festival, held in the RiNo District of Denver on Saturday, August 27th from 12 p.m. – 11 p.m. For more information on this event, please read my earlier posting or visit their website at: www.greenroute.com

Summertime Fun at Skyline Park

Featured on the Urban Eye Blog, run by the Downtown Denver Partnership…

Skyline Park in Downtown Denver – have you checked out everything that’s happening there this summer? If not, allow me to fill you in…

Concerts                   

Haldon Wofford and the Hi-Beams Rockin' Out

Every Friday between noon and 1 p.m. you can find live music in the Park. It’s free and open for all to enjoy. Here’s the band line-up – it’s pretty diverse…they did a good job finding something that will appeal to just about everyone.  The concert series is sponsored by Southwest Airlines with support from Arts & Venues Denver and the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District.

Free Summer Concerts

7/01       Fara Tolno presents Kissidugu – www.kissidugu.org
7/08       Mirai Daiko – www.miraidaiko.com
7/15       Salsa Con Jazz
7/22       Tito Malaga Band – www.titodelbarriomalaga.com
7/29       Haldon Wofford & Hi*Beams – www.hibeams.com
8/05       Jake Schepps & Expedition Quartet – www.jakeschepps.com
8/12       Dave Tamkin & Friends – www.davetamkin.com
8/19       The Congress – www.thecongressmusic.com

Dining

Downtown Employees enjoying Happy Hour Deals at The Porch

The Southwest Porch at Skyline Park is an outdoor lounge that will provide Denver residents and visitors alike with a relaxing venue to enjoy some Southwest hospitality, along with Neopolitan-style pizzas from Denver’s own Brava! Pizzeria Della Strada, and drinks served up by Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret. Between the smell of wood-fired stove cooked pizzas and the comfortable lounge seating there isn’t a better place to stop off for a Friday lunch break. And don’t forget about their Happy Hour Specials! $5 Margherita Pizzas and $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon beers, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Also, be sure to swing by the Porch later in the week for live music every Thursday night at 6 p.m. and Game Night every Friday at 5 p.m. And listen up dog lovers and baseball enthusiasts! If you bring your ticket from Coors Field on game day (before or after) you will receive a FREE PBR and a $6 “you call it” pizza deal. Also, your furry friends are welcome to visit the Porch on Saturdays for free treats and water while you enjoy your first PBR FREE!

Shopping

Skyline Park will also host the Urban Market on August 25 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can find an amazing array of clothing, jewelry, antiques, furniture, holistic services, unique treasures, delicious food and just about anything else you could want.  Support your local artists, businesses and community at this outdoor market. The Urban Market comes around every fourth Thursday of the month through October.

Movies

Moviegoers enjoy Megamind at Dusk

Saturday nights are busy in the park too, as Mile High Movies in Skyline Park kicks off its summer season on July 2nd. Every Saturday night from now until the end of August there will be FREE movies at Skyline Park, sponsored by Southwest Airlines with support from the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District and Denver Parks and Recreation. There’s a wide selection of family movies to choose from, everything from the iconic Wizard of Oz to the modern superhero story of Megamind. I recommend using the free 16th St. Mall Shuttle to get to the park, leaving you tons of options for parking throughout Downtown. Or you can check out the bus and light rail schedule at www.RTD-Denver.com.

Here’s the movie line-up:

Movie Schedule

7/02       How To Train Your Dragon
7/09       Hairspray
7/16       Shrek Forever After
7/23       The Wizard of Oz
7/30       Megamind
8/06       Oceans
8/13       Secretariat
8/20       Toy Story (The Original)

Check out www.SkylineParkEvents.com for more. I’ll see you in the Park this summer!