What a gem in the heart of downtown Denver! We came here on a spectacular weather day and…read morethroughly enjoyed watching an NFL game in the big screen in the Adirondack chairs while drinking a beer or High Noon. The service was great and there were several beers on tap to choose from. I like they offered a water station and clean port o potties. The rooftop umbrellas are so fun for pics! We did try out the putt putt course and loved the themed Denver holes but found it to not be in great shape- wrinkles in the mats but it was free!

These set of colorful gates are located at the Alameda RTD Light Rail Station. You can see them as…read moreyou pass by either from the train or a car, but you're probably going to want to take a closer look. This work of art began as a wood maquette model designed by Herbert Bayer. He died in 1985 at the age of 85, so he didn't build this actual sculpture. Dan Cohen from D4 Urban, which owns the Denver Design Center & commissioned some of Bayer's works from his grand step-daughter, Koko Bayer. She was involved in making sure Herbert Bayer's ideas were exacted. There are 4 Gates, each painted a different color: yellow, red, white, and the tallest one in signature "Bayer Blue". The tallest gate is 16 feet tall. In a circular perimeter around the gates, there are concrete blocks that serve 2 purposes. One is for seating and the other is to keep maintenance vehicles from getting too close. Bayer was inspired by asimilar "gates" he saw in Morocco when he created the Four Chromatic Gates. In Santa Barbara, CA, there is a Bayer sculpture called "Chromatic Gate". I saw that one in 2020. It is similar to this one, but has six gates colored in yellow, orange, mauve, red, purple, and lastly the "Bayer Blue" for the tallest gate. It consists of the same type of gates, but they are situated differently than these Four Chromatic Gates. If you want to see another Bayer sculpture, check out the Articulated Wall that's not far from here. It's visible from I-25. ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/articulated-wall-by-herbert-bayer-denver?select=Axj8CofxWpbRwvs-tsr08w )

Unless you know the precise location of this sculpture, you can easily drive right past it! You…read morecan find it on Champa St. between 17th & 18th Streets. It is set next to the Hotel Registration sign leading to the Residence Inn. Drive by viewing! I couldn't find parking, so luckily, traffic came to a stop and I snapped a quick pic. This is definitely a whimsical piece! It's also a sort of abstract since there's basically only a pair of pants and an odd shaped abdomen with a belt in between. What might be perceived at first as arms are actually pistols. There's no face, arms, hands, nor feet. In summary, this is a cowboy with its guns drawn. Cowboy Pajamas is a solid work made from bronze, weighing three tons! It stands at over 20 feet tall. The sculptor is Sean O'Meallie. It was installed in 2008. Why is this sculpture in front of a hotel? This hotel, the Residence Inn at this address, hosts an Annual Pajama Party fundraiser. The fundraiser benefits and raises awareness for the homeless.

You will find this little nugget right outside of the Residence Inn, in a small alcove. It is the…read morework of Sean O'Meallie who did the sculpture in 2008. It is starting to show signs of wear and is a bit weathered. It also has some graffiti on it. It is 20 feet tall, weighs about 3,000 pounds, and is made from bronze and acrylic paint. It is rumored to have chosen the Residence Inn as the site of the sculpture because the hotel had hosted has a Pajama Party fundraiser benefiting Denver's Road Home program in the past. It is an interesting piece that depicts a cowboy holding up two side arms. The cowboy has heart shaped balloon hat and what looks like a magnet for legs. It is all on a platform. As I mentioned, it is abstract AF. You have to stare at it for a little while to decipher what it is, a cowboy in pajamas. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. Even though I passed it a few times since I was staying at the hotel next door. I recommend making this stop part of a larger itinerary or checking it out if you are in the area and/or on your way somewhere else, to maximize your time.

Located at second floor of Denver Pavilion, this store has quality souvenir items from mugs,…read moreshirts, magnets, pins, postcards, pictures, and more. They have a decent variety of items but they are on the pricier side.

This is such a fantastic shop to pick up all those unique gifts. I got something for everyone and…read moreeveryone was very pleased with the quality

I love Doors Open Denver Unique experiences everywhere…read more I took the tour of the Evans School that is being renovated by the Eber family...what a work of love! I tip my hat to them for their efforts to renovate this beautiful building I even climbed up to the cupola!

I went to DOD this past weekend and it was a really interesting journey. The city of Denver is an…read morearchitectural treasure trove filled with many different and historical buildings, each one with a unique and varied history. The Denver Architectural Society along with help from current building owners opens up these buildings for the public to enter and gaze upon their architectural splendor and learn about their history. DOD also is a time where many museums also open their doors free to the public. This year there was many new additions to the list including some newly constructed downtown high rise skyscrapers and other points of interest such as a behind the scenes tour of the Broncos Stadium and Denver Performing Arts Center, many of these places would be off limits to the general public otherwise.

Bears are my favorite animal, and blue is my favorite color. Who knew there would be such a bright…read moresight greeting us all at the convention center for our conference? The Big Blue Bear gets 5 stars from me! Fun for the whole family to take pictures with!

I love me some public art! This 40-foot blue bear is so cute and curious peering through the glass…read morewindows of the Colorado Convention Center. I wonder what the bear is looking for? :) https://yelp.to/JG18P-mkUp I probably only spent a total of 5-8 minutes looking at the sculpture but definitely worth the photo op while walking around Downtown Denver.

The Articulated Wall is one of those pieces of public art that makes you stop, look up, and wonder…read more Towering high above the nearby industrial landscape, this bright yellow sculpture designed by Bauhaus artist Herbert Bayer stands out with its bold, geometric spiral form. You don't need to spend a lot of time here--this isn't a park or museum--but it's a striking visual landmark that rewards a quick visit or drive-by. It's especially photogenic on a blue-sky day, and it definitely adds a cool, modern vibe to this part of Denver. It won't be for everyone--some see it as just a big yellow tower--but if you appreciate public art, architecture, or hidden urban gems, it's worth checking out. Bonus: there's usually not a crowd, so you can enjoy it in peace.

My first thought was, "Jenga, anyone?" But then, they looked like somebody played with their…read morefood... stacking French Fries!! This is different sort of art form! The definition of "Articulation" in the dictionary is: "This describes how sculptural figures (and other forms) are jointed:, either how the differing parts of a body merge in a single form, or how separate sections come together." The top portion of this is very yellow sculpture is visible from I-25. I had it in my list of things to see in Denver. After passing by, we got off the freeway and found it outside of the Denver Design Center. This very wall, located here in Denver, is not an original. Herbert Bayer re-designed this 85 foot tall sculpture. He was commissioned to build his first one in Mexico City for the 1968 Summer Olympics. Too bad I didn't know about this when I went to Mexico City back in March of this year! The one in Mexico City is smaller, standing 60 ft tall. Bayer said he wanted this to be viewed while driving by rather than standing next to it. I did both! The sculpture is constructed of 32 pieces of pre-fabricated concrete elements each measuring 41′ x 5′-2″ x 2′-7″. A refueling mast taken from an aircraft carrier runs through the middle of the wall, holding the sculpture together. Two million pounds of concrete were used to create the 85-foot tall sculpture. This wall was dedicated in 1985. Bayer died the same year at the age of 85. This Articulated Wall belongs to the Denver Art Museum. Here, they have about 8,000 items of Bayer's works. They rotate his works. You can even see a miniature sculpture of this wall there. A nickname for this wall is "Fry Stack". Funny thing is that there was really a French Fry eating contest in front of the sculpture ... for art's sake! So, remember, seeing this while driving past it in your vehicle is the intended way to view this sculpture!

Great coffee & chocolate shop in the Westwood area. Hours are limited, so be sure to stop by when…read morethey are open (Th & F 4:30-8:30pm, S/S 10:30-2:30pm). They honor Mexican tradition, using cacao & maize in their products. In addition to its products, Cultura Chocolate is a community hub for events. I stopped by on a Sunday morning to enjoy a café negro cold brew and also picked up some chocolate (60% espresso & sea salt). Filled with vibrant red walls, shelves lined with glass jars filled with a variety of maíz y chile, and carved molinillos hanging throughout the shop, it was a perfect start to the day.

Stopped in here while waiting for a table at La Reyna Del Sur! So so so cute inside love all the…read moredried goods displayed and there's some trinkets and good you can also purchase! Ordered the chocolate chai and cafe negro, chocolate chai was super yummy would definitely come back when I'm in the area to try their other chocolate drinks!