The Platt Park Neighborhood

The Platt Park Neighborhood is almost an extension of Washington Park. It lies just south of Washington Park on the other side of I-25 and to the west of the DU area. In the last few years, Platt Park has become well known for its pleasant shopping atmosphere & fine restaurants on Old South Pearl Street. The neighborhood is rich with sprawling mature trees, bungalows, Victorians, and pop tops. In recent years we have seen some scraper homes being replaced with new construction homes & duplexes. The Old South Pearl Street Business District in the heart of Platt Park, brightly lit at night by black street lamps reminiscent of old-fashioned gas lamps, is the drawing card of the neighborhood. All establishments are busy all week and jammed on Friday and Saturday nights. Interstate-25 is just a stone’s throw away from Old South Pearl Street and residents can hop on the Light Rail at the Louisiana- Park Light Rail Station.

On sunny spring and summer mornings, residents stroll the street with family and friends and meet new ones while shopping the famous Farmers Market. Decker Library, a branch of the Denver Public Library, is just a few blocks away, snug up against James H. Platt Park. And if you’ve got some little ones ready for or already in elementary school, you can enroll them in the McKinley-Thatcher Elementary School, near Florida and Arizona streets, whose motto is “Soaring Into Literacy.” Platt Park is popular because of it’s beautiful homes, old and new, and its close community feel.

Old Pearl Street

Map of Platt Park

 

Parks

Platt Park

Washington Park

 

Area Information

To Downtown………… 17 min

To Cherry Creek Mall… 13 min

To I-25………….………… 3 min

Grocery Store………. Whole Foods

 

Walk Score: 80   Bike Score: 84

4th of July Party Ideas!

Quickie Garland

To make your own 4th of July party garland on the cheap, try this trick from Fun Home Things, who cut red, white, and blue plastic tablecloths into strips, and tied them to a set of string lights.

Independence Punch

A drinkable 4th of July flag! Big Bear’s Wife mixed up a patriotic beverage using cranberry juice, blue Gatorade Frost, Diet 7-Up, and ice cubes for a refreshing party cooler.

Flag Canopy

Create a classy canopy and mood lighting for your 4th of July party with this genius idea from Style Me Pretty. Tie red, white, and blue paper streamers onto big-bulb outdoor lights, and hang above a picnic table or a grassy dance space.

Muffin Tin Art Caddy

Vaccuming in High Heels & Pearls created this quick DIY with a muffin tin and some red, white, and blue buttons, beads, and other odds and ends. For a 4th of July party activity, leave it out on a backyard table for kids to string necklaces and bracelets.

Everlasting Snow Cones

Make snow cones that won’t melt—these beauties are actually Bakerella cupcakes in disguise. A glittery tri-color frosting tops a layered three-color cake that you (and your party guests) have got to see to believe.

Firework Rings

Make fun fireworks accessories with the kids using this tutorial from Fantastic Fun and Learning. Twist together sparkly tinsel stems (or patriotic-color pipe cleaners) to create cute rings.

Cool Soda Bar

Desserts on the 4th of July can be used as party decorations with this sweet soda bar idea from Let’s Dish. Group red, blue, and clear soda bottles on a table with small bowls of striped straws, cherries, sprinkles. After the grill is off, bring out ice cream and let guests make their own ice-cream floats.

Have a safe 4th of July weekend! 

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The Lowry Neighborhood

A planned mixed-usage area with distinct boundaries, the Lowry neighborhood has garnered awards and plenty of attention since it broke ground in 1996. With retail, education and recreation opportunities, corporate and residential real estate, plus parks and open space all within its three square miles, Lowry is a complete community. The centralized East Denver-West Aurora location is an easy commute to all points in the metro area. Its borders are defined by the previous, gated venue: Lowry Air Force Base. Hangers No. 1 and 2 remain as part of Wings Over the Rockies Aviation & Science Museum, where military planes are displayed indoors and out. Officers’ quarters were transformed into distinctive duplexes; other government housing and buildings were turning into lofts, apartments, and business offices.

New construction includes an impressive parkway of million-dollar mansions on Sixth Avenue. Lowry’s final completion date in 2011 includes a total of 4,600 homes and apartments with around 10,000 residents. A mix of private, charter schools, and those under the jurisdiction of Denver Public Schools cover pre-kindergarten ages to post high school with a small community college campus. Almost 30 percent of the neighborhood is dedicated to parks, trails, wetlands and open space.

Map of Lowry

Lowry Beer Garden

Parks

Kittredge Park

Great Lawn Park

 

Area Information

To Downtown………… 25 min

To Cherry Creek Mall… 17 min

To I-25………….………… 18 min

Grocery Store………. Safeway

 

Walk Score: 66   Bike Score: 73

 

The LoDo Neighborhood

The Lower Downtown area was the site of the original settlement that began when people came to the region in the 19th century in search of gold. The LoDo neighborhood is one of the best examples of urban redevelopment in Denver. The lower downtown area today is one of the busiest and most exciting neighborhoods in the region. Downtown Denver is full of shops, art galleries, and restaurants, but it also has a selection of residential properties, predominantly stylish lofts and luxurious apartments.

LoDo is a hub of cultural events and entertainment in the city. Attractions within the LoDo area include Denver’s Museum of Contemporary Art, the Children’s Museum of Denver, 16th Street Mall and Elich Gardens. It is also the location of two of the major sporting venues in the city: Coors Fields and the Pepsi Center arena.

The 16th street mall promenade runs for the length of 16 blocks, with shops, boutiques, restaurants, and outdoor cafes along either side. The huge Tabor Center mall lies along this street, as does the Denver Pavilions, which the perfect place to see a movie on an evening out.

Map of LoDo

LoDo

Parks

Commons Park

River Front Park

Confluence Park

 

Area Information

To Downtown………… 5 min

To 16^th Street Mall… 5 min

To I-25………….………… 10 min

Grocery Store………. Natural Grocers

 

Walk Score: 94   Bike Score: 86

The Highlands Neighborhood

The Highlands is one of the most sought after addresses in Denver. With some of the city’s most beautiful historic homes, recently redeveloped commercial areas, and excellent transport links to the city’s business center in the downtown area, the Highlands has attracted a lot of attention. It is one of the most vibrant and interesting places to live in the city, with a diverse and active community.

During the early 19th century, immigrants from English, Scottish, Italian and German backgrounds flocked the area. The street names in the area and many of the historic landmarks still bear the marks of the area’s history in The Highlands contains some of the most historic and architecturally interesting buildings in Denver, which have been carefully preserved during the redevelopment of the area. The most interesting buildings in the Highlands are in the Stonemans’ Row and Potter-Highland Historic Districts. The neighborhood contains a variety of different homes, including many high end lofts and condominiums, many of which were built during the redevelopment that has taken place in the area since the 1990s. There are still many of the historic single family homes left in the area.

The Highlands neighborhood is one of the most attractive in the city due to the combination of wide, tree-lines streets, parks such as Highland Park, and historic homes. Highlands also has a wide range of shopping, dining, and entertainment venues. Highland Square is the main commercial area in the Highlands neighborhood. It contains a wide range of shops, boutiques, bars, and restaurants. Highlands Square attracts people from across the Denver region.

Lower Highlands

Map of Highlands

 

Parks

Sloan’s Lake Park

Highland Park

 

Area Information

To Downtown………… 17 min

To 16^th Street Mall… 17 min

To I-25………….………… 8 min

Grocery Store………. Sprouts

 

Walk Score: 78   Bike Score: 82

The Golden Triangle Neighborhood

The Golden Triangle is still undergoing many transformations. The Denver Art Museum’s new wing was completed in fall of 2006, further developing the neighborhood’s art scene, which includes various art galleries and the Curious Theatre Company. The neighborhood is bustling with vibrant businesses.

The Golden Triangle is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Denver, with many single family Victorian homes and bungalows built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Between 1904 and 1919, Denver Mayor Robert Speer completed his ambitious plan for the Civic Center area, adding many civic institutions and a neoclassic park to the north of the neighborhood. He placed a leafy concrete urban canyon around Cherry Creek, creating Speer Boulevard, the neighborhood’s western and southern border. After World War II, the Golden Triangle became a business support area for the central business district. New condominium and loft developments came into the neighborhood, and many of the old supply stores and garages were transformed into restaurants, art galleries, and small offices.

The Golden Triangle, Denver Art Museum

Map of the Golden Triangle Neighborhood

Parks

Sunken Gardens Park

Civic Center Park

Area Information

To Downtown………… 8 min

To 16^th Street Mall… 8 min

To I-25………….………… 10 min

Grocery Store………. Tony’s Market

 

Walk Score: 91   Bike Score: 96

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival that is a world-class and award-winning celebration that last for three days, every year in the Summer. The festival celebrates artist all from all around the State of Colorado and the United States. It includes visual arts, culinary arts, and performing arts. This event is completely free to attend to and the attendance is usually around 350,000 every year. This year the Cherry Creek Arts Festival is July 2nd through July 4th. It’s a family friendly event and is just one of the many things Colorado has to offer to it’s residents.