Denver Restaurant Week

Denver is known for many wonderful things, from our closeness to the mountains, work life balance, great companies to work for, incredible weather and great music and art venues. One thing we are constantly also being put on the map for is the food that this city is turning out. More and more chefs and restaurants are setting their sights on the Mile High City as a place to bring cuisine because this is a city that welcomes all flavors and types of food. Denver has always been a city that flourishes in many cultures of food, from Asian to Mexican to American, this city is enriched with restaurant owners and chefs who aren’t afraid to try new things knowing Denver is city they can do that in.

It is almost time for Denver Restaurant week, running ten days from February 24th – March 5th, with hundreds of local restaurant participating this year. There are a few changes when it comes to pricing this year though that are leaving many people happy. In the past nine years, it has been $52.80 per couple which Visit Denver is raising this year to $60 per couple. But, there is now price points starting as low as $25 for a multi-curse meal, which is the lowest ever. From $25, $35 and $45 for a selection of great meals, you are sure to find something to make your taste buds happy. Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Denver recently said in an interview with Denver Business Journal, “"We wanted the pricing structure to reflect the entire culinary scene," Scharf said. "The low-, mid- and higher-range options allowed the flexibility for even more restaurants to participate, and the prices make it easy for diners to experience more of everything that Denver has to offer."

With over 245 restaurants to choose from, you can go a few nights for some great deals and some delicious bites. I know my husband and I like to take a few date nights during Denver Restaurant Week because we get to try out so many restaurants that we may not try otherwise. Or we like to get into one of the new hot spots and see what all the praise is about. But we also have classics that we like to go back to every year if we can, either way, it is a great week to spend time with your loved ones or even take some clients out to experience some of the great food we have here in Denver!

Below is a link to all of the restaurants and menus being offered this year. Make sure to buy your tickets early and get reservations as soon as possible for some places!

http://www.denver.org/denver-restaurant-week/menus/

How to Spend Valentine’s Day in Denver this Year

Truth be told, I still really like Valentine’s Day even as an adult. When you are a kid, it is really a fun holiday, making card boxes and passing out cards and candies to kids in you class. As we grow older, the holiday takes on a different meaning for people, it is a special day throughout the year that we can remind those special loved ones in our lives just how much we care about them. I know many people do not like the holiday because they see it as a “Hallmark holiday” and why should we have one day specified to telling and showing people how much we love them when we have 364 other days to do that. But, I think, Valentine’s Day is a day, out of the whole year, when we can take an extra minute to write a card, or call a loved one, or take our special someone somewhere special, just because that day is reserved for such special things.

If you are looking for some romantic or fun or family activities to do this Valentine’s Day in Colorado, peek at the list below for some ideas of what to do with your loved ones to show them a little extra love this year:

Romantic –

Couples massage at the Ritz-Carlton – 1881 Curtis St – Sometimes the best way to unwind is with your loved one. Check out the beautiful Ritz-Carlton in downtown Denver and their amazing spa packages that is sure to please both of you.

Ice skating at the Southwest Rink- corner of Arapahoe and 16th St – This is a sweet and fairly inexpensive thing to do with your loved on Valentine’s Day. The rink is free and skate rentals are only $2 so grab your significant other and take them for a little skate in the heart of downtown Denver.

Cooking with Cupid at Cook Street School of Culinary Arts – 1927 Market St – Feb. 9th – If you have a loved one who likes to cook, while sipping on some bubbly, this is the perfect thing to take them to. Learn to whip up some delectable dishes while having drinks with your person in this small, intimate class setting.

Fun –

Valentine’s Day 5k – Washington Park – Feb. 12th – Prepare to run your heart out at this yearly Valentine’s Day run. Runners are encouraged to come in costume, such as their favorite couple from a television show, to get more in the Valentine’s Day spirit.

Malas & Mimosas – 2372 Central Park Blvd. – Feb. 12th – If you have someone who is a bit of a yogi but also loves a good cocktail, head to this fun event where you will string together your own mala (meditation necklace) while sipping on a delicious drink.

Family –

Learn to bake at My Make Studio - 6460 E Yale Ave – Feb 8th & 14th – What is better than finding a place to test your baking skills with the family? Each class will start with a lesson in professional decorating and then you will get to decorate a heart-shaped cake or cupcakes. Don’t worry parents; you will also get a glass of beer or wine for this fun event.

Take a carriage ride through downtown Denver – Feb. 7th or 21st – We’ve all seen the beautiful carriages and horses that ride around down 16th street mall area during the holidays. But during Valentine’s Day, Irish Rose Drafts’ offers a romantic deluxe package that includes capturing all the sights like the Big Blue Bear, the lights of Larimer Square and the historic Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower. 

There are so many great events to participate in this Valentine's Day, but remember, the day is about showing and telling others just how much they mean to you. So spread the love!

Denver Free Days

Using a Experienced Realtor when Relocating Cities

You may have noticed that Denver is continuing to flourish as a city with people relocating here on the daily. Our city’s growth is due to the job opportunities and the great work/life balance. I constantly am meeting people who have just moved to the city and are looking for help when it comes to finding a place to live whether that be with location or whether they should rent or buy. Moving to a new city can be intimidating especially when looking for a place to live. Whenever I get a phone call from someone thinking of moving to Denver, I always encourage them to do their research when figuring out where they want to live but also to find a good real estate agent who can be a huge help in every aspect from location to living spaces. It also is imperative to use a knowledgeable real estate agent because real estate laws are different from state to state so if you are looking to purchase a place, you need to know the ins and outs of that purchase.

Here are a few helpful tips for re-locators who are thinking of moving to Denver:

Use a real estate agent if you are looking to buy a home – This may seem like an obvious but many people, if you are relocating or not, attempt to purchase a home by themselves. There are so many different laws in each state and not to mention the copious contracts you have to go through, it is imperative to hire someone who is trained to handle all of that. Do your research before you move to your new city and call around to different agencies, interview real estate agents until you find one who you feel can help you find your home.

Do your research – It is a great thing we have the Internet these days and good old Google to answer basically any question we could ever want to know the answer to. For those of you looking to move to Denver, get online and do some research about the city before you make the move. There are so many unique neighborhoods that will cater to every person out there so it is important to do your research to figure out which one best suits you.

Visit the city and talk with the locals – Most people who come to Denver instantly fall in love with the city so it is not hard to convince people to move here. But if you are thinking of making the move to Denver, go spend time in the city and chat with the “locals” (many who have relocated just like you!) to get some bearings on the city. Learn about local watering holes, best places to go hike and where to take day trips from the city. Immerse yourself in the Denver lifestyle so you are feeling comfortable when the time comes to make the big move.

Moving to a new city can be scary for many reasons, but there are things you can put in place to make the move not so intimidating. The biggest one I can encourage you to do is to reach out to a good, local real estate agent to help you find the perfect place for you to live. If you or someone you know is looking to move to Denver soon, please give me a call or shoot me an email, I would love to help you get acquainted with this incredible city! 

Take a Trip to the Denver Zoo

Denver has so many wonderful places to go in the city, from our countless museums to our top-notch parks and our one-of-a-kind restaurants. This city is a bustling spot full of life and ever growing activities. One of my favorite places to go visit is the Denver zoo which is having a free admission day this Friday and Saturday from 11:00am-4:00pm. This zoo has been around caters to a wide variety of animals and exhibitions.

The Denver Zoo was started when the mayor of Denver received a gift in the form of a black bear cub in 1918. This furry companion came to live at City Park and this is where the zoo began. Early visitors saw the zoo grow from fist carrying elk, bison, monkeys and birds to housing elephants, large cats, reptiles and sea creatures. The zoo benefited from Carl Hagenbeck’s revolutionary zoo concept that animals and people should see one another at eye level in the animal’s natural habitat without bars or fences. From the 1920’s up until today, the Denver zoo continues to grow thanks to the countless support of Denver citizens

The zoo continues to make a effort to have every animal’s area embody their natural habitat and living space. The Denver zoo is also committed to educating everyone to comes for a visit and in partnership with the Gates Family Foundation and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the zoo was able to build the Gates Wildlife Conservation Education Center. This center is run is run by a dedicated staff and group of volunteers who are passionate about the zoo’s mission and work hard to make the zoo an educational place for people to go and learn more about animals, the environments they live in and how to help preserve each beautiful creature.

This weekend marks the second and third free day of the year for 2017. There are only 9 free days all year so make sure if you have time this weekend to pack up the family and head to the Denver zoo to check out all the amazing animals. While on your way to the zoo, located in the heart of City Park West, make sure to take in all the beautiful homes and architecture of the neighborhood. This area continues to grow and blossom and if you think about your trip to the zoo that maybe that neighborhood that you could see yourself living in, give me a call and let’s sit down to discuss your real estate hopes and dreams and how I can help you achieve them.