2017-12-13 03:17:08
DAY 1 Explore Denver’s street-art scene, which covers buildings and other unexpected canvasses throughout neighborhoods like RiNo (3), the Highlands, South Broadway, BuCu and East Colfax. More and more of the city’s neighborhoods are emerging with their own distinct characters and signature events like First Friday art walks, hipster flea markets, modern bazaars, craft coffee bars, artist studios, small music venues and only-in-Denver boutiques. Visit COLORADO.com/ArtHoods. Much of Denver’s coolest art isn’t in museums. One percent of any capital improvement project over $1 million in the city is set aside for the creation of public artwork. The result is a wealth of exquisite — and often enormous — open-air pieces all over Denver. For a sample, head downtown to the Colorado Convention Center on 14th Avenue and California Street to see “I See What You Mean” by Lawrence Argent, a 40-foot-tall sculpture otherwise known as “The Big Blue Bear.” This benign ursine presence peers curiously into the center, providing visitors with an essential Denver photo opportunity. Just a short walk away at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, two 50-foot-tall figures frolic near Speer Boulevard as part of Jonathan Borofsky’s “The Dancers.” A few blocks away, the jagged edges of the Daniel Libeskind-designed Hamilton Building, part of the Denver Art Museum (1), jut out over 13th Avenue. The museum houses Western art, contemporary masterworks and blockbuster traveling exhibitions like Degas: A Passion for Perfection. Visit the new location of the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art (2) in the former studio of Vance Kirkland, one of Colorado’s most distinguished painters. In 2016, the studio was picked up from its original location a few blocks away and deposited in the art-rich Golden Triangle area. Across the street, the Clyfford Still Museum, dedicated to the legacy of one of the most important painters of the 20th century, is one of only five one-artist museums in the nation. The Kirkland Museum is another! If you’ve got an inclination toward vinyl and being cool, head over to Twist and Shout, a famed indy music store selling new and used music on East Colfax near popular theaters like the Ogden and Bluebird. Take the afternoon to explore the hub of Denver’s creative community, the Art District on Santa Fe, where more than 60 galleries, studios and creative businesses comprise the largest concentration of art galleries in Colorado and make it a Certified Colorado Creative District. Stop in at the Museo de las Americas (4), a unique museum highlighting both traditional and contemporary Latino art and culture. DAY 2 Continue your artsy adventure with a morning stop at Tattered Cover’s historic LoDo location. Called “a bibliophile’s paradise” by the New York Times, this multilevel bookstore, housed in the lovingly restored Morey Mercantile Building, holds thousands of volumes covering every topic under the sun, with a particularly notable selection of Denver- and Colorado-centric books. Tattered Cover’s cafe is an excellent spot for a quick, cheap breakfast, serving strong coffee, fresh pastries and tempting breakfast sandwiches. Just around the corner you’ll find one of the crown jewels of Denver’s art scene, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, a David Adjaye-designed structure whose sleekness contrasts with the classic red brick typical to LoDo. Inside, five galleries showcase a constantly refreshed series of exhibits devoted to innovation and creativity. Go in with an open mind be and you'll rewarded in ways you can’t imagine. At the museum’s serene rooftop garden, cafe and bar, high above the hustle of downtown, you’ll be able to relax and reflect on what you’ve seen. On your way out, browse the eclectic books, music and clothing at the Shop MCA on the first level. STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Aurora (page 188), Arvada, Brighton (page 190), Castle Rock (page 191), Centennial (page 191), Commerce City, Denver (page 193), Englewood (page 195), Evergreen (page 196), Glendale, Golden (page 197), Greenwood Village (page 198), Highlands Ranch (page 199), Lakewood (page 200), Littleton (page 200), Morrison (page 202), Parker (page 203), Roxborough (page 203), Sedalia (page 203), Wheat Ridge (page 206)
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