2021-12-03 12:38:43
Day 1 Explore the street art in neighborhoods like RiNo, the Highlands, South Broad way, Westwood and East Colfax. These and others are emerging with their own distinct character, art walks, hipster flea markets, craft-coffee bars, small music venues and only-in-Denver boutiques. Visit COLORADO.com/ArtHoods. Installation-art fans are crazy excited to hear that Meow Wolf, the wildly popular immersive art experience that debuted in Santa Fe, opened here last year. Plan ahead to see this totally new venture into “fantastic realms of story and exploration.” Much of Denver’s art isn’t in museums. A wealth of — often enormous — public artwork make the city an open-air museum. For a sample, head to the Colorado Convention Center to see I See What You Mean by Lawrence Argent, a sculpture otherwise known as “The Big Blue Bear”: An essential Denver photo opp. A short walk away at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, two 50-foot figures frolic as part of Jonathan Borofsky’s Dancers. The jagged edges of the Denver Art Museum’s Hamilton Building jut over 13th Avenue. The museum houses Western art, contemporary masterworks and blockbuster traveling shows. Of special note is the museum’s collection of the indigenous arts of North America, representing the artistic works of nearly every tribe across the U.S. from prehistoric times to the present. Stay for lunch at one of two new restaurants, including a collaboration with celebrated chef Jennifer Jasinski called The Ponti. Visit the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art in the former studio of Vance Kirkland, one of Colorado’s most distinguished painters, now located 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 is another! If you’ve got an inclination toward vinyl and being cool, head over to Twist & Shout, a famed indie music store selling new and used music on East Colfax near popular theaters like the Ogden and Bluebird. Another option for the cool kids is the Mission Ballroom in the RiNo district — an intimate concert space with plenty of bike parking. Take the afternoon to explore the hub of Denver’s creative community, the Art District on Santa Fe, where murals, studios, galleries and creative businesses make it a Certified Colorado Creative District. Stop in at the Museo de las Americas, highlighting traditional and contemporary Latino art and culture. Day 2 Start the morning at Tattered Cover’s historic LoDo location. Called “a bibliophile’s paradise” by the New York Times, this multilevel bookstore, housed in a lovingly restored historic building, holds thousands of volumes on every topic under the sun, with a notable selection of Denver- and Colorado-centric books. Just around the corner sits the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, a structure whose sleekness contrasts with the classic red brick typical to LoDo. Galleries showcase a series of exhibits devoted to innovation and creativity. At the serene rooftop cafe and bar above the hustle of downtown, relax and reflect on what you’ve seen.
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