Spring has Sprung!

The first day of Spring was officially upon us on March 20th and boy, does the weather sure feel warmer these days! With the grass turning greener, the leaves beginning to grow, and the flower buds starting to bloom, we are sure you are just itching to get outside and enjoy all the beautiful transformations Denver has to offer. The question is, where can you go in the city to see all of the beauty spring has to offer? We decided to give you a little parks 101 information on the best parks in Denver to go visit and spend the day in. There are nearly 200 city parks in Denver reaching over 100 miles of trails, not to mention a good 11 dog parks for your furry friends. With so many options, how do you decide which park best fits your wants and needs?

The Ultimate Gathering Place

Probably the best-known park in Denver is Washington Park (701 S Franklin St) which could be referred to as “Denver’s beach” as everyone gathers here on the weekends. There is a massive lawn area where you will find volleyball nets a plenty, soccer, Frisbee, and the occasional beer kickball game in play. That’s right, you can bring an adult beverage but it has to be 3.2% beer in a can or keg, no liquor of glass bottles allowed. There is a great walking path around the whole park, public tennis courts, flower gardens, a playground, and even some small ponds where you can admire swans and other animals. This is a great park for walking, taking the kids for a day in the sun, or meeting up with friends for a cold one and conversation.

Places for Your Furry Friends to Roam

Most city parks require your dogs to be on a leash at all times. But here are a few parks where you can take your dogs for some good old run around time with their fellow canines:

Berkeley Park – Sheridan and West 46th
Barnum Park – Hooker and West 5th
Jason Street – 678 South Jason Street (operated by Denver’s Municipal Animal Shelter)
Kennedy Park – Hampden and South Dayton
Fuller Park – Franklin and East 29th
Green Valley Ranch East Park – Jebel and East 45th
Stapleton – East 24th Avenue & Syracuse Street

Making a Day Outing

You may want to do something other than just hit up the park for the day, maybe find a nice cool place to escape the sun or immerse yourself in a bit of culture. For a park-plus-activity type of day, you can head on over to City Park (2001 Colorado Blvd). Located in the heart of Capitol Hill, this park is surrounded by beautiful neighborhoods not to mention a golf course, the Denver Zoo, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Enjoy the many pathways through the park, two lakes, large grass areas, and picnic sites with playgrounds for the day and then pick up your clubs or go see the latest exhibit at the zoo or museum.

For the Water Lover

We all know there are not many lakes to be found in the city, and only lakes you can get your feet wet in for the most part. So for those of us who need some water in our lives, the best place to do that is the Cherry Creek Reservoir (4201 South Parker Road). Here you can boat, swim, fish, jet ski, sailboard, and other fun water activities. Enjoy all your park adventures this Spring!

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”
- Margaret Atwood

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This Cowtown Offers More than Meat

If you are a native of Denver, you may not realize the clear advantage your city has over most others in the realm of Vegetarian faire. If traveling to the Midwest or the South, your choices as a non-meat-eater will vacillate back and forth between salad and grilled cheese sandwiches. I mean no disrespect to the American staple, the cheese sandwich, but Denver has pulled out all the stops.

Whatever your reason for eschewing meat, whether to be a new, improved, leaner you or because the wild life of your 20s has already created a big enough karma-hit that you have to watch your Ps and Qs from here on out, you will find your tummy pleasantly full and your taste buds delighted in Denver.

Charming Chalet

City O’ City, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood has been a staple in the vegetarian community in Denver for quite some time. It has recently doubled in size, but still retains the small, low-lit charm that first endeared veggies to dine. It serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and libations. Who could ask for anything more?

Comfort Creations

Watercourse Foods has as its accolade the FIRST vegetarian restaurant in Denver.  Located in the heart of our fair city, it is still going strong since 1998. There is no shortage of kale or quinoa, but because Watercourse prides itself of “vegan comfort food,” the meat eater in your life will be no worse for ware having bellied up to this table. They started out just serving breakfast and lunch 5 days a week. However, a Denver diner can happily eat there 7 days a week for all 3 meals.

Post Party Plate

Let’s remember this; alcohol has NO meat in it. Vegetarians maybe thin, but they aren’t always lightweights. Sputnik is a wonderful vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly “dive” right on Broadway, walking distance from most frequented bars and dance clubs. The best part is that it doesn’t close until 2am. On the flip side, it doesn’t open until 10, though the people eating a 2am aren’t usually awake to eat at 10am!

Belly Up to the Buffet

Last, but certainly not least, Govinda’s Garden is Denver’s longest running vegetarian buffet. An entire hot buffet filled with organic, sustainable, vegetarian faire in a laid back, peaceful atmosphere is a great place to belly up and eat all you can, starting at $10! During nice weather, you can even dine on the patio while looking at the gorgeous Rockies. Nothing says “Denver” like eating organic food looking at the mountains!

Denver is the home so many great restaurants that it is easy to become overwhelmed. However, in the “organic” and “vegetarian” arena, it is such a nice change to have so many choices. From farm-to-table, to post-party dive, Denver delivers a plate full of food to entice any palate.

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It is almost March but it feels like winter has just arrived in the Mile High City. Listening to the radio this morning, it appears we are having one of the snowiest Februarys to date and for the last week of the month, we can prepare for even more snow. So what can you and the family do when you don’t want to be stuck in the house? Where can you go in the city to get out and enjoy the cold without being too cold?

Did Someone Say Free?

There are many wonderful museums in Denver and what’s even better, every one of them has a free day every month. When the kids are tired of staying indoors watching re-runs, head over to the Nature and Science Museum or the Children’s Museum. Expand their minds and imaginations while you enjoy spending time with your family. Below are a few upcoming free days at the museums:

Nature & Science Museum: March 2
Denver Art Museum: March 7
Railroad Museum: March 7
Doll & Toy Museum: March 8
Children’s Museum of Denver: Every Tuesday night from 4:00 – 8:00pm

Staying Warm in the Winter Months - Couples Night Out

After a lovely day with the kids, maybe it is time for you and your partner to head out on the town just the two of you. The great thing about Denver is there is always something to do whether it is a weekend or weekday. From music to food, movies to theatre, you are sure to find an activity to enjoy. Here are a few suggestions for things to do and a few upcoming events to mark your calendars for:

See a Movie – There are plenty of great movies out there, but how about heading to Landmark Theatre in the Capitol Hill neighborhood to catch the now Oscar winning movie ‘Birdman’ starring Michael Keaton?

Catch a Show – So many music shows to choose from and so little time! But we thought a good one to try would be Ziggies Blues Jam every Sunday to start, and it is free! Make sure you have your dancing shoes for this outing!

Friday Night Bazaar – Starting March 6th and running through September, The Big Wonderful is now putting on a lovely event called Friday Night Bazaar. Located in the heart of the RINO Art District, this is a fun place to have a drink, eat some food, and meander around local vendor’s booths to see what wonderful products they have for sale.

Enjoying That White Stuff

So many fun activities to do in Denver but let’s not forget to enjoy the snow while it is here. Whether you and your kids build a snowman in your yard, you go up to the mountains with your partner to ski, or you head to a large hill for some old school sledding with friends, get out there and appreciate the lovely winter that we have here in Colorado.

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Anyone driving through the Denver downtown can see big things are happening. Cranes dot the skyline and residential construction is booming. The drive to move back to the urban core is growing and surprisingly, it is partly being fueled by a new generation that seeks the active lifestyle and amenities only downtown can offer. Enter the Millennials...

Who Are the Millennials?

This cohort is generally defined as young adults ages 25-34. Also called “Generation Y”or the "Global Generation", this group tends to be more civically and socially minded. Many are foregoing the traditional path of suburb living and moving to where the action and jobs are in the urban core. This trend is being played out all over the nation as this niche begins their exodus.

The Lure of the Big City

Employment, entrepreneurial start-ups and lifestyle are just a few reasons this group is shunning the suburbs for the big city. According to a recent story in the Denver Business Journal, Denver is one of the top 10 cities in America attracting the millennial generation. As one of the top start-up regions in the country with an above average rate of pay, Millennials with college degrees are coming to the city to begin careers and enjoy the Denver lifestyle. With a large number of small businesses and start-ups there are plenty of opportunities for success.

Rental Prices Continue to Rise

Of course this influx of new residents takes its toll on the rental market in Denver. As the city struggles to keep up with the demand building projects are popping up all over downtown. Unfortunately, until the new units are ready, rent prices continue to rise and many new residents are forced to have multiple roommates just to make ends meet.

Millennial Real Estate Investors

Fortunately, many in this generation have an opportunity to invest in the area they call home. As rental rates continue to climb mortgage and load payments can sometimes be less than the rental rates in the most sought after neighborhoods. As more Gen Y’ers move to the area, these properties have also become lucrative rental properties allowing Millennials to generate income and live in the bustling and booming area.

Have Fun and Enjoy Life

The urban core has become the new land of opportunity for a generation that is forging a new path to success. As lifelong Denver residents we are pleased to see the revitalization of downtown and the influx of new people dedicated to the continual rebuilding of the great Denver area. If you are tired of paying high rent and are looking for the best loft and condo properties in Denver please call us at 303-991-9878 or contact us. Now, let’s get out and have some fun!

Is the cold weather starting to dampen your spirits? Do the warm days make the next snowstorm feel even worse? Don’t allow the winter blues to keep you from having fun. Living in Denver means you can have a hot night life even when it’s chilly.

Laugh those Blues Away

Warm up those cold nights with some raucous laughter at one of many Denver venues. The metro is a hot spot for headliner comics and up and coming stars. If you are having a hard week and feel the need to get out, head down to Comedy Works. With locations downtown and in Greenwood Village, this great venue brings in the top stars and will make any date or outing with friends a gut splitting adventure. Check their calendar to find out who will be in town this month.

You can also get your giggles on at the Bovine Metropolis Theater. Featuring great improv and sketch comedy you’ll find yourself wanting to go back again and again. If you want to try more local flavor, checkout the Oriental Theater in the Highlands or the Bug Theatre in the Navajo Street Art District.

Not In a Laughing Mood – Try Dancing

Regardless of your style and tastes the metro has a place for everyone. From two-stepping to club dancing there are numerous options for getting out and getting your groove on. Dance all night at Lodo’s on Market Street where there is plenty of room to dance, play pool or just enjoy the view of Coors Field. You can also head on down to the SoCo Nightlife District where you’ll discover a variety of clubs from jazz, reggae, hip hop and everything in between. If you want to get wild, try out Vinyl and enjoy multiple floors, upbeat music and a happening crowd.

Grab your Cowboy Hat and Boots

Do all y’all feel like two-stepping? Then mosey over to the only country bar downtown, the Cowboy Lounge. Once there you can enjoy country and rock music on a large dance floor with plenty of people and western flare. If you fancy the elegance and sophistication of ballroom dancing, then you should click here for a list of local events, lessons and locations.

Stop Shivering and Have Fun

Denver is full of great things to do especially downtown. Stop looking at the snow fall, get out and create some great memories. No matter how cold it is outside, it’s always warmer when you’re having fun with friends.

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One of the biggest benefits of living in an urban metropolis like Denver, CO is the abundance of opportunities for culture. Denver is among the best cities to hear new music, listen to the spoken word and symphonies, and experience museums. Most large cities have a handful of museums, this is true. Denver is no exception, only in that Denver Art Museum is large, well funded and brings some of the most amazing exhibits to town. It is 7 floors tall (at its highest) and spans 3 buildings. There is even a monthly outdoor gathering celebrating Native American Culture!

Henri Matisse: Fauvist

To showcase the prominence of Denver Art Museum is the fact that they are running a Matisse exhibit simultaneously with MOMA’s (Museum of Modern Art in New York) showing. What a wonderful homage to a fundamental fauvist (a style noted for its vibrant use of color) painter. Granted, MOMA is covering Matisse’s Cut Outs, while Denver Art Museum is showcasing 14 richly-colored paintings from Matisse and friends, but the fact that Denver Art Museum has its “finger” on the pulse of the national art “movement” is an incredible perk for all of us living in the Denver Metro. We no longer have to pay high New York rent prices. We can live in the highly affordable Denver downtown and still have access to grade A art exhibits.

Denver: Strong Art Presence

Denver Art Museum has numerous strong alliances with national and international art museums. The Matisse and Friends exhibit is on loan from National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Matisse and Friends will be on display here in Denver until February 8, 2015 on Level 1 – Hamilton Building.  As if it couldn’t get any better, due to the robust funding of art in the Denver Metro, the art museum doesn’t have to pass on the expense to its patrons.

Quality Art: Affordable Price

The Matisse and Friends exhibit can be seen for just the cost of admission (up to $10 for all of us living in the Denver area). Due to the ample support from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, admission to the Denver Art Museum is also free on the first Saturday of each month. Yes, you are reading that correctly. You can see Matisse and Friends, on loan from the National Gallery of Art, running concurrent with Museum of Modern Art’s Henri Matisse: The Cut Outs for FREE on February 7, 2015.

This exhibit in this museum is just scratching the surface of all the amazing cultural opportunities available to those living in and around Denver. The arts community in Denver is so well funded, diverse and culturally rich, that few cities could match the privileges we have here in the Mile High City!

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From being one of the most desirable places to live for Millennials, Baby Boomers, outdoor lovers and craft beer enthusiasts, Colorado has made its fair share of Top 10 lists over the past few years. But, when it comes to the price of real estate, Colorado was recently ranked as one of the Top 5 states with the most expensive homes for sale from across the country.

Colorado Offers Mile High Living

Listed at $59 million, a high-end cabin resemblance on 298 acres in Telluride, Colorado takes the cake as the state’s highest listed residential property for sale in the state of Colorado. And, according to MSN Money, the price of this mountain town property puts Colorado as the state with the 5th most expensive home for sale in the United States. The only other states in the country that have real estate listing prices above and beyond Colorado’s Telluride property are Connecticut ($65 million), Florida ($139 million), New York ($140 million) and California ($195 million). And, if you’re wondering which states have a smaller price tag for luxury living – you’ll find North Dakota, South Dakota and Mississippi as your best bets at around $3 million for each state’s most expensive properties.

Denver Luxury Homes Outpace Real Estate Market

According to a recent report released by the Denver Metro Association of Realtors, Telluride isn’t the only area in the state that loves luxury living. The Denver Metro area has seen a huge upswing in the market of single-family homes priced at or above the $1 million mark. Last month alone, 56 homes priced at or above $1 million were sold in the Mile High City. And, the overall $1 million single-family home selling market rose by 14.3 percent in November when compared to the same month last year. Plus, the good news for sellers is that luxury homes in this price range aren’t sitting on the market as long as they did in past years.  The DMAR reported that current luxury homes in the Denver metro area are selling 49 days faster than last year.

Enjoy the Life of Luxury

If you’re ready to move up into the luxury home market in either downtown Denver or around the surrounding, the luxury living real estate experts at New Era Group can help you find the perfect home with all of the features and amenities you desire. Give us a call so you too can enjoy the life of luxury.

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If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to support more local businesses and you prefer to enjoy a glass of pinot rather than a pint of IPA, you might enjoy visiting many of the Denver-based urban wineries that call the Mile High City home. To help you get started with planning a Denver Urban Winery tour around the city, we have put together the following list of Denver wineries that will give you a taste of what the Denver grape scene has to offer.

Balistreri Vineyards

Located just 10 minutes north of downtown at 1946 E. 66th Ave, this family owned and operated winery has called Denver home for many years. This urban winery offers complimentary tastings and tours of their award winning wines that may include a Riesling, merlot or their famous Colorado cherry dessert wine every day from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Balistreri’s winery also provides a unique setting for private events like bridal showers, birthdays or a local girls’ outing. For more information, visit: www.balistrerivineyards.com. 

Spero Winery

Also located north of the city at 3316 W. 64th Ave., this local boutique winery has been producing award-winning Cabernet, Merlot and White Zinfandel wines for the past 15 years. But, the owner of the winery, Clyde Spero, is said to have been producing wine his entire life. Get the full story of the evolution of Spero Winery and taste their wines during their complimentary wine tastings every Saturday from 1-5 p.m. For more information, visit: http://sperowinery.biz.

Bonacquisti Wine Company

With wines named after their children – Vinny No Neck and Bella Risa – the Bonacquisti Wine Company really is a family affair. Opened in 2006 in the Sunnyside neighborhood, the husband and wife duo, Paul and Judi Bonacquisti, have been at the forefront of bringing the concept of an urban wine scene to Denver. The winery’s tap room is open Thursday – Saturday for tastings and tours of the wine production area where the Bonacquisti family crushes, presses and ferments their Colorado wines on site at 4640 Pecos Street. For more information, visit www.bonacquistiwine.com.   

Mile High Winery

This new winery in the up and coming hip River North neighborhood (RiNo), is the result of owner Jon Brickner’s passion for combining science with art to craft the perfect glass of wine. With distinct wine flavors like the Grateful Red Port, Cabernet Sauvignon and a Merlot, visitors to the winery can enjoy flight tastings starting at $10. For more information, visit http://milehighwinery.com.

Infinite Monkey Theorem Winery

Nationally known for its urban winery and wine lab tasting room located in the RiNo neighborhood, this true urban winery opened its doors in 2008 to create wines that are expressions of local fruit, the winemaking process, the personality of the winemaker and the people who enjoy drinking the wine. When you visit their energetic and fun tasting room that’s open seven days a week, you’ll enjoy not only the wine, but also the music and food trucks that are part of the Infinite Monkey Theorem Winery experience at 3200 Larimer St. For more information, visit http://theinfinitemonkeytheorem.com.

Good luck on finding your next favorite local Denver wine! If you see a new neighborhood during your urban wine tour that you’re interested in relocating to like Sunnyside, LoHi or RiNo during your urban wine tour, the real estate experts at New Era Group can help you find your next dream home. Cheers!

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One of the best things about living in Denver is the amazing diversity of things to do, places to go and stuff to buy. Unfortunately, many of us, especially those in condos and lofts, realize too late that all our cool stuff simply won’t fit in our homes without some clever solutions. There are many great products out there and simple life hacks that will give you more room without having to rent a storage unit or sneak boxes under your children’s beds.

Get Tall and Skinny with Knickknacks

Almost all home supply stores have a variety of shelves for multiple situations. In tight rooms with good wall space consider tall shelves or bookcases that reach to the ceiling but are slim with 4-6 inch depth. Use alternating heights and use these to display special treasures, photos, books and music. Include accents of many different colors that match the room, but also highlight your originality. The best part is you can put many of your keepsakes on display instead of in a box. You might be amazed how much you can store vertically.

Organize those Closets

If you have extra closet space or need to create more room simply organize your closet with shelves and racks that go from floor to ceiling. Best practice is to put light boxes at the top and heaviest at the bottom, but bear in mind if you use items in any boxes often keep those in close reach.  Another good rule if you have the height is to run two rods and double up on shorter items such as shirts. Remember, if you haven’t worn it in a year or it hasn’t it fit in a few years perhaps it is time to donate it.

Make the Most of Your Garage or Storage Space

Today there are many options for storage especially for your garage or storage unit. Looking for shelving that extends as close to the ceiling as possible will increase your storage space. Make sure the shelves are firmly anchored and heavy items are near the bottom. In addition you can use hooks to hang items like bikes, tools and other items. If the area is not temperature controlled be careful storing items that are susceptible to heat or cold.

Have Fun with Your Space

Enjoy your home whether it is a luxury condo twenty stories up, a cool loft in an old warehouse downtown or a nice pad overlooking the park. Your home is your space and making good use of the vertical areas for storage will make the living areas more accessible, comfortable and give you plenty of room for entertaining.  If you are looking for the perfect loft or condo downtown, try our advanced search tool and see what is available right now. When you’re ready to take a look in person give us a call and we’ll be happy to show how you can make it your home.

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Getting ready for the holidays can often be a stressful experience. But, when you add the responsibilities associated with getting your home ready for hosting out-of-town guests, you can quickly become overwhelmed. To help you prepare your home — and your family — for visitors during the holidays implement the following approaches to make your holiday experience less of a hassle and more enjoyable.

Enlist as Much Help as Possible

From cleaning the floors to changing sheets and making your kitchen immaculate, your house guest to-do list surely is lengthy. To minimize the time and back breaking work you spend on prepping your home for holiday visitors, break up your chore list with others in the family so everyone can get in on the fun. Or, better yet, if you have the resources, it can be very convenient to hire a professional house cleaner to make your house shine so you can put more of your focus on making sure your guests dine well during the holiday dinner and have a great time during their visit.

Designate Separate Space for Your Guests

When there are extra people in your home, the space in your house can quickly become crowded. If you can, try to designate a separate space in your house for your guests so they can keep all of their belongings in one central location, rather than spread out all over your home. And, if sleeping arrangements are tight and you have guests sharing rooms, hanging up a simple dark sheet or blanket can help separate the kids from the adults for a little extra space and privacy for your guests.

Stock Your Cupboards

More people in the house means more mouths to feed so stocking up on extra food essentials and ingredients for easy-to-prepare meals will make your time with your guests a little less stressful. If you have an idea about the main dinners you’re planning to make ahead of time, you can prep for them early so you have more time to spend hanging out with your company. Scheduling a few meals at local restaurants also isn’t a bad idea so you can get a break from cooking for your family and guests.

Get Out and About in the Mile High City

Instead of staying cooped up in your home while you have house guests, get out and enjoy all of the city’s attractions. Visiting the Botanic Gardens, Denver Zoo, Museum of Nature and Science, the Denver Art Museum, Denver Mint and the Colorado State Capitol are fun, local day trips for all ages to enjoy. And, don’t forget to check out the holiday theatrical line-up at the Denver Performing Arts Center, as well as all of the great restaurants in the theatre district, along 16th Street Mall and throughout the downtown area.

As you welcome your out-of-town guests into your home this holiday season, just remember to have fun and not stress over all of the little things. We hope these tips will help give you a little peace of mind so that you can focus less on preparing your home and more on the reason for the season – spending quality time with friends and family members. But, if you soon realize that your current home is busting at the seams when the grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins come knocking at your door for some holiday cheer, give the expert real estate agents at New Era Group a call at 303-991-9878. We can help you find the perfect size house in the best neighborhood that meets your family’s holiday hosting needs.

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