- 3480 S Poplar St, Denver, CO 80224
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The Dairy Block-A Place For Cool Alley Cats
- 1800 Wazee Street, Denver CO 80202
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Motel becomes Metlo (Anagrams r Us)
- 1111 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
- ArchitecturePlacesShop
Look up in the sky…it’s a vomiting lion?
- 730 17th Street Denver CO 80202
- ArchitecturePlaces
Rooms with an Ocean View
- 1201 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
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Articles
When blind searching through listings isn't enogh
Wacky, Wonderful, Food and Drink
Denver is where the cheeseburger was invented. There's even a monument in the Highlands to this claim.
We're all about "fast casual" so that we can get back out and enjoy the outdoors as soon as possible. Chipotle, Larkburger, Noodles, Quiznos, Smashburger and Garbanzo all started here in Denver. The original Chipotle location was just renovated and you can visit it at 1644 E. Evans Avenue.
For wacky restaurants/bars you can't beat the kitschy Casa Bonita and Forest Room 5. Historical hangouts like My Brother's Bar, the Brown Palace and the Buckhorn Exchange will take you back in time. Futurists might check out The Inventing Room to discover the wonders of liquid nitrogen interacting with food.
Denver is a big beer town where micro-breweries abound alongside distilleries and the old granddaddy in Golden-The Coors Brewery. Every year Denver plays host to the massive Great American Beer Festival.
Watch for future listings on unusual food and drink experiences yo…
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Unique Shopping Experiences
If you're looking for some wacky shopping experiences in Denver, then watch for our future listings. We've already visited Fifty-two 80's and Rockmount Ranchwear. Upcoming shops include Mago's Magic Shoppe in the Highlands, I Heart Denver for one of kind local art souvenirs, HopeTank, the Caboose, RAFT where teachers upcycle, eco-shopping in Sunnyside and our wonderful independent records and bookstores. We encourage everyone to shop independently and talk to the staff and owners. There are some good stories waiting for you too.
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Planes, Trains, Automobiles and Boots
Denver can certainly lay claim to some unique and yes, sometimes, wacky transportation features. I’ll share some of them in this categorized article. You should know that most of these will be in current or future Wacky Denver listings.
Car
Many folks may not know that Henry Barnes started some traffic innovations right here in Denver. The first is known as the “Barnes Dance”. It’s when at an intersection all traffic lights turn red and pedestrians are given the opportunity to cross at any angle, or even do a little dance if they like.
Barnes also synchronized traffic lights so that if you’re driving at an optimal speed, and traffic allows, you can go through a long string of green signals. If traffic conditions are right, you can still experience this on Speer Boulevard, Broadway, and some other numbered streets downtown.
A less welcome traffic-stopping device was born here in Denver…
Featured Listings
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Strange Happy Cow
After seeing this illustration on West Alameda in Denver it almost made me rethink being a vegetarian. Could cows really look this happy (and hungry?) while being butchered? The mystery will remain for me since this quiet vegetarian did not step inside. But you might want to ponder the illustration for yourself and stop by this butcher shop to buy what must be some very fresh (and happy?) meat.
Denver’s Virtual Subway
Tourists and newcomers may be surprised when they walk on the west side of Curtis Street, between 15th and 16th Avenues in Denver. At times it sounds like a subway is rumbling underneath your feet. Here's a sample:
There are other sounds that play as well and if you haven't heard them, I won't spoil the surprise. This audio art has actually been around for decades, created by artist Jim Green-who lives in Denver. I'm impressed with it's whimsy and longevity. Enjoy!
Talking Trees Festival
In what hopefully be an ongoing festival/project, kids from the Five Points area of Denver have recorded poems and stories. When you walk by a tree with a kite and streamers in it a motion activated recording is played. Walk along the east side of 2600 Champa street to hear their authentic, imaginative work.
Pictures at an Exhibition(ist) Pool
There are quite a few rooftop pools in Denver but none, that I know of, that have a tall glass window into them. This new apartment building should provide opportunities for people to crane their necks as they look up at swimmers looking down. Not sure who will be the exhibitionists here.
The Ghost Building
The Ghost Building at 18th and Stout seems to live up to its name. It is a ghost of a building. Amazingly, it's facade-all 1,700 pieces of stone-was moved to this location in 1985. The original building (1891) is named after the real estate tycoon Allen M. Ghost. The architect was William Lang. If you look closely at the facade it show some mysterious faces. The building (in its current location) seems haunted or possibly cursed as a string of tenants have come and gone. None have lasted as long as the facade has.
Cowboy Pajamas
Who doesn't love a cowboy in pajamas? The 3 ton, 20 foot tall sculpture at 1725 Champa Street has admirers and detractors. That's abstract art for you, and art that sparks conversations. This, western-inspired, painted bronze sculpture was created by Sean O'Meallie. Its placement near the Renaissance Hotel harks back to when there was an annual pajama fundraiser held there. Perhaps now someone will start a photo collection of pajama-clad people posing with the sculpture. We could feature that on Wacky Denver!
Mile High Step
Since Denver is the Mile High City, it is only right that you can stand on a Mile High step on the state capital steps. Just climb the main staircase on the west side of the capital until you see the plaque. You might also notice that the plaque has been moved over the years.
Look up in the sky…it’s a vomiting lion?
The Equitable building in downtown Denver has a beautiful lobby and it's a great example of Renaissance architecture. That alone warrants a visit. But if you look up, way up, to the top of the building you'll see what looks like vomiting (or spitting?) lions. So, look up Denver, you never know what you'll see up there in the sky or on a building.
About Wacky Denver
It is wacky!