Are we having fun yet?

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.

Rockmount Ranch Wear isn't just any western clothing store. The founder, Jack Weil (Papa Jack), invented the snap button shirt. Jack worked until he was 107 years old and made it his aim to ensure that people living in the American West had their own cool style. If you check out the location, make sure you go upstairs to look at the mini museum!

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.

Although Denver is over 800 miles from the Mississippi River there is a massive riverboat replica in South Denver.  To add to the wacky factor it's actually a car wash where the only water is internal, not external.  And you can't reach this nautical monument via a river.  It's at 3480 South Poplar Street just off of Hampden Avenue.  GIven the height and immensity of the structure you'll have no trouble sighting it from Hampden.  Now someone needs to show this to John Fogerty of "Proud Mary" song fame.

It sounds like the perfect alibi: "That couldn't have been me, I was at Grandma's house" or "You know nothing bad ever happens at Grandma's house".  Besides indulging in alibis and irony you can drink beer, play games and join with others in activities such as foul-mouthed cross stitching on Sundays all while surrounded by all the decorations you would find at your grandmothers.

Ever wonder where to park a horse downtown? Well, if it's a bronze sculpture by Frederic Remington, and you own the parking lot, whey not put it in its own dedicated parking spot?  That's just what the undisclosed owner of this property did with their large and expensive sculpture.  You can gaze at "Mountain Man" yourself in the 1900 block of Broadway.  More info about the sculpture and its placement can be found here, courtesy of Andrew Kenney at Denverite.

I love the varied sounds of a city.  These wacky samples are from RTD buses.  The first two are announcements from onboard.  The automated announcer turns Wynkoop street into a hiccup and Stout sounds like a question being asked with a slight inflection.

Not to be outdone, you can now hear a science-fictiony sound loop emanating from the front of the electric buses on the 16th Street mall.  Here's what it sounds like:

Every year in January, near the end of Denver's Stock Show, two prize-winning steers are ushered in on a red carpet to the historic Brown Palace Hotel downtown.  People line up to have their pictures taken with the animals so, if you want to participate and fit in, wear your cowboy hat.  While you're waiting in line watch ladies in Stetsons enjoying lunch and enjoying live piano musician the stunning lobby.  You can also chat with rodeo queens.  Amazingly, the photos are free!