Stef's Visit (part 4)

 Monday we went sight seeing downtown. It was such a gorgeous day, most of our walking was done without our jackets but in short sleeve shirts. In downtown Denver, they have what is called Civic Center, a plaza surrounded by art and architecture with buildings such as the State Capitol, the City and County building, the library, Denver Art Museum and more. Unfortunately there is a huge update and improvement project going on so we were limited on where we could walk and what we could see.



An old stage/amphitheater in Civic Center.

Standing from where the above picture was taken, the Capitol is to the left and the City and County building to the right. Behind it through the opening is the DAM (Denver Art Museum).

One of Denver's many random sculptures around the city.

I always love finding some of the random sculptures in Denver. This tall piece sits right in front of the library. Stef is standing underneath to show how tall it is.

Colorado's State Capitol

While at the State Capitol, there was a rally going on about the Health Care debates. We didn't stay long and because it was starting about the time we walked up, we didn't stay to find the step 5,280 feet (one mile) above sea level and have our picture taken. Maybe some day.  

Darth Vader is concerned about Health Care and showed up for the rally.

All of this is about 3 blocks away from the famous 16th Street Mall. This mall I believe is a genius idea and think that Salt Lake could benefit by creating something similar. It is a mile long stretch of street that has been closed off to traffic and is an open pedestrian mall. Free shuttles that run the length of the mall are the only motor vehicle allowed. There are shops, stores and restaurants on 16th street as well as a few that are on side streets. Down the middle of the street are food vendors and small shops. There are benches, trees, and even chess tables throughout the mall.

Denver's travel magazine touts the 16th street mall has "Denver's best people watching" but it just isn't about the people watching. This is some of what we saw:

• A man wearing a tight shirt... But he had placed his drink in the front, using the neck as a cup holder.
• Although we were sitting in just short sleeve shirts, a lady walked by wearing a full fur coat and a beanie.
• There was this guy with an awesome braided, beaded fu manchu mustache that was about 4-5 inches long.
• Outside the Juice Kitchen, the sign holder/spinner guy was wearing a giant green foam hat.
• Ling & Lou's restaurant has a food item called "Evil Jungle Princess Beef".
• At the gentleman's club on one of the side street was headlining "Bridget the Midget."
• There were also some gangstas and plenty of downtown office people.

Two blocks off the mall is Denver's Convention Center. If you're not there for a convention, you only visit the convention center for one reason ... The Big Blue Bear. 

This bear statue stares into the convention center.

From the inside looking back at the bear. See how small Stef and Ellie are in comparison.

After this, we drove to Park Meadow mall to show Stef the dog store. I didn't get any video of how funny Ellie was but she would walk from window to window giggling at all the dogs. Stef held a Brittany Spaniel and really wanted to buy it. I saw some cute puggles (pug/beagles). Park Meadows also has an American Girls doll store with just about anything American Girls you could want, except I didn't see the American girl I had; Samantha.

After heading home for nap and dinner, it was time to take Stef to the airport. It seemed as though things were going ok but then about 10 minutes after we dropped her off, my cell phone rang. She couldn't find her drivers license. She wanted to know if she could use her state ID. I'm sure she would have been fine but then she found her license in the wrong spot in her wallet. From what I've heard she made it home OK.

Thanks Stef for coming to visit. We had a blast.