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Breathe the Rocky Mountain air
By
Dann Carty
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Click on the link for a handy PDF version of our October 2007 Denver travel feature!
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Denver will surely take your breath away. Be prepared for the change in altitude here in the 'Mile High City.' The attitude's different, too: you'll meet some of the friendliest and most helpful folks you may ever encounter.
Denver preserves a vibrant downtown, one of its great charms. Here, you'll find hotels, the city's convention center, a performing arts complex, and a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and nightspots. Also here are some of the city's top attractions, including the U.S. Mint, the Denver Art Museum, and the Colorado History Museum. Getting around by car may be your first choice. If you lack wheels, try the gay-friendly cab company, Central Car (303-866-0123).
Denver's Pridefest happens in June, and there's an AIDS walk in September. Both events grow each year.
Accommodations
Ramada Inn (1150 East Colfax Avenue) is located in the historic Capitol Hill district of downtown; it's just minutes from many tourist attractions as well as local gay clubs. An outdoor heated pool, whirlpool, and fitness center enhance your enjoyment. Free shuttle service is also available to the local gay bars and baths.
Holiday Chalet Bed & Breakfast (1820 East Colfax Avenue) also offers convenient accommodations.
Bars and clubs
Charlie's (900 East Colfax Avenue), celebrating its 26th anniversary, is a favorite place to gather seven days a week. Nominated for Denver's Channel 7 A-List for "Best Local Business," Charlie's is also one of Colorado's largest bars. There are pool tables, video games, dart machines, outdoor patio, and an almost non-stop calendar of events and benefits. There's a big beer bust Sunday afternoons. On Tuesday nights, they're packed with a diverse crowd and play a dance-music mix as well as karaoke two nights a week. And there's Undie Mondays. Now with two dance floors, Charlie's offers a wide variety of music. Charlie's also makes gay Denver proud, raising over $130,000 a year for good causes.
Compound (145 Broadway) is a six-time "Best of Denver" winner and has been voted "Denver's Best Gay Bar." Celebrating 21 years, this delightfully funky place has recently expanded its patio and dance floor and always has a great DJ spinning, augmenting the state-of-art lighting and sound. With dancing five nights a week, they are a great neighborhood club with no dress code -- anything goes from Levis to drag! Their slogan is, "Prepare to party." Sunday nights are one of their busiest nights. You'll find great staff and wonderful customers. The Compound opens at 7 a.m.
Wrangler (1700 Logan), home of the Front Range Bears, is known as Denver's number one cruising place for men. Mondays bring $1.50 well drinks. The Wrangler's legendary Sunday charity beer busts happen every Sunday 4 to 8 p.m.; seven bucks gets you all the beer, juice, or soda you want. It's wall-to-wall men on Sundays, and you will see a line out the door if you don't get there early. Be sure to spend some time on their patio.
Denver is known for its clubs that feature strippers. Down the street from the Compound is BoyzTown (117 Broadway), where there's no cover to catch their famous hot men six nights a week, Tuesday through Sunday from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. On Wednesdays they have an amateur strip-off for a cash prize from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday to Thursday happy hour is from 3 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 8 p.m. There's a cocktail buffet from 3 to 8 p.m. on Fridays. Be sure to check out their new patio as well.
BJ's Carousel (1380 South Broadway) has great food, great booze, warm companionship, and some of the best drag in the city. It's all-you-can-eat spaghetti and a dart tournament on Mondays for $3.50. Tuesdays feature a dart league. On Wednesdays it's karaoke. Other events include frequent live entertainment on Fridays. BJ's Backstage Restaurant serves dinner Wednesday through Saturday starting at 5:30 and Sunday brunch starts at 10 a.m.
Denver Detour (551 East Colfax Avenue) is a great place to hang out. They offer darts, pool, and karaoke with live bands monthly. Everyone is welcome here. Wednesdays are men's nights and Thursdays are women's nights. Their restaurant serves lunch and dinner seven days a week and breakfast on the weekends. The mouth-watering burrito is a must-have at the Detour. Plan on watching the pride parade from here as it goes by the Detour's front door. Happy Hour is Monday through Saturday 5 to 8 p.m. On Wednesday, men's night, prime rib for two is only $20.95. Karaoke is on Fridays, while Sundays mean Bronco specials and a three-dollar spaghetti dinner.
Other bars to check out are Denver Eagle (3600 Blake Street), Tracks (3500 Walnut), Atrium (554 South Broadway), JR's Bar and Grill (777 East 17th), R&R (4958 East Colfax Avenue), Broadways (1027 Broadway), Barker Lounge (255 South Broadway), Safari Club (500 Denargo), There (11526 East Colfax Avenue), and C's (7900 East Colfax Avenue).
Baths
Midtowne Spa (2935 Zuni; Midtowne.com) features all kinds of fantasy setups: rooms with port holes, glory holes, and a cell block. Their basement includes a maze with 14 booths, four video-arcade style booths, a three-level ramp room, and large group room. All of these rooms have glory holes. Their wet area consists of a cruisy steam room, dry sauna, hot tub, and showers. The two TV areas show both porn and general entertainment. There is also a discreet backyard deck with hot tub. They're open 24 hours. Three specialty rooms can be rented: one a deluxe dungeon room with a double bed, TV, sling, St. Andrew's cross, and private glory holes; another is a sling room; and the third has a mirrors galore. Mondays have a $10 locker special from 5 to 10 p.m., while Tuesdays are group night -- host your group there and raise money. Don't miss the hot JO parties Thursdays, 9 p.m. Sunday offers strip shows at 4 p.m., with free food and beverages after the show. Free STD and HIV testing is available. Call for event news, or check out their website for monthly parties.
Other baths include the Denver Swim Club (6923 East Colfax Avenue) and Triple C (2151 Lawrence) -- both open 24 hours.
Dining
I had some of the best Mexican food I've had in years at the Denver Detour (551 East Colfax Avenue).
At Denver's Hamburger Mary's (700 East 17th Avenue), you'll find the same deliciousness that you'll find at this campy chain's other locations around the U.S.
At Irish Snug (1201 East Colfax Avenue), right across from the Ramada Inn, you can get some good Irish pub grub.
Shops and entertainment
Needz (135 Broadway), close to Compound, carries a variety of novelties, sexy underwear, fetish toys, and other fun items.
Crypt (131 Broadway) has leather goods and video booths. Unique of Denver (2626 East 12th) has cards, pride items, and gifts. For adult shopping it has to be Pleasures (eight locations) offering the best in adult videos and toys. For a unique gifts, be sure to visit Heaven Sent Me (116 South Broadway).
The local gay presses include and Out Front and Gayzette: both offer news and events as well as bar maps and listings. Dive into the gay life here and you'll catch a Rocky Mountain high among the great people of Denver.
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