The Inside Scoop

Get a taste of preserved Denver by living in Curtis Park, with its awe-inspiring historical architecture and groovy lifestyles. Own a piece of true art with a home done in the historic Queen Anne and Italianate architecture found throughout the hood, more than any other area in Denver. Revitalization began after much of Curtis Park joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and middle class families started renovating the nostalgic and charming houses, condominiums, cottages, duplexes and row-houses reminiscent of The Cosby Show or Sex and The City.

Peeps from all different backgrounds make Curtis Park their home - resulting in diverse restaurants, eclectic art & music and multi-faceted friends & neighbors. Here they share cultural dishes, athletic challenges and street-side get-togethers like the Juneteenth festival at the start of summer. Local hangouts create hip, ever-evolving atmospheres for these characters to coexist, conspire and compliment each others' being...

Entertainment, Theater & Music

Keep it real in funkdafied Curtis Park, where caucasian hippies, hispanic homies and nubian brothers share common ground... This is epitomized on June 19th of every year, by the aptly-named Juneteenth, Curtis Park's premier festival, celebrating African-American freedom and culture . The streets become jammed with booths, games, frivolity and comradeship as this community welcomes others to join in the fun and amusement.

Watch plays after admiring some photography at The Denver Crossroads Theater, located right on the Five Points intersection, where they offer the occasional film festival as well as poetry readings. Dude, where's your car? No matter, cause you've got one more “anden” to check out and it's right here in Curtis Park... Andenken Gallery & Design on Larimer is a warehouse wrapped on the outside by colorful, artistic murals and, inside, filled with local pieces, installations, and exhibits – all done by dozens of local artists.

Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom is the place to be for national acts rangin' from metalcore bands and disco players to reggae and hip-hop djs. Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is a performing arts organization in Curtis Park, supporting the African American and other jivin' communities and people. CPRD is composed of a professional modern dance ensemble, a dance school teaching throughout the year, indoor theatre that seats 300, and an international summer dance institute. So get digable and be “cool like that” in Curtis Park...

Nightlife

It's easy to jazz it up in Curtis Park, the prominent melting pot of Denver souls and live music. The local jazz mother lode is Herb's Jazz & Blues, at 20th & Larimer, while down the street The Ataris, Jedi Mind Tricks, and yes, hold back folks, even the Jonas Brothers make an appearance in the Marquis Theater. This joint hosts emerging rock/indie performers from the region and nationally. Double up on the indie scene with the Walnut Room on, well...Walnut Street. Let out the leprechaun inside Scuffy Murphy's, an authentic Irrrish pub on 19th Street...

Larimer Square contributes its share of nightlife with jokers from Comedy Works, special events and dj's at Wicked Garden and luscious mojitos pourin' out of mixers in Mynt. Between here and Curtis park, find more sports bars, wine & martini bars, nightclubs and venues lining the streets, with other happenin' ladies and gents strollin' about...

Area Restaurants

Servin' up food for your soul, Tom's Home Cookin' brings the south to your doorstep fried catfish and chicken pot pie on 26th Avenue. If your lookin' for real soul food, you're in the right place, for there are soul restaurants galore in Curtis Park - joints like Coleman's, Larry A's and Weston Street Cafe. A different type of zing is acookin' in the mexican fare of La Pasadita Inn on Park, at the end of Washington. Curtis Park Creamery on 30th Street, doin' their best to help you recuperate from your partyin' the night before with smothered burritos that'll knock your socks off!

Find a mix of palate-pleasin' food at the British Bulldog Pub on Stout where you'll find burgers, Indian curry, and shepherd's pie. Chillin' on California Street, Mercury Cafe is a haven for bohemians and ecclectic folk period, plating vegetarian and vegan dishes during poetry slams and open mic nights. Fine dining is closeby and varietal at Larimer Square and 16th Street Mall, only minutes down the street...

Parks & Recs

The namesake of this friendly and attractive area, Curtis Park, was created in 1868 as Denver's first public park. Its tag was recently changed to Mestizo-Curtis Park to commemorate the mixture of hispanic Americans into the community. Chill out at the outdoor pool with the kids... or you can let them wear themselves out at the new playground. Challenge your homies on the tennis and basketball courts or run a muck in the soccer field. Ease up and toss some horseshoes in the pits.

Other basketball courts and a lighted baseball field are playable at Sonny Lawson Park on the south-side of this village. For those whose families include Fido, entertain them at Fuller Dog Park on 29th & Franklin... just keep an eye out for those more immersed in a cellphone conversation instead of keepin' track of who their little Trixie's befriendin'... or wrasslin'... or whatever the case may be...

The Commute

Fortunately, Curtis Park is surrounded by major thoroughfares for getting' about outside the hood. Making for intercity convenience, 20th Street and Park/23rd both meet up with I-25, while I-70 can be caught via Broadway/Brighton Boulevard. Larimer, Lawrence and York Streets jettison you to Speer, Colfax or Broadway and Lincoln. Hop on the ol' light rail to get to Downtown's businesses and office buildings or its depot to switch destinations like DIA, Wheatridge or Littleton. Taxi cabs may not be as prevalent as they are downtown, but you've got access when needed and Denver's bus system is expanding its routes.

Shopping

Between the forces of 16th Street Mall, Denver Pavilions and Larimer Square, be prepared to rack up a healthy credit card bill, ladies and gentlemen. Shop until your heart's content at the major retail chains of Denver Pavilions, like Banana Republic, GAP or Express. Or take in local fashion at locally owned boutiques and galleries in Larimer Square, like Cry Baby Ranch, Violet, and Loft 22.

Gifts, media and books abound in a sea of stores and shops including the Larimer Mission Gift Shop, Barnes & Noble, the Virgin Megastore and Brighton Collectibles. Need to get your hair did? Stop by Sisto's Salon or Luxe Salon for the freshest look to turn heads. Furniture, jewelry and shoes are also bustin' out their boxes to catch your eye at Element, Sashe, or John Atencio.

Replenish your buying energy with bites to eat or some java at the many eateries and coffeehouses throughout the malls, ranging from Maggiano's Little Italy and Corner Bakery Cafe to Starbucks, Bistro Vendome and TAG. End the day of splurging with a margarita from Lime, Larimer Square's famous cantina or pick up a bottle of wine from Jerri's Tobacco Shop & Fine Wines to take home and enjoy while you relish in your new found treasures.

Going Green

Tossing away otherwise reusable containers and products has become a thing of yesteryear, thankfully. Do your part to help out with the local Young Professionals Committee's attempt to reeducate and develop recycling habits in LoDo's historical district.

Following the lead of those bohemian Boulderites, the Downtown Denver Partnership has opted to place recycling bins on every block in 16th Street Mall. Young Professionals Committee recently held an open house to gather the community for ideas, viewpoints and players to introduce a more eco-friendly way of maintaining the revitalization habits of LoDo in respect to the green way...

Schools

When it's time for schoolin' the kiddies in Downtown Denver isn't your typical day in history class, as there be many educational choices from preschools/early childhood education up to universities & colleges. From West Highlands to Five Points to the Golden Triangle, Denver Public Schools provides ten elementary/K-8, two middle, and four high schools to pick from – for as long as there's space, your offspring can attend ANY school and DPS employs a lottery system if too many applications are received for one in particular. Top-rated among the elementaries are Polaris at Ebert Elementary on Park Avenue and Bromwell Elementary near York & 3rd Avenue.

The six charter schools in these areas teach pupils ranging from toddlers all the way to high school ages, but follow their own rules of attendance. Other options include a few Montessories and some specialized academies like Crofton-Ebert Elementary, Morey Middle School or Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning that offer highly-gifted and talented programs. CEC Middle College and the Denver Center for International Studies help prepare students for college and the business world with exemplary classes and activities.

Now, if you're afraid of being shone up by these young contenders, get yourself into some higher learning by attending one of the great colleges and universities right here surrounding our Denver Lofts. University of Colorado Denver, Metro State College of Denver and Community College of Denver are here to help and edumacate! Visit the Tivoli Student Union, a division of the Auraria Higher Education Center, for programs, services and assistance with such improvement steps. If you'd like to get some wicked art or design skills then the Art Institute of Colorado is right down the road...

Sports

Some may think this is a no-brainer. If you don't, get in the game! Denver is the Camelot for Colorado sports teams and Downtown, my friend, is the Round Table of all the major players. Hit Coors Field at the south end of Curtis Park to watch the Rockies slam rivals like the Dodgers or Giants. At the Pepsi Center, catch the Denver Nuggets OR the Avalanche in an intense battle against those non-contenders from out-of-state. Best of all, enter Invesco Field and witness the crushing power of our very own Broncos against, say, the Faiders... oh, we mean, Raiders. And yet, little known outside of Denver probably, we've got the Denver Outlaws making the dormancy of football a bit more exciting with their fast-paced lacrosse matches.

For sports bars, LoDo has almost too many to mention, but a few stand out as MVPs. LoDo's Bar & Grill on Market Street has the better grub for your pre or post-game revelry. Hop on over to Jackson's Sports Rock, just across the street from Coors Field, and bring your cronies for a private party or banquet 'cause they got the room. The official sports bar of the Colorado Rockies, Sports Column located on Blake Street, has scores of hi-def broadcasts throughout...

Medical & Health Care

When an emergency strikes or TLC is needed, rush to one of the many hospitals or clinics nearby...

Three major health care systems give medical aide here in Downtown Denver - HealthOne, Denver Health, and Exempla.

HealthOne Systems have the LoDo Internal Medicine Clinic (doubles as the AfterOurs Urgent Care for late night help) on Wazee and the full-fledged Presbyterian/St Luke's Medical Center on East 19th Avenue. Denver Health Medical Center awaits near 8th & Delaware, Exempla St. Joseph's Hospital is ready to mend on Franklin and the University of Colorado provides advanced yet comprehensive care at their hospital on West 13th Avenue. Alternative medicine is available at Healing Arts on 16th Street, who combines eastern and western medicine in cooperation with many of the above facilities.

Keep your girlish figures, ladies, and dudes, tone your guns and six-packs in next-door gyms and clubs. Altitude Peak Fitness, near Larimer & 22nd, coordinates a running club, hiking club and boot camps to exhaust groups of wanna-be marines at a time. Or try out Forza Fitness, the closest gym to Curtis Park, as they offer pilates classes, personal training and the exclusive saline pool to energize and revamp. Maintain your youthful spirit, skin and noggin after your workout by attending a local spa like Oxford on 16th Street...