Red rock formations at Sandstone Ranch. Photo by Jessica Hughes
With what seems like a continuous stream of high-end condos and apartment homes making their way across the Front Range, Coloradans can breathe in a breath of fresh air with Douglas County’s newest open space. As one of the largest purchases made by Douglas County, Sandstone Ranch Open Space was bought for nearly $19 million dollars. What was once slated for development is now protected land that everyone can enjoy for years to come.
Sandstone Ranch Open Space is located near the town of Larkspur, 53 miles south of Denver, providing a convenient location between Denver and Colorado Springs. In operation since the 1870s, Sandstone Ranch still runs today with a small cattle herd roaming the pastures. Remnants of the working ranch are seen throughout including, several historic buildings that date back to the original owners.
Hiking along the Juniper Valley Loop. Photo by Jessica Hughes
The ranch’s 2,083 acres rests along the slopes of the Rampart Range, opening to hillsides covered in Gambel Oak, expansive green meadows, a forested canyon, and riparian land surrounded by West Plum Creek. Met with the Pike National Forest, the land is home to a variety of wildlife including, deer, elk, bears, and mountain lions. But what takes center stage are the brightly colored rock formations. The ranch’s gigantic outcrops are the same Fountain Formation that gave rise to the Garden of the Gods, the red rocks of Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and the outcroppings at Roxborough State Park.
Historic barn from the original owners of the ranch. Photo by Jessica Hughes
The 12-mile trail system is open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. In the winter visitors can explore by snowshoeing, fat biking, or cross-country skiing.
The trail system is divided into two sections, with two main loops. At the parking lot, the trail to the left will lead you to the north end of the ranch. Here, visitors can explore the Juniper Valley Loop, the Red Rock Vista, all within a roughly four-mile walk. The Juniper Valley loop drops hikers down into a low-lying valley where juniper forests are abundant. For vista-like views of the red rock formations, take the off-shoot trail to the Red Rock Vista.
Sunset at Sandstone Ranch Open Space. Photo by Jessica Hughes
The trail to the right at the parking lot leads visitors to the wildlife overlook, the Sandstone Meadow Trail Loop, and the Ranch Overlook. The Sandstone Meadow Trail Loop is 3.7 miles, round trip, with an additional 2.2 miles to the Ranch Overlook. The wildlife overlook is anchored by two massive red rock formations and an information kiosk about how both cattle and wildlife co-exist at the ranch.
Park information
• Pets are allowed but must be on a leash.
• Open to hikers, bikers, horseback riders, snowshoers, and cross-country skiers.
• Trails are well-marked with signs.
• 12 miles of designated trails.
• Covered pavilion with picnic tables and benches.
• Benches are located throughout the trails.
• Parking is available.
• Restrooms and trash receptacles available.
• Open seven days a week, one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.
Directions From Denver
From I-25, north or south, take the Larkspur exit 173. Continue to Spruce Mountain Road for nearly one and a half miles. Upon reaching the stop sign in Larkspur, turn right onto Perry Park Avenue. Where Perry Park Avenue dead ends, take a left onto CO-105 E. Sandstone Ranch is approximately one half mile ahead, on the left.
In the midst of restaurants and breweries trying to reopen and stay open during the Covid-19 pandemic, a popular local brewery has plans to expand by adding a third location. Thriving and not just surviving, Denver Beer Co. (DBC) is opening a third metro area brewery and taproom slated to open in late fall of 2020.
Aerial View: Rendering of aerial view of the new Denver Beer Co. South Downing Street location slated to open later this Fall. Images provided by: Denver Beer Co.
The newest addition to the DBC family comes to 2425 South Downing Street, near the Rosedale and University neighborhoods. The owners, Charlie Berger and Patrick Crawford, purchased the south Downing Street property back in December 2019, after a long look for new real estate for their newest endeavor. Despite a few setbacks (not because of COVID-19, according to Crawford) they have steadfast plans to open their doors late this fall.
The purchase of the South Downing Street location, originally a gas station and most recently Maddie’s Restaurant, was well received in the area. The closing of Maddie’s was a shock to those in the neighborhood, and with locals anxious to fill the abandoned space, the opening of the new DBC came at an opportune time.
Plus, the recent announcement of the closure of nearby brewer, Declaration Brewing, who filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year, the news of DBC’s third metro location has given the neighborhood something to toast to. Despite those businesses that have come and gone, DBC joins good company with others still standing in the area such as The Roaming Buffalo, John Holly’s Asian Bistro, Little India, and the SoDo Village Market.
Sprawling Space: Rendering of the lawn space at the DBC South Downing Street location. This space is 10,000 square feet and features a beer garden, tiered decks, bike parking, a tiki bar, an outdoor game area, firepits, and a shady lounge area underneath the trees.
The renovation will include two separate buildings surrounding a communal patio and garden. The small taproom will be housed in the larger 2,563-square-foot building, that will include a tasting room, seating 60 to 70 people. Aside from the beer, the biggest attraction will be the 10,000-square-foot patio in front of the main building. The outdoor space will feature a beer garden, tiered decks, bike parking, a tiki bar, an outdoor game area, firepits, and a shady lounge area underneath the trees.
Be sure to come hungry as well as thirsty as they plan to offer food in a similar set up to their Arvada location with The Mighty Burger, a vintage airstream food truck serving gourmet burgers and fries. The adjacent, smaller 761-square-foot building is planned for an additional restaurant partner, that is yet to be determined.
“We hope this new taproom will become a community gathering place and hub for the surrounding south Denver neighborhoods including Platt Park, South Wash Park, DU area, and Harvard Gulch areas,” stated Crawford, co-founder for Denver Beer Co.
Like their other taprooms, they will offer a similar menu concept of rotating seasonal beers with their flagship brews including Princess Yum Yum and the Incredible Pedal IPA, plus several specialty brews specifically for the Downing Street location.
Plans are in place to adhere to all social distancing guidelines with groups of no more than eight people allowed, and tables outside will be kept six feet apart.
For more information and updates on the Denver Beer Co. Downing Street location visit denverbeerco.com/downingst or follow them on social media @DenverBeerCo.
Denver’s food scene has taken a hard hit, caused by the recent pandemic, with long standing restaurants such as Old Chicago, formerly located at 1280 S. Colorado Boulevard, permanently closing their doors. However, conversely the Mile High City is welcoming its newest food hall, Junction Food & Drink, just down the road at 2000 S. Colorado Boulevard. The new food hall is managed by National Food Hall Solutions, a Texas-based company founded in 2018 that owns and operates various food halls.
Interior seating at Junction Food and Drink, photo provided by Lincoln Property Company.
This addition comes as part of the enhancement project at the Colorado Center, which includes a Dave & Buster’s, an IMAX theater, and the Colorado Boulevard light-rail station. Colorado Center is a mixed-use, transit-oriented development located between Downtown Denver and the Denver Tech Center. It comprises four Class A office towers totaling approximately 713,000 square-feet with a rooftop event space and 11,569 square-feet of high-end retail.
The 12,220-square-foot food hall will feature 10 food stalls, the Denver-based Sonder Coffee & Tea stand, plus a 40-foot bar and seating for 400 people, which will include both indoor seating and a 4,000-square-foot outdoor patio. Aside from its unique collection of chef-driven food vendors, one of the food hall’s biggest perks is its abundance of parking. The nearby parking garage offers ample space for parking with unlimited parking on the weekends.
With focus on small businesses, Pat Garza, the President and CEO of National Food Hall Solutions, wanted to feature vendors focused on local, quality-driven, authentic foods. From California-style street tacos to Nashville-inspired fried chicken, there is something that will satisfy everyone’s taste buds.
Exterior of Junction Food and Drink, photo provided by Lincoln Property Company.
Vendors include the following:
Big Wave Taco Shop: Founded by Chef Troy Guard, Big Wave Taco Shop, part of the Denver-based TAG restaurant group, will feature California-style tacos with various salsas, chips and queso.
Bird on a Wire Southern Chick’n: Nashville-style chicken and Southern favorites from the Garner Brother’s family-owned restaurant. Choose from fried chicken sandwiches, southern smoked wings, chicken tenders, plus sides including fried pickles, coleslaw, waffle fries and more.
Ebisu Ramen and Sushi food stall at Junction Food and Drink, photo provided by Lincoln Property Company.
Ebisu Ramen and Sushi: Chef Soon Choi, a former head chef from Sushi Den, brings Ebisu Ramen and sushi with a menu of small plates, sushi rolls, sushi bowls and ramen.
Grind and Grill Burger: A family-owned elevated burger concept, Grind and Grill Burger offers a wide variety of burgers, fries and shakes.
Lazo Empanadas: Serving traditional Argentinian, farm-fresh empanadas, Lazo is a local favorite with four other locations in Denver.
Mr. Miner’s Meat & Cheese: With its first location at Golden’s Tributary Food Hall & Drinkery, Mr. Miner’s Meat & Cheese will open its second location at Junction Food & Drink. The menu will include meat and cheese charcuterie boards, salads, sandwiches and a variety of shareables.
Paciugo Gelato: Using the freshest fruits and all-natural ingredients, Paciugo Gelato serves up gelati and sorbets the traditional Italian way. Their menu will feature gelato, frappes, gelatee and pastries.
Pete’s-A-Pie of Denver: A chef-driven purveyor of pizza using fresh, all-natural ingredients, Pete’s-A-Pie of Denver will feature New Haven-style pizza by the slice and whole pie.
Shawarma Shack: A Mediterranean food experience where patrons get front row access to the mesmerizing slow cooked meats roasting on spits, Shawarma Shack will also offer vegetarian and vegan options.
Smok Barbeque: With a focus on classic barbecue from across the county, including special notes from Austin, Texas and Kansas City, Smok will feature BBQ sandwiches, a variety of smoked meats and tasty sides, plus brisket and pulled pork tacos.
In addition to the food stalls, the Junction Food & Drink bar will offer a line-up of local craft beers and wine, plus a full bar serving up refreshing summer drinks.
Junction food hall is set to open early August with all the proper standards in place for social distancing. Adhering to all guidelines, each table will be six feet apart, with additional tables outside for eating and drinking. They will also offer curbside pick-up for food to go.
For further information, visit their website at junctionfoodanddrink.com. Junction Food & Drink at Colorado Center is a project of the partnership between ASB Real Estate Investments and Lincoln Property Company.
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, but this year, for most families, it will be a bit different. But that doesn’t mean it has to be any less special. Show mom you love her with these ideas on how to celebrate Mother’s Day while staying safe and practicing social distancing.
Daily donut specials by Pandemic Donuts.
Brunch To Go
Since you can’t go out to brunch for Mother’s Day this year, bring brunch to your house. With recent closures of Denver restaurants, to-go orders have soared and have kept local restaurants in business. Now there is a new online resource, Togo denver.com (a website run by Visit Denver), that connects users to over 300 local eateries offering to-go alternatives. The website allows users to filter their options, such as breakfast or brunch. So, grab brunch to go from some of your favorites like Jelly Café or Snooze, cheers with an $8 mimosa from Onefold and celebrate mom with a champagne toast at home.
Virtual Family Time
Connect with your family, those near and far, on Mother’s Day with one of the many online platforms available. Several free options make chatting and viewing each other online easy. Zoom is a popular professional videotelephony, online chat system that is available for free for video conferences of up to 100 people. If everyone in the family has iPhones, use the Facetime option for a group chat of up to 32 people. Or use Google Hangouts to wish mom happy Mother’s Day, with up to 150 people available on video chat.
A visit to the Denver Botanic Gardens is one of the most popular activities to do on Mother’s Day in Denver, and since we can’t be there this year to see its spring blooms in person, they have created several different ways to experience the gardens digitally. This year, bring the colorful gardens to your living room with one of their virtual tours. Watch a video tour of the Water-Smart Garden and Pavilion, the Steppe Garden and Shofu-En Japanese Garden. Or use their Gardens Navigator website to learn and see what is blooming now. Users can select a virtual tour created by the staff or create your own of the plants you want to see.
Help support a local business in Denver this Mother’s Day with a paint and plant kit from Green Lady Gardens. Decked out in bright colors, pottery, and an overflowing collection of plants, Green Lady Gardens is a Latin American themed plant boutique in the heart of Denver’s Santa Fe Arts District. Selling both common and rare house plants, accessories and pottery, the plant boutique also sells Paint & Plant kits that create the perfect project while stuck at home. Each kit contains your choice of an acrylic point palette, plants curated and hand selected by GLG, care cards, and everything you need to complete your project. Place your order by emailing hello@ greenladygardens.com and use the no-contact curbside pick-up.
Paint & Plant Kit from Green Lady Gardens.
Paint And Plant Kit From Green Lady Gardens
Send Your Mother A Card From Denver Designers
Send your mom some love the old-fashioned way by sending her a card in the mail. There are so many ways to say I love you, with humor, with pictures, and thoughtful sentiments. Make mom laugh with a quirky card from Craft Boner, a local designer and crafter. Order online at craft boner.com. For a more sentimental and artful Mother’s Day card, shop online at Lanas shop.com — a quality paper goods boutique in Denver’s Santa Fe Arts District.
Place your order by Saturday, May 2nd to ensure delivery for Mother’s Day.
Grab Some Donuts To-Go From Pandemic Donuts
out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pandemic Donuts was created by two service industry workers, Gabrielle Henning and Michael Milton, who were laid off due to recent restaurant and bar closures. Their side business of making donuts turned into a sensation overnight thanks to the magic of social media. Customers can now get a taste of their fried donuts that come one of two ways, yeast or old fashioned. Certain flavors are available on certain days. So, grab some donuts for Mother’s Day and help support a local start-up business at the same time. Pandemic Donuts are made out of the owners’ home and are offering curbside pick-up or delivery in the Denver metro area. Order at Pandemicdonuts.com.
True Food Kitchen: Outside True Food Kitchen in Cherry Creek. Image by Jessica Hughes
A national chain that has found a home in
Denver’s Cherry Creek shopping district, True Food Kitchen is a casual, yet
chic, healthy dining option. With earth-like elements including green chairs, a
butcher block bar, and speckles of greenery at each table, you can’t help but
feel good about eating here. Offering both seasonal dishes and staple items,
patrons will enjoy a full menu of soups, salads, pizza, bowls, burgers and
sandwiches, and an assorted mix of healthy entrees. Even their cocktail menu
leaves little guilt on the table with their Beets by Jon (organic vodka, red
beet, lemon, and pineapple) and their Juniper Rose (rose-in-fused gin, lime,
grapefruit, thyme). Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available.
Try: Spicy Panang Curry ($14)
Vital Root — Location: 3915 Tennyson St.
Vital Root Outside: Vital Root, located in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood.
Vital Root: Sunflower Risotto at Vital Root.
Found in the hip and trendy neighborhood of
Berkeley, Vital Root is a local food company committed to providing nutritious
and delicious food. The multi-level modern space, filled with botanical art and
good, clean food, offers both weekend brunch and an everyday menu, plus grab-and-go
food options and a happy hour you can feel good about with their $4 juice of
the day. Using ingredients such as coconut, dates, sunflower and avocado oil,
and ancient grains, their food is designed with the healthiest ingredients as
possible. Dedicated to those with food allergies and dietary restrictions, an
outdoor sign asks that no outside food or drink be brought indoors as they
operate a gluten-free kitchen.
Try: Sunflower Risotto ($13)
Vert Kitchen
Vert Kitchen: Salad du Marche at Vert Kitchen.
Location: 704 South Pearl St.
Nestled between the homes of North
Washington Park, Vert Kitchen offers a small café space with big flavor.
Serving up lunch and brunch options made with organic and locally sourced
ingredients, you will no doubt feel good about what you are eating. Everything
is made in-house using French cuisine techniques, 100% organic produce, plus
all-natural and sustainable meats and dairy. Take a sip at the café and bar for
freshly brewed coffee, natural wines, and premium beers. Enjoy your meal
indoors in their cozy café atmosphere or take yours outside to their backyard
patio-filled, with green and garden elements.
Try: Salad du Marche ($16)
Green Seed Market
Location: 2669 Larimer St.
Located inside the Denver Central Market,
Green Seed Market is a neighborhood market with a twist. Pick your poison of
fresh vegetables and fruits for purchase or order a custom soup, salad, veggie
bowl, acai bowl, smoothie, or fresh juice to take home with you. With a focus
on offering the produce of the season, Green Seed Market is dedicated to bringing
foods to the neighborhood most would not find at their local grocery stores.
Try: Gangsta’s Paradise ($9.50)
Whole Sol Blend Bar
Whole Sol Blend Bar: Fresh juices from Whole Sol Blend Bar.
Location: 1735 Chestnut Pl.
Home to Denver and Boulder’s only USDA
certified organic juice bar, Whole Sol offers a fresh twist on healthy foods.
100 percent dairy free, gluten-free, and organic, you can feel confident what
you order is good for your soul. Known for their smoothie bowls and
cold-pressed juices, you can’t go wrong with either. Don’t want to eat it as a
bowl? Just ask and they will turn your bowl into a smoothie. Take your bowl to
the next level with additional add-ons including their own Newtella, greens,
granola, and plant protein.
Try: I Like You Matcha ($10)
Just Be Kitchen
Location: 2364 15th St.
A haven for the food conscious, Just Be
Kitchen serves up 100 percent gluten-free, soy-free, and grain-free food
options that cater to Paleo, Whole30, Keto, and AIP friendly diets. A seasonal
menu offers breakfast, brunch, and dinner options. Plus, an entire menu
dedicated to the Whole30 diet, including its very own bone broth bar. For
sipping, try a gluten-free beer or a crafty cocktail using reduced grain-free
spirits.
Try: Radiant, sweet potato gnocchi ($12.50)
Mercury Café
Location: 2199 California St.
Get a mix of it all at the Mercury Café.
Known for its dance lessons and live music, the restaurant has also made a name
for itself for its fresh organic dishes. Everything on the menu is gluten-free,
except the bread. Get down this year with organic foods and a dance lesson or
two.
Try: Pagan Vegan Plate ($10)
Superfruit Republic
Locations: 7483 E. 29th Pl. &
1776 Broadway, Suite 115
A fast-casual café, Superfruit Republic
serves up tasty acai bowls packed with the nutrients a healthy body craves.
With two locations now in Denver, visitors can choose from organic acai bowls,
fruit smoothies, and fresh juices. Add a boost to your bowl or smoothie with
coconut flakes, goji berries, or any fruit/nut blend.
Try: The Blueberry Pumpkin (large bowl
$9.50)
Watercourse Foods
Location: 837 E. 17th Ave.
Catering to vegans everywhere, Watercourse
Foods serves up what they call “vegan comfort food.” With their fresh
ingredients prepared daily and friendly atmosphere, they make eating healthy
easy to do. With an extensive breakfast and brunch menu, plus salads and
sandwiches and dinner entrees, visitors can eat healthy all day long. Don’t
forget to wash your food down with locally brewed kombucha on tap!
Try: Za’atar Eggplant ($16)
Vitality Bowls
Location: 2702 E. 3rd Ave., Denver, CO
80206
A national chain restaurant, Vitality
Bowls, offers a location in Denver’s Cherry Creek shopping district. With
smoothies, bowls, salads, paninis, soups, and juices, there are options for any
meal of the day. Their signature bowls and smoothies are made with the best
ingredients available and do not include fillers like artificial preservatives.
Gluten-free options are available.
