by Jessica Hughes | May 20, 2022 | General Featured
by Jessica Hughes
Rendering of the revamped 16th Street Mall. Rendering provided by Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
Breaking ground on the new 16th Street Mall Project. From left: Laura Aldrete, executive director of Community Planning and Development, Kourtny Garrett, CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership, Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Fred Worthen the Assistant General Manager for Bus Operations of RTD, Adam Phipps, the Executive Director of the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure, and Councilmember Chris Hinds. Photo provided by City and County of Denver
After 40 long years, Denver’s 16th Street Mall is finally getting some love in the form of a much-needed makeover. On April 14, 2022, Mayor Michael B. Hancock gathered with downtown Denver residents and businesses for the groundbreaking ceremony on the 16th Street Mall Project. The long-awaited project serves to breathe new life into the iconic pedestrian destination.
As many Denverites know all too well, for years, downtown has been a contentious topic of conversation with its increased crime rate, rampant drug use, and the city’s continued efforts to support those who are unhoused. So, it should come as no surprise that the city finally put the plans in place for this necessary revitalization.
After years of discussions around downtown renovations, in 2019 the city received approval to move forward with the project. Funding for the $149 million project came from a mix of local, state, and federal funds, including voter approved Elevate Denver bond funds and contributions from partners including the Denver Urban Renewal Authority, Colorado Department of Transportation, and Federal Transit Administration.
“This is a truly monumental day in the life of our downtown as we kick off a project that will secure the future of the 16th Street Mall for generations to come,” Mayor Hancock said. “The 16th Street Mall reconstruction is a key part of downtown’s comeback and will set the pace of Denver’s overall equitable and sustainable economic recovery.”
The 16th Street Mall Project is the first major renovation of this vital downtown corridor since its opening in 1982. A primary driver for the project is the need to address deteriorating infrastructure, specifically the granite paver system, that results in poor drainage, frequent disruptions to the transit system, and maintenance costs of more than $1M annually.
“The 16th Street Mall is one of the city’s most important public spaces, serving millions of people each year,” said Kourtny Garrett, President and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “This project will enhance the overall experience for residents, employees, and visitors, ensuring the Mall remains Denver’s Main Street. For now, it’s more important than ever that we rally behind the businesses that make Downtown special and ensure they have the resources they need to thrive during construction.”
To support the small businesses along the mall during construction, the City and County of Denver will issue $1M from the city’s 2022 General Fund. Plus, the city is partnering with the Downtown Denver Partnership to distribute grants and technical assistance to eligible small businesses along the mall.
The city selected PCL Construction Services as the design/build firm to carry out the 16th Street Mall Project. Visitors will begin to see improvements to infrastructure taking place along 13 blocks of the main corridor from Market Street to Broadway. Work will begin between Market and Larimer Streets, with the project wrapping up at the end of 2024.
Construction equipment with colorful balloons that will be a hallmark of the project. Photo provided by City and County of Denver
Some of the biggest changes visitors are likely to notice the most will be the wider pedestrian walkways, new designated areas for entertainment, and exciting new art that will draw visitors to the corridor. Additionally, the project will replace the Mall’s existing granite paver system with one that drains more effectively and offers greater surface friction to improve overall safety and expanding the Mall’s tree canopy for improved beautification.
The 16th Street Mall renovation is a component of Denver’s overall financial plan for an equitable and sustainable economic recovery and is anticipated to support more than 1,800 jobs, generate more than $155 million in income for workers, nearly $380 million in sales for businesses, and have a regional economic impact of as much as $4 billion throughout the duration of the project.
The RTD Free MallRide shuttle will continue to run during the 16th Street Mall project, rerouted to 15th and 17th Streets as needed. RTD will update the public on their MallRide page.
Access to all businesses will be maintained throughout the project. More information and updates about the project are available at www.denvergov.org/16th StreetMall. People can also stay connected to the project by searching “16th Street Mall Project” in the Apple or Google Play stores and downloading the mobile app.
by Jessica Hughes | Mar 4, 2022 | General Featured
by Jessica Hughes
Fireplace: A fireplace is the centerpiece to the lounge where guests can mingle and enjoy social hour. Photo provided by Hotel Clio
The JW Marriott in Cherry Creek North embarked on a multi-million-dollar renovation and will make its transformation into the Hotel Clio, a Luxury Collection Hotel, on March 15, 2022.
Hotel Clio showcases a newly reimagined lobby, gathering spaces, and guest rooms and suites. The inspired urban oasis features the work of design-duo Mark Wilson and Yoko Ishihara of the California-based Wilson Ishihara, who drew on inspiration from the history of the hotel’s location.
“Hotels listed in Marriott’s luxury collection are typically rooted in the history of the area,” says Sean McNamara, the property’s director of sales and marketing. “So, while this isn’t a historical building itself, it is the first hotel in Cherry Creek and we sought to tell the story of the destination through its design.”
One such design element includes the lobby floor that is meant to resemble a riverbed glistening with flecks of gold and a marbled tile with tributary-like details. These and other unique design features combine the precise physical attributes of the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek nearby, along with the area’s history of the Gold Rush.
Rooms: Rooms with mountain views at Hotel Clio. Photo provided by Hotel Clio
The hotel features 193 luxurious rooms and six spacious suites, plus 10,000 square feet of event and meeting space. Rooms and suites feature five-piece marble bathrooms, spacious closets, pillow-top mattresses, and large picture windows for unobstructed views of the Front Range.
Inspired and connected through food and beverage, the hotel’s in-house restaurant, Toro Latin Kitchen & Lounge, replaces the long-standing Second Home restaurant. While not much of the set-up has changed the food has. In partnership with celebrity chef, Richard Sandoval, Toro is a culinary experience to be celebrated.
With menu items such as their Sweet Corn Empanadas, fresh ceviche, Bison Tiradito, and Blackened Tuna Tacos, there’s a little something for everyone. The restaurant also features a drink named the Casual Encounter, served in a stand-alone glass case complete with Laws four-grain bourbon and dry ice.
The restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner, or their Bottomless Weekend Brunch. The lobby bar allows guests to pull from their own personal stash by renting a Tequila locker where personal collections of high-end tequilas can be stored.
New Restaurant: The Toro dining room has replaced the long-standing Second Home restaurant in Denver’s Cherry Creek North. Photo provided by Hotel Clio
Clio will offer a concierge service, plus curated epicurean moments and experiences. Such experiences include happy hour mixology, guacamole demonstration, and a ceviche class at their ceviche bar (open to the public and guests for $25).
“As we transition into this new luxury hotel concept, we like to think of Hotel Clio as the Muse of Cherry Creek,” McNamara notes. “We want our guests to experience the same sense of inspiration that we all feel being connected to this incredible neighborhood.”
For more information, visit www.hotelcliocherrycreek.com.
by Jessica Hughes | Mar 4, 2022 | Main Articles
By Jessica Hughes
Community Icon: Larry Ambrose was a revered member of the Denver community and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Longtime Denver neighborhood advocate and former INC (Inter Neighborhood Cooperation) President, Larry Ambrose, passed away quietly in hospice care after his battle with cancer, on January 28, 2022.
A Pueblo native, Ambrose began his education in business with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from CU, an MBA from UCLA, and a JD from the University of Denver. He started his career in the glitz and glam of Hollywood as a cabaret manager, producing a variety of shows and events, some of which made their way to CU Boulder.
For nearly 50 years, Ambrose had been involved in the formation and advocacy of Denver neighborhood groups when he and his wife, Jane, started Northwest Neighbors. Within those 50 years, he co-founded the Sunnyside Highland Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association, the INC Parks committee, and (with his wife) the Sloan’s Lake Neighborhood Association, where he served as Vice President.
With a passion for saving historic buildings in Denver, Ambrose was intrinsically involved with projects preserving Denver neighborhoods. One such initiative was a movement for citywide building height control back in the mid-1980s, where he co-chaired. He helped to preserve historic buildings in the Highlands, and most notably, he is known for moving the Golda Meir House at the Auraria Campus from total destruction to a fully restored structure now placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Many of his contributions came through during his time at the INC where he served on the board for nine years as Secretary, Vice President, and President. Ambrose also served on numerous city planning committees and task force groups, including his time as an INC representative to the Visit Denver Olympics Civic Engagement subcommittee. Plus, he served as Executive Director for Southwest Improvement Council, whose purpose is to improve living conditions for its residents through civic engagement, health and human service programs and affordable housing.
In 2021, Larry was awarded the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in the surrounding communities. With this award, the legacy of Larry Ambrose will live on with his “lifetime” commitment to tackle the betterment of Denver neighborhoods.
Those who knew Larry well, spoke of him with warm words and true admiration. Bridget Walsh, who was a friend and dedicated advocate alongside Larry at INC, remembers him fondly. “He was one of our public voices for the community,” says Walsh. So much so, he had been encouraged to run for Mayor. Walsh and Ambrose were partners in many community initiatives, one of which was to stop the Denver Zoo from giving recycled water to its elephants.
“He was so smart and able to present issues in an approachable way. Larry would say the most damning things with the biggest smile on his face,” recalls Walsh, “a true advocate for the neighborhoods he served.”
Another close colleague at the INC, Jane Lorimer, reminisces about Ambrose saying, “He was a positive force for parks and open space. His dedication to an institution that advocated for neighborhoods was sincere and passionate.” A cancer survivor herself, Lorimer recalls when he was diagnosed a few years ago, “We could talk through treatments and our feelings together. His optimism and positive attitude gave him extra time with those he loved. I will miss his humor, insights, leadership, and friendship.”
Toward the end of his life, Ambrose participated in clinical trials when conventional treatments were exhausted, leaving behind his own legacy not only in how he valiantly fought for his community but also for those suffering from a similar diagnosis.
Larry’s funeral was held at Fairmount Cemetery on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. A celebration of his life will be held in early March. Cards can be sent to 1750 Meade St., Denver, CO 80204, and donations can be sent to One Sky One World at P.O. Box 11149 Denver, CO 80211.
by Jessica Hughes | Jan 21, 2022 | Main Articles
by Jessica Hughes
Out front, the day after the fire. Photo provided by Scott Boyd
Local Denver restaurant, The Rotary, first opened its doors in January 2021, at the corner of Holly Street and Cedar in the Hilltop neighborhood. They opened during the pandemic, and now, almost exactly a year later, are recovering from the Marshall Fire that recently scorched parts of Boulder County.
The Rotary’s second location in Louisville opened on December 15, 2021. But two weeks after opening, the wind-fueled Marshall Fire ignited on December 30, quickly ripped through the towns of Louisville and Superior, destroying nearly 900 homes in the short time of six hours.
Scott Boyd, a Louisville resident and co-owner of The Rotary, remembers that day looking out the window of his home as he headed to work at the restaurant. The first thing he noticed was a bunch of smoke and wind. When he arrived at work, there was even more smoke and the same wind intensity, plus ash inside the restaurant. Soon, the smoke and wind became bad enough that he decided to close for the day and sent everyone home.
As he was shutting down the restaurant, Scott peered across the parking lot in amazement as nearby bushes rose in flames
Fire damage seen from the backside of the restaurant. Photo provided by Scott Boyd
and watched as the fire quickly advanced toward his restaurant. Locking the door behind him, he fled and went home to grab his wife, kids, and pets.
Boyd and his family evacuated to a friend’s house in nearby Niwot, where they watched the destruction of the restaurant through the surveillance cameras. “It was so surreal,” says Boyd. “To watch in real-time as the flames tore through the restaurant.” But as he watched with his wife, kids, and friends, he knew he wasn’t alone in this. “It was nice to know I had support.”
Fortunately, Scott’s home was not one of the ones destroyed. He says he feels fortunate to only have lost a business and not his family’s home and belongings.
“Now begins the challenge of rebuilding,” Boyd says as he describes the mess that was left after the fire. Between the fire sprinklers that soaked everything and then the snowstorm that followed the next day, freezing almost everything, including pipes, there are many factors to consider in terms of the damage. The process to rebuild will take some time with COVID and current supply chain issues, but nonetheless, they do plan to rebuild in Louisville.
Boyd says so many people have reached out to see how they can help, but he says, “Find a family that lost everything and give them the help. We’ll be fine.”
The Rotary was started by Scott, his
Inside The Rotary before the Marshall Fire. Photo provided by Scott Boyd
brother Brian, and their life-long friend Don Gragg, a celebrated chef. What began with a space inside the Avanti Food and Beverage in Denver, quickly required its own space as the COVID pandemic made it hard to sustain a seat at the table inside a food hall.
Eventually opening a standalone establishment in Denver’s Hilltop Neighborhood, the three owners saw their life-long dream of owning and operating a restaurant realized, all in the middle of a pandemic. What was a real hustle to stay afloat during 2021, they knew they had something special and forged on. “We’re like the little restaurant that could,” Boyd chuckles.
“We’ll come out stronger on the other side of this,” says Boyd, who feels the community has done an excellent job of coming together with donations and volunteering to help clean up the affected areas.
You can help Boyd and others affected by the Marshall Fire by donating at:www.commfound.org/grants/get-grant/Boulder-County-Wildfire-Fund.
by Jessica Hughes | Oct 12, 2021 | Uncategorized
New and emerging brands like Bravazzi added to the mix at Seltzerland. Photo by Jessica Hughes
Despite current rises in COVID-19 cases over the summer and numerous festivals canceled in 2021, large events like Seltzerland, still forged ahead by reinventing themselves in these uncertain times. Last month Denver hosted the popular Seltzerland, the nationally touring hard seltzer festival, at Overland Golf Course, marking its second year in the Mile High city.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, the entire event had to be completely reimagined to avoid being cancelled. Originally the event was designed to be held indoors but with COVID, Kate Levenstien, the CEO and founder of Cannonball Productions, decided to host the event on a golf course instead.
Moving Seltzerland to the greens changed the structure of the event and made it safe for everyone to attend during the pandemic. Tee time sign ups were introduced (timed entries), while attendees walked the course with their group stopping by each tasting booth along the way. Sampling routes are designed as a one-way road to keep everyone socially distanced.
Following a successful launch in 2020, Seltzerland began a nationwide 25 city tour in March 2021 at golf courses in Scottsdale, Tampa, Atlanta, Nashville, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Minneapolis and more.
With the rise in hard seltzers over the years, there seemed to be a space for another “beer fest” only with hard seltzers. As an ode to bubbles and seltzers, Levenstien says “we created Seltzerland to give hard seltzer fans the opportunity to sample new flavors in the most fun way possible. With one-of-a-kind activations, brand new s
Colorado-based breweries, like Oskar Blues, handed out tastings of their hard seltzer line, Wild Basin. Photo by Jessica Hughes
eltzer varieties and beautiful golf courses, Seltzerland is a can’t miss experience.”
Cannonball Production
s also produces the ever popular Bacon and Beer Classic that has made its way to Denver for the past five years, along with other festivals such as Taco Takeover and Whiskey Feast.
Even tequila brands, like Jose Cuervo, made their mark with an elaborate booth and a mixology station. Photo by Jessica Hughes
At Seltzerland, attendees enjoyed a fun day on the green while leisurely walking around the golf course sampling from over 100 hard seltzer flavors, no golfing required. Brands large and small participated including White Claw, Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer, Vizzy and Playamar (Jose Cuervo Seltzer), plus a few from Colorado; Wild Basin from Oskar Blues and Spiked Snowmelt by Upslope Brewing.
Perfectly distanced booths were spread out along the course, where attendees could taste their favorite seltzers and discover new ones with over 20 brands present. Entertainment came in the form of lawn games such as bocce ball and golf ladder. Some brands even provided Seltzer swag and Instagram-worthy booths.
Sad you missed it this year? Well, Seltzerland plans to return to Denver in 2022 with the same structure and the same fun experience it had this year.
To learn more about the 2022 event, visit www.seltzerland.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seltzerland/ Instagram: @seltzer_land
