Devin’s Guide to Denver
Posted on 19. Feb, 2010 by Devin Pitts-Rogers in Around Campus, Denver
Though you may not realize it, there are a fair share of interesting attractions outside of the DU bubble. The local community has shown its support for the DU population, and even supports their presence in the community.
There are plenty of businesses nearby, but some seem to go overlooked for one reason or another. Perhaps there’s a similar business nearby with larger signs. Perhaps you do very little business on Broadway. For whatever the reason, you ought to expand your horizons and give these places a shot.
First up is Tokyo Bowl. The name sounds a lot like Tokyo Joe’s; Joe’s, however, has a much larger sign and is right across the street from Chipotle. With this in mind, Tokyo Joe’s is already in a great position to garner attention: Those who don’t want a burrito can go right next door and get something else, meaning that most of the DU demographic is funneled into one of these places.
But Tokyo Bowl is great in its own right; the spices in each dish are easily as good as at Joe’s, and in many cases even better. There is also a lot of variety in the dishes, and the employees are just as nice as the food. If you find yourself close to University and Evans, drop by and give them a try.
Perhaps food isn’t your thing? Maybe you want extreme fitness without the extreme threat to your health. Picture a place like the climbing wall that we have here in the Coors Fitness Center, only better, and the result is Thrillseekers. Head over to 1912 South Broadway to try them. For non-members, the fee is $13 to climb and $10 to boulder (climb without ropes). That’s right, bouldering. Despite my suggestion earlier about the lack of an extreme threat to your health, Thrillseekers offers bouldering. You must sign a liability waiver to climb, as a fall from that height could otherwise very easily result in a lawsuit. Check out www.thrillseekers.cc to learn more.
If those spots don’t appeal to you, then perhaps you could give music a try. If you’re in the mood for a great acoustic performance or maybe looking to learn a few tricks yourself, pay the good people at Swallow Hill a visit. Located on Yale just east of Broadway, Swallow Hill is always up to something. They have live performances by local and traveling musicians, as well as great workshops and classes. There is an intro to Jazz bass class next month right after finals week, which costs $25 for non-members. There is also a songwriting class that looks particularly. (Renowned guitarist Laurence Juber even taught lessons here this past month.) Also check out Swallow Hill’s Best of the Open Stage, a once-a-month showcase consisting of five artists who perform in 20-minute sets. There are also performances by Orion’s Bow and Bearfoot w/ The Hollyfelds, to name a couple. This year, Swallow Hill’s annual Rootsfest will feature Neko Case.
Still, to do any of this you need some sort of source of disposable income. While none of these activities are not terribly expensive, the price does indeed add up. That said, if you can try any of this out, I would encourage that you try it (even the bouldering). Boredom is a state of being, not a state of mind.
Hey Devin! Thanks for the shout out, re: Swallow Hill. We’re always up to something, as you say. Did you check UkeFest last couple of weeks?