Colorado July 2005 - Sunday in Denver

Hey guys, hope every one is doing well. Just got back to the hotel as the storm hit, so I am sitting here looking out my window and watching the lightning bounce off the mountains. Awesome!!!!!!

Had to postpone my trip to Estes Park this weekend ‘cause I had too much work. Better to be making money than spending it, I figure. So, I worked all day yesterday….in fact up until about midnight and will be hitting the grindstone here again shortly.

But, today I took a few hours to myself. Had heard about “Denver’s best seafood” restaurant. Was a little skeptical about getting good seafood here, but they claim to fly it in fresh every day. Headed over there for Sunday brunch. The usual brunch items, eggs, bacon, French toast (actually, I didn’t have the FT – it didn’t look too good and I am spoiled for French toast now by that place in Chicago). , Belgian waffles, etc. was just so-so, but the seafood was pretty good. (Not a real big selection, though.) I had boiled shrimp – little ones, not the jumbo, but they were good. The boiled crab was the best of all….it is probably as good as I’ve had anywhere. And, they make a good Bloody Mary. They also had barbecued shrimp which I have seen before, but haven’t tried. It just sounds strange. Would like to go back sometime for a regular meal and see how the salmon is. I was a little surprised at the restaurant….was expecting a somewhat tony place, but it was very casual…..had a late fifties early sixties décor. In fact, it reminded me of Johnny Cayce’s in Longview. Same style of furniture and same dead, stuffed fish on the wall.

After stuffing myself on the crab, I head downtown to the Denver Art Museum. This is a very NICE museum. Not real big and certainly not anything like the Metropolitan or the Philadelphia or Chicago museums, but they had a decent collection. I was disappointed that the architecture floor was closed. Julie, you would really like the southwest floor….some great Indian stuff there. My favorite, of course, was the European and American art galleries. They have a pretty decent collection of sculpture as well as paintings. Eileen, there a really neat “painting” called FOUR SAINTS. I’m not sure exactly what the art form is – it’s not a painting on canvas or a sculpture, but it on wood and the figures were raised. I checked the museum shop, was going to get you a print, but they didn’t have one. Mike, they didn’t have any Remingtons, but in the shop they had a great art book of his paintings which would look great on your coffee table – the colors of the painting on the cover are perfect. Maybe if we ever get back to the museum in OKC, we’ll see if they have it there.

One thing I liked about this museum is that it is very down to earth and family friendly. Several study areas set out among the exhibits. You know, I love the Dallas Museum of Art and have been a member for a quarter of a century, but it IS awfully stuffy and snooty. Caters to the wealthy and elite….I always feel like a red-headed step-child when I go there.

Another great thing about the Denver museum is that it connects via an underground passageway to the Library. They are building an extension to the museum across the street, but it’s really weird. The museum is in a wonderful old building but the extension if very modern – made of glass and quite geometric and space agey – points going haphazardly in all directions. Really UGLY!!!!!!!!

After the museum, I headed over to the Denver Performing Arts Center to see MY WAY: A TRIBUTE TO FRANK SINATRA. I had wanted to see this in Dallas, but missed it. It was OK – not what I expected – I thought it would be someone impersonating him, but it was two men and two women singing his songs. One guy was very good – the other guy was so so. One of the girls was very good, but they were both very nasal. Also, I just would rather hear a man sing Sinatra. Hearing a woman sing OLD BLACK MAGIC leaves a lot to be desired. Still, it was a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours on a hot Sunday.

The PAC is a group of eight theatres – this one was performed in one that is a cabaret style – like a nightclub. My seat was at a table for four. My tablemates were a couple from Denver and her mother who lives in Long Island and is here for her granddaughter’s wedding. They were very nice and we chatted some. I mentioned that I also am a Barry Manilow fan and have a great CD MANILOW SINGS SINATRA. They also have it.

After leaving there I just drove around downtown a bit. Teresa, I wanted to find that apartment building that intrigued you so much a couple of weeks ago….had just about given up when I spotted it. At least, I think it is the one. I took some pictures and will download them in a bit and send to you.

I’ll be home Thursday night and then head for Memphis on Sunday. Will be there for a few weeks and then back to Denver. Unfortunately, I won’t be in Denver on that trip as long as originally planned…..some things have come up in Florida and the client wants me there for a while.


Have a good week and see some of you this weekend.