Written by:
Rene Rosechild
The lights are out at Invesco Field. Barack Obama has moved on, along with Stevie Wonder, Ani DiFranco and Spike Lee. Eighty thousand people have left the stadium, among them more lesbians than have ever attended any convention in history. These stalwart women endured Uber-Tuesday, Inconclusive Saturday and Confusing Thursday. They traveled from Juneau and San Juan to beautiful Denver, Queen City of the Plains, Gateway to the Rockies. They’ve shouted themselves hoarse, clapped till their hands hurt, and sat through enough political speeches to win ten elections. It’s Friday night, and they’re ready to party. What does Denver have to offer the nation’s lesbians?
As the largest gay community between Chicago and San Francisco, Denver is the Rocky Mountain region’s gay center. It ranks as number seven in the nation for percentage of gay residents, and Denver PrideFest is one of the 10 largest Pride Parades in the United States. Local politicos like Mayor John Hickenlooper, who encourages gay and lesbian contribution to civic life, welcome you to visit. Here are a few tips from a Denver local for when you do.
Capitol Hill is the traditional heart of our gay city, so you should start there. Stroll around Cheesman Park, (between 8th and 13th Streets and Humboldt and Race), and watch same-sex couples playing Frisbee on the lawn. Enjoy the view of the mountains from the pavilion on the east side, which is best around sunset. If you have time while you’re there, head few blocks east to visit the beautiful Botanic Gardens (enter between 9th and 10th on York Street).
Walk back along 9th Street and stop into Dazbog Coffee, (9th and Downing) where you can enjoy an excellent cup of coffee on the patio, read our local alternative news source, Westword, and watch the women walk by. If you need any provisions, the King Soopers grocery store across the street is known locally and fondly as the Queen Soopers. Racine’s (a few blocks West at 650 Sherman St.) has an excellent menu and is jammed with gay people at all hours.
For shopping, head to the growing gay community on South Broadway. Community information and resources are available at the GLBT Center (1050 Broadway), which is one of the country’s oldest. Don’t miss Hysteria (114 South Broadway), a feminist, sex-positive boutique, home of the must-have I Heart My Vagina T-shirt ($20). You can choose from a selection of sexy souvenirs, including vibrators that connect to your iPod and are rechargeable ($145), or how about a solar-powered one for your Green Party girlfriend? ($44)
Almost next door is Heaven Sent Me (116 South Broadway), headquarters for all your gay kitsch and anything with a rainbow on it. You can even pick up the latest issue of Curve. Just ignore the abundance of penises in the store. One block north is Arco Iris jewelry store (82 South Broadway), where the extremely cute proprietor, Rosie, designs original jewelry of all kinds, including pieces with lesbian motifs.
Continue south on Broadway to Antique Row to find shops crammed, not surprisingly, with antiques. Or, you could go west to the Santa Fe Art District, which has 40 galleries between 4th and 12th Avenue on Santa Fe.
Before hitting the town, I recommend an experience unique to Denver: the Lake Steam Baths at 3540 West Colfax (Ladies Days are Monday afternoons and all day Thursday). This venerably funky establishment, which has been in business since 1927, is not a gay bathhouse. In fact, hanky-panky is strictly prohibited. However, for only $14, you can steam, soak and sweat with smiling naked women until you’re as relaxed as a half-melted pat of butter.
Now you’re ready to venture forth to the bars.
J.R’s (777 East 17th Ave. Not to be confused with 17th Street) is a good place for happy hour (Monday through Sunday 3-8 p.m.), meeting and talking—not a dance club. Come on Saturday evening for the famous Faygele Feud (think Family Feud in a different sense). Then put on your big belt buckle and your boots and drive over to Ms. C’s (7900 East Colfax) for two-step and country line-dancing. Or, if you just want to shoot some pool at a friendly neighborhood dyke bar, go to the Denver Detour at 551 E. Colfax (the entrance is in the back). And don’t miss tHERe Coffee Bar and Lounge (1526 East Colfax). They’ve got good coffee, a liquor license, and lesbians—need I say more?
But you didn’t come all the way to Colorado to miss the Rocky Mountains. They’re those big pointy things to the west. For a quick, beautiful drive, try one of these:
Go west on I-70 to Georgetown, where you can eat and browse in the galleries and shops. Take the Guanella Pass Road south to ascend 22 twisting miles above the timberline beside two 14,000-foot peaks. You can bring a picnic lunch and eat beside an alpine lake on the way, but beware of altitude sickness if you want to hike. Go east on Highway 285 to get back into town.
Or, grab a jacket, head out on I-70 west and get off at Idaho Springs. You may want to stop for a soak at Indian Springs, where you can enjoy the natural hot springs along with more naked women inside a mountain cave. You can have a picnic at Echo Lake then turn left on the Mt. Evans Road to drive up the highest paved road in North America, all the way to amazing views at the14, 270-foot summit of Mt. Evans. After driving back down the Mt. Evans Road, you can take the scenic route home by turning right at Highway 103, and a left on Highway 74 before it meets I-70 at El Rancho.
Back in town, rent some Bikes at the Bicycle Doctor (860 Broadway). Just two blocks west you can pick up the Cherry Creek Bike Trail. Riding north to Confluence Park, you will pass Invesco Field on your left and pause to remember Barack Obama’s inspirational speech. Look to your right to the Pepsi Center, where Hillary Clinton took the floor to move for his nomination. History was made here in August, now Denver invites you to make your own.
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