Things to do and places to eat in Denver

(clockwise starting at top) 1. Louis Charles McClure. Denver, Colo. 1911. Denver Public Library Special Collections. 2. Louis Charles McClure. Vista of Long’s Peak from Ward-Estes Park Auto Road. 1911-1920. Denver Public Library Special Collections. 3. Louis Charles McClure. 17th St. from Union Station, Denver. 1906-1910. Denver Public Library Special Collections.

Things to do in Denver

Check out the CU Boulder Jerry Crail Johnson Earth Sciences & Map Library Exhibit and Map Collection!

  • Campus Life: 150 Years of Human and More-Than-Human Relationships at CU Boulder explores the shared history of humans and more-than-human inhabitants over the 150 years of CU Boulder, documenting their evolving relationship. The works exhibited illustrate how different forms of life coexist on campus through a diverse collection of visual media including historical maps, photographs, original watercolors and modern cartography that tracks current and past human-wildlife interactions.
  • The Map Librarians at CU Boulder Map Collection are happy to see you on Wednesday, October 7th between 11:00am and 5:00pm!

Explore the city:

  • 16th Street pedestrian promenade is a tree-lined commercial district limited to pedestrians and the 16th Street FreeRide. It runs through the center of Downtown and is lined with outdoor cafes, renovated historic office buildings, shops, restaurants, and retail stores. 
  • The Lower Downtown (LoDo) Historic District. The District includes Denver Union Station, the main railway station for Denver and home to boutique shops, the Terminal Bar, and award-winning restaurants. 
  • Meow Wolf: Convergence Station (Denver, CO): Immersive Art Installation and explorative experience, tucked between the convergence of I-25 and Colfax Avenue (Business I-70).
  • Great American Beer Festival: Oct 10-11. For the first time ever, it’s outdoors and nobody is quite sure how it’s going to work or what weather we will have! Beer, sloped terrain, open skies! It will be absolutely amazing, or an epic outdoor survival experience, but unforgettable either way.
  • Santa Fe Arts District – primarily along Santa Fe Drive between 7th and 11th Avenues – is a hub of creativity, featuring theaters, galleries, antiques, and related events. Check their calendar closer to October for the latest goings-on. Arts District Antiques in particular is massive! If you’re here on the Friday before the conference, the First Friday Art Walk is in this area.
  • Broadway between 3rd Avenue and Alameda offers a concentration of vintage clothing / memorabilia shops

Buy some media:

  • Black and Read (6655 Wadsworth Blvd – Arvada, CO): A Denver-area institution since the 1990s. Large store selling the latest (and used) board games, vinyl, CDs, old video games, and used books.
  • Spicy Librarian (3040 Blake St, #110 – Denver, CO): Relatively new bookstore in town. “At Spicy Librarian, we believe in embracing the stories that make your heart race, your cheeks flush, and your soul feel seen.”
  • Mutiny Comics and Coffee (3483 S Broadway, Englewood, CO): Comics, coffee, and some live music with a grungy vibe

The great outdoors:

  • Red Rocks Amphitheater (18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO): A world-class and naturally acoustic amphitheater featuring top acts (you may have been here already). Hiking trails nearby, with Yoga on the Rocks in the warmer months.
  • Rocky Mountain National Park / 14ers: You’ll be just a couple hours away from world class outdoor adventure. October isn’t known for lots of snow in the high country, but always be aware of changing conditions, especially when taking on one of Colorado’s 14,000 foot plus peaks (also known as “14ers” in Colorado)

Places to eat in Denver

  • The Schoolyard beer garden is a popular spot for quick indoor / outdoor lunch and dinner options in a cafeteria style, built in a renovated 1904 elementary school, decorated with maps (architectural plans) of the original building. In the building you can also find a small and quirky thrift store, and coffee/pastry shop.
  • Leven Deli offers up coffee, bakery items, and open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner 
  • Other options include: