Hello my friends!
Welcome to the weekend!
I spent a few days in Philadelphia last week (it’s been a minute since my last visit) and the city has exploded in overgrown green and off the shoulder dresses and just some very fine summer living. Good on ya, Philly. I thought seriously about bringing home some long hots (these are peppers) so I could make my own roast pork sandwiches in New Orleans. What stopped me was feeling self-conscious with a bunch of peppers on a plane, but as I sit here, back in New Orleans distinctly without long hots, I see the error of my ways.
This coming week I’m off to Los Angeles and Denver for some solid work and play times. If you know a thing or two about Denver, I’d love your suggestions!
Here’s some of the links that resonated with me this week. I hope this finds you well and rested and ready to enjoy this beautiful day.
• This week’s long read is really worth the time and I’ll just leave it here for you. How The Death of a Muslim Recruit Revealed A Culture of Brutality in the Marines. Life is a lot of grays.
• A life; a home. This is a beautiful read: The Joy of Reading About Cooking. Also, have you ever had the language in your dreams change when you’re learning a new? Trippy.
• Begin anew: Chef Sean Brock puts down the bourbon.
• Do you listen to Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast? It’s very thoughtful, investigative stories you didn’t know you needed to know.
• Let us remember the neurotic hilarity that was Elaine Benes: 90’s Icon, amen.
• News that does not surprise us: Women In Tech Speak Frankly About Culture of Harassment
• The Chocolate Chip Cookies That Rewards Laziness by using cold butter. High proportion of salt and flour and a curiously small amount of brown sugar but I’d give this a try! Twist our arms, right? Cookies!
• A very satisfying recipe for Homemade Franks and Beans which, strangely enough, might be my favorite food.
• We’ve entered a strange place. It’s overly rainbowed, or full of sprinkles, or somehow a doughnut and sushi, combined. Photographed and filtered. It’s Instagram Food and really, let’s all just know that we don’t have to do this. Real food is actually exciting enough (and tastes better).
• My maj Tracy is creating healthy eating habits (and likely it’s Instagram-worthy because vegetables are beautiful.)
• Not necessarily summer vibes but, here’s what I want to listen to on audiobook: No Country For Old Men.
• I’ll tell you now that I’m a sucker for a summer night sweater dress.
• I either love this romper or hate this romper. It’s really hard to tell and it’s really not the most important thing in the world.
• Two things in my summer travel bag: this insulated Klean Kanteen because it keeps my water at the perfect chill-ish temperature and this loose cotton cocoon dress for breezy summer comfort.
That’s all for today, yea? Enjoy the rest.
xo Joy
69 Responses
Great reads!
https://justsem.wordpress.com/
I highly recommend The Source in Denver – it’s an artisan food market just north of downtown, about the same size as St. Roch in NOLA. We only stopped for coffee and pastries (both ????), and I regret that we didn’t have time to spend the entire day eating and drinking there! Both Comida and Acorn are here too, which several people have mentioned.
Hi Joy! 100% do not miss Blue Pan Pizza. I don’t think anyone had mentioned yet. Also Golden is lovely and a quick drive from downtown and GCB (Golden City Brewery) is the freakin best! I also second Linger and Root
Down. I’m sure you will enjoy Denver wherever you go. :) what are you up to while you’re here?
Habit donut and whiskey dispensary, rootdown, linger, denver biscuit company, rioja…infintite monkey theorem winery..all great places to enjoy in denver….
Welcome to Denver! A few recommendations…
I third the suggestions above – Stowaway for breakfast.
Huckleberry for coffee. Fort Greene is my favorite bar and they serve pie. Pearl Street Farmers Market on Sunday morning. Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe for a great local butcher. Work & Class for food. Or Cart Driver. Or The Populist. Enjoy!!
I’ve always wanted to comment and always felt shy. (Which I really am not.) I’m so excited you’re coming to Denver! Is is for Slow Food Nations? Please say yes. There’s so much good here. So. Much. Although we’re getting too trendy for our own good. I would figure out how to visit Red Rocks – so peaceful and beautiful in the morning. Then I’d hit up the Farmer’s Market at South Pearl Street (the one in Denver) on Sunday AM. Watch out for the guy with the szechuan button flowers… or embrace him. It’s an experience.
I am native English speaking but when I lived, ever-too-briefly, in France, I dreamed in French. It was, as you say, trippy. I also used to have a hard time speaking to my parents on the phone for the first few minutes because I would have gone a week without speaking any English (this was back in 1999 when international calling was like $2 a minute. Add that to the list of things the whippersnappers won’t ever know). It’s both deeply unsettling and a great reassurance that you actually ARE becoming fluent. Lots of brain confusion when you live abroad, but it’s worth it.
I love all these wonderful Denver recs! We Denverites know what’s up with food, drink and sites in our fair city. Gonna second (third? fourth?) all of the following: Hop Alley, Cart Driver, Linger (or El Five or Root Down — all sister restaurants and you can’t go wrong at any of them) followed by ice cream at the iconic Little Man milk can. Also gonna add one that I can’t believe no one’s mentioned yet: Work & Class! Basically, anything in the RiNo is the best :) Have so much fun — can’t wait to see where you end up!
Salt Lake City is practically on the way to Denver if you want to stop here first. We’d love to have you!
I checked out that romper in Anthropologie. I saw it in the window and made a beeline straight for it, thought it was so cute.
I touched it, turned it around, tested the zipper, and just could not decide how to feel about it after that.
So I totally get it.
I live in Denver! Check out the amazing social activist exhibit at the Denver Art Museum called Shade. It’s beautiful-only around for 6 more days! The DAM is right near my fave restaurant, Cuba Cuba, with the most lethal mojitos
https://denverartmuseum.org/exhibitions/shade-clyfford-still-mark-bradford
I’m in Denver – so maybe coffee on my front porch? Hey, a girl can dream.
Go to Jelly Cafe in Capitol Hill! Soooo good. https://www.eatmorejelly.com/
In Denver, I recommend William’s and Graham for a weeknight beverage and Axios on Tennyson St for delicious Greek food (and you can stop by Denver Cat Company a few store fronts down for a cat fix!). Denver Biscuit Co is amazing. Beatrice and Woodsley is good for a happy hour drink and appetizer. Enjoy!
So many things to say, but most importantly…LOVE THE ROMPER.
JUST tried on that same romper this weekend! The commenters on the Anthro website are 100% correct, it’s super big and it just didn’t do me any justice. (I’m super short and curvy, so you might fill it out a bit better). I found a super cute romper at TJMaxx for $15, so yayyyy.
You know… we all deserve romper justice and I’m glad yours came for $15.
Denver Stops:
High Point Creamery
Commonwealth Coffee Roasters
Enstroms–the BEST toffee
Have fun!
For Denver: Los Chingones (Rino) – check out the roof on a sunny day for great cocktails and tacos! Also Crooked Stave for delicious sours (and while you’re there – might as well grab a meal at Acorn!). Enjoy!!
Joy – so awesome to know you’re coming to Denver! Some of my faves and regular haunts here in Mile High (a few of which are mentioned above) are: Rolling Pin Bakery for amazing pastries, Port Side in RiNo for great coffee and quick yet good breakfasts; Denver Central Market, which has beautiful design + a smorgasbord of great eats; Cart Driver (fab pizza + oysters + prosecco and negronis on tap) or Hop Alley for dinner (Chinese food + 90s R&B, da best); Mercantile for breakfast, lunch, or dinner + a pop into Union Station; Kachina Southwestern Grill for Navajo tacos + Poka Lola afterwards for a great cocktail; and El Five for an amazing view of the skyline + some great Spanish dishes, like the mazze platter. The list could go on and on, hope you have the best time! xo
P.S. made your cherry pie bars the other day, and they were fab!
For breakfast: rise and shine biscuits on 29th and Sheridan, eat them as you walk around sloans lake. bar dough is a must in the highlands, and top notch coffee at hunter bay in olde town Arvada (plus ice cream from scrumptious which is right next door!).
https://www.confluence-denver.com/features/rich_grant_092816.aspx (Yea, I did it!) Rich was the communications director at VisitDenver since he graduated from college in the 60s. This particular article may take you to some interesting spots….”walking and drinking beer” is a good one to click on. I’m terrible at this linky stuff, but I’m really old!
All the suggestions you’ve been given sound great, but If you need some assistance while there – or before- our VisitDenver does an incredible job of charting a course for visitors. I worked in the sales office for many years and I know how hard they work. If you call (303) 892-1112 and ask for the Visitor’s Center they’ll fix you right up.I think there’s an 800 # but I don’t have it. I wish I could remember where the crowd from Top Chef dined while here a few months ago…you might even be able to Google it. It’s beastly hot right now, so pay attention to the sunscreen suggestion – we’re closer to the sun and it can take a toll, but it’s a wonderful place to visit and to live. Enjoy!
I love Revisionist History! Another suggestion for podcasts in the same vein: Home of The Brave
As for Denver… the Green Solution. If that’s something you want to do. And if so, Girl Scout Cookie. xoxo
Hi Joy!
I definitely agree on visiting the Botanical Gardens, Linger Restaurant in Denver, and on staying hydrated! I would also recommended visiting the Denver Art Museum. It’s amazing! If you have time after the museum, go across the street to the public library and head to the 7th floor. They have a gallery of local artists. You can also get some great pictures of the city up there. Beet Box Bakery has delicious vegan baked goods. My favorites are their vegan apple walnut doughnut and avocado melt. Enjoy your trip! :) xo
We visited Denver last year and ate breakfast at Wooden Spoon cafe every morning. Also Linger restaurant used to be a mortuary, (ssdgm) was delish, and #views.
Red Rocks Is an absolute must, if not for a show, go for the views!
In Denver, you’ve got to go to Jelly for breakfast and City O’City for excellent vegetarian late night (or anytime) comfort food and cocktails, both in Capital Hill. Also, Union Station is worth a visit. Drink more water than you think you need to!
If traditional Japanese is your jam, we went to Domo in Denver and it was amazing. (There are some hipper ramen places in town that I’ve heard great things about, but this was our pick.) Also, Tattered Cover for books, cool to check out Union Station now if you ever saw it before it was redone (and Zoe Ma Ma is right there, really tasty/not $$), and ooh, nice views of the city from the rooftop patio of Avant Food and Beverage, which has lots of little food stalls inside. Enjoy! (And yes to sunscreen and lots of water!)
DEFINITELY Stowaway in Denver and Amethyst Coffee if you have a chance. Hop Alley is also a great suggestion. I have to respectfully disagree with the Steubens and Denver Biscuit Company recs. They’re fine but are always crowded and rarely live up to the hype–just not Denver must-sees.
For something unique in Denver, head out to Golden and Holidaily Brewing Co., one of only 5 dedicated gluten free breweries in the country (and arguably the best). I’d love to buy you a beer and introduce you to Karen, owner and Chief Brewista!
Annie’s Café is a funky diner with huge portions, great for breakfast or lunch. https://www.annies-cafe.com/ If it isn’t too hot for ramen, Osaka is amazing https://www.osakaramendenver.com/
And don’t miss Sweet Action for ice cream! https://www.sweetactionicecream.com/
And if you happen to head West, make a stop in Silverthorne at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in the outlets. My husband and I own it, and he makes all of our fudge, barks, and caramel apples from scratch!
This definitely widened my eyes! Thanks for the suggestion!
Thumb Coffee (for the BEST coffee), and Jelly Cafe (for the cutest brunch spot that specializes in jelly donut holes! Um, YES PLZ.) in Denver :) Both are in the Capitol Hill area! Have fun Joy!!
Root Down
Euclid Hall
If you end up heading to Ft. Collins (as someone else recommended), I’d suggest Odell’s Brewery and the wonderfully divey Big City Burrito for a potato burrito. (Come to think of it, I think there’s a Big City in Denver too.)
I love your comment about the incredibly weird sensation of dreaming in another language. But even weirder than that is when you start to THINK in another language or have conversations in your head in a different language, unconsciously!
Yes to the romper. Say yes.
Hi from Denver! I second Acorn. It’s in a hipster filled old warehouse with other cool little shops and a sour beer brewery. I am not in Denver too often, I live near the Foothills (right at the start of the mountain range) and find the city pretty exhausting. If you want a break and some nice views, I would suggest taking a walk at Red Rocks, or going to “Lair of the Bear” for a hike, its 7 miles but I only go about 1 mile in with my 2 dogs. Both are right near some good, small, quaint food joints that mostly aren’t too special but they are in their own ways. The town of Morrison is where Red Rocks is, and has a bunch of those types of restaurants (small, old, not fancy food) but nice views and its about 2 blocks long. We love it there. If you pass Morrison and go about 5 more miles you’ll hit Lair of the Bear, and right after that you hit Evergreen, CO which is beautiful and there are plenty of awesome restaurants that are surrounded by mountains.
Ah there’s so much to do in Denver! Basically just go to RiNo and try a bunch of beer. If you want cider go to Stem Ciders. They even have live music on Thursday nights
I second Stem Cider and the Botanic Gardens! And I agree that Denver Biscuit Co and Steuben’s are over-rated.
Good coffee: Weathervane
Donuts: Glazed and Confused (better than Voodoo IMO)
Bagels: Rosenburgs (NY-style bagels…they science their water so it matches the make-up of NYC water)
Cool place to snack/drink/hang out: Denver Central Market (in Rino, close to Stem Cider and a bunch of the other stuff people have mentioned)
Get in the car and drive out to the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. A Tajikistani tea house that was shipped to the states piece by piece and reassembled by the river. Get a pot of the Boulder Tangerine blend.
Joy, hi. Just back from a weekend in Denver.. The Botanic Garden is lovely. Breakfast, Devil’s Food Bakery & Cookery and Revelry Kitchen were favorites. Lunch, Euclid Hall for sausages and Spatzel. Dinner, The Kitchen, seat at the bar…and, Acorn. Happy Travels!
Knowing you, I think you’d really like Denver Biscuit Company (off colfax)! Four Friends Kichen and Sunny’s are good breakfast go-tos.
I second Denver Biscuit Co. I almost ordered two different biscuit sandwiches for breakfast there and think I would have died had that actually happened.
Also want to add Hop Alley as a totally amazing take on Chinese food. It’s near Epic Brewing and Crooked Stave if you end up checking out those breweries at all.
The botanical gardens are amaze balls!
Head to Stowaway in RiNo for the best breakfast / lunch by a super creative husband wife team. https://stowawaydenver.com
My vote is for Steuben’s and for Vine St. in Denver. The botanic gardens and chessman park were my favorite places when we lived there!!
For Denver: if you have access to a car, I suggest heading out to the New Belgium Brewery not too far away in Fort Collins because the tastings are free, the beer is good and they have a food truck. Enjoy!
I also feel vindicated by your summer sweater dress because when I suggested that summer required a light sweater, I was put in my place and was told that summer was not for sweaters.
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday – It’s the earrings with the romper that make it! But I like supporting handmade and vintage. enjoy the day…
https://www.etsy.com/listing/496793569/vintage-linen-stripe-jumpsuit-romper
https://www.etsy.com/listing/496793569/vintage-linen-stripe-jumpsuit-romper
Good call! I like your style.
For phenomenal craft beer and food trucks right within Denver, visit Ratio Beerworks. It’s winning awards and is totally worth a stop!
Greetings from Denver – head to Stowaway in RiNo for the perfect breakfast lunch spot- https://stowawaydenver.com. Really a gem!
For Denver: Root down in the airport or downtown, tables in Park hill (be sure to get the tuna tartar), potager in cap hill, the plimoth. So many amazing places to eat! Enjoy!!
Check out the restaurant Linger in Denver. Rooftop lounge. Built in a former mortuary! Great food.
In Denver…. Rioja.
I second Rioja. Had a fantastic meal there last year. Still trying to figure out the candied mint leaves!
Tag was also excellent
Might the cookie recipe brown sugar amount be a typo? With four cups of flour it seems that two and a half cups of sugar would be more appropriate….
I made these last night, used 1 1/2 CUPS of brown sugar. I aslo had an issue with 2 3/4 Tablespoons of salt, so cut it to 1 T. They were very good. Be sure to give them plenty of roon on your sheet. Don’t try to fit a dozen. They were still nicely salty at 1 T.
In Denver — Comida
Are you able to get an empty Klean Kanteen through airport security?
Yes! As long as it’s empty.
In Denver:
-Hop Alley
-Acorn
-Asada Rico for amazing and cheap breakfast burritos
Also, wear lots of sunscreen and drink lots of water- the altitude will get you! Have so much fun!
Killer Alexander Calder exhibit all throughout the Denver Botanical Garden.
This finds me with a cup of coffee I didn’t have to make and a leftover brownie for breakfast (because I felt like it, damn), so, yes, pretty well.
The article on harassment – not surprising, indeed, but I’m glad those women spoke up because it needs to be said.
YES you’re absolutely right!
You made my day by bringing up Elaine Benes.
Another great podcast: The Allusionist, about etymology (origins of words). Very funny and you never know what you’re going to learn.
I love reading about cooking, too :) It is joy!
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com