I spent a fun long weekend in Denver, Colorado browsing books at the rustic and cozy Tattered Cover, wandering through the amazing Denver Art Museum (where I was mesmerized by the Bjorn Melhaus Star Trek video installation), and shopping and lunch along Larimer Square, where you can get around town easily on the free bus. Lunch was at chic Osteria Marco, where among the housemade cheeses was a rare chance to taste a rich and creamy burrata.
It's easy to surround yourself in culture in downtown Denver. I stayed in The Curtis, a decidedly right-brain, pop-culture-inspired boutique hotel just across the street from the Denver Performing Arts Center. Drinks or dinner pre- or post-performance at the hotel's restaurant, The Corner Office and Martini Bar, couldn't be more convenient (and I loved the international comfort food, like lobster mac & cheese). Cartoons play on a flat-screen in the lobby, Mr. Bill dolls are for sale in the lobby's 5 & Dime, and each floor has a theme; my corner junior suite was on the "Big Hair Floor," where Marge Simpson greeted me in the elevator.
By the way, The Curtis has a few great deals going on. Book by May 31 to get the Crazy Eights deal, for rates as low as $88 per night from July 1-August 31. Plus, they're running the Stay Happy contest. Submit a two-minute video showing how you stay happy and you could win a personalized grand prize that includes a trip for four to Denver.
Review: The Curtis
Photo Tour: The Curtis
Pictures: Denver, Colorado
Image courtesy Curtis Hotel