We seem to always have to answer that inevitable question - “Where should we go for dinner?” Last night we decided to check out a couple of the newest restaurants that have recently opened in Capitol Hill. We had read a couple of great reviews about Fruition and decided to give it a try. They could not get us a reservation until 8:45 pm so we had a couple of hours to kill. We decided to walk down to 6th Avenue and see what looked good. First we dropped by Montecito to have a couple of cocktails.

We had not been there since it was Pisco’s and were very impressed with the work they had put into it. The bartender was friendly and after reviewing the menu, planned on returning for a meal. Fruition was just a block down from Montecito and the walk was nice.

Fruition was on the small side but that made for an intimate dining experience.

We started with the Wild King Alaskan Crab Salad and the Potato-Wrapped Oysters Rockefeller. I had the BBQ Pork Shoulder Confit for my entree. I will just say that is has been a long time since I was so impressed with a new place. The food was really awesome - we will definitely be back! I loved that I was able to walk home after a great dinner and enjoy the fresh air - only in Downtown.

Skyline Park has really been transformed in the past couple of years and today it entered a new chapter of its rebirth. Yesterday, City of Denver and the Downtown Denver Partnership officials dedicated the new Skyline Park Pavilion.

I am a big fan of the design of the building that is now home to a Downtown Information Center, public restrooms and expansion of “Biker Jim’s”. Biker Jim previously just had his hot dog stand on the 16th Street Mall in front of the Pavilion. His new expanded space will sell ice cream and other desserts. The first photo is not the best because my camera phone was dusty. The second is much better.

This new addition will really allow the park to evolve into a central gathering place for Downtown visitors, workers and residents. While it seems pretty mundane, public restrooms will allow Skyline Park to be that much more of a place where people gather and re-charge as they explore the 16th Street Mall and the rest of Downtown.

A lot of events are planned throughout the Summer and with every event this three block park becomes more and more of a respite from all of the steel, glass, and concrete in Downtown. Very exciting!

Summer has officially arrived and I had a great weekend even though it was crazy hot out.

Avenue Grill

To kick off the weekend we walked down from our loft at 8th & Clarkson to 17th Avenue. I was struck by how many people were milling about enjoying a break from the heat. We went and had a few appetizers for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants - The Avenue Grill. It is such a unique place to eat great food and people watch from the huge plate glass windows that look out onto 17th Avenue. We shared the Wild Mushroom Risotto Cakes, Togarashi Spiced Calamari and the Artisan Cheese Plate. Everything was delicious! We wrapped up the evening by having cocktails on the patio of JR’s.

Pridefest

Sunday we walked down to Colfax to catch the 2007 Pride Parade. We met some friends and watched the last hour or so. It was really hot but fun to see how diverse Downtown Denver can be. After the parade we walked up to 17th Avenue and went to one of the newest restaurants called Steuben’s.

Our friends had always wanted to go so it was fun to be with them on their first time. We shared some great cinnamon rolls and I had the Crab Cake Benedict. Awesome atmosphere and food! After brunch we decided it was too hot to walk so we drove down to the Cultural Center Parking Garage behind the new addition to the Denver Art Museum (only $4).

As we walked back through the plaza between the Museum addition and the Museum Residences towards Civic Center Park I was struck by how many unique architect’s work intersected in just one space.

Michael Grave’s Denver Public Library, Daniel Libeskind’s addition to the Denver Art Museum, and Gio Ponti’s original design of the Denver Art Museum; each building unique and bold but they make up this great visual mosaic of different materials and architectural styles. All of this set against the backdrop of the City Beautiful elements of Civic Center Park. I could not recall anywhere else in Denver were you could find this kind of space - it is very cool!!

The festival itself was very crowded despite the triple digit heat.

We walked around Civic Center Park via Colfax, Broadway and 14th before succumbing to the heat. We re-hydrated at Mad Greens across from the DAM and decided to call it a day.

So much was going on this first weekend of Summer in Downtown Denver. In addition to Pridefest there was a flower market at Union Station and La Piazza Dell’ Arte in Larimer Square. I love the fact that there are always fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Denver.