WaterCourse Foods, Denver’s premier vegetarian restaurant, recently opened the WaterCourse Cafe in the Aveda Academy at 17th & Market in LoDo.  I have not had a chance to check out their main restaurant located 837 E. 17th in Uptown since they relocated there about two years ago but I have walked by a number of times and the place is always packed.

This new concept opened last November and will  serve the 70 stylists and 200+ customers who visit the Academy every day (except on Sunday when they are closed).  Offerings at the new cafe include handcrafted Italian espresso, local premium teas, smoothies, pastries, salads, Panini sandwiches and wraps.  I have heard from a few people that their bakery items are fantastic - they have their bakery at 214 E. 13th Avenue  on the edge of Capitol Hill which supplies both the cafe and their main restaurant.

Dan and Michelle Landes, the owners of WaterCourse also have City, O’City, a “downtempo” coffee house and bar next to the bakery at 206 E. 13th Avenue.  Independent restaurateurs like Dan and Michelle are such an asset for Downtown - I wish them continued success in this new endeavor.

The menus for Denver Restaurant Week 2009 are now available.  You can check them out here.  The Capital Grille, Kevin Taylor at the Opera House, Zengo, Restaurant Kevin Taylor, Bistro Vendome, LOLA, Osteria Marco are all places we have been and enjoyed.  I think we may check out Bones if we can get in.  My only dissapointment is that Fruition is not participating - bummer.  Don’t forget to make reservations!

A long time rumor in Downtown Denver was confirmed this week when it was officially announced that Colorado Athletic Club will open a second Downtown location at the Tabor Center.  At 39,000 square-feet, the new club will take up all of the food court space on the third floor and two of the remaining tenants will be relocated to the second floor.  You can read Margaret Jackson’s article in the Denver Post here. 

This new outpost of the Colorado Athletic Club will have floor to ceiling windows, a 25 meter indoor pool, and locker rooms featuring steam rooms, whirlpools, saunas, massage rooms etc.  I have fond memories of Tabor Center back in its heyday which I have written about before - the stores, fountains, glass elevators and the food court.  At one time the food court at the Tabor Center was voted the best in all of Downtown and even featured a roof top patio. 

Ever since the massive remodel it never regained traction and in my opinion has stagnated.  I am not sure if that is because the very concept of food courts is falling out of favor or if it is because it is on the third floor.  Regardless, this announcement will be a huge shot in the arm and bring some much needed vitality to this ailing center.  Ling & Louie’s is also a step forward as will other future ground floor restaurants along the mall.  Colorado Athletic Club at Tabor Center plans to open late this year.

Last week I went on a tour of the future University of Colorado Denver Business School located at 1475 Lawrence Strett.  The CU Foundation on behalf of UC Denver purchased the building, the former headquarters for Quiznos, in March 2008 for $24 million.  Our tour showed us what eventually will be new classrooms, common areas, meeting rooms, a market cafe and faculty offices for the school. 

UC Denver will be consolidating eight different locations for their current business program into this facility including the Bard Center which currently is on the 16th Street Mall.  I really enjoyed seeing the raw “before” space and it was easy to see the potential each floor holds.  My favorite part of the tour was getting to check out the numerous decks throughout the building each with awesome views of Downtown.  As we walked each floor we got to see a number of renderings which helped illustrate what each space will eventually look like.

Ultimately this will be a three phase project.  Phase one will be a $15 million renovation of the entire building including enclosing and expanding the main lobby as well as installing a multi-level signature staircase in the center of the school.  Future phases could expand the ground floor further and eventually create a grand six story enclosed glass atrium where the fountain sits now behind the Capital Grille.  Fundraising efforts for the first phase are well underway.  Tentatively, the first classes held in the facility will be in late 2010. 

Projects like this are critical to the future of Downtown and I think this school (along with the activity it will create on this corner) will be a tremendous asset when completed.  I look forward to touring the completed school next year.

An emerging trend in Downtown Denver these days is the “freshening” up of older buildings to make them more marketable to new and existing tenants.  Some projects are very basic while others are very ambitious and involved.  One of the most exciting of these kinds of project to me these days is what is happening to Larimer Corporate Plaza at 17th & Larimer.

The Nichols Partnership, also the developer of SPIRE, will invest a total of $8,000,000 in improving the building’s common areas and facade.  When I first learned of the project last October I walked over and discovered that work had already gotten underway.  Recently I took another trip by the site and was completely amazed by the transformation and progress thus far.  When completed I think it will be almost unrecognizable from its previous condition and be mistaken for a brand new building. 

Larimer Square will be home to a new exciting restaurant concept called TAG.  A life long dream of celebrity chef Troy Guard, a native of Hawaii, TAG will open at 1441 Larimer in between Violet and the Market in early 2009. 

According to Troy’s website TAG will serve “continental social food” and the menu will feature fresh fish like Kona Kampachi.  Troy has an impressive resume and has worked with Richard Sandoval (Zengo, Tamayo) and Roy Yamaguchi (Roy’s).  I love that Downtown is getting another celebrity chef driven restaurant which will continue to cement it as the dining destination for the entire region.  It appears that 2009 will be the year of new restaurants for Downtown Denver.

Frank Bonanno’s newest restaurant concept Bones opened this past week.  I first posted about Bones last October.  Located at 701 Grant St., the facade has been freshened up and I looking forward to walking down some night to check it out.  Their menu, while small, is very reasonable which is also exciting given the state of the economy.  I think Duck Confit Eggrolls and Poached Lobster Ramen sound totally awesome! 

Penny Parker at the Rocky has already checked it out and shared her experience here.  This restaurant will definitely compliment all of the other nearby restaurants in the neighborhood and I think fits in nicely with Frank’s other establishments throughout Downtown.  Congrats and welcome.