Our Neighborhoods: A Great Place to Live
Denver is known for its distinctive neighborhoods, each with its own personality. DU's own neighborhood is filled with pleasant parks, coffee shops and independent restaurants.
Other neighborhoods offer a mix of the arty and the offbeat. Here's a crash course on what's happening where:
Baker and West Wash Park (about 4 miles from DU)
These historic hoods flank busy Broadway Avenue, where you can catch an independent or foreign flick at the Mayan, an old-time movie palace with exotic decor. Just down the street, the Skylark is famous for its live rockabilly music and its jukeboxes. A few galleries, coffee bars, vintage clothing shops and used bookstores keep Broadway teeming.
Capitol Hill (about 5 miles from DU)
Just east of the state capitol building, Capitol Hill is Denver's most densely populated neighborhood, featuring an eclectic mix of historic mansions and street-level commerce. Are your clothes "so yesterday?" The answer to that is "day-before-yesterday" retro fare at several used clothing boutiques. Looking for vegan muffins? You'll find them at one of the independent bakeries or restaurants on 13th Avenue.
Highland and West Highland (about 8.5 miles from DU)
Overlooking downtown Denver, Highland savors its rich ethnic history. Over the decades, the neighborhood has welcomed waves of Irish, German, Italian and Mexican immigrants. Their cultures blend in the community's churches, restaurants and community centers. The annual Highland Street Fair, held every June in West Highland, showcases the wares of neighborhood vendors and artisans.
LoDo (about 8 miles from DU)
Denver's Lower Downtown is anchored by Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, and Union Station, a transit hub for light rail and free shuttles from one end of downtown to the other. Made up largely of old warehouses and industrial buildings, LoDo is the setting for more than 300 restaurants, nightclubs and galleries, as well as hundreds of new lofts. From Union Station, you can catch the light rail to nearby Six Flags Elitch Gardens amusement park, where you can forget your cares on the Mind Eraser.
Golden Triangle (about 7 miles from DU)
Just south of downtown, the Golden Triangle is known for its cultural amenities, particularly the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Public Library. At the Acoma Center, a church converted to a performance venue, arts aficionados gather for plays, films and lectures.