Need help - going to Colorado this weekend!

[Snow Nymph]

Whooo Hoooo!!

As you know I take photos all the time. My friend Bullet entered a photo I took of him in a photo contest, and now its one of 3 finalists! I just found out about it last week when they asked for a hi-res jpeg of the photo! So yesterday they called and asked if I could come for the award ceremony.

So SnowDude and I are flying to Denver Thursday night or Friday morning. The event will be at Christy Sports at their Denver West location, (14371 West Colfax). Since we're not familiar with the area, we need help with

- hotels in the area that are close
- which resorts are good right now (heard they got snow)
- recommendations for dinner (we like sushi)
- and maybe rentals since everything we have is in Mammoth (do they rent clothes?)

[TBone]

You're just W of downtown, and so can realistically stay at any hotel downtown.

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?zoomin=yes&name=&ed=WAgYTOp_0TohvtwMJJ0Ex0chOM7iG_N5OFhcdhRvpVLJHtr 6fF58L_V134lsA7VS_JoMiRNyAn6D6HH3KHpJSPr8aXAZprQ-&state=CO&csz=Denver%2C+CO+80204&ds=n&uzip=80204&mag=9&desc=&country=US&dma=751&cat=trav&resize=s&rezoom=1&.intl=us&compass=&pan_x=0&pan_y=0&BFKey=ho

That should give you a list of hotels near there. I'd stay away from the Red Lion.

Vail Resorts snow report:

http://www.snow.com/ (I'd try Beaver Creek--noone good seems to go there, so it doesn't get tracked out, and the lift lines are short, but Beaver Creek is the longest drive--bout 2 1/2 hours)
http://www.coppercolorado.com/
http://www.skiwinterpark.com/
http://www.arapahoebasin.com/
http://www.skiloveland.com/
http://www.aspensnowmass.com/default.cfm?var=1&hasFlash=0 (4 hour drive)

A lot of the resorts are closing mid-April-ish I think, but Arapahoe Basin and Loveland should still be going strong. (not sure when your trip is) You could also try some of the places down South if you're willing to drive 6 - 8 hours. (Telluride, Durango, Wolf Creek)

Best sushi in Denver is Sushi Den: http://denver.citysearch.com/profile/1835590?cslink=search_name_noncust&ulink=search__searchslot1_1__0_profile_2_1

There's also a Sonoda's and Sushi Han downtown. Sonoda's is what I'd call average. Never been to Sushi Han.

Illegal Pete's for burritos, (downtown) Wahoo's Fish Taco's (downtown) if you're into that kind of thing, and a lot of nicer places in LoDo. (downtown by Coors Field) Stop by the Rio Grande and have a marg, they're super strong. (they limit you to 3, and they close at 10 PM) Wynkoop Brewery (downtown) is a microbrewery that has decent eats, Denver Chop House, (nother microbrewery w/ steak and usually has the Avs stop in after games) Old Chicago (pizza place downtown) has a huge beer selection, 16th St. Mall (downtown) also has some restaurants and bars. (Cheesecake Factory, Rock Bottom Brewery, ESPN Zone, steak places, etc.)

I'm pretty sure you can rent boards/boots, etc. at Christy's. Not sure about clothes though. I know up at the resorts you can typically rent clothes, but couldn't tell you where. Sorry. :(

Let me know when you're in town. Maybe if Bunda and I are in town, we can show you around a bit.

T

[Tantrum]

You hit it all T, nice job.

A-Basin claims over 11" in the last 3 days and they are expecting more this week and into the weekend. What are the dates and maybe we could have a mini-gathering. Have a great time.

[CanariaChick]

So, can we see the prodigal picture? Curious :)

Also, have fun in Colorado and take more pictures to show here!

[canuck]

damn rights!!!


post it bro!!!

[canuck]

Rock Bottom!

Man, you're making me jones for Denver dude!

Where did I stay? Brown's Palace or something? Very funky hotel...

[NoKnees]

Bro, bra, what'ev.. Right? But ya, post it up! (unless by entering it in the contest your forfitted the right to it or something silly like that, in which case just doctor it a little then post it..)

Anyway, that's cool. Have fun this weekend! It'll be nice to get out on some fresh snow instead of the nice Sierra corn thats been going on..

[Snow Nymph]

My lunch hour went by tooooo fast!


The photo: http://community.webshots.com/photo/131162595/132012812wNHiWg

This trip is coming together! Got someone in the condo to pick up our gear! Just have to see if I can get someone to cover my desk on Monday!

[TBone]

You did stay at the Brown Palace.

How can you jones for Denver at the mention of Rock Bottom? Worst beer possible! ;)

Hockey and whistler for business, huh? Sounds just a tad better than sitting in a cubicle.

Have fun dude. Good luck tonight.

T

[canuck]

sweet photo, now if only he wasn't skiing?!!

;)

[twinkie]

...i'm jealous, i want to visit CO, too! congrats on the pic, i checked it out and it is very impressive. i hope you win.

tbone did totally cover it! i would definitely recommend sushi den (once i got a bone there, but their fish is very fresh and typically really delish) over sonodas, but if you want a little less expensive but still very good you could also try japon, which is in washington park area on gaylord street, very cute area - they have a couple bars there, too. also good eats dowtown and good atmosphere is the wazee supper club on 15th and wazee (pizza). if for some reason you venture into the cherry creek area, there is a nouveau-ish/fusion italian place called cucina colore that is tasty. but whatever you do, DO NOT let anyone rope you into eating at the Blue Bonnet (Mexican) b/c it is no good! But for some reason people are always recommending it. well i guess i was just reminiscing...hope you enjoy your trip!

[Snow Nymph]

Thanks for all the info! This trip was unexpected and had to get it together really fast. We stayed in Dillon, rode 1 day at Loveland (light snow all day, 4"), and 2 days at A-Basin (woke up to 4" Mon in Dillon). Hiked up the North Pole Gate and rode down North Pole (fun!)

Hung out at the Dam Brewery, ate 2 dinners there, ate at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co in Breckenridge one night.

Wish I could've hooked up with you guys, if I would have paid attention to what you guys wrote . . . next time. I was able to hook up with some backpackers from another forum.

The reason for this trip was because I was 1 of 3 finalists in Christy Sports Powdershots photo contest. Well, I won! I came home with a snowboard (they gave me a 159 Atomic bordercross board and I traded it for a Burton Feelgood 152 women's board and paid the difference), a Fujifilm Finepix A106 3.1 mp digital camera and an enlarged photo of the winning entry (which will go to Bill). Bill is the best skier on the mountain, so he makes a good subject. Just have to be in the right place to get a shot of him. He almost lost his life in a mini avalanche ~Jan 2nd, and got to the point where he started to panic, thought of his family, relaxed, got lightheaded, accepted what was happening, then he felt a hand grab his. A skier and snowboarder saw the ski's and poles, then went to pick up the glove. Bills glove/hand was at the surface of the snow, and they dug him out with the snowboard. Bill couldn't leave Mammoth with that memory, and stayed a few more days. I saw him 2 days later, jumping off a cliff with the guys and having a great time! The guy is an animal!

I'll post pix later if I can finish (if not, next week). Packing right now for the weekend (backpacking somewhere in the Sierra, watching the weather report)

[Tantrum]

For first prize. Nice that they traded the board for one that actually is functional for you. The Dam Brewery is a fun place, especailly after a long day on the hill. Glad you had a fun trip.:)

[TBone]

Glad to hear you got first and had a good time!

Also very glad to hear your subject was able to survive the slide. Scary, scary. Good to hear he was able to get back on the horse.

Next time is right!

T