Things to do / Travel Guide
While the cultural and entertainment center of the eastern Colorado and Wyoming Rockies is Denver, the cities of Boulder, Black Hawk and Central City, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs also have plenty to offer in the form of nightlife. Wherever you are in the region, you're less than an hour from first-rate entertainment of all stripes.
Entertainment around Denver, Colorado
Denver rose up in the late-19th century as a gateway to the West, the last big city to stop in before migrants, speculators, and businessmen were swallowed up by the tremendous Front Range. The city has therefore earned a reputation as an oasis of culture from the 1890s onward. By 1910 it already boasted an opera house, an athletic club, a civic center, and a huge outdoor amphitheater. Furthermore, the 1950s and 60s saw Denver become a counterculture center, beginning with the Beatniks and continuing with the Hippies. These cultural traditions continue to this day in many sections of the city.
Today one of Denver's most prestigious draws is the Colorado Symphony, which holds its concerts at the massive (2,634 seats) Boettcher Concert Hall within the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the largest in the U.S. after Lincoln Center in New York City. The symphony is led by Jeffrey Kahane, world-renowned for choosing innovative arrangements and pieces. And Opera Colorado has been producing grand performances for more than 20 years at Boettcher Hall and Buell Theater, also located in the Performing Arts Complex.
A mecca for music-lovers of all ages is Red Rocks Amphitheater, within Red Rocks Park southwest of Denver in Morrison. It was hewn in the 1930s as a New Deal project. From these workingman's origins, Red Rocks has become one of the greatest pop music amphitheaters in the country. If you haven't heard of it, there's a good chance that one of your favorite bands has performed there, or even released a live album from a performance at the venue. The Dave Matthews Band has performed there, as well as Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers Band, Incubus, the Flaming Lips, The Black Crows, Sheryl Crow, John Tesh, the Riverdance ensemble, and plenty others. If you like good music amidst stunning red scenery, find a seat on the steps at Red Rocks. But beware that tickets often sell out quickly for these concerts, so if it's your desire, make an effort to purchase tickets early. As Dave puts it, “Could I have been lost somewhere in Red Rocks?” You could have, and if you haven't, you probably should.
The hot Denver area for pubs and clubs is Lower Downtown, LoDo, which could be called a Hell's Kitchen of the Rockies, in that it is located in a renovated warehouse district. LoDo is located right near Coors Field, between Speer Boulevard and Broadway. One of the best clubs is 15th Street Tavern, which features punk, indie rock and folk, and occasionally R&B music. If you're into bands like The Cosmic Psychos and The Hectics, this is your venue. One café that finds particular favor among the locals is Paramount Café, located on 16th Street.
Entertainment in Boulder, Colorado
There are plenty of spots for entertainment in Boulder, just 30 minutes from Denver. More than a college town (Boulder University), Boulder has for decades enjoyed iconic status as a hippie and music-loving center. There's a good amount of entertainment options on The Hill, directly west of campus. On the Hill, you can down a beer or two at Tulagi, a successful relic of the 1960s that hosts all kinds of bands. It's where the Eagles got their start before releasing their first album.
Many of the bands in this area experiment with a fusion of jamming and bluegrass. String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon, and the Yonder Mountain Strong Band are all powerful examples of this unique musical combination. They often play Boulder venues such as Fox Theater, on the Hill, and The Catacombs, on 13th Street a block east of Broadway near Boulder University.
Mingle with the college students, sip hot coffee or heady beer, and reminisce with the old-timers, who remember the Beatniks in their day, at the West End Tavern, located on Arapahoe Avenue and 19th Street above the university. Or try Buchanan's Coffee Pub, above the Pearl Street Mall. Both these rooted venues offer live music, often folk, jazz, and the blues.
Entertainment in Black Hawk and Central City, Colorado
No casino city is ever complete without attractive entertainment options, and these two are no exception. Most of the casinos boast bars with frequent live acts and variety shows. The bands usually play country-western and Americana.
Entertainment in Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins sports many excellent pubs and entertainment venues, all based more or less around Colorado State University or on Linden Street, a 15-minute walk from the university's northeast corner.
If you're looking for some high-brow culture in this high-up country city, look no further than the Lincoln Center, located on West Magnolia Street north of the university. The Center hosts the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, which performs a full range of Classical music productions; everything from Mozart to Mahler.
Entertainment in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Some more country-western, folk-style entertainment is available in Colorado Springs. There's only good things to say about the fun had at the Golden Bee, located at the Broadmoor, the resort right outside the city. The venue is set in a British-style pub, hosting sing-alongs and a very endearing piano-player. You can also try Cowboys, on Pioneer Park, for some honky-tonk, cha cha, and hip hop music.
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