Denver's best Santa

Ho, ho, ho! My personal opinion--and what I've heard from other families here in the Mile High City--is that the best Santa visit can be found in Larimer Square. I wrote about Larimer Square in my Moon Denver guidebook, but I think I neglected to mention this holiday highlight. Santa Claus has a special spot behind the shops the restaurants where visitors can take their own photos--no pressure to buy any expensive packages! Make a day of it with a stop for lunch and a horse-drawn sleigh ride under the beautiful awning of holiday lights over the square.

more than summer concerts at Denver Botanic Gardens

Last night I had the pleasure of attending an indoor "concert" at the Denver Botanic Gardens and realized that I maybe should have mentioned that possibility in my Moon Denver guidebook. The outdoor summer concerts are very popular--I think they built the new two-story parking lot just to accommodate those crowds--but it's good to know that when the gardens are decorated for Blossoms of Light, there is still a lot on offer at the gardens in the chilly weather.

Find Denver on Facebook

Since I wrote my Moon Denver guidebook in 2008, it seems like social networking has really boomed (or maybe i just joined the boom?). Now there are many ways to "follow" Mile High City events and deals on Twitter and Facebook. One that's been handy lately is on Facebook, Winter Holidays in Denver, and if you become a fan then you'll receive regular (but not too often) status updates about fun activities around Denver.

Udi's Cafe is Denver original

When I walked into the Udi's Cafe at Stapleton this morning I realized that I had made a big mistake--in not including this wonderful place in my Moon Denver guidebook! Oops. I confess, some places got overlooked. I love the story behind Udi's--a real person, an immigrant actually who became a entrepreneur with a sandwich delivery business then bakery and now restaurants. Go to http://udisfood.com/cafes.php to find a location, see menus...go in to smell fresh baked bread, try their signature line of granola or sip freshly-squeezed juice. I will be adding Udi's to the next edition of my Moon Denver guidebook.

Denver's Artisan Center popular!

Wow, I was out doing some holiday shopping in Denver's Cherry Creek North neighborhood yesterday and the action was at the Artisan Center. In my Moon Denver guidebook I wrote about how this shop is busy yearround, but ridiculous! It was a gorgeous sunny Colorado day and there were at least 4 men sitting outside waiting while (maybe) their wives shopped inside. I could already turn around in there. Exciting to see enthusiastic shopping in this troubled economy.

bye-bye Chez Jose

Another favorite place in Denver's Cherry Creek neighborhood is going out of business in 2009...this time it's restaurant Chez Jose, which I wrote about on page 62 of my Moon Denver guidebook. I read about it in the Denver Post this morning:

http://www.denverpost.com/husted/ci_13974360?source=rsshomecol

Sure, there are plenty of burrito places nowadays, but Chez Jose was an original that will be missed.

Denver's ski gear deals

I was in REI the other day--the flagship store that I wrote about on page 141 of my Moon Denver guidebook--and discovered that in the basement where you pick up rentals (as well as online orders with free shipping direct to the store), there are bargains! Kind of like when the rental car company sells off the fleet, here they have rental gear for sale as-is. I saw skis and boots at significant markdowns. Just another place to look for deals here in the Mile High City.