I was a little excited about coming here after seeing a few pictures. Sakura Square is actually a…read morecity block, not just the little courtyard where the tribute sculptures are. Governor Ralph L. Carr - he welcomed Japanese-Americans released from internment camps just after WWII to settle in CO. Minoru Yasui - a lawyer who fought laws that discriminated against Japanese-Americans Reverend Yoshitaka Tamai.- responsible for the survival of the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple in the early years. There is an annual Cherry Blossom Festival. It would have been cool to have been able to time my visit for when it was happening, but that wasn't possible. I imagine the parking situation would be insane! The courtyard surroundings is nicely landscaped. Someone left a little treat for the wildlife ... I saw a squirrel enjoying some of it. There are two restaurants: JJ's Bistro and Sakura House Restaurant. Around the corner is the Pacific Mercantile Company which has almost every Asian grocery item you'd need and household or gift items! Just beyond the Pacific Mercantile Company is a Buddhist Temple. I just peered through the gate. There is metered street parking & I think there's a parking garage. Not sure if it's paid or free. I did end up in the area a couple times. I would not make it a point to specifically come here again although it was good to do so once.

I was here during the cherry blossom festival which is probably not a good reference to the rest of…read morethe year but it was so packed that day I had to carry my dog and leave. But great initiative with lots of succes obviously

Bears are my favorite animal, and blue is my favorite color. Who knew there would be such a bright…read moresight greeting us all at the convention center for our conference? The Big Blue Bear gets 5 stars from me! Fun for the whole family to take pictures with!

I love me some public art! This 40-foot blue bear is so cute and curious peering through the glass…read morewindows of the Colorado Convention Center. I wonder what the bear is looking for? :) https://yelp.to/JG18P-mkUp I probably only spent a total of 5-8 minutes looking at the sculpture but definitely worth the photo op while walking around Downtown Denver.

With family in the area, I've been going to Old Town Arvada for as long as I can remember. It's…read morebeen the neighborhood for countless happy hours, dinners, get-togethers, brunches, farmers' markets visits and more! The little neighborhood is filled with brightly painted murals, lined with bars, restaurants and shops which create the cutest of vibes and environments! Sure, parking can be a bit tricky, but park on the outskirts and walk the streets or simply take the lightrail, as the train now pulls directly up to Old Town! With the influx of Christmas events, local shopping and delicious eats, I know I'll be back!

Reasons why Historic Olde Town Arvada needs to be on everyone's "must see/visit" list:…read more 1) Everything is walkable! We picked a central area to park and made our way around the area with ease. Be careful to abide by the parking signage during your visit. Certain areas appear to be significantly more restrictive than others! 2) Why even deal with parking? Currently under testing, the G-line will feature an oh so convenient Olde Town Arvada commuter rail stop. 3) There's a little bit of everything! Restaurants? Yep! Breweries? You got it! Toy stores? Sure! Plus lots more to find and discover! 4) Sooo many events are held here! During my visit this past weekend my friends and I stumbled across the cutest farmers market! 5) Tons of great unique local businesses! We checked out The Cereal Box, New Image Brewing, The Bluegrass, and Denver Beer Co! Loved them all and there is even more on my list to see!! 6) Everyone was super friendly! 7) I totally dig the reclaimed spaces! Historic Olde Town Arvada def exudes that Colorado "vibe" we all seek! Go check it out for yourself - I know I'll be back!

I happily happened upon this year's Highlands Street Fair, held annually on the third Saturday in…read moreJune. 32nd Ave was closed between Perry and Irving to accommodate 4 stages with live music on each, a huge inflatable slide for the kids, a classic car show, beer, margarita and food vendors, and all the quaint shopping you'd expect for the area: cool t-shirts for the alternative/indy pregnant woman, purses made of Brazilian magazines, art, jewelry, hippy clothing, etc etc. And, as you'd expect, SAFER (http://www.safercolorado.org/) had a fairly strong presence. I don't often walk that area, and doing so made me see all the awesome local shops and restaurants that are there! It's certainly worth checking it out next year! Good for all ages fun! The Highlands rock!

I thought there were some great booths there. It was a rather small fair but in a way that was…read morewhat was nice. It was a very hot Saturday. I liked the music and the food trucks are always a nice touch. Wish more people slowed up and maybe later in the day they did. I will go again next year if I am here.

This store is so conveniently located on 16th St. and has the absolute best variety of Colorado…read moreitems anywhere. It would be fun if they had items from other areas like Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge because it's fun to stop in after skiing and before flying back home. Otherwise, the selection is wonderful and customer service is always great.

Such a cute store of local items. They carry items by local artists and souvenir items. Colorado…read moremountains are featured and other local scenic points. I really liked the pottery and artwork. Also the stickers and magnets featuring Blucifer and the Blue Bear. I wanted to buy all of the items. And some of the tshirts were so soft. Pricing was on the high side so we didn't buy anything. Associate was nice.

The Articulated Wall is one of those pieces of public art that makes you stop, look up, and wonder…read more Towering high above the nearby industrial landscape, this bright yellow sculpture designed by Bauhaus artist Herbert Bayer stands out with its bold, geometric spiral form. You don't need to spend a lot of time here--this isn't a park or museum--but it's a striking visual landmark that rewards a quick visit or drive-by. It's especially photogenic on a blue-sky day, and it definitely adds a cool, modern vibe to this part of Denver. It won't be for everyone--some see it as just a big yellow tower--but if you appreciate public art, architecture, or hidden urban gems, it's worth checking out. Bonus: there's usually not a crowd, so you can enjoy it in peace.

My first thought was, "Jenga, anyone?" But then, they looked like somebody played with their…read morefood... stacking French Fries!! This is different sort of art form! The definition of "Articulation" in the dictionary is: "This describes how sculptural figures (and other forms) are jointed:, either how the differing parts of a body merge in a single form, or how separate sections come together." The top portion of this is very yellow sculpture is visible from I-25. I had it in my list of things to see in Denver. After passing by, we got off the freeway and found it outside of the Denver Design Center. This very wall, located here in Denver, is not an original. Herbert Bayer re-designed this 85 foot tall sculpture. He was commissioned to build his first one in Mexico City for the 1968 Summer Olympics. Too bad I didn't know about this when I went to Mexico City back in March of this year! The one in Mexico City is smaller, standing 60 ft tall. Bayer said he wanted this to be viewed while driving by rather than standing next to it. I did both! The sculpture is constructed of 32 pieces of pre-fabricated concrete elements each measuring 41′ x 5′-2″ x 2′-7″. A refueling mast taken from an aircraft carrier runs through the middle of the wall, holding the sculpture together. Two million pounds of concrete were used to create the 85-foot tall sculpture. This wall was dedicated in 1985. Bayer died the same year at the age of 85. This Articulated Wall belongs to the Denver Art Museum. Here, they have about 8,000 items of Bayer's works. They rotate his works. You can even see a miniature sculpture of this wall there. A nickname for this wall is "Fry Stack". Funny thing is that there was really a French Fry eating contest in front of the sculpture ... for art's sake! So, remember, seeing this while driving past it in your vehicle is the intended way to view this sculpture!

You will find this little nugget right outside of the Residence Inn, in a small alcove. It is the…read morework of Sean O'Meallie who did the sculpture in 2008. It is starting to show signs of wear and is a bit weathered. It also has some graffiti on it. It is 20 feet tall, weighs about 3,000 pounds, and is made from bronze and acrylic paint. It is rumored to have chosen the Residence Inn as the site of the sculpture because the hotel had hosted has a Pajama Party fundraiser benefiting Denver's Road Home program in the past. It is an interesting piece that depicts a cowboy holding up two side arms. The cowboy has heart shaped balloon hat and what looks like a magnet for legs. It is all on a platform. As I mentioned, it is abstract AF. You have to stare at it for a little while to decipher what it is, a cowboy in pajamas. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. Even though I passed it a few times since I was staying at the hotel next door. I recommend making this stop part of a larger itinerary or checking it out if you are in the area and/or on your way somewhere else, to maximize your time.

Unless you know the precise location of this sculpture, you can easily drive right past it! You…read morecan find it on Champa St. between 17th & 18th Streets. It is set next to the Hotel Registration sign leading to the Residence Inn. Drive by viewing! I couldn't find parking, so luckily, traffic came to a stop and I snapped a quick pic. This is definitely a whimsical piece! It's also a sort of abstract since there's basically only a pair of pants and an odd shaped abdomen with a belt in between. What might be perceived at first as arms are actually pistols. There's no face, arms, hands, nor feet. In summary, this is a cowboy with its guns drawn. Cowboy Pajamas is a solid work made from bronze, weighing three tons! It stands at over 20 feet tall. The sculptor is Sean O'Meallie. It was installed in 2008. Why is this sculpture in front of a hotel? This hotel, the Residence Inn at this address, hosts an Annual Pajama Party fundraiser. The fundraiser benefits and raises awareness for the homeless.

Cafe Sci always is the highlight of my week! I am a huge geek, and love hanging out at the Wynkoop,…read morehaving a beer, and learning about something new and interesting. I have often dragged along my non-science friends and they enjoy it just as much. While there is some jargon thrown around, for the most part if the speaker sounds interesting to you, he/she probably will be and you'll be able to keep up. It is too bad that they meet in the Mercantile room though. I went once when it was downstairs at Wynkoop in the Impulse theatre...it was so much bigger and had a much better layout. But if you get there early (around six) you won't have a trouble finding a seat either way.

These are drinking socials for the uber-intellectual. Once a month, (on a Tuesday night), there is…read morea distinguished speaker, usually from one of our local universities, that presents on an interesting and relevant topic. The Mercantile room at the Wynkoop has more eggheads per square inch than can possibly be healthy. There's a diner and most everybody has a beer in hand. I have heard some really fascinating talks there. The Wynkoop is awesome. The only real negative that I can comment on is that the setting isn't big enough for the huge crowd that this attracts. It is standing room only by the time the speaker takes the mic. If you get there early you can stake claim to a chair at one of the tables. If you get there maybe 15 minutes before then there is still some carpet space for you to sit at. If you get there on time, you're gonna stand the whole time. Do SomeThing Good, C