|
|
Reader Service
Free Travel Info |
|
Colorado Calendar
|
|
About our Advertisers
|
|
|||||
|
News To Use
New visitor center enhances venerable venue One of Colorado's most unique and distinctive attractions is Red Rocks Park and amphitheater. With its massive sandstone spires and inspiring views out across the plains, Red Rocks has drawn many to its hiking and biking trails, as well as to its world-class performances set within the dramatic amphitheater. Earlier this year a new $14 million visitor center was unveiled. Special features include a bar and grille, interactive educational displays featuring the geologic and music history of Red Rocks, a Performers Hall of Fame display, free screenings of the Donna Dewey documentary, "The Rocks Are Red," plenty of restrooms, and more. Located underground at the top of the amphitheater to preserve the original look of the 1941 venue, the 30,000-square-foot visitor center was built to harmonize with the natural beauty of the red rocks. Part of achieving that goal was to construct the center with materials that mirror its magnificent surroundings. Red sandstone was brought in from Lyons, the same town that provided the original sandstone for the amphitheater 62 years ago. Natural multi-hued slate from Cortez covers the walls and floors of the restrooms. Rather than demolish several massive rocks in the area of construction, designers literally incorporated them into the building. The visitor center is open year round from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, 303-697-6047 or visit www.redrocksonline.com. Autumn events abundant in Colorado Here are just a few of our state's many autumn events and festivals-with an emphasis on ones that are lesser known. For a comprehensive list, see the Colorado Calendar on page 48 or visit www.aaa.com. Anniversary will include free events, performances, displays The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD—a funding source for more than 300 cultural organizations in seven counties of the Denver metro area—will commemorate its 15th anniversary with a district-wide celebration, Sept. 19-24. Organizations will provide 80+ free events, activities and exhibits as a thank-you gift to area citizens who have voted twice to support the SCFD. A list of anniversary events may be found at www.artstozoo.com/15, or in the Sept. 19 Arts to Zoo insert in the Denver Post, the Rocky Mountain News and area Starbucks locations. Colorado Street Stories: Denver's Wazee Street Editor's Note: The concept of publishing a short vignette each issue about the history of one of Colorado's streets was developed exclusively for EnCompass by freelance writer, Ron Rudolph. If enough readers write to support the idea, it will continue. Email address: editor@colorado.aaa.com. From Denver’s earliest days, Wazee Street has been a hotbed of activity. The street was named for one of the Native American wives of William McGaa, who helped acquire land for the town. McGaa claimed to be married into various tribes, and he traded property on behalf of his in-laws. As a reward, McGaa asked that streets be named after his wives. Wazee was the site of Denver’s first transportation hub, built in 1858. It was called the Old Elephant Corral and was loaded with horses, mules and other livestock, but no elephants. Emigrants bought, sold and rented four-footed transportation. The complex also housed a hotel and saloon section called Denver Hall. The neighborhood remained at the center of Denver’s transit when the Union Station railroad depot was built nearby in 1881. By 1900, passengers arrived on more than 100 trains a day. Characters like Damon Runyon and Bat Masterson caroused in the local bars and brothels. Like many downtown sections, the area slipped into decrepitude. Still, Wazee remained a center of merriment through most of the 20th Century. Each March 17 since the mid-1980s, it has been re-named “Tooley Street” to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and honor long-time city district attorney, Dale Tooley. When Coors Field opened for baseball in 1995, it boosted the area’s transformation from seedy lower downtown to chic LoDo. Among the collection of art galleries, dance clubs and restaurants is the Wazee Supper Club. The Supper Club is a moderately priced eatery famous for pizza, half-pound hamburgers and a decor that ranges from classic to funky. It has been a neighborhood mainstay since 1974, and it epitomizes LoDo. Now LoDo—with Wazee Street as its heart and soul—is again a hotbed of activity. —Ron Rudolph
|
Copyright © 2003 AAA Colorado. All Rights Reserved. Privacy