Annual Gaylord Street Memorial Day Weekend Festival This Weekend

For three decades, neighbors have anxiously awaited the true kick-off to summer: the Annual Old South Gaylord Memorial Day Weekend Festival. Live music, amazing food and some fantastic shopping is to be enjoyed by all both Sunday and Monday this long weekend.

In addition to all of your favorite Gaylord Street businesses, this year’s festival will feature over 60 artisans and vendors lining the 1000 block of Old S. Gaylord Street. Fun and games including kiddie rides, carnival games, a bungee trampoline and a climbing wall to keep the kids entertained all day. Both days will feature great line-ups of local musicians (you can find the days' full line-ups here).

While many of you are old pros and have your annual festival ritual down, here are five things everyone should know to make your day the absolute best 

1. Admission is free but you need to purchase tickets for food, drinks and games
2. Remember that Gaylord Street will be totally blocked off, making an already tricky parking situation even worse. Plan for a walk or carpool with some friends.
3. Check with your favorite Gaylord Street shops- some have some great discounts and specials during the holiday weekend.
4. Come hungry- the festival will have some of its crowd favorites (snow cones and turkey legs anyone?) and you will also be amongst all of the district’s restaurants
5. True to Colorado fashion, bring both your sunscreen and your umbrella.

Event times: Sunday (5/26), 10am-8pm and Monday (5/27), 10am-4pm.

Hope to see you all there!

-Courtney Ranson Licensed in the State of Colorado

Tweet  

SEARCH HOMES FOR SALE – DENVER WASH PARK -  BY NEIGHBORHOOD

SEARCH HOMES IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS

WASH PARK - WEST WASH PARK - BONNE BRAE - BELCARO - POLO CLUB - CORY MERRILL

 Customize Your Search for Homes: Denver Real Estate

DWP's Spring Gardening Guide

 

In addition to Mother’s Day, this upcoming weekend is widely known as the official start of the new gardening season. While many have been preparing (in between the crazy spring snow storms) it is finally time to break out the gloves, pick your favorite flowers and plants, and take advantage of the great resources this garden-loving city has to offer. Here are five of my favorites.

Denver Botanic Gardens Annual Spring Plant Sale

• This weekend: Friday (May 10) & Saturday (May 11), 8am-5pm
• 14 different plant divisions ensure you will find the perfect addition to your yard or garden
• The renowned DBG horticulturists will be on hand to answer any questions you may have
• Admission is free & members receive 10% off their purchase

Denver Urban Gardens Learn to Compost Class 

• 2 hour, hands-on workshop offered several times throughout the month
• Great way to recycle and reduce your water bill (remember that we are in a drought!)
• Read DUG’s “Composting Basics” to learn more about composting

Denver Water Must-Know Information

• Drought watering rules went into effect as of April 1, 2013
• Need a refresh of the city’s watering rules? Remember no watering between 10am-6pm and read Denver Water’s watering guide here.

2013 Farmer’s Almanac

• Over 100 years old its been said to the be one true tool to creating a garden that thrives
• Visit the “Gardening Calendar” and “Hints and Tips” for more information

Finally, two of my favorite resources to check for interesting tips and ideas are the “Grow” Section of the Denver Post and the “Gardening Tips” from Tagawa Gardens. 

I hope everyone's green thumbs are successful this weekend!

-Courtney Ranson Licensed in the State of Colorado

 Tweet  

SEARCH HOMES FOR SALE – DENVER WASH PARK -  BY NEIGHBORHOOD

SEARCH HOMES IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS

WASH PARK - WEST WASH PARK - BONNE BRAE - BELCARO - POLO CLUB - CORY MERRILL

 Customize Your Search for Homes: Denver Real Estate

The Best in Wash Park Happy Hours

 

We are surrounding by A LOT of fantastic eateries in Wash Park and chances are that you have a few of your own favorites that you frequent. If you are looking to try something new (without abandoning your favorites of course) a great place to start is with a good Happy Hour. I have researched, gathered valued opinions and included a couple of my own favorites to bring you a list of some of the best Happy Hours in Wash Park.

Wash Park Grille

3-7pm everyday

Sunday- Thursday: 10pm-12am

Friday & Saturday: 11pm-1am

• $5 Specialty cocktails: Pineapple Finlandia Martini, Wash Park Lemonade,  Mountain Mule & Brazilian Ginger
• $5 Absolut / Jack Daniels / Sailor Jerry’s Cocktails
• $3 Well cocktails
• $3 Select drafts
• $3 House wine
• Happy Hour Appetizers

What else to know: Live music the 1st & 3rd Saturdays every month

Max Gill & Grill

Tuesday- Sunday: 3-7pm bar, 3-6pm dining room

Thursday night ALL NIGHT at the bar. 

• $.99 Select Oysters
• Discounted Apps
• $3.25 23oz Domestic Draft
• $4.25 23oz Premium Draft
• $2.25 Well/ $4 Premium
• $3.25 Glasses House Wine

What else to know: Lobster special every Saturday: $19 for a whole pound whole Maine lobster. Sunday family night: magician 6-8pm and prime rib dinner special.

Free valet parking Tuesday- Saturday 5-10pm in the middle of the block on Old S. Gaylord Street. Good for Max G&G and the Wash Park Grille!

Reiver’s

Monday-Friday: 3-6pm

Late Night, 7 days a week: 10pm-close

• $2.50 Wells
• $3.50 Calls
• $3.00 Draught Pints
• $4.75 Large Draughts
• $2.50 Domestic Bottles
• $2.50 House Wines
• $2.50 House Margaritas
• Happy Hour Apps

What else to know: Trivia face off, every Tuesday 8-10pm

730 South

Monday-Saturday: 4-6pm

• $2.75 draft beers
• $2.75 house wines
• $2.75 well cocktails
• $3.25 “U Call it Cocktails”
• Amazing list of Happy Hour appetizers including their popular PEI Mussels, Crab Cakes and 730 Nachos. View the full Happy Hour Menu here. 

What else to know: Great email program that includes monthly specials. Find the sign up on their website.

The Village Cork

The ultimate specials for the wine lover.

Late night Open Speical:Monday-Thursday after 9pm, Friday & Saturday after 10pm

• Any glass poured from an open bottle is $5 after the times listed above. See website for additional details.

Every Tuesday & Wednesday

• Receive 25% off “By the Bottle” selections

What else to know: “Pour Le Pet” Mondays: bring in a pet offering (canned food, toy, bowls, leashes, etc.) on Mondays and receive 15% off of your bill!

Izakaya Den

Tuesday-Friday: 5-6:30pm

• $5 Well cocktails
• $3 Sapporo Drafts
• $8 Specialty cocktails
• Happy Hour appetizers and small plates including salads, lobster wontons and a sashimi selection. View the full Happy Hour menu here. 

What else to know: The new greenhouse at Den Farm assures that you will be eating some fresh produce. Read more about the Den Farm here. 

Grab your friends, make a date with your spouse or leave work a little early with some co-workers and investigate these for yourself. Enjoy!

-Courtney Ranson Licensed in the State of Colorado

Tweet  

SEARCH HOMES FOR SALE – DENVER WASH PARK -  BY NEIGHBORHOOD

SEARCH HOMES IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS

WASH PARK - WEST WASH PARK - BONNE BRAE - BELCARO - POLO CLUB - CORY MERRILL

 Customize Your Search for Homes: Denver Real Estate

The Best Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Denver

 

Lucky us- St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, which means a full weekend of dawning your best green apparel, indulging in some Guinness and lots of festivities! There are numerous events planned to help you celebrate-whether you are looking to spend your day in a pub, are in need of a fun family-friendly activity or just need a good dose of some Irish culture. Here are my picks for how to spend your St. Patrick’s Day this year.

50^th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade

In my opinion one of the most fun parades of the year – the St. Patrick’s Day parade is filled with a mix of floats, music and even some traditional Irish step dancers.

• This year’s parade will be held Saturday, March 16^th
• Begins at 10am and lasts until 1:30-2pm
• Route: Starts at Coors Field parking lot, steps off at 27th and Blake, Blake west to 17th, 17th to Wynkoop, Wynkoop back to Coors Field.
• Remember to bring some sunscreen, and of course, your green attire

Old S. Pearl Street’s Paddy’s on Pearl

According to S. Pearl Street we should expect  “public merriment and harmless shenanigans”. In addition to some fun for the adults this year’s event will also be full of Lucky Charms!

• Saturday, March 16^th 12-8pm
• There will be live music, street food and Irish step dancers
• New this year! Come at 11:30am for a gathering to enjoy some Luck Charms, all are welcome!
• For more specific event details click here.

Brass, Bagpipes & Co at DU

For a limited time “Echoes of the Emerald Isles” presented by The Denver Brass is at the Newman Center at the University of Denver. Enjoy traditional bagpipe music and classic melodies of Celtic music. The perfect traditional way to celebrate!

• Friday, March 15 7:30pm; Saturday, March 16 7:30pm; Sunday, March 17 2:30pm.
• Tickets range from $24-$44
• Learn more by clicking here.

Katherine's French Bakery's Irish Feast

Join Chef Mario for Katherine's "annual salute to St. Patrick". Enjoy a true, traditional Irsih feast of: corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, carrots and their freshly-baked buttermilk Irish soda bread. 

• March 15, 16 and 17
• Call Katherine's or visit their website for more information

Enjoy!

-Courtney Ranson Licensed in the State of Colorado

Tweet  

A Snap Shot of Elementary Schools in Wash Park

Elementary education and a neighborhood’s school district are critical aspects to consider when purchasing a home. According to Home Finder.com, a 2012 National Association of Realtors report found that 55% of famililes with children under the age of 18 chose their neighborhood of residence based on the quality of the school district. Even those who do not have children benefit from quality schools as they tend to add value to an area's housing market.

One great tool, Colorado School Grades, allows users see how schools across the state rank and compare to one another. This tool provides a variety of fascinating indicators and statistics, including “Overall Performance”, “Academic Growth” and “Student Population” giving what else?...a grade for each category! Perhaps the most important grade to consider is the one given for a school’s overall performance, which is “calculated by combining the exact same key performance indicators in the exact same weighting scheme as the Colorado Department of Education”.

The Wash Park neighborhood is fortunate to have multiple outstanding elementary schools. Here is a snap shot of each, some of which include Colorado School Grades.

Lincoln Elementary School 

• 710 S. Pennsylvania St. Denver, CO 80209
• Overall performance grade- A
• Academic Proficiency- B-, Academic Growth- A

Steele Elementary School

• 320 S. Marion Parkway Denver, CO 80209
• Overall performance grade- B+
• Academic Proficiency and Academic Growth both received a grade of a B

Cory Elementary School

• 1550 S. Steele St. Denver, CO 80210
• Overall peformance grade- A+
• Academic Proficiency and Academic Growth both received a grade of an A

Stephen Knight Center for Early Education

• 3245 E. Exposition Ave Denver, CO 80209
• Stephen Knight does not yet have a school grade yet has gotten much praise since its start in 2009 where they believe that they are “a community of learners”.

St. Vincent de Paul

• 1164 S. Josephine St. Denver, CO 80210
• SVDP does not have a school grade but is a fixture in the neighborhood-having opened in 1929!

Learn more about Colorado School Grades and their mission at their website and click on the individual school names above for more details on each.

-Courtney Ranson Licensed in the State of Colorado

Tweet  

SEARCH HOMES FOR SALE – DENVER WASH PARK -  BY NEIGHBORHOOD

SEARCH HOMES IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS

WASH PARK - WEST WASH PARK - BONNE BRAE - BELCARO - POLO CLUB - CORY MERRILL

 Customize Your Search for Homes: Denver Real Estate