are there any good places to hang out in this city? if so, please recommend.
I think there’re a few places in downtown CS, around bijou and tejon (acacia park, I think). I grew up in Woodland Park, but didn’t spend all that much time in Colorado Springs. There’s also the two malls, Chapel Hills and the Citadel. There’s also a nice mini-golf place at the north end just west of I-25 (just south of Woodmen).
Wow, there aren’t really that many places.
Define “hang out”. Are you an adult or a teen? Or for that matter a pre-teen. Are you looking for a 7-11, a kicker bar or a jazz club? Are you goth, military or prep? Are you straight or gay? There are places for all of the above interests/lifestyles, but unless you provide some information it is hard to tell you.
From your lack of information, I would assume you are a young teen or else you would have provided some sort of interest frame work to work from.
I live here too. It sucks in big ways. Lots of retail work if you want to make a career out of stuffed cabbage.
Do they still have that free weekly like the Westword up in Denver? I forget the name…But if it exists, then it will have the lowdown on just about anything and everything to do. Look for newspaper boxes next to the Gazette and Denver Post boxes on the street, one will be free, that should be it. Damn! What’s the name of that rag?
If you are of age, then the Phantom Canyon or Ritz were always fun, plus there is an ever-changing-ownership secret bar off of Bijou St. downtown. Look down the alley around the corner from Zeezo’s Magic Castle (a great place to get costumes, magic and toys!). If there is a red light on over a door, go in. Dress nice.
The Colorado College also has many things open to the public that are cool. Concerts, plays, dancers, speakers from all over the world, art exhibitions, etc. etc. etc. Go to the Worner center on the corner of Cascade and Cache La Poudre and look at the lists of things to do. Don’t be shy! They like members of the community to show up.
-Tcat
i know a kinky girl that lives there.
Tomcat, are you referring to 15C?
I left Colorado Springs last year after 13 years of living there. I don’t miss it at all…save for 15C. That place was damn cool.
The Broadmoor is pretty nice if you’re an adult and looking for a resort/getaway spot. I was married there and it’s got a nice golf course, spa, weight room, shops, running trail, etc., not to mention fantastic food. They just finished an extensive remodeling and should be doubly nice now.
Woeg, it was called ‘Goodfellas’ when I went there, but then the owner got caught running cocaine in Mexico. Funny, haven’t heard from him since. Since then it has gone through a few owners, and what it is now, I have no clue. BUT, the place was tricked out with a nice decor. Brass rails, personal cigar boxes, etc. I assume someone would keep it going because it was nice enough to make bank. Classy place, as I said, dress nice.
-Tcat
I live a mile or two away from downtown Colorado Springs. I’m looking for a place to hang out or meet new peers, twenty five to thirty, drink, avoid the college scene, avoid the homeless and park rats of Acacia Park and the adjoining Carl’s Jr.
The newspaper is called the Independent. I’ve found the movie reviews to be the best feature and those are lukewarm at most.
Thank you Tomcat for those suggestions but what is considered “nice”? Suit and tie? Button down shirt and slacks?
Who is that kinky girl?
I’m a straight male, not that there’s anything wrong with it, and I’m not in the military. Of course the proximity of the military bases precludes chasing tail until they’re sent overseas and it’s time to comfort the lonely widows-to-be.
kidding.
raisinbread
Life-long resident here. I did leave for five years but here’s my take.
Depends on your “class” of people really but…
Downtown:
Rum Bay
Old Chicago
Jose Muldoons
The Ritz
Jack Quinn’s
Phantom Canyon
The Underground
Bristol Brewing Co. (south Tejon, the restaurant next door rocks)
Laura Belle’s (actually west of downtown, off Uintah near King Soopers)
etc.
If you like more a biker/metal bar (which kind of fits Laura Belle’s but they cater to everybody there)
Union Station (North Union just north of Constitution on the east side)
The Gardens (Galley and Circle, Galley on the south east corner of the two streets)
Crap, there’s a place on Montebello and Academy (near McClosky’s catty-corner to Target) but I can’t remember the name.
There are of course various sports bars around town. Most of them are pretty cool, at least the ones I have been in. There’s one up near where I live (Union and Dublin) can’t remember the name though. Also, there’s one in the Rockrimmon area that an ex-boyfriend of mine used to go to a lot.
The Independent is usually a great place to find out where the good bands are playing. You can access them on line too http://www.csindy.com/csindy/current/play_thursday.html
Also, there are a lot of little bars in most neighborhoods that cater to those that live in that area.
If you want to do some other things, there are other things. In the summer when it’s hot, I like to go to the Chapel Hills Mall and watch the skaters or hockey players.
For Sunday Brunch, the Sunbird has a good brunch.
There are several recreational opportunities to meet people. Check out Parks and Rec. http://www.springsgov.com/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=6
Take a non-credit course through PPCC.
Not sure what you do for a living, but joining a professional organization here nets you lots of meeting people opportunities. Things like Home Builders Association, The Chamber of Commerce, etc…
Colorado Springs is a sleepy, big city that definately caters more to families but if you seek them out, there are things for adult singles to do around here.
Oh, and BTW, try to stay clear of the Academy Blvd clubs south of Austin Bluffs. Most of them (not all) are “meat” markets with sleezy women that care more about their short dresses and the layers of makeup looking for money rather than meaningful conversation and a real man to get to know. However, most are fun if you just want to go and dance.
You’d think with a huge influence of military here there would be more for the single adult to do here.
On the other side of Monument Hill, there are a LOT of things to do in Denver. LoDo, Highlands Ranch and everywhere in between. Just do yourself a favor. If you suspect you will be drinking, stay in Denver. The slightest booboo on the roads through Castle Rock will net you at mimimum a ticket or having to call a friend at 3:00 in the morning to get your butt out of jail.
Oh another bar, O’Furry’s is another eclectic place to hang out. I have been known to hang out with Olympic athletes and bikers and everyone in between. The Omlette Parlor, in the same building, has GREAT breakfasts. My AOL buddies still hang there every Sunday. During football season we’d stop at O’Furries for a Bloody Mary (the best I have ever had) while waiting for a group of tables for us.
Anyhow, my email address is available if you have any other questions. I was born and raised in C Springs.
Button down shirt and slacks will work. No jeans, hats or Hawaiian shirts. At least that was the dress code when I went. It could have changed, I haven’t been in awhile, and the owners rotate regularly I hear.
Furthur clarification: the Phantom Canyon is a nice pool hall/brewery catering to your age group. So if you like billiards and great beer…The Ritz is a good place for live bands and drinking. I used to bounce door there - Friday nights seemed to be more casual, Saturday nights things got crazy sometimes. Both are geared towards middle class and above, but you get a mix.
Other than that, do what techchick68 says…she seems to have the SD on the Springs.
-Tcat
Tom, I think it’s the same place…nice leather furniture, and KILLER martinis…
I live in the Springs too, and I agree it is a much better place for us married with kids types than young, single adults. I have a fair number of friends in their 30’s and 40’s looking for women, and a few women looking for men. (Unfortunately, the guys are runners, mountain bikers, triathletes and the like. The girls are not, and some are smokers, so I haven’t gotten any of them together!) If you want to run or ride a bike, I can help. Personally, I think I would ski every weekend, if I were single.
If you want a bar, try Southside Johnny’s. Or that Mountain Shadows Coffee shop, which I believe has a liquor license and Live music on weekends and Wednesdays, although some in the neighborhood may have forced them to close.
Oh I forgot to mention, Old Colorado City and Manitou are fun places for more eclectic people too.
Meadow Muffins is a fun place and make awesome FUBARs, they should be reopening soon, if they haven’t already from that fire a while back.
There are a couple of bars in Manitou that are lots of fun but I can’t remember their names. Also, Manitou has some good restaurants.
Green Mtn Falls has two fun bars up there too.
Don’t forget, if you want to blow some money, there’s Cripple Creek. Not quite Vegas but the owners up there are a great bunch. Admittedly I haven’t been up there in a few years but I have always had a fun time up there. Tehe, I remember one of the casino owners followed me around, literally from casino to casino. I had met him when he came in to buy windows from my dad’s company and apparently I made quite the impression on him. Problem is, he’s married. I talked to the then owners of the Brass Ass (who I had met the same way) and they told me he is married!!! What a jerk.
That aside, there are some things for the singles here but you have to seek them out.
If you are at all religious, well known to many this is a very relgious town, there are very good singles groups at some of the local churches. The bigger churches are better for that though, places like First Presbyterian (downtown) and Woodman Valley Chapel are two that stick out in my mind. I only know this because my parents keep telling me I should become a member of one or the other to meet some single, Christian, men. They haven’t swayed me yet. hehe
Well well, thank you. One and all.
I’m not particularly religious nor am I very spiritual and I do consider it to be in bad taste to discuss such subjects around acquaintances. As for those places on Academy or Austin Bluffs those aren’t my style since I neither have money nor do I weigh 165 pounds with cut abs and aryan good looks.
I shall check out some of those other places though.
I will be gauche and ask if anyone wants to do anything or a bunch of Dopers getting together this weekend.
I would love to but this time of month I am pretty tight on finances, catch me at the beginning of a month and I am more likely to be able to fanagle my budget. Maybe we can do a SpringsFest Feb 8th? That’s doable for me.
Maybe we could get some of the metro Denverites to our fair city to show them, this aint a bad place, just a little sleepier then Denver. Downtown C Springs certainly isn’t LoDo but there’s still some fun to be found.
We could all meet at Jose Muldoons for some mexican food, I wonder if they will have a band that night. Or we could go to Old Chicago, they have tasty vittles and you can start up your Beers Around The World card. Then we could find our way to Rum Bay for some dueling pianos, pool and general fun.
Keep me posted, I will need a little lead time to get out of responsibilities, but Feb. 8 is definitely a possibility. What’s that Irish joint downtown? As I remember it has good afordable food and beer. I also like the Ritz.
We can also yell at Ladyfoxfyre to wander up from Pueblo.
TV Time That would be Jack Quinn’s. I’ve never eaten there though, not sure about the food. Nice place though. Haven’t done the “downtown” thing in a year and a half.
I am not a big fan of The Ritz, it’s like High School Reunion all over for me and it’s usually packed on the weekends.
Gonna go post over on MPSIMS…