tell me about Denver

I love Denver! I lived in Lakewood when I first got there, then moved to Arvada, bought a house at 32d and Julian in what we used to call Old Denver…had many wonderful opportunites and jobs there, mostly in the subsidized housing industry.

There were downsides…to see any of your friends, many times it meant a freeway ride- not bad though. Thank God they at least tried to fix the Mousetrap- THAT was a pain. There are a LOT of homeless people- I mentored some of the street kids- they even gave me my street name “The Mom.” Drugs are a problem downtown and in some of the schools- had to put my kids in private school, which wasn’t that expensive- I was amazed!

I remember the Jolly Rancher plant out on Ward Road- you can tell what the flavor of the day is by simply driving by with your window down!

Had my garden wiped out by a tornado, when I was living in Oldtown…same storm that messed up the rides at Elitch’s and Lakeside. Was chased down Highway 6 by a tornado- back in '79.

The schools are of a varying standard- depends on which district you are in. And which neighborhood.

When the job market sucks, it inhales vigorously! It can be real bad! Make sure you have a livelihood before you get there.

I loved the seasons- here where I live the snow sticks around a lot longer, and it is so depressing but, Denver- you can blizzard one day and BBQ the next- it is so cool! You can start planting as early as March for some things- just watch out for the tornadoes!

People go up on the roof and watch the storms- I think they’re nuts, personally, but…whatever.

I, too, have lived all over the country and would pick Denver as the city to live in.

I live in a town of 175 now. My H is the mayor, hereinafter referred to as His Royal Lowness- but I’M the First Lady!

It closed down about a month ago. :frowning:

…Oh, Maan!!!

How about Ophelia’s Restuarant on the little downtowny part of old Arvada? Is it still going- that was the best best damn food!

According to citysearch Ophelia’s is still there But I’ve never been there. It’s pretty close to me, is it worth going? what kind of place moneywise is it?

Since you seem familiar with the neighborhood do you remember a place called Marigold? I think it was on 44th maybe, great cheap Italian food. (One of the big problems with Denver is that nobody is actually from Denver. So I have nobody to talk old times with hehe)

Not to highjack this thread or anything but wolfman would you like to join some us Dopers here in C Springs on Feb 8th?

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=157025

The more the merrier.

Ophelia’s was my hangout- they had very reasonable prices and you can have your food as hot as you want- or not.
I’m not familiar with Marigold- did it used to be something else? Like Wheat Ridge Dairy, maybe? I used to buy the BEST pot pies from there- all fresh with good crusts. it’s on 38th, though, I think…between Wadsworth and Kipling.
I used to work at Edgewater Typewriter- I don’t remember if it was on 44th or 38th, but it was just east of Wadsworth.
I also worked at Denny’s on Kipling and 48th and at the motel there-used to be Sixpence Inn, but I think it is now ANOTHER Motel 6. Also at Decals Inc on Ward Road, Easter Seal Society on Alameda, between Sheridan and Federal; Denver Housing Authority Section 8- when they had their own office at 10th and Federal- watch out on Monday night when the Broncos played at home! Went to school CCD at Red Rocks down in Lakewood- though you would thing the address should be Golden.
I also worked for the Half-Cracked Nut Company- he had a warehouse by the bowling alley across from Denny’s up there in Arvada-{not the one on 80th] ANYway, I used to sell candy for him, like MontainMan used to do- and my line was “and I’m the poster girl!” Also had a housecleaning business and taught voice and piano. So I stayed somewhat solvent.
There was an Italian food joint on 44th between Wadsworth and Sheridan that I remember eating at a few times-pretty good food, but maybe the name is different, now. I’m trying to remember: was it Gemini’s on Wadsworth that had all the veggie stuff? That was okay on occasion…kind of pricy, though.
You all are talking about convening in the Springs- I used to go to some gaming conventions in Denver- they made me feel so “normal.” Also the animation festivals- those were super cool!