THE NEW
OLDE TOWN
ARVADA
W
hether you’re looking for
a night out on the town
or a day trip with the
kiddos, look no further
than Arvada. Just a short trip northwest
of downtown Denver, Arvada truly does
have it all—from cultural amenities
to outdoor adventure to drinking and
dining. It’s definitely worth a visit.
The city was incorporated in 1904,
although adventurers had been mining
for gold in the area since way back
in 1850. From 100 citizens, Arvada
has now expanded 1,000-fold to
approximately 100,000 residents.
Fueling the city’s growth in recent years
is the new light rail service from Union
Station right to downtown Arvada.
New businesses have come to the city in
droves, with creative new enterprises that
have drawn visitors of all ages. Kids will
absolutely love the Super Zoom Bang Bang
toy store which is only a hop, skip, and
jump to the fabulous sock boutique, Sock
(sockstandproud.com), where you can find
a pair of socks to show off any personality,
mood, or hobby. The over-21 crowd has
plenty of options as well, including the
popular Blue Grass Coffee and Bourbon
Lounge (thebluegrasslounge.com) which
serves up great pizza, with coffee by day
and with bourbon by night. Here are some
of the other gems we recommend if you go:
Hunter Bay Coffee Bar (hunterbay.
com) – Although this eclectic cafe was
rooted in Montana for over 25 years,
it ventured south to Arvada just last
year. Besides brewing a great cup of
joe, the company prides itself on its
core value of sustainability, with a
low-impact roasting plant, a variety
of organic and direct-trade coffees,
and a lack of excessive packaging. The
company also sells bulk coffees online,
and its website offers plenty of useful
information for the coffee enthusiast.
Scrumptious (scrumptiousco.com) –
Prepare to overwhelm the senses with a
dazzling array of candy, homemade ice
cream, and bottled sodas. Looking for
novelty candy like Pucker Powder, toy
soldiers, or Sushi On-the-Go? You’ve
come to the right place. The company
also has a Scrumptious Ice Creamer
food truck available to service private
events. Fair warning: there is also an
array of suggestive joke candies, so keep
this in mind if you’re with the family.
Tracy’s Place (tracysplc.com) – To
fulfill a creative itch, look no further
than this local paint bar and studio,
which is open to individuals as well as
corporate groups and private parties.
Choose a class in painting, string art, or
beading, or just come in during open
studios to create something magical
and sip on a glass of wine with friends.
Husband-and-wife owners Mary-Ruth
and Jeff Tracy work hard to create a fun
environment that all adults will enjoy—
even if they weren’t born a Michelangelo.
Kline’s Beer Hall (klinesbeerhall.
com) – Are you a craft beer aficionado
who enjoys a great homemade sausage?
If so, stop by this popular downtown
hangout and enjoy a hearty meal in its
rustic surroundings. Menu choices go
far beyond sausage, with a wide selection
10
of appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and
even a kids’ menu. You can catch live
music—ranging from jazz to blues to
polka—on the weekends beginning
at 8:00 p.m. with no cover charge.
Book Cranny (bookcranny.com) –
Owners Angelika and Wayne describe their
midlife foray into the used book business
this way: “We were an over-educated,
middle-aged couple who could not find a
decent job. So, we did what everyone else
does and started selling online.” Now, their
brick-and-mortar store is packed floor to
ceiling with interesting reads, designed to
appeal to all tastes and ages. There is also a
section featuring stylish jewelry and crafts
if you are looking for that perfect gift.
Majestic View Nature Center – This
highly-rated attraction features hands-
on displays, wildlife exhibits, kid’s play
spaces and incredible views and hiking
options. Targeted toward school groups,
but open to the public on weekdays
only, visit this beautiful space to enjoy a
taste of wildlife and a leisurely walk.
Arvada Center for the Arts and
Humanities (arvadacenter.org) – To
take in a bit of culture, you can meander
through 10,000 square feet of galleries on
Docent-led tours. The Center is also home
to a wide range of top-notch dramatic,
musical and live concert performances.
One last word of advice: Don’t think twice
about visiting Arvada (visitarvada.org)
in the depths of winter. There are events
scheduled throughout the year, and the
city’s warm and welcoming environment—
and maybe a cup of hot cocoa—will more
than make up for a cold nose or two.