Urban Life in Denver

US Thai Cafe at www.usthaicafe.com

So not a single guess to the photo op…. which is only fair since I’ve been so derelict in my duties to post regularly.  But no more.. posting is BACK!!

The answer to the “Where’s the Brain” question from two nights ago, if you didn’t guess by the title of this post, is the little nugget known as the US Thai Cafe.  Now don’t go worrying that because it’s in Edgewater that it is too far for us Denver Urbanites to commute to… especially those of you who call the Central Platte Valley Home.

US Thai Cafe is located at 5228 W. 25th Ave. just off of Sheridan.  For those in the Highlands it’s practically around the corner.  And this particular stretch of 25th is, and I kid you not, like a slice of Mayberry RFD straight out of the Andy Griffith show.  I kid you not!  I rarely use this word but the street is just cute.  Little cafe’s, little stores, and friendly signs adorned with holiday lights.  It just pops up out of nowhere like an attractive urban oasis in a desert of plain storefronts and blacktop intersections.

But enough about the street… you need to go inside to sample the flavors.  US Thai is a small restaurant with old fashioned diner style tables and chairs, open kitchen, and quick friendly service.  Reading the reviews on the board I followed their listed favorite items and placed a togo order for the following…

• Thai Egg Rolls (2) – $3.50
• Toomyam Soup (Thai famous lemon grass  soup cooked with yellow onion, mushroom, basil, cilantro, and I added shrimp) – $5.95
• SoomTam (Papaya salad with green papaya, peanut, lemon juice, tomato and green bean) – $5.95
• Pad Khimoa – Drunken Noodles – $7.95 – I ordered with Chicken
• Keng Kiewang – Green Curry – $8.15 – I ordered with Chicken

I ordered everything medium hot which, after being warned, was spicy enough to produce those little sweats you feel on your cheeks and forehead.  They did warn me that their spicy was above the average spicy of other restaurants which I’m proud of them for.  If you are going to do a Thai restaurant don’t be sissy about it, be true to the food!!  They give a fair warning so buyer beware.  I love hot so this was right up my alley.. although I’m a bit frightened to try the hot (which of course means I will).

Everything was delicious!! I followed my usual recommendation of ordering the food there as it only takes about 15 minutes to prepare and that way you get home with the egg rolls still crispy and the soup still steaming.  The egg rolls were fantastic, crispy with a nice flaky style crunch, not a dried out thin wrapper.  Everything was awesome including the papaya salad that served as my cooling off bit, the drunken noodles that seemed to carry the most heat, and the green curry that was flavorful and not as sweet as many I have had.  The only negative I’ll have to give them was that in the process of packing up my order (there were many togo orders being prepared and folks stopping in and out) I received someone’s tofu green curry and unfortunately someone must have gotten my chicken curry.  It’s no big deal for me, I loved trying the tofu and with the Drunken Noodle Chicken included I had a nice variety… but I do hope the other person wasn’t vegetarian.  Mistakes happen and the service was so great I’m sure they would have taken care of it but I was just fine with my accidental change of menu.

The short story is that I recommend you get your butt’s up there and give US Thai a try.  If you like quaint and authentic I believe this is one spot you should remember next time you have a Thai spice craving.

US Thai Cafe
5228 W. 25th Ave.
Edgewater, CO 80214
303-233-3345
www.usthaicafe.com

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Review tomorrow.. In the meantime can you name this restaurant?

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Inexpesive Eats at Sam's no. 3

Instead of all the moaning and groaning about the current economic state I believe it’s a time to celebrate in it. It all boils down to attitude. I personally love the stories of previously defined cubicle dwellers who have taken whatever changes have happened in their lives and decided to embrace the future. I’m talking about the stories of the person who has started up their own dream enterprise. That might be baking cupcakes, doing design, picking up the camera, or even (ahem) writing. And how (un)shocking is it that almost all these new fun enterprises that people are starting up are something creative, artistic, or expressive of their own passions.

Heck yes, there is something to be said about the strength of human character and creativity in times of change. Along with that character however there is the reality of a new monthly budget. Perhaps you are a starving artist, struggling small business owner, or saving up for that just in case emergency fund. Whatever you are doing Denver is a city where you can still have a great meal, a great time, and not break the bank (which by the way you can’t do because they already broke themselves).

So The Urban Brain will be sharing some ideas and looking for you all to share your tips and findings for great restaurants, happy hours, and those magical hole in the wall restaurants that deserve great praise.

Today it’s all about BREAKFAST. The best way to start is with the meal that starts your day. And for a great meal on a budget one of my absolute favorites is Sam’s no. 3 on Curtis. Many of you may have tried Sam’s for your weekend “wow I can’t believe last night” recovery meal. You are missing out on the bargains they offer in their exclusively MTWRF breakfast menu. For $4.99 I enjoyed two eggs, bacon, and french toast. My need for caffeine required that I bump up my cost with a cup of joe for $1.85 pushed me up a bit but still a great breakfast for the price.

And Sam’s has all the warmth and character you would want in your breakfast diner.  If you go to Manhattan and love the corner diners serving up good grub and good atmosphere you really need to check out Sam’s.  Chicken fried Steak and Eggs fan, look no further.  And it’s one of the breakfast specials.  Want to be healthy, go ahead and low carb it for $0.99 and swap those potatoes for some cottage cheese and tomatoes.  And I have to mention the rockies burrito… two chili rellenos inside a burrito and covered with pork green chili.  Mmmmmmm that’s one that can sustain you for the entire day, but it’s a special so if it’s not on the chalkboard you had better ask REALLY nice to see if they will make it for you.

Well that’s it for the first of what I hope to be many Denver deals.  Embrace the economy and go find some creative meals, deals and also the creative genius within yourself.

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Okay, I find this funny as heck for a number of reasons.

1. First of all, I am a total superhero geek.  The main book I’m working on is about a superhero… so yes VERY geeky.
2. As someone who is also a big fan of Urban Planning and Design how funny is it that BOTH of Lex Luthor’s first two plots to take over the world involve his role as a real estate developer.  No kidding.  First it’s turning Nevada into his beachfront property and second it’s a new land mass in the ocean.  Hmmmm…. very interesting.
3. Oh c’mon, a play on the financial crisis this way is too funny.

Enjoy and share!

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My moleskin getting things done system with a touch of Fresco

Happy New Year!  Not only happy new year but also happy new decade.

Can you feel it?  Can you feel the fresh start..  A freedom from the past decade and an embrace of the new?

I am so excited for the new decade and my New Year’s Resolutions are already being put into print.  The first and foremost of those is my dedication to writing.  Stephen King recommends writing at least 2000 words 6 days a week.  Wow Stephen, thank you for setting the bar high enough that meeting it actually means something.  Other resolutions include continuing with the great folks at my Boot Camp, learning more on the photoshop and artistic side, and other creative outlets.   My moleskin (a la Fresco) is starting to fill up with various to do items.

A new decade is a pretty big deal.  For some it is a different alignment of the stars.  For others it is a symbolic changeover.  Whatever it means to you I congratulate you on your dreams and wish you luck.

So please feel free to share your own resolutions and stop back here at any time to hold yourself accountable.  I’m determined to make this decade the most incredibly wonderful time every.  Are you?

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Bear says "Thank you for rescuing my brothers, now let's find them homes"

This was an article in the Denver Post today. About 100 starving sled dogs seized in Park County

It’s terrible that it happened.  It’s wonderful that they were rescued.  And to all the rescuers out there YOU ARE MY HEROES!!!

Now it’s time for even more heroes.   These roughly 100 starving sled dogs are in going to be healed and loved and then available for adoption.  I spoke with the journalist who wrote the story and he said there might be a follow up on where the dogs would be going.  I’d rather spread the word for sure.

I called the folks at Park County animal control (and yes, I told them they were my heroes for the rescue) and they gave me some details.

The largest percentage of pups are at the Denver Dumb Friends League and should be available for adoption in about a week.  Here is the list she gave me of adoption locations.  They are being spread around Colorado to hopefully find happy homes quickly.  Forgive my spelling and I’ll add more details but I wanted to get this out there.

• Denver Dumb Friends League (Denver, CO)
• Humane Society of Boulder Valley
• Longmont Humane Society
• Ark-Valley Humane Societ (Buena Vista)
• Freemont County (Canon City)
• Mariah’s Primise (Divide, CO)

Also, there are a number of vet bills from rescuing and treating these roughly 100 sled dogs.  Folks can also make donations to the non profit in Park County that is working with this rescue.

Park County Animal Rescue Fund
PO Box 604
Fairplay, CO  80440

They have a number of husky mix pups for adoption.  Husky Healer, Husky Malamute (awwww), pure Husky and more.  Spread the word!!

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Today ONLY Both Snooze locations are offering not one but NINE special pancakes with proceeds benefitting The Denver Parade of Lights.

Here’s the detail…

Jon and Adam Schlegel, owners of Snooze, have been going to the Denver Parade of Lights as long as they can remember. They want to give back, so the sale of each pancake on this menu sold on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at both Snooze locations will be given to the Denver Parade of Lights to keep the tradition alive.

www.snoozeeatery.com

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Yesterday I was buzzing around town quite a bit on my scooter. From one errand to another, for business and for pleasure, my scooter was my mode of transportation. Around the 6:00 hour I found myself in the congestion of Speer heading into Cherry Creek, a slow moving trickle of vehicles trying to make it to the next destination. Honks, distracted drivers, and running red lights seemed to be the norm. I even saw one individual take off through a red light before it went to green when the other light went to red only to have me right by their side at the next red light. What is everyone rushing for?

But the real point of my safety comment is tied to the common fact that almost 50% of the folks I saw driving home were either talking on their phones or appeared to be texting. The New York Times recently reported of a study where a clown riding a unicycle rode into the vision of someone talking on their cell phones. Those individuals were questioned later on whether they recalled seeing anything unusual, or specifically if they noticed the clown. Numbers were as low as 8 to 20%.

That means there are a lot of people disconnected from the world operating tons of heavy machinery.

My point is simply this.. You don’t have hands free to talk on the phone when you are on a scooter or a bicycle, the two modes of transportation that have replaced my car. Even if I went hands free the wind would make it difficult to talk. Now I know that there are solutions for this, expensive motorcycle helmets and such. So even if the whole city of Denver started riding scooters and bicycles we would simply have more mobile headset salesmen on every corner… but I can still dream.

If you have taken two wheels into traffic lately, without trying to incorporate a cell phone, you know what I’m talking about. There is simply a greater sense of awareness and observation. Somehow while insulated inside the car reaching from texting on the phone to adjusting the radio the mere act of observing the road (or fellow road travelers) goes to the bottom of the list. It’s kinda scary.

Anywhoo that is my rant for the day. Until everyone starts scootering or biking to work I guess it’s just a matter of defense, defense defense. Be safe out there.

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Snow in the plaza

I do.  While others are cursing, swearing, complaining, whining, venting, ranting and raving about the misery of this snow… I’m celebrating.

Of course I don’t have to drive.   Living downtown does have its perks.  But for those of you who do live downtown, and this blog definitely does focus on life downtown, you know what I am talking about.

Last night I rallied up a few friends to pick a local restaurant within [Read more →]

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AaaaaAAAARrrrrgggggGGGGGHhhhhhhh!!!  BRAINS!!

That was the chant during Saturday Night’s 4th annual Denver Zombie Crawl.  I was right in the middle of it.

There were a couple, maybe a few, thousand zombies in all stages of decomposition.  There were the political messages zombies (health care is dead), and the humorous zombies.  But the most common was the pure gore it up shock value horror zombies.  They came in blue, green or grey and blood red all over.  There were Zombie dancing such as Thriller or an orchestrated Zombierana (Macarena, get it).

Now I’m someone who has already seen Zombieland, watched Night of the Living Dead as a kid, and read World War Z.  Yep, you guessed it… Nerd.

The event itself had “victims”.  Victims were people who marked themselves with a big X across their chest.  Once spotted the Zombie hordes would set out to feast on their brains.  This meant circling them and most likely spraying them with fake blood.  Lots of fake blood.  Innocent  bystanders were safe of course.  As were the diners in the various restaurants along the 16th street mall who gazed from their glass of Pinot Noir and dinner salad at the horde of zombies leering into the restaurant windows.  Note to the window washers out there, I feel SO BAD FOR YOU.  All those makeup and fake blood costumed hands and faces looked like they had been smeared across some of those windows.  Some windows were just plain gross.

I stuck around for the crawl and to take in all the creative costumes.  I did not take my camera and decided to simply participate in the event but you can check out the collection of photos on flickr at http://www.flickr.com/groups/zombiecrawl/pool/.  As with all large groups of people there is always someone who ruins the fun and when signs of malevolent Zombies started I decided to go change venues and take my zombie self to get an ale.  Walking home, surrounded by many other zombies I heard one couple comment “Geez, everyone’s wearing the same costume this year… they are all zombies”.  Maybe they will read the news the next day.

So the Zombie Crawl was a perfect excuse to dress up in costume and be creative.  It’s make believe.  That’s fun.  It didn’t involve anything other than letting yourself have fun and I highly recommend you add it to your calendar for next year… if there is any of that little kid inside of yoiu.

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