I spent this past weekend doing one of those life changing moments… moving. The beautiful thing about moving is that it gives you a chance for a fresh start, a new beginning. It was important for me to make my new home warm, comfortable and inviting with a feeling that was unique to me. As I watched my lovable dog Bear sniffing and checking out his new digs I waited anxiously to see if he was going to feel the need to mark his territory. He didn’t… yet. But in a way I suppose that is what we all do when we move into our homes. We pick out paint for the walls, we position furniture, we select unique objects and place things just so. I searched around for many of the items that went into my new urban home thankful for the internet and all the great reviews and photos out there. So to pay it forward, I’ll be posting the wonderful things I found that I decided to purchase and also the wonderful items I didn’t. Consider it an urban shopping spree and if you are moving into a new loft or home perhaps these will help.

The item I am the most excited about right now is the new organic dog bed I ordered from Doggy Archy located in our own backyard of Vail. I got myself a natural bed, why shouldn’t I get one for him. The reason I got turned off on memory foam and all the other artificial material beds, both human and canine, was the ongoing discussion in so many reviews about the lingering release of chemical odors. Don’t believe me.. google it. [Read more →]

Spire is exciting and I’ll try and keep everyone posted on what is going on, but this blog is about all things Denver.

If you are interested in keeping posted on the newest news on Spire from The Urban Brain just sign up for the Spire Specific Updates. I’ll work to give this Spire interested list all the official Spire news I have for you and some extra special news or features that I just think are cool. There are so many great things to share. Plus we should highlight the 14th Street Initiative and all the great things planned for the area.

Want the scoop… just ask.

Be Well Everyone!!

The next evolution in Denver Living.

www.spiredenver.com

Spire Denver

Sorry I haven’t been writing more lately, I’ll just leave it to the fact that there has been a great deal of change.   One of the many pieces of good news is an opportunity that I simply could not refuse to be a part of something really special in Denver.  I officially joined the Spire team and will be working on the launch of this beautiful and green (wait to you hear more about this) 41 story tower with roughly 500 new residences. You might have seen the construction going on downtown over the past year and in a very short while the project will be launching.

It is truly an amazing new project for Denver.  I wish I could tell you more right now but that will have to wait until the launch occurs.  If you would like me to keep you posted as official releases come out or have questions (only what I can answer until we launch) please feel free to email me.

Spire Denver Website

Vail gets a big dump!!

Olympia, originally uploaded by kevindooley.

Yes, after walking away from an awarded an offer to host the 1976 Olympics due to worries about financial and environmental impacts Denver is not looking at a possible opportunity to host the Olympics in 2018.

Cool, but guess what they are saying a big worry would be… transportation up and down I-70. I just won’t stop hoping and working to see if the mountain train/monorail project will finally happen.

Here is the article… http://www.examiner.com/x-758-Denver-Skiing-Examiner

This email was sent to me for sharing…
Friends and Neighbors,

It’s time for some grassroots community organizing.

Focus Property Group is planning on building a 7-11 in the Historic Ballpark District at 2425 Broadway, between Silver State Lofts and the PBA Architectural Firm across the street from the Granada Fish Company and the site of the new Plus Gallery. This 7-11 will also be two blocks down from The Samaritan House and Denver Rescue Mission. Focus Property Group is the same group that drove out the independent coffee shop Monkey Bean and claims an all-night convenience store next to an alley already infamous for drug deals will be good for the community. Quick reminder of the 7-11 at 14th and Pearl that eventually had to be shut down because no amount of security cameras or policing could keep it clean. This is a fragile time our for neighborhood and something like a crime-ridden 7-11 could potentially tip it in a direction none of us desire. Not to mention, there’s already an independent mom & pop day-time convenience store on 24th between Walnut and Blake, one block away, that will surely be put out of business.

So what can we do? There is a meeting on Tuesday, November 25th at 6pm in the Premier Lofts (2200 Market St) with Focus Property Group, the Ballpark Neighborhood Association and Steve Oliver, the 7-11 Real Estate Manager for North America. The Ballpark Neighborhood Association will be in the meeting and the people will be in the street. My goal is 200 people in front of Premier Lofts protesting this 7-11 at the time Steve Oliver arrives to decide if this is a good decision for his company or not. I also have a contact at Channel 2 News that I am going to try my hardest to interest in this cause. I am asking people to arrive at 5:30pm in front of Premier Lofts, 2200 Market Street, I will have some signs pre-made, but feel free to make your own. Together we can do this.

This is our neighborhood, this is our opportunity to come together as a community and make our voices heard. Please send this along to anyone you think might be interested stepping forward for the greater good of our community.

In Solidarity,

Brianna Martray

Studio/Gallery
900 Santa Fe Dr, G
Denver, CO 80204

People really are skiing Copper.

Walking through Riverfront today one could see the work crews adorning the buildings with holiday cheer, garland, bows, and lights.

Even though the date makes sense the weather does not. No amount of common sense can stop me from feeling the warm air, look at the decorations and say…. “really”.

Gorilla Run, originally uploaded by theurbanbrain.

While I was out of the country I didn’t miss hearing about the economy. I didn’t miss the moaning and groaning about work, sales, business and the such. I didn’t miss the millions of hours of political commercials.

What I did miss, I am sad to say, was the news that there would be something as fun as a Gorilla Run today. Walking back from a delicious breakfast at Lola I noticed a lineup of Gorillas on the bike path as I crossed the Platte River Bridge. With zany costumes including bikini clad Gorillas, Guerrilla military Gorillas (clever) and business suit gorillas (perhaps a statement about the baboons on Wall Street) it looked like fun. One friend I ran into who was also watching the parade of furry costumes commented that they were surprised I wasn’t doing the race as it was “right up my alley”. I would spend some time thinking about the implications of this statement concerning my psychological well being if I hadn’t already thought the same thing. This would have been fun. It’s for charity with all benefits going to the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, its healthy, and you get to be a little or a lot wacky. Dang, the first news that I truly regret hearing.

To learn more about the race for next year, and you can bet I’ll plan to be there, visit denvergorillarun.com. Oh yeah, the gorilla suit is included with your registration. It’s whatever you use to dress it up that is up to you.