Family in Commons Park on the 4th

What makes a neighborhood a great neighborhood to raise a family? Which criteria matter the most? Would you say it was the school system, the public parks and playgrounds, or simple safety. What about the value of a dollar towards your real estate, because let’s face it people usually make the transition from “There are so many great restaurants around here and check out this view” to “Yeah, but it’s got a lot more square feet” when they start thinking about families.

It’s too bad that the American way of life has created a situation that pushes people away from the heart of their cities when it comes time to think of families. Sometime during the suburban rush of the 70′s and 80′s everyone decided that you want to live in cookie cutter lots outside of the city. The money flowed there, and so did the education driven by the taxes to follow. But what did we sacrifice? That’s a great question and one that is being answered every day as the number of urban parents continues to grow. They say they don’t want their children to grow up sheltered and away from the culture, the diversity, and the education offered by living in a downtown environment. Pushing this growth along at a grass roots level are a myriad of web site forums and communities such as Urban Baby and DC Urban Mom and Dad.

But now with gas prices going through the roof and commutes becoming more painful I believe a lifestyle choice of urban living is gaining in appeal. Not to mention the financial impact this real estate market is taking on the suburbs. Downtown areas and Resort areas have, at least in the Denver marketplace, held onto their value better than most of the suburban areas. And why not, if you have a family a choice to live in the suburbs may mean long and possibly expensive (hopefully you can take the light rail) commuting and less time with your children. Will this new market mean a new financial incentive to live downtown. I think so.

Now not every urban center is the same. I was reading the LA Times blog discussion about the possibility that gas prices will drive real estate buyers downtown. One commenter made a great point in discussing the differences between such cites as Los Angeles and New York and how far apart they are in providing a family friendly environment. The commenter posts…

Downtown LA is a long way from Urban Living. I just spent a week in Manhattan with my wife and realized the many many differences between the two cities. Parks everywhere (not just Central Park), total access to everywhere through public transportation, and a market, deli, chinese, italian, american, pizza, mexican resturaunt, pharmacy, chain store, hardware store, bookstore, bakery, bar within walking distance so you actually don’t even need public transit to do anything except go to work! LA has essentially none of this. There is no comparison.

Reading this I ask myself, how do we ensure Denver becomes more like the New York scenario. The other comments on this blog point out other worries as well. Sure, the gas price increase might encourage buyers to move downtown, but it might only motivate those buyers who are sensitive to the price increases. If we don’t continue to get diversity in our downtowns we might miss out on the tax base needed to provide funding for better schools and other services. Or should the city step in and put education as a priority first and use it to draw in the audience. Maybe a developer will take that leap speculating that they just increased the price per square foot they can sell that next townhouse for. Better build them bigger then. A number of different sites offer viewpoints from parents who say they may have enjoyed their own youth in a suburb, but they were bored and felt disadvantaged in that way. Others who grew up in cities like New York talk about the education and exposure to the arts, culture, people, and activities that they want their own children to have. Which is better, are we missing out. If we look at Europe we see huge societies raising their families in cities. Are their schools better downtown?

When I look at Denver a couple new areas seem to be creating a unique opportunity for a new family focus. First there is Riverfront Park and the proposed Union Station Neighborhood in the Central Platte Valley. They have created a system that addresses one core point of parental concern, safety. Every resident in Riverfront Park pays into a master HOA. That’s a little bit of money from everyone over a very large area. This pays for their own private security in the form of off duty police officers who patrol and respond to even the smallest “I locked myself out” to the highest safety concern. It’s like an Ungated Community. There are no gates but the security stops at the property line. It’s a great idea and helps to provide the residents with security above and beyond their tax dollars. Sure it costs money, but it’s spread across the who area. This area has more than it’s fair share of what most would consider yuppies. And guess what, those yuppies are having fun together at night and making babies. So now you have an area with folks in start up family mode who have figured out safety. Now its a matter of figuring out the schools which could work just like the security does. More on that in a later post.

Just like Riverfront Park, the Highlands are has also become the starter family route. This area offers the best of downtown living plus you might actually have a yard, or a half yard. Plus you have your Mayberry style main street right at 32nd and Lowell. You can have coffee in the morning, pick up flowers for the table, maybe some wine from Mondo Vino or some cheese from next door. There are plenty of little cafes and restaurants and of course some baby or children’s clothing stores. Yep, this area is growing its starter family base. I have heard a couple stories of stolen cars but it seems theft is the biggest crime issue right now. They have nailed down community pretty well because when you walk down these streets you see a number of strollers and couples. And what is one thing parents want for their children? Someone for them to play with. The socialization might just prevent them from growing up to be the next hillside strangler and just might give the parents a reprieve during their day. Most of the other neighborhoods offer some great family communities as well. Wash Park is often mentioned for families and Cherry Creek comes up for schools. You notice pretty quickly that access to a park or green space becomes a priority. Riverfront Park has tons of strollers and children around with the vast expanse of Commons Park and the Skate Park, but I am not sure most of them live there.

So here are three poll questions for you today. Here is the first… What is the most important element of a neighborhood in a downtown for it it be family friendly. In other words, if you could sit down with the Mayor and say “I’ll raise my family downtown if you prioritize fixing this”.Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

And the second, if the city or a developer invested in an urban neighborhood such that it had the reputation of being the best school district in Denver, would you move to or buy your home in that neighborhood? Would that influence your purchase decision?Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

And finally, with how things are today, what is the most family friendly Denver neighborhood? Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

For more of the polls on Denver visit the Best of Denver page.

Related Post: Babies Downtown

But while I was updating a few other blogs for folks I finally made the jump to the newest version of wordpress for my own blog. Isn’t it funny how you always put yourself last in updates.

Anyway, a few things fell out of the mix in the upgrade. First, the old polls just didn’t transfer over very well and I decided to delete them. I know, the best pizza in Denver poll got a good amount of traffic. But the fact is, that poll was over a year old and every once in awhile you need to blow things out and start fresh or the info is dated. Maybe the best pizza in 2006 just isn’t the same best pizza in 2008. It’s good to ask the questions again.

And of course the theme had a few hiccups too. Now if I am going to roll out a new look I might as well get one that can handle all the fun plugins that are out today. So have patience with me and feel free to email me any that you like. I’ll be adjusting them a bit.

Cheers.

Just wanted to make sure and pass this info on for you. The previously announced Pasquini’s is now OPEN!!

I didn’t get a chance to check it out as I was grabbing myself some breakfast at the Gallop Cafe but I do plan to try it some night soon. Rumored to have the Best Calzones in town this opening of a second location in the Highlands should do great.

Who has the best Pizza in Denver?  You decide.

Romance is in the air, love is on the wind, and the pressure is on to get a reservation at a romantic restaurant before you are forced to take your sweetheart out for pizza and chicken wings on Valentines Day. While I may be to late in this post to help those who wait until the last minute to make their Valentines Day plans, don’t forget you can always cook a terrific dinner.

But for those who prefer to go out on the town, sit with candlelight, order a bottle of wine, and get romantic today’s poll is all about identifying the most romantic dinner spots in Denver. So guys go ahead and vote, and ladies please share your opinion because that is the one that matters the most. And don’t forget to comment because it is so much better to share why you like your favorite restaurant than to just vote, and you can let me know what spots I have missed and I will add them to the poll.

So here it is, the most romantic spot for dining in Denver is…

[Poll=20]

It was only a few posts ago we were talking about the best Pizza. Of of those contenders was Pasquini’s. And guess what sign I saw today on the corner of 32nd and Zuni just across from the Gallop Cafe.

2007 Best Pizza Poll

Just because I want to know…

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
(Please note 2007 results have been wiped out and these are the 2008 results started 5/2/2008)

I mentioned in yesterday’s post that we headed out to an Av’s game. It was a last minute magic ticket, and we needed a good spot to grab a beer and some grub before the game. We narrowed it down to My Brothers Bar or Wazee Supper Club. We ultimately picked Wazee after finding out that a couple members of our group had never been there before.

How can anyone have never been to the Wazee Supper Club? Are you as shocked as I am. Then I realizedhow this can happen.

We spend so much time talking about the newest restaurants, the hippest new spot, food, or drink. That is even easier to do in a city that is growing and changing as fast as Denver is. In our rush to make sure we catch all the great new stuff, we forget the oldies but the goodies.

Wazee Supper Club is just such a goodie. With awesome Pizza, a great atmosphere and beer on tap this is one of my favorites. Yet I seem to never go there because I forget or don’t think of it. Now that’s just plain stupid.

So we went in, ordered a few Blue Moon 20 oz brews, and one awesome Pepperoni and Jalapeno pizza with wings. It was the ultimate old school moment. Heading to a hockey game, sipping on a beer, and laughing with friends. Awesome.

If you haven’t been in awhile, put away your cooler than cool clubbing clothes, grab your buddies and your alma matter sweatshirt, and go kick back for a great relaxing evening. I am telling you it is the cure for what ails you. And to top it off, they play some of the most classic old tunes you can’t help but have some flashbacks. Funniest thing is to watch the table freeze in mid bite of cheesy pizza or mid gulp of beer at the beginning of every new track as people’s minds race to name that tune.

Funny thing was that I had to be in an old school feeling that day because I was just in my Brother’s Bar for lunch. Of course I had to have a jcb. For the record, if you don’t know what a jcb is you need to turn your computer off now and go straight there, and I do mean now, and order one.

But now I am off topic, this post is about the WSC. For those who don’t know it’s history I have posted it from their website..

Enjoy and vote for your favorite Pizza while you are here. Happy dining!

Wazee Supper Club – Phone 303.623.9518 located at 15th & Wazee – website
[Poll=9]

Supper Club History

Situated at the corner of 15th and Wazee Streets surrounded by brick and stone reminders of Denver’s colorful past. The Wazee Supper Club has long been an inevitable destination for social gatherers.

Founding fathers Angelo and Jim Karagas ventured forth from their native Detroit and in 1969 opened their first Denver enterprise, My Brother’s Bar. The next acquisition in 1974 was a 1910 structure originally housing a plumbing supply house that became the current Wazee.

Since then, the Wazee Supper Club, with its classic urban atmosphere, has earned favor with artists, politicians, architects, theater-goers, entertainers, businessmen, movers, shakers, and generally people of good character from around the globe. The Wazee also quickly became known as a source of the best pizza in the civilized world.

The atmosphere at the Wazee is nothing if not unique. A classic black and white tile floor is framed by depression-era wainscoting and overhung by gas lights dating from turn-of-the-century Milwaukee. The back bar finished in bleached mahogany burl is an outstanding example of 30s deco style. It was removed from the American Hotel shortly before its demolition.

As with many of the fixtures in the bar, the old telegraph clock hanging at its center has a story behind it.

It dates back about 75 years and was originally in an establishment called Verne’s in Detroit owned by the Karagas brothers. During a lease-breaking party, many of the patrons decided to avail themselves of the opportunity and pinch various items for the sheer sake of nostalgia. The culprit in this case ended up in Wyoming (employed at the University of Wyoming). He ran into the Karagas brothers and immediately arranged the return of the clock which had been gathering dust in his basement for an eternity.

The benches in the restaurant were obtained when the downtown chapter of the Denver Elks Club decided to relocate. They still have little brass numbers on them. The three stained glass windows above the bar were bought from a guy in a pickup parked nearby. By far the most popular toy for people making their first trip to the bar is the converted 1937 garage door opener currently used in a dumbwaiter capacity to shuttle food and drinks.

As with a few good establishments, many of the Wazee’s customers think of it as a home away from home and many people stopping through Denver on travels make a point of popping in. Just a few blocks from the Wazee is Auraria, the site of the original town of Denver and not far off the Smoky Hill Trail, the dusty road that pioneers traveled to reach deep into the West. Denver’s original city hall stood a short distance away and reminders are everywhere of the rich past of this Historic District. In the old days, one of the more noteworthy features of this neighborhood was its Tenderloin District. Characters like Damon Runyan, H. Allen Smith, Bat Masterson, Gene Fowler and other famous writers used to prowl the bars and brothels then only a stone’s throw away. More recent notables include Jack Kerouac, Jack Nicholson, Danny Glover and Raymond Burr.

Next post tomorrow at 8:00 am