The above “Walk Score” is for the address of 1610 Little Raven Street, Denver Colorado 80202, the home of Zengo Restaurant and the heart of the plaza in Riverfront. The score (at least today when writing the post) is 83 or “Very Walkable”. How cool is this tool!!! 8-)

Walk Score calculates, on a scale to 100, how pedestrian friendly (walkable) your address is. If you are looking [Read more →]

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A couple folks have asked about a Cruiser Bike ride tonight and about getting a Riverfront Park crew to meet together at one of our local establishments, possibly McLoughlins (last week was Zengo). Others are asking about groups to do road bike rides.

I figured the easiest way to get folks talking was to connect them. So check out this link here, register once and you can post or subscribe to the topic.

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I’m not sure what the reason was, but this weekend a helicopter did some very low and very slow circles over Riverfront Park and Commons Park. [Read more →]

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So I finally got a chance to do the famous Winter Park Ski Train. With my ties to Vail it took me a little longer to give this a shot, but I am glad I did.

I’ll do a quick summary for those of you who are thinking about it. First of all, groups are the best. We had a group of 107 folks so we pretty much ruled a car and a half. At first I think everyone worried about seats and being right next to each other but the reality is that with train travel everyone is walking, talking, leaning, moving pretty much all the time. It’s a social scene on wheels.

The views are amazing, although again this became second place quickly to everyone being social. Yet far more scenic than a flood of taillights on I-70.

If you live downtown the Ski Train has a special appeal. We walked over the bridge in Riverfront Park right at 7:00 for our 7:15 departure. I personally set my alarm for 5:30 to take the pup for a long walk and to give me quite a bit of time cushion just in case, so it is not a good night to plan a big Friday out on the town.

Then on the train everyone greets each other, has fun, and kicks back and RELAXES all the way up. No white knuckle driving, no fighting traffic, and there is always a place to buy coffee or breakfast only a short walk away. Some slept, some read the paper, most chatted. Nice.

On the way back this gets magnified into a huge social gathering. Beverages flow throughout the car, there is laughter everywhere and no one is driving. What a great solution for downtown residents… instead of trying to balance doing apres with the drive home and fighting crowds on that sometimes painful return the ski train becomes the apres location. No risk, no worries. One person said it was just like staying in the mountains with no worries about the commute. Considering I carried my skis there and back in less than ten minutes I’d have to agree.

Some bits of advice for you…

Avoid car 2. It’s behind the engine so the front is sealed. Don’t worry, you don’t get any fumes but the lack of ventilation gets TOASTY. We had folks stripping down to the minimum so maybe chair two will be the naked car. Your choice.

There isn’t much you can do about this worry, but if you get behind a slower train your trip could take a bit longer. This happened on our way up but not on our way back. Not too bad, some folks slept longer and the train is comfy. But keep this in mind if you are making strict plans involving timing and make sure you have a puppy sitter on reserve in case your return is late.

Get your food or drink quick if you want it. They sold out of burritos pretty fast on the way up and while they had beer all the way through the trip back, the Stella was the first to go. Don’t forget they close the catering car when they think they are 30 minutes away from the station. This might be longer so if you want stock up before they close.

There is a great lounge car with scrabble and other games. Consider grabbing a spot there for awhile if you have a small group but be quick if you want a seat.

We will be doing the Ski Train again. Give it a shot for yourself. I forgot to mention that the train stopped on a cross track exactly where another train was heading at us. The folks in our car started getting a little bit nervous as it got closer.. and closer… and closer. Then we quickly moved, picture is one of others below.

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In support of the new Riverfront Park Ski Club Winter Park is coming down to 1610 Little Raven #115 to sell discounted tickets from 4 to 7 pm on January 15th. This one time date will offer

Adult tickets will be $48, children’s tickets will be $25. Stop by and pick up some promo tickets. It is a perk for Riverfront Park residents but anyone can stop in.

Happy Skiing!!

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Ski Trip
Winter Park
Ski Train (no driving)
Apres Party

Do I really need to say any more… (well maybe)

I was at a little Holiday Party last night chatting about an upcoming Riverfront Park Ski Trip on January 26th. The bullet points are that a car has been rented with only 62 seats available, several sponsors have signed up to give some perks to this first time trip crew that will be taking the Ski Train up and back followed by an Apres Party and a very close and cool spot downtown (Another wonderful sponsor).

No fighting traffic and it will be fun and social!! Siri at East West Urban Management is managing the rapidly growing list of folks who are snagging the seats for this inaugural event. You can email her if you are interested in learning more or if you are a homeowner in Riverfront you can
sign right up.

Think snow!!!

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AFTER WRITING THE POST BELOW I NOTICED THE CREW SETTING UP AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON. TURNS OUT THEY HAD SOME BAD FILM FROM THE SHOOT A COUPLE DAYS AGO SO THERE WILL BE A REPEAT SHOOT TONIGHT. APPARENTLY, SOME FILM HEADING BACK LA GET THE SUPER X-RAY TREATMENT (OOPS SOMEONE FORGOT A LABEL) AND THEY NEED TO REPLACE THOSE SHOTS. THEW WILL BE RESHOOTING STILLS ONLY FROM WHAT THE WORD ON THE STREET IS AND THEY DO THE REST IN THE STUDIO USING BLUE SCREEN. SO FOR ALL YOU CELEBRITY SEEKERS THEY SAY THERE WON’T BE ANY ACTORS HERE TONIGHT. BUT THAT BIG OLD CRANE IS GOING UP FOR LIGHTING AND THE REGULAR CREW WILL BE HERE. THAT IS ONE EXPENSIVE OOPS.

I missed the first night of shooting here in Riverfront but did catch last night.

What can I say. It was cool to see. The team hanging between shots, chatting with the extras, watching Eddie do a boogie in the plaza… it was cool. I think part of the cool factor was seeing the same ground you walk on every day turned into a stage, with great special effects, tree lights and stage lights, and water trucks spraying rain transforms into a much different city scene. [Read more →]

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Filming might start as soon as tomorrow within the plaza at Riverfront Park. Everything is being kept under wraps as far as specifics on when Mr. Eddie Murphy will make his appearance but the set up looks to be close with lights and staging going in place today.

Here is the scoop from cbs4denver.com

(CBS4) DENVER The crew shooting Eddie Murphy’s new movie “Nowhereland” began filming Monday and the producer said filming in Denver is scheduled for 10 working days.

The movie tells a story of a busy father trying to connect with his daughter through her imaginary world, Nowhereland. The decision to set the film in Denver was based on aspects of the script.

“The writer had several choices,” said producer Lorenzo diBonaventura. “We had western motifs in our story and we decided Denver was the perfect city for us.”

Certain aspects of the characters also made the producers want to set the film in Denver.

The 10 days of filming will be mainly exteriors so that the movie will really have the feel of Denver and so far, the producers and crew have loved the experience.

“It’s a great town and what is nice for us is that has been under-utilized on film, so every place is a pretty fresh place to put a camera and as filmmakers, that’s exciting,” diBonaventura said.

“One of the great things is how welcoming everybody has been,” he said. “As filmmakers, that makes you feel really good because we are moving pretty fast and hard. If the people embrace you, it makes it easier for us, frankly, and makes you want to come back.”

Murphy stars as the father in the film. Newcomer Yara Shahidi stars as his daughter and Thomas Haden Church plays the other major role.

“Nowhereland” is currently slated to be released Sept. 26, 2008.

Pretty cool! The plaza will be famous again.

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The Millennium Bridge in Riverfront Park is Closed. Workers are taking down the temporary stairs for the filming but that means a little detour for everyone who regularly uses this spot to get back and forth. The sign says closed through the 15th so its not too long of a wait.

The film crew working with Eddie Murphy is pushing this along a little faster and one of the crew members said that Mr. Murphy would be here in a week. The Plaza is certainly getting its fair share of attention this month.

There is, by the way, a courtesy shuttle taking folks from this side of the bridge to the other.
Yes, really.

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The plaza in Riverfront Park was buzzing today with the planting of flowers, checking out the site, and getting ready for the actor who has been a favorite in such classics as Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, and more. You got it, Eddie Murphy.

The rumor now is that as soon as Friday (maybe Thursday) the crew and Eddie will be in the plaza shooting for the new film. Eddie reportedly tried to book some rentals here in Riverfront Park but never found a place big enough or priced right for such a short term rental. Does that mean he is hanging out in the Hyatt… who knows. Either way maybe you can get picked up as an extra and be famous. One member of the actors guild told me today they are supposed to grab the first five extras are supposed to be members and then the general public comes next, but I don’t even know if Denver has that many members to show up. Either way FUN!!

The Denver post has more details about the movie here.

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