No Cow Town

I love love LOVE going into the main branch of the Denver Public Library and not only because I'm a dork. It was rebuilt in 1995 using a design by Michael Graves, with nearly 50 miles of bookshelves. Just walking into Schlessman Hall, and looking up from that main atrium, makes me realize that Jorge Luis Borges was right: paradise IS a kind of library.

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Although Denver's public transportation system is vastly improving--the buses have all been given interior face lifts, and plans are underway to built a light rail line that links downtown area to the southern metro corridor--Denver is still a more-car oriented city. If you're anywhere near the pedestrianised 16th St Mall, you will be able to catch a free mall shuttle that transports you to various spots on said shopping street should your feet get tired.

I used to disdain the stereotypes of the bohos, intellectuals, and activists discussing their latest artistic endeavors, political theories, and whatnot at local cafés; and I vowed never to step into such an establishment. One visit to Common Grounds, however, abolished all preconceived notions I might've had about café society, and soon I became a regular at this Northwest Denver hangout, $2.96 in hand for a large cup of café mocha and if I have extra change, some more for a delicious oatmeal raisin cookie. Perhaps the comfort is due to Common Grounds being not a café--in the European sense, for example--but a true neighborhood coffeehouse, oozing relaxation with is boo-lined shelves, mismatched furniture, and friendly employees. (Yes, local art does decorate the walls.) In its 20+ years in the Potter-Highlands area, it's often full and bustling; on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons, even the benches outside are constantly occupied.

When this crushaholic vegetarian on a budget gets hungry, only one place comes to mind.

Rain or shine, many come to Watercourse at least once a week to share in the knowledge that veggie meals don't have to bland. For lunch, try the tempeh scallopini, fried in the house's delicious mushgroom gravy; for dinner, I'd suggest the monti pasta with garlic, shallots, and brie.

Vegan? Allergic? Just can't stand cheese? No problem! The cute and friendly servers will be happy to accommodate your gastronomic needs.

The restaurant, situated some meters from the capitol, is easy to miss if you're not familiar with the area. Just follow the delicious smell of carrot cake emanating from their bakery.

Move over, Landmark; there's a new arthouse theater in town. Operated by the Denver Film Society, the Starz FilmCenter is a two-year old cinémathèque offering a gamut of movies not readily available elsewhere. The program comprises new features, revivals, retrospectives, meet-the-film events, as well as cinema education lead by professors from CU-Denver's College of Arts & Media. Additionally, the Starz FilmCenter hosts year-round festivals, including the annual Denver International Film Festival, held in October. Take note that the FilmCenter occupies the site of the old AMC 12. Although the lobby is welcoming, the auditoriums are bit run down, with small screens and lacking stadium-style seating. Surely the renovations will continue throughout the years, and if you're a film buff, you won't mind the slightly disheveled look THAT much. You'll be too engrossed in Fellini. For more info, check starzfilmcenter.com