36 MARCH 26-APRIL 1, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | FOOD & DRINK | MUSIC & VENUES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | SPORTS & RECREATION | CONTENTS | the proceeds to help outdoor organizations, including local governments and nonprof- its, add more open space and protect this state’s very great outdoors. Decriminalizing Cannabis. Years be- fore Colorado legalized the sale of retail cannabis, Denver was the fi rst major city in the country to decriminalize posses- sion of marijuana, putting an end to un- just enforcement. And the city was once again at the forefront in decriminalizing psilocybin. Holiday Lights. Man does not live by dread alone: Denver excels at the light stuff, too, as evidenced by the fi rst documented use of outdoor holiday lights, invented by an elec- trician wanting to perk up a bedridden son in December 1912. Outdoor Landmarks Enjoying this state is as easy as a walk in the park...unless you hit the Manitou Incline. Here are some favorite stops. Barr Lake State Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Buffalo Herd Nature Preserve, Chautauqua, Cherry Creek Reservoir, D&F Clocktower, Eldorado Can- yon, Garden of the Gods, Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, High Line Canal, Linwood Cemetery in Glenwood Springs ,Larimer Square, Manitou Incline, Mother Cabrini Shrine, Pearl Street Mall, Platte River Greenway, Red Rocks, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Center, Wash- ington Park. Commercial Attractions The magnifi cent surroundings have in- spired some entrepreneurs to create their own towering attractions (in reputation, at least), including: Bishop Castle, The Broadmoor, The Car- ousel of Happiness, Colorado Gators Reptile Park, Coors Field, Durango & Silverton Nar- row Gauge Railroad, Hotel Colorado, Johnny Roberts Disc Golf Course, Lakeside Amuse- ment Park, Lake Steam Baths, Mile High Comics, Movie Manor, Pueblo Neon Alley, Rockmount Ranch Wear, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, The Stanley Hotel, UFO Watchtower, Water World, Winter Park Resort, World’s Wonder View Tower in Genoa. Annual Events and Festivals From music to mayhem, serious topics to silliness, Colorado enjoys its fun in the sun at festivals like these: Burro Days in Fairplay, Central City Opera Festival, Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Chile & Frijoles Festival, City Park Jazz, Colorado Music Festival, Colorado State Fair, Crested Butte Wildfl ower Festival, Denver March Powwow, Denver Film Fes- tival, Donkey Derby Days in Cripple Creek, Dragon Boat Festival, Emma Crawford Coffi n Races, FoCoMX, Frozen Dead Guy Days, Grover Rodeo, Jazz Aspen Snow- mass, Leadville Boom Days, Leadville Trail 100 Run, Madam Lou Bunch Day, Mike the Headless Chicken Festival, Na- tional Western Stock Show, Olathe Sweet Corn Fest, Palisade Peach Festival, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, RockyGrass Festival, Sculpture in the Park, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Telluride Mushroom Festival. Museums and Cultural Institutions Sometimes you just have to take a break from the great outdoors. When that hap- pens, try: A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art, Black Museum of the West Museum and Heritage Center, Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum, Center for Colorado Women’s History, Colorado History Center, Colorado Railroad Museum, Colorado Symphony, Clyfford Still Museum, Denver Art Museum (including the Kirkland), Denver Botanic Gardens (and Chatfi eld Farms and Plains Conservation Center), Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver Public Library, Denver Zoo and Conservation Alliance, For- ney Museum of Transportation, Lighthouse Writers Workshop, Molly Brown House Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Western Art, The Tank Center for the Sonic Artsin Rangeley. Public Art From Blucifer to the Big Blue Bear, cre- atives continue to make their mark on Colo- rado, with favorites like: “Alicia Cordova Mural,” Jodie Herrera, Jaime Molin and Jher; “America, Why I Love Her,” Gary Sweeney; “Articulated Wall,” Herbert Bayer; “The Big Sweep,” Claes Olden- burg and Coosje van Bruggen; “Crossroads/ Encrucijada,” Anthony Garcia Sr; ”Dancers, “Jonathan Borofsky; “Here Comes Rusty,” Los Supersónicos (aka Carlos Frésquez and Francisco Zamora); “I See What You Mean,” Lawrence Argent; “It’s Not What You Take, It’s What You Bring,” Detour; ”Lau Tzu,” Mark di Suvero (although not currently on display);“Liberty,” Michael Benisty; “Mus- tang,” Luis Jiménez; ”Sun Spot,” Hadden | Drugan; “Wynken, Blynken and Nod,” Mabel Landrum Torrey; “Yearling,” Donald Lipski. Bars and Restaurants In the state where Coors was created, many liquid assets remain. Colorado cuisine is solid, too. Here are 45 mainstays. Ace-Hi Tavern, Bastien’s, Buckhorn Ex- change, Bud’s Cafe & Bar, The Bull & Bush, Bucksnort, Butcher Block,The Castle, Casa Bonita, Charlie Brown’s, Cherry Cricket, Clancy’s Irish Pub, Coors Tavern, Columbine Steakhouse, Cruise Room, Davies Chuck Wagon Diner, Don’s Mixed Drinks, Du- shanbe Teahouse, El Taco de Mexico, The Fort, Gaetano’s, Grizzly Rose, La Fiesta, Lakeview Lounge, Lechuga’s Italian Res- taurant, Lion’s Lair, Little Man Ice Cream, McCoy’s Restaurant, Mexico City Lounge, The Minturn Saloon, My Brother’s Bar, Nob Hill Inn, The Perfect Landing, Pete’s Satire Lounge, PS Lounge, Rioja, Ship Tavern, Sil- ver Dollar Saloon, The Sink, Star Bar, Sushi Den, Tamales by La Casita, Welton Street Cafe, Wynkoop Brewing Co. What Did We Miss? Do you have a nomination for a Colorado Classic? We’ll be adding to this list until the big day on August 1, 2026, 150 years after Colorado became a state. Send suggestions to
[email protected] party on! Colorado Classics continued from page 32
