PERSONAL BEST: BREE DAVIES What’s your favorite place in metro Denver? Lakeside. At dusk on a hot summer night, in particular. I’m an ambience person, and Lakeside has it all — the combined smells of funnel-cake grease and industrial-ride track grease, the belabored churn of the carousel organ alongside the rattle of the Cyclone coaster and, of course, the bright strips of neon and thousands of lightbulbs refl ect- ing off the water of Lake Rhoda after dark. What’s your go-to restaurant in Denver? J’s Noodles Star Thai, or J’s, as we call it. The couple that owns and operates it are kind, lovely people who make incredible food. It’s a no-frills spot in a little strip mall right by our house, a place I go to feel calm, away from the overhyped nature that Denver can exude sometimes. I recommend a pot of the tom kha soup with tofu to share — it’s sweet, sour and just spicy enough (though I’m a wimp who orders everything mild!). If you have a few spare hours, what’s your favorite thing to do in Denver? We belong to the Denver Museum of Na- ture & Science, and I think it’s the best mu- seum membership deal in the city! It used to be our date spot — we’d enjoy an edible, grab lunch at Vine Street Pub (we’re praying it re- opens soon!), and then wander over to what I still call the “Natural History Museum” to stare for hours at the giant nature dioramas (the manatee and her calf are a personal fave). Now that we’re new parents, it’s still our favorite place to wander, but with our kiddo. We have a family pass, so we take friends from out of town, our moms (talk about a perfect spot to hang with Grandma!) and really, anyone who wants to spend a few hours looking at the permanent exhibits like Space Odyssey, Prehistoric Journey and, of course, the Konovalenko gem carvings. Oh, and if you wanna avoid the crowds and get the best “night at the museum” vibes, take advantage of the night hours on Fridays. What’s the best thing about living in Denver? People are kind. I still exchange hellos with neighbors when walking my dog. I still get a wave, nod or greeting when I pass someone on the path at Huston Lake Park. I still make small talk in line at the grocery store. I’ve heard grumblings that Denver’s not a friendly place anymore, and I think that’s not true at all. There’s a reason every- one wants to move here...and it’s not just le- gal weed and fourteeners. It’s the people, too. What’s the best thing about your neigh- borhood? I’ve been a west-westsider for going on thirteen years — Barnum is my home. Peo- ple come from all over the city to eat our community’s Vietnamese, Thai, Sinaloan, Michoacana, and Colorado Mexican food. But our best-kept secret? Our parks. Bar- num Park’s pool scene can’t be beat; there’s a water slide and shallow pool for beginner swimmers and splash pad and fountains perfect for little ones not quite ready to take a dive. Paco Sanchez Park has the coolest playground you’ve ever seen! It’s like an American Ninja Warrior course for kids, not to mention its sculptural elements and art- works dedicated to Sanchez, a Latino radio and media pioneer and politician. Just across ADVERTORIAL Thrills and Delights at Airhouse Adventure Park F un for the whole family awaits at Aurora’s new Airhouse Adventure Park, located within FieldhouseUSA at the Town Center at Aurora! Airhouse is a new concept from FieldhouseUSA, an all-encompassing communal athletic facility off ering per- formance training, camps, tournaments and recreational sports leagues. Fieldhouse- USA partnered with Washington Prime Group to build new locations in shopping centers across the country, giving them the opportunity to add adventure parks to their athletic facilities. 36 Aurora’s Airhouse Ad- venture Park opened in September 2021 with thirteen electrify- ing attractions, some exclusive to Colorado. Experience thrills for kids of all ages year- round at Airhouse’s safe, sanitized, state- of-the-art adventure park! Th e classic attrac- tions at all Airhouse locations are the Aero Strike interactive target game, a Cardio Wall, a virtual-reality Valo Jump, Xtreme Dodgeball, a one- on-one target game called Head to Head, a Wipeout challenge, and a full arcade. Unique to Aurora are a mechani- cal bull, nine-hole mini golf course, fi ſt een- foot-high ropes course, four-person anti-gravi- ty Gyrosphere, and the Zip Zag Roller Coaster. Every Airhouse loca- tion also has a Toddler Soſt play Area — a three-story padded and enclosed jungle gym for little ones under 48 inches. Passes are available for $15 per person for one Federal is Rude Park, with one of the best weight rooms in the city. Up the street and past Alameda is Huston Lake Park, a virtual sanctuary for wild birds, plus it’s home to a great playground and shaded walking path that welcomes outdoor exercise year-round. Bree Davies is the host of the hyper-local, daily news-and-culture podcast City Cast Denver, which snagged our Best Podcast award shortly after it debuted last year. She’s a born ’n’ raised Denverite who grew up in Virginia Village and spent many years writing about the city, its art and its people for Westword. hour, or $25 for two hours. For an even better deal, purchase a family pack of four passes for $50. We wel- come walk-ins, or you can make a reservation and fi ll out our waivers online. Come in for an aſt ernoon and let the kiddos burn off some energy while you relax — or join them for some friendly competi- tion! Have a birthday coming up? Airhouse Adventure Park off ers aff ordable custom party packages. APRIL 7-13, 2022 WESTWORD | BACKBEAT | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | westword.com BREE DAVIES/EVAN SÉMON
