PERSONAL BEST: KAYLA JONES meaningful; Judith & Joe, which has cool men’s and women’s clothes, Colorado- made jewelry, gifts and vinyl records, and works hard at being sustainably focused. And Modern Nomad for everything! From home goods to a wide array of fine and costume jewelry, plants and a great vin- tage selection, Modern Nomad has it all. It can feel like a party on the weekend with the amount of people browsing in its big airy space. (The people-watching alone is also really fun!) Recital is a great place for plants, perfumes and gifts. Swing by Cof- fee at the Point or Whittier Cafe for your pre- or post-shopping coffee fi x. Where’s the best place to take visitors to Denver? I love live music, and I think you can learn so much about a city by its live-music offer- ings. That means a show at Larimer Lounge and grabbing dinner at Dio Mio, Hop Alley or Mister Oso before; in the summer, outdoor shows abound. We’ll put a picnic together for the free concert offerings at Levitt Pavil- ion, hit up the rooftop dance party at MCA called B-sides, or go to City Park Jazz. What’s your favorite place in Denver? Washington Park, because the possibili- ties are endless. We take the Cherry Creek bike path halfway down, then take Down- ing in. We’ll stop at Devil’s Food Bakery for coffee and pastries and then head over to the park. There’s a great rental shop where you can grab single or double kay- aks, pedal boats and SUPs. A day in the sunshine, a great book to read and lots of people-watching is really restorative. What’s your go-to restaurant in Denver? Bar Dough was the first restaurant I went to when I moved to Denver. I came in during one of the biggest snowstorms in years, and wondered if there would even be one person in there. Instead, I found it packed, hip-hop playing and snowshoes stacked by the host stand! I ordered the clam pizza (heaven), and many (many) glasses of happy hour wine later, I made friends there that I still have to this day. A restaurant needs to have fantastic food for you to keep going back (try the lemon chicken, the burrata with wood-fi re piata, and one of the best cacio e pepes I’ve ever had), but the feeling a restaurant gives you is just as important. The energy and vibe of that place is pretty amazing. Bar Dough can feel like a welcoming neighborhood spot, but it also can be your (get dressed up) destination on a Friday or Saturday. 112 Where’s the best spot to shop in Denver? Five Points. Be a Good Person, because the designs are cool and the mission is If you have a few spare hours, what’s your favorite thing to do in Denver? If work has been especially wild, I book the best $40 massage ever at Super Mas- sage (treat yourself, and add hot stones for a bit more $$). And then depending on what I’m craving, I stop by Star Kitchen for dim sum, La Calle for tacos or, in winter, Pho Haus or Pho 96 for pho. How about a free day? Time at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. MCA has some of the most thoughtful and thought-provoking exhi- bitions...but there’s defi nitely a sense of playfulness and interactivity in its pro- gramming, which I think makes it welcom- ing, surprising and fun. Defi nitely check out Black Sheep, Singing With Strangers and Meet the Maker. After MCA, I love to go to Mutiny Information Cafe to browse used books and vinyl records. I’ll pop into two of my favorite vintage shops after: Goldmine Vintage and La Lovely. I love to wander this city, so I’ll probably head to Five Points, grab a late lunch at Stowaway or Cart-Driver, and check out the back al- leys of Larimer to admire some street art. Once it’s 4 p,m., it’s cocktail time, and I’ll have to choose between either Fort Greene or Pon Pon (or Matchbox if I fancy a $3 cocktail and a jukebox). Denver? What’s the best thing about living in The people. Sure, I could say it’s Den- ver’s proximity to the mountains...and I do love that. But for me, it’s the people who make Denver the best. The people I have met are so creative and collabora- tive. I came from cities where people, even friends, were highly competitive with each other, so it’s really refreshing to meet artists who elevate other artists, chefs support- ing other chefs, small businesses lifting other small businesses up. And in the last two years, I learned how incredibly resil- ient Denver people are. I’ve never had a friend group so diverse in backgrounds, and I think that’s because there’s a lovely openness and kindness to the people who live here. Kayla Jones is a Denver-based photographer. When she’s not working, she explores her city and spends generous amounts of time in the mountains. APRIL 7-13, 2022 WESTWORD | BACKBEAT | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | westword.com KAYLA JONES
