Chihuly at Denver Botanic Gardens - YEAH!

Denver Botanic Gardens currently has a hugely popular exhibit. Barb and I went earlier this week and it was a great way to spend the morning! I've never seen the gardens to crowded before... but we still enjoyed the visit and the space still felt quite peaceful within the city.

Dale Chihuly learned about blowing glass in Venice, Italy and now creates avant-garde pieces, which are simply pieces of art. Incredible pieces of art. This garden exhibit of his pieces has been traveling to various locations since 2001 and now the Chihuly exhibit is at the Denver Botanic Gardens until the end of November. ...It's most definitely worth the trip. (The exhibit is supposed to be awesome at night as well... all lit up!)

I enjoyed seeing how the placement of the different pieces were placed... often it seemed that the nearby flowers matched/complemented the glass blown pieces. Just beautiful.   : )  Below are some photos of just a bit of what we saw:

I can't get over how many pieces there are in this exhibit. It's incredible!

Reflected in the lily pond:

This one reminds of a Dr. Seuss tree! ...If we ever lived in a world with Dr. Seuss trees!

bike ride and Domo w/Mom in town!

Mom and Dad left Denver last weekend... but Lenny, Mom, and I enjoyed a nice bike ride the last day they were in town. We went through the city, to Confluence Park / REI, and then back along the Cherry Creek Path. (Dad was golfing!)

Photo break at Confluence Park:

Once we cooled down after the bike ride, Lenny, Lexey, Mom, and I went to Domo for a Japanese lunch. From the location and the outside of the building, I would never have guessed how lovely this place is!

Domo's garden area was really nice and has tables to sit and eat at as well...

...and a Buddha!

Tedeschi Trucks Band and Gary Clark Jr. at RED ROCKS

My birthday present from Lenny was a ticket to see Tedeschi Trucks Band and (opening) Gary Clark Jr. at Red Rocks! Lenny, Lexey, my parents, and Lexey's parents all went - it was a great group, a great concert, and a great night! Sean was also going to come with us but the opening of his food truck ended up being the next day and he wasn't able to make it.

It sprinkled a bit when we first arrived but the evening cleared up... it was nice and cool at the amphitheater ...and included a double rainbow to make the amazing location even more amazing.

A view of the city of Denver in the distance...

Gary Clark Jr. playing...

Tedeschi Trucks Band (consisting of 11 people!!)

Quick video clip of one song and the stunning location (the sound within this natural amphitheater is incredible)...

flowers and fun up in Leadville, CO

There were many beautiful flowers in bloom around Leadville. Below are some of my favorite photos from the day!

wild.

Ha! ...Twirling on Sean's deck swing...

Pedro wanted to get acquainted with my camera...

hippie house...

Chicken Hill BBQ - Sean's FOOD TRUCK!

Sean and his friend, Brad, have built their own food truck and it should be opening... TODAY! They have named it Chicken Hill BBQ, after the name of the area where they live in town. ...If you're ever up in Leadville, CO, I definitely think you'll want to eat here! Delicious will most likely be ensuing.

Ha!

The food truck is located next to the historic Silver Dollar Saloon... I love the silver and red... so fancy.  : )

day-trip to Leadville, CO

Mom, Dad, Lenny, and I (oh... and Koura!!) went up to see Sean in Leadville a couple days ago. ...And I do mean UP! I always enjoy a drive in the mountains and Leadville is a great little town.

It's not often that all five of us are together!  

Gorgeous views throughout the entire town...

The short walk from the center of town to Sean's house...

rain and accidents...

Mom and Dad have arrived in Denver! They got in late Tuesday night... and yesterday (Wednesday) they brought the rain aaaaand a car accident. Thankfully, everyone is alright.

Mom and Dad always seem to bring rain to Denver... a place where it does not often rain. (They really brought the rain last September... and absurd amounts of flooding... for Lenny and Lexey's wedding. Yikes.)

It was not supposed to rain yesterday buuuuuut the sky clouded over, turned dark gray, and then poured. We were in Tony's Market during the worst of the storm and everyone inside was commenting on the rain. It was raining sideways; the wind was intense. After an hour or so the weather cleared up and the evening was beautiful - we had a lovely dinner on the back patio.   : )

...On to the 'accident' part...

Mom, Dad, and I were in Lexey's car (before the rain, actually), driving along Colorado Blvd. We were at a complete stop in a line of traffic but the car behind us came through the intersection at about 35 mph... then realizing the cars in front of him were at a complete stop, he (thankfully!) slammed on his brakes. He ran into the back of us. Dad saw it coming and kept his foot on the brake... but the car was still pushed about 5 feet forward.

It took a couple hours... the cops came, a report was made... the kid that ran into us was a bit shaken but very nice and apologized, saying it was completely his fault.

This is the first car accident Dad or I have ever been in. (Dad's comment to that is that he's a bit older than I am! True.)

Anyway - we are all alright and the car is too. There was surprisingly little damage made to the car and Lexey was incredibly understanding about the entire thing - happy that the three of us were ok.

Bizarre... but as we're on our way home (to safety!)... Mom, Dad, and I were stopped in a line of traffic (again - this time on Logan St.)... a car came to a stop behind us... aaaand then we heard a bit of a crash as a truck behind the car crashed into it. Seriously?!? Thaaaaankfully, the car behind us had enough room and did not hit us. Goodness. (I can only imagine what it would look like to the police and/or insurance companies that we were in two accidents - hit from behind - within a couple hours of each other. It would be like we were driving around the city trying to be hit!)

Dad woke up this morning with a bloody nose - probably due to the altitude and dry air... soooo... Welcome to Denver Mom and Dad!

Denver happenings

Mom and Dad arrive in Denver tonight! I'm looking forward to having them here for the rest of the week.

Below are some photos from random pieces of my time so far in Denver. I love this city  : )

Sweet Action ice cream with friends - always a good idea...

Ahhhh Denver  : )

We were shopping for trees...

Lenny's friend, Jodie, came over with her new gorgeous baby - Hannah!

Mmmmm... fish with salsa...

Koura - hiding from Roomba...

annual Crawfish Boil - Denver, CO

Two nights ago was the annual Crawfish Boil - a party hosted by two brothers in Denver. They cook crawfish along with potatoes, onions, corn on the cob, sausage... and plenty of spice! A ton of people turn up to hang out, eat the goodness, and play yard games. Lenny and I know these guys from playing kickball in the DKBC years ago and we (try to) go to the Crawfish Boil each summer. It was the perfect chance for me to see everyone in this crowd all at once... some of them I have not seen in a couple of years!

Always a good time  : )

I like their fence lamp...

A new round is ready!

Lenny and Lexey with platefuls!