Moving to the Denver area

[socalover]

Hello DU family. I need some advice on an upcoming relocation to Denver.

Just wondering if I can get a heads up on any conservative/freeper style communities I should avoid.

I am relocating from Los Angeles California, and my first impression is I don't see any diversity like LA, are there any suggestions you all may have where I can see some liberal/diverse communities on the southern or mid side of town?

I was looking at Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Littleton, but know nothing of these areas.

Good schools are a must which is partly my reason for the above choices.

I will be working on the south side of the city.

I hope I will be happy there, any recent DUers who recently moved to Denver from California? If so, what are your feelings about Denver?

[blondie58]

1. well. congratulations

I really don't know about that part of town; I'm a second generation native, but we've always lived on the west side of town in Jefferson County

. I do know that there is a lot of big money in Highlands Ranch and parts of Littleton and Castle Rock, so I'm thinking that it is not so blue there.

By DU and by Washington Park, they seem to be very liberal to visit, and there are some lovely parts of town there. Aurora you have to be very careful with. There are some parts which really are crime ridden and also some parts which are really nice. The southern part of it, though has the Cherry Creek school system, which is supposed to be really good. Littleton is very nice for the most part and the schools are good. Again, I am not the best person to answer this for you, but I just wanted to give you my 2 cents!

Good luck.

Edited to add- there is plenty of diversity in the greater Denver area, but you might have to go outside of it or seek it out to find it. Most of the areas that you have mentioned such as Highlands Ranch or Castle Rock will be mostly WASP population, at least from my perspective over here in Arvada, having grown up in Lakewood.

[Paladin]

2. We Moved Up Here About A Year Ago From Texas

We're in the southern suburbs, still getting used to things. Our complaints are pretty minimal: shitty winters (more than made up for by the rest of the seasons); virtually no decent Tex-Mex food; and a curious lack of access to public and commercial buildings (there seems to be ONE entrance to places---miss it, and you have to double back a mile or so and re-try it). I had previously perceived Denver as being part of the West, but I'm starting to feel that it's actually more Mid-Western in nature---a lot more like Kansas than Arizona.

Politically, Colorado is a lot bluer than Texas is (surprise, surprise), but there's still a huge right-wing presence, particularly in places like Colorado Springs. If you're hankering for a seriously liberal enclave, plan on driving up to Boulder---it's referred to by many as "The People's Republic Of Boulder," just like "The People's Republic Of Austin," back in Texas.

When you get settled, go into the state Democratic web site and sign up to work the convention in August; it ought to be a blast. Welcome.....

[blondie58]

3. now, Paladin- I think that you're just in culture shock yet

There are some great Tex-Mex restaurants, sorry- can't think of many right now. One of my favorite Mexican restaurants is the Table Mountain Inn in Golden www.tablemountaininn.com. I don't think that it is really texmex- but it is different. I went to see a friend play live jazz there a couple of months ago and had the best nachos that I have ever had. Maybe someone will post on here for others.

And please do not think that every winter is like last winter- that was unreal. I have lived here my entire life and rare is the time that we have snow that builds up- or gets dirty- usually it melts so fast. I am a carrier in the post office and many of my coworkers go around in their shorts year round- heck, I do also, just add a layer of pantyhose if it is colder.

What really bothers me is how bad the traffic is getting. It seems like central and south Denver are always rush hour type traffic, so I tend to avoid going out that direction.

Now Boulder! I love Boulder. I live about ten minutes from Boulder and do enjoy the mood/vibes, whatever you want to call it. It is just a peaceful sort of place and so mellow.

[Paladin]

4. Don't Get Me Wrong

The longer we're here, the better we like it. And if I had a twenty-dollar bill for every time a well-meaning native has assured me that last winter was atypical---I'd have that top-of-the-line fly rod I've been lusting after for months now, and then some.

As for Tex-Mex, keep in mind that the Texas public schools turned us all into junkies for generations---every Wednesday, the cafeterias featured cheese enchiladas. If we don't get a weekly fix, we get the twitches. Would appreciate word on any other places you favor; I'm slowly developing an appreciation for green chiles......

[DavidDvorkin]

6. Las Delicias on 19th St., just east of downtown

Had an excellent lunch there today.

Torres on Federal Blvd.

The Blue Bonnet is very popular.

For more Southwestern food, try Alamos Verdes on North Wadsworth.

For liberals, avoid the southern part of the metro area.

[Paladin]

7. Appreciate The Tips (n/t)

[Buddyblazon]

8. No one mentioned....

Casa Bonita!!! Har har har.

Las Delicias is great. Really a success story. Started in one unit of that mini mall...then just slowly scooped up each one...and now I believe the own the whole building. Plus very tasty...surprisingly inexpensive...and really really fast.

Avoid the south end of town. If you really like new houses that look exactly the same...maybe you'll like it.

We live in Old Stapleton...and the re-development of the old airport has really brought in progressive neighbors.

And yes...last winter...and even this winter...have been harsher than what I became accustomed to growing up here.

[Hawkeye-X]

12. Think after 30 years of the same cheesy Mexican food,

same tired old acts including diving, and 1/2 of the games barely working or is very boring.

I wonder how they stay in business?

Hawkeye-X

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

13. Hey, there, my now college age daughter has extremely fond memories of Casa Bonita.

Most of us in the Denver metro area had at least one birthday party there, just cause the kids could run around freely while enjoying the cheesiness.

Not to mention camp and school field trips.

:rofl:

MKJ

[intheflow]

9. Blue Bonnet is my favorite!

Blue Bonnet also makes a mean margarita. :)

Other folks like El Noa Noa over on Santa Fe by 5th and 12th streets. It's not my favorite, but a lot of people I know swear by it.

[intheflow]

11. I asked my friend Frank who grew up in the area.

He says the best Tex-Mex place is The Rio on the 16th St Mall. :hi:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

14. Oh, Rio is trendy and all. And, their Margaritas are quite dangerous, deceptively delicious

but deadly. But, very good.

However, their food is just good, not at Blue Bonnet or Tosh's Haciendia level. MKJ

[intheflow]

16. Good to know,

Though I'd probably never eat there since I generally avoid the 16th Street Mall area. It's so touristy and parking is a nightmare. The only good things down there, imo, are the public library on one end and Tattered Cover on the other. :)

[eleny]

5. It appears that you're looking to live in Tancredo country

Denver itself is more liberal as is Boulder. But the south and southeast is a pretty conservative area.

[intheflow]

10. I moved here from Western Massachusetts about 7 years ago.

Inside Denver limits, Washington Park is a nice area, and so is the Observatory Park neighborhood by the university. You won't find a lot of diversity there, but they are more liberal neighborhoods, well established with some beautiful little bungalow and mission homes. (Though that's changing as those cute homes are being bought up and replaced with McMansions. :() I lived in Observatory Park and loved it. There's a Quaker meeting house a couple blocks from where I lived, lots of "War is not the answer" in the neighborhood. :) I suppose the most liberal/diverse part of inner-city would be the Capital Hill neighborhood, near downtown museums, restaurants, theaters. All areas have fairly good access to all kinds of public transportation.

I live in Englewood, nestled between Southwest Denver and Littleton. It's not a bad place, though you'll certainly find more economic diversity than racial or cultural. The schools Here's what I found quickly looking up the schools. I don't have kid in the system, so I have no idea what good and bad school stats look like now that No Child's Been Left Behind. The lightrail also runs a line through Englewood, so if you work downtown, you can avoid the nasty traffic.

Good luck--I think you'll like Colorado after the initial adjustment (took me about 2 years to acclimate).

[paulk]

15. as others have pointed out - the areas you're looking at are

conservative.

Downtown is the center of Denver's liberal neighborhoods, with the western and especially northwestern suburbs also being more liberal.

---------------


I have some close friends who recently relocated to Denver from LA after 6 years (they'd lived here before then) and their biggest complaint was the lack of cultural diversity here as compared to Los Angeles.

[intheflow]

17. Yeah, the diversity thing...

After I'd lived here for about two years, I went to visit my cousins in NYC, who I used to visit often when I lived in Massachusetts. After only two years here I was actually surprised by the diversity surroundig me in NYC--I'd gotten so used to the Great White West. :(

[otohara]

18. I'm A South Denver Native

and live the 2nd best k-12 schools, and University of Denver is close by. Everything close by, no need to drive far to get what ever you want. Now I live on the West side of University Blvd, on the East side, old homes are being scrapped and beautiful big homes are going in. Although they take up all the old garden space, they are keeping in style in the hood.

My side is much more reasonable in price, but smaller homes.

Denver is liberal, it's the south burbs where the right-wing goes.