Zaragoza Toros

ZHS REUNION

JUNE 20-22, 2008 - Denver, CO

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view a slide show, individual pictures or download

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Emilio Chaviano, Michael Brandt

Erik Chavez, Sheryl Rogers, Dean Rogers, Mike Rickey

Michael and Christine (Goad) Brandt

Mickey Rickey & Nikki Vargas

James Chavez

Brooke Hildreth, Mitzi Harris, Gerry Pihl

Michael and Jackie Ireland

Karrie Peters Price, Pam Goins

Michael and Christine Brandt, Michael & Jackie Ireland

Sharon Barham Farr, Stan Blum, Marley Beard, Mike Griffin

Nikki Vargas & Brooke Hildreth

(mouthful o' sushi)

James Chavez

Coach Ludwig and Sharon Rawls

Diego & Cathy (Carmona) Reed

David & Mary Cheek

Class of 83

Thanks for these great pictures Pam Detwiler! (more coming soon, really!)

MORE PICS COMING SOON

1. Check out the new Frederick C. Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum. The angular, cutting-edge design by Daniel Libeskind has drawn rave reviews worldwide and houses an impressive collection of paintings, sculpture and more.

2. Hang out like a jet-setting celeb in Cherry Creek North, Denver’s long-standing home to high fashion, savvy homewares and trendy restaurants.

3. No other city in America has as many miles of bike trails as Denver. Rent a bike, cruise along the Platte River to Confluence Park and then do as the locals do and ride along Cherry Creek to the weekend Farmer’s Market at Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

4. Explore the 16th Street Mall — a 16-block-long pedestrian mall in the heart of downtown Denver — where an impressive collection of restaurants and shops attracts millions of visitors each year.

5. Learn the basics of kayaking at Golden’s Clear Creek Whitewater Park, situated in the heart of this historic city.

6. Stare in wide-eyed wonder at the world’s bounty of rainforest, high desert and corral reef ecosystems at the Downtown Aquarium.

7. Looking for a nature walk to warm up for that Rocky Mountain hike later in the trip? Head to Roxborough State Park southwest of Denver for trails that lace through scrub oak underneath massive red sandstone fins.

8. Tour the single largest coin-production facility in the world at the Denver Mint, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

9. Dine with the locals on Vietnamese, Peruvian or French cuisine in the thriving Uptown district just east of downtown.

10. Spend the evening at the Denver Pavilions located off the 16th Street Mall, where after-dark entertainment includes a jazz club, a Lucky Strike Bowling facility and a slew of superb restaurants.

11. Marvel at Egyptian mummies, dinosaur fossils and an amazing collection of exhibits at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, then top off the afternoon with a film at the museum’s IMAX Theatre.

12. By day, climb the steps at Red Rocks Amphitheatre & Park near Morrison for a magnificent view; by night, rock out to a roster of top-flight musicians who treat this storied venue as a rite of passage.

14. Witness harbor seals, polar bears, elephants and even the exotic golden lion tamarin monkey at the Denver Zoo, located in City Park.

15. Explore the stories, customs and traditions of Colorado’s first people — and the settlers that followed — at the Colorado History Museum in Denver.

16. For a spectacle you won’t soon forget, take in the world’s largest cattle show at the National Western Stock Show held in January at Denver’s National Western Complex. The event showcases Western lifestyle through rodeos, livestock competitions, exhibitions and contests.

17. Window-shop along the romantic, tree-lined lanes of Highland Square at 32nd and Lowell in Denver.

18. Catch a performance by (or take a dance class from) the internationally renowned Cleo Parker Robinson Dance.

19. Head to Golden for the Colorado Railroad Museum, which houses an impressive collection of more than 100 standard and narrow-gauge locomotives. Come for the special December “steam up,” when Santa fires up an old locomotive and takes passengers for a ride.

20. Follow the South Platte River up Waterton Canyon via mountain bike and, in fall, watch bighorn rams butt heads on the rocky slopes above the river.

21. Pair your outdoor Rocky Mountain adventure with The Wildlife Experience in Parker, a hands-on museum dedicated to wildlife conservation that is ideal for kids captivated by animals of all stripes.

23. Indulge in the rarities of Rocky Mountain cuisine with rattlesnake, bison or elk venison at the Buckhorn Exchange (Denver’s oldest restaurant) or The Fort (a replica of Bent’s Old Fort) near Morrison.

24. Visit the massive Denver Center for Performing Arts, which is a must for an opera, a ballet, classical music or a touring Broadway show.

25. From sipping a caipirinha at a trendy lounge to downing a brat with a microbrew, the LoDo district has become the place to gather after hours.

26. Shout with glee as the roller-coasters and thrill-rides of Elitch Gardens Amusement Park in downtown Denver give your vacation a shot of adrenaline.

29. Savor the crown jewel of the Denver parks system at Washington Park, a 165-acre oasis of lawns, jogging paths and lakes.

30. See the inner workings of state government by sitting in the gallery during a legislative session or by climbing into the gilded dome of Colorado’s State Capitol Building.

31. Be transported to another time at the historic Brown Palace Hotel, where high afternoon tea is still served underneath the massive lobby’s stained-glass ceiling.

32. Sit in the “Rock Pile” at Coors Field and watch a Rockies baseball game — notice that the purple row of stadium seats indicates the exact height one mile above sea level.

33. Learn the steps involved in making one of Colorado’s signature products — Coors beer — with a tour of the Coors Brewery in Golden.

34. Journey from gallery to gallery at Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe. Every first Friday of the month, an open-door festival celebrates the eclectic collection of art and music found here.

35. Tour the magnificent home of Titanic survivor and philanthropist Molly Brown at the Molly Brown House Museum on Capitol Hill in Denver.

36. Celebrate Labor Day by sampling the diverse cuisines of the Centennial State at the Taste of Colorado, which is held annually in Civic Center Park in Denver.

37. Be moved by some of the nation’s best artists at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, held annually in Denver around the Fourth of July.

39. Don the blue and orange for a Denver Broncos game and watch as normally mellow Coloradans go fanatical for their favorite football team.

40. Hang out in the Riverfront Park corridor that lines the South Platte River between LoDo and the Highlands neighborhood of Denver. Boutiques, cafes and trendy independent restaurants give the area an energetic vibe.

41. Be one of the first to tour the new home of Denver’s Museum of Contemporary Art, a building designed by architect David Adjaye that will further Denver’s growing presence on the international art scene.

42. Stop by Westminster’s Butterfly Pavilion, an atrium and science center filled with more than 50 species of butterflies in a re-created rain forest habitat.

44. Experience opera in one of North America’s most sophisticated and acoustically superior facilities at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Center for Performing Arts.

45. Head to “the Soda Can” — also known as the Pepsi Center — where Joe Sakic scores goals for the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and Carmelo Anthony lights it for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets.

46. Aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike should stop by the Wings Over the Rockies Museum for an encounter with a B-1, a B-52, a space capsule from the Apollo Project and other amazing aircraft.

48. Visit the Four Mile Historic Park, a 12-acre open space park dedicated to the city’s frontier past, which includes a wayside inn that remains Denver’s oldest standing structure.

49. Live like a king, queen or court jester at Larkspur’s summer-long Renaissance Festival.

50. Hike beneath the canyon rim at Castlewood Canyon State Park near Franktown, where a unique mix of forest and grassland converge within the 100-foot-deep gorge

The average high temperature for Denver in June is 81.4 degrees and the average low temperature is 52.4 degrees. Denver has very low humidity and is characterized as dry with an average of 0.79 inches of precipitation in June.

So, bring a light jacket for evenings out!! But, don't forget your swimsuit, the hotel has an indoor heated pool, hot tub and a small outdoor area for sunbathing!!

NEW YORK TIMES:August 20, 2006
Going to Denver By TED LOOS

WHY GO NOW Denver was born during the Gold Rush, but the city is now mining its cultural riches. The biggest event on the city's dance card is the October opening of the Denver Art Museum's radical new addition (100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, 720-865-5000), designed by the star architect Daniel
Libeskind. The 146,000-square-foot building, clad in shimmering titanium, seems to explode into peaks, including a dramatically cantilevered section that thrusts out over the sidewalk.

Denver's once-sleepy streets are showing other signs of urban life. The residential Highlands district has become a chic neighborhood for young families renovating Victorian houses. In the Uptown neighborhood, to the immediate east of downtown Denver, gay residents and the recently renovated Fillmore Auditorium have created an artsy vibe. Loft-filled LoDo was already the center of the city's night life, but its profile is now going national MTV's "Real World" has been shooting there over the summer.

The jagged peaks of Mr. Libeskind's new art museum building are meant to mirror the famous Rocky Mountain backdrop, and those mountains set the tone for residents in other ways, too. Denver is among the most outdoorsy cities in the nation: office workers wear hiking boots during the day, as if a strenuous hike could happen at any moment (maybe that's why the city has the thinnest population in the country). And the sun, like its friendly residents, seems always to shine. "The city has taken a quantum leap," Mr.
Libeskind said recently in an interview. "Denver has optimism in its genes."

WHERE TO STAY Denver's cultural renaissance is fueling a hotel boom. The Four Seasons and a Ritz-Carlton are both coming to town, but until they open, one of your best bets is the Oxford Hotel (1600 17th Street, 303-628-5400; www.theoxfordhotel.com). Just a block from Union Station, the hotel is famous for its Old West dcor, but a major renovation last year has given it a new twist. The rooms, starting at $179, now come in two design flavors. If you're partial to traditional dcor, ask for one of the larger, street-facing rooms, which feature Victorian-era antiques and claw-foot bathtubs. For an Art Deco feel, ask for a room facing the courtyard; those feature 1920's posters, brighter colors and plasma televisions.

Although it was built for conventioneers, the new Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention
Center (303-436-1234) is becoming popular with tourists, too. It's large (1,100 rooms), sleek and modern, with contemporary art hanging everywhere, including the elevators. The rooms, starting at $150, have
contemporary dcor like squared-off orange club chairs. A more intimate feel is available at Hotel Monaco Denver (1717 Champa Street, 800-990-1303; www.monaco-denver.com). The new concierge and housekeeping uniforms are by the designer Cynthia Rowley. The 189 rooms (doubles from $169) are done in strong colors and bold patterns, with dramatic red-on-red stripes and vaulted ceiling sporting trompe-l'oeil Gothic arches. Some of the suites are named after musicians including Grace Slick, John Lennon and Miles Davis.

WHERE TO EAT Sure, Denver has no shortage of steakhouses with inch-thick porterhouses. But now it is showing a more sophisticated side, with chef-driven restaurants that emphasize the freshness of local produce, not just the age of meats.

Among the newest is Duo (2413 West 32nd Avenue, 303-477-4141), a warm, personable restaurant in the tree-lined Highlands neighborhood with a well-chosen wine list and an open kitchen. The focus is on local organic ingredients, like the free-range chicken breast with tomatillo sauce ($17), and the homey exposed brick interior attracts a crowd that's part hip, part professorial.

For home-style cooking with a high-end twist, head to Steuben's (523 East 17th Avenue, 303-830-1001), which opened in June in the newly fashionable Uptown neighborhood. Like its eclectic dcor, which mixes modern lighting with steel beams, the menu alternates between classic Continental dishes like trout amandine ($15) and heartier ones like barbecued brisket ($14).

Although it has been open for only a year, Denver's Francophiles have made themselves at home at Z Cuisine (2239 West 30th Avenue, 303-477-1111), an intimate, six-table restaurant named for how a native French speaker might pronounce "the cuisine." The chef and co-owner, Patrick DuPays, however, doesn't have any problems translating classic French dishes like cassoulet ($20) and quiche Dijonaise ($14.50).

WHAT TO DO DURING THE DAY World-class cultural attractions like the revamped Denver Art Museum may be in town, but Denver's biggest draw is still the great outdoors. At the base of the Rocky Mountains, the city is within an hour of pretty much every activity you can think of: climbing, skiing, camping and rafting. But you don't need to leave Denver for nature. The city has the nation's largest park system, 14,000 acres of outdoor options. The most convenient is Confluence Park, just 10 minutes from downtown by foot. Situated where Cherry Creek and the South Platte River meet, it has grassy lawns, a connection to 40-plus miles of trails and even an area for whitewater kayaking.

In the rare chance it rains, you can take a tour of the Denver Center of the Performing Arts (1101 13th Street, 720-931-8687; www.denvercenter.org), the star of which is the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Built around 1908, the main auditorium inside was rebuilt last year with cherry-wood paneling and a 500-pound chandelier shaped like a flower. Daily tours are available ($6).

If you have children in tow, try the Denver Zoo (2300 Steele Street, 303-376-4800; www.denverzoo.org), which is adjacent to City Park. The zoo has everything from polar bears to dromedaries, and many of the exhibits offer unusually naturalistic settings like the rocky African landscape of "Predator Ridge."

WHERE TO GO AT NIGHT Even before the "Real World" began taping in LoDo this summer, locals had turned its brick warehouses into a warren of bars, cafes and clubs. One of the most popular is Spill (1410 Market Street, (720-932-0181), a festive bar that plays everything from hip-hop to classic rock. Nearby is Mynt (1424 Market Street, 303-825-6968), which draws the same 20-somethings to its hip interior, complete with a big black banquette. On warm nights, the sidewalk between the two bars feels like a bar itself. For a slightly older crowd, try the Jet Lounge, in the lobby of the Jet Hotel (1612 Wazee Street, 303-572-3300, www.thejethotel.com), a surprisingly inexpensive boutique place (rooms start at $129).

Night life, of course, doesn't have to revolve around drinking. For the past two years, a contemporary arts center called Laboratory of Art and Ideas at Belmar (6999 West Alaska Drive, Lakewood, 303-934-1777;
www.belmarlab.org) has been offering quirky debates, iconoclastic exhibitions and live performances. The weekly "Mixed Taste" lecture series, in particular, has drawn a large following, even though the Lab is about 10 minutes by car from downtown. The Lab is moving to a larger space at 404 South Upham Street on Sept. 16.

WHERE TO SHOP The best block in Denver for shopping (and late-19th-century architecture) is Larimer Square. For gifts with a Western feel, go to Cry Baby Ranch (1421 Larimer Square, 303-623-3979; www.crybabyranch.com), a store that sells "cowboy funk" clothes, jewelry and boots.

The flagship store of REI (1416 Platte Street, 303-756-3100; www.rei.com), which stands for Recreational Equipment Inc., is a tourist attraction in and of itself. Built into the shell of a 1901 power plant, it's a soaring, gargantuan space with seemingly endless rooms devoted to camping, climbing and sports. The store has its own 47-foot-tall artificial rock and an outdoor dirt trail for testing bikes.

But if shopping is your sport, head to Cherry Creek, an affluent neighborhood that's a $10 cab ride from downtown. Though it's better known for the Cherry Creek Shopping Center (Prada, Neiman Marcus and the like), the more interesting shops are found in the quiet streets nearby. Lawrence
Covell (225 Steele Street, 303-320-1023) specializes in hard-to-find designer labels like Dries van Noten and John Lobb. Kazoo & Co. (2930 East Second Avenue, 303-322-0973) is that rarest of things, an independent toy store. The store seeks out high-quality toys from small American manufacturers.

YOUR FIRST TIME OR YOUR 10TH This is a rock site that truly rocks. Located 15 miles west of Denver, the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater (18300 West Alameda Parkway, 303- 295-4444; www.redrocksonline.com) is a natural concert hall formed by a pair of 300-foot-high sandstone monoliths.

A new underground visitors center awaits fans of Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson and others scheduled in the coming weeks (tickets start at just under $40). Go early and explore the surrounding foothills, a steep red landscape dotted by Ponderosa pines and chokecherry.

YES, FREE For the best people-watching at the right price (free), nothing beats the 16th Street MallRide. Watch skater punks and investment bankers jostle for seats as the bus cruises up and down the city's main retail and office spine (no cars are allowed), coming as quickly as every 90 seconds at peak commuting hours.

HOW TO STAY WIRED The city has turned the 16th Street Mall into a giant Wi-Fi hot spot, free to anyone for two-hour intervals. If you left your laptop at home, try Cafe@Netherworld (1278 Pennsylvania Street, 303-861-8638; www.netherworld.com).

GETTING AROUND It helps to have a car in Denver, but the city's growing Regional Transportation District light rail system (www.rtd-denver.com) efficiently connects the southern suburbs with downtown (fares $1.50 to $2.75). The R.T.D. buses are also reliable, with local day passes for $4.50. Taxi rides within the city are under $15.

GETTING THERE Denver is served by most major airlines and is a hub for both Frontier (www.flyfrontier.com) and United (www.united.com).

NEW YORK TIMES - October 22, 2004
*36 HOURS* In Denver
*By MINDY SINK*

THE Mile High City is trying to re-invent itself, from cowtown to
a destination city for sports fans, cultural connoisseurs and outdoor
enthusiasts. The best place to see this transition is in downtown Denver and
the LoDo neighborhood, or lower downtown, where historic buildings are
finding new uses as lofts, hotels, restaurants and bookstores, and blending
in with new lofts, apartments and offices in old rail yards and along the
riverfront. The new Millennium Bridge, above, soars above a train track
there. Fall is perhaps the perfect time to visit Denver, as the autumn
colors have since peaked in the mountains and the resort towns are in their
shoulder (a k a mud) season before the snow really accumulates.

*Friday*

6 p.m.
1) Cocktails in the Atrium

A visit to the historic Brown Palace Hotel (321 17th Street, 303-297-3111)
is a must for every Denver visitor, and everyone from George Harrison to George
W. Bush has stayed at the Brown Palace over the years. The nine-story
triangular building takes up a city block and is an elegant mix of
architectural styles. The centerpiece is the atrium lobby, where cocktails
are served from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and until 8 p.m. other
days; in the evenings a pianist sets the mood. Try the signature Cascade
Cocktail of Champagne, Chambord and Grand Marnier served in a martini glass
with a sugar-cube fizz ($8.50).

8 p.m.
2) Where the Wild Things Are

Hop on Denver's newest mode of transportation the light rail to get to
the city's oldest restaurant, the Buckhorn Exchange (1000 Osage Street,
303-534-9505). Founded in 1893 by one of Buffalo Bill Cody's frontiersmen,
it is decorated with hundreds of animal heads from antelope to zebra. For
more adventurous eaters, there are appetizers of rattlesnake, alligator tail
or Rocky Mountain oysters (from $8.50 to $15.50), followed by a cut of elk
or buffalo ($34 to $42). For those who would rather not eat under the eyes
of their meal's relatives, there is the Vesta Dipping Grill (1822 Blake
Street, 303-296-1970), a hip little bar and restaurant that offers
vegetarian dishes along with beef, chicken and fish entrees to be dipped
into a selection of sauces.

*Saturday*

9 a.m.
3) Coffee and a Nibble

Look for the blue-and-white-striped awnings of the Market in Larimer Square
(1445 Larimer Street, 303-534-5140) or just the clusters of people and their
dogs at tables along the sidewalk. In addition to drinks like the Milky Way
latte, a mix of espresso, milk, chocolate, vanilla and caramel ($3.25),
patrons can also get sour cream muffins or sticky buns ($2.50) or bagels
with lox (about $9). Larimer Square is the heart of LoDo, with lots of shops
and restaurants. Don't miss Cry Baby Ranch (1422 Larimer Street,
303-623-3979), above, for everything cowboy and cowgirl, from soap to
T-shirts for tots as well as adults.

11 a.m.
4) The Urban Outdoors

Even in the city, being in Colorado means being outdoors, and Denver boasts
more than 100 miles of pedestrian and bicycle paths. Head south half a block
from the square and take the steps down to the path along Cherry Creek,
following it northwest to the confluence with the South Platte River. This
is where the city of Denver was founded in 1858. As you zigzag across
various bridges you'll catch glimpses of the snow-capped Rockies and maybe
see a kayaker or two in the Platte.

11:30 a.m.
5) Get Lost in Literature

After you cross the new Millennium Bridge over the railroad tracks, look for
the Tattered Cover Book Store (1628 16th Street, 303-436-1070) on your
right. This is one of two locations of Colorado's largest independent
bookstore. With vintage sofas and armchairs nestled between the stacks, it
is designed for leisurely browsing, reading and shopping. Authors who drop
in to read and sign have ranged from western writers like Terry Tempest
Williams to Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame, who is scheduled to be
signing his new collection of poems, "Blinking With Fists," tomorrow.

1 p.m.
6) Fish, Chips and a Pint

The city's first brewpub, the Wynkoop Brewery (1634 18th Street,
303-297-2700), was founded in 1988 by, among others, John W. Hickenlooper,
now the mayor (he still drops in on occasion). There are always a dozen or
so beers on tap. For an appetizer, try the artichoke and Parmesan dip with
homemade beer bread ($7.25), then move to beer-battered Atlantic cod with
chips ($8.95).

3 p.m.
7) The Arty Triangle

Although the Denver Art Museum (100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, 720-865-5000;
$8 for adults) is undergoing an extensive expansion, it's still worth a
visit to the third floor to see its Indian collection and the newly opened
"Tiwanaku: Ancestors of the Inca" exhibition with 1,000-year-old tunics,
hats and other textiles. You can see a preview of the museum's new wing,
designed by Daniel Libeskind, master planner of the World Trade Center site
in New York. The surrounding Golden Triangle neighborhood is emerging as an
arts district. Check out the vintage and contemporary photography at the
Camera Obscura Gallery (1309 Bannock Street, 303-623-4059), the sculpture
and mixed media at Walker Fine Art (300 11th Avenue, 303-355-8955) and
cutting-edge work at William Havu Gallery (1040 Cherokee Street,
303-893-2360).

6 p.m.
8) Cuba in Colorado

Denver has a great Cuban restaurant in Cuba Cuba Caf & Bar (1173 Delaware
Street, 303-605-2822), also in the Triangle. For a view of the city at
sunset, check whether the back patio is open. Or take a table inside, where
blue walls and ceiling fans give the place an island feel. Mojitos come by
the glass or pitcher ($6 or $30) in mango or various seasonal flavors. Start
with yuca frita ($6) or plantain chips ($6.50) and then try the
coconut-crusted tuna ($20) or sanwiche Cubano ($9).

9 p.m.
9) Jazz on Market Street

The most dependable place in town for a cold beer and cool jazz is El
Chapultepec (1962 Market Street, 303-295-9126), where a quartet starts at 9
p.m. and goes strong until 1 a.m. The decades-old club used to be in the
midst of Denver's skid row, but thanks to Coors Field, the city's baseball
stadium built in the 90's, it is now surrounded by sports bars. You never
know who might drop in to play with the band Wynton Marsalis and George
Benson have shown up at this tiny spot in recent years.

*Sunday*

10:30 a.m.
10) Brunch and the Broncos

If there's a Denver Broncos home game, Brooklyn's (2644 West Colfax Avenue;
303-572-3999), near Invesco Field, opens at 10:30 with a limited brunch menu
that includes a green chili breakfast burrito ($5.95), biscuits and gravy
($4.50), and eggs with hash browns ($4.50) in addition to its full lunch
menu. If the Broncos are away, Dixons Downtown Grill (1610 16th Street,
303-573-6100) has nine TV's dependably tuned to sports. Try a Denver
Skillet, with eggs, ham, Cheddar cheese, green pepper, onion and hash browns
($6.99).

11:30 a.m.
11) Take to the Hills

Now that you've had time to acclimate to the altitude, get out of the city
and into the hills. About 18 miles west of downtown is Red Rocks Park and
Amphitheater. Its visitors' center (303-295-4444) is at 18300 West Alameda
Parkway in Morrison. Take Interstate 70 west to Exit 259 for Morrison and
take a left, driving 1.5 miles until you reach the park entrance. There is
no access fee. Try the 1.4-mile Trading Post Trail, which wanders past
sandstone monoliths, valleys and a natural meadow.

*Visiting Denver*

Denver International Airport is about 35 minutes from downtown. Taxis from
the airport to downtown are about $45.

Named for its proximity to the city's theater complex, Hotel Teatro (1100
14th Street, 303-228-1100) once housed trolley cars and offices. Today this
boutique hotel offers aromatherapy baths and downtown transportation in a
Cadillac Escalade. Its 111 rooms start at $255 a night.

The Oxford Hotel (1600 17th Street, 303-628-5400) in LoDo combines Art Deco
touches and Victorian charm in its 80 rooms. It has a spa and a fitness
club. Check out its Art Deco bar, the Cruise Room. Rooms are $189 to $249 a
night.

The Brown Palace Hotel (321 17th Street, 303-297-3111) has 241 rooms
starting at $230 a night. Less expensive rooms can be found just across the
skybridge at the Comfort Inn (401 17th Street, 303-296-0400; $99 to $149).
October 5, 2003
CHOICE TABLES; Relaxed Grown-Up Cooking in Denver By ERIC ASIMOV

ONCE upon a time, Denver restaurants did their best to live up to the city's
brash cow-town image. The epitome of fine dining was most likely a big ol'
steak, or perhaps a gamier variation, like an elk or buffalo tenderloin. For
comic relief, there were Rocky Mountain oysters -- calf testicles sliced,
battered and lightly fried.

Denver's restaurants, like the city itself, grew out of childhood long ago,
though the period of awkward adolescence seemed to drag on. Situated in the
high Colorado plains without much in the way of indigenous ingredients to
shape the local cuisine, restaurants experimented with new identities,
reaching ambitiously toward Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Yet they moved cautiously as well, not wishing to outpace an essentially
conservative clientele. The result was a certain oscillation between
enthusiastic striving and regression.

But a true identity is beginning to emerge for Denver restaurants. On a
visit to the city in late July, I found a small group of easygoing places
that combined relaxed, casual atmosphere with a passionate commitment to the
best ingredients, to stylish presentations and to good wines. I also found a
concentration of good Vietnamese restaurants, due to a substantial
Vietnamese population.

Solera

I came upon it without warning. The trim free-standing building emerged so
suddenly from a strip of muffler shops and fast-food joints that I passed it
in my rental car and had to swing around again. Once inside Solera's
comfortable, informal dining room, with its creamy orange walls, flattering
lighting and bottles of wine on display, I felt far from the seedy
surroundings.

The two young owners, Goose Sorensen, the chef, and Brian Klinginsmith, who
handles the wine and the front of the house, run Solera in their own
unpretentious images, calling out greetings to regulars who think nothing of
coming to the restaurant in shorts on a hot summer evening.

Mr. Sorensen is skilled at composition, especially in his main courses,
reaching around the globe to construct plates full of light accents and
contrasting flavors, but without the hypercreativity that so often weighs
down such efforts. His pan-roasted halibut is perfectly cooked, crusty
around the edges but moist and flavorful within. It arrived on a bed of tiny
green lentils augmented by crisp cubes of bacon and a lush truffled pea
pure. On top, bits of sweet pink grapefruit added just the right refreshing
touch. Altogether, the dish is a triumph of textures and flavors.

A plate of tender pork loin didn't work together as well with its side
dishes, fat corn kernels mashed together with avocado and mango butter, and
a gratin of poblano chili and cotija cheese served in a big triangle like
half a sandwich. They coexisted separately on the same plate, yet were
terrific nonetheless.

Among the appetizers, I had my doubts about something called a Camembert
salad. But rather than a hunk of cheese on a bowl of greens, the Camembert
was instead layered on several crisp croutons that helped amplify a lovely
salad of beets, radishes and greens.

A dish of crisp calamari, almost big enough to be a main course, came in a
refreshing, well-balanced Thai-style sauce, with sweet-and-spicy citrus
flavors, lots of mint and basil, crunchy roasted peanuts and maybe a hint of
pungent fish sauce.

Solera offers a surprisingly extensive list of old Bordeaux. But if you
don't wish to spend $9,000 for a bottle of 1945 Ptrus, a delicate 2001
sptlese from Schloss Saarstein on the Mosel does nicely for $36.

Desserts were the weakest link. A Meyer lemon crme brle was fine, if
unexciting, while a spongecake with chocolate ganache lacked the springiness
of real spongecake. It was more like poundcake, but the chocolate was so
good I wasn't complaining.

Clair de Lune

It is hard to imagine a more intimate dining room. Seating 25 people,
maximum, with its sea-blue walls, family photos and tchotchkes strewn about,
the restaurant feels more like a home. Sean Kelly, the chef and owner,
apparently satisfied his desire to run a bigger, fancier place. After
shutting down Aubergine, nearby, he opened this stripped-down chef's
fantasy, where he does all the cooking, and his dinner-time staff consists
only of two servers.

Clair de Lune promises gracious dining, and it delivers. The menu is as
small as the restaurant -- a party of four could taste everything on it --
and while Mr. Kelly's preparations are simple, his ingredients are superb
and his execution is almost flawless.

Dinner one evening began with an amuse-bouche -- individual iron crocks of
shelled mussels with croutons and saffron aoli -- that was so good I wished
it was a main course.

Mr. Kelly's appetizers are like tapas plates, with a central ingredient and
a contrasting flavor. Baby artichoke leaves, tissue-paper thin and fried
crisp, are fabulous with an aoli dip, while a plate of marinated mushrooms
-- chanterelles, morels, portobellos, hens o' the woods -- are pleasingly
earthy, served with mild ramps. Fat sardines are cured almost like
anchovies, heavy on oil and salt, served with smoky roasted peppers, while
Serrano ham comes with figs and mint, a nice combination.

Of the four main courses served nightly, one is always vegetarian, and it's
hard for me to imagine a smarter, more satisfying vegetarian dish than Mr.
Kelly's ragout of chanterelles and summer vegetables, served with a green
onion pudding as eggy as Yorkshire pudding, and crisp squash blossom
beignets, which added a luxurious richness to the plate. On the opposite end
of the spectrum is a good dry-aged steak, topped with a mild green
peppercorn sauce.

Mr. Kelly plays with contrasts in two other dishes, serving pan-roasted
chicken with sweet pomegranate molasses and tart preserved lemon, and mellow
striped bass with a sharp tapenade.

The small wine list includes some excellent and unusual moderately priced
selections, like an earthy Austrian grner veltliner white from Nigl for
$32.

Desserts, like so much else at Clair de Lune, are uncomplicated delights. I
can't remember enjoying a flourless chocolate cake so much; no tricks except
for the superb Scharffen Berger chocolate. And a cherry-almond tart was
fresh and rich.

Adega

On Wynkoop Street in the hip Lower Downtown district, the two sides of
Denver sit almost side by side. There's a steakhouse, of course, and a
brewpub, owned coincidentally by the new mayor of Denver, John W.
Hickenlooper. There is also a wine bar, with an extensive selection of wines
by the glass, and there's Adega, a sleek urban restaurant built to exalt
wine in every way. A glass-enclosed wine room is the central decorative
feature of the low-slung, contemporary dining room, and an enormous wine
list, bound in leather with a little leather clasp, is handed to you with
reverence.

This is not to suggest that food is an afterthought. The chef, Bryan
Moscatello, has put together a complex, enticing menu. Conceptually, and on
paper, it makes a lot of sense, though occasional problems of execution get
in the way.

I loved a toasted star anise soup; the menthol-licorice spice is mellow but
dominant, delicious with its echo of braised fennel, playing off the buttery
richness of a fat scallop plopped in the middle. But a confit of pork belly
was paradoxically dry, covered in a bacon vinaigrette that is more like a
sweet barbecue sauce. The confit was paired with melon, a variation on
prosciutto and melon, but instead of the classic sweet-and-salty interplay
of that dish, the sweet sauce made the melon redundant.

Main courses were similarly inconsistent. Flavorful yellow snapper was the
centerpiece of an excellent composition of green beans, corn, thin strips of
ham, crisp potato hash and fava pure. Apple-marinated beef shoulder seemed
intriguing, served with an Explorateur grits cake. The grits were delicious,
though I tasted no evidence of cheese, and the beef was exceptionally
tender, though I sensed no other effect of the apples.

The deep and complex wine list reflects the wine market in general, with
overpriced wines from the United States and France, and good values from
almost anywhere else. Not wanting to pass up an older yet affordable wine,
my two friends and I chose a 1991 Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter-Saumagen dry
riesling sptlese from the Pfalz for $54. Though austere, it had the sort of
intensity and rich, oily depth that comes only from aging.

Peach crme caramel came bathed in an intensely floral honey, which I loved,
though a friend said it smelled like bath soap. Another dessert, called a
''topless strawberry ice cream sandwich,'' was essentially strawberry ice
cream and compote over dry chocolate cake. It didn't work for me, but then I
believe it's impossible to improve on strawberry shortcake.

New Saigon

South Federal Boulevard looks as uninviting as any other industrial stretch
whether in Denver or Duluth, yet here, interspersed between auto parts shops
and paint stores, are signs in Vietnamese. Because of the neighborhood's
sizable population of southeast Asians, it seemed reasonable to hope that
the Vietnamese restaurants would offer a far greater variety of dishes than
those usually seen in, say, New York.

New Saigon, long recognized as one of Denver's best, did the job. With
glass-topped tables, garish lighting and art limited to Vietnamese tourist
scenes and a poster of tapioca drinks, New Saigon puts little premium on
aesthetics. Yet its impossibly long menu, with hundreds of selections,
includes many excellent and unusual dishes.

I loved one of the new dishes, bo bop thau, thin slices of rare beef with
tons of mint, red onions, sesame seeds and lime juice, served cool over
crisp sesame crackers. You simply break off a piece of cracker and scoop up
some of the meat and herbs for a refreshing bite.

Another dish, bo nuong la lot, makes a perfect lunch. Bites of smoky beef
are wrapped with grape leaves into compact packets, easy to dip with
chopsticks into sweet and pungent nuoc cham, a ubiquitous Vietnamese
condiment.

Tom quan thit ba roi, marinated shrimp wrapped in bacon and grilled, is an
intriguing dish that does have the potential to cause embarrassment. The
shrimp is served with rice noodles, sprouts, cilantro, mint, lettuce,
marinated vegetables and stiff sheets of rice paper. The serving also comes
with a pot of simmering water. The idea is to take the rice paper, dip it
into the water until it softens, then roll your own summer roll. Easy -- at
least it looked that way when the waiter demonstrated the technique.

When I tried it I couldn't get the rice paper out of the water without
doubling it over on itself, resulting in a loose and misshapen roll.
Nonetheless, I was still able to dip it into the nuoc cham without losing
the filling. It was delicious, but my effort was decidedly amateurish.

Bill of fare

Prices are estimates for a meal for two with wine and tip. Only New Saigon
permits smoking.

Solera, 5410 East Colfax Avenue; (303) 388-8429. Open for dinner Tuesday
through Sunday. Credit cards accepted. About $115.

Clair de Lune, 1313 East Sixth Avenue; (303) 831-1992. Dinner Tuesday
through Saturday. Cash only; $125.

Adega, 1700 Wynkoop Street; (303) 534-2222. Dinner served Monday through
Saturday. Credit cards accepted; $135.

New Saigon, 630 South Federal Boulevard; (303) 936-4954. Lunch and dinner
daily. Credit cards accepted; $50.

Denver Ranks in Hotwire's Top Ten Vacation Values for 2007
For the second year in a row, Denver ranked among Hotwire's Top Ten in their prestigious value rankings. The 'Hotwire Travel Value Index: Best U.S. Places for Value Vacations in 2007' identifies destinations with the preeminent combinations of value and vacation experience. Denver was awarded No. 6, ahead of Los Angeles, Chicago, Cleveland and Washington, D.C.
Building on its deep expertise in saving money on travel, Hotwire created the Travel Value Index to help Americans find where they will get the most vacation for their money. The Travel Value Index evaluates and ranks 50 U.S. markets across three categories:

Discounts on air, rental car and hotel (25 percent of overall score)

Low prices on air, rental car and hotel (50 percent of overall score)

Affordable entertainment, overall appeal and choice of accommodations (25 percent of overall score)

Alaska, Continental, Frontier, JetBlue, United, Air Canada, American, American Transair, America West, Big Sky, Delta, Midwest Express, Northwest, US Airways, Southwest, Sun Country and most foreign airlines.

I personally recommend (Tess) that you use Travelocity and/or Expedia to get an idea of who has the best airfare rates to Denver. But buying your ticket directly through the airline's website usually gets you a better rate. Also if your city is served by Southwest, download DING! for the latest, lowest airfares available.

Reunion Weekend Schedule	Who Was There?	Hotel Information
Rental Cars	REGISTRATION	Airport Information
Ground Transportation		Update Your Info
50 Things to do in Denver	Misc Denver Information	Dino's 'inspirational' video!
Denver Ranks in Hotwire's Top Ten	Reunion Committee

Attending	PAID DEP.	Pd in Full	YEARS at ZHS/ZAB	CLASS	NAME		EMAIL	ST
YES		X	76-79	82	Teresa (Tess)	Almond	tess@zaragozatoros.com	AR
MAYBE			70-89	Fac	Neil	Anderson	neilhanderson@msn.com	MN
YES		X	71-74	73	Bob	Bagwell	iweycatya@yahoo.com	SC
YES		X		72	Martha (Marty)	Bagwell	Puahana6@msn.com	CO
YES		X	69-71	73	Sharon	Barham Farr (& Ken)	sharfire@aol.com	KS
YES		X		73	Marley	Beard	cautela1@mindspring.com	AZ
YES		X	70-72	73	Stan	Blum	sblum@calacademy.org
YES		X	80-83	83	Michael	Brandt	dellofalco@hotmail.com	SC
YES		X	77-80	80	Debbie	Bryant Kayser	debbryant62@hotmail.com	FL
YES		X	76-78	78	Sylvia	Carmona	sylviacarmona@yahoo.com	TX
YES		X	76-79	79	Cathy	Carmona Reed	jree60020@sbcglobal.net	CA
YES		X	73-78	78	Erik	Chavez	Zorgox@aol.com	NM
YES		X		80	James	Chavez	MICRORAD@peoplepc.com	NM
Maybe			79-82	83	Emilio	Chaviano	flyfishalaska@yahoo.com	CO
YES		X	77-79	79	David	Cheek (& Mary)	david.cheek@quantum.com	CO
YES		X	71-72	71	Joe	Clark	clark@wctc.net	WI
		X			Bart	Clennon
YES		X	70-72	73	Pam	Detwiler	pam.detwiler@aig.com	TX
YES		X			Cindy	Esterbrook
YES		X	71-72	72	Suzanne	Fortune Clark	clark@wctc.net	WI
YES		X		83	Christine	Goad Brandt	christinebrandt@yahoo.com
YES		X	73-75	75	Pam	Goins	pamgoins55@verizon.net
YES		X	71-72	72	Michael	Griffin	mgriffbigdog@aol.com	WY
YES		X	76-78	79	Mitzi	Harris Merchant	mitz308@netscape.com	TX
YES		X	78-80	82	Brooke	Hildreth	brookehildreth@earthlink.net	TX
YES	X		79-83	83	Mike	Ireland (& Jackie)	mountnmon@yahoo.com	MD
YES		X	71-72	73	Leanna	Joynt Jenner (& Dennis)	d.ljenner@rap.midco.net	SD
YES		X			Kathleen	Kerrigan Taravella (& Chris)
YES		X	79-80	80	David	Kayser	kawika1969@hotmail.com	FL
YES		X	71-85	FAC	Gerald	Ludwig (& Sharon Rawls)	luddodds@yahoo.com	FL
YES		X		78	Dean	Mack		AL
YES		X		75	Karrie	Peters Price	littlered_mom@hotmail.com,	TX
YES		X	76-79	79	Gerry	Pihl McCaffrey	Luvbuggrandma@aol.com	NV
YES		X	74-77	78	Diego	Reed		CA
YES		X	75-80	79	Michael	Rickey (& Nikki Vargas)	Michael@zaragozatoros.com	GA
YES		X		78	Dean	Rogers	deanrogersaz@yahoo.com	AZ
YES	X		76-79	80	Sheryl	Rogers Carrigan (& guest)	carriganexc@cminet.net	CO
YES		X	71-72	72	Joan	Selby	selbyje@aol.com	WY
YES		X	71-72	72	Gary & Vonetta	Shumaker	VONSCREW@YAHOO.COM	WY
YES		X	70-72	72	Lynne Judy	Umbarger (& Gardner)	lumbarger@woh.rr.com	OH
YES		X	68-72	74	Mike	Welzel (& guest)	michaelwelzel@msn.com	AZ
YES		X		72	Mike	Williams	mlw781@comcast.net	MN

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