Bike to Work Day Denver

Image courtesy Pixabay

Denver is home to the second largest Bike to Work day celebration, so Happy Bike to Work Day, fellow Denverites! According to a March 2015 CBS 4 report, Denver bike commuting increased by 43% when compared to the previous year. Were you among the 20, 067 people who registered to "bike to work" today? If so, you may have taken advantage of free breakfast or other freebies, but just because you may have forgotten to register or ride, that doesn't mean you have completely missed out on the bike to work incentives. Here are some of the benefits of biking to work, from the official Bike to Work Day website.

• Exercise and commute combined - we're all busy, so why not multi-task?
• Save money - from filling up the gas tank to car insurance, driving adds up, and so does bus fare.
• Environmentally-friendly - riding a bike does not add pollutants to the air! 

If you cannot take part in any of this year's festivities, but would still like to consider biking to work as a transportation option, here are some things to consider:

• Map out a plan: Plan your route to work ahead of time, taking things like bike lanes and heavily congested vehicle traffic areas into consideration. It may be helpful to plot your route on Google maps and keep your smartphone handy as you ride (safely, of course).
• Check the weather: Nobody wants to arrive at work dripping in sweat or soaked to the bone from the rain. Perhaps bring a change of clothing and shoes.
• For additional tips on a smooth driving to biking transition, read this recent article from The Denver Post.

Another thing you can do to increase your involvement in biking is to register for an upcoming ride! Bike Denver is a useful resource on upcoming biking races and rides.

The Amaranth's location has a Bike Score of 90, meaning "flat as a pancake, excellent bike lanes!" Cheeseman Park, located just down the street, is a great location to practice biking if it has been a while since you have ridden. So, what are you waiting for! Summer is the perfect season to not only hit the trails, but hit the streets and refresh your methods of transportation!

Breckenridge Brewery's Littleton Opening

Image courtesy Pixabay

If you have grown up or lived in Colorado for a significant amount of time, you have surely been raised to or have morphed into a lover of craft beer. Whether you love craft beer or have been desperately searching for the perfect Father's Day gift for Dad (yes, it's this Sunday, June 21), this ought to pique your interest - This Sunday the Littleton location of Breckenridge Brewery is celebrating its grand opening!

Tours of the new brewery begin on Sunday, and the brewery will continue to host four tour groups per day, Wednesday through Monday. The Littleton campus location is 12 acres and consists of three different buildings. What does a tour of the facility entail for guests? Tours begin in a tasting room, where you and your guests will enjoy a sample of delicious craft beer,  and views of the brewery mezzanine, barrelhouse and packaging areas. At the conclusion of the tour, guests will enjoy a flight of beer. Tours cost $3 for those 21 and over. Guests under 21 years of age may also participate in tours, minus the sampling, of course. Breckenridge Brewery currently produces more than 65,000 barrels of beer each and every day, making it the largest craft beer producer in the Denver/Littleton area.

In addition to the beginning of tours, the brewery will also open its beer garden, complete with bocce ball courts, to the public on Sunday. Guests may also choose to dine at the on-site Farm House Restaurant, which features delicious "Colorado fresh" fare.

Are you interested in taking a tour of this brand new local Denver attraction? Book your tour reservations through the brewery's website, or by calling the brewery or Farm House restaurant directly. The Littleton campus of Breckenridge Brewery is located just south of Denver, off of Highway 85, so it's easy for you and your guests to get there. From your apartment home at The Amaranth to the brewery is approximately a half-hour drive.

Do you prefer to buy dad a gift or an experience for Father's Day? Do you plan to tour the Breckenridge Brewery Littleton campus? Share your thoughts with us on The Amaranth's Facebook and Twitter pages!

Additional sources consulted:

Westword

Yoga on the Rocks

How would you like to relieve stress, get in a great workout and enjoy one of Colorado's most beautiful attractions? No, Yoga on the Rocks is not a cocktail you can order, but it is something to be excited about! Each year up to 2,000 yogis practice yoga at Red Rocks Amphitheater on Saturdays throughout the summer in what is known at Yoga on the Rocks.

The 2015 Yoga on the Rocks schedule has just been released. Dates include July 25, August 1, August 8 and August 15. The time for each of these events is from 7 to 8 AM. Sessions are $12 individually or $38 for a season pass. What's also great is that $1 from each ticket sale will be donated to Whole Foods' Whole Planet Foundation. Please note, tickets will not be available at the event - you should purchase your tickets either online or over the phone. Each session features a different instructor, but all sessions will be a Vinyasa flow accompanied by music! It's a great way to try out different instructors' styles to see which type fits your practice the best!

Ready to do downward dog as the sun comes up? Just make sure you print and sign the liability form, and that anyone under 18 is accompanied by an adult! Gather your friends, your significant other and the whole family for a fun yoga outing! It's always nice to have a change of scenery to vary your workouts, and what better background can you imagine than Red Rocks?!

Whether you practice yoga daily, attend classes at The Amaranth, or want to try it for the first time with a friend who has begging you to go to class, you will definitely feel energized after Yoga on the Rocks! If the early time has you down, just remember it is only a 30-minute drive from your apartment home at The Amaranth to Red Rocks Amphitheater! In addition, Visit Colorado ranks Yoga on the Rocks as one of the "5 Things to See and Do" at Red Rocks.

Have you practiced yoga at Red Rocks in summers past? Do you plan on attending this year? Share your feedback with us on The Amaranth's Facebook and Twitter pages! Namaste!

Additional sources consulted:

Core Power Yoga

Denver PrideFest

According to a Gallup poll published in The New York Times, the Denver metropolitan area has one of the highest LGBT populations in the country at 4.6%. As the city and its residents do each year, we are gearing up to celebrate our LGBT residents at 2015 Denver PrideFest! PrideFest is not only celebrating the LGBT life, but its 40th year!

2015 PrideFest will be held on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21 in Civic Center Park and the surrounding areas, when more than 365,000 people are expected to attend over the weekend! Highlights of PrideFest include the CoorsLight Parade, Walmart Family Area, The Big Gay 5K, Denver Dyke March, Equality Cake and the live entertainment. There will be entertainment at three stages throughout the weekend, featuring performances and music from Mya, DJ Chula, Victor Morales, Nora del Mar, Coles Whalen and Smirnoff Dance World. The CoorsLight Parade will march down Colfax Avenue from Cheesman Park on Sunday, and will be live-streamed on the web and on Comcast channel 56.

According to Denver.org, here are the top 4 ways to enjoy PrideFest:

1. Don't miss the Dogs in Drag Parade on Saturday.
2. Bring the whole family. Denver PrideFest has been independently rated as the most family friendly Pride in the nation.
3. Come early to Sunday's parade to get a good spot. This event is a favorite event every year with colorful floats from sponsors, nonprofits, local businesses, organizations, and politicians filling the streets.
4. Catch some of the other events happening around town in celebration of PrideFest, such as Women's Pride at Tracks Nightclub (June 19, 2015), presented by Babes Around Denver, or the Big Gay 5K (June 20, 2015, 10 a.m.), which is open to walkers, runners, kids, adults, gay and straight. 

Depending on which PrideFest activities you are interested in attending, getting there from your apartment home at The Amaranth can either be a quick drive or a quick walk. If it's the parade you want to see on Sunday, Cheesman Park is just a 5-minute walk away! If you would like to attend the activities at Civic Center park, driving or biking would be easier than walking. The park is about a 10-minute drive away from The Amaranth.

Have you attended PrideFest in the past? Which events are your favorites? Share your thoughts on The Amaranth's Facebook and Twitter pages!