Colorado & Utah 2019:
Day 8 - Denver

	Saturday, May 25, 2019: We checked out of our hotel in Golden and headed into Denver. We opted for McDonald's for breakfast instead of Winchell's, but only because Winchell's wasn't on the way this time.
	We drove through downtown Denver ...
	... and arrived at the Molly Brown House Museum well before it opened. We had limited time this morning and needed to get into the first tour of the day.
	It's easy to tell why the house was named the House of Lions.
	We waited outside the Carriage House behind the main house, which is where the visitor's center is located.
	We had another great day of weather so it was a pleasant wait outside for us and for the small group who waited with us.
	We got our tickets ...
	... then visited the basement of the house where the restrooms are located, along with additional historical displays. This display of the Titanic noted that Margaret Brown was one of the survivors of that sinking.
	Our tour started at 10:00 AM sharp, but our tour guide couldn't get the front door opened, so she gave us an overview from behind the screen door.
	Seven minutes later, she got some help and we were let in.
	We started our tour in the large entry way.
	It featured heavy fabric curtains and a fireplace, ...
	... plus a large portrait of Margaret Brown, called "Maggie" by her friends and family. She never went by Molly, but that name is what got publicized after her death, so that's what we know her as.
	There is a beautiful wooden staircase leading to the second floor, ...
	... with beautiful stained glasswork on the landing.
	The parlor was opposite it at the front of the house.
	It also had a fireplace, plus a beautiful antique piano.
	The library was located behind the parlor.
	It, too, contained a piano.
	This house was occupied by both families and businesses over the years, including Ms. Farmer's Private School for Private Secretaries, which was featured in an informational display in the center of the room.
	Beyond that was a study, with another fireplace ...
	... and a desk.
	Across the hallway from the library was the dining room. Behind the dining room was the pantry and the kitchen, which we'll see later.
	On the second floor, we sat for a while to listen to more stories before exploring the rooms on our own.
	Here's the sunroom at the front of the house just over the entry way.
	Here's the front bedroom over the living room. This was Maggie's daughter, Helen's bedroom.
	Behind the front bedroom, with the same wonderful bay windows as the library below it, is Maggie's bedroom.
	Behind that bedroom is Maggie's son, Tobin's room. We're now at the back right corner of the house, ...
	... and here's Maggie's husband, J.J.'s study in the back left corner of the house.
	Tucked between the two rooms in back was a bathroom.
	Finally, here's the last bedroom on the floor, located next to the stairwell. This was J.J.'s bedroom.
	Next, we visited the third floor. There's a narrow servants' staircase in back but we took the big stairs.
	Here's the front right side of the house (as viewed from the street). This used to be the children's playroom but it is now used for private functions.
	Here's the other side of the room.
	This was a cute display.
	We took the servants' stairs back to the first floor, ...
	... where we saw the kitchen ...
	... and pantry.
	There was a china cabinet on one side ...
	... and vintage canned goods and spices on the pantry shelves on the other side.
	Hey! Those are Schilling Spice tins!
	We finished up the tour and headed back to our car.
	We had hoped to stop by Voodoo Doughnut to add it to our collection, but we had very little time and the line inside wasn't worth the wait, so this photo will have to do. (Editor's note: we finally made it here in February 2021).
	There were some great business signs in this area including Satire Lounge, ...
	... Pete's Kitchen, ...
	... and Lion's Lair.
	We got to Dianne and Other Tom's house shortly after 11:00 AM. (Reminder: We are now back to the Other Tom from last weekend in Steamboat Springs, not Other Tom from Moab.)
	Dianne showed us to our fancy guest room. There were chocolates and tiny Diet Cokes waiting for us.
	We hung out on the front porch for a while.
	Nancy's family was running late so we decided to go do a little sightseeing in Other Tom and Dianne's shiny Tesla.
	Other Tom demonstrated the features of the car. See that bus up ahead?
	So does the Tesla.
	We passed the Colorado State Capitol, all shiny in the sun.
	When we got a little warm, Tom and Other Tom were happy to adjust the airflow in the car. Pretty graphics simulated the airflow as it was being adjusted.
	We headed to Dairy Block and parked underground. It's a multi-use complex with bars, restaurants, shops, and office space.
	Debbie was especially pleased with this art piece made with Post-It Notes.
	We both loved this wooden sculpture hanging from an equally cool wooden ceiling.
	We cut through this beautiful bar to reach the alleyway outside.
	Here's the alleyway where there was plenty to see and do.
	We were here to see the art installation, Musical Churns, installed in 2017. Artist Nikki Pike created them and our very own Other Tom made the electronic magic occur.
	This was the first of seven. When you held the handle and cranked it in a circle, the barrel's lights activated and a short musical piece played. This was "The Dream," composed and performed by Kolio Plachkov of the Colorado Symphony.
	Other Tom posed by another one of the barrels, ...
	... then demonstrated turning the crank. This one was "Ceremonial Fanfare," composed and performed by Justin Bartels of the Colorado Symphony.
	Dianne activated another one of the barrels.
	Dianne noted that it's easier to see the colored lights activate at night than in bright daylight.
	We wandered further down the block.
	Here are some of the buildings overlooking the alley.
	Oooh! Another time capsule! This one is waiting to be opened in 2068, so we can assume it was placed in 2018.
	We love seeing custom drainhole covers.
	Dairy Block had several. This was was marked Storm/Sewer.
	Even the drain grates were custom made for Dairy Block.
	Here's another musical barrel.
	This one was "Angel Churns," composed and performed by Courtney Hershey Bress of the Colorado Symphony.
	This place must be cool to see at night with all of the lights on.
	The sidewalk featured many deep thoughts.
	This barrel featured "Front Porch" composed and performed by Ben Odhner of the Colorado Symphony.
	Macalester College grads Dianne and Debbie especially liked this deep thought in the sidewalk: "Well-behaved women seldom make history."
	How's that for an ice cream cone sign?
	The dairy theme is adorable. This sign listed the various food vendors right inside.
	Here's the last barrel on the block. Note the shiny handle from being turned by hundreds of visitors.
	We walked through the open food vendor area. All of the different displays were works of art. Here's an ice cream display.
	These tropical life preservers decorated the Mopoke shop.
	Look at all these colorful veggies and salads!
	This is the first time we'd ever seen fresh pasta to go. Just pasta.
	Moo!
	Mmmm, fresh seafood.
	This salad vendor had pretty glass lights for decorations.
	We drove a couple of blocks to Union Station. The exterior hadn't changed much ...
	... since our last visit when we arrived by Amtrak in 2006, shown here.
	The interior had changed significantly, with tables where waiting room seats used to be, and a bar where the ticket offices once were.
	Here's how it looked in 2006.
	A plaque on the back of the building noted that it had been redone in 2014.
	Also in the back of the building was a gorgeous new terminal for Denver's light rail system.
	In front of the building was some sort of street market and this beautiful butterfly display.
	We hopped back into the Tesla to head back. Note the people crossing the street in front of us, and the little person indicating this on the screen.
	Cool mural.
	We drove past Larimer Square.
	We passed University of Colorado - Denver.
	Here's the Convention and Performing Arts Center.
	Wicked was currently showing, and Nancy and Elisa would be seeing it the next evening.
	More cool murals.
	We passed the historic A. B. Hirschfeld Press building.
	Then we returned to Dianne's house where Tortuga the cat was waiting for us, along with Nancy, Elisa, and Baxter.
	It was nearly 2:00 and we were all starving, so we immediately headed out for a walk to get lunch.
	The Toms talked about engineering stuff along the way.
	We passed many cool houses along the way.
	With many different architectural tastes represented in our group, there wasn't a lot of agreement on which houses we all wanted to own. We were probably the only two who love this style of home.
	It was a 20 minute walk to the Cherry Creek area, ...
	... home of Duffy's Cherry Cricket.
	With a group as large as ours who required outdoor seating because we had Baxter along, we had to wait a while before we were seated, so when the food arrived, we inhaled it.
	Mmmm, delicious. Debbie had the Colorado Bison burger and Tom had the ground turkey burger with onion strings.
	Our bellies full, we headed out for our walk back. Baxter had been a good boy and stayed out of sight under the table, and he was ready to get out and walk with his people again.
	Here's another metal animal statue. How cute are those mountain lion cubs?
	More cool homes.
	The garden/wall on this one caught our attention.
	Pretty.
	More pretty.
	When we returned to Dianne's house, Nancy's husband, Jim, joined us.
	He had been visiting his mother and he brought with him a stash of cool political pins he had just gotten from her.
	Jim left again to take Baxter to his mom's so that Baxter couldn't torment Tortuga. Dianne and Other Tom also left for a while because they had a graduation party to attend. So, Nancy, Tom, Elisa, and Debbie enjoyed the lovely late afternoon by playing a card game.
	We went inside to warm up the dinner that Dianne had previously prepared. Elisa had a great time pushing Tortuga around the house in her pet stroller.
	Tortuga loved it too. Meanwhile, we were snacking on soft cheeses, grapes, hummus, carrots, and crackers. In the oven, we were warming up potatoes and squash, and beef bourguignon was warming up on the stove.
	We had a delicious dinner once everyone had returned, none of which was photographed because we were too busy having a great time. Dianne had baked a torte for dessert, because today was Nancy's birthday, so we all celebrated her day.
	Jim brought a bottle of one of Nancy's favorite wines - a vinho verde, which we had never heard of before. It was tasty.
	There was much laughing and we had a great time, even Tortuga. Day 9 >