How easy/hard is it to make friends? (Denver: big house, neighborhoods)

[Quicie]

Originally Posted by jdalton4000

I was sitting at my computer lamenting at the fact that I have been in Denver 3 months and haven't made any friends and BANG! I read this thread. Where were you when I was moving from Maryland and reading how Colorado was full of unicorns and magic gold dust! Just kidding, actually I left Maryland because I felt it was a cold and unfriendly place, but then again I left Miami because I thought it was a hot and unfriendly place. I work hard to make friends, I really do. I join the clubs and go to the meetings and generally do stuff but it never works and you know why? Because to make friends I need that real connection. That's why most of us can't find friends so easily because we don't take friendship lightly. To me just one real friend is the greatest gift the universe can give but it's not given generously or without a struggle. I moved to Denver because I thought "what the hell, if I don't make any friends at least I'll be alone in a cool place". I am now a member of numerous hiking and biking clubs, I haven't made any friends yet but I will never give up hope or give up trying. I suggest you all do the same. Take solace in one thing...as far as this thread is concerned...we're all being lonely together......sorry, that was really cheezy

You hit the nail on the head. I would rather have a real connection with someone. I wouldn't want someone around that does not care for me much.

[wanttomoveeast]

interesting posts after mine. I just met my neighbor (kitty corner from me) who has been here the past 4 yrs., same as me. I felt kind of like a moron, why didn't I go over there and meet them? When I lived downtown, I always knew my neighbors. Now I just adopt the surburban attitude and drive into my garage and go inside without ever seeing my neighbors. It's part of that distancing I was talking about. I think it happened way back when we became industrial. There are a lot of sociologists who study this. And really there's no going back.

So after our posts about being more friendly, I rode the shuttle to the bus stop. There was this nice couple that was obviously from out of town, looking kind of lost. I asked them if they needed help getting somewhere. They looked surprised at first and then said, YEAH! We are trying to get to (can't remember the name of the restaurant). I knew it though and gave them easy directions. They also seemed afraid of getting out of the shuttle when it was so packed. I told them, just gently push and say excuse me several times and people will move.

I felt much better.

[mikalabrynn]

Originally Posted by wanttomoveeast

When I lived downtown, I always knew my neighbors.

Where did you live downtown? Did you like it?

[wanttomoveeast]

Let's see, it was more like Capitol Hill, and then Five Points, and then Governer's Park, and then Washington Park. I loved it all. Each had their own neatness to it. I made the best friends of my life there. Life long friends. I had complete strangers help me. I helped complete strangers. There is a type of comraderie (sp.?) there. It's vastly different than the burb I live in now, Thornton.

Why do you ask?

[mikalabrynn]

Well, I'm planning to move to Denver later this summer and I'm trying to figure out where. I don't know where my job will be yet, but I think I REALLY want to live downtown. I'm coming to Denver in 3 weeks for just Saturday and Sunday and I want to cover as much ground as possible in looking for what area I would like to live in. I get so many different opinions of downtown it's nuts. I just want to be in an area that friendly and with people in my similar situation - twenties, single, professional. I like to go out for a cocktail/drink or two on my weekends and the occasional happy hours. I'm not be any means a partier anymore, but can still deal with noise. I also will most likely somewhat be on a budget. I will probably be able to afford about $700 for rent. My friend MIGHT move with me so a two bedroom might be an option, but I'm concentrating on one bedrooms because I don't know how serious she is about it...so that's my story...type away

[BHallDDS]

Originally Posted by mikalabrynn

Well, I'm planning to move to Denver later this summer and I'm trying to figure out where. I don't know where my job will be yet, but I think I REALLY want to live downtown. I'm coming to Denver in 3 weeks for just Saturday and Sunday and I want to cover as much ground as possible in looking for what area I would like to live in. I get so many different opinions of downtown it's nuts. I just want to be in an area that friendly and with people in my similar situation - twenties, single, professional. I like to go out for a cocktail/drink or two on my weekends and the occasional happy hours. I'm not be any means a partier anymore, but can still deal with noise. I also will most likely somewhat be on a budget. I will probably be able to afford about $700 for rent. My friend MIGHT move with me so a two bedroom might be an option, but I'm concentrating on one bedrooms because I don't know how serious she is about it...so that's my story...type away

Mikala...I was in your same situation a couple of months ago. I'm twenties/single/professional just like you said you are. I'm actually moving to Denver on June 1st...I haven't lived there yet but I did research, talked with a bunch of people, looked around so I kind of have an idea.

Since you are single and in your 20s I would for sure live somewhere downtown or very near downtown. It's like any other big city, if you are downtown you'll be around lots of single professionals. Opportunities for socializing are abundant. I have seen lots of young professionals out and about downtown Denver when I've spent time there. I also like to have my fair share of cocktails but don't like to get hammered both Friday and Saturday nights. I'm past that whole crazy college party scene. I think this is kind of where you are at too.

In terms of which exact area...check out | Live Downtown Denver | Brought To You By The Downtown Denver Partnership |. It describes the so called "eleven neighborhoods" of downtown. Each one of them has their own flavor and you can read about them there. You can also search for aparments too. I personally looked at living in LoDo/Ballpark, Golden Triangle, Business district and Uptown. I ended up renting at Downtown Denver Apartment | The Boulevard Denver, Colorado | Denver Apartment Rental | Luxury Apartment Cherry Creek Denver in the Golden Triangle. A friend of mine lived there and highly recommended it and I was super impressed with the building/people and the rent wasn't too outrageous. It's close to the Interstate (I work in the suburbs), close to coffee shops, restaurants, bars, Cherry Creek trail is right across Speer Blvd., etc. but doesn't have that crazy/just out of college craziness to it. The Capitol Building, Library and Art musuem area (I LOVE that area) are within walking distance. I decided against LoDo b/c I'm 28 and to me it seemed like more of a younger twenties inhabited place to me. The business district was most expensive and parking was an issue so I negated that too. Uptown was just a little too residential for me. Golden Triangle for me was kind of the best of all worlds.

The only problem I see is your rent budget. You'll have a hard time finding a nice one bedroom downtown for less than $1000. If you do, it'll probably not be too desirable of a place. However, you might be able to score a small studio for that. Your friend moving with you would be ideal b/c then $1400 (both of you paying $700) is much more realistic. It's unfortunate that this is the case with rent but here in Chicago (where I'm moving from) it's much worse and I'm not real sure how most people afford to live downtown.

Good luck in your search. Btw, I'm so pumped to move to Denver in two weeks.

-Brandon

[wanttomoveeast]

hmm, well, it's been a long time since I rented in those areas. I just looked too because I wanted to sell my house and move back downtown. But my husband and I are spoiled and it's hard to go back to smaller quarters. We were looking for a two-bed or two rooms and we also wanted a pool. The pool factor really pushed rent up. Even when we ditched the pool idea, we were looking at about $1400. Things are changing downtown. The housing crashes in the burbs are forcing people to move to the downtown area and landlords aren't dumb. They jack up rates. Then we have the DNC coming which already has some people in hysterics. My building is having a meeting on how to deal with the DNC. My firm is allowing people to work from home that week.

But... with that said, I believe there is still affordable housing. If we would have lowered our standards a bit we would have been just fine. I think you can easily find a one bed for $700, but it'll be tiny. My brother pays somewhere around $500-$600 for a studio. And he's right off of Colfax, which is sort of undesirable but not really. It's hard to explain. Capitol Hill is strange, one block is great, the next a little rough. There are many different housing options. You have to get off the beaten track. Look at Craigslist. Stay away from the big highrise buildings. Look at houses.

This might have changed, but I've always found apartments by parking in a certain cross-street, say Sherman and 11th, and walking from there. People often don't advertise in these areas, they just prop up a sign. So if you only have Sat. and Sun., hit the streets early. Take pen, paper and cell phone. Call the places as you see them. Look for the mgr.'s name on the buzzer list in the lobby areas.

I should also say I'm in my mid-30s. I love happy hour because I'm home by 7pm. I don't club or party anymore, but am very social. I am a professional and definitely prefer hanging out downtown to out where I live in the burb. You can find what you are looking for on the Hill. I think. I guess I think it's your best shot. I just read the other post about the Blvd. It's on Broadway and new and does look pretty cool. Because it's new, it's pricier. The apts. on the Hill are much older, in fact it's the original part of Denver. Hence, rent is cheaper.

Hope this helps.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by mikalabrynn

Well, I'm planning to move to Denver later this summer and I'm trying to figure out where. I don't know where my job will be yet, but I think I REALLY want to live downtown. I'm coming to Denver in 3 weeks for just Saturday and Sunday and I want to cover as much ground as possible in looking for what area I would like to live in. I get so many different opinions of downtown it's nuts. I just want to be in an area that friendly and with people in my similar situation - twenties, single, professional. I like to go out for a cocktail/drink or two on my weekends and the occasional happy hours. I'm not be any means a partier anymore, but can still deal with noise. I also will most likely somewhat be on a budget. I will probably be able to afford about $700 for rent. My friend MIGHT move with me so a two bedroom might be an option, but I'm concentrating on one bedrooms because I don't know how serious she is about it...so that's my story...type away

There are many areas of Denver where you could find a rental in your price range. Look around DU. That is not far from downtown, and yet rents are lower. My DD lives over there, and it doesn't seem like it's full of undergrads. And the undergrad apts probably wouldn't be your cup of tea anyway.

[Quicie]

Originally Posted by BHallDDS

Mikala...I was in your same situation a couple of months ago. I'm twenties/single/professional just like you said you are. I'm actually moving to Denver on June 1st...I haven't lived there yet but I did research, talked with a bunch of people, looked around so I kind of have an idea.

Since you are single and in your 20s I would for sure live somewhere downtown or very near downtown. It's like any other big city, if you are downtown you'll be around lots of single professionals. Opportunities for socializing are abundant. I have seen lots of young professionals out and about downtown Denver when I've spent time there. I also like to have my fair share of cocktails but don't like to get hammered both Friday and Saturday nights. I'm past that whole crazy college party scene. I think this is kind of where you are at too.

In terms of which exact area...check out | Live Downtown Denver | Brought To You By The Downtown Denver Partnership |. It describes the so called "eleven neighborhoods" of downtown. Each one of them has their own flavor and you can read about them there. You can also search for aparments too. I personally looked at living in LoDo/Ballpark, Golden Triangle, Business district and Uptown. I ended up renting at Downtown Denver Apartment | The Boulevard Denver, Colorado | Denver Apartment Rental | Luxury Apartment Cherry Creek Denver in the Golden Triangle. A friend of mine lived there and highly recommended it and I was super impressed with the building/people and the rent wasn't too outrageous. It's close to the Interstate (I work in the suburbs), close to coffee shops, restaurants, bars, Cherry Creek trail is right across Speer Blvd., etc. but doesn't have that crazy/just out of college craziness to it. The Capitol Building, Library and Art musuem area (I LOVE that area) are within walking distance. I decided against LoDo b/c I'm 28 and to me it seemed like more of a younger twenties inhabited place to me. The business district was most expensive and parking was an issue so I negated that too. Uptown was just a little too residential for me. Golden Triangle for me was kind of the best of all worlds.

The only problem I see is your rent budget. You'll have a hard time finding a nice one bedroom downtown for less than $1000. If you do, it'll probably not be too desirable of a place. However, you might be able to score a small studio for that. Your friend moving with you would be ideal b/c then $1400 (both of you paying $700) is much more realistic. It's unfortunate that this is the case with rent but here in Chicago (where I'm moving from) it's much worse and I'm not real sure how most people afford to live downtown.

Good luck in your search. Btw, I'm so pumped to move to Denver in two weeks.

-Brandon

That link you put up is pretty cool. I'm planning to visit soon and that helped a lot.

[mikalabrynn]

Ok. A couple questions for those that responded (thanks by the way). Is "The Hill" Capitol Hill? I'm assuming DU is Denver University???? And most of you say that staying downtown might be out of my price range....where would you recommend that's as close to downtown as possible, cheaper, and safe?