I saw the DARK SIDE of Downtown Denver (Fort Collins: best city, hotel)

[masalamomma]

I just moved back to Colorado in December, after being away for two years. And from what I have seen, Colorado has changed, and not for the better.

Last Saturday I had a hair appointment in Lodo at 4pm, so we decided on a family outing since the weather was so nice. We loaded up our three kids and headed downtown. After we parked and started walking, we figured out quickly it was St. Patricks Day because of all the green - it had slipped my mind. The closer we got to LODO, the uglier it got. Tons of drunks walking around, all using cuss words for every adjective as they walked past my impressionable children. People cuffed and waiting for pickup for unruly behavior on one corner.

Before anyone goes off on a rant, let me just say that I have visited many a downtown all over this country, and I simply find our downtown (unfortunately), not appropriate for children. Has anyone walked around D.C. lately? - it is wonderful for children. I just think a "downtown" should have appeal and be accessible to all segments of society - not just the ones who like to indulge. It was 4 o'clock pm that we were there, not 4am.

It will take something big to entice me to return to downtown again, except getting my haircut - best haircut I have ever had. Next time I will know to leave the kiddies at home.

[SouthBayTodd]

It was St Patricks day! there were drunks stumbling around in every downtown across America. dont sweat it

[Micktooth]

I'm sorry you and your family had a not too pleasant experience. My family and I moved to the area last June from New Orleans. What you saw last Saturday can't even touch the crap that we had to endure in Nawlins. There is no excuse for the drunken and stupid behavior that you and your family witnessed. But when you walk around a city which has one of the largest St Pats parades in the country, your bound to find some idiots. Please don't charactarize the entire downtown Denver area based on this. I agree there are some areas that I would not take my family to. But compared to the city we left, New Orleans, downtown Denver is a walk in the park! Remember, the grass is always greener...

[AtlantaCruiser]

Completeley true.

Originally Posted by SouthBayTodd

It was St Patricks day! there were drunks stumbling around in every downtown across America. dont sweat it

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by SouthBayTodd

It was St Patricks day! there were drunks stumbling around in every downtown across America. dont sweat it

We were at Disneyland, they were there too!!!!

[Mike from back east]

Two dates worth staying home: New Year's Eve and St Patrick's Day.

Both are "amateur night" as far as the hotel and bar trades are concerned.

[masterallan]

Is the original poster kidding me?

I made the mistake of biking over to 16th street mall saturday afternoon for a little sightseeing as it has been months since I was there last. Boy was that a mistake. Immediately I recalled it was st. patrick's day, people loitering around, yelling profanities, making noise, acting stupid. Lots of "Frat boys" probably from the local university too (this statement coming from a 20 something college grad). Some people look like they have been drinking and "celebrating" since thursday night. A pity they will not remember anything over the weekend. I was there for about 1/2 hour before getting out.

[Rumblebelly]

I love St Paddy's day, Guinness, Irish Car Bombs, Jameson, Bushmills, green hills, old pubs....

But I avoid any downtown that day. I hate crowds, especially if a large chunk of them are drunk. Even if I'm drunk too! That day we went to the Fort Collins parade, went home, and went to a Mexican resturant for dinner.

I had my Guinness at home. Then Sunday, we went to a pub and I had my Guinness again. It was so quiet there that day. LOL.

[masalamomma]

[quote=masterallan;486939]Is the original poster kidding me?

No, I am not kidding. I also got out right after my haircut, and likely wont be back.

My absolutely favorite News Years Celebration of all time was in downtown Baltimore. It was New Years 1996, and there was a FAMILY-ORIENTED concert, everyone old and young was dancing. Followed by an amazing fireworks display set to music at midnight. We were still reeling from the all the family fun we had the next day.

I also will never forget a Celtic Festival my whole family attended in Downtown Chicago a couple years later. We got to see the band that played in the hull of the ship in the movie Titanic. There were plenty of people there that could have used such a festival as a reason to drink and get drunk, but I didn't see any of that at all. It was a fun event for everyone.

So I don't buy it that a downtown cannot appeal to everyone even on holidays like New Years and St. Patricks Day.

The whole situation reminds me of a trip I took last summer. I was staying in D.C., and for my anniversary we decided on a family outing to my favorite part of Baltimore called Fells Point. We had lived there years before and I just loved the quaint European charm of that neighborhood, with its cafes, shops, and farmers market.

I was absolutely mortified after arriving when all we found left of the quaint neighborhood was boarded-up windows, tatoo parlours, adult shops, and drunken cesspool type bars. I couldn't believe my eyes, and was so angry at the mayor for letting that happen to such a wonderful place.

Now, granted downtown Denver isn't like that now. But if it becomes a place for only adults, then that may be the direction it goes in. Granted, it could take a few years. I am sure Fells Point didn't turn into the horrible place that it is today overnight.

[tfox]

Those of us who have been around for a while remember when LoDo was boarded up, dangerous, and filled with debris, dirt, crime, and countless social issues. Things aren't perfect even now, but downtown Denver has come a long way, and will continue to move that direction.

One of the most encouraging signs is that Denver is slowly becoming a place where people want to live, rather than just a place to entertain on weekends and then head out to the suburbs. The experience you had is certainly more the latter, but thankfully we're trying to make a city here where we no longer depend on those coming in from outside to enjoy our amenities, but build community based on the large number of us who live here and have a vested interest in our neighborhoods and environment.

I get tired of the suburbs vs. the city nonsense anyway. If the apple is rotton at the core, then it doesn't matter how shiny it is in the outside. We all have a vested interest in making Denver the best city that it can be.