How to get a feel for the city and its people (Colorado Springs: chapel, homes)

[newbeginnings]

Hello everyone,

I am a lady in my mid-forties who anticipates a job offer on the east side near the airport, and will visit within the next couple of weeks. Where should I walk/drive through to get the Spring's flavor? Will it be difficult to make friends if I am no longer on the Christian path?

Thanks,
newbeginnings

[Noyd]

There are 2 areas you might truly enjoy. Definately go to Manitou Springs. My favorite. I'd like to live there, but can't afford the property prices. It has an open feel as far as politics and religion. Holistic healers, crystal shops, hemp clothing, cozy coffee shops. There's a restaurant with a pool table and it's smoky, but it has the best cranberry and walnut salad and steaks. Its just as you enter Manitou proper on the right side. Manitou is tucked inbetween Mtns. and is quaint. Woodland Park is up the pass on 24 west into the mountains. It's growing and will have a hospital soon. Lovely country, open spaces. Windy commute down the pass to the Springs at times. The hiking in these 2 areas is great. (We belong to a small group that hikes on Saturdays). Just outside of downtown Colorado Springs (to the west) is Old Colorado City. Lots of great little shops, galleries, restaurants. Go to Celebration Bookstore on Colorado Ave. - locals. Wicca meetings, yoga, holistic health. You'll love the open atmosphere there as well. All 3 areas are a mix of income levels. Diverse in many ways which give them a unique flavor. Most of us who know Colorado Springs live north of Colorado Springs. (It's really really uptight up here). There's little pockets of liberals, but it takes awhile to ferret them out. Try meeting friendly open and tolerant folks at Unity church on 1945 Mesa Rd, Community of Spritual Living on 3685 Jeannine Dr., All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church on 730 N. Tejon, Eckankar on 1685 W. Uinatah, and Buddhists' meet at Shove Chapel at Colorado College Campus call 684-0210 for info. The city of Colorado Springs is small for a city of 500,000 people (in El Paso county). It's got the southwest feel, and has lots of restaurants, coffee shops (go to Poor Richard's on Tejon - locals), go to the Kimball Theater on Pikes Peak Ave (some movies show there that don't show at Cinemark). Visit our Fine Arts Center (on going art classes at Bemis Art School) and Pioneer Museum. Our downtown is small and you can walk the 3 major streets north and south and several that go east and west. Wonderful gallery on Colorado Ave.: go west out of town: Cottonwood Artists School and Gallery. On going classes (all local artists with about 30 studios at this location). Cascade Ave. going north out of downtown has nice victorian homes. Downtown area to live in is a mix of people and ideas. College students are on Cascade and Nevada Ave. Most of everything else to the east of the city is developer sprawl - just a sea of rooftops. There's an airline corridor of traffic noise (north to south) from the Black Forest area going over Peterson AFB to the C.S. airport. Fort Carson is to the south. Fountain, Security and Widefield are iffy to live in. Lots and lots of conservatives and republicans here! I'd like to visit Eugene, Oregon for a change of pace.

[newbeginnings]

Thanks for the incredible tour! Actually, I am practicing Bhakti yoga, which is a very conservative lifestyle focused on devotional service to God.

Best wishes,
nb