Delmar Parkway - Aurora, CO

Along with surrounding neighborhoods of Aurora, Delmar Parkway acts as one of many subdivisions of the suburban town just outside of Denver. Aurora began as a town called Fletcher but quickly changed its name to Aurora after a development company spurred growth for the town in the early 20th century. With the population of Denver rapidly expanding, more people sought to move outside the city to a nearby suburb. Aurora continues to act as a popular destination today for Colorado suburb-seekers due to its close proximity to the city. The primary arts activity can be found in the Aurora Cultural Arts District.

Delmar Parkway contains a good mix of ethnic cuisine. Cooking styles range from Thai to Mexican to Indian and more. Taz Indian Restaurant outperforms many other eateries with its very popular daily lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Customers can enjoy endless curries and dahls along with crowd favorites such as the chicken tikka masala and the vegetarian samosas. If you don’t feel like going out, Taz also does delivery service to the surrounding area.

When it comes to Thai food, Sue of Siam is the place to beat. Known for its casual ambience, sizeable portions and cheap dinner prices, this Thai restaurant has become a favorite among Delmar Parkway locals. Try ordering the crispy pork fried rice or mussama curry with chicken. In addition to sit down meals, Sue of Siam has a takeout service for those looking to grab a meal on the go.

Live music enthusiasts should check out Soiled Dove Underground for performances from local and regional bands. As the go to performance venue for smaller concerts, Soiled Dove features an intimate concert going experience with good views of the stage no matter where you stand. Drink prices at this bar are competitive with surrounding pubs as well, so the venue also acts as a great place to simply grab a beer with friends.

For the ultimate dive bar experience, head over to The Hangar Bar. This tiki-hut-style aviation bar constantly provides fun events and activities for people coming through its doors. Tuesday nights prove to be exceedingly popular with ladies receiving happy hour prices on drinks all night and free billiards games for all. Stop in on a Friday to catch karaoke night with a live DJ. Another big highlight of The Hangar Bar is the nightly drink specials, so be sure to check the board before you order.

Delmar Parkway includes multiple options when it comes to getting around, despite the fact that most residents still own cars as their primary means of transportation. The network of bike lanes throughout the neighborhood prove to be a standout feature of the transportation system. Cyclists can easily navigate throughout the Aurora area and beyond by sticking to these lanes set aside specifically for commuting cyclists. Many residents of the neighborhood can also walk to a few nearby amenities such as coffee shops and convenience stores. However, this happens only occasionally. Bus stops can be found at nearly every other block of the neighborhood with three different bus lines running through Delmar Parkway.

Those with cars can find access to Interstate 225 by taking either Mississippi Avenue or Alameda Avenue. Parking spaces can usually be found along streets or in store parking lots with the majority of lots available free of charge. Taxis only come by the area on weekends, so if you need a ride, try calling ahead of time or use Uber as an alternative service.

Located directly south of the neighborhood, Expo Park gives residents plenty of options for outdoor activities. Among the most popular amenities included in this large park is a free 18-hole disc golf course. The area presents an ideal space for children to play, with a playground, basketball court, tennis court and plenty of open fields for other outdoor games.

Those looking to exercise can explore the network of walking trails through the wooded areas of the park. Many residents enjoy bringing pets to the park for walking or even playing fetch in the open field. A noteworthy features of Expo Park is that it lies along the Highline Canal Trail, a paved path running through Aurora that hosts many walkers, runners and cyclists everyday. The community recreation center hosts many of the events year round and can be found at the south end of the park area. Some classes offered through the park include cooking, dog training and crafts.

One of Delmar Parkway’s standout features is the affordable cost of living in the neighborhood. Compared to the city of Denver and many surrounding neighborhoods, locals pay less on average for transportation, amenities and housing. Gas prices around Delmar Parkway average out at 11 percent lower than the national price level. In addition, a one-way bus ticket to the city only costs $1.75. If you’re going out to a pub, expect to see beer on tap for around $3 to $4 a pint. The real money saver here are the housing costs. One-bedroom residences in this neighborhood can typically be found for around $581 a month.

The center of commerce revolves around Town Center at Aurora, the central shopping mall of the neighborhood. This mall includes the typical chain retail establishments for shopping, along with a few specialty shops. Outside of the mall, Safari Thrift Store provides used and new clothing, furniture and accessories at amazingly low prices. And even better, all proceeds from sales go directly to educating refugees from Africa. Stop in on a sale day to find shirts, pants and sweaters for as low as $3 a piece.

Another good place to find bargains is Plum Consignment. This clothing store tends to focus more on women's items and boutique clothing. With both designer and name brands hanging on their racks, Plum Consignment contains a good mix of high fashion and everyday wear.

In accordance with the suburban feel of Delmar Parkway, most residents complete their weekly grocery shopping at big department stores such as Target and Safeway. Both of these establishments can conveniently be found within a 2-mile radius of the neighborhood. In contrast, some people choose to shop elsewhere at Sprouts Farmers Market. Sprouts provides options that most larger stores such as Target tend to overlook, such as organic produce, artisan breads and gluten-free products.