Laredo Highline - Aurora, CO

One of the oldest streets in the metro area, East Colfax has a history as old Denver. Bringing travelers from the east into town, the street featured wide promenades and large mansions in the late 1800s, but the economic panic of 1893 decimated the area. Homeowners sold their mansions or turned them into boarding homes for the transient.

After World War II, many people moved further into the suburbs, and banks became reluctant to fund mortgages for older homes, decimating the area. In the 1970s, the development of I-70 took travelers off the street, ruining the last remnants of the tourism industry, but at the turn of the 21st century, Denver took an interest in revitalizing the areas along Colfax.

For arts, locals catch shows at the Aurora Fox Theater, or they rely on Denver. Denver boasts the Denver Museum of Art and annual events, such as the Denver Chalk Art Festival.

In Laredo Highline, big servings at cheap prices makes up the theme of the dining culture. Located along East Colfax and Sable Boulevard, the area's eateries include Mexican, Chinese and Thai food with American wings and pizza thrown into the mix.

For an amazing pho experience, locals head to Love Pho 888. In addition to multiple types of pho made with homemade broth, this casual venue serves Vietnamese stir fry, lotus salad, Vietnamese egg rolls and boba drinks, jelly pearl drinks made with fresh fruit.

A small pizza parlor seating just 10 diners, MaMa Olivias Pizza heaps ample amounts of fresh pizza toppings onto hand-rolled crusts before covering them with cheese. In addition to the affordably priced pizzas, diners can order calzones, wings and other snacks. Diners who don't want to rub elbows in this tiny establishment can order MaMa's delivery or takeout.

At Kirk's Soul Kitchen, Laredo Highline locals enjoy soul food, including catfish, okra, mac and cheese, and peach cobbler. The well-lit restaurant boasts a modern feel with its floor-to-ceiling windows and sleek black cafeteria tables, but the food evokes a sense of old homey goodness.

In the evening, Laredo Highline locals head to sports bars, such as the Frontier Club, or they hang out at a restaurant, such as Tacos and Tortas Selene to have burritos and a pitcher of margaritas. Alternatively, they spend their evenings dancing at The Kasbah, an R&B club in the middle of the neighborhood.

Laredo Highline residents have access to free parking throughout the neighborhood, and drivers can reach downtown Denver quickly via Interstates-225 and 70 or West Colfax. Bicyclists may follow a similar path into downtown, but rather than riding on traffic-filled Colfax, riders take advantage of bike lanes on the parallel roads, such as E 23rd Avenue. Other bike lanes and trails run through the rest of the metro area as well, making bicycling safe and pleasant for area residents.

Although safe for walking, Laredo Highline does not attract a large walking crowd, and its shops sit too far apart to earn the area the moniker of "walkable community." Those living without cars, however, can use public transit, as RTD buses run from Laredo Highline to downtown Denver every 30 minutes, and the journey takes almost exactly an hour. Cabs and Uber cars also serve the area. Although riders can sometimes hail cabs on Colfax, they typically call in advance to arrange a ride more easily.

For outdoor recreation, Laredo Heights residents take advantage of small neighborhood parks or the playgrounds at the area's elementary schools. They also enjoy the options at the 220-acre Aurora Sports Park, which hosts four playgrounds, several picnic shelters and professionally maintained ball fields.

Paths run through that park, making it great for jogging or walking your dog, but if you want your dog to romp freely, drive to the Lowry Dog Park to use the fenced-in, off-leash area.

Annually, the Plains Conservation Center holds the Hops for Habitat Brewfest. This fundraiser gives you a chance to sample Colorado's craft beers while raising money for the conservation of this natural area, a beautiful example of the area's prairie ecosystem.

Living in Laredo Highline costs significantly less than living in other parts of the metro area. In Denver, one-bedroom apartments rent for an average of $1,061, but in Laredo Heights, the average of $605 sits at nearly half that figure.

Area gas stations price fuel at 6 percent lower than the national average, and bars sell pints of beer starting at $2 to $3. If you want a ride into the city, plan to spend $3 on bus fare during rush hour. Cheaper fares exist for seniors, students or frequent riders.

Laredo Highline sits 3 miles from Town Center at Aurora, a shopping mall with anchor stores such as Dillard's and Macy's, 100 small shops, and a large movie theater. Locals also have access to shopping along Colfax Avenue and Sable Boulevard. These areas feature big box stores, such as Target and Kmart, as well as thrift stores, including A+ Thrift Store. Shoppers craving upscale shops or small boutiques need to drive to the Cherry Creek Shopping Center or one of the other neighborhoods of Denver.

In Denver, fashion lovers can choose from a range of boutiques, many of which combine fashion-forward looks with Colorado's casual western culture. With three locations throughout the Denver area, the Inspyre Boutique carefully curates a selection of clothing that artfully matches the culture of each neighborhood in which this boutique does business. At Inspyre, you can find anything from flowing dress and tops to short shorts, and none of the price tags exceed $100.

Complementing Denver's obsession with Halloween, the boutique FashioNation and the Babysitter's Nightmare sells scary but fashionable outfits for the punk and underground community. Whether you need a costume or something wild to wear every day, this store stocks it.

For groceries, Laredo Heights residents shop at large chains, such as King Soopers, but they also have access to small shops, including Carniceria Compare, a speciality butcher's. In the summer, they buy local produce at one of the farmer's markets in downtown Denver, or they visit the market in the parking lot of Nick's Garden and Supply Center.