Village East - Aurora, CO

In the 1860s, Donald Fletcher established the town of Fletcher 4 miles east of Denver. After Fletcher fled town and saddled residents with a large debt, they renamed the town Aurora.

With the founding of Fitzsimon's Army Hospital and Lowry Air Force Base (later renamed Buckley), the military established a large presence in the town, and by 2010, the military employed the largest number of people in Aurora.

Historical highlights include Aurora's mayor Norma O. Walker becoming the first woman to lead a city with a population greater than 60,000 in 1965 and the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1993 to Cherry Creek State Park, where he delivered mass to half a million people.

The Aurora Fox Theater caters to theater-goers, but without much of an arts culture, the area relies on Denver for museums, such as the Denver Museum of Art.

In Village East, restaurants are on Havana and Peoria Streets. Decide where you want to eat before heading out, as these restaurants sit spaced out with large parking lots between them. The plentiful options on tap include everything from Mexican, Korean and Italian cuisine, with large servings and affordable prices being the overall culinary theme.

For breakfast, locals enjoy Dozens. This breakfast shop makes everything the same day it's served, and the food always tastes consistent thanks to long-time chefs with more than 15 years of experience. Locals rave about the omelets with a side of green chili.

Sushi Katsu, the home of all-you-can-eat sushi, sells quality sushi dishes as well as skewered teriyaki and dumplings. At this comfortable Village East eatery, diners grab a checklist, tick the sushi they want, watch the chefs roll it in front of them, and then dig in.

Village East nightlife predominantly consists of sports bars such as The Hideaway Lounge and Gibby's Big Backyard Sports Bar and Grill, with a few small elegant venues such as Cody's Cafe and Bar thrown into the mix.

Gibby's attracts relatively young guests who enjoy popping in after getting sweaty at adult volleyball or kickball games. At this pub, visitors share pitchers in booths with friends, and locals arriving solo hang out at the bar. Sporting events play on the TVs, and between games, drinkers challenge each other to beer-pong competitions.

The Hideaway Lounge also attracts patrons with its big-screen TVs and sports programming, but it also attempts to extend beyond the sports bar niche and rise above the stereotypical nacho-serving sports bar menu, The Hideaway also builds excitement by hosting events such as an annual black light night, and the menu features unique freshly made snacks like Chorizo & Herbs. For a more sophisticated evening, locals head to places such as Cody's Bar and Cafe. An Italian restaurant, Cody's also has a cozy bar, making it the perfect setting for splitting a bottle of wine with a special date.

Although bicycle lanes and trails run throughout the area and connect to downtown Denver, the metro area's love for bicycling does not extend to Aurora on a cultural level, as most locals prefer to drive.

In Village East, you can park almost anywhere for free, and drivers can reach downtown Denver easily via Highway 83 or by taking Interstate 225 to Interstate 25, which runs into downtown.

Although the area feels safe, the sidewalks usually have no pedestrians on them and just a few people waiting for buses. RTD buses connect the area to Denver, but the 10-mile journey takes more than an hour. To shorten it, locals park at Nine Mile Station and take the light rail into Denver, a 30-minute ride away.

Cabs and Uber cars serve the area. Call in advance, as it can be impossible to hail one in the street.

In addition to small neighborhood parks with playgrounds, picnic areas and ball fields, Village East is also home to Cherry Creek State Park. Located to the east of the neighborhood, this spacious park sits around a reservoir and features a yacht club, a swim beach, a playground and miles of paths running through a range of ecosystems. Families enjoy the diverse recreation and exercise opportunities, and even your dog can have fun, as this park has an off-leash dog park. The park charges a daily admission fee per vehicle, or locals can access the park all year round with a state parks pass.

Village East offers an affordable cost of living, lower than the metro area average. In Denver, rent for a one-bedroom apartment averages at $1,061, but in Village East, renters pay only $872 on average for one-bedroom apartments.

Taking public transit into Denver costs $3 during rush hour, and seniors and students qualify for even cheaper fares. Drivers enjoy savings as well, as Village East gas stations price gas at 7 percent less than the national average. On select evenings, you can find a pitcher of domestic beer for $6, and pints start at $2 to $3.

The central shopping area in Village East is Town Center at Aurora. This mall contains over 100 stores, including anchor department stores such as Dillard's and Macy's. Although mostly a collection of national chains, the mall gives back to the community by donating money, based on profits, to the Aurora Public Schools.

Department and big-box stores also sit along Chambers Street between grocery stores and strip malls. Locals craving upscale shops or boutiques must drive to Denver. There, the Cherry Creek Shopping Center hosts boutiques such as Inspyre, which combines fashion-forward looks with Colorado's casual vibe.

For groceries, Village East residents shop at large chains such as King Soopers and Albertsons. During the summer, a Nick's Garden Center hosts a farmer's market on Chambers.