West Colfax - Denver, CO

The neighborhood of West Colfax began as its own municipality before Denver annexed the area in 1897. At the time of the annexation, the area of Colfax contained two sections: the populated and residential East Colfax, and the barren and underdeveloped West Colfax. With constant travelers coming through on Colfax Avenue, this main street soon included saloons, stores and restaurants for guests.

The art community is alive and well in West Colfax. Artists of West Colfax have decided to take their art public by painting murals on buildings such as the Golden Manor Mural seen on Colfax Avenue. These exhibitions of public art stem from the Streetscape Master Plan, a strategy to help increase public art and beauty in West Colfax.

As the highlight event of the year, the Dragon Boat Festival attracts over 20,000 visitors annually. This festival, located at Sloan's Lake, celebrates Asian-American culture with festive boats, activities, and cuisine found throughout the park grounds.

Many of the areas best restaurants can be found just outside the neighborhood boundaries in Edgewater to the west or near Interstate 287 to the east. Most restaurants fall into the medium price range, with an emphasis on southwestern style dishes.

If you're craving Mexican food, head to Chili Verde at 23rd Avenue and I-287. Specializing in traditional Mexican cuisine, Chili Verde serves up meals inspired by cuisine from across the border, such as Crepas Poblanas, which are crepes filled with shredded chicken and covered with poblano sauce.. Each order comes with chips and three different kinds of salsa.

For something a little fancier, try Trattoria Stella for a romantic date night. This Italian bistro provides a perfect fancy night out without breaking the bank, by mixing traditional recipes with modern interpretations. It even offers a gluten-free menu. Happy hour specials run from 4 to 6 p.m. daily. In addition, starting at 10 a.m. on the weekend, Trattoria Stella offers an exclusive brunch menu.

Locals like to meet up with friends for drinks at Jefferson Park Pub. This local hangout features local beers and wines, with happy hour happening every day from 3 to 6 p.m. and again from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. If you happen to get the munchies, the servers are happy to bring over a pizza from Sexy Pizza located right across the street

Even though the most popular live music venues lie within downtown Denver, West Colfax residents have some options, including Zio Romolo's Alley Bar, which features live musicians most nights of the week during the summer. Although it lies a few miles north of the neighborhood, the nightlife experience proves well worth the trip. The building is split into two sections, with an all-ages pizza joint called Tony P's on one side and the Alley Bar on the other. Check out the drink specials on the weekends: Select bottles of wine are only $15 on Saturday nights.

West Colfax lies in an optimal location for both personal and public transportation. Colfax Avenue runs straight through the neighborhood, providing easy access to Interstate 88 for cars and motor vehicles. Drivers also enjoy consistent availability of free parking spots in the area.

West Colfax provides its residents with ample public transportation options to get around. Ten bus lines service the area, as well as the West Rail line. Those who commute to downtown Denver for work can board the eastbound train at Decatur Federal station and be in the city within 20 minutes. West Colfax remains walkable, though getting to most shops, cafes and other stores require a vehicle. With bike paths lining the Dry Gulch river, the neighborhood provides plenty of space for cyclists to travel.

Family-friendly parks surround the area of West Colfax. When it comes to size and available amenities, Sloan’s Lake Park beats out the competition. Centered around a beautiful freshwater lake, Sloan’s Lake Park provides miles of trails surrounding the water for walking, running and riding bicycles. Sidewalks also surround the lake. In addition, the park also contains basketball and tennis courts.

Visitors love to come during summertime for the boating and water skiing which takes place on the lake. Sloan’s Lake Park also features outdoor movie nights during summer months, with food trucks and other activities available throughout the evening.

If you’re simply looking for a quiet park to have a picnic, Dry Gulch Park and Sanchez Park can be found at the south border of the neighborhood. Both areas contain picnic tables and shelter areas with tables. All parks in West Colfax remain free for residents to use.

Compared to the city of Denver as a whole, housing and rent prices remain cheaper in West Colfax. Overall, the cost of living proves cheaper in this area, at 4 percent lower than the city average. The distance of homes and apartments from downtown likely contributes to this lower cost. Expenses for groceries, shopping and transportation remain generally the same.

Though West Colfax remains a predominantly residential area, shopping malls and stores can be found in the surrounding areas. Colorado Mills in Lakewood serves as the nearest center of commerce, with staple stores found within including GAP, Kenneth Cole, Pac Sun and Victoria's Secret.

Plant lovers should check out the specialty shop called Planted. This locally owned shop provides unique plants for both outdoors and indoors. The shop remains closed on Sunday and Monday, so try to visit sometime during the week before 6 p.m. Household chefs can find all their kitchen tools and utensils at Kitchen Collection, a kitchen gadget store specializing in unique kitchen solutions, such as magnetic spice racks.

Located at the western edge of West Colfax, Target serves as the neighborhood's nearest store for groceries and other goods. During the summertime, the nearby town of Edgewater hosts the Edgewater farmers market every Thursday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. As the closest farmer's market to West Colfax, the Edgewater farmers market consistently draws a big crowd. Visitors can find fresh local produce, fresh food stands, crafts and live music lining the streets of the city.