DENVER & ENVIRONS

1. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St., 3331-4000. Exotic and native plants, Japanese gardens, rose gardens, xeriscape. Fee. Take the #15 bus east to York and transfer to the #3 or #24. The garden is on your right. York is one way so a return trip means the rider takes the bus on Josephine. Driving: I-70 east to York exit, turn south (right) and go past City Park.
2. Denver Zoo, East 23rd Ave and Steele Street, near the Natural History Museum, 3312-4100. Fee. I-70 east to Colorado Blvd., exit right (south) and follow signs; turn right. Bus: #16 or 44 bus to downtown Denver, then take the #15 bus east to Colorado and exit; transfer to the #20 or #32. You may also walk from Colorado, heading north or left after you get off the bus.
3. U.S. Mint, W. Colfax at Cherokee St., 844-3582. Free tours weekdays, with reservations. This facility produces 5 billion coins each year. Take the 16th St. Mall shuttle to Court Place, exit here. Walk south (right) to Colfax. The Mint is west of the City and County building.
4. Water World, 88th and Pecos, Federal Heights. 427-7873. Innertube rapids, waterslides, ocean-like wave pools, etc. Late May-early Sept. Fee. By car, take I-70 east to Pecos and turn left (north), following Pecos until you reach 88th. Bus: #44 east to Federal, transfer to #31 going north, then transfer to #80 at 80th Ave. and to #6 at Pecos and 84th. You may decide to walk from 80th and Pecos.
5. Mr. Biggs: located on Kipling between C-470 & Hampden. 972-4344. Take C47- to Bowles and exit; head east to Kipling, then south to Coal Mine Rd., left turn. 9670 W. Coal Mine Ave. Bowling, roller-skating, video games, Laser Storm (light tag game ), 18 hole miniature golf courses. Fee
6. Indoor swim pools, located in Golden and Arvada, Fee.
- Golden: Community Center.
- CSM recreation center, free to students (covered by university fees)
- Apex Center, North Jefferson County Park & Recreation District. 13150 W. 7rnd St, Arvada. Open year-round; swim during public sessions. Classes are offered.
7. Ice skating: FEE
- Apex Center. See address above for swimming.
- Hyland Hills Ice Arena, (indoors) 4201 W. 94th, Westminster, 426-8912. I-70 east to Sheridan, north to 94th, turn right. Call for public times. Fee.
- Evergreen Lake, outdoors in the winter. I-70 west to Evergreen, follow the signs to the lake. Fee.
8. Roller Skating: (indoors, open year round.)
- Skate City: 200 W 121st Ave., Westminster 303 457 0220
- Skate City, W. Bowles & S. Lowell, Littleton 795-6109
- Fat City: 9670 Coal Mine Road, Littleton
9. Rock climbing:
- Take lessons at CSM Recreation Center
- Indoor walls: Golden Rec Center, Apex Center in Arvada.
- Supplies: Bent Gate, 1300 Washington, Golden.
10. Hang Gliding/paragliding:
Airtime Above Hang Gliding 303 674 2451.
11. COFFEE HOUSES:
- Paris on Platte Street, 1533 Platte, Denver, 455-2451
- The Market, 1445 Larimer, Denver, 534-5140
- Panera Bread, Southwest Plaza, Bowles and Wadsworth,
- Panera Bread, 78th and Wadsworth, Arvada, and others
- Starbucks, Golden, 14th and Washington, Golden or 114 N. Rubey Dr., Golden
- Higher Grounds, Golden, 803B 14th St., 271-0998.
- Golden Grind, one block west of Foss Drug, across the street. Golden.
12. Discos/Nightclubs: a few suggestions. These places may change names, locations, etc. Always call before you plan to go. If you are 18- under 21, you will need to call to see which nights underage patrons are allowed to enter.
- The Church 1160 Lincoln St., Denver
- Vinyl 1082 Broadway St., Denver 303 860 8469
- Rock Island (popular) Saturdays Until 11:00 p.m., 16 and up, then 18 +. 1614 15th St., Denver. I-70 east, exit to I-25 south, exit at 2nd Speer exit, then east to Lawrence, left turn on Lawrence, left turn onto 15th. 303 572 7625
13. Country Western Dancing:
- Grizzly Rose: 5450 N. Valley Highway (I-25) 295-1330 I-70 east, exit north onto I-25 at exit #215. Restaurant, bar, concerts, dancing. Nightly dance lessons available Mon, Wed., Fri. 7-8 free.
- Stampede: 2430 S. Havana, Aurora. 337-6906
14. Comedy clubs: check the addresses of these, Marcia *****
- Wit's End: 8861 Harlan, Westminster. 430-4242. I-70 east to Wadsworth, exit at Wadsworth and go north, turn right at 88th and left at Harlan. Evenings.
- Comedy Works: 1226 15th St., Denver 595-3637 I-70 east, I-25 south, Speer Blvd. exit; left at Lawrence, head north.

TICKETMASTER: check phone numbers
Buy your concert, theater, ball game tickets here. Recording of information about concerts, etc. 595-4636. To buy tickets by phone: 290-8497. Credit cards accepted.

15. Performing Arts: Live theater, concerts, etc.
At the Denver Center for the Performing Arts complex:
(SEE ALSO: TICKETMASTER for purchasing tickets)
Phone: DCPA 640-2862, Box office 640-7539. Location: Colfax and Speer Blvd. I-70 east to I-25, take I-25 south to second (south) Speer, exit in right lane and loop around, exit Speer in left lane at Lawrence and turn right at second street. Parking garage available.
- Theaters: the Temple Hoyne Buell Theater, the Auditorium Theater, the Boettcher Concert Hall, the Helen Bonfils Theater with Ricketson theater, The Space, The Source, and The Stage.
- Denver Center Theater Company, 893-4100. Season is from September through May.

Denver Center Productions (theater) 893-4000. Robert Garner/ Center Attractions, with Broadway shows, etc.
" Colorado Ballet: 837-8888
" Colorado Symphony Orchestra 303 623 7876
(all of the above are performed at the DCPA)
" Germinal Stage: 2456 W. 44th Ave., 455-7108. 5 plays annually in a converted North Denver storefront. Usually avant garde productions.
" Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada. 431-3080. Year-round indoor and outdoor theater and concerts. I-70 east, exit at Wadsworth in left lane, north on Wadsworth.
" Dinner Theaters: dinner and musical theater at one price.
" Boulder: 449-6000
" Heritage Square Music Hall, 18301 Colfax, Golden 303 279 7800.
16. Music: (concerts) See also: TICKETMASTER for buying tickets.

- Red Rocks outdoor amphitheater, late May through late September.
From ILC, go south on Illinois and turn right on 19th; turn left at the stop sign (Hwy 6); turn right on Hwy 93 at the next stop light; go past Heritage Square, get on I-70 heading east (go under the overpass). Follow signs.
- Fiddlers Green: outdoor amphitheater: late May through late September. 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. See map for F. Green and R. Rocks.
- Colorado Symphony Orchestra (see above)
- Arvada Center for the Arts (see above)
- Central City Opera 292-6500 for information, 292-6700 for box office.
JAZZ :
- Bull & Bush: Sundays, 4700 Cherry Creek Dr. S., 759-0333, Denver.
- Paris on the Platte: 1553 Platte, 455-2451, Denver. I-70 east, I-25 south, exit at 23rd, left on Water St., under the overpass.
POP/ROCK:
- Buffalo Rose: Golden, 1119 Washington, 279-5190.
- The Aztlan Theater: 974 Santa Fe Dr., 573-0188. East on 6th Ave., take Santa Fe, exit (left) and go north. 303 573 0188
***See the Friday Rocky Mountain News "Spotlight" section for more ideas about jazz, rock, and other entertainment.
17. CASINOS/GAMBLING: in Central City and Blackhawk (near Golden) and Cripple Creek. YOU MUST BE 21 TO GAMBLE or to enter the casinos. Proof of age (picture ID) will be required.
Listed here are routes to drive but also buses you can take to get to the casinos.
Cripple Creek: to drive, take I-25 south to Colorado Springs, take exit #141 and go west on Hwy 24 to Divide, turn left on Hwy 67 and go 18 miles to Cripple Creek. There are sometimes special buses which take groups to Cripple Creek. For example, the Gold Rush Hotel & Casino advertises these. Call 1-800-235-8239. Day trips or overnight stays can be arranged. Wheels to Fortunes is another bus company. Call 933-0125.
Central City:
Buses can be taken from the Golden area. The fare usually includes coins to use in the casino and often includes a dinner. Bus reservations are suggested.
- Harrah's: call 936-1117. Bus from Villa Italia area, beginning at 6:40 a.m.
- Jazz Alley free shuttle ride. Call 277-1000. Departs from Quality Inn at I-70 and Ward Road.
- Bullwhacker's: bus service is located in Golden near Hwy 40 and Hwy 6. (Colfax and Rooney Road) Phone 271-2500. To get to the bus service, take 19th Street to Hwy 6, turn right, turn right again onto Colfax.
" Other casinos: Harvey's, Central Palace, Lady Luck, Golden Rose, etc.
18. Other: If you have come all this way and still don't know what to do, check out these other online sources for information about what's going on in the area.
- The Daily Camera, Boulder's Daily Newspaper
- The Rocky Mountain News
- The Denver Post
- Westword, Denver's entertainment weekly
- The Jefferson County Transcript, Golden's newspaper
- The CityNet Guide to Golden, an online guide to the town
- Guide to Downtown Denver
- The Boulder Community Network, an online guide to life in Boulder