Eavesdropping on a man’s Facebook post: “Today’s PSA. For both men and women. If your feet look like they could hold onto a branch, maybe you shouldn’t wear flip flops. Yellow toenails are not cool. Love, the rest of us.”

The ART Hotel, Denver’s newest luxury accommodations, opened without fanfare last month just blocks from my Capitol Hill condo.

Friends and I rendezvoused on the indoor-outdoor lounge recently to check out the new digs at 11th and Broadway. The 165-room ART Hotel is a one-of-a-kind hotel experience focused on delivering Denver’s most premier accommodations paired with a world-class art collection, which is woven through the entire space.

The restaurant, FIRE, imitates art through cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. As a member of the prestigious Preferred Hotels & Resorts LVX Collection, the hotel is a part of a refined and globally sophisticated network in coveted locations, vibrant city centers and destination landscapes.

Experiential, intimate and refined, the ART is a modern architectural gem bursting with unique, multi-sensory installations. In-house curator Dianne Vanderlip has assembled a collection of more than 40 pieces that boast the “who’s who” of modern art, including Claus Oldenberg, Tracey Emin, John Baldessari, Ed Rucha, Leo Villareal and Sol LeWitt. Many pieces of original artwork commissioned specifically for the ART have been carefully curated to maximize the guest experience from the moment of arrival.  Each guestroom floor is inspired by an individual artist, whose original artwork is stylistically translated throughout each room and suite.

“The ART is reflective of Denver’s new role as the West’s epicenter for visionary thinking synergistically paired with distinctive and exceptionally effective actions,” said General Manager David Bodette. “The ART contains a collection of modern and contemporary works and expressions of this very same passion, vitality and refusal by these world-class artists to succumb to the mundane. We are proud to represent a new direction for refined experiential living in a city that is re-expressing what it means to be truly alive in our age.”

Upon arrival, the ART’s multi-sensory experience begins with a large-scale light installation by Villareal greeting guests from the streets of downtown. Villareal, the well-known artist behind the San Francisco Bay Bridge’s “Bay Lights,” created a custom installation made of 22,000 LED light bulbs that draws the eye from Broadway into the hotel’s Portico Gallery for a memorable arrival experience.

From the Portico Gallery, guests take an elevator ride adorned with avant-garde video art by Lars Kremer to the fourth floor. The doors open to the Welcome Gallery that will greet guests with large-scale masterpieces by notable artists like Ed Ruscha, Deborah Butterfield and Nancy Rubins.

“With carefully selected works, we’ve truly compiled a collection of the highest caliber of art in any U.S. hotel,” Vanderlip said. “Over a period of two years we selected works and commissioned pieces that will intrigue guests while responding to the hotels surroundings, which happens to be the best architecture in Colorado.”

In the heart of Denver’s thriving cultural scene, the ART is rooted in the epicenter of Denver’s museum district, located just steps from the Colorado History Center and Denver Art Museum.

FIRE, the hotel’s restaurant, lounge and terrace is adding some heat to the growing Denver food scene. Helmed by Chef Chris Jakubiec, FIRE Terrace & Lounge embodies the American art  and  craft of playful yet sincere   hospitality in a  modern contemporary setting that draws on the energy of the city below. With a notable art collection, featuring works by Joel Otterson, Allan Houser, Seam Lauders and Larry Bell, the restaurant exudes creativity through innovative cuisine, inspired libations and avant-garde design.

Chef Jakubiec brings his keen sense of innovation to FIRE Lounge & Terrace with a menu that experiments with the finest ingredients from the region’s top purveyors including local farms, like Millberger Farm, Friends Fields Farms and Fiber of Life.

With 133 kings, 12 doubles and 20 suites, the ART has multiple room options for every type of traveler. Each room is curated with artwork from each floor’s designated artist. Room types and starting rates include:

• Canvas Room starts at $289
• Broadway Room starts at $309
• Mountain View King Room starts at $329
• Atelier Suite starts at $339
• Museum View Suite starts at $359
• Mountain View Suite starts at $379
• Capital Suite starts at $399

An inspirational venue for meetings and groups, the ART boasts 5,000 square feet of group meeting space. Additionally, the new space is ideal for modern elegant weddings and celebrations with this unrivaled Denver venue.

The ART of Travel Package allows guests a two-night stay in an Artist’s Atelier Suite, dinner for two at FIRE, complimentary valet parking and passes to the nearby museums including the Denver Art Museum, Clyfford Still Museum and the Colorado History Center. The two-night package starts at $956, double occupancy.

For more information on the ART Hotel, visit www.thearthotel.com or call 303-572-8000.

Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Melissa Manchester will appear at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret for two performances each night at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The club is located in the historic D&F Clock Tower at 1601 Arapahoe St. Tickets are $35.

Manchester is one of popular American music’s most enduring artists. She started her career singing in the clubs of New York, and from there went on to sing backup for Bette Midler as one of her famous “Harlettes.” Six months later, Manchester had her own recording contract. She is perhaps best known for her songs, “Midnight Blue,” “Through the Eyes of Love,” and “Don’t Cry Out Loud.” She won the Grammy Award in 1982 for Best Female Vocalist.

Melissa’s newest album, “You Gotta Love The Life” (2015) features Keb’ Mo’, Dionne Warwick and Stevie Wonder. The album blends the classic American songbook with jazz, ballads and samba. Manchester’s extensive songwriting credits include the radio classic “Whenever I call You Friend” that she co-wrote with Kenny Loggins. Her songs have been recorded by Roberta Flack, Dusty Springfield, Alison Krauss, Stevie Nicks, Loggins and Barbra Streisand, among others.

Manchester has written songs for major movies made for the Walt Disney Studios, independent pictures and Tyler Perry.

Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret is located in the historic D&F Clock Tower building on the corner of the 16th Street Mall and Arapahoe Street in downtown Denver. Tickets can be purchased at the box office at 303-293-0075 or online at www.Lannies.com.

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Larimer Square’s historic preservation, Denver’s first historic district and most iconic block is hosting a five-part speaker series called Stories from the Square. These events are open to the public.

The moderated discussions will each focus on a different topic to honor the history of Larimer Square and feature business and industry leaders, developers, historians and local Denver icons. The series kicked off in May.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday at Tamayo (1400 Larimer St.), join Larimer Square CEO Jeff Hermanson, NAIOP Colorado (the Commercial Real Estate Development Organization) and executives from Larimer Associates to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Larimer Square with a brief tour of the historic block, followed by a conversation about what keeps Larimer Square a relevant retail and entertainment destination for Denverites and tourists alike. Also, learn more about plans for the next 50 years.

Participants include Hermanson, David Levine, Tricia Mueller and Carolyn Waldmann from Larimer Associates. The conversation will be moderated by Adam Loveland with Citywide Banks and Celeste Tanner with Confluent Development Services.

The quintessential urban shopping and dining district, Larimer Square is widely known today as a trendy, vibrant atmosphere of Victorian buildings housing specialty boutiques and chef-driven restaurants. From its early beginnings as Denver’s original “Main Street” in the 1860s, to a century of having an outlandish reputation for saloons, slums and squalor, the buildings along Larimer were in danger of being demolished before Dana Crawford saved the square in the 1960s. Soon after, Larimer Square was named Denver’s first Historic District and there are many stories to tell.

Event details:

• 4 p.m. Registration at Tamayo
• 4:30 p.m. Tour of Larimer Square
• 5:30 p.m. Drinks and panel conversation on the Tamayo rooftop
• 6:15 p.m. Networking, cocktails and appetizers
• 7 p.m. Event concludes

Please RSVP for this event at www.naiop-colorado.org. 

Upcoming Stories From the Square topics include:

• Aug. 11: How One Woman Saved “Skid Row”: A Special Evening with Dana Crawford

• Sept. 30: Investing in Main Street

For more information on the speaker series, visit www.larimersquare.com/news/events/stories-from-the-square/.

Travel + Leisure magazine has announced the results of its 2015 World’s Best Awards, and for the first time, St Julien Hotel & Spa has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Large City Hotels in the Continental United States. Hotels with more than 100 rooms are deemed “large” by the magazine.

The Four Seasons Hotel Denver was the only Denver hostelry included on the list.

“We’re incredibly honored to be named one of the top hotels in the country,” said Bob Trotter, St Julien Hotel & Spa general manager. “St Julien has been an annual member of the Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice list, and we’re ecstatic to now be recognized as a top hotel by not one, but two of the top travel publications in the world.”

The Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards rely on guest experiences. Hotel rankings are based on readers’ ratings of five characteristics: rooms/facilities, location, service, restaurants/food and value. This year’s results will be featured in the August issue of the magazine, as well as on www.travelandleisure.com.

A distinguished member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts, a AAA Four-Diamond Property and a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Hotel, St Julien Hotel & Spa features 201 guest rooms, the 10,000-sq. ft. Spa at St Julien, dining at Jill’s Restaurant and T-Zero Lounge, and more than 16,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space—all with views of Boulder’s famed Flatirons and the Rocky Mountains.

Construction is underway on Pivot Denver, the approximately 580-unit mixed-use community located at the corner of 17th and Wewatta streets,  adjacent to the recently revitalized Union Station.  This development covers an entire two-acre city block and will be home to Whole Foods Market’s new 56,000-square foot-flagship Denver store.

“As new apartment buildings rise throughout the Denver metro area, it’s critical to be able to provide services and amenities that not only accommodate apartment residents, but will also meet the needs of the surrounding community,” said Peter Petricca of Holland Partner Group.  “We believe the addition of Whole Foods Market to our development builds upon the quality of life downtown and is a game-changer for the City of Denver.  We’re excited by Whole Foods’ commitment to build a store, which mirrors our commitment to build a premier living environment for individuals seeking a dynamic urban lifestyle.”

Upon completion in April 2018, Pivot Denver will comprise approximately 67,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, one level of underground parking, and three levels of above-grade parking. Sitting on top of the retail/parking will stand three 10-story towers containing approximately 580 luxury residential units.  The three towers will be connected by a central amenity building, surrounded by three separate outdoor recreation and living areas.

The amenity building will feature a large fitness facility, community kitchen/lounge area, game room, private theater room and several meeting and conference rooms for resident use.  The outdoor recreation areas will offer a resort style swimming pool, multiple outdoor kitchens and grilling areas, as well as private outdoor living areas with fireplaces and fire pits.  All this, plus the convenience of a Whole Foods Market on the ground floor will allow Pivot Denver to offer the ultimate in urban living.

“We’re thrilled to push culinary boundaries with this store,” said Heather Larrabee, executive marketing coordinator, Whole Foods Market Rocky Mountain Region. “We’re excited to become a destination for people to dine and lounge downtown and will offer a beautiful second-floor balcony overlooking Union Station, along with an incredible array of fast-casual breakfast, lunch and dinner options for busy downtown professionals. We’ll have special events and tailgating promotions for sporting events and game days, and an extensive catering, delivery and concierge program to make shopping and entertaining easy for downtown denizens. We’ll be forging vibrant partnerships with area culinary stars and restaurateurs, and are proud to be home to hundreds of Denver’s top local food producers.  This store will also offer a fresh juice bar, an expanded lifestyle and apparel department, and will be easily accessible by foot, bike, car, bus and train. Current Denver customers will be glad to know we’ll have 100 free, dedicated parking spaces in a garage for superior  and fast access.”

Every Whole Foods Market store is custom created for the community it serves – from store design, to product selection, and décor — no two stores are alike.  This location will feature décor elements that reflect the history of LoDo and the surrounding area. In addition to an expanded prepared foods and dining department, customers will find fresh and organic produce, more than 1,0000 locally sourced products available year-round, meat and seafood cut fresh in-house by butchers and fish mongers, groceries, pastries and artisan breads baked fresh in-house, sandwiches, burritos, pizzas, rotisserie chicken, sushi, soup and salad bars and chef-made deli fare to go.

The store has launched its Twitter handle to connect with customers and the community, to answer questions, and to provide an insider’s view into the construction and local product selection process: @WFMUnionStation.

Eavesdropping on a tourist at the trail head at Flagstaff Mountain: “This place needs railings!”

A major transformation is underway along East First Avenue as Cherry Creek Shopping Center prepares for a fall grand opening of the four-level RH Denver, The Gallery at Cherry Creek, the region’s first RH next generation Design Gallery. The shopping center also will welcome several new stores to the redeveloped space, including luxury brands Tory Burch, David Yurman, as well as upscale seafood restaurant 801 Chophouse. All are new to the Denver market.

“Cherry Creek’s lineup of premium retailers and restaurants will become even more distinctive this fall,” said the center’s General Manager Nick LeMasters. “From the region’s first RH next generation Design Gallery to more than 40 stores and restaurants exclusive to the area, we’re excited to offer our customers a truly unique shopping and dining experience.”

New to Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, Tory Burch is an American lifestyle brand that is known for color, print and eclectic details, and the collection includes ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, accessories, watches, home and beauty. Tory Burch is a global business with more than 150 freestanding boutiques and a presence in more than 3,000 department and specialty stores. Tory Burch will be located on the upper level of the redeveloped space.

Debuting its first location in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, David Yurman quickly became known as America’s leading fine jewelry and luxury timepiece designer for men, women and children. David Yurman collections are currently available at 33 retail locations throughout the United States, Canada, France and China, and at authorized fine jewelry and timepiece retailers worldwide. David Yurman will be located on the upper level of the redeveloped space.

Additionally, the redeveloped space will feature Tiffany & Co., which is relocating from the lower to upper level. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams will move from its current upper-level location to the space currently occupied by Restoration Hardware.

Complementing the new retail is a remodeled valet plaza with easy access to several restaurants, including new-to-market 801 Chophouse. 801 Chophouse offers diners an innovative menu with dishes including USDA prime beef, globally sourced, jet fresh fish and an award-winning wine list.

801 Chophouse will join the exclusive-to-the-market Kona Grill, as well as California Pizza Kitchen all located outside the front entrance valet plaza. Both restaurants are currently undergoing extensive remodeling and will reveal new design concepts when they reopen  late summer.

All of these additions will join fine jeweler Roberto Coin, which recently opened at the center, as well as premium Swiss watchmaker Breitling. Additional retailers coming to the redeveloped space will be announced as they are finalized.

For more information, go to www.shopcherrycreek.com and www.facebook.com/cherrycreekshopping center.

Historic Larimer Square, Denver’s first and oldest downtown shopping, dining and entertainment district, and Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado’s public urban university, are celebrating milestone 50th anniversaries this year.  To commemorate the special occasion, the two institutions have joined forces to design and display creative outdoor art installations throughout Larimer Square – unveiled at this week’s Dining Al Fresco event on Larimer Square.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of historic preservation of Larimer Square, a significant part of Denver’s history. Larimer Square was Denver’s original “Main Street” and was threatened to be demolished 50 years ago until award-winning preservationist Dana Crawford saved the square.

MSU Denver is celebrating the creation of the state’s first urban higher education institution by the Colorado General Assembly 50 years ago. To celebrate the golden anniversary, MSU Denver industrial design art students created a public furniture competition, designing benches to reflect cultural icons and styles of different decades. The benches will be placed on Larimer Square as a new outdoor art installation on the block. Design styles include a “1975 to 1985 bench” that features the Rubik’s Cube, Michael Jackson and America’s introduction to the sci-fi universe of :Star Wars”.  This bench also has a “pet rock” design inspiration and includes seven rocks varying in height from seven inches to 39 inches that were made into a bench.

Three bench designs were chosen through an open competition. Winning designs were selected not only for their creativity but also for how well they encourage interaction with Larimer Square visitors. Three benches will be on display throughout the summer as part of Larimer Square’s ongoing 50th anniversary celebrations.

An accompanying mural commemorating the 50th anniversaries of both institutions will also be on display from July to December at the Larimer Square parking garage, located on the wall between the alley and the walkway. Artists led by MSU Denver’s associate professor Carlos Fresquez selected a mural of an art student painting the Square with its famous canopy lights next to the MSU Denver campus. A view of the Rocky Mountains finishes the mural, which will be unveiled to the public at the next signature Dining Al Fresco event Saturday on Larimer Square.

“It is very exciting to share the creative work of the MSU Denver design students,” said Tricia Mueller, architect and director of project management for Larimer Square. “In addition to the shopping, dining and entertainment in Larimer Square, we are committed to creating an amazing outdoor experience for visitors that includes displaying beautiful outdoor art installations. The MSU Denver mural and benches are an impressive addition to Larimer Square this summer.”

Larimer Square will host an official 50th anniversary celebration on Aug. 15 to mark this milestone anniversary as well as surprise visitors throughout the year with 50 anniversary commemorative items and special activities on the Square. MSU Denver kicked off its year-long celebration of lives transformed on July 3 at the Civic Center Conservancy  Independence Day Celebration in downtown Denver.