There are many reasons why someone would want to be a vegetarian, and I don’t necessarily want to have that discussion here, but I’ve been thinking about it long enough that it’s time to actually try it.

This is kind of a big deal to me, as I never thought that I would even ever try it. I grew up eating meat everyday (like most people, I think). But my wife is vegetarian, and so are some close friends. And living in Boulder (voted #7, on America’s Best Vegetarian-Friendly Small Cities) for 6 years certainly helped erase some of the stigma.

So, all and all I am pretty excited about it.

Here are some of the pictures:

Expanded train/light rail lines.

Increased urban density

Really? This will be in Denver?

There is something about waking up very early that makes me feel alive and completely happy.

In the last few months, I’ve started to wake up early again. I wake up while it’s still dark, get some coffee and do whatever I want while the house is still quiet. I read, I browse blogs, I do all of the things that there isn’t any time to do during the day.

Then, after the sun comes out, I grab Whembley and go for a run around City Park and the zoo.

Sunrise at City Park in Denver – photo by sonicsquirtgun

Colfax Avenue, music by Walker Rose, video by Evan and Adam Nix.

The neighborhood is home to Bluebird Theater, and many other local businesses. Steve’s Snappin Dogs is literally across the street from where we live, there’s good coffee at Hooked on Colfax at few blocks away, Cafe Star is one of Jess and I’s favorite places to eat (especially for their Sunday dinner specials) and of course, though technically not in the neighborhood, there is Tattered Cover Bookstore complex with another great restaurant Encore.

As cool as all of these establishments are, the overriding reason to live here is the huge park a few blocks north. City Park, with it’s large lake, colorful (and tall!) fountain, jazz on Sundays in the summer is one of my favorite places in Denver. I run there with Whembley almost everyday. It’s also neat to have the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science within walking distance.

Downtown Denver, as seen from City Park

 Last fall, I got involved with the South City Park Neighborhood Association. And currently officially serve as the “Co-Secretary”! I continue to be surprised at how active my neighbors are in the neighborhood actitivies and it’s been interesting thinking about some of the issues that’ve come up.

And just a few minutes ago while browsing their website to make a link to for this post, I noticed that they have their own MySpace page, facebook profile (search Tattered Cover) and Youtube channel! Among some of the interesting video on their YouTube page was a tour of the aforementioned Colfax location.

And while I am sharing links, I might as well share a few John Hodgman videos, both of which are related to books:

• John Hodgman at the Books Out Loud Dance Party
• John Hodgman talks about Apple Commercials

Recently, I’m beginning to think that instead of looking for an opportunity to volunteer or even participate – I need to educate myself first. I took one art history class high school – and have since read a lot on the subject, and I probably know more about art than the average person out there – but still not enough.

And what better way to learn to pay closer attention to the individual works on display at museums and galleries here in Denver? Look out for more art related posts in the future.

The opera was Don Pasquale – here is how Opera Colorado described it:

Gaetano Donizetti’s amusing tale of deception and disguise is transported to the wild west of America in the 1800’s. This rousing version, which has toured to rave reviews across the US and Canada, hits Denver in perfect time to keep the theme of the National Western Stock Show momentum going strong!

It was certainly entertaining, even more so since it was the second opera I have been to, ever.

The ballet was Coppélia, performed by the Colorado Ballet, and here is how they describe it:

We start with “once upon a time” and end with “wow!” A children’s tale, perhaps. But this is really a magical event for everyone with an imagination and a funny bone. This classic ballet is filled with magic and mayhem. Start with one eccentric toy-maker, throw in a plan to bring a mechanical doll to life, and mix well with a red-blooded young lover, a jealous fiancé and an array of mischievous maidens. You end up with a wild mix of abracadabra, spooky adventure and plenty of old-fashioned love. Don’t miss this enchanting tale and playful choreography.

Both Jess and I had a good time.

To start, this week I attended a so called “New Denver Republican” meeting hosted by Mr. John Wren, who in the past, among other things, tried to raise opposition to the popular Denver mayor John Hickenlooper‘s inevitable re-election in 2007 (which he won by 87%!).

The meeting was interesting. The main lesson I took away from it were that it is best to start getting involved locally, very locally, such in the precinct level. To find out which precinct I live in, I went to a list of maps, and found that I live in House District 8, Precinct 0834 (source):