 Sarah Broughton / Photo © Brent Moss  Molly Brown House / Courtesy Wikipedia |
Sarah Broughton is a principal at the architecture firm Rowland+Broughton (R+B). Her practice was named the AIA Colorado's 2009 Young Firm of the Year. As a principal of R+B, Broughton is directly involved in the oversight of each project, while she simultaneously leads the day-to-day operations of the firm's two offices in Aspen and Denver, Colorado. Sarah is very active in the Aspen community and has served as the chair of the City of Aspen's Historic Preservation Commission. Broughton is originally from Portland, Oregon, and graduated with a Bachelor of Environmental degree in Architecture from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Best Historic Architecture
The Molly Brown House Museum is an iconic Victorian house in Downtown Denver (near the capitol). Amazingly intact and representative of life in Denver at the turn of the century. Molly Brown is one of the survivors from the Titanic and the wife of a mining company man.
Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Architecture
The Air Force Academy, near Colorado Springs, was designed by SOM’s Walter Netsch and remains totally relevant today. The Cadet Chapel is not to be missed. It is one of the coolest buildings I have ever visited.
Best Museums and Galleries
The Clyfford Still Museum is the perfect size for a 45 minute art intake. The building by Allied Works Architecture is amazing, and it shows a great chronological representation of Still’s work.
At the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)—designed by David Adjaye—in LoDo, go to the rooftop café for a snack overlooking the City.
Best Restaurants
The Squeaky Bean in LoDo is awesome. Owner Johnny Bean is often behind the bar or helping to wait on tables. He has a one-acre farm in Lakewood, where much of the produce is grown. Many local farms in the area are also represented. The menu changes seasonally, and you can’t go wrong with any of it.
Denver star chef Frank Bonanno’s Osteria Marco on Larimer Square serves great handmade cheeses and salumis. The pizzas are also amazing.
In a former auto body shop, Root Down in LoHi has awesome cocktails and farm-to-table food. The plates are great to share.
Best Bars/Clubs
At the LoHi speakeasy, Williams and Graham, you enter through a hidden door inside a bookshelf door. Be prepared, there is always a wait to get in, but they make amazing cocktails with hand shaved ice (the bartenders use actual saws). On Larimer Square, Frank Bonanno has his own speakeasy, Green Russell, where you enter through a diner to get into a hidden bar.
Housed in a former funeral home, Linger in LoHi is a fun bar, and it’s always packed. The food is also good. The menu features street food from around the world. And definitely check out the rooftop bar.
Suite 200 on Larimer Square has DJs if you want to get your groove on.
The Ogden Theater on Colfax is a landmark in Denver and usually has a good lineup of music. I just saw Prince there.
Best Shopping
Tattered Cover is a great local bookstore in a historic LoDo warehouse building. It is a must-stop while in Denver.
I get sucked in at Meineger’s on Broadway. It’s one of the best art stores in the country.
Best Excursions
Take a 30-minute drive north to Boulder for great hiking, restaurants, and shopping. Visit one of the few successful pedestrian malls in the world and then hike in the Flatirons.
Aspen is beautiful year round and especially in June. It is so green! They say you move to Aspen for the winter skiing, but you stay because of the summers. The June jazz festival is the weekend after the AIA conference and would be a great way to top off the Colorado experience.
Places to Explore
LoDo (Lower Downtown) is going off right now with lots of redevelopment. Union Station is being refurbished and will be the transportation hub with light rail going to Denver International Airport shortly.
LoHi (Lower Highland) right across I-25 from LoDo is bursting with energy and new restaurants. Check out the Ale House rooftop bar while sipping local Breckenridge Brewery brews overlooking downtown Denver.
I love to run in Cheesman Park and Washington Park. They are great urban parks with lots of life and fun running loops!
Also, rent bikes from the bike share stands that are located throughout Downtown. Take the bikes along the Cherry Creek path and over the bridge into LoHi for margaritas and made to order guacamole at Lola’s on the outdoor deck.
