Ever wanna got professional design advice to decorate and beautify your beloved home? This Saturday, October 1st, get inSPIRED with West Elm, Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn at our special Fall Home Design Fair held at 891 14th Street.

The featured on-site design consultations and workshops offered by those vendors will be great chances to pick up some fantastic decorating and entertaining tips. Join this special event in viewing showcase of home services, including green cleaning, floral, personal chefs, and photography, from other vendors as well. The fair is free to attend and it lasts for 4 hours long.

Enter to win a Spire Experience package worth over $300! Don’t miss this unique opportunity! 10 am the fair begins! Come and join us!

This month we’ve come up with another super exclusive giveaway that will give you a taste of the best of our downtown Denver neighborhood. Just another reason to eat, drink and, be merry in good ‘ol Denver, CO.

Ever wonder what it would be like to live in a high-rise like the SPIRE? Well enter to win 24hrs. of the inSPIREd lifestyle and you can see for yourself!

If you’re the lucky grand prize winner, here’s what you’ll receive:

—A one night stay in a SPIRE guest suite for you and a guest

—$100 for dinner at Row 14

—$25 for breakfast at Snarf’s

—$25 for lunch at Organic Pizza Company

—Unlimited use of the 9th and 10th floor amenity

Runner Up:

The runner up will receive a bottle of wine valued at $50 or less at Row 14.

To Enter, go to the sweepstakes tab on the SPIRE Denver Facebook page.

So, what are you waiting for!? Experience 24 hrs. of the exclusive lifestyle at the SPIRE Denver!

About Row 14:

Row 14 Bistro & Wine Bar opened in SPIRE in March 2011 as a sophisticated yet approachable New American neighborhood restaurant with a strong focus on the relationship between accessible wines and seasonal food offerings.

About Snarf’s:

Long a Boulder lunch fixture, Snarf’s landed in Denver a few months ago. Since then, the Capitol Hill sandwich shop has done brisk business. For the uninitiated, the offerings range from standard (i.e. ham and cheese) to inspired eats like rotisserie chicken with Swiss or barbecue brisket and Swiss. All orders come with the fixings—mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion—and Snarf’s dynamite hot-pepper relish.

About Organic Pizza Company:

Simple, healthy ingredients. Delicious, signature recipes. Ready-to-bake pizzas plus fresh-and-delicious salads. Full of flavor and fun to share. Perfect for every occasion – like healthy dinners, festive parties, or corporate events.

Apartment vacancies in the Denver metro area are at a 10-year low, according to a report released this week. The current vacancy rate is 4.8 percent. Gordon Von Stroh, a business professor at the University of Denver and the report’s author states that “a vacancy rate below five percent is generally regarded as a sign that the market is tight.”

Why? There is a natural population increase in young people in the Denver area of about 35,000 a year. The first step for them is to move into an apartment. Due to the lack of construction of new apartment units, the vacancy rate moves even lower.

With lower vacancy rates, rent goes up. Median rents rose in Adams, Arapahoe and Jefferson counties. The largest year-over-year increase in median rent was Arapahoe county which increased four percent from $806.11 to $838.79.

It may be time to think about buying instead of renting. There are many great tools to help calculate if buying may be better for you. If you find that is the case, there’s no place better to live in Downtown Denver than at the SPIRE. Visit our Sales Center today to schedule a personal tour of our 42 story glass residential tower in the heart of downtown Denver at 720.457.7550

Like art? This Friday is the first Friday in June, which means Santa Fe galleries are going to be packed with creative people. If you still have art cravings after First Friday, Saturday is a free day at the Denver Art Museum. It will give you a chance to see the Cities of Splendor exhibit if you haven’t already. Or head over to Red Bull Illume.

If you couldn’t tell, we are a big fan of the local food trucks. This Saturday night, Justice League of Street Food will be dishing up some of the best gourmet street food in the area. Trucks include: Novo Coffee’s Gastro Cart, The Denver Cupcake Truck, Steuben’s, Deluxe Street Food’s Little Orange Rocket, Biker Jim’s, Pinche Tacos, The Biscuit Bus, Sully’s Slice Truck, Stick it to Me, and The Steamin’ Demon. There will also be Great Divide beers, Tortoise Creek wines, and sangria to wash down the deliciousness.

To work up an appetite for the food truck madness, you might want to check out the great festivals going on in the city this weekend. Head over to Larimer Square to see Denver Chalk Art Festival. Amazing chalk art will cover the square by more than 150 professional and amateur artists. This tradition began in 16^th century Renaissance Italy, where artists created temporary chalk masterpieces on asphalt. Thus, there will be Italian food and wine tasting to accompany the event. As well as music and a kids’ corner where little ones get to play with chalk.

There’s also another festival this weekend, Capitol Hill People’s Fair will offer family activities, vendors, musicians, and food to benefit local nonprofits. If you do their passport scavenger hunt, you might win a year’s worth of Miller-Lite. Reverb posted the lineup for the bands during the festival. According to our resident music expert, you don’t want to miss Bop Skizzum (Sunday, June 5^th at 5:25 on CHUN Main Stage), Tequila Mockingbird (Sunday, June 5^th at 2:25 on the Miller Lite Stage), and Frogs Gone Fishing (Sunday, June 5^th at 4:25 on the Miller Lite Stage).

There’s always so many options for the weekends when you’re living in Downtown Denver. What are you planning on doing this weekend?

SPIRE is excited to announce a new social media contest launching tomorrow, Wednesday, June 1^st. This contest will be launched through our Facebook page. We want people to tell us the things that inSPIRE them about living in Denver. Entries are limited to one paragraph and three photos.

Grand prize (1 winner) will receive a one night stay at SPIRE in the guest suite on the evening of Saturday September 10, 2011 with full access to SPIRE amenities, two tickets to see Jay Leno Live in Denver (DCPA) on September 10, 2011, and a $100 gift certificate for dinner at Row 14 Bistro and Wine Bar.

Nine winners will receive honorable mention prizes which include: two $25 gift cards to Organic Pizza Company, two $25 gift cards to Snarf’s, two B-cycle memberships, and three Connect by Hertz memberships.

To get a head start, like our page now.  Start thinking about your inSPIREd ideas now. The contest ends July 6^th.

SPIRE is the hub of downtown living in Denver. We strive to create an online community through social media that connects people both online and offline through our events and crosspromotions.

There is growing debate surrounding the politics of food trucks. Late District 8 councilwoman Carla Madison was a champion for food truckers. She led the food truck task force that regulated food trucks in Denver. The most recent guide can be found here. Denver is still debating guidelines that will dictate the trucks summer season. Boulder’s fleet of mobile food vendors has hit some bureaucratic speed bumps of its own. However, it was recently announced in the Denver Business Journal this week that Boulder voted to allow food trucks to operate in parts of the city.

The bottom line is the food from these trucks are mouthwatering goodness. If you haven’t tried these amazing tasty finds, you have your chance this weekend. Food Truck Warriors, a band of eleven food trucks and carts, have formed an alliance around serving good food and great times to the hungry masses. The plan on throwing parties and  events throughout the year. The first one kicks off this weekend at the corner of Ninth and Bannock. The street food bonanza will be happening from 2:00-9:00 p.m. Members of the Food Truck Warrior crew include: Street Eats, the Crock Spot, Biscuit Bus, Steuben’s, Max Lunch, Brava Pizzeria, Stick it to Me, The Bon Bon Buggy, Mikes2 Kitchen, Mythos Greek and Sweet Revenge Cupcakes. They will also be joined by the Left Hand Brewing company, who will provide a beer garden. DJs Ginger Perry and Christine West will be spinning tunes. Admission to this street fest is free, and a portion of the food and drink proceeds will benefit ACE, a local nonprofit that provides alternative ways to get healthy. Great food, fun people, and you get to feel good by donating to charity. This event is a must for your weekend plans.

TEDx In the spirit of “ideas worth spreading,” TED has created TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxMileHigh, where x = independently organized TED event. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.  The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including Mile High TEDx, are self-organized.

Started as a four-day conference in California 26 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. At TED, the world’s leading thinkers and doers are asked to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Benoit Mandelbrot, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Two major TED events are held each year: The TED Conference takes place every spring in Long Beach, California (along with a parallel conference, TEDActive, in Palm Springs), and TEDGlobal is held each summer in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Here is the Tedx Mile High Homepage where you can learn more and purchase tickets: http://www.tedxmilehigh.com/

Follow TEDx Mile High on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/TEDxMileHigh or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TEDxMileHigh

Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at facebook.com/TED.

TEDx Mile High bring you some Denver’s best & brightest speakers along with some incredible national speakers.

Here are a few of the local heroes you can look forward to:

• Bernard Amadei (Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder and Founding President of Engineers Without Borders – USA and co-founder of Engineers Without Borders-International) http://ceae.colorado.edu/mc-edc/?ii=People%20:%20Bernard%20Amadei
• Alex Bogusky – Emcee (Co-Founder of Crispin Porter & Bogusky) Founder of the Fearless Revolution http://fearlessrevolution.com/
• Ashara Ekundayo (Founder of BluBlak Media Consulting and Café Nuba) http://cafenuba.com/
• James B. Hayes (Former Publisher, Fortune; Former CEO, Junior Achievement) http://www.ja.org/
• John Hickenlooper (Governor, State of Colorado) http://www.colorado.gov/GOVERNOR
• Allen Lim (Director of Sports Science, Team RadioShack) http://www.teamradioshack.us/
• L. Hunter Lovins (President and founder of the Natural Capitalism Solutions (NCS) and Co-Founder of Rocky Mountain Institute) www.natcapsolutions.org

Here are a few of the national speakers:

• Robyn O’Brien (Author of The Unhealthy Truth) www.allergykidsfoundation.org & www.robynobrien.com
• Jeff Olson (1998 Winter Olympics, 1992 Winter Olympics, co-founder of Well Nourished Worldwide) www.wellnourishedworldwide.com
• Sally A. Ranney (CEO of StillWater Preservation LLC (SWP)) www.areday.net amatterofdegreemedia.com www.imattermarch.org
• General Victor E. Renuart Jr. (Former Commander of NORAD and US Northern Command) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_E._Renuart,_Jr.
• Casey Sheahan (CEO & President of Patagonia, Inc.) http://www.patagonia.com/us/home
• Obura Tongoi (CEO, Africa Redefined & Co-Founder, Audeamus Capital Partners LLP) https://africaredefined.com/index.php

We have included a short video below to familiarize you a little more with the TED experience. This is a can’t miss event for everyone in the Mile High City! If you attend please share your thoughts in the comments section of this post, on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/SPIREDenver or on Facebook http://on.fb.me/e29aHt

Here is the official event information and schedule:

Friday, April 1
6 – 10 pm

Saturday, April 2
12 – 9 pm

Admission: $10 / day;  $15 both days
Kids under 12 Free.

NEW! Add reserved VIP seating for the Denver Top 10 Fashion Show with Mondo Finale: $15

Runway / Stage Event Schedule:

Friday
6pm – doors open
7pm – Be Your Own You
8pm – Charlie Price
9pm – Denver Style Awards with Babblin’ Brooks and Nina Flowers
10pm – doors close

Saturday
12n – doors open
1pm – Buxom and Anna Festa

2pm – Natalee Moldenhour and Marie Margot Couture Bridal
3pm – House of Arden
4pm – Gimme Gimme Pillow Toast Japanese Street Fashion
5pm – NUR
6pm – Audience Awards: Best-Dressed audience members compete for prizes on the Runway!
7pm – Denver Top 10 Fashion Show with Mondo Guerra finale
9pm – doors close

Get your tickets here: http://denverstyleexpotix.eventbrite.com/

When you choose to become a member of CultureHaus you become part of a unique and exclusive resource that that opens doors to Denver’s emerging cultural and arts scene. CultureHaus delivers on this promise because it’s backed by the Denver Art Museum. And CultureHaus extends DAM’s mission by supporting and networking with youthful arts patrons, emerging artists, and local arts organizations.

CultureHaus membership includes a rewarding experience and these exciting benefits for you PLUS a guest. (Please note: A Denver Art Museum annual membership is required to join CH, and you can join both at the same time.)

• Party at our annual CH Banner Event

• Discover collecting with CH Collects 6 times per year

• Educate your mind at CH InHaus 4 times per year

• Visit exclusive art-related events with CH Out & About 2 times per year

• Celebrate your membership at our annual recognition event with CH Bash

The next event is Mixology 101 March 21, 2011

When: Monday, March 21, 2011

Where: Stir Cooking School – 3215 Zuni St., Denver, CO 80211 | Google Map

Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Cost: $15/member, $20/member guest

Tickets: Tickets Available Via Blacktie Colorado

MIXOLOGY 101

Please join CultureHaus for a fun evening at the New Stir Cooking School in the Highlands for Mixology 101. Mike Henderson, mixoligist extraordinaire, and professional bartender instructor will teach this class. We will learn an overview of cocktail styles and cocktail building basics, which will culminate in all of us taking our own, turn at creating (and sampling) tasty adult beverages!

Due to space constraints we will need to limit registration to 30 participants…so don’t delay!

This is an abbreviated version of Mike’s Cocktail 101 class, which normally costs $55/person.

More information about the Stir Cooking School can be found at: www.StirToLearn.com

Culture Haus Membership: http://bit.ly/fsGe1F

Now I know that many folks are less than pleased with this winter wonderland. The roads are crowded and slow. Commuting is a pain. After a stressful drive home the idea of going out to dinner or for groceries may be less than appealing.

Unless you call downtown home.

One of the many benefits to life downtown is freedom from your car. Walk to work and stop at your favorite warm and cozy coffee shop on your walk. Jump on the light rail (just steps away from SPIRE) and read the paper while you enjoy your coffee. Smile.

After work meet friends or that special someone at your favorite bistro. Order a warm cup of tea or your favorite beverage and enjoy your conversation. Don’t forget to look out the window at the beautiful scenery Mother Nature is painting. Smile again. You’re not sitting in your car, in traffic, in a snowstorm. You are enjoying the snow from any one of the hundreds of warm and cozy locations downtown.

It’s the SPIRE lifestyle of living downtown. Located in the heart of downtown Denver SPIRE homeowners will be able to select from hundreds of wonderful restaurants, pubs, theaters, and events just footsteps from their front door.

Those feeling active in the snow or craving some fun before dinner might be seen cross country skiing or snowshoeing through our city. Such is the wonder of life downtown.

All of us at SPIRE are hoping you enjoy Denver’s first big snow of the season. To learn more about urban living at SPIRE please free to give us a call at 720-457-7550 or visit our sales center at 890 14th Street, Denver CO 80202.

In the meantime stay warm, stay safe, and enjoy your evening.

SPIRE