16th Street Mall may inspire Atlanta
Atlanta business leaders are looking at Denver’s 16th Street Mall for inspiration as they contemplate ways to revitalize their downtown. They’re eyeing our free downtown shuttle as they consider building a 14.4-mile streetcar line to shuttle shoppers along Peachtree Street.
What do the two cities have in common? Maybe nothing more than Rick White, the spokesperson for Atlanta Streetcar, who lived in Denver before he moved to Georgia.
White told an Atlanta reporter that Denver’s shuttle “functions almost like a moving sidewalk, and we expect that same type of atmosphere will exist here.”
Before the 16th Street redevelopment, wrote Christopher Quinn in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “At 5 p.m. you could shoot a cannon and you wouldn’t hit anyone.
“Now 16th Street is crowded from breakfast to last call. The shuttle is credited, in part, with turning 16th Street from a sinking retail corridor between the state Capitol and LoDo into the new center of town.”
We’re hospitable, fun and even tasty
Denver is a hot destination this summer – and not just temperature-wise. It ranked ninth of 25 “Most Hospitable Cities” in a recent Verizon Information Services survey. Colorado Springs came in 22nd.
The ranking was based on the number of hotel, motel and B&B listings in more than 1,000 Verizon online directories.
Denver was also ranked sixth in the nation’s “Most Fun Cities” and 25th in the “Tastiest Cities.” Hot dog!
Rockies wristbands benefit hospital
The Colorado Rockies and Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain are jumping on the silicone- wristband bandwagon with a new “Supporting GEN-R-ATION” version.
All proceeds earned from the sale of the $2 purple wristbands – available at Coors Field on game days, at ticket office windows and online – will benefit The Children’s Hospital, the organizations said last week.
Each lucky Rockies season- ticket holder will receive one adult and one child-sized wristband in the mail, with a donation made on their behalf to The Children’s Hospital.
The wristband craze was ignited last year by cycling champion Lance Armstrong, when he began selling bright-yellow “Live strong” bracelets for $1 each to support cancer research. More than 40 million have been sold, according to the Lance Armstrong Foundation website.
Scooby-Doo now does yoga
Can Scooby-Doo inspire kids to get off the couch? Broomfield-based Gaiam Inc., says yes. Its new line of Doo Yoga kids products features the image of the beloved Scooby-Doo on brightly colored yoga mats, mat bags and BalanceBalls.
“Our goal with the Doo Yoga line is to make fitness and health fun for kids and easy for parents to incorporate into their daily lives,” said Howard Ronder, Gaiam’s vice president of marketing. “Scooby-Doo is familiar to so many people, and we’ve seen that his lively image helps motivate children to be active.”
Sixteen percent of children and adolescents are classified as overweight or obese, according to the American Heart Association. Gaiam, which markets yoga props and videos to adults, also began offering Yoga Kids videos several years ago.
Scooby-Doo will bring a whole new meaning to the “downward-facing dog” yoga position.
Ride a tricycle for neonatal unit
Another group interested in children’s health is staging a childish fundraiser July 9. Grown-up participants will spend the evening riding Big Wheel tricycles through downtown Boulder to raise money for Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Big Wheel Rally founder Matt Armbruster started the event in 1991 to challenge the endurance of adults and the strength of their plastic chariots. This year he will donate the proceeds to St. Joseph, which delivers more babies than any other Colorado hospital. The registration fee is $5, and participants will receive a limited edition “Ride Low” wristband. Information is available at www.BigWheelRally.com or 888-252-6379.
