Stu
04-22-2007, 02:26 PM
The Independent annually puts out a "Best of . . . " issue, rating hundreds of Springs locations in dozens and dozens of categories. I think we should do the same thing, continually, as an ongoing evaluation of Colo Spgs from the unique mixture of varied points of view represented on the board. I think there's a lot of experience represented here.
Few rules--you can invent any category you like. You may only rate locations from Colo Spgs, Manitou, Security, Fountain, even Pueblo--but not Denver--they have their own scene--and not as far away as Buena Vista or Salida, unless you're doing and odd category like "Best 1/2 Day Rafting Excursion" or whatnot. You have to rank locations with no ties, you your list can be as long as you like. And, finally, if you have some personal trait that may affect your bias, please indicate what that is. I'll start:
Best Mexican Food:
1. The Loop (Manitou Springs)--If I don't get a Cancun chimi and s Black Orchid margarita every two to three months, I suffer from acute depression. The Loop is small, but warm, with wood floors, a fireplace, ample window exposure to the street for watching passers-by, and a reasonable bar. When they screw up someone else's margarita order, they bring it to me. The Loop is the bomb.
2. Heni's (Old Colorado City)--Henri's also serves a wide variety of excellent margaritas. The regular menu is more traditional than The Loop's, with less of a Baja/Tex-Mex bias.
3. Senor Manuel's (Nevada and Austin Bluffs)--Senor Manuel's apparently has more of a New Mexico-style menu. The dishes are rich, with more slow-cooking evident.
4. La Casita, multiple locations--If I were doing a separate "cafeteria" category (which I might do) La Casita would win hands down. The reason it's three in the "restaurant" category is the highly informal atmosphere and presentation. The food at La Casita is light, fresh, and fast. All the locations serve beer if you want one and have a patio for civilized seating.
5. Jose Muldoon's (downtown)--I hate the downtown scene, but Muldoon's has good food, passable margaritas, a reasonable Happy Hour, and both an open patio in the front (In warm weather) and an enclosed courtyardesque patio in the back. It is chock full of schoolteachers on Friday afternoons, but sometimes I eat there anyway . . .
6. Navajo Hogan (central)--very good nachos. Fantastic ambiance. I'd rather drink there than eat, but it's not really a bar.
Best Cinema Venue:
1. The Mesa Drive-In (Pueblo)--This isn't the only drive-in in the state, but it's the easiest to get to. All the drive-in advantages, with no unexpected disadvantages. Spray yourself down with mosquito repellent--people forget that.
2. The Peak (downtown)--Again, I hate the downtown scene, but this is a decent arthouse venue, where you can sit down with some adult refreshments and enjoy a show. I wish they'd show Wizards and Repo Man at midight, but I guess you can't have everything . . .
3. Fine Arts Center movies (downtown)--they don't do this regularly, but when they do, it's cool.
4. Movies on the Quad (CC)--or whatever CC calls their lawn chair movie series.
5. The Imax (Powers)--You can't beat a four-story screen, and I like the semi-educational films they show.
I can't bring myself to give the Carmikes or the dollar movies a number. I don't like seeing movies in places like that. I wish we had a little more variety in town.
Best Purveyer of Adult Beverages:
1. Thunder and Buttons (Old Colorado City)--T&B is a great place to have a beer, a sandwich, and to simply sit still on the patio and enjoy the laid-back west side ambiance. I almost consider it a sister site to Meadow Muffins, which I also enjoy, but which doesn't have a patio, doesn't serve quite as good food, and which can become choked up with kids.
2. The Townhouse (Manitou)--The Town house is the best place I know to have a beer, a sandwich, and to simply sit still on the patio and enjoy the laid-back Manitou ambiance.
3. The Ancient Mariner (Manitou)--No patio, but still heaps of hippie ambiance, and sometimes you can find some . . . conversation.
4. O'Furry's (central)--Great atmosphere, outdoor volleyball, decent music, lots of . . . conversation. This joint's related to Meadow Muffin's, but seems more laid-back.
5. Jack Quinn's (downtown)--Fun, pub-like place.
I don't like Old Chicago's, or any other kind of resteraunt that tries to masquerade as a bar. I don't like any of the Houlihan McFriday's--style chain joints.
Best Pizza:
1. The Do-Drop Inn (Pueblo)--It takes a long time to get your order here, but it's worth it.
2. Leon Gessi's. (central)--Good, unpretentious pizza. BJ's Velvet Freeze is around the corner, if you'd like some dessert.
Best Patio:
1. The Townhouse
2. Ted and Sully's
3. The 21st Street Tavern
Best Jukebox:
1. The Point
2. The Mill Hill Tavern
3. Tony's
4. The Dutch Mill (also, best cheeseburger)
Clearly, many of my selections demonstrate the fact that I'm a little older, not single-mindedly in search of . . . conversation, and typically enjoy being outside, perfecting the only two areas of expertise I have: sitting very still, and drinking beer.
I'm looking forward to what different people would suggest, and to see people's suggestions in different categories, ie: best place to buy books, music, videos, etc, best videogames, best secondhand shop, best chicken wings, best micro-brew, best pool tables, best bowling, etc etc etc etc.
Few rules--you can invent any category you like. You may only rate locations from Colo Spgs, Manitou, Security, Fountain, even Pueblo--but not Denver--they have their own scene--and not as far away as Buena Vista or Salida, unless you're doing and odd category like "Best 1/2 Day Rafting Excursion" or whatnot. You have to rank locations with no ties, you your list can be as long as you like. And, finally, if you have some personal trait that may affect your bias, please indicate what that is. I'll start:
Best Mexican Food:
1. The Loop (Manitou Springs)--If I don't get a Cancun chimi and s Black Orchid margarita every two to three months, I suffer from acute depression. The Loop is small, but warm, with wood floors, a fireplace, ample window exposure to the street for watching passers-by, and a reasonable bar. When they screw up someone else's margarita order, they bring it to me. The Loop is the bomb.
2. Heni's (Old Colorado City)--Henri's also serves a wide variety of excellent margaritas. The regular menu is more traditional than The Loop's, with less of a Baja/Tex-Mex bias.
3. Senor Manuel's (Nevada and Austin Bluffs)--Senor Manuel's apparently has more of a New Mexico-style menu. The dishes are rich, with more slow-cooking evident.
4. La Casita, multiple locations--If I were doing a separate "cafeteria" category (which I might do) La Casita would win hands down. The reason it's three in the "restaurant" category is the highly informal atmosphere and presentation. The food at La Casita is light, fresh, and fast. All the locations serve beer if you want one and have a patio for civilized seating.
5. Jose Muldoon's (downtown)--I hate the downtown scene, but Muldoon's has good food, passable margaritas, a reasonable Happy Hour, and both an open patio in the front (In warm weather) and an enclosed courtyardesque patio in the back. It is chock full of schoolteachers on Friday afternoons, but sometimes I eat there anyway . . .
6. Navajo Hogan (central)--very good nachos. Fantastic ambiance. I'd rather drink there than eat, but it's not really a bar.
Best Cinema Venue:
1. The Mesa Drive-In (Pueblo)--This isn't the only drive-in in the state, but it's the easiest to get to. All the drive-in advantages, with no unexpected disadvantages. Spray yourself down with mosquito repellent--people forget that.
2. The Peak (downtown)--Again, I hate the downtown scene, but this is a decent arthouse venue, where you can sit down with some adult refreshments and enjoy a show. I wish they'd show Wizards and Repo Man at midight, but I guess you can't have everything . . .
3. Fine Arts Center movies (downtown)--they don't do this regularly, but when they do, it's cool.
4. Movies on the Quad (CC)--or whatever CC calls their lawn chair movie series.
5. The Imax (Powers)--You can't beat a four-story screen, and I like the semi-educational films they show.
I can't bring myself to give the Carmikes or the dollar movies a number. I don't like seeing movies in places like that. I wish we had a little more variety in town.
Best Purveyer of Adult Beverages:
1. Thunder and Buttons (Old Colorado City)--T&B is a great place to have a beer, a sandwich, and to simply sit still on the patio and enjoy the laid-back west side ambiance. I almost consider it a sister site to Meadow Muffins, which I also enjoy, but which doesn't have a patio, doesn't serve quite as good food, and which can become choked up with kids.
2. The Townhouse (Manitou)--The Town house is the best place I know to have a beer, a sandwich, and to simply sit still on the patio and enjoy the laid-back Manitou ambiance.
3. The Ancient Mariner (Manitou)--No patio, but still heaps of hippie ambiance, and sometimes you can find some . . . conversation.
4. O'Furry's (central)--Great atmosphere, outdoor volleyball, decent music, lots of . . . conversation. This joint's related to Meadow Muffin's, but seems more laid-back.
5. Jack Quinn's (downtown)--Fun, pub-like place.
I don't like Old Chicago's, or any other kind of resteraunt that tries to masquerade as a bar. I don't like any of the Houlihan McFriday's--style chain joints.
Best Pizza:
1. The Do-Drop Inn (Pueblo)--It takes a long time to get your order here, but it's worth it.
2. Leon Gessi's. (central)--Good, unpretentious pizza. BJ's Velvet Freeze is around the corner, if you'd like some dessert.
Best Patio:
1. The Townhouse
2. Ted and Sully's
3. The 21st Street Tavern
Best Jukebox:
1. The Point
2. The Mill Hill Tavern
3. Tony's
4. The Dutch Mill (also, best cheeseburger)
Clearly, many of my selections demonstrate the fact that I'm a little older, not single-mindedly in search of . . . conversation, and typically enjoy being outside, perfecting the only two areas of expertise I have: sitting very still, and drinking beer.
I'm looking forward to what different people would suggest, and to see people's suggestions in different categories, ie: best place to buy books, music, videos, etc, best videogames, best secondhand shop, best chicken wings, best micro-brew, best pool tables, best bowling, etc etc etc etc.