Things To Do In The Pinery

It's often easy to forget that humans aren't the only beings on earth in need of sanctuary; sometimes, animals need it, too. Set across 900 rolling, scenic acres, The Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary is dedicated to rescuing, training, and providing sanctuary for wild horses and burros, specifically American and Spanish Mustangs. At the facility, these magnificent animals roam just as they would in the wild, sharing land and closet space with other herds and feeding off the greenery that surrounds them. But just because these horses are in protection doesn't mean they're off limits to the public. As part of its mission to educate the public on the issues surrounding wild horses, The Great Escape provides visitors with the chance to photograph the mustangs, interact directly with them, and learn about their stories as well as the historical significance of certain breeds.

For nearly 60 years, the Arapahoe Philharmonic has played the classical music of historical composers and modern musicians to audiences around Denver. The orchestra's Spring Pops Gala will feature the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, the American songwriting duo whose musicals, including The Sound of Music and The King and I, have won a slew of Tony, Oscar, and Grammy awards. VIP ticket holders can slip in early for a Two Rivers wine tasting at 6:00 p.m., enjoying sips of vino and a variety of hors d’oeuvres. Curiosity-seekers can caravan a short safari through the animal- and plant-life exhibits of The Wildlife Experience museum, taking care to park impatient camels outside the venue before settling back into the reserved-seating area for a sonic adventure with the orchestra.

Takoda Tavern serves American-style cuisine in the middle of Parker's Parker district. You'll find a wonderful selection of drinks from Takoda Tavern's full bar to top off your meal. At Takoda Tavern, diners can score happy hour deals. Stay in the loop (and online!) by tapping into Takoda Tavern's free wifi hotspot. Sit outside when the weather is fine — Takoda Tavern has a lovely patio to enjoy a warm day. Don't be shy — step out on the restaurant dance floor and soak up the sound of live music. Between the music and the crowds, expect noise levels to reach upper limits at the restaurant. The restaurant can fill to capacity on the weekends, so don't forget to call ahead to reserve your table. No need to gussy up for a trip to Takoda Tavern, where patrons dress for comfort and fun. If you're strapped for time, take out food from Takoda Tavern. Store your car on the street or in a nearby lot at Takoda Tavern. Bike parking is quick and easy at Takoda Tavern. You can take it easy on your wallet at Takoda Tavern — prices are generally less than $30 per person.

At over 100 locations throughout the country, CorePower Yoga (CPY) invites students to creative classes that meld movement, breath, heat, and music into entrancing routines to energize the body and mind. Signature CPY classes are taught by approachable certified yoga instructors who lead students through dynamic, Vinyasa-style flows with demonstration and verbal cues, helping pupils of all experience levels tone core muscles and cultivate balance. CPY also offers teacher training and lifestyle programs to empower students to become yoga instructors or to just advance their individual practice. During construction of all its new studios, CPY strives to use recycled content, install eco-friendly and efficient mechanical systems, and ensure that any waste created doesn't end up in landfills or just piled in Mr. Henderson's garage.

Owner and senior wine instructor Dani Cross created VinBoutique with a mission to introduce palates to the best French wines. A certified level-III sommelier, Cross personally travels to France to hand-pick vintages from small production companies and develop relationships with local vintners, ensuring her customers enjoy a collection of reds, whites, and bubbly that is exceptional not just in craftsmanship and taste, but also in value. "By tasting my wines, you can actually hone your palate way quicker because [the wines are] technically correct" in the way they are selected, shipped, and stored, she says. "If you're not tasting something that's proper, you won't know what chardonnay is supposed to taste like." A strong belief that wine should be enjoyed and shared with others inspires VinBoutique's tasting classes, where Cross and other wine experts share insights into different varietals, food pairings, and wine-making techniques. Using an approach designed to be both fun and unintimidating, Cross also includes a question-and-answer section, as well as easy-to-follow tasting notes, making her classes accessible to everyone from the casual wine fan to the connoisseur who can uncork a bottle using only their mind. As Dani continued to try new wines and savor her favorite French vintages, she became dismayed. Often, the wines she bought had been stored improperly or for too long, destroying the bouquets and noses that she loved. "Born of frustration, I decided to start my own [wine boutique]." And thus she curated a selection of French wines for VinBoutique. "By tasting my wines, you can actually hone your palate way quicker because [the wines are] technically correct" in the way they are selected, shipped, and stored, she says. "If you're not tasting something that's proper, you won't know what chardonnay is supposed to taste like." In addition to bottles of red, white, and bubbly, Dani and a team of instructors offer wine classes suitable for everyone from the casual wine fan to the connoisseur who can uncork a bottle using only their mind. Each class comes with notes and take-home materials, and is taught by a teacher who can both go into great technical detail or give thorough overviews so that student's don?t "get cross-eyed."

A year after Scott Kerkmans created the role of Chief Beer Officer for the Four Points by Sheraton hotels, it began to get around that Denver was the "Napa Valley of Beer." As NPR later reports, the rumor is a culmination of a life spent steeped in beer culture. Before creating Colorado Beer Week and beating out more than 7,000 applicants for the title of CBO, Kerkmans was on the production side at Alaskan Brewing Company. He’s since authored articles for Draft Magazine, taught at Cook Street School of Fine Cooking, and judged burped renditions of the Pledge of Allegiance at the Great American Beer Festival. He shares his taste in microbrews with more than 140 hotels and restaurants worldwide through the Four Point's beer program, but keeps his feet planted firmly on his home turf during his nine-day spring festival, which highlights the finest pours from Colorado breweries including New Belgium, Oskar Blues, and Ska Brewing Company.