THE HISTORY OF BRIGHTON, CO - IT'S A REALLY COOL PLACE AND I HAVE A LISTING COMING SOON!

As you drive on the highway out of Denver, away from the city towards the towns surrounding, you may find yourself on US-85 heading towards a town called Brighton, Colorado. Just a hop, skip and jump away from Denver, or about a thirty minute drive, this small town has a lot of character as well as a lot of history. First established as a city back in the 1860’s, Brighton first possessed the name Hughes Station because of the Hughes Stagecoach Station that was built as well as the Boulder Valley Railroad. During that time, Hughes Station was a place for the railroad and fur traders to stop as everything was expanding west. In 1881, the City of Brighton was born, named after the birthplace of the founder Daniel Carmichael’s wife. From that point on, Brighton continued to grow and thrive as a city as it continues to do to this day.

Today I have a listing that I am working on that is located in Brighton, CO.  I am excited for this listing because I live in Brighton so it's close to my home and my heart as I am raising my family here.  

I moved to Brighton three years ago and let me tell you it was not a move I wanted to make.  When I thought of Brighton I though it was too far east, didn't have anything going on and it was just not interested.  When we started to look for a home we wanted something unique and custom, on some land and a place where we could maybe have horses and just spread out a little.  When you are a Realtor you work with people all day, you are in your car a lot and all you want to do when you come home is relax and enjoy your family and loved ones. 

My husband sent me a listing in Brighton and said we should go check out this home.  I said "no way, I am not moving to Brighton".  He asked me several times to go look at it and every time I turned it down.  He was persistent with me and then just scheduled the showing and I was kicking and screaming all the way there.  Well, that just happened to be the home we had been looking for and believe me we were looking for an entire year.   

Once we got settled in we realized that Brighton was not that far and there was actually a little downtown area that was screaming for some attention.  So I started to get to know Brighton a little better and even got involved a little with the redevelopment of the old Brighton Buddhist church.  I met with the city of Brighton and the Brighton Economic Development committee and learned that there is a lot planned for Brighton and the city is working hard to support the small business that are currently there, bring in new small businesses so that more people and families will move here and see what a great city it is.  

For my listing today I had the the photography done by @NoahBergPhotography and a drone video shoot done by@B&GCameraNautics and the video production will be done by Wade Holland @WadeHollandMedia.  I have never used a drone before as most of my listings are in an urban setting in Downtown Denver so it was a really fun experience.  

Well, you probably thought I was going to give you all the details didn't you. Nope, you will have to wait until next week when the listing and video goes live.  

Stay tuned....

 

What The Denver Broncos Taught Me

It wouldn’t be right to not say a little something about those football players from Denver who recently won the most coveted title in football. Congratulations to the Denver Broncos for being Super Bowl L champions! What a time to be a Broncos fan, our team had quite a year but in the end, led by Peyton Manning, the team rallied together to play a great Super Bowl game and came out victorious. There has never been so much blue and orange draped around the city and it is quite a wonderful sight to see.

After the big win on Sunday, I listened to many of the interviews with the players and the coaches and have to say, I came away with a lot of realizations about football but also about what it means to be on a team and to have one another’s backs through thick and thin. When Peyton was injured earlier this year, many people got down on him saying he was too old to play and wouldn’t ever be able to come back and play the way he once did. The truth is, Peyton is not the youngest quarterback out there, he isn’t the fastest and he isn’t the most graceful even. But he is one of the smartest quarterbacks out there, who has a team that respects and follows his lead. On and off the field, Peyton is looked up to by players, coaches and the media a like, because he is far more than just a superior football player. For a team to be successful, like the Broncos were this season, there needs to be those leaders on and off the field. The ones who encourage their fellow teammates, push themselves and others to do better, take the disappointments in stride and celebrate each and every little victory.

That kind of work ethic and leadership is something I admire and myself try to do in my everyday life. I am lucky enough to work with some amazing team members, from the company my husband and I run together to the financial organizations I help run, being a team player and a leader is something I strive to do from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. I have encountered many bad leaders in my time, managers who lack personal skills and speak to their employees in a degrading way, co-workers who find it ok to talk badly about one another or owners who are barely seen at their companies leading many employees to wonder how important the business really is to the owner. The thing is, you can’t have a team without a leader or a group of strong leaders who support those they advise and those they mentor.

There is that saying, there is no “i” in team, and the Broncos showed us that more than anything this past weekend. The offense, the defense, the kicker and good ol’ Peyton, all took to that field and showed what it looks like when a team works together for their cause. In the end, they walked off the field all smiles, knowing they had all taken part in their great victory.

Photo From; The Denver Post

Photo From; The Denver Post


Everyday is better with a good cup of Joe

A wise person once said, ‘everything gets better with coffee’. I will openly admit, I am a coffee person. Starting my day with a warm latte or grabbing a cappuccino in the afternoon before a meeting are always things I look forward to. What I like even more though is finding great coffee shops around Denver to try out, meeting new coffee shop owners/employees and making new relationships along the way. 

Below are a few Denver coffee shops I have frequented and made some great connections at, make sure to stop in to each and try their amazing coffee.

Hooked on ColfaxMy friends own this place so I may be biased but Hooked is a great place to escape the busy that is your day and enjoy some quality coffee. They carry a range of Colorado roasters and local companies who are committed to sourcing the best beans, ethically and sustainably. They also serve breakfast, have a stellar bakery and if you need something stronger they also offer a range of alcohol. Open from 7am-10pm daily, check them out at 3213 E. Colfax Avenue. 

Huckleberry on LarimerThis great coffee place was started inside a garage between an alley and a backyard chicken coop by two gentlemen named Mark and Koan. Today, they source coffee from the world’s best producers and honoring it through careful roasting to bring out the best taste. They have three core values, enjoy slowly, cultivate community and appreciate quality. If you find yourself near the RiNo Art District and baseball field, make sure to stop in and enjoy something delicious.

Bellwether This newly opened establishment is already making waves down on Colfax. Carrying coffee from Boxcar Roasters on tap, as well as Bulleit whiskey, this shop is a great addition to the neighborhood. Also feel like a little shopping? Make sure to check out their great brands from Ruckus to For Love and Lemons. Expect a lot of great things from this place, go check them out from 7am-7pm daily at 5126 E. Colfax Avenue.  

Black Eye Coffee For those of you in the Highlands, my guess is you already know about this gem. Black Eye features single origin coffees that are rotated every month to give you a high standard of coffee from around the world. With a roll-up garage door to allow in the sunshine and breeze on nice days, this coffee shop also offers delicious baked goods and food throughout the day. Located at 3408 Navajo St., and opening one in Capitol Hill soon, make sure to swing in and enjoy a cup of coffee. 

Wash PerkYou guess it, this quant coffee shop is located right down the street from Washington Park. A very cozy spot with couches, eclectic décor and outside seating, this coffee shop is a favorite to many locals. Offering a wide variety of delicious drinks, it is a great spot to post up after a walk around Wash pop in at 853 E Ohio Ave.

Aviano Coffee Cherry CreekA very trendy café with an open and modern design, expect some gourmet espresso drinks, pastries and more from this great spot in the heart of Cherry Creek. Located at 244 Detroit St, you can expect to pay a little more here but it is worth it to get an amazing cup of coffee.

If you ever want to grab a cup of coffee while in Denver and discuss real estate, feel free to give me a call or contact me via email and we can set something up. Always looking to try out new spots or introduce others to some of my favorite places around town. 

 

Photo By @NoahBergPhotography

Photo By @NoahBergPhotography

Vroom Vroom, Car Shows for the July 4th Weekend

Hard to believe it is already July, where has the summer gone? I’m sure you are all getting ready to do fun activities this July 4th weekend from a backyard bbq to heading downtown to watch the great fireworks or maybe packing up the kids and heading on a little mountain road trip. There is so much to do this weekend and I know my husband and my daughter and I are excited for some particular events that have to do with old cars, a love all of us share. My husband and I have been avid car show attendees for years now, as admirers of other people’s automobiles and as displayers of some of our own antique car models. I know we are not the only people who enjoy these car shows, young and old alike take to these events and so I have prepared a list of some great shows to check out over this holiday weekend:

Cruise Lovelandevery Friday night in Loveland from May through September, come cruise the streets in your beautiful car!

 Red, White and Vroom Car Show8:00am – 3:00pm - showcasing classic and exotic cars from all over the world on July 4th.

Cars & Coffee (Weather Permitting)8:00am – 10:00am - if you are one who likes a wide range of cars from Ferraris to Corvettes to Classic muscle cars, this is the event for you. If the weather is nice come out and enjoy the line-up of exotic cars sure to put a smile on any car lovers face.

Very Fine Wheels Car Show 8:00am – 1:00pm – held at VFW Post 4171, all the proceeds from this show go to help local veterans and with limited space available, pre-registration is recommended.

18th Annual ‘Coolest Car Show’ – 10:00am – 4:00pm – this is an event for the whole family so bring everyone! Check-in time is from 8am-9:30am with an entry fee of $30, all registrants receive goodie bags and dash plaques. With an option to display your car indoors or outdoors, admission is only $5 per adult and $2 per child or $10 for the whole family. Live music, children’s activities, a raffle and silent auction accommodate this fun show!

Take the family and your favorite classic car and make sure to catch one of these great shows this weekend! And if it is time to find a new place to park your car, maybe a new three-car-garage, shoot me an e-mail or give me a call. I know it is important to have a place to park your baby and would love to help you start searching for that next spot for you!

Have a safe and happy 4th everyone!