ABMP School Issues Forum

Social Events and Area Activities

ABMP Reception and Dinner

Thursday, April 14, 2011, 5:15 p.m.

The cuisine at the 2011 School Issues Forum promises to be just as remarkable and stimulating as the surroundings inside the chic Hotel Monaco. The annual reception dinner begins with cocktails in the trendy, brick-walled Wine Room where you will be surrounded by aged spirits and fantastic company. Catered by the multiple-award-winning Panzano Restaurant and Chef Elise Wiggins, dinner is a customized buffet of modern Northern Italian cuisine featuring inspired wine pairings and local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. Save room for one (or more!) of the delectable desserts. Throughout the School Issues Forum, we’ll keep you well-fed and motivated with delicious and interesting breakfasts, lunches, and well-timed snack breaks.

Yoga Wake Up with Brian (optional)

Friday, April 15, 2011, and Saturday, April 16, 2011 7:00 a.m.–7:45 a.m.

Shake off any morning sluggishness and invigorate yourself for the day with the healthy practice of yoga with ABMP’s Education Program Coordinator and yoga instructor Brian Halterman. Brian will lead the group in gentle physical postures (asanas) and energizing breathing techniques (pranayama) while tuning in to some inspiring Kundalini yoga music. No experience is necessary for this very relaxed class—a great alternative to caffeine! Prepare yourself to get the most from School Issues Forum sessions. (Yoga mats will be provided. Wear comfortable clothing.)

Denver Area Activities

Red Rocks Amphitheater. The 868-acre Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater is nestled in the Rocky Mountain foothills just 15 miles west of Denver near Morrison. It was once listed among the Seven Wonders of the World. Visit the amphitheater and enjoy stunning natural beauty as you hike, bike, or attend an event.

16th Street Mall, This is Denver’s hub of shopping, dining, and entertainment, which stretches for 16 blocks in the heart of downtown. An environmentally friendly free shuttle service stops at every intersection to transport shoppers to more than a mile of Denver’s best restaurants and shops. The 16th Street Mall recently became a wireless Internet hot spot—visitors can log on for free anywhere along the Mall or Skyline Park.

Denver Botanic Gardens. Denver Botanic Gardens presents a wide range of gardens and collections that illustrate an ever-widening diversity of plants from all corners of the world. Distinctive gardens define and celebrate our Western identity and a unique high altitude climate and geography.

LoDo (Lower Downtown Denver). Designated a Historic District in 1988, this redbrick Victorian neighborhood had fallen on hard times until a massive revitalization project reclaimed the 26 block area LoDo District in Denver. Since then, lofts and hip and high-end restaurants have dominated the streets and your hotel isn’t far away. One of the nation’s largest independent bookstores, the famed Tattered Cover bookshop is here, as is Denver’s historic Union Station. LoDo is also the center of Denver nightlife and as the sun sets in the Rockies, the streets pack with tourists and locals alike, taking advantage of jazz clubs, upscale techno and retro dance clubs, as well as assorted cocktail lounges and local bars.

Fun Hikes Near Denver. If you want to experience a taste of Colorado’s outdoor spirit, head out of town for these five hikes within a short drive of Denver. The terrain ranges from paved trails to rugged climbs, but all make for scenic day hikes. All hikes listed are moderate in nature. If you want to stick close to the city, there’s a beautiful pedestrian/bike path that circumvents the valley. Just ask the concierge how to connect from the hotel.

ABMP Education Team Best Picks for Fun at the Forum

Anne’s Pick: Day Trip to Boulder, Colorado
If you decide to stay a few days, don’t miss the chance to visit Boulder, Colorado. Start your morning with the amazing scones and coffee served at the Dushanbe Teahouse. The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art is right next door. Stroll down 13th street away from Boulder Creek to Pearl Street where you can shop for mementos and a wide variety of outdoor clothing. Turn left on Pearl and continue to the end of Pearl Street where you will spot University Bicycles. Rent bikes and head to the Boulder Creek Path for a fun seven-mile ride. When you return your bike, do some more browsing on Pearl Street and then have a late lunch or early dinner at Salt. The food is fantastic.

Kristin’s Pick: Explore Denver’s Vibrant Culture
Take advantage of the vibrant culture Denver has to offer. From live theater and museums to movies and music, the city is rich with new experiences just waiting for you to take advantage of them. See a Broadway show or riveting play in one of the stunning venues at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. Are you a fan of the silver screen? Lose yourself in an independent or foreign language film at the award-winning 1930s Mayan Theater. Cap off the night with a cocktail and live music at one of the city’s trendy bars and you’ve created a fun and art-infused evening! Other incredible cultural opportunities to explore include the Colorado Symphony, the Denver Art Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Check Westword for a complete calendar of things to do around town.

Taffie’s Pick: Don’t Miss Rocky Mountain National Park
Stay on Sunday and here’s why: just an hour and a half away from Denver you can enjoy the majestic scenery of Rocky Mountain National Park and the town of Estes Park. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the best places to view Colorado wildlife, including elk, bighorn sheep, deer, and more. You can choose to take a leisurely drive through the meadows, aspen groves, and along flowing rivers, or experience the park firsthand with more than 355 miles of hiking trails!

After you’ve worked up an appetite from all the fresh air and exercise, you can make your way over to the charming town of Estes Park. With more than 300 shops and restaurants, river walks, bike paths, and sculptures of mountain wildlife, Estes Park shopping is truly an experience all its own.

Then off to your next adventure: a ghost tour at the historic Stanley Hotel! Famous for its architecture, magnificent setting, and visitors “both alive and deceased,” it’s a must on your excursion! The Stanley was the inspiration for Stephen King’s novel The Shining, and has been featured as one of America’s most haunted hotels.

Cindy’s Pick: Relax in Idaho Springs
If you are in search of a day trip where the pace is slow, the environment is rich in historical landmarks and natural treasures, the food is unique to the region, and the town is quaint and nestled in the mountains, Idaho Springs is the place for you. In a high mountain valley 30 miles west of Denver, Idaho Springs is the site of the first major Colorado gold strike in 1859. Check out the Phoenix Gold Mine, where you can tour the mines and even pan your own gold! If you are more of an outdoors type, there are also plenty of hiking trails right nearby. After a couple of hours of being a mining tourist or a trail hiker, you can make your way to Miner Street and downtown Idaho Springs. Here you will find an array of eclectic shops, as well as several local Colorado dining options. If you want to try a truly unique pizza, don’t miss Beau Jo’s Colorado Mountain Pies. Finally, after a full day of touring and walking, treat yourself to a therapeutic soak in the Geothermal Cave Baths of Indian Hot Springs. Carved into the mountainside, these cave baths are quiet, primitive, and fully disconnected from the outside world. Massage services are available.

Kathy’s Pick: An Afternoon in the Foothills
Interested in an afternoon excursion to the foothills above Denver? Do I have the drive for you! You can head straight west out of downtown on 6th Avenue. You will jump onto I-70 west and start climbing from the 5,280 elevation that you’ve been living at the last day or two and head up to 7,200 feet. Take exit 254 at the crest of the climb and you will find an amazing, expansive view of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains before you. In addition, you will find a herd of elk and bison grazing on natural grasses in Genesee Park. Since you will pass through during the spring season, you may see brand new bison calves!

Continue west on I-70 to Evergreen Parkway (exit 252) to Elk Meadow Park. Elk Meadow offers miles of great hiking trails through mountain meadows and ponderosa pine. I think the trail names state plenty about the park: Painter’s Pause and Meadow View to name a couple.

After several hours of fresh air you will be ready to head into old town Evergreen for a bite to eat. Main Street offers several tasty options from One World Café to Beau Jo’s Pizza, to Creekside Cellars.

Head back down to Denver via Bear Creek Canyon (Highway 74). It’s an easy drive that follows Bear Creek through a spectacular granite canyon. You’ll pass through the little towns of Kittredge, Idledale, and Morrison (the location of Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater). Don’t pass up Dinosaur Ridge when passing through Morrison. You can walk the self-guided tour of the sandstone hillside with exposed dinosaur footprints.