Family Time -- Aurora

We arrived in Aurora Sunday night (June 26th) and spent Monday relaxing.  Geoff had to work so we lazed around the backyard.  The kids ran through the sprinkler and I had fun capturing their antics with my camera (see photo) while enjoying the shade of their neighbour's tree.

We were to spend the week in town then head to the mountains to camp.  The highlight of the week was a visit to the History Colorado Centre.  During the summer, admission for kids under 18 is free (we saved $16).  Glen was thrilled he paid $2 less because he was a senior.  The museum is downtown but Melissa knew the place to park so we had no problems.  As we stepped into the main atrium, the kids rushed over to a R2D2 type unit and began pushing it across the floor.  A shiny brass disc embedded in the floor activated the machine telling us various aspects of Colorado history.  Each floor of the museum provided hands-on displays which the kids loved.  You could do school lessons in a one-room schoolhouse (nobody wanted to be reminded of school), work the cash in the general store, collect eggs (wood) from pretend chickens, milk a cow (with its own light show), and experience what it was like to sit in a house during a prairie dust storm of the 1930s.  They also had two temporary exhibits -- one called By Their Hats, Horses, and Homes, We Shall Know Them featuring historic photos of Colorado's early days.  The other, Awkward Family Photos, were pictures taken of real families in some pretty funny/awkward poses.  We all have those photos!

After the museum, we met Geoff at his work, Asynchrony Labs, and had a tour of his office housed in an old brick warehouse.  What a great feeling of space.  We planned having drinks at a nearby restaurant but its dining area was closed so we drove to Postino Wine Café (you had me at wine).  We dropped Glen off to secure us a table then found a place to park.  The restaurant is located in the Lower Highlands (LoHi in Denver parlance), a vibrant community of modern condos just north of downtown.  The building was built in the 60s to house the Denver BookBinding Company.  It was a warm night so Postino's had opened their windows to let a breeze flow through.  Glen chose a large banquette on the cusp of the patio.  Not only did they serve wine, but the kids had lemonade and Glen, Geoff, and I had local craft beer.  We ordered three 'boards' to be shared--cheese, butcher's, and pub.  The almond hummus was incredible as were the aged meats and cheeses.

Usually when Glen and I go to a restaurant, we're there for supper as well as appies but no, Geoff wanted to try out an alehouse down the street.  Way down the street.  We walked off some of the appies to reach it.  Called The Ale House at Amato's, it is housed in a place that originally made statuary and fountains.  The Amato family left some pieces behind and the restaurant honoured the building's past by adding their name to the ale house.  Owned by Breckenridge Brewing company, it proudly features this brewery's craft beer.  I enjoyed a Colorado Lamb Pita Salad.  I burned it off climbing back up the hill to the car.

See photos here.