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  AN ARTFUL GOOD TIME IN GRAND JUNCTION Galleries, theatres, music and museums turn a downtown's re-birth into an art form. By Linda Duval
This downtown has a distinctive identity, unmarred by chain stores and bolstered by local entrepreneurs who share its vision. It's casually sophisticated, in the way of some New England and Northern California towns: relaxed, but with an appealing energy that draws visitors back again and again. Every so often, I make the drive across Colorado to visit my friend Debbie, who lives in Grand Junction and has worked in the area's tourism industry for years. She knows all the best things to do. Naturally, we head downtown, drawn by the well-preserved historic buildings and pedestrian-friendly walkways. And because we both love art, theater and music, we get to indulge our passions with a fine meal or two added in to fuel our day. "There's a great culture and energy going on downtown," Debbie says. "I love coming here. Even the farmer's market has art and music." Art Appreciation We park and don't worry about it the rest of the day. A typical girls'-day-out, we start at The Crystal Café to kick-start our morning with pastries and cappuccino. Then we're off to do a bit of shopping – all the stores are boutiques, with a surprising sense of sophistication among their wares. Before long, we're distracted by all of the public art on display, an innovative local project called Art on the Corner. More than 100 public sculptures, mostly on Main Street, entertain passersby. We stop to chat with Allison Sarmo of the Arts Commission, who conducts guided tours for groups. The best thing about Art on the Corner is its accessibility, she says: "You don't have to go to a museum to see art." The project, started more than 20 years ago by local artists, has been copied in many larger cities, Allison explains. Free self-guided tour brochures are available in many downtown shops, and at the visitors center on Horizon Drive
We duck into a gallery or two, such as the new 13 Photography, devoted almost entirely to photographs. Our last stop of the morning is the Western Colorado Center for the Arts to see the Navajo weavings in its permanent collection and to investigate special exhibits by local and regional artists. Too bad we don't have time today for a class or workshop. Downtown Renaissance For lunch, we choose the Rockslide Brewery for the salmon Caesar salad, my friend's favorite midday munch. If it were later in the day, we'd sample one of their fine microbrews, too. We shouldn't be surprised to run into Harold Stalf, executive director of Grand Junction's Downtown Development Authority, an ardent and visible promoter of downtown. Harold shares the history of the downtown renaissance. It began about five years ago after the Avalon Theatre was renovated. The convention center was renovated in 2001, spawning two new hotels and more restaurants. "Downtown is truly the centerpiece of Grand Junction. You can feel the energy through the variety of live theater, music, exquisite cuisine, and diverse festivals," he says. Stage and Screen Downtown as a giant art gallery wouldn't be complete without an art film house. Today, Debbie and I catch a matinee at the historic Avalon Theatre, which seats nearly 1,000 and often has live entertainment when it's not showing first-run films. After the movie, we wander over to the Museum of the West to see its local history collection, one-room schoolhouse, uranium mine mock-up and – my personal favorite – pottery collection. With dinner nearing, we're in the mood for Italian, and there are two good choices: Dolce Vita and il Bistro. Both options offer indoor and outdoor seating, with heated patios to take advantage of cool evenings. Live theater is truly alive in Grand Junction. The Cabaret Dinner Theater presents Broadway musicals and comedies that feature Broadway actors as well as local talent. Moonlit Music We've done a lot in a day, but we're not ready to call it a night. Debbie suggests we get a nightcap at Boomer's, a local club created out of an old furniture store. The sliding glass doors on the front open wide so the crowd spills out onto the sidewalk, heads bobbing and feet tapping to the live blues and jazz that echo up and down Main Street. This is audio art at its finest, and a fitting sound for the creative downtown scene. In one day, we've seen, heard, smelled, tasted and felt the personality of this charming downtown. And we had an artful good time doing it. |
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