Bonnie Brae Ice Cream

I don't know what it's like where you are right now, but here in Denver it's been HOT! I mean, it is summer, after all. Plus, it'll just be a few weeks until the possibilities of snow re-enter our daily lives, so I guess we can take the heat for a bit. Of course, one thing that's great on a hot day is some really good ice cream. Lucky for me, my wanderings on a hot day took me into the vicinity of one of Denver's best places to go for Ice Cream...Bonnie Brae Ice Cream.

Located at the corner of University and Ohio Ave, Bonnie Brae Ice Cream is a charming neighborhood shop that has that old-time kind of feel. The family business was started in 1986, and no, it wasn't started by a lady named Bonnie Brae. That's the name of the neighborhood, silly. 

The shop offers well over 30 different unique flavors, and as their awnings proudly proclaim, "Yes! We Make It Here!" A scoop of Banana Strawberry in a sugar cone was my choice on this most recent visit.

This is the kind of establishment that we see too few of these days...a great neighborhood hang out. Of course, it's a very popular spot, especially in the summer. On weekends the line is usually out the door and down the block, but it moves fast and is worth the wait. I didn't have to wait at all when visiting on a weekday afternoon, but just as I was leaving a charter bus full of high school girls pulled up and...well, the line got huge! Also, be warned that there is no parking lot. Parking in the neighborhood behind the shop is usually best, but the streets are narrow and there are usually many cars parked on the street. 

Bonnie Brae Ice Cream is located at 799 South University Blvd in Denver

Stanley Marketplace - Maria Empanada

This morning my daughter had an interview in a part of town that she's not familiar with.  The interview was enough of a stress by itself, so I did the good dad thing and offered to drive her.  That meant I had some time to kill while waiting for her, so I decided to grab some breakfast over at the Stanley Marketplace in Aurora.

The Stanley Marketplace is home to over 50 businesses, including several interesting eateries.  Once upon a time, the building was a manufacturing facility for Stanley Aviation.  The facility opened in 1954, right next to Denver's original airport.  It was once the largest employer in Aurora.  Among the innovative products created here were ejection seats for planes and an escape capsule which was tested with the aid of, believe it or not, bears on loan from the Denver Zoo!?  Many reminders of the building's past as a manufacturing plant remain, including the sign pictured above celebrating the union the workers belonged to.

The airplane parts are now long gone, but plenty of tasty food has shown up instead.  As it was early in the morning, I decided to sample a breakfast empanada at Maria Empanada.  For all the Latin American delicacies we have in this part of the country, I must admit my shame that I have never sampled an empanada before.  It was pretty dang tasty. 

The Stanley Marketplace is a great gathering place, with many more offerings that I just didn't have time to sample this morning.  A return trip will be on the horizon.