Potager Restaurant
Potager changes its menu monthly, composed of fresh foods that are organically grown and harvested in ecologically sound ways. You’ll find Potager on Ogden between 11th and 12th.

Le Central
Le Central is the place to go for affordable French food. Located on 8th and Lincoln, you’ll find a menu that changes daily, and a selection of vegetarian and gluten free choices as well.

Bones
Located on 7th and Grant, you’ll find a wide variety of lunch and dinner selections at Bones. Focused on Asian inspired noodle bowls, try the pork bun appetizer – everyone agrees it’s the best.

Mizuna
Try Mizuna’s for a relaxed dinner. Features fresh farm raised meats and produce grown from local vendors, you’ll find a different selection every month.

Snarf’s
Looking for a quick bite to eat? You gotta try Snarf’s Sub Shop. Located at 11th and Ogden, the line will likely be out the door – try one of their specialty sandwiches like the Eggplant Parmesan or the Artichoke Feta and Provolone.

Enter your photograph by July 15th

Photo Exhibit & Artist Reception
Top entries, plus all prize-winning photos, will be included in a special Alta Vera Collection and photo exhibit. On JULY 24th this special exhibit will be featured at an Artists’ Reception. All artists and participants are invited to an exclusive viewing of the “Good Things Are Happening on Capitol Hill” photography show. Come enjoy wine and appetizers, see if your photo has been selected and pick up your prize. All contest entrants will be rewarded with a gift for their participation.

Submit or mail entries to Alta Vera at:

• Alta Vera Photo Contest
  attn: Sara Axelrod
  1284 Downing St
  Denver CO 80218

Winning photos chosen will receive:

• 1st Place – $500.00
• 2nd Place – $250.00
• 3rd Place – $125.00
• Additional artists chosen for the Alta Vera Gallery will receive a $25 gift card to a Capitol Hill eatery.

CONTEST ENTRY FORM:
NAME:______________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:__________________________________________________________________
PHONE NUMBER:______________________________________________________
EMAIL:_____________________________________________________________________

I hereby acknowledge the rules below for the Alta Vera Capitol Hill Photo Contest and release my entry for uses outlined above. Signature________________________________________________Date______________

Contest Rules: All photos chosen become the property of Alta Vera Condos and will not be returned. Entry photographer acknowledges that the photographs will be displayed with credit to the photographer. Entries limited to three (3) per person. Each photo submitted must be accompanied by a separate Entry Form. Photographs must be an 11 x 14 print – both horizontal and vertical images accepted. Entries must be hard copies; digital files will not be accepted. Photos may be black & white or color. Do not frame your photos. Photos should include images of the Capitol Hill Neighborhood. Participants agree to allow use of their name and photographic entries for publicity purposes. Entries must be postmarked or delivered to Alta Vera Condos no later than 5PM on July 15, 2010. Contest is sponsored by Alta Vera Condos, Hedman Photography, Denver Dark Room, Cheryl Schuette and Associates and others in honor of the great new things happening at 13th and Downing! Questions? Contact Sara at Alta Vera Condos at (303) 832-3600.

Should you rent another condo? Or should you buy?

1. Stability. The average person moves around every 7 years. If your job is stable and you anticipate living and working right here in Denver for a while, buying a condo may be a good opportunity for you.

2. Costs. On a rental, you’ll pay a security deposit and rent every month as long as you are there. When you buy, you’ll pay closing costs and a mortgage payment every month. You rental fees may increase every year, depending on the economy. Your mortgage payments will remain stable with a fixed loan. And you’ll quickly recoup the costs through deductions on your taxes.

3. Investment. Rent is rent; you pay it and it disappears every single month. When you buy a condo, it becomes an investment. When the economy turns around and we begin seeing real estate climb in value again, you may realize a profit from the sale, depending on how long you maintain your condo.

4. Community. Love your neighborhood and want to establish roots? Then buying is for you. You can get to know your neighbors, and develop relationships with the local community.

5. Freedom. Want to paint your walls orange or change the bathroom fixtures? Not a problem if you own. It’s yours, and you can make all the changes you desire.

The first thing you have to do before deciding on a place to live is to check out the neighborhood. What’s the nightlife like?

On June 29th, you can check it out by coming over to Bones Restaurant – and along the way learn a little about Alta Vera Condos.

Bones Restaurant is located in Denver at 7th and Grant, and will be the place to try out some scrumptious appetizers, take part in our cocktail tasting, and possible discover one of the best places to live in Denver.

We’re so excited to show you what’s new at Alta Vera. We’re finally able to take you on a tour, and start showing you some of the fantastic views you could have from your bedroom window. We’ll tell you more about the tours, give you an idea of the amenities and the options, and even talk to you about how soon you could be calling Alta Vera your new home.

Will you be joining us? Hope to see you on the 29th at Bones Restaurant.

Location, Location, Location
Do you like the quiet suburban life, or the excitement of urban living? Do you want to settle down with a few great neighbors, or be able to go out on the town every night with a different set of friends? Look at the way you currently live, and set your goals for the future.

How much maintenance can you handle?
A single family home requires time and work to make it a home. Yard work in the summer, keeping the driveways and sidewalks clear of snow in the winter. And if you buy a single family home in an urban area, you may be looking at extensive renovation to make it livable. A condo gives you more options to put your own touches to your inside areas, while having staff take care of the common living areas.

Size matters
Are you looking for a great big house, or something small and cozy? Urban life does come with a price tag, and you’ll be paying more for any real estate within the city limits. The farther you go out into the suburbs, the more square footage you’ll get for the price.

[If you’ve determined condo living is for you, you’ll love Alta Vera Condos. Right in the heart of the city, yet brand new and offering you all the great amenities you expect from a new home, you’re going to love it here.]

I just love living right in the heart of the city. There’s so much to do, and I never have to stop and wonder, “what to do in Denver”.

Right now I’m loving the Rockies. What could be better than a baseball game under the Colorado stars? The nights are cool enough to enjoy, and warm enough to need a cold beer and a hot dog. And if the Rockies aren’t your thing, just wait. The Broncos, Avalanche and Nuggets seasons are all right around the corner.

How about a concert in the park? The Denver Botanical Gardens puts on some fantastic events. Or watch the Colorado Symphony either downtown, or watch for one of their events around Denver. Take in a play, or enjoy a band.  From jazz to rock and roll, you’ll find something for every taste downtown.

How about a stroll in the park? Of course Cheeseman is close by (if you’re lucky enough to live in an Alta Vera Condo). But there are many parks ready for you to venture into. City Park and Washington Park are both close by, and offer a wide variety of options. Head to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and you can even check out the stars on a different level – you have to check out the planetarium.

Or check in at the Colorado Convention Center. There are new events and expos all the time. From home and garden shows, to recreation and travel, you’ll find it all right here in Denver.

Why would you want to live any place else?

Allison

2. Be open to your real estate options. If you’ve always had your heart set on living in a loft in downtown Denver – until you see the price tag – now may be the time to broaden your possibilities. Do you like historical, fix it up properties? Or do you prefer having everything new and in its place? Be willing to look at different ideas – your choices may surprise you.

3. Talk with friends and coworkers who live in the neighborhood. Take a look at their properties, and ask them about the good and bad. What advice can they give to you about living in the neighborhood?

4. Don’t focus on how many properties you see. Instead, focus on what makes each property right for you. Can you see yourself living in it? Can you call it home? Do you enjoy the surrounding area?

5. Try a property out a couple of times before you invest. If you took a tour in the morning, see if you can see the same property at twilight. What changes about the property? Do you like it as much during different periods of the day?

6. Don’t get caught up in possibilities. It’s easy to get overwhelmed during this process. Instead of spending days searching through property after property, narrow your choices and only see a select few. Really concentrate on the living space, and whether you could live there.

7. Don’t be afraid to jump at an opportunity. If you see something you really like, take a couple of hours to contemplate your options. Then head back to the same property for a second look. If you still feel excited by the property, now is the time to move to the next step. Talk about your options, and move towards making it your home.

I loved Denver, and wanted to stay right where I can be close to everything. And loft living is all the hype these days, so I went on the search for a loft apartment in Denver. And you know what I found? A huge price tag along with the experience of loft living. And once your lease is up, you have nothing to show for it.

So I kept looking – and found Alta Vera. And I’m so glad I did.

Let me give you a few tips on things to look for whether you are buying or renting.

• Assigned parking with controlled access
• Storage space
• Private balconies – great for taking in the view of Denver
• Up to date flooring
• A laundry room big enough for a REAL washer and dryer

Now I don’t know about you, but I wanted the fun or urban living without having to go historical. I still love the best of having a new place, and mixing it with surrounding that have been there for years.

Sound good to you too? Then maybe you’re ready for a tour…

Allison

That’s what I’ve decided to do. Let me share some tips I’ve learned that may help you along through this process as well.

First, look around at your options. I started by looking in the heart of Downtown Denver – they have a lot of lofts to look at. That will give you an idea of what’s around. Talk with people in the real estate industry, and see what advice they have.

Set your budget early in the process. Urban living, especially in the heart of Denver can be expensive. You may be discouraged early on in the process as you see those high six and seven figure dollar amounts. Don’t worry too much however; there are alternatives.

Talk to people in the neighborhood and the local community. Ask if they know of any great real estate, and how they like living in the neighborhood. Hang out on the weekends – you’re likely to find more residents at the local coffee houses and restaurants than you would during the normal working hours.

Be flexible. If you can buy and qualify for a great condo, yet want the flexibility of having more cash on hand, go into the deal knowing you’ll find a roommate. Add this to your budget, and you’ll quickly see how affordable your new condo will be.

Allison

P.S. I’m excited about the new Alta Vera Condos because of their affordability, and their proximity to everything great about Denver. You should check them out.

Urban living means living close to everything you need: restaurants, entertainment, work and shopping are all close and easily accessible by walking or biking.

Urban living means getting to know your neighbors. It’s a great way to learn from a variety of cultures, and a variety of age groups. You may end up with one 20-something neighbor from India, and another 60-something who’s recently retired.

Urban living is also about the experience. If you crave an eclectic living style, with a brand new restaurant on one side, and a 100-year-old historical building on the other, urban living is for you.

As for me, I’m excited about the opportunity to be close to the office, close to the new Whole Foods, and close to an exciting nightlife. And I’m excited about having a brand new place with the best features around.

This truly is urban living in Denver at its finest.

Allison