Saturday, May 30, 2009

Shopping In Denver, Colorado

Large shopping malls seem to be ubiquitous in city suburbs all over the world these days, and the Park Meadows Shopping Center in Lone Tree, Colorado, a suburb of Denver, is no exception. What I found fascinating about it was the way it was constructed with a Western motif, to appear very much like a Colorado Ski Resort. All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

As part of the Rocky Mountain theme ski lodge theme it had timber ceilings, boulders, waterfalls, indoor evergreen trees and displayed numerous pieces of landscape artwork. There were wonderful lighting fixtures and many decorative touches of copper as accent pieces.

Park Meadows combined Colorado outdoor ambiance with 160 retailers and restaurants. Some of the store names included Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn Kids, Sundance, Planet Funk, John Atencio, Janie and Jack, and the restaurants were P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, California CafĂ©, and The Cheesecake Factory, as well as 12 fast food eateries in the Dining Hall.

This was my favorite feature in the center - a gigantic working fireplace in the food court area, surrounded by cozy couches and benches. Quite a few people were snuggled up in them, waiting as their friends or family members shopped.

My son, grandson, and I stopped into the shopping center one afternoon when my daughter-in-law was on an interview, and we had a nice time window shopping.....

...and of of course Nonna bought her grandson a new toy, which he enjoyed with both his hands and his feet!

In my next blog post I'd like to show you a very interesting Long Island, New York shopping center, built on the site of what was once considered the "World's Premier Airport'!

29 comments:

CynthiaAvaDevta said...

Is that shopping center in Long Island Roosevelt Field, perhaps?
I grew up ten minutes from it! Leo is such a big, beautiful boy!!!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Love the shopping center, but love seeing those pics of Leo more! Oh, Pat! What a cutie, and I hope you are having fun this weekend.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Lisa's RetroStyle said...

OMG...I can't believe how big Leo is getting. He's looking like such a handsome little man:)He sure looks amused by his new toy!

I'm not much of a mall person..but I think Park Meadows is probably the prettiest mall I've ever been in.

Southern Lady said...

Pat, I enjoyed seeing that unique shopping center, but loved the photos of Leo. I can't believe how much he's grown. He's just adorable.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

That child is too too cute for words.

Joyce said...

I had to laugh at cute Leo playing with his hands and toes. Babies can do amazing things with those cute little pudgy toes:)
JOYCE

RoeH said...

Wow. I remember when I lived there Cinderella City was the big one to go to down on.......well..somewhere close to Littleton. Wonder if it's still there. I'll have to look it up.

RoeH said...

Awwwww...here's the story of Cinderella City. That was one neat fantasyland mall.

http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Cinderella_City_Mall

imjacobsmom said...

Leo sure is getting into that toy - it was a great choice! It looks like Denver has a lot to offer - even their Mall is interesting. ~ Robyn

Unknown said...

Pat that's such a great picture of your son and grandson. I can see that he looks alot like you! He is very handsome.

Great post...I look forward to the next post!

Claudia said...

I love the fireplace in the mall also! It brings the mall to a whole new level. Malls can be so wearying. But Leo - talk about scrumptious! Of course you bought him a toy!

Rue said...

Hi Pat :)

Gosh, what a lot of fun posts! That mall is fantastic! Love that fireplace :)

Julia and Julia? I HAVE to see this movie!! Cooking, blogging and a sweet story line.... can't wait! Did you know that a blog could turn into a movie? I had no idea!

It looks like you had a great time with Sherry and her daughter-in-law. It's cracking me up because it's kind of like playing "where in the US is Sherry right now?" :)

I had so much fun catching up!

hugs,
rue

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Pat, Happy Pink Saturday, too! Saw your name among the participants and that was after I had already posted. Sorry!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Anonymous said...

Do you notice a smaller crowd in the malls these days? I don't go very often. Love P F Chang's and Cheesecake Factory. The one in our city has closed. CF. Love the pictures of the grandson and family.
QMM

steviewren said...

The fireplace would be my favorite feature as well. That would be a great place to meet friends for a long conversation.

Leo is so cute. He looks just like your son, who looks so much like you. I know you loved the time to got to spend with them.

Kathy said...

Hello Pat, happy Saturday, This shopping center is amazing, I love that fireplace. your son looks so much like you and it's always lovely to see adorable little Leo, hugs, Kathy.

CatHerder said...

OOOOOH a mall i havent been to!!! ROAD TRIP!

Carol Murdock said...

I'm impressed! That's a really cool mall! Leo's pretty cool too!

Anonymous said...

Nice mall. I like how you can sit on those stone benches to rest the weary feet and still admire the view :-) And that fireplace is huge! :-)

your grandson is a cutie :-)

Happy PS!

Mizpah
Li

Char said...

you could just move in there and no one would ever know. You would even have a fireplace all to yourself, what a great place to see, happy pink saturday, Char

Kat Mortensen said...

That is one heck of a fireplace!!!
Your grandson is a darling - getting bigger and smarter every day, I warrant.

As always, it's a pleasure to stop in and visit with you.

Kat

Nola said...

Love the decor, but large malls give me anxiety attacks! I used to be okay, but it must be an age thing.
Leo is so cute! I'll bet you'll be making regular trips to Denver, I can't imagine being so far away from him!

Tara said...

Hi PAt


Ah-I just love shopping trips anywhere==and my bookclub is reading the Julie/Julia book which sounds great--do I seee a Mille FF movie in the future?? Heehee!

Donna said...

Looks like a great mall, Pat! Wow.
And Leo is SO CUTE! I know you enjoy every minute with him.

Hugs,
Donna

Just A Girl said...

Hi Pat,
That fireplace is amazing! It would be my favorite spot too. The mall next door to where I work has one, but it somehow feels out of place in sunny CALIFORNIA. I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

xoxo Cori

Judy said...

I don't spend much time in malls these days...but that looks like one I might enjoy visiting. Hubby would be curled up next to the fireplace...with a book...for the duration of my visit.

Leo is so grown up already...and very cute.

Anonymous said...

What an interesting mall. I like the way it was themed.

Ooo Leo is so sweet!

Beverly said...

Pat, I'm dragging, but I am still visiting last Pink Saturday.

This looks like a wonderful place to shop. And, my favorite thing there is your sweet Leo.

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

Hi Pat! I've missed you. I considered telling my job that I needed to get a break to catch up with my blogs, but thought better of it. ;-)

Wow...I had no idea how HUGE this mall was! And I'm curious...if this is the second largest which is the largest? Is it that crazy big one I've seen up in the Nyack neck of the woods??