My Life Has Gone to the Dog

Not sad, but definetly true...

As you have read in past posts, I do have a dog. He is the light of my life and often described as having a face only a mother could love. While I do agree with this comment, somewhat, I do also think he is the cutest dog in the world, really! His name is Monty, and he is a 17lb. black Pug. He has quite possibly the best personality of any Pug I have ever met. I refer to him as a Lab trapped in a Pug's body. No really, before you laugh out loud, read on... He can swim (although he's not the strongest swimmer, once almost drowned), he can play fetch with a full-sized tennis ball, he can run with the "big dogs" and he can jump pretty high into the air. With all this writing, I'm sure you are beginning to get the idea that Monty is the love of my life and I love to take him any and everywhere with me. As such, there are times when I will pass-up a restaurant because I know they are not dog friendly. This doesn't mean I need to have him in the restuarant with me, but I do like to at least tie him up right outside the establishment. Therefore, a place that does not allow me to even tie my dog up outside their door, I most likely won't visit, during daylight hours anyway.

Currently the second best place to live in the US, Denver is also home to a lot of loving dog owners. Due to my own extreme desire to have Monty with me as much as possible, I have begun searching out places that will allow dogs in or around the premises. As a result of my research, I have created a personal database of sorts; which I will now share with you. Any time of the day in Denver, you can see numerous dogs out and about with their masters, so I feel this list will be utilized.

I'll begin with breakfast/morning places. When I wake-up and blast out the door for a crisp early morning walk with Monty, one place I always head to is Devil's Food Bakery. This is a breakfast place with amazing offerings and most everything is organic, for those of us who prefer it that way. Upon arrival at Devil's Food, you will almost always see one, two and sometimes even three dogs waiting patiently for their owners outside. This spot is a favorite of my and all my friends for a weekend breakfast meeting place. You can usually find me here on Saturday morning sipping a cappucino and eating the pancake special of the day (the banana-walnut pancakes are my favorite).

Another weekend breakfast and lunch favorite is Gaia on South Pearl St. Gaia is a favorite of all Platte Park residents and thier dogs. They even have a special tie-up for dogs on the side of the outdoor patio, in the shade. They also offer water for your best friend. When I go to Gaia, Monty always loves it, although they have a tie-up on the lawn of the patio, he is little enough to sneak under the patio floor and come right up to our table. Of course the staff at Gaia doesn't mind if you keep your best friend right next to your table either. Looking over the Gaia menu is a task. It begins with Crepes then heads to all other delicious breakfast concoctions. When you and your best friend visit Gaia, you have to try the Nutella Crepe with banana and chantilly cream, and add strawberries. This will put you over the edge, its so super delicous you will want a second order.

Usually during the week, I try to keep in a bit closer to home (mainly because I'm always in a rush). My weekly morning hotspot happens to be Kaladi Brothers Coffee shop. This place is on Evans and Downing, pretty much, and is a DU student favorite. I will have to recommend the signature concoction, the Kaladi Coffee. This drink is made of a blend of their organic and Fair Trade certified coffee, and a signature syrup they created right there in-house. I have tried this drink both hot and cold, and I like it either way. You can easily park your pooch right outside on the patio, they can sit right at the patio tables if you are outside. Every passer-by will stop to pet the pooches and no one minds having a well-mannered pooch on the patio. Monty always walks down to Kaladi with me and we enjoy a nice Kaladi coffee, well me, not him.

A great breakfast/lunch establishment where your hound can hang with the "posh politico hounds" is Racines. Racines is off of Speer but I still consider this close enough to Wash Park, I mean so close, you can walk there from the park. This establishment is a favorite of business men and women, local political figures and regulars alike. For the average person with hound in tow, you will want to secure a patio table if possible because they allow all hounds to hang right at the outside tables. If you are not lucky enough to secure a table outside, just tie the hound on the patio railing. You're bound to get a waittress or waiter to bring your hound some H2O as well. While looking at the abundant menu at Racines, you musn't pass-up the Greek Scramble or the Gingerbread Pancakes (are you beginning to see a pattern with pancakes here?). If you hit up Racines for lunch, try the Solitaire Salmon Salad, this dish is refreshing and healthy.

As you can see, I am known to take my dog with me on most days. In fact, he is sitting (ok, really sleeping) next to me as I write this. Monty is an all around good dude, he loves all these places just as much as I do. I urge you and your pooch to check these places out. They are as dog friendly as they come and your pooch will certainly enjoy the people watching while waiting for you to finish eating.