What an amazing weekend escape with my daughter to catch Sabrina Carpenter in Denver! It was exactly what we needed! I managed to snag us incredibly affordable flights on Frontier Airlines for a direct flight from DSM to DEN. Just a heads up - although the flights were a steal, watch out for those baggage fees! To save some cash, we decided to share a overweight checked bag since we were only staying for 2 nights. Touching down around 7 o'clock, we hopped on a shuttle to Sixt car rental, which was a breeze, and then cruised the half-hour drive to our hotel. I scored a room at the amazing Springhill Suites in downtown Denver just across the street from Ball Arena where the Short N Sweet tour was booked! A quick three-minute stroll beats taking an Uber or dealing with the hassle of driving to and from the venue any day! How convenient is that! Because we got in so late on Thursday night we decided to take it easy and Uber Eats Shake Shack. Burgers in bed did not disappoint! We called it a night shortly after so we would be well rested for all that we had in store for Friday!
We woke up bright and early, enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the hotel (complimentary, of course!), grabbed some Starbucks, and took it easy for a bit before the fabulous shops at Larimer Square greeted us with open arms. Just a quick 5-minute walk, we dived into the treasure trove of vintage shops, kicking off our day in style! We opted to have lunch in Rioja. The atmosphere was welcoming, and the service exceptional. I chose the spicy green bowl with chicken, while Kami went for the Lamb Burger. The meal was outstanding! To finish off, I enjoyed an espresso martini instead of having dessert. After lunch we stopped into a few more shops on our way back hotel. One of them being Beach Haus Swimwear, a high-end swimsuit boutique. We were greeted by the owner Priscilla and I was so happy we made the stop. A Florida native who now calls Colorado home brings a unique and awesome idea to Larimer square. How many people are on vacation or visiting but don't necessarily bring a swimsuit because it is not a tropical destination? There were so many beautiful patterns to chose from. Kami decided on a stunning white and blue vintage paradise patterned suit. The bottoms were out of stock in her size so she ordered them to be shipped directly home. I absolutely loved my chat with Priscilla and hope to visit her shop again.
After some more shopping we went back to the room for a quick cat nap before we got ready for the concert. I made dinner reservations at El Five, which came highly recommended by several people. El Five is known for its great views of the city and phenomenal menu.
"Nestled high above LoHi on the fifth floor of 2930 Umatilla, El Five boasts spectacular, unobstructed views of the downtown Denver skyline. The menu is an homage to the Mediterranean and features small plates built on bold flavors found throughout the region: Spain, North Africa, the Middle East. Inside, the space is understated and sensual, flanked by a large, open-air patio for sun-kissed Colorado nights. As the newest restaurant in the Edible Beats family, El Five celebrates the confluence of flavors, ideas and geographies made possible by a subtle shift in perspective."
With the menu being family style tapas, Kami and I decided to go lite and share Confit Chicken Croquettas and Matzo Ball Soup Dumplings. Both of which were to die for! I can't forget to mention, the staff was absolutely amazing and several members of the team checked in on us throughout our meal. From dinner we caught an uber straight to the arena for the main event.
Sabrina Carpenter leaves quite an impression!! Her show was absolutely phenomenal! The energy in the venue was electric. From the choreography of the dancers, to the stunning vocals that resonated throughout the space, every element of the production was on point! We absolutely loved her concert! It was a night filled with joy and exhilaration that lingered long after the final bow. It quite possibly might have been the best dressed concert I've ever been to. After experiencing such an amazing performance, I found myself lying in bed, scrolling through my phone to check out the Europe tour dates. We will definitely be seeing SC in concert again!
The last morning in Denver started with coffee, then a drive up to Lookout Mountain in Golden. We stopped by Buffalo Bill's gravesite and the BB Museum, picked up a couple of souvenirs, and made the drive to return the rental car. I love an easy morning without rushing through the airport. Key takeaways: any time I visit Ball Arena for a show or event, I will be staying at SpringHill Suites, and I adore Sabrina Carpenter. Mother/daughter trips are the best!
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