The Phishheads Guide to Denver
The first thing you need to know about Colorado is that it is the New Vermont. Phish playing Dicks every year is basically them commanding you to follow the lines and move here.
And though the legalization of Cannabis gets the majorty of headlines about our state these days, its really just the cherry on top of something that’s been brewing for a long time. Colorado is where the craft economy first began, outside of Golden in the late 70's when Pete Coors rode a rainbow unicorn and bequeathed delicious artisanal hops into fresh mountain water.
Now that the rest of the country has caught up to this trend, Colorado continues to push the boundaries with its craft sensibility. One finds it all over, in the food and drink, block partys and street fairs, festival culture, farmers markets, and of course, the cannabis.
It’s Gonna be Cold Cold Cold {Brew}, Bro.
Brewing is a good place to start, cause Denver has some of the most fascinating and high-quality coffee shops in the country. Baristas from around the country, the world even, are making pilgrimages to Denver. Some are even moving in order to be close to the cupping scene here. Here’s a quick list of a few choice spots around town that I’ve personally vetted where you can get your heady caffeine fix on.
Crema: Larimer Street 2862 Larimer St, Denver, CO (720) 284–9648
Run by an extended group of friends, artists, bikers, poets and chefs, Crema is THE neighborhood hangout for those living just north of the city in RiNO/ Five Points, the creative heart of Denver. Think Williamsburg, Brooklyn, but 15 years ago while it was still cool. Terrific pulls of espresso from the likes of Intelligentsia and the local Novo Coffee, plus expertly-wrapped breakfast burritos, seriously waistline trolling baked goods and a few choice salads and sandwiches as well round this place out. Local Kombucha on tap, and fresh pressed juices. Come here in the AM, grab a seat on their back patio and watch the neighborhood come to life. Art on the walls both inside and out and a collaged interior aesthetic. Mike Gordon visited here last year, come for the Gordeaux sighting, stay for the awesome.Some colorful characters call this place home. So do I.
Black Eye Coffee: The Highlands, 3408 Navajo St, Denver, CO
Bit more of a hipster experience at this immaculate and boldly designed coffee shop. Nice selection of print publications to leaf through if you want to have some quiet contemplative time while you are in town.
Steam: Baker Neighborhood, 1801 S Pearl St, Denver, CO (303) 952–9716
Whenever I find myself on the south side of Denver, I swing by Steam with its garage doors swung fully open, huge outdoor patio with umbrellas for shade, and an enormous interior if you just want to tuck away and get some work done. Baker is another creative enclave in Denver so its no surprise that some of the best coffee and coffee shop architecture (which is totally a thing now) wafts out of this place. If you are staying South, this is your spot.
Thump: Capitol Hill, 1201 EAST 13TH AVE. DENVER, CO 80218
720.456.6648
Cap Hill is THE traditional Denver neighborhood, and almost everyone who has lived here for a period of time has usually done a stint or two in this neighborhood, equal parts shabby punk, hippy chic and all points in between. You’ll find a Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Sexy Pizza and Snarf’s Sandwiches all within blocks of each other and that is to say nothing of both Cheeseman and Washington Park, two of Denver’s finest parks where you can run, jog, sun tan, lay in a hammock, or play with your fellow hippies. Every weekend, lawn chairs and volleyball nets spring up and people just hang all day. It’s Colorado, we’re outdoorsy, really.
Bend, Oregon-based Thump has a stunning location in Capitol Hill that is almost a co-working space at this point. Great pulls, terrible wifi, but whatever, you walk in for an espressso and you might walk out as CEO of some funky new tech startup with VC backing and a company Tesla. Very cool 1201 EAST 13TH AVE.
DENVER, CO 80218 720.456.6648
Ok, fine, you waited long enough. We know what you really came for. WEED!
Where and How to Buy Cannabis
A quick note: Cannabis Legalization is the greatest thing to happen to this state since whatever awesome thing happened before that. The Great Divide or whatever. Glaciers maybe? I’m can’t nature. I can’t tell you how amazing it is to purchase, consume, enjoy and share cannabis in a place where you no longer have to look over your shoulder. Where every cop isn’t looking to bust you just for walking around. Even just the legal purchasing of cannabis is a major act, for so many of us who have spent our lives attached to the plant, to be able to express our freedom in this way, spend our money, take our time, its really something. Enjoy and spend your money.
Pro Tips:
- No matter where you go, bring your ID and let the staff know know why you are here, for Phish. And legal drugs.
- Make sure the dispensaries you visit have recreational components, some are still Medical only and unless you have your red card, you are going to get turned away.
- Keep your phones in your pockets. Cell phones and pictures are frowned upon. You can ask politely if you can snap one photo but don’t be surprised if they say no. They are just doing their job.
- Trust your instincts. There is a lot of subpar flower out there. Ask questions, don’t get rushed, take your time. Let the budtenders know if its your first time purchasing cannabis. You can smell and look at the flower and concentrate but you cannot touch it. Respect that and keep your phone in your pocket.
- TIP YOUR BUDTENDERS. These guys and girls work for tips too and most are earning low hourly rates. Not just a couple of bucks either. You’d be surprised what a nice $10 bill can get you in terms of off the books discounts, and they’ll be more likely to steer you towards their optimum product. They know it best.
- Check out Weedmaps.com once you get into town and you’ll be able to find the closest dispensaries to your location. You can also just tweet at us @blankspacemedia and we’ll be happy to steer you as well as we know how throughout the weekend.
- Edibles are awesome. But you seriously do NOT want to lose a day or a set or a show because you ate too much. Most edibles take at least an hour to really come on and the rule is “you can always eat more, you can’t eat less.”
There are a lot of dispensaries in Denver. Like a lot. Hundreds. Sorting through them is not gonna happen and believe it or not there are not that many great lists curating the best from the rest. What follows is a highly personalized list. I’ve visited over 100 dispensaries since moving here and I try to hit a few new ones each week.
Greenman Cannabis: 1355 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, CO 80204 (720) 842–4842
Our pick for the best flower in Denver, Greenman has won multiple Cannabis Cups. In particular, their Ghost Train Haze is an incredibly flavorful strain that you should buy. And smoke as much as humanly possible. It’s that good. They are a full service shop so you are good either medical or recreational with a full selection of edibles, topicals and concentrates taboot.
Other strains to look for are heavy indica varietals LeeRoy, Starkiller and their incredible Chocolope strain, a strong Sativa that is an ideal daytime smoke just like that Ghost Train.
Good Chemistry, 720–524–4657 330 East Colfax, Denver, CO 80203
Super heady team and operation here at Good Chem. The flower isn’t necessarily the best around, but these guys get it and treat their customers and the community really well. Two locations as well, their trusty location on Colfax (right square in the middle of the city and totally walkable if you are staying downtown or in Capitol Hill is tiny but bursting with all sorts of characters. $30 1/8's of top shelf weed errrry damn day. They also have a GORGEOUS new spot in Aurora, closer to Dicks, so if you are staying by the venue or airport, absolutely check this spot out, its the future of Cannabis retailing.
Headquarters, Boulder and Lyons. 537 Canyon Blvd in Boulder and 4497 Ute Highway just outside of Lyons.
These guys are a client so obviously we are biased. But they are a client for a reason and that is because Headquarters cultivates and retails some of the best cannabis on the planet. Their elegant boutique in Downtown Boulder is discreet and comfortable, tucked away in the shadows of the Canyons. Their second location is an enormous space just outside Lyons, a charming little wook village on the road to Estes Park.
Heirloom strains, hand trimmed cannabis and expert budtenders who know their product and live the lifestyle. This is the headiest shop in the world and the entire team will be at Dicks throughout the weekend, so you might just be buying some herb and dancing alongside your budtender on the floor hours later. Tell them we sent you and you will get hooked up. This place is pricey but worth every single penny. Strains to look out for? Phantom Cookies will knock you on your ass like you’ve never been high before. Black Cherry Soda tastes like what it sounds and will open you up to what modern cannabis is capable of. Their diesel strains are high powered locomotives that will supercharge your engine. Goji OG Cookies? If they have it, you are buying it.
Headquarters also has pre-filled cartridges for oPen’s, those ubiquitous replaceable charger pens that everyone on tour has. Except these guys go the extra mile and get their own top quality flower processed just for them. Check out the reserve pens and you won’t be disappointed.
Mindful, (303) 573–6337, 5926 East Colfax Avenue.
Former client of ours. Don’t ask. But we’re big enough to recognize quality and these guys have the strongest product with their Live Resin, a form of concentrate extraction that preserves as much of the Terpene profiles as possible. Basically its about flavor and strength and if you want the best, you have to go here. Worth picking up a gram or two.
Outrageous selection of concentrates at River Rock in the Santa Fe Arts District. Dozens of dabs. All the dabs. Ice wax, live resin, shatter, wax, budders, basically it’s paradise city over here. Go.
The Clinic, Multiple Locations
You might know these guys because they are massive Phish heads and even name some of their strains after songs, and tours. For instance, their Fall 97 is one of the strongest and terpiest concentrates on the market, as is the flower it comes from. Really great team, a bit corporate here and there but they’ve got the business on lock down for a reason. Their flower ebbs and flows quality wise but you can bet they’ll bring out the big guns for this weekend. They’ve got it all, including that Live Resin that they process in-house, always a good sign. That’s branded under The Lab so ask for it, and you shall receive. All the dabs.
