Central City: Home of Lady Luck

Nikki note: After you're done reading about Claire's adventures in historic Central City, hop on over to my Facebook photography page and see a few pictures that I took that were a little too "artsy" to include here. FB has a new feature where you can view photos in "full screen mode." I highly recommend it.

Sunday was GORGEOUS, the total opposite of Saturday's rainy, gloomy weather. Nikki said she didn't want to spend such a nice day underground. I seconded this plan, so we set off in Becky and just started driving through the mountains. Nikki remembered a place she and Steve had visited on their second vacation to Denver a few years ago. It's a gambling town in the mountains called Central City, right next to another gambling town called Blackhawk.

Nikki doesn't like gambling, because she claims she's not lucky, and she's not good at playing card games, but she liked that the two towns were historic towns. The road up to the two towns is steep and super-curvy, so it was an awesome ride.

We arrived pretty early, around 9:30 or 10:00 in the morning, and the casinos were already open! We decided just to walk around and check out all the different historical buildings.

The main historical street in "downtown" Central City. Love the street lamps!

When you first walk towards this main street, they have four plaques posted so you get a little background on the city.

Click on the photo so you can read all the cool history.

This was one of the more popular casinos. They seemed to sponsor a lot of the buildings, and a lot of people were hanging around inside and outside.

Here's a really old casino with some cool history and antiques!

Here's the swinging doors! I wanted to walk through them, Old West style, and have people be all, "Oh no! The Armadillo Kid just came in! She's lookin' for booze and blood!" But Nikki, the killjoy, said that life isn't like the Westerns her dad watches. :(

And this is the player piano. I always thought they were kinda creepy...like a ghost is trying to entertain people beyond the grave. The most disappointing thing about this player piano was that it DIDN'T play! What's the point of having it then?!

The weirdest part of the bar is the ceiling. Nikki almost missed this photo op, but she was trying to peek over the swinging doors to see if it was a good place to have lunch, and since she's so short, she was able to see the ceiling. I have NO IDEA why people stapled dollar bills up there, but I know that if I had a ladder, I'd be a rich, rich armadillo!

 

Ok, so this was my favorite part of our tour of the town. It's one of those cool folk legends that I love to hear/read about, and even though it didn't have to do with ghosts or anything, it's still a cool story. I'd just mess up telling it, so I made Nikki take a picture of the two signs explaining what it's all about.

This picture above is the poem that inspired the story below. It's long, but good. (I'm a fan of poetry...little known fact.)

How cool is this?! Guy paints a face on the floor of a barroom! And no one gets mad! I wish I could deface a bar and not get in trouble. ;)

And here's the lady's beautiful face! Too bad *NIKKI* had to ruin the picture by getting her reflection in the way. ;p

Besides the casinos and its rich mining history, Central City is best known for the Central City Opera House, a beautiful historical building. It's the fifth-oldest opera company in the nation, which is pretty awesome, considering how old our country is! It's too bad we couldn't stay and listen to a performance. I've never watched an opera before!

What a beautiful building! So classy looking!

This is the summer 2012 schedule. I BEGGED Nikki to take me to see Oklahoma!, but she said the time she went to Arena Stage in DC to see the play for a class was enough to last her a lifetime. She said either of the other shows would be a better possibility.

Surrounding the back of the opera house is a garden that kinda reminded me of a tree house. There weren't many flowers in the garden, which I didn't get. What kind of garden doesn't have flowers?! We DID see a lot of candy wrappers and cigarette butts. Nikki said that the candy wrappers were probably from audience members hanging out during intermission, and the cigarettes were probably from techies who were annoyed during tech rehearsals.

See all the wooden steps and platforms? That's what reminds me of a tree house.

An old church near the Opera House

What a cool building!

We ended our trip in Central City at the Visitor Center where we got to learn some fun facts about the town and saw some antiques from the town's mining history.

Look how small the population is in Central City! I can't imagine living in a city that small!

Maybe we didn't get to go visit a mine, but we could still see mining equipment!

Looks like the Visitor Center could use a proofreader!!

There was a map on the wall where people could put pins on the city where they were from. They had a special map for people from Colorado. It was so neat to see that some people came all the way from Alaska to see the history and gamble in the town!

Of course, Nikki and I had to represent Baltimore! While there were some people from Maryland, no one else was from Baltimore! We couldn't let that slide.

We're the yellow pin. :)

Girls' Weekend in the Mountains, Part One

Nikki's been feeling really blue and stressed out lately, so she decided that she needed to get away from the city and get out of the apartment and take some time to relax by herself, sans Steve. Since she and I haven't gone on any adventures lately, she asked if I'd like to come with her. OF COURSE I said yes! So she made reservations for us at Indian Hot Springs in Idaho Springs, Colorado and booked a hotel room so we could spend the night in the mountains.

We drove up on Saturday, and MAN, the weather was AWFUL! It was pouring rain and cold and grey, and when we started driving up I-70 (slowly, because Nikki's car "Becky" is a hybrid, so only has an actual engine the size of a lawn mower's), this crazy fog sunk down, and you could barely see the car in front of you!! Nikki was playing some soothing mix CD that she called her "Winter Mix," which was totally appropriate, because you'd never know that we were only a few weeks away from summertime. When we got to Idaho Springs, though, the fog had lifted, and even though it was still drizzling/raining, there was a little bit of sun poking out from between the clouds. Sunshiny rain is the weirdest thing, y'all.

Our first stop was the hot spring. Nikki had booked herself a deep-tissue massage, and that came with an hour-long soak in a private bath. She said I'd have to hang out elsewhere (a LOCKER, it turns out!) during her massage, but agreed to let me go to the private bath with her. It was nice and dark and steamy. I dipped a toe in the water and OH MY GOD IT WAS SO HOT!! I mean, I know that hot springs are gonna be hot, but Nikki said that this bath was hotter than the one that she and Steve had when they visited in January. So she'd go in for a few minutes until she couldn't stand it anymore, then come out and lay down on her towel, which she had spread out on this wooden bench next to the bath. She kept doing that the whole hour, while playing soothing music on her phone. I mainly just enjoyed the humidity.

Our private bath

Weirdo Native American wall decorations

Since I was sent to a locker to "hang out" until Nikki finished her relaxing, I'll let her tell you about the rest of her spa experience.

The deep-tissue massage I had was like a dream. I've been VERY stressed lately (due, mainly, to my anxiety disorder and depression), so having someone just abuse the hell out of my muscles was necessary. The masseuse focused on my shoulders and upper back, and by the time she was done, I was dreamy with calm. I went downstairs to pick up Claire and change before my facial at three, but I wanted to check out the geothermal caves first. I'm so glad that I did!

The caves are single-sex only, and you have to be at least 16 years old to go in. Bathing suits are optional, so I decided to go "au naturale" like most of the women in the caves, and frankly, I'm glad that I did. It made the experience so much more...feminine, I guess. I felt like I was back in ancient Greece or Rome, lounging with water nymphs and naiads in a calm, quiet, steamy place. Obviously, I couldn't take any pictures, so here's one from the website:

The pool above is cut into the rock surrounding it and is divided into three smaller sections (one person per section) by piping that regulates the water temperature. This particular pool was one of the cooler ones. There were two at temperatures I could stand and three that rivaled the searing, boiling heat of my private pool. Many women would float or move around in the water for a while, then either lay on their towels on some benches carved into the rock, or they'd leave the cave area and sit quietly in a dimly-lit lounge area. There were women of all ages - teenagers to an elderly woman (who was wearing a bathing suit). After my massage, my experience in the caves only added to my insane levels of relaxation. I almost didn't want to leave, but I knew that I needed to drink a lot of water, as the hot springs cause dehydration, and I needed to eat something as well. I went back to the locker room, put on my clothes, collected Claire, and reluctantly went back outside into the gloomy drizzle so I could drive into town for lunch.

We went to a small Mexican restaurant and split an okay plate of chicken flautas. We walked around the main street a little, under the comfort of an umbrella, before finally returning to Indian Hot Springs for my facial. This time, I left Claire in the car to nap or read or whatever she wanted, and I went and had a lovely facial. Since moving out to the dryer climate of Denver, I've had a hard time figuring out a good facial cleansing regimen. My skin will be oily in the morning, but then get dry but then oily and UGH! So I had a papaya scrub and a nice mask, and I felt much more fresh-faced when I was finished.

 I spent my time in the car reading one of Nikki's books about Calvin & Hobbes, this comic strip she used to read as a kid. It's a pretty good book, but since I haven't really read the comics, it was a little confusing. I listened to some music and skimmed the internet on Nikki's smartphone. Then she came back and we could finally check into our hotel room.

We stayed at the Columbine Inn, where Nikki and Steve stayed on their anniversary weekend in January. It was a nice enough room for an overnight stay, but not as nice as the Comfort Inns we stayed in on our cross-country journey. Our room had two queen beds in it, and so I told Nikki that she could have one, and I'd have one.

SO MUCH SPACE!!!

Of course, in the middle of the night, I...I mean...NIKKI...got scared when she heard a weird noise, so I generously offered to sleep with her in her bed. You know...coz she was, like, totally freaked out without me.

Nikki said she was going to go to this Italian restaurant in town that had live music on Saturday nights, but I said I wasn't in the mood for Italian. I told her I was going to stay in and order room service.

But Nikki said that the hotel DIDN'T HAVE ROOM SERVICE, and I was all, "What the heck kind of hotel doesn't have room service?! Especially since there's a PHONE IN THE ROOM!?" She just said that this was closer to a motel than a hotel, and the phone was probably to call people if you didn't have a cell phone (pfft...like people don't have cell phones these days!) or to call the front desk if there was a problem with your room. So I freshened up, and we went to the Italian place, where I filled up on bread and salad, and Nikki had some gnocchi, which she said is potato pasta. (Weird.) There was a guy playing blues and country tunes on a guitar and an honest-to-God cowboy - hat, boots, bolo tie, and all (!) sitting near us. At one point, he and his wife got up, went to a part of the dining area without tables, and danced to one of the songs. It was SUPER CUTE.

We left not long after the musician was done for the night and turned in early so we could rise and shine and do some exploring on Sunday. (Plus, the TV was broken, there was no wi-fi (OH MY GOD), and Nikki only wanted to watch four episodes of "The Muppet Show" on her computer before she got sleepy.) I was really excited, because we were supposed to go to a gold mine the next day, and since I had to miss the Cave of the Winds, going into a gold mine would be the next best thing.

To be continued...!

Armadillos in the "News"

Gracious! It's been a long time since I've updated! I wasn't grounded again (although Tasha still pukes occasionally, but she and I have been better about cleaning it up), but Nikki just hasn't been taking me on that many adventures...or going on that many herself. Frankly, she's been whompsy lately, so I told her that we need a "just us" weekend to have some fun and get outside the city. So she's taking us to Idaho Springs tomorrow for a much-needed "me-cation," as she's calling it. She booked a massage and facial at Indian Hot Springs (where she and Steve went on their anniversary in January), and she plans on taking us on a gold mining tour! (I hope they let me go on this one!!) I'm making her take her camera and her laptop with us so she can update on time, instead of putting it off for weeks and weeks and then being all, "Oh, I'm bored. I guess I should update the blog." You're welcome. ;p

As for the armadillo portion of this entry, Nikki found this on a website called "imgur," which is a great way to kill time at work, apparently. She sent the picture to me, as she thought it was very funny. I would like to say that I don't approve of drinking cheap beer; if you're going to drink and get drunk, do it with some good tasting alcohol! But I'm not here to knock anyone's choice of booze; I just want to share a ridiculous armadillo picture.

Goin' to the Chapel and They're Gonna Get Mair-air-aired!

In March, we flew back to Baltimore so Nikki could be in her friends' wedding. Jon and Tia were the "couple friends" for Steve and Nikki; they could do double dates, and they always watched football together on Sundays. (Fun fact: when Tia gets really nervous, she obsessively cleans. She once got mad at Nikki for doing the dishes before the game and leaving her nothing to wash!) Jon helped Steve propose to Nikki, and Tia took Nikki to her first bridal show. Besties all the way!

I was so excited to go back to Baltimore, not just because it meant I got to see the family and my friends again, but also because I was going to be flying in an airplane for the first time! Oh man! Nikki put me in a nice purse that Steve's aunt Pam bought for her in Guatemala, and we flew through security. We got an aisle seat in a relatively empty plane (REALLY early in the morning!) and had some room to stretch out and sleep. I was so excited that Nikki had a hard time keeping me from climbing over the guy in the window seat and peering out the ultra-strength plexiglass to see everything that was going on!

...then we took off.

Oh God, you guys, ARMADILLOS ARE NOT MEANT TO BE IN THE SKY!!!!!!!! There was turbulence, which was TERRIFYING, and the landing was bumpy (I thought), and Nikki just passed out through the whole thing because she had to take air-sickness medication. She ended up using me as a pillow, which I thought was rather demeaning, but it at least meant that I had something to grip onto as the plane bumped around in the air.

When we landed, I kissed the ground then gargled with strong soap, because....ew. We were staying at Nikki's parents' place, and it was nice to see them again.

There was so much to do to prepare for the wedding that Nikki ended up having to leave me at home for a couple of days. BUT! I got to hang out with her and Tia the day before the big day and do all the girlie things that girls do to get ready for weddings. First stop: the nail salon to get mani-pedis:

Nikki getting her toenails done. Never realized how gross feet could be! ;D

Tia and I snuggling while she gets her pedicure. Isn't she adorable?!

The end result! What a great pedicure! So classy!

After grabbing a quick lunch at a local deli (UTZ CHIPS!!!!), we went to a wig shop so Tia could buy some hair for her wedding day hairdo. As Nikki doesn't ever want long hair, I've never been to a wig shop before, so Tia showed us around and told me all about how you want REAL hair because synthetic hair just melts or something awful when you try to style it.

While I may be fuzzy, I've (obviously) never had hair before, so I thought I'd try out a few styles and see which one I like best. Feel free to comment with your opinion too!

First look: Dark black curls. Very exotic-looking I think. Mediterranean maybe.

Next up, a curly do with medium-brown hair. A little more "armadillo next door."

I know Nikki HATES it when people say that straight hair is more glamorous than curly hair, but I think in this instance, it's true!

OF COURSE I had to try some blonde locks! What a great "California girl" look!

We went to a hair salon in East Baltimore, where Nikki fell asleep on the couch in the back room, and people were loud and laughing, and the radio was blaring, and I kinda loved it, even though I was TOTALLY out of my element. We ended the day back at Jon and Tia's house, where we got things ready for the big day and ate some pretty delicious pizza.

Finally, the big day arrived! Steve had gotten into town Saturday night, so he carpooled with Nikki and got to the church early to help set up decorations and keep everyone amused. Jon and Tia got married in Chase Court, which is a beautiful, historic building behind a church in Mount Vernon, Baltimore. There was a courtyard and stained glass windows and a giant fireplace. The bridesmaids, mother of the bride, Tia, and I all went to the upstairs loft area to get ready.

Human girls use so much make-up and hair products!

Because Nikki was in the wedding, she didn't get to take too many photos before or any during the ceremony. But that's okay, because once the reception started, I got to see all my old friends again!

Evan, who we call "Giant," because he's big and red-headed, and it seemed like an appropriate name.

Melissa, an excellent artist who has birds who can speak English and like to say really weird things at weird times.

Got a picture with the beautiful bride and Audra

I'm really glad that I got to hang out with Audra at the wedding. I wish we had had more time together, but armadillos LOVE to dance, and Audra kept declining my invitations. ;)

The day finally wound down to an end. Jon and Tia drove off into the sunset in a car that Nikki and Tia's sister Nita decorated with "JUST MARRIED!" and little stick figure drawings of the happy couple. Everyone helped to clean up, and the next day, we got on another plane and flew home. It was a wonderful time, a beautiful ceremony, and a fun experience, as it was also my first wedding.

Best part of a wedding? THE OPEN BAR! :)

Nikki Post: Paper Moon Diner

I flew home to Baltimore last weekend to be a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding. Claire will be telling you ALL about our trip in the coming days, but while she's distracted by watching Being Elmo on Netflix, I thought I'd sneak on and update about a trip I went on without her. (Don't tell!)

That Friday I spent the day with my dear friend Agnes, who recently hit her third decade of life on this planet. (Happy birthday!) To celebrate, I took her to lunch at Paper Moon Diner in Baltimore, one of my favorite, hip, overpriced restaurants in the city. (Warning, the website has loud music when you first enter, so turn down your speakers!) I first went to P-Moon when I was 17 or so and my friend Chuck suggested we go there late one night during the summer. The thrill of going someplace in the wee hours of the morning and goofing around in such a wacky environment was wonderful for my almost-an-adult self. For years, it seemed that every time I went to the diner, no matter how late or early in the day or night, I'd run into someone I know or who knew me through a series of "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" kind of steps. (Also know as the "Smalltimore" effect.) I once went there my sophomore year of college and sat next to an African-American man in his 50s who knew of me through a high school ex-boyfriend he was in a bicycling collective with! The effect has worn off in recent years (and thank God, because most often, the people I saw at Paper Moon were people I didn't want to see!), but the diner remained one of my top spots to take people from out of town. Steve and I actually had our first date of sorts there the night we met. <3

Paper Moon is mostly a diner but also mostly an ever-evolving work of art. While many of the collages and pieces you can see in these pictures have been around for the decade or so I've been a patron, many new pieces are added all the time at the expense of others. My favorite (not pictured) is a mannequin located in the gender-neutral restroom on the first floor. Nothing quite like trying to pee while a bald, mostly-naked mannequin stares at you!

View from our table, looking up and towards the back of the diner

View from our table, looking up and facing the main entrance of the diner

Near the bar area, upon first entering the restaurant. The table right in front there is where Steve and I sat on that fateful night we met one another. <3 <3

This lovely lady is at the cashier's station, next to a disembodied hand covered in pennies.

I had meant to bring Claire along on this particular excursion, but Thursday night was the first night in TWO WEEKS that I had slept through the night, and I ended up running late for what was supposed to be a *brunch* with Aggiebell. In my rush to get out the door, I left Claire tangled in my bedsheets. No matter, because Agnes and I found a way to represent Claire in spirit:

So if you've found this blog via the little note we left at the Paper Moon Diner on March 9, 2012, please leave a comment and let me know! It'd be nice to know that someone read our little love letter.

All of the tables and chairs at Paper Moon are repurposed furniture, and our table happened to have a "secret" drawer in it on Agnes's side. Over the years, I've sat at such tables, and patrons had always left little notes inside for others to find. Finally, Paper Moon compiled these notes into a binder so everyone could share their adventures.

Agnes and I left our own note to mark such a momentous occasion:

Once done with our meal (I had the bananas foster French toast; Agnes had a black bean and avocado quesadilla), Agnes and I took silly pictures outside of the restaurant.

Agnes is a total groupie for mostly-naked dudes riding bareback on cows.

I'm trying to do my best impression of the mannequin behind me and failing spectacularly.

Every restaurant should be required to have an adorable elephant statue on its roof. Think of how much easier it would be to give directions! "Oh, it's the one with the purple elephant on the roof. No, you're thinking of Taco Bell; their elephant is red and white."

Signs you're an art school kid: you're walking the streets with a shopping cart full of mannequin legs. Sign you're from a big city: you're walking around with said shopping cart, and no one is looking at you like you're a freak.