A Night at The Brown Palace

Bonnie themed her 2018 year, ” Be the Girl you Wish to Be.” Every year a theme is set on what she would like to focus on and accomplish. 2018 brings about BIG Goals and Dreams that need to be turned into action. Pretty much a talker and dreamer but never a doer. She knew she needed to celebrate her January BIG to kickstart the new year. A brand new dress to make her feel beautiful was essential to the evening. Bonnie loves fashion from the 1920’s and decided to add a 20’s flair to her simple blush pink BCBG new dress. Now, she has the perfect dress, she needed the perfect location to celebrate her special birthday night. So her husband booked her special night out at The Brown Palace.

A Night at The Brown Palace

Yes, being at a Palace celebrating your Birthday has quite a ring to it. Where did you go on your Birthday? ” a palace, my dear,” Bonnie replied. The downtown city location of Denver would be perfect with delicious restaurants to choose from, 16th Street Mall to explore, and an old historic hotel filled with style and charm. As Bonnie researched The Brown Palace she discovered they offer historic tours of the hotel every Wednesday and Saturday at 3:00 pm. Quite a history it has since it was built-in 1892 by Henry Brown and it is Denver’s oldest continuous hotel.

What is it like to stay at The Brown Palace? 

Walking into The Brown Palace is like going back to another time period. It has an Art Deco, 1920’s vibe especially, on floors 8 and 9. Bonnie is quite sure parties in the 1920’s at The Brown could rival ones out of a Great Gatsby novel. Italian Renaissance is the style The Brown Palace was going after when the hotel was built.  Celebrities, Presidents, you name it have stayed here before. In 1892 this hotel had electricity, an artesian well and it was even fireproof. It was one of the top hotels in the country and put the city of Denver on the map. People came to Denver just to stay at The Brown Palace.

Happy hour is the perfect time to walk in, of course, that is when Bonnie walked in!  Just imagine, The piano player plays songs from the past, people are dressed up enjoying cocktails, and the staff ready to check you in for the night of your life.

And if it doesn’t get better than this, just look up! Oh, bling and sparkles!

Bonnie believes everyone should sparkle and shine!

The Brown Palace sparkles and shines too! This Holiday chandelier is hung before Thanksgiving just in time for The Brown’s famous Champagne Cascade event and stays up until the last Friday of the Denver Stock Show. One million pieces make up this Chandelier! It takes 2 days just to hang it up. They have to store it in an airplane hangar when it isn’t being used.

Who doesn’t want to sip Champagne under so many sparkling lights?

Women love to enjoy High Tea during the Holidays. It is an event that books up far in advance.  They order their Devonshire Cream direct from England. Bonnie felt like high society from the moment she walked into the lobby.

The Brown Palace Rooms

Rooms come in all shapes in sizes. The largest rooms are on the 8th and 9th floor. During the recession, those floors became apartments to help keep the hotel financially stable. You will find the Beatles Suite, The Reagan Suite, The Eisenhower Suite, Roosevelt Suite, Royal Suite, and Grand Suites. This is a Marriott Autograph hotel. Gold Marriott Status helped Bonnie score an upgrade from Classic Queen to Executive King. It was her Birthday and she wished to live it up at The Brown and sleep in late.  Gold Status helped get her a late check out of 2:00 pm.

The Executive King Room

Happy with an upgrade, it’s time to get ready to celebrate! It’s not a celebration if you don’t have a bottle of Champagne!

Time to get this party started! Bonnie loves to travel with her mini Bose stereo. She listened to her 20’s inspired playlist while she was getting ready to put her in a festive party mood.

After getting all dolled up, she was ready to walk around and check out the hotel. Her attire matched the Brown Palace perfectly and she smiled so big because she was fortunate to stay a night at this hotel. She may even be standing where Molly Brown may have stood overlooking the guests. Molly lived in Denver and stayed in the Brown Palace frequently.

This Stained Glass Skylight is an 1892 original. Clarence Watkins is the creator of this art piece and it was created to bring in natural light in.

This clock was commissioned for the Brown Palace and was hung on NYE 1999. Bonnie has that Prince song in her head every time she thinks of the year 1999! She bet the Brown had a fun party that night!

Mythological Griffins are featured throughout The Brown as a symbol to protect mountain treasure. Henry C. Brown built The Brown Palace during the Gold and Silver Rush happening in Colorado. Guests can feel safe about their gold and silver while staying at The Brown Palace. Look for them, and you will find them everywhere. Henry was a smart fellow.

The entrance to The Brown Palace used to be on Broadway Street and that is why these grand staircases are across from the current entrance. They hardly seemed used by current guests but the ornate detail is something to appreciate.

Amenities

The Spa & Salon

The Brown Palace doesn’t have a pool but it does offer a luxury spa to pamper its guests with a new do, manicure or massage. Bonnie didn’t get a chance to visit the spa on this trip.

Look closely, the Spa entrance used to be an oversized, grand fireplace. The pillars and mantle are solid Mexican Onyx stone.

The Gym

A skywalk bridges The Brown Palace to another building. It used to be the Brown Palace West but now it is called the Holiday Inn. Bonnie used her room key to access the gym at the Holiday Inn. Brown Palace meeting rooms are located in this building too. Bonnie learned on her tour there is an underground tunnel connecting the Brown to the Holiday Inn. Guests at the Holiday Inn have the same cleaning staff and room service. Tip- If you don’t like the prices of the Brown stay at the Holiday Inn and just walk across the sky bridge to enjoy cocktails and dining at the Brown instead.

Dining

The Palace Arms

The Palace Arms dining room has an extensive history. It has a collection of antiques owned by Napoleon himself. Dining here would be a fine dining experience, one that Bonnie must add to her list.

Ellyngtons

Champagne Brunches are popular at The Brown Palace. Ellyngton’s used to be a place for music. It has kept that tradition offering a Dom Perignon Champagne Brunch on Sundays with live music. As a Gold Marriott member, Bonnie received a complimentary continental breakfast. Her friendly waiter informed her she could substitute that value for anything on the menu. She ordered a delicious vegetable frittata instead. Breakfast was a treat. Bonnie enjoys having status for the perks that come with it.

High Tea

High Tea is served in the Grand Atrium of the Brown Palace from 11:00 am 3:45 pm. Bonnie has enjoyed high tea with her girlfriends at the Brown several times. It is fun to dress up and spend time with your girlfriends over tea. You can even add a Champagne High Tea too! She had no idea the Devonshire cream comes all the way from England. High Tea is so posh here at The Brown Palace.

The Ship Tavern

This room doesn’t fit with the decor of the Brown. It opened in 1934 after Prohibition ended. The story behind this tavern is this. The current owner visited Cape Cod and purchased model Clipper Sailing Ship models. They were a gift to his wife, not a Bonnie style gift at all! His wife thought the same and in return decided to put them in the new tavern, hence the sailing nautical theme of the Ship Wreck Tavern. It is a nice place to get a cocktail or burger in a casual environment.

The Churchill Bar

Cigar smoking is allowed inside the bar and it is one of the few places in Denver that was grandfathered in when smoking inside was banned. Bonnie’s father likes to visit and pretend he is King for a Day when he visits Colorado. They have a large selection of cigars, Bourbons, and whiskeys.

Denver has amazing dining establishments. Bonnie wanted to stay at The Brown for an additional reason, it was within walking distance to one of her favorite splurge restaurants, Guard & Grace. Every experience has been over the top and every dish served is super yummy. The Cocktail Shrimp, the Wedge Salad, the Gnocchi, Truffled Mac and Cheese, and Filet were a perfect addition to her Birthday celebration. When it’s your Birthday, it is a special day. 

The Brown Palace Private Club

Now for the climax of the story. Don’t get any dirty thoughts! Is the Brown Palace haunted?

Bonnie got super spooked in this room. She opened the door to the restroom and felt an energy or presence that seemed right next to her. She is sure something was there and she ran out of the room in a fast sprint. If there are cameras, she is sure someone got a laugh. Bonnie told Debra Faulkner, the Brown Palace historian about her experience and Debra said this room is where most of the ghostly encounters occur at the Brown. Ghost tours are offered in October but Bonnie isn’t sure she wants to know about her creeper.  Now, the Twilight Zone music plays…. if this were a movie scene.

Bonnie would tell everyone to take advantage of The Brown Palace Hotel tour with Debra Faulkner to learn more about this wonderful piece of history in Colorado. She is filled with knowledge that will enhance your stay. Bonnie didn’t want to share with you everything she learned just a few tidbits to make you want to go enjoy a night at The Brown Palace yourself. 

The Brown Palace is iconic with Denver and is rich in history. It’s ornate details, beautiful stone and stained glass lobby is a sight to see. Over time people have celebrated numerous happy occasions in this hotel. It was the place to be and be seen. Champagne flows, Cigar’s burn, and guests come alive with conversation. The Brown Palace is to be appreciated and celebrated. As always a night at the Brown Palace is always a night to be remembered.

Be the Girl you wish to be, celebrate her, and live life to the fullest, 

Bonnie

 

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