Yelp! Chit Chat Bistro Arvada, Colorado

Girlfriend getaways can be as simple as lunch and a glass (or two) of wine. Yesterday I took time out from a busy day (and let's be honest what day isnt' busy?) to meet my friend, Laurie, for lunch at a new restaurant, Chit Chat Bistro, near where we live in Arvada (west of Denver).

We're both amateur foodies who love to try new places and hope for the best. This time, we discovered a real gem: Chit Chat Bistro, just west of Ward on 58th Avenue. if you blink, you'll miss it because it's located in the west corner of an office building. But it's worth the trip. The food is yummy! The Italiano classico panini with marinara sauce on the side -- the panini bread is fresh and the right amount of crunchy, the marinara sauce fresh, oh and side salad with the fresh! balsamic vinegar dressing is to die for. My fork found it's way to my girlfriend's Classique de deli crepe, a huge portion, fresh, just the right amount of light. Very affordable: appetizers $5-$11; Soup and salads from $3.50 - $9; lunch plates $8 and dinners $9.50-$16.

It's casual and homey. Even Chef Niko stopped by our table. The piped music is so Greek, reminescent of the flick, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Go there. You'll love Chit Chat Bistro.

Read my Chit Chat Bistro yelp review

Until next time

Online travel auction...bid on travel related packages and deals from around the world

If the mention of the word “travel” has you daydreaming of days gone by, then explore the Online Travel Auction, open to the public, at http://www.satwauction.com/hosted by the Society of American Travel Writers. Now through Friday, November 20, you can make your vacation dreams come true by bidding on travel-related deals on goods, hotels, resort and vacation packages in the U.S., Canada and abroad. Download this interactive, colorful brochure of dozens of travel packages and deals from the SATW online auction.

Thinking of beaches? How about Mexico, Aruba, or Belize? Want to explore Europe? How about Germany or Belgium – or you can board the Eurail and explore 21 countries on your own!Prefer a vacation closer to home? We’ve got you covered! Choose from sea to shining sea in the U.S. of A., from Connecticut to California, Michigan to Texas and states in between. Looking for an adventure? We’ve got golf, skiing, hiking and biking. Gotta have spa? We have that too! Explore the world with a click of your mouse and bid on the vacation of your dreams.

The Society of American Travel Writers, the world’s largest professional association of travel journalists and photographers, and their annual online fundraising auction is open now through November 20, 2009 at http://www.satwauction.com/ (Proceeds fund SATW’s professional development programming at future conventions.)

At the site, there are all sorts of vacation options from five star hotels and beautiful resorts to superb golf and ski getaways and even some gift baskets. Starting prices are often amazingly reasonable…and anyone can have a chance to bid. Values of the donated items range from $50 to $3,962.

How does the auction work?

Similar to other online auctions, browsers and bidders will log on to http://www.satwauction.com/with a specially created ID and password and bid as often as they please. The auction will be updated in real time. Bidding closes at 10:00 pm MDT on Nov. 20.

Some of the items up for bid include:

· Your Germany getaway includes 2 roundtrip tickets on Air Berlin (www.airberlin.com) and a total of four nights for two persons at two Steigenberger Hotels (www.steigenbergerhotelgroup.com): 2 nights at the upscale Steigenberger Hotel in the heart of Western Berlin and 2 nights at the elegant Steigenberger Hotel de Saxe at the historic square in Dresden. Value $3,962, start your bid at $500

· Golf and wine merge together quite nicely; thank you, at the Silverado Resort 2-night Napa Valley package. The package includes two nights in a one bedroom suite; round of golf for two on a Robert Trent Jones Jr. Course, and wine tastings at four wineries. Value $1,500, start your bid at $300.

· We’ve more hotel stays and packages than you can click a mouse on: Hotel deLuxe (Portland; Ore.); Hotel Lucia (Portland; Ore.); Hotel Max (Seattle; Wash.); Hotel Murano (Tacoma; Wash.); Hotel Preston (Nashville; Tenn.); Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston & New Orleans; Westin Westminster (Colorado); The Broadmoor (Colorado Springs; CO); Silvertree Hotel and Conference Center (Snowmass Village, CO); Alderbrook Resort & Spa in Washington State; Chateau Chantal; Traverse City; MI; Fairmont Chateau Whistler; Fairmont Chateau Laurier; Fairmont Chateau Whistler; Fairmont Scottsdale Princess; Le Petit Hotel & Café; Montreal; Alexis Hotel; Seattle; WA; Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch in Death Valley; and West Baden Springs Hotel; French Lick (includes golf & spa treatments!). Values start at $109, minimum bids beginning at $25.

What are you waiting for? Your dream vacation awaits you…Log on to http://www.satwauction.com/ today.

For more information about the SATW Auction, contact Diana Rowe, 2009 SATW Auction online chair, diana@dianarowe.com.

For more informaton about Society of American Travel Writers, contact: Tim O’Keefe, President, mtimokeefe@gmail.com and/or Rich Grant, Publicity Chair, rgrant@denver.org

Green in Denver

The absolutely beautiful July day here in Denver (albeit a little hot) makes me want to take care of my world just a little better. I recently wrote an article for the Denver Metro CVB about "Mile High Meetings Send a Green Message."

Now, I'm usually not a political activist, but I *am* conscious of what's going on. For instance, I never just toss my trash out the door. I recycle. I try to save the environment as much as I can.

Oh, and of course, I do my part by riding my motorcycle to conserve gas -- and save money out of my pocketbook! :-)

Why don't you just check the article out and here's an excerpt:

Mile High Meetings Send A Green Message
JUNE 2008
BY: Diana Rowe is a Denver-based freelance writer and a contributing editor to several meetings trade publications.

Culinary delights, high thread counts, turndown service, and spa services are great, but what planners really want today are organic food, biodegradable soap, high-impact fluorescent light bulbs, and recycle bins. All across the globe, corporations are making their mark through investments aimed at improving the planet’s social and environmental problems.

That’s why planners are making conscious decisions to select cities and venues that are environmentally-conscious, and Denver, the Mile-High city, is up for the green challenge.

The Colorado Convention Center (CCC) is one of the most practical and "user-friendly" meeting facilities ever built.

“We recognize that a large part of Colorado’s destination appeal is our stunning natural setting. The tourism and convention industry has a strong interest in creating programs that will help us grow our business in a sustainable fashion,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (DMCVB).

Sustainability is a core value in Denver City Government, according to Mayor John W. Hickenlooper, who joined 49 other mayors nationwide in the summer of 2005 to pledge to improve the environment and their cities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That same year, Hickenlooper launched the Greenprint Denver Initiative.

Greenprint is a long-term, citywide initiative to promote the importance of sustainable development and ecologically-friendly practices throughout the community. The program includes a plan to plant one million trees in the next 20 years, as well as ways to reduce waste and increase use of renewable energy.

Denver is also facilitating the green business designation of the upcoming 2008 Democratic National Convention, expected to bring close to 50,000 visitors to Denver. This is the first green recognition process for a national political convention. The green designation requires businesses to commit to sustainable practices in seven key areas: leadership, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste and pollution reduction, community involvement, working conditions, and education. (Find out more about how the Convention will be the greenest in Democratic Party history here.)

There's more just click here.

Thanks for reading -- and talk to you soon!

Diana