I’m going to repeat myself a bit today, to make up for not posting yesterday (I had a copyediting deadline). On Wednesday I showed you pictures of the 16th Street bridge across I-25. Once I descended the stairs from the bridge and crossed the courtyard and Platte Street, I reached Commons Park West, an attractive condo development that borders the South Platte River.

Past the burgundy and forest green condo buildings, I found another bridge, which vibrated as I crossed it. Then I was in Commons Park, which is planted with lots of native grasses and shrubs in addition to bluegrass in the high-traffic areas. I followed the winding paths to Ink! coffee, where I found this sign.

Makes its point, doesn’t it?

But once inside, it’s all very friendly, and the baristas all looked good. The lone female barista, who wore a wide headband, reminded me of one of my neighbors in Broomfield. They made me a smooth, yummy latte, and I sat in a corner of yet another red room to eat some more Wen Chocolates.

The bar was where the action took place: two men there were discussing Colt and Grey, which I had just passed earlier that day. In its short life it’s become renowned as the Denver bar for artisan cocktails, but these guys were discussing the food. Best hamburger he’s ever had, said Mr. Affliction shirt, but “the prices are a little on the high side.”

The barista must have surmised they were hungry because one walked up with a pink box of donuts and opened it. I had my chocolates, but still I was envious.

Later a goth young woman with a skateboard took the listener’s seat and revealed that she lived above Dixon’s restaurant in downtown Denver. Saturday nights, as you might expect, are loud, but it’s quieter in the winter. She said she’s been practicing her skateboarding skills for 6 years.

When I left Paris on the Platte to head over to Ink!, I was expecting a quieter vibe, but I didn’t find it. In addition to the people chatting at the bar, I could hear murmurs from other patrons around the corner, who all seemed very studious when I went jonesing for a seat. Ink! doesn’t offer any really cushy seats, like a couch or a big wing chair, though it does have high chairs and low chairs. But my counter-height chair was comfortable enough for an hour’s worth of reading.

Ink! has locations all over Denver and in Aspen. The one I visited is located in Riverfront Park, just over the Millennium Bridge from Union Station and, past that, downtown Denver.