OK, let's face it. The D-Note IS the coolest tavern in North Denver/Arvada, but in 2006 I sold my Lodo condo to escape the urban tax burden of Denver for cool Olde Town Arvada. Then I used to drive by and occasionally drink in this place. At that time Arvada tavern was cool and rustic/authentic with bearded, tie-died hippies and a funky tavern feel. After smoking was banned in bars that year, I used to drive by after work and in front of ArvadaTavern it looked like a homeless shelter, with the poor local old hipsters that smoked sittin' nd puffin' on a bench out on Old Wadsworth with their beards and beads and chain wallets out in the 20 friggin' degree snow.
So then the owners painted those old, smoke-faded walls white. Next time I walked into Arvada Tavern it looked like a scene from ER, with these bright, bright sterile walls and the same cool hippies staring at each other and squinting to the beat of rock and roll on the jukebox, jonsin' for a smoke. God bless the Vikings and old Arvada Tavern. May your bright bulbs soften with kitchen grease. Rock on.
Pros: Good cheap local genuine bar
Cons: Bright lights
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