Welcome to Colorado

Welcome to your new home, Sienna Miller.
For those of you who do not know, I left a part of my heart back in Vegas with Pep when I decided to leave Sienna behind for the first part of the move. She, like most cats, does not do well with change so I figured the less I had to put her through, the better. So when Carl and I went to load up the UHaul, we also loaded up the cat and brought her to Colorado.

She is enjoying the new place - especially since there are currently boxes everywhere for her to climb in and out of. Her only complaint? She can't get in the claw foot tub to go #2. Don't worry - she hasn't decided to start acting like a lady by using the litter box for #2 - no, no - she is just going on the bathmat.

Sigh. Oh, Sienna.

Regardless of where she decides to unload - I am so happy to have the three of us back together in our new home.

Discovering Denver: #3 Get a Pancake Flight at Snooze

Andy and I have been eating pancakes together since we were old enough to tear them apart and stuff them in our mouths. One of my greatest memories of all time is watching that boy eat 4 dozen dollar pancakes at Uncle Bill's in Stone Harbor, NJ.

So when Andy called asking if I wanted to do breakfast Saturday morning at Snooze before a trip to REI- I was all over it - "I'm getting the Pancake Flight - it's on my list!"

Snooze is THE CUTEST breakfast place I have ever seen. Very retro, with a friendly staff, killer coffee mugs (I even inquired about purchasing one but changed my mind at the $18 price tag) and pancakes done right. They were totally worth the 40 minute wait - especially since the wait comes with unlimited self-service at the coffee and water station.

For my flight - I got original (you know me), Chocolate Chip (you know me again) and Red Velvet. I loved the variety. Best. Idea. Ever. And so PRETTY! Next time, we'll be sure to order the Mimosas, too as we were seated at the bar and it sounds like they offer quite the variety in that arena, too.

Commuting.

This past week I was in Vegas for all of 15 hours. I flew in on Wednesday night where I met up with my nearest and dearest at Chicago for a few drinks - thank you to all who came out on a school night after 11 p.m. to visit with yours truly....Lord knows we're not all 22 anymore....it was lovely to see your faces.

Thursday morning, we packed up the Uhaul (thanks for your muscles, Ann...really took me back to shipment days at HotCats!) - had lunch and then Carl, Sienna and I hit the road. It was a father and daughter road trip across 3 states. Sienna didn't stop meowing the entire ride, poor thing. We stayed in Grand Junction that night and hit the road for the last leg of the trip Friday morning. Dad was smart enough to bring his iPod with his radio adapter along so we were riding along to hits from Joe Cocker, Elton John, Rod Stewart, ABBA and James Taylor. Thankfully, Vail Pass didn't fail me this time and we made it in 4 hours to Denver - just in time to sign my lease and get my keys!

Friday night Dad and I hit up Crossroads with the Wicklers where w shot a little pool, ate some food, shot some bucks and enjoyed a cold one or three. Saturday was rise and shine day for the big move. BIG shout-outs to my moving crew of the my dad, the Wicklers and good 'ol Michael Granquist - who had sworn he would never move me again after the whole two flights down, 200 yards over and three flights up move of '08 but as luck may have it, I followed him across states and he could not deny my plea. And bribe of Sexy Pizza and Beer.

We got done within 90 minutes. But my work is far from done. I was able to Gordon-proof the place last night so I go to pick up that guy tonight to finally reunite him with his big sister and walks in the park.

Plenty of posts to come over the next few weeks as I explore my new neighborhood. I started today by biking to work.

Goodbye hour long commute - hello 15 minute bike ride.

Discovering Denver: #2 Eat Girl Scout Cookies at My Brother's Bar

I got two marked off the Discovering Denver list yesterday.

The first one I share with you is my visit to My Brother's Bar.

Yesterday was not only opening day for the Rockies but it was also Denver's first absolutely beautiful day of the year. And it happened to be Friday. And it also happened to be my first pay day since January 1.

We decided to celebrate all of the above by meeting for Happy Hour at My Brother's Bar. It was a perfect day to sit on their vined-out patio, drink beer and eat Girl Scout Cookies.

Then again - what day isn't perfect for that combination?

Discovering Denver

When I first made the plan to move, I had a few things I needed to take care of:

1. Find a job. Check.

2. Find a killer apartment. Check.

Now that those items are can be marked off my "To-Do" list - I have created a new list. Westword (Denver's Weekly), came out with their Annual 'Best Of' List today and as I was purusing, I got out a pen and paper and I have made a new list -things to discover in Denver - to add to the other 100 things I need to do. A lot of them have to do with food - or alcohol - but a girl has her passions.

1. Attend 'Dance Your Brunch Off' at Beauty Bar Denver. Held Sundays 11 am - 5 pm, it features a Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar and a DJ. Need I say more?

2. Eat Girl Scout Cookies at My Brother's Bar - Denver's oldest bar also sells America's favorite cookies.

3. Get a Pankcake Flight at Snooze.

4. Attend the Horseshoe Craft and Flea Market when it re-opens in May.

5. Go to Interstate for Happy Hour and try the popcorn.

6. Take Gordie to the Comfy K9 Indoor Dog Park (reserved for a rainy day).

7. Drink beer at Freshcraft.

8. Eat Sticky Buns from Wooden Spoon Cafe and Bakery.

9. Camp. Anywhere and everywhere.

10. Shop @ Decade for all things gifting.

11. Visit Spuntino for their homemade popsicles in the summertime.

12. Get an RTD Eco Pass and take the bus more.

13. Go to Boulder's Farmer's Market (and maybe get #7 marked off the 100 list).

14. Go thrift store shopping at Rewind in Golden.

15. Have drinks at the Green Russell. Although - you may never know this happened since I won't be able to check-in. This speakeasy has rules - including no cell phones allowed.

16. B-Cycle around town, try to visit at least 10 different stations in one ride.

17. Get some stationary and/or cards from Wordshop.

18. Have wine and cheese at the Village Cork.

19. Go see the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls in a Derby.

20. Eat at Beatrice and Woodsley (I promise you, Flippin!).

21. Play skeeball at Ernie's Bar and Pizza.

22. Have afternoon tea at the Denver Tea Room.

23. Attend Showcase Showdown at Comedy Works.

24. Shop for a(nother) tutu at House of Arden.

25. Brunch at Jonesy's EatBar.

26. Go the Dazzle Jazz Club.

27. Shop at 5 Green Boxes for knickknacks ('cause I need more of those).

28. Drink at Bar Car.

29. Eat at Table 6.

30. Visit the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys.

31. Have a slice of pie from Bill's NY Pizza (although Sexy Pizza, you are my boyfriend).

32. Mini golf at Aqua Golf.

33. Shop at Talulah Jones for I don't know what yet but there's only one way to find out!

34. Go to a show at The Ogden.

Alright, Denver, I think that's a solid start. Let's do this.

(Downtown) Dreams Do Come True

My apologies, my babies, as I have been a little busy since my return from Vegas. I got back to Denver on Tuesday, applied for a few jobs, got a call on Wednesday for an interview on Thursday and had an offer by 6 p.m. Thursday night.

That's right. Katie Knoch is once again employed.

I am the PR Account Executive at Scream Agency. A smaller creative agency, 15-years-old, located right downtown (Wazee and 15th to be exact). I work with 3 women, all whom I believe will be some of my closest friends I make here. I've got a great list of clients to work with - including a Kimpton run hotel in Aspen and the Lodo's - the bar that throws the biggest St. Patrick's Day party in Denver - Keggs and Eggs.

This was day 4.

It was absolutely insane. We were there at 7:30 a.m. and this is what the place looked like - just mix that with the scent of beer and you'll be close to knowing what it was like.

I am loving every second of it though - I am so happy to be back in the daily grind. Not to mention that when I move in to my new place in two and a half weeks, I will be a short 2.8 mile bike ride to work.

I am living in Capitol Hill and working in Lodo - so I am here to tell you, babies, that sometimes when you choose happiness....it chooses you back.

Home Sweet Neon

I arrived in Vegas the night of Thursday, March 3 and as I walked down the tarmac, my eyes began to water and I cried over the pure happiness of being home.

It had been an incredibly tense week building up to my trip. My mom and I got a phone call on Friday, February 25th letting us know that my Grandma (aka Beppee) was not doing well. My mom asked, "Should we come now?" and the doctor told us, "Yes." So that night I packed my bags, trying to figure out how I was going to fit everything from a dress for a funeral to sweats to jackets to dresses for Vegas in two bags. But I did, and early Saturday morning I took off from Denver to Pittsburgh. We drove straight to the hospital Saturday afternoon, prepared to say our goodbyes. Luckily, she was coherent enough that she knew that we were there and shed a few tears over us being there with her. But come Sunday and Monday, she was drifting. Monday the hospice people came in and asked us if we told her it was OK to go, that sometimes that helps. We wanted her to be at peace so that is exactly what we did, we told her it was OK to go. And she went. 2 am Tuesday morning. After a viewing on Wednesday and a funeral on Thursday - I needed a trip home more than ever.

Hence the tears.

Thursday night I stayed the night at Lauren's since Pep stayed back to wrap things up in Pittsburgh. We had dinner and she made Mimosas with Blood Orange Juice (TO DIE FOR). We spent the evening catching up and since Payton lives with her now, too, it was a perfect instant hit of home that I needed. Friday brought a much needed trip to Globe Salon and time in the chair with my girl Megs followed by lunch with the old SK+G PR team at Sammy's Woodfired Pizza. Then I headed to Blue Martini to meet Diana for some Pomegranate Martinis over Happy Hour. Went home, spent some time with the family (and Miss Sienna Miller who wouldn't speak to me until Saturday) - then headed back out to meet my girls for dinner at Macayo's before we headed downtown for First Friday festivities. Walking into Mama's was like coming home. I had missed that place SO. And don't even get me started on the smile on my face the entire time at The Get Back. I was outside in a tee-shirt, jeans and a pair of Tom's with a drink in my hand, a dance in my feet and friends all around. Maybe that is why I didn't get home until 4 a.m.

Saturday was lunch and a movie with my parents before meeting Lauren, Scott, Kid Sister and Payton for dinner at Firefly. Holy sweet sangria reunion. It was totally worth the hour wait. We then headed back downtown to catch Del tha Funkee Homosapien. We stopped for drinks first at the Griffin to then find out that the show (at Beauty Bar) was sold out. Hearts were broken. Then a friend of a friend said they could get us in with Del. We just had to meet in the back alley behind the Beauty's trailer park and he would walk us in. We figured it was worth a shot but that shot ended up being watching Del sit in the car "prepping" for the show for an hour before Megs and I decided just to head over to the Griffin and finish the night off there.

Sunday and Monday involved more eating, spending time with the family, catching up with friends (glad we got to squeeze in that happy hour, X!), meeting baby bumps with the Bordinhaos and a very special introduction to Mr. Maximus Alexander - son of Renee and Jay Losey. He is absolutely adorable and was such a gentleman the whole visit. Congrats you guys!

I got back to Denver early yesterday morning, and figure that I will be spending the rest of the week trying to catch up on the lack of sleep I had in Vegas.

Thank you, Vegas, for reminding me that although it was time to go, why you will always be my home sweet neon.

Idling

As of today, I have officially lived in Colorado for seven weeks. I've become nice and settled in at the Wicklers, spent lots of quality time with my cousins, hunted some bucks in Morrison, dined in Golden, visited the Granquists in Evergreen, took to the slopes at Winter Park, threw one helluva Superbowl party, ate at Sexy Pizza, shoveled a deck, visited the Beauty Bar, looked at apartments in Capitol Hill, took Gordon on a muddy walk, revisited 1999 while seeing the Get Up Kids where I found out mosh pits still exist, spent a few happy hours at Tavern Uptown, saw George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic with old SK+G friends, played more than a few games of Cranium and have had a few bottles of wine in between.

It's good. I am happy. I know that moving here was the best thing I could have done for myself at 27 because although it feels like I am idling here now as I wait to land that dream job, I was really idling in Vegas.

But homesickness has finally started to set in. I cried for Vegas for the first time this week. It was during a drive home up 285, I had spent the afternoon at Linhart PR's Inside Scoop, met a new friend in Boulder for drinks and stopped to pick up Girl Scout Cookies from Hailey. And all of a sudden, it hit me. I missed home.

I think the shine of being out of work has warn off. I was the girl who was always going 90 miles a minute in Vegas. If you wanted to grab lunch, we had to plan it for two weeks in advance. I was always taking on too much at once and I longed for days where I would just lay around all day catching up with the Kardashians. Now, those days are called Mondays.

I am ready to work. Come to find out, early retirement is not for me. I'm hungry to write some releases, pitch some stories and tweet for someone other than myself. I am ready to get up every morning early enough to catch the Matt and Meredith portion of the Today Show instead of Kathy Lee and Hoda (although I have been enjoying that wacky pair). I want to put on make-up and dress pants and walk in to an office. I want to find that company I want to give another five years (plus) of my life to. I want to make friends over after work drinks.

But until that phone call comes, it'll be champagne Mondays, episodes of Ellen and days with the dogs between sending out applications and cover letters.

Oh, and a trip home.

Vegas, I'll be there March 2 - 8. I cannot wait to reunite with your people, your lights and your restaurants.

See you soon.

Game Face 2011

When I first arrived to live with The Wicklers, I told them that we should throw a Super Bowl Party. And by throw a Super Bowl Party, I meant have us, and Michael, watch the game while eating lots of snacks and maybe even incorporating a few drinking games in to the event. This, of course, was also just an excuse to wear my giant Giants jersey and draw lines on my face.

So as Game Day greeted us with another snow day, Linz and I headed across the mountain to pick up Michael and some necessary supplies. Josh was in charge of snacks and beer. We were in charge of face paint. And as expected, that ended up being the highlight of the party, as the photos show.

Josh and myself had an intense bet riding on the outcome of the game and I now owe him $3.50. The drinking games consisted of having to finish your beer if the enemy scored a touchdown, one drink for car commercials (a lot of those), two drinks for beer commercials. Guess what the commercial is about before given away, you get to order a friend to take x amount of drinks. As you can imagine, the face painting continued to get a little more creative throughout the game/night. My personal favorite ended up being Josh in the mouse ears.

The official after party consisted of more game playing with Smart Ass and Cranium on the table. And, of course, some friendly competition.

We're still enjoying the memories of Sunday as the paint was not as "washable" as the box claimed it to be so I got to go to the gym yesterday with a faint pink heart on my cheek.

The party was so much fun, we have decided to make GAME FACE a tradition. Although I can imagine that another face painting party is just around the corner....

Any design suggestions?

>

What Saturdays Look Like Now

Have you guys seen my new backyard?

For the past few weeks, Cousin Andy and I have been planning on going up to ski/ride. But now that I actually get to PICK AND CHOOSE my days - I shoot for ideal (aka spring-like) conditions. The first weekend I was sick so that was a no-go, the second weekend was cold and windy so that was a definite no-go but this weekend....38 and sunny. Sign me up. We're going riding, kids.

I met eager-beaver Andy at 7 a.m. in Evergreen so we could ride together up to Winter Park. He was a peach (as always) and had picked up Einstein bagels and coffee for us and we then took one of the prettiest drives of my life up the mountain.

Come to find out, Winter Park is a little more skier friendly than it is snowboarder. Andy made the switch back to skiing last Winter and his friend had done the same, and I realize that it's easy to forget how difficult it is to go DIAGONAL across a mountain on a board rather than with skis and poles. I'd been considering making the switch myself as I skied from age 3-18 before making the trendy switch to a board and have never been as strong on a board as I was on a pair of skis. I was a mogul maniac back in the day. Now, I won't go near those things with a 10 foot pole (or board). I figure sometime this season, I'll get back on a pair of skis to see how it goes.

But I digress, after sharing my feelings of frustration with Andy, we made a few changes in our trails and I ended up having a fantastic day of riding. The sun was shining, I only ate it twice getting off the lifts, and according to Andy's watch calculations, we got over 9 miles taken care of that day. Not to mention the breathtaking views. Winter Park gets you above tree-line, providing magnificent views like this...

A little Kanye in my ears, a little Katie on a board, and a whole 'lotta mountain made for one hell of a Saturday morning.

What Mondays Look Like Now

So I am on the job hunt, I really am. But there is only so much a girl can do. So, the rest is left to entertainment.

I got a few really great going away gifts before I left Vegas. One was an oven-mit/ice scrapper hybrid from Xazmin, along with a bottle of Kate Spade perfume that is appropriately named Sparkle and reads "She had a cocktail in her hand and confetti in her hair." Another was a FABULOUS gold sparkle iPhone case from Arlene that screams a rich combination of Katie + Vegas, and one that I get compliments (really more like a "wow, that's fancy?") on all the time.

But, no gift could top what my PY, Audrey, gave to me. Along with a heartfelt note that ended with "Runaway as fast as you can....." came a tutu and ballerina slippers. If you know me, with my love of Kanye West and my belief in the ballerina comeback....you know that this gift was perfection.

Linzi happens to not have class on Mondays. So, this is what last Monday looked like...

Enjoying champagne cocktails in a tutu with pearls with a B.F.F. by my side, I am here to tell you, kids....dreams do come true.

About the Great Kate Escape and "How It's Going So Far"

Greetings from CO! And my sincerest apologies for dropping off the blogosphere the past few weeks. I had to give myself a minute to get two feet on the ground (although not quite there yet), gather my words, and promise myself not to cry as I recapped the Great Kate Escape.

First off, thank you to everyone who came out to bid me farewell. It meant the world to me to be able to pop that bottle of bubbly (thanks, Mama's!) with all of your smiling faces there, eager to share with me in the bittersweet celebration of my move to Denver. We had a meal with the soon-to-be mama's (Renee and Arlene) at Firefly before heading to Don't Tell Mama where we spent more than a few hours listening to Spadoni, Dre and even a special appearance by Bianca, singing our favorite tunes. Around, oh I don't know, 3? - we headed to the Griffin for a late-night dance party in the back. It was a fabulous way to kick off 2011.

The week following the Great Kate Escape was my last in Vegas and mostly focused on wrapping up things at SK+G and squeezing in as much time as possible with my nearest and dearest. My last day at SK+G was the first time that me leaving actually hit me. I had packed up all of my stuff, set my out of office to something along the lines of "I no longer work here" and was heading out to my farewell Happy Hour with the crew. Just as Ellen was walking up to my cube to walk out with me, I felt my eyes fill up. I had done so much growing at that agency. I still remember my first day like it was yesterday. Pulling up, fresh-faced at 22, ready for the challenge of my first job in my career. Meeting Stacy and Arlene, and the snack cabinet. Bagel Mondays, weekly staff meetings, lunch at Sammy's followed by Yogurtland, lounges, press releases, new business meetings, lunch and learns and most importantly, the people - so much to miss about SK+G.

I got a special visit my last week in town from Chloe, who was on the westcoast to visit her boyfriend, Patrick and the two of them came out to Vegas for a night of sharing hummus at Paymon's and champagne at Arlene's. Always good to see Chloe and extra good to see her so happy in her new relationship.

My last night in Vegas happened to be the First Friday of January and I had flown Mrs. Wickler in to Vegas in order to do the drive to CO with me - which only meant one thing, we were headed downtown. But not before I got to squeeze in one last trip to my new favorite restaurant, Crab Corner. Let me ask you something...are you from Maryland? Do you now live in Vegas? Do you love seafood, more specifically, blue crabs? Then drop what you are doing and head to Crab Corner on Eastern and Flamingo right now. This place is owned by two brothers, who I actually played kickball with, but that's another story all in itself, and offers fresh blue crabs at a reasonable price. Place opened in December and I couldn't believe the timing - ate there six times in six weeks to make up for it but they promised that whenever I got a craving, they'd be happy to ship some off to DIA for me. So it was Crab Corner with Pep and Sam and a few of my besties, followed by the Griffin, ending with a nightcap at Don't Tell Mama after a few run-ins on Fremont East. I got to say goodbye to a few faces I hadn't had the chance to at the Great Kate Escape and left Vegas feeling - ready. Sad, but ready.

We stayed out later than we should have but still got up to rock-n-roll around 8:30. Spent some time with Pep in the morning, knowing that she would be the hardest to leave. I am so lucky to be so close with my mother, but it made the decision to move ten times more difficult. Linz and I got everything squeezed in the car - all the necessities as you can see from the photo below - the LOST board game, a tutu and Beggin' Strips - and hit the road around 11.

The whole move started to feel a little cursed starting with me getting a speeding ticket an hour outside of Vegas. I was going 89 in a 75 and got a $250 ticket - even with my sob story about how I just quit my job and was taking a chance by moving to Denver - but it was on an Indian reservation so it doesn't get reported to the DMV or my insurance and I have until March 11 to take care of it. The first 1/2 of the drive went super smoothly, I didn't have to ask Linz to drive until the snow started really coming down right before we got in to Grand Junction for the night. We ordered pizza in, popped a bottle of wine and watched SNL to get up early for part two of the drive the next day.

The morning greeted us right and white where Sir Gordon really got his first taste of snow. Which has become his new best friend over the past three weeks. This doodle was meant to be in the snow - he digs in it, rolls around in it, eats it (not the yellow, Gord!) and looks like he belongs in it. Don't you agree?

The second part of the drive didn't go quite as smoothly as we hit some pretty awful weather and ski traffic through Vail Pass and then again about 20 miles from the house. But long story short, we made it! I am here and happy. The first week was a little weird - it didn't feel like everything was sinking in the way I expected it to. I think I expected to have this big break down about leaving the city where I had lived and loved for the last 20 years and even now, on week 3, I still haven't had that happen. Don't get me wrong, I have certainly shed a few tears here and there because I miss my people but I think ultimately, I was just really ready for this change.

I'm living in Pine with the Wicklers while I look for job and get settled. Pine is about 45 outside of Denver so I make the trip a couple of times a week to get acquainted with the city. I've spent some time with my family who is here. Andy and his girlfriend, Angela, and I get together a few times a week and I'm making a new tradition of spending a night of tv and food-in at cousins' Tracy and Devin's house where time is spent with little 6-year-old Hailey who read me a bedtime story last time I was over and just melted my heart. The other days and nights are spent with Linz and Josh who have just been so kind to open their house and hearts to me. We go to Morrison to have drinks with Michael and hunt some bucks. And this weekend, I am heading to snowboard at Copper on Saturday with Andy and going ice skating with the Granquists on Sunday. The job hunt is going pretty well. I've applied for a few positions - two at an agency that I totally have a crush on - and I even have my eye on an apartment in Capitol Hill that opens up March 7.

It's certainly been a bit of an adjustment, but I am excited for what lies ahead. Just getting used to having this as my view instead of the neon lights. It is quite breathtaking though, don't you think?