As galleries and cooperatives found themselves increasingly priced out of Denver in recent years, they started scouting for other options, and often found themselves settling in Lakewood, a town that welcomed them with open arms...and occasionally an open pocketbook. That's the result of the 40 West Arts District, a state-certified creative district along Colfax Avenue that's been working hard to promote the strip as a vibrant cultural and economic destination, full of creative shops, studios and galleries that add up to a helluva party on First Friday. Soon to join the lineup: the Colfax Museum, which had to move from its home on East Colfax when that building was sold and now, nine months later, is almost ready to debut in its new home on West Colfax. Go west, young artist.
Readers' Choice: Art District on Santa Fe