This week, I thought I’d do something a little different and highlight one of my personal favorite hangouts, the Stanley Marketplace in northern Aurora. It’s big and full of bustling shops and restaurants, and there’s a lot you can miss if you don’t know where to look. So here’s the scoop:

✈️ A Little History: Located just down the road from the old Stapleton Airport, Stanley Marketplace used to be an ejector seat factory. If you look around, you’ll see tributes to the building's former life in decór and architecture.

🛍️ Shop ’Til You Drop: You’ll find more than enough locally owned clothing boutiques and home-design stores to choose from. But my favorite shop is one of its more recent additions, the Tattered Cover Kids store.

🤤 ALL The Good Food: Perhaps my favorite part about the Stanley is the 30+ food and beverage vendors, including esteemed local favorites like Denver Biscuit Co., Maria Empanada, Rolling Smoke BBQ, Sweet Cow, and the James Beard Award-winning Annette.

🤸 🥊 💇 Stay Busy: Something I find unique to the Stanley Marketplace compared to other shopping destinations is the array of classes and servicesavailable. From kickboxing and pilates to a hair salon and fashion school, there’s always something to do there — enough to make a trip to the Stanley a full day’s excursion!

🗣️ What's a day in YOUR neighborhood look like? We’d love to share it in next week’s “Explore Like A Local” segment. Write in to [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 720-500-5418.