Editor’s note: This is the first of a three part series.

So you are in the Mile High City and the FBI is kicking down doors from LoHo to SoBo and hauling guys named Mohammed off to jail. The War on Terror is back and since you aren’t Jack Bauer you want to do something fun in the next 24 hours before the Terrorist Alert Level goes to Red and martial law is declared.

You are in luck. While it has been 20 years since it was the setting for melodramatic slap-fest Dynasty, Denver still has plenty of fun, entertainment and boozy shennigans to offer. Time to call that trouble making neighbor Tom Foolery and hit the streets.

1) Drink. Named by Men’s Health in 2007 (and 2004) as the Most Drunken City in America, Denver also has more microbreweries per capita than anyplace else in America. Just off the top of my head there is The Breckenridge, The Flying Dog, The Rock Bottom Brewery and The Wynkoop (Mayor Hickenlooper’s old joint). The Coors brewery is also up the road in nearby Golden and has a brewery tour with the usual sampling at the end if that’s your bag.

If fresh-brewed ales aren’t your thing there are plenty of other bars to wet your whistle at, and when I say plenty I mean an absurd amount. We didn’t get the title of Drunkest City in America by accident. Some notable stand-outs are My Brother’s Bar (former hangout of Jack Kerouac), the Cruise Room Martini Bar (modeled after the bar on the Queen Mary) and my personal favorite, SOBO 151. A bit outside of downtown on South Broadway it is a Czech bar with a remarkably good kitchen and assortment of imported Czech Republic brews.

2) Eat. Denver is a big foodie town. For the tourists there is the Buckhorn Exchange with 500 stuffed animals on the wall and Casa Bonita from South Park (yes, it is real), but those don’t reflect the current scene. There are top notch outfits in town with guys showing up on the Food Network and everything. Sushi is huge despite being 1,000 miles from the ocean and Sushi Den is probably the reigning champ. There is also a strong hippy flavor and many vegetarian outlets. Mercury Cafe is one everybody goes to since they have poetry slams, dancing and other stuff along with surprisingly tasty veggie options. There’s also plenty of Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese (the best are out on Federal Boulevard), German, Italian… you know what? If you want it, we have it.

3) Bike rides. Denver has a ridiculous number of bike trails, almost rivaling the number of gin joints. There are over 850 miles extending across the metro area, though everybody seems to stick to the Cherry Creek trail, clogging up my daily ride into work. These are paved and off the main roads so you can enjoy a leisurely ride without taking your life into your hands. Just stay out of the left side unless you are one of the Lance Armstrong wanna-bes who brake for nothing.

After a successful bike-share program during the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the city planned to make it permanent. Unfortunately that plan came to a screeching halt along with the economy. Not to worry though, there are plenty of places you can rent wheels while you are in town with the Cherry Creek Bike Rack, Confluence Kayak and most of the other bike shops in town offering deals. On Wednesdays during the summer, the Denver Cruisers hold a costumed bike and booze around town for those who prefer a more social ride.

– Editor’s note: Robert Mohl was not involved in any terror plot (as far as we know).