Nivale Lightfoot

In our house, Sundays are sacred—not in the hushed, slow-moving way you might imagine, but in a joyful, fresh air, community-filled way that defines life with three active kids in West Wash Park.

We start in the kitchen, still in pajamas, with music humming in the background. Our favorite breakfast is French toast made with the fluffy loaves from Leven Supply. Our children handle most of the cooking themselves—cracking eggs, whisking, and flipping. They’ve even perfected a frothy latte on the espresso machine.

Into the Neighborhood

We’re out the door shortly after, heading for a family lap around Washington Park with parents and puppy on foot and the kids on bikes. Some Sundays mean a stop at the south playground to toss a football; other times, we head to the north side—lovingly known as “Quinn’s Playground.” Some dear friends partnered with the city to design this play area in memory of their son, Quinn, and it’s a place layered with meaning for our family.

By midday, we make our way to Gaylord Street for lunch at The Cookery at Myrtle Hill, or head to South Pearl for coffee at our favorite hole-in-the-wall spot, Hoja. If the kids are feeling extra spunky, we’ll scoot over to Tokyo Premium Bakery for a treat.

Afternoons entail a mix of exercise and socializing. My husband and I swap workout time while our kids bounce in a neighborhood pack on the trampoline. In the spring, gardening is especially enticing: Flowers are in bloom, and baby lettuces are ready for harvest. My husband might take the Cherry Creek Bike Path down to the reservoir for laps on his road bike, while I meet friends at the Wash Park tennis courts or pop into Luxe Lagree for a class.

Balmy spring Sundays bring something extra special: the “front-lawn sesh”—an impromptu, BYO-beverage block gathering where folding chairs appear as if by magic. Dogs weave between yards, and kids migrate in packs. Our homes and yards may be small, but that just means we pack in tighter—more laughter, more stories, and more connection.

Most Sundays, we cook dinner at home and squeeze in a little meal prep for the week ahead. If we venture out instead, we keep it walkable; BurnDown and Pho Haus are favorites. By the time we walk home, we’re ready to wind down. We’ve moved our bodies, eaten well, and leaned into the sweet rhythm of our neighborhood. In West Wash Park, for our family, that’s a perfect Sunday.

Nivale Lightfoot and her husband Andrew have lived in Denver for 10 years. She runs operations for natural skincare brand Linne Botanicals, is a classically trained chef and nutritionist, and is on the board of BoxBox—a new restaurant concept.