Howdy Amigo!
Your questions can be resolved pretty quickly and easily. The first, you can carry darn near everywhere. You cannot carry in government buildings such as city hall, court houses, etc. Government property that prohibit carry of firearms will tend to be posted, or have permanent metal detectors in place for the purpose of detecting firearms.
Outside of that, you can carry just about anywhere in the state of Colorado with the exception of the insurrectionist locations of Denver city and county. Their insurrection is against the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Colorado. Just don't open carry in City and County of Denver, and you should be okay.
Second question is that it is illegal to carry on any property where you've been asked to leave. If asked to leave, do not argue or debate. Just simply leave. Otherwise, any delay can be used as a charge of trespass. However, that doesn't come up much around these parts, especially in Colorado Springs. Any business prohibiting OC outright must post signage to that affect at all entrances to their facility. If there ain't no such sign, you're good to go. Otherwise, don't even worry about it, as it is so incredibly rare.
Finally, I also carry a 1911. I carry locked and cocked. That being said, I've been asked by other citizens a few times "Do you know your hammer is back?" To which I answer "Yes. I certainly do!" Then I go on to explain that my pistol has a whole bunch of safety features to keep it from firing until I am ready to shoot. I show them how the holster covers the trigger so nothing can trip it. I show them that the pistol cannot be fired unless the grip safety is depressed by grasping the handle. I show them the primary safety engaged, and how it won't allow the slide to move or the weapon to be fired. Then I go on to explain the most important safety I have on the weapon: My own responsible condcut as an open carrier. The quality training I've taken to ensure safe conduct of my pistol, the many hours of practice I've invested on the range to be proficient, and the significant investment I have made in quality guns and holsters to ensure safety for myself and others around me. Once they see that I've not only thought things through, but acted in accord with some pretty high ideals, they relax and accept that I probably know what I'm doing. I like to close with saying "The cocked hammer is not nearly so threatening as the careless finger."
As to meeting up, visit the Springs regularly. Perhaps I can come down and meet up with you to help you through those first OC jitters you've described and show you some things around these parts that you might find interesting! I'm free for the time being, until I get a couple of new cases I've been expecting. Just drop me a line and I'd be happy to drop down and go OC'ing with you. Today would be good, and possibly tomorrow unless those cases come in, in which event I'd be headed toward Mesa County darn near immediately to effect a bit of legal business upon a defendant.
In the time it took to write this, a couple of other folks jumped in there, so if some of this is repetitious, my apology. I'd be that guy from Aurora who enjoys helping newcomers get over their jitters, and I've done so for a number of other folks. I'd be delighted to meet up with you and show you around.
Blessings,
M-Taliesin