Cindy Parsons, regional vice president of public relations for Comcast, will serve as the 2015 chair of Visit Denver, the Convention and Visitors Bureau. She replaces Joe Ellis, president and CEO of the Denver Broncos, who served as 2014 chair. Parsons has long been active in Denver communications and public relations and has served on the Visit Denver Board since 2009.

In her current position, Parsons is responsible for Comcast’s external affairs, including media relations, communications, community outreach and Comcast Foundation programs across the region. Prior to that, she led communications for Comcast’s West Division, developing media relations strategies and tactics for product roll-outs and community outreach. Prior to Comcast, she held a variety of public relations and community investment roles for AT&T Wireless in the western part of the U.S.

“I look forward to continuing the legacy of strong, committed leadership at the Bureau and following up on the record-breaking years that Denver’s tourism industry has enjoyed since 2005,” Parsons said. She noted that since 2005, Denver’s tourism has increased 48 percent, versus national tourism which increased only 15 percent over the same time period. “Denver had its strongest convention year ever in 2014, and we will be working on many cooperative marketing programs with the City and our members throughout the year to continue to grow tourism to Denver.”

Special emphasis in 2015 will be on following up on 2014’s feasibility study, which recommended improvements for the National Western Stock Show facilities and the Colorado Convention Center, and on continuing to work with Denver International Airport and others to increase international tourism and nonstop flights to Denver.

Joining Parsons on the Bureau Board’s 2014 executive committee as chair-elect is Navin C. Dimond, president and CEO of Stonebridge Companies; as secretary is Bruce A. James, shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and as treasurer is Dan Scherer, general manager, Outfront Media.

Parsons attended the University of Northern Colorado and Metro State University of Denver and serves on the Downtown Denver Partnership – Denver Civic Ventures, Inc. Board, Metro State University Foundation Board, Children’s Hospital Colorado Development Committee and is the past chair of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Board.

Three new members have joined the 39-member Board of Directors of VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Joining the Board for the first time are: Shannon Block, president and CEO of the Denver Zoological Foundation; Christopher Kozina, president of Coors Distributing Company and Timothy Wolfe, area managing director with Pyramid Hotel Group.

Visit Denver’s downtown visitor information center at the corner of 16th and California Streets closed last week and will and re-open across the street at 1575 California St. as a new state-of-the-art, high tech, 21st Century visitor center in January 2015. The center helps more than 100,000 visitors a year with personalized information about what to see and do in the city, and provides visitors guides, maps and brochures.

“You can’t make a Denver omelet without cracking a few eggs, and so to move into our new high tech visitor information center, we needed to close down the current one for a few weeks,” said Richard Scharf, president & CEO of Visit Denver. The tourism agency will continue to answer through 1-800-2DENVER, online at www.visitdenver.com and mail inquiries, and still operates the visitor information center in the main terminal at Denver International Airport.

The new center, Scharf explained, will be a state-of-the-art facility with videos, touch screens and computers – along with the center’s expert staff – to provide information on Denver’s arts, dining, nightlife, events and Colorado excursions. On-demand printers in the center will reduce the amount of paper used, while increasing the amount of information given out – and the ease with which to find it.

“We see tremendous use of our information centers from international visitors because they are more conditioned to seek out visitor centers and get personal help and directions,” Scharf said.  About 30 percent of the people who use the downtown center are from other countries. Visit Denver  prints visitor brochures to Denver in nine languages.

Visit Denver also produces the comprehensive Official Visitors Guide to Denver & Colorado, which is filled with maps and touring suggestions. The information center distributes maps and brochures from their 1,200 partners and has a Denver-centric gift shop. A team of 12 staff and volunteers work at the visitor information centers, offering help and suggestions on what to see and do.

“Studies have shown that visitors who stop at an information center usually stay longer in the city, and spend more money, so information centers are an important part of Denver’s $4 billion travel industry,” Scharf said.

Denver is coming off of its best year ever for conventions in 2014, and building on a record year in 2013 that saw 14 million overnight visitors.

“The new center is on the principle route that convention delegates take between the Colorado Convention Center and their hotels, and is just off the city’s number one tourism attraction, the 16th Street Mall, so we get a lot of foot traffic from out-of-towners,” Scharf said. But, he is inviting residents to come down and see the new center in January 2015. “Denver has so much going on right now, that residents should come down and be a tourist in their own town and check out how much information is available and how much there is to see and do right here.”

The City of Denver could become one big farmer’s market after the City Council recently approved a law that allows Denver residents to sell from their homes fresh produce they have grown themselves and cottage foods such as jams and honey they have made in their home kitchens.

“Denver has always been known as a city that appreciates ‘farm-to-table’ and using fresh produce and locally sourced foods, but this new law creates a whole new level of urban farming that will allow the city to become one big farmer’s market,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver.

Under the new law, which takes effect today (Friday), Denver residents will have to purchase a permit, but then will be able to sell from their home raw and uncut fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs that were grown by the seller either on site or in a community garden.

They will also be able to sell whole eggs produced by chickens or ducks kept by the seller at home, or “cottage foods,” which are low-risk, unrefrigerated food products made on-site such as spices, teas, honey, jams and certain baked goods. People can sell from inside or outside their home from 8 a.m. to dusk and can sell up to $5,000 of goods a year.

“Denver has become a leader in urban farming,” Scharf said, noting that two years ago the Colorado Convention Center opened the Blue Bear Farm on the grounds of the Convention Center and is now growing 5,000 pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables and spices used in the convention center’s kitchens.  “Many city restaurants have already put in their own gardens and farms, and now they will be able to buy vegetables, eggs, jams, and fruits grown right in the neighborhood.”

For more information, including how to secure a permit, a list of permissible cottage foods and tips for your home garden, visit www.denvergov.org/homebusiness. The sale of marijuana or marijuana-infused products is not allowed.

Additional resources are also available at the Colorado State University Denver Extension Office, which provides resources on soil testing as well as classes on urban farming, cottage foods and food safety. Visit www.denverext.colostate.edu for more information.

For more activities in Denver go to www.visitdenver.com.

Denver set new tourism records in 2013 with visitor spending increasing 12 percent over 2012 to top $4 billion for the first time ever.  The numbers are according to the Longwoods International annual visitor profile study, a report commissioned by Visit Denver, The Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Denver also saw a record number of overnight visitors in 2013, with 14 million vacationers and business travelers coming to the city, up 3 percent over 2012.   The increase came mainly from “marketable” leisure travelers.  These are defined as people who could travel to any destination, but specifically chose to visit Denver.  Marketable visitors increased 13 percent in 2013 to a record high of 5.5 million visitors.

Marketable visitors spend an average of $113 a day, versus vacationers visiting friends and relatives, who spend $68 a day.  Business travelers spend the most at $126 a day.

“It’s exciting to see that our marketing efforts are working and we are continuing to drive new lucrative ‘marketable’ visitors to Denver,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver. “Tourism and conventions don’t just happen. The Longwoods study allows us to see that since 2005 when voters approved more marketing dollars for Denver, we have seen a 48 percent increase in the number of leisure visitors coming to our city.”

According to the report:

* Denver welcomed a record 14 million overnight visitors in 2013, up 3 percent over 2012.

* The number of people visiting friends and relatives in Denver in 2013 dropped 2 percent from 2012, mirroring a national trend that saw a 3 percent drop in people visiting friends and relatives throughout the U.S.  The number of people coming to Denver for conventions and business travel in 2013 was flat with 2012; nationally, business travel was down 11 percent in the U.S. in 2013 versus  2012.  Marketable visitors to Denver increased 13 percent in 2013 to a record high of 5.5 million visitors, versus a 9 percent increase nationally.

* Overnight visitors spent a record $4 billion in 2013, 12 percent more than 2013, with $3.16 billion spent by leisure visitors (up 14 percent over 2012) and $845 million spent by business travelers (up 4 percent over 2012).

* All five of the major business sectors connected to travel and tourism saw an increase in spending in 2013.  Denver visitors spent more than $1.1 billion in Denver hotels and other lodging establishments, and $796 million on food and beverages.

* Expenditures by visitors on gas, car rentals and other local transportation purchases topped $1.1 billion.  Purchases at retail stores was $549 million, while  vacationers and business travelers spent $373 million on the city’s paid attractions and other recreational and sightseeing activities.

* On average, the biggest spenders are business travelers, who spent $368 per trip; followed by marketable leisure visitors who spent $293 per trip, then followed by people visiting friends and relatives, who spent $249.

* Vacationers spent an average of 3.2 nights in the city, down from 3.4 nights in 2012.  Business travelers stayed 3.8 nights, about the same as in recent years.

* Just under three in 10 leisure travelers were first-time visitors to Denver, about the same as last year.  Marketable visitors were more likely to be first-timers.

* Colorado saw a 5 percent increase in visitors in 2013, attracting a record 27.1 million vacationers.

* Denver’s image (what visitors thought of the city) improved greatly in 2013. Just over seven in 10 visitors agreed strongly that Denver is a place they would “really enjoy visiting again”.

* Denver’s image in 2013 scored higher than in 2012 for ease of getting around, nightlife and entertainment scene, the sense of excitement, offering famous landmarks, the arts scene (including theater, galleries and museums) and offering interesting festivals and events.

The top states sending vacationers to Denver in 2013, apart from Colorado itself, were:

• California
• Texas
• Illinois
• Nebraska
• Florida
• New Mexico
• Kansas
• Minnesota
• Arizona
• Wyoming
• Maryland
• New York

The top cities from outside of Colorado sending leisure visitors to Denver in 2013 were:

• Los Angeles
• Chicago
• Albuquerque-Santa Fe
• Houston
• San Diego
• Phoenix
• Dallas-Ft. Worth
• Minneapolis-St. Paul
• New York

Shopping and entertainment were popular tourist activities in Denver in 2013. The top 10 shopping and entertainment centers were (in order):

* 16th Street Mall

* Lower Downtown Historic District

* Cherry Creek Shopping Center/Cherry Creek North

* Outlets at Castle Rock

* Denver Pavilions

* Park Meadows Retail Resort

* Larimer Square

* FlatIron Crossing Mall

* Shops at Tabor Center

* Belmar

The top 15 paid and free attractions in Denver were (in order):

* Denver Zoo

* Colorado State Capitol

* Coors Brewery

* Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre

* Denver Botanic Gardens

* Denver Art Museum

* Denver Museum of Nature & Science

* Colorado Rockies

* Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park

* Downtown Aquarium

* U.S. Mint

* Buffalo Bill’s Museum & Grave

* Colorado Railroad Museum

* Butterfly Pavilion

* Denver Broncos

Denver’s reputation for the thinnest residents in the nation may go on hold for seven days, when more than 300 of the city’s top eateries offer an astonishing array of steaks, fish, pasta, sushi, desserts, drinks, and more for Denver Restaurant Week.

Organized by Visit Denver, the 10^th annual Denver Restaurant Week will run from Feb. 22-28.  During DRW, some 313 participating restaurants will offer multi-course dinners for the fixed price of $30 per person, tax and tip not included.

“The fun of restaurant week is to grab some friends, go to the website, and go out on the town,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver. “You’ll get a great deal and a bill that is very easy to split.”

Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock wore chef’s “whites” and joined 50 of the participating chefs at a kick-off event, stating, “Denver Restaurant Week is a gift from restaurants to their most loyal patrons, the people who live, work and play in Denver.  In great cities, the chefs are as popular as the sports heroes, and we encourage everyone in the city to get out this week and be a restaurant fan,” he said.

DRW was created by Visit Denver in 2005 to elevate Denver’s dining reputation both locally and nationally.

Here are some tips to make Denver Restaurant Week be your best experience. Speakers at the press event stressed proper etiquette for DRW including:

• Never make more than one reservation for each night;
• If you cannot honor your reservation, cancel as soon as possible;
• Remember to tip your server on what the meal would cost without the Restaurant Week discount;
• Consider getting a bottle of wine with dinner (under Colorado law, you can take any unfinished wine with you.

All year long, but particularly during DRW, restaurants and diners alike are encouraged to use the new #denverYUM hashtag when posting photos of delicious food on all social media platforms, including Instagram.

Denver Restaurant Week is not possible without the support of sponsors including: Lexus, Alamos Winery, Edna Valley Vineyard, Mirassou Winery, Louis M. Martini Winery, William Hill Winery, US Foods, Frontier Airlines Johnson & Wales University, Open Table, the Colorado Restaurant Association and the Downtown Denver Partnership Business Improvement District. Media partners include Westword/Westword.com, 5280 The Denver Magazine, the Denver Post and Comcast.

For more information, visit: www.DenverRestaurantWeek.com, or www.EatDrinkDenver.com.

Pre-Super Bowl jitters can be the worst. Spending a long morning and afternoon of building excitement on Sunday, just waiting for the 4:30 p.m. (MST) kickoff, can be stressful.

So here are 10 exciting ways to burn off the tension, and have a great pre-kickoff day in The Mile High City.

1. Wear a Broncos Super Fan costume. Wear something orange and enjoy free admission to the History Colorado Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.  At the museum, you can take your picture in front of the huge bison statue (who just happens to be wearing a Peyton Manning jersey) or try on a Barrel Man replica barrel in the Denver A to Z exhibit.  There is a fun case of Orange Crush cans, as well as three floors of exhibits exploring Colorado Stories, Destination Colorado and the Living West.
2. Climb the stairs at Red Rocks. There are 69 rows of benches at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, all located 6,400 feet above sea level.  Climbing the benches is a traditional Rocky Mountain workout, and great tension reliever.  Or hike the 1.4-mile long Trading Post Trail that winds among the rocks offering excellent views.
3. Do the Zoo. Denver Zoo is offering half off admission prices  fans wearing orange or their favorite Bronco-wear every day through Saturday. And game day, Feb. 2 is a pre-scheduled free day. Be sure to visit the orangutans. With their naturally orange color, they just might be the biggest Bronco fans in the city.
4. Ride an Orange Denver B-Cycle. There are more than 800 bikes at approximately 83 stations throughout the city. Look for the two bright orange Broncos bikes, or pick up any of the bright red shiny Trek bikes and pedal off around Washington Park. And, on Super Bowl Sunday, enter promo code 214 for a $3 discount for the 24-hour pass (normally $8).
5. Contemplate the Orange and Blue works of Clyfford Still. On Super Bowl Sunday, buy one admission and get one free at the Clyfford Still Museum with the special code, “Broncos.” And when the Broncos win the Super Bowl, the museum will offer free admission on Feb. 3.
6. Stroll or Bike the Mall. Denver’s mile-long 16th Street Mall is lined with 43 outdoor cafes. Designed by I.M. Pei, it is the prime people watching spot in the city – and on Sundays only, it’s permissible to ride your bike down the Mall.
7. Jog the Mile High Loop Trail in City Park. This 5k trail follows the 5,280 foot contour through City Park; many places along the trail are marked as being exactly one mile high.  The trail also offers some of the finest views of the city with the mountains as a backdrop.
8. View Bronco Inspired Art at the Denver Art Museum. There are more than a dozen works of art in the museum of bucking broncos, many in the museum’s famed Western Art collection. The Hamilton building will be illuminated orange from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
9. Go Back 300 Million Years at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.  You’ll learn that a Super Bowl played during the Paleozoic era would have been an aquatic game because Seattle, Denver and New York were all under water.  Burn off some energy at the Expedition Health and be reassured that no matter how fast your heart beats during the game, your brain cells will receive the same amount of oxygen.
10. 10. Escape Winter in a Tropical Floral 10.Wonderland at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Who cares if cold and snow in New York will affect the passing game if you’re walking between 200 orchids amidst more than 1,000 blossoms? Visit the conservatory, take of your coat and relax in the tropics until kickoff.

Where are you watching the big game? Go to www.visitdenver.com to find bars and restaurants offering special deals during the Super Bowl.

In perhaps an unprecedented move, Visit Denver and Visit Seattle — the booster organizations for both Super Bowl cities — issued a joint press release Thursday listing the similarities between the two (now) rival burgs. Here’s what it said:

“Their geographic locations could not be more different.  Denver is located 5,280 feet above sea level on high rolling plains at the base of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  Seattle is located in one of the most spectacular natural harbors of the world. But despite these physical differences, Denver and Seattle actually share much in common.

Not on the list is the fact that I have lived in both cities – twice! And that Colorado and Washington both voted to approve recreational marijuana sales.

Other than that little-known factoid, compare these stats:

“Denver – founded in 1858 as a gold-mining camp.

“Seattle – founded in 1851 as a logging and fishing center.

“Denver – 2012 population of 634,264 making it the 23rd largest city in the U.S.

“Seattle – 2012 population of 634,535 making it the 22nd largest city in the U.S.

“When bypassed by the transcontinental railroad, Denver built its own connecting railroad in 1869.

“When bypassed by the transcontinental railroad, Seattle forced its own connecting railroad in 1883.

“Denver was rescued from a deep depression by the discovery of gold nearby in Cripple Creek in 1890.

“Seattle was rescued from a deep depression by the discovery of gold nearby along the Klondike River in Canada in 1897.

“Denver has a history of boom and bust economies and is currently booming with eight new downtown skyscrapers, 1,500 hotel rooms and a rail line from downtown to Denver International Airport all under construction.

“Seattle has a history of boom and bust economies and is currently booming with aerospace, computer software, biotech, e-commerce and international trade.

“From the late 19th to mid 20th century, Denver was known as The Queen City of the Plains.

“From the late 19th to mid 20th century, Seattle was known as The Queen City.

“Denver has a national reputation for beer, including Coors, Great Divide, Breckenridge and Wynkoop breweries.

“Seattle has a national reputation for beer, including Red Hook, Pike and Pyramid.

“The cartoon South Park takes place near Denver and frequently features Denver landmarks.

“The comic strip Doonesbury takes place in Seattle and frequently features Seattle landmarks.

“Denver is home to the first Chipotle and the first Quiznos, both of which started here.

“Seattle is home to the first Starbucks, Nordstrom, Boeing and Amazon.com, which started there.

“Favorite city movie titles: ‘Things to do in Denver When You’re Dead.’ ‘Sleepless in Seattle.’

“Actors from Denver: Amy Adams, Don Cheadle, Keri Russell, AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Stone, Trey Parker.

“Actors from Seattle: Anna Faris, Raine Wilson, Tom Skerritt (who ironically lived in Crested Butte for awhile), Bruce Lee.”

But come Super Bowl Sunday, these towns will have nothing in common except the desire to win!

The NCAA has selected Denver to host two upcoming sporting events: The 2015 NCAA men’s lacrosse quarterfinals and the 2016 NCAA Division II Spring Sports Festival.

The lacrosse selection continues Denver’s growing reputation as one of the go-to lacrosse cities of America. In the last nine years, Denver has hosted three Major League Lacrosse All-Star Games, two National Lacrosse League All-Star Games, and in 2014 will host the FIL World Lacrosse Championships.

The bid to host the event was submitted by Denver Sports, an affiliate of Visit Denver, in partnership with the University of Denver Athletics and Recreation, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the Denver Broncos and Denver Outlaws. The 2015 NCAA men’s lacrosse quarterfinals will be played in Sports Authority Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Outlaws.

“We are thrilled the NCAA has entrusted Denver to host this event,” said Ken Chin, executive director of Denver Sports. “This decision is a testament to the hard work put forth by our city’s grassroots lacrosse community, Denver’s two professional lacrosse teams – the Denver Outlaws and the Colorado Mammoth – and to the lacrosse program built by the University of Denver Pioneers head lacrosse coach, Hall of Famer, Bill Tierney.”

Assisting in the bid was Tierney, who said, “Everyone associated with lacrosse in Denver should be very excited about this announcement, and I thank all that worked so hard to make it happen. The opportunity to host such meaningful Division I games in the NCAA tournament is something we will embrace to make the experience second to none. Our guests, visitors and television viewers will assuredly get to find out why Denver is truly ‘The Lacrosse Capital of the West.”

According to Chin, the popularity of lacrosse in Colorado has been exploding in recent years.  The Denver Outlaws have led the MLL in attendance for seven straight years and there are now more than 11,600 Colorado students playing lacrosse, almost double the amount in 2006.

“The increasing popularity of lacrosse in Colorado was one of the key factors in Denver being chosen to host the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championships, and no doubt also played a significant role in the NCAA’s selection today,” Chin said.

He added that being strongly associated with a growing sport is a real positive for the city. “Denver will receive national television coverage and exposure from both the FIL World Lacrosse Championships and NCAA men’s lacrosse quarterfinals, and we’re confident our local lacrosse community will come out and support both of these events.”

Denver’s second award was for the 2016 NCAA DII Spring Sports Festival, a six-day event that will be held in The Mile High City for the first time. The Spring Sports Festival includes six championships (men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, and softball) rolled into one event. A unique feature of the sports event is that all teams stay for the entire six-day festival, even if their team has been eliminated, thereby increasing the number of overnight stays and the economic impact.

“The NCAA’s decision to bring this event to Denver is a testament to the leadership of Metropolitan State University’s president, Stephen Jordan, and to the quality of their athletic program, led by their director of athletics, Joan McDermott,” Chin said.

The 2016 NCAA DII Spring Sports Festival is the only place in the NCAA where six champions will be crowned in a single event. The festival experience provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of more than 1,000 DII student-athletes from more than seventy schools. In addition to high-level athletic competition, the NCAA also recognizes academic achievement in the various sports represented at the festival.

“This is a very prestigious opportunity for our university to host the Spring Sports Festival,” McDermott said. “Denver Sports has worked tirelessly on this bid and we are excited for the exposure for our brand new athletics facility as a result. The softball, lacrosse and tennis championships will all be played at The Regency Athletic Complex at MSU Denver on our campus.”

More information at www.visitdenver.com/denversports.

Denver Restaurant Week(s), one of the most popular events in town for the generous portions for a small price, is doing a double take by splitting its personality with two weeks spaced out during the year.

In observation of the event’s 10th anniversary, Visit Denver’s Denver Restaurant Week will double the fun by holding one week from Feb. 22-28 and a second week Aug. 23-29.

The new price per meal per person is $30, FYI … Not a bad deal when you factor in inflation with the cost of food, etc. As you may recall, in several of the previous years, Denver Restaurant Week was two weeks, which in many cases put a mad crush on diner volumes, although the financial gains, in many cases, were well worth the effort.

“A summer version of the event offers restaurants a lot of interesting serving and meal options,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver, the creator and organizer of DRW. “Restaurants will be able to offer outdoor dining and feature fresh Colorado produce. We anticipate that summer menus will be very different from the winter ones, and they will be able to showcase the farm-to-fork movement that is so popular in the state.”

In 2013, a record 355 participating restaurants served 436,650 meals. For more information, go to www.denverrestaurantweek.com or www.eatdrinkdenver.com.

Toronto blogger Andrew Dobson likes us … he really likes us!

Check out the strokes Toronto blogger Andrew Dobson gave our folks during a visit to the Mile High City. And forgive the British spelling of certain words … what does it matter when it’s all positive press? This is just a sample.

“Moments after my plane swooped into Denver I sat in my seat on the tarmac as the flight attendant chirped, ‘Please do not unlatch your seat buckles until the plane finishes taxing to the gate and has come to a complete stop.’ This announcement always makes me laugh as I’m often clasping at the blunt ends of my armrests ready to bolt.

“This would be my first visit to Colorado and I was beyond excited to spend the next three days in one of America’s most buzzed about urban eats destinations. I had ample time to uncover the city’s top attractions, best restaurants and felt a thriving arts vibe unique to Colorado’s favourite city. Here are a few fun facts about Denver important to take note before planning your trip:

• Denver      has 300 days of annual sunshine. Located east of the mountains, the city has a      mild, dry and sunny climate with more annual hours of sun than San Diego      or Miami Beach.
• Denver      is near the mountains, not in them! The city is located on high rolling plains, 12 miles      east of the “foothills,” a series of gentle mountains that climb 11,000      feet. The picturesque Rocky Mountain panorama from Denver is 140 miles      long.
• Denver’s      history is short, but colourful.  In 1858, there was      not a single person living in Denver metro area except for a few migrating      camps of Arapaho and Cheyenne Native Americans. Just 30 years later,      Colorado was a state with a population of almost 200,000! Tipping our hats      to the Gold Rush!
• Denver      loves its sports.      Denver is one of the only two cities (Philadelphia is the other) to have      seven professional sports teams. Hot dog and Coors Light lovers rejoice at      many a rowdy stadium.
• Denver      brews more beer than any other city. The first building in      Denver was a saloon, so its natural that Denver would become a great beer      town. Coors Brewery is the worlds largest and Denver’s Great American Beer      Festival is the largest in the nation, with more than 1,900 different      beers on display. On an average day Denver brews more than 200 different      beers.
• Denver is the Mile High City. By an amazing stroke of good luck, the 13th step on the west side of the State Capitol Building is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level – one mile high. In Denver’s rarified air, golf balls go 10 percent farther, and so do cocktails! Alcoholic drinks here pack a punch and did I ever notice from one restaurant and bar to the next. Be sure to sip slowly as your acclimatize to the new elevation.

For the rest of the post, go to http://dobbernationloves.com/2013/09/23/travel-to-denver-colorado/.

Open Table gives Denver restaurants props

Open Table this week announced its list of the 100 American restaurants that are “Fit for Foodies.”

Four Colorado restaurants, three in Denver, were named to the list compiled by the online restaurant reservation service. The list is based on more than 5 million restaurant reviews submitted by OpenTable.com diners on 15,000-plus restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The three Denver restaurants, Old Major, beast + bottle and The Squeaky Bean, are all less than a year old. The fourth Colorado restaurant on the list is The Pullman in Glenwood Springs, which is helmed by chef Mark Fisher, famous for opening Six89 and Phat Thai in Carbondale. Unfortunately, Phat Thai’s attempt to add another site in Cherry Creek failed.

Old Major in Lower Highland is run by chef Justin Brunson; Paul Reilly is the chef of the Uptown eatery  beast + bottle, known for its “snout to tail” fare, and Theo Adley heads the kitchen at The Squeaky Bean, which was revived in Lower Downtown by its original chef, Max MacKissock.

More at http://blogs.westword.com/cafesociety/2013/09/beast_bottle_old_major_the_pullman_squeaky_bean_opentable_100_best_restaurants.php

Dunk tank

Denver’s “flagship” Dunkin’ Donuts Restaurant opened with fanfare Tuesday in the coffee-clatch 8 a.m. hour Tuesday at 366 Broadway.

To celebrate the chain’s entrance into the Denver market, customers will be offered free medium hot or iced coffee (one per person) and 99 cent medium lattes at the Broadway location through Sept. 29, National Coffee Day.

The well-attended ribbon-cutting ceremony included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Colorado Rockies’ mascot Dinger, Denver Broncos’ mascot Miles and Colorado Rapids mascot Edson the Eagle and the Rapids’ street team. The sports team mascots were hosted by Dunkin’ Donuts mascot Dunkin’ Cuppy.

For more information, go to www.dunkindonuts.com.

Dunkin’ Donuts mascot Dunkin’ Cuppy.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Out of respect for the Colorado flood victims, Film on the Rocks, produced by the Denver Film Society, and The Barry Fey Foundation have cancelled the screening of “Under a Blood Red Sky, which was scheduled for Thursday at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

A memorial showing of “Under a Blood Red Sky”, the famous U2 concert video in large part engineered by the late Fey, will be rescheduled for next summer as part of the 2014 Film on the Rocks series.

(Photo courtesy of U2.com)

Buy chops for a good cause

When it comes to helping flood victims, folks will take just about anything offered, including a Colorado lamb chop lollipop served with warm fingerling potato salad, red onion and arugula tossed in a mustard sherry vinaigrette and finished with a maple Dijon cabernet au jus at Ocean Prime on Larimer Square.

Even better, every dime of the $22 everyone spends on that lollipop at the restaurant Ocean Prime goes to flood victims. The deal takes place on Thursday. For reservations, go to www.oceanprimedenver.com.

Eavesdropping on a husband to his wife: “You’re Beverly Hills, I’m Beverly Hillbillies.”

Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.