City Spotlight: Denver, Colorado
When you think of Denver, you probably envision snow-capped mountains, natural surroundings and outdoorsy folks with a passion for hiking and skiing. To be fair, it does have those things, but it also has a lively mix of dining, shopping, entertainment, arts and cultural attractions. The hip, young, pedestrian-friendly city also has one of the greenest convention centers in the nation and a growing reputation as a must-consider destination for meetings.
Latest and Greatest
The newest addition to Denver’s burgeoning Cultural Arts District is the Clyfford Still Museum, located adjacent to the Denver Art Museum. The bold, iconoclastic building was designed specifically to display the works of Still, considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Opened in November of last year, the two-story, 28,500-sq.-ft. museum is filled with approximately 2,400 pieces by the abstract expressionist pioneer, the bulk of whose work has been hidden from public view for more than three decades. Created with events in mind, the museum can host receptions for 250 or sit-down dinners for 60 people.
Hang Out, LoHi Style
Denver is a city of neighborhoods with original boutiques, galleries, brewpubs, bookstores, locally owned coffee houses, chef-owned restaurants and music clubs. But none has experienced more growth recently than the LoHi (Lower Highlands) District, located northwest of downtown. Pedal along the Cherry Creek bike path on a shiny red cycle rented through the city’s B-Cycle program and check out the area’s highlights along the way, including Confluence Park and the massive REI flagship store. As the sun sets, hang around and enjoy a bite at one of the district’s eclectic eateries.
Meet Greener Than Green
At the heart of downtown Denver is the two-level, environmentally friendly Colorado Convention Center, featuring 584,000 square feet of exhibit space, two ballrooms (one measuring 50,000 square feet; the other at 35,000), 63 meeting rooms and a 5,000-seat theater. Thanks to the center’s ambitious sustainability program, the state-of-the-art facility received LEED certification for an existing building, making it the largest building in Colorado and one of the largest convention centers in the U.S. to do so.
Pachyderm Paradise
The din of trumpeting trunks will be a common sound when the Toyota Elephant Passage opens at the Denver Zoo this June. The landmark, $50 million, 10-acre exhibit will become the nation’s largest bull elephant habitat (capable of housing up to 12 males) and will also house a variety of Asian elephants, Indian rhinos and Malayan tapirs. The Denver Zoo has a complete on-site meeting facility able to handle conferences up to 300, banquets for 700 and receptions up to 8,000 people.
