Denver Art Galleries Evolution

Denver is fast emerging as the hot new 'art and culture destination' on the cultural map of USA. It may not have reached the cultural heights of New York yet but it's morphed into an art and culture capital of the Rockies anyway. From one art gallery back in the 60s to over 120 commercial art galleries now, with a program in place for Public Art valued at over $ 23 million in year 2006 and an impressive collection of over 300 public artworks installed all over the city, while most cities have two or four important museums on its city roster; Denver has an impressive list of more than fifteen and counting. That's not all, most cities boast of one or two art districts at the most, while Denver has six thriving ones!The credit for this entire cultural renaissance goes back to a number of factors.

First and foremost to the residents themselves who back in 1988 voted and passed a 0.1 percent sales tax to fund cultural activity around the entire metropolitan of Denver. The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District tax raises around $ 40 million annually for local art, theater, music and dance organizations and natural and cultural history sites.The credit also goes to ever-popular two-term mayor John Hickenlooper who is an art buff in his own right and has supported arts and culture across the board; he is responsible for the major cultural coup of getting the Clyfford Still Museum Denver established in Colorado, (ground breaking ceremony planned for December 14th 2009). Still (1904-1980) is a world-renowned much sought after Expressionist artist - a single Still painting recently sold for over $20 million at an auction for example.Mayor Federico Pena is credited with the establishment of Denver's Public Art Program back in 1998 via an Executive Order, ensuring that 1 percent of any capital improvement project over 1 million should be set aside for art in the design and construction of these projects.Denver may have started with one art district on the west end of the Platte River, near downtown but now it boasts of six. Raised rents and gentrification of newer art districts from Broadway to lower downtown (LoDo) to Santa Fe to RiNo to Belmar to Tennyson Street to Cherry Creek North has meant the dispersion of local artists, multiple art districts and decentralized art community which in turn has contributed to a thriving art scene.

The art movement in Denver is not cut-throat and competitive like most arty environments of large metropolitan cities, nor is it judgmental and cynical, instead it's characterized as open, collaborative and participative willing to inject a note of humor and whimsy in its selections. The whole city contributes from its art and culture organizations to its residents to its city government and art institutions to its art community, making it a fun and vibrant city intent on having a good time.This could be because as Hickenlooper once put it, Denver is unusual and unique in that people move there not for jobs but for its superior 'quality of life,' and a 'vigorous cultural scene' is a big part of that expectation.Some of the milestone cultural capital projects of Denver that opened between the period of four years 2005-2009 are: Elli Caulkins Opera House, The Lab at Belmar, The Denver Art Museum's new wing Fredric C. Hamilton Building, Center for Empowering Learning and Living, a project of the Mizel Museum located at the Civic Center, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, and Clyfford Still Museum.

Not that, Denver was devoid of culture before this, the city already had an impressive base of arts and culture, for example, Denver Performing Arts Complex featuring ten performance spaces on a four-block, 12-acre site, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS), it is the fifth largest natural history museum in the nation, the Denver Zoo, it is the fourth most popular zoo in the country, Denver Botanic Gardens, it is one of the top ten western gardens in the nation. Denver hosts one of the largest Martin Luther King, Jr. Parades, Cinco de Mayo celebrations and Native American pow-wows in the county, not to mention the Cherry CreekArts Festival Denver, it is number one arts festival in county based on artists' sales.

Denver gets a high score based on one survey of marketable, discretionary visitors for the city's choice for entertainment, pro sports events, theatre and the arts, nightlife, the variety of things to see and do, museums, art galleries, parks, gardens and golf courses, interesting architecture, landmarks, shopping, dining, recreation and outdoorsy, mountain activities like skiing, hiking, biking, kayaking and what not. So what's not to like when you drop by to catch an art show, you might get more than you bargained for which is all to the good. More fun for you!

Western Colorado, What's Beautiful, What's Fun and What's Just Unforgettable!

Few vacations on Earth can match Western Colorado for adventure, beauty, and romance. Hidden away on the other side of the continental divide you will find the other Colorado, the Colorado you have never heard of!Western Colorado is filled with picture post-card villages, snowcapped peaks, alpine lakes, ancient sandstone cities, lush vineyards, and unforgettable vistas.

When most people think of Colorado, they like of snow and cold, but all that is in the high-country. There is another Colorado, warm welcoming Western Colorado.You can enjoy skiing in the morning on The Grand Mesa and golf the afternoon at Grand Junction. It is all available within a sixty miles.If you don't want to play in the snow, you can become an "Indiana Jones" and explore the ancient sandstone cities of Southwestern Colorado at Mesa Verde National Park. The park is the Archaeological Center of America.Just down the road you can try your hand at riding the rails on the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This historical Steam Train runs right though the a wilderness area. You see true wilderness from you window.After the train adventure you can take in an old western melodrama at the famous Strater Hotel in Durango Colorado. Louis L'amour wrote many of his western novels in room 202 while listening to the sound of the honky tonk piano.

The next day you can journey over coal bank hill to Silverton Colorado, the western town that time forgot. You can see a reenactment of a cowboy gunfight put on by the Silverton Gun fighting Society.If you prefer you can go deep in a gold mine and learn about the history of hard rock mining in the 1880's. At the Old Hundred Gold Mine they will even show you how pan for gold. You may find a nugget.Do you want to spend a romantic night in a railroad caboose? The Hyman Hotel in Silverton has a caboose transformed in to a cozy cabin for two in their seclude courtyard. It comes complete with fire pit and hot tub.Just over the mountain is Ouray Colorado, "The Switzerland of the Rockies," the most romantic rocky mountain village in America. No big hotels here, just small friendly lodges and Bed and Breakfast Denver.The Ute Indians believed that Ouray had "Big Medicine" in it many hot mineral springs scattered throughout the village. Try soaking in the waters and you decide.While you are in the beautiful San Juan Mountains of Western Colorado, history becomes real, when you explore the mines, mills and ghost towns in the backcountry. The backcountry is also full Alpine wildflowers and waterfalls, as well as, spectacular scenery.The small hamlet of Ridgeway Colorado is "True Grit" country. It was Fort Smith in John Wayne's western classic True Grit. You can still see the park and the jail house.


The pappy wagon from the movie is in the open air railroad museum.The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, west of Montrose, is the newest national park. It is the home of a most spectacular narrow and deep canyon where the Gunnison River appears as a tiny ridden of silver 2000 feet below.Upstream you are transport to a Norwegian fjord-like canyon on Morrow Point Reservoir. It is fascinating journey abroad the US Parks Service boat as it drift on the quite waters in the black canyon.The largest flat top mountain in the world is the Grand Mesa. It has a secret known only to locals - it is the home of over 300 trout filled lakes nestled among a beautiful alpine forest. At 10, 500 feet it has the nickname, "Island in the Sky."Visit Colorado's Wine Country concentrated around Palisade Colorado. Twenty Vineyards and Denver wineries are located in this little valley makes touring easy and convenience. The tours here are less commercialized, lard-back and friendly.The Colorado National Monument on the other side of The Grand Valley is an area of huge sandstone monoliths and deep eroded canyons. It is very romantic at sunset as you watch nature's light show in the lengthening shadows and then you see the twinkling lights of the city far below.

Western Colorado remains hidden away, out of the limelight, on the other side of the continental divide. But few vacations on earth can match Western Colorado for uncrowded adventures, beauty, and romance.

Fond Memories From Traveling to Denver CO

The snow capped mountains were definitely a highlight during our travels to Denver, Colorado. Stopping by at an underground rest area which sites beneath the mountain, the we realized that the magnificent view of the mountain peaks were only part of what made this place great. There were so many vending machines at the rest area that made it felt so appealing!We then continued driving down the dark tunnel underneath the mountain.You had to walk miles through the rest area to see all the attractions. There were vending machines and other elements about the underground rest area that made it so appealing.We also drove down the mountain through a dark tunnel. Make sure you have good breaks otherwise; you may find yourself going freeborn down the highway.

Some of the best places to visit in Denver Colorado are when you travel to Denver you see plenty of healthy and educated people instead of cowboys.There are a few fancy restaurants to dine out. Some of the steak houses serve cuts of plethora and beef and serves some great tasting side dishes.Barolo Grill is one of the most recommended places to dine at. Barolo Grill Denver is located on Sixth Avenue. This grill is probably one of the most affordable places to dine. It's Denver's most popular Italian restaurant thanks to its atmosphere.This diner is build with a nice touch of brick-ish feel. On the wall are posters of Italian food. The dining area is romantically inclined because it has a fireplace that keeps you warm and shines pretty colors.There are plenty of different blends from the olden times the locals and visitors enjoy, but the Barolo has added some interesting touches. Only the finest chefs are able to prepare it. You can find updates on menu changes by going online. Updates include oven-roasted salads, Pesce con Mostarda and so forth.Most of the wines come from Italy. Interestingly, this is one of the few restaurants who train their staff by sending them to Italy to learn more about the foods and wines.

When we visited Denver, it was one of the most impressive areas in the world that we found to be elaborate, beautiful, and unique. Denver is probably one of the most gorgeous areas to visit because of its mountainous surroundings.If you plan to visit Denver or Colorado around the mountain areas take some gum with you. When you travel up the mountains, your ears will pop.If you are chewing gum, it will help control the popping. Some of the best places to shop around Denver are at the Cherry Creek, North-Outdoor store, Nordstrom, Cherry Creek Shopping Center Denver, Outlets at Castle Rock, Dillard's, Taroet, Westminster Mall, Shops at Tabor Center, and so forth. The shops are located different parts around Denver.Perhaps you are taking a trip to Denver to ski. In that case head over to Arapahoe Basin and join others in a skiing trip down the mountains.The Charter at Beaver Creek, Ritz-Carlton, Beaver Run Resort, Durango Mountain Resort, Vail Cascade Resort and Spa, Loveland Ski Area Snow Line, Beaver Village, and Elk Mountain Resort offer you skis for outdoor activities. Each resort is different, but each one of them can offer you load of fun!