When dawn breaks over Denver on August 25, regular citizens of the West will stumble into an alternative political convention universe, one which will cost the City of Denver an estimated $150 million to put on while at the same time generating a projected $160-200 million from the convention’s goings-on. We have the participants of the 2008 Democratic National Convention who will visit the Mile High City from August 25 to 28 to thank for this. Not to mention the Host Committee that worked tirelessly to win the nomination for location-location-location in 2007.

While the entire country (and most of the globe) suffers through a now-articulated recession, the draw of the DNC to Denver and the West is certain to put a spin on this part of the country that is enviable by any standards. First-time visitors to Denver, those who imagined that the entire state was mountainous and snowy, will rethink that baggage upon finding that the Mile High City is, yes, at altitude, but only the altitude of high plains—5,280 feet, or one mile high, thus the name. As well, they will discover that the sun shines here more then 300 days per year and that the August sun bakes harder at this altitude than it does at sea level. The only snow that can be seen has been scooped over the highest of the Rocky Mountain peaks like dollops of butterscotch on an ice cream sundae. They will learn shortly that our city streets are not a sea of yellow sedans for hire; that the majority of Denverites get where they’re going in their own automobile, and horses are recreational. They will likely be awestruck at the compactness of the places they’ll frequent between the Pepsi Center, headquarters to the convention activities, and other important stops. They may even find that they can handily get around once they have a limited grasp of our transparent street grid system—this year Denver was named the fourth most walkable city by the Brookings Institute.

The Big Green Idea

In keeping with the burgeoning awareness of environmental safe-keeping, this DNC will be red, white, blue and green all over. The 2008 Democratic National Convention is expected to be the greenest and most sustainable convention in history. The Pepsi Center, headquarters for the main event, announced that it will be the first in the United States to be 100 percent green and plans are underway for the arena to be powered exclusively by renewable wind and solar energy. It will also use efficient LED and solar power lighting wherever possible in designated media areas. Camco, the Official Carbon Advisor, will track the carbon footprint of all convention-related activities including the mileage covered by all DNC vehicles. Peddle pushing will be promoted through a program called Freewheelin’, developed by Humana, Inc. and Bikes Belong, who will bring nearly 1,000 two-wheelers to Denver to be used free of charge throughout the DNC.

BEST CENTRAL LOCATIONS

Someone at the helm, maybe Governor Bill Ritter, is bound to point out that the convention commemorates the 100th anniversary of Denver’s 1908 Democratic National Convention when William Jennings Bryan was nominated as the presidential candidate. There will likely be little mention of the fact that the Dem’s candidate, Bryan, lost in a landslide election to GOP William Howard Taft, because there’s no sense bringing up that downer at an upbeat affair like this one.

That’s the thing about an alternative universe. It’s forward-looking, positive and not so different than the welcome a team gets returning home with the title trophy.

Consider it appropriate then, that the main event will be held at the Pepsi Center where the Denver Nuggets basketball team and the Colorado Avalanche ice hockey team play out the winter season on alternating nights of
hot hardwood floor over cool Zamboni®-smoothed ice. Preparing the Pepsi Center for the DNC is expected to cost $15 million, and then there’s the 220,000 sq. ft. temporary building adjacent to it that will house the media.

THE HOSTS OF THE BIG EVENT

By the time Chris Lopez, communications director for the Denver 2008 Host Committee, took the reins, the City of Denver had already established a variety of sub-committees on the DNC to brainstorm the uniqueness that the city wanted to introduce to the 2008 convention. The official Host Committee headed up by veteran political advisor Mike Dino as CEO is focused on a course of managing expectations for the duration of the convention. “The mayor’s expectation is that Denver will provide a hospitable environment; that citizens are participating and engaged and that the event bring forward the inherent energy”—energy that will undoubtedly infuse the city and state with current and future economic gain.

The timing of the DNC is different this campaign year than in prior years, because the Democrats wanted to wait until after the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, maximizing the momentum of the ticket. Plus the Labor Day holiday, on the heels of the DNC, is considered fortuitous. “We want delegates and families of delegates to say that they’d like to stick around and enjoy the rest of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region after the convention into the Labor Day Weekend,” notes Lopez. Beyond that, the future-thinking Lopez continues, “We want CEOs who have become sponsors and partners of the DNC to go back home and reflect on the dynamics of Colorado and ultimately relocate their businesses to this state.”

Give them something to talk about

While the usual suspects—politicians and the media—get bandwidth on the Pepsi Center floor and on newsfeeds to the world, plenty of unusual protests are expected to sprout up. Protestors who have anything to say have a first amendment right to do so and what better place to exercise that right than at a presidential political convention. Managing the message, however, becomes one of the many responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with Denver’s host role. To that end, the city is relying on the expertise of one of the state’s oldest law firms, Rothgerber, Johnson & Lyons LLP, to help balance the enormous security concerns surrounding a political convention with the first amendment rights of protestors. More than 10,000 are expected.

The plan for the DNC in Denver is to give protesting citizens unprecedented access to locations where they can express their views lawfully and peacefully. From sign-wielding anti-war protestors to mute yogis protesting noise, the protesters will be allowed to vent in venues that ensure they’ll be seen and heard, or not in the case of the silent protest. And when visitors leave Denver, Michael Plachy, partner with Rothgerber, Johnson & Lyons, adds, the hope is they’ll say “Denver a progressive, cosmopolitan city that endorses people’s right to express themselves.” In a perfect world, the advance work of the firm of nearly 80 attorneys would ensure that their role came to an abrupt end Aug. 29, on the final day of the convention. Because it ain’t over ‘til it’s over, that remains a possibility at press time. But in the event that controversy morphs into litigation, the firm will continue to represent the city for its day in court and the best interests of Denver’s community.

Bigger names, better access

One big difference between the convention in 2008 and all prior conventions is that citizens can attend the morning sessions held at the Colorado Convention Center. That means lining up at the break of dawn for admission with a healthy dose of airline-like security screening. But what’s more fun than walking among U.S. Senators, Representatives, Governors, Mayors and political power-players for a morning’s entertainment? (Only credentialed attendees will be admitted to afternoon and evening DNC events.)

Rubbing shoulders with the names attending the DNC—which include many celebrities, the likes of Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney who have taken whole floors of hotels in anticipation of the convention—is only one of the benefits open to the public. Even humor will have a place at this DNC as The Daily Show, hosted by comedian Jon Stewart, airs from the Byron Theatre at the Newman Center at the University of Denver, promoted as “Indecision 2008, something approximating election news with something approximating honesty.”  Tickets to be part of Stewart’s audience flew when the announcement was made on the Internet in late April.

Best view of the system

Another activity open to the public will be the American Presidential Experience, the largest traveling collection of presidential memorabilia from six past presidents that will be displayed at nearby Invesco Field (home to the
Denver Broncos National Football League team) including a replica of Air Force One and the Oval Office—touchstones of presidential life.

Then there’s the short film festival (Lopez calls it “Cinemocracy”) with the top 10 political films and Green Sunday on August 24, during which businesses and government agencies will convene to endorse greening efforts as a catalyst to establish Denver as a self-sustaining, ecologically-logical city in which to work and live.

Another first-of-its-kind event open to the public during the DNC is Dialog:City in which art, democracy and digital media converge in 10 different performances/installations. If that description fails to woo you, try this: the speeches made during this campaign by presidential candidates will be performed in bars, clubs and restaurants citywide in karaoke format, the brainchild of multi-media artist Daniel Peltz. (For the performance schedule and locations visit www.dialogcity.org.)

Better grab a room

Early on, the Democratic National Convention Committee locked up 17,000 hotel rooms, with the specific assignments waiting in limbo while Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama arm-wrestled over the nomination. The anticipation of housing 50,000 attendees plus 15,000 media reps is a big deal when planning an event this size.

Two hotels serving the 1908 convention will host delegates again in 2008—The Brown Palace and The Oxford Hotel, Denver’s first dating back to 1891. The Brown, Denver’s only Mobil Four-Star and AAA Four-Diamond hotel, hosts some of the city’s most influential events year-round in its regal lobby atrium. Then there’s the luxe Hotel Teatro where headline artists are most likely to be holed up before and after their live stage performances, rated among the top 500 Best Hotels in the World; the Hotel Monaco, recently voted Best Business Hotel by Travel & Leisure magazine, where a single goldfish in a glass bowl is appointed to watch over each glam guestroom; the towering Four Diamond Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center with its dizzying views from the Peaks Lounge; and the funky Curtis Hotel, with its 13 floors of pop-culture themed guest rooms—the 10th floor being the Floor of Champions. Chances are that if the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences, scheduled to open in 2010 in the heart of Denver, would have had a head’s up about the DNC coming to Denver the completion schedule would have been fast-tracked.     

Top-of-the-line accommodations are a prerequisite for the DNC wherever it’s held. The word “ritzy” isn’t about crackers when it comes to lodging. So when Denver got its own Ritz-Carlton in 2008 it was a big event. Almost immediately after opening its doors, it had a 200-person waiting list for DNC week. Known for its 400 thread-count Frette linens and plush terry robes by the same name, five-fixture bathrooms, featherbeds and high-def
in-room TVs, the hotel’s Chef Ben Davison put a Democratic spin on food and beverage serving the Ob‘ama’let Omelette, Hillary’s Hash Browns and a Ba-rock Shrimp Appetizer. Bar service too reflects the DNC platform, serving cocktails with call names like Disappearing Elephant, Changing Tide, Clinty-Minty Mojito and O‘poma’granite Martini.

Home run initiative

Recognizing early on that there would be a shortage of city-central hotel space during the DNC www.wowtownnow.com was one of a handful of home-rental operations to spring up with premium private residences for rent. But this luxury rental service founded by Kevin Joseph offers concierge attention in the form of a myriad of services including transportation and catering plus the use of private residences for events during the DNC. The need for housing within easy access of the Pepsi Center is underscored by the prices—sometimes $15,000 a week and up.

Getting around

There shouldn’t be a shortage of cabs for the DNC, according
to Ross Alexander, Regional manager of Colorado Cab Company (Yellow Cab), one of three cab companies serving Denver including Yellow Cab, Metro Taxi and its subsidiary Taxi Fiesta plus Freedom Cab. Credentialed participants will be ferried around town on authorized shuttles by Event Transportation Associates, Inc. Others can take Denver’s RTD buses or Light Rail (www.rtd-denver.com) with frequent stops at both the Pepsi Center and the Colorado Convention Center.

Daytrips by one of many tour operators (www.denvertours.net) are available to Pike’s Peak, Boulder and Colorado Springs. Colorado Sightseer, Gray Line, Pacesetter Coach Lines and Coach America are the largest tour operators to the Front Range and mountains. Ace Express runs to Blackhawk and Central City (gaming districts and former mining towns) from Downtown Denver from the northeast corner of 15th and Glenarm Streets. Or head for the hills—Winter Park, Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail and others—via rental car. These year-round resort towns are only 1 – 2 hours by car.

Letter From The Mayor

Greetings:
On behalf of the City and County of Denver, it is a great honor to welcome delegates, members of
the media, elected officials, political enthusiasts and visitors from all corners of the globe to Colorado
for the Democratic National Convention.

I would also like to greet area residents returning home from their travels – this is a wonderful and exciting time to be a citizen of Denver and the West as we welcome the world into our unique city. 

The City of Denver is excited to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention.  This is the second time we have been the host city; the last time was exactly 100 hundred years ago in 1908. This year’s Convention gives Denver and Colorado an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the New American West with its magnificent cultural attractions, its thriving urban centers and its enduring values of innovation, collaboration, inclusiveness and sustainability.

Above all, the Democratic National Convention and its related activities will offer residents and visitors alike abundant opportunities to observe – and participate in – democracy in action. We’ve worked closely with our neighboring communities to plan a memorable experience that includes community dialogue, art, storytelling, cinema, music and many other opportunities for civic engagement and self expression. The 2008 Democratic National Convention also will be the greenest convention in history, creating a fitting backdrop to an event that will help shape America’s future. 

We invite you to explore – or reacquaint yourself with – the Mile High City and the excitement it
offers. You will find no shortage of cultural and recreational options with three new downtown
sports stadiums for eight professional sports teams and a variety of attractions, including the
10-theatre Denver Performing Arts Complex and myriad shops, restaurants, parks and outdoor recreation opportunities.

From the 16th Street Mall pedestrian promenade to one of the largest urban park systems in the nation to the Denver Art Museum’s amazing new expansion designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, your options are endless. Whether you choose to discover our historic Lower Downtown,
check out our unique neighborhood retail centers, dine at our hundreds of fine restaurants or explore our mountain parks, we’re happy you’ve chosen to spend time in Denver.

At an elevation of 5,280 feet above sea level, Denver is truly a mile high…and climbing. Enjoy your
time with us!

Sincerely,
John W. Hickenlooper
Mayor

Got It Covered

At political conventions you never know what is going to happen, that is why they are so much fun.
By Wolf Blitzer

It was Tuesday, August 1, 2000, and I was in Philadelphia covering the Republican Presidential Convention that would eventually nominate George W. Bush to be President of the United States.

As CNN’s podium reporter, I spent much of the convention up on the stage interviewing speakers before or after they addressed the thousands of people attending the convention and the millions around the country watching on TV.

That night, I went to a more secluded location at the auditorium for an exclusive interview with former President Gerald Ford, a beloved elder statesman of the Republican Party. He had served as Richard Nixon’s successor after Nixon resigned in disgrace following Watergate but was defeated in the 1976 election by Jimmy Carter.

The interview was short and sweet. No major headlines…until a few hours later when he was rushed to a local hospital after suffering a minor stroke. All of a sudden, everyone was paying very close attention to my interview with him. Did his words appear to be slurred a bit? (The answer, yes.) Did he appear
to be overly tired? (I didn’t think so.) For a few hours, Ford’s hospital stay immediately dominated the convention coverage. Then as quickly as his health scare became top news, the coverage turned back
to the substance of the convention once it became clear he would be fine.

That story underlines the unpredictability of presidential conventions. As a reporter, you never know what’s going to happen.

Yes, virtually every second on the stage is carefully choreographed by the Democratic and Republican convention organizers. But with thousands of people in attendance, including the most important political figures in the nation, there will always be unscripted moments, moments that easily can overshadow what the party big-shots are hoping to highlight.

Take, for example, the 1996 Democratic convention in Chicago that would nominate President Bill Clinton for a second term.

I was in Chicago enjoying a rare moment of downtime with some family and friends when my cell phone began to go crazy. Clinton’s then-political guru (who had played a key role in the president’s comeback following highly embarrassing losses in the 1994 Congressional elections) had been photographed with a prostitute
at a Washington, D.C. hotel. For a few hours at least, this personal scandal overshadowed what would have otherwise been Clinton’s glorious moment in the spotlight.

As I said, you never know what’s going to happen at a convention.

Now it’s 2008 and convention time once again. The Democrats are meeting in Denver from August 25-28. The last Democratic convention in the Rocky Mountains was exactly 100 years ago, in 1908. The Republicans will gather one week later in St. Paul, the second time a convention has been held in Minnesota. Our team at CNN will continue its commitment to politics with extensive coverage of the issues. We will have both cities totally wired to make sure our viewers know what’s going on. And yes, you can be sure that those unscripted surprises will be thoroughly reported. “The Best Political Team on Television,” as we like to say, won’t let you down.

I’ll be working hard to prepare for our convention coverage. I will be interviewing convention speakers, delegates and other insiders. In the past, what I learned from these private, one-on-one conversations provided excellent color and context for CNN’s audience.

The pace of conventions seems to grow faster with each election cycle. The rise of blogs and other new media has certainly contributed to that in recent years. But one thing that has always been true is that conventions matter because they are part of our great American democracy. People from all across the country will descend upon the two convention cities so their voices can be heard and they can participate in choosing a candidate for the presidency. It’s an empowering experience for the people and exciting for the reporters as well.

To add to the excitement, the movers and shakers of our political system show up. It’s an opportunity to see the presidential and vice presidential nominees in action as well as other rising political stars. Arkansas’ little-known governor, Bill Clinton, delivered the keynote address at the Democrats’ 1988 convention. Barack Obama delivered the party’s keynote address at the 2004 convention.

Now, let’s see how the situations unfold in Denver and St. Paul. You never know what’s going to happen at a convention.

Wolf Blitzer is CNN’s lead political anchor. The 2008 presidential convention in Denver is the fourth Democratic convention he has covered for CNN. His program ”The Situation Room” airs weekdays from 4-7 p.m. EST, and “Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer” airs Sundays from 11 a.m.-1p.m. EST.

WHAT TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU’RE NOT A SUPERDELEGATE

A TRIP TO THE MILE HIGH CITY MEANS MORE THAN JUST TRYING TO CRASH OBAMA’S AFTER-PARTY. DENVER OFFERS PLENTY TO DO, WITH OR WITHOUT THE COVETED CONVENTION CREDENTIALS        
By: Angela Beridino, Senior Public Relations Manager for the Denver Metro Conventions and Visitors Bureau

With only a few days to explore Colorado’s capitol, plan to spend at least one day in Downtown Denver. Many of Denver’s main attractions are centrally located on an easy-to-navigate grid. The 16th Street Mall, a pedestrian promenade lined with shopping, restaurants and street performers, runs the length of downtown and is served by a free eco-shuttle running from Broadway to Lodo (short for Lower Downtown).

LoDo, the lower downtown historic district, has been transformed into the entertainment epicenter of Denver, offering 28 square blocks of restaurants, sports bars and brewpubs. You’ll want to take in the architecture, as well as step into the plentiful art galleries. LoDo is also home to Coors Field where the National Baseball League’s Colorado Rockies will play during the DNC (“Rockpile” seats are just $4).

Don’t miss Denver’s venerable Tattered Cover Bookstore at 1628 16th St. in LoDo, featuring an in-store coffee shop that opens early (6:30 a.m. Monday – Friday). From there, head toward Rockmount Ranch Wear (1626 Wazee St.) where 107-year-old “Papa Jack” Weil, the oldest working CEO in America, continues to put in several hours of work daily selling the western snap-button shirt he’s marketed since 1946. 

Hop on the free shuttle to Champa Street and walk west to the Denver Performing Arts Complex (950 13th Street). Covering four square blocks, the 12-acre complex encompasses 10 venues and is the second largest in the country. Adjacent to the Performing Arts Complex is the Colorado Convention Center at 700 14th St., easily
identifiable by the enormous Blue Bear peering into the
glass and steel building.

From 16th Street, the free mall shuttle can take you all the way to Civic Center Park, an open outdoor plaza with intriguing architecture, museums and public institutions located in the civic heart of downtown. During the DNC, this area will be designated a “free speech zone” with groups from around the world presenting each day, all surrounding attractions will be open to the public.

Directly across Lincoln Street between 14th and Colfax avenues, the Colorado State Capitol, modeled after the U.S. Capitol, is topped by a dome containing more than 200 ounces of real gold. The 13th step on the west side of the building is exactly one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level.

To learn the story of the pioneers who helped shape Colorado, visit the Colorado History Museum at 1300 Broadway. Just across the street at 10 W. 14th Avenue Parkway is the Denver Public Library, the fourth largest in the country.

If you only have time to visit one attraction don’t miss the Denver Art Museum at 100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway. The 2007 modern addition of striking titanium peaks and shards to mimic the Rocky Mountains designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind sidles up to the original 28-sided art museum designed by Gio Ponti of Milan, Italy.

It’s an easy walk three blocks east of the State Capitol to the Molly Brown House, located at 1340 Pennsylvania St., home of “Unsinkable Molly” (known as Margaret to the community) who gained fame as a survivor of the Titanic.

One block away at 1311 Pearl St. is the Kirkland Museum featuring an expansive collection of Colorado painter Vance Kirkland and the works of more than 150 other 20th Century Colorado artists.

DAY TWO

On your second day in Denver, head to Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 15 miles west of Denver near C-470 and I-70. Aside from being a geological wonder 70 million years in the making with dramatic 500-foot-high red sandstone cliffs, Red Rocks is one of the world’s most famous concert sites played by The Beatles to Dave Matthews. Moderately challenging hiking trails wind through the park with the Visitors Center opening daily at 8 a.m. 

In the afternoon, enjoy some of the best shopping between Chicago and San Francisco. The Cherry Creek Shopping Center at 3000 E. First Ave. boasts 160 stores including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., Coach, Burberry and Macy’s.  Across First Avenue, Cherry Creek North is home to the region’s largest selection of more than 300 boutiques, spas, restaurants and galleries. At day’s end, put your feet up in leather-scented lounge chairs at Havana’s Fine Cigars (www.havanascigarsdenver.com) in Cherry Creek North and puff well into the night on fine brands like Davidoff.

DAY THREE

On your third day, jog, bike or stroll Denver’s 850 miles of off-road paved trails, a notable reason the population of Denver is among the fittest and thinnest nationwide. You can bike from Cherry Creek Shopping Center northwest to LoDo’s Confluence Park on the banks of the Platte River where flotillas of gondolas offer waterway tours. If you are looking for a more intense workout, go directly to the REI Store at 1416 Platte St. and scale the 47-foot indoor climbing wall.

For less rigorous footwork, head to City Park and the Denver Zoo at 2300 Steele St., encompassing 75 acres and housing more than 4,000 animals. City Park is also home to The Denver Museum of Nature and Science at 2001 Colorado Blvd. where you’ll find a variety of exhibitions and programs promoting scientific discovery and preservation, as well as a planetarium and IMAX theatre. 

AFTER HOURS

No trip is complete without taking in a little live music. All genres can be found at the Fillmore, the Ogden and the Bluebird along the stretch of East Colfax Avenue from Broadway east. For jazz close in to city central, try Jazz at Jack’s at The Pavilions, Dazzle Restaurant & Lounge in the Golden Triangle, El Chapultepec in LoDo or The Paramount Theatre at 16th and Glenarm. Check www.Denver365.com for the hot ticket on any given night.

The After 5 Jazz & Blues Festival 2008 is open to the public Saturday, Aug. 23 – Friday, Aug. 29 in Denver’s Five Points (Colorado’s only Historic Cultural District) at Welton and 25th streets. Regarded as the Jazz Mecca of the American West from the Roaring ‘20s to the mid-‘50s.  Then performers Louis Armstrong, Billie Holliday, Duke Ellington and Nat King Cole would jam into the night after wrapping gigs at premium Denver hotels where they weren’t allowed to enter the front doors, let alone bed down for the night. This year’s festival
(www.denverjazzfestival2008.com) headlines Gerald Albright, Eric Darius, Pamela Williams, Poncho Sanchez, Arturo Sandoval, Bobby Lyle and Nelson Rangell, among others.

Get The 411

If you are looking for local information on Denver’s can’t-miss attractions, activities or events visit
Denver’s official Visitor Information Center, located at 16th and California streets, right in the heart of the popular 16th Street Mall. Open daily.

For up-to-the minute information on what’s going on in Denver during the convention, visit www.denverconvention2008.com or www.denver.org.