Denver 101 for Democratic Convention delegates

The Democratic National Convention has just kicked off. Staff writer Christopher Reynolds offers some sterling suggestions on things to do in Denver for “superdelegates, standard delegates … would-be VPs and all-access VIPs” who are attending the Convention this week.

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Let me supplement the list of things to do, only because Denver deserves kudos for pulling itself up by its cowboy bootstraps.

Here’s what I “Dem-phasize” (or add) to the list:

Watching the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. I love the fact that the stadium (pictured top) is walking distance from the heart of the entertainment district. But I loved even more watching the ballgame at this park, where good seats didn’t set me back a month’s rent. Stay over for Labor Day (the Rockies are away till then), grab a seat for the afternoon game versus the Giants and watch Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki and the rest of the gang smack the ball around. Their record may not be as good as the Dodgers’, but they are consistently more exciting.

Eating at the Buckhorn Exchange. If you’re a Denver newbie, you have to do this. The Buckhorn is just so Denver, with the dead animal heads (taxidermied, not road kill) on the walls. It was my first taste of prairie oysters many years ago (won’t do that again) and my first taste of rattlesnake a couple of years ago (won’t do that either). The Old West flavor borders on hokum but never crosses the line, and even though I’m not much of a game eater, I found the menu fascinating. Reservations: (303) 534-9505, 10^th and Osage streets. Buckhorn Exchange

Staying at the Oxford Hotel. I’ve loved the Oxford since I first saw it, back from the grave (and its days as a flophouse) about 25 years ago. It has only gotten better in the interim. Great staff; fabulous, historic rooms; and close to Coors Field (just in case you have one too many of the signature brews). You have to love the Art Deco Cruise bar because, well, what’s not to love? Reservations (800) 228-5838. Oxford Hotel

Browsing in the Tattered Cover. For those who are not yet Kindle-ing, this bookstore in Lower Denver (LoDo to those in the know) ranks up there with Elliott Bay Book Co. in Seattle. Here’s a list of authors who will be signing books during the convention.

– Catharine Hamm, Times Travel editor

[Photo: Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times]

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This entry was posted on Monday, August 25, 2008 at 3:05 pm by Catharine Hamm and is filed under Colorado, News, Tips & Advice, Rocky Mountain States. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.