Editing Denver (section)

==Culture==
{{See also|Landmarks of Denver|Music in Denver|Denver Center for Performing Arts}}
[[File:Coloradoconventioncenter1.JPG|alt=|[[Colorado Convention Center]]|thumb]]
Apollo Hall opened soon after the city's founding in 1859 and staged many plays for eager settlers.<ref name="DenverHist">{{cite web|url=http://www.denvergov.org/aboutdenver/history_narrative_2.asp |title=Denver History: The Golden Gamble |author=Thomas J. Noel |publisher=City and County of Denver |access-date=April 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405232859/http://www.denvergov.org/AboutDenver/history_narrative_2.asp |archive-date=April 5, 2007 }}</ref> In the 1880s [[Horace Tabor]] built Denver's first [[opera house]]. After the start of the 20th century, city leaders embarked on a city beautification program that created many of the city's parks, parkways, museums, and the Municipal Auditorium, which was home to the [[1908 Democratic National Convention]] and is now known as the [[Ellie Caulkins Opera House]]. Denver and the metropolitan areas around it continued to support culture.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In July 1982, Denver hosted the [[World Theatre Festival (Denver)|World Theatre Festival]]<ref>{{cite news | title=The Script Was in Serbo-Croatian | newspaper=[[Washington Post]] | date=31 August 1982 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1982/08/31/the-script-was-in-serbo-croatian/fe0796fb-3ba0-4a80-aca1-01c98c8c6eef/ | access-date=11 December 2021}}</ref> at the [[Denver Center for Performing Arts]], which comprised a program of 114 performances of 18 plays, by [[theatre companies]] from 13 countries, across 25 days.<ref>{{cite web | title=Baltimore's World Theater (sic) Festival blooms anew in Denver | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=27 July 1982| first=William E.|last= Schmidt | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/27/theater/baltimore-s-world-theater-festival-blooms-anew-in-denver.html | access-date=11 December 2021}}</ref>

In 1988, voters in the [[Denver Metropolitan Area]] approved the Scientific and Cultural Facilities Tax (commonly known as SCFD), a 0.1% (1 cent per $10) [[sales tax]] that contributes money to various cultural and scientific facilities and organizations throughout the Metro area.<ref name=scfd>{{cite web|url=http://www.scfd.org/?page=home&sub=1 |title=SCFD: Making It Possible |publisher=Scientific & Cultural Facilities District |access-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219162639/http://www.scfd.org/?page=home&sub=1 |archive-date=December 19, 2007 }}</ref> The tax was renewed by voters in 1994 and 2004 and allowed the SCFD to operate until 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scfd.org/?page=about&sub=1 |title=SCFD: Crafted for and by the People |publisher=Scientific & Cultural Facilities District |access-date=April 3, 2007 |archive-date=December 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219163058/http://www.scfd.org/?page=about&sub=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ballot issue 4B in 2016 won approval 62.8 percent to 37.2 percent, by Denver metro area voters, to extend the SCFD sales tax until 2030.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/08/denver-scfd-ballot-issue-election-results/|title=Denver metro's arts and cultural tax, 4B, passes easily, extends to 2030|date=November 8, 2016}}</ref>

Denver is home to a wide array of museums.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denver.org/events/museums-exhibits/|title=Museums & Exhibits in Denver, Colorado &#124; VISIT DENVER|website=www.denver.org}}</ref> Many are nationally recognized, including a new wing for the [[Denver Art Museum]] by architect [[Daniel Libeskind]], the nation's second-largest [[Denver Performing Arts Complex|Performing Arts Center]] after [[Lincoln Center]] in New York City, and bustling neighborhoods such as [[LoDo]], filled with art galleries, restaurants, bars and clubs. That is part of the reason Denver was, in 2006, recognized for the third year in a row as the best city for singles.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2006/07/24/daily30.html Denver-Boulder No.1 again with singles]. The Denver Business Journal. July 25, 2006. Retrieved on July 29, 2006.</ref> Its neighborhoods also continue their influx of diverse people and businesses while the city's cultural institutions grow and prosper. The city acquired the estate of [[abstract expressionism|abstract expressionist]] painter [[Clyfford Still]] in 2004 and built a museum to exhibit his works near the Denver Art Museum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clyffordstillmuseum.org|title=Clyfford Still Museum in Denver, Colorado|publisher=Clyfford Still Museum in Denver, Colorado |access-date=October 11, 2007}}</ref> The [[Denver Museum of Nature and Science]] holds an aquamarine specimen valued at over $1 million, as well as specimens of the state mineral, rhodochrosite. Every September the Denver Mart, at 451 E. 58th Avenue, hosts a gem and mineral show.<ref name="minaral_show">{{cite web|url=http://www.denvermineralshow.com/ |title=The 43rd Annual Denver Gem and Mineral Show |work=denvermineralshow |publisher=Denver Gem and Mineral Show |access-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref> The state history museum, [[History Colorado Center]], opened in April 2012. It features hands-on and interactive exhibits, artifacts and programs about Colorado history.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lieff |first=Laura |title=History Colorado Center Ignites Imaginations Of All Ages |url=http://www.glendalecherrycreek.com/history-colorado-center-ignites-imaginations-of-all-ages/ |date=2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110090353/http://www.glendalecherrycreek.com/history-colorado-center-ignites-imaginations-of-all-ages/ |archive-date=January 10, 2014 |newspaper=Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle |access-date=February 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was named in 2013 by ''[[True West Magazine]]'' as one of the top-ten "must see" history museums in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.truewestmagazine.com/jcontent/travel/travel/travel-features/5952-the-top-10-must-see-museums |title=The TOP 10 Must-See Museums |publisher=Truewestmagazine.com |date=August 6, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414075219/http://www.truewestmagazine.com:80/jcontent/travel/travel/travel-features/5952-the-top-10-must-see-museums |archive-date=April 14, 2014}}{{dead link|date=April 2016|reason=failed bot fix}}{{cbignore}}</ref> History Colorado's [[Byers-Evans House]] Museum and the [[Molly Brown House]] are nearby.

Denver has numerous art districts, including [[Denver's Art District on Santa Fe]] and the River North Art District (RiNo).<ref>{{cite web|title=Denver Art Districts|url=http://artsandvenuesdenver.com/create-denver/arts-creative-districts/denver-art-districts/ |publisher=Denver Arts & Venues|access-date=January 23, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123064923/http://artsandvenuesdenver.com/create-denver/arts-creative-districts/denver-art-districts/|archive-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref>

While Denver may not be as recognized for historical musical prominence as some other American cities, it has an active pop, [[jazz]], [[jam band|jam]], [[folk music|folk]], metal, and [[European classical music|classical music]] scene, which has nurtured several artists and genres to regional, national, and even international attention. Of particular note is Denver's importance in the [[folk music|folk scene]] of the 1960s and 1970s. Well-known folk artists such as [[Bob Dylan]], [[Judy Collins]] and [[John Denver]] lived in Denver at various points during this time and performed at local clubs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coloradoarts.net/01/text/landmarks.html |title=Landmarks and Local Laughs |publisher=Colorado Arts Net |access-date=September 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013121115/http://coloradoarts.net/01/text/landmarks.html |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Three members of the widely popular group [[Earth, Wind, and Fire]] are also from Denver. More recent Denver-based artists include [[India Arie]], [[Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats]], [[The Lumineers]], [[Air Dubai]], [[The Fray]], [[Flobots]], [[Cephalic Carnage]], [[Axe Murder Boyz]], Deuce Mob, [[Havok (band)|Havok]], [[Bloodstrike (band)|Bloodstrike]], [[Primitive Man (band)|Primitive Man]], and [[Five Iron Frenzy]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} Denver is also home to the Denver Record Collectors Expo, a biannual music collectors event.

Because of its proximity to the mountains and generally sunny weather, Denver has gained a reputation as being a very active, outdoor-oriented city. Many Denver residents spend the weekends in the mountains; skiing in the winter and hiking, climbing, kayaking, and camping in the summer.

Denver and surrounding cities are home to a large number of local and national breweries. Many of the region's restaurants have on-site breweries, and some larger brewers offer tours, including [[Coors Brewing Company|Coors]] and [[New Belgium Brewing Company]]. The city also welcomes visitors from around the world when it hosts the annual [[Great American Beer Festival]] each fall.

Denver used to be a major trading center for beef and livestock when ranchers would drive (or later transport) cattle to the Denver Union Stockyards for sale. As a celebration of that history, for more than a century Denver has hosted the annual [[National Western Stock Show]], attracting as many as 10,000 animals and 700,000 attendees. The show is held every January at the National Western Complex northeast of downtown.

Denver has one of the country's largest populations of [[Mexican American]]s and hosts four large Mexican-American celebrations: [[Cinco de Mayo]] (with over 500,000 attendees),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denver.org/what-to-do/museum-art/denver-hispanic-latino-chicano |title=Hispanic Denver |publisher=Denver.org |date=February 20, 2007 |access-date=September 15, 2013}}</ref> in May; [[Grito de Dolores|El Grito de la Independencia]], in September; the annual [[Lowrider]] show, and the [[Dia De Los Muertos]] art shows/events in North Denver's [[Highland, Denver|Highland]] neighborhood, and the [[Lincoln Park, Denver, Colorado|Lincoln Park]] neighborhood in the original section of West Denver.

Denver is known for its dedication to [[New Mexican cuisine]] and the Chile. It is best known for its green and red chile sauce, [[Cuisine of the Southwestern United States|Colorado burrito]], Southwest (Denver) [[omelette]], breakfast burrito, [[empanadas]], [[chiles rellenos]], and [[tamale]]s. Denver is also known for other types of food such as [[Rocky Mountain oysters]], [[rainbow trout]], and the [[Denver sandwich]].

The [[Dragon Boat Festival]] in July, [[Moon Festival]] in September and [[Chinese New Year]] are annual events in Denver for the Chinese and Asian-American communities. Chinese hot pot (huo guo) and [[Korean cuisine|Korean]] BBQ restaurants have been growing in popularity. The Denver area has two Chinese newspapers, the ''Chinese American Post'' and the ''Colorado Chinese News''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cocnews.com/ |title=Cocnews.com |publisher=Cocnews.com |access-date=September 3, 2011 |archive-date=October 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007043503/http://www.cocnews.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> A Korean Newspaper, the "Colorado Times News" is also based in Denver.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.coloradotimesnews.com/|title=Home|date=February 19, 2020|website=콜로라도 타임즈 - Colorado Times}}</ref>

Denver has long been a place tolerant of the [[LGBTQ]] (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community. Many gay bars can be found on Colfax Avenue and on South Broadway. Every June, Denver hosts the annual Denver PrideFest in Civic Center Park, the largest LGBTQ Pride festival in the Rocky Mountain region.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Denver PrideFest|url=https://denverpride.org/pridefest/|access-date=2021-05-13|website=Denver Pride|language=en-US|archive-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328012129/https://denverpride.org/pridefest/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Denver is the setting for ''[[The Bill Engvall Show]]'', [[Tim Allen]]'s ''[[Last Man Standing (U.S. TV series)|Last Man Standing]],'' and [[The Real World: Denver|the 18th season]] of MTV's ''[[The Real World (TV series)|The Real World]]''. It was also the setting for the prime time drama ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' from 1981 to 1989 (although the show was mostly filmed in Los Angeles). From 1998 to 2002 the city's [[Alameda East Veterinary Hospital]] was home to the [[Animal Planet]] series ''[[Emergency Vets]]'', which spun off three documentary specials and the current Animal Planet series ''[[E-Vet Interns]]''. The city is also the setting for the [[Disney Channel]] sitcom ''[[Good Luck Charlie]]''.

<gallery widths="150px" class="center">
File:Denver Pavilions sign and escalators.jpg|[[Denver Pavilions]] is a popular arts, entertainment, and shopping center on the [[16th Street Mall]] in downtown Denver.
File:Denver Performing Arts Complex.jpg|[[Denver Performing Arts Complex]]
File:Denver Art Museum.JPG|Denver Art Museum
File:Civiccenter1.JPG|Civic Center Park, with museums and the central library in background
</gallery>