Would anyone in their right mind consider Denver a Midwestern city? (Lake City: neighborhoods, living)

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

When I was shoveling the 'blizzard' snow last Friday, I was sweating too much to keep my sunglasses on, so I took them off, and couldn't see anything when I walked into the house. Granted, the inability to see wore off after a few minutes, but was no fun while it lasted. Sorry you had to go through that. Next time get those sunglasses on!

Or better yet, ski goggles.

[the3Ds]

Originally Posted by BarryK123

Yes, there really is such a thing. It's often called snow blindness and is simply a UV burn to the surface of the eye. Fortunately, it usually heals within 24h, but can be quite painful. Another reason for UV protection to the eyes is long-term exposure is associated with other problems like cataracts and pterygia.

Yes, that was definitely my "lesson learned." I knew about wearing sunglasses when skiing, I just didn't think of it when I was shoveling in front of my house. What was weird is that they didn't hurt while I was doing it...I don't really remember squinting that much. Anyway, that really freaked me out and was quite painful (and longlasting). I usually wear sunglasses when I am driving, I just didn't think of it.

[the3Ds]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Or better yet, ski goggles.

Well, I know most of my neighbors and they would likely get a chuckle out of seeing me in my bright pink ski goggles shoveling snow! It would be like that scene on Seinfeld when George couldn't find his glasses so he wore his prescription swim goggles around.

[Onebeed]

If it's not a "rough" (roof) what is it?

[Count David]

Originally Posted by Onebeed

If it's not a "rough" (roof) what is it?

Roo-oof

[vegaspilgrim]

It's pronounced roof. Rhymes with spoof. Or doof[us].

[XXclimberX]

No way in hell Denver is a midwestern city. And I would go so far and say that Denver has alot more in common with the west coast states then anything in the midwest.

[DenverLawGal]

aha! spoken like a true voyeur!!!!

[downtownnola]

Denver's definately not "midwestern."

I agree with the poster who claims that Denver has alot more in common with the west coast than with the midwest. Culturally, I think that Denver has alot more in common with say, San Diego than with say, Kansas City.

[tfox]

I see the "west" as actually two separate regions. There's the Pacific Coast and the Mountain West. Denver is clearly in the mountain west along with the rest of our timezone and the inland portions of the pacific states.

Likewise, I see the "midwest" also as two separate regions: the Great Lakes and the Great Plains. Rapid City, for example, is clearly the latter and Cleveland, say, is the former. Places like Omaha, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and Des Moines fall uncomfortably in-between. Once you get to the Mississippi (for example, the twin cities), I'd say you're safely in the "Great Lakes" region.

Denver probably fits best in the "Mountain West" region, but a strong case could be made for making it at the western end of the "Great Plains" region.

In reality, I see it as both. I see Denver is the capital of two regions: the Mountain West and the Great Plains. As we say we're "The Rocky Mountain Empire" and also the "Queen City of the Plains." I don't see any competitors for the title on either side. In the mountain west, the only competitor could be Phoenix, but IMO it's far less of a "capital city" than Denver is, despite its greater size. We'll call Phoenix the regional capital of the "Interior Southwest," a sub-division of the Mountain West. The great plains region is also empty of competitors for the title of capital. A case could be made for Omaha, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, or Dallas -- but all four are more on the outer edge of the great plains or outside it altogether. Denver seems a better geographical fit for the great plains that Dallas, and much higher stature than Omaha, Kansas City, and OKC combined.

Being the unofficial capital of two major subregions is one reason why Denver's national stature is higher than you would expect for a city of 550k with 2.5M metro population. If we were located in, say, Texas, we'd be the sixth largest city, third largest metro, and probably would be little known nationally.