Does Denver have anything truly 'world-class'? (Center: transplants, theatres, live)

[bhcompy]

Work class outdoor activities for a major metro area. Probably the best in the US, unless you're fond of watersports.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

World class MJ dispensaries.

Ha ha!

[DallasYankee]

Well, it may not be world class, but the Starz Film Center offers the finest, most varied international selection of cinema that I have encountered in the cities I've lived in (Boston and Dallas primarily, and other areas). The Denver Film Society membership offered there simply cannot be bettered - $7 tickets, free popcorn included, as well as numerous film festivals. Since we've moved here in March, there have been Japanese and French film festivals, along with free member receptions which include complimentary wine, beer, and gourmet cheese. The atmosphere there is at once laid back and sophisticated; not pretentious, but cultured.

As a new resident to the area, I cannot speak for the museums. I would agree the shopping does not appear to be particularly impressive. All in all, we are satisfied and look forward to exploring Denver more.

[zenkonami]

Originally Posted by davidv

If your definition of "world class" is that something is one of the top 10, top 50, or top 100 in the world, such a designation would put "world class" items in the top 0.1% of things worldwide. If you want to talk about things in in Denver that are in the top 100, you would have to include:

1.The Western History Collection at the Denver Public Library

2. American Indian and Pre-Columbian Art collection at the Denver Art Museum.

3. DIA.

4. Red Rocks Amphitheater

5. Many mountain ski resorts

It's a great point...I would consider DIA impressive, but I rarely think of airports as "World Class." LAX, O'Hare, Kennedy and Heathrow might be considered "World Class Airports", though many who use them consider them to be a nightmare (which would, in that case, probably qualify DIA as world class in their stead.)

I did forget about Red Rocks which I think makes a legitimate case for "World Class." There are amphitheaters worldwide that have been designed with Red Rocks in mind as a standard. I suppose that because it's so far outside of the central city I tend not to think of it as part of Denver.

Coors Field is certainly a top tier ballpark, though calling it "World Class" would be disingenuine (in the same way we cap World Series victors to be "World Champions", despite baseball played in nations that have no opportunity to participate.)

I tend to think of Ski Resorts as amusement parks for the rich, though...not exactly something I think of in terms of "World Class." Switzerland may have it's fair share but humbug on them all. It's just an overpriced playground to me.

[Katarina Witt]

^^The skiing is considered "world class" (the Olympics were supposed to be held here in 1976), and it's not just for the richest of the rich. Lots of middle class people that I know go skiing.

[DenverAztec]

I heard a quote last night from a home owner of a 1.8 million dollar home in Highlands Ranch. He said, "The more home you own, the more it owns you!" Though Denver may not have scores of 'World Class' items, not many cities do, it doesn't have 'World Class' problems either. Being a basic city is comfortable and easy, yet you can travel to other cities to enjoy what they may have that is world class without having to try to live there to fit the cost and crime.

To the items already mentioned, I would have to add a few:
- 2nd Most Victorian era wearhouses and home outside of San Francisco (both cites thrived from the Gold Rush)
- The Daniel Libeskind Denver Art Museum Extension
- DIA
- The health of our citizen, locally and state wide. Consistently in the top 10 for how fit we are.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by DenverAztec

I heard a quote last night from a home owner of a 1.8 million dollar home in Highlands Ranch. He said, "The more home you own, the more it owns you!" Though Denver may not have scores of 'World Class' items, not many cities do, it doesn't have 'World Class' problems either. Being a basic city is comfortable and easy, yet you can travel to other cities to enjoy what they may have that is world class without having to try to live there to fit the cost and crime.

To the items already mentioned, I would have to add a few:
- 2nd Most Victorian era wearhouses and home outside of San Francisco (both cites thrived from the Gold Rush)
- The Daniel Libeskind Denver Art Museum Extension
- DIA
- The health of our citizen, locally and state wide. Consistently in the top 10 for how fit we are.

Reminds of another old saying: "Borrow a thousand dollars, the bank owns you; borrow a million dollars, you own the bank."

Easily overlooked by many people is your statement: "Though Denver may not have scores of 'World Class' items, not many cities do, it doesn't have 'World Class' problems either." That says a LOT and it's possibly one of the strongest reasons why Denver just might be a world class city. Whether by luck or planning or fate, Denver has missed out on the horrors of many of our larger, old industrial cities, both east and west.

[DenverAztec]

Thank you for your comments Mike! I do significant traveling around the country and only to major metropolitan areas, at least once a month, and am constantly glad to return home where there are so many less issues to have to contend with.

[OneMoreMove]

Yea, people just cant stop talking about our 'world class' airport here in Denver.

[Davros]

Being 'world class' is overrated.