VUE

enver, Colorado is known for many things—legalized marijuana, beer festivals and exceptional hiking loca- tions to name a few. Dubbed the Mile High City, this buzzing metropolis has the highest elevation of any American city. Simply by happenstance, the 13th step of the State Capitol Building sits 5,280 feet above sea level—exactly one mile. With the Rocky Mountains to its west and the High Plains to its east, Denver's otherwise impressive city skyline is made to look almost miniature by compar- ison. e rarified air in the city means that alcohol packs more of a punch and balls—of the tennis, golf and base variety—fly with greater velocity than at sea level. Elevation makes the sun feel warmer and Den- ver experiences roughly 300 days of unobstructed sunshine per year. Warmer, drunker and better at hitting balls than the rest of us, the people of Denver, Colorado truly live the high life. However there is one strong attrac- tion of the city that oen goes unrecognized: Denver has a distinctive and supportive art and music scene. Denver has valued art and culture since its very inception. During the days of the Old West, the city organized a performance of Macbeth in a local saloon before it had a school or hospital to call its own. Today, the Denver metro area collects more money per capita for the arts than any other city. A self-im- posed tenth of a cent tax for the arts raises roughly $40 million a year—an impressive sum that the city collects and promptly distributes to 300 arts organi- zations and facilities. In addition to the annual art tax, Denver voters recently approved a $90 million refurbishing of Boettcher Concert Hall, home to the Colorado Symphony. Perhaps the shining achievement of the city's re- lentless appreciation and funding for the arts is the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Covering four blocks, the complex houses 10 theaters, seating up- wards of 10,000 people, and is second in size only to New York's Lincoln Center. Art and music lovers from across the country come to the Performing Arts Complex to enjoy symphony, ballet, opera, and trav- eling Broadway shows. Denver Art Museum in the Civic Center of Denver, Colorado. VUE ON TRAVEL V U E N J . C O M 111

• Cover