I must say it’s been exciting along the ole trail during a week resembling a checkerboard of early days and later nights in which I was both piece and player. Of course it’s typical as spring and summer are my busiest times as we get into full swing to service the corporate meetings, conventions, and tour groups of all kinds arriving in Denver to conduct their business and to enjoy themselves in one of the premiere destinations on the planet. The locals too are out in force also – attending festivals, jamborees, concerts, and every conceivable out door sports and recreational activity imaginable.

In addition to servicing our business that has been on the books, often times 12 to 18 months in advance, it’s the fulfillment of local last minute business requests that often times is most challenging yet the most rewarding, because these requests often come from the folks in the community that you know and have relationships with often outside of the realm of business. A special thanks to Van Lucero, and Esteban Baca of the Boy Scouts for letting us work our “special magic” to secure last minute hard to find first class transportation for their 2008 Urban Camporee. Also special thanks also goes to Sherry James and her staff at US Fish & Wildlife Service along with Craig Piper president our Denver Zoo who, by exercising their capacity for flexibility in the spirit accommodation, made possible a most remarkable and memorable morning behind the scenes zoo tour.

The Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau in cooperation with The Tavern Downtown at 1949 Market St. hosted a media event in which many local resident travel writers and hospitality professionals were exposed to wonderful fare available to
LoDo visitors at their restaurant. In addition to the great hospitality, the views from their roof-top lounge overlooking Coors Field gets my recommendation as a great place for a beer and photo-op for your special guests before or after the game. Along that same vane, you want to keep your eyes and ears open for the upcoming announcement of the “Denver Story Trek”. On Monday evening Annie Levinskey, Director of the Molly Brown House Museum gave myself and a number of my tour guides an overview of a new heritage tour product to soon be unveiled involving the Molly Brown House, the Vance Kirkland Museum, the Byers Evans House Museum, The Four Mile House, and the Black American West Museum. The Denver Story Trek is based loosely on the concept of the Boston Freedom Trail (http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/ ), and will take visitors to these historical sites providing a unique and historical view of our city. One neat feature allows you to use your cell phone for an “interactive cell phone tour” just by dialing the designated number and listening to a full description of the tour. Full details will be announced in late June 2008.

The Denver Office of Cultural Affairs (DOCA) along with their sponsors celebrated the 5th Annual Five Points Jazz Festival this past Saturday, May 17th, an event that celebrates the music, culture, and history of our Five Points neighborhood, with performances highlighting many of Denver’s finest Jazz musicians. Thanks again to Gina Robano of DOCA for partnering with me to provide the tour guide as well as the shuttle service that was operated between the seven official Jazz Fest shuttle stop locations. Since DOCA was able to “conjure-up” such a beautiful sunny day, it was easy for me to walk the route, say “hi” to friends, check out the vendors along Welton St. and listen to some great music performed at Blackberries, and the KUVO Outdoor stage, while in route to the Black American West Museum. Special ‘kudos’ and congratulations to Dr. Ronald J. Stephens and La Wanna Larson, Executive Director of the Black American West Museum upon the recent release of their book “African Americans of Denver”. The book is a compilation of fine and rare photos depicting people, events and circumstances involving the lives of African Americans from the past up to the present, and in addition includes in the introduction a fine synopsis that will provide the casual reader with enough insight into the Denver African American experience to make them want to learn more. I will be recommending this volume to all my tour guides.

Well, as evening approaches, thus ends my week on the checkerboard, but it’s easy for me to take solace in this one notion, and that is….. when purpose and pleasure are brought together, work becomes play… see you along the trail!