Phones

There are two area codes for Denver—303 and 720—used throughout the greater metro area. Always dial the entire 10-digit number, including the area code, even for local calls.

Internet Services

There is free Wi-Fi available at various places all around Denver. All you need is a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop and you can surf the Internet from any bench or comfortable spot along the 16th Street Mall, where there is free Wi-Fi (www.downtowndenverwifi.com). All Denver Public Library locations have free Wi-Fi, as does the Cherry Creek North shopping district. The Colorado Convention Center, Denver International Airport, all Tattered Cover Book Store locations, and several local coffee shops offer free Wi-Fi. In some places you will need to get a password from the employee or manager of a business before logging on.

Mail Services

There are post offices located in many Denver neighborhoods. In downtown, there is a small post office (535 16th St.) in the lower level of the historic Masonic Building across from the Pavilions, and a larger post office (951 20th St.) on the edge of LoDo.

Also downtown, you’ll find a FedEx Kinko’s (555 17th St., 303/298-8610); there’s another location in LoDo (1509 Blake St., 303/623-3500). If you call one branch, they can give you the address of another one close to you. The UPS Store (1550 Larimer St., 303/825-8060) in LoDo can also provide helpful information on locations around the city.

Newspapers and Periodicals

Denver still has two daily newspapers, though they have been under a joint operating agreement since 2000 and rumors swirl that one will soon fold. For now, readers can choose between the tabloid-format Rocky Mountain News (www.rockymountainnews.com) and the Denver Post (www.denverpost.com), though under the JOA the Rocky publishes on Saturday and the Post on Sunday.

Even though the physical size of the alternative weekly, Westword (www.westword.com), keeps shrinking, the voice is still big and strong, thanks largely to longtime editor Patricia Calhoun, who knows Denver inside out. Westword is free and can be picked up at businesses all over town. The weekly event listings can be really helpful when looking for something fun to do.

5280 Magazine (pronounced fifty-two eighty) is a glossy monthly magazine that has a mix of serious news, restaurant reviews, and very popular “Best Of” issues on topics from food to doctors.

Radio and Television

Colorado Public Radio (KCFR, 90.1 FM, www.cpr.org) is the local news and information radio station, with its original programming such as Colorado Matters, in addition to the National Public Radio and BBC programs aired throughout each day. Sister station KVOD (88.1 FM, www.kvod.org) plays classical music all day. Their websites provide the frequencies for picking up those stations in other Colorado locations. You can also pick up Boulder-based KGNU (88.5 FM in Boulder or 1390 AM in Denver, www.kgnu.org), an independent community radio station that offers some eclectic programming ranging from music to news. For jazz and blues music with knowledgeable deejays, there is jazz89 (89.3 FM, www.kuvo.org). All-talk stations include KHOW (630 AM, www.khow.com), with local favorites such as Peter Boyles and Tom Martino; KOA (850 AM, www.850koa.com), with shows that lean to the right from local Mike Rosen and Rush Limbaugh; and KNUS (710 AM, www.710knus.townhall.com), which has more news and talk.

Local news channels are Channel 2 (WB Network), Channel 4 (CBS affiliate), Channel 7 (ABC affiliate), Channel 9 (NBC affiliate), and Fox News (Channel 13 or 31). There are two PBS channels: Rocky Mountain PBS (KRMA, Ch. 6) includes local shows like Colorado State of Mind and national ones like The Newshour with Jim Lehrer; Colorado Public Television (KBDI, Ch. 12) has a diverse program schedule with an emphasis on documentaries.

© Mindy Sink from Moon Denver, 1st Edition