I just made a fast trip out of DIA, which has been spruced up in anticipation of the hordes of politicos and pundits heading to town this weekend. Acres of carpet have been replaced (and recycled in the greenest way possible), the gift stores are stocked with convention souvenirs (peace-sign hats, but sadly, few actual Colorado products), the area where you board the trains now have Coloradocentric posters (much better than the Amtrak ads that were there a few months ago), and the train cars themselves have placards touting some of the state's attractions. The lists In my car: "National Western Stock Show, Tenth Mountain Division, Annie Oakley, Jack Keroauc, Ski Bliss," and "The Denver Mint, Majestic Red Rocks, the Mile High City, the Unsinkable Molly Brown, Sports Mania."
Okay, I get the proper names -- but Sports Mania? Ski Bliss?
And I had plenty of time to puzzle over the list, since our train got stuck for several long minutes at Concourse A, until an employee in our car got on the emergency phone and things started moving again.
One more thing I'd like to see moving: the notion of changing the train's recorded message from John Hickenlooper to actually identify him as the MAYOR welcoming you to Denver, rather than just another bossy voice telling you where you need to go to pick up your baggage. Months ago, I was told this was going to change; the clock's ticking.
-- Patricia Calhoun
