Wake-Up Call: We all have a duty to buy

When he kicked off Denver ArtsWeek earlier this month, Mayor John Hickenlooper echoed former Governor Dick "Duty to Die" Lamm when he told the crowd, "We all have a duty to shop." Now Denverites will get a chance to put their money where Hick's mouth is, when the mayor and assorted...

By Patricia Calhoun

November 25, 2008

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When he kicked off Denver ArtsWeek earlier this month, Mayor John Hickenlooper echoed former Governor Dick "Duty to Die" Lamm when he told the crowd, "We all have a duty to shop."

Now Denverites will get a chance to put their money where Hick's mouth is, when the mayor and assorted city boosters -- Nick LeMasters, general manager of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center; Richard Scharf, president of Visit Denver; Tami Door, president of the Downtown Denver Partnership -- kick off "Mile High Holidays" at 11:15 a.m. this morning at the Center Court of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

Cherry Creek is just one of the retail outlets that's joined in the cooperative marketing campaign, which encourages Denverites to get out and enjoy their hometown over the holidays -- and spend some cash here, rather than over the Internet.

The holiday celebration really revs up on Friday, when downtown's Grand Illumination will include lighting festivities at 5:30 p.m. at Union Station -- complete with an appearance by Dinger Claus. The lights will also go on at the Denver City & County Building, which will stay lit -- and how -- through the Stock Show. -- Patricia Calhoun

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

Contact: Patricia Calhoun

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