One Reader's Very Personal "You Know You're From Denver When" Top Ten

Earlier this week, when we shared our latest collection of "You Know You're From Denver When" punchlines, we asked readers to share their favorite way to complete that sentence.

Plenty did so — and we'll be featuring many of them in a future post.

First, though, come the contributions of Matt Morava, who created his very own top ten list — one that is likely to strike a chord with a great many Denver-area residents...particularly if they're natives.

Here are his picks, which we've photo-illustrated. Thanks, Matt!

Number 10. You know you're from Denver when...you can remember getting excited about car plates from California and being blown away by plates from Alaska or Hawaii.

Number 9. You know you're from Denver when...you can remember that the South Platte has a number of "brown sites" near it and you wouldn't get in it, especially at Confluence Park, to save a life.

Number 8. You know you're from Denver when...the "Cash Register" building still looks cool.

Number 7. You know you're from Denver when...you've owned a parka long enough that the sleeves are all black and grimy from use.

Number 6. You know you're from Denver when...you caught a show at the Rainbow Music Hall — especially that one with Black Flag and Nig Heist.


Number 5. You know you're from Denver when...you remember the Littleton Dogs. Bonus points if you were chased across town (like in the movie The Warriors) by them because you kissed this girl named Mary at a party and had no idea she was dating one of their top lieutenants — and that he was watching the whole time.

Number 4. You know you're from Denver when...you grew up loving the Cubs because that was the only MLB team on cable. WGN. Harry Carrey, Steve Stone, Andre Dawson, Mark Grace, Ryan Sandberg, Shawn Dunston.

Number 3. You know you're from Denver when...every time you drive down Colorado Blvd. you think about Celebrity Sports Center. Fondly.

Number 2. You know you're from Denver when...you've camped near Red Rocks overnight in order to line up first thing in the morning to get seats in the front row.

Number 1. You know you're from Denver, like truly born and raised, all Native like, when...it's totally understandable why Colorado has more scuba shops than almost any other state in the Union.
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.