Denver Int’l Airport

Aliens & odd things at Denver Int’l Airport

Art, Fun Stuff, ,

DIA MUSTANG

Like zombies, the conspiracy theories about everything from aliens to underground bunkers, lizard people and secret military installations at Denver International Airport never die.

DEN officials do their best to debunk the really bizarre claims, but they have fun with them as well.

This month, to coincide with the Halloween season, the airport is even hosting a series of conspiracy theory-themed events, including a “Conspiracy Theories Uncovered” Art Exhibit (near the north security checkpoint; open 24 hours) with video, artwork, props and more that explain the most pervasive theories, free hour-long conspiracy theory art tours (Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays through October 29), a “What’s Under DEN” Facebook contest and a Conspiracy Costume Party – on October 20 – with a free screening of Close Encounters of the Third Kind out on the plaza between the airport terminal and the Westin Denver International Airport.

dia-statue

Plaza parties at Denver Int’l Airport

Events,

DEN plaza photo for event

They promised and now Denver International Airport (DEN) is delivering – with “Events at DEN,” a series of public events in the 82,000-square-foot open-air plaza that connects the iconic Jeppesen Terminal with the adjacent Westin Denver International Airport.

The canopy-covered open-air plaza is a destination on its own – with stunning views of the terminal tents, the Rocky Mountains and downtown Denver, a variety of major public art installations and an easy walk to the transit center facility where you can hop on a train to downtown Denver.

Here’s what’s coming up:

June 16-26: Putt-Putt on the Plaza with a free nine-hole, Denver-themed putt-putt course from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (weather permitting). On June 16 there will also be golf pros on duty offering tips, a golf simulator and other surprises from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

June 30: Film on the Fly – Live music from the “New Sensation” tribute band from 5-9 p.m., followed by a showing of classic aviator movie, “Top Gun,” starting around sunset. (Everyone gets free DEN branded aviator sunglasses.)

July 21 – Spirit of Colorado: day celebrates the rich Western Colorado heritage with a day of music, stuntmen, gold mining for kids, an old West photo booth, 4-H demonstrations, tastings from local Colorado distilleries, a mechanical bull and more. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Aug. 18 – Film on the Fly Aha! There IS an alien connection at DEN airport… An evening of bike stunt performers, a DJ, raffle prizes and more (from 5-8:30 p.m.) will be followed by a showing of film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.”

Aug. 20: A Wheels Up! Bike Celebration with a display of Colorado-made cruisers, electric bikes and innovative bikes, along with a Wish for Wheels charity build-a-bike station for kids living in underprivileged communities, a bike skills course complete with loaner bikes, raffle prizes, bands and more. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sept. 1: FISE World Sports Welcome Party: DEN is welcoming the extreme sports competition featuring freestyle BMX, flatland BMX, skateboarding and scooters with an afternoon of music, parkour and BMX stunts and autograph signings by extreme sports celebs. Hours: 3-7 p.m.

Beer garden at Denver Int’l Airport

Airports, Festivals, , , ,

DIA BEER FLIGHTS

Just in time for Oktoberfest season, Denver International Airport has brought back “Beer Flights,” the temporary beer garden in the center of the Jeppesen Terminal.

The beer garden will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily from Sept. 19 to Sept. 27 and coincides with worldwide Oktoberfest celebrations and Denver’s Great American Beer Festival. Tickets are available at the door for $10 and visitors must be 21 or older with a valid ID to enter.

The $10 admission includes a souvenir glass and 10, 2-ounce samples of beer from the 20 Colorado breweries and special brews represented:

· Avery Brewing – Liliko’i Kepolo

· Big Choice Brewing – #42 Poblano Stout

· Boulder Beer – Shake Chocolate Porter

· Bristol Brewing Company – Red Baron Octoberfest

· Crooked Stave – Colorado Wild Sage Mountain Saison

· Dry Dock Brewing Co. – Apricot Blonde

· Elevation Beer Co. – 7437 Double IPA

· Epic Brewing Co. – Escape to Colorado IPA

· Fate Brewing – Laimas Kölsch Style Ale

· Funkwerks – Tropic King Imperial Saison Ale

· Great Divide Brewing Company – Hibernation Ale

· Hall Brewing Co. – Juicy Peach Blonde

· High Hops Brewery – The Golden One

· Odell Brewing Company – Odell IPA

· Oskar Blues – Oskar Blues IPA

· Pikes Peak Brewing Co. – Devil’s Head Red Ale

· Pug Ryan’s – Hideout Helles Lager

· Sanitas Brewing – Sanitas Saison

· Station 26 Brewing Co. – Colorado Cream Ale

· Telluride Brewing Co. – Fishwater Barrell-Aged Double IPA

The beer garden will feature eight picnic tables decorated by local artists, live music, talks by brew masters and brew trivia.

Passengers who post photos of their “Beer Flights” experience on social media using #BeerFlightsDIA will be eligible to win prizes that include T-shirts and commemorative glasses, VIP brewery tours and more.

Cheers!

DIA BEER GARDEN

Denver Airport has its own lottery ticket

Airports, Contests, Fun Stuff,

DEN TIX 1

You may end up scratching on your next layover at Denver International Airport.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Denver International Airport the Colorado Lottery has created a $2 “Destination Dollars” Scratch game with tickets featuring four iconic images of the airport.

Top prize is $20,000 and you can pick up tickets at the airport’s Colorado Lottery kiosk on the northwest side of level 5 inside the Jeppesen Terminal (near the north TSA checkpoint) and at Colorado Lottery ticket sale locations throughout the state.

If you don’t win a prize when you scratch the ticket, don’t throw it away.

A Second-Chance Drawing has as its prize two round-trip airline tickets on United Airlines or United Express to anywhere in the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. Details on the tickets.

100,000 free gifts for travelers at Denver Int’l Airport

Holidays, , ,

DENVER GIFTS

If you’re traveling to, from or through Denver International Airport this holiday season and purchase a meal or a gift, be sure to keep the receipt.

The airport is giving away 100,000 free gifts to passengers who spend a one-day total of $20 or more at any single or combined retailer or restaurant in the airport.

To get a gift, take your receipt to one of the giant gift boxes (located on level 6 of the Jeppesen Terminal and in the centers of the A, B and C concourses) from 7 a.m. and 7 p.m between now and January 4.

At the gift box stations you can trade your $20 receipt for a prize.

Many of the prizes are from concessionaires right at the airport, so you might win cookies and coffee, a massage, clothing, toys or a travel-related gadget. The prizes also include passes to Denver-area attractions and travel vouchers from Spirit and Frontier Airlines and a three-night stay at the Vail Cascade Resort.

So go ahead, do some shopping and snacking at Denver International Airport and leave time to trade your receipt for a gift.

Fresh parking amenities at DEN & CVG airports

Airports, Lounges, Parking, ,
DEN Airport parking

New LED signs in the Pikes Peak shuttle lot at Denver International Airport let passengers know when the next bus will arrive.

Anyone who has parked their car in an airport parking lot on a dark, cold, snowy morning and stood there wondering when – and if – the shuttle bus to the airport was coming by will appreciate the new amenity being introduced at Denver International Airport this week.

The airport has added LED display screens to the 18 parking shelters in its Pikes Peak shuttle lot (where the rates are currently $8/day) that use GPS to let passengers know when the next parking lot shuttle bus will arrive.

LED signs should be added to the Mt. Elbert shuttle lot ($8 per day) and the east and west economy lots ($13 per day) next spring, but for now travelers can find out when the shuttle bus is coming by the shelters in those parking lots via phone, text or QR codes using a smartphone.

CVG Cart

Meanwhile, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), has added courtesy golf carts that will operate daily to shuttle passengers from their car to the elevators and escalators in the terminal garage and back to their car. (The airport is also offering a discount coupon for holiday parking).

Inside CVG, there’s also a new all-access lounge – The Club at CVG – offering complimentary snacks, bar service, Wi-Fi and comfortable seating for $35 a day – no matter which airline you’re flying on- and at cost below what the airline lounges usually charge for a day pass.

The club is on Concourse A, between Gates A8 and A10 and you can get $5 off the $35 fee by using the coupon on this page. The same company also operates club rooms at airports in San Jose (SJC), Atlanta (ATL), Phoenix (PHX), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and two at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. You can purchase day passes for those clubs here.

Beer garden at Denver Int’l Airport

Alcohol, , ,

DIA BEER GARDEN

Consider wearing your lederhosen or a dirndl if you’re flying through Denver International Airport during the next few weeks.

This is Oktoberfest season and DIA is celebrating with a temporary beer garden set up in the center of the main terminal.

Opening through Oct. 4, DIA’s “Beer Flights” (get it?) beer garden is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

DIA BEER GARDEN BEER GLASS

You’ll need to be 21 or older and pay $10 to get in the door, but the admission fee gets you a souvenir glass, a bag of pretzels provided by Southwest Airlines and 10 two-ounce samples of beer.

In addition to beer sampling, the 16-day pop-up beer garden will offer live music, talks by brewmasters, brew trivia and eight picnic tables decorated by local artists.

And to add to the festivities, DIA is having a Twitter photo contest (#BeerFlightsDIA), with prizes from T-shirts and hats to a snowboard, a Durango hotel stay and a day with the head brewer of the Ska Brewing Company.

Not drinking but curious about Colorado-made beer? There’s no admission fee or age limit to view the beer-themed art exhibit, Colorado on Tap: The State of Brew Culture, on the pre-security bridge walkway to A gates through December.

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Photo by Dustin Hall

The exhibit includes artifacts from a variety of Colorado craft breweries, including pub glasses, specialty glassware, coasters, tap handles, t-shirts, bottles, cans and custom art created for beer labels.

And keep in mind, while Denver International Airport’s beer garden will close Oct. 4, the Airbräu, a 600-seat Bavarian-style covered beer garden with an on-site brewery and live music, operates at Munich Airport year-round.

Art Bikes at Denver Int’l Airport

Art, , ,

Denver airport art-bike, courtesy Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport is hosting an exhibition of bike-themed art to celebrate the upcoming USA Pro Challenge race in Colorado, which takes place August 18-24.

The bikes, created by local artists, are displayed on top of baggage carousels and will be on view through the end of August, when the bikes will be auctioned off to benefit a local charity.

Here are more examples:

DEN BIKE one

DEN bike two

Fresh art at Denver Int’l Airport

Art, , ,
DEN_Magic of Glass - Davide Salvadore chitamara

Italian artist Davide Salvadore’s string instrument made from glass. Courtesy DIA.

 

From April 24 through August, 2014, the Art and Culture Program at Denver International Airport (DIA) will be hosting a temporary art exhibition titled The Magic of Glass in Ansbacher Hall, the main walkway connecting  Jeppesen Terminal to Concourse A.

Included in the exhibit will be more than 60 glass objects made by 31 local, national and international artists.

Want more art glass?

Denver Botanic Gardens is opening an exhibition of Dale Chihuly’s glass sculpture in June.

 

 

Tattered Cover opens at Denver Int’l Airport

Books, ,

Great news for book lovers whose travels take them through Denver International Airport:

The first of four planned branches of the iconic, independent Denver bookstore, Tattered Cover, opened this week on Concourse B.

DEN TATTERED COVER

The three other branches will open in the other concourses, and in the Jeppesen Terminal, in the first half of 2014.

Here’s a list of some author-events scheduled to take place in the store this coming week:

Saturday, Dec. 7: 9:30-10 a.m. Graeme Simsion, “The Rosie Project”

Sunday, Dec. 8: 10:30 a.m.Signed copies of Pulitzer Prize-winning historical author Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book, “The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism,” will be available for sale.

Dec. 11, Approximately 2:30-3 p.m. Amy Tan, the bestselling author of “The Joy Luck Club,” will sign her new novel, “The Valley of Amazement.”