Paging Colorado Zoners: Portland V. Denver
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Though I'll always be a Trail Blazers fan, I'm in a unique job situation today:
I have a start date this Monday in Portland for an exciting media relations job that is funded for 2 years.
All of a sudden, City of Denver is showing interest, and after a good round 1 this morn, they've already advanced me to round 2 next week.
Pros: It's a permanent role, better pay range, and still partly remote. The best part is that it's in a newish office that the current Mayor created -- Social Equity and Innovation -- and I would report to the head of that office, not to a team manager.
If I do win an offer, I feel weird about giving notice so quickly. Others do this, yes?
So, Colorado Zoners -- any City government connections out there? ... or your own views on pros / cons?
The big draw for me after spending a long weekend there for Phil: consecutive days of high-altitude sunshine and a friendly vibe... but most of all, not having to think about job hunting for a long while as compared to Portland. Lots going on -- I counted 20 building cranes. I also like the central location for flying both directions.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: The Sound of Steam and Caffeine
I'm not a Denver resident,
I'm not a Denver resident, but my limited experience suggests Denver's music scene is far more robust than Portland's.
Denver has more extreme winters, but I suspect that would not bother you.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mice elf
Easy access to way better pow
Easy access to way better pow turns
Bonus you'll still have voodoo donuts
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Semolina Pilchard
Might want to check the cost
Might want to check the cost of housing in the Denver area. I've heard it's thru the roof since weed legalization.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Options are good.
Options are good.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Strangha
If it were me, I'd get the
If it were me, I'd get the hell outta Portland. Denver's no panacea, but better than Portland. Both states have the urban/rural divide in their politics.
But WTF do I know? I live in Qtah.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
FYI, Portland is now the #1
FYI, Portland is now the #1 Pizza City!
http://www.cnn.com/travel/article/best-pizza-city-us-modernist-authors/i...
These are some of the pizza restaurants that received special nods and write-ups in "Modernist Pizza" in case you want to try them out for yourself. As well as checking out the menus, be sure to look into operating days and hours and your dine-in, takeaway and delivery options:
-- Lovely's Fifty Fifty: Myhrvold says it's arguably one of the two best pizza restaurants in the country (the other being Razza in Jersey City, New Jersey). Lovely's other specialty is ice cream. 4039 N. Mississippi Ave., Portland, OR 97217.
Others that get special praise, in alphabetical order:
-- Apizza Scholls: 4741 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97215.
-- Handsome Pizza: 1603 NE Killingsworth St., Portland, OR 97211.
-- Ken's Artisan Pizza: 304 SE 28th Ave., Portland, OR 97214.
-- Nostrana: 1401 SE Morrison St. Ste. 101, Portland, OR 97214
-- Red Sauce Pizza: 4641 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97213.
-- Scottie's Pizza Parlor: 2128 SE Division St., Portland, OR 97202.
-- Sizzle Pie: 926 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 97205 and other locations.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
Thanks to all for the
Thanks to all for the thoughtful comments so far. Very similar voter demographic.
Those listicles drive me crazy -- On the list above, Apizza Scholls and Kens are the only ones worth the effort... maybe also Nostrana.
Thanks Mike, I did look at rental ads and it seems to be in the same price range as Portland, maybe lower... and Denver is obviously building a lot more modern housing than Portland.... which means Denver likely doesn't have an urban growth boundary like Portland does to restrict development.
Oddly enough, I've never tried a Voodoo donut -- don't crave them.
I'm seeking intel from government workers in Denver, ideally.
And agree, Zooey, winters there would not bother me as long as the sun shines.... and Portland doesn't seem to have late night after-parties where Billy Strings shows up til 4AM -- or at least I haven't heard of any!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GDTRFB
"Study: Oregon serves most
"Study: Oregon serves most expensive cheese pizzas in U.S."
https://www.koin.com/news/food/study-finds-oregon-has-the-most-expensive...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
https://globalgrasshopper.com
https://globalgrasshopper.com/destinations/north-america/portland-vs-den...
Portland vs Denver – a Living or Travel Comparison
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: New & Improved
Lived in Denver from 2001
Lived in Denver from 2001-2022. Great city with tons of music and great food options. Sunny, warm days in the winter (or cold as fuck) Mountains at your doorstep to cool down in the summer. And yes, DIA can get you anywhere ina couple hours on a direct flight. Feel free to reach out if you want to talk offline.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 19.5 Degrees
winters there would not
winters there would not bother me as long as the sun shines<<<
It's been a while since I lived on the front range, but do recall the winters really weren't all that "long" ... in the sense that right around now you'll start to see the average high's slowly climbing - often with a schizophrenic jump to days that are really nice. This week is in the mid-50's and mostly sunny. It will feel like 60's. It could also easily be pushing 70; however, it could also be in the teens. Another way to put it is there's far more nice days vs. Chicago weather in the run-up to spring.
I'm not a fan of living in Denver proper, but also not a fan of city life. I'm sure there are some eyes of the hurricane in Denver itself, but I'd personally prefer to live somewhere like Evergreen or Golden (either in the mountains a little ways or closeby) ... or that matter Boulder.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
Wow thanks for all of these
Wow thanks for all of these interesting comments and articles... love it!
I see that I have some emails, too, and will respond to those later...
((((( Zoners rule )))))
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Highnote
Rain/no rain. Denver is a
Rain/no rain. Denver is a semi arid climate. Get used to brown landscape at least half the year.
This year has been an unusually harsh winter. It also gets hot af in the summer but cools down every night.
Denver has air quality issues. The cold air and intense sun causes inversions.
Great entertainment options in Denver.
Access to the high country though I 70 has become a shit show on the weekends.
Red Rocks.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mice elf
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Buddy Greene
I have lived in between
I have lived in between Denver and Boulder for 4 years now.
I am glad that I do not live IN Denver. I kind of avoid going to the city unless something is going on. For Red Rocks shows i cut thru Arvada not Denver which is a plus.
Winters are not too bad but this year has been colder than the other 4 that I have seen. We have been below zero 5 times so far. It is kind of weird this year that the snow is not melting the day it falls. In my opinion the weather in August is more extreme than the weather in the winter.
If I had it to do over again I may have bought my house in Morrison for easier Red Rocks access.
I moved here in 2019 and house prices are up 50% from then.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
<< Get used to brown
<< Get used to brown landscape at least half the year. >> Yep, I kept looking for green spaces and didn't see any --- seems there are more deciduous trees than evergreen trees on Denver streets. Portland is special that way. There were a couple of hazy inversion days too. Fortunately I've spent time there in the summer and fall, too. Living by myself, it makes sense to me to start out in the City if I win.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
I'm used to wet rain. Denver
I'm used to wet rain. Denver is the only place I ever experienced rain that dried before it hit the sidewalk.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GDTRFB
^ Yes Judit! I knew I wasn't
^ Yes Judit! I knew I wasn't (completely) off my rocker when telling some friends that I didn't get as wet in that region's rainstorms, contrasting that/those to almost every other place I've been.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Highnote
>>>Denver is the only place I
>>>Denver is the only place I ever experienced rain that dried before it hit the sidewalk.
It's called virga. We also get wicked hail.
https://youtu.be/hSR26eSfwmk
We get a little of everything extreme. Wind, rain, lightning, snow, cold, hot. Sometimes all in the same day.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GDTRFB
Wicked hailstorms indeed and
Wicked hailstorms indeed and commonly out of nowhere on an otherwise calm, perfect Summer day.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Semolina Pilchard
Hye, how 'bout those rainbows
Hey, how 'bout those rainbows though?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Highnote
Indeed. Billy and the Kids at
Indeed. Billy and the Kids at Red Rocks.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MarkD
Had no doubt this was a
Had no doubt this was a Llollo thread. Good luck with everything.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
^^^ awww, thanks Mark -- yeah
^^^ awww, thanks Mark -- yeah, I like to poll friends to help inform my decisions (but not make my decisions) ;)
Weird cosmic things are happening for me and I'm just trying to await the unfolding and follow the best opportunities, and it feels good to be free to follow them...
Stringtwang -- I was at that Billy X2 show, one of my favorite shows ever!
Judit, totally get that wet rain / vs dry rain situation -- and with all the weather extremes I'm surprised that Noodler is still in Oregon, LOL.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 19.5 Degrees
The arid climate is maybe why
The arid climate is partly why I would prefer to at least be in the mountains, foothills, or at least immediately adjacent where microclimates exist. You'll hike through evergreens at Chautauqua for instance.
It's only a 25 minute drive from Golden or Morrison to the center of Denver.
Evergreen and Conifer are a bit further at 35 (no traffic).
I'm sure the commute would get a bit tiresome at times, but on the whole, I'd much prefer the tradeoff of cooler temps, more precipitation and trees.
Boulder is also 35 minutes (no traffic).
The "gains" from said locations are far better than most inland non mountainous metro / suburb equivalents ... where it's virtually the same situation no matter how far you drive.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Semolina Pilchard
> Had no doubt this was a
> Had no doubt this was a Llollo thread
I thought for sure it was a Trail Blazers v. Nuggets thread.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
^^^ LOL As we say in
^^^ LOL As we say in Portland at game time, "Blaze those frosty Nuggets!" ;-)
FaceonMars -- I like Golden a lot! Stayed overnight there once. I appreciate the drive times... but the public trains are pretty goo...I even took the train from Denver to Golden.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: New & Improved
>> The "gains" from said
>> The "gains" from said locations are far better than most inland non mountainous metro / suburb equivalents ... where it's virtually the same situation no matter how far you drive. <<
This simply isn't true. There are some great neighborhoods in Denver and the surrounding municipalities. It just depends what YOU are looking for. Feel free to reach out if you'd like more info....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 19.5 Degrees
FaceonMars -- I like Golden a
FaceonMars -- I like Golden a lot! Stayed overnight there once. I appreciate the drive times... but the public trains are pretty goo...I even took the train from Denver to Golden. <<<<
I didn't realize they had a train that ran out to Golden. That could make it very easy if it's a place you wanted to settle. Also wasn't aware of the huge industry for tubing in the summer ... wound up in the midst of it during the day while in town seeing Cheese at Red Rocks last summer.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 19.5 Degrees
>> The "gains" from said
>> The "gains" from said locations are far better than most inland non mountainous metro / suburb equivalents ... where it's virtually the same situation no matter how far you drive. <<
This simply isn't true. There are some great neighborhoods in Denver and the surrounding municipalities. It just depends what YOU are looking for. Feel free to reach out if you'd like more info....<<<
It's 95% true ... I was referring solely to the climate/ecological differences due to elevation and positioning relative to the mountains / foothills. The "gains" I alluded to have nothing to do with social benefits, etc. I suspect you can drive 35 minutes in any direction from Omaha and you're basically in the same boat re: climate. Not so with Denver. Of course, it depends entirely upon what Llollo is looking for.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
^^^ awwwdorable
^^^ awwwdorable
I began my new Portland job on Monday and it's been intense -- just a bigger job, larger bureau, along with issues with my new work laptop so I'm already behind. Some people would call it a shitshow, but i said i wanted a challenge. My peer on the team has huge dark circles under her eyes and i can tell she is on the edge of burnout. She needs a show! The most annoying part was figuring out what to wear for my days in the office -- can't wear comfies.
Today I was emcee for a city employee virtual town hall and yesterday I handled a lightweight media interview, then 10 minutes afterward, my round 2 interview with Denver! Sloppier than round 1 due to lack of prep time, but i wrote a passionate thank you letter about why social equity matters, so maybe that will count some.
I'm supposed to hear from Denver within 2 weeks, and they said they want someone to begin in March -- which would quash my DNB Hawaii trip -- fortunately I've only booked an airmiles flight so far so I can change it w/o penalty if I must.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skyjunk
Good Luck with the job
Good Luck with the job opportunity in Denver. My son lives out there and we have visited twice, he used to live close to downtown but has moved to the Tech Center. The new place seems like it involves more driving to get around to do things. Good food lots of breweries, and the place is well planned community with all of the parks. Homes are nice and even the hood seemed upscale. Great food town Loved eating at Snooze, Denver Biscuit Company, Sam's #3, and Stuebens. Seen a cool Dali exhibit at a funky hipster shopping mall called Stanley Market. Sadly though no shows worth seeing the two trips out there, still need to get to Red Rocks for a show, been there during the day but no show yet.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
Thnaks! My Denver friends
Thnaks! My Denver friends love Steubens too.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Highnote
Sending vibes for success in
Sending vibes for success in Denver. We had these cool stationary clouds above Boulder all day today.