5280 Magazine is a locally produced (5280 Publishing Inc.) and distributed magazine in the Denver area that features the “ins and outs” of Denver and its people, from the street level. Named after the Mile-High City’s elevation above sea level: five thousand two hundred eighty feet, the magazine was founded in 1993 by former columnist and reporter for The Chicago Tribune, Daniel Brogan. Like many local magazines, 5280 covers topics in entertainment, dining, special events, and local and regional politics. In 2002, 5280 supported local bar owner, John Hickenlooper, in his candidacy for Denver’s major, endorsing Hickenlooper in the race. Hickenlooper not only won that race, but is now a candidate for Colorado’s governorship in 2010.

In Colorado, 5280 is “the” magazine. However, it’s not just for people that live here in Colorado. It’s current issue, along with hundreds archived, are available to anyone on the Internet. 5280 even offers a subscription offer for those who view its content online in order to support the magazine’s life in a world that is being taken over by online media. Denver is a mecca for technology, and there are hundreds of thousands of people annually that visit the capital city whether for business or pleasure. 5280 Magazine is the best guide to what is going on around the Front Range right then, and in all of Colorado for that matter.

The magazine boasts several popular, yearly cover stories including, “Top of the Town,” “Top Doctors” and “Top Restaurants,” which highlight the best of the best in Colorado. Residents, tourists and passers by all heed the magazine’s recommendations and most even add to the research of the upcoming year. A Dining Guide is also available for 5280′s online readership, offering options to search by restaurant, cuisine, price, or by neighborhood. 5280′s magazine subscribers have placed it at the top of all Colorado magazines with nearly 78,000 subscribers.

Every year the magazine does a feature on Denver’s and Boulder’s best restaurants. A week is dedicated to participating restaurants throughout Front Range in order to offer the community a glimpse at their menu and the staff’s expertise. 5280 Week in Denver is like Beer Fest to the Germans! Although its rated one of the fittest cities in the country, Denver residents love to eat and they love to talk about it afterwards even more. What does 5280 Week entail?

Participating restaurants offer anywhere from a 3-7 course meal for the cost of $52.80 (for two) or $26.40 (for one). Some offer a bottle of wine, live music, specialty drink tastings on top of excellent service, precise delivery and exquisite presentations. Restaurant Week, as the locals call it, is a time to try something new, go to a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try and venture out of your comfort zone without venturing too far outside of your budget. The owners and chefs tend to get creative with their menus, offering the best and most unique flavor combinations to ever meet your taste buds. The Denver/Boulder area holds some of the country’s best chefs: Hosea Rosenburg, Bravo’s Top Chef, Melissa Harrison, of Centro in Boulder, CO, as well as local favorites such as Jaime Gulick, of 8 Rivers and Charles James from 1515 Restaurant.

Denver’s Restaurant week began in 2005. In conjunction with the Denver Performing Arts Complex, bringing the Democratic National Convention here in 2008, redesigning certain building faces such as the Denver Public Library, Denver Pavilions shopping complex, and the Tabor Center downtown to name a few, Denver not only hopes to continue to bring curious people to visit the Mile-High City, but also to stimulate local business and to exploit the transformations in an ever-evolving, modern world. Local owners are ready to bring in the big business of tourists, travelers and the business world to the constantly improving taste of Denver. Colorado’s capital doesn’t often receive the reputation that it deserves. There are not only great tastes sprinkled throughout the elevated city, its filled with music, arts, education and culture from all over the world. And for everyone who reads this not living in Denver, it’s not just for locals.