AL Advising

Philanthropic and Political Consulting

Denver, CO

202-256-7183

AL Advising works with progressive donors and philanthropists looking to streamline their giving and boost their impact.

 Hi everyone,


We’re excited to have so many folks coming to Denver! We thought we’d pass on some tips about our lovely city.

  1. We are called the Mile High City for a reason. You are 5,280 feet (one mile) above sea level. Some people experience altitude sickness. Those oxygen canisters they sell at the airport may help. But hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

  2. This is doubly true if you are consuming alcohol. We recommend a 1:1 ratio of water to alcoholic drinks. 

  3. As the saying goes, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait an hour.” The weather should be beautiful. That can change very quickly. Wear layers. We are chilly at night and warmer and sunny during the day. 

  4. Speaking of what to wear, boots, jeans, and blazers or boots and flowy dresses are the uniform here. But anything goes. Do not wear a suit. People will point and laugh. 

  5. The primary What’s Next venues are in RiNo, a fun, hip neighborhood with lots of restaurants and breweries, and Union Station/Ballpark/Downtown. This is a great guide to RiNo. A few favorites include Bigsby’s Folly (winery & restaurant), Mister Oso (Mexican), Hop Alley (Chinese), Uchi (sushi), Cart-Driver (pizza). Near the ballpark area and the Summit Music Hall venue, there are a ton of great options inside Union Station, ranging from fine dining (Ultreia) to fast casual (Olive & Finch, Maria Empanada - both woman owned!) to cocktail bars (Terminal Bar). Larimer Square is also known for restaurants and shopping. Cherry Cricket Downtown is the best burger in town. 

  6. Denver is also known for its food halls and The Source Hotel has a great one just down the street from Mission Ballroom. It is also a good spot for meetings. Safta is one of the best restaurants in the West; good luck getting in. Denver Central Market is also great. 

  7. Expect to Uber. A lot. The conference organizers are running shuttle buses between official venues but many one-off events are beyond walking distance. If you are driving, there is paid parking at and near Mission Ballroom plus two-hour street parking. Downtown parking is trickier but there are a lot of paid lots including one at 1881 16th Street. The Crawford Hotel has valet. Denver also has Veo scooters everywhere.

Have fun!

Al and Jonathan