Bluebird Theater, Denver

Opened in 1913 as a small movie house, this theater survived various incarnations, including a long stint as a porn house, before closing in the 1970s. In 1994 it was refurbished and restored but still retains its image as a gritty survivor in a rough neighborhood. The three-tiered theater now serves as a multi-purpose venue hosting a diverse group of national acts, emerging recording artists, and the hottest local bands. On occasions the Bluebird still doubles as a movie hall, showing cult classics and carrying the annual Sick and Twisted Animation Festival. The bar has an excellent selection of microbrews, along with the usual domestics.