by Nicole Beemsterboer

CNN
Nicole Beemsterboer/NPR

CNN Grill in Denver.


The Denver restaurant formally known as "Brooklyn's" is now the "CNN Grill." That's right, CNN brought such a large team here that they took over a restaurant and made it their headquarters. Upstairs is CNN's media center; downstairs is an open-for-business restaurant for special guests, complete with a special menu by chef Michael Romano of Union Square in New York.

FOX
Nicole Beemsterboer/NPR

FOX HQ in Denver.

The undertaking included a gigantic CNN = Politics sign painted on two sides of the red brick historic building, beer tap handles replaced with white and red "CNN Brew: Red Ale" labels and a huge blue star sign constructed above the front door (with the CNN lettering, of course.)

FOX also took over a restaurant: Braun's Bar and Grill. It's not far from CNN, but tucked away and not in sight of the security line. And they're not the partying kind: a staffer told NPR that while there's catering in the basement for the staff, there isn't a public restaurant. There certainly aren't any open beer taps there. The quick peek we got featured several workers hunched over laptops at long tables and poor lighting. A broadcast set can be found in the main dining room, and outside atop some major scaffolding. The Braun's sign is still visible, but dwarfed next to the huge signs of FOX anchors.