City Cast Denver

Colorado’s most infamous Republican, Rep. Lauren Boebert, won re-election last November by a mere 546 votes, shocking the unsuspecting Denver public and the national press. Something was clearly changing in Boebert’s mostly rural, southern and western Colorado district, and now the Democrats have a plan to take advantage of the moment. Producer Paul Karolyi sits down with the new chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, Shad Murib, to talk about “The 546 Project,” his massive new effort to unseat Boebert in 2024, and why her vulnerability and her fame combine to make her the perfect next target for the Democrats’ push to turn Colorado blue once and for all. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Levitt Pavilion Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

You ever see one of those signs that say “We Buy Ugly Houses” stapled to a telephone poll? Or plastered in giant block letters up on a billboard? Did you ever wonder what happens when someone calls that phone number? ProPublica investigative reporter Anjeanette Damon cracked the story wide open, and she’s on today with host Bree Davies to explain how the mysterious HomeVestors’ business model works, how they scoop up the deeds to so many perfectly good looking houses, and who is paying the price. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866. Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Levitt Pavilion Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The Nuggets are finally world famous! Denver’s hometown ballers won their first NBA Championship in franchise history, and the city has been celebrating all week. Everything culminated with a big parade downtown on Thursday, and the City Cast Denver team was there to take it all in. But of course, the Nuggets aren’t all the news — it’s Friday, so we’re talking about a new queer cultural district, a rash of shootings on the city’s streets, and question whether Trinidad has lost its shine. Diné comedian Joshua Emerson is back with producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies to break down all the local stories that mattered this week. Plus, newsletter editor Peyton Garcia shares her best bets for this (hopefully sunny) summer weekend. Bree mentioned the walking tour of Cap Hill’s queer history that we did last June with local comics artist and historian B. Erin Cole. We didn’t see this until after we recorded, but past guest and local author Jenny Shank wrote a beautiful commentary on the Nuggets’ win for her newsletter this week. Check it out and subscribe! A programming note: We are taking Monday off in honor of Juneteenth. So there won’t be another new episode in your podcast feed until Tuesday. Our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver is also off on Monday. Here are links to all the events Peyton suggested: Veggie Viernes (Westwood) Monster Truck Charity Palooza (Aurora) Cherry Blossom Festival (Sakura Square) Juneteenth Festival (Five Points) For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866. Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is full of dioramas depicting wolves in the arctic, rare birds from across the U.S., and… people. Since 1978, millions of Denverites have walked through the North American Indian Cultures Hall and seen indigenous people — who come from hundreds of diverse tribes, cultures, and communities — depicted behind panes of glass. As the museum prepared to close the exhibition for good this week, host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi met up with Diné comedian and Denver American Indian Commission co-chair Josh Emerson to tour the hall with DMNS curator of anthropology Chris Patrello to learn more about why this big change is happening now and how they are reimagining this space for the future. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866. Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Every Friday on City Cast Denver, our newsletter editor Peyton Garcia joins the crew to offer some event recommendations, and we collectively pick the Official City Cast Denver Maybe For Your Weekend — aka the one weekend event where you’re most likely to see us. So for this second installment of our summer entertainment guide, City Cast editor Adrian González returns to help Peyton, host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi pick City Cast Denver’s Ultimate Summer Maybe. Because there’s a zillion cool things happening around Denver this summer, and we narrowed it down to one rock solid recommendation. Here are all the events Peyton recommended: Arts Colorado Native: A Native American Comedy Showcase, August 24 (Highland) REVEALED: John Fielder’s Favorite Place, July 22 (Golden Triangle) Desert Rider: Dreaming in Motion, July 9 (Golden Triangle) Food Strawberry Days Festival, June 16-18 (Glenwood Springs) Olathe Sweet Corn Festival, August 4-5 (Olathe) Blues and BBQ Festival for Better Housing, July 15 (Edgewater) Mountain Adventure Fibark, June 15-18 (Salida; Paul wants you to know that the pizza place he likes in Salida is Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub) Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, July 7-16 (Crested Butte) Mushroom ID Foray, July 8 (TBD) Misc. Pollinator Palooza Festival, June 25 (Westminster) Georgetown Loop Old West Days, August 19-20, 26-27 (Georgetown) Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, June 23-25 (Estes Park) For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

UPDATE 6/13/23: After this episode was published, we learned that the location of the Jor'Dell Richardson community memorial and procession planned for Friday 6/16 has been moved to Aurora Municipal Center. The event is still set to begin at 5 p.m. It’s Tuesday and we’re breaking down all the local stories that matter. First, the Aurora Police Department released bodycam footage of the killing of 14-year-old Jor’Dell Richardson, but questions still remain as to what happened. Also, Denver School Board director Auon’tai Anderson announced that he won’t be running for re-election; instead, he’ll be running for House District 8, where Democratic representative Leslie Herod is term-limited. Speaking of politicians, a new Colorado law says your elected officials can block you from their personal accounts on social media if they want to — but legal or not, the ACLU still thinks it's a free speech issue. Plus, producer Paul Karolyi tells host Bree Davies about a new brunch spot in LoHi that he’s excited about, which comes from Denver celeb chef (who beat Bobby Flay!) Carrie Baird. We mentioned the GoFundMe for Jor’Dell Richardson’s family, as well as a community gathering and memorial for Jor’Dell on the steps of the capitol. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

AI is everywhere right now — at least that’s how it seems. The technology has a lot of people worried, but we wanted to know: What does it actually mean for us as Denverites? Will our jobs be taken over by AI? How will it impact our daily lives? One local company has been on the cutting edge of this technology for years before the recent hype, and they recently deployed their AI at four local fast-food restaurants. So today on the show, host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi take a trip to the Carl’s Jr. drive-thru in Lakeside to test out “Holly.” Then, Bree chats with Rob Carpenter, the CEO of Colorado’s Valyant AI, to learn more about how Holly works, how worried you should be about her taking your job, and what this technology is going to mean for Denver’s future. Bree mentioned the Marshall Fire investigation findings. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: badboyboards Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Friday and we’re talking about all the local stories that grabbed our attention this week — aka, the election. Mike Johnston is officially Denver’s mayor-elect, and he made a lot of promises along the campaign trail, so which ones will he keep? Plus Casa Bonita gets a write-up in a little paper called the New York Times, Governor Jared Polis vetoes a housing bill, and the last drive-in theater in the Denver metro is closing. Producer Paul Karolyi is joined by host Bree Davies and founder of investigative news outlet The Lever and Academy Award nominee David Sirota for a rundown of everything Denver’s talking about. As always, stick around until the end for a round-up of the coolest events happening this weekend in the Mile High, curated by Hey Denver newsletter editor Peyton Garcia. If you haven’t read the Times’ take on Casa Bonita, here’s a link. Paul talked about Colorado’s changing drive-in movie theaters, including this one in the San Luis Valley, and predatory towing. Bree mentioned about a story from Nate Minor in Denverite about RTD’s bad bus stop management. Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein! P.S. CONGRATS ON GETTING MARRIED, ANDY!!!!!! Here are links to the weekend events Peyton recommended: Lighthouse Writers Workshop Grand Opening Summer Farm Fest The Taylor Swift Party Denver Chalk Festival (Watch out for the weather forecast though!) Five Points Jazz Festival For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 or by visiting our website. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Regional Air Quality Council badboyboards Energize Colorado Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

When nightclub owner Steven Alix bought the old Irish Snug, he didn’t know anything about Sid King or his famous Colfax strip club, Crazy Horse. But he soon learned that the bar at the corner of Colfax and Marion had been a staple of the strip’s infamous — and often debaucherous — nightlife scene from the 1940s to the 1980s. A few decades have passed, but now the man behind Colfax’s hottest LGBTQ bars is bringing Crazy Horse Kitchen + Bar back to life, complete with King’s original Googie-style neon sign. Host Bree Davies is joined by Steven and Keith Garcia, a fellow Colfax aficionado and artistic director at the Sie FilmCenter, to dig into the myths and magic of Colfax, Sid King’s lasting imprint on the street, and why Crazy Horse (and its companion basement nightclub) are important to the current landscape of Denver’s queer-welcoming establishments. Plus, Keith and Steven share their recs for celebrating Pride Colfax-style. Did Playboy actually call Colfax the “longest, wickedest street in America”? Bree mentioned this Denverite article investigating the infamous claim. Keith mentioned Sie FilmCenter’s slate of Pride events all month long, including a block party with Black Pride Colorado, and teased the return of the CinemaQ Film Festival in August. Steven highlighted the week of events planned at X Bar, Tight End, and Crazy Horse. Bree commented on the protests outside the new Drip Café on Santa Fe and recommends listening to our episode on Denver’s best coffee shops. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Regional Air Quality Council badboyboards Energize Colorado Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The people of Denver have elected Mike Johnston to become their first new mayor in 12 years. While the results won't be official until June 20, former CEO of the Denver Chamber of Commerce Kelly Brough conceded after the belt buckle-wearing former state senator won a majority of the votes counted by 10 p.m. on Tuesday. “Tonight we start a chapter about a city that is going to be big enough to care for all of us, to support all of us, to house all of us,” Johnston declared in his victory speech. “That is our dream of Denver.” Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi discuss the results of the mayor’s race and what to expect from mayor-elect Johnston, as well the City Council runoffs in districts 8, 9, and 10. Follow Denver Elections for future updates on the races that were still too close for us to call. What are your hopes and dreams for mayor-elect Johnston? The Mayoral Madness Hotline is still open... for now. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear your comments on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Regional Air Quality Council badboyboards Energize Colorado Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Summer is finally here! But no need to stress if your calendar’s not already full of summer fun. Over the next three weeks on the podcast and in our newsletter Hey Denver, we’re presenting our Summer Entertainment Guide to help you make this a season to remember. First up, John Moore has been covering local arts and culture for decades, and he’s got a voracious appetite for all kinds of entertainment, from tiny backyard plays to blockbuster arena-filling concerts. He’s on today with host Bree Davies to share his personal recommendations and a heads-up about that local staple you might want to skip. Read John Moore’s work in the Denver Gazette, including this recent piece he mentioned about Denver’s many outdoor film series. Here are links to all of John’s other recommendations: Colorado Shakespeare Festival (Boulder) Oddities Alley (Victor) City Park Jazz (City Park) Five Points Jazz Festival (Five Points) Blues & Barbecue Festival for Better Housing (Edgewater) The Lyric Theater (Fort Collins) Film on the Rocks (Morrison) Phamaly Theater Company’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Downtown) Denver Fringe Festival (Five Points) Thingamajig Theatre Company (Pagosa Springs) Creede Reperatory Theater (Creede) Lake Dillon Theater Company (Silverthorne) Little Theater of the Rockies (Greeley) Goatflix & Chill (Various) Do you have a summer entertainment rec? Text it to us or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Regional Air Quality Council badboyboards Energize Colorado Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Yes, Red Rocks is a world-famous concert venue, drawing music-lovers from all walks of life to the Denver suburbs. But there’s plenty more great venues in town to catch any kind of concert you want. So which one has the best sound? The best vibes? The best seating? Host Bree Davies sits down with two local musicians — Kalyn Heffernan and Gregg Ziemba of Wheelchair Sports Camp — who know all these venues inside and out to get their hard-earned tips for enjoying any kind of show and how to do Red Rocks right. We’re doing a survey to learn more about our listeners, so we can make City Cast Denver an even better, more useful podcast for you. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey — it’s only 5 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866. Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Regional Air Quality Council badboyboards Energize Colorado Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

What will the next mayor do when it comes to housing and homelessness? There are so many important issues at stake in this election, but those two might be the biggest. That's why we're so grateful that our friends at Elevated Denver were ready to go deep. Their organization aims to humanize the issue of homelessness and bring new ideas to the table through relationships with our unhoused neighbors. So please enjoy this episode of their podcast featuring in-depth interviews with the two remaining mayoral candidates — Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston -- on housing and homelessness. Here’s how they described this episode: “The Elevated Denver team is bringing you an extra special, time-sensitive, bonus episode. In Denver, we are in a runoff Mayoral election, with ballots due on June 6th. We spoke with each candidate — Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston — specifically focusing on housing and homelessness in Denver. The questions were deeply informed by our unhoused neighbors and this conversation answers questions about each candidate’s values and philosophies about this crisis in our community. Read the full transcript here.” New episodes of the Elevated Denver podcast drop biweekly. You can learn more and subscribe to Elevated Denver at elevateddenver.co. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Friday and we’re chatting about all the local stories that caught our eyes this week. With Election Day looming, the mayoral mudslinging has begun, and both the Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston camps are getting messy with their ads. Will these late-in-the-game attacks matter to Denver voters? And why go negative now? Producer Paul Karolyi is joined by host Bree Davies and City Cast Denver politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval to parse the unfolding election drama. Plus, the crew picks their Mile High wins and fails of the week, then Hey Denver newsletter editor Peyton Garcia shares her recommendations for your weekend. Paul mentioned a Western Slope graduate and the new culture of the Broncos’ locker room. Bree talked about D3 Arts. Justine shared the mystery of the missing hat and good news from RTD. We’re doing a survey to learn more about our listeners, so we can make City Cast Denver an even better, more useful podcast for you. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 5 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card. For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein! Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: badboyboards Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The mayor’s race is grabbing all the headlines lately, but what about Denver City Council? With contested runoffs in Districts 8, 9, and 10 and many new faces already elected, this key branch of our local government is poised for some big changes. Incumbents Candi CdeBaca (District 9) and Chris Hinds (District 10) are both fighting to retain their seats, while District 8 is a battle between two new contenders, Shontel Lewis and Brad Revare. But these votes are about more than who gets onto City Council, they could lead to a major ideological swing and a new approach to how lawmaking gets done in Denver. Host Bree Davies and Producer Paul Karolyi break down the races and talk about what’s at stake ahead of Election Day on June 6. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: badboyboards Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

While Denver’s dining scene has attracted top chefs from all over the world, it’s our mom-and-pop shops and holes in the wall that tell a deeper culinary story. Like Noodles Express, a nondescript eatery in a strip mall on Colorado Boulevard that happens to serve up some of the best Szechuan cuisine in town. We stopped by the recently a lo-fi feast of sweet, salty, and tongue-numbing spice with our fave gastro guide, Westword food editor Molly Martin. Today on the show, newsletter editor Peyton Garcia and host Bree Davies celebrate the last day of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Molly as they dine on mapo tofu and dish about their fave Asian restaurants across the Mile High. Molly mentioned the Crazy Hungry Asians of Colorado group on Facebook, the Westword profile of Adam You, You’s Denver Chinese Source blog and the return of Mile High Asian Restaurant Week. Here’s Molly’s original review of Noodle Express, as well as her story on the restaurant bouncing back from the brink of closure. All the great places we mentioned: Noodles Express (Colorado Blvd.) New China (Alameda & Pearl) Chada Thai (Uptown) 303 Ramen (Arvada) Szechuan Tasty House (College View) Meat and Eat Bistro (Hampden) Meta Asian Kitchen (Highland) Pho King Rapidos (Highland, for now) Yuan Wonton (Food Truck) CoArk Food Hall (Centennial) Tommy’s Thai (Congress Park) Pho Hong (Alameda & Federal) Tí Cafe (South Broadway) Please take our listener survey! We’re doing a survey to learn more about our listeners, so we can make City Cast Denver an even better, more useful podcast for you. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 5 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866. Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: badboyboards Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Shinesty CEO Chris White got his start selling thrift store finds to his fellow CU Boulder students hoping to stand out at parties. Thanks to a surprise shout-out from Al Roker, Shinesty is now the fastest growing apparel company in Denver, with millions in venture-capital investment, new retail deals with Zoomies and Buckle, and their own MTV docu-series to boot. But they’ve captured Coloradans’ attention not with a better puffer jacket or cowboy hat, but with novelty underwear and raunchy, irreverent, and over-the-top designs for the kind of theme parties millennials love. Host Bree Davies sits down with White in Shinesty’s Highland office to ask how he made millions with products like the “Daytona Dong Sarong,” where to find the best thrift shops and estate sales across the Front Range, and what Shinesty’s success says about Coloradans’ taste in fashion. Paul mentioned the e-bike rebates re-opening today at 11 a.m., Mayor Hancock’s bike lanes, and layoffs at Twitter and Guild. The “Year of Efficiency” Hotline is Open! Have you or someone you know been affected by layoffs in the tech industry? We’d love to hear what’s happening inside these local tech companies. Send us a text or leave us a voicemail at (720)500-5418. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: badboyboards Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The mayor’s race is getting spicy! No, we’re not talking about the latest attack ad; we’re talking about hot wings. Earlier this week, host Bree Davies moderated a Hot Ones-style forum featuring candidates Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston eating progressively spicier wings while answering progressively spicier questions. Since there’s less than two weeks until Denver elects Brough or Johnston as its first new mayor in 12 years, we’re proud to share a recording of that event here with you today. And just a note, this episode has some explicit moments, but only because those wings were really hot. Huge thanks to our partners New Era Colorado, ONE Colorado, Cobalt, and COLOR for making this a mayoral forum to remember! For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Hey Denver newsletter editor Peyton Garcia got a sneak preview of the new Casa Bonita this morning, and she’s calling in from that strip mall parking lot in Lakewood to dish on everything the “South Park” guys cared to reveal — a new ticketing system, the chlorine smell, the sopaipillas, and how they plan to open to the public, and more! Subscribe to Hey Denver to see all of Peyton’s photos and more from inside the Pink Palace. All you’ve got to do is text “Denver” to 66866. Sign up for the Casa Bonita email newsletter list for further updates: https://www.casabonitadenver.com/ Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Friday, and we’re talking about all the local stories that mattered this week. After sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers, our Denver Nuggets are waiting to tip off in their first-ever NBA Finals. But are they really “our” Nuggets? Or are they billionaire owner Stan Kroenke’s Nuggets? And what exactly is he planning to build in the 55 acres of empty parking lots around Ball Arena? “Silent Stan” never talks to the press, so producer Paul Karolyi is sitting down with DNVR Nuggets co-host Adam Mares and Denverite senior reporter Kyle Harris to talk about what the Nuggets’ playoff run means for the whole city — even non-basketball fans. They also dig into the planned demolition of the 1stBank Center, a new inflatable amusement park in Lafayette, and the state GOP’s fundraising troubles. Then, Hey Denver newsletter editor Peyton Garcia shares her recommendations for your long weekend. We’re off on Monday for Memorial Day, so don’t expect a new episode in your feed until Tuesday morning! Here are some links to the weekend events Peyton recommended: Ice Cream, BBQ, Live Blues (Englewood) Boozy Book Fair (Platt Park) Kickoff to Summer - Street Festival (Historic South Gaylord Street) 57th Annual Memorial Day Parade (Commerce City) For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 If you’re as excited about the Nuggets’ run as we are, definitely do yourself a favor and subscribe to the DNVR Nuggets Podcast for daily commentary and analysis. Kyle mentioned this tweet from transit advocate Emily Kleinfelter. Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Ullr’s Garden BadBoyBoards Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

A nostalgia bomb is about to go off on West Colfax, because the long-awaited return of Casa Bonita is expected any day now. That means Denver’s favorite birthday party venue is back, but so are the tax revenues for the City of Lakewood (and likely crowds in a janky strip mall parking lot). While we wait for the Pink Palace to announce a re-opening date, we called up the mayor of Lakewood, Adam Paul, to talk about how much this actually matters for the local economy and culture. Mayor Paul mentioned Lauren Coleman’s purchase of the White Swan Motel on West Colfax. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Ullr’s Garden BadBoyBoards Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

After a historic 12 years in what he calls the “best political job in Colorado,” Michael Hancock is ready to say goodbye to the mayor’s office. His administration was defined by growing pains, with explosive population growth outpacing Denver’s housing supply. But through it all he has maintained a single vision: Make Denver into a “world-class city.” So now that he is leaving office and Denver’s population growth is waning, we ask: Did he do it? And what does it mean to be a world-class city anyway? Overlooking Civic Center Park from his office, mayor Michael Hancock joins host Bree Davies to discuss growth, his legacy, and the race to succeed him. Bree mentioned 9News’ coverage of the Christian Glass settlement and the big announcement from United Airlines. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Ullr’s Garden BadBoyBoards Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Tuesday, and we’re breaking down all the local stories that matter this week. First, Colorado Springs has a brand-new mayor and a brand-new narrative — could this be an opportunity for Democrats? Also, the Denver Art Museum has, for the first time, exhibited art made with AI — does it matter? And finally, the Casa Bonita hype has reached a fever pitch, with Les Claypool concert rumors and and opening date possibilities swirling. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi respond to a listener’s criticism of our “breathless” CB coverage, and Bree plays the quizmaster with the Ultimate Old Denver Gatekeeper Trivia. Bree mentioned the digital art of a Colorado-born artist, Milton Melvin Croissant III, who was also a founder of Rhinoceropolis. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Ullr’s Garden BadBoyBoards Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

More than 10,000 migrants from Central and South America have arrived in Denver since December, seeking opportunity, shelter, or just a friendly pitstop on the way to a new home. Denver’s support services were already straining to manage the unexpected influx of people in need, but now that a key pandemic-era border restriction has been lifted, no one knows how many more migrants we can expect this summer. So today on the show, host Bree Davies sits down with Denver Post reporter Saja Hindi who tracked this recent wave of migration from Venezuela all the way to Denver, where our local officials are scrambling to plan for an uncertain future. There are lots of ways to support migrants arriving in Denver: Donate or volunteer through the City and County of Denver Donate through the Rose Community Foundation. Bree mentioned The Denver Post story on the DMNS’s closure of the North American Indian Cultures Hall and the museum’s “healing statement.” For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Ullr’s Garden BadBoyBoards Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

We love having Denver Post columnist Jo Ann Allen on our Friday shows, but did you know she makes a podcast of her own? This weekend, we’re delighted to share an episode of “Been There Done That” that we think you’ll love. It features Jo Ann’s interview with Rick Waters, the executive director of the Denver Indian Center. Subscribe to Been There Done That wherever you get your podcasts! For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Friday and we’re talking about all the local stories that caught our eyes this week. First, we talk a lot about downtown. Is it safe? What’s going on down there? Is the Cheesecake Factory still open? But the real question is: What’s going on with all that empty office space? Are we looking at a commercial real estate crisis brewing or a big juicy opportunity? Host Bree Davies is joined by producer Paul Karolyi and returning favorite Jo Ann Allen to hash out the vacancy situation, dish on the mayor’s race, and break down all the other stories that matter. Finally, newsletter editor Peyton Garcia joins in to share her picks for the best events this weekend! Here are the events we discussed: Northglenn Food Truck Carnival Colfax Marathon The Sun Valley Viaduct Night Market Taste of Yoga For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866. Bree mentioned a CBS4 piece on people traveling from all over the country to come to a little restaurant in Colorado called Casa Bonita that isn’t even open yet. Even more Mayoral Madness! And don’t miss the mayoral forum Bree is hosting on May 22 with Brough and Johnston. It’s Hot Ones-style, so they’ll be answering progressively tougher questions while eating progressively spicier wings. The event is sold out, but you can RSVP for the watch party or watch the live stream on Facebook. Should be fun! Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein! Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: The North Face BadBoyBoards Ullr’s Garden Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Twenty-seven Denverites ran for mayor. Seventeen made the ballot. Now it’s down to two: Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston. Ballots are in the mail this week ahead of election day on June 6, and Denverites will decide. Will our first new mayor in 12 years be the snowplow-driving former CEO of Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce or the belt buckle-loving former state senator? Today, host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi sit down with Johnston to hear what he’d say to one of his many wealthy donors if they asked for a favor; how he’d bring downtown back to life; where he’s gonna put the “micro-communities” he promised for people experiencing homelessness; whether or not he’s worried about Denver’s stagnant population growth; and if he’d support a bid for a Denver Olympics. Mike mentioned Stephen Brackett’s proposal to create an Office of the Night Mayor. Bree talked to Stephen a few weeks ago about what a night mayor is and more of his big ideas for the future of Denver’s nightlife. Don’t miss yesterday’s episode with Johnston’s opponent, Kelly Brough! Correction, May 18, 2023: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this interview excluded a moment where Johnston emphasized how important to him the diversity of his voters was. That portion of the interview has since been reinstated. This is a re-uploaded, correct version. Even more Mayoral Madness! And don’t miss the mayoral forum Bree is hosting on May 22 with Brough and Johnston. It’s Hot Ones-style, so they’ll be answering progressively tougher questions while eating progressively spicier wings. The event is sold out, but you can RSVP for the watch party or watch the livestream on Facebook. Should be fun! For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: The North Face BadBoyBoards Ullr’s Garden Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s time to vote for a new mayor… again! Ballots for the June 6 runoff are in the mail this week, and Denverites are deciding who will succeed Michael Hancock as Mile High’s first new mayor in 12 years. After months of campaigning, we wanted to check back in with the two finalists — because we still had questions. Today on the show, producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies sit down with Kelly Brough to hear the real snowplow story; why she’s gone back and forth on bike lanes; how she plans to handle potential conflicts of interest around her longtime partner, lobbyist David Kenney; how her personal experience guides her on safe injection sites; and her trick for baking at altitude. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s conversation with Brough’s opponent, Mike Johnston! If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and take in Brough’s snowplow ad. Bree also mentioned safe injection facilities reducing overdose deaths — that information came from the American Academy of Family Physicians. Even more Mayoral Madness! And don’t miss the mayoral forum Bree is hosting on May 22 with Brough and Johnston. It’s Hot Ones-style, so they’ll be answering progressively tougher questions while eating progressively spicier wings. The event is sold out, but you can RSVP for the watch party or watch the livestream on Facebook. Should be fun! For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: The North Face BadBoyBoards Ullr’s Garden Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Three miles of Broadway and Welton were shut down for the inaugural ¡Viva! Streets Denver last weekend, as pedestrians and cyclists took over the asphalt for a rainy day of car-free wandering through the city — so, how did it go? Speaking of getting around sans cars, RTD is looking at another fare-free summer with the prospect of expanding the program to go through July and August. Oh and yes, ballots are in the mail so you’ll soon be able to get this mayoral runoff over with — but not before the Johnston and Brough campaigns unleash a plethora of commercials. It’s Tuesday and producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies are breaking down all the local stories that matter, including our weekly Casa Bonita countdown! We talked about pics from the first Viva Streets event last weekend, a LinkedIn post from Eric Anderson (which we first got wind of from Cory Hutchins’ newsletter), a new ad from the Kelly Brough campaign, and the GIFs Casa Bonita released of the restaurant’s remodeling progress. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: The North Face BadBoyBoards Ullr’s Garden Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Planning on buying tickets to your favorite show? Good luck! If you happen to be a Swiftie, a member of the Bey Hive, or a big fan of The Cure, you’ve probably seen artists and fans going head-to-head this year with ticketing giants like Ticketmaster. Colorado lawmakers passed a bill recently that could ease some of your ticket-buying woes, but does it go far enough? And is it too soft on ticket marketplaces like Ticketmaster? Producer Ann Marie Awad talks with Colorado Politics Business Reporter Hannah Metzger about the ins and outs of the bill, its surprise supporters, and whether or not Gov. Polis will sign it into law. Link to the bill: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB23-060 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Friday, and we’re digging into all the local stories that mattered this week. First, state lawmakers are officially done lawmaking for the year. And this session, we learned that politics is like jazz. Sometimes it’s about the laws you don’t pass. But it come down to the wire on a “chaotic” Monday night, featuring some harsh name-calling, last-minute dealings, and a full-on GOP walkout. CPR politics reporter Andy Kenney was at the Capitol, and he’s back on today with producer Paul Karolyi and Westword editor Patty Calhoun to sort through the wreckage and share some underreported stories of the week (Migrants! Moths! Money!). Plus, Adrian González is back to give us his weekend recs. For a thorough breakdown of all the bills heading to Governor Jared Polis’s desk, check out the coverage from our friends at the Denver Post, CPR, and the Colorado Sun. Paul mentioned the shape of our state and his first miller moth sighting of the year (The CSU Extension has plenty more info about miller moths and how safely remove them from your home). Patty talked about the recent wave of migrants arriving from South and Central America. Andy questioned the impact of the Fair Elections Fund. Anyone remember our "War of the Moths" from 2021? That was a crazy fun day. Major hat tip to producer Lizzie Goldsmith on the idea and the mix. Here are the events Adrian recommended for your weekend: Bitchin’ Stitchin’ @ The Thompson Hotel Denver Urban Gardens Spring Plant Sale Global Big Day birding holiday, Bird Walk @ DeLaney Historic Farm in Aurora ¡Viva! Streets first Sunday For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein! Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Ask any Denverite what they’d guess is the most popular car in Colorado, and nine times out of ten they’ll tell you, “Subarus!” And it makes some sense. Designed for adventure, Subarus fit perfectly with Colorado’s image as the rugged mountain state. Throw your gear in the back and you’re ready to go! But are Subarus really the most popular cars in Colorado? Host Bree Davies takes on the Subaru stereotype with recent Subaru convert Ann Marie Awad and reporter Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, who dug into the data for the Denver Post. Megan mentioned the myth that Denver gets 360 days of sunshine per year. If you’re in the mood for more local myth-busting, our weather guy Andy Stein busted that one for us back in 2021. We also discussed the surprising origin of those NATIVE bumper stickers. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

We all know Denver isn’t the super affordable city it once was. But we’re all still here, trying to get by and enjoy that Mile High life. So we challenged ourselves to find the best ways to enjoy a day in Denver on the cheap — and by cheap we mean, how can a Denverite pack a whole day of fun around the city for $52.80 or less? Host Bree Davies, producer Paul Karolyi, and state politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval each schemed, plotted, and planned a great Denver day without breaking the bank. Today, join them as they talk through the best eats, events, and entertainment Denver has to offer, with a slim budget of $52.80! Got a favorite local discount, happy hour deal, or bargain? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Enter the Spoiler Zone below at your own risk! Paul suggests you take advantage of Denver Public Library’s free museum pass program, the great prices at El Taco de Mexico, this hot tip for cheap drinks at Coors Field. Justine includes a RiNo weed deal, the best way to enjoy the Museum of Contemporary Art, a free trip to her favorite park, and plenty of bus rides (which will be free again in August!). Bree’s got her eye on bánh mì bargains on Federal, movies on Colfax, concerts at Ruby Hill, and tacos on Alameda. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Mother’s Day is just around the corner — have you made plans with your mother yet?! This holiday often centers on going out for a nice brunch but in this town, getting reservations can feel nearly impossible. You still have a few days to plan that big bash for mom this Sunday, and the City Cast Denver crew is here to help. We’ve rounded up some of our most favorite brunch spots across the city, from old favorites to innovative ideas for redefining your typical weekend meal spot. This conversation originally aired on November 16, 2022. Make a day out of it and take your mom to one of our favorite local garden shops! Bree mentioned the Denver Public Schools board’s consultant costs. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Colorado was lucky to have a particularly wet winter in 2023, meaning water runoff from the mountains is really strong right now. But does that mean we can stop worrying about the Colorado River and that pesky 20-year megadrought? KUNC reporter Luke Runyon has a new podcast out, “Thirst Gap,” exploring the precarious state of our water supply. So producer Paul Karolyi sat down with Luke to talk about the new podcast, the latest politics of water at the Capitol, and the prospect of another hot, dry summer. Paul mentioned some New York Times coverage that addressed recent developments with the Colorado River, and you can subscribe to “Thirst Gap: Learning to Live With Less on the Colorado River” wherever you listen to podcasts. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: The North Face The Jewish Community Center of Denver Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Friday, and we’re talking about all the local stories that mattered this week. Way back in November 2019, Colorado voters narrowly approved the legalization of sports betting, taking the illicit hobby out of the shadows and on to our phones! And on billboards! And everywhere else! Sports betting is now a multi-billion-dollar industry with Coloradans chasing the adrenaline rush from the Broncos and the Nuggets to late-night prop bets on the pro cornhole championship. To mark the three-year anniversary of our state’s first legal sports bet, Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are chatting with 5280 Magazine editor Lindsey B. King, who reported this month’s cover story on how sports betting is going mainstream. Then they each share an underreported story from the week and invite Hey Denver newsletter editor Peyton Garcia on to share her best bets for your weekend. We talked tofu, new speed limits, healthcare transparency, and the New York Times’ take on Blucifer and DIA. For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein! Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Backyard Pitmasters of Colorado The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s not just you— trying to get a camping spot in Colorado feels impossible these days because it kind of is! New data reported by the Denver Post shows it was five times harder in 2022 to secure a campsite in this state than it was pre-pandemic. So, how do you get your outdoors on when the competition is so fierce? Newsletter editor Peyton Garcia — the City Cast Denver camping authority — takes our producer and camping novice Paul Karolyi through her best outdoor enjoyment hacks and secrets to making the most of Colorado’s greatest asset. Peyton made this handy dandy camping checklist so you can be fully prepared to set up shop in your favorite mountainside spot. This conversation originally aired on June 29, 2022. Bree mentioned how busy Colorado’s campgrounds are, why the gig driver transparency bill went down this week, and Lunar New Year! Here are a couple links to our past coverage of Lunar New Year in Denver and CAPU’s work to commemorate Denver’s old Chinatown: The Epic Family Saga Behind Denver’s Biggest Lunar New Year Celebration Reclaiming Denver’s Lost Chinatown For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Backyard Pitmasters of Colorado The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

There didn’t used to be a place in Denver called RiNo. So it wasn’t a problem when a bunch of artists found some space and made dusty, industrial Brighton Boulevard… cool. But now art is big business in RiNo, and several rising entertainment companies — Vinyl Me, Please; Victrola; AEG Presents: Rocky Mountains — are building Denver’s next “music district” right there on Brighton. So where does that leave the artists? And how is the local music business reshaping Denver? Host Bree Davies sits down with The Denver Post’s arts reporter and critic John Wenzel to get the scoop. Don’t miss Wenzel’s deep dive into the companies forming a new music district in RiNo. Bree mentioned the last-gasp effort to pass Governor Jared Polis’s big land-use bill at the state legislature this week. The Subaru Hotline is Open! Maybe it’s a stereotype, maybe it’s true: Coloradans love their Subarus. But what about you? Do you drive one? Do they bug you? We want to hear what Subarus mean to you. Text or leave us a voicemail at (720) 500-5418‬ For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Backyard Pitmasters of Colorado The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

With 2023 state legislative session almost over, the race is on to get these bills outta the house — but what will our lawmakers focus on with their final week? The fact that our property taxes are going through the roof? Or that the Suncor oil refinery continues to emit toxic chemicals? Or are they just focused on fighting their own trolls on social media? It’s Tuesday, so host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are breaking down all the local stories that matter this week. Plus, of course, the latest on Casa Bonita. Paul mentioned how Colorado stacks up to other states when it comes to property taxes on residential real estate and the reasons Colorado voters repealed the Gallagher Amendment back in 2020. Bree mentioned a Zillow listing in West Colfax that touted the home’s proximity to Casa Bonita. Give us a ring on the Always-Open, Always Hot, Casa Bonita Hotline! Text or leave us a voicemail: (720) 500-5418‬ For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Backyard Pitmasters of Colorado The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The Nuggets are having a history-making season, and — knock on wood! — Denver could be on its way to our first NBA Championship in franchise history. But sports teams are so much more than the athletes. Coaches, scouts, analysts, trainers, and many many more work together to get those wins — like today’s guest, Kyle Speller. He’s a PA announcer now in his 18th season with the Nuggets, and his voice, energy, and excitement are crucial to getting 20,000 fans on their feet and cheering at Ball Arena every game. Host Bree Davies talks with Kyle about how he came up with his now-infamous “To the window/to the wall!” call-and-response, the call Nikola Jokić asked him to stop, and other secrets for driving Nuggets fans wild. (And if you’re curious, Bree also asked Kyle about his homage to Guy’s “Teddy’s Jam.”) Bree mentioned the settlement in the Coffee at the Point dispute and Colorado’s new gun laws. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: The North Face Backyard Pitmasters of Colorado Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the stories that caught our eye this week. Housing has been top of mind for Coloradans and finally, Governor Jared Polis was poised to do something about it — in the form of a massive housing and land-use bill. But SB213 was gutted this week, thanks to Republicans and Democrats standing up for “the Colorado Way,” as they put it. So what went wrong? Producer Paul Karolyi is joined by host Bree Davies and returning favorite Jo Ann Allen to chat all things housing, along with a rousing round of Two Truths and a Lie inspired by Denver hosting the inaugural Cities Summit of the Americas this week. Then newsletter editor Peyton Garcia has some sweet recs for your weekend! For the full backstory behind Governor Polis’s big push for housing density, catch up with all our coverage of housing at the Capitol this year: What You Need to Know About the ‘More Housing Now’ Bill (4/13/23) Does Denver Need Rent Control? (2/15/23) Can Governor Polis Fix Our Housing Problem? (1/30/23) Paul mentioned Nick Campion’s concession video in the D7 City Council race, and Bree mentioned an editorial in the Aspen Daily News about the supposed “Californication” of Colorado. Check out Jo Ann Allen’s podcast, Been There Done That! Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein! Here are the events we discussed happening this weekend: REI Pancake 5k and Nutrition Fair (Sat) Denver Astronomical Society open house at Chamberlin Observatory (Sat) Día del Niño (all weekend) Healthy Kids Day (Sat) We are so sad to be saying goodbye this week to our producer Erin O’Toole. Erin helped us uncover the mystery of Denver's lost tunnels and took us inside Denver’s many sex rooms. We’ll miss you, Erin! For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver online or by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Are the stars more beautiful from Denver? We are one mile closer, after all. But seriously, after the surprise Aurora Borealis sighting in Colorado last weekend, we are determined not to miss another epic cosmic show. So we posed that Mile High query and all our other starter stargazing questions to Ron Hranac of the Denver Astronomical Society. Producer and certified star-liker Paul Karolyi sat down with Ron to get to the bottom of the altitude question, some insider tips to find the darkest skies (including one inside city limits), and his best bets for the next cosmic event you don’t want to miss. If you cant make the DAS’s open house this Saturday, check out their whole list of upcoming events. You can also join to gain access to the DAS’s own dark sky site east of the city. Or, you can “Just Look Up”! Paul mentioned the fate of Rep. Javier Mabrey’s rent control bill and our topsy turvy housing market. Now we want to hear from you! There are lots of dramatic headlines, but only you know what it’s really like trying to find a good place to live in Denver. What are the real problems you’re dealing with? Send us a text or leave us a voicemail at (720) 500-5418‬, and you might hear your crazy housing story on the show soon. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Gardening in Colorado comes with a unique set of challenges. Between our clay-heavy soil and our seriously dry climate, getting anything other than weeds to poke up out of the ground takes some special know-how. Host Bree Davies sits down with gardening enthusiast Ann Marie Awad to answer Denver’s most pressing gardening questions directly from you, our listeners! Ann Marie covers everything from from how to raise tomatoes in plots surrounded by concrete to where to get free and cheap supplies to keep your urban gardens healthy year-round. A few places & things Ann Marie mentioned: Wompost: Women-Owned Composting City of Denver mulch giveaway happening May 6 Nick’s Garden Center CSU Extension guide to ground cover For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Tuesday, and we’re looking at all the important stories shaping Denver this week. With only a few weeks left in the legislative session, the Democrats in power at the state Capitol are still divided on new gun laws. So host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are talking about the politics of guns, a new lawsuit over “abortion reversal” drugs, and why Bandimere Speedway is closing this year — its 65th season. Plus, we have an exclusive story about a new social impact program for the local cannabis industry, which prompts a bigger discussion about how entrepreneurs are pushing up against our weed laws. We discussed the City of Denver’s new Cannabis Cares program. For more details about the planned May 4 launch, check out their website. Bree mentioned a few sources for better understanding the “abortion reversal” conversation — Bente Birkland covered the latest ruling for CPR; NPR explains the origins of the abortion pill Mifepristone’s approval in the U.S. more than 20 years ago and also covered the dangers of the study conducted on the controversial “abortion reversal” treatment. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Way back in 1981, a humble New York transplant named Jimmy Lambatos opened an innovative toasted sub shop at the corner of 13th Avenue and Grant. Denverites quickly fell in love with Quiznos, fueling the rise of a sandwich empire to more than 5,000 locations around the world by the mid 2000s. But now, as Westword’s food editor Molly Martin reported last week, Quiznos is on the ropes, and that first location has been shuttered due to non-payment of taxes. So today, Molly returns to the show with producer Paul Karolyi and newsletter editor Peyton Garcia to talk through the rise and fall of Quiznos and the surprisingly Denver story of founder Jimmy Lambatos. We discussed Molly’s interview with Quiznos founder Jimmy Lambatos and Peyton’s deep dive into the fall of Quiznos. Paul mentioned the recent auditor’s report on Denver’s response to the homelessness crisis. All the other great local sandwich places we mentioned: Subculture (Cap Hill) Snarf’s (Various) Cheba Hut (Various) Carmine Lonardo’s Meat Market (Lakewood) Spinelli’s (Park Hill) Little Arthur’s Hoagies (Food Truck) Olive & Finch (Uptown and Cherry Creek) Marczyk Fine Foods (Cap Hill, Hale) Curtis Park Deli (Curtis Park, Cherry Creek, Boulder) Leven Deli Co. (Golden Triangle) For even more local sandwich goodness, we settled the great Snarfs vs. Cheba Hut debate on the show last fall. Do you have nostalgia for Quiznos’ early years? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear your story on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: The North Face Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s time for the thrilling conclusion to Cherry Creek Week! All week long, we’ve been talking about one of Denver’s most divisive neighborhoods: Cherry Creek. How will the community deal with the vexing problems brought by an imminent wave of development? Can it find a solution to the ongoing fight — and current impasse — over transportation infrastructure? As the historians taught us, change is inevitable. So how can we make the most of all this interest in Cherry Creek? At the annual Transportation Solutions conference Wednesday morning, host Bree Davies talked through some real solutions with a panel of experts, including SEIU Local 105 political director True Apodaca, the City of Denver’s city-wide manager for transit-oriented development Chris Nevitt, and the man Westword dubbed “the good developer” David Zucker of Zocalo Community Development. We’ll be back with our usual Friday news round-up next week! For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866. Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein! Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Got thoughts or feelings about Cherry Creek Week? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: Transportation Solutions Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Cherry Creek Week, Day Four! The story of Cherry Creek is the story of big dreams, yet with each exciting new project, the clash of old vs. new continues. Today, we’re examining what one developer has planned for that abandoned sea of parking lots just to the west of the mall. Amy Cara talks with host Bree Davies about her vision for Cherry Creek West — what could be multiple towers of offices, housing, retail, and some needed green space. Then we (virtually) travel all the way to the outskirts of Washington D.C. to check out Tysons — a suburban mall formerly surrounded by parking lots, much like our beloved Cherry Creek. Tysons is well on its way to becoming a true 15-minute city, where thousands of people can live, walk, ride, roll, and take the train anywhere they need to go in no more than 15 minutes. Bree talks to an insider with the Tysons project, Justin Schor, to get some insight on how density can be done right. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: Transportation Solutions Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Cherry Creek Week — Day Three! When Denverites talk about Cherry Creek, the conversation often goes to the neighborhood’s multi-million dollar homes and high-end shops like Hermés, Louis Vuitton, and Neiman Marcus. But what about the people who make the community, well, work? As one of the largest private employers in the city, Cherry Creek Shopping Center and neighboring Cherry Creek North couldn’t function without the salespeople, janitors, hotel clerks, hairstylists, restaurant hosts, and valets who come to work every day. Today, host Bree Davies — a former mall employee of 17 years — talks with her friend and former coworker David Casados about why workers just like them are a crucial part of the Cherry Creek story. Got a question or comment about what’s going on in Cherry Creek? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ You may have recognized David Casados’ voice from a previous City Cast Denver episode — he joined us for a meal at Fuel & Iron, a downtown Denver bar that was Pueblo-themed. Bree mentioned Dominion Voting Systems’ high-profile settlement with Fox News. For more on the local angle to the Dominion story and misinformation surrounding the 2020 election, check out our interview with Westword editor Patty Calhoun from last November. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: Transportation Solutions Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Cherry Creek Week continues! Sometimes it feels like the only constant in Denver is change. And that feeling is especially present in Cherry Creek, a community that today is known as a high-end shopping destination — but it wasn’t always this way. The neighborhood is named for the waterway running alongside it, a natural resource that has been attracting people for hundreds of years. Back in the mid-1800s, settlers came from all over the country to make a home in Colorado, including many Black families and homesteaders who put down roots in what at the time was known as the town of Harman. Today, host Bree Davies hears from Terri Gentry of History Colorado and retired judge Gary Jackson about the Black families of early Cherry Creek, as well as the area’s evolution under Temple Buell’s vision from farmland to city dump to the wealthy neighborhood of this century. Don’t miss the $15 million real estate listing Bree cited for the home that was once Harman Town Hall! Bree also mentioned the original Quiznos, on 13th Ave., and the Nuggets opening playoff win. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: Transportation Solutions Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Welcome to Cherry Creek Week! Density. Growth. Infrastructure. Housing. Overcrowding. These words represent our biggest challenge as a city: How can Denver grow without changing all the things that make it great? All this week on the show — and in our newsletter Hey Denver — we’re exploring that question in one neighborhood that’s near and dear to our hearts (and the city’s tax base): Cherry Creek. For decades, Cherry Creek has grappled with what it means to not only become a shopping destination, but a rival of downtown, an epicenter for international business, and a very desirable place to live. And today, we’re kicking things off by looking at the imminent wave of development that could reshape Cherry Creek forever. Join us in person to continue the conversation about transportation and density in Cherry Creek! Our sponsor, Transportation Solutions, is hosting us for a discussion with a panel of expert guests this Wednesday morning at the University of Denver. Get your tickets here! Have thoughts on the future of Cherry Creek? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Transportation Solutions Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise