City Cast Denver

Thirteen years ago, a group of friends and strangers got together and decided to start a music festival in Denver. But it was so much more than your average fest — it was, and still is, a community that calls itself Titwrench. An art-centered collective was formed under the Titwrench umbrella where anyone who wanted to join could learn how to run sound at a concert, teach others how to build their own instruments, and maybe even perform their own music on stage for the first time. Host Bree Davies sits down with her longtime friend and Titwrench cofounder, Sarah Slater, to talk about the evolution of this fest and community. The festival component of Titwrench is set to begin this Sunday at 4 p.m., with performances from Nacha Mendez, The Milk Blossoms, Machete Mouth, My Name Is Harriett, and Sol VidaWorldwide. For more on Titwrench, here’s a preview of this weekend’s festival from Westword: https://www.westword.com/music/titwrench-music-festival-comes-to-city-park-12405030 Subscribe to our newsletter right now and never miss another cool Denver event: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Are you going to Titwrench this weekend? Post some pics and tag us @citycastdenver!

You’ve called, you’ve written us, and now we bring you the hotly anticipated Breakfast Burrito Throwdown where the City Cast Denver crew will attempt to crown Denver’s best breakfast burrito. It’s not a contest for the faint of heart. But host Bree Davies, producer Paul Karolyi, producer Xandra McMahon, and newsletter writer Peyton Garcia were up for the challenge. For more burrito news (and regular news too, I guess) subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter! https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Want another way to connect with the CCD crew? Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver

Denver’s sidewalks are in a sorry state, and that’s if you’re lucky enough to live in a neighborhood that has them. What’s worse is the fact that property owners are responsible for maintaining our sidewalks, which means not much maintenance gets done at all. So how are we supposed to get out of this mess? Last week, City Cast Denver producer Xandra McMahon tagged along on a walking tour of Cap Hill with District 10 councilperson Chris Hinds and Denver Streets Partnership executive director Jill Locantore to talk about how we got here, the disproportionate impact on our neighbors with disabilities, and what’s stopping us from addressing the problem. There’s a lot more important stuff happening out there, and you can read about it all in our nifty morning newsletter. Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ They say that every time you retweet @citycastdenver a sidewalk gets repaired. Should we try it out?

The first legal weed deliveries happened in Denver last month. But like many aspects of the weed business, the actual implementation of legal delivery hasn’t been easy. Currently, only six dispensaries are permitted for delivery and so far just one, Strawberry Fields, has launched, in partnership with a delivery service called doobba. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies talks with journalist and podcast host Ann Marie Awad about what makes the delivery process so cumbersome for local companies, what it means for those impacted by the war on drugs, and how accessible — or inaccessible — cannabis delivery really is for the average Denverite. If you want to see how the City of Denver is soliciting applications for cannabis deliver licenses, here’s their site explaining the process: https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Business-Licensing/Business-Licenses/Marijuana-Licenses/Delivery-Permit Want more local news every weekday? Sign up for the City Cast Denver newsletter here. Say hello on Twitter! @citycastdenver

Happy first Friday of fall! For our news roundup, this week: Producer Paul Karolyi and Host Bree Davies discuss the ongoing Tay Anderson school board saga. Plus, Bree reminisces about an older version of Denver, one where her neighborhood Kmart was thriving and Paul comes to the defense of abandoned parking lot activities. For more on the Tay Anderson story: Check out our episode with Chalkbeat Colorado reporter Melanie Asmar, plus Melanie’s original reporting on the issue. The Kmart situation has dragged on for years — read/watch more about the former retailer and plans for the new site over on The Denver Channel. Have a hankering for more news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our weekday newsletter here. Find City Cast Denver on Twitter: @CityCastDenver

On September 15, the City of Denver set up metal barricades around Civic Center Park, blocking people from taking in all the new public art, eating lunch on the steps of the amphitheater, and strolling among the flower beds. But of course, that’s not what this was about. City officials describe the temporary shutdown as an essential measure to stem violence, crime, drug use and unsanitary conditions. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with past guest Ean Thomas Tafoya, who organizes what he calls “compassionate trash service” in the park, for a practical conversation about Denver’s housing crisis and other ways to make Civic Center Park more welcoming for everyone. 👉 What you can do: The Civic Center Conservancy and City of Denver are hosting a virtual, public workshop to help reimagine Civic Center Park tonight, September 23, at 5:30 pm: https://www.facebook.com/events/1528587610814267/?ref=newsfeed Mayor Michael Hancock announced a “STAR-like” program for Denver’s jails last week. What the heck does that mean? We’ve got a full breakdown in our newsletter today, which you can read and subscribe to here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Smash that follow button: @citycastdenver

Zaidy’s is back! Once a Cherry Creek staple, the Jewish deli’s owners decided it was time to close up shop after 35 years at the height of the pandemic in 2020. But thanks to a few enterprising Denverites, the restaurant returned last month — this time in the heart of southeast Denver’s Jewish community, where the new owners hope copious parking, a new event space, and a bakery will help Zaidy’s flourish for decades to come. One Denverite who was particularly happy about the new Zaidy’s? Journalist, political figure, and southeast Denver resident David Sirota. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies met up with Sirota for breakfast at the new Zaidy’s to talk about his relationship with the restaurant, his thoughts on Denver’s secret bagel wars, and how Zaidy’s fits into its new neighborhood, Virginia Vale. For more on the new Zaidy’s, including some sweet pics courtesy of past City Cast Denver guest Kevin Beaty, here’s Denverite’s report on their reopening last month: https://denverite.com/2021/08/17/zaidys-reopens-in-virginia-vale-starting-a-new-chapter-for-the-beloved-jewish-deli/ Want more news delivered to your inbox each weekday morning? Subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Have strong opinions on Denver’s bagel scene? Tweet us: @citycastdenver

After being unhoused and struggling with food insecurity himself, Jim Scharper knew he wanted to help others. What started out as Jim making and handing out sandwiches to unhoused folks turned into Feeding Denver’s Hungry, a full-scale food access operation that connects Denverites with free groceries. Friends and strangers alike showed up to help Jim and now, eight years into this work, Feeding Denver’s Hungry connects thousands of community members with groceries of their choice. That idea of giving people a choice is crucial for Jim; he works to ensure that the people who utilize his services are able to maintain a sense of dignity — especially in a time of struggle. Host Bree Davies and producer Xandra McMahon met up with Jim and his crew at the Feeding Denver’s Hungry free grocery store in Montbello to learn more about this food access organization. Plus, we’ve got another installment of our series “VOICE on the Street,” this time with Denver VOICE vendor LarMarques Smith. LarMarques takes us on a journey from his drag performer days in Indianapolis to his current life here in Denver. Learn more about the Denver VOICE’s work and read a current issue of the paper: denvervoice.org. Donate directly to The Denver VOICE via Venmo: @DenverVOICE Get more news in your inbox every weekday morning by subscribing to the City Cast Denver newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver

Back in March, Black Lives Matter 5280 issued a statement on behalf of a woman who said that Denver Public Schools Board Member Tay Anderson had sexually assaulted her. From there, other claims of misconduct and assault surfaced, including statements by another woman who claimed to be speaking on behalf of more than 60 DPS students who Anderson supposedly assaulted. Anderson, who is also an influential activist leader and champion of local progressive politics, has maintained his innocence since the beginning. In response, DPS hired an outside investigative team to look into the claims, and last week the investigators published their findings. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with Chalkbeat Colorado reporter Melanie Asmar to parse the report and lay out a timeline of this complex, ongoing saga involving one of Colorado’s youngest political figures and activists. Tay Anderson is planning to address the community about his future with Denver Public Schools tonight — Monday, September 20 — at 6 pm at 2863 Welton St. For details, click here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2995835457304477/?ref=newsfeed Read Melanie’s coverage of the investigation for Chalkbeat Colorado: https://co.chalkbeat.org/2021/9/15/22674564/tay-anderson-colorado-investigation-results-released Read the full 96-page investigative report: https://go.boarddocs.com/co/dpsk12/Board.nsf/files/C6VTCC76B280/$file/FINAL%20PUBLIC%20ILG%20REPORT%2020210915.pdf Get more local news from the City Cast Denver daily newsletter by subscribing: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Follow the City Cast Denver team on Twitter: @citycastdenver

As more businesses and events require a COVID vaccine, and Gov. Jared Polis chomps at the bit for booster shots, the City Cast Denver crew asks the really tough questions: What’s it even like to go to a concert right now? When do you need to show proof of vaccination? Should you be wearing a mask? How much is it the ticket-takers' or security’s responsibility to uphold these big mandates? Plus, Paul, Bree, and Xandra talk about Red Rocks’ dystopian, Bezos-approved ticket entry system. And a new segment is introduced that focuses on Glendale’s shenanigans, the tiny town in the middle of Denver that Paul warmly refers to as “the fully-loaded nacho lodged in Denver’s throat.” For example: How come Shotgun Willie’s is no longer bankrupt? Here’s the whole letter to Fiddler’s Green that’s referenced in the episode: https://www.reddit.com/r/CoronavirusColorado/comments/po82j3/an_open_letter_to_fiddlers_green/ Let’s be inbox buddies too! Subscribe to the newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ We’re also on Twitter: @CityCastDenver

The High Plains Comedy Festival returns to South Broadway this weekend and the line-up is stacked with funny people, including Denver’s own Justine Marino who went from a “girl who loves the Cherry Creek Mall” to LA-minted stand-up comedian with her own show on E! to boot. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with her longtime friend and former Catholic school rival to discuss the festival, Justine’s own podcasting venture, and why Denver’s mall scene is so much better than LA’s. Hey it seems like you enjoy podcasts. Check out Justine’s! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/glitter-and-garbage/id1506683181 Want more Denver news in your inbox every weekday morning? Subscribe to the CCD newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ We would love to be friends on Twitter! Follow us @citycastdenver

Jeremy Jojola and Zack Newman were doing what they normally do as journalists at 9News: Poking around. What they came across though was a $2.3 million PPP loan fraud that could be traced back to a single office suite in Denver. We still don’t know who exactly was behind this fraud, but the bigger question is, how did they pull it off? Turns out, it’s not that hard to take over dormant business licenses in the state of Colorado. So what can the state do to close these loopholes and prevent further fraud? City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with Jeremy and Zack to get the story behind the investigation and talk through the regulatory challenges around this kind of fraud prevention. Have a tip for Zack, Jeremy and the 9Wants to Know team? Email them: [email protected] Stay up to date on what’s happening in Denver without ever leaving your inbox: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Connect with us on Twitter! @citycastdenver

It was one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the Denver metro area — the 1965 South Platte River floods — that initially led Douglas County to join the Tri-County Health Department in 1966. As DougCo grew and grew since then, Tri-County provided residents with crucial public health services ranging from syringe disposal to restaurant health inspections. But after 55 years and one global pandemic, their relationship has come to an end. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies speaks with Elliott Wenzler, who covers DougCo for Colorado Community Media, about why conservative-leaning Douglas County is breaking up with the Tri-County Health Department and what it’s going to mean for the health and safety of DougCo residents. For more on the break-up with Tri-County Health and other goings-on in Douglas County, you can find all of Elliott’s stories at coloradocommunitymedia.com. Want more Denver news and cool things to do in your inbox every weekday morning? You should subscribe to our newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ We’ve been saving some of our best tweets for today. Don’t miss them! @citycastdenver

For breweries in Colorado, September is typically a month of fests. There’s Oktoberfest, of course. And then there’s the Great American Beer Fest to prepare for in early October. But with the Delta variant on the rise and increasing fears of breakthrough cases, the party is canceled — mostly. A community hub for Latino beer fans on Denver’s Westside, Raices Brewing Co. is bringing back Suave Fest this Saturday, and this year it comes with a gentle, thoughtful nudge in the direction of a COVID-19 vaccine. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with Raices co-founder Tamil Maldonado to talk about her personal experience with COVID-19, the Latino community’s lagging vaccination rate, and how Raices is working to get more shots in her customers’ arms. We’ve got plenty more Denver news and cool events you should know about in our newsletter. Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Got a favorite local beer event that we should know about? We’re thirsty and listening: @citycastdenver

Our friend and resident podcast connoisseur Berry of Podcasts in Color is back with another recommendation to spice up your podcast feed with a little more local flavor. Berry’s pick this month is Escaping Denver, a fiction podcast that may or may not explore the conspiracy theories surrounding Denver International Airport. For more podcast news and gossip, we recommend following Berry on Twitter @podcastsincolor. While you’re there, say hi to us @citycastdenver!

Earlier this week, the city of Denver shut down Civic Center Park, closing off the public space for at least two months. Though Denver Department of Public Health and Environment cited health and safety issues as the primary reason for the closure, the City Cast Denver crew actually saw this story as part of a larger conversation about housing issues. We discuss our thoughts on the park closure, as well as a new shipping container housing concept coming to Colorado and a look at the slimy practices of a national mobile home park giant wreaking havoc on local renters. Plus, stick around for staff picks— Peyton, Paul, Xandra, and Bree share things to do, places to see, and good stuff to eat in the Mile High City! Get a steady stream of news delivered right to your inbox every weekday by subscribing to our newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Chat with us via Twitter: @citycastdenver OR leave us a message on our brand new City Cast Denver hotline: (720) 500-5418‬

When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s eviction moratorium two weeks ago, approximately 12,000 Denverites woke up to the increasingly imminent threat of losing their home. But a new organization called NEWR Denver wants to give tenants a fighting chance. NEWR, or No Eviction Without Representation, is gathering signatures for a ballot initiative that, if passed, would give renters free legal counsel. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies chats with NEWR Denver’s Wren Echo about the city’s current housing crisis and how much of a difference having a lawyer makes at eviction hearings. Want more Denver news in your inbox every weekday morning? Subscribe to our newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ We also sometimes tweet things @CityCastDenver

In the late ‘60s, Denver Public Schools began busing children across the city in an effort to desegregate our schools. Then came the pushback in the form of lawsuits, harassment of school board members, and in 1970, a bombing at the DPS bus depot off Federal Boulevard. But many Denverites’ memories of the busing era offer a more complicated story. Host Bree Davies sits down with Alicia “Lisa” Smith Young, director and producer of the new play “Busing,” which marks the first production from the new theater group IDEA Stages and tackles the legacy of Denver’s busing era with intergenerational stories of race and community. Interested in checking out the show? You can find tickets here: https://controlgroup.wellattended.com/events/sojourners-project-busing?httpsRedirect=tru Want to know more about what’s going on in Denver? Check out and subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ We’re always listening - get in touch with the City Cast Denver crew on Twitter: @citycastdenver

Police departments across the country have fallen in love with an obscure technology company called ShotSpotter, which purports to use microphones, algorithms, and artificial intelligence to detect and help combat gun violence, including right here in Denver. It’s “one of the most important cogs in our wheel of addressing gun violence,” said one Ohio police chief, according to the Associated Press. But after a few high-profile incidents involving ShotSpotter in Chicago earlier this year, a new level of scrutiny has inspired investigations and some cities have canceled their contracts altogether. Axios Denver’s Alayna Alvarez has been reporting on the Denver Police Department’s contract with ShotSpotter, and she’s back on the show today with host Bree Davies to sort out the situation and lay out the questions that still need answers. For more on ShotSpotter, here’s a great piece from the Associated Press about how the technology works and how it’s been implemented across the country. More Denver news and cool things to do could be on their way to your inbox as soon as tomorrow morning! All you’ve got to do is subscribe to our newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ What questions do you have about ShotSpotter? Let us know @citycastdenver

This week, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced that the Aurora police officers and paramedics involved in Elijah McClain’s 2019 death will face 32 criminal charges, including manslaughter and assault. Producer Xandra McMahon, host Bree Davies, and newsletter writer Peyton Garcia recap the grand jury indictment and the years of investigation that led up to this moment. Plus, some weird business stories that happened this week in Denver. And, staff recommendations for your weekend. City Cast Denver will be enjoying the Labor Day holiday and will return on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Want more news in your inbox every weekday morning? Subscribe to the CCD newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastDenver

What’s going on with the Broncos? That’s one of the many questions producer Xandra McMahon asked our Sports Guy Jake Shapiro. From quarterback problems to who of the Bowlen family estate runs the team now, our pressing Broncos questions get answered just in time for the start of a new season. Speaking of seasons, how will COVID affect the Broncos in 2021? Yeah, we asked that too. [Insert shameless plug to subscribe to our newsletter here.] No, really you’re gonna love it: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Also, we have a Twitter: @citycastdenver

You’ve heard it before and probably uttered the words yourself: “Colorado has 300 days of sunshine.” It’s no secret that our weather here is great most of the time, but is it really that good? Meteorologist Andy Stein wanted to find out, so he did some research, revealing his findings in a recent story for The Denver Post. Host Bree Davies talks with the weather expert to find out if the thing we like to brag about the most in Colorado really is all its cracked up to be. Still haven't subscribed to our morning newsletter? We got you: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ We're also on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastDenver

The Harm Reduction Action Center isn’t rehab, it’s a community. Not only does the center help people living with substance use issues find resources, but people who visit can also get clean needles, coffee, and even someone to talk to. So when it was reported that Colorado overdose deaths were at an all-time high, executive director Lisa Raville knew that the community she helped build needed to lean on each other more than ever. City Cast Denver Host Bree Davies speaks with her longtime friend Lisa about the family the center’s built, how fentanyl has affected Denver as of late, and how to get rid of stereotypes around drug addiction. HRAC is hosting a memorial and rally today for Overdose Awareness Day. Details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/350293813357389?active_tab=about Always stay in the loop with what’s happening in Denver. Subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And hey, if you’re on Twitter, we are too! Follow us @CityCastDenver

Denver author Peter Heller joins City Cast Denver Newsletter Writer Peyton Garcia for a conversation about his latest thriller, “The Guide.” The novel, set outside Crested Butte, weaves a suspenseful tale centered on young protagonist Jack and his job as a wilderness and fishing guide at an elite resort. But things aren’t quite as they seem, and Jack finds himself questioning what he sees and hears at every turn. Peyton digs into the author’s inspiration for the book and what it was like writing a fictional story set during a pandemic — while actually experiencing the pandemic in real time. Want more Peyton? Well then subscribe to her newsletter! Fresh every weekday: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ For more ways to connect with the CCD team, follow us on Twitter: @CityCastDenver

Host Bree Davies and the City Cast Denver team did a live podcast taping at this year's Underground Music Showcase. And now you can hear it! This candid conversation explores the idea of "diversity in music" and what that really means for performers of color. How does "diversity, equity and inclusion" truly extend to show booking, venue operations, and other positions of power within a music scene? Does representation go beyond the stage? As white folks scramble to "diversify," does it feel like anything meaningful is happening or changing for the actual artists? We're honored to be joined for this panel discussion by several guests from around the Denver music scene: Alicia "Bruce" Trujillo - Alicia "Bruce" Trujillo is a Chicana feminist from occupied Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe land, in what's now called Colorado - raised on the Western Slope, and currently in Denver. Bruce has been working in the community and public media since 2012, with a mission to spotlight, book, and amplify the voices of those who are currently under-heard and underrepresented, with a focus on independent and locally made music and art. Bruce is Concert Director at Denver's Swallow Hill Music Association; a the weekend host on Colorado Public Radio's new music service, Indie 102.3, and is the creator of Especial, a weekly, hour long dive into new and independent Latin-made music from around the 'Americas' and en Colorado. She's also Executive Director and host of Colorful Colorado Collaborations, bringing together BIPOC businesses and musicians, and founder and host of Whiskey, Women and Song, which pairs local female-identifying musicians with locally crafted whiskies for performances, interviews, and whiskey tastings. She sometimes writes for Denver Westword, with a focus on local art. Wes Watkins - We Watkins is a multi-instrumentalist, band leader, show organizer, and long-running member of the Denver music community known for his work in The Other Black, Wheelchair Sports Camp, Cosmic Slim, and more. Miguel Aviña - Miguel Aviña is a Mexican singer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the band iZCALLi. He has enjoyed consistent success and is widely credited as one of the key artists of the Rock En Tu Idioma (RETI) movement in Colorado. Miguel founded RETI Rock En Tu Idioma LLC in 2011, an artist management, promoter and marketing company responsible for community events such as Rock De Mayo, RETIFest and La Posada which seek to bring awareness and accessibility to the hispanic music and arts culture in Colorado. With iZCALLi Miguel has traveled throughout the US for over 15 years, showcasing their diverse brand of Rock En Tu Idioma. As a solo artist, Miguel takes the opportunity to journey into a deeper exploration of music. His lyrics and melodies resonate from the heart and exude raw emotions. These are best exposed through a more simple approach… his voice and his guitar. There is something familiar yet refreshing about Miguel’s approach to song-writing that showcases Miguel’s passion for The Love Song; these songs exhibit his wide range of influences: traditional folk ballads, pop, indie sounds, that are always tinged with a Latin flare, a flare that takes you into your heart, and warms the soul.

City Cast Denver is hosting a LIVE show tonight at the Underground Music Showcase! Catch us at 6pm at Mutiny Information Cafe with a panel of awesome musicians and leaders in the local music scene: Wes Watkins, Miguel Aviña, and past guest Alicia “Bruce” Trujillo! It’s free and all ages are welcome. See you tonight! RSVP → https://www.facebook.com/events/527335278501154 But until then, please enjoy this re-run of one of our favorite episodes: In-N-Out has been getting all the buzz — and insanely long lines — since it opened its first Denver area location last year. Five Guys is an East Coast favorite. Shake Shack strutted into town from NYC with a hip new look and a lot of big talk. But really, who do these transplant burger chains think they are, coming into our city thinking they can make burgers?! City Cast Denver’s crack team of eaters are here to settle it once it for all. And can any of them stand up against our homegrown fast food burger darling Good Times? Follow along with Bree, Paul, Xandra, and Peyton, then let us know what you think on Twitter @citycastdenver. Hit us with your favorite out-of-state burger chain and the hashtag #CityCastBurgerCrawl. Don’t miss the City Cast Denver newsletter for breaking burger updates and more news from around the city: denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ The excerpt of the oral history with Bill Clements Jr. in this episode comes courtesy of the oral history collection at History Colorado. You can listen to the whole conversation, including a wild story about Bill’s dad and Colonel Sanders, right here.

Since 2006, Keith Garcia has been curating films for Cinema Q, Denver’s annual celebration of queer cinema. Garcia is the Artistic Director for the Sie FilmCenter and created the festival as a celebration of LGBTQ filmmakers, directors, actors, and the storylines they bring to life. Garcia joins City Cast Denver Host Bree Davies to talk about what makes a film queer and what movies shaped his own experience as a young, gay kid obsessed with the big screen. For more on Keith and Cinema Q, check out this profile of the festival from the Denver Post. Plus: City Cast Denver Producer Xandra McMahon joins Bree to offer recommendations for artists to see and things to do at this weekend’s Underground Music Showcase! Bree will also share information about Sunday’s 3rd Annual La Raza Park Day and Cruise, a celebration of Denver’s unique Chicano culture. Here are links to all the cool UMS acts we talked about: Kayla Marque/The Grand Alliance Neoma YaSi City Cast Denver LIVE at UMS (duh.) Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter for even more Denver news and events: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Which acts are you looking forward to seeing at UMS this weekend? Tell us on Twitter @citycastdenver.

Way back in 2005, then Mayor John Hickenlooper put forth an ambitious, 10-year plan to address Denver’s crisis of houselessness. Ten years and one recession later, our housing issues were worse than ever. That failure, in part, led our current mayor, Michael Hancock, to create a brand new Department of Housing Stability (HOST) in 2019. And guess what? HOST just published their first long-term plan to address the housing crisis. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with Britta Fisher, the head of HOST, to talk about what’s in this plan and why this time is going to be different. HOST is soliciting public comment on their new plan until September 3. After that, the plan will head to City Council in November. Here’s the link to read the full report and fill in HOST’s community survey. Get to it soon, though! You only have another week! For more on our housing crisis and other Denver news you need to know, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ What’s your favorite Denver hashtag? Tell us on Twitter @citycastdenver

For 31 years, Florida “Flo” Archuletta has taken care of a plot of land on the Southwest corner of 14th and Lipan. After the 1993 killing of her son, Archuletta turned the once-abandoned Westside lot into a tribute to him, dubbing it the “Jerry Martinez Family Memorial Park.” But there’s a problem: Archuletta never formally owned the land, and now that real estate in the neighborhood is a hot commodity, the legal owners have come calling. So who really owns this community park? City Cast Denver host Bree Davies met up with Flo in the park over the weekend to hear the whole story. Plus, we hear from the legal owners about their plans. This Friday, Friday. Gotta get down on Friday. Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the live taping of City Cast Denver. Podcastin’ podcastin’, yeah. RSVP here: City Cast Denver LIVE at UMS! Looking for even more Denver news, cool things to do, and ways to get involved in your community? Look no further than the City Cast Denver newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Let us know what you think should be done with the Jerry Martinez Family Memorial Park on Twitter @citycastdenver

For more than three decades, the Mercury Cafe has been a destination for artists, activists, and outsiders. It’s more than just a restaurant and venue space; it’s a hub for out-there ideas, unexpected collaboration, and lasting community. And the heart of the Merc has always been its owner and operator, Marilyn Megenity. That is, until June 22, when Danny Newman and his business partners purchased the iconic, vine-covered building in Five Points. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with Newman to find out how they plan to carry on her vision and what the future might hold for this counterculture institution. Come see us LIVE! This Friday at the Underground Music Showcase, Bree will be on stage with a panel of musicians and leaders in the music community exploring the idea of "diversity in music" and what that really means for performers of color. We’ve got an incredible panel, lots of cool CCD merch, and it’s FREE. FOR. EVERYONE. RSVP and details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/527335278501154 Subscribe to our newsletter! Follow, retweet, and like @citycastdenver

With the delta variant spreading like wildfire, it feels like we’re headed for another long, lonely winter. So we’re looking past the doom and gloom for a game of Guess That COVID Restriction! City Cast Denver’s Bree Davies, Paul Karolyi, and Peyton Garcia are hanging out and chatting all things COVID and Colorado, along with another round of New Denver/Old Denver. Looking for more Denver news and event recs? Subscribe to our newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ We tweet @citycastdenver

After 20 years and $83 billion, the U.S. war in Afghanistan is finally ending. On Sunday, Taliban forces swept Kabul, taking back control of Afghan capital from the U.S.-backed government and putting the thousands of Afghan civilians who worked with the U.S. and allied forces in an extremely vulnerable position. Today on the show, City Cast Denver host Bree Davies speaks with Aurangzaib Sharifi, an Afghan journalist who worked as an interpreter before eventually finding his way to Denver in 2015. Aurangzaib’s Facebook group for the Denver Afghan community can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/DenverAfghans. Some members of the Denver Afghan community are holding a demonstration tonight — August 19 at 6 p.m. — outside the Capitol Building downtown to call for an end to the humanitarian crisis. For more details, click here: https://www.facebook.com/events/575630286805756 Every single edition of the City Cast Denver newsletter comes with more ways for you to get involved and help shape our city’s future. Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Our tweets are often frivolous, ephemeral, and ill-suited to help you do much of anything but lol: @citycastdenver

It’s no secret — Denver has been in an affordable housing crisis for a long time. But what if there was a solution all along that would allow Denverites themselves to build some of that needed housing stock? Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval (District 1) has been leading the charge, pushing for the adoption of Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, as part of Denver’s zoning code. So what exactly is an ADU? And how would ADUs help address our housing crisis? Today on the show, City Cast Denver host Bree Davies talks with Sandoval about everything ADUs and why Denver needs to adopt them as an equitable housing solution right now. For more on Sandoval’s work on ADUs, including a guide for how to build one for yourself, here’s a website she and her team set up to break it all down. Unlike New York, they say that Denver is a city that sometimes sleeps. When you wake up, wouldn’t it be nice to get a quick digest of news and cool event recs? Subscribe to our newsletter and get exactly that in your inbox every weekday! Got a question for us? Or just want to chat about ADUs or something else you heard on the show? Find us on Twitter @citycastdenver

When Meow Wolf opens its newest and biggest immersive art museum, Convergence Station, in Denver next month, it will feature the work of more than 100 local artists, each one putting their own Denver-y spin on Meow Wolf’s particular brand of interdimensional weirdness. One of those artists, Colin Ward, was a leading figure in Denver’s DIY community before he died by suicide in 2018, shortly after submitting a proposal for an installation with fellow artist and friend Peniel “Pepe” Apantenco. Today on the show, City Cast Denver host Bree Davies tours the as-yet-unfinished Convergence Station, including Colin and Pepe’s room, with Pepe and Kim Shively, who was also Colin’s girlfriend. They discuss Colin’s art, his legacy, and their complicated feelings surrounding his posthumous acceptance into the mainstream. Come hang with us at UMS! Friday, August 27, 6:30 pm at Mutiny Information Cafe. We’ll be giving away some brand new CCD swag too, so you don’t want to miss it. RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/527335278501154 For more on Colin and his legacy, here’s a piece Bree wrote for Westword after his death: https://www.westword.com/music/denver-artist-colin-ward-dies-at-27-9969201 And here’s a link to a Mayoreo video, as discussed in this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9YA1735l0g Our newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Our Twitter: https://twitter.com/CityCastDenver

Since 2002, a unique team of highly trained, motivated people have been fighting wildfires across Colorado. But of the 2,500 people who have participated in the State Wildland Inmate Fire Team, or SWIFT, fewer than 10 have gone on to get firefighting jobs after their release from prison. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies speaks with Garry Briese, executive chair of Colorado State Fire Chiefs, about why it’s been so difficult to get SWIFT graduates jobs fighting wildfires after they get out. Looking for things to do in Denver this week? We’ve got tons of great recs in our newsletter. All you've got to do is subscribe: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Freshen up your Twitter feed with @citycastdenver!

Welcome to Friday, that time of the week where we look back on what’s been happening in Denver. This week, host Bree Davies and producer Xandra McMahon are joined by rapper, activist, and most recently, Meow Wolf artist Kalyn Heffernan. They chat about the immersive art installation’s long road to Denver and what Meow Wolf means to the hundred plus local artists it employs. Plus, Kalyn gives a backstage sneak peak of PHAMALY Theatre Company’s original rendition of “Alice in Wonderland,” scored by Kayln’s band, Wheelchair Sports Camp. Get tickets and more details here: https://phamaly.org/show/alice/ Want more piping hot news in your inbox every weekday morning? Subscribe to the CCD newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And how ‘bout some tweets? @CityCastDenver

From Colorado’s worsening air quality to the recent UN report declaring a “code red for humanity,” climate change is at the forefront of our lives. This serious global issue may have once felt like a distant threat, but Coloradans are increasingly finding their everyday experiences impacted by the constant threat of wildfires, an increase in ozone days, and unbearable summer temperatures. But the issue of climate change can feel both overwhelming and intangible, as we ponder just what, exactly, we as individuals can do to make meaningful changes in our lives and environment. Today on the show, City Cast Denver host Bree Davies talks with Chase Woodruff, environmental reporter for Colorado Newsline, about what’s happening on the climate change front in Colorado, whose fault it is, and what, if anything, we as citizens can do to leave a better planet for the next generation. Got a hankerin’ for more Denver news? We’ve got a newsletter just for you, pardner: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And some dadgum tweets to boot! @citycastdenver

When playwright Jessica Kahkoska set out to write something about the real-life impacts of wildfires on residents in Colorado, she looked to survivors of Grand County’s East Troublesome Fire, which burned more than 190,000 acres last year. In conjunction with History Colorado’s Museum of Memory and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Kahkoska produced “Wild Fire,” a composite of her interviewees’ often traumatic memories of living through the fire. As wildfire smoke once again blankets our state, City Cast Denver host Bree Davies spoke with Kahkoska about the urgency of processing this trauma, her personal connection with Colorado wildfires, and the unique power of theater to address this kind of climate catastrophe. “Wild Fire” opens Monday, August 16th at Levitt Pavilion. For tickets and more information, visit Levitt Pavilion. We’ve got more cool events to attend, shows to see, and news to catch up on in the City Cast Denver newsletter. Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Get some tweets while you’re at it: @citycastdenver

When the Douglas County School District announced a new equity policy earlier this year, many parents in the predominantly white, affluent district cried foul, accusing the district of inserting “critical race theory” into the curriculum and fueling the major conservative media narrative of the summer. So with classes in DougCo schools starting up again this week, City Cast Denver host Bree Davies speaks with two of the parents who helped craft the equity policy, Nara Altmann and Ishmeet Kalra, about the need for such a thing in the first place and what they hope lingers after the national spotlight moves on. Looking for even more City Cast Denver in your mornings? Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Tweets @citycastdenver

Eight is an auspicious number in Chinese and other Asian cultures. That’s why some leaders of the local AAPI communities chose yesterday, 8/8, to unveil their new plans to commemorate Denver’s old Chinatown. It was at one point one of the largest Chinatowns in the American West, but now all that’s left is a racist old plaque a few blocks from where the neighborhood once was. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with one of the organizers, Dr. William Wei, to hear how the old plaque brought the group together, why it’s so important to enact change now, and what they hope for the future. Dr. William Wei is professor of history at CU Boulder, a former state historian, and the author of Asians in Colorado, which you should read if you want to learn more about the history of Colorado’s Chinese community. As unveiled at the event at Zoe Ma Ma across from Union Station yesterday, here is Dr. Wei’s proposed text for a new plaque commemorating Denver’s old Chinatown: Denver’s Historic Chinatown: 1869-1940 Of the over 20 Chinese communities that once existed in the American West, Denver’s Chinatown was one of the largest and most prosperous. Chinatown’s origins can be traced to an anonymous Chinese immigrant who arrived in Denver in June 1869. He was probably one of the Chinese railroad workers who were mostly responsible for building the western half of the famous Transcontinental Railroad that unified the country economically and culturally. Chinatown was located on Wazee Street between 15th and 17th Streets, extending up to 22nd Street. It was a flourishing frontier community that provided a wide range of ethnic goods and services in a welcoming environment to Chinese immigrants working in Colorado and the Intermountain West. The Chinese immigrants performed mainly physical labor such as working in mines and building infrastructure. Eventually, they were relegated to marginal livelihoods such as laundrymen and cooks. Even though there were comparatively few Chinese residents, the local white population perceived them as an economic and cultural threat. Chinese encountered racial hostility and were denied civil rights, economic opportunity, and social equality. This hostility gave rise to “The Chinese Question,” a national controversy over whether Chinese laborers should be allowed to immigrate to the United States. Local antagonism led to Denver’s anti-Chinese race riot. On October 31, 1880, an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 Denverites descended upon Chinatown to destroy it and drive out the Chinese. During the mob’s rampage, they lynched and beat to death a laundryman named Look Young. Though the murderers were brought to trial, they were acquitted of the crime. Despite continued tensions, most of the Chinese community remained to rebuild Chinatown. What sounded the death knell of Denver’s Chinatown were national laws preventing Chinese immigrants from establishing families in America and even from entering the country. Ironically, Denver’s anti-Chinese riot was cited as one of the reasons why the U.S. Congress enacted the disreputable Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) to ensure social stability. Since the end of World War II, Chinese and other Asian Pacific Americans have returned to Denver’s lower downtown area to live and work. No longer confined to an ethnic enclave, they can now be found throughout the Greater Denver Metropolitan area and Colorado. Looking for more stories of Denver past, present, and future? Look no further than the City Cast Denver newsletter. Subscribe now and get your first edition tomorrow morning: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Tweets tweets tweets tweets tweets tweets @citycastdenver

A note from producer Lizzie Goldsmith: The end of May was a time of transition for City Cast Denver. Our regular host, Bree Davies, was heading off on maternity leave, producer Paul Karolyi was getting ready to take over as temporary host, and the whole team was preparing to welcome me, Lizzie Goldsmith, as a producer for the summer. I rarely stepped behind the mic, but I worked behind the scenes on this wonderful whirlwind of a podcast, getting to know its wonderful creators. It was an honor to help tell so many important stories, but it was also a lot of fun. There were so many outtakes from our three crew members who took turns as host — Bree, Paul, and producer Xandra McMahon — that didn’t make it into the show, so I put together this blooper reel for the team to commemorate the first summer of City Cast Denver. I hope you listeners enjoy it too! For more City Cast goodness in print form, subscribe to our daily newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ We’re also on Twitter @citycastdenver

TGICCDF (Thank God It’s City Cast Denver Friday) which means it’s time to look back on the news of the week. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi chat about Historic Denver’s 50 actions for 50 places list that was released on Tuesday. They’ve also got a story update regarding the Park Hill Safe Outdoor Space (hear our episode from May 3 on the program here) and some weekend recommendations for things to do. Finally, the City Cast Denver crew learns a new locally-made board game: Canoosh. Here are links to Bree and Paul’s recommendations: Bree: Denver photographer Armando Geneyro’s exhibition “Brick & Soul” is at History Colorado through next July Paul: Former Denver Post reporter Dick Kreck’s “Smaldone: The Untold Story of An American Crime Family” should be available now from your favorite local bookstore. Want to know even more Denver things?! Subscribe to the CCD newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Want some tweets? Here ya go: @CityCastDenver

Every day since July 5, Colorado health officials have issued an “action day” alert, warning residents about poor air quality across the Front Range. So what are we supposed to do about that? Not go outside during the summer anymore? Not breathe? Move? City Cast Denver host Bree Davies had questions, so we invited Dr. Anthony Gerber on the show for answers. He is professor of medicine and director of pulmonary research at National Jewish Health, as well as the chair of the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission. Dr. Gerber breaks down what exactly is so bad about our air, what we as individuals can do about it, and what we should be worried about. If you’re digging the pod, check out the newsletter! Subscribe right now and get all the Denver news delivered right to your inbox every weekday morning: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ Or if tweets are more your speed, we do those too: @citycastdenver

Adam Cayton-Holland, Andrew Orvedahl, and Ben Roy: Together, they are The Grawlix, a comedy supergroup that has risen to the top of Denver’s comedy scene over the past 20 years, consistently selling out shows and even skipping off to Los Angeles for a few years to make a big Hollywood TV show (“Those Who Can’t” is now streaming on HBOMax). So now that they’ve restarted their monthly comedy nights at The Bug Theater, we invited Adam, Andrew, and Ben to look back talk about how Denver shaped them and whether they think it’s still a good place to be funny. Get ready for some plugs! Together, Adam, Andrew, and Ben make a very funny podcast called The Grawlix Saves the World and perform on the last Saturday of every month at The Bug (tickets are available now). Individually, Andrew launched an independent game publishing company last year called Occupied Hex Games. Adam has a new album, Hot Takes, coming out soon and is performing his one-man show, Happy Place, at The Bug on September 4. Ben has a new album out called Take the Sandwich, makes a podcast called 97.9 The Rat Race, performs with his band SPELLS, oh and he also finds time to teach jiu-jitsu at Easton Training Center in Arvada. Ben says to come take a class! Think about this: You wake up tomorrow, you sit down to breakfast and a morning scroll, and whoa! It’s City Cast Denver in your inbox! Awesome! And all you’ve got to do to make it happen is click this link: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ We promise to write some really good tweets for you today: @citycastdenver

Big name concerts and massive summer festivals are back in full swing, but how have local musicians fared throughout the pandemic? City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sits down with local music expert Bruce Trujillo to dig into the state of things for the music community here in Denver. As a radio host at Indie 102.3, an independent show booker, and now, as Concert Director for Swallow Hill Music, Trujillo knows the ins and outs of Denver’s diverse music scene. She shares her takes on pay equity for musicians, the importance of DIY music venues, and how online artistic collaboration has helped many artists stay connected to their communities throughout the last year and a half. Bruce’s local music recs from the episode: Ritmo Cascabel Katiria The Manañas Want more Denver news in your inbox every weekday morning? Subscribe to our newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And don’t forget about those piping hot tweets: @CityCastDenver

Of Denver’s 56 historic districts and 352 individual landmarks, less than 3% commemorate non-white contributions to the city’s history. Tonight, Denver City Council could change that. They are set to vote on the creation of a historic cultural district in La Alma Lincoln Park, which would make it the first historic district in the country to honor the Chicano movement. Sitting outside the La Alma Rec Center, City Cast Denver host Bree Davies spoke with Ean Thomas Tafoya and Cathy and Desiree Prieto, community members who have strong roots in the neighborhood. They talk about the importance of La Alma Lincoln Park as not only a place where Chicano civil rights took hold, but where community pride is housed in the structures and city blocks they’ve called home. For more on the push to designate La Alma Lincoln Park a historic cultural district, here’s a write-up from Historic Denver. City Cast Denver was proud to have published one of the final interviews with former Colorado governor Dick Lamm last Monday. His wife Dottie Lamm announced this past Friday that the former governor died of complications related to a pulmonary embolism on Thursday evening. He was 85 years old. We have included a short remembrance in this episode. For more on his life and career in politics, we recommend these articles from the Denver Post and Colorado Public Radio: Former Gov. Richard ‘Dick’ Lamm, A Complex And Controversial Figure In Colorado Politics, Dies At 85 Former three-term Colorado Gov. Dick Lamm dies at 85 Subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter for more news from around Denver: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And get the tweets @citycastdenver

For this week’s news round-up, City Cast Denver host Bree Davies, producers Paul Karolyi and Xandra McMahon, and newsletter writer Peyton Garcia unpack the proposed $450 million infrastructure bond package, which Mayor Hancock detailed this week in his State of the City address. What would all that money fund? Who’s for it and who’s against it? And what’s a bond again? Smash that play button for answers to all those questions and more. Plus, we debut a new segment: New Denver/Old Denver. Subscribe to the newsletter here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And follow us on Twitter! @CityCastDenver

Dr. Alex Marrero has only lived in Denver for three weeks. But as the new superintendent of Denver Public Schools, it’s his job to lead 90,000+ students when classes start next month. With open questions looming on masks in the classroom, equity, and cops in schools, he’s got quite the mountain to climb. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies sat down with Marrero yesterday to get to know him a little better and hear about his plans for DPS. For more from Dr. Marrero, here’s his open letter introducing himself to the DPS community: https://www.dpsk12.org/our-dps-weekly-july-16-2021/ What goes together better than peanut butter and chocolate? A podcast and a newsletter. Subscribe to ours right here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And throw some tweets on top for a little extra flavor: @citycastdenver

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most loved places in all of Colorado. After a dip in visitation last year, it’s on a record-setting pace once again. But many people who visit see only the same old, same old: Trail Ridge Road, Bear Lake, etc. Enter: Exploring Estes Park, a new podcast aiming to help the 4+ million people coming through RMNP get off the beaten path and understand the land’s history through stories and inspiration from across the region. Award-winning travel writer Aaron Millar hosts the podcast, and he sits down with City Cast Denver producer Xandra McMahon to talk through some of the fascinating stories they found and offer some tips for your next trip to RMNP and Estes Park. Learn more about Aaron’s travel writing here: https://www.thebluedotperspective.com/ And if you do want to follow in Isabella Bird’s footsteps any time soon, you’re going to need to follow this link and make a reservation before visiting RMNP: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/timed-entry-permit-system.htm Don’t forget to subscribe to our morning newsletter for even more news from around the city: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ And would someone please think of the tweets?! @citycastdenver

There are more than 1,000 people sleeping in their vehicles in Denver right now, according to the Colorado Safe Parking Initiative. And with the federal evictions moratorium set to expire at the end of the month, that number could skyrocket. So today on the show, we bring you the story of Lando Allen, a man who was experiencing homelessness before he fell into the “insidious trap” of living in a vehicle, as CSPI co-founder Chelsey Baker-Hauck describes it. City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi spoke with Lando and Chelsey about this oft-overlooked dimension of our housing crisis. The City of Denver has compiled a list of resources for people facing possible evictions, which you can find here. Their advice for anyone who has received a 10-day advance notice from their landlord is to contact the Office of Financial Empowerment and Protection by calling 720-944-2498 or emailing [email protected]. They’ll connect callers with navigators who can help get them connected with relevant services. We initially recorded this episode as an installment of VOICE on the Street, our partnership with Denver’s street paper, the Denver VOICE, which provides opportunities to Denverites experiencing homelessness and other forms of economic inequity. If you’d like to support VOICE vendors like Lando Allen, head over to denvervoice.org/donate. They even have Venmo, so if you want to get a little help directly to Lando, follow this link and add his name to the note attached to your transfer. Don’t forget to subscribe to our morning newsletter for even more news from around the city: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/ For following purposes, the official City Cast Denver Twitter account is @citycastdenver.