City Cast Denver

With our first new mayor in 12 years set to be inaugurated on Monday, we’re running out of time to resolve the most pressing issues of the Hancock Era. One of the most persistent sources of tension? Those iconic green-and-white “Denver Native” bumper stickers. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi talk it out with returning favorite Joshua Emerson, stand-up comic and co-chair of the Denver American Indian Commission. Then, a round of wins and fails from the week and Peyton is out, so Bree is sharing her top picks for your weekend. 

Paul mentioned “zombie buildings,” the Great American Beer Fest, and the true story of the transplant behind the “Native” stickers. Bree mentioned water fountains without water, the El Chapultepec Legacy Project, and the celebrated Clara Brown. Josh talked up Jamal Murray and rising rents. We all praised John Wenzel’s work with The Denver Post. Here’s his profile of Josh from earlier this year. 

Meet us on Colfax! RSVP here for our live recording on the ‘Fax next Thursday, July 20, and bear witness to the induction of the first class of the Colfax Hall of Fame. And if you think you know who should be on that list, send us a text or leave us a voicemail with your nomination, name, and neighborhood, and we might play it at the show: 720-500-5418

Here are links to the events Bree recommended:

And Josh recommended Chelsea Kaiah and Cody Norton’s opening at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder on Friday and DeadRoom Comedy live at Leon Gallery on Saturday. 

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!

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Is there anything worse than a bad hike? Maybe you ran out of water. Maybe you didn’t pack the micro-spikes. Maybe you’ve been walking for 6 hours straight and you’re just plain sick of it! But this is Colorado, and we’ve got tons of great hiking trails for all occasions and skill levels. Newsletter editor Peyton Garcia joins producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love to dish on the latest hiking news and share some favorite hiking trails — whether you’re answering the call to adventure, hoping for more of a stroll, or if all you really care about is that nice, cold beverage waiting for you at the end. 

UPDATE 7/27/23: Jeffco Sheriff’s Office released a warning to hikers two days after airing this episode to be on the lookout for a sexual predator wanted in the Conifer and Evergreen area. The suspect has been targeting solo female hikers in the area, with incidences at this park—so please hold off on solo hiking for now and remain vigilant! 

It’s time to talk Colfax. RSVP here for our live recording on the ‘Fax next Thursday, July 20, and bear witness to the induction of the first class of the Colfax Hall of Fame. And if you think you know who should be on that list, send us a text or leave us a voicemail with your nomination, name and neighborhood, and we might play it at the show: 720-500-5418

Paul mentioned the fundraiser to support police sergeant Justin Dodge and his family, declining crowds on 14ers, and CPR reporter Nate Minor’s coverage of that dang empty lot at Colfax and Broadway. 

Here are links to all the hikes we mentioned:

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:

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Mike Johnston will be sworn in as Denver’s 46th mayor on Monday, and he’s already making moves. He hired a transition team and packed his calendar with community listening sessions. But will he roll out his “micro-communities” plan for homelessness that he campaigned so hard on? What about handling the perceptions and realities of public safety that Denver has been struggling with? And our most pressing issue: Can Mike make downtown cool again? Host Bree Davies is joined by producer Paul Karolyi and returning fave, Westword editor Patty Calhoun, to talk through this week’s cover story on how Denver’s new belt buckle-wearing mayor could really help Denver get its mojo back.

Patty mentioned Kyle Harris’s reporting for Denverite on the status of the permit for the Park Hill Golf Course, the Museum of Illusions coming to 16th St. Mall, and 9News’ recent reporting on 911 wait times. 

Patty also talked about Stephen Brackett’s idea to start a city office of a “night mayor.” He was on our show sharing more of his ideas to turn around Denver’s nightlife back in April. 

Where do you think Taylor Swift will be spotted around town this weekend? She’s playing two sold out shows at Empower Field, but she’ll probably see some sights, right? Call in to the Denver Era Hotline, text or leave us a voicemail with your name, neighborhood and best guess for where to spot T Swift, 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:

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¡Viva! Streets! took over Broadway once again, literally intersecting with the Lowrider Show and Shine event outside the Denver Art Museum. And that had us wondering: Could this new clash of pedestrian life and car art culture start a new conversation about transit in Denver? Then, the Denver Post reported on how the Mile High stacks up when you compare rent hikes with average income increases — meaning, your housing nightmares were real all along. Host Bree Davies is joined by producer Paul Karolyi to talk about all the local stories that mattered this week, plus a question for local Swifties ahead of the Eras Tour stop at Empower Field this weekend and some commentary from you, our dear listeners!

We shared some questions and comments on our recent episodes about police returning to DPS and local beverage trends this summer. 

Our Question of the Week: Where would Taylor Swift take John Mayer out to dinner before her shows at Empower Field? Text or leave us a voicemail with your answer, 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:

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

To the chagrin of many summer lovers, Denver’s public pools are once again operating with limited hours, due to — you guessed it — staffing problems. And that’s after they raised wages last summer! So why, as the Colorado Sun recently reported, are Denver teens increasingly skipping out on summer jobs? Host Bree Davies sits down with our official teen correspondent Shana Saint-Phard, who just graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and is not working this summer, to ask the big question: Why aren’t teens working anymore?

Before she graduated, Shana was a reporter with The TJ Journal. Check out her work here. 

Bree mentioned the end of toll-free travel on I-70’s new express lane and the reduced toll program for neighbors affected by the highway expansion. 

Who do you think should be in a Colfax Hall of Fame? We’re collecting nominations ahead of our live Colfax event on July 20, and we want to hear from you! We're looking for true Colfax icons -- be they people, places, or things that embody everything Colfax. Leave us your name, neighborhood, and nomination in a text or voicemail, 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:

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 news that mattered this short, holiday week. From our expansive craft brew scene and the burgeoning world of kombucha to Boulder’s historic — and celestial — tea empire, Colorado is a big player in the beverage world. Could kava be next? A new piece in Westword about the rise of ceremonial drink has us curious. Producer Olivia Jewell Love joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk all things drinks, plus wins and fails of the week, and then newsletter editor Peyton Garcia hops on the mic to help us pick our City Cast Denver “maybe” event of the weekend, as in maybe you’ll see us there! 

We want to know what kind of cold ones are in your cooler this summer! Leave us a text or voicemail with your fave bev’, and your name and neighborhood on the Tell Us What Your Sippin’ On Hotline: 720-500-5418

If you enjoyed Helen Xu’s piece on kava as much as we did, check out her interview from last December with Paul when they discussed the Leprino family cheese dynasty drama. Bree mentioned a great episode from Gastropod about the origins of coffee’s popularity and Meow Wolf’s upcoming Monster Battle. Olivia wrote about Colorado’s mocktail scene. Paul mentioned Celestial Seasonings’ backstory and promised he’d share listener Cory P.’s vegetarian green chile recipe: 

CORY P'S VEGETARIAN GREEN CHILE

12 roasted Anaheim or Pueblo chiles, peeled & chopped.

1 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 Roma tomatoes, diced

6 cups vegetable stock (I use Better than Bouillon, mixed in hot water)

1 tsp cumin

2-8 Tbsp Cornstarch to thicken

Directions: Saute onion & garlic in olive oil until soft in a 5+ quart pot. Add stock, green chiles and bring to a boil. Add tomatoes. Simmer for 1 hour. Add cornstarch mixed with water (2 tbsp or more as needed) to thicken. Serve on everything!

A note on chile heat: medium chiles are usually plenty of heat for this dish. If you’d like it a little milder, a mix of mild and medium (or even just mild chiles) is fine. 

Peyton was stoked about the book, The Herbalist’s Happy Hour. Plus, here are some links to the events Peyton recommended:

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

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Downtown Denver is definitely not the hellhole that some suburban Republicans think it is, but since the pandemic it’s certainly seen better days. The work-from-home boom means fewer and fewer people traversing the city’s core and, in turn, fewer customers for downtown shops, bars, and restaurants. But even with many eateries shuttering in the last few years — The Market, The Paramount Cafe, The Hard Rock Cafe, and even McDonald’s! — has come opportunity. Host Bree Davies is joined by Westword food editor Molly Martin and newsletter editor Peyton Garcia for lunch at one of the most exciting new spots — Little Finch on 16th Street Mall — and a conversation about the potential for a downtown dining rebirth.

Check out Molly’s write-up on Little Finch for Westword; she also mentioned Sofia’s and Dragonfly Noodle. Bree talked about the recent Supreme Court ruling on a local website designer’s refusal to serve the LGBTQ community. Don’t miss our episode on the case from last December!

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

Did you keep a diary as a kid? Did you have that safe place where all of your teenage thoughts and daydreams lived on paper, never to be seen or read by anyone but you? Host Bree Davies certainly did — but instead of leaving her early 90s teenage musings behind lock and key, she joined a handful of fellow brave souls and read directly from her journals at Mortified Colorado a few weeks ago. Today, we’re bringing you the live recording of that fateful night on the Oriental Theater where rockstar fantasies, shopping mall dreams, and teenage drama come to life in front of hundreds of strangers.

Do you have a teen diary stashed somewhere in your attic? Maybe some salacious creative writing or drawings you turned in as homework in high school? What about notes you passed to friends between periods? Mortified Colorado would love to have you be a performer at their next show — find them on Facebook or fill out this form and you could be featured!

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 city has its unwritten rules, and when Politico published its rules for surviving Washington DC, we figured why not share our tips for surviving Denver? Being new to this place can be daunting, so we wanted to answer some of those burning questions, like — does the altitude really matter? How much is too much when it comes to edibles? Why is everyone carrying around a giant water bottle? Earlier this year, Bree Davies chatted with producer Paul Karolyi and fave guest, former Westword staff writer Conor McCormick-Cavanagh, and compiled some helpful and fun tips on making your way around the Mile High City. 

We talked about The Gathering Place losing its lease on a motel being used for temporary housing — learn more about how to support the nonprofit on their website. 

Bree mentioned City Cast Denver’s next live event, the Colfax Indie Bash, happening on July 20 with our friends at the Colfax Ave BID. We’re compiling submissions for a yet-to-be-realized “Colfax Hall of Fame” and we want to know the people, places, and things you nominate. Send us your ideas via [email protected] or leave us a voicemail on the Colfax Hall of Fame Hotline 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

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 the big local stories this week. Casa Bonita continues to dominate the news cycle but this time it isn’t all roses and sopaipillas — the company changed its tipping policy last minute and many servers and bartenders are not ok with it. All this comes as a new study ranks Denverites among the highest tippers in the country. Producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies are joined by podcast host and multimedia producer Graffiti to talk wins and fails: Will RTD’s zero fare summer mean better working conditions for drivers? What happened to BCycle, the Mile High’s OG bike share? And why oh why do the Rockies have to suck so bad? Plus, newsletter editor Peyton Garcia shares her list of fun stuff to do and the City Cast Denver crew picks our official “Maybe” event rec for the weekend, as in maybe you’ll see us there. 

Here are links to the events Peyton recommended:

Plus, Graffiti is co-hosting Drake Night this Saturday at Ophelia’s if you want to go ‘Into the Aubrey-Verse.”

Paul mentioned Albert Edwin “Pinky” Roadhs and his cousin Riley’s barber school graduation. If you’re looking for a good haircut, check out queer.clips on Instagram. Bree talked about RTD’s woes and the possible renaming of the Ross-Barnum Library. Graffiti talked about the Rockies and Detour’s amazing Nuggets mural. 

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

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise