City Cast Denver

Socializing is a hot commodity in the Mile High, and there are plenty of bars, parks, and adult-oriented entertainment spaces catering to folks looking for community. But in the last few years, a new type of organization has risen to meet growing demand from a higher-end clientele: The private members club. So our producer Paul Karolyi decided to see for himself. Host Bree Davies sits down with Paul to talk about his experience applying to be a potential insider at one of these spaces, how their inclusivity policies work in practice, and what their “curated” approach to recruitment says about Denver’s social fabric today.

For more, BusinessDen reported on the Clayton Members Club & Hotel back when it opened in 2021, and 5280 Magazine reported on Clayton’s inclusivity policies. 

What do you think is the best way to make friends in Denver? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

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A few years back, The New York Times spent some time in Denver and came back with a visitor’s guide that we found… lacking. They missed out on some of the most quintessential Denver experiences, so we set out to plan the perfect Mile High long weekend for ourselves. Politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval joined host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi last summer to put together the ultimate 36 hours in Denver, full of the best restaurants, attractions, and outdoorsy stuff to please visitors and locals alike. 

Paul mentioned our episode on DIA conspiracy theories. Bree talked about the Forney Museum’s old home in REI, and the story behind the historic brick building, which you can read about in our newsletter, Hey Denver!

Here’s a list of all the places we recommended:

Where do you like to take visitors? We want to hear your can’t-miss spots that never fail to impress visitors. Leave us a voicemail or a text at 720-500-5418, and you might hear it on the show soon!

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

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What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

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Alma Fonda Fina is one of the buzziest new restaurants in town — but a lawsuit over the potential theft of “trade secrets” and a non-compete clause could shut the operation down. Turns out My Neighbor Felix isn’t feeling so neighborly towards its former employees, and now the two LoHi eateries will duke it out in court. Meanwhile, Casa Bonita celebrates 50 years (but you still can’t make a reservation!), and a new push to ban assault weapons has East High School students taking the fight to social media. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi dig into these stories, plus your comments on Buc-ee’s and Johnson’s Corner.

We played the audio from this East Students Demand Action Instagram reel. Bree mentioned past City Cast Denver episodes on the gun debate featuring East students Clara and Gracie Taub and Senator Tom Sullivan. 

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

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What do you think of the My Neighbor Felix/Alma Fonda Fina dispute? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

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There are two very distinctive, very green buildings being built in Denver right now — maybe you’ve seen them? One purports to be the country’s first “carbon positive” hotel with a facade reminiscent of an aspen tree, and the other has got a giant crack down the middle that’s going to be filled with native plants and tenants doing yoga. So what does this architectural mini-movement say about Denver today? Denverite senior reporter Kyle Harris recently toured both The Populus and One River North, and he’s on today with host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to give us the inside story.

Oh, and we’ve got pics of both of these buildings on our Instagram so you can see them for yourself.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

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What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

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It’s Friday and we’re talking about all the biggest stories in Denver this week. First up, the hotly contested debate over widening Peña Blvd divided City Council on Monday night, with arguments touching on equity, climate concerns, and the future of DIA. Westword reporter Catie Cheshire is on with host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi with the inside scoop. Plus, we’ve been hearing for years that the long-awaited Buc-ee's in Johnstown would be “more than a gas station,” so we went to see for ourselves. And finally, our wins and fails of the week. 

Catie talked about bald eagles and the Colorado schools in March Madness. Bree mentioned RTD elevators and the Oriental Theater. Paul talked about the Business Impact Opportunity Fund and High Line Canal Trail. He also recommends this classic Westword story about how Johnson’s Corner stopped being what it used to be.

Wanna get us a third birthday present? Become a member of City Cast Denver today! You’ll get an ad-free podcast feed and, if you’re one of the first to join on Friday March 22, a shot at winning a City Cast mug. Learn more and sign up at membership.citycast.fm/Denver.

What do you think about the Buc-ee's hype? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

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Denver’s fashion sense is, well, questionable. So it’s no wonder GQ once named Governor Jared Polis as the “worst-dressed congressman ever.” And boy oh boy, is he far from the only local elected who’s made some bold choices! But do our politician’s sartorial choices matter? And what do they say about us? Host Bree Davies sits down with fashion expert and her lifelong friend David Casados to break down some of our local reps’ most iconic looks and dish on what they’re all about. 

We posted all the pics Bree and David discussed to our instagram (@citycastdenver) so you can follow along as you listen. 

Who do you think are the most — and least — fashionable local politicians? We want to hear your hottest takes! 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 at denver.citycast.fm.

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Over the past few years, ramen shops have proliferated across Colorado, as more and more Denverites hop on the broth-y, noodle-y hype train. So it made sense to the editors of the Denver Post to move past burgers, tacos and pizza for their annual March Madness local food bracket this year — it’s ramen time! And now that we’re down to just the Final Four contenders, host Bree Davies sits down with bracket architect and Denver Post editor Jonathan Shikes and Gil Asakawa, author of “Tabemasho! Let’s Eat” and expert on Japanese food in America, to talk about the big first-round upsets, cinderella stories, and which shop is the favorite to win it all.

Voting on the Final Four of the Denver Post’s ramen bracket is open now! 

There are also still tickets available for Denver Ramen Fest this weekend at the Stockyards Event Center. 

For more from Gil and Shikes, Gil was on the show most recently talking about his book on Japanese food in America, and Shikes’ most recent appearance was discussing New Belgium Brewing’s rebrand of their flagship beer, Fat Tire. 

What’s your favorite ramen in Denver? We need to know. 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 at denver.citycast.fm.

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It’s Tuesday and we’re talking about the biggest stories of the week. First up, downtown is going through a rough patch, and while that can be challenging for many businesses, others see opportunity! Westword editor Patty Calhoun joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the brewing fight over plans to demolish Denver’s most storied jazz bar, El Chapultepec, and the shocking news that The Brown Palace just laid off all its doormen and bell staff. Plus, we hear about listeners’ favorite grocery stores in the city. 

The Denver Post published an editorial yesterday calling for El Chapultepec to be preserved. 

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

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What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

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Driving around downtown Denver, you’d be forgiven for getting frustrated about parking. But is the solution to our parking woes more spaces? Or fewer? State lawmakers are working on a bill to ban parking minimums, and Governor Jared Polis sounds excited about it. But CU urban planning professor Ken Schroeppel thinks we could take it a step further, by enacting parking maximums. He joins host Bree Davies to explain why less parking might be the best way to fix downtown. 

Ken founded the DenverInFill blog to track development around the city in 2004. Check out the archives for nearly two decades of hi-def photos of a changing Denver! 

For more, the Denver Post reported on the parking debate a couple weeks ago.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver

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What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

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It’s Friday and we’re talking about the biggest stories of the week. First, Rep. Ken Buck announced this week that he’s leaving Congress even earlier than expected, throwing another wrench in an already chaotic race to represent Colorado’s Congressional District 4. So host Bree Davies, producer Paul Karolyi, and politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval are talking through the implications of what CD4 candidate (and Buck’s fellow representative) Lauren Boebert called a “swampy backroom deal.” Plus, four Denver-area grocery stores ranked among the worst in the country, and our wins and fails of the week. 

Paul mentioned the city’s new plan for the Cherry Creek Trail and construction on Peña Boulevard. Justine talked about Frozen Dead Guy Days and the latest push for funeral home regulation (Here's a link to our recent, eye-opening ep on the topic). Bree talked about the micro-community in Overland. 

What do you think about Boebert’s chances in CD4? We want to hear from you! 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 at denver.citycast.fm.

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