đ˘ This weekend: Elitch Gardens and Independent Bookstore Day
BY PEYTON GARCIA | @CITYCASTDENVER
Happy Friday, Denver City Casters!
We covered some great topics in the newsletter this week â Home Depot hot dogs, how to be a greener Denverite, and local food and booze goss⌠If you missed it, did you know you can always find previous City Cast Denver newsletters right here? Yep, youâre welcome.
By the time we talk next, it will be May! So have a great weekend, and do something April-y.
LOCAL POLITICS đď¸
This Week in Colorado Politics: DUIs, Tax Money, and, Ugh, Letâs Go Brandon
Paul is joined by Bree and Westword editor and founder Patty Calhoun to talk about Gov. Polisâ promise to âgiftâ taxpayers money (thatâs already ours), Rep. Matt Grayâs DUI arrest, and Rep. Dave Williamsâs court battle to get his bogus nickname on the ballot. Plus, Xandra is leaving us for Philly đ˘ â but before she goes, Paul and Bree help narrow down her very Colorado bucket list.
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND
đ Friday: Get your VORTEX tickets: VORTEX, Meow Wolfâs annual âimmersive entertainmentâ festival with live music and interactive art installations, is moving from Taos to Denver for the first time. The event takes place the first week of August, and tickets go on sale TODAY at 10 a.m. Learn more about the festival here.
đ Friday: Colorado Book Awards Finalist Read: The finalists for the Colorado Book Awards in the categories of Literary Fiction and Poetry and Childrenâs Literature will read their works tonight at 7 p.m. at BookBar.
đď¸ Saturday: Denver Makers Market: This free, local artisan market at Park Hill Treasures is just one of several markets taking place this weekend. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. youâll find unique wares and goods from Denver crafters, farmers, and artists.
đ˘ Saturday: Open for the season: Elitch Gardens: Ready for roller coasters and funnel cakes? Elitch Gardens is back for the season! Hours vary by day, but this weekend you can get your thrills from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
âł Saturday: Grand opening: RiNo Country Club: A brand new golf bar will begin welcoming visitors this Saturday. Despite its name, this is no country club â Itâs all party, with bar drinks in plastic cups, chili dog sliders, and âsmashâ burgers,â plus a nine-hole outdoor putt-putt course and a pickleball court. Learn more about the watering hole / nine-hole concept here.
đł Sunday: #bRUNchClub: This social running club is kicking off its ninth year with a 5K walk / run around Sloanâs Lake in partnership with Whole Sol Blend Bar. Your $20 race registration goes to nonprofit Girls on the Run Rockies, plus gets you swag and Whole Sol samples.
â¤ď¸ Sunday: Milagros del CorazĂłn: The Chicano Humanities and Arts Council (CHAC) is hosting a free night of music, food, and art, plus a silent auction for its annual fundraiser. CHAC is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving, showcasing, and educating others on Chicano / Latino / multicultural communities.
đ All Weekend: Independent Bookstore Day: The last Saturday of April is national Independent Bookstore Day! Swing by most Tattered Cover locations for a weekend-long garage sale featuring first edition and signed books from the TC archives for $10 each.
BONUS: A THEATER REC đ
City Cast Producer and resident theater enthusiast Lizzie Goldsmith recently went to see âFlyinâ West,â a collaborative production from 5280 Artist Co-Op and the Firehouse Theater Company, directed by former City Cast guest host donnie l. betts. Hereâs what she had to say about the show:
âI was struck not only by the magic of experiencing this powerful story about Black women surviving on the Kansas frontier, but experiencing it alongside dozens of others who clearly found it just as moving as I did. It has it all: strong characters, high stakes, beautiful music, and genuinely funny moments. The entire cast is amazing, but I especially want to shout out Latifah Johnson, who plays Miss Leah â Her dramatic and comedic timing are second to none.â
The show closes May 7; more info and tickets đ here.
NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW
- The University of Colorado Board of Regents unanimously voted in Todd Saliman as the 24th president of the universityâs multi-campus system. Saliman has been serving as the interim president for the last year. [CPR]
- If youâre planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park this summer, be prepared for a small price hike of $5 to $10 for vehicle passes and campground fees. [CPR]
- Andrew P. Woolfolk â saxophonist for Earth, Wind and Fire and longtime Denverite â died this week. He was 71 years old. Learn more about Woolfolk, his life, and his legacy đ [Denverite]
- Get ready to let your rainbow flags fly⌠in person! Denver PrideFest has just announced it will be back fully in-person this June at Civic Center Park! [Denverite]
- Bad news: The Denver Nuggets were booted from season playoffs this week. Good news: Nikola JokiÄ will likely be named MVP for the second year in a row, AND heâs verbally committed to extending his contract with the Nuggets! [Denver Stiffs]
THIS WEEKâS PODCASTS
đ Find all our shows at denver.citycast.fm.
LOCAL CHATTER: MORE ON HOME DEPOT HOT DOGS đ
In Wednesdayâs newsletter, I lamented the loss of the Home Depot hot dog (wistful sighâŚ) And you all had some thoughts on it too:
Reader Chris S. says: âThere’s just something about doing some nonsense home project and having to go to Home Depot three times for a stupid screw and being exhausted and kinda hangry. And then, as you shamefully trudge through the Home Depot entrance for your 4th trip in 5 hours, a light from the heavens above shines a beacon onto a cart offering hot dogs on just slightly stale buns.â
Reader Jason G. says: âThe âHome Depot hot dogâ story is a little bit different over here. I live in SW Denver near the Bear Valley Home Depot, and theyâve had an excellent Mexican food truck there for many years. La Keka offers a selection of burritos, sincronizadas, and (my personal favorite) tamale sandwiches. ⌠I usually find an excuse to stop by and put an order in. Highly recommended!â