BY PEYTON GARCIA | @CITYCASTDENVER

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Happy Friday!

And here comes summer. It’s going to be HOT this weekend, y’all 🥵 I’m talking highs in the mid-90s and minimal cloud coverage. My go-to move when it gets this hot is seeking refuge at higher elevation. It’s just a quick drive up — or a convenient hop on the Pegasus — to the mountains for some fresh pine air, small town ice cream, and a cool dip in a river.

You can hear all my fun-in-the-sun recs (plus some from Bree and Paul) in this recent City Cast episode: How To Have A Kickass Colorado Summer 🍉☀️⛱️ 

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Things To Do This Weekend

🎡 Friday: Free rides at the Flea Market: It’s “Free Rides Friday” at the Mile High Flea Market — on top of live music, carnival food, and killer deals, all for a $2 entrance fee (and kids under 12 are free!). (7:30 a.m.-5p.m.) [Free-$2]

🐈 Friday: Cat Yoga: Get zen with an hour of downward dogs and kitten cuddles every Friday at Denver Animal Shelter now through September. (5:30-6:30 p.m.) [$20]

🥕 Friday: Huerta Urbana Farmers Market: Globeville Elyria-Swansea’s pay-what-you-can farmers market is back for the season every Friday (2-6 p.m.) now through October. [Free to attend]

📚 Friday: 2022 Lit Fest: Calling all writers — from amateurs to established authors — for a full week of seminars, workshops, readings, and more. (June 10-19) [Prices vary]

🔮 Friday + Saturday: Bloodmilk Moonlight Fair: Shop and experience witchy wares, metaphysical goods, art, and magic at this two-night evening fair hosted by RitualCravt. (6-10 p.m.) [Free to attend]

✊ Saturday: March For Our Lives: MFOL chapters across the country will be holding gun reform rallies this weekend. Denver’s will be at Civic Center Park 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. [Free to participate]

🏉 Saturday: International Rugby Competition: The American Raptors will face off against the Argentina Jaguares XV to kick off the International Rugby Competition at Infinity Park in Glendale. Game play starts at 1 p.m. [$10]

🏃 Saturday: Into the Wild Run: Save the lions, and tigers, and bears at this 5K / 10K fundraising event hosted by the Wild Animal Sanctuary. First wave takes off at 7 a.m. [$45]

🇵🇭 Saturday + Sunday: Philippine Festival: Commemorate Philippines Independence Day with cultural demonstrations, authentic cuisine, and other traditional celebrations with the Filipino-American Community of Colorado. (11 a.m.-5 p.m.) [Free to attend]

✡️ Sunday: Boulder Jewish Festival: Celebrate Jewish arts and culture on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder with a full day of Judaism-centered activities and performances. (11 a.m.-5 p.m.) [Free to attend]

🇵🇷 Sunday: A Taste of Puerto Rico: Shop, eat, and indulge in all things Puerto Rican at Civic Center Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. [Free to attend]

💛 Sunday: Wellness in the Park: CHOW invites local hospitality workers to gather for an afternoon of health, wellness, and community. (10 a.m.-1 p.m.) [Free to attend]

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News You Should Know

• Colorado car owners now have new protections from predatory towing companies thanks to the “towing bill of rights” signed into law this week. [Denver Post]

• Denver’s sidewalks are bad. And a ballot initiative could be headed to Denver voters to do something about it. [Denverite]
  
• The Flatirons Frequent Flyer, a Denver-to-Boulder express bus, has been suspended since April 2020 — And it could be a while longer before it comes back, due to RTD staffing shortages. [CPR]

• If you got your COVID vaccine at one of these metro Denver clinics, you might need to get revaccinated. [Aurora Sentinel] 

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The Walmart-ification Of Denver

Ask any Denverite, and they’ll tell you: Everything here is getting more expensive, especially housing. So we’re digging into two stories that could have a huge impact on our real estate market: Walmart heir Rob Walton’s purchase of the Denver Broncos — which includes a huge parcel of land around Mile High Stadium — and City Council’s approval of a long-awaited, much talked about affordable housing policy. Can either bring Walmart-style “great prices” back to Denver? Westword reporter Conor McCormick-Cavanagh is back on the show with host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to help get to the bottom of it.

Miss an episode this week?

THU: Is ‘Diversity’ Just a Buzzword in Denver’s Theater Scene?

WED: Affordable Fun in the Sun: Our Outdoor Swimming Recs

TUE: Superintendent Marrero Talks School Safety, Rumored Closures, and the State of DPS

MON: Yes In My Backyard: Ideas for Tackling Denver’s Housing Crisis

👉 Find all our shows at denver.citycast.fm.

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