BY PEYTON GARCIA | @CITYCASTDENVER

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Denver Gets A Nod In The National Spotlight 🌟

Hey, Denver! It’s Bree Davies, host of the City Cast Denver podcast. I’m popping into the newsletter real quick to share a moment of Denver pride I recently experienced.

Earlier this month on the podcast, I spoke with Jameson Lee, aka Ophelia Peaches, a Denver teen and drag superstar. Lee was one of a handful of young performers featured in “Generation Drag,” a new series on Discovery+ exploring the world of youth drag.

Then last week, I came across a story in People Magazine about “Generation Drag.” The article mentioned a particular episode where young performer Vinny, aka Vinessa Shimmer, went to a local Denver store to find the perfect shoes. That store? None other than FashioNation, the Mile High’s premiere shop for platform shoes, creepers, Doc Martens, and knee-high buckle and lace-up boots of all kinds! 

Back in April, we profiled FashioNation and the family behind this one-of-a-kind boutique, as they celebrated the shop’s 35th anniversary. To see the store the Italiano family built from scratch being featured on national TV?! And to see it featured as a safe place for kids like Jameson and Vinny to find some dream stage apparel? It was so cool.

It’s these small moments that express to the world who Denver is: A city that embraces young, LGBTQ+ people as fearless artists, AND a place where a small, mom-and-pop shop can thrive as a cultural touchstone and alternative fashion destination. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that Denver isn’t cool. Because if you know, you know. 😉 

— Bree Davies

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More News You Should Know

🌿 All 7 Buddy Boy dispensaries to close: John Fritzel, who owns the local chain of marijuana shops, told Westword the decision to shut down was purely economical. He believes tough times are ahead for Colorado’s oversaturated weed market. [Westword]

🦠 Denver moves back into “high COVID risk”: Along with Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Douglas, and Jefferson counties. According to CDC metrics, that means those counties are experiencing more than 200 COVID cases per 100,000 people in a 7-day period. There won’t be any mandates enacted, but the CDC’s official recommendation is to stay up-to-date on COVID vaccines and mask up indoors and on public transit. [Denver7]

🛴 Battle of the scooters: Denver councilman Chris Hinds recently surveyed more than 1,300 residents, asking if they liked the motorized Lyft and Lime scooters zipping all over the city, or if they found them to be a “menace” — 59% of respondents went with the menace option. Now, Hinds is considering proposing an ordinance to crack down on scooter regulation. [Denver Post] 

• 🤬 Related: Most complaints focus on the speed of scooters and keeping them off of sidewalks (where they’re not legally allowed). And recently, an anonymous “vigilante” started blacking out QR codes on improperly parked scooters. [Westword]

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Why Rep Tom Sullivan Thinks His Colleagues Won’t Talk About Guns

“I woke up thinking about the death of my son. I go to bed thinking about the death of my son. And I spend the time in between trying to do something so that that doesn’t happen to others.  — Tom Sullivan

Ten years ago, Tom Sullivan lost his son Alex in the Aurora theater shooting. It was a tragedy that sparked a political career, with Sullivan stepping up to run for office and lead a decade’s worth of gun reform campaigns. So today, host Bree Davies sits down with Sullivan to discuss the challenge of local gun policy, explain his theory on the political gridlock, and respond to critics of Denver’s ban on concealed carry in public buildings and parks.

Bree interviewed one of those critics, Anubis Heru, co-owner of the 1770 Armory and Gun Club, a few weeks ago on the show. You can listen to that episode here.

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This Week’s Things To Do

🎨 Today: Free Day at DAM
Take advantage of free admission for all ages at the Denver Art Museum today from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. [Free]

🌕 Tonight: View the year’s first super moon
The moon is scheduled to be both full and at its closest point to the Earth in its monthly orbit tonight, making it a “super moon”. Moonrise is scheduled for 9:21 p.m. [Free, just look up in the sky!]

🏆 Wednesday: First game of the Stanley Cup Finals
The Colorado Avalanche will face off against the Tampa Bay lightning at Ball Arena in the first round of the Stanley Cup Finals, a best of seven series. See the full schedule. [Ticket prices vary] 

• 📺 Bonus: Looking for somewhere to watch? There should be plenty of space. The city is temporarily making it quicker and easier for bars and restaurants to apply for expanded patio permissions in order to host more people for Avs watch parties!

✊🏾 Wednesday: The start of Black Pride
This happy hour event at MCA kicks off two weekends of Black Pride festivities. (4-6:30 p.m.) [$10]

🌽 Wednesday: Dig in at Denver EATSS
Catch a unique glimpse into traditional Native American food culture at this tasting event from the American Indian College Fund, featuring nationally acclaimed Indigenous chefs. (5:30-8:30 p.m.) [$85]

🍦 Thursday: Scoop of Jazz
What’s even smoother than Little Man’s rich and delicious ice cream? Some live jazz to go with it. “Scoop of Jazz” nights are back for the summer every Thursday on the Little Man patio in LoHi. 7-9 p.m. [Free to attend]

👉 Stay tuned for more: Don’t miss Friday’s newsletter for our regularly scheduled weekend event roundup!

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