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City Cast Denver

Peyton Garcia

Summertime in the Mile High is our favorite time of year, so we're creating the ultimate Summer Bucket List for you! City Park Jazz, Little Man Ice Cream, Red Rocks Concerts — what's your favorite warm weather Denver pastime? ☀️

Morris Munene

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Michelle Polizzi

Whether you want to learn an instrument, gift lessons to a loved one, or rent equipment for a gig, these Denver shops will nurture your musical spirit.

🎻 Pirisen Music Lessons (Central Park, Littleton, Centennial)

Learn to sing, play the drums, strum the guitar, or develop skills in a variety of instruments at 

. Pirisen is a family-owned store that emphasizes a supportive, approachable environment where students of all levels can develop their inner artist.

This music store has three locations, so check for the one closest to you.

 is your shop. In operation since 1991, this North Denver establishment offers everything you might need to play your next gig — including friendly, expert advice.

Sound Town also provides repair services, deliveries, and warranties on a wide variety of items.

🎸 Flesher-Hinton Music Company (Wheat Ridge)

 is one of the best places in the Denver Metro for an affordable rent-to-own instrument program. Rentals start at $18 per month, and the company offers flexible payment options and exchanges.

If you’re interested in taking lessons at Flesher-Hinton, find independent teachers 

The Best Denver Music Stores

The Best Denver Businesses for Music Lovers

Sign up for Keep It Local from City Cast Denver

Keep It Local

 is one of the largest music schools for acoustic instruments in the U.S. — but it’s so much more than a place to take lessons.

, and early childhood education programs that 

 to little ones. Here are three ways to get involved with Swallow Hill.

Swallow Hill is on a mission to make music education accessible to all people in the Denver area. Attend their 

 featuring a performance by Colorado-based band Elephant Revival, known for creating a unique musical sound blending folk, bluegrass, celtic music, and indie rock.

Give someone the chance to pursue their love of music with a Swallow Hill Music gift certificate. Customizable for any amount, 

 can be used for group classes, private lessons, memberships, and more.

 on Nov. 14. A day full of banjo workshops and community jams will be rounded out by an evening concert featuring some of the best banjo musicians today, including 

Why Denverites Love Swallow Hill Music

Leevers Locavore in Northside isn’t a grocery store. Or rather, it’s not 

a grocery store, being that it’s also part food hall, complete with a coffee shop, sushi counter, sandwich maker, and pizza shop. There’s also every local food item you could ever want, so there’s something for all cravings.

Any leaf-peeping weekend road trip should start with a cup of Denver-made joe. Buy a drink from 

 at the café inside Leevers Locavore, plus a pastry to keep you alert on the drive up.

If you’re like me (a chip girlie, through and through) know that 

. is a major partner of Leevers Locavore, meaning you can find big bags and multiple flavors here made by this seriously delicious Colorado company.

The sun is still hot, which means it’s still ice cream season. Locavore is stocked with locally made flavors from shops like 

 — the perfect way to treat yourself when you get back to Denver after your leaf peeping adventure.

Why Denverites Love Leevers Locavore

Italian sandwiches. A family potato salad recipe. Fancy imported chips. From deli meats to grab-and-go cookies, these are the very best shops to stock up for a leaf-peeping road trip.

 is known for its deli sandwiches featuring local ingredients, like a creamy goat cheese spread from Haystack Mountain and a house-made olive tapenade. They also sell wine and beer 

 — perfect for grabbing a pinot noir to pop open once you settle in for the night.

Order a sandwich for pickup ahead of time so you can head up to the mountains sooner.

🍏 Congress Park Market (Congress Park)

Smoked gouda with turkey and pear? Dill havarti topped with giardiniera mayo? These are just a few sandwich options available at 

 which pair perfectly with crisp sparkling waters and juicy Palisade peaches, in season now.

If you’re in a rush, opt for a premade sandwich from the grab-and-go counter — these are made fresh daily.

🍖 Marczyk Fine Foods (North Capitol Hill & Hale)

What started as a specialty foods shop in 2002 has since become a comprehensive market with an in-house bakery, sustainably raised meats, and prepared foods like 

, you can grab a sandwich and some caprese pasta salad (plus a few lemon poppyseed cookies for later).

Add a drink and chips to your sandwich order to save $2.

The Best Road Trip Snacks in Denver

Where to Stock Up For a Fall Road Trip

Paul Karolyi

Denver might not see any more 100-degree days, but it’s still gonna be hot and sunny out there for a while yet. Before these last days of summer pass us by, Bree and Justine wanted to share a few recommendations for how to squeeze the last drops of fun out of summer.

Justine’s Pick: Quiet Times at Rocky Mountain National Park

The elk may be rutting, but Justine says the dog days of summer are the very best to enjoy a high altitude drive in Rocky Mountain National Park. Trail Ridge Road typically closes for the year in October, so this is your last chance to enjoy those epic views of America’s sixth most-visited national park (more than 4 million visitors per year!). Justine would like to remind anyone interested in partaking that you do still need to make a reservation for 

 Stop at Antonio’s Real New York Pizza in Estes Park on the drive home. “It’s the best pizza in Colorado,” according to her.

Bree’s Pick: A Cheap Ticket to the Amusement Park

It’s true, Bree may be Lakeside’s number one fan. But she’s also got love for Elitch Gardens, especially around this time of year. “They’re doing 

, and it's for next year, but it starts this year. So you still can go through every weekend in September until the last weekend when they start Fright Fest.” Bree says the season pass includes parking, which otherwise costs $35, as well as bring-a-friend passes and free entry for kids ages three to five. But this deal is only available through Labor Day!

 Bring your own lunch for an even more affordable visit. She likes to pack a cooler with snacks, then get your hand stamped so you can leave the park and return after lunch. “That's like '90s prices,” Bree says.

End of Summer Activities Around Denver

How to Squeeze the Last Drops Out of Summer

Life Hacks

Tips and tricks for living your best Denver life, by locals, for locals.

Denver Life Hacks

 after she couldn’t find a herbal wellness store in Denver that combined her Korean roots with her love of natural healing. Now, this community staple sells various hand-selected teas, accessories, giftables, and bath products. Here are three that should be on your radar.

 for a coconutty bath mixture with lavender and rose that will put you instantly at ease.

Steep loose-leaf tea in your favorite mug with a 

3. Sip on a Korean Ceremonial Matcha Latte

 on a sunny fall morning for the perfect start to the day.

Why Denverites Love Hearth and Seoul

Whether it's sprucing up your bed or curating the perfect tea cabinet, these local shops have everything you need to create your coziest Colorado fall yet.

Fluffy bath towels, vibrant accent rugs, and trendy pillow covers are among the many cozy items available at 

. Women-owned and serving Denver for 48 years, Brass Bed carries fine home linens and decorative accents to make your home the restful, comfortable place you never want to leave.

Create a registry here for a wedding, baby shower, or other occasion to bring more of these luxe items to your home.

 is an artist-focused, woman-owned shop where you can buy independently made creations of all kinds, from soaps to socks. Among my favorite giftables and doodads at Show of Hands is the 

, a stress-relief tool to minimize anxiety and promote a mindful mood.

My cat, the connoisseur of cozy herself, is totally obsessed with their 

 in Edgewater Public Market, you can find a huge selection of yarns — but also so much more. From 

, you’ll find plenty of supplies for your next big project.

Whether you want alpaca or hemp yarn, it’s best to have an idea for a project (or a question) in mind before entering this shop.

🕯️ Miller Lane Mercantile (Berkeley)

If gathering with loved ones is your idea of cozy, stop by 

 for a handmade reed diffuser that sets a warm, welcoming tone. Feeling hungry? Consider one of their cookbooks to make yummy treats for guests. Love creating a vibe? Check out a 

To give the gift of a cozy home, opt for the 

The Best Denver Stores for Cozy Fall Goods

Where To Find Cozy Fall Goods

Rockies games, City Park Jazz, Little Man Ice Cream — what's your favorite warm weather Denver pastime? ☀️

2024 Denver Summer Bucket List

What's On Your Summertime Denver Bucket List?

Find the best of everything that Denver has to offer.

Denver’s Best

Denver's Best

Olivia Jewell Love

Looking for a trivia night with a twist? Justine is co-hosting 

 at Cheluna Brewery on Sept. 10, 6 to 8 p.m.. Create your dream team of up to six people, come up with a cheeky name, then make a $75 donation (benefitting the Cobalt Abortion Fund) to hold your table! There are prizes for trivia winners, most creative name, and the team that raises the most money for the Cobalt Abortion Fund. Start studying ya freaks!

If you want to switch up your First Friday routine, head over to the Art Walk in 

! The district is home to over 40 arts and cultural organizations. Bree recommends checking out 

 for cool prints and photos, and popping in 

 across the parking lot for some VHS nostalgia.

After walking along Clear Creek or checking out shops on Miner Street, stop in to the 

 in Golden for a great family (and dog) friendly lunch! Featuring a tap wall with lots of local beers and bevs, plus local eats and even ice cream, this place is the perfect patio escapade to enjoy during an afternoon in Golden. Justine says it’s the “perfect place for kids, dogs, non-drinkers, and everyone!”

Wish you could take a big container of hummus to go from your fave restaurant? Now you can at 

! Yummy spreads like Rich ‘n Silky Hummus, Zingy ‘n Zesty Garlic Dip, and Smoky ‘n Savory Baba Ghanouj are available to take home in 8 or 16oz containers. Happy dipping!

The very best of what to do around Denver in September 2026.

Your Guide to Denver in September 2026

For this newsletter version of our August guide to Denver, we asked comedian Joshua Emerson, who has been a fixture on the podcast for years, to give us his personal recommendations.

Little Wolf is a single malt whiskey bar on the Northside. They house Flip & Howl Burger Kitchen. They do cold-smoked wagyu burgers, which are good not great. They’re a little overpriced but you won’t feel unsatisfied after a meal.

The real star for Flip is their 78 minute fries. They are called 78 minute fries because that is how long it takes to prepare a batch, a process that includes multiple rounds of frying and blanching. The end result is the best french fries in Denver. They are crispy on the outside and soft, not soggy on the inside – the best example of British style chips in the 303. I wish they did more with the fries. Currently they offer poutine, but I think ships and sheese, ships and surry, green chile fries, and maybe even a carne asada fries would do well.

This Native American community music show is in its fourth year at Levitt Pavillion, and it has always been good. I remember the first year when Hallicination headlined, I experienced one of my favorite music moments. I was sitting up on the grass hill as the sun was setting. 

 and if you saw me crying that day, no you didn’t.

, a Haisla rap duo that came up through the Vancouver hip hop scene. They have really fun lyricism and flow and have continued to get better throughout their career. Their latest album, 

, being my favorite project they’ve put out, and Canada agrees with me, as the album won the 2025 Juno Award for Best Rap Album.

Plus, it is a community event. Native organizations will be tabling and there will be frybread. Enough said.

John Novosad at Denver Comedy Underground

I grew up in Phoenix and the key to beat the heat is two words: air conditioning.One of the best ways to enjoy some AC is seeing live stand-up comedy — check out 

, one of the jewels of the Denver comedy scene. Based in Boulder, John aka Hippie Man has been doing comedy for 30 years, and he continues to write and develop. His sense of humor is so silly and joyful. John’s last special, “

,” is just jokes about Boulder, and it is fantastic. Denver has changed, comedy has changed, but John’s comedy remains timeless.

Comedian Joshua Emerson’s Personal Guide to August 2026

Comedian Joshua Emerson’s Personal Guide to August

I learned about something new as I was listening to the City Cast Denver team record the podcast version of this monthly guide – Summerween! Apparently, the animated series “Gravity Falls” had an episode in 2012 where the characters all celebrated Halloween during the summer, and somehow that tradition has caught on! Anyone out there want to carve a Rocky Ford “jack o’melon” sometime?

Check out our Summerween pick, plus plenty more August recommendations from Bree and two of our favorite contributors – green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval and man about town Adrian Felix.

👻 Celebrate Summerween at Scr3am & Sugar

Summerween destination for Denverites, according to Justine. She says the drinks at this spot are all horror themed and very creative, and the staff there is incredibly nice. ”It's not just a gimmick-themed coffee shop,” she adds. “They are making really great coffee in there!”

Adrian’s favorite thing to do right now is roller skating, and 

 at ReelWorks is the place to be, with killer music and a light show. ”They do serve drinks on the floor while you skate, and they offer them in sippy cups so that you don't have to worry about when you biff [it],” Adrian says. The monthly skate is adults-only, held on the third Friday of the month, and the themes are always fun, like “neon”!

🎸 Check Out The Big New Album From lil piñon

One of the founding members of Denver’s Chicano funk staple Los Mocochetes – the group who created the theme song for City Cast Denver – has split off to release his first solo album. Recording now as “

,” Joshua Randy Abeyta is releasing a new album called “Don’t Even Trip.” Bree says “ he's been working for over two years on this project in particular, so definitely worth checking out.”

🍎 Get Your 2000s Pop Punk On for Food Justice

Bree wants to send some love to Denver Food Rescue, the local food justice nonprofit that rescues over 700,000 pounds of fresh, nutritious foods to benefit more than 200,000 Denverites each year. She recommends the all ages fundraiser 

 on Aug. 30 at the Hi-Dive. They’re calling the event “

” as a play on Jimmy Eat World’s seminal 2001 album, “Bleed American,” because the show is all local bands playing emo and pop punk classics. Plus, your $15 ticket goes to a good cause!

🍷 Save Room for Dessert at Venice Ristorante and Wine Bar

Denver's Best

What's On Your Summertime Denver Bucket List?

Peyton Garcia

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Denver's Best

Your Guide to Denver in September 2026

Comedian Joshua Emerson’s Personal Guide to August

Your Guide to Denver in August 2026

Your Guide to Denver in July

Your Guide to Denver in June 2026

Denver's Best Summertime Water Hangs

Your Guide to Denver in May 2026

Five Denver Patios that Feel Like a Vacation

The latest in Denver

Best Online Casinos for Real Money You Can Trust Today

The Best Denver Businesses for Music Lovers

Why Denverites Love Swallow Hill Music

Why Denverites Love Leevers Locavore

Where to Stock Up For a Fall Road Trip

How to Squeeze the Last Drops Out of Summer

Why Denverites Love Hearth and Seoul

Where To Find Cozy Fall Goods