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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

At first glance, the following local businesses might not have a lot in common. What’s the link between a car repair garage, a gift store, and a tattoo parlor? Well, my friend, they’re all LGBTQ+-owned! So get familiar with these top-tier local businesses and make a plan to support them this month (and year-round!).

Lux Forge has been handcrafting fine and custom jewelry in Denver for more than a decade. They focus on creating inclusive, gender neutral pieces, like this 

 in recycled sterling silver. Lux Forge also has a 

 featuring colorful natural gemstones adorning necklaces, rings, bracelets, and beyond.

One of Lux Forge’s unique offerings is custom jewelry design, which allows you to bring a personalized piece to life.

Kitschy. Kooky. Campy. These are just a few words that 

 uses to describe itself, but to really understand this shop, you have to see it for yourself. Look for the plush blind boxes (mystery boxes with a cute stuffy inside), cult-movie-themed prayer candles, and punk-themed puzzles that fill this store to the brim.

12 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

This car repair shop takes its name from Judy Garland, the Hollywood star and longtime advocate of the LGBTQ+ community. Embodying Garland’s spirit, 

 offers a transparent pricing list and affordable services, like a $35 oil change and a free 30-minute inspection. If getting your car fixed feels overwhelming in more ways than one (hi!🙋), Good Judy has your back.

There are plenty of tattoo shops around Denver, but few are women and LGBTQ+-owned. 

 is both of those things, and their team of artists specializes in everything from pet portraits to trippy surrealism. Mashroom’s website helps explain the different styles they offer, such as Trash Polka Tattoos, a black and red design featuring blackwork, realism, and “trash."

To make an appointment, begin by filling out their 

 is a collective of around 10 different businesses that was started by 

, a non-binary and disabled creator in Denver. Fresh flower arrangements, bolo ties, crystals, and handmade pottery trinkets are among the many things for sale at this plant and gift shop. There’s also a $5 plant section and 

, a plus-sized vintage and secondhand shop selling curated, gender affirming pieces.

 with shop updates (a few videos have even gone viral).

What are your favorite LGBTQ+ shops in Denver?

 Send me your recs, and I’ll keep sharing them throughout June!

RE: My Favorite LGBTQ+ Shops

Share Your Favorite LGBTQ+ Shops

These are the best places in Denver for Pride Month.

Denver's Best LGBTQ+ Shops

LGBTQ+ Owned Shops in Denver

Keep It Local

Decades before the 3600 block of Navajo Street was lined with modern apartment buildings and trendy pilates studios, it was filled with galleries. The 

Navajo Street Art District thrived in the 1990s

, but rising rents, taxes, and gentrification pushed the galleries elsewhere, all but erasing this cultural hub from the map.

Dot Williams and her partner, Jamie Richards, are determined to bring it back to life. The pair purchased a coffee shop on the corner of the block that was closing down, reopening as Art Club Coffee.

Their mission: To create a queer-owned space where people feel safe and welcome. That goes for patrons, but also for artists who want to display their work along the gallery-inspired walls. “It is completely free to submit your work,” Williams told me in a recent conversation. “You are welcome to sell it and we don't take any commission — we just want people to show their art.”

Williams and Richards also wanted the coffee shop to function as an inclusive third space for their neighbors. They do so by hosting free events, such as a creative and coffee night every Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. In true Navajo Street Art District fashion, their space attracts creatives of every kind.

“We've had coders coding games, or DJs building set lists. We've had oil painters, crocheters, knitters, collage artists, illustrators, kind of all walks of creativity,” Williams says. “You're also invited to just come and see — you don't even have to craft or buy anything.”

Art Club Coffee is currently hosting a curated gallery show featuring queer artists, which visitors can view throughout June.

Another way Art Club Coffee helps people feel comfortable is their atmosphere of old-school items that brings people back to a simpler time.

“It's a bit of a time warp here. It's got a lot of analog TVs and nostalgic touches throughout the space,” Williams said.

And they are also, at all times, very proudly queer. “We're here to celebrate each other and create a safe space where people can be themselves.”

Why Art Club Coffee is one of Denver's best queer-owned spaces.

Why Denverites Love Art Club Coffee

I’ve never been a strong swimmer. So, it’s funny that my camp counselor name was Nemo, after the iconic orange fish. I can, however, relate to the saying, “just keep swimming” as a reminder to persevere. Which is exactly the motto these local businesses live by, too. From teaching adaptive scuba to staying in business for nearly half a century, these Denver aquatic education spots and swimwear shops can help you make a splash — whatever your water plans this summer.

🐟 Denver Divers & Swim School of Denver (Cherry Creek)

Get certified in scuba diving, take a swim lesson, and shop for underwater gear all in the same place: 

. This local business also provides training and education in their pool through Denver Adaptive Divers, a scuba program for people with disabilities. They’ve helped many local residents improve their quality of life, including a wounded veteran who has reduced his pain since learning to dive.

Fashionistas and vacationers can find all their luxury swimwear needs at 

. Located right downtown in Larimer Square, this store has sleek and stylish suits for your next trip, plus hats and sunglasses, coverups, and resortwear. They’re also known for fun community events like the 

 they co-host with their neighbor, Little Blue Pigeon Books.

Beach Haus is closed on Mondays, but open all other days of the week.

 to develop lifelong abilities in swimming and water safety. Adults can choose from a variety of private lessons based on skill level, lesson duration, and course length. In addition to registering for private lessons, grownups can also drop in to private 15- or 30-minute intensive lessons. They emphasize an “empathetic and encouraging” approach for older swimmers finding their fins.

Colorado Swim School is open 7 days a week and offers flexible scheduling.

 has been serving Denver’s competitive and recreational swim community for more than two decades. They supply team apparel for competitive swimmers, including caps, warm-up outfits, and bags — which can be custom screenprinted — plus everything from singlets to wetsuits. Their casual swimwear collection for men and women includes pieces from major brands like Speedo, Nike, and Arena.

Call ahead or email to inquire about prices and availability, which aren’t listed on the website.

🛥️ Christy Sports (Multiple Locations)

 for its ski and snowboard stuff, but did you know they sell water sports gear, too? It’s not just swimwear, either. Among their most exciting inventory includes 

 and wakesurf boards. If you stop in Christy’s before an adventurous Colorado weekend on water, be sure to grab some lifejackets here, too.

 in Denver — check the addresses before you go.

Whether you want to become a better swimmer or learn to scuba dive, these are the best aquatic education spots and swimwear shops in Denver.

Denver's Best Swim Schools and Shop

Where to Take Swim Classes in Denver

You don’t need an ocean nearby to become a good swimmer. Denver Olympians like Missy Franklin and Amy Van Dyken prove that.

Denise grew up in Denver in the 70’s and 80’s as a competitive swimmer alongside her two older sisters and she’s still involved in aquatic activities to this day at 

. That’s the shop her parents opened in 1977, and which she now co-owns with her husband, Matt Glass.

“I've been here since I was 12 years old,” Denise says, reflecting on her role in the family business. “We used to go around to the swim meets and sell merchandise on the pool deck. And that's kind of how we got started.”

Denise’s parents eventually moved the shop into a brick and mortar space on Evans Avenue. Today, there’s something for every swimmer at Swim N’ Things, which stocks bathing suits and gear for competitive swimmers, vacation goers, water fitness enthusiasts, and even babies embarking on their first-ever swim.

Denise’s favorite place to swim in Colorado growing up was the former 

 on South Colorado Boulevard, now occupied by a Whole Foods and a Staples. The Disney-owned complex, open from 1960 to 1994, had a huge bowling alley, an arcade, and one of the only Olympic-sized indoor pools in Colorado at the time (with the added bonus of two amazing waterslides!).

Like many longtime Denver residents, Denise has seen the city transform over time. Those changes have brought their challenges, but it’s nothing the family business hasn’t seen before.

“It was a tough go at first,” Denise says of Swim N’ Things’ early days. “All the companies, like Speedo, didn't give us any ounce of encouragement because they said a swim store in Colorado will never make it. Here we are, 49 years later.”

Swim N' Things has been outfitting Denver's swimmers since 1977.

The History Swim N' Things, One of Denver's Oldest Swimwear Shops

Why Denverites Love Swim N’ Things

Every Thursday night throughout the summer, Avanti Food and Beverage lights up for a free community movie.

Projected onto their 30-foot screen at 8:30 p.m., the food hall’s 

 are a hit with locals of all ages. Their schedule, which spans a total of 19 movies this summer, is hand-selected by managers and staff.

There are upcoming kid-friendly films like “Holes” and “Shrek” — plus more grownup options like “Wedding Crashers” and “The Hangover.”

“We try to choose movies that people genuinely get excited about and want to rewatch with a crowd,” says Hayley Edmisten, Director of Marketing at Avanti. “Nostalgia plays a huge role, so we lean into cult classics, iconic comedies, throwback favorites, and feel-good movies that people can quote along with their friends. We also think about movies that match the energy of being outside on a summer night.”

The idea for movie night at Avanti stemmed from a desire to create more midweek options for Denverites beyond happy hour.

“Outdoor movies felt like the perfect fit for Avanti because they give people an easy excuse to gather with friends, grab food and drinks from multiple concepts, and spend an entire evening with us instead of just stopping in for one thing,” Edmisten says.

In addition to fostering community, Avanti’s movie night also introduces guests to great eats from all around Denver — many of which pair perfectly with a movie. For instance, guests can buy combo boxes of popcorn along with milkshakes from Knockabout Burgers, plus treats like candy and a frosty, boozy frosé.

Avanti kicked off its eighth season of movies in April, but with more than a dozen screenings still on deck for the rest of the season, there’s a good chance you can see a new-to-you movie (or one you love to rewatch).

Avanti Food & Beverage hosts one of Denver's favorite free outdoor movie screenings weekly.

Free Movie Screenings at Avanti Food & Beverage

Why Denverites Love Avanti Food and Beverage

There’s only one thing better than watching a good movie: Watching a good movie outside. Something about the summer breeze and the stars twinkling overhead just makes the moment that much more memorable. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best places in Denver to sit back and relax for outdoor movie night.

, one of the largest annual outdoor movie events in Colorado. This year’s line-up from Denver Film includes classic love story “Princess Bride,” the multiple Oscar winner, “Sinners,” and indie hit “Little Miss Sunshine,” among others. Each event opens with performances from local musicians, comedians, and more — catch the August 10th screening of “Jurassic Park” featuring a pre-show talk about dinosaurs presented by official National Geographic explorer and paleontologist Tyler Lyson.

Film on the Rocks nights can definitely sell out, so grab your tickets asap!

Corvettes. Al Pacino. Green Apple and Root Beer Jelly Belly jelly beans. These are a few things that might have defined a great movie night in 1976, the year 

 opened for business. Fifty years later, the old school drive-in is still inviting people to enjoy films in its classic parking lot space, with snacks like popcorn, pizza, funnel cake, and fountain soda. Starting this weekend, on May 22, the theater will be open seven nights a week for two screenings each evening through the summer season.

Tickets cost just $10 per person, which includes access to both showings. Kids under 12 are always free.

McGregor Square has a free outdoor movie experience right in the middle of downtown’s sky scrapers. 

 displays high-definition films on a massive LED screen, and offers closed captioning in English. This year’s lineup starts on July 4th with a screening of “Project Hail Mary” and the season includes a mix of PG and PG-13 movies, making it a perfect event for kids or teens. Food, beverages, and alcohol are available for purchase.

Spots on the lawn are first-come, first-served, so arrive early and lay out a blanket to claim your space!

The Central Park neighborhood launches their 

 on June 26th with “The Princess Bride.” This family-friendly film event is held on multiple Fridays until early September. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, snacks, and whatever else your group needs to feel comfortable watching movies outside — or stop by the concession stand for popcorn and other goodies.

This movie series has food trucks parked on site, should you want to plan on having dinner there.

We’ve rounded up the best places in Denver to sit back and relax for outdoor movie night.

The Best Outdoor Movie Spots in Denver

Where to Watch an Outdoor Movie

dressy sneaker by American designer Martin Dingman

This understated leather shoe — which features sleek non-tie laces and a slip-on design — is what customers are always asking for at Scarpaletto, the 48-year-old shoe store Logan co-owns with Dragana, his business partner and wife.

The duo took over the shop in November 2025, ushering in a new era for the longstanding shoe staple.

“I worked for the previous owner [Phil Vivinetto] for seven years and grew a really good relationship with him,” Logan says. “We're like family now.”

Over nearly five decades, Scarpaletto has called numerous storefronts home, including the spaces in Boulder, the Tabor Center, Cherry Creek Shopping Center, and even a coveted spot in Larimer Square.

Today, Scarpaletto sits in the city’s busy center on 16th Street, stocking everything from fashion-forward athletic shoe brands, like On, to high quality leather shoes imported from Italy. They sell local accessories, too, such as jewelry from RiNo-based artist Ashley Schenkein and art-adorned scarves from Sally Jordon.

The reason for the store’s success, Logan says, is their focus on quality, comfort, and customers.

“It's a true sit-and-fit environment, right? We curate all of these brands over the years for that quality and comfort,” Logan says.

That commitment to detail is why Scarpaletto has such a low product return rate. They want their customers to leave (and stay) happy.

Scarpaletto also has a customer loyalty program, which credits 3% of every purchase back onto the account. Those earnings stack up, don’t expire, and can be used anytime.

This November, which will mark one year since acquiring the business, Logan and Dragana will move the store back to its former location in Larimer Square. After the block’s recent renovation, the Allenbaughs decided a return to the brand’s roots is for the best.

“I think the core DNA of Scarpaletto has kind of been the same for all these 48 years, and we're just continuing the legacy.”

Scarpaletto has been around for nearly 50 years, selling everything from fashion-forward athletic shoes to high quality leather footwear.

Why Denverites Love Scarpaletto Footwear Store

This Denver Shoe Store Is a Perfect Fit

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

If you’re looking to make an evening in Platt Park, start by getting a cold pint of the 

 over at Platt Park Brewing. Then, make your way over to 

 on Pearl for a savory bite before they close at 8 p.m. (2 p.m. on Sundays). Round out your visit to the neighborhood with a scoop of cookies and cream from 

In the never-ending search for an affordable meal, check out the lunch specials over at 

. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and has lots of lunch combos, like a 10-piece sashimi combo that comes with soup and salad for only $21! Plus, the owner flies in rotating Japanese desserts so you never know what new sweet treat might be in the mix.

Legend has it that Red Rocks Amphitheater will transform into an “Amish Paradise” on June 23 at 6 p.m when doors open for 

 His “Bigger and Weirder” tour features special guest Puddles Pity Party at Red Rocks. Better get in that merch line now!

Ready to enter your fiber-maxxing era? (or plant based protein era, sure!) Check out the 

 put on by Food Justice NW Aurora. Enter your bean-based delicacy for a chance to win some $, or just show up to the event on June 7 from 4-6 p.m. to sample dishes and vote for your faves.

For anyone wanting to sip on a highly Instagrammable matcha past normal coffee shop hours, look no further than the 

 served up at Bigsby’s Folly. This drink features gin, elderflower, matcha, lemon, lavender, and “fee foam.” This green elixir is the drink that everyone at the table is stealing a sip from!

Recommendations of the best things to do in Denver this June.

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What's On Your Summertime Denver Bucket List?

Peyton Garcia

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