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City Cast Denver

Life Hacks

Tips and tricks by Denver locals, for locals.

Shane Franklin

What if the best seat at a music festival wasn’t in front of a massive stage, but on somebody’s front lawn?

 is bringing 193 acts to Baker on Oct. 3, turning porches, backyards, parking lots into stages from noon to 7 p.m. Dailey Park and Cookie Factory art space will serve as the festival’s two main hubs, with food, drinks and vendors.

The idea is to make live music easier to experience outside of bars and traditional venues. And apparently, “porch” is more of a suggestion.

The festival is free for patrons, but the musicians aren’t playing for free. Sponsors, fundraising and donations help cover festival expenses and compensate the performers. A suggested $20 donation includes a festival sticker and access to the interactive fest app, while a portion of the proceeds also supports East 7th and its work expanding access to art and music therapy for children with autism.

With 193 acts spread throughout Baker, there’s still one question: 

I talked with founder Bradley Schwartz and co-founder Adon Biggs, who also plays bass in local jazz group “

,” to find out. And as a musician myself, I had a few thoughts, too

Step 1: Make a Plan … Just Not Too Much of One

 and pick a few artists you really want to see. Organizers intentionally spread genres like jazz, punk, indie, rock, and hip-hop, throughout the festival. Most of the lineup is from Colorado.

 are a few acts I’d recommend, depending on what you’re looking for.

Now for the question that can make or break any Denver outing: Where are you going to park?

Consider biking, rideshare or public transportation. Once you’re in Baker, plan on doing plenty of walking between sets. Performances are spread throughout the neighborhood rather than concentrated around one big stage. The idea is to move through Baker and catch something amazing along the way.

It’s less “find your stage and stay there” and more “let’s see what’s happening down this block!”

We’re all guilty of this at festivals. The song ends. Applause. Cool. What’s next? Not so fast.

Schwartz kept returning to one word when we talked: connection.

“You might go backstage after playing and, by the time you come back out, everybody has moved on to a different stage,” Schwartz said.

PorchFest shrinks the distance. The musician you just watched might still be standing right in front of you.

If a set catches you, stick around. Ask about the song. Find the artist online. See where they’re playing next. Buy some merch.

Biggs sees that connection as an opportunity for musicians as well.

“Events like PorchFest provide another avenue for musicians coming up in Denver’s scene to be seen,” Biggs said.

Swartz understands the appeal of a smaller setting too. His own band, 

, played a PorchFest in Atlanta, which inspired him to bring the idea to Denver.

“I’d rather see a show with 100 or 200 people than from across an arena,” Schwartz said. “Smaller crowds give you something different: intimacy.”

For an artist, it could mean playing for someone who has never heard of them before walking down that block. This PorchFest could be a musician’s first show or 500th. Either way, you’re getting a chance to meet the people making the music.

Free. Suggested $20 donation gets you access to the interactive festival app and additional perks.

How to Navigate Denver's First PorchFest

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

Denver Life Hacks

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

Peyton Garcia

A tried and true Rocky Mountain tradition, here’s everything you need to know before you go 🌲

Christmas tree cutting is allowed in most national forests (with a permit) during the holiday season typically from November to January. The options closest to Denver include the 

 (via South Platte or Colorado Springs). But you can check out a 

 of all the Colorado ranger districts that allow tree-cutting this time of year.

Tree-cutting permits in Colorado range in cost from $5 to $20 depending on the ranger district. You can purchase yours online at 

 or in-person at area-specific stores and ranger offices.

Get your tree permit for free if you have an 

Your permit (to attach visibly to the tree or your vehicle dashboard)

Handsaw (chainsaws are prohibited in most national forests)

Tarp (for wrapping up your precious cargo)

Sled (for easier forest-to-car transport)

Strong rope or straps (to secure your tree to your car)

A four-wheel drive vehicle or tire chains (trust me)

Tape measure (so you’re not stuck estimating if it will fit in the house)

A Christmas playlist and a thermos of hot chocolate (optional, but highly recommended 😁)

No “tree-topping” — you must take the entire tree from ground level, leaving no more than 6 inches of stump

Make sure you’re at least 75 feet away from roads and trails when cutting

Once home, cut about 1 inch off the base of your trunk and place the tree in a basin of fresh water

Want to cut down your own Christmas tree? Here’s the 411.

How to Cut Your Own Colorado Christmas Tree

Know Before You Go: Cutting Your Own Christmas Tree 

Yesterday’s cooler weather was a good reminder that colder temps are well on the way. Local meteorologists predict 

 will arrive before the month is over, which makes now the ideal time to start getting your yard ready to ride out winter. Try these tips:

Leaving water in your sprinkler system over winter runs the risk of freezing and bursting pipes. You’ll want to shut off your watering system for the season and blow out the pipes (something you can do through a professional or 

 will help your grass stay strong through the cold months. You can also consider aerating before the first snow fall to support drainage and airflow throughout winter.

 Your lawn still gets thirsty in the winter. Consider watering it with a hose on days over 40 degrees (do NOT turn on your sprinkler system). Winter watering also helps avoid mites!

Though some experts believe a layer of dead leaves can help protect and insulate your lawn from the cold, too thick of a layer can actually smother it. Additionally, while piles of dead leaves can help shelter insects and other small critters, they can also foster a breeding ground for lawn-damaging pests and diseases. So 

! Residents can drop off dead leaves, pumpkins, and other approved lawn debris for free composting.

Lay down burlap or a generous layer of mulch on flower beds and around the base of trees and other plants to help keep their roots from freezing. If you have a south- or west-facing tree, it could be at risk for sunscald — that’s when the sun thaws the trunk during the day, but then nighttime temps freeze it again, causing cracks and other serious damage. 

Leaving your grass too long over the winter can also cause damage. Experts recommend mowing your lawn at regular mowing levels until the grass goes dormant (or stops growing) for the season, usually in late November.

Walking too frequently on dormant grass can cause damage that will prevent those trodden areas from greening up in the spring and could promote snow mold. Also be extremely careful to avoid getting melting salts and other snow-melting agents on your lawn — they can cause serious damage.

Winter lawn care

Share your own tips! 📧

Help your yard stay happy and healthy ‘til next spring. 

Tips to Prepare Your Yard for a Denver Winter 

Tips to Prepare Your Yard for Winter 

Recent changes to federal vaccine policy and Gov. Jared Polis’ have caused some confusion for Coloradans looking to get a COVID-19 shot this year. But with winter around the corner, now is definitely the time to be thinking about getting yourself boosted. So here’s what has changed, who is eligible, and where COVID vaccines are available around Denver.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the latest round of COVID vaccines on August 27, but 

 to individuals at high risk for severe disease who have a prescription and those 65 and older. This followed Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s November promise that “anybody can get the booster,” 

Gov. Jared Polis criticized the FDA’s new guidelines last week, saying that they got “in the way of Coloradans making our own healthcare decisions” and that they inconvenienced Coloradans who “want increased COVID-19 protection by requiring a doctor’s prescription.” He directed the Department of Public Health and Environment to issue an order, effective Sept. 5, allowing pharmacists to give out COVID boosters to anyone who wants one.

As of this writing, anyone in Colorado 6 months or older can get the updated COVID vaccines without needing a prescription.

Where to get the COVID Vaccine Around Denver

The FDA restrictions forced pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens to stop scheduling appointments for COVID shots in Colorado because state guidelines previously required pharmacies to follow CDC guidelines, but recent turmoil at the CDC means those guidelines have not been updated. The Colorado Board of Pharmacy implemented 

an emergency amendment to its regulations

 that removed references to CDC guidelines, giving pharmacies the go-ahead to resume scheduling vaccines.

We’ve heard about people getting vaccines at Walgreens and CVS since the Colorado order went into effect, even though they didn’t have an appointment. City Cast Denver executive producer Paul Karolyi made an appointment for just a flu shot and walked out with a COVID booster as well after mentioning Polis’ new directive.

While the transition to reopen COVID vaccine appointments has been slow, some pharmacies across the state are beginning to schedule shots. Check your local pharmacy to see if appointments are available.

Changing vaccine restrictions and updated guidelines in Colorado have caused confusion. Here's where you can get a COVID booster right now.

Where to Get the COVID Vaccine in Colorado Right Now

Where to Get the COVID Vaccine in Colorado

Hey Denver, are you ready for some footbaaaall?! The Broncos kick off their regular season this Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Tennessee Titans. Here’s how and where to watch this weekend and all season long.

Most Sunday Broncos games air free on CBS or FOX; Sunday Night Football is on NBC.

Monday Night Football match-up with the Cincinnati Bengals (available only on ESPN and through cable/streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or DIRECTV).

 The Broncos play in prime time on Amazon Prime’s Thursday game twice this season — Nov. 6 against the Raiders and Dec. 25 against the Chiefs.

Why pay for a streaming service when you can catch the game at a local sports bar? Here are 

 offers a whopping 4,000-square-foot patio space complete with heaters and mounted TVs.

, a local sports-lovers’ go-to, has 150 screens available, with some taking up nearly entire walls.

 As Denver’s “only gay sports bar,” 

 offers an environment where everyone can feel welcome watching Bo Nix rack up touchdown passes.

 (all three locations!) hits the mark with local beers, yummy pub fare, TVs aplenty, and that must-have raucous atmosphere.

 For the face-painters, foam finger-wielders, and fellow diehard Broncos fanatics, 

If you want to cheer on the Broncos live from Empower Field at Mile High, check out your 

. For the upcoming season, single-game tickets range from 

 for games against less popular opponents like the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 21 to 

for coveted matchups, like the Oct. 26 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

From bag policies and parking options to tailgate tips and stadium maps, here’s your 

Automatically add the Broncos 2025 season game schedule 

 — even if you just need a reminder of when might be the least busy time to go grocery shopping.

From the comfort of your couch to Denver's best sports bars, here's where you can catch the action. 

How and Where to Watch the Denver Broncos This Season

How to Watch the Broncos This Season

Denver’s 51st annual PrideFest will hit Civic Center Park this weekend to close out Pride month. To help you prepare for being part of the rainbow-decked crowds, here’s what you need to know before you go!

The biggest thing to know for this year’s events is that the parade has changed routes to avoid the construction on Colfax and will now run along 17th Street. The 

 kicks off Sunday at 9:30 a.m. from the corner of 17th Street and Franklin Street. It will proceed along 17th to Lincoln Street. 

 will be at its usual location in Civic Center Park on Saturday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and again on Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Both the parade and the festival are free.

With a turnout of more than 100,000 people anticipated for the parade, viewers are encouraged to nab their spot early. (There will be 

 at 17th and Grant Street that will include space for wheelchair users and ASL interpreters.) Parking downtown is hard to come by even when it’s not Pride weekend, so a rideshare or public transit may be better options. If you do drive, here are 

, as well as information on bicycle parking.

Currently, the weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday is mostly sunny with temps in the 80s and even up to low 90s on Saturday, so plan to pack your hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. I’d recommend 

 before heading out the door, though — we all know how fickle Colorado weather can be!

, but two big ones worth noting: 1) Pets are not allowed; and 2) bags are allowed, but are subject to search. Also, while it's not a rule, don't forget to stay hydrated!

, a new addition at the Lincoln Veteran Memorial Park highlighting local LGBTQ+ businesses!

To help you prepare for Denver's PrideFest and parade, here’s what you need to know before you go!

Your 2025 Guide to Denver Pride

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it’s officially time to get your gardens ready! To help, the city is offering 

 to residents from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 3

. Here are some tips on how to take advantage of the spring deal!

, the city has tons of chipped wood to provide to residents for free. The three locations to dig your own mulch are:

Denver Central Platte Campus — 2000 W. Third Avenue

Cherry Creek Transfer Station — 7301 E. Jewell Avenue

The Havana Nursery will have free mulch loader service for trucks and one axle trailers.

 be available at the Denver Central Platte Campus at 1271 W. Bayaud Ave. For this year’s free compost giveaway, the city is having participants 

Since the program is mostly do-it-yourself, make sure to bring your own shovel and bags or containers to put the mulch and compost in. You might also want to have a tarp on hand to protect your car or cover your trailer from dust and debris.

For compost pick-up, come prepared with a 5-gallon bucket, shovel, and your coupon confirmation number, which you’ll be given when you sign up.

Also, be sure to bring proof of residency, like a driver’s license or utility bill.

Have other gardening questions or need some tips on where to start? 

Here are some tips on how to take advantage of Denver's free mulch program.

How to Snag Free Mulch and Compost

 it’s spring cleaning season! To help you out, we put together this handy guide on how to recycle anything and everything that might be taking up space in your basement, garage, or storage unit 📦

🏠 Schedule pickups for old household appliances

Old appliances can also contain hazardous materials, so be sure to schedule a pick-up with the 

 for washers, dryers, ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers and more. Xcel Energy customers can get a $50 rebate for 

🛋️ Your worn out couch could have a second life!

 will pick up your old sectional or loveseat, clean and refurbish it with a five-step restoration process, then place it in their showroom with other upcycled living room sets at an affordable price. The company not only reduces furniture waste, it also donates a portion of proceeds to Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.

☣️ Take extra care with hazardous materials

Hazardous materials — things like paint, bleach, pesticides, automotive fluids, and gasoline — need special attention. You can 

 with the city if you have more than three kinds of hazardous materials or more than 25 pounds of one material.

, like disassembled cribs, strollers, car seats, and pack ‘n plays, to rehome it for families in need. The organization also takes donations of unopened diapers, wipes, and formula.

🛏️ Donate that old mattress and box spring for a good cause

 is a mattress recycling nonprofit that does two great things: by recycling your old bed, the company keeps beds and box springs out of the landfill, while also employing folks in the community who face employment barriers like past incarceration and substance misuse disorders.

📺 Broken and outdated electronics can – and should – be recycled

That old flatscreen TV in your basement can contain harmful materials, so proper recycling is crucial. Places like 

 can recycle electronics safely, while also promising data protection for sensitive information that might be living on an old computer or phone.

🪑 When in doubt, check out Denver’s large item pick up schedule

As part of regular trash service, each neighborhood has 

every few weeks if you need to off-load larger household items that don’t fit in the trash or recycle bin. Be sure to 

check the city’s website for a complete list of accepted items

Be aware that some recycling programs charge small fees to take your donations. Fees cover costs like labor and proper recycling.

Donation non-profits like Goodwill and the ARC have lists of items they 

take. Check specific locations before you drop off — some donated items aren’t re-sellable or re-usable and end up 

Looking for a one-stop option to unload your extra stuff? Check out the 

 at the Shops at Northfield, which will offer paper shredding and will be collecting paint, electronics, and baby gear for recycling or re-use 📃🔌🍼

A handy guide on how to recycle anything and everything that might be taking up space in your basement, garage, or storage unit.

How to Recycle Anything in Denver

While there’s a lot to love about spring, the proliferation of pollen isn’t something to celebrate. If you’re sick of sniffling and sneezing, but don’t know what to do other than take antihistamines, we’ve got you covered. Here are some tips for handling allergies:

Though you can’t completely escape airborne allergens, health care 

 to reduce contact and ease the resulting symptoms.

First, dry and windy days are more likely to set off allergies — the best time to hang outside is after a rain storm.

If you are spending a good amount of time outside, wear a mask while doing activities that kick up dirt and dust, like gardening, mowing, and weed pulling.

Once you go back inside, be sure to change clothes to limit the allergens brought back into the house. Also, if you like to skip the dryer and line dry clothing, avoid hanging laundry outside — pollen can cling to fabric.

To keep your indoor air clean, use an air purifier or air conditioning and make sure to replace the filters regularly. You can also invest in a dehumidifier and portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters for your house and vacuum. (Pro-tip: indoor air purifiers also help tremendously during fire season!)

On high pollen days, doctors recommend taking allergy medications 

We rounded up some tips for reducing allergens and relieving symptoms!