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City Cast Denver

City Cast Denver staff

🌀 Looking for a previous Hey Denver quiz? Find it here:

Two Truths and a Lie: Denver Mayor Edition

Michelle Polizzi

Say bye to Barnes & Noble and shop these local bookstores for fall reads, holiday gifts, or just a special treat for yourself ❣️

❤️‍🔥 Spicy Librarian (Five Points)

Reading a romance novel can feel shameful and even taboo, but 

 wants to change that. Through a curated selection of romance novels that spans every genre from fantasy to sports to queer love, Spicy Librarian has all the stories you need to keep your cheeks flushed — plus 

Keep your reading habit sustainable by shopping at 

, a mother-and-daughter-owned used bookstore in the Arts District on Santa Fe. Their 

— from hockey-themed love stories to domestic thrillers — means there’s bound to be something for every taste.

🏡 West Side Books & Curios (West Highland)

 is among Denver’s most beloved locally owned bookshops. This is a top-notch shop to patronize if you’re looking for a bookish community: Check out their 

 for author talks, book signings, and release parties.

 through the West Side Books & Curios page on Libro.fm.

Independent, inclusive, and passionate about promoting transformative conversations, 

 sells novels, nonfiction, poetry, and more literature written by people of color and the queer community. Matter bills itself as the only full-service, majority Black-owned bookstore in the Mountain Time Zone.

Matter is also a design consultancy and letterpress workshop, plus a shop for homewares, games, 

 is a family- and women-owned bookstore with a mission to bring Denverites together through stories. For every five books sold, they donate one book to a local organization via their Book Forward program.

When the holidays roll around and you need the perfect gift, consider a 

 Say bye to Barnes & Noble and shop these local bookstores for fall reads, holiday gifts, or just a special treat for yourself.

Denver’s Best Small Bookstores

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Keep It Local

Morris Munene

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Books to Buy This Month at Denver Bookshops 

Paul Karolyi

This month, we’re thinking about what we’re thankful for, where to gather with loved ones, and generally celebrating the spirit of togetherness. So, for our monthly guide’s rotating theme category, Michelle, Bree, and Olivia each brought picks for ways to volunteer, enjoy nature, and navigate hairy travel days during this busy time of year.

Michelle’s Pick: Solo Strolls and Remembering Daddy Bruce

Michelle’s plans around Thanksgiving tend to change each year, sometimes spending time around others and sometimes flying solo. One thing that remains constant is her tradition of taking a walk around Wash Park to enjoy the weather, either by herself or with friends and family. Michelle also brought up the good work of Daddy Bruce Randolph, the late restaurateur who fed the hungry on holidays in Denver for over 25 years. Today, Daddy Bruce’s legacy still lives on, with his 

 that provides at least 2,500 Thanksgiving meals each year to those in need.

Olivia’s Pick: Finding Your Flow State at DIA

Like many others, Olivia heads to the Denver International Airport during Thanksgiving time to leave the Mile High City to visit family in other states. While the airport can be crazy this time of year, she has some tips on making your travel day the perfect self-care ritual before family time. She recommends arriving two hours early, after perhaps partaking in half of your favorite cannabis gummy. Then, once you breeze through security (zen, zen, zen) you’ll stop off at the new 

 (from Truong An Gifts) and grab a face mask, some Asian snacks, and a blind box or two. Once you snag a plastic cup of wine at the shortest available bar line, find a cozy spot on the outside terrace or a quiet corner indoors and hunker down with headphones to catch up on FaceTime with your bestie!

Bree’s Pick: Volunteering Then Dinner from Poppies

Bree suggests giving back by volunteering with Project Angel Heart for its third annual “

” on Nov. 25. Founded to deliver food to those suffering during the HIV/AIDS crisis, Project Angel Heart plans to deliver 15,000 meals to people across 2,450 square miles! The organization needs volunteers to help cook and pack meals, and deliver them all the way from Pueblo to Fort Collins.

After spending your day cooking for others, Bree suggests 

! She said they go the whole nine yards, with cranberries, turkey, potatoes, and more.

Denver Gives Thanks

Life Hacks

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

Denver Life Hacks

One approachable way to style a room is to find a single standout piece you love, then design around it. Here’s where to shop for some eclectic alternatives to common home essentials, which can serve as your design anchor for a room that really feels like you ✨

Swap the drab IKEA sectional for a comfortable and chic 

, located inside the Tennyson Street Warehouse.

? How about some avocado green chairs, or a 

 on East Hampden Ave has more than two decades of experience helping Denverites find the perfect furniture.

 — just a few of the unique pieces the owners have sourced from artisans worldwide.

Here’s where to shop in Denver for some eclectic alternatives to common home essentials, which can serve as your design anchor for a room that really feels like you.

Thrift and Antique Spots Denverites Love

Here’s a handful of veteran-owned local businesses you can support this week (while treating yourself to a nice experience in the process) ✨

🍺 Launch Pad Brewery (Aurora & Bennett)

Inspired by aviation and founded by veterans Dave Levesque and Henry Rusch, 

 always has something to do. Drink up one of their current ales on tap, join a trivia game, or attend a beer and cheese pairing to mix things up. There are two locations, but the Aurora spot near Buckley Space Force Base is closer to town.

🧖 Evolve Medical Spa (Highlands Ranch)

Discover medical-grade skincare delivered by clinical professionals at 

. Elizabeth Neilsen became an esthetician in the mid 2000’s after serving in the military. Spray tans, peptide-infused facials, and microneedling are just a few of the many services you can choose from at this women- and veteran-owned spa in Highlands Ranch.

 is a two-in-one eatery and concert venue serving up hearty steak plates, cheesy pasta dishes, and a full bar. Downstairs, check into 

 for live music, comedy, and a club-like feel.

Army veteran and Colorado native Hope created 

 after she struggled to stay moisturized (and her baby kept eating lotion). Today, this natural body care brand delivers the perfect antidote to dry Denver skin — without harsh additives or chemicals. They sell soaps, room and linen sprays, and of course, 

body butters like their lavender chamomile jar

Honor Veterans Day by shopping local. Grab a beer, book a facial, catch a comedy show, or buy body butter from veteran-owned Denver businesses. 

Veteran-Owned Businesses in Denver to Support This Veterans Day

Veteran-Owned Businesses in Denver

From the movers you choose to the electricians you call for help, bookmark these veteran-owned businesses in and around Denver for the next time you need help at home.

Just bought a house? Moving across town? 

 is a veteran-owned moving company serving the Denver metro area since 2004. They understand urban loading zones, can help you unpack a POD, and will provide their own trucks if needed.

, a veteran company that handles junk removal, property cleanouts, and all the heavy lifting you need while clearing space for the next phase.

Leave your interior and exterior home color, cabinet refreshes, and deck finishing to 

, which serves both Denver and nearby mountain areas. 

 or contact the owner, John Cunningham, for specific questions about your project.

Veteran Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric

, the name says it all. In addition to their expertise in home projects, they also pride themselves on transparent pricing and lifetime warranties to ensure you know what you’re paying for, every time.

The only thing worse than locking yourself out of the house? Not having anybody to call for help. Think of 

 as a master key for literally everything. Whether you get stuck outside of your house, car, phone, or office, this veteran-owned locksmith company travels across the Denver Metro.

Save these veteran-owned home service companies in Denver, from movers and junk removal to painters, electricians, and a locksmith.

Veteran-Owned Home Service Companies in Denver

Veteran-Owned Businesses to Bookmark

🍌 Hop on the Banana Milk Trend at Forth

According to us, Michelle Jackson is THE authority on local coffee shops, and she’s got a new fave to share: 

 at 3377 Blake St. Upstairs is a vintage men’s fashion boutique and downstairs you’ll find a menu of Vietnamese-inspired coffee drinks and unique milk infusions. Michelle recommends the banana flavor, which is so on trend right now. “It’s phenomenal,” according to Michelle. She always gets the croissant bánh mì, too.

🥕 Go Heart-Healthy with a Harvest Bowl on South Pearl

 on South Pearl. “I’m trying to be in my heart-healthy era, so I love the fancy carrots that come in different colors on top.” She loves the Nashville hot chicken bites, too, but for a healthier lunch, it’s all about the harvest bowl.

🫒 Enjoy Salty Snacks and Cozy Chairs at Side Pony

 on West Colfax. It’s a day-to-night coffee shop that becomes a bar in the evening, but you can still get coffee at all hours of the day. “As a person who doesn’t drink, I love that,” Bree says. Her favorite thing was the savory snack trio on the happy hour menu, especially the pickled okra. “People are in there getting work done, but it’s still cool and relaxed for everyone.”

 They have comfy chairs and a really aesthetic bathroom!

“I’ve raved about this to the City Cast team,” Olivia says, “but I’m a Longmont convert!” She planned a girls night last weekend and fell in love with the not-so-sleepy town up north and the “

” who welcomed her warmly. She specifically recommends the 

Mountain States Children's Home Thrift Store

, where she did some early Christmas shopping, and 

 next door. “I found something really cool for my mom,” she says. Plus, the clothes are curated and nice while still being reasonably priced.

🎞️ Experience the Glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age

Bree’s favorite podcast of all time is 

, which features stories from the Golden Age of Hollywood. The theme of the current podcast season is bisexuals of the big screen, and Bree is psyched to see host Karina Longworth at the Sie FilmCenter on Monday, Nov. 16, to present 

 starring one of the main characters in her series, Montgomery Clift. “These are movies you are never gonna see on the big screen except this month,” according to Bree.

Michelle says November is the perfect time to get involved with the local roller-derby community. The Mile High non-profit 

 is hosting new recruit night on Nov. 4, if you want to start skating or learn how to officiate, and the next double-header of bouts on Nov. 14. “I’ve been meaning to support this for a long time because it feels so aggressively random.” Derby girls are tough!

Your Guide to Denver in November 2026

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Test your knowledge of the LGBTQ+ community's history in the Mile High!

Quiz: Colorado's Queer History

Test Your Denver Knowledge!

What Denverites have been wondering. We break down why things in Denver are the way they are and how they work.

Denver, Explained

Shane Franklin

Democrats had a good night last night, with projected victories across all four major state offices and TK of the state’s eight congressional districts. But Election Day was not just about who won top offices. Voters also weighed in on congressional seats and ballot measures that could shape the state’s future. Here’s a breakdown of the results as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov 3., according to the 

Colorado Secretary of State’s election results

. Many races are still too close to call. Leading candidates and causes have green checks, though final counts are pending.

Host Bree Davies and creative producer Olivia Jewell Love unpack all the results, share their biggest takeaways and what it all means for Denver.

Mark “Marky Jr.” Elworth - 1.61% (3,788)

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Amendment 83: Right to hunting and fishing

Denver, Explained

Test Your Denver Knowledge!

City Cast Denver staff

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