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City Cast Denver

Keep It Local features spotlights on a local businesses we love and a timely set of personal, curated and neighborly recommendations that will help you live your best Mile High life. So, if you’re ready to ditch the national chains, e-commerce giants, and big box stores,

 sign up now for the new weekly newsletter from City Cast Denver

We invited the brilliant writer of our new Keep it Local newsletter, Michelle Polizzi, to join producers Olivia Jewell Love and Paul Karolyi on the podcast version of our guide this month. So, for our special rotating third category, we’re keeping it local for Mother’s Day (which is on May 10, by the way, not that any of us were going to forget).

Here are our very Denver ideas for how to treat your mom.

Michelle suggests a visit to the custom hat bar at 

 in Highland, where you can pick your style, color, brim shape, and accessorize with all kinds of feathers and gems. While you wait for your one-of-a-kind creation, you and your mom can have a glass of wine on their second floor lounge and watch the world go by. Make a night of it with your new matching hats and a reservation at the Michelin-recognized 

 down the block. “It’s like when you get new shoes when you're a kid,” Michelle says. “Your new shoes look so much better than your old shoes and you're like, I'm actually just wearing them right out.”

Olivia recommends spending the day in Golden, starting off at 

 for high tea. Think finger sandwiches, scones, and all the tea you can drink. Next, you should hit up 

 to try on some fun and funky clothes and accessories. As you continue to wander Miner Street, be sure to stop in 

to check out their great Jellycat plushie selection and other cute tchotchkes. Don’t forget to spend some time walking along Clear Creek and enjoying the views!

Paul says his parents have visited Denver enough that it feels like they’ve done it all. But one of Denver’s mainstays, the 

, has cooked up a cool collaboration to keep things fresh. They invited 

 to dig into their archives so he could create an original composition inspired by Still’s art, and the Colorado Symphony is going to play it for the first time on May 7. 

 and round out your night with dinner at the newest location of 

 – a woman-owned Denver success story in its own right — in the Golden Triangle.

Things to Do for Mother's Day in Denver

How to Keep Mother’s Day Local

Keep It Local

Like many businesses born during the pandemic, David Right began his ice cream shop 

 as a way to kill some extra time. “I started making the pints and delivering them in grocery store parking lots,” Right says. ”It picked up a lot of steam over the first couple of months.”

Unlike many COVID-19 startups that fizzled when the world opened back up, Right’s business has only expanded in scale and scope since the days of isolation. Today, Right Cream is a full brick-and-mortar operation in the Rosedale neighborhood of South Denver, sharing an astroturf seating and play area with Denver Beer Co.

On this outdoor green space connecting the two establishments, customers of both businesses can gather, imbibe, kick back in the shade, and enjoy themselves. “If it's over 50 degrees and the sun's out, then we’re busy over there,” Right says. “A lot of people are hanging out, the kids love playing on it.”

Since 2020, Right Cream has expanded its menu to serve all kinds of savory items alongside its sweet treats — think, indulgent spins on American classics, like breakfast sandwiches topped with Colorado green chili, chicken katsu sandwiches, Coney-style chili fries, and a rotating menu of smashburgers that the internet can’t seem to stop talking about.

Right has always wanted to work in the food industry, but he started with scoops for a reason. “The nice thing about ice cream is that you can make anything you want, any flavor,” Right says. “It gives me a lot of breadth to be able to do different things, but using the same products, right?”

Right Cream takes full advantage of ice cream’s creative opportunities, with flavors that change every week. Summer will bring a full case of options, including those made with tropical seasonal fruit, like mangoes, or peaches harvested from the Western slope as soon as they turn ripe.

Sitting on a sunny patio with a Palisade peach sundae in one hand, a craft beer in the other? It doesn’t get much more Colorado than that.

Why Denverites love Right Cream's burgers and shared patio.

Right Cream Has Great Smashburgers and One of Denver's Best Patios

Why Denverites Love Right Cream’s Shared Patio

Michelle Polizzi

How do you combine a passion for environmentalism with a love of creativity?

That’s exactly the question Gabby Smith asked herself during the pandemic, when she decided it was time to leave her corporate job and pursue a more fulfilling career.

The answer? Curating a vintage store of her own.

 on 32nd Avenue in West Highland, which has vintage and used gear from the Broncos along with Rockies, Avalanche, and Nuggets merch.

“It's nice to be able to provide a little bit of local sports stuff, so people aren't having to buy all the new gear that can be expensive just because it's new.”

Plus, Smith points out that brand new sports gear isn’t as charming and stylish as such one-of-a-kind vintage pieces — the best of which she buys directly from the clothes’ former owners.

“My favorite way to source is estate sales because it is someone's collection that they have gathered throughout their years of life,” Smith says. “You can kind of get a feel for what kind of style that they had.”

Smith doesn’t mind revealing her sourcing “secret,” because as she puts it, there's plenty of clothing already on earth to go around.

Her favorite item in the store currently is an early 90s-era neon Budweiser sign that sits on a shelf next to the Good Kid Collective checkout, which Smith and her team found on Facebook Marketplace.

“It's such a fun thing to turn on every morning. I feel like it brings a whole vibe to this place.”

Overall, Smith loves offering these kinds of items to the Denver community because it’s a way for people to show their personal style for a good deal.

“I really believe that vintage and thrifting is gonna be the new way of shopping,” Smith says. “I think a lot of people don't realize how easy it is — it's just a habit that you have to change.”

Why Denverites love to shop at Good Kid Collective.

How Good Kid Collective Blends Vintage Clothing with a Passion for Environmentalism

Good Kid Collective Shares the Secret to Finding Enviable Vintage Merch

I’ve always hated wearing what’s “trending.” Why would you want to dress like everybody else, anyway? At the same time, spending money on new clothes fills me with a sense of existential guilt (is that shirt 

 worth the price? Could I find something better that has been pre-loved?).

Thrifting addresses both of these challenges: Not only is it more affordable, but you can find the coolest things — all while promoting sustainability. Below, find some of the best shops for thrifting Nuggets, Avalanche, and other Mile High sports merch.

, you’ll find a collection of vintage and secondhand clothing that’s gender neutral and designed for all body sizes. They’re also known for having great deals throughout the week, including Denver sports gear, and a collection of items that cost just $5.

This shop used to be located in The Stanley Marketplace, but moved to Colfax In February 2026.

🎠 Show Pony Vintage (LoDo, University)

Funky accessories, vintage football sweatshirts, and unexpected knick-knacks collide at this well-organized vintage store with two locations. One great thing about shopping at 

 is that they carry thrifted items from numerous vendors, which means you can explore many different sizes and styles in a single shop.

The University store, naturally, is stocked with great college sports gear.

Browsing for Nuggets tees with friends? Like to sip while you shop? 

 has a full spectrum of clothes in all sizes and styles, plus a cocktail bar to boot. They’re known for their infused tequila shots, curated vinyl collection, and clothing from the 1960s through the 2000s, with both Mile High City sports gear and country western attire being a hot commodity.

This shop/bar turns into a venue on certain nights of the week with live DJ parties known to get wild. 🪩

Crew neck sweatshirts, tees, and baseball caps fill this store dedicated to dressing Denver in all things comfy, fresh, and vintage. They’ve got an especially great selection of Avalanche gear — including a selection of 

 — so stop in soon to suit up for the next game.

They sell on Instagram, too (@thediggingpit); send the shop a message if something catches your eye.

 has been serving Colorado with one-of-a-kind vintage clothing and accessories for nearly two decades. Locally owned and operated, this shop on South Broadway sources items from across the United States — so you’re just as likely to stumble upon a vintage Avs T-shirt as you are a Victorian-era brooch you can’t leave behind.

 They buy clothing by appointment only; call (303) 447-0065 to schedule.

These are the best thrift shops in Denver for Nuggets, Avalanche, Broncos, and other sports merch.

Where to Thrift Denver Sports Merch

Top 5 Thrift Stores for Denver Sports Merch

Sure, the vision has evolved over the past two decades — but the community built around the queer-supporting hangout is still very much intact. When the original Hamburger Mary’s restaurant chose not to renew their franchise license in 2015, then renamed as M’s Uptown, the beloved Hamburger Mary’s name and legacy went up for grabs.

Christopher Maluck, who had worked at the original Hamburger Mary’s Denver since it opened, got to talking with his friends about the fact that the Mile High city still needed a queer-oriented space owned by the local community.

“We felt that Denver wasn’t possibly done with Mary's, and what if we just bought the franchise and kept it going?” Maluck says.

Maluck and his friends brought the modern Mary’s to life in 2016 inside of a cozy home-turned-venue now lovingly called “the little purple house.” Since Maluck became co-owner of Hamburger Mary’s Denver that year, he’s focused on creating a community-driven establishment.

“We've really started to see how the magic of drag blended with the intimate event space that we created,” Maluck says.

Today, Hamburger Mary’s Denver hosts events every night of the week (except Mondays, when they are closed), including trivia Tuesdays with Brittany Blaze, drag bingo on Wednesdays, and Saturday 

In short? Hamburger Mary’s the perfect place to celebrate Denver’s Drag scene because there’s simply something for everyone.

Douglas Ambrose, who stepped into his current role as General Manager at Hamburger Mary’s last year, says that maintaining a welcoming queer space is exactly what brought him back to Denver for the job after living in Chicago.

Ambrose always feels a sense of authenticity at Hamburger Mary’s, but it's especially palpable on karaoke nights. “The amount of people that come through and just sing their hearts out, and there's just a space for them to just be themselves,” he says.

The Hamburger Mary’s RuPaul’s Drag Race screening is sold out for tomorrow night, but now is a great time to book brunch or bingo at the little purple house, where you’re likely to feel the spirit of Mary herself.

“The current space feels like somebody's house, like maybe it's Hamburger Mary’s house,” Maluck says. “She travels to the other franchises and does her thing, and then she comes home to Denver.”

How Hamburger Mary's became the destination for drag shows in Denver.

Inside Hamburger Marys: The Bar Drag Queens Have Called Home Since 2006

Inside the Bar Drag Queens Have Called Home Since 2006

The success of Denver queens on the big stage goes to show that drag is alive and thriving in the Mile High. In a world where gender identity and LGBTQ rights are in jeopardy, showing up for a local drag show is a great way to support Denver’s queer community (plus, it’s really dang fun).

As Denver eagerly awaits the results of Friday’s Drag Race finale, be sure to bookmark these places to see Denver’s drag on full display.

🐅 Champagne Tiger (North Capitol Hill)

Located in a historic former diner on Colfax Avenue built in 1967, 

 blends retro architecture with modern French-American cuisine in the heart of Denver. Every Sunday, indulge in Massachusetts-sourced oysters, ricotta waffles, and coffee-infused Campari cocktails while enjoying what Champagne Tiger calls "Denver's Most Luxurious Drag Show.” There are three shows daily, starting at 10:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 3 p.m.

 may be known for showcasing stand-up comedy at its Northwest Denver theater, but they’ve got high-quality drag events, too. On Sunday, May 17, Colorado drag queen 

 will host a Disney Villains-themed drag brunch. Expect appearances by Maleficent, Ursula, and all the classic baddies you love to hate. Tickets start at $31.

There’s a minimum two-item purchase policy at Denver Improv, and photo/video is prohibited

Dismantling shame around sexuality begins with talking about it, and that’s exactly what Denver’s sex education museum, Sexplatorium, aims to do. Opened in 2024, 

 is an inclusive space that shatters taboos with sex history exhibits, weekly classes, and community events. On Friday, check out their 

 to their Gen Z for Change fundraiser on Saturday.

It’s the only educational sex museum in the world, right here at home in Denver!

 is an American-style breakfast eatery where the beignets are just as delish as the huevos rancheros. If you’re looking for a fun way to ring in the 4/20 holiday weekend, ​prepare for an afternoon of bingo, breakfast, and drag debauchery at Syrup’s upcoming Drag Queen Bingo Brunch on Sunday, 4/19. Bingo starts at 2 p.m. and prizes will be awarded!

There are multiple Syrup locations, so double-check the address beforehand

The success of Denver queens on the big stage goes to show that drag is alive and thriving in the Mile High. This is where you can go enjoy drag shows around Denver.

The Best Drag Shows in Denver

Denver’s Best Drag Shows

Tasty food. Great company. Kids always welcome.

These were the criteria Paul Sullivan and Emily Brown had in mind when they began dreaming up their perfect Denver restaurant. The couple had always loved going out to eat, but as they grew their family, that became a little more complicated.

“We wanted a place in our neighborhood that we could bring our kids to,” Sullivan says. “A family-friendly, all-encompassing, welcoming-to-everyone kind of place.”

Sullivan and Brown brought their idea to life in 2015 with Esters, a casual pizza and beer joint in Virginia Village named after the esterification process of alcohol. “When yeast and hops interact it releases an aromatic smell that’s referred to as esters,” Sullivan says (It also helps that his favorite band, Phish, has a song called “

Sullivan and Brown opened Esters’ second location in 2018 in the kid-friendly Oneida Park enclave of Park Hill. This space is especially suited for kids because it overlooks a safe, grassy turf where they can run and play while parents hang at shaded outdoor tables nearby — not to mention that Dang soft serve is right next door. In 2022, Esters’s third location opened in Wheat Ridge.

“All of our restaurants specifically are in neighborhoods with young families,” Sullivan says. “You can go there, bring the kids, have a good beer.”

Sullivan and Brown still live in the same Virginia Village home with their two daughters, but other things have evolved with time. For instance, the first generation of kids who dined at Esters are now old enough to work there, and many of them do. Now, they’re the ones serving Esters’ tiniest guests at its weekly kids night, where children eat free with the purchase of an adult meal (Mondays at Oneida Park, Tuesdays everywhere else).

Running a restaurant dedicated to families? That’s one thing that won’t change.

“We have really great food and great hospitality,” Sullivan says. “But if your kid pukes on the floor and ruins our bathroom, we're totally okay with that, you know? It is part of having kids.”

Esters Pub is one of Denver's best kid-friendly spots.

Why Denverites Love Esters Pub

Why Denverites Love Esters

It can be hard to find the right social space for people with kids — and their adult friends without kids — to meet up and hang out. But not to worry! These local eateries are delicious, Denver-made, and guaranteed to get the whole gang back together.

 is an inclusive coffee shop, casual eatery, bar, and community space owned by The Table Urban Farm, a nonprofit that donates organic, locally grown produce to nearby communities. Table Public House has an indoor, bee-themed play area for kids, and the building is right next to Grant Frontier Park’s large playground.

🍕 Homegrown Tap and Dough (West Wash Park)

 is known for their hand-tossed pizzas, local beer selection, and outdoor space. Their kid’s menu is top-notch, but even better is the $59.50 family meal bundle that includes cheesy garlic bread, two full-sized caesar salads, and two pizzas. The OG location opened on South Gaylord in 2011, but they’ve since expanded to Parker, Westminster, Littleton, Arvada, and Castle Rock.

They don’t take reservations, so go early to avoid a wait.

Ping pong, Peking duck, and patio fun collide at 

, a restaurant designed for large groups and hours of good old-fashioned fun. Book a high-top table, which comes with a dedicated server and access to a private ping pong table, to keep older kids and teens entertained while adults enjoy lychee vodka cocktails.

There’s a dedicated gluten-free menu and a solid mocktail list.

 has the same outrageously delicious, mac-and-cheese-topped burgers and spicy bacon queso you know and love from the original joint, albeit with a more family-friendly vibe. This includes an expansive patio with Adirondack chairs around fire pits, plus their legendary fish tank that captures little imaginations.

 before heading over to ensure a space for your party.

Stem Ciders is the Colorado company behind 

. This cidery is like a brewery, but with an elevated menu, mountain views, and space for the whole gang. Kids love the sprawling campus here, which has ladder ball sets, corn hole, and an entire playground. Should anyone get the post-dinner zoomies, there’s plenty of space to run around.

 Plan on saving room for dessert — the cider donuts are a must.

The Best Kid-Friendly Spots in Denver That Adults Love

Kid-Friendly Denver Spots for a Beer and a Bite

Bad dog breath, to be exact — and the pup-friendly mints that Denverites Deb Dempsey and Tonya Payne created to solve this all-too-common problem more than two decades ago.

The mints, called Mouthfuls, were such a hit with local dog owners that Dempsey and Payne soon expanded into a 

 focused on natural, healthy foods for dogs. That storefront opened on Tennyson Street in 2005, and they’ve been selling high-quality canine essentials ever since.

Today, the shop is owned by Kaiti Asmussen, who honors the original owners’ mission while also finding new products to include in the store’s lineup. The most noteworthy offering has to be the shop's body part bar, an assortment of dried animal oddities that includes hairy pig ears, bison knuckles, and other livestock byproducts, many of which come from Colorado and Wyoming farms that process meat for human consumption.

“Everything is very well-raised, hormone free, that kind of thing,” Asmussen says. “So we try to source things that are very high quality and healthy, and not loaded with chemicals or medicines.”

While the body part bar may seem gruesome at first glance, Asmussen says that featuring unusual animal parts is meant to make pet-care more sustainable for the planet. “We have the opportunity to get those [parts] and keep them out of the landfill, which reduces greenhouse gases,” Asmussen says. “It's kind of nice to use that stuff that would normally get thrown away and contribute to the environmental problems that we're very obviously suffering here in Colorado.”

These dehydrated, baked, and freeze-dried animal parts are beneficial for dogs’ health because they support digestion, clean their teeth, and stick to simple ingredients that dogs would naturally have in the wild.

“It's also activating different parts of their brain, so it also wears them out, it calms them down, it gives them a sense of security because there's something to do with their mouth, which releases feel-good hormones as they're chewing and licking,” Asmussen says.

The original mints are no longer in production, but the shop itself has become a Denver staple. Asmussen credits Mouthfuls’ success to its neighborhood involvement.

“We focus on making sure that pets in need have what they want, we do a ton of donations every year, and we try really hard to get ourselves involved in community activities,” Asmussen says.

That includes the annual pet fashion contest that takes place in early summer, which they plan to announce soon. They also make pet owners’ lives easier through a free delivery program, available for anyone within 5 miles if they call ahead, and a punch card program that makes it easy to earn rewards.

Asmussen is always finding new ways to cater to customers. For instance, Mouthfuls recently expanded to create a new room just for feline food, treats, and toys — a renovation approved by Asmussen's own two cats, Minnie and Ziggy. She also has three dogs – Tulsi, Cosmo, and Cash – and while they each have their own favorites from the body part bar, they all agree on ears.

“Any ear goes down like butter,” Asmussen says. “They just love it.”

Why Denverites Love Mouthfuls Pet Supply

While I don’t have a dog (cat mom over here 🐈‍⬛), most of my friends have a pup in the family, and each of them feels like another friend to me. For instance, Beatrix is my hiking buddy, Enzo and Frida are there for movie night snuggles, and Millie is my all-around bestie. If you’ve got a fur baby you know and love, check out these local pet stores in Denver — and try some of the unexpected products they offer.

 was started by a mother-daughter duo who ditched corporate life for something more fur-filling. Now run by mom Stacey and her husband Eddie Bennett, this store sells safe, nutritious dog food brands made in Colorado, such as 

 treats. A curated selection + friendly service = everything you’d want (and expect) from a chic dog boutique in Cherry Creek

The health-conscious dog who loves to eat local

 has a gourmet doggie treat buffet — an impressive spread of more than 25 kinds of bones and chews, all of them rawhide-free. They’re also home to a natural pets supplement section, which has everything from calming kits for cats to joint health chews for dogs. Plus, their full-service dog grooming salon offers haircuts, luxury baths, and more.

 sells pretty much everything you need for a dog or cat. Think specialty diet dog food, sustainable kitty litter, travel carriers, a vast food puzzle selection, and Colorado-made pet CBD products. Their knowledgeable staff can guide you toward the perfect gift or solution for your furry friend, often with niche recommendations you haven’t heard of.

 is easy: Specify your pet’s favorite flavors, choose a size, and add a custom message for the special day. This locally owned and operated franchise location is the only Three Dog Bakery in Colorado and specializes in using all-natural ingredients like apple sauce and peanut butter instead of sugar and preservatives.

 signing up for their newsletter to make sure you know about their special “holiday dinners.”

 has been carefully designed to make your pup clean and comfortable, with complimentary shampoo, conditioner, ear cleaner, fluffy towels, and a dryer. After they freshen up, bring your dog through the store to browse the selection of toys and party supplies — and don’t forget to pick up a bag of bison cubes from 

Pampered pups in need of an everything shower