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| What Denver's Talking About |
| 🌵 The Drought is Back | At the start of the month, Colorado celebrated two weeks of being completely drought-free for the first time in four years, but as of July 18, the region’s megadrought has reared its ugly head once again. Southwestern Colorado is ranking “abnormally dry,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, and experts predict these parched conditions will continue to spread through the state for the remainder of summer. [Denver Post 🔒] | | 🎷 El Chapultepec Lives Again (in Spirit) | It was a devastating day for Denver when El Chapultepec — arguably the city’s most iconic jazz institution — closed for good in 2020. But the spirit of “The Pec” will be resurrected with help from one of Denver’s other jazz icons, Dazzle. The live music venue is opening new digs in the Denver Performing Art Complex next month, which will include the El Chapultepec Piano Lounge for hosting late-night sets with no cover charge. [Westword] | - 🗓️ Mark your calendar: Dazzle’s all-ages grand opening at its new location in the DCPA will be Friday August 4 and Saturday August 5, featuring two shows each night. Tickets are $15-$45.
- 🎧 Hear more: We took a trip to Dazzle a few years ago with local jazz legends pianist Purnell Steen and trombonist Stafford Hunter to get their takes on jazz’s place in Denver’s history. [City Cast Denver 🎧]
| 🚗 Lawmakers Continue to Fight Predatory Towing Practices | The Colorado Attorney General’s Office is calling out the state’s largest towing company for continued predatory practices, despite the new Towing Bill of Rights law that went into effect last August. Wyatts Towing has been compelling vehicle owners to apply for loans to get their cars back — a direct violation of the purpose of the new law, which aims to help people get their cars back quickly and without too much of a financial toll. [Denver Post 🔒] |
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| |  | University Hills neighborhood boundaries according to Denver Maps. (Denver Maps) |
| University Hills is an easy neighborhood to pass right by. Sandwiched between Colorado Boulevard and I-25, “U-Hills” is a quaint, quiet community, filled with surprises. | | 🍱 Kokoro | A tried-and-true Denver staple, this family-owned Japanese fast-casual restaurant has been serving up affordable, delicious teriyaki bowls, noodle entreés, and sushi rolls for more than 30 years. | | 📚 Ross-University Hills Branch Library | Soaring windows, an abundance of comfy seating, and secluded meeting rooms make this tucked away library branch in U-Hills a great place to hunker down with a good book. | | ☕ Café de France | This overlooked brunch spot is a fancy breakfast lover’s dream. From Benedicts and blintzes to mimosas and macchiatos, the restaurant has an expansive menu, a fully stocked bar, and loads of decadent dessert options. | | 🎞️ Chez Artiste | Showing both blockbusters and repertory films, this long-running movie house easily rivals the megaplexes. Plus, each month on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, Chez Artiste brings celluloid masterworks back with a theme: Check out film noir selections featuring Robert Mitchum in August and Alfred Hitchcock classics in September. | | 🌳 Eisenhower Park | A true oasis, Eisenhower Park — named after First Lady Mamie, not the president — offers tennis courts, a playground, shaded areas for picnicking, and a lovely rec center with an outdoor pool. | | 🍽️ Poppies | This intimately lit steakhouse with tall booths is the perfect date night spot, offering everything from a house specialty prime rib to serious salads and fried bar snacks. Hot tip: Poppies offers seasonal menus for St. Patrick’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, which you can order ahead of time and take home! | | | | This section was written by City Cast Denver host Bree Davies |
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| | This week on Denver’s dining scene we’re looking at a local solution to the sriracha shortage, the hottest new bites on the pastry scene, an ice cream shop entering the burger arena, and the cheapest, easiest way to explore the diverse flavors of Broadway. Let’s dig in! | | 🥐 From sticky toffee croissant muffins to cream-filled, colorfully frosted roulettes, local bakeries are taking Denver’s flaky pastry game to brand new, over-the-top, Insta-worthy levels. [5280] | | 🍔 Popular ice cream joint, Right Cream, is taking a stab at something hot and greasy — smash burgers. Get yours on Saturdays from noon until they run out. [Westword] | | 🥡 It’s food truck season! Wondering where to find the best of them? Check out this roundup of local food truck hotspots. [Westword] | | 🍗 Five Points’ beloved Welton Street Cafe is well on its way to reopening in its new location. Here’s how construction is shaping up. [Denverite] | | 🌶️ The Huy Fong sriracha shortage got ya down? Here are five locally made hot sauce brands to fill that condiment-shaped hole in your heart. [Denver Post 🔒] | - 🎧 But wait, there’s more: We recently taste-tested a number of local hot sauces in a quest to find Denver’s best. [City Cast Denver 🎧]
| 🧇 Look somewhere else for your waffles, both Waffles Brothers spots (700 E. 1st Ave. and 1707 Lafayette St.) have been seized by the City and County of Denver over unpaid taxes. [BusinessDen 🔒] | | 📍 Take a culinary tour of Broadway when you hop on RTD’s 0 bus. Fan-favorites include Postino, Pie Hole, Brewability, Somebody People, and way more! [Westword] |
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| | | Dine at any of the 30+ Front Range restaurants participating in this all day fundraiser, and proceeds from your purchase will be donated to Sunflower Seeds Ukraine. [Across the Front Range; Cost of Dinner] | | | Celebrate Private Joseph P. Martinez — the first Coloradan and Hispanic-American to receive a Medal of Honor during WWII — at his namesake park with free food and entertainment for the whole community. [Villa Park; Free] | | | Grab a cool, sweet treat and engage in some friendly competition over your favorite board games at the Little Man Ice Cream Factory. [West Colfax; Free] | | | Try your hand at hand-rolling three different styles of sushi at the Colorado Sake Co. taproom. All ingredients, tools, and two glasses of sake are included with tickets. [RiNo; $69] |
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| Today on City Cast Denver |
|  | May the best ice cream win. (Olivia Jewell Love / City Cast Denver) |
| | Today on the City Cast Denver podcast, host Bree Davies is joined by producer Paul Karolyi, newsletter editor Peyton Garcia (me!), and friend of the show / serious ice cream aficionado JD Lopez to crown Denver’s king of frozen treats. | | |
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Like what you get here? Tell your friends to subscribe! 💌 | | — Peyton Garcia |
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