Your Daily Guide

🪩 Community Outpouring Staves off Closure for The Pearl

The lesbian bar and cafe launched a GoFundMe Saturday morning after announcing on Instagram plans to close its doors at the end of the month, citing “financial troubles” just over a year after opening in the former home of the legendary Mercury Cafe at 2195 California St. As of this writing on Sunday evening, they’ve surpassed their $80,000 goal – set to help pay a “multi-month rent deficit” in rent and other bills to get them to Pride in June, according to Denverite. “(The rent is reportedly $20,000 per month). [Denverite]

• What went wrong? “We knew moving into this larger and older space would be a challenge,” writes co-owner Dom Garcia in the description of the GoFundMe. They and co-owner Ashlee Cassity “financially got in over our heads” after “absorbing the Merc’s events, their staff, a kitchen, cafe, and all the building maintenance that comes with the space.”
• What about the building? Danny Newman, who along with his wife Christy Kruzick and business partner Austin Gayer bought the building and the business from the Merc’s legendary proprietor Marilyn Megenity in 2021, told City Cast Denver Saturday afternoon, when the GoFundMe had just launched, that he would be “hoping to find an individual or group that can come in and get the building and business financially stable. Possibly a non-profit arts/community organization.”
• What to watch: From a decades-long running swing night to an even longer-operating open mic poetry night, the stages and dance hall at the former Mercury Cafe could be looking for new places to call home soon. [Westword]

🎭 Curious Theatre Building Sold, Troupe Will Remain

After nearly two years waiting for the “right buyer,” Curious Theatre Company has finally sold the historic church it’s operated out of for almost three decades. A local philanthropist bought the centuries-old structure for $1.9 million last week and will allow Curious to continue to lease the space, alongside other local arts organizations. [Denverite]

• Next steps: The new owner plans to renovate the building and apply for a state historic designation. While renovations are underway, Curious Theatre will perform its 2026-27 season at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance in Five Points.

⚾ Broncos Owners Buy 40% of the Rockies

After months of negotiations, the Penner family (owners of the Denver Broncos) and the Monfort family (owners of the Colorado Rockies) have finalized a strategic partnership in which Penner Sports Group purchased a roughly 40% stake in the Rockies. The Monforts will retain full control of the team. The investment is expected to eliminate the Rockies’ debt and invest in both the team and fan experience. [9News]

📹 Why Commerce City Is Extending Its Flock Contract

As cities across the Denver metro question their ties to Flock Safety, Commerce City has OK’d a five-year contract extension with the surveillance tech company, which it uses to supply its automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and its Drones as First Responders program. Commerce City police praise the tech as a “game-changing” crime fighting tool when properly regulated. [9News]

🌻 It’s Gonna Be a Weird Year for Gardening

After a bizarrely dry and warm winter, gardeners across Denver have questions. What can I grow amid drought conditions? How much will it cost to keep my lawn alive this year? City Cast Denver’s favorite green thumb, Ann Marie Awad, is back for our annual gardening Q&A. [City Cast Denver 🎧]