City Cast Denver

In March in Denver, embrace the snowy season with skijoring with your pup and sandhill crane festival. Indulge in Mediterranean food deals, oyster specials, and unique milkshakes. Explore a virtual reality Space experience and try green frog pastries in Lakewood. Join the quest for the best Shepherd's Pie in Denver!

It’s Friday, and we’re looking back at the biggest stories of the week. First up, Mayor Mike Johnston has a new plan to address the growing cost of supporting the South and Central American newcomers still arriving in Denver. He announced that four shelters will be closing just days after Aurora City Council declared Aurora a “non-sanctuary city.” So is this a turning point? And where is Governor Jared Polis in all of this? Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are sorting it out with one of our favorite regulars — stand-up comedian Joshua Emerson. Plus, the Broadway bike lane is “complete,” so we’re also talking about the latest bike lane drama and sharing our Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows of the week.What do you think is the best bagel in town? We’re gearing up for our next big food battle, and we don’t want to leave out the under-appreciated gem you love! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬Joshua talked about the Esquire Theater closing and the Vintage Theater community buying their building. Paul talked about the “carbon neutral” oil company and a staircase bill. Bree mentioned New Saigon closing and the Denver Post’s recent best podcasts list. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverSupport City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/DenverLearn more about the sponsors of this episode: Denver Health Enter the Adulti-Verse at Meow Wolf Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Justine Sandoval joins to brainstorm innovative ideas to fix downtown Denver, like Cinderella City Project, pencil smokestack art, and public restrooms. They discuss night markets, immersive VR experiences, navigational challenges for businesses, and transforming spaces into green areas. Also, reflections on Skyline Park and ideas for improving downtown's overall appeal.

Bright yellow billboards have popped up around Denver proclaiming that something called the Epoch Times is the “#1 Trusted News.” But a recent investigation of the media company reveals its connections to a Chinese group that may or may not be a cult. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi dig into the bizarre billboard backstory, plus the latest landlord-tenant drama in a new segment we’re calling Landlord Watch. Then, listeners respond to our Purina plant episode with their own stinky stories of weird and gross smells around the Denver metro area. We also discussed our episode from last year about local fast food drive-thrus implementing AI. The Epoch Times is also connected with Shen Yun, the anti-Communist Chinese dance show that advertises around Denver from time to time. Have you got a bad landlord story to share? Landlord Watch needs your help! Hit us with stories, tips, or questions about how to deal with your landlord. We want to help! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverLearn more about the sponsors of this episode: Denver Health Enter the Adulti-Verse at Meow Wolf Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two weeks after announcing budget cuts for Parks & Rec and the DMV, Mayor Mike Johnston on Monday laid out some ambitious — and probably pricey — new goals for the city in 2024. So how will his renewed focus on the unhoused crisis, public safety, and affordable housing affect Denver’s support for the newcomers still arriving by the busload? Producer Paul Karolyi and Westword editor Patty Calhoun are dissecting Johnston’s new goals. Plus, Denverites are looking at their most confusing presidential primary ballots ever. What would a vote for “noncommitted delegate” mean?Patty mentioned this op-ed from former U.S. Congressman David Skaggs arguing in favor of voting for “noncommitted delegate.” Paul talked about this explainer from 9News explaining what such a vote would mean. What do you think about Mayor Johnston’s new goals? We want to know how you feel about his leadership! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverLearn more about the sponsors of this episode: Denver Health Enter the Adulti-Verse at Meow Wolf Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reporter Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton discusses Denver's strip club scene, revealing financial struggles, competition with online platforms like OnlyFans, and challenges faced by dancers. The conversation explores the gig-like nature of sex work, dispels myths of easy wealth, and analyzes RCI Hospitality Holdings' unique brand concepts. They also delve into evolving entertainment trends, including the impact of technology on strip clubs and controversies in the industry.

It’s Friday and we’re rounding up the biggest stories of the week. First, if social media is making kids depressed, will pop-up warnings on their phones stop the doomscroll? Some state lawmakers think so. Then, as the summer concert calendar fills up, more live music venues are coming online, too — from RiNo to La Alma-Lincoln Park, music fans will soon have more choices. But what does it mean for the musicians themselves? Producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies chat with Becky Otárola, guitarist and bandleader of local act Bellhoss, about these stories, plus dig into the new upgrades at Red Rocks, some bad news for downtown restaurants, and more wins and fails of the week. Bellhoss’ new EP “A Rose, A Thorn” is out now!Summer 2024 concert lineups have been announced recently at Levitt Pavilion, Denver Botanic Gardens, and Red Rocks. Paul mentioned his beef with Beau Jo’s, Ian’s Pizza closing, and Dough Counter. Becky talked about the debate over an Israel-Gaza ceasefire proclamation and the Highlands mommies facebook group. Bree mentioned Lookin’ Good Restaurant and her 2010 review of the questionable Drake concert.What do you think about the proposals to regulate social media? Too little too late or too much too fast? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverSupport City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fmLearn more about the sponsors of this episode:Join a Volo Sports league today!Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ask any Denverite about the stinkiest spot in the city, and for more than 90 years the answer has been clear: The Purina pet food plant in Elyria-Swansea. But in the last six months or so, odor complaints have spiked. So what can be done? Science reporter Trish Zornio looked into the science of bad smells for the GES Gazette, and she’s on today with host Bree Davies to talk about the health implications of the Purina plant’s smell, the challenge of effective odor monitoring, and how the smell fits into north Denver’s gentrification story. If you want to submit an odor complaint about the Purina plant (or any other stinky spot in the city), you can fill out this form or send an email to 311@denvergov.org. What do you think are Denver’s signature smells? Apart from the Purina plant, we are putting together a definitive list of Denver smells — good, bad or just plain Denver — and we want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear your smell on the show: 720-500-5418‬The Denver Post reported on the pilot project Gregg Thomas mentioned a couple years ago. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverSupport City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fmLearn more about the sponsors of this episode:Join a Volo Sports league today!Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in 2022, voters decided that Denver definitely deserves sidewalks. But not everyone was happy with the new taxes to pay for them. Now, city leaders have a new proposal for how to pay for them, so we’re getting into the details. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi dig into the sidewalk debate, talk about Bree’s trip to see Next Gallery’s Casa Bonita-themed art show, and share some hot goss from a listener about how one local restaurant chain is changing its cooking methods and, according to some recent customers, changing its signature taste.  We talked to Jill Locantore way back in 2021 about why our sidewalk network was so broken — and in 2022, we spoke with Molly McKinley (also of Denver Streets Partnership) about how the then-proposed “Denver Deserves Sidewalks” ballot initiative hoped to address the problem. Got feedback on the proposed changes to #DenverNeedsSidewalks? Fill out this survey before Feb. 27. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverWhat do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:Join a Volo Sports league today!Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the past year, Colorado’s Attorney General Phil Weiser has been investigating the proposed merger of two of Denver’s biggest grocery chains — King Soopers and Safeway. While their parent companies insist the $24.6 billion merger would save Denverites money, Weiser has concluded the opposite and filed a lawsuit to block it. “After 19 town halls across the state,” he wrote, “I am convinced that Coloradans think this merger between the two supermarket chains would lead to stores closing, higher prices, fewer jobs, worse customer service, and less resilient supply chains.” Host Bree Davies sits down with Weiser reveal more details from his investigation, and explain why he felt it was necessary to intervene now. Plus, Weiser shares a message for your out-of-state grocery faves and his go-to snacks at Trader Joe’s. Which out-of-state grocery chain would you love to see open in Denver? We want to hear your hot grocery takes! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverSupport City Cast Denver and become a member today: membership.citycast.fmLearn more about the sponsors of this episode:Join a Volo Sports league today!Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices