City Cast Denver

It’s Friday, and we’re talking about all the local stories that mattered this week. After sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers, our Denver Nuggets are waiting to tip off in their first-ever NBA Finals. But are they really “our” Nuggets? Or are they billionaire owner Stan Kroenke’s Nuggets? And what exactly is he planning to build in the 55 acres of empty parking lots around Ball Arena? “Silent Stan” never talks to the press, so producer Paul Karolyi is sitting down with DNVR Nuggets co-host Adam Mares and Denverite senior reporter Kyle Harris to talk about what the Nuggets’ playoff run means for the whole city — even non-basketball fans. They also dig into the planned demolition of the 1stBank Center, a new inflatable amusement park in Lafayette, and the state GOP’s fundraising troubles. Then, Hey Denver newsletter editor Peyton Garcia shares her recommendations for your long weekend.We’re off on Monday for Memorial Day, so don’t expect a new episode in your feed until Tuesday morning!Here are some links to the weekend events Peyton recommended: Ice Cream, BBQ, Live Blues (Englewood) Boozy Book Fair (Platt Park) Kickoff to Summer - Street Festival (Historic South Gaylord Street) 57th Annual Memorial Day Parade (Commerce City) For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866If you’re as excited about the Nuggets’ run as we are, definitely do yourself a favor and subscribe to the DNVR Nuggets Podcast for daily commentary and analysis. Kyle mentioned this tweet from transit advocate Emily Kleinfelter.Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein!Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverOr Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverLearn more about the sponsors of this episode: Ullr’s Garden BadBoyBoards 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

A nostalgia bomb is about to go off on West Colfax, because the long-awaited return of Casa Bonita is expected any day now. That means Denver’s favorite birthday party venue is back, but so are the tax revenues for the City of Lakewood (and likely crowds in a janky strip mall parking lot). While we wait for the Pink Palace to announce a re-opening date, we called up the mayor of Lakewood, Adam Paul, to talk about how much this actually matters for the local economy and culture. Mayor Paul mentioned Lauren Coleman’s purchase of the White Swan Motel on West Colfax. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverOr Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverText 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: Ullr’s Garden BadBoyBoards 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

After a historic 12 years in what he calls the “best political job in Colorado,” Michael Hancock is ready to say goodbye to the mayor’s office. His administration was defined by growing pains, with explosive population growth outpacing Denver’s housing supply. But through it all he has maintained a single vision: Make Denver into a “world-class city.” So now that he is leaving office and Denver’s population growth is waning, we ask: Did he do it? And what does it mean to be a world-class city anyway? Overlooking Civic Center Park from his office, mayor Michael Hancock joins host Bree Davies to discuss growth, his legacy, and the race to succeed him. Bree mentioned 9News’ coverage of the Christian Glass settlement and the big announcement from United Airlines.For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverOr Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverText 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: Ullr’s Garden BadBoyBoards 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

It’s Tuesday, and we’re breaking down all the local stories that matter this week. First, Colorado Springs has a brand-new mayor and a brand-new narrative — could this be an opportunity for Democrats? Also, the Denver Art Museum has, for the first time, exhibited art made with AI — does it matter? And finally, the Casa Bonita hype has reached a fever pitch, with Les Claypool concert rumors and and opening date possibilities swirling. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi respond to a listener’s criticism of our “breathless” CB coverage, and Bree plays the quizmaster with the Ultimate Old Denver Gatekeeper Trivia.Bree mentioned the digital art of a Colorado-born artist, Milton Melvin Croissant III, who was also a founder of Rhinoceropolis. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverOr Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverText 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: Ullr’s Garden BadBoyBoards 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

More than 10,000 migrants from Central and South America have arrived in Denver since December, seeking opportunity, shelter, or just a friendly pitstop on the way to a new home. Denver’s support services were already straining to manage the unexpected influx of people in need, but now that a key pandemic-era border restriction has been lifted, no one knows how many more migrants we can expect this summer. So today on the show, host Bree Davies sits down with Denver Post reporter Saja Hindi who tracked this recent wave of migration from Venezuela all the way to Denver, where our local officials are scrambling to plan for an uncertain future.There are lots of ways to support migrants arriving in Denver: Donate or volunteer through the City and County of Denver Donate through the Rose Community Foundation.  Bree mentioned The Denver Post story on the DMNS’s closure of the North American Indian Cultures Hall and the museum’s “healing statement.”For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverOr Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenverText 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: Ullr’s Garden BadBoyBoards 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

We love having Denver Post columnist Jo Ann Allen on our Friday shows, but did you know she makes a podcast of her own? This weekend, we’re delighted to share an episode of “Been There Done That” that we think you’ll love. It features Jo Ann’s interview with Rick Waters, the executive director of the Denver Indian Center. Subscribe to Been There Done That wherever you get your podcasts!For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverOr instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverText or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬Looking 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

It’s Friday and we’re talking about all the local stories that caught our eyes this week. First, we talk a lot about downtown. Is it safe? What’s going on down there? Is the Cheesecake Factory still open? But the real question is: What’s going on with all that empty office space? Are we looking at a commercial real estate crisis brewing or a big juicy opportunity? Host Bree Davies is joined by producer Paul Karolyi and returning favorite Jo Ann Allen to hash out the vacancy situation, dish on the mayor’s race, and break down all the other stories that matter. Finally, newsletter editor Peyton Garcia joins in to share her picks for the best events this weekend!Here are the events we discussed: Northglenn Food Truck Carnival Colfax Marathon The Sun Valley Viaduct Night Market Taste of Yoga For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866.Bree mentioned a CBS4 piece on people traveling from all over the country to come to a little restaurant in Colorado called Casa Bonita that isn’t even open yet. Even more Mayoral Madness! And don’t miss the mayoral forum Bree is hosting on May 22 with Brough and Johnston. It’s Hot Ones-style, so they’ll be answering progressively tougher questions while eating progressively spicier wings. The event is sold out, but you can RSVP for the watch party or watch the live stream on Facebook. Should be fun! Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein!Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverOr Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenverText 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: The North Face BadBoyBoards Ullr’s Garden 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

Twenty-seven Denverites ran for mayor. Seventeen made the ballot. Now it’s down to two: Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston. Ballots are in the mail this week ahead of election day on June 6, and Denverites will decide. Will our first new mayor in 12 years be the snowplow-driving former CEO of Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce or the belt buckle-loving former state senator? Today, host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi sit down with Johnston to hear what he’d say to one of his many wealthy donors if they asked for a favor; how he’d bring downtown back to life; where he’s gonna put the “micro-communities” he promised for people experiencing homelessness; whether or not he’s worried about Denver’s stagnant population growth; and if he’d support a bid for a Denver Olympics. Mike mentioned Stephen Brackett’s proposal to create an Office of the Night Mayor. Bree talked to Stephen a few weeks ago about what a night mayor is and more of his big ideas for the future of Denver’s nightlife. Don’t miss yesterday’s episode with Johnston’s opponent, Kelly Brough!Correction, May 18, 2023: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this interview excluded a moment where Johnston emphasized how important to him the diversity of his voters was. That portion of the interview has since been reinstated. This is a re-uploaded, correct version.Even more Mayoral Madness! And don’t miss the mayoral forum Bree is hosting on May 22 with Brough and Johnston. It’s Hot Ones-style, so they’ll be answering progressively tougher questions while eating progressively spicier wings. The event is sold out, but you can RSVP for the watch party or watch the livestream on Facebook. Should be fun! For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverOr instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverText 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: The North Face BadBoyBoards Ullr’s Garden 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

It’s time to vote for a new mayor… again! Ballots for the June 6 runoff are in the mail this week, and Denverites are deciding who will succeed Michael Hancock as Mile High’s first new mayor in 12 years. After months of campaigning, we wanted to check back in with the two finalists — because we still had questions. Today on the show, producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies sit down with Kelly Brough to hear the real snowplow story; why she’s gone back and forth on bike lanes; how she plans to handle potential conflicts of interest around her longtime partner, lobbyist David Kenney; how her personal experience guides her on safe injection sites; and her trick for baking at altitude. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s conversation with Brough’s opponent, Mike Johnston!If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and take in Brough’s snowplow ad. Bree also mentioned safe injection facilities reducing overdose deaths — that information came from the American Academy of Family Physicians. Even more Mayoral Madness! And don’t miss the mayoral forum Bree is hosting on May 22 with Brough and Johnston. It’s Hot Ones-style, so they’ll be answering progressively tougher questions while eating progressively spicier wings. The event is sold out, but you can RSVP for the watch party or watch the livestream on Facebook. Should be fun! For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverOr instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverText 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: The North Face BadBoyBoards Ullr’s Garden 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

Three miles of Broadway and Welton were shut down for the inaugural ¡Viva! Streets Denver last weekend, as pedestrians and cyclists took over the asphalt for a rainy day of car-free wandering through the city — so, how did it go? Speaking of getting around sans cars, RTD is looking at another fare-free summer with the prospect of expanding the program to go through July and August. Oh and yes, ballots are in the mail so you’ll soon be able to get this mayoral runoff over with — but not before the Johnston and Brough campaigns unleash a plethora of commercials. It’s Tuesday and producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies are breaking down all the local stories that matter, including our weekly Casa Bonita countdown! We talked about pics from the first Viva Streets event last weekend, a LinkedIn post from Eric Anderson (which we first got wind of from Cory Hutchins’ newsletter), a new ad from the Kelly Brough campaign, and the GIFs Casa Bonita released of the restaurant’s remodeling progress. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverOr instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverText 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: The North Face BadBoyBoards Ullr’s Garden 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