City Cast Denver

It’s the end of an era for Denver — Rocky’s Autos has closed its doors for good after 40 years. So, the north Federal staple is out of the car game — but the thing we’ll miss the most? The dealership’s crazy TV commercials featuring the adventures of Audra, Officer Odell, and of course, The Shagman. After we heard the news about Rocky’s going dark, we called up Ron Vigil — the Shakespearean actor behind the infamous Shagman — to get his final thoughts on playing a uniquely Denver-famous character for more than two decades. Keep up with The Shagman’s shenanigans on Instagram or check out his production company.Bree mentioned a previous City Cast Denver episode with reporter Yesenia Robles about the Adams 14 school district drama.More news you can use. Subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Tweet us your favorite Rocky’s Autos commercial! @citycastdenverLeave 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: Trade Coffee How to Buy a Home Podcast Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Denver’s minimum wage is going up to $17.29 starting in January, and with restaurants already on the brink, Denverites can. not. stop. talking about tipping. Many local restaurants are adopting service fees to balance things out, but according to a new survey, Denverites are feeling “tipping fatigue.” What can be done? Host Bree Davies, newsletter editor Peyton Garcia, and producer Paul Karolyi are digging into this multi-faceted problem and looking at some new ideas local restaurants have tried to fix it.Plus! We debut a new segment. There’s tons of cool stuff happening around the city this weekend, but only one event will get the official City Cast Denver stamp of approval. Stick around to the end of the show to find out where you’re most likely to find us this weekend!We previously discussed tipping on the show last summer, when producer Paul Karolyi interviewed Elle Taylor, co-founder of Amythest Coffee, about their decision to eliminate tipping and pay all their employees a living wage. Paul made a joke about the Palisade peach grower who also happens to be a 9/11 truther. Read all about him in this great story from friend of the show Andrew Kenney, politics reporter with CPR.Peyton mentioned this funny video that lays out an argument against tipping and the Bonanno Concepts’ explanation of their service fee.Peyton’s got even more awesome recommendations for your weekend in today’s newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Are you a big tipper? A begrudging tipper? A cow tipper? Let us know on Twitter @citycastdenverLearn more about the sponsors of this episode: The Colfax Crawl, presented by the Colfax Ave. Business Improvement DistrictLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Denver has a trash problem. And so far, efforts to improve recycling and composting rates have fallen far short of the city’s goals. In June, city council adopted a plan to make recycling and composting easier for homeowners. And this November, voters will have their say on a ballot initiative that would require businesses and apartment buildings to provide compost and recycling pickup. Ean Thomas Tafoya —co-founder of Headwaters Protectors, co-chair of the Colorado Environmental Justice Action Taskforce, and state director of GreenLatinos— stopped by to chat with host Bree Davies about the Waste No More initiative and his run for mayor.Oh and Bree mentioned some Rocky’s Autos commercials you might enjoy. RIP Rocky’s!Peyton’s got allll the food news to get you through to the weekend! Read and subscribe to the City Cast Denver newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Hi. We’re on Twitter: @citycastdenverLeave 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 Colfax Crawl, presented by the Colfax Ave. Business Improvement DistrictLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Denver’s Chief of Police Paul Pazen is retiring. After 28 years on the force, Chief Pazen was appointed to the position in 2018 by Mayor Hancock. Since then, he’s faced increasing scrutiny for the police’s behavior under his leadership — including a $14 million settlement for police brutality against protestors during the George Floyd uprisings and, most recently, police shooting and injuring six innocent bystanders on a crowded street in LoDo. Today on the show, Westword editor Patty Calhoun joins host Bree Davies to discuss Pazen’s departure, what the new chief is walking into, and what the next state and city elections have to do with the police’s role in Denver.For more on Chief Pazen, check out Bree’s interview with the man himself from earlier this year.Patty mentioned her last appearance on the show, when she told the story of Elvis the cop lover’s admiration for Denver’s own Fool’s Gold sandwich. Hey! We have a newsletter. It’s great. Read and subscribe: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/We’re on Twitter: @citycastdenverLeave 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 Colfax Crawl, presented by the Colfax Ave. Business Improvement DistrictLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

For the entire month of August, public transportation was completely, utterly FREE. The no-cost ride effort was in part meant to lure drivers out of their cars and mitigate our annual, late-summer problems with air quality. We wanted to know how this $14-million “Free Fare for Better Air” experiment actually worked for people, so producer Lizzie Goldsmith spent the month riding buses and light rail, and talking to dozens of RTD riders about their experience. Today, she chats with host Bree Davies to share some stories and try to answer the big question: Was the free fare worth it?Get all the news you need here in the City Cast Denver newsletter. Read and subscribe: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Tweet us pics of your RTD transit stop @citycastdenverLeave 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:Colfax Avenue BID presents The Colfax Crawl Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Labor Day weekend is upon us! We put our heads together and came up with our favorite places around Colorado to fill that one extra day. We’re talking tourist traps, killer hikes, dynamite vistas, and an Estes Park salt water taffy hack that you’ll never forget. Host Bree Davies, producer Paul Karolyi, and newsletter editor Peyton Garcia are gossiping about the very best day trips that are a less than two-hour car ride outside Denver.Bree mentioned this recent Colorado Sun story about Leadville’s recent transformation. Patty Calhoun wrote in to suggest the one-of-a-kind World’s Wonder View Tower, which she co-owns. Looking to catch up on some news before clocking out for the long weekend? Check out our morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/What great day trips did we miss? Let’s talk. We’re on Twitter @citycastdenverLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

There’s a new space race on, and getting back to the moon or Mars is only part of the fun. There’s money to be made out there! At least, that’s what a lot of smart people in Colorado are banking on. They’re still sorting out little stuff like how and why. So today, producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Denver Business Journal senior reporter Greg Avery to talk about what’s fueling the country’s second-biggest commercial space industry and introduce us to the Colorado-born Orion spacecraft, which is currently sitting on the launchpad in Florida awaiting takeoff after an aborted launch Monday morning. Here’s Greg’s latest on the Orion launch, now planned for this coming Saturday.Catch up with all the Denver news you need to know in our morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Blast off with us to Planet Twitter: @citycastdenverThe 150th Colorado State Fair is open through Monday, and we want to know if it’s worth the trip! Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts, name, and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬.Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

When the very first Chipotle opened on E. Evans Ave. in 1993, hungry DU students fueled the restaurant to world domination, ushering in a new fast yet casual style of dining along the way. Nearly thirty years later, the dining experience is once again at a turning point, with eaters still unsure what exactly they want out of a post-pandemic night out. Westword’s food & drink editor Molly Martin recently stopped by two new fast-casual chains that just opened right across from the original Chipotle on Evans — BirdCall and Next Level Burger. Both are hoping to attract DU students with new types of service and climate-conscious menu options. So producer Paul Karolyi and newsletter editor Peyton Garcia tried both and invited Molly on the show to compare notes.Check out Molly’s first impressions at Next Level Burger and BirdCall.There’s so much more interesting stuff happening in Denver. Subscribe to our morning newsletter and don’t miss a beat! https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Have you tried Next Level Burger or BirdCall? We want to hear what you think! Tweet at us @citycastdenver 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:Legal Help in ColoradoLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

There’s no faster route to a bad day than having your car towed. And especially in the last few years, complaints of predatory towing have been on the rise across the Denver metro area. State lawmakers have been debating the problem, and earlier this month they enacted a new “towing bill of rights” that promises to shift the balance of power away from the towers. Community organizer, journalist, and City Cast Denver contributor Theo Wilson is back to explain why he’s optimistic about this new law and what can happen when a “poverty tax” like predatory towing gets out of hand. What exactly is in the new towing law? Check out this full breakdown from our friends at CPR: https://www.cpr.org/2022/06/08/tow-companies-give-notice-new-law/Paul mentioned a CBS Colorado story about the new towing law, the Coors family’s big plans for Golden and Denver Water’s latest conservation pledge. Fill your week with curated event recs, new restaurants and food trends, and more with our daily newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Hang out with us on Twitter @citycastdenverLeave 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

Ever since Denver Water was founded in 1918, the agency has demonstrated enviable foresight, building out a massive infrastructure across 4,000 square miles to ensure Denver’s population (and economy) can continue to grow. But now that reservoirs and rivers are drying up across the West, is it time for Denver to share the wealth? Today, Colorado’s top water reporter, Luke Runyon of KUNC, joins producer Paul Karolyi to explain where Denver fits into the recent conflict over the Colorado River and offer an outsider’s perspective on Denver Water’s ambitious growth. For more from Luke Runyon, you can find all his water reporting for KUNC here. Paul mentioned his June interview with Denver Water’s chief planner Greg Fisher, Denver Water’s Gross Reservoir Expansion Project, and the Denver Post’s report on mosquito problems in southeast Denver. Thirsty for more Denver happenings to start your week? Take a big sip from our daily morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/Follow us on Twitter @citycastdenverLeave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsor of this episode:Legal Help in ColoradoLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise