There didn’t used to be a place in Denver called RiNo. So it wasn’t a problem when a bunch of artists found some space and made dusty, industrial Brighton Boulevard… cool. But now art is big business in RiNo, and several rising entertainment companies — Vinyl Me, Please; Victrola; AEG Presents: Rocky Mountains — are building Denver’s next “music district” right there on Brighton. So where does that leave the artists? And how is the local music business reshaping Denver? Host Bree Davies sits dow...
May 03, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast With 2023 state legislative session almost over, the race is on to get these bills outta the house — but what will our lawmakers focus on with their final week? The fact that our property taxes are going through the roof? Or that the Suncor oil refinery continues to emit toxic chemicals? Or are they just focused on fighting their own trolls on social media? It’s Tuesday, so host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are breaking down all the local stories that matter this week. Plus, of course, ...
May 02, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Nuggets are having a history-making season, and — knock on wood! — Denver could be on its way to our first NBA Championship in franchise history. But sports teams are so much more than the athletes. Coaches, scouts, analysts, trainers, and many many more work together to get those wins — like today’s guest, Kyle Speller. He’s a PA announcer now in his 18th season with the Nuggets, and his voice, energy, and excitement are crucial to getting 20,000 fans on their feet and cheering at Ball Aren...
May 01, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the stories that caught our eye this week. Housing has been top of mind for Coloradans and finally, Governor Jared Polis was poised to do something about it — in the form of a massive housing and land-use bill. But SB213 was gutted this week, thanks to Republicans and Democrats standing up for “the Colorado Way,” as they put it. So what went wrong? Producer Paul Karolyi is joined by host Bree Davies and returning favorite Jo Ann Allen to chat all things housing...
Apr 28, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are the stars more beautiful from Denver? We are one mile closer, after all. But seriously, after the surprise Aurora Borealis sighting in Colorado last weekend, we are determined not to miss another epic cosmic show. So we posed that Mile High query and all our other starter stargazing questions to Ron Hranac of the Denver Astronomical Society. Producer and certified star-liker Paul Karolyi sat down with Ron to get to the bottom of the altitude question, some insider tips to find the darkest sk...
Apr 27, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gardening in Colorado comes with a unique set of challenges. Between our clay-heavy soil and our seriously dry climate, getting anything other than weeds to poke up out of the ground takes some special know-how. Host Bree Davies sits down with gardening enthusiast Ann Marie Awad to answer Denver’s most pressing gardening questions directly from you, our listeners! Ann Marie covers everything from from how to raise tomatoes in plots surrounded by concrete to where to get free and cheap supplies t...
Apr 26, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Tuesday, and we’re looking at all the important stories shaping Denver this week. With only a few weeks left in the legislative session, the Democrats in power at the state Capitol are still divided on new gun laws. So host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are talking about the politics of guns, a new lawsuit over “abortion reversal” drugs, and why Bandimere Speedway is closing this year — its 65th season. Plus, we have an exclusive story about a new social impact program for the local...
Apr 25, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Way back in 1981, a humble New York transplant named Jimmy Lambatos opened an innovative toasted sub shop at the corner of 13th Avenue and Grant. Denverites quickly fell in love with Quiznos, fueling the rise of a sandwich empire to more than 5,000 locations around the world by the mid 2000s. But now, as Westword’s food editor Molly Martin reported last week, Quiznos is on the ropes, and that first location has been shuttered due to non-payment of taxes. So today, Molly returns to the show with ...
Apr 24, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s time for the thrilling conclusion to Cherry Creek Week! All week long, we’ve been talking about one of Denver’s most divisive neighborhoods: Cherry Creek. How will the community deal with the vexing problems brought by an imminent wave of development? Can it find a solution to the ongoing fight — and current impasse — over transportation infrastructure? As the historians taught us, change is inevitable. So how can we make the most of all this interest in Cherry Creek? At the annual Transpor...
Apr 21, 2023•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Cherry Creek Week, Day Four! The story of Cherry Creek is the story of big dreams, yet with each exciting new project, the clash of old vs. new continues. Today, we’re examining what one developer has planned for that abandoned sea of parking lots just to the west of the mall. Amy Cara talks with host Bree Davies about her vision for Cherry Creek West — what could be multiple towers of offices, housing, retail, and some needed green space. Then we (virtually) travel all the way to the outsk...
Apr 20, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Cherry Creek Week — Day Three! When Denverites talk about Cherry Creek, the conversation often goes to the neighborhood’s multi-million dollar homes and high-end shops like Hermés, Louis Vuitton, and Neiman Marcus. But what about the people who make the community, well, work? As one of the largest private employers in the city, Cherry Creek Shopping Center and neighboring Cherry Creek North couldn’t function without the salespeople, janitors, hotel clerks, hairstylists, restaurant hosts, an...
Apr 19, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cherry Creek Week continues! Sometimes it feels like the only constant in Denver is change. And that feeling is especially present in Cherry Creek, a community that today is known as a high-end shopping destination — but it wasn’t always this way. The neighborhood is named for the waterway running alongside it, a natural resource that has been attracting people for hundreds of years. Back in the mid-1800s, settlers came from all over the country to make a home in Colorado, including many Black f...
Apr 18, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to Cherry Creek Week! Density. Growth. Infrastructure. Housing. Overcrowding. These words represent our biggest challenge as a city: How can Denver grow without changing all the things that make it great? All this week on the show — and in our newsletter Hey Denver — we’re exploring that question in one neighborhood that’s near and dear to our hearts (and the city’s tax base): Cherry Creek. For decades, Cherry Creek has grappled with what it means to not only become a shopping destinatio...
Apr 17, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Nuggets are having one of their best seasons in decades as they take the number one seed in the Western Conference Finals. But after years of negotiations between Comcast and Altitude Sports, many Nuggs fans still can’t watch the team legally. Host Bree Davies is joined by Altitude sportscaster Vic Lombardi and our state politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval to talk #nugglife, plus their shared love of Denver’s Northside, since both Vic and Justine grew up there. And of cou...
Apr 14, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Is the Polis administration’s “More Housing Now” proposal the solution to our state’s affordable housing woes? Some think it’s a step in the right direction, while others are skeptical. This sweeping plan — Senate Bill 213 — could end single-family-only zoning across Colorado and move some aspects of decision-making power from the local to the state level. One of the sponsors of the bill, House District 2 Representative Steven Woodrow, joins host Bree Davies to talk about what’s in the proposal,...
Apr 13, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sam Tallent is kind of a big deal — the Denver metro-raised comedian has been touring the stand-up circuit for years, honing his act and making a name for himself outside Colorado. He’s also recorded his own comedy special, made appearances on WTF with Marc Maron and Bert Kreisher’s Bertcast, and even found time to write Running the Light, a book fellow comedians have praised as the best depiction of the life of a stand-up on the road. Tomorrow night, Sam headlines a sold-out show at Comedy Work...
Apr 12, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Tuesday and we’re talking about the big stories around Denver this week, especially what’s happening with Denver Public Schools. On Wednesday, a high school student was forcibly removed from the House gallery in the Capitol, which comes on the heels of the protests and concerns about gun violence in schools in light of the recent shootings. Meanwhile, more drama for the DPS school board: Former Tattered Cover CEO and mayoral candidate Kwame Spearman announced a possible November bid for the...
Apr 11, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast From the Illuminati and the New World Order to the runways and some weird art, there are too many conspiracy theories about DIA to count. We’re diving into some of the most popular ones today, though, and what the true story is behind them. Host Bree Davies talks with Denver Public Library’s Chris Root about Blucifer, the Leo Tanguma murals, and much more, as well as why DIA has been such a hotspot for conspiracy theories over the years. Read Chris Root’s extensive research on DIA conspiracy the...
Apr 10, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Friday! Although election night is behind us, we’re still waiting for all the ballots to be counted. We know for sure that Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough will face off in the June mayoral runoff and that Lisa Calderón officially conceded. But the outcomes in several city council seats are still too close to call. Host Bree Davies is joined by our state politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval, and Jason Bane, co-host of the Colorado politics podcast Get More Smarter, to discu...
Apr 07, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Denver’s LoDo neighborhood has long been a magnet for nighttime revelry, with its concentration of restaurants, breweries, shops, and nightclubs. But the area has also become known as a hotspot for trouble and occasional crime — especially late at night when the bars let out, spilling thousands of patrons into the streets with nowhere to go. Is it possible to foster a safer nightlife scene while keeping downtown’s party vibe? Host Bree Davies sits down with Stephen Brackett, co-founder of Flobot...
Apr 06, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast For the first time in 12 years, Denver will have a new mayor. And now we’ve officially narrowed the field from 16 contenders down to two: Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough are set to campaign head-to-head in a runoff leading up to June 6. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi stayed up late to bring you up-to-date reactions and analysis of all the election results — from the mayor’s race to the new faces coming to City Council, those two zoning questions, and, of course, the future of the Park...
Apr 05, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Election Day! We’ll be back to dig into the results on tomorrow’s episode. But for now, we’re digging into a whole mess of overlooked stories: First, a mysterious rumor that Denver is home to one of the first fully automated fast food joints. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi take on the “Case of the Robot-Run McDonald’s” with the help of a listener. Plus, Denver has built parks on top of graveyards, but did you know we’re also home to an amusement park built on top of an old power...
Apr 04, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast After interviewing almost all of the original 17 candidates for Denver mayor, host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi have a pretty good sense of the race ahead of Election Day on April 4. So we were delighted when our pals at the Get More Smarter podcast -- Ian Silverii and Jason Bane -- invited us on to dish on the interviews, the ads, and everything else. Please enjoy this bonus look inside Mayoral Madness, and we'll see you for the run-off! For even more news from around the city, subscri...
Apr 03, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last month, the City of Denver transferred 35 bison from our historic herd at Genesee Park outside Golden to the Northern Cheyenne, Eastern Shoshone, Yuchi, and Tall Bull Memorial Council. It was the third annual transfer of bison to indigenous tribes who once lived on the land that became Denver, but it’s far more than a symbolic gesture. Host Bree Davies sits down with Parks and Recreation’s deputy director Scott Gilmore and the executive director of the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, J...
Apr 03, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s the Friday before election day and these races are heating up. Or are they? Low voter turnout for mail-in and drop-off ballots indicate low interest, or maybe voters are just overwhelmed with 16 candidates for mayor? But not to worry. Producer Paul Karolyi, host Bree Davies, and Westword editor Patty Calhoun are going to tell you who they think you should vote for. Plus, rumors are swirling about the Park Hill Golf Course becoming a Topgolf — or an In-N-Out? Patty’s got the scoop, plus news...
Mar 31, 2023•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Short-term rentals — like AirBnB or VRBO — may be controversial, but after a pandemic downturn, they’re back and more popular than ever! They generated record revenues in 2022, and the number of active licenses is once again on the rise. So what’s it like renting out space on AirBnB in Denver? And how is the recent surge shaping our city? Host Bree Davies sits down with two veteran AirBnB hosts Pam Vanderpool and Pam Clifton to swap crazy stories and talk through the impact on our housing market...
Mar 30, 2023•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Can you stand the heat? It takes a lot of gastrointestinal fortitude to taste test dozens of local hot sauces, but that’s what we did — all to narrow it down to five top contenders: Sauce Leopard, Merf’s, Oso Rojo, Danny Cash, and The Heat. Each one deserves a shot at being named the best hot sauce in Denver, but only one will win! Our state politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval joins newsletter editor Adrian González and producer Paul Karolyi to rate our contenders on heat lev...
Mar 29, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Tuesday, and we’re digging into all the local stories that matter this week. First up, the beloved Japanese restaurant Domo is reopening! But will TikTok ruin it again? Then, host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi check in on the state legislature, where debates are heating up around Governor Jared Polis’s big housing proposal and guns in the wake of the East High School shootings. And finally, can anyone trust the developers promising big things for the Park Hill Golf Course? Their pla...
Mar 28, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast During this school year alone, East High School has been the site of swattings, violent threats, and multiple shootings — some ending in death. The students have led walkouts and protests at the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to confront the issue of gun violence face-to-face. Clara and Gracie Taub are East High sophomores and members of their school’s chapter of Students Demand Action. After a recent demonstration at the Capitol, they sat down with host Bree Davies to talk about what it’s like to b...
Mar 27, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast This year alone there have been two shootings at East High School, prompting mass student walkouts, renewed calls for gun control, and, in a surprising turn of events, the return of police to Denver schools. So we are channeling our outrage with one of our favorite returning guests, Ann Marie Awad, and digging into gun laws, school safety, mental health, and more. Plus, underreported stories from the week and then Hey Denver editor Adrian González joins us to recommend some cool events for your ...
Mar 24, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
