It’s Friday and we’re talking about all the local stories that grabbed our attention this week — aka, the election. Mike Johnston is officially Denver’s mayor-elect, and he made a lot of promises along the campaign trail, so which ones will he keep? Plus Casa Bonita gets a write-up in a little paper called the New York Times, Governor Jared Polis vetoes a housing bill, and the last drive-in theater in the Denver metro is closing. Producer Paul Karolyi is joined by host Bree Davies and founder of...
Jun 09, 2023•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast When nightclub owner Steven Alix bought the old Irish Snug, he didn’t know anything about Sid King or his famous Colfax strip club, Crazy Horse. But he soon learned that the bar at the corner of Colfax and Marion had been a staple of the strip’s infamous — and often debaucherous — nightlife scene from the 1940s to the 1980s. A few decades have passed, but now the man behind Colfax’s hottest LGBTQ bars is bringing Crazy Horse Kitchen + Bar back to life, complete with King’s original Googie-style ...
Jun 08, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast The people of Denver have elected Mike Johnston to become their first new mayor in 12 years. While the results won't be official until June 20, former CEO of the Denver Chamber of Commerce Kelly Brough conceded after the belt buckle-wearing former state senator won a majority of the votes counted by 10 p.m. on Tuesday. “Tonight we start a chapter about a city that is going to be big enough to care for all of us, to support all of us, to house all of us,” Johnston declared in his victory speech. ...
Jun 07, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summer is finally here! But no need to stress if your calendar’s not already full of summer fun. Over the next three weeks on the podcast and in our newsletter Hey Denver, we’re presenting our Summer Entertainment Guide to help you make this a season to remember. First up, John Moore has been covering local arts and culture for decades, and he’s got a voracious appetite for all kinds of entertainment, from tiny backyard plays to blockbuster arena-filling concerts. He’s on today with host Bree Da...
Jun 06, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Yes, Red Rocks is a world-famous concert venue, drawing music-lovers from all walks of life to the Denver suburbs. But there’s plenty more great venues in town to catch any kind of concert you want. So which one has the best sound? The best vibes? The best seating? Host Bree Davies sits down with two local musicians — Kalyn Heffernan and Gregg Ziemba of Wheelchair Sports Camp — who know all these venues inside and out to get their hard-earned tips for enjoying any kind of show and how to do Red ...
Jun 05, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast What will the next mayor do when it comes to housing and homelessness? There are so many important issues at stake in this election, but those two might be the biggest. That's why we're so grateful that our friends at Elevated Denver were ready to go deep. Their organization aims to humanize the issue of homelessness and bring new ideas to the table through relationships with our unhoused neighbors. So please enjoy this episode of their podcast featuring in-depth interviews with the two remainin...
Jun 03, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Friday and we’re chatting about all the local stories that caught our eyes this week. With Election Day looming, the mayoral mudslinging has begun, and both the Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston camps are getting messy with their ads. Will these late-in-the-game attacks matter to Denver voters? And why go negative now? Producer Paul Karolyi is joined by host Bree Davies and City Cast Denver politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval to parse the unfolding election drama. Plus, the...
Jun 02, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast The mayor’s race is grabbing all the headlines lately, but what about Denver City Council? With contested runoffs in Districts 8, 9, and 10 and many new faces already elected, this key branch of our local government is poised for some big changes. Incumbents Candi CdeBaca (District 9) and Chris Hinds (District 10) are both fighting to retain their seats, while District 8 is a battle between two new contenders, Shontel Lewis and Brad Revare. But these votes are about more than who gets onto City ...
Jun 01, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast While Denver’s dining scene has attracted top chefs from all over the world, it’s our mom-and-pop shops and holes in the wall that tell a deeper culinary story. Like Noodles Express, a nondescript eatery in a strip mall on Colorado Boulevard that happens to serve up some of the best Szechuan cuisine in town. We stopped by the recently a lo-fi feast of sweet, salty, and tongue-numbing spice with our fave gastro guide, Westword food editor Molly Martin. Today on the show, newsletter editor Peyton ...
May 31, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Shinesty CEO Chris White got his start selling thrift store finds to his fellow CU Boulder students hoping to stand out at parties. Thanks to a surprise shout-out from Al Roker, Shinesty is now the fastest growing apparel company in Denver, with millions in venture-capital investment, new retail deals with Zoomies and Buckle, and their own MTV docu-series to boot. But they’ve captured Coloradans’ attention not with a better puffer jacket or cowboy hat, but with novelty underwear and raunchy, irr...
May 30, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast The mayor’s race is getting spicy! No, we’re not talking about the latest attack ad; we’re talking about hot wings. Earlier this week, host Bree Davies moderated a Hot Ones-style forum featuring candidates Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston eating progressively spicier wings while answering progressively spicier questions. Since there’s less than two weeks until Denver elects Brough or Johnston as its first new mayor in 12 years, we’re proud to share a recording of that event here with you today. An...
May 27, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hey Denver newsletter editor Peyton Garcia got a sneak preview of the new Casa Bonita this morning, and she’s calling in from that strip mall parking lot in Lakewood to dish on everything the “South Park” guys cared to reveal — a new ticketing system, the chlorine smell, the sopaipillas, and how they plan to open to the public, and more! Subscribe to Hey Denver to see all of Peyton’s photos and more from inside the Pink Palace. All you’ve got to do is text “Denver” to 66866. Sign up for the Casa...
May 26, 2023•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Mare...
May 26, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 mentio...
May 25, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 an...
May 24, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 listen...
May 23, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
May 22, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
May 20, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 th...
May 19, 2023•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
May 18, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
May 17, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 th...
May 16, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Planning on buying tickets to your favorite show? Good luck! If you happen to be a Swiftie, a member of the Bey Hive, or a big fan of The Cure, you’ve probably seen artists and fans going head-to-head this year with ticketing giants like Ticketmaster. Colorado lawmakers passed a bill recently that could ease some of your ticket-buying woes, but does it go far enough? And is it too soft on ticket marketplaces like Ticketmaster? Producer Ann Marie Awad talks with Colorado Politics Business Reporte...
May 15, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Friday, and we’re digging into all the local stories that mattered this week. First, state lawmakers are officially done lawmaking for the year. And this session, we learned that politics is like jazz. Sometimes it’s about the laws you don’t pass. But it come down to the wire on a “chaotic” Monday night, featuring some harsh name-calling, last-minute dealings, and a full-on GOP walkout. CPR politics reporter Andy Kenney was at the Capitol, and he’s back on today with producer Paul Karolyi a...
May 12, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ask any Denverite what they’d guess is the most popular car in Colorado, and nine times out of ten they’ll tell you, “Subarus!” And it makes some sense. Designed for adventure, Subarus fit perfectly with Colorado’s image as the rugged mountain state. Throw your gear in the back and you’re ready to go! But are Subarus really the most popular cars in Colorado? Host Bree Davies takes on the Subaru stereotype with recent Subaru convert Ann Marie Awad and reporter Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, who dug int...
May 11, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast We all know Denver isn’t the super affordable city it once was. But we’re all still here, trying to get by and enjoy that Mile High life. So we challenged ourselves to find the best ways to enjoy a day in Denver on the cheap — and by cheap we mean, how can a Denverite pack a whole day of fun around the city for $52.80 or less? Host Bree Davies, producer Paul Karolyi, and state politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval each schemed, plotted, and planned a great Denver day without br...
May 10, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mother’s Day is just around the corner — have you made plans with your mother yet?! This holiday often centers on going out for a nice brunch but in this town, getting reservations can feel nearly impossible. You still have a few days to plan that big bash for mom this Sunday, and the City Cast Denver crew is here to help. We’ve rounded up some of our most favorite brunch spots across the city, from old favorites to innovative ideas for redefining your typical weekend meal spot. This conversatio...
May 09, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Colorado was lucky to have a particularly wet winter in 2023, meaning water runoff from the mountains is really strong right now. But does that mean we can stop worrying about the Colorado River and that pesky 20-year megadrought? KUNC reporter Luke Runyon has a new podcast out, “Thirst Gap,” exploring the precarious state of our water supply. So producer Paul Karolyi sat down with Luke to talk about the new podcast, the latest politics of water at the Capitol, and the prospect of another hot, d...
May 08, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Friday, and we’re talking about all the local stories that mattered this week. Way back in November 2019, Colorado voters narrowly approved the legalization of sports betting, taking the illicit hobby out of the shadows and on to our phones! And on billboards! And everywhere else! Sports betting is now a multi-billion-dollar industry with Coloradans chasing the adrenaline rush from the Broncos and the Nuggets to late-night prop bets on the pro cornhole championship. To mark the three-year a...
May 05, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s not just you— trying to get a camping spot in Colorado feels impossible these days because it kind of is! New data reported by the Denver Post shows it was five times harder in 2022 to secure a campsite in this state than it was pre-pandemic. So, how do you get your outdoors on when the competition is so fierce? Newsletter editor Peyton Garcia — the City Cast Denver camping authority — takes our producer and camping novice Paul Karolyi through her best outdoor enjoyment hacks and secrets to...
May 04, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
