Heartbreak — it’s a familiar feeling for Denverites over the past few years as too many longtime favorites shut down. Soon, you won’t be able to stand on 13th Ave. with another late-night slice from Benny Blanco’s. You’ll never catch a matinee at The Esquire or the Chez Artiste ever again. Mutiny Info Cafe is pulling up stakes for Englewood and The Mercury Cafe is up for sale again. The future of Denver’s most defining institutions is unclear — so we’re celebrating the ones that are still going ...
Aug 21, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Tuesday, and we’re digging into the biggest stories of the week. First, a surprising twist in the saga of Biker Jim. Denver’s iconic hot dog entrepreneur walked away from his eponymous restaurant earlier this year amid a sticky legal situation, but now he’s back — and he brought dessert. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are talking about Biker Jim’s next act, as well as the resolution of the 29th Ave. bike lane battle and an update on Cherry Hills Village’s effort to stop an affor...
Aug 20, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Smashed with crispy edges or thick and juicy? Plain or piled high with a crazy array of toppings? American cheese, blue cheese, or no cheese? These are just some of the factors we considered when taking a closer look at Denver’s burger scene. From the most affordable to the most indulgent, host Bree Davies is joined by Hey Denver newsletter editor Peyton Garcia and Westword food and drink editor Molly Martin to examine and rate the Mile High’s best patties between two buns. Want more Denver burg...
Aug 19, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’re rounding up all the news you need to know this week. First, the number one issue dominating Colorado politics for the past year and a half has been, shockingly, property taxes. With surprising alliances forming and accusations flying across the aisle, Governor Jared Polis yesterday called for (another) special legislative to negotiate a deal to avert rapid tax hikes. One of Denver’s most entertaining political analysts, Deep Singh Badhesha (aka @deepnotshallow), joins host Bree Davies and ...
Aug 16, 2024•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’re celebrating 900 episodes, and we want to celebrate you! Since we began the City Cast Denver podcast and companion Hey Denver newsletter back in 2021, we have relied on you, our brilliant and hilarious listeners and readers, to share story ideas, hot takes, and questions that make us think. So to mark the big milestone, host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are digging deep in the inbox to share your questions and comments on everything from dating in Denver and scooter struggles to th...
Aug 15, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the super-charged partisan atmosphere of an election year, one contentious issue has emerged as a beacon of bipartisanship: Nuclear power. Both Republicans and Democrats backed Denver congresswoman Diana DeGette’s bill facilitating the construction of new reactors with cutting-edge designs, and last month President Biden signed it into law. But today’s nuclear cheerleaders could learn something from the past — so we are sharing a short audio documentary that our producer Paul Karolyi created ...
Aug 14, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Tuesday, and we’re digging into the biggest stories of the week. First, what should the City of Denver do with a decommissioned, old power plant? The clock is ticking for a potential purchase, so producer Paul Karolyi is sitting down with Westword editor Patty Calhoun to discuss why Xcel Energy hasn’t demolished the plant in Sun Valley and the possibility that it could be converted into a new food hall, as neighbors have been hoping for years. Plus, Colorado’s most famous election denier co...
Aug 13, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast When Mayor Mike Johnston took office last year, he focused on Denver’s homelessness crisis, then the strain caused by thousands of migrants arriving from South and Central America. Now, he’s turning his attention to affordable housing, with a proposal that will likely be in front of Denver voters in November: Should Denver increase sales taxes by 0.05% to raise as much as $100 million per year for affordable housing? Robin Kniech led the charge on affordable housing as at-large member of city co...
Aug 12, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Friday, and we’re breaking down the biggest stories of the week. First, a notorious Venezuelan gang called Tren de Aragua has reportedly arrived in Denver, and they’ve already been connected to a violent jewelry store robbery, a condemned apartment complex in Aurora, and some rumored violence at a political rally. So is this gang a big problem or just another scapegoat? City Cast newsletter editor Adrian González joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about newcomer narrat...
Aug 09, 2024•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast More than 200 new laws went into effect in Colorado this week, touching on everything from concert ticket pricing transparency to gig driver protections, and each of those laws has a backstory. One in particular comes after years of back and forth between lawmakers and Wyatt’s Towing, the company Attorney General Phil Weiser found guilty of “deceptive and unfair business practices.” So will this new law finally protect Denverites from predatory towing? Denver Post reporter Sam Tabachnik has been...
Aug 08, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast A record 37.4 million domestic tourists visited Denver last year, according to new data from the city’s tourism office. But with all the crowds at Red Rocks and Rocky Mountain National Park, it feels like those people just hit all the same spots! So whether you’re entertaining visitors or looking for somewhere off the beaten path to explore for yourself, we’re here to help. Stand-up comedian JD Lopez joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to swap stories and share recs for family-frien...
Aug 07, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Tuesday, and Westword editor Patty Calhoun is joining us to help break down the biggest stories of the week. First, who is responsible for e-scooters unsafely zipping down sidewalks? Denverites have been having that debate ever since the scooter companies first arrived in 2018, and now City Councilman Chris Hinds has a new idea to promote safe scooting. So we’re talking e-scooters, the nepotism scandal rocking Denver’s tiny suburb of Lakeside, and an interesting new vendor that made an appe...
Aug 06, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Denverites are fed up! And not well fed. Because the price of going out to eat feels like it keeps going up! After scouring the city for an affordable breakfast sandwich, the owner of a local ice cream shop recently started selling his own at a Saturday morning pop-up, proclaiming “the city desperately needs this!” So we felt inspired to help, too. One of our favorite regular guests — stand-up comedian Joshua Emerson — joins today to share recommendations for the best cheap eats in Denver. We’ve...
Aug 05, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Friday, and we’re digging into the biggest stories of the week. First, wildfire smoke shrouded the Mile High skyline all week long as multiple wildfires on the Front Range spread to more than 9,000 acres, as of Thursday afternoon. CSU climate geographer Lauren Gifford joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about how climate change is moving so fast that even the fish in Sloan’s Lake are feeling the heat. Then, to celebrate Colorado’s 148th birthday, we’ve got another insta...
Aug 02, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Denver community. School is starting up again soon, but it’s not too late to squeeze a few last drops out of summer. To get in the Olympic spirit, we’re putting an international twist on our monthly guide to the city, with tons of insider tips on how to make the most of August in Denver, from a mouth-watering Hong Kong-style french toast at a buzzy new restaurant to ...
Aug 01, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Colorado has long been a stronghold for people across the country seeking abortion access — and when Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, local reproductive health care providers began to see an unprecedented amount of patients seeking care. But there’s still a conservative majority on the Supreme Court and anything could happen in November, so local reproductive health care advocates are rallying to strengthen Colorado’s protections even more. Our state politics and green chile correspondent Jus...
Jul 31, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Tuesday and we’re digging into the biggest stories of the week. First, the mere proposal of a new bike lane on the Northside already has people up in arms over precious parking spots. But does a lack of parking really add up to a loss of customers? Then, Glendale has been trying for decades to revive itself as an entertainment destination for adults. With the new “4 Mile District” breaking ground and Alamo Drafthouse signing on, could this finally be the tiny municipality’s moment? Plus, li...
Jul 30, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Enjoying a Colorado summer on these super hot days can be tough — but a easy solution? A quick camping trip in the much cooler Rocky Mountains. We’re bringing you an episode from a while back featuring City Cast Denver’s own outdoor pro Peyton Garcia, and camping novice Paul Karolyi. Together they dig into the best places to pitch a tent, what to bring, what to expect, and more tips for a smooth and simple adventure. What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood...
Jul 29, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up this week's news. In the wake of the news about President Biden dropping out of the race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, will Colorado democrats change their campaign strategies? Then, with a new Trader Joe’s slated to open in Westminster in 2025, producer Olivia Jewell Love is back with another hot City Cast Denver Top 5 list, this time, Trader Joe’s snacks. She’s joined by host Bree Davies and politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandova...
Jul 26, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Young people have long flocked to Denver for our proximity to the mountains, Red Rocks’ stellar concert calendar, tons of local breweries, and even access to local weed. But do they ever come here for… love? If so, how do single Denverites even meet? Westword’s Hannah Metzger and Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton from the Denver Post have both been reporting on dating in the Mile High and have some interesting insights into how people are — or aren’t — having luck finding partners. They join host Bree Dav...
Jul 25, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast With a little less than two weeks left to gather the signatures needed, canvassers are working hard to get Initiative 310 on the ballot. This piece of legislation could fundamentally change the way we vote in Colorado, introducing the concept of ranked choice voting. Supporters of RCV say it would level the playing field for third party candidates and offer voters more options at the ballot box. However detractors — like today’s guest, Representative Emily Sirota — are concerned that RCV could i...
Jul 24, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a year in office, what does Mayor Mike Johnston think he’s accomplished? Yesterday he gave the annual State of the City speech at the Paramount Theater, pointing out his housing wins and what he sees as a successful approach to welcoming newcomers. He also unveiled some projects in the works, like plans for creating a more vibrant downtown, the development of a “trust patrol” with Denver police, and a new citywide volunteer effort called “Give 5 Mile High”. But when it comes to sweeping po...
Jul 23, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thanks to our sponsors at the Colfax Ave BID for helping us end our Colfax Week with a bang! All week long we’ve been talking about the colorful, complex, and celebrated street known as Colfax Avenue. For the week’s grand finale, host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi talked to Mayor Mike Johnston in front of a live audience, on perfect summer Colfax evening. Johnston rates his performance as mayor so far, discusses his approval ratings, and even weighs in on President Biden’s future. Then, ...
Jul 22, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Celebrate the end of Colfax Week with our Ultimate Colfax Playlist! Presented by our sponsors at the Colfax Ave BID, you can listen along and enjoy special deals up and down Colfax this weekend at Colfax’s Independents Day It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the biggest stories of the week. First up, rich people in the ‘burbs are trying to block an office-to-residential building conversion and definitely don’t want a McDonald's in their neighborhood. Then, Aurora unveiled plans for a new Zyn fact...
Jul 19, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Colfax Week Continues! Thanks to our sponsors at the Colfax Ave BID. Denver’s never had a ton of great options to eat out late at night — even on Colfax, where hundreds of hungry concert-goers and bar patrons pour out onto the sidewalks after last call. Ever since the pandemic, Denver’s night owls have been left hungrier than ever. But a couple of recent announcements offer a glimmer of hope: Rosenberg’s Bagels is opening a new late-night slider pop-up, and Little India on 6th Avenue is going 24...
Jul 18, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’re stepping away from Colfax Week for an exclusive interview with Denver’s longtime congresswoman on this historic moment in the presidential race, presented by our sponsors at Colfax Ave BID. Ever since President Biden’s dismal debate performance a few weeks ago, an increasing number of Democrats in Congress have called on him to step aside as the party’s nominee, including Colorado Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen, and even more have expressed doubts about his chances in November, including...
Jul 17, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Tuesday and we’re breaking down the biggest stories of the week. First, after the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump over the weekend, Colorado politicians on both sides of the aisle are jockeying for command of the narrative. Then, Denver Police implemented over the weekend a new program to tackle LoDo’s late-night violence issues. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are talking about the local political implications of the assassination attempt, LoDo’s let-out proble...
Jul 16, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to Colfax Week! We’ve teamed up with the Colfax Ave BID for a weeklong celebration of Denver’s most iconic street. The 26-mile long strip is notorious, charming, and unexpected — and no where better embodies Colfax’s complex personality quite like the bathrooms of some of our fave establishments. AAA Spokesperson and Oak Creek Tavern owner Skyler McKinley and politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval join host Bree Davies to break down some of the best — and worst — places ...
Jul 15, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is the final episode of a special, limited-run podcast series, Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose, from City Cast Denver. Don’t miss the whole series, available now in this podcast feed or on our website. June 25 was a big election day for Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. She had five opponents for the Republican nomination in her new district in Colorado and, as we’ve learned in this limited-run podcast series, a whole lot of baggage. But we’re done dissecting her controversies and analyzing her strat...
Jul 13, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the biggest stories of the week. First, how are Denverites feeling about Mayor Johnston after his first year in office? What about his work on homelessness or revitalizing downtown? A new poll shows all. Then, Democrats across the country are divided on President Biden’s chances at re-election in November, and local politicians are speaking out. Big thinker and local business owner Deacon Rodda joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to dig into those ...
Jul 12, 2024•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
