City Cast Denver

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The Creme de la Crust! Denver’s Best Bakeries Sep 25, 2024

Show notes

Lots of people tried their hands at baking bread back when COVID was keeping us home, but some took it even further, sharing their newfound passions with the world and opening bakeries. Now Denver is in the midst of a bakery boom, and the carb competition is on! Cookbook author and bakery aficionado Allyson Reedy joins producer Paul Karolyi to share some recommendations of their favorite bakeries around Denver — from the spot with that one to-die-for item you’ll never forget to the olive loaf that’s worth a drive across town. Plus, Allyson shares the local picks made her newest cookbook, “30 Breads to Bake Before You Die.”

Tickets are still available for the second annual Denver Bake Fest on Saturday, October 5. If you know the person who brought the peanut butter and cheez-it cookies last year, please reach out! Paul would love to hear from you: paul.karolyi@citycast.fm.

Paul mentioned this BusinessDen article featuring some spicy comments about Call Your Mother from Zaidy’s owner Joel Appel.

What is your favorite bakery in Denver? We want to hear about your spot and why you love it! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 25th episode:

PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $75 off your first delivery
B:CIVIC
Logan School

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Fur Ban Exceptions, Homeless Support Cuts, and a Cap Hill Mystery Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

It’s Tuesday, and we’re digging into the biggest stories of the week. First, two local organizations based on innovative strategies for helping our unhoused neighbors — the Denver Basic Income Project and the Denver VOICE — have run into serious funding trouble and could be on the verge of shutting down. Producers Olivia Jewell Love and Paul Karolyi talk about how they may or may not fit into Mayor Mike Johnston’s vision for ending unsheltered homelessness in Denver. Then, why does the proposed fur ban have so many exceptions? And finally, a listener question about an eyesore in Cap Hill.

Olivia mentioned this Westword article on the fur ban that Denverites will vote on this November.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/denver

What do you think about the DBIP and Denver VOICE? We want to know what those organizations mean to you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 24th episode:

PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $75 off your first delivery
B:CIVIC
Logan School

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Denver Wage Theft is Not Just a Restaurants and Strip Clubs Problem Sep 23, 2024

Show notes

Wage theft is a big problem in Denver, and it’s getting worse. The Denver Auditor’s Office recovered more than $2 million in stolen wages last year, but according to today’s guest, that is just a drop in the bucket. Matthew Fritz-Mauer is the executive director of Denver Labor, the division of the auditor’s office that investigates and remediates wage theft, which recently deployed its new subpoena power in an investigation into three local strip clubs. He’s on today with producer Paul Karolyi to talk about how pervasive wage theft is across a variety of industries, what you should do if you suspect you’re a victim, and break down the strip club investigation.

Matthew referenced this Westword article on his office issuing its first subpoenas to three local strip clubs.

Do you think you might be a victim of wage theft? Definitely get in touch with Matthew and Denver Labor, but we want to hear the story, too! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/denver

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 23rd episode:

PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $75 off your first delivery
B:CIVIC
Logan School

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The Slaughterhouse Vote, Deepfakes and Our AI Mayor, and RiNo’s Big Record Scratch Sep 20, 2024

Show notes

It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the biggest stories of the week. First, a surprisingly contentious debate is brewing over two questions facing Denver voters this November: Should the city ban fur and slaughterhouses? Plus, Mayor Mike Johnston is hosting the country’s first ever city-led AI summit this week. So we’ve got a couple of political strategists and friends of the pod — Justine Sandoval and Deep Singh Badhesha — joining producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the local politics of meat, AG Phil Weiser going after deepfakes, and AI Taylor Swift, and swap their Rocky Mountain highs and lows of the week.

Try Sunny for yourself!

Paul mentioned History Colorado’s upcoming community conversation on the effort to build a museum dedicated to Latino history in Colorado, as well as the production issues at Vinyl Me, Please. Justine mentioned seeing Usher (in all his shirtless glory) at Ball Arena this week, and Trump’s announcement of his upcoming Aurora visit. And Deep mentioned the Broncos’ poor start this season and Denver Labor’s first-ever subpoena issued.

What do you think about the slaughterhouse ban? We want to hear what you think about local meat politics! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/Denver

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 20th episode:

Life Surge
What the Buff Podcast
Meow Wolf
PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $75 off your first delivery

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Comedy is Booming. Why Are So Many Great Spots Closing? Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

This is the biggest week of the year for Denver comedy, with High Plains Comedy Festival returning to S. Broadway for its 11th year, Comedy Works reporting a return to pre-pandemic numbers, and occasionally comedic Broncos legend Peyton Manning interviewing Larry David on stage at the Paramount Friday night. But amid all the excitement, three of Denver’s buzziest comedy venues are shutting down. Denver Post arts and culture reporter John Wenzel and stand-up comic Joshua Emerson join producer Paul Karolyi to talk about how Denver’s real estate market is affecting the local comedy boom.

Where is your favorite place to see comedy in Denver? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/denver

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 19th episode:

Denver Botanic Gardens
Life Surge
What the Buff Podcast
Meow Wolf
PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $75 off your first delivery

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Bigfoot Who? Colorado's Got Its Own Bigger, Scarier Mythical Beast Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

Have Coloradans spent too much time chasing Bigfoot when we have a cryptid native to our own Rocky Mountains hiding under our noses? The researchers at History Colorado have been digging into the archives, and they’ve uncovered stories of a creature that is almost too bizarre to believe — a “mountain whale” called the Slide-Rock Bolter. But true or not, these stories have a lot to say about Colorado’s past and present. So today, History Colorado’s foremost expert on the Slide-Rock Bolter, Lucy Snow, joins producer Paul Karolyi to tell the tale of the Slide-Rock Bolter, Colorado’s mountain cryptid who has a taste for tourists and leaves wreckage in its path.

Have you ever seen a slide-rock bolter? We want to hear your story! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

Don’t miss William T. Cox’s original description of the Slide-Rock Bolter legend! Originally published in 1910, it’s very short and fun.

History Colorado is putting on an event in honor of the Slide-Rock Bolter on September 27. Tickets are still available for Creeporado: An Evening of the Strange and Unusual.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/denver

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 18th episode:

Life Surge
What the Buff Podcast
Meow Wolf
PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $75 off your first delivery

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Trump’s Deportation Plan for Aurora, Kroenke’s New Downtown, and NIMBY Coffee Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

Former president Donald Trump doubled down on his erroneous statement at last week’s debate that a Venezuelan gang has “taken over” Aurora, Colorado, suggesting at a Friday news conference that if he wins a second term in office he would order a mass deportation of Venezuelan newcomers, starting in the Denver suburb. So Westword editor Patty Calhoun joins producer Paul Karolyi to talk about Aurora’s moment on the national stage and dig into the other big stories of the week — from a couple of hotly contested historic preservation fights and a new vision for Speer Boulevard to the latest big step forward for Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke’s dream of developing the parking lots around Ball Arena.

Paul referenced this Instagram post from the Weathervane Cafe about 1709 N. Williams St., and this episode of The Daily about Trump’s suggestion that Haitian newcomers are “eating dogs” in Springfield, Ohio. Patty talked about Aurora’s cultural renaissance and referenced two of Westword writer Bennito Kelty’s recent articles on the Venezuelan gang hysteria in Aurora:

What do you think about the way Trump is talking about Aurora? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/denver

If you enjoyed today's interview with B:CIVIC'S Director, Jess Welser, learn more here.

Learn more about the other sponsors of this September 17th episode:

Denver Botanic Gardens
Life Surge
What the Buff Podcast
Cosmic Howl at Meow Wolf Denver
PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $75 off your first delivery

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The Hard Truth of Denver’s Uniquely High Minimum Wage Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

Minimum wage in Denver is going up again in January, and the number of restaurants is going down. While Denver’s restaurant community boasts a brand new Michelin star as of last week, more and more restauranteurs are leaving the Mile High in pursuit of greener pastures. So what exactly is happening that’s making it so hard to run a great restaurant here? The Colorado Restaurant Association’s CEO Sonia Riggs and government affairs director Colin Larson join host Bree Davies to talk about how Denver’s unique minimum wage laws affect the restaurant business, why services fees probably aren’t a cure-all and some of the reasons behind that mediocre $20 cheeseburger.

Starting Jan. 1, Denver’s minimum wage will be $18.81 per hour for non-tipped workers, up from $18.29, and $15.79 per hour for tipped workers, providing that they earn $3.02 in tips. The City of Denver has a breakdown of why our minimum wage is going up again this year.

Bree quoted this great article in the Denver Post by Allyson Reedy: “Overpriced Denver restaurants need a reality check for their inedible chicken and $20 cocktails.”

For further listening, we talked about the real value to be found at one of Denver’s Michelin star winners and broke down last week’s announcement of new Michelin winners.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/denver

What do you think about Denver’s minimum wage going up? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Life Surge
What the Buff Podcast
Meow Wolf
PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $75 off your first delivery

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Shoplifting Crackdown, Trump Talks Aurora, and the End of E-Scooters? Sep 13, 2024

Show notes

It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the news of the week. First, grocery stores across the metro area are locking down everything from laundry detergent to coloring books. But is the shoplifting hysteria just a symptom of the hypercharged political climate? Then, Lyft is “exploring alternatives for our dockless bikes and scooters” and being vague about if they will continue to operate in Denver at all. Denver Post neighborhoods reporter Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton joins producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies to dig into the biggest stories of the week plus loud trash trucks, a comic book store’s big milestone, former president Trump talking about Aurora at the presidential debate, and more wins and fails of the week.

Paul talked about the Tren de Aragua hysteria, Mile High Comics’ 50th anniversary, and Redeemer Pizza’s third anniversary party. Bree mentioned an article on the failure of self-checkouts and a piece on digging into the actual data on organized retail crime. She also talked about goth-punk shop FashioNation, which we profiled back in 2022. Megan talked about Lincoln’s, the new downtown speakeasy with $5 drinks.

Have you seen any new anti-theft measures in local stores? We want to know what you think about the alleged rise in shoplifting. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/Denver

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 13th episode:

Levitt Pavilion
Life Surge
Arvada Center
PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $75 off your first delivery

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

What if Denver Banned New Gas Stations? Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

For the last few weeks, Denver’s top elected officials have been debating a very big new idea: What if Denver didn’t allow for the construction of any more gas stations in certain parts of the city? Amanda Sawyer, Diane Romero-Campbell, and Paul Kashmann have touted the proposal as a step toward making the Mile High more walkable, more amenable to new housing, and less car-reliant. But how would banning one type of business lead to a more pedestrian-friendly Denver? Senior associate and urban planner at Progressive Urban Management Associates Naomi Grunditz Lacewell joins host Bree Davies explain how making moves to change the built environment could impact the way Denver neighborhoods look, feel, and function.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 12th episode:

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise