City Cast Denver

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Tipping vs. Service Fees, Why BCycle Died, and Drake Night Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

It’s Friday and we’re talking about the big local stories this week. Casa Bonita continues to dominate the news cycle but this time it isn’t all roses and sopaipillas — the company changed its tipping policy last minute and many servers and bartenders are not ok with it. All this comes as a new study ranks Denverites among the highest tippers in the country. Producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies are joined by podcast host and multimedia producer Graffiti to talk wins and fails: Will RTD’s zero fare summer mean better working conditions for drivers? What happened to BCycle, the Mile High’s OG bike share? And why oh why do the Rockies have to suck so bad? Plus, newsletter editor Peyton Garcia shares her list of fun stuff to do and the City Cast Denver crew picks our official “Maybe” event rec for the weekend, as in maybe you’ll see us there.

Here are links to the events Peyton recommended:

FanExpo Denver 2023 (Downtown)
Cherry Creek Arts Festival (Cherry Creek)
Goat Head Weed Removal with Goathead Greg (Windsor)
Mo’Betta Green Marketplace (Five Points)

Plus, Graffiti is co-hosting Drake Night this Saturday at Ophelia’s if you want to go ‘Into the Aubrey-Verse.”

Paul mentioned Albert Edwin “Pinky” Roadhs and his cousin Riley’s barber school graduation. If you’re looking for a good haircut, check out queer.clips on Instagram. Bree talked about RTD’s woes and the possible renaming of the Ross-Barnum Library. Graffiti talked about the Rockies and Detour’s amazing Nuggets mural.

For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866.

Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein!

Or Instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver

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

The New Rules of Compost Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

Starting in July, the City of Denver is officially launching its free composting program, which will serve more than 180,000 households across the Mile High. This means that now, along with your recycle and trash bins, you’ll also have a composting bin to help cut down even more on what goes into the landfill. But the rules of compost are tricky and ever-changing. So what exactly goes into that big green bucket on wheels anyway? Are apple cores ok? What about tea bags? Or coffee grounds? Host Bree Davies is joined by City Cast Denver’s official gardening and dirt expert Ann Marie Awad to get the down and dirty details on what you can — and can’t — put in the compost.

Looking for more info on on the basics of composting? Check out the CSU Extension’s Composting 101 Guide. The City of Denver has an FAQ page with helpful tips; you can also download the Denver Trash and Recycling App for collection reminders, holiday trash schedules, and to play the trash, recycle, or compost game!

Bree mentioned DIA’s security wait time checker, new reservation system, and the Denver Post’s recent report on local liquor stores’ recent sales slump.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

Or instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Text or leave us a voicemail with your 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

Inside the Secret Meeting that Led to the Return of Cops in Schools Jun 28, 2023

Show notes

In the wake of the March 23 shooting at East High School, thousands of students walked out of class in protest, and the school board started what became an emotionally charged, highly controversial, three-month debate on the possible return of police to Denver Public Schools. They ultimately voted, 4-3, that police should be a “persistent presence” in our schools, but not everyone is happy with that outcome. So today on the show, host Bree Davies speaks with the board's vice president, Aoun’tai Anderson, about how the debate played out and why he thinks his fellow board members reversed their position since police were removed from schools in 2020.

Bree mentioned Bike to Work Day and DPD’s new anti-theft bike registration system, as well as the official designation of La Raza Park as a historic cultural district. For a deep dive into the last three months of debate on the role of police in schools, Melanie Asmar has been covering all the twists and turns for Chalkbeat.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

Or instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Text or leave us a voicemail with your 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

Free Public Transit, French Fry Art, and More Tourist Traps Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

It’s Tuesday, and we’re talking about all the local stories that matter this week. First up, RTD’s “Zero Fare for Better Air” promotion is back! Local public transit will be free in July and August this year, but is this really going to lead to better air quality? Host Bree Davies and Producer Paul Karolyi are talking transit and responding to some listener comments and questions about tourist traps, public art, and Stephen King’s Colorado connections.

In case you missed it, here’s a link to the episode we made last week about local tourist traps.

Paul mentioned RTD’s report on last year’s free-fare month, David Zipper’s piece on free transit, and this deep dive from DPL into the controversy over Buffalo Bill’s real burial site.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

Or instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Text or leave us a voicemail with your 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

How to Plan Your Next Epic Tubing Adventure Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

After a wet winter and super rainy spring, our rivers and creeks are running high. Does that mean we’re about to witness the best tubing season ever? Lead Producer Paul Karolyi is joined by Rocky Mountain PBS reporter and tubing buff Alison Berg to break down what those high water levels mean for your summer floating plans, as well as her expert tips on the best tubing spots, safety tips, and the unspoken rules of the river.

Paul mentioned the city auditor’s report on Denver Police Department and Interim Police Chief Ron Thomas’s comments on the likelihood of another “Summer of Violence.”

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

Or instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

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:

Levitt Pavilion

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

Queer Book Bans, Disaster at Red Rocks, and an Ice Cream Beer Experience Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

It’s Friday and we’re talking about all the the stories that mattered this week. The big Pride weekend is finally here, but what is the state of our LGBTQ community in Denver right now? Some residents in Douglas County are (again) clamoring for libraries to ban queer books; meanwhile, the state legislature has seen major strides in LGBTQ representation. Host Bree Davies is joined by returning fave Ann Marie Awad and City Cast first-timer Demi Harvey, who hosts Indie 102.3’s “Serve It!” The trio also discuss the Red Rocks hail disaster, Detour’s epic new Nuggets mural, and of course, Casa Bonita. Then, newsletter editor Peyton Garcia joins to share the best bets for your weekend plans.

In addition to the many PrideFest weekend activities, here are all the weekend events Peyton recommended:

Health and Fitness Expo (Barr Lake)
Plant Swap and Giveaway (Sun Valley)
Beer and Ice Cream Pairing (Various)
Larimer Square Summer Market Series (Downtown)

For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866.

Follow our weather guy for all your weekend weather needs: Rain or Shine, it's Andy Stein!

Or instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Levitt Pavilion

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

Don’t Get Tourist Trapped! We Can Help. Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

There are lots of glitzy attractions around Denver — but which ones are really worth it? Which destinations are just tourist traps, and which ones are the real gems, you know — the tourist treats? In this final installment of our Summer Entertainment Guide, host Bree Davies is joined by newsletter editor Peyton Garcia and producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love to break down their can’t-miss and definitely-pass attractions from downtown D-town to ski towns of the Rockies.

We want to hear from you, too! What are the Denver-area tourist attractions that you really unabashedly love? And which made you feel empty inside? Leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood on the Tourist Trap Hotline, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

Here are links to all the places we mentioned:

Peyton mentioned a 2022 Westword investigation into the Downtown Aquarium — we chatted with reporter Catie Cheshire about her findings. Bree also mentioned our tour of Water World last summer. Paul brought up Raven Payment’s Twitter thread on the Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Every weekday, you can get even more recommendations for fun stuff to do in our Hey Denver newsletter! Subscribe here or by texting “Denver” to 66866

Or instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Levitt Pavilion

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

Inside the Democrats’ Plan to Unseat Lauren Boebert Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

Colorado’s most infamous Republican, Rep. Lauren Boebert, won re-election last November by a mere 546 votes, shocking the unsuspecting Denver public and the national press. Something was clearly changing in Boebert’s mostly rural, southern and western Colorado district, and now the Democrats have a plan to take advantage of the moment. Producer Paul Karolyi sits down with the new chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, Shad Murib, to talk about “The 546 Project,” his massive new effort to unseat Boebert in 2024, and why her vulnerability and her fame combine to make her the perfect next target for the Democrats’ push to turn Colorado blue once and for all.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

Or instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

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:

Levitt Pavilion

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

Who Pays the Price for 'We Buy Ugly Houses'? Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

You ever see one of those signs that say “We Buy Ugly Houses” stapled to a telephone poll? Or plastered in giant block letters up on a billboard? Did you ever wonder what happens when someone calls that phone number? ProPublica investigative reporter Anjeanette Damon cracked the story wide open, and she’s on today with host Bree Davies to explain how the mysterious HomeVestors’ business model works, how they scoop up the deeds to so many perfectly good looking houses, and who is paying the price.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866.

Or instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

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:

Levitt Pavilion

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

Nuggets on Parade, Welcome to ‘Lavender Hill,’ and Monster Truck Palooza Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

The Nuggets are finally world famous! Denver’s hometown ballers won their first NBA Championship in franchise history, and the city has been celebrating all week. Everything culminated with a big parade downtown on Thursday, and the City Cast Denver team was there to take it all in. But of course, the Nuggets aren’t all the news — it’s Friday, so we’re talking about a new queer cultural district, a rash of shootings on the city’s streets, and question whether Trinidad has lost its shine. Diné comedian Joshua Emerson is back with producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies to break down all the local stories that mattered this week. Plus, newsletter editor Peyton Garcia shares her best bets for this (hopefully sunny) summer weekend.

Bree mentioned the walking tour of Cap Hill’s queer history that we did last June with local comics artist and historian B. Erin Cole.

We didn’t see this until after we recorded, but past guest and local author Jenny Shank wrote a beautiful commentary on the Nuggets’ win for her newsletter this week. Check it out and subscribe!

A programming note: We are taking Monday off in honor of Juneteenth. So there won’t be another new episode in your podcast feed until Tuesday. Our weekday morning newsletter Hey Denver is also off on Monday.

Here are links to all the events Peyton suggested:

For even more weekend event recs and local stories that matter, subscribe to Hey Denverby texting “Denver” to 66866.

Or instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

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