Happy Fourth of July, Bucket Listers! Whether you’re looking for fireworks or firebrands, there’s no shortage of ways to mark Independence Day in the Mile High City. Denver’s biggest parade kicks off at 1:30 p.m. in Park Hill, while fireworks will fill the skies from Castle Rock to Commerce City. And if you feel like celebrating in a different way, check out the protests happening downtown, including a powwow at the Capitol advocating for Indigenous people’s rights and a demonstration in support of Palestine outside Palantir’s HQ. Now, onto this week’s stories.
Pokémon Cards and Capitalism Collide in Denver
Denver’s trading card community is booming and, as a result, battling scalpers. Every weekend, collectors cram into La Plaza off East Colfax to buy, sell and trade, but as Ryland Scholes reports, the prices for Pokémon cards have skyrocketed with resellers cornering the market. Packs that should sell for $5 are going for three times that. Longtime fans say the inflation is driving kids out of the hobby entirely. For many, what was once a nostalgic passion is now an expensive fight against artificial scarcity.
Denver Pet Shelters Struggle With Surrender Surge
MaxFund, a local pet shelter, has seen it all: pit bulls separated by deployment, animals abandoned due to economic pressures and rising vet bills, and families forced to give up pets they love. Our Daniel Montoya explores why shelters across Colorado are overwhelmed. Shelter directors say they’re doing everything they can—including homey adoption rooms and expanded support services—but the emotional toll on workers and animals is immense.
Fighting Food Waste While Feeding a City
Every day in Denver, tons of perfectly good food get tossed while thousands go hungry. But a growing network of nonprofits, restaurants and residents is working to rewrite that story. Reporter Dominick Zangara explores how organizations like We Don’t Waste, zero-waste restaurants like Sullivan Scrap Kitchen and food rescue apps are forming a citywide movement to rethink how we treat surplus. It’s not just about sustainability—it’s about equity, access and community care.
A Farmers Market Grown by the Neighborhood
In the industrial corridor of Globeville-Elyria-Swansea, fresh produce can be hard to come by, but not on Fridays. The Huerta Urbana Farmers Market, profiled by our Sadie Gonzales, turns the parking lot at Focus Points Family Resource Center into a pay-what-you-can oasis of community connection. With Booth Bucks to break down cost barriers, and a huge farm full of veggies, chickens named by local kids, and rescue honeybees, HUFM offers residents in a food desert a place to access healthy produce with dignity and joy.
Scaling Walls to Build Belonging
A new group is making space for Black climbers in Denver’s often exclusive outdoor scene. In her latest story, our Khaleigh Reed introduces us to Culture Climbers, a collective founded by Evan Gill that offers monthly events, free gear and a welcoming community for Black climbers of all levels. With curated playlists, raffles and real representation, these events are helping shift the culture one wall at a time.
Stuff We Noticed
Denver Central Library Expands Hours. Starting this weekend, downtown’s Central Library will now be open six days a week, including both Saturdays and Sundays, a shift after years of limited weekend access. The expansion follows a major renovation and years of the community asking for more availability. Patrons can also take advantage of expanded curbside pickup nearly every day beginning at 10 a.m., making it even easier to grab a book on the go.
La Vista Motel Gets a New Life on Colfax. A shuttered 1950s motel is reopening this fall with a fresh coat of charm and some boozy upgrades. La Vista Motel is adding a coffee shop, cocktail bar and event space, all while keeping its 23-room, vintage bones intact. Bonus: El Piñon, a new bar led by a local taproom founder, will serve up both espresso and craft cocktails.
UMS Is Going Out With a Bang. After 25 years of showcasing indie talent, the Underground Music Showcase will shut down following this summer’s festival. Organizers cite rising costs and shifting industry norms, but they’re giving the fest a proper send-off. Expect legacy acts like DeVotchKa and Flobots to headline a weekend full of nostalgia, gratitude and big questions about what comes next for Denver’s music scene.
Finally, did you catch Bucket List’s first radio program on KGNU yesterday? If not, you can listen to it while relaxing over the 4th of July weekend. It’s a great companion for the pool or a hike. Our show is the first Thursday of every month at 3 p.m., and the next one will be on August 7, so mark your calendars!
That’s it for this week. If you like what we’re doing, please contribute so our team can keep up this work. From all of us at Bucket List, we wish you a wonderful and safe Fourth of July!
Warmest Regards,
Toni Tresca
Editor/Bucket List Community News
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