Good morning! I hope you have some coffee ready because it is time to catch up on the latest news from Bucket List reporters. Kay Altshuler tackled the city’s hottest immersive experiences in our ongoing Top 5 Guide series. Many thanks to Kelly and Mark Williams of Modus Real Estate for their sponsorship of these guides. Up next: If you want to learn where you can see a live production without taking out a loan to afford tickets, my guide to the Mile High City’s most affordable theater options will be released to our newsletter subscribers this Sunday, so sign up.
Tip Culture Craziness in Denver
What’s in a tip? It is a small action that has become increasingly common in a variety of settings, including restaurants, coffee shops and bookstores, and it is driving many people bananas. To get to the bottom of this increased practice, Cassis Tingley interviewed a slew of restaurant employees, owners, and economists about who stands to benefit from the Denver tipping boom.
Moms Stand Together for Political Change
One of the least discussed aspects of rising costs is how they affect mothers, but the Denver Chamber of Mothers is working to change that. In the United States, 25% of women are forced to return to work within two weeks of giving birth to pay bills and feed their families. Our Daianee Galindo, a mother of an eight-year-old girl, spoke with organizers from Denver’s Chamber of Mothers about their efforts to combat rising childcare costs through participation and policy.
MSU Club Encourages Black Male Educators
Nationally, only about 2% of educators are Black men. Call Me MiSTER is a national organization that organizes university-sponsored cohorts to help underserved students enroll in education programs and become degree-certified teachers. MSU Denver started participating in this program in January, so we sent our PJ Guidry to speak with the students and founder of the Denver chapter about why representation in the classroom matters.
How’s the New Casa Bonita Documentary?
If you are one of the 600,000 people on the Casa Bonita waitlist but still crave some Casa content, you might enjoy a movie about the beloved restaurant’s $40 million-plus renovation. The documentary follows “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone as they work to realize their childhood dream of revitalizing the location. Daniel Montoya reviews the film, which he calls slightly “redundant” but worth seeing “for those who like funny punchlines and want to know how Parker and Stone resurrected” the venue.
Stuff we Noticed (Colfax Edition)
If you’re traveling on Coflax, prepare for delays, as the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is set to begin today. This $280 million project creates dedicated transit lanes in each direction along East Colfax between Broadway and Yosemite to ease congestion. Construction is expected to continue in stages until 2027, affecting nearly 150 businesses along this stretch as East Colfax is demolished and access to properties becomes more difficult.
It was also made public this week that Natural Grocers, a health-conscious grocery chain based out of Lakewood, would be closing down its location at Colfax Avenue and Washington Street on October 31. The company stated that it was shuttering the location due to “retail theft and safety issues,” which it claimed were affecting the store’s performance. Workers at this location will be transferred to one of the company’s other six Denver locations or given a severance package. Closing sales begin at the Colfax location today, with a 10% storewide discount.
It’s closing time for the city’s only lesbian bar, Blush & Blu on Colfax Avenue. Owner Jody Bouffard shared the news on social media on September 28 that the bar was shutting down. “After nearly three decades of serving this beautiful Denver community, it is my decision to close this chapter of my life.” No details were provided about why the bar was closing its doors, but long-time patrons will be able to pay their respects at a party on Saturday, October 5, which will also be the last day of operation.
And that’s the way the news goes! Thank you so much for reading and supporting Bucket List Community News. What did we miss this week? If you have ideas for future stories, please contact Vicky Collins or Toni Tresca. We always enjoy hearing from neighbors about what is important to you. By sharing this newsletter with your friends and contributing, you can help us continue our mission of providing free hyperlocal neighborly news to the Mile High City and beyond. We’re a month away from the election so make sure to vote when your ballot arrives!
Warmest Regards,
Toni Tresca
Editor/Bucket List Community News
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