📚 A fresh start for the Tattered Cover?

🚩 Attention RTD L Line Commuters

Right at the start of its two-month free-fare program, RTD will suspend service on the L Line for upgrades and repairs that will begin Monday and last through July 30. The L Line runs from 18th and Stout streets along Welton to North Downing Street. RTD advises L Line commuters to use bus 43. [Denverite]

👀 Back to Square One for Migrant Sheltering

Denver will not move forward on a $40 million contract with GardaWorld Federal Services to take over the city’s migrant sheltering operations. After spending more than $20 million on sheltering efforts since December, Denver plans to offload the work to an outside partner. However, city officials broke off negotiations with the security company after allegations of abuse and mistreatment came to light. [Denver Post 🔒]

• 🎧 Catch up quick: Denver Post reporter Saja Hindi has been covering the recent influx in refugee arrivals. Back in May, we asked her to help break us down the situation. [City Cast Denver]

📚 A Ray of Hope for the Tattered Cover?

Former Republican congressman candidate Brad Dempsey is stepping in as interim CEO for Tattered Cover. A bankruptcy and restructuring attorney, Dempsey has been helping the local bookstore deal with recent financial troubles. He’s told reporters he is a longtime fan of the “legendary Colorado institution,” and hopes to help the business recover from a turbulent last few years. [Denver Business Journal 🔒]

⭐⭐⭐ = The official City Cast Denver ‘Maybe’ of the weekend, as in maybe you’ll see us there! Listen to today’s podcast for more deets.

🎤 Youth on Record Open Mic | Friday | 4-8 p.m.

Support Denver’s aspiring musicians at Youth on Record’s monthly open mic night. Young artists can sign up for free. [La Alma-Lincoln Park; Free]

🌱 Garden to Glass | Friday | 6 p.m.

Learn to craft “refreshing agua frescas, extraordinary elixirs, and seasonal syrups” with your own harvest of fruits and veggies in this Denver Botanic Gardens workshop led by Susan Evans, author of “The Herbalist’s Happy Hour.” [Cheesman Park; Sold out, join waitlist]

🎨 Federales Live Art Series | Friday | 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Grab a taco and a marg, then watch local artists create live! Artists will also have pieces available for sale. [RiNo; Free]

✊🏾 Colorado Black Arts Festival | Friday-Sunday | Various times

Celebrate and support Colorado’s African American arts and culture with live music, local art, family activities, delicious food, and more! [City Park; Free]

🍪 Cookie Chase 5K | Saturday | 7:30 a.m.

A fun, festive 5K walk / run / roll that ends with cookies! Cookie-themed costumes are encouraged. [Sloan’s Lake; $35]

🎉 Aurora Cultural Celebration | Saturday | 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Celebrate the Aurora community with portraits, live music, food, henna, and fun activities for the whole family. [Aurora; Free]

🍽️ Taste the Fax / Colfax Art Jams | Saturday | Noon-4 p.m.

Discover the delicious and diverse flavors of Colfax at this event spotlighting local chefs and their signature dishes. This event also coincides with the monthly Colfax Art Jams displaying local artists and their work along East Colfax. [Aurora; Free]

🎂 Chautauqua Birthday Bash | Saturday | 1-6 p.m.

Boulder’s iconic Chautauqua Park is turning 125! The community is celebrating with live music, local vendors, history exhibitions, and more. [Boulder; Free]

⭐⭐⭐ Crosscurrents | Saturday | 2-10 p.m.

Splash in the South Platte, sip on craft cocktails, and jam to live local music all day at this Confluence Park festival. [Auraria; Free]

🚧 ¡Viva! Streets | Sunday | 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Head to Civic Center Park for Denver’s third weekend shutting down Broadway to vehicles to encourage biking, walking, and rolling while celebrating local vendors and businesses. [Civic Center; Free]

🏜️ Lowrider Show and Shine | Sunday | 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Celebrate the opening of the Denver Art Museum’s “Desert Rider: Dreaming in Motion” exhibit honoring Southwestern Latinx and Indigenous culture. Admission to the museum is free all day. [Civic Center; Free]

Last week’s answer: “Four Chromatic Gates” by Herbert Bayer at RTD’s Alameda light rail station.

• Reader Gary S. says: “Another version of it is in Aspen in front of the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, and a small maquette of the work is at the Kirkland Museum.”
• Bayer is also the artist behind “Articulated Wall,” more affectionately known as the “French Fry Stack,” located just a stone’s throw away from “Four Chromatic Gates.”
  

👏👏 Big claps for our correct guessers:

• 🥇 Regular guesser Leah J. was the first to write in with the correct name, artist, and location of the sculpture!
• 🥈 But Abby H., Mike L., Holly H., Nancy J., and Tammy weren’t far behind!

This Week’s Photo:

🕵️ Do YOU know where to find this friendly red face? ⚠️ (Hint: I’m looking at you, motorheads, railfans, and trainspotters!) Be among the first to respond with the right answer and you’ll get a special shoutout in next Friday’s newsletter!

What's Denver's Favorite Drink? Plus, RIP Pizzeria Locale and the Lakewood Panty Raider

It’s Friday, and you know what that means — the City Cast Denver team is taking a look back at the news of the week. Today, host Bree Davies is joined by producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love to talk about Denver’s burgeoning beverage scene, another labor union success story, the demise of Pizzeria Locale, and more!