☕ Burglars target local coffee shops

🏠 Affordable Housing on 16th Street Mall

In the 1990s, local developer Chuck Perry had the idea to bring 51 affordable housing units to a massive 19th century department store sitting empty on the 16th Street Mall. Now, nearly three decades later as Denver faces a mounting housing crisis, he wants to add 55 more. [Denverite]

🚔 Internal Complaints Increase at Sheriff’s Office

According to a recent report from Denver’s Independent Monitor, internal complaints within the Denver Sheriff’s Office are up from 42 last year to 197 this year — a 369% increase. Most filings were about deputies failing to follow body-worn camera rules. [Axios Denver]

• The bigger picture: Last week, the Colorado News Collaborative published a concerning report on transparency issues at law enforcement agencies across the state. [COLab]
• Dive deeper: We sat down with a criminal justice reform advocate and co-author of the COLab report to discuss the ramifications of its findings. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

☕ Burglars Target Local Coffee Shops

Over the last year, thieves appear to have been targeting local coffee shops, burglarizing them in the middle of the night. Authorities have investigated break-ins at six Ziggi’s and one Dutch Bros. across the Metro, plus multiple break-ins at nonprofit Prodigy Coffeehouse in Globeville. [Denver Post 🔒]

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

⭐⭐⭐ First Bite Boulder | Through Sunday | Times Vary

Explore the best of Boulder’s dining scene with prix-fixe, multi-course meals at a stellar price at restaurants across the city. [Boulder; Prices vary]

🧟‍♂️ Monster and Horror Art Expo | Friday-Sunday | Times Vary

Cosplay as your favorite horror character and admire incredible prints, paintings, and other masterpieces of iconic villains and monsters. [Lakewood; Free]

🏚️ Dancing in the Dark | Friday-Sunday | Times Vary

Dance and horror become one at this immersive haunted house experience from Rocky Mountain Rhythm and Life/Art Dance. [Aurora; $16]

🍬 Olde Town Trick or Treat Street | Friday | 5-7 p.m.

Olde Town Arvada promises little ghouls and goblins a spooktacular time at this family-friendly Halloween event. [Arvada; $4 per kid]

🚮 Denver Cleanup Event | Saturday | 10:30 a.m.

Join the team at Odell Brewing for their final lake cleanup event of the season. Wear your Halloween costume and stick around for a free beer afterward. [Sloan’s Lake; Free]

💀 Día de Muertos Parade + Festival | Saturday | 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Celebrate the history and heritage of Día de los Muertos with ballet folklórico, catrinas, lowriders, food, music, a community altar, and more. [Civic Center; Free]

🐾 Howl’oween Barktacular | Saturday | 3-6 p.m.

Bring your four-legged best friend to Seven Grand whiskey bar for a doggy costume contest, pet caricatures, puppy swag, drink specials, and a “doggone good time.” [LoDo; Free]

🎃 Halloween Haunt | Saturday | 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Four Mile Historic Park is celebrating Halloweekend with pumpkin decorating, face painting, trick-or-treating, and more for the whole family. [Virginia Vale; $22]

🍗 TurkeyU | Sunday | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Learn how to smoke the perfect turkey from pro pitmasters. Tools, materials, and ingredients will be provided; all you need to bring is an appetite! [Fort Collins; $94]

🌹 Live Catrina Contest | Sunday | 1-5 p.m.

Don your sugar skull best for this live Catrina Contest, plus enjoy food, beer, and other holiday festivities. [Central Park; Free]

🍂 Highlands Harvest Festival | Sunday | 2-5 p.m.

Get in the holiday spirit at this community event along 32nd Avenue from Perry to Lowell. There will be food, drinks, music, kids games, and trick-or-treating. [Highlands; Free]

Psst! Looking for more trick-or-treat options? Check out this list from KDVR.

Last week’s answer: The Cherry Cricket (Ballpark location)

This iconic institution has been slinging some of the city’s best burgers since 1945. It was one of Denver’s first sports bars that nursed a decades-long reputation as being “a little rough around the edges.” But from neighborhood dive bar to award-winning burger joint, the Cherry Cricket is — and always has been — a community space for everyone, where a hot meal, a cold beer, and good vibes will always be waiting.

• Learn more: Listen to our podcast episode about how this burger dive has thrived for nearly eight decades. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

👏 A round of applause for our correct guessers:

• Alicia Y. was the first to write in with the correct answer!
• But Patrick B., Jena L., Dawn C., Joshua D., and Kelly E. weren’t far behind!

Thanks to everyone who wrote in!

This Week’s Photo:

🕵️ Do YOU know where to find this room full of all things magical and mystical? Be among the first to respond with the right answer and you’ll get a special shoutout in next Friday’s newsletter!

The Big Police Reform Report, Club Q Reborn, and the Nuggs Are Back, Baby!

Despite promises of law enforcement reform from state officials in recent years, a new investigative report finds that the database that was supposed to be tracking officer misconduct is missing crucial information, leaving many dangerous cops still on the job. Today on the podcast, host Bree Davies is joined by journalist Andrew Fraieli — who co-authored the report — and state legislator / criminal justice reform advocate Tim Hernández to dig into the details.