🪧 Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt City Council

🏢 Downtown Still Mostly Empty, Despite Christmas Cheer

Construction on the 16th Street Mall — which has led to much inconvenience and at least one viral moment — is now set to run through fall 2025, almost a year later than previously reported. Also, the new owners of Larimer Square have been conspicuously mum on their plans for redevelopment, as several longtime tenants of the historic strip have vacated. [Axios Denver]

🪧 Palestinian Solidarity Protesters Disrupt City Council

With the four-day Global Conference for Israel set to kick off in Denver later this week, tensions around the war in Gaza are high. Palestinian solidarity protesters disrupted City Council Monday night, forcing postponement of half of its scheduled business. [Denver Post 🔒]

• FYI: The Colorado Palestine Coalition is planning demonstrations outside the Colorado Convention Center all week during the conference. [CBS]

🥶 Should Denver Shelters Change Cold Weather Protocols?

A local doctor made the case to City Council last week that Denver’s current cold weather shelter protocols are out of step with medical science. Now, two council members are pushing a proposal to raise the temperature threshold for the city to open warming centers and ban encampment sweeps when it’s too cold. [Denverite]

⏪ Mayor Johnston Reverses Hancock Policy on Downtown

When he took office over the summer, Mayor Mike Johnston reversed a plan put in place by his predecessor Michael Hancock to allow 2,100 city employees to work from home while the Wellington Webb Municipal Office Building was being renovated. But can an influx of city employees help downtown’s empty office building problem? [City Cast Denver 🎧]

Hey loyal reader, what’s on your mind? 🤔

🛍️ Following our episode on holiday shopping, Suzy wrote in to say:

• “Just want to remind everyone to visit local pop-ups and shop small. Denver is so full of talented makers, creators ,and artists. We put so much effort into keeping it local, partnering with each other and providing quality products — so many items you’ll never find elsewhere. Give tiny shopping a try this year, you won’t regret it!”

🪱 After we shared some tips for composting and recycling in the city, Emma F. wrote in with a local recommendation:

• “Anyone interested in DIY vermicomposting should check local small business CARL. They sell a compost bin that includes everything you need to get started and will even provide education, instruction, and bin clean-out services if you’d like!”

🙏 In the spirit of the holidays, we asked readers and listeners to share their Denver gratitudes — here are just a few:

John says:

• “I [recently] moved to Denver, and I've just been extremely blown away by how nice everybody is and I just want to say how grateful I am for the community that welcomed me and just the amazing people that live in Denver.”

Patrick writes:

• “Sending my gratitude to Denver's amazing health care. I'm a cancer survivor and owe my life to the staff at Colorado Blood Cancer Institute!

Sarah P. says:

• “I'm grateful for all the Denver workers who have gone on strike. It's been an incredible year watching workers find their voice. I think workers everywhere are a little stronger when brave workers walk off the job and demand what they deserve.”

Jessica O. writes:

• “1) We get ALL the best concerts and have amazing music venues. No matter what day of the week it is you can find good live music/shows
  2) Being able to hike all year long is a blessing”

✏️ Figure Drawing Session | Wednesday | 6-8:30 p.m.

Artists of all levels are welcome to join Redline Contemporary Art Center’s weekly non-instructional drawing class. Materials will be provided. [Five Points; $10]

👯 Neo Burlesque Variety Show | Thursday | 8 p.m.

Step inside Meow Wolf’s magical performance venue, the Perplexiplex, for “Bedtime Stories” — an 18+ burlesque show featuring performances from Shirly Delta Blow, Kerrie Joy, and more. [Sun Valley; $30+]

🎄Holiday Pop-Up Market | Friday-Sunday | Times Vary

Head down to Olde Town for a German-style holiday market featuring a rotating list of local vendors and artisans each weekend until Christmas. [Arvada; Free]

What Will Happen to Downtown’s Empty Office Buildings?

As the 16th Street Mall’s renovation inches slowly along and downtown workers remain at home leaving Denver’s office buildings largely empty, the urban core continues to struggle. Will Mayor Mike Johnston be able to turn things around? Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi sit down with a real estate economist and downtown expert to hash it out.