🍽️ 5 first-timers score James Beard noms

🍽️ Colorado Snags 13 James Beard Noms

Colorado chefs and restaurants nabbed 13 spots on the 2024 James Beard Award semi-finalists list released yesterday. While well-known heavy hitters, like Kelly Whitaker (of Michelin fame) and Penelope Wong, unsurprisingly earned a nod, the list also included five James Beard first-timers. [Westword]

• Related: Kenneth Wan is being considered for the Emerging Chef award following his recent debut of MAKfam on South Broadway. Here’s why we loved his slice of NYC Chinatown in Baker. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

💰 City Helps Businesses Hurt by Homeless Crisis

The City has distributed one-time grants of $7,500-$15,000 to 69 Denver businesses who say their sales and foot traffic were negatively impacted by nearby homeless encampments. Axios Denver reports the neighborhood that received the most funding was Five Points. [Axios Denver]

🚔 Denver Police Officer Pleads Guilty

The Denver police officer accused of injuring six innocent bystanders after shooting into a crowded LoDo street in the summer of 2022 has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault. He was sentenced to 18 months of probation and can no longer work as a Colorado law enforcement official. [Denver Post]

🚗 Denver Pulls Out of Safe Parking Program

The City of Denver is pulling $400,000 in funding that was promised to the Colorado Safe Parking Initiative — a program that allows people living in their cars a safe place to park overnight. CSPI officials were told the money needs to be reallocated for other priorities. [RMPBS]

A Mile High Guide to Booze-Free Fun

Dry January might be ending, but if you want to keep the booze-free party going, Denver offers plenty of places to have a good time sans alcohol. We asked the mastermind behind the Colfax Things Instagram account to help us lay out a list of fun things to do around town without a cocktail in hand.