🚦 Why is Colfax so congested?

🚏 RTD Considers Renaming Civic Center Station

Local disability advocates are calling on RTD officials to rename its Civic Center Station to honor Rev. Wade Blank, a leader of the historic “Gang of 19.” The group of activists is largely credited for improving accessibility here in Denver, as well as kickstarting a national disability rights movement in the late 1970s. [Denverite]

• Something else to watch: State lawmakers are drafting legislation that could majorly overhaul RTD, including downsizing the governing board and better aligning the agency’s goals with state housing and climate initiatives. [Denver Post]

🔎 Feds Investigate DPS

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating racial discrimination claims against Denver Public Schools. The allegations, made by a Lakewood-based conservative nonprofit, suggest DPS gives preferential treatment to students of color. [Denver Post]

🚦 Why is Colfax So Congested?

If you’ve been getting stuck in gnarly traffic on Colfax Avenue, you’d better get used to it. The backups are due to construction from a Denver Water project to replace a five-mile stretch of pipeline from Broadway to Yosemite, and work is expected to last through the rest of the year. [Denverite]

• Stay up to date: Follow the status of the project here, and nab a limited “I survived the great East Colfax Avenue pipe replacement of 2024” bookmark from the Tattered Cover 😂

Mimi Luong is the co-owner of Truong An Gifts, a charming shop tucked away in Westwood’s Far East Center shopping plaza that specializes in everything from tea, herbs, and feng shui to Asian snacks and street fashion. But more than that, Mimi and her family have created a cornerstone in the Far East Center for Denver’s Asian community to celebrate culture, heritage, and the city’s largest and longest-running Lunar New Year event.

We spoke with Mimi about her family’s legacy on the City Cast Denver podcast a few years ago. Now, we’ve welcomed her back as Denver prepares to celebrate Lunar New Year this weekend as a state-observed holiday for the first time.

What is the Lunar New Year?

"Lunar New Year is [Asian cultures’] New Year. We go off a lunar calendar that goes off the moon, so that’s why the date is different every year. My mom is a refugee. She had to flee the [Vietnam] war, and when she got here, there was nothing related to her culture or her heritage. But she wanted to be able to celebrate those things, so we were one of the first families in Denver to host Lunar New Year celebrations for the community. It is a celebration of our roots. We eat traditional food and wear traditional clothes and celebrate with dragons and fireworks."

What is the Lunar New Year Tradition You Look Forward to Most?

"You definitely have to eat long noodles, because that means you’re going to have a long life. You cannot bite the noodle, you have to just swallow it, because otherwise you’re cutting your life short. So that’s why we slurp our noodles. Also, making dumplings with the family. We have a special tradition of putting a lucky coin in one of the dumplings, and whoever gets the lucky coin will have prosperity throughout the year — kind of like a King Cake."

What Can We Expect from the Year of the Dragon?

"What’s so special about this year is that out of the 12 animal zodiacs, the dragon is the only animal that is a mythical creature. The dragon is a symbol of power, strength, and big changes, so we’re hopeful for a prosperous, powerful year."

Cheap, Fun Denver Date Ideas for Valetine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is coming up soon! Traditional date night options are often booked solid this time of year, not to mention pretty pricey. So what is a frugal couple to do? Linnea Covington from Mile High on the Cheap joins the show to share great ideas for a romantic, fun, and unforgettable V-Day that won’t break the bank.