🤔 How (un)popular is the mayor?

📊 City Council and Mayor Get Graded

After nearly his first full year in office, Mayor Mike Johnston has received a 43% approval rating from his constituents, according to City Council’s recent poll of some 1,600 Denverites. Council, on the other hand, only earned a 36% approval rating. [Denverite]

• What do you think? How would YOU grade Mayor Mike Johnston’s first year? Let us know 📧

⚖️ Council Members Ask City Attorney to Drop Protester Charges

Denver City Council members Sarah Parady and president Jamie Torres are asking the city attorney to drop the charges against the roughly 40 demonstrators that were arrested earlier this month at the anti-war encampment on Auraria Campus. [Denver Gazette 🔒]

❗Promising Local Tech Company Announces Sweeping Layoffs

Yesterday, Denver-based “unicorn startup” Guild shared plans with its employees to lay off 25% of its workforce. The drastic cut comes almost exactly one year after the company executed a 12% layoff. [Hey Denver]

• A response from Guild: “To exceed our audacious goals … we have decided to restructure our organization. This restructuring resulted in a reduction in our workforce. While difficult, these changes will ensure that moving forward, we operate more efficiently, innovate faster, and continue to deliver strong outcomes for our stakeholders.”

🇺🇸 Looking for the Real Lauren Boebert

Notorious for heckling the President and getting kicked out of a theater for vaping and groping a date, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert has been in the news a lot in the last few years. But beyond the sensational headlines, who is she really? [City Cast Denver 🎧]

Farmers Market season is in full swing, and the South Pearl Street market — one of Denver’s most popular choices along a two-block stretch of the historic shopping district — is back! The market posts up every Sunday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m between East Arkansas Avenue and East Iowa Avenue to offer up the freshest local produce and goods. The weather is going to be fabulous, so if you’re planning to stop by, heck, why not make a whole morning of it?

☕ For Breakfast

If you’re on the northern end of South Pearl, you’ll wanna stop in at the famous Duffyroll Bakery for a cinnamon roll or Stella’s Coffee Haus for gourmet coffees and teas (plus a dog-friendly patio perfect for people watching). If you’re starting at the southern end of the shopping district, grab a latte and a seat on the shaded back patio at Steam Espresso Bar.

🍽️ For Lunch

Refuel from all that strolling with sashimi and ramen at OTOTO Den. Sexy Pizza has some killer lunchtime slice specials. Midday marg? Uno Mas Taqueria has you covered. And if you’re willing to walk a few extra blocks, you’ll find one of my personal favorites near the corner of Jewell Avenue, Quiero Arepas.

🌳 Off the Path

If you’re looking for a perfect picnic spot or a patch of grass where you can catch a few rays, about four blocks west of South Pearl Street you’ll find Platt Park, complete with a shaded playground and a basketball court. (The Platt Park Rec Center and Decker Branch Denver Public Library are closed on Sundays, FYI.)

A brand new pizza shop is in town to fill the pie-sized hole left in our hearts by the now-shuttered Sofia’s, a Roman-style pizza parlor that doled out thick-crusted cheesy pies and creamy cups of soft serve ice cream on 16th Street Mall. (After only four brief but delicious months, Sofia’s shuttered without a peep last August.)

Now, Eat’Ya Pizza is here, not only to satisfy our Roman-style pizza cravings, but it’s located — wait for it — in the former Sofia’s space at 1530 16th Street. Dreams do come true! Eat your heart out 🫶🍕

I’ll be spending my lunch break there for the foreseeable future, but if you’re looking for lunchtime inspo, check out my other picks for downtown Denver lunch dining 👇

Little Finch

1490 16th Street

Quick and delicious, bakery-style. Order the croque madame danish, plus something from the specialty coffee and tea menu. (Bonus beverage: don’t skip the flavored Italian sodas!)

Biker Jim’s

2148 Larimer Street

An eclectic menu of “gourmet hot dogs.” Go a little early or a little late to avoid the lunch rush lines. The standby order: An elk jalapeño cheddar dog with Biker Jim’s classic toppings. A more adventurous alternative: The jack-a-lope dog with The Conspiracy toppings.

Dragonfly Noodle

1350 16th Street

For a midday indulgence. I like the Tonkotsu Ramen (don’t forget to add an egg) with a Thai iced tea. This order is best followed up with a power nap. For something “lighter,” get the roast duck bao bun.

Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose: The Escort Rumors

Presidential heckler, unruly theater patron, MAGA superstar — Lauren Boebert’s tabloid-like presence is undeniable. The congresswoman’s reputation often precedes her, overshadowing the potential power she holds in shaping the future of Colorado — and American — politics. This first episode in a special podcast series from City Cast Denver digs into the origins of some of the biggest, and most outrageous rumors about the politician with an increasingly tighter hold on the GOP.