🥩 Meat thief strikes beloved local steakhouse

🇺🇸 Local Dems on VP Harris Nom

Colorado political leaders are still finding their bearings following the news that President Biden is out of the 2024 race and Vice President Harris is in — Governor Polis has even gone so far as to address the rumors that he could be on the list for potential VP candidates. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🛏️ Youth Shelter Debuts Massive New Campus

Urban Peak youth homeless shelter will now be able to house three times the amount of kids, teens, and young adults experiencing homelessness thanks to the debut of its brand new four-story, 136-bed campus in the Overland neighborhood. [Westword]

💰 Mayor’s New Tax Proposal Hits Roadblock

Mayor Mike Johnston is eager to get his affordable housing tax hike proposal in front of voters this fall, but first he has to get the greenlight from City Council — and so far, Council isn’t so sure. This week, a committee unanimously voted to postpone advancing the proposal until the City could answer a long list of questions about the plan. [Denverite]

• Hear from the mayor: We recently spoke with Mayor Johnston about his tax hike proposal and why he thinks it could help turn around the city’s housing crisis. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🥩 Meat Thief Strikes Beloved Local Steakhouse

Someone recently busted through the kitchen wall of longtime local standby Columbine Steak House and Lounge to steal, not cash, but meat — for the third time. The owner of the beloved Valverde joint estimates the perpetrators took about 250 cuts of steak, as well as caused serious damage to the kitchen. [Denverite]

This summer, Hey Denver is partnering with Bike Streets to bring you the 2024 Denver Bike Scavenger Hunt, an eight-week challenge to get to know the Mile High from two wheels!

How to play:

• First, sign up at bikestreets.com/scavenger
• Then, every Friday check back here in the Hey Denver newsletter for a new clue to a different Denver destination.
• Solve the riddle, bike to the place, send in a selfie proving you did it to [email protected], and you’ll be entered into that week’s raffle for a chance to be featured right here in Hey Denver! 👇
• 🎁 Then, keep playing for your chance to win one of our four grand prizes at the end of the series:
  • A free customized Bike Streets group tour to your favorites spots in Denver
  • A prize package from Evo
  • A jersey and free entry into the Denver Century Ride
  • A spot in one of Bikes Together’s bike mechanic classes.

Last Week’s Winner

The answer to last week’s clue: High Point Creamery in Hilltop!

🏅 Congrats to Cam T., who solved the riddle and was the winner of last week’s raffle! We asked Cam to share some of the things they love most about biking in Denver.

What did you enjoy about the secret destination and/or the ride over?

“I forgot about the challenge until 6 p.m. the day it was due, so I had a lovely evening bike ride in a neighborhood I haven't spent much time in. Unfortunately the creamery closed right as I got there so I didn't get any ice cream.”

What’s your favorite thing (or trail!) about biking in Denver?

“My favorite thing about biking in Denver is how possible it is to reach many different destinations by sometimes taking a creative route, which can lead you through areas with beautiful murals, parks, and houses, and you can learn things about Denver that you never knew existed before that bike ride. My favorite trail to bike on is the South Platte River trail.”

🍨 Craving a sweet treat? Take the official Bike Streets cyclist-friendly route to High Point Creamery in Hilltop 👇 The Bike Streets mobile app offers quiet, scenic, routes on residential streets to get you around Denver. Join the Bike Streets Club now.

Week 3 Clue

🔎 Know where to go? You know what to do! Snap a photo of you (and your bike) at the secret location, then email it to [email protected] no later than midnight on Monday, July 29. We’ll randomly select a winner from our pool of correct guessers to be spotlighted in next Friday’s newsletter.

Could Polis Be VP? Plus, Top 5 Trader Joe’s Snacks and Stolen Steaks

How will President Biden’s choice to drop out of the 2024 presidential race and instead endorse VP Kamala Harris impact Colorado’s November ballot? And is Governor Polis really in the running to be Harris’ own VP pick? It’s Friday and the City Cast Denver crew is digging into those stories and all the other news from this week including a steakhouse burglary, the fate of a rescued lobster, and Broncos legend Terrell Davis’ traumatic experience with United Airlines.