🔥 Wildfires ravage the Front Range

🔥 Wildfires Ignite Across Front Range

Local fire crews are battling three separate wildfires — in Boulder, Larimer, and Jefferson counties — all of which broke out this week. Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes, and one person has been confirmed dead. You can follow live updates with the Colorado Sun wildfire tracker. [CO Sun]

⛽ Does Denver Have Too Many Gas Stations?

In the name of walkability and new housing, a group of Denver City Council members is crafting a bill that would implement new restrictions on where gas stations could be built. [Denver Post 🔒]

🧑‍⚖️ Long-Awaited Tina Peters Trial Begins

The trial for former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters began in a Grand Junction courtroom yesterday. It’s been three years since Peters was accused of tampering with voting machines in search of proof that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump. [CPR]

🚔 Lawsuit Targets ‘Barbaric Hazing’ at DPD

A former Denver police recruit is suing DPD and local EMTs after he lost both his legs as a result of “fight day” training at Denver’s police academy. The lawsuit argues the practice is an “unnecessarily violent rite of passage” and encourages excessive force. [AP via CO Sun]

📚 New Tech for the New Tattered Cover

With Barnes & Noble’s acquisition of Tattered Cover officially official, the beloved local bookstore brand has shared a schedule of upcoming temporary store closures to install some much needed tech upgrades. [Denverite]

August is here and there’s still plenty of summer to be had! From state fairs and food festivals to unique eats and cool treats, we’ve rounded up our top picks for the best ways to enjoy this late-summer month in and around Denver.

🍑 Eat Something Distinctly Colorado

How serendipitous that Colorado’s birthday month includes the annual Palisade Peach Festival in Palisade, the annual Olathe Sweet Corn Festival in Olathe, and the green chile-loaded Colorado State Fair in Pueblo.

• Pro-tip: Don’t wanna make the 4-hour drive to Palisade? Lafayette does an impeccable peach festival that same weekend on August 17 🍑

🐉 Explore a New Culture

Cultures collide at the Saigon Azteca Night Market, a late-summer community festival that heats up after the sun goes down. The Westwood neighborhood’s vibrant Asian and Latinx communities come together to show off their best food, drinks, dance, music, and local artisans.

⚽ Cheer on Your Colorado Soccer Olympians

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team has three (!) Coloradans — Lindsey Horan, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson — and they’re killing it in Paris. Show some hometown pride and saddle up to watch their next match — the start of the quarterfinals knockout rounds — against Japan on Saturday, Aug. 3.

• Where to watch? Here are our favorite Denver sports bars.

🍽️ Try a New Restaurant Rec

Looking for a new restaurant to try? You’ve got the official City Cast Denver stamp of approval on Quiero Arepas, which has locations in Denver and Boulder. My personal fave is the Queso arepa with fresh mozzarella and muenster cheese, avocado, and fried plantains. Do yourself a favor and add the guasacaca sauce. *chefs kiss*

• Bonus rec: Don’t sleep on Arepa House 🇻🇪

⛷️ Brush Up on Your State History

In honor of Colorado’s 148th birthday, we’d suggest a visit to the History Colorado Center where you can learn something new about the great state you call home. Check out the center’s current exhibition on Colorado’s connection to the U.S. Army’s famed 10th Mountain Division — an elite group of WWII soldiers on skis!

• Mark your calendar: The center is screening a historical documentary, “The Lost Mountaineers,” recounting the harrowing mission of 25 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division on August 19.

🍧 Indulge in Japanese-Style Shave Ice

For a limited time, Temaki Den is showing off its sweet side with Kakigori Ken, a decadent Japanese-style shaved ice pop-up running now through September. Don’t miss this fluffy, icy treat dressed in luxurious flavors, including a magical combo of matcha syrup, red bean paste, and crème anglaise, all topped with a mochi ball.

Your Guide to August in Denver

From hot restaurant recs and new museum exhibits to can’t-miss Olympic events, the City Cast Denver podcast crew has a great roundup of great things to do, see, eat, and explore in Denver and beyond this month.