City Cast Denver
🐺 DOGE Bites Denver. Will Denver Bite Back?
February 28, 2025 · — Francisco Kilgore
Good morning, Denver! It’s Francisco Kilgore from City Cast here, filling in for Peyton Garcia. DIA turns 30 today, can you believe it? I still remember the first time I saw that tented roof! To celebrate the milestone Westword rounded up ten fun facts about “Mustang” aka Blucifer, the unofficial mascot of the airport. Now, on with the news!
What's CITY Talking About?
💰 $14 Million in Back Pay Owed to Strip Club Performers
The city auditor’s office found that two local strip clubs have “violated nearly every applicable provision” of Denver’s minimum wage law. According to the report, clubs charged performers to work, pocketed their tips, and failed to pay a minimum wage. In response, the clubs are suing the city. [Denver Post 🔒]
🥡 Beloved Downtown Chinese Restaurant Closes
Two weeks after restaurateur Edwin Zoe signed onto a letter to Mayor Johnston decrying the state of downtown, Zoe has apparently closed the Union Station location of Zoe Ma Ma, the restaurant that earned him a semifinalist nod for a James Beard Award in 2022. While the space is empty, a sign on the door reads, “you can still have delivery and catering starting February 27.” [City Cast Denver]
- Not a James Beard winner, but… Del Taco abruptly closed all 19 locations in Colorado yesterday. [9News]
🐺 DOGE Bites Denver
More than 40,000 federal workers could be in the line of fire as Elon Musk’s budget cutting plans expand. From IRS agents to National Parks employees, how will massive layoffs at the hands of DOGE impact Colorado? [City Cast Denver 🎧]
🏘️ Denver City Council Approves City Park Zoning Change
Plans for six, three-story townhome-style units next to Weathervane Café are moving forward with unanimous approval. After originally opposing the plans, the adjacent coffee shop relented post-negotiations and came to an agreement with the developer, who will pay for additional signage for the business during construction. [Business Den🔒]
Where Is It?
Last week’s answer: Lonnie Hanzon’s “Cabinet of Curiosities and Impossibilities” exhibit at the Museum of Outdoor Arts.
Alas, you will not find this intriguing art display at Meow Wolf, as many of you (understandably) guessed. Rather, you’ll find it as part of an exhibit by one of Denver’s O.G. immersive art pioneers — Lonnie Hanzon. You might recognize him as the creator of the one and only Camp Christmas experience, which spent a few glorious years in Denver. But more recently Lonnie reimagined this fan-favorite exhibit, the “Cabinet of Curiosities and Impossibilities.” The exhibit was originally created in 2010 for display at the Museum of Outdoor Arts headquarters in Englewood. After the MOA moved to Marjorie Park 2022, Lonnie took the opportunity to reinvent the Cabinet with even more whimsy and wonder. We 10/10 recommend.
👏 Big claps for this week’s correct guessers:
- Suzanne L. was the first to write in with the correct answer!
But Kristina C., Lupe G., and Mary C. weren’t far behind!
This Week’s Photo:
🕵️ Do YOU know where this sculpture of a ghostly train car is located? Be among the first to respond with the right answer and you’ll get a special shoutout in next Friday’s newsletter!
📸 Want to submit a photo? Send me a snapshot of somewhere in Denver, and I’ll consider it for an upcoming photo trivia segment!
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That’s it from me! Have a great weekend.
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