🤖 Are police drones coming to your neighborhood?

🎃 Volunteers Needed for Broadway Halloween Parade

Despite earlier funding concerns, event organizers have confirmed that they’ve reached full funding for the annual Broadway Halloween Parade, scheduled for Oct. 25. Now, they just need volunteers. People who sign up to help will get free drinks, a free t-shirt, a front-row seat, and an invite to the volunteers after-party. [Westword; Broadway Merchants Association]

🤖 First Responder Drones Spark Transparency Concerns

Back in August, the Denver Police Department quietly signed a one-year no-cost pilot contract with Flock surveillance to test out AI-enabled “drone first responders.” While other Denver metro cities have deployed DFRs with success, some Denver community leaders are concerned that DPD made this deal (with a company that has already amassed public scrutiny) without input from residents and oversight bodies. [9News; CPR]

🥊 Littleton’s Housing Fight is Getting Nasty!

In the election next month, Littleton residents will decide if their south metro suburb is ready for gentle density (aka duplexes, fourplexes, and other “missing middle” housing). But the fight is getting heated — One mayoral candidate just got caught swiping a rival’s campaign materials. So we’re talking to the city’s current mayor about how Littleton got here. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🚫 Residents Shut Down Cherry Creek GID Efforts

When councilwoman Amanda Sawyer hired a consultant for $15,000 and proposed that Cherry Creek residents might want to tax themselves to fund neighborhood improvements, the response from her constituents was swift. “I’ve never personally seen that big a pushback,” her consultant said. One resident opposing the effort said she didn’t want to be treated like a “cash cow.” [BusinessDen 🔒]

Change is always on the menu for Denver’s dining scene. As some cherished neighborhood favorites prepare to dish up their final plates (RIP to one of Denver’s O.G. diners), several new spots are spicing up the scene (hello, Japanese-Mexican fusion food). Here are just a few must-know openings and closings this month.

New to the Scene

Tía’s Taqueria | 1495 S Holly St. (Virginia Village)

Opened Oct. 3

This family operation comes to Denver from the Bay Area. With more than two decades of taqueria success along the coast of California, Tia’s is bringing familia vibes to a retrofitted former laundromat with deliciously simple tacos, burritos, and bean and rice platters — and a big screen TV.

Quad Side Tavern | 900 Auraria Pkwy (Auraria)

Opened Oct. 15

Food and beer have returned to the historic Tivoli building on Auraria Campus after Tivoli Brewing Co. moved out last December. Though it will no longer house a brewery, the menu will offer pub fare and a rotating tap list. Auraria officials are calling it the “kickoff to … a larger transformation on campus.”

Malinche Audio Bar | 1541 Platte St. (Highland)

Opened Oct. 13

Inspired by listening bars in Japan, this new venture from Michelin-acclaimed Chef Jose Avila has been proclaimed “undeniably cool.” As far as food goes, you can expect a small menu of unique dishes blending Japanese and Mexican influences (don’t skip the inspired dessert of nixtamalized corn custard topped with pear pearls and salmon roe). But the real draw is Chef Avila’s collection of vintage Mexican vinyl and his personal line of mezcal.

Last Chance to Visit

Brider | 1644 Platte St. (Highland)

Closing Oct. 23

The rotisserie chicken brainchild of locally renowned chefs Bryan Dayton and Steve Redzikowski (of Acorn, Corrida, and Oak at Fourteenth fame) is closing its doors for good this month, ending a decade of service. The announcement, which was made on the restaurant’s Instagram account, did not elaborate on the decision to shutter.

Pete’s University Park Cafe | 2345 E Evans Ave. (University)

Closing Nov. 9

Denver is losing one of its legendary Pete Contos diners (from the same family as Pete’s Kitchen and Pete’s Satire Lounge) next month. The greasy spoon near DU’s campus is calling it quits — like so many other local restaurants — over soaring food and labor costs. “The goal has always been a good plate, at a reasonable price, so that anybody could afford it,” says Pete’s daughter, Nikki Phillips.

Ghost Donkey | 1750 Wewatta St. #140 (Union Station)

Closing Oct. 19

The speakeasy chain specializing in mezcal is just the latest loss in an area of high turnover behind Union Station. Management cited dwindling sales, which apparently nosedived from as much as $10,000 a night to only $800.

RIP

• Raíces Brewing Co. | 2060 W Colfax Ave. (La Alma-Lincoln Park)
• Secret Garden Bar & Café | 1290 N Williams St. (Cheesman Park)
• Q House | 3421 E Colfax Ave. (City Park)
• Dimestore Delibar | 1575 Boulder St. Unit A (Highland)
• YumCha Dumpling & Noodle Bar | 10195 E 29th Dr. #140 (Central Park)