🪧 Protests follow Palantir to Cherry Creek

You’re Invited to a Superlative Evening of Celebration and Celebrity Guests ✨

The City Cast Denver team is inviting you 🫵 to the holiday extravaganza of the year, where we will be recognizing the most Denver-y people, places, and moments of 2025 with a fancy party and a formal awards ceremony! There will be local celebrity guests, photo ops, live entertainment, and a whole bunch of off-the-wall surprises!

• When: Thursday, Dec. 18. Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m.
• Where: The Oriental Theater (4335 W. 44th Ave.)

🌟 Neighbor Perks!

City Cast Denver Neighbors are also invited to a members-only after-party! 🤫 Plus, access to exclusive CCD swag and sweet a discount on tickets! (Unlock the deets by signing up to join the program now!)

Submit a Nomination 🏆

We’ll be looking back on 2025 to honor the Denver-est people, places, and moments of the past year. Not only do we want you to be there for the fun, but we want you to help us decide on the nominees!

Award categories include:

• Most Denver-est Denverite of 2025
• Biggest Win of 2025
• Best Street/Neighborhood of 2025
• Best Artist of 2025
• Best Bar/Restaurant of 2025
• Best Store/Small Business of 2025

Know someone or something that fits the bill? Nominate them! We’ll announce the finalists in each category in early December, then open up a second round of voting to the public to determine the winners!

🏟️ Broncos Unveil Early Plans for New Stadium

The Denver Broncos this week submitted preliminary plans for the new football stadium and surrounding entertainment district coming to Burnham Yard. The 38-page document — which will be modified in collaboration with the city and community over the next year — included early site maps, transit considerations, and general timelines for the project. [Denver Post 🔒]

• Get involved: A community open house is planned for the La Alma Rec Center on Wednesday, Nov. 19, with the public invited to drop in between 5-7 p.m.

🫏 A New Political Era for Aurora

Tuesday’s election resulted in a major political shakeup for Aurora, shifting city council’s 7-3 conservative majority to a 6-4 progressive one for the first time in years. Most notably, Aurora firebrand Danielle Jurinsky conceded her at-large seat. Jurinsky has established a polarizing reputation and even gained national attention for her inflammatory remarks on immigration and public safety in her first term on council, including playing a significant role in spurring “Operation Aurora,” President Trump’s mass deportation plan. [Westword]

🚫 Protesters Follow Palantir to Cherry Creek

The AI data company’s recent move from downtown Denver to Cherry Creek North hasn’t come without controversy. While several protests (over the tech giant’s contracts with ICE and American and Israeli militaries, among other things) took place at the downtown location, things got even messier this week when the company’s new headquarters was vandalized, splattered with red paint and marked with the words “Palantir out.” [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🥖 Marczyk Fine Foods Is Coming to LoDo

The popular local gourmet grocery chain has announced plans to open a fourth location in the Dairy Block’s Milk Market. The new outpost, scheduled to open early next year, will be a stripped down (but “mighty!”) version of its other stores, selling soups, salads, sweets, premade meals, and select grocery items. [BusinessDen 🔒]

• 👀 In similar dining news: Michelin-starred Chef Johnny Curiel and his wife and business partner Kasie Curiel of Alma Fonda Fina fame are opening a new restaurant this winter inside Cherry Creek’s Clayton Hotel & Members Club. Departing from his repertoire of Mexican flavors, Mar Bella Boqueria will be a “Spanish neo-bistro and wine bar.” [Westword]

Last week’s answer: You’ll spot this dude shredding on the patio at The Matchbox — a neighborhood bar in RiNo popular for its DJ nights, stick-it-to-the-man vibes, and a 24/7 shot and a beer deal for $7. Fun fact: The bar’s name is partly an homage to the 2009 fire that gutted the building, and partly a reference to the bar’s small narrow layout, like a matchbox.

📣 A special shoutout for this week’s correct guessers:

• Leah J. was the first to write in with the correct answer!
• But Alexis A., Mike, Gianna G., and Joe C. weren’t far behind!
• A special thanks to Jack L. for sharing this week’s photo 🙏

This Week’s Photo:

🕵️ Do YOU know where this mural is located? 💡 I’ll give you a hint: It’s not actually on Colfax. 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!