🍕 DIA adding 40 new food, shopping concessions

😎 Denver’s Summer Festival and Concert Lineup

Sun’s out, time for Denverites to be out! From outdoor concerts to food festivals, check out this guide on some of the festivals we just might be checking out this summer. [Visit Denver]

• 💖 Denver Pride: Denver is celebrating all month long with events from queer hiking, cookouts, museum events, and more. This year’s Denver Pridefest will take place on June 28 on 16th Street, from Broadway to Arapahoe.
• 🖼️ Highland Arts Festival: Looking for beautiful art to adorn your walls? Head to this weekend’s festival at the Highlands Masonic Lodge.
• ♥️ Juneteenth Parade: On June 20, head to Welton Street in historic Five Points to celebrate this significant holiday with the annual parade and the Juneteenth Music Festival.
• 🕺 Dancing in the Street Summer Concert Series: Catch the next free, high-energy show at The Streets at SouthGlenn on June 24. The party continues with events all summer through Aug. 26.
• 🌸 Denver Cherry Blossom Festival: This annual festival celebrates Japanese heritage and culture with live music, food vendors, and informative exhibits, June 27-28.
• 🎵 Colorado Music Festival: Head to Boulder to celebrate 50 years of this summer concert season, running from July 9 to Aug. 9.
• 🎨 Colorado Black Arts Festival: This three-day festival highlights the rich traditions of the African diaspora. Enjoy art, music, food, and community in Denver City Park from July 10-12.
• 🌵 Summer Tequila Tasting Festival: Enjoy curated tastings of agave spirits from over 20 craft, small-batch, and renowned tequilas. More of a mezcal fan? They got that, too!
• 🎷 City Park Jazz: The free summer music series is up and running! Through Aug. 9, expect the same amazing performances as always, but on a temporary stage near the City Park Pavilion.
• 🎞️ CO150 Film Festival: Running now through the fall at theaters across the state, catch a screening of 150 films either made in Colorado, about Colorado, or for Coloradans.

✈️ DIA to Expand Food, Shopping Concessions

Denver International Airport is expanding shopping and dining options to boost non-aeronautical revenue. Believing DIA is currently “under-concessioned,” the upcoming $2.1 billion Great Hall renovation will add new shops, restaurants, and quick-food concessions, increasing total vendors from 200 to 240. A new digital advertising program and an expanded Peña Boulevard billboard are also planned. [Denver Post 🔐]

📚 University of Denver Closing Five Departments

The university is planning to restructure by merging several colleges, such as computer science with natural sciences, and closing some departments, including religion and computer engineering. Some departments voluntarily closed, including gender and women’s studies. Despite the restructuring, university officials say students can still complete their degrees. [9News]

🗳️ Sen. Michael Bennet on Housing Affordability, Redistricting, and How He’s Different From Gov. Polis

Michael Bennet has represented Colorado in Congress since 2009. Now, the U.S. senator is running for governor — and is in the midst of a heated democratic primary against fellow candidate, Attorney General Phil Weiser. Last fall, Bennet sat down with us to talk about everything from housing affordability and rent algorithms to pushing back against Trump. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

• Just a note: We reached out to Bennet’s campaign, but were not able to get an interview ahead of this month's primaries. For more on Bennet, listen to our past episode with local historian Phil Goodstein, who shared more of the senator’s backstory.

🚨 Aurora to Create Police Oversight Office

Aurora City Council unanimously approved the creation of a police oversight office, which will have access to records, body-worn camera videos, and require officers to notify the office of critical incidents within 30 minutes. But critics argue that it lacks real power over police policy and personnel. A final vote is scheduled for the next council meeting. [Denver Gazette 🔏]

• Related: A Colorado appeals court overturned the homicide convictions for the two Aurora paramedics convicted in Elijah McClain’s death last week. [City Cast Denver 💻]

🔪 Littleton Approves $5.5M Manning-Inspired Restaurant

In partnership with Denver-based Gastamo Group, the city of Littleton on Tuesday voted to approve the city’s first-ever public-private partnership to build 1st Street Farms, a restaurant and event venue inspired by football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. The former Bronco will serve as a minority investor and primarily serve as a promotional asset. [9News]

What to expect: The project is expected to build a 15,000-square-foot full-service restaurant, a 13,000-square-foot event venue, a community football field, and more. Check out the renderings. [City Cast Denver 💻]