🎆 Are fireworks cancelled?

🎇 Are Fireworks Cancelled?

With 15 wildfires burning across the state, the City of Durango has cancelled its Fourth of July fireworks show, joining a growing number of Colorado municipalities moving away from the traditional holiday celebration. Unlike Denver and Lakewood, where drone shows have filled the bright-lights-in-the-sky role of fireworks, Durango’s cancellation notice clarified“no drone show is being considered.” [CPR]

• Durango is just one of nearly 60 firework show cancellations so far. The town of Ouray is even cancelling its “water fights” to conserve water for firefighting efforts in the nearby Gold Mountain Fire. [9News]
• While visiting the Snyder Mesa Fire incident command post earlier this week, Governor Jared Polis said he will not issue a statewide fire ban, but urged against using fireworks: “This is a matter of personal responsibility and honor to do our small part to protect the firefighters in Colorado.” [Colorado Politics]

🎆 Fireworks Still On Near Denver

• Arvada: Stenger Soccer Complex July 4 @ 9:15 p.m.
• Aurora: Bicentennial Park July 4 @ 9:30 p.m.
• Commerce City: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park July 3 after Summit FC game, July 4 after rugby matches
• Denver: Coors Field July 3 and July 4 after Rockies games
• Englewood: Belleview Park and Cornerstone Park July 4 @ 9:15 p.m.
• Glendale: Infinity Park July 2 @ 9:30 p.m.
• Littleton: Clement Park July 3 @ 9:30, Hudson Gardens July 3 after concert

🤖 Drone Shows Near Denver

• Denver: Sculpture Park, July 3
• Lakewood: Belmar, July 3
• Littleton: Breckenridge Brewery, July 2

(Just a reminder that fireworks are illegal in Denver! To report illegal fireworks, you can call 720-913-2059 or report them online.)

🚆 Hold On Please, New DIA CEO Arriving Soon

This week, Mayor Mike Johnston named the airport’s chief operating officer Dave LaPorte as interim CEO. The news comes after longtime CEO Phil Washington announced in June his plans to retire in August. Johnston is conducting a nationwide search for a permanent CEO, whose appointment will be subject to City Council approval. [BusinessDen 🔒]

• What legacy will Washington leave on the airport? Embracing conspiracy theories, managing construction projects, and growth, growth, growth. Under his leadership, DIA became the third busiest airport in the world.

🍜 Nguyen Sisters Continue Vietnamese Family Restaurant Tradition

In the same Federal Boulevard restaurant space where their parents operated New Saigon for 30 years, sisters An, Thao and Thoa Nguyen are opening a new place this week called Rễ Tre, which translates to “bamboo root” in Vietnamese. Thoa previously opened a bakery and cafe, Banh & Butter, on East Colfax in Aurora in 2022, and An moved into the space next door with the Vietnamese comfort food spot Dân Dã in 2024, the same year their parents closed New Saigon. [Denver Post 🔒]

• When one door opens, another closes. Port Side, the coffee place in a shipping container at 1500 Larimer St., announced this week it won’t be renewing its lease after 10 years. The shop’s last day is July 5.

🗳️ Winners and Losers of This Week’s Primaries

Yes, Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros’s victory over longtime Rep. Diana DeGette is garnering national attention. And yes, AG Phil Weiser defeated longtime Sen. Michael Bennet in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. But what else did this week’s results show us about who holds political power in Denver?

• GOP Governor Nominee Still Unclear: As of Wednesday afternoon, it’s still unclear if Victor Marx won enough votes to force a recount on the GOP side of the governor’s race. Barb Kirkmeyer remains ahead.
• 🎧 On The Pod: The Lever’s Editor-in-Chief David Sirota joins producer Paul Karolyi on the podcast today to talk about all the other winners and losers of this week’s elections.