With Democrats controlling both houses of the Colorado Legislature, Governor John Hickenlooper should have lots of common ground with lawmakers. But one topic is already creating cracks in any consensus: fracking. Hickenlooper has asked for a single set of state regulations that would govern the state’s oil and gas industry,…
While Governor John Hickenlooper had a conference call with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to talk about the federal response to the passage Amendment 64, and Mason Tvert, the architect of that victory, was chatting with Bill Maher, hundreds of people gathered in Denver for the National Marijuana Business Conference…
Three Colorado chefs started out on the season premiere ofTop Chef Seattle last week, and two moved on. But Euclid Hall’s Jorel Pierce was out, booted by Tom Colicchio. And how did that feel? “While the pressure was intense and intimidating,” Pierce says, “I know now that I learned a…
The election may be over, but the campaigns continue. While pot proponents celebrate the passage of Amendment 64 at a national marijuana convention in Denver, backers of another successful initiative, Amendment 65, will also be gathering in town for a 2012 Grassroots Democracy Convergence to push for getting money out…
The green rush is on — 150 years after fortune-hunters rushed to the Rockies in search of gold. On Tuesday, Colorado voters passed Amendment 64, cementing this state’s reputation as the cannabis capitol of the country. That vote should certainly light up a convention scheduled months ago that starts today…
Dear Mexican: When are the racial minorities going to give up la causa? We have a black man for el presidente, and as a white middle-aged male, I couldn’t be happier. I have been hearing all of my life about how oppressed the racial minorities have been and what needs…
It was the first Friday of the month, which meant that arts districts around Denver were gearing up to greet hordes of art lovers…and those who also love a good party. And since November 2 was also the start of Denver Arts Week, they were anticipating even bigger hordes than…
Governor John Hickenlooper gave this election a real sound bite when he warned that the passage of Amendment 64 doesn’t change the fact that “federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don’t break out the Cheetos or [Goldfish] too quickly.”…
At 7:35 a.m., a Colorado Republican Committee radio ad urging people to vote early by mail was airing on KHOW. Too late. I’d just returned from the polling place in my neighborhood — a neighborhood that has changed drastically in the twenty years I’ve been voting here…
The national newscasts this morning are full of speculation about which way Colorado will swing tomorrow. But whether the color wheel lands on red or blue, Colorado won’t look as black as it did the morning after the 1992 election, when this state was labeled “The Hate State.”…
The country is swamped by devastation from Hurricane Sandy and the storm of the 2012 election, but it’s still beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And who’s the Santa hauling the 2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree — — “America’s gift to the nation” — to Washington, D.C.? Former Senator…
This is the first National Bison Day, a project pushed by groups that would like to make bison the national mammal. For the past century, every day has been a bison day in Denver, since the city has had its own herd since 1914 — but if other bison boosters…
Dear Mexican: After a year in Spain, I speak more-than-decent Spanish, and I want to get a job in the non-profit field, where I can put it to use and pursue social justice and all that. Thing is, my Spanish is pretty peninsular. I maintained my seseo, thank God, but…
Just in time for Denver Arts Week, which kicks off on November 2, the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts is unveiling the results of its most recent study, which shows that metro Denver arts and culture generated $1.76 billion in total economic activity in 2011 — a year that…
Mayor Michael Hancock’s cabinet is finally complete. Late last week, he announced that he had hired a planning director to fill the slot that Peter Park left in mid-2011: Rocky Piro, a native of Denver who’s been working in Washington State. And one of the first things Piro should plan…
President Barack Obama took Friday off from the campaign trail — but he didn’t put all politicking on hold. He did a number of interviews, including a big one with MTV and satellite chats with a handful of local reporters from toss-up states, including 9News’ Kyle Clark, who definitely came…
The first Denver Startup Week got off to a roaring start, with Mayor Michael Hancock telling a packed luncheon that “we’re going to knock out Silicon Valley…. We’re going to become Silicon Mountain.” To help in that effort, he announced the launch of Denver Capital Matrix, a resource directory of…
Jesse Morreale has decided he can’t fight city hall on two fronts. And so after last call on Saturday, he’ll close Rockbar, the hipster hangout he opened six years ago. The other front? First Avenue Hotel at 101 Broadway, which could have a date with destiny next Thursday if the…
Dear Mexican: Why is it that every Mexican I know refuses to eat chocolate? My in-laws drink things I wouldn’t clean my carburetor in. They fill their piñatas with every kind of hard candy — but no chocolate! I bring out a bag of M&Ms and everyone backs away to…
The McNichols Building, which will be launched this morning as a cultural and event space, got its start as a Carnegie Library — the biggest one in Colorado. But it was far from the only one. Over two decades at the turn of the last century, the Carnegie Corporation of…
You didn’t need to listen to all the pundits dissect the presidential debate to know that Colorado is still a swing state. Just check traffic reports: Today, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will hold a rally at Red Rocks — accompanied by Kid Rock. (This might be the only way…
The news that George McGovern, now ninety, is in hospice care stirred memories — not just of his campaign for president, but of a night in Ovando, Montana. I was at Trixi’s Antler Saloon when I started seeing familiar faces passing by: a man who looked like Dick Lamm, a…
