City Cast Denver

Alamo Drafthouse's QR Code Backlash, Election Denier Reconsidered, and What's So Funny About RTD?

Union workers at Alamo Drafthouse in Sloan’s Lake are walking out today [https://www.denverpost.com/2026/04/01/alamo-drafthouse-sloans-lake-strike-qr-code/] over frustrations with the company’s move to a QR code-based food ordering system, saying it overcomplicates interactions with customers. Contributor Michelle Jackson joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to discuss what it means for a theater chain that built a brand on being aggressively anti-phone. Plus they discuss the latest news in the saga of disgraced Mesa County clerk Tina Peters, what this joke map of RTD’s light rail stops [https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/1s8667r/if_rtd_station_names_were_accurate/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button] says about how we view Denver, and of course, our wins and fails of the week.  Bree talked about the new Gems & Minerals Hall [https://www.dmns.org/about/strategic-plan/gems-and-minerals-hall-renovation/] coming to the Museum of Nature and Science, the ongoing JBS strike [https://www.democracynow.org/2026/4/1/meatpacking_strike_colorado], and Denver City Council’s vote for a new contract [https://denverite.com/2026/03/31/denver-license-plate-readers-axon-contract-city-council/] with Axon. Paul quoted numbers from this Westword report [https://www.westword.com/news/denver-alamo-drafthouse-locations-vote-for-unions-21077680/] on the local Alamo unions and discussed this statement [https://drafthouse.com/denver/news/our-shift-to-qr-ordering?srsltid=AfmBOoozmAPoNge7li0-_Og5Uil0r91hXRhJdjBe7Yg1aMdY613Ja5r4] from the company about the QR ordering change; he also talked about Copper Kettle Brewing’s impending closure [https://www.westword.com/food-drink/denver-brewery-copper-kettle-announces-upcoming-closure-40865492/] and Jersey Mike’s downhill slide [https://apnews.com/article/jersey-mikes-acquired-blackstone-transaction-d45eb865f912eb39bbd7ac8ad8a86fcd]. Michelle mentioned Mo’Betta Greens [https://www.instagram.com/mobettagreen/].  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm [https://denver.citycast.fm/subscribe-hey-denver-newsletter-colorado]. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver [https://www.instagram.com/citycastdenver/] Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver [https://www.reddit.com/r/CityCastDenver/] Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm [https://membership.citycast.fm/denver] What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this April 3rd episode: * Multipass [https://www.multipass.com/mp/events] Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise [https://citycast.fm/advertise/]

Prediction Markets Hit Local Politics, Axon Replaces Flock, and a Great Local Pet Store

Harbingers of dystopia or the hottest trend in tech — Kalshi, Polymarket, and other prediction market platforms have come for local politics. You can right now bet on buzzy issues like the hotly contested race [https://kalshi.com/markets/kxco8d/colorado-8-democratic-primary/kxco8d-26] to represent Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, but also on the utterly banal, like the temperature in Denver today [https://kalshi.com/markets/kxhighden/highest-temperature-in-denver/kxhighden-26apr01]. City Cast Denver contributor and founder of investigative journalism site The Lever David Sirota joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to dissect the local prediction markets. Plus, City Council approves Mayor Mike Johnston’s new contract for Axon license plate readers, and Sirota’s got a rec for the best pet supply store in town.  Subscribe to “Keep It Local [https://denver.citycast.fm/keep-it-local-newsletter-sign-up?utm_source=website&utm_content=keep-it-local-topic-page],” our new Thursday afternoon shopping guide for curated recommendations of local small businesses. Paul also mentioned the podcast Election Profit Makers [https://epm.fireside.fm/] and our recent episode [https://denver.citycast.fm/podcasts/taxing-the-rich-retaliatory-redistricting-and-who-to-blame-for-your-rising-electricity-bill] with Dr. Paul Teske of CU Denver’s School of Public Affairs. Do you have a gambling problem? In Colorado, you call the 24/7 confidential hotline or text 1-800-GAMBLER For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm [https://denver.citycast.fm/subscribe-hey-denver-newsletter-colorado]. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver [https://www.instagram.com/citycastdenver/] Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver [https://www.reddit.com/r/CityCastDenver/] Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm [https://membership.citycast.fm/denver] What do you think about the prediction markets for local issues? We want to hear your take on Kalshi and Polymarket! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this April 2nd episode: * Multipass [https://www.multipass.com/mp/events] Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise [https://citycast.fm/advertise/]

Your Guide to April 2026 in Denver

Spring is springing! Flowers are blooming! Who was hoping for a a real winter this year, anyway? Denverites are up and about, and the city is buzzing with great new places to eat and cool things to do. Whether you’re looking for a comfortable place to drink a beer while the kiddos play or searching your new favorite coffee shop that also serves as a revolutionary reading library, we’ve got plenty of very real, personal recommendations for how to make the most of April in Denver. Plus, if you were assembling the perfect Denver picnic, what locally produced or made foods would need to be in there? And where are you plopping down your blanket? For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at⁠ denver.citycast.fm⁠ [https://denver.citycast.fm/subscribe-hey-denver-newsletter-colorado]. Follow us on Instagram:⁠ @citycastdenver⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/citycastdenver/] Chat with other listeners on reddit:⁠ r/CityCastDenver⁠ [https://www.reddit.com/r/CityCastDenver/] Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member:⁠ membership.citycast.fm⁠ [https://membership.citycast.fm/denver] What’s in your Ultimate Denver Picnic Box? We want to hear the great stuff we missed! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 If you enjoyed today's interview with Andy Cambron, the CEO of Multipass,⁠ ⁠ [https://www.multipass.com/?ref=citycast_denver]⁠learn more here.⁠ [https://www.multipass.com/mp/events] Check out the upcoming events Andy mentioned here: * ⁠ShroomskiCon⁠ [https://www.multipass.com/CON] * ⁠Four Fools Variety Show⁠ [https://www.multipass.com/fools] * ⁠Jazz Night⁠ [https://www.multipass.com/denverjazzclubevents] Learn more about the sponsors of this April 1st episode: * ⁠Multipass⁠ [https://www.multipass.com/mp/events] Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at⁠ citycast.fm/advertise⁠ [https://citycast.fm/advertise/]

Local Dems Playing Dirty, César Chávez Ripple Effects, and Westword's New Era

While many Denverites were protesting at No Kings, watching the Denver Summit FC kickoff, or just enjoying the sun, Democrats from all over the state descended on Pueblo for their state assembly to nominate candidates for the primary election in June. Producer Paul Karolyi was in Pueblo following the action, and he’s on with Westword editor Patty Calhoun to share his reporting on some allegations against the frontrunner attorney general candidate, Jena Griswold, which surfaced mere hours before the vote. Plus, Patty discusses the news that she is retiring from Westword, and we hear from host Bree Davies who was on location Monday morning with green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval for a press conference at the Corky Gonzalez Library. Patty mentioned retired judge Ann Frick’s op-ed for Westword about Secretary of State Jena Griswold – “⁠Jena Griswold’s Fabrications Are Disqualifying in AG’s Race⁠ [https://www.westword.com/opinion/jena-griswold-fabrications-disqualifying-for-ag-opinion-40862653/].” She also discussed ⁠Westword’s past coverage of Griswold’s “reign of error”⁠ [https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-secretary-of-state-jena-griswold-greatest-gaffes-22428803/] as secretary of state and ⁠her own work⁠ [https://www.westword.com/news/rocky-flats-nuclear-plant-shut-down-thirty-years-ago-but-is-still-a-hot-topic-11437949/] on the former nuclear bomb plant Rocky Flats.  Paul discussed the new allegations from former Griswold staffer Reese Edwards (⁠Part 1⁠ [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/idbz34ev1wawpotx9wqme/Screenshot-2026-03-30-at-12.56.39-PM.png?rlkey=b1tpzspkjy2tyhzr5nq05qn8q&st=329xqssp&dl=0] and ⁠Part 2⁠ [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yoc4wzj7we2hsduu3ejzn/Screenshot-2026-03-30-at-12.56.52-PM.png?rlkey=npqzrm312uvsbxiyik4a06tjh&st=geu1xyw5&dl=0]) For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at⁠ denver.citycast.fm⁠ [https://denver.citycast.fm/subscribe-hey-denver-newsletter-colorado]. Follow us on Instagram:⁠ @citycastdenver⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/citycastdenver/] Chat with other listeners on reddit:⁠ r/CityCastDenver⁠ [https://www.reddit.com/r/CityCastDenver/] Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member:⁠ membership.citycast.fm⁠ [https://membership.citycast.fm/denver] Do you have a gardening question for our expert? Ann Marie Awad is ready to dig in and do the research to get you the answer you (and your plants) need. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this March 31st episode: * ⁠Multipass⁠ [https://www.multipass.com/mp/events] * ⁠Cozy Earth⁠ [https://cozyearth.com/] - Use code COZYDENVER for up to 20% off Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at⁠ citycast.fm/advertise⁠ [https://citycast.fm/advertise/]

How Will Lakewood Vote on Density? And What Will It Mean for Casa Bonita?

Lakewood City Council passed a massive zoning ordinance last year to make it easier to build more types of housing. But implementation is on hold – several neighborhood groups gathered enough signatures, and now all of Lakewood will decide in a special election on April 7. So, today we’re bringing you both sides of the debate: First, Karen Gordey, manager of the “yes” campaign [https://lakewoodcitizensalliance.org/], joins host Bree Davies to lay out why some neighbors are concerned about the character of Lakewood being lost to density. Then, City Council member Roger Low explains why people like him on the “no” side of the debate [https://lakewoodcitizensalliance.org/] want to keep new zoning rules and encourage housing density. What do you think about the density debate in Lakewood? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm [https://denver.citycast.fm/subscribe-hey-denver-newsletter-colorado]. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver [https://www.instagram.com/citycastdenver/] Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver [https://www.reddit.com/r/CityCastDenver/] Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm [https://membership.citycast.fm/denver] Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise [https://citycast.fm/advertise/]