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City Cast Denver

Keep It Local features spotlights on a local businesses we love and a timely set of personal, curated and neighborly recommendations that will help you live your best Mile High life. So, if you’re ready to ditch the national chains, e-commerce giants, and big box stores,

 sign up now for the new weekly newsletter from City Cast Denver

Michelle Polizzi

More than a century ago, workers at City Floral would hop on their bicycles, ride down the then-dirt road that was Colfax Avenue, and hand-deliver African violets to the esteemed Brown Palace.

How does Candace Owens, who owns City Floral Greenhouse and Garden today, know that African violets were popular when the shop first opened in the early 1900s?

“Somebody was at our 115th anniversary celebration and she told me she grew up across the alley from the [former] owners,” Owens said. “She was telling me all about how violets were just huge in that day.”

Denver has certainly changed since City Floral opened as a greenhouse in the Montclair neighborhood in 1911, but it continues bringing us beauty in the form of flowers, houseplants, garden supplies, and of course, those signature violets. Now a complete garden center with a flower growing facility in Golden, City Floral sells popular blooms like geraniums and petunias, plus vegetable plants and less common varieties like dinner plate dahlias.

“They're probably three feet tall already,” Owens said. “These big blooms, vibrant colors roughly the size of a dinner plate. They're pretty irresistible.”

The century-old floral staple is also well prepared for the massive influx of customers during this very popular flower-forward holiday. “Mother's Day weekend is kind of like Black Friday for flowers. It's considered the frost free date here in Colorado. We are stock-full of truckload after truckload of flowers,” Owens said.

And they don’t just make great bouquets. City Floral runs a popular Mother’s Day special for hanging baskets — $10 off two or more hanging baskets — which customers return for year after year.

“We'll literally have thousands of hanging baskets in the facility by Friday to choose from,” Owens says. “It's sort of like a candy store for adults with flowers. Just beautiful color everywhere you see.”

City Floral Greenhouse and Garden has been a Denver staple for flowers since 1911.

How Denver's City Floral Delivers Color for Mother's Day

Why Denver Moms Love City Floral

Keep It Local

I’m guessing you fall into one of these two categories: Either you’re scrambling to find a gift for your own mom/mother figure by Sunday, or you’re a mom yourself, ready for some much-deserved celebration.

Which means you’re looking for fresh flowers, sweet giftables, or something tasty the whole family can enjoy together, so don’t miss these 5 local shops — plus one spot that’s been serving Denver for more than a century.

🧀 Goudy’s Deli & Market (Washington Park)

If you haven’t been to this artisanal France-inspired cheese cave, what are you waiting for? Beyond 

 selection du fromage, this family-owned shop has an impressive array of imported European goodies to make any mom’s day, like English tea biscuits and hard-to-find chocolate brands. Order to-go sandwiches from the deli or DIY your own charcuterie selection, then plop down for a cozy park picnic. Either way, it’s you, mom, and some fancy cheese — voila, indeed.

The cheesemonger mom (or, the mom who loves to travel)

 is a delightful boutique and floral studio that’s been bringing beautiful blossoms to Denver for the past 30 years. Not only do they sell houseplants, pots, and gorgeous flower bundles — their boutique also has the cutest housewares, accessories, and giftables. To splurge on your family matriarch, check out Perfect Petal’s subscription plan options and she’ll get a fresh bouquet delivered to her door monthly. If your sights are set on an experience gift, buy a ticket to one of their upcoming classes, perhaps in watercolor painting or Monet-inspired floral arrangements, so she can wow her guests at the next dinner party.

There’s no better place to shop for Mother’s Day than 

, the South Pearl Street boutique owned by a local mother-daughter duo. Find in-style clothing, shoes, and accessories that have a “California in Colorado” vibe — perfect for feeling both comfortable and stylish. Right now in the shop, they’ve got plenty of matching summer sets to keep your mom feeling fresh for any kind of event that awaits her. Better yet, buy her a gift card, then pick a date to hit this shop together.

If your mom loves to get outside but also believes in sustainability, 

 is the perfect outdoor goods shop to find her something special. This store sells new stuff from hot brands like Patagonia and Topo Designs, but they also buy and sell gently used gear, from hiking shoes and camping tents to backpacks and ski goggles. This month, FERAL celebrates 

 on Tennyson street, proving that getting outside in the place you love can be a sustainable endeavor that helps us all.

Denver Gift and Treat Ideas for Mother's Day

Local Shops to Make Mom’s Day

We invited the brilliant writer of our new Keep it Local newsletter, Michelle Polizzi, to join producers Olivia Jewell Love and Paul Karolyi on the podcast version of our guide this month. So, for our special rotating third category, we’re keeping it local for Mother’s Day (which is on May 10, by the way, not that any of us were going to forget).

Here are our very Denver ideas for how to treat your mom.

Michelle suggests a visit to the custom hat bar at 

 in Highland, where you can pick your style, color, brim shape, and accessorize with all kinds of feathers and gems. While you wait for your one-of-a-kind creation, you and your mom can have a glass of wine on their second floor lounge and watch the world go by. Make a night of it with your new matching hats and a reservation at the Michelin-recognized 

 down the block. “It’s like when you get new shoes when you're a kid,” Michelle says. “Your new shoes look so much better than your old shoes and you're like, I'm actually just wearing them right out.”

Olivia recommends spending the day in Golden, starting off at 

 for high tea. Think finger sandwiches, scones, and all the tea you can drink. Next, you should hit up 

 to try on some fun and funky clothes and accessories. As you continue to wander Miner Street, be sure to stop in 

to check out their great Jellycat plushie selection and other cute tchotchkes. Don’t forget to spend some time walking along Clear Creek and enjoying the views!

Paul says his parents have visited Denver enough that it feels like they’ve done it all. But one of Denver’s mainstays, the 

, has cooked up a cool collaboration to keep things fresh. They invited 

 to dig into their archives so he could create an original composition inspired by Still’s art, and the Colorado Symphony is going to play it for the first time on May 7. 

 and round out your night with dinner at the newest location of 

 – a woman-owned Denver success story in its own right — in the Golden Triangle.

Things to Do for Mother's Day in Denver

How to Keep Mother’s Day Local

Like many businesses born during the pandemic, David Right began his ice cream shop 

 as a way to kill some extra time. “I started making the pints and delivering them in grocery store parking lots,” Right says. ”It picked up a lot of steam over the first couple of months.”

Unlike many COVID-19 startups that fizzled when the world opened back up, Right’s business has only expanded in scale and scope since the days of isolation. Today, Right Cream is a full brick-and-mortar operation in the Rosedale neighborhood of South Denver, sharing an astroturf seating and play area with Denver Beer Co.

On this outdoor green space connecting the two establishments, customers of both businesses can gather, imbibe, kick back in the shade, and enjoy themselves. “If it's over 50 degrees and the sun's out, then we’re busy over there,” Right says. “A lot of people are hanging out, the kids love playing on it.”

Since 2020, Right Cream has expanded its menu to serve all kinds of savory items alongside its sweet treats — think, indulgent spins on American classics, like breakfast sandwiches topped with Colorado green chili, chicken katsu sandwiches, Coney-style chili fries, and a rotating menu of smashburgers that the internet can’t seem to stop talking about.

Right has always wanted to work in the food industry, but he started with scoops for a reason. “The nice thing about ice cream is that you can make anything you want, any flavor,” Right says. “It gives me a lot of breadth to be able to do different things, but using the same products, right?”

Right Cream takes full advantage of ice cream’s creative opportunities, with flavors that change every week. Summer will bring a full case of options, including those made with tropical seasonal fruit, like mangoes, or peaches harvested from the Western slope as soon as they turn ripe.

Sitting on a sunny patio with a Palisade peach sundae in one hand, a craft beer in the other? It doesn’t get much more Colorado than that.

Why Denverites love Right Cream's burgers and shared patio.

Right Cream Has Great Smashburgers and One of Denver's Best Patios

Why Denverites Love Right Cream’s Shared Patio

How do you combine a passion for environmentalism with a love of creativity?

That’s exactly the question Gabby Smith asked herself during the pandemic, when she decided it was time to leave her corporate job and pursue a more fulfilling career.

The answer? Curating a vintage store of her own.

 on 32nd Avenue in West Highland, which has vintage and used gear from the Broncos along with Rockies, Avalanche, and Nuggets merch.

“It's nice to be able to provide a little bit of local sports stuff, so people aren't having to buy all the new gear that can be expensive just because it's new.”

Plus, Smith points out that brand new sports gear isn’t as charming and stylish as such one-of-a-kind vintage pieces — the best of which she buys directly from the clothes’ former owners.

“My favorite way to source is estate sales because it is someone's collection that they have gathered throughout their years of life,” Smith says. “You can kind of get a feel for what kind of style that they had.”

Smith doesn’t mind revealing her sourcing “secret,” because as she puts it, there's plenty of clothing already on earth to go around.

Her favorite item in the store currently is an early 90s-era neon Budweiser sign that sits on a shelf next to the Good Kid Collective checkout, which Smith and her team found on Facebook Marketplace.

“It's such a fun thing to turn on every morning. I feel like it brings a whole vibe to this place.”

Overall, Smith loves offering these kinds of items to the Denver community because it’s a way for people to show their personal style for a good deal.

“I really believe that vintage and thrifting is gonna be the new way of shopping,” Smith says. “I think a lot of people don't realize how easy it is — it's just a habit that you have to change.”

Why Denverites love to shop at Good Kid Collective.

How Good Kid Collective Blends Vintage Clothing with a Passion for Environmentalism

Good Kid Collective Shares the Secret to Finding Enviable Vintage Merch

I’ve always hated wearing what’s “trending.” Why would you want to dress like everybody else, anyway? At the same time, spending money on new clothes fills me with a sense of existential guilt (is that shirt 

 worth the price? Could I find something better that has been pre-loved?).

Thrifting addresses both of these challenges: Not only is it more affordable, but you can find the coolest things — all while promoting sustainability. Below, find some of the best shops for thrifting Nuggets, Avalanche, and other Mile High sports merch.

, you’ll find a collection of vintage and secondhand clothing that’s gender neutral and designed for all body sizes. They’re also known for having great deals throughout the week, including Denver sports gear, and a collection of items that cost just $5.

This shop used to be located in The Stanley Marketplace, but moved to Colfax In February 2026.

🎠 Show Pony Vintage (LoDo, University)

Funky accessories, vintage football sweatshirts, and unexpected knick-knacks collide at this well-organized vintage store with two locations. One great thing about shopping at 

 is that they carry thrifted items from numerous vendors, which means you can explore many different sizes and styles in a single shop.

The University store, naturally, is stocked with great college sports gear.

Browsing for Nuggets tees with friends? Like to sip while you shop? 

 has a full spectrum of clothes in all sizes and styles, plus a cocktail bar to boot. They’re known for their infused tequila shots, curated vinyl collection, and clothing from the 1960s through the 2000s, with both Mile High City sports gear and country western attire being a hot commodity.

This shop/bar turns into a venue on certain nights of the week with live DJ parties known to get wild. 🪩

Crew neck sweatshirts, tees, and baseball caps fill this store dedicated to dressing Denver in all things comfy, fresh, and vintage. They’ve got an especially great selection of Avalanche gear — including a selection of 

 — so stop in soon to suit up for the next game.

They sell on Instagram, too (@thediggingpit); send the shop a message if something catches your eye.

 has been serving Colorado with one-of-a-kind vintage clothing and accessories for nearly two decades. Locally owned and operated, this shop on South Broadway sources items from across the United States — so you’re just as likely to stumble upon a vintage Avs T-shirt as you are a Victorian-era brooch you can’t leave behind.

 They buy clothing by appointment only; call (303) 447-0065 to schedule.

These are the best thrift shops in Denver for Nuggets, Avalanche, Broncos, and other sports merch.

Where to Thrift Denver Sports Merch

Top 5 Thrift Stores for Denver Sports Merch

Sure, the vision has evolved over the past two decades — but the community built around the queer-supporting hangout is still very much intact. When the original Hamburger Mary’s restaurant chose not to renew their franchise license in 2015, then renamed as M’s Uptown, the beloved Hamburger Mary’s name and legacy went up for grabs.

Christopher Maluck, who had worked at the original Hamburger Mary’s Denver since it opened, got to talking with his friends about the fact that the Mile High city still needed a queer-oriented space owned by the local community.

“We felt that Denver wasn’t possibly done with Mary's, and what if we just bought the franchise and kept it going?” Maluck says.

Maluck and his friends brought the modern Mary’s to life in 2016 inside of a cozy home-turned-venue now lovingly called “the little purple house.” Since Maluck became co-owner of Hamburger Mary’s Denver that year, he’s focused on creating a community-driven establishment.

“We've really started to see how the magic of drag blended with the intimate event space that we created,” Maluck says.

Today, Hamburger Mary’s Denver hosts events every night of the week (except Mondays, when they are closed), including trivia Tuesdays with Brittany Blaze, drag bingo on Wednesdays, and Saturday 

In short? Hamburger Mary’s the perfect place to celebrate Denver’s Drag scene because there’s simply something for everyone.

Douglas Ambrose, who stepped into his current role as General Manager at Hamburger Mary’s last year, says that maintaining a welcoming queer space is exactly what brought him back to Denver for the job after living in Chicago.

Ambrose always feels a sense of authenticity at Hamburger Mary’s, but it's especially palpable on karaoke nights. “The amount of people that come through and just sing their hearts out, and there's just a space for them to just be themselves,” he says.

The Hamburger Mary’s RuPaul’s Drag Race screening is sold out for tomorrow night, but now is a great time to book brunch or bingo at the little purple house, where you’re likely to feel the spirit of Mary herself.

“The current space feels like somebody's house, like maybe it's Hamburger Mary’s house,” Maluck says. “She travels to the other franchises and does her thing, and then she comes home to Denver.”

How Hamburger Mary's became the destination for drag shows in Denver.

Inside Hamburger Marys: The Bar Drag Queens Have Called Home Since 2006

Inside the Bar Drag Queens Have Called Home Since 2006

The success of Denver queens on the big stage goes to show that drag is alive and thriving in the Mile High. In a world where gender identity and LGBTQ rights are in jeopardy, showing up for a local drag show is a great way to support Denver’s queer community (plus, it’s really dang fun).

As Denver eagerly awaits the results of Friday’s Drag Race finale, be sure to bookmark these places to see Denver’s drag on full display.

🐅 Champagne Tiger (North Capitol Hill)

Located in a historic former diner on Colfax Avenue built in 1967, 

 blends retro architecture with modern French-American cuisine in the heart of Denver. Every Sunday, indulge in Massachusetts-sourced oysters, ricotta waffles, and coffee-infused Campari cocktails while enjoying what Champagne Tiger calls "Denver's Most Luxurious Drag Show.” There are three shows daily, starting at 10:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 3 p.m.

 may be known for showcasing stand-up comedy at its Northwest Denver theater, but they’ve got high-quality drag events, too. On Sunday, May 17, Colorado drag queen 

 will host a Disney Villains-themed drag brunch. Expect appearances by Maleficent, Ursula, and all the classic baddies you love to hate. Tickets start at $31.

There’s a minimum two-item purchase policy at Denver Improv, and photo/video is prohibited

Dismantling shame around sexuality begins with talking about it, and that’s exactly what Denver’s sex education museum, Sexplatorium, aims to do. Opened in 2024, 

 is an inclusive space that shatters taboos with sex history exhibits, weekly classes, and community events. On Friday, check out their 

 to their Gen Z for Change fundraiser on Saturday.

It’s the only educational sex museum in the world, right here at home in Denver!

 is an American-style breakfast eatery where the beignets are just as delish as the huevos rancheros. If you’re looking for a fun way to ring in the 4/20 holiday weekend, ​prepare for an afternoon of bingo, breakfast, and drag debauchery at Syrup’s upcoming Drag Queen Bingo Brunch on Sunday, 4/19. Bingo starts at 2 p.m. and prizes will be awarded!

There are multiple Syrup locations, so double-check the address beforehand

The success of Denver queens on the big stage goes to show that drag is alive and thriving in the Mile High. This is where you can go enjoy drag shows around Denver.

The Best Drag Shows in Denver

Denver’s Best Drag Shows

Tasty food. Great company. Kids always welcome.

These were the criteria Paul Sullivan and Emily Brown had in mind when they began dreaming up their perfect Denver restaurant. The couple had always loved going out to eat, but as they grew their family, that became a little more complicated.

“We wanted a place in our neighborhood that we could bring our kids to,” Sullivan says. “A family-friendly, all-encompassing, welcoming-to-everyone kind of place.”

Sullivan and Brown brought their idea to life in 2015 with Esters, a casual pizza and beer joint in Virginia Village named after the esterification process of alcohol. “When yeast and hops interact it releases an aromatic smell that’s referred to as esters,” Sullivan says (It also helps that his favorite band, Phish, has a song called “

Sullivan and Brown opened Esters’ second location in 2018 in the kid-friendly Oneida Park enclave of Park Hill. This space is especially suited for kids because it overlooks a safe, grassy turf where they can run and play while parents hang at shaded outdoor tables nearby — not to mention that Dang soft serve is right next door. In 2022, Esters’s third location opened in Wheat Ridge.

“All of our restaurants specifically are in neighborhoods with young families,” Sullivan says. “You can go there, bring the kids, have a good beer.”

Sullivan and Brown still live in the same Virginia Village home with their two daughters, but other things have evolved with time. For instance, the first generation of kids who dined at Esters are now old enough to work there, and many of them do. Now, they’re the ones serving Esters’ tiniest guests at its weekly kids night, where children eat free with the purchase of an adult meal (Mondays at Oneida Park, Tuesdays everywhere else).

Running a restaurant dedicated to families? That’s one thing that won’t change.

“We have really great food and great hospitality,” Sullivan says. “But if your kid pukes on the floor and ruins our bathroom, we're totally okay with that, you know? It is part of having kids.”

Esters Pub is one of Denver's best kid-friendly spots.

Why Denverites Love Esters Pub

Why Denverites Love Esters

It can be hard to find the right social space for people with kids — and their adult friends without kids — to meet up and hang out. But not to worry! These local eateries are delicious, Denver-made, and guaranteed to get the whole gang back together.

 is an inclusive coffee shop, casual eatery, bar, and community space owned by The Table Urban Farm, a nonprofit that donates organic, locally grown produce to nearby communities. Table Public House has an indoor, bee-themed play area for kids, and the building is right next to Grant Frontier Park’s large playground.

🍕 Homegrown Tap and Dough (West Wash Park)

 is known for their hand-tossed pizzas, local beer selection, and outdoor space. Their kid’s menu is top-notch, but even better is the $59.50 family meal bundle that includes cheesy garlic bread, two full-sized caesar salads, and two pizzas. The OG location opened on South Gaylord in 2011, but they’ve since expanded to Parker, Westminster, Littleton, Arvada, and Castle Rock.

They don’t take reservations, so go early to avoid a wait.

Ping pong, Peking duck, and patio fun collide at 

, a restaurant designed for large groups and hours of good old-fashioned fun. Book a high-top table, which comes with a dedicated server and access to a private ping pong table, to keep older kids and teens entertained while adults enjoy lychee vodka cocktails.

There’s a dedicated gluten-free menu and a solid mocktail list.

 has the same outrageously delicious, mac-and-cheese-topped burgers and spicy bacon queso you know and love from the original joint, albeit with a more family-friendly vibe. This includes an expansive patio with Adirondack chairs around fire pits, plus their legendary fish tank that captures little imaginations.

 before heading over to ensure a space for your party.

Stem Ciders is the Colorado company behind 

. This cidery is like a brewery, but with an elevated menu, mountain views, and space for the whole gang. Kids love the sprawling campus here, which has ladder ball sets, corn hole, and an entire playground. Should anyone get the post-dinner zoomies, there’s plenty of space to run around.

 Plan on saving room for dessert — the cider donuts are a must.