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City Cast Denver

A cheat sheet for getting beyond your block.

Home to the city’s largest lake, second largest park, and 

 — let’s get to know the Sloan’s Lake neighborhood.

Sloan’s Lake residents are holding their breath — literally — waiting for this year’s 

. Every year around this time of the late summer, extreme heat exacerbates the poor environmental conditions in the lake, and hundreds of dead fish bob to the water’s surface.

“It is likely to come this month if temperatures sustain,” Kurt Weaver, executive director of the Sloan’s Lake Park Foundation, told us. “It is the park’s staff that has to clean up the dead fish with nets and garbage bags.”

 for Sloan’s Lake at the moment, as environmentalists sound the alarm over the lake’s warming temperatures, toxic blue-algae blooms, and lack of filtration. To properly address the issues, the lake needs to be drained and dredged, which experts estimate could cost upwards of $130 million and take several years to even get started.

. What is known for sure is that prior to the 1860s the lake didn’t exist. Instead, South Golden Road ran right through where the lake sits today, connecting Denver and the City of Golden. Sometime in the 1860s, a farmer by the name of Thomas M. Sloan settled on the land. Legend goes that Sloan unknowingly tapped an underground aquifer while digging a well, and he awoke the next morning to find his land under some 200 acres of water.

But perhaps a more distinct piece of the lake’s past is 

. When the amusement park was constructed in 1891, it was reportedly the largest one west of the Mississippi River, boasting hot air balloons, lake cruises, circus animals, and more. Tragedy struck when a child was accidentally 

 by an elephant. (For a long time it was believed the elephant was euthanized and its remains were still buried under the intersection of 20th and Depew — but that was 

.) The park mysteriously burned down in 1908, and was rebuilt and rebranded as Luna Park later that year, but unable to compete with Elitch Gardens and Lakeside, the park closed for good in 1914.

 with historian and amusement park expert David Forsyth.

Home to the city’s largest lake, second largest park, and most hotly debated name — let’s get to know the Sloan’s Lake neighborhood. 

A Denverite’s Guide to Sloan’s Lake

Everything to know about Denver neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Denver Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

, Burnham Yard is getting its time in the spotlight. Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to know about this historic train yard area just west of La Alma-Lincoln Park.

With all of the speculation about Burnham Yard potentially being the site of a new Broncos stadium, 

 about their possible new neighbor. The team hasn’t yet confirmed their plans.

Other recent changes in the area include a $1.3 million investment for 

, such as new walking paths, an expanded skate park and playground, and new picnic areas.

The lot used to be home to the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad’s primary servicing facility — fixing locomotives, freight cars, and cabooses — as well as a train stop on the line that went from Denver to Pueblo.

 credits Burnham Yard and the jobs it provided with helping to establish the La Alma-Lincoln Park and Barnum neighborhoods. Six historic buildings, including a 1901 coach shop and a 1924 steel car shop, plus the original railroad tracks are still on the site.

 for $50 million with the hopes of using it to expand transit like the light rail and the Front Range Passenger Rail, but those projects never materialized (at least not on Burnham Yard).

Learn more about the history of Burnham Yard 🚂

Thanks to recent land purchases by the Broncos, Burnham Yard is getting its time in the spotlight.

A Denver Guide to Burnham Yard

Formerly known as Capitol Heights, Denver’s Congress Park is teeming with places to go and things to do. Here’s a guide to help you make the most of the neighborhood:

 moved into the neighborhood and is serving up its signature single-origin espresso and delicious pastries from Rebel Bread. For lunch or dinner, check out one of Denver’s best pizzerias 

, which has all day happy hour on Sundays.

like Victorian, Queen Anne, Denver Square, and bungalows. A number of buildings in the area are historic landmarks, making the neighborhood perfect for a walking tour of unique homes.

Former Stevens School, 1140 Columbine Street

Former Denver Fire Station #15, 1080 Clayton Street

Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church, 1100 Fillmore Street

 has a run club that meets on Monday evenings and it also hosts Tuesday trivia nights with questions created by staff. For the cinephiles in the neighborhood, catch a movie at 

 — currently screening “Sinners” and the 1973 Bruce Lee film “Enter the Dragon.”

Congress Park recs

Share your Congress Parks pics and recs!

Get To Know Congress Park

Led by IMA Financial CEO and local sports booster Rob Cohen, the ownership group behind Denver's still-to-be-named professional women's soccer franchise 

 today to build a new 14,500-seat stadium and entertainment district at Santa Fe Yards, according to 

Set to open in 2028, the stadium is set to occupy the site of the old Gates Rubber Factory near the I-25 and Broadway interchange, per 

. It will reportedly be the first purpose-built stadium for women's sports in the state. Plans for the entertainment complex include "restaurants, bars, shops and potentially housing."

“It’ll be a design where there’s a benefit to the community,” Cohen told The Denver Post. “Where you can ride your bike around Washington Park and then transfer over to the South Platte bike trail without having to navigate across I-25, Santa Fe and Broadway, in the way you’d cross them today. It would be a more pedestrian, bike-friendly approach.”

NWSL stadium

What do you think about the plan?

It will be "transformational" for the Denver community, according to the mayor

Denver Announces New NWSL Stadium

Massive New Stadium Complex Announced for SW Denver

Unionized employees at King Soopers locations across the state are only one week into their 

two-week strike against the grocery giant

 as they protest for better working conditions — and 

. Whether you’re aiming to avoid crossing the picket line, or you’re generally just looking for a more local way to spend your money, there are plenty of independently owned markets and small chain grocers across the Mile High to shop from instead! Here are just a few of our favorites.

Touting a motto of “Local, Natural, and Fresh,” this Northside staple specializes in gourmet market offerings including produce, meats, cheese, wine, and beer. Aiming to be more than just a place to shop, Leevers also invites the community to gather for live music, a hot cup of coffee, and wine pairing events.

Located in Denver’s historic Sakura Square, this family-owned Asian marketplace has been a local landmark for 80 years. The shop primarily offers hard-to-find Asian products and ingredients, as well as traditional Asian cookware, cutlery, gifts, and trinkets.

Sun Market has just about everything your nearest grocery giant sells, 

Colorado-sourced produce and ingredients and other gifts and goodies handmade by local artists and vendors.

For more than a decade the Park Hill Supermarket has brought obscure and elusive international flavors to the Denver community, specializing most notably in seafood, produce, and meats. Some of its signature offerings include live eel, tilapia, crabs, and lobsters.

From locally raised meats and imported pastas to old fashioned sodas and artisan cheeses, Marczyk Fine Foods is a family affair that’s been bringing fresh, quality ingredients to Denver for more than 20 years. On top of all that, their hot sandwich offerings are not to be missed!

This Westwood carnicería not only specializes in traditional Mexican flavors and ingredients, but is also proud to offer fresh produce, meats, baked goods, 

Looking for some options out in the ‘burbs? Check out this 

roundup of metro Denver international markets

You can find locations for all our top picks (and several others!) on our 

Looking for a more local way to spend your money? 

A Guide to Denver's Small and Local Grocery Stores

A Denverite’s Guide to Small and Local Grocers

It’s Black History Month, and we’re zooming in on the historic center of Denver’s Black community: The Welton Street corridor. This commercial and cultural hub has been home to legendary businesses — like the 

, which hosted famous guests like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington — and was a renowned part of Five Points’ reputation as “The Harlem of the West.” Fast-forward to today and the blocks of Welton Street are still buzzing with both new and established Black-owned businesses. Here are just a few of our faves:

From chicken and waffles and beignets to avocado toast and lox and bagels, 

 is the spot for brunch on the block. But as the name suggests,

 the beverages — try one of their drink towers featuring 12 flutes of mimosas in a rainbow of flavors!

👐 Foster Community at Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center

Brother Jeff Fard has been a staple in local art and activism circles for decades, and 

 is a welcome extension of that ongoing community work. Serving as a gathering place, art gallery, educational hub, food access point, and so much more, Brother Jeff welcomes the Black community and beyond to learn, connect, celebrate, and take action in this space.

Combining the cool timelessness of a jazz club with the innovations of a modern brewery, 

 is the perfect place to start or end an evening out. Grab an in-house brew or a craft cocktail and choose from live jazz, trivia games, dance nights, brunch, and more from the bar’s packed calendar.

🫖 Sip and Savor at TeaLee’s Tea House

, visitors are encouraged to let the conversation simmer over high tea, finger sandwiches, and soul music in a “relaxing afro-centric atmosphere.” Stay up to date on events at TeaLee’s, like author talks, tea parties, and live poetry, by following them on 

🧘 Find Healing and Connection at Urban Sanctuary

’s mission is about more than just yoga — the vision laid out by founder Ali Duncan is to foster a healing space centered on social justice where members of marginalized communities can practice mindfulness, find connection, and fight back against systemic oppression.

🍽️ Experience the New and Improved Welton Street Cafe

The Dickerson family is back on the block, serving up all their cult-followed favorites like catfish, cornbread, jerked chicken, collard greens, and more. But this new version of 

 is even better than before — Welton Street Cafe now features a fully stocked bar and double the dining space.

Other Places to Celebrate Black History Month

 | Feb. 11 | Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library

Purnell Steen and the Five Points Ambassadors

 | Feb. 15, 22 | Businesses along Welton Street

Resilience: Black History Month Fashion Show

It’s Black History Month, and we’re zooming in on the historic center of Denver’s Black community: The Welton Street corrid

A Guide to Denver's Black-Owned Businesses on Welton Street in Five Points

Where to Celebrate Black History Month on Welton Street

 (sometimes called Chinese New Year), a deeply traditional two-week celebration observed by Asian communities around the world to ring in a new year according to the lunar calendar. Festivities often include feasting, fireworks, parades, and cultural performances.

 to be formally recognized annually on the first Friday in February. Here’s where you can celebrate in the Mile High.

21st Annual Colorado Chinese New Year Celebration

Saturday, Jan. 25 | 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | $28.52+

Put on by the Chinese American Foundation of Colorado in conjunction with Denver Chinese School, this yearly tradition at George Washington High School offers a loaded schedule of celebratory activities, including lion and dragon dances, festive food and drinks, and a cultural marketplace spotlighting local artisans.

Lunar New Year will take over Aurora’s Stampede music venue. The free family-friendly fun will range from martial arts demos and traditional drum performances to firecracker displays and KPop showcases.

Year of the Wood Snake at Far East Center

Saturday, Feb. 1 - Sunday, Feb. 2 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Free

Perhaps Denver’s most iconic LNY celebration — running 34 years strong — the Far East Center goes all out with two days of festivities. On top of cultural performances, authentic street food, and honorary guest speakers, don’t miss the Lunar New Year Street Market Fair running now through Jan. 28.

 | Món Ăn Tết Truyền Thống // Traditional Lunar New Year Dishes at 

 | “Reclaiming Denver’s Chinatown” - a special LNY dinner at 

But there’s way more where these came from...

👉 Explore more LNY events

How and where to ring in the Year of the Wood Snake

Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year 2025 in Denver

Your Guide to Lunar New Year in Denver

When it comes to urban hiking, Colorado Springs offers some of the best trails in Colorado that are all within city limits. These trails provide the opportunity to disconnect in nature without wandering too far from home – a great option for those with busy schedules who find it hard to get away. One trail in Colorado Springs leads to a beautiful 

 that’s just a few miles from the parking lot, and it should be doable for most hikers.

Pulpit Rock is an infamous rock feature that juts out of the landscape in Colorado Springs just north of Downtown. At 6,621 feet in elevation, this conglomeration of sandstone rock features is easily spotted from Interstate 25. It is located within Austin Bluffs Open Space, which comprises 584 acres of pristine natural landscape that has been painstakingly preserved and protected by the community of Colorado Springs.

Truthfully, having hiked and explored this area extensively myself, there are so many trails and paths that lead up to Pulpit Rock that there is no singular correct route to reach these amazing rocks. But for our purposes, this map of the Summit Loop on AllTrails represents what I feel is the easiest route to reach the summit of Pulpit Rock. I'd recommend following the loop clockwise (in other words, branching off to the east, or left, on your way up, then retracing this same path on your way back down), as the western portion of the loop is not very well maintained. For that reason, I recommend that you download AllTrails + so that you can download topographic and other detailed trail map types for offline use.

The trail is just shy of 2 miles in length if you complete the whole loop, it gains about 300 feet of elevation, and it is moderate in difficulty, making it a very doable trail for most hikers, even if your schedule may be more limited. These historic sandstone rock formations are estimated to be roughly 66 million years old, and much effort has been exhausted by the city and the community to preserve them; as such, please refrain from attempting to climb these rocks.

As you meander along the looping trail toward the rocky Pulpit Rock Summit, you'll be fascinated by the hoodoo-like rock formations, and in particular, pay attention to the twisting Juniper and Pine Trees that grow directly out of the rocks, seemingly in defiance of nature itself.

As you traverse around these rocks you may be fascinated, as I was, to learn that people have been inhabiting this area for approximately 10,000 years, as evidenced by archeological discoveries in the area that trace back to the Plains and Ute Indian tribes. Given the high vantage point that offers sprawling 360-degree views of the now-urbanized landscape below, and the opportunities for shelter provided by these rocks, it's not a stretch to envision a time when Native tribes once traversed these lands.

Pulpit Rock offers truly magnificent views of Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, and Pikes Peak. Although its urban setting makes it a popular trail for hikers and cyclists in the summer months, you are still likely to find some peaceful respite in the quiet of nature if you can aim to hike on a weekday morning. I personally love hiking up to Pulpit Rock year-round, but I come prepared with microspikes once wintertime cold sets in, as the trail can get icy.

For more hiking inspiration, I recommend checking out these 11 Best Hiking Trails in Colorado. You'll find that each trail offers something for everyone, and the natural beauty you'll discover is unparalleled.

Pulpit Rock is an infamous rock feature that juts out of the landscape in Colorado Springs just north of Downtown. 

The Magnificent Natural Wonder in Colorado That’s Located Only 0.8 Miles From the Parking Lot

This summer marked the 10th anniversary since 

 in 2014 — the sweeping remodel that resulted in the luxe hotel and fancy restaurant hub we know it as today. This year’s milestone was honored with yet another massive ($11 million) remodel that 

 and the onsite Crawford Hotel. But those aren’t the only recent changes in and around Union Station. Check out some of the latest additions to the area’s food and drink scene.

The cult-favorite brunch joint has left its previous space at Union Station (on the northeast side of the Great Hall entrance) and upgraded to the vacated dining room previously occupied by Next Door Eatery (on the opposite side of the entrance). The level-up will 

nearly double Snooze’s seating capacity

Taking over Snooze’s old location in the station is popular local bakery Olive & Finch (opening date TBD). This will be 

, not including its new kid sister concept, Little Finch, on 16th Street Mall. Special to this location, the menu will focus on making bites and beverages “travel-friendly” to serve passengers on the go.

mourning the loss of D Bar’s uptown location

 (though it still has outposts in Central Park and DIA), a new dessert bar is slated to debut inside Union Station. Opening deets are still mum, but 

 “exquisite pastries, delightful desserts, and a refined ambiance.”

There’s a new underground bar in the area generating local buzz for its secret location, low-key vibes, and a strictly $5 menu. While we’re not going to share the 

location of Lincoln’s (that would spoil the fun), we can promise it’s 

Ajax Tavern has been a beloved community staple for locals in the posh ski town of Aspen since 1989. Now, the upscale American eatery has 

brought its famed wood-fired flavors to downtown

 Denver just behind Union Station in the building formerly home to Citizen Rail.

Check out some of the latest additions to the area’s food and drink scene.

What's New at Denver's Union Station

What's New at Union Station

South Broadway has taken some hard hits this year. We had to bid farewell for good to some longtime local staples, like 

. Meanwhile, other community standbys — including 

. Stories of bad landlords, rising rent, and inflation dominated the headlines.

 wrote to us recently to defend South Broadway as the vibrant restaurant/retail district it always has been, and still is:

“[The] reactionary [declaration] ‘South Broadway is dead!’ is a corny and unnecessary lash to the other businesses in the area. … I'd love to see a highlight of the great businesses that are doing their damndest day in and day out to keep our community beautiful and thriving.”

And Luke’s right — while it’s sad to see some old faves leave the area, the neighborhood still has plenty to offer. It’s time to reacquaint yourself with South Broadway:

 bring a variety of new and classic plant-based bites to the scene.

, South Broadway offers some of the best Latin American-inspired eats in Denver.

And of course, don’t miss the new Michelin-honored Chinese food paradise, 

 is still the area’s local go-to for cheap drinks, live music, and funky vibes.

 is not only one of Denver’s most beautiful cinemas, but also one of the 

 of Denver’s film history where cinephiles can still catch the occasional indie or foreign flick.

, an edgy independent fashion boutique, just moved into a more spacious storefront two blocks away.

 continues to be Denver’s only “true metal” brewery.

In addition to all the South Broadway O.G.’s, the neighborhood has more recently welcomed the 

 offering improv and sketch comedy classes, and 

 serving up traditional Colombian coffee and pastries.

South Broadway

What do YOU love about South Broadway?

This old neighborhood still has plenty to offer. It’s time to reacquaint yourself with South Broadway.
