Westword ownership returns to Denver

The first edition of Westword hit the streets of Denver in September 1977. Over the past 35 years, Westword has gone through many changes — as has the publishing industry in general, and the alternative-newspaper industry in particular. But our basic mission has not changed: to cover (and sometimes uncover)…

Westword‘s new ownership a 35th anniversary present

When Westword debuted in September 1977, pundits around town were predicting the demise of the paper. People gave it a month, a week, a year at most. After all, the only business more risky than starting a restaurant was starting a newspaper. And a free newspaper? Forget it…

Sonny Lawson Park: Welcome to the neighborhood

For over a year, neighbors and stakeholders in the area just northeast of downtown — the edge of the Ballpark neighborhood, Curtis Park, Five Points — have been discussing how to improve this part of town. They’ve come up with some answers, and one big question: Why is Sonny Lawson…

Walmart v. Trader Joe’s: Red state or blue?

Colorado is the purplest of states, with voters almost equally divided between Democrat, Republican and unaffiliated, and Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in a dead heat here. But there’s another contest that also shows the red state/blue state pull: The debate over Walmart and Trader Joe’s…

Bill Ritter introduces 90 By 20 Campaign: Dry up, Parker

With rain finally pouring down, it’s much easier to think about water conservation than it has been through this long, hot summer. So former Governor Bill Ritter picked a perfect time to host a teleconference for the 90 By 20 Campaign, which is aimed at reducing usage across the Colorado…

The Rossonian turns 100 in Five Points: Where’s the party?

The Rossonian Hotel turns 100 this year, and so far, there hasn’t been much to celebrate. This former hotel in the very heart of Five Points, at the intersection of five streets in Denver’s historic black neighborhood, was once filled with the sounds of the country’s greatest jazz talent. But…

Obama’s 2012 DNC speech spurs memories of 2008 at Mile High

.Last night, I was sitting at a picnic bench in the Sculpture Park at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, looking past the crowds at Westword’s Dish event to Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the site of Barack Obama’s acceptance speech for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination on the last…

The 2008 DNC placed Denver center stage in national politics

There were many great moments for Denver during the 2008 Democratic National Convention, which four years ago filled this city with hope and lots of spare change. But for many of us, none was as deeply satisfying as finally plopping our collective asses into the plastic seats of what was…