Ken Salazar has been sworn in as Secretary of the Interior. Michael Bennet is now a U.S. senator. Tom Boasberg is taking over as superintendent of Denver Public Schools, promising to “accelerate reform.” That leaves just one more chair to fill — the U.S. Attorney’s seat vacated by Republican Troy…
Since we haven’t been able to make contact with Pizzeria Mundo, a noble attempt to offer international pizzas that’s faced numerous challenges since it opened, yesterday I made my way to the front door of the restaurant at 1312 17th Street (shown here in happier times).This mission wasn’t easy: The…
When John Hickenlooper was a favorite to take Ken Salazar’s Senate slot, local politicos slobbered over the idea of a winner-take-all race for the Denver mayor’s seat in May. But Michael Bennet’s appointment to the Senate ended that game of musical chairs, and now the last outstanding issue that might…
After all the Washington, D.C., pomp and circumstances (one major circumstance being that, Barack Obama’s astonishing rise aside, most of those in power are indeed insiders), it’s refreshing to consider Colorado’s citizen legislature, which has a hundred part-time lawmakers who work until early May, then return to their real lives…
In so many ways, the Democratic National Convention of last August seems like a dream, a dream that packed the streets and businesses of Denver, and sent images of this city around the world. Looking out the window now, I can barely make out the silhouette of Invesco Field at…
The coffee’s already on at Cora Faye’s, the soul-food restaurant that Jason Sheehan raved about back in July 2007. The TV’s on, too, making this restaurant at 2861 Colorado Boulevard one of the best spots in the city for watching the inauguration of Barack Obama.Channel 31 host Shaul Turner is…
Although all eyes are on the action in D.C. this week, there’s plenty going on in Denver. It starts with the MLK Marade today, when this city hosts the country’s largest annual gathering (a combo march/parade) in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., which gets under way at 10:45 a.m…
Jack-n-Grill, the Martinez family’s great New Mexican restaurant at 2524 Federal Boulevard, will get its fifteen minutes of fame this week — and then some. The focus of all the national attention is Jack-n-Grill’s big burrito deal: Take down the house’s seven-pound burrito in one sitting (no fair visiting the…
Right before he headed into his lovefest/confirmation hearing for the Secretary of the Interior post, still-Senator Ken Salazar and new Senator Mark Udall sent President-elect Barack Obama the names of three candidates for U.S. attorney, since that post generally goes with the winning party, and Republican Troy Eid has tendered…
“Want to be smarter? Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post and read them for a half-hour each morning.” We were on our annual rounds of the Hall of Education at the Stock Show, and stopping by the Denver Newspaper Agency booth to see what shwag the DNA…
Restaurants are outdoing themselves offering bargains this month, trying to bolster what’s always a blah month. But it’s going to be tough to beat the deal that Bistro Vendome, the charming French restaurant tucked into the back of Larimer Square, is offering in January: moules & frites for $9. Usually…
As I was running out of my office last night, late again, I got a call from a neighbor. “Do you know why the police are in front of your house?” she asked. Uh, no, I said, wondering if the mess of ungifted holiday gifts and unfinished Christmas projects clearly visible in…
Thirty years ago, Denver boosters were so worried that the city was considered a cowtown that they launched a campaign to appear more cosmopolitan, banishing any bovine connections. Westword responded by adopting the cow (and its bullish brethren) as a mascot for our annual Best of Denver, which celebrates everything that’s…
A few loose ends from last year are now neatly tied up. New Secretary of State, check: Bernie Buescher will be sworn in at 3 p.m. Wednesday (so long as the Colorado Senate confirms the appointment). New Senator, check. Governor Bill Ritter is currently touring the state with Michael Bennet,…
Among the residents who evacuated in the face of a fast-moving fire in Boulder this week was Michael Brown, current consultant and talk-show host, and former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a man who will be forever linked with this remark by President George W. Bush over his handling…
The Colorado Legislature just convened yesterday, with four months of hard work and tough budgeting choices ahead. So it’s no surprise that in their off-hours, citizen lawmakers would rather ignore this new year altogether and go directly to 2010, which promises plenty of political surprises. Already, Troy Eid, outgoing U.S…
The lights have been out for a few days now at Cebiche, the Peruvian restaurant at 2257 West 32nd Avenue that got a good review from Jason Sheehan won our Best Fried Pumpkin award in the Best of Denver 2008. A recorded message on Cebiche’s line at 303-433-1305 says that the…
On November 5, the day after Democrats scored such a stunning upset in Colorado, I spotted affable, outgoing Colorado House of Representatives speaker Andrew Romanoff at the Saucy Noodle, of all places. He was on the phone with Bernie Buescher, the Grand Junction rep who’d looked to be next in…
I have some fond memories of the Wellshire Inn. Decades ago, the Tudor building on the city-owned Wellshire Golf Course hosted a wild party for a local gal who’d just become a Playboy Playmate of the month. And then there was my lunch with then-Congressman Tom Tancredo and talk-show host…
In a day of bad news, yesterday had one bright spot: a neighbor notified us that our petition for residential parking permits had been approved. This is a pretty live-and-let live (or park) neighborhood, and we were reluctant to go the official root. But like so many other neighborhoods, this one…
Now that Michael Bennet has been named to take over for Ken Salazar in the U.S. Senate (no cowboy hat required), Colorado pols can get back to the business of running the state (at least until it’s time to start running for whatever seat may be in play in 2010). Today,…
I dropped by Gaetano’s last night for a Tasty Treat (a sausage and green chili strips baked in a pizza crust) and a taste of history. Wynkoop Holdings bought this classic joint back in 2005, taking over a restaurant that started as Ralph and Mamie Smaldone’s Tejon Street Cafe back…
