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New downtown bars, restaurants replace year-old El Tejano, Smash Face and Loaded

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:10 GMT

The word “no” isn’t in Josh Schmitz’s vocabulary. So when a LoDo landlord approached the owner of Handsome Boys Hospitality with the idea to open five new eating and drinking concepts in downtown Denver, he was up for the challenge.On April 6 — which happened to be the Colorado Rockies’ home opener –Handsome Boys Hospitality took over 32,000 square feet of space at the corner of 20th and Market streets and debuted five spots: Con Safos, El Patio, Jaguar Room, Tony Tenderonis and Agua Bendita.The building was previously home to three bars: El Tejano, Smash Face and Loaded, which were co-owned by the property’s landlord Fillmore Capital Partners.“It’s not possible for me to half-ass anything, so we cannonballed in for the whole opportunity,” Schmitz said. “Not to say that we’re not nervous or anxious. There’s definitely been a couple nights of anxiety and throwing up, but we’re equal parts excited and nervous.”Handsome Boys Hospitality owners Josh Schmitz...

Stargazers delight: this week brings a meteor shower, “Earthshine” on the moon, and a star cluster that looks like the Subaru logo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:10 GMT

This weekend will offer some cool sky-gazing opportunities, including an “earthshine” on the crescent moon, a star cluster that inspired an auto maker’s logo, and a meteor shower.Friday through Sunday, the moon will appear as a thin crescent in the western sky shortly after sunset. But sunlight reflecting from the Earth will dimly illuminate the rest of the moon, creating an unusual effect in which the crescent will be bright while the majority of the moon will appear dimly lit, but still visible. The occasional phenomenon is known as “earthshine.”In addition, the Pleiades, a cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus, will be visible. The Pleiades is depicted in the logo for one of Colorado’s favorite car makes, Subaru.A nearby star called Aldebaran is the brightest star in the Taurus constellation. And, not to be outdone, the planet Venus — appearing like a bright star — will be prominent nearby.Shortly after sunset on Friday, the ...

How to celebrate 420 in Denver with music, munchies, beer, comedy and drink specials

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:10 GMT

Every spring, stoners from far and wide gather in Denver to celebrate 420, a holiday that’s typically more than a mile high.Because we know there are different tokes for different folks, we’ve rounded up the best events and specials we could find on the Front Range. Whether you’re craving tunes, belly laughs or a margarita in a bong, we have you covered.Music and comedy showsAs Denver’s biggest public 420 celebration, Mile High 420 Festival in Civic Center park, is an easy target for criticism. And certainly, the crowds, safety concerns and occasional controversies – such as the presence of under-21 people last year – invite serious attention. But at its heart, the free event a bunch of people smoking weed in public for the purpose of communing. And, as it turns out, listening to live hip hop from Rick Ross, Fivio Foreign, Kaash Page, Waka Flocka Flame, and The Alchemist. Hosted by Tommy Chong, with vendors, food and drink.Mile High 420 Festival runs 1-10 p.m. Thursday, April ...

Top 10 favorite LPs from Twist & Shout, Wax Trax Records and more Denver music experts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:10 GMT

This year’s Record Store Day on Saturday, April 22, will inject hundreds of limited-edition vinyl releases into brick-and-mortar retailers around the world. If the last 15 years are any indication, they will instantly sell out, further encouraging the collector-culture that has long steered the world of vinyl LPs.And yet, this year will continue the trend of vinyl’s mainstream resurgence, catering to fans of not only The Dismemberment Plan but Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton and U2.That’s another shot of good news for metro-area music retailers such as Twist & Shout, Wax Trax Records and Black & Read, who have survived the digital-streaming revolution to celebrate the return to LP-buying that last year reached $1.2 billion in revenue. Vinyl, incredibly, beat out CD sales for the first time since 1987.“There’s no question that the Taylor Swift release, ‘folklore: the long pond studio sessions,’ is going to be one of the biggest things for ...

United adding new direct flights from LAX to New Zealand and Australia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:10 GMT

Travelers can soon fly direct from LAX to the Australian continent aboard a United Airlines jet.United is adding direct flights from LAX to Brisbane, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand as part of a massive expansion in the South Pacific.The airline is increasing its service to Oceania by 40% in what it says is the largest South Pacific expansion in aviation history. Beginning Oct. 28, United will begin offering four weekly flights from LAX to Auckland aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jet. A month later on Nov. 29, United will begin offering direct flights from LAX to Brisbane, three times a week, aboard the same Dreamliner class jet. With that service, United will become the largest carrier between the U.S. and Brisbane.United currently offers flights to Auckland and Brisbane from San Francisco (SFO). It's the only airline to offer year-round service to Auckland, United said. United Airlines wants to turn algae into jet fuel San Francisco will also see new thrice-weekly service b...

17 arrests made in connection with shootings at Sikh temples, California attorney general says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:10 GMT

(KTXL) — Seventeen felony arrests were made in connection with two mass shootings at Sikh temples, one in Stockton and another in Sacramento, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. The Attorney General's office said the arrests resulted from "a months-long, multiagency investigation of rival criminal syndicates operating throughout Northern California."According to the Attorney General, members of those groups are alleged to have been involved in a mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Stockton on August 27, 2022 and a shooting at a Sikh temple just outside Sacramento late last month. In addition to those shootings, the Attorney General's Office said the groups were connected to violent crimes dating back to at least 2018 including five attempted murders in Sutter, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Yolo, and Merced counties.The Attorney General's Office said the investigation resulted in 41 firearms being seized and that two other shootings were prevented, including a potential...

What to watch for in the Dominion vs. Fox News trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:10 GMT

Wilmington, Del. — A courtroom drama of epic proportions is set to begin on Tuesday in Delaware as Fox News defends itself against claims of defamation from Dominion Voting Systems. The closely watched case will have major implications for defamation law, the intersection of media and politics and the future of the country’s most-watched news network. Here are some key things to watch for during this week’s trial: Dominion aims to expose internal crisis at Fox after the 2020 election The voting systems provider is alleging it knowingly aired false information about its software being promoted by former President Trump and his allies in the days and weeks following now-President Biden’s 2020 election victory. Dominion has already made public in various court filings a slew of internal communications from leading hosts and executives at Fox showing them privately insulting Trump and his defenders and throwing cold water on claims of voter fraud. The ...

Kansas City homeowner accused of shooting Black teen charged with two felonies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:10 GMT

An 85-year-old Kansas City homeowner, Andrew D. Lester, who allegedly shot and wounded a Black teen last week after he went to the wrong house, was charged with armed assault on Monday evening. The teen, Ralph Yarl, 16, was shot twice and had been in critical condition since last Thursday, after he went to the wrong address to pick up his younger brothers. Yarl is now recovering at home with his family. The homeowner was charged with two felonies, first-degree assault and armed criminal action.Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said at a news conference that race was not a factor in the shooting that occurred last Thursday, USA Today reported. “We understand how frustrating this has been, but I can assure you the criminal justice system is working and will continue to work,” Thompson said at the news conference. Thompson said the suspect, Andrew D. Lester, is not yet in custody, but a warrant has been issued for his arrest, CBS News reported. The shooti...

Sales tax covers bicyclists’ share of road? Not even close, drivers say: Roadshow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:10 GMT

Q: Please remind C.J. Fox, who thinks roads were built solely for motorized vehicles, that roads where pedestrians, bicycles and horses are prohibited are only some roads, called freeways.All other roads were built for multiuse: cars, bikes, pedestrians, and once, the horse and buggy. Correct me if I’m wrong, but equestrians still have the ultimate right of way over pedestrians, who have the right of way over cyclists. Motor vehicles are last.Joe JohnsonA: You are correct.Q: I’m a forever reader of your column, and you provide great info, but you missed the mark in your response to C.J. Fox and bike riders. You think the sales tax goes toward green lanes, bike stencils, and stanchions? Most likely, not. They do not pay a gas tax, which cars do, and with the cost of current cars, have you seen the sales tax on that?! I believe that bicyclists need to register and receive a yearly tag, like cars. And yes, insurance. They constantly run stop signs and red lights. Only once ...

What California can learn from Texas trees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:10 GMT

Texas Hill Country is a far cry from urban California, with spicy barbecue, worn dance floors, pin-dot towns and ranches that stretch to the horizon.But Texan trees could become the urban forests of the Golden State’s hotter and drier future — succeeding, rather than struggling, in an era of climate change.A 20-year UC Davis research study called “Climate-Ready Trees” is exploring whether species native to our red-state rival can replace more familiar trees ill-suited to California’s coming reality.“How a tree grew in the past is no longer a good predictor of its future success,” especially in California’s inner valleys, said project leader Emily Griswold, who is overseeing the living lab, a young campus forest of more than 200 tiny saplings, representing 40 different species, native to the undulating plateau of central west Texas. Most of those have rarely been grown here before.The project comes at a time when cities seek not only to save but also to expand their...