Central America

Fresh local hip-hop from SP Double, Sole, Anxious and Thomas tha Franchise

Since 4/20's this weekend, we would be remiss if we didn't give you some great new local jams to smoke to. Nothing's better than hip-hop whilst being blitzed into another realm of consciousness. And we're representing all styles today: SP Double for the purists (though he gets a little rowdy on this ... More >>

Fresh local hip-hop from J.Rebelz, Dope City, LKeys and Morningstar featuring Jaz-O

Another fresh batch of local hip-hop. This week, we've got J.Rebelz reflecting on her childhood, the members of Dope City proclaiming that they will never go broke, "The Originator" Jaz-O blessing a track by Morningstar, and Lkeys teams up with the Squizzy Gang's Trev Rich. Continue on to hear what' ... More >>

DJ Ishe's thoughts on legalizing marijuana

From his involvement with the Whomp Truck to his efforts to help the dubstep movement in Denver progress, DJ Ishe is a household name in Denver. He's also an advocate for the use of marijuana, who knows first-hand what the plant can do to help others, even though he himself hasn't smoked in over a d ... More >>

Fresh Colorado hip-hop from Chris Karns (formerly DJ Vajra), Lil Bad, Pries and J Dubb

Another week, another fresh batch of Colorado hip-hop. We've got a brand new mix from Chris Karns, who is retiring his DJ Vajra moniker. We've also got a new single from Pries, along with fresh cuts from Lil Bad and AP and J Dubb. Continue on to see what's good this week in local hip-hop. See also: ... More >>

Edwin Ernesto Rivera Gracias, local add to FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, surrenders

Just a couple of weeks ago, we noted that Edwin Ernest Rivera Gracias, suspected of committing a brutal murder in Jefferson County circa 2011, had been added to the FBI's updated Ten Most Wanted list. Gracias didn't stay there long, however. He surrendered to the FBI in El Salvador and is now back ... More >>

Fresh Colorado hip-hop from Young Tenner, Killa Keezy, 2MX2 and Panama Soweto

Back again with another fresh batch of homegrown hip-hop. This week, we've got new cuts from new comers Young Tenner and Killa Keezy, while scene veterans 2MX2 deliver a song about the mischievousness of certain women and Panama Soweto works to uplift the voices of the unheard. See also: - Fresh lo ... More >>

Fresh Colorado hip-hop from Slam 1 with Tech N9NE, Trev Rich, TC Crook and Boss Goodie

Alright, we've got another fresh batch of local hip-hop for you. Hope you're ready. We've got a Slam 1 collab with Tech N9ne from the Last Dragon mixtape, Trev Rich, the rapper formerly known as Rockie, reaches for new heights on a cut called "Top of the World," TC Crook laughs his hater's off, and ... More >>

Here's what we're all listening to right now. What's rocking your world this week?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

Jeanne Winer on The Furthest City Light's spiritual coming-of-age story

After 35 years as a criminal defense attorney, Jeanne Winer has published her first novel. The Furthest City Light is set in Boulder and draws on her life in the courtroom, but it's neither a mystery nor a legal procedural. Instead, it's a wise and often humorous examination of a life fully lived. W ... More >>

Fresh Colorado hip-hop from BLKHRTS, Panama Soweto, Innerstate Ike and more

Woah, woah. We just had a batch of killer local hip-hop to present last week. Are you telling me there's already a whole new set of juicy cuts to be enjoyed? Yes. That's exactly what we're telling you. It can't stop and it won't stop. First, we have a new BLKHRTS joint off their upcoming project, JZ ... More >>

Fresh local hip-hop from Man Mantis, Fly 4 Ward, ILL Silla, DGirl the Bombshell and more

A new year is here, and from the looks of this week's new batch of music, it's going to be a good one for local hip-hop. We're off to a good start, anyway. We've got new beats from Man Mantis off his label's new comp, a fresh joint from production duo Fly 4 Ward, a new cut from ILL Silla, a new free ... More >>

David Horowitz has turned taunting Muslims into a spectator sport

A couple of birthday bashes this weekend

Two of Denver's meal mainstays are celebrating their birthdays this weekend -- and you're invited to join in the festivities. Here are the invitations:

Birthday bashes, a taste of Colfax and more on this week's calendar

"It's going to be blast," says Herb Brodsky, who co-founded Novo Coffee ten years ago, and is hosting a birthday party at the roasting facility this Saturday. "Last year over 500 people showed up -- everyone is welcome!" he says. And there's much more on the culinary menu this week. Here's a taste:

Why not allow Mexican children to live here, pay taxes and be part of the social fabric?

Van Halen at the Pepsi Center, 5/24/12

VAN HALEN @ PEPSI CENTER | 5/24/12 Evidently, 1982 was a very good year for David Lee Roth. "You're taking pictures here tonight, hot stuff?" the Van Halen frontman asked a woman in the front row in the middle of "Panama." "What? Oh, you want to make a sex tape. I'll tell you what, girlfriend, you ... More >>

U2's The Joshua Tree turns 25

It's difficult to imagine, but U2 used to be cool. Not just cool, but one of the most innovative, inspiring and mysterious bands of their generation. The group challenged the sounds, look and emotional resonance of rock music, forever redirecting the cultural stream for good or ill. Today, while man ... More >>

Support DJ Cavem on his Bold Food Initiative travels to Africa

DJ Cavem, the local O.G. (organic gardener), has been literally feeding the community through events geared toward the "green" movement for years. Using a hip-hop agenda (even rocking with a children's choir), Cavem has broadened his audience to include discussions that involve enhancing the communi ... More >>

Railroad Earth releasing acoustic set recorded at the Ogden Theatre last year

​Nearly a year ago, Railroad Earth played a late-afternoon acoustic set at the Ogden Theatre for 75 fans, who each made a contribution to BECA (Bilingual Education for Central America). To mark the anniversary of the show, the band is releasing a live recording of the set on Monday, December 1 ... More >>

Relive the '90s with a hip-hop house party at Tooeys on Colfax and more this weekend

​The weekend is here! The weekend is here! If you're like us, you're looking for the drop on the dopest parties to shake off the week. We've got you covered top to bottom. From reggae and world beats to drum and bass, there's something for everyone to get into as we ease into the weekend.

Coda Coffee rolls out Farm2Cup program

Six years ago, Seattle-born brothers Tommy and Tim Thwaites borrowed some money from their parents to launch Coda Coffee, a metro Denver roaster that drew on the their combined three decades of experience in the industry. A year or two into their venture, the brothers started focusing more on the pe ... More >>

Medical marijuana dispensary review: The Medijuana Center in Denver

​Though the logo for The Medijuana Center -- a Colorado license plate-like with TMC branded on it -- hasn't changed in the year-plus I've been passing by it on my way home from the Westword offices, the management apparently has.

ILL Se7en of Isolated Generation on his first solo release and removing labels from his music

Today is ILL Se7en's School Daze mixtape release party at Red & Jerry's​Mike Acuña is a hip-hop OG. Better known on stage as ILL Se7en, he's been in the game for more than a decade. The MC got his start as one-half of the group Isolated Generations with Ben "Opt Won" Chavez back in the day, a ... More >>

Novo Coffee gets the Geisha: How much would you pay for the world's best beans?

​Boutique roaster Novo Coffee recently got a batch of Esmeralda Geisha, one of the most lauded coffees in the world and the subject of the Westword feature "Pot of Gold." If you stop by Novo's retail location at the Museum Residences, 1200 Acoma Street, you can grab a cup for yourself for $4 ... More >>

Novo Coffee gets its hands on the Geisha, the world's most celebrated (and costly) beans

​As Denver's boutique coffee scene continues to develop, establishments are offering up an ever-increasing variety of Joe, from the essence of Tanzanian peaberries extracted through a French Press to Sumatran varietals processed through beakers and tubes straight out of a mad scientist's labor ... More >>

Tacos Acapulco serves up Salvadoran and Mexican fare

Alex Cox, director of Repo Man, joins CU-Boulder's film studies faculty this fall

​Alex Cox, who wrote and directed cult favorites like Repo Man and Sid & Nancy, is joining CU-Boulder's film studies faculty this fall and will teach screenwriting and film production, as the Daily Camera reported. Cox, who grew up England, studied film at UCLA, then lived in Mexico and Spain ... More >>

Gay immigrants: Washington Post says to halt deportations of immigrants in same-sex unions

​ A Washington Post editorial reprinted today in the Denver Post calls for a moratorium on the deportation of gay immigrants who are legally married or in civil unions until after federal courts decide the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Gay immigration: What is it like to be gay in El Salvador? Report to the U.N. details the horrors

​ "Coming Out To America," this week's cover story, follows two GLBT immigrants as they apply for asylum in the United States. One immigrant, a transgender woman named Kassandra, is afraid to return to her native El Salvador for fear of persecution. And for good reason. A 2010 report by severa ... More >>

Gay immigrants need asylum from persecution at home

Second Helping: Tacos Acapulco

​I was out in Stapleton last night when I found myself with a late-night craving for pupusas, the El Salvadoran staple that looks like a fat corn tortilla stuffed with cheese, pork or vegetables. And since it wasn't practical to drive up to Boulder to Pupusas Sabor Hispano, our pick for Best P ... More >>

Tomorrow: Muse's Market gets the show -- and a tour bus that runs on vegetable oil -- on the road

​Think of the Muse's Market as Al Gore with music and art, and you might begin to get the idea of what it's all about: Billed as "a modern-day Chautauqua" or a "farmers' market for music and ideas," the Denver-based tour comprises an earnest crew of musicians, artists, a photojournalist, a sla ... More >>

Marco Ramirez, exec chef of The Palm, on life in a crazy-busy kitchen, the flood that almost drowned it, and how hard work and determination fulfilled his American dream

Lori Midson​ Marco Ramirez The Palm 1672 Lawrence Street 303-825-7256 www.thepalm.com This is part one of my interview with Marco Ramirez, executive chef of The Palm. Part two of that interview will run in this space tomorrow. Marco Ramirez, a self-described "child of a poor farmer family" i ... More >>

Giving Spirit

Three Denver spots that serve authentic empanadas

An Immigrant's Heart

To survive the ordeal of escaping Guatemala, Julia needed a big Heart. But not this big.

Did Mexicans get the short end of the stick when it comes to height?

Cheba Hut's got a smokin' 4/20 deal and booze on the horizon

​Got the munchies? If so, there's really only one place to be today: Cheba Hut. "We are throwing a party system-wide," says Matthew Trethewey, spokesman for the Fort Collins-based sub sandwich chain, which has a dozen stores in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Oregon and celebrates its anni ... More >>

Note to Salvis: Can't we all just get along?

Wolverines!: Remembering the Red Dawn attack on its 25th anniversary

Remembering genuine American heroes.​August 10, 1984 is a date that will live in infamy.On that fateful morning, twenty-five years ago today, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by air and ground forces of the Soviet Union.The United States was at peace with that na ... More >>

There's a bit of truth in every stereotype

Really Free Speech

Viva la Rep-olución!

Talking Shop

Baby Boom

Why do Mexicans have so many kids?

Zambia Ho!

La Praviana

Comfort, Salvadoran style

A Taste of Freedom

Salvadoran immigrants have a hunger for the good life.

Give Them a Hand

Letters