Melanie Asmar

Reader: Former youth corrections officer says the system is messed up

Denver's Smart meters make looking for open spots a zero-sum game

With the city facing a $94 million shortfall in its 2013 budget, every penny counts. As part of the pilot project that recently installed sensors in 500 parking places downtown, Denver is now zeroing out its Smart meter the moment a car pulls out. And keeping the change.

Civil unions: Catholics, conservatives rally to celebrate bill's defeat

At noon, a day after Republican lawmakers defeated a bill to legalize civil unions in a special legislative session, conservatives rallied on the steps of the Capitol building. The event had been planned days in advance, but due to the demise of civil unions, the tone was celebratory. House Speaker ... More >>

Reader: History Colorado is dumb, dumb, dumb not to display dioramas

Colorado's archives include eighteen dioramas that were displayed at the old history museum -- but are nowhere to be seen at the new History Colorado Center. Is that dumb?

History Colorado Center to bring back Denver diorama: What about bloody buffalo hunt?

The most common question state historian Bill Convery hears about the new History Colorado Center is, "Where is the Denver diorama going to be?" That huge diorama depicts the Mile High City in 1860, complete with the old Rocky Mountain News building, an Arapaho Indian camp and, Convery says, "fantas ... More >>

Reader: Harsher punishment for johns would solve most prostitution problems

In a post yesterday, Melanie Asmar broke down a new study of prostitution in Denver, which documented harsher punishment toward women and a proclivity for treating men who patronize this service with much greater deference. One reader thinks the situation would improve of this dynamic was reversed.

Miller moths cause fiery car crash in Colorado Springs

Colorado is under attack! By Miller moths! This earlier-than-usual invasion has inspired plenty of grumbling, as well as Melanie Asmar's list earlier this week of the top five alternative uses for the irritating little buggers. Note that Asmar didn't include anything about moths causing car crashes ... More >>

Photos: Mascots celebrate Colorado tourism at Discover Colorado Rally

What does it look like when a bunch of mascots converge on the Capitol steps? Kinda goofy. That's what happened at today's Discover Colorado Rally, a yearly meetup that could be summed up in two words: "Yay, tourism!" Grown-ups dressed as sharks and bears listened as officials rattled off statistics ... More >>

Denver Zoo's poop-and-trash-powered rickshaw on display at 1700 Broadway

We first told you about the Denver Zoo's plan to turn a shitload of shit into electricity and heat back in 2009. The key is a scientific process called gasification. Basically, it works like this: Poop and trash and other waste goes in, science happens, and then voila! The end product is a useful c ... More >>

Reader: Sign spinners are pawns in the gold-accumulation conspiracy

We first told you about the Denver Zoo's plan to turn a shitload of shit into electricity and heat back in 2009. The key is a scientific process called gasification. Basically, it works like this: Poop and trash and other waste goes in, science happens, and then voila! The end product is a useful c ... More >>

Reader: Colorado Virtual Academy report shouldn't be used to restrict school choice

Melanie Asmar's post about reported low wages and overwhelming workload at Colorado Virtual Academy inspired a number of readers to share positive comments about online education in general. Here's one example from a reader who sees such institutions as giving parents more educational options.

Reader: Why was there no mention of 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain?

Melanie Asmar's post about reported low wages and overwhelming workload at Colorado Virtual Academy inspired a number of readers to share positive comments about online education in general. Here's one example from a reader who sees such institutions as giving parents more educational options.

Reader: "Big money draws thieves as much as a cow patty draws flies"

Melanie Asmar's post about reported low wages and overwhelming workload at Colorado Virtual Academy inspired a number of readers to share positive comments about online education in general. Here's one example from a reader who sees such institutions as giving parents more educational options.

Video: Teenage refugees from Burma perform a traditional dance for the New Year

This week's cover story, "A World Away," tells the story of Drucie Bathin, a 46-year-old refugee from Burma who has made it her life's work to help other, newer refugees. She has a soft spot for the teenagers. To help them connect to their heritage, and stay out of trouble, she plays chauffeur and c ... More >>

B-cycle clocks 202,731 rides in 2011, nearly doubling last year's numbers

​ B-cycle wrapped up its second season last Friday, and the official numbers are in: 202,731 total rides from when B-cycle rolled out in March until 11 p.m. on December 9. That's nearly double last year's numbers, though a teeny bit short of the bike program's goal of 206,000 rides -- somethin ... More >>

2011 Denver #WebAwards winners announced!

Photos: 2011 Denver #WebAwards party

Parking meters are free tomorrow (thanks, Veterans Day!), but not overnight

​ Tomorrow is a city holiday, which means legions of city employees won't have to show up to work (with the exception of police and fire folks, Denver Health doctors, airport workers and the animals at the Denver Zoo; what's a giraffe have to do to get a day off around here?). There's a bonus ... More >>

Reader: Fewer stupid parking tickets would encourage more people to visit Denver

​Melanie Asmar's post about the more than 28,000 overnight parking tickets issued this past summer -- a supplement to her feature article "Feed Me" -- inspired one reader to paraphrase the "Imagine a Great City" slogan that's been used by Denver mayors from Federico Peña to Michael Hancock. B ... More >>

Reader: Overnight parking tickets discourage people from going downtown

​Melanie Asmar's post about the more than 28,000 overnight parking tickets issued this past summer -- a supplement to her feature article "Feed Me" -- inspired one reader to paraphrase the "Imagine a Great City" slogan that's been used by Denver mayors from Federico Peña to Michael Hancock. B ... More >>

I-70 pace cars: The latest un-American development that needs to stop

Flickr​The Colorado Department of Transportation has approved police "pace-cars" for Sundays in January to improve the flow of ski traffic on I-70. Let's forget the logistics and the arguments about whether a police car driving at a steady rate while flashing its light will actually "harmonize ... More >>

Bill Vidal helps break ground on park, community garden at East 13th Ave., Xenia St.

Nasrin and Vidal.​ This morning, Denver Mayor Bill Vidal stood next to soon-to-be seventh-grader Nasrin Mahamud in a dusty patch of vacant lot next to Nasrin's apartment building in East Colfax. Before a crowd of well-wishers in suit pants and name tags, the two drove ceremonial shovels into t ... More >>

How the Internet is revolutionizing education (INFOGRAPHIC)

​The Internet has dramatically changed how we learn. In some ways, the change has been worse than others, considering that students are sometimes Googling their way to a diploma; see Melanie Asmar's story, "Passing on Education". But on the plus side, access to knowledge is now in students' ha ... More >>

Letters: "Politicians have made this nightmare, not the teachers."

​The Internet has dramatically changed how we learn. In some ways, the change has been worse than others, considering that students are sometimes Googling their way to a diploma; see Melanie Asmar's story, "Passing on Education". But on the plus side, access to knowledge is now in students' ha ... More >>

Letters: "Just about every Denver mayor in recent memory has been a sock puppet for crooks"

​The Internet has dramatically changed how we learn. In some ways, the change has been worse than others, considering that students are sometimes Googling their way to a diploma; see Melanie Asmar's story, "Passing on Education". But on the plus side, access to knowledge is now in students' ha ... More >>

Letters: Bedbugs wreak havoc

​The Internet has dramatically changed how we learn. In some ways, the change has been worse than others, considering that students are sometimes Googling their way to a diploma; see Melanie Asmar's story, "Passing on Education". But on the plus side, access to knowledge is now in students' ha ... More >>

After nearly thirty years, Juanita's in Boulder goes dark

Melanie Asmar​For the past 28 years, Juanita's has been a Pearl Street mainstay, holding onto its sliver of storefront space that led to a well-worn front dining room and back lounge, even as other establishments turned over for newer, trendier concepts on either side of it. But on March 1, t ... More >>

Hipsters versus cowboys: When fashion worlds collide

Hipster or cowboy? You decide.​When Westword staff writer Melanie Asmar called out the announcer and rodeo clown at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo yesterday for using Brokeback Mountain references to make gay jokes (personally, I'm more offended they haven't updated their material since ... More >>

Reader: Keep your kids out of the kitchen!

​In his most recent In the Weeds, Kyle Garratt listed the "Five Things Kids Should Not Do in Restaurants" -- a topic that you'd think would be far more controversial than hot tea or lousy tippers. For a very lively discussion of this issue, read the comments following Melanie Asmar's Highlan ... More >>

Readers disagree about whether the word "illegal" should be used in immigration coverage

​Our post yesterday about Colorado signing on to the Secure Communities program sparked a debate among commenters after reporter Melanie Asmar used the term "illegal immigrants." Should the word "illegal" be used in that way? Or is it unnecessarily pejorative? Here are two strong views:

Five things kids should not do in restaurants

​Welcome to In the Weeds. Kyle will be right with you -- most likely to complain about something. Usually he is pleasant, but this is his place to blow off some steam. Don't take it personally; he just needs to vent because he's been doing this for about thirteen years. Enjoy your meal. By it ... More >>

Letters: Readers attack and defend the Highlands Mommies

​Welcome to In the Weeds. Kyle will be right with you -- most likely to complain about something. Usually he is pleasant, but this is his place to blow off some steam. Don't take it personally; he just needs to vent because he's been doing this for about thirteen years. Enjoy your meal. By it ... More >>

Readers praise Kristen Stillman's courage

​Welcome to In the Weeds. Kyle will be right with you -- most likely to complain about something. Usually he is pleasant, but this is his place to blow off some steam. Don't take it personally; he just needs to vent because he's been doing this for about thirteen years. Enjoy your meal. By it ... More >>

Westword readers praise Prayer One and comment on John Hickenlooper taking a shower

​Welcome to In the Weeds. Kyle will be right with you -- most likely to complain about something. Usually he is pleasant, but this is his place to blow off some steam. Don't take it personally; he just needs to vent because he's been doing this for about thirteen years. Enjoy your meal. By it ... More >>

God's eye photos of Denver from Prayer One, Jeff Puckett's holy helicopter

​This week's feature story by Melanie Asmar, "A Wing and a Prayer: Jeff Puckett's Helicopter Gets Denver Closer to God," profiles Jeff Puckett, who leads an all-volunteer helicopter ministry that takes community members and pastors high above Denver. It's a great photo spot, as you can see bel ... More >>

Letters: Bromwell Elementary's principal gets a flunking grade from critics

​This week's feature story by Melanie Asmar, "A Wing and a Prayer: Jeff Puckett's Helicopter Gets Denver Closer to God," profiles Jeff Puckett, who leads an all-volunteer helicopter ministry that takes community members and pastors high above Denver. It's a great photo spot, as you can see bel ... More >>

Letters: Anyone who'd date Bill Sullivan is a dope...or a dupe

​This week's feature story by Melanie Asmar, "A Wing and a Prayer: Jeff Puckett's Helicopter Gets Denver Closer to God," profiles Jeff Puckett, who leads an all-volunteer helicopter ministry that takes community members and pastors high above Denver. It's a great photo spot, as you can see bel ... More >>

Get on board with Never Summer Industries

​This week's feature story by Melanie Asmar, "A Wing and a Prayer: Jeff Puckett's Helicopter Gets Denver Closer to God," profiles Jeff Puckett, who leads an all-volunteer helicopter ministry that takes community members and pastors high above Denver. It's a great photo spot, as you can see bel ... More >>

From the week of September 3, 2009

​This week's feature story by Melanie Asmar, "A Wing and a Prayer: Jeff Puckett's Helicopter Gets Denver Closer to God," profiles Jeff Puckett, who leads an all-volunteer helicopter ministry that takes community members and pastors high above Denver. It's a great photo spot, as you can see bel ... More >>

From the week of August 27, 2009

​This week's feature story by Melanie Asmar, "A Wing and a Prayer: Jeff Puckett's Helicopter Gets Denver Closer to God," profiles Jeff Puckett, who leads an all-volunteer helicopter ministry that takes community members and pastors high above Denver. It's a great photo spot, as you can see bel ... More >>

From the week of August 27, 2009

​This week's feature story by Melanie Asmar, "A Wing and a Prayer: Jeff Puckett's Helicopter Gets Denver Closer to God," profiles Jeff Puckett, who leads an all-volunteer helicopter ministry that takes community members and pastors high above Denver. It's a great photo spot, as you can see bel ... More >>

The Pole stunt: Better than classic Chinese hits

An image from the Pole's faux bathroom web cam.​ Indie 101.5 has spent most of 2009 at death's door. In January, music director John Wilbur, aka Whip, went public with his fight to save the low-rated but highly enjoyable station's format. Then, in May, he went on the air to ask advertisers to ... More >>

Score one for medical marijuana: Health board rejects restrictions

After 12-plus hours of testimony, the state health board on Monday rejected a key restriction on medical marijuana dispensaries -- a rule that would have limited them to five patients each. You have to imagine this was the most attention ever heaped on the health board, which played host to hundreds ... More >>

New downtown farmers' market rises from the asphalt

Photo by Melanie AsmarThe tent of plenty. There's a new farmers' market in the heart of downtown Denver. Three months ago, the spot at 15th and California streets that's now home to Tiri's Garden and the Tiri's Garden Farmers' Market was an empty asphalt lot, a plot of well-positioned real estate t ... More >>

Bloody buffalo hunt diorama to stay in Colorado History Museum collection

Photo by Melanie AsmarAre those kids playing catch with an eyeball? Grody. Spilled entrails. Dogs guarding picked-over bones. Men dangling raw flesh above their mouths like bunches of grapes. Children tossing an eyeball back and forth. Sound like the apocalypse? A cannibal's birthday party? No, i ... More >>

Mention a billboard, get a free dinner at the Broker

Photo by Melanie Asmar Want some free king crab legs? How about a gratis rack of lamb? From now until at least the end of the summer, the Broker Restaurant, at 821 17th Street, is offering a free dinner to anyone who mentions its new billboard at Broadway and 18th, advertising -- what else? -- a fre ... More >>

From the week of June 11, 2009

Photo by Melanie Asmar Want some free king crab legs? How about a gratis rack of lamb? From now until at least the end of the summer, the Broker Restaurant, at 821 17th Street, is offering a free dinner to anyone who mentions its new billboard at Broadway and 18th, advertising -- what else? -- a fre ... More >>

Not-So-New Urbanism: Lowry

Photo by Melanie Asmar The Congress for the New Urbanism is holding its annual conference in Denver June 10-14, complete with bus tours of our most well-known new urbanist enclaves. But how do you judge walkable, neighborhood-based developments? Is it by the diversity (or lack thereof) of their res ... More >>

Jared Polis is having a tough year on TV

Colorado connections make these reality TV shows more fun to watch.

Letters from the week of April 16

Colorado connections make these reality TV shows more fun to watch.

More from yesterday's State Capitol Obama protest: Michelle Malkin with "Swastika Guy"

The photos captured by Melanie Asmar for "Colorado Conservatives' Porkiest Anti-Stimulus Protest Ever," a blog about a State Capitol rally yesterday, were plenty weird -- but as a commenter to that post pointed out, they were nowhere as jaw-slackening as the image above, captured by ProgressNow Co ... More >>