Small Business

Sacred Economics workshop will help local business owners think about a deeper purpose

Tonight at Green Spaces Colorado, Mile High Business Alliance will host "The Deeper Purpose of Your Business," an evening with author Charles Eisenstein aimed at bringing global consciousness to the world of small business. Local business owners, entrepreneurs and anyone working in Denver's business ... More >>

Boycott Colorado: Hunters take aim at Colorado tourism over gun-control bills

The rumblings of a boycott started even before Governor John Hickenlooper signed three gun-control measures ten days ago, and they're only going to get louder with President Barack Obama coming to Colorado on Wednesday to tout this state's new laws as an example for the rest of the country. "I'm boy ... More >>

Shop and Talk Shop

Marijuana activist objects to Amendment 64 task force member calling for fed crackdown

As we've reported, the first meeting of the Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force is slated for noon today. But even before that initial session, a marijuana activist is protesting the inclusion of one task force member, Colorado Concern's Tamra Ward. Why? Because her signature is the first on lett ... More >>

Fracking haters and fans staging separate rallies in Boulder, Denver: What the frack?

With Democrats controlling both houses of the Colorado Legislature, Governor John Hickenlooper should have lots of common ground with lawmakers. But one topic is already creating cracks in any consensus: fracking. Hickenlooper has asked for a single set of state regulations that would govern the sta ... More >>

Denver Startup Week starts today with dozens of free events

Denver has a reputation as an entrepreneurial town, which means there are a lot of brains to pick here. And whether you're already among the ranks of local creatives and small-business owners or thinking about joining them, you're sure to find something interesting going on during Denver Startup Wee ... More >>

Photos: Craig Romney targets Colorado Latinos as dad Mitt prepares for debates

After last week's Republican National Convention in Tampa, Mitt Romney has taken a break from the campaign trail to focus on debate preparation. But that doesn't mean he's ignoring the key swing state of Colorado. Yesterday, the campaign brought Craig Romney, the candidate's youngest son, to Lakew ... More >>

Fire on the Mountain makes a sustainable impression in Highland

Fire on the Mountain came into Denver determined to make a difference. Owners Andrea West and Craig Oberlink followed the lead of the restaurant's three counterparts in Portland, Oregon, and decided to create their wing joint/bar with sustainability in mind. "We had this amazing opportunity to start ... More >>

Michael Hancock's State of the City speech: Police reform and e-Denver

A year after taking office, Mayor Michael Hancock delivered his first State of the City address this morning, promoting a range of priorities, including restructuring the police department, increasing programs for children and a new online initiative he is calling "e-Denver." That's right, Denver is ... More >>

Reader: City attacks local businesses, rather than help them

Two prominent restaurateurs are involved in very public spats with the city. Frank Bonanno, owner of Osteria Marco, among other restaurants, admits he can be a "dick." Especially when fighting the Denver Department of Environmental Health: posting missives on his blog aimed at Danica Lee, the depart ... More >>

Denver Cash Mob at I Heart Denver store tonight

Denver's first cash mob meets at the Capitol.Flash mobs are so yesterday. Get ready for cash mobs! Rather than inciting a riot or inspiring a funky dance, these mobs encourage people to throw money at local businesses. As Samuel Schimek, who will be hosting the first installment of Style Strike at t ... More >>

Immigrants in Denver more likely to own small businesses than U.S. natives

In the Denver metro area, immigrants are more likely to own small businesses than folks born in the United States. Not that much more likely, but the data presented in a new national report should at least call into question notions that immigrants influence the economy simply by displacing U.S. b ... More >>

Build your brain with TEDxMileHigh and the first-ever TEDxYouth@MileHigh

Prepare to be amazed. Prepare to be inspired. Prepare, perhaps, to reflect less favorably on your own accomplishments. It's time for TEDxMileHigh, two days of performances and events that start with the first-ever TEDxYouth@MileHigh today from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. The main event runs from 1 to 6 p.m ... More >>

Wash Day

The real story behind "Black Friday"

As we prepare for the commercial holiday that follows a little thing called Thanksgiving, the debate over whether stores should begin opening at midnight on Black Friday is raging. But when and where did Black Friday come from? What does it really mean? We asked Darrin Duber-Smith, Marketing Profess ... More >>

Initiative 300 goes down; local restaurateurs savor their victory

​Initiative 300, the paid sick-leave proposal on yesterday's ballot, would have affected just about every business in Denver -- but restaurants became the real poster child of the campaign, on both the pro and con sides. The Yes on 300 campaign used scare tactics -- including pictures of cant ... More >>

Wells Fargo to be targeted by Denver protesters in week of actions "to restructure Wall Street"

​Update, below: Wells Fargo will be the target of several actions this week by the Colorado Progressive Coalition, including plans to "move in" to a branch on Thursday with lamps, pillows and coffee pots to protest the bank's high number of foreclosures. Dubbed the Mile High Showdown, the acti ... More >>

Listeria hysteria: Paid Sick Leave backers allude to outbreak in sick campaign literature

The listeria outbreak that's killed at least thirteen people has been traced to cantaloupe from Jensen Farms in Holly. While the FDA has been looking for the cause of the contamination there, the feds have never suggested that the problem was sick workers. But that hasn't stopped the Yes on 300 camp ... More >>

Paid Sick and Safe Time proposal has Denver restaurateurs feeling ill

​Denver restaurateurs are some of the most generous people in town, donating food, labor and cash to all the good causes forever hitting them up. But while the idea of a generous paid time-off policy for employees sounds good in theory, restaurant owners -- and former restaurant owners, like ... More >>

Restaurateurs feeling sick about Denver's Paid Sick and Safe Time initiative

​Denver restaurateurs are some of the most generous people in town, forever contributing food, labor and cash to worthy causes and charity events. Many are also very generous to their employees -- but they like coming up with policies that work for their unique, often small businesses, not get ... More >>

Valentine's Day e-cards from Loveland: Chamber of Commerce is feeling the love

Big pics below.​Updated, 10:48 a.m.: Loveland promotes itself as "the Sweetheart City" via a remailing program that stamps Valentine's Day cards with the community's postmark. WithLoveFromLoveland.com, a website that offers free V-Day e-cards, isn't an official part of this project, which is ... More >>

After Denver rejects a liquor license for a new craft beer bar, the owners appeal to Governor Hickenlooper, brewer to brewer

​The owners of a proposed craft-beer bar along Seventh Avenue's restaurant row were shocked earlier this month when a hearing officer for the city of Denver's excise and license division suggested that their liquor license request be denied. "There was no public opposition from nearby restaur ... More >>

Colorado Senator Chris Romer keeps pushing his Denver Cupcake Truck petition

​Colorado Senator Chris Romer, who's making a run for mayor now that Hick is the new guv, seems to be making cupcakes -- notably those from the Denver Cupcake Trucks -- one of his top priorities. Last week, we reported that Romer had splashed his official website with a plea to sign a petition ... More >>

Highlands Mommies: Their picks for best food, shops, yoga studios in northwest Denver

​ Much fuss has been made about the Highlands Mommies' relationships to local businesses, as is evident in the comments on our cover story, "The Mommies." Here's a juicy one: The Highland Mommies are run by a self-possessed cadre of mean girls who finally have a voice after what surely were u ... More >>

Self Support

Dan Maes takes on Denver Post over tax returns, says paper doesn't understand small business

Dan Maes.​After what his critics characterize as a long delay, Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes has released his tax returns -- and they show per annum income as low as $11,000 in recent years. The data prompted the Denver Post, which has never been a big Maes backer, to editoriali ... More >>

Teri G. Sanchez is suburban superhero Brightonator: Kenny Be's Hip Tip

See full-size image below.​Brightonator Real Name: Teri G. Sanchez; Occupation: Empire Builder; Suburb of Operations: Brighton; Hair: Electric; Eyes: Bright Suburban superhero skills: Brightonator is a mutant with the superhuman ability to brighten the lives of all the people she coordinates ... More >>

Medical marijuana showdown: City council members target Altitude Organic Medicine

Altitude Organic Medicine.​Altitude Organic Medicine received a rave as part of our Mile Highs and Lows dispensary reviews. But AOM may get a much more negative critique at today's city council meeting. Owner Brian Cook says two members are trying to shut down his business over what he sees as ... More >>

Is the Denver Chamber of Commerce getting into the bar business?

New Chamber head Kelly Brough​The Denver Department of Excise and License has received an application to transfer ownership of a liquor license at 1445 Market Street in LoDo. That's the old home of Ruth's Chris Steakhouse -- but it's also the building that houses the Metro Denver Chamber of Co ... More >>

Support Your Neighbors

Jane Norton for Senate: The next great GOP hope

Jane Norton.​Last month, the National Republican Senatorial Committee registered a couple of domain names on behalf of former Colorado Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton -- and today, Norton's using one of them, JaneNortonForColorado.com. Up-front: A news item that declares, "Jane Norton official ... More >>

Wake-Up Call: Senator Bennet rolls up his sleeves

​Business boosters at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce didn't know what had hit them. On Friday, when Senator Mark Udall offered a healthcare briefing at the Chamber, there hadn't been a single member of the media. But on Monday, when Senator Michael Bennet did the same, the TV cameras wer ... More >>

Did the spontaneity-free climate-change rally in Greeley have a Mr. Burns touch?

As we pointed out yesterday, a climate-change rally in Greeley on Wednesday didn't exactly qualify as a grassroots uprising, given the participation of EnergyCitizens.org, an affiliate of the American Petroleum Institute, which opposes legislation to cap greenhouse gases recently passed by the U.S. ... More >>

Corner Market

The Mile High Business Alliance helps consumers buy local.

Win a holiday party at Loews Denver Hotel

If your company has canceled its holiday party because of the economy, there's still hope! Loews Denver Hotel will be giving away a full holiday party to a local small business. To enter, a business manager must create a DVD or YouTube video explaining why his or her company should win, and do it fa ... More >>

Party On, Dude

Top of the Town

Kersten Hostetter has the Midas touch for Denver businesses.

Creative Thinking

Denver gets down to business about the arts.

Best Slogan for Boulder Shoppers

"Keep Boulder Weird"

The Alternative Voter’s Guide

The Legislative Council’s ballot-analysis booklet has inspired so many fights, it should be called the black-and-blue book. Here’s our cure.

Bite Me

Majority Rules

Best Place to Spot a Chick

Greater Prairie Chicken viewing trips

Cutting Edge

A plan by some Colorado leaders to trim hard-won health-insurance benefits could leave consumers feeling the pain.

Check, Please!

Readers give our food critic something to chew on.

Letters to the Editor

From the week of June 8.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised!

How Denver’s Hispanic community lost a cable-TV channel but gained a “heritage center.” Maybe.

Hot Potatoes!

Some farmers in the San Luis Valley were just waiting to be picked.

Movin' On Up

The city takes a wild ride on the Colfax Center Deli's wheelchair ramp.

It Takes a Greek Town

The plan to revive East Colfax: belly dancers, bazouki music, baklava--and blue sidewalks.

Here's a Hot Little Number

US West customers in Louisville and Lafayette reach out and touch...someone.