United States

The Damsels Dance Company takes on heavy local news in Denver on Fire

Between last summer's devastating wild fires, the Aurora shootings and other high-profile news stories, Colorado has had a rough year. It is difficult to find a way to express the emotions that these events have evoked, but the Damsel Dance Company is trying to do that by communicating Colorado's f ... More >>

Guess where I'm drinking mouth-numbing Tingala?

I can't imagine what you'd do with this Colorado spirit, which makes your mouth, lips and gums go numb -- a lot like Sichuan peppercorns -- but there's at least one restaurant and bar that's conjuring up ways to use the spirit in cocktails. Still, this has got to be the strangest liquid I've ever pu ... More >>

Graphics: Colorado's score for hate tweets -- and fondness for the N-word

How often do social-media users in Colorado feature hate speech in their tweets? The Geography of Hate, overseen by Humboldt State University's Dr. Monica Stephens, puts the answer in graphic terms via heat maps that show the best and worst areas of the country when it comes to tweets sporting degra ... More >>

Photos: Ten favorite cat names in Colorado and more

Last week, we highlighted the ten favorite dog names in Colorado as collated in the Banfield State of Pet Health 2013 report, which offers a huge amount of info about our best friends on a state-by-state basis. Today, cats take center stage. We've spotlighted and photo-illustrated the ten favorite c ... More >>

Hemp-farming registry bill passes; first plants are bound for the ground

A bill to register hemp farmers with the state has been approved by lawmakers. Now all it needs is the governor's signature before a nine-member committee can begin assisting the Department of Agriculture in developing a process that will allow the good people of Colorado to engage in widespread pla ... More >>

Photos: Ten favorite dog names in Colorado and more

According to Banfield's State of Pet Health report for 2013, Colorado is a great place to live if you're a dog or cat -- because the state is among the top two (along with Montana) for longest life span. But that's hardly the only fascinating factoid in the report, which breaks down tons of info on ... More >>

Marijuana: How an Amendment 64 repeal measure almost passed last night

When Amendment 64 was passed last November and signed into law by Governor John Hickenlooper the following month, most Coloradans figured it was a done deal -- unless the federal government decided to oppose it, that is. But no: Last night, Senator John Morse, seen here, and a slew of colleagues cam ... More >>

Videos: Best bicycling states of 2013 -- and why Colorado finished near the top

The League of American Bicyclists is out with its list of the best states for cycling -- and Colorado finished in impressive fashion. Not that the League thinks any state has achieved perfection when it comes to welcoming and protecting cyclists. In our top ten list below, we've included the organi ... More >>

Wolverine, the sequel: Feds propose to bring tough weasel back to Colorado

Today is the last day for public comment on a proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to bring the wolverine -- not the Marvel character with the sharp claws, adamantium skeleton and tortured backstory, but something even more awesome and much, much more badass than Hugh Jackman -- back to t ... More >>

Marijuana: Barack Obama says no to legalizing drugs -- but what's that mean for Colorado?

It's been six months to the day since the passage of Amendment 64, which allows adults 21 and over in Colorado to use and possess small amounts of marijuana -- and just under five months since Governor John Hickenlooper signed it into law. But even as legislators rush to finish A64-related pot bills ... More >>

Photos: Road and lane closures, traffic alerts after yesterday's snowstorm

As longtime Coloradans know, the day after a storm is often as challenging from a driving perspective, if not more so, than when the snow is actually falling, because some people insist on believing that everything is back to normal even when road conditions are still deceptively crappy. With that i ... More >>

Marijuana: Law enforcers' letter to Hick freaks out over pot bills

We've been following the rapidly evolving marijuana bills intended to enact voter-approved Amendment 64, which allows adults 21 and over in Colorado to use and possess small amounts of cannabis. So, too, have assorted law enforcement groups -- and judging by a letter that several organizations sent ... More >>

Amendment 64-like proposal may be heading north to Alaska

Could Alaska be the next state to legalize and regulate small amounts of cannabis for personal use? Supporters in Juneau think so. The process has begun to gather signatures for a ballot measure that would legalize up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use, allow for home cultivation and set up ... More >>

Photos: Twenty eye-popping Colorado travel posters

Early this month, a Huffington Post writer called Colorado the fifth most overrated travel destination on the planet. That claim struck us as utter nonsense, but we understand why there might be some backlash. After all, the state has inspired some of the most gorgeous and memorable travel posters f ... More >>

Want old-timey food? Black-Eyed Pea delivers that and old-timers, too

Every once in a while you really want a taste of some old-fashioned, old-time favorites (that someone else has to cook, and then clean up after) like pot roast, meatloaf, mashed potatoes made with actual potatoes, fried corn and squash casserole, chicken-fried everything...and even a nice plate of f ... More >>

Marijuana: Doonesbury's Zonker moving to Boulder to become "respected drug lord"

Last month, we wrote about the Colorado-centric storyline in Doonesbury featuring Zonker Harris, who announced that he was moving to Colorado to become a hemp farmer; see our original post below. Since then, we've put out the welcome mat for Zonker by featuring him on the cover of Westword for our ... More >>

Simon Posford of Shpongle on music helping you escape the drudgery and horror of life

Simon Posford of Shpongle sees the world through a unique creative lens, and he delivers his view with stunning visual imagery soundtracked by ethereal music that speaks to all the senses. This weekend in honor of Earth Day, he's due at Feed the Rocks with Disco Biscuits and RJD2 at Red Rocks, where ... More >>

Marijuana: Bill that would transfer MMJ patient fees for drug counseling gutted

A bill that would have used $10 million in medical marijuana patient registration fees for drug-treatment programs has been gutted for the second year in a row. The Representative Beth McCann-sponsored House Bill 1238, would have transferred $10 million over the next four years from the medical mari ... More >>

Maya Jane Coles on her quick rise in America

One of electronic music's fastest rising young stars, Maya Jane Coles has become a major phenomenon over the last two years. Just 25 years old, the Londoner has been recognized as one of the hottest DJs on the planet by everyone from Rolling Stone to Resident Advisor and she has performed at major f ... More >>

Several small Colorado breweries have recently signed on with distribution companies

Several small Colorado breweries that only sell in-state have recently signed on with distribution companies in order to get their beer inside more mouths. Dry Dock in Aurora, Trinity in Colorado Springs and Eddyline Brewing in Buena Vista are all working with Western Distribution, while Telluride ... More >>

Marijuana Q&A with Warren Edson: "Marijuana needs to be declassified on a federal level"

This week's multi-part cover story about the state of the state of marijuana takes a look at Amendment 64 and how legislators will address implementing the legalization of small amounts of cannabis and the shops that will sell it. Our print edition also features a Q&A with Amendment 64 proponent Mas ... More >>

In honor of 4/20, marijuana activist Mason Tvert discusses the future of pot

See also: Pot critic William Breathes answers your cannabis queries in a special 4/20 edition

Reader: America is home to a cult of murderers

New Denver shows: Steely Dan, the Geto Boys, Brad Paisley, Selena Gomez, Ride Festival

Steely Dan is making its way back to Colorado for a show at Red Rocks this August, and there's a bunch of other new shows to let you know about, including Brad Paisley at Fiddler's Green, the Geto Boys at Summit Music Hall, Ride Festival and Selena Gomez. Keep reading for the full rundown on these s ... More >>

Photos: Top ten Passive-Aggressive Notes from Colorado, 2013 edition

Last year, we paid tribute to the ultra-funny Passive-Aggressive Notes website with a collection of our ten favorite Passive-Aggressive Notes from Colorado. But a year later, Coloradans have shared plenty more passive aggression, on subjects ranging from extreme Christmas light displays and restaura ... More >>

HuffPo idiot: Colorado is fifth most overrated travel destination, Denver is "weirdly bland"

At Westword, we're all about hometown/home-state pride -- hence, posts such as "50 reasons we're glad we live in Denver and not the United States" and "Happy Colorado Day: Here are 50 reasons you should be glad you live here." So you can imagine our befuddlement over a Huffington Post article calli ... More >>

"Show Me Your Papers" law on the road to repeal as new report condemns it

State lawmakers have passed a bill that repeals a much-criticized 2006 law requiring local law enforcement to report anyone they suspect of being undocumented to federal immigration authorities. The bill, HB1258, now heads to the governor's desk. Immigrant advocate Justin Valas credits the bill's p ... More >>

Photos: Top ten things that make Colorado Colorado

What makes Colorado Colorado? That's what "Making Colorado," the state's new branding mission announced yesterday, wants to determine -- and it's set up a website where you can offer your own suggestions that will help determine the state's new brand. This DIY approach drew the attention of the New ... More >>

Reader: Gun laws make it more difficult for people who need protection to find it

Our interview with Representative Rhonda Fields found the gun-control advocate arguing against a Colorado boycott touted by some hunters groups. The debate over the issue in our comments section was passionate. In the following post, one reader responds to bill supporters with an argument against th ... More >>

Photos: Top twelve least religious communities in America -- and where Boulder falls on the list

Gallup has released a new poll that measures the most religious communities -- a list topped by the Provo-Orem, Utah area, where 77 percent of respondents described themselves as "very religious." What about the least religious places? Gallup calculated that, too, with none other than Boulder finis ... More >>

What makes Colorado Colorado? New state branding effort wants to know

Endless vistas of the mountains and plains? Endless pours of craft beers? Endless protests about gun-control laws? What makes Colorado Colorado? That's what the state plans to find out with Making Colorado, an ambitious branding effort being announced today by Governor John Hickenlooper and Aaron Ke ... 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 >>

Reader: Two trips to Texas, two profiling stops for driving car with Colorado plates

Since a February post about the arrest of Brian Unbehaun in which we raised the subject of Colorado drivers being profiled in other states because of the marijuana laws here, readers have regularly shared stories about similar experiences either on the original post or subsequent Comments of the Day ... More >>

Marijuana: Smart Colorado wants to ban retail pot shops -- or does it?

The group that organized opposition to Amendment 64, which allows adults to use and possess small amounts of marijuana, was called Smart Colorado. Now, a new organization by the same name has been created to lobby legislators tackling legislation required to enact the measure, with a bill expected t ... More >>

Photos: Top ten stars for and against boycotting "hate state" Colorado twenty years ago

Today, the Supreme Court will consider arguments for and against the Defense of Marriage Act -- a hearing that recalls the court's part in tossing out 1992's Amendment 2, which prevented bodies in Colorado from recognizing gays and lesbians as a protected class. The passage of Amendment 2 led to Col ... More >>

Medical marijuana registry numbers climb, but more patients dropping off active list

The active patient numbers for Colorado's medical marijuana community crept slightly higher in January, to 108,656 people, but any significant growth was offset by a pattern of people dropping off the registry each month. Although 2,911 new-patient applications were turned in between December 2012 a ... More >>

Photos: Doonesbury's Zonker to become hemp farmer, rename himself Kevin Colorado Springs

Doonesbury hasn't had a print home in Denver since June 2011, when the Denver Post yanked it. But it can be accessed online, and it's still good. Creator Gary Trudeau remains sharp and engaged; he's not doing the equivalent of repeating Garfield-eating-lasagna jokes. Case in point: Today's strip, p ... More >>

A six-pack of Colorado beers you should buy right now -- before they are gone

Colorado's craft brewers are constantly coming up with new beers, so many that it can be hard to keep up. Some are permanent additions to their lineups, while others are seasonal specialties that are available just a few weeks or month each year. Still more are small-batch releases that come and go ... More >>

Reader: "Retarded A$$hole" and "Dumb C*nt" Facebook tag ugly, but so are gun-control bills

Yesterday, we shared a screen capture from the Denver Post Facebook page showing that a user had tagged a photo of John Hickenlooper and Rhonda Fields at a gun-control bill signing with the phrases "Retarded Asshole" and "Dumb C*nt." We called the language "ugly" -- a word one reader thought could b ... More >>

A Good Match

Garren Teich, exec chef of 1515 Restaurant, on molecular gastronomy, line checks and rooftop gardens

Garren Teich 1515 Restaurant 1515 Market Street 303-571-0011 www.1515restaurant.com This is part one of my interview with Garren Teich, exec chef of 1515 Restaurant; part two of our chat will run tomorrow. Twenty-seven acres devoted to chickens, goats and vegetables. That's where Garren Teich gr ... More >>

TBD Colorado collecting online opinions on transportation, education

When all the smoke clears over the gun debate, Colorado will still have other tough issues to tackle. What's the future of this state? That's what TBD Colorado wants to determine. Last year, the non-partisan nonprofit -- "No state dollars are being spent on TBD Colorado," its website promises -- h ... More >>

Photos: Alamo Drafthouse will open Monday; here's a sneak peek

Alamo Drafthouse will open its doors at 7301 South Santa Fe Drive in Littleton on Monday, March 25. The first Colorado link in the Texas-based cinema chain -- which offers food and drinks during screenings -- boasts seven screens, 900 seats, 32 local beers on tap, and an extensive menu featuring bur ... More >>

Sex and drugs at Colorado Senate today

Want evidence of just how colorful Colorado has become? Stop by the Colorado Senate this morning, where two big bills will be considered. One, calling for new sex education standards, shows how very blue the Colorado Legislature is these days, The second, HB 13-1061, which would set standards for "r ... More >>

Medical marijuana from Colorado illegal in Kansas, court rules: More fuel for profiling?

Several of our posts about alleged profiling of cars from Colorado due to the state's marijuana laws have focused on Kansas. One involved Westword contributor Britt Chester, who was rousted there during a cross-country trip -- and another featured a Kansas attorney who encouraged Coloradans to ditch ... More >>

Can hemp escape the role of marijuana's sober stepsister?

See also: Top ten hemp legends: Which myths are true -- and which went up in smoke?

Why do Mexicans crush on Lindsay Lohan?

Deviate sex at hotels (and adultery) about to become legal in Colorado: Party time!

Today, the Colorado State Senate gave its approval to a bill that would do away with Colorado sex laws that date back to the '50s. To be more specific: the 1850s. Yep, legislation now headed to the desk of Governor John Hickenlooper (who's expected to sign it) is designed to wipe from the books st ... More >>

Marijuana: Joint committee to use task force recommendations to iron out Colorado pot laws

Colorado legislators have formed a body to help craft legislation based on recommendations of the governor-appointed Amendment 64 task force, which wrapped up February 28 and released its findings this week. The Joint Select Committee on the Implementation of the Amendment 64 Task Force Recommendati ... More >>

TBD Colorado: Help determine the future of this state at History Colorado today

The state of Colorado today? Snowy. The state of this state in the future? That's TBD. And today, you can help determine it at a public meeting of TBD Colorado, the nonprofit project created last year to jump-start conversations about the biggest issues facing the state. Over 1,200 Coloradans joined ... More >>