Liquor sales went through the roof during the pandemic, and our tabs at Argonaut probably account for a good half of that growth. While we've bought beer and booze at stores all around town, we keep finding ourselves going back to Argonaut not only for the massive selection, but for an ownership that's become very sensitive to the tastes of Denver tipplers (and teetotalers) over the past five decades. Always drink local.

On a trip to France, Bill and Christy Wynne were inspired by the normalized sobriety scene there that included readily available alcohol-free beers in supermarkets and bars. They decided they wanted to be part of the movement to change the societal pressure of socializing under the influence, and last fall opened Awake, an alcohol-free bottle shop and coffee bar in Jefferson Park. Awake carries the largest selection of alcohol-free drinks under one roof in the country — with everything from zero-proof products like Giesen sauvignon blanc imported from New Zealand to locally sourced Gruvi Stout — and the Wynnes say they've tried every one to ensure that they're stocking the best products for their customers. Soon those customers will be able to try those products on the premises, when the coffee bar becomes a full sober bar and restaurant. Cheers!

Roll through the radio dial, and you're sure to hear a glut of pontificating aggro men using their radio shows to bully guests and mold the world as they see fit. And then you stumble across Ryan Warner's soothing voice on Colorado Public Radio's Colorado Matters, and you get a model for how much better discourse could be. Warner approaches his guests — nearly always fascinating picks — with empathy, respect and a sense of humor. He doesn't shy away from asking tough questions, but he's no bully. And he handles some of the most important — but not always biggest — stories in our state with the generosity they deserve.

cpr.org/show/colorado-matters

We feel like we've watched Bree Davies grow up — and maybe we have — from her days as a punk-loving, Colfax-dwelling kid to her work as a Westword contributor to her new, respectable status as the host of City Cast Denver, the new podcast brought to the Mile High City by the Graham Foundation, of all things. But while the funding might come from outside Colorado, the emphasis is all local, with former Best of Denver winner Paul Karolyi as lead producer. Together he, Davies and the rest of the crew pull together fifteen-minute weekday-morning podcasts that encapsulate just what you need to know — love it or hate it — about Denver right now. From the fate of Elitch's to the best Mexican food, City Cast keeps Denver talking.

denver.citycast.fm

Back in August, former Westword writer and longform journalist Chris Walker debuted The Syndicate, a thrilling, eight-chapter, true-crime podcast produced by Imperative Entertainment and Foxtopus Ink. It tells the story of a group of college buddies who exploited Colorado's medical cannabis laws to create one of the most successful drug-smuggling rings in U.S. history — before the traffickers were brought down by a federal mole. The story, which includes skydiving, drugs galore, wild characters and plenty of derring-do, is the perfect soundtrack for your next drive across the state...whether or not you have drugs in tow.

foxtopus.ink/the-syndicate

Speaking even faster than they can run, husband-wife coaches and national-champion runners Megan and David Roche have recorded Some Work, All Play, a binge-worthy thirty-minute podcast that invites listeners into their Tuesday morning conversations about life's big issues — from what's going on in the news to fascinating movies, books or articles they've read. After their banter, they answer listener questions about training and offer data-driven running advice rooted in both sports science and the kind of unflagging optimism and cheerleading that will help listeners get through the toughest runs. They are all about compassion, flamboyant joy and endless love. Now, that's something to chase.

swaprunning.com

Lighthearted banter and random silliness of the sort that has been commonplace in morning television news for decades feels out of step given the current state of the world — which is a big reason that CBS4 Denver's approach is so refreshing. Instead of relying on gimmicks, the station simply tasks main anchors Dominic Garcia and Kelly Werthmann (aided by CBSN's Makenzie O'Keefe) with delivering the most important stories at the dawn of the day straight, with big assists from a deep bench of reportorial talent that includes Mekialaya White and veteran Rick Sallinger. Add weather updates from Ashton Altieri, who eschews bluster and overhype in favor of the most relevant information, and you've got a wake-up program perfect for 2021.

When the news is serious, it makes sense to turn to serious news purveyors — and Denver7's evening newscast is seriously strong. The integrity of anchor Anne Trujillo has only grown over the decades that she's held down the main anchor chair, and her current partner, Shannon Ogden, is an effective communicator with a sure command of tone. Moreover, the news team's commitment to in-depth storytelling isn't just a slogan; reports are allowed to run long when the subject matter calls for it rather than the info being delivered in calorie-free mini-bites. And that's not to mention the presence of Mike Nelson, the dean of Colorado forecasters, and Lionel Bienvenu, whose sports segments are given a prominence often lacking on other outlets.

Tom Green is so well known for his dry sense of humor that his journalistic skills can sometimes be overlooked. But his live coverage of the mass shooting at the Boulder King Soopers in late March was a model of the form. Unlike some of his competitors, who strayed into problematic speculation while filling time between new revelations, Green held steady, exuding compassion and concern while still dispensing hard truths. The ability to maintain emotional equilibrium at moments of high tension is rare, but Green has it to spare.

Longtime Coloradans have a very low tolerance for forecasters who portray every snow event as a potential life-threatening blizzard and seem to seek out any excuse to drop phrases such as "bomb cyclone" into their conversation whether they're relevant or not. So praise be to Matt Makens, whose appearances on Channel 2 are marked by a low-key delivery that lets the facts of the day speak for themselves. And because he's a local product (he grew up outside of Castle Rock), he has enough experience with the vagaries of Colorado weather to know the difference between a legitimate thunderstorm and a passing cloud.