Dear Mexican: I am a naturalized (legal) hispano in the U.S., and I just realized what the “illegal” craze is about. What immigrant-bashing citizens are trying to protect here are people like…me. Consider what this concerned woman said to John McCain during a public meeting in New Hampshire last year…
When I check my e-mail every morning, just as I was once greeted by long-lost Nigerian cousins in need of cash, I now find countless would-be friends. But none of these entreaties has been as appealing as the invitation Monday to join “DIA’s Heinous Blue Mustang Has Got to Go,”…
The total number of job losses across the country announced yesterday range from 65,000 (according to the New York Times) to over 71,000 (CNN). But no matter how you add things up, the outlook looks gloomy. Better polish your rose-colored glasses for Colorado’s dual announcements coming today: Governor Bill Ritter…
Governor Bill Ritter was at the last day of the National Western Stock Show, taking in the rodeo with his family (Ritter was one of twelve kids, all raised on a farm in eastern Aurora) — and enjoying a few light moments before the hard work of the week ahead…
Ken Salazar has been sworn in as Secretary of the Interior. Michael Bennet is now a U.S. senator. Tom Boasberg is taking over as superintendent of Denver Public Schools, promising to “accelerate reform.” That leaves just one more chair to fill — the U.S. Attorney’s seat vacated by Republican Troy…
Since we haven’t been able to make contact with Pizzeria Mundo, a noble attempt to offer international pizzas that’s faced numerous challenges since it opened, yesterday I made my way to the front door of the restaurant at 1312 17th Street (shown here in happier times).This mission wasn’t easy: The…
When John Hickenlooper was a favorite to take Ken Salazar’s Senate slot, local politicos slobbered over the idea of a winner-take-all race for the Denver mayor’s seat in May. But Michael Bennet’s appointment to the Senate ended that game of musical chairs, and now the last outstanding issue that might…
Dear Mexican: Mi hermano y yo tenemos un dispute. We all know that Mexicans love their bistec sliced muy thin, but why? My brother is adamant that the diet of free-range vacas mexicanas results in tough meat, necessitating a thin slice for easy mastication. I think the reason is purely…
After all the Washington, D.C., pomp and circumstances (one major circumstance being that, Barack Obama’s astonishing rise aside, most of those in power are indeed insiders), it’s refreshing to consider Colorado’s citizen legislature, which has a hundred part-time lawmakers who work until early May, then return to their real lives…
In so many ways, the Democratic National Convention of last August seems like a dream, a dream that packed the streets and businesses of Denver, and sent images of this city around the world. Looking out the window now, I can barely make out the silhouette of Invesco Field at…
The coffee’s already on at Cora Faye’s, the soul-food restaurant that Jason Sheehan raved about back in July 2007. The TV’s on, too, making this restaurant at 2861 Colorado Boulevard one of the best spots in the city for watching the inauguration of Barack Obama.Channel 31 host Shaul Turner is…
Although all eyes are on the action in D.C. this week, there’s plenty going on in Denver. It starts with the MLK Marade today, when this city hosts the country’s largest annual gathering (a combo march/parade) in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., which gets under way at 10:45 a.m…
Jack-n-Grill, the Martinez family’s great New Mexican restaurant at 2524 Federal Boulevard, will get its fifteen minutes of fame this week — and then some. The focus of all the national attention is Jack-n-Grill’s big burrito deal: Take down the house’s seven-pound burrito in one sitting (no fair visiting the…
Right before he headed into his lovefest/confirmation hearing for the Secretary of the Interior post, still-Senator Ken Salazar and new Senator Mark Udall sent President-elect Barack Obama the names of three candidates for U.S. attorney, since that post generally goes with the winning party, and Republican Troy Eid has tendered…
“Want to be smarter? Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post and read them for a half-hour each morning.” We were on our annual rounds of the Hall of Education at the Stock Show, and stopping by the Denver Newspaper Agency booth to see what shwag the DNA…
Dear Mexican: What is it with Cesar Chavez? Recently in Dallas, we’ve gone through three attempts to name streets after Mr. Chavez. In one instance, the plan was to remove the name of two brothers who were city founders from a street named after them and rename the street Cesar…
Restaurants are outdoing themselves offering bargains this month, trying to bolster what’s always a blah month. But it’s going to be tough to beat the deal that Bistro Vendome, the charming French restaurant tucked into the back of Larimer Square, is offering in January: moules & frites for $9. Usually…
As I was running out of my office last night, late again, I got a call from a neighbor. “Do you know why the police are in front of your house?” she asked. Uh, no, I said, wondering if the mess of ungifted holiday gifts and unfinished Christmas projects clearly visible in…
Thirty years ago, Denver boosters were so worried that the city was considered a cowtown that they launched a campaign to appear more cosmopolitan, banishing any bovine connections. Westword responded by adopting the cow (and its bullish brethren) as a mascot for our annual Best of Denver, which celebrates everything that’s…
A few loose ends from last year are now neatly tied up. New Secretary of State, check: Bernie Buescher will be sworn in at 3 p.m. Wednesday (so long as the Colorado Senate confirms the appointment). New Senator, check. Governor Bill Ritter is currently touring the state with Michael Bennet,…
Among the residents who evacuated in the face of a fast-moving fire in Boulder this week was Michael Brown, current consultant and talk-show host, and former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a man who will be forever linked with this remark by President George W. Bush over his handling…
The Colorado Legislature just convened yesterday, with four months of hard work and tough budgeting choices ahead. So it’s no surprise that in their off-hours, citizen lawmakers would rather ignore this new year altogether and go directly to 2010, which promises plenty of political surprises. Already, Troy Eid, outgoing U.S…
