Angela Rae Harris's Blog, page 17

Mark Kiszla: How the ugliest season in Rockies history was turned into a Cooperstown-worthy piece of art

She transformed the ugliest season in Rockies history into a gorgeous work of art.

With our wretched local baseball team in desperate need of a miracle-worker, maybe the Rockies should seriously consider hiring Jeannie Peppel as their next general manager.

“I didn’t know I was making something to commemorate Rockies history,” Peppel told me Thursday, as we chatted in an Olde Town Arvada pizza parlor. “I just like to crochet to keep my hands busy while watching TV.”

Hidden in a large bag at her feet, waiting for its grand unveiling, was a heartfelt tribute to a hapless ballclub that couldn’t win for losing.

OK, how should we properly remember every excruciating day of a major-league baseball season in Colorado that seemed like it might never end?

Well, you might find this cold comfort.

But all 119 losses suffered by the Rockies have been immortalized in a blanket woven from a little purple and a whole lot of black yarn, one loving crochet line at a time.

Longtime Rockies season-ticket holder Jeannie Peppel shows off the blanket she crocheted to immortalize the worst season in franchise history. (photo by Mark Kiszla)

Let’s tip our caps in salute to a longtime Denver Public Schools principal  who might be the most ambitious baseball artist since LeRoy Neiman.

After laboring all summer long to crochet the story of a team that fell apart at the seams, Peppel deserves a standing ovation.

Or maybe a sympathy card.

“We are Rockies supporters,” Jeannie said, while sitting alongside Mike, her husband. “And we will defend the team … but only up to a point.”

With the patience of a baseball saint, she not only handcrafted a memento of dubious Colorado sports history, but has stubbornly refused to throw up her hands in disgust at the most hopeless team in the National League.

The Peppels have been Rockies season ticket-holders since Day 1, way back in 1993. Season after season, they purchase four seats in Row 23 of Section 127, between home plate and the home team’s dugout.

I’d tell you the exact dollar amount of the not-so-small fortune the Peppels have spent while enduring the agony of 1,272 home defeats during a 33-year span, but my calculator overheated and fizzled out while trying to add up the damage.

“Baseball is something we did together as a family for three decades,” Jeannie said. She cherishes the memory of watching two, now-adult children grow up at Coors Field, and still chuckles at the image of her 8-year-old son getting in a heated debate with two drunks in the stands about the merits of Ken Griffey Jr.

At the dawn of spring, long before any of us truly knew how low these Rockies could go, she began with the ambitious goal of crocheting a blanket big enough to wrap Dinger in.

Working from a spreadsheet meticulously prepared by Mike, she decided to color code the team’s results, giving one wide row of tightly interlocking yarn for each of the 162 regular-season games.

The code, for those of you keeping score at home:

White = home win.

Black = home loss.

Purple = road win.

Grey = road loss.

After the Rockies took a pratfall out of the gates and couldn’t get up, losing 33 of 40 games to open the season, including a 21-0 thumping by San Diego, the blanket was awash in the sadness of black and grey.

“At the start of the season,” Mike said, “there was so much black and grey it looked like she was crocheting a blanket for the Oakland Raiders.”

The wretched start forced the artist to add one additional color to the scheme.

Red = Manager Bud Black fired.

“At the start of the season, we bought one spool of yarn in each color,” Jeannie said. “But we had to go back for more black and grey.”

“Twice,” Mike added.

Art cannot be rushed. Peppel estimates her tribute to a Rockies season that will live in infamy took more than 35 hours to make.

“The crochet blanket,” she said, “was a labor of love.”

And loss.

After general manager Bill Schmidt was given a not-so-gentle nudge out the door earlier this week, Rockies owner Dick Monfort said: “A new voice will benefit our organization as we work towards giving our fans the competitive team they deserve.”

Well, how about this for a start in making amends with two of the team’s most loyal and long-suffering patrons?

On Opening Day of the 2026 season, Monfort should let Jeannie throw the ceremonial first pitch, give her the baseball version of a purple heart and reward Mike’s perseverance with free season tickets for life.

“We like going to baseball games,” Jeannie said. “So the fact that the Rockies aren’t going to the World Series won’t stop us.”

The blanket? Let me be the first to say it deserves to be enshrined in Cooperstown as Peppel’s sober reminder of baseball history we hope and pray is never repeated

As a true student of the game, Peppel knows the New York Mets lost 120 times in 1962.

“And seven years later, the Amazin’ Mets won the World Series,” she said. “So maybe there’s hope for the Rockies.”

In the meantime, the blanket will be found in the Peppel home, available for wrapping any visitor that wants to reminisce about those 119 losses during the long winter months ahead.

Cold comfort.

Indeed.

Broncos’ Alex Singleton expects return to Philadelphia to be ‘super emotional’

ENGLEWOOD – Alex Singleton’s dream to make the NFL took four years to fulfill. He was cut by three teams, gained dual citizenship in Canada to help him play in the Canadian Football League and finally took his first NFL snap at 25.

The team that tossed him a life preserver was Philadelphia in 2019.

The linebacker, who left the Eagles to sign with the Broncos in 2022, will face his former team for the first time Sunday at Philadelphia.

“I’m really excited,’’ Singleton, 31, said after a practice Thursday at Broncos Park. “I’ve been looking forward to playing the Eagles for four years and obviously really excited to go back there.”

Singleton’s odyssey began after he was undrafted out of Montana State in 2015. He spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings but couldn’t land on a 53-man roster. He was able to get Canadian citizenship due to his mother having been born in Toronto, which helped him land a roster spot with Calgary. He then became a star with the Stampeders from 2016-18.

The NFL finally came calling when Singleton signed with the Eagles. His first regular-season game was Oct. 20, 2019 at Dallas.

“It was awesome,’’ Singleton said. “That’s obviously the dream, the goal, something that I wanted to do my whole life (to play in the NFL). I’ll never forget we were on Sunday Night Football in Dallas and I got to start on the center of the (kickoff return team) being in Philly green. … Those memories are there forever but, obviously, this weekend, throw it all away and let’s go beat the Eagles.”

Perhaps it will be hard to throw everything away Sunday for Singleton.

“It’s going to be super emotional,’’ he said. “My wife (Sam) is from there and I have a lot of family there, so it’s exciting. … I guess I made it in the NFL there, so going back you want to play really good.”

With the Eagles, Singleton didn’t play much as a rookie before working his way up to becoming a part-time starter in 2020 and 2021. Then he went to Denver, where he has become a fixture.

Singleton led the Broncos in tackles in 2022 and 2023, was lost for the season in Week 3 of 2024 with a torn ACL but is back this season again leading the Broncos (2-2) in tackles with 38. He is a captain for the second straight year.

Singleton knows it will be a big challenge for Denver against the Eagles, who are the defending Super Bowl champions and off to a 4-0 start.

“They were the best in the world (in 2024),’’ Singleton said. “If we want to be that, say that we can be that, this is the game to go prove that.”

Singleton said he and his wife return to Philadelphia every year and he usually is greeted warmly but, “obviously, probably I won’t this weekend.”

Nevertheless, Singleton expressed his appreciation for Eagles fans.

“I love the Philly fans,’’ he said. “I had a great time. I love the city. … It’s a passionate fan base. It’s what Philly is based off. If they win, it’s sunny. If they lose, it’s cloudy and so it’s how Philadelphia is.”

The Broncos of the AFC usually play Philadelphia of the NFC every four years, and their last meeting was when the Eagles defeated the Broncos, 30-13, on Nov. 14, 2021 at Empower Field at Mile High. Singleton played 10 defensive snaps in that game as a reserve and 22 on special teams.

Singleton then went to Denver in 2022, and the waiting game began for him to face his former team.

“Oh, man, I’m excited for him for what he’s about to do,’’ said outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who joined the Broncos in 2021. “It’s going to be a fun game.”

It’s one Singleton said has been four years in the making.

Navy’s Blake Horvath, Air Force’s Liam Szarka make for intriguing quarterback matchup

The names that crept their way into conversations during media interviews this week pointed toward a theme for Saturday’s matchup between Air Force and Navy.

Dee Dowis. Ricky Dobbs. Tim Jefferson. Keenan Reynolds. Kale Pearson. Malcom Perry. They were all mentioned (as were others). They were all difference-making quarterbacks.

This matchup features a pair in the Midshipmen’s established Blake Horvath and Air Force’s fresh-out-of-the-box Liam Szarka that, just might, compare favorably with any of them.

“I think it applies for him, absolutely,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said of Horvath after naming a list of qualities universal to strong service academy quarterbacks.

“He’s custom-made for what they’re doing right now,” Navy coach Brian Newberry said of Szarka.

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath (11) celebrates with Navy tight end Cody Howard (83) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Army, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Horvath has already earned his spot on the short list of great quarterbacks in his program’s history. The senior’s 169.4 career quarterback rating is the best for a service academy quarterback with at least 150 attempts. He has thrown just seven interceptions in 189 career passing attempts. His 1,353 passing yards last year on the way to a Commander-in-Chief’s trophy were the most at Navy in nine years, and he coupled that with 1,246 rushing yards. Only Reynolds, in 2015, and Chris McCoy, in 1997, had thrown and passed for 1,200-plus yards in a season for the Midshipmen.

On top of that, Horvath holds a 3.96 GPA as an operations research major is a semifinalist for the 2025 Campbell Trophy, known as the “Academic Heisman.”

“You have to be a threat and you have to make good decisions at quarterback if you want to definitely be effective and see success in this game,” Horvath said when describing the attributes of a sound service academy quarterback. “It’s all an art. It’s not as much a science.”

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath (11) picks up yardage during the first quarter of an NCAA football game against UAB on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)

Horvath ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns and completed 9-of-15 passes for 134 yards last year in a 34-7 thumping of Air Force at Falcon Stadium.

Szarka doesn’t have the track record of Horvath, but what the Aurora native has done in a four-game sample compares with anything Air Force has seen at the position.

He has passed for 638 yards and five touchdowns, rushed for 296 yards and four touchdowns and did this while making just one start as he shared time and came off the bench through the first three games of the season.

The pace he has set would have him throw for 1,914 yards (which would be the most for Air Force since Bob Parker in 1970) and rush for 888 yards (which would be the most for a Falcons QB since Chance Harridge in 2003).

Air Force Falcons quarterback Liam Szarka (9) runs through the Hawaii Warriors defense to the Warriors 7-yard line to set up a Falcon touchdown during the first half Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Some of those stats are undoubtedly inflated because Air Force has played from double-digit deficits for most of the past three games, but he has also been asked to pass against defenses that expected it – as opposed to the offense’s typical approach of using play-action passes to surprise opponents.

But, again, what he’s done so far has occurred while playing wire-to-wire in a game only one time.

Szarka has shown the ability to throw over defenses and to use his legs to scramble to buy time, work through a progression of receivers and still throw accurately.

“Like Blake, for us, he’s a very effective runner,” Newberry said. “He’s a good passer. He can throw the deep ball, he gets it out quick, he makes the right reads. Takes care of the football, for the most part.

“Really impressed with how he runs the offense.”

Air Force quarterback Liam Szarka (9) looks to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Utah State, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Logan, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

Szarka’s success has been the positive surprise of the season for Air Force, particularly when considering he didn’t officially win the solo spot until Week 4.

“We kind of knew obviously in spring ball but maybe a little bit last year as a freshman, we kind of heard that he was a dude and had some good skills,” said Cade Harris, who leads Air Force with 439 receiving yards.

That checks out with what tight end Bruin Fleischmann had told The Gazette about Szarka in July.

“I think he’s the most well-rounded of what we have,” Fleishmann said of Szarka when discussing the team’s quarterbacks at Mountain West Media Days in Las Vegas. “He’s a runner. He’s a tough guy, so he can handle all that stuff. Pressure doesn’t get to him, which is huge at the quarterback position. And he can sling the ball. The only thing that he’s struggling with is something he’s not at fault about, he’s just young.

“He’s super versatile in whatever we need him to do. He’s that stereotypical service academy quarterback.”

Coming off a game against Hawaii in which he set an Air Force record with 417 total yards (278 passing, 139 rushing), Szarka now has a chance to prove his worth in front of a sold-out War Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.

Awaiting on the other side will be one of the best to do it for Navy.

Years from now, there’s a strong possibility one or both of these names might come up when discussing the next wave of quarterbacks at Air Force and Navy.

How Broncos’ Bo Nix is staying upright among least-sacked NFL quarterbacks

The teammates of Broncos quarterback Bo Nix are on high alert every time he extends a play outside of the pocket.  

Nix, entering a Sunday road game at the Eagles, is tied for third among active NFL QBs with 25 rushing attempts. The vast majority, however, were not designed runs. Nix is well equipped to avoid sacks and bolt downfield. 

“You better turn and find a dang block. Because that dude can run, and we’ve always known it man, ever since he first got here,” tight end Lucas Krull told The Denver Gazette about Nix. “We were doing compete stuff and workouts. We’re getting timed or we’re getting our GPS numbers and our miles per hour – and he’s always the top dog. We’re like: Man, that’s going to translate. … He’s not a slug back there with the ball. It’s a guy that can make anything happen with his feet. So, when you’re down the field, and he tucks that thing to scramble and run, we immediately know to turn and find a blocker.” 

Nix flashed a big run in every game this season.  

He scrambled for 11 yards against Tennessee and broke multiple tackles to salvage a second-and-long play. Nix dropped back against the Colts, noticed the middle of the field wide open, and took advantage with an 18-yard scamper to convert a first down. He did the same thing a week later against the Chargers for a 12-yard gain.  

On Monday night, in a 28-3 win over the Bengals, Nix found the end zone on an improvised 6-yard run.

It’s no coincidence that Nix is tied as the least-sacked NFL quarterback (three) among QBs who started every game this season. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi called sacks “a quarterback stat more than an offensive line stat” a year ago. Nix has a reputation of avoiding them. That dates back to his college football days at Oregon. 

Nix explained after practice Thursday at Broncos Park how he does it. 

“I think we all do a good job,” Nix said. “They do a good job of not letting guys run free. Then we do a good job in protection. We do a good job of (identifying) guys, making sure that we’ve got the right guys blocked. Then at the end of the day — if something does happen (and) things break down — it’s my job to make those guys miss and not have sacks. I think sacks kill drives. Sacks, statistically, when you get one on a drive, your percentage of scoring goes drastically down. It’s something that’s always been important for me.  

“It’s kind of like a turnover. I hate sacks, hate turnovers, and so keeping us away from those is giving us the best chance.” 

The Broncos’ offensive line is doing its part, too. Nix has faced the second-lowest quarterback pressure rate (21.9%) in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats, after four games played. 

Nix is primarily a passer among dual-threat NFL quarterbacks. His 78 rushing yards rank No. 15 in the league entering Week 5. But the small gains to avoid big losses are just as important. Even if teammates would like to see Nix use his legs even more.

“I think Bo is a good runner. Especially when he breaks the pocket and makes plays,” inside linebacker Justin Strnad told The Denver Gazette. “Sometimes, I watch the game and I’m almost telling him: ‘Yo! Take off! Run!’ Because it seems like every time he does, it’s a pretty good play for our offense. He’s a fast guy. Athletic. He’s got a good arm. The sky is the limit for him.”

Earlier start times: Arts organizations have seen the daylight

Experts say audiences want to get home sooner, and companies are listening

When it comes to going out for a show, 7 o’clock is the new 8 o’clock.

Are we getting older? Or are our area arts leaders just getting wiser? Probably a little of both. But from theater to comedy to live music, the trend is clear: Live performances are starting earlier.

I went to see a band called Animals in Exile play at Lost Lake on Sunday, and it’s a good thing I set the alarm because the concert started at 5 p.m. Not so long ago, it was rare to see any opening band plug in an amp before 9 p.m.

The Denver Center’s home-grown theater company has been ahead of this particular curve for a few years now, with all evening shows (except opening nights) starting at 7 p.m. The Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, Colorado Springs Theatreworks, Theatre SilCo (in Silverthorne), Two Cent Lion and Shifted Lens are among other theater companies that have embraced 7 p.m. start times for evening performances.

At the Bas Bleu Theatre (in Fort Collins), the plays still start at 7:30 – but an expanding series of recurring midweek programming like the Comedy Brewers (improv comedy) and The Listening Room (intimate live folk music) start at 7.

And the matinee, once generally considered the throwaway performance of the week? They now regularly outdraw evening performances across the board.

The reasons for this expanding shift to earlier starts spans from common sense to strategy to widespread anxiety over declining attendance.

Common sense: Whether you surveyed audiences in 1920, 1950, 1990 or last week, one thing has not changed: Live theatergoers tend to be between 55 and 75 years old. And they don’t want to be out all night.

“Our going to 7 o’clock start times was in response to what we’ve heard from our audiences who don’t want to be out at the theater until 10:30 p.m. anymore,” said David Siegel, executive director of the Ent Center for the Arts, which effectively runs Theatreworks. That’s a professional, union theater company run through the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Siegel said the call for earlier start times has come from audience members across all ages and demographics. He said that since 2023, the number of out-of-town households buying a ticket to any Ent Center show has increased 39.8%. That’s defined as beyond a 50-mile radius, which can make for a lot of late-night driving.

“And that’s a challenge, especially for older audiences,” Siegel said.

Strategy: When you operate out of a large arts complex shared by many other local arts organizations, that means you also share parking. That’s true for the Denver Center Theatre Company, which performs at the Denver Performing Arts Complex alongside the Colorado Symphony, Opera Colorado, the Colorado Ballet and even its own Broadway division (which hosts touring productions of visiting musicals).

“All Theatre Company performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. curtains to help alleviate the parking-garage flow between (our) shows and other events in the Denver Performing Arts Complex,” said DCTC Associate Director of Communications Brittany Gutierrez.

The same applies to the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, which performs out of Boulder’s Dairy Arts Center. Earlier start times give all of their patrons a competitive parking advantage as well. And audiences love their host companies for that.

Anxiety: In most sectors, attendance at cultural events has not fully bounced back from the pandemic shutdown, though recovery trends vary considerably by art form. Live theater, film, galleries and museums remain down. But live music? Consider that, in 2024, Red Rocks was the fourth-most-attended concert venue in the world.

That volatility has companies experimenting with new ways of doing things. Like Ovation West, an umbrella organization that runs the Evergreen Players (a theater company) and the Evergreen Chorale. Executive Director Graham Anduri has been shaking things up since he arrived in 2023, and why not?

“We were noticing for the last couple of years that our evening shows have become less well-attended than our afternoon shows,” Anduri said. “We got some feedback from patrons who were telling us, ‘I really would like to go see this – but I don’t like driving in the dark.’ Or if we had a performance down in Denver, our Evergreen patrons didn’t want to drive back up the hill in the dark. Or if we had something in Evergreen, our Denver patrons didn’t want to drive back down the hill in the dark – especially in the wintertime.”

Thus, the 4:30 p.m. Saturday start time has just been born, at least for one year of study. For half of that year, patrons will now be driving home with at least some remaining natural sunlight. The results for the first show were mixed, Anduri said, which is understandable given that the company’s four-week run of “Annie Get Your Gun” was upended by the shootings at Evergreen High School. But the 4:30 show scheduled for Sept. 13 – a performance canceled by the tragedy – had sold the most advance tickets of all.

There’s no telling yet how earlier start times might affect related industries like restaurants that depend on a pre-theater dinner crowd. But it should be a bonanza for places that serve after 9 p.m.

The idea of a 4:30 p.m. start brings with it a whole new way of strategizing your weekend. Which is why, for years, Theatreworks has offered its Sunday matinees at 4 p.m. 

“I think about that as a very Colorado-specific weekend choice,” Siegel said. “It allows people to go to the mountains for a hike and get back in time to see a show as a nightcap – and still be home by 7 o’clock.”

I’ve been hearing from companies all year that Friday nights have become their hardest night of the week to sell. The idea that Saturday afternoons might one day fully replace the traditional Saturday night show is off-the-charts wild. 

For decades, live theater from Broadway to Denver generally started at 8:30 p.m. In the 1970s, that started to shift back to 8, and, in the early 2000s, to 7:30. What’s interesting now is that for decades, arts organizations have been known for chasing the new or elusive demographic they don’t have. These companies seem to be fully focused on the demographic they do have, which is encouraging – and uncommon.

By the way, the “earlier” trend is showing up in other innovative ways. The ubiquitous outdoor summer movies in the park no longer wait till sunset to begin. The Bluebird Theater’s “Rock and Roll Playhouse” is a popular series of concerts that allows children ages 10 and under the opportunity to rock out in a safe space. Next up: “The Music of the Beatles + More,” starting at 11 a.m. on Oct. 18.

Anduri doesn’t think his radical new approach, specifically to Saturdays, is, really, all that radical. In the end, he said, “it really just comes down to popular demand – and listening to your audiences.”

From left: Erica Brown, Jeff Campbell and DeAndre Carroll at curtain call for ‘Jedidiah Blackstone,’ Sept. 27, 2025. JOHN MOORE/DENVER GAZETTE

Erica Brown on the birth of ‘Blackstone’

It is a little bit of a distraction watching actor, poet and hip-hop artist Jeff Campbell perform his heartfelt and thoroughly engaging new production, “Jedidiah Blackstone” surrounded by all that amazing talent. The new production tells the largely forgotten – more like “never told” – tales of Black frontier pioneers who had a profound impact on the growth of Central City. The work is, in Campbell’s own words, very much a mining expedition of its own.

The story, while not a traditional musical, includes four musical interludes performed by Campbell (known for a long time in the Denver music scene as Apostle) with an impressive lineup including dancer, choreographer, teacher and warrior DeAndre Carroll, neo-soul vocalist Merrian “MJ” Johnson, and cultural tastemaker DJ Mu$a.

Read more: Our interview with Jeff Campbell

And then there’s local blues legend Erica Brown, winner of the Colorado Blues Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award. That someone who has riffed with B.B. King and Al Green will be jamming for 10 performances just doesn’t happen. Yet, there she is.

And why is that, when there are concert gigs to be had just about anywhere and everywhere?

“It was important for me to say yes to Jeff because of the stories he’s telling,” Brown said. “He is literally shining a light on ‘the dark side of the West.’ That’s what we call untold Black history stories that are integral to what makes Colorado the state that it is.”

“Jedidiah Blackstone” performs through Sunday at the Clayton Early Learning Center, 3801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Call (720) 331-7977 or go to emancipationtheater.com.

Nick Forster with Jane Goodall for a taping of ‘e-town’ in Boulder. COURTESY OF E-TOWN

E-town honors Jane Goodall

Among the many posting remembrances of Jane Goodall this week is Boulder’s Nick Forster, creator of the enduring national radio show “e-town.” Goodall was a guest several times.

“We celebrated her 70th birthday with friends in Boulder 21 years ago (!) and got to see her in action at events of her own,” Forster wrote. “She was, of course, an advocate for animal rights and the environment. But she was also a pioneer and champion for women in science. She was committed to bringing children into nature, inviting them to feel their connection to all living things.

“More than anything, with her passing, we mourn the loss of one of the best examples of what generosity, intelligence and humor can do on behalf of the global community.”

John Moore is the Denver Gazette’s Senior Arts Journalist. Email him at john.moore@denvergazette.com

Pick your poison: Mix and match activities for the perfect fall day in Denver

Choose your own adventure for the perfect fall date around Denver – mix and match fall-themed date ideas to suit your needs.  

Start with your breakfast or coffee  

Weathervane Cafe – If you need to start your day with a hearty, seasonal breakfast, Weathervane offers seasonal breakfast options like an apple butter crunch parfait, pumpkin chia pudding and carrot cake oats as well as seasonal coffee flavors. Address: 1725 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80218 

Apple Blossom – Autumnal favorites like apple French toast, pumpkin pie oatmeal, and smothered pork green Chile burritos are all on the menu to start your perfect fall day. Additionally, you can find a traditional pumpkin spice latter here along with other fall flavors like a honey fig dirty chai and a white chocolate pistachio latte. Address: 822 18th St, Denver, CO 80202 

Toast Fine Food and Coffee – A limited time fall menu includes pumpkin French toast, maple crunch cakes and a toasty griddle flight as well as seasonal coffee options like a pumpkin spice latte and a salted caramel cold brew. Address: 2630 W Belleview Ave #100, Littleton, CO 80123 

Humble House Cafe – Colorado seasonal flavors like palisade peach cobbler and harvest sweet potatoes are part of the fall menu accompanied by a large menu of seasonal drinks such as a pumpkin mallow chip latte, Mexican mocha, Bananas foster latter, and a sweet potato chai. Address: 1208 Washington Ave, Golden, CO 80401 

La Belle French Bakery – On the lighter side for breakfast, La Belle offers a full fall menu featuring fall classics with a French twist like a croissant citrouille (pumpkin croissant), pumpkin muffin and carrot cake slices along with ‘limonades’ in a variety of fruity, fall flavors. You can also find some traditional bakery items here like French cinnamon rolls, almond criossants and traditional breakfast sandwiches. Address: 12189 Pennsylvania St, Thornton, CO 80241 

Find a fall activity to do outdoors –  

Georgetown loop railroad – Step into fall with a train ride through the secluded terrain of the rocky mountains from Georgetown to Silver Plume. The train offers seasonally themed rides like an Autumnfest train where guests will experience a relaxing ride through the changing leaves in the high country while sipping on free beer samples from Tommyknocker’s Brewery. Train rides offered each weekend through the end of October.  

The Georgetown Loop Railroad showcases the fall color around Clear Creek County. Photo courtesy Georgetown Loop Railroad

Chatfield Farms Botanic Gardens Corn Maze – ‘Birds of prey’ is the theme this year, featuring eagles, falcons, and cultures as your fly through the twists and turns of the maze. There is also a 10-acre pumpkin patch to explore and choose the perfect pumpkin, train rides, a mini maze for smaller children and other fall activities.  

Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch – Rated by Denverites as a family favorite pumpkin patch, you can find an array of traditional fall activities starting with a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch and a variety of activities that are included such as a petting zoo, magic show, live music, play spaces and games for kids and even a pumpkin cannon. And don’t forget to check out their haunted corn maze once the sun goes down at Terror in the Corn.  

Spiders Around the World – Conquer that arachnophobia with an up-close-and-personal experience with spiders in their natural environments. The Butterfly Pavilion is offering this exhibit for a limited time for guests to view these eight-legged beauties with no glass barriers.  

Spiders Around the World 2025Spider Zone

Dia de los Muertos at Civic Center Park – Honor the presence of loved ones and ancestors with a family-friendly event that involves culture and community. Celebrations include community altars, art installations, live music, dance performances and a community ofrenda.  

Far East Mid Autumn Festival – Celebrating food and family, this festival is bountiful in delicious Asian street food in the heart of Denver’s Little Saigon District. Festival highlights include a pho eating contest and a moon cake eating contest, cultural performances, lantern-making, live music and even a karaoke contest.  

Take a fall hike – There are plenty of fall hikes to take within an hour of Denver and it can he hard to decide which to choose. Here are a few of our favorites:

Sprague Lake to Bear Lake via Glacier Gorge – This secluded hike is often not traveled by hikers to RMNP since it winds between two the two parking areas but includes scenic views of Longs Peak, fall colors, and offers quiet scenery to spot wildlife like elk and moose.  Lair o‘ the Bear – There are many hikes to chose from here with levels of difficulty to suit every hiker’s needs.  Brainard Lake – Chose from one of many fall hikes which include views of lakes and winding creeks and you might even get lucky in seeing some moose.  A bull elk bugles as he tries to keep his harem of 40 cows and calves away from another bull in RMNP.

Find a fall themed event to finish the day –  

Ghosts in the Gardens – Denver Botanic Gardens invites guests who are brave enough to enter the gates after dark for a haunted history and scary stories as guests learn about the intriguing history of the gardens, including a site formerly known as “The Boneyard.” This self-guided tour follows dimly lit paths through the thick, winding landscape and an exclusive visit inside the Waring House.  

Dracula Ballet –  Running Friday-Sunday each weekend in the month of October, enjoy a cult classic performed by the Colorado Ballet. A classic gothic love story set in 19th century Transylvania takes the stage for a spooky and dramatic date-night at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.  

History Mystery Tour at Fairmount Cemetery – Only offered from mid September through the end of October, scratch the spooky cemetery itch with a historic tour of the Fairmount or Riverside cemeteries. Led only by flashlights, slowly move through Denver’s most well-known cemetery and learn about the history of Denver through the deceased.  

Frightmare Compound – Be prepared to get scared in an old, spooky farmhouse located in the suburbs of Westminster. The landscape entering the compound sets the scene for an eerie night as you drive in on a winding, country road situated in a dark corner of the city. Rumor has it, that the US Government funded a secret project there, but was abruptly pulled and suddenly rumors spread about high profile grave-robberies and missing persons tied to the area. Legend has it that a ‘deranged scientist refused to leave the property and continued the research in any way he could,’ according to the Frightmare Compound’s history.  

Bonus round: Finish your night with a fall-themed cocktail –  

Adrfit Tiki Bar – Offering an array of creepy cocktails, there is no shortage of options for those looking to end their evening on a high-note. Options include a boozy ‘Poison Apple’ featuring Jamaican rum, apple brandy, blended scotch, Madeira, and a spiced pear demerara and other spooky, seasonal mixes as well as Halloween themed punch bowls with tongue-in-cheek names like ‘Venom and Vice’ or ‘Death Sentence.’ 

Dairy Block – Multiple options for cocktails mingle here on the Dairy Block where a selection of seven different bars that are offering a seasonal ‘Drink-or-treat’ menu. Instagram worthy cocktails will please both the eyes and the taste buds featuring fall flavors like apple, pear, cinnamon and bourbon.   

Milepost Zero – A Halloween bar takeover is coming to McGreggor Square with hauntingly good drinks, offbeat decor, and spooky party vibes including happy hours, a zombie crawl, and ‘Graveyard Grooves’ in addition to Halloween-themed cocktails.  

Arvada helps local businesses with crime, disasters

The City of Arvada continues its efforts to boost and maintain business within the city through two new funding programs to help businesses in times of crimes or disasters.

Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce and Arvada Economic Development Association (AEDA) announced two separate funding programs to help maintain businesses in the region on Tuesday, according to a joint press release from the two organizations.

The first is a new pilot program between AEDA and the city that will help “businesses enhance safety and security at their commercial properties,” according to the release.

The AEDA Safety and Security Grant offers reimbursement grants of up to $5,000 for added security measures to help reduce theft, vandalism and overall property crime and “strengthen collaboration between businesses and city partners in creating a safe commercial environment,” according to AEDA’s website.

The grant can be used for things like fences, security alarms, cameras and exterior lighting.

“The safety and success of our local businesses go hand in hand,” said Iza Petrykowska, executive director of AEDA. “By helping our businesses address these challenges, we’re not only strengthening individual storefronts but also reinforcing the long-term growth and stability of Arvada’s entire economy.”

Eligible businesses must be a commercial or industrial zoned property within the Arvada city limits and cannot be nonprofits. The projects must be completed between now and Oct. 1, 2026 to be eligible for reimbursement.

Applications can be found at Arvadaeconomicaldevelopment.org.

The Greater Arvada Chamber also announced its new Arvada Strong Fund, which is set to deliver funds to local businesses and nonprofits that encounter “unexpected challenges” like natural disasters, property damage or crime.

The fund has already raised $7,375 through community support, with a goal of raising $20,000 by the end of 2025.

Eligible businesses or nonprofits must have had a setback within the past three months, with a priority on businesses attempting to continue operations within the city.

More information can be found at Arvadachamber.org.

For example, the most recent nonprofit to receive a grant from the fund was BeyondHome — an organization that works to end homelessness with housing and support services and serves around 200 people annually. The organization received a grant from the chamber after basement flooding affected multiple housing units.

“Resiliency is at the heart of a strong local economy,” Kami Welch, Greater Arvada Chamber president and CEO said in the press release. “When our community invests in resiliency efforts, we ensure Arvada businesses can thrive and continue to contribute to the vitality of our city.”

The two initiatives are part of Arvada’s ongoing efforts to keep business within the city.

“It’s a very collaborative environment,” Peter Henriksen, owner of Henriksen Amplifiers, told The Denver Gazette in May. “In a lot of cities, there are business people who are just really interested in protecting their own little corner of the universe. That isn’t always very productive, and everybody in Arvada seems to work together.”

“Right now we have about 17% of residents who both work and live in Arvada,” Petrykowska told The Denver Gazette. “How can we really amplify that live-work mentality of bringing more workforce here? That’s why primary employers and small businesses, alike, are important to really building out that workforce.”

Pedestrian fatalities soar 50% in Denver, city officials say

The number of pedestrians who have lost their lives in traffic crashes has jumped by 50% over last year, according to city transportation officials.

Year-to-date in 2025, 25 pedestrians have died on Denver streets compared to 16 during the same time frame in 2024.

Of those 25 fatalities, six occurred on local highways, Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Director Amy Ford told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.

Ford said the six individuals who died on the interstate had experienced car trouble, exited their vehicles and were struck.

In all, 58 people have died in Denver traffic crashes this year, with decreases in the number of those who have died in cars and on motorcycles, and an increase in fatal crashes involving scooterists compared to last year.

As of
Sept. 30, 2022As of
Sept. 30, 2023As of
Sept. 30, 2024As of
Sept. 30, 2025People in cars33312117People walking or rolling22241625Motorcyclists106146Bicyclists2323Electric stand-up scooterists0216Lo-power scooterists (moped)1001TOTAL68665458
Year-to-date comparison of traffic fatalities by mode
SOURCE: Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure

In neighboring Aurora, law enforcement officials confirmed there have been 13 fatal auto-pedestrian crashes so far this year, as of Sept. 30.

There were 20 fatal auto-pedestrian accidents in 2023 and 19 in 2024.

Ford joined officials from CDOT, RTD and the Denver Police Department in designating October as National Pedestrian Safety Month, raising awareness that upcoming seasonal events such as the end of Daylight Saving Time on Nov. 2 will see the sun rising and setting an hour earlier, and creating potentially hazardous sun glare at different times of day that can impact visibility.

Vision Zero

In 2015, Denver began laying the groundwork for what would become known as the “Vision Zero” initiative, a transportation safety philosophy that was most fully developed in Sweden in the late 1990s. Since its inception, Sweden has significantly reduced traffic fatalities, making it one of the safest cities in which to drive.

Pedestrian fatalities have been on the rise, according to Denver transportation experts. With Halloween approaching and the change to Daylight Saving Time putting more people on the street after sundown, the city, along with other transportation partners, is making efforts to raise awareness and reduce pedestrian-related injuries and deaths. (DEBORAH GRIGSBY | The Denver Gazette)

Denver strives to replicate that, with the goal of reducing traffic deaths to zero by 2030.

To achieve that goal, the city has, among other things, reduced traffic lanes to give room to cyclists, added on some streets waist-high poles poking up from the pavement called bollards, and broken ground to build center medians that officials said would provide people “safe places to stand when crossing.”

When asked if the recent increase in pedestrian deaths hinted that the city’s Vision Zero approach may need fine-tuning, Ford told The Denver Gazette that the program and its vision are “absolutely where we need to be.”

“Vision Zero program is an approach,” Ford told The Denver Gazette. “It’s a philosophy of how we put safety first on every single thing that we do – safety first in every engineering design, safety first in how we evaluate every road, safety first in every project that we put onto our streets as we work through that.”

Officials believe pedestrian infrastructure — like dedicated transit lanes, slower traffic and bulb-outs on corners to make the distance between sides of the street smaller — can help curb the growing number of deaths.

DOTI is also using data from its Vision Zero dashboard to help prioritize and direct resources to high-injury areas.

Ford added that the work of the Vision Zero program is “never-ending” and that the city is “doubling down” on its efforts to reduce fatality numbers as quickly as possible.

SPEED

In June of 2024, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced “SPEED,” an 18-month program comprised of several targeted actions to address speeding on high-risk streets such as Federal Boulevard and Alameda Avenue.

Along with adding speed limit signs and programming traffic signals to give pedestrians a head start when crossing the street, officials have said the city will also plan to deploy mobile speed vans and piloting automated speed enforcement cameras.

Denver Gazette reporters Sage Kelley and Michael Braithwaite contributed to this story.

Weekend things to do around Denver and beyond: Flocktoberfest and more

Each Thursday, explore Denver’s essential weekend events curated by The Denver Gazette. Dive into cultural experiences and entertainment delights across the city. Whether you enjoy art galleries, pottery, or outdoor sports, there’s something for everyone in Denver’s vibrant cultural scene. To submit an event for consideration, email listings@gazette.com.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Celebrate Fall out in nature at Denver Audubon’s Flocktoberfest 2025, an annual treat for the community and all ages.  Among the highlights are owl demonstrations, a hands-on open house for families at the Kingery Nature Center that includes a night hike and a fundraiser Flocks and Frocks for the 21+ crowd. Classes and workshops are part of the schedule at Kingery. Lots of educational activities for birders.denveraudubon.org/calendar

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

As they say, these are the best of the best in rodeo and here’s your opportunity to see them all as the top rodeo cowboys socialize and compete in their events during Rodeo All-Star Weekend at National Western Complex. Watch semi-finals and finals on Saturday. Entertainment by rodeo star and country music star Chancey Williams. Rodeoallstar.com

THURSDAY

The Mountainfilm Festival was Memorial Day in Telluride, followed by a world tour of selected documentaries in Mountainfilm on Tour, a tradition since 1999. The tour visits Boulder at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Chautauqua Auditorium 100 Morning Glory Drive. Tickets $25.85. mountainfilm.org/tour-show/boulder-2024

SATURDAY

Take a Saturday bike ride with Palmer Land Conservancy through farmland east of Pueblo to study farming and water resources during Bike the Bessemer, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then an opportunity to try fresh from the farm dishes and shop for local produce. palmerland.org/bikethebessemer

SUNDAY

Visit the farm-to-pick pumpkins, play and pet animals during the annual Schweiger Ranch Fall Festival in Lone Tree, 10822 Havana St., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Free. So well known that all the hay rides are already filled. Parking lot near the farm.

VARIOUS DAYS THROUGH NOV. 9

If you’re thinking Halloween scary, it’s already in place at the nationally top-10 ranked 13th Floor Haunted House, 3400 E. 52nd Ave., 7-10 p.m. (see schedule). For its 18th season they’ve grown to three main attractions: Legend of the 13th Floor, Twilight of the Damned, and The Blood Shed. Add to thatescape games, axe throwing, secret bars, and VIP cabanas. Admission $9.99. 13thfloorhauntedhouse.com

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

The strangest of things and weirdest items imaginable  at Oddities and Curiosities Expo 2025 Saturday and Sunday at Colorado Convention Center. They say, “all items you see at our shows are legal to own and sustainably sourced.” You might find “taxidermy, preserved specimens, horror/Halloween inspired pieces, creepy clothing, animal skulls/bones, funeral collectibles.” odditiesandcuriositiesexpo.com

SATURDAY

There’s 116 years of history for Potato Days in Carbondale with a parade, potato pancake breakfast and community BBQ. Starting at 8:30 a.m. in Chacos Park, 4th and Main Street and moving to Sopris Park. facebook.com/CarbondaleAnnualPotatoDay

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

Olde Town Arvada streets will be filled with 120 artists and vendors for the Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair, 5702 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Chalk artists will be working on Halloween pieces as folks shop for the original items.
info@jackalopeartfair.com

SUNDAY

A Sunday of creativity and community activities at the Golden History Museum and Park Autumn Fest, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and it’s all free. Make something at the craft station, pet those special 4-H-raised petting zoo animals, get up close to big trucks, hear wildlife education, eat at food trucks and watch a Civil War reenactment. goldenhistory.org

SATURDAY

Time for the official celebration of the reopening of 16th Street (formerly 16th Street Mall) Downtown. The project began in 2022. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, a whole variety of activities and speeches including a parade led by Guerilla Fanfare Brass Band, REI Scavenger Hunt, music, $16 deals at the businesses along the mile. downtowndenver.com/grandopening

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

A salute to the agricultural history of Lakewood with the Cider Days Festival and absolutely everything apple, tractor pulls, a petting zoo, trick pig show, pie eating contests, live music and history demonstrations and many more activities. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. lakewood.org

Denver area events for Oct. 2

If you have an event taking place in the Denver area, email information to  carlotta.olson@gazette.com  at least two weeks in advance. All events are listed in the calendar on space availability.

Thursday

Sip N Support — To benefit Sense of Security, 6-8 p.m., Chicken N Pickle, 14225 Lincoln St., Thornton, $35-$60. Tickets: chickennpickle.com/events/sip-n-suppo....

Aly & AJ — With Amanda Shires, 7 p.m., Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, $66.90. Tickets: axs.com.

Anna Ash & Malena Cadiz — With Holly Lovell, 7 p.m., Skylark Lounge, 140 S. Broadway, Denver, $14.47. Tickets: skylarklounge.com.

Check Magnet: Return Voyage: Tribute to Chick Corea — 7 p.m., Dazzle at Baur’s, 1080 14th St., Denver, go online for prices. Tickets: dazzledenver.com/#/events.

Jonas Brothers — 7:30 p.m., Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver, $81 and up. Tickets: axs.com.

Pun N’ Roses: A Stand-up Comedy Showcase — 7:30 p.m., Comedy Works South at the Landmark, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village, $14. Tickets: comedyworks.com.

Fleshwater — With Angel Du$t, Ingrown, 8 p.m., Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, $64 and up. Tickets: axs.com.

David Starr — 78p.m., Swallow Hill Music, Tuft Theatre, 71 E. Yale Ave., Denver, $31.89-$37.04. Tickets: swallowhillmusic.org.

Sean Mason — 8 p.m., The Savoy Denver, 2700 Arapahoe St., Denver, $10.75 and up. Tickets: savoydenver.com.

Kris Lager Band — With The Stephen Lear Band, Weather Big Storm, 8 p.m., The Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues, 1624 Market St., Denver, $24.53. Tickets: theblackbuzzard.com.

Nation of Language — With Greet Death, 8 p.m., Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood, $49.94-$78.70. Tickets: axs.com.

Thursday-Friday

Deorro — 8 p.m., Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver, $55.04 and up. Tickets: axs.com.

Thursday-Saturday

Ricky Velez — 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7 and 9:15 p.m. Friday, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Saturday, Comedy Works Downtown in Larimer Square, 1226 15th St., Denver, $20-$30. Tickets: comedyworks.com.

CARLOTTA OLSON, The Denver Gazette