One thing became clear the moment I opened the menu at Hashtag. Behind the playful graphics, funky furniture and fun atmosphere was something much more serious. Someone really knows how to cook! Everything I ordered was delicious. Take the burger. Bread, meat and cheese. No mustard, ketchup, lettuce or even pickles. Sounds pretty basic, right?
My best friend George and I attended the same high school in Montreal, Canada. Same year, same history class, same curriculum. There was just one difference. I studied in French, while George studied in English. Apparently, that distinction mattered. In George’s history books, the English won battles that my French textbooks confidently declared French victories.
Causes come and go. No Nukes, Save the Baby Seals, UNICEF, Live Aid, protect the ozone, acid rain, DDT and the eagles, Save the Turtles. We’ve rallied around countless movements, each demanding attention and behavioral changes. But what happens when several important causes collide? When protecting our air, conserving water, and preserving our environment all
Excellent news coming in from Gastown Garage Denver over on 29th! We’ve been following their progress for over a year, and things are really starting to come together. This is the former auto garage being transformed into a restaurant, coffee shop and bar—and after a few hiccups along the way, they are getting very close
I sat on Kipling for what seemed like a lifetime. I could tell the guy ahead was in the wrong lane and desperately trying to get back in. He put on his signal, and almost instantly, everyone seemed to tighten up the space between their cars. Traffic started moving again, but I held my foot
Over the past six months, we’ve had an increasing number of readers calling and emailing with the same question: “Where is my Gazette?” Some missed this month’s issue. Others tell us they haven’t received one for a few months. When I acquired the Neighborhood Gazette, the paper was still being delivered the old-fashioned way—people physically
As Colorado endures this dry summer, most Front Range communities have once again limited the days residents can water their lawns. The goal is simple: conserve water and protect our reservoirs. But here’s a question worth asking: Can some watering restrictions actually encourage people to use more water? I have been asking my friends; “when
There’s an argument to be made that we simply have too many restaurants in town. But you’d be hard-pressed to choose which ones we could do without. Mestizo’s certainly wasn’t on anyone’s list. Great location. Husband-and-wife owners who lived and breathed community. The fact is, it’s harder than ever to keep a restaurant afloat these
Alively debate is brewing around town, and it has nothing to do with politics or sports. It starts every Tuesday around dinnertime. Tuesday has traditionally been the slowest night of the week for restaurants. To fill empty tables, many owners have turned to one of the oldest promotions in the business: Kids Eat Free. Locally,
The City of Wheat Ridge will begin work on 38th Avenue sometime in 2027. The Kipling to Youngfield project is part of the $76 million project approved by voters 2 years ago. The project will include safe routes to schools for kids on bikes as well as 3 roundabouts (see plan drawings). City council is now
The resident survey has once again named the Neighborhood Gazette the highest-rated source of information for Wheat Ridge residents, with 74% of respondents saying they rely on the Gazette to stay informed. As always, word of mouth is still number one, which simply means neighbors are still sharing the news, the rumors, and the rants
The question I’ve heard more than any other over the past few months has been, “Is Rolling Smoke BBQ open?” The second most common comment? “The food is amazing.” It was time to find out for myself. Located at 7100 W. 38th Ave., in the heart of Wheat Ridge, Rolling Smoke BBQ occupies the former
Each year, the Neighborhood Gazette proudly awards the Lou Olivera Citizenship Scholarship, honoring the life and legacy of Louis ‘Lou’ Olivera -U.S. Army Ranger, devoted community member, and proud American. Lou believed that citizenship is not just a status, but a responsibility- lived through service, integrity, and compassion. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a
Walk into Little Brazil and one thing immediately stands out: optimism. Located at 7333 W. 38th Ave., owner Kellen Marques greets guests with the same enthusiasm she had on opening day. The difference today is experience. After navigating the challenges of restaurant ownership, she’s emerged wiser, more confident, and determined to trust her instincts. Kellen
Becoming an American citizen remains one of the proudest moments of my life. It wasn’t just a certificate or a ceremony. It was the freedom to build a life. The freedom to start a business. The freedom to publish this newspaper without fear. The freedom to celebrate the people, businesses, artists, volunteers, and organizations that
Parents, teachers, taxpayers and students across Colorado are watching a level of school district drama that feels less like educational leadership and more like a political survival show. In district after district, superintendents are resigning, administrators are being suspended, school board members are stepping down, investigations are being launched, and confidence in leadership is being
There is always something happening in our neighborhood. Businesses opening, others changing direction, owners taking risks, and residents debating what they want their community to become. That constant movement is part of what makes Wheat Ridge and the surrounding area interesting. Sometimes the news is exciting, sometimes disappointing, and often it is a little bit
In what world did we collectively decide that it’s acceptable to sit next to someone at a restaurant or bar and blast cat videos, sports highlights, or TikTok clips on speakerphone for everyone else to hear? Somewhere along the way, public space started feeling a little too public. Recently, United Airlines announced that passengers who
Neighborhood Gazette: Do we know what the total amount that the city is considering asking voters for? I hear 130 million dollars for various projects. How close is that? Councilwoman Hultin: On April 11, City Council and staff participated in a full day workshop to prioritize investments for a 10 Year Capital Program and to
Attention voters: surveys are on the way. The question is straightforward—how much more are you willing to contribute, and for what? Three fire entities—West Metro, Arvada Fire, and Jeffco Fire—are each preparing funding requests. All provide critical services, and their work is valued. At the same time, overlapping roles in staffing, equipment, and administration raise
There’s a film called New York Stories, one of my favorites. The third segment opens with a washed-out artist, Nick Nolte, standing in the middle of his all-white SoHo loft. Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum plays loudly as he tries to reboot his career, splashing paint onto a blank canvas. In my next
Eugene is one of those rare personalities in our town who refuses to let fear, risk, or rising costs stand in the way of a vision. At a time when opening a restaurant feels harder than ever, he took on an aging, struggling building and brought it back to life—transforming it into Colorado Plus, a
8,000 people came through Wheat Ridge this weekend. They drank 7,000 pints of Guinness, 2,500 green Coors Lights, and 2,000 shots of Jameson. They ate hundreds of plates of corned beef and cabbage, packed the sidewalks, filled the tents, and turned 38th Avenue into something you don’t see every day. And somehow, it all worked.
Every time I have a client thinking about moving to Wheat Ridge, I ask them straight up: “Are you moving here because of how we are… or because of how you want us to be?” That question never lands softly. The City and Council are constantly trying to balance both sides. Improvements with no change.
