9 JANUARY 1-7, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | the framework needed to carry SCFD into its next era,” Albo says. “This will be a key part of our road to a 2028 reauthorization of the district, and we look forward to working with our community to build the next itera- tion of SCFD.” Blair Russell and Steve Wargo Blair Russell and Steve Wargo made head- lines last year when they announced their plans to turn a 10,000-square-foot, two-story building at 15th and Blake streets into Denver Immersive Repertory Theater, the city’s fi rst permanent immersive studio. The DIRT co- founders made headlines again last summer when DIRT won a $400,000 loan from the Downtown Development Authority as part of its pilot business incentive program. Russell and Wargo plan to launch DIRT’s inaugural production, Midnight’s Dream, in April. The show will reimagine Shake- speare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream using Celtic folklore and faerie mythology, unfold- ing across eleven interconnected environ- ments where audiences can wander and choose which characters and storylines to follow. “It’s been a long, large and lumbering process transforming 10,000 square feet of space that wasn’t designed for performance or hospitality into a cohesive, holistic, perma- nent home for our work,” Wargo says. “We’re just about done with construction and are excited to begin loading in the production elements for our fi rst show.” Once DIRT is up and running, the focus will shift to improving and enhancing the audience experience, as well as preparing internal pop-up experiences and a weekend family version of Midnight’s Dream for kids. “This project has become, in no small part, a public-private partnership,” Wargo says. “We are excited and committed to making more than good on our end of the bargain.” Veronica Desangles From a huge expansion of Fever Dream Vintage & Modern last summer to the re- cent fi lming of a Crocs commercial in the second-hand clothing store’s groovy interior, shop owner Veronica Desangles has had an amazing year, despite the invasive Bus Rapid Transit construction. “Having the storefront on Colfax has really changed everything, and I feel much more part of the community,” Desangles says. “Even with the construction, the com- munity has shown up and shown out, and I’m very thankful.” Desangles opened the original store in 2022, selling vintage clothing from many eras, as well as accessories, knick-knacks, vinyl and even matchbooks. Fever Dream’s $5 bins are always brimming, making the shopping experience accessible for patrons of all price ranges. Desangles admits that she’s not much of a long-term planner, so her number one goal for 2026 is simply survival. “Probably my only long-term professional goal is to provide cool stuff at fair prices for hopefully the rest of my life,” she says. “I love a longtime institution and want nothing more than for Fever Dream to become one in Denver.” But an old-school-style neon sign for the store on Colfax would be nice, too. Daisy Fodness-McGowan The RiNo Art District marked twenty years in 2025 with an operations split from the RiNo Business District and a new execu- tive director. Daisy Fodness-McGowan, an artist with an impressive resume listing more than 25 years of leadership in arts and educa- tion across the region, started in the role in September and says it has been “energizing and intense in the best possible way.” She’s been working closely with the RiNo team and board members, as well as with the new leadership at the RiNo BID and RiNo General Improvement District. “The RiNo Art District, BID and GID have been intertwined for a full decade, so untangling systems takes time, care and clear commu- nication,” Fodness-McGowan says. “While the separation has an offi cial start date of January 1, it’s not a switch that gets fl ipped overnight.” But the people involved, such as BID Executive Director Terry Madeksza and GID Executive Director Rachel Marion, have impressed Fodness-McGowan and given her confi dence in the transition. “Though Terry, Rachel and myself are still early in new roles, we’re aligned around our passion for RiNo’s history and future,” she says. In the meantime, there’s a lot to look for- ward to in RiNo in 2026, Fodness-McGowan adds. The Art District will continue cel- ebrating its twentieth anniversary all year with storytelling and art, including a large- scale event in early October that Fodness- McGowan says will “build on the legacy of the original Art RiNo festival and past mural festivals, while expanding the vision to bring together the full range of creativity across the district.” Beyond the celebrations, Fodness-McGowan’s is look- ing at sustainability and long- term vitality. “I know that I’m up for the challenge ahead, and I also know that no one does this work alone,” she says. “I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has cared for RiNo — past, present and fu- ture — and to everyone who continues to show up in this place for our city.” Email the author at kristen. fi [email protected]. Veronica Desangles opened Fever Dream Vintage & Modern in 2022. COURTESY OF VERONICA DESANGLES
