4 JANUARY 15-21, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | W ® 10 GET HUNGRY FOR THE TOP 50 RESTAURANTS These are the standout spots in the scene right now. BY MOLLY MARTIN 6 DENVER’S PROBLEM BRIDGES The city has promised to fi x these seven spans through fi ve projects slated for completion by 2031. BY BENNITO L. KELTY 8 STORIES IN THE SKY Colorado is taking its 150th anniversary celebration to new heights. BY KRISTEN FIORE 17 COLORADO BLUES Big Head Todd and the Monsters will be rocking out at the Broadmoor. BY NICK HUTCHINSON 8 Culture 10 Cafe 17 Music CONCERTS/CLUBS ................................... 18 24 Marijuana CANNABIS CALENDAR ............................ 24 HIGH NOTES ............................................. XX VOLUME 49 NUMBER 20 JANUARY 15-21, 2026 E D I T O R I A L Editor Patricia Calhoun News Editor Thomas Mitchell Food and Drink Editor Molly Martin Music Editor Emily Ferguson Culture Editor Kristen Fiore Social Media Editor Katrina Leibee Staff Writers Bennito L. 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ILLUSTRATION BY MONIKA SWIDERSKI “HOLDING DOWN THE FORT,” PATRICIA CALHOUN, JANUARY 8 B L A S T F R O M T H E P A S T Fascinating story by Patricia Calhoun com- paring Bent’s Old Fort to the Fort restaurant. I understand why the history of Bent’s Fort should be preserved, but in these times when money is so tight, i’m not sure it makes sense to save a mid-’70s replica. Didn’t that go the way of bell bottoms? Farrah Fawcett hair? Jacey Landon Denver The last time I was at the Fort restaurant, we were very disappointed. It is a beautiful spot (and I appreciate all the history you shared in your article), but there is defi nitely room for improvement there. I hope the new owners make this a place that people can go on more than just special, very expensive occasions. Sarah Martin Denver The way Donald Trump considers Colo- rado, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t just replace Bent’s Old Fort with a Buc-ee’s. Bill Rawling Boulder “2025: YEAR IN REVIEW,” PATRICIA CALHOUN, DECEMBER 25 T E M P E R , T E M P E R It seems like Patricia Calhoun is the one hav- ing the “Trumper Tantrum” in her year-end wrap-up. Colorado was going to hell long before Donald Trump became president... the fi rst time. You liberals made your bed; now you can lie in it. Jay O’Neal Adams County In her letter in the January 1 issue about your “Year in Review,” it sounds like Kristie Hernandez is having the “Trumper Tan- trum.” She says she doesn’t read the “free, woke rag,” but then proceeds to complain about it. Thank you, Patricia Calhoun, for printing the letter she was sure you wouldn’t because of the “false woke narrative.” We need people speaking truth to power. That Westword continues to do it as a free paper is invaluable. Thomas Vigil Dener I fi nd it amazing that our governor is so willing to blame Donald Trump for the fi nancial troubles that Colorado has when we had the governor and a mayor who accepted thousands of illegal immigrants into our state -- and even a mayor who went on TV asking people to open their homes to these illegal immigrants costing the taxpayers millions of dollars and we’re willing to blame Trump because of our money problems.I think we need to look in the mirror and realize that we need better leadership that we have in Colorado. Donald M. Crow Denver It seems as if the right will complain about most everything. Either the government forgot them or it’s big government! Make up your mind, hypocrites. Have we forgotten liberty? Do people really feel comfortable saying that with Traitor Trump in offi ce, who is prosecuting political enemies while pardoning insurrectionists? The right is too busy being conned by billionaires and their daddy to care about actual governance. Steven Dourdis Denver How about this for an article, you West- word woke-tard loser bitches: Introduction to “The Democrats.” This isn’t some tepid op-ed scribbled by a beltway eunuch who’s terrifi ed of losing cocktail party invites. This is “The Demo- crats”: a merciless, blade-sharp vivisection of the most duplicitous, power-drunk cabal ever to infest American politics. The media? Their loyal lapdogs, slob- bering for scraps. The justice system? A partisan cudgel to crush dissent. So no, this isn’t balanced journalism. This isn’t “both sides” pablum for cowards who think truth lives in the mushy middle. Ryan Malott Denver
