4 MAY 11-17, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | W ® 9 HEART AND SOUL ¿Por qué La Alma? The story behind Denver’s oldest residential neighborhood. BY BENNITO L. KELTY 14 FEAR FEST Denver horror fans have a brand-new convention with Rocky Mountain Nightmares. BY JOHN FLATHMAN 17 FARM FRESH You can see produce growing while you shop and dine at this new concept coming to RiNo. BY MOLLY MARTIN 21 BOOSTING BEATS Kick Drum Therapy is Denver’s newest label devoted to techno. BY JULIANNA O’CLAIR 6 News 14 Culture 17 Cafe 21 Music CONCERTS/CLUBS ................................... 24 34 Marijuana TOKE OF THE TOWN ................................ 34 ASK A STONER ......................................... 36 STRAIN GANG .......................................... 38 VOLUME 46 NUMBER 37 MAY 11-17, 2023 E D I T O R I A L Editor Patricia Calhoun Editorial Operations Manager Jane R. 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Periodicals postage paid in Denver. Domestic subscriptions may be purchased for $50 yearly. Postmaster: Send address changes to Westword, P.O. Box 5970, Denver CO 80217. Mailing address: P.O. Box 5970, Denver, CO 80217 Street address: 1278 Lincoln Street, Denver, CO 80203 For retail or classifi ed advertising, call: 303-296-7744 For general information, call: 303-296-7744 For Editorial, email: [email protected] “PRETTY IN PINK,” KARL CHRISTIAN KRUMPHOLZ, MAY 4 M I C A S A E S S U C A S A ? I worked at Casa Bonita in 1980. I’m going back in May for my 65th birthday. Adeline Castaneda Denver I absolutely loved going here as a child; there really was no other place like it. The food was awful, but it didn’t even matter. Tiffany Skeen Sterling Heights, Michigan This is Exhibit A for why Denver is not considered a serious culinary city. It was an Oklahoma City chain, anyway! Michael Jewell Denver Looking forward to it! Had a good time with my family, and I hope to go again. Great entertainment and such a great place. Bill MacFarland Denver Can’t wait! So excited. Tami Raines Arvada It was a special treat growing up when we’d drive from South Dakota down to Den- ver over a long weekend and eat at Casa Bonita back in the ’80s and ’90s! Took my husband there in 2013 and took our son back in 2019. We’re hoping to stop in when we pass though Denver at the end of July!! Suzie Schlaht Phoenix Wonder if the kids from South Park are going to do a cartoon visit to Casa Bonita? Pat Ritchie Brighton This will be yet another overpriced, liberal, elitist hangout! Sorry, not sorry! Was never a fan of the original; thought it was Taco Bell rejects. I much prefer quality over quantity. Rod Johnson Posted on Facebook “JUDGE NOT,” CHRIS PEREZ, MAY 4 C A S E C L O S E D Two different sets of justice for politicians and the general public. Phillip Nelson Denver Anyone need a better example of cronyism? Melody Hodges Denver Nepotism, incompetence, pure bullcrap. Someone needs to be held accountable. Felicia Amor Colorado Springs Lauren Boebert embarrasses herself and the state nearly every single day. But all those slack-jawed yokels with single-digit IQs in her district must love her tramp stamp, or something. Joe Velasco Denver Who cares! I’d trust the Enquirer over Westword! Mark Therkelsen Posted on Facebook Why Colorado residents voted for her is beyond me. Rancy Welch Sunnyvale, California “BEER HERE,” RYAN PACHMAYER, APRIL 27 N O C A N D O I came from a small town with not much of anything besides 10,000 breweries and distilleries. Long story short, alcohol sucks. Adam Christopher Denver Growing up in Golden, I don’t really give other breweries much thought. Most are fl y- by-nights that eventually serve Coors anyway at their breweries converted into sports bars, or they sell private labels as their own. Byron Paul Goldfi eld Washington, D.C. 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