2 westword.com WESTWORD JUNE 8-14, 2023 | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | W ® 17 SOUL SURVIVOR Hazel Miller’s journey from a broken-down truck to the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. BY CYNTHIA BARNES 7 DRIVING CHANGE Carlon Manuel once lived in his car. Now he heads Denver’s new Assessment, Intake, and Diversion Center. BY BEN NEUFELD 10 LIGHTING UP Lighthouse Writers Workshop opens brand- new digs in time for LitFest. BY TEAGUE BOHLEN 13 MIDNIGHT MUNCHIES Late-night dining isn’t dead — and it’s trying to make a comeback. BY MOLLY MARTIN 4News 10Culture 13Cafe 17Music CONCERTS/CLUBS21 24 Marijuana TOKE OF THE TOWN24 ASK A STONER26 STRAIN GANG28 VOLUME 46 NUMBER 41 JUNE 8-14, 2023 E D I T O R I A L Editor Patricia Calhoun Editorial Operations Manager Jane R. Le News Editor Chris Perez Culture Editor Emily Ferguson Food and Drink Editor Molly Martin Cannabis Editor Thomas Mitchell Social Media Editor Katrina Leibee Staff Writers Catie Cheshire, Bennito L. 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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] “CULTURE CLASH,” BENNITO L. KELTY, JUNE 1 C R O S S P U R P O S E S One of my favorite things about graduations is how some students fi gure out how to deco- rate their caps and gowns in order to stand out and send secret messages. They should be given extra credit for trying! Jayce Haven Centennial If there is a problem with feathers, then strip the crosses off all those weird Christians. I have nothing against Christians — I am one. I just think fair is fair. All or nothing. Representation matters. Becca Jane Littleton “THE SHOW MUST GO ON!” SCOTT TOBIAS AND PATRICIA CALHOUN, MAY 25 A N D S H O W I T G O E S It was with a sad heart that I read that there will be no Westword Music Showcase this year. It is an annual tradition. I don’t think I’ve been going since the beginning, but I feel like I’ve gone many years. Along the Front Range, there are only three events where I feel you can see Colo- rado bands during the summer en masse: FoCoMX which happens every April in Fort Collins and brings over 300 local acts over two days; Underground Music Showcase (UMS) at the end of July, which brings na- tional, regional and local bands together; and the Westword Music Showcase. Prior to COVID, I looked forward to the Westword Music Showcase in the Golden Triangle. Whether it was a two-day event or a single day, it was always a chance to catch up with friends and see great local music. All the venues were within walking distance, so you could always run to catch the next set. It was also best when it synced up with the Westword Music Awards. Post-COVID, everything changed. It was good to see the Westword Music Showcase in RiNo. The problem was that it stretched from Number Thirty Eight to Larimer Lounge: Forget trying to walk to all the venues. It also suffered from switching to a fall event. Last year was cold and damp; it wasn’t a time to be outside. I hope during the hiatus that Westword Music Showcase can again become a summer event with venues in walking distance with the best of local artists. In the meantime, I look forward to UMS in July. And I’ll look forward to Westword Music Showcase 2024! Alex Teitz Denver I would like to see the Westword Music Showcase return to its roots, with a lot of small venues featuring local acts. It’s been so important to promoting the scene! I remem- ber how excited bands were to be invited, and how much fun it was to see them. Jeremy Miller Denver The Westword Music Showcase was al- ways the biggest party of the year! I’ll miss it this summer...and be the fi rst to buy tickets next year. Nelly O’Brien Denver “VROOM SERVICE,” SKYLER MCKINLEY, MAY 25 T I C K E T T O R I D E What a great story about Rambler Ranch! I had never heard of the place, but now I have to go there. Joe Vigil Denver A friend shared Skyler McKinley’s story about the Rambler Ranch, probably because we once lived in rural Elbert County, south of Elizabeth, back in the 1990s, and also because of my affection for old vehicles. I thoroughly enjoyed Skyler’s telling of a story that is so rich on many levels, and not just for car guys. So...thank you! James B. Sloan Rio Rancho, New Mexico ON THE COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY EVAN SEMÓN LETTERS T O T H E E D I T O R YOU CAN COMMENT ON ANY STORY AT WESTWORD.COM; SEND LETTERS TO [email protected] Don’t miss a word! 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