4 AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | W ® 7 THE SUMMER IT TURNED PRETTY Before 16th Street reopens fully this fall, we sent our team to see what’s in store. BY WESTWORD STAFF 12 ON A MISSION Sean McGowan is determined to bring a free arts hub to Sloan’s Lake next year. BY TONI TRESCA 15 AN UPHILL CLIMB Vintage Himalayan Bar & Restaurant joins a growing group of Nepali places. BY GIL ASKAWA 17 SAY IT LOUD The masked frontman of DROP OUT has organized an August 30 benefi t for Denver Justice Project at D3 Arts. BY JUSTIN CRIADO 12 Culture 15 Cafe 17 Music CONCERTS/CLUBS ................................... 18 24 Marijuana CANNABIS CALENDAR ............................ 24 VOLUME 48 NUMBER 53 AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 E D I T O R I A L Editor Patricia Calhoun News Editor Thomas Mitchell Food and Drink Editor Molly Martin Interim Food and Drink Editor Gil Asakawa Music Editor Emily Ferguson Culture Editor Kristen Fiore Social Media Editor Katrina Leibee Staff Writers Brendan Joel Kelley, Bennito L. 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KELTY, AUGUST 21 S H E L T E R F R O M T H E N O R M I cannot wait for the Trump administra- tion to clap down on the Denver mayor and Colorado governor like it has in other blue cities. My popcorn is ready. Tammy Fessenden Denver Denver will always welcome Latinos. If you can’t handle that, you’ll never be happy here. Most of the racist haters don’t read at a literacy level that allows them to compre- hend stories in Westword. I love Denver. All the assholes should leave. Anne Smith Lakewood “YOUNG BLOOD,” HANNAH METZGER, AUGUST 14 W H O ’ S O N F I R S T ? This is good news. First Pat Schroeder had a lock on this seat, then Diana DeGette for nearly the last thirty years. It’s a shame De- Gette won’t pass the torch. She is 68 years old; time for her to leave and let the young people take over. She has been in this seat way too long. The party prevents anyone else from even competing for this seat. Stephen Giles Denver She isn’t that old. And by beating her, you are depriving Colorado of an experienced politician who now has seniority to be on crucial committees and even run one or two. Caroline Rios Lakewood “WEIRDO SWARM,” EMILY FERGUSON AND JUSTIN CRIADO, AUGUST 21 Y O U ’ R E G E T T I N G S W A R M E R ! Proud to be a member of the Weirdo Swarm. The band is an Incredible group of people, and overly talented in music and art. Got to meet them before the festival started and witness a video shoot. I had no business be- ing at the shoot, but everyone there treated me as family. Nathan Cox Denver They’re my new favorite band. I’ve seen more concerts/festivals/etc. than I can keep track of, and that was the best festival ever. Nicole Jirtle Denver One of the best live bands on the planet! Greatest range of sounds as well! Cameron Vaughn Pine Shitz to new hippie for me now, once I began to see tie-dye shirts at the shows and fest-lookin peeps, I knew it was time for me to move on. Love the sound and the metal sets kill, but I am just not a fan of the fest vibes, at all. Time to go listen to Gizzy’s album Murder of the Universe and hope for another metal album. Mark Bueno Denver The complete cycle of life at Vision Fest. So sorry about Matt Gawiak, but at least he was with family and his favorite band. Laura March Denver Respect for the band: It stopped playing, coordinated fans and medical staff to help the fallen person. Kyle Peterson Denver Time for KGLW to write the most badass tribute song for him. Hunter Allen Honolulu If I had to check a box of where I wanted to go, I’d be okay sending off at a King Gizzy festival. Jonah Hyzer Denver
