4 NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | W ® 12 A CUT ABOVE Riot BBQ is smokin’ hot thanks to a partnership forged in fi re. BY MOLLY MARTIN 6 LENS OF THE LAW BY BENNITO KELTY 8 COMING HOME American Indian Cultural Embassy gets a jumpstart from Vibrant Denver bonds. BY BENNITO L. KELTY 10 CAMP COUNSELOR Lonnie Hanzon is the gift that keeps on giving. BY TONI TRESCA 15 TIME MACHINE Denver duo calm. released the trippiest hip-hop album we’ve heard this year. BY EMILY FERGUSON 10 Culture 12 Cafe 15 Music CONCERTS/CLUBS ................................... 16 20 Marijuana CANNABIS CALENDAR ............................ 20 HIGH NOTES ............................................. XX VOLUME 49 NUMBER 13 NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER3, 2025 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. Kelty, Hannah Metzger Senior Contributors Brendan Joel Kelley, Alan Prendergast, Michael Roberts Contributors Gil Asakawa, Teague Bohlen, Hyde Chrastina, Jacqueline Collins, Justin Criado, Audrey Ferrer, John Flathman, Susan Froyd, Jason Heller, Nick Hutchinson, Danielle Krolewicz, Karl Christian Krumpholz, Kristen Kuchar, Skyler McKinley, Abi- gail Nueve, Ryan Pachmayer, Kristin Pazulski, Adam Perry, Evan Semón, Amber Taufen, Toni Tresca, Kastle Waserman, Helen Xu Music Listings Matthew Jones Cover Designer Monika Swiderski P R O D U C T I O N Production Manager Michael Wilson Assistant Production Manager Erin Kirk Graphic Designers Kami Miller, Tori O’Connor C R E A T I V E S E R V I C E S Senior Graphic Designer Allie Seidel A D V E R T I S I N G Senior Multimedia Account Executives Amy Camera, Aaron Lembke Multimedia Account Executives Remy Diamond, Nate Easley, Trey Konsella, Kirby Quick, Christian Sanders, Allison Wissink Operations Manager Carver Hodgkiss Digital Sales Coordinator Anne-Grace Hartman Director of Digital Sales Alan Heath Advertising Director Teri Driskell C I R C U L A T I O N Circulation Manager Ty Koepke B U S I N E S S Director of Business and Operations Russell Breiter Financial Accountant Robert Scribner AR Coordinator Stacy Phillips IT Systems Manager Kris Robinson Receptionist Cindy Perez Associate Publisher Tracy Kontrelos Publisher Scott Tobias V O I C E M E D I A G R O U P Editorial Director Chelsey Dequaine-Jerabek Editorial Operations Director Bridget Thomason Director of Membership and Community Development Jennifer Robinson Digital Operations & Audience Strategist Allison Stephenson Audience Strategist Dallon Adams Corporate Controller Beth Cook Legal Counsel Steve Suskin Chief Financial Offi cer Jeff Mars Chief Executive Offi cer Scott Tobias V M G N A T I O N A L National Advertising: 1-888-278-9866, www.voicemediagroup.com Senior Vice President of Sales Operations Joe Larkin D I S T R I B U T I O N Westword is available free of charge. 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KELTY, NOVEMBER 20 S H I R T H A P P E N S I salute Lena Dechamps and her project. I’m planning to give “Fuck ICE” T-shirts to all my MAGA friends for Christmas. Of course, that won’t amount to many sales. Like, zero. Frank Fowler Lakewood Gross! Love Donald Trump and America First. Love ICE and support all of their work! Why is Westword in favor of illegals and communism? Christi Beckman Wellington Westword, unfortunately, has turned into a shitrag like the New York Post. Good thing it’s a free paper useful for kindling the stove. Peter Ketels Denver “GHOST OF A CHANCE,” PATRICIA CALHOUN, OCTOBER 30 N O W A L K I N T H E P A R K I missed Patricia Calhoun’s column about Civic Center Park (and I almost never miss a copy of Westword). If I’d read it, I would have known about the idiocy about to go on display at Civic Center Park. The city couldn’t postpone con- struction for the Christkindl Market, much less Cinco de Mayo? What’s the hurry? Can’t we just enjoy the park...and a break from construction? Jayne Morris Denver Sometimes I wonder what these people are smoking when they come up with these assinine projects for downtown. They want to put up a canopy in the Greek Theater and have the seating with your backs to the stage? WTF? Is this to get a better view of people passing out or doing drug deals in the park? And Colfax? My suggestion: If you plan on riding the 15, prepare your will fi rst. It’s easier to sweep the ocean back with a toothpick than to safely cross Colfax after you exit the bus. Chris Pedone Golden “THE GLASS CEILING,” ANTONY BRUNO, NOVEMBER 20 A G L A S S A C T I think anything other than a brewery has a chance to thrive because there are just too many small breweries in town. It is nice to go somewhere that does not revolve around beer or the atmosphere that breweries typi- cally offer. I have nothing against breweries, it is just nice to have options. Karla Norvell Wheat Ridge Unfortunately, this article exacerbates the problem by comparing breweries to bars and completely neglecting the 170 wineries in this state. Making the statement that wine bars can’t produce wine like breweries is like comparing grocery stores to local bakeries. While the wine bars it mentions are fantastic, it compares lo- cally made beers to bars that serve out-of-state and out-of-country wines. There are tons of local wineries and wine bars that produce and sell amazing Colorado wine, and anyone who says Colorado wines aren’t any good have no clue what they are talking about. I’ll put money on a blind tasting with anyone who wants to try. Support your local wineries and wines before they start closing -- like the local breweries. James Blanchard Parker We had plenty of wine bars starting way more than fi ve years ago – Westword can search its archives for the reviews from the early 2000s – and we had some great ones. Their problem was many were in some of the most expensive parts of town (apparently only people with big bucks like wine), and thus had to charge accordingly. If all someone wants is a quick drink with friends after work, a beer has been easier to fi nd and cheaper. Lewis Rivers Denver I’m just curious what restaurants are going to do during the “Blackout” at the end of the month and beginning of December, when spending money at restaurants will be strictly verboten? Geoffrey Paxton Aurora
