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How Casa Bonita springboarded local man’s career in high diving

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:58:59 GMT

This story is one in a series featuring trips down memory lane with longtime Casa Bonita fans and former employees who shared their fondest tales with The Denver Post. The restaurant and entertainment venue in Lakewood is expected to reopen in May.As a kid growing up in Lakewood in the 1970s and ‘80s, Mike Dvorak was well acquainted with Casa Bonita. Like many locals, he and his family always took out-of-town visitors to the pink palace to enjoy its unique atmosphere. But Dvorak never expected that the restaurant would change the course of his life.Dvorak, 54, was a professional high diver until he retired in 2003 after an illustrious career that started within the humble halls of Casa Bonita. And he’s the first to admit that wasn’t his original career plan.“If I wouldn’t have been at Casa Bonita I probably would have never gone down that life path of being a world high diver,” said Dvorak, a self-proclaimed sopapilla junkie.In 1985, Dvorak was fresh off earning his GED and attendin...

Record Store Day returns; here are some jazz albums to look out for

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:58:59 GMT

Record Store Day endures.To be honest, I sort of thought the vinyl renaissance would have wound down by now. But people seem more eager to fork over their hard-earned dollars for multicolored discs than any time since the 1970s. This year’s Record Store Day, when independent retailers are happy to sell you some analog rarities, is coming on Saturday, April 22.There’s some terrific music being made available in limited editions. So, if you enjoy the thrill of elbowing fellow vinyl lovers as you rush to grasp your holy grail, be sure to seek out one or two of these jazz titles. The following will be available on compact disc soon, too.Related ArticlesMusic | The Mile High Stash podcast forces Denver musicians to face the apocalypse Music | City Park Jazz 2023 reveals full lineup, dates for outdoor summer concerts Music | Levitt Pavilion reveals its lineup of free concerts for 2023 Music | Dave Douglas back in Denver, Bill Fris...

Gabriel Sanchez paints his young Cuban friends making their way through troubled times

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:58:59 GMT

Human Rights Watch, the international nonprofit organization that monitors the way governments treat their citizens around the globe, sums up the current situation in Cuba in acute terms.“The government continues to repress and punish virtually all forms of dissent and public criticism, as Cubans endure a dire economic crisis affecting their rights,” states the opening line of HRW’s 2023 World Report.The report goes on to detail shortages of medicine, food and energy as a backdrop to arrests of protesters and political opposition leaders who are held in overcrowded prisons; harassment of bloggers and journalists suspected of anti-government views; and violence and structural discrimination against women, Afro-Cubans and the LGBT community.“Hung Up to Dry,” a painting by Gabriel Sanchez. His subjects often stare out at some mysterious thing in the distance. (Provided by David B. Smith Gallery)It is within this context of national trauma that Gabriel Sanchez paints people, his friends...

This Breckenridge hot sauce shop brings the pleasure and the pain | Opinion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:58:59 GMT

Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).People talk about hell like it’s a bad thing. For my fellow hot-sauce lovers and me, it’s heaven.Rocky Mountain Cannery makes delicious salsas, preserves and sauces — some of them incredibly spicy. (Provided by Rocky Mountain Cannery)Every time I’m in on vacation I seek out tourist-y hot-sauce retailers. You know the kind — sandwiched between fudge shops and overpriced Western-art galleries. Every ski resort town has one.My favorite is Rocky Mountain Cannery. The Breckenridge-based shop sells dozens of types of bottled hot sauce, from mild and tangy varieties to internationally rated sauces wrought from Carolina Reaper and Trinidad Scorpion peppers (two of the hottest, though they’re always being topped...

Last-minute voter guide for Denver’s 2023 election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:58:59 GMT

The Denver Post voter guide rounds up our explainers, stories, candidate Q&As and endorsements for the 2023 Denver municipal election.JUMP TO:Election issues • Candidates • Ballot measures • EndorsementsDenver election issuesHousingStory Rents doubled in Denver during Hancock’s tenure. What can the next mayor do to make housing more affordable?Candidate Q&A Here’s what every Denver mayor candidate says about Denver’s lack of affordable housingCrime and public safetyStory Crime, cops and reform: Here’s what Denverites say the next mayor needs to address about public safetyCandidate Q&A Here’s what every Denver mayor candidate says about the city’s greatest public safety concernHomelessnessStory What can Denver’s next mayor do about homelessness? Here’s what 5 other cities are doing.Candidate Q&A Here’s what every Denver mayor candidate says about homelessnessThe future of downtown DenverStory What Denver’s next mayor can do to help downtown bust its slumpCandidate Q&a...

High wind warning issued for parts of Southern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:58:59 GMT

A high wind warning is in effect for areas of Southern California Monday.The warning was issued at 5 a.m. in the Santa Clarita Valley, the Apple and Lucerne valleys, the Cadiz Basin, the Coachella Valley, the eastern and western Mojave Desert, the Morongo Basin, the Riverside County, San Bernardino County and western Santa Ynez mountains, and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, according to the National Weather Service.The inside slider is bringing strong west to northwest winds. Gusts of 60 to 75 mph are expected in the mountains and the Antelope Valley, while gusts between 35 and 55 mph are expected in the coasts and valleys, NWS indicated.Gusty crosswinds could bring hazardous driving conditions, low visibility, downed trees and tree limbs, possible power outages and travel delays across mountains, specifically the 5 Freeway through the Grapevine.The Weather Service is also warning of gale force winds, with a speed of 35 to 45 knots expected. “Mariners without proper experience s...

Hundreds of weekend flights canceled, delayed amid deadly storms in the Midwest and South

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:58:59 GMT

(The Hill) -- Nearly 1,800 flights were canceled in the U.S. over the weekend as severe storms battered states in the Midwest and South, leaving more than 30 people dead. According to online flight tracker FlightAware, 796 scheduled flights in the U.S. were canceled on Sunday and another 974 on Saturday. Thousands more flights were delayed: 8,555 on Sunday and 4,401 on Saturday. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport saw the most flights canceled on Sunday, with 86, and Minneapolis−St. Paul International Airport had the most cancellations on Saturday, with 71. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport were also among the most impacted. The flight cancellations come as severe storms ripped through parts of central and southern U.S. over the weekend, with tornadoes believed to have hit at least eight states. Put down the cookie dough, CDC warns amid salmonella outbreak affecting multiple states Thirty-two people were confirmed de...

McDonald's offices to close briefly ahead of layoffs: Report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:58:59 GMT

A report says McDonald’s has closed its U.S. offices for a few days as the company prepares to inform employees about layoffs.The Wall Street Journal cited an internal email from the Chicago-based fast-food giant saying U.S. corporate staff and some employees overseas should work from home while the company notifies people of their job status.McDonald’s did not immediately reply to emailed requests for comment. The report said McDonald’s would inform its employees this week about staffing decisions that are part of a wide restructuring of the company announced earlier.Though the U.S. labor market remains strong, layoffs have been mounting, mainly in the technology sector, where many companies over-hired after a pandemic boom. IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, Salesforce, Facebook parent Meta, Twitter and DoorDash have all announced layoffs in recent months.Policymakers at the Federal Reserve have forecast the unemployment rate may rise to 4.6% by the end of this year, a sizable increase histo...

From Passion to Profit: How Ultraviolet Empowers Creators to Succeed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:58:59 GMT

Lights, camera, action! Content creation has exploded, but with great power comes great responsibility – and challenges. Creators today struggle with monetization, building their brand, and engaging with fans despite having massive followings. That’s where platforms like Ultraviolet step in to change the game, offering an exciting new platform for creators to shine. Get ready to explore Ultraviolet’s beta with us and learn why it’s the future for content creators everywhere.Welcome to Ultraviolet, a game-changing platform where creators take the reins and become the superstars they deserve to be. A brainchild of industry trailblazers, Ultraviolet is laser focused on helping creators succeed, offering resources, tips, and even promotional bonuses to creators on the platform. With cutting-edge community-building tools, endless potential to monetize, and innovative ideas, this platform is a content creator’s dream come true. The secret sauce? Ultraviolet’s succe...

New San Jose swordfighting school promises your own personal ‘Game of Thrones’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:58:59 GMT

It’s 1 p.m. on a recent Thursday in San Jose, and Steaphen Fick is intently watching two grown men swing unsharpened steel swords at each other.One of them is apparently not striking the other with enough force. Fick interrupts.“Don’t be afraid!” he says, like a character going into battle in “Lord of the Rings.”Fick jabs a finger at the other man’s headgear and neck guard — called a gorget, French for “throat” — and turns to his opponent. “That’s what that’s for!”The click-clacking of swords resumes.Fick is no stranger to these swords. He started practicing Historical European martial arts (HEMA) more than three decades ago in his backyard in San Jose. Now, like the prodigal son so often mythologized in medieval art, he’s returning to the city after 14 years at various locations throughout Santa Clara.On March 4, Fick’s Davenriche European Martial Artes School had a grand opening i...