Denver, CO
Things to do this weekend: Denver’s first dog fair will surround you with unconditional love
Denver Dog Fair
Saturday-Sunday. Woof! If the last few weeks have left you panting, why not surround yourself with unconditional love? The first Denver Dog Fair takes place on Nov. 22 and 23 with the promise of unending poochie goodness. There will be dog adoption booths, “celebrity” dogs, performances and tricks, a dog-fashion show, vendors, a dozen food trucks, kids’ bounce house, crafting, and more.
It takes place indoors at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, 25690 E. Quincy Ave. in Aurora, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets: $20, good for both days; 5 and under free. $5 per dog. Price includes all entertainment and activities (minus adoption fees and food/drink). denverdogfair.com
Christkindlmarket and the Mile High Tree
Friday. The annual Mile High Tree at Civic Center park has quickly become a modern classic in Denver, with its 110-foot-tall display of 60,000, color-changing LED lights. Its location next to the annual Christkindlmarket and across from the brightly decorated Denver City & County Building makes it a one-stop shop for free family holiday fun.
At the 24th Christkindlmarket you’ll find local vendors plus Glühwein (mulled spiced wine), German biers and hot chocolate, Bavarian-style pretzels, fresh smoked salmon, Knödel, goulash, Nürnberger sausages, pastries, caramels and European chocolates. The tree’s light-and-music shows run from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly.
The market and tree both open on Friday, Nov. 22, with the market running through Dec. 23. The market is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. denver.org/milehighholidays/mile-high-tree or christkindlmarketdenver.com

Free ice skating downtown
Through Feb. 2, 2025. Whatever the weather, you can get a bit of holiday fun in by stopping by the popular Downtown Denver Rink. The rink, which basically bisects the 16th Street Mall’s Skyline Park (just outside the Daniels and Fisher Clocktower at 16th and Arapahoe streets), is a public rink where you can rent or bring your own skates.
It’s open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Entry is free; skate rentals are $12 for adults and $9 for kids 12 and under. winterindenver.com/rink

A very merry Denver Christmas Show
Friday-Sunday. You don’t have to be in the market for gifts to get something out of the Denver Christmas Show at the National Western Complex. It’s a family-friendly affair, with Santa visits (and photos), daily storytime and hot cocoa with Mrs. Claus, live music, dancing, and more.
Of course, if you want to pick up some candy or chocolate, local gifts, or holiday decor, that will be right there too (with free gift wrapping), as well as plenty of other vendors. Tickets for the Friday, Nov. 22-Sunday, Nov. 24, event are $14 for 14-and-up, and free for 13-and-under. It runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 4655 Humboldt St. in Denver. denverchristmasshow.com
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Denver, CO
Denver’s Nativ Hotel & Gatsby Social shuts down following failed inspections
A prominent Denver hotel and nightclub shut down over the weekend after city officials suspended its licenses, citing repeated failed inspections and violations of a stop-work order.
The city took action on April 10, suspending the liquor, food, lodging and cabaret licenses for the Nativ Hotel & Gatsby Social following multiple failed inspections by the Denver Fire Department, the Denver Police Department and the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.
This is only the second summary suspension of a liquor license by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection in Denver since 2023.
Courtesy of Marcus & Millichap The Nativ Hotel. (Image courtesy of Marcus & Millichap)
“This is the most severe immediate licensing discipline action the city can take against a business,” said Eric Escudero, director of communications for Denver Licensing and Consumer Protection, in an email to The Post.
“It is only used in very rare circumstances when there is the most severe threat to safety because of alleged law violations.”
An investigation by the fire department revealed that Corporate Housing on Wazee LLC, doing business as Nativ Hotel & Gatsby Social, has a history of fire code violations dating back to Jan. 7, 2025, according to the suspension order.
Although the property, 1612 Wazee St., had undergone multiple inspections since that time, a group inspection was conducted on Feb. 24 involving the fire, police and licensing departments.
That inspection uncovered numerous violations of fire and conveyance codes, deeming the property “unsafe for occupancy.” Most significantly, inspectors determined that the fire alarm system was not being monitored and had recorded 14 internal failure signals, including a notification failure.
As a result, the system did not alert any third-party central station or Denver Fire Dispatch when the alarm was activated.
The inspection also identified several additional violations, including a faulty fire alarm control system, ingress/egress blockages, sprinkler system violations, signage violations, breaches of fire-rated construction, fire doors propped open, improperly maintained and mounted fire extinguishers, corridor and stair blockages and improper propane storage.
As a result of the inspection, the fire department issued a stop-work order, requiring the building to be vacated immediately.
Property owner Thierry Rignol was given time to address the violations and was issued a 30-day fire watch permit, which allowed only the hotel to remain open under strict monitoring with qualified personnel on site.
By March 6, some corrections had been completed, but a follow-up fire department inspection found multiple violations remained, leading the city to cite Rignol for more than 840 violations
The fire watch permit expired on March 26, and the stop-work order once again prohibited the operation of the bar/nightclub and hotel.
Despite the order, the suspension document said Denver police observed the property operating as a bar and nightclub and continued to admit patrons between April 3 and the early hours of April 5.
In addition, during the early morning hours of April 4, Denver police officers responded to a felony menacing incident outside the premises. A patron who had been removed returned with a firearm and threatened security guardss.
The police department’s media relations team told The Post that officers were also dispatched around 1:51 a.m. on April 5 to a reported assault in the 1600 block of Wazee Street. A patron was found unconscious and injured on the sidewalk in front of the premises. That case remains under investigation.
“The Denver Police Department will respectfully decline commenting on this situation, given the pending action by Licensing and Consumer Protection,” the department said.
The city began receiving community complaints about the business in 2024 when it operated under the tradename Hotel Nativ.
Rignol was formally notified of the suspension on Friday. The hotel was then given 48 hours to shut down operations so guests could be notified, and the nightclub has since closed, according to the city.
Mark Ivanyo, managing partner at the Texas-based Ivanyo Law Office, represents Rignol.
He said the fire alarm panel cited in the city’s order had been replaced several weeks before its April 13 inspection, and that the system has since been installed, tested and is now fully operational. At the same time, he said the fire department issued a written inspection report confirming the system’s installation and testing, lifting the stop-work order at the property.
“The property is currently in an active compliance process, with any remaining items limited to permitting and final acceptance steps that are in progress. Earlier reporting has referenced aggregate violation figures that do not reflect how those figures are calculated or the actual number of distinct issues identified,” Ivanyo said.
“The company is continuing to work with all relevant authorities and regulators to address any outstanding matters and hopes to resume operations as soon as that process is complete.”
The business will be required to appear before a city hearing officer, where it will have an opportunity to contest the suspension.
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Denver, CO
Denver area events for April 15
Denver, CO
Denver Mountain Parks to take over management of Mount Blue Sky road
When the Mount Blue Sky Road opens Memorial Day weekend from Echo Lake to the iconic mountain’s 14,266-foot summit, conditions permitting, there will be a change in the way access to the road is managed.
Denver Mountain Parks will staff the welcome station at Echo Lake and manage the Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area, taking over that role from the Arapaho National Forest.
“Managing this complex, high-use recreation area has always been a shared stewardship effort between the national forest, the city of Denver and state of Colorado,” forest supervisor Christopher Stubbs said in a joint news release. “We have been working together on this mountain for more than a century. In the early years, Denver had the greater presence with their (Echo Lake) lodge and restaurants on the mountain. For the past four decades, the forest service has been at the helm. Now it’s Denver’s turn again.”
The Mount Blue Sky Road did not open last summer due to a road repair project near Summit Lake. CDOT maintains the highway and plows it in the spring for summer access. More than 100,000 visitors drive the road annually. It typically opens around Memorial Day, after the roadway is clear of snow, and closes on Labor Day.
Denver Mountain Parks will collect fees, manage the reservation system and set operating hours. Reservations are expected to become available on recreation.gov in May.
The cost of entry will be $20 per car and $15 for motorcycles. Bikes and pedestrians will be free.
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