1) Day of the Dead–Celebrate Nov. 2 at Stanley

Days of the Dead, an annual holiday in Mexico on Nov. 1 and 2, is a celebration of the lives of those who have died. Incorporating Mexica (“Aztec”) and medieval Catholic traditions, (coinciding with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day), festivities include creating altars displaying favorite foods, flowers and photos of the dead. At the free family event at Stanley Marketplace on Nov. 2 from 4:30 to 6:30pm, visitors will find a large altar in the community area by the southeast entrance, along with music, dancing, a pumpkin patch and additional altars throughout the building. The event is sponsored by the Village Exchange Center, in partnership with the City of Aurora Office of International and Immigrant Affairs, Stanley Marketplace, and Amigos de México. https://www.stanleymarketplace.com/happenings/day-of-the-dead-family-celebration

2) Beer Garden on Dayton to Open by Late Nov.

Beer Garden

After almost three years of planning, the Beer Garden at 2323 Dayton in NW Aurora is expected to open by the end of November. The former VFW Hall turned restaurant/outdoor entertainment center will fill the large (18,000 sq. ft. ) lot adjoining it with an outdoor beer garden, family play area with tetherball, corn hole, connect four and other family-friendly activities. Beyond the family activity area will be three sand volleyball courts and two bocce ball courts. The 2,500 sq. ft. restaurant will serve quality food you like to eat—pizza, tacos, burgers, salads—at a reasonable price, says the owner. Accommodating the flexible schedules of kids on remote learning who need to get outside in a safe setting, two-hour blocks of mid-day time will be reserved for parents to enjoy a meal and let their kids act like kids in the large outdoor fenced area.

3) In-N-Out Burger at CPB and 46th?

Evergreen Devco, which developed the Eastbridge and Beeler Park Town Centers in Central Park, is under contract to purchase undeveloped land at Central Park Blvd. and E. 46th Ave., along with additional surrounding land. Executive Vice President Tyler Carlson confirmed that much information by email, but wrote “due to confidentiality agreements there’s not much more I can share beyond what I shared in the BusinessDen article. Give me a couple more months and we should be able to share more!”

TheBusinessDen article stated that an early stage development proposal had been submitted to the City of Denver with no business name listed. Carlson’s quote in BusinessDen said their plans for this development, to be called Runway 35 North, include “an exciting mix of sit-down and quick-service restaurants, hospitality, entertainment, automotive, medical, and educational and institutional uses.” (https://businessden.com/2020/09/10/in-n-out-cooks-up-first-location-within-denver-city-limits/).

4) High-Comfort Bike Lanes in NE

In the summer of 2019 community meetings were held to get feedback from neighbors and cyclists on a proposed high-comfort bike lane from Montview to E. 36th Ave. on Central Park Blvd., to offer safer cycling access to the Central Park Rail Station. In response to our request for an update on when those lanes will be built, Public Information Officer Heather Burke replied by email, “We’re anticipating beginning construction next year on the high comfort bikeway on Central Park Blvd. and aiming for an early 2021 completion, weather permitting. This bike lane will use rubber curbs and bollards for separation.”

A similar project is planned for City Park Esplanade. “Construction is anticipated to begin on the City Park Esplanade high comfort bikeway in Summer 2021. This bike lane will have concrete curbs to separate bikes from vehicles.”

5) Sprouts Opens

Sprouts, one of the fastest growing retailers in the U.S. this year with more than 20 new stores, has opened at Central Park Blvd and 36th Ave. in Central Park (Stapleton). With more people cooking at home these days, there is a greater demand for healthier food—and Sprouts’ focus is on fresh and healthy, says Kalia Pang, spokesperson for Sprouts. Though Sprouts is seeing “less traffic” in their stores, sales volume is up. “People are cutting their number of trips, but baskets are fuller,” says Pang. The Central Park store hired 110 new team members who are happy to share their personal passion and knowledge about food and health products with shoppers, says Pang. Visit the Sprouts Central Park store’s website at: https://www.sprouts.com/store/co/stapleton/central-park-blvd/

Neighbors first learned in June 2017 that Sprouts, with its focus on fresh foods and supplements, would be coming to Central Park. After a 3-year wait, the doors finally opened on August 19. Store manager Khadija El Ansari is pictured. Front Porch photo by Christie Gosch.

6) MLS To Return to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

Colorado Rapids and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park officials have received approval to have games with 1,165 fans (6% of capacity). Fans will enter in designated entrances and sit in designated sections with restrooms and concessions designated for that group. Masks will be required. The state will study the impact of using this approach to determine future policies. The schedule for these games has not yet been released

New York City street artists Menace and Resa (@menaceresa), in Denver for the annual Crush Walls Festival, painted over one of their prior murals on a garage at 2150 Market St. as a tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The Crush Walls festival from Sept. 14 – 20 invites artists to fill all available spaces in the RiNo Art District with murals.