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The Bank of Denver, owned by local family for 70 years, will be sold

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

After 70 years of local ownership, the Bank of Denver will be sold to an Iowa company.MidWestOne is spending $32.6 million to acquire Denver Bankshares, the bank’s holding company, according to a Sept. 27 presentation to MidWestOne investors. The all-cash deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024, according to that presentation.“We are continuing to build the necessary critical mass in our Denver market, a large and core metropolitan market,” MidWestOne CEO Chip Reeves said in a press release.“This acquisition accelerates our growth in the region by three to four years,” he said.For its part, the Bank of Denver said that it “will be joining a growing company that has a shared value of excellent customer service.” It refers to the sale as a merger.Related ArticlesBusiness | Retired home builder Larry Larsen lists Wash Park home for $3 million Business | CenturyLink customers with “Price for Life” deal see bills increase Busines...

Retired home builder Larry Larsen lists Wash Park home for $3 million

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

After building luxury custom homes for over 20 years, Larry Larsen knew what he wanted to do when he renovated his Wash Park home on the 600 block of South Downing Street.First, he wanted to revamp the exterior to change its appearance from a Cape Cod style to a modern farmhouse look.On the inside, he and his wife Hillary Reed, an artist and former Larsen designer, wanted to add a main floor primary suite and expand the kitchen, dining area and great room. The primary suite includes a five-piece bath with heated floors, a soaking tub and steam shower.“We loaded the house with all the top features, including built-in electric shades and a sound system throughout,” Larsen said.The couple also added a patio in the front to take advantage of the view of Smith Lake across the street.“We have a lake room on the main floor with big windows that could easily be converted to a study,” Larsen said.The couple bought the now-4,300-square-foot home in 2004 for $478,000 and fully renovated it in ...

Wine and cocktail lounge taking former Squeaky Bean space downtown

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

The restaurant: The Velvet Cellar, 1500 Wynkoop, DenverAbout: Friends Reilly Chunn, 38, and Chris Dominey, 39, have known each other since they were 15. , and the duo has wanted to open a wine and cocktail lounge for years. The idea for the Velvet Cellar was born over a couple of drinks. Dominey, a sommelier, is working toward his Level 4 Diploma in Wines and wanted a platform to share his education, while Chunn has a background in business.The Velvet Cellar is taking over the former Squeaky Bean space downtown, which has been vacant since the brunch spot closed in 2016. It will be an upscale, yet approachable, wine and cocktail lounge with a chef-driven menu.“The landlord has purposely left the space vacant for so long because he’s been fortunate enough to be selective on the lease,” Chunn said. “Luckily, he was willing to take a chance on us.”Who’s cooking: Chef Todd Bobrovicz has worked his way through the Denver food scene over the past two de...

The espresso martini is back, baby, and is better than ever

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

Based on the menus across Denver, espresso martinis have graduated from a quirky novelty to a classy cocktail served with as much seriousness as a Manhattan or a Gibson.Head to the Art Hotel for one of the drinks featured during the Espresso Martini Fest, the Nighthawks Espresso Martini. (Provided by the Art Hotel)“Over the last two years, anybody and everybody is drinking them,” said Brent Rutgers, bar manager at A5 Steakhouse in downtown Denver. “There’s alcohol and caffeine in it, and it’s delicious as a pre-meal drink, a post-meal drink or even dessert.”Really, he added, an espresso martini works with whatever mood you’re in, it’s that versatile. Just don’t try and pair it with savory food. Due to the bold coffee flavor, sweetness and booziness, nothing — save for select desserts — goes well flavor-wise with one. Not that that should stop you from ordering it.“The espresso martini has that fajita effect,R...

CenturyLink customers with “Price for Life” deal see bills increase

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

CenturyLink customers in Colorado who signed up for the telecommunications company’s “Price for Life” promotion say they’ve run into a problem: Their costs unexpectedly jumped earlier this year, thereby invalidating their lifetime deals.The company debuted the service in 2017, with prices at the time recorded as 1.5 mbps to 25 mbps for $45 monthly, 40 mbps to 80 mbps for $55 monthly, 100 mbps to 140 mbps for $65 monthly and 200 mbps to 1 gbps for $85 monthly.The requirements: Remain on the same plan and don’t switch home addresses.Allan Rotgers, 53, signed up for the “Price for Life” deal in October 2020 at $65 monthly. In April, he noticed a $10 price increase hit his account.He contacted the company several times about the issue. A representative initially told him that “a special team” would handle customers affected by the situation, then credited his account $10 for the “known issue.” But Rotgers never heard back...

Draw! It’s cowboy vs. cowboy at the Denver Art Museum and MCA

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

It’s hard to imagine two exhibitions that might complement each other as well as the pair of cowboy art shows that opened here over the past two weeks.At the Denver Art Museum: “The Russells in Denver, 1921,” which aims to recreate the spirit of an exhibition the Western art icon Charles Marion Russell staged at the city’s landmark Brown Palace Hotel 122 years ago.Related: Now at MCA Denver: A provocative new exhibit blows up the myths of the sturdy western iconAt the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver: “Cowboy,” a multi-media group show that documents how today’s artists are depicting the oldest profession this side of the Mississippi.The set-up is nearly perfect. Coming at us from one direction, one of the great myth-makers of American art. And from the other, a horde of myth-breakers, who trade on tearing down cultural stereotypes.You should see both, though I suggest starting with DAM. That is where this story begins.“The Russells in Denver, 1921” is a modest exhibition by the mu...

3 cozy recipes to jump your taste buds into fall

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 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).Fall is my favorite season. Wearing a big sweater and eating a warm, comforting bowl of something yummy while I watch “Gilmore GIrls” is a level of peace I just can’t get any other time of the year.While I don’t subscribe to the belief that soup is a seasonal food, fall is undoubtedly the best time to slurp up a big bowl. As a soup fanatic, the recipes below (plus a pasta for the soup haters) are my favorites. Both make great leftovers and are filling enough to stand alone or act as a side or starter.Happy fall, ya’ll. And happy cooking!Minestrone SoupSince I was a kid, this family recipe has been one of my favorites and I’ve perfected it over the years. It’s packed with veggies and feels like a w...

Boulder area scene of high-tech real estate projects — one completed, one in works

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

A 112,000-square-foot new science and technology office building is planned for Boulder, an area seen as among the country’s top life sciences markets.The developer, Boulder-based Conscience Bay Co., has received approval from city officials for the Ridgeway Science  + Technology project, with groundbreaking anticipated for the second quarter of  2024.Down the road from Boulder, in Louisville, another high-tech real estate transaction has closed. The CBRE Group said Monday that Colorado-based aerospace company Tendeg has leased a new 100,000-square-foot facility on the Bolder Innovation Campus for its new headquarters and manufacturing facility.The science and tech project in Boulder will be a state-of-the-art building targeting Colorado’s growing life sciences and technology industries, said Daniel Aizenman, director of development and design at Conscience Bay Co.A report by the real estate firm JLL ranks Boulder No. 8 among the country’s top life sciences industr...

Coloradans will have choice to cap property tax growth in 2024

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

A proposal to cap property tax growth has qualified for Colorado’s 2024 ballot.Initiative 50 would cap property tax revenue increases at 4% per year, though voters could decide via statewide ballot to let the government retain tax revenue beyond that. It is being run as an amendment to the state Constitution, meaning it will need 55% of the vote to pass.Advance Colorado, the conservative advocacy organization, backed the proposal. Michael Fields, head of the nonprofit’s policy arm, highlighted how quickly they were able to gather the signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot as proof of its popularity. Fields noted the proposal wouldn’t cut property taxes, but it would limit their future growth.The proposal comes as Coloradans across the state reel from spiking property valuations and the coinciding growth in taxes owed on their property. In the spring, assessors along the Front Range reported median property value increases between 33% and 47%.“Growth in go...

Steve Garvey running for California's U.S. Senate seat in 2024

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

Former Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres first baseman Steve Garvey announced Tuesday that he will run for California's U.S. Senate which will be up for grabs in 2024. As a Republican, Garvey will face an uphill battle running for a seat in a blue state that had been held by Democrat Dianne Feinstein since 1992. Feinstein, who was 90, died at her home in Washington D.C. of natural causes on Sept. 29. Garvey joins an already-crowded race featuring several strong Democratic candidates, including Congress members Adam Schiff of Burbank, Katie Porter of Irvine and Barbara Lee of Oakland. If elected, Garvey says he will bring change and conservativism to the U.S. Senate. Laphonza Butler, who was named by Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill Feinstein's vacant seat, has not announced whether she plans to run. Garvey's baseball career spanned nearly 20 years during which he won a World Series in 1981, made 10 all-star appearances and was named the 1974 National League Most Valuable Player.