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- DougCo Drop – September 10th – Holy Cannoli, Broncos Future Home, and Time to Drink!
DougCo Drop – September 10th – Holy Cannoli, Broncos Future Home, and Time to Drink!
Drips from the Drop: Holy Cannoli, Broncos Future Home, and Time to Drink!

Happy Hump Day — I definitely got a boost yesterday when the Broncos finally announced their preferred site for a new stadium: Burnham Yard. They say “preferred” because that’s the official term, even though the press release made it sound like a done deal. It’s not legally binding yet — so yes, Lone Tree, I’m still “saying there’s a chance” (cue Dumb & Dumber).
Would I have preferred Lone Tree? Sure. But the traffic alone might’ve broken us all. Probably better for my sanity that they’re sticking closer to downtown.
Either way, it’s the biggest local story of the week, so I did a quick dive on Burnham Yard in this week’s Land & Lore.

Saddle Up
🎤 Music & Concerts
🎤 Live Music On the Patio: Rhett Haney
📅 Date: Thursday, September 11
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
📍 Location: Tailgate Tavern & Grill, Parker
🎤 Detail: Country music at its finest.
🎤 Live Music On the Patio: Steve Thomas Solo
📅 Date: Sunday, September 14
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Tailgate Tavern & Grill, Parker
🎤 Detail: Terrific renditions with crystal clear vocals of songs you love.
🎤 Arts in the Afternoon Leonard Barrett Sings Andrea Bocelli
📅 Date: Wednesday, September 10
⏰ Time: 1:30 PM
📍 Location: Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree
🎤 Detail: Join Denver favorite Leonard Barrett Jr. as he dives into the music that renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli has made famous.
🎤 Gerald Albright's Lone Tree Sessions: Ms. Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton
📅 Date: Saturday, September 13
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree
🎤 Detail: An organic gumbo of progressive rock, psychedelic soul, and African, Middle Eastern, Caribbean rhythms and classical influences.
🎤 The Lovin' Spoonful
📅 Date: Friday, September 12
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Pace Center, Parker
🎤 Detail: Fondly known as “America’s answer to the Beatles,” listen to the chart-topping folk-hits including “Do You Believe in Magic.”
🎤 The Goose Tapes with Colorado BassHeads
📅 Date: Saturday, September 13
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Wild Goose Saloon, Parker
🎤 Detail: An explosive night of heavy sounds and underground vibes.
🎤 David Chappa
📅 Date: Sunday, September 14
⏰ Time: 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM
📍 Location: 105 West Brewing, Castle Rock
🎤 Detail: The Heart & Soul of Classic Country Music.
👨👩👧👦 Family
☀️Free Event: FLIP Fabrique - Summer Break
📅Date: Sunday, September 14
⏰Time: 30 minute shows at 1:30 PM, 3:30 PM, and 5:30 PM
📍Location: 9070 Maximus Drive, Lone Tree
☀️Detail: A family-friendly show that jumps into the nostalgia of the 70s and 80s summer camps with a breathtaking acrobatic production.
🎭Hunter Heartbeat: The Tempest
📅Date: Wednesday, September 10
⏰Time: 6:00 PM
📍Location: Lone Tree Arts Center Event Hall, Lone Tree
🎭Detail: A series of sensory games centering on the human voice and body derived from Shakespeare’s poetic exploration of how it feels to be alive.
🩰Littleton Youth Ballet Presents Alice in Wonderland
📅Date: Friday, September 12
⏰Time: 7:00 PM
📍Location: Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree
🩰Detail: Follow Alice down the Rabbit Hole as she encounters characters such as the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and more.
🐷Family Discovery Series: Top Hogs of the Wild West
📅Date: Saturday, September 13
⏰Time: 10:00 AM
📍Location: The Schoolhouse, Parker
🐷Detail: Watch pigs perform to music and the cues of renowned animal trainer and performer John Vincent.
🧘♀️ Fitness
🏃 Parker Parks and Recreation So Long to Summer 5k/10k
📅 Date: Saturday, September 13
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM
📍 Location: Salisbury Equestrian Park and Sports Complex, Parker
🏃 Detail: Enjoy an outdoor workout with family and friends and reward yourself with a delicious pancake breakfast and post-race beer.
🐺 Guided Nature Hikes - Urban Coyotes 2025
📅 Date: Sunday, September 14
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Willow Creek Trail, Lone Tree
🐺 Detail: Learn what to do when a coyote howls nearby or seems a little too friendly as you hike.
🧘🏼♀️ Evening Yoga
📅 Date: Friday, September 12
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Sandstone Ranch Guided Open Space, Larkspur
🧘🏼♀️ Detail: Enjoy yoga in a pristine meadow during golden hour surrounded by bird song and crisp air.
🪩 Zumba Glow Party
📅 Date: Friday, September 12
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 Location: Northridge Fitness Studio, Highlands Ranch
🪩 Detail: A special 90-minute high-energy dance fitness party under black lights.
🎨 Arts & Culture
🐿️ Parker Arts Lecture: Wildlife in Your Backyard
📅 Date: Wednesday, September 10
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM
📍 Location: The Schoolhouse
🐿️ Detail: A free lecture that explores insights and facts about the wildlife that inhabits the Front Range.
🏰 Stones & Stories: The Geology Behind the Castle
📅 Date: Saturday, September 13
⏰ Time: 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
📍 Location: Cherokee Ranch & Castle, Sedalia
🏰 Detail: Explore the geology and craftsmanship behind Cherokee Ranch & Castle.
🍂 Fall Craft Show
📅 Date: Saturday, September 13
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Eastridge Recreation Center, Highlands Ranch
🍂 Detail: Celebrate the Fall season where you’ll find unique, handmade goods perfect for autumn.
🍽️ Food & Drink
🍻 Brew Fest Under the Stars
📅 Date: Saturday, September 13
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Phillip A. Miller Amphitheater, Castle Rock
🍻 Detail: Leave your wallet at home for the 9th annual all-inclusive event featuring over 25-breweries, 7-plus food trucks, plus a few craft distilleries, and even a couple of wineries.
🍷 Wine Tasting at the Castle! Sips of Spain
📅 Date: Friday, September 12
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
📍 Location: Cherokee Castle & Ranch, Sedalia
🍷 Detail: Come savor the flavors of wine from six different regions of Spain.
🍖 Food Truck Monday! Big Belly Brothers BBQ
📅 Date: Monday, September 15
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Larkspur Community Park, Larkspur
🍖 Detail: Food trucks in the Town of Larkspur every Monday.
🏈 Game Day: Broncos vs. Colts
📅 Date: Sunday, September 14
⏰ Time: 2:05 PM
📍 Location: Wild Goose Saloon, Parker
🏈 Detail: Enjoy food and drink deals all afternoon and ice-cold beer and cocktails while watching the Denver Broncos game.
🍹 Nightlife & Entertainment
🎤 Karaoke with Avery Every Wednesday!
📅 Date: Wednesday, September 10
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
📍 Location: Tailgate Tavern & Grill, Parker
🎤 Detail: Fun and exciting singers with mixes of dance sets.
🎤 Adam Ferrara
📅 Date: Saturday, September 13
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Pace Center, Parker
🎤 Detail: Join comedian Adam Ferrara for a night of nonstop fun, deep belly laughter and a great night of true entertainment.
🎷 Devon Allman's Blues Summit
📅 Date: Thursday, September 11
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Pace Center, Parker
🎷 Detail: A powerhouse gathering of blues legends that promises to electrify the stage.
💿 Kenya Reese Album Release Party
📅 Date: Thursday, September 11
⏰ Time: 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Wild Goose Saloon, Parker
💿 Detail: Trailblazer release party with special guest Cooper Riley.
🐎 Guided Equestrian Ride
📅 Date: Saturday, September 13
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Sandstone Ranch Guided Open Space, Larkspur
🐎 Detail: A rare opportunity to see the Ranch Operations, Historic buildings, and preserved wildlife habitats of Sandstone Ranch.
🚗 Worth the Drive
😂 Nate Bargatze: Big Dumb Eyes World Tour
📅 Date: Friday, September 12 - Saturday, September 13
⏰ Time: Fri - 3:00pm, Sat - 3:00pm & 7:00pm
📍 Location: Ball Arena, Denver
😂 Detail: The comedian known as “the nicest man in stand-up”.
🗓️ On the Horizon
🥃 Colorado Highland Games
📅 Date: Saturday, September 20 - Monday, September 21
⏰ Time: All Day
📍 Location: Denver Polo Club, Sedalia
🥃 Detail: Previously known as the Colorado Scottish Festival. Come for food, wine, beer and spirits, dancing and music, kid’s activities, and much more.
🍻 Oktoberfest: Castle Rock
📅 Date: Saturday, September 20
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Wilcox Square, Downtown Castle Rock
🍻 Detail: German music, beer, wine, cocktails, food trucks, kids activities, and more!
🏍️ Annual Charity Car & Bike Show
📅 Date: Saturday, September 20
⏰ Time: 9:00am - 2:00pm
📍 Location: Lone Tree Brewing Co, Lone Tree
🏍️ Detail: Have a sweet ride to show off? Bring it out! Food and drinks available.
🍻 Oktoberfest: Highlands Ranch
📅 Date: Saturday, September 27
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Town Center, Highlands Ranch
🍻 Detail: Music, food, and fun for all. Kicking off with a 5k at 9:00am. Full festivities at 1:00pm.

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Land and Lore
Burnham Yard isn’t just an empty lot on I-25. For ~150 years it was the downtown railyard that helped build Denver’s economy. Operations stopped in 2016, and now the Broncos, the city, and the state want to flip those tracks into a year-round district with housing, restaurants, offices, public space — and a privately funded retractable-roof stadium at the center.
The site & the deal
• 100+ acres less than a mile from Empower Field.
• Conceptual purchases: ~58 acres from the State of Colorado, ~25 acres from Denver Water, plus additional private parcels to round it out.
• Target opening: 2031 season, lining up with the lease expiration at Empower Field (the team could extend if needed).
• If the new stadium opens and once the lease winds down, the city will take back control of the Empower Field acreage — setting up a second major redevelopment conversation.
Why Burnham Yard made the cut
• Location: near-downtown access, history, big canvas for true mixed-use.
• Mobility: the plan leans into multimodal transit (RTD light rail, walkability, bike/ped links). Realistically, that means expanded capacity at 10th & Osage to handle game-day surges, along with safer pedestrian and bike connections toward the South Platte Trail.
Roof, grass & year-round use
Initial concepts: a retractable roof with natural grass. The roof gives Denver winter flexibility for mega-events, while still letting games be played outdoors. I’m glad our owners went that route (unlike Buffalo, who somehow left their fans out in the snow). And the payoff is obvious: a roofed, modern venue downtown all but guarantees Denver will host a Super Bowl — the crown jewel event civic leaders have chased for decades.
The rich in-laws I’ll never have
The Walton-Penners say the stadium will be privately funded with no new taxes. And sure, I get it — the building itself is on their dime. But infrastructure doesn’t build itself. Roads, stations, utilities — those bills have to land somewhere. Whether it’s bonds, TIF districts, or special-purpose financing, we’ll see what the real public tab looks like. Hopefully it stops at smart upgrades that make sense for the city.
Neighborhoods & history
Burnham Yard predates Colorado statehood, and ownership has said they want to highlight that history — potentially reusing old locomotive buildings as part of the redevelopment. The surrounding neighborhoods (Lincoln Park/La Alma, Baker, Sun Valley edges) could shift from having underused industrial land to a better mix of housing, retail, and public space. It's worth noting that the Broncos have agreed to enter into a Community Benefits Agreement with the city to guide that process.
What it means for Empower Field’s site
If the new stadium opens and once the lease winds down, the city will take back control of the Empower acreage. Best-case: a serious plan for mixed-use housing, parks, and civic space — not a years-long sea of asphalt. Worst-case: a long pause and a giant “now what?” rectangle on the map. This will be its own fight.
What should Empower Field's site become, assuming the new stadium is built? |
Last week’s poll results: when it comes to Douglas County’s future, what matters most to you?
7% - Creating more housing options
7% - Growing and supporting local businesses
7% - Adding community improvements (parks, trails, amenities)
66% - Open space & managing resources (water, schools, utilities)
9% - Avoiding traffic & congestion
4% - Protecting property values

Hometown Headlines
From Banners to Bustling Patios: Parker’s Business District is Transforming Downtown
TLDR: Downtown Parker is getting a makeover thanks to its Business Improvement District (BID), created in 2023 and now investing $120K annually into beautification, marketing, and growth. From fresh flower planters and banners to revamped sidewalks and stronger event promotion, the BID is helping downtown attract more visitors and compete with nearby hubs. With nearly 1,000 new residential units on the way and more restaurants opening, Parker’s Mainstreet is poised to become a thriving destination for both locals and visitors.
Running Toward Hope: Douglas County Deputy with MS Trains for NYC Marathon to Fund Research
TLDR: Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy John Carrasco has been living with multiple sclerosis since 2012—but he hasn’t let it stop him from serving his community or pursuing his passion for running. By day, he works the night shift at the jail; by night (and early morning), he trains for the New York City Marathon. Carrasco hopes his run will raise money for the MS Society and prove to others living with MS that the disease doesn’t define their future. “You can keep going, you can do more than you think,” he says.
From Heartbreak to History: Legend Titans Chase State Title Under New Coach Jake Heaps
TLDR: After falling short in last year’s state championship, the Legend Titans football team is back with unfinished business. Led by new head coach Jake Heaps—who brings NFL experience and a history of coaching Russell Wilson—the Titans are off to a 3–0 start. With Boston College–bound QB DJ Bordeaux and star running back Ryken Banks at the helm, the team’s chemistry and leadership have never been stronger. Their recent 43–0 shutout over Columbine made school history, fueling their drive to “do better than it’s ever been done before.”
Broncos Lock Down Star Pass Rusher: Nik Bonitto Signs 4-Year Extension
TLDR: The Denver Broncos are keeping one of the NFL’s most explosive young defenders. OLB Nik Bonitto inked a four-year extension after a breakout 2024 season that saw him rack up 13.5 sacks, two defensive touchdowns, 16 tackles for loss, and a six-game sack streak—the longest in the NFL last year. The Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro has 21.5 sacks over the past two seasons and continues to prove he’s a game-changer. Fresh off being ranked No. 38 in the NFL Top 100 by his peers, Bonitto joins Zach Allen and Courtland Sutton as Denver builds its future around top talent.
Broncos Grind Out Ugly Week 1 Win Over Titans — Defense Shines, Offense Struggles
TLDR: The Denver Broncos survived a sloppy season opener, beating the Tennessee Titans behind a dominant defensive performance. Rookie QB Bo Nix had a rough outing (25/40, 176 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 1 fumble), raising early concerns about his development after a hyped offseason. The run game sputtered until late sparks from RJ Harvey (50-yard burst) and J.K. Dobbins (19-yard TD) gave Denver a fourth-quarter lead. Meanwhile, the defense was lights out — holding Tennessee to just 134 yards, 2-of-14 on third down, and recording multiple sacks from Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen, Jonathon Cooper, and others. Patrick Surtain II locked down Calvin Ridley, and Denver leaned on penalties and field position mistakes from the Titans to escape with a Week 1 win.

Tried & True
🍝 Tried & True: Cranelli’s - Lone Tree
Worth the wait — things get packed during rush hour, so you may be waiting even with a reservation. Thankfully, the food makes it easy to forgive.
Opened by husband-and-wife team Jimmy and Lasinda, Cranelli’s has expanded their space over the years — a true testament to how much locals love it.
On our visit, the garlic knots kicked things off and were a hit. They were quickly followed by Italian Poppers, which kept the momentum going straight into the arancini — golden risotto balls filled with ham, gruyere, and mozzarella over raspberry jam. Somehow I even had room for a side Caesar, though with so many strong appetizers, I’d save the calories for those instead next time.
For mains, the half Chicken Parm was excellent (I left with marinara on my shirt like a badge of honor), and the Bolognese also earned high marks. Entrees come in half or full sizes, so you can order exactly what you want.
Dessert sealed the deal: it’s Italian, so of course we had to try at least one cannoli — but the panna cotta with blueberry compote absolutely stole the show.
Plan ahead — if you go during the 6:00–7:00 rush, expect a wait. But once the food hits the table, you’ll be glad you came.
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