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Data: Walk Score; Table: Tory Lysik and Alice Feng/AxiosLOCAL LEDE

It's pretty easy to walk to a Denver Broncos game, even if the 0-2 team is hard to watch at the moment.

Driving the news: Empower Field at Mile High ranked 7th out of the NFL's 30 stadiums, according to data from Walk Score, a Redfin company that promotes walkable neighborhoods.

Empower Field also came in 9th in The Athletic's rankings for best stadiums in the league based on a survey of their writers.

Why it matters: The facility — which got $100 million worth of upgrades this season — is getting good marks even as the Broncos' new owners explore building a new stadium for the team, potentially outside the city.

How it works: Walk Score measures hundreds of walking routes to nearby amenities and points are awarded based on the distance to them in each category.

It also analyzes population density and road metrics such as block length and intersection density.

A good Walk Score, such as any number above 69, reflects how easy it is to walk to the location and also how easily it is to use public transportation.

Zoom in: Empower Field scored well for biking (72) while transit fared slightly worse (60).

RTD in August said it would end the BroncosRide special bus service, citing federal guidelines over competing with private service providers.

What they're saying: Good walk scores can "alleviate the burden of parking during big events such as games or concerts," says Isabelle Novak, Senior Communications Manager at Redfin.

Empower Field gets high marks for walkability among NFL stadiums

The Broncos' home ranked 7th out of the NFL's 30 stadiums, according to data from WalkScore.

It&#x27;s pretty easy to walk to a Denver Broncos game, even if the 0-2 team is hard to watch at the moment.Driving the news: Empower Field at Mile High ranked 7th out of the NFL&#x27;s 30 stadiums, according to data from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Walk Score" data-vars-click-url="https://www.walkscore.com/about.shtml" data-vars-content-id="37f3d43d-5b03-44fc-812b-4ca62b19ac49" data-vars-headline="Empower Field gets high marks for walkability among NFL stadiums" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.walkscore.com/about.shtml" target="_blank">Walk Score</a>, a Redfin company that promotes walkable neighborhoods.

Sports

Axios Denver, anchored by John Frank and Alayna Alvarez, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.

Denver Startup Week returns with a focus on something that's top of mind in the tech world: artificial intelligence.

Driving the news: The weeklong event starting Monday expects to draw roughly 10,000 people downtown to sessions and panel discussions.

Catch up quick: Downtown Denver Partnership CEO Kourtny Garrett, whose agency is responsible for putting together the startup week, tells us that with AI permeating nearly every industry, panel discussions will focus on exploring its potential — including its current uses and drawbacks.

Of note: At least 25 out-of-state investors will be in attendance, Elyse Kent, head of platform at Access Venture Partner, tells us.

Many are drawn by the city's warm economic climate: Kent said when compared to cities like Austin or Chicago, the Mile High City is much more collaborative and far less competitive.

Context: This year's event takes shape after venture capital funding dropped in the state from 2021 to 2022, rattled by labor shortages and layoffs.

Chris Erickson, co-founder and managing partner at Range Ventures, says he expects a bounce back due to interest from initial public offerings this year by companies like Instacart, Klayvio and Arm.

What they're saying: "I'm just generally excited about the breadth of different types of sessions and discussion they offer," Erickson tells us.

He said what makes this week different from similar events is it offers sessions for people at basically any stage, from someone interested in starting a business to people looking to invest.

Pro tip: The first four days will feature multiple sessions, so use its website to help narrow down what to attend.

Denver Startup Week shines spotlight on AI

With AI permeating nearly every industry, panel discussions will focus on exploring its potential — including its current uses and drawbacks.

Illustration of a human hand and a computer cursor hand engaged in a handshake

Denver Startup Week returns with a focus on something that&#x27;s top of mind in the tech world: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="artificial intelligence" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/30/how-artificial-intelligence-works-unknowns" data-vars-content-id="3e6a02c2-31d1-4977-9bf9-276d1fc4996b" data-vars-headline="Denver Startup Week shines spotlight on AI" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/30/how-artificial-intelligence-works-unknowns" target="_self">artificial intelligence</a>.Driving the news: The weeklong event starting Monday expects to draw roughly 10,000 people downtown to sessions and panel discussions.

News

Business

The task seemed simple: Guide someone at Chili's to the right table. But the robot got lost.

Driving the news: Peter Newlin, co-founder of the fast-food chicken restaurant Birdcall, recalled the moment during a panel discussion Tuesday at Denver Startup Week about AI's impact in the food and restaurant industry.

Chili's tested the robots for about two years before discontinuing the program last year because it didn't meet expectations.

Why it matters: Newlin's example demonstrated why panelists largely agreed AI won't replace restaurant and food staff, but instead complement their services.

Right now, robots' use in the industry is mostly seen as a gimmick.

What they're saying: "If it complements the dining experience, it's a win; if it's a distraction from the hospitality experience, it's a [failure]," Newlin, whose restaurant uses touch-screens to allow people to order food, tells us.

Details: Ben Deda, CEO at FoodMaven, said automation should augment existing services like a serving instead of replacing them.

"The question is, where can you find the work that people don't want to do or don't have time to do and can you use an AI, can you use a machine to take it off your hands?" Deda said.

Between the lines: Staffing shortages are a major issue in the restaurant industry, Diego Montemayor, co-founder and CEO of the staffing company Chamba, said on Tuesday.

However, no panelists suggested AI would be a factor in helping alleviate this shortage.

The intrigue: Newlin tells us he asked ChatGPT to consider new food items by plugging in ingredient options. He said some interesting dish ideas came from the experiment, but wouldn't say whether they'd appear on Birdcall's menu.

Of note: A robot chef made its debut this month at the University of Denver's Community Commons.

Founded by Israeli food tech company SavorEat, the robot chef produces plant-based, 3D-printed burgers in about three minutes. Customers use a kiosk to customize and place their order. The company plans to open another Denver location next year.

United Airlines also is using robots to collect dirty dishes at its new club in Denver airport's B concourse.

Why robots won't replace restaurant servers anytime soon

Panelists at Denver Startup Week largely agreed AI won't replace restaurant and food staff, but instead complement their services.

Illustration of a robotic hand dipping a chicken nugget in sauce.

The task seemed simple: Guide someone at Chili&#x27;s to the right table. But the robot got lost.Driving the news: Peter Newlin, co-founder of the fast-food chicken restaurant <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Birdcall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wHgxH7ug6g" data-vars-content-id="4937225d-6daf-43be-8307-a0b9e9ccd82b" data-vars-headline="Why robots won&#x27;t replace restaurant servers anytime soon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wHgxH7ug6g" target="_blank">Birdcall</a>, recalled the moment during a panel discussion Tuesday at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Denver Startup Week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/09/15/denver-startup-week-spotlight-ai" data-vars-content-id="4937225d-6daf-43be-8307-a0b9e9ccd82b" data-vars-headline="Why robots won&#x27;t replace restaurant servers anytime soon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/09/15/denver-startup-week-spotlight-ai" target="_self">Denver Startup Week</a> about AI&#x27;s impact in the food and restaurant industry.

Chef Michael Diaz de Leon gripped the clear, clover-shaped trophy in disbelief.

Driving the news: Moments earlier, Denver's Brutø, where he serves as executive chef, had been awarded a Michelin star — one of five restaurants in the state to earn the coveted honor in the first Michelin Colorado Guide unveiled Tuesday.

Why it matters: Chefs we spoke to felt thrilled about the recognition while recognizing the honor comes with additional demand to not just continue excelling, but to innovate.

What they're saying: "I think this is just going to create a really nice sense of excitement for guests to come in," Diaz de Leon, whose restaurant specializes in contemporary and Mexican food, told us immediately following the awards ceremony.

State of play: Colorado is now in rarified air. It's just the sixth location in the United States to have its own Michelin Guide, alongside places like California, Chicago and New York.

Context: Tourism boards in Denver, Boulder and Aspen paid between $70,000 and $100,000 for the opportunity to be considered for the stars. Three Denver restaurants got stars, while Boulder and Aspen had one restaurant each.

Having to pay doesn't take away from the "achievement" of getting a star, Colorado Restaurant Association & Foundation spokesperson Denise Mickelsen told us.

Of note: Chef Kelly Whitaker owns Brutø and The Wolf's Tailor, another restaurant that received a Michelin star. He told us his kitchen work was always about improving the state's culinary scene, not earning stars.

He expects Brutø, with its 15-seat capacity, to face higher demand. But he believes the eatery in Denver's Union Station neighborhood can handle it.

Meanwhile, ensuring continued recognition from the guide will mean being more creative and refined, Mawa's Kitchen owner and executive chef Mawa McQueen tells us. Her Afro-Mediterranean restaurant in Aspen earned a recommendation, but not a star.

"Now I'm going to reach for the star," McQueen tells us.

The intrigue: Mickelsen said the guide could become a recruiting tool for a local restaurant industry struggling to hire and retain staff, since it brings a "global spotlight" to the region.

She notes the labor shortage predated the pandemic, which led to both job losses and restaurant closings.

Between the lines: Chef Jose Avila says after his Mexican restaurant on Larimer Street, La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, got a Bib Gourmand nod last month, sales grew by 40% and wait times grew from roughly 45 minutes to two hours.

What's next: Mickelsen says anonymous Michelin inspectors will continue visiting local restaurants. She anticipates the guide will continue to expand to add more eateries.

What the Michelin Guide means for Colorado's dining scene

Chefs we spoke to felt thrilled about the recognition while recognizing the honor comes with additional demand.

Chefs who received a Michelin star on stage during the Colorado Michelin Guide at Mission Ballroom in Denver on Tuesday. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Patrick/BFA.com

Chef Michael Diaz de Leon gripped the clear, clover-shaped trophy in disbelief.Driving the news: Moments earlier, Denver&#x27;s Brutø, where he serves as executive chef, had been awarded a Michelin star — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="one of five restaurants in" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/09/13/five-colorado-restaurants-earn-michelin-stars" data-vars-content-id="7cb90c69-1069-40b9-ab63-959f3179bfd6" data-vars-headline="What the Michelin Guide means for Colorado&#x27;s dining scene" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/09/13/five-colorado-restaurants-earn-michelin-stars" target="_self">one of five restaurants in</a> the state to earn the coveted honor in the first <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Michelin Colorado Guide" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/06/14/colorado-lands-coveted-michelin-guide" data-vars-content-id="7cb90c69-1069-40b9-ab63-959f3179bfd6" data-vars-headline="What the Michelin Guide means for Colorado&#x27;s dining scene" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/06/14/colorado-lands-coveted-michelin-guide" target="_self">Michelin Colorado Guide</a> unveiled Tuesday.

Culture

Food and Drink

Mount Evans will be known as Mount Blue Sky after a federal panel on Friday approved the name change.

Details: The U.S. Board on Geographic Names voted 15-1 to change  the mountain's name name during its scheduled meeting, which was held both in-person and virtually. Three board members abstained

The peak is located in Clear Creek County. 

Why it matters: The decision largely settles the controversy over the 14ers original name, which came from Colorado territorial Gov. John Evans, who refused to criticize the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864.

Between the lines: Evans' response to the massacre involving U.S. troops ambushing and killing more than 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people was largely indifferent, according to a 2014 study from Northwestern University.

Catch up quick: After the George Floyd protests in Denver called attention to removing names associated with racists history, Gov. Jared Polis established the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board in July 2020. 

The board was responsible for providing name recommendations to the federal geographic names panel.

Changing Mount Evans was among the suggestions. But those plans stalled in March after Northern Cheyenne tribal administrator William F. Walks Along raised concerns about calling it Mount Blue Sky, per CPR.

That led to a meeting between tribal leaders this summer with a federal Interior Department member to discuss the new name, which ultimately landed on Blue Sky.

Of note: The two Native American reservations in Colorado, the Southern Ute Indian tribe and Ute Mountain Ute tribe, supported the name change, according to the federal panel. 

Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board

Mount Evans officially renamed to Mount Blue Sky

The change largely settled the controversy over the 14ers original name, which came from Colorado territorial Gov. John Evans.

Mount Evans and Summit Lake in Clear Creek, Colorado, on Sept. 12. Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post

Mount Evans will be known as Mount Blue Sky after a federal panel on Friday approved the name change.Details: The U.S. Board on Geographic Names voted 15-1 to change the mountain&#x27;s name name during its scheduled meeting, which was held both in-person and virtually. Three board members abstained<ul><li>The peak is located in Clear Creek County. </li></ul>

Esteban L. Hernandez

Featured stories

Empower Field gets high marks for walkability among NFL stadiums

Why robots won't replace restaurant servers anytime soon

Mount Evans officially renamed to Mount Blue Sky

What the Michelin Guide means for Colorado's dining scene

Denver Startup Week shines spotlight on AI