Great Day Colorado
Great Day Colorado is a locally focused podcast and publishing company serving Colorado communities since 2017. Headquartered in Littleton, we produce engaging, thoughtful audio programs and publish stories that celebrate the people, places, and issues that make our state unique.
Great Day Colorado
Discover How Aurora Became Colorado’s Most Surprising Destination
Think you know Denver’s eastern neighbor? Aurora defies the cliché with a story that runs from prairie tracks to late night karaoke, from Buckley Field’s aviation roots to a modern web of light rail, research labs, craft breweries, and global kitchens that stay open past midnight. We open the map to show how transit, the Anschutz Medical Campus, and mixed use neighborhoods turned a once sleepy suburb into a destination with its own pulse.
We walk through the city’s nightlife corridors—Havana Street’s karaoke and Korean barbecue, the Stampede’s line dancing floor, cozy pubs near Aurora Highlands, and intimate stages where local bands and open mic artists find their crowd. Along the way, we fold in practical tips: how to move around on RTD, when to call a rideshare, where to stay near the airport or campus, and which parks and cultural spots round out a perfect weekend. Cherry Creek State Park, the Plains Conservation Center, and the Aurora Cultural Arts District sit alongside day trips to Denver, giving you both the big city energy and the local flavor in one itinerary.
Then we shift the lens to a vital chapter often overlooked: the African American history that helped shape Aurora’s civic fabric. From pre–World War II rail and agricultural work to the postwar boom, Black families built institutions when policy shut doors—churches that doubled as civic hubs, barbershops and restaurants that spread information, and organizers who pushed back against redlining and restrictive covenants. We unpack the present day pressures on East Colfax, where redevelopment and rising costs risk displacing the very culture that made the corridor vibrant, and we highlight the responses gaining traction: affordable housing, tenant protections, small business support, and community-led planning.
By the end, you’ll have a guide to Aurora’s best nights out, a primer on how the city grew, and a deeper understanding of the people and policies that forged its identity. If you enjoyed this tour, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves late night eats, and drop a review with your favorite Aurora spot—we might feature it next time.
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Hey everyone. Welcome to A Town After Dark, exploring Aurora's evolution. I'm DJ Mikey D, and you are tuned in to another Great Day Colorado podcast. For this episode, we're flying solo to explore one of Colorado's most fascinating cities. Now, when most people think about the Denver metro area, they think Well, Denver, but let me tell you Aurora's got a story that'll blow your mind. Picture this wide open prairie, cattle grazing, maybe a tumbleweed or two rolling by. That's what Aurora started as back in the day, but then the railroads came through in the eighteen eighties and boom, this place got its name and officially became a town in nineteen oh seven. Funny how transportation can just transform everything, right? But the real game changer? Buckley Field opening in nineteen twenty. That military and aviation presence just set the stage for everything to come. After World War I, families started moving out from central Denver, and Aurora began its transition from small town to proper suburb. But here's where it gets really interesting. Starting in the nineteen eighties, Aurora's population just exploded. Affordable housing, strong immigrant communities, we're talking one of Colorado's most diverse cities now. And that diversity? Man, that's what makes modern Aurora so special. We'll get to that in a minute, though. First, let's talk about how Aurora's been growing up as a city. The Onshoots Medical Campus? Total game changer. Made this region a healthcare and research hub. And the transit improvements? Light rail expansion, better bus routes, it's all about connectivity now. They're even doing this urban revitalization thing with mixed use buildings and walkable neighborhoods. Pretty cool, right? Now, I know what you're thinking. Mikey, this is all interesting, but what about the fun stuff? Don't worry, I'm getting to the good part. Because Aurora's nightlife scene absolutely wild in the best way possible. We've got neighborhood bars, live music venues, multicultural dining. It's like the United Nations of good times out here. And the food? Oh man, the food. But let me paint you a picture of a typical night out in Aurora. You could start on Havana Street, karaoke bars everywhere, amazing Korean food that'll make you question every other meal you've ever had. Or if you're feeling country, head over to the Stampede Club for some boot scootin' boogie. Yeah, we've got line dancing in Aurora. Who knew? Different districts, totally different vibes. Southlands has those shopping center bars where you can just chill after hitting the stores. Aurora Highlands and Elif Avenue have these growing pockets of local pubs that are just cozy, you know? And near the Anschutz campus you've got spots catering to professionals and students, always a good mix of people. Live music. We've got intimate venues hosting local bands, open mic nights where you might discover the next big thing. The Aurora Cultural Arts District does seasonal performances that are just chefs kiss. And the craft breweries don't even get me started. Tap rooms, trivia nights, events, these places are community hubs now. We've got distilleries popping up, craft cocktail bars that could rival anything in Denver. But here's what really sets Aurora apart. The food diversity is insane. Mexican, Salvadoran, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian, and so many places are open late. You want authentic international cuisine at midnight? Aurora's got you covered. And if bars and restaurants aren't your thing, we've got movie theaters, bowling alleys, seasonal outdoor concerts. There's something for everyone. Quick safety tip though, stick to well lit main corridors, use rideshare if you've been drinking, and check venue hours beforehand. Common sense stuff, but worth mentioning. Now, let's talk about getting here and around. Denver International Airport is just twenty to thirty five minutes away, which is crazy convenient. RTD buses and light rail can get you pretty much anywhere you need to go, but renting a car gives you that flexibility to explore at your own pace. Where to stay? Hotels near the Onschutz Medical Campus, airport hotels if you're flying in, chain hotels near shopping centers, plenty of options. And the attractions? Don't sleep on the Aurora Cultural Arts District, Cherry Creek State Park for Water Sports and Trails, the Plains Conservation Center if you want to see what this area looked like back in the prairie days. Day trips to Denver are super easy too. You get the best of both worlds, big city attractions when you want them, Aurora's unique vibe when you don't. For planning your visit, check out the City of Aurora's official website, RTD for transit schedules, local newspapers for event listings, all the usual suspects. So here's the bottom line. Aurora's evolution from prairie to diverse suburban city has created something really special. We've got broad cultural offerings, growing nightlife, increasing economic and transit connectivity, and the food, man, the food alone is worth the trip. Kraft breweries, live music and intimate venues, parks for daytime fun, all with Denver's larger attractions, just a quick hop away. Aurora is not just Denver's eastern neighbor anymore, it's a destination in its own right. That's all the time we have for this Great Day Colorado episode. Until next time, this is DJ Mikey D reminding you to explore your own backyard. You might be surprised by what you find. Peace out. Stay tuned for our next episode. Welcome to the Aurora Chronicles on Great Day Colorado. As we continue our coverage of Aurora Colorado, I'm DJ Mikey D, coming at you with some real talk about the city of Aurora and its unique history for this segment. We're diving deep into a story that doesn't get nearly enough shine. The rich African American history that's been shaping Aurora for generations. Now I know what some of y'all might be thinking, Aurora? Diverse? But trust me, the story goes way deeper than most people realize. Let me take you back, way before I was spinning records, before World War II, black folks were already here in Aurora, small numbers but present, working on railroads and agriculture, some tied to military jobs. But the real turning point? That post World War II boom. See, when those defense and aerospace jobs started popping up and affordable housing got built, black families started migrating here in bigger numbers. But here's the kicker. They were coming despite facing some serious housing discrimination, like you could get the job, but good luck finding a place to live if you were black. Now here's something that might surprise you. Churches became everything. I'm talking cultural centers, social hubs, political headquarters all rolled into one. These weren't just places to worship on Sunday. They were hosting voter registration drives, civic meetings, you name it. And the activists, man, they were fighting segregation on multiple fronts. Employment, housing, public spaces, parents were battling for better education in these rapidly growing suburban school districts, real community organizing, you know? And let's talk about the small businesses, the lifeblood of any community. Barbershops, beauty salons, restaurants. These weren't just places to get a haircut or a meal. They were community anchors, places where news got shared, connections got made, culture got preserved. Chatting with my good friend Wilford Thomas, former owner of Capray Chicken in Denver, he says I remember growing up the barber shop was where you heard everything. Who was running for office, what was happening with the schools, whose cousin was opening a new spot, that's where the real community building happened. But it wasn't all smooth sailing, not by a long shot. There was this whole system working against black families trying to build wealth, redlining, discriminatory lending, restrictive covenants, all these fancy terms that basically meant you can't live here because you're black. So black residents got concentrated in specific neighborhoods, which limited opportunities for wealth accumulation through home ownership, and we're still feeling the effects of that today. Fast forward to more recent times and we've seen some real political gains. African American leaders on school boards, city council, regional organizations shaping policy on everything from criminal justice reform to economic development. Organizations like the NAACP, black churches, cultural festivals, they're still out here doing the work, promoting our culture and keeping people engaged. But here's where it gets complicated and honestly, a little painful to talk about. In the last decade we've been having this ongoing conversation about the exodus of black culture from Aurora. And East Colfax Avenue, man, that's become ground zero for this discussion. Stretching through Denver and touching Aurora's borderlands, it's been a focal point for redevelopment, rising rents, and neighborhood change. Gentrification, that's the word everyone uses, but let me break down what that actually means for people. Rising rents and property taxes pushing out renters and straining longtime homeowners, those culturally specific businesses I mentioned earlier, they're getting displaced too. And here's the real kicker. This process is often linked to systemic racism because when past racist policies concentrated people of color in certain neighborhoods, and limited wealth accumulation, guess what happens when those neighborhoods suddenly become desirable? The people who built the community can't afford to stay, but here's the thing the story doesn't end there. There are responses happening, efforts to preserve and produce affordable housing, tenant protections, economic supports to prevent displacement, community driven planning that actually involves residents. People are fighting to keep Aurora's soul intact. What's clear to me after digging into all this history is that African American culture in Aurora has been shaped by migration, by building community institutions, by entrepreneurship, and by straight up civic engagement. Despite all the discriminatory practices and displacement pressures, our cultural and political contributions are woven into Aurora's civic fabric. You can't separate Aurora's story from the black experience here. They're intertwined. So where do we go from here? Ongoing efforts to document this history, protect community assets, expand equitable opportunity, that's how we make sure these contributions are remembered and built upon. Because you can't build a better future if you don't understand and honor the past. That is it for this episode of the Aurora Chronicles. Keep the conversation going, support local black owned businesses, and remember, our stories matter. I'm DJ Mike E. D, and I'll catch you next time. Peace out.
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