COS Town Tidings #25-199

📖 READ ONLINE

🤣 Today’s Chuckle

📰 Fresh Picks, Holiday Cheer & Market Magic🍑

📰 Powers Extension Worries Locals🚧

📰 This Local Restaurant Was Shut Down🚫

Recipe: 🍫 Protein Frozen S’mores (Viral Recipe)

📅 SAVE THE DATES! 3 To Choose

📆 Local Events + Free Concerts & Farmers Markets

🌦 COS Weather - Hot with isolated showers possible

Recreation: 🥾 FREE, Scenic, and Full of History

What did the graham cracker say to the marshmallow?

👉“You’re my better half, let’s stick together and make a s’more!” 🤣

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🍑 Fresh Picks, Holiday Cheer & Market Magic

Summer has arrived in full flavor, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than at the Backyard Market in Black Forest! This Saturday (July 19), stop by for juicy Palisade peaches, crisp cucumbers, sweet corn, and more from our local farmers. With Rocky Ford melons arriving soon, the season’s bounty is just getting started.

This weekend’s market is bursting with local flavor and fun—over 70 small vendors will be there with everything from baked goods and handmade crafts to pasture-raised meats and fresh-cut flowers. Plus, the WiseCrack Band will be playing live music while kids dive into a fun, free Wild West–themed craft activity (with sensory bins for the littlest ones!).

Don’t forget: the Backyard Farm Shop is open daily for local grocery staples—from charcuterie and cheese to farm-fresh eggs and sourdough bread. And great news: they now accept SNAP and the Colorado Produce Bonus!

📍 Both the Backyard Market & Farm Shop: 🗓️ Saturdays, 9 AM–1 PM | 6845 Shoup Rd., Black Forest

🌡️ Neighbors Are Raving About This Local Company
How to 🧊 Hack Your Home to Stay Cool

🚧 Powers Extension Worries Locals

Hundreds of locals attended a community open house at Discovery Canyon High School to learn about the Powers Boulevard Extension Project, which will extend the roadway from Hwy 83 to Voyager. The project has been in the works for decades and is now moving into a new phase, starting with a noise study in August. Crews will place sensors and microphones in four key locations to assess current and future sound levels.

Residents near the proposed corridor, especially those near Black Squirrel Creek, raised concerns about how elevated roads and bridges might bring more traffic noise to their doorsteps—uncertain whether mitigation like sound barriers will be enough. Full Story

🍞 Fresh Baked Sourdough breads, pastries 
📍3312 Austin Bluffs (Inside The Cupcake Doctor): 
M-Sat, 9am-6pm & Sun, 10am-2pm 

🚫 This Local Restaurant Was Shut Down

*Note: Most local restaurants take food safety incredibly seriously. In fact, many owners respond to violations swiftly and thoroughly, often making fixes the same day while they wait for reinspection. This week, however, one local spot hit an unfortunate milestone that’s worth sharing—not to shame, but to show how much work often happens behind the scenes to make things right.

A recent inspection resulted in a temporary closure of Coal Mine Dragon on 8th St due to 30 violations, but the new owner has since taken strong action to correct the issues.

Other restaurants around Colorado Springs—including Zaika, Back East, Gaia Masala, and China Menu—also received citations, while spots like Wienerschnitzel in Fountain, Wendy’s, and Panda Express earned high marks. Most restaurants address violations promptly and with care. Full Story

Health inspection results across El Paso County are available online for those wanting to check their favorite spots.

🎯 The Secret to Financial Confidence You Deserve

🍫 Protein Frozen S’mores (Viral Recipe)

These viral frozen s’mores are the ultimate summer treat—layered with chocolate, graham crackers, and a whipped vanilla protein filling. You’ll want a stash in your freezer at all times!

Access the complete recipe with tailored modifications to suit your dietary requirements, along with convenient print options.

🤗 4 Dates - FREE Event

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RSVP by clicking a date below - can't wait to see you there!!

• July 22, 2025 10:30-11:30am (Tues) @OCC Library, 2418 W Pikes Peak Ave

• July 31, 2025 11am-noon (Thurs) @Sand Creek Library, 1821 S Academy

• Aug 5, 2025 1:30-2:30 pm (Tues) @Cheyenne Mountain Library, 1785 S 8th St, Ste 100

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🎉 Events Calendar! (More events including FREE, click here) 

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📆 Sample Local Events

For more weekend Events, click here

*Weather Permitting

• Jul 18-19: El Paso County Fair @366 10th Street, Calhan, CO 80808

• July 18-20, 1-4 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• July 19-20 (every Sat & Sun through Aug 1): Renaissance Festival @Perry Park Ave, Larkspur $30-$32

• July 19, 6-9pm: Murder Mystery, Dirty Money @Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Dr $59.64 (4 tickets left)

• July 19-20, 26-27, 7pm: Ice Cream Theatre THE RINGMASTER`S ATTIC @The MAT, 1626 S. Tejon $16.50

• July 26, 10:30am-5pm: Cat Fest CO Springs @Norris Penrose Event Center $20-$40

• 🎭 Aug 16, 7pm: Shermy's Backyard Bash (Benefit Springs Rescue Mission) @Peak Improv Theater, 3440 N Carefree $10 donation

• Aug 24, 7-9pm: Crystal Gayle @Phil Long Music Hall $45-$87 (age 14+)

👩‍🌾 Farmers Markets - Weather permitting

🍑 Palisade Peaches are now available at various markets!

• July 19, 7am-1pm (Sat's thru Oct 11): OCC Farmers Market @2407 W Colorado Ave

• July 19, 8am-2pm (Sat’s thru-Oct 4): Monument Hill Farmers Market @66 Jefferson St, Monument

• July 19, 9am-1pm (Sat’s thru Oct 11): Backyard Market @Black Forest, 6845 Shoup Rd

• July 19, 9am-1pm (Sat’s thru Sept 27): Homestead Yard Farmers Market @The Yard at The Homestead Collective, 9633 Prominent Point COS

• July 19, 10am-2pm: CFAM (Sat's thru Oct 3): The Margarita at Pine Creek, 7350 Pine Creek Rd

• July 20, 9am-2pm (Every other Sun, thru Oct 26): COS Sunday Market @Acacia Park, Downtown

• July 20, 10am-2pm (Sun’s thru Aug 31): Cordera Farmers Market @11894 Grandlawn Cir, COS

• July 20 (2x/mth, Jun-Oct), 11am-3pm: Southeast Farmer's Market (Food Coalition) @Stompin' Groundz, 2050 Jet Wing Dr

• July 21 & 23, 10am-5pm (Mon & Wed): Summer Farmers Market @ Western Museum of Mining & Industry, 225 N Gate Blvd

• July 23, 9am-2pm (Wed’s through Sept 24): Briargate Farmers Market @7610 N Union Blvd

• July 23, 3-7pm (Wed’s): Colorado Farm and Art Market (CFAM) @Pioneers Museum, 215 S Tejon

• July 24, 5-8pm (Thurs thru Aug 28), Manitou Made Market @Manitou Art Center

  • —>Nature’s Start Bread Company Special at this market only! Friends & Family - BOGO Free on all breads and pastries (Limit one free per customer)

• July 24, 6-8pm (Thurs thru Aug 28): Summer Market at the Lodge @Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, 2 El Paso Blvd, COS 80904 (Manitou)

• July 25, Noon-4pm (Every other Fri thru Oct 3): UCCS Farmers Market @3942 Regent Circle

🎶 Summer Concert Series - Weather permitting

• July 18, 5-7pm: Wirewood Station @First & Main Town Center Park, 3305 Cinema Pt FREE

• July 18, 7-8:30pm: University Village Colorado Summer Concert Series - John King @5246 N Nevada (North Plaza next to Hacienda) FREE

• July 22, 5:30-7:30pm (Tues’s thru Sept): Music in the Park: @Bancroft Park, 2400 W Colorado Ave FREE

• July 24 (Every Thurs), 6-8pm: Dotsera @Banning Lewis Ranch, Vista Park FREE (public + community market)

  • —>🌟Spotlight: Stop by SherBeth’s stand and say hi to Beth

• July 25, 7-8:30pm: Jazz in the Garden @Grace and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 601-631 N Tejon FREE

• Aug 2, 4-7pm: Music on The Mesa - RAFIEL & THE ROOMSHAKERS @Goldhill Mesa, 142 S Raven Mine Dr FREE

🥾 FREE, Scenic, and Full of History

Recommended hike from our friend Heath at Colorado Fan Club who was there this week. Red Rock Canyon Open Space, located just west of downtown Colorado Springs, blends natural beauty with local history. Once a sandstone quarry, the area now offers a variety of trails for hiking, biking, and exploring—plus a huge off-leash dog park and over 80 rock climbing routes. Whether you want a short nature walk or a more adventurous trek, this spot offers flexibility and scenery in equal measure. Best of all, it’s FREE to enjoy and great for families, dogs, and solo wanderers alike.

Check out Heath’s newest book: Colorado Springs: The Most Significant Sites in the City

Location: Red Rock Canyon Open Space - 3550 W. High St. COS, CO 80904

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