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COS Town Tidings #26-163
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🤣 Today’s Chuckle
📰 A Hero Gets His Moment, 2pm TODAY 🎖️
📰 This Restaurant Shut Down (Repeat Violations) 🤦♀️
Recipe: 🧇 Easy Waffle Iron Hash Browns
🛍 Bargain Box - up to 50% Off + Father’s Day Deal
📆 Local Events + Concerts, Farmers Markets & Activities
🌤 COS Weather - Mostly sunny and hot
Recreation: 🥾 Cool Off at Nearly 9,000 Feet
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What did the hash brown say to the waffle?
👉“I’m so grated to meet you!” 🤣
🎖️ A Hero Gets His Moment, 2pm TODAY
Mayor Yemi will present the Spirit of Colorado Springs Flag Day Award this afternoon at 2pm outside City Hall, 30 S Nevada Ave. The recipient is Olav Chaney, a retired Colorado Springs police officer and US Army veteran being honored for his decades of service to both the nation and this community.
This is the third annual Flag Day ceremony from the Mayor's Office. Flag Day falls on June 14, marking the anniversary of the official adoption of the US flag. The event today is free and open to the public. Come out and cheer him on.
🤦♀️ This Restaurant Shut Down (Repeat Violations)
Each week, El Paso County Public Health inspects local restaurants and posts the results publicly. We pull directly from their database so you know where things stand. Here's what caught our eye this week.
Here's a breakdown of the most recent results:
😞 CLOSED
🌮 Nacos Tacos
📍 233 N Academy | 📅 June 11, 2026 | CLOSED after re-inspection, 10 violations (7 repeats)
This north Academy taco spot came back for its re-inspection on June 11 and did not pass. The doors are currently closed. Nearly every serious violation was a repeat from prior inspections, including issues with cooling, cold holding, handwashing, and date marking.
Most serious issues:
Handwashing failures (Priority, REPEAT): Employees switching from raw meat to ready-to-eat food without washing hands.
Cooling failures (Priority, REPEAT): Salsa verde, menudo, and cooked rice all at unsafe temps. All discarded.
Cold holding failure (Priority, REPEAT): Prep cooler holding food between 44-55°F. Items discarded.
Date marking failures (Priority, REPEAT): Products dated as far back as May 14 still on shelves.
Hot holding failure (Priority): Cooked peppers stored at 86°F outside temperature control.
🤨 RE-INSPECTION REQUIRED
🍜 Pho and Grill
📍 3357 Cinema Point | 📅 June 10, 2026 | ⚠️ Re-Inspection Required, 8 violations
A Cinema Pointe-area pho spot with several food safety fundamentals that needed attention, including a repeat cold holding issue and no certified food safety manager on duty.
Most serious issues:
No certified food safety manager on duty (Core): Required to have one present during operations.
Handwashing failures (Priority): Employees donning gloves without washing hands first.
Cold holding failure (Priority, REPEAT): Bean sprouts at 61°F, whipped cream at 49°F. Items discarded. Host stand cooler broken.
Raw food storage (Priority): Raw chicken stored above shrimp and beef in the reach-in cooler.
🥢 PF Chang's, Briargate
📍 1725 Briargate | 📅 June 10, 2026 | ⚠️ Re-Inspection Required, 6 violations
The Briargate PF Chang's had a rough inspection focused almost entirely on handwashing and glove discipline. Multiple employees across multiple stations were observed not washing hands between tasks.
Most serious issues:
Handwashing failures (Priority): Egg cracking, raw fish handling, and raw chicken prep all observed without proper hand washing before moving to ready-to-eat food.
Glove failures (Priority): Employees not changing gloves between tasks, some leaving the cook line and returning in the same gloves.
No handwashing signage at multiple sinks (Core): Signs provided on the spot.
✅ Good News! Comebacks and a whole lot of passes this week.
🎉 CLEARED RE-INSPECTIONS
🍽️ ORO Restaurant | 123 E Pikes Peak Ave | Re-Inspected June 11 | Passed ✅
🌮 Hacienda Market and Taqueria | 1714 Monterey Rd | Re-Inspected June 10 | Passed ✅
😊 Passed
🌟 PERFECT SCORES, Zero Violations
Two local kitchens came through this week with absolutely zero violations. Not one. These spots are running tight, clean operations and deserve a standing ovation.
🥩 Flying W Ranch | 3330 Chuckwagon Rd | June 11 | 0 violations
🦞 Chef Bob's Lobstah Trap Mobile | 3934 Iron Horse Trail | June 9 | 0 violations
Also passed this week:
🐼 Panda Express | 1320 Garden of the Gods Rd | June 11
⚾ Backstop Bar and Grill | 2894 Resnik Drive | June 11
🍔 Bubba's 33 | 5807 Constitution Ave | June 11
********************
Health inspection results across El Paso County are available online for those wanting to check their favorite spots.
*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.
Source: El Paso County Public Health | Inspections pulled Jun 1-12, 2026
🛍 Bargain Box: This Week's Hot Deals! (Through June 13)
A new week means new treasures! We're giving you a first look at the incredible finds and amazing sales hitting the floor through June 13 (up to 50% OFF including Father’s Day items). Watch now to see what's waiting for you!
👉 Remember, you can donate items here too!
Located at 405 S Nevada Ave, Open Tues - Sat 10am-2pm. (719) 475-1029
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🧇 Easy Waffle Iron Hash Browns
Recipe by fearless dining
Crispy, golden, and packed with cheddar, these hash brown waffles are the ultimate savory breakfast! Make them in a waffle maker or skillet, and top with a fried egg for an easy gluten-free meal.
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🍞 Fresh Baked Sourdough breads, pastries
Nature's Start Bread Company
📍3312 Austin Bluffs (Inside The Cupcake Doctor):
M-Sat, 9am-6pm
*Add your favorite events directly to your Google or Apple calendars, submit events, mark & save favorites!
🤣 TOMORROW - Sat June 13! 👇
Every Wed-Sun, 11am-2:45pm: Tea at the Castle @ Glen Eyrie Castle, 3820 North 30th St $50
Sept 5-7, Labor Day Lift Off Tickets on sale now!
Sept 19-20: Pikes Peak Regional Airshow @ COS Airport $50-$204
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Jun 12-14, 18-28: The Garbologists @ENT Center for the Arts, Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater $21-$47
Jun 20, 6-9pm: Murder Mystery, A Noteworthy Crime @Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Dr $79.95
Aug 6, 10-11am: Genealogy Basics @PPLD, Virtual Library on Zoom FREE
🎶 Concerts / Music
Jun 13, 15-26, various days and times: Colorado College Summer Music Festival (Paid and Free events)
July 4, 6:30-10pm: Star Spangled Symphony 2026 @Ford Amphitheater, 95 Spectrum Loop $18-$25 (will sell out, get your ticket today)
July 30,5:30-7:30pm: Jelly Roll @ Weidner Field (will sell out)
Aug 22, 8-10pm: Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton @Ford Amphitheater (on sale now)
🔥 Sept 26 & 27: Bruno Mars Concert @ Falcon Stadium, USAFA (will sell out)
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You’ll be the FIRST to unlock EXCLUSIVE offers, special savings, and the latest announcements from businesses and events in our area—all delivered straight to your phone. (Click image below to find out WHY I created this for you!)
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🥾 Cool Off at Nearly 9,000 Feet
Image by Mike Sinko Photography
About 30 minutes West, up the pass from downtown Colorado Springs, Rampart Reservoir Recreation Area sits at 8,948 feet near Woodland Park and feels like a completely different world. Think sparkling alpine water, dense pine forests, Pikes Peak views, and the kind of quiet that makes summer heat feel like a distant memory.
The centerpiece is a 13-mile loop trail around the reservoir, popular with hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers. Anglers come for rainbow, lake, and brown trout plus smallmouth bass. Boating is allowed with motor restrictions. For a shorter outing, the Rainbow Gulch Trail offers family-friendly access along the shoreline. Wildlife regulars include bald eagles, ospreys, mule deer, foxes, and the occasional black bear.
Plan your visit: About 4 miles east of Woodland Park via Rampart Range Road. Open late May through mid-October, 6am to 8pm. Day-use fee required. Dogs welcome on leash. No swimming. Bring layers, water, and sunscreen, weather shifts fast up there.
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Disclaimers: All content deemed accurate at publishing. Independent of local entities. Aims to inform, connect, entertain. Updates on website version.
