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COS Town Tidings #26-170
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🤣 Today’s Chuckle
📰 Juneteenth Today: Parks Open, Offices Closed ☀️
📰 These Burger Joints Stumble with Inspection 🍔
Recipe: 🍫 S’mores Cake
🛍 Bargain Box - up to 50% Off + Father’s Day Deal
📆 Local Events + Concerts, Farmers Markets & Activities
🌤 COS Weather - Partly cloudy, hot with slight chance of isolated T-storms
Recreation: 🥾 Waterfalls & Hidden Caves Near COS
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During our last inspection, the health inspector asked if our kitchen was “pest-free.”
👉I said, “Absolutely! The rats pay rent.”…We did not pass 🤣
☀️ Juneteenth Today: Parks Open, Offices Closed
Several City offices, community centers, the Municipal Court, City Hall, and administrative buildings will be closed in observance of Juneteenth.
✅ Still Open:
Garden of the Gods (6am-10pm)
Pikes Peak, America's Mountain (weather permitting)
Patty Jewett & Valley Hi Golf Courses
Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center
Cemetery grounds remain open to visitors
⚠️ Note: Pikes Peak visitors may experience temporary traffic holds due to Hill Climb activities.
🍔 These Burger Joints Stumble with Inspection
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 (no update)
📍 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.
🤨 RE-INSPECTION REQUIRED
🍔 Gaia Masala & Burger
📍 S Tejon St | 📅 June 18, 2026 | ⚠️ 5 violations
This downtown spot needs a re-inspection after cooked chicken and chicken curry were found cooling overnight in the walk-in at 44-45°F, well above safe range, and a food handler used the same gloves to move from raw burger to ready-to-eat buns and fries.
Most serious issues:
No certified manager on site (Core, Repeat): Facility lacked a certified food protection manager during the inspection.
Cross-contamination (Priority): Gloves used on raw burger were then used on ready-to-eat buns and fries without changing.
Cooling failure (Priority): Cooked chicken and chicken curry cooled overnight at 44-45°F instead of reaching 41°F within 6 hours; product was voluntarily discarded.
Cooling method (Core, Repeat): Cooling food was kept covered rather than loosely covered, slowing heat transfer.
🌭 SONIC SRI 2978
📍 Main St | 📅 June 15, 2026 | ⚠️ 7 violations
This drive-in needs a follow-up after a cooked hamburger patty measured just 133°F, well under the safe cooking temperature, and hot dogs sitting in the steam well were found between 119°F and 124°F.
Most serious issues:
Undercooked food (Priority): A hamburger patty measured 133°F when it should have reached a higher cooking temperature; it was returned to the grill and corrected on site.
Hot holding (Priority): Hot dogs in the steam well measured 119-124°F instead of the required 135°F or above.
Handwashing (Priority): Employees were observed switching tasks, including handling raw patties, without washing hands.
Cleaning frequency (Core, Repeat): Grease and food debris had built up on multiple non-food contact surfaces and physical facilities.
✅ Good News! Comebacks and a whole lot of passes this week.
🎉 CLEARED RE-INSPECTIONS
🍜 Pho and Grill | Cinema Point | Re-Inspected, Passed ✅ | After being flagged for re-inspection on June 10, this neighborhood spot came back clean on its June 18 follow-up.
😊 Passed
Olde Town Coffee Shop
🌟 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.
Chipotle Mexican Grill #0153 | Garden of the Gods Rd | June 18 | 0 violations
Olde Town Coffee Shop | 105 S Santa Fe Ave, Fountain | June 17 | 0 violations
Also passed, but not perfect this week:
🍗 Sabrina's Soulfood | S Academy Blvd | 2 violations — chicken wings hot holding unevenly (112-136°F across the pan) and an over-concentrated wiping cloth solution. Both corrected on site.
🍛 Gurkhas Kitchen | N Academy Blvd | 4 violations — a broken walk-in cooler holding rice and chicken at 48-51°F, meat thawing in stagnant water instead of running water, and grease buildup on walls and floors.
🍺 O'Leary's Pub | Galley Rd | 4 violations — no certified food manager present, no written vomit/diarrheal cleanup procedure, an empty soap dispenser at the handwash sink, and an out-of-date chili container.
🍗 Chelsey's Wings, Burgers and Spirits | N Carefree Cir | 5 violations — no certified food manager on site, house-cut fries left out at 70°F, a malfunctioning cooler running at 60°F, and a smoky, poorly ventilated cook line.
🍣 Sushi Daiyo Japanese Restaurant | Main St | 5 violations — employee drinks stored on the prep counter, handwashing sink misuse, a glove-change lapse, and sanitizer measuring 0 PPM at the dish station.
🥟 Jade Dragon | N Academy Blvd | 6 violations — raw beef stored above fresh broccoli, garlic sitting out at 60°F, missing date labels on house-made dumplings and egg rolls, and an outdated allergen notice.
🥖 La Baguette | West Colorado Ave | 6 violations — milk and creamer running warm in the coffee station cooler, desserts above 41°F in the display case, missing handwashing signage, and no thermometer on hand.
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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 8-18, 2026
🛍 Bargain Box: This Week's Hot Deals! (Through June 20)
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 20 (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
🙌 Come Hang Out With Me, June 27!
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🍫 S’mores Cake
Recipe by Curly Girl Kitchen
This delicious high altitude s’mores cake has three layers of soft and moist graham cake, filled with homemade marshmallow fluff, and frosted with rich and fluffy chocolate buttercream. It’s ooey, gooey, sticky, and so perfectly summery. Most Dad’s would devour this one…make it his Father’s Day cake.
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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!
Every Wed-Sun, 11am-2:45pm: Tea at the Castle @ Glen Eyrie Castle, 3820 North 30th St $50
July 14-18, various times: Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo @Norris Penrose Event Ctr $25-$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 19 |
2nd Annual JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL! Festival💗 Community 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM · 📍 1100 S Royer St, Colorado Springs **Celebrate freedom, community, and culture at the 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Concrete Coyote Park! Enjoy live… |
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JUN 19 |
🏎 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb FAN FEST - FREE 😊 Social🧒 Family 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM · 📍 Tejon St, Colorado Springs **FAN FEST, PRESENTED BY TOYO TIRES, RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN JUNE 19, 5-9 PM** **Expanded 12-block downtown celebration bri… |
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JUN 20 |
Colorado Renaissance Festival: Celebrating 49 Yrs Festival 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM · 📍 650 Perry Park Ave, Larkspur **Welcome To The Colorado Renaissance Festival** Celebrating Over 40 Years Of Family Fun & Magical Memories! As you wa… |
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JUN 20 |
Colorado Farm and Art Market - Margarita at Pine Creek 👩🌾 Markets/Fairs 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM · 📍 7350 Pine Creek Rd, Colorado Springs The Summer 2026 Saturday Market season of [**Colorado Farm and Art Market**](https://www.facebook.com/farmandartmarket?_… |
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JUN 20 |
The Secret Life of a Dead Tree 🧒 Family💗 Community+1 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM · 📍 Fountain Creek Nature Center (320 Peppergrass Lane, Fountain, CO 80817) A dead tree, or “snag” can spend decades providing new life and opportunities for a host of living things, from microbes… |
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JUN 20 |
El Paso County Kite Festival 🧒 Family💗 Community 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM · 📍 Falcon Regional Park, Falcon CO Save the date for El Paso County’s Kite Festival! Saturday, June 20 10am-2pm Falcon Regional Park |
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JUN 20 |
🎪 Summa Solstice "Block" Party FREE 🧒 Family💗 Community 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM · 📍 817 W Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs All day extravaganza with events, live music, outdoor games, and fundraising raffles all day! We are also thrilled to ha… |
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JUN 20 |
Local Author Book Signing 😊 Social 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM · 📍 Barnes and Noble Citadel Local author Kristin Middleton will be in attendance, signing her new memoir, “Rocky Mountain Charlatan” |
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JUN 20 |
Painting Colorado Classes 💗 CommunityActivity 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM · 📍 East Library 5550 N Union Blvd, Colorado Springs Celebrate Colorado’s 150th Anniversary with a Creative Twist! Join us for *Painting Colorado* and create your own stun… |
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JUN 21 |
🏁 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) 🧒 Family💗 Community 4:00 AM – 12:00 PM · 📍 Pikes Peak, Colorado 80809 **Gear Up for the **104TH Running **June 21, 2026** The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), presente… |
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Jun 19-21, 25-28: 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 19-22, 24-26, 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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🥾 Waterfalls & Hidden Caves Near COS
Credit: Flickr/Eric Lumsden
If you're looking for a new hiking destination just 45 minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, Castlewood Canyon State Park deserves a spot on your list. Located near Franktown, this 2,136-acre park features more than 12 miles of trails that lead hikers through towering canyon walls, creek crossings, hidden caves, waterfalls, wildflower-filled meadows, and scenic overlooks.
Credit: Yelp/Kelly G.
Popular routes include the Creek Bottom, Rimrock, and Inner Canyon trails, where visitors can spot wildlife, discover small caverns tucked into the canyon walls, and enjoy views of Cherry Creek winding through the landscape. The park also offers a glimpse into Colorado history with the ruins of the Castlewood Dam, which famously collapsed in 1933, and the remains of the historic Lucas Homestead.
Credit: Flickr/ezweave
It's a beautiful mix of nature, geology, and local history, all within an easy drive of Colorado Springs.
Location: 2989 CO-83, Franktown, CO 80116
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