Sponsored by
🛑 Before you scroll...
Just curious…why do you open the Town Tidings?
(Only fill out if you didn’t last week)
COS Town Tidings #26-184
Gmail will truncate so 📖 READ ONLINE
🤣 Today's Chuckle
📰 Holiday Closures You Need to Know 🇺🇸
📰 Which Restaurants Passed... And Which Didn't? 🌮
Recipe: 🍉 No-Bake Watermelon Cake
🛍 Bargain Box - Last Day for This Week's Deals (Closed July 4)
📅 Local Events + July 4th Activities & Fireworks 🎆
🌤 COS Weather - Hot, hazy and windy (Red Flag Warning - Burn Ban issued)
Recreation: 🥾 Cottonwood Creek Trail in Bloom
🌟 Let’s Feature Your Business
I'm 63 With $1.5M. Can I Spend $10K a Month?
You’ve saved $1.5 million. Now comes the real test.
Can it produce $10,000 a month, or will that pace drain your portfolio?
Most retirees do not get a clear answer until it is too late.
The issue is not just how much you have. It is whether your portfolio was built to pay you, not just grow.
That difference can determine whether your money lasts decades or starts breaking down early.
Sequence of returns, taxes on withdrawals, healthcare costs, and whether the 4% rule still applies all play a role.
Fiduciary advisors created a breakdown showing what drives sustainable income and why the same $1.5M can produce very different outcomes.
If you have $1M or more invested, do not guess.
What do you get when you cross a duck with a rocket?
👉A firequaker 🤣
🇺🇸 Holiday Closures You Need to Know
If you need to visit a City or El Paso County office, plan ahead for the holiday weekend. Most City of Colorado Springs administrative offices will be closed Fri, July 3 for the Independence Day holiday and again Mon, July 6 for the City's scheduled furlough day. Most El Paso County offices will also be closed on Fri, July 3.
Emergency services, including police, fire, 911, and patrol operations, will continue as normal. Many parks and attractions will remain open, though several have adjusted hours or temporary closures on Sat, July 4 because of holiday events and wildfire safety precautions.
Holiday Closures at a Glance
📅 Friday, July 3
❌ Most City administrative offices closed
❌ Most El Paso County offices closed
✅ Police, Fire & 911 remain open
✅ Mountain Metro Transit buses operate as usual
✅ Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak Highway, Rock Ledge Ranch and City golf courses remain open
📅 Saturday, July 4 - adjusted hours
🚗 Palmer Park closed to vehicle traffic
🌄 Garden of the Gods closes early at 8 p.m.
🌲 North Cheyenne Cañon open until 2 p.m. or when capacity is reached
🚗 Gold Camp Road closed to vehicles
🚫 Memorial Park closes to vehicle traffic at 7 p.m.
🏔️ Pikes Peak remains open, including special sunrise and sunset events
📅 Monday, July 6
❌ Most City administrative offices closed for furlough day
✅ Many parks, attractions and self-funded City facilities remain open
🌮 Which Restaurants Passed... And Which Didn't?
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. No closures this period.
⚠️ RE-INSPECTION REQUIRED
🥢 Szechuan Panda
📍 6928 Mesa Ridge Pkwy, Fountain | 📅 Inspected Jun 29, 2026 | ⚠️ 7 violations
This is the second time in six months that Szechuan Panda has triggered a re-inspection, after a similar result in December 2025.
At a glance: No certified food protection manager on premises (repeat), foods missing required date labels (repeat), handwashing sink not properly accessible (repeat, corrected), raw food not properly separated from other items (repeat, corrected), food contact surfaces unclean (corrected), person-in-charge not fulfilling food safety duties, and utensils improperly stored.
Most serious issues:
No certified food protection manager on site - the same staffing gap cited on a previous visit (Repeat, not corrected).
Foods missing proper date labels - inspectors cannot verify when items were prepared or if they are still safe (Repeat, not corrected).
Raw food not properly separated from other items - a cross-contamination risk caught again from a prior visit (Repeat) - corrected on site.
🏆 Passed Re-Inspection
From left to right: Stephanie, Fedra, Sandy & Leah
🏆 REDEMPTION - Totem
📍 315 E Pikes Peak Ave Ste 100 | 📅 Re-Inspected Jul 2, 2026 | ✅ 1 minor violation (corrected on site)
This downtown spot had a rough inspection last cycle. They came back and earned their clean report. I stopped in last Saturday between shifts and found exactly what you hope for: a kitchen in full cleaning mode, fresh herbs growing steps from the line, and a Basque cheesecake that was so creamy and delicious, that made the trip worth it on its own. All items I’ve been told are made from scratch, including the desserts with fresh ingredients and the cheesecake was the only item I had, and it was fresh. The co-owner, Fedra and her team have genuine heart. They truly care about your experience…it’s time to give them a visit. 🤤
The one item flagged - bar utensils sitting in stagnant water - was corrected on the spot. Nothing left unresolved.
Also passed re-inspection this cycle:
🌮 Tacos El Amigo 2 (📍 3005 N Hancock Ave) | 📅 Jul 2, Re-Inspection | ✅ 2 violations - both repeats from last cycle (improper cooling and unsafe food temps). Eight pounds of beans discarded. Both corrected on site. Re-inspection passed.
🍣 Ubin Sushi (📍 460 N Murray Blvd) | 📅 Jun 29, Re-Inspection | ✅ 6 violations - sushi cooler temps above safe limit (COS), missing time labels on sushi items (COS), vacuum-sealed fish not opened before thawing (Repeat, COS), utensils improperly stored (COS); ice buildup in coolers and wrong thermometer type (Repeat) not corrected on site. Re-inspection passed.
✅ Passed
⭐ Perfect Scores This Cycle
☕ KAIROS COFFEE HOUSE
📍 505 Popes Bluff Trail | 📅 Inspected Jun 30, 2026 | ✅ 0 violations - PERFECT SCORE
Not a single item flagged. If you're looking for a coffee spot that takes its kitchen as seriously as its pour, Kairos earned that distinction this week.
🥗 Olivers Delicatessen
📍 6602 Delmonico Dr Unit A | 📅 Inspected Jun 29, 2026 | ✅ 0 violations - PERFECT SCORE
Olivers has a long record of clean inspections and this cycle was no different. Consistency like this doesn't happen by accident.
Also passed this cycle:
🍽️ Adolfo's #6 (2114 E Pikes Peak Ave) | Jul 2 | 1 violation - a line cook wiped gloved hands on clothes then handled raw eggs and ready-to-eat cheese. Gloves swapped, hands washed, utensils replaced, corrected on site.
🍽️ Latin Quarters (3958 N Academy Blvd Unit 112) | Jun 30 | 1 violation - rodent droppings found near storage, corrected on site.
🍖 Yeah Buddy BBQ Mobile (8620 Crooked Branch Ln) | Jun 29 | 1 violation - hot holding temps dropped near end of service as equipment was turned off early. All items discarded. Corrected on site.
🫔 Monse's Pupuseria and Salvadoran Kitchen (20 E Colorado Ave) | Jun 29 | 2 violations - cold holding temps and unlabeled containers. Both corrected on site.
☕ Third Space Coffee (5670 N Academy Blvd) | Jun 29 | 3 violations - broken cooler, handwashing issue, dairy products discarded. All corrected on site.
🥡 China Wok (6530 S Academy Blvd Ste 111A) | Jun 29 | 3 violations - dirty equipment (COS), hot holding temp issue (Repeat), improper thawing (COS).
🍜 Kang Nam Asian Restaurant (2917 Galley Rd) | Jun 30 | 4 violations - PIC unable to demonstrate cleaning procedures (COS), no certified food manager (Repeat), dishwashing done in wrong order (COS), food covered during cooling (COS).
🏔️ Garden of the Gods Club Coffee Bar (3320 Mesa Rd) | Jul 2 | 3 violations - no certified food manager (not corrected), PIC knowledge gaps (not corrected), drinks stored near food (COS).
🌯 House of Birria (330 E Colorado Ave) | Jun 30 | 5 violations - no certified food manager, improper cooling (COS, broth discarded), cold holding temps (COS, cheese and rice discarded), no allergen labeling, no test strips on hand.
********************
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 22 to Jul 3, 2026
🛍 Bargain Box: This Week's Hot Deals! (Today, July 3)
A new week means new treasures! We're giving you a first look at the incredible finds and amazing sales hitting the floor today July 3 (up to 50% OFF - closed tomorrow for the July 4 holiday). 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
🌟 One-Day Only! Catch Us at the Backyard Farmers Market! 🌟
We're thrilled to announce that Nature's Start Bread Company has been invited to join the Backyard Farmers Market this July 4th, the only Farmer’s Market we’ll be at!
Come celebrate Independence Day morning with us and grab your favorite artisan breads, pastries, and more, freshly baked with love. 🥖
📍 Where: 6845 Shoup Rd (Black Forest)
📅 When: Sat, July 4th
⏰ Time: 9am-1pm
Don’t miss this special opportunity to enjoy our homemade creations! See you there! 👩🍳
Don’t want to be up to date on the latest Colorado Springs news, events, and more with our daily newsletters? Reply to this email with “2-3 Times/Week” and we’ll only send you Wed, Sun and if we have a special issue.
PLEASE DON’T MARK US AS SPAM! This negatively impacts those who DO want to receive this newsletter. Remember, YOU signed up, there’s a link at the bottom to unsubscribe or just reply with “please unsubscribe.”
🍉 Layered Watermelon Cake with Coconut Cream Frosting
Recipe by Creative Green Living
Looks unconventional and that's exactly the point. We love bringing you recipes that are different than the ordinary.
Try this stunning no-bake watermelon cake will be the talk of any holiday gathering! Layers of carved watermelon rounds are frosted with sweet whipped coconut cream and topped with fresh blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries for a show-stopping summer dessert that just happens to be gluten-free, vegan, and paleo.
Will you do us a favor and spread the word? We need your HELP! Please share Colorado Springs Town Tidings
👉Are you on Nextdoor? Share our newsletter there too!
Watch the 60 second video above with Kristen Nielson ☝
(It’s a good one…tricky but good! Try it for yourself)
*add events directly to your Google or Apple calendars, submit events, and 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
| ||
|
JUL 3 |
A Truly Historic Celebration - Miramont Castle FREE 💗 CommunityFestival 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM · 📍 Miramont Castle 9 Capitol Hill Ave, Manitou Springs, CO, United States, 80829 This is a free event! Stop by and celebrate with us. No reservations required. |
|
|
JUL 3 |
Front Range Freedom Fest - FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Festival 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM · 📍 Iron Horse Park - Fort Carson, Colorado Springs **July 3, 2026** **at Iron Horse Park** *This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!* Fort Carson Freedom Fest include… |
|
|
JUL 3 |
In Soft Focus at Gallery 113 🎭 Arts/Theater 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM · 📍 125 N Tejon St, Colorado Springs Gallery 113 celebrates the art of two artists for July. Mary Sexton's pastel paintings invite the viewer to rest in tha… |
|
|
JUL 4 |
🇺🇸 4th of July Celebration - Cripple Creek FREE to attend Festival 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM · 📍 337 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek Join us in Cripple Creek for a joyous 4th of July Celebration! The day begins with a parade at 11:00 AM, then enjoy a gr… |
|
|
JUL 4 |
Family Fourth - Rockledge Ranch ($10-$14) Festival 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · 📍 3105 Gateway Rd, Colorado Springs Traditionally families gathered with their communities to celebrate the Fourth of July with food, games, music, and spee… |
|
|
JUL 4 |
July 4th Celebration - FREE (Fireworks Cancelled) 😊 Social💗 Community 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM · 📍 Banning Lewis Ranch Get ready for an unforgettable day filled with music, food, and fun! We’re excited to invite the community to our July 4… |
|
|
JUL 4 |
Festival On The Fourth - Palmer Lake (Fireworks Cancelled) - FREE Admission ($10 Parking) Festival 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM · 📍 Palmer Lake The Festival on the Fourth is Hosted by Awake the Lake on July 4th. Join the 250th celebration of America's birthday at… |
|
|
JUL 6 |
Jazz in the Forest Series: Kicks Jazz Band 🎶 Music 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM · 📍 12530 Black Forest Rd, Colorado Springs Join us for an unforgettable evening of jazz in the heart of Black Forest. The Kicks Big Jazz Band takes the stage for a… |
|
|
JUL 8 |
America at 250 - The Declaration of Independence, Then and Now 👵 Seniors💗 Community 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM · 📍 Chapel Hills Mall, 1710 Briargate Blvd suite 847, Colorado Springs Let’s study the Declaration of Independence together and understand some of the issues facing our country. Daryl Kuiper… |
|
|
JUL 10 |
The Passions of Musicke: The Humours of Dowland and his Contemporaries 🎶 Music 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM · 📍 1515 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs Characterized by introspective and doleful poetry and richly chromatic and soulful melodies, the music of John Dowland a… |
|
| ||
Jul 11, 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
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)
🎟 Have you checked out the Colorado Springs Town Tidings VIP PASS, a FREE digital wallet pass you can easily add to your Apple or Google Wallet?
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!)
Click Image to Access Our Spotify Podcast
🥾 Cottonwood Creek Trail: Prickly Pear in Bloom
*Note: due to the wildfire smoke, use your own judgement if you want to be outside. If it’s clear then the below is a good place to take a walk during the holiday weekend.
Photo: Aaron Rogers, TOSC Program Coordinator: Prickly pear cactus in bloom now along Cottonwood Creek Trail
Aaron Rogers, TOSC (Trails & Open Space Coalition) Program Coordinator, recently captured a gorgeous photo of a prickly pear cactus in full bloom along the Cottonwood Creek Trail. a reminder that Colorado Springs beauty doesn't require a long drive.
The Cottonwood Creek Trail is a smooth, paved 6-mile urban corridor in northern Colorado Springs that follows the creek from Powers west to the Pikes Peak Greenway near I-25. Easy to moderate for all skill levels, the trail connects to Cottonwood Creek Park (3920 Dublin Blvd), a 70+ acre community park with athletic fields, a rec center with an indoor pool, disc golf, a dog park, and plenty of shaded picnic spots.
Location: Northern Colorado Springs, following Cottonwood Creek from Powers Boulevard to the Pikes Peak Greenway near I 25
Hours: 5am-11pm
OWN a local business and would like to be featured? 👇Click below:
🎤 Prefer something easier? You can record your answers by voice and let the system turn them into written responses.
How did we do on this issue?
Colorado Springs Town Tidings is for you, our readers. We encourage you to share your news, local hero stories, events, and more! Email us at [email protected]
Disclaimers: All content deemed accurate at publishing. Independent of local entities. Aims to inform, connect, entertain. Updates on website version.
