COS Town Tidings #26-244

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😂 Today's Chuckle

📰 After 40 Years, Roadrunner's Last Run 🍕

📰 Goodbye, Big Love 🦒

📰 Help Shape El Paso County's Future 🏘️

🎈 TRIVIA: How Labor Day Lift Off Took Flight in COS

📅 Local Events + Concerts, Farmers Markets & Special Events

⛅ COS Weather - Warm with isolated PM storms

If you've ever had the taco pizza at Roadrunner Pizza & Pasta, you already know why this hurts. The beloved Hancock Ave pizzeria closed its doors on Aug 29 after 40 years in business, serving Colorado Springs since 1983.

Roadrunner made its name on a one-of-a-kind taco pizza: refried beans in place of tomato sauce, topped with sour cream, lettuce, tomato, black olives, cheddar, and crushed Doritos. It's the kind of recipe you just couldn’t find anywhere else.

In a heartfelt farewell on Facebook, the owners encouraged the community to keep showing up for small local businesses. Four decades of memories, one last slice.

Trade the daily grind for the crisp, alpine peaks of Breckenridge or the sunset-soaked charm of Santa Fe. Grab your spot before it’s gone!

CMZoo is sharing a heartbreaking farewell. Laikipia (lah-KEY-pee-yah), a 19-year-old female giraffe beloved by keepers and guests for nearly two decades, passed away peacefully early Mon morning, Aug 31, without human intervention.

Born at CMZoo in 2007, Laikipia was the herd's confident, respected leader and a gentle nanny to every calf that joined the family. Known to her keepers as "Big Love," she was a towering 2,000-pound presence who delighted guests at feedings, letting families stand close while she reached in from above.

Her care team rallied specialists from across the country during her final days, and the herd had just finished exploring the new Giraffe Center opening this month. Laikipia's legacy will live on: her hoof anatomy will be studied and shared with zoos worldwide.

A new week means new treasures! We're giving you a first look at the incredible finds and amazing sales hitting the floor for Sept 2-5 (New Deals, 75% OFF). Watch now to see what's waiting for you!

👉 Remember, you can donate items here too!

Location: 405 S Nevada Ave, Open Tues - Sat 10am-2pm. (719) 475-1029

🙏 They Have 5,000 Reasons to Work for Free

El Paso County wants your voice on the rules that shape how our community grows. A new combined draft of the Land Development Code is now open for public review, covering Modules 1 and 2: zoning districts, land uses, site design, landscaping, parking, signs, subdivision standards, and lighting.

Whether you own property, plan to build, or simply care about how your neighborhood grows, this is your chance to weigh in. Review the draft online and attend public engagement events running through Sept.

📍 2616 West Colorado Ave, Ste 1, COS. Open 11am-7pm

Did you know Colorado Springs' iconic Labor Day Lift Off traces its roots to a group of friends from Black Forest inspired by Dewey Reinhard in 1976, with a quirky entry fee, a six-pack of beer and just 100 curious locals looking on? This homegrown race quickly ballooned into the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic, drawing pilots from across the country and the world to Memorial Park thanks to our weather and the unforgettable backdrop of Pikes Peak.

As the festival grew, it gained national fame for eccentric balloon shapes, hare-and-hound races, and the beloved tradition of dipping baskets in Prospect Lake.

What local Colorado Springs secret allows hot air balloons at Labor Day Lift Off to soar higher, use less fuel, and carry heavier loads?

Community passion saved the festival in 2015, after city disputes nearly sent it away. Locals and balloon enthusiasts rallied, and the event was reborn as Labor Day Lift Off, now run by Hot Apple Productions. Today, this Colorado Springs tradition welcomes thousands each year, bringing whimsical balloon shapes, drone shows, and sky-high memories to all who wake up early to watch the sunrise spectacle.

This Labor Day weekend, Sept 5-7, the Lift Off celebrates its 50th anniversary at Memorial Park, with approximately 70 balloons expected to take flight, weather permitting.

Not even the pandemic could dim its spirit. During those unusual years, balloons launched from several locations across Colorado Springs so families could still look up and share the moment from home.

However, this Labor Day weekend, the celebration is back where generations of locals know it best, at Memorial Park, with balloons, music, food, the Balloon Glow, drone shows, and a new fireworks finale.

Answer: Thin mountain air at higher altitude. *Source

👵 From "Too Fragile" To Daily Adventures... with Kristen Nielsen

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🍷 Wine Tasting @ Rico’s Cafe: Reserve your seat today!

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