5280 Magazine August 2021

SUMMIT COUNTY’S MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

BY DEVON O’NEIL

DENVER’S 340 TOP DOCTORS PAGE 74

PRESERVING LAND FOR FUTURE FARMERS PAGE 52

THE DENVER MAGAZINE

TRAIL RUNNING THE COMPLETE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO

Training Tips, Must-Have Gear, Amazing Front Range Routes, And More!

PAGE 80

Coyote Song Trail, South Valley Park, Littleton AUGUST 2021 |

5280.com

Health care the way it’s meant to be At Kaiser Permanente, our doctors are free to spend their time providing excellent care for our patients, allowing them to practice medicine the way they envisioned it.

Our members get the highly personalized care they want. They’re listened to and heard — instead of feeling like just another number.

Drs. Cao, Gumer, and Moss personify the best of health care.

It’s what our members tell us, and it’s what you deserve.

kp.org/CO

JUE CAO, MD Orthopedic surgeon

★★★★★ “Dr. Cao is an amazingly kind, thoughtful, organized, and gifted physician. I feel lucky that we landed in his office after a fracture that was complicated enough to require surgery.

His planning, assessment, treatments, and follow-up should be replicated in hospitals more often.”

ARIELLE GUMER, MD Ob-gyn

SAMMIE LAMONT MOSS, MD Psychiatrist

★★★★★

★★★★★

“Dr. Gumer is amazing, she is the best ob-gyn doctor that I’ve ever had!”

“Dr. Moss is an excellent psychiatrist. He has a calm and peaceful affect during sessions. He listens well and exhibits empathy and compassion. He also has a sense of humor which I find refreshing.”

★★★★★ “Explained my unique condition to me in easyto-understand terms. She patiently answered all my questions. I left the office without fear or worries.”

TO 118

C PDO

S

These are a few of our highest rated doctors by our members.

See all our 5280 top doctors on page 105.

1

CELEBRATING OUR INCREDIBLE CARE TEAM

At OrthoColorado Hospital, we are committed to helping our patients live their lives to the fullest. It’s what drives our team to provide excellence in patient care every day. We’re proud to recognize our team members as top-class care providers in the region.

OrthoColorado, Colorado’s Only Orthopedic Hospital. www.orthocolorado.org

5280 TOP DOCS

Jesse Chrastil, MD Orthopedic Surgeon

Michael Drewek, MD Spine Surgeon

Ronald Hugate, MD, FAAOS Orthopedic Surgeon

Todd VanderHeiden, MD Spine Surgeon

2021 NURSE & CAREGIVER OF THE YEAR

Chrissy Fannin, RN Nurse of the Year

Tina Fellows-Reinhardt, OTR Caregiver of the Year

Let’s talk about

the “U” word.

“Urology” tends to make people uncomfortable. But the reasons for needing to see a urologist are incredibly important to your quality of life. Our highly trained physicians and surgeons are focused specifically on providing expert care and treatment for all urologic conditions. You’ll find everything in one place, from diagnosis to treatment, including radiation or surgery if needed.

As the largest, most comprehensive urology center in the Rocky Mountain region, we aren’t just leaders in starting the conversation about the U word, we are leaders in exceptional outcomes and extraordinary patient experiences. Visit us in Denver or at our new Lone Tree location.

3,500 50+ 100% 20

Robotic da Vinci surgeries performed.

Times named “Top Docs.”

Independent and singularly focused on excellence in urology.

Urologists with dedicated urologic sub-specialties including robotic surgery, cancer care, stone disease, neuro-urology and reconstruction, infertility, and female urology.

2777 Mile High Stadium Circle, Denver 9695 S. Yosemite Street, Suite 359, Lone Tree

303-783-2777

|

TUCC.com

Minimize pain.

Maximize living.

The Surgical Robotics Institute at Swedish Medical Center is a leader in surgery techniques and technology, including the latest and most innovative urological surgeries. These advances allow our surgeons to perform precise procedures that complement the compassionate care you always receive at Swedish.

At our Surgical Robotics Institute, surgeons employ the assistance of a Robotic Surgery System to perform many different types of urological procedures.

We believe in giving our surgeons the most advanced technological equipment available.

We offer minimally invasive and robotic surgery whenever possible, at great benefit to our patients — including shorter recovery times and minimal scarring. The precision of our technology combined with our caring physicians and staff make for a better experience and a speedier recovery for our patients.

To find a physician call 866-779-3347 or visit HealthONECares.com.

At East Hampden Avenue and South Logan Street

KEEPING PEOPLE ACTIVE Headquartered in Vail, Colorado with locations in Aspen, Frisco and Edwards, Colorado, The Steadman Clinic is a world-renowned orthopaedic and sports medicine clinic. Home to 21 elite physicians including 17 orthopaedic surgeons, three interventional pain physicians and one internal medicine provider, The Steadman Clinic is the destination for personalized, evidencebased orthopaedic and sports medicine care. The Steadman Clinic physicians treat elite and recreational athletes from all over the world, including professional athletes and members of Team USA. The Steadman Clinic has expertise in: knee and complex knee, shoulder and complex shoulder, hip, hand and wrist, elbow, foot and ankle, spine and neck, joint replacement, regenerative medicine, interventional pain management, sports medicine, internal medicine and trauma. The clinic works closely with its partner, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, to provide the latest cutting-edge treatments backed by research and science.

MARC J. PHILIPPON, MD M A N A G I N G PA R T N E R

R A N DY W. V I O L A , M D

D AV I D C . KA R L I , M B A , M D

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DUSTIN ANDERSON, MD

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JOHN H. PELOZA , MD

THESTEADMANCLINIC.COM | (970) 476-1100 Located in Aspen, Frisco, Edwards & Vail, COlorado

FEATURES

A U G U S T 2021

66

Virus Of The Mind Isolation. Fear of a deadly contagion. Financial struggles. Coloradans have dealt with a lot lately—and local mental health professionals are worried.

BY SHANE MONAGHAN

74

Top Doctors Our must-have annual list of the best 340 physicians in Denver. 

80

The 5280 Beginner’s Guide To Trail Running Outpace the crowds and conquer some of the state’s most beautiful terrain.

BY SARAH BANKS & SPENCER CAMPBELL

90

Life And Death In The Mountains After two teens died by suicide last year, how will Summit County address its ongoing mental health crisis?

Enchanted Forest Trail in Golden’s Apex Park

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AUGUST 2021

Sarah Banks

BY DEVON O’NEIL

DEPTS.

B E H I N D T H E S T O R I ES 22



D I N I N G G U I D E 106

34 COMPASS 25 ENVIRONMENT

Why Coloradans are coming together to protect the Yampa River.

28 EDUCATION

Community College of Aurora’s plan to lure students back to school this month? Pay them.

30 BEAUTY

32 TRAVEL

Summer is almost over, but you can still squeeze in a lastminute vacation with these four close-to-home destinations.

EAT & DRINK

40 30

39 BEST BITES

Enjoy refined street-food-style Mexican eats at RiNo’s Bellota.

25

40 WHAT’S HOT

Eye-catching cocktails, wine and charcuterie, and better-foryou potions are on the menu.

42 COMMUNITY

34 Q&A

For Beverly Grant, farming is about creating a new economy for neighborhoods in need.

Centennial State horror writer Stephen Graham Jones is back with a killer follow-up.

44 PROFILE

36 HOME

Kazu Oba produces ceramic dining vessels at his Lafayette studio.

Add a dose of personality to your abode with pieces from design eras past.

BY SCOTT MOWBRAY

COLUMN 52 AGRICULTURE

Inside the fight to preserve Colorado’s farming heritage.

BY JULIE DUGDALE

60 CULTURE

ON THE COVER

How the Denver Zoo is showcasing its devotion to residents and guests.

Photograph by Sarah Banks

BY JESSICA LARUSSO

Trail runner Lindsley Kump, founder of the Colorado-based Instagram community Womxn Who Move

BACKSTORY 152 OFF BOOK

Denver author Peter Heller’s life is stranger than fiction.

36 5280 (ISSN 10826815) is published monthly by 5280 Publishing, Inc., 1675 Larimer St., Suite 675, Denver, CO 80202. Subscriptions are $16 for one year (12 issues). Back issues are available for $5.99 plus tax and shipping by visiting shop.5280.com. Periodical postage paid at Denver, CO, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS (see DMM 707.4.12.5). NONPOSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to 5280 Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 37270, Boone, IA 50037-4270. Canadian Post Publications Mail Agreement No. #40065056 Canadian Return Address: DP Global Mail, 4960-2 Walker Road, Windsor, ON N9A 6J3. 5280® is a federally registered trademark owned by 5280 Publishing, Inc. 5280 also owns trademark registrations for TOP OF THE TOWN, DENVER’S TOP DOCTORS, DENVER MAGAZINE, COLORADO PARENT, and COUTURE COLORADO. © 2021 5280 Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

Clockwise from top left: Courtesy of Victor Of Valencia; Courtesy of Saga Press; Noah Wetzel; Pavel Vozmischev/Getty Images; Jen Lobo

Denver’s fiercest model, Rocco Lawson, is determined to break down the gender binary. Here, your guide to wielding their weapon of choice: makeup.

Experts in cutting edge treatments.

Experts in compassionate care.

Experts in you.

Find your cancer specialist at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, the largest cancer treatment facility in Colorado, caring for over 50% of all adult cancer patients. Providing leading-edge therapies and compassionate care in your community.

Learn more at RockyMountainCancerCenters.com

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EDITOR

Lindsey B. King ART DIRECTOR

David McKenna

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR

Jessica LaRusso SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Robert Sanchez

Karen Brinckerhoff

FEATURES EDITOR

Spencer Campbell SENIOR EDITOR

FOOD EDITOR

Philip Clapham

Patricia Kaowthumrong

303.898.9825

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KARENBRINCKERHOFF.COM

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Nicholas Hunt Angela Ufheil RESEARCH EDITOR

Barbara Urzua CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

United as a Community

Kelly Bastone, Scott Mowbray, Daliah Singer EDITORIAL INTERNS

Thomas Abbott Campbell, Jordan Cutler-Tietjen, Julian Nazar, Ethan Pan

WELCOME TO PEARL DENTISTRY

DIGITAL DIGITAL EDITOR

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Shane Monaghan

DR. STEFANIE WALKER 5280 TOP DENTIST

DR. AMANDA POOLER

ENGAGEMENT EDITOR

Madi Skahill DIGITAL CONTRIBUTORS

Laura Beausire, Christine DeOrio, Courtney Holden, Sarah Kuta, Jenny McCoy, Allyson Reedy, Meredith Sell, Andy Stein

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO EDITOR

Charli Ornett ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Sean Parsons ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR

Sarah Banks

At Pearl Dentistry, Drs. Stefanie Walker and Amanda Pooler focus on providing modern care and individualized attention for each of their patients.

As a cosmetic and family dental practice, the duo help you achieve the beautiful and healthy smile and look you have been dreaming of. They provide high-quality cosmetic dentistry, comprehensive care, Invisalign and Botox that can completely transform not just your teeth, but your entire personality.

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AUGUST 2021

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THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE...

EVERY DAY

TEEING OFF JULY 2022

Custom homesites are now available inside the two residential neighborhoods of RainDance National Resort & Golf. Own the best of vacation-style living along this high plains links style golf course designed by PGA Tour Champion, Fred Funk. Best of all, the bounties of RainDance are at your fingertips.

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©2021 RainDance All pricing, specifications, amenities, landscaping & timing is subject to change without prior notice. Map rendering is for illustrative purposes only.

CHERRY CREEK NORTH FOOD & WINE AUGUST 11 - AUGUST 14, 2021

SUBSCRIPTIONS A one-year subscription to 5280 costs $16 for 12 issues. A two-year subscription costs $32. Special corporate and group rates are available; call 303-832-5280 for details.

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To have a restaurant considered for our Dining Guide, contact us by phone or email (dining@5280.com) to receive a submission form. We also encourage you to contact us if your experience at a restaurant differs significantly from our listing. Information for these sections should be sub­mitted at least six weeks before the issue’s cover date.

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5280 Publishing, Inc. adheres to high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable manner. Printed in Denver, Colorado, by Publication Printers Corp. Our printer is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

BENEFITTING:

6/22/21 3:10 PM

At National Jewish Health, the nation’s leading respiratory hospital, we breathe hope. From our massive efforts to help defeat the pandemic for our community, to the ongoing care of children and adults, our doctors, scientists and practitioners continue to lead in providing innovative care and research to transform the lives of patients and families.

We’re here for all respiratory, cardiac and immune-related conditions. To make an appointment or for more information, call 800.621.0505 or visit njhealth.org

BEHIND THE STORIES CONTRIBUTOR

FROM THE EDITOR

When people look back on important milestones in their lives, they often attach ancillary details to those moments in their minds. They remember who was president when they graduated high school.

They know what the number one song on the radio was the year they met their significant others.

In my case, I connect my life’s wayposts to magazines. As this edition of 5280 hits newsstands, I can look back 20 years and recall the cover of the August/September 2001 issue I picked up the day I arrived in Denver as a 22-year-old aspiring journalist. Six weeks later, 5280’s founder, Dan Brogan, gave me a small desk, outfitted with a very large, teal iMac G3, and the chance to learn how to be a reporter, writer, and editor.

Twenty years from now, the cover of the magazine you’re holding, beautifully photographed by associate photo editor Sarah Banks (see “Contributor” at right), will no doubt pop into my mind when I think about becoming the editor of 5280. I step into this new role with so many goals. The first is to steward Denver’s city magazine as artfully and successfully as my predecessors—most notably, Geoff Van Dyke, who passed me the proverbial red pen but will remain 5280’s editorial director. The second is to continue our efforts to cover all of Denver’s many diverse communities, making sure to give voice to those who too often go unheard. And, finally, I hope to produce a magazine, along with 5280’s talented team, that sticks in your memory, not because it was on your coffee table when something notable happened, but because it actually changed your life. Whether we give you the push you need to see a therapist (page 66) or inspire you to take up trail running (page 80) or turn you on to mind-expanding art (page 44), I want 5280 to bring you unforgettable joy each month, just as it has for me for the past two decades.

LINDSEY B. KING Email: lindsey@5280.com Twitter: @linzbking

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AUGUST 2021

5280’s August/ September 2001 issue

Sarah Banks

Associate Photo Editor Banks, a seasoned trail runner, captured images for and co-wrote “The 5280 Beginner’s Guide To Trail Running” (page 80).

ON MAKING HER FRIENDS MODELS:

”I met almost all of the people I photographed for this story (and my husband!) through the Denver Trail Runners group. It felt important to show real runners instead of models.”

BIGGEST PET PEEVE:

”Rude mountain bikers. But putting my pride aside and yielding if I can, which I wrote about, is something I’ve taken to heart, and it’s given me a lot more peace on the trails.”

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:

“Finishing the Silverton Ultra Dirty, a 60K ultramarathon, in 2019, after a hard fall around mile 25.”

ON 5280.COM

 Top Of The Town: Readers’ Choice Awards Once again, 5280 readers have spoken, crowning their favorite people, places, and things in 83 categories. Visit 5280.com this month to find out who gives the best haircuts in the Mile High City, where to go for great happy hour specials, what local music you should be listening to, and more.

Sarah Banks (4)

Time Hooks

INTEGRATED WELLNESS AND SPA AT GARDEN OF THE GODS RESORT AND CLUB

This is the story about

T H E P OW E R o f P L A C E

A story of nature’s capacity to inspire the spirit and satisfy the soul.

Welcome to STRATA Integrated Wellness and Spa at Garden of the Gods Resort and Club, an internationally recognized and transformative Colorado Wellness retreat, wellbeing community, and immersive destination where self-care and healthcare become one.

Embark on a personal wellness journey to balance your mind, body, and spirit; stir the senses to restore layer by layer and unlock your ultimate potentials through the three foundations of STRATA: Med (Health & Wellness), Body (Spa & Salon), and Fit (Fitness & Performance). Discover multidisciplinary modern and functional medicine with more comprehensive treatment plans, engage in evidence based preventative care for sustainable and lifechanging results, and enroll in customized Wellness Memberships to support you living each day more well.

Exhale the past and inhale the future. Your Wellness Experience awaits.

B E G I N T O D AY at S T R ATAW E L L . C O M 3314 Mesa Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80904

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Colorado’s Leading SUBSPECIALTY Radiologists

Marc Sarti, MD

Peder Horner, MD

Body Imaging Radiologist 2021 TopDoc

Interventional Radiologist 2021 TopDoc

Lisa (Niebergall) Taylor, MD Pediatric Radiologist 2021 TopDoc

divrad.com | 303.914.8800

Providing physicians with diagnostic insight that enhances the level of patient care and patient’s with innovative treatments for Vertebrae Fractures, Uterine Fibroids, and BPH.

ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION BEAUTY TRAVEL Q&A HOME 

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Catption Tk

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CoMPASS

Flow State

Noah Wetzel

How Centennial Staters are coming together to protect the Yampa River.

The Colorado River Basin is drying out. The watershed has been gripped by a historic drought for two decades, and flows in its namesake river have dropped by 20 percent over the past century. Conditions are so dire that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is expected to issue the federal government’s first water shortage declaration this month, which will prompt cuts to supplies across the Southwest.

But folks whose lives are tied to one of the basin’s tributaries in northwestern Colorado aren’t standing by idly. In September 2019, more than 20 regional partners from throughout the Yampa River Valley, including recreation-focused businesses, farmers, nonprofits, and municipalities, joined forces to create the Yampa River Fund. Powered by a nearly $4 million endowment, the fund is AUGUST 2021

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ENVIRONMENT IRRIGATION IMPROVEMENTS

r ive

Volunteers with the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council’s ReTree program have been planting cottonwoods, alders, and willows along the Yampa for more than a decade. In 2020, the council used a grant to procure an irrigation system to increase the saplings’ survival rates, and this year it received another disbursement to cover 2022’s expenses, such as site preparation.

One of the main goals is to create more shade to help mitigate rising water temperatures.

Lit

Craig Elkhead Reservoir

YAMPA RIVER Willia

ms Fo

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AUGUST 2021

ek Cre Tro ut

ARTIFICIAL WHITEWATER

Catamount Reservoir

Grant Recipient: The city of Craig Value: $18,000

BANK STABILIZATION

Moffat County used a grant to bolster the riverbank at Loudy Simpson Park, which was eroding, in part, due to the growing number of people using the steep shoreline to access the river. A new boat ramp built to handle the crowds will limit future erosion (and open six additional miles of river to boaters by creating a new downstream takeout), and an ADA-compliant ramp helps wheelchair users easily access the water.

rk Oak Creek

—NICHOLAS HUNT

Grant Recipient: Moffat County Value: $44,821

Steamboat Springs

Maybell Ditch

WATER RELEASES

Grant Recipient: Colorado Water Trust Value: $135,585 To combat rising water temperatures and decreasing water levels—both of which harm wildlife, including four species of endangered fish—the fund pays for strategic releases of cold water from nearby reservoirs.

The releases also increase water security for local farmers and help keep the river open for recreationists, who pump tourism dollars into the region.

Craig received a grant to help pay for a whitewater park to diversify its tourism economy. A new diversion dam will also sustain the city’s water supply and allow fish to move up and down the river to spawn, feed, and escape to deeper water when river levels drop.

GREENWAY MASTER PLAN

Grant Recipient: The town of Oak Creek Value: $44,821 Oak Creek obtained funds to aid the design of a new greenway along a portion of its neglected namesake waterway. Construction will improve access and include rehabbing the creek’s banks, vegetation, and wildlife habitat. A healthy riparian zone can help regulate water levels by soaking up runoff and slowly releasing it into the creek.

Clockwise from top: Celin Serbo/Tandem Stills + Motion; Richard Ellis/Alamy Stock Photo; Getty Images

Sn

This outlay pays for the permits needed to rebuild the125-yearold Maybell Ditch headgate, which diverts water from the Yampa into an irrigation canal.

The new headgate will be more efficient, meaning more water for farmers and wildlife, and safer for boaters, who often avoid this section of river, in part because of the dangerous hydraulics created by the structure’s weir dam. The new, fish-friendly design will also ease passage for endangered species, like the razorback sucker.

tle

The fund has awarded three grants to rehabilitate sections of the Yampa and its tributaries. The work includes improving fish habitat and riparian zones (the border between the water and the land) and stabilizing shorelines to stop the tributaries from carving away at productive farmland.

Grant Recipient: Yampa Valley Sustainability Council Value: $45,706

er

RIVER RESTORATION

Grant Recipients: Trout Unlimited and the Yampa Valley Stream Improvement Charitable Trust Value: $79,387

ak eR

doing what individual actors cannot: financing environmental restoration projects, agricultural infrastructure improvements, and releases from nearby reservoirs to ensure farmers, recreationists, and wildlife all have enough water to thrive.

None of this will reverse climate change, but the healthier the Yampa is, the better it will be at weathering a hotter, drier world.

This understanding is what brought so many diverse—and sometimes seemingly contradictory—interests together.

“We focus on creating winwin-win solutions,” says Nancy Smith, Colorado River Program conservation director at the Nature Conservancy, one of the fund’s founding entities. Smith emphasizes that third “win” because consensus is key: “The working group that created the fund took the time to build trust with one another so that everyone in that valley who depends on the river felt like they had a place at the table.”

Using the proceeds from its endowment, the fund has awarded $400,000 in grants over the past two years. Here’s how it breaks down.

TREE PLANTING

Grant Recipient: The Nature Conservancy Value: $31,680

Elk Riv

CONTINUED

The most compassionate care from the top providers in Denver.

We join 5280 Magazine in congratulating the providers receiving the “Top Doctors” recognition across the Denver Metro region. It’s a reflection of the way we amplify our healing ministry to support the health and wholeness of our communities. The doctors recognized by this publication attest to what we’ve always done in our 139-year legacy. Our 21,000 mission-driven caregivers see the need before us and work tirelessly to extend our Mission to meet the care needs of every community, every neighbor and every individual.

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DOCT

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Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2021. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711).

TOP

Find a doctor in your area at Centura.org

EDUCATION CHEAT SHEET Three big changes to expect when Colorado students return to school this month. —ANGELA UFHEIL

1 SCHOOL’S OUT FOR…LONGER

2 HALTING AN EDUCATOR EXODUS

Cash For Credits

Community colleges have long attracted students wary of indebtedness to Uncle Sam or Sallie Mae. Being close to home means no need for room and board; part-time enrollment allows students to work and study; and a lack of fancy amenities like, say, a multimillion-dollar stadium means campus operational costs are low, keeping tuition and fees to a minimum. For learners, this can equate to a more prosperous future: According to the Brookings Institute, typical recipients of a two-year associate degree make $13,000 more at the peaks of their careers than those with just high school diplomas.

A pandemic-induced enrollment decline threatens that success. One year after the spring 2020 semester’s end, the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) had seen its student body shrink by 9.7 percent. The numbers of both Pell Grant (federal aid given to undergraduates with severe financial need) recipients and first-generation students fell by roughly 15 percent. At CCCS’ most racially diverse campus, Community College of Aurora (CCA), 16.4 percent withdrew.

To bring them back, the school launched the Return to Earn initiative, says CCA dean of students Reyna Anaya. Using $150,000 made up of an Anschutz Foundation grant and other donations, CCA hired a completion navigator to contact those who left 15 credits or fewer shy of an associate degree. The school offers those learners up to $1,000 for returning to the classroom; to receive the cash, students must have a C average or better by the end of the semester.

Similar models have worked in the past. CCA student Erick Rodriguez-Leyva, whose Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals status cut him off from many aid programs, received a grant called Fox Finishers in 2019. “I may not have been able to graduate without it,” says Rodriguez-Leyva, who ultimately majored in banking and finance at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

But Return to Earn funds are limited (the program aims to bring at least 75 students back in its first year), and federal help in the form of the American Families Plan—which would, in part, raise taxes on America’s wealthiest one percent to pay for two years of free community college for millions—had stalled at press time. While waiting, and hoping, for those funds, CCA staff will make sure students like Rodriguez-Leyva don’t quietly disappear by piloting a more robust withdrawal process this fall. “The idea is to make it harder to go,” Anaya says, “and easier to stay.” —BARBARA URZUA

Low pay, resource scarcity, and COVID-19-related challenges led 40 percent of Colorado Education Association members to say they’re considering leaving the profession, which would deepen

Community College of Aurora’s plan to lure students back to school this month? Pay them.

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the state’s teacher shortage.

A new Colorado law bolsters recruitment efforts by directing the Department of Education to publicize teacher preparation programs, but with wages unlikely to increase, experts say retaining talent might be difficult.

3 REMOTE LEARNING REDUX

While most students will return to in-person school this month, Jeffco Public Schools and Boulder Valley School District will offer fully online courses for kids (and parents) who’d prefer to stay remote. Educators hired for the program won’t teach any IRL lessons—instead, the districts will train them on research-backed strategies for keeping virtual learners engaged.

From left: Sean Parsons (Source images: Courtesy of Community College of Aurora (Community College of Aurora); Getty Images (hands and money, graduates); John Giustina/Getty Images

The Denver Public Schools (DPS) board voted to start classes on August 23, a week later than usual, so that students don’t have to sweat it out (55 DPS schools lack air conditioning) during the hottest time of the year. The vacation extension comes with a downside, though: Those learning days will be tacked on at the end of the academic year.

RECLAIM YOUR BODY Put yourself in hands you can trust. Choose one of the MOST EXPERIENCED female plastic surgeons in Denver.

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BEAUTY

Denver’s fiercest fashion assassin, Rocco Lawson, is determined to break down what’s left of the gender binary. Their weapon of choice: makeup, which in today’s (and certainly tomorrow’s) world has expanded beyond the social confines of female beautification to a radical form of self-love and expression for everyone.

On behalf of the cosmetically curious, we sought out the Wilhelmina Denver model and University of Colorado Boulder student to learn the basics of beating your mug for any occasion. —PHILIP CLAPHAM STEP ONE

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer ($40) What: Primer is a moisturizer that minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

How: Put enough product on your fingers to rub into your entire face, and pay close attention to wrinkles and dark circles under your eyes.

Why: It makes your skin appear more dewy and supple.

Tip: “Primer can be used by itself to moisturize and minimize pores,” Lawson says. “It’s your first step to flawless.”

STEP TWO

ILIA True Skin Serum Concealer ($30) What: This tinted liquid, well, conceals what you want to hide (think: blotches, scars, and dark circles under the eyes).

How: Use your fingers, a damp sponge, or the built-in applicator to lightly dab the product onto blemishes and the inner corners of your eyes; spread it from there along your lower eyelids. Buff until it blends into your skin.

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Why: Concealer creates an even complexion and hides razor bumps.

Tip: “First-timers can ask an expert to find their skin tone,” Lawson says. Aillea, the clean-beauty boutique in Cherry Creek, is a good option.

STEP THREE

Fenty Beauty Invisimatte Blotting Powder ($32) What: Concealer can make your face shiny. Powder tones down the gleam and absorbs excess oil.

How: Brush a light amount over concealed areas and those prone to becoming oily, like below your eyes and around your forehead, nose, and lips.

Why: Powder gives you luminous skin that doesn’t shine like the bottom of a bag of McDonald’s drive-thru.

Tip: Not using powder can lead to a more, um, mature look—one akin to that of “my great aunt Peggy,” Lawson says.

STEP FOUR

MMUK MAN Brow Liner Pencil ($20) and Intense Mascara ($28); Tweezerman Classic Lash Curler ($15) What: These cosmetics and utensils darken eyebrows and perk up eyelashes.

How: In this order: Trace the pencil across both eyebrows, using the built-in brush to blend.

Open the curler and, while looking down, place your eyelashes between the clamps and squeeze. Lay the mascara wand at the base of your upper lashes and wiggle it left to right; then pull the wand upward toward the tips of your eyelashes.

Why: They make your eyes sparkle.

Tip: “Once your eyebrows are on fleek,” Lawson says, “use your pencil to fill in a spotty beard or mustache.”

Jen Lobo (makeup by Katelyn Simkins; wardrobe by Séverine Baraldi); Son of Alan (illustrations)

SLAY, THE NONBINARY WAY

LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT FUELS

GREATNESS TUNE IN TO FUEL-UP WITH: LUKE COUTINHO

With 3 bestsellers and named one of 500 “most influential people in Asia” by the NY Press Agency, Luke joins us from his home in India. He is a holistic lifestyle coach globally known for his approach to Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine. Learn the 4 pillars of wellbeing that blend Eastern and Western thoughts and practices.

Friday, August 6, 2021 10:00 am PDT / 7:00 pm CEST 6:00 pm BST / 10:30 pm IST

SCOTT M. SMITH, PhD

Nutritionist, Manager for Nutritional Biochemistry at the NASA Johnson Space Center. Determining the specific nutritional needs for space exploration, Dr. Smith is one of the few people on the planet whose work ranges from Antarctica to Outer Space.

Friday, September 3, 2021 10:00 am PDT / 7:00 pm CEST 6:00 pm BST / 10:30 pm IST

For you to cut out and keep!

JEREMY JONES

Big Mountain Snowboarder, Filmmaker, Climate Advocate, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and dad, Jones recounts his most daring adventures and his passion to encourage action on climate change.

Friday, October 1, 2021 10:00 am PDT / 7:00 pm CEST 6:00 pm BST / 10:30 pm IST

ALISTAIR BROWNLEE

History-making Gold medalist, Alistair Brownlee is half of the duo that‘s a British brotherly legend. Now he‘s on to new challenges, chasing Iron.

Friday, November 5, 2021 10:00 am PDT / 6:00 pm CET 5:00 pm GMT / 10:30 pm IST

BRYAN SNYDER, RD

Go on a rare behind the scenes tour at state-of-the art Broncos Training Facility, led by the Director of Nutrition for the Denver Broncos. With past experience in consulting multiple pro sports teams, he reveals the effects of sleep deprivation in athletes and how to fuel up for specific sports.

Friday, December 3, 2021 10:00 am PST / 7:00 pm CET 6:00 pm GMT / 11:30 pm IST

DALLAS SEAVEY

2021 Iditarod champion and one of only two athletes to win five times (along with a team of canine athletes). In a grueling race that braves blizzards, whiteouts and wind chills as low as -70°C, Seavey explains why every second and every calorie counts.

Friday, January 7, 2022 10:00 am PST / 7:00 pm CET 6:00 pm GMT / 11:30 pm IST

VICKY LOSADA

International soccer star, she led her team to 2021 UEFA Champions League title, played two World Cups and two European Cups. A leading advocate for women & girls in sports, she fuels her strength on a largely plant-based diet.

Friday, February 4, 2022 10:00 am PST / 7:00 pm CET 6:00 pm GMT / 11:30 pm IST

JOSH ALLEN

As one of the most exciting pro Quarterbacks today, this football hero hails from one of the smallest farming towns in California and takes us on his journey to the pros. But he hasn’t completely left the farm, join us as he talks about his new venture in his hometown.

Friday, March 4, 2022 10:00 am PST / 7:00 pm CET 6:00 pm GMT / 11:30 pm IST

Friday Fuel-Up is a monthly Facebook Live series hosted by Dr. Mike Roussell, author and nutrition expert, that welcomes top athletes, adventurers, and thought leaders from around the world for amazing conversations about what fuels their goals mentally and physically.

Always on the first Friday of every month @ 10:00 am PST, the show is LIVE at Facebook.com/AmericanPistachios, with recorded episodes on IG and YouTube.

DR. MIKE ROUSSELL

TRAVEL

Mountain bikers on a trail near Electric Mountain Lodge

Endless Summer

—JEN MURPHY

SLEEPAWAY CAMP Head to: Grand Mesa Boutique adventure hotel group Gravity Haus reimagines summer camp for adults with a pop-up retreat at Electric Mountain Lodge, a backcountry hotel in Grand Mesa National Forest.

You’ll stay in four-person dome tents, eat farm-to-table meals, and be able to book guided geology hikes, whitewater rafting trips, fly-fishing excursions, and more through the on-site host. Recap your day around the communal fire pit or make the short walk to the lodge for a soak in the hot tub.

Through September 27; from $125 per night; gravityhaus.com

A NATIONAL PARK ROAD TRIP Head to: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Got kids? Skip the grueling 10plus-hour drive to Grand Canyon National Park and make your way to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park instead. The five-hour

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trip rewards you with scenery that rivals the Big Ditch, minus the crowds. Pick up provisions at Firebrand Delicatessen in Gunnison before stretching your legs on the 0.6-mile Cedar Point Nature Trail. The family-friendly trek features guideposts with descriptions of the local flora and two overlooks for ogling the 2,772-foot-deep chasm and 2,250-foot Painted Wall, the tallest cliff in Colorado.

Reserve one of 88 sites in the park’s South Rim Campground (from $16 per night, recreation.gov) or book one of six cabins at Gunnison River Farms. About an hour from Black Canyon, the 1,400-acre property has a pond for swimming, orchards for fruit-picking, and ancient petroglyphs for sneaking in a history lesson. Cabins from $100 per person, per night; gunnisonriverfarms.com

A DAY AT THE WATER PARK

GOOD FOOD AND BETTER WINE Head to: Palisade The long sunny days and cool nights responsible for Palisade’s famously sweet peaches are also ideal for wine grapes. So, it’s a good thing you can safely sip your way around the region by bike: More than a dozen of the area’s 30-plus wineries, including the award-winning, family-owned Carlson and Mesa Park vineyards, are located along the 25-mile East Orchard Mesa Loop.

Keep the two-wheeled theme going at Spoke and Vine Motel. Just a short walk from hyperlocal fine-dining restaurant Pêche, the renovated, cycle-centric motor lodge has secure bike storage, a hip new lobby bar, and contactless check-in. From $139 per night; spokeandvinemotel.com

Head to: Fruita For those who’ve outgrown waterslides but still crave a water-based rush, it’s just a four-hour drive to Fruita’s Imondi Wake Zone. At Colorado’s only watersports cable park, wakeboarders are towed across a 30-acre lake by two automated cable systems for lap after lap of boatless adrenaline. Gear rentals, lessons, and a beginner cable make it easy to pick up the basics, and experienced riders can hit the fullsize cable’s optional kickers, rails, and jumps (imondiwakezone.com).

Make a weekend of it by booking a room at Hotel Maverick. Grand Junction’s first boutique accommodation has a rooftop restaurant that serves comfort food and craft beer with views of Colorado National Monument. From $189 per night; thehotelmaverick.com

Clockwise from top: Gabe Rovick/Courtesy of Gravity Haus; Courtesy of Skyline Drone Services LLC; Courtesy of Paul Sweeney; Courtesy of Gunnison River Farms

If you’re just realizing August is here and you fear you’ve squandered your chance to take a quintessential summer vacation, don’t panic. These four close-to-home destinations make it easy to squeeze in a last-minute trip that takes advantage of the long days and warm weather Colorado has left. Just pack your hiking boots, bathing suit, and an appetite, and ask yourself one question: What do the words “summer vacation” mean to you?

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Q&A Elm Street franchise. She used her brain. She read books on ambush tactics and how to build traps that she used to get Freddy Krueger back on his heels. [Elm Street and Scream 2 director] Wes Craven was so good at building women who were real and not just vehicles for the story.

What brought you to the theme of gentrification?

I wanted to play with the idea of people moving in and displacing others. It’s similar to the way that mystery writer C.J. Box writes about the history of Jackson, Wyoming, and how super elite it is now. Same for Boulder. When I was moving here, I asked a friend to tell me about Boulder, and he said, “Everybody has a ‘Free Tibet’ bumper sticker on their $80,000 Lexus.” But I’ve heard stories from locals of when it was just a cow town.

Colorado’s darling of horror is back with a killer follow-up.

Set in small-town Idaho, Stephen Graham Jones’ newest tale, My Heart Is A Chainsaw, unfolds through the eyes of an Indigenous teenager obsessed with the world of slasher films. Jones, the Ivena Baldwin Professor of English at the University of Colorado Boulder, is known for recasting the horror genre through Native characters and contemporary political twists. In this novel, for example, gentrification is the gore; the affluent are the preferred victims. And the final girl—i.e., the last woman left to confront the killer, typically an innocent cheerleader type—is nonwhite and aware of herself as a sexual being. Ahead of the book’s August 31 release, we spoke with the author about his impact on the slasher genre and upending the virgin-as-heroine trope. —PC

5280: How do your characters reimagine the politics of who lives and who dies?

Stephen Graham Jones: I wanted to push back against the notion of the final girl being a supermodel, valedictorian, or babysitter. Since the 1970s,

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they’ve all been Jennifer Love Hewitt types. For many girls and women, that’s an impossible ideal. The book’s main character, Jade, has dealt with feelings of inadequacy her whole life.

Also, most of the victims are rich and entitled white guys, not 17-year-old cheerleaders.

Which film characters helped inspire the novel’s final girl?

I’d have to say Constance from the 1981 film Just Before Dawn, because at the end, she was so tough and so insistent on winning.

But I think one of the best models for the final girl I had was Nancy Thompson from the A Nightmare on

The horror genre is full of books and movies that make a political statement, like the films Dawn of the Dead and The Purge. Which is scarier: real-life terrors or fictional ones?

I think for the last four or five years, we’ve seen people doing reprehensible things and then not being punished for them.

The slasher genre is basically a justice fantasy.

But the bad thing about living in a slasher world where wrongs are punished is that they’re punished brutally. You might catch a machete to the head.

From top: Aaron Colussi; Courtesy of Saga Press

Finally, A Girl To Die For

People often refer to you as the Jordan Peele of slasher novels. How do you feel about that comparison?

It’s an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as Jordan Peele, of course. He does what some have called “horror with social critique.” I just create characters who are real to me, and those characters must be in dialogue with the world they live in.

TM

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HOME Add a dose of personality to your home with pieces from design eras past.

Boredom may not be solely to blame for your mini home makeover mid-quarantine: Denverite Allie Sutterer theorizes some simply craved environs that felt more personal. “You want your home to be the place you feel most authentically yourself,” she says. Convinced antiques deliver more character than IKEA, Sutterer started Star Power Vintage, an Instagram account where she sells thrifted decor, in summer 2020. Sutterer isn’t the only secondhand curator to grow in the past year: Instagram store Here in Heaven opened up a shop in Capitol Hill in April, and RiNo’s Meek Vintage recently debuted a second location in Country Club. We asked the owners about styles making a resurgence so you can suss out which best suits you. —MICHELLE JOHNSON

ART DECO This style gained prominence during the Roaring ’20s and combines glitzy glam with modern, angular forms. Think geometric patterns; sunburst, zigzag, and stepped shapes; rich velvets and animal prints; and gold, mirror, marble, and lacquer finishes. Jay Gatsby would approve.

Find it at: Eron Johnson Antiques; Watson & Co.

POSTMODERN MIDCENTURY MODERN Born post–World War II, the form-follows-function approach marries no-frills materials (like wood, leather, acrylic, and plastic), shapes ranging from organic curves to light-on-their-feet peg legs, and smart bursts of bold color.

Find it at: Antiques, Etc.; Meek Vintage; Mod Livin’

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Surprising patterns, saturated colors, and funky, abstract shapes meant to grab your attention characterize postmodernism. Although its heyday occurred from the 1970s to ’90s, those who love a good conversation piece still embrace the style.

Find it at: Here In Heaven Vintage; Star Power Vintage

Art deco: Pavel Vozmischev/Getty Images (room); Debby Lewis-Harrison/Getty Images (cocktail glass); John Keeble/Getty Images (pillow). Postmodern: Courtesy of Star Power Vintage (table); Courtesy of Meek Vintage (lamp, bookends).

Midcentury Modern: Sarah Banks (painting); Courtesy of Star Power Vintage (yellow chair); Pablo Scapinachis Armstrong/Alamy Stock Photo (chair with ottoman); Getty Images (background, tape)

Retro Rooms

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EAT DRINK &

Courtesy of Jennifer Olson Photography

The rich, creamy esquites at Bellota

No Borders

Chef Manuel Barella crafts refined streetfood-style Mexican eats at RiNo’s Bellota.

Manuel Barella, the chef at nine-month-old Bellota inside the Source, refuses to cook Tex-Mex. “I didn’t want to be another Mexican chef making green chile burritos,” says the native of Monterrey, who worked in the kitchens at Uchi and Boulder’s Frasca Food & Wine before making his debut as the executive chef at Bellota. Bryan Dayton and Bill Espiricueta, the business partners behind the restaurant—which resides in the space previously occupied by Dayton’s legendary Acorn—were drawn to Barella’s ability to thoughtfully blend traditional recipes with fine-dining techniques. Diners can taste the care Barella puts into his cooking in dishes like chicken-confitstuffed enmoladas cloaked in velvety mole negro (a sauce infused with 27 ingredients, including Oaxacan black chilhuacle peppers). Or try the chicharrón prensado taco with rendered pork belly coated with tangy salsa verde, all of which is snuggled inside a fried masa shell. Barella, though, is proudest of his lime-tinged esquites, an offthe-cob version of elote (street corn) he cooks risotto-style, to coax out the starches in the kernels, and finishes with burnt tortilla aïoli and Cotija cheese. Trust us: You won’t miss the green chile. —PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG AUGUST 2021

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WHAT’S HOT From top: Cheese, charcuterie, and the Another Century cocktail at the Wild; Nest Café & Bar’s Rockette; the L’s Port Light

Where We’re Drinking

On the menu this month: eye-catching cocktails, wine and charcuterie, and better-for-you potions. —PK

URBAN HIDEAWAY The Wild, LoDo

The team behind Hudson Hill and Lady Jane have figured out the formula for a charming, day-to-night cocktail bar and coffeeshop: a tranquil, sunshinefilled space; warm hospitality; and a thoughtfully curated roster of libations and snacks. The Wild’s interior—designed by co-owner Jake Soffes and architecture firm Unum Collaborative—sports verdant plants, light woods, and contemporary works of art by Denver landscape painter Noelle Phares. The caffeinated offerings from Middle State Coffee are delicious, as are the seasonally rotating cocktails—but don’t overlook the wine program. General manager and sommelier Suzanne

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Roberts’ 60-bottle list includes stellar selections from lesser-known biodynamic, natural, and womanowned wineries. Pair a cheese and charcuterie board or a Rebel Bread croissant with a glass of cava on the walled-in patio for a peaceful escape from the bustle of adjacent Union Station.

LAID-BACK PARTY SPOT The L, Speer

Beverage pros and Green Russell alums Adam Hodak and Alex Lerman are serious about satisfying every kind of drinker, and the welcoming watering hole they opened on Broadway in midJanuary reflects that passion. The L’s drink menu features everything from smart takes on spirit-forward

classic cocktails (like the tricolor, rum-heavy Queens Park Swizzle) to $4 cans of Coors Banquet and Montucky Cold Snacks to sparkling rosé from Spain.

Inside, a floor-to-ceiling mural of kaleidoscopic flowers dominates the space, setting a whimsical, energetic vibe that extends to

FEEL-GOOD SIPS Nest Café & Bar, West Highland

At Nurture, a wellness collective in West Highland, you can bask in a Himalayan salt cave, get a massage, rehydrate at an IV bar, take fitness classes, and, as of May, grab a drink. Co-owner Kelly Campbell’s on-site bar, Nest, serves cocktails, mocktails, wines, and coffee, all produced with natural ingredients. Toast a fruitful reiki session with a sipper like the Rockette—an herbaceous concoction with spicy wild arugula from nearby Tasty Acres Farm, gin, and lime—or the shiitake old fashioned, an umami-rich play on the classic with mushroominfused whiskey, almond-flavored grappa, and bitters. And because Nest’s drinks are less likely than the average boozy beverage to disrupt the body’s systems, you can leave feeling refreshed.

Clockwise from top left: Courtesy of Victor Of Valencia; Courtesy of Anetta Odnoralov; Courtesy of Lauren DeFilippo/Cognoscenti Creative

the front patio, which connects to the bar via garage doors. With killer happy hour specials ($7 cocktails, anyone?) and DJs spinning tunes until midnight or later, the L is a lively early evening and late-night hangout. To that end, if you need an after-hours pickme-up, the espresso martini—a blend of vodka, coffee liqueur, cold brew, and aged Venezuelan rum—should do the trick, but Hodak and Lerman are more than happy to pour you a regular rum and Coke, too.

COMMUNITY

Seeding Change

For Beverly Grant, farming isn’t just about sustenance—it’s about creating a new economy for neighborhoods in need.

“Did you see those mulberry, cherry, and peach trees? They’re bursting,” says Beverly Grant, who is practically bursting herself— from excitement—as she points toward the row of bushes that mark the southern edge of Mo’ Betta Green’s first urban farm, a 5,000-square-foot lot on a quiet, residential corner in Cole. “I look at fruit trees and berry bushes; that’s legacy farming. They’ll be there long after [we’re gone],” Grant says. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

Grant’s gift to her hometown is about more than a few plants, though. Born and raised in the area between Five Points and Park Hill, the Denverite has spent the past 11 years working to increase access to local, organic, and healthy food. Grant founded Mo’ Betta Green in 2010 as a farmers’ market and education and wellness platform; she now has three Seeds of Power Unity Farm sites spread across central Denver. “Urban farming exists to address food gaps in cities,” she says, and to “shift people’s relationship to food, so they realize the way they eat, how they eat, and how it’s paramount to their health.” That’s why she chose Cole, Uptown, and Northeast Park Hill for her farms: All are within food deserts, places that have limited access to fresh-food outlets. They have also historically been home to sizable Black and Latino populations, which are more likely to face systemic health issues.

Mo’ Betta regularly opens its fences to entertain and engage the surrounding neighborhoods during Community Workdays, during which individuals spend three evening hours tending the land, learning about farming, and sharing a meal. Culinary and nutrition education classes are expected to start back up next month after being paused as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students are also an important focus: Mo’ Betta employs about 25 kids and young adults, ages 14 to 24, throughout the summer who help with farm maintenance, do community engagement, and staff the weekly farm stands. (These replaced Grant’s long-standing farmers’ markets during the pandemic and will continue this season.) This year, education director Asia Dorsey is launching a paid medicine-making apprenticeship for people of varied cultural communities. “Part of what I want to do is show folks in the city that urban farming is a real career path with longevity,” Grant says. As a Black woman employing primarily women and youth of color, this work takes on added meaning: By the start of this century, Black farmers in America had lost 90 percent of their farming land.

Grant was introduced to farming as a kid. Most of the vegetables she ate were grown, canned, and dried by her grandma, who planted a verdant garden in her Whittier

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Beverly Grant (right) with Mo’ Betta Green project manager Sarah Naomi Jones

FARM STANDS  Cole 3551 Humboldt St. (5–8 p.m., first and third Saturdays)  Five Points 2401 Welton St. (10 a.m.–2 p.m., second and fourth Saturdays) 2536 Champa St. (noon–4 p.m., Sundays)

Northeast  Park Hill 3401 Eudora St. (noon–4 p.m., Fridays)

backyard. Grant now advocates for improved food access at the state Legislature and envisions a city where people in underserved neighborhoods become “their own food solution.” As she leans down to pull weeds from the edges of the Cole garden, she pauses to imagine what it would be like if a few homes on every block in these neighborhoods had their own gardens. Suddenly, she says, a food desert would become a “food oasis.” Every piece of fruit picked and tree planted today is another step toward making that vision a reality.

—Daliah Singer P H O T O G R A P H BY S A R A H B A N K S

AUGUST 2021

A division of

A division of

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PROFILE

Functional Beauty To spend a few hours with potter and sculptor Kazu Oba is to more deeply contemplate the purpose-filled existence of everyday objects. As I write, a small, cone-shaped porcelain sake cup of Oba’s making, glazed in streaky shades of sandy ochre, mustard, and chestnut, sits on my desk.

It’s beautiful, sure, but now, after meeting Oba, I feel a fresh obligation to the thing: not merely to admire it but to use it. It occurs to me that he has turned me into a mystic, perceiving a latent energy in this object, an active expectation of use.

Japanese-born Oba lives in an unremarkable house on a street in Lafayette. As you pull up, though, indications of arty business are rampant. From a steel structure shaped like a large swing set hangs the hollowed-out stump of an enormous tree, completely blocking access to the garage. This will be a sculpture, eventually. (For now, he says, it is “just waiting for my attention.”) More weathered and contorted bits of trees mark the path to the back of the house, where Oba’s studio is situated. There, rows of recently thrown red-clay bowls dry under a canopy, nearly ready From left: Kazu for transport to a more controlled drying room and then firing, glazing, and shipping to Oba; some of a New York City ramen shop. (He has supplied bowls to Sunnyside’s Ramen Star, too, so his pottery

Kazu Oba produces ceramics and sculptures with intention at his Lafayette studio. BY SCOTT MOWBRAY

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you can help a local Oba bowl fulfill its destiny while slurping house-made noodles and tonkotsu broth.)

Inside the studio, among boxes of clay and pieces of sculptures, is a throwing wheel and a high, jury-rigged stack of seven shelves a-jumble with examples of Oba’s useful productions: tiny plates and bowls for snacks and pickles; little cups with loopy handles he made for his daughter, Maya, who is almost three (Maya’s mother, Yuka, is a jeweler and a former pottery instructor); rough-surfaced plates the color of rusting steel; flower vases; teapots; P H O T O G R A P H Y BY I A N WA R R E N

AUGUST 2021

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Oba works on a piece at his throwing wheel.

and water jugs. Glazes run from pearlescent white to ghostly celadon to cobalt to black.

“I am a 3D person,” Oba says as he sits at his wheel before a mound of red clay. He’s almost 50 but looks 10 years younger and sports a crown of dyed blond hair. “And I have been a sculptor longer than I have been a potter. I don’t make pottery for the sake of making pottery. It’s fun, it can be meditative, all the good things people talk about. But I am not advocating that. I make the pot only for the pot to serve certain purposes.”

He continues, insisting that an object is not even finished when it leaves his studio for a show in New York or Tokyo or a customer in Telluride who purchases a piece through his website (obaware.com). “I try not to finish the work in my hands,” he says. “It’s up to the people who use it to do that—the chef, the mother, whoever cooks or serves. That’s the person who is perfecting the pot.”

I’ve observed this approach among many Japanese artists during my trips to the country—a preoccupation with the relation between natural and human-made forms, the desire to seek in function and design a quixotic perfection manifested only by imperfection. But Oba’s story is far from purely Japanese. It took him almost an hour to describe the journey of his life and work.

Oba was raised by his mother in Fukuoka, Japan, and moved to Colorado as an exchange student in 1989, landing at, of all places, Gilpin County High School in tiny Black Hawk. He attended the University of Colorado Boulder, originally pursuing a degree in international relations before

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PROFILE

A plate and sake-serving set made by Oba

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switching to fine art. From 1999 to 2003, Oba apprenticed with internationally known wood and stone sculptor Jerry Wingren, whom he met at a Boulder Open Studios event. Soon after, when Oba was in his early 30s, he secured an apprenticeship with a master potter named Takashi Nakazato in Japan.

Life under Nakazato’s wing proved vexing. By day, Oba helped in the busy studio.

By night, he struggled to produce a satisfactory example—one good enough to merit being fired in Nakazato’s studio kiln—of the first required pottery form of his instruction: a bowl. “I would make a hundred bowls, and not even a single piece was allowed the whole time I was there.” He pauses and smiles. “I’m not a fast learner.”

After almost 18 months spinning his wheel, Oba left. But by then he was close friends with Nakazato—who Oba says enjoyed him as a “drinking partner”—and in the years that followed would sporadically travel with Nakazato on his global art journeys, assisting and even cooking for the potter. (Oba supported himself in his 20s by working in Colorado restaurant kitchens.)

Otherwise, Oba pursued pottery on his own terms and at his own pace on the Front Range, developing a long relationship with the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities as a student, volunteer, studio assistant, and teacher. During the COVID-19 pandemic, travel between America and Japan (and beyond) became impossible, and Oba hunkered down in his Lafayette home and studio with Yuka and Maya. Several important pottery

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shows in New York and Japan were canceled, and money was tight for the artist couple.

When I visited, inventory crowded the family’s living space, where Oba-designed chairs sit before an Oba-designed table. One of the chairs sports a booster seat for Maya that Oba carved from a single block of wood—so that she can drink from her Oba-made cups at the proper elevation.

It was impossible for me not to consider Oba’s sculpture in Find our contemplating his pottery, Dining Guide, if only because several examples an extensive list of area of Oba’s Utsuwa (Vessels) series, restaurants, on shown in 2012 and 2019 at the page 106 Golden Triangle’s Walker Fine and online at 5280.com/ Art gallery, populate the studio: restaurants. big, organic, flowing, ribbony rings of wood coaxed from the outer layers of trunks, just below the bark, then polished and stained. Oba also works in stone and occasionally in concrete; some of those pieces showed in Loveland at the Artworks Center for Contemporary Art. To Oba, these works contain and express the natural energy that results in form. “Just as all pots are moving toward a potential ideal of symmetry and line,” he wrote in an artist’s statement about the pieces in Utsuwa, “so my sculptures are stirring toward an ideal of shape.” That stirring is their purpose as art.

Oba turns a pot over to show me the bottom of one of his bowls, where the piece was separated from the mother clay by a process called trimming. The curving marks of the trimming tool are clear, a fingerprint Oba relishes. For him, whether working in wood, stone, or clay, beauty and meaning seem to be liminal, found at the places where things transition into other things. Edges are his particular preoccupation, as a blogger for Entoten, a San Diego gallery that sells his work, noted: rims of cups, spouts on soy pots.

The world is full of lips.

I left Oba’s studio, sake cup in hand, deciding that art is surely the original branch of philosophy, an attempt to describe the true nature of the world. The little cup on my desk may look simple, but it contains multitudes— meaning, purpose, beauty, imperfection, earth, aspiration. What it doesn’t contain, as I write, is junmai daiginjo sake. I need to go out into the world and buy some. The cup’s maker has made that absolutely clear. m View Oba’s works during an open house from August 6 to 15, 8 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. daily , at 1061 Mercury Drive in Lafayette (reserve your time slot at obaware.com).

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Farm Futures

D

According to land conservation nonprofit Colorado warfed by five stainless steel grain-storage bins outOpen Lands (COL), the Centennial State lost 7.4 million side the Root Shoot malt house in Loveland, Emily acres of farmland between 1950 and 2010. A northbound Olander gestures toward the horizon. A two-story drive from Denver along the interstate reveals one reason cookie-cutter house with a white fence peeks out from why: Pocket after pocket of tract-housing subdivisions have the rolling green land. “See that?” 38-year-old Emily been plunked in the middle of open space and ag land. Perasks. “That’s what we don’t want.” haps it’s necessary to accommodate Colorado’s population The Olanders, who farm nearly 2,200 acres in boom. Our state’s population has northern Colorado and run swelled by nearly 4.5 million people a malt business that regularly Todd and Emily Olander at their Loveland farm, since 1950, with about two million supplies 150 breweries in the Root Shoot Malting (above) more projected to arrive in the next state, have nothing against 30 years. That development, though, the homeowners, of course. comes at the expense of a way of life It’s the big-picture development that currently pours $40 billion a year they’re wary of—an encroaching into the state economy and forms a sprawl that’s gobbling up farmland storied part of Colorado’s heritage. along Colorado’s I-25 corridor faster Emily’s husband, Todd, is the latthan older farmers can devise ways est in a long line of Olanders who to affordably retire without selling have been farming in the area since their fields to the developers behind the 1800s. Now 39, he grew up on the the ubiquitous mixed-use retail and family’s Longmont farm, and, after residential enclaves.

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Courtesy of Emily Sierra Photography (2)

Inside the fight to preserve Colorado’s agricultural heritage for the next generation.

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AG R ICU LT U R E money, say $20,000, to compost the leased ground, and then the landowner pulls it out from under you?”

FARMERS LIKE THE OLANDERS AND the Rices are at the forefront of a generational shift in agriculture; there are five times as many American farmers over the age of 75 as under the age of 25. By U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates, 70 percent of U.S. farmland will change hands over the next two decades.

That transition will be riddled with obstacles for aspiring farmers with no property and moral conundrums for land-rich, cash-poor farmers approaching the ends of their careers.

“So many farmers are hitting retirement age, and they don’t have 401(k)s, and the land is so valuable,” says Clinton Wilson, executive director of Poudre Valley Community Farms (PVCF), a land cooperative that acquires farmland through a combination of member investment, community partnerships, and creative financing, then leases the land long-term to local farmers.

“The ethical dilemma is that the best thing to do is sell it for $2 million and retire—but while they’d love to pass it on to the next generation, the next generation doesn’t have

Jodar Farms’ Aaron Rice with his family—and flock

Rice had been running on about 30 acres of his parents’ land. Several years ago, Rice realized his business was outgrowing the property and began looking to purchase more land.

As a small-scale producer, however, Rice couldn’t compete with developers willing to pay exorbitant premiums for land. “For anyone who wants to enter the field, if you come straight from town and your parents have no ground, it’s damn near impossible to get yourself a piece of property at a rate a young farmer is willing to pay,” Rice says. But, he adds, traditional leasing arrangements are risky for a farmer as well: “What happens when you invest a significant amount of

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Courtesy of Maggie Gilman

graduating from Colorado State University, he became an official partner in the business in 2006. A decade later, the Olanders transitioned farm operations from commodity-driven custom dairy harvesting—i.e., growing corn to feed cattle—and cultivating barley for a little outfit by the name of Molson Coors to a direct-to-purchaser concept: Root Shoot Malting.

Of the acres they farm for barley, rye, wheat, oats, and corn (for distillers), the Olanders can afford to own only 140; they lease the remaining 2,060 acres, 45 percent of which are owned by a development company. Translation: Those acres could disappear on any owner’s or developer’s whim. “It just happened, actually,” Emily says, “at one of the farms [we lease from] down the road. We have barley planted there. Todd got a phone call that the owner sold to a developer. Three hundred houses will go up on 60 acres. They break ground [next month].”

It’s a threat that 34-year-old Aaron Rice, owner of Jodar Farms outside of Wellington, is all too familiar with. Jodar Farms, which raises pigs and chickens for meat and eggs to sell at local farmers’ markets, to restaurants, and in grocery stores, is a family operation

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AG R ICU LT U R E $2 million,” Wilson says. “They might have $500,000. And that would only last a couple of years into [the seller’s] retirement.” Hence, the vultures-circling behavior of developers—and, often, municipalities interested in coveted water rights—who have no trouble outbidding cash-strapped farmers.

PVCF is forging one path to solve the problem by providing affordable, accessible land to the next generation. “Our focus is small-scale, CSA-size producers,” Wilson says. “We want to purchase local farmland with water so farmers can stay in the community and local producers can produce right here.” The model enabled Rice to move Jodar Farms off his parents’ land and onto 74 acres of PVCF land known as Dixon Station, where he’s now three years into a 15-year lease. The co-op’s goals, though, are only one part of a patchwork of efforts to make sure young farmers have a fair shot at working the fields—and at keeping the land free of condos for farming generations to come.

Enter Colorado Open Lands, a nonprofit organization that’s adding another element to that variegated push. COL works with landowners to permanently protect their lands through legal agreements called

conservation easements. In these voluntary accords, landowners relinquish development rights to a land trust—in this case, COL—which shields the acreage from any future development interests. Put another way, the easement ensures the land’s value, be it derived from recreation, wildlife habitat, water, agriculture, state heritage, or a combination thereof, remains protected no matter who owns the land in the future.

Each easement COL manages is tailored to the current landowner’s needs and generally includes restrictions on the volume and types of infrastructure that can be placed on the property. COL builds flexibility into its deed terms for the potentially shifting nature of agriculture in the future. While the property can change hands, each new owner must adhere to the terms of the easement. Once a landowner puts an easement in place on farmland, it cannot be sold for development; it must remain agricultural land. So how does this type of conservation provide relief for the impending generational shift? As one might imagine, it’s a complicated solution to a complex problem—one that involves development values, tax credits, and some rather convoluted math.

THE NOTION OF PRESERVING LAND sounds on-brand for Coloradans, but the state’s recent history with conservation easements is complicated. Colorado began issuing tax credits in 1999 to landowners who placed their properties under conservation easements; credits were typically worth up to 50 percent of the easement value, which was and still is determined by a private appraiser. But the system had a flaw: inflated appraisals.

From the early 2000s through 2013, when there was a change in program oversight, hundreds of Centennial State landowners were denied the tax credits they were promised due to bloated appraisals. Bankruptcies, foreclosures, and personal upheaval ensued for some farmers who had been depending on the system to deliver the guaranteed financial incentives. In the state’s most recent legislative session, a reparations bill, which set aside $149 million to pay back certain landowners for the denied credits, failed to pass, leaving the disputes unresolved and some landowners hesitant about the idea of conserving their lands, even though new rules, better oversight, and, as of June, an increased 90 percent cap on tax credits are now in place.

“Conservation easements still have a black

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AG R ICU LT U R E eye because of this,” says COL conservation project manager Carmen Farmer.

Nevertheless, conservation easements have arguably saved the I-25 corridor from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs from being one long stretch of mini-malls and developments. “We look at state demographics projections all the time with horror, but all these people need to live somewhere,” says COL communications director Leslie Volkar. “We look at it like this: While we have this chance, let’s save what’s most special.”

That means thinking strategically about where and how the population is swelling and prioritizing protection for the places where food is grown and wildlife thrives.

In one of its latest efforts, COL—which has helped protect more than 581,000 acres of Colorado land over its 40-year history—worked with PVCF to shepherd an easement this past March on the Dixon Station parcel. In many ways, it was an altruistic

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EASEMENT ARITHMETIC

The complex math behind a conservation easement.

Although it’s a small plot of land compared with the average farm, PVCF’s Dixon Station received an appraised development value of $620,000.

That $620,000 is the easement’s initial worth—a dollar value that PVCF likely cannot recoup if it ever decides to sell the conserved land. Due to an open space preservation tax program, however, Larimer County paid PVCF $150,000. Then, thanks to a bill passed this past spring, the co-op qualified for a tax credit of 90 percent on the remaining $470,000, or about $423,000. If the application for the credit is approved, the “donated” value—a dollar number PVCF theoretically gave up to conserve the land—will shrink to $47,000. Most of the time, small-scale farmers in Colorado choose to sell the tax credits privately or via a brokerage at a discount (about $0.85 on the dollar) to other local taxpayers with higher liabilities, then invest the cash into more land or property improvements. In the here and now, the process typically yields a net cash gain, which can help aging farmers both keep their lands (for future generations or to lease to other farmers for some steady income in retirement) and retire with a little more green in the bank.

AG R ICU LT U R E move on the part of PVCF, which gave up its development rights—plus paid a transactional fee, which can run anywhere from $70,000 to $100,000—to the COL trust.

Now the property is eternalized as farmland that will produce food in perpetuity—beginning with Jodar Farms—and play a part in PVCF’s larger efforts to preserve affordable ag land for generations to come. But, just like many traditional landowners, PVCF doesn’t have a bank account big enough to be completely philanthropic. Beyond the tax credit, placing farmland under a conservation easement can earn owners, like PVCF, financial support from outside sources, like Great Outdoors Colorado (the state trust fund that redirects lottery money to preserving Colorado’s outdoor resources) or voter-approved tax initiatives geared toward the environment.

Ultimately, though, easements are a monetary sacrifice on the part of most landowners, who will never be able to sell the land for its full worth (see “Easement Arithmetic,” page 58). While it may make sense for some—say, a land co-op model like PVCF with a longterm plan for future preservation—it’s not an easy ask of lifelong farmers considering the

next phase of their lives, which frequently involves padding their savings by unburdening themselves of their land. Still, getting landowners on board with conservation is what the Olanders are hoping for when it comes to the land they’re leasing.

One could call the Olanders ambassadors of the budding movement. “Our hope is that we can bring awareness to the idea of conservation,” Emily says, “and give landowners and farming families another option to save their family history as opposed to selling the farm.”

Put another way, an easement could provide an infusion of cash if landowners want to step back from farming and lease their lands to others, or it could function as an estateplanning tool to cover taxes if retiring farmers want to transfer land to their heirs. Currently, the Olanders and COL are working through the terms of a conservation easement for 112 of the 140 acres Root Shoot owns. That leaves about 1,200 acres of nondeveloper-owned land the Olanders lease and farm, which they say is ripe for conservation.

If the Olanders and Rices are representative, young farmers are feeling cautiously optimistic about conservation efforts—and how they might help American farmers make

the generational shift. Indeed, Farmer says COL has seen an uptick in interest from landowners who are encouraged by the local shift from commodity-based to direct-topurchaser trends. These more conscientious consumer attitudes, she hopes, will highlight the need for accessible and affordable land and water for small-scale producers: “We wouldn’t do this work if we thought we were swimming upstream,” she says.

In the meantime, the Olanders ponder the future as they work to the hum of the machinery that churns barley and rye into the craft malt upon which so many local breweries depend. Twenty years down the road, and beyond, this land will still be ag land, assuming they complete the easement.

They, of course, plan to be the ones working the fields, as so many Olanders have before them. Although they dream of implementing next-level ideas at Root Shoot, for now they are content knowing that no matter what Colorado’s farm prospects look like in 100 years, their land, at least, will continue to feed us in perpetuity. m Julie Dugdale is a Denver-based freelance writer. Email her at letters@5280.com.

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Courtesy of Denver Zoo

I

Denver Zoo visitors for large animals, such as camels and lions, and the nside the small-animal treatment room at watch a procedure at third is a surgical suite. Above the windows, flatthe Denver Zoo’s new $24 million hospithe new animal hospital. screens show live feeds from cameras inside, one of tal, a veterinarian, veterinary technician, and which the interpreter can manipulate to zoom in keeper are finding out what it’s like to be the on areas of interest as procedures are underway. It’s also her ones on display: About four feet above them, visitors job to narrate and answer visitors’ questions, sometimes with ogle the trio at work removing keratin buildup from a the help of the veterinarian, who has a line to the interpreter’s diminutive African penguin’s beak. Children press their earpiece as well as the ability to talk directly to guests through hands and faces against the giant pane of glass that sepathe sound system. rates the public viewing area from the room, which is The setup makes Denver’s zoo one of just a handful in lined with stainless steel cabinets and high-tech medical the country to let visitors watch its medical staff work on equipment. A mic’d-up interpreter explains that Maddy, everything from foot-long aye-ayes to 900-pound zebras. the flightless bird lying on the procedure table below, When Denverites approved a bond in 2017 to help fund a periodically needs to have her beak trimmed. “It’s made of the replacement for the old hospital—half the size of the new same thing as your fingernails,” she says. one and originally constructed in 1969—the zoo knew that The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital, a it wanted to build a facility that would allow its doctors to 22,000-square-foot clinic that puts the Denver Zoo among provide levels of care well above the industry standard. “Our the world’s foremost zoological health care sites, officially veterinarians are four of only about 230 or 240 individuals opened in late May. On this day, the crowd—guests allowed on the entire planet who are certified in zoo medicine,” says in for a test run a few weeks earlier—is gathered around the Brian Aucone, the zoo’s senior vice president for animal sciaction in the first of three rooms the public can now peer into ences. “We matched the building to their expertise.” from a wide, covered corridor. The second is a treatment room

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CU LT U R E

THE DETAILS OF HOW, EXACTLY, Billy Bryan ended up living in a cage in City Park in 1896 vary depending on the source, but most point to the black bear and the crowds he drew as the Denver Zoo’s origin story. In those early days, the zoo was little more than a random menagerie of animals, fed and cared for primarily by park staff. “The reality was that they didn’t have a whole lot of experience caring for the animals or understanding what their needs were,” Aucone says. “Putting a bear in a steel cage and stocking it with whatever food you could come up with was OK, because that’s what people knew.”

By the early 20th century, cages were still the norm across the country. So when the zoo debuted Bear Mountain in 1918—a replica of a mountainside near Morrison, separated from guests by a moat in which the bears could frolic—it was a big deal.

The zoo’s state-of-the-art, $24 million hospital

“That was the first attempt in the United States, and one of the first in the world, to look at a naturalistic design and think about the needs of the animal and what the guests would be looking at as well,” Aucone says.

“That got the bars out of the way, and it also gave it a sense of place. As a guest, you come in and understand, ‘Oh, this is similar to the habitat an animal might live in.’ ” That paradigm of improving animal welfare in tandem with the guest experience has guided the zoo ever since. Benson Predator Ridge, which opened in 2004, rotates African lions and spotted hyenas through three

different enclosures; the animals leave behind fresh, stimulating scents for one another, and visitors have the ability to see both species up close in the smaller, glass-walled section. Four years ago, an exhibit called the Edge erected 12-foot-high walkways to help the zoo’s two Amur tigers view their surroundings as they would as predators in the wild, a thrilling, if unnerving, experience for humans below.

And a new African penguin habitat, expected to be finished next month, will give Maddy and her pals more distance and depth to swim and dive—while zoo guests watch through 40 feet of glass below the water’s surface. “Animal care and the guest experience really are the two pillars,” says George Pond, the Denver Zoo’s senior vice president for planning and design. “We can’t give up either one. It’s the challenge of zoo design and execution—to be able to hold your head up and say you met those challenges.”

JUDGING BY THE FASCINATION of the group watching Maddy’s beak trim, the zoo has found another fruitful intersection of human entertainment and animal well-being with the new hospital. In addition to the interactive viewing area, the Denver Zoo constructed the

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Courtesy of Denver Zoo

If the welfare of the animals in its care were the zoo’s only concern, behind-thescenes improvements might have been enough. But as it has for much of its 125-year history, the Denver Zoo was also thinking about its charge to entertain and educate its other constituents: the humans who visit.

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CU LT U R E facility’s hallways and rooms to accommodate all but the zoo’s most gigantic residents (elephants and giraffes, for example, still receive treatment in their habitats) and invested in a nearly three-foot-diameter CT scanner, one of the largest on the market. Before, when Dr. Scott Larsen, the Denver Zoo’s vice president for animal health, suspected there might be a tumor or a bone fracture inside a gorilla, he’d have to sedate the 350-pound ape and coordinate with a local partner, such as National

Jewish Health, to transport the animal to a human facility. “It’s an incredible diagnostic tool,” Larsen says of the device, whose images can establish baselines in healthy animals and confirm problems in sick ones. “We used to do maybe seven or eight scans a year; now we’re doing two or three a week.”

Larsen hopes visitors will come back often in the hopes of catching a particularly exciting operation; he estimates there will only be something actively happening about a quarter

of the time the zoo is open (and because of the emergent nature of medicine, there’s no public schedule of procedures). The interpreter can always pull up past footage, though, meaning your sloth-obsessed 12-year-old can ask to see, say, an ultrasound of a pregnant female—and perhaps deepen her connection to animals at the zoo and beyond. “Of course, we want people to enjoy themselves, but it’s not just about coming here to have fun,” Denver Zoo director of communications Jake Kubié says. “The better we design the zoo and the better time people have, the closer they’re able to get to the animals, hopefully that will inspire people to learn more and act more on behalf of wildlife.”

At the hospital’s ribbon-cutting ceremony in late May, Mayor Michael Hancock

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reminded the audience of a coming opportunity to do just that by approving the $400 million municipal bond that will be on Denverites’ ballots in November. Along with the city’s other cultural institutions, the zoo hopes to get some of that money, which it desperately needs after the pandemic. In 2020, earned revenue plummeted by 40 percent compared with 2019, but operating costs— including some 3,300 literal mouths to feed—sunk only 18 percent. “Nothing is static here,” Kubié says. “A lot of it is advancement, but some is just keeping up with maintenance on a 125-year-old campus.”

More accessible pathways and roof repairs, for which the Denver Zoo has requested funding from the 2021 bond, may not be as exciting as a marquee attraction like the animal hospital. They’re just as important, though, to ensure the zoo survives to fulfill its mission for another 125 years. “We’re looking out for the best for our guests and the best for the animals,” Aucone says, “and finding where those meet.” m Jessica LaRusso is 5280’s managing editor.

Email her at letters@5280.com.

Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/the Denver Post via Getty Images

Charlotte, a two-toed sloth, undergoes an exam.

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VIRUS OF THE MIND Isolation. Fear of a deadly contagion.

Economic crisis. Coloradans have dealt with a lot in the past year and a half— and mental health professionals are worried about the long-term effects of that trauma. Here, we examine who’s been most affected as well as how local experts are trying to help us cope.

BY S H A N E M O N A G H A N I L L U S T R AT I O N S BY J E F F R E Y D E C O S T E R

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THE FALLOUT It’s easy to look at many Coloradans—with their fit, athletic bodies—and see the proverbial picture of health. Unfortunately, that image doesn’t always provide a complete portrait. Mental health issues are rarely visible, but they’ve long been prevalent among Centennial Staters. Colorado’s suicide rate in 2019 was 22.1 per 100,000 people, compared with an average of 13.1 for the entire country. Locally, 15 percent of teenagers ages 12 to 17 and 8.5 percent of adults reported having a major depressive episode during that same year. And 15.3 percent of residents said they had poor mental health—a number that sat at 9.9 percent just four years earlier. “Colorado wasn’t winning any prizes for mental health care,” says Vincent Atchity, CEO of the nonprofit advocacy group Mental Health Colorado.

Then 2020 happened. And 2021 hasn’t exactly been a pick-me-up either. Tiny though SARS-CoV-2 may be, it has had an outsize effect on everything, including our emotional well-being. It has triggered anxiety and depression, ballooned fears, and forced us to isolate ourselves from one another. Kids missed out on major developmental milestones. Adults lost their jobs. Businesses shuttered. Graduations, weddings, births, funerals—nothing was celebrated or mourned appropriately. Furthermore, the pandemic has persisted for much longer than most of us initially thought it would. We’ve been living in a world on pause—and we’ve labored to deal with it mentally. “Since [March 2020], the number of people exhibiting signs of stress and anxiety has gone through the roof,” Atchity says. “Opioid and alcohol use has risen. There have been increased incidents of domestic violence. Things got worse.”

Although the gradual return to some sense of normality this summer has helped ease COVID-19-related stress, mental and behavioral health specialists say we are only beginning to understand the repercussions of the past year and a half. “I see it as being like a tsunami,” says Dr. Jason Williams, a pediatric psychologist and director of operations at Children’s Hospital Colorado. “I don’t think it has hit the shore yet. There are going to be major trailing mental health effects in our society.”

That’s especially concerning considering that the state’s current health system isn’t set up to deal with the number of people who will likely need help in the coming months and years. Over the past five years, Colorado has consistently ranked in the bottom half of states in terms of providing access to mental health care for its citizens, according to Mental Health America, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of people living with mental illness. According to medical experts, the state is also lacking in mental health professionals trained to treat depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other behavioral health issues.

With a theoretical wave of pandemic-induced mental health conditions surging toward them, Centennial State health care organizations, along with state and local governments, are racing to change a system that has long prioritized physical needs over mental well-being. To better understand the A high school graduation problem, we asked local experts to explain who is experiencing the most signifiin Crested Butte during the COVID-19 pandemic cant struggles and what is being done to help them in Colorado.

BAD TO WORSE Three numbers that are indicative of our deepening melancholy.

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The percentage by which calls and texts to Colorado Crisis Services increased in 2020 over the previous three years.

In October alone, 24,821 people made a request for assistance.

30.8

Percentage of Col-

orado adults who said they experienced symptoms of anxiety and/ or depression at some point during spring 2021.

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Nathan Bilow/Getty Images

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The percentage by which fatal drug overdoses increased in Colorado during 2020, compared with the average for the previous five years. Health officials say isolation brought on by the pandemic was a contributing factor in the massive jump.

VIRUS OF THE MIND

IDENTITY CRISES

From left: Courtesy of Kaiser Permanente; Courtesy of CU School of Medicine

Few were left unscathed by the pandemic, but some Coloradans suffered disproportionately. We asked the experts to explain who—and why.

COMMUNITIES OF COLOR

MOTHERS

COVID-19 SURVIVORS

Dr. Sammie Moss knows how taboo it can be to ask for help in some communities of color. “My wife is half Hispanic, and she always makes the point that people in the Latinx community don’t want to admit they’ve seen a therapist,” he says. “Being African American myself, I’ve found it is similar in that community.” Moss, a psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente, along with his colleagues, had been reaching out to local organizations that work with underserved groups to make them aware of mental health care services before the pandemic. But after March 2020, limited in-person contact made it even more difficult to connect with communities of color. In the instances in which Moss had success doing so (most of the time via telehealth), it was clear to him that his minority patients had been suffering. People of color were experiencing unequal financial hardships and had seen far more family members and friends die of COVID-19. In other words, historical inequities were exacerbated by the public health crisis.

Now, Moss says, “I am seeing a disproportionate lack of return to normalcy for my underserved groups, who were the hardest hit during the pandemic. They’re recovering slower.”

In her 23 years as a working psychiatrist, Dr. Patricia Westmoreland has watched the pressure on women, particularly mothers, continue to mount.

“We all want to be able to fulfill our dreams in terms of work,” Westmoreland, the psychiatric residency program director for HealthOne, says. “But that hasn’t taken away from the responsibilities that we have at home.” The pandemic further stressed that push-and-pull dynamic. Many mothers became the primary teachers for their kids during distance learning, even if that meant altering work schedules or quitting the workforce altogether. Others had to continue going in to work, leaving them with the near-impossible task of finding— and paying for—childcare for children who would’ve otherwise been in school. “I had a patient who was pregnant and took a job at a daycare, which she was overqualified for, because that was the only way she could get free childcare,” Westmoreland says. Add in increased instances of domestic violence during the past year and an uptick in substance abuse, and experts are worried about what comes next for moms. Says Westmoreland: “We’re certainly going to see some major mental health problems from all that.”

Around one in every three people who contract COVID-19 exhibit neurological or psychiatric conditions within six months of infection, according to a study published by the Lancet medical journal in April. Those who survive the disease have also been more likely to develop anxiety and mood disorders than people who catch the flu or other respiratory tract diseases. Physicians, like UCHealth’s Dr. Thida Thant, have long studied— and treated—patients suffering mental health side effects from neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s. It’s likely COVID-19 can also affect people’s brains (doctors are still trying to understand how), but Thant, a psychiatrist, believes there’s more to the mental challenges for some. “I compared it for some patients to the HIV epidemic,” she says.

“There’s a general societal fear. The health care providers don’t know what to do. Patients don’t know what to do.

Other people don’t know if it is safe to be around them. I think some people felt depressed, not necessarily from the physiological impacts, but from those weird life changes after getting sick.”

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Colorado youth are experiencing mental health problems at unprecedented rates. The mental health care system can’t accommodate them.

The list of major events 18-year-old Ashley O’Day feels like she missed because of the pandemic is long. “I didn’t get a prom. I didn’t take the SAT. I couldn’t get my license for like four months after I was supposed to,” she says. Instead, O’Day (pictured), who graduated from Jeffco Virtual Academy in May, spent almost all of 2020 completing homework assignments online and casting about for other ways to fill the repetitive days. She rarely saw friends and stopped going to therapy because she didn’t like virtual counseling. “It’s hard being alone with your thoughts all day, every day,” she says. “I lost a sense of self and purpose.”

O’Day is far from the only Colorado kid grappling with the emotional downsides of distance learning and social isolation. In fact, emergency mental health visits to Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHC) were up 90 percent this past April compared with the same time in 2019. Suicide attempts were the leading cause for those ER arrivals, and at the time, the CHC hospital system, including facilities in Highlands Ranch, Broomfield, and Colorado Springs, had up to 24 kids waiting for an inpatient psychiatric bed on most days.

The influx of kids in crisis led a panel of experts from Children’s to declare a pediatric mental health state of emergency in May of this year. “Our kids have run out of resilience,” CHC chief medical officer Dr. David Brumbaugh said at a town hall announcing the heightened level of concern. “I’ve never seen anything like the demand for mental health services that we’ve seen at Children’s in the last 15 months.”

CHC is furiously adding resources to address the issue. By March 2022, it plans to increase the number of available inpatient psychiatric beds from 18 to 26, as well as bump up patient capacity in its eating disorder unit from 12 to 20. Hiring more mental health professionals is also high on the to-do list. But those changes won’t fix the underlying issue. “If we are building more acute beds, we’re losing the battle,” says Dr. Mike DiStefano, chief medical officer for CHC’s southern region. “We need to be intervening prior to the crisis.”

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Matthew DeFeo

THE COVID-19 GENERATION

In order to reach more kids before emergency situations arise, Brumbaugh says behavioral health care needs to become a ubiquitous part of the medical system. “Unless we understand and begin to think about behavioral and physical health as being completely related, and dependent on each other, we are doomed to fail,” he says. Potential changes include making mental health evaluations part of annual physicals, having more behavioral health specialists on staff at primary care clinics, urgent cares, and in hospitals, and employing more counselors at schools who can help with psychological concerns, like how school nurses deal with physical ones.

Those additions would create opportunities for check-ins that could prevent a catastrophe. A pediatrician could notice during a routine checkup that a 12-year-old who is developing dangerously low self-esteem from being bullied needs to see a mental health colleague. A 17-year-old would have a place to vent about college entrance essays and work through fears about the future. Making such changes may sound simple, but Brumbaugh acknowledges it will require significantly more funding from health care organizations and governments, as well as time to train enough mental health professionals, to make them all a reality.

In O’ Day’s case, being encouraged by her counselor to join the Mental Health Youth Action Board at Children’s, a program that encourages Colorado high schoolers to find ways to raise awareness about mental health issues, kept her from spiraling. She started a mentor group at Jeffco Virtual that helped freshmen navigate a weird year. The work encouraged a realization she hopes more people her age will have.

“Mental health struggles,” she says, “don’t have to be as scary as they sound.”

ASKING FOR HELP

Resources to use right now if you’re dealing with mental health issues.

If you need immediate aid…

Call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844493-TALK (8255) or text “TALK” to 38255.

If you need help with substance abuse problems…

Visit cowellness recovery.org, a resource from the state’s Office of Behavioral Health that walks you through what treatment might look like and how to pick a provider that best suits you.

From left: Courtesy of HealthONE; Courtesy of Centura Health

If you are an older adult looking for connection…

Reach out to the Telephone Buddy program, which is funded by the Colorado Gerontological Society and connects people ages 60 and up with volunteers who will call to check in one to two times a week.

If you are trying to understand what your health insurance might cover…

Call the Colorado chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Law Line at 303321-3104 to get free guidance on topics such as Medicaid.

BRILLIANT IDEAS THE PROBLEM: Acute physical symptoms can be caused by underlying issues with mental well-being, but treatment often only focuses on immediate bodily complications.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION:

HealthOne opened one of the country’s first urgent care facilities with behavioral health outpatient services onsite this past May in Littleton.

The behavioral health side of the practice will be mostly used for group counseling, not unlike the services offered at the health system’s other wellness clinics. If someone comes into urgent care with a prolonged stomachache, though, the on-call nurses and doctors can ask a mental health professional next door for a consult. That way, they can treat both the stomach problem and the anxiety that might be causing it.

EXPERT TAKE: 

“People keep trying to silo emotions from physical health,” says Cindy Meyer, the chief operations officer for HealthOne’s behavioral health services.

“This helps us figure out what is going on with feelings that may be triggering something else.”

THE PROBLEM: If primary care doctors are concerned about a patient’s mental state, they likely aren’t trained to treat the issue—or don’t have a behavioral health specialist nearby who can help.

VIRUS OF THE MIND Innovation in mental and behavioral health care is key. We explore four potential solutions Colorado groups have introduced.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION: In 2020, UCHealth added mental health professionals at 33 of its 60-plus primary care clinics. At Greeley Medical Center, for example, the internal and family medicine providers can easily refer patients who may be wrestling with poor sleep or showing signs of an eating disorder to Rachel Slick, a behavioral health clinician with an office in the same complex, to understand if those problems might be related to psychological issues.

from caring for COVID-19 patients. Centura wants to expand the program, and other health systems, like SCL Health, are looking to establish similar initiatives in other professional fields.

EXPERT TAKE: “When you say you want to refer someone to someplace else, there’s questions about things like insurance,” Slick says. “It’s much easier to say, Hey, I have someone right down the hall, who I trust, and can help with this.”

THE PROBLEM: It’s challenging for many people to make time to visit a therapist’s office in person.

THE PROBLEM: A deficiency of mental health professionals means people who need care can’t always find it.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION: In 2015, Centura Health realized many of its physicians were battling burnout. So, the health system created a program that has since trained 100 or so doctors to recognize when colleagues are struggling and to provide emotional support for them, including referring them to licensed professionals when necessary. These peer support groups became especially useful during the pandemic as providers dealt with trauma

 EXPERT TAKE: “Sometimes it is as simple as connecting with individuals and validating what they’ve been through,” says Dr. Caryn Baldauf, an internal medicine specialist who was part of Centura’s program.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION: In late March 2020, the CARES Act provided $200 million in funding for health care groups to set up the technology infrastructure needed for telehealth.

As such, virtual appointments via video chat became the norm during the pandemic for a range of medical specialties.

A final hurdle to the proliferation of telehealth was getting private insurers to cover the costs of therapy and counseling over video chat, which many have begun to do.

EXPERT TAKE: “It isn’t a perfect solution,” says local therapist Whitney Kearney, “but it is helpful for people who struggle with social anxiety and may be apprehensive attending in-person programs, or people with transportation barriers. Pre-pandemic, these services might not have been an option for some.”

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What’s the biggest hurdle to providing supportive care?

Fifty-six percent of Coloradans who need mental health care don’t get access to it. Fifty-six percent. We don’t have enough psychiatrists and mental health professionals to support all the needs in this state. People are waiting sometimes two to three months for that first appointment—and mental health needs are many times more urgent than that. The providers are also often not culturally competent enough to be able to engage vulnerable populations, like immigrants and people of color. Consequently, patients often have a bad experience and don’t return. So much of this starts with a workforce problem.

How do we fix that?

5280: Had there been any recent, meaningful progress made to fix Colorado’s broken mental health care system before March 2020?

Atchity: Some changes had been made, but it wasn’t necessarily the best situation. We were near the bottom of most rankings for mental health care. We didn’t have enough resources for the number of people who needed help. I think the most notable change was in 2019, when Colorado passed the [Behavioral Health Care Coverage Modernization Act], which basically said insurance companies have to cover behavioral health costs on par with how they cover physical health, things like surgical costs. We still have some struggles implementing it, but that was an important step.

Have you seen the pandemic shift people’s thinking about mental health?

There has been a lot more talk about how we need to overhaul systems in order to move our culture away from being a punitive one to one that intervenes supportively for people. The historical approach has relied on crisis intervention at the last possible minute. We’ve got this backlog of adults who have fallen through the cracks and are costing us endlessly in terms of their use of emergency services and processes in the justice system. We’ve got this huge homelessness problem. We’ve got opioid abuse and overcrowding in jails. We’re realizing we could identify mental health issues that cause some of those things earlier.

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So, what can we feel good about going forward?

The introduction of the new 988 number. Congress and the Federal Communications Commission approved that to go live in July 2022. The expectation is when you call that number, you are calling for someone who is in a mental health crisis and needs assistance. Kids are going to learn the 988 number just like they learn 911. It’s symbolic of the type of broader recognition we need for mental health.

Matthew DeFeo

CHANGING MINDS

Mental Health Colorado CEO Vincent Atchity has long found it difficult to get people to care about his cause: providing adequate resources for people’s psychological welfare. However, he believes the pandemic has forced us all to pay better attention to how our minds affect our overall well-being. Be that as it may, Atchity also thinks it’ll take more than that newfound recognition to change the way Coloradans access care.

There is a terrible lack of financial incentive for people to go into mental health services. Many people pay a lot of money to get advanced training and come out not making very much money. I think we need to look at things like student loan repayment or covering the cost of additional training.

The adequate workforce doesn’t come overnight. If we are going to be dealing with all sorts of mental health issues because of the pandemic, we need to have more public messaging about informal ways to support those around you.

VIRUS OF THE MIND

STATE OF CARE

Local leaders have said that improving behavioral health services must be a priority. We mapped out some of the ways they plan to deploy resources to help in the coming months.

THE STATE

THE CITY

Clockwise from top left: Getty Images (2); Sarah Banks; Evan Semón/Courtesy of Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (2); Ali Bibbo/Courtesy of Dafna Michaelson Jenet; Getty Images

Governor Jared Polis

Mayor Michael Hancock

“An estimated one million Coloradans live with a behavioral health condition, and we know the compounding traumas of last year have only worsened [things]. We need a system that can deliver timely, affordable, and responsive services.”

“Every person, family, and community is touched by these behavioral health issues. That’s why it must be a priority for our city. We can end the stigma and get people the treatment they deserve.”

Stimulus Funding Polis and Colorado Democrats committed to spending $400 million from the latest COVID-19 federal relief package on mental and behavioral health solutions. At press time, specific details about how the money would be allocated remained limited.

Empower Denver The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment released a plan in April for how to improve behavioral health care in the Mile High City. Goals include creating more services that can be easily accessed by all citizens and keeping people experiencing behavioral health crises out of jail.

Behavioral Health Administration Polis signed a bill in April to create a government entity that manages all the state’s behavioral health initiatives. The Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), which will begin operating in July 2022, was designed after a task force found that Colorado funded 75 different behavioral health programs that were part of 10 different state agencies. “People didn’t know where to go for care,” says Robert Werthwein, the director of Colorado’s Office of Behavioral Health.

State Legislators “Now more than ever, we need to consider the behavioral health impacts of all of our policy decisions, and we need to take behavioral health concerns as seriously as we take physical health,” said state Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet after introducing several bills focused on behavioral health in the Colorado General Assembly this year.

Rapid Mental Health Response for Colorado Youth This bill, approved in June, will give every Colorado child the opportunity to take a mental health screening online within the next year and, if needed, be referred to an in-network mental health provider.

Stigma Reduction Campaign After conducting a citywide survey, Denver’s Office of Behavioral Health Strategies plans to begin running targeted marketing efforts next year that make specific communities and groups aware of mental health services that might be useful to them.

Wellness Winnie This midsize Winnebago began traveling the city in 2020, providing resources like mental health screenings and distributing Narcan—a medicine that can be lifesaving during overdose situations—to historically underserved regions, such as Montbello and Lincoln Park.

Behavioral Health Solutions Center The 24/7 facility, which opened its doors this past May in Sun Valley, offers referral-based crisis services, temporary housing and assistance transitioning to community living, and treatment options for mental health and substance abuse issues. m

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ADDICTION MEDICINE Susan Calcaterra

UNIVERSITY 1635 Aurora Court, Sixth Floor

Aurora 80045 720-848-2300

Alexis Carrington-Ford

UNIVERSITY 1693 N. Quentin St.

Aurora 80045 877-999-0538

Kaylin Klie

DENVER HEALTH 667 Bannock St., Pavilion K

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Julie Taub

DENVER HEALTH 777 Bannock St., Pavilion A

DENVER’S TOP DOCTORS 2021

For more than 25 years, 5280 has asked physicians in the Denver area whom they would trust to treat themselves or a loved one. The following 340 doctors—in 100 specialties—were nominated by their peers this year.

NOTE: Each listing includes the physician’s name, the hospitals at which the physician has privileges, the doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital address, and the best phone number to call for an appointment. Full listings, including information about how many years each physician has been on the Top Doctors list, are available at directory.5280.com/doctors.

I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y J E F F R E Y D E C O S T E R

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

ADDICTION PSYCHIATRY Joseph P. Cannavo

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, LUTHERAN 10350 E. Dakota Ave.

Denver 80247 303-338-4545

Christian Thurstone

DENVER HEALTH 667 Bannock St., Pavilion K

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

ADOLESCENT MEDICINE David W. Kaplan

CHILDREN’S 860 Potomac Circle

Aurora 80011 720-777-6131

Nicholas C. Kyriazi

CHILDREN’S, SKY RIDGE 206 W. County Line Road, Suite 110

Highlands Ranch 80129 303-791-9999

Amy E. Sass

CHILDREN’S 860 Potomac Circle

Aurora 80011 720-777-6131

ADULT CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE Joseph D. Kay

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6820

Amber Khanna

UNIVERSITY, CHILDREN’S, HIGHLANDS RANCH 12505 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-848-5300

ADVANCED HEART FAILURE & TRANSPLANT CARDIOLOGY Larry Allen

UNIVERSITY 12505 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-848-5300

Amrut Ambardekar UNIVERSITY 2505 E. 16th Ave. 1

Aurora 80045 720-848-5300

Santi Yarlagadda

NATIONAL JEWISH 1400 Jackson St.

Denver 80206 303-398-1355

ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY Jayna Doshi

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH, SKY RIDGE 10240 Park Meadows Drive

Lone Tree 80124 303-338-4545

Mark Ebadi

ROSE 125 Rampart Way, Suite 100

Denver 80230 720-858-7600

Michael Lunn

GOOD SAMARITAN, SKY RIDGE, ST. JOSEPH 10240 Park Meadows Drive

Lone Tree 80214 303-338-4545

ANESTHESIOLOGY Christine Byers

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, SKY RIDGE 045 Franklin St. 2

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

John Eisenach

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 720-536-6600

Thomas Keyes

ST. ANTHONY NORTH 14300 Orchard Parkway

Denver 80023 303-629-2297

Erin Medina

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

William Somerset

DENVER HEALTH 77 Bannock St., Pavilion A 7

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Ronald Valdivieso ST. JOSEPH, SKY RIDGE 045 Franklin St. 2

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

TOP DOCTORS 2021 BRAIN INJURY MEDICINE Oscar Sanchez

DENVER HEALTH, UNIVERSITY 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Eric Spier

SWEDISH, ST. ANTHONY 3425 S. Clarkson St.

Englewood 80113 303-789-8000

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Morteza Farasat

DENVER HEALTH 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Brack Hattler

VETERANS 1700 Wheeling St.

Aurora 80045 303-399-8020

Darlene Kim

NATIONAL JEWISH 1400 Jackson St.

DENVER METRO-AREA HOSPITALS Because of space restrictions, we abbreviate the names of some area hospitals in the listings. Below are our abbreviations and the official names as well as their health care systems. If applicable, we provide the names of some surgical centers in the listings; however, they are not included below.

AURORA – The Medical Center of Aurora—HealthOne AVISTA – Avista Adventist Hospital—Centura Health CASTLE ROCK – Castle Rock Adventist Hospital—Centura Health CHILDREN’S – Children’s Hospital Colorado

HIGHLANDS RANCH – UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital—

UCHealth

LITTLETON – Littleton Adventist Hospital—Centura Health LUTHERAN – Lutheran Medical Center—SCL Health

PORTER – Porter Adventist Hospital—Centura Health PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S – Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical

RMHC – Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/

St. Luke’s Medical Center—HealthOne

DENVER HEALTH 60 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L 6

SWEDISH, PORTER, LITTLETON 401 W. Hampden Place, Suite 210

Englewood 80110 303-722-6960

Eben Strobos

LUTHERAN, ST. ANTHONY 400 Indiana St., Suite 200

Jon Vogel

ST. ANTHONY – St. Anthony Hospital—Centura Health ST. ANTHONY NORTH – St. Anthony North Hospital—

Centura Health

UNIVERSITY 1635 Aurora Court, Sixth Floor

Aurora 80045 720-848-2700

ST. JOSEPH – St. Joseph Hospital—SCL Health UNIVERSITY – UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital— VETERANS – Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care

System—Veterans Health Administration

COMPLEX FAMILY PLANNING Rebecca Cohen

UNIVERSITY 1635 Aurora Court, Third Floor

Aurora 80045 720-848-1060

Stephanie Teal

Walter Lee

Centennial 80111 720-708-4287

Alexander Morton

SKY RIDGE – Sky Ridge Medical Center—HealthOne

UCHealth

NATIONAL JEWISH 053 S. Quebec St., Suite 203 6

Denver 80205 303-861-2121

Golden 80401 303-940-8200

Kristie M. Ladegard

Brian Wise

2045 Franklin St.

ROSE – Rose Medical Center—HealthOne

SWEDISH – Swedish Medical Center—HealthOne

Highlands Ranch 80129 303-338-4545

Aurora 80045 720-848-0782

Santosh Nandi

Aurora 80045 720-777-6200

ST. JOSEPH 9139 S. Ridgeline Blvd.

UNIVERSITY 12605 E. 16th Ave.

ORTHOCOLORADO – OrthoColorado Hospital—Centura Health

CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Matthew Taylor

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Center—HealthOne

DENVER HEALTH 301 W. Sixth Ave., Pavilion G

Aurora 80045 303-724-2370

NORTH SUBURBAN – North Suburban Medical Center—

PARKER – Parker Adventist Hospital—Centura Health

CHILDREN’S 1 3123 E. 16th Ave.

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

ST. JOSEPH

Lakewood 80228 303-595-2727

Beau Carubia

Austin Larson

Evan Gillespie

SCL Health

HealthOne

Aurora 80045 720-777-6200

CLINICAL GENETICS & GENOMICS

COLON & RECTAL SURGERY

Federico Trobo

CHILDREN’S 1 3123 E. 16th Ave.

Denver 80206 303-398-1355

GOOD SAMARITAN – Good Samaritan Medical Center—

NATIONAL JEWISH – National Jewish Health

Austin Butterfield

NATIONAL JEWISH 1400 Jackson St.

DENVER HEALTH – Denver Health Medical Center

Denver 80206 303-398-1355

ST. ANTHONY, AVISTA 11700 W. Second Place, Suite 350

Raphael Sung

UNIVERSITY 1635 Aurora Court, Third Floor

CHILD ABUSE PEDIATRICS Antonia Chiesa

CHILDREN’S, DENVER HEALTH 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6919

Jennifer Kelloff 11245 Huron St.

Westminster 80234 303-338-4545

CLINICAL CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY Diego Belardi

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-861-2121

Christopher Lowery

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, LUTHERAN 2045 Franklin St.

Aurora 80045 720-848-1060

COMPLEX GENERAL SURGICAL ONCOLOGY Leonardo Alfaro

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, LUTHERAN 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Denver 80205 303-861-2121

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TOP DOCTORS 2021 Ron Hugate

Catherine A. Lazar

Marc Sarti

Mark Spitz

PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 660 Golden Ridge Road, Suite 250

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 280 Exempla Circle

ROSE, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 1746 Cole Blvd., Suite 150

UNIVERSITY 1635 Aurora Court, Fourth Floor

Martin McCarter

Lisa Richman

Craig Stewart

Laura Strom

Golden 80401 303-233-1223

UNIVERSITY 1665 Aurora Court

Aurora 80045 720-848-0300

Philip Neff

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, LUTHERAN 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

COMPLEX PEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGY John Bangiyev

RMHC 2055 N. High St., Suite 110

Denver 80205 303-301-9019

Jeremy D. Prager

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-8501

Tammy Wang

DENVER HEALTH, CHILDREN’S 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGERY David N. Campbell

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6660

James Jaggers

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6660

Steven Leonard

RMHC 2055 N. High St., Suite 260

Denver 80205 720-475-8730

Max Mitchell

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6660

CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE Mark Kearns

UNIVERSITY, DENVER HEALTH 12700 E. 19th Ave.

Aurora 80045 303-724-6038

Jason Keene

SKY RIDGE 5 200 DTC Parkway, Suite 400

Greenwood Village 80111 303-745-0000

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Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

Lakewood 80401 303-914-8800

Aurora 80045 720-848-2080

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

ST. ANTHONY, ST. ANTHONY NORTH, AVISTA 1819 Denver West Drive, Suite 101

UNIVERSITY 1635 Aurora Court, Fourth Floor

DERMATOLOGY

EMERGENCY MEDICINE

FAMILY MEDICINE

Cameron Harrison

Erin Drasler

Ryan Evans

Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

Lakewood 80401 303-223-4448

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

ST. JOSEPH 1375 E. 19th Ave.

William Howe

Ryan Paterson

Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Meg Lemon

PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 1960 N. Ogden St., Suite 555

Denver 80218 303-831-0400

Tina Suneja

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 5555 E. Arapahoe Road

Centennial 80122 720-348-4700

DEVELOPMENTAL-BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICS Sandra L. Friedman

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6630

Robyn Nolan

7701 Sheridan Blvd.

Westminster 80003 303-338-4545

Ann Reynolds

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6630

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY Forrest Lensing

ST. ANTHONY, ST. ANTHONY NORTH, AVISTA 1819 Denver West Drive, Suite 101

Lakewood 80401 303-223-4448

David Lynch

NATIONAL JEWISH, UNIVERSITY 1400 Jackson St.

Denver 80026 303-398-1355

Nishant Mehta

DENVER HEALTH 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Denver 80128 303-338-4545

ST. JOSEPH, UNIVERSITY, DENVER HEALTH 1375 E. 19th Ave.

Denver 80218 303-812-3000

Stacy Trent

DENVER HEALTH 777 Bannock St., Pavilion A

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Melanie Wells

ST. JOSEPH 1835 Franklin St.

Denver 80128 303-837-7111

Aurora 80045 720-848-2080

1375 E. 20th Ave.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Trevor Harrington

ST. ANTHONY NORTH 14300 Orchard Parkway

Westminster 80023 303-430-5560

Rachel Hills

1030 Johnson Road, Suite 200

Golden 80401 303-278-4600

Shannon Jantz

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, LUTHERAN 375 E. 20th Ave. 1

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Stacey King

7600 Shaffer Parkway

ENDOCRINOLOGY, DIABETES & METABOLISM

Littleton 80127 303-338-4545

Rocio Pereira

DENVER HEALTH 2600 E. Albrook Drive 1

DENVER HEALTH 777 Bannock St.

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Lara Penny

Denver 80239 303-436-4949

Stuart Prins

Irinel Stanciu

4318 Trail Boss Drive, Suite 100

Golden 80401 303-233-1223

Sarah Wear

ST. ANTHONY, LUTHERAN, LITTLETON 660 Golden Ridge Road, Suite 250

Margaret Wierman

UNIVERSITY 1635 Aurora Court, Sixth Floor

Aurora 80045 720-848-2650

Laura Wolsko

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 720-536-6600

EPILEPSY Richard Clemmons

ST. JOSEPH’S 1375 E. 20th Ave.

Denver 80205 303-861-3380

Edward H. Maa

DENVER HEALTH, UNIVERSITY, VETERANS 700 Delaware St., Davis Pavilion

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Castle Rock 80104 303-338-4545 11245 Huron St.

Westminster 80234 303-338-4545

FEMALE PELVIC MEDICINE & RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY Sybil Dessie

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Terry Dunn

850 E. Harvard Ave., Suite 285

Denver 80210 303-282-0006

Shyamsunder Hatangadi

ST. JOSEPH, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S, SKY RIDGE 2 045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-861-2121

WHO DECIDES?

Frequently asked questions about the Top Doctors selection process.

Why didn’t you choose my doctor?

We don’t pick the docs—Denver physicians do. For the past 27 years, 5280 has surveyed doctors and asked them, specialty by specialty, which metro-area physicians they would trust to treat themselves and their families. Our theory is that medical professionals are best qualified to judge other medical professionals. The ballot is posted on 5280.com from the end of January to mid-March each year. Every metro-area doctor with a valid Colorado medical license can fill it out. Once the doctor hits “save,” the votes are entered into our database and tallied.

So doesn’t that make it one big popularity contest?

In some respects, yes. We hope that doctors give us careful, responsible answers, but there’s little we can do to stop them from recommending their skiing buddies. Using the list is a lot like going to your doctor and asking for a referral. The difference is that we’re asking a lot more doctors than you’d ever have the chance to.

Also, by working to raise our return rate (it was 13 percent this year), we hope to correct for politics. The more doctors who participate, the less chance that any one person’s aspirations will win out.

I thought my doc was a good physician, but she’s not on the list.

What does that mean?

Nothing. She probably is a good doctor. The selection of doctors by peer review can leave many excellent doctors off the list. Because longtime, well-known doctors have the advantage of name recognition, the list may favor that kind of doctor. However, that in no way means your doctor isn’t qualified and completely competent.

I’m a doctor, and I couldn’t access the online ballot. Why?

We get the database of all licensed

physicians in the state from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies and select the doctors located in the seven metro-area counties (Denver, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Adams, Douglas, and Jefferson), which results in a list of more than 12,000 docs.

If you attempted to log on to the system and received a pop-up response that said, “Login failed, please check your name and license number,” that means there is a disconnect between your information and the information we have in the system.

If you’ve recently moved to Colorado and haven’t updated your publicly available address with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, for example, your license will not register as local and therefore will be invalid in our system. If you have registered your license at an address outside the seven metroarea counties, you will not be in our database. If you have a hard-tospell last name or if you’ve recently changed your name, it’s possible the information we have from the state is incorrect and you will have trouble logging in.

In the future, if you have difficulty accessing our system, please use the “comment” tool on the ballot site and let us know. We’re happy to work through the problem so you can vote.

I’ve heard the list is rigged—that only doctors who advertise with 5280 make it. Is that true?

Nope. The Top Doctors list is unaffected by which doctors advertise in the magazine and/or on our website.

Doctors sometimes choose to advertise after they’ve been chosen for the list, but how much or if and when doctors choose to advertise are not taken into consideration. Period.

TOP DOCTORS 2021 How does 5280 choose the medical specialties on the list?

Through the years we’ve worked to improve Top Doctors by updating the categories, increasing the number of eligible voters, and considering suggestions from health care professionals.

For more than two decades, our categories have included only specialties approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties (although we do not include every ABMS specialty).

This system for choosing categories eases confusion among doctors filling out the survey and reduces the amount of lobbying we get from doctors and hospitals that would like us to include more obscure specialties.

So why aren’t categories such as chiropractic and podiatry ever included in the list?

Although these areas of medicine are completely relevant, respectable, and necessary, our list is a physician-only (M.D.s and D.O.s) directory.

Does 5280 check out all the doctors on the list?

The magazine’s research department independently verifies every doctor’s name, phone number, office address, and hospital affiliations. We also take the additional step of sending our list to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies for approval— meaning doctors on our list do not currently have disciplinary actions against their licenses and have not experienced a malpractice suit and/or settlement in at least five years.

The magazine sometimes chooses doctors to be profiled or to serve as sources for the accompanying story. How are they chosen?

5280 sometimes likes to introduce you to some of our Top Docs through profiles or by using them to explain different aspects of medicine. We believe this is a great way to show our readers that these physicians are not just names on a list. In choosing doctors to include, we do our best to vary the medical specialties represented and introduce you to doctors we have never included before. Of course, sometimes our stories involve doctors who are not on the list as well.

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TOP DOCTORS 2021 Alexander Shapiro

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S

2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

GASTROENTEROLOGY Wesley Kasen

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

Louis Morris

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH, SKY RIDGE 10240 Park Meadows Drive

Lone Tree 80124 303-338-4545

Elizabeth Sofian

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, SKY RIDGE 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Erik Springer

LITTLETON, SKY RIDGE, HIGHLANDS RANCH 1001 Southpark Drive

Littleton 80120 303-722-8987

GERIATRIC MEDICINE Larry Bourg

VETERANS 1700 Wheeling St.

Aurora 80045 303-399-8020

Peter Cahill

2550 S. Parker Road, Suite 400

Aurora 80014 303-743-5333

Tom Cain

ST. ANTHONY 11700 W. Second Place, Suite 450

Lakewood 80228 303-825-1234

GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY

Kevin Davis

SWEDISH 701 E. Hampden Ave., Suite 210

Englewood 80113 303-781-9090

Julia Embry-Schubert

ST.JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Mary Jo Schmitz

SWEDISH 701 E. Hampden Ave., Suite 210

Englewood 80113 303-781-9090

Sarah Whittier

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, SKY RIDGE 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

HEMATOLOGY John Burke

AURORA 1700 S. Potomac St.

Aurora 80012 303-418-7600

Kathryn Hassell

UNIVERSITY 1665 Aurora Court, Third Floor

Aurora 80045 720-848-6400

Christopher Jones

NATIONAL JEWISH 400 Indiana St., Suite 230

Golden 80401 303-232-0602

Thomas Kenney SKY RIDGE

1 0240 Park Meadows Drive Lone Tree 80124 303-649-5460

Karen Kogel

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-861-2121

INFECTIOUS DISEASE James Colbert

UNIVERSITY 1635 Aurora Court, Seventh Floor

Jeff DesJardin

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

ST. ANTHONY, LUTHERAN, AVISTA 3885 Upham St., Suite 200

INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

Amy Duckro

Eric Aaltonen

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH, SKY RIDGE 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 720-536-6600

Charlotte Ellenbogen

AVISTA, PORTER 3885 Upham St., Suite 200

Wheat Ridge 80033 303-425-9245

John Hammer

ROSE, AURORA 4567 E. Ninth Ave.

Denver 80220 303-320-2484

INTERNAL MEDICINE Norse Bear

Aurora 80045 720-848-0000

Amy Osborne

ST. JOSEPH 1375 E. 19th Ave.

Denver 80218 303-812-2000

Cason Pierce

DENVER HEALTH 777 Bannock St., Pavilion A

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Rebecca Rivkin

Highlands Ranch 80126 303-338-4545

Morgan Unruh

DENVER HEALTH 790 Delaware St., Pavilion C

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

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Jeanie Youngwerth

UNIVERSITY 12605 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-848-0000

ROSE, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S, NORTH SUBURBAN

1746 Cole Blvd., Suite 150

Lakewood 80401 303-914-8800

Eric Malden

SWEDISH 10800 E. Geddes Ave., Suite 300

Englewood 80112 303-761-9190

Amit Sudan

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 2045 Franklin St.

MATERNAL & FETAL MEDICINE

UNIVERSITY 12605 E. 16th Ave.

Englewood 80113 720-413-7899

John Curtin

Peder Horner

Julia Limes

Jessica L. Warner

Aurora 80045 303-399-8020

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Wheat Ridge 80033 303-338-4545

DENVER HEALTH 777 Bannock St., Pavilion A

GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY

DENVER HEALTH 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

4803 Ward Road

Rebecca Mortenson

VETERANS, UNIVERSITY 1700 Wheeling St.

2045 Franklin St.

Wheat Ridge 80033 303-425-9245

Aurora 80045 303-724-1000

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 9139 S. Ridgeline Blvd.

Aurora 80045 720-848-5300

Thomas Tsai

HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE MEDICINE SWEDISH 501 E. Hampden Ave.

UNIVERSITY 12505 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-848-0191

Karina Drake

UNIVERSITY 13011 E. 17th Place

John Messenger

Jonathan Prostak Denver 80204 303-436-4949

ST. JOSEPH, SWEDISH, AURORA 1375 E. 19th Ave.

Denver 80218 303-338-4545

INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY Anuradha Gudavalli

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

Sasha Andrews

PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 2055 N. High St., Suite 230

Denver 80205 303-860-9990

Amy Gagnon

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 1960 N. Ogden St.

Denver 80128 303-338-4545

Kent Heyborne

DENVER HEALTH 790 Delaware St., Pavilion C

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Joel D. Larma

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 1960 N. Ogden St.

Denver 80128 303-338-4545

Morgan Swank

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 1960 N. Ogden St.

Denver 80128 303-338-4545

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY Susan Freeman

ST. JOSEPH, SKY RIDGE 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-861-2121

TOP DOCTORS 2021 Jesus Hermosillo Rodriguez

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-861-2121

Jessica McDermott UNIVERSITY 1665 Aurora Court

Aurora 80045 720-848-0300

Heather West

DENVER HEALTH 60 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L 6

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Anette Kunig

ST. JOSEPH’S, GOOD SAMARITAN 1375 E. 19th Ave.

Denver 80218 303-812-4442

NEPHROLOGY

Anip Bansal

UNIVERSITY 1635 Aurora Court, Seventh Floor

DENVER HEALTH, UNIVERSITY 700 Delaware St., Davis Pavilion

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Richard Dart

Greg Schlessinger

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Suite 120 Lone Tree 80124 720-696-0852

ST. JOSEPH 835 Franklin St. 1

Denver 80218 303-837-7111

MICROGRAPHIC DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY Nicole M. Annest

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 80 Exempla Circle 2

Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

Anastasia Benoit

905 W. 124th Ave., Suite 170

Westminster 80234 303-442-6647

James Chapman

AURORA, PARKER 12645 E. Euclid Drive

Centennial 80111 303-493-1910

NEONATAL-PERINATAL MEDICINE

SKY RIDGE 1 0099 Ridgegate Parkway,

NEUROCRITICAL CARE

Denver 80218 303-764-4793

Madoka Hayashi

DENVER HEALTH, CHILDREN’S 90 Delaware St., Pavilion C 7

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Denver 80205 303-861-2121

ST. JOSEPH 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-3800

NEUROLOGY Lynsee Hudson Lange

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 1375 E. 20th Ave.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Avrom Kurtz

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 720-536-6600

Scott London

LUTHERAN, ST. ANTHONY 1536 Cole Blvd., Building 4,

Nate Little

Suite 250 Lakewood 80401 303-716-8027

Lakewood 80228 303-951-0600

Edward H. Maa

ORTHOCOLORADO, PARKER 274 Union Blvd., Suite 110

Robert Neumann

UNIVERSITY 12605 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-848-0000

NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES Sandra L. Friedman

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6630

Nicole Tartaglia

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6630

John Britton

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, CHILDREN’S 1835 Franklin St.

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, NORTH SUBURBAN

William Thoman

Stuart Linas

David Gilmore

Benjamin Rubin

Aurora 80045 303-493-8333

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

William Boroughf

DENVER HEALTH 391 Speer Blvd., Suite 600 1

Aurora 80045 720-848-2080

2045 Franklin St.

Aurora 80045 720-848-0749

Littleton 80120 720-477-2500

UNIVERSITY 1635 Aurora Court

Sophia Ambruso

MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY PORTER, LITTLETON, SWEDISH 6 W. Dry Creek Circle, Suite 325 2

Kevin Lillehei

NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY Daniel Craig

DENVER HEALTH, UNIVERSITY 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Michael Drewek

ORTHOCOLORADO, ST. ANTHONY 660 Golden Ridge Road, Suite 250

Golden 80401 303-233-1223

DENVER HEALTH 700 Delaware St., Davis Pavilion

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Simon Oh

AURORA 1400 S. Potomac St., Suite 201

Aurora 80012 720-248-5200

NEUROLOGY (SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS IN CHILD NEUROLOGY) Timothy Bernard

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6895

Julie A. Parsons

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Andrew White

DENVER HEALTH, CHILDREN’S 301 W. Sixth Ave., Pavilion G

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

NEUROMUSCULAR MEDICINE Paul Foley

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 720-536-6600

Heidi G. Ray

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 10350 E. Dakota Ave.

Denver 80247 303-338-4545

NEURORADIOLOGY Scott R. Andersen

10240 Park Meadows Drive

Lone Tree 80124 303-338-4545

Joseph Houkal

DENVER HEALTH 777 Bannock St.

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Sirisha Komakula 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

NEUROTOLOGY Carol Foster

UNIVERSITY 1635 Aurora Court

Aurora 80045 720-848-2800

Samuel Gubbels

UNIVERSITY, CHILDREN’S 635 Aurora Court 1

Aurora 80045 720-848-2820

David Nosan

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

NUCLEAR MEDICINE Eric K. Bode

10240 Park Meadows Drive

Aurora 80045 720-777-6895

Lone Tree 80124 303-338-4545

Ben Ross

Linda Miketic-Fielding

CHILDREN’S, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S, SWEDISH 2055 High St., Suite 210

Denver 80205 303-226-7230

DENVER HEALTH 60 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L 6

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

CONTINUED ON PAGE 116

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Boulder’s Mesa Trail

TRAIL RUNNING

THE 5280 BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO

What you need to know to outpace the crowds and (eventually) conquer some of Colorado’s gnarliest—and most beautiful—terrain.

BY SARAH BANKS & SPENCER CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH BANKS

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Dream State

NOTE: We verified the mileages and vertical gains on the following pages with land managers when possible, but these figures can vary based on where you access each trail. Research your specific intended route ahead of time; trailrunproject.com and alltrails.com are good resources.

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EASY Coyote Song Trail, South Valley Park, Littleton Length: 3 miles, out and back Vertical gain: 301 feet WHY I RUN

“I like to run because I can and because running is hard. It’s taught me that I really can overcome some of the hardest obstacles of my life. As a mom, as a woman, as a wife, I can get through anything.”

—Lindsley Kump (pictured at top), founder of Womxn Who Move, a Colorado-based Instagram community

A smooth transition from road to trail running, Coyote Song is a lullaby. Compared with concrete, its soft path is forgiving on your joints, and its rise is as gentle as they come. The trail features dramatic red rock formations to the east and the rolling expanse of the park’s namesake valley to the west.

If you go early, the sun will stir you from your stupor by emerging over the cliffs and turning the landscape into a glowing emerald dream. Is trail running always so beautiful? Yes. So easy? Hell no.

Arthur Mount

Elite off-road runners flock to the Front Range, and it’s easy to see why: A quick scroll through Instagram finds Boulder’s Scott Jurek, who once held the speed record for the Appalachian Trail, bounding up Mt. Bierstadt; Leadville’s Courtney Dauwalter, 2018’s Ultra Runner of the Year, dangling her running shoes over a snowy peak; and a shirtless Anton Krupicka, a two-time winner of the Leadville Trail 100 Run, balancing on the edge of the First Flatiron. ■ Every year, the epic images inspire a growing number of Coloradans to follow in these world-class athletes’ footsteps; the allure of reaching our most majestic and peaceful places solely on their own power is seemingly irresistible to the state’s outdoorrecreation-happy populace. The problem? Newbies may know how to run, but they don’t know how to trail run. “People get these big summer dreams and then burn themselves to embers right away,” says David Roche, who leads the Boulder-based Some Work, All Play running team with his wife, Megan. ■ That’s not to say beginners need to hire running coaches and nutritionists and divest their 401(k)s to buy all the latest gear.

They do need a plan, however.

We spent a year getting up to speed on Colorado’s scene and tapping into the expertise of some of the state’s most accomplished runners—all to help you blaze a trail without burning out.

TRAIL RUNNING

Running together

Looking for your trail tribe? Start by reading up on these four Front Range groups.

TRAILTINOS

Basics: Founded in June 2020, Trailtinos meets every other Sunday around 8:30 a.m. for group runs; times and locations can be found on Facebook and Instagram.

Purpose: “This is a very white sport,” co-founder Victor Fallon says. “We wanted to create some diversity, so we started a simple group run for people of color.”

Size: Five to 15 people Who should come: BIPOC runners of all abilities. “Right now, we’re keeping it to people of color,” Fallon says. “But eventually we want to open it to everyone.”

Off off-road activities: The group often meets at a Hispanicowned restaurant, such as Cultura Chocolate in Westwood, goes for a run, then heads back to the eatery for breakfast or coffee.

FRONT RANGE CROSS COUNTRY (FRXC)

■ HAPPY TRAILS

West Denver

Basics: FRXC, born in 2015, meets for group runs every Wednesday around 6 p.m.; times and locations are posted on Facebook.

Purpose: “The original founders started the club because they were intimidated by the more serious groups in the area,” member Nick Leuck says.

Size of the group: 20 to 50 people Who should come: “People new to the sport,” Leuck says.

“You can run at your own pace, and we stop at all trail intersections so the last person can catch up.”

Off off-road activities: FRXC always meets at a brewery—often New Terrain Brewing near North Table Mountain in Golden—after its outings.

DENVER TRAIL RUNNERS (DTR)

MODERATE

CHALLENGING

Green Mountain Trail, William F. Hayden Green Mountain Park, Lakewood Length: 6.6 miles, round-trip loop Vertical gain: 800–1,000 feet

Castle Trail, Mount Falcon Park, Morrison Length: 7.2 miles, out and back Vertical gain: 1,737 feet

Just 20 minutes from downtown, Green Mountain Park’s nest of trails is, you guessed it, crowded.

But its varied options, accessible from a number of different trailheads, meet you wherever you are in your running ascent.

Want an easier climb than the Green Mountain loop offers from the Rooney Road trailhead? Try 1.6-mile Hayden Trail via the Utah trailhead off West Alameda Parkway. Or, for more secluded singletrack, take 3.8-mile Rooney Valley Trail from Forsberg Park.

Starting from Mount Falcon Park’s eastern trailhead in Morrison, the initial, steep incline to the junctions of Walker’s Dream and TwoDog trails can make Castle feel like an insurmountable feat. Still, it’s easy to stay positive when you’re in scenery so attractive that it served as the backdrop of a commercial for the North Face. And, of course, a sheer uphill also means an exhilarating downhill.

Basics: Established in 2000, DTR meets every Thursday night at 6:15 p.m. and every Sunday around 7 a.m. during the summer and 8 a.m. during the winter. Locations are posted on Facebook.

Purpose: “To run and make friends on the trail,” says Rebecca Hall, one of the group’s Facebook moderators.

Size of the group: 20 to 30 people Who should come: “Anyone who wants to run on trails,” Hall says. “It’s a great way to learn trails on the Front Range. That being said, we have quick people, too.”

Off off-road activities: Once a month, DTR hosts a potluck dinner after a Thursday night run; the group also organizes trail crew volunteer outings.

TRAIL SISTERS

Basics: Buena Vista–based Gina Lucrezi’s online journal, founded

in 2016, has spawned 130-plus trail running groups nationwide.

Visit communities.trailsisters.net to join your local chapter (Boulder, Golden, Fort Collins, etc.) and access its schedule.

Purpose: “Our mission is to grow women’s participation in hiking and running through education,” says Lucrezi, whose site also hosts more than 700 crowdsourced articles on topics such as backcountry safety, nutrition, and training while pregnant.

Size of the groups: From five to more than 20 Who should come: Anyone who identifies as a woman. “We’re reserving a place where women can work on educating, empowering, and growing confidence with each other,” Lucrezi says.

Off off-road activities: Local groups often form book clubs and volunteer at race aid stations.

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Dear Lisa

If you’ve been on Colorado’s crowded singletrack lately, you know that things can get...testy. We asked Boulder’s Lisa Jhung— author of Trailhead: The Dirt on All Things Trail Running—for tips on how America’s 11 million off-road runners, eight million mountain bikers, and nearly 50 million hikers can learn to get along.

SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE, STEP ASIDE: As a general rule, mountain bikers should yield to foot traffic and all trail users should yield to horses. But before you deputize yourself, consider this: Jhung recommends yielding based on effort, and in certain situations, it’s much easier for a runner to stop than a cyclist. If it’s possible for you to move off the trail, find a nice rock to stand on and think about all the karma points you’re racking up.

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golden

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PASS WITH CLASS: “I’m

not a big fan of screaming, ‘On your left!’ ” Jhung says. “I don’t think that makes anyone happy.” Emitting a polite noise, like clearing your throat, is typically enough to alert others of your presence and intent to pass. If they still don’t acknowledge you, escalating to a pleasant “Excuse me” will likely be more effective than hollering out “Hey!” Getting passed, meanwhile, is not an invitation to race; listen for others and let faster runners through.

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CONSIDER THE CONDITIONS: Nothing says trail noob like splashing down paths after a three-day stretch of rain. If you do encounter the occasional puddle or mud patch, run straight through it in order to avoid widening the trail. “We don’t want our singletrack trails turning into doubletrack,” Jhung says.

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EASY

MODERATE

North Table Loop to Mesa Top Trail, North Table Mountain Length: 5.6 miles, round-trip loop Vertical gain: 736 feet

Enchanted Forest Trail, Apex Park Length: 2.8 miles, out and back Vertical gain: 486 feet

To avoid the crowds of North Table Mountain’s west trailhead, start at the east entrance. (Parking is limited off Easley Road, but you can find spots at the Tony Grampsas Memorial Sports Complex.) From there, Lithic Trail connects to North Table, a loop that extends 7.4 miles. To shave almost two miles off, go counterclockwise on North Table until you hit Mesa Top, which bisects the circle with a long, legburning hill. On the descent, look for a small, seasonal waterfall—an oasis in the high desert landscape.

Since September 2020, Enchanted Forest (and 1.3-mile Magic Mountain Trail) have belonged to trail runners on odd dates and bikers on even dates. While it may look easy, there’s more to this story: Reaching the happy ending of Enchanted Forest from Apex’s east trailhead, via Magic Mountain, requires an immense climb over a short span. The west trailhead connects directly to Enchanted’s fairy-tale pines and dives downhill—but, of course, you have to retrace your steps up a steep incline to go home.

Matt Trappe

MIND YOUR BUSINESS: Nature calls every runner at some point. When number one rings, get out of sight—and at least 200 feet (about 70 steps) from the trail and water sources—by stepping on rocks, grass, or dirt instead of moss and wildflowers. If it’s number two? Go the same distance, then dig a hole six inches deep, do your thing, and bury it thoroughly. “Nobody wants to trip on dirt and unearth your business,” Jhung says.

■ HAPPY TRAILS

TRAIL RUNNING

Close Encounters

This past summer, we almost ran into a moose in the Indian Peaks Wilderness; nearly stepped on a snake at a Boulder trailhead; and glimpsed a bear and her cubs in Steamboat Springs. We got off easy: In 2019, a trail runner near Fort Collins had to kill an attacking mountain lion with his bare hands.

Animals aren’t usually spoiling for a tussle, but here are some survival guidelines, just in case. ✖ Mountain lions: Never approach a cougar, but don’t run, either; you don’t want it to think you’re prey. Rather, act like a threat by speaking in a firm voice and making yourself as large as possible. If a mountain lion does attack, fight back and go for the eyes. These animals don’t like a challenge. ✖ Black bears: You might have been told to ball up and play dead in the event of a bear encounter. That’s good advice for grizzlies—which have been considered locally extinct since 1951. Like mountain lions, our less aggressive black bears likely won’t square up to a threat, so get big and loud. (Just to be safe, though, avoid known black bear habitats at dawn and dusk; that’s when they are the most lively.)

CHALLENGING

From left: Arthur Mount; Getty Images (2)

Cedar Gulch Trail to Mount Galbraith Loop, Mount Galbraith Park Length: 4.2 miles, round-trip loop Vertical gain: 928 feet

An important lesson to learn about trail running: Some of the most beautiful vantage points are the hardest to reach.

This loop climbs fewer than 1,000 feet, but it feels like more because of the highly technical path, whose rocky outcroppings you’ll need to maneuver around.

From the east side of the mountain, you can see Golden and North Table Mountain; from the west, dramatic foothills unfurl. Between them, gold, white, red, and blue wildflowers float on the greenery.

WHY I RUN

“With the onslaught of technological advances and our shortening attention spans, running is the one part of my day I can always rely on as being restorative, rejuvenating, meditative, and, a lot of times, social.

It makes me feel alive.”

—Clare Gallagher, Boulder-based pro and winner of the 2016 Leadville Trail 100 Run and 2019 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run

✖ Snakes: The only poisonous snakes you’ll encounter in Colorado have rattles.

Should you hear that heart-stopping shake, back off and give the serpent a wide berth. Even if it’s still, chances are it knows you’re there: Snakes can sense your presence based on your movements and body heat. ✖ Moose: Perhaps the most dangerous animal on this list, moose record the most animalhuman conflicts in Colorado and get particularly aggressive in summer, after the cows give birth. If you stumble upon protective parents, move away slowly.

Should one look like it’s charging, sprint in the other direction and try to put a large object, like a tree or a boulder, between you and the giant ungulate.

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Failure Is Absolutely An Option

Carbondale ultrarunner Zoë Rom is not only the host of Trail Runner magazine’s DNF (race parlance for “did not finish”) podcast, in which interview confessionals teach listeners how to learn from letdowns.

She’s also a failure herself—and, as she tells it, she’s all the better for it.

EASY Canyon Loop, Betasso Preserve Length: 3.3 miles, round-trip loop Vertical gain: 429 feet WHY I RUN

“I love to explore. Running is the perfect sport for that. I can see a peak off in the distance and my feet can get me there. I’m able to live out my dreams of finding out where trails go and let my curiosity lead the adventure.”

—Joseph Gray, Colorado Springs– based pro, World Trail Running Championships winner, and founder of Project Inspire Diversity, which provides gear to young runners of color

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Part of Betasso’s appeal is that bikes are outlawed on Wednesdays and Saturdays: Not having to dodge marauding groups of cyclists allows new trail runners to soak in the Boulder Canyon circuit’s bucolic charm.

Although the trail circles grassy meadows, most of the path cuts through pine forest, which provides a welcome canopy on blazing summer days. There’s no dramatic vista payoff, but thanks to the smooth trail, tranquil brooks, and restorative aroma of ponderosa pine, the run itself is a destination.

From left: Courtesy of TJ David; Arthur Mount

I ran the Leadville Trail 100 and DNFed at mile 86. It was not a cute DNF. I was struggling to maintain consciousness. It had been a struggle to eat. I was hypothermic. I was just sitting, struggling to cry, on the side of the trail, watching like 100 people run past me while I was waiting for search and rescue. It stings because you’re embarrassed.

I really thought that by finishing a 100-mile race, I would finally see myself as a trail runner or an ultrarunner and I would be welcomed into some amazing club. Finally, my value as an athlete would be apparent and obvious. It became super clear that that was not going to happen.

What’s so weird is that it was definitely one of the best days of my life. I was surrounded by friends and family, some who came out from Arkansas.

After I got pulled out of an ambulance and cleared to go home, we all got pizza for breakfast. I’ve never felt so loved. It hit home for me that the reason people are there for you isn’t because you’re a runner or because you’re good at something or because of some exterior result. People love you because you’re worthy of love. It just sucks that I had to freeze my butt off at 10,000 feet to figure it out.

TRAIL RUNNING

a higher calling

Boulder running coach David Roche—who co-authored 2018’s The Happy Runner: Love the Process, Get Faster, Run Longer with his wife, Megan, a physician—lays out how to achieve the physical and mental state of flow (or transcendence, if you want to get philosophical about things).

ACHIEVE NIRVANA Roche describes flow as “when your normal level of consciousness isn’t the one driving your actions. It requires lots of effort at first, then none at all, and it’s definitely the pot of gold waiting at the end of the rainbow for any runner, not just professionals.” This byproduct of proper training sounds difficult—even unobtainable—but trust us: You’ll know it when you feel it.

HIGH PRIEST(ESS)

■ HAPPY TRAILS

Arthur Mount (4)

Boulder

MODERATE

CHALLENGING

Lion’s Lair Trail Length: 4.4 miles, out and back Vertical gain: 711 feet

Mesa Trail, Chautauqua Park Length: 13.8 miles, out and back Vertical gain: 1,714 feet

Think of this as your Rocky moment. Instead of predawn streets and the stairs in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, however, this seven-year-old trail features a smooth, switchbacking path up the north side of Sunshine Canyon before a final climb to the peak of Mt. Sanitas. (You don’t have to worry about bikes or dogs either; both are prohibited.) And with apologies to the City of Brotherly Love, Philly simply can’t compete with the sprawling view of Boulder from Sanitas’ 6,863-foot crest.

Mesa is the beautiful backbone of a trail network that spans south from Chautauqua to the Eldorado Canyon area. Spurs to the east mostly head downhill to trailheads and neighborhoods; anything to the west is likely to gain elevation, and fast. To test your quads, take the Fern Canyon and Nebel Horn trails west to the 7,574-foot summit of the latter’s namesake peak. Or just stick to the main turnpike of Mesa and watch the landscape change from open fields of golden dandelions to the looming slabs of the Flatirons to evergreen forest.

GO TO THE MOUNTAINTOP After

three to four weeks of consistent running, it’s time for hill strides. Simply run an incline at a fast clip for 10 to 30 seconds and then run easily (or walk) for a minute or two. The training technique prevents your progress from stagnating and, as you conquer more and more workouts, convinces your brain that you—yes, you—are a boss runner.

PERFORM RITUALS Runners’ bodies are machines that must be maintained.

Employ a foam roller (the firmest you can find) on your legs and lower back for 10 minutes once you get home from a run. For strength training, Roche recommends his Three-Minute Mountain Legs routine two to four times a week: 20 to 50 single-leg rear lunges followed by 30 to 100 single-leg step-ups.

PREPARE THE TEMPLE The physical impact of running can be substantial, so ready yourself for the rigors of the trail. Start with short off-road runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays (10 to 15 minutes); stretch to longer outings on Saturdays and Sundays; and rest on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

NEOPHYTE

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PaceSetters

You might think you already have all the gear you need to become a capable trail runner. But there are some items that are worth upgrading in order to reach Colorado’s most alluring locales.

WHY I RUN

“My ‘why I run’ has changed through different periods of my life. In my 20s, it was about what my body was capable of. That need and drive to find out my limits isn’t the same. At this point, it’s about the curiosity of what’s out there and making it a social activity.”

—Gina Lucrezi, founder of Colorado-based Trail Sisters, an online and in-person community that will host the inaugural Trail Sisters Women’s Trail Half Marathon in Buena Vista on September 11

In 2019, Outside ran a story titled “Trail Runners Are Lazy Parasites.” The provocative headline was backed up by none other than Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC), a nonprofit whose spokesperson claimed in the piece that, anecdotally, off-road runners volunteered to build and maintain trails at a much lower rate than hikers and, yes, mountain bikers. Thankfully, the public shaming worked: “We’ve seen their numbers increase since then,” says Kellie Flowers, VOC’s senior marketing and communications manager, “especially with races starting to make volunteer work a requirement for acceptance.” To ensure we never again cede the moral high ground to the fat-tire set, however, you can volunteer to join a VOC trail crew (its outings run from April through October) at voc.org.

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SHOES

SOCKS

WATER BOTTLE

What’s in your closet: Street running shoes with lots of padding against concrete What you should buy: Denver-based Altra’s Lone Peak 5 ($130) will help you feel more connected to the trail because of its drop sole; instead of a raised heel, it’s closer to the ground, so it helps you feel more nimble. (Note: To avoid injury, transition to a lower heel gradually and mind your form and strength training.) It still provides protection from the occasional jagged rock thanks to a stone guard, a removable insert that runs the length of the sole.

What’s in your closet: A dozen mismatched ankle socks What you should buy: Smartwool’s PhD Pro Endurance Print Crew ($26) was co-designed by Rob Krar, who won three 100-mile races, including the Leadville Trail 100 Run, in 11 weeks in 2014. Krar added extra padding around the ankle to protect against shoeon-ankle irritation and venting over the top of the foot to prevent your shoe from becoming a swamp. Those extras are nice, but the Endurance earns its price tag with its security: It’s as tight as Batman’s suit.

What’s in your cabinet: A Hydro Flask metal cannister, which may keep water delightfully chilly but also weighs about 100 pounds What you should buy: Broomfield’s Ultimate Direction’s Clutch 5.0 ($40), which carries about 16 ounces of water and slides around your thumb like a glove, might seem like an unnecessary expense for beginners, seeing as you don’t need to hydrate on-trail if you’re running for less than an hour. But a bottle whose presence you barely notice feels like a bargain on exposed North Table Mountain during a scorching summer day.

Arthur Mount

Don’t Suck

TRAIL RUNNING

Chasing The Dream

These routes cover expert-level terrain that even the most veteran runners find challenging. You’re not ready for that. But you can dream. And train. And train some more.

Until one day, you just might be prepared to run the most breathtaking loops the Centennial State has to offer.

Zirkel Circle, Mount Zirkel Wilderness Length: 10.4 miles, round-trip loop Vertical gain: 2,360 feet

Pawnee-Buchanan Loop, Indian Peaks Wilderness Length: 26.5 miles, round-trip loop Vertical gain: 6,632 feet

Zirkel features a perfect vantage to take in deep blue Gilpin Lake, surrounded by the Mount Zirkel Wilderness’ jagged peaks, from the trail’s high point atop Gilpin Ridge. Pro tip: The loop is more approachable if you run clockwise, so the majority of elevation gain happens over the first half of the circle. The downhill finish is especially helpful when outrunning the thunderstorms that inevitably form in the afternoons.

Don’t let the unbeatable wildflower viewing lure your eyes off this rocky route for too long.

The majority of the trail is above treeline, meandering by Isabelle Lake and Cascade Falls and traversing Pawnee and Buchanan passes. Pro tip: Start early. The ideal takeoff point is Brainard Lake Recreation Area’s Long Lake trailhead, where parking is limited.

Venable-Comanche Loop, Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Length: 12.2 miles, round-trip loop Vertical gain: 3,740 feet

With a sheer drop to one side, the Phantom Terrace, an exposed section of this trail about 12,700 feet up the Sangres, will make you question your life choices.

Pro tip: Keep right on the Venable Trail just before the Phantom Terrace for an extra challenge in the form of the Rito Alto Four Pass Loop, a separate, seldomtrafficked route that adds 23 miles.

HAT

FUEL

What’s in your closet: A giveaway Rockies cap What you should buy: GearJunkie’s top running hat of 2021, Boulder’s Headsweats’ Performance Race Hat ($21), is an ungainly sum of parts—a sweatband attached to a bill covered by breathable polyester. In case that wasn’t clear: You will not look attractive wearing it. Platypus vibe aside, the Performance Race Hat has been designed to do exactly what you as a runner need a cap to do, which is to keep the sun off your face and sweat out of your eyes—and then survive a trip through the spin cycle.

What’s in your pantry: Gatorade and Kind bars What you should buy: Anytime you’re running longer than an hour, you need fluids, says Kylee Van Horn, a Carbondale dietician and Trail Runner magazine columnist. Spike your water with electrolytes, such as those in Boulderbased Skratch Labs’ Sport Hydration Mix ($1 per serving), to replenish sodium and potassium and prevent cramps.

For runs longer than 75 minutes, start munching from the outset.

Steamboat Springs’ Honey Stinger Waffles ($24 for 16) are a convenient option.

Four Pass Loop, Maroon Bells– Snowmass Wilderness Length: 27.1 miles, round-trip loop Vertical gain: 7,265 feet

There’s no shortage of incredible vistas when you’re summiting four 12,000-plus-foot passes, but the views of Snowmass Lake— a turquoise gem at the base of Snowmass Mountain—from the top of Trail Rider Pass will take away whatever breath you have left. Pro tip: Taking the counterclockwise route (hitting Buckskin Pass first) ensures a great photo op of Snowmass Lake bathed in morning light. m

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The Tenmile Range forms a dramatic backdrop to Summit High School; a candid photo of Toby Gard on his mom’s phone

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L I F E A N D D E AT H IN THE MOUNTAINS After two teens died by suicide last year, how will Summit County address its ongoing mental health crisis?

BY DEVON O’NEIL P H O T O G R A P H Y BY K E V I N M O H AT T

E

arly on the afternoon of April 20, 2020, half a dozen teenage boys drove to a trailhead just east of Breckenridge. They hiked up a hill and formed a ramp out of the sticky spring snow, carefully etching their friend’s name into the front of their creation: T-O-B-Y. Then they strapped on their snowboards and took turns launching off the jump, soaring up to 20 feet in the air before returning to the earth. Summit County public health orders at the time discouraged such a gathering, but the boys, who hadn’t seen each other in weeks, were hurting. They stayed for five hours, releasing their grief in primal screams each time they took off: “This one’s for Toby!”

Toby Gard was a second-generation Breckenridge boy. His grandfather, Bill Tinker, had founded a well-known local electric company; his mom, Heather, spent part of her childhood living in an 1800s mining cabin up Browns Gulch.

Toby fit the stereotypical mountain kid mold: He was a gifted athlete who played five sports, made the honor roll, and had charming dimples. He competed hard and suffered three concussions playing hockey by the time he was 13. “The third was a doozy,” Heather says. “He knew his first name but not his last. He was fully in retrograde amnesia.”

That third concussion ended his hockey career, but he had been looking forward to the 2020 lacrosse season at Summit High School before it was canceled as a result of the pandemic. Stuck at home, Toby began to rebel more than a usual teen might. He snuck out late at night to drink, vape, and smoke marijuana

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concentrates. He argued with his mom and dad. They told him the pandemic would be over soon, but it didn’t ease his anxiety. “He said to us many times, ‘I’ve got to get out of here,’ ” Heather says. “ ‘This is really not good for me. I can’t handle this isolation. I need to be with my friends.’ ” Heather asked him if he wanted to see a therapist, but Toby demurred.

In the early hours of April 20, sleepdeprived from sneaking out that night, he argued with his parents over the use of his phone. He did not want to give it up when he went to bed. “You don’t know what you’re doing to me,” he said repeatedly.

As he and his mother stood in his room, “He said, ‘Mom, I just don’t know what to do,’ ” Heather recalls. She hugged her son.

“I didn’t know to ask him if he was feeling suicidal. I didn’t know to ask him to clarify.

He had started to calm down.” Heather left his room and went to take a bath. By the time she got out of the tub, Toby was gone.

He was 16.

FOSTER KRUEGER SAT ALONE in his bedroom on Frisco’s Main Street, sobbing. He had just found out that Toby, his childhood friend and former hockey teammate, had died by suicide in Breckenridge.

Krueger had seen Toby two months earlier, while the boys were volunteering at a pond hockey tournament in Silverthorne. After their shifts they stayed on the ice. “He gave me some tips on shooting, because he was always way better than I was,” Krueger says.

“We were just passing and skating around, having fun. He was smiling. I couldn’t see hurt in his eyes.”

In the time after that carefree day, however, Toby had struggled. The early weeks of the COVID-19 shutdown severed his ties to school, friends, and sports, a void that his mother believes was at least 50 percent responsible for his death.

Even before Toby died, area therapists worried about the dangers of isolating adolescents. Casey Wolfington, the community behavioral health director at Vail Health, compared the idea with placing a newborn in a room by itself and not touching it or feeding it. “I said over and over: ‘We cannot lock them up,’ ” says Stacy Smith, a Friscobased counselor who runs a nonprofit for grieving kids called Club Forget Me Not. “Teenagers are social beasts by nature—they need each other. We lost sight of the fact that they need more than adults or young children do. And they need it differently.

Arguably this happened everywhere; rates of teen depression and anxiety skyrocketed across the United States.”

Heather, who then was a full-time substitute elementary teacher for Summit School District, called the principal at her school at 6 a.m. on April 21, informing her that her son had died. The principal shared the news with the district, then called Heather back later that morning: Social media chatter among students suggested there may have been a suicide pact among multiple kids.

That same morning, the Gards met with Smith, whose work often involves death and dying and who is sometimes asked by the coroner to assist with families affected by youth suicide. She and Heather also knew each other personally. Smith gathered information about Toby’s social circle in an effort to begin identifying anyone who might need help—and to discern whether there actually was a pact. Other clinicians and volunteers did the same. Names of at-risk kids poured into an anonymous crisis reporting line, Safe2Tell, as well as to a wide network of community members; they in turn relayed the information to law enforcement and co-responder units, who visited homes around the county. “It was to the point where police officers were like, This is not normally in our realm,” Smith says.

“But they wanted to prevent another suicide.”

This spread, from left: Heather Gard with the urn that holds Toby’s remains; Heather in Toby’s bedroom this past June

IN THE DAYS AFTER Toby’s death, rumors about a pact spread. There were no names, just numbers of how many might be involved. “At one point I heard up to six,” Krueger, then a junior at Summit High, recalls. “And then four, three. Nobody ever said why. I was scared. I was kind of waiting to hear another name, to be honest.”

Just after noon on April 29, that name came. Students and parents received an email with the subject line, “Important News from Summit High School.”

“It is with a heavy heart that we have learned about the passing of Christopher Darst, a 9th Grader. We continue to live through difficult times during this COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of life is absolutely devastating to our families and learning community.”

With two Summit High students dying by suicide in nine days, grief mixed with fear in households throughout the county. Local mental health professionals struggled to respond. “I can remember being on four different calls at the same time, switching between lines,” says Lieutenant Daric Gutzwiller, who oversees the Sheriff ’s Office’s co-responder unit, a team of deputies and mental health clinicians known as SMART (Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Team). Summit High counselors, four of whom serve a student body of 960, couldn’t meet their students at school because the building was closed as a result of the pandemic.

So they stood in driveways and listened while the kids stood on their porches and talked.

Teachers who had established close relationships with their students leaned on them for information. “The kids would tell me, straight up, that they wanted to kill themselves,” says Caroline Hesford, the school’s choir, drama, and piano teacher. “I would call the school counselors. That probably happened with five or six kids in a month. Some of them would get upset that

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L I F E A N D D E AT H I N T H E M O U N TA I N S

I had said something, but I’m like, Wouldn’t you rather me say something than you not be here? And then we’d have those conversations later.”

Smith and Gutzwiller say they found no evidence of a pact, which is defined by psychologists as an agreement among multiple people to end their lives together, or separately at coordinated times. But Heather Gard isn’t so sure.

She says a third boy who attempted suicide multiple times told someone there had been an agreement among several kids. The boy’s mother learned of the information and later told Heather while dropping off a meal at her home.

A third death never came, however, and many who were involved later pointed to the coordinated effort among Summit County’s first-response network, as well as public and private mental health workers, for keeping kids alive.

“They were the most terrifying months of my life,” says Jen McAtamney, who is the executive director of the Summit County–based mental health nonprofit Building Hope and whose daughter, then a senior, had suffered from depression.

“You live every moment scared that if you let them out of your sight something bad is going to happen, but at the same time you know you have to let them out of your sight because you can’t keep them strapped to your side.”

NINE PEOPLE DIED by suicide in Summit County last year—each of them

This spread, from left: Foster Krueger at North Pond, the last place he saw Toby; a memorial with Christopher’s and Toby’s names, among others; counselor Stacy Smith wants the community to be more open about mental health issues.

after the pandemic began. Not long ago, that would have qualified as historic. From 1993 to 2002, Summit averaged 3.6 suicides per year, with a

high of six. But over the past decade, the average has jumped to 8.2. In a sign of how dire things have gotten, the nine suicides in 2020 marked only Summit’s fifth-highest total of the past seven years. Summit’s 10-year suicide rate of 27 per 100,000 people is almost double the national average of 14.

Stacy Smith remembers sitting in a meeting of Summit County leaders 17 or 18 years ago, early in her career as a private practitioner.

She wanted to address the region’s growing suicide rate. “We were having a big discussion about what is the problem and where are the holes in supporting our community,” Smith recalls. “I raised my hand and said, ‘Why don’t we publicize this so people are aware?’ I don’t remember who, but someone said something along the lines of, Because we don’t want our community and our visitors to know what’s going on. That was a defining moment for me. It changed who I am as a clinician.”

Times have changed, to a degree, from those days; much of that shift began with the 2017 founding of Building Hope, and the private donations and tax-based funding that pays for its therapy sessions. But, according to Smith, prevention efforts are hampered by power struggles behind the scenes, often between clinicians and decision-makers.

“Everybody wants the same thing when you bring them to the table. They want the community cared for,” Smith says. “But we also piss on our territory, and we don’t want anyone stepping into it.”

AS SPRING TURNED INTO SUMMER,

Krueger and his friends started meeting to play catch or throw a Frisbee. They’d hike into the mountains or drive up a dirt road to camp for the night. They craved interaction.

The virus seemed like less of a threat than the consequences of not being together— especially whenever Toby’s or Christopher’s name came up.

With the new school year looming, the question of whether students would be able to attend in person or be limited to “Zoom school” was front of mind for nearly everyone. Heather showed up at multiple school board meetings to comment as a mother and relived watching her son “pull away” during the lockdown. “We cannot discount,” she said at the July 30 meeting, “how devastating the mental health problem is.”

The high school started with a hybrid schedule that included two days in person, staggered by last name, which was more than a lot of school districts around the state were offering. “Obviously, students were complaining about some stuff, but most were just appreciating that we got to be back in school,” 94

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BRECK SUICIDE Krueger says. “We were glad we got to see at least some friends two days a week.”

Teenage parties came back, too. On the night of Saturday, October 17, 2020, Krueger and about two dozen of his friends attended a birthday party hosted by a senior, at a time when the limit for gatherings was 10. He had shared a hotel room with a hockey teammate not long before the party, and, unbeknownst to him, the teammate had recently been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Krueger doesn’t know if he contracted the virus from his teammate or someone at the party, but he tested positive early the following week. Because of lags in contact tracing, he announced his result on Snapchat so that anyone who was at the party could get tested immediately.

Nine kids who were at the gathering eventually tested positive, and Summit Public Health reported 22 cases among high school students that week. The following Sunday, Summit High announced in-person learning had been suspended until November 9.

Krueger, who’d been elected Summit High’s student-body president, and his friends took criticism from all angles. Members of the public blamed them for risking the county’s ski season and, in turn, its tourism-based economy.

Krueger stayed in his room for two weeks, relying on video calls with his quarantined friends and a daily regimen of 150 sit-ups and push-ups to keep him upbeat. One night he and his best friend stayed on a call long after others had logged off. More than a year earlier, the same friend had confided to Krueger that he struggled with mental health issues. Now, he said, he’d been depressed again. Krueger’s antennae shot up, especially given the potential return to virtual learning through the holidays because of rising case numbers across the county. If the school went fully remote, his friend said, he might not do well. “In that

moment, I was like, Oh, my God, there’s going to be another situation here,” Krueger says. “And it might be my best friend next.”

Six days after Heather Gard anchored a widely viewed webinar titled Voice of a Grieving Mother: I lost my son to suicide, Krueger spoke at the Summit Board of Education meeting and made a case to continue the current hybrid learning model. The district announced on November 20 that it would go to full-time virtual learning through the holidays. That afternoon, Krueger emailed then district superintendent Marion Smith Jr., begging to stay in person. He cited suicide rates and transmission patterns and brought up Christopher and Toby by name. “Is it worth it to put us at risk of suicide simply to stop the spread of a disease that isn’t spreading at the high school? ...This email is a plea on behalf of myself and the student body.” The superintendent replied two days later, writing in part: “In the end, it’s about following data and making leadership decisions (whether favorable or not) that center the safety and health of all 3,200 SSD scholars and 500+ staff, while providing continued learning opportunities.”

On November 21, Krueger emailed a survey to 111 Summit High teachers and staff. Among other things, he asked if they felt safe at school, whether they’d rather be in person or virtual, and if they supported the idea of remaining on a hybrid schedule. He got CONTINUED ON PAGE 120 about 20 responses.

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His passion for helping patients put their best “face” forward has led to the success of Dr. Raval’s practice in the Art of Facial Plastic Surgery™. After being named a 5280 Top Doctor for several years (an award based on nominations from other physicians); his peers seem to agree. For more than 20 years, Dr. Raval and his team have provided caring service to local, national, and international patients.

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Dr. Raval is known in Denver as the leader in rhinoplasty (nose job) and facelift procedures. As interest in non-surgical rejuvenation has grown, so has his expertise in this area. Dr. Raval has become a leading practitioner in the use of Botox, Dysport and dermal fillers. All these tools, combined with his education, training, and years of experience, have helped his patients achieve their best look with minimal downtime.

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PANORAMA ORTHOPEDICS & SPINE CENTER Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center has been a trusted orthopedic provider in metro Denver for over 70 years. Though we have grown in size over time, our values have remained the same.

Our independent group of more than 40 orthopedic surgeons is one of the largest orthopedic groups in the United States. Here, we are committed to quality, teamwork and accountability. We are proud to have ten of our exceptional physicians recognized as this year’s 5280 Top Docs.

Specialization and quality are hallmarks of our practice. It is this specialization and focus, along with a commitment to constant improvement that allows us to be the very best at what we do. With such a large team of doctors, each is able to focus solely on their individual specialty. Every orthopedic surgeon at Panorama is fellowship-trained. This means that beyond their general orthopedic training they have gone on to specialize in

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one individual area of orthopedics. This specialization means our doctors become experts in their area of focus. This is correlated with greater quality—for you that translates into less pain, better outcomes, shorter hospital stays, fewer infections and higher patient satisfaction. By having physicians who focus their practice in highly specialized areas, our patients are treated with more skill, more experience and a better understanding of their needs.

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CONTINUE READING ON PAGE 100 › MICHAEL LERSTEN, MD 1 5280 Top Doctor 2021

TODD WENTE, MD 1 5280 Top Doctor 2021

WADE FAULK, MD 1 5280 Top Doctor 2021

JESSE CHRASTIL, MD 1 5280 Top Doctor 2021

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OUR TOP DOCTORS MICHAEL LERSTEN, MD, is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician, specializing in interventional spine, sports medicine and pain management. He has a special interest in regenerative medicine with the use of orthobiologics, which is the use of biological substances to facilitate the healing process of orthopedic injuries.

DANIEL HABER, MD, is a sports medicine and orthopedic surgeon, specializing in musculoskeletal conditions of the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee. Given Dr. Haber’s specialized training and breadth of experience, he also has skill in hip preservation which is a series of procedures that preserve a patient’s natural hip joint, rather than undergoing a hip replacement.

TODD WENTE, MD, is a board certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery of the knee and shoulder. He also performs knee replacement surgery, including MAKO robotic-assisted joint replacement, and fracture management. Dr. Wente emphasizes the importance of providing his patients with a variety of options for treatment and rehabilitation.

RONALD HUGATE, MD, is a nationally renowned specialist in orthopedic oncology, hip preservation, complex joint reconstruction, and limb salvage. He is a leader and innovator in complex orthopedic problems, treating patients most others cannot. Dr. Hugate proudly served our country as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal twice.

WADE FAULK, MD, is an orthopedic hand surgeon specializing in adult and pediatric treatments of hand, wrist, forearm and elbow conditions. Dr. Faulk has expertise in microsurgery, which is an advanced technique that uses a high-powered microscope to repair or reconstruct small structures such as blood vessels and nerves that have been damaged.

E. TAYLOR ABEL, MD, is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician specializing in non-surgical approaches for treating sports medicine and spinal injuries. Dr. Abel is also board-certified in electrodiagnostic medicine, specifically nerve conduction studies and electromyography, which can help to localize a neurologic issue that may be causing a patient’s symptoms.

JESSE CHRASTIL, MD, is a joint replacement surgeon specializing in hip and knee arthritis. Dr. Chrastil performs direct anterior hip replacements, which is a muscle-sparing approach that allows for improved initial mobility, decreased pain, and earlier discharge. He also has extensive experience in outpatient surgery where eligible patients are able to return home the same day of surgery.

TODD VANDERHEIDEN, MD, is a boardcertified orthopedic surgeon specializing in spinal disorders. Despite having numerous achievements in academic medicine, Dr. VanderHeiden always knew that his greatest rewards came from treating patients and impacting their families. He places the highest value on patient care and promises to give everything in his power to see that his patients have good results.

MICHAEL DREWEK, MD, is a neurosurgeon, focused on treating cervical, thoracic and lumbar disk injuries of the spine. He specializes in using 3D intra-operative imaging to guide him in the operating room. Dr. Drewek believes the navigational systems available today improve the quality and accuracy of the surgeon, as well as the patient’s outcome.

IRINEL STANCIU, MD, leads the Colorado Center for Bone Research specializing in osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism and metabolic bone disorders. “The concept of orthopedic collaboration is an overdue model. The partnership will help patients both in improving orthopedic outcomes and discovering and preventing metabolic bone disease early on,” says Dr. Stanciu.

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Dr. Aristides K. Maniatis is honored to have been selected as a Top Doc for the 6th consecutive year (2016-2021). He leads an outstanding team at RMPE, including Dr. Michaela Koontz and Mako Sather, CPNP. Dr. Maniatis attended Harvard Medical School and completed his pediatrics residency and pediatric endocrinology fellowship at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Koontz completed her pediatrics residency and pediatric endocrinology fellowship at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital of Case Western Reserve University. Both Dr. Maniatis and Dr. Koontz are double-board certified in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology. Mako Sather completed her post-master’s program at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (UCHSC). She is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and insulin pump trainer.

Dr. Maniatis is an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCHSC, serving as a clinical preceptor for physician assistant students. He is a national key opinion leader on growth disorders and has been the national spokesperson for Growth Awareness Week for the past 4 years (20182021). He also lectures and has published extensively.

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY ARISTIDES MANIATIS, MD, FAAP 6 5280 Top Doctor 2021 Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Endocrine Society, Pediatric Endocrine Society, and American Diabetes Association

RMPE is also involved in clinical research including a type 1 diabetes epidemiology study, multiple phase 3 trials in long-acting growth hormone, and a phase 4 trial in hypophosphatasia bone disease.

Partnering with the Colorado Department of Public Health, RMPE provides the initial consultation for all babies in Colorado and Wyoming with an abnormal newborn screen for congenital hypothyroidism.

To help accommodate families’ busy schedules, RMPE offers Saturday hours. RMPE sees inpatients at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, Sky Ridge, and Swedish, and the following languages are spoken fluently: Spanish, German, Japanese, and Greek.

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Dr. Keyes, a Colorado native, has been practicing Anesthesia for 26 years and serves as the Chief of Anesthesia at Centura’s St. Anthony North Health Campus. Dr. Ngo has been a Pediatric Anesthesiologist for the past 8 years, primarily practicing at HCA’s Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children.

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Dr. Simon Oh grew up in a working class household in Baltimore, MD, where he was instilled with strong blue collar values from an early age. He graduated with honors from Calvert Hall College High School, the oldest Christian Brothers school in the United States. He received an academic scholarship to attend Carnegie Mellon University.

Upon graduation, he worked for several years in the public and private sectors before finding a calling to pursue a career in medicine. He attended the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He then did his post-graduate training at the University of Wisconsin. During his neurology training, he served as the Chief Resident and was heavily involved in medical student and resident education. He was mentored by renowned neurology professors, including Drs. Brad Beinlich, Ben Lotz, Andrew Waclawik, Ross Levine, Susanne Seeger, Miroslav Backonja, Jack Jones, Erwin Montgomery, and John Fleming.

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DENVER’S PREMIER GUIDE TO HEALTH, FITNESS, AND WELL-BEING TO D E & P D NV D O E EN C R TI TO ’S ST R S S P LU

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Excellence Excellence has has many many names names Kaiser Permanente salutes our 118 doctors recognized by 5280.

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Addiction Psychiatry Addiction PsychiatryMD Joseph P. Cannavo, Joseph P. Cannavo, MD Allergy & Immunology AllergyDoshi, & Immunology Jayna MD Jayna Doshi, MD Anesthesiology Anesthesiology Christine Byers, DO Christine Byers,MD DO John Eisenach, JohnMedina, Eisenach, MD Erin MD Erin Medina, MD MD Ronald Valdivieso, Ronald Child &Valdivieso, AdolescentMD

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Colon & Rectal DO Surgery Evan Gillespie, Evan Gillespie, DO Complex General Surgical Complex General Surgical Oncology Oncology Leo Alfaro, MD Leo Alfaro, Philip Neff, MD Philip CriticalNeff, CareMD Medicine Critical Care Medicine Catherine A. Lazar, MD Catherine A. Lazar, Lisa Richman, MD MD Lisa Richman, MD Dermatology

Dermatology Cameron Harrison, MD Cameron Harrison, William Howe, MD MD William Howe, MD Tina Suneja, MD Tina Suneja, MD DevelopmentalDevelopmentalBehavioral Pediatrics Behavioral Pediatrics Robyn Nolan, MD Robyn Nolan, MD Emergency Medicine

Emergency Erin Drasler,Medicine MD Erin MD RyanDrasler, Paterson, MD Ryan Paterson, Melanie Wells, MD Melanie Wells, MD Endocrinology-Diabetes & Endocrinology-Diabetes & Metabolism Metabolism Laura Wolsko, MD Laura Wolsko, MD Epilepsy EpilepsyClemmons, MD Richard Richard Clemmons, MD Family Medicine Family Medicine Ryan Evans, MD Ryan Evans, MDMD Shannon Jantz, Shannon Jantz, Stacey King, MDMD Stacey King,MD MD Stuart Prins, Stuart Wear, Prins, MD Sarah DO Sarah Wear, DO

kp.org/CO kp.org/CO

Female Pelvic Medicine & Female Pelvic Medicine Reconstructive Surgery & Reconstructive Surgery Sybil Dessie, MD Sybil Dessie, MD Shyamsunder Hatangadi, MD Shyamsunder Hatangadi, Alexander Shapiro, MD MD Alexander Shapiro, Gastroenterology MD Gastroenterology Wesley Kasen, MD Wesley Kasen, MD Louis Morris, MD Louis Morris, MD MD Elizabeth Sofian, Elizabeth Sofian, MD Geriatric Medicine Geriatric Medicine Peter Cahill, MD Peter Cahill, MD Geriatric Psychiatry

Geriatric Jessica L.Psychiatry Warner, MD Jessica L. Warner, MD Gynecologic Oncology

Gynecologic OncologyMD Julia Embry-Schubert, Julia MD SarahEmbry-Schubert, Whittier, MD Sarah Whittier, MD Hematology

Hematology Thomas Kenney, MD Thomas Kenney, Karen Kogel, MDMD Karen Kogel, MD Hospice & Palliative Medicine Hospice & Palliative Medicine Rebecca Mortenson, MD Rebecca Mortenson, Infectious Disease MD Infectious Disease Amy Duckro, DO Amy Duckro, DO Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine Norse Bear, MD Norse Bear, MDMD Amy Osborne, Amy Osborne, MD- Hospital Internal Medicine Internal Medicine - Hospital Rebecca Rivkin, DO Rebecca Rivkin, DO Interventional Cardiology Interventional Cardiology Anuradha Gudavalli, MD Anuradha Gudavalli, MD Thomas Tsai, MD Thomas Tsai, MD Interventional Radiology

Interventional Radiology Amit Sudan, MD Amit Sudan, MD Maternal & Fetal Medicine Maternal & Fetal Amy Gagnon, MDMedicine Amy Gagnon, Joel D. Larma, MD MD Joel D. Larma, Morgan Swank,MD MD Morgan Swank, MD Medical Oncology Medical Oncology Susan Freeman, MD Susan Freeman, MD Medical Toxicology

Medical Toxicology David Gilmore, MD David Gilmore, MD Micrographic Dermatologic

Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery SurgeryM. Annest, MD Nicole Nicole M. Annest, MD Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Neonatal-Perinatal John Britton, MD Medicine John Britton, MD Annette Kunig, MD Annette Kunig, MD

Neurological Surgery Neurological Surgery Benjamin Rubin, MD Benjamin Rubin, MD William Thoman, MD William Thoman, MD Neurology

Neurology Lynsee Hudson Lange, MD Lynsee Hudson Avrom Kurtz, MDLange, MD Avrom Kurtz, MDMedicine Neuromuscular Neuromuscular Paul Foley, MD Medicine Paul MD HeidiFoley, G. Ray, MD Heidi G. Ray, MD Neuroradiology Neuroradiology Scott R. Andersen, MD Scott R.Komakula, Andersen,MD MD Sirisha Sirisha Komakula, MD Neurotology Neurotology David Nosan, MD David Nosan, MD Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear Medicine Eric K. Bode, MD Eric K. Bode, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology Obstetrics & Gynecology Arielle Gumer, MD Arielle Gumer,MD MD Jane Limmer, Jane Limmer, Myda Luu, MDMD Myda Luu, MD Diane M. Winters, MD Diane M. Winters, Ophthamology MD

Ophthamology James Dixon, MD James Dixon, MDMD Kingsley Okafor, Kingsley Okafor, MD Orthopedic Sports Medicine Orthopedic Sports David Gerhardt, MDMedicine David Gerhardt, MDMD Dimitrios Zaronias, Dimitrios Zaronias, Orthopedic SurgeryMD Orthopedic Surgery Joe Langston, MD Joe Langston, MD Edward Pino, MD Edward Pino, MD Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology Nsangou Ghogomu, MD Nsangou Ghogomu, Andrea Potash, MD MD Andrea Potash, Pain Medicine MD Pain Medicine Jeromy Cole, MD Jeromy Cole, MD Lane Fairbairn, DO Lane Fairbairn, DO Pathology

PathologyGrube, MD Jeanette Jeanette MD Pediatric Grube, Anesthesiology Pediatric Anesthesiology David Barclay, MD David Barclay, MD Pediatric Dermatology

Pediatric Harvey A.Dermatology Arbuckle, MD Harvey A. Arbuckle, MD Pediatric Hospital Medicine Pediatric Hospital Medicine Lee Engelbreth, MD Lee Engelbreth, Sarah Morse, MDMD Sarah Morse, MD Pediatric Radiology Pediatric RadiologyMD Brian M. Bagrosky, Brian M. Bagrosky, MD

Pediatrics Pediatrics Amber Bisgard, MD Amber Gunderson, Bisgard, MDMD Danna Danna Watt, Gunderson, Kelsey MD MD Kelsey Watt, MD & Physical Medicine Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Patrick Russell, MD PatrickWhite, Russell,MD MD Marsa Marsa White, MD Plastic Surgery PlasticBradow, SurgeryMD Brian Brian Bradow, Plastic SurgeryMD

Plastic Surgery (within the head & neck) (within the head Ryan Brown, MD & neck) Ryan Brown, MD Kevin K. Motamedi, MD Kevin K. Motamedi, MD Psychiatry

Psychiatry Jennifer Gillis-Green, DO Jennifer Moss, Gillis-Green, Sammie MD DO Sammie Moss, MD Radiation Oncology Radiation Oncology Mark Edson, MD Mark Edson, MD MD Matthew Stenmark, Matthew Stenmark, MD Rheumatology Rheumatology Jana Antohe, MD Jana MD SleepAntohe, Medicine

Sleep Medicine Esther H. Lum, MD Esther H. Lum,MD MD Ana Sanchez, Ana Sanchez, MD Sports Medicine

SportsJaver, Medicine Avani MD AvaniOldenburg, Javer, MD MD Amy Amy Oldenburg, MD Surgery

Surgery Nicole M. Nadlonek, MD Nicole M. Nadlonek, MD Michael Napierkowski, MD Michael Napierkowski, Margaret Schrieber, MDMD Margaret Surgery ofSchrieber, the HandMD

Surgery of the Hand Julie Melchior, MD Julie Melchior, MD MD Lawrence Sullivan, Lawrence Sullivan, Thoracic & CardiacMD Surgery Thoracic & Cardiac Lanny Dunham, MDSurgery LannyHess, Dunham, Brian MD MD Brian Hess, MD Stephen Muckleroy, MD Stephen Muckleroy, MD Transplant Hepatology Transplant Hepatology Heather Laskey, MD Heather Laskey, MD Urology Urology Chen, MD Michael Michael Chen, MD Mark Fisher, MD Mark Fisher, MD Samson Shen, MD Samson MD VascularShen, Surgery

Vascular Surgery MD Travis Engelbert, Travis Engelbert, MD MD Christopher Johnnides, Christopher Johnnides, MD

DINING GUIDE U N D E R $ 10

$

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$$

$ 11 T O $ 15

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$$$

NEW

Indicates a restaurant featured in 5280 for the first time (though not necessarily a restaurant that has just opened).

A Adobo at First Draft

$ 26 A N D H I G H E R.

$$

RiNo / Mexican Chef Manuel Barella cooks elevated regional Mexican fare inspired by his Monterrey, Mexico, childhood inside the Source.

Reservations accepted. The Source, 3350 Brighton Blvd., 720-542-3721. Lunch, Dinner

$$

Annette

$$$

Aurora / American Caroline Glover brings a warm dining experience to Stanley Marketplace with Annette. Enjoy a family-style menu featuring seasonal salads, toasts, and wood-grilled fare.

Reservations accepted. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Ste. 108, Aurora, 720-710-9975.

Dinner, Brunch Ash’Kara

$$$

Highland / Middle Eastern Chef Daniel Asher offers a playful take on Israeli and Middle Eastern cuisine at this plant-bedecked eatery. Order the falafel. Also try the Boulder location. Reservations accepted. 2005 W. 33rd Ave., 303-537-4407. Dinner, Brunch

Barolo Grill

$$$$

Beckon

$$$$

Cherry Creek / Italian Dedication to authenticity translates to the food and extensive wine menu at this elegant eatery, which is focused on the cuisines of Northern Italy’s Tuscany and Piedmont regions.

Reservations accepted. 3030 E. Sixth Ave., 303-393-1040. Dinner

RiNo / Contemporary Chef Duncan Holmes brings an elevated, intimate dining experience to Larimer Street. The menu changes frequently, and excellent wine pairings are available. Reservations required. 2843 Larimer St., 303-749-0020. Dinner

AUGUST 2021

Blackbelly

$$$

Boulder / American Chef Hosea Rosenberg’s meaty menu focuses on charcuterie, small plates, and daily butcher specials. Try the crispy pig ears with red pepper jelly. Check out the butcher shop and grab-and-go market, Blackbelly Butcher, located next door. Reservations accepted. 1606 Conestoga St., Boulder, 303-247-1000. Dinner

Brasserie Brixton

Brutø

$$

West Highland / Pizza Masterfully crafted Detroit-style pizza is the draw at this tiny spot.

Also try the Congress Park location. Reservations not accepted. 3930 W. 32nd Ave., 720-4567666. Lunch, Dinner

Boney’s Smokehouse BBQ

$$$

Downtown / Barbecue Hickory smoke lures diners to this temple of Southern-style slow-cooked meats, including ribs and brisket. Order the generous sampler platter (and share with a friend) so you can taste it all. Reservations accepted. 1543 Champa St., 303-825-9900. Lunch, Dinner

$$$$

Downtown / International At the Wolf’s Tailor’s sister restaurant at the Dairy Block, chef Kelly Whitaker highlights heritage grains and other local ingredients with a tasting menu of fresh-baked breads, wood-fired proteins, and vegetableforward dishes. Also try Bøh, the counter-service mezcal bar and taqueria open for lunch and dinner in the same space. Reservations accepted.

1801 Blake St., 720-325-2195. Dinner

C 25 B E S T

Blue Pan Pizza

$$$

Cole / French Pair a glass of wine with the likes of steak frites, pâté with house-baked sourdough, and other comforting French specialties at this romantic neighborhood bistro. 1591 S. Colorado Blvd., 720-550-7871. Lunch, Dinner

Cattivella

$$$

Central Park / Italian Chef Elise Wiggins offers rustic, wood-fired Italian fare from a sprawling chef’s counter at Cattivella. Go for grilled oysters, seasonal pizzas, and fresh pastas.

Reservations accepted. 10195 E. 29th Dr., Ste. 110, 303-645-3779. Dinner 25 B E S T

Comal Heritage Food Incubator

$$

Globeville / International You’ll find family recipes from Latin America and Syria at this restaurant, which has a rotating menu and provides job training to local women. Reservations not accepted. 3455 Ringsby Ct., Ste. 105, 303-292-0770. Lunch

Jet Fuel

B

106 5 2 8 0

$$$

Highland / Contemporary Linda Hampsten Fox’s eatery, market, and bakery offers worldly fare inspired by her travels. Don’t miss the smoked rabbit relleno. Reservations accepted. 1817 Central St., 303-993-2364. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

25 B E S T

RiNo / Latin-Asian Chef Blaine Baggao draws inspiration from his Filipino heritage and childhood in Roswell, New Mexico, to produce Latin-Asian specialties inside First Draft Taproom & Kitchen.

1309 26th St., 720-520-7869. Lunch, Dinner

25 B E S T

$$$$

The Bindery

25 B E S T

Indicates inclusion in 5280’s 2019 list of Denver’s best restaurants; we did not release a 2020 list due to COVID19 disruptions and closures. These selections are at the discretion of 5280 editors and are subject to change.

25 B E S T

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Bellota

SYMBOL KEY

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$ 16 T O $ 25

Visit our online listings at 5280.com/ restaurants.

Top Gun fans, rejoice: Denver has a fighter-jetthemed restaurant. At seven-month-old Full Afterburner Calzones on Broadway, owners Ben Todd and Hillary Schefter—fervent admirers of the Tom Cruise movie and the naval program it is based on—serve pizza pockets (try the Buffalochicken-stuffed version) named after iconic figures in fighter pilot culture in a space decorated with images of aircraft.

Sarah Banks

PRICE KEY

(Average Entrée)

Want More Dining Options?

Call 888-401-7149 or visit ColoradoUro.com

Colorado Urology, one of the largest urology practices in Colorado, provides a comprehensive array of urologic services to patients. Our integrated approach to urologic care provides patients with access to specialists, a comprehensive support team of highly-trained urologic healthcare professionals, advanced diagnostic tools, innovative treatments and therapies, leading edge surgery, and access to the latest clinical trials.

Patients have the benefit of a large network of over 30 urology specialists and subspecialists at Colorado Urology who provide patients with a continuum of care for all urologic problems.

With in-house ambulatory surgery centers, diagnostic labs, and more, Colorado Urology offers a seamless experience. Our network of conveniently located offices, extended by same-day or next-day telehealth options, creates a one-stop urology hub.

New Prostate Cancer Center NOW OPEN 5275 DTC Pkwy Greenwood Village, CO 80111

New Ambulatory Surgery Center COMING SOON 3 Superior Dr. Suite 301 Superior, CO 80027

DINING GUIDE 25 B E S T

Corrida

D 25 B E S T

F

$$$$

Boulder / Spanish Housed on the rooftop level of the Pearl West building, this elegant Spanish steak house offers stunning Flatiron views and fabulous cocktails and wines. Reservations accepted. 1023 Walnut St., Ste. 400, Boulder, 303-444-1333. Dinner

Dio Mio

$$

RiNo / Italian One thing you can count on at Alex Figura and Spencer White’s fast-casual Italian eatery: perfect pasta. Try the cacio e pepe or the squid ink fusilli with blue crab. The house-made sourdough is heavenly. Reservations not accepted.

3264 Larimer St., 303-562-1965. Dinner

25 B E S T

G

Frasca Food and Wine

$$$$

Boulder / Italian Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson and master sommelier Bobby Stuckey’s fine-dining mecca has racked up scores of accolades over the years (including nods from the James Beard Foundation). The elegant Friulano cuisine always wows.

Reservations accepted. 1738 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-6966. Dinner Fox Run Cafe

The Ginger Pig

$$

Golden Europe

$$

Berkeley / Asian Chefs Natascha Hess and Carrie Baird serve Asian-inspired street food with playful twists at this casual spot. Reservations not accepted.

4262 Lowell Blvd., 720-324-8416. Lunch, Dinner Arvada / European Polish, German, and Czech family recipes are served in a dining room decorated with steins. Reservations accepted for parties of six or more. 6620 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada, 303-425-1246. Lunch, Dinner

$

Congress Park / American This homey cafe has simple, delicious fare including coffee, freshly baked pastries, salads, and sandwiches. Reservations not accepted. 3550 E. Colfax Ave., 303-5374584. Breakfast, Lunch

Fruition Restaurant

The Green Collective Eatery

$$$$

Country Club / American James Beard Award– winning chef Alex Seidel’s tiny kitchen focuses on seasonal dishes that are big on flavor. Reservations accepted. 1313 E. Sixth Ave., 303-8311962. Dinner

E Edge Restaurant & Bar

H

$$$$

Downtown / Steakhouse The recently renovated Edge Restaurant and Bar inside the Four Seasons Hotel Denver serves contemporary steak house fare by chef Jessica Biederman. Order the dryaged buffalo rib-eye and wedge salad with habanero bacon. 1111 14th St., 303-389-3050.

Lunch, Dinner

NEW

Full Afterburner Calzones

$

Speer / Pizza This quirky eatery offers pizza pockets named after iconic figures in fighter pilot culture. Try the calzone stuffed with pepperoni and cheese, and save room for the aircraft-shaped sugar cookies. Reservations not accepted. 32 N. Broadway, 720-900-5282. Lunch, Dinner

Hop Alley

25 B E S T

V E the D A T E SE P

EVENT CHAIRS:

T E M BER 10, 2021

Stephanie Dahl & Kelley Rider Goodwin

TICKETS:

$ 175

Purchase by August 6 and save $25!

Psst . . . A little birdie told me this event will sell out!

CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

Purchase at

48 TH BIRTHDAY BASH

PRESENTING SPONSOR

MAJOR SPONSORS

Jenna & Walker Stapleton / Harmes C. Fishback Foundation

Cydney & Tom Marsico

108

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AUGUST 2021

The Dorsey & Whitney Foundation

MYCHILDSMUSEUM.ORG.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

$$$

RiNo / Chinese From Tommy Lee of Uncle, this neighborhood hangout serves upscale dishes rooted in Chinese tradition. Reservations accepted.

3500 Larimer St., 720-379-8340. Dinner

RELEASE YOUR INNER CHILD!

SA

$

Highland / Cafe Toasts, salads, juices, smoothies, and other nourishing breakfast and lunch options are on the menu at this cheery fast-casual cafe.

Reservations not accepted. 2158 W. 32nd Ave., Unit 100, 720-708-6865. Breakfast, Lunch

MAJOR IN-KIND MEDIA

Untitled 198733, acrylic, 66” x 62” © Karen Roehl

Rabstract o epassions hl

Represented By: TieRRa MaR GalleRy 225 Canyon Rd, SanTa Fe, nM 87501 www.TieRRaMaRGalleRy.CoM kaRenRoehl.CoM

DINING GUIDE

I Imperial Chinese

K $$$

Baker / Asian This stalwart offers Cantonese, Mandarin, and Sichuan dishes in an elegant setting. Try the Peking duck. Reservations accepted.

431 S. Broadway, 303-698-2800. Lunch, Dinner

Istanbul Bakery & Cafe

J $

Westwood / Thai This traditional Thai spot has developed a cult following over the years. Reservations not accepted. 945 S. Federal Blvd., 303-9225495. Lunch, Dinner

Jovanina’s Broken Italian

$$$

Downtown / American This community bistro features consciously sourced ingredients and a raw seafood bar. Also try the Boulder location.

Reservations accepted. 1520 16th St., 303-623-3127. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

$$$

Downtown / Italian This gorgeous LoDo eatery expands on traditional Italian fare by incorporating unexpected, seasonal ingredients. Reservations accepted. 1520 Blake St., 720-541-7721. Dinner

L La Calle Taqueria Y Carnitas

Support over 400,000 Coloradans living with diabetes.

Rocky Mountain Virtual Tour de Cure® August 28, 2021

Register now for free at tour.diabetes.org #TourTurns30 this ad is sponsored by

110

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$$$$

Cherry Creek / French An offshoot of the more than 30-year-old New York City establishment,

JOIN US

Logan Street

$$$

Lola Coastal Mexican

$$$

Highland / Mexican The flavors and beachy vibes of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula shine at Lola.

Reservations accepted. 1575 Boulder St., 720570-8686. Dinner, Brunch

$$

Downtown / Mexican This local favorite offers a menu of classic Mexican eats such as flautas, tacos, and fajitas in a convivial downtown location. Pair your meal with one of the refreshing house margaritas. Reservations accepted. 1801 Broadway, 303-433-8300. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Le Bilboquet

$

Congress Park / Korean This casual joint serves Korean street fare. Reservations not accepted.

2730 E. Colfax Ave., 303-399-4137. Lunch, Dinner

$

Valverde / Mexican This is a must-visit destination for taco lovers. Try the tacos al pastor and carnitas and take advantage of the fresh salsa selection.

1565 W. Alameda Ave., 720-583-6586. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

La Loma

Little Beast Street Food

Capitol Hill / Mediterranean From the owners behind Carboy Winery, Logan Street serves woodfired fare, fresh pastas, and flatbreads that pair well with the house-made vino. Reservations accepted. 400 E. Seventh Ave., 720-617-9410.

Lunch, Dinner

$

Washington Virginia Vale / Middle Eastern Inside a shopping center at South Monaco Parkway and Leetsdale Drive, friendly owner Ismet Yilmaz prepares authentic Turkish pastries. Reservations not accepted. 850 S. Monaco Pkwy., Ste. 9, 720-536-5455. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

J’s Noodles Star Thai 2

The Kitchen

Le Bilboquet serves upscale French fare in Cherry Creek. Reservations accepted. 299 St. Paul St., 303-835-9999. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

M Maine Shack

$$$

Highland / Seafood New Englanders and seafood fans, rejoice: This fast-casual spot is slinging lobster rolls, fried whole-belly clams, chowder, and more. Reservations not accepted.

1535 Central St., 303-997-2118. Lunch, Dinner

Tour de Cure 2021

WALK FOR THE CANAL WALK FOR THE CANAL

A walking challenge to support your 71-mile High Line Canal PRESENTED BY THE FRIEDMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION Friedman Family Foundation PRESENTED BY

Walk, run, ride, roll, skip or scoot

JOIN ANYTIME, ANYWHERE FOR THE HIGH LINE. on the Canal or anywhere you choose!

WALK, BIKE, RUN OR ROLL ON OR OFF THE CANAL OVER 71 DAYS FROM AUGUST 1–OCTOBER 10 WHEN

Through October 10 highlinecanal.org/walk Sign up today and get moving to help raise funds WHERE Anywhere to preserveget andprizes, enhance the High Line Canal!

Get pledges,

get moving outdoors!

HOW

Register and get moving REGISTER TODAY AT HIGHLINECANAL.ORG/WALK

Join us!

RECEIVE A FREE HIGH LINE CANAL MAP AND BANDANNA WHEN YOU REGISTER!

Thank you to our partners and sponsors:

THANK YOU to our partners and sponsors

The High Line Canal Conservancy is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) created by aD I RMKC DA NE RDMCOATRTO L passionate coalition of citizens with the mission to preserve, protect and 501(c)(3) created by enhance thea 71-mile-long High Line Canal in partnership with the public.

Friedman Family Foundation

The High Line Canal Conservancy is a nonprofit passionate coalition of citizens with the mission to preserve, protect and enhance the 71-mile-long High Line Canal in partnership with the public.

Background photo by Evan Anderman

VIRGINIA BROWN AND CODY SMITH

DINING GUIDE Mango House

$$

Aurora / International This immigrant- and refugee-led food hall is home to six outstanding culinary concepts, including Urban Burma, Jasmine Syrian Food, and Rocky Mountain Sudanese Restaurant. Reservations not accepted.

10180 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 303-900-8639.

Lunch, Dinner

25 B E S T

Mercantile Dining & Provision

$$$

Downtown / American Award-winning chef Alex Seidel offers upscale, contemporary farm-totable fare, including pasta dishes and family-style shared plates for the table. The

restaurant also features counter-service dining for lunch, as well as a marketplace of locally sourced foodstuffs. Reservations accepted for dinner. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., Ste. 155, 720-460-3733. Lunch, Dinner Misfit Snack Bar

My Brother’s Bar

$

Highland / Pub Enjoy beers and burgers in one of Denver’s oldest family-owned bars. Pair the fan-favorite jalapeño cream cheese burger with fries and onion rings. Reservations not accepted.

2376 15th St., 303-455-9991. Lunch, Dinner

$$

City Park / Contemporary This walk-up kitchen inside Middleman cocktail bar serves imaginative twists on familiar pub fare from chef Bo Portyko. Try the burger or the kimchi croquettes with sambal aïoli and shaved Spam. Reservations not accepted. 3401 E. Colfax Ave., 303-353-4207. Dinner

Saturday, October 2 • Hyatt Regency Denver

N NEW

Nest Café & Bar

$$

West Highland / American This counter-service eatery inside Nurture marketplace offers a menu of smoothies, coffee, salads, tartines, dosas, and other wholesome fare. Don’t miss the bar’s refreshing cocktails, which are prepared with fresh, natural ingredients. Reservations not accepted.

2949 Federal Blvd., 303-390-1252. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch New Saigon

$$

NOLA Voodoo Tavern and Perks

$$

Athmar Park / Vietnamese This spot serves an extensive menu featuring delicious rice paper wraps, banh mi sandwiches, pho noodle soup, seafood dishes, rice bowls, and more.

Reservations not accepted. 630 S. Federal Blvd., 303-936-4954. Lunch, Dinner Cole / Southern New Orleans native and owner Henry Batiste serves his grandmother’s recipes for gumbo, crawfish étouffée, and more at this Louisiana-inspired spot. Reservations accepted. 3321 Bruce Randolph Ave., 720-389-9544. Dinner

O Ohana Island Kitchen

Featuring entertainment by

Highland / Seafood This Hawaiian-inspired eatery serves top-notch tuna poke, Spam musubi, roasted pork, and more in a casual setting. Reservations not accepted. 2563 15th St., 303-7186580. Lunch, Dinner

The Original

An evening to benefit the Children’s Diabetes Foundation & the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes

$$$

Downtown / American This all-day diner serves classic favorites with an elevated twist in 1950s-inspired digs. Reservations accepted.

1600 20th St., 720-769-1414. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Owlbear Barbecue

$$

High Hopes Tribute Award Recipients: Steve & Shelley Lucas Founders Award Recipients: Dan Feiten, MD & Julie Feiten

RiNo / Barbecue The brick-and-mortar joint from pit master Karl Fallenius is serving brisket, ribs, and all of the fixings. Reservations not accepted. 2826 Larimer St., 970-708-3954. Lunch, Dinner

Event Chair: Dana Davis Honorary Event Chair: Barbara Davis

P Parisi Italian Market & Deli

Tickets available at www.ChildrensDiabetesFoundation.org 112

$

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AUGUST 2021

Berkeley / Italian Enjoy delicious, casual Italian fare, including wood-fired pizzas, homemade pasta, gelato, and espresso. Reservations not accepted. 4401 Tennyson St., 303-561-0234.

Lunch, Dinner

$$

DINING GUIDE Perdida

$$$

Washington Park / Mexican From the team behind Park Burger, Perdida offers cuisine inspired by the Baja coast in an airy space filled with surf-town-inspired decor. Pair the shrimp tacos with a house margarita. Reservations accepted. 1066 S. Gaylord St., 303-529-1365.

Lunch, Dinner

NEW

Pho Mi

$$

Boulder / Vietnamese Pho Mi serves Vietnamese noodle soup inspired by owner Edwin Zoe’s travels to southeast Asia. Try the smoked brisket variety. Reservations not accepted. 2014 10th St., Boulder, 720-580-1100. Lunch, Dinner The Plimoth

$$$$

Quiero Arepas

$$

Cherry Creek / Steak House This upscale eatery serves a smart mix of steak house fare and American-Italian favorites. Order the spicy rigatoni alla vodka or the corn gnudi with king crab. Reservations accepted. 241 Columbine St., 303-5328888. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Platt Park / Latin American Venezuelan corn flatbreads, or arepas, are on the menu. La Havana, featuring slow-roasted pork loin, ham, and local Muenster with a creamy mayo-mustard-pickle sauce, is our favorite. Reservations not accepted.

1859 S. Pearl St., 720-432-4205. Lunch, Dinner

$$$$

Skyland / American An emphasis on locally farmed and foraged ingredients results in an ever-changing menu of seasonal dishes. Reservations accepted. 2335 E. 28th Ave., 303-2971215. Dinner

Q 25 B E S T

Quality Italian

R

$$$

City Park West / Chinese Enjoy a modern take on Chinese cuisine executed by chef Christopher Lin, an alum of Momofuku in New York City. Try the braised pork rice. Reservations accepted. 3421 E. Colfax Ave., 720-729-8887. Dinner

$$

Five Points / Deli Get your fix of New York–style bagels at this Five Points deli. Don’t miss the Standard, a bagel topped with cream cheese, gravlax, tomato, and onion. Also try the Aurora and Boulder locations. Reservations not accepted. 725 E. 26th Ave., 720-440-9880. Breakfast, Lunch

The Rotary

$$$

Russell’s Smokehouse

$$$

Hilltop / South American The brick-and-mortar outpost of the former Avanti Food & Beverage stall specializes in Churrasco-style rotisserie, flavorful meats slow-cooked over a wood fire. Reservations not accepted. 217 S. Holly St., 303-537-5327.

Lunch, Dinner

Downtown / Barbecue Diners flock to this subterranean smokehouse for classic ‘cue. Try the rib combo. Reservations accepted. 1422 Larimer St., 720-524-8050. Lunch, Dinner

Randall’s

$$

Cole / Southern This neighborhood restaurant serves up comforting Southern fare with a side of warm hospitality. Reservations not accepted. 3349 York St., 720-400-7648. Lunch, Dinner

Restaurant Olivia

Q House

Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen

$$$$

Washington Park / Italian This cozy-yet-modern neighborhood spot from the team behind Bistro Georgette specializes in fresh pastas and Italian classics, like lobster spaghetti and eggplant Parmesan. Reservations accepted. 209 S. Downing St., 303-999-0395. Dinner

S 25 B E S T

Safta

$$$

RiNo / Mediterranean Acclaimed chef Alon Shaya brings his modern Israeli fare to Denver.

Start with the creamy hummus and pillowy woodoven pita. Reservations accepted. The Source Hotel & Market Hall, 3330 Brighton Blvd., 720-408-2444. Lunch, Dinner

528 0 M A G A Z IN E P R OM OT ION

SCENE PR O MO T ION S | EV EN T S | S P ON S ORS H IP S

Children’s Museum’s 48th Birthday Bash SEPTEMBER 10, 6–10:30 P.M. CHILDREN'S MUSEUM 48 TH BIRTHDAY BASH

Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus. Calling all adults young at heart! Join us for the Children’s Museum’s 48th Birthday Bash. Get ready to Unleash the Power of Play with an evening of cocktails and tasty bites from some of Denver’s top caterers, auctions, dancing and oodles of fun!

Information and tickets at mychildsmuseum.org.

2021 Carousel Ball OCTOBER 2, 6 P.M. Hyatt Regency Denver. Carousel Ball guests will enjoy dinner, silent and live auctions, and entertainment by REO Speedwagon (previously announced). Award Honorees include Steve and Shelley Lucas & Julie and Dan Feiten, MD. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.

Information and tickets at childrensdiabetesfoundation.org/event/2021cb.

AUGUST 2021

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5280

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DINING GUIDE Sakura House

$$

Downtown / Asian Ramen is king at this Japanese noodle house, which offers seven different varieties, including chasu, seafood, and spicy miso. Reservations accepted. 1255 19th St., Ste. A, 303-2922323. Lunch, Dinner

Sassafras American Eatery

$$

Highland / Cajun-Southern Find a mouthwatering array of Cajun-inspired classics, such as chicken-fried steak with jalapeño cornbread and po’boy sandwiches. Also try the Golden location. Reservations not accepted. 3927 W. 32nd Ave., 303-433-0080. Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

Table 6

Speer / American This intimate bistro serves specialties featuring seasonal ingredients and global flavors. Reservations accepted. 609 Corona St., 303-831-8800. Dinner

$$$

Highland / Latin American This charming LoHi spot draws from the vibrant cuisines of Latin America and has excellent tropical cocktails.

Reservations accepted. 3301 Tejon St., 720572-5997. Dinner, Brunch

Smōk

$$

RiNo / Barbecue Find delicious modern barbecue at chef Bill Espiricueta’s fast-casual Source Hotel eatery. The brisket and house-made sausages are both great picks. Reservations not accepted. The Source Hotel & Market Hall, 3330 Brighton Blvd., Ste. 202, 720-230-0792.

Lunch, Dinner

25 B E S T

Spuntino

$$$

Highland / Italian Enjoy the locally sourced menu at this Italian-inspired, husband-and-wife-owned spot. Try the seasonal pasta or any dish with Southern Indian influences. Reservations accepted.

2639 W. 32nd Ave., 303-433-0949. Dinner Supermoon

$$$$

Boulder / American Formerly Arcana, this restaurant serves Asian-inspired shareable dishes and larger entrées. Try the spicy rice cakes with coconut golden curry. Reservations accepted. 909 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-444-3885. Dinner

25 B E S T

Super Mega Bien

$$$

RiNo / Latin American Chef Dana Rodriguez of Work & Class offers a combo of large-format items and Pan-Latin small plates. Order the braised lamb with grilled cactus salad. Reservations not accepted. The Ramble Hotel, 1260 25th St., 720-269-4695. Dinner Sushi Den

$$$

Platt Park / Japanese Sushi Den offers exquisite sushi and sashimi prepared with fresh, vibrant seafood flown in twice a week from Japan and a menu of hot and cold dishes.1487 S. Pearl St., 303-777-0826. Lunch, Dinner

T Tables

$$$

South Park Hill / American A glass of wine, flickering candlelight, and mismatched tables set the tone at this cozy neighborhood restaurant. Try the burger of the day and opt for a seat on the charming patio. Reservations accepted. 2267 Kearney St., 303-388-0299. Lunch, Dinner

114 5 2 8 0

AUGUST 2021

25 B E S T

Tamales Tlaquesalsa

Westminster / Mexican Chef-owner Jose Renteria serves tamales, street tacos, smothered breakfast burritos, and more at this snug spot.

Take home a jar of the the homemade tomatillo salsa. 9960 Wadsworth Pkwy., Westminster, 720-605-1889. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

25 B E S T

Señor Bear

Tavernetta

$

$$$$

$$

Five Points / English Five Points native Risë Jones offers loose-leaf and specialty teas and all-day fare at TeaLee’s. Reservations accepted. 611 22nd St., 303-593-2013. Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

Temaki Den

$$

RiNo / Japanese Chef Kenta Kamo and Sushi Den’s Toshi Kizaki team up to bring temaki (hand rolls), aburi (flame-seared) nigiri, and craft beverages to the Source. The Source Hotel, 3330 Brighton Blvd., 225-405-0811. Dinner

Tessa Delicatessen

Montclair / Deli This modern all-day eatery from Vince Howard, formerly of Del Rey Deli in Los Angeles, has sandwiches, salads, soups, and dinner items like brisket penne. 5724 E. Colfax Ave., 720-746-9138. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tocabe

$

$$

Aurora / Korean This neighborhood spot specializes in Korean soups and stews, but also offers a variety of other options. Reservations accepted. 2353 S. Havana St., Unit D1, Aurora, 303-751-2840. Lunch, Dinner

Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

$$

The Universal

$

Urban Farmer

$$$

Sunnyside / American This breakfast and lunch joint is a farmhouse-chic spot for an early-day meal.

Reservations not accepted. 2911 W. 38th Ave., 303-955-0815. Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

Downtown / Seasonal This steak house features whole-animal butchery and an excellent charcuterie program, and sources its honey from a rooftop beehive. Reservations accepted. The Oxford Hotel, 1659 Wazee St., 303-262-6070. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

W WaterCourse Foods

$$

Weathervane Cafe

$

Uptown Area / American This vegetarian icon has been serving wholesome fare since 1998. Reservations accepted. 837 E. 17th Ave., 303-8327313. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

City Park West / American This cafe serves a small but sumptuous menu of breakfast items, sandwiches, and salads. Reservations not accepted. 1725 E. 17th Ave., 303-355-5863. Breakfast, Lunch

Welton Street Cafe Home of Mona’s

$$

White Pie

$$

Five Points / Southern Enjoy soul food with a dash of Caribbean flair at this family-owned Five Points cafe. Order one of the pates, island-style fried pastries stuffed with various savory fillings.

Reservations not accepted. 2736 Welton St., 303-296-6602. Lunch, Dinner

$$$

Downtown / Southern Nosh on reimagined versions of down-home dishes, such as the signature honey-dusted fried chicken or bourbon peppercorn-glazed meatloaf with classic sides like collard greens. 1650 Wewatta St., 720-2740650. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Turtle Boat

$$$$

Highland / Asian A bustling atmosphere defines this popular, modern noodle house. The selective menu includes dishes such as Chinese-style steamed buns and, of course, noodles. Also try the Speer location. Reservations accepted. 2215 W. 32nd Ave., 303-433-3263. Dinner

$

Berkeley / Native American Indigenous fare goes Chipotle-style at this quick-service restaurant. Try the fry bread taco loaded with beef, bison, or chicken. Also try the Greenwood Village location.

Reservations not accepted. 3536 W. 44th Ave., 720-524-8282. Lunch, Dinner

Tofu House

Uchi Denver

Curtis Park / Japanese James Beard Award– winning chef Tyson Cole combines unexpected flavors for his unique take on Japanese food.

Reservations accepted. 2500 Lawrence St., 303-444-1922. Dinner Uncle

Downtown / Italian The team behind Boulder’s acclaimed Frasca Food and Wine offers the same attention to hospitality at this more casual Denver restaurant. The space is home to dishes from across Italy and a deep wine list. Reservations accepted.

1889 16th St., 720-605-1889. Dinner TeaLee’s Teahouse and Bookstore

U

$$$

$$

Overland / Seafood This spot offers customizable poke salads elevated with local and sustainably sourced ingredients. The menu features excellent options for both vegetarians and seafood lovers.

Reservations not accepted. 2231 S. Broadway.

Lunch, Dinner

City Park West / Pizza This neighborhood joint has an excellent selection of New Haven–style pizzas and house-made pastas. Reservations not accepted. 1702 Humboldt St., 303-862-5323.

Lunch, Dinner

Whittier Cafe

$

Whittier / Cafe This espresso bar, which supports social justice–related causes, serves coffee, beer, and wine sourced from African nations and a small menu of pastries, burritos, panini, and more.

Reservations not accepted. 1710 E. 25th Ave., 720-550-7440. Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

DINING GUIDE NEW

The Wild

Custom Designs For All Occasions.

$$

Downtown / American A cheery, light-filled space, walled-in patio, and menu of caffeinated beverages, cocktails, wines, pastries, and light snacks make this cafe and bar a sweet all-day hangout. Reservations not accepted. 1660 Wynkoop St., Suite 100, 720-456-6507.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 25 B E S T

The Wolf’s Tailor

$$$$

Sunnyside / Contemporary Basta chef Kelly Whitaker fuses Asian and Italian techniques and ingredients at this hip Sunnyside eatery. The results, such as 7X brisket braised in dashi and red wine and house-extruded mafaldine pasta with koji tomatoes, are unique and delicious.

Reservations accepted. 4058 Tejon St., 720-456-6507. Dinner Work & Class

$$$

RiNo / American Chef Dana Rodriguez’s elevated meat-and-three concept offers a delicious hybrid of American and Latin cuisine in raucous, repurposed-shipping-container digs.

Reservations not accepted. 2500 Larimer St., 303-292-0700. Dinner

Providing Personal Service Since 1965

X Xicamiti La Taquería Bistro

S I LV E R

GOLD

P L AT I N U M

PRIVATE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE $$

Golden / Mexican This long-standing joint serves cooked-to-order burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and alambres (skillet dishes) made with recipes inspired

by Walter Meza’s childhood in Mexico. Reservations not accepted. 715 Washington Ave., Golden, 303-215-3436. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

1418 LARIMER STREET

■

303.629.6927

■

GUSTERMANS.COM

Y Yahya’s Mediterranean Grill & Pastries

$$

City Park West / Mediterranean This family-run restaurant serves silky hummus, a variety of excellent grilled kebabs, and from-scratch sweets. Try the beef koobideh. Reservations not accepted. 2207 E. Colfax Ave., 720-532-8746.

Lunch, Dinner

EXPERIENCE MATTERS. YOURS + OURS.

Z $$

BEFORE  These listings are in no way related to advertising in 5280. If

you find that a restaurant differs significantly from the information in its listing or your favorite restaurant is missing from the Dining Guide, please let us know. Write us at 5280 Publishing, Inc., 1675 Larimer St., Suite 675, Denver, CO 80202 or dining@5280.com.

ACTUAL PATIENT

AFTER

DENT

TS IS

EN

VE

R

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS CONTACT US TODAY AT 720.316.7210!

D

RiNo / International This industrial-chic food hall is home to globally inspired food and drink vendors, including Nixtamos, La Rola Urban Colombian, Thai-Kun, Graves Good Burger, and Soy Pinoy.

Reservations not accepted. 3501 Wazee St., 720-460-1978. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

TOP

Zeppelin Station

American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, American Dental Association, Colorado Dental Association, Fellowship in the Pierre Fauchard Academy

ACTUAL PATIENT

SEE MORE BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS ON OUR WEBSITE

BLUESAGEDENTAL.COM 10354 W. Chatfield Ave. | Suite 100 | Littleton

AUGUST 2021

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TOP DOCTORS 2021 ORTHOPEDIC SPORTS MEDICINE

PAIN MEDICINE

David Gerhardt

E. Taylor Abel

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, SKY RIDGE 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-861-2121

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 79

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY Arielle Gumer

AURORA, ST. JOSEPH, SKY RIDGE 5555 E. Arapahoe Road

Centennial 80122 720-348-4700

Jane Limmer

LUTHERAN, SKY RIDGE, ST. JOSEPH 8383 W. Alameda Ave.

Lakewood 80226 303-338-4545

Kirstin Lund

DENVER HEALTH, UNIVERSITY 777 Bannock St.

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Myda Luu

AURORA, SKY RIDGE, GOOD SAMARITAN 5555 E. Arapahoe Road

Centennial 80122 303-338-4545

Diane M. Winters

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, LUTHERAN 80 Exempla Circle 2

Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

Daniel Haber

ST. ANTHONY NORTH, ORTHOCOLORADO 8 510 N. Bryant St., Suite 120

Westminster 80031 303-233-1223

Jarrod King

DENVER HEALTH 780 Delaware St., Pavilion B

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Thomas Noonan

UNIVERSITY 175 Inverness Drive West, Suite 200

Englewood 80112 303-694-3333

Dimitrios Zaronias

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY Jesse Chrastil SKY RIDGE

5 570 DTC Parkway, Suite 200 Greenwood Village 80111 303-233-1223

Joe Langston SKY RIDGE

OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE Lisa Maier

NATIONAL JEWISH 1400 Jackson St.

Denver 80206 303-398-1355

NATIONAL JEWISH 1400 Jackson St.

Denver 80206 303-398-1355

James Dixon

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-861-2121

Kingsley Okafor

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Zachary Vest

PARKER, SKY RIDGE 180 E. Hampden Ave., Suite 200

Englewood 80113 303-482-1300

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DENVER HEALTH 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

Edward Pino

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

OPHTHALMOLOGY

5280

Joshua Parry

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Cecile Rose

116

1 0240 Park Meadows Drive Lone Tree 80124 303-862-3406

AUGUST 2021

OTOLARYNGOLOGY Nsangou Ghogomu

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 2045 Franklin St.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6820

Jeromy Cole

PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE

Centennial 80112 720-497-6165

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Lane Fairbairn

5555 E. Arapahoe Road

Centennial 80122 720-348-4700

PATHOLOGY Steven Groshong

NATIONAL JEWISH 1400 Jackson St.

Denver 80206 303-398-1355

Jeanette Grube

11000 E. 45th Ave.

Denver 80239 303-338-4545

SWEDISH, RMHC, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 2055 High St., Suite 250

Denver 80205 303-839-7440

Claudia Kunrath

DENVER HEALTH, CHILDREN’S 790 Delaware St., Pavilion C

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Katie Walsh

CHILDREN’S 3123 E. 16th Ave. 1

Aurora 80045 720-777-1234

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY Harvey A. Arbuckle

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, CHILDREN’S 045 Franklin St. 2

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

David Barclay

Anna Bruckner

ST. JOSEPH, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S, RMHC 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Alan Bielsky

UNIVERSITY, CHILDREN’S, ST. JOSEPH 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-1234

Benjamin Lippert

DENVER HEALTH, CHILDREN’S 777 Bannock St.

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Kimberly Ngo

CHILDREN’S 8000 E. Maplewood Ave., Suite 200

Greenwood Village 80111 303-785-4700

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY Kathryn Chatfield

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Scott Mann

Jeff Darst

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Aurora 80045 720-777-6820

Andrea Potash

David J. Miller

Lafayette 80026 720-536-6600

Tracy Butler

PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIOLOGY

Aurora 80045 720-777-6820

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

CHILDREN’S, DENVER HEALTH 13123 E. 16th Ave.

14000 E. Arapahoe Road, Suite 290

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

DENVER HEALTH, UNIVERSITY, VETERANS 700 Delaware St., Davis Pavilion

Marco Pinder

RMHC, SKY RIDGE, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 2055 N. High St., Suite 255

Denver 80205 303-860-9933

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY 3123 E. 16th Ave. 1

Aurora 80045 720-777-8445

PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE Joseph A. Grubenhoff CHILDREN’S 3123 E. 16th Ave. 1

Aurora 80045 720-777-6888

Genie Roosevelt

DENVER HEALTH, CHILDREN’S 777 Bannock St., Pavilion A

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY Stephanie Hsu

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6128

Aristides K. Maniatis RMHC, SWEDISH, SKY RIDGE 7376 S. Yosemite St.

Centennial 80112 720-420-3636

Natalie Nokoff

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6128

TOP DOCTORS 2021 PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY David Brumbaugh CHILDREN’S

1 3123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6669

Jason S. Soden

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6669

Theodore Stathos

CASTLE ROCK, RMHC, SKY RIDGE 10465 Park Meadows Drive

Lone Tree 80124 303-790-1515

PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY & ONCOLOGY

Suchitra Rao

CHILDREN’S, DENVER HEALTH 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Lakewood 80401 303-914-8800

Aurora 80045 720-777-6571

PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY

PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION MEDICINE

PEDIATRIC UROLOGY

Aurora 80045 720-777-6072

Mindy Banks

RMHC, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 2055 N. High St., Suite 270

Denver 80205 303-301-9010

Melissa Cadnapaphornchai

RMHC, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 2055 N. High St., Suite 270

Denver 80205 303-301-9010

Danielle E. Soranno

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6263

Aurora 80045 720-777-6672

PEDIATRIC PATHOLOGY

Lia Gore

CHILDREN’S 1 3123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6672

Brian S. Greffe

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6672

Jennifer Black

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6714

Mark A. Lovell

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6714

Julie Zimbelman

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY

Denver 80205 303-832-2344

Robin Deterding

RMHC, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 2055 N. High St., Suite 340

PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL MEDICINE Lee Engelbreth

GOOD SAMARITAN 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 303-689-4000

Sarah Morse

GOOD SAMARITAN, CHILDREN’S, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE James T. Gaensbauer CHILDREN’S, DENVER HEALTH 3123 E. 16th Ave. 1

Aurora 80045 720-777-6981

Kevin B. Messacar CHILDREN’S

1 3123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6072

Fritz Karrer

RMHC, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 1746 Cole Blvd., Suite 150

Carrye Cost

CHILDREN’S 1 3123 E. 16th Ave.

Lisa A. Niebergall

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6181

Oren Kupfer

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6181

Jennifer Taylor-Cousar

NATIONAL JEWISH 1400 Jackson St.

Denver 80206 303-398-1355

PEDIATRIC RADIOLOGY Matthew Alfano

DENVER HEALTH 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

Brian M. Bagrosky

CHILDREN’S 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Susan Apkon

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-2806

Amy Kanallakan

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-1234

Pamela Wilson

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-2806

PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY Katherine Moore

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6132

Jennifer S. Soep

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Job Chacko

RMHC 1601 E. 19th Ave., Suite 6400

Denver 80218 303-839-7200

Peter Furness III

RMHC 1601 E. 19th Ave., Suite 6400

Denver 80218 303-839-7200

Duncan T. Wilcox

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-3926

PEDIATRICS Amber Bisgard

5555 E. Arapahoe Road

Centennial 80122 855-208-7221

Danna Gunderson

GOOD SAMARITAN, CHILDREN’S, ST. JOSEPH 11245 Huron St.

Westminster 80234 303-451-9494

Aurora 80045 720-777-6132

Amy Pierce

PEDIATRIC SURGERY

Denver 80246 303-756-0101

Ann Kulungowski

Margaret Tomcho

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6571

David Partrick

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Denver 80220 720-777-6571

Steven Rothenberg

RMHC, SKY RIDGE 2055 N. High St., Suite 370

Denver 80205 303-839-6001

PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANT HEPATOLOGY Dania Brigham

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-777-6669

Amy G. Feldman

CHILDREN’S 13123 E. 16th Ave.

RMHC, SWEDISH, ROSE 900 E. Kentucky Ave. 4

DENVER HEALTH 1100 Federal Blvd.

Denver 80204 303-436-4202

Kelsey Watt

16290 E. Quincy Ave.

Aurora 80015 303-699-6000

PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION Michael Lersten

ST. ANTHONY NORTH 8510 N. Bryant St., Suite 120

Westminster 80023 720-497-6192

Patrick Russell 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Marsa White

2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Aurora 80045 720-777-6669

AUGUST 2021

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TOP DOCTORS 2021 PLASTIC SURGERY

PULMONARY DISEASE

Joyce Aycock

Jason Keene

Denver 80206 720-634-7400

5 200 DTC Parkway, Suite 400 Greenwood Village 80111 303-745-0000

Brian Bradow

Sarah Roark

SKY RIDGE, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S, ROSE 36 Steele St., Suite 200

PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S, SKY RIDGE, GOOD SAMARITAN

2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Stephanie Malliaris

DENVER HEALTH 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

Denver 80204 303-436-4949

PLASTIC SURGERY (WITHIN THE HEAD & NECK) Ryan Brown

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

SKY RIDGE

DENVER HEALTH 700 Delaware St., Davis Pavilion

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Nicholas Walter

UNIVERSITY 12605 E. 16th Ave.

Aurora 80045 720-848-0000

RADIATION ONCOLOGY Paige Dorn

ROSE, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S, SWEDISH 4700 Hale Parkway, Suite 150

Denver 80220 303-320-7006

Mark Edson SKY RIDGE

Kevin K. Motamedi

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

Jeffrey Raval

ROSE 3773 E. Cherry Creek North Drive,

1 0101 Ridgegate Parkway Lone Tree 80124 720-225-4200

Thomas Pugh

2777 Mile High Stadium Circle

Denver 80211 303-825-8822

Tyler Robin

Liron Caplan

Nicole Nadlonek

Aurora 80045 303-399-8020

Lone Tree 80124 303-724-6031

VETERANS 1700 Wheeling St.

SLEEP MEDICINE Esther H. Lum

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, LUTHERAN 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

Ana Sanchez

Wade Faulk

ST. JOSEPH, LUTHERAN, GOOD SAMARITAN 2955 S. Broadway

ST. ANTHONY NORTH 8510 N. Bryant St., Suite 120

Sheila Tsai

Julie Melchior

Englewood 80113 303-788-0121

NATIONAL JEWISH 1400 Jackson St.

Denver 80206 303-398-1355

SPINAL CORD INJURY MEDICINE

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Sammie Lamont Moss 10350 E. Dakota Ave.

Denver 80247 303-344-7200

Michelle Haas

DENVER HEALTH 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Rachel Herlihy

4300 Cherry Creek South Drive

Denver 80246 303-692-2700

5280

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Richard Heppe

SWEDISH, ROSE 2777 Mile High Stadium Circle

Denver 80211 303-825-8822

Laxmi Kondapalli

PUBLIC HEALTH & GENERAL PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

118

REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY & INFERTILITY

ROSE, SKY RIDGE 10290 RidgeGate Circle

Lone Tree 80124 303-788-8300

RHEUMATOLOGY Jana Antohe

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 10240 Park Meadows Drive

Lone Tree 80124 303-338-4545

Lafayette 80026 720-536-6600

Lawrence Sullivan

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, SKY RIDGE 10240 Park Meadows Drive

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE

Todd VanderHeiden

Clay Burlew

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

SPORTS MEDICINE

DENVER HEALTH 667 Bannock St., Pavilion K

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

Lone Tree 80124 303-338-4545

DENVER HEALTH 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

Lafayette 80026 303-689-4000

Elizabeth L. Lowdermilk

Westminster 80031 720-497-6183

Susan Ladley

Golden 80401 720-497-6638

Denver 80247 303-344-7200

ST. JOSEPH, LUTHERAN, GOOD SAMARITAN 2045 Franklin St.

SURGERY OF THE HAND

Matthew Stenmark

10350 E. Dakota Ave.

Margaret Schrieber

Lakewood 80228 303-951-0600

PSYCHIATRY

GOOD SAMARITAN, SKY RIDGE, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

SKY RIDGE

1 0240 Park Meadows Drive Lone Tree 80124 303-649-5659

Denver 80205 303-861-3610

ORTHOCOLORADO, PARKER 274 Union Blvd., Suite 110

UNIVERSITY 1665 Aurora Court

Jennifer Gillis Green

Michael Napierkowski

Peter Riley

Suite 132 Denver 80209 303-381-3223

Aurora 80045 720-848-0100

ST. JOSEPH’S, SKY RIDGE 0240 Park Meadows Drive 1

SAINT ANTHONY, ORTHOCOLORADO 660 Golden Ridge Road, Suite 250

Avani Javer

10240 Park Meadows Drive

Lone Tree 80124 303-338-4545

Amy Oldenburg

GOOD SAMARITAN 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 720-536-6600

Todd Wente

SKY RIDGE, PARKER 660 Golden Ridge Road, Suite 250

Golden 80401 303-233-1223

SURGERY Magdalene Brooke Sanchez

DENVER HEALTH 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

Denver 80201 303-436-6000

DENVER HEALTH 77 Bannock St. 7

Robert McIntyre

UNIVERSITY, CHILDREN’S 635 Aurora Court 1

Aurora 80045 720-848-2700

THORACIC & CARDIAC SURGERY Lanny Dunham

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, SKY RIDGE 0240 Park Meadows Drive 1

Lone Tree 80124 303-338-4545

Myles S. Guber

LITTLETON, SWEDISH, PORTER 50 E. Harvard Ave., Suite 550 9

Denver 80210 303-778-6527

Brian Hess

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 80 Exempla Circle 2

Lafayette 80026 720-536-6600

John D. Mitchell

UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL JEWISH, ST. JOSEPH 665 Aurora Court 1

Aurora 80045 303-724-2799

AUGUST 2021

TOP DOCTORS 2021 Stephen Muckleroy

Heather Laskey

Lone Tree 80124 303-338-4545

Denver 80205 303-861-3631

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH, SKY RIDGE 10240 Park Meadows Drive

Jason Shofnos

ST. JOSEPH 1960 N. Ogden St., Suite 540

Denver 80218 303-318-2440

TRANSPLANT HEPATOLOGY Bahri Bilir

PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S, LITTLETON, HIGHLANDS RANCH

1001 Southpark Drive

Littleton 80120 303-722-8987

Clark Kulig

PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S 1601 E. 19th Ave., Suite 5050

UROLOGY Brett Abernathy

LUTHERAN, ST. JOSEPH, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S

2777 Mile High Stadium Circle,

Suite 5222 Denver 80211 303-825-8822

Fernando Kim

DENVER HEALTH 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Samson Shen

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, SKY RIDGE 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

VASCULAR NEUROLOGY Mark Murray

Michael Chen

ST. ANTHONY, LITTLETON 11750 W. Second Place, Suite 255

Lone Tree 80124 303-338-4545

Christopher Nichols

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH, SKY RIDGE 10240 Park Meadows Drive

Mark Fisher

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 280 Exempla Circle

Lafayette 80026 720-536-6600

Lakewood 80228 720-321-8040

ST. ANTHONY, PARKER 7780 S. Broadway, Suite 340

Littleton 80122 303-730-4400

VASCULAR SURGERY Travis Engelbert

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Melanie Hoehn

DENVER HEALTH 700 Delaware St., Davis Pavilion

Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Christopher Johnnides

GOOD SAMARITAN, ST. JOSEPH 2045 Franklin St.

Denver 80205 303-861-2121

Marcus Kret

PORTER, SWEDISH, ROSE 11700 W. Second Place

Lakewood 80228 303-778-6527 m

Credits Tk

Denver 80218 720-754-2155

SKY RIDGE 2 045 Franklin St.

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Some members of the school staff were not pleased with Krueger’s efforts. A teacher stopped him in the hallway: “He told me I needed to work on writing better emails to my superiors,” Krueger says.

Principal Tim Ridder approached him as class was ending one day, explained why the district had decided to go fully remote, and asked him why he’d sent the survey.

Krueger replied, “I think we need to keep my peers in school.”

The noise Krueger was making began to echo through the community. Some supported his chutzpah, while others ridiculed him, offended he would challenge the district’s rationale. “It felt like I had a target on my back for the next couple of weeks, and I didn’t really know why,” Krueger says.

Ridder says he may have been irritated by Krueger’s efforts but “that just had to do more with being exhausted in the moment.”

Hesford, the Summit High music teacher, applauded Krueger’s persistence, which later included a change.org petition to alter the weekly school schedule that got about 240 signatures. “I felt it was necessary,” Hesford says. “There were questions being asked that needed to be asked, that I felt like weren’t being asked from other places.

The kids needed a spokesperson to represent what they were feeling. The adults can have their say—the teachers, district leadership, public health. But who was asking the kids?

Foster was. Our kids need to have a voice.”

District mental and physical health coordinator Elizabeth Edgar says the decision to go remote was unavoidable. “The wheels were coming off with COVID; we had a couple of spikes. It’s a difficult balancing of priorities.

Was mental health discussed? Absolutely.”

AFTER TOBY’S AND CHRISTOPHER ’S

deaths, some residents questioned the county’s formula for dealing with the pandemic and its fallout. “I had a conversation with a person who was one of the direct people who made the decision to shut the county down,” Stacy Smith says, “and that person flat-out said to me, ‘Is it my fault these kids

are dead?’ And I said, ‘It’s not your fault these kids are dead, but the circumstances certainly led to their deaths.’ ” Perhaps that was the case for Toby. But the correlation was more complicated for Christopher, whose family chose to remain out of public view for more than a year.

One evening this past spring, however, his mother, Karen Darst, agreed to talk about Christopher at their home in Copper Mountain. West Tenmile Creek rushed by their back window as Karen recalled moving to Summit County from Seattle when Christopher was two. He’d grown into a grinning blond boy who was, his mother says, “off-the-charts smart.” He scored in the elite tier of standardized tests in every subject, and he was kind. “He was the first to give somebody a hug,” Karen says.

Christopher had been bullied since the fifth grade, his mom says, but for years he brushed it off. “He started caring when he got to high school,” Karen says. “He started to like girls, and it started to matter to him what people said and how they treated him.”

Christopher was small for a freshman. He wore glasses and ran cross-country. He and Toby knew each other from middle school

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The Denver Athletic Club

IN THE BEGINNING

ROOTED IN DENVER HISTORY COMMITTED TO INNOVATION A CLUB FOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE With the addition of a coworking space, members of The DAC will have everything they need to live, work, socialize and work out, all under one roof. The DAC is proud to continually evolve its offerings to meet the needs of its members.

Picture Denver in 1884: the state of Colorado was only eight years old. Wealth and population had boomed in the recent silver rush. Though still a dusty supply town for the miners out west, and not without its share of bawdy characters, Denver was the vibrant heart of the Rocky Mountain states.

And there, in the center of the city, stood the Denver Athletic Club.

From the beginning, The DAC helped its members discover a more fulfilling lifestyle with options for athletics, socializing and networking.

137 YEARS YO UNG Today, Denver looks very different from its boomtown roots. But The DAC remains A Club for Your Whole Life. It’s a place where members can find nourishment at every stage in life. Whether it’s the exceptional childcare, winning youth swim team, outstanding fitness facility, exemplary cuisine or robust social programming, The DAC contributes meaningfully to every member’s Denver experience.

ALWAYS INNOVATING

“After the office and home, The DAC has always been a ‘third place’ for our members—where they fulfill their fitness and social needs.

With coworking space now available, I have a feeling it may become simply the ‘second place.’”

— Rich Novelli, General Manager

LEARN MORE: DENVERATHLETICCLUB.ORG // 303-534-1211

Even before 2021, thousands of professionals were moving to Denver each month. Now, as the city emerges from the pandemic, a record number of residents are seeking something new from their Colorado experience: flexible alternatives for workspace.

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L I F E A N D D E AT H I N T H E M O U N TA I N S and were in the same band and math classes at Summit High. But while Toby was bigger and more plugged in socially, Christopher suffered the same abuse he had in the past.

In separate incidents, “he was pushed to the ground, they broke his glasses, they cut a hole in his cross-country sweatshirt,” his mother says. “I don’t know who they were.

It was mostly one class, kids in his grade.”

Christopher lied to his mother about how his glasses had been broken and how his shirt had been ripped. His parents became aware of the bullying at the end of October 2019. Christopher was one of four boys in his class who were being bullied, according to another victim’s mother, who later reported the bullying to Summit High administrators. The school’s principal, Ridder, declined to comment on the bullying allegations, saying, “I’m not at liberty to talk about any of that.”

In late November, someone called the Safe2Tell hotline about Christopher. A team from the county showed up to perform a safety check at 11 o’clock at night. During the team’s visit, Karen was horrified to find cuts up and down her son’s forearms.

She took him to the high school’s schoolbased health center soon after and looked into transferring him to the Peak School, a small private school in Frisco. “Then, over Christmas break, he was like, ‘Mom, I don’t want to go there. I want to stay with my friends,’ ” Karen recalls. Soon, after starting school again, he said, “Mom, I wish you wouldn’t talk about how smart I am.” His mother asked him why, suspecting it had something to do with the bullying. “Because I’m not,” he said. “I’m not smart at all.”

At the end of January, Karen learned her son was having suicidal ideation and took him to the Family & Intercultural Resource Center in Silverthorne. A staffer recommended she check him into West Springs Hospital, an inpatient group facility in Grand Junction. After a week there, he came home and returned to school. One week later, he attempted suicide. Christopher went back to West Springs for another four days. His parents brought him home again—and almost immediately, on March 13, Summit’s schools shut down because of the pandemic.

An unexpected turn occurred in Christopher’s demeanor. “The minute school was out, it was like a light bulb turned back on, and he was suddenly himself again,” Karen says. “He caught up on all of his schoolwork.

He was taking his cat for walks, making bread, skinning up the mountain. Day by day, it was better and better and better.”

Instead of feeling stifled by isolation, Karen

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says, “COVID was saving Christopher. One hundred percent.”

Then Toby died. Christopher was devastated. He wept at home the next morning, heartbroken that he hadn’t been able to say goodbye to his friend. Seven days later, on the night of Tuesday, April 28, Christopher talked to his parents about their shared plans for the next day, then went to bed. He died by suicide early the next morning. He had just turned 15.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, for every child who dies by suicide, several hundred more attempt it. More than one of every six high school students has seriously considered suicide, and approximately one of every seven has made a plan.

Still, school districts are almost always reluctant to talk about the issue, let alone release pertinent data. For this story, Summit School District spokesperson Mikki Grebetz said the district could not even confirm “multiple student deaths.” Among those who declined interview requests were the district’s Board of Education president, Kate Hudnut; then superintendent Marion Smith Jr.; and student support services director Ellen Clark, who oversees mental health care services.

“If we had an accurate picture of kids on the attempt side and completion side—if [schools] reported on age, gender, race and ethnicity, and geography—it’s going to give us a clearer picture of what is happening, and we can allocate resources to the real touch points,” says Rick Padilla, suicide prevention administrator for the City of Denver’s Department of Public Health and Environment. Padilla lost his son Jack to suicide in February 2019, when Jack was 15. Jack had been bullied, Padilla says, and was one of five Cherry Creek School District students to die by suicide in a span of six months. “I think CDPHE [Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment] should be demanding that information. Your kids are spending eight hours a day at a school with teachers and coaches. Where is it embedded legislatively that gives them the authority to not report this type of data?”

The larger problem is that no one aggregates that data. County coroners can provide suicide statistics, but no agency tracks youth suicide attempts or breaks them down by demographic. Given the range of health care options—private facilities, hospitals, public health centers—that treat teens in crisis, a school may be better positioned than other organizations to collect that information.

Statistics or no statistics, Smith believes that Summit School District’s resistance

From top: Courtesy of Heather Gard; Courtesy of Karen Darst

L I F E A N D D E AT H I N T H E M O U N TA I N S to talking about Toby’s and Christopher’s deaths more directly reflects a long-standing societal issue. “Ultimately, nobody wants to know that somebody is struggling with mental health, or that somebody has died by suicide,” she says. “Somebody dies of cancer, you’ve got all your best friends supporting you. Somebody dies by suicide, everybody’s like, That’s too real. I don’t want to be around that, because that could happen to somebody I know. And it breaks my heart.”

When Smith was asked to assist with school district communications after Toby’s death, she says she was told the district was not comfortable using the word “suicide” in the announcement. She presented multiple training sessions via Zoom to parents— about signs to look for that suggest suicidal ideation and how to talk to your kids about suicide—including one the night that Christopher died. “I was asked by an administrator at the high school to not use the word ‘suicide’ in all of those Zooms,” Smith says, even though she had Heather Gard’s permission to refer to Toby’s death as a suicide.

She used it anyway. “You have to use the word ‘suicide,’ ” Smith says, “because these are underdeveloped brains that are impulsive, and if you say ‘This can kill you,’ then you get kids saying, ‘What? I can die by this?’

We often say ‘tragically passed away,’ but we need to use the word ‘dead.’ ” Elizabeth Edgar, the district’s mental and physical health coordinator, says there is no policy against using “suicide” in conversation or communication, as long as the family consents. “I’ve never been in any district setting where someone’s like, Don’t talk about that,” Edgar says. Ridder, Summit High’s principal, declined to comment on the matter.

The more important aspect of Summit High’s response, Ridder says, was to “make sure we support the heck out of everybody around” the deaths and “don’t fixate on loss, but fixate on what our strengths are.” He adds, “The essence of suicide is that it’s a choice by that person, which makes it impossible to completely control.”

Heather Gard, meanwhile, has been pushing for change of her own. “I want the school to realize we’re too small a district not to acknowledge this,” she says. “I’m not just fighting because I want my kid remembered.

I’m fighting because I want those kids to feel validated. I want us to be what we say we’re being to the community—trauma informed and trauma responsive.”

SUMMIT HIGH SCHOOL made it through the final five months of the 2020-’21 school year relatively unscathed, but the mental health crisis in the county persisted. Building

Toby Gard (top) and Christopher Darst were friends at Summit High School; both died by suicide in a two-week span in April 2020.

Hope’s therapy scholarship requests among 12- to 18-year-olds remained up 30 percent over 2020 through the first half of 2021.

Younger students also struggled with the isolation caused by the pandemic. “Every week we were trying to get counseling and therapy support for our families and kids, and there was no one available,” says former Breckenridge Elementary principal Khristian Brace, who resigned at the end of the school year to begin a three-year graduate program in counseling. Brace had worked in education for 17 years; now she wants to treat Summit County’s teens.

“Even for people who can pay,” Brace says, “there are not enough mental health providers in our community.”

On May 25, Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora held a press conference to declare a “pediatric mental health state of emergency”—the first in the hospital’s 117-year history. Panelists said three or four kids a week were attempting suicide and being transported to the hospital by ambulances. There were too few inpatient

psychiatric beds. Families were seeking care out of state.

Some, like Rick Padilla, who spearheaded a statewide anti-bullying law that the Colorado Legislature passed this year, are trying to change the system. Summit receives $2 million a year via tax dollars and private donations for therapy scholarships, but county commissioner Tamara Pogue says the amount is not even close to enough to treat higher-level problems. “There are a lot of gaps in our system,” Pogue says. “Now you’ve added a lot more acuity and need that none of us could’ve anticipated, so the system is cracking at the seams in a more visible way than it was prior to the pandemic. There is simply not enough funding to effectively treat behavioral health and mental health in this community.”

Substantive changes are taking place at Summit High School, though. This fall, the school will adopt Sources of Strength, a research-based, peer-to-peer suicide prevention program designed to “change unhealthy norms and culture.” As Gard says, “You can train parents and teachers all day, but if we don’t get the tools in the hands of the kids, we’re going to lose. ” Summit School District also is adopting a new, comprehensive suicide procedure for staff that will be included in the district’s emergency operations protocol, should a death by suicide occur.

Foster Krueger graduated from Summit High this past spring and has enrolled at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles; he will join his older sister there this month. His mother asked him during the college application process if he had mentioned his efforts to challenge the district and superintendent in the name of mental health.

No, he told her, because they didn’t work.

Months later, nearing the end of a grueling senior year, his feelings had changed.

He’d grown in a way he hadn’t realized at the time. “It was definitely a learning experience, going in thinking, I’m right, I’m going to make a change, then coming out with my tail between my legs,” he says. “But it was still important to me that I tried, because it’s better to try than sit and watch.” m Devon O’Neil is a Summit County–based freelance writer. Email him at letters@5280.com.

GETTING HELP If you are, or a loved one is, experiencing an acute mental health crisis, Colorado Crisis Services has a hotline where trained professionals can talk you through an emergency. Call 1-844493-8255 or text TALK to 38255.

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COLORADO HOMES The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2021 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

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Complete w/a flagstone patio and 3-car garage!

DENVER | $929,000 Built in 1881, 4br/3ba Victorian home sits on a 6,264 SQFT lot in historic Curtis Park featuring 11-foot tall ceilings, exposed brick walls, bay windows, updated kitchen & master bedroom suite, office area, entertainment room w/wet bar & balcony.

Colleen Teitelbaum 303.668.8186 teitelbaumcolleen@gmail.com | CocoTeitel.com

Preston Gaspar 720.231.1399 preston.gaspar@coloradohomes.com | PrestonGasparHomes.com

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guiding you home since 1906

EVERGREEN | $917,000 Custom 4br/3ba home has expansive views of Bergen Peak. Upper living room features a fireplace & dramatic pinnacle windows. Located in the desirable Trails of Hiwan in north Evergreen. A quick commute to Denver and world class skiing.

DENVER | $899,000 5br/3.5ba home. Kitchen w/SS appliances and granite countertops.

Main floor study. Master bedroom w/an updated master bath.

Basement has a family room, rec area, and updated bath. Backyard has a newer patio w/built-in seating and hot tub.

Bethany Chamberlain 720.205.4934 bethany.chamberlain@coloradohomes.com

Chriss Bond 720.771.7369 Chriss.Bond@coloradohomes.com | ChrissBond.cbintouch.com

LOUISVILLE | $889,000 Stunning 3br/3ba home has been updated & upgraded! Kitchen w/professionally finished kitchen cabinets, quartz counters, slate backsplash & all new ss appliances. Backyard is professionally landscaped w/Trex deck, flagstone patio & garden areas.

ENGLEWOOD | $850,000 Spacious 5br/4ba home w/3,800 SQFT+ of living. Main level study w/rich wood paneling & built-in shelving. Kitchen w/breakfast area flows into the family room w/vaulted ceiling. Backyard w/covered patio.

Finished basement and rare 3-car garage.

Christy Hepp 303.910.5393 christy.hepp@coloradohomes.com | ChristySellsColorado.com

Jennifer Bub 303.253.4969 jennifer.bub@coloradohomes.com | JenniferBubRealEstate.com

DENVER | $850,000 4br/3ba home steps from Wash Park. Gorgeous exposed brick walls and old-world craftsmanship. Versatile layout ideal for privacy. Don't miss the opportunity to live in one of Denver's most coveted neighborhoods!

GREENWOOD VILLAGE | $829,000 Large 5br/4ba home w/MAIN LEVEL BEDROOM SUITE w/attached bathroom! Expansive updated kitchen w/island, maple cabinetry, slab granite counters & ss appliances. Breakfast area features sliders to the large, refinished deck & opens to the family room.

Natalie Farn 303.434.8937 natalie.farn@coloradohomes.com | NatalieFarn.cbintouch.com

Jennifer Bub 303.253.4969 jennifer.bub@coloradohomes.com | JenniferBubRealEstate.com

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DENVER | $825,000 Gorgeous 4br/4ba home includes dining room, office, kitchen w/island, white cabinetry & eat-in kitchen space, family room w/fireplace, master suite w/peek-a-boo mountain views, 5pc bathroom & walk-in closet, basement w/rec space & bar area & patio.

DENVER | $825,000 Beautiful Mission Style Congress Park 3br/2ba bungalow showcases original quarter-sawn oak throughout! All the charm of yesteryear’s wood floors, fireplace and built-ins remain; w/the luxury of a new main floor bath. Finished lower-level w/family rm.

AK Riley 720.289.2929 ak@kadenverhomes.com | KADenverHomes.com

Kelly Baca 303.748.3295 kelly.baca@coloradohomes.com | AgentKellyBaca.com

EVERGREEN | $815,000 4br/3ba home. Great room w/a gas fireplace. Dining room w/deck access. Kitchen w/an island, SS appliances, pantry and an eating space w/deck access. Main level master suite w/5-piece bath.

Complete w/a finished basement, 2-car garage and fenced yard.

Vicki Wimberly 303.210.8577 vicki.wimberly@coloradohomes.com

LAKEWOOD | $800,000 Charming multi-level home features wood beams, high ceilings, living room w/floor-to-ceiling moss rock wood-burning fireplace, tucked-away kitchen, office w/built-in bookshelves, primary bedroom w/walk-in closet & bathroom & covered patio.

LaDawn Sperling 303.710.5817 Cindy Sahli 303.588.2399

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GOLDEN | Price Upon Request Comfortable, foothills 4br/4ba home. Open floor plan features vaulted ceilings. Remodeled kitchen w/slab granite counters & ss appliances. Great room w/stone surround gas fireplace, wood floors, convenient deck access. Central Air Conditioning.

Ann Donley 303.903.2046 Cyndi DeLaney 303.204.3834

CENTENNIAL | $800,000 4br/3ba Hamilton model home on a corner lot w/approx. 3726 total sqft. Open concept kitchen w/stainless appliances, Wolff cooktop, granite counters, wet bar and wine fridge. Complete w/a side load garage and a private backyard with an extended patio.

Colleen Teitelbaum 303.668.8186 teitelbaumcolleen@gmail.com | CocoTeitel.com

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guiding you home since 1906

CASTLE PINES | $799,999 Stunning 5br/4ba home boasts a cathedral front entrance w/spiral staircase, spacious kitchen w/granite counters, living & dining room, flagstone patio, private office, luxurious owner's retreat w/walk-in closet & bathroom & finished basement.

DENVER | $799,000 This condo in the heart of Cherry Creek offers an open concept featuring a quartz-counter kitchen, fireside living room and dining room with access to two fabulous patios. Enjoy a spacious master suite and a second bedroom with a built-in Murphy bed.

Shannon Byerly 303.919.2611 YourFreshStartRealtor@gmail.com | YourFreshStartRealtor.com

Chriss Bond 720.771.7369 Chriss.Bond@coloradohomes.com | ChrissBond.cbintouch.com

FORT COLLINS | $795,000 5br/4ba stunning home in Kechter Crossing. Over $150K in upgrades.

2 gourmet kitchens. Massive primary bedroom. High quality finished basement with a movie room, kitchen, family room & more. Fenced yard w/gas firepit. 180’ views of the mountains.

DENVER | $794,000 Coveted location, gorgeous historic 2br/2ba Victorian w/turret.

9’ ceilings, ornate molding & exposed brick w/open floor plan. Updated kitchen w/quartz countertops & office nook. Master w/skylight & walk-in closet. HUGE bonus room.

Christina Larson 970.443.4111 You.re.Home777@gmail.com | DiamondHomesACutAbove.com

Erika Heredia 720.755.8075 erika.heredia@cbrealty.com | Erika5280Homes.com

DENVER | Price Upon Request 3br/2ba Bungalow in Washington Park. Kitchen w/new flooring, all SS appliances and a new sink. Master bedroom w/updated master bath. Outdoor living space w/new low maintenance landscaping in the front and backyards, a new front porch and a new deck.

GOLDEN | Price Upon Request A home that defines convenient mountain living! This 4br/4ba Genesee Village stunner will win your heart. Open concept kitchen with mountain views. Remodeled master bathroom. Fabulous main floor office. Expansive lower walk out. Welcome home.

Eric Oblander 303.886.7070 eric.oblander@coloradohomes.com | EricDenverHomes.cbintouch.com

Amy Smoldt 303.949.9683 amy@mountaintimerealestate.com | MountainTimeRealEstate.com

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HIGHLANDS RANCH | $750,000 4br/3.5ba home. Family room w/fireplace. There is a main floor office, bedroom and full bath. Kitchen w/granite counters, cooktop and double oven. Main floor master bedroom w/5-piece bath and a wall of windows. Complete w/finished basement and deck.

LITTLETON | $735,000 Custom 4br/3.5ba recently remodeled home includes a great room w/granite countertops, gas cooktop, hardwood floors & vaulted ceiling.

Upstairs master bedroom w/walk-in closet & 5pc bath. Lower level w/family room. Basement w/full wet bar. Large yard.

Bruce McQuiston 303.882.9235 macsbrew@msn.com | Littleton-HighlandsRanch.com

Christiana Barber 720.404.8757 cbhomesco@gmail.com | ChristianaBarber.com

LONE TREE | $700,000 Wonderful 4br/4ba home with bluff views boasts a loft, fully finished walk out basement, high end new kitchen w/large island, double oven & all new ss appliances, master w/newer upgraded bathroom & finished basement w/refinished hardwood floors.

CASTLE PINES | $699,000 4br/4ba home. Family room w/gas fireplace. Kitchen w/white cabinets, granite counters, an island and SS appliances. Master suite w/5-piece bath and walk-in closet. Finished basement w/rec space, bedroom, 3/4 bath and wet bar. Complete w/a backyard.

Colleen Huber 303.506.3302 colleen.huber@coloradohomes.com

Jill and Greg Svenson 303.522.0631 jill@jillgreg.com | JillAndGregHomes.com

AURORA | Price Upon Request Home Sweet Home in the wonderful Tallyn's Reach North subdivision.

Two story, 4BR/4BA walk-out basement home sits on a premium corner lot and provides full Colorado Mountain views right off your back deck. This home runs on Solar and is a must see!

DENVER | $679,000 4br/2ba ranch on a quiet block in Wellshire. Walk to Slavens School.

Living room & dining room ideal for entertaining. Kitchen w/granite counters, SS appliances, backsplash & views of the yard. 4 bedrooms on main floor, master w/en-suite bathroom.

Karyn Walker 303.819.8910 karyn.walker@coloradohomes.com | KMWHomes.com

Chriss Bond 720.771.7369 Chriss.Bond@coloradohomes.com | ChrissBond.cbintouch.com

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guiding you home since 1906

HIGHLANDS RANCH | $675,000 Outstanding 4br/3ba home boasts 3,000 SQFT, 3-car garage & finished basement. Kitchen includes black appliances & cherry cabinets. Upstairs you will find your vaulted Master Suite w/study, gas fireplace, walk-in closet & 5-pc bathroom.

AURORA | $675,000 Updated, 4,340 SQFT, 5br/5ba low maintenance home situated in a private gated community. Fully renovated gourmet kitchen w/updated appliances & slab granite counters. Master suite w/fully renovated mater bath. Great rm w/fireplace. Finished Basement!

Phoenix Rain 303.884.9489 phoenix.rain@coloradohomes.com | 5280RealEstate.com

Janine O'Neill 303.929.2799 Janine.Oneill@coloradohomes.com

LAKEWOOD | $675,000 3br/3ba ranch patio home with mountain views in Lakewood! Chef's Kitchen w/granite counters, SS appliances, gas cooktop & double ovens. Open floor plan and many builder upgrades in this low-maintenance home!

AURORA | $650,000 Updated, beautiful 6br/3.5ba home backs to a greenbelt. Formal living & dining rm, office & family rm w/fireplace. Kitchen w/granite counters, island, new ss refrigerator, hardwood flooring & 2 pantries. Master w/balcony & views! Finished basement.

Nita Kolarsick 303.250.8280 nita@nitahome.com | NitaHome.com

Najib Al-Alami 303.960.1207 najib.alalami@coloradohomes.com | NajibAlami.cbintouch.com

CONIFER | Price Upon Request Extensively remodeled home. Vaulted ceilings, walls of windows & woodstove are features in the kitchen/dining/living complex. Main level living offers a skylight in the hall bath, 2 bedrooms & master suite.

Basement is a family/rec area w/storage.

WHEAT RIDGE | $649,900 Don't Miss your chance to own this modernized 1950's brick ranch in Wheat Ridge. With an open concept, updated kitchen, warm hot tub, & hardwood floors, this home really shines. This 4br/2.5ba home has a non-conforming bedroom in the basement.

Terry Robinson 303.898.3658 info@early-group.com

Spencer Rogers 303.434.7600 spencer.rogers@cbrealty.com | SpencerRogers.cbintouch.com

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DENVER | $635,000 2br/2.5ba townhome. Kitchen w/countertop space, 42-inch cabinets and the elusive pantry. French doors from the dining room opens to the patio. Both bedrooms w/private baths and walk-in closets. Complete w/an attached garage and mature landscaping.

CASTLE PINES | $630,000 Lovingly maintained 3br/3ba home on a desirable corner lot w/an adorable wraparound front porch. Features hardwoods, lots of kitchen cabinets & counter space, walk-in pantry, gas fireplace, loft, 5-piece master bath, huge yard, patio & large bsmt.

Gail Wheeler 303.726.7202 Gail@GailWheeler.com | GailWheeler.com

Jill and Greg Svenson 303.522.0631 jill@jillgreg.com | JillAndGregHomes.com

WESTMINSTER | $600,000 4br/2.5ba home. Living room w/a fireplace. Kitchen w/an island, SS appliances and newly painted cabinets. Master bedroom w/a walk-in closet and 5-piece bath. Basement w/a storage space and a finished room. Complete w/a backyard and an in-ground pool.

FAIRPLAY | $600,000 3br/2ba newly renovated turnkey mountain getaway. 2-floor, cedar-built oasis boasts a massive master bedroom & bath, downstairs bedroom & bath, a loft, fully equipped contemporary-style kitchen, 2-car attached garage, vaulted ceilings & 3 decks.

Gail Wheeler 303.726.7202 Gail@GailWheeler.com | GailWheeler.com

Hope Rapp 303.667.9749 hope.rapp@coloradohomes.com | HopeRapp.cbintouch.com

LITTLETON | $600,000 Stunning 4br/3ba home. Bright & Sunny! Updated kitchen w/granite counter opens to a large Trex deck and lush, secluded yard. Upstairs, spacious primary suite w/exquisite bathroom & 3 bedrooms. Fresh paint inside & out! Immaculately maintained.

DENVER | $585,000 Darling home w/original oak hardwood floors. Main bath has been updated w/a separate soaking tub and shower. The kitchen, dining room, 3 bedrooms, laundry room and 1/2 bath complete the layout.

Great yard w/covered patio & 1 car garage.

Cindy Sahli 303.588.2399 cindy.sahli@coloradohomes.com | CindySahliRealEstatePro.com

Kelly Baca 303.748.3295 Kelly.Baca@ColoradoHomes.com | AgentKellyBaca.com

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guiding you home since 1906

HIGHLANDS RANCH | $580,000 This well-maintained and beautifully updated 4br/4ba Highlands Ranch home has it all! The house sits on a spacious corner lot with a fully fenced back yard and a wonderful back patio perfect for entertaining and enjoying our beautiful Colorado weather.

Mackenzie Jones 303.597.8966 Jessica Fredrickson 785.475.8332

BOULDER | $575,000 1br/1ba condo w/vaulted ceilings, an open floor plan and designer wood flooring throughout. There is a private fenced-in patio. HOA includes rooftop heated pool, 2 large hot tubs, great gym facility and community building with rentable move theater.

Jimmy Stewart 970.290.3755 jimmy@thekeygroupre.com | TheKeyGroupRE.com

GREELEY | $575,000 5br/4ba Home in Highland Hills backing to open space. Kitchen w/SS appliances and granite countertops. Main floor master bedroom w/5-piece master bath and walk-in closet. Finished basement w/family room, 2 bedrooms and 3/4 bath. Complete w/backyard.

LITTLETON | $549,000 4br/4ba home. Family room w/gas fireplace. Kitchen w/freshly painted white cabinets, modern subway tile backsplash and a pantry. Master bedroom w/mountain views, walk-in closet and 5-piece en-suite bath.

Complete w/finished basement and serene yard.

Gus Bergs 970.308.4733 gusbergs@hotmail.com | TheKeyGroupRE.com

Leah Gustafson 720.666.4654 leah.gustafson@coloradohomes.com | LeahGColoradoHomes.com

CASTLE ROCK | $549,000 4br/2ba brick ranch close to downtown Castle Rock. Right below the rock in historic Craig-Gould neighborhood. Peaceful oasis on nearly an acre w/Koi Pond, waterfall, garden area, stage & horseshoe pit. Owned solar panels. No HOA. Huge living room!

CASTLE ROCK | $539,000 The open floor plan has a sophisticated, yet comfortable style. Feel the warmth of the fireplace as you saunter through the great room to the cozy kitchen nook and rustic modern kitchen.

Jon Vander Pol 303.748.4176 jon.vanderpol@coloradohomes.com

Kathy Welhaf 720.355.1098 kathy.welhaf@coloradohomes.com

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LAKEWOOD | $525,000 Move-in ready 4br/3ba ranch offers laminate flooring, kitchen w/newer appliances, custom cabinets & eat in kitchen that walks out to the back patio. Master bedroom w/updated bathroom boasting a pedestal sink & claw foot bathtub. Finished basement.

DENVER | $519,000 Charming 4br/2ba Bow Mar Heights home w/an open floor plan w/wood floors & picture windows. Kitchen w/SS appliances & butcher block counters. Trex covered deck overlooks mature backyard. Lower level play house & entertainment room w/fireplace.

Carmen Elam 469.231.4497 carmen.elam@coloradohomes.com | HomesByCElam.com

Lisa Welsh 303.249.4717 lisa.welsh@coloradohomes.com | DreamHomesInCO.com

CASTLE ROCK | $510,000 4br/3.5ba home. Living room w/a wood burning fireplace. Kitchen w/SS appliances and butcher block countertops. Master bedroom w/views to the west of the front range and master bath. Basement w/family room, 4th bedroom and bath. Complete w/a backyard.

HIGHLANDS RANCH | $510,000 Corner lot 3br/2.5ba home boasts a very open floorplan, living room, office (den), kitchen & dining space w/fireplace. Upstairs there are 3 bedrooms total including the main bedroom complete w/5-pc bath & closet. Basement mostly finished w/game room.

Marcyndah Cosner 303.881.1876 marcyndah@marcyndah.com | Marcyndah.com

Shad Sleeth 303.482.7751 shad.sleeth@cbrealty.com

AURORA | $500,000 3br/2.5ba home w/an open floor plan and a custom fireplace. Kitchen w/newer stainless appliances, a center island, tons of cabinets and granite counters. Master suite w/5-piece bath. Complete w/an open basement, a backyard and a new patio.

BOULDER | $500,000 2br/2ba end unit w/an open floor plan, gas fireplace and wood floors.

Kitchen w/new granite counters, 42-inch cabinets and new sink.

Complete w/reserved underground parking space and private patio surrounded by trees overlooking a park like setting.

Bruce McQuiston 303.882.9235 macsbrew@msn.com | Littleton-HighlandsRanch.com

Deborah Pixler 303.917.6771 deborah.pixler@coloradohomes.com | DeborahPixler.cbintouch.com

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guiding you home since 1906

DENVER | $480,000 Stunning & modern 3br/2.5ba home is bright, open & spacious. Main floor features a living area, dining room & updated kitchen w/granite countertops. Master suite w/4pc bathroom. Loft. Private, fenced yard, 2 car garage & HOA maintained front yard.

WESTMINSTER | $475,000 Corner lot 4br/2ba Ranch! Situated on cul-de-sac, open living space w/vaulted ceilings, wood burning fireplace & kitchen w/white cabinets & white appliances. Oversized deck w/honeysuckle vines & finished basement.

Sally Weeber 720.727.3943 sally.weeber@coloradohomes.com | SallyWeeber.cbintouch.com

Phoenix Rain 303.884.9489 phoenix.rain@coloradohomes.com | 5280RealEstate.com

PARKER | $475,000 Lovely, paired 3br/3ba home features a covered front porch that faces the greenbelt, open floor plan, kitchen w/quartz counters & high end appliances, great room, dining area, primary retreat w/walk-in closet and bathroom & fully fenced side yard.

PARKER | $475,000 Fabulous, updated home w/open floorplan featuring a formal living room, new luxury vinyl flooring, remodeled kitchen with new appliances, family room w/fireplace & 4 bedrooms including a tranquil master suite w/new master bath & walk-in closet.

Shannon Byerly 303.919.2611 YourFreshStartRealtor@gmail.com | YourFreshStartRealtor.com

Colleen Teitelbaum 303.668.8186 teitelbaumcolleen@gmail.com | CocoTeitel.com

LOVELAND | $475,000 3br/2.5ba home in Savannah w/an open floor plan and vaulted ceilings.

Kitchen opens to a family room and views into the backyard. Upstairs has a loft space, 2 bedrooms and a master retreat w/a 5-piece bath.

Complete w/a backyard and 3-car garage.

BAILEY | $470,000 Mountain living 3br/2ba completely remodeled home on a 1-acre w/1,836 SQFT. New kitchen w/natural stone counters, new cabinets & appliances. Freshly updated bathrooms & flooring. Gas heater, pellet stove & wood burning fireplace. Dog run & shed.

Gus Bergs 970.308.4733 gusbergs@hotmail.com | TheKeyGroupRE.com

Robb Green 303.885.2924 robb.green@coloradohomes.com | RobbGreen.cbintouch.com

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PARKER | $450,000 Bright, light-filled 3br/2ba ranch includes a living room w/bay window, vaulted ceilings & open to the formal dining room. Large kitchen w/loads of cabinet space. Family room w/gas insert fireplace & master suite w/walk-in closet & 5pc bathroom.

BRIGHTON | $450,000 Updated 3br/2ba Ranch Style Home in Brighton w/new flooring.

Kitchen w/new SS appliances and quartz countertops. Custom lighting and other fantastic upgrades are around every corner.

Close to Carmichael park and minutes from downtown Brighton.

AK Riley 720.289.2929 ak@kadenverhomes.com | KADenverHomes.com

Gus Bergs 970.308.4733 gusbergs@hotmail.com | TheKeyGroupRE.com

AURORA | $445,000 Beautiful 3br/2ba bi-level home in desirable Cherry Creek School District. Formal living room w/high ceilings & opens to the updated kitchen & dining. Spacious master w/attached full bath. Lower level w/family room. Large patio & new landscaping.

DENVER | $440,000 This three bedroom, two bath home in a prime location of Denver sits on a beautiful, well maintained lot. When you are home, you are within close distance to Harvey Park. Come enjoy this beautiful ranch home and all that Harvey Park has to offer!

James Falcone 970.389.8220 james.falcone@cbrealty.com | FalconeRealtor.com

Ashley Warren 720.938.1129 ashley.warren@coloradohomes.com | AshleyWarren.cbintouch.com

PUEBLO WEST | $429,900 3br/2ba home on a 1.39 acre lot w/an open floor plan. Kitchen w/granite countertops and beautiful cabinets. Master bedroom has an adjoining 5-piece bath w/a jetted tub. The enclosed sunroom provides a hot tub. Complete w/a fenced backyard.

COLORADO SPRINGS | $425,000 3br/3ba home w/an open layout. Family room w/a gas fireplace.

Kitchen w/stainless steel appliances, gas range, Corian countertops and double oven. Master bedroom w/a remodeled master bath.

Complete w/a basement, a private backyard and a 2-car garage.

John Chudzinski 719.232.4515 john@codreamhomes.net | CODreamHomes.net

Rob Thompson 719.337.7254 rob.thompson@coloradohomes.com | RobThompsonHomes.com

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guiding you home since 1906

FREDERICK | $420,000 3br/2.5ba home in Savannah w/an open floor plan and vaulted ceilings.

Kitchen opens to a family room and views into the backyard. Upstairs has a loft space, 2 bedrooms and a master retreat w/a 5-piece bath.

Complete w/a backyard and 3-car garage.

LOVELAND | $420,000 Amazing 3br/2.5ba home features a great room w/hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings & fireplace, updated kitchen w/extra cabinet space, tile backsplash & Corian countertops, primary bedroom w/dual closets & ensuite bathroom & lower level w/living area.

John McComas 303.668.5542 john@johnmccomas.com | JohnMcComas.com

Erich Menzel 970.402.8457 Erich.Menzel@coloradohomes.com | HomeSalesInLoveland.com

DENVER | $420,000 Beautiful 3BR/3BA home in Green Valley Ranch close to everything. Pristine condition w/garage, spacious kitchen & loft. Lovely, landscaped backyard w/patio, ss appliances, custom blinds, main floor w/hardwoods, new carpet upstairs & carpet runner.

Melanie Reeder 720.333.2583 Kathy Casey 303.359.0579

LAKEWOOD | $415,000 Beautiful 3br/2ba home in Westborough! Remodeled kitchen, new paint & flooring, quiet neighborhood, private backyard & walking path behind your backyard. Minutes to highway 285 or 6th Avenue w/access to the foothills, hiking/biking trails & more!

Ashley Warren 720.938.1129 ashley.warren@coloradohomes.com | AshleyWarren.cbintouch.com

AURORA | $406,000 Beautiful 3BR/2BA tri-level home backs to greenbelt! Remodeled kitchen w/new cherry cabinets, island, granite counters & SS appliances, new laminate flooring, carpet & paint, family room w/ wood-burning fireplace & new back patio.

AURORA | $400,000 2br/2ba townhome. Main floor w/a living/dining, kitchen and en-suite bedroom. Upstairs w/en-suite bedroom and loft w/fireplace. Finished basement could be a 3rd en-suite bedroom w/full bath and laundry room. Complete w/2-car garage and outdoor space.

The Cybyske Home Team 303.635.1100 Lisa@cybyske.com | Cybyske.com

Gail Wheeler 303.726.7202 Gail@GailWheeler.com | GailWheeler.com

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CENTENNIAL | $400,000 Coveted 3br/3ba townhome showcases an eat-in kitchen w/charming window seat & newer ss appliances. Living & dining rooms are inviting w/plenty of natural light & fireplace. Welcoming covered outdoor space.

Finished basement offers many possibilities.

THORNTON | $395,000 Opportunity knocks 3br/2ba featuring 1,240 SQFT of finished living space. Open floorplan w/high ceilings, living room & dining area.

Upstairs are 2 bedrooms & full bath. 3rd bedroom on lower level along w/2nd bathroom.

Cindy Kean 303.919.6304 cindy.kean@coloradohomes.com | TheKeanTeam.cbintouch.com

Erika Heredia 720.755.8075 erika.heredia@cbrealty.com | Erika5280Homes.com

DENVER | $389,000 Updated 2br/1ba townhome in Mayfair w/the charming 1945 touches. Updated kitchen w/white cabinets and butcher block countertops. Unfinished basement is great for your own personal finishes. Complete w/a detached 1-car garage and an open courtyard.

Jill and Greg Svenson 303.522.0631 jill@jillgreg.com | JillAndGregHomes.com

JOHNSTOWN | $369,000 2br/3ba home w/an open floor plan and a fireplace. The kitchen and foyer feature dark stained hardwood floors. There are 2 master suites and a laundry upstairs. Enjoy views of the neighborhood park, mountains, or your landscaped backyard.

John McComas 303.668.5542 john@johnmccomas.com | JohnMcComas.com

ColdwellBankerHomes.com

DENVER | $375,000 2br/1ba one-half duplex in a super cool SOBO location w/nice front porch as well as a living room area. Open kitchen w/a gas stove, all appliances included and a dining area. Open basement/laundry room w/a sink. Complete w/a private backyard.

Colleen Teitelbaum 303.668.8186 teitelbaumcolleen@gmail.com | CocoTeitel.com

ARVADA | Price Upon Request 2br/2.5ba home w/open living room. Kitchen w/SS appliances, plenty of room and adjacent dining room. Upstairs has a master bedroom w/an attached en suite bath and 2nd bedroom w/a full bath steps away.

Complete w/a fenced backyard and attached garage.

Jessica Fredrickson 785.475.8332 Mackenzie Jones 303.597.8966

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guiding you home since 1906

AURORA | $350,000 2br/3ba townhome. Great room w/a fireplace. Living room w/ vaulted ceilings. Kitchen w/terrific counter space and stainless steel appliances. Upstairs there are 2 big en suite bedrooms. There is an attached garage. Complete w/an outdoor space.

COLORADO SPRINGS | Price Upon Request Vaulted ceilings, open dining & main living space, new doors & fresh paint, new carpet & water-resistant flooring & updated lower bathroom.

Additional features wood deck, master w/adjoining bath & walk in closet & fully landscaped front yard.

Gail Wheeler 303.726.7202 Gail@GailWheeler.com | GailWheeler.com

Patti Berens 719.671.2723 patti.berens@coloradohomes.com | HomeSalesByPatti.com

DENVER | $315,000 Lovely open sunny floorplan, 1,115 SQFT, 2br/2ba condo featuring newer paint & carpet, open kitchen w/all appliances included, eat in kitchen & family room w/gas fireplace. Deeded garage & 1 reserved parking space. Clubhouse w/pool & onsite manager.

ENGLEWOOD | $300,000 From the vaulted ceilings to the spiral staircase, this condo creates a peaceful atmosphere. The unit includes a main floor bedroom, two bathrooms, a studio loft and a detached garage.

Colleen Teitelbaum 303.668.8186 teitelbaumcolleen@gmail.com | CocoTeitel.com

Joanna McKinney 303.505.4523 joanna.mckinney@coloradohomes.com | AspenVerde.com

LITTLETON | $285,000 STUNNING 2br/1ba home in Lexington Village! Patio backs to green space & a park close by! Beautifully remodeled Kitchen, floors, paint & bathroom, all waiting for you to move in & enjoy! The pride in ownership shines through!

DENVER | $275,000 782 sqft, 1br/1ba condo in the heart of Capitol Hill w/hardwood flooring. Updated kitchen w/all appliances included. Enjoy the updated bath and tall ceilings in this corner unit w/a great outdoor space, a large indoor gym and a free laundry area.

Ashley Warren 720.938.1129 ashley.warren@coloradohomes.com | AshleyWarren.cbintouch.com

Colleen Teitelbaum 303.668.8186 teitelbaumcolleen@gmail.com | CocoTeitel.com

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DENVER | $1,099,999

BOULDER | $1,030,000

DENVER | Price Upon Request

3br/4ba townhome w/new carpet and tons of natural light. Kitchen w/stainless appliances and granite. Master bedroom w/5-piece bath, a walk-in closet and deck. Complete w/a back patio.

Lovely mid-century 3BR/2BA home offers a backyard w/filtered mountain views. Bright & open floor plan w/vaulted living room & 2 fireplaces. Downstairs guest suite w/kitchenette & more.

2br/2ba, 2 story loft style penthouse in one of Denver's finest urban neighborhoods. Kitchen w/red Berloni cabinets and high-end appliances. Complete w/a private balcony.

P.J. Farrell 303.884.5368

Brad Pickels 720.839.1673

Kathryn Farrow 720.987.8660

BROOMFIELD | $850,000

DENVER | $699,999

BOULDER | $695,000

Absolutely stunning, luxury, four bedroom home in the prestigious Anthem Community of Broomfield, Colorado. Here you will find world-class amenities surrounded by breathtaking views.

2br/2ba unit in Historic Bayly Lofts Building w/open floor plan, hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows. Complete w/Mountain and Coors Field views, 2 parking spaces & roof rights.

4br/3ba townhome. Living room w/a fireplace complements the kitchen and 2nd bedroom. Finished basement w/2 more bedrooms, full bath and family room. Complete w/an easy care yard.

Poonam Kakkar 720.280.7729

P.J. Farrell 303.884.5368

Richard Alpers 303.263.8237

LITTLETON | $685,000

DENVER | $675,000

DENVER | $650,000

Beautifully updated 4br/3.5ba home highlights an open family room, kitchen w/brand new SS appliances, master bedroom w/bathroom & recently remodeled shower/tub & redwood 3-tier deck.

Great investment property! Perfect location w/4br & guesthouse w/additional 2br, bath & mini kitchen. Main floor offers a kitchen w/SS appliances & pantry, living & dining rm. 9,370 SQFT.

Stunning Watermark 3BR/2BA home. Beautifully remodeled including a Thermador gas range/oven. A Hubbardton Forge dining fixture completes the open dining room space. Plenty of amenities!

Vanessa Bassock 720.284.8222

Debbie Joseph 303.842.8331

Tom Fowler 303.956.2575 Brie Fowler 303.882.8672

FIRESTONE | $649,995

DENVER | $635,000

ERIE | $625,000

Stunning 4br/3ba home is stylish w/warm gathering spaces, 2-sided fireplace & formal dining. Newly upgraded kitchen w/ss appliances & granite counters. Master suite w/updated bathroom!

Congress Park 2br/3ba townhome w/an open floor plan. Eat-in kitchen w/stainless appliances. Owner's suite w/large shower and walk-in closet. Complete w/a 2-car garage and rooftop deck.

Impressive 5br/4ba home offers a living room w/fireplace, dining room, kitchen w/tile backsplash, primary suite w/wood accent wall & walk in closet & finished basement w/custom bar.

Beth Shields 720.587.9330

Annie Hall Team 720.346.4188

Brie Fowler 303.882.8672 Brandon Rearick 970.691.0122

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guiding you home since 1906

AURORA | $610,000

HIGHLANDS RANCH | $600,000

HIGHLANDS RANCH | $600,000

Beautiful 3br/2ba ranch backs to expansive open space. Open fl oor plan boasts family room w/fireplace, dining room, kitchen w/SS appliances & granite counters & master w/5pc bathroom.

Impeccably maintained 3br/3ba home offers hardwood fl oors & is multi-level with a nice separation between the living & dining room & another from the kitchen to the family room.

Immaculate four bed/three bath + loft backing to park and community pavilion in the desirable Firelight neighborhood in Highlands Ranch. Close to parks, trails, and recreation centers.

Leah Gustafson 720.666.4654

Jennifer Oldham 720.234.3863

Ruthanne Taylor 303.525.1166

AURORA | $600,000

AURORA | $575,000

COMMERCE CITY | $574,900

6br/4ba Ranch home. Open fl oorplan. Finished Basement. Three Spectacular 5br/4ba home includes wood fl oors, upgraded eat-in bedrooms, including a Master Suite, two bathrooms, and a full kitchen, central dining room, home office, family room w/gas kitchen on each level. 1/5th acre lot with deck and patio. fireplace, finished walkout basement w/game room & Trex deck.

Beautiful 4br/4ba, 2-story, energy-efficient home w/granite kitchen, SS appliances, spacious layout, large windows, walk-in closets, included smart appliances, fenced yard & garden beds.

Dan D. Gerlock 720.326.8100

Jennifer Oldham 720.234.3863

Sheila Vessels 303.995.2842

LONGMONT | $559,000

CENTENNIAL | $550,000

WINDSOR | $549,000

Dream 6br/5ba home w/ a finished basement backs to a trail & the family park. Raised back deck boasts water views.

Master suite includes 5-pc bath/Longs Peak views/walk-in closet.

3br/3ba home in Willow Creek w/hardwood fl oors and a gas log fireplace. Updated kitchen w/slab granite and stainless appliances. Complete w/a basement and a private backyard.

Amazing 4br/4ba 2,800 SQFT home w/3-car garage. Fully finished basement, luxury vinyl plank flooring, Fresh paint & new appliances. Large kitchen & open concept living area. Large yard!

Jen Bergman 303.506.9494

Mary Ann O'Toole 720.530.6878

Cole Gorton 970.402.3675

HIGHLANDS RANCH | $545,000

CASTLE ROCK | $540,000

LAFAYETTE | $525,000

4br/2ba home w/an open floor plan, high ceilings and new 4br/4ba home w/an open floor plan. Kitchen w/an eat-in space and COREtec luxury flooring. Kitchen w/a new gas stove, a Bosch an island. Master bedroom w/mountain views, a 4-piece master dishwasher and granite countertops. Complete w/a well-kept yard. bath and closet. Complete w/open space behind the home.

3br/2ba home in Lafayette Park. Near trails, parks, & charming Old Town Lafayette's restaurants & shops! Open fl oor plan on main level, 2 exterior decks, fenced yard with mature trees.

Derrek Patrick 720.987.5271

Hallie Rand 720.810.2931

Tina Ford 303.717.7871

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WOODLAND PARK | Price Upon Request

HIGHLANDS RANCH | $500,000

AURORA | $500,000

3 Beds | 2 Baths | 2-Car | 2.50 Acres | Kitchen with Walkout | Main Level Bedroom | Upper-Level Bedroom with Walkout | Zoned for Horses | Extensive Workshop | Garden Beds and Greenhouse

3BR/2BA tri-level offers vaulted ceilings, hardwoods, kitchen w/ slab granite counters & tile backsplash, family room w/fireplace, maintenance free deck w/fabulous mountain views!

Rare Park Location! Ranch style 3br/2ba home showcases an expanded rear concrete patio, well-appointed kitchen w/SS appliances & breakfast bar, dining nook, formal dining or study.

Zane Whitfi eld 719.332.3930

Michael & Laurie Marcus 303.550.0075

Rodney Allen 303.995.9330

THORNTON | $499,900

SEVERANCE | $490,500

EVERGREEN | $485,000

3br/3ba home in Riverdale Park w/an open floor plan. Family room w/a gas fireplace. Master suite w/a remodeled bath and walk-in closet. Complete w/an unfinished basement and backyard.

5br/3ba home. Kitchen w/granite countertops, a pantry & SS appliances. Master suite w/vaulted ceilings and 5-piece bath.

Complete w/a finished basement, 3-car garage and fenced yard.

2br/2ba, 1,395 sq ft condo in 55+ Community. Spacious great rm with fireplace, dining area, kitchen with ss appliances & granite.

Master suite has walk in closet, dual sinks. Carport.

Christy Hepp 303.910.5393

Michelle A. Nelson 303.748.5247

Karen Weidner 303.506.8244

NORTHGLENN | $485,000

FIRESTONE | $475,000

WESTMINSTER | $475,000

Beautiful suburban 3br/2.5ba home features an open floor plan w/newly painted interior walls, brand new kitchen appliances & light fixtures, loft, master suite & fully fenced backyard.

4br/3ba w/huge backyard & mountain views! Fantastic location & over a quarter of an acre. Light & airy floorplan, beautiful flooring & gorgeous staircase. Primary bedroom w/5pc bath.

Well maintained 3br/2ba home boasts a corner lot w/2-car garage.

Newer double paned windows. Kitchen w/granite counters & soft close cabinets. Remodeled bathrooms. Finished basement.

Kathy Eichenberger 303.594.0563

Brie Fowler 303.882.8672 Brandon Rearick 970.691.0122

Samantha Stroh Cohen 720.327.6178

DENVER | $450,000

DENVER | $449,000

PARKER | $445,000

Completely remodeled 2br/1ba row home w/an open floor plan, 2br/2ba townhome w/an open floor plan and an updated kitchen. hardwood floors and 2 skylights. There is a new kitchen, new baths Unfinished basement w/a laundry. Complete w/a back area and and a newer roof. Complete w/a backyard and patio. garage parking. Close to Downtown, restaurants, bars and parks.

Welcome home to this desirable Cottonwood Community home nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac. This home is move-in ready and has tons of space for entertaining!

P.J. Farrell 303.884.5368

Elise Fay 303.917.8988

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P.J. Farrell 303.884.5368

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

guiding you home since 1906

AURORA | $430,000

AURORA | $425,000

AURORA | $425,000

4br/2.5ba home. Family room w/gas fireplace. Master suite w/a walk-in closet and private bath. Addition off the kitchen opens up to patio and backyard. Complete with 2 car garage.

3br/3ba home. Family room w/gas fireplace. Kitchen w/granite counters, beautiful cabinets and stainless appliances. Primary bedroom w/a 3/4 bath. Complete w/a lower level and backyard.

Immaculate, move-in ready 4br/2ba ranch home! Home highlights a farmhouse-style kitchen, finished basement and fantastic deck with a spacious backyard. Ideally located to amenities.

Rae Marie Heard 720.234.7918

Donna Jarock 303.718.6285

Nita Kolarsick 303.250.8280

COLORADO SPRINGS | $400,000

LOVELAND | $400,000

CENTENNIAL | $425,000 3br/2.5ba home. Living room w/fireplace. Kitchen w/oak floors, maple cabinets and granite counters. Master suite w/large closet and bath. Complete w/basement, patio and 2-car garage.

Angela Atkinson 303.775.3031

Updated 3br/3ba home features an office & upgraded kitchen 4br/4ba home w/a phenomenal view and open layout. Kitchen w/ss appliances. Upper level features a family room w/full wall w/a bar, roll out shelving, upgraded appliances and dining room. closet & master suite w/views & ensuite bath. Custom patio. Upstairs has 3 bedrooms. Complete w/a basement and a garage.

Jennifer Montoya 719.232.3397

Dawn Mathis 970.481.5263 Taylor Carpenter 303.909.2108

WINDSOR | $394,000

THORNTON | $380,000

BOULDER | $380,000

3br/3ba home w/an open floor plan, living room and rec room.

Main bedroom w/walk-in closet and 4-piece bath. Complete w/a finished basement and backyard oasis w/a semi-private hot tub.

3BR/2BA home features a living room w/large window, original arched doorways & eat-in kitchen w/Pergo floors, newer oak cabinets, tile counters & SS appliances. Master w/updated bath.

Downtown condo! Great location in historic Mapleton Hill! Walk to Pearl St and trails. Spacious 612 SQFT 1br condo w/fireplace!

Private patio faces the pool. Recent updates. High rents.

Kristi Ogren 970.590.9040

Jennifer Montoya 719.232.3397

Elizabeth Boese 970.412.1020

LAKEWOOD | $375,000

AURORA | $375,000

DENVER | $365,000

3br/3.5ba townhome w/open floor plan. Kitchen offers granite countertops and newer appliances. Beautiful hardwood floors, finished walk-out basement, 1-car Garage and 1 Reserved space.

2br/2.5ba Living room w/a gas fireplace. Kitchen w/SS appliances and island. Master bedroom w/an en-suite bath and walk-in closet. Complete w/a basement, patio and 1-car garage.

3br/1ba brick ranch home in Denver. Beautiful hardwood floors, spacious living room with bay window, plus a 1-car garage.

Complete with fantastic private backyard and concrete patio.

Kelly Redpath 303.548.4058

Stephanie Ryan 303.725.8901

Kelly Redpath 303.548.4058

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COLORADO SPRINGS | $365,000

DENVER | $297,000

BOULDER | $295,000

3br/2ba home features a living room w/bay window, dining room & kitchen w/crisp white cabinets, tile counters, stacked stone backsplash. Master w/walk-in closet. Large patio w/fire pit.

Well-appointed 1br/1ba condominium. Natural light streams from the oversized windows, large bedroom & open living room. Wood burning fireplace, patio & kitchen w/newer SS appliances.

Next door to Rayback Collective! Best priced 2br in Boulder with a convenient North Boulder location. Good condition, just repainted & located just a half a flight up, on the 2nd floor!

Jennifer Montoya 719.232.3397

Elise Fay 303.917.8988

Jillian Fowler 303.884.2032 Tom Fowler 303.956.2575

COLORADO SPRINGS | $289,000

WESTMINSTER | $173,250

DENVER | $169,900

Charming mid-century 2br/1ba ranch in the treasured Old North End. Fresh paint & new carpet. Bright kitchen. Backyard w/large-covered patio & fully fenced. One-car detached garage.

1br/1ba condo. Kitchen and bath have new granite countertops and sinks. Living room w/wood burning fireplace and sliding door to a private balcony. Near parks, shopping and restaurants.

1br/1ba condo w/an open floor plan as well as built-in shelves and drawers. Kitchen w/amble cabinet and counter space. Complex has mature trees. Easy access to shopping and parks.

Eric Tack 303.295.2000

Rae Marie Heard 720.234.7918

Derrek Patrick 720.987.5271

CYCLE THE CITY SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2021

Discover Denver by bike on this fully-supported urban ride.

R E G I S T E R N O W T O S AV E A T DenverCenturyRide.com

100 MILES • 85 MILES • 50 MILES • 25 MILES TITLE SPONSOR

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Start & Finish at:

IN-DEPTH REPORTING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES

BACKSTORY

Peter Heller’s new thriller, The Guide, out August 24, is set at a boutique fly-fishing lodge near Crested Butte, where the mountains are beautiful, the trout are tricky, the rivers are cold, and a pandemic lurks. Heller’s invented world, however, may be more believable to Coloradans than the Denver-based novelist and former expedition kayaker’s strangerthan-fiction real life.

Can you guess which of these water-based adventures are true and which are fantasy?

—NICHOLAS HUNT

FACT OR FICTION?

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The Japanese government once issued an arrest warrant for Heller and actress Hayden Panettiere (Heroes, Nashville) for their roles in the award-winning documentary The Cove. The crime? Paddling surfboards into a small bay, where local fishermen were actively killing pilot whales, to protest the slaughter.

After being dropped off in Tajikistan’s Pamir Mountains at more than 12,200 feet by Russian military helicopters to make the first kayak descent of the Muksu River, Heller and his fellow paddlers were given up for dead when it took two days longer than expected to complete the wolf- and snow-leopard-filled first leg.

Heller and two friends spent three days snorkeling 20 miles of the Gunnison River with only wetsuits, masks, fins, and truck-tire inner tubes to hold their camping gear and fishing poles. To spot each other over the massive rapids, they attached red scuba diving flags on fourfoot wands to their tubes.

While canoeing in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, a wilderness area on the Canadian border filled with more than 1,100 lakes, Heller had his wooden paddle stolen by a beaver during the night, forcing him to craft another using a stick, tape pulled from a Billy Joel cassette, and his dinner plate.

On assignment for Outside magazine, searching for endangered bird species in New Mexico’s 228-square-mile White Sands National Park, Heller and amateur ornithologist and Jackass star Steve-O discovered an oasis, previously unknown to park officials, hidden in the dunes.

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F

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Answer key 1. True 2. True 3. True 4. False 5. False

152 5 2 8 0

AUGUST 2021

I L LU S T R AT I O N BY S E A N PA R S O N S

Source images: Jeff Nelson (Peter Heller); Getty Images (helicopter, White Sands National Park, oasis, beaver, oar, scuba diving flag, pilot whale, snorkeler, mountains, rapids)

Off Book

Where do the heart and lungs connect?

Right here in Denver.

Experience a comprehensive approach to heart and lung care from a team of nationally recognized experts. National Jewish Health, the nationʼs leading respiratory hospital, and Saint Joseph Hospital, Coloradoʼs premier center for heart surgery, are working together to provide the best care.

Find out what this means for you. Visit us at workingtogether.org.

To make an appointment, call 800.572.5864.

That first day of school feeling feels different this year.

“New book smell. New seat in a new classroom. Hallway high fives with last yearʼs friends. Butterflies in your stomach. Trembling hands. New teacher seems nice.

Was the cafeteria always this loud? Pizza day. No appetite. How do you make new friends again?

Recess seems more stressful than math now. I donʼt remember school feeling this hard.”

This school year is different for all of us, but especially for our kids.

Adjusting to in-school learning, being with peers and away from family can lead kids to feel overwhelmed, anxious or depressed about heading back to school.

So it’s more important than ever for us to talk to our kids about their mental health. To ask how they're feeling, what they're afraid of, and whether they need help, so they can start the year healthy and prepared.

At Children's Hospital Colorado, we know these conversations aren't easy, so if you need somewhere to start, head to our website for resources and advice from pediatric experts.

childrenscolorado.org/MentalHealthAdvice