THE DENVER MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2022 5280.com ROAD TRIPS COLORADO Leaf-Peeping Gets An Eco-Conscious Upgrade With These Seven Spectacular Fall Drives THE HIGH COST OF HIGH COUNTRY REAL ESTATE BY DEVON O’NEIL HOW VINTNERS ARE GETTING CREATIVE IN COLORADO WINE COUNTRY PAGE 40 8 PROBLEMS PLAGUING DOWNTOWN DENVER’S PANDEMIC RECOVERY PAGE 76
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SEPTEMBER 2022 StroomerTheo 4 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022 66 AvenuesElectric Colorado is making its scenic and historic byways more accessible for vehicles without combustion engines, meaning these seven fall foliage routes are electrifying in more ways than one. BY NICHOLAS HUNT 76 The Future Of DenverDowntown Downtown was hit particu larly hard by the pandemic, and the city is still struggling to get people back on its streets. How do we rebuild Denver for the modern era? EDITED BY DALIAH SINGER 88 The CountryCostHighOfHighLiving Breckenridge has the most short-term rentals of any municipality in the state. We examine what that means for those who live and work in the Rocky Mountain town. BY DEVON O’NEIL FEATURES
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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 $6.99 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 3000, Denville, NJ 07834. 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, and COUTURE COLORADO. © 2022 5280 Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. BEHIND THE STORIES 14 DINING GUIDE 229417 32 EAT & DRINK 31 NEW & NOTEWORTHY Sapore brings polished steak house fare to one of Colorado’s fastest-growing suburbs. 32 WHAT’S HOT Thai street fare, Neapolitanstyle pies, and Latin tapas. 34 BEST BITES A tour of the menu at Bánh & Butter Bakery Café, where Asian fusion flavors meet French technique. 36 IN SEASON Make the most out of this year’s his torically spicy Pueblo chile season. 38 ETIQUETTE Your guide to tipping appro priately in every scenario. COLUMNS 40 AGRICULTURE Some Grand Valley vintners are adapting to climate change by growing lesser-known grape va rieties—but not everyone believes they’re the future of Colorado wine. BY PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG 48 THEATER Can Jada Suzanne Dixon lead Curious Theatre Company into a bright new future? BY SPENCER CAMPBELL BACKSTORY 128 NICE TO E-MEET YOU A cycling culture primer for Denverites who used the city’s new rebate program to score an e-bike.
40 DEPTS. StumpfRebeccaSpectrum;SauvageofCourtesyBanks;SarahImages;GettyBanks;Sarahleft:topfromClockwise 128
ON THE COVER Photograph by John Sirlin/ Alamy Stock Photo Kebler Pass, along western Colorado’s West Elk Loop scenic byway COMPASS 17 ART Street artist A.L. Grime connects art and technology at the first Denver Walls festival. CULTURE
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How former Talking Heads front man David Byrne co-produced his immersive show Theater of the Mind with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. GEAR Duds from local companies to help you leaf-peep in style. PROFILE Parker McMullen Bushman tackles injustice on TikTok—and IRL. OUTDOORS From his garage in Littleton, Ascent Fly Fishing owner Peter Stitcher oversees a network of suppliers and fly tiers that spans the globe. STYLE Two former models are taking their black-and-white industry into an age of multicolor majesty. BUSINESS Inside Tarra, a new campus where women in business can find connections.
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Twelve million years ago, several hundred large, prehistoric animals gathered around a watering hole in what is now Nebraska, where they were killed by a cloud of ashes from a volcanic eruption. Their fossilized remains have been waiting patiently for you ever since, in the Ashfall Fossil Beds. We know this won’t interest everyone. But some of you (and you know who you are) will be fascinated. So go to VisitNebraska.com for a free Travel Guide. Don’t keep us waiting any longer. of us have been waiting 12 million years for you.
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8 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022 5280 PUBLISHING, INC. CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Daniel Brogan EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Geoff Van Dyke 1675 Larimer St., Suite 675, Denver, CO 80202 Tel 303-832-5280 | Fax 303-832-0470 | 5280.com For subscription questions, please call 1-866-271-5280. EDITOR Lindsey B. King ART DIRECTOR David McKenna DIGITAL DIRECTOR Maren Horjus EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Jessica LaRusso SENIOR STAFF WRITER Robert Sanchez FEATURES EDITOR Spencer Campbell SENIOR EDITORS Philip Clapham, Nicholas Hunt FOOD EDITOR Patricia Kaowthumrong ASSOCIATE FOOD EDITOR Riane Menardi Morrison ASSOCIATE EDITOR Chris Walker ASSISTANT EDITORS Madi Skahill, Barbara Urzua COPY EDITORS Shannon Carroll, Dougald MacDonald CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kelly Bastone, Laura Beausire, Christine DeOrio, Courtney Holden, Sarah Kuta, Jenny McCoy, Allyson Reedy, Meredith Sell, Daliah Singer, Martin J. Smith, Andy Stein EDITORIAL INTERNS Jenae Barnes, Roshae Hemmings, Samuel Shaw DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO EDITOR Charli Ornett DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Sean Parsons DEPUTY PHOTO EDITOR Sarah Banks CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Lisa Thé CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS The Brave Union, Susie Brenner, Jason J. Hatfield, Jason Sinn, Theo Stroomer, Rebecca Stumpf I’LL SEND A POSTCARD DAYCARE • BOARDING • BEDSNBISCUITS.COMGROOMING720-782-7800•4219XENONST. Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area Visit FarmingtonNM.org today and awake your thirst for adventure. Aaahhsome
Wherever your happy place is, you can find it in Downtown Boulder.
Let me tell you about my happy place. . . It’s somewhere I go that puts a huge smile on my face. It’s a place where I feel creative, adventurous and relaxed. It’s a spot where I make new memories and relive some of the best small moments of my life. Sounds kind of nice, right?
Discover your Happy Place at VisitDowntownBoulder.com
10 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022 A member of the American Society of Magazine Editors A member of the City and Regional Magazine Association VICE PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Zach Wolfel ADVERTISING & MARKETING ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Ari Ben MARKETING DIRECTOR Piniel Simegn SENIOR ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Molly Duran ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Katie Duven, Heather Lowe, Angie Lund, Kara Noone, Reann Queen ADVERTISING & MARKETING COORDINATOR Tamara Curry MARKETING COORDINATOR Grace Thomas ADVERTISING & MARKETING INTERNS Benjamin Christiansen Queen, Margaret Alice Queen BRAND SERVICES BRAND SERVICES DIRECTOR Carly Lambert PRINT OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Megan Skolak CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER Chelsea Conrad DIGITAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Shundra Jackson GRAPHIC DESIGNER Caitlin Brooks AUDIENCE GROWTH COORDINATOR Greta Kotova PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Alyssa Chutka DESIGN COORDINATOR Mylie Hiraoka CREATIVE SERVICES INTERNS Naomi Pascalle Brooks, Allison Torres, Faith Woodward NEWSSTAND CONSULTAN T Alan Centofante CIRCULATION CONSULTANTS Meg Clark, Greg Wolfe ADMINISTRATION HUMANMANAGERRESOURCES Derek Noyes OFFICE MANAGER Todd A. Black BILLING & COLLECTIONS MANAGER Jessica McHeard Lincoln National Forest Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area Carlsbad Caverns National Park Pecos RecreationRiver paid for by City of Carlsbad Lodger's Tax
12 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR & DINING GUIDE Letters to the editor must include your name, address, and a daytime phone number (all of which can be withheld from publication upon request). Letters may be submitted via regular mail or email (letters@5280. com). 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 subm itted at least six weeks before the issue’s cover date.
AssociatesWenkandSAR+ofCourtesyDoran;LiamofCourtesyBanks;Sarahleft:topfromClockwise
In “The High Cost Of High Country Living” (page 88), O’Neil writes about the housing crisis in Brecken ridge, his home of two decades.
FROM THE EDITOR
Devon O’Neil Freelance Writer
14 5280 SEPTEMBER 2022 SPOTLIGHT
ON 5280.COM
Ever wonder how a magazine is made or what a reporter did to get that amazing quote? Tune in to our new podcast, Behind The Stories, to find out. Each month, edito rial director Geoff Van Dyke sits down with writers and editors from 5280’s latest issue to chat about their stories, the reporting process, and what was left on the cuttingroom floor. 5280.com/podcast Mic Drop
BEHIND THE STORIES
The WayWe Were LINDSEY B. KING Email:Twitter:lindsey@5280.com@linzbking
The issue, of course, is that without its full cohort of office workers, down town Denver has lost some of its lifeblood. Even on the busiest days, the streets still sometimes feel a little spiritless. Tourists clearly outnumber locals; empty storefronts stare out from behind papered-over windows; and that sandwich shop on the corner doesn’t have enough reliable workers to keep consistent hours. The reports of increased violent crime—particularly in Union Station and the Central Business District—and the obvious presence of law enforcement officers don’t help the ambience much either. But, to misquote Mark Twain, rumors of the death of downtown have been greatly exaggerated. In this issue’s “The Future Of Downtown Denver” (page 76), contributing editor Daliah Singer explains that there are signs of returning vitality: Foot traffic is increasing, sales tax collection is rebounding, and office spaces are be ing leased at pre-pandemic rates. Plus, city officials, gutsy entrepreneurs, and do-good nonprofits are working diligently to provide solutions to the very real challenges Denver’s core is facing. As the editor of Denver’s city magazine, I feel compelled to suggest we all put on real pants and fill those cubicles, but I also want to acknowledge that what we’ve experienced over the past two and a half years has changed us. We may never be who we were as people or as a city, and that’s OK. We just need to figure out who we want to be now and take the steps to get there.
It’s 10:45 a.m. on a Friday, and I’m writing this at my kitchen counter. I’ve had a cup of tea but no shower, and there’s a good chance I won’t put on shoes today. Three years ago, this scene only would have unfold ed on a workday if I’d had a nasty cold. Today, I’m one of thousands of Den verites who once worked downtown every single day—in my case, for about 15 years—but now only venture into the city center a couple of times a week. I really like wearing yoga pants to “work,” but I know I’m part of the problem.
PERKS OF THE JOB “I did most of my interviews with Mike Quigley at Arapahoe Basin. We either talked on the chairlift or while hiking up the East Wall. He’s a beautiful telemark skier, and I think it put us both at ease.”
The next iteration of downtown Denver is still undefined.
ON COVERING HIS HOMETOWN ”It came with pressure not to screw it up or misrepresent the issues, lest I run into an angry source at the grocery store.”
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION ”When I first moved to Breckenridge, I lived in the Nordic center and slept under 200 pairs of skis that hung over my head like spears.”
Now more comfort, more stability, more eco
The outdoors are calling. Out here be free. See who we are. Always striving further with each step. Here we don’t just hike. We Moab On.
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In an alley behind Denver Central Market, a painted 10-by-20-foot wall depicts the face of hip-hop artist Sa-Roc surrounded by organic lines in black and white. The piece may not seem all that special, consid ering it’s one among dozens in mural-filled RiNo, but savvy art-seekers know it con tains a secret.
“I Am Her” (pictured) was created by Ally Grimm, a street artist who goes by the pseudonym A.L. Grime. She made the mural for Crush Walls 2020, and when viewed on a smartphone through the Artivive app, the piece plays the rapper’s music, its painted lines dance, and the eyesThisblink.fall, Grimm, 30, will exhibit the same cutting-edge blend of street art and technology during the debut of Denver Walls (exact dates were still TBD at press time)—a branch of Hawaii-based Worldwide Walls, which beautifies cities, connects talent, and educates Walls MotionIn Street artist A.L. Grime connects art and technology at the first Denver Walls festival.
PHOTOGRAPH BY REBECCA STUMPF CoMPASS CONTINUED SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 17 CULTURE GEAR PROFILE OUTDOORS STYLE BUSINESS
Gray Matters After the success of the 2016 show, Byrne decided bind ing similar experiencesreality-alteringtogetherwith an immersive narrative would cre ate a deeper connection to the science and began working on a larger theatrical project with the DCPA. Theater of the Mind, during which hosts lead groups of 16 through a former medical supply warehouse in Clayton, unfolds backward, Benjamin Button–style. Hosts are paid actors who also infuse the story with their own personalities. “It’s part of the puzzle of bringing [the show] from a purely scien tific experience into one that is more emotional,” says Andrew Scoville, Theater’s director.
—RIANE MENARDI MORRISON CULTURE CONTINUED
communities about street art. As the director of the Colorado event, Grimm plans to commission 12 to 15 pieces from local and international artists who will adorn walls in RiNo and other areas not only with paint but also with hidden virtual experiences. “Thematically, my work is about the intersection of humanity and technology,” says Grimm, whose digitally enhanced murals often feature women, music, and science. “So it felt natural and organic for me to implement that kind of intersection into the festival as well.” Along with spotting new interactive work (as well as traditional murals) from Grimm and others, visitors with an Ethereum cryptocurrency wallet can participate in a scavenger hunt to find free non-fungible tokens—in this case, thanasthe[Iitexpanded“Anding,tomuralsrefers“Iningbroadenweb-basedaccessedeye,garden;throughsays.duringberhavelocationssouvenirs—embeddedblockchain-authenticatedinneartheart.“Soyouthismementotoremem-thatyouvisitedthewallsDenverWalls,”GrimmGuestswillalsowanderavirtualsculptureinvisibletothenakedthepiecescanonlybeviaillust.space,aplatform.Grimmhopestheeventwillpeople’sunderstandofthemediumsheloves.mymind,streetartactuallyto[everythingfrom]tostreetphotographystreetwear,becauseit’swalklivingart,”Grimmsays.mydefinitionhasalsotodigitalartbecausecanliveseamlesslyanywhere.justwant]tohelpshowthatfrontierofwhat’sdefined‘art’reallyismuchlargerpeopleunderstand.”
—SPENCER CAMPBELL Head Games Byrne spent about a year touring labs and doing research for the production. Then, he envisioned new mind-warping experiences and recruited Heidi Boisvert, now an assistant professor of artificial intelligence and the arts at the University of Florida, to design a system that imperceptibly distorts reality with lights, sounds, and other effects. The DCPA won’t reveal more specifics, but Theater’s website teases, “You will see things you know aren’t there, not see things you know are there—and watch your friends disappear!”
18 5280 SEPTEMBER 2022 ImagesHoederath/Redferns/GettyStefan
Mind Craft Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne’s curiosity has carried him beyond the world of new wave rock into art, theater, and science. This month, he’s combining all three in Theater of the Mind (August 31 through December 18). The immersive theater piece, which he is co-producing with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA), will use high-tech illusions and cognitive neuroscience to make audiences question reality. How does the artist intend to turn that magic trick? We step into Byrne’s brain to find out.
Of Two Minds Byrne read about researchers in Sweden who in 2011 used video headsets to connect people to artificial bodies either one foot or 13 feet tall. Subjects in the smaller forms consistently overestimated the size and distance of objects, while the giant avatars expe rienced the opposite effect. In other words, their brains were tricked into believing they’d truly changed size. This inspired Byrne’s “The Institute Presents: Neurosociety,” a 2016 show in which attendees took part in that experiment and three other illusions.
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20 5280 SEPTEMBER 2022 GEAR WithLeaf-PeepPanache Arresting autumn colors won’t be the only things popping in your September social feeds: These Insta-ready hiking kits from local brands will give even the most golden aspens some —COURTNEYcompetition.HOLDEN 1. Rove Flannel, $92, Pearl Izumi 2. Willow Crew Pullover, $189, Krimson Klover 3. Women’s Vectiv Levitum Futurelight, $145, the North Face 4. Abisko Trekking Tights W, $175, Fjällräven 5. Y-Pack, $79, Topo Designs 6. Minturn, $159, Zeal Optics 7. Men’s Boulder Boot Summit, $185, Lems 8. Pala Pants M, $220, Ortovox 9. Alpine Cadet, $42, YoColorado PHOTOGRAPH BY JASON SINN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
—ELISABETH KWAK-HEFFERAN
Kween Werk calls herself a “social media diva,” and she sure makes the gig look fun. In any given post, she might be frol icking on the beach or teaching an awkward Governor Jared Polis how to dance, always in vibrant glasses and coaster-size earrings. Upon closer inspec tion, though, her posts take on a deeper meaning—even her simple hiking videos. “I show up as myself, a fat, Black woman in outdoor spaces—where a lot of times people are surprised to see me—and talk about my experi ences,” says Parker McMullen Bushman, the 43-year-old Denver resident behind the TikTok account. “I’m hoping to be a source of light and positiv ity around these topics.” She’s amassed more than 210,300 followers since her 18-year-old niece introduced her to Tik Tok during the early days of the pandemic, when Kween, an acronym for “keep widening environmental engagement narratives,” was born. Kween Werk may be new, but McMullen Bushman has been focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for nearly a decade. She began her career teaching ecology at a YMCA camp in Michigan, where she first realized how few Black people worked in conservation. The Bronx native moved to Denver in 2017 to take a job as vice president of community engagement, education, and inclusion at Westminster’s Butterfly
alsoClyffordPavilion,thetions—participantsOrganizaincludeDenverZoo,ButterflyArvadaCenter,andStillMuseum—cangetfreeDEItraining
22 5280 SEPTEMBER 2022 PHOTOGRAPH BY SARAH BANKS PROFILE
4 MILLION Likes McMullen Bushman’s roughly 500 TikTok videos have accumulat ed since she joined the platform in 2020 18 Pairs of glasses McMullen Bushman owns 4,256 Miles she drove during her recent Liberation Tour, a 17-day, cross-country road trip she took this past summer to bring attention to Black travel sessions and feedback reports about various demographics. McMullen Bushman admits to missing the more idyllic aspects of conservation work. “But I came to the realization that the most important thing I could be doing for the planet right now is working on DEI issues,” she says. “We talk about environmental justice, climate change—we need everyone there in order to solve these big world problems.”
Queen InclusionOf Parker McMullen Bushman is tackling injustice on TikTok—and IRL. Pavilion. At the same time, McMullen Bushman ran a side gig as the founder of Ecoin clusive, which consults with environmental groups on better serving diverse audiences and standing up for social justice. Last summer, she left the But terfly Pavilion to focus on the firm—as well as her latest proj ect, Inclusive Guide. Billed by McMullen Bushman as “Yelp, but for inclusion,” Inclusive Guide launched in June as a crowdsourcing website. Users fill out a profile based on their iden tities—from race to whether they have tattoos—then review shops, parks, and other public spaces. Although neg ative reviews are allowed, she says, “it’s about supporting and uplifting businesses that are doing it well.”
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—NICHOLAS HUNT LITTLETON HQ Using that database, Stitcher can identify which of the 600,000 fly patterns Ascent stocks best match the bugs of any waterways in those regions. “I might not have samples from a particular tributary,” he says, “but based on the bugs that live at similar elevations in bigger streams nearby, I can extrapolate the bugs that’ll be there as well.”
OUTDOORS
NORTH AMERICA, PATAGONIA & NEW ZEALAND
SOUTH PARK & DELTA Flies are typically made of feathers and fur. Ascent buys the former from Delta’s Whiting Farms, whose chickens are prized by fly tiers for their feathers’ colors and textures, while its elk hair is sourced from herds in the South Park region of Colorado.
NAIROBI, KENYA Like many of its competitors’ fly tiers, Ascent’s 55 full-time workers live in Nairobi, Kenya. (“Wherever the British went, they brought fly-fishing,” Stitcher says.) The company not only provides its fly tiers with health care, a living wage, and no-interest microloans, but it also shares six percent of Ascent’s profit. “We’re stewards of this [hobby],” Stitcher says, “and we share it with our tiers so their kids can go to college and have health care if they need it.”
Peter Stitcher, owner of Ascent Fly Fishing, has been hawking flies out of his Littleton garage since 2013, but don’t confuse his company’s humble digs for a small-scale operation. The trained aquatic biologist has built an interna tional supply chain to provide flies to anglers around the world.
Flying High
Stitcher spent the first part of his career helping landowners build private trophy trout fisheries. He used that experience—plus samples and data from fish and game agencies and other researchers—to catalog the species and subspecies of insects that trout find tasty in North America, Patagonia, and New Zealand, three of the world’s most popular fly-fishing regions and the areas to which Stitcher tailors his flies.
24 5280 SEPTEMBER 2022 HQ StitcherPeterofCourtesyBaratta;JessicaofCourtesyMatthewson;LukeofCourtesyDenver;PhotosDoorHayes/NextTroyofCourtesyProject;NounRahe/theBoyd;RenoofCourtesyleft:topfromClockwise
COLORADO RIVER Flies can be purchased individually online or by appointment from Stitcher’s garage. Anglers can also have Stitcher and his team put all their data to work and build a cus tom fly box, not only for the particular season and river—or specific section of river—they plan to fish, but also for their skill levels, styles, and price ranges. “If you take one of my fly boxes out with a fishing guide,” he says, “I want that guide to tip you at the end of the day because they learned so much.”
Two former models are taking their black-and-white industry into an age of multicolor majesty.
Alejandro Gaeta Reminiscent of 1950s Christian Dior, Alejandro Gaeta’s hallmark is struc tural eveningwear, such as the local maker’s piece No. 6 ($1,200)—a classically silhouetted all-black frock that gets a 2022 turn via its asymmetri cal one-shoulder half-sleeve.
Pulling Threads
ON THE CATWALK Three ateliers set to star in Color of Fashion’s 2022 show. Art of Hannah Jane Owner Hannah Jane gives new life to old denim in Denver by com bining multiple fabrics to produce hand-painted, one-of-a-kind pieces, such as her Elephant Jacket ($750). No Sesso Italian for “no sex” or “no gen der,” LA-based No Sesso weaves gender-bending elements into urbanwear, including a lace-corseted trucker jacket ($515) that can be worn as outerwear or a dress.
STYLE 26 5280 SEPTEMBER 2022
MyersCoreyofCourtesyOlwig;MollyofCourtesytop:From
Samantha Joseph and Alicia Myers met at an audition in Denver in 2018. Soon after, the models began noticing microaggres sions aimed at their hair. The stylists at one show, for example, didn’t know how to handle their tresses, so they ignored Joseph and Myers completely. “Normally, a hairstylist will just grab you or you’re assigned someone,” Myers says. “None of those things happened.” Myers endured repeated bleachings, which eventually caused her hair to fall out. Joseph shaved her head so she wouldn’t have to deal with the emotional toll. “But after a while,” she says, “me and other Black models were doing our own makeup in the bathroom. I realized it just wasn’t OK to be treated that way.” So, in March 2021, Joseph and Myers founded Color of Fashion (COF), a Denver-based nonprofit whose mission is to diversify high fashion. Initially intended to serve as a connector for companies searching for talent across the indus try, COF produced an independent fashion show in September 2021 that showcased the work of 15 hairstylists, 20 makeup artists, 15 photographers, 75 models, and 11 designers from across the country. People of many races participated, and the event proved to be an immediate success. COF’s clients now include British footwear brand Embassy London, Cherry Creek’s Clayton Members Club & Hotel, and the uber-chic Highland cocktail bar Room for Milly. “We’re a onestop shop for diversity in fashion,” Myers says. COF has also landed backing from some of fashion’s biggest names, such as Neiman Marcus, Aveda, and Macy’s—financial support that allowed the non profit to expand its mission to include helping designers sell their creations directly to consumers. This past April, Joseph and Myers held their first auction at Mirus Gallery and Art Bar Denver. The event featured seven designers, five of whom were people of color, including brothers Vince and Saul Jimenez, who run the local avant-garde fashion house Menez to Society. The Jimenezes will also appear at COF’s second annual fashion show, which will be held on September 23 and 24 at History Colorado Center. Like last year, the hope is to continue pushing for greater representation in fash ion—even if Joseph knows the realization of that dream is still far away. “The industry and Denver have been very slow to change,” Joseph says. “But we’re making sure nobody has to deal with the same kind of struggles as we did.”
—PHILIP CLAPHAM
From left: Designs by Lucille Reynolds at Color of Fashion’s 2021 show; Samantha Joseph and Alicia Myers
When the promise of fresh air adventures lures you to Cheyenne, Wyoming, you’ll find some surprises that will make you want to stay awhile. The perfect playground with miles of remote trails and rugged experiences is pretty much right next door. After a day of play, reward yourself with artfully crafted spirits and world-class cuisine served in historical 1800s buildings lining the downtown streets. Wyoming starts here. Live the Legend in Cheyenne.Cheyenne.org
28 5280 SEPTEMBER 2022 BUSINESS
Kate Bailey is officially launching Tarra—a campus where women in business can find connections—this month.
—BARBARA URZUA
What: Latinas First has been men toring business owners for over a decade with events such as speed networking (25 experts dispense lightning-quick advice on every thing from interview techniques to personal branding). Up next: On September 23, join the Latinas First Foundation at the Downtown Sheraton for its annual luncheon ($200) honoring Latina trailblazers and unsung heroes, while raising money for scholar ships in the process.
For: Women older than 40 What: This organization hosts master classes, provides speaking opportunities, and teaches the art of crafting business proposals, all in the name of combating ageism. Up next: On September 29, SecondActWomen will host a breakfast social at the Clayton Members Club & Hotel. All ages and genders are welcome.
Corporate America is still very much a boys’ club, and the numbers prove it: Only 1.7 percent of women-owned businesses have revenues greater than $1 million; 92 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are men; and according to a 2020 study by LinkedIn, women are 28 percent less likely than men to belong to strong professional networks. Local entrepreneur Kate Bailey believes that last statistic is a big reason why the first two exist, so on September 15 she will open Tarra, a 12,500-square-foot, women-focused business campus at the 9+CO development in Hale. “There’s power in community,” says Bailey, who previously owned a marketing firm. “Having a space where women can work and connect without judgment is the ultimate goal.”
To accomplish that, Tarra will host regular events, such as September’s “Perfecting the Art of the Pivot,” a lecture about how to switch your company from a direct-to-consumer model to a business-to-business one, and September’s “Stronger Toget(her),” a meetup, organized in partnership with the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, for women participating in Denver Startup Week. But the facility is also designed for the daily bonds of business: Gig workers can take advantage of the coworking space, while companies can hold meetings in conference rooms (sipping coffee and tea from local, women-owned businesses Kebon and Teatulia while they brainstorm). Tarra’s memberships for individuals start at $70 per month, a cost that grants access to the networking events, discounted conference room rentals, and a one-day pass to the workspace. With the premium option ($285 per month), patrons can enjoy unlimited access to the cowork ing area, guest passes, and inclusion in the Tarra newsletter to promote their businesses. The Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Aspen Wealth Management, and Dive In Digital are also opening branches in the space. That early success has Bailey dreaming about the future. “I want to expand Tarra throughout Colorado and the United States,” she says, which would surely do a number on the boys’ club.
Phenomenal Women Inc. For: Everyone—including men! What: The nonprofit, founded in 2017, focuses on three tenets: community service, female empowerment, and supporting students of color. Up next: On November 5, the group will host its first fundraising gala at Tivoli Turnhalle on Auraria Campus; your $50 ticket funds college scholarships for students of color.
Beyond The Glass Ceiling
SecondActWomen
Latinas First Foundation For: Women who identify as Latina, Hispanic, or Chicana
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POWER IN COMMUNITY We asked Bailey to recommend other Denver-based business organizations that uplift women. —BU
SEPTEMBER 16 – OCTOBER 30 Fridays – Sundays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. This year’s 7-acre maze promises a dino-mite exploration of prehistoric time. Enjoy barrel train rides, a tricky escape room and food vendors selling funnel cakes, corn dogs, freshly squeezed lemonade and more. C-470 & Wadsworth Blvd. Tickets limited, get yours today! botanicgardens.org ASSOCIATE SPONSOR SUPPORTING SPONSORS
WHAT’S HOT BEST BITES IN SEASON ETIQUETTE SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 31 PHOTOGRAPH BY SARAH BANKS &EAT DRINK
—RIANE MENARDI MORRISON
As Denver’s great chefs go, so goes the city’s fine-dining scene—at least in the case of Sapore Prime Italian, which debuted in Littleton this past March. The kitchen is helmed by Brent Turnipseede, who honed his chops (and filets and strips) at downtown’s Guard & Grace and West Highland’s American Elm before moving from the Mile High City to Littleton this spring. Since restaurateurs Ter rence Gibbons and Daphnee Heiberg opened the upscale steak house—a rarity in the area—it has become a main stay for fresh-made pastas and locally sourced meats prepared with elevated touches. Start with the beef carpaccio: Paper-thin slices of raw house cuts are drizzled with black garlic aïoli and watercress vinaigrette and accompanied by lacy Parme san crisps. Then, indulge in a New York strip or Berkshire pork chop from Denver-based Buckhead Meats alongside tortellini filled with Grand Lake’s Mystic Mountain fungi and set atop a pool of mush room brodo. Suburbanites can spend the gas money they saved by not commut ing downtown on cocktails such as the raspberry-scented summer Negroni or a glass of Italian red or white from the well-curated wine list.
OrLittletonBust Sapore brings polished steak house fare to one of Colorado’s fastestgrowing suburbs.
32 5280 SEPTEMBER 2022 (2)BanksSarah
THE TRANSPLANT 9 Thai Restaurant Hale Suppawat Patton never cooked— until he moved from Bangkok to Denver in 2020. Here, he missed the comforts served at roadside stalls across his home country: meatballs bobbing in noodle soup, garlic-scented fried rice, and his favorite, pad thai. To soothe his homesickness, he re-created the dishes with the help of many text messages to his mother. Now, diners can savor Patton’s refined recipes at Hale’s 9 Thai, the casual, five-year-old restaurant he took over with his husband, Sidney, this past March. For his street pad thai, Patton wok-fries thin rice noodles with plump shrimp, scrambled egg, bean sprouts, and green onion but leaves out the sweet-tangy, orange-hued tamarind com monly used in most versions of the dish available in Denver. Another standout is the khao soi, a soup Patton infuses with a house-made paste of dried chiles, red curry, galangal, and other aromat ics and serves with egg noodles and tender chicken thighs. He recommends ordering dishes with medium spice and adjusting the heat level on your own with the condiments available at your table, just like it’s done back in Thailand.
THE TEACHERS
WHAT’S HOT
Lucina Eatery & Bar Park Hill After four years of teaching Den verites how to make the creamiest risottos and perfectly sear steaks at Create Cooking School, coowners Erasmo Casiano and Diego Coconati wanted to give diners a taste of their own culinary traditions. This past April, the duo expanded its offerings to include Lucina Eatery & Bar in Park Hill, where the menu is influenced by the flavors of Latin and South America, the Spanish coast, and the Caribbean islands. (Casiano’s parents are from Mexico and Bolivia, and Coconati’s are from Argentina and Puerto Rico.)
From top: Paella and ceviche at Lucina Eatery & Bar; boat noodle soup with pork meatballs at 9 Thai Restaurant
Where We’re Eating
This month, we’re putting the spotlight on chefs who are bringing fresh flavors—from Thai street fare to Neapolitan-style pies to Latin and South American tapas—to the Denver metro area.
—PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG
THE PIZZAIOLO Barchetta Boulder Jesse Jensen crafts his pizzas like contractors build houses: by starting with a good foundation. To produce one-year-old Bar chetta’s stellar dough, he uses a blend of organic wheat from High
The Mountain Central Milling in Utah and local Dry Storage singleorigin rye flour. After the pies are crowned with toppings, they are baked to blistery excellence in the fast-casual restaurant’s electric Italian oven. The result is a light, airy crust that’s sturdy enough to support masterpieces such as the Mama Teriyaki, a combina tion of mozzarella, pineapple, bacon, green onion, umami-rich Japanese barbecue sauce, and togarashi (a chile-flake-enriched spice blend). Enjoy your pizza with a selection from the 14-tap, self-pour beer, wine, and cocktail wall at a seat on the sun-drenched, Walnut Street–facing patio, which comes with a side of downtown Boulder’s best people-watching.
lineup—tangy ceviche scooped up with Tajín-dusted vegetarian chicharrones, braised-beef-stuffed pupusas, and saffron-kissed paella with mussels and shrimp— pairs well with cocktails such as the gin-forward What Would Lucina Drink? The refreshing sip per is a nod to Casiano’s mother, for whom the floral-wallpaperaccented eatery is named.
BEST BITES
4. UPDATED andVietnameseCLASSICSSandwichesCoffees
3. MOST POPULAR Crêpe Cake Slices With crêpe cakes’ dramatic visual appeal, it’s no surprise they are the bakery’s top-sell ing item. But the lofty beauties are incredibly labor-intensive: Each one comprises 25 to 30 hand-poured crêpes, which are stacked with sturdy fillings between each layer and then carefully cut into triangles.
Thoa Nguyen basically grew up inside Federal Boulevard’s New Saigon: Her parents, Thai Nguyen and Ha Pham, owned and operated the now-iconic restaurant for 35 years, introducing Denverites to traditional Vietnamese fare such as pho, rice-paper-wrapped spring rolls, and grilled-meat-topped bowls before selling the business in 2017. But it was French pastries, from Denver shops such as now-closed André’s Confiserie Suisse and Sweet Soiree, that captivated Nguyen. So, in 2010, when she was 20, she moved to Paris to study how to make the treats, swapping red bean paste for vanilla bean. By the time she returned to Colorado in 2011, her parents had built a bakery and deli adja cent to New Saigon for her as a welcome-home present. There, for seven years, Nguyen crafted the Asian sandwiches and snacks, such as durian- and pandan-infused desserts, that New Saigon’s fan base clamored for. But a croissant-shaped hole in her heart led the 31-year-old to combine the Vietnamese traditions she grew up with and her passion (and talent) for French pastry and open Bánh & Butter Bakery Café on East Colfax Avenue in April. “My family didn’t really know what my vision was,” Nguyen says. “Now, I have my own.”
The boxes of French goodies her parents brought home for Nguyen and her three sisters to share when they were kids often included fruit-bejeweled tarts. At Bánh & Butter, her fruit Breton tarts have shortbread-meets-cakea base, which is topped with both whipped Chantilly cream and custardy pastry cream.
—ALLYSON REEDY Perfection
Pastry
Whenever Nguyen’s family visited Southern California, they’d make a pilgrimage to Cream Pan bakery in Tustin, near Los Angeles, to buy strawberry croissants—split in half and filled with fresh fruit and diplomat cream—by the trayful. Thanks to the versions Nguyen now makes, her fam ily doesn’t have to trek all the way to the Golden State.
Nguyen employs the same Café du Monde chicory coffee her family uses at the New Saigon bakery and deli, which they continue to oper ate, for her iced coffee and a similar bread for her banh mi. “We change the hydra tion level [of the baguettes] so it’s more French-influenced,” Nguyen says. “Vietnamese rolls are very soft, with a thin crust, and ours have a thicker crust with more of a chew.”
A tour of the menu at Bánh & Butter Bakery Café, where Asian fusion flavors meet French technique.
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2. THE RARE FIND Split CroissantsStrawberry
The teainspiredbut(attionsandstrawberries-and-creamvanillabrûléevariaarealwaysonthemenuleastuntiltheysellout),additional,oftenAsian-flavorssuchasThaimakeguestappearances.
1. NGUYEN’S FAVORITE Fruit Tarts
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IN SEASON Home Grown
STEP 3 STORE Metro-area stands usu ally shut down toward the end of October or early November, but sweat fiends can stock up on the roasted specimens and enjoy them year-round. Before tuck ing the chiles into your icebox, remove their blis tered skins—an unwelcome texture in most dishes—by gently rubbing each one in a container of fresh water. Then, place five to 10 of the beauties in a freezer-safe food storage bag, which will protect their fiery taste for up to 12 months. You can also leave the charred skins on, Rodriguez says. Either way, don’t forget to wear gloves: Pueblo pep pers can reach 20,000 Scoville heat units (and likely will, this year), nearly four times the spice of the average jalapeño.
STEP 2 SAVOR You can incorporate the piquant ingredient into an endless roster of dishes, from cornbread with a kick to a candied condiment for granola or ice cream. (Find those recipes and more from the Pueblo Chile Growers Association at pueblochile. org/recipe.) DiSanti and his family, though, prefer the pepper in the Southwest’s most famous stew (see his mother’s recipe at right). “My wife [and mom] make a killer pork green chile,” he says. “I look forward to it every year.”
—BARBARA URZUA How to make the most out of this year’s historically spicy Pueblo chile season.
Rose Ann DiSanti’s Green Chile Serves four 2 Tbs. vegetable oil 1 lb. cubed pork 2 Tbs. flour 2 Tbs. garlic, finely chopped 8 oz. tomatoes, diced 8–10 Pueblo green chiles, roasted, skinned, and diced 3–4 cups water or chicken broth Salt to taste In a large skillet, brown the pork in the oil over medium-high heat. Remove the pork from the pan, but leave the oil and add the flour to it. Stir until the mixture thick ens, then add the garlic, tomato, chiles, and cooked pork. Add water or chicken broth until the chile reaches your desired consis tency. Season with a dash of salt to taste. Once the stew comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low until you’re ready to serve it in a bowl topped with shredded ched dar, inside a breakfast burrito, or smothered over chile rellenos.
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Scorching, dry summers are generally undesirable—unless you’re Dominic DiSanti. The fifth-generation farmer of 132-year-old DiSanti Farms in Pueblo says parched growing seasons like 2022’s deliver perfect conditions for the Mira sol pepper, the popular heirloom chile variety grown in and around Pueblo that is notably meatier and spicier than its New Mexico–raised Hatch rival. In fact, the Mirasol crop is expected to be extra fiery this year, DiSanti says. After farms in southern Colorado begin harvesting the veggies in August or September, purveyors such as Anthony Rodriguez haul them to the Denver area, where he’s operated a roadside roast ing stand for 17 years. As chile vendors start to set up along thoroughfares across the state this month, we asked DiSanti and Rodriguez for tips on bringing one of the region’s most iconic ingredients into your home kitchen.
STEP 1 SHOP
The best way to get raw chiles—typically for sale by the pound in varying heat levels, from mild to scorch ing—is by going straight to the source, DiSanti says. But for those who can’t make the drive down to a Pueblo farm, seeking out a stand—such as Rodriguez’s, which is set up in a parking lot off Wad sworth Boulevard and 44th Avenue in Wheat Ridge— is a surefire way to score high-quality peppers. There, Rodriguez roasts them to smoky perfection on an open flame, the preferred way to prepare them. (You can also char them at home in the oven or on the grill.) To test the product’s quality, Rodri guez suggests buying a raw one and cracking it open: “If it’s crunchy, it’s fresh. And if you’re feeling risky, you can even take a bite.”
PhotoStockSolaria/AlamyMacek/Dreamstime;Jozetop:From
FULL SERVICE To get some caffeine. $1 should be enough, though industry folks like Padró generally drop at least $2 (or 20 percent of the total) At minimum, round up to the next dollar for a latte. It’s all right to give less (or nothing) for no-fuss orders such as hot tea. Nowhere; I’m ordering in. This one’s tough for everyone, as delivery and service fees already jack up the price, making it difficult to justify shelling out more. However, fees are not tips. The latter is what actually goes into drivers’ pockets, so thank them with 10 to 15 percent or have a benchmark around $5. Bad weather? Add a few bucks. DELIVERY
MSU’s Lamb encourages diners to tip on the total value of their orders—not the discounted price. Consider what your happy hour drinks and snacks normally cost and calculate your gratuity off of that amount. ? Yes. No. Are you going to a restaurant? Service charges. Tip pooling. Cost-of-living fees. Dining out has grown more complicated as restaurants, nationally and locally, experiment with updates to the traditional tipping model. Crafted Concepts (Rioja, Ultreia, and others) added a three percent Denver minimum wage surcharge in 2019, while Amethyst Coffee Co. raised its prices and eliminated tipping altogether in 2020. “It’s very confusing for a consumer right now,” says Juan Padró, CEO of Culinary Creative Group, whose concepts include A5 Steak house and Tap & Burger. So what’s a principled but prudent diner to do? We consulted local industry and etiquette experts to help guide your decisions when the bill arrives.
—DALIAH SINGER COFFEE COCKTAIL BEER
ImagesBarwick/GettyThomas(3);ImagesGettytop:From
One where someone actually waits on you? The current industry standard is a mini mum of 20 percent on the pretax total. Was there an issue with the service or the food? Talk to a manager. “Don’t take your poor experi ence out in a dollar sign,” says Sean Kenyon, a longtime bartender and pro prietor of Denver’s Williams & Graham and Occidental Bar. Staying to eat or grabbing your meal to go? Consider how much effort the restaurant team is going to put in. Are they delivering your food and topping off your water or simply taking your order at the register? If you, as the customer, are doing most of the work, go ahead and tip closer to 15 per cent, says Jackson Lamb, a hospitality and culinary professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver. There’s limited inter action and no true service component to takeout, but it does take the staff time to get your food ready. Consider leaving a gratuity between 10 and 15 percent BUT THERE’S ALREADY A SERVICE CHARGE ON MY BILL…
ETIQUETTE TIPPING 201
Yes,dateplease—it’snight!
Take that into account. If it’s 20 percent or higher, you aren’t expected to tip more (even if there’s an “addi tional tip” line on the bill). Some surcharges—which can show up under a variety of monikers, such as the BOH (back of house) and Living Wage fees at Uptown’s Dew Drop Inn and RiNo’s the Greenwich, respectively—are only around three to five percent, though. When that’s the case, add a 20 percent gratuity on top, Padró says. So, where are you headed? Forget food. I need drink.a How would you describe the bar?
Don’t tip per drink, Kenyon says. Instead, leave a percentage like you would at a restaurant—20 percent or more $1 or $2 per drink is fair when your exchanges with the bartender are limited to passing a glass across the bar. Wait! Is it happy hour? Nah, just a fastcasual spot. I’m pulling up a seat. I prefer my dinner with a side of Netflix.
COUNTER SERVICE TAKEOUT
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Fancy-schmancymixologyspot. Neighborhood hangout with brews on tap.
AGRICULTURE BY PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG to grow, and tying and trimming them accordingly. However, not all was lost: Varieties such as Teroldego and Viognier—grapes with origins in Italy and France that Sauvage planted for their cold-weather-tolerant natures—survived. “The majority of the fruit we got last year was off those vines,” Sauvage says. “They were definitely an insurance policy that has paid off.”
Some Grand Valley winemakers are adapting to climate change by growing lesser-known varieties—but not everyone believes cold-hardy grapes are the future of Colorado wine.
Since Sauvage and Matysiewski established the winery in 2019, the two have shifted their business plan from crafting a portfolio of six traditional red and white wines to focusing on smaller-batch, rarer-in-Colorado styles driven by whatever grapes are thriving in the fields. At the onset of the pandemic, Sauvage Spectrum also scaled back on its plans for wholesale business and zeroed in on direct-to-consumer sales, a move inspired by the COVID-19-driven rise in tourism on the Western Slope. Now, road-trippers and pedicab-riding bach elorettes flock to the business to clink glasses of effervescent Sparklet Candy Red, a rendition of Italian Lambrusco, or grapefruit-forward Grüner Veltliner, an iteration of Austria’s legendary white. “We want to do the weird, the obscure,” Matysiewski says. “Do we want to be like Napa? No. We want to be the anti-Napa.” n a warm, windy day this past April, the sand stone buttes of the Bookcliff Mountains tower in the distance as farmer Kaibab Sauvage and winemaker Patric Matysiewski stand between rows of grapevines at Sauvage Spectrum, their two-and-a-half-year-old winery and vineyard. Nearby, patrons sip glasses of sparkling rosé in the tasting room. Under the warmth of the Western Slope sun, Sauvage points out plants that were damaged by an unexpected frost in fall 2020. “It really wiped everything out,” he says. Sauvage grows 17 acres of fruit trees and 70 acres of grapes for more than 25 wineries across Colorado—includ ing Sauvage Spectrum, Carboy Winery, and Breckenridge’s Continental Divide Winery—via his 22-year-old company, Colorado Vineyard Specialists. But the Grand Valley’s recent weather, affected by the extreme temperature swings that are one hallmark of climate change, hasn’t made it easy. In October 2020, frost killed or damaged more than 75 percent of the state’s Vitis vinifera, the European grapevine species that encompasses familiar varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Another unexpected cold spell in April 2021 deci mated select vines, including some 30,000 managed by Sauvage and his team. It will take them another six months to finish retraining the ravaged vines, a painstaking process that entails removing the dead trunks, waiting for new shoots Sauvage Spectrum has 70 acres of grapes in Palisade.
O
Changing Vines
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AGRICULTURE
area’s climate in 1895, according to Horst Caspari, a state horticulturist and viticul ture professor at Colorado State University. “It’s been a really trying time for both our grape growers and our wineries with Mother Nature,” Baldwin-Eaton says. “Trying to find
Baldwin-Eaton was the winemaker at Plum Creek Winery in Palisade for 22 years before she left to establish the program at CMU in 2017. During her tenure in the Grand Valley, she’s watched the weather become more challenging. Many farmers battled phylloxera (an insect that eats roots of Vitis vinifera vines) in 2016 and endured five unexpected freezes between 2013 and 2021. In fact, the area has experienced up to three times as many low temperature records in the past 15 to 20 years as it has since the National Weather Service began tracking the out what’s going to make [the wine industry] sustainable is super important.”
When 38-year-old Plum Creek—one of the state’s oldest wineries—couldn’t acquire any Vitis vinifera grapes from Palisade’s Talbott Farms in 2021 to produce the Chardonnays and Cabernet Francs it was known for, wine maker Joe Flynn began experimenting. The farm provided him with surviving hybrid grapes such as Chambourcin and Aromella. The varieties are bred to be more resistant to phylloxera and chillier climates by crossing European Vitis vinifera vines with American Vitis labrusca or Vitis riparia varieties. Those fruits yielded batches of dry rosés, white blends, and the company’s first pétillant naturels (aka pét-nats or day-drinking-ready sparklers that are carbonated in the bottle), all of which have been well-received by customers. “A lot of times they give you this baffled look when you spew up four different cold-hardy varieties that [are in the bottle], ” Flynn says. “But once they try it, they see how unique these hybrids can be.” Because hybrid grapes can have more erratic pH levels than their Vitis vinifera counterparts and those numbers constantly change throughout the fermentation process, Flynn says the batches of wine need to be monitored more closely. Winery CEO Kevin Weber (left) and winemaker Tyzok Wharton
Carboy
IF YOU CAN GROW GRAPES in the Centen nial State, you can grow them anywhere, says Jenne Baldwin-Eaton, the former leader of the viticulture and oenology program at Western Colorado Community College, a division of Colorado Mesa University (CMU) in Grand Junction.Two American Viticultural Areas—the Grand Valley and the West Elks—grow 90 percent of Colorado grapes in terroir charac terized by extremes: soil and water with high pH levels (meaning there are fewer nutrients for plants); triple-digit desert heat in the sum mer; and high elevation, which contributes to a shorter growing season that isn’t ideal for grape varieties that ripen later in the season.
AGRICULTURE
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LESS THAN THREE MILES from Sauvage Spectrum, the patio at Colterris Winery bustles with activity. Patrons enjoy guided tastings of the 14-year-old company’s current releases—all of which are produced with 100 percent Vitis vinifera crops—in a grassy, al fresco dining area. The property has 71 acres of grapes, which owner Scott High and his team turn into 18,000 cases of Chardonnay, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other sippers each year. That makes it Colorado’s largest “estate” winery, one that makes products with fruit grown on-site. (By contrast, Sauvage Spectrum only churns out 4,000 to 5,000 cases annually.) High, his son Keenan, and winemaker Bo Felton take guests on a tour of the barrel-aging cave. The room is packed from wall to wall with neatly arranged barrels filled with aging wine; an adjacent space the Highs call the Library is furnished with dark woods and racks stacked with vin tages from years past. Because of crop dam age from the October 2020 temperature drop, Colterris skipped a harvest in 2021 and didn’ t create any wines. After retraining and replant ing about 5,000 vines, High says nearly all of his land has recovered from the disaster, though the vineyard may shift its harvest dates to adjust to changing fall frosts. The team may pick clusters off the vine earlier, but High doesn’t plan on planting hybrid or cold-hardy varieties, grapes he says yield lower-grade products. “If hybrid grapes made really good-quality wines, I think you would see them growing in all the fine-wine regions of the world,” he says. “They just don’t have the same traditional characteristics [as the Vitis vinifera]. And I haven’t tasted a wine made from a hybrid grape that I thought was very interesting, ever.”
Instead, High and his team prefer to plant clones, grape crops that result from Colterris is dedicated to solely producing Vitis vinifera wines, while Plum Creek is open to crafting bottles with hybrid grapes.
It’s easy to foretell what flavors Vitis vinifera grapes will yield off the vine, but hybrids can produce more wide-ranging results. The extra effort is worth it to Flynn and his team, though: Plum Creek plans to continue making wines from its classic lineup this year, but it will also keep working with hybrids. “You have to be like water,” Flynn says. “You have to flow and roll with the punches.” Flynn and Sauvage Spectrum’s Matysiewski share a goal: to ensure Colorado wine stays solvent and relevant in consumers’ minds by trying new things. This mindset has become more widespread in the past few years, BaldwinEaton says, particularly as more winemakers enter the picture: In 1990, there were fewer than 10 wineries in the state; now, there are more than 170. “That’s where we start to see a lot of creativity and changes,” she says. “They are just trying to find their niches in the industry.” Of course, not everyone is on board.
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Colterris is one of the only wineries in Palisade that continues to depend solely on traditional vines. High’s low opinion of hybrids aside, his vineyard’s prime placement in a loca tion where the weather can be slightly warmer in the fall and winter months than in other spots in the valley gives him that luxury. “He’s got one of the best locations in the state,” says Doug Caskey, executive director of the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board. “The closer your vineyards are to the mouth of De Beque Canyon [on the Colorado River], the less likely you are to see freeze events.”
“I said four years ago that I thought Cab Franc was the wine that put us on the map. And it still may very well be one of the wines that Colorado is known for,” Webber says. “But I also think that there are other varietals that shine here. Teroldego [a red Italian grape] definitely has that opportunity.”
AGRICULTURE propagated cuttings of vines it is already growing. This helps species adapt to changing growing conditions and alters the character istics of the fruit—resulting in more complex flavors for wines, High says. Some of Colterris’ vintages made with these grapes have even earned gold medals at the renowned San Fran cisco Chronicle Wine Competition, including a cinnamon-scented Cabernet Franc and a subtly spicy Malbec from 2019.
Back outside at a patio table, a group of customers is discussing its next stop: Carboy, the latest addition to Palisade’s winery scene.
The company, which has locations in Littleton, Denver, and Breckenridge, purchased the prop erty and vineyard in early 2021 and debuted a new tasting room this past April. Carboy focuses on making wine—particularly spar kling elixirs—crafted from hybrid and Vitis vinifera grapes cultivated on-site and sourced from Sauvage’s Colorado Vineyard Specialists. Bubbly varieties can be made with any type of grape, but the fruit can be harvested earlier, when its acid and sugars are at prime levels for effervescent wine, to avoid any detrimental fall weather events, says Kevin Webber, Car boy’s CEO. Planting the right cold-hardy and hybrid varieties in the first place also helps the business protect itself from the cataclysmic effects of climate change—and stay on-trend.
In June, Colorado Vineyard Specialists planted fresh vines of Teroldego, along with other European grapes known to perform well in chillier parts of the world. The fruit is in demand, and Colorado Vineyard Special ists’ entire 2022 harvest is already spoken for. “There is one common theme,” Sauvage says. “All the wineries want more grapes this year.”m Patricia Kaowthumrong is 5280 ’s food editor. Email feedback to letters@5280.com.
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“It’s a comedy-drama about a pedo phile,” Walton says. The main characters are Uncle Peck, the pedophile, and Li’l Bit, the victim. Casting of the latter, who narrates the play as an adult but also appears at times as an 11-year-old, came down to two locals, C. Kelly Leo and Jada Suzanne Dixon. Leo and Dixon were evenly matched in terms of training and experience, but Leo won the role. “She had this real sort of—and it wasn’t an acting thing, it was part of who she was as a person—you just bought her as this young, vulnerable girl,” Walton says. The anecdote does have dramatic effect because—in a third-act twist worthy of Hitchcock—the once-rejected Dixon became Curious’ artistic director in August. Walton will step down as producing artistic director following the company’s 25th season, which opens this month with playwright Will Arbery’s Heroes of the Fourth Turning (September 10 to October 15). Co-founder Dee Covington, Walton’s wife, will also leave her role as education director. “One of the beautiful opportunities that is in front of me and the staff is that this is a transition year,” Dixon says. “It’s not, ‘Dee and Chip are out next week and Jada is in.’ ” Eventually, though, that will happen.The question—the thickening plot, if you will—is whether a theater company meticulously constructed in the image of its founder can succeed without him. IN 2004, THE DENVER POST wrote that Walton, then in his ascendancy in the Colorado theater scene, was “more competi tive than Bobby Knight.” (Coincidentally,
The founders of Curious Theatre Company are stepping away after 25 years at the helm. Can Jada Suzanne Dixon lead Denver’s most exciting company into a bright new future?
THEATER BY SPENCER CAMPBELL hip Walton believes this story should open in the late 1990s, when Curi ous Theatre Company began casting its first show. Walton and other local artists had recently earned acclaim for their independent production of the Pulitzer Prize–winning play Angels in America (“a stunning achievement for all involved,” gushed the Denver Post) and wanted to spin the momentum into a new theater company in Denver. They decided Curious’ debut show would be another Pulitzer winner, How I Learned to Drive.
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The Show Goes On
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THEATER
Curious Theatre Company co-founders Chip Walton (left) and Dee Covington
magnetism”—and seemed naturally adept at fundraising and networking. One of the fledgling company’s first financial contributions came from the late Robert Garner, who was then in charge of scheduling Broadway shows for the DCPA. “I think it was for $1,500, which back then seemed like a shit ton of money,” Walton says. The donation helped Curious establish itself as an equity company, mean ing a set number of its performers would be the native of Bloomington, Indiana, grew up friends with the son of the chair-hurling for mer Hoosiers basketball coach.) The truth is, however, that Curious had few rivals when it started: At the upper end of the Mile High City theater scene stood the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA), with its multimillion-dollar budget. At the other end there were amateur productions. There was little in the middle. The DCPA thrived in that environment, topping more than one million attendees for the first time during its 1996-’97 season. It accomplished the feat by hosting traveling Broadway shows, including Phantom of the Opera and Show Boat. Its own productions were not typically controversial, says Thom Wise, then the theater critic for the Rocky Mountain News. “[DCPA] chose a very safe product. They weren’t taking any chances.” Curious saw an opportunity to stage the challenging sorts of works that the success of Angels indicated Denver audiences were ready for. Although the company had seven founders (Walton and Covington are the only two who remain), Walton became the face of Curious. He was charming and attractive, with a wolfish smile—Wise says Walton radiated “animal part of the labor union that represents stage actors and thus earn a regular wage, health insurance, and a pension. Curious became one of the few such theater companies in the state, behind places like the DCPA and the Country Dinner Playhouse, which per formed musicals in Arapahoe County until it shuttered in 2007. Walton may have been adept, but he was also lucky. He stumbled into How I Learned
Group/theCross/MediaNewsAndyleft:From PostDenver SinnJasonImages;Gettyvia
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Bit’s] savior is also her destroyer,” Sandra Brooks-Dillard wrote in the Post, “as pow erfully demonstrated in the scene in which he takes the pre-adolescent girl on his lap on the pretext of letting her get the feel of driving.” This, in other words, was no Show Boat. Borrillo remembers crowds leaving the Acoma Center visibly shaken—but only after having delivered standing ovations. Curious would spend the next quarter century presenting works that similarly forced audiences to confront issues from new per spectives. That was easy early on: The DCPA gets first crack at regional premieres in Denver because of its size, yet from 2001 to 2004, it passed on the most recently available Tony Award winners: Proof, The Goat, Take Me Out, and I Am My Own Wife, respectively. Curi ous produced them all. When the DCPA’s new artistic director began snatching up New York’s best plays in 2005, Walton found clas sics that had something to say about modern society, such as Curious’ 2008 production of Sam Shepard’s Curse of the Starving Class, which revolves around a poor, dysfunctional family whose soliloquies on debt and poverty felt relevant to audiences during the Great Recession. Curious also began commissioning
Debuting in 1999 at the Acoma Center, a former church in the Golden Triangle that would eventually become Curious’ perma nent home, Walton’s Drive earned an A from the Rocky Mountain News and three and a half stars (out of four) from the Post. “[Li’l
JADA SUZANNE DIXON wasn’t too disappointed or surprised when she missed out on the role of Li’l Bit. After all, the character was written to Drive by asking for a different play. The producer agreed, but then had to back out of the deal because the regional rights had already been sold to the DCPA. To make amends, the licensing house offered Walton Drive Once he got the play, Walton gave his actors freedom to explore their characters, a rare act among theater directors, who are notorious for wanting to execute their own visions. “You were part of the process,” says Paul Borrillo, who played Uncle Peck in Drive. “To take the role of a pedophile, I had to explore a reason that [Uncle Peck] felt it was OK to do that.… [Walton] allowed me the room to find it.” Walton might’ve given his players creative liberties, but he didn’t coddle them. Despite his man bun, Walton had role models who were more likely to don Nikes. “When you think about what Michael Jordan was to his teammates, people hated him and people loved him,” Walton says. “But he demanded that everybody bring their best every day.”
THEATER original work, starting with 2005’s Paris on the Platte, about one-time Denver Mayor Robert Speer, who spruced up local parks but also made deals with local magnates in Mattie Silks’ brothel (at least in the fictionalized play). By 2010, Curious had achieved, by most metrics, huge success. Its revenue had grown to more than $1 million from only $108,000 a decade before, and it had earned the Post’s Ovation Award for best theater season three times in eight years. Yet Walton had little patience for people who didn’t share his vision for what local theater should be. For example, Curious once resigned from the Colorado Theatre Guild, in part because Walton felt the organization’s Henry Awards lacked diver sity among its honorees. (Curious has since rejoined.) “Chip’s pretty uncompromising,” says Erik Sandvold, who has been a Curi ous artistic company member since 2002. Walton doesn’t mind drawing a line, Sand vold continues, explaining that, “ ‘If you’re on this side, you’re with [him], and if you’re not, catch up later.’ ”
THEATER Brought to
MILEHIGHCOUNTRY Q&
by a white person for a white person, and it was rare for theaters to cast a Black person in a white role at the time. Walton kept call ing her back, though, simply because he says Dixon was an exceptional actor. The Park Hill native is the daughter of former City Councilperson Bill Roberts, whom the Post called “the father of Denver International Airport” upon his death in 2005. Dixon gravitated toward another city insti tution, the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, where she took acting classes and as a middle schooler saw Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, a 1969 play about a Black family in Harlem. “I just remember sitting in the theater and leaning so far forward on the edge of my seat because I was so moved by the story,” Dixon says, “and so moved by the beauty of the work that was happening onstage.” She studied theater at New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts and received a Master of Fine Arts at the Institute for Advanced Theater Train ing at Harvard University. After 12 years of grinding out auditions on the East Coast, she moved back to Denver with her then-toddler in the late 1990s. She landed a spot in a Curious produc tion in 2005 (Paris on the Platte) but in future years continued to work with other outfits, including the Aurora Fox Art Center, Edge Theatre, Boulder Ensemble Theatre, DCPA, and Arvada Center, for which she directed last year’s Stick Fly. In 2012, Dixon joined Curious as a part-time artistic company member but continued working full time in health care. Last year, Walton asked Dixon if she had ever thought about taking a leadership role in the arts. She laughed the suggestion off as the pipe dream of every regional dramatist. Over time, however, the conversation turned increasingly specific—until it was clear to Dixon that Walton and Covington wanted to step away from Curious, at least as full-time participants, and wanted to discuss the pos sibility of her becoming the company’s artistic director. The trio came up with a succession plan that allowed Walton and Covington to remain in their roles for one last season, the 25th, while Dixon learned the position. Walton had been thinking about his exit from Curious before the pandemic hit; COVID-19 and its devastating impact on live theater motivated him to stay to ensure the company survived. Now that it is financially stable again, Walton believes he’s accomplished all he set out to do 25 years ago. In Dixon, he sees a talented creative who will protect Curious’ goal of producing challenging work. (The company’s credo: “No guts, no story.”) “Obviously, to Dee and I, Curious is our baby,” Walton says. “We wanted to make sure that you by Find tickets at qandbrew22.givesmart.com BREW Featuring Adam Doleac
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THEATER whenever we left, we left it in the hands of someone who appreciated and understood the culture, the core values, the mission, and was ready to continue that while putting their own stamp on it.” Dixon isn’t sure yet what exactly her personal vision will be, saying only that she believes there will be opportunities to “explore new ways in which [Curious’] values can be implemented.” Not that she lacks for more immediate concerns. Curious’ reputation is built on producing challenging work, but the competition for plays has become more intense, as more medium-size theaters have risen in Curious’ image. Ticket sales are down since the beginning of the pandemic, and the company needs to reckon with an older audience that might not come back because of lingering concerns about COVID-19. Dixon will have to find the money to continue to diversify players so the company better represents society—without pigeonholing dramatists of color by confining their contributions to plays that deal with, say, the Black experience. “I acknowledge that what’s in front of us can feel daunting,” Dixon says. But she’s trying to look at problems as opportunities, as ways to attract new audiences. “That might mean some different kinds of community outreach than what we’ve done in the past, cultivating some partnerships within the community but also within our artistic community…. I don’t think we have to work in a silo.”
Within Curious, there are already signs of diffusing power: Walton’s role will be split into two, with Dixon handling the artistic side and Jeannene Bragg, the former business director, becoming managing director for the administration side. Both will report directly to the company’s board. “That kind of singlehead leadership model,” Dixon says, “is an old-school version of leadership.”
Behind the Stories, the first podcast from 5280, will take listeners—you guessed it!—behind the stories that appear in 5280 magazine and on 5280.com. Each episode, hosted by editorial director Geoff Van Dyke, will feature editors and writers from 5280 discussing articles they've been working on and giving readers insight into how these stories come together.
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A move toward collaboration might turn out to be Curious’ most marked difference in the post-Walton era. Dixon, with her experience as a dramatist across different companies in Denver, could be a bridge-builder. “There’s been times when Curious blazes its own path,” Sandvold says. “And I’ve usually been on board with that…. But I think [Dixon] also understands how to use those contacts she has at other theaters to our advantage.”
Walton sounds like a man eager to escape from it: He’s looking forward to meditating for a while. “And then I think we’re looking at, like, let’s take this thing in six-month chunks,” Walton says. One chunk—maybe two. “By that point,” Walton says, “who knows?” m Spencer Campbell is 5280 ’s features editor. Email feedback to letters@5280.com.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 PRIVATE SCHOOL HANDBOOK | PSHB-55 (303) 794-6222 • MACKINTOSHACADEMY.COM ADMISSIONS: 303.794.6222 ENROLLMENT: 125 GRADES: Pre-Kindergarten–8th STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: 7:1 TUITION: $21,500-$22,600 (Morning PreK $12,900) FOR OVER 45 YEARS, MACKINTOSH ACADEMY LITTLETON has nurtured the keen minds and compassionate hearts of gifted and creative students. We combine years of experience with leading-edge curriculum and teaching practices, preparing students to thrive in a changing world. We emphasize innovation, inquiry-based learning, critical thinking, service and sustainability. • International Baccalaureate Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes • Nationally recognized U.S. Dept. of Education Green Ribbon School • Whole-child focus develops emotional intelligence, self-regulation and communication skills as well as intellect • Hands-on approach to learning nurtures creativity and innovation • Small class sizes in a caring, intimate community of learners • Vibrant arts, PE and Spanish programs integrate with classroom curriculum • Service learning empowers students to take action on real-world challenges • Tuition assistance and limited scholarships available PREPARING STUDENTS TO THRIVE IN A WORLD WE CAN'T YET IMAGINE Mackintosh Academy CONTACT US FOR A TOUR (VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON) OF OUR NEWLY EXPANDED CAMPUS! HANDBOOKPRIVATESCHOOL • SEPTEMBER 2022 • Your guide to Denver Metro private schools. Flip the page to learn more about the schools, find school events, and more. Scan the QR code to find schools near you! SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
GRADES/AGES: First Grade–High School For full profile, see page 61. Graland Country Day School 55 Clermont Street Denver, CO 80220
SPECIALTY: Individualized programs, providing a unique and alternative approach to learning.
ADMISSIONS: (303) 758-2003 acceleratedschools.org
GRADES/AGES: Pre-K–High School For full profile, see page 63. Denver Academy 4400 E. Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO 80222
PSHB-56 | 5280 PRIVATE SCHOOL HANDBOOK | SEPTEMBER 20 22 Private School Handbook SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Accelerated Schools of Denver 2160 S. Cook Street, Denver, CO 80210
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GRADES/AGES: Preschool–Middle School For full profile, see page 55.
ADMISSIONS: (303) 762-8300 stmarys.academy SPECIALTY: The SMA family environment is guided in the Loretto School Values of faith, community, justice and respect. Academic excellence, global leadership, service, arts and athletics.
GRADES/AGES: Kindergarten–Middle School St. Mary’s Academy 4545 S. University Boulevard Englewood, CO 80113
Private
GRADES/AGES: Preschool–Middle School For full profile, see page 60. Ricks Center for Gifted Children, University of Denver 2040 S. York Street Denver, CO 80208 ADMISSIONS: (303) 871-3715 | du.edu/ricks
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SPECIALTY: Arma Dei Academy’s mission is to glorify God by providing an excellent classical Christian education founded upon a biblical worldview which equips students to live purposefully and intelligently in service to God and others.
GRADES/AGES: Preschool–Middle School For full profile, see page 62. St. Anne’s Episcopal School 2701 S. York Street, Denver, CO 80210 ADMISSIONS: (303) 756-9481 ext. 210 st-annes.org SPECIALTY: Nurturing, inclusive, and focused on character development.
ADMISSIONS: (303) 914-2513 coloradoacademy.org SPECIALTY: Creating curious, kind, courageous, and adventurous learners and leaders through transformative teaching.
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GRADES/AGES: Preschool–Middle School For full profile, see page 64. St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal School 1800 Pontiac Street, Denver, CO 80220
GRADES/AGES: Middle School–High School For full profile, see page 57 Arma Dei Academy 341 East Wildcat Reserve Parkway Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
ADMISSIONS: (303) 316-3530 visitgraland.org SPECIALTY: Focusing on academic excellence, innovation, and character development—helping each child reach their potential.
ADMISSIONS: (303) 346-4523 armadeiacademy.com
GRADES/AGES: Preschool–Middle School For full profile, see page 60. Colorado Academy 3800 S. Pierce Street, Denver, CO 80235
GRADES/AGES: Preschool–Middle School (co-ed), High School (all girls) For full profile, see page 59. School Directory INTERESTED ADVERTISING?IN Contact Heather Lowe at heather@5280.com or 303.468.4585 to find out more information about the 2023 Private School Handbook.
ADMISSIONS: (303) 322-4209 stelizabethsdenver.org SPECIALTY: Engaging all students in the pursuit of academic excellence while leaning into important conversations and activities that broaden mindsets and challenge systems that promote inequality.
Montessori Academy of Colorado 2500 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80205 ADMISSIONS: (303) montessoriacademyofcolorado.org623-2609
ADMISSIONS: (303) 340-3647 | isdenver.org SPECIALTY: Multicultural, multilingual school with language immersion and International Baccalaureate education.
GRADES/AGES: Preschool–Middle School For full profile, see page 62. Mackintosh Academy Littleton 7018 S. Prince Street, Littleton, CO 80120 ADMISSIONS: (303) mackintoshacademy.com794-6222
SPECIALTY: Innovative International Baccalaureate education tailored for gifted and creative children. Emphasis on service, socialemotional growth, and sustainability.
SPECIALTY: Engaging each child through innovative academics, exploration of character, and a fearless, forward mindset.
ADMISSIONS: (303) 777-5161 denveracademy.org SPECIALTY: Inspiring and empowering diverse learners.
SPECIALTY: Differentiated educational programming for gifted students.
GRADES/AGES: Preschool–Middle School For full profile, see page 64. Havern School 4000 S. Wadsworth Boulevard, Littleton, CO 80123 ADMISSIONS: (303) 986-4587 ext. 120 havernschool.org SPECIALTY: Co-ed, for students with learning disabilities. GRADES/AGES: Kindergarten–Middle School For full profile, see page 63. International School of Denver 7701 E. First Place, Unit C Denver, CO 80230
GRADES/AGES: Preschool–High School, Homeschool Collaborative Program Aspen Academy 5859 S. University Boulevard Greenwood Village, CO 80121
ADMISSIONS: (303) 346-3500 ext. 125 aspenacademy.org SPECIALTY: Internationally acclaimed academics, personalized instruction, leadership and entrepreneurial development, and service learning.
• ACCELERATEDSCHOOLS.ORG
OUR PROGRAM: Accelerated Schools is an independent, coeducational day school for students in middle school and high school. Our positive atmosphere guides students that have not thrived in a traditional school setting to achieve social and academic skills. Our comprehensive learning environment supports the success of students with learning differences such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, OCD, depression, anxiety as well as gifted and talented students who need to be challenged.
OUR VISION: We have created a student-centered learning environment led by teachers who are adaptable lifelong learners since 1974. We understand that all students have a set of necessary skills to learn for their future, as well as unique needs and goals to accomplish. We tailor our program to each student in order to address both sides of this educational paradigm. With an average class size of nine students, each student is enrolled with an individualized success plan based on their needs, interests, and remaining graduation requirements. Our students receive no failing grades; if students are below grade level in any given subject, the teacher emphasizes the curriculum in that skill until they meet the mastery requirements for that subject. At Accelerated Schools, we offer High School and Middle School classes with open enrollment; any student may begin classes any day, year-round. If you find that your child has been unsuccessful in their current school, we are able to help. CO 80210 (303) 758-2003
OUR GOAL: Accelerated Schools exists to provide a unique, alternative, and rigorous approach to learning. Our goal is to produce highly skilled students that have a positive attitude toward themselves. We strive to give each student the tools to improve their overall academic skills, help them to have greater self-esteem, and be goal-oriented. We encourage and prepare them to be college-bound and have the confidence to move to the next level.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 PRIVATE SCHOOL HANDBOOK | PSHB-57 Private School HandbookSPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ADMISSIONS: 303.758.2003 GRADES: 5–12 ENROLLMENT: 50-90 STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: 9:1 TUITION: $24,350 (Middle School) $25,750 (High School)
Accelerated Schools EDUCATION WITH A HISTORY OF SUCCESS 2160 S. COOK STREET, DENVER,
•
Colorado Academy 3800 S. Pierce Street, Denver, CO 80235 CA is seeking curious, kind, courageous, and adventurous students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 from a variety of backgrounds. Admission Preview is a unique opportunity to learn about our school community, and we look forward to connecting with your family.
OCTOBER 26 | 10 am
Denver
PSHB-58 | 5280 PRIVATE SCHOOL HANDBOOK | SEPTEMBER 20 22 Private School Handbook SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION 2022 St. Mary’s Previews St. Mary’s Academy 4545 S. University Blvd., Englewood, CO 80113 St. Mary’s Academy has led the way in education in Colorado since our founding in 1864. We develop the whole child through rigorous academics in a highly supportive and collaborative environment, integrated service learning, and master faculty committed to individualized attention.
The Montessori Academy of Colorado is a metropolitan school that engages each child through innovative academics, exploration of character, and a fearless, forward mindset. Schedule a tour now by visiting TMAOC.com.
TOUR OCTOBER 22 | 9 am St. Anne’s Parent Preview St. Anne’s Episcopal School 2701 S. York Street, Denver, CO 80210 Join us for a campus tour and learn more about preschool through eighth grade at St. Anne’s Episcopal School. The Parent Preview begins at 9:00 A.M. in the School’s Rose Garden. Visit st-annes.org/parent-preview for more information and to RSVP for the October 22 event.
TOUR WEEKLY IN 2022 International School of Denver Campus Tours International School of Denver 7701 E. First Place, Unit C, Denver, CO 80230 Join us! Come to campus to see our unique educational model in action. Visit isdenver.org/admissions to start your inquiry and find a time that works best for you.
Discover Graland: Open Houses Graland Country Day School 55 Clermont Street, Denver, CO 80220 Join us to discover more about Graland’s exceptional program and inspiring teachers for PS, K-8. Hear from faculty and students, learn about our welcoming community and find out how Graland prepares students to go further than they ever imagined. Register today at visitgraland.org or by calling 303-316-3530.
and other learning differences)
INTERESTED
TOUR Accelerated2022 Schools Accelerated Schools 2160 S. Cook Street, Denver, CO 80210
Contact
TOUR Havern2022School Campus Tours
Mackintosh Academy Littleton Admissions Open House Mackintosh Academy 7018 S. Prince Street, Littleton, CO 80120 Join us to learn how Mackintosh Academy nurtures the keen minds and compassionate hearts of the gifted child in a responsive and caring community of learners. Witness our inquiry-based International Baccalaureate program firsthand—incorporating challenging 2 | 8–10 am FEB. 11, APR. 15 | 9 am–12 pm Academy Open Houses Academy 4400 E. Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO 80222 Enjoy a personal tour of our 22-acre campus by a Student Ambassador. Meet staff and learn about our student-centered approach to education for diverse learners (including those with dyslexia, ADHD, in grades 1 to 12. for an open house denveracademy.org/openhouseat or call 303-777-5161 to schedule a private meeting and tour. ADVERTISING?IN Heather Lowe at heather@5280.com or 303.468.4585 to find out more information about the 2023 Private School Handbook.
academics with the arts, physical education, languages, technology, and commitment to global action. Learn more and register admissions@mackintoshacademy.comOrmackintoshacademy.com/admissions5280atcontactusat303-794-6222x600 NOV.
Register
TOUR Montessori2022 Academy of Colorado Montessori Academy of Colorado 2500 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80205
School Event Calendar OCT. 19, OCT. 27, DEC. 6 | 8:25 am Colorado AdmissionAcademyPreview
OCT. 11, NOV. 2, DEC. 8 | 8:30–10:30 am
Accelerated Schools specializes in the individual student’s education and plans with the whole student in mind, no matter the learning difference, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, OCD, depression, or anxiety, as well as gifted and talented students who need to be challenged. We are proud to be part of one of the oldest non-profit private schools with “Open Enrollment” in the country. Schedule your tour today by visiting acceleratedschools.org.
» Lower School: October 18 & December 6 » Middle School: October 11 & December 8 » High School: October 22 Contact Admissions at 303-762-8300. 2022 Arma Dei Academy Virtual Open House Arma Dei Academy; classical Christian school in Douglas County We invite you to witness an Arma Dei education firsthand through our on-demand experience. You will have the opportunity to get a glimpse into our Preschool, K-8, and Homeschool Collaborative classrooms, hear from our Leadership Team, parent/teacher testimonies, and learn what makes ADA distinctive. ADA High School opening in Fall 2021. Register for a tour at www.armadeiacademy.com.
Visit coloradoacademy.org for more information.
OCT. 13, NOV. 10, DEC. 8, JAN. 12, 2023 | 9:30-10:30 am Aspen Academy’s Open Houses Aspen Academy 5859 S. University Blvd., Greenwood Village, CO 80121 Join us for an Open House this fall or winter! Learn about the Aspen Academy experience, see classrooms in action, and have the opportunity to meet administrators. This is a great opportunity for families to ask questions and see a day-in-the-life for an Aspen Academy student. Register at aspenacademy.org/visit
Denver
TOUR 2022 Ricks Center Campus Tours Ricks Center for Gifted Children at University of Denver 2040 S. York Street, Denver, CO 80208 We are excited to once again welcome visitors into our building. We will be offering both individual, small groups, and virtual tours. Come in and learn about our approach to learning and find out what makes Ricks Center a place where we can empower intellectually gifted children to thrive and achieve their full potential. To sign up for a tour, please visit du.edu/ricks/admissions/visit.
OCTOBER 1 | 9–11 am St. Elizabeth’s All School Open House St. Elizabeth’s School 1800 Pontiac Street, Denver, CO 80220 Join us for a tour and interactive informational session in our spacious new Park Hill location! Faculty, administration, students, and parents will share more about our mission, programs, and community at St. Elizabeth’s School. All families that are interested in K-8 education are welcome! Reserve your spot today! RSVP and find out more at stelizabethsdenver.org.
Havern School 4000 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Littleton, CO 80123 Havern School creates confident learners by nurturing the potential of students with diagnosed learning disabilities through specialized, small group instruction and integrated therapies. Come see our program in action! Visit havernschool.org/admissions to start your inquiry and discover the many ways you can learn more.
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ST. MARY’S ACADEMY is Denver’s premier independent, Catholic school, spanning coeducational Pre-K to 8 and an all-girls high school. Established in the Colorado Territory in 1864 by the Sisters of Loretto, the values of faith, community, justice, and respect guide the Academy and its students. We continue to be a forward-thinking educational leader focused on a values-based and purpose-driven education with rigorous academics, integrated service learning, competitive athletics, outstanding faculty, and a commitment to individualized attention and developing the whole student. Since its founding, St. Mary’s Academy has welcomed children of every culture, religious tradition, and economic background. We emphasize understanding and appreciation of different perspectives. We focus on respect and how to treat each other – to love inclusively. This allows for a deeper understanding of others and of one’s convictions in an increasingly complex, multicultural, and multi-religious world. Our values transcend time and make good people and great leaders. We encourage strong moral and character development in pursuit of the common good. We inspire leaders and change agents, teaching students how to think and problem solve in the spirit of teamwork and collaboration to prepare them for success in an ever-changing world. Our students are kind, compassionate, and empowered individuals who work, learn and have fun together every day on our beautiful 24-acre campus, centrally located in Cherry Hills Village.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 PRIVATE SCHOOL HANDBOOK | PSHB-59 Private School HandbookSPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ADMISSIONS: 303.762.8300 GRADES: Pre-Kindergarten–8th (Co-ed) High School (All Girls) ENROLLMENT: 680 STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: 7:1 TUITION: $18,250 - $23,960
St. Mary’s Academy FOUNDED ON FAITH, COMMUNITY, JUSTICE, AND RESPECT SOUTH UNIVERSITY BLVD., ENGLEWOOD, CO 80113 • (303) 762-8300 • STMARYS.ACADEMY
EDUCATION
STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO:
5859 S. UNIVERSITY BLVD. GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO 80121 • (303) 346-3500 • ASPENACADEMY.ORG
TUITION:
LAUNCHING
EXTRAORDINARY
ADMISSIONS: kate.shaw@aspenacademy.org 400 8:1 $19,958 Pre-K to 3rd | $20,650 4th-8th LEADERS WITH NEXT GENERATION EDUCATION. Aspen Academy in Greenwood Village, Colorado, is a national leader in innovative education. Through internationally acclaimed academics and small classes led by exceptional, award-winning faculty, we provide a foundation of rich academics and leadership, where students are empowered to lead purposeful and extraordinary lives. For more than 18 years, Aspen Academy has focused on real-world skills, including the nation's first integrated entrepreneurial development program. To date, we've helped launch more than 350 student-run businesses. Our students receive 90+ hours of leadership per student, per year and 85% of Aspen Academy students are in the top 10% of U.S. students in math and reading. Here, your child's curiosity and joy of discovery will be cultivated along with a love of learning in school and in life. We would love the opportunity to meet you. Sign up for a tour today at aspenacademy.org/visit FUTURES BEGIN HERE. Aspen Academy
THE MONTESSORI ACADEMY OF COLORADO is a metropolitan school that engages each child through innovative academics, exploration of character, and a fearless, forward mindset. MAC offers an authentic and best practice Montessori education for Nido, Toddler, Primary, Integrated Kindergarten, Elementary and Middle School, serving students ages eight weeks to 8th grade. Credentialed Montessori teachers lead each classroom and our individualized learning curriculums allow all children to work at their own level in order to maximize their achievements. With mixed ages in all classrooms, children are excited to learn from their peers and help others, naturally going from novice to leader within their classrooms. Each MAC community builds on the next with new experiences, challenging materials, and endless opportunities to learn. From our robust academics to exploration of the Arts, MAC celebrates creativity and curiosity in all our students by encouraging hands-on, self-paced, collaborative learning through interactive experiences. We create an inclusive environment where students acquire self-efficacy, critical thinking skills, and social emotional intelligence from an educational foundation built on integrity, compassion, and support. FEARLESS, FORWARD LEARNERS Academy of Colorado
ENROLLMENT:
Montessori
PSHB-60 | 5280 PRIVATE SCHOOL HANDBOOK | SEPTEMBER 20 22 Private School Handbook SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION 2500 CURTIS STREET, DENVER, CO 80205 • (303) 623-2609 • MONTESSORIACADEMYOFCOLORADO.ORG ADMISSIONS: 303.623.2609 GRADES: Preschool–8th ENROLLMENT: 250 TUITION: $20,100 - $29,220* STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: Infant 3:1, Toddler 5:1, Primary 10:1, Elementary 10:1 *depending on child's age and program
EMPOWERING
AVENUE.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 PRIVATE SCHOOL HANDBOOK | PSHB-61 Private School HandbookSPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ADMISSIONS: enrollment@denveracademy.org303.777.5161 GRADES: 1st–12th STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: 6:1 TUITION: $32,270 (1st-6th) $34,850 (7th-12th) (Need-based financial aid available) DENVER ACADEMY CHANGES LIVES. Founded in 1972, Denver Academy (DA) believes that students thrive when taught the way they learn best Denver Academy is one of the top schools in the nation dedicated to teaching students with diverse learning profiles including dyslexia, ADHD, twice-exceptional students, and those with other learning differences. Small classes of 12-14 students facilitate differentiated instruction. The 22-acre campus in Denver’s University Hills neighborhood is an exceptional learning environment. Denver Academy’s robust curriculum includes challenging academics, technology, arts programs, athletics, character development, and extracurricular offerings. Hands-on learning and cultural experiences enrich each student’s education.
• DENVERACADEMY.ORG
THE
Denver Academy’s innovative approach is based on the balance of classroom management, information processing, and academic literacy. Flexible placement in several academic levels within each core subject allows faculty to teach to each student’s optimal level. At Denver Academy, students excel in their strengths and are equipped to overcome their challenges. Academy WAY YOU LEARN BEST 4400 E. ILIFF DENVER CO, 80222 • (303) 777-5161
Denver
PSHB-62 | 5280 PRIVATE SCHOOL HANDBOOK | SEPTEMBER 20 22 Private School Handbook SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION 7701 E. FIRST PLACE, UNIT C, DENVER, CO 80230 • (303) 340-3647 • ISDENVER.ORG International School of Denver
MULTILINGUAL
GRADES: Preschool–8th ENROLLMENT: 700 STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $21,600 (Early Childhood Education, K1–K3) $21,400 (Lower School, G1–G5) $23,800 (Middle School, G6–G8) (Financial Center for Gifted Children at University of Denver on the University of Denver campus, Ricks Center for Gifted
Located
assistance available) 2040 S. YORK STREET, DENVER, CO 80210 • (303) 871-3715 • DU.EDU/RICKS • RICKSCTR@DU.EDU Ricks
ADMISSIONS: 303.340.3647
AT THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DENVER, our students don’t just learn a second language–they become immersed in the culture of countries and communities around the world by learning from native speakers, participating in language festivals, and going on international trips. With our inquiry-based, student-centered, globally-minded International Baccalaureate® (IB) framework, we prepare our students to become well-rounded and to think, behave, and see the world differently. Our students learn how to think for themselves, be curious, ask questions, process information, and connect dots across disciplines and concepts, preparing them to thrive in a world both inside and outside the Atclassroom.thecore, we are more than a school. We are a global community making the world a more compassionate and curious place, one student at a time. Come see our unique educational model for yourself. Join us for a tour this fall! Chinese. French. Spanish. EDUCATION. GLOBAL MINDSET. EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT.
Children fosters a community of thinkers, problem-solvers, and innovators through a dynamic and challenging gifted educational environment, offering programs for children ages three through eighth grade. Students at Ricks Center are empowered to embrace their creativity and curiosity, to explore their talents and passions and to elevate each other at an accelerated learning pace in this student-led culture. We offer: • Active, engaged, hands-on learning • Access to the University of Denver resources • Flexible, differentiated curriculum • Low student to teacher ratio • Teachers who know, understand, and care deeply about gifted education and each individual student • An empathetic, inclusive, and equitable school community EXPLORATION IN EDUCATION ADMISSIONS: 303.871.3715 GRADES: Preschool–8th STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: Varies depending on level CALL OR INQUIRE ONLINE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RICKS CENTER AND TO DISCOVER HOW RICKS IS THE BEST FIT FOR YOUR CHILD.
• We maintain a low student-to-staff ratio with explicit instruction delivered in small, skills-based groups by highly experienced, dedicated, and compassionate teachers.
• We celebrate progress and prepare students for the next steps in their educational journey.
EDUCATING STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES Havern School
instruction and integrated therapies. Since
BEING A PART OF COLORADO ACADEMY LASTS A LIFETIME. We are committed to the development of children, nurturing their talents and skills to drive understanding and inspire thoughtful individuals. We embrace inclusivity as we prepare all students to face an ever-changing and complex world. Our faculty are dedicated to advancing knowledge and igniting curiosity. Colorado Academy students excel in academics, arts, athletics, and experiential education—all of which are core to the CA experience. For the 2023-2024 school year, we welcome applications from curious, kind, courageous, and adventurous students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 from a variety of schools and backgrounds. Visit coloradoacademy.org to learn more and register for Admission Preview in October and December. CURIOUS, KIND, COURAGEOUS, AND ADVENTUROUS LEARNERS LITTLETON, CO 80123 • (303) 986-4587 • HAVERNSCHOOL.ORG ADMISSIONS: 303.986.4587 GRADES: Kindergarten-8th Grade ENROLLMENT: 100 STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: 4:1 TUITION: $30,500 (Need-based tuition assistance is available)
• We integrate speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and social skills instruction into the students’ schedules with the cost of tuition.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 PRIVATE SCHOOL HANDBOOK | PSHB-63 Private School HandbookSPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
HAVERN SCHOOL creates confident learners by nurturing the potential of students with diagnosed learning disabilities through small group 1966, Havern School has provided a safe and caring environment that empowers students to embrace their unique learning become courageous leaders and self-advocates. We provide students with a customized, research-based curriculum, small group instruction, integrated therapies, and proven tools to help them succeed in school and in life. Our students realize their strengths, persevere through their struggles, and discover their potential.
specialized,
AND LEADERS Colorado Academy 4000 S. WADSWORTH BOULEVARD
CREATING
3800 S. PIERCE STREET DENVER, CO 80235 • (303) 914-2513 • COLORADOACADEMY.ORG ADMISSIONS: 303.914.2513 GRADES: Pre-K-12th Grade ENROLLMENT: 1,035 STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: 9:1 TUITION: ($27,490–$33,910 Financial aid budget of over $4.5 million)
• We serve students with diagnosed learning disabilities including dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and other learning difficulties related to language processing, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
profiles and
PSHB-64 | 5280 PRIVATE SCHOOL HANDBOOK | SEPTEMBER 20 22 Private School Handbook SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION 55 CLERMONT STREET, DENVER, CO 80220 • (303) 316-3530 • VISITGRALAND.ORG ADMISSIONS: 303.316.3530 GRADES: Preschool, Kindergarten-8th ENROLLMENT: 700 STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: 7:1 TUITION: $24,860-$31,780 (Need-based tuition assistance available)
Grounded in Founding empowered
the values and traditions of our
devices,
Sisters, our graduates are
STUDENTS WHO GO GRALAND ARE FORWARD THINKERS WHO CAN GO ANYWHERE AND DO ANYTHING Graland Country Day School 2701 SOUTH YORK STREET,
by their sense of belonging. Most importantly, they know themselves, care for others, and strive to serve and improve their communities EDUCATING MINDS, ENRICHING HEARTS, AND EXPANDING HORIZONS St. Anne’s Episcopal School
OUR MOTTO: CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN. Graland goes to extraordinary lengths to give every child the best education possible, developing intellectual excellence, and strong character. Challenging academics, arts, athletics, community service, overnight trips, innovation, invention—Graland's unique program prepares students to be engaged citizens and thoughtful leaders. We empower our faculty to be active leaders so they can help students reach their highest potential. We go further, dream bigger, and think deeper. Graland is located in the heart of Denver and offers daily bus routes. We invite you to tour our campus, learn about our welcoming community, and #GOGRALAND by visiting our website: VisitGraland.org. One family out of every five receives tuition assistance. Tuition includes daily lunch and snack, books, technology school supplies, and class trips. DENVER, CO 80210 • (303) 756-9481 • ST-ANNES.ORG ADMISSIONS: 303.756.9481 GRADES: Age 3-Grade 8 ENROLLMENT: 435 STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $12,897 - $29,441 (includes daily hot lunch; need-based tuition assistance available) THERE IS NO PLACE QUITE LIKE ST. ANNE’S EPISCOPAL
SCHOOL. Hidden just inside the city of Denver, our picturesque 7.5-acre campus inspires students on a daily basis. Our classrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, and our dedicated teachers challenge students every day. Serving children in preschool through eighth-grade, we provide a consistent and nurturing experience from our earliest learners through middle school. Since 1950, we have provided an inclusive, nurturing, and uplifting environment where all children are supported. We aim to foster a community of character, humility, and kindness while providing a balanced program that includes outstanding academics, athletics, and the arts. Our program includes art, music, drama, technology, language classes, an outdoor education program at our foothills campus, and physical education. Additionally, we offer extracurricular programs, service-learning opportunities, after-school care, and middle school sports.
AVENUES From left: Aspens flank Grand Mesa scenic byway; an electric vehicle charger at Aspen Snow mass’ Buttermilk Mountain
COLORADO IS MAKING ITS SCENIC AND HISTORIC BYWAYS MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR VEHICLES WITHOUT COMBUSTION ENGINES, MEANING THESE SEVEN FALL FOLIAGE ROUTES ARE ELECTRIFYING IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. BY NICHOLAS HUNT SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 67
The state has also been providing grants to small businesses, local governments, and cultural institutions along those routes and other rural roads to help them install slower Level 2 chargers, in part to fulfill its mission to electrify all corners of the state but also to encourage tourists to get out of their cars and spend money. “There’s an economic development perspective behind it,” says Matt Mines, a senior program manager for the Colorado Energy Office. “Whether you’re plugging in for a few minutes at a fast charger or a few hours at a Level 2, that gives you enough time to really explore town.” So, it’s a win-win for business owners and EV drivers, and it’s one of the main reasons we’re able to bring you this collection of the best electric fall drives in the Centennial State. Because if there’s one vehicle-dependent pastime that should go green, it’s enjoying nature’s autumnal color wheel without spewing toxic exhaust from your tailpipe.
What I was experiencing is called range anxiety, and it’s one of the biggest obstacles to EV adoption. (Apparently, I’m not the only anxiety-riddled American.) As it turns out, I needn’t have been concerned. The car automatically took into account the elevation changes along my planned leaf-peeping route and the ambient temperature, and its range predictions were dead on. In fact, I was surprised by just how easy—how normal—the experience was. This is a good thing because, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, transportation accounts for 27 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in this country. That makes the sector the largest contributor of greenhouse gasses, and light-duty vehicles—aka your Subaru Outback—are responsible for 57 percent of all transportation emissions, whether you’re commuting to work or driving to the grocery store or setting out on an hourslong tour of fall foliage. Like other states, Colorado has been attempting to make the transition to EVs as painless as possible (through vehicle tax credits and charging infrastructure grants), but one aspect of Colorado’s strategy is unique: It started electrifying its scenic byways. Since 2020, eight of the state’s 26 designated scenic and historic byways have been tagged by the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Commission as EV-friendly—which means there’s a Level 3 fast charger at least every 100 miles—and two more were expected to come online last month.
Sure, the car’s integrated navigation system said I had enough juice to reach Estes Park, ogle the views, and get back to Denver without recharging the fully electric vehicle (EV), but the margin was slim, and I didn’t completely trust it. How would the change in elevation and the chilly tempera ture, which can sap the life out of batteries, affect the mileage? Would I have to skip going down that aspen-lined side road because my eco-whip wouldn’t make it back? How easy would it be to find a charging station if I needed one?
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I’M A WORRIER, SO WHEN I PULLED THE TESLA MODEL 3 I’D RENTED ONTO THE PEAK TO PEAK SCENIC BYWAY FOR A LITTLE ASPEN-FOCUSED FUN, MY MIND FILLED WITH “WHAT IFS.”
Where You’ll Find Them: Every where. Any 120-volt wall outlet can be a Level 1 charger if you keep your charging cable in your frunk (front trunk). Good For: The average Joe. According to AAA, the typical American only drove 31.5 miles a day in 2019, so if you charge at home overnight, a Level 1 cord is usually all you’ll need.
Round-Trip From Denver: 455 miles CO² Emitted: 55 kilograms EV*; 186 kilograms gas It’s more than 150 miles from Denver to Glenwood Springs, where you’ll leave I-70 behind, so depending on the size of your vehicle’s battery pack, you’ll probably want to top off in town. There’s a Tesla Supercharger on Wulfsohn Road and a fast charger at the Target on West Meadows Road. Or linger over all-day breakfast at the retro 19th Street Diner, two blocks away from the free Level 2 charger at Sayre Park south of downtown. From there, head south on CO 82 until you hit Carbondale, where you’ll pick up the West Elk Loop scenic byway, aka CO 133. Just south of historical Redstone, stop at Hayes Creek Falls, a 40-foot plunge tucked just off the road, before starting up McClure Pass (pictured). As you follow the byway, take advantage of the plentiful pull-offs to safely eye the golden groves, and atop the 8,755-foot pass, you’ll find picnic tables for snacking and a trout-filled beaver pond for casting at the aspen-shaded McClure Campground. Although the byway con tinues on for a total of 205 miles, Paonia makes for a great turnaround point. There’s a fast charger on Main Street, and Solar Energy International, a nonprofit that trains workers for the solar energy industry, has a free, sun-powered Level 2 charger and loaner bikes you can spin around town while you’re plugged in. (Hint: September is grape harvest, and the Black Bridge Winery tasting room is just an 18-minute pedal north from the nonprofit.)
LEVEL 3 CHARGERS Time To Full Charge: 20 minutes to 1 hour Where You’ll Find Them: Major travel arteries such as I-70 and U.S. 40. Tesla has even announced plans to open its proprietary Level 3 Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs by the end of the year. Good For: Road trips where you don’t want to wait four hours to get back behind the wheel.
POWER TRIPPING While your EV’s integrated navigation system or your favorite EV-specific routeplanning app will take the different types of charging stations—many paid, some free—along your path into account when calculating your ETA, knowing the dif ference between the three charging levels could save you time and headaches.
MCCLURE PASS—WEST ELK LOOP SCENIC BYWAY
LEVEL 1 CHARGERS
ELECTRIC AVENUES SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 69 (2)ImagesGettyMotion;+StillsHammons/TandemKyleColussi;Aaronleft:fromspread,This
Time To Full Charge: 40 to 50 hours
LEVEL 2 CHARGERS Time To Full Charge: 4 to 10 hours Where You’ll Find Them: At hotels, restaurants, small busi nesses, public libraries, etc. As of May 1, Colorado had 3,424 Level 2 charging ports. Good For: Overnight recharges or topping off for the trip home from the trail during a long lunch.
*Estimated emissions created at a power plant, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, based on the 2022 Chevy Bolt EV’s miles per gallon equivalent and the average U.S. energy mix
SAN JUAN SKYWAY SCENIC BYWAY
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Round-Trip From Denver: 874 miles CO² Emitted: 104 kilograms EV; 358 kilograms gas “There’s a reason they call it a skyway,” says Christy Garrou, visitor services lead for the San Juan National Forest. Sometimes you’re at eye level with the aspens, like in the section of CO 145 along the Dolores River from Dolores to Rico, and sometimes you’re high above those fluttering leaves navigating hairpin turns like those along U.S. 550 leading from Purgatory Resort to Coal Bank Pass. “Both views are equally stunning,” she says. As one of the longest byways in the state at 236 miles—and one of the farthest from Denver—you’ll want to make a weekend of it. Spend the first night in Ridgway (there are chargers at downtown’s Hartwell Park and glamping outfit Basecamp 550) and the second at the boutique Inn at Lost Creek in Telluride, which is one of several accom modations in town offering overnight charging. There’s also a Level 2 station in the Silver Jack Parking Garage, conveniently located just around the corner from Baked in Telluride, where the doughnuts would make Homer Simpson salivate. No matter how you power up, you’d be a fool not to take Last Dollar Road (pictured) on your way out of town, even if it’s not technically part of the byway. Turn right off CO 145, just before the airport, onto this “shortcut” north to Ridgway. Although the 30-plus-mile unpaved detour is easygoing, it should only be attempted by two-wheeldrive vehicles when it’s dry. The reward? Views of wide-open ranchland and dense spruce-fir and aspen forests surrounded by sharp San Juan peaks.
TIP: Keeping your vehicle’s charge between 20 and 80 percent will help extend the life of your EV’s battery, which could last between 12 and 15 years, according to the National Renewable Laboratory.Energy + 20%80%
STATE: Colorado’s tax credits are a lot easier to navigate: Simply buy a qualified vehicle and you’ll receive a $2,500 tax credit (or $1,500 for a two-year-minimum lease), which can often be applied at the time of sale. That amount is set to drop to $2,000 next year.
PICKING UP THE TAB “A lot of what scares people about EVs is the upfront cost,” says Julia Davila, commu nications and engagement manager for Drive Clean Col orado, a nonprofit focused on breaking down the bar riers to EV adoption. But while the average price of a new EV was a hair above $60,000 in February (nearly $15,000 more than a typi cal new vehicle), according to car shopping resource Edmunds, new models such as the 259-mile-range Chevy Bolt can be had for around $30,000. And depending on the car you purchase, Davila says, Centennial Staters could pay a lot less thanks to hid den savings (maintenance costs are around half that of gas-powered vehicles) and state and federal tax credits.
Denver: 472 miles CO² Emitted: 57 kilograms EV; 194 kilograms gas
The 28-mile trek from Gunnison to Crested Butte is a worthy fall drive in its own right, says Adam Moore, a supervisory forester with the Colorado State Forest Service, thanks to the cottonwoods that line CO 135. But the real show starts on CR 12: The gravel road, which leads from Crested Butte over Kebler Pass to CO 133 and the western half of the West Elk Loop, is home to what is possibly Colorado’s largest aspen stand. Because the trees are actually intertwined clones of one another, that makes this unnamed grove one of the largest single organisms on the planet, Moore says. Look for it in the Ruby Anthracite Creek watershed on the pass’ western slope. As an added bonus, be sure to duck off CR 12 and take CR 720 south over neighboring Ohio Pass for a view of the towering, aspenringed rock formation known as the Castles (pictured). Before you tackle the passes, chow down on some high-elevation-inspired fare at Crested Butte’s Sherpa Cafe. In addition to Indian and Tibetan dishes, the establishment—just across Third Street from the fast charger at the fire station—serves classic cuisine from the owners’ homeland in Nepal’s mountainous Khumbu region.
Here’s a breakdown: FEDERAL: There’s been a $7,500 federal EV tax credit since 2008, but at press time, the Inflation Reduction Act was poised to change things next year. It sets income restrictions for buy ers ($150,000 for single fil ers, $300,000 for joint, sedan($55,000holds);heads$225,000andforofhousepricecapsforaand$80,000 for SUVs, trucks, and vans); and a restriction that final assembly be done state side. The law also creates a new credit for used EVs and removes a provision that limited the credit to manufacturers that have sold fewer than 200,000 EVs—meaning Tesla and General Motors models are back on the menu.
ELECTRIC AVENUES SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 71 GUNNISON TO KEBLER PASS—WEST ELK LOOP SCENIC Round-TripBYWAYFrom
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ELECTRIC AVENUES
HIGHWAY OF LEGENDS SCENIC BYWAY
5280: People get twitchy about range—but you’re not worried? Westby: You’d have to really not be paying attention to run out of battery, because the car does the calculations for you. If it thinks that I can make it to Lakewood, but maybe I’m driving fast, then it will just reroute me to the Supercharger in Silverthorne. Is it easy to find a charger when that happens? The Roaring Fork Valley, where I live, has a strong level of EV infrastructure. Every town has a free Level 2 charger. Some have 10. But the real kicker for me was finding out that I hardly used public chargers. My garage is my charging station. You have to drive through some pretty extreme conditions just to get to work. How does your EV handle it? Sometimes it’ll be negative 10 outside, and I’m breaking ice off the car door handle. But you can schedule a timer in the car’s system, so it’s 70 degrees inside and the battery is ready to go. The cold does affect your range, but it’s maybe 20 percent, max. And every time I’m driving down a steep grade it’s like, “Oh, that’s free gas.” The car sends some of that energy back to the battery pack. What’s the most significant lifestyle change? Road trips take longer. That’s just part of it. You have to stop every few hours for 15 to 20 minutes to make sure you can get to the next charger. But I actually really like the rhythm of EV road trip ping. You don’t feel as beat up because you’re forced to take breaks.
IT’S A LIFESTYLE
Round-Trip From Denver: 457 miles CO² Emitted: 55 kilograms EV; 187 kilograms gas
If you’re in the mood for colors that aren’t golden yellow, Colorado State Forest Service’s Adam Moore recommends this semicircular, 82-mile route (pictured) around the Spanish Peaks in the dramatic Sangre de Cristo range. In addition to the requisite aspen stands, the route—which you’ll pick up on U.S. 160 in Walsenburg—is lined with thickets of Gambel oaks, a scrub tree that can turn a brilliant shade of red come fall. For even more local color, try the green-chile-smothered burger at George’s Drive Inn, home to Walsenburg’s only Level 3 station. Turn south onto CO 12 to go through La Veta, where (if a burger didn’t entice you) you can try Legends on Main’s from-scratch New Mexican fare. After that pit stop, take a detour down Cordova Pass Road, just east of 9,995-foot Cucharas Pass. The mile drive on hard-pack dirt to the Farley Flower Overlook Observation Site ends with a panoramic view of the aspen stands on West Spanish Peak, which together with its sibling to the east, was designated a National Natural Monument in 1976 due to its former life as an underground lake of molten magma. After finishing the byway in Trinidad, take I-25 North, then leave it behind in favor of CO 83, which passes Castlewood Canyon State Park and Lincoln Mountain Open Space, two more Gambel oak hot spots that usually peak in mid- to late-October, making them a great option for a late-season excursion.
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If Benjamin Westby can make an EV work in the Centennial State, anybody can. He lives at 8,930 feet in the Flat Tops and drives his 250-mile-range Tesla Model 3 16 miles to his job as an elementary school teacher in New Castle. He’s also the presi dent of the Western Colorado EV Club, one of several regional organizations across the state that host events for aficionados and the EV curious, advocate for EV charging infrastructure, and generally geek out about these high-tech rides.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 73 DROUGHTEarlier, shorter peak; brown leaves EXTREME HEAT OR EARLY FROSTSBrowning; earlier shedding HIGHER ELEVATIONEarlier peak HEALTHIER TREE STANDS Stronger colors; longer displays WET GROWING SEASON + A DRY AUTUMN WITH COOL NIGHTSBrighter colors IN LIVING COLOR
Popular leaf-peeping stops along the way include the glacially carved Brainard Lake Recreation Area and Saint Catherine of Siena Chapel (pictured), but don’t miss the aspens around Lily Lake, says John Berry, a staff photographer with Visit Estes Park. “You can walk around the entire lake in 20 minutes, and there are paths that wind higher up the surrounding mountains,” he says. After some smoked pheasant chowder at Estes’ Bird & Jim, you can head back to Denver or take Trail Ridge Road (another EV-friendly byway) through Rocky Mountain National Park.
+ TIP: You don’t have to own an EV to leaf peep in one. Hertz, Enter prise, and other rental giants are rolling out fleets of electric cars, including here in Colorado. For those who want a rental process as modern as an EV, the Turo app lets you peratowners.models—fromingvehicles—includrent-variouselectrictheirRatesstartaround$100day.
PEAK TO PEAK SCENIC BYWAY Round-Trip From Denver: 198 miles CO² Emitted: 24 kilograms EV; 81 kilograms gas Chances are you won’t even need a recharge to tackle the state’s first designated scenic byway. (But don’t worry, there are Level 3 chargers near both ends in Idaho Springs and Estes Park.) Pick up the byway in Black Hawk on CO 119 and head north to the Hessie trailhead. It’s a perennial favorite for fall foliage, so instead of fighting the hordes for a parking spot, plug into the Level 2 charger at Nederland High School, where a free shuttle will take you to the trailhead on summer weekends. Back in the car, take CO 72 through Nederland and Ward, then CO 7 to Estes Park.
Timing your road trip requires a bit of science. Generally, as the nights become longer, trees have less energy for photosynthesis, says the state forest service’s Adam Moore, and as the green chlorophyll breaks down, the leaves’ ever-present gold and yellow pigments are revealed. A good rule of thumb is that peak color starts near the Wyoming bor der around mid-September before reaching New Mexico in early October. The exact timing—and intensity of the show—depends on myriad factors, including these five.
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Make:OCEANFisker Range: 250 to 350 miles Claim To Fame: Fisker claims this SUV’s solar panel roof can add 1,500 miles of range or more each year, meaning there’s no fear of a dead battery in the backcountry so long as you don’t park in the shade. When You Can Get One: It’s expected to hit the market in 2022; from $37,499 GRAND MESA SCENIC BYWAY Round-Trip From Denver: 580 miles CO² Emitted: 70 kilograms EV; 238 kilograms gas You can spend as much time eyeing the water as you do the aspens along the 63-mile Grand Mesa scenic byway: The world’s largest flat-topped mountain is home to more than 300 lakes. Depending on your mileage, however, you’ll probably want to head into Grand Junction before doubling back on I-70 to CO 65 (pictured) and the start of the byway. The closest fast chargers to the route’s start are in the city, including one at Mesa County Central Library. (If you’d rather consume elevated Mexican fare than the written word while you wait, it’s a short walk down North Fifth Street to the rotating, Grand Valley–sourced menu at Tacoparty.) On the byway, the prime aspen zone is between 9,000 and 10,000 feet. Many of the area’s hiking trails are higher up in the coniferous forests, so some of your best bets for seeing color on two feet are taking the chairlift up Powderhorn Mountain Resort (where there’s a Level 2 Tesla plug) and the Mesa Lakes Recreation Area ($5 fee), where aspens and spruce mingle on the shoreline. To get out on the water, Mesa Lakes Lodge rents rowboats, canoes, and paddleboards for $45 a day. It also has a full bar, a restaurant, and cabins if you need a spot to lay your head (from $140 per night).
KICK TIRES AND (DON’T) LIGHT THE FIRES Think an EV won’t cut it for your mountain lifestyle? These four new and upcom ing electric adventure rigs will change your mind.
Farther south, families with young children or those with mobility challenges will enjoy the half-mile, paved, and aptly named Land of Lakes Trail, which overlooks 144-acre Island Lake, the region’s largest. Whatever body of water you enjoy, however, do yourself a favor and pack plenty of bug spray.
ELECTRIC AVENUES
Make:CYBERTRUCK Tesla Range: 500 miles Claim To Fame: Elon Musk said the angular design of Tesla’s first truck would be too aggressive for a lot of people. He wasn’t wrong. When You Can Get One: It’s expected to enter production in 2023; price TBD R1T TRUCK AND R1S SUV Make: Rivian Range: 260 to 400-plus miles Claim To Fame: Two prototypes drove 13,000 miles from Patago nia to Los Angeles as part of Ewan McGregor’s electric motorcycle travel documentary Long Way Up When You Can Get One: Both are available; R1T from $79,500, R1S from $85,000 F-150 Make:LIGHTNING Ford Range: 320 miles Claim To Fame: Tesla’s truck may look post-apocalyptic, but the new Lightning can actually power your home for up to three days in an emergency. When You Can Get One: Available now; from $46,974
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Free TOP OF THE ROCKIES SCENIC BYWAY
Start this 115-mile route in Aspen and bring an e-bike: That way you can cycle the 11 miles up Maroon Creek Road to the Maroon Bells as you recharge your EV at the free Level 2 plugs in the Aspen Highlands Parking Garage. The road is closed to private vehicles from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during peak season, so your only company will be other cyclists, the occasional shuttle bus, and the nearly continuous aspen groves. Once you’re back at your car, be sure to grab picnic supplies—including French Brie, Spanish chorizo, and Colorado pickles—from the Meat & Cheese Restaurant and Farm Shop on East Hopkins Avenue as you head out of town on CO 82 toward 12,095-foot Independence Pass. From there, it’s pretty much golden aspens all the way up to 10,500 feet, says Karin Teague, director of the nonprofit Independence Pass Foundation, which helps protect its namesake region. “Then you drive by all these wetlands,” she says, “and there’s all kinds of willows and things that turn a really glorious gold, red, and yellow.” It’s more of the same on the other side of the ridge down to the town of Twin Lakes, though in Teague’s experience, the aspens east of the pass change color a little earlier than those to the west. If you need more juice before heading north on one of the byway’s two spurs—U.S. 24 (pictured) to Minturn or CO 91 to Copper Mountain—there’s a fast charger in Leadville across the street from the Tabor Opera House and right around the block from the beloved High Mountain Pies pizzeria. Or you can play a round of disc golf: There’s a Level 2 charger right next to the course at Colorado Mountain College. m
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Round-Trip From Denver: 357 to 390 miles CO² Emitted: 43 to 47 kilograms EV; 146 to 160 kilograms gas
TIP: Two Essential Apps For Finding Your Way A RouteplannerBetter Data nerds can fiddle with everything from road conditions to the weight of their luggage to calculate their max range. Free; premium version available PlugShare Users can check in at more than 600,000 charging stations around the world and report charge times, broken ports, fun activities nearby for passing the time, and more.
DOWNDENVER
Downtown was hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and the city is still struggling to get people back on its streets. How do we rebuild it for the modern era?
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you’ve spent time downtown recently, you may have noticed it feels different: quieter, emptier, less vibrant. COVID-19 decimated city centers across the nation as the outbreak spread in early 2020. Denver hasn’t been immune to the ravages. Fewer people meant fewer customers. Shuttered businesses left behind boarded-up storefronts. Streets abandoned by office workers became the domain of an underbelly many Denverites hadn’t seen and raised concerns about safety.
It’s been two and a half years since the Mile High City—and the world—shut down, and while we wish like hell we could say that things are back to normal, they’re not. What we once thought was a temporary shift to remote work now feels more permanent; lingering variants won’t stop, well, lingering; and businesses can’t seem to find the talent they need to thrive. In short, Denver isn’t quite the city we knew in the Before Times. We can’t place all the blame on a public health crisis, though. In some cases, the pandemic simply exacerbated existing issues. While the 2014 Union Station redevelopment breathed life into LoDo, and downtown’s streets felt lively on many days, Denver’s core has been struggling for years with vacant buildings, homelessness, and drug use. In some ways, the city proper lacks an identity.“There were always problems,” says Matthew Brooks, COO of Crafted Concepts, a restaurant group with four downtown eateries.
Percentage of daily downtown visitors who have returned, compared with prepandemic levels
It’s not all bad news, though. Developers are building high-rises again, new busi nesses are opening, and the city remains a hot spot for out-of-state companies lured by our quality of life. In short, we’ve got the tools we need to get the heart of the city beating again. “Downtown is one of our vital organs. Its existence has a bigger impact on the entire city,” says Lilly Djaniants, a princi pal city planner. “We need to maintain that.”
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IF 89%
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So, what does Denver’s next life look like? The pandemic offered an opportunity— whether we wanted it or not—to reimagine what a modern, inviting, and globally appeal ing downtown can be. “We’re creating what, in the end, will be a more resilient city,” says Kourtny Garrett, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP), a nonprofit business organization that helps set the area’s vision. The first step to achieving Denver 2.0 is solving some of the area’s most intractable challenges. Here, we look at eight problems—and some potential solutions.
The center city has two new chief executives: Kourtny Garrett took over the DDP in January, and J.J. Ament was chosen as president and CEO at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce last September. We asked them to outline their visions for a downtown in flux. —DS
PLATTECENTRALVALLEYPROSPECTCIVICCENTER
JJA: We want downtown to be a center of activity where workers, tourists, families, and community members can go out, be enter tained, and learn about our beautiful center city. It should be a destination where locals want to spend their free time and where tourists want to visit. The city and the DDP are currently working on the 16th Street Mall, which will provide that central place for people to do all these things.
BALLPARKCENTRALBUSINESSDISTRICT
What is your vision for Denver?
Kourtny GarrettJ.J. Ament DenverrateUnemploymentinmetroinJune
J.J. Ament: Downtown Denver is one of many vibrant locations in our metropoli tan region where we help companies start, grow, and thrive, and it is central to where we advocate for policy that makes Denver the place to do business for both brand-new entrepreneurs and established enterprises. At the foundation of that is building a com munity of workers, tourists, families, and lifestyles in the Mile High City that appeals to everyone. Our goal is to keep a multitude of diverse, innovative businesses and indus tries located and growing in downtown Denver as a hub for the whole region.
What’s the biggest challenge facing downtown Denver right now?
AURARIA PLATTECENTRALVALLEYAURARIA
THREE QUESTIONS FOR...
BROADWAYN
remote-work/return-to-office-related, there is certainly a correlation as well to the rise in crime, drug misuse, and homelessness. We recognize the humanitarian aspect and complexity of an issue like homelessness, but we believe it is vital to enforce existing laws, which can also help direct individu als toward support services. The Den ver Metro Chamber of Commerce also pushed hard dur ing the legislative session to have the Legislature recrimi nalize drug possession, particularly of fen tanyl. The misuse of drugs not only dam ages the lives of the individuals and their families, but it also impairs our workforce, degrades our public spaces, and ultimately slows our economic recovery.
STATIONUNION(LODO)
JJA: Currently, our daily downtown business and leisure visits are below preCOVID peak, and while some of that is
PLATTECENTRALVALLEYCOMMONS
ARAPAHOESQUARE
KG: From a short-term perspective, we are hyper-focused on creating a clean, beautiful, safe, and active downtown. That is impera tive as we move forward from the pandemic. Long term, we have a fantastic foundation in our Downtown Area Plan [created in 2007]. A vision was set in that document for five pillars: that downtown is distinct, green, diverse, walkable, and prosperous.
ON THE MAP Downtown Denver extends well beyond the urban core—encom passing everything from Platte Street to Coors Field to Civic Center Park. The city has further divided itself into micro-’hoods even longtime locals may not have heard of before.
FUTURETHEDOWNDENVER-TOWNOF
Who should we be rebuilding Denver for?
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Kourtny Garrett: Put simply, downtown is for everyone. If you look at the history of our downtowns as the civic commons, where people came together and people came to connect, that is truly what down town Denver represents: a place that is welcoming, offering opportunities for all, whether that’s residents, our workforce, our visitors, our government center. Down towns are complex and robust and serve a variety of purposes.
3.2%
KG: Bringing people back. In a matter of 24 to 48 hours in March 2020, we lost just over 100,000 people from our downtown core. Losing that much activity in that short amount of time is going to reverber ate across many different issues. But what it really all comes down to is bringing people back—bringing life back to downtown Denver. We see some great signs of return. We see the interest. We see the drive. Now we need to turn on that weekday daytime [flow of people] to get us to a moment where we can fully move forward.
5280 Bright Idea
—BARBARA URZUA
In Progress EXPANDING THE TREE CANOPY
Roughly 150 trees line the mall, but DDP’s Andrew Iltis says to expect an extended can opy by 2024. Another 80 trees will be added— all of which are being grown on a Longmont farm—and the new trees will get an additional 1,000 cubic feet of soil each. “More soil means more room for the tree to expand and grow healthy,” Iltis says. “For us [humans], that means more shade.” He hopes the trees will make 16th Street cooler, breezier, and more attractive to anyone seeking an inner-city oasis.
In Progress WIDENING THE SIDEWALKS
The 20-some sur face parking lots and garages located directly off 16th Street are eyesores with little upside. When the city of Houston revamped its similarly outdated downtown in 2004, it replaced a mas sive parking lot with a 12-acre park that lured in pedestrian activ ity. Dubbed Discovery Green, the site features trails, music stages, dog runs, and playgrounds; more than 1.2 million people use it each year, and it has catalyzed nearly $500 million in adjacent development.
The 16th Street Mall is supposed to be a walker’s haven, but it’s historically been lined with skinny stretches of sidewalk and a 14-footwide center median that’s peppered with food stalls and seat ing areas that dissuade walking. The city is removing the median, expanding sidewalks by two feet on each side, and adding an extra nine-foot buffer zone for lighting, benches, and more breathing room. MallRide buses will resume shuttling people down the middle of the street after the median is removed, likely by the end of 2024. Possible Solutions
The 16th Street Mall is the most-visited tourist attraction in Denver—but you couldn’t pay a local to hang out there.
5280 Bright Idea In 2007, an Italian archi tect began work on a prototype he called the Vertical Forest: a pair of residential skyscrapers covered with more than 20,000 trees, plants, and shrubs. The green ery doesn’t just look pretty; it also regulates humidity, generates oxygen, and filters the sun’s rays. With so many buildings going up downtown, maybe one or two could be good candidates for a little, um, sprucing up? In Progress REPLACING THE GRANITE PAVEMENT
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The mall’s original sur face is four decades old and wasn’t built with drainage in mind. The granite tiles pop out of the ground as water pools beneath them and then freezes, creating tripping haz ards for walkers and a bumpy ride for strollers and wheelchairs. The new themmaterialalsotodesigneddateexpectedbeingpavers—currentlyinstalledwithancompletioninmid-2023—aretoallowwaterflowthrough.They’remadewithagrippythatmakesslip-resistant.
PROBLEM
#1
Approximately 40,000 pedestrians walk along what should be Denver’s version of Boulder’s charming Pearl Street Mall each day. How many of those promenaders are locals? Our educated guess is not many. Denverites tend to leave the 17-block thoroughfare—with its tourist-trap souvenir shops and boring chain restaurants (ironically, the only businesses that can afford the sky-high rents)—to visitors who don’t know any better. Yes, the northwestern end of the mall got a face-lift and a much-needed energy infu sion when the revamped Union Station opened eight years ago, but much of the 40-year-old strip is a wasted opportunity. The pandemic only further blighted the 16th Street Mall, with its underused expanse bearing the brunt of the city’s rise in both homelessness and crime. The DDP has talked about revitalizing the mall since well before COVID-19. For the past decade, the non profit has been working on what’s now known as the 16th Street Mall Project, an ambitious, $150 million blueprint to make the area more pedes trian- and family-friendly. Here, five planned efforts to inspire more folks to visit downtown’s central corridor—and five ideas we think could inject vibrancy into the area.
5280 Bright Idea Downtowners often complain about the lack of public toilets. In March 2021, Denver installed a public restroom on the corner of Champa Street, which generated its own complaints and has closed. Denver could look to Tokyo for inspira tion for another attempt: Last year, the city fin ished the Tokyo Toilet Project, which added 17 public area.throughoutrestroomsitsmetroThestallwalls are transparent until the door is locked—and then they turn opaque. The doors help dispel notions that public toilets are dirty and unsafe.
The light fixtures that line the mall are histori cal but outdated—not just in appearance but also in functionality. By late 2024, DDP will upgrade existing lamps and have the ability to dim and brighten them depending on the time of day, which will save electricity. An unex pected perk: The new technology features a color-changing mode. “We can light the streets orange and blue if the Broncos make the Super Bowl,” Iltis says.
In Progress EXISTINGIMPROVINGLIGHTING
Alongside improvements that will make the mall safer and more appeal ing, the city wants to include what it calls “public life elements” that generate “moments of joy” for families. That means picnicking on landscaping and green ery, as well as more entertaining additions: two playgrounds; inter active, light-up benches; and giant abstract fish sculptures that double as seating areas.
Proposed BUILDING AREAS FOR FAMILY FUN
SHORT CIRCUIT
—NICHOLAS HUNT
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5280 Bright Idea Heated sidewalks! Yes, there’s a price tag—Hol land, Michigan, has spent more than $8 mil lion to create the nation’s largest publicly owned snowmelt system—but the setup could actu ally save Denver money over the long term by cutting down on the need for plowing and salting and reducing the cost of repairing damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles.
5280 Bright Idea Fit Denverites could get a free workout if the city installed a streetlight sys tem once proposed by a design management firm in Dallas: Energyme is a system of minutes488energy;translatefixtures.orpublicworkoutthatenergy-poweredkinetic-lightsareattachedtoequipment.Thecanwalk,cycle,rowtolighttheLEDCaloriesburnedintoelectricalspecifically,caloriesfuels90oflight.
Whatever happened to the 5280 Trail? In August 2019, the city debuted its vision for the 5280 Trail, a 5.280-mile loop around downtown that was designed to be more akin to a linear park than a straightforward multiuse path. “[A project like this] is about placemaking and connecting places,” says Ellen Forthofer, urban planning manager for DDP, which led the development of the plan ning document. Officials had hoped to complete the route in five to 10 years, but three years in, that timeline seems dubi ous, even to those involved. Although the trail would add much-needed green space and usable bike paths to the core of the city—and despite the fact that DDP’s Garrett called it a “signature priority”—just 25 percent of the thorough fare is in some stage of early development.
Possible Solution More Appealing Office Spaces
For those who need to be in the city, getting into and out of the core has become more difficult.
Block 162’s success isn’t being replicated uniformly across down town, though. Office vacancies in the Union Station area sit at 15 percent, while those in the Central Business District are between 25 and 33 percent. “It’s a bit of a tale of two cities,” says JLL com mercial real estate broker Janessa Biller. She attributes the disparity to Union Station’s higher concentration of restaurants, gyms, and public transportation, as well as newer builds such as 1601 Wewatta and Union Tower West. Investors seem to think fancy new digs (“Class A” real estate in commercial office speak) in prime locations are an incentive that will ultimately work. According to DDP, investors are currently pouring eight percent of the $2 billion of new construction into office space, a sign that companies with deep pockets have confidence in Denver’s future. Plus, JLL says firms are signing longer leases: The average lease term in the second quarter of 2022 was about 70 months, up from a low of 38 months in the third quarter of 2020—and higher, too, than the average of 60 months in the pre-pandemic second quarter of 2019. —JENNY MCCOY
Until demand for RTD’s full suite of services returns, there’s no fix for commuter inconvenience. But down town could still see a utopian future if another transportation plan comes to fruition. Denver Moves: Downtown, an effort launched by the city and county in 2018 in collaboration with RTD and DDP, outlines a progressive inner city, including 30 miles of new bike lanes, pedestrian-friendly streetscaping, and new loading zones. There’s even men tion of a high-flying gondola between Union Station and Highland. It’s the kind of creative thinking any city of the future needs, but especially one whose destiny is a little fuzzy. When Den verites might see results is a guessing game, though: Each project will need to go through its own planning process and secure its own funding. —NH #2
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PROBLEM
4.5% Denver’s projected GDP growth for 2022 —among the top 12 cities in the country Block 162
PROBLEM #3Roughly one-fifth of downtown offices are vacant. In buildings that are being leased, only 40 to 50 percent of workers are occupying cubicles on any given day.
Possible Solution Patience and Alternate Plans
The COVID-19-induced rise of remote work was a welcome reprieve from commuting, cor porate dress, and banal chitchat for many Denverites. More than two years later, they’re still staying home. The city’s return to in-person work is taking “longer than we thought,” says DDP’s Bob Pertierra. As such, building owners are trying every option in the landlord’s book of tricks to lure businesses back downtown. Incentives such as move-in-ready spaces, free or reduced rent for the first portion of a lease, and increased tenant improvement allowances (funds to help tenants design and spiff up their rental spaces) would have been unheard of pre-2020. Now, they’re commonplace. Block 162, a new, 606,000-square-foot skyscraper between California and Welton streets, was built with a slew of modern amenities. Still, the developer has had to offer additional tenant improvement allowances, lengthier free rent terms in exchange for higher face rents, and longer lease terms as a commit-now, paylater strategy to attract occupants. Some are taking the bait. As of June, seven companies had inked contracts. “[Companies] are using their decisions to sign leases at Block 162 as an incentive to get their employees to take a return to the office more seriously,” says David Haltom of the Patrinely Group, the real estate developer that underwrote the project.
Pre-pandemic, “downtown was the Regional Transportation District’s biggest market in terms of carrying passengers,” says RTD’s Doug Mon roe. Not anymore. Five bus routes and two light rail lines from the suburbs to the urban core that were suspended during the pandemic have been discontinued permanently. Several others are seeing reduced frequency. The organization expects systemwide service to top out at 85 percent of prepandemic levels until at least 2027. As a result, many workers will have to take multiple buses to reach downtown.
WHAT IF THE CITY TRIED…
Pascal Schaary, vice president of business operations
We hate to say it, but the city center simply isn’t a place where locals hang out. Beyond the Union Station area—where you might string together a couple of hours of fun—down town Denver lacks the packed vibrancy and appeal that bars, cafes, retailers, and gathering spaces bring to similarly sized cit ies, like San Francisco and Boston. As it stands, downtown has a few lively pockets— like McGregor and Larimer squares—but there’s not much to entice folks to travel among them. The city needs to encour age new foot-traffic patterns in these inbetween spaces. In 2016, somecalledimplementedBritishVancouver,Columbia,aprojectMoreAweNow( pictured) to transform “lane ways into places of discovery.” It goes beyond the artwork and seating Denver added to the alley that cuts through the Dairy Block. Instead, Vancouver reimagined each tract with a unique identity: One has basketball hoops; another is a perfor mance venue and art installation. Officials in Vancouver estimate the program could add 30 percent more pedestrian space in the downtown core, and some lanes are seeing more than double the traffic. If done in Denver, it could replace sketchy alleyways with invit ing acrossagethatentertainmentmightencourmoremovementdowntown.
— Shai Fortuna, general manager of the Denver office
RETURN OF THE OFFICE DWELLERS
FUTURETHEDOWNDENVER-TOWNOF
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COMPANY: DATADOG Industry: IT Address: 370 17th St. Square Footage Leased: 48,926 Why: “We feel like there’s faster collaboration, training, and learning in the office. There’s also more serendipitous discovery that happens when employees are together in person, because you overhear conversations from another employee, and you have the ability to very quickly turn around to your left or your right and ask specific questions. These are some of the things that we feel help us to grow very quickly as a company.
—DS
If swanky office space can seduce workers, then maybe cooler gathering places could draw revelers back downtown, too? We looked at a bunch of buildings downtown and in RiNo as well. Ultimately, we tried to pick something that is very central to make it attractive for employees to be able to get there.”
COMPANY: MELIO Industr y: Financial tech Address: 1755 Blake St. Square Footage Leased: 36,000 Why: “We’re a company that’s still building our brand and building our culture, and that’s really hard to do fully remotely. We’re very flexible with our employees, and obviously not everyone comes in every day, but we do enjoy spending time with the people we work with and feel it’s important for building knowledge, processes, and culture. This building is very convenient—it’s walking distance to the train and restaurants—and the management has been great. They give us a lot of flexibility: You can bring in dogs and bikes up to the office.”
Chris Pfaff, global head of facilities
MAKING CONNECTIONS
More than 700,000 square feet of office space was leased downtown in the last quarter of 2021—more than double the amount leased in the fourth quarter of 2020, according to real estate company CBRE Group. Here, folks in leadership roles at three companies explain why they recently moved in. —JM
COMPANY: MEDPACE Industry: Pharmaceutical Address: 717 17th St. Square Footage Leased: 46,000 Why: “We’re a clinical research organization, and we hire at all levels of experience, from recent col lege graduates to experienced researchers. With that, we have to do a lot of mentoring and training of our associates, so we value the in-person model. We chose downtown as an opportunity to recruit talent from many areas around Denver versus pick ing a specific suburb. Local management gave us the feedback that there are better opportunities for us to hire and find people with an office in this area, and that has proven to be true.”
Violent Crimes* in the CBD
Crime is bad for any city’s image. Illegal activities can push businesses to close and workers to feel unsafe. Public transportation becomes a nerve-wracking experience, and tourists begin taking their money elsewhere. Denver long had a reputation for being generally safe, but the pandemic seems to have destroyed that, too.
Possible Solutions Swap Meet The Denver Police Department is facing the same staffing shortages that are plaguing departments across the country—a situation that has been blamed for increases in crime nationwide.
PROBLEM
9%
In response, in 2021 the city created the Street Enforcement Team (SET), a first-of-its-kind program designed to free up officers to focus on more serious crimes—such as murder, robbery, and assault—instead of enforcing minor municipal violations, like Denver’s camping ban. Taking their places in those less serious situations are two unarmed, six-person civilian street teams. The initiative has come under fierce criticism from advocacy groups and local politicians, who argue SET is merely a stand-in for law enforcement and isn’t equipped to address complex social issues, such as homelessness and substance misuse. As of June, Denver’s Department of Public Safety reported SET had made more than 2,300 contacts with people experiencing homelessness in Denver—asking them to move on, referring them to services, and, in some cases, getting cops involved. Star Power Yes, there has been a rise in certain types of crime in Denver, but there’s also evidence that expanding the Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) program (pictured) is making Denver safer. Since STAR’s inception in June 2020, mental health clinicians and paramedics have traveled across the city handling low-level issues connected to mental health, poverty, homelessness, and substance misuse that previously would have fallen to armed police officers. In the six months following STAR’s cre ation, STAR-patrolled neighborhoods—including downtown—saw a 34 percent decrease in reports of minor criminal offenses compared with those without a STAR response. Stanford University researchers reported in June that there’s “robust evidence” the city’s program has curbed reports of lessserious crimes while simultaneously saving taxpayer money: STAR lowered
Number of violent offenses from June 1 to June 1 Crime Density** 129 293.85261.96332.57382.69
—ROBERT SANCHEZ
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Source: Denver Police Department crime map, June 2022 *DPD’s definition of violent crime includes murder, robbery, and aggravated assault. **Crime density is the number of crimes committed per square mile.
2017–20182018–20192019–20202020–20212021–2022
In recent months, downtown Denver has been referred to as a “toilet bowl” (by a state representative) and a “hotbed” of criminal activity (by the Denver Post). 232 168 146 115
2017–20182018–20192019–20202020–20212021–2022
Violent Crimes* in the Union Station area 528.47 #4 the average cost for responding to a low-level offense in Denver to $151—less than a fourth of what a traditional police response costs. In Febru ary, Denver City Council awarded the program nearly $1.4 million to expand. Locked Up Since late fall 2021, the city has also invested in a more traditional solution: upping arrests and police enforcement after myr iad reports of illegal activity popped up around Union Station. Between November 2021 and April 2022, Denver police made 828 arrests and issued 390 tickets in the vicinity of the transporta tion hub. Most arrests involved drug possession, trespassing, or outstanding warrants—despite an initial stated goal of focusing primarily on violent crime and drug dealing. The outsize police pres ence may explain why there’s been a jump in reported offenses—DPD data show 1,827 total crimes reported in the area between January 1 and July 1 of this year, compared with 1,260 dur ing the same period last year—but a reduction in actual calls for armed officers, which, per RTD data, have declined significantly, from 2,669 in December 2021 to 1,634 in April of this year. Percentage decrease in restaurant visitation in Denver between 2019 and 2021 (it’s down seven percent nationally and 46 percent in New York City)
Of course, the wave of crime isn’t just happening in Denver: Violent crime statewide jumped between 2019 and 2021, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. But as the largest city in the state, its statistics get the most attention—and rightfully so. As the city has grown—roughly 20 percent since the 2010 census—crime in the Central Business District and Union Station neighborhoods has also steadily increased. Between January and June of this year, Union Station and the CBD ranked first and third, respectively, for the most violent crimes per square mile in the Mile High City.
Number of violent offenses from June 1 to June 1 Crime Density** 192200 176 118133 273.78308.58408.35464.04445.48
Earlier this summer, City Council passed a measure to motivate developers to set aside units in new housing complexes with 10 or more apartments for income-restricted ten ants. The effort was met with criticism by some advocates for people without homes.
—CHRIS WALKER
PROBLEM #5
Key Issue According to the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, first-time homelessness in metro Denver nearly doubled during the pandemic, from 1,273 people who had recently lost housing in 2020 to 2,530 in 2021.
Possible Solution Hotels For Those Without Homes
When the pandemic first swept through the city in March 2020, Denver’s Department of Housing Stability began contracting with local hotels and offered nearly 1,000 rooms so that those expe riencing homelessness—particularly older individuals, those with pre-existing conditions, and people who tested posi tive for the virus—could safely shelter. Since then, the initiative has served more than 4,600 people and has helped approximately 448 households make the transition into permanent housing. Den ver’s City Council deemed the effort so successful that, in June, it allocated an additional $2.4 million to extend Aloft Denver Downtown’s 140-room contract through the end of 2022. Not everyone is happy about the decision: Nearby resi dents have complained about drug use, trash, and catcalling outside the hotel.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 85
Fisher says those issues appear to be mostly tied to other individuals experi encing homelessness in the area, and not the hotel’s temporary residents.
—DS FULL HOUSES Can vacant buildings shelter those without homes? WHAT IF THE CITY TRIED… More than 5,000 people are experiencing homelessness in Denver, a 20 percent increase since January 2020. Homelessness is always a hot-button issue in Denver, where a camping ban was passed a decade ago, housing has grown increasingly unaffordable, and the pandemic worsened an already troubling situation. The conversation is most heated downtown, where most shelters and service providers are located and where the problem is most visible. So, what can the city do? More of what it knows works—like these two efforts to resolve critical quagmires.
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Why? Because the measures only require property owners to rent those spaces to tenants who make up to either 60 or 70 percent of the area’s median income, which is $56,280 and $65,660, respectively, for a two-person household. Even with these above-poverty-level income requirements, the city’s chief housing officer, Britta Fisher, is confident that the program can help address homelessness. She says people will be able to redeem housing vouchers—which can be challenging to use due to a lack of lower-cost apartments in the Mile High City—at these complexes. They’ll also be aided by a proposed five-year city plan to build and preserve 7,000 affordable homes by 2026, including 478 units downtown.
Key Issue COVID-19 is more likely to spread among individuals staying at overnight shelters than in outdoor encampments or in individual rooms.
There are two major issues facing downtown: empty commercial build ings and people who need homes. But what if those problems could become solutions? Adaptive reuse—repurpos ing existing buildings for new uses—is a familiar concept in Denver, courtesy of popular venues such as the Source. It can also be applied to housing. “The opportunity is significant,” says principal city planner Lilly Djaniants. “We could have over 1,000 units in the downtown area that were previously offices.” At least three older buildings—all in need of renovations and less appealing to incoming businesses—have already submitted plans for potential conversion. How much light a building lets in, the presence of elevators and stairs, plumb ing, and even HVAC systems impact a site’s potential for this sort of project. Still, there are local examples: The for mer Art Institute in Civic Center is being converted into 194 market- or belowmarket-rate apartments. Beyond saving landmark spaces and helping those without homes, adaptive reuse is also easier on developers’ wallets. So, really, it could be a win-win-win.
Possible Solution More Affordable Housing
Before joining the DDP, Sarah Wiebenson wasn’t a fan of retail pop-up programs: Although promising in theory, they didn’t provide enough support for tenants to gain a long-term foothold. But Popup Denver, a new DDP initiative, is different, Wiebenson says. DDP’s version is currently providing temporary space along the upper section of the 16th Street Mall—roughly from Curtis Street to Broadway—to five retailers as a way to acti vate unused spaces and entice visitors. The organization thinks it can keep the tenants in busi ness, thanks to funding from the city—$20,000 to each shop to cover startup costs. DDP also connected winners with Tribe Development, which helped them navigate city approval pro cesses and design their spaces. And instead of signing leases, the businesses inked three-month “licensing agreements”; in lieu of rent, they’ll only have to cover expenses, such as utilities. During the initial agree ment window, DDP is collecting data on things like revenue to decipher whether the city sees a net-positive return on its invest ment. Either way, Wiebenson hopes to use available city funds to expand the program across downtown and increase the num ber of retailers. —SPENCER CAMPBELL
—Nathan Stern, co-owner
Possible Solution Intrepid Entrepreneurs
As of December 2021, 33 per cent of the ground-floor spaces along the 16th Street Mall were vacant or temporarily closed.
FUEL & IRON BAR opened: april 1526 Blake St. Why Downtown: “We are huge believ ers in the importance of vibrant down towns. Being in downtown Denver provides our [Pueblothemed] bar with the widest possible audience. We also know that the Pueblo expat community living in Denver is geographically dis persed throughout the metro area, so having a central loca tion makes the bar accessible.... [We’re] really optimistic for the future.”
—ALLYSON REEDY
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86 5280 | SEPTEMBER
—Ian Bentley co-founder/CEO,
PROBLEM #6
PROBLEM #7
PARKER CLAY opened: march 1801 Blake St. Why Downtown: “What attracted us to the Free Market [where we sell our leather goods] is the opportunity to build a community with other like-minded brands that are looking for conscious consumers who want to do more than just spend their dollars—they want to vote for a better world with their pur chases. That location brings that together in a unique way. It feels very much like a hub for the area where people are gathering.”
THE SLATE DENVER opened: may 1250 Welton St. Why Downtown: “The Slate Den ver hotel is owned by CollegeGriffiththeimportantindustries.meetingsandtheoftoforextremelylastin[that’spitalityCompanies,Stonebridgeahoscompanybeen]basedDenverforthe30years,soit’simportantustodoourpartrevitalizethisareadowntown,supportlocaleconomy,helprestarttheandtourismAlso,itwastopreservehistoricEmilyTechnicalcampus.”
TOPO DESIGNS opened: july 1661 Market St. Why Downtown: “The concept and inspiration of Topo Designs has always been based around Colorado. Having physical retail loca tions helps create brand awareness. The Market Station location gives us a perfect mix of aware ness locally for a set of people who fre quent the downtown area, as well as those who are traveling [here] and are look ing for a local brand that has the essence of Colorado.”
Possible Solution Short-Term Shops
—Jedd Rose, co-founder
With foot traffic down an average of 25 percent compared with pre-pandemic days (remember those?) and only 51 percent of workers back downtown at peak hours, the struggle to stay open has been real for area restaurants, hotels, and retail spots.
—Kirby Kiner, general manager
Plucky businesspeople are launching new concepts, and in doing so, they are attracting people back to the city center. We asked four who started operations within the past year why they decided to set up shop downtown—and how it’s going.
The chain-link fences that have encircled much of Civic Center Park since Septem ber 2021 aren’t exactly welcoming, but it’s been a rough few years for the park, which saw a big drop in daily users and $1 million in damage follow ing the Black Lives
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Civic Center Park
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PROBLEM #8 plan, released in February 2022, will further enliven the green space. “The Greek The ater and the Central Promenade are high priority for us,” says Eric Lazzari, execu tive director for the nonprofit Civic Center Conservancy. Expect more live perfor mances at the theater, as well as new trees to generate shade. The Promenade, where Civic Center Eats is held every Thursday in the summer, will also get an upgrade. It will be at least 2025, however, before the first parts of the plan are completed. Open Innovation District Downtown is really a college town, though locals rarely describe it that way. University of Colorado Denver, the Community Col lege of Denver, and Metropolitan State University of Denver have a combined enrollment of more than 30,000 students. To build upon the creative work being done on campus and invite more of the com munity through the institution’s doors, CU Denver is planning an “open innovation district” as part of its 2030 Strategic Plan. “It will be a space where talent and technology align to catalyze new research, commercial ize that research, and transmit impactful solutions,” chancellor Michelle Marks says. The venue—expected to be completed within the next 10 years—will be connected to an engineering and design building that’s slated to open in 2025. The innovation corridor will contain labs and maker spaces that are open to the public and encourage collaboration among students, Denver nonprofits, and tech companies. Ideally, it will also inspire more students to pursue STEAM careers and help flip Denver’s current trend that sees out-ofstate recruiting to fill in-city jobs that require college degrees.
For years, there has been big talk about big ideas to revitalize downtown. When is it actually going to happen?
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Possible Solutions
Large projects that have the potential (we think) to come to life in the next decade.
River Mile The South Platte River, which should be an urban gem, has never been given the opportunity to live up to its potential. As it winds its way around downtown, it calls to Denver’s outdoor-loving community—and then chases it away with E. coli. But there are plans in the works to improve the waterway’s reputation: The River Mile development (pic tured) will re-envision one mile of the South Platte (primarily the site Elitch Gardens currently occupies) into a walkable neighbor hood lined with parks, shops, condos, cultural venues, restaurants, businesses, and even an elementary school. The hitch: It’s going to take about two decades to finish. —DS m
Mike “Quigs” Quigley lived in this miner’s cabin near Breck enridge for 30 years until he was evicted this summer.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 89LivingCountryHighOfCostHighThe BY DEVON O’NEIL /// PHOTOGRAPHY BY THEO STROOMER BRECKENRIDGE HAS THE MOST SHORT-TERM RENTALS OF ANY MUNICIPALITYANDRESIDENTS.INTHESTATE—MORETHAN4,000INATOWNOFJUST5,100PERMANENTWHATDOESTHATIMBALANCEMEANFORTHOSEWHOLIVEWORKINTHISQUINTESSENTIALROCKYMOUNTAINTOWN?
Quigs paused and flashed a gentle smile. We caught up briefly, and I told him I’d learned that he had to leave. “Yeah,” he confirmed—he had to be out by the end of June. Then he said something that was hard to believe: The reason he couldn’t stay was because the land on which his cabin sits—tucked away in a forested gully, a thousand feet above town—had been sold for $15 million.
You could argue no real estate news in Colorado should come as a surprise anymore. Rapid population growth, pandemic-fueled Zoomtowns, and historically low inventory turned the market into one giant silent auction—especially in mountain towns. But as I would learn, it wasn’t just the price that made this deal so significant.
Breckenridge had been wading through an uncertain future as a community, with scant workforce housing, widespread employee shortages, booming economic growth, and a recently imposed, controversial cap on how many short-term rentals (STRs) can exist in Breckenridge, which has more STRs than any other locale in Colorado. I’d sat through marathon public meetings and advocated publicly for ways to keep locals from leaving. But suddenly, the cost was laid Quigs,bare.who is 59, did his best to downplay the significance of his pending move, probably to ease my concern. But when I asked where he was going to live, he looked at the ground and got quiet. He paused, then stammered, “I don’t know.”
BRECKENRIDGE WAS FOUNDED in 1859 as a mining town and didn’t become a tour ist destination until the ski area opened more than a century later, in 1961. “Funny little ugly duckling Breckenridge is fast develop ing into a dramatic swan,” the Rocky Mountain News declared in 1972. “The year-round rec reation area is a model of what a mountain community can be.” Still, no one believed it would become as popular as its lower-elevation cousins Aspen and Vail. “If you sat down with 10 of the older
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90 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022 in Breckenridge, I saw an old friend shuffling toward me. Mike “Quigs” Quigley was towing an empty propane tank on a plastic sled, his long red and gray beard tickling his duct-taped jacket. I’d biked, skied, and shared deep conversations with Quigs during my two decades in town. Recently, I’d heard he was being kicked out of a tiny miner’s cabin located high on the flank of 13,684-foot Bald Mountain, where he’d lived for 30 years. The news alarmed me; I wondered what it meant for Quigs, as well as for Breckenridge.
Mark and Mary Waldman arrived in 2001 from Silicon Valley, where Mark had worked as an economic forecaster and Mary as a sales engineer. They had often visited Breckenridge on Presidents Day weekend and dreamed of living in the mountains. The couple bought a boutique hotel in Frisco in May 2002 and three years later launched Frisco Mountain Rentals with a handful of condos. As they expanded into Breckenridge, they acquired Summit Mountain Rentals and assumed the name. Now, the Waldmans have more than 40 full-time employees and manage more than 250 STRs—with about 200 in Breckenridge—making them one of the largest rental managers in town. “We don’t have kids. Summit Mountain Rentals is our baby,” Mary says. She and Mark, both in their early 50s, are sitting in their office in Frisco. Mark is holding their 11-year-old Chihuahua, Bella, on his lap. “We didn’t ski for three years because we worked so hard,” he says. “That’s what it takes.”
PERHAPS INEVITABLY, AS BRECKENRIDGE became increasingly popular with travelers, parts of the town became commodified. In 1995, David Clouse, a computer programmer who lived in Aurora and was designing United Airlines’ online reservation system, wanted to rent out his two-bedroom condo in Brecken ridge. At the time, there was no established way to do so without hiring a property man ager to market it. Clouse started a website called Vacation Rentals By Owner, or VRBO, and listed his unit at Gold Camp, a complex within walking distance of the ski resort. The next nine or so listings on VRBO were in Breckenridge, too. “I had very simple aspirations,” Clouse says. “At the end of our first year, we had 250 properties, and I didn’t charge anything. Then, I realized that if people were willing to pay for it, there might be something there.”
Clockwise from top left: Quigs at his former home; condos are prime candidates for short-term rentals; the town of Breckenridge circa 1973; Quigs riding his bike on Bald Mountain in July
SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 91 town)white&(blackSpilmanAlden locals and asked, ‘Why were you here in 1980?’ the answer wasn’t, ‘To make money,’ ” says Turk Montepare, a real estate agent who moved to town in 1973. “For years, you’d be in a bar talking to somebody, saying, We’re never going to take off here, because we’re at 9,600 feet. That was a common thread.” Quigs is one of seven children and grew up in Connecticut. His father was a surgeon. In 1985, shortly after graduating from Hobart College with a degree in Asian studies, Quigs sold his car, bought a one-way ticket to Denver, and with $75 in his pocket, hopped on a bus to Summit County, where he’d skied on spring break. He had planned to apply for the foreign service, but the magic of what he discovered in Colorado kept him in Breckenridge. “I was in town for just a matter of weeks, and I felt like I knew everybody and everybody knew me,” he recalls. “All the people were extremely cool, unlike anywhere else.” He worked at restaurants and eventually got into construction. At the time, it was de rigueur to occupy a backcountry cabin, and Quigs found the lifestyle appealing. He lived in small miner’s cabins in French Gulch and later Monte Cristo Gulch, below 14,265-foot Quandary Peak. In 1992, he was living in a cab-over camper when he heard that a fellow construction worker had moved out of a cabin on Illinois Creek, just east of town. Quigs knew the owner, a developer named Brian Stahl, and got permission to move in. When Stahl sold his land six years later, Quigs recalls, “he said, ‘Just stay there until they throw you out.’ ”
Many towns in the West are struggling to manage their STRs, which give owners sched uling flexibility and, often, a higher return than long-term rentals. But most municipalities
His model launched what would become a multibillion-dollar industry and paved the way for brands such as HomeToGo and Airbnb. Breckenridge, meanwhile, became one of the world’s STR epicenters—and a modern-day gold mine for savvy prospectors.
Breckenridge has long relied on STRs to house a majority of its guests, because it doesn’t have large hotels like, for example, Vail. But as online booking platforms streamlined the process and hundreds of new timeshares augmented the supply—and as Vail Resorts, which owns Breck enridge Ski Resort, increased its Epic season pass sales to more than two million—the number of vacation rentals ballooned. Between 2012 and the summer of 2021, when the debate over STRs’ impact began in earnest, STR licenses increased from 2,881 to 3,945. That number was by far the most of any Colorado municipality, in a town of just more than 5,000 residents. The influx of visitors brought ample employment, record revenue, and unprecedented congestion.
It didn’t take long before Quigs came home to find a lease nailed to his door. The new owner, likely wary of Quigs claiming squatter’s rights, required payment of $1 a year. Quigs signed the lease but stopped paying the dollar after a fewHeyears.dealt with the occasional hairy bear paw reaching through his door at dawn and mul tiple generations of pine martens that jumped on his head in the middle of the night. But the creek ran under his deck, and he loved the buf fer from society cabin life afforded. “It becomes part of you,” he says. He packed out his poop, took sponge baths, and embraced the 20-min ute hike home under the stars. “The coldest nights,” he says, “are always the clearest.”
QUIGS’ CABIN SITS ON A PIECE OF LAND known as the Ranch, which originally encompassed 485 acres of assembled mining claims. After building 12 large homes in the mid-’90s, Stahl sold the Ranch—and its remaining 16 homesites, aka Phase 2—for $4.9 million to a former Dell Computers executive named John Kinnaird. Kin naird, who owned a home in the Ranch, listed Phase 2 for $11 million in 2008. The 280-acre parcel spent most of the next 12 years on the market. Despite its development potential, perhaps the most likely suitor was the town of Breckenridge itself. A con troversial half-percent sales tax, which voters approved in 1997, has allowed Breckenridge to purchase 5,073 acres of open space and funded one of the most robust trail networks to be found in a small town in America. Bald Mountain’s backcountry—close to town yet far from infrastructure, with pris tine recreation opportunities—had long been a target for preservation. The town and county acquired nearly a dozen mining claims on Baldy, but the Ranch stood to be their biggest score, with abundant wetlands, wildlife corridors, forest resources, singletrack, and one of the most untrammeled landscapes around. “We were ever hopeful for that property,” says Breckenridge open space and trails manager Anne Lowe. Three years ago, the town entered into serious talks with Kinnaird. “John seemed very sup portive of open space and conservation, especially since that is his backyard,” Lowe says. (Kinnaird declined an interview for this story through his attorney.) Those talks seemed to pay off when the town, with the county contributing 10 percent, signed a contract to buy Phase 2 for $10 million on March 18, 2020—more than double what Breckenridge had ever paid for an acquisition.
Town Councilmembers Jeffrey Bergeron and Dick Carleton, both longtime locals, met with Quigs and told him the town would let him stay for a year. It was, Bergeron told me, enough time to perhaps figure out a way for Quigs to stay in the cabin permanently.
92 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022 have far fewer STRs, and regulate them more tightly, than Breckenridge. Denver, which had 2,419 STR licenses as of early August (up 18 percent from 2021), and Boulder, which has roughly 600, only allow homeowners to rent out primary residences. Leadville, which was so concerned about STRs that its City Council imposed a cap on licenses in 2021, has just 171. Aspen has fewer than a third as many as Breckenridge and recently imposed a moratorium on new licenses. Meanwhile, Breckenridge’s total has grown to 4,370—57 percent of all units in town. The rest of Summit County combined has approximately 6,000 STRs. Despite locals’ gripes about compromised cell service and empty grocery store shelves, the sheer number of visitors wasn’t the only problem. The issue was where they were staying: increasingly, in residential neighborhoods and complexes that had once housed local workers who would rent for six months or longer. The vast majority of STR units are two bedrooms or smaller, like at Gold Camp, where VRBO started. In 2012, only 19 percent of Gold Camp’s 170 units were short-term rentals. Today, 45 percent of them are.
FOR GENERATIONS, DESPITE WHAT the escalating crowds might have suggested, locals fought to preserve Breckenridge’s charm. They beat back an effort to bring in a McDonald’s almost two decades ago
By the time the town re-engaged with Kinnaird in early 2021, he’d increased his price to $15 million. The town’s $10 million offer lost out to a full-price, cash offer. The deal closed that August. In October, Quigs got a call from a lawyer representing the new owners. “She said, ‘You have two weeks to get out of there,’ ” he recalls. “I was like, You gotta be kidding me.”
Quigs received permission to stay the winter, but the symbolism of his pending departure wasn’t lost on anyone in town. “That property really represents where we are right now,” says Breckenridge Mayor Eric Mamula, who met with Kinnaird multiple times. “The desire to build more huge homes that are out of most people’s reach won over the community’s desire to have open space.”
Clockwise from top left: Gold Camp, where David Clouse listed his first unit after starting VRBO in 1995; Suzanne Allen Sabo; visitors relax in ski chairs in town; Breckenridge with the resort’s slopes in the background
The new ownership group is fronted by Suzanne Allen Sabo, a Summit County resi dent since 1992. Allen Sabo owns a prominent architectural firm, Allen-Guerra, and has designed more than 500 local homes, includ ing several in the Ranch. “I have to make a living and keep my firm alive,” she says. “It sounds crazy, but there’s almost no land left in Summit County. This was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. But it’s tough. My family has known Mike [Quigs] for almost 40 years. He’s worked on a lot of our jobs, he’s a great guy, and in order to subdivide the land, he has to vacate the property.”
The pandemic changed everything. Travel ceased, budgets were cut, and the town backed out of the deal. “The optics of us purchasing a piece of property of that size at that cost during a time when we were laying off staff—you just can’t justify that,” says Breckenridge recreation director Scott Reid. Quigs was relieved his stay had been extended. But he knew it was tenuous.
The county, which granted permission for 16 lots on the land, said Quigs could stay, but it would cost the Ranch one of its 16 lots— which are likely to range from five to 28 acres and sell for seven figures. Allen Sabo says she can’t concede a homesite. “It’s not like we’re just raking it in,” she says.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 93 and passed the open space tax despite vehement opposition from business owners who thought it would deter tourists. In 2002, the town released a highly antici pated Vision Plan. Preserving “community character” ranked highest on the list of goals, just above economic viability. “The PEOPLE of Breckenridge are the community’s most valuable asset,” it read. Or as Bergeron—a three-term town councilmember who moved to Breckenridge from Boston’s South Shore in 1975 and goes by the nom de plume Biff America as a columnist: “I consider the locals to be part of the attraction.”
Even so, there have always been casualties. When the town and county bought 1,840 acres in French Gulch from B&B Mines in 2005, turning an environmental wasteland into an open space paradise, B&B had to evict 11 local “gulch rats” from seven cabins before the sale was final. Most went quietly, but an old-timer nicknamed Buckskin Buck rigged his cabin with explosives. The Jefferson County bomb squad was called in to disarm them, and Buckskin Buck pleaded guilty to possession of explosives and was sentenced to two years in prison.
“I don’t think this is a replay of another moment in time. I think we’ve tipped,” says Robin Theobald, a fifth-generation Breckenridge resident and former underground miner who owns 28 commercial and residential units in town. “There has never been a time when people who wanted to live and work in Breckenridge couldn’t afford to live here—until now.”
crazy,sounds“Itbutthere’salmostnolandleftinSummitCounty.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 108
Meanwhile, Breckenridge’s growth accelerated. Net taxable sales in town tripled from 2011 to 2021, jumping from $280 million to $839 million. (Vail’s didn’t even double in the same decade.) Annual short-term lodging revenue soared from $68 million in 2010 to $294 million in 2021. But whereas nearly half the workforce used to live locally, now that number is down to 27 percent. A popular bumper sticker reads: “BRECKENRIDGE: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?”
THE IRONY OF THE HOUSING CRISIS infiltrating Breckenridge, of all places, is as thick as the lift lines during spring break. Few, if any, towns in the West have done more to create homes for workers. When Laurie Best, the town’s manager of housing and childcare programs, started as a special projects planner in 2000, she spent fewer than 10 hours a week on housing— and was the only staffer who worked on it. Now Breckenridge has four full-time employees and one part-timer devoted to housing. The stock of deed-restricted
Reservations accepted.
Breakfast,
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NE W Bánh & Butter Bakery Café $ Aurora / Cafe Thoa Nguyen crafts French pastries inspired by her Vietnamese heritage and Asian fusion flavors at this East Colfax cafe. Go for the crêpe cakes, each made with 25 to 30 layers. Reservations not accepted. 9935 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 720-513-9313. Breakfast, Lunch
BanksSarah
Inside
C, 720-904-8226. Lunch, Dinner Dae Gee $$ Congress Park / Korean Enjoy bold Korean flavors at this Congress Park eatery. Order the spicy pork bulgogi or try the bibimbap. Multiple locations. Reservations not accepted. 827 Colorado Blvd., 720-639-9986. Lunch, Dinner Dio Mio $$ RiNo / Italian You can count on perfect pasta at Alexander Figura, Spencer White, and Lulu Clair’s fast-casual Italian eatery. The house-made sour dough is also heavenly. Reservations accepted. 3264
Lunch,
SEPTEMBER
C Carrera’s Tacos $ Greenwood Village / Mexican Brothers Josh and Ryan Carrera sling killer West Coast–style tacos at this food truck turned brick-and-mortar eatery in the south suburbs. Reservations not accepted. 7939 E. Arapahoe Rd., Greenwood Village, 720-689-8035. Lunch, Dinner Comal Heritage Food Incubator $$ Globeville / International You’ll find an array of family recipes from Latin America and Syria at this restaurant, which has a rotating menu and provides job training to local women. Reservations not accepted. 3455 Ringsby Ct., Ste. 105, 303-292-0770. Lunch Coperta $$$ Uptown Area / Italian Tuck into comforting Italian fare at this restaurant, which celebrates the cuisine of Rome and Southern Italy. Try the pollo alla diavola. Reservations accepted. 400 E. 20th Ave., 720-749-4666. Lunch, Dinner D D Bar $$$ Uptown Area / Contemporary Chefs Keegan Gerhard and Lisa Bailey produce exquisite desserts and modern comfort food at this hip spot. Reservations accepted. 494 E. 19th Ave., 303-861-4710. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch D’Corazon $ Downtown / Mexican Known for its slowsimmered carnitas, here you’ll find Mexican fare at its best and refreshingly affordable $7 margaritas. Reservations not accepted. 1530 Blake St., Ste. Larimer St., 303-562-1965. Dinner Edge Restaurant & Bar $$$$ Downtown / Steak House the Four Seasons Hotel Denver, this eatery contemporary steak house fare. the dry-aged buffalo ribeye. 1111 14th St., 303-389-3343. Lunch, Dinner Edgewater Inn $$ Edgewater / Italian pizzeria 5302 W. 25th Ave., Edgewater, 303-237-3524. Dinner
SYMBOL KEY PRICE KEY $ UNDER $ 10 $$ $ 11 TO $ 15 $$$ $ 16 TO $ 25 $$$$ $ 26 AND HIGHE R(Average Entrée)
A A5 $$$$ Downtown / Steak House The team behind Forget Me Not and Tap and Burger offer a refreshing chophouse experience with a stellar lineup of steaks in a hip, delightfully funky bar and dining room. Reservations accepted. 1600 15th St., 303-623-0534. Dinner Annette $$$ Aurora / American Caroline Glover brings a warm, intimate dining experience to Stanley Marketplace. 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 B
POULTRY PALACE Korean fried chicken lovers, rejoice: BB.Q Chicken—a 27-year-old, Seoul-born chain with more than 3,500 locations worldwide—has landed in Colorado. The fast-casual restaurant recently debuted outposts in Aurora, Capitol Hill, and Lone Tree and plans to open more this year. Go for the crunchy wings tossed in your choice of 11 sauces; we like the tangysweet soy garlic wings and the sauce-free, gently spicy Golden Original ones.
NE W Barchetta $$$ Boulder / Pizza Perfectly blistered Neapolitanstyle pies are the draw at Barchetta. Pair a pizza with a selection from the 14-tap self-pour beer, wine, and cocktail wall on the sunny patio. Reser vations not accepted. 1644 Walnut St., Boulder, 720-749-4751. Lunch, Dinner NE W BB.Q Chicken $$ Aurora / Korean Discover finger-licking goodness at BB.Q Chicken, a Korea-born chain serving juicy wings tossed in your choice of more than 10 sauces. Multiple locations. Reservations not accepted. 2495 S. Havana St., Unit H, Aurora, 720-882-6736. Lunch, Dinner Bellota $$$ RiNo / Mexican Chef Manny Barella cooks elevated regional Mexican fare inside the Source. Reservations accepted. The Source, 3350 Brighton Blvd., 720-542-3721. Lunch, Dinner
Order
DINING GUIDE 94 5280 2022 Want More Dining Options? Visit our 5280.com/listingsonlineatrestaurants. Indicates a restaurant featured in 5280 for the first time (though not necessarily a restaurant that has just opened).
has been family owned and operated for more than 50 years. Reservations accepted.
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• The $29 pass fee is included in your vehicle registration price total unless you choose to decline.
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• The pass is not transferable between vehicles and is linked to your license plate and registration card.
• The pass is only offered to Colorado residents during the Colorado vehicle registration process.
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READ MORE about the Keep Colorado Wild Pass and how it benefits Colorado by visiting cpw.info/keepcoloradowildpass or cpw.info/keepcoloradowildpassspanish COLORADO WILD NURTURE NATURE WITH A PASS AS COLORADANS, WE LIVE LIFE OUTSIDE—AND WITH THAT COMES THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL OF US TO CARE FOR COLORADO AND KEEP IT WILD. © CPW
• A Colorado Parks and Wildlife logo will be printed on your vehicle registration card which gives you access to state parks.
• You can decline or subtract the cost of the pass when you register your vehicle with the Division of Motor Vehicles online, through a kiosk, by mail, or with a customer service representative.
Colorado is home to more than 960 species of wildlife and 22 million acres of public lands, ranging from wetlands to forests, canyon landscapes to mountain lakes. So it is no surprise that Coloradans cherish an outdoor lifestyle and want to support the wild spaces and wildlife they treasure. Every purchase of a Keep Colorado Wild Pass contributes to keeping our landscapes healthy and shows our state’s passion to protect the natural resources that enrich our lives. Money raised will go towards state park maintenance, better support for the volunteers and equipment needs of the Colorado Backcountry Search and Rescue system, avalanche safety programs, wildlife and habitat conservation work and outdoor educational programs for local communities. All of Colorado wins when you stay opted-in to the Pass!
• All regularly priced Colorado state park passes are still available. · by Bridget O'Rourke Kochel JOIN US IN KEEPING COLORADO, COLORADO!
Beginning in 2023, Colorado residents will see a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass added to their annual vehicle registration through the Division of Motor Vehicles. This new annual pass gives all Coloradans easy access to all of our state parks and the added benefit of investing in our great outdoors and wildlife in a meaningful way.
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Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
96 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022 The exhibition has been produced as a joint venture between Lokschuppen Rosenheim, the University of Aberdeen Museums, the Roemer- und -Pelizaeus Museums Hildesheim and MuseumsPartner Austria, and is presented in Denver by Chevron. STEP BACK IN TIME IN EXHIBITIONEXHIBITIONNEWESTOUR EXHIBITION CLOSES SEPT. 5 GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY! DINING GUIDE Try the potato-cheese pierogies with Brussels sprouts. Reservations accepted. 3316 Tejon St., #102, 720-420-0622. Dinner Frasca Food and Wine $$$$ Boulder / Italian Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson and master sommelier Bobby Stuckey’s fine-dining mecca has racked up scores of accolades over the years (including nods from the James Beard Foun dation). Reservations accepted. 1738 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-6966. Dinner G The Greenwich $$$ RiNo / Pizza Restaurateur Delores Tronco brings a slice of her favorite New York City neighbor hood to RiNo at the Greenwich. Don’t miss the satisfying sourdough pizzas and fresh, seasonal salads. Reservations accepted. 3258 Larimer St., 720-868-5006. Dinner Glo Noodle House $$ West Highland / Asian Blackbelly veterans Chris Teigland and Ariana Pope bring Asian fusion fare to West Highland with Glo Noodle House. Don’t miss the shatteringly crisp karaage. Reservations accepted. 4450 W. 38th Ave., Ste. 130, 303-993-4180. Dinner H Highland Tap and Burger $$ Highland / American Pick your patty, bun, and premium toppings to build your perfect, customiz able burger and pair it with a Colorado craft beer. Multiple locations. Reservations not accepted. 2219 W. 32nd Ave., 720-287-4493. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch HiRa Cafe & Patisserie $ Aurora / Ethiopian Hiwot Solomon pairs her fromscratch desserts and Ethiopian breakfast plates with house-roasted, single-origin coffee at this cheery cafe. Reservations not accepted. 10782 E. Iliff Ave., Aurora, 720-949-1703. Breakfast Hop Alley $$$ RiNo / Chinese From Tommy Lee of Uncle, this neighborhood hangout serves dishes rooted in the Chinese tradition with a touch of distinctive flair. Try the dan dan mian and the fiery la zi ji laced with numbing peppercorns. Reservations accepted. 3500 Larimer St., 720-379-8340. Dinner I Il Porcellino Salumi $$ Berkeley / Deli This market and deli strives to provide the highest quality, locally raised cured meats in Colorado. Pick a selection to take with you, or enjoy a fresh salumi platter or sandwich in-house. Reservations not accepted. 4334 W. 41st Ave., 303-477-3206. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner F Farow $$$ Niwot / American At this farm-to-table restaurant, Lisa and Patrick Balcom serve contemporary Amer ican fare with ingredients sourced within 10 miles. Reservations accepted. 7916 Niwot Rd., Niwot, 303-827-3949. Breakfast, Dinner The Fifth String $$$$ LoHi / American The Fifth String brings chef Amos Watts’ seasonally inspired cooking to Tejon Street. El Noa Noa $$ Lincoln Park / Mexican Sample traditional Mexi can food alongside top-notch margaritas at this quaint and colorful local favorite. Reservations not accepted. 722 Santa Fe Dr., 303-623-9968. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Elway’s $$$$ Downtown / Steak House This sleek downtown restaurant serves a bevy of classic steak house fare in upscale environs. Choose from a menu of steaks, seafood, and more. Multiple locations. Reserva tions accepted. 1881 Curtis St., 303-312-3107.
PRESENTS 5280’s foodie event of the year is back! Indulge your taste buds during an evening filled with delicious bites from our city’s best restaurants plus open bars, lounges, photo booths, giveaways and much more. Get your tickets today! THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS OCTOBER 2022 SCAN HERE FOR DETAILS
La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal $$ Ballpark / Mexican James Beard Award finalist Jose Avila serves up comforting pozole and other traditional Mexican fare at this casual eatery. Don’t miss the weekend brunch. Reservations not accepted. 2233 Larimer St., 720-519-1060.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch NE W Lucina Eatery & Bar $$ South Park Hill / Latin American At Lucina Eatery & Bar, enjoy bites and sips inspired by the flavors of Latin and South America, the Caribbean, and Spain in a colorful, plant-bedecked space. Reservations accepted. 2245 Kearney St., #101, 720-814-1053. Dinner M Mango House $$ Aurora / International This immigrant- and refugee-led food hall is home to six outstanding culinary concepts serving bites from around the world: Urban Burma, Jasmine Syrian Food, Golden Sky Sushi, Odaa Ethiopian Restaurant, Rocky Mountain Sudanese Restaurant, and Nepali Mountain Kitchen. 10180 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 303-900-8639. Lunch, Dinner Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar $$$ Downtown / Seafood Enjoy sustainable seafood and a massive raw bar at this popular Union Station spot. Multiple locations. Reservations accepted. 1539 17th St., 303-292-5767. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch K Kahlo’s Restaursnt $$ Westwood / Mexican Enjoy plates of mole and enchiladas verdes in a space decorated with the art of Frida Kahlo. Reservations not accepted. 3735 Morrison Rd., 303-936-0758. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Katsu Ramen $$ Aurora / Japanese Satisfy a ramen craving with one of the traditional styles offered at this cozy spot. Try a combo meal with gyoza and a rice bowl. Reservations not accepted. 1930 S. Havana St., Aurora, 303-751-2222. Lunch, Dinner Kinga’s Lounge $$ City Park West / Polish Pair a chilled beer with authentic Polish dishes (kielbasa, pierogi, and the cabbage stew bigos) at this low-key bar and eatery inside the Mansion on Colfax. Don’t miss the potato pancakes topped with apple sauce and sour cream. Reservations not accepted. 1509 Marion St., 303-830-6922. Lunch, Dinner India’s Restaurant $$$ Hampden / Indian This spot serves traditional fare, including flavorful dishes like tandoori chicken. Be sure to try the cinnamon bread pudding. Reservations not accepted. 8921 E. Hampden Ave., 303-755-4284. Lunch, Dinner
98 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022 DINING GUIDE L
Istanbul Bakery & Cafe $ Washington Virginia Vale / Middle Eastern Friendly owner Ismet Yilmaz prepares authentic Turkish pastries at this charming cafe. Also check out Yilmaz’s food truck, Turkish Chef on Wheels. Reservations not accepted. 850 S. Monaco Pkwy., Ste. #9, 720-536-5455. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner J J’s Noodles Star Thai 2 $ Westwood / Thai This traditional Thai spot has developed a cult following over the years. The tom yum soup, drunken noodles, and pad thai are regu lars’ picks. Reservations not accepted. 945 S. Federal Blvd., 303-922-5495. Lunch, Dinner Jamaican Grille $$ Lincoln Park / Jamaican Savor an array of spiceladen Caribbean dishes like jerk chicken at this family-owned eatery. Also try the Jamaican Mini Grille and International Jerk Market in Lakewood. Reservations not accepted. 709 W. Eighth Ave., 303-623-0013. Lunch, Dinner
100 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022 VISITDELTACOUNTY.COMLETTHELEAFPEEPINGBEGIN! Make plans to visit Delta County and enjoy all of the beauty that Fall brings. DINING GUIDE Station’s ND StreetBar (formerly Next Door Ameri can Eatery). Multiple locations. 1701 Wynkoop St., Ste. 100, 720-460-3730. Lunch, Dinner Noble Riot $$ RiNo / American Find an eclectic mix of charcute rie boards, fried chicken, and other picnic-ready fare at this graffiti-filled, sommelier-operated natu ral wine bar. Reservations accepted. 1336 27th St., 303-993-5330. Dinner O Ocean Prime $$$$ Downtown / Seafood A marriage between land and sea, this supper club offers steak house dining and fresh fish in one. Reservations accepted. 1465 Larimer St., 303-825-3663. Lunch, Dinner Olive & Finch $$ Cherry Creek / American Discover wholesome, inspired meals at this restaurant, bakery, and juice bar, where you’ll find artisan sandwiches and flatbreads, hearty soups, tasty salads, and house-made pastries. Also try the Uptown loca tion. Reservations accepted. 3390 E. First Ave., 303-955-0455. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Osteria Marco $$$ Downtown / Italian This tavern features deep-set booths and approachable eats, such as housemade mozzarella. Reservations accepted. 1453 Larimer St., 303-534-5855. Lunch, Dinner P Panzano $$$ Downtown / Italian Grab a seat at this longstand ing exhibition kitchen and enjoy rustic northern Italian cuisine. Reservations accepted. 909 17th St., 303-296-3525. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch Parisi Italian Market & Deli $$ Berkeley / Italian Enjoy quick, casual dining, includ ing wood oven pizzas, homemade pasta, gelato, and espresso. Reservations not accepted. 4401 Tennyson St., 303-561-0234. Lunch, Dinner Perdida $$$ Washington Park / Mexican Perdida offers cuisine inspired by the Baja coast in an airy space filled with surf-town decor. Pair the shrimp tacos with a house margarita. Reservations accepted. 1066 S. Gaylord St., 303-529-1365. Lunch, Dinner Q Quiero Arepas $$ Platt Park / Latin American Arepas, or Venezuelan corn flatbreads, are on the menu. Try the La Havana, a take on a Cuban sandwich, featuring pork loin, ham, and Muenster with a creamy mayomustard-pickle sauce. Reservations not accepted. 1859 S. Pearl St., 720-432-4205. Lunch, Dinner N 9 Thai $$ Hale / Thai Chef Suppawat Patton serves an array of dishes inspired by his own family’s recipes at this petite eatery off East Colfax. Try the street pad thai served with plump shrimp. 4122 E. Colfax Ave., 303-993-6342. Lunch, Dinner ND StreetBar $$ Downtown / Contemporary Global street food complements delicious craft beverages at Union Mercantile Dining & Provision $$$ Downtown / New American Chef Alex Seidel offers farm-to-table fare, including pasta dishes and family-style plates. Mercantile also features a marketplace of locally sourced foodstuffs. Reserva tions accepted. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., Ste. 155, 720-460-3733. Lunch, Dinner Mister Oso $$$ RiNo / Latin American This casual Señor Bear spinoff offers a Latin-inspired menu featuring tacos, ceviches, and salads from chef-owner Blake Edmunds. Reservations accepted. 3163 Larimer St., 720-677-6454. Dinner
49th annual MILE HIGH UNITED WAY TURKEY TROT Register NOW! Scan to register or unitedwaydenver.org/turkey-trotvisit THANKSGIVING DAY, NOVEMEBER 24, 2022 Use code 5280TROT for $5 off By running the Mile High United Way Turkey Trot, you are supporting families and working to build a stronger community. This year, Mile High United Way is celebrating its 135th anniversary as the first United Way in the world. Join us and be a part of history! Can't participate in the Turkey Trot, but still want to support bit.ly/support-basic-needs and help families meet their basic needs this season.
Tocabe $ Berkeley / American Sample Indigenous fare like fry bread tacos loaded with bison, beans, lettuce, cheese, and salsas. Also try the Greenwood Village location. Reservations not accepted. 3536 W. 44th Ave., 720-524-8282. Lunch, Dinner Tofu House $$ Aurora / Korean This neighborhood spot special izes in soups and stews, but also offers a variety of other Korean fare. Try the soft tofu soup (sundubu jjigae). Reservations accepted. 2353 S. Havana St., Aurora, Unit D1, 303-751-2840. Lunch, Dinner U Uchi Denver $$$$ RiNo / Japanese James Beard Award–winning chef Tyson Cole combines unexpected flavors for his unique take on Japanese food at this restau rant with its own garden. Try the foie gras nigiri. Reservations accepted. 2500 Lawrence St., 303-444-1922. Dinner Uno Mas Taqueria y Cantina $ Platt Park / Mexican This taqueria bolsters classic street tacos with contemporary ingredients. The key: smoked whole, locally raised animals, includ ing duck and pork. Try them with one of the many tequilas. Reservations accepted. 1585 S. Pearl St., 303-777-2866. Lunch, Dinner Silvia at Lost City $ Globeville / Mexican Silvia Hernandez—a Comal Heritage Food Incubator graduate—dishes up some of the best burrito bowls in town at her first brick-and-mortar restaurant. Reservations not accepted. 3459 Ringsby Ct. Lunch, Dinner Street Feud $ Hale / International Chef-owner Merlin Vernier’s hip-hop-powered, fast-casual eatery serves up an array of globally inspired street food, including tacos, bowls, wraps, fries, and bao buns. Reserva tions not accepted. 5410 E. Colfax Ave., 303-388-3383. Lunch, Dinner Sushi Den $$$ Platt Park / Japanese Sushi Den offers fresh, vibrant seafood flown in twice a week from Japan within a hip, lively scene. Sit at the bar and watch the sushi chefs work their artistry. Reservations accepted. 1487 S. Pearl St., 303-777-0826. Lunch, Dinner T Tavernetta $$$$ Downtown / Italian The team behind Boulder’s Frasca Food and Wine offers the same attention to detail and hospitality at this more casual Denver restaurant. Go for dishes from across Italy and the deep wine list. Reservations accepted. 1889 16th St., 720-605-1889. Lunch, Dinner R Rewild $$$ West Highland / American Enjoy veggie-forward small plates and locally sourced mains at Nurture’s eveningtime restaurant. Reservations accepted. 2949 Federal Blvd., 303-390-1252. Dinner Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant $$ Downtown / Mexican Fresh, natural ingredients and unique flavors characterize this Mexican eatery. Multiple locations. Reservations accepted.
Lunch, Dinner S NE W Sapore Prime Italian $$$ Littleton / Italian Chef Brent Turnipseede, formerly of American Elm, helms this Italian steak house in the suburbs. Look for locally sourced meats and house-crafted pastas. Reservations accepted. N. Rampart Range Rd., Unit B101, Littleton, 303-862-6668.
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1525 Blake St., 303-623-5432. Lunch, Dinner Room for Milly $$ Downtown / Mexican Refined small plates and killer cocktails complement a jazz-age ambience at Room for Milly. Reservations accepted. 1525 Blake St., 303-623-5432.
102 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022 DINING GUIDE
AS PREMIEREDENVER'SHOME + DESIGN CELEBRATINGMAGAZINE Home FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 76 Smart Ideas For Beautiful, Functional Living Spaces This Year THE RENOVATION ISSUE PLUS HOW TO REDUCE YOUR HOME'S IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT A DIY cleverdevoteedesignhacks MAKE A Change SUBSCRIBE TO 5280 HOME TODAY
Woodie Fisher Kitchen & Bar $$$ Downtown / American Executive chef Franco Ruiz churns out highly seasonal flatbreads, salads, and more. Try the Alamosa striped bass with romesco sauce. Reservations accepted. 1999 Chestnut Pl., St. 100, 720-643-1909. Dinner
The Wolf’s Tailor $$$$ Sunnyside / Contemporary Chef Kelly Whitaker combines Asian and Italian techniques at this hip Sunnyside eatery. Reservations accepted. 4058 Tejon St., 720-456-6507. Dinner
DINING GUIDE Urban Farmer $$$ Downtown / Seasonal This steak house features whole-animal butchery and an excellent charcute rie program. Reservations accepted. The Oxford Hotel, 1659 Wazee St., 303-262-6070. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch Urban Village Grill $$$ Lone Tree / Indian This cozy restaurant serves classic and contemporary dishes from regions across India. Don’t miss the Not Your Grandma’s Butter Chicken. Reservations accepted. 8505 Park Meadows Center Dr., #2184A, Lone Tree, 720-536-8565. Lunch, Dinner V Vegan Thai Co. $$ Longmont / Thai Explore Thailand with completely vegan dishes, including wok-fried noodles and delicious Thai curry dishes. Reservations accepted. 510 Third Ave., Longmont, 720-500-6920. Lunch, Dinner Vine Street Pub & Brewery $$ City Park West / Pub This pub has two patios, 21 beers on tap, and an affordable menu of burgers, burritos, and veggie specialties like the Reuben (beer-baked tempeh stands in for corned beef). Reservations accepted. 1700 Vine St., 303-3882337. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch Voghera Ristorante & Apericena $$$ Berkeley / Italian Enjoy Italian-style tapas such as beef tartare, burrata, and pancetta-wrapped scallops at this rustic-chic Berkeley outpost. Reservations accepted. 3963 Tennyson St., 303-455-9111. Dinner, Brunch W Water Grill $$$$ Downtown / Seafood Fresh fish, crustaceans, and raw bar offerings are flown in daily to this chic restaurant owned by California-based distributor King’s Seafood Company. Reservations accepted. 1691 Market St., 303-727-5711. Dinner WingWok $$ Centennial / Korean This takeout- and deliveryonly spot serves Korean fried chicken wings, sandwiches, kimchi fries, and more. Reservations not accepted. 7530 S. University Blvd., Centennial, 303-221-9433. Lunch, Dinner
TRANSFORMING THE WAY WOMEN CONNECT BUSINESS LIFE & COMMUNITY. 9+CO CAMPUS OPEN NOW -FLEX -MEMBERSHIPOFFICE WORKSPACE -LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS -BUSINESS EDUCATION TARRA.CO | @_TARRACO 11:50 ¿Quién Are We? is a podcast from Colorado Public Radio exploring what it means to be Latino, Hispanic or Chicana ... or however you identify. wherever you get your quienarewe.orgpodcasts!
12th annual Blue Shoe Run for Prostate Cancer. Timed 5k perfect for serious runners, and people who want to run, walk, or sit and raise money. Huge party with beer garden, music, food, silent auction and family fun!
Colorado Fall Home Show Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO The Colorado Fall Home Show, Sept. 24-25, 2022 transforms the Colorado Convention Center into a marketplace of home improvement ideas, trends and products. More than 200 vendors and experts offering tips, advice and inspiration for home design, remodeling, refreshing and renewing. Information and tickets ColoradoGardenFoundation.orgat.
Information
Information and tickets tickets.coloradosymphony.orgat.
Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel | 5:30 p.m.
The Clyfford Still Museum asked art lovers from the Denver area and beyond to vote for their favorite artworks online. The pieces that received the most votes will appear in five of the Museum’s galleries during the exhibition. Information and tickets clyffordstillmuseum.org/youselectat.
Denver Food + Wine Festival Grand Tasting
Information and tickets at TheBlueShoeRun.com.
SEP10 SEP22 SEP24
The DSF Homecoming Gala will honor the accomplishments of Denver high school students, DSF Scholars, and Alumni! Proceeds from the event will make it possible for thousands of DPS graduates to complete a college degree. and tickets denverscholarship.org/galaat.
Denver HomecomingFoundationScholarshipGala2022
PROMOTIONS | EVENTS | SPONSORSHIPS SCENE
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Celebrate your love for musical theater in this soaring Tribute to Stephen Sondheim with the Colorado Symphony! From the mind of MaryMitchell Campbell, the Broadway Music Director behind Mean Girls, Sweeney Todd, and more, this program features Sondheim’s greatest works.
Tribute to Stephen Sondheim with the Colorado Symphony Boettcher Concert Hall | 7:30 p.m.
5280 MAGAZINE PROMOTION @5280SCENE | 5280SCENE.COM
2777 Mile High Stadium Circle | 8:30 a.m.
Tivoli Quad, 1000 Larimer St., Denver 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. The Denver Food + Wine Festival Grand Tasting showcases the creativity of 50-plus top metro Denver restaurants and more than 700 beverage options, with proceeds benefitting the Colorado Restaurant Foundation’s mission of supporting local restaurant workers. Information and tickets denverfoodandwine.comat. 24-25SEP AUGFEB-
Clyfford Still Museum | open Aug. 19 - Feb. 12, 2023 Wed. - Sun., 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
SEP10
Blue Shoe Run
106 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022 LOVE LOVE LOVE LET INSPIREUSYOU.
Y Yabby Hut $$ Lakewood / Cajun Transport yourself to the bayou at this seafood joint where you can indulge in Cajun crawfish, king crab legs, blue crab, shrimp, and clams—and then leave your mess behind on the throw-away tablecloths. Reservations not accepted. 3355 S. Yarrow St., Lakewood 303-985-0231. Lunch, Dinner Yak and Yeti $$ Westminster / Indian Sample authentic Indian, Nepalese, and Tibetan plates like tonguetingling chicken chile momos and comforting mulligatawny soup in a casual, neighborhood environment. Multiple locations. Reservations accepted. 9000 Yukon St., Westminster, 303-426-1976. Lunch, Dinner Yum Yum Spice $$ University / Chinese Stop in for Sichuan-style, dry hotpot customized to your preferences. You choose the size, proteins, and spice level, and the seasoned chefs provide the rest. Reservations not accepted. 2039 S. University Blvd., 720-5429921. Lunch, Dinner YumCha $$ Downtown / Asian From restaurateur Lon Symensma of ChoLon and Bistro LeRoux comes a dim sum house and noodle bar serving staples like Work & Class $$$ RiNo / American This meat-and-three concept from Dana Rodriguez offers a hybrid of American and Latin cuisine in raucous, repurposed-shippingcontainer digs. Reservations accepted. 2500 Larimer St., 303-292-0700. Dinner Wynkoop Brewing Company $$ Downtown / Pub Enjoy freshly brewed beer and feast on pub favorites such as the hanger steak or the corn and poblano chowder at one of Denver’s original brewpubs. Reservations accepted. 1634 18th St., 303-297-2700.
DINING
Lunch, Dinner X Xatrucho $$ Greenwood Village / Latin American Chef Edwin Sandoval serves up dishes inspired by his Hondu ran heritage at this food stall inside Grange Hall. Try the pastelitos, which are naturally gluten-free, served with housemade salsas. Grange Hall, 6575 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch Xicamiti La Taquería $$ Golden / Mexican Munch on cooked-to-order burritos, tacos, and quesadillas made with recipes inspired by Walter Meza’s childhood in Mexico. Reservations not accepted. 715 Washington Ave., Golden, 303-215-3436. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lunch, Dinner Z Zocalito Latin Bistro $$$ Downtown / Latin American Chef/owner Michael Beary’s upscale Oaxacan eatery found a home in the heart of Denver. Try the pork tenderloin with red mole sauce. Reservations accepted. 999 18th St., Ste. 107, 970-920-1991. Lunch, Dinner Zomo $$ Englewood / Asian Alysia Davey and Ryan Anderson serve family recipes inspired by their Vietnamese and Chinese roots at this homey eatery. Reservations accepted. 3457 S. Broadway, Engle wood, 720-739-8882. Lunch, Dinner Zorba’s $$ Congress Park / Greek Enjoy American and Greek fare at this longstanding neighborhood favorite. Reservations not accepted. 2626 E. 12th Ave., 303-321-0091. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 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.
FOLLOW @5280HOME GUIDE xiao long bao and steamed pork dumplings. Reser vations accepted. 1520 16th St., 720-638-8179.
OCT8-9
Blue Hope Bash Denver
RUN THE SIGNATURE BOULDER MARATHON! Epic finish and AfterParty Downtown. Named one of the best new marathons in the country. Experience the only course to combine scenic views of the foothills and the first-ever finish line on the bricks of the Pearl Street Mall. “Spectacular” - Denver Post. New in 2022: 5k, 10k, and Kids Run! Information and tickets at boulderthon.org.
The Mile High Country Q & Brew Benefiting Kids & Families Mile High Station | 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Hosted by Tennyson Center for Children, this country music experience will bring Coloradans together to help kids and families thrive. Enjoy a performance by rising artist Adam Doleac paired with BBQ, libations, mechanical bull rides, auctions, and more. All proceeds support kids impacted by trauma. Information and tickets at qandbrew22.givesmart.com.
The Seawell Ballroom at the DCPA | 5:30 p.m. Screen, Care, and Cure are the three pillars guiding the Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s work and are instrumental to ending colorectal cancer in our lifetime. Join the Alliance at the Denver Bash and help Change the Odds. Guests will enjoy cocktails, dinner, music, auctions and exciting games of chance. Information and tickets at ccalliance.org/bhbdenver.
OCT7
OCT1
Boulderthon Boulder, CO | Various Start Times
SEP30
Butterfly Ball Colorado 2022 1STBANK Center | 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Join us at Butterfly Pavilion’s annual gala supporting global invertebrate conservation. Take a magical stroll through our Monarch Menargerie full of live monarch butterflies and enjoy a cocktail reception, silent auction, seated dinner, live auction, and dancing! Information and tickets at ButterflyBallColorado.org.
5280 MAGAZINE PROMOTION PROMOTIONS | EVENTS | SPONSORSHIPS SCENE @ 5280SCENE | 5280SCENE.COM
“It’s not a meritocracy up here,” Bogar dus says. “It’s not how hard you work.” He
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PHOTOGRAPHY STROOMER BRECKENRIDGE MORESHORT-TERMRENTALSTHAN MUNICIPALITY IN STATE—OVER4,000 TOWN JUST5,100PERMANENT RESIDENTS.WHAT IMBALANCE THOSE ANDWORK QUINTESSENTIALROCKYMOUNTAINTOWN?
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108 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022 THE HIGH COST OF HIGH COUNTRY LIVING
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 93 properties (which require occupants to work locally and can carry an appreciation cap) has increased from 100 to 1,200, accommodat ing more than 2,100 people. Still, the most recent needs assessment indicates that by 2023 there will be a short age of 1,200 units in the Upper Blue Basin, a region defined by Dillon Reservoir to the north, Hoosier Pass to the south, the Con tinental Divide to the east, and the Tenmile Range to the west. “Housing is emotional,” Best says. “It’s as deep in what a person cares about as you can get. The stories you hear are endless. People who are losing their rentals and have no options. Literally not knowing where they are going to sleep tonight. Or, say you do get a house but are paying too much. I think the stress around housing is why so many locals are opting to leave. Life is short, and sometimes you have to decide which battles to fight.”
The demarcation between who lasts and who doesn’t often can be traced to one’s arrival date and which subsidies, if any, a person received. After moving to town in 2001, Jeff Carlson lived in a tent or with as many as five roommates while working in ski shops. Eventually, he took a property caretaker’s job that helped him save a little money. In 2018, he and his wife, a dieti cian, spent “every dollar” they had to buy a friend’s 1973 modular home. They sold a deed restriction to the county and used the proceeds to renovate their kitchen and replace the roof while starting a family. “I feel we have a house because I stuck around and was involved, which creates a support system of people who want you to succeed and stay,” says Carlson, who is 42, while looking out at French Creek from his back door. “We talk about it every week. We’ve got something that’s really special—and essentially unattainable now.”
No one needs to convince Dan Bogardus of that. For 34 years, Bogardus worked as a snowboard instructor and ski shop man ager, most recently at Mountain Outfitters in Breckenridge. In June 2021, the owners of the Frisco home he and his wife had rented for eight years put it on the market. Bogar dus, 51, started looking for a home to buy, but he found that he and his wife earned too much to qualify for many deed-restricted homes and were priced out of everything else. “It put us in this weird no man’s land,” he says. He had friends who were quitting their jobs, not listing their employment, or putting off marriage to help meet the requirements for deed-restricted housing. In the fall of 2021, after failing to land multiple homes they’d attempted to buy, Bog ardus and his wife decided to leave Summit County. Then they saw a new listing in Frisco: a deed-restricted, three-bedroom house for $500,000. The seller told Bogardus’ wife that they were her first choice. Then, she stopped responding to their texts. Only after the sale did they find out she’d accepted a cash offer at the last minute. The town of Frisco bought Bogardus’ for mer rental for $1.35 million. According to a Frisco spokesperson, the plan is to combine it with an adjacent lot and add density by building more workforce housing—poten tially something like a fourplex.
Opponents pushed back harder, leading to a climactic meeting on September 28. After five hours of heated public comment, councilmembers had a chance to explain their votes. Jeffrey Bergeron, who had been fighting growth for 40 years, often unsuc cessfully, ticked off reasons why it had come to this and blasted a proposal for higherdensity complexes far from the town’s core. “I do not want to live in a community that has a four-story building out on Airport Road, where we house people like refugees,” he said. “If you don’t think this town is in a position that we can’t sustain, then you’re either not paying attention or you’re thinking of your pocketbooks instead of the goodness of our community.”
A real estate agent sitting in the back of the room shouted, “You’re taking away our“Ah,livelihood!”eatme,” Bergeron replied. He later apologized for the comment— and took plenty of flak in the newspaper’s letters section. Meanwhile, a rush on STR licenses before the ordinance took effect in November bumped the town’s total to 4,436 (some owners chose not to renew for 2022). Citing higher enforcement and administrative costs, the town increased the BALANCE. THAT’S THE WORD everyone uses when they talk about Breckenridge’s status quo: the need to find harmony again. Locals moving away or being displaced, oldtimers cashing out, wealthy retirees leaving because their neighborhoods are teeming with short-term rentals—none of those alone is enough to change a town. But crucial nonprofits are suddenly hav ing a harder time fundraising, vacationers can’t always get dinner reservations, and
THE HIGH COST OF HIGH COUNTRY LIVING and his wife bought a pickup with a camper and stuffed it full of paddleboards, bikes, and backpacking gear. At the end of May, they hit the road in search of a place to call home. Last winter, Bogardus sometimes looked up at the Tenmile Range and broke into tears. “Because I knew, I can’t have this any more,” he says, then pauses. “We’re going to land somewhere near the stuff we like to do, but Summit’s a special place. I don’t blame anybody for wanting a piece of it.”
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under-the-table deals have started perme ating the workforce-housing market. “I’ve heard of couches selling for $5,000,” says Town Councilmember Todd Rankin, a longtime real estate agent. “Like, Hey, you can buy my deed-restricted house at this price, but you have to buy my bachelor couch that I wouldn’t let my mom sit on, too. Otherwise, I’ll find someone who will.” With no way to control the number of day visitors, the question became whether to regulate how many guests could stay overnight. Breckenridge Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Owens, a 41-year-old who grew up in Denver and lives in a deed-restricted home, proposed capping the number of short-term rentals at the August 10, 2021, Town Council meeting. This prompted a series of contentious dis cussions. Property managers and real estate agents lambasted a potential cap, encouraging second homeowners to fly in and speak up. Other locals, myself included, supported a cap as a way to address congestion, preserve neighborhoods, and increase workforce hous ing. The Town Council voted unanimously to impose a cap in late August 2021, limiting the STR total to 3,700—after attrition—and declaring that licenses would no longer trans fer if a property sold. “The large number of [STRs] pose a real and imminent threat to the quality of life of the residents of the Town,” the ordinance read.
Quigs doesn’t dispute the need for eco nomic vitality. He gets much of his work from Summit Mountain Rentals and has for more than a decade. He agrees with the cap, begrudgingly. “I hate to see top-down regulation, but we’re at a point where it’s just not working,” he says, acknowledging his personal paradox. “Doing construction, it doesn’t matter if I work for a manage ment company or I’m trimming out a $6 million home. It’s the same thing. And I’ve been doing that for basically the whole time I’ve been here. We’ve all been building it up. There has to be an economy.”
ALL ALONG, THE consternation raised a question: What would happen if Brecken ridge’s STR cap were put to a popular vote? That effectively happened this past April, when 10 candidates—including four real estate agents—ran for three Town Council seats. The trio who supported the cap won by a wide margin. They include Rankin, 50, who paid his mountain town dues by bartend ing, waiting tables, and tuning skis before entering real estate. Now, his firm has 19 employees, and he owns and manages 10 long-term rentals.
“My big-picture lens on this place starts with the people,” Rankin says. “It’s very simple: You invest in the locals and give them enough to have balanced lives, and the rest will take care of itself.” Rankin understands the free-market argument but believes it’s shortsighted, pointing to Aspen and Telluride as places where prices left the local population adrift. “In my opinion, we have to step in and make sure we have a community here,” he says.
Breckenridge, whose affordable housing funds come primarily from a .725-percent sales tax, is projected to raise $50 million in the next five years to increase its number of deed-restricted units by 974. Suzanne Allen Sabo donated 32 acres of open space to Summit County, protecting trails that run through the Ranch—and helping to ensure the county approved her project. Each new home will generate $2 per square foot that will go toward affordable housing in Summit.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | 5280 111 THE HIGH COST OF HIGH COUNTRY LIVING annual license fee from $25 per unit to, in 2023, $756 per bedroom—which is expected to generate $4 million a year for workforce housing. Many property managers contend that the cap and increased fee are punish ments. “I think regulating short-term rentals has been an easy target to distract from the lack of investment that the town should have been making all along,” Summit Mountain Rentals’ Mark Waldman says. Some argued Breckenridge’s property values would plummet because buyers wouldn’t be able to get STR licenses—and thus might not be able to pay their mort gages. Only four times since 1989 have Summit County’s residential units depre ciated in value. The other 30 years they’ve gone up, including the highest appreciation on record, when values grew by 24 percent in 2021.“Let’s say the regulations do hurt the value,” says Dana Cottrell, Summit Associa tion of Realtors’ 2021 Realtor of the Year, who moved to town in ’93 with just enough money for two nights at an RV park. “Our whole world would implode if prices really come down enough for somebody with basic local wages to afford a property here. And that would be catastrophic for all of our businesses. It would mean the tourists aren’t coming and people aren’t finding value in what Summit has to offer.” She adds, “If you believe growth is not a good thing, then this might not be the community for you anymore.”
Livability isn’t just a discussion point in Breckenridge; it remains a fluid topic state wide. This past March, Governor Jared Polis signed a bill that said county lodging taxes no longer must be used for tourism advertis ing; now the funds can go toward anything from workforce housing to childcare. (Sum mit County doesn’t have a lodging tax, but the bill’s proponents argue it gives county leaders fresh cause to propose one.) And the Colorado real estate market was starting to soften against rising interest rates.
THE HIGH COST OF HIGH COUNTRY LIVING
Short-term rentals remained hot, however: In January and February 2022, Breckenridge’s lodging revenue was up almost 50 percent from the year before. It’s still impossible to predict what the cap will do in the long term, but Mayor Eric Mam ula, who moved to town 36 years ago and whose father was mayor before him, believes the measuring stick is simple. If longtime locals still want to live in Breckenridge a decade from now, then the cap—and every thing else the town is doing to preserve its character—will have been successful. Mamula doesn’t know Quigs well but sees him in town almost every day, a sight he calls “anchoring.” Retaining colorful locals who reflect the community’s tenets is, for many, essential to its survival. “I don’t know how you quantify the cost of losing folks who have been here for a lifetime, but it has an impact,” Rankin says. “Yeah, some are going to naturally age out, but that’s part of the investment in the future. How do you make sure you’re able to have enough people here who can continue telling their stories and still be connected to that first genera tion of ski bums? I want to make sure we put up a good fight to keep the characters here. That’s really what it’s about.”
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ONE WARM, OVERCAST afternoon in late June, I visited Quigs at his cabin. He was packing his belongings. Books sat in piles on his shelves. Sunlight trickled in through three small windows wedged in the log-andplywood frame. The couch that doubled as his bed was stacked high with blankets. His front wall was buckled. Reality still hadn’t set in. “It will,” he says. You could argue Quigs should have plugged into the housing stock years ago, if for nothing more than security. But as Bergeron says, “He chose to live that life, and I respect it. I think the town is better served by people who don’t want to make a lot of money, but want to get by, and by getting by, they service the people who come here.” Quigs doesn’t blame anyone for his life turn, even if he laments the direction in which Breckenridge has gone. “Anger’s kind of useless,” he says. “I’m sad. And scared. What am I going to do? I’ve lived in that cabin for almost half my life. Walking home at night, getting up in the morning, it’s like, How many more of these do I have?” He talked about winterizing a shed he owns on a small piece of land near Alma. It’s on the other side of the Continental Divide, 30 to 45 minutes away depending on weather and traffic. “That’s a long com mute,” he says. “I think I’ll be spending a lot of nights in the truck”—meaning, in Breckenridge.Quigshasmade first descents on Mex ican volcanoes, traveled around Asia, and extensively explored Moab on his bike. “People talk, ‘Oh, I’m gonna leave,’ ” he says. “You’ll never find anywhere as good as this place.” m Devon O’Neil is a freelance writer based in Summit County. Email feedback to letters@5280.com.
112 5280 | SEPTEMBER 2022
Featuring COLORADO HOMES
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ColdwellBankerHomes.com DENVER | $2,250,000 Golf Course Living. 2br/2ba ranch home backing to Wellshire Golf Course. Open floor plan has a kitchen boasting high end appliances & granite countertops. Retractable doors guide you from the bonus room to the backyard patio. Custom stone gas fireplace welcomes you into the den. Oversized primary bedroom boasts a fireplace, coved lit ceiling, custom closet, en-suite bath & patio access. Lea Rogers lea.rogers@cbrealty.com303.523.4716 DENVER | Price Upon Request Sloan's Lake: 3br/4ba home w/a thoughtfully laid-out floor plan and 3 stories. Main level flows into the dining and living area. Gourmet kitchen w/a beautiful large island. Double-style doors lead outside to a covered patio. Upstairs has a primary bedroom w/walk-in closet and an en suite bath, 2 more bedrooms, another bath and laundry closet. Conclude w/a rooftop patio with the best views! Jessica Gissa jessica.gissa@gmail.com | GissaSellsColorado.com720.310.5952 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
guiding you home since 1906 ColdwellBankerHomes.com Elegant keystone 4br/4ba home on a private oasis close to Mt. Sanitas. Featuring a stunning chef's gourmet kitchen, dining room, double sided fireplace & living room. 2 primary en-suite bedrooms. Perfect location on an estate sized lot in Boulder! Michael McCrea MichaelMcCrea@gmail.com | MichaelMcCrea.com720.470.3585 GOLDEN | Price Upon Request Tastefully renovated 4br/4ba home located on a cul-de-sac. Featuring a vaulted living room w/fireplace, formal dining room & kitchen w/island, double ovens & eating space. Spacious lower-level family room w/wet bar, fridge, wine rack & deck access. Ann Donley anndonley1@gmail.com | TheDonleyGroup.com303.903.2046 LONE TREE | $1,099,000 3br/2ba home w/a casted concrete fireplace mantle. Kitchen w/high-end stainless appliances, a gas cooktop, double ovens and a large center island. Outdoor living w/a covered patio, custom concrete patio and stone fireplace. Backs to open space. Marcus Harris marcus.harris@cbrealty.com | HarrisTeamRealEstate.com720.217.8904 BOULDER | $3,490,000 DENVER | $1,500,000 Modern 3br/4ba home w/2-car detached garage plus office in the heart of the Sunny Side neighborhood boasts panoramic mountain & city views! Light & bright open floor plan features a 3rd-story penthouse deck w/dry bar, luxurious amenities & more. Phoenix Rain phoenix.rain@cbrealty.com | 5280RealEstate.com303.884.9489 PARKER | $1,150,000 3br/2.5ba home on a 13,000 sqft lot w/open floor plan. Family room w/a fireplace. Kitchen w/Alderwood cabinetry, granite counters, SS appliances, double oven and an island. Formal living area steps onto an oversized patio. Complete w/landscaped yard! Colleen Teitelbaum teitelbaumcolleen@gmail.com | CocoTeitel.com303.668.8186 GOLDEN | $928,000 5br/3ba, open concept, natural light, dining area w/wood-burning fireplace, SS, granite countertops, lower level features a game room w/pool table & work out room, laundry w/storage, the backyard offers covered patio, raised garden beds & shed. Theresa S. Lane 4tslane@gmail.com | tlanerealtor.com720.938.2390 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
ColdwellBankerHomes.com ENGLEWOOD | $900,000 4br/2.5ba home in the highly sought-after Cherry Creek Vista neighborhood w/an open main level. Remodeled kitchen w/high-end cabinetry and granite counters. Family room w/a gas fireplace. Complete w/a private backyard and extended covered patio. Jennifer Bub jennifer.bub@cbrealty.com | JenniferBubRealEstate.com303.253.4969 LAKEWOOD | $885,000 Bright, welcoming & just moments from majestic mountains, this spectacular 3br/2ba residence in Applewood Valley offers the easy-care lifestyle! Minutes to Applewood Golf Course, Applewood Park, Applewood Knolls Swim & Tennis Club & the mountains! Matt Brinkhoff matt.brinkhoff@cbrealty.com | MattsColoradoHomes.com303.324.0241 LONGMONT | $875,000 5br/5ba home. Family room w/a gas fireplace. Kitchen w/an island, SS appliances and pantry. Main floor primary bedroom w/dual closets and a 5-piece bath. Upstairs w/a loft, 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. Conclude w/a basement, fenced yard and 3-car garage. The Cybyske Home Team Lisa@cybyske.com | Cybyske.com303.635.1100 HIGHLANDS RANCH | $875,000 Bright 3BR/3BA home, near Paintbrush Park & Southridge Rec Center, offers an open floor plan. Kitchen w/granite counters, island & dining. Primary bedroom suite w/coffered ceiling, 5pc bath & dual walk-in closets. Finished lower level w/wet bar. Garth Criswell Garth.Criswell@coloradohomes.com | GarthCriswell.com303.669.0252 GOLDEN | Price Upon Request 2br/2ba home w/open floor plan. Kitchen w/granite countertops and SS appliances. Living room w/gas stove and mountain views. Primary and guest bedrooms and bathrooms are on the main level. Complete w/downstairs flex space and detached, 2-car garage. The Mailey Team SueAndJeff@MaileyTeam.com | MaileyTeam.com303.531.3010 LITTLETON | $815,000 Beautifully maintained 3br/3ba home w/office & 3-car garage positioned on a cul-de-sac in the very desirable neighborhood of Panorama Ridge. Notice the pristine landscaping & newly poured driveway giving this home instant curb appeal. Jake Rapplean jake.rapplean@cbrealty.com | JakeRappleanEstates.com720.694.0771 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
guiding you home since 1906 ColdwellBankerHomes.com MONUMENT | Price Upon Request 4br/3ba, beautiful landscape, covered porch, composite deck, hardwood floors/ new carpet, gas fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights, vaulted ceilings, SS, granite counters, a center island, double vanities, jetted tub, built-ins. Camellia Coray Camellia@ccSignatureGroup.com | Camellia.ccSignatureGroup.com719.359.0014 PLATTEVILLE | $799,000 Magnificent 4br/3ba home on 3-acres w/mountain views! Property features a heated shop w/bathroom, oversized door & RV hookups, oversized 2-car garage, loafing sheds & more. Newer roof, skylights, screens, fences, HVAC system, wood stove & more! Melissa Brashers melissa@sellyourhomeco.com720.933.3698 PARKER | $779,900 Perfectly laid out 4br/4ba home located on a cul-de-sac. Minutes from 470 & across from Dove Ridge Park. Featuring a bonus room, loft, main floor primary suite, deck w/mtn views & updated, walk-out basement w/kitchen! New carpet, roof & int. paint! Batya Cruz batya.cruz@cbrealty.com303.808.4970 AURORA | $750,000 4br/5ba home w/a family room. Remodeled kitchen w/custom cabinets, new appliances and granite countertops. Primary bedroom w/a remodeled 5-piece primary bath. Backyard w/a covered patio and mountain views. Close to many parks, trails and open space. JJ Alexander jj.alexander@cbrealty.com | JJAlexanderrealty.com303.475.5905 LITTLETON | $748,000 Classic, tastefully updated 4br/4ba home nestled in Ken Caryl Ranch features an open floor plan with updated kitchen & living area w/hardwood floors & wood burning fireplace. Oversized 2-car garage, community pools & close to Chatfield reservoir. Trish Armstrong TrishDenverRealEstate@gmail.com303.378.9544 EVERGREEN | $719,000 Beautiful 4br/2ba downtown Evergreen home close to downtown & Evergreen Lake. Featuring updated family room, bathrooms, & kitchen w/new appliances, granite counters, LVP flooring, 2 wood burning fireplaces & a finished walk out basement. Taylor Frank taylor.frank@cbrealty.com | nativetaylor.com970.214.2974 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ColdwellBankerHomes.com LITTLETON | $700,000 5br/3.5ba, updated kitchen and baths, wood beams, wood-burning fireplace, hardwood floors, newer paint, finished basement, covered outdoor patio, .35 acres. Jill Nurse Jill@TheNurseSellsDenver.com | TheNurseSellsDenver.com303.241.4915 WESTMINSTER | $670,000 4br/2.5ba home w/3 living spaces. Family room w/a gas fireplace. Enjoy the formal dining room and spacious kitchen. Primary suite w/an updated bath and walk-in closet. Basement w/media room. Backyard w/a deck and covered patio. Erich Menzel Erich.Menzel@CBRealty.Com | HomeSalesInLoveland.com970.402.8457 AURORA | Price Upon Request Move-in ready, 2-story 5br/4ba home w/walk-out finished basement in the coveted Spring Creek Meadow neighborhood. Featuring an open flow concept w/cathedral tall ceilings, formal dining & living rooms, family room & kitchen w/breakfast nook area. Karyn Walker karyn.walker@cbrealty.com | KMWHomes.com303.819.8910 CENTENNIAL | Price Upon Request Wonderful opportunity to live in a move-in ready home on a large lot near Greenwood Village. This sprawling ranch features 4-beds, 2 1/2 baths, 2,750 sq ft with sunroom, 2-car garage, RV parking on .39-acres. Jamie Bradley Jamie.Bradley@ColoradoHomes.com | RealEstateByJamie.com720.560.5430 LOVELAND | $645,000 3br/3ba home on almost 1/4 acres. Rich wood floors, a granite breakfast bar and a primary suite make main floor living a dream. An unfinished basement awaits your personal touch. Fenced backyard w/a water feature and patio. Complete w/a 3-car garage. Jody Jewell jody.jewell@cbrealty.com970.646.2276 BROOMFIELD | $640,000 4br/3.5ba home w/a wood burning fireplace. Kitchen w/ample countertops and cabinets, gas stove and walk-in pantry. 3rd level has 3 bedrooms, one w/a full bath. Lower level has a primary suite w/a primary bath. Complete w/a backyard and 2-car garage. The Cybyske Home Team Lisa@cybyske.com | Cybyske.com303.635.1100
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION guiding you home since 1906 ColdwellBankerHomes.com DENVER | $630,000 Beautifully remodeled 2br/2ba home near Pinehurst Country Club and golf course has a private courtyard entrance & an oversized garage. Backyard deck overlooks a park-like setting & is a perfect tranquil, quiet spot to read your favorite book! Kari Goddard kari.goddard@cbrealty.com | KariGoddardHomes.com720.437.9755 AURORA | $625,000 Welcome to this beautiful ranch home that is nestled in the highly desirable Tollgate Crossing subdivision. This classic ranch features an open floor plan with three bedrooms, three baths with a fullbasement.finished Terra DeLockroy terra.delockroy@cbrealty.com | TerraDeLockroy.cbintouch.com303.681.1518 AURORA | $625,000 Beautiful 4 bed, 3 bath home in Cherry Creek School District. Kitchen boasts large island, SS appliances & pantry. Custom backyard backs to open space & trails. Upstairs laundry, built-in storage & custom primary closet are just a few features! Rich Scott rich.scott@cbrealty.com720.620.0498 COLORADO SPRINGS | $600,000 5br/4ba Gleneagle oasis. Great room w/a gas fireplace. Updated kitchen w/a granite island and gas range walks out to the patio. Primary bedroom w/a 5-piece bath. Finished basement w/a living space and bedroom. Complete w/a large, flat yard. Rob Thompson rob.thompson@cbrealty.com | RobThompsonHomes.com719.337.7254 COLORADO SPRINGS | Price Upon Request 4br/3ba home in the desirable Hannah Ridge community w/a floor to ceiling stone corner fireplace. Primary bath w/an extra-large shower and a linen closet. Complete w/an extended backyard patio, a garage and a mechanical room. Backs up to open space. Camellia Coray Camellia@ccSignatureGroup.com | Camellia.ccSignatureGroup.com719.359.0014 AURORA | $600,000 Beautifully remodeled 5br/3ba home w/2-car garage, heated sunroom w/skylights & partially finished basement. Home has an open floor plan, updated flooring, quartz counters, sprinklers & a paid off solar panel system. Close to Buckley Air Force Base. Kari Goddard kari.goddard@cbrealty.com | KariGoddardHomes.com720.437.9755
ColdwellBankerHomes.com THORNTON | $540,000 4br/2ba home. Updated kitchen w/granite counters and SS appliances. Upstairs w/3 bedrooms and a remodeled 5-piece bath. Lower level has a family room w/a fireplace, a bedroom, a bath and a laundry. Backyard w/a brick patio and a fire pit area. The Cybyske Home Team Lisa@cybyske.com | Cybyske.com303.635.1100 THORNTON | $590,000 Updated 4br/3ba home. Family room w/a gas fireplace. Kitchen w/granite counters, travertine back-splash and upgraded SS appliances. Primary bedroom w/a walk-in closet and remodeled 3/4 bath. Complete w/an unfinished basement, a sunroom and backyard. The Cybyske Home Team Lisa@cybyske.com | Cybyske.com303.635.1100 LONGMONT | $560,000 4br/4ba home. Living room w/soaring ceilings and a gas fireplace. Upstairs has w/3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a convenient laundry closet w/a washer and dryer. There are 2 en-suites, one upstairs and one in the basement. Backyard w/a covered back porch. Erich Menzel Erich.Menzel@CBRealty.Com | HomeSalesInLoveland.com970.402.8457 AURORA | $550,000 3br/3ba home w/1,560 sqft. Kitchen w/all new appliances opens to a lower-level w/a family room and gas fireplace. Upstairs has a primary bedroom w/remodeled bath, 2 more bedroom and another remodeled full bath. Complete w/a backyard and 2-car garage. Colleen Teitelbaum teitelbaumcolleen@gmail.com | CocoTeitel.com303.668.8186 DENVER | $525,000 Beautiful 3br/2ba home located in University Hills features a living room, dining area & large kitchen w/island & newly updated floors. Backyard includes a patio, fire pit area & shed. Located near Highline Canal Trail & Wellshire golf course. Jake Rapplean jake.rapplean@cbrealty.com | JakeRappleanEstates.com720.694.0771 RED FEATHER LAKES | $525,000 2br/2ba mountain ranch home on 0.71 of an acre features a walk-out basement & attached 2-car heated garage. New kitchen countertops, backsplash & remodeled full bath. Moss rock fireplace & custom storage boxes. Close to Red Feather Lakes Village. Amber Ellinger 970.217.5691 Michelle A. Nelson 303.748.5247 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
guiding you home since 1906 ColdwellBankerHomes.com DENVER | $524,900 3br/2.5ba home has an open concept kitchen, a dining space and family room. Primary suite w/a double shower and a walk-in closet. Secondary bedrooms share an updated bath. Conclude w/two spots for recreational vehicles and tons of off-street parking. Kris Hansen kris.hansen@cbrealty.com | KrisHansenRealEstate.com303.956.6068 PEYTON | $520,000 Open and bright 3br/4ba home on Antler Creek Golf Course, move-in ready w/ a gas fireplace, custom kitchen, finished basement, large deck overlooking a beautifully landscaped yard & many community amenities including pools, parks & a clubhouse. Jeff Chandler jeff.chandler1@cbrealty.com | JeffChandler.realtor719.205.6707 DENVER | $520,000 Enjoy urban living in this prime uptown setting! 2 blocks to downtown, with light rail just around the corner. 2br/2ba corner unit w/fresh paint, new carpet & private patio w/ city views. 2 deeded parking spaces in heated underground garage. John McComas john@johnmccomas.com | JohnMcComas.com303.668.5542 AURORA | $519,000 Brick 3br/2ba ranch surrounded by all the best features of a neighborhood. Featuring a living room, kitchen w/SS appliances, dining area, den w/built-in shelving & wood-burning fireplace & finished basement. Large, covered patio w/included hot tub! Jessica Gissa jessica.gissa@gmail.com | GissaSellsColorado.com720.310.5952 NORTHGLENN | $469,900 4br/2ba home. Updated kitchen w/42-inch upper cabinets, backsplash, granite countertops and SS appliances. Enjoy 2 main floor bedrooms and updated main floor bath. 4-car detached garage w/220 outlets and plenty of room. Complete w/a great backyard. Journey Team angela.magoon@cbrealty.com | DenverJourneyTeam.com303.523.9165 STRASBURG | $469,000 5br/2ba home w/everything you need on the main level and a finished basement below. Remodeled kitchen w/granite countertops, SS appliances and gas range. Enjoy new fencing and updated double pane vinyl windows throughout. Complete w/a two-car garage. Matt Brinkhoff matt.brinkhoff@cbrealty.com | MattsColoradoHomes.com303.324.0241 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
ColdwellBankerHomes.com LAKEWOOD | $450,000 Close to serene parks, a greenbelt & multiple stores, this special find in the South Hampton community offers nearly 2,000 SQFT of space, plus 3br/3ba. Main floor features a spacious kitchen, living room, 90% finished basement and fenced in patio. Brandi Miller brandi.miller@cbrealty.com | BrandiMillerProperties.com720.442.1681 HIGHLANDS RANCH | $425,000 2br/2ba condo w/an open floor plan with tall ceilings and engineered laminate floors throughout the main areas. This home is located centrally between 2 golf courses, Links and South Suburban. Close to trendy restaurants and coffee shops. Brandi Miller brandi.miller@cbrealty.com | BrandiMillerProperties.com720.442.1681 LITTLETON | Price Upon Request 2br/2ba condo w/spectacular city views. Beautiful kitchen w/custom backsplash and SS appliances. Loft could be used as a flex space. In-unit main floor laundry w/a washer and dryer. Complete w/an East facing balcony off the living room. Jan Selinfreund Selinfreund@msn.com | JanSRealtor.com720.427.5888 DENVER | Price Upon Request Hidden 2br/1ba gem located in Denver near lots of shopping & restaurants! Charming, updated home features hardwood floors & an open concept style great room with access to the modern kitchen. Spacious covered back porch overlooks the big backyard. Bobby Dusbabek 5280HomesByBobby@gmail.com970.227.1997 AURORA | $390,000 2br/3ba townhome w/an open concept. Kitchen w/new appliances. Upstairs has 2 primary bedrooms w/private updated bathrooms and large closets. There is a 1-car garage connected to a huge bonus space. Complete w/a private balcony and fenced-in area. Brandi Miller brandi.miller@cbrealty.com | BrandiMillerProperties.com720.442.1681 GREELEY | $385,000 Classic 1920’s 3br/2ba updated home in Cranford provides a spacious covered front porch, rich wood floors, like-new updated kitchen, adorable dining nook, great floor plan & finished basement. Detached garage, large deck & no HOA! Close to schools! Jody Jewell jody.jewell@cbrealty.com970.646.2276 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
guiding you home since 1906 ColdwellBankerHomes.com HIGHLANDS RANCH | $1,175,000 Stunning 6br/6ba home is close to everything! Newly remodeled home boasts an open floor plan w/hardwood flooring, gourmet kitchen, great room w/fireplace, office & finished basement. Erica Dufford 303.718.7573 LITTLETON | $1,090,000 4br/3.5ba home. Family room w/fireplace. Kitchen w/stainless appliances, breakfast bar and pantry. Primary bedroom w/5-piece bath and walk-in closet. Complete w/a basement and backyard. The Dudley Team 303.995.7377 PARKER | Price Upon Request With beautiful Colorado mountain views, custom upgraded interiors and one of the largest lots in such a highly desirable neighborhood; this Meridian Village 5br/5ba home has it all. Ashley Morrison 224.532.3483 PARKER | $965,000 Beautiful 5br/3ba home located in Stepping Stone sides to green space featuring an abundance of light, open floor plan & spacious living spaces. Fabulous clubhouse, pool & more. Erica Dufford 303.718.7573 BAILEY | $875,000 4br/3ba home on 6 acres. Main level w/great room, hot tub, fireplace and kitchen island. Family room w/fireplace. Primary suite w/jetted tub and walk-in closet. Complete w/2-car garage. Terry Robinson 303.898.3658 Mike Fuentes 303.679.8055 AURORA | $875,000 7 beds, 5 baths on a cul-de-sac, main floor study, finished basement and 3-car garage. Backyard with koi pond, waterfall, custom fire pit and hot tub. Cherry Creek School District. Kylie Rupert 303.842.8205 AURORA | $850,000 5br/4ba home has a full walk-out basement & backs to the neighborhood park. Beautiful wood floors are the foundation for this home w/very livable floor plan. Minutes to Pathfinder Park. Jennifer Oldham 720.234.3863 Forrest Oldham 720.771.0246 DENVER | $850,000 3br/2ba home w/hardwood floors throughout. Kitchen w/slab granite and stainless appliances. Primary bedroom w/vaulted ceilings. Yard w/concrete patio. Conclude w/a tandem 2-car garage. P.J. Farrell 303.884.5368 WESTMINSTER | $815,000 Beautiful 4br/4ba home + office in Hyland Village boasts open space & mountain views! Featuring hardwood floors, living room w/fireplace, dining rm, eat-in kitchen & finished basement. The Uhles Team 720.343.6660 PARKER | Price Upon Request 5br/4ba home. Family room w/a fireplace. Primary retreat w/a walk-in closet and 5-piece bath. Basement w/2 bedrooms, a full bath, a living area and kitchen. Complete w/a backyard. Ashley Morrison 224.532.3483 COLORADO SPRINGS | $750,000 5br/4ba perfectly located home features a dining room, office, kitchen w/granite counters, SS appliances & butler's pantry, living room w/fireplace & family room w/fireplace & wet bar. Jermaine Butler 719.963.2053 HIGHLANDS RANCH | $750,000 4 bed, 3 bath home in the desirable Westridge neighborhood. New exterior paint and window blinds. Short walk to Redstone Park, Town Center, Shea Stadium and Westridge Rec Center. Kylie Rupert 303.842.8205 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
ColdwellBankerHomes.com LONGMONT | $750,000 Located in Renaissance, one of Longmont’s most coveted neighborhoods, this meticulously maintained 4br/4ba home is filled with tasteful upgrades. Close to schools & shopping! Susan Coleman 720.938.2793 Sea Anna Gibson 720.938.9553 AURORA | $750,000 4br/3ba home w/an open concept. Upstairs includes a den area. Landscaping has been completed. Enjoy the neighborhood amenities including many parks, pool/clubhouse and miles of trails. Calla Walker 720.560.4755 PARKER | Price Upon Request 6br/4ba home. Kitchen w/granite countertops, a built-in desk and SS appliances. Primary bedroom w/a 5-piece bath and walk-in closet. Complete w/a finished basement and a backyard. Ashley Morrison 224.532.3483 THORNTON | $725,000 Beautiful Springdale 3br/2.5ba ranch in Willow Bend features a main floor study, spacious kitchen & open concept family & dining area. Backyard w/pergola & built-in outdoor kitchen. Anne-Marie Torp 720.989.6500 LITTLETON | $680,000 4br/2ba home on a huge lot w/an open concept. Kitchen w/new cabinets, new leathered granite countertop and new appliances. Complete w/a new privacy fence and a new concrete patio. Hallie Rand 720.810.2931 CASTLE ROCK | $675,000 3br/2ba home w/upgrades. Open kitchen w/upgraded countertops and SS appliances. Upper-level w/a loft space, all bedrooms and baths as well as a laundry. Complete w/a fenced backyard. Hallie Rand 720.810.2931 BROOMFIELD | $675,000 3br/3ba Luxury End-Unit Townhome w/gas fireplaces, gourmet kitchen w/granite, stainless appliances & gas cooktop, hardwood floors, many tall windows offering panoramic mountain views. Lorri DeLaney 720.313.7437 BROOMFIELD | $650,000 Private 2br/3ba luxury townhome with a main floor primary suite, in the Falls at Legend Trail, nestled within the Broadlands golf course community, backing to open space & nearby lake. Lorri DeLaney 720.313.7437 AURORA | $625,000 4br/3.5ba home w/bamboo wood flooring throughout and a fireplace. Updated kitchen w/SS appliances, a gas stove and farm sink. Complete w/a finished basement and a backyard patio. Jen Brink 303.653.2738 COLORADO SPRINGS | Price Upon Request Remodeled 2br/1ba home. Family room w/fireplace. Kitchen w/new appliances, new cabinets and a counter bar. Main level w/a bedroom and remodeled bath. Conclude w/garage and backyard. Camellia Coray 719.359.0014 DENVER | $600,000 4br/2ba home w/a spacious living room and remodeled kitchen. Primary bedroom w/an en-suite bath and walk-in closet. Tandem 2-car garage w/ceiling storage. Complete w/a backyard patio. Hallie Rand 720.810.2931 PARKER | $590,000 3br/3ba home in Stroh Ranch. Living room w/fireplace. Kitchen w/an island and ample dining space. Primary bedroom w/private bath and walk-in closet. Complete w/a basement and backyard. Debbie Joseph 303.842.8331 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
guiding you home since 1906 ColdwellBankerHomes.com ENGLEWOOD | $585,000 3br/2ba home near Swedish Medical Center features an updated kitchen w/SS appliances & granite counters & primary bedroom w/en suite bath & walk-in closet. 1-car garage & large yard. Brian Anzur 303.263.6808 CENTENNIAL | $535,000 4br/3ba home. Living room w/vaulted ceilings. Kitchen w/SS appliances. Family room w/a gas fireplace. Primary bedroom w/an en-suite bath. Complete w/a finished basement and backyard. The Dudley Team 303.995.7377 BROOMFIELD | $525,000 2 beds, 2 bath luxury townhome in The Falls at Legend Trail within The Broadlands Golf Course community. Community amenities include pools, fitness room & walking/biking paths. Lorri DeLaney 720.313.7437 DENVER | $519,000 Epitome of Cherry Creek living in a stunning 1br/1ba corner penthouse w/mountain & city views. Featuring a fireplace, deck, underground parking space, storage unit & many amenities. Ann Donley 303.903.2046 PARKER | $504,900 3br/3ba townhome. Great room w/a fireplace. Kitchen w/SS appliances. Upstairs has primary bedroom w/a bath and walk-in closet, 2 more bedrooms and another bath. Conclude w/2-car garage. David Armayor 303.669.1854 COLORADO SPRINGS | $495,000 5br/3ba home in Campus Commons has new vinyl plank flooring throughout the main level & new carpet in the bedrooms & basement. Easy access to Austin Bluffs Open Space hiking trails. Jennifer Montoya 719.232.3397 WOODLAND PARK | $490,000 One-of-a-kind 3BR/2BA ranch. Vaulted ceilings w/tongue & groove pine. Fully finished basement. Attached 1 car garage & extra large driveway for extra vehicle or RV parking. Large deck. Dan D. Gerlock 720.326.8100 COLORADO SPRINGS | Price Upon Request You won’t want to miss this pristine home with stunning park-like landscaping in a welcoming and manicured neighborhood. Three bedrooms, three baths, new carpet and an updated kitchen. Camellia Coray 719.359.0014 PEYTON | $433,500 Nearly new 3br/3ba home in Peyton features an open floor plan, large primary bedroom with en-suite bath, and access to Woodmen Hills Rec center. Anna Fish 719.650.9300 DENVER | $425,000 2br/1ba home on 3 lots at 9,370+ sqft w/an open concept. Kitchen w/a gas range, dishwasher and refrigerator. Enjoy a spacious main bedroom. Relax in a secluded back patio area. Cory Cutting 720.602.6419 COLORADO SPRINGS | $404,500 Completely remodeled 4br/2ba stucco rancher with full basement, almost 2,000 square feet of living space including an open concept kitchen. Enjoy a full basement as well. Close to UCCS. Kim Gibson 719.433.0650 BOULDER | $400,000 Carefree Boulder lifestyle in this maintenance free 1br/1ba 2nd floor end unit. Featuring an open floor plan, fireplace, W/D, walk-in closet & patio w/views. Amenities incl pool & gym. Marlena Rich 303.601.8338 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
ColdwellBankerHomes.com COLORADO SPRINGS | $400,000 Rare walkout 3br/2ba rancher in Stratmoor Hills featuring a living room, eat-in kitchen w/Corian counters & finished basement. Convenient access to shopping, World Arena & Ft. Carson. Jennifer Montoya 719.232.3397 CASTLE ROCK | $399,900 Fabulous 2br/2ba condo features new carpet & includes a family room, dining space, kitchen, 1-car detached garage & 1 reserved parking space. Amenities include pool & clubhouse. Lynne Ross 303.520.8800 DEER TRAIL | Price Upon Request Gorgeous 3br/3ba home located in Bijou Creek has an open floor plan featuring a vaulted great room & kitchen w/upgraded cabinets, slab granite counters & more. Close to I-70 & shopping. Alice Downie 303.520.0277 DENVER | $399,000 Remodeled 2br/2ba condo in Lakeshore Village w/new paint, floors and baths and custom kitchen. Primary suite w/a walk-in closet and primary bath. Complex w/a pool and volleyball court. P.J. Farrell 303.884.5368 DENVER | $390,000 Beautiful 3br/3ba townhome w/open floor plan & 1-car garage is located in the First Creek neighborhood. Close to Sprouts & Farmers market & near the light rail station & Gaylord Resort. Nita Wassenaar 720.560.1319 ARVADA | $385,000 Open & bright ranch style 2br/2ba townhome features vaulted ceilings, private patio, office & attached garage. 2 spacious bedrooms w/walk in closets. Close to parks, shopping & dining. Staci Stroh 303.570.7039 COLORADO SPRINGS | Price Upon Request 4br/2ba home w/a spacious living room. Main level w/2 bedrooms and a full bath. Finished lower level w/2 bedrooms, 3/4 bath, living room and laundry area. Complete w/a backyard. Camellia Coray 719.359.0014 AURORA | $365,000 Remodeled 2 bedroom, 3 bath townhome with full unfinished basement and oversized 2 car garage. New furnace, central air, carpet. Enlarged & upgraded kitchen. All baths updated. Kelly Pratt 303.246.5074 DENVER | $280,000 Updated 2br/1ba condo, new laminate floors and remodeled kitchen. Huge balcony to enjoy mountains views and sunsets. Complete w/a storage unit and 1 reserved parking space. Denver Property Sisters 303.880.9930 DENVER | $274,900 2br/1ba townhome w/several modern updates including new windows, electric panel, garage door and water heater, all replaced in 2015. Located in Adams county and is near 2 local parks. Steven Gravlin 720.201.0266 DENVER | $250,000 Cozy 1br/1ba townhome located near downtown Denver. Open living/dining area, vaulted ceilings & wood burning fireplace. Galley-style kitchen w/new stove, dishwasher & LV flooring. Phuong Tran 720.949.4244 GREELEY | $215,000 Well-maintained manufactured 2br/1ba home in Greeley! Enjoy close proximity to Evans, Milliken, Windsor, Johnstown & quick access to US Highway 85. Home sits on a large, owned lot. Danielle Harvey 630.338.6981 Jessie Bliss 303.885.8334 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Floral Gears, 36”x 36”, water-based medium on canvas © Karen Roehl Roehl western inspiration
RepresentedBy:TieRRaMaRGalleRy225CanyonRd,SanTaFe,nM87501www.TieRRaMaRGalleRy.CoMkaRenRoehl.CoM
As with any large group, there are cliques within the Denver cycling scene, all of which are easily identifiable by their accoutrements. Bros wear Lycra, signifying their commitment. Moms and dads come complete with trailers. Fixed-gears are sure signs of the hard-charging courier crowd. Mountain bikers ride—well, we’ll let you figure that one out.
Congratulations! By participating in Denver’s new e-bike rebate program— which saves $400 off the purchase for all residents, $1,200 for income-qualified citizens, and $500 more off e-cargo bikes—you have been granted entrée into one of the Mile High City’s most passionate clubs. You are a Denver Cyclist. Now it’s time to meet your fellow passengers in the bike lanes of life. Don’t be shy, rook: These conversation starters will help you make fast friends.
“WHAT THE HECK IS A SHARROW?” Have you ever seen the sign pictured above? It’s a lane-share marker and gives bicyclists the entire lane without actually providing any substantive protection from motorists. As recently reported by Denverite, most everyone calls the indicator a “sharrow,” and it’s indicative of the city’s, um, cost-conscious approach to bike infrastructure. “CARS SUCK.”
(6)ImagesGetty 128 5280 SEPTEMBER 2022 BACKSTORY
You’ll soon find out that almost every Denver cyclist has a story about some “idiot” driver trying to run them off the road. This is a good opportunity to ask about the safest routes around the city, and you can supplement that knowledge with a visit to the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) website, which details protected lanes for riders.
—SPENCER CAMPBELL
Emily Kleinfelter of DRCOG heard from a friend and bike newbie who was ready to quit af ter one exhausting trip to work. Turns out, “she had flat tires,” Kleinfelter says. Don’t be embarrassed to ask: More experienced riders will likely be happy to tell you (more than you ever wanted to know) about the setup of your new e-bike. SPANDEX,“SWEETBRO.”
“YOU SEEN THE BUDGET?”
Mayor Michael Han cock was expected to release his proposed budget for the next fiscal year in August. Cyclists are hoping to see more funding for bike infrastructure thanks to increased parking meter rates and ticket fees. We went to press before the budget was made pub lic. Whether the money is there or not, though, this question still works. “DOES THIS LOOK OK?”
NICE TO E-MEET YOU
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