5280 Magazine July 2019

THE DENVER MAGAZINE

FROM CHIC BOUTIQUES TO THE PERFECT PATIO, WE’VE FOUND THE VERY BEST OF THE MILE HIGH CITY STARTS ON PAGE 73

J U LY 2 0 1 9 5280.com

HOW TO NAVIGATE THE I-70 RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT

BY KASEY CORDELL

THE NOVICE’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING COLORADO’S BACKCOUNTRY

BY LINDSEY B. KOEHLER

INSIDE THE AMBITIOUS PLAN TO REMAKE SUN VALLEY

BY ROBERT SANCHEZ

A STERLING CRESCENDO.

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1 6 0 0 B R O A D W A Y, D E N V E R , S U I T E 1 9 2 0

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FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD

Evan Banker talks about the importance of pro bono work

W

hen my great-grandparents, and maybe yours,

perspective, special skills, or dogged determination and work

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their way. As lawyers, we are able to lift some of the burden

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society, they took the first incremental steps toward success.

public good.

Four generations later, I am (and maybe you are) lucky enough

For me, working for the public good means taking on the

to be possessed of the benefit of that long-ago hand up.

Lawyers hold themselves out as trusted advisors, passionate

representation of a mother and child seeking asylum in the United States. It means helping members of our community

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with a special responsibility for

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Pro bono is often shorthand for “free,”

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We live for that fight, but it is

expects no payment. But the phrase is

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much deeper than that. It is work that

world without seeing countless

we do not only for the benefit of an

others who need legal help and

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to know you are uniquely able to

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provide it, to fight for them too. I see immigrants – ghosts of my great-grandparents – seeking refuge on our shores who need to navigate a complex system bent on casting them away.

It is a system that will succeed because they do not understand the rules. I see new members of our community bullied

We are personal injury lawyers and public citizens working for a more just society. We are grateful for our clients, without whom we would be unable to provide free legal work pro bono publico.

because they do not understand their rights. I see problems with the quality of justice in our society.

Working for these people benefits them, but it also benefits all of us. They will make our community a richer place by adding their strengths to our society – whether it is their unique

Evan Banker Attorney/Partner

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Features

JULY 2019

73

TOP OF THE TOWN We eliminated the adequate,

the middling, and the just OK to identify the 142 preeminent places to dine, imbibe, luxuriate, and recreate in Denver right now.

EDITED BY SPENCER CAMPBELL

74 Dining 82 Services 86 Culture & Nightlife

100

92 Sports, Outdoors, & Fitness 96 Shopping

NAVIGATING CENTRAL 70 What to expect as this massive, controversial, traffic-snarling, communitydisrupting highway project works its way toward completion over the next few years.

BY KASEY CORDELL

112

THE ROOKIE’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING COLORADO’S BACKCOUNTRY An increasing number of

Coloradans underestimate the skills needed to handle the state’s wild topography and variable weather. We consulted the experts to find out what we’re doing wrong, so you can learn to do it right before your next adventure.

BY LINDSEY B. KOEHLER

THE VALLEY IN THE SHADOW Sun Valley, the poorest

census tract in the state, is undergoing a historic transformation. For one boy on the cusp of adolescence, the changes to his neighborhood could be life-altering.

BY ROBERT SANCHEZ

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| 5280 | JULY 20 19

Cervecería Colorado, our pick for best new brewery, makes Mexican-inspired beer.

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Matthew Stacey; Prop styling by James Whitney

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D E S I G N S

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20 DIALOGUE

22 BEHIND THE STORIES

25 COMPASS

seminal jam band, the String Cheese Incident...trade your pharmaceuticals for foraged herbs, roots, and weeds...and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel masterpieces come to Aurora.

Denver’s plan to save the city’s canopy involves expanding tree pits and installing public art... developments like Montrose’s Colorado Outdoors campus let adventure company staffers work where they play...towns such as Frisco and Aspen are canceling their fireworks shows...after her car got stolen, a reporter dug into the state’s auto theft epidemic...and a Louisville company is creating batteries with new tech that could extend your Tesla’s range from 310 miles per charge to 450.

33 ADVENTURE Introducing the world’s first waterproof zipper, designed in Boulder...Nite Ize is the biggest little outdoor company you’ve never heard of...three manmade water parks where you can cool down this summer... an art hike along Steamboat Springs’ Yampa River...and why two Fort Collins residents are teaming up to hike a fourteener.

41 CULTURE A boutique hotel in Victor leans into its sordid past...musicians pay tribute to Crested Butte’s

49

49 EAT & DRINK Just in time for barbecue season, there’s a new pitmaster on East Colfax Avenue...two FrenchSenegalese sisters are bringing a taste of Paris to Belleview Station...what’s the deal with the QR codes showing up at King Soopers fish counters... spigarello is the new kale, at least according to restaurant produce supplier Esoterra Culinary Garden...skip the 16th Street Mall’s chain eateries in favor of eight locally owned kiosks.

56 RESTAURANT REVIEW Beckon and Call in RiNo fit well together, signaling an exciting Scandinavian phase for Denver’s dining scene.

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BY SCOTT MOWBRAY

COLUMN 66 ENVIRONMENT

With hailstones pummeling us—and insurance payouts from the resulting damages increasing—how can Front Rangers prepare for impending storms?

BY NATASHA GARDNER

25

LISTINGS 130 CALENDAR

This month’s can’t-miss events.

138 DINING GUIDE Where to eat in and around town.

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ON THE COVER Photo Illustration by Sean Parsons

BACKSTORY 220 SUSPECT

PSEUDONYMS Crime is no joke— but area crooks’ nicknames are.

5280 (ISSN 10826815) is published monthly by 5280 Publishing, Inc., 1675 Larimer St., Suite 675, Denver, CO 80202. Subscriptions are $19 for one year (12 issues). Back issues are available for $5.99 plus tax and shipping by visiting shop.5280.com. Periodical postage paid at Denver, CO, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS (see DMM 707.4.12.5). NONPOSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to 5280 Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 37270, Boone, IA 50037-4270. Canadian Post Publications Mail Agreement No. #40065056 Canadian Return Address: DP Global Mail, 4960-2 Walker Road, Windsor, ON N9A 6J3. 5280® is a federally registered trademark owned by 5280 Publishing, Inc. 5280 also owns trademark registrations for TOP OF THE TOWN, DENVER’S TOP DOCTORS, DENVER MAGAZINE, and COLORADO PARENT. © 2019 5280 Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Dialog ue

I deliberately block their path.” Bicyclists,

meanwhile, felt aggrieved: “But heaven forbid,” Lori Meredith Gabow wrote, “bicyclists don’t come to full stops at intersections.”

And Mike Tucker posited that “you’re not supposed to ride bicycles on the sidewalk either, but that doesn’t stop people.”

[ F R O M T H E E D I T O RI A L D I R E C T O R ]

The Only Constant

I

f anyone needed proof that Denver is changing on myriad fronts, this past month’s runoff election provided it. Although voters returned Michael Hancock to the mayor’s office for a third term, the transformation of the City Council was arguably a better indicator of voters’ mindsets. Three incumbents lost their bids to remain on the legislative body, and much of the dialogue around the municipal races centered on the Mile High City’s growth and development; specifically, many residents aren’t thrilled with what they’re seeing. Not coincidentally, that unease figures heavily into two of the stories in this issue. In “Navigating Central 70” (page 100), features editor Kasey Cordell examines the massive interstate reconstruction project that will, in the short term, at best inconvenience metro area residents—and at worst potentially endanger people living in Globeville, Elyria-Swansea, and other north Denver neighborhoods. Across town in Sun Valley, another ambitious redevelopment initiative promises to remake the poorest census tract in the entire state. Senior staff writer Robert Sanchez spent several months reporting in the area in an effort to learn how current residents view the coming changes.

The resulting story, “The Valley In The Shadow” (page 124), looks at the metamorphosis of this part of Denver through the eyes of an 11-year-old boy who’s spent most of his life in Sun Valley’s public housing projects. Each of these pieces portrays a city in flux. But will these undertakings ultimately make Denver a more livable, more inclusive city? It depends on whom you ask. Given the results of June’s election, Denver’s voters seem to think the answer is a resounding…maybe.

“5 KID-FRIENDLY FRONT RANGE TAPROOMS” May 22, 2019

What pairs well with a local brew? Not children, according to 5280. com readers. “Thanks for the list of places I will definitely not go,” Robin Web-

“WHO?” GEOFF VAN DYKE RUBRIC

ns to happe or, which is growing do, n neighb g down. r’s easter city in Colora slowin GARDNER Denve argest intention of

BY NATASHA HINRICHS third-l be the

BY JAKOB with no IONS fast—

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Credits Tk

Credits Tk

ILLUSTRAT

| 5280 | MAY 201 9

MAY 20 19 |

5280 | 83

“AURORA RISING” May 2019

Readers were split on whether the meteoric growth of Denver’s eastern neighbor, as outlined by 5280 articles editor Natasha Gardner, is a positive or negative development. “Loving the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Stanley Market-

place, Aurora Reservoir,

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| 5280 | JULY 2019

light-rail service north to south, the Aurora Fox Arts Center, Plains Conservation Center, and Southlands!” John Douglas exclaimed. However, Mara Owens believes the

third-largest city in the state is not sprouting “in a good way, speak-

ing from my experience of living in Colorado many years before its carcentric sprawl, and having more recently visited the new McMansions built in Aurora.” Whether what’s going on there is good or bad, though, Simon James Kelly

summed up the overall point of Gardner’s piece: “It’s all happening in Aurora.”

“DENVER POLICE DON’T TICKET PEOPLE WHO RIDE SCOOTERS ON SIDEWALKS—AT LEAST NOT YET” May 9, 2019

Digital assistant editor Jay Bouchard’s ongoing online coverage of the Mile High City’s scooter scourge found that although the city passed new laws concerning the two-wheeled transports in January, police had yet to issue a single citation.

Eugene Louis Williams III decided to take enforcement into his own hands: “As a pedestrian, sometimes if I’m feeling really brave

Randy Durden, replying to a May 2 story on 5280.com announcing that Michael Bennet is running for president (FYI: He’s a U.S. senator from Colorado)

ber wrote. Jessica Lea couldn’t help comparing taprooms to another Front Range favorite: “Could you imagine if the headline was ‘Five Colorado Cannabis Dispensaries That Are Kid-Friendly?’ Heads would explode.”

CORRECTIONS

In May’s “A Star Is Reborn,” we reported that Uchi Denver serves fish sourced from Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

It actually serves fish inspired by the exotic varieties available at Toyosu. In May’s “The Fortune-Teller’s Guide To Denver Real Estate,” a photo of Lakewood’s 40 West ArtLine incorrectly appeared in a story about the West Colfax neighborhood. In June’s “Leaving An Impression,” we wrote that the owner of works featured in the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver’s Orphan Paintings exhibit lives in Littleton. Rather, he resides in Englewood. We regret the errors.

CONTACT US

Send email to letters@5280. com or mail your feedback to Letters, 5280, 1675 Larimer St., Suite 675, Denver, CO 80202.

Please include your name, address, and telephone number. Letters and posts may be edited for length and clarity.

You can also follow us and join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (all @5280Magazine).

From top: Sarah Boyum; Courtesy of Michael Bennet

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NATASHA GARDNER Articles Editor

ROBERT SANCHEZ

Senior Staff Writer

The Mile High City’s economic boom had largely passed by the Sun Valley neighborhood. But as redevelopments in the underserved enclave began, senior staff writer Robert Sanchez felt like he was reading the same perspective over and over. “Most Sun Valley stories focus on just a few high-profile neighborhood leaders,” Sanchez says. “I wanted to find someone who typically would have been under most news outlets’ radars.” So he told the story (“The Valley In The Shadow,” page 124) of the poverty-stricken area through Brock Knight, an 11-year-old whose growth mirrors Sun Valley’s. “Brock is a popular kid with the potential to be successful,” Sanchez says, “but he’s got a lot going on.

The fact that his neighborhood will never be the same only adds to the drama in his life.”

22

| 5280 | JULY 2 019

As a longtime Front Range resident with an enviable green thumb, articles editor Natasha Gardner has seen plenty of her backyard plants shredded by hail from spring and summer thunderstorms.

This year was no different: While reporting and writing “Unleashing Hail” (page 66), a series of squalls ripped through her neighborhood, hammering at trees limbs and ripping apart defenseless blooms. “I got lucky,” Gardner says. “My stock of ready-to-plant flowers and vegetables were safely stored in my garage.” In her article, Gardner chronicles how that kind of good fortune is often the exception. “From car dealerships to arborists to zoos,” Gardner says, “these hailstorms impact residents, businesses, and our economy.”

MATTHEW STACEY Photographer

Every year, 5280’s staffers go undercover to find the best of, well, everything— ice cream, wedding dresses, Mexican fare, ski tunes, happy hour menus—at dozens of Denver businesses that locals should know about. It’s a doozy of an assignment for our reporters, but for photographer Matthew Stacey, deciding on a photo concept for “Top Of The Town” (page 73) was easy.

“We wanted to take a minimalistic approach to highlighting textures without distracting from the main subject,” he says.

In practice, that meant perching a chocolateglazed doughnut from Donut House atop a sea of sprinkles and a hairdresser’s scissors on a bed of flowing locks.

Stacey also works with brands like Tory Burch, Michael Kors, and Tom Ford.

“EVERYTHING ABOUT HAVING MY CAR STOLEN WAS UNPLEASANT, BUT I KEPT THINKING, THIS WILL MAKE A GOOD STORY .”

—Freelance writer and former 5280 intern Lauren Puckett, who couldn’t quiet her reporter’s brain even when her vehicle went missing (“Car Trouble,” page 28)

CHARGED UP

The most frustrating thing about batteries is that they’re often “not included.” But electric car manufacturers’ gripes are a little more complex, which is why Louisville company Solid Power is building a whole new version (“A Better Battery,” page 30).

FROM THE ASHES

The Monarch, a brick building in Victor, hosted an art gallery that shuttered in 2009, then sat empty until its recent rebirth as a boutique hotel (“Killer Design,” page 41). It’s only the latest of several transformations: The original structure went up in 1896, burned down soon thereafter, was rebuilt in 1899, and has been both a saloon and casino.

FISH FOOD

Determining if your haddock is ethically sourced once meant sifting through unfamiliar apps and confusing labels, then crossing your fingers. Now, Niceland Seafood’s wares are displayed in King Soopers with a QR code (“Sea Change,” page 50). Scan them with your smartphone for all the info you need to feel good about your purchase.

Illustrations by Michael Hirshon; Courtesy of Cait Falc

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From top: Andy Cowell; Dan Saelinger/Trunk Archive

THROWING SHADE

Downtown Denver currently boasts far more concrete than jungle: Tree canopies cover a mere four percent of our urban core, six percent short of the city’s stated goal and much less than more arbor-friendly places such as San Francisco (13.7 percent). Trees aren’t just pretty; they help rid the air of pollutants and correlate with lower crime rates and better mental health. Plus, shade makes the air feel cooler. Luckily for sweaty Denverites, a movement is blooming. Throughout the summer, the Downtown Denver Partnership will prepare to expand existing “tree pits,” those intermittent holes in sidewalks where trees grow. It hopes giving roots more room will counteract the effects of underground utility and fiber optic lines, dense clay soil, and our semi-arid climate—unfriendly conditions that can prematurely kill trees. Additionally, Denver Parks and Recreation committed to planting more than 100 trees downtown by the end of 2020. And finally, to raise awareness about our tree scarcity, local nonprofit Design Workshop Foundation commissioned two sculptures from Denver artist Kenzie Sitterud that will be installed July 1 on Curtis Street between 14th Street and the 16th Street Mall. The metal trees will stand about 12 feet tall and feature a canopy of chairs instead of leaves, which, along with placards explaining the issue, may encourage passersby to take their seats at the table. —MEREDITH SELL

JULY 20 19 |

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Western Revival

Adventure-focused developments on the Western Slope are betting big on Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy.

A rendering of the Riverfront at Las Colonias Park campus in Grand Junction

W

hile searching for a new headquarters for their fly-fishing company in 2014, David Dragoo and his father, Doug, kept returning to undeveloped farmland on the north end of Montrose. The pair, whose business, Mayfly Outdoors, was then based in Colorado Springs, had toured sites in Arizona and California but knew Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy was booming and that a growing number of the state’s residents were looking to work where they played. The 164-acre parcel of land along the Uncompahgre River, they believed, would allow them to take advantage of both trends to develop an outdoors mecca—part business park, part playground—that could attract other adventure companies to the Western Slope town.

That vision came to fruition this past month when Mayfly became the first resident of the $200 million Colorado Outdoors campus. The development—funded by the company as well as state and local incentives—hopes to house gear manufacturing, administrative, retail, and hospitality operations and is the first of its kind in Colorado. It won’t be the last: A comparable 146-acre, $30 million setup, the Riverfront at Las Colonias Park, will open this winter along the Colorado River in Grand Junction. Along with providing access to trails, fishing, and other adventure opportunities, both hope to jump-start beautiful but often overlooked regions of the state. “We wanted to diversify our economy,” says Robin Brown, executive director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, “and we were seeing a lot of growth in outdoor recreation—especially with regard to manufacturing and new technology.”

Colorado’s outdoor industry is certainly on the rise: The state estimates the sector generated $62.5 billion in 2017, nearly double the total five years ago. Montrose and Grand Junction could use some of those dollars. Although Montrose County has an unemployment rate of not quite four percent, slightly higher than the state’s 3.3 percent, the area’s average wage is $39,520, around $10,000 less than Colorado’s. While he won’t speculate on what

in the

AIR 26

Things To Discuss This Month…While Smelling Mountain Bluebells At The Crested Butte Wildflower Festival

| 5280 | JULY 2019

If the Bureau of Land Management’s headquarters will move from Washington, D.C., to Denver, which Governor Jared Polis says is more likely than Grand Junction.

How to stream fireworks on your laptop. Citing wildfire danger, many Colorado locales, including Frisco and Aspen, have canceled their July 4 pyrotechnic displays.

future tenants of the Colorado Outdoors project might pay their workers, David says they could produce 1,600 jobs—many of them in the highpaying manufacturing sector. The Riverfront project, which is being built by the city of Grand Junction (regional average wage: $44,408), could add 300 jobs; zip-line maker Bonsai Design and bike rack manufacturer RockyMounts have already agreed to move their headquarters to the site.

Leaders in Montrose and Grand Junction also realize that while they might lack access to big-city trappings, they do have something that is particularly appealing to the outdoor industry: the outdoors.

To stay competitive, both developments feature open space and trails along with amenities including an open-air amphitheater at Riverfront and a hotel at Colorado Outdoors. Mayfly’s subsidiaries, Abel Automatics and Ross Reels, even helped rehab the Uncompahgre. “There’s world-class fishing a few hundred feet from my office,” David says.

Hopefully for Montrose, that’s access other brands will want to share. —JOHN BRILEY

Things that are better late than never: Joyce McConnell, former West Virginia University provost, will become Colorado State University’s first female president this month.

Clockwise from top: Courtesy of Bonsai Design; Courtesy of Colorado State University Photography; Getty Images

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CRIME

Car Trouble

A reporter digs into Colorado’s auto theft boom after becoming a victim herself.

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64% Increase in the number of cars reported stolen in the Denver metro area from 2008 to 2017

ficers across Colorado crack down on the offense.) This month, National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, CAAT’s Lockdown Your Car initiative will organize both education efforts and community events (check your city’s website for more info).

“People are starting to see that auto theft is connected to more violent crimes,” Greenwell says. “I think the increased awareness is starting to pay off.”

I don’t know if my CR-V was party to any violence, but I know its owner feels plenty educated. I just hope others don’t have to learn these lessons the way I did.

—LAUREN PUCKETT

Yuta Onoda

I

was handling myself pretty well until they pulled the crack pipe out of my back seat. It was June 1, 2018, less than a week since I’d moved to Denver for an internship at the magazine you’re currently reading. I stood in the dusty lot of Mirage Recovery Service in Commerce City, where local police had towed my Honda CR-V following her four-day spree in the hands of a thief. Now, she’d returned to me, drivable despite a dented front bumper—and stuffed with souvenirs.

The crack pipe. A flat-screen television.

Crumpled sheets of paper, one detailing a number of “grams” for an unnamed “teenager.” Syringes.

Unidentifiable powder. And, for some reason, copper wind chimes. When the Denver Police Department (in whose jurisdiction my car was taken) called to tell me that my vehicle had been located, I was given instructions to drive it back to the Mile High City. But the Mirage guys didn’t think it wise for me to travel across the metro area hauling a carload of burgled goods and drug paraphernalia.

So they hoisted each item into a dumpster as I dissolved into tears.

Unnerved, I contacted the DPD with questions. They had few answers. I never learned who stole my CR-V or if anyone was convicted, though it seems unlikely. Colorado cops are great at getting cars back (between January 1 and April 30 this year, 96 percent of stolen vehicles were recovered), but Denver officers solve or otherwise clear such cases only 12 percent of the time as of 2017, the most recent data available. I did discover, however, that I’ve become a statistic in a growing problem: According to a 2017 report from the nonprofit National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Denver metro area has the 20th-highest auto theft rate per capita in the nation, which ranks well above places such as Los Angeles and Chicago. In 2008, we were 75th.

“Colorado has big-city problems now,” says Carole Walker, chair of Coloradans Against Auto Theft (CAAT), a state task force created in 2010 to lead prevention efforts. Walker, along with police, partially blames the population boom for the increase in stolen cars— studies show greater density and income inequality correspond with rising crime.

But transplants don’t shoulder all the blame. Two years ago, overdose deaths involving opioids in Colorado reached the highest they’ve been since 1999, mirroring the nationwide epidemic. With more oversight, it’s become challenging for those addicted to pain medication to obtain prescriptions, so they’re increasingly tapping the illegal market. Offenders often use stolen cars for drug transport, police say, so cars like mine—left unlocked with a spare key foolishly stashed in the glove box—become ideal delivery vehicles. The data bears this out: Colorado saw a 115 percent rise in motor vehicle thefts that included assault/violent crime charges between 2015 and 2016. Commander Mike Greenwell of the Lakewood Police Department says these arrests often involve drugs.

Even though a recent survey shows that a growing number of Coloradans recognize auto theft as a problem, almost a third still admit to leaving their vehicles running while unattended, a practice called “puffing” that’s illegal statewide. (You’re most likely to pay the $60-on-average fine during “Puffer Week,” an annual winter campaign during which of-

A Better Battery Electric vehicles are getting a groundbreaking new life source, thanks to a Louisville startup.

F

or years, car companies have vied for position in a race to find a battery that can provide a longer charge for electric vehicles. Being the first to discover this holy grail—a power supply with enough range to make fully electric automobiles a practical option for average car shoppers—would potentially be worth billions. In 2018 alone, investors such as Toyota and Nissan sunk more than $500 million into battery-focused startups.

This month, Colorado’s Solid Power is set to zoom to the front of the pack.

Elon Musk has already pushed the boundaries of what’s possible for eco-friendly cars. Teslas’ potentials are limited, though, because they have lithium-ion batteries under their hoods. Decades of innovation have made these energy sources—which also power most electronic accessories, including smartphones—efficient and easy to mass-produce.

But safety concerns limit their strength. To put it simply, lithium-ion batteries utilize a liquid electrolyte that serves as a sort of highway for charged particles moving between the anode at one end of the battery and the cathode at the other, with a polymer separator between the two. That liquid is flammable, though; if manufacturers pack too much energy into the device or the polymer barrier breaks down, a fire could occur.

The alternative? Batteries that replace the liquid electrolyte with a solid one, which can’t catch fire, making the product safer. In these solid-state batteries, the anodes are also made of lithium metal, which can stock more power than the graphite used in lithium-ion anodes. But early versions hit a snag: The chemical recipe caused the solid electrolyte to degrade immediately, diminishing the batteries’ ability to hold a charge after one trip.

Finding longer-lasting components that weren’t excessively heavy seemed like a difficult proposition—until University of Colorado Boulder mechanical engineering professors Sehee Lee and Conrad Stoldt began researching the technology in 2010. After three years of testing designs, they found that adding a sulfide-based material to the solid electrolyte kept it intact for about a thousand charges, making solid-state batteries a more feasible transportation option. Intent on commercializing the idea, the university transferred ownership of the research

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The solid electrolyte at the center of a Solid Power battery

to startup veteran Doug Campbell, who formed Solid Power in 2013.

Now, Campbell’s Louisville-based crew is on the verge of making batteries it claims will extend a car’s range by up to 50 percent. For a Tesla Model 3, the country’s best-selling electric vehicle, that means going from 310 miles per charge to 450.

Not surprisingly, backers such as Ford have collectively invested more than $20 million in Solid Power. “The significant amount of money they’ve raised,” says Sam Jaffe, a batteryindustry analyst with Boulder-based Cairn Energy Research Advisors, “shows that automakers think they have something special.”

Investors’ bets start paying off this month, when Solid Power opens the country’s first factory capable of churning out solid-state batteries for vehicles. When fully operational, the Louisville facility could produce about 200 a year. That may not seem like much, but Solid Power plans to scale up at a responsible pace, especially as it continues tweaking its manufacturing process.

When it’s perfected, Campbell intends to license the secrets to automakers so they can make solid-state batteries at their own plants.

Campbell already has partnerships in place with BMW and Ford— meaning the company is on its way to powering the industry’s power players. —JASON PLAUTZ

From top: Photo Illustration by Sean Parsons; Andy Cowell

TECHNOLOGY

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Hoo wants to experience the wonder of transforming lives?

Donating blood saves 12,000 lives a day. But people under 40 aren’t giving like generations before them. So animals are teaming up with Vitalant to save the humans. Because if young people don’t start donating, we could run out.

Find a blood donation center at Vitalant.org/SaveTheHumans

How two Fort Collins residents are teaming up to climb their first fourteener. PAGE 38

Adventure

TURN THE PAGE

to read more about Nite Ize, the biggest little outdoor company you’ve never heard of.

Aaron Colussi (top)

CASE CLOSED

The zipper has provided convenient access to people’s, um, stuff since its debut at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. In fact, the only knock we can assign to that original design (besides the occasional snag) is that it’s not great at blocking water. Earlier this year, though, Boulder’s Nite Ize unveiled an invention that could revolutionize the way people clasp things together. Named Tru Zip, the product features smooth rails made of flexible wires covered by a tough, rubber exterior; a standard, pull-to-close slider seals the rails together. The company claims it’s the first toothless, waterproof zipper, and the fastener makes packs considerably easier to access than roll-top dry bags. You may eventually see Tru Zip on everything from jackets to backpacks, but for now, Nite Ize has incorporated the device into its just-launched RunOff line of waterproof pouches. The durable polyurethane packs come in six sizes ($25 to $55), ranging from wallet pocket to packing cube—a watertight business plan. —SHANE MONAGHAN P H O T O G R A P H BY M AT T H E W S TA C E Y

JULY 2 019 |

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GEAR

Brand Awareness

You may not know Nite Ize’s name, but if you love adventuring, you’ve likely used one of the Boulder company’s inventions.

N

ite Ize employees attend 100-plus trade shows across the country every year. At each stop, browsers of Nite Ize’s booth easily recognize the more than 500 products the company hawks—the retractable dog leashes, the bendable gear ties. They just don’t know where the gadgets come from. “They often think we’re a distributor,” founder Rick Case (pictured) says. “And we get to say, No, actually, we make all of these.”

Don’t feel too bad for Case. Producing such an array of gear hasn’t resulted in name recognition for the firm he founded 30 years ago, but his penchant for dreaming up small, innovative adventure tools has turned Nite Ize into one of Boulder’s biggest outdoor brands: The company has 250 employees, and according to many unofficial estimates, generates more than $100 million in annual revenue. (Nite Ize declined to disclose definite financial info.)

Case developed Nite Ize’s first product in the late 1980s as a student at the University of Colorado Boulder. During outdoor exploits, including predawn backcountry skiing, he often found himself without a free hand to hold a flashlight. So he used webbing and elastic to rig a Maglite to his head, and a light bulb went off—literally and figuratively. Case and some friends sewed hundreds of the flashlight-compatible accessories and sold them to local retailers.

“I realized I had a viable business in 1991,” Case says, “when REI agreed to sell the headband.”

In Nite Ize’s first decade, Case unveiled more than 15 light-based tools designed for use in the outdoors. Around 2000, though, he realized he needed to branch into other areas to continue expanding his business—hence, the S-Biner (a double-sided carabiner), Nite Ize’s Steelie line of magnetic dashboard mounts for smartphones, and myriad more devices.

Turns out, there’s no big secret to Nite Ize’s ability to churn out inventive products. Case credits the experiences of employees and feedback from customers, but Adam Ruggiero, a senior news editor for GearJunkie, says the company’s success stems from its ability to remix existing designs: “They’ve been successful by taking different approaches to markets that already have an established paradigm.” With plans to keep releasing new gear two times a year, that innovation should continue, whether households learn the Nite Ize name or not. —SM

“I REALIZED I HAD A VIABLE BUSINESS IN 1991 WHEN REI AGREED TO SELL THE HEADBAND.”

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| 5280 | JULY 2019

Claire Sunderland always found packing cubes—soft-sided cases that keep gear and clothes from becoming a jumble in backpacks—incredibly useful. She also found them flawed.

Typically constructed of polyester or thin nylon, existing brands often ripped, leaked, or were too bulky.

So, along with friends Erika Aldeborgh and Nicole Kennedy (and with $15,000 raised via Kickstarter), Sunderland is launching Pika Products this summer. The Denver startup produces cubes built of water-resistant, heavy-duty nylon cloth. Moreover, the bags—which range in size from a toiletry holder ($25) to a small backpack ($45)—have clips that keep them in tight rolls when empty, so they’re as easy to store when they’re not in use as when they are. —SM

From left: Joe Amon/Getty Images; Courtesy of Nomadic Gear

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WHAT WE’RE EXPLORING THIS MONTH

Yampa River Core Trail DRIVE FROM DENVER

About 150 miles DISTANCE

7.5 miles, one way

Water Whirled

Turns out, humans actually can improve upon nature’s designs.

Engineered river parks opening around the state are proving it by tweaking the flow of existing waterways (or building new ones) to create exhilarating rapids and tranquil swimming holes. Score one for human ingenuity—and your summer. —KELLY BASTONE

EAGLE RIVER PARK Opened Memorial Day weekend; free

Until recently, the river running through downtown Eagle was merely scenery. No longer: The city government transformed the 3,000-foot stretch into a white-water playground. The first two sections cater to expert kayakers capable of somersaulting through waves. (If you’re not ready for 18-inch drops, a channel to the left skirts these bigger rapids.) The final two segments, which opened this past summer, provide gentle ripples perfect for tubers and beginners learning to kayak the currents.

APRÈS-SPLASH: Once your adrena-

line wanes, head to Bonfire Brewing, a five-minute walk down Grand Avenue, to reminisce about the day’s epic tricks and hilarious fails.

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SOPRIS SPLASH ZONE

Slated to open this month; free with Glenwood Hot Springs Resort entry (starting at $18) Glenwood Hot Springs Resort is unveiling a water park that caters to its youngest patrons with a toddler pool, splash pad, and trio of mini slides. But those ready for a wilder ride should grab a tube and head to the Shoshone Chutes, a 700-foot-long adventure river. At a flow rate of 32,000 gallons of water per minute, it’s nearly twice as fast as Boulder Creek. The man-made route’s sharp curves and steep drop-offs imitate a mountain stream, while landscaping, such as wax currant shrubs, mimics Colorado’s scenery.

APRÈS-SPLASH: Taps rotate often at

Glenwood Springs Brew Garden, and each pour tastes especially refreshing under the patio’s shade-providing locust trees.

A kayaker conquers the rapids at Eagle River Park.

POUDRE RIVER WHITEWATER PARK

Slated to open late summer; free An $11.5 million restoration will transform a 1,000-foot-long, swampy section of the Cache La Poudre River into healthy habitat for fish, critters, and water-loving humans. Located just north of Fort Collins’ Old Town, the park includes areas where kayakers, tubers, and paddleboarders will be able to bound over whitecaps or attempt to surf the recirculating waves created by stacked boulders. An ADA ramp provides wheelchair access to the river, and a pool along the north bank lets toddlers cool off in relative safety.

APRÈS-SPLASH: At Old Town Putt, new to the Exchange food hall this May, young’uns can down fruity slushies after mini-golf (yes, there are boozy versions for the 21-plus crowd).

—DALIAH SINGER

ON THE WEB To read about yet another new Colorado river adventure, the Cañon City Whitewater Park, visit 5280.com.

Clockwise from top: Courtesy of the town of Eagle; Courtesy of Steamboat Springs Chamber; Getty Images; Courtesy of Bonfire Brewing

WHY WE LOVE IT

You’ll find no quad-busting inclines here.

Rather, the call of this trail—which follows the Yampa River as it weaves through Steamboat Springs—is art.

Check out more than a dozen works (most are located near downtown) as you walk or bike along the paved path and past the Yampa River Botanic Park. Look for the brandnew “Yampa Is Wild” mural on the Ambulance Barn building. A collaborative piece the community helped paint, the installation depicts the entire route of the river.

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Q&A

Have you chosen a fourteener yet?

MK: Not yet. We need one with shorter mileage because we have to take more breaks.

TH: It’s a lot of work to hike a fourteener no matter what.

MK: There’s definitely a learning curve.

Trailblazers

Two Fort Collins adventurers combine abilities to take on the ultimate Colorado challenge.

D

on’t call Melanie Knecht and Trevor Hahn “inspirational.” They’re just two friends drawn to the Centennial State’s mountains— even if navigating them requires some creativity and teamwork.

Hahn, who lost his eyesight to glaucoma five years ago, straps a carrier to his back; Knecht, who was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, perches there and verbally directs his ascent. They call their adventures Hiking With Sight, and next month they’ll attempt their first fourteener together. (You, along with nearly 3,000 other fans, can follow their training through their eponymous Facebook page.) The feat requires some serious preparation, but 5280 convinced the pair to sit still long enough to chat about their favorite trails, accessibility, and the importance of communication. —MARY MURPHY

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| 5280 | JULY 2019

RESUMÉS NAME: Melanie

Knecht

AGE: 29 OCCUPATION:

Certified music therapist and music therapy graduate student at Colorado State University

NAME: Trevor Hahn AGE: 42 OCCUPATION:

Owner of Trevor Hahn’s Art Through Touch

What has that learning curve entailed?

MK: Communication is number one. I’m trying to warn him about obstacles far in advance, but also tell him if he’s about to trip on a rock or root in that moment.

I have to interrupt myself to give directions.

TH: It takes a lot of teamwork. If I fall, she falls. Lower branches can sometimes be a problem. My trekking poles can usually find things on the ground, but nothing above. If I have a guide, they can tell me what to watch out for, but that doesn’t always happen....

MK: (laughs) Yeah, we’ve hit a couple of branches. It’s fine.

We’re working on it.

Where do you guys train?

TH: Places like Lory State Park. We’ll start doing trails in Rocky Mountain National Park soon. Longer trails, like Greyrock Trail, which is really rocky and steep, are a good test for navigation skills.

And some gravel trails in Pawnee National Grassland are relatively accessible.

In general, are Colorado trails accessible?

MK: Open-space trails aren’t paved, like, ever, which makes them a pain in the ass to roll on. It’s getting better each year, though.

There’s been this realization that, Hey, people with disabilities like to get outside and enjoy nature, too.

Staunton State Park also has three of these new Action Trackchairs available. It’s a wheelchair with tank wheels, so it can go on sand, rocks, and snow.

TH: There are so many adaptive programs going on these days.

I’ve snowboarded with the BOEC folks [Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center’s adaptive ski program] and also with STARS [Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports].

MK: It’s really the perception of accessibility that needs to change.

And it’s fighting that frustrating “inspiration porn” idea. We aren’t here to make an abled person feel better about themselves.

TH: I hate that word.

When I’m snowboarding, people will yell off the lifts, “You’re so inspirational, man!” and it’s like, ugh.

MK: I mean, would you say that to a person if they didn’t have a disability? Probably not.

TH: We’re just doing what we love to do.

Aaron Colussi

5280: What sparked the idea of hiking a fourteener?

Melanie Knecht: I visited Easter Island in 2012 and used a backpack carrier for the first time. It didn’t fit and was super uncomfortable, but I was able to do things I could have never done in a wheelchair. I thought it would be really cool to try something with a better carrier, so after meeting Trevor in 2018, I brought the idea up.

Trevor Hahn: When I hike, I’m always guided by someone walking in front of me. I wanted to serve a bigger purpose on the trail.

MK: We figured I could be the eyes, and he could be the legs.

TH: This way, we both have purpose and this huge responsibility.

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Front Range foraging: Three good reasons to eat your greens (and roots and bark). PAGE 44

Culture

From top: Getty images; Courtesy of Cait Falc (2); Saadiq Creations/Courtesy of Black Monarch Hotel (2)

KILLER DESIGN

If you want to create an atmosphere that’s both creepy and comfortable, referencing the right murderers is paramount. Just ask Adam Zimmerli, owner of the Monarch, an 1899 property he’s transformed into a boutique hotel. Zimmerli drew inspiration from Elizabeth Báthory, a 16th-century Hungarian noblewoman who purportedly butchered hundreds, and H.H. Holmes, who in the 1890s ran the “Murder Castle” in Chicago—outwardly sophisticated icons with chilling secrets, like the Monarch itself. Located in Victor, a small town southwest of Colorado Springs, the two-story structure was originally home to a casino, saloon, and brothel. Rumor has it the building is haunted, too. In 2018, Zimmerli, a Denver hotel developer, saw its dark potential: Preserved Victorian Gothic elements, such as oak staircases with carved railings, provided ghoulish bones, and Zimmerli added grisly decor, including a kitten preserved in a snow globe (don’t worry, it died naturally). There’s one suite dedicated to Báthory and one to Holmes. The two other rooms aren’t named for specific killers— but black walls still drive home the spooky vibe in what’s now fittingly called the Black Monarch Hotel. Rooms start at $90 per night; blackmonarchhotel.com —ANGELA UFHEIL

JULY 20 19 |

5280 | 41

MUSIC

From left: Keith Moseley, Michael Kang, Michael Travis, Jason Hann, Bill Nershi, and Kyle Hollingsworth of the String Cheese Incident

W

hen the String Cheese Incident formed in Crested Butte in 1994, its members were just ski bums trying to make enough money to pay for the next day’s lift ticket. In the 25 years since, the group’s genre-bending bluegrass sound has helped it build a die-hard fan base and climb as high as the main stage at the 2011 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

More important, String Cheese—along with outfits like Leftover Salmon and Big Head Todd and the Monsters—established the Centennial State as an epicenter for jam bands. Before the six-man ensemble celebrates its silver anniversary with three nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (July 19 to 21), we asked String Cheese’s Colorado contemporaries to reflect on the band’s lasting legacy. —WILL JARVIS

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“In 1995, String Cheese was playing in Telluride at this basement bar. All the hippies are stomping down into this little room that holds maybe 80 people—and there were 80 people there. Shoes and sandals and bushy armpits. It stunk, and people tried to mask it with tons of sage and incense. I liked that. I’d been to a ton of Grateful Dead shows, you know? I felt at home. And the way String Cheese was jumping from genre to genre, it freaked me out. It was pure musicianship—salsa to funk to bluegrass to reggae to jazz, and repeat. I just knew this was going to be something people dug.”

“We’d been a band for about five years when String Cheese started, and they told me directly that they basically began as a Leftover Salmon cover band. We’re all part of the bluegrass culture, but String Cheese did a totally different thing with it. They went more into other styles than we did—more into Afrobeats and incorporating techno into their sound.”

DREW EMMITT, co-founder of Left-

KELLER WILLIAMS, a solo musician who collaborated

over Salmon (which has a show at Red Rocks on July 4)

“When I was about to graduate from the University of Colorado in 2014, String Cheese played on the Hill in Boulder. The show was basically in the middle of an intersection. I cannot make this up. People were literally climbing light poles and hanging from them and dancing. They were sneaking onto rooftops. You could see them on top of businesses and apartments.

I’m like, No other band could fathom this scene in Boulder. They were one of our biggest inspirations.”

“They’re always putting a lot of energy into the live show to make it an experience—always working on collaborations with other musicians, always mixing up the set. I love that myself and other artists can show up, and String Cheese will be like, ‘Come out and drum.’

That always happens. You’re just talking to them in the green room and they say, ‘Hey, come play.’

And we jam.”

with String Cheese on the 1999 album Breathe (he’ll play the entire record live with the band at Red Rocks on July 20)

DANNY EVANS, guitarist for Amoramora, a Colorado jam band that performs an annual show titled “Smoked Gouda: A Tribute to the String Cheese Incident”

DAVE WATTS, drummer for Colorado funk band the Motet

From top: Jeremy Williams Photography; Courtesy of C. Taylor Crothers; Courtesy of Jenise Jensen

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PICK CAREFULLY

2

Before you start ripping plants from the earth, Colorado experts have some sage advice.

3 1

Study the poisons first.

Briana Wiles, owner of Rooted Apothecary in Crested Butte and Gunnison, says many novices don’t learn what not to pick: For example, death camas, which looks a lot like garlic, should be memorized and avoided.

Gathering Seed

Beware of urban areas.

You may not put toxic fertilizers on plants, but your neighbor might. Always use caution, and keep your foraging to wilder areas and your own backyard.

1. G A RL IC

2 . D A NDE L ION

3 . S IB E RI A N E L M

Find It: Allium sativum can be grown in the garden or purchased at a farmer’s market.

Health Benefits: Some small studies have shown that people taking garlic supplements caught fewer or less severe colds than those ingesting a placebo, and accounts of its antimicrobial and antifungal properties are legion.

DIY: Chop one clove and allow it to rest for about 15 minutes. Mix into one to three tablespoons of honey.

Buy It Instead: Garlic-infused Funky Foot Salve from Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary & Supply in Boulder contains herbs traditionally used to treat foot molds. $8.50 for a one-fluid-ounce jar

Find It: In your lawn, in a meadow, on a mountain; Taraxacum officinale puts down roots everywhere.

Health Benefits: Inulin, a fiber in dandelion roots, has been shown to promote healthy digestion, which might be why Chinese and Native American cultures have used it in medicines.

Plus, the greens have vitamin A, an immune system booster.

DIY: Blend the bitter leaves and roots into a smoothie.

Buy It Instead: Anna’s Apothecary in Manitou Springs incorporates dandelion root into its Detox Thyself Tea. The owners say it helps flush toxins from the body. $13 for eight ounces

Find It: Ulmus pumila is an invasive tree so hardy it can grow in pastures, yards, and between cracks in the road.

Health Benefits: Like commonly used slippery elm (which has been overharvested to the point of scarcity), Siberian elm contains a slimy substance called mucilage in its bark that, according to herbalists, eases sore throats.

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DIY: The inner bark can be chewed or sucked on.

Buy It Instead: Although you’re more likely to find slippery elm products, you can buy Aspen Healing Herbs’ Siberian elm tincture from Dreamweaver Sisterhood, an Aspen apothecary, on Etsy. $13 for one ounce

Hours of class time needed to earn an herbalism certificate from the Denver Botanic Gardens

Watch for shifts in the season.

Because foliage changes with the weather, “Cattail” Bob Seebeck, who teaches a survival plants course at Red Rocks Community College, instructs his students to recognize all stages of growth.

Respect Mother Nature.

Plucking just a few leaves can still impact the environment, says Kat Mackinnon, botany program director at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism. Learn the abundant varieties (like the three at left), and gather only what you need. —AU

Matthew Stacey

Long before Alexander Fleming’s petri dish brimmed with mold, humans used plants to treat what ailed them. While nature’s bounty may not be able to vanquish an infection with penicillin’s ruthlessness, our ancestors weren’t totally clueless: Much of the flora available during July, a prime foraging month, contains medicinal properties.

Below, three plants found on the Front Range and how to use them—plus some local apothecaries’ offerings for those who don’t want to play pharmacist. —AU

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Boost your health, one herb, root, or weed at a time.

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SAVE THE DATE

Best Bets

Your short list of Colorado’s coolest July events. —KAELYN LYNCH

JULY 23–28

Oil painter Sarah Woods

IT’S ALL DOWNHILL

RENAISSANCE REVIVAL

JULY 5–28

LIVING ART

Patrons of museums and galleries rarely have the opportunity to see the painstaking work that goes into the beautiful creations on display. But at the Broadmoor Art Experience, visitors will get a free look into the process behind the masterpieces when more than 50 world-renowned painters, sculptors, and other artists turn the grounds of the famed Colorado Springs hotel and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo into their personal studios. Each weekend in July, watch makers—including Native American sculptor Doug Hyde, whose work has appeared in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and revered Colorado Springs painter Thomas Blackshear—as they craft works inspired in part by the soaring peaks, lush gardens, and animals around them. Guests can also chat with them about their backgrounds and methods, so when you buy one of their conversation-starting works, you’ll have plenty to talk about. broadmoorgalleries.com

JULY 5–6

BUCKING TRADITION

Deer Trail, a small town on Colorado’s Eastern Plains, professes to be the home of the world’s first rodeo. The contentious title—which has been claimed by at least two other U.S. locales—dates back to July 4, 1869, when the area’s roughest riders competed to see who could hang on to a bucking stallion the longest. This year’s Deer Trail Rodeo (tickets start at $5) will commemorate the 150th anniversary of that original contest with standard cowboy fare, including bronc riding, as well as odes to the area’s history, such as archival footage of previous years’ competitions playing on a big screen and a 118-page cookbook ($20) with recipes from the town’s founding families. Regardless of the veracity of Deer Trail’s assertion, the rollicking event offers one absolute truth: authentic Old West culture an hour’s drive from the city. rodeosusa.com

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During Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition ($10 to $16), the Hangar at Stanley Marketplace will display life-size photo reproductions of the Italian painter’s seminal work. However, instead of standing several stories below the masterpieces, like in Vatican City, visitors will be mere feet from the artistic creations— close enough to see God’s wrinkles. stanley marketplace.com

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Find more events in the Calendar on page 130 and online at 5280.com/ events.

JULY 13–20

OUT OF THIS WORLD For the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong stepping on the moon, Apollopalooza will provide an in-depth look into space’s past and future frontiers. Hosted by the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, the event (tickets start at $23) will feature interstellar celebrities, such as Apollo 17 veteran and retired U.S. Senator Harrison Schmitt, and exhibits about topics like the commercialization of space travel. The experience may inspire future leaders to create their own interplanetary footprints. wingsmuseum.org

Clockwise from top left: Courtesy of the Broadmoor Galleries; Courtesy of Weldon Weaver; Courtesy of Deer Trail Jockey Club and Jockeyettes

JULY 4– AUG. 13

For the first time in nearly a decade, Colorado will host the country’s premier two-wheeled gravity-fueled competition when the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championship comes to various locations throughout Winter Park. Fat-tire fanatics can watch 1,300 top pros and amateurs compete for coveted titles in events such as downhill racing and dual slalom, a short head-to-head sprint through an obstacle-filled course. Among the decorated singletrack slayers, be sure to keep an eye out for homegrown heroes, including Olympian and Colorado native Chloe Woodruff. usacycling.org

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Duncan Holmes’ two tiny RiNo restaurants signal an exciting Scandinavian phase for Denver diners. PAGE 56

Eat Drink The Tejas brisket sandwich at Hank’s Texas Barbecue

Matt Nager (top)

NEW ’CUE

Say what you will about Texas transplants, but we welcome any Lone Star State pitmaster who brings his or her fromthe-heart goodness to the Mile High City. That includes Christopher Nicki, owner of five-month-old Hank’s Texas Barbecue on East Colfax Avenue, who hails from Spring, north of Houston. A former cook at Old Major in LoHi, Nicki opened his temple of smoke and meat in the space that was occupied by Solera until longtime Denver chef Goose Sorensen shuttered it in 2018. Now, Hank’s is an airy fast-casual joint where you can watch Nicki and his team carve their glistening fare—everything from dry-rubbed brisket to smoked turkey breast to hot links and sausages from local River Bear American Meats—and pile trays high with protein by the pound, loaded baked potatoes, and scratch-made sides like creamy mac and cheese. Inventive sandwiches also grace the menu; our favorite is the Tejas, in which a soft potato roll and a mountain of juicy brisket (ask for a mix of fatty and lean slices) are offset by peppery arugula, red onion, tomato, and tangy blue cheese crumbles. It’s an unorthodox pairing Nicki imported from a friend’s spot, called Tejas Chocolate and Barbecue, in Tomball, Texas—and it’s scrumptious enough to silence any naysayers with functioning taste buds. —DENISE MICKELSEN P H O T O G R A P H BY S A R A H B OY U M

JULY 2019 |

5280 | 49

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WHAT’S HOT

From left: Rougui and Aminata Dia, co-owners of Le French

SEA CHANGE

Niceland Seafood brings fresh Icelandic fish—with a side of tech—to Denver.

Where We’re Eating

The restaurants, dishes, and drinks on our dining radar.

—DENISE MICKELSEN & CALLIE SUMLIN

EARLY DAY EATS

AU NATUREL WINE BAR

NEXT STOP: PARIS

Ivy on 7th Capitol Hill

Noble Riot RiNo

Le French Southmoor Park

It’s time to kill the fatted calf.

After more than a decade spent cooking in New York City and the Hudson Valley, Chopped winner Rebecca Weitzman—who launched her career at Mizuna, Luca d’Italia, and the now-shuttered Cafe Star—has returned to Denver to lead the kitchen at Ivy on 7th. The three-monthold breakfast/brunch/lunch spot, owned by the team behind Carboy Winery and Angelo’s Taverna, is a bright daytime destination anchored

by Weitzman’s from-scratch menu. Espresso drinks, salads, pastries, sandwiches, toasts, and brunch plates feature local ingredients, and many items are glutenfree. Try the house-made pork sausage paired with runny poached eggs and soft polenta. Add a Pablo’s cold brew, a glass of Carboy wine, or even an Earl Grey whiskey sour, and it’s a brunchy repast that’s almost as satisfying as, say, coming home.

Whether you’re new to the world of “natural” (minimal intervention) wine or you’ve been swigging bottles of PétNat for years, there’s a lot to toast to at three-month-old Noble Riot. The tiny bar, tucked in the alley behind Denver Central Market, serves exclusively natural wines, which means its list is a trove of interesting sips from small producers. Depending on the season, you may find funky orange wines from Chile or a fruity rosé made with Gamay grapes from Beaujolais. Since Noble Riot is partly owned by the couple who run nearby Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club, you can complement your vino with snacky bites from Nocturne’s kitchen, including charcuterie and cheese, elk tartare, and gougères. Be sure to chat up your bartender as you raise a glass; the stories behind the bottles are part of the allure.

When two French-Senegalese sisters with more than 30 years of cooking experience between them—including helming a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris—open a bistro in Belleview Station, you catch the next light-rail car to get there. Those women, Aminata and Rougui Dia, and that restaurant, Le French, have brought beaucoup gifts to the Mile High City.

The chic eatery is open all day, so you can pop in for a croissant and café au lait in the morning or for a ham, butter, and Gruyère sandwich for lunch. At dinnertime, the high-end, African-influenced French dishes Rougui honed during her Michelin years are on display: Puff pastry parcels stuffed with foie gras, mushrooms, rabbit, and beef feet are just one delicious example.

Exquisite pastries, such as the “baba fondant au chocolat” (a rum-soaked chocolate sponge cake), might have you investing in a monthly RTD pass.

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| 5280 | JULY 2019

When: July 19 to 21 Where: Downtown Denver Don’t Miss: A tasting and workshop about sustainable seafood, led

by Niceland Seafood’s Patrick Dunaway, Beast & Bottle’s Paul Reilly, and Icelandic chef Gunnar Gíslason (of Reykjavík’s Michelinstarred restaurant Dill), on July 20 at 2:30 p.m. in Larimer Square

From top: Sarah Boyum; Courtesy of Hilmir Berg Ragnarsson

SLOW FOOD NATIONS

Standing at the fish counter at King Soopers, it’s hard to miss the rosy skin and bright white flesh of the Icelandic ocean perch fillets on display. But wait, is that a QR code on the sign? It is—and if you scan it with your smartphone’s camera, a link pops up directing you to Niceland Seafood’s website. There, you can learn all about that fish, from the name of the Icelandic boat that caught it (usually the morning before) to its sustainability rating to species-specific recipes. The info is courtesy of Niceland co-founder Oliver Luckett, who chose Denver for the company’s U.S. headquarters in 2018 thanks to direct flights from Reykjavík and the eco-friendly cultures of both places. Niceland’s local distribution partner, Seattle Fish Company, helps it get responsibly caught and farmed cod, haddock, Arctic char, and even wolffish to area restaurants and markets.

And given that most fish in Colorado comes from elsewhere, knowing that ocean perch was sustainably sourced may make you feel better about the fact that it’s flown here. —DM

MORE SOCIAL. LESS MEDIA. Two locations in Colorado: Denver: 65 Broadway Stapleton: 3120 N. Uinta Street punchbowlsocial.com

&

AROUND TOWN

Strange Harvest Esoterra Culinary Garden provides the Front Range’s hottest restaurants with stunning, delicious, and totally arcane produce.

Most green thumbs get a thrill from growing a perfect heirloom tomato or an ultrafresh bunch of kale. Not Mark DeRespinis. As the owner of year-old, 1.5-acre Esoterra Culinary Garden in Longmont, he reserves his excitement for lesser-seen edibles—like “celtuce,” which offers notes of buttered popcorn; “salad burnet,” a leafy herb that tastes like cucumbers; or “oxalis,” the delicate pink flowers he likens to nature’s Sour Patch Kids. For now, DeRespinis only sells his colorful fruits, vegetables, and herbs wholesale to 20-some local restaurants, but diners in the know can spot them in seasonal dishes from Denver to Boulder and beyond. —CS

S W E E T A LY S S U M Lobularia maritima

These clusters of tiny, usually white flowers, which attract pollinators in the garden, remind DeRespinis of shooting stars. Arun Moghe, chef de cuisine at Blackbelly Market, says they taste a bit cruciferous on the front end before giving way to unctuous, sweet honey notes.

Find It: The Way Back, Blackbelly Market

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AGRETTI

Salsola soda

DeRespinis’ Italian heritage drives his fascination with obscure Mediterranean plants, including this succulent shrub, also called saltwort.

The leaves have a salty mineral flavor and are, according to chef Theo Adley of the Populist, “so intriguing you don’t need to do much to them.” He serves agretti raw in a lemon vinaigrette.

Find It: The Populist, Il Posto

CUCAMELON

PURPLE ORACH

If the dad from Honey I Shrunk The Kids focused his ray gun on a watermelon, he’d end up with something that looks like the cucamelon. But this cucumber-y Mexican fruit’s taste is unique: “It’s like a grape that has little Nerds candies in it,” says Bar Dough executive chef Carrie Baird. “We use them in salads and even as a cocktail garnish.”

Find It: Bar Dough, Corrida

With its vibrant magenta hue and wrinkled leaves, this groovy plant, sometimes called purple mountain spinach, looks like a salad green fit for a magical fairy. DeRespinis sells the meaty leaves, which have a subtle fennel flavor, solo and as part of his seasonal salad mix.

Find It: Beckon, Santo, Frasca Food and Wine

Melothria scabra

Atriplex hortensis

SPIGARELLO

Spigariello riccia

“Kale’s great,” DeRespinis says, “but why don’t local markets carry spigarello?” You’ll be asking the same question after you taste this sweet Southern Italian brassica, which is like broccoli rabe except more tender and minus the broccoli crown. Tavernetta’s Ian Wortham says it’s “good to use in the warm months to give a lighter quality to meat dishes.”

Find It: Tavernetta, Vesta

I L L U S T R AT I O N BY M A Ï T É F R A N C H I

UNDO ORDINARY ADORE US ON Facebook.com/KimCrawfordWines Please enjoy our wines responsibly. © 2018 Constellation Imports, Rutherford, CA USA | TXP-KIM19014

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FOOD TOUR

MALL CRAWL

For a true taste of Denver, tourists and office workers searching for the best bites on the 16th Street Mall would be wise to skip the chain restaurants and join the queue at one of these locally owned kiosks instead. —DM & CS

1. PHILADELPHIA FILLY

2. PLANET OF THE KREPES

Go For: The cheesesteak ($8), which has been built on a crusty hoagie roll with tender, thinly shaved steak, white American cheese, and grilled onions since husband-and-wife team Dale Goin and Sally Rock opened the cart in this spot in 1996. Mon.–Fri.

Go For: Creative crêpes— barbecue chicken with spinach and cheddar ($6.95), a savory egg-and-hashbrown breakfast number with a side of maple syrup for dipping ($5)—that are as cleverly conceived as the cart’s name. Mon.–Fri.

CLEVELAND PL.

COURT PL.

TREMONT PL.

3. LIANG’S THAI FOOD

5. LIL D’S MINI DONUTS Go For: Fresh-from-the-fryer, one-bite doughnuts in a bag ($4.35 to $5) or a cup ($6) with your choice of sweet sauces, glazes, and toppings—our go-to is chocolate sauce, caramel, whipped cream, and nuts—and a big smile from owner Rafael Barcacel, too.

Mon.–Sun.

GLENARM PL.

W E L T O N S T.

4. SHONDIZ C A L I F O R N I A S T.

Go For: The classic Turkish sandwich doner kebab ($7.25), a #lunchgoals combination of rotisserie lamb and beef, hummus, and fresh veggies atop a warm pita. Mon.–Sat.

6. LECHUGA’S ITALIAN

S T O U T S T.

Go For: This local OG’s (58 years and counting at its LoHi brick-and-mortar) signature savory cannoli, stuffed with meatballs or sausage, with marinara on the side ($5.45). Mon.–Sat.

C H A M P A S T.

C U R T I S S T.

7. ASADA RICO Go For: One of Denver’s best breakfast burritos. Whether you opt for an express, prerolled version ($4 with bacon, sausage, chorizo, or veggies) or a made-to-order marvel (for $4.75, you can augment your eggs with the likes of carne asada and spicy beef green chile), you’ll wait in a long line to place your order, but it’s worth it. Mon.–Fri.

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A R A P A H O E S T.

8. CALLE 16 PERUVIAN JOINT Go For: “Pollo a la brasa,” or tender Peruvian roast chicken, which comes with fries and a salad ($8) or tucked into toasted French bread as a mayo-and-mustard-bound chicken salad sandwich ($5). Tue.–Sat.

Sarah Boyum (8)

Go For: Thai favorites such as spicy green curry or “pad see ew” (stir-fried noodles) with your choice of chicken, pork, or beef ($7.50 to $9)— always made to order at this tiny, single-burner stall.

Mon.–Fri.

Photo by Dustin Farrenkopt

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ADVENTURE & APRÈS

SEVEN SUMMER PAIRINGS WITH THE BRECKENRIDGE DISTILLERY MOUNTAIN BIKING + BRECK BOURBON ON THE ROCKS

1 With seemingly endless miles of trails, Colorado’s famed singletrack draws mountain bikers for afternoon rides, week-long excursions and everything in between. When the ride is done—and it doesn’t matter how long you go—reach for Breckenridge Bourbon on the rocks. It’s a cold kick that goes down smooth, no matter your mountain bike skill level.

Colorado is said to boast more than 300 days of sunshine each year. Whether that’s fact or urban legend, there’s no question that the sunshine here is intense. And there’s nothing like a cool refreshment from the Breckenridge Distillery to quell the summer heat. After a day of classic Colorado adventure— hiking, biking, paddling, you name it—mix up a cocktail and toast to a day in the sun. Written by Rachel Zerowin

HIKING + CHILI CHILE VODKA MARG

GOLFING + OLD FASHIONED

SUP + GIN AND TONIC

RAFTING + BRECK BURRO

2 Whether you’re climbing Long’s Peak or taking a mellow stroll in an open space park, the foothills offer endless Instagram-able moments. Follow your hike with a Chili Chile Vodka Margarita. Just add lemon, lime, Kaffir lime simple syrup and a dash of Sriracha. Serve it over ice in a glass rimmed with honey and Arbol Chili Salt, and don’t forget the lime.

Garnish with a Thai Chili and this mix may earn you more Instagram likes than the mountains.

3 Golf balls fly farther and straighter at altitude.

And thanks to Colorado’s wide variety of courses, golfers can challenge themselves to mountain features, take in the vast views of a linksstyle course or play a casual, quick nine in downtown Denver.

When you’re all done perfecting your game (or just having fun with friends), après with a classic Old Fashioned. After all, a refined sport calls for a refined cocktail.

4 There’s nothing more refreshing than an afternoon on the water, paddling out to a quiet cove on Summit County’s Dillon Reservoir or braving the rapids of the Upper Colorado.

Nothing except a postpaddle Breck Distillery Gin and Tonic. Add in seasonal fruits and with a sprig of basil.

SUP, sip, ahhhhh...

5 Colorado’s whitewater rafting comes in all shapes and sizes: relaxed float trips, fun rapids and major whitewater. No matter which you choose, it’s only natural to toast a great day on the river with friends. Celebrate with a Breckenridge Burro, a mix of Breck Bourbon, simple syrup, and ginger beer, served with a squeeze of lime. It’s easy to make in camp and smooth enough to have a few.

FLY FISHING + BRECK WHISKEY PORT CASK FINISH

CAMPING + ESPRESSO VODKA AND COFFEE

6 Tying a fly, casting, and reeling in a beautiful brown trout, not to mention finessing a boat into the perfect eddy— fly fishing requires both skill and patience. So why not pair it with an artfully-crafted whiskey? When Breck Bourbon gets some final grooming in 59-gallon Tawny Port casks, the results are pure art. Each release is unique and totally worth the wait.

7 When the sun drops behind the peaks and mountain temperatures dip, mix up espresso vodka and coffee. It pairs perfectly with s’mores and gives tired bodies just enough of a caffeine boost to stay awake for the real show—billions of stars coming out to shine in the nighttime Colorado sky.

Get more ideas and recipes at BRECKENRIDGEDISTILLERY.COM

B R E C K E N R I D G E D I S T I L L E R Y. C O M

970.547.9759

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REVIEW

From left: Executive chef Duncan Holmes; seared sweetbreads

Beckon and Call in RiNo fit well together, signaling an exciting Scandinavian phase for Denver’s dining scene.

CALL

BECKON

2845 Larimer St. 303-954-0230 call-denver.com

2843 Larimer St. 303-749-0020 beckondenver.com

BY SCOTT MOWBRAY

B

eckon and Call sit beside each other on Larimer Street like little peak-roofed, modernist cottages parachuted in from Copenhagen. The white one, Call, feels more open to the world—there’s a patio out front—and serves midday foods, along with liquid concoctions both alcoholic and virgin. Beckon, painted a grayish khaki hue, is a bit closed-off and mysterious: a reserved, fine-dining yang to Call’s cheery, counter-service yin. This review will consider the merits of both, because they are two parts of an intriguing whole.

When Call opened in late 2017, it gained quick praise for the particularity of its daytime menu of toasts, tartines, salads, shrubs, espresso drinks, and cocktails. (It also toyed with a Scandinavian tapaslike evening menu that failed to lure in p.m. diners before retreating to focus on its early day offerings only.) But Call is far more than another knock-off lunch spot. The food tastes chef-driven because it is: Executive chef Duncan Holmes had worked at the meticulous Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, as had Call’s director of experience, Allison Anderson. A simple fried egg sandwich at Call, for example, features house-smoked pork, a soft brioche bun, gooey egg, and lemony arugula to cut through the richness. It is, surely, one of the best fried egg sandwiches in the city.

Anderson, Holmes, and their team have given the little restaurant a playful feel that manages to be both crisp and relaxed at the same time. Call quickly became one of the most propitious places in

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THE DRAW:

Inventive Scandinavian-inspired food and drink in a casual space

THE DRAWBACK:

Dinner service is limited

THE DRAW:

Chef’s counter tasting menu with superb wine matches

THE DRAWBACK:

Minimal

Some dishes fall short of the promise of the room

DON’T MISS:

NOISE LEVEL:

NOISE LEVEL:

Nonalcoholic drinks, tartines, the pork-andegg sandwich

Moderate

DON’T MISS:

The wine pairings Matt Nager (2)

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Snack ‘N’ Sip

Denver for day drinkCall’s egg sandwich and ing, with a “happy turmeric tonic hour” that started at noon and ended when the joint closed at 2 p.m. The bright attack of the room’s design was—and remains— a delight. There are reddish-orange chairs and an in-counter Mavam espresso machine painted the same color; Boos Block maple tables; a digitally projected menu; and playful typography throughout the restaurant. There’s something refreshingly unhip going on at Call—a happy warmth that is, one hopes, the new cool.

Call recently returned to serving a few snacks at night, and most of its food remains dead simple and well made, like a chicken and brown rice soup with a fine mirepoix and meaty stock that warmed me on a chilly afternoon a few months back. Others have more complicated constructions. A carrot tartine, for instance—piled high with rainbow carrot ribbons, Burrata blobs, assorted herbs, a Yemeni spice mix, and an orange purée of carrot and ginger—looked as fancy as an Easter bonnet but was straightforwardly delicious.

I particularly like Call’s nonalcoholic drinks, which can range from a tangerine-plum shrub one day to a pineapple-orange spritz another, both vibrant, fresh, and of brilliant hue—what mocktails should aspire to. The cheery staff also pulls an impressive espresso shot.

Beckon opened almost a year after Call, featuring a chef ’s counter approach and a design that will wow you. Upon entering the house, you’re welcomed in a small anteroom where staff, on my two visits, were furiously polishing wine glasses. Beyond that is the dining sanc-

Matt Nager

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tum, a Scandi-vibe space dominated by a squared-off, horseshoe-shaped counter surrounded by 18 tall chairs. The room is dramatic yet cozy, with a vaulted ceiling and walls that transition from black to white through a stippled effect.

To gain entry to the Holmes dinner show, you pay through Tock’s online ticket system, like reserving seats for a play. It’s a first for Denver, which came late to this sort of performative prix fixe cooking, in which diners face food makers and the stakes are high for both. The chef promises an intricate ritual that demands expensive ingredients and huge amounts of advance prep. The diner commits to a long meal that, when things go awry, can feel like an endless, absurdist culinary frog-march.

The good news is that Holmes approaches the tasting counter ceremony relatively modestly: only eight or nine

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Flip Sides courses intended to last A view of 2.5 hours and priced, Beckon (left) and Call as of press time, at $115, mocktail matchups included. For another $65, you can swap the mocktails for course-by-course wine pairings, while $95 buys premium reserve pairings from older vintages.

The menus have hippie-dippie lunar names that change monthly. But don’t consult Beckon’s website for clues about what you will be eating. In May, the only explanation of the Flower Moon menu began like so: “Spring comes to full climax in May, offering just the beginning of what Colorado does best.” Perhaps friends shouldn’t let friends wax poetic.

My first meal at Beckon began, after a few snacks, with Scottish langoustines: perfect bits of sea candy under a foamed sauce Américaine that had exactly the concentrated, lobster-shell flavor one wants. There were little potatoes, too, cooked to ideal tenderness. Sommelier Zachary Byers chose a laser-sharp, dry Chenin Blanc by biodynamic Loire winemaker Thibaud Boudignon to go with the seafood, and the flavors worked perfectly.

Matt Nager

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Star Seafood from Rebholz, an Langoustines in organic producer in sauce Américaine at Beckon the Pfalz region of Germany, that was all mineral fruit and tongue-pricking acidity.

Sweetbreads seem to be having a moment in the Mile High City, and the ones served as the next course—seared, with crunchy, pickled sunchoke shavings and a brown-butter sauce—were the best of a recent spate, with a crisp exterior and a soft, just-right interior. I’d argue that the sauce, which involved pear, was too fruity and the meat a bit too salty, but Byers’ choice of a Pinot Noir from New York’s Forge Cellars overcame my quibbling; it did its own Pinot thing without mimicking Oregon fruit or California heft.

A chicory salad was the mid-meal highlight. Leaves of supple radicchio sat on a coffee-roasted celery root cream, which indeed tasted of roasted grounds, with “vadouvan,” a French mixture of Indian curry spices. Here were layers of bitterness without remorse, and I loved it.

The meal proceeded pleasantly through a dish of duck with spring garlic and turnips served with a biodynamic red blend from Domaine Léon Barral in Languedoc, but then we reached a course of venison. I often find that the red meat dish is the weak link in tasting menus, and so it was on that evening. Thick discs, cut from the loin, were unpleasantly raw without a trace of gamey interest. Lingonberries in the mix felt too obvious.

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Matt Nager

And so it went, with small servings of well-considered food served on interesting, locally made stoneware, paired with unexpected wines that highlighted good work from small producers. A fillet of Boston mackerel, perfectly fresh, came with shaved fennel and a clam vinaigrette that added more briny sea notes to the fish. With it, Byers poured a dry Riesling

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Dessert began with honeyed ice cream that had an Earl Grey perfume and sherbet-y chewiness, over which a selfdescribed bergamot consommé was poured until the dish resembled what my friend called, as praise, a “country fair slush float.”

There was a delicate, milky, white chocolate Bavarian cream, too, with ultra-smooth beet ice cream, which unfortunately reminded me why I prefer my beets roasted.

Both nights I dined at Beckon, every seat was filled, the mood was merry, and the noise level was civilized. Service was generally deft, though the layout of the room requires glassware changeups and pourings from behind, and the tempo of those felt rushed. (I should disclose, as I always do when anonymity fails, that I knew one of the wine glass polishers.)

If there was a disappointment, it was simply that most dishes at Beckon did not achieve the exquisite self-actualization to which tasting menus aspire. The tricky effect one wants is a series of small revelations concerning the essential nature of the thing being served, a sequence of perfect miniatures that avoids the twee.

Holmes isn’t tempted by fussiness, but he needs to deliver more wonder.

Finally, when I returned the following month for a menu called the Crow Moon, I was served many of the same dishes and some of the same wines. Mushy skate was swapped in for mackerel, but the fish was dressed again with clam vinaigrette and fennel. The duck was about as good as the first time, but bits of orange in the chicory salad were Del Monte bland at a time when extravagant, intense Sumos were piled high in area grocery stores. A morel was soggy. These were not minor misfires, because Beckon, with its theatrical setting and obvious ambition, begs for national comparisons. Its website promises a “unique culinary journey” at every meal, and I didn’t get that.

Nonetheless, taken as a pair, Call and Beckon are both impressive. Call punches well above its counterservice weight, and Beckon provides an experience you won’t Find our Dinfind elsewhere. Both ing Guide, are low on pomp, an extensive fair in price, well delist of area restaurants, signed, inventive with on page drinks, and friendly.

138 and The dinnertime show online at in the cottage on the 5280.com/ left simply needs a bit restaurants. more dazzle. m T:10.875”

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ENVIRONMENT

Unleashing Hail

eather’s fickle nature is something farmers must you had taken a weed wacker through,” Cure says. “We lost endure, and Anne Cure has survived plenty of about six weeks of growing time.” storms since she planted her first crops in 2005 That also meant days without crops and cash flow. Cure on a piece of land just northeast of Boulder. The knew her plants would grow back, but instead of focusing area around her acreage at Cure Organic Farm is their strength on producing leaves and fruit—on reprolargely open space, farms, and ranches with plenty ducing—those plants had to shuttle energy back into of windrows, fields, and grassland. The views rebuilding. Mother Nature wasn’t done: Cure Organic Farm of the Rockies come standard, too, and on most would get hit two more times that summer. summer afternoons, she can watch clouds gather above Generally speaking, it’s not good form to complain about the mountains. Not just the sweet, docile cumulus type— precipitation in Colorado, because water is so precious. If the fluffy ones in which you found boat or bunny shapes as there is an exception to that rule, though, it is for the haila child—but the cumulonimbus variety, otherwise known storms that flatten crops, destroy roofs, pummel cars, and clog as thunderstorm clouds. These behemoths can stack sevstormwater drains. And when it comes to hail, the last few eral miles high, and instead of white, they turn shades of years have been particularly difficult for the Centennial State. gunmetal, slate, and ash. Inside, they carry the potential for On August 6, 2018, a storm near Colorado Springs killed destruction: lightning, rain, tornados, and hail. five animals at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and injured There were a lot of those clouds in 2018—some 14 people. A May 2017 tempest caused more than would say too many. The first storm with hail hit $2.3 billion in insurance losses in the metro area.

Awestruck A supercell Cure’s farm in the middle of May and lasted for, Damage from the hail and flooding shuttered the storm, a type that can she says, an excruciating 45 minutes. Gumball-size Colorado Mills mall in Lakewood for six months. produce hail, pieces of ice shredded her newly planted kale, letColorado is especially prone to this destrucin Baca County tuce, chard, arugula, and pea shoots. “It looked like tion because it sits in what the National Oceanic

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With hailstones pummeling us—and insurance payouts from the resulting damages increasing—how can Front Rangers prepare for impending storms? B Y N A T A S H A G A R D N E R

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and Atmospheric Administration and others call Hail Alley, a swath of the country that also includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. Peak season is May through July, but this year hail fell in eastern Colorado in April.

Nationally, annual hail damage has topped $10 billion for home and car owners and lessees for more than a decade. The damages to properties, plus the resulting insurance payouts, just keep growing.

O N S U M M E R DAYS , a humid wind travels up from the Gulf of Mexico, slides across the flat prairie, and runs up against the Rocky Mountains, where dry air waits. The two airflows smash against each other to create a physics marvel: a thunder cloud.

If the conditions are just right, there’s a sweet spot in that cloud where hail can form. There, particles bounce around and collect super-cold water, which freezes into ice. The particles keep bouncing—and collecting layers of ice—to form hailstones.

If you cut a stone in half, its life history will be revealed, with distinct strata of ice wrapped around a core, just like the rings of a tree. (The largest recorded hailstone in the

Frozen In Time Accumulated hailstones dropped by a 2016 storm in Castle Rock

United States was found in Vivian, South Dakota, in 2010 and measured eight inches in diameter.)

Eventually, the updraft of humid air eases or stones grow too heavy, and hail falls to the ground—if it doesn’t melt

on the way, which many stones do. That, combined with the variable movement of thunderclouds, is why meteorologists often give vague indications of hail probability. They might say that a storm “could produce” hail, meaning that all the atmospheric elements will be in place but hail may or may not reach the ground. “There are so many different physics happening at the same time,” says Andreas Prein, a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder. “It’s fascinating that it happens at all.”

The fact that it occurs along the Front Range, though, is not all that surprising given the elevation of the land here. There is less space between the clouds and the ground than in, say, sea-level Florida, meaning there is less space and time for hailstones to melt. “We are a mile closer to the cold air, so the thunderstorms that produce hail in other parts of the country have a lot more warm air mass to fall through,” says Mike Nelson, Denver7’s chief meteorologist. “Hail will melt back into raindrops before it hits the ground.”

Unfortunately, we’re not so lucky. Just ask Hal Alguire, director of public works

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at Fort Carson, where two separate storms totaled 52 roofs last year. Or Brien Darby, Denver Botanic Gardens’ manager of urban food programs, who remembers a hailstorm that broke every window in 12 greenhouses a few years ago. Or arborist Kevin Marks, who says a perfectly timed storm last spring helped fire blight, an airborne bacterium that infects and slowly kills, attack injured apple trees. Or Phil Long Dealerships’ chief administrative officer, Scott Arnold, who accepts that it’s a regular occurrence for hundreds of cars to be damaged in a matter of minutes. “If conditions are right, you just basically get your employees out of the way,” Arnold says.

All of which has made hail insurance for cars and roofs—often covered under auto or homeowner’s insurance—a virtual necessity along the Front Range. Colorado is second in number of hail insurance claims, (behind Texas), which is driving up premiums, says Carole Walker, executive director at Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, a trade organization. A 2018 study by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners showed that Coloradans have the thirdfastest-rising homeowners’ rates.

So, are we doomed to pay high insurance premiums and suffer hail damage regularly? Maybe not. “We’re trying to figure out how we could build safely, build better, build more fortified,” Walker says. On top of that, there’s a small army of scientists, based in Colorado, working to better understand these unique and destructive little balls of ice.

I N H I S B O U L D E R O F F I C E at NCAR, senior scientist Andrew Heymsfield holds a 3D model of a hailstone to demonstrate that these pieces of frozen ice are rarely smooth; they have peaks, valleys, and bulges. That’s critical, because Heymsfield wants to update data on terminal velocity—in this case, how fast hail falls—that was generated more than 70 years ago using smooth spheres. “Natural hailstones fall much more slowly than tennis balls of the same size and weight,” he says. With better data, insurance companies can adjust forecast models to accurately predict damage and manufacturers can create effective building materials to withstand storms.

His colleague, Prein, is looking at how climate change may impact thunderstorm clouds and, ultimately, hailstone formation.

It’s possible that warming temperatures will produce stronger updrafts and create storms that carry and build larger stones.

But it’s also feasible that warmer temperatures will melt falling hail before it hits the ground. “We know for certain that climate change is increasing temperatures,” Prein says. “How it affects hail and supercell storms is still [unknown].”

Scientists are asking volunteers—called “citizen scientists”—to help them track and record hail data, including storm frequency and stone size. Fort Collins’ Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network, known as CoCoRaHS, receives more than 12,000 daily weather reports. The University of Colorado Boulder’s Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences is running a project called Colorado Hail Accumulation from Thunderstorms (CHAT), which focuses on collecting information about accumulation rather than size. Softball-size hailstones might grab headlines, but Dr. Katja Friedrich and researcher Bobby Wallace are interested in what happens when six inches of pea-size hail accrues on the earth. That’s a scenario that might require cities to dust off snowplows in July to clear roads (and one reason it might not be a good idea to put away your snow shovel for the summer).

Wallace has developed an algorithm that estimates, in real time, how much hail might accumulate from a storm. Information like this could eventually help meteorologists and homeowners forecast what damage a storm might cause. To test Wallace’s algorithm, CU’s CHAT initiative collects pictures of hail sent in from people who use rulers, dollar bills, or whatever’s available to show accurate measurements.

The program is seven years old, but reports picked up last summer. All of that detailed data could make a difference in predicting and preparing for hail.

In the meantime, Anne Cure has an alternate plan. As the proprietor of a small, organic farm, she doesn’t have hail insurance.

(Those programs can be cost-prohibitive for tiny, multicrop producers.) Instead, she overplanted this season to create a seedling bank in her greenhouse. If an early storm hits, she’ll have a stock of plants with which to replace the damaged ones. It’s a backup she may not need, but Cure knows she can sell the leftover starters at a farmers’ market or donate them. It won’t stop the hail, but it will give her a little bit of security. Perhaps that’s enough—along with some luck. “We’re all crossing our fingers,” she says, “that it won’t be like 2018.” m Natasha Gardner is 5280’s articles editor.

Email her at letters@5280.com.

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TOP OF THE TOWN 2019

we eliminated the adequate, the middling, and the just ok to identify the 142 pre-eminent places to dine, imbibe, luxuriate, and recreate in denver right now.

E D I T E D BY S P E N C E R CA M P B E L L

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Reporting by Liam Adams, Chloe Barrett, Jay Bouchard, Spencer Campbell, Victoria Carodine, Kasey Cordell, Jerilyn Forsythe, Natasha Gardner, Kim Habicht, Lindsey B. Koehler, Laura Kokernot, Jessica LaRusso, Kaelyn Lynch, Denise Mickelsen, Shane Monaghan, Mary Murphy, Robert Sanchez, Meredith Sell, Erin Skarda, Callie Sumlin & Angela Ufheil Photography by Matthew Stacey Prop Styling by James Whitney JULY 20 19 |

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TOP OF THE TOWN ♥ SECTION NAME NAME

DOUGHNUT

EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Donut House The display cases at this local father-and-son-owned chain (nine locations between Denver and Castle Rock) teem with choices, from Cro Holes to cinnamon-andsugar twists. The handmade yeast dough that serves as the base for the raised doughnuts bakes up so fluffy that any selection is gratifying. Something special you’ll rarely find in the cases are the Legend Donuts—which are big, extravagant, and most easily procured by ordering online. One version, the Fruity Spread, is topped with strawberries, blueberries, and a signature cream. Or, if you’d prefer something even sweeter, go for the crème brûlée version—a vanilla-custard beauty with caramelized sugar, packed with one of nine filling flavors. Multiple locations, thedonuthouse.com

READERS’ CHOICE Glazed and Confused Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, 303-524-9637, gcdonuts.com

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DINING pakistani breakfast burritos, firefly squid, soy in sweets: it’s never been a better (or more interesting) time to be a front range diner.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHEW STACEY PROP STYLING BY JAMES WHITNEY

JULY 20 19 |

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D E S S E RT

EDITORS’ CHOICE

ALL THE DETAILS YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW WE SELECTED THIS YEAR’S TOP OF THE TOWN HONOREES. How does 5280 pick Top of the Town winners?

Our reporters and editors spend months exploring the city in order to choose winners for every category—brunch, new hotel, camping spot, etc.—on the ballot.

We do our research anonymously and pay for all meals and services.

Our readers also select their favorites by casting votes via our online ballot. (The businesses that receive the most votes win.)

PERSON OF NOTE

DINING

Don’t your advertisers automatically win?

No. Top of the Town recognition is based only on our research and readers’ votes; there is zero connection between advertisers and winners. The fact that some winners happen to be advertisers, or later decide to advertise in the magazine, does not influence our selections. Sure, we could make some folks happy by “selling” winners, but in the end, we’d lose a lot more than we’d gain—like our integrity and credibility with you.

How can my business get on the ballot?

Our ballot is a write-in format, meaning we don’t provide multiple-choice options. Voters can suggest whatever restaurant, store, person, or service they deem worthy for every category.

I have a business that deserves an award.

How can I win?

Let people know about Top of the Town voting. Contact an editor with your tip. Encourage your customers to vote for you next year (the readers’ choice ballot opens on 5280.com in February). To help you spread the word, we can make a Top of the Town tool kit available to you; it includes downloadable marketing materials and links to our site and the ballot.

How do I vote?

Visit 5280.com (voting occurs online in February and March), sign in with your name and email address, and cast your ballot. It’s that simple.

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Dana Rodriguez First, Rodriguez doubled down on the joyfully raucous vibe she pioneered at Work & Class with her new restaurant, Super Mega Bien, delivering a PanLatin spin on dim sum. Then, in the whiskiest of whiskey towns, she launched a tequila brand called Dígame and Doña Loca, a mezcal label.

Rodriguez travels to the Oaxaca region of Mexico to ensure the palenques distill her spirits using both traditional and sustainable methods.

LeRoux Most everything about this seven-month-old, Europeaninspired restaurant in LoDo feels romantic, from the sparkling crystal chandeliers to the deep, dark booths to the exquisite desserts. Led by chef-owner Lon Symensma, there’s a beautiful sensibility to the sweets menu, which transforms classics such as baked Alaska and Paris-Brest into modern marvels by tweaking their elements until the dishes feel altogether new. The Paris-Brest in particular will linger in your thoughts for weeks thanks to its craveable union of a traditional crisp choux pastry ring, a delicate pistachio crème mousseline (a riff on the typical praline cream), and a wholly au courant salty caramel sauce. While you might be tempted to clink forks with your date over one of these luxurious confections, trust us: You’re going to want your own. 1510 16th St., 720845-1673, lerouxdenver.com

READERS’ CHOICE D Bar 494 E. 19th Ave., 303-8614710, dbardenver.com

BRUNCH

EDITORS’ CHOICE Annette Some brunch spots rely on bottomless mimosas to distract from their lackluster food. Not so at Aurora’s Annette, where every single item on the short menu is stellar. Twice James Beard Award–nominated chef (and Food & Wine Best New Chef 2019) Caroline Glover’s featherlight yeasted waffles, topped with rotating seasonal fruit, are quite simply the best

we’ve ever had. We’d eat her pork hash—which combines crispy fried potatoes with tender brined pork, caramelized onions, and pickled mustard seeds—at every meal. Even the breakfast sandwich goes beyond standard thanks to the house-baked English muffin and tangy romesco sauce. In short, the fare is so creative you won’t miss the cheap booze—or the inevitable afternoon headache. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, 720-710-9975, annettescratchtotable.com

READERS’ CHOICE Whole Sol Blend Bar 1735 Chestnut Place, 720-3727862; 1420 Pearl St., Boulder, 720-475-1355; wholesol.com

I TA L I A N

EDITORS’ CHOICE Jovanina’s Broken Italian Eight-month-old Jovanina’s Broken Italian has quickly become a must-visit island in Denver’s sea of red-sauce joints, pizzerias, and upscale Italian restaurants. Husbandand-wife team Jake and Jennifer Linzinmeir (he’s a chef with Michelin-star restaurant experience, she’s the restaurateur and muse) poured all of their love for hospitality, eclectic design, and creative cooking into the charming LoDo spot. A custom Mugnaini wood oven anchors the place, turning out clever iterations of breads, pizzas, slow-roasted meats, and seafood. Consider the flaky, mozzarella-stuffed garlic knot, which lounges in a pool of roasted garlic oil and balsamic vinegar, or the freshly milled rye flour bucatini with roasted mushrooms and dill crème fraîche. The service team is led by pros imported from New Orleans’ venerable

Matt Nager

FO R YO U R I N FO R M AT I O N

T OP OF T HE T O W N DINING

NEW RESTAURANT

EDITORS’ CHOICE The Wolf’s Tailor

We knew this restaurant was special even before the James Beard Foundation bestowed two 2019 nominations—one to chef-owner Kelly Whitaker for Best Chef: Southwest and one to Jeb Breakell for Outstanding Pastry Chef—on the Sunnyside spot. Whitaker’s menu is experimental, marrying his commitments to live-fire cooking and heritage grains with an East-meets-West influence. The results: a handful of freshly milled pastas, simple yet stunning yakitori-style skewers, and veggie-centric small plates that change with the seasons. Breakell’s sweets serve as a perfect complement. Take, for example, his red miso panna cotta, in which properly jiggly custard receives earthy depth from fermented soy and a bit of crunch and sweetness from the caramelized banana served atop it. Something special, indeed. 4058 Tejon St., 720456-6705, thewolfstailor.com

READERS’ CHOICE Whole Sol Blend Bar

Commanders Palace; the wine list (and subterranean wine cellar/speakeasy, Sotto Voce) is approachable; and deconstructed desserts by pastry chef Ashley Morrison are playful without being precious. 1520 Blake St., 720541-7721, jovanina.com

READERS’ CHOICE Mici Handcrafted Italian Multiple locations, miciitalian.com

CHINESE

Sarah Boyum

EDITORS’ CHOICE Q House Q House may not be Denver’s first modern Chinese eatery, but the City Park West newbie has carved out its own niche during the past year. Executive

chef Christopher Lin draws inspiration from his family’s native Taiwan and his stint at Momofuku in New York City to conjure a menu that includes everything from traditional duck lo mein and pork belly buns to adventurous plates like beef tongue and tripe with chile oil and fried monkfish with lotus root. Pair the fantastic eats with inventive cocktails, like the refreshing aloe spritz, and you’ll understand why Q House earned a nomination for the best new restaurant in the country this year from the James Beard Foundation.

3421 E. Colfax Ave., 720729-8887, qhousedenver.com

READERS’ CHOICE Hop Alley 3500 Larimer St., 720-3798340, hopalleydenver.com

K I D -F R I E N D LY R E STAU R A N T

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Brightmarten Restaurant & Bar Opened in April 2018, this cozy neighborhood bar/restaurant in Bonnie Brae offers parents a slice of civilization and kids welcome diversions from dull, stay-in-your-seat dinners out. Slip into a booth or join a community table, then let your children wander (it’s OK, Brightmarten encourages it) as they participate in a scavenger hunt for plastic dinosaurs the staff hides around the dining room.

When it comes to the menu, parents tuck into comforting New American fare such as walnut-pesto spaghetti.

Your kids, meanwhile, will undoubtedly mow down a

simpler plate of Jack cheese nachos—especially if they know a Rice Krispies and sprinkles cast-iron cookie from the dessert menu is the reward for a clean plate. 730 S. University Blvd., 720-5417696, brightmarten.com

READERS’ CHOICE Mici Handcrafted Italian

DELI

EDITORS’ CHOICE Rye Society Delicatessen & Picklery There’s a mural on a wall inside Rye Society that traces the lineage of owner Jerrod Rosen’s family from its arrival in the United States in the late 19th century through the clan’s infiltration of the Denver grocery scene. (His JULY 20 19 |

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WINERY

EDITORS’ CHOICE Storm Cellar Winery Jayme Henderson and Steve Steese have everything it takes to bring their winery into the national spotlight. Purchased from award-winning Plum Creek Cellars in 2017, it sits in Delta County at 5,885 feet, making it one of the highest-elevation vineyards in the Northern Hemisphere—an ideal environment for cold-hardy grapes such as Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris. Plus, as ex–Mile High City sommeliers, Henderson and Steese have the palates to deliver on their vision of becoming Colorado’s premier sparkling wine producer, a dream their first (nonsparkling) vintages, released in June, have started to realize. The wines’ gorgeous tropical notes and lush aromatics, which speak to their terroir, can be found at liquor stores and restaurants, including Mercantile Dining & Provision.

But it’s more fun to sample Storm Cellar vino at the Pearl Street Farmers’ Market or the Crested Butte Wine & Food Festival (July 25 to 28). stormcellarwine.com

READERS’ CHOICE The Infinite Monkey Theorem Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, 720-990-6743; 3200 Larimer St., 303-736-8376; theinfinitemonkeytheorem.com

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3090 Larimer St., 303-5932713, ryesociety.com

READERS’ CHOICE The Bagel Deli & Restaurant 6439 E. Hampden Ave., 303756-6667, bageldeli.com

D I ST I L L E RY

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Mythology Distillery In the States, drinking vodka straight is practically a fable—so the name of this spirit-maker, new to Highland this past August, makes a lot of sense. Scott Coburn, a former distiller at Utah’s legendary High West Distillery, eschews traditional potato mash for his vodka in favor of Loveland-grown rye, which

gives it a creamy texture that finishes effortlessly with hints of butterscotch and vanilla. (That said, it’s also pretty tasty in Mythology’s savory Bella Rosa, a Bloody Mary–reminiscent cocktail with red bell pepper juice, agave, and lime.) Mythology also churns out a complex rye whiskey, pineapple- and mango-forward rums, and a dry gin with lasting citrus notes. Combine all those spirits with a divine cheese tray—anchored by Brielike Alpenbert from Moon Hill Dairy in Steamboat Springs—and it’s no wonder we’re starting to believe in fairy tales again. 3622 Tejon St., 720-458-0501, mythologydistillery.com

READERS’ CHOICE Mythology Distillery

BA K E RY

EDITORS’ CHOICE Tokyo Premium Bakery The trio of friends behind this South Pearl Street gem moved from Japan to Denver in 2016 to open a European-inspired bakery. The result includes indulgences that are new to Denver, from matcha-sugardusted doughnuts to squishy buns full of Japanese-style beef curry to spicy cod roe baguettes to “shokupan” (fluffy Japanese milk bread).

Load up a tray of sweet and savory treats and sip a “hojicha” (roasted green tea) latte at the laptop-friendly cafe, which is filled with light streaming in from a bank of streetside windows, or let the friendly staff box up your goods to take

Courtesy of Olive & West Photography

uncle, for one, owned Phil’s Grocery & Deli on West Colfax Avenue.) It’s a stirring tribute, though to be honest, we’re just as impressed with the journey of Rosen’s pastrami. Rosen pressure-cooks and then steams the meat, shipped in from New York City, for at least three hours to ensure it’s tender enough for a sandwich—the 18+1, with Russian dressing, baby Swiss, and slaw on rye, is the best on the menu—and flavorful enough to make patrons wish they had an extra stomach. You’ll find that level of attention to elite sourcing up and down the year-old RiNo deli’s menu, whether it’s in the bagels from Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen, bread from City Bakery, or lox from Brooklyn’s Acme Smoked Fish.

home. Whatever you do, arrive early, lest the hordes of hungry pastry lovers beat you to the goods. 1540 S. Pearl St., 720-531-3784, tokyopremiumbakery.com

READERS’ CHOICE Grateful Bread Company 425 Violet St., Golden, 303681-5406, gratefulbread.com

INDIAN

EDITORS’ CHOICE Spice Room The traditional Thanksgiving plate used to rank as our favorite meal—until we tasted Spice Room’s lunchtime buffet of tikka masala, vegetable korma, paneer, rice pudding…we could go on. It’s no surprise this Berkeley spot nails traditional Indian flavors, using spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, and fenugreek: It was opened by four former employees—all Nepalese—of another well-known local Indian eatery in February 2018 (they prefer to keep the name of the establishment secret). Although any time is a good time to visit the cozy space, its midday buffet, which includes complimentary chai tea and naan, is a bargain at $10.99. Bonus: Nearly any dish can be ordered vegan.

3157 W. 38th Ave., 303-4553127, denverspiceroom.com

READERS’ CHOICE Little India Multiple locations, little indiaofdenver.com

CO F F E E ROA ST E R

Sarah Boyum

EDITORS’ CHOICE Allegro Coffee Allegro has been sustainably sourcing coffee longer than most of its customers have been alive. Founded in Boulder

in the 1970s (and bought by Whole Foods in 1997), Allegro, which has grown to six locations across the country, searches the globe to find its beans, recently partnering with women farmers in Rwanda and Latin America. That’s not the only way it remains fresh: In March, Allegro’s Tennyson cafe—a 4,000-square-foot former hardware store that has hosted its main roasting operation since 2015—unveiled a new waffle toast menu with grilled treats made from sweet potato batter (we still don’t believe the lemon-zested, mascarpone-topped version has only 330 calories). Savor your breakfast in a space that features tiered benches along the walls, communal tables, and ample outdoor seating for sunny days. Multiple locations, allegrocoffeee.com

READERS’ CHOICE

MIDDLE EASTERN

EDITORS’ CHOICE Safta

Renowned chef and Israel native Alon Shaya must have had a crazy-cool nana, because 11-month-old Safta—which means “grandmother” in Hebrew—is hip and in no way square. Set inside an airy and bright U-shaped space at the Source Hotel & Market Hall, the modern Israeli restaurant is staffed with an army of white-coated cooks in a long open kitchen. Start your meal with yeasty perfection from Shaya’s homeland: Piping hot, fluffy pita bread made with freshly milled flour is sent to tables straight from Safta’s wood-burning oven. Hummus isn’t just a starter; it gets its own section of the menu and deservedly so, with the likes of rich lamb ragu or buttery mushrooms topping the creamy swirls. If you manage not to fill up on flatbread and dip (good luck), larger dishes such as the roasted whole cauliflower are innovative delights, too.

Finally, pastry chef Liliana Myers’ exquisite creations—she pays homage to Middle Eastern flavors by incorporating regional ingredients such as pistachios and figs—serve as a fitting end to a meal that satisfies even better than dinner at you-know-who’s. The Source Hotel & Market Hall, 3330 Brighton Blvd., 720-408-2444, eatwithsafta.com

READERS’ CHOICE Safta

Ink! Coffee Multiple locations, inkcoffee.com

JA PA N E S E

EDITORS’ CHOICE Uchi Denver Denver has welcomed a number of big-name chefs to town over the past year—the most exciting of which (at least to lovers of Japanese food) is Tyson Cole. The James Beard Award winner exported his sushi and small plates restaurant Uchi, which has three Texas iterations, to the edge of Curtis Park this past October. There, Cole delivers pristine, albeit diminutive, nigiri using uncommon creatures (yes, unicorn leatherjacket and firefly squid are real) as well as creative maki and myriad hot and cold small plates within a glittering, bustling space. Be sure to make a reservation, especially during the 5 to 6:30 p.m.

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READERS’ CHOICE Sushi Den 1487 S. Pearl St., 303-7770826, sushiden.net

THAI

EDITORS’ CHOICE

STEAK

EDITORS’ CHOICE Corrida The first thing you’ll notice when you step into this year-old Spanish-inspired restaurant is the panoramic view of the Flatirons. Don’t let the vista distract you from Bryan Dayton (co-owner of Oak at Fourteenth and Acorn) and Amos Watts’ (former executive chef at Old Major) true masterpieces: grilled, dry-aged meats finished with olive oil and salt. Pick from the options, including $83-per-pound, Colorado-raised wagyu tomahawk rib-eye (bring friends to devour the twoto three-pound selections); eight-ounce Angus filets aged for 21 days; and marbled Miyazaki Japanese wagyu ($55 per ounce, two ounces minimum). Traditional steak house sides are supplanted by croquetas de jamón, patatas bravas, albondigas, and other tapas. Wash it down with a gin tonic, made tableside from a cart stocked with garnishes. Perfectly sated, now take a gander at those picturesque mountains.

Think of them as dessert. 1023 Walnut St., Suite 400, Boulder, 303-444-1333, corridaboulder.com

READERS’ CHOICE Guard And Grace 1801 California St., Suite 150, 303-293-8500, guardandgrace.com

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9Thai Sometimes short and sweet is superior, especially for restaurateur rookies. 9Thai, which opened in a cheery spot in Hale in April 2017, simplifies its dining experience with a straightforward menu (just one page!) as well as a blackboard in the dining area where daily specials and popular dishes are listed.

Simple doesn’t mean dull, though: Thailand natives Kyla Love and Mae Saevang’s pad thai and pad see ew are both balanced and nuanced, the former’s wide rice noodles accompanied by full, earthy umami goodness. Anything more would be a waste. 4122 E. Colfax Ave., 303-658-0751

READERS’ CHOICE U.S. Thai Café 5228 W. 25th Ave., 303-233-3345

M E X I CA N

EDITORS’ CHOICE Kahlo’s At this vegan- and vegetarian-friendly Westwood taqueria, which opened in 2017, stern portraits of painter Frida Kahlo adorn every wall. Yet owner Noe Bermudez’s dishes skew playful. Crisp cabbage and complex sauces, like a spicy 30-ingredient mole, complement tender carnitas or grilled zucchini

enchiladas—a traditional Michoacán preparation. Dry chiles, another staple from the Mexican state of Bermudez’s childhood, shine in tamales and sopas. Booze isn’t served, but fresh-squeezed juices with ingredients both expected (pineapple and mango) and surprising (ginseng and almond) are sweet enough to make even Frida Kahlo smile. 3735 Morrison Road, 303-936-0758, kahlosrestaurant.com

READERS’ CHOICE Los Dos Potrillos Multiple locations, los2potrillos.com

V EGA N / V EG E TA R I A N

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Watercourse Foods Founded in 1998, this Uptown restaurant has been owned

by Jennifer Byers and Lauren Roberts—who have also added City, O’ City and Make, Believe Bakery to their vegetarian empire—since 2015.

More than two decades after its opening, though, Watercourse remains their crown jewel thanks to its made-fromscratch vegan comfort food menu. If “vegan comfort food” sounds like a contradiction, then try the Buffalo cauliflower wings or the étoufée and tell us both aren’t equally as wholesome as the meat versions.

Those are only two of the offerings on Watercourse’s extensive menu, which spans breakfast (served all day), salads, burgers, large plates, and cocktails.

The mezcal-based Smoky Rose, in particular, is a lovely way to wash down a meal, not that you need a chaser for this kind of healthy fare. 837 E. 17th Ave., 303-832-7313, watercoursefoods.com

READERS’ CHOICE Whole Sol Blend Bar

This spread: Matt Nager (2)

daily happy hour, when every item on the menu costs less than $10. 2500 Lawrence St., 303-444-1922, uchidenver.com

T OP OF T HE T O W N DINING

ETHIOPIAN

EDITORS’ CHOICE Axum Restaurant This South Park Hill joint will have you feeling transported to its namesake burg, an ancient city in Ethiopia.

You’ll see it in the lively atmosphere as you watch fellow diners hand-feed one another bites of injera-wrapped stew, an act of love commonly practiced there. You’ll smell it in the ever-present aromas of turmeric and berbere, a classic Ethiopian spice blend. You can drink it in a glass of luscious honey wine. Best of all, you’ll taste it in Axum’s ample selection of traditional recipes, which the owner, an emigrant of northern Ethiopia, brought with her. The vegetarian

combo offers a choice of six divinely stewed vegetables, like carrots and yellow peas, heaped atop spongy injera bread. By the end of your meal, that flatbread base will have soaked up all the sublimely rich flavors that make this restaurant a must-try.

5501 E. Colfax Ave., 303-3296139, axum-restaurant.com

READERS’ CHOICE Queen of Sheba 7225 E. Colfax Ave., 303-399-9442

B U RG E R

EDITORS’ CHOICE Officers Club Some situations call for moderation. Ordering a burger is

not one of them. So when it came time for Sterling Robinson (North County, Billy’s Inn) to conjure up an iteration for this year-old Lowry venture, he wanted to “enjoy the fruits of being a fat kid.”

That meant recreating a favorite of his youth, from Big Boy Restaurant (the chain made popular by its statues of a little boy in red checkered overalls).

Officers Club’s Big Boy Bacon Burger, then, contains a higher fat content than the burgers Robinson serves at his other establishments. It has two patties topped with thick, messy cheddar cheese and smoky bacon. A steak knife, stabbed through the heart of the Big Boy, is needed to keep this monster from toppling over.

Still, there’s enough sharpness

from the zesty secret sauce (Robinson admits pilfering from In-N-Out Burger) and crunch from the generous layer of lettuce for it not to be overwhelmed by meaty goodness.

84 Rampart Way, 303-2840714, officersclublowry.com

READERS’ CHOICE Dog Haus 8316 E. Northfield Blvd., 303353-4385; 12023 E. Arapahoe Road, Centennial, 720-3300823; doghaus.com

KO R E A N

EDITORS’ CHOICE Tofu House 1962 This tucked-away outpost is as far from “local” as

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CHEF

EDITORS’ CHOICE Elise Wiggins If you’ve dined at Cattivella, Elise Wiggins’ Stapleton ode to wood-fired Italian cuisine, then you may think you know the chef. After all, she can almost always be spotted in her restaurant’s open kitchen, smiling through each busy service. But there’s a lot more to Wiggins than her work as a chef and restaurateur: She’s also a teacher, hosting Italian cooking classes at Cattivella (learn to make her jam-filled crostata on July 6) and leading intrepid guests on culinary tours of Italy. Soon, she’ll add TV star to her CV: Wiggins’ new show, Roots to Ranches, premieres in January (the network it will appear on was TBA at press time). The series follows Wiggins as she hunts, forages, and farms in Colorado and beyond, displaying skills learned during her childhood in rural Louisiana. In short: Stop by Cattivella now, so you’ll be able to say you knew her when. 10195 E. 29th Drive, Suite 110, 303-645-3779, cattivelladenver.com

READERS’ CHOICE Greg Weadick Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club, 1330 27th St., 303-295-3333, nocturnejazz.com JULY 20 19 |

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TOP OF THE TOWN ♥ SECTION NAME NAME

HAIR SALON

EDITORS’ CHOICE Fox & Jane

With its sleek, stark white interior and Instagrammable entrance (an accent wall of faux vines), Fox & Jane boasts a New York City vibe. Indeed, its first location opened on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 2011. Founders Lorean Cairns and Billy Canu are native Coloradans, however, and Cairns partnered with Brittany Jones, from Durango, to open this Jefferson Park spot in 2018.

But Fox & Jane is so inviting and stylish we wouldn’t care if it were a true transplant. Unlike other salons, Fox & Jane does not tier its stylists, ensuring every service is carried out with the same expertise. Its genderless menu charges by length of hair and time of service, keeping prices fair. And the atmosphere is fun and amiable. It’s not uncommon to have lengthy, laughter-filled chats with the stylists and receptionists, which—no matter from whence Fox & Jane hails—makes the salon feel like home.

2443 Eliot St., 303-458-3751, foxandjanesalon.com/denver

READERS’ CHOICE The Glam House 4085 E. Mississippi Ave., Suite F, 720-484-1372, glamhousesalon.com

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SERVICES to serve is divine— especially when you’re serving yourself. whether at a spa or the hippest new hotel, indulge in the best the mile high city can offer.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHEW STACEY PROP STYLING BY JAMES WHITNEY

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T OP OF T HE T O W N SERVICES

INTERIOR DESIGN

EDITORS’ CHOICE Dadō

Megan Moore, Dadō’s principal, recently has been exporting her magic to locales beyond our rectangular borders, expanding her business, boundaries, and proclivities with projects in New York, Seattle, and Los Angeles. But the Colorado designer remains committed to bringing a livable, comfortable, and understated aesthetic to mile-high homes. Moore’s clean lines, neutral palette, and touches of eccentricity—whether she’s overhauling a downtown penthouse or transforming her own 1950s-era Park Hill home—simply uplift the soul. And thanks to social media, your spirit can get a boost just by visiting Moore’s Instagram feed, @dado. design, which is basically a vision board for those who nerd out over modern details and dissertations about texture. dado.design

READERS’ CHOICE Studio Thomas

BIKE SHOP

EDITORS’ CHOICE

SloHi Bike Co. Walk into either of SloHi’s locations, in City Park and Sloan’s Lake (SloHi Coffee & Bike), and you’ll find many of the typical bike-shop offerings.

The stores offer full-service tunes, quick turnarounds, and various models of road, mountain, and gravel bikes. SloHi is special, though. Or, we should say, it has a specialty. Since opening its first store in 2013, SloHi has become a premiere local outfitter for families. It carries a large inventory of cargo bikes and is making a move toward the electric

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variety. Yuba’s Spicy Curry Bosch ($4,500), for example, can haul 250 pounds of kids or their gear on its rear rack at 20 mph—up a hill. SloHi also offers a program especially for kids: Buy a tyke bike, and once your little rider outgrows it, trade it in and get 50 percent of your original purchase price toward a new, larger model.

3217 E. Colfax Ave., 720726-6588; 4434 W. 29th Ave., 720-484-5359; slohibikeco.com

READERS’ CHOICE Bike Shop Girl Family Cyclery 10255 E. 25th Ave., Aurora, 720-580-2453, bikeshopgirl.com

N E W H OT E L

EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Source Hotel & Market Hall We’re constantly sending out-of-towners to RiNo art, shopping, and dining destinations, so we were thrilled to see a more convenient place for them to sleep open in the heart of the red-hot neighborhood in September 2018. After a recent staycation at the 100-room hotel, however, we wouldn’t blame visitors if they never left the premises. Soothing Scandinavian-inspired sleeping quarters, some with operable garage-door windows or

Japanese-style soaking tubs in the bedroom, make it difficult to drag yourself even as far as the first floor. There, hipster-magnet retail stalls— e.g., one hosting Denver’s Winter Session, which crafted many of the hotel’s textiles— and Safta’s mouthwatering modern Israeli fare await.

On the rooftop, which boasts mountain and skyline views, we were having so much fun enjoying made-on-site experimental pours from New Belgium Brewing Company in the saline hot tub that we didn’t even notice closing time had arrived. 3330 Brighton Blvd., 720-409-1200, thesourcehotel.com

Courtesy of David Lauer Photography

7355 E. Orchard Road, Suite 375, Greenwood Village, 720-467-0131, studio-thomas.com

PERSON OF NOTE

READERS’ CHOICE (TIE) The Maven 1850 Wazee St., 720-4602727, themavenhotel.com The Ramble Hotel 1280 25th St., 720-996-6300, theramblehotel.com

D I S P E N SA RY

EDITORS’ CHOICE

L’Eagle Services If Whole Foods had a cannabis section, the Baker neighborhood’s L’Eagle would own the shelf space. Not only has the nine-year-old dispensary received a Clean Green Certification—ensuring its products (flower, concentrates, cartridges, and edibles like Love’s Oven cookies) and processes adhere to the same standards as those the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses to certify goods as organic—but it’s also the first dispensary to be named a Certified Green Business by the city of Denver. Oh, and then there’s the fact that L’Eagle recently won an Excellence in Innovation Award from the National Cannabis Industry Association for its organic cultivation techniques. In short, when it comes to the cannabis industry, this husband-and-wife-owned cultivator and dispensary is defining what it means to go green. 380 Quivas St., 303825-0497, leagledenver.com

From top: Courtesy of Mike Thurk; Matthew DeFeo

READERS’ CHOICE Lightshade Dispensary Multiple locations, lightshade.com

S K I / S N OWB OA R D T U N E

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Crystal Ski Shop When disaster strikes, it’s sometimes worth it to go a little out of your way. We learned

this lesson after a high-speed turn ripped our binding’s heelpiece clean off the ski. Every Front Range shop we called told us they couldn’t help— until we dialed Crystal, a family-owned outfit that’s been operating in Boulder since 1976. Crystal’s unflappable techs combed through the back of the shop until they found the used parts we needed, and our skis were slope-ready the same day. As far as basic maintenance goes, Crystal’s staffers have a combined 50-plus years’ worth of experience—so they’re able to expertly handle everything from a basic tune with a complimentary wax ($25) to a full tune with polyethylene filling ($45). 1933 28th St., Unit 101, 303-4497669, crystalskishop.com

READERS’ CHOICE Denver Sports Lab 15744 W. Sixth Ave., Golden, 720-383-8999, denversportslab.com

MANI/PEDI

SERVICE

BARBER

EDITORS’ CHOICE Bellwether Barbers

Bobby Stuckey Located in a geographic area known for its forgetful, can’t-bebothered servers, Boulder’s Frasca Food and Wine never leaves its customers feeling anything short of special. That’s because Stuckey, the celebrated restaurant’s partner and master sommelier, won’t allow it: In May, Frasca won the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Service, Stuckey’s second such award (the first came in 2003, when he was a sommelier at the French Laundry in California).

EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Nest Nail Spa The ideal nail salon checklist seems imminently doable: comfy chairs, sterilized tools and a sanitary facility, amiablebut-not-too-chatty technicians with reasonable artistry, fair pricing, and air unpolluted by noxious chemicals. Yet so many places, from strip plaza outlets to fancy day spas, get it all wrong. Enter the Nest Nail Spa, which so perfectly fulfills its patrons’ desires that owner Brenna Massa was able to debut a second location (the first, open since 2014, is in Lakewood) 13 months ago in the Denver Tech Center.

Laser-focused on customer service (first-timers get goodie bags with nail swag!) and wielding products that don’t

Unfortunately, you will never be Jamal Murray, the young, handsome star of the Denver Nuggets. You could have his haircut, though—and a slew of other local sports luminaries’— by visiting this speakeasy-style five-chair shop on East Colfax Avenue. Bellwether debuted in 2015 as a private co-working/ bar/coffeeshop/barbershop space, but about a year ago, the owners opened its doors to everyone. Ordinary folks now have access to three of the most creative, in-demand haircutters in the Mile High City, who charge $35 for a standard, meticulous trim—a small price to pay for an all-star coiffure.

5126 E. Colfax Ave., 720-3989251, bellwetherdenver.com

READERS’ CHOICE

Semion Barbershop for All 507 Lincoln St., Suite 102, 303284-8954; Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, 720-5312918; semionbarbershop.com

Bellwether Barbers

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NEW BREWERY

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Cervecería Colorado Mexican-style lager is trendy these days—but when Denver Beer Co. opened an offshoot brewery next to its LoHi taproom in May 2018, it sought to honor our southern neighbors by using traditional ingredients like cinnamon, nopal, agave, and lime in Cervecería Colorado’s brews. (The Poblano Pils is made with smoked poblano chiles.) Moreover, Cervecería Colorado collaborates with eight Mexico-based breweries—including Cervecería de Colima, on its Cocolimón Sour—ensuring its drafts are true reflections of a vibrant culture. 1635 Platte St., 720-2798248, cerveceriacolorado.com

READERS’ CHOICE Station 26 Brewing Co. 7045 E. 38th Ave., 303-333-1825, station26brewing.co

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CULTURE & NIGHTLIFE the kids are at grandma’s, your best friend flew in for the weekend, or you just need to shake up your social life. whatever the occasion, your perfect night out starts here.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHEW STACEY PROP STYLING BY JAMES WHITNEY

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T OP OF T HE T O W N CULTURE & NIGHTLIFE

BAND

EDITORS’ CHOICE Wildermiss This Denver quartet’s self-described brand of “shimmering indie anthemic rock ‘n’ roll” has been earning fans from the Centennial State—and beyond— since 2016. But 2019 is looking like a breakout year for (pictured, from left) guitarists Joshua Hester and Seth Beamer, frontwoman Emma Cole, and drummer Caleb Thoemke. January began with back-to-back sold-out New Year’s shows at the Larimer Lounge, followed by the release of the group’s newest single, “Fallin’, ” on February 1 and then two national tours in the spring.

If that weren’t enough, the band hopes to release new music this fall. Denverites who haven’t heard Cole’s effortless and approachably pop-y voice can remedy that this month at the Underground Music Showcase (July 26 to 28), the Mile High City’s largest music festival. “We’re working on some fun things for UMS,” Cole says. “We can’t give anything away yet, but 2019 is going to be the festival’s best year yet.” We’re pretty sure the same can be said for Wildermiss. wildermiss.com

READERS’ CHOICE Shelvis and the Roustabouts shelvisandtheroustabouts.com

EDITORS’ CHOICE Brass Tacks The proprietors of LoDo’s Brass Tacks swear there are no ghosts (“There’s no ghost” is actually painted in gold on an emerald wall). Whether or not an ill-fated saloon girl roams the basement as legend contends, there’s no doubt the team behind this five-monthold bar has given new life to the historic Blake Street Vault building. From the creators of Denver Central Market’s Curio and Green Seed Market, Brass Tacks—like any good specter—is whatever you want it to be. We’ve celebrated a friend’s birthday over draft cocktails (try the perfectly balanced Paloma).

We’ve chased nachos with cans of Montucky on opening

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day. We’ve sipped IPAs and sours with co-workers over a brainstorming session. Somehow, the casually elegant decor and informed but laidback counter service (from bartenders who look, well, casually elegant in gray aprons adorned with fun pins) feels right every time. 1526 Blake St., brasstacksdinebar.com

READERS’ CHOICE Wild Corgi Pub 1223 E. 13th Ave., 303-832-7636

F E ST I VA L

EDITORS’ CHOICE The Denver International Festival When entrepreneur and event producer Yoseph Assefa

immigrated to the United States from Ethiopia as a teenager, he found the best way to get to know people was sharing cuisine, music, and art from his home country. That idea inspired this free four-year-old festival, which features food trucks such as Mile High Thai, performances by the likes of Mexican flamenco guitarist El Javi, and art representing more than 15 countries. At the 2019 iteration on August 3, the 15,000-plus expected attendees will be treated to the Kids Village—full of DIY lava lamps and slime, face painting, bouncy castles, bilingual story time, and a giant Jenga tower—as well as an expanded wine and beer tasting tent where $20 gets you unlimited samples from the dozen-plus international

selections for two hours.

Civic Center Park, 101 W. 14th Ave., 720-319-8441, internationalfest.org

READERS’ CHOICE Denver Greek Festival 4610 E. Alameda Ave., 303388-9314, thegreekfestival.com

T H E AT E R CO M PA N Y

EDITORS’ CHOICE Local Theater Company Attending a performance by this Boulder ensemble is the stage equivalent of farm-to-table dining: The eight-year-old company produces only new American plays, often born at its March festival, Local Lab. Without

Courtesy of Jeff Davenport

N E W BA R

From top: Morgan Rachel Levy; Courtesy of Dave Rein/40 West Arts District (“Aligning Energies” by Steven Teller)

any freeze-dried Shakespeare on the menu, the performances feel contemporary and often very much of the Centennial State, like this past June’s Discount Ghost Stories, an immersive musical that spun Rocky Mountain lore into a kind of folk-rock concert held on the back patio at Trident Booksellers & Cafe. All of this innovation earned the tiny troupe a National Theatre Company Grant for emerging theater in the fall of 2018; it was one of only 10 companies in the country to receive one. Founding artistic director Pesha Rudnick says the money will go toward operational costs so Local Theater can continue to “invest in living writers.” See those sentient scribes’ work for yourself this fall with Rodney Hicks’ Flame Broiled. or the ugly play, which runs from October 27 to November 17 at the Carsen Theater in Boulder’s Dairy Arts Center. localtheaterco.org

bill of fare has been drawing bargain-seeking sophisticates since it opened. Narrative tends to get busy during happy hour, and your best shot at snagging one of the 20 tan leather bar chairs is to go on Sunday. Fortunately, happy hour begins at 2 p.m. daily, giving you four hours to revel in all the sweet-salty-spicytangy-umami bliss you can stomach. 222 Milwaukee St., 720-571-8080, narrative cherrycreek.com

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Denver Center for the Performing Arts 1101 13th St., 303-893-4100, denvercenter.org

READERS’ CHOICE Bar AC AC Hotel Denver Downtown, 750 15th St., 303-825-2888, achotels.marriott.com

P L AC E TO WATC H T H E GA M E

EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Rooftop At Coors Field The Rooftop is marking its fifth birthday this season, and

PERSON OF NOTE

CULTURE

PLACE TO SEE ART

EDITORS’ CHOICE 40 West ArtLine

Florence Müller The Denver Art Museum’s curator of textile art and fashion helped the Mile High City land the first showing of Dior: From Paris to the World, a retrospective of the iconic French fashion house that ran from November 2018 to March 2019.

Müller organized more than 200 couture dresses into an experience that flowed powerfully through the brand’s seven decades and attracted so many fans, the museum extended its run by two weeks.

This new, roughly four-mile art trek combines our loves of hitting the trail—in this case, a green painted line that winds past 70-plus pieces of public art in Lakewood’s 40 West Arts District—and gallery shopping. Short on time? Start near Casa Bonita and tackle the two-mile western portion of the loop. There, the trail passes by an interactive exhibit from Timothy Flood titled “Affirmation Station,” a transportation-themed sidewalk mural by Yulia Avgustinovich, and “Unearthed Plates,” which looks like the spine of a stegosaurus protruding from Aviation Park.

The path then leads to a smattering of galleries, including Pirate: Contemporary Art, which came to Lakewood in 2017 from Highland, where the pioneering co-op helped anchor the Navajo Street Art District for more than 35 years.

40westartline.org

READERS’ CHOICE

Denver Graffiti Tour 719-491-4949, denvergraffititour.com

40 West Arts District

H A P PY H O U R

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Narrative It’s difficult to describe the taste of happiness—that is, unless one has experienced the happy hour menu at Narrative, the 10-month-old New American restaurant inside Cherry Creek’s tony Jacquard Hotel & Rooftop. Laced with big flavors—Sriracha-lime popcorn, citrus-marinated beets—and audaciously low prices for both food (from $5) and drinks (drafts are $4 and glasses of wine are 50 percent off ), the well-curated JULY 20 19 |

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READERS’ CHOICE Twin Peaks Multiple locations, twinpeaksrestaurant.com

BARTENDER

EDITORS’ CHOICE Alex Jump

It takes a special kind of passion to move across the country for a job—especially one that doesn’t exist yet. But two years ago, Alex Jump relocated to Denver from her hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, because she heard the famed New York City cocktail bar Death & Co planned to put an outpost in the Mile High City. Upon her arrival, she crafted drinks for RiNo Yacht Club (now shuttered) and Mercantile Dining & Provision, making a name for herself with her creative, playful tipples and winning both regional and national bartending competitions. Those successes helped her land her dream job as Death & Co’s head bartender when it opened in the Ramble Hotel in RiNo in May 2018. Since then, Jump and her team have been dreaming up the swanky locale’s seasonally rotating list of 30 original cocktails. One of our favorites? The Bounce House, comprised of vodka, fino sherry, strawberry, aloe, and lemon. 1280 25th St., 720-330-2660, deathandcompany.com

READERS’ CHOICE Brendan Weir Que Bueno Suerte, 1518 S. Pearl St., 720-642-7322, qbsuerte.com

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A RT I ST

EDITORS’ CHOICE Thomas “Detour” Evans This creator of abstract pop art is known for his colorful depictions of community members and celebrities, such as the mural of a scowling Maxine Waters (a U.S. representative from California) he did as part of RiNo’s 2017 CRUSH Walls urban art festival. He was also tapped to create likenesses of Jay-Z and David Letterman for the latter’s 2018 Netflix series. Don’t dismiss Evans as a paintbased paparazzi, though. He’s quickly gaining a reputation for creating textured, multilayered work—especially with music. Last year, his untitled mural at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities’

In Sight On Site show, for example, displayed sharp, bright streaks of color that featured, upon closer inspection, chords that ran the length of the work. Patrons were encouraged to approach it and press those strings to create their own songs. His ability to give viewers these sorts of personal, singular experiences makes Evans, in our view at least, a star in his own right. iamdetour.com

READERS’ CHOICE Edgar L. Page edgarlpage.com

AU T H O R

EDITORS’ CHOICE Kali Fajardo-Anstine Fajardo-Anstine’s Sabrina & Corina didn’t arrive quietly on bookshelves this past April, instead announcing itself with stellar reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and the New York Times. That shouldn’t be surprising, considering her background: The 32-year-old Colorado native is influenced by an extended family of strong, creative indigenous and Chicana women. Her debut collection of short stories is a beautiful testament to them as well as other marginalized people. Sabrina & Corina’s tales trace the lives of women struggling with family and strangers who have been forgotten by the state. Its bright, often melodic prose is punctuated by haunting scenes, creating a textured, tenderly drawn portrait of Colorado and its citizens, particularly those who too often have been quietly blurred into the background. We can’t wait to see where Fajardo-Anstine shines her poignant spotlight next. (Spoiler alert: Her first novel, which doesn’t have an official release date yet, draws

This spread, from left: Courtesy of Elliott Clark for Death & Co; Courtesy of Alive Coverage

we’ll be there again and again this summer to celebrate. Yes, you have to stand the entire nine innings if you don’t have a perch in the stands (any ticket grants you entrée to the 46,000-square-foot space).

But the deck’s panoramic views of the Rockies—both the sluggers and the mountains—are well worth the sore feet and $16 admission, which includes a $6 credit for merch, food, or drinks.

For the best views, stake out a spot near the front of sections L307 or L308. If you need nourishment from the Rooftop’s Smashburger or Jack Daniel’s Terrace, send an emissary. Do not—we repeat, do not!—abandon this real estate. It will immediately be overtaken by your rowdy fellow Rooftoppers. 2001 Blake St., 303-762-5437, rockies. com/ballpark

T OP OF T HE T O W N CULTURE & NIGHTLIFE

upon the history of the Ku Klux Klan in Denver.) kalifajardoanstine.com

READERS’ CHOICE Erik Palmer erikpalmer.net

CO C K TA I L MENU

EDITORS’ CHOICE Lady Jane Some might call the offerings at this 10-month-old Highland lounge “simple.” Owner Jake Soffes would quibble with that word, preferring “approachable.” The fact that the house cocktails feature few ingredients was the result of a deliberate choice general manager A. Minetta Gould

(formerly of Ste. Ellie) made with Soffes (also the proprietor of Hudson Hill) when designing the menu, so that customers would be familiar with and understand their orders. For instance, when we were there, the Haunted

By Waters paired lime and cinnamon with Pueblo Viejo tequila, and it tasted just the way you’d expect: fresh and summery. Gould and Soffes also make sure their drinks don’t suffer from poor execution: Every employee undergoes rigorous training to ensure that each cocktail contains the same amount of ice or is stirred for the same length of time. It’s that sort of precision that has us approaching this bar again and again. 2021 W. 32nd

Ave., 720-328-9288, ladyjanedenver.com

READERS’ CHOICE Mythology Distillery 3622 Tejon St., 720-458-0501, mythologydistillery.com

PAT I O

EDITORS’ CHOICE Joyride Brewing Company On the Front Range, stunning views are as common as sunshine. But waterfront vistas are scarcer, which makes the March opening of Joyride’s rooftop patio a welcome summer development. The space is ideally positioned to provide a clear panorama of Sloan’s Lake

and downtown. If you’re in the mood for mountains, on clear days patrons can catch a distant glimpse of Pikes Peak. The only downside about such remarkable outlooks is they attract a crowd. Luckily, Joyride designed the space not only to be vast, at just over 2,300 square feet, but also to be efficient: If the seats at the railing are all taken, there’s likely room to rest your Ice Cutter KÖlsch on one of the five patio-length tables.

2501 Sheridan Blvd., Edgewater, 720-432-7560, joyridebrewing.com

READERS’ CHOICE 54thirty 1475 California St., 303-8931888, 54thirty.com

MUSIC VENUE THAT’S NOT RED ROCKS

EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Fillmore Auditorium We get it: There’s no comparison for a natural amphitheater with expansive views and room for about 10,000 music lovers. But if you’re looking for something a little cozier (and without the headache-inducing postconcert exodus), consider another—newly spiffed up— iconic Denver music venue: the Fillmore. This legendary Capitol Hill concert space invested millions in a face-lift between 2017 and 2018. Celebrating its 20th year, the 3,900-capacity music house now sports risers in the rear to improve sightlines, a state-of-the-art sound system, and new bathrooms. The improvements ensure the Fillmore will remain a top venue to see the nostalgic bands of your youth (Live and Bush on August 3) as well as smaller acts (Jon Bellion on July 21) that sound even richer in such an intimate space. 1510 Clarkson St., livenation.com

READERS’ CHOICE tk

Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club 1330 27th St., 303-295-3333, nocturnejazz.com JULY 20 19 |

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RUNNING EVENT

EDITORS’ CHOICE Golden Gate Dirty 30

There’s no easy entrée into ultrarunning. There is, however, a pretty place to start: Each June, Golden Gate Canyon State Park hosts a 50K route through aspen and pine forests and wildflowerfilled meadows—a landscape so stunning it’ll help distract you from the 7,250 feet of elevation you’ll gain. The 1,000-foot climb up Windy Peak, for instance, ends with a view of the foothills as they stretch to the Continental Divide. And you won’t be alone in your misery. You’ll be supported by some of Colorado’s top runners, many of whom, like Madeline McKeever and Jackson Brill, compete or volunteer. Their encouragement will keep you from failing, though a slow pace isn’t the worst thing. Along with the top three runners, the “Peggy Plugger” last-place finisher also gets an award. dirty30.org/golden-gate

READERS’ CHOICE BolderBoulder

5500 Central Ave., Suite 110, Boulder, 303-444-7223, bolderboulder.com

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SPORTS, OUTDOORS & FITNESS some adventure in the wild, others in the gym. here are the premier destinations and gear for whatever path you take.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHEW STACEY PROP STYLING BY JAMES WHITNEY

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T OP OF T HE T O W N SPORTS, OUTDOORS & FITNESS

FITNESS STUDIO

EDITORS’ CHOICE High Ride Cycle

A peloton of spinning brands, such as celebrity-favorite SoulCycle, has rolled into the Mile High City over the past year. The newcomers have glossy studios, star clients, and buzz. They don’t have Megan and Scott Hanson, who founded High Ride next to Sloan’s Lake two years ago. Along with a team of trainers, the couple puts riders through grueling treks that—like those at nationwide chains—involve full-body workouts set to energetic beats.

However, the Hansons hold special classes at least twice a month to raise money for nonprofits like Epic Experience, which sets up free outdoor excursions for cancer patients.

To further strengthen its civic ties, High Ride hosts pop-ups from clothing stores, such as Stitch Boutique, and food and drinks from Sunshine Bowls and Bear Creek Distillery. The idea is to build not only strong bodies, but also a strong community. 1711 Sheridan Blvd., Unit A, Edgewater, 303477-0793, highridecycle.com

READERS’ CHOICE Modevo Fitness 441 Wadsworth Blvd., Unit 215, Lakewood, 720-328-4372, modevofit.com

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Crescent Moon Eva Foam Snowshoes Made of aluminum or hard plastic, snowshoes are often clunky and uncomfortable.

Boulder’s Crescent Moon, a snowshoe specialist since 1997, built its newest model using Eva, the foam polymer found in running shoes. Equipped with traction ice spikes, these snowshoes ($159) are lightweight and flexible enough to run in yet durable enough to explore Colorado’s snowiest trails, as long as they are packed. Combining this new material with Crescent’s standard teardrop shape, which promotes a normal walking gait, earned the company an innovation award at this past January’s Outdoor

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Retailer expo—and (for once) had us wishing for a longer winter. crescentmoonsnowshoes.com

READERS’ CHOICE Apex Ski Boots apexskiboots.com

CA M P I N G

EDITORS’ CHOICE Dolores River Campground Many families spend their summer road trips traveling to crowded parks of both the Yosemite and Disney varieties.

Seven hours in the minivan, on the other hand, could lead your clan to this private campground, a perfect jumping-off point to all the outdoor euphoria the uncrowded Four Corners region provides. Thirty dollars a night rents you one

of 13 shaded, simple Dolores River–adjacent tent sites, each complete with a fire ring and picnic table as well as access to a communal bathhouse (new this year) with outdoor showers. If sleeping on the floor isn’t your idea of a vacation, Dolores River also offers cabins, yurts, and just-rolled-in glamping wagons. From there, it’s a roughly 25-mile trip to the ruins of Mesa Verde National Park, about 35 miles to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, and even less mileage to San Juan National Forest and its bevy of picturesque hiking trails. 18680 CO 145, Dolores, 970-882-7761, doloresrivercampground.com

READERS’ CHOICE Cherry Creek State Park 4201 S. Parker Road, Aurora, 303-693-3957, cpw.state.co.us

P I L AT E S ST U D I O

EDITORS’ CHOICE Firehaus Pilates You wouldn’t be remiss if you came to Firehaus in search of an absolutely killer workout. The staff of expert instructors, under the direction of owner JoAnna Cefaratti, always guides you through a challenging session.

But if you’re injured, pregnant, postpartum, or a senior, you’ll find extra care and attention— and even dedicated weekly classes—at this seven-year-old Berkeley studio. Most instructors here obtain certification through Polestar Pilates International, whose curriculum focuses on rehabilitation. This expertise is evident whether you attend Firehaus’ reformer, postnatal, combo equipment (a variety of apparatuses, from the reformer to the

Previous spread: Bushido II shoe courtesy of La Sportiva; This page: Courtesy of Tim Gillies Photography

W I N T E R O U TDOOR GEAR

PERSON OF NOTE

chair, are used), or restorative classes. Not only will you leave feeling stronger, longer, and healthier, but you’ll also have a better understanding of your body’s mechanics. 3451 W. 38th Ave., 303-945-6951, firehauspilates.com

READERS’ CHOICE Kinesis Pilates Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, 303-9217017, kinesispilatesdenver.com

S K I R E S O RT

From top: Zuma Press/Alamy Stock Photo; RooM the Agency/Alamy Stock Photo

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area When you open nearly 500 acres of fresh terrain, including some of the Front Range’s top tree skiing, apparently you don’t need the Epic Pass anymore.

(Arapahoe ended its 20-plusyear relationship with Vail Resort’s multiresort pass this past February.) But beyond the new Beavers and Steep Gullies areas—which are largely advanced and expert topography—there’s also the fact that this perennial locals’ favorite offers midweek-only season passes ($349), incredible discounts for veterans ($199 for a season pass), and three days at New Mexico’s Taos Ski Valley. If you’re not quite ready to tackle the Gullies’ extreme slopes, there are mellower ways to appreciate A-Basin’s charms.

Chief among them: Il Rifugio, the quaint new Italian eatery nestled inside the Snow Plume warming hut.

At 12,456 feet, Il Rifugio is only accessible by chairlift and qualifies as the highest restaurant in North America.

28194 U.S. 6, Keystone, 970468-0718, arapahoebasin.com

S U M M E R O U TDOOR GEAR

SPORTS

HIKE

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 Tent Ultralight camping has historically meant sacrificing durability in favor of a lighter load—but no more. Backpackers can say goodbye to damp, sleepless nights thanks to this tent from Steamboat Springs–based Big Agnes.

The Fly Creek ($330 to $430) packs the robustness and weatherproofing of heavier models—including fully sealed seams and a waterproof nylon fly—into less than two pounds. (For comparison, we recently spotted a tent at a national retailer that clocked in close to 12.) A redesign added 25 percent more head space and steeper walls for roomier quarters as well as an extended awning over the door to keep the weather out even when the zipper is open. Although the Fly Creek

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EDITORS’ CHOICE Loch Lomond Trail

Nikola Jokic Two years ago, the Nuggets languished as the least popular team in the NBA, as measured by home attendance. This 24-year-old Serbian re-energized the crowd—not only because the Nuggets won more this past season (though that definitely helped), but also because of the joyous way Jokic hoops. Every miraculous pass the seven-footer whipped through some infinitesimal gap seemed to inject 20 decibels into the Pepsi Center masses.

While Saint Mary’s Glacier gets the crowds, this neighboring hike, which offers just-asstunning views, waits to be loved. The moderately steep (nearly 900 feet) four-mile out-and-back trail follows a four-wheel-drive path along a meandering stream lined with vibrant wildflowers; it passes through pine, spruce, and aspen trees before opening to sweeping views of Mt. Evans and Mt. Bierstadt. If you’d like to keep trekking, continue toward James Peak to intersect with the Continental Divide Trail. A half-mile climb reveals gorgeous vistas of the loch as well as nearby Ohman, Reynolds, and Caroline lakes.

Steuart Road, Idaho Springs

READERS’ CHOICE Hanging Lake 110 Wulfsohn Road, Glenwood Springs, 970-384-6309

Loch Lomond Trail

READERS’ CHOICE Vail Ski Resort Vail, 970-754-8245, vail.com JULY 20 19 |

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TOP OF THE TOWN ♥ SECTION NAME NAME

FINE JEWELRY

EDITORS’ CHOICE Signet Jewelry Boutique

“Sustainably sourced” isn’t a typical jewelry descriptor. Cherry Creek North’s Signet, open since March 2018, defies industry standards, then, with its carefully curated selection of responsibly made pieces (think: conflict-free diamonds, fair-trade gold, repurposed vintage gems) from 30-ish rotating artisans. On a recent visit, we fell for New York goldsmith Pat Flynn’s hand-forged bracelets (pictured, from $1,800) and co-owner Carol Ferguson’s exclusive collection of metallic pendants, cuffs, and earrings.

Doing the right thing never looked so grand. 300 Fillmore St., 720-484-5195, signetjewelry.com

READERS’ CHOICE Abby Sparks Jewelry 1320 27th St., Suite G, 303-9576502, abbysparks.com

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SHOPPING the creatives have taken over colorado. reap the rewards of this artisan invasion by turning their talent and imagination into your best look yet.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHEW STACEY PROP STYLING BY JAMES WHITNEY

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T OP OF T HE T O W N SHOPPING

BABY/KIDS’ BOUTIQUE

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Little Wolf Boutique Nestled inside Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace is three-year-old Little Wolf, where every item feels as unique as your own tiny animal. Owners Craig and Molly Hakes opened their shop after noticing that many Stapleton children’s retailers carried similar products and that the stores’ aesthetics were as uninspired as their collections. So the Hakeses commissioned a mural of four wolf pups by Colorado artists Pat Milbery and Remington Robinson for Little Wolf, which sticks to clothes, toys, and accessories for kids up to five years old and only stocks locally handmade wares. Those include Broncosthemed onesies by Parker’s Sewn With Love and Denver’s Dear Zoo’s clever shirts, like the “Ol Dirty Badger” tee—which is so darn cute it’s almost reason enough to have another kid. Almost. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, 720-579-3272, littlewolfboutiques.com

READERS’ CHOICE Wish Gifts 750 S. University Blvd., 303-722-2900, wishgiftsdenver.com

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Homebody Even the most worldly of travelers knows that nothing beats the comforts of home—though it’s nice if those comforts remind you of your worldly travels. Dory Pratt, a former Peace Corps volunteer who has lived in both Bolivia and Ecuador, opened Homebody in 2017 as a way to combine her love of wandering with her eye for design. The welcoming Cherry Creek shop is bursting with a mix of decor, furniture, and more from international brands rarely found in the Mile High City, including soft mohair throws from Spain and a variety of

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linen sheets and duvets from France. So even if you don’t have the time (or the funds) to circle the globe, your home will look like you do. 2920 E. Sixth Ave., 720-739-0860, homebodydenver.com

READERS’ CHOICE The Brass Bed Fine Linens & Furnishings 3113 E. Third Ave., 303-3221712; 2460 Canyon Blvd., 303-440-3473; brassbed finelinens.com

G I F TS

EDITORS’ CHOICE Wooly Wax Candles Scented candles have long been considered the gift you turn to when you can’t think of anything else. Rachel Woolcott and her finely

tuned nose are out to redeem them. The ex-chef now cooks up a rotating series of handpoured soy wax creations that radiate delectable aromas. Wooly’s San Francisco Fog ($16 for a four-ounce candle, $24 for an eightounce version), for example, blends eucalyptus and salt to capture the essence of driving over the Golden Gate Bridge. More impressively, Woolcott can take personal experiences—say, Grandma’s kitchen or a trip to New Zealand—and blend the exact mix of essential oils and herbs needed to recreate your memory. (A custom consult costs $145, plus a required purchase of six eight-ounce candles at $20 apiece.) Woolcott also recently released a line of all-natural hair wax, beard oil, and leather salve,

just in case you want to get a jump on filling those holiday stockings. 303-931-6702, woolywaxcandles.com

READERS’ CHOICE Wish Gifts

WEDDING G OW N S

EDITORS’ CHOICE The Bridal Collection Auditioning wedding gowns should feel more momentous than trying on turtlenecks at H&M. That’s why this nearly 20-year-old Centennial boutique is home to a dozen thoughtfully designed suites—and not the tiny ones you often find at trendy urban stores. The smallest one has room to fit six of your besties, while the largest

Courtesy of From the Hip Photo

HOME ACC E S S O R I E S / FURNITURE

PERSON OF NOTE

can accommodate 12—basically an entire wedding party.

All of them have a glamorous, feminine vibe (gilded mirrors, cozy throws). In addition to these stylish compartments, the momand-daughter-run shop is home to myriad dresses, including moderately priced designs from Justin Alexander ($1,600 to $2,800) and an in-house brand for Colorado brides called Catherine Elizabeth ($1,000 to $2,500) as well as selections from high-end couture labels such as Martina Liana ($2,900 to $4,500) and Lazaro (from $3,000 to $8,000). Once you decide on a gown, the Bridal Collection handles alterations on-site—it employs 12 seamstresses—and even delivery so you don’t lose time schlepping your silk or chiffon all over town. That leaves you free to focus on the important stuff, like perfecting your vows. 4151 E. County Line Road, Centennial, 720-493-9454, thebridalcollection.com From top: Courtesy of the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District; Jordan Louis/Courtesy of Fifth and Hudson

READERS’ CHOICE Lovely Bride Denver 2636 Walnut St., Suite 100, 720-452-1192, lovelybride.com

LO CA L M E N ’ S BOUTIQUE

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Timber Trade Company From the tattered U.S. flag hanging from the ceiling to the Allen Ginsberg quote on the back wall, it’s clear you’re stepping into an American throwback when you enter Timber Trade Company.

The nearly two-year-old tenant of RiNo’s Backyard on Blake is inspired by our country’s industrial history, so it’s no surprise it specializes in high-quality, raw denim. Josh Greenlee, the

founder and owner, primarily sells products stitched and woven in the United States, from brands such as Stovall and Young, Kato, and Imogene and Willie—and if you spring for a pair of jeans, he’ll hem them on the spot with his Singer sewing machine. Even if you’re not into denim, it’s still worth stopping by Timber Trade to scope out leather wallets from Silver Hand Co., a small selection of custom woodwork, and Topo Designs travel bags.

3070 Blake St., Suite 170, 720-608-0735, timber tradecompany.com

READERS’ CHOICE Bespoke Edge 970-231-4588, bespokeedge.com

ACC E S S O R I E S

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Artisan Center Amidst Cherry Creek’s near-constant retail turnover, Artisan Center has stood steady at the corner of Third Avenue and Detroit Street for more than 40 years because, well, it’s not afraid of turnover. This women-owned store enlists buyers who scour gift shows across the country to find handmade goods, enabling Artisan Center to reinvent its inventory every three months. About a third of the goods are made in Colorado (we like the beaded stone bracelets from Denver’s CLP Jewelry), though the shop doesn’t let geographic boundaries limit its selection of quality scarves, purses, watches, and wallets. 2757 E. Third Ave., 303-333-1201, artisancenterdenver.com

SHOPPING

LOCAL WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE

EDITORS’ CHOICE Julie Underdahl In 2010, Underdahl led the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District through an $18.5 million streetscape project. The resulting pedestrian-friendly pathways cast the foundation for Cherry Creek North’s recent residential and hotel boom. Although Underdahl stepped down as the BID’s president and CEO in March after 12 years, her foresight will keep Cherry Creek a vital epicenter for shoppers (and tourists and homeowners and workers) long into the future.

Fifth and Hudson Sisters and Denver natives Alexandra Kyle and Daron Pflug opened their Jefferson Park store in 2017 to fill the middle ground between high-end and fast fashion. The result is a collection of quality contemporary pieces—like sleek dresses from ASTR the Label or expertly distressed Flying Monkey jeans—none of which costs more than $200. The siblings follow the latest trends on social media and revitalize their styles at least twice a month, ensuring their offerings feel fresh. Bonus: Kyle and Pflug recently launched an e-commerce site, so you can find a unique look without leaving your desk.

2912 W. 25th Ave., 720-476-3484, shopfifthandhudson.com

READERS’ CHOICE W Boutique 1071 S. Gaylord St., 303-9778719, wboutiquedenver.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 188

Fifth and Hudson

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READERS’ CHOICE Hailee Grace Boutique 1421 Larimer St., 303-6982323, haileegrace.com JULY 20 19 |

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The Central 70 Project has already started to disrupt neighborhoods—and traffic—in the Mile High City. Here’s what you can expect as the massive (and controversial) undertaking works its way toward completion over the next few years. | BY KASEY CORDELL | I L L U S T R A T I O N B Y V A S A V A JULY 20 19 |

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HOW WE GOT HERE

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An abridged timeline of Central 70’s evolution.

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although repairs have made it safe for use). It’s been contentious from the start, though, with area residents citing concerns about safety, increased pollution, and traffic during and after construction. In the following pages, we outline not only what Central 70 will look like

1944 The Federal-Aid Highway Act authorizes the building of I-70 from Denver to the Kansas border.

October 1956 Congress approves construction of I-70 from Denver through the mountains and into Utah. Engineers ultimately recommend a route that follows East 46th Avenue on the east side of town and West 48th Avenue on the west side. Globeville residents ask for a ground-level i­nterstate, but that option costs approximately $5 million more, so the request is ignored.

when it’s eventually complete (2022, we hope)‚ but also what you can expect for the next few years. We also examine the community’s concerns and how you can help support the neighborhoods during construction—and, in doing so, get to know this part of Denver a little bit better.

1964 I-70 through central Denver is completed. The viaduct cuts Elyria-Swansea in half and further chops up Globeville, which had been divided years earlier by what would become I-25.

2003 CDOT and the Federal Highway Administration initiate the I-70 East Corridor Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to help lay out potential improvements in the area. Five years later, the viaduct is declared structurally deficient.

This spread: Courtesy of Colorado Department of Transportation (3)

MILEPOSTS

If you’re not certain just what the Central 70 Project is, you’re not alone. Many Denverites aren’t intimately acquainted with the 10-mile section of I-70 between I-25 and Chambers Road, perhaps traversing it most often for airport runs.

But for the 200,000 drivers who use this stretch of concrete, asphalt, and reflective paint daily, the $1.3 billion Central 70 Project—which will expand the highway from six lanes to eight, send a portion of the freeway below grade, and cover part of it with a park—is a very big deal. It’s an even bigger one for the roughly 11,000 people who live in the neighborhoods bordering the interstate and the massive construction zone it has become.

The project was born out of the need to address Central 70 congestion and replace the 55-year-old viaduct near Brighton Boulevard (it was flagged as structurally deficient and functionally obsolete in 2008,

NAVIGAT ING CEN T RAL 70

KEY PLAYERS The organizations and constituencies

most involved in the Central 70 Project. COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CDOT oversees some 23,000 miles of highway, including the 10-mile stretch of interstate known as Central 70.

KIEWIT MERIDIAM PARTNERS The Central 70 Project is a public-private partnership, and KMP is the private part of that duo. KMP itself is a partnership between one of the largest engineering and construction companies in North America (Kiewit) and a French global investment group (Meridiam Partners).

The group will design and build Central 70, and once it’s complete, KMP will operate and maintain the section of highway for 30 years. This isn’t Kiewit’s first waltz with Colorado. The company also built one half of the Eisenhower-Edwin C. Johnson Memorial Tunnel, expanded highways and added light-rail lines as part of the Transportation Expansion (T-REX) Project south of Denver, and served as the general contractor for the new VA hospital.

NORTH DENVER CORNERSTONE COLLABORATIVE

In 2008, the then 44-year-old Central 70 viaduct was declared structurally deficient and functionally obsolete.

2010 Following a lack of support for its initial I-70 improvement proposals, CDOT creates a team of representatives from federal, state, and city government agencies and the community. Residents push to have I-70 rerouted north along I-76 to Commerce City, where it would meet I-270 (remember the Ditch the Ditch campaign?). They cite pollution, safety, and traffic among their concerns. That option, CDOT says, would cost about $3 billion.

Established in 2013 to provide a cohesive vision for Globeville, Elyria-Swansea, and RiNo, the NDCC helps facilitate development projects in the area.

The Central 70 Project, to which the city of Denver is contributing $37 million, is just one of the initiatives

2016 CDOT releases its final plan for Central 70, proposing to keep the expanded interstate where it is but send it below grade to try to restore connectivity. Doing so will require the demolition of 56 residences and 17 businesses. The project still does not have the support of many area residents. In fact, in 2017, they become part of a lawsuit that claims— among other things—that CDOT used fuzzy math to get its modeling to pass the Environmental Protection Agency’s pollution standards.

this division of the mayor’s office is helping coordinate—among them, the National Western Center, the Brighton Boulevard redevelopment, and RiNo’s overhaul.

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD Union Pacific moves thousands of cars’ worth of freight through Colorado annually. Part of its track runs beside and under Central 70.

RESIDENTS Not everyone is happy about the Central 70 Project. Residents from Globeville to Clayton to Stapleton are affected. In 2017, the law firm Earthjustice represented the Elyria and Swansea Neighborhood Association (ESNA), the Chaffee Park Neighborhood Association, the Colorado Latino Forum, and the Sierra Club in a lawsuit to stop the project that ended in a settlement.

“It’s not something we wanted,” says ESNA president Drew Dutcher. “It’s something we’re enduring.” Unite North Metro Denver, a consortium of community members, meets monthly to discuss concerns regarding the construction and how to address them. And outrage over the project is, in part, what inspired ElyriaSwansea native Candi CdeBaca to challenge incumbent Albus Brooks for the District 9 City Council seat. She won.

December 2018 The lawsuit ends with a settlement that includes a provision for a community health study. CDOT also agrees to provide air monitoring and more trees and promises that communications will be provided in English and Spanish. (Eighty-four percent of Elyria-Swansea residents identify as Hispanic, and many families have lived there for generations.)

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NAVIGAT ING CEN T RAL 70

VINE STREET

BRIGHTON BOULEVARD

I-25

46TH NORTH AVENUE

D

C A 46TH SOUTH AVENUE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD

E

THE FUTURE, RENDERED After $1.3 billion and four years of construction, here’s what you can expect the Central 70 Project to look like when it’s completed in 2022(ish).

Beginning at I-25, (A) express lanes will be added in each direction, extending to Chambers Road, just before the DIA exit. (This will bring the total number of lanes to eight: three regular lanes and one express lane in each direction. CDOT is also leaving enough room to add a second express lane in each direction from Brighton Boulevard to Quebec Street at a later date.) Like their cousins on I-25 and on I-70 in the mountains, these lanes will be HOV 3, meaning if you have three or more people in the car, you can use them for free (yes, babies and kids count; dogs do not). RTD buses will also use the HOV lanes. Toll rates will most likely be set annually by the High-Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE), a division of CDOT, and will be priced based on volume: Higher rates apply during peak times. At press time, HPTE had not yet determined the rates nor the peak time designations.

A ROAD DIVIDED

East 46th Avenue will be split by the new interstate (C), with 46th North Avenue on one side and 46th South Avenue on the other. These will be one-way streets, although one stretch, near Swansea Elementary School, will be a two-way road.

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TRAINS ON TOP

Right now, Union Pacific’s railway runs underneath I-70. When the project is completed, though, the trains will travel above the freeway near Vine and North Gaylord streets (D).

THE UNDERGROUND HIGHWAY

The most visible adjustment to Central 70 is where part of the freeway is being rerouted below ground (B). Instead of traveling along a viaduct lofted over East 46th Avenue, motorists will gradually descend about 30 feet below grade, beginning near Brighton Boulevard. At Columbine Street, the freeway will disappear beneath a park for four blocks then emerge again just past Clayton Street, gradually grading upward until it regains its current position at Colorado Boulevard. This section is not a tunnel, which the neighborhood had asked for, but rather a span of interstate with various overpasses and a park serving as a kind of “lid” over a few blocks. When it’s complete, this piece of I-70 will be 200 feet wide—108 feet wider than the viaduct’s footprint today.

FLOOD PROTECTION

Because part of I-70 will sit below grade, several retention ponds will be constructed between Brighton and Colorado boulevards (E), and a pump station—built to handle a 100-year flood, Kiewit says—will be installed at York Street.

WIDE ROAD AHEAD

While most of the major construction is happening west of I-270, the highway east of that interchange is also being widened to allow for the addition of the express lanes (F).

This spread: Courtesy of Poitra Visual (3)

EIGHT LANES OF INTERSTATE

NAVIGAT ING CEN T RAL 70

SWANSEA ELEMENTARY

JOSEPHINE STREET

G

B YORK STREET

COLUMBINE STREET

CLAYTON STREET

PLAYGROUND ON A PLATFORM

Adding lanes and sending I-70 underground required shifting the freeway north, a move that included demolishing Swansea Elementary School’s playground as well as 56 residences and 17 businesses. (CDOT purchased properties for market value under eminent domain and paid costs to resettle residents and businesses.) To make up for the lost outside play space, CDOT has pledged to add a four-acre park atop the section of I-70 that runs between Columbine and Clayton streets (G). Part of this will serve as a soccer field for the school and the neighborhood, and the other half will include an amphitheater, green space, and a small park for public use. If you’ve been to Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, you have a good idea of what it will look like.

RAMP REDOS

Traffic studies have shown on-ramp loops— like the old ones from northbound Colorado Boulevard onto I-70 west (H) and southbound Colorado onto I-70 east—cause backups and can be dangerous.

A couple of these awkward freeway entrances are being eliminated and replaced by more intuitive left-hand turns at lights onto on-ramps.

G

THE N LINE

Although it’s not part of the Central 70 Project, another new development near the west end of this corridor is the addition of the North Metro Commuter Rail Line (aka the N Line). Testing began in spring 2019, and the route, which goes from Union Station through Commerce City before terminating in north Thornton, should be live by 2020.

COLORADO BOULEVARD

H

F I-270

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WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHEN Kiewit and CDOT have said the Central 70 Project will reach “substantial completion” by 2022. There have already been delays, though. With that in mind, here’s their best guess at what’s coming in the next few years—if everything goes as planned.

SUMMER 2019

Significant construction will continue in the western section of the project, including work on the new westbound I-70 lanes and the construction of the north-south cross-street bridges that will pass over I-70. In order to build the Union Pacific Railroad bridge, East 46th Avenue between Brighton Boulevard and York Street will remain closed. All of these projects will continue into mid-2020. Adjustments to the outside lanes of eastbound and westbound I-70 between Colorado Boulevard and Quebec Street also will begin this summer and wrap up by the end of 2020. Expect lane shifts and temporary construction barriers.

SUMMER 2019 ROADBLOCK

Although CDOT has promised to keep three lanes of I-70 moving in each direction throughout most of the construction during the day and peak hours (speed limits might be reduced), the agency will require a handful of full closures of I-70. Expect one for a couple of days this summer when the old I-270 overpass and bridgework at Colorado Boulevard are demolished.

FALL 2019

The work on Dahlia, Holly, and Monaco streets (where each crosses I-70) should be finished by the time winter weather arrives. Improvements to Stapleton Drive will continue this fall but are not slated to be complete until the end of 2020.

WINTER 2019

The new I-270 connector bridge and the median improvements on the eastern end of I-70 should be done by midwinter.

SUMMER 2020

It’s the inside lanes’ turn for revamping on I-70 between Colorado Boulevard and Quebec Street. Watch for orange cones here summer through fall.

WINTER 2020

CDOT says the I-70 viaduct will come down in winter 2020. Just exactly how engineers plan to remove the 55-year-old structure isn’t clear yet (Kiewit is still working on the specifics).

Although it seems likely that any plan will require shutting down I-70 for at least a day, Kiewit says it’s trying to avoid that.

BEYOND

Once the viaduct comes down, work will commence on what will be the new eastbound I-70 lanes and 46th South Avenue (46th North Avenue, on the other side of the interstate, should have been wrapped up in mid-2020). When this is finished—hopefully by mid-2022—construction can start on the four-acre cover park between Columbine and Clayton streets. The completion of the park should mark the end—or nearly the end—of the Central 70 Project.

IT’S NOT ALL CENTRAL 70’S FAULT Other projects that might make your commute more difficult.

Blame…the city, whose work on the

National Western Center might cause rerouting. Denver’s effort to create a 12acre greenway and a multiuse trail on East 39th Avenue between Franklin and Steele streets might also complicate things.

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Don’t blame I-70 if…you can’t park on Walnut or Blake streets or on other roads in RiNo. Blame…independent development projects that periodically shut down parking lanes—and sometimes create other traffic delays, too.

Don’t blame I-70 if…there’s confusion at East 47th Avenue and York Street.

Blame…the city. While part of this construction might be confused with CDOT’s Central 70 Project, Denver has also expedited the building of a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over the train tracks here. It should be completed by the end of the year.

Getty Images

Don’t blame I-70 if…you have to detour off of Brighton Boulevard.

NAVIGAT ING CEN T RAL 70

ALTERNATE ROUTES We can’t give you a road map for every month of construction

for the next four years. But we can help you navigate Central 70 with as little headache as possible by answering these questions.

What’s the best route to DIA?



PEÑA BLVD

Save yourself frustration and maybe E-470 parking costs by riding RTD’s A I-25 Line. If that’s not an option and you’re on I-76 the northwest side of I-25, consider taking TO DIA I-76 to E-470. It might cost you some cash, but it’s likely to save you oodles of irritation if I-70 is slowed down. Coming from I-70 down south? Opt for I-225, which should be A LINE relatively unaffected by construction. If I-70 I-225 DENVER remains the most direct route for you, stay on the interstate; trying to leapfrog traffic by getting off on local streets will not only cost you time, but you’ll also aggravate residents who already have increased traffic through their neighborhoods.

E 46

TH A V

YORK ST

E 46TH AVE

E 47TH AVE RACE ST

Only a few north-south streets are  permanently closed along Central 70’s 10-mile stretch. The most noticeable

N HIGH ST

What if I need to travel in the neighborhood?

YORK ST

E east-west closure is East 46th Avenue from I-70 Brighton Boulevard to York Street, but several other smaller neighborhood streets have also been permanently shut down. In the west area of the Central 70 Project, CDOT will rotate street closures for the major thoroughfares that currently pass under I-70 on a daily and weekly basis. Check the Central 70 website before you leave to determine the best route.

RACE ST



BRIGHTON BLVD

What about buses?

45, 121

Leo Patrizi/Getty Images

PEORIA ST

More than a dozen RTD lines go BUS STOP E4 5TH AVE through the Central 70 Project area, E 47TH AVE among them the 8, 12, 37, 40, 42, 44, 45, 48, 48 BUS 62, 88, 121, AT, and A Line commuter rail.

STOP At press time, only three—the 45, 48, and E 46T H AVE 121—had bus stop closures related to Central 70 (check for detours/closures at RTD’s I-70 I-70 website). On the 48 line, the southbound bus stop at Brighton Boulevard and East 47th Avenue is closed through 2019. And farther east, both the north- and southbound stops on Peoria Street at East 45th Avenue (where the 45 and 121 stop) will be closed through 2020.

SAVED

BY THE CELL Three ways your smartphone can help you avoid getting stuck in Central 70 snarls.

1

Sign up for CDOT’s Know

Before You Go program to get either weekly emails or texts (in English or Spanish) about street closures, restrictions, and detours. Or you can visit the website, c70.codot. gov, to see traffic updates.

You can also call 833-C70INFO to hear a recorded message about weekly traffic restrictions and changes in English or Spanish.

2

The Know Before You Go updates don’t include information about projects other than Central 70, but the NDCC’s Navigate North Denver map does. The map aggregates information from all of the construction projects in North Denver— National Western Center, Central 70, and private and city projects—into a single place, so you can see what lanes are open, closed, or restricted.

3

For up-to-the-minute information about lane closures and detours and a user-friendly interface, we rely on the Waze app. Kiewit and the NDCC work with Waze’s Connected Citizens Program team, so the directions from this app shouldn’t steer you down the wrong street.

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EARTH, WIND, AND FRACAS It’s not just additional traffic that residents are worried about—it’s also a potential increase in pollution.

In 2017, the 80216 zip code—which includes several north Denver neighborhoods—was deemed the most polluted in America. Little wonder residents of some of those areas filed a lawsuit aimed at stopping the Central 70 Project in part because it might add harmful pollution. They didn’t win, exactly, but they did reach a settlement that included CDOT agreeing to put more than $550,000 toward a community health study that will assess the “potential causes of the disparate health outcomes” in the area. The final results are due to be released in 2023. CDOT has also agreed to take measures to mitigate residents’ concerns about air pollution, soil pollution, and noise.

AIR POLLUTION

SOIL POLLUTION

NOISE

THE CONCERN Air pollution comes in

THE CONCERN In 1999, parts of north

THE CONCERN Denver allows construction

many shapes and sizes, but the size residents are primarily worried about is PM10—particulate matter that measures 10 micrometers (a little bigger than a red blood cell)—which can cause respiratory issues. Denver violated the Clean Air Act’s limits for PM10 levels back in the 1980s (hello, brown cloud), so it’s on an EPA watch list.

When CDOT did its modeling for the Central 70 Project, the EPA raised a red flag because the results showed that levels of PM10 would be too high. CDOT redid its calculations, and that new math was part of the basis for a lawsuit.

Denver were tagged with the Superfund label (although they will likely be declassified as such soon) due to soil contamination thought to be caused by smelters. In the early 2000s, residences in these neighborhoods had the top 12 inches of their yards’ soil replaced to reduce exposure to arsenic and lead.

But commercial sites and roadways were not tested and remediated. Residents, understandably, are concerned that carving 1.7 million cubic yards of dirt— enough to fill 520 Olympic-size swimming pools—out of the earth, as Kiewit plans to do in the corridor between Brighton and Colorado boulevards, could stir up contaminated soil that might become airborne and enter their homes, yards, and airways.

between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays (and 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekends), but the noise should not register above 55 decibels on a residential property. The Denver Board of Public Health and Environment can issue variances to those rules, though, and it did so to allow Kiewit to work round-the-clock—although overnight construction can’t happen in the same residential area for more than five consecutive days in a seven-day period. The variance limits the company to a 75-decibel average (with an 85-decibel peak) on weekdays from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and on weekends between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. That variance is up for review this summer.

THE COMMITMENT CDOT and Kiewit installed four air-quality monitors along the Central 70 corridor; hourly averages are available online. If any reading reaches above the allowable level, construction must be halted. So far, there have been five such instances.

THE COMMITMENT Construction crews will mitigate dust by watering down dirt and keeping trucks and areas that aren’t being worked on covered. Kiewit has also performed tests on about 2,000 soil samples to determine the quality of the soil in various areas and will reuse or dispose of it accordingly.

THE COMMITMENT Kiewit installed 2,750 feet of noise barriers between the construction site and residential areas. Kiewit also maintains four noise-monitoring stations along the corridor, and the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment publishes weekly reports on those readings. Residents can call the 24-hour noise hotline (833-C70-INFO) about violations.

If major construction activities that might break the decibel limits are scheduled, Kiewit will issue hotel vouchers and travel reimbursements to affected residents.

13%

is approved for use in industrial areas and will be repurposed east of Colorado Boulevard

83%

of the 1.7 million cubic yards of dirt being removed is safe enough to be reused for backfilling

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of the soil being removed—or roughly 21 Olympic-size pools’ worth—has dangerously elevated levels of arsenic, lead, and benzo[a]pyrene and is bound for either Tower Road Landfill or Denver Arapaho Disposal Site

From top: Carl Goodman/Science Source; Getty Images

4%

NAVIGAT ING CEN T RAL 70

DECIBEL DECODER* 100 SNOWBLOWER

From left: Getty Images; Courtesy of Northeast Transportation Connections

CONVERSATION IN A RESTAURANT; BACKGROUND MUSIC

85 80

GARBAGE DISPOSAL; FREIGHT TRAIN (FROM 50 FEET AWAY)

70

VACUUM CLEANER

60 40

RUSTLING LEAVES

POWER MOWER; MOTORCYCLE

BIRDSONG

20 0

*Because the decibel scale is logarithmic, differences increase exponentially. So 70 decibels is twice as loud as 60 decibels.

SILVER LININGS? Having your neighborhood torn apart by construction is by no means desirable, but the Central 70 Project also has helped bring overdue resources and attention to an area that’s been too often overlooked. WORKNOW As a condition of getting the Central 70 contract, Kiewit is required to hire 20 percent of its workforce from the surrounding neighborhoods. The company is at more than 18 percent but hopes to increase that number with help from WorkNow, a free state recruitment and training program that teaches everything from carpentry and electrical skills to administrative and payroll know-how. CDOT allocated $400,000 to the program to support local hiring efforts.

SWANSEA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Shifting I-70 north moves it right next to Swansea Elementary School. CDOT offered to relocate the building, but neighborhood residents expressed concern because the school was the heart of the community. So CDOT has spent $18.5 million making improvements instead, among them a new HVAC system, two new early childhood education classrooms, and a new main entrance; it also moved the playground to the north side. The fouracre cover park over I-70 will be among the last of those improvements.

TREE PLANTING

The soil remediation from the early 2000s killed many of the neighborhood’s trees. CDOT has pledged $25,000 toward tree replanting, which will begin this summer. The Nature Conservancy will carry out the tree planting, but the community will drive the process.

ADELANTE HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

To combat the inevitable construction dust and noise, CDOT and the city of Denver teamed up to provide more than $3 million in improvements—like new storm windows, doors, and AC units—to about 250 area homes. They’ve also given residents financial assistance to cover increased utility costs.

NORTHEAST TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIONS NETC’s overall mission is to reduce the number of single-occupant vehicles on the road, and it has stepped up efforts to give north Denver community members other options during Central 70 construction. NETC provides a weekday shuttle for area employees along

Josephine Street, with stops available by request, and offers gratis bus passes to area residents who qualify.

The nonprofit also maintains two bike libraries (one at Focus Points in Elyria-Swansea and one at Prodigy Coffeehouse) where bikes can be borrowed for a $20 annual fee, and NETC has established a walking school bus that is coordinated and led by neighborhood residents.

NORTH DENVER RESOURCE CENTER

Community outreach efforts related to the Central 70 Project revealed more about the needs of the neighborhood, and the resource center is one of the results of those findings. In 2018, NDCC launched this economic mobility resource center in the Valdez-Perry Branch Library to assist area residents with city-related issues they might not otherwise be able to easily connect with the appropriate department about. If a resident has a question about job training, needs emergency housing or help paying a utility bill, or wants assistance finding English classes, she can make an appointment at the library Monday through Friday.

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SUPPORT NETWORK

How to help the neighborhoods most affected by the Central 70 Project.

Are you hungry?

No

Yes

SEE “GOOD EATS” ON THE FACING PAGE

But do you like to cook?

SUBSCRIBE TO GROWHAUS The $20 you spend on a weekly CSA-style food box from this Elyria-Swansea nonprofit helps provide healthy, affordable foods to residents who live in a food desert. The revenue goes toward GrowHaus’ discounted market and weekly free food pantry and cooking programs. Between its greenhouses at East 47th Avenue and York Street and partnerships with local farmers, GrowHaus fills your box with half a dozen eggs, bread, four to seven servings of fruit, and seven to nine servings of veggies.

Yes No

What’s your pleasure: reading, running, or R& R?

I don’t like any of those things.

110

Running

R&R

BE A BOOKWORM

TAKE THE A LINE

Deliver library materials to homebound residents—some of whom live in this part of the city—through Denver Public Library’s Homebound program. You can also contact the ValdezPerry Library, which sits on the edge of construction in ElyriaSwansea, to ask how you can volunteer with events or special projects.

More than 200,000 cars pass through Central 70 each day. Subtract one SUV—and its traffic, noise, and pollution contributions to neighborhoods already plagued by all three— from that number by opting to ride RTD’s A Line commuter rail to DIA when you catch a flight for your next vacation.

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SAVE THE DATE On August 4, Clinica Tepeyac—a nonprofit community health center that serves Globeville and Elyria-Swansea—will host its annual Adelante 5K walk/run. Registration fees from this event support the services Tepeyac provides to area residents at a reduced fee (or, sometimes, no cost). Even better, the 5K follows a route through the neighborhood, so it’s a great opportunity to get to know this part of the city—and earn some karmic energy while burning calories.

OK. Do you like money?

Everyone likes money.

Good, give some away.

GET OUT YOUR CHECKBOOK Colorado Gives Day (December 10) is just as good a reason as any to donate to one of the nonprofits that work in north Denver, such as Focus Points Family Resource Center, Project Voyce (a student-driven organization to help develop young leaders), Mile High United Way, and Hope Center (which works with developmentally disabled adults and children). If you can’t wait that long to do good, nothing’s stopping you from mailing a check today.

Getty Images (whisk, books, shoe, suitcase, checkbook); Courtesy of GrowHaus (lettuce)

Reading

NAVIGAT ING CEN T RAL 70

EL TORO

EAT Anything you can put salsa on.

Like its green chile, El Toro’s salsa is homemade, spicy, and addictive.

Perched on Colorado Boulevard, El Toro is a little rough around its 24-year-old edges, but it serves a regular lunch crowd of workers with kindness and attentiveness that many of Denver’s top-notch restaurants should emulate.

FORT GREENE EAT Something

before you come.

This unmarked bar’s cocktails are, ahem, boozy. We’re particularly fond of the whiskey drinks, which somehow fit in with the velvet couches, wallpaper, and Grandma’s house vibe.

Taqueria Sanchez

GOOD EATS One win-win way to support local restaurants and shops affected by the construction is to indulge in their delicious fares and wares. Just remember to bring cash; many of these spots don’t take cards.

GLOBE HALL TAQUERIA SANCHEZ

anything that lets the flavor of the Allegro beans and talents of the staff— young adults from the surrounding area who have faced challenges—shine.

lunch or dinnertime tortas and tacos.

You’ll come back for the steaming, wakeup-your-taste-buds-on-the-way-to-work breakfast burrito made with eggs, cheese, potatoes (if desired), and your choice of meat (ham, bacon, chorizo) or jalapeño, tomato, and onion.

DRINK An Americano. Or a latte. Or

PANADERIA JUANITA’S

EAT Pretty much anything in the glass

Clockwise from top: Sarah Boyum; Courtesy of Sammy Keller; Sarah Boyum

EAT Barbecue. Yes, this Globeville

PRODIGY COFFEEHOUSE

case. Owners Antonio and Lilia Uribe have been making cookies, “orejas” (cinnamony pastries), “conchas” (sweet rolls with a cookielike layer on top), and more here daily for over 20 years.

TACOS EL HUEQUITO

EAT Chile rellenos two ways—fried

and soft. The spicy, gooey mess isn’t always available from Huequito’s food truck, but it’s a staple at the year-old brick-and-mortar shop in the Josephine Shopping Center.

EAT Breakfast. You’ll come initially for

PANADERIA SANCHEZ

BUY Whatever you need for your summer

grilling session. Asada? Chicken adobo?

Find it all at this butcher shop and market located next to Taqueria Sanchez.

venue hosts near nightly music from acts like (this month) National Park Radio, but it’s the pulled pork and brisket that are the real headliners.

EMMANUEL’S BAKERY

EAT The barbacoa torta. At 27-year-

old Emmanuel’s in Globeville, it’s crafted with made-fresh-daily bread, fiery and flavorful salsa, and tender meat. Might we suggest splitting one with a friend so you can save room for a strawberry empanada? You’ll never so much as look at a Pop-Tart again.

SWANSEA CORNER MARKET

EL TEPETATE MARKET BUY The basics. The closest

thing to a grocery store for a couple of miles, El Tepetate boasts all the essentials (milk, bread, even Band-Aids) and a small selection of fresh fruit and vegetables along with an assortment of indulgences— traditional Latin American candies for the young ones and imported teas for the not-as-young ones.

ON THE WEB 24 Hours At Josephine Shopping Center Visit 5280.com to learn what it feels like to live and work amid the construction dust at Josephine Street and East 46th Avenue.

BUY Topo Chico mineral water. Tiny Swansea Corner Market carries the Mexican drink, bottled in Monterrey for more than 200 years, and many other essentials for your kitchen—plus a few surprises, like glass cannabis pipes. m JULY 20 19 |

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R RO OO OK K II E E '' S S

The Guide To Surviving Colorado's Backcountry The ability to explore Rocky Mountain terrain is one of the reasons many of us choose to live here. But an increasing number of Coloradans underestimate the skills needed to navigate the state’s wild topography and variable weather.

We consulted the experts to find out what we’re doing wrong, so you can learn to do it right before your next adventure.

BY LINDSEY B. KOEHLER I L L U S T R AT I O N S BY H A R RY C A M P B E L L

JULY 20 19 |

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TO COLORADO BACKCOUNTRY

Compelled To Act

Eight people died recreating in Colorado’s Elk Mountains in 2017. No one was OK with that.

pitkin county sheriff joe disalvo had absolutely had it. He picked up the phone, dialed the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District, and asked for district ranger Karen Schroyer. He wanted to talk about 14,130-foot Capitol Peak; more specifically, he needed to discuss the five lives the mountain had claimed during summer 2017.

“Joe was concerned about what he was seeing,” Schroyer says today.

“He said, ‘Look, if this were a highway, I’d close the highway.’ He wanted to know how we fix this.” By “this,” DiSalvo meant inexperienced peak baggers being underprepared for the rigors associated with climbing Elk Mountains fourteeners—and losing their lives as a consequence. DiSalvo and Schroyer knew there was no easy solution, but their initial conversations set in motion a local movement that ultimately became the Elk Range Mountain Safety Coalition.

The group, one of the few—if not the only—of its kind in the state, quickly grew to include Mountain Rescue Aspen, Aspen Alpine Guides, and Aspen Expeditions Worldwide in addition to the White River National Forest and the Pitkin County Sheriff ’s Office. Its goal: to provide recreationists with the skills necessary for safe backcountry experiences. In practice, that meant offering classroom seminars and fieldwork clinics—both in Aspen and along the Front Range in summer 2018—to a lay public they figured would be rabid for outdoors know-how.

They were wrong. It turns out that people are fanatical about the outdoors but pretty lukewarm when it comes to learning about it. In

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a room that could’ve held 120 at REI’s flagship store in Denver, fewer than 15 chairs were taken for a free presentation on basic planning, gear guidance, and rescue procedures.

A $50 route-planning and ropework course on Independence Pass this past summer was at half capacity—and those in attendance were already experienced outdoorspeople.

A gratis seminar at a Boulder brewery was among the bestattended events—but it still did not garner an overwhelming turnout.

It was disappointing, considering not only the death tolls on Capitol Peak and the Maroon Bells in 2017, but also the fact that across the Centennial State, search and rescue (SAR) missions have been creeping up over the past several years.

“We don’t really know why there’s been an increase,” says Alison Sheets, a Boulder ER doctor and the chair of the Rocky Mountain Region of the Mountain Rescue Association, a national organization that provides educational resources to SAR teams. “Maybe it’s an increase in Colorado’s population. Maybe climate change is extending peak hiking and climbing season. Maybe people are quicker to call 911 than they once were.”

Although Sheets acknowledges it would be interesting to mine available data to learn more, she also says having that insight likely wouldn’t stop the uptick. Instead, she says, people need to take advantage of educational opportunities like those with the Elk Range Mountain Safety Coalition. “Coloradans and visitors to Colorado,” she says, “are overestimating their skills and underestimating the tasks in the wilderness. That leads to a lot of what we call, ‘fall down, go boom.’ ” To help Centennial Staters avoid these booms and bonks as well as other life-threatening scenarios, we asked wilderness experts and SAR members what errors they often see adventurers make. Then we had them explain why these seemingly minor missteps matter—and what you need to do to stay safe.

Courtesy of Mountain Rescue Aspen

Rescues—and deaths— ROOK IE SURV IVA L GUIDE on the Maroon Bells are all too common.

SURVIVING COLORADO’S BACKCOUNTRY S I M P L E M I S TA K E S I M P L E M I S TA K E

You got off-route.

HERE’S WHY THAT MATTERS Although this can happen, with distressing consequences, on any wilderness path, ending up off-route on one of Colorado’s 13,000- or 14,000foot mountains can lead to a particularly dire situation. On many of those peaks, there aren’t easyto-follow trails to the summits; instead, there are what mountaineers call routes, or previously climbed lines, which can vary dramatically in difficulty. Most everyday peak baggers opt for the so-called standard routes. Standard, however, doesn’t mean safe. “Much of the time, these are not hikes,” says Stephen Szoradi, owner of Aspen Alpine Guides, which leads guests on guided expeditions on some of the Elk Mountains’ most technical peaks. “These are climbs.” On a hike, Szoradi says, the route is clear; there are no decisions to make to get from point A to point B. “In mountaineering, you have A and you have B and you have a lot of options. You must have skill and ability and a good spidey sense.” Translation: Experience is a prerequisite that can help if you inadvertently take a wayward trajectory or find yourself considering that “shortcut” on your descent.

THE CAUTIONARY TALE

From left: Courtesy of Aspen Alpine Guides; Courtesy of Alpine Rescue Team



Since 2000, more than 30 people have lost their lives on the Elk Mountains’ seven fourteeners, making them among the deadliest peaks in the state. Even by those tragic standards, 2017 was a disastrous year in Pitkin County, especially on Capitol Peak (pictured). Known for its Knife Edge, a narrow section of jagged Class 4 rock with dizzying exposure, Capitol Peak isn’t a prime contender for anyone’s first or even 20th fourteener. But that’s not necessarily because of its signature feature: Four of the five fatal incidents on Capitol in 2017 have been attributed

to mountaineers being off-route. This suggests that despite ubiquitous resources—like The Colorado 14ers series from the Colorado Mountain Club and 14ers.com— that illustrate the safest ways to navigate the state’s monoliths, inexperienced climbers often steer themselves into precarious situations.

Hiring a guide is one way to not only avoid scary scenarios, but also to gain mountain knowhow. “Americans are bad about hiring guides,” Szoradi says. “We think we can figure it out. It’s a great part of the American spirit; it just sucks for mountaineering.”

You didn’t tell a reliable human where you were going and what time you expected to be back.

HERE’S WHY THAT MATTERS This slipup often puts the “search” in “search and rescue.” Although this is one of the easiest tenets of backcountry travel to execute, far too many people forget to do it. And it can be a serious oversight: If something goes wrong and you haven’t left a trailhead name or an expected return time, it could be days before anyone misses you (and even then, they won’t know where to look). Jessie Krebs, head instructor for Colorado’s SERE Training School for outdoor survival, doubles down on the rule, saying those venturing into the wild should not only tell someone where they’re going and when they’ll be back but that they should also text a picture of their gear, explain their signaling capabilities (“I have a whistle”), and even send a snapshot of the bottoms of their hiking boots.

“The more search and rescue knows about you and what you’re carrying,” Krebs says, “the better they will be at tracking you.”

THE CAUTIONARY TALE



Damian McManus, 51, and his 18-year-old son, Evan, had traveled from Minnesota to Colorado for spring break. On April 2, 2014, Evan texted a friend to say they were headed to climb a peak. It wasn’t until four days later, when the pair didn’t return home, that their family reported them missing. SAR efforts were stymied from the outset, however, because no one knew which peak Evan had been referencing. Equally frustrating was the fact that once authorities gleaned from cell phone data that the pair had been near Mt. Evans, searchers realized evidence of their movements had been obliterated by a snowstorm on the night of April 2. After four days, the search (pictured) was suspended. Their bodies weren’t found until July.

“We were too far behind,” says Dawn Wilson of Evergreen’s Alpine Rescue Team. “They were probably gone before we knew they were missing.”

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S I M P L E M I S TA K E

THE CAUTIONARY TALE

HERE’S WHY THAT MATTERS There are several reasons why outdoor experts plead with recreationists to begin their exploits early in the day. The first is summer monsoonal rain showers that, almost every afternoon, can lead to slick rock, slippery trails, and damp socks (hello, blisters!). The second is lightning—thunderstorms often begin around lunchtime—which can be a serious threat when you’re on an exposed ridgeline. (This is not hyperbole: Colorado ranks third in the country for lightning-related deaths.) Perhaps the most critical argument, though, for having your après drink in hand by 2 p.m. is not getting caught by darkness.

“Human beings are basically tropical animals.

The survivors on Gilligan’s Island were lucky,” says John Lindner, who runs the wilderness survival school at Colorado Mountain Club. “Colorado is not a tropical island.” Lindner mentions this because if you get lost or injured, doing so during daylight hours increases the chances for a good outcome. But if you’re still out there—wandering or in pain—when the sun goes down and the temps drop, hypothermia can set in rapidly, especially if you weren’t expecting to be outside for more than a few hours and didn’t bring supplies. “You can die from cold,” Lindner says, “even in the summer.”

Pack It In



The good news was that neither Walt Schaatt nor Henry Allen were injured.

The bad news was that the climbers had lost their bearings somewhere near the top of the Third Flatiron in September 2014—and it was getting dark. After multiple tries to self-rescue, the men realized they would not be able to find their way down safely as the sunlight faded and the thermometer dipped to 50, chilly enough to spur hypothermia. Fortunately, they had cell service. The 911 call came in around 7:40 p.m., and Rocky Mountain Rescue Group reached the duo, who had neglected to bring headlamps or supplies for an unexpected overnight, by 10:30 p.m.

“When you get one of these cat-in-a-tree-type calls in the Flatirons,” says Mountain Rescue Association’s Alison Sheets, who’s also a member of Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, “they’re usually fun calls for us. People often aren’t hurt, just scared and stuck.

We get them unstuck and back to safety.”

clip and save

You started your climb too late in the day.

Wilderness experts swear by this list of 10 essentials to bring into the backcountry, whether you’re camping overnight or doing a dayhike.

1. Water Water intake varies per person, but a rough estimate is that you’ll need one liter of water for every two hours of exertion.

Also: Bring a water treatment method (iodine, a filter), and make sure you know where the closest water source might be.

2. Food The human body can sustain itself for many days without food; however, packing several energy bars can’t hurt.

3. Navigation Tools Bring a topo map of the area you’ll be in and a compass (which you need to actually know how to use). GPS is great, but it’s unreliable because of battery power and the need for cell service.

4. Shelter A Mylar blanket, a bivy sack, or even a sheet of nylon will provide a way to stay out of the elements. If you get a bright color, your shelter can be a great way to signal search and rescue teams.

5. Extra Clothing Bring multiple layers, no matter how pleasant the forecast looks.

7. First-Aid Kit Provisions should include gauze pads, Band-Aids, first-aid tape, ibuprofen, Benadryl, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, moleskin, and safety pins.

8. Illumination A headlamp or small flashlight is not only a lifesaver if your dayhike morphs into a night hike, but it also serves as a signaling device should you need to flag help.

9. Fire Source You’ll want waterproof matches and a lighter in addition to tinder (petroleumjelly-dipped cotton balls work great).

10. Repair Kit Pack a small knife or multi-tool, some rope, and several yards of duct tape (wrapped around your water bottle for easy storage).

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From left: Danita Delimont/Alamy Stock Photo; Getty Images (2)

6. Sun Protection Sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen should all go into your daypack.

SURVIVING COLORADO’S BACKCOUNTRY

GEAR

Digital SOS

Rescue tech won’t fix ignorance, but it might help in an emergency.

If you would happen to encounter a crisis on your next backcountry adventure, being able to alert the cavalry is a handy capability.

Fortunately, a relatively new roster of devices aims to assure you that you’re never truly alone out there. These gadgets, gizmos, and apps won’t make up for insufficient planning or poor preparation—and they won’t necessarily lead to a speedy rescue—but being able to notify someone of your, or someone else’s, plight can be a literal lifesaver. Experts caution that these tools should only be used during real life-and-limb emergencies. And, no, a stubbed toe doesn’t qualify. —Joe Lindsey THE TECH

SOFTWARE-BASED TRACKERS

PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACONS (PLB s )

Getty Images (phone); Courtesy of Colorado Department of Local Affairs (CORSAR card); Devices courtesy of their companies

SATELLITE COMMUNICATORS

WHY YOU MIGHT WANT ONE

THE DOWNSIDE

Social fitness sites aren’t just for comparing your personal bests anymore. Strava’s Beacon function ($2 per month in the Summit Safety pack) and Garmin’s LiveTrack (free) let you share your location in real time with anyone you choose. Much like Apple’s Find My Friends (which could, in theory, be helpful too), geolocators run off smartphone apps, but Garmin requires a Garmin-compatible device.

Both Strava’s Beacon and Garmin’s LiveTrack require cell service to function, which means they’re perfectly fine for outdoor activities close to civilization, but they’re not super-reliable backcountry tools.

These compact satellite transceivers have long been used by sailors, but updates like GPS capability mean your SOS signal also carries your location. One of the most widely available is ACR’s ResQLink ($300).

Press the button and the device transmits an SOS via a radio frequency monitored by Rescue Coordination Centers (generally operated by the military). On the plus side, PLBs have long battery lives, don’t require subscriptions, and work anywhere in the world.

PLBs aren’t communicators; you can’t receive messages or share any specific details about your situation.

The newest class of find-me-anywhere instruments allows two-way satellite communication that works off the grid—useful when, for instance, you want to tell a loved one you’re safe but delayed. The Garmin inReach Mini ($350) supports mapping and navigation, weather forecasts, two-way texting, location tracking, and an SOS function, but some features rely on a smartphone app or another Garmin device.

Spot X’s Two-way Satellite Messenger ($250) has fewer features but works entirely on its own. Two other tools, the Bivystick ($350) and Somewear’s Global Hotspot ($350) turn your phone into a global satellite phone with texting and distress signal features.

Satellite communicators are pricey pieces of hardware, and most of them also require a data plan and/or a subscription plan, with varying rates from around $12 per month.

Don’t Leave Home Without (Buying) It The CORSAR (Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue) card won’t send distress signals, and it isn’t an insurance card, but buying one might be the most effective measure you can take to encourage timely help in the backcountry. The 61 search and rescue organizations that execute missions in Colorado don’t charge to extricate you from the backcountry (nor do county sheriffs). So how do they fund their efforts? In part, with fees from the CORSAR card, a vital source of cash that helps ensure these teams have the resources to pluck your shivering body off a rocky ledge. If you visit the backcountry, this donation is a smart investment. $3/one year, $12/five years; colorado.gov

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Your party inadvertently—or intentionally— separates.

HERE’S WHY THAT MATTERS The explanations for why someone got left behind are myriad, but search and rescue volunteers say there are recurring themes. She said she needed to rest for a minute and we should keep going. He just popped off-trail for a second to pee. He was having symptoms of altitude sickness, so he was going to head back to the car. “In our team’s experience,” says Nancy Anderson, a recently retired member of Chaffee County Search and Rescue–North, “the primary reason we are out there on missions is because groups split up.”

Drew Hildner, a member of Boulder’s Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, agrees that party separation is a serious no-no. “When search and rescue goes looking for someone who went missing from a party,” he says, “we often find it’s the person who needed a break or who turned back.” This makes sense, Hildner says, because that person typically isn’t the group leader, meaning it’s not the person who studied the map, who knows what avalanche danger looks like, who was paying close attention to the forks in the trail, or who knew her fitness level was commensurate with the journey. There is, of course, an easy remedy for this problem. “If you decided to hike together,” Anderson says, “hike together. If one person needs to rest, you all rest.”

REALITY CHECK

THE CAUTIONARY TALE



Patricia Wallace felt at home on the trail, so an early July 2012 day spent hiking with friends on the Buchanan Pass Trail near Allenspark wasn’t out of the ordinary for the 73-year-old Lafayette resident. The busy trail is an out-and-back path, but on the party’s descent Wallace chose to take what looked like an easier route back to the trailhead. It was a fatal decision. Wallace was never seen again. Although Boulder County Sheriff’s Office

deputies and multiple search and rescue organizations looked for her for nearly two weeks, she had simply vanished. Officials ultimately called off the efforts, saying Wallace had likely died from exposure and lack of water. It wasn’t until more than two years later when a family from New Mexico was looking to camp near Thunderbolt Creek—well outside of the original search area—that Wallace’s remains were found.

Here To Save The Day

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You might think…

Search and rescue teams are comprised of paid professionals.

You might think…

That once you’ve called 911, you’ll be back in time for happy hour beers.

You might think…

If you call search and rescue, they’ll just send in the Black Hawk.

But the truth is…

With the exception of units within the National Park Service, Colorado’s 60-or-so groups are staffed by volunteers, many with day jobs.

But the truth is…

Mobilizing SAR takes time. After the 911 call, a sheriff’s office must relay the info to SAR; volunteers must be alerted; gear has to be gathered; and then volunteers must drive to whatever trailhead you used. Then they must hike to you. Short story: You’ll be late to the bar.

But the truth is…

Colorado’s terrain and weather patterns often render helicopters useless; the majority of SAR missions are completed by volunteers on foot carrying heavy equipment.

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You might think…

Search and rescue volunteers are all hardcore badasses with adrenaline addictions who are ready to run toward danger.

You might think…

Being carried down a mountain with a broken ankle by a team of 20 people would come with a hefty price tag.

But the truth is…

OK, they are total badasses; however, these volunteers don’t have death wishes, which is why more units are using camera-outfitted drones to scout situations before sending human beings into treacherous terrain.

But the truth is…

Search and rescue teams do not charge for their services. However, you will be charged by the ambulance service to take you from the trailhead to a medical center.

Dougal Waters/Getty Images

Separating fact from fiction when it comes to search and rescue.

SURVIVING COLORADO’S BACKCOUNTRY UPSKILL

Putting On Clinics

From left: Courtesy of Seth Foldy; Getty Images

Golden’s Colorado Mountain Club gives you a game plan for prudent outdoor recreation.

For 107 years, Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) has served as a nexus for outdoor-oriented people along the Front Range. For the past 80 years, the club has made it its mission to ensure that local mountaineers have the knowledge they need to recreate safely. And for the past several years, CMC has widened its programming to accommodate the growing number of people who are new to Colorado.

“With increased tourism and our population boom,” says Brittany Smith, marketing director for CMC, “we think it’s necessary to help people understand being outdoors in Colorado is different.” Different, of course, doesn’t mean bad; it just means that what might have been perfectly acceptable in Wisconsin or Vermont or Texas isn’t necessarily appropriate for Colorado.

“For example, climbing a fourteener in jeans and a cotton T-shirt with one 12-ounce bottle of water,” Smith says, “isn’t a great idea.”

The folks at CMC understand, however, that the only way to know how to be prepared is to learn from those with more experience. That’s why Art Hogling, who has been teaching at CMC for 20 years, was the ideal person to spearhead one of the club’s newest classes: Intro To Hiking Safety. Of course, Hogling’s hiking seminar isn’t the only offering budding Centennial State recreationists should consider.

CMC has a roster that includes courses in wilderness survival, backpacking, winter camping, wilderness trekking, avalanche safety, backcountry first-aid, and more. “We make these courses informational but fun,” Hogling says.

“I mean, where else can you learn that Fritos are great fire starters?” Intro To Hiking Safety, $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers; cmc.org

THE CAUTIONARY TALE S I M P L E M I S TA K E

You packed the 10 essentials but couldn’t employ them.

HERE’S WHY THAT MATTERS As the director of Colorado Mountain Club’s wilderness survival school, John Lindner believes it’s his job to prepare his students for what he calls “the what-ifs.” And in Colorado’s backcountry, the what-ifs are practically infinite.

“What if you sprain an ankle? What if you fall in a creek?” Lindner says. “What if you get altitude sickness? What if a snowstorm rolls in?

What if you get lost?” In each of these scenarios, the 66-year-old Colorado native explains, survival is 80 percent about a positive attitude and 20 percent about gear (see “Pack It In,” page 116)—both knowing how to use it and keeping it with you at all times.

Lindner knows his classes are controlled environments, so he tries to reiterate that an emergency is not the time you want to be learning how to set up a bivouac shelter for the first time. Same goes with reading a topo map and using a compass. “You need to practice with the gear you plan to bring with you,” Lindner says.

“You need this stuff to work the first time and every time so it’s second nature during a crisis.”



The weather was warm, even if the April skies were overcast. From their parking spot, Robert Earl, 37, and Michael Geary, 30, could see the summit of 14,293-foot Mt. Lincoln.

Both experienced mountaineers, the men figured they would be on the trail by 7:30 a.m., could bag the peak in short order, and be back down by lunch.

As they ascended, the pair passed by a cabin, where they decided to stash their packs to lessen their loads for the summit push. It was only after they’d reached the top that the storm blew in. Blinding snow and 60 mph winds lashed at the men, soaking their clothing and disorienting their descent. Instead of heading back the way they’d come—toward the cabin and their packs full of food, matches, and water—the duo inadvertently hiked off the back of the fourteener and got lost. They spent the first night in a snow cave and the second night in an abandoned cabin, but the hypothermia was too much for Earl; he stayed behind while Geary struck out for help on the third day. He found it, but by the time SAR located Earl, he had succumbed to the cold.

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Q&A

Three Important Questions For… Jessie Krebs, head instructor for Colorado’s SERE Training School for outdoor survival.

Rocky Mountain National Park’s 358 square miles of epic terrain can be a siren song for the underprepared. micah tice’s sweatshirt, sweatpants, and sneakers weren’t going to protect him from the rapidly deteriorating conditions. At least, that’s what others along the Longs Peak Trail (pictured) say they told the 20-year-old Air Force cadet candidate when they saw him on the morning of November 24, 2018. They also say they discouraged him from continuing his hike. He didn’t listen, and the decision likely cost him his life. Despite an extensive search and rescue effort through savage winter weather, Tice hasn’t been seen since and is presumed dead inside Rocky Mountain National Park.

Park spokesperson Kyle Patterson wishes Tice’s case were an anomaly. In the past 12 months, however, five recreationists have died (two, including Tice, were still missing at press time) within Rocky’s boundaries; more generally, the park is a hot bed for search and rescue missions. “We are normally in the top five national parks for the number of search and rescue incidents,” Patterson says. “In 2017, we were the third busiest park for search and rescue operations with 165 incidents.” In 2018, the park executed 155 such efforts. Patterson is quick to explain, though, that with more than 4.5 million annual visitors, the percentage of those who require emergency assistance is miniscule.

Still, park officials stress that even minor blunders or seemingly innocuous decisions can have dramatic consequences in a place like Rocky, where the terrain is unforgiving and the weather patterns are fierce. “People come to a national park and make assumptions about safety,” says Mark Pita, the park’s chief ranger. “They feel comfortable in a park, and they have easy access to what can be an unfriendly landscape. Many of our trailheads start at 9,000 feet, our trail networks are extensive, and our peaks can be challenging. Because of that, we respond to a lot of trauma here.”

If there is one takeaway, Patterson says, from the narratives surrounding the recent wilderness deaths of Tice, 70-year-old James Pruitt, and 30-year-old Ryan Albert, it is this: Adventuring alone, as all of those men were, increases the risk whether you’re inside a national park or not. “We realize a lot of people like to recreate solo,” she says. “They want the solitude. To balance that out, though, your preparedness needs to be that much more solid. And that preparedness must include checking the weather beforehand and letting someone know where you plan to go so we can find you if you don’t return.”

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Jessie Krebs: Dayhikers, no question.

They’re in the most dangerous spot because they don’t have the equipment with them. They’re “just going out for a few hours”—until they aren’t.

What do most of us get wrong about dressing for Colorado adventuring?

We don’t wear big enough clothing to allow for dead air space. You want room between your layers; it keeps you warm.

Plus, you can stuff leaves in there for insulation if you have to. Women are particularly guilty of this. We want formfitting clothing so we can look cutesy.

Trust me: Being an alive shapeless lump is better than being a cute corpse.

Can you dispel any other survival misconceptions for us?

Fire-making is a sexy skill, and you should absolutely bring the tools to make a fire. But doing so for warmth should be last on your to-do list in a crisis. Find and drink water. Determine how you’re going to signal search and rescue. Figure out your clothing and your shelter. And then, if it won’t deplete your energy unnecessarily, make a fire.

Remember, most creatures on the planet survive with what they have on them (like fur!) or they build or find shelter.

Visit seretraining.us to sign up for a host of survival workshops and critical skills trainings.

From left: Steve Glass/Getty Images; Courtesy of Jessie Krebs

Lost

5280: As a former SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) instructor for the U.S. Air Force, you know what it means to be prepared.

Which group of recreationists worry you most in that regard?

SURVIVING COLORADO’S BACKCOUNTRY UPSKILL

Rock The Wagon Wheel When you’ve lost your way, knowing this basic scouting technique can help you find it.

We all get off-trail now and again. And we all know that feeling—the oh-my-God-I’m-lost-and-I’m-goingto-die-out-here frenzy. “Not knowing where you are creates panic, a chemical change in the brain,” Colorado Mountain Club’s Art Hogling says, “and people get crazy.” Instead of descending into madness, Hogling suggests stopping and marking the spot where you are. That could mean wrapping your highlighter green shirt around a tree. Then, using a hub-and-spoke concept, scout for the trail in multiple directions and count your steps, always returning to your hub before moving to the next line. “If you just popped off the trail for a look at something or to use the facilities and got turned around,” Hogling says, “this is a great way to find your way back.”

C. BREATHE. Now, mark your location with something that’s highly visible.

D. EXPLORE. From the hub, go 300 paces in each direction, always coming back to the center of the wagon wheel if you haven’t found the trail.

E. NOPE! Not here!

F. ACK! Still can’t see the trail.

B. PANIC! Where is the #$&*ing trail?

G. YAY! You found it!

You’re saved!

A. OOPS. You got off-route.

TH E TR AI L

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Watch And Learn Colorado Fourteeners Initiative’s new video series addresses mountain safety for the YouTube generation. it’s an odd dichotomy that people who want to spend between five and 15 hours climbing a potentially treacherous 14,000-foot peak don’t have the attention span to read a guidebook about exactly how to do so. But such is life in our 280-character reality, so Lloyd Athearn has wisely decided to cater to it. As the executive director of the land stewardship nonprofit Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI), Athearn and his team spent an inordinate amount of time in 2018 filming interviews with outdoor experts and editing them down into videos abbreviated enough even for avid Snapchatters.

CFI released its first 10 shorts—focusing on acute mountain sickness and required gear—on its site in late 2018. Athearn expects to debut 10 more films this summer. We suggest you take a look at them (14ers.org). But because we know you have the concentration capability of a gnat, we’ve Twitterized some of the most critical nuggets of information from CFI’s 2018 video series.

Public Service Announcement There’s much less oxygen at 14,000 feet. Don’t invite altitude sickness with alcohol, cigarettes, weed, sleeping pills, narcotics, strenuous activity, dehydration, or a too-rapid ascent to high elevation.

10 essential things you’ll need for every fourteener 14ers.org

Why vanity has no place in the #greatoutdoors.

Some personal news: I like to wear yoga pants when I climb fourteeners. I realize Bear Grylls would discourage this. But they’re synthetic fabric, not cotton, so it’s an individual choice.

Yes, I know I’ll get wet if it rains. Don’t @ me.

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“ You know, you really should wear a helmet on these Class 3 and 4 climbs.”

“But I look so stupid in a helmet!”

Headache + fatigue, rapid heartbeat, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness? #AcuteMountainSicknessIsReal. Descend to a lower elevation ASAP.

From top: Courtesy of Lloyd Athearn; Getty Images (2)

Hiking Partner: Think these flipflops will work on Quandary?

Me: Srsly? No. Get hiking boots.

Hiking Partner: Fine. But I can wear jeans, right?

Me: If you want to freeze to death, sure. #cottonkills

SURVIVING COLORADO’S BACKCOUNTRY S I M P L E M I S TA K E S I M P L E M I S TA K E

You continued to move once you were lost.

HERE’S WHY THAT MATTERS It’s axiomatic that out-of-control emotions often lead to bad decision-making. Unfortunately, that universal truth can ratchet up the risk in survival situations. “When we get freaked out,” says SERE Training School’s Jessie Krebs, “we do that fight-orflight thing. We want to do something, anything.

That gets you in trouble.” Krebs says the savviest thing you can do during a crisis is to use deep breathing to calm yourself and use the STOP-A acronym. If something seems wrong, Stop. Do not keep moving unless you are in imminent danger.

Then Think about what immediate needs you have.

Next, Observe the situation. What time is it? Is it getting cold? Could rescuers see me from this position?

Once you’ve taken in that information, Plan what you need to do first and second and third—but be prepared to pivot if necessary. Lastly, Act. “The biggest mistake people make,” Krebs says, “is they keep moving. Traveling burns calories and could lead to injury. If you are in a survival situation, be still and be big—the latter of which means giving SAR some way to spot you.”

THE CAUTIONARY TALE

From left: Brian A. Jackson/Getty Images; Getty Images



On a bluebird day in October 2017, Shuei Kato enjoyed the view from the summit of Missouri Mountain. It was roughly 11 a.m., and the 36-yearold had just bagged his 15th fourteener. When he started to descend, though, he realized he had no idea from which direction he’d come.

There was no discernible trail. Based on a screenshot he’d taken of the route, Kato took a guess and began moving. At sunset, he was still trekking—in the wrong direction. Using a flashlight, he kept moving, hiking faster as panic set in. The temperature

dropped below freezing that night, but the sounds of a helicopter the next morning buoyed Kato’s spirit—until he realized the chopper was too far away to see him. He tried his phone, but the battery had died. He kept hiking and spent another cold night in the Collegiate Peaks. The father of two tried to light a fire with his cooking stove the next morning, but the wood was too wet. He continued hiking—and spent another night outside. As the sun rose on day three, Kato again tried to light a fire; this time, his tinder took. SAR spotted the smoke and rescued him.

You failed to turn back when circumstances dictated it.

HERE’S WHY THAT MATTERS Everyone gets greedy from time to time. It’s a normal human emotion. In the wilderness, though, rapacity can quickly turn into remorse. Wanting to make it to the lake before dark, ignoring the looming thunderheads to reach the summit, deciding to make backcountry turns even though that cornice looks unstable— these are all SAR missions in the making. “Too often we find that people are here in Colorado on vacation,” says Mountain Rescue Aspen’s Justin Hood, “or a resident took a day off from work and they felt like they must do whatever adventure it was that they had planned.” To outdoor veterans like Hood, this avarice obscures what should be the joy of being in nature. “If you don’t reach the summit, is the day a failure?” Hood says. “Of course not.

Don’t have expectations. Just show up and enjoy the part of the trip you do get to experience. Then go home when it’s time to go home.”

THE CAUTIONARY TALE



Winter hiking isn’t for everyone, but Lewis Walker, 27, and Byron Sortor, 28, thought a dayhike up 13,294-foot James Peak in December 2018 sounded like fun. So unconcerned were they with the journey that they didn’t set off until roughly 11 a.m., and neither man brought a fully loaded pack. The first part of the jaunt went well; then thick, angry clouds rolled in. It was at this point the roommates should have turned around. Instead, they pressed on.

Atop the mountain, they were above the clouds, a position that was beautiful—and terrifying. They couldn’t see their way down. Then it began to get dark and cold— roughly minus 16. The duo hunkered down. Thanks to their other roommate, who called police when the men failed to return, they didn’t have to huddle long. Alpine Rescue Team found them before frostbite caused permanent damage to their feet. m

JULY 20 19 |

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THE VA L L EY IN THE

SHADOW

Brock Knight stands alongside the South Platte River in Sun Valley.

Sun Valley, the poorest census tract in the state, is undergoing a historic transformation.

For one boy on the cusp of adolescence, the changes to his neighborhood could be life-altering.

BY ROBERT SANCHEZ Photography by Bob Wooley

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E A R LY T H I S PAST WINTER, F L AT B E D trailers hauled bulldozers and backhoes into Sun Valley, a neighborhood mostly made up of affordable housing projects that stands in the shadow of downtown Denver. Passersby watched from behind a wall of chain-link fence as the massive machines rumbled toward a row of homes. Many of the men and women there that morning had spent much of their adult lives within the roughly half a square mile that comprises the neighborhood, a semiindustrial zone between Federal Boulevard and the South Platte River that includes Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

A backhoe cut into the corner of a midcentury public housing unit—one of dozens of homes to fall that day—the wall of brick and stucco crumbling onto a concrete slab. With each sweep of the metal bucket, the slow transformation of Colorado’s poorest neighborhood had begun.

When Brock Knight walked to the 7-Eleven with his mother a few days later, the 10-year-old stopped on the sidewalk in front of the fence. He’d seen the plans on mailers that were sent to his parents and on poster boards at one of the community centers: renderings of the midrise apartment buildings, wide streets, and grassy open spaces that would soon replace the acres of public housing he’d come to know so well. The Sun Valley projects were the backdrop for much of Brock’s brief life, and now they were disappearing—with the promise of something better, or at least different, for the nearly 800 people who called them home. Many of Brock’s friends moved away as the bulldozers began to arrive, relocating to seemingly faraway places like Aurora and Englewood. To Brock, the neighborhood already seemed emptier, lifeless. And here was further proof.

The old buildings had been scraped from the land, the toppled remains hauled off and replaced by a patch of snowspeckled dirt. Staring into the vacant lot, Brock wondered why his world needed to change.

B R O C K L I V E S A B LO C K away, on West 11th Avenue, in one of the two-story rowhouses across from Fairview Elementary School, a 95-year-old blond brick building where, this past spring, he was in fifth grade.

Fairview has two large playgrounds, a community garden, and a blacktop basketball court with two hoops. A grassy field pushes toward a trio of soonto-be-demolished water tanks and obscures a view of Denver’s

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The redevelopment of Sun Valley, including the razing of public housing projects, will transform the neighborhood.

skyline to the northeast. The nonstop whoosh of vehicles on I-25 to the east sounds like an ocean’s incoming tide.

On Friday afternoons, volunteers from a community group called Hope in Our City brings boxes of granola bars and miniature oranges to the school playground. On those days during the school year, dozens of kids would spill out of Fairview and spend the afternoon shooting hoops or throwing footballs in the field or kicking soccer balls off the school’s caged windows.

Brock is always easy to spot among the crowd. He’s five feet tall and weighs 86 pounds, and he carries his size with confidence around the neighborhood. His features—sharp jawline, high cheekbones—are softened by his button nose, the dimples in his cheeks, the braces on his teeth, and the smoothness of his skin. He has dense, long eyelashes and expressive dark brown eyes. Many of Brock’s jeans have grass stains and holes torn in both knees. His shirts are often wrinkled. His sneakers are frequently untied.

Teresa Walker, his mother, and his father, Tatse (pronounced “Tah-shay”) Knight live with their son in a brick public housing unit with large rectangles of grass in both the front and back. Sun Valley’s affordable housing projects are among the oldest and largest in the state, and the surrounding area had long been forgotten as the rest of the city experienced an unprecedented economic expansion. While skyscrapers signaled the boom happening across the interstate, Sun Valley languished in its isolated, poverty-stricken past.

That Brock lives with both of his parents is an anomaly in a community where nearly three-quarters of the 700-plus children are raised in single-parent homes. According to the Piton Foundation, the neighborhood’s annual average household income of $14,460 is nearly seven times lower than the rest of the Denver metro area. Around a third of the adults are unemployed. The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey reported in 2017 that Sun Valley was the poorest tract by average household income in Colorado. The nearest grocery store is roughly a two-mile walk; nearly one-fifth of the district’s children between the ages of two and 17 are obese. Elementary school test scores are among the state’s lowest. Rates of violent crimes, burglaries, auto thefts, robberies, and domestic violence are some of Denver’s worst. The second most frequent reason for emergency room visits for Sun Valley’s teenagers is attempted death by suicide.

When they moved into the neighborhood eight years ago, Teresa and Tatse had been living in emergency housing with two of their sons. Brock was around three at the time, and the little brick home in Sun Valley met the family’s most pressing needs. Their hot water went out a couple of times and flying ants took over in the summer, but they did not complain. For less than $200 a month, they had two bedrooms, one bathroom,

and a kitchen with a gas stovetop. It was enough, Teresa thought, to raise a family.

Brock is not particularly athletic, but he is bold in ways that so many preteen boys are. He climbs trees and fences.

He walks on roofs. He does flips off the playground swings and the monkey bars. He is not afraid of the pit bull in the neighborhood that sometimes chases kids, he says. Brock moves easily among the many groups that occupy Fairview’s hallways. His smile is somewhere between warm and mischievous and makes girls in his class giggle. Around school he tries out his Spanish on some of the Spanishspeaking cafeteria workers; he does card tricks for the other kids; and he high-fives the janitorial staff, the physical education teacher, the school’s aides.

Only one of Brock’s three brothers has a high school diploma. One, who is 25, lives in Aurora; another served 13 months in prison for car theft. Yet another ran away this past fall and only recently returned home. Brock’s father recently observed that Brock is “like an adult mixed with a little boy” and that the combination could mean bad things on the street. Brock is quick to clench a fist in anger, to strike when he feels threatened.

Because of his situation, Brock is what most educational experts would consider “at-risk,” part of what today is known as the “school-to-prison pipeline,” a subsection of mostly poor, mostly male, mostly minority American

Brock and his parents, Tatse Knight and Teresa Walker, have lived in Sun Valley for eight years.

children to whom a great deal of attention is now paid.

According to a 2018 study from Stanford University and the National Bureau of Economic Research, the odds a child like Brock will become a college graduate are far lower than the chance he will drop out of high school, continue a life in poverty, and eventually wind up incarcerated.

To a developing boy, those concepts don’t mean anything yet. When Brock steps out of his house and onto the sidewalk, Sun Valley seems limitless. The recreation center is almost always open, and playgrounds are scattered throughout the neighborhood. His school is a few dozen yards away.

The 7-Eleven is just up the hill. The store has his father’s favorite Red Bull energy drink and his mother’s Pall Mall cigarettes. On rare occasions, Tatse lets Brock take the family’s food-assistance debit card and walk the five minutes to get a Coke and a bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. The convenience store’s cashiers don’t mind when Brock shoots a stream of orange nacho cheese into the foil bag.

PSYCH O LO G ISTS ID EN TIFY TH E Y EARS between 10 and 12 as a period when changes in the adolescent brain begin to equip children for the transition from familial dependence to independence. The span is marked by a drive for social connections and group acceptance, desires that manifest themselves in the forms of pleasure seeking, limit testing, and risk taking. In the cocktail of pubescent development, JULY 20 19 |

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genetics, environment, and experiences complicate the matter, each knocking against the others during the chaotic transition from childhood to adulthood. In other words, it’s a difficult time for boys turning into young men, especially in a place like Sun Valley.

At school one morning this past spring, Brock sat in the back of his literacy class and searched the internet for photos of Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, for a project that was coming due in a couple of weeks. The room was bright and airy, with a wall of six windows that were covered in translucent stickers of butterflies, Peanuts characters, and hot air balloons and overlaid with mesh on the outside that masked a view of the stadium. The windows were cracked open, and joyful shrieks from kindergartners on the playground intermittently pierced the room.

Standardized testing, a tense time of year when the state measures student proficiency and progress in subjects such as reading and math, had begun. Fairview’s students typically score poorly on standardized tests, and among the 220 students and 25-person teaching staff, it seemed everyone knew what was at stake. “You have worked really hard this year!” read a handwritten poster that was stuck to one of the classroom’s whiteboards. “This is your time to show everyone what you know. Do your best and know we believe in YOU!!”

Brock’s mother had taken a bus to the optometrist that morning then stopped by the school to deliver her son’s

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The playgrounds of Sun Valley are just a short drive from Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

first pair of reading glasses. Brock stopped searching photos online for a moment and reached for the black case, pulling it under the table. He rolled it in his hands for a few moments, gathering his courage, then finally opened it and pulled out the clear frames. He scanned the room for anyone who might be watching. He slid the glasses onto his face and sank low in his chair.

“Yoooooo,” another 10-year-old boy named Eduardo whispered to Brock. “Those new glasses?”

Brock cringed.

“Maaaaan,” Eduardo said, “those are tight!”

“They don’t make me look like a nerd?” Brock whispered back. “Because I don’t want to look like a nerd. I don’t want to be going home and be like, ‘Mother, may I partake in a movie?’ I don’t want that.”

“No way, man,” Eduardo said. “They look great.”

A couple of girls in the front row peeked back at Brock.

He smiled and sat up in his seat.

Brock’s teacher, 26-year-old Melinda Nagel, called his name. Brock gathered a small pack that included a worksheet and the first chapter book he’d attempted to read in the class; it was from the popular Goosebumps series and titled The Blob That Ate Everyone. Brock slowly walked to the teacher’s desk and slumped in a chair in front of Ms. Nagel. Pinned to the wall behind her were drawings that students made during the year. One was of a spray-paint can with the letters MFN, Ms. Nagel’s initials, shooting

ON LY B RO CK’S FA M ILY H AD STAY E D I N SU N VA L L EY. RUBRIC

from the nozzle. A gift from Brock.

“I’m a little concerned,” the teacher began. “It’s been a month since you quizzed on a book. Are you staying focused during independent reading time?”

Brock nodded.

“Really?”

Brock nodded again.

“Really, really?”

Brock shook his head.

“OK,” Ms. Nagel said. “Thank you for being honest. If you stay focused, can you finish this book?”

“Yeah,” Brock said.

“I think you can do it too. I know you’ve got it in you.”

After literacy and recess, Brock’s class went to the white-walled lunchroom in the rear of the school. Kids lined up for chicken-fried steak and mashed potatoes that were being served in paper bowls while an aide stood near the line of tables, pouring gravy out of a syrup container. Brock grabbed his food and a carton of chocolate milk and found a seat with a group of six boys. They were arguing with a classmate who claimed he lived in Colorado Springs.

“There’s no way!” one of the boys was saying. “How do you get here in the morning?”

“Colorado Springs is only, like, 25 minutes away,” the boy lied. “Did you know there are a lot of horses down there?”

“And dead prairie dogs,” another boy added. The kids nodded in solemn agreement.

The conversation eventually turned to Sun Valley— namely, who was still living in the neighborhood. Most had moved away over the years, though these boys were finishing elementary school in the neighborhood before transitioning to middle school in the fall. Fairview doesn’t feed into a designated middle school, which means these students soon could go to any of the nearby schools, their nascent support system suddenly gone. Still, each of them was excited about the possibilities a new school might bring, of leaving behind their childhoods and moving on to something else.

Of the seven kids at the table, only Brock’s family had stayed in Sun Valley.

“Where’s your house?” one of the boys asked.

“Just across the street,” Brock said. “A few houses in. It takes me less than a minute to get here in the morning.”

“Fuck that,” a 10-year-old with curly hair and wearing a Nike shirt interrupted. “I don’t live in this ghetto. I live in what you call the big houses.”

“Big houses?” Brock asked, dubiously, not bothering to ask the location.

“Yeah,” the curly haired boy said. “Not here. Not in this fucking ghetto.”

“Why does he always gotta be cussing?”

Brock said to the other boys, then turned away, done with the conversation. While the others continued talking, Brock finished half of his lunch, smashed his potatoes with his plastic fork, and got up from the table. He

threw the rest of his food in a trash can and stood alone in the hallway.

After school, Brock shot hoops at Rude Recreation Center up the street. Later, on the walk home, he stopped on the sidewalk. The conversation from earlier in the day was still on his mind. Brock screwed up his face into what looked like a sneer. “I’m not poor,” he said.

One of Brock’s hobbies is painting, and lately he’s especially intrigued by the gleaming towers of downtown Denver.

TH IS PAST S U M M ER, the Denver Housing Authority (DHA) gave Brock’s parents the option to stick around and eventually live in redeveloped Sun Valley, to move to another DHA public housing site, to apply for a housing choice voucher, or to take a check to cover relocation costs. The DHA worker who met with Teresa and Tatse described the eight-phase teardown and rebuild in exciting terms, as a chance for residents of the neighborhood to restart their lives. Each of the 1,250 planned units (more than half of which would be affordable housing) would be spacious and inviting, with new appliances and large closets. Rather than the old, isolated Sun Valley, the new Sun Valley would be a walkable, business-friendly community, with shops lining the first floors of the mixed-use buildings. There’d be a low-cost grocery store with vegetables grown in the area.

There’d be ample parking. Best of all, the community would be fully integrated, with apartment-dwelling residents living next to each other regardless of socioeconomic status.

The demolition would happen, roughly, from north to south and would skip the school and about a dozen singlefamily houses that weren’t part of the public housing project. Brock’s row of houses would be leveled in the third phase—sometime in 2021. During construction, there’d be temporary housing in an as-yet-undetermined location in or near the neighborhood.

Brock’s parents imagined being assigned a unit with expansive views of downtown. They thought about the big park planned along the river. A local grocery store would eliminate the stress of bumming a ride or jumping on public transportation for a gallon of milk and a package of frozen chicken. Teresa and Tatse asked for the paperwork. They were staying.

DHA hoped the majority of Sun Valley’s public housing residents would remain in the neighborhood, but many of them were skeptical about the project. The idea of socioeconomic integration seemed like a lofty goal, but to some, the plan sounded a lot like gentrification. There were other considerCONTINUED ON ON PAGE PAGE 193 192 ations, too. Kitchen CONTINUED JULY 20 19 |

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52 80

Calendar Our curated guide to the best local events in July.

the artwork on display. But at this immersive exhibit, visitors will get a free look into the processes behind masterpieces while watching more than 50 world-renowned artists—like revered Colorado Springs painter Thomas Blackshear—create works inspired in part by the soaring peaks, lush gardens, and animals of the Broadmoor hotel and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Guests can even chat with the makers about their backgrounds and methods, so when you buy one of their completed works, you’ll have plenty of conversation to accompany your latest piece. Fri-Sun, 10 a.m.6 p.m. Broadmoor Galleries at the Broadmoor, 1 Lake Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-577-5744, broadmoorgalleries.com. Free.

JULY 10–AUG. 27 Park People Most sculptors

INSIDE 130 Special Events

134 Music

130 Arts & Exhibits

134 Performing Arts

132 Culinary

136 Sports & Recreation

132 Kids & Family

SPECIAL EVENTS JULY 3 Independence Eve If one night of fire-

works just isn’t enough, get a double dose before the Fourth at the city’s largest free light and pyrotechnics display. Multicolored lasers will light up the Denver City Council building before peonies, silver dragons, and spirals burst overhead. In addition to the midair explosions and excited shrieks from the crowd, the evening’s soundtrack will be provided by performers like the Colorado Symphony and nationally acclaimed funk band Chris Daniels and the Kings. Wed 4-9:30 p.m.

Civic Center Park, 101 W. 14th Ave., 303-861-4633, civiccenter conservancy.org. Free.

nature waterway. Shoreside, Americana outfit the River Arkansas will strum tunes for tubers bobbing for bacon attached to fishing lines. If the rapids aren’t enough to wake you up, an après-float coffee, provided by local Ampersand Coffee Roasters, is sure to do the trick.

Fri 8-10 a.m. Eben G. Fine Park, 101 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, 303-325-1255, tubetoworkday. com. Free.

BEST BET JULY 13–20 Apollopalooza To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong stepping on the moon, this out-of-this-world fest will provide an in-depth look at space’s past and future frontiers. Patrons can hear from intersteller celebrities, such as Apollo 17 veteran and retired U.S. Senator Harrison Schmitt, and take in a smorgasbord of activities and exhibits about topics ranging from the Apollo program’s history to the commercialization of space travel. The experience might just give science’s future leaders the inspiration and knowledge to create interplanetary footprints of their own. Sat-Sat, times vary. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., 303-360-5360, wingsmuseum. org/apollo. Ticket prices vary.

LOOKING FOR MORE EVENTS?

JULY 12 Tube to Work Day Biking and

carpooling are both good ways to reduce your carbon footprint, but this playful parody sets the bar for sustainable commuting. Whether your office is along Boulder Creek or not, don your business best (atop a wetsuit) for a run down the city’s sig-

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Visit our online listings at 5280.com/ events.

ARTS & EXHIBITS BEST BET JULY 5–28 Broadmoor Art Experience Patrons of museums and galleries rarely have the opportunity to see the painstaking work that goes into

JULY 20–21 Telluride Art & Architecture If you

find yourself snooping around friends’ homes for decorating inspiration, this two-day architecture showcase is your guilt-free excuse to ogle gorgeous abodes. Take a self-guided tour of 10 modern and historic houses in Telluride, each staffed with design-savvy artists, such as painter Emily Ballou, metals sculptor Keith D’Angelo, and representatives from local firm Sante Architects. You can even sip while you scrutinize, thanks to cocktail tastings at various locations courtesy of hooch makers like Old Elk Distillery. Sat-Sun, noon-5 p.m. Telluride Arts District Headquarters, 135 W. Pacific Ave., Telluride, 970-497-1058. $195. Visit tellurideartandarchitecture.com.

JULY 27–28 Cheesman Park Art Festival Trade

the fluorescent lights and endless aisles of Pier 1 Imports and HomeGoods for a stroll through the park at this spirited outdoor home ware market. The fair will host artists from as far away as Florida and California alongside Denver creatives, including Linda Buckus with her glass-blown vases and Juni Margire, who makes ceramic coffee cups.

Music from local blues ensemble Delta Sonics and food trucks such as Rocky Mountain Slices will ensure that freshening up your interior design no longer feels like a chore. Sat 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Cheesman Park, Eighth Avenue and Franklin Street, 505-273-7363. Free. Visit dashevents.com.

Courtesy of Evan Semón Photography

Independence Eve

choose marble or clay, but Nathan Sawaya is taking his talent to a less conventional medium: Lego bricks. A former lawyer, the master of plastic will use the toys to create six life-size human forms striking contemplative poses on downtown’s Republic Plaza benches.

The works might be museum-worthy, but there will be no velvet ropes here; admirers are encouraged to sit down right next to Sawaya’s handiwork (and, of course, snap a selfie). SunSat 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Republic Plaza, 370 17th St., 212-417-2414. Free. Visit artsbrookfield.com.

THE BEST OF MOUNTAIN LIVING. Dinner with friends at the clubhouse. A dip in the private lake. Starry nights at the observatory, and shared s’mores by the fire. Discover a new, engaging living experience at Summit Sky Ranch, where true community is second nature.

Call to schedule your private tour.

19 Lund Way Silverthorne, CO 80498 / 970.286.0202 summitskyranch.com

Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. All elements, designs, features and finishes, plans, renderings, amenities, prices, and any other information presented hereon are for informational purposes only, are not guaranteed, and are subject to change or elimination without prior notice. Maps, depictions, floor plans, and models are not to scale, and all measurements, including square footage numbers, are approximate. Views are not guaranteed. Verify all items before purchasing. Summit Sky Ranch is a registered trademark of Maryland Creek Ranch, LLC and Maryland Creek Ranch builders, LLC.

CALENDAR

CULINARY JULY 10–12 Denver International Wine Festival

Sip your way through three vino-centric days anchored by varietals from both abroad and closer to home. Choose from a plethora of events, such as the Pairsine Food and Wine Pairing Competition, for which 10 chefs, such as Community restaurant’s Gary Tattershall, concoct small-plate complements to two winners from June’s Denver International Wine Competition. For a true sampling of what the event has to offer, don’t miss the Grand

Tasting, featuring several hundred pours from acclaimed vineyards like Hungary’s Nimrod Wines and Littleton’s Black Arts Cellars. WedFri, times vary. Omni Interlocken Hotel, 500 Interlocken Blvd., Broomfield, 719-488-1800.

Ticket prices vary. Visit denverwinefest.com.

JULY 13 Dining Al Fresco Twinkly-light-strewn Lar-

imer Square will combine its vibrant outdoor atmosphere with mouthwatering local fare for an indulgent summertime dining experience. Posh restaurants, including Ocean Prime and Rioja, will expand their fresh-air seating areas into the street, creating a foodie paradise that spans

the entire block. Reserve a spot at your favorite of the 10 participating eateries—with cuisines that range from Italian to French—to enjoy an evening under the stars (and Edison bulbs). Sat 5-11 p.m. Larimer Square, 1430 Larimer St., larimersquare.com. Ticket prices vary.

JULY 27 Outstanding in the Field at the Fresh

Herb Co. Dine on four courses brimming with freshly picked goodies amidst fragrant lavender at this farm-to-table experience.

Brewers Association executive chef Adam Dulye and acclaimed culinary artist Edward Delling-Williams, of Paris’ Le Grand Bain, will prepare dinner and dessert curated around the ripest ingredients from Longmont’s the Fresh Herb Co. Expect elevated dishes featuring tasty greens, vegetables, and a bevy of aromatics like thyme and mint—all plucked from the fields earlier that day. Sat 4 p.m. The Fresh Herb Co., 4114 Oxford Road, Longmont, 303-449-5994. $265. Visit outstandinginthefield.com.

KIDS & FAMILY JULY 6 Cherry Pie Celebration What started

SATURDAY JULY 20

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Enjoy our fields of more than 2,000 lavender plants with artisans, food, beer & wine, live music, children’s activities, workshops and demos!

Get your tickets today! botanicgardens.org C-470 & Wadswor th Blvd.

decades ago as a festival honoring Larimer County’s signature harvest has transformed into a commemoration of the fruit in its most delicious form. Bring Grandma’s best recipe to the Art of the Tart pie-baking contest, or simply sample flaky crusts and delectable fillings from local favorites like Perkin’s Pie Kitchen.

Meanwhile, Lafayette’s Mad Dog Blues and northern Colorado’s Americana outfit Rusty 44 will provide background tunes for a day of gorging on nature’s sweet treats. Sat 5-8 p.m.

Loveland Museum/Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland, 970-962-2410, loveland museumgallery.org. Free.

JULY 8–13 Mutton Bustin at Estes Park Rooftop

Rodeo After watching bucking broncs and wily steers from the sidelines, brave cowboys and cowgirls will get their chances to break in their chaps at this comedy-filled, kid-friendly event.

Each night, 10 young riders will mount their noble steeds—in this case, sheep—and attempt to hang on as the animals frantically sprint through the arena. Tots can also participate in the cash catch, during which they’ll each try to grab a $5 bill off the back of a woolly companion—not quite the prize money of the pros, but enough for a tasty treat to celebrate their win.

Mon-Sat 5-8 p.m. Estes Park Events Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park, 970-586-6104. $10. Visit rooftoprodeo.com.

JULY 19 Rainforest Dinner Downtown Aquarium

may be known for its ocean critters, but this dinner will introduce kids to some new forestdwelling friends. Special guests from the lesser-known rainforest section—like Aspen the sloth and a binturong (aka an Asian bear cat)—will roam the ballroom with mammal experts as guests chow down on tropicalthemed dishes. If your little ones aren’t brave enough to meet the creatures up close, they can check out the four-legged critters from a distance by exploring the full exhibit after their meal. Fri 6:30-8:30 p.m. Downtown Aquarium, 700 Water St., 303-561-4486, aquariumrestaurants.com. $28-$38.

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Built For The Strongest People We Know 8 Hospitals. 1 Health System.

We know women care about the health needs of their loved ones as well as their own.

The HealthONE system, which includes 8 hospitals and numerous other healthcare facilities throughout the Denver area, is focused on meeting the needs of women, for themselves and their loved ones.

That’s why we offer a phone line to help with healthcare needs.

If you have a question and need to speak to a nurse, we’re there for you. If you want to make an appointment with a physician, we’re there for you.

7 Days a Week.

Just call 303-374-0777.

Or, visit HealthONEStrong.com to learn more about our services and hospitals.

CALENDAR

some fitness-focused family time at this Spartanworthy challenge. Parents, alongside their tots and teens, can conquer the two-mile, just-for-fun course littered with over 13 obstacles, including a cargo net climb, ball pit, and mud crawl.

Meanwhile, older kids with a competitive spark can participate in a timed race for the chance at a Razor A6 scooter, Turbo Jetts, or a Ripstick—all active prizes bound to keep them outside and off their screens. Sat-Sun 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Apex Center, 13150 W. 72nd Ave., Arvada, 303-4242739. $44-$60. Visit kidsobstaclechallenge.com.

MUSIC JULY 12 Khalid This singer and songwriter released his first track—the Grammy Award–nominated R&B bop “Location”—when he was a senior in high school. While his soul-pop songs have appealed mostly to a coming-of-age crowd, as the now 21-year-old performer grows, so does his sound. His 2019 sophomore effort, Free Spirit, shows a more mature side, with slow guitar strums backing lyrics that grapple with his newfound fame. Fri 7:30 p.m. Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle, 303-405-1100, altitudetickets.com. $40-$100.

JULY 13 An Evening with Robert Cray During

a time when synthesized sounds ruled, this five-time Grammy Award–winning artist man-

T H E

Elephant’s heady punk and grunge-influenced sound. With both artists coming off successful new albums, expect to hear creative mashups that push the boundaries of rock. Tue 5:45 p.m. Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village, 303-220-7000, fiddlers greenamp.com. Ticket prices vary. Visit beck.com and cagetheelephant.com.

Subaru Kids Obstacle Challenge

PERFORMING ARTS aged to bring old-school blues to mainstream media like MTV. Case in point: His 1986 record, Strong Persuader, became the first album of the genre to make the Billboard top 200 in 14 years. Now, with lengthy guitar riffs and a soulful voice that make you feel the heartbreak he sings about, his acclaimed 2017 album, Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm, continues to keep classic grooves relevant in the age of Auto-Tune. Sat 7:30 p.m. Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder, 303-440-7666, chautauqua. com. $33-$48. Visit robertcray.com.

JULY 23 Beck and Cage the Elephant Alt-rock

fans will be treated to a masterful musical collage when two of the genre’s stars share the same stage. After teaming up on the 2019 reggaetinged track “Night Running,” the Los Angeles singer and songwriter and the Kentucky-born band embarked on a co-headlining tour, melding Beck’s lo-fi after-party aesthetic with Cage the

C E N T E R

JULY 5–14 The Amazing Acro-Cats Dance Into

Denver! Samantha Martin is on a mission to prove it’s not just dogs that can learn new tricks.

Her circus kitties walk tightropes, push shopping carts, and jump through hoops on command.

Beyond providing entertainment, Martin highlights cats’ overlooked need for mental stimulation, demonstrating clicker training techniques and bringing adoptable kittens—so not only can you take home a new feline friend, but you’ll also get the know-how to ensure you and your tabby get the most out of playtime. Fri-Sun, times vary.

The Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., 303-4775977. $22-$35. Visit brownpapertickets.com.

JULY 17–21 Heathers The Musical (High School

Edition) This modified stage version of the ‘80s cult classic adjusts all the dark hilarity of the original film for a PG-13 audience. Veronica Sawyer is desperate to find a place in her high school’s most popular clique, the ruthless Heathers, but

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when she falls for a mysterious heartthrob named J.D., the two decide to take a stand against the group. Denver’s Wolf Theatre Academy will perform the production complete with glam-rock scores like “Candy Store,” shockingly funny one-liners, and the same heartfelt takes on heavy topics that make the screen rendition comingof-age canon. Wed 7 p.m.; Thu 1 p.m., 7 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m.; Sun 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m. Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., 303-316-6360, jccdenver.org. $10-$12.

JULY 20– 21 Sonder Founded in January 2019, Den-

ver contemporary ensemble Circus Foundry tells stories that are made all the more compelling by its high-flying acrobatics. On its first regional tour, the seven-person cast will highlight contemporary struggles—like the LGBTQ character who gains confidence only when falling from a rope into the arms of his community—through daring displays of hooping, juggling, aerial dance, and contortion. The heart-wrenching tales guarantee attendees will leave the performance not only impressed by the feats, but also with empathy for the lives of strangers. Sat 4-6:30 p.m., 8-9:30 p.m.; Sun 1-2:30 p.m., 5-6:30 p.m. Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-444-7228, thedairy.org. $25.

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SPORTS & RECREATION BEST BET JULY 5–6 Deer Trail Rodeo This small Eastern Plains town boldly proclaims itself home of the “world’s first” rodeo (a contentious title also claimed by two other rodeos). This year’s event will commemorate the 150th anniversary of that original contest with standard cowboy fare, such as bronc riding, along with odes to the area’s history, like a cookbook featuring more than 300 old-fashioned recipes from local families. Regardless of the veracity of its claim, Deer Trail offers one absolute truth: authentic Old West culture an hour’s drive from the city. Fri 4:30 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. Deer Trail Rodeo Grounds, Second Avenue and Fifth Avenue, Deer Trail, 303-769-4464. $5-$25. Visit rodeosusa.com.

JULY 7 Women’s World Cup Finals 5K Race and

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| 5280 | JULY 2019

Watch Party If you can’t travel to France, try going to this eclectic event, which will seek to emulate the FIFA Women’s World Cup’s electric atmosphere. Start the day with a 5K run along Dick’s Sporting Goods Park’s field, then try your hand at games like mini soccer, giant Jenga, and cornhole at the Fan Fest activity center. Finally, settle into a stadium seat to watch the tournament’s final match on the jumbo screen.

Sun 8 a.m. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City, 303-727-3500, dickssportinggoodspark.com. $25.

BEST BET JULY 23–28 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championship For the first time in almost a decade, Colorado will host the country’s premier two-wheeled, gravity-fueled competition. Fat-tire fanatics can watch 1,300 top pros and amateurs compete for coveted titles in events such as downhill racing and dual slalom. Among the decorated singletrack slayers, be sure to keep an eye out for homegrown heroes, including Olympian and Boulder native Chloe Woodruff. Tue-Sun, times vary. Winter Park Resort, 85 Parsenn Road, Winter Park, 970-7265514. Ticket prices vary. Visit usacycling.org.

Dining Guide

52 52 80 80

Our directory of where to eat in Denver and beyond.

25 BEST Arcana $$$$ Boulder / American This charming Boul-

NEW

der restaurant aims to explore the roots of American heritage through food. Reservations accepted. 909 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-444-3885. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

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

Ash’Kara $$$ LoHi / Middle Eastern Chef Daniel Asher

25 BEST Indicates inclusion in our annual list of Denver’s best restaurants, released each October. These selections are at the discretion of 5280 editors and are subject to change.

Visit our online listings at 5280.com/ restaurants.

offers a playful take on Mediterranean cuisine at this colorful, plant-bedecked eatery. Try the falafel. Reservations accepted. 2005 W. 33rd Ave., 303-5374407. Dinner, Brunch

PRICE KEY ( Average Entrée ) $ under $10 $$ $11 to $15

LOOKING FOR MORE DINING OPTIONS?

$$$ $16 to $25 $$$$ $26 and higher

Avanti Food & Beverage $$ Highland / Global Visit this collective eatery to sample new and exciting restaurant ideas. Current tenants include BorraCho Taco, Chicken Rebel, Brava! Pizzeria Della Strada, QuickFish Poke Bar, Quiero Arepas, the Rotary, and Bistro Georgette. 3200 Pecos St., 720-2694778. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

A $$

Avelina $$$ Downtown / American This upscale LoDo restaurant

Saevang craft simple-yet-spectacular fare at their pareddown restaurant. Try the signature chicken and rice.

Reservations accepted. 4122 E. Colfax Ave., 303-6580751. Lunch, Dinner

offers a sleek atmosphere and beautifully composed plates with worldly flavors. Reservations accepted. 1550 17th St., Ste. 120, 720-904-6711. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

9Thai Hale / Thai Thailand natives Kyla Love and Mae

25 BEST 12 at Madison

$$ Congress Park / American With a menu offering 18 small plates meant for sharing (plus one large format dish meant to feed two to four people), Jeff Osaka’s cozy restaurant is ideal for dining with a small group.

Reservations accepted. 1160 Madison St., 720-2160190. Dinner

Ace Eat Serve $$ Uptown Area / Asian This Uptown Area restaurant and ping-pong hall features Asian-inspired cuisine, 10 ping-pong tables, and house-made juices and sodas.

Reservations Accepted. 501 E. 17th Ave., 303-8007705. Dinner

25 BEST Acorn $$ RiNo / American First-class Boulder eatery Oak at Fourteenth dials it down a bit with this Denver iteration, where you’ll find contemporary American cuisine served from an oak-fired oven and grill. Reservations accepted. The Source, 3350 Brighton Blvd., 720-5423721. Lunch, Dinner

25 BEST Annette $$ Aurora / American Acorn’s former sous chef, Caroline Glover, brings a warm dining experience to Stanley Marketplace with Annette. Enjoy a family-style menu featuring salads, toasts, and wood-grilled fare. Brunch is particularly delightful; try the yeasted waffle. Reservations accepted. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Ste. 108, Aurora, 720-710-9975. Dinner, Brunch

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Axum Restaurant $$ South Park Hill / Ethiopian This homey, lively spot on East Colfax is a favorite with expats—one taste of the traditional fare and you’ll understand why. Try the vegetarian combo served atop tangy injera flatbread.

Reservations not accepted. 5501 E. Colfax Ave., 303-329-6139. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

B Bamboo Sushi $$$ LoHi / Sushi This Portland-born sustainable sushi spot will let you feel good about each bite of sashimi you take. Try the seared scallop with yuzu vinegar. Reservations accepted.

715 17th St., 303-284-6600. Dinner, Brunch

25 BEST Bar Dough $$$ Highland / Italian Tuck into wood-fired pizzas and comforting pastas from chefowner Max Mackissock and executive chef Carrie Baird at this casual gathering spot. Reservations accepted.

2227 W. 32nd Ave., 720-668-8506. Dinner, Brunch

Bar Fausto $$ RiNo / Contemporary This hip, industrial, neighborhood hangout serves seasonal craft cocktails and shareable small plates. Try the seasonal bruschetta.

Reservations not accepted. 3126 Larimer St., 720-4459691. Dinner

Barolo Grill $$$$ Cherry Creek / Italian Barolo Grill’s waitstaff takes an annual trip to Italy to learn about the cuisine. That dedication to authenticity translates to the food and wine menus, too. Try the agnolotti del plin. Reservations accepted. 3030 E. Sixth Ave., 303-393-1040. Dinner

25 BEST Basta $$$ Boulder / Italian This wood-fired eatery offers bold flavors and pizzas made from house-milled grains. Try the tuna panna cotta if it’s on the menu. Reservations accepted. 3601 Arapahoe Ave., 303-997-8775. Dinner

COOL BEANS Virginia Vale’s fourmonth-old Unravel Coffee does things differently: roasting beans in-house; eschewing paper cups in favor of to-go glass jars; and serving simple yet nourishing grain bowls, salads, smoothies, and toasts. Try the prosciutto version with creamy ricotta, tomatoes, and balsamic alongside an Australian flat white and you’ll taste the distinction.

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.

Sarah Boyum

SYMBOL KEY

Bastien’s Restaurant $$$ City Park / Steak House Enjoy hearty, homestyle

Biju’s Little Curry Shop $ RiNo / Indian Get your fill of southern Indian food at

cooking at this local favorite, which has been familyowned for 80 years. Come for the signature sugar-rubbed steaks. Reservations accepted. 3501 E. Colfax Ave., 303-322-0363. Dinner

this curry shop. Multiple locations. Reservations not accepted. 1441 26th St., 303-292-3500. Lunch, Dinner

Beast & Bottle $$$$ Uptown Area / Seasonal The “farm to fork” mantra permeates a menu featuring everything from local lamb to giant octopus. Reservations accepted. 719 E. 17th Ave., 303-623-3223. Dinner, Brunch

Beckon $$$$ Five Points / Contemporary Chef Duncan Holmes and the team behind next door’s Call bring an elevated, intimate dining experience to Larimer Street. The Scandinavian-influenced menu changes seasonally, and wine and mocktail pairings are available. Reservations required. 2843 Larimer St., 303-749-0020. Dinner

Best Philly Steak $$ Arvada / Contemporary A fusion joint specializing in Korean-influenced Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. Try the K-Town Special with bulgogi beef, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and sesame seed dressing. Reservations not accepted. 6350 Sheridan Blvd., Arvada, 720-6674702. Lunch, Dinner

Bigsby’s Folly Craft Winery & Restaurant $$ RiNo / American This chic urban winery offers more than 20 wines to choose from as well as delightful tapas and small plates. Reservations accepted for parties of eight or more. 3563 Wazee St., 720-485-3158. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs $ Ballpark / American This casual spot’s unusual menu includes dogs in adventurous flavors (think duck-cilantro and Alaskan reindeer). Reservations not accepted. 2148 Larimer St., 720-746-9355. Lunch, Dinner

The Bindery $$$$ Highland / Contemporary Linda Hampsten Fox’s eatery, market, and bakery offers worldly fare inspired by her travels. Reservations accepted. 1817 Central St., 303-993-2364. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Birdcall Five Points / American Order your meal via a self-

$

larly good. Reservations accepted. 1420 Larimer St., 303-825-3232. Dinner, Brunch

Bittersweet $$$$ Washington Park West / American Chef Olav Peterson’s constantly changing menu takes classic dishes and gives them a fresh twist. Reservations accepted. 500 E. Alameda Ave., 303-942-0320. Dinner

25 BEST Black Cat Farm Table Bistro $$$$ Boulder / French The produce, dairy, and meats served in this cozy dining room are sourced from executive chef Eric Skokan’s Boulder County farm.

Reservations accepted. 1964 13th St., Boulder, 303-444-5500. Dinner

25 BEST Blackbelly $$$ Boulder / Contemporary Chef Hosea Rosenberg’s

serve kiosk at this futuristic fast-food chicken sandwich joint from the team behind Park Burger. Also try the Downtown location. Reservations not accepted. 800 E. 26th Ave., 720-361-2976. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

menu focuses on charcuterie, small plates, and daily butcher specials. Check out the butcher shop and market, Blackbelly Butcher, located next door. Reservations accepted. 1606 Conestoga St., Boulder, 303-247-1000. Dinner

Bistro Barbès $$$ Park Hill / Contemporary Jon Robbins offers a menu

Blue Bonnet Cafe and Lounge $$ Baker / Mexican Killer margaritas, homemade chips

inspired by the French, North African, and Middle Eastern flavors of Barbès, the Paris neighborhood where he spent three years. Reservations accepted. 5021 E. 28th Ave., 720-398-8085. Dinner

and salsa, and chiles rellenos make this fun, casual spot a favorite. Reservations accepted. 457 S. Broadway, 303-778-0147. Lunch, Dinner

Bistro Vendôme $$$ Downtown / French This romantic spot on Larimer Square conjures up Paris with crusty bread, excellent coffee, and a tranquil patio. Weekend brunch is particu-

Blue Pan Pizza $$ Highland / Pizza Masterfully crafted Detroit-style pizza is the draw at this tiny restaurant. Also try the Congress Park location. Reservations not accepted. 3930 W. 32nd Ave., 720-456-7666. Lunch, Dinner

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Contact Pat Kummer, CFP®, and her team today at: 303-470-1209 | www.marinerwealthadvisors.com 8871 Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 100, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 Barron’s awarded the 2018 #3 Top 40 RIA Firms ranking to Mariner, LLC d/b/a Mariner Wealth Advisors based on data compiled for Mariner Wealth Advisors and the 2017 #2 and 2016 #1 rankings to Mariner Holdings based upon data compiled for Mariner Holdings’ registered investment adviser subsidiaries. Barron’s has transitioned the name of the 2016 inaugural award of Top Independent Advisory Firms to the Top RIA Firms. Each year since inception, Barron’s has increased the number of firms included in the rankings from 20 (2016) to 30 (2017) to 40 firms (2018). Barron’s publishes these lists based upon a number of criteria and the firms’ filings with the SEC were used to cross-check the data provided to Barron’s. The listing includes the firms’ numbers of clients, employees, advisors, offices and state locations. The award is not indicative of future performance and there is no guarantee of future investment success. Registration of an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of training or skill.

Mariner, LLC dba Mariner Wealth Advisors (“MWA”), is an SEC registered investment adviser. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. MWA is in compliance with the current notice filing requirements imposed upon registered investment advisers by those states in which MWA maintains clients. For additional information about MWA, including fees and services, please contact MWA or refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov).

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Bones $$ Capitol Hill Area / Asian This noodle bar dishes up savory duck confit egg rolls, candy-like black cod tempura, and addictive steamed buns. Reservations accepted. 701 Grant St., 303-860-2929. Lunch, Dinner

Bonnie Brae Tavern $$ Washington Park / American This tavern has been dishing up all-American eats since 1934‚ but it’s most famous for its golden-crusted pizza. Reservations accepted. 740 S. University Blvd., 303-777-2262. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

BorraCho Tacos $$ Baker / Mexican Lon Symensma’s modern taqueria

offers everything from a Korean barbecue-inspired chicken taco to a shrimp satay taco with Sriracha mayo.

Reservations not accepted. 42 S. Broadway, 720-3899055. Dinner

Bramble & Hare $$$ Boulder / Pub This kitchen and pub offers dishes and cocktails inspired by fresh ingredients from owner Eric Skokan’s farm. Try the creative charcuterie or the confit wings. Reservations accepted. 1970 13th St., Boulder, 303-444-9110. Dinner

Brass Tacks $$ Downtown / American This neighborhood bar offers sandwiches, bar snacks, and shareable family meals

alongside beer, wine, and custom cocktails. Reservations not accepted. 1526 Blake St. Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast King $ Overland / American This 24-hour diner serves giant plates of bone-in ham steaks, pancakes, and salads.

The hash browns are made daily, and they go through more than 90 gallons of green chile each week. Reservations not accepted. 300 W. Mississippi Ave., 303-733-0795. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Brider $$ LoHi / American Go for high-quality, fast-casual dining.

Be sure to try the rotisserie chicken. Reservations not accepted. 1644 Platte St., 303-455-3084. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Brightmarten $$$$ Belcaro / American Go to this neighborhood joint (with its own in-house butchery program!) for elevated comfort food. Try the pork chop. Reservations accepted.

730 S. University Blvd., 720-541-7696. Dinner, Brunch

British Bulldog Pub $$ Five Points / Pub This pub serves up everything from English shepherd’s pie to Pakistani curries to all-American burgers. Reservations not accepted. 2052 Stout St., 303-295-7974. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Broadway Market $$ Capitol Hill Area / Global This sprawling marketplace is home to nine food concepts, a central bar, a selfserve beer wall, and two retail options. 950 Broadway, 720-390-7132. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Buchi Cafe Cubano $ Sunnyside / Latin American During the week, this tiny cafe dishes up traditional Cuban coffee and pressed sandwiches. On Sundays, drop in for all-day happy hour and authentic Cuban plates, like flan cubano and empanadas. Reservations not accepted. 2651 W. 38th Ave., 303-458-1328. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

C Cafe Brazil $$$ Berkeley / Latin American This colorful South American restaurant specializes in seafood and is great for those with dietary restrictions. Reservations accepted.

4408 Lowell Blvd., 303-480-1877. Lunch, Dinner

25 BEST Call $$ RiNo / Contemporary This cozy RiNo cafe features Scandinavian-inspired cuisine. Choose from an everchanging selection of house-made snacks, salads, sandwiches, tartines, and pastries. The seasonal mocktails are particularly good. Reservations not accepted.

2845 Larimer St., 303-954-0230. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Carbon Cafe & Bar $ LoHi / American This quirky cafe (the sister restaurant to Habit Doughnut Dispensary, which is located next door) offers fully customizable drinks for any time of day and an eclectic menu of eats. Try the Wu Tang Tots.

Also try the Five Points location. Reservations accepted.

1553 Platte St., 720-428-8565. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Carmine’s on Penn $$ Speer / Italian This family-style Italian restaurant serves huge platters of hearty food on a year-round patio. Try the Community Caesar salad and baked ziti, and get ready to share. Reservations accepted. 92 S. Pennsylvania St., 303-777-6443. Dinner

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Cart-Driver $$ RiNo / Pizza Inspired by Italy’s roadside cafes, Cart-

to Boulder. Reservations accepted. 2014 10th St., Boulder, 720-580-1100. Lunch, Dinner

Driver slings oysters, wood-fired pizzas, and Prosecco on tap. Finish with the house-made soft-serve gelato.

Reservations accepted for parties of eight or more.

2500 Larimer St., 303-292-3553. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Cho77 $$ Downtown / Asian Lon Symensma offers Asian street

City, O’ City $$ Capitol Hill Area / American This meat-free zone

food with a modern touch at this fast-casual eatery. Try the pho soup dumplings. Reservations accepted. 1555 Blake St., Ste 102, 720-638-8179. Lunch, Dinner

features pizza, vegan pastries, and a full bar. Reservations accepted for parties of five or more. 206 E. 13th Ave., 303-831-6443. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

25 BEST Cattivella $$$ Stapleton / Italian Chef Elise Wiggins offers rustic, wood-fired Italian fare from a sprawling chef’s counter.

Go for grilled oysters, seasonal pizzas, and fresh pastas.

Reservations accepted. 10195 E. 29th Dr., Ste. 110, 303-645-3779. Lunch, Dinner

NEW Cherish Spirits Lounge $$$ Cherry Creek / Seasonal Intricate cocktails, made with over 100 spirits from around the world, and shareable small plates anchor this high-end watering hole. Reservations accepted. 221 Detroit St., 303-243-7474. Dinner

Cherry Creek Grill $$$ Cherry Creek / American Specialties include spitroasted chicken, grilled fish, ribs, and wood-roasted steaks. Reservations accepted. 184 Steele St., 303-3223524. Lunch, Dinner

Cherry Cricket $ Cherry Creek / Pub This popular neighborhood hangout offers excellent green chile and burgers. Also try the Ballpark location. Reservations not accepted. 2641 E. Second Ave., 303-322-7666. Lunch, Dinner

Chimera $$$ Boulder / Asian Edwin Zoe, also of Zoe Ma Ma, brings Pacific Rim dishes, such as ramen and soup dumplings,

25 BEST ChoLon $$$$ Downtown / Asian Before opening ChoLon, executive chef Lon Symensma spent months in Southeast Asia. His travels inform this contemporary Asian restaurant and its authentic-with a-modern-twist cuisine. Try the French onion soup dumplings. Reservations accepted. 1555 Blake St., 303-353-5223. Lunch, Dinner

Chook Platt Park / Contemporary Chook specializes in

$$

Australian-style, charcoal-grilled rotisserie chicken and fresh veggie sides. Try the charred broccoli salad. Reservations not accepted. 1300 S. Pearl St., 303-282-8399.

Lunch, Dinner

Chow Morso Osteria Downtown / Italian The team behind Barolo Grill

$$

brings hand-rolled pastas and comforting Italian plates to LoDo. Try the agnolotti with sage-butter sauce.

Reservations accepted. 1500 Wynkoop St., 720-6394089. Lunch, Dinner

Citizen Rail $$$$ Downtown / American This chic eatery offers dryaged proteins and wood-fire cooking. Try the grilled escarole salad or the bone-in smoked short rib. Reserva-

tions accepted. Hotel Born, 1899 16th St., 303-323-0017. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Colt & Gray $$$$ Highland / Contemporary This intimate neighborhood pub presents a roster of seasonal farm-to-plate options. Start with the roasted marrow bones. Reservations accepted. 1553 Platte St., Ste. 120, 303-477-1447.

Lunch, Dinner

Comal Heritage Food Incubator $$ Globeville / Latin American You’ll find family recipes from Latin America, Syria, and Ethiopia at this restaurant, which provides job training to local women.

Reservations not accepted. 3455 Ringsby Court, 303-292-0770. Lunch

Concourse Restaurant Moderne Stapleton / Contemporary ChoLon chef Lon

Symensma and chef Luke Bergman offer a Europeanstyle menu at their chic Stapleton eatery. Don’t miss the risotto balls. Reservations accepted. 10195 E. 29th Drive, Ste. 140, 720-550-6934. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Coohills $$$ Downtown / French Enjoy French-inspired cuisine made with local, sustainable products in a dining room that opens right onto Cherry Creek. Reservations accepted. 1400 Wewatta St., 303-623-5700. Dinner

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overlooks the Great Hall inside Union Station. Pair luxurious bites, including wagyu steak tartare, with your sophisticated cocktail. Reservations recommended.

1701 Wynkoop St., 720-460-3738. Dinner

25 BEST 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 or the spaghetti carbonara. Reservations accepted. 400 E. 20th Ave., 720-749-4666. Lunch, Dinner

Dos Santos $$$ City Park West / Mexican The menu at this modern

EAST MEETS WEST With a name like Best Philly Steak, you’d expect this nine-month-old Arvada spot to offer little more than its eponymous sandwich. But the menu actually strays into interesting fusion territory via bento boxes and a tasty, Koreaninspired take on cheesesteak featuring sweet-and-salty marinated bulgogi beef.

25 BEST Corrida $$$$ Boulder / Spanish Housed on the rooftop level of

E

Boulder’s PearlWest building, this elegant Spanish steak house offers stunning Flatiron views and fabulous cocktails and wines. Splurge on the Japanese wagyu or opt for a locally sourced, dry-aged steak. Reservations accepted. 1023 Walnut St.. Ste. 400, Boulder, 303-4441333. Dinner, Brunch

and patio are a great backdrop for this restaurant’s menu of contemporary Italian food. Reservations accepted. 3041 E. Third Ave., 303-393-6917. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Curtis Park Delicatessen Five Points / Deli This neighborhood deli serves a

$

D $$$

DC Pie Co. $$ City Park West / Italian This pizza joint serves madeto-order, brick-oven-baked pies with toppings such as artichoke hearts and all-beef pepperoni. Try a seasonal spritz with your pizza. Reservations accepted for parties of more than eight. 2223 E. Colfax Ave., 720-594-2939.

Lunch, Dinner

Dead Battery Club $$ Highland / Contemporary This all-day cocktail and food lounge has a fun and funky vibe. Try the Battery

| JULY 20 19

Buns, which come in five different flavors including spinach and artichoke. Reservations accepted. 2420 17th St., Ste. 103, 303-477-2444. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Death & Co Denver $$$ RiNo / Contemporary The famed New York Citybased bar offers top-notch cocktail service and an inventive menu in the lobby of the Ramble Hotel.

Reservations accepted. The Ramble Hotel, 1280 25th St., 720-330-2660. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch $$

vendors with shopping and dining options ranging from ceviche to pizza to ice cream. 2669 Larimer St. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Denver Diner $$ Golden Triangle / American This casual, old-school joint on West Colfax is open at all hours and draws in night owls and early birds alike for comforting, homestyle entrées. Reservations not accepted. 740 W. Colfax Ave., 303-825-5443. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Denver Milk Market $$ Downtown / Global Bonanno Concepts’ 16-venue

Gerhard and Lisa Bailey produce exquisite desserts and modern American comfort food. Bonus: Check out the grab-and-go coffee and pastries. Reservations accepted.

494 E. 19th Ave., 303-861-4710. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

146 | 5280

and side‚ like a porterhouse steak with creamy horseradish and crispy Brussels sprouts‚ at this upscale, contemporary steak house. Reservations accepted.

1111 14th St., 303-389-3343. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Denver Central Market RiNo / Global This RiNo marketplace features 11

menu of fine classic sandwiches like the Curtis, made with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and housemade Thousand Island. Also try the Cherry Creek location. Reservations not accepted. 2532 Champa St., 303-308-5973. Lunch

D Bar Uptown Area / Contemporary Chefs Keegan

Edge Restaurant & Bar $$$ Downtown / Steak House Choose your cut, sauce,

$

Cucina Colore $$$ Cherry Creek / Italian An upbeat dining room, bar,

innovative cafe and retail grain mill. An exquisite selection of pastries, breads, and sandwiches are made from scratch daily. Reservations not accepted. 3601 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, 720-420-0918. Breakfast, Lunch

nie Bonin and Keith Arnold have captured the true essence of the neighborhood restaurant: simple food, a low-key but polished ambience, and the hum of neighbors trading stories. Reservations accepted. 2413 W. 32nd Ave., 303-477-4141. Dinner, Brunch

from chicken tikka masala to shrimp ceviche‚ and every type of martini you can imagine at this trendy spot.

Reservations accepted. The Curtis Hotel, 1401 Curtis St., 303-825-6500. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

coffee beans from the country’s top roasters and an allday menu that offers flavorful, homemade picks, like sweet potato waffles and creamy quiche. Reservations not accepted. 2862 Larimer St., 720-284-9648. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dry Storage $$ Boulder / Cafe Savor coffee and carbs galore at this

Duo Restaurant $$$ Highland / Contemporary With Duo, owners Stepha-

Corner Office $$$ Downtown / International Find global comfort food‚

Crema Coffee House RiNo / Contemporary At this hip cafe, you’ll find

taqueria features light, seafood-centric dishes, like a beer-battered fish taco. Reservations not accepted.

1475 E. 17th Ave., 303-386-3509. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

collection of bars and restaurants features everything from fresh pasta to poke bowls to house-made charcuterie. Don’t miss the signature spicy fried chicken sandwiches at Lou’s Hot and Naked. Reservations not accepted. 1800 Wazee St., 303-792-8242. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

25 BEST Dio Mio

$$

RiNo / Italian One thing you can count on at Alex Figura and Spencer White’s fast-casual Italian eatery: perfect pasta. Try the cacio e pepe. Reservations accepted for parties of eight or more. 3264 Larimer St., 303-562-1965. Dinner

Domo Restaurant $$$ Lincoln Park / Asian Enjoy authentic Japanese country foods in a traditional setting. Try the nanban ramen with chicken or pork. Reservations not accepted. 1365 Osage St., 303-595-3666. Lunch, Dinner

Edgewater Inn $$ Edgewater / Italian This inn has been family owned and operated for more than 50 years. Reservations accepted Tue-Thu. 5302 W. 25th Ave., 303-237-3524.

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

25 BEST El Five $$$ LoHi / Mediterranean Justin Cucci’s fifth Edible Beats concept boasts panoramic views, creative tapas, and Spanish-style gin-tonics. Order the cauliflower yufka.

Reservations accepted. 2930 Umatilla St., Ste. 500, 303-524-9193. Dinner, Brunch

El Noa Noa Lincoln Park / Mexican Here you’ll find authentic

$$

Mexican food and top-notch margaritas. Reservations accepted. 722 Santa Fe Dr., 303-623-9968. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

El Taco de Mexico $ Lincoln Park / Mexican This is one of Denver’s best Mexican restaurants. Don’t miss the smothered chile relleno burrito. Reservations not accepted. 714 Santa Fe Dr., 303-623-3926. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ellyngton’s $$$$ Downtown / American Located in the Brown Palace Hotel, this is the home of Denver’s power meal. Reservations accepted. 321 17th Ave., 303-297-3111.

Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

Elway’s $$$$ Downtown / Steak House This restaurant‚ named after the Broncos great‚ serves steak house fare in upscale environs. Multiple locations. Reservations accepted. 1881 Curtis St., 303-312-3107. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen $$ Downtown / Pub This expansive two-story bar and kitchen serves innovative and high-quality international pub food, including house-made sausages, pickles, and mustards. Reservations accepted. 1317 14th St., 303-595-4255. Lunch, Dinner

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The Cooper Lounge $$ Downtown / Seafood This Downtown speakeasy

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Four Friends Kitchen $ Stapleton / Breakfast This a.m. spot offers eats with

The Family Jones Spirit House $$ Highland / Contemporary Denver’s first distillery/ restaurant features eclectic small plates and handcrafted spirits. Snack on a smoked trout tea sandwich while you sip on the vesper martini. Reservations accepted. 3245 Osage St., 303-481-8185. Dinner

NEW Gaku Ramen $$ Boulder / Japanese This Boulder ramen shop serves

25 BEST Frasca Food and Wine

Famous Original J’s Pizza $ Five Points / Pizza Josh Pollack’s New York-style and rectangular “Grandma” pies are totally customizable and available by the slice. Reservations not accepted.

715 E 26th Ave., 720-420-9120. Lunch, Dinner

Finn’s Manor $ RiNo / Global The indoor bar serves a wide selection, while food trucks offer diverse variety of bites, from fried chicken sandwiches to Puerto Rican fare. Reservations not accepted. 2927 Larimer St. Dinner

Fish N Beer $$$ RiNo / Seafood Kevin Morrison offers approachable, fresh seafood and a hearty beer list at this casual oysterette. Try the Spanish octopus or wood-fire-grilled whole bass. Also, don’t miss any pie on the menu. Reservations not accepted. 3510 Larimer St., 303-248-3497.

Dinner, Brunch

FNG Highland / American Troy Guard offers elevated

Southern flair. Start your morning off right with the warm beignets. Reservations not accepted. 2893 Roslyn St., 303-388-8299. Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

$$

comfort food with a side of rock-and-roll at this neighborhood spot. Reservations not accepted. 3940 W. 32nd Ave., 303-963-5931. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

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

1738 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-6966. Dinner

French 75 $$$ Downtown / French Mizuna’s younger, more casual sibling features approachable French bistro fare. Reservations accepted. 717 17th St., Ste. B, 303-405-7575.

Lunch, Dinner

Fruition Restaurant Country Club / American James Beard Award-

Reservations accepted. 3760 Tejon St., 303-455-9852.

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

$$$

winning executive chef Alex Seidel’s tiny kitchen focuses on seasonal dishes that are big on flavor. Diners flock for the pasta carbonara. Reservations accepted.

1313 E. Sixth Ave., 303-831-1962. Dinner

G

three of the most traditional types of the Japanese noodle soup: shoyu, miso, and tonkotsu. Reservations not accepted. 1119 13th Street, Boulder, 303-736-2879.

Lunch, Dinner

Green Russell $$ Downtown / Pub This chef-driven cocktail bar offers a variety of small plates and libations. Reservations not accepted. 1422 Larimer St., 303-893-6505. Dinner

Guard and Grace $$$$ Downtown / Steak House Chef Troy Guard’s modern steak house offers a chic and perpetually-packed setting for his innovative fare, which includes a raw bar and delicate salads. Try the wedge salad and flight of filet mignon. Reservations accepted. 1801 California St., 303-293-8500. Lunch, Dinner

H Hank’s Texas BBQ $$ Hale / Barbecue This fast-casual barbecue joint serves

Gaetano’s $$$ Highland / Italian This comfy neighborhood hangout features old-school favorites, such as chicken Parmesan.

tender, slow-cooked meats (including brisket and hot links) in sandwiches, tacos, and salads until supplies run out each day. Try the pulled pork frito pie. Reservations not accepted. 5410 E Colfax Ave., 720-277-3225.

Lunch, Dinner

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Hashtag $$ Stapleton / American Prolific Denver chef Troy Guard takes on the breakfast joint with Hashtag. Try the lamb neck eggs Benedict. Reservations not accepted. 10155 E. 29th Dr., 303-996-9985. Breakfast, Brunch

Hearth & Dram $$$$ Downtown / American This modern saloon features more than 350 whiskies. The ever-changing menu offers a wood-fired take on New American cuisine. Reservations accepted. 1801 Wewatta St., 303-623-0979.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Highland Tap and Burger Highland / American Pick your patty, bun, and

$$

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar $$$ Downtown / Seafood Enjoy sustainable seafood in an

accepted. Industry Denver, 3053 Brighton Blvd., 303-953-1602. Dinner

upbeat atmosphere at this LoDo spot. Specialties include the raw oyster bar and seasonally composed plates by talented chef Sheila Lucero. Multiple locations.

Reservations accepted. 1539 17th St., 303-292-5767.

Lunch, Dinner

J J’s Noodles Star Thai 2 Westwood / Asian This traditional Thai spot has

$

developed a cult following over the years. The tom yum soup (spicy lemon soup), drunken noodles, and pad thai are the regulars’ picks. Warning: Hot means hot.

Reservations not accepted. 945 S. Federal Blvd., 303-922-5495. Lunch, Dinner

Jovanina’s Broken Italian Downtown / Italian This gorgeous LoDo eatery

$$$

expands on traditional Italian fare by incorporating unexpected, seasonal ingredients. Classics such as house-made pastas and wood-oven pizzas are still available. Reservations accepted. 1520 Blake St, 720-541-7721. Dinner

premium toppings for a customizable meal enhanced with 18 to 20 Colorado craft beers. Also try the Sloan’s Lake location. Reservations accepted for eight or more.

2219 W. 32nd Ave., 720-287-4493. Lunch, Dinner

25 BEST Hop Alley $$$ RiNo / Asian From Tommy Lee of Uncle, this hip hangout serves shareable dishes rooted in Chinese tradition with a touch of Lee’s distinctive flair. Reservations accepted. 3500 Larimer St., 720-379-8340. Dinner

Hops & Pie $$ Berkeley / Pizza Craft pizza and local brews are this spot’s forte. Reservations not accepted. 3920 Tennyson St., 303-477-7000. Lunch, Dinner

NEW Huevos Tacos $$ Rosedale / Contemporary This all-day joint specializes in massive tacos made with pan-fried flour tortillas.

Temper the heat of the ghost pepper steak tacos with a spiked horchata latte. Reservations not accepted. 2160 S. Broadway, 303-953-9443. Breakfast, Lunch, 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 salumi plate or sandwich in house. Reservations not accepted.

4334 W. 41st Ave., 303-477-3206. Breakfast, Lunch

Il Posto $$$$ RiNo / Italian Sample Andrea Frizzi’s imaginative Italian cuisine in sleek, urban environs. Don’t miss the burrata plate, the seasonal risotto, or house-made amari. Reservations accepted. 2601 Larimer St., 303-394-0100.

Lunch, Dinner

Ivy on Seventh $$ Speer / American This is a bright daytime eatery serv-

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ing seasonal, European-inspired brunch and lunch dishes. Try the sausage and polenta plate with your choice of house-made pork or chicken sausage. Reservations accepted. 410 E. Seventh, 720-828-8180.

Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

Izakaya Den $$ Platt Park / International It’s been dubbed Sushi Den II, but Izakaya Den is more than a replica of its popular cousin. You can still order ultrafresh sushi and sashimi, but the most exciting dishes come in the form of small plates. Reservations accepted. 1487-A S. Pearl St., 303-777-0691. Lunch, Dinner

Izakaya Ronin $$$$ RiNo / Japanese There’s high-end sushi upstairs, and you can sip Japanese whisky and slurp ramen until late into the evening in the basement bar. Reservations

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25 BEST Julep RiNo / Southern This isn’t your typical Southern

$$

restaurant. Chef Kyle Foster serves sophisticated dishes, such as barbecued snails and pork and oyster sausage.

Reservations accepted. 3258 Larimer St., 303-295-8977.

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

as mole and enchiladas verdes. The vegan-friendly menu also lists 30 different juices and smoothies. Reservations accepted. 3735 Morrison Road, 303-936-0758.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

features consciously sourced ingredients and a raw seafood bar. Try the comforting tomato soup. Also try the Boulder location. Reservations accepted. 1520 16th St., 303-623-3127. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Katsu Ramen $ Aurora / Japanese Satisfy a ramen craving with one of

Kitchen Table BBQ $$ Congress Park / Barbecue This Kentucky-style barbe-

the traditional styles offered at this cozy spot. Get the most out of your dollar with a combo meal, featuring your choice of ramen plus gyoza and a rice bowl. Reservations not accepted. 1930 S. Havana St., Aurora, 303-751-2222. Lunch, Dinner

cue spot located inside of Goosetown Tavern serves up some tasty meat plates, from sliced brisket to bison jalapeño cheddar sausage. Reservations not accepted.

3242 E. Colfax Ave., 303-399-9703. Lunch, Dinner

K Kahlo’s $ Westwood / Mexican The sister restaurant to nearby Tarasco’s, Kahlo’s offers southern Mexican dishes such

The Kitchen Denver $$$ Downtown / Contemporary This community bistro

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Japanese restaurant, including the seating. The menu features favorites, such as tempura, gyoza, and yakisoba. Reservations accepted. 231 Milwaukee St., 303-989-5907. Lunch, Dinner

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Kobe An $$$ Cherry Creek / Asian Everything is traditional at this

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La Calle Taqueria Y Carnitas $ Valverde / Mexican This is a must-visit destination for taco lovers. Try the tacos al pastor and carnitas and don’t even think about skipping the salsa bar.

Reservations not accepted. 1565 W. Alameda Ave., 720-583-6586. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

La Loma $$ Downtown / Mexican This local favorite offers a menu of classic Mexican eats (think: flautas, tacos, and fajitas) in a convivial downtown location. Reservations accepted. 1801 Broadway, 303-433-8300. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Le French $$ Southeast Metro / French This chic Belleview Station bistro, owned by French-Senegalese sisters, transports diners to France via sophisticated pastries and Parisian cuisine. Reservations accepted. 4901 S. Newport St., 720-710-8963. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Leña $$ Baker / Latin American Inspire your palate with the rich and vibrant flavors of Latin America. The menu features favorites like chilaquiles. Reservations accepted.

24 Broadway, Ste. 104, 720-550-7267. Dinner

LeRoux $$$$ Downtown / French Lon Symensma’s upscale, European-inspired eatery features table-side preparations and a roving cheese cart. Reservations accepted. 1555 Blake St., Ste 102, 720-845-1673. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Leven Deli Co. $$ Golden Triangle / Deli Classic deli meets California cool at this bright spot. Reservations not accepted. 123 W. 12th Ave., 303-325-5691. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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restaurateur Alex Liberati, this combination brewery/ restaurant serves scratch-made Italian fare. Wash down the lasagna raviolata with one of Liberati’s specialty “oenobeers,” or grape ales. Reservations accepted.

2403 Champa St., 303-862-5652. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Linger $$ LoHi / Global Set in the former three-story Olinger Mortuary’s parking garage, this restaurant takes you around the world with a menu of small plates. Try the bao buns and potato masala dosa. Reservations accepted. 2030 W. 30th Ave., 303-993-3120. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

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Lola Coastal Mexican $$$ LoHi / Mexican Newly renovated with a fresh, updated menu to boot, this is a great spot to grab a coin-style margarita at the tequila bar, then order your choice of Baja Med-inspired plates, including a fresh scallop tiradito and surf-and-turf tostada. Reservations accepted.

1575 Boulder St., 720-570-8686. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Los Chingones $$ RiNo / Mexican Los Chingones offers shareable Mexican cuisine with distinctive style. Find a menu marked by ceviches, funditos, and tacos. Multiple locations.

Reservations not accepted. 2463 Larimer St., 303-2950686. Lunch, Dinner

Lou’s Italian Specialties $$ Five Points / Italian Josh Pollack of Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen takes on the Tri State Italian deli with this takeout-only spot. Try the Louie, a classic sub packed with three types of meats and provolone. Reservations not accepted. 3357 Downing St., 720-287-3642.

Lunch, Dinner

Luca $$$$ Capitol Hill Area / Italian Convivial hospitality and classic Italian dishes greet you at this charming spot.

Don’t miss the house-made Burrata cheese and charcuterie. Reservations accepted. 711 Grant St., 303-832-6600. Dinner

Lucile’s Creole Café $$ Speer / Breakfast Lucile’s offers Cajun and Creolestyle breakfasts and lunches with great service. Multiple locations. Reservations not accepted. 275 S. Logan St., 303-282-6258. Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

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M Marco’s Coal-Fired $$ Ballpark / Pizza This spot serves authentic Neapolitanstyle pies, coal-fired limoncello wings, and much more.

Also try the Englewood location. Reservations accepted.

2129 Larimer St., 303-296-7000. Lunch, Dinner

Maria Empanada $ Platt Park / Latin American Go straight for the empanadas. The 15-plus flavors range from the beef classico to vegan veggie to tango. Multiple locations. Reservations accepted for parties of 10 or more. 1298 S. Broadway Ave., 303-934-2221. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Matsuhisa Denver $$$$ Cherry Creek / Japanese Legendary chef Nobu Matsuhisa kicks Japanese staples up to the next level.

Don’t miss the black cod with sweet miso. Reservations accepted. 98 Steele St., 303-329-6628. Lunch, Dinner

Max’s Wine Dive $$$ Speer / Southern Max’s Wine Dive features a casual environment, solid wine list, and Southern comfort food with an upscale twist. Try the famous fried chicken.

Reservations accepted. 696 Sherman St., 303-593-2554.

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Mehak India’s Aroma $$ Cherry Creek / Indian There’s not a buffet in sight at this upscale Indian restaurant, where everything from chicken korma to lamb vindaloo is on the menu. Reservations accepted. 250 Steele St., Ste. 100, 720-638-9350. Lunch, Dinner

25 BEST Mercantile Dining & Provision $$$ Downtown / Seasonal Award-winning chefs Alex Seidel and Matt Vawter offer upscale, contemporary farm-to-table fare. Mercantile also features counterservice dining for breakfast and lunch, as well as a marketplace of locally sourced foodstuffs. Reservations accepted for dinner. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., Ste. 155, 720-460-3733. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Mister Tuna $$ RiNo / American Troy Guard’s chic RiNo spot delivers modern, eclectic cooking inspired by his Hawaiian upbringing. Reservations accepted. 3033 Brighton Blvd., 303-831-8862. Lunch, Dinner

Mizu Izakaya $$ LoHi / Sushi This contemporary Japanese restaurant offers an impressive bar and a hip atmosphere. Reservations accepted. 1560 Boulder St., 720-372-7100. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Mizuna $$$$ Capitol Hill Area / Contemporary Chef-owner Frank Bonanno’s seasonal cuisine capitalizes on fresh ingredients, and service is friendly and knowledgeable. Don’t miss the decadent beef Wellington. Reservations accepted. 225 E. Seventh Ave., 303-832-4778. Dinner

Morin $$$ Downtown / French Chef Max Mackissock serves imaginative fare at this stylish, elegant eatery. Sip a glass of natural wine from the extensive list and enjoy a platter of raw oysters before tucking into refined French dishes and excellent desserts. Reservations accepted.

1600 15th St., 303-623-0534. Dinner

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My Brother’s Bar $ Highland / Pub Enjoy beers and legendary burgers

The Nickel $$$$ Downtown / American Enjoy a build-your-own char-

Ohana Island Kitchen $ LoHi / Seafood This Hawaiian-inspired eatery serves

with classical music in one of Denver’s oldest bars. Try the JCB (jalapeño cream cheese) burger, and make use of the signature condiment trays. Reservations not accepted. 2376 15th St., 303-455-9991. Lunch, Dinner

cuterie platter before digging into entrées such as Colorado bass. Don’t miss the barrel-aged cocktails.

Reservations accepted. 1100 14th St., 720-889-2128.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

top-notch tuna poke, Spam musubi, roasted pork, and more in a casual setting. Reservations not accepted.

2563 15th St., 303-718-6580. Lunch, Dinner

Noble Riot $$ RiNo / French Find charcuterie boards, rabbit terrines,

N Narrative $$$ Cherry Creek / American Chef Paul Nagan serves gussied-up versions of American favorites‚ such as shrimp and grits with Tabasco butter‚ at this sleek eatery.

Don’t miss the happy hour deals. Reservations accepted. 222 Milwaukee St., 720-571-8080. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

New Saigon $$ Athmar Park / Vietnamese This spot serves an extensive menu featuring delicious rice paper wraps, crispy soft shell crabs, soups, salads, and much more. Reservations accepted for five or more. 630 S. Federal Blvd., 303-936-4954. Lunch, Dinner

Next Door $$ Downtown / Contemporary This casual community pub from the team behind the Kitchen Denver focuses on nutritious, affordable cuisine. Select from salads, sandwiches, soups, and locally sourced burgers. Multiple locations. Reservations accepted for parties of eight or more. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., 720-4603730. Lunch, Dinner

and other French fare at this sommelier-operated bistro.

Try the venison meatballs with a glass of vino from the eatery’s extensive list of natural wines. Reservations accepted. 1336 27th St., 303-993-5330. Dinner

Old Major $$$$ LoHi / American Go for owner Justin Brunson’s bistrostyle, seasonal dining with an emphasis on locally raised heritage meat. Also, swing by during lunch for Royal Rooster crispy fried chicken sandwiches and other classics such as steak frites. Reservations accepted. 3316 Tejon St., 720-420-0622. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Olive & Finch City Park West / Seasonal Discover wholesome,

O Oak at Fourteenth $$$$ Boulder / Seasonal This bright, open space just off the Pearl Street Mall offers a diverse, ever-changing menu of seasonal, oak-fired small and large plates from chef Steve Redzikowski and creative cocktails from Bryan Dayton. Don’t miss the famous kale-apple salad. Reservations accepted. 1400 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-444-3622. Lunch, Dinner

Officers Club $$$ Lowry / American Nosh on American staples like Maryland crab cakes, a prime rib French dip, and the juicy Big Boy bacon burger at this neighborhood dining room and bar, which is inspired by the military legacy of the Lowry Air Force Base. Reservations accepted. 84 Rampart Way, 303-284-0714. Dinner

inspired meals at this restaurant, bakery, and juice bar.

Also try the Cherry Creek location. Reservations not accepted. 1552 E. 17th Ave., 303-832-8663. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox $$ Ballpark / Contemporary This Edible Beats restaurant features quirky design details and a stage for live music.

The “gastro-brothel” menu encompasses globally inspired pub fare like flatbreads, small plates, and stone-fire skillets. Reservations accepted. 1215 20th St., 303-993-8023. Dinner, Brunch

Osaka Ramen $$ RiNo / Japanese Jeff Osaka’s modern ramen shop features original noodle soups, bento boxes, and creative small plates. Try the mochi doughnuts. Reservations not accepted. 2611 Walnut St., 303-955-7938.

Lunch, Dinner

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set wooden booths and a spacious bar. The menu lists approachable eats, such as fresh house-made mozzarella and rustic pizzas. Reservations accepted. 1453 Larimer St., 303-534-5855. Lunch, Dinner

Ototo $$$ Platt Park / Japanese Sushi Den’s Toshi and Yasu

• EXPERIENCE MATTERS Over 75 years of combined experience

Kizaki relaunched their Japanese robata-style tapas spot in a remodeled dining space frequently packed with regulars. Market-driven dishes like a catch-of-theday raw bar and whole grilled fish complement a selection of sashimi, ramen bowls, and yakitori. Reservations accepted. 1501 S. Pearl St., 303-733-2503. Dinner

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from pitmaster Karl Fallenius is located next door to Our Mutual Friend Brewing in RiNo. Go for the juicy brisket, creamy mac and cheese, and other surprising vegetarian sides. Reservations not accepted. 2826 Larimer St. Lunch, Dinner

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Palenque Mezcaleria $ Platt Park / Mexican Sip on more than 100 varieties of

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mezcal and snack on shrimp and mango ceviche at this sultry bar. Reservations accepted. 1294 S. Broadway, 303-778-1294. Lunch, Dinner Dr. Kelly McAleese (5280 Top Doctor), Dr. John Lewin, + Dr. Timothy Colt

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Panzano $$$$ Downtown / Italian Grab a seat at the exhibition kitchen and enjoy rustic northern Italian cuisine. Reservations accepted. Hotel Monaco, 909 17th St., 303-296-3525. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Pete’s Kitchen Cheesman Park / American This casual spot is a

$

Denver landmark and staple for late-night comfort food.

Reservations not accepted. 1962 E. Colfax Ave., 303-321-3139. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Pho Duy $ Westwood / Vietnamese Slurp down delicious bowls of noodle soup at this popular Vietnamese mainstay.

Reservations not accepted. 925 S. Federal Blvd., 303-937-1609. Lunch, Dinner

Pizzeria Locale $$ Boulder / Pizza Inspired by the pizzerias of Napoli, Italy, this contemporary pizza joint offers a modern take on a traditional classic. Try the mais pizze. Also try the fastcasual locations in Denver. Reservations accepted. 1730 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-3003. Lunch, Dinner

25 BEST The Plimoth $$$$ Northeast Metro / American An emphasis on locally

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farmed and foraged ingredients results in an everchanging menu of seasonal dishes, like confit heirloom potatoes and cauliflower-turnip gratinée. Reservations accepted. 2335 E. 28th Ave., 303-297-1215. Dinner

Pony Up $$ Downtown / Contemporary This casual bar serves fantastic French dip sandwiches (try the smoked mushroom variety) and craft cocktails. Reservations not accepted. 1808 Blake St., 720-710-8144. Lunch, Dinner

The Populist $$$ RiNo / Contemporary This pared-down, old-fashioned eatery offers thoughtful small plates. Reservations accepted. 3163 Larimer St., 720-432-3163. Dinner

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The Post Brewing Co. $$ Rosedale / American Colorado-style fried bird is the specialty at this laid-back joint. Multiple locations.

Reservations not accepted. 2200 S. Broadway, 720-4665699. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

bowling, ping pong, shuffleboard, and more. Also try the Stapleton location. Reservations accepted for private parties. 65 Broadway, 303-765-2695. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Q

Potager $$$ Capitol Hill Area / Contemporary This restaurant specializes in fresh, seasonal food; the menu changes once a month. Dine in the back garden. Reservations not accepted. 1109 Ogden St., 303-832-5788. Dinner

Punch Bowl Social Baker / American Dine any time of day off of the

$$

diner-inspired menu while entertaining yourself with

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

Quality Italian $$$$ Cherry Creek / Steak House This upscale spot serves a smart mix of steak house fare and Italian-American favorites. Try the gnudi and the baked lasagna for two.

Reservations accepted. 241 Columbine St., 303-5328888. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Que Bueno Suerte $$$ Platt Park / Latin American The menu at this vibrant restaurant offers familiar items like tacos and fajitas, as well as upscale, regionally inspired Mexican fare. Reservations accepted. 1518 S. Pearl St., 720-642-7322.

Dinner

NEW Quiero Arepas $$ Platt Park / Latin American The Venezuelan arepas that co-owners Igor and Beckie Panasewicz have made with care at their food truck of the same name and Avanti Food & Beverage stall are, of course, on the menu at their brick-and-mortar restaurant in Platt Park.

Reservations not accepted. 1859 S. Pearl St., 720-4324205. Lunch, Dinner

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Rioja $$$$ Downtown / Mediterranean James Beard Award-

for a relaxed dinner including dishes such as chickenfried calamari steak. Reservations not accepted. 2328 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-993-6301. Dinner, Brunch

Root Down $$$ LoHi / Contemporary Located in a refabbed 1950s service station, this hip restaurant serves globally inspired cuisine with a focus on veggies and sustainable meats. Also try the DIA location. Reservations accepted.

1600 W. 33rd Ave., 303-993-4200. Dinner, Brunch

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Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen $$ Five Points / Deli Get your fix of New York-style bagels at this Five Points deli. Also try the Aurora location.

Reservations not accepted. 725 E. 26th Ave., 720-4409880. Breakfast, Lunch

NEW Run for the Roses $$ Downtown / Contemporary You’ll find 52 classic cocktails and gourmet snacks at this underground bar in the Dairy Block. Reservations accepted for parties of more than five. 1801 Blake St., 720-573-9155. Dinner

300 S. Monroe Street Denver, CO 80209 303.333.2188 G A B L E S R E S I D E N C E S C H E R R YC R E E K .C O M

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Racines offers traditional American fare. Reservations accepted for six or more. 650 Sherman St., 303-5950418. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

River and Woods $$ Boulder / American Settle into the cozy dining room

As a foodie and lover of craft beer, Anthony knows his choice to live here surrounds him with the best Denver has to offer.

Walk-ins Welcome

Racines $$ Capitol Hill Area / American A Denver institution,

winning chef Jennifer Jasinski creates high-end Mediterranean-influenced cuisine. Try the artichoke tortelloni. Reservations accepted. 1431 Larimer St., 303-820-2282. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Anthony Anthony has always taken his preferred path. Harvard for his undergrad. Stanford for his MBA. Made partner at 29. He knew exactly where he wanted to be… and why. It’s this purpose-driven life that led him to choose Gables Residences in Cherry Creek as a second home.

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Russell’s Smokehouse $$$ Downtown / Barbecue Diners flock to this subterranean smokehouse for classic ‘cue. Try the fall-off-the-bone rib combo. Reservations accepted.

1422 Larimer St., 720-524-8050. Lunch, Dinner

Rye Society Delicatessen and Picklery $$ RiNo / Deli Stop by this neighborhood deli for favorites including pastrami on rye, bagels with lox, and buttery rugelach. Reservations not accepted. 3090 Larimer St., 303-593-2713. Breakfast, Lunch

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S Safta $$$ RiNo / Contemporary Acclaimed New Orleans chef Alon Shaya brings modern Israeli fare to Denver. Start with the creamy hummus and pillowy pita before moving onto tabbouleh salad, charred cabbage, and halloumi. Reservations accepted. The Source Hotel & Market Hall, 3330 Brighton Blvd., Ste 201, 720-4082444. Lunch, Dinner

SAME Café $ City Park West / Seasonal This relaxed lunch spot, short for So All May Eat, pairs pay-what-you-can pricing with an ever-changing menu. Name your price for dishes like soup and pizza. Also keep an eye out for the cafe’s new food truck. Reservations not accepted.

2023 E. Colfax Ave., 720-530-6853. Lunch

Santo $$$ Boulder / Southwestern Hosea Rosenberg’s second restaurant brings bold New Mexican-style fare to Boulder. Dig into farm-to-table comfort food such as bison lengua tacos or a hearty green chile cheeseburger.

Reservations accepted. 1265 Alpine Ave., Boulder, 303-442-6100. Breakfast, Dinner

Sarto’s $$$ Jefferson Park / Italian This authentic Italian restaurant serves house-made pastas, soups, and more.

Stop into Sarto’s Pantry‚ the adjacent market‚ for grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, and pizzas. Reservations accepted. 2900 W. 25th Ave., 303-455-1400.

Dinner, Brunch

Sassafras American Eatery $$ Uptown Area / Southern This Cajun eatery charms.

Sol Mexican Cocina $$ Cherry Creek / Mexican This Baja-inspired Mexican

Expect to find classics such as eggs Sardou and po’ boys. Multiple locations. Reservations accepted from Monday to Friday. 320 E. Colfax Ave., 303-831-6233.

Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

restaurant specializes in fresh, coastal fare. Reservations accepted. 200 Columbine St., Ste. 110, 303-953-2208.

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

25 BEST Señor Bear

$$$

Highland / Latin American This charming spot in the LoHi area draws from the vibrant cuisines of Latin America. Expect upscale plates such as squash mole negro and excellent tropical cocktails. Reservations accepted. 3301 Tejon St., 720-572-5997.

Dinner, Brunch

Shanahan’s Steakhouse $$$$ Southeast Metro / Steak House Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan’s steak house serves Prime aged beef and fresh seafood. Reservations accepted. 5085 S. Syracuse St., 303-770-3600. Dinner

Smok $$ RiNo / Barbecue Find delicious, modern barbecue at chef Bill Espiricueta’s fast-casual Source Hotel eatery.

Reservations not accepted. The Source Hotel & Market Hall, 3330 Brighton Blvd., 720-230-0792. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Snooze $ Ballpark / Breakfast Sip a mimosa at one of this hip breakfast eatery’s orange booths. Choose between pineapple upside down pancakes and huevos rancheros. Multiple locations. Reservations accepted Monday through Thursday for eight or more. 2262 Larimer St., 303-297-0700. Breakfast, Lunch

The Source $ RiNo / Global This industrial-sleek food hall is home to a variety of hip eateries, bars, and shops. Tenants include Acorn, Reunion Bread Co., Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, Caffe Figurati, Isabel, and Mondo Market. 3350 Brighton Blvd., 720-443-1135. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

The Spice Room Berkeley / Indian Nepalese owners bring spice-

$$

forward flavor to the traditional Indian fare at this cozy spot. Reservations accepted. 3157 W. 38th Ave., 303-455-3127. Lunch, Dinner

Spuntino $$$ Highland / Italian Enjoy the locally sourced menu at this Italian-inspired spot. Try the seasonal pasta or any dish with goat. Don’t miss the house-made gelato and amari for dessert. Reservations accepted. 2639 W. 32nd Ave., 303-433-0949. Dinner

Stanley Marketplace $$ Aurora / Global Formerly the Stanley Aviation building, this site is now home to a food-centric marketplace.

Check out the offerings from Yellowbelly Chicken, Stanley Beer Hall, Annette, Comida Cantina, Logan House Coffee, Miette et Chocolat, Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen, and many more. 2501 Dallas St., 720-990-6743. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

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Steuben’s $$ Uptown Area / American With food like homemade mac and cheese and fried chicken, plus retro booths and outgoing servers, this family-friendly restaurant makes the 1950s feel right around the corner. Try the famous lobster roll. Also try the Arvada location. Reservations accepted. 523 E. 17th Ave., 303-830-1001.

Lunch, Dinner

Stoic & Genuine $$$ Downtown / Seafood Impeccably fresh seafood preparations are the star of this iconic oyster house. Sip on craft cocktails or grower Champagnes as you nosh on Alaska king crab legs or Maine lobster. Reservations accepted. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., 303-6403474. Lunch, Dinner

25 BEST Super Mega Bien $$$ RiNo / Latin American Chef Dana Rodriguez of Work & Class offers a combo of large-format items and PanLatin small plates, the latter served from roving dim sum-style carts. The vibe is lively and casual.Try the ropa vieja and potent piña coladas. Reservations not accepted. The Ramble Hotel, 1260 25th St., 720-2694695. Dinner

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Super Star Asian Cuisine $ Athmar Park / Asian This glitz-free eatery serves topnotch dim sum and an extensive menu of traditional Chinese plates. Reservations not accepted for six or more. 2200 W. Alameda Ave., Ste. 34, 303-727-9889.

Lunch, Dinner

25 BEST Sushi Den Platt Park / Asian Sushi Den offers fresh, vibrant

$$$

seafood flown in daily from Japan and a lively scene packed with regulars. Sit at the bar and watch the masterful sushi chefs, led by Toshi Kizaki, as they work their artistry. Reservations accepted for five or more, except Friday and Saturday. 1487 S. Pearl St., 303-7770826. Lunch, Dinner

Sushi Ronin Highland / Japanese Sushi Ronin’s casual and

$$$

comfortable vibe complements the inventive, omakasestyle Japanese cuisine. Reservations accepted for parties of eight or more. 2930 Umatilla St., 303-9550741. Dinner

Sushi Sasa $$$ Highland / Japanese Enjoy Japanese fusion cuisine‚ including sushi combos, poke bowls, noodles, and much more‚ in a sleek, modern setting. Don’t miss the seared wagyu beef with cucumbers, foie gras potatoes, and sesame salt. Reservations accepted for lunch and dinner. 2401 15th St., Suite 80, 303-433-7272. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Sushi-Rama $$ RiNo / Sushi This sushi joint features a fun, conveyer belt-style dining experience. Try the CLT roll (soft shell crab tempura, lettuce, tomato) with garlic mayo on top.

Also try the DTC location. Reservations not accepted.

2615 Larimer St., 720-476-4643. Lunch, Dinner

T Table 6 $$$ Speer / American The warm and cozy atmosphere at this neighborhood restaurant extends to chef Mike Winston’s American bistro cuisine, which is elevated by haute foodie touches. Don’t miss the seasonal tater tots.

Reservations accepted for five or more. 609 Corona St., 303-831-8800. Dinner, Brunch

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Tables $$$ South Park Hill / American A glass of wine, flickering

Tenya Japanese Soul Food $$$ Berkeley / Japanese Order traditional “robatayaki”

candlelight, and mismatched tables set the tone at this cozy neighborhood restaurant. Reservations accepted.

2267 Kearney St., 303-388-0299. Dinner

(charcoal-grilled skewers) and small plates at this Japanese comfort food eatery. Reservations accepted. 3901 Tennyson St., 720-535-7253. Dinner

Tacos Tequila Whiskey $ City Park / Mexican Often referred to as Pinche Tacos,

There Denver $$$ LoHi / American Order one of the jam-based cocktails,

this taqueria offers a variety of Mexican specialties. Try the queso a la plancha taco made with griddled Cotija cheese, smashed avocado, and roasted tomatillo salsa.

Multiple locations. Reservations not accepted. 1514 York St., 720-475-1337. Lunch, Dinner

then indulge in a variety of eclectic small plates like tostadas, steamed buns, and lettuce wraps. Don’t miss the brunchtime doughnuts. Reservations accepted.

3254 Navajo St., 720-500-3254. Dinner, Brunch

TAG $$$ Downtown / International Chef Troy Guard describes the food at his flagship Larimer Square restaurant as continental social cuisine. Translation: He serves seasonal big and small plates with bold flavors from around the world. Reservations accepted. 1441 Larimer St., 303-996-9985. Lunch, Dinner

Tamayo $$$ Downtown / Mexican This spot’s modern menu is derived from authentic Mexican roots and ingredients.

Reservations accepted. 1400 Larimer St., 720-946-1433.

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

25 BEST Tavernetta Downtown / Italian The team behind Boulder’s

$$$

acclaimed Frasca Food and Wine offers the same attention to hospitality at their more casual Denver restaurant. The charming space is home to dishes from across Italy and a deep wine list. Reservations accepted.

1889 16th St, 720-605-1889. Lunch, Dinner

Thai Pot Cafe $ Virginia Village / Asian Try a variety of curries, noodle bowls, soups, salads, and coconut-infused desserts at this cozy Thai restaurant. The drunken noodles with eggplant are a favorite. Reservations accepted. 1350 S. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 191, 303-693-6200. Lunch, Dinner

To The Wind Bistro $$$ City Park / Contemporary This cozy neighborhood restaurant offers a fresh, casual take on bistro fare and a top-notch craft beer selection. Reservations not accepted. 3333 E. Colfax Ave., 303-316-3333. Dinner

Tofu House 1962 $$ Aurora / Korean Enjoy house-made tofu and authentic Korean fare at this tucked-tucked away spot. Try the soft tofu soup (sundubu jjigae). Reservations not accepted.

2406 S. Havana St., 303-751-2850. Lunch, Dinner

The Truffle Table $$ LoHi / Seasonal As an offshoot of the Truffle Cheese Shop, it’s no surprise that a variety of cheese boards

and fromage-focused small plates color the menu.

Reservations not accepted. 2556 15th St., 303-4559463. Dinner

U Uchi Denver $$$$ Five Points / Sushi James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole combines unexpected flavors for his unique take on Japanese food. Reservations accepted. 2500 Lawrence St., 303-444-1922. Dinner

Ultreia $$$ Downtown / Spanish James Beard Award-winning chef Jennifer Jasinski brings Iberian fare to Union Station. Try the lamb sandwich or the cured trout. Reservations not accepted. Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., 303-534-1970. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Uncle LoHi / Asian A sleek, contemporary atmosphere

$$

defines this bustling modern noodle house. The selective menu includes dishes such as Chinese-style steamed buns and, of course, ramen. Reservations not accepted. 2215 W. 32nd Ave., 303-433-3263. Dinner

The Universal $ Sunnyside / American This breakfast and lunch spot is located in an industrial farmhouse-chic space. Breakfast foods, including eggs Benedict and biscuits and gravy, are served all day. Reservations not accepted. 2911 W. 38th Ave., 303-955-0815. Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

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Unravel Coffee $ Virginia Village / Cafe House-roasted beans and hightech tools lead to stellar espresso drinks at this Virginia Vale coffee shop. You can also enjoy nourishing toasts, grain bowls, salads, and smoothies. Try the prosciutto toast. Reservations not accepted. 1441 S. Holly St., 303-884-2380. Breakfast, Lunch

Urban Farmer $$$ Downtown / Steak House Executive chef Chris Starkus harvests the chic restaurant’s honey from rooftop hives, grows Hazel Dell mushrooms in a downstairs terrarium, and sources locally raised animals for the in-house butchery and dry-aging program at this modern steak house. Reservations accepted. The Oxford Hotel, 1659 Wazee St., 303-262-6070. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

V Vesta $$$ Downtown / Fusion Visit this stylish LoDo stalwart for upscale-yet-approachable fare. Try the luxe lobster cioppino or the hearty Madras grilled venison, but always leave room for pastry chef Nadine Donovan’s excellent, inventive desserts. Reservations accepted.

1822 Blake St., 303-296-1970. Dinner

chilled carrot-ginger soup or a veggie dosa. Reservations not accepted. 3915 Tennyson St., 303-474-4131.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

W WaterCourse Foods $$ Uptown Area / American This vegetarian icon has been serving wholesome food since 1998. Don’t miss the brunch specials. Reservations accepted after 5 p.m.

837 E. 17th Ave., 303-832-7313. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

$

focuses on quick, healthy food. Grab a seat in the airy space and nosh creative, wholesome fare such as

fuses Asian and Italian techniques at this hip Sunnyside eatery. The results are unique and delicious. Reservations accepted. 4058 Tejon St., 720-456-6507. Dinner

Work & Class RiNo / American This elevated meat-and-three

Z

bar-restaurant for craft cocktails and polished fare, such as roast chicken with salsify. Reservations accepted.

3963 Tennyson St., 970-682-6888. Dinner

Zeppelin Station $$ RiNo / Global This industrial-chic food hall is home to

Wendell’s $$ Berkeley / American This breakfast and lunch joint

eight globally inspired food and drink vendors and two bars. 3501 Wazee St., 720-460-1978. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

serves modern takes on diner food, featuring everything from classic chicken-fried steak to updated fare like avocado toast. Don’t miss the massive, fluffy pancakes. Reservations not accepted. 3838 Tennyson St., 720-485-3901. Breakfast, Lunch

style pizza right here in Denver. Don’t miss the satisfying lasagne, made with layers of house-made pasta.

Reservations not accepted. 1702 Humboldt St., 303-862-5323. Lunch, Dinner

Zocalito Latin Bistro $$$ Downtown / Latin American Chef Michael Beary’s upscale Oaxacan eatery features unique chiles in salsas, moles, and more. Reservations accepted. 999 18th St., Ste. 107, 970-920-1991. Lunch, Dinner

Zoe Ma Ma $ Downtown / Chinese This cozy, counter-service spot offers Chinese home-style cooking. Also try the Boulder location. Reservations not accepted. 1625 Wynkoop St., 303-545-6262. Lunch, Dinner

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$$$

concept offers a unique hybrid of American and Latin cuisine in repurposed-shipping-container digs. Don’t miss the chickpea croquettes. Reservations not accepted. 2500 Larimer St., 303-292-0700. Dinner

The Way Back $$ Berkeley / Seasonal Settle in to this neighborhood

White Pie $$ City Park West / Pizza Chow down on New Haven-

Vital Root Berkeley / American Justin Cucci’s fourth eatery

The Wolf’s Tailor $$$ Sunnyside / Contemporary Basta chef Kelly Whitaker

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Tickets are limited and available at 5280scene.com.

BRAVO! VAIL SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL NOW–AUGUST 4

Vail. Bravo! Vail enriches people’s lives through the power of music. This summer, embark on a voyage of the finest performances by the greatest artists from four world class orchestras, including an outdoor production of Puccini’s Tosca. Information and tickets at bravovail.org.

Keystone Wine & Jazz Festival JULY 13–14

Keystone. Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival brings more than 300 varieties of wine—red, white, bubbly and everything in between as part of the festival’s Village Grand Tasting event. Top it off with wine seminars and jazz shows; you’ll be sipping and strolling in the beautiful Rockies. Information and tickets at keystonefestivals.com.

Slow Food Nations JULY 19–21

Larimer Square. Slow Food Nations is a major international food festival hosted in Denver, Colorado. The festival brings tons of free interactive experiences, a Taste Marketplace, family pavilion, cooking demos, workshops, and block parties to Larimer Square in downtown Denver. Don’t miss this food festival for all, happening July 19-21, 2019! Information and tickets at slowfoodnations.org.

The Science Lounge: Moon Mayhem JULY 18, 6:30–9:30 P.M.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Strap on your moon shoes and get ready to explore the lunar surface. Build a rocket and shoot for the moon. Get the history on lunar missions, then see the planetarium show Imagine the Moon. Ages 21+. Cash bar. Information and tickets at dmns.org/sciencelounge.

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528 0 M A G A Z IN E P ROM OT ION

F O L LO W @ 5 2 8 0 S C E N E for a LOOK at DENVER’S BEST EVENTS AND ONGOINGS

Pearl Street Arts Fest

JULY 19, 3–8 P.M. (14TH STREET ARTIST PREVIEW) JULY 20, 10 A.M.–7 P.M. & JULY 21, 10 A.M.–5 P.M. Pearl Street Mall, Downtown Boulder. From whimsical and modern sculptures to traditional watercolors, oil paintings, photography and more, Pearl Street Arts Fest is a beautiful outdoor gallery/juried festival—nestled in the heart of downtown Boulder on the renowned Pearl Street Mall.

Information at pearlstreetartsfest.com.

5280SCENE.COM

9th Annual Race Against Kids’ Cancer UPCOMING

AUGUST 10–11

High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, CO. The Race Against Kids’ Cancer is a weekend of vintage car racing to benefit The Morgan Adams Foundation, whose mission is to fund life-saving pediatric cancer research.

The weekend includes races, lunch rides and great food. Information at raceagainstkidscancer.org.

Cherry Creek North Food & Wine UPCOMING

AUGUST 17, 6–9 P.M.

Fillmore Plaza, Denver. Cherry Creek North Food & Wine celebrates the diverse and sophisticated tastes of CCN dining paired with wine, beer, spirits, live music, and more. Enjoy conversations with top chefs and learn about internationally-recognized wines, acclaimed spirits, and Colorado craft brews. Information and tickets at cherrycreeknorth.com/foodandwine.

17th Annual Morgan Adams Concours d’Elegance UPCOMING

AUGUST 24, 6–10 P.M.

TAC Air Hangar, Centennial Airport. The Morgan Adams Concours d’Elegance is an exhilarating exhibition of modern and vintage airplanes, automobiles and motorcycles benefiting The Morgan Adams Foundation, an organization funding research for kids’ cancer. The evening features live and silent auctions, great food, and cocktails. Information and tickets at morganadamsconcours.org.

Pedal the Plains Bicycle Tour UPCOMING

SEPTEMBER 14–16

Colorado Eastern Plains: Lamar, Holly, Springfield. Pedal The Plains is more than a bicycle tour. It’s a traveling party packed with boot-stomp’n live music, beer gardens, delicious and locally-sourced food, interactive educational exhibits, and a touch of country fun! The 3-Day Tour or a 1-Day century option will take participants on a 200 mile adventure as they cycle through the countryside. Information and registration at pedaltheplains.com.

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T OP OF T HE T O W N DINING READERS’ CHOICE

Broadway Market

Dae Gee Multiple locations, daegee.com

Denverites can get. The international chain’s first restaurant opened halfway around the globe, in a 460-square-foot space in Seoul, Korea, in 1962. The fact that it’s survived this long (and come this far) is a testament to its specialty: tofu, freshly made so it’s as tender and rich as a warm slab of butter.

Replete with that silky soy delicacy, the soft tofu soups shine, especially when filled with pork, oysters, and squid.

Wondering what to order as a side?

More tofu, of course—fried crisp and full of garlic seasoning. Don’t despair, soy-allergy sufferers: The house banchan includes refreshing cucumber salad and spicy kimchi and absolutely no tofu (though, to be honest, it might be even better if it did). 2406 S. Havana St., Aurora, 303-751-2850, tofuhouse1962co.com

MARKET HALL

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Broadway Market If practice makes perfect, the team behind this five-month-old food and retail emporium should be approaching faultlessness. And after visiting, we won’t argue the point. Eclectic Collective, as the squad behind Broadway Market calls itself, has founded or helped to open the Source, Zeppelin Station, and Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace. All that fine-tuning is on display here. The space is smaller (read: less daunting) than similar venues, and most of the restaurants—Maria Empanada, Royal Rooster, Biju’s Little Curry Shop, Miette et Chocolat—have proven bona fides. There are DJs on some Friday nights and a pour-your-own beer wall with two dozen local taps. You can pay with a credit or debit card at each stall, or you can check out a plastic fob

from the host stand to use at any of the stations or the suds dispensers; they’ll charge your card when you’re finished, unless you ask to pay cash. Nab a seat in the center of the sleek black-and-white space to engage in a pastime that dates to the earliest known food courts: people watching. 950 Broadway, 720-390-7132, broadwaymarketdenver.com

READERS’ CHOICE Stanley Marketplace 2501 N. Dallas St., Aurora, 720-990-6743, stanleymarketplace.com

Can rosé wine from Willamette Valley, Oregon

Available Only at Molly’s Spirits This Summer!

Right off I70 & Sheridan | 5809 W. 44th Ave., Lakeside, CO 80212 | 5280 | JULY 20 181 170MollysSpirits_JUL19.indd

5/28/19 12:21 PM

Courtesy of From the Hip Photo

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 81

ALL NEW

SHOWROOM AND SLAB GALLERY

Innovative design.

State-of-the-art lighting.

Curated product galleries.

A new experience in selecting natural and engineered stone.

The same quality and selection you’ve come to expect for over a decade. Opening late summer 2019.

4210 Carson Street, Denver, Colorado 80239 | 303.307.8100

thestonecollection.com dallas | denver | fort worth | phoneix | salt lake city

T OP OF T HE T O W N DINING

ICE CREAM

EDITORS’ CHOICE

High Point Creamery

Airport to Whole Foods. Multiple locations, highpointcreamery.com

READERS’ CHOICE Bonnie Brae Ice Cream 799 S. University Blvd., 303-777-0808, bonniebraeicecream.com

B OT T L E S H O P

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Mondo Vino Mondo Vino isn’t the type of place that’s content to keep selling you the same ol’ Pinot Noir. The 20-year-old

Sarah Boyum

High Point Creamery Not all superheroes wear capes—and one of them definitely makes ice cream.

Gifted with a superhuman sense of smell after giving birth to her first child, Erika Thomas says she used her newly robust snout to create unique concoctions for her husband, Chad Stutz, at home. In particular, her basil with blackberry swirl flavor (bolstered by knowledge gained from attending the famed ice cream school at Penn State University) was so divine it convinced Thomas and Stutz to open the first High Point Creamery in Hilltop five years ago. Now known for creative twists on classics—think: Cookies (3 ways) & Cream, made with chocolate wafers, chocolate chip cookies, and sugar cookies—the couple owns three Front Range parlors as well as a food truck called Big Pinky that travels around Denver and can be reserved for special events. Even if you can’t make it to a High Point shop, chances are you’re within range of one of its pints, considering the ice cream is sold everywhere from Denver International

A Club for Your Whole Life Established in 1884, The Denver Athletic Club is downtown Denver’s premier member-owned, private club. Consistently ranked one of the top ten athletic clubs by Platinum Clubs of America, and a perennial winner of 5280’s Top of the Town, The DAC boasts 300,000 square feet of fitness facilities, full-service dining and banquet services; and organized social, business and athletic events.

LICENSED CHILD CARE

INDOOR POOL

RACQUETBALL, HANDBALL & SQUASH

GRAND BALLROOM

12 MEETING AND DINING ROOMS

ROOFTOP SUNDECK

303.534.1211 | DENVERATHLETICCLUB.ORG

SOCIAL AND NETWORKING EVENTS

36th Anniversary Sale

T OP OF T HE T O W N DINING

40% OFF

*

Al l Eyewe a r Fra m e s

SAVE 20% on non-Rx sunglasses too!

Cherry Creek North Greenwood Village 303.321.3000 303.721.9666

Aspen Grove 303.706.9900

Colorado Springs 719.473.2020

www.europtics.net • eye exams available at all locations

*Sale prices valid on in-stock frames with purchase of prescription lenses only. Some exclusions apply including Oakley, Maui Jim, and Chanel.

Sale prices may not be combined with any other coupons, discount offers, insurance discounts, or previous purchases. Sale ends 7/14/19.

FAMILY TIME ROCKS

Mondo Vino

shop and its expert staffers, all of whom have extensive experience either working for restaurants or beverage distributors, actively try to expand your palate and knowledge with their Club Mondo program ($300 a year). Every month, Club Mondo delivers members two bottles of a vintage selected by staffers based on their recently sampled favorites. If you’re looking for a thriftier option, the Highland spot also hosts free tastings every Friday (4 to 7 p.m.) and Saturday (2 to 7 p.m.) that are designed to show off specific varietals or particular regions of the world with which you might not be familiar. While continuing your wine education, don’t forget to broaden your knowledge by perusing Mondo Vino’s selection of 300 beers and 50-plus spirits. 3601 W. 32nd Ave., 303-458-3858, mondovinodenver.com

READERS’ CHOICE Pearl Wine Company 1886 S. Pearl St., 303-282-5103, pearlwinecompany.com

S E A FO O D

Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness

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FarmingtonNM.org

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar We debuted this category in 2019 thanks to the spate of amazing new fish joints that have opened in the past few years. Then we went and bestowed the inaugural award on a place that’s been around since 1994. For a quarter century, founder Dave Query and his team have been ordering catch—including

Courtesy of Mondo Vino

EDITORS’ CHOICE

16 Penn Apartments

A 55+ Senior Apartment Community 1615 N. Pennsylvania St, Denver Designed for people 55+ who want to live in a community, not just another apartment building.

Contemporary urban living at its best!

From a “Wine Down Wednesday” to a “Spirited Ice Cream Social” - our events shine a light on the 16 Penn community.

Plan to attend our next OPEN HOUSE to meet, mingle, and have a chance to see what life is like in Denver’s Uptown neighborhood.

Members of the community and professionals are all welcome.

RSVP to 720-269-4380 or email leasing@burgwynmgmt.com

Can’t make it to our open house?

Then call today for a personal tour.

Plan to attend one of our

Open House Events Wednesdays 4:30PM - 6:30PM July 17, 2019 August 21, 2019 September 18, 2019

Located on the corner of E. 16th & N. Pennsylvania Street • Flexible Lease Terms • Onsite Underground Parking • Electric Car Charging Station • Pet Friendly • Community Meeting Room with Kitchen • Yoga & Tai Chi Classes Onsite And all the best of downtown Denver!

Call 720-269-4380 to schedule tour www.16PennApts.com

Thrive@55!

T OP OF T HE T O W N DINING fresh oysters turned into Rockefellers so decadent and unctuous, they make John D. seem like a rube—daily from the coasts. Still, even those oysters can’t compare with the branzino we recently ordered on the recommendation of our bartender. The seared fish—gorgeously crisp—was tender, flaky, rich, and paired wonderfully with red rice and herbaceous seaweed chimichurri. It might be a simple combo, but stellar, sustainable ingredients prepared with great expertise are what keep Jax atop the Front Range’s seafood chain. Multiple locations, jaxfishhouse.com

and crisp potato chunks, a giant flour tortilla envelopes cilantro chutney and flavorful “chappli”—a meat specialty of Pakistan’s Peshawar region that consists of minced beef seasoned with garlic, peppers, coriander, cumin, and ground mango. For a Colorado touch, the whole thing is smothered in spicy pork green chile. It’s only offered on the weekend brunch menu, when the Bulldog often opens early for international soccer games—such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup final at 9 a.m. on July 7 (hint, hint). 2052 Stout St., 303-2957974, britishbulldogdenver.com

READERS’ CHOICE

READERS’ CHOICE

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar

Santiago’s Multiple locations, eatatsantiagos.com

B R E A K FA ST B U R R I TO

PIZZA

EDITORS’ CHOICE

EDITORS’ CHOICE

The British Bulldog In Denver’s bacon-or-sausage breakfast burrito scene, this 13-year-old soccer pub’s version holds a delightful surprise.

Along with the standard scrambled eggs

Hops & Pie This nine-year-old Berkeley joint can’t be accused of false advertising. In fact, it’s so into hops and pie that Hops & Pie uses a good-sized swig of Modus

Hoperandi IPA, from Durango’s Ska Brewing, to make its golden brown pizza crusts. The resulting full, malty flavor is a perfect complement to the restaurant’s range of toppings, from classics like pepperoni, rich kalamata olives, and sweet caramelized onions to unconventional ones, such as tender beer-braised brisket, smoked ham hock, and creamy mashed potatoes. Vegans don’t have to settle for dull, either; Hops & Pie serves housemade meatless Sicilian sausage, vegan Daiya cheese, and smoked tofu. Go ahead and set a standing appointment on your calendar: That way, you’ll never miss pairing a local brew (there are 30 rotating drafts) with the artisan pie of the month.

April’s, for example, combined San Marzano tomatoes, crispy pancetta, sautéed wild mushrooms, caramelized onions, fresh basil leaves, provolone, Parmesan, and FlatIron Pepper Co.’s Hatch Valley dried green chiles.

3920 Tennyson St., 303-477-7000, hopsandpie.com

READERS’ CHOICE Mici Handcrafted Italian

Pause. Shift. Repeat.

A local spa and yoga destination where wellbeing is at the very core of how we take care of you.

5602 S Nevada Street Littleton, CO (720) 283-4025  @fivewellbeing

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Enjoy 25% off your first time spa visit. Visit fivewellbeing.com to book online with promo code: FIRSTTIME

#EATUP

PARTYON

From the Hip Photo

EXCLUSIVE CATERER OF 5280 MAGAZINE occasionsdenver.com | follow us @occasionscater | info@occasionsdenver.com | 303.789.1867

T OP OF T HE T O W N SERVICES The Nest Nail Spa

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 85

harm your nails (like CND Shellac), Massa delivers a comfortable, clean place to get some well-earned pampering—which is all anyone could ask for. 4950 S. Newport St., 720-524-4046; 180 S. Union Blvd., Suite 106, Lakewood; thenestnailspa.com

READERS’ CHOICE The Nest Nail Spa

Renew Massage Studio Many mainstream massage studio menus can come across as a little one-note. It’s a glorious, knot-relieving tune, but sometimes we’re in the mood for a melody we haven’t heard before. That’s what you’ll find at this nine-year-old Washington Park

studio, where each of owner Alicia Marsicovetere’s 14 therapists specializes in a few specific styles. Translation: The service lineup is enormous and unexpected. Sure, you can opt for a standard therapeutic massage—ours was damn good, performed by a master who predicted pressure change

requests before we could make them. But we encourage branching out with a raindrop massage, during which approximately 10 essential oils are applied to your spine and legs and absorbed into the body, a technique purported to boost immunity.

The menu also boasts cupping, CBD

WE WILL COME TO YOU or book our PRIVATE PARLOR for your WEDDING DAY SERVICES LOHI

STANLEY

2009 W. 33rd Ave. Denver, CO 80211

2501 Dallas St., Suite 269 Aurora, CO 80010

 CLEMENTINESDENVER.COM  (720) 328-3594  WEDDINGS@CLEMENTINESDENVER.COM

 @CLEMENTINES_SALON  /CLEMENTINESDENVER

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASSIE ROSCH

Courtesy of the Denver Creative Group

M A S SAG E

EDITORS’ CHOICE

COLORADO MADE

COLORADO SPRINGS

CENTENNIAL

LAKEWOOD

NORTHGLENN

woodleys.com

LONGMONT

FORT COLLINS

T OP OF T HE T O W N SERVICES bodywork, and even lymphatic drainage massages (light pressure and circular movements to reduce swelling and stimulate flow in the lymph nodes). All of them come with an additional feel-good factor: Renew’s eco-friendly practices, like using biodegradable laundry detergent to wash its organic cotton sheets, mean your hour of calm puts less stress on the Earth. 1221 S. Clarkson St., Suite 200, 303-990-0841, renewmassagestudio.com

first-timer’s orientation session; $15 per hour after that; check the website for the schedule). Your pet will get a watery workout with other aqua dogs, and your abs will, too: Just try not to laugh at the antics that inevitably ensue. 8855 W. 116th Circle, Broomfield, 720-407-8680; 3760 S. Lipan St., Englewood; 303-762-7946, dog-swim.com

READERS’ CHOICE Ancillary K9 720-239-2424, ancillaryk9.com

READERS’ CHOICE Elements Massage Multiple locations, elementsmassage.com

F LO R I ST

P E T S E RV I C E S

Canine Rehabilitation & Conditioning Group

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Canine Rehabilitation & Conditioning Group Don’t let the name fool you; this isn’t fat camp for Fido. In fact, it’s more like a Four Seasons spa. For 14 years, Canine Rehabilitation & Conditioning Group (CRCG) has provided everything from acupuncture to massage to chiropractic work to help injured pups get back on their paws. But

E U R O P E A N

C U I S I N E

your furry friend doesn’t have to be ailing to benefit from the programs at CRCG’s two locations (in Englewood and Broomfield). In addition to an indoor playground, each spot has a heated pool, so if you’re not interested in cleaning Cherry Creek State Park muck off your mutt, go instead to one of CRCGs open swims ($30 for a

A N D

W I N E

P R I V AT E

Banister’s Flowers Rosie and Josh Orblom watched their parents run Banister’s Flowers in Englewood for more than two decades before taking over the family business four years ago. The apprenticeship helped the siblings understand the artistry required to craft both traditional bouquets as well as complicated contemporary arrangements from blooms sourced near (Grand Junction) and far (New Zealand). More important, they also learned to employ a deft personal

D I N I N G

A V A I L A B L E

7 2 0.84 5 .1 6 7 3 LER O UXDE N VE R.COM 1 5 1 0 1 6TH ST., D ENVER , CO 8 0202 ( LO CATED AT 16TH AND BL AK E ST.)

LeRoux-July19.indd 1 20 19 | 5280 | JULY 180

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Courtesy of Canine Conditioning & Rehabilitation Group

EDITORS’ CHOICE

WE’RE ABOUT TO BREAK GROUND. A NEW MERITAGE HOMES COMMUNITY IS COMING TO AURORA, CO.

Painted Prairie Starting from the $300s

Square Footage 1,428 – 1,877

Bedrooms 3

Bathrooms 2.5

Meritage Homes’ new community is on the horizon at Painted Prairie, near DIA. This vibrant new community will offer an extraordinary array of trail systems uniting the community with a network of parks, open spaces, and urban experiences. This new development will feature a central community hub called City Lane, a local gathering spot where you can stay active, social and connected. Painted Prairie has it all, including a 22-acre central park which offers all manner of outdoor activities. Being only 5 miles from DIA and 17 miles to Downtown Denver, this community will be the perfect place to call home!

Denver International Airport

Peña Blv

d.

Painted Prairie

E- 470

Picadilly Rd.

70

E 56th Ave.

FUTURE MODEL LOCATION E 56th Ave. & Picalilly Rd. Aurora, CO 80019

SALES CENTER HOURS Coming Soon

From I-70 East, exit Tower Rd. heading north.

Turn right on E. 56th ave., left on Picadilly Rd. left on E 59th Pl.

LET’S GET YOU PLUGGED IN. Join our interest list, and we’ll share info about new communities, floorplans, special pricing & VIP events.

877.318.3310 | MERITAGEHOMES.COM/DENVER All promotional, marketing, and advertising estimates and claims related to square footages and dimensions are approximate and may vary in construction and depending on the standard of measurement used, engineering and municipal requirements, or other site-specific conditions. All renderings and floor plans are an artist’s conceptual drawings and may vary from the actual plans and homes as built.

Pictures and other promotional materials are representative and may depict or contain floor plans, square footages, elevations, options, upgrades, extra design features, decorations, floor coverings, specialty light fixtures, custom paint and wall coverings, window treatments (such as shutters, drapes, etc.), landscaping, pool, spa, sound and alarm systems, furnishings, appliances, and other designer/decorator features and amenities that are not included as part of the home and/or may not be available in all communities. Home, pricing and community information is subject to change, and homes to prior sale, at any time without notice or obligation. Not an offer or solicitation to sell real property. Offers to sell real property may only be made and accepted at the sales center for individual Meritage Homes communities.

See sales associate for details. Meritage Homes® is a registered trademark of Meritage Homes Corporation. ©2019 Meritage Homes Corporation. All rights reserved.

T OP OF T HE T O W N SERVICES

LOOK in for US COLORADO

touch with customers. When, for example, they have a recipient who is admitted to the intensive care unit, where flowers aren’t permitted, the Orbloms work with the hospital to have an arrangement delivered immediately after the patient returns to a regular room. That’s the sort of service that can only blossom over generations.

4495 S. Broadway, Englewood, 303-7818330, banistersflowers.com

READERS’ CHOICE The Perfect Petal 3600 W. 32nd Ave., Suite B, 303-480-0966, theperfectpetal.com

WWW.H IG H PO IN TC REA M E RY.C O M

Jalan Facial Spa

S PA

Jalan Facial Spa We could feel our stress dissipating the moment we stepped off bustling 17th Avenue and into this three-year-old Uptown oasis. The Asian-inspired pampering begins almost immediately, when you’re greeted with hot lemongrass and ginger tea and a coconut cookie. Next, a foot soak; then, you await your therapist in a serene meditation room with plants, a rock garden, and cushy seating nooks. The $69, hourlong Signature Facial—far from the borderline painful, clinical procedures we’ve had elsewhere, thanks in no small part to Jalan’s heated massage tables—mixes a blissful amount of gentle shoulder, neck, and scalp work with soothing applications of lotions, cleansing oils, mists, and masks, all chosen for your skin’s specific needs. Finally, a steaming cup of rooibos herbal tea and a warm neck pillow back in the meditation space (stay as long as you like) seal in the bliss. 801 E. 17th Ave., 720-476-5593, jalanspa.com

READERS’ CHOICE Facial Aesthetics 4600 Hale Parkway, Suite 110, 720-513-0448; 7447 E. Berry Ave., Suite 160, Greenwood Village, 303-791-1820; facialaestheticsinc.com

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Courtesy of Hanna Kate for Sonder Collective

EDITORS’ CHOICE

T OP OF T HE T O W N SPORTS, OUTDOORS & FITNESS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 95

comes in one-, two-, and three-person options, solo travelers might consider the couples’ size, which adds significantly more room and only four extra ounces. bigagnes.com

READERS’ CHOICE None (insufficient votes)

OUTDOOR G E A R STO R E

Feral Mountain Co.

Feral Mountain Co. A one-stop shop, Feral has been the Tennyson neighborhood’s go-to for buying, renting, and selling outdoor gear since it opened in a tiny Craftsman home in 2015. Now, after a December 2018 move down the street, it simply offers

more—as in, five times the space—of a good thing. The welcoming staffers hold over a century’s worth of experience in backpacking, trail running, climbing, and other adventuring, so you can trust their advice, whether you need a down sleeping bag or a pair of run-friendly sunglasses.

The second floor, meanwhile, allows Feral to host community events, such as Friday film screenings and Sunday yoga classes, as well as a resale section, where lightly used gear can be had for about half of the original price. For example, we recently spied an Eno hammock, $70 online,

Denver Highlands

Park Meadows

(303) 768-8443 | smilesbydrrobin.com Voted as a To p Dent is t 1 1 yea r s in a r o w!

Invisalign®

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Cosmetic Dentistry

Botox®

Dermal Fillers

Courtesy of Whitney Schuettpelz

EDITORS’ CHOICE

WELLNESS

BOOST EVENTS TO REFRESH + NOURISH YOUR WHOLE SELF

POP-UP EVENTS

At 5280, we’re big believers in living well in the Mile High City. That’s why we’re excited to bring you 5280 Wellness Boost Pop-up events—a curated set of classes that will allow you to sample the best in health and fitness around Denver.

• M O N T H LY A U G U S T T H R O U G H D E C E M B E R •

5280SCENE.COM These events are first come, first served.

SIGN UP TODAY TO RESERVE A SPOT FOR YOU AND A FRIEND!

T OP OF T HE T O W N SPORTS... being sold at Feral for $35—which makes the eventual experience of being suspended between campsite trees even more relaxing. 3936 Tennyson St., 303-9038584, feralmountainco.com

READERS’ CHOICE Member of: • American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry • American Dental Association • Colorado Dental Association

DENT

R

D

EN

TS IS

TOP

Fellowship in the Pierre Fauchard Academy

VE

5280 MAGAZINE TOP DENTIST

COLORADO PARENT TOP DENTIST

2012–2019

2016–2018

EXPERIENCE MATTERS. YOURS + OURS. Dr. Susan Kutis’ commitment to excellence is demonstrated by her continued investment and countless hours of continuing education. With this experience, Dr. Kutis employs the latest techniques in comprehensive care to ensure her patients, both children and adults, feel safe and have a comfortable, family-friendly experience.

ACTUAL PATIENT

AFTER

ACTUAL PATIENT

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS WWW.BLUESAGEDENTAL.COM | (720) 316-7210 10354 West Chatfield Avenue, Suite 100, Littleton, CO 80127

BlueSageDental-APR19.indd 1

YO GA

EDITORS’ CHOICE The Freyja Project Nowadays, everyone and their goat knows how to vinyasa flow. But Freyja owner Patty Henry, having practiced yoga for more than a quarter of a century, continues to find new ways to push students inside her Highland studio.

Henry—who, along with having completed more than 1,000 hours of training, is barre-certified and a Reiki master— The Freyja Project

5/24/19 11:26 AM

Casual Meets Couture locations in tennyson berkel ey + dairy block sar ahoje w elry.com

offers a delightfully diverse schedule, including Yoga Foundations (for beginners and yogis who want the basics), Prenatal and Toddler Yoga, Barre, and Freyja’s own brand of strength training called Freyja Buff. And if you feel like relaxing without breaking a sweat, Freyja also has four rooms set aside for spa treatments (like massages, acupuncture, and facials) and a boutique that sells activewear, dance attire, leisurewear, and jewelry. 3456 Tejon St., 303-964-9642, thefreyjaproject.com

READERS’ CHOICE Kindness Yoga Multiple locations, kindnesscollective.com

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Courtesy of Lynn Townshend/Illuminate Photography

BEFORE

REI Multiple locations, rei.com

100% all natural and certified gluten free menu. Fresh juices, beer and wine. Sharing our love for Venezuelan arepas since 2010.

NE W LOCATION! 1859 S. Pearl Street, Denver, CO 80210 Open daily, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Food truck available for catering.

Avanti: 3200 N. Pecos Street, Denver, CO 80211 Sunday–Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Thursday–Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 10 p.m.

W W W.QU IER OA R EPA S .C O M QU IER OA R EPA S @ G M A IL .C O M  @ QU IER OA R EPA S

Congratulations To Our Scholarship Winner!

Introducing Clarissa Dukeminier!

Winner of the 2019 Colorado Garden Foundation Full-Ride Scholarship award.

Clarissa has the next four years of her CSU college experience paid for by the Colorado Garden Foundation. We are proud to support scholarships like these along with the horticulture grant program in Colorado. Each year we award more than $700,000 in horticulture grants and scholarships in Colorado as a result of our Colorado Garden & Home Show in February and the Colorado Fall Home Show in September.

Learn more at ColoradoGardenFoundation.org

T OP OF T HE T O W N SHOPPING Element Knife Company

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 99

READERS’ CHOICE Carbon Knife Co. 3264 Larimer St., 720-292-4277, carbonknifeco.com

EDITORS’ CHOICE

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Element Knife Company Every chef needs a high-quality saber to conquer the kitchen. Elan Wenzel would know. A chef at LoHi’s Sushi Sasa, Wenzel has been selling knives since 2010.

He initially focused on marketing the Yoshihiro Cutlery blades he imports from Osaka ( Japan’s knife-crafting capital) to other chefs but quickly realized home cooks wanted ease, speed, and accuracy when chopping ingredients, too. Wenzel doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar shop, but his website makes navigating the finer points of knife buying—Western versus Japanese handles, say, or the difference between stainless and carbon steel blades—accessible even for the most clueless food prepper. Even better,

Free Market On its first day of business in May, 11,000-square-foot Free Market hosted a range of attractions, including a DIY bath salts bar from Jenni Kayne, a Los Angeles women’s clothing and home goods brand (and also a tenant). Such diversions aren’t just part of the mini mall’s grand-opening hoopla. The owners of the retail and dining bazaar, located in LoDo’s Dairy Block, will hold alluring events every month— including vinyl and jazz brunches and Italian-inspired aperitivo happy hours in July—because they have incentive to. Instead of a predetermined rental amount, every Free Market tenant pays 10 percent of its monthly overall sales.

Wenzel makes house calls and will even arrange at-home Tupperware-style parties so your friends can fawn over his cutlery, which runs from $65 to around $1,000. If you really want to play professional chef, Wenzel will also sell you the same plating tweezers and aprons he swears by at Sushi Sasa. 303-460-4628, elementknife.com

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P L AC E TO G O SHOPPING

K I TC H E N WA R E

So between browsing the wares (sleek, outdoorsy apparel from Westerlind; vintage jewelry from Alchemy Works) of the eight curated occupants and ordering fare (such as baked goods and coffee from BØH) made by the two on-site food-and-beverage outfits, shoppers will almost always be treated to pop-up culinary events, art installations through a partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, or a number of other temporary treats. 1801 Blake St., 720-325-2082, freemrkt.co

READERS’ CHOICE Stanley Marketplace 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, stanleymarketplace.com

ANTIQUES

Courtesy of Terry Wagner

EDITORS’ CHOICE Antiques Etc Shopping for bygone treasures can tear relationships apart: Your retro-loving friends might all like antiquing, but one person is only interested in Victorian ephemera while another wants

Antiques Etc

1940s costume jewelry and yet another is mid-mod obsessed. How to keep your post-brunch festivities from turning into an argument over antiquities?

Check out this 10,000-square-foot emporium of all the things, which has been open for more than three decades.

The East Colfax Avenue store hosts a

variety of vendors, including purveyors of “fix me” options for DIYers. At other booths, sellers have done the work for you by reupholstering midcentury dining sets or finishing vintage scrap quilts for use as wall hangings. You’ll find globes, typewriters, records, and old Broncos memorabilia. Oh, and fondue

SAVE THE DATE

S ATURDAY | AUGUS T 24 | 2019 A highly anticipated charity fundraiser featuring a spectacular display of collectible, rare, vintage, and exotic automobiles, aircraft, and motorcycles alongside a live and silent auction with cocktails and fare from Denver’s best restaurants.

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The Morgan Adams Concours d’Elegance benefits The Morgan Adams Foundation, an organization dedicated to funding research for kids and young adults battling cancer. We invite you to join us at this wonderful and incredibly important evening.

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COLORADO

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T OP OF T HE T O W N SHOPPING sets—lots of fondue sets—perfect for bringing friends together.

5736 E. Colfax Ave., 303-329-8208, denverantiques.com

READERS’ CHOICE Salvage Design Center 1200 W. Evans Ave., 720-432-8893, salvagedesigncenter.com Nikki Nation Jewelry

GET DRINKS!

GET LUNCH!

CRAFT MARKET COCKTAILS

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• Every Saturday @ RiNo Fresh Market • Every 2nd & 4th Sunday @ Stapleton Fresh Market

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SUNDAYS 10:00AM 3:30PM JUNE 16 OCTOBER 6

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JULY 12, JULY 26, & AUGUST 16

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Climbing excursion

farm to table

come taste wine

enjoy the view

Betty Ford

Garden

Fall

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ride the

indulge in local food series

mountain coaster

farmers’ market

visit Vail ’s

enjoy VAIL JAZZ

vail mountain

and Art Show

at the Market

SPONSORS TO DATE

enjoy a private dinner

LO CA L J E W E L RY DESIGNER

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Nikki Nation Jewelry Hammered metal isn’t a particularly new jewelry trend, but few pull it off as well as Nikki Nation. An art-school-trained metalsmith who entered the commercial realm by taking a job at a jewelry store, Nation opened her studio in 2016 and made a name for herself by banging on gold and silver with hammers sporting hacked-up heads. Nation’s percussion sessions leave funky, unpredictable textures and patterns, lending an industrial edge rarely seen in delicate jewelry. But she is perhaps best known for the tiny, Braille-like dots she adds to earrings, bangles, and more (Nation’s pieces range from $35 to $1,500), engendering a distinctive touch while exhibiting a graceful, simple elegance. nikkinationjewelry.com

READERS’ CHOICE Abby Sparks Jewelry m

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Jen Lobo Photography/Courtesy of Nikki Nation Jewelry

vail farmers’ market and art show

Roehl abstract passions

Untitled 198715, oil, 14” x 9” © Karen Roehl

Solo Exhibition | AuguSt 2019 K ContEmporAry gAllEry 1412 WAzEE St DEnvEr, Co 80202 KArEnroEhl.Com

T HE VALLE Y IN T HE SHADOW

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 129

An escape from your commute

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conversations in the projects turned to laughter when imagining a banker paying full rent having to step over dirty diapers littering the hallway. Would a young, childless white couple judge the single Hispanic mom with five kids? Would the Somali girls with headscarves suddenly feel self-conscious? Would cops get called when black neighbors got a little rowdy on a Wednesday night? If something went wrong, would poor folks get the blame?

Brock wanted a lawn, but he was told that was impossible in an apartment. He wanted a safe place to store the bicycle he dreamed of getting. But he also wanted to walk to the South Platte and sit on a boulder and just chill. More than anything, he wanted his friends.

His best friend is Romeo, a 10-year-old whose father lives next door to Brock. The pair hangs out on weekends and sometimes after school, playing basketball and watching YouTube videos in Brock’s bedroom.

They jump on electric scooters dumped in the neighborhood and try to ride them.

They go to the 7-Eleven; they play with Romeo’s puppy, Gray.

On a trip back from the convenience store one afternoon, Brock and Romeo were tossing a Frisbee they’d found, seeing who could make it go the farthest. Brock reached back and let it go with a grunt. The Frisbee tilted against the sky, then slowly veered right—over the fence where the public housing units once stood.

“Oh, crap,” Brock said.

He saw the Frisbee on the dirt. Brock studied the fence for an opening. He found one, sprinted across the field, grabbed the Frisbee, and sprinted back. He doubled over, panting, his hands on his knees. The boys stared at the series of dirt mounds that had replaced the old homes. “That’s like a mountain, bro,” Romeo said. “What do you think it’ll look like when it’s all done?”

Brock shrugged. “All I know is it’s supposed to be big,” he said. “Really big.”

B RO CK WAL K ED O U T of Fairview’s double doors after school one day this past spring and crossed 11th Avenue toward his home. His parents were on their couch in the family room when he opened the screen door. The room was cast in afternoon light, shadows creeping toward the

T HE VALLE Y IN T HE SHADOW kitchen in the back. An old wooden coffee table with Brock’s asthma medication was in the middle of the room, next to a stuffed chair and two large aquariums. There was a cabinet with a television on top of it. A worn rug covered the linoleum floor. A strip of butcher paper was pinned to the wall with the words “Was Here!!!!”—a way for Brock’s family to take note of the people in their lives. There were more than a dozen signatures, including Brock’s and Tatse’s. Under his, in green marker, Tatse added the words “Love Ya’ll.”

Brock breezed past his parents. “Where you going?” his dad called after him.

There was a rustling sound from inside the kitchen, where cans of pinto beans and diced tomatoes were stacked on the shelves. Brock emerged moments later with a black and red scooter. He’d found it, he told his parents, in the street a day earlier. Or maybe it was a park. He couldn’t remember. “It’s mine now,” he said. “Finders, keepers.” Brock wanted to take it outside.

“Just be careful on that thing,” Teresa told him. “We don’t need you getting hurt.”

Brock called it his “pro scooter,” and he brought it up the hill to the 7-Eleven, where he got a Coke and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Afterward, he rode the scooter down the hill, over a ramp of concrete on the sidewalk. “Ohhhh, man, I got air on that one!” he yelled.

He walked back up the hill and flew over the jump again. “My pro scooter is so cool,” he said.

Brock wound through the neighborhood, zipping up and down sidewalks, past lines of cars parked along the streets, thinking out loud.

“I want to be an architect when I grow up, but if that means going to extra school, then forget about it.”

“I think some girls in my class like me, but I’m not sure. There’s an eighth-grader a couple of doors from me. She gave me a hug once.”

“I want to have a kid when I’m 16 or 17. That’s when that happens, right? Who wants to be old and raising a baby?”

“I’m visiting my aunt in Washington, D.C., this summer. We’re going to check out the museums.”

“When I’m an adult, maybe I’ll move in with my brother. I don’t know yet, but I still have time to decide.”

Brock rolled down to the trail that runs along the South Platte River. He rocketed across the concrete, made a left, then another left onto Decatur Street— the main road through the neighborhood.

There was a youth center housed in an old

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T HE VALLE Y IN T HE SHADOW church, a nonprofit called EarthLinks, and a restaurant that doubled as a community center. A low-income apartment complex with a couple of police cars parked outside its entrance was across the street.

It was almost dinnertime, and the enclave had settled into semi-quiet. Brock was on his scooter near Fairview when a white truck pulled up and stopped next to him. A child’s voice called out.

“That’s my scooter!”

“Where’d you get that?” another voice, this time belonging to an older woman, yelled out the window to Brock. “You gonna give him that scooter? It’s not yours.”

Brock looked at his pro scooter, then at the truck, then back to the scooter. He dropped his head. The truck’s passenger door swung open, and Brock handed it over. The door slammed, and the truck sped away.

T H E R E WO UL D BE NO Sun Valley for Brock when he got older, his mother promised.

The neighborhood was a bridge for him, a place where he could transition to another part of his life and then leave. Middle school was coming soon, then high school and graduation and a job and a family

and a home—his parents hoped—away from here. Teresa and Tatse would probably always stay here, but they wanted something else, something better, for their youngest child.

Tatse thought he needed to work on himself, too, to be a role model for Brock as he headed into adolescence and the confrontations he might face on the streets—regardless of whether or not the new, improved Sun Valley turned out to actually be new and improved. Teresa and Tatse worried about Brock, about the choices he might make as he got older, about the people he might attract.

With the final days of elementary school approaching, Tatse could already see the trouble his impressionable son might find with the free time that came with summer.

He’d already chased off a couple of older boys who’d stopped by, kids who’d recently moved in. Teenagers, Tatse thought. He didn’t like their look, the way one of the boys wore a hoodie over his head even when it was 75 degrees outside; how one of them had a cigarette tucked behind his ear and never seemed to look adults in the eye. “We can’t have Brock get sucked in,” Tatse said.

Real and perceived slights affected Brock as he found his way through Sun Valley each day. There was the boy who called his mother a “bitch,” the boy who threatened a friend, the boy who simply seemed to want to fight and was looking for a reason. “I’m gonna beat him,” was a mantra for Brock throughout the final months of the school year, though he rarely acted on that instinct. His parents wondered if they were seeing the beginning of something, whatever it was.

Tatse and Teresa told their son to defend himself, that a young man in the projects who ran away would forever make himself a victim. Tatse showed Brock how to throw a punch in defense, to stop the aggression and then back away. “I want Brock to know that if someone’s coming after him, that’s the only time to get physical,” Teresa says. “With one punch, maybe, he can stop it.”

Brock’s father was trying hard to set an example. Early this past spring, Brock had been play-fighting with a classmate after school when a man rushed in to break them up. In the ensuing confusion, the man grabbed Brock’s arm and scratched him. When Brock went home and Tatse

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T HE VALLE Y IN T HE SHADOW

A memorial along the South Platte River Trail for a three-year-old who drowned in the river.

Eric said. “He’s got to get out.”

Brock appeared from behind one of the brick rowhouses, saw Eric, and threw his arms around his brother. A white Corvette passed on the street.

“Someone’s bringing the nice car through

Sun Valley,” Eric said.

“About time,” Brock said.

He asked to start the Blazer’s engine.

“Push down slowly,” Eric said. “I don’t need you blowing this out.”

Brock hit the gas and laughed.

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asked about the scratch, Brock explained.

Tatse burst out of his front door toward the school and rushed at the man, who was still outside. “I was ready to flatten him,” Tatse recalls.

Neighbors watched from the sidewalk as Tatse confronted the man. Tatse demanded a meeting with the school principal to sort things out, and the man eventually apologized. Tatse shook his hand and walked away. “At another time in my life, things might have ended differently,” Tatse says. “I can’t risk showing that side to Brock. I can’t lose my son with that kind of nonsense.”

A couple of days later, at Brock’s 11th birthday party, Teresa put a cake in the refrigerator and Tatse boiled hot dogs on the stovetop. Brock was at the school playground with some cousins and friends digging tunnels in the sand. One of his brothers, Eric, was visiting from Brighton and was up the street, installing speakers into the trunk of his old Chevrolet Blazer.

Eric had been out of prison for about six months and was rebuilding his life with his girlfriend and her daughter.

“I just want something else for Brock, because there’s not much of a life here,”

T HE VALLE Y IN T HE SHADOW Over the engine’s whine, Eric called to his little brother.

“What do you do if a cop tells you to freeze?” he asked his little brother.

“I dunno,” Brock said. “Talk to him?”

B R O C K’S G RA ND M OT H ER had recently purchased him a small set of brushes and acrylic paints as a gift, and he kept them in a wooden box atop his bedroom dresser.

His work so far consisted mostly of animals and abstract designs, but now he wanted to paint things that were part of his world. Teresa encouraged her son to find places and things that meant something to him. He was considering the concrete DHA building, Fairview Elementary and its hard right angles, the flowing river with rusting industrial buildings in the background. Most of all, though, Brock wanted to find the perfect spot to see and capture the city skyline.

One day a couple of months ago, Brock banged on the door of Romeo’s dad’s house, but no one answered. He walked up the sidewalk, in between the public housing units rising on either side. Up ahead, a man scavenged through a trash bin. Brock didn’t seem to notice.

He cut through a wide lawn. He ducked under a clothesline, pointed out where a drug dealer once lived, then passed a playground and went down a small embankment to the South Platte. Below him, a circle of large rocks formed a small pool off the river’s edge. Five years ago, a three-year-old had wandered from his house and drowned there. A memorial with the young boy’s photo was tacked to a tree that stood on a rise a couple of dozen yards away, near the South Platte River Trail. Downriver, a park bench memorialized another child who was swept away in a flood.

Brock sat alone on a boulder overlooking the city. He was fascinated by the tall buildings, how the cranes across the highway seemed to pop up every month, new metal and glass towers rising and changing the view. At the right time of day, beams of light from the setting sun reflected off the skyscrapers’ windows and seemed to wink at the neighborhood.

A gentle breeze tousled Brock’s hair.

Summer was almost here, the big changes in his life suddenly not so far away. For the moment, though, he was content with being still. He leaned his back against the boulder and studied the view for his next masterpiece. “This is it,” he finally said. “Or is there a better place?” m

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Frederick | $800,000

LThis immaculately kept Angel View Estates dream home is truly one of a kind. Walk into this gorgeous home and you’ll find a nice study directly off the front door. In the kitchen you will find a light and bright luxurious kitchen with marble and a huge walk-in pantry with an extra refrigerator. The living area and dining area have access to the relaxing covered patio with three sets of French doors.

Nicole Petersen 720.722.3812 nicole.petersen@coloradohomes.com | nicolepetersen.cbintouch.com

Arvada | $675,000

Spectacular home in the coveted Car-O-Mar neighborhood with an exclusive lake membership (deeded with home). This home offers an open floor plan, vaulted ceilings, and upgrades throughout. The kitchen features stunning cabinets, granite counters, stainless appliances, custom backsplash, and eat-in space. The family room is warm and inviting with wood burning fireplace and perfect for movie nights.

Kelly Ellis 303.921.5420 kelly.ellis@coloradohomes.com | TheEllisTeam.BlogSpot.com

C O L D W E L L B A N K E R R E S I D E N T I A L B R O K E R AG E A N D C O L D W E L L B A N K E R D E VO N S H I R E

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Lakewood | Price Upon Request Serenity in the city! This meticulously maintained and cared for home is located on approximately one acre of land and is surrounded by tall Evergreens, Silver Maples, and Willow Trees. Two creeks border the property contributing to the tranquil and serene setting‌a perfect escape in the midst of a major city! This home includes an expansive barn that acts as a garage with a workshop and plenty of space to store an RV. JD Dunlap 720.799.6289 jd.dunlap@coloradohomes.com

Brighton | $450,000 Huge 4br/3ba home w/open layout, fireplace, gourmet kitchen.

Team Fontyn 303.359.9937 Lori.Fontyn@gmail.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Boulder | $4,250,000

Denver | $1,550,000

Charlene Rosenblatt 303.588.8472 charlene.rosenblatt@coloradohomes.com

Cherie Wahl 303.507.5455 wahlcherie@msn.com | wahlcherie.cbintouch.com

Denver | $1,350,000

Broomfield | Price Upon Request

Cherie Wahl 303.507.5455 wahlcherie@msn.com

PHOENIX Rain 303.884.9489 phoenix.rain@coloradohomes.com

Louisville | $1,239,000

Denver | $1,269,000

Absolutely beautiful custom home with stunning high end finishes. Spectacular unobstructed mountain views and backing to Boulder City Open space offering the ultimate privacy. This property will satisfy your pickiest buyers.

Townhome in a wonderful location offering three levels of amazing views.

Magnificent Flatirons and Longs Peak views from this refined and impeccably maintained home. Expansive deck with outdoor kitchen, fire pit and retractable awning. Extensive hardwood floors on all three levels.

The eat-in kitchen has maple cabinets.

Sartell Bliss Team 303.885.8334 jessie@sartellblissteam.com

Original Wash Park Denver Square fully remodeled. Main floor Master Suite.

Open living and Dining Room. Amazing detail and finish. Four bedrooms, five baths, two car garage.

Exquisite Valmont Country Manor with 5br/ 5ba.

Beautifully renovated open floor plan home in popular University Park. This light filled home is wide open with generous rooms throughout. The main floor has a welcoming foyer, open dining room, spacious living room and a dream kitchen. Fresh and new.

Sonya Peterson 303.587.7969 sonya.peterson@coloradohomes.com | sonyapeterson.cbintouch.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Castle Rock | $1,040,000

Parker | $995,000

A distinctive 6 br in a peaceful, scenic community with just under three acres.

Unique blend of sensational comfort features and convenient to hiking, biking and equestrian trails. The kitchen has been updated to maintain the quality.

6br/5ba Inviting ranch walkout with gorgeous views of the Pradera golf course. Numerous upgrades.

Jerry Rich 303.843.1666 jerry.rich@coloradohomes.com | jerryrich.cbintouch.com

Jeff Kloenne 303.884.9830 jeffrey.kloenne@coloradohomes.com | kloennewilsonteam.com

Evergreen | $975,000

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the waters of North Turkey Creek flowing through this magnificent property from multiple rooms, decks and patios.

Incredible indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces overlooking the creek, gazebo and garden areas.

Linda Pinkul 303.956.4068 lindapinkul@wispertel.net | lindapinkul.com

Denver | $875,000

4br/3ba Platt Park bungalow with expansive kitchen, great room, master retreat and 2789 sq ft

Scott Beville 303.905.6872 scott.beville@coloradohomes.com

Denver | $899,000

Exquisite Victorian restoration in coveted Highlands neighborhood.

Charm and elegance of 19th century meets lifestyle and comforts of today.

Completely redone with a second story addition. Everything addressed in this five bedroom, three bath home.

Kiki Cannon 303.717.6196 kikicannon@comcast.com | kikicannon.com

Superior | $849,900

Immaculate home on approx. 1/3 acre cul-de-sac lot, backs to open space with mountain views. Over $150k in upgrades. Custom kitchen with oversized island, high-end stainless appliances, WiFi gas double oven range, pull-outs and quartz counters.

Caryn Geiger 303.249.8149 caryn.geiger@coloradohomes.com | carynlovesbouldercounty.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Lakewood | $725,000

Amazing Applewood Ranch on a corner lot, entertainer’s dream. All rooms have been updated, terrific for family and large parties. The home flows well from kitchen, dining, living and outdoor spaces.

Main floor office with access to covered patio Gail Wheeler 303.726.7202 gail@gailwheeler.com | gailwheeler.com

Longmont | $695,000

Fort Collins | $715,000

Gorgeous Upper Paragon Point Home with 4BRs/4BAs, finished bsmt, private decks & mountain views.

Carrie Holmes 970.988.0242 carrie.holmes@coloradohomes.com | www.CarrieHolmes.com

Berthoud | $680,000

Marie Raines 720.334.5337 Marie.Raines@ColoradoHomes.com

Amazing opportunity on approx. 36 acres, three bedrooms, two baths, large barn and outbuildings. This unbelievable parcel lies near the end of the road with few neighbors, views and incredible privacy. 1920’s farm house that has been added onto.

Jason Kingery 970.310.9660 jason@jasonkingery.com | jasonkingery.com

Arvada | $660,000

Longmont | $649,900

This beautiful ranch has been remodeled from top to bottom.

Five minutes from Sunset Golf Course.

Solid brick triplex in Old Town Arvada. Close to light rail and directly across the street from a park. Three units total each with two bedrooms. The single garage of shared building goes with this unit. Long term tenants would like to stay.

Stephanie Fryncko 303.918.5917 stephanie.fryncko@coloradohomes.com

4br/3ba custom ranch style home on 1 acre of land.

Cheryl Melichar 303.817.6163 cheryl.melichar@coloradohomes.com

C O L D W E L L B A N K E R R E S I D E N T I A L B R O K E R AG E A N D C O L D W E L L B A N K E R D E VO N S H I R E

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Centennial | $630,000

Lafayette | $629,900

Absolutely stunning home in Hunters Hill!

4br/4ba home on a corner lot w/ mature trees & lush landscaping.

Ideal location in Indian Peaks.

Stephanie Fryncko 303.918.5917 stephanie.fryncko@coloradohomes.com

Dave Janis 303.442.5001 dave@davejanis.com

Aurora | $585,000

Gorgeous custom ranch with finished basement & 3 car garage! Sides to a greenbelt, Grandview High.

Kathleen Surges 303.981.6170 Michael Surges 303.981.7872

Centennial | $575,000

Piney Creek beauty w/ remodeled kitchen, updated master, new carpet/paint, large basement and deck.

Kelli Barton 720.530.7466 kelli.barton@devonshirehomes.com

Conifer | $575,000

Peaceful, Quiet Home in Conifer Meadows. Find peace and quiet in this mountain contemporary, three bedroom, three bath home set on approx. two acres filled with pine trees. Slate-tiled entry has high ceilings, skylight and opens to vaulted living room.

Cindy Sahli 303.588.2399 cindy.sahli@coloradohomes.com | cindysahlirealestatepro.com

Castle Rock | $560,000

This home in Cobblestone Ranch is ready for you to call home. This recently updated home has four bedrooms and three and one-half baths. Meticulously maintained and has a welcoming entry, eat-in kitchen with Butler’s Pantry connected to dining room.

Marcyndah Cosner 303.881.1876 marcyndah@marcyndah.com | marcyndah.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Englewood | $550,000

Fabulous opportunity in Cherry Creek Vista! Huge lot with room to expand, Cottonwood Elementary.

Kathleen Surges 303.981.6170 Michael Surges 303.981.7872

Denver | $550,000

Why is this house great? Community oriented, proximity to shops and restaurants, quick bike ride to downtown, quiet street, small neighborhood feel, Sunnyside music festival. Love summer nights on front porch, Jack and Jill bath and mail slot.

Gail Wheeler 303.726.7202 gail@gailwheeler.com | gailwheeler.com

Greeley | $540,000

Denver | $539,900

Aurora | $539,900

Longmont | $515,000

Welcome to this gorgeous custom home in the quiet Poudre River Ranch Subdivision. This was the builder’s home, so it has all of the upgrades and attention to detail. Stunning stone and stucco entryway on stained concrete walkway. Craftsman details.

Erich Menzel 970.402.8457 erich.menzel@coloradohomes.com | erichmenzel.cbintouch.com

Richmond James model five bedroom home on the golf course with mountain views.

Jennifer Oldham 720.234.3863 jennifer.oldham@coloradohomes.com

The American dream home with beautifully appointed upgrades.

This sought-after Stapleton home with approx. 2,574 total square foot, located on a park-like courtyard is a few short blocks to the F15 pool and park with playground.

Kimberly Austin 303.360.6400 kimberly@anotherjustsold.com | anotherjustsold.com

Beautiful views of Mount Meeker from Master suite, living and family rooms.

Bright and welcoming with cathedral ceiling in family room which opens into the fenced in back yard with patio, great for outdoor entertaining.

Hot tub in the patio included.

Leena Bhagat 303.817.8522 lgbhagat@gmail.com | coloradohomes.com/leenabhagat

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Arvada | $510,000

This Beautiful Home is ready to move in. Featuring an updated kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, a remodeled master bathroom, and a bright open floor plan that is flooded with natural light.

Enjoy the quiet backyard.

Amber Simonis 303.905.5137 amber@thesimonisgroup.com | thesimonisgroup.com

Pine | $480,000

Bailey | $485,000

Stunning 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom property w/serene views and custom mountain charm.

The Simonis Group 303.905.5137 Amber@TheSimonisGroup.com

Black Hawk | $472,800

3br/2ba mountain retreat home with 2 heated and insulated garages, flat lot and 2 large decks.

Spacious 3 Bed, 3 Bath mountain home with beautifully updated kitchen. Wraparound porch with views.

Vicki Wimberly 303.674.6667 vicki.wimberly@coloradohomes.com

Terry Robinson 303.816.7558 Mike Fuentes 303.679.8055 mikefcoldwellbanker@gmail.com

Parker | $460,000

Do not miss this warm, inviting five bedroom, three and one-half bath home in desirable Canterberry Crossing Subdivision. Located on an open cul-de-sac with access to walking trail. Beautiful laminate wood floors throughout the main and second levels.

Karen Bellamy 303.885.3258 karenpoltbellamy@gmail.com | bellamyrealestate.com

Westminster | $455,000

Beautifully updated home on ¼ acre lot in popular Countryside neighborhood near open space/trails.

Kate Kazell 720.613.8478 kate.kazell@coloradohomes.com | katekazellrealestate.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Denver | $450,000

A detached ranch located in the perfect patio home community where for only $70 per month the Home Owner’s Association cuts your grass during the summer and shovels your driveway and sidewalk to the front door in the winter.

Laurie & Michael Marcus 303.409.6338 michael@marcusteam.com | marcusteam.com

Aurora | $440,000

This wonderful two story home features a spacious open floor plan with beautiful strand woven bamboo and hexagon tile flooring design throughout the main level. Professionally finished basemen boasts a great room/theater room with built in cabinets.

Matt Brinkhoff 303.324.0241 matt.brinkhoff@coloradohomes.com

Colorado Springs | $425,000

Immaculate Two-Story located in a cul-de-sac in Pinewoods and the desired D20. It offers its owners much privacy as it backs to an approx. two acre lot and is conveniently located near schools and shopping centers.

Hardwood flooring throughout.

Elliot Bannister 719.550.2500 elliot.bannister@coloradohomes.com

Lafayette | Price Upon Request

3br/3ba townhome w/ laundry area, spacious bedroom w/ a 5-piece bath, 2-car garage and new roof.

Stacy Carter 303.465.4681 stacy.carter@coloradohomes.com | StacyEaganCarter.com

Aurora | $430,000

Lovely four bedroom, three bath single story home with a two-car garage.

Scott Beville 303.905.6872 scott@scottbeville.com | scottbeville.com

Centennial | $425,000

Gorgeous Two-Story with French door entry in Smoky Hill 400. The front yard has been freshly sodded and new landscaping has been installed.

Brand new roof and newer windows with transferable warranties.

Beautiful floors throughout the main level.

Illona Gerlock 303.809.1235 illona@gerlockhomes.com | gerlockhomes.com

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Denver | $419,900

Amazing location in Stapleton. Upstairs offers two bedrooms, including the master suite with five-piece bath with walk-in closet and additional full bath for the second bedroom with spacious closet and a lot of natural light.

Upstairs laundry.

Karie Treter 720.256.5334 karie.treter@devonshirehomes.com

Johnstown | $398,500

Beautiful two story home in Thompson River Ranch. This beautifully updated four bedroom home has new wood floors on main level, new stainless appliances, new granite in the kitchen, and fresh paint throughout. Amazing views from back yard and patio.

Linda Gilbert 720.232.1990 linda.gilbert@coloradohomes.com | lindagilberthomes.com

Johnstown | $364,900

Amazing home with great access to the entire front range.

Kris Hansen 303.956.6068 kris.hansen@coloradohomes.com

Lakewood | $410,000

This charming Green Mountain ranch is the home you’ve been searching for.

Offered at fantastic price, located in quiet, family-friendly neighborhood, with backyard perfect for entertaining, this home has been well-taken care of and filled with love.

Maddi Ossello 303.717.0030 maddi.ossello@coloradohomes.com | maddiossello.cbintouch.com

Denver | $375,000

The last owners lovingly lived in this 1950’s home for over 60 years. This property is being sold as-is but with limitless potential. Just east of coveted Hilltop and south of esteemed Crestmoor; you can’t go wrong with this awesome location.

Homes At New Heights 303.475.3096 ssharnas@msn.com

Boulder | $359,000

Welcome to your new home. Enjoy the views of the Flatirons from the dining room, living room, or relaxing on your deck. The charming two bedroom condo, immaculately maintained, in South Boulder has fireplace and master bedroom with full bath.

Ken Ritchart 303.908.7878 ken@kenritchart.com | kenritchart.com

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Colorado Springs | $349,000

Beautiful Briargate 4br/4ba home w/vaulted ceilings, wood beams, skylights and white oak flooring.

Angela M. Smith 710.210.8878 Angela@AngelaSmithRealty.com | angelasmithrealty.com

Denver | $339,900

Updated Ranch Home, four bedroom, two bath, one car detached garage, fully finished basement in Southwest Denver. Home has new exterior and interior paint, all new carpet in bedrooms and basement. Newer roof/gutters, newer double pane vinyl windows.

Dan Rubio 303.525.4390 dan.rubio@coloradohomes.com

Aurora | $324,500

Colorado Springs | $320,000

Castle Rock | $315,000

Denver | $310,000

Fantastic Open Floor Plan with Rare Main Floor Bedroom. Maintained to Perfection. Vaulted Ceilings in Living Room with huge windows and Handsome Stacked Stone Fireplace with Cherrywood Mantle. Dual Sided Fireplace brings a nice touch.

Julien Hernandez 303.808.6848 julien.hernandez@coloradohomes.com

2br/1ba bungalow featuring an eat-in kitchen, open living space and a workshop.

Colleen Teitelbaum 303.668.8186 TeitelbaumColleen@gmail.com

This Rancher is located in well established Village Seven near shopping, dining, entertainment and walking trails. Upon entry you will notice beautiful hardwood flooring throughout the main level of the home. The kitchen features gorgeous cabinetry.

Elliot Bannister 719.550.2500 elliot.bannister@coloradohomes.com

Unique home conveniently located near downtown Denver and within proximity to the foothills!

Julie Abels 303.888.3352 julie.abels@coloradohomes.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Denver | $275,000

Fabulous one bedroom, one bath condo featuring: Spacious living area, beautiful hardwood flooring, updated kitchen, new cooktop and dishwasher, all appliances, updated bath, new interior paint, new HVAC throughout building, new laundry on main level.

Colleen Teitelbaum 303.668.8186 colleen.teitelbaum@coloradohomes.com | cocoteitel.com

Denver | $213,000

The location is amazing, the restaurants nearby are all unique and very memorable, the proximity to a neighborhood market and hardware store is extremely convenient. It is quiet, great for walking the dog and not a lot of traffic.

Gail Wheeler 303.726.7202 gail@gailwheeler.com | gailwheeler.com

Littleton | Price Upon Request

Great Opportunity to Own in Brookridge Heights. Lovely three bedroom, one bath single story home with a one car garage.

Aaron Luttrell 303.748.3200 aaron@aaronluttrell.com | aaronluttrell.com

Denver | $275,000

End unit townhome w/easy commute, new carpet, wood floors, quartz countertops, new stove and deck.

Kelly Baca 303.748.3295 kelly.baca@devonshirehomes.com

Denver | Price Upon Request

Top floor 2br/1ba chestnut condo w/convenient location.

Sarah Bowles 720.837.2724 sarah@chdagent.com

Westminster | Price Upon Request

Welcome to the quiet and well-kept secret that is Waverly Acres. This hidden neighborhood offers a life of convenience and views. Like to get outdoors?

A stone’s throw from Westminster City Park or a quick jaunt to Legacy Ridge or Hyland Hills.

Sarah Bowles 720.837.2724 sarah.bowles@coloradohomes.com

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Aurora | Price Upon Request

Aurora | Price Upon Request

Lakewood | Price Upon Request

Aurora | Price Upon Request

Denver | Price Upon Request

Thornton | Price Upon Request

Don’t miss this large third floor condo. A wall has been added to the upstairs loft to make another room, perfect for a study or add a closet to make it a bedroom. The large vaulted ceilings and oversized balcony create a nice space for entertaining.

Jeffrey Mcrae 303.906.5508 jeffrey.mcrae@coloradohomes.com | jeffreymcrae.com

Beautifully refinished hardwood floors greet you as you are drawn into this immaculate home. Large living room provides room for family areas and intimate seating. Your kitchen boasts granite countertops, white cabinets and plenty of room to work.

Stephanie Fryncko 303.918.5917 stephanie.fryncko@coloradohomes.com

Amazing location a few short blocks from Cherry Creek District but out of the chaos. Outdoor patio to relax and enjoy the Cherry Creek lifestyle outside your door. Fully remodeled - The finishes are sophisticated and fun.

Hardwood floors throughout.

Cherie Wahl 303.507.5455 wahlcherie@msn.com | wahlcherie.cbintouch.com

Spacious end unit in the Sterling Hills neighborhood with stainless steel appliances and lots of cabinet and counter space. Open floor plan, new carpet and paint throughout, a half bath on the main floor and a balcony to grill on off the dining room.

Stephanie Ryan 303.725.8901 stephanie.ryan@coloradohomes.com

Looking for a great home? Here it is. Stunning wood floors draw you into your new home. Imagine family gatherings or dinner with friends.

Your kitchen will be the heart of your home with gleaming granite counters and stainless steel appliances.

Stephanie Fryncko 303.918.5917 stephanie.fryncko@coloradohomes.com

Your dream home awaits, all it is missing is you. This luxurious home sits on a large, walk-out lot backing to the greenbelt. With approx. 4,123 square feet this immaculate home offers an open floor plan with formal dining room, spacious living room.

Nicole Wolf 303.898.5816 nicole.wolf@coloradohomes.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Greeley | $3,950,000

5 bed, 6 bath, 4-car garage, panoramic mountain views and 8,605 finished sf.

4br/4ba ranch w/open concept, spa bathroom, backyard w/patio and fireplace.

This beautifully maintained 2br/2.5ba condo offers a warm and wonderful quality. The property can be accessed through the front or the two-car garage.

Kim Choi 970.402.3582

Kylie Rupert 303.842.8205 kylie.rupert@coloradohomes.com

Lori Grunewald 303.521.5750 realtorlorig@gmail.com

Tony Ramos 720.810.4279

Historic 1888 Victorian home w/hardwood floors, high ceilings and back patio.

Denver | Price Upon Request

Soaring Ceilings greet you as you enter the home. Tile floors with custom inlays grace the entry along with column architecture separating the living and dining rooms. Open concept.

Spectacular two- story home with stunning views of the mountains located in the Saddle Brook neighborhood. This home exudes Colorado with exceptional indoor and outdoor living.

This wonderful home sits in one of North Evergreen’s highly sought after neighborhoods, “The Trails at Hiwan”. Offering an extremely convenient location to I70 and local shopping.

JD Dunlap 720.799.6289 jd.dunlap@coloradohomes.com

Sharon Wiest 303.909.7637

Beth Bolduc 720.217.2952

Susan Trindl 303.710.2411

Erie | $725,000

Highlands Ranch | $2,095,000

Aurora | Price Request

Broomfield | Price Upon Request

This beautifully updated hotel is an ideal home base for Colorado travelers. Located off I-76 and Highway 34, near intersections of Highway 85 leading to Cheyenne and Denver.

Castle Rock | $852,700

Arvada | $700,000

Arvada | $830,000

Littleton | $659,000

Evergreen | $750,000

Highlands Ranch | $600,000

The epitome of what Erie is known for- VIEWS! This Gorgeous Dillon model is situated perfectly on Sunbeam Court with inspiring unobstructed views of mountains, including Longs Peak.

This elegant twostory home offers fivebedrooms, four bathrooms and absolutely incredible views from nearly every room. Dramatic, two-story entry. Gourmet kitchen with island seating.

Timeless two-story, five bedroom, four bath gem in popular Southbridge. Corner lot on a culdesac. About 100 yards from Southbridge community park or the Highline Canal Trail.

This gorgeous ranch home in The Hearth is upgraded throughout & shows pride of ownership.

Beautiful new flooring. Open concept incl. kitchen complete with granite counter tops.

Brie Fowler 303.882.8672

Lori Fontyn 303.359.9937

Bob Aukerman 303.981.8473

Brett Kennedy 303.881.8000

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Denver | $735,000

Parker | $725,000

Longmont | $650,000

Parker | $649,000

The Vialpando Rusch Team 303.916.0942 jeremy.vialpando@coloradohomes.com

Michelle Orlandino 303.908.1871 michelle.orlandino@coloradohomes.com

Tina Ford 303.717.7871 tina.ford@coloradohomes.com

Harrison Baker 720.908.1061 harrison.baker@coloradohomes.com

Evergreen | $640,000

Lone Tree | $600,000

Lafayette | $585,000

Lakewood | $575,000

Kelly Paulk 720.822.2159 kelly@scottpaulkgroup.com

Dana Gucuk 303.881.2627 dana.gucuk@coloradohomes.com

Karen Elmers 303.810.7708 karen.elmers@coloradohomes.com

LaDawn Sperling 303.710.5817 ladawn.sperling@coloradohomes.com

Boulder | $585,000

Westminster | $582,500

Fort Collins | $575,000

Aurora | $559,900

Kylie Rupert 303.842.8205

Angela Atkinson 303.775.3031

The Woodrum Team 970.581.2540 | 970.420.4347

Kathy Knapp 303.550.7122

4br/3ba three story Victorian fix up opportunity in Sunnyside.

4br/3.5ba mountain living at its finest

Beautiful custom home in the scenic Boulder mountains, only steps to Gross Reservoir and a quick ninemile drive to 9th Street. Brand new wood floors throughout the main level.

Beautiful 6br/3.5ba Ranch Style home with an amazing backyard oasis.

Beautifully appointed townhome in a quiet and attractive area.

Spacious Contemporary in East Bradburn.

Come home to this almost new stylish home with fine finishes, high end stainless steel appliances and outdoor spaces for entertaining.

Wonderful mid-century ranch home with charm and character throughout.

Charming home- a light and bright open floor plan in coveted neighborhood!

It’s all in the detail in this gorgeous home boasting two master suites (one on the main) and exquisite upgrades. Step inside to white oak floors, custom frameandpanel wainscot.

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A must see, mountain contemporary fully custom built home in Rowley Downs!

Spacious Lakewood home great for the suburban farmer, rancher or homeowner.

Professionally Landscaped home on quiet corner lot with back patio for grilling, gas fire pit for the cool evenings. Enjoy the soothing sounds from the backyard waterfall.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Timnath | $518,000

Erie | $517,000

Loveland | $499,000

Westminster | $499,000

Elegance awaits you in this stunning home nestled next to open space. The beautiful flow of the home is accented w/gorgeous hickory wood floors, designer touches & gourmet kitchen.

Magnificent four bedroom, three bath home with open floor plan and mountain views. First level boasts cork floors, living room with fireplace, dining room, laundry room and kitchen.

Beautiful, light and bright two story is steps from Boyd Lake . Enjoy the four bedrooms and four baths located in the new High Plains K8 Stem schools. Open floor plan with newer roof.

Picture perfect home at the back of a quiet culdesac with one of the largest lots in the neighborhood in soughtafter Westminster.

Beautiful home with custom cherry cabinetry.

The Woodrum Team 970.581.2540 | 970.420.4347

Terri Furman 720.341.0556

Eric Feenstra 303.931.1127

Ronda Chapleski 303.588.0206

Mead | $485,000

Highlands Ranch | $485,000

Commerce City | $480,000

Berthoud | $449,000

From the charming front porch to the open floor plan and beautiful finishes, this home is stunning.

Completed in 2018 with a main floor study/ bedroom plus three bedrooms and a big loft.

Immaculate home in highly desired Kentley Hills. Large corner lot which is very rare. Spacious floor plan has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a full basement. Formal dining or study.

Space abounds in this more than 4,100 sqft., well maintained and updated home resting on almost onequarter acre lot located in covenant controlled Reunion community.

Beautiful ranch with open floor plan. Natural light with garden level, lot backs up to open space.

Landscaped front and back yard. Beautiful hardwoods in kitchen, dining and great room.

Karen Elmers 303.810.7708

Janet Gilliland 720.810.5080

J. Ray Smith 303.809.3819

Chum Tran 303.931.4012

Evergreen | $460,000

Denver | $445,000

Denver | $445,000

Littleton | $418,000

Escape to the mountains. This condo is better than new. All of the benefits of mountain living without the headache of exterior maintenance.

Nothing to do but enjoy coffee on the deck.

Beautifully maintained row home in heart of Stapleton. This model home’s location cannot be beat, once you visit the property for a tour you will see why it stands out from the rest.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to live in this 1909, Victorian era, brick row home where old world charm meets modern city living. This home features two bedrooms and one bathroom.

This beautiful home is conveniently located near the Highline Canal trail system, in the Southbridge neighborhood. Beautiful large backyard w/the lot measuring over 8,500 sqft.

Karla Pastore 303.525.5198

Brett Kennedy 303.881.8000

Reuben Mckelvey 720.840.7763

Venus Escallier 303.668.0755

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Denver | $559,900

Parker | $465,000

Tasteful 3bd, 4ba paired home with a main floor master bedroom.

Erie | $463,000 Gorgeous 5 Bedroom home in Vista Ridge with finished basement!

Commerce City | $439,900

Donna Bird 303.523.9301 dmbird60@gmail.com

The Rowley Group 720.390.8906 info@therowleygroup.com

Brie Fowler 303.449.5000 Brandon Rearick 303.449.5000

Holly Jorgensen 970.231.4212 holly.jorgensen@coloradohomes.com

Erie | Price Upon Request

Firestone | Price Upon Request

Lakewood | $420,000

Englewood | $400,000

Jen McGuirk 303.949.3331 jen.mcguirk@coloradohomes.com

Sherri Bond 720.422.2524 sherri@sherribond.com

Anna Savier 303.408.7592 anna.savier@coloradohomes.com

Kelly Redpath 303.548.4058 kelly@kellyredpath.com

Arvada | $415,000

Littleton | $415,000

Englewood | $410,000

Longmont | $410,000

Lori Fontyn 303.359.9937

Norma Adair 720.291.3300

Wyeth Jackson 720.299.1390

Ro Troia 303.589.3966

Wonderfully maintained brick ranch-style home in Regis!

Desirable main floor master in Vista Ridge!

Excellent West Arvada location! This 3br home has it all. The main floor features a living room, family room w/plantation shutters & fireplace, great eatin kitchen.

Welcome to your 3br home plus loft, w/a nice porch and patio to relax.

Wonderful and impeccably maintained three story townhome in Littleton Village. 2br w/private baths upstairs, both with granite tops and tile flooring and upgraded kitchen.

4br/3ba gem near the Belmar Shopping Center & the light rail station.

Lovingly cared for and beautifully remodeled home with great potential for rental income.

Everything is done for you. Tastefully finished and light filled basement has separate entrance.

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This gorgeous four bed, four bath home is full of custom, high-end finishes.

This brick home exudes charm! 1,830 sqft. + 2 car garage. Great Location.

This move-in ready home is a show stopper.

Very tasteful upgrades in the kitchen include a farm sink, custom lighting, solid surface counters and stainless steel appliances.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Aurora | $399,900

Longmont | $395,000

Aurora | $385,000

Thornton | $385,000

Four bedrooms and three baths under $400,000 in Cherry Creek School District. Wow. This Santa Barbara model’s living room and dining room feature vaulted ceilings and skylights.

Desirable pool community. Ideal lock n leave living. Fabulous end unit. Tons of natural light. Stacked stone gas fireplace. New sound resistant windows. 2br plus lofted study.

This charming, 4br/4ba home sits on approx.

1/4 acre in the Aurora Highlands. Gleaming hardwoods adorn the entire first floor where there is a remodeled kitchen.

Step into this wonderful light, bright three bedroom, three bath end unit townhome and immediately feel at home. The largest floor plan in the complex is like walking into a new home.

Nancy Jones 720.255.4509

Sandi Storck 970.303.541.2229

Adelia Redalen 303.829.6475

Christy Hepp 303.910.5393

Denver | $380,000

Highlands Rt | $379,900

Rick Starr 720.353.9752

Reuben Mckelvey 720.840.7763

Denver | $385,000

Longmont | $384,000

The Villas at Skymark offer a rare, wonderfully relaxing and convenient lifestyle! Though a townhome, 1441 lives like a single family home.

Complete with outdoor deck off the kitchen.

A great opportunity to buy an updated ranch home in Longmont. The home features a large well-maintained yard, large back deck, beautiful flagstone entry patio and a two-car garage.

Patti Johnson 303.875.3653

Saul Alvidrez 720.579.825

Centennial | $385,000

Thornton | $375,000

Mid-century ranch architecture with basement.

Welcome home to this luxurious townhome Great Harvey Park location, Corian kitchen located in the very heart of Highlands Ranch! counter tops, new paint, Refinished hardwood This spacious home has two bedrooms and two floors, covered patio and sprinkler system. full bathrooms and features many high end finishes.

Denver | $372,000

Frederick | $354,000

Lovely end unit, ranch style townhome, situated on beautiful open space.

3br/2ba townhome w/open floor plan, fireplace and patio. Move-in ready!

1br/1ba condo in Cherry Creek w/balcony overlooking Burns Park.

West facing tri level home with a custom patio, three bedrooms and two baths.

Candace Pellinen 303.941.8789 Sharon Lamb 303.910.1781

Didier Chaumillon 720.233.5957 didier@ColoradoPrestigeGroup.com

Gloria Husney 303.550.6300 gloria.husney@coloradohomes.com

Janie Larson 720.937.2676 janie.larson@coloradohomes.com

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Loveland | $375,000

Aurora | $375,000

Colorado Springs | $369,900

Fort Collins | $369,000

Dawn Mathis 970.481.5263

Osmirelly Kidwell 303.862.0809

Camellia Coray 719.359.0014

Leslie Claus Van Hise 970.556.9303

Aurora | $339,900

Centennial | $339,000

Erie | $330,000

Northglenn | $315,000

Sarah Yang 720.384.5646

Tod Franklin 720.999.5553

Lori Fontyn 303.359.9937

Lori Fontyn 303.359.9937

Evans | $310,000

Aurora | $305,000

Cute ranch w/open floor plan and valuted ceilings. Beautiful wood burning fireplace in living room. Skylights enhance space w/natural light. Large kitchen with room for dining.

Warm and inviting townhouse updated and remodeled in 2016. Located in popular Highlands View community. Open style kitchen with white cabinets, and granite counters. Laminate flooring.

Centennial | $304,000

Loveland | $300,000

Kevin Weimer 970.481.3823

JD Dunlap 720.799.6289

Sissel Eckenhausen 303.758.7611

Edward (Bubba) Cannon 970.218.5818

Live the good life in this sunny two story, 3br/3ba home. Culdesac location. Fresh paint/ fixtures and newer carpeting. Main level with pet/kid friendly flooring.

New homeowners and anyone looking to find a place of their own will find this ranch the perfect home. Feel right at home in this charming ranch with living spaces all on one level.

This spacious ranch in Willowbrook with 5br/3ba and a large yard is ready for you. Finished basement with two bedrooms, one bath and a great room for entertaining.

Beautiful 4br/3ba home in Seven Hills. Open and bright main level with kitchen, dining and family room. Master bedroom, master bath and two additional bedrooms upstairs.

Absolutely immaculate & cared for condo located in University Court. This home shows pride of ownership. Conveniently located mins from park, Meadows Mall and Southglenn.

This beautiful four bath and the four bedroom family home is located on the corner of a quiet culdesac of Fairfax. All bedrooms are upstairs, including Master bedroom with Master bath.

This roomy, three bedroom, two bath town home has it all. Open floor plan with a large kitchen featuring gas stove, builtin microwave, lovely cabinetry and a walk-in pantry.

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Move-in ready home with mountain views. This lovely former builders’ home won’t disappoint with features that include vaulted ceiling and stone fireplace in the living room.

Updated and gorgeous. This three bedroom home has been updated from top to bottom.

Main floor living. No stairs. The gourmet kitchen features slate floor and five burner gas stove.

Amazing 3br/2ba updated ranch with hardwood throughout. Located in a quiet neighborhood.

This large lot has a huge front and back yard that has been very well maintained.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Denver | $349,900

Englewood | $345,000

Greeley | $340,000

Thornton | $335,000

Charming, spotless, tasteful and modern two bedroom, one bath!

Fantastic, newly renovated 2br/2ba home in Old Englewood.

4-level finished 3br/3ba open concept w/mountain views. Upgrades throughout.

3br/3ba townhome, huge great room, private backyard, 2 car garage!

Beth Shields 720.587.9330 beth.shields@coloradohomes.com

Steve Moore 720.253.8352 steve.moore@coloradohomes.com

Janie Larson 720.937.2676 janie.larson@coloradohomes.com

Team Fontyn 303.359.9937 Lori.Fontyn@gmail.com

Northglenn | $330,000

Wheat Ridge | $325,000

Broomfield | $325,000

Denver | $320,000

3br/2ba updated ranch-style home close to the new light rail station.

3br/1ba brick ranch w/updated kitchen and large flat backyard w/garden boxes

Townhome living, steps away from breathtaking views of the Front Range.

3br/2ba remodeled home w/stainless steel appliances and large yard.

Cathy Schuster 303.410.6729 Cathy.Schuster@coloradohomes.com

Dana Allen 303.944.7085 dana@danaallen.net

Brian Mygatt 303.910.1205 Brian@BrianMygatt.com

Christy Hepp 303.910.5393 christy.hepp@coloradohomes.com

Erie | $285,000

Aurora | $267,500

Idaho Springs | $250,000

Littleton | $240,000

Top floor condo w/2 balconies, new carpet, fresh paint and in-unit laundry.

Mill Run End Unit Town Home w/ 2-car garage.

1br/1ba Colorado get-away home.

2br/2ba third floor condo.

Deidra Laurel 720.840.2212 deidra.laurel@coloradohomes.com

Laura Noe 720.339.9392 laura.noe@coloradohomes.com

Linda Pinkul 303.956.4068 Linda.Pinkul@ColoradoHomes.com

Sandra Wieber 303.902.6637 sandra.wieber@coloradohomes.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Aurora | $300,000

Thornton | $299,900

Arvada | $290,000

Fountain | $279,900

Janie Stoddard 303.408.0738

Lisa Dwyer 303.483.8540

Kelly Paulk 720.822.2159

Jennifer Montoya 719.232.3397

Englewood | $275,000

Denver | $269,900

Northglenn | $260,000

Aurora | $239,500

Michael Fuhrmann 303.709.5570

Jean Marie Thompson 720.318.8683

Kelly Redpath 970.303.548.4058

Ken Gaffga 303.990.7779

Aurora | $235,000

Aurora | $225,000

Denver | $155,000

Fort Collins | $125,000

Reuben Mckelvey 720.840.7763

Kim Enomoto 303.517.7224

Brian Anzur 303.779.9501

Mike Greeley 970.215.3002

Darling, move in ready town home close to light rail and I225. This lightfilled home boasts new paint, new laminate flooring and new carpet throughout. Open living and dining rooms.

Desirable Windmill Creek main floor condo.

Two large patios attached off of both bedrooms.

Master bedroom with spacious walk-in closet and huge ensuite.fourpiecebath with walkin tub.

Take advantage of this great opportunity to live in this recently remodeled, move-in ready, first floor condominium in the ever popular Heather Gardens community. Come see it now.

Captivating, well maintained town home in the highly coveted Sage Creek community Charming kitchen with black appliances, and a brand new stainless steel fridge. Open flowing layout.

Terrific potential with this midcentury modern, all brick ranch. Covered south facing patio with side entrance. Bright living area with large front bay window and sliding glass door.

Lovely 2br, first floor unit, near Meadow Hills golf course. Good size bedrooms, full bath with updated tile. Kitchen has been updated with granite counters and tile backsplash.

This beautifully updated townhome could be yours. New flooring throughout the main level.

The kitchen has been updated with a new back splash, granite, and a gorgeous copper sink.

Spacious 3br/2.5ba townhome. Newer Central air and furnace replaced August 2018. Open kitchen with separate eating space. Large master bedroom.

Why rent when you can own? Cozy condo with one bedroom and one nicely remodeled bathroom. Enjoy your own private balcony off the bright and open living room. Great location.

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This home is bright and airy and features living room with soaring vaulted ceilings, corner gas fireplace and views of the mature trees and open space behind the house. Dining room.

Office business condo in great condition. Unit features reception area, Four private offices, General office space, bathroom, kitchenette and storage. Current tenant is hospice care.

Enjoy an active adult lifestyle at Sunflower 55Plus gated community in Fort Collins. The Sunflower community offers a wide range of activities for its owners including a clubhouse.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Colorado Springs | $240,000

Aurora | $240,000

Aurora | $225,000

Black Hawk | $472,800

Come and see this home on nearly a ¼ acre with room for RV parking!

2br/2ba penthouse w/spacious rooms, access to garage from unit and balcony.

2br/1ba condo w/wood flooring, patio, washer/ dryer and access to pool

Charming mountain cabin in the 40s, this property has grown to a spacious 2-story home.

Angela M. Smith 710.210.8878 Angela@AngelaSmithRealty.com

Mike Kressin 303.524.4705 michael.kressin@coloradohomes.com

Ken Gaffga 303.990.7779 ken.gaffga@coloradohomes.com

Terry Robinson 303.816.7500 Mike Fuentes 303.816.7500 terence.robinson@coloradohomes.com

Parker | Price Request

Thornton | Price Request

Parker | Price Request

Highlands Ranch | Price Request

Stonegate South. Beautiful 4br home with full finished basement. Master with expansive walkin closet and private bath. Two additional bedrooms on the second floor with bath.

Desirable end unit property in Welby Hills. You don’t want to miss it. Beautiful new flooring throughout entire unit. Kitchen is well maintained with all stainless steel appliances.

Welcome home. Walk into this beautiful 4br/3ba, two-story home with a three-car garage that backs up to open space with gorgeous mountain views in Stroh Ranch.

Located in Gleneagles Village on a quiet cul-de-sac. Backs to a greenbelt. This great floor plan features a creative hardwood entry and a living room with two sided gas fireplace.

Rae Marie Heard 720.234.7918

Kathleen Yarberry 303.913.4246

Leah Gustafson 720.666.4654

Linda Mallette 303.881.8005

Frederick | Price Request

Thornton | Price Request

Highlands Ranch | Price Request

Colorado Springs | Price Request

Welcome home to this stunning, open floor plan ranch in the Countryside neighborhood in Frederick. If you’re looking for turn key, look no further; with a large and inviting great room.

Fantastic two-story home in Hunters Glen.

Gorgeous wide plank floors throughout. Open kitchen features eating space, beautiful granite counters, island and easy access to back yard.

Awesome Townhome in heart of Highlands Ranch. Rare home has two master bedrooms, each bedroom has its own full bath. Open & airy floor plan. Beautiful wood floors. Main floor bath.

Welcome to the quiet escape of the illustrious Vista Grande Estates. Mountain views and classic designs are the hallmark of this neighborhood. 4br/3ba home.

Nicole Wolf 303.898.5816

Sean and Janet Willcox 303.903.5255

Sean and Janet Willcox 303.903.5255

Tim Hannan 719.659.3817

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52 80

BackStory SUSPECT PSEUDONYMS

Crime is no laughing matter—unless we’re talking about the sobriquets bandits earn as a result of their transgressions. And if the silly monikers crackling across police radios are any indication, Coloradans have a particularly good sense of humor. Take a break from the anxiety-inducing news cycle and enjoy the stories behind three amusing nicknames (and our artful interpretations of the crimes). —MARY MURPHY

THE MAD POOPER

THE POM POM BANDIT

February 2012

September 2017

February 2019

University of Colorado Denver

Colorado Springs

Arvada and Lakewood

Peter Lucas Smith, a University of Colorado Denver student and Colorado Senate intern, threw a glitter bomb at then presidential candidate Mitt Romney after the 2012 Colorado caucuses.

Smith missed his target, instead blanketing a floor at the CU Denver campus with blue sparkles. Still, he was fired from his internship and later pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace.

These days, he’s recovering from his failed 2018 Colorado state Senate campaign to represent District 32. The independent earned 4.7 percent of the vote.

This sneaker-clad criminal first struck in a suburban family’s yard, where horrified children caught the runner in the act.

Then she hit the same neighborhood again. And again.

Despite several witnesses, the catchy nickname popularized

by Colorado Springs residents, and a 2017 tweet from Charmin offering a reward (“If the #MadPooper turns herself in, we’ll give her a year’s supply of TP to help with her ‘runs’ ”), the offender continued her illegal dumps for weeks and, to this day, has escaped apprehension.

We were hoping Brandon Wayne York’s nickname meant he committed his crimes in a cheerleading uniform. Alas, it references his headwear: The FBI bestowed the epithet on York after the thief donned a winter beanie during three bank heists, one in Arvada and two more in Lakewood, during which he passed a note demanding money and ran away on foot.

York, along with his alleged accomplice, Richard Perdue, was finally caught in late February right after robbing another Lakewood bank.

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| 5280 | JULY 20 19

Illustrations by Curt Merlo

THE GLITTER BOMBER

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BARTENDER: COLIN OVERETT; DENVER, CO COCKTAIL: COMO LA FLOR

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