Colorado Expression magazine - October-November 2019

T H E

B E S T

Women Playing Big

O F

C O L O R A D O

L I V I N G

Holiday Gift Guide

O COLORAD expression HOLIDAY

STYLE & TRENDS OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 FOUR DOLLARS

CONTENTS

In this Issue

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38

90

Out & About 6

Features 42

Holiday Gift Guide 64

Shot in the Dark

Influential Colorado Women

Holiday Gifts

See who’s been out and about attending local galas and fundraisers.

20 Social Calendar

By Colleen Smith

Four exceptional women you should know.

Check out the great causes to support at these upcoming nonprofit events.

Sip & Savor 38

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By Kim D. McHugh

By Elizabeth Jones

Avelina

By Marge D. Hansen & Elizabeth Jones

Our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide inspires, excites and showcases curated presents for everyone on your gift list.

90 Holiday Home Parties & Decor

By Lindsay Mitchell

LoDo’s “little bird” offers elevated yet unpretentious dining.

Earthy elements, traditional patterns, cool colors and experiential gatherings are trending.

Read about Colorado Ballet’s 2019-2020 season, local holiday toy drives, Duke Beardsley’s one-man art show, a food bank for pets, and more.

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Bits & Pieces

By Joy Lawrance

Hot Tickets

Beckon

The Good in Giving

By Katie Coakley

By Joanne Davidson

This exclusive nine-course eating experience fills up fast for good reason.

For both the recipient and the donor, charitable giving is rewarding.

COLORADO EXPRESSION (ISSN # 1070-5066) is published bi-monthly by New West Publishing Inc., 3600 S. Beeler St., Ste. 100, Denver, Colorado 80237, Elizabeth Hamilton, owner, 303-694-1289; fax: 303-694-6939; e-mail: info@coloradoexpression.com; website: coloradoexpression.com.

Annual one-year subscription rate is $22.00, cover price is $4.00. Periodicals postage is paid at Denver, Colorado and additional entries.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Expression, c/o New West Publishing, 3600 S. Beeler St., Ste. 100, Denver, Colorado 80237.

Facebook

By Elizabeth Jones

These events will keep you busy and entertained this fall and beyond.

Cover

Photography: Brett Warren A model wears an oversized sweatshirt with custom hand beading done in Europe by designer Cavanagh Baker, whose collection will be featured at the Nov. 15 Service with Style luncheon and fashion show to benefit Volunteers of America Colorado.

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Copyright© 2019, New West Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

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CONTENTS

In this Issue 54 Great Escapes

By Elizabeth Kosar

Wild Terrains specializes in small group cultural travel for women to Mexico City and Portugal while also supporting female entrepreneurs.

58 Enterprise

By Danielle Yuthas

A decade after Erin Gibbs founded Vein & Vascular Medical Care and opened for business, it has grown to a network of seven vein clinics throughout Colorado.

60 Finishing Touch

By Joanne Davidson 50

Departments 24

62 Body & Soul

Public Persona

By Lisa Perry

By Scott S. Evans

With her business partner and fellow musicians, singer Dana Wield creates musical experiences for live events.

26 Nonprofit Profile

University Park is the site for the annual L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour to benefit the Central City Opera Guild.

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Tiffany Rose Goodyear “The Sentologist,” creates sensory experiences for all our senses in homes, public venues and special events.

By Joanne Davidson

Jewish Family Service provides help to all, regardless of faith, age, ethnic or economic background through the organization’s 30 programs.

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Facebook

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Fashion

Twitter

By Suzanne S. Brown

Nashville-based designer Cavanagh Baker uses fine fabrics and classic tailoring to craft her fashion line.

twitter.com/coloexpression

Instagram

instagram.com/coloradoexpression

Pinterest

50

pinterest.com/coloexpression

Colorado Weekends

By Lisa Perry

Vail’s iconic Sonnenalp Hotel celebrates 40 years with “Gemütlichkeit,” warmth and good cheer.

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

54

From the Publisher

COLORADO expression OWNER/PUBLISHER

Elizabeth Hamilton

The Best Gift of All It’s the time of year to embrace the season of giving that lasts the whole year through

MANAGING EDITOR

Elizabeth Jones CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Suzanne S. Brown OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Lisa Buscietta DESIGN/PRODUCTION

I

can’t think of an issue that I get more excited about than our October/ November magazine. Not only does it include our Holiday Gift Guide

and a round-up of notable nonprofit organizations, it also features prominent

Connie Robertson Andrea Späth

women. The four incredible women profiled

PHOTOGRAPHY

only in business but philanthropy as well.

Pamela Cress Lisa Perry Caitlin Roth Jensen Sutta Brett Warren

A women’s issue would not be complete

are among Colorado’s finest influencers, not

without a fashion feature and we’re the first to introduce you to the amazing young designer Cavanagh Baker, who will be showing her collection at the Service with

DIGITAL/SOCIAL MEDIA

Misti Mills

Style luncheon benefiting Volunteers of America Colorado on Nov. 15. Mariel boutique promises a show filled with couture

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Katie Coakley Joanne Davidson Scott S. Evans Joy Lawrance Marge D. Hansen Elizabeth Kosar Kim D. McHugh Lindsay Mitchell Lisa Perry Colleen Smith Danielle Yuthas CONTRIBUTORS

Michael Moore Mary Rogers

for every occasion. Speaking of occasions, we feature veteran event planner John Tobey celebrating his 20th year in the business. He shares some fabulous ideas for holiday decor and entertaining. I’m inspired for seasonal decorating and table settings each year during the L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour. This year’s tour highlights homes in the Denver’s University Park neighborhood. Be sure to peruse our Holiday Gift Guide to get gift ideas for everyone on your list. Also featured are numerous nonprofit organizations that are so worthy of your donations on Colorado Gives Day. Mark your calendar for Dec. 10 and give generously to these causes that give so much back to our community.

Personally, the holiday season will be special this year as I will celebrate them with my husband, Dr. Kelly Tisher. I had the honor of marrying my best friend on Sept.

7 and we look forward to many holiday celebrations together through the years.

Elizabeth Hamilton President and publisher, New West Publishing

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FIND THE VERY BEST OF COLORADO Stay in the know so you can plan your next outing with our monthly newsletter. Sign up at coloradoexpression.com. And for the latest happenings around our state, follow us on Facebook (@ColoradoExpression), Instagram (@coloradoexpression) and Twitter (@ColoExpression).

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 COLORADO EXPRESSION 5

SHOT IN THE DARK

All for a Good Cause Lulu’s BBQ Held at the Harmony Equine Center, Lulu’s BBQ benefits the Dumb Friends League.

Photography by Pamela Cress

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1 Apryl Steele, CEO Dumb Friends League; Garret Leonard, director Harmony Equine Center 2 Taryn Hillman, Nora Kallman, Sam Grogan, all from Harmony Equine Center 3 Melissa Severa, Sharon Foley, adoptable dog Max 4 Keith and Margaux Trammell, Eric and Sarah Hilty 5 Larry Rich, Marsha Sager, Juli and Richard Gordon 6 Lisa and Fred Bartlit III, Jana Bartlit, host; adoptable dog Jethro 7 Vel Garner, Carolyn Hayes, Trish Bradley, Cher Revolinski 8 Cory and Marcus Tipton, adoptable dog Austin 9 Hailee Shae, Ed Scott, Beth Busick 10 Chris and April Walters 11 Anna Neubauer, Bud Jeffress, Brenda Kice-Jeffress

More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 6

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SHOT IN THE DARK

Belinda Carlisle Benefit Concert The Belinda Carlisle Benefit Concert, held at the Seawell Ballroom, was a benefit for the CeDAR Center.

Photography by Lisa Perry

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1 Cris Dornbusch, Richard and Laura Matz 2 Tim Billings, Jill and Nick Rennert 3 Leslie Oliver, Emily Hobbs 4 Julie Bearup, Jane Harms, Debbie Fernandez 5 Mike Lind, Laura Driscoll 6 Stephanie and Mike Kelley, Lori and Rick Ehrman 7 Chris Comer, John Bourne, marketing and public relations coordinator CeDAR 8 Lou Trebino, Manny Fernandez, Lars Ruggles, Rick Ehrman 9 Linda and Wes Brown, presenting sponsors 10 Susan Dearing-Bond, senior director CeDAR; Xavier Erran, Katelyn Peterson 11 Cathy Stack, Steve Harmon, Brooke Jones 12 Cheryl Martin, Rose Bartlett

More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 8

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SHOT IN THE DARK

Old Hollywood Gala The Old Hollywood Gala was held at the Seawell Ballroom to benefit the Shining Stars Foundation.

Photography by Pamela Cress

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1 Dwight Hazelton, Stacie Arnold, Will and Arnold, honorees 2 Peter Fatianow, Delinda Fatianow, co-chair 3 Patty Moore, Kathy Gingery, founder/CEO Shining Stars Foundation; Kevin Moore 4 Jourdan Baldwin, Kit Bargmann 5 Jennifer and Bill Kritzik 6 Michael Ditchfield, co-chair; Tricia Starcevich 7 LeAnne Millicken, Dash Fitz

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Dwell Colorado 303.918.9005 | DwellColorado.com

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Darrell Hamilton 720.353.3535 | AtHomeOnThePark.com

The Greens at Pinehurst $899,000

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Kentwood.com All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) nor Kentwood Real Estate shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless.

SHOT IN THE DARK

Urban Nights Held at the Exdo Events Center, Urban Nights Ignite the Night—Runway for a Reason benefited Urban Peak.

Photography by Pamela Cress

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1 Brad O’Neil, Dana Davis, Angela Lieurance 2 Tamra Ward, Dustin Whistler 3 Amber McReynolds, Stephanie Donner, Kasia Iwaniczko-MacLeod, event chair; David MacLeod, event chair 4 Adrienne Pederson, Kendall Rames, Katherine Lawson 5 Kristin Bronson, Austin Montoya, Christopher Williams, Jeremy Bronson 6 Holly Gunn, Hamid Taha, Christina Carlson, CEO Urban Peak 7 Rick Door, Vince and Jill Bommarito, Tami Door, honoree 8 Jordan Curry, Masha Myslovskaya, Britt Moreno 9 PJ and Courtney Downey, Christy and Jonathan Powell 10 Paula September, Linda Zinsmaster, Michele Bailey, Tamra Schmitt 11 Steve and Melissa New, Brianna and Anthony Borin

More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 14

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

SHOT IN THE DARK

Brent’s Place Block Party The Block Party for Brent’s Place was held at the Anschutz Medical Campus Parade Grounds to benefit Brent’s Place.

Photography by Caitlin Roth

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1 Donn and Linda Eley, founders Brent’s Place 2 Chris Brennan, Sean Meyerhoffer, CEO Brent’s Place 3 Donn Eley, Andi Freyer, Caryn Ellison 4 Izaac and Lisa Kinnison 5 Caitlin McPherson, Lauren Ellison 6 Tom Smith, John Freyer, Sophie Freyer, Tom Whyte, board chair

Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature

OCT 21, 2019–FEB 2, 2020

IMAGE: Claude Monet, Waterlilies and Japanese Bridge (detail), 1899. Oil on canvas; 35 5⁄8 x 35 5⁄16 in. Princeton University Art Museum: From the Collection of William Church Osborn, Class of 1883, trustee of Princeton University (1914-1951), president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (19411947); given by his family, y1972-15. Photo Credit: Princeton University Art Museum/Art Resource, NY Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature is co-organized by the Denver Art Museum and the Museum Barberini, Potsdam.

It is presented with generous support from PNC Bank. Additional funding is provided by Barbara Bridges, Keith and Kathie Finger, Lauren and Geoff Smart, the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the citizens who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine, CBS4, Comcast Spotlight, and The Denver Post.

PRESENTED BY

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

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SHOT IN THE DARK

Perry & Co. Realtors Summer Party The Perry & Co. Realtors Summer Party was held at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Photography by Pamela Cress

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1 Ruby Larrance, Jon Larrance, CEO Perry & Co. Realtors; Beth Larrance, Stella Larrance 2 Rick Bender, Chris Gates and son Brexley, Helga Gates, Tammy Bender 3 Kristy Frechette, Ernie Graham 4 Rob and Sue Renner 5 Ashley Ewing, Pam Parker, Kyle Ewing 6 Don Larrance, founder Perry & Co. Realtors; Gayle Larrance, Jon Larrance 7 Chuck Anderson, Sharon and Wendell Johnson, Clare Johnson 8 Christine and Bob Trigg 9 Lynn Gregory, Gayle Larrance 10 Jim and Suzy Dorr 11 Amy Shonstrom, Kelly and David Ferraro

More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 16

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SHOT IN THE DARK

Concours d’Elegance Held at the Centennial Airport, Concours d’Elegance benefited The Morgan Adams Foundation.

Photography by Caitlin Roth

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1 Chloe Riedemann, Perry Taylor 2 Katerina Deason, Richard Rawlings 3 Kerri and Kelly Paseka 4 Ross Watzman, Samantha Thompson 5 John Dudasch, president The Morgan Adams Foundation; Vicki Dudasch, Neana and Todd Lueck 6 Jamie Klenin, Anna Carswell

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SOCIAL CALENDAR

Colorado’s Social Scene

By Elizabeth Jones

October 2

The annual Judi’s House Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center benefits Judi’s House.

720-941-0331 • judishouse.org

Libations for Literacy, A Mile High Holiday Mart Preview Party at The Studios at Overland Crossing benefits the literacy programs of the Junior League of Denver.

303-692-0270 • jld.org 3

Spotlight on YouthBiz at the Seawell Ballroom highlights the important work of the Young Americans Center for Financial Education.

303-321-2265 • yacenter.org 4

The 24th annual Denver Press Club 2019 Hall of Fame banquet at the Denver Athletic Club will celebrate inductees: Sam Adams, Tina Griego, Mike Landess, Bob Martin and John Sunderland.

303-571-5260 • denverpressclub.org 5

Join Children’s Hospital Colorado for the 42nd annual Children’s Gala at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center.

720-777-1700 • childrenscoloradofoundation.org 5

The 2019 Red Wagon Ball at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center will benefit Advocates for Children CASA. 303-695-1882 • adv4children.org

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The Hope Gala 2019 at The RitzCarlton, Denver, supports survivors of domestic violence through SafeHouse Denver.

303-302-6116 • safehouse-denver.org 12

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Go Red for Women at this annual luncheon in support of the American Heart Association to be held at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center.

303-801-4630 • goredforwomen.org 10-13

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Feast on Reel Food includes films, tastings, speakers and events at different locations throughout Boulder to benefit Flatirons Food Film Festival. flatironsfoodfilmfest.org 11

High Rollers for Health & Hope, held at the EXDO Event Center, is the signature fundraising event for Project C.U.R.E. 303-792-0729 • projectcure.org 11

The Woman’s Foundation of Colorado Annual Luncheon will be held at the Colorado Convention Center to benefit the foundation.

303-285-2960 • wfco.org 12

The Colorado Governor’s Leadership Celebration, held at the History Colorado Center, will honor the recipients of this year’s Citizenship Medals.

303-569-4850 • livecivico.org 12

The eighth annual Diamonds in the Ruff gala at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center benefits the mission of Freedom Service Dogs.

303-922-6231 • freedomservicedogs.org

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

This year’s Western Fantasy—Women of the West, with entertainment by Lauren Alaina, at the National Western Complex Events Center will benefit Volunteers of America Colorado.

303-297-0408 • voacolorado.org 13

Walk to Defeat ALS will be held at Sloan’s Lake Park. Join the movement and help raise local funds for people living with ALS, and their families.

303-832-2322 • alsa.org 17

The sixth annual Teal Gala at the DoubleTree by Hilton will benefit the programs of the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance.

303-506-7014 • colo-ovariancancer.org 18

At The 2019 Block Party, come build bikes while enjoying dinner and libations at Audi Denver in support of A Wish for Wheels.

303-883-3101 • wishforwheels.org 18

The Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature Opening Gala will be held at and benefit the Denver Art Museum.

720-865-5000 • denverartmuseum.org 18

The fourth annual Road to Reading fundraiser will be held at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science to benefit Reading Partners Colorado.

720-409-9909 • readingpartners.org

AN EVENT TO BENEFIT CENTRAL CITY OPERA

PRESENTED BY CENTRAL CITY OPERA GUILD

Tour five magnificent homes in the University Park neighborhood

November 22 & 23, 2019 Friday & Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm

Tour Tickets: $25 at the door and at all King Soopers stores. $23 tickets and more information available online at CentralCityOpera.org/lesprit.

Sponsors Colorado Expression | The Denver Post | The Villager

SOCIAL CALENDAR

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Wags & Whiskers Soirée at the DaVita World Headquarters benefits PawsCo, an animal welfare organization.

720-307-5000 • pawsco.org 19

The Carousel Ball, held at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center, benefits the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.

303-863-1200 • childrensdiabetesfoundation.org 24

Save the date for the annual Luminocity Gala to benefit the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver.

303-298-7554 • mcadenver.org 26

Held at the Seawell Ballroom, the 32nd Adoption Exchange Annual Gala will feature entertainment by the Wash Park Band.

303-755-4756 • adoptex.org 26

The Masquerade for Hope tasting and auction held at Archetype Distillery is the signature gala for the Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation.

720-238-5401 • rayofhopecolorado.org 30

Join Girl Scouts of Colorado to celebrate women in leadership at the Women of Distinction Thin Mint Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center.

303-778-8774 • girlscoutsofcolorado.org

November 1

The Ninth Annual CU Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center’s Luncheon will be held at the Seawell Ballroom.

303-724-3300 • coloradodepressioncenter.org

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The 42nd Annual Denver Dinner is a whimsical night at the Seawell Ballroom in support of the Tennyson Center for Children.

303-433-2541 • tennysoncenter.org 2

Held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show benefits the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.

303-321-6277 • globaldownsyndrome.org 2

The Chili, Booze, and Brews competition (formerly known as Zach’s Chili Challenge) at The Cable Center raises funds for children and young adults with cancer.

303-758-2130 • morganadamsfoundation.org 2

Reel Hope Boulder held at the Boulder JCC welcomes director Duncan Tucker, creator of the film Transamerica. Proceeds benefit Boulder Jewish Family Service.

303-597-5000 • jewishfamilyservice.org 6

The ADL Torch of Liberty Dinner will be held at the Seawell Ballroom to benefit the Mountain States Anti-Defamation League. denver.adl.org 7

Rev the Runway Fashion Show at Mercedes-Benz of Denver will feature fashion from Neiman Marcus to benefit National Jewish Health.

877-225-5654 • nationaljewish.org

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Collectors’ Choice 39, Denver Art Museum’s annual black-tie gala, will honor Jana and Fred Bartlit at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center.

720-913-0069 • denverartmuseum.org 21

Join the Women With A Cause Foundation for its annual We Are Thankful Fundraiser at the Four Seasons Hotel Denver.

303-675-0405 • womenwithacausefoundation.org 22-23

Five homes in University Park will be decorated for the holidays by local florists and designers for the 43rd L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour to benefit the Central City Opera Guild. centralcityopera.org

December 5

The Faces of JFS 2019 Winter Soirée at Infinity Park Event Center will honor Aaron Hyatt and Scott Stillman.

Proceeds benefit Jewish Family Service.

303-597-5000 • jewishfamilyservice.org 7

1940s White Christmas Ball at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center raises funds for The Colorado 10th Mountain Division Foundation, The Commemorative Air Force, Rocky Mountain Honor Flight, The Audie Murphy Infantry Museum and The Young Aviators 43.

720-924-1945 • 1940sball.org

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The annual Service with Style luncheon and fashion show at the Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek, will benefit Volunteers of America Colorado. voacolorado.org

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Social Calendar covers formal fundraising events for nonprofit organizations throughout Colorado. If you wish to have an event listed, please contact Colorado Expression at 303-694-1289, or email info@coloradoexpression.com.

PUBLIC PERSONA

D

DANA WIELD, ALONG WITH HER business partner Alan Currens, created Mannequin the Band to provide a high-end live music experience for events. Wield, a singer and booking manager, brings her effusive and bubbly energy from the musical theater districts in New York City.

Currens who also sings, plays many instruments and oversees production, cut his musical chops as a rock ‘n’ roll drummer for 35 years. Together, the symbiosis is evident. Mannequin the Band has the production value and vibe of a well-honed rock band and the vocals, professionalism and precision of a Broadway musical. By all accounts, if your event needs great live music, and you need to strap on your blue suede shoes and dance, check out Wield and Currens and Mannequin the Band.

Dana Wield

How do people describe you?

Determined and bubbly. Always ready for a party and to connect with others. I’m also a bit of a perfectionist … continuously observing and wondering how to make things better. A perfectionist in sequins … watch out!

Who do you most admire?

Any female business owner who had a vision and a passion and created something successful in a male-dominated industry. I’m constantly learning from female entrepreneurs who are juggling motherhood as well.

What was the last great book you read?

Secrets of Six-Figure Women: Surprising Strategies to Up Your Earnings and Change Your Life

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Photo: Gillespie Photography

What surprises people about you?

The number of hats I wear. Singer, booking manager and marketing for Mannequin the Band; co-owner of the Denver Music Institute; wife and young mother.

WITH HER BUSINESS PARTNER AND FELLOW MUSICIANS, SINGER CREATES MUSICAL EXPERIENCES FOR LIVE EVENTS

By Scott S. Evans

Name: Dana Wield Age: 33 Marital status: Married to Jonathan (seven years) Children: Elle (4 years old) Career: Professional singer and booking manager, Mannequin the Band Hometown: Dallas, Texas Where do you call home today? Englewood Website: mannequintheband.com

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

GET TO KNOW COLORADO’S TOP PERSONALITIES

by Barbara Stanny. It’s an amazing book for women business owners who want to take their business to the next level. In the male-dominated industry that I am in, it has helped empower me as a business owner and singer.

What is your biggest fashion faux pas?

Sequins. I’d like to say I wear them only on stage, but I wear them all the time.

What is one thing that you absolutely can’t live without?

My husband and my daughter. That and the ability to let go and dance and have a good time.

What was your last major purchase?

Alan and I bought the Denver Music Institute a few years back. It was Mannequin’s first big purchase and it created an opportunity for us to have an amazing rehearsal space as well as employ our musicians as teachers.

What gadget can you not live without?

The weather and altitude application on the iPhone.

What are your hobbies?

We love to travel. Last year we went to Thailand. I also do Pilates twice a week, enjoy reading and watching live music.

What is your most memorable Colorado experience?

After having my daughter, looking out at the mountains, I was so thankful that this view and lifestyle would be my daughter’s “normal.”

What one word describes Coloradans to you?

Pioneers.

What is your favorite spot in Colorado to visit?

Steamboat Springs.

Are you involved with any charities?

My husband was a part of starting Emergent, which in part creates an opportunity for businesses to give 20 percent of their profit to their chosen charities. Mannequin the Band gave 20 percent of their profits last year to Youth on Record (youthonrecord.org). We also give free performance for some charity events.

What took you down this career path?

I spent a huge part of my life training for particular roles and auditioning for musical theater. I loved it, but didn’t see it as a career. I took a break from musical theater, and started thinking of performing lots of roles live on stage. I met Alan, who was a drummer for 35 years, he had the same vision for a live event band, and he brought the rocker’s perspective.

Was there a particular type of music you grew up with?

I grew up listening to a lot of classic rock (Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt) and a lot of musical theater and American standards. With Mannequin, I get to carry on singing that wide variety of music. At any given show, I’ll sing anything from James Brown to Beyoncé.

Who are your influences?

Whitney Houston, Linda Ronstadt, Ellie Goulding.

You spent some time in musical theater in New York. How has that influenced what you do with Mannequin the Band?

In two ways. As a performer I can become the artist whose song I’m singing and adding their choreography.

Second, the discipline, professionalism and commitment required in musical theater really helps build the feeling of family because of all the hard work required.

Did you have a favorite role in theater?

I loved playing Charity in Sweet Charity.

Is there a particular moment in music that moved you?

Every night we perform, the person throwing the party who may have been planning this night for a year, often looks at us during the last song of the night and we know that they have just had one of the best nights of their lives.

What was the hardest moment you experienced with the band?

The hardest time for me was when I had a newborn on the road with me. I had help … however, my daughter wouldn’t take a bottle, so nursing took some creativity.

What sets Mannequin the Band apart from other wedding and event bands?

We are a set band. We don’t have a roster system where we employ different musicians on different nights.

That means that on stage we always have an authentic connection with each other and the audience. We can also create more of a show, more of a concert, rather than just going from one song to the next. You develop trust and chemistry with your bandmates that other bands don’t have.

What is your favorite song to sing or play. Why? “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”

by Whitney Houston. I love this song because it is nostalgic and never gets old! It packs the dance floor every time. So does “Africa”

by Toto, which Alan leads.

Scott S. Evans is graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia School of Law and is a father of two, a business litigation attorney, writer and high school lacrosse coach living in Centennial. Scott’s blues-based album “Let’s Talk About Me” spent less than a week in the top ten.

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NONPROFIT PROFILE

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THE YEAR: 1872. THREE HUNDRED Jews had made their way to the dusty frontier town of Denver from countries like Germany, Lithuania and Ukraine, hopeful that the clean, dry air and sunshine would help cure their tuberculosis—or that the freedom that had eluded them in their homelands would bring a brighter future.

Arriving with little more than the clothing on their backs, these immigrants lived in squalid conditions along the banks of the South Platte River and West Colfax Avenue— something that left Frances Wisebart

Jewish Family Service

The Details Jewish Family Service A nonsectarian, nonprofit human services agency, JFS is dedicated to helping people overcome life’s challenges and live more fulfilled lives. JFS served 24,000 clients from the Denver and Boulder areas in 2018 and projects that number will increase by 1,000 in 2019.

3201 S. Tamarac Dr. Denver, CO 80231 303-597-5000 jewishfamilyservice.org

Upcoming Events Reel Hope/Boulder: a Nov. 2 panel discussion with writer/director Duncan Tucker and screening of his Oscar-nominated film, “Transamerica,” starring Felicity Huffman.

FACES of JFS: This Dec. 5 “winter soiree” honors attorney Aaron Hyatt and Scott Stillman, president and managing partner of MassMutual Colorado. Both serve on the JFS board.

JFS Executive Luncheon: Golf legend Jack Nicklaus is the speaker for this April 29, 2020 fundraiser being held at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center.

Lunchbox Express served 20,862 free lunches in 2018

ORGANIZATION’S 30 PROGRAMS HELP PEOPLE FIND JOBS, AGE IN PLACE, RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND GET FOOD AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

By Joanne Davidson

For tickets and further information, visit jewishfamilyservice.org

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

THE ACTIVITIES AND BENEFICIARIES OF LOCAL NONPROFITS

JFS’ Senior Solutions team provides support for older adults

Photo: Robin Subar

Jacobs appalled. So much so that Jacobs, who eventually came to be known as the nation’s “Mother of Charities” for her work in starting United Way, National Jewish Health and other human-service nonprofits, joined with several others to form the Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society, a group that would deliver soup, coal, clothing, soap and medical care to the grateful settlers.

Today, the society is called Jewish Family Service and its 140 employees and 1,211 volunteers continue the work of its founders by coming to the aid of some 24,000 clients annually through 30 programs that range from helping seniors to age in place to offering job training and placement for people with “significant barriers” to employment. Other programs include giving food and financial assistance to those in crisis and providing mental health counseling to those unable to access it otherwise.

This help is available to all, regardless of faith, age, ethnic or economic background.

“We serve people who can afford to pay so we can serve those who can’t,” says president and chief executive officer Linda Foster. “And, we probably serve more non-Jewish people than we do those who are Jewish.”

Foster says special credit is due to the JFS volunteers, such as the 472 adults and teens who give time at the Weinberg Food Pantry, distributing 622,000 pounds of food in 2018, and the 285 Lunchbox Express volunteers who served 20,862 free lunches and distributed 17,316 books last summer to children in low-income neighborhoods. Twenty-one skilled volunteers gave 2,560 hours of legal, mental health and accounting services in 2018, and 33 volunteer para-chaplains led 354 holiday and Shabbat services for 1,039 older adults.

Foster joined JFS on Nov. 28, 2018— three months after she and her husband, Bill, “made the bold decision” to leave Chicago, where she had been

JFS president/CEO Linda P. Foster

executive director and then head of school at the Solomon Schechter Day School, to settle in Steamboat Springs, where they had maintained a vacation home for 21 years.

They’ve since relocated to Denver.

“Linda is both an accomplished leader and relationship builder with a longstanding and deep devotion to the values that we at JFS hold dear,” says Laura Michaels, a member of the JFS board and chair of the search committee that gave Foster unanimous approval. “We believe she is just the right person at the right time to move JFS forward.”

Foster majored in history and religion, with a minor in biology, at

Wellesley College in Massachusetts, and was president of a privately-held real estate finance company before opening her own residential property development firm, both in Illinois.

“Originally I was going to be a doctor, like my father,” Foster recalls, “but once our son, Jeremy, who is now 37, was born I changed direction.” The Fosters are also the parents of Rachel, a public health dentist in Vermont, and Daniel, one of the first openly LGBTQ candidates for Cook County Commissioner.

As the community’s needs expand, Foster, her staff and board are examining how they can best meet them.

Mental health services are a priority, and plans are to expand current JFS offerings to include virtual counseling where clients can chat with professionals online. That, Foster says, would be of benefit to those without transportation to the JFS offices in southeast Denver and those who live in rural areas where mental health services do not exist.

Another priority is homelessness.

“We have a rapid re-housing program, that puts people in a place where they can live safely until they can get back on their feet, but perhaps more importantly, what can we be doing to help prevent homelessness?” she asks.

Her vision for JFS’ future doesn’t involve rash changes; just adapting based on relevancy and the Jewish values that include tikkun olam, or the obligation to make the world a better place, and the duty to strive for social justice, perform acts of loving kindness and view every human as equal. “I love that we look at the whole person, and how we listen carefully to determine what the needs are so that if we can’t help, we can get them to a place that can.”

Joanne Davidson is the former society editor of The Denver Post, and is currently a freelance contributor to both the newspaper and Colorado Expression.

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BITS & PIECES

What’s Happening in the West

Photo: Lucy Beaugard

By Joy Lawrance

Where the Chefs Eat Linda Hampsten Fox Chef/owner, The Bindery

Photo: Tim Romano

1817 Central St., Denver CO 80211, 303-993-2364 thebinderydenver.com

Hotel Boulderado Debuts New Year’s Eve Wedding Package

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THE ICONIC HOTEL BOULDERADO’S long history of hosting nuptials and New Year’s Eve galas is legendary. To celebrate the more than 100 years of these events, the hotel is offering an exceptional New Year’s Eve wedding entertainment package. Those who book a New Year’s Eve 2019 wedding will qualify for a complimentary package including professional wedding DJ, photo booth with custom logo, presidential suite on the night

of the wedding, plus a champagne amenity. Become a part of history as you live your wedding dreams in this historic Victorian hotel. With 10,000 square feet of meeting and celebration space, 160 guest rooms, a carriage house that sleeps 15 and three restaurants and bars, the Hotel Boulderado offers charm and convenience. Book by Nov. 1. boulderado.com/eventplanning/#weddings

CHEROKEE RANCH DESIGNER SHOWCASE In honor of Tweet Kimball, the Cherokee Ranch’s owner from the mid-1950s until the property was protected through a conservation easement in the 1990s, each room of the Cherokee Castle in Sedalia will be decorated for the holidays in Victorian style. The property is now owned by the Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation and hosts educational and public events throughout the year. From Nov. 14 through Jan. 6, 2020 the ranch will offer English-style teas, docent-led tours, brunches and cultural performances.

Make reservations at cherokeeranch.org, or call 303-688-5555.

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Kohnami Sushi: My husband works in the Colorado Springs hospitals and when I have a day free, I head to Monument, we ride our mountain bikes on Mount Herman and we always go to Kohnami Sushi. It’s super small, but incredibly delicious.

Ashkara: Daniel Asher has put his heart into this restaurant and it’s here in LoHi. Daniel is hard-working and just a great human being and he always brings so much enthusiasm to everything he does.

Amu: I lived in Boulder off and on for many years and this tiny Japanese restaurant is so delicious and unique. My mouth waters thinking about it.

Fish N Beer: Nothing reminds me of my father more than beer and fish. When we were little, he would go deep-sea fishing (which involved drinking beer) and bring home those giant bluefish and tilefish. I love seafood and this dear little informal restaurant serves up everything from oysters to blowfish tails.

Union Station Farmer’s Market: Tacos, hand pies, lemonade, elephant ears—I love the variety of flavors and bites. It reminds me of shopping the markets in Italy except there weren’t any tacos!

BITS & PIECES

hosts pop-up art studio and show in Denver

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CONTEMPORARY ARTIST AND SIXTH generation Coloradan Duke Beardsley will host a one-man show to run from Nov. 8 through 30. Beardsley’s first Denver exhibit in almost 10 years titled “Invasive Splendor: A Quasi-Indigienous Dispatach From The Lost Trail to Nowwhere” will feature up to 50 of his cowboy-inspired pieces, both classic and new.

Beardsley’s traditional paintings and drawings on paper depict archetypal western iconography, along with a new focus on western plants including sage and yucca. The artist will also be live painting intermittently throughout the installation in his pop-up studio at Space ANNEX in Denver’s historic Baker district, 95 S. Cherokee St. dukebeardsleystudio.com

Kenzi’s Causes Supports Boys and Girls

Photos: Lucy Beaugard

DUKE BEARDSLEY

This great effort started in 2007 when Jessica Bachus’ daughter Kenzi was stillborn. Bachus created the annual Toy Drive for children who would not otherwise have toys during the holidays.

Kenzi’s Causes collects more than 100,000 toys, stocking stuffers, books, toothbrush/toothpaste kits, backpacks, lunch boxes and other items to support underprivileged children in Colorado. In addition, many community resources are provided during the year to help these families improve their lives.

Dolls for Daughters and Toys for Boys takes place on Sat. Dec. 7 at various locations. Check the website for ways to help—volunteer, sponsor, drop off toys or make a donation. kenziscauses.org/toy-shop

OLE LYNGGAARD

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Copenhagen designs AMONG THE MANY EXCLUSIVE designer collections Oster Jewelers carries at its Cherry Creek North boutique in Denver is Ole Lynggaard of Copenhagen. Jewelers by Appointment to the Royal Danish Court, the company has been creating textured and elegant designs in combinations of 18-karat rose, yellow and white gold jewelry since 1963. This familyowned business is under the art direction of Charlotte Lynggaard, with the guidance of her father, Ole Lynggaard. The designs focus on organic and fluid lines as they bring

nature-inspired wonders to life. The company has a loyal clientele that appreciates easy-wearing everyday jewelry with a feminine flair. osterjewelers.com

Office Space for Women at The Riveter Denver

Pedazos de sueños

Your name doesn’t have to be “Rosie”—all you need is to have your own business, whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur or innovator. The Riveter Denver is a collaborative space in the center of RiNo’s arts and culture scene and is a place to develop and hone your professional skills as well as network with like-minded self-starters. From 10 hours a month to dedicated desks to private offices, The Riveter offers plans to suit whatever a person’s needs and budget may be. Benefits include fast internet, mother’s rooms, conference rooms, 24-hour access, HD projectors and more. theriveter.co

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BITS & PIECES

What’s Happening in the West

DCPA names Lydia Garcia Executive Director of Equity

Village Toy Drive Begins November 1

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GATHER A BIG BAG OF NEW TOYS— or gently used ones—and take them to the sixth annual Village Toy Drive.

Imagine the happiness of so many underserved children at holiday time when they receive a special gift from Santa’s bag. The event is presented by First American State Bank, Cherry Hills Living and Preserving the Good Life magazines to benefit the Colorado Branch of Volunteers

of America. Started by Sarah Dennis and Michelle Gruber of First American State Bank, the event has grown each year, donating more than 1,000 toys. The toy collection begins on Nov. 1 and continues until Dec. 20 at First American State Bank at 8390 E. Crescent Parkway, #100 Greenwood Village, CO 80111. firstamericanstatebank.com, voacolorado.org

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THE DENVER CENTER FOR THE Performing Arts has named Lydia Garcia as its first-ever Executive Director for Equity & Organization Culture following an extensive search. Garcia is a renowned facilitator who has helped reshape the national conversation around equity, diversity and inclusion. She has worked with Theatre Communications Group representing nearly 500 member organizations to elevate the importance of social justice issues.

She also boasts an extensive theater background working with prestigious theaters in the country. Garcia com mented, “I am honored to be a part of the story of the DCPA’s leadership in the movement for greater equity and inclusion in the American theater, our local communities in Denver and the state of Colorado, and beyond.” denvercenter.org

The Broadmoor and Cloud Camp Recognized by Travel & Leisure Travel & Leisure magazine unveiled its World’s Best Awards 2019, naming The Broadmoor and Cloud Camp at The Broadmoor two of its top 10 resort hotels in the American West. Each year the readers of the magazine vote on favorite destinations, resorts, cruise lines and more in the World’s Best Awards survey. This year’s survey received record participation from readers and is considered the gold standard in the travel industry. President of The Broadmoor, Jack Damioli, stated, “We are proud to again have The Broadmoor presented with such a prestigious acknowledgement from travelers. Sitting at 3,000 feet above the hotel, Cloud Camp offer daytime and evening activities that embrace the spirit of all that Colorado has to offer. broadmoor.com

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Grandma’s cookies taste way better in the new house!

D E N V E R • C H E R RY C R E E K • G R E E N WO O D V I L L AG E • C H E R RY H I L L S • CA ST L E R O C K • CA ST L E P I N E S

Discover what a fresh start can do for you.

Call us and find a new home for the holidays.

RIKE PALESE 303-522-5550 rpalese@classicnhs.com

JONATHAN KEILER 303-619-2917 jkeiler@classicnhs.com visit our website at rikejon.com

BITS & PIECES

What’s Happening in the West

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COLORADO BALLET TICKETS FOR 2019-2020 SEASON ON SALE NOW

CALLING ALL COLORADO YOUNG musicians. Get ready to take the stage at the next Sing It To Me Santa event on Dec. 7 at the Ogden Theatre. Now a favorite holiday tradition, it started in 2014 with Libby Anschutz and her band Tracksuit Wedding as part of their Take Note Colorado initiative. This year’s headliner, Kaleo, hails from Iceland and blends folk, blues, country and rock for a unique take on familiar sounds.

Tracksuit Wedding combines its vintage rock/funk/blues sounds of original works along with holiday tunes to get the audience in the holiday

Photo: Steve Peterson, TerraChroma

Sing It To Me Santa

spirit. The group released its first selftitled EP in 2015 and “Now or Never” in 2017. takenotecolorado.org/ events/sing-it-to-me-santa-2019

The 2019/2020 season of the Colorado Ballet opens on Oct. 4 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera house with nine performances of Don Quixote running through Oct. 13. Follow the travels of this lovable character and his pal Sancho Panza as they search for a noble adventure. Performances to follow include the beloved Nutcracker (Nov. 30-Dec. 29); Peter Pan (Jan. 31-Feb. 9) Tour de Force (March 6-8) and Ballet MasterWorks (April 3-12). Colorado Ballet has promoted Francisco Estevez from soloist to principal dancer. Artistic director Gil Boggs states, “Francicso has shown leadership and artistry on par with some of the absolute best dancers in the world. coloradoballet.org

Dedicated to Denver.

Through personalized service and unparalleled expertise, we provide a special kind of banking experience. We offer commercial and industry lending, SBA loans and commercial real estate – all with the steadfast focus necessary to help local business and the community thrive. Stop in and discover what makes the MidFirst experience truly special.

Cherry Creek – 101 Cook St. 303.376.3800

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Downtown – 555 17th St. 303.376.5460

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

University Hills – 2805 S. Colorado Blvd.

303.376.3840

midfirst.com

BITS & PIECES

Get Ready for Small Business Saturday on November 30

Colorado Pet Pantry Food Bank at Jewish Family Service

WE ALL DO IT. SHOP ONLINE on Black Friday and then on Cyber Monday for good deals. But equally important is to head to a local small business on Nov. 30 to support local retailers. There is nothing quite so pleasurable as browsing the unique goods in a store and finding that absolutely perfect gift for a family member or friend. This national event, first celebrated in 2010, calls attention to the importance of shopping the small businesses that serve as the backbone of our local communities. Small Business Saturday draws crowds across the country with great deals on special products and services. Make this the year to support your local neighborhood shops.

FOUNDED IN 1872, JEWISH FAMILY Service provides food and financial assistance to individuals and families of all faiths, races, ages, incomes and abilities. To assist people with pets, Jewish Family Service partnered with Colorado Pet Pantry beginning in 2013 to host pet food banks at Jewish Family Service (3201 S. Tamarac Dr. in Denver) on the third Friday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To support this monthly event and other pet food banks throughout the state, Colorado Pet Pantry accepts pet food and treats through a network of community storefront partners, and monetary donations are gratefully accepted online and via check. Just

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$5 will feed a pet for a month.

For a complete list of donation collection sites and events visit coloradopetpantry.org and jewishfamilyservice.org.

Embrace the Season

MADAMA BUTTERFLY, 2019. PHOTO BY AMANDA TIPTON.

Give the gift of an unforgettable experience at Central City Opera.

Buy tickets and learn more about the 2020 Summer Festival at centralcityopera.org

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HOT TICKETS

In Town Through Oct. 27 Corn Maze, Chatfield Farms Get lost in this 7-acre maze during the day or at night. Also enjoy the Dead Zone Scream Park, Corn Stalkers Haunted Maze and After Dark Corn Maze.

720-865-3500 • botanicgardens.org

Can’t-miss Events Throughout Colorado

By Elizabeth Jones

Oct. 1 Jonas Brothers, Pepsi Center Brothers Nick, Joe and Kevin are reuniting and hitting the road on their “Happiness Begins Tour.”

303-405-1100 • pepsicenter.com

Oct. 3-5 Great American Beer Festival, Colorado Convention Center For the 38th consecutive year, beer lovers will gather at the country’s preeminent beer festival and competition. greatamericanbeerfestival.com

Oct. 3-25

Photo: Scott Dressel-Martin

Enchanted Hollows, Denver Zoo Travel an eerie trail where the darkness has almost all but taken hold, echoes of the roots of Halloween, creatures and spirits rise to life.

720-377-1400 • denverzoo.org

Oct. 4-6 Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, Boettcher Concert Hall Brett Mitchell conducts one of the great works of romanticism, a meticulously structured meditation on fate in four movements.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Oct. 4-13 Don Quixote, Ellie Caulkins Opera House Colorado Ballet presents the travels of the lovable Don Quixote and his pal Sancho Panza in this popular romantic work.

303-837-8888 • coloradoballet.org

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Glow in the Gardens, Denver Botanic Gardens, Oct. 21-25

Oct. 10, 17, 24

Oct. 13

Taps and Tails, Denver Zoo This pop-up beer hall features Colorado’s best breweries, culinary creations and a dynamic entertainment lineup.

720-377-1400 • denverzoo.org

Phil Collins, Pepsi Center The “Still Not Dead Yet, Live” tour is named after Collins’ autobiography released in 2016.

303-405-1100 • pepsicenter.com

Oct. 11-13 Pumpkin Festival, Chatfield Farms Celebrate fall at this treasured October tradition for the entire family.

720-865-3500 • botanicgardens.org

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Oct. 18 Sara Bareilles, Pepsi Center The “Amidst The Chaos Tour” follows the release of pop singer Bareilles’ new fifth album by the same name.

303-405-1100 • pepsicenter.com

HOT TICKETS

Oct. 18-20, 26, 27 Hi-Strung, Boettcher Concert Hall Wonderbound dance company with members of the Colorado Symphony present this sumptuous evening of dance and live music.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Glow in the Gardens, Denver Botanic Gardens This luminous nighttime event features spooky lighting displays and hundreds of carved, glowing gourds.

720-865-3500 • botanicgardens.org

Oct. 21-Feb. 2 Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature, Denver Art Museum More than 120 paintings spanning Monet’s career will focus on the celebrated French impressionist artist’s enduring relationship with nature.

720-913-0130 • denverartmuseum.org

Jonas Brothers, Pepsi Center, Oct. 1

Symphony Chorus with music director Brett Mitchell.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Nov. 1-2

Oct. 26-27 Verdi’s Requiem, Boettcher Concert Hall Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the world-renowned Colorado

Photo: Peggy Sirota

Oct. 21-25

Disney in Concert, Boettcher Concert Hall The Nightmare Before Christmas will be projected on the big screen with Elfman’s darkly charming score played live.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Great American Beer Festival, Colorado Convention Center, Oct. 3-5

The Phantom of the Opera, Buell Theatre, Nov. 6-7

Photo: Eva Tavares and Jordan Craig by Matthew Murphy

Nov. 2 Día de los Muertos Celebration, Denver Botanic Gardens In observance of Día de los Muertos, celebrate this year with indoor screenings of Disney’s Pixar film Coco.

720-865-3500 • botanicgardens.org

Nov. 6-17 The Phantom of the Opera, Buell Theatre Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom returns to Denver.

303-893-4100 • denvercenter.org

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HOT TICKETS

Nov. 25 Cher, Pepsi Center The “Here We Go Again Tour” is the seventh solo concert tour by Cher in support of her 26th studio album “Dancing Queen.”

303-405-1100 • pepsicenter.com

Photo: Machado Cicala

Nov. 26-Dec. 1

Cher, Pepsi Center, Nov. 25

Nov. 8-10 Mozart Symphony No. 40, Boettcher Concert Hall Hear Johannes Brahms’ Tragic Overture, followed by Mozart’s elegant Piano Concerto No. 17 and finally Mozart’s iconic Symphony No. 40.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Nov. 8-10 Mile High Holiday Mart, Gates Field House Presented by the Junior League of Denver, this premier holiday mart has been a fall tradition for nearly four decades. jld.org

Dance” in a live dance showcase of raw talent, dedication and jawdropping choreography.

303-228-8260 • bellcotheatre.com

Nov. 23-24 The Hip Hop Nutcracker, Buell Theatre This contemporary dance spectacle set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music is directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber.

303-893-4100 • denvercenter.org

Home Alone, Boettcher Concert Hall The Colorado Symphony plays renowned composer John Williams’ delightful score performed live as the film is screened.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Nov. 30 Aretha: A Tribute, Boettcher Concert Hall A tribute to the Queen of Soul; Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw perform such iconic hits as “Respect,” “Think,” “A Natural Woman” and many others.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

The Nutcracker, Ellie Caulkins Opera House Join the Colorado Ballet on this whimsical trip to the Sugar Plum Kingdom. Presented by Occidental Petroleum.

303-837-8888 • coloradoballet.org

The Brightness of Light, Boettcher Concert Hall Superstar soprano Renée Fleming returns with baritone Rod Gilfry for an exciting Colorado premiere of The Brightness of Light.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Out of Town Oct. 3-6

Nov. 18

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Nov. 29

Nov. 30-Dec. 29

Nov. 15, 17

World of Dance Live!, Bellco Theatre Everything you love about “World of

Jesus Christ Superstar, Buell Theatre See this new mesmerizing 50th anniversary production by director Timothy Sheader and choreographer Drew McOnie.

303-893-4100 • denvercenter.org

The Brightness of Light, Bellco Theatre, Nov. 15, 17

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Food & Wine Festival, Steamboat Springs Featuring local and national chefs, wine tastings, panel discussions,

HOT TICKETS

films, demonstrations, an outdoor brunch and the Grand Tasting.

303-242-1032 • steamboatfoodandwine.com

Oct.11-13 Horror Show Film Festival, Telluride Colorado’s first and longest-running horror film festival features the latest and best genre films from around the world.

303-242-1032 • steamboatfoodandwine.com

Nov. 8-16 First Bite, Boulder Boulder’s Restaurant Week highlights the area’s dining scene where top restaurants offer a three-course $29 and $49 prixfixe dinner menu. firstbiteboulder.com

For the Kids Through Nov. 2 Fright Fest, Elitch Gardens Family By Day and Fright By Night, plus all your favorite Theme Park rides. Don’t miss out on these five weekends of scary fun.

303-595-4386 • elitchgardens.com

Oct. 4 Goodnight Moon, Buell Theater Featuring whimsical music and dance, this heartwarming adaptation is part of the DCPA’s Theatre for Young Audiences.

303-893-4100 • denvercenter.org

Oct. 24 “Baby Shark” Live, Paramount Theatre Take an adventure into the sea with “Baby Shark” as he joins his friend

Pinkfong to sing and dance through some favorite new and classic songs!

303-623-0106 • paramountdenver.com

Oct. 25-27 Trick or Treat Street, Children’s Museum An unBOOlievably fun fall festival with treats galore, carnival games, crafts, special characters and more.

303-433-7444 • mychildsmuseum.org

Nov. 3 Halloween Spooktacular, Boettcher Concert Hall A ghastly-good time for every little monster and their mummy! This family-favorite features music from films, television and more.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Vectra Bank LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME? TALK TO VECTRA!

Vectra Bank Residential Lending www.vectrabank.com 720.947.7630

With historically low rates, competitive financing, and lenders who know your market and close deals on time, now is a great time to purchase a home or refinance your existing mortgage*.

Let the Residential Lending Professionals at Vectra Bank help you find the resources you need to purchase your next home. * All loans are subject to credit approval; terms and conditions apply. See lender for details.

A division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC /

Equal Housing Lender / NMLS #467014

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

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Luscious New American Cuisine LoDo’s Avelina offers elevated, yet unpretentious dining By KIM D. MCHUGH

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As a teenager growing up in Scottsdale, Arizona, Josh Oakley was a drummer in a garage band with aspirations of making it in the music world. Thankfully, for patrons of Avelina, a popular downtown Denver eatery, that didn’t work out.

“I was in my senior year in high school and my dad was saying you need to find something you’re passionate about where you can actually make money because otherwise you’ll be a broke musician,” says Oakley, Avelina’s executive chef. “I knew I needed to graduate with another credit and that’s when someone asked, ‘Why don’t you try home ec?’ So I did and I found it fascinating.”

That spawned the idea of attending culinary school, which came with a $40,000 price tag. Instead, a family friend that just so happened to be a James Beard Award-winning chef at Christopher’s and Crush Lounge, an acclaimed Scottsdale restaurant, offered the teen an apprenticeship.

Over the next two years, the culinary boot camp taught him well.

“I didn’t know thyme from rosemary or parsley from cilantro,” explains Oakley. “I got yelled at a lot, I got made fun of a ton, but I stuck it out and by the time I was 19, I was working grill at a very nice restaurant.”

His next job was as a sous chef at 38

Photo: Jordan Norwood

FOR THE FOODIE

the Wrigley Mansion, one of Phoenix’s best wedding banquet halls, followed by a move to Colorado, where he ended up working for Mark Fischer at The Pullman in Glenwood Springs and two other Fischer enterprises, one called Town (formerly Six89) in Carbondale and Harman’s Eat & Drink, a Denver restaurant. Looking for a break from the grind associated with 55 to 60 hour weeks, in 2015 Oakley ventured to the south of France, where he studied at the Gastronomicom Culinary Academy.

Under the tutelage of two Michelin star chefs he enriched his culinary skills over the next three months,

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

LITTLE BIRD’S BIG OFFERINGS CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT: Steelhead trout finished with carrot puree, sweet peas and horseradish crema; chicken with spiced yogurt; the seating in bar area

learning more about French cooking techniques and pastries. Returning to Colorado recharged, he learned of Avelina’s impending debut, applied for the executive chef position and was hired. When it opened on Labor Day 2016, Avelina, which means “little bird” in Italian, had patrons immediately flocking to the place.

“We were supposed to be more of an Italian restaurant, but at that time there were a lot of other restaurants

Photo: Jordan Norwood

opening up with that same kind of idea,” says Karen Pence, general manager. “With New American (cuisine) the trend, that pretty much meant we could do whatever we wanted.”

Pence, who gave up her partnership in a successful restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, was able to convince Kevin and Stacey Jennings, the principals of Urban Food Group, to put their energies and resources towards adding Avelina to their portfolio of restaurants. Browse reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor and it appears the gambit paid off. The restaurant averages a 4.5 of five stars possible on TripAdvisor with guest comments like “Fantastic Service, Delicious Food,” “Fun and Trendy Brunch,” “My New Favorite in LoDo,” and “Can I Rate It a Six?” Dine there and you’ll appreciate the accolades. The food, which Oakley characterizes as “approachable,” is prepared using fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced largely from Colorado purveyors including Rebel Farm in Denver, Rocky Mountain Fresh in Longmont, Acres Farm in Lakewood and Littleton’s

Avelina

1550 17th St. Denver, CO 80202 720-904-6711 avelinadenver.com

Mile High Fungi, and farmer’s markets, as well as regional ranches and farms.

The menus include proteins like beef, poultry, pork, lamb, seafood and fish, as well as veggies, cheeses, eggs, fruits and nuts. To keep things interesting Oakley and Pence typically change the menus six times a year.

“We’re always thinking about how the food is finished and the how the cooking technique, seasoning, brining or curing, how all those extra steps really help elevate the food without making it pretentious,” adds Oakley.“We try to have something for everyone and that's where the New American concept really comes into play here.”

Peruse the shared plates menu and you’ll see items like crispy Brussels sprouts, pork belly and artichoke flatbread. Sounds ho-hum until you add cilantro, cumin lime vinaigrette, toasted hazelnuts and apple to the Brussels sprouts; artichoke, cotto salami, ricotta cheese and basil to the pork belly; or compressed melon, feta, herbs and cashew butter to the artichoke flatbread.

Straightforward, sounding entrees like agnolotti, pork tenderloin and trout come to life when you invite vichyssoise, English peas, serrano ham and Parmesan cheese (wild mushroom agnolotti); polenta cake, chorizo, sum-

mer succotash, black garlic reduction and tomato jam (pork tenderloin) and carrot purée, lentils, sweet peas and horseradish crema (steelhead trout) to the party.

Patrons can enjoy their menu selections while seated in the main dining room, at the bar, on the sidewalk patio or in the private dining room. Though the decor feels somewhat formal, Avelina’s personality leans towards casual where jeans and a sweater share the space with suits and high heels.

One of the coolest attributes of this restaurant is its open kitchen.

“People that have never been in the restaurant business find it fascinating to watch the kitchen at work,” explains Pence. “I say it’s like an orchestra, where the kitchen can be putting up 20 different items that all come up perfectly at the same time. I love guests having that experience.”

If your friends ask how you heard about Avelina, just tell them a little bird told you.

Kim McHugh, a Lowell Thomas award-winning writer, is a “foodie” of sorts whose wife is a fantastic cook.

Though he’s enjoyed a number of Avelina’s tasty menu items he still has the Colorado lamb meatball on his ‘to do’ list. Oh, and then there’s brunch and the smoked salmon Benedict.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 COLORADO EXPRESSION

39

RESTAURANT

A Nine-act Performance Beckon’s eating experience fills up fast for good reason

By KATIE COAKLEY Photos By JONNIE SIROTEK

D

DENVER’S CULINARY SCENE HAS come a long way in the past decade with chefs creating exciting concepts in both food and drinks. However, it wasn’t until Beckon opened in November 2018 that Denver had a true jewel in its foodie crown. The city’s only chef’s counter restaurant, Beckon is known for its seasonal menus, exclusivity (the restaurant welcomes just 36 guests each night) and style.

Situated next to its sister restaurant, Call, Beckon is a play without a program: You don’t know what will happen. Wander through the gate and a cozy patio awaits, replete with a fire pit and blankets for chilly evenings. Guests can congregate here with a cocktail before dinner or linger here after the culinary journey. The waiting room is also the bar, stocked with glassware and welcoming smiles from Allison Anderson, director of experience.

But it’s after the (literal) curtain is lifted that the true stage appears. A U-shaped counter accommodates 18 guests for two seatings. At the head, the range is manned by several chefs while the interior bustles with even more activity: chopping, slicing, pouring… quenelleing. At one point, the ratio of guests to staff was two to one. But to execute a show like Beckon does twice each evening, the choreography has to be perfect.

Nine courses from Chef Duncan Holmes are presented over two-and-ahalf hours, some delivered and some handed over the underlit counter, fresh 40

from plating. However, first things first: Beverages are in order.

In addition to classy cocktails, Beckon offers wine both by the glass and as a pairing with each course. Life is short—opt for the pairing, which is offered at two tiers. Sommelier Zach Byers has that envious task, which he approaches as both an opportunity and a challenge. The menu is seasonal, incorporating the freshest ingredients; dishes are rotated in and out, depending on what’s ripe and availability.

Wine pairings change often, too.

“If there’s a particular dish on the

COLORADO EXPRESSION OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

menu for a month or a month and a half, we might change the wine two or three times within that to keep it fresh and keep new things happening,” Byers said. “It might be the case where we can only get one case of something; that lasts us about a week on a pairing menu. And so I would rather pick something really special like that and play with it for a week and then find something different.”

But it’s also a challenge—after all, it’s not often that one has to pair with chicory or monkfish.

Each menu features that month’s

THE CURTAIN LIFTS ABOVE: Sit in style at the Beckon counter OTHER PHOTOS: samplings of the seasonal fare

moon: hay, fruit, crow. But that comes later—guests won’t see the menu until the end of the meal. That’s one of the joys of dining at Beckon: It’s the thrill of discovery and the sense of anticipation as each course is presented. And though each dinner is different, some elements are nods to Call next door: Aebleskiver, a savory Scandinavia doughnut bite, starts the meal; Tamara Tompkins’ (Call’s master baker) birch bread with cultured butter.

But there the familiar ends.

You might be presented with a Harukai turnip with ice plant, topped with trout roe. A fantastic play of texture, color and flavor, the accompanying turnip oil is bright green, emphasizing the orange roe that bursts in your mouth. Or maybe the all-in-one soup and salad, created from bright summer greens topping a snap pea, onion and herb soup with buttermilk ricotta. Served in a chilled bowl, it’s both simple and complex, rendering conversation almost obsolete as each element is considered and enjoyed. The meal continues, highlighting both fish (monkfish and Colorado trout) and

meat (venison and lamb); there’s at least one—if not two—dessert courses to finish the meal.

As with the ingredients gathered from local farms, foragers and purveyors, every element in the dance is considered. The dishware is handcrafted pottery from Denver-based Fenway Clayworks, who once had a studio near Beckon. The flowers are from Beet & Yarrow; even the check presenters are made from reclaimed copper.

The murals, which give the space a contemporary feel without rendering

Beckon

2843 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80205 303-749-0020 contact@beckon-call.com beckon-denver.com Reservations go on sale the first of the month before the month on offer at 10 a.m.

Reservations are $115 per person, paid in advance.

it museum-like, are perfect. In total, the design makes Beckon feel as if it’s someone’s home—granted, a home unlike mine, but home, nonetheless.

That’s what Beckon is creating: a sense of welcome, a sense of conviviality, a warmth that goes beyond the belly. Several times, the idea that “our home is your home” was offered. After dinner, guests are encouraged to linger on the patio, sipping on coffee or an after-dinner drink.

And just as it is after an amazing dinner with friends, parting is such sweet sorrow … until the next experience is planned.

Katie Coakley is a freelance writer based in Denver covering travel, beer and outdoor adventure.

Her work has appeared in a variety of publications; you can see her work at katiecoakley.com. She now thinks that every meal should start with a savory doughnut hole topped with caviar.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 COLORADO EXPRESSION

41

R ROLE MODELS FOR US ALL COLORADO HAS AN EXCEPTIONAL ARRAY OF TALENTED WOMEN IN BUSINESS, PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS AND ATHLETICS. HERE ARE INTERVIEWS WITH FOUR INFLUENCERS WHO HOLD SWAY THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND BEYOND FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS

By Colleen Smith

Diane Boyer Always

keep going forward.

The president of Skea Limited, a women’s skiwear company based in Vail and Golden, Diane Boyer began working for her family’s business in the tenth grade. As the first female chair of Snowsports Industries America, she spearheaded moving the trade organization’s ski show from Las Vegas to Denver. Now 63, she’s the mother of two adult daughters. In 2017, Boyer was inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. “I love everything the mountains have to offer,” she says. “We’re very lucky to be here in Colorado. We’re blessed.”

Who were/are your female role models?

Which rewards make all your hard work worthwhile?

My mother was forward-thinking and had an eye for art and fashion and incorporating art into fashion. She was the one who put together colors for the Skea brand.

One huge reward is seeing my products on people out there on the hill. The culmination of creating a new collection each year is very fulfilling. We’re creating things that make other people happy.

If you hadn’t been president of Skea what career would you have liked to pursue?

How do you practice self-care to sustain yourself?

I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing. Every day I’m fulfilled.

Hiking and just being outside part of every day: I derive a lot of inner peace from the mountains.

What do you do when you face setbacks?

What are your main goals now?

I try harder than ever to move forward. I work harder than ever. There’s a ski run on Vail named “Avanti,” which means “always keep going forward.” You can’t look back.

For the company, it’s to grow the company nationwide and internationally. Personally, my goal is to get my knee to bend enough to ride a bike again. Also, in a broad sense, to do good and to do what’s right for the world. We need winter to keep being winter— selfishly for my business, but for the state of Colorado and everybody. If we all do something, we can help slow down climate change. In winter, don’t turn the thermostat up; put on a sweater.

How do you stay committed to your lofty goals?

I have to. It’s my life. I sometimes say Skea is like my third child.

How does being a woman contribute to your role?

Skea is a women-run ski company, for women by women. I know what women like and what makes them feel good and what they need in a ski jacket. We understand how to fit females so it’s figure-flattering. Women get colder skiing, generally, so our garments are extremely warm, but at the same time women likes something pretty.

Are you a girly girl? What are your favorite feminine indulgences?

I like nothing better than getting my nails done with my girls or getting my hair done. I love the color pink. Fuchsia and turquoise are my girly-girl colors.

Photo: JQ McCarty

R

DIANE BOYER / MIMI ROBERSON / BETH A. BROOKE-MARCINIAK / MISSY FRANKLIN

(Interviews have been edited for brevity and clarity.)

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 COLORADO EXPRESSION 43

Mimi Roberson

Never give up.

In June, Mimi Roberson, 62, became the new CEO of Pivot Denver, a nonprofit organization assisting Colorado youths with wellness, academic success and career readiness. She brought to the job 30 years of leadership experience that included 15 years as president and CEO of Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center, where she opened Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. “Pivot reached out to me with a flattering invitation, and this opportunity is the culmination of so many things in my life,” she says. “The amazing part to me is to be blessed with singular careers—as an attorney, a healthcare CEO and owner of a consulting organization—now melded in another career.” She’s married to Edward Roberson, a retired dentist. They have four adult children.

Photo: Don Eastburn

Who were/are your female role models?

My first female role model was my maternal grandmother, a trailblazer for arts and culture in New Orleans from the 1930s to the 60s. She won countless awards.

Later, the multitude of nurses inspired me every day.

When were you most fulfilled in your career?

What do you do when faced with setbacks?

I prefer to call a setback a reset. Once recognized, the first thing I do is internally access what happened or didn’t happen.

I strive to never make the same mistake twice. I communicate a new plan and get on a new pathway. I never give up.

How do you stay committed to your lofty goals?

I really believe in what I’m doing, and I’m surrounded by people equally committed and focused.

How does being a woman contribute to your role?

Empathy and compassion are core values in my work, and my femininity strongly contributes. Women manage and multitask many things at one time with grace and energy.

How do you practice self-care to sustain yourself?

About 10 years ago, I was simultaneously CEO of Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center and also building Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children and serving as the chair of Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce. It was a really active year.

I love a great glass of wine at the end of the day. I stay focused and balanced through my family. They keep me grounded. I believe friendship is the core of a healthy lifestyle, and I have a wide circle of friends with whom I can enjoy life.

If you hadn’t been a CEO what career would you have liked to pursue?

Which rewards make all your hard work worthwhile?

I would’ve loved to be a chef. I love to create and entertain.

Beth A. Brooke-Marciniak

This work improves countless lives, and the rewards are equally countless when you love what you do.

Don’t walk into a game—or a meeting—unprepared.

Beth A. Brooke-Marciniak, CPA, recently retired as Global Vice Chair of Public Policy at Ernst & Young. Named 11 times to Forbes’ list of “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women,” she also was named Woman of the Year by Concern Worldwide. She serves on the Advisory Board for Out Leadership and the boards of The Conference Board, the International Women’s Forum and The Aspen Institute. She chairs the board of Vital Voices, a global women’s organization, and is a new board member on the U.S. Olympic Committee based in Colorado Springs. She’s married to Michelle Marciniak and has two dogs and two cats. “We love Colorado: the environment, the people and the progressive way the state tackles issues,” she says.

The Aspen Institute selected you for the inaugural class of the Henry Crown Fellows. Did your fellowship influence your career?

It was a phenomenal program that changed my life. The program teaches values-based leadership and applicable readings from the great philosophers on the good society.

It helps leaders understand that success is not good enough, wealth creation is not good enough: It’s the significance of what is done with success.

You played basketball for Purdue University, which awarded you an honorary doctorate, and you were inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

In 2017, you received the Theodore Roosevelt Award, the top individual honor bestowed by the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association. What did you learn from athletics that applied to your career?

It was an absolute recipe to know how to win, how to succeed and that losing is just feedback. It gave me confidence and neutralized gender bias. Basketball taught me preparation and hard work, discipline, that you don’t walk into a game— or a meeting—unprepared.

Who were/are your female role models?

My mom, Mary Millard, was a very strong woman and a brilliant mathematician. Fifteen years into her career at GM, she quit to have kids. She sacrificed the rest of her career to raise my brother and me and lived for us.

When were you most fulfilled in your career?

My coming out at 52 years of age.

I didn’t come out to wave my hand and say “Look at me— I’m gay.” I came out for gay teens at high risk for suicide. I was part of a video for The Trevor Project’s It Gets Better Campaign, recording LGBT people in corporations. The video went public at a gala, and I was very much expecting my career to end. That night, when I came out in my speech to a room full of people, I expected to be booed, but all of sudden everybody was clapping and gave me a five-minute standing ovation. The tears and emotions of 52 years of silence ended, and I was living in full color.

If you hadn’t become a global vice chair, what career would you have liked to pursue?

I’d have a ranch in Colorado and take in neglected animals.

What do you do when faced with setbacks?

through that, I don’t think about setbacks much. I don’t see anything as a failure. Maybe it’s the athlete in me. Faced with a problem, I dissect it, find new angles to go about things a different way. I think of a massive chess game: moving strategically and seeing what the other side is doing.

As a diplomat, it’s always two steps forward, one step back.

How do you stay committed to your lofty goals?

Early in my career, I set small goals that I could accomplish every day to make progress.

Which rewards make all your hard work worthwhile?

The people’s lives that have been changed or those inspired to do more and be better than they otherwise thought they could be has been my greatest reward. I love that they move mountains.

At age 13, I was told I would never walk again. After getting

Missy Franklin

Patience.

Missy Franklin made an enormous splash at the 2012 Olympics when she won four gold medals and set world records at age 17. Now 24 and retired from elite swimming, on the day we spoke, 17-year-old Regan Smith had shattered Franklin’s 7-year-old world record in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2019 world swimming championships. “When I woke up and walked into the living room this morning, Regan was swimming her first 50,” says Franklin. “My jaw is still on the floor. I can’t even wrap my mind around how fast she is. It’s been a thought-provoking, emotional day reflecting. There’s a beautiful cycle of inspiration in sport. Regan was 10 when I broke that record, and I hope I played a small role in inspiring her at some point. It sounds crazy, but it was almost more rewarding watching someone else so deserving and part of Team USA break my record than breaking it myself. It brought tears of joy to my eyes.”

In life, first and foremost, my mom has been my greatest role model. In sport [Olympian swimmer] Natalie Coughlin and [beach volleyball Olympian] Kerri Walsh Jennings.

If you weren’t a swimmer, in which sport would you have competed?

Volleyball!

When were you most fulfilled in your career?

You’re planning to graduate this fall from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and you’re planning a Colorado wedding, engaged to marry former Texas swimmer Hayes Johnson this fall. What is your main goal now?

Going through surgery and recovery taught me the importance of patience. It was frustrating, but I learned to listen to my body and that some days to rest is in the long run what allows moving forward.

I’m preparing myself to be the best wife I can be, spending a lot of time with Scriptures and reading books about marriage. I’m fully engaged heart and soul preparing for marriage, which will be my focus and priority for the rest of my life.

What are some of your self-care habits that sustain you?

Will you return to Colorado?

Without a doubt, I look back on 2012 with such fondness, but I know that’s not the highest peak for the rest of my life.

I have so much I want to do, and now my most fulfilling work is giving back and inspiring people. I love public speaking.

What do you do when you face setbacks?

Quiet time. People are surprised based on my personality that I’m a pretty big introvert. If I’m in a group, I’m 100 percent engaged, but it does make me really tired. I always need down time to recuperate. For me, self-care is lying on the couch under a heated blanket and putting on a movie.

I’ve seen every Harry Potter movie at least 50 times; The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. I’m so active and travel so much that the thing is being lazy without feeling guilty. I had to work on it for a long time, to put down my phone and just be present. I’ve seen what a difference it made in my life to carve out a time of stillness.

Photo: Courtesy of Speedo and Colorado Sports Hall of Fame

Who were/are your female role models?

Yes! My parents are my best friends and being close to them is super important. There’s no place like home—especially when it’s Colorado.

Colleen Smith, a longtime contributor to Colorado Expression and other publications, was awarded 2018 and 2019 grants from The Haven Foundation for freelance artists. She’s the author of Glass Halo, Laid-Back Skier and Thin Places— her screenplay that won the 2018 Screenwriting Contest co-sponsored by the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media and also Women in Film and Media Colorado.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 COLORADO EXPRESSION 45

FASHION

D ESIGNS O N

MODERN WO MEN

Cavanagh Baker uses fine fabrics, classic tailoring to craft her fashion line

T

NOVEMBER 15

Photo: Brett Warren

By Suzanne S. Brown

46

TO BORROW FROM A SONG WRITTEN DECADES before she was born, Cavanagh Baker is “A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock ‘n Roll.”

The Nashville, Tenn.-based fashion designer has created clothes for some of the hottest names in country music, including Maren Morris and Kelsea Ballerini.

But the styles aren’t covered in fringe and sequins a la looks that might have once been worn by Dolly Parton or Loretta Lynn. Baker’s designs have sparkle and swagger, yet also reflect the current mood in their clean lines, couture-quality European fabrics and formfitting silhouettes.

Baker’s big break came three years ago when she met a stylist who was working on Ballerini’s Peter Pan music video and was asked to make an outfit for the singer.

That video of Ballerini wearing Baker’s teal jumpsuit has been viewed more than 50 million times on YouTube. Baker also designed Morris’ wedding dress and such celebrities as Heidi Klum and Angela Bassett have worn Baker creations at red carpet functions.

While the celebrity styles have earned her publicity, SERVICE WITH STYLE 2019 the designer is more focused LUNCHEON AND FASHION SHOW on clothes that real women— albeit those with expensive taste and style—can wear.

Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek From her Nashville atelier, 245 Columbine St., voacolorado.org which she opened in 2016,

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

s

Photo: Brett Warren

Matching POWER SUITS in stretch metallic twill backed in Neoprene; available in multiple colors

PAGE 46: The KINGSLEY JACKET is made from silk velvet and silk charmuese, Baker’s take on a military jacket

Volunteers of America Guild to honor two longtime supporters

S

Since its inception seven years ago, the Service with Style luncheon and fashion show presented by the Volunteers of America Guild has honored community members who have made significant contributions to the organization. These are women—and men, and even an entire family—who give not only financially to VOA’s programs, but also show up at the shelters to serve meals, or help plan events, or serve on boards.

This year’s honorees are Kathy Klugman and Betty Kuhl. Michael James, the vice president for marketing and development at VOA Colorado, can’t say enough about them. Both women are longtime supporters of both VOA and the Guild, which has focused on programs for women and children.

“Not only is Kathy Klugman excellent with detail and asking people to get involved, she epitomizes service,” James says. “She’s a wonderful example of how to serve in the community, and has worked with many organizations in addition to VOA, like Denver Health and the Jewish Community Center. She also serves on our corporate board and with her marketing and communications background, we have benefitted from her guidance.”

He has similar praise for Betty Kuhl. “She has been a friend and generous supporter since the Guild started in 1996,” James says. Among the projects she has worked on from the beginning and helped solidify as an ongoing endeavor is Mother’s Day in December, which is a day of pampering and transformation for women going through difficult times. “They get cared for and the glow on their faces at the end of the day is amazing,” James says.

Photo: Rachel Deeb

Photo: Steve Peterson, TerraChroma

FASHION & PHILANTHROPY

Honorees Betty Kuhl and Kathy Klugman

she and a patternmaker and seamstress (plus her Goldendoodle pooch Mufasa) create prototypes that are then produced in New York. She fits private clients at her shop and also sells online at cavanaghbaker.com as well as to a limited number of boutiques around the country, including Mariel in Denver.

Denise Snyder, who owns Mariel, first saw Baker’s designs at the Dallas Market Center and was immediately taken with them. “She is easily the most talented new designer I’ve met in a decade,” says Snyder, noting that Baker’s tailoring, use of fabric and silhouettes are fresh and new, and that her clothes fit well and are solidly constructed. It impresses the retailer that Baker’s customers cut a wide demographic swath, from women in their late 20s to those who are 70-plus.

Snyder hosted a trunk show with the designer at her store earlier this year and says it was one of her most successful to date, with clients ordering coats, jackets, blouses and dresses. Baker has also already created custom pieces for Colorado clients and will be back with her latest collection Nov. 15, when it will be shown at the Service with Style luncheon put on by the Volunteers of America Guild.

Baker, now 27, got her technical training at the Savannah College of Art and Design, but her love of fashion started when as a preteen she raided her

MAREN MORRIS’ WEDDING DRESS was a custom embroidered lace creation by Baker with a short skirt, a detachable long train and handmade crystal straps

FASHION

and edgy. I love seeing a woman wearing leggings and one of my jackets”.

Baker thought about opening her business in New York but decided instead on Nashville. “Something in my gut told me it was going to grow because of all the events and concerts here, and the social life,” she says.

The designer admits that starting her own brand when she was so new to the business was a calculated risk but thinks that if she didn’t do it, she would have spent years apprenticing and learning the ins and outs of how someone else worked instead of finding her own way.

“The industry is so different from the fairytale idea of it. I decided that I was going to try it myself and that if I failed I would rather fail young.’’

Baker is clearly not afraid to try things—including a short-lived stint on “Project Runway”—and admits she’s “trying to disrupt fashion by focusing on dressmaking and dress wearing.”

Failure doesn’t look like an option.

Photo: Brett Warren

Suzanne S. Brown is a contributing editor to Colorado Expression and the former fashion editor of The Denver Post.

The COCO JACKET, in an unusual floral textured wool, is a two-in-one design that zips off at the natural waist

STEPHANIE VENTSAM wears a coat with marabou eyelash trim designed

by Cava­nagh Baker

Photo: Steve Peterson, TerraChroma

mom’s closet in their Birmingham, Alabama home.

“She is such a fabulous person and has such unique style,” Baker says of her mother. “It’s always high heels 24-7. She is one of those people who has always take care of herself and her appearance.”

Her mom’s influence on her started early and led Baker to design “for women who appreciate the fine art of dressing.” Classic elements and fine materials are the basis for her creations, but it’s how these women put their looks together that sets them apart, the designer says. “They can wear it so it looks classic or rock ‘n’ roll

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

49

COLORADO WEEKENDS

Sun on the Mountain Vail’s iconic Sonnenalp Hotel celebrates 40 years with “Gemütlichkeit,” warmth and good cheer

By Lisa Perry

W

WHEN VAIL’S ESTEEMED SONNENALP Hotel celebrates its 40-year anniversary in December, don’t look for a chi-chi blowout party. Instead, management is planning to put together a special book made up of memories provided by guests and staff—like an enhanced family album. It follows.

The hotel represents five generations of hands-on Faessler family ownership and management that began in 1919 with an inn located in the Bavarian Alps. This year, that property celebrates 100 years as today’s revered Sonnenalp Resort. Vail’s version mirrors its predecessor’s success and mode of operations.

Both award-winning venues offer sumptuous amenities and accommodations, but Faessler family members continue to manage them with an emphasis on a welcoming “Gemütlichkeit,” which translates from German as coziness and warmth for guests.

“Vail is only 57 years old and Sonnenalp is 40, so we’ve kind of grown up with the town,” says sales and marketing director Patricia McNamara. She talks about the German, Austrian and American heritage of Vail town founders, who developed its distinctive look and design with a combination of Bavarian inspiration and Colorado personality. “Sonnenalp is the perfect segue,” she says. “When

The Sonnenalp Hotel has a full-scale European spa

you walk into the hotel, it is like walking into Germany. So it’s different.”

Sonnenalp, which translates as “sun on the mountain,” indeed has the charming look of a European inn.

Five stories are made up of junior, one- and two-bedroom suites—all

have fireplaces, oversized baths and an upscale-cozy environment. There are standard hotel rooms as well.

Located in Vail’s Lionshead area, the inn has easy access to the town’s entertainment options, but guests could have all their needs and wants taken care of with hotel offerings alone. Three onsite restaurants serve menus that encompass European and American favorites, such as the international breakfast menu and buffet at Ludwig’s, the selection of fondues at Swiss Chalet and must-order truffle tots from Bully Ranch’s casual American-Southwestern offerings. There’s also dining at the hotel’s family-owned golf course west of Vail—just a hotel-shuttle ride away—and a bar menu at King’s Club, Sonnenalp’s onsite nightclub.

Guests also enjoy indoor and outdoor pools, a pretty patio area on Gore Creek (known as “weddings central” in summer), plus a lively open spa area with fitness room and massage services. During winter,

THE DETAILS Sonnenalp Hotel 20 Vail Rd. Vail, CO 81657 866-284-4411 sonnenalp.com

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The Swiss Chalet restaurant features a wonderful patio for the warmer months

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO UNFORGETTABLE COLORADO GETAWAYS

Sonnenalp’s location near the base of the mountain and its helpful ski concierge ensure guests have easy access and complete convenience for a day of skiing. Hotel-run activities, such as professionally guided hikes and snowshoe adventures, are available and due to be expanded in 2020.

No surprise, Sonnenalp’s version of Oktoberfest is not to be missed—so much fun that the hotel hosts its festive celebration three or four times a year. “Oktoberfest is a big thing,” McNamara says. “Something we do very, very well.”

Customer service is paramount.

“We have the prettiest building, but it all comes down to customer service,” says McNamara. “You really have to care about the guests. You’ve got to know your guests. And it’s always the little extra steps, right? Give them always a little something extra.” She adds, “We’re known as a home away from home. Guests love coming here.

Photo: Lisa Perry

The Sonnenalp Hotel during fall foliage season with views of Vail Mountain

Current full-time Sonnenalp resident, Harvey Simpson, enjoys the poolside patio

It’s understated, it’s not a chain. They love seeing the owners around and the multigenerational aspect.”

Return business is exceptional, for both groups and leisure travelers.

Couples married at the hotel come back for anniversaries and families make it a tradition to vacation regularly at the Sonnenalp—including a four-generation clan that returns every July. “That is a testament to what they love—this is really their

home,” says McNamara. “That’s what I’m most proud of, and I know our owners are most proud. They love that our guests feel that they are truly a part of the Sonnenalp.”

Harvey Simpson, 93, is an exceptional part of the Sonnenalp family, visiting since its first days. Four years ago he made the transition from frequent hotel guest and avid skier to permanent Sonnenalp resident (and, yes, he still skis). Retired from his construction-restoration business in New York (renovating the Statue of Liberty, enabling Wi-Fi in the subway system), he says, “What a place to be! As much as I knew how nice it would be, I had no idea it would be this nice. I live up on the third floor, get up every morning, sit out on the balcony, take a look at the mountain, see Riva Ridge on top, see what the snow looks like and can have breakfast up in my unit. It’s not just a room, more like a studio apart-

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COLORADO WEEKENDS

Harvest Restaurant & Bar at the Sonnenalp Club offers expansive views

ment. It has everything I need.

“I can’t say enough about the (Faessler) family,” he continues. “I can see where this all came from. If you visit the Sonnenalp in Bavaria you can see the way that hotel is run and then you can see how it’s rubbed off.

And the way they treat me here—it’s just incredible. There’s no way you can be any happier. The amount of friends I have here is incredible.

People come from all over the world and I meet so many people. And most of them come back every year.

In addition to all that I have almost a job. I don’t get paid, but I love to sing with the entertainers at the King’s Club. It’s quite a life.”

The hotel’s awards and distinctions are numerous. Among them: Sonnenalp is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, received 2019

Sonnenalp junior suite. All suites come standard with a fireplace and balcony

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice No. 2 luxury hotel in the United States and No. 10 U.S. hotel, plus Travel + Leisure’s Top 10 Resort Hotels in the American West, and a recent Wine Spectator award for Swiss Chalet.

McNamara says, “The Faesslers not only have a thriving business, they are very well-regarded members of the community. They have a phenomenal Sonnenalp Foundation that does great things, especially for Sonnenalp Breast Center. Our tagline is ‘Timelessly Vail.’ Sonnenalp is Vail.

Vail is Sonnenalp. We’re embedded.

And now we’ve got the fifth generation on board (with vice president of development Sebastian Faessler).

They’ll keep this thing going. This family cares. Johannes Faessler could build other hotels and manage other places. He won’t do it. He says: ‘I want this hotel to be the best.’”

Lisa Perry has been writing about Colorado for 25 years, loves Vail and long, long before this article she enjoyed being a Sonnenalp guest and a golfer at the hotel’s course.

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GREAT ESCAPES

Women on the Move Wild Terrains organizes and hosts cultural trips that support female entrepreneurs

Women connect and feel inspired in Wild Terrains’ vibrant and culturally rich destinations

THE DETAILS Women-only trips designed around design, art and food.

Trip Size: Eight to 10 people, average ages 25-70 Where: Mexico City and Portugal Contact Info: hello@wildterrains.com wildterrains.com

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Founder Lauren Bates created Wild Terrains fueled by and for women

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Photo: Lauren Louise Photography

Wild Terrains

M

Photo: Lindsay Lauckner

By Elizabeth Kosar

MARGARET MEAD WROTE IN 1928, “As the traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own.”

Mead’s musings could be a mantra for Wild Terrains travel company.

Focusing on distinctive and culturallyrich destinations for the creativeminded, Wild Terrains leads womenonly group trips that support female entrepreneurs in Mexico City and Portugal. Itineraries include accommodations at female-owned hotels, meals prepared by up-and-coming

Photo: Lauren Louise Photography

INTERNATIONAL VACATION DESTINATIONS

Photo: Vanessa Teodoro

Mexico City’s stylish and beautiful boutique Ignacia Guest House in the heart of Colonia Roma

Portugal itineraries include visits with top female artists, designers and architects

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

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GREAT ESCAPES

female chefs, and experiences that connect travelers with local women entrepreneurs, artists and designers.

Accounting for nearly two-thirds of travelers today, women continue to dominate the travel industry globally.

Wild Terrains founder Lauren Bates is an avid traveler herself with a deep passion for connecting people and creating meaningful experiences.

She has traveled to more than 35 countries and lived in both Argentina and Peru. Prior to Wild Terrains, Bates was chief marketing officer at UrbanStems, where she dreamed up and launched their collaboration with Vogue.

The idea for Wild Terrains germinated for two years before its actual in-

ception and might not have come to fruition at all had Bates not faced a career crossroads; she was fired from UrbanStems. Like many intelligent, driven women she at first felt isolated and avoided sharing this information. However, she soon learned that “so many women seem to have the same story. This thing that I felt very isolated in was actually a common experience.” In a serendipitous turn of events, Bates would create the opportunity for women to share even more experiences through Wild Terrains.

“Women are so dynamic and part of the reason they travel is to have this transformative experience— they’ve just retired, they’re divorced,

or they hate their job; or maybe they’re just taking a trip with their mom.” Bates says. “I think companies sometimes do a disservice because people don’t just travel on a whim. It’s consistent throughout your life—taking a break and going somewhere that will inspire you.”

Bates started her company with trips to Mexico City. Originally from Texas, and surrounded by native Mexicans, Bates has a nostalgic view of Mexico. More practically, Mexico City’s high elevation meant that it was Zika-free, a concern for many female travelers. Bates also notes “Mexico City has really boomed in the last year, but at the time it was just emerging as a dynamic city that had been untapped … I want to find places that feel off the beaten path.”

Some of the Mexico City trip itinerary highlights include:

Travelers experience vibrant culture, rich history and incredible design

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Photo: Lindsay Lauckner

• Learning about gemstones and jewelry making with Mariana Villarreal of Sangre de mi Sangre in her private studio • Enjoying a private, textile-shopping experience led by the women behind textile company Colorindio • Exploring Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul on a private tour led by female art historian Natalia Zerbato • Learning how to make ceviche with chef Mercedes Bernal of Meroma (restaurant) • Tasting YOLA mezcal produced and bottled by women in Oaxaca Wild Terrains doesn’t just pay lipservice to the concept of trips for women. Instead, every aspect of their itineraries prioritizes supporting women-owned businesses (from the hotel you sleep in to the food you eat) and they donate one percent of the profits from each trip to a local organization that supports women entrepreneurs.

In addition, Bates notes that at Wild Terrains, “We also proactively name all of the women that we work

Wild Terrains crafts unique trips to places like Mexico City and Portugal

with—we post about them on social media and we’re building out the content on them on our website.

Even though that’s kind of a travel company’s intellectual property, we’ve decided that we’re going to start with the partners first, we’re going to treat them really well, and we’re going to talk about them everywhere. We want them to feel like we’re driving their business forward.”

Building on the success of their trips to Mexico, the company has added Portugal as a destination.

Selected for warmth and cultural offerings, Portugal’s trip includes: • A Lisbon street art tour designed

by Vanessa Teodoro, a South African street artist based in Lisbon • Foraging expedition led by Portuguese mixologist Constança Cordeiro, followed by a private mixology lesson using the ingredients gathered • A food crawl in Porto with Lucia Miklesova, historian and owner

of gourmet food company The Portuguese Affair • A day trip to Douro Valley to meet some female winemakers in the region It’s impressive growth for a company that was only founded in 2018. Asked about her future plans for the company, Bates notes that venture capital awards about only two percent of its annual funding to women. Bates paid her early bills by consulting on the side. Wild Terrains hasn’t taken any outside funding, with Bates’ goal that they won’t ever take venture capital money. Her hard work is paying off—projections show that a year and a half in, Wild Terrains will be profitable.

Bates hopes to see Wild Terrains spread across the globe. “Our real mission as a brand is to create space for women to connect with each other around the world.”

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Photo: Lindsay Lauckner

INTERNATIONAL VACATION DESTINATIONS

Elizabeth Kosar is a writer and communications strategist in Denver. She enjoys traveling and boasts an ability to pack light.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

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ENTERPRISE

Patient-Centered Healthcare A decade after starting their vein and vascular medical care practice, couple has seen it grow to seven locations

By Danielle Yuthas I Photography by Fagan Studios

H

HEALTH IS AN ESSENTIAL PILLAR to a life well lived and healthcare practitioners are the unsung heroes who help us live better each day. The American Vein & Vascular Institute provides vein care and vascular diagnosis through a network of seven vein clinics in Colorado. Founded in 2009

by Erin Gibbs, CEO, and her husband Dr. Gordon Gibbs, chief medical executive, the business has received such accolades as Top 250 privately-owned Colorado business; top 100 women-owned companies; top 50 family-owned companies; Colorado companies to watch; fastest growing company nominee and more.

In addition to being led by a female CEO, other top leadership roles in the organization are held by women as well. Seven of the nine in-clinic provider roles are held by women as well as nine out of 12 management roles. Just as veins bring blood to the heart, companies like these, pump life-giving energy into our community.

The American Vein & Vascular Institute prides itself on being a patient-first healthcare organiza-

THE DETAILS

tion. “[We] are a customer service company who specializes in vein and vascular care,” it states on its website. Each step of the patient’s journey from scheduling an appointment through treatment is designed to put the client at ease.

Vascular disease affects nearly 30 million people annually and each individual responds differently. Those seeking vein health do so for a variety of reasons. What many people

don’t know is that swollen, itchy, tight or restless legs, pain, cramps or ulcers in the legs and spider and varicose veins are all uncomfortable symptoms that could be tied to vein health. The best place to start is with a screening, consultation and diagnostic tests by vascular specialists who can explain the health implications of what you are experiencing in a friendly, solutionoriented way. A personalized plan is then developed for each patient that is minimally invasive, requires no downtime or hospitalization and results are typically felt in as little as six to 12 weeks.

Vascular disease is treatable and understanding options is the first step to healing. The American Vein & Vascular Institute focuses on quality of life and it isn’t just the veins that are being healed but individual patients’ ability to hike or sleep through the night.

One of the most conservative treatment options is simply wearing compression stocking, socks and sleeves. Compression wear is not a cure for vein disease; however, it does effectively manage the symp-

American Vein & Vascular Institute American Vein & Vascular Institute provides vein care and vascular diagnosis through a network of seven vein clinics in Colorado. americanvein.com

Dr. Gordon Gibbs and Erin Gibbs

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toms. Each vein clinic offers custom fitting in the in-house Compression Center, which has a boutique-style assortment of compression wear.

When fitted properly, a solution as simple as a stocking can bring great relief to your legs by improving blood circulation. It is particularly helpful for those who spend long stretches of time sitting but can also be helpful for athletes to reduce lactic acid build-up after intense workouts. Results can be achieved in as little as two weeks.

Arterial disease, which is a blockage in a vessel that delivers blood from the heart to the rest of the body, is also treated by the American Vein & Vascular Institute. Blockages can happen throughout the body and are common in the legs, causing the amount of blood and nutrients to the legs to be reduced. An angiogram procedure is often the cure and results can be felt immediately following the procedure.

Because veins are such an important part of overall health, reducing the visibility of spider veins and varicose veins makes us look younger, healthier and more vibrant. For those who are not in pain and are simply aspiring to look and feel better about themselves, there is a Lovely Legs Beauty Treatment package that is strictly a cosmetic treatment. This involves a

process called sclero-therapy which is best suited for surface veins.

The Gibbs family is celebrating 10 years of “healing with energy—to and from the heart.” From humble beginnings with one clinic (then the Rocky Mountain Vein and Vascular Institute) and just the husband-andwife team of Erin and Dr. Gordon Gibbs to all of the patient intake, diagnosis, treatment, scheduling, marketing, billing and more at seven locations in Colorado, the American Vein & Vascular Institute has seen healthy success and has brought life to the patients they serve.

As such, the privately-held, woman led organization is an inspiration for aspiring female entrepreneurs.

Erin Gibbs advises any women who are considering the path to becoming a CEO to “take business courses in college. Understand business accounting, understand the money side of marketing. Being creative is not enough. If you are going to own and run a business, learn and understand every job.”

This is truly a business that changes lives daily and provides value to each of the patients and employees it touches.

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Danielle Yuthas is a Denver native who is a marketing director for national franchise brand as well as a freelance journalist.

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FINISHING TOUCH

Homes Decked Out for the Holidays University Park in Denver is the site for the annual L’Esprit de Noël tour to benefit Central City Opera

By Joanne Davidson

U

UNIVERSITY PARK—A SOUTH DENVER neighborhood founded in 1886 with the vision of becoming a “bucolic enclave” for educators and others affiliated with the University of Denver, one where residents were required to develop their lots according to a “tasty and artistic plan”—is the site of the Central City Opera’s 43rd L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour.

Five homes that feature an interesting mix of architectural styles will be open for this self-guided walking tour on Nov. 22 and 23. Each residence will be decorated for the winter holidays by some of the region’s

most creative floral and specialoccasion designers. They include Flower Power, Birdsall & Co., The Lark, Dwell Antiques, all located in Denver, and Boulder-based Swanky Bastard Florals & Events.

This is the first time that L’Esprit de Noël has been held in University Park, and event chairs Lauren Hors-

Photo: Lisa Buscietta

THE DETAILS What: 43rd L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour Dates: Nov. 22 and 23 Location: Denver’s University Park neighborhood Price: $28 if purchased at centralcityopera.org/lesprit; $30 at the door or at select King Soopers. A separately ticketed patron party on Nov. 21 also includes admission to the tour.

Each residence is decorated for the winter holidays

Proceeds: Money raised goes toward the preservation and maintenance of the 1878 Central City Opera House and the historic properties owned by the Central City Opera House Association, and the education and community engagement programs that reach 80,000 people annually.

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Photo: Jill Livran

Of Note: No strollers and no photography inside the homes

Decor by some of the region’s most creative floral and special-occasion designers

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

man and Abby Mercado agree that is a key reason why the neighborhood was selected. “L’Esprit is such a community event,” Mercado notes, attracting upwards of 2,000 guests every year. “For that reason we like to maintain a diversity of neighborhoods; that is, not revisit the same places time and again.”

“We stayed away from University Park because the elementary school PTSA held a home tour there for many years,” explains Denise Sanderson, a past chair of the fundraiser and adviser to the 2019 committee.

But when that tour was put on hiatus, Central City was quick to jump in.

The L’Esprit planners are excited to shine a spotlight on the historical connection between University Park and the University of Denver and, in turn, DU’s connection to the Central City Opera.

“University Park, which is also known as Observatory Park, was developed because of its proximity to the University of Denver and DU has a long history connecting it to the Central City Opera,” Sanderson adds.

It begins with Anne Evans, daughter of DU’s founder, John Evans. John Evans, who in 1862 was appointed governor of Colorado Territory by President Abraham Lincoln, also founded Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. His daughter established the Central City Opera House Association with Ida Kruse McFarlane in 1931; a year later they started the opera’s Flower Girl presentation, a tradition that continues today.

Photo: Anne McGonagle

HOMES DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Former DU Chancellors Dan Ritchie and Rebecca Chopp are members of the Central City Opera board, as is former provost Gregg Kvistad.

Horsman and Mercado are working to incorporate DU into this year’s tour. “Possibly we can include an historical building that is still owned by the university.

The homes secured thus far “speak to a new generation of young families,” and include a Denver Square built in 1906 that has the original leaded glass windows at the front entry. Another of the homes is owned by a former Central City Opera trustee and contains antiques that she purchased at the Spalding Antiques Show, a sale that benefited the Central City Opera from 2000 until its final installment in 2010.

Fitzroy Place, also known as the Warren-Iliff Mansion, also will be a stop on the tour. Built in 1893 for Elizabeth Iliff, widow of John Wes-

Photo: Anne McGonagle

The 43rd L’Esprit de Noël Holiday Home Tour takes place Nov. 22 and 23

A Belcaro/Bonnie Brae home from the 2018 tour

ley Iliff, a wealthy cattle baron and philanthropist who had a key role in establishing the Iliff School of Theology at DU, the two-and-onehalf-story red stone structure with 13 rooms and a raised basement is located at 2160 S. Cook St., not far from another neighborhood landmark, the Chamberlin Observatory. Today

the mansion is home to Accelerated Schools. Horsman, a human relations executive for an insurance brokerage, and Mercado, a venture capital investor, are back for a second time as L’Esprit chairs, having headed the fundraising effort in 2018 after being recruited by Nora Heitmann, a DU alum, fellow member of the Junior League of Denver and past chair of the opera company’s annual Theatre of Dreams Gala.

Horsman and Mercado also look forward to a repeat of the high energy vibe of the 2018 patron party.

It was held at Shaver-Ramsey rug gallery, which Horsman describes as “A fantastic venue, where people were chilling on stacks of rugs or enjoying food from Maria Empanada at high-top tables.

Some of Joanne Davidson’s favorite holiday decor tips were gleaned from tours of L’Esprit de Noël homes in years past.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

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BODY & SOUL

Simply Scentsational Tiffany Rose Goodyear creates sensory experiences for homes, public venues and events

By Lisa Perry

THE DETAILS Tiffany Rose Goodyear 3047 Larimer St. Denver, CO 80205 202-812-1218 trgoodyear@gmail.com thesentologist.com

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Photo: Meredith Harris

W

WHEN PEOPLE SELL A HOME, THEY might circulate a pleasant vanilla scent throughout the interior. The goal is to give the idea that someone is baking cookies in the kitchen— nostalgic memories could result in a sale. Tiffany Rose Goodyear says that’s a great example to help illustrate the sensory experiences she creates for her clients at public venues, in private homes and for events. But Goodyear’s projects are much more intricate and well thought out, utilizing her skill, sensory knowledge and imagination. When she was selecting a label to represent her professional services, she deliberately discarded “scentologist,” and instead created The Sentologist as her brand. “It’s about a whole sensory experience and not just scents per se,” she says.

At a recent pop-up, multicourse dinner event for 32 people, guests were asked to wear white in a white room. The party, called Chroma, featured a menu based on a color and accompanying music to complement each course. Goodyear was asked to scent and color the evening. “I created what I interpreted as a white scent for cocktail hour,” she says.

“A tea-time scent with high (light) notes, paired with a refreshing cocktail similar to a gin and tonic.” For dinner, Goodyear says, “If I did seven

Price Davis and Tiffany Rose Goodyear with the “Denver Lily,” a scented work of art at DIA

scents to match each course it would be an overstimulated nightmare.” So she shut down aromas completely as guests savored the taste, textures and smells of the food. However, the room changed from dramatic red to purple lighting on cue. It was back to scents for dessert. A deeper aroma and dark lighting concluded the evening. “It was really cool, a super-immersive experience.”

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

In Goodyear’s world, art and aromas go hand in hand. She collaborated with artist Price Davis to scent “Denver Lily,” his 30-foot-tall sculpture of a water lily in a flower pot, a temporary display in the middle of Denver International Airport.

For that project, she used a combination of aromas that included lilac, hyacinth, jasmine, ylang ylang, musk and oak moss. Goodyear also worked

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• Consider how you want your home to feel: relaxing, stimulating, sexy, energizing. Get inspired by the colors and décor you’ve already chosen.

• When hosting, think about incorporating a new scent that pairs with the occasion, with the food that’s served or the season.

• For relaxation, look for scents that are warm and inviting, such as vanilla or woods.

• For a stimulating environment, try notes like grass, fig or black currant.

• For a sexy vibe, use leather, tobacco, musk or oud.

• If your aim is energizing, go for citrus and bright notes.

• Home scent can be dispersed through candles and reed diffusers (great for small rooms).

• For larger spaces, diffusers can cover rooms from 250 to 1,000 square feet.

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Returning to Denver, she earned her master’s degree in advertising management at the University of Denver, and unexpectedly found herself creating a catering business, Yours Truly Cupcake. Working with event clients, she had marketing questions to go along with the culinary queries, such as theme and location, music and decor—questions designed to meet their goals. As she incorporated thematic touch, taste and smell into each event with her baked goods, she realized how underutilized aroma was. Soon she began to put more focus on complementary scents for projects that followed, and her sensory business took off.

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with a Denver Art Museum event to diffuse scents into rooms to complement specific collections. “It creates memories and a different interaction with the art,” she says. Currently she’s working as a sensory consultant at events for a Miami art gallery.

“Scent is as important to think about as the music you’re going to play when you host a dinner party—as opposed to a baby shower or a retirement party,” says Goodyear.

“Who’s coming over? What food are you serving? What ambiance are you trying to create?” She steered one couple away from using vanilla candles for their dinner party, and suggested they cook their salmon on a cedar plank instead. “Incorporating that warm smell of cedar creates a rustic ambiance and it pairs with the food. It creates a scented experience that matches the dinner party.”

Corporate and nonprofit organizations call upon Goodyear’s knowledge and creativity to enhance their special events and fundraisers. For one group’s $600,000 upscale “Colorado rustic” theme, hotel pillars were transformed into aspen trees that Goodyear infused with a woodsy, forest scent. “You can imagine the amazing decor,” she says.

Goodyear’s custom scents are based on science and creativity. “When you create a fragrance or blend, it’s kind of like writing music,” she says. “Top notes are really small molecules that dissipate quickly, heart notes are in the middle (the basis of the fragrance) and bass notes are really heavy, like tobacco and chocolate.”

When working with homeowners to scent their residences, she might ask about their favorite body fragrance and create a custom aroma based on that. “You want it to speak to you and who you are in your home.”

Goodyear graduated from Cherry Creek High School and studied philosophy at a college in Maryland. Working in Washington, D.C., she became passionate about the storytelling aspect of advertising.

Lisa Perry is celebrating 25 years covering the people, places and things that make Denver and the Rocky Mountain region such a dynamic place for multisensory experiences.

After writing this article, she is taking more time to stop and smell the roses—whether they’re real, or part of a Tiffany Rose Goodyear art project.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2019

Photo: Sunward Art / shutterstock.com

From precious jewels to joining one of our many worthwhile cultural institutions, there are plentiful ideas for presents this year. We share our inspiration

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that ending youth homelessness changes trajectories, saves lives and creates lasting community impact n

Photos: John Johnston

Urban Peak ignites the potential in each of us Urban Peak is the only agency in the greater Denver area offering a complete convergence of services to homeless youth between the ages of 15 and 24, because no one—especially the most vulnerable members of our community— should call the streets home.

During this season of giving, please consider adding these youth to your wish list. To provide warmth and comfort to all Urban Peak youth, participate in our end-of-year giving campaign and our seasonal donation drives.

Visit urbanpeak.org for more information.

Gratefully,

Christina Carlson CEO, Urban Peak

Elizabeth Hamilton, Publisher

THE PERFECT GIFT Celebrate the holidays with the Junior League of Denver’s newest cookbook,

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Centennial Celebrations is a journey of the senses featuring beautiful photography of fabulous bulous gatherings at iconic Denver locations. The he creative menus, recipes, and entertaining tips will inspire you to cook, connect, and celebrate… Colorado style!

Centennial Celebrations, along with our other five award-winning cookbooks, is available ailable for purchase purcha at a variety off llo local and national book retailers. Visit our website for the most current list. Proceeds from sales support our mission and community focus.

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osterJewelers.com - 303.572.1111

Fashion Show for Volunteers of America SERVICE WITH STYLE featuring Designer Cavanagh Baker Friday, November 15 Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek Trunk Show and Meet-and-Greet Designer Saturday, November 16 11 a.m.—3 p.m.

3000 East Third Avenue I www.marielboutique.com I 303-623-1151

The Health and Well-Being of Colorado Children and Families for 20 Years

www.iik.org

Every day, we prove the smartest investments are made in children.

At Invest in Kids, we partner with community leaders, care providers, and donors to implement research-based, proven programs with the hope of seeing every child in Colorado thrive.

Only those programs with a researchproven track record of success, and a promise of significant impact, are adopted by Invest in Kids.

SPIRIT OF THE

SEASON

By Marge D. Hansen & Elizabeth Jones

Oster Jewelers Sethi Couture romantic stackable diamond bands, bangles, earrings and pendants in 18-karat white, yellow and rose gold are perfect for holiday accessorizing and gift-giving. Bring in your personal collection of rings and bands and Oster will help you mix, match and build your very own stack. Starting at $600.

251 Steele St., Denver, 303-572-1111, osterJewelers.com

Our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide inspires, excites and showcases curated gifts for everyone on your gift list.

Celebrate the season and support area businesses and organizations throughout the New Year. Enjoy your family and friends and all the festivities that dynamic Denver and the surrounding region has to offer.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Elizabeth Hamilton, Publisher

Skea Limited The Eve down-filled jacket has a feminine athletic fit, great for wearing around town or at the resort. Highly water repellent, it features a helmetcompatible hood, underarm vent zips, powder skirt, two interior and exterior pockets and comes in 12 colors and jacquards. Priced at $428 without fur, real or faux fur trim also available.

Find it at Skea, Christy Sports or Double Diamond Ski Shop.

150 Capital Dr., Suite 270, Golden 303-371-5324, skealimited.com

Photo: Skea Limited: Makenzie Newman

Cry Baby Ranch Give someone special a handbag from the Que Chula Collection, hand-tooled in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Available in silver, pewter and black lined with chocolate suede; priced from $178-$418. Also consider the “Always Saddle Your Own Horse” bracelet (not pictured) in handmade sterling silver for $348 or gold at $698, exclusively at Cry Baby Ranch.

1419 Larimer St., Denver 303-623-3979 crybabyranch.com

Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé with Limited Edition Tiger Cage is 100 percent Pinot Noir and 100 percent Grand Cru. It is aged for a minimum of five years on lees and goes through the House’s proprietary maceration process to obtain the bright berry flavors and the beautiful pink of our champagne.

The Tiger Cage highlights the iconic shape of the bottle. cuveerose.com

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Mariel Mariel is dedicated to styling you for everyday, corporate and special occasions, as well as galas or the red carpet. You will feel confident at any event. This glamorous evening gown is the height of holiday elegance and available at Mariel Boutique. Price upon request.

3000 E. 3rd Ave., Denver 303-623-1151, marielboutique.com

The Bindery

1817 Central St., Denver 303-993-2364 thebinderydenver.com

Duke Beardsley Studio Sixth generation Coloradan Duke Beardsley has been drawing and painting the American West for as long as he can remember. The Dark Horse Press is the official home of works on paper for Beardsley. thedarkhorsepress.com dukebeardsleystudio.com info@dukebeardsleystudio.com

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Photo: The Bindery: Lucy Beaugard

The Bindery’s Chef/Owner, Linda Hampsten Fox, recently released a limited-edition cookbook filled with more than 75 original recipes that showcase what she does at her popular LoHi restaurant: cooking with ingredients at their peak in an approachable and interesting way.

Available at the restaurant and on its website. Priced at $39.

SEASON

OF THE

SPIRIT

Retro Mini Fridge Emulating the iconic style of Big Chill’s larger Retro Collection, the Mini Fridge exudes 1950s flair in a compact format perfect for kitchen suites, pool bars and elevated family rooms. Stylishly store your favorite goodies and cocktail fixings. Available at Mod Livin’ in eight standard and 200-plus custom colors.

5327 E. Colfax Ave., Denver 720-941-9292, modlivin.com

Karma Denver With soul-stirring design and a dominant presence, the new Karma Revero GT is the most elegant luxury electric vehicle ever made.

More than aesthetically arresting, it is capable, dynamic and technologically advanced. Call for price.

1480 E. County Line Rd. Highlands Ranch, 303-996-7394 karmadenver.com

Denver Art Museum Inspire your loved ones with the gift of creativity. The Denver Art Museum offers a range of memberships, all of which offer access to exclusive art experiences, including special events, programs, discounts and more.

Memberships are priced from $55 to $85 and can be purchased by phone or at the Museum.

100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver 720-913-0130, denverartmuseum.org

Edge Restaurant & Bar, Four Seasons Hotel See-and-be-seen at Denver’s progressive American steakhouse, Edge. With an extensive wine list, creative cocktails and robust menus featuring locally sourced ingredients and Colorado ranched beef, Edge offers a delicious taste of Denver. Share your love for a culinary experience with a gift certificate.

1111 14th St., Denver, 303-389-3050 edgerestaurantdenver.com

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Junior League of Denver Enjoy a unique boutique shopping experience at the 40th Annual Mile High Holiday Mart, Nov. 8-10, while giving back to the community. The website has parking information, shopping hours and admission prices. Pick up copies of Centennial Celebrations, the League’s sixth cookbook.

Gates Field House, University of Denver 2201 E. Asbury Ave., Denver, 303-692-0270, jld.org

Colorado Ballet Audiences simply can’t get enough of Colorado Ballet’s acclaimed productions: The Nutcracker, a whimsical trip to the Sugar Plum Kingdom, Nov. 30-Dec. 29; Peter Pan, adventures in Neverland, Jan. 31-Feb. 9; Tour de Force, featuring Feast of the Gods, Celts, and a world premiere, March 6-8; and Ballet MasterWorks, Apr. 3-12. Tickets start at $30.

Performances at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House 303-837-8888, Ext. 2 coloradoballet.org

Dan Sharp Luxury Outerwear She’ll love a gift of vintage Chanel jewelry this holiday season. In addition to a fabulous selection of precious fiber, cashmere and fur coats, Dan Sharp Luxury Outwear carries an impressive array of vintage Chanel for you to bejewel her with this winter and beyond.

American Vein & Vascular Institute Do you have varicose or spider veins?

American Vein & Vascular Institute can help you feel confident again with its cosmetic sclerotherapy. Buy one treatment, receive the second at a 20 percent discount. Valid at any of the seven American Vein clinics across Colorado until Dec. 31.

19284 Cottonwood Dr., Suite 204 Parker, 720-263-4932 americanvein.com

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Photos: Colorado Ballet: Kevin Gaël Thomas as Peter Pan, by Allen Birnbach; American Vein & Vascular Institute: Fagan Studios

218 Steele St., Denver, 303-333-6666 dansharpluxuryouterwear.com

SEASON

OF THE

SPIRIT

Trice Jewelers Mix and match for a truly personalized stack. Trice Jewelers can fashion a look you’ll love. Bands can be set with diamonds in various settings, textures and unique designs. A ring stack can always be added to and makes for a treasured holiday gift. Priced starting from $495.

6885 S. University Blvd., Centennial 303-759-9661, tricejewelers.com

Denver Pavilions During the upcoming holiday season, visit local shops and boutiques at Denver Pavilions, including the I Heart Denver Store, Utopia, Scout & Molly’s, Rosey’s Boutique and Jerri’s Tobacco & Fine Wines. A spin on the holiday carousel is only $3.

Dec. 19-Jan 2. Partial proceeds will benefit Food Bank of the Rockies.

500 16th St., Suite 10, Denver 303-260-6000, denverpavilions.com

The Broadmoor Hotel Enjoy the holiday festivities with an “experiential” family stay. One size fits all with The Broadmoor Gift Card.

Why not purchase one for yourself so you can come back in the spring to join the Women’s Weekend of Wellness, shop, or book The Broadmoor Fly Fishing Camp?

1 Lake Ave., Colorado Springs 888-806-9397, broadmoor.com

Pockies Pockies boxer shorts with pockets— an idea originated by three Dutch college students—are a great way to keep important stuff close. Store your music when running. Keep passports, cameras, phones and money safe when traveling, and discreetly store an insulin pump. Made for men and women. Priced at $30 a pair. pockies.com

Cherry Creek North This holiday season, give the gift of options with the Cherry Creek North Gift Card. The card is accepted at nearly 170 Cherry Creek North businesses, including boutiques, restaurants, spas, galleries and more.

To purchase the card and view a list of participating businesses, visit cherrycreeknorth.com/giftcard.

2401 E. 2nd Ave., Suite 150, Denver 303-394-2904, cherrycreeknorth.com

Feather your nest with the world’s finest European white goose down comforters and pillows. This ethically sourced, RDS certified down has been crafted to exacting standards for more than 40 years.

Mention Colorado Expression for a 15 percent discount on down products through Dec. 24.

3113 E. Third Ave., Denver 303-322-1712, 2460 Canyon Blvd.

Boulder, 303-440-3473 brassbedfinelinens.com

Denver Center for the Performing Arts Relive a holiday tradition or create new memories by sharing the joy of live theater with family and friends at Twelfth Night, Camp Christmas, The Hip Hop Nutcracker, Jesus Christ Superstar, Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical or Mannheim Steamroller Christmas.

Ticket prices vary.

14th & Curtis streets, Denver 303-893-4100, denvercenter.org

Photos: Cherry Creek North: Evan Semón; Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Phillip Huffman as The Grinch, by Andy Martin Jr.; The Brass Bed: Courtesy of Summit Down; Central City Opera: Amanda Tipton Photography

The Brass Bed

SEASON

OF THE

SPIRIT

Shaver-Ramsey Handwoven in Uzbekistan and assembled in Turkey, these silk pillows capture the centuries-old tradition of Ikat dying. Ikat is a resist dying technique in which the materials are dyed before weaving the fabric, resulting in the idiosyncratic “blurring” of the pattern edges. Ikat pillows bring the traditional and the contemporary together. $185.

589 Fillmore St., Denver 303-320-6363, shaver-ramsey.com

Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek Make the most of this magical time of year and leave the details to us.

Warm up in one of our cozy guest rooms or venture out to Cherry Creek North, where you can browse designer boutiques, world-class jewelers and visit award-winning restaurants. Current packages and promotions are available on the website, rates starting at $189.

Central City Opera Give the gift of opera! Experience the unforgettable in Central City Opera’s historic 550-seat jewel box theater. Central City Opera’s 2020 Festival features Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel, Rigoletto, and Dido and Aeneas. Subscriptions are on sale now. Gift cards are available at any increment up to $500.

245 Columbine St., Denver 720-772-5000 halcyonhotelcherrycreek.com

303-292-6700, centralcityopera.org OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

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Little Nest Portraits These hand-soldered pieces feature fine art giclée prints pressed between matte UV protectant glass. The uniquely crafted works of art are displayed on glass pyramid easels for stability and elegance.

Available in silver and 24-karat gold, prices start at $250. Visit the website to book your portrait session.

4940 S. Newport St., Denver 720-532-1678, denver.littlenestphoto.com

The Fort Restaurant Breadcrumb This Bluetooth-enabled, 2-inch x 2-inch safety device attaches to a backpack, armband or back pocket to locate a person whether or not there is cell service. Perfect for joggers, hikers or skiers, Breadcrumb can be fastened to a tent, car or other object to help find the way back to your original location. $39.99 + free app. breadcrumbtech.com

Magical during the holidays, The Fort offers crackling bonfires, twinkling lights and carolers. Great gifts, too.

Shinin’ Times At The Fort—A Cookbook details the restaurant’s history and recipes. Amazon, $39.95. Sissy Bear’s Life tells the true story of how a bear came to live at The Fort.

Amazon, Tattered Cover, $26.45.

19192 CO-8, Morrison 303-697-4771, thefort.com

SEASON

OF THE

Recognized for excellence for over a half century, Saks Galleries caters to major collectors, institutions and auction houses who rely on their expertise regarding traditional and contemporary works of art like this oil on canvas “Crisp! Crisp” 7.5-inch x 12-inch by Jane Jones. Saks offers appraisals, in-home design, restoration services and consultations. 3019 E. Second Ave., Denver, 303-333-4144, denverartgalleries.com

SPIRIT

Saks Galleries

Moore for Life A new look for the New Year is the perfect gift. This personalized makeup lesson teaches tips and techniques from top makeup artist Michael Moore to achieve your ideal look for everyday and special occasions. A $300 value, the lesson is priced at $200 through Dec. 31.

Mention this code when making your appointment: CEGiveMOORE19.

3035 E. Third Ave., Denver 303-484-1857, mooreforlife.com

Photo: Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus: Scott Dressel-Martin

Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus We have everyone on your list covered, from kiddos to kids-at-heart!

Wrap up wonder and joy with unique (and educational) toys from the gift shop, annual membership options or tickets to Ales, Apps & Barrels of Fun, a playful adults-only beers and bites extravaganza. Prices vary.

2121 Children’s Museum Dr., Denver 303-433-7444, mychildsmuseum.org

Sport Obermeyer The Evanna down jacket is the pinnacle of fashion, warmth and performance, featuring jeweled Swarovski crystal detailing and a 20,000 mm waterproof, breathable, four-way stretch fabric for an unsurpassed and flattering fit.

Responsibly sourced, Allied goose down and a removable faux fur collar create the perfect blend of innovation and elegance. Available at Christy Sports.

877-754-7627, christysports.com

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Futures Grow Here Imagine a world where every child is prepared for success Clayton Early Learning is a center of excellence for all things early childhood education, empowering children, influencing public policy and providing the research and professional development educators need to help children and families thrive.

Help ensure Colorado’s future by making a gift to Clayton Early Learning.

Learn more at ClaytonEarlyLearning.org.

_appy _olidays!

Here to Help you Handle all of the Holiday Hoopla! your Holiday event perfectly planned www.JTobey.com (303)830-0889

CeDAR You can conquer addiction. We can help.

Your donation supports addiction treatment CeDAR - Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation is a non-profit treatment facility for substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.

• Medically Supervised Withdrawal and Assessment Program • Intensive Residential Treatment • Residential Extended Care • Intensive Outpatient Programs • Outpatient Addiction Medicine and Psychiatry • Professionals Program CeDAR is a safe place for individuals 18 years and older who are suffering from the disease of addiction, for their families and for loved ones to find hope and begin a lifetime of health and wellness.

Please donate to the CeDAR Scholarship Fund and help us provide addiction treatment for those who need it most.

Visit our web site cedarcolorado.org to find: • Details about CeDAR programs • Educational information and articles • Secure link to donate online

Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation

A division of UCHealth

720.848.3000

1 in 6 Colorado households with children report being unable to afford enough food, yet 40% of the food produced MVL[ ]X QV \PM TIVLÅTT 6]\ZQ\QW][ NWWL [PW]TL JM NML \W XMWXTM VW\ TIVLÅTT[ Donate via ColoradoGives to share the gift of fresh, healthy food with our neighbors in need this season

Schedule your gift now at ColoradoGives.org/WeDontWaste

WE DON’T WASTE visit WeDontWaste.org to learn more

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animals in need regardless

cats never make it to a

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all-volunteer organization

of breed, age or size. Most

shelter. Unowned, unso-

rescue shelter dogs and

that focuses on solving

of our adult animals and

cialized, and breeding in

train them to assist persons

pet homelessness through

litters of puppies/kittens

perpetuity, cats in unman-

who are deaf or hard-of-

adoption, spay/neuter and

are from “euthanasia lists”

aged feral colonies expe-

hearing, with and without

pet retention. We do not

or require veterinary care

rience extreme suffering.

multiple disabilities, at no

discriminate against any

shelters are unable to pro-

With our Trap/Neuter/

cost to the recipient. In

animal and open our door

vide. We spay/neuter, im-

Return (TNR) program, we

what is often a lonely and

to all breeds, ages and

munize and nurture these

work with volunteers, vet-

isolating world, Hearing

special care cases. We be-

souls and then place them

erinarians and residents to

Dogs give their recipient

lieve in using our organiza-

into carefully screened

prevent feral kittens from

freedom, companionship

tion to help animals grow,

adoptive homes.

being born and improve

and confidence. Interna-

improve and rehabilitate.

the lives of those already

tional Hearing Dog invests

born. As part of our efforts,

$15,000 in the care, train-

Forgotten Felines Rescue

ing, and placement of ev-

volunteers rescue tame

ery Hearing Dog we place

cats who have been aban-

but give the dog to their

doned and kittens who

recipient free of charge.

can be socialized, and find

coloradogives.org/IHDI

100% of your donations go to saving innocent, desperate animals. We rely on committed volunteers, caring foster homes and your kind donations to rescue over 400+ animals every year! coloradogives.org/ Circle2Rescue

them loving homes. coloradogives.org/ ForgottenFelinesRescue/

We also provide Trap-Neuter-Return services, as well as an annual spay/neuter and vaccination clinic to the homeless population.

All donations go directly towards improving the lives of animals in need. demisanimalrescue.com/ COgives

Donate to help animals in Colorado this Colorado Gives Day, Tuesday, December 10, 2019

SpayToday is a low-cost,

National Mill Dog Res-

high-volume spay, neuter

cue’s mission is to rescue,

and pet wellness clinic

rehabilitate, and rehome

in Lakewood. We believe

discarded breeding dogs

EVERY pet deserves to live

while educating the public

a happy, healthy, litter-free

about the realities of the

life regardless of the size of commercial dog breeding industry. We have rescued their owner’s bank account. Since 2009 we have

over 14,000 dogs from

fixed over 68,000 pets,

across the nation, and

preventing countless un-

work within our commu-

planned litters from ending

nity and across the nation

up homeless. Each year,

to create positive change,

over 500 cats and dogs

while placing our dogs in

receive free spay, neuter

loving forever homes. The

and vaccines through our

donations we receive go

Healthy Paws voucher pro-

towards the comprehen-

gram. Donate this Colorado sive care of the dogs we rescue, ensuring their new Gives Day to help a pet in need!

starts in life are happy and

coloradogives.org/ SpayToday

healthy. coloradogives.org/nmdr/

Golden Retriever Freedom Rescue (GRFR) is an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and adopt abused, neglected, and unwanted Golden Retrievers and Golden-like dogs to permanent homes. Dogs are fostered in homes enabling GRFR to better assess their temperament and allowing prospective owners to visit with the Goldens in a non-kennel environment.

All GRFR Goldens receive medical care, including vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, heartworm treatment and more. We need your donations to ensure our dogs get to their furever homes.

GoldenRetrieverFreedom.org

A $5 donation feeds a pet for a month! Our mission is to feed hungry pets, allowing families to keep them in their homes and out of the shelters. We have grown to 38 monthly pet food banks throughout Colorado. In addition to pet food banks, we also run the Animal Welfare Share Program, partnering with more than 85 local animal rescues and other organizations that help people with animals, to share supplies and pet food, increasing efficiency among the animal welfare community. coloradopetpantry.org/cgd

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HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING

This Holiday Season,

DECOR TAKES A NATURAL TURN Earthy elements, traditional patterns, cool colors, experiential gatherings are trending

By Lindsay Mitchell I Photography by Chad Chisholm

WITH THE HOLIDAY SEASON JUST AROUND THE corner, you may already be thinking about planning for upcoming parties, hosting guests, or just sprucing up the decor in your home. Whatever your holiday traditions and celebrations may be, it’s an exciting—and sometimes overwhelming—time of year for most of us.

But not to worry, we’re here to help calm some of those impending waves of panic and get those creative juices flowing, so you can start planning for the holidays with an inspired and easygoing attitude that says, “I got this.”

We reached out to John Tobey and Shannon McLaughlin of John Tobey Event Design in Denver to help us uncover and explore the hottest new trends in holiday house parties and decor. Below are their top tips on ways to dazzle and delight your family and friends this season:

A Need for Nature

“What we’ve been seeing lately with our clients is a lot of nature inspiration for entertaining and holiday parties,” Tobey says. “I think nature is something we can all relate to—whether it’s Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, or non-denominational/secular celebrations— so it’s easy for anyone to incorporate this theme in their decor and festivities,” he says. They’ve been seeing natural features coming into play—from magical wintery sky themes with sun, moon, stars and snowflakes to more earthy elements like wood, bark, wreaths and plant-based decor.

A related trend that’s been around in recent years and continues is hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”), McLaughlin says, explaining this Danish expression is loosely translated as “cozy.” “Hygge-inspired decor evokes a sense of simplicity, warmth, comfort and coziness—so things

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like sheepskin throws and knitted things, pine boughs and holly branches, red and white flowers and other elements from nature, rather than the glitz and glitter that was popular years ago,” she says.

Patterns from the Past

“Another trend we’re seeing a lot of is the influence of patterns that were big decades ago—specifically herringbone, plaid and polka dots,” Tobey says. They’ve been showing up in all kinds of holiday decor such as stockings, tree skirts, table settings and centerpieces, indoor and outdoor displays and accent pieces. “We’re also seeing this trend inspiring some fun new twists on old traditions, such as hanging patterned giant mittens instead of stockings over the fireplace,” he says.

Taking Back Traditions

“Traditions and ceremonial holiday themes are back in a big way,” says Tobey. “It’s like we’re seeing this generation bringing back the trends of their parents’

Decor can take a fun new twist on old traditions

Natural elements incorporated into this decor make for a cozy setting

generation, perhaps longing for the comforting traditions they grew up with,” he says, citing building gingerbread houses, stringing popcorn and cranberries, and decorating live (or at least more natural-looking) trees and wreaths as being increasingly popular over the last year or so.

Golden Glow

“Lighting is something we’re seeing as a big trend this holiday season,” Tobey says, explaining that warmer lighting is trending. “Whereas a couple of years ago we were seeing all those cool, white, LED lights and really bright colors, now we’re seeing that the trend in lighting is coming back to a more natural, warm, golden, festive, candle-like glow.”

Calming Colors

According to Tobey and McLaughlin, one of the biggest color trends for 2020 is calming blues inspired by the soothing colors of the sea or ocean—and they expect it to influence the 2019 holiday season too. “The color blue is huge this year, and this trend plays nicely into everything from Hanukah to the winter, sky, and fairytale-like themes,” Tobey says. Specifically, the three shades on everybody’s radar this year are midnight, aqua, and cerulean (or sky) blue. “Blue agate ornaments and other earthy minerals and gems are going to be big this year,” Tobey predicts. Other colors expected to be strong for the holidays this year include aspen gold, mango, toffee and Pantone’s vibrant Pink Peacock.

John Tobey Event Design By appointment

2125 Grant St. Denver, CO 80210 303-830-0889 jtobey.com

Experiential Events

Tobey and McLaughlin say when it comes to party planning, there’s an overall shift toward focusing more on meaningful experiences “Whether it’s an elegant potluck, a gingerbread house competition, a toy drive or a fun fundraiser, people are forgoing the more consumer-based holiday culture in favor of incorporating more meaningful experiences, activities, and even a sense of mindfulness and inclusiveness into holiday celebrations,” McLaughlin says. “Ultimately, we try to create memorable moments,” she says, adding, “After all, that’s what the holidays are all about.”

Lindsay Mitchell is a writer and content marketing specialist who has written for several home design and remodel blogs. She likes to say she has “designer genes” thanks to being the daughter of interior designer Terri Mitchell of Interior Enhancing in Colorado Springs. Learn more at coloradocreativecontent.com and interiorenhancing.com.

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Our mission is to give Colorado children a magical Holiday.

Volunteers of America Needs 6,000 toys for children in Colorado this Holiday season. Please help by donating unwrapped new toys.

Toy Collection Location FIRST AMERICAN STATE BANK

8390 E. Crescent Parkway, Suite 100, Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Start date for toy donations is November 1st Last date for toy donations is December 20th Cash Donations

Cash donations can be made directly to Volunteers of America at www.voacolorado.org/toydrive Presented by First American State Bank, Cherry Hills Living and Preserving the Good Life Magazines BeneďŹ ting Volunteers of America Colorado Branch

JOYFUL OUTINGS TO SHARE WITH YOUR FAMILY

NOV 21, 2019 – JAN 5, 2020

NOV 23 – 24, 2019

DEC 14 & 15, 2019

OCT 4, 2019 – FEB 16, 2020

TM

TM

& © 1957, 2018 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, LP. & © 1957, 2018 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, LP.

DEC 3 – 8, 2019

DENVERCENTER.ORG BROADWAY SEASON SPONSORS

THEATRE COMPANY SEASON SPONSORS

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

Philip Huffman as The Grinch in the 2016 Touring Company of Dr. Seuss’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! The Musical

AN IMMERSIVE HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

CHANGE AN ANIMAL’S WORLD Donate to help animals in Colorado this Colorado Gives Day, Tuesday, December 10, 2019 Soul Dog Rescue began work in 2011 on the reservations in the Four Corners area, due to an overwhelming need for help. Nothing was being done to help the dogs and cats in this area where the poverty levels are through the roof and life is hard for the people, making life hard for the animals as well. Enter Soul Dog! SDR spay/neuters and rescues thousands of animals each year from euthanasia as the only rescue agency helping animal control on Navajo lands.

Donate to Soul Rescue Dog at: coloradogives.org/SoulDogRescue

Bergen Spay and Neuter Alliance takes a comprehensive approach to providing spay and neuter services in the most underserved communities in Colorado. Our mobile surgical unit allows us to work directly with the highest-need communities in our state. Our high-impact work improves the lives of dogs, cats, their owners and the entire communities we serve. Donate to Bergen Spay and Neuter Alliance at: BergenSpayandNeuter.org The Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue (RMLR) consists of volunteers who are passionate about rescuing and rehoming Labs and Lab mixes of all ages, from rural and local shelters, most of which are high-kill shelters. RMLR dogs are placed in loving foster homes before adoption and receive critical medical care needed to live long, happy, and healthy lives. Please consider adopting, fostering, volunteering, or donating. Visit rockymountainlabrescue.com to learn more and find out how you can get involved. Donate to Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue at: coloradogives.org/RockyMountainLabRescue

D ancing Dog R escue

Dancing Dog Rescue and Recovery Ranch, Inc. gives dogs, at risk of shelter euthanasia, a safe place to recover and find loving homes. A happy, healthy dog will smile and dance. We are here to put that happy back in their feet and hearts by matching them with just the right loving foster home or adopted family! Donate to Dancing Dog Rescue at: facebook.com/DancingDogRescue/

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We make kids with serious illnesses feel like ordinary kids. Giggling, laughing, kayaking, arrow-shooting, horseback-riding, art-creating kids. They find new courage, create lasting friendships, and enjoy the pure joy of childhood.

Serving the Rocky Mountain region, we offer unforgettable camp experiences for kids with serious illnesses and their families.

Always free of charge.

Join us at the campfire.

Schedule a tour. Volunteer. Attend an event. Donate.

RoundupRiverRanch.org | 970.524.2267

n Remember ussoDay, Colorado Giv1e0th.

December

Creating a More Humane World

JOIN US!

GET INVOLVED!

Fall Festival

Cards for Critters

10am-2pm

Handmade

October 6

Greeting Cards

The Venue at Crooked Willow Farms

Purchase a box of 30 beautiful cards for $30 and the proceeds benefit our educational programming.

FREE FUN FAMILY ACTIVITIES Kids crafts - Inflatables - Face Painter Food Trucks - 2 Magic Shows - Vendor Booths SANCTUARY TOURS Available at a one day reduced rate!

Get Active & Learn More We are a working animal sanctuary and our focus is on education and the human-animal connection.

ZoologyFoundation.org 10554 South Perry Park Road | Larkspur CO, 80118 THE ZOOLOGY FOUNDATION IS A 501(C)(3) NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION

Help 1.25 Million Americans with Type 1 Diabetes

ColoradoGives.org/CDF

Nonprofit Organizations

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By Joanne Davidson

It’s no secret that charitable giving is rewarding, for both the recipient and the donor. As noted on the Charities Aid Foundation website, “The knowledge that you are helping others is hugely empowering and in turn can make you feel happier and more fulfilled.

Especially during the holidays when many families go without.”

Suffice it to say that nonprofit organizations welcome every gift, especially this time of year when needs seem more apparent, and money, merchandise, food, frequent flyer miles or volunteering one’s time can make an even greater impact. The agencies profiled below include wish lists that will give prospective donors specific ideas of what is needed.

Amp the Cause 303-605-2885, ampthecause.org

Walter and Christie Isenberg founded this Denver-based nonprofit with the idea that “we can do great things when we come together.” And they have. Now in its 15th year, Amp the Cause has distributed $8.7 million in monetary and in-kind donations to 51 child-focused health and educational organizations, including Clothes to Kids of Denver, The Conflict Center, Mental Health Center of Denver and Urban Peak. Fundraisers like Denver Day of Rock and the Celebrity Waiter Dinner have enabled Amp the Cause and its 700-plus volunteers to serve more than 600,000 children and families to date. This holiday season, the Isenbergs and executive director Julia Simmons welcome donations of money and gift cards to Walmart as well as Home Depot, where they can buy materials for the Community Day during which volunteers help nonprofits improve their facilities.

CeDAR (Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation) 720-848-3000, cedarcolorado.org

CeDAR is the University of Colorado’s premier addiction treatment center. Its evidence-based outpatient and residential programs “not only save lives, they provide a meaningful foundation for long-term recovery from addiction,” says senior director Susan Dearing-Bond. CeDAR serves individuals aged 18 and older by offering such programs as medically-managed detox; fitness and nutrition; coping skills; group and individual therapy; 12-step and other mutual aid groups; and long-term follow up care. Donations to CeDAR’s capital, endowment and scholarship funds are encouraged this holiday season, and throughout the year.

Photo: J. Chizhe / shutterstock.com; Icons: Isared Honghin / shutterstock.com

ARE

Their Needs

Children’s Diabetes Foundation

Clayton Early Learning

303-863-1200, childrensdiabetesfoundation.org

303-355-4411, claytonearlylearning.org

Established in 1977 by Barbara and Marvin Davis, the foundation serves as a fundraising and education arm of the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes. The center is located on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, and is a research and treatment facility serving Type 1 diabetics from all over the world. The Davises’ daughter, Dana, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 7 and today serves as the foundation’s executive director. The foundation’s key fundraisers—The Carousel Ball and the Brass Ring Luncheon—raise more than $2 million annually. Much of that goes toward research, but funds also are designated for such foundation-sponsored programs as Helping Hand, which assists families in times of exceptional need by purchasing diabetic supplies and helping with travel expenses to get to doctors’ appointments. Davis’ holiday wish is for gift cards that can be given to patients and their families.

The handsome red sandstone buildings set on 20 acres at the northwest corner of Colorado and Martin Luther King Boulevards in Denver are home to Clayton Early Learning, a nonprofit offering high-quality early childhood education for children up to age 5. The goal is to build their cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being in preparation for their long-term academic success. Enrollment is open to children of all income levels and abilities, but special welcome is afforded to those with “limited opportunity.” President/CEO Becky Crowe welcomes financial contributions; age-appropriate boys and girls clothing; and children’s books.

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Colorado Pet Pantry 720-441-3111, coloradopetpantry.org

What’s a pet parent to do when family finances are such that there’s barely enough money to pay rent and utilities, let alone put food on the table for the household’s two-legged members? Thank goodness for Colorado Pet Pantry, an organization that will provide food on a temporary basis for companion animals, allowing people to keep their pets instead of relinquishing them to a shelter. Colorado Pet Pantry conducts 36 monthly pet food banks (50 during the holiday season) and helps 85 animal rescue organizations with pet food and supplies. Executive director Eileen Lambert’s wishes are for donations of dry dog and cat food, or cash. “A $5 donation feeds a pet for a month,” she says, adding that Colorado Pet Pantry’s service area has been expanded to add 15 small towns in rural Colorado to its ever-increasing demands for service.

Dumb Friends League 303-751-5772, ddfl.org

For more than 100 years, the Dumb Friends League has been working to end pet homelessness and animal suffering. As the largest community-based animal welfare organization in the region, the Dumb Friends League is considered a national model for the care it provides for more than 21,000 homeless pets and horses annually. In addition to a robust pet adoption program, the Dumb Friends League also rescues lost and abandoned pets, investigates cases of cruelty and neglect and provides reduced- and no-cost spay and neuter clinics. Cash donations and new volunteers are always needed; so, too, are Pet Tutor food dispensers.

Helping Others is Hugely

EMPOWE Freedom Service Dogs 303-922-6231, freedomservicedogs.org

Firefly Autism 303-759-1192, fireflyautism.org

Firefly Autism, under the leadership of Jesse Ogas and a team of highly skilled professionals, is gaining a national reputation for its extensive range of in-home and clinic-based services for individuals between the ages of 18 months and 21 years who are on the autism spectrum. Earlier this year Firefly closed on the purchase of the former North Lakewood School in Jefferson County, a move that when completed in 2020 will enable Firefly to serve 120 people, a significant increase from the current limit of 40. Ogas’ holiday wish list is for donations of cash, new or gently used iPads and kinetic sand.

What began as a local, two-person operation in 1987 has grown to become one of the leading service dog training organizations in the United States. Dogs are selected from rescue and shelter organizations in Colorado and surrounding states, and following extensive training are matched with clients living with such conditions as stroke, autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury. Dogs can perform such tasks as turning lights on and off, pushing 911 or medical alert buttons, pulling wheelchairs and retrieving dropped items. FSD’s Operation Freedom matches dogs with military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. President/CEO Michele Ostrander says a holiday gift that would be particularly welcome is money, “As we rely 100 percent on donations so we can provide service dogs free of charge.” Also appreciated are volunteers to help raise the next generation of Freedom Service Dogs by fostering dogs in their homes; and for the dogs, Nylabones and collars.

Invest in Kids 303-839-1808, iik.org

By joining with partner agencies in low-income areas throughout Colorado, Invest in Kids offers evidencebased programs that improve the health and well-being of the state’s vulnerable children and their families. IIK’s Nurse-Family Partnership, for example, has since 1998 matched highly trained registered nurses with nearly 25,000 first-time mothers and their babies, for results that include a 21 percent reduction of smoking during pregnancy and having 92 percent of the moms elect to have their children immunized by age 2. Executive Director Lisa Hill’s holiday wish is for program volunteers; sponsors and volunteers for IIK’s 21st Jane-A-Thon ski-and-snowboard fundraiser held at Winter Park on March 6 and 7; and donations to help fund the programs currently reaching 15,000 Colorado children and families annually.

RING Pivot Denver

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720-708-2200, pivotdenver.org

Pivot Denver was founded on the belief that “together, we can bridge the gaps.” Pivot connects and then funds Denver’s most influential nonprofit organizations working in the areas of academic success, nutrition, mental wellness and career readiness.

One hundred percent of all donations to Pivot goes to these organizations, as the costs for management and overhead are underwritten by Pivot’s founding trustees: John Elway, Larry Mueller, George Solich, Walter Rakowich and Navin Dimond. CEO Mimi Roberson says that gifts during this holiday season are for things that would go to the partner agencies: sports and science equipment for students at the Girls Athletic Leadership School; gift certificates to sporting events, restaurants, Elitch Garden or movie theaters that mentors at Big Brothers Big Sisters can share with their mentees; and garden equipment for the Big Green gardens.

Jewish Family Service of Colorado 303-597-7700, jewishfamilyservice.org

Some may think that with a name like Jewish Family Service, this human services agency founded in 1872 would only accept clients who are of the Jewish faith.

Not so, says president and chief executive officer Linda Foster, as she points out that a majority of JFS’ 24,000 clients are not Jewish. The 30-plus programs that JFS offers include those that help seniors age in place, a food pantry, mental health counseling, food and financial aid to people in crisis, and job training and placement for those with significant barriers to employment.

Foster’s holiday wish list for JFS is for donations of disposable diapers (sizes 4, 5 and 6) to be distributed through the JFS Weinberg Food Pantry; $25 gift cards to Target, Walmart or King Soopers that can be given to JFS clients who are refugees, older adults or families in crisis; and household items such as pots, pans, plates, drinking glasses, towels, new bedding and cleaning supplies for refugees and those transitioning out of homelessness.

National Jewish Health 1-877-225-5650, nationaljewish.org

For 120 years, National Jewish Health has been at the forefront of research and medical care focusing on lung, heart and immune diseases. Long rated as the nation’s No. 1 hospital for respiratory care by US News & World Report magazine, National Jewish Health is also noted for Morgridge Academy, a K-8 school for children whose chronic illnesses prevent them from thriving in a traditional school, and for its smoking cessation and weight management programs accessible online and by telephone. “We believe in offering more than a 15-minute patient encounter or just writing a few prescriptions,” says president/CEO Michael Salem.

“We provide the comprehensive education and care that our patients need, so that they have access to the latest medical advances and great discoveries made not only in our labs but also in others around the world.” Gifts that Salem would welcome this holiday season are RTD bus passes for children attending Morgridge Academy; Peak Flow Meters (small, easyto-use instruments that measure how well a child’s lungs are working. They are used daily and must be replaced yearly); and swim goggles (Morgridge Academy students swim on Mondays and Wednesdays and goggles are required).

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Roundup River Ranch 970-524-2267, roundupriverranch.org

When the late actor Paul Newman started the Serious Fun Children’s Network (formerly Hole in the Wall Gang Camps) it was with the idea that each would be a place for kids with serious illnesses to “raise a little hell” while spending time in a worry-free, zero price tag environment. Roundup River Ranch in the Vail Valley town of Gypsum is one of those camps, thanks to the generosity of local philanthropist Alison Knapp and other donors who fund the year-round programs offered free of charge for children from an 11-state Rocky Mountain region and their families. The organization’s holiday wishes are for donations that will help sponsor campers, costumes for the drama and music programs, and art supplies.

Urban Peak 303-974-2900, urbanpeak.org

The services that Urban Peak offers at its Denver and Colorado Springs locations are designed to meet the “unique and diverse needs” of youths between the ages of 15 and 24 who are homeless and, often, have experienced significant trauma, pain and an early loss of innocence. “Our primary goal is to empower them to overcome homelessness by providing a continuum of services that save the community upwards of $19.

2 million a year,” says CEO Christina Carlson. In 2018 Urban Peak provided 12,391 nights of shelter and served 6,935 meals to its young clients. Carlson’s holiday wishes are for cash donations, $5 or $10 gift cards to King Soopers, Walmart and McDonald’s; and High Sierra Swerve backpacks.

Nonprofit Organizations

WELCOME

Every Gift

Volunteers of America

Zoology Foundation

303-297-0408, voacolorado.org

303-951-8813, zoologyfoundation.org

VOA Colorado is but one chapter of this national faith-based nonprofit formed in 1896 to support and empower American’s most vulnerable: the hungry, the frail elderly, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, homeless individuals, women in need and military veterans and their families. VOA Colorado’s 30 programs reach 200,000 people per year. This holiday season, president David Schunk encourages the donation of money; new, unwrapped gifts for children between the ages of 1 and 18; and items from VOA Colorado’s wish list on amazon.com

Headquartered at Crooked Willow Farms in Larkspur, the Zoology Foundation is dedicated to creating a more humane world by fostering communication between all living things. Staffers do this through educational programs, hands-on camp experiences, and visits to the foundation’s animal sanctuary that is home to 150 animals, many of whom have been rescued or surrendered. The “residents” include two camels, a cane toad, a red-rumped tarantula, miniature donkeys and a Nigerian dwarf goat. The C.A.M.E.L. Club, for those between the ages of 5 and 17, has members from all over the world who participate in weekly challenges, events and activities centered on building empathy and compassion for humans, animals and the environment.

The foundation’s holiday wish list is for donations of canned dog and cat food, paper towels and white salt blocks of any size.

We Don’t Waste 720-443-3668, wedontwaste.org

Dismayed by the amount of perfectly good food that he saw being tossed by restaurants and catering companies, and knowing how many Coloradans were going hungry each day, attorney Arlan Preblud started We Don’t Waste.

From its early days when Preblud would load the trunk of his car with donated food, to last year, when We Don’t Waste distributed 31 million servings of food, both demand and supply have increased. “We can always use cash, a large floor cleaner for our new distribution center and new tires for our trucks,” Preblud says.

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Joanne Davidson wrote about nonprofit organizations in the metro Denver area during her 30 years as The Denver Post’s society editor, and quickly discovered that every cause is a worthy cause.

The ones included in this story are particularly so.

GIVE THE GIFT OF

INDEPENDENCE *no assem

e r ui q bl y r e

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WHEN YOU SUPPORT FREEDOM SERVICE DOGS

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, YOU’LL HELP GIVE THE

LIFE-CHANGING GIFT OF A SERVICE DOG TO SOMEONE IN NEED. YOU CAN HELP FREEDOM SERVICE DOGS TRANSFORM LIVES BY:  Making a one-time or recurring monthly gift.  Sponsoring a kennel for one of our service dogs in training.  Donating your vehicle.  Making a stock or year-end IRA rollover gift.  Including Freedom Service Dogs in your estate plans.

COLORADO GIVES DAY IS DECEMBER 10.

Donate to Freedom Service Dogs on Colorado Gives Day, and the value of your gift will be increased through the Community First Foundation’s Incentive Fund!

Pre-schedule your donation as early as November 1 at coloradogives.org/

Freedom Service Dogs are custom trained to bring independence, hope, and companionship to veterans and active-duty military, adults with disabilities, and children with autism. At our Englewood training facility, we unleash the potential of dogs by transforming them into highly skilled service dogs and providing them to people in need free of charge.

Derek & Puddles, 2015 Freedom Service Dogs graduates

FreedomServiceDogs.

303-922-6231 7193 S. Dillon Ct

Englewood, CO 80112

YOUR GIFT TODAY WILL CHANGE LIVES FOREVER!

FreedomServiceDogs.org/DONAT E

WE HOPE At National Jewish Health, the nation’s leading respiratory hospital, we breathe hope.

For 120 years, our personalized care and innovative treatments for respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders have transformed the lives of millions of patients and families.

Help us breathe hope. Your donation can help fund research and care for those with respiratory illnesses.

To make your tax deductible donation, visit njhealth.org/help, or call 800.621.0505.

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Your gift this holiday season transforms lives across Colorado.

We provide over 30 life-changing services to at-risk youth, veterans and seniors in need. Your gift will go a long way in helping the many children, women and men we serve throughout the year. A contribution to Volunteers of America also qualifies for Colorado child care tax credits on your Colorado state income tax for 2019. Check with your tax advisor for details.

When life happens, we help.

GO ONLINE TO DONATE NOW AT WWW.VOACOLORADO.ORG

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