Colorado Expression magazine December 2020 January 2021

T H E

B E S T

Holiday Traditions

O F

C O L O R A D O

CSU

Into the Future

L I V I N G

Telluride with a View

O COLORAD expression WINTER WONDER DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 FOUR DOLLARS

A N O T H E R

S U C C E S S F U L

P A R T N E R S H I P

Scott Yeoman, First American State Bank, Jay Davidson, First American State Bank, Ralph Klomp, Trice Jewelers, and Justin Klomp, Trice Jewelers

“Bright input and brilliant solutions with dazzling results.

Our kind of people!

First American State Bank partnering with Trice Jewelers.” ~ Ralph Klomp, Trice Jewelers TWENTY FIVE YEARS

6885 S. University Blvd. • Centennial, CO 80122 303.759.9661

www.fasbank.com • 303.694.6464

CONTENTS

In this Issue

38

52

28

Out & About 11

Features 52

Sip & Savor 38

Parties at the Denver Zoo, Garden of the Gods, Denver Botanic Gardens, at private homes and online have kept the social circuit lively despite the pandemic.

By Charlie Brown

By Kimberly Field

A few years ago, Brad Buchanan and his family moved from Denver to a ranch on the plains, but he hasn’t left the city behind. He also serves as CEO of the National Western Center Authority, which is transforming the city’s century-old stock show grounds into an expanded 250-acre campus.

Cookbook author and blogger Lee Clayton Roper shares her knowledge of home cooking and healthy ingredients in recipes for cold weather comfort foods that are sure to become family favorites.

Shot in the Dark

20

Calendar

By Joanne Davidson

Check out these events coming during the winter months in Colorado.

28

Bits & Pieces

Cattle Calling

56

Learning curves

By Cynthia Pasquale

Seasonal Tastes

42

From Choppers to Chocolate

By Chad Chisholm

Introducing books by photographer Jensen Sutta and artist Carrie Fell, The Fort’s food truck, a new facility at Denver Botanic Gardens and more.

Chancellor Tony Frank is guiding the Colorado State University system as it embraces technology and new ways of teaching at its physical–and online–campuses.

Marine helicopter pilot Brandon Busch made what might be considered an unexpected choice for his second career. His Boulder company, Lift Chocolates, offers handcrafted, high-quality small-batch sweets.

36

60

44

Realtor Rike Palese is seeing a surge of interest in home ownership as families turn their residences into places to work, study and live fully.

By Colleen Smith

By Joanne Davidson

Telluride’s natural beauty and circular patterns inspire the remodel and modernization of a mountain home.

The holidays are all about getting together with friends and family to celebrate traditions, and many of those revolve around food. Home cooks and entertainers share their favorite recipes.

By Danielle Yuthas

Business Spotlight

Modern Geometry

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.

Copyright© 2021, 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.

2

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

Kitchen Traditions

Perfection has a new home.

The best in automotive design and performance meets the finest in customer service and satisfaction. Only at Porsche Littleton, a Stevinson dealership beautifully designed by the family that Coloradans have trusted since 1962. Now open and ready for you to explore.

Porsche Littleton A Stevinson Dealership 5500 S. Broadway Littleton, CO 80121 (888) 992-3845 porschelittleton.com

CONTENTS

In this Issue 48

Art Scene

By Claudia Carbone

By Western Hands, a design center and gallery in downtown Cody, Wyo., celebrates the creations of regional artisans who handcraft furniture and other functional art objects.

64

Fashion

By Georgia Alexia Benjou

While our stay-at-home and work-fromhome lifestyle has made men’s dressing habits more casual, it doesn’t mean their style can’t be sophisticated.

68

Colorado Weekends

By Jordan Martindell

This will be the season of suites, where cooking, playing and socializing can be done in your own private space.

72

Getaways

By Joy Lawrance 68

Departments 22

76

Public Persona

Interior Design

By Suzanne S. Brown

Matt Keeney is the gregarious president of the strategy, branding and digital agency AOR, Inc. and he’s learned to be nimble in 2020 as businesses encounter challenges and opportunities.

By Marge D. Hansen

Whether your home office is a dedicated room or an area open to family activities, your at-home workspace can be designed and furnished to ensure privacy and comfort while encouraging productivity.

24

Nonprofit Profile

By Joanne Davidson

Alligator sightings during a Louisiana swamp tour and seeing historic city landmarks are highlights of a Lower Mississippi River Cruise.

72

Amp the Cause, the Denver-based organization dedicated to helping children and families, has added to its mission through its Fill the Void campaign.

Facebook

26

Twitter

By Steve Weil

Instagram

facebook.com/coloradoexpression twitter.com/coloexpression

Curated Western wear isn’t a costume, it’s a lifestyle, says the business and creative force at Rockmount Ranch Wear, the Denver company known for its snap-front shirts, hats, belts and Western accessories. .

4

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

instagram.com/coloradoexpression

Pinterest

pinterest.com/coloexpression

Issuu 76

issuu.com/coloradoexpression

From the Publisher

COLORADO expression OWNER/PUBLISHER

Elizabeth Hamilton

A Fresh Start Taking a deep breath, we forge ahead with a new outlook on our lives today

MANAGING EDITOR

Suzanne S. Brown ASSISTANT EDITOR

Becky Grupe OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Lisa Buscietta

T

his year has been nothing like any of us planned and I so look forward to the new year and a

return to everything we’ve missed. We have gained so much through this pandemic,

DESIGN/PRODUCTION

including a renewed appreciation for family,

Laura McGetrick

support and generosity for those most

Connie Robertson

affected, and kindness everywhere. As we

Andrea Späth

move into 2021, I am beginning with positive

Pamela Cress Joanne Davidson Jensen Sutta

energy and gratitude for all that I have in my life and all we can do.

The mountains can be so inspiring, so when the time is right, I will plan an escape to one of the Colorado resorts highlighted in

DIGITAL/SOCIAL MEDIA

Misti Mills

this issue. I also loved learning about the

Photo: Jensen Sutta

PHOTOGRAPHY

design of a remarkable home tucked away in Telluride. In the meantime, I look forward to an afternoon of fun in the kitchen as I stir up one of the holiday recipes

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Georgia Alexia Benjou Charlie Brown Joanne Davidson Kimberly Field

we feature. As we know, working at home might be a necessity but it can also be a challenge, so we happily offer a few ideas on how to create the perfect space. Our very own Suzanne Brown talks to one of our favorite people, Matt Keeney, about maneuvering through this time and supporting nonprofits in an unconventional

Marge D. Hansen

way. I also hope you enjoy the stories on two other extraordinary men who

Joy Lawrance

contribute so much to Colorado. Read about Tony Frank, chancellor of the

Jordan Martindell

Colorado State University System and his innovative leadership during COVID-19,

Cynthia Pasquale

online learning and economic challenges. We offer a glimpse into the life of a hard-

Colleen Smith

working man, Brad Buchanan, who runs his family’s Flying B Bar Ranch, and is

Danielle Yuthas

also CEO of the National Western Center Authority.

I hope everyone will have a memorable holiday celebration with family and

CONTRIBUTOR

Michael Moore ADVERTISING AND SALES

Amy Wrede

friends. We are all creating our “new normal” and I send my best for a meaningful season. Here’s to your health and prosperity in 2021.

Elizabeth Hamilton

President and publisher, New West Publishing

sales@coloradoexpression.com FIND THE VERY BEST OF COLORADO INQUIRIES AND SUBMISSIONS

info@coloradoexpression.com

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).

DECEMBER 2020.JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM 5

Sloan's Lake · Denver Lakehouse | 4200 West 17th Avenue, Starting at $499,000 Dee Chirafisi, 303.881.6312 | Matt McNeill, 303.949.9889 | Kevin Garrett, 303.520.4040 | Lakehouse17.com

LoDo · Denver McGregor Square | 1901 Wazee Street, Starting at $499,000 Dee Chirafisi, 303.881.6312 | Matt McNeill, 303.949.9889 | Kevin Garrett, 303.520.4040 | McGregorSquare.com

Rooted In Luxury Kentwood.com

Berkeley Meadows · Denver Berkeley Pointe | West 56th Avenue & Zuni Street, Starting from the low $600's Matt McNeill, 303.949.9889 | Kevin Garrett, 303.520.4040 | Christina Albus, 720.877.1307 | LiveBerkeleyPointe.com

Belcaro · Denver 3445 Belcaro Lane

Cherry Creek · Denver $3,195,000

440 Madison Street

Cherry Creek North · Denver $2,495,000

339 Saint Paul Street

$2,390,000

UNDER CONTRACT Darrell Hamilton 720.353.3535 | 3445BelcaroLane.com

Buell Mansion · Cherry Hills Village 3 Haystack Row

$1,995,000

Julie Winger 303.946.2784 | 440MadisonStreet.com

Bobbi Lou Miller & Jennifer Dechtman 303.638.3296 | 339SaintPaulStreet.com

Cherry Creek North · Denver

Roxborough Park · Littleton

349 Adams Street

4625 Ponderosa Trail

$1,880,000

$1,725,000

UNDER CONTRACT Bobbi Lou Miller & Jennifer Dechtman 303.638.3296 | 349AdamsStreet.com

Elizabeth Hotz 303.601.5253 | 3HaystackRow.com

Cheesman Park · Denver 1510 East 10th Avenue #7W

Andrew Gonzales & Bill Verdon 303.489.1197 | 4625PonderosaTrail.com

Woodgate · Aurora

Cherry Creek · Denver $1,449,000

155 Steele Street #414

$1,295,000

14700 East Penwood Place

$539,900

JUST SOLD Darrell Hamilton 720.353.3535 | CheesmanGardens.com

Jim Rhye 720.436.9864 | 155Steele414.com

Christy L. Andrisen 303.931.5474 | 14700EPenwoodPlace.com

Kentwood.com Instagram.com/KentwoodRE 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.

CONTRIBUTORS

Insider’s Guide

Our contributors share what’s on their minds

E YO U LO OK

O R WA R D G F

WHA

T

IN

“I am looking forward to as many smiles and laughter as possible.”

PAMELA CRESS

photographer, shown with Leotie (left) and Cassidy

TO

AR

IN

“I’m looking forward to a magical evening with my 10-year-old ballerina niece. Just the two of us, beautiful dresses, dinner at a sophisticated restaurant, perfect seats for The Nutcracker, after which we will curl up in our pajamas in our chic hotel and discuss whether that grand jeté was sufficiently grand. I’ve been dreaming about this since she was born, and 2020 was supposed to be our year. Looking at you, 2021.”

KIMBERLY FIELD

writes about cookbook author and blogger Lee Clayton Roper

“‘A return to normalcy’ was a 1920 presidential campaign promise of Warren G. Harding that seems ideal for our country 100 years later. Harding won in a landslide.”

“I’m looking forward to making the most of the opportunities existing in 2021. I also really, really miss the ocean so some coastal time would be wonderful!”

CHARLIE BROWN

photographer and writer about Lift Chocolates

CHAD CHISHOLM

penned the feature on rancher and executive Brad Buchanan

10 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

SHOT IN THE DARK

All for a Good Cause The 2020 Top Doctors Celebration and Launch Event Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in Colorado Springs was the setting Sept. 24 for the STRATA Integrated Wellness and Spa launch and celebration of top doctors.

Photography by Pamela Cress

1

4

7

2

5

6

8

10

3

9

11

12

1 Tim and Lorie Hoiles; Angie and Dr. Michael Barber 2 Tracy Iverson, Barb Winter 3 Cayley Walker, Ivie Parker 4 Allison Curtis, Kellie Gragg 5 Steve and Chris Schneider 6 Brenda Smith, left, Dr. Michael Barber and Judy Mackey, co-owners of the resort and club and STRATA Integrated Wellness and Spa 7 Nicole Binkley, Sherry Kravig 8 Chelsea Rosenberg, Stephen Skala, Tara Webber and Robbie Nickum 9 Rick Perkins, Michele and Bill Hamilton 10 Charlene Wang, Dr. Micah Sutton 11 Grant Jones, Gary and Deb Tedder 12 James Gibson, president and CEO of the resort and club; Eric Fetsch More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

11

SHOT IN THE DARK

Kentwood Fall Gatherings Kentwood Realty hosted a party at the Denver Botanic Gardens Sept. 17, and a golf outing at The Club at Inverness on Sept. 24.

Photography by Pamela Cress

1

4

2

5

3

6

1 Gretchen Rosenberg, Kentwood CEO, with Nick Krantz and Susan Diliberti 2 Megan Heagle and Missy Heagle 3 Kiki Cannon and Richard Godesiabois 4 Lindsey and Jon Lopez 5 Margaret Jackson, John Ronnberg, Dee Chirafisi and Mary Ann Hall 6 Jaden Combs, Becky Peters-Combs, Keith Combs and Darien Combs

Teeing it up at The Club at Inverness

7

9

8

7 Elizabeth Hotz, Meredith Hotz 8 Kelli Klein, Carl Laffin 9 Sana Wood, Rob Kishbaugh, Mary Jones 10 Wendy Lee, Carl Laffin 11 Greg Margheim, Sean Larkin 10

11

More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com

12

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

MAKE US YOUR

C o z y Wi n t e r BASE CAMP

T H E “ U LT I M A T E S T A Y C A T I O N ” + GET 20% OFF! Seeking solitude and privacy, or maybe just a quick getaway with plenty of relaxation & renewal?

Experience the powerful connection to the Rocky Mountain landscape at Garden of the Gods Resort and Club. Overlooking and adjacent to the National Landmark of Garden of the Gods Park, our luxury accommodations share a spacious residential feel, flexible designs, and a genuine sense of place. And, our Spa & Salon at STRATA Integrated Wellness and Spa features world class treatments and services.

An intimate resort and club experience with abundant space for distancing.

BO O K N OW:

8 0 0 . 9 2 3 . 8 8 3 8 o r w w w. g a rd e n o f t h e g o d s re s o r t . c o m / o f fe r s

*Valid for bookings made through December 31, 2020, and must stay by February 28, 2021. May not be combined with other offers. Blackout dates and restrictions apply. Not valid for group bookings.

Subject to availability. Cancellation information – For reservations starting June 1, 2020, the reservations may be cancelled, or stays shortened, up to seven days prior to arrival. Cancellations or shortened stays will forfeit deposit if made within seven days of arrival. Deposit information – Your credit card will be charged immediately upon booking for the first night’s room rate plus 2.50% property improvement fee and 8.25% tax fee. Upon arrival to the resort, your card will be authorized for the remainder of your stay, as well as an incidental authorization equating to $100 per night. Any authorizations not used will be refunded to your card within five to seven business days. Resort Fee Additional – $35.00 per room, per night + tax. Resort Fee includes valet parking, in-room Nespresso Coffee & bottled water, PressReader digital newspapers/magazines, WiFi & access to club amenities and dining outlets. (Note: Resort Fee will increase to $38 per room per night January 1, 2021).

3320

Mesa Road

Colorado Springs

CO

80904

|

gardenofthegodsresort.com

SHOT IN THE DARK

The Carousel of Hope A star-studded group made appearances virtually Oct. 10 at the 40th annual Carousel of Hope gala to benefit Children’s Diabetes Foundation and the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.

Photography by Getty Images / Getty Images for Children’s Diabetes

Photo: Drew Carlson

1

2

5

4

3

7

6

9

10

1 Deborah Cox 2 Rod Stewart 3 Dana Davis 4 Rob Lowe 5 John Elway 6 Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson 7 Jane Fonda 8 Pia Toscana 9 David Foster 10 David Copperfield 11 Tony Bennett More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com

14

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

8

11

SHOT IN THE DARK

Western Fantasy‌From Nashville The signature fundraiser for Volunteers of America was held virtually Oct. 17, featuring live and silent auctions and entertainment from Lee Greenwood, Lee Brice and Billy Dawson.

Photography by Joanne Davidson

1

3

2

5

6

4

7

1 Adrienne Fitzgibbons and Sharon Magness Blake 2 David Blake and Ashley Andrews 3 Yvonne and Bill McCallum 4 Ernie Blake and Western Fantasy co-founder Sharon Magness Blake 5 Ann Judge and Sharon Magness Blake 6 Angela Lieurance and Edie Marks 7 Event co-chair Adrienne Fitzgibbons and Ana Mendiola

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

15

SHOT IN THE DARK

Fill a Plate for Hunger Home Parties We Don’t Waste staged a virtual edition of its Fill a Plate for Hunger fundraiser with watch parties held at private homes on Sept. 17.

Photography by Joanne Davidson

1

2

3

6

4

5

7

8

1 Shawn Visser and Laurie Schmid, home hosts 2 Nick and Molly Lazzaras, Catherine and Peter Eklund 3 Judy Will, Barb Greene 4 Mary and Joe Vostrejs 5 Abby Kipling, Scott Sepic 6 Scott Sepic and Page Sepic, event chair 7 Kevin Preblud and Leigh Sinclair, whose husband, Arlan, founded We Don’t Waste 8 Sarah and Andrew Stettner More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com

16

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

be playful be light be bright

be home.

V I S I T U S AT CO R CO R A N .CO M

Š2020 Corcoran Group LLC. All rights reserved. CorcoranŽ and the Corcoran Logo are registered service marks owned by Corcoran Group LLC. Corcoran Group LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each franchise is independently owned and operated.

SHOT IN THE DARK

Flock Party at the Zoo The Denver Zoo’s Flock Party hosted 700-plus patrons for a “A Safe + Socially Distanced Gathering for Good” on Sept. 12 to benefit the zoo.

Photography by Pamela Cress

1

3

2

5

4

7

10

8

11

1 Bruce Miller, Scott Kennedy, Brent Milne, Ryan Andreport 2 Jake Kubie, Drew Matthew 3 Veronica Figoli, Matthew and Priya Burkett 4 John and Ashley Stiles, Hilary Hadden, Matt Keeney, event co-chair 5 Peter and Meredith Coors 6 Yrma Rico, Sunny Brownstein 7 Jen and Rob Kaufman 8 Kevin and Sarie Patterson 9 Seth Johnson, Chad and Marla Yetka 10 John and Karen Ikard 11 Sherri and Buz Koelbel 12 Sean Campbell, left, zoo president and CEO, Bert Vescolani and Douglas Jackson More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com

18

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

6

9

12

e r e h d o o g s l e e Life f

Pre-model pricing available for a limited time!

LUXURIOUS CHERRY CREEK LIVING WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL One Bedroom, Two Bedroom, and Two Bedroom + Den Residences Available Priced from $600s to $1.2M.

MODEL HOME

GRAND OPENING MID JANUARY 2021 OPEN HOURS: Saturday and Sunday from 12-5 and by appointment any time.

119 S. Harrison Street Denver, CO 80209

For more information contact Rike Palese | 303.522.5550 www.One19CherryCreek.com Marketed exclusively by Rike Palese and Jonathan Keiler with RE/MAX Professionals

EVENTS

Calendar

By Joanne Davidson

Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale

Event: The sale of contemporary

art, to benefit the National Western Scholarship Trust, takes place online this year, starting with the traditional opening event, the Red Carpet Reception, on Jan. 5.

Date: Jan. 5-24 Location: Virtual Tickets: coorswesternart.com

30th Anniversary Zoo Lights

Event: More than one million lights

displayed throughout the zoo’s 80-acre site. Timed entry and other COVID safety protocols will be in place.

Date: Dec. 4-31 Hours: 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Location: Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver Tickets: $15-$25, available online only at denverzoo.org

Celebrating the Spirit of the National Western Stock Show Event: “The things we have planned

can never take the place of a real, honest-to-goodness National Western Stock Show,” says Pete Coors, chairman of the NWSS’ $100 million Honoring the Legacy Campaign, “but we will celebrate its spirit in some way every day through a series of

videos, Zoom meetings; calls; Cowboy Church; interviews with Stock Show icons and masked, socially-distanced, small group tours and lunches.”

Date: Jan. 9-24 Location: Virtual Further info: nationalwestern.com

Kaleidoscope 2021, A Night in Italy

Event: Presented by the Rocky

Mountain Children’s Health Foundation, the fundraiser includes an overnight stay, a five-course Italian dinner with wine pairings and Sunday brunch. Proceeds help fund the Mother’s Milk Bank and aid to families whose children are at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children.

Date: Feb. 20-21 Location: Ritz-Carlton Denver Tickets: chelsea.manley@rmchildren.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.

midfirst.com Member FDIC

Boulder – 840 Pearl St. 303-376-3870

20

Cherry Creek – 101 Cook St. 303-376-3800

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

Downtown – 555 17th St. 303-376-5460

University Hills – 2805 S. Colorado Blvd.

303-376-3840

Leg Cramps Cramping Your Style?

Leg Cramping Can Be Treated.

Let us take care of it for you.

We also treat your: Varicose veins, restless legs, spider veins, burning legs, and leg swelling.

Call for an appointment

720.457.9307 americanvein.com

CaĂąon City, CO Colorado Springs, CO Highlands Ranch, CO Parker, CO Pueblo, CO Vail Valley / Edwards, CO Westminster, CO

PUBLIC PERSONA

P

PRESIDENT OF THE DENVER strategy, branding and digital agency AOR, Inc., Matt Keeney brings energy and enthusiasm to every venture he undertakes, be it business, his volunteer work with nonprofit groups, or his tennis and golf matches.

In September, he co-chaired the Denver Zoo’s Flock Party, a rare nonprofit fundraising gala to be held this year with 700+ patrons on site.

Calling it “A Safe + Socially Distanced Gathering for Good,” Keeney and the organizers planned it so they could creatively offer food and pre-mixed cocktails, live music and animal experiences, spaced out over the zoo’s 84 acres.

With more than 25 years of agency, sales, marketing and customer satisfaction experience, Keeney works with clients in such fields as technology, development and construction, civic and municipal organizations, and hospitality and travel. He combines his creativity with a solid business sense to keep the agency on track to meet its cultural and financial goals amidst a competitive landscape.

Keeney grew up in Denver and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and French at Lake Forest College in Illinois. As a college student, he lived in Paris and China; the experience launched wanderlust that hasn’t diminished. While the global pandemic has kept his passport idle, he discovered a new passport to fill with stamps: the National Parks and Monument Passport. He’s spent the downtime planning trips for when travel restrictions ease.

Where do you call home today?

Cheesman Park.

How do people describe you?

Gregarious, outgoing, personable.

Who do you most admire?

All parents.

22

Matthew Keeney

AGENCY PRESIDENT SAYS THAT THINKING CREATIVELY AND STAYING FLEXIBLE ARE KEYS TO MEETING CLIENT NEEDS IN A CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT

By Suzanne S. Brown Name: Matthew Keeney Age: 51 Marital status: Single, Partnered Children: None Career: Advertising and marketing Hometown: Denver Website: thinkaor.com

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

GET TO KNOW COLORADO’S TOP PERSONALITIES

What’s your favorite Colorado restaurant?

The Capital Grille – best, most consistent service ever!

What was the last great book you read?

I don’t read very fast so I stick with magazine and newspaper articles.

You’re known as a sartorial standout, but what is your biggest fashion faux pas?

Black on black when the blacks don’t match.

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

Laughter. Oh, and Twizzlers.

What was your last major purchase?

The condo next door to connect the two.

You’ve traveled the world – where do you want to go when it’s safe to travel again?

Anywhere! In truth, we are looking at a couple of remote options in the near future—the Irish countryside, Antarctica and the Maldives (happy to quarantine in a villa above the water).

How have the nonprofits you support and work with coped during the pandemic?

As we work with many nonprofits, all have been faring as expected. We have certainly done what we can, in kind, to help their efforts at a time

WE CHALLENGE OUR OWN PROCESSES TO STRIVE TO HELP IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE

What gadget can you not live without?

A corkscrew.

What are your hobbies?

Travel, Legos and COVID coin collecting.

What took you down this career path?

My father inviting me to sit on his office sofa at age 5 to watch the advertising agencies pitch for his business. I thought, “That looks like fun—I should do that!”

What one word describes Coloradans to you?

Proud.

What is your favorite spot in Colorado to visit?

The Zapata Ranch for an afternoon bison tour at the base of the Great Sand Dunes.

Photo: Pamela Cress

What is your most memorable Colorado experience?

Jazz Aspen Snowmass.

Matthew Keeney and Marcela de la Mar co-chaired the Denver Zoo’s fall fundraiser.

when so much revenue has been lost and manpower has been reduced.

The interesting result is that many have received record donations from the community, thankfully, but not enough to offset months of zero attendance.

How have you managed the business disruptions that COVID-19 has brought to AOR? Is your staff still working remotely?

We went remote about a week before it was mandated by the city.

Fortunately, with great internet, we were able to seamlessly maintain our process and workflow. There have been some difficulties maintaining morale and positivity, but we have succeeded by focusing on communication and frequent one-on-one chats. Only those departments that require an office presence (our printing department) continue to go into the office.

What industries that you serve had to undergo the most work to change or regroup due to the pandemic?

It is very interesting watching the world evolve. Of course, many of our hospitality and tourism clients and partners are struggling and were forced to radically reinvent themselves. However, some of our technology clients are having record years while their competitors are slashing budgets and headcounts. It is wildly random. Even municipality initiatives are erratic–it all depends on the funding sources. We challenge our own processes to strive to help in any way possible.

What do you think the long-term effects of the pandemic will be on business?

Short-term, it will change the way we interact with current and new clients. We need to be more flexible than ever to accommodate smaller budgets and faster timelines. We believe that, in spite of our fortunate successes, we have given more of our time, talent and resources to help our clients and community get through these times.

Suzanne S. Brown is managing editor of Colorado Expression.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

23

NONPROFIT PROFILE

The Details Fill the Void Amp the Cause was founded as Concerts for Kids in 2004 by Christie and Walter Isenberg. Its purpose was to raise money to help children with life-threatening illnesses, to raise awareness of local charities and to provide opportunities for kids to participate in educational programs in a safe and healthy environment.

Fill the Void: Amp the Cause to End Hunger expands on that mission.

1616 17th St., Suite 462 Denver CO 80202 303-605-2885 ampthecause.org

24

Amp the Cause

MEETING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES WITH FOOD INSECURITY IS A NEW ELEMENT IN THE ORGANIZATION’S MISSION AS IT AIMS TO FILL THE VOID

By Joanne Davidson

ly stopped us in our tracks. There wasn’t a dry adult eye in the room.”

The poignant request proved to be an important call to action.

After rallying the troops to come to the aid of this child and others at his school whose families also were at risk of running out of food during the school break, Simmons, her staff and board of directors took a closer look at food insecurity, particularly how it affects Denver-area children.

Their conclusion was to add a new element to Amp the Cause’s mission.

Immediately.

With that, Fill the Void: Amp the Cause to End Hunger was born. It differs from other hunger-relief efforts

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

in that instead of distributing boxes or baskets of food to those in need, recipient families are given a $250 gift card redeemable at grocery stores that include program partners Safeway, King Soopers and Walmart.

The idea of giving a card is significant because it enables the parent or guardian to shop with dignity, alleviating the embarrassment that comes with using a SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or WIC (Women, Infants and Children program) card. It also helps to reduce the burden on food banks that have been stretched to their limits during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Simmons says, “It lets the

Photos: depositphotos.com

S

SANTA CLAUS, AS ONE MIGHT guess, is used to hearing all sorts of requests when kiddies climb onto his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas: The “it” toy of the season. A pony, a puppy or a kitten.

A video game. A superpower.

And so it was when jolly old St. Nick parked his sleigh at Valverde Elementary School in Denver in December, 2019. His appearance was part of the annual Holidays for Kids, an event that Amp the Cause hosts during the months of November and December at Title 1 schools throughout the metro area. In 2019, Holiday for Kids reached 1,900 children, treating them to an unforgettable day filled with arts and crafts activities, lunch and a visit with Santa before sending them home with backpacks stuffed with books and toys.

Yet it was the shy voice of one Valverde kindergartener that caused even Santa to catch his breath.

The 6-year-old asked for more food.

Valverde Elementary’s 17-day holiday break was fast approaching, and “He was worried that his family wouldn’t have enough food to eat during that time,” recalls Amp the Cause president Julia Simmons.

“That little guy’s request literal-

AN INSIDE LOOK AT LOCAL NONPROFITS

families eat the foods they choose, not the food that is chosen for them. They can shop at stores most convenient to where they live and to buy things that meet their religious, dietary and cultural needs.” Fill the Void also has an Instacart account for those whose mobility, work schedules or COVID-19 concerns preclude them from inperson shopping.

Unlike SNAP and WIC, recipient families can use their cards to purchase personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies – even pet food.

They cannot, however, use it to buy alcohol or tobacco products.

The cards are distributed, physically or digitally, every quarter. The program is funded through sponsorships, partnerships, donations and events like Amp the Cause’s signature fundraisers, Denver Day of Rock and the Celebrity Waiters Dinner.

Simmons and her staff have set a fundraising goal of $420,000 per month, which would allow Fill the Void to award $5 million in gift cards per year.

As of mid-September, Fill the Void had served 131 families in the Denver and Aurora public school systems and was poised to serve 200 more at 22 Title 1 schools in both districts. Title 1 schools have populations where more than 94 percent of

the students are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches.

“The 1,200 families that we’ve identified have extremely high rates of food insecurity,” Simmons says, adding that one in every five children in Denver experiences food insecurity and that 72.49 percent of the students in the Denver Public Schools alone receive free and reduced-price meals at school, but do not have the same access to food during the summer, school breaks or other school closures.

One recipient, Blanca, describes how Fill the Void helped her family.

Blanca, a stay-at-home mom raising her four children and 2-year-old grandson, and her husband, who had worked eight to 10 hours a day as a plumber and handyman, both contracted COVID-19 at the beginning of April. The virus prevented her husband from working, leaving the family with no income until receiving a Fill the Void gift card in June. Blanca continues to test positive for COVID-19, while her husband, who is testing negative, continues to have a bad cough and trouble breathing.

He is only able to work three to four hours per day. The gift card provided a week’s worth of groceries for the family of seven, with enough left over to restock their cupboards for future weeks.

“The struggle to feed children in our community is real and it’s not going away,” Simmons declares, adding that donations to Fill the Void may can be made by visiting ampthecause.org or by calling Jordan Fouts, 303-249-8428.

Joanne Davidson has written about the Denver area’s nonprofit organizations since 1985. Her work has appeared in publications that include The Denver Post and U.S. News & World Report

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

25

CURATED

RADO COLO ARE TS SH R E P X E N TIPS O THEIR O LIFE T LIVING T ULLES THE F

West Dressed Western wear is a lifestyle not a costume, unless you are a rock or country star. Wear whatever works for you—the entire outfit or just an accent piece like a belt or shirt. Everyone needs something Western (unless you are an unrepentant preppy, in which case we should do an intervention).

By Steve Weil

01.

If you are new to Western, you can start slow with a shirt, hat or boots. It does not have to be an entire statement, but just a pop of color or personality.

02.

Shirt designs are highly varied from casual to dressy, conservative to flamboyant. Western shirts are all about the design details and special treatments including: front and back yokes, our signature “sawtooth” flap pockets and diamond-shaped snaps. Vintage embroidered shirts often have “smile” pockets in various designs, shotgun cuffs and piping. You can pick whatever you prefer in a huge range of fabrics and colors from denim, solid cotton, plaid, warm flannel, even fleece, or styles with vintage embroidery.

Everyone needs a basic white or stonewashed denim shirt.

03.

Hats are personal. Never wear one with more personality than you have! Choose a straw for warm weather or felt for winter. Both are good to protect you from the sun and elements.

04.

Accessorizing adds fun to your look. Nothing is nicer than a tooled leather belt with a handmade buckle.

Bolo ties add a twist to black tie. Women look great with a concho belt. Scarves add a personal touch.

05.

Boots can be an easy choice or a long-term decision. Finely made boots can last a lifetime, so pick something that will age well.

26 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

Photos: Rockmount Ranch Wear

CURATED

Rockmount Ranch Wear has offices and a retail store in a LoDo building that’s a historical handmark, top. Above, Steve Weil, and Weil Photos: Ranch Photos: Wear with hisRockmount wife Wendy.

Joshua Harden

THE DETAILS Western is in the DNA of Steve Weil, president and chief creative officer of Rockmount Ranch Wear. His grandfather, “Papa Jack” Weil, made the first Western shirts with snaps and founded Rockmount Ranch Wear Mfg. Co. in 1946.

Steve’s father Jack B. joined the firm in the 1950s and they helped popularize Western fashion and expanded across the country. Steve joined them in the 1980s and the business became international, manufacturing and selling to stores across the USA and most developed countries. Their flagship store in LoDo is where the company started and is a historic landmark. It opened to retail in 2001 when Papa Jack turned 100 years old. It carries the full product line of shirts for adults and kids, hats, belts and buckles, bandanas, silk ties and scarves, fleece blankets and more.

Rockmount Ranch Wear 1626 Wazee St. | Denver, CO 80202 | 303-629-7777 rockmount.com

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM 27

BITS & PIECES

What’s Happening in the West

By Danielle Yuthas

JENSEN SUTTA Stands “Five Feet from Greatness”

C

CELEBRITY PHOTOGRAPHER Jensen Sutta has been shooting captivating images for more than two decades. The Denver-based photographer travels the world and can be found working A-list events everywhere from red carpets to the White House. Sutta is known for putting his subjects at ease, which is a crucial component of his portraits. Sutta’s first book, “Five Feet from Greatness,” is a compilation of his portraits of musicians, athletes, actors, political leaders and other public figures. Available at jensensutta.com Among the celebrity portraits Jensen Sutta has taken through the years include those of, clockwise from left, Viola Davis, Brad Pitt, Jeff Bridges and Hugh Jackman.

“

MY PASSION IS MEETING

THERE ARE A LOT

AND ORGANIZATIONS

WORLD MAKING A REAL

INTERESTING PEOPLE AND CAPTURING THE

IMPACT THEY’RE MAKING.

28

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

OF PEOPLE IN THIS

DIFFERENCE AND IT

MAKES ME HAPPY TO

SHARE THEIR STORIES.

”

BITS & PIECES

Photo: Perry Sutta

Jensen Sutta got to see a portrait of himself on a screen in New York City’s Time Square when he was named the photographer of the year by the International Association of Top Professionals in 2018.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

29

BITS & PIECES

What’s Happening in the West Denver Botanic Gardens Opens Freyer–Newman Center

T

Foundation Nature Immersion Wall.

The roof contains a substantial solar array that is expected to produce 93,000 kilowatt-hours. The enhanced user experience was funded

by Elevate Denver, a 2017 general obligation bond, and private donors including Robert and Judi Newman and Ginny and John Freyer.

More at botanicgardens.org

THIS FALL’S OPENING OF THE Freyer–Newman Center at the Denver Botanic Gardens completes the four-phase master development plan to expand the gardens. The 100,000-square-foot addition includes six classrooms, three climate-controlled galleries, the Helen Fowler Library, which houses the Edward P. Connors Rare Books Reading Room, herbaria houses with room for 50-years’ worth of growth, science labs, the Sturm Family Auditorium, Copper Door Coffee Roasters shop, outdoor balconies, underground parking and the Jonathan Merage The addition to the Denver Botanic Gardens includes classrooms, galleries and a library.

Apres Holiday Market at Dairy Block

2020 Commemorative COZY, COMFORTING LEATHER GOODS Ornament

A EUROPEAN HOLIDAY MARKET IS coming to Dairy Block in Denver’s LoDo district. The apres-ski inspired American Field pop-up market will showcase a dozen top-tier American artisanal makers offering a variety of clothing, home goods, sports gear and more. You will find carolers, chalk art installations, Santa, Frosty the Snowman, musical performances, demonstrations and food and drink specials among the festivities that will be held in the heated alleyway between stores and restaurants.

The AF Holiday Market is free and open to everyone. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 4-6; Dec. 11-13; and Dec. 18-20. Tickets at shopaf.co

Bring the celebration of women’s rights to vote to your Christmas tree.

The 2020 ornament supporting the Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund commemorates the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th amendment. It is the 12th in a series of ornaments representing historic events or objects in the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion, with a new addition each year. Each ornament is made in the U.S. of brass, vibrant colors and hand-finished in 24-karat gold.

Ornaments are available at coloradoshome.org/gift-shop/

A

30

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

W

WARM UP THE LOOK OF YOUR home with luxurious, made-to-order leather home goods from Finca Leather. Based in Boulder and crafted in Granada, Nicaragua. Finca uses only supple, full-grain leather from free-range cattle, with products created by artisans trained in oldworld leather working techniques.

Each rug, pillow, ottoman, table runner and placemat is woven by hand using an interlocking method called “linked leather.” Finca’s products are available in several standard sizes and a palette of six earth-toned colors including sapphire, crimson, lava, moss, espresso and charcoal.

Custom sizes and colors are available upon request. fincaleather.com

BITS & PIECES

CARRIE FELL Publishes a Retrospective

A

ARTIST CARRIE FELL’S NEW BOOK, “The Art of Carrie Fell and the Chronicles of Ruby Cooper: A 24Year Retrospective Review 19942020,” will lasso your inner maverick. Fell’s cowboys, boots and scenes of simpler times capture the spirit of the West in a vibrant, contemporary light. Her work is collected internationally and has been exhibited at The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and is on permanent exhibit at Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia.

More than 400 signature pieces, spanning her two decades-plus career, have been compiled in the 560-page, 11-inch-14-inch book.

For details on purchasing, contact info@carriefell.com.

R

uby saddles “Highway” - her perfect Palomino with a soft, golden coat and pearly white mane - they are bound for the sanctuary which summons her heart often.

She recounts in her mind the many merits found in rich orchid skies, and magenta winds; it is a golden age where the turmoil of life has all but been forgotten. Here, only love and joy remain. Ruby forges ahead leaving uncertainty behind.

The ART of CARRIE FELL and the Chronicles of Ruby Copper A Retrospective Review 1994 - 2020

On Highway, she sets her gaze toward the vibrant inspirations of Carrie’s West.

Feel the cowboys ride.

24 2

25

3

Guiding You to Financial Peace of Mind.

Experienced Investors. Thoughtful Financial Advisors. Focused Problem Solvers.

F ORBES’ 2 02 0 BA RRON’ S 2 02 0 F ORBES’ 2 02 0

Best-in-State Wealth Advisors Top 100 Independent Advisors Top Women Wealth Advisors

ASPEN | DENVER | 303 . 321 . 8188 | www.obermeyerwood.com

Rankings and recognition by unaffiliated rating services and publications should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he or she will experience a certain level of results if Obermeyer Wood is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services, nor should it be construed as a current or past endorsement of Obermeyer Wood by any of its clients. Rankings published by magazines, and others, generally base their selections exclusively on information prepared and submitted by the recognized adviser. Rankings are generally limited to participating advisers.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

31

Come in for some

Zen

Enjoy services outside in our zen garden ~ as mother nature permits

haircuts c o lor extensions blowouts waxing spray tans

Denver’s Curl Experts

303.325.7676

563 Detroit St. Denver, CO 80206

www.SalonBodhi.com

32

BITS & PIECES

What’s Happening in the West

The Fort’s New Food Truck The Fort, one of Colorado’s iconic destinations for indoor fine dining located in Morrison, expanded to offer an outdoor picnic and barbecue option to safely accommodate more diners during COVID-19 while weather permitted earlier this year. The Fort is now adding Tatanka, the food truck that is taking the new food of the Old West on the road. Call 303-697-4771 or visit thefort.com to book Tatanka for your next event.

L’Esprit de Noel Goes Virtual

I

IN ITS 44TH YEAR AS ONE OF Denver’s signature holiday events, L’Esprit de Noel will be transformed from a two-day walking home tour into an immersive online experience. The festive fundraising event for the Central City Opera Guild will include a virtual tour of the home of William G. Fisher (of the Daniels & Fisher department store) at 1600 Logan St., which was built in 1896 and is known for being designed by Franke E. Edbrooke, the architectural firm that also created the Brown Palace. A video that is part of the tour, narrated by Michael Walker, will include performances by the opera’s

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

artists. The mansion will be decorated by Denver’s top florists and table designers, including Birdsall & Co., Bouquets, Plum Sage Flowers, The Lark and T is for Table. The event is available at no cost through Christmas Eve at lesprithometour.com.

Donations are requested.

BITS & PIECES

Temaki Den at The Source

LIVEDISTINCT

Toshi Kizaki, owner of Sushi Den, Izakaya Den and Ototo Den, is bringing a casual alternative to Denver’s favorite sushi dining experiences to The Source + Market Hall in the city’s RiNo district. The newest addition to the hall’s eateries is Temaki Den, a handroll and aburi (flame seared) sushi bar with the same freshness, quality and experience we’ve come to expect from Kizaki’s South Pearl Street restaurants. The handrolls are a simple roll of nori (seaweed), shari (rice seasoned with vinegar) and neta (fish) that are small enough that you can try a variety of flavors and textures in one meal.

Visit thesourcehotel.com/vendors/temaki-den to learn more.

NEW AGENTS, NEW OUTCOME UNDER CONTRACT IN ONLY 3 DAYS

6919 HYLAND HILLS STREET C A S T L E VA L L E Y, C O L O R A D O

THE LIVE DISTINCT DIFFERENCE This stunning 6 bedroom home in Castle Village was an expired listing that had sat on the market for over six months with only 10 total showings. Once we took the listing over, we had 8 showings within the first weekend and got it under contract in just 3 days! Our difference?

Increased

exposure,

a

premium

marketing plan, and professional media production to showcase the home in the best way possible. Now that’s the power of distinct marketing!

Governor’s Citizen Medal Winners

C

COLORADO GOV. JARED POLIS this fall awarded citizenship medals to the following individuals: Polly Baca, Vanguard Legacy; Ananda Birungi, Emerging Community Leader; Kent Thiry, Growth and Innovation; Rosemary Rodriguez, Public and Community Service; and VF Corporation, Corporate Citizenship.

“The Governor’s Citizenship Medal is the highest honor of the state and I am honored to select and recognize these outstanding leaders,” Polis said in announcing this year’s awards.

Three new medals were awarded this year. COVID-19 Hero (Individual) went to Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Colorado State Epidemiologist and principal at Population Health Solutions, LLC; and Pat Meyers, COVID Innovation Response Team and Constrained Medical Supply Team Leader. The COVID-19 Hero (Organization) award went to Colorado Health Foundation in Denver. To learn more about the award recipients, visit theeventcgcm.org/2020-medalrecipients

DELROY GILL 303.803.0258 | delroy@livedistinct.com STUART CROWELL 303.909.2331 | stuart@livedistinct.com livedistinct.com

@Live.Distinct

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

33

LIVEDISTINCT

THE LIVE DISTINCT DIFFERENCE W E LC O M E TO T H E N E W AG E O F R E A L E STAT E M A R K E T I N G

A focus on the details when it comes to presentation and marketing is our strategy when we take on a new listing. We believe that every home has a story, the marketing of any home needs to embrace and showcase that story to any interested party. When our clients needed us to move quickly, we pulled our powerhouse team together to create the environment, presentation and media content needed to knock it out of the park. Within 24 hours of hitting the open market this home was under contract with multiple offers. That’s the power of distinct marketing!

949 LEYDEN STREET, DENVER | UNDER CONTRACT

L A S T A S K I N G P R I C E : $ 1 , 2 4 9 , 0 0 0 | M U LT I P L E O F F E R S R E C E I V E D

THE ROAD TO AN OFFER

01.

02.

03.

P R E S E N TAT I O N

MEDIA

N E G OT I AT I O N livedistinct.com

DELROY GILL delroy@livedistinct.com | 303.803.0258

@Live.Distinct

STUART CROWELL stuart@livedistinct.com | 303.909.2331

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

The Surging Home Market With work, entertaining and education centered in our living spaces, home is where the focus will continue to be

By Danielle Yuthas

O

OUR LIFESTYLES HAVE CHANGED THIS year and our new routines are affecting the way we buy homes. With the elimination of commutes, increase in time at home and the homemade casseroles replacing happy hours at restaurants, home buyers have shifted their priorities. As a result, real estate transactions are surging in unpredictable ways.

“The market has done amazingly well this year—beyond anything anyone would’ve imagined in the middle of March when businesses were closed down,” said Rike Palese, residential specialist and managing broker at Re/Max Professionals. “At the time, there was a panic while we wondered what would happen and how consumers would respond. Since then, the market has gone crazy and people are buying at higher rates than ever,” said Palese, who earned a degree in architectural design at the University of Colorado. He initially focused on commercial design but had always had a passion for residential design and began working with Re/Max on the residential side 27 years ago. Re/Max is an international leader in both franchising and real estate, with its corporate headquarters in Denver.

Palese pointed out the current craving for nurturing environments that is prevalent due to the shift of in-home entertaining of family and guests alike. The desire for homey, open floor plans and more casual

THE DETAILS Rike Palese Re/Max Professionals 10111 Inverness Main St. Suite P Englewood, CO 80112 rpalese@classicnhs.com 303-799-9898

36 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

Buyers are looking for homes with bonus spaces that can be converted into offices.

entertaining spaces as opposed to smaller, more defined rooms, including formal dining rooms, has carried over. Warmer colors are gaining traction and more brushed brass hardware is popping up compared to the coveted chrome of January.

Home life is in the spotlight as professionals are working from home, children are learning from home and all family members of a household are at home more in general, which translates to the critical need for not only more space, but also the utility of a designated space. This is also a driving factor behind the current trend toward remodeling.

Homebuyers are ultimately looking to get more comfort and value out of their houses. Homes with a “bonus space” like a loft, extra room or large basement are being snapped up in order to be converted into second offices, fitness centers, school rooms, home theaters and game rooms. Outdoor entertaining amenities are also on the rise including builtin grills, firepits on the patio and even backyard swimming pools. (Yes, in Colorado.) A big backyard is also key for getting kids out of their cubicles, and Rike Palese, residential specialist nearby walking, hiking and and managing broker at Re/Max biking trails preserve sanity.

Professionals

INSIDE COLORADO COMPANIES

Outdoor entertaining amenities like built-in grills and comfortable seating are in demand.

Multi-generational homes are popular as households are consolidating to save on costs, as in-home care for seniors is preferred and as more college students are postponing moving to campus. Almost every member of the household, even young, school-aged children, needs a designated “Zoom area” to take video conference calls, which was not factored into the pre-COVID-19 household plan. The sprawl, paired with the decreased or nonexistent need to commute, has families moving farther out from the city in order to find more house for a comparable price.

Some are even adopting an existentialist approach and springing for the dream house now and taking advantage of the opportunity while they can. The exception is the downtown Denver market, which is relatively sluggish, especially considering sporting venues and many restaurants are closed. This will likely shift again when people want to come back to downtown.

Additional contributing factors to high demand are the ability to lock in loans at low interest rates as well as the influx of from buyers coming from more expensive and more densely populated areas such as New York City, San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia, seeking safety and space without the pressure to return in the near future. It doesn’t hurt that companies are also relocating here for financial reasons as well as the lauded variety of outdoor recreation Colorado offers.

“Though the housing market has been strong and migration from other cities has been common for a number of years, this year has been different in that January through March were strong as usual.

And then April and May were slower than expected, which pushed the usual rush of spring buyers into the formerly slow summer season, making July and August surprisingly strong sales months. That led to a more consistent fall season, despite the election, which typically slows due to apprehension,” said Palese.

Will the demand drop? Not according to Palese.

“Inventory is already so low, there would have to be a tremendous shift even to get back to normal, which isn’t likely considering many companies won’t go back to full-time office requirements. And even if they do, employees may not comply in order to maintain their newfound Denver lifestyles. A shift has happened that is going to last longer than 18 months and may even be permanent.”

He indicated that now is still a safe time to buy because you know the conditions of the market, which include appreciation and low interest rates. If you plan to wait, you are betting on future conditions, which can be riskier. “This is not an artificially inflated pricing structure” he said, citing that in an “even” housing market there are 12,000-13,000 available homes on the market and this year, at the lowest point, inventory was at under 6,000 homes for sale. “Prices are based on what the market will bear,” said Palese. Prices are expected to increase in the foreseeable future and it’s important to hold that equity and value.

Now is still a safe time to buy because you know the conditions of the market.”

Furthermore, if you are looking to jump on the buying bandwagon, the holidays may be the best time. Right now, prices are stabilizing and there is less competition, so even though there are fewer options, you may be able to land the right deal.

As for those looking to sell, most commonly now to downsize, focus on updating features and maintaining the condition of the home. “Just because it’s a robust market, doesn’t mean you can necessarily get top dollar. It’s always relative,” said Palese.

Merry house hunting!

Danielle Yuthas is a fourth-generation Denver native who is the senior director of marketing for the national franchise brand, SpeedPro, by day and a freelance writer and contributor to Colorado Expression by night. Yuthas was in the throes of a home office revamp at her Highlands heirloom home at the time she was writing this article.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM 37

FOR THE FOODIE

Seasonal Tastes Best Fresh and delicious cuisine is possible even in midwinter

By KIMBERLY FIELD

W WE HAVE AN ALMOST PRIMAL URGE

to move with the seasons. While you can find any food you’d like any time of the year in this global marketplace, peaches and Popsicles don’t satisfy us under the low January sun any more than a bowl of hearty beef stew on a sweltering July evening. It feels right to crave coziness during long winter nights. Scandinavians call it “hygge,” pronounced “hoo-gah.” We might call it cooking like our grandmothers cooked, comfort food, but not the predicable pot of chili or bowl of mac and cheese. More imaginative, please, but still comfortable.

“Even the gourmet cooks of the world don’t want to make complex dishes Sally’s Bouillabaisse from Fresh Tastes every day. People want recipes that are sophisticated and delicious, but not cumbersome to make,” says cookbook author and blogger Lee Clayton Roper.

She shares uncomplicated ideas for “We’re all focused on eating healthily with more local ingredients. That natentertaining with a growing legion of urally leads you into cooking seasonfans through her website and blog, A ally,” she says.

Well-Seasoned Kitchen.

Roper’s mother Sally sparked her Seasonal eating in January? passion for making cooking and enter“Think about how foods grow,” Roper taining uncomplicated and accessible, advises.

“In spring, you’ll find young, inspiring more time around the family leafy, tender, green vegetables. In sumtable. In 2009, she and her mother comer, you’ll want lighter, cooling foods authored the critically acclaimed A like watermelon and sweet corn.” The Well-Seasoned Kitchen, a treasury of warm colors of root vegetables like carmore than 180 recipes, creative menus, rots, butternut squash and potatoes and poignant memories of cooking and feel right in the crisp autumn air. Coldentertaining together. Roper’s second weather crops like beets and potatoes cookbook, the award-winning Fresh that take longer to grow continue into Tastes From A Well-Seasoned Kitchen. winter “when we crave warming foods, Fresh Tastes took the concept of literally and figuratively,” she laughs. quick and easy recipes with readily Enjoy foods at their peak available ingredients to the next level.

38

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

“Cooking seasonally simply means choosing ingredients that are in their growing season at the peak of their harvest, which means they’ll be at their peak availability and peak flavor,” Roper explains. “The flavor is at its best, the color and beauty are best, and the food is also healthier.” Peak season also

The Details

MORE FROM LEE CLAYTON ROPER seasonedkitchen.com Facebook | @SeasonedKitchen Youtube | @SeasonedKitchen Pinterest | @SeasonedKitchen Linkedin | @Lee-Clayton-Roper Instagram | @Seasoned_Kitchen

means foods are at their lowest price.

Seasonal eating can be combined with staying as local as you can. “I find that the less distance food must travel, the fresher it is,” she says. “The shorter time period from when it was picked to when you eat it, the better it is.”

Let the grocery guide you to the foods “Look at what is piled high and on sale in the front at the grocery store,” Roper advises. “Those are the foods that are most abundant and freshest. In the fall, you see pumpkins and acorn squash. You won’t see those on sale in June.

Whereas in May, you’ll find green beans because they’re coming into season.”

Winter foods include: Beans, black and white truffles, mushrooms, carrots, beets, potatoes, onions, spinach, chard, mustard greens, radicchio, butternut and acorn squash, fennel bulbs, apples, pears, nuts, artichokes, olives, capers, white asparagus, shellfish, shrimp, ginger and curries.

Months with an “R” are best for oysters and shrimp, and indeed, a plump winter oyster is far superior. Lamb tends to be available in spring when our thoughts turn to leg of lamb and mint jelly.

Let the food guide you to the recipes Most recipes can be adapted to the ingredients on hand. If a recipe calls for fresh tomatoes, try substituting roasted tomatoes. “Roasting concentrates the flavor so that even a less flavorful tomato works,” Roper says. Baby spinach can fill in for arugula. Wild-caught snapper is available in the winter and can take the place of other firm-fleshed fish in baked recipes or in a fish picatta. “If a vegetable soup calls for zucchini and there are other vegetables in there, just leave it out. You won’t miss it!”

Choose an apple pie recipe on a cold, snowy day instead of baking a peach pie—unless you’ve preserved wonderful Palisade peaches back in August either by freezing or canning. Then, by all means, enjoy that peach pie.

About Lee Clayton Roper and A Well-Seasoned Kitchen A former cable television executive. Lee Clayton Roper and her husband divide their time between their mountain home and a Denver pied-à-terre. Her recipes and entertaining ideas have been featured in regional and national publications, including Woman’s World, The Denver Post, Colorado Expression, and Orange County Register. She has appeared on KWGN Daybreak, KUSA Denver’s 9News (Denver), Good Day Atlanta, Good Day LA, Good Day Colorado, and Vail TV among others. She is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and is currently president of Les Dames d’Escoffier International Colorado Chapter.

Kimberly Field thinks pressure canning and vacuum sealing are game changers when it comes to seasonal cooking.

RECIPES FROM LEE CLAYTON ROPER These recipes are from Roper’s cookbooks, Fresh Tastes and A Well-Seasoned Kitchen. The latter was co-authored with her mother, Sally Clayton.

Sally’s Bouillabaisse Serves 8

Lee’s mom’s version of this classic dish is somewhat of a hybrid between bouillabaisse and cioppino. The former typically has a fish seafood-based sauce, the latter a tomato sauce. This recipe has both. Once you have your mis en place (ingredients prepped, measured and ready to go), you can have this dish on the table in less than 30 minutes.

4 tablespoons salted butter 1 cup (1 large) chopped green bell pepper 1 cup (½ large) chopped yellow onion 1 cup (about 3 large stalks) chopped celery 1½ teaspoons chopped garlic 2 pounds sole or flounder fillet, cut into 1-inch pieces 13⁄4 cups chopped fresh tomatoes* 2 15-ounce cans tomato sauce 2 cups water 2 cups dry white wine 3 ⁄4 cup clam juice ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning ½ teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon seasoned salt (such as Lawry’s) 1 bay leaf Pinch or two of saffron 1 pound fresh crabmeat, rinsed and drained 24 small hard-shelled clams, scrubbed, tossing any opened shells (see notes) 24 PEI fresh mussels, scrubbed (see notes) 1 heaping tablespoon chopped fresh basil *When fresh tomatoes aren’t in season, for more flavor substitute 1 15-ounce can, drained

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the bell pepper, onion, celery and garlic. Sauté 5 minutes or until pepper and onions begin to soften. Add the fish and sauté 5 minutes.

Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, wine, clam juice, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, oregano, salt, bay leaf and saffron. Bring to a boil. Gently stir in crabmeat. Add clams and mussels, reduce heat to medium-low (a low boil, slightly above a simmer), cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until shells open.

Discard any shells that don’t open. Stir in basil and serve immediately in shallow bowls.

NOTES PEI (Prince Edward Island) mussels are farm-raised and don’t require much cleaning. Wild mussels may be muddy, with long “beards”—the tendrils that hold them on to rocks and piers. Scrub wild mussels vigorously under cold water, tossing any with broken shells or that fail to close tightly.

Keep the clams and mussels on ice in the refrigerator until just before cooking. Make sure to check frequently and drain off any water from melting ice, as they will drown in fresh water. As you clean them, check to make sure the shells are all closed. If any are open, tap on the shell and it should close. If it doesn’t close, throw it away. Also throw away any broken shells.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

39

FOR THE FOODIE

Her focus is on improvising, being resourceful and thinking outside the box (you can find her blog at improvisedlife.com).

2 teaspoons salt 1½ teaspoons fresh or ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves 1½ teaspoons freshly ground pepper 1½ teaspoons paprika 1¼ teaspoons ground cumin 1¼ teaspoons ground nutmeg ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper ¾ teaspoon ground white pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil 1½ cups (1 to 2 onions) chopped yellow onion 1¼ cups (3 to 4 ribs) chopped celery 1 cup chopped (1 to 2 peppers) red bell pepper 1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped 1 tablespoon chopped garlic 1½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1½ teaspoons hot sauce ½ cup whole milk ½ cup tomato purée 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar 1½ pounds lean ground beef 3 ⁄4 pound lean ground pork 1 cup fresh or panko breadcrumbs 3 egg whites

Roasted Tomato and Arugula Salad

Roasted Tomato and Arugula Salad Serves 6 to 8

8 plum tomatoes 1 teaspoon chopped rosemary 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided 1 ⁄4 cup plus 4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, divided 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar ½ teaspoon chopped garlic 8 cups baby arugula leaves 8 ounces fresh buffalo mozzarella ½ cup pitted Kalamata (or other type) black olives, cut in half if large

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cut tomatoes in half crosswise. Trim bottoms so they can sit upright. Gently squeeze out seeds. Place tomatoes, cut side up, on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with rosemary, thyme and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Drizzle 4 teaspoons of olive oil over the tomatoes. Roast for 45 minutes. Set aside to cool.

While the tomatoes are roasting, prepare the dressing: in a jar with a fitted lid, whisk 40

together the balsamic vinegar, garlic, remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ cup olive oil. Add fresh ground pepper to taste. Cover and store in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before using.

When ready to serve the salad, toss some of the dressing with the arugula and arrange on a large serving platter. Top with roasted tomatoes, roasted side up. Gently cut cheese into slices (and then cut in half if large) and arrange around the tomatoes on the arugula. Sprinkle with olives and drizzle with more dressing. Season with more salt and pepper as needed.

MAKE AHEAD Tomatoes can be roasted earlier in the day and kept at room temperature until serving. Balsamic dressing can be made several days ahead and stored in a closed jar in the refrigerator.

Cajun Meatloaf Serves 8

This fabulous meatloaf recipe comes from chef, author, columnist and lifestyle blogger Sally Schneider.

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13inch by 9-inch baking pan with foil.

In a small bowl, combine the salt, thyme, black pepper, paprika, cumin, nutmeg, cayenne and white pepper.

In a large heavy skillet or sauté pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, red pepper, jalapeño, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Stir in the reserved spice mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 minutes or until the mixture starts to stick to the bottom of the pan. Stir in the milk, tomato purée and vinegar. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 12 minutes or until the mixture is thick (reduce the heat if needed to prevent burning). Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

Add the beef, pork, breadcrumbs and egg whites to the cooled vegetable mixture; mix until well combined (I like to use my hands, which is why you need to cool the vegetable mixture). Scoop the mixture into the center of the prepared pan and shape into a loaf about 10 inches by 5 inches. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees and cook an additional 20 to 30 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers 150 degrees. Let rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.

MAKE AHEAD Meatloaf can be prepared but not baked earlier in the day, covered and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before baking.

Individual Plum Tarts Serves 6

117.3-ounce package (2 sheets) frozen puff pastry, thawed ¼ cup butter, melted 6 ripe but slightly firm plums 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, plus whole leaves for garnish 3 teaspoons fresh lemon zest ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 ⁄3 cup apricot jam Vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 puff pastry sheet until very thin.

Cut into 3 (6-inch) circles. Pierce the bottom all over with a fork. Repeat with remaining pastry sheet; you will have a total of 6 rounds. Place on ungreased cookie sheets and brush with melted butter. Set aside.

Pit plums and cut each into 16 slices (around 1/4-inch thick).

In a medium mixing bowl, combine plums, sugar, mint, lemon zest and cinnamon. Arrange on top of the pastry, placing the plum slices on their side, forming a pinwheel. Fold over edges of the pastry up to (but not over) the plums, to form a small rim.

In a small saucepan, melt the jam over medium heat, stirring.

Remove from heat; brush lightly over the top of the plums with a basting brush. Bake tarts about 30 minutes or just until the crusts are done and the fruit is starting to bubble and get juicy (watch carefully so they don’t get overdone). Serve at room temperature, placing a small scoop of vanilla ice cream in the center. If desired, garnish with whole mint leaves.

MAKE AHEAD Tarts can be made earlier in the day, cooled, covered and kept at room temperature.

Apple, Walnut and Stilton Cheese Salad Serves 6

Individual Plum Tarts

Apple, Walnut and Stilton Cheese Salad

¼ cup raspberry balsamic vinegar* 1½ teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice ½ cup walnut oil* Salt, to taste Freshly ground black pepper, to taste 10 ounces mixed baby greens (spinach, arugula, lettuce) 2 large Gala or other red apples, unpeeled, cored and chopped 1 cup (6 ounces) chopped walnuts, lightly toasted 1½ to 2 cups (6 to 8 ounces) Stilton cheese, crumbled** *If you can’t find raspberry balsamic vinegar, use regular raspberry vinegar and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey. If you can’t find walnut oil, substitute olive oil and add a few more walnuts. **There are 2 types of Stilton cheese: blue and white. Either will work in this recipe. If you can’t find Stilton, you can substitute Gorgonzola or other forms of blue cheese.

In a medium glass jar with fitted lid (an empty Dijon mustard jar works well), whisk together the vinegar, lemon juice and oil until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and set aside.

In a large bowl, toss together mixed greens, chopped apple, walnuts and cheese. Just before serving, toss with just enough dressing to coat the lettuce (you may have some dressing left over).

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Variation in presentation: if you want to have a more formal, individually plated salad, then instead of chopping the apples, core and slice them. Toss the greens with part of the dressing and divide among six individual salad plates. Arrange the apple slices in a circular pattern over the spinach. Sprinkle the walnuts and cheese crumbles over the top. Drizzle with remaining dressing.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

41

FOR THE FOODIE

From Choppers to Chocolate Marine pilot Brandon Busch’s second career lifts the candy community

By CHAD CHISHOLM

T

THE CH-53 HELICOPTER PILOTturned-chocolatier grins as he finishes pouring a chocolate mold. Aromas of rich dark chocolate, hazelnut, strawberry and caramel welcome guests to the open workroom in Boulder.

Originally from Loveland, Brandon Busch left Colorado during college for 10 years of service in the Marines.

With deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, his home base was Hawaii. His home station while he’s in the reserves as a forward air controller is Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington.

Becoming a chocolatier might not seem to be the most obvious career choice for a Marine, but it was the path for Busch. “I have always loved to cook, but I wanted to understand pastry and baking better, so I went to

Lift Chocolates Available online; at stores such as Whole Foods, small chains and independents; and at its retail space.

It also offers corporate gifts and does custom orders.

6395 Gunpark Dr., Suite R Boulder, CO 80301 303-447-1001 liftchocolates.com 42

Brandon Busch

school following active duty,” he says of his education at Johnson and Wales in Denver, where he graduated summa cum laude in 2015. “I was terrible at chocolate, and developed a mild obsession with it. After I got a little bit better, I realized that chocolate evokes a reaction like no other food, and that it's truly special.”

He bought Concertos in Chocolate in 2017, changed the name and began creating.“The quality was exactly what I was looking for, but I also wanted to offer many of my own products,” Busch says. “Likewise, we have been rolling out items since then, and rebranding the

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

Queso De Cabra

From large events to intimate gatherings Baldwin Catering is here for you.

Contact us for a free consultation and tasting.

1.3889 in

items we kept. I make many of the products, but I also have several talented chocolatiers that do much of the work. They also have a say in the creative process.”

After Lift Chocolates launched, Busch had a commanding officer place a patch on his flak jacket: naval aviator wings and call sign “Candy Man,” an appropriate nod to his sweet passion.

The quality and creativity found at Lift, which also creates the Boulder Chocolate bars found in Whole Foods stores in the Rocky Mountain region, sets the brand apart as a specialty gourmet chocolate brand. The Dark Cherry Cordials (Busch’s favorite)

with Italian amarena cherries enrobed in dark, all-natural chocolate are akin to many of the creations that incorporate all-natural ingredients of the highest caliber for distinct flavor and attention to indulgent detail.

Holiday creations for Halloween to Christmas, Valentine’s Day to Easter, or a “just because” sweet treat all utilize a high-touch elegance and lofty flavor, “Lifting,” the spirits of young and old alike.

Chad Chisholm is a freelance photographer and writer, authoring the Colorado Cocktail Cookbook and Unique Eats and Eateries of Denver.

Chef - 970-379-9757 - Events - 303-246-0181 info@baldwincatering.com www.baldwincatering.com

FOR THE FOODIE

Kitchen Traditions Cooks share most-loved holiday recipes

By JOANNE DAVIDSON

N NOTHING SAYS “THE HOLIDAYS ARE here!” like the intoxicating aroma of special treats baking in the oven, sizzling on a grill or simmering on the stove. So, in the spirit of the season, we asked several of the Denver area’s wellknown cooks to share favorite recipes with Colorado Expression readers.

Enjoy!

Leanna Clark

GIRL SCOUTS TREATS

LEANNA CLARK became chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Colorado in May and traces her love of Girl Scout cookies to her own membership in the leadership development organization that serves 20,000 girls throughout the state. “I always buy extra packages and freeze them to be able to use them for recipes throughout the year, including the holiday season,” she says. “To give this recipe a festive twist, arrange the fried shrimp in a star pattern on a plate and surround with pomegranate seeds and lime wedges.” She also shares her recipe for a holiday punch that’s a crowd pleaser.

Toss chopped Samoas with coconut flakes, bread crumbs and cayenne pepper. Dredge shrimp through flour, followed by egg whites and Samoas mixture.

Fry shrimp in vegetable oil at 350 degrees until golden brown.

Garnish with coconut flakes and lime wedges.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS • Serve warm. Arrange in a star pattern on a plate or on a bamboo skewer.

• Can be served as an appetizer, in a salad, or as an entrée.

• If serving as an entrée, accompany with fried plantains and wild rice.

Samoas Fried Shrimp

Party Punch

10 Samoas Girl Scout Cookies, finely chopped 1 cup coconut flakes (reserving some for garnish) 2 cups seasoned bread crumbs 1 pinch cayenne pepper 10 extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined 2 cups flour 4 egg whites 1 lime for garnish Vegetable or peanut oil for frying

2½ cups Southern Comfort (about a 1.75 liter bottle) 1 6-ounce can frozen orange juice, undiluted 1 6-ounce can frozen lemonade, undiluted

44

This is a festive and tasty punch that disappears quickly at every holiday party, Clark says. Double (or quadruple) the quantities depending on the size of your gathering. Slice lemons and oranges and freeze the slices for about 3 hours. Float them on top instead of ice cubes.

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

6 ounces fresh lemon juice 2¼ quarts ginger ale

Combine and chill all ingredients, then mix in a punch bowl, adding the ginger ale just before serving. Float slices of frozen oranges and lemons on top.

COOKIES FOR FRIENDS Registered dietitian MARY LEE CHIN says that while Chinese dishes were plentiful in her childhood home, “We always had traditional Western dishes for Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the exception of rice. Nothing like a Thanksgiving meal with turkey, stuffing, rolls, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and rice!” For 40-plus years, Chin and her friend Anita Coen have dedicated a full day right before Christmas to bake approximately 1,000 cookies to distribute as gifts to friends, family and neighbors. The COVID-19 pandemic has left Chin and Coen “trying to figure out how we can get together in one kitchen and bake this year (as) both

our families are seriously isolating. We figure we will quarantine for 14 days prior to baking day; this is a tradition we are reluctant to give up.” A recipe for one of their favorite cookies follows.

Russian Tea Cakes

Remove cookies from the oven and let cool 3-5 minutes. Roll each ball in confectioner’s sugar and place on a rack. When completely cooled, roll each ball in confectioner’s sugar again. It’s important that the cookies not be rolled in the sugar when they are hot from the oven. They will crumble if they are handled while too hot.

Makes 4 dozen

1 cup high quality butter ½ cup sifted confectioner’s sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2½ cups flour ¼ teaspoon salt ¾ –1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Mix butter, sugar and vanilla thoroughly. Stir together flour and salt, and then stir into butter mixture. Mix in nuts. Chill dough for four hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes until set but not browned.

While cookies are baking, fill a deep bowl with more confectioner’s sugar.

A NEW MEXICAN TREAT When the multitalented JESSE OGAS finishes with his day job—he has been executive director of Firefly Autism since 2015—you can find him starring in plays produced at Su Teatro, singing with Trio Encantada, ice fishing with his grandson or treating friends to any number of foods typical of his native New Mexico. A holiday favorite at his Lakewood home are biscochitos, “a Christmas cookie,” he says, “that the whole family can enjoy.”

Jesse Ogas’ Biscochitos

Biscochitos

Mary Lee Chin and Anita Coen and their dozens of cookies in 2019.

1 one-pound box of lard 2 eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon salt 7 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ cup anise seed (use more or less, to taste) 3 cups sweet white wine (riesling or sauvignon blanc)

Combine lard, eggs, vanilla, sugar and salt in a bowl and mix well.

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and anise seeds and mix by hand, gradually adding the wine. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for several hours or overnight. Form balls by hand, dusting hands with flour, if necessary, to prevent the dough from sticking to them. On a floured surface, roll each ball to a ¼-inch thickness.

Use your favorite holiday cookie cutter to shape the individual cookies.

In a separate bowl, mix together an additional 2 cups of sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon, and set aside.

Bake at 375-400 degrees until the cookies are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Dust with the sugar-cinnamon mix.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

45

FOR THE FOODIE

SCONES FOR CHRISTMAS MORNING JOANNE KATZ retired several years ago after co-founding Three Tomatoes Catering, a company that she and Peggy Beck ran successfully for close to 40 years. She keeps a finger in the pie, so to speak, by volunteering on behalf of groups dedicated to feeding the underserved, serving as a “compost ambassador” for the city of Denver and operating Café Ronaldo, a pop-up farm stand during the summer growing season that sells organic produce from hubby Ron Katz’s garden and her trademark baked goods, jams and jellies. “This recipe,” she says of her family favorite scones, “is so great for Christmas morning because you can include whatever everyone wants: blueberries, peach chunks, roasted pear or chocolate chunks. Or, if tastes run more toward the savory, reduce the sugar and mix in basil and feta.”

Kevin and Stephanie Tung

FISH FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR KEVIN AND STEPHANIE TUNG divide their time between Denver, where they formerly owned the Golden Plate restaurant, and Shanghai, where until the pandemic they honored the memory of their godson, Nathan Yip, by hosting an annual fundraising gala for the Denver-based Nathan Yip Foundation. A fish dish is a must for Chinese New Year celebrations because it “welcomes prosperity for the coming year,” they say.

Poached Fish, Shanghai-style 16 ounces of boneless, skinless cod filets Powdered white pepper Cooking wine ½ teaspoon salt 1 egg 2 tablespoons corn starch 3 fresh green onions Small piece of fresh ginger Soy sauce Sugar Vegetable oil 46

Slice the fish into ½-inch thick pieces and place in a large bowl.

In a small bowl, mix together ¼ teaspoon of white pepper, one teaspoon of cooking wine and ½ teaspoon of salt, then sprinkle the mixture over the fish filets, coating them evenly. Let the seasoned fish sit for 15 minutes, then add the egg and corn starch and mix it well, being careful not to break the fish.

Shred the green onion and ginger.

In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of water and 1 teaspoon of sugar.

Heat 3 quarts of water in a pot, adding 1 tablespoon of cooking wine and a dash of white pepper. Bring the water to a boil and add the fish slices piece by piece. Boil for 3 minutes, making sure the fish slices aren’t sticking to each other, then transfer the fish from the water to a plate and place the shredded green onion and ginger on top of them. Then heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and pour it over the green onion-ginger mix. Finish by spreading soy sauce to taste over the fish.

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

Joanne Katz

Sweet Potato Cheesecake Pie Makes 4 pies

SWEET POTATO FILLING 2 round yams 1 egg ½ stick of butter Nutmeg, to taste Vanilla extract, 2 dashes Lemon extract, 1 dash Allspice, to taste Sugar Bake yams 1½ hours or until tender. Let cool, peel and mash. Into the mashed yams add the egg, butter, nutmeg, vanilla extract, lemon extract and allspice and let sit for 30 minutes. Beat until smooth, constantly rinsing strings from the yams off of the beater. Add sugar to taste. Set aside.

Scones with Lemon and Raspberries

Scones with Lemon and Raspberries Makes 6

2 cups flour ¼ cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces Zest of 2 lemons 2 ⁄3 cup buttermilk ½ cup raspberries Raw sugar for sprinkling on tops of scones

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and place rack in middle of oven. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Blend the pieces of butter into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or two knives.

The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.

Stir in the lemon zest. Add the buttermilk and stir just until the dough comes together.

Do not overmix.

Add the raspberries.

Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead the dough gently four or five times and then pat it into a circle that is about 7 inches round and about 1½ inches thick.

Cut this circle in half, then cut each half into three pie-shaped wedges. Place the scones on the baking sheet.

Make an egg wash of 1 large, wellbeaten egg mixed with 1 tablespoon milk.

Brush the tops of the scones with this mixture and sprinkle with raw sugar.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

MOM’S SWEET POTATO BLISS ROSEMARIE ALLEN is the president and chief executive officer of the Institute for Racial Equity and Excellence and an associate professor of early childhood education at Metropolitan State University. She is also the author of books for African American children (lovebeingblack.com). “This is my mom’s recipe and she worked with few formal measurements,” Allen says, explaining why “dashes” and “to taste” are found throughout.

CHEESECAKE FILLING 32 ounces of cream cheese, softened 2 cans of Pet evaporated milk, refrigerated overnight 16 ounces sour cream 6 eggs ½ cup lemon juice 4 ready-made graham cracker pie crusts In a bowl separate from the yam mixture, beat the softened cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in the evaporated milk and sour cream and add the eggs one at a time. Add the lemon juice and mix well.

Layer the mixtures into the graham cracker crusts: cheesecake filling, sweet potato filling and so forth, ending with the cheesecake mixture on top. Don’t worry if you get a little “swirl” on the top.

Bake for 55 minutes at 375 degrees. Let cool, then refrigerate before serving.

Rosemarie and Don Allen

ART SCENE

Hands On

Cody gallery features artists from Colorado and other Western states creating functional art objects crafted in natural materials

By Claudia Carbone

I

Dan Rieple calls his writing desk “The Least of These” because it’s made from scrub oak, the least of the mighty oaks.

IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, WHEN William “Buffalo Bill” Cody founded the town that bears his name in northwestern Wyoming, the world-famous showman brought with him a certain Western panache. His distinct style paved the way for early leaders in design of the American West. Thomas Molesworth’s furniture and Edward Bohlin’s saddles defined Western functional art in the 1920s through the 1950s.

Over the years, the movement grew with the help of Cody furniture mak-

THE DETAILS

By Western Hands 1007 12th St. Cody, WY 82414 307-586-1755 bywesternhands.org

48

er Mike Patrick, who launched the Western Design Conference in 1993, showcasing the best Western design to the world. Today, the epicenter for and about Western functional art is at By Western Hands, a design center and gallery that opened in June, 2019 in downtown Cody.

Western design, as described by Patrick, is “casual, warm, friendly, utilitarian, and makes wonderful use of materials and native traditions of the West.” For example, elements like lodgepole pine and fir, leathers, antlers, horns and other natural materials are key components of Western design and appear in unexpected ways. Today’s artists also integrate steel, iron, copper and stone into their works.

Western functional art is not like the fine art or jewelry you find, say, in Santa Fe or Scottsdale. And it’s not a craft. Rather, the genre incor-

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

porates aesthetic objects that serve utilitarian purposes, such as a purse, a chair or a saddle. The mission of the non-profit By Western Hands is “to educate, conserve and perpetuate the legacy of Western design and craftsmanship.”

Keoni Carlson’s work reimagines wood as woven and beaded basketry.

A PEEK INTO THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF COLORADO’S MOST TALENTED PEOPLE

Lisa and Loren Skyhorse dedicated this one-of-a-kind saddle to Buffalo Bill. It was entirely stitched, painted and carved by hand.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

49

ART SCENE

“In a disposable society like ours, it is refreshing to make, as well as to own, timeless pieces of furniture with soul.”

—Dan Rieple

The knobby and crooked trunks of the gambel oak are fashioned into an elegant chair by Dan Rieple.

50

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

Fire, ink and sharpened steel are used by Keoni Carlson to create basket-like pieces.

Three sections comprise the design center: a gallery where you can view and shop the juried works of member artisans, mostly from the Western states; a back room for internship training programs; and a museum displaying a permanent collection of legacy pieces.

I marveled at these unique heirloom-quality pieces when I visited the gallery the week it opened. I learned that five of the artisans are from Colorado.

Award-winning Lisa and Loren Skyhorse have crafted more than 1,000 one-of-a-kind, meticulously carved saddles in a career spanning more than 46 years. Now living in Durango where they built their own house and furniture, the Skyhorses are in their early 70s and have no plans to retire, though the work is physically demanding. They can fashion a saddle for a specific rider or particular breed of horse or type of riding, then carve a personal symbol into the leather for an heirloom piece of rideable art.

“When someone orders from photos on our website, they can mix and match and design their own,” Lisa Skyhorse says.

Though he’s been creating professionally since 2017, Keoni Carlson of Colorado Springs began woodworking at age 9 and continued off and on throughout a business career, never losing the love of lathe work and turning. “I make touchable illu-

A PEEK INTO THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF COLORADO’S MOST TALENTED PEOPLE

defined,” he says. “Eventually, you give birth to that idea.” Rieple lives with his wife, Susie, who works with him on 40 acres of a timber ranch homesteaded in 1800s near Larkspur. He’ll often harvest fallen timber, but he also cuts down trees. “I’ll make that tree live longer than it will in the forest between bugs, drought and storms,” he says. One of Rieple’s clients is the actor Morgan Freeman, who asked him to “surprise” him with a creation for his chess hobby.

So he fashioned a table from scrub oak with a felted recess top for a chess board. Regarding commissioned pieces, he said, “When your vision becomes my vision, hopefully I nail it and you’ll say, ‘Wow, you exceeded my expectations.’ ” Stephen Winer built custom homes and furniture for 30 years before he

Photo: Warren Diggles

sions—wood, re-imagined,” he says.

Woodworkers from Appalachia who were solders in World War II brought this distinctive technique from the Pacific Islands to the Eastern U.S. In the late 1980s, others around the country began discovering the skill that’s “crazy hard.” Now, about 50 to 60 artists practice the method at a high level, each a bit differently.

Carlson’s intricate designs are inspired by tribal cultures around the world, giving voice to often-forgotten traditions and heritage.

Dan Rieple also “fell in love” with woodworking at a young age and honed his skill studying industrial arts at Colorado State University. He likens creating a piece of art to having a baby: “First there’s conception, the idea; then comes gestation when that idea becomes clearer and more

Stephen Winer’s Western dressing stand with oval mirror in walnut and tiger stripe maple.

decided to “create something special” and show his work. “Mainly it was to be among incredibly talented people who give me competition to improve,” Winer says. His work is not just western but a combination of styles. “I try to keep myself open for ideas that come up while working on a piece.”

Winer lives with his wife, an old dog and eight sheep that he breeds on acreage near Fort Collins. He travels to Missouri once a year for wood—walnut limbs and logs for rustic work—and trees that have fallen from ice storms. The rotting process is called spalting. “I get really interesting wood from deteriorating trees with different types of fungi that make incredible designs,” he says.

“They’re really cool, good for accent pieces like drawer fronts.”

This saddle is one of four pieces in the Skyhorse Collection series featuring Yellowstone National Park animals.

Denver-based Claudia Carbone is an awardwinning journalist whose work appears in The London Telegraph, The Denver Post, ColoradoTraveler.com, and her blog Sleepin’ Around lives on GoWorldTravel.com.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

51

Brad Buchanan brings his knowledge of Colorado’s urban and rural lifestyles to his ranch and the National Western Center Authority

By Charlie Brown

he odometer on Brad Buchanan’s 2015 gray Ford F-150 moves like a stampede. The truck is the work vehicle for his 8,500-acre Flying B Bar Ranch about an hour east of Denver and a couple of jogs northwest of Strasburg.

He also uses it to commute 60 miles round trip on surface and gravel roads five days a week to his other job as CEO of the nonprofit National Western Center Authority. From his office in the old Livestock Exchange Building, he can see ongoing construction of the massive billion-dollar project that is transforming the century-old stock show grounds into an expanded 250-acre campus that will be a global destination for culture, entertainment, education, research and agribusiness innovation.

After spending more than two decades as a prominent architect and recent years as Denver’s Community Planning and Development director, Buchanan’s newest role as a rancher gives him another set of skills to draw on as he works to oversee day-to-day operations of the National Western

T

Center. The authority’s 13-member board of directors selected him following a national search.

“Brad is one of the most innovative thinkers I know,” says Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “He’s inspirational, pragmatic and is bringing passion and an entrepreneurial spirit to the National Western Center Authority. He will take this treasured city asset to a level that benefits all of us.”

“Brad Buchanan is a renaissance man,” says Tami Door, president of the Downtown Denver Partnership, who worked with Buchanan when he ran the city’s development office.

“His depth of knowledge and understanding around rural and urban environments brings a powerful and unique perspective to his role. He has the ability to think big and to deliver boldly.”

Home on the range

In 2006, seeking a place to get away from the city, Buchanan and his wife, Margaret, purchased the ranch. Surrounded by shortgrass prairie, and treeless save for those few planted by

Cattle CALLING

Photo: Brad Buchanan

All hat and 900 cattle

Photo: Chelsea Wilson, Snowy Skye Photography

Buchanan’s goal is to make the Flying B Bar one of the most innovative, efficient, resourceful and environmentally sound operations in Colorado. He’s a strong advocate for rangeland sustainability, the humane treatment of animals and selling healthy meat. He’s not just a cattle rancher, he’s a proud grassfed cattle rancher, believing cows are what they eat.

His wagyu-Angus cows spend their time on the range grazing on grass, forage, and ranch-grown hay.

FLYING B BAR ABOVE: Grace, Will, Brad and Margaret Buchanan RIGHT: Dominic Ruppert, on horse- Unlike industrialized conback, and Will Buchanan, walking his horse after a rodeo competition ventionally raised cows, Flyformer owners and the cottonwoods that sidle up to nearing Bar B cattle are not confined to feedlots eating corn and

by Kiowa Creek, the setting, Buchanan says, “was peaceful, grains supplemented with growth-promoting chemicals. quiet and reflected an awesome vastness in the sky.”

Buchanan doesn’t romanticize the cattle business and often Their then-10-year-old daughter was the spark that wonders how small family ranchers make it financially. Raising ignited the move and eventually the family to get on board. grass-fed cattle is not cheap, fast or easy. His cows take almost The Buchanans sold their 6,000-square-foot Denver home twice as long as grain-fed cattle to reach market weight. and settled into the old 1,500-square-foot farm house with Working with his business partner Rob Gary, Buchanan one bathroom. trucks hundreds of cows each summer to Gary’s two ranches Even before the property closed, the city slicker with north of Silverthorne along the Blue River. The lush green dreams of living in cattle country learned a lesson. grass setting is like a four-star cattle resort.

Buchanan had negotiated a sales price with the owner, The ranch sells its beef primarily online and some of its Charles Robbins, but realized after a few weeks that they customers have been with them since they started selling a hadn’t signed a contract. When he called to ask Robbins decade ago. The Flying B offers everything at its online store about it, he was rebuffed and told that they only needed a from one pound of burger or a filet to a half or whole beef. handshake to seal the deal.

This year business is up 300 percent. The sales increase “The humbling take-home lesson for me was that Charles means the ranch will break even for the first time. “Margaret had lived up to the cowboy code of the West: that a man’s and I don’t take a penny,” Buchanan says. “We are still payword is his bond, and that integrity is still alive and well ing off debt, buying and repairing equipment and paying in rural Colorado,” Buchanan says. It was also important salaries for a ranch manager and three ranch hands.” because Charles and Pat Robbins became mentors on how to manage the ranch and raise grass-fed cattle.

The family’s move was transformative. “It brought the From barn to boardroom family together and taught us about farm discipline,” Having ranch help is what enables Buchanan to move from Buchanan says. “Raising grass-fed cattle is hard. It’s not barn to boardroom. His other job involves building the founsubtle work. It’s physical and it has to be done, regardless dation for operating, maintaining, programming and promotof the time, temperature or one’s work mood. For our kids, ing the broader NWC campus. To achieve that mission, he the ranch has been their third parent.” works with funding partners including the city of Denver, the Grace, 23, a student at Colorado State University, works National Western Stock Show and the Colorado State Uniwith her mom in marketing and shipping custom beef versity System. orders. Will, 21, is a summa cum laude graduate of Kansas Why the new campus? The facilities at the stock show State University, where he was co-captain of the rodeo complex were tired and faced expensive deferred mainteteam, and also works on the ranch. nance. It had also outgrown the site and many of the build-

54

COLORADO EXPRESSION DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

Photo: Ashley Boehm

ings were underutilized following the January stock show.

To be competitive and viable, something had to be done or the stock show, a Denver tradition since 1906, would become insolvent.

There were even proposals to move it out of Denver. But in 2015, Denver voters came to the rescue and overwhelmingly approved a small tax increase on lodging and rental cars to help fund a portion of the project.

That set in motion an ambitious building and expansion undertaking to create a year-round, global destination for agriculture and food innovation, Western heritage and culture that will attract local, national and international visitors. Buchanan’s job is to have programs in place when the doors open in three years so that the authority can begin generating its own revenue via on-campus events and concessions.

Site changes are coming. After more than a year of horizontal infrastructure work, construction officially went vertical this year. “This is the beginning of a new era for these grounds. Constructing one million square-feet of indoor and outdoor space and doubling the campus size is underway.

FOR MORE information about the redevelopment of the National Western Center, visit nationalwesterncenter.com LEARN ABOUT the Flying B Bar Ranch and its products at flyingbbar.com

It’s going to take a lot of time and patience but it will be well worth it. I’m a firm believer that this is the right project, at the right time and at the right place,” Buchanan says.

Also under construction, and a huge accomplishment for Buchanan’s team, is an energy system that uses heat recovered from underground wastewater lines to source nearly 90 percent of NWC’s heating and cooling. “This will be the largest sewer-heat recovery system in North America. We made a promise to be at the forefront of sustainability, and we’re delivering,” he says.

Brad Buchanan’s life has been woven from his many journeys. A self-described introvert, he possesses quiet strength that comes from his tradition of hard work, resourcefulness, perseverance and a “get-‘er-done” attitude. Guiding operations at the new National Western Center and the family ranch has become his calling.

“It’s a bunch of work and worth every mile, muscle and minute,” he says.

Charlie Brown is a former Colorado state representative who also served more than 14 years years on Denver City Council.

He fought the proposed stock show move, prompting one newspaper editorial to say: “It was the city council led by Councilman Charlie Brown that fought the good fight regarding the potential move of the National Western Stock Show from Denver to Aurora.”

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADO EXPRESSION 55

Learning Curves Chancellor Tony Frank guides the CSU system through challenging times by embracing technology and new ways of teaching A few months after Tony Frank became chancellor of the Colorado State University System, COVID-19 grabbed the wheel of higher education and made a sharp turn into unknown territory. Despite the challenges, Frank is excited and optimistic about the future of CSU in Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo and CSU Global, as well as the new CSU Spur campus at the National Western Center in Denver, scheduled to open in 2022. Frank became president of CSU in 2008, and in 2015, added the role of chancellor. Previously, he served CSU in a variety of academic and administrative roles. In July 2019, he became full-time chancellor. He answered questions about the challenges and opportunities facing the university system.

By Cynthia Pasquale

56

COLORADO EXPRESSION DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADO EXPRESSION 57

Q A

Much of your current tenure as chancellor has been tumultuous thanks to COVID-19.

How has CSU adapted?

I don’t think anybody could possibly have anticipated what was going to manifest itself through a global pandemic, especially the tremendous economic challenges that followed.

Both in Fort Collins and Pueblo, CSU is one of, if not the largest, employer in the region. In the private sector, when revenues are down, you cut expenses. It’s not that simple for a public entity like CSU. For every job we lose at the university, about three-and-a-half jobs are lost within the community, creating a negative economic spiral.

Our primary goal economically was to protect payroll and keep these institutions going. Through a combination of actions, we were able to balance budgets against sharply

lower revenues without furloughs or layoffs. I think that was a great contribution to local and state economies.

The second goal was to open for face-to-face classes. At CSU Pueblo, just under half the courses were face-to-face, while CSU Fort Collins started the semester at about twothirds. Nationally, a lot of universities “opened” with 20 to 25 percent of their classes face-to-face. Knock on wood, our testing and prevention strategies seem to be working. We haven’t had some of the struggles that other places have seen. A certain amount of that is luck, and we rely on students to demonstrate good behavior in the face of a public health crisis.

How troublesome was the switch to teaching/learning remotely?

I don’t think any of us is as afraid of the remote learning switch now as we were in spring. Across the nation, we did an unprecedented experiment where we took everybody enrolled in college and switched them to an online environ-

ment. We were incredibly impressed about how CSU faculty and students got through that semester. What really impressed me was how faculty members, as soon as that semester was over, asked how they could get better at it.

Will increased online learning become permanent or will classroom learning dominate again?

Before the pandemic, there was a narrative that higher ed is being technologically disrupted and that face-to-face education is an overpriced and overvalued dinosaur. We’ve had face-to-face education that has worked well for some students but hasn’t adapted to deal with the needs of others because it didn’t have to. Now we have a second, different type of education system that is meeting the needs of other students effectively, and there are tremend

INTO THE FUTURE LEFT TO RIGHT: At CSU’s Fort Collins campus, electrical and computer engineering professor Jorge Rocca poses in front of a vacuum chamber where the laser is focused onto the target to create X-rays; Professor V. “Chandra” Chandrasekar with a research radar; two views of the CSU Pueblo campus

ous selection pressures on both of these systems, and both are adapting. I think both are going to be dramatically improved because of that.

CSU Global was designed to be online for working adults.

About 20,000 students are enrolled, with one-third of them in Colorado. Others come from 60 countries across the world.

The old narrative would have said online serves a purpose but can’t be as good as face-to-face, certainly not in some disciplines such as anatomy or pathology or surgery.

However, the things that anatomists at CSU Fort Collins are doing in conjunction with engineers around virtual reality are absolutely staggering. You can access a whole-body MRI of a patient and walk around inside the patient. You can look

at anything an MRI shows from any angle—inside a blood vessel or the heart or brain. I think technology is opening possibilities that rival traditional face-to-face education.

Additionally, there are some experimental online courses where the laptop or tablet camera is watching my eyes. If I’m going too slow, the artificial intelligence behind the teaching assumes I’m struggling and up pops supplementary materials. If I’m going too fast, it asks, “Really Tony? You think you are getting it that quick?” and up pops a quiz for me to see how I am doing. That is closer to one-on-one education than I ever got with even a small class of veterinary medical students.

With face-to-face education, we all got together in lecture halls because it was the most efficient way to transfer facts.

That’s no longer the case; there is a push to do more. We’ve

known for ages that people learn better while doing. We are seeing this explosion in the ability to evaluate higher-order learning skills, whereas before, we tested and evaluated primarily fact transfer.

I think face-to-face and online education are getting better as they take the best of each other and adapt to the pressures.

What are some facets of CSU Spur?

CSU represents a year-round anchor tenant with three buildings. One is Vida (meaning life) and will focus on the interface of human and animal health. It will include a large animal and equine clinic; a small-animal clinic where CSU students will train in partnership with the Denver Dumb Friends League and provide veterinary care to the local community; and the Temple Grandin Equine Center, where we will do therapeutic work with patients and also do equine rehabilitation activities.

The second building is Terra (translating to earth) and will primarily deal with food. This building will have greenhouses,

CSU

Colorado State University has campuses in Fort Collins and Pueblo and well as online, CSU Global. The CSU Spur campus at the National Western Center in Denver s scheduled to open in 2022. More info: colostate.edu

test kitchens and a variety of other things focused on food.

A third building, Hydro, is where Denver Water will do water-quality testing, and we’ll be doing water-conservation research. We’ll also work with former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack around the critical intersection of food and water.

We’ll also invest in education professionals whose responsibility will be to work closely with public schools to make sure every K-12 child—on the Front Range and virtually throughout the state—will have opportunities to interact with these facilities, which will include rotating educational exhibits like a kind of living museum. We think we can make a difference in the number of students inter-

ested in STEM disciplines and improve college readiness and college admission rates.

You’re excited about CSU Spur. Is developing these types of initiatives a favorite part of your job?

I’ve been lucky; I’ve loved everything I’ve done in my career. The part I like most is watching the next generation of leaders—whether faculty or administrators—come in with great ideas and energy. My goal is to create an environment that encourages them to think big and take risks and gives them the opportunities to try out their ideas.

The virtual reality stuff, the experimental approaches to watching how someone is learning, the National Western programs, all of those were ideas that other people came up with and developed because there was an atmosphere that empowered them to think about what was possible and got them excited. That’s fun and what I enjoy about my job now.

Cynthia Pasquale is a writer living in Denver.

By Colleen Smith Photography by Joshua Johnson

LONG TAKING THE

VIEW

Telluride’s natural beauty inspires home renovation

D

DawnElise Hamilton is a self-described “girl from New York City” who had never visited Colorado prior to designing the interior of a longtime client’s home in Telluride.

“Telluride may be the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen,” she says. “The ruralness does not appeal to me, but every time I turned my head I thought, ‘This place is so gorgeous!’” Telluride’s natural beauty is impossible to compete with, and Hamilton knew as much. Prior to her role as president of DawnElise Interiors International, Inc., she worked in New York as a curator at various world-renowned museums, including The Whitney Museum of American Art. “Every view is a landscape painting,” she says of the site of her client’s painstakingly curated Colorado residence.

Hamilton’s simply elegant, nature-inspired interior design allows exterior views to take a front seat. She credits Narcis Tudor Architects based in Telluride for masterminding the remarkable remodel.

“Big windows were added in the living room. I wanted the interior to blend and meld and be visually restful enough to not feel competition from the outside. The interior flows right out the window,” she says.

“The architect was able to create a circular balcony that offers stunning views of the surrounding area,” she says. “This was not new construction. There were two existing detached balconies, and the architects created the connection. The circular balconies and terraces really make wonderful use of natural landscapes.”

Circles repeat as a motif in the design: “We worked a lot with geometric shapes,” says Hamilton. “There is a lot of roundness.”

The Telluride house is the third residence Hamilton designed for these clients since 2008. She also designed a large, lavish and highly publicized garage for the client’s car collection. Moreover, Hamilton worked for the real estate developer over many years designing interiors for the client’s for-profit affordable-housing projects.

“It was very fulfilling. He is recently retired and was always

interested in workforce housing,” she says. “For many people, his housing was the best place they’d ever lived. He always cared about interior design and had 85-inch TVs in beautiful common spaces with attention to detail, even doctors’ offices on-site. He gave low-income people nice, affordable places to live.”

For the client’s Colorado lifestyle, Hamilton adhered to a limited color palette: “No bright colors. We used earthy tones found in the landscape all around. I wanted to let the natural beauty speak and not try to overpower it, but to work with it,” she says.

The interior’s textural appeal draws from leather and wood, stone and steel. Unexpected surface finishes such as metal atop a wooden railing and playful features such as the Formula 1 race car-inspired foot pedals that control the flow of water in the main bathroom’s sink add individuality to the extraordinary home.

“It’s very modern with clean lines. These are very meticulous people. The design is reflective of their discipline. The home is comfortable and casual, but very organized. There’s a reason behind everything. Everything has its place,” she says. “There might be a stray coffee cup in the sink. Maybe.”

For Hamilton, the project’s biggest frustrations arose from the remote Colorado location. “The closest Home Depot is in Montrose, an hour and a half drive away,” she says. “It took me six months to find a wallpaper hanger, and he drove two hours to get to the job. The pace of the project: I pulled my hair out!”

In the end, however, Hamilton accomplished a blissfully refined home sanctuary in a majestic rustic setting. She’s especially fond of two light fixtures that are a nod to the natural beauty of Telluride’s expansive skies and majestic forests.

“One is a custom-made chandelier that looks like the planet Saturn,” Hamilton says. “The other reminds me in a modern way of branches on a tree.”

In this Telluride home, Colorado’s outdoor scenery is always a welcome houseguest.

Colleen Smith—a longtime contributor to the magazine—is an author, art director and filmmaker who lives in historic central Denver, where she’s renovating a 1921 brick bungalow.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADO EXPRESSION 63

MENSWEAR’S

F R E S H TA K E ON FAMILIAR LOOKS

BY GEORGIA ALEXIA BENJOU, who started in the fashion industry as a national buyer and merchandiser in New York City, Milan and Paris for such luxury brands as Hermès, Christian Dior and Chanel. Today, she is based in Colorado as an editorial and advertising stylist. She is also co-owner of newly launched fashion consulting and events firm, Short Story, which works with emerging and established designers.

The fall social season? On Zoom. Christmas and New Year’s Eve? Socially distanced only. The National Western Stock Show? Virtual. For the remainder of 2020, it seems the global pandemic will continue to disrupt our lives and keep us all close to home. However, that doesn’t mean your menswear style can’t be sophisticated, yet still comfortable. Celebrate the season with classic looks that incorporate everything from upscale Western influences to chic oversized tailoring.

That fashion sage Karl Lagerfeld once declared, “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat.” At this point in our fight against COVID-19, we couldn’t agree more.

After spending the spring months at home in lockdown, summer safely socializing outdoors with friends, and now once again confined to the indoors for the winter, we are all slightly sick of our homes. We’re also tired of wearing a limited, rotating wardrobe of T-shirts, sweatshirts and sweatpants (and maybe some luxe silk daytime pajamas, if you’ve been adventurous).

For men who are feeling like they’ve been neglecting both their wardrobes and their personal style, we have good news for you: You can still get dressed and be comfortable. Designers have put a lot of thought into their fall collections by focusing on easy-to-wear items that are still well-designed and beautifully made.

Which is why the looks we’re showcasing aren’t oneand-done wardrobe additions, but rather investment pieces that can work for the long haul and be worn well into the future.

64 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

Luciano Barbera shearling coat, $3,695, cashmere turtleneck, $595, and cotton pants, $395, Lawrence Covell, 225 Steele St., 303-320-1023, lawrencecovell.com

KEEPING IT COZY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY FILIPPO FIOR

When the temperatures dip, it’s time to pull out the layers, but this year those key pieces are generously sized. Think roomy coats and utility vests, cardigans that do double duty as outerwear, fullcut trousers, and extra long and wide scarves, perfect for wrapping multiple times around your neck for warmth.

These more generous cuts are a trend you’ll see continuing into the spring– especially with pants, Bermuda shorts and trench coat styles, so it’s not a look with a short lifespan. Time to adjust your eye to the new proportion.

CLOCKWISE FROM U PPER LEFT: Loro Piana straight-leg corduroy pants, $695, Neiman Marcus, Cherry Creek Shopping Center, 3030 E. First Ave., 303-329-2600, neimanmarcus.com Burberry TB Monogram jacquard scarf, $730, Neiman Marcus, Cherry Creek Shopping Center Ermenegildo Zegna Stratos water-repellent nylon vest with leather trim, $1,795, Andrisen Morton, 270 St. Paul St., 303-377-8488, andrisenmorton.com Brunello Cucinelli suede hiker boots, $1,295, Neiman Marcus, Cherry Creek Shopping Center Hermès oversize cardigan in hazelnut cashmere, Mix & Patch in lambskin, $4,275; large shirt with knotted collar in ivory cotton poplin, $630: wide-legged trousers with patch pockets and bottoms with tightening strap in black compact serge cotton, $1,050; boots in chocolate calfskin with gray soles, $1,300. Hermès, Cherry Creek Shopping Center, 3000 E. First Ave., 303-388-0700, hermes.com

Etnia Barcelona eyewear in Oscar - 530 – BRGR, $319, Europtics, 100 Fillmore St., 303-321-3000, europtics.net or etniabarcelona.com Bruno Magli Stefano Oxford sneaker in cognac, $350, brunomagli.com Bally cable knit Norwegian wool sweater with leather logo patch detail, $450, bally.com Parmigiani Tondagraph GT in 18-karat rose gold with integrated bracelet. Exclusive in-house integrated automatic chronograph movement with big date. Limited edition of 25 pieces, $65,500.

Oster Jewelers, 251 Steele St., 303-572-1111, osterjewelers.com

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM 65

GO WEST , YOU NG MAN On trend in menswear this winter are all the hallmarks of Western style, just elevated slightly into fashion territory. That translates into blanket-pattern and leather shearling jackets in bomber styles, straightleg pants in indigo, fitted flannel shirts, and, of course, Western-inspired boots.

CLO C K W IS E F R O M U P P E R LE FT: Pendleton Silverton wool and cotton coat with removable shearling-lined collar, $499, pendleton-usa.com Baja East drop shoulder sweatshirt with freedom horses, $145, BajaEast.com Polo Ralph Lauren denim trucker jacket, $168, and Varick slim straight jean, $228, ralphlauren.com Royal Stag The Gilbert beaver blend hat, $694, royalstaghats.com Christian Wijnants Pandom dark blue denim jeans, $370, christianwijnants.com Paul Gomez for Gray Box Studios double-face flannel shirt, $119, Ratio Clothing, 2559 16th St., 720-999-9488, ratioclothing.com Visvim Ute Moc Trainer Hi–Folk, $860, Canoe Club, 777 Pearl St., Boulder, 720-282-3114, shopcanoeclub.com

66 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JONAS LEUENBERGER

C LOC KW I SE FROM UP P E R LE FT: Saint Laurent destroyed denim Western shirt, $850, Neiman Marcus, Cherry Creek Shopping Center Hestra Montgomery lambskin suede gloves, $275, Andrisen Morton Golden Goose Austin ankle boots in black and white with eagle, $1,020, GoldenGoose.com Visvim Social Structure Dry Denim – 10, $1,715, Canoe Club Visvim SS 101 Jacket Damaged – 999, $2,205, Canoe Club

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM 67

COLORADO WEEKENDS

The Suite Life

This winter, enjoy a home away from home that keeps you safe and lets you keep exploring

By Jordan Martindell

W

WHILE THE NATURE OF TRAVEL has drastically changed over the past nine months, you don’t have to say goodbye to your sense of wanderlust this winter. With some simple adjustments and smart planning, your cold weather adventures can still happen, they just might look a little different than the typical apres-filled afternoon followed by a boisterous

THE DETAILS The Gant

610 S W End St. Aspen, CO 81611 970-925-5000 gantaspen.com

The Outlook Lodge 6975 Howard St. Green Mountain Falls, CO 80819 855-463-2557 outlookgmf.com

soak in a hot tub with strangers. This season will be the season of suites, where cooking, playing and socializing can be done in your own private space, allowing for maximum safety and maximum enjoyment. Check out these sweet suites and plan your epic winter of cautious travel that doesn’t sacrifice entertainment.

The Gant

Aspen Embrace the finer things in life with a stay at The Gant in Aspen. This luxury property is just a stone’s throw from the slopes and has everything you could need for a premium vacation in one of Colorado’s most sophisticated towns. The resort offers one- to four-bedroom condos complete with amenities that are perfect for pandemic travel—external entries, grocery delivery, in-room dining, and wood-burning fireplaces

that create the perfect ambiance.

The Gant also has an on-site ski rental and boot-fitting service to keep all your gear in one place. The full concierge service can help you get an insider’s scoop on where to spend your precious moments of off-resort dining and adventuring. If you want to skip the resort crowds you can book a heli-skiing adventure, snowshoeing tour or dog-sled outing.

Take advantage of this socially distanced year and design an alternative vacation of your dreams.

The Outlook Lodge

Green Mountain Falls Have you ever dreamed of living in a Victorian home full of charm and character but didn’t want the inevitable renovations that come with an older property? The Outlook Lodge in Green Mountain Falls offers the perfect private getaway in a quintes-

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon, Vail Valley 218 Riverfront Lane Avon, CO 81620 970-790-3000 marriott.com

Mountain Lodge Telluride 457 Mountain Village Blvd.

Telluride, CO 81435 970-369-5000 866-368-6867 mountainlodgetelluride.com

Grand Colorado on Peak 8 1627 Ski Hill Road Breckenridge, CO 80424 970-547-8788 866-539-2102 grandcolorado.com

68

The Outlook Lodge is tucked away in Green Mountain Falls near Colorado Springs.

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

UNFORGETTABLE COLORADO GETAWAYS

Close to the slopes, The Gant in Aspen has all the amenities for a relaxing vacation.

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon

Condos with one to four bedrooms are available at The Gant.

sential old-world atmosphere. Modern amenities and beautiful views are the perfect backdrop for a visit to the lodge. Tucked away in this small town outside of Colorado Springs, it is the ideal spot for the kind of vacation that involves snuggling, cooking, lounging and mostly staying in. For true self-guided R&R, don’t skip this tiny gem on the Front Range.

Vail Valley Space reigns at The Westin Riverfront at Beaver Creek, where wellness and renewal accompany your winter getaway. There is something so pampering about a hotel—the plush beds that swallow you up at the end of the day, the anonymity of a large property, and the full-service amenities that come with a brand like Marriott—and The Westin Riverfront is no exception. The true stars of this property are its on-site spa, space to safely distance, and ski slope access. Natural light and a peaceful aura fill the atmosphere at Spa Anjali. This 27,000-square-foot spa has more than a dozen treatment rooms and offers mountain-themed and nature-derived treatments to help you kiss your troubles goodbye.

The suites at this property have ample space for everyone whether you are a couple, on a solo visit, or have a family of six with small children.

High ceilings frame each room and units are equipped with the tools needed to truly craft a home-awayfrom-home experience while cook-

The suites at the Westin Riverfront Resort are spacious and welcoming.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

69

COLORADO WEEKENDS

ing, lounging or playing. Finally, the skiing at Beaver Creek is absolutely stunning. The Riverfront Express Gondola gives guests access to Beaver Creek’s Bachelor Gulch side of the mountain. This lesser-known area is filled with aspen-lined glades that are rarely populated, even during high season. This “hidden” side of the mountain is the perfect place to spend easy ski days surrounded by majestic mountains.

for your winter adventures. Each room has a carefully curated Colorado casual decor that is cozy without feeling kitschy and modern without feeling snooty. This setting is the ideal spot to plan your itinerary. In the

off-chance that you do want to leave the comfort of the resort, the Breckenridge Gondola is easily accessible, making a trip to “the perfect mountain town” a breeze. In fact, The Grand Colorado is perfect for car-less

Residences at Grand Colorado on Peak 8 offer modern yet Colorado casual decor.

New in Breckenridge, Grand Colorado on Peak 8 is near the gondola and also offers a shuttle service.

70

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

Photo: Breckenridge Grand Vacations

Breckenridge; No Car Needed This brand new property on Peak 8 has landed Breckenridge a modern, sophisticated and ski-savvy location for the adventurer who wants it all.

Ice skating? Fine dining? Slope-side access? Privacy? Best skiing in Colorado? Enjoy apres ski in your own heated, private rooftop dome? You got it. Peak 8 leaves nothing to be desired and is the perfect home base

Photo: Breckenridge Grand Vacations

Grand Colorado on Peak 8

Photo Courtesy of Visit Telluride

UNFORGETTABLE COLORADO GETAWAYS

Telluride’s Mountain Lodge is easily accessible to the slopes.

Photo Courtesy of Visit Telluride

Mountain Lodge

Accommodations at the Mountain Lodge in Telluride have a warm, traditional feel.

travelers who want to be free of parking headaches while on vacation.

And the resort has a complimentary shuttle service for when the gondola stops running. Easy peasy.

Telluride SlopeSide Access Ski In, Ski Out A more intimate trip can be had at Mountain Lodge Telluride, located in Mountain Village. This quaint, boutique property has a hands-on approach to service that can be felt immediately upon arrival. Each residence has a warm traditional feel and the convenience to the ski slopes can’t be beat. From the lodge, you can easily ski the long, slopes off the Sunshine Express ski lift—a less crowded side of the resort. In order to accommodate in-room dining, the lodge provides grocery delivery services before your arrival and throughout your stay. The Telluride Gondola is easily accessible from

the lodge and the beautiful ride to the slopes or to town is worth the journey. The gondola runs until midnight. The lodge is also pet friendly, so you can bring Fido, too. Woof!

While traveling this winter may seem daunting, changing the expectation of your trips to a more homecentric model can help you take advantage of this socially distanced year and design an alternative vacation of your dreams.

After growing up in California and years of East Coast city living, Jordan Martindell moved to Boulder, where she combines her love of aesthetics and the outdoors. She has written for Dorado Magazine, Elevation Outdoors Magazine, Outdoor Retailer Magazine and offyonder.com.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

71

GETAWAYS

River Sojourn

Seeing the Lower Mississippi on a cruise reveals history and memorable sites

By Joy Lawrance . Photography by American Cruise Lines

W

WE SPOTTED THE FIRST GATOR sprawled across a bare log before the pontoon backed away from shore. It was indifferent to passengers shouting “Where is it?” and “Over there!” and ignored the chorus of clicking cameras. Dozens of gators later, we barely paid attention to them. But our boat caption, Bishop, seemed to know each of them and called out their names as he described some of their habits.

THE DETAILS American Cruise Lines 800-814-6880 asmericancruiselines.com The fleet of 12 vessels, including paddlewheelers and modern boats, accommodate from 100 to 190 passengers. All are American-built, flagged and crewed. As of now, the company is reducing capacity to allow more social distancing. COVID-19 protocols are available on the website. All staterooms are graciously furnished and have private balconies. Each boat offers single accommodations.

There are more than 35 river itineraries in 25 states that include New England islands, Puget Sound, the historic South, American Revolution, and the Columbia and Snake Rivers (Lewis and Clark). Entertainers, historians and naturalists accompany cruises for enhanced cultural enrichment.

Shore excursions are included in each port, wine and beer are served with lunch and dinner, and cocktail hour includes appetizers. Pre-cruise hotel stays are also included. Dress is comfortable/casual.

72

The view from the upper deck of one of American Cruise Lines’ fleet of 12 vessels.

Musicians play on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

Floating lazily on the bayou, we embraced its beauty and serene atmosphere while being aware of potential dangers lurking in lush foliage. Cedars, saw palmetto and ferns

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

were home to many a swamp critter, but gators, racoons, turtles and egrets were the only ones to show themselves. Bishop regaled us with colorful stories about swamp life, described how he makes crawfish traps, and explained the difference between Cajun and Creole food—the former quite flavorful, the latter spicy.

Our Louisiana swamp tour was just one highlight of a Lower Mississippi River Cruise on American Cruise Line’s Harmony. We selected this voyage to learn more about a portion of the country unfamiliar to us. Bob and I are veteran cruisers, having visited many countries around the world by sea. Now, however, seemed a good time to explore our own “backyard” and avoid those long, dreaded overseas flights.

INSIDERS’ VACATION GUIDE

A collection of Elvis Presley costumes and memorabilia in the Trophy Room at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn.

Oak Alley Plantation in Louisiana was one of the tour stops on the Lower Mississippi River cruise.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

73

GETAWAYS

catfish bites, gator bites and pralines cemented the fact that we were most assuredly in the South.

Baton Rouge

The Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge is a National Historic Landmark.

A French explorer spotted a bloodied red pole on the shore, a stick marking the boundaries between hunting grounds of two Native American tribes. He aptly named the place le bâton rouge, or the red stick. Home to the tallest state capitol in the U.S. as well as Louisiana State University, the city is rich in cultural and political history, and we hear about the influence of former Gov. Huey Long. In the afternoon, I indulged in a restful nap while Bob explored the site of the Battle for Baton Rouge, a brief siege during the Anglo-Spanish War in 1779.

Busy days touring contrast with relaxing and rejuvenating evenings onboard. Cocktail hour in the Magnolia Lounge was accompanied by a piano and singer duo as passengers compared the day’s experiences.

Sumptuous appetizers were passed and enjoyed, but dinner called.

Unlike large cruise ships, the dining room was comfortably arranged with plenty of space between tables for four or six. Open seating allowed pas-

New Orleans

Our port of departure was New Orleans, and since ACL offers a complimentary night-before hotel stay, we indulged in an elegant evening at Arnaud’s restaurant. French 75s, escargot and frog legs were the right choices for a prelude to our true Southern adventure. We boarded our boat the next morning and soon set off for a tour of Oak Alley Plantation. As its name implies, a gracious big house sits at the end of a road lined with 150-200-year-old live oak trees with gnarled limbs spread like giant umbrellas. The house exudes elegance and history with period furnishings and exhibits of artifacts from Civil War days. At tour’s end, refreshing mint juleps along with

74

Bourbon Street in New Orleans is lined with bars and restaurants.

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

INSIDERS’ VACATION GUIDE

sengers to sit where they like, so new friends were made with each meal.

Regional influences were reflected in menu selections.

At our next port of call, we did a “nose landing” – the boat pulled up to the riverbank, was tied to a tree, an upper section of the bow raised up, and a gangplank extended. From here we set out to visit Frogmore Plantation and were greeted by owner Lynette Tanner. Cotton continues to be farmed here after 200 years, and she related the history of this remarkable place. “There’s no other cotton plantation in the South that is a museum and is actively being farmed,” she said. Eli Whitney’s cotton gin (“gin” is simply short for engine) could gin a few bales of cotton in a day. The technologically-advanced gin here can do more than 1,000 a day.

Longwood Mansion in Natchez, Miss.

The entrance to Graceland.

Ironwork decorates a building in the French Quarter.

Greeters in period dress at Oak Alley Plantation.

Vicksburg

Onboard historian Bill Wiemuth presented a dynamic talk about the Civil War Anaconda Plan and its importance to the siege of Vicksburg in 1863. Located on a high river bluff, this battle is often referred to as the turning point in the war. A drive through the Military Park reveals just how the topography of the site was so strategic.

Rollin’ on the river

Most cruisers cherish days at sea, and so we delighted in a day on the river. We explored the lounges, library, map room and the Sky Deck, the weather a bit too cool to try the putting green. We were amazed at the variety of options for passengers and the elegance of the décor. Quality and graciousness best describe the ambience that they call “country club casual.” The staff is eager to please, offering warm cookies twice a day, help with games or puzzles, or fetching that extra glass of wine at dinner. We moved upriver at a slow pace, against the current, and got out of the way of long freight barges heading downstream.

Memphis

This last stop is chock-full of fascinating history as well as beautiful scenery. We drove past Beale Street, the birthplace of the blues, but made a stop at the Lorraine Motel where several 5-foot-tall interactive video towers offer facts about the life and death of Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated here in 1968. We drove around the St. Jude Children’s Medical Center, amazed at the scope of this vital place for families dealing with childhood cancer. Following this was a lighthearted visit to the Peabody Hotel, where

we watched the very famous march of the Peabody ducks.

No trip on this mighty river would be complete without mentioning Mark Twain, and historian Wiemuth delighted us with his animated talk about that famed author. We feel a kinship now to the countless folks who boated or rafted these waters and look forward to a return visit.

In addition to her freelance writing, Joy Lawrance is an avid cruiser and certified cruise counselor who loves to help people find just the right cruise for them.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

75

INTERIOR DESIGN

The New Home Office Outfitting a home office requires ingenuity, inspiration and a splash of imagination

By Marge D. Hansen

C

CHANGE IS GOOD BUT NOT ALWAYS easy. Whether your home office is a dedicated room or an area open to family activities, these recommendations will elevate your at-home workspace to ensure privacy and comfort while encouraging productivity.

Workers travel light these days.

A laptop and cellphone take up minimal space, but the essential desk and chair still lay claim to a certain amount of square footage. Furnishings can be purchased or repurposed with evolution in mind. That hall table might work well as a desk, lamps and shelving can migrate from other parts of the home to your new business location and then rejoin the household decor later.

THE DETAILS Photo: Lexington Home Brands/Denver Design Center

The Denver Design District has a number of showrooms that feature home office furnishings available for special orders and quick shipping, including:

Hoff Miller Ltd. 595 S. Broadway #106E Denver, CO 80209 303-698-0800 hoffmiller.com

Lexington Home Brands 595 S. Broadway #111E Denver, CO 80209 303-733-5888 lexington.com

For Interior Design services: G. Marie Co Interiors Gwendolyn Smith-Ehrlich gmariecointeriors.com

76

The Cascades Collection by Lexington features a variety of home-office options.

MIND-BODY EXPERIENCE “You want your space to allow you to focus and also bring you joy. When planning your home office, be sure that your desk/table height works well with your desk chair. If your

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

desk is too high or your chair sits too low, you will end up with tired arms and a sore neck,” says Caitlin Mancini of Hoff Miller, whose showroom is located at the Denver Design District.

“Another thing to keep in mind is

Photo: Provided by Hoff Miller Ltd./Denver Design Center

IDEAS FOR ELEVATED LIVING

Hancock & Moore’s Sebring Desk Chair, available through Hoff Miller, is a modern seating choice for home offices.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

77

INTERIOR DESIGN

your computer screen height. Ideally, it should be at eye level to help achieve good posture.”

In addition to ergonomics, resourcefulness contributes to making almost any home setting workable.

An idea Mancini proposes is an office on wheels. “You can use a cart to store your supplies and computer, and then roll it away at the end of the day,” she suggests.

Scale and proportion, which provide balance, are fundamental when

combining pieces already owned with new additions, notes Mancini.

Eclectic design is good and often necessary when adapting existing areas to temporary office spaces.

IMAGINATION STATION Gwendolyn Smith-Ehrlich, owner of G. Marie & Co Interiors (with locations in Denver, Vail and Fort Collins), recently designed a concealed half-desk for one of her clients that cleverly converts from worksta-

tion to drinks station. Removing the original doors from a floor-to-ceiling built-in and placing them on metal hinged arms, the unit pulls out easily and slides back into hiding when not needed. To begin with, the top bookshelves were all open. By constructing new doors to match the original ones, the built-in was creatively transformed into a multi-purpose, customized cabinet.

“An extension is stored in a shallow opening and is easily attached to the permanent portion of the desk (same as a dining room table insert). We lowered one of the original shelves in the cabinets to fit the printer, which sits on the low shelf under the desktop when it’s closed,” says Smith-Ehrlich. “The front legs of the unit are on wheels for easy movement in and out. Then the unit is slid snuggly against the cabinet.”

When it is used for entertaining, barware can be conveniently accessed from both sides.

The adjacent garden provides natural light. “The light source is in front of the surface and the computer screen. The sunlight doesn’t throw a shadow onto the computer at any point in the day,” she emphasizes, adding that drapes over sheers ensure privacy.

Photo: Provided by Hoff Miller Ltd./Denver Design Center

TAKE A SEAT

Designed by Suzanne Kasler for Hickory Chair, the Piedmont dining table, Laurent counter stools and Prado bookcase base and deck.

78

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

The National Institutes of Health, as well as other health-related organizations, have published studies on the ill effects of prolonged sitting at sub-optimal workstations and the importance of a good chair. Chiropractors and physical therapists have weighed in on the importance of good fit when it comes to choosing an office chair, citing considerations such as adjustability and preferred materials. Even the Bureau of Labor Statistics says “days lost from repetitive strain injuries” have decreased because of ergonomic design.

“Your biggest priority spend should be your desk chair,” Mancini says.

“Desk chairs have come a long way,

IDEAS FOR ELEVATED LIVING

Photo: Provided by Hoff Miller Ltd./Denver Design Center

and you no longer have to sacrifice style for a comfortable, ergonomic chair. Our go-to company for ergonomic and stylish office chairs is Hancock & Moore, which has crafted executive chairs and other seating for the last five presidents of the United States for the Oval Office.

Their mechanisms include adjustments for height, tilt and swivel.”

Smith-Ehrlich points out that partnering a contemporary ergonomic chair with an antique desk not only creates a unique pairing but also incorporates the human engineering necessary to work comfortably and efficiently. “Design Within Reach has an amazing desk chair called the Sayl Chair. This modern office chair features an innovative Y-tower armature and a ventilate elastomer back that flexes with each sitter,” she says.

BASICS AND PERSONAL TOUCHES Essentials are just that—the things one needs to make a home workspace work. Add a decorative light or pharmacy floor lamp, but don’t ignore the importance of localized task lighting.

Position your computer on a riser with a shelf for papers, but remember

A mix of styles and materials in Hancock & Moore furnishings for a home office.

Photo: Lexington Home Brands/Denver Design Center

eye-screen alignment is critical.

Additionally, artwork and amenities can take a space from dull to surprising, calming and even exciting. “Bring in plants and great art for instant gratification to an office décor,” advises Smith-Ehrlich.

“Add a touch of wallpaper and the room has personality and function wrapped up.”

Mancini goes for pops of color on walls, bookcases and furnishings. “If your space is welcoming and cheerful, it’ll make working from home that much more enjoyable.”

Lexington’s Barrymore collection includes a writing desk, file chest and leather upholstered side chair.

Marge D. Hansen writes and edits from her home office in Broomfield. Her articles appear online and in a variety of magazines.

She will be ordering a new ergonomic chair soon.

DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

79

Photo: Brad Buchanan

Cattle graze at the Flying B Bar Ranch near Strasburg.

Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation . Colorado Expression 1. Title of publication: Colorado Expression Magazine.

2. Publication number: 1070-5066. 3. Filing Date: 9/22/20. 4. Issue Frequency: Bi-Monthly: February/ April/June/August/October/December. 5. Number of issues published annually: 6. Annual Subscription Price: $22.00. 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 3600 South Beeler Street, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80237. 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters of publisher or general Business office of publisher: New West Publishing, Inc., 3600 South Beeler Street, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80237. 9. Full names and mailing addresses of Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor: Publisher, Elizabeth D. Hamilton, 3600 South Beeler Street, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80237. Managing Editor, Suzanne Brown, 3600 South Beeler Street, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80237.

10. Owner: (name and address of the corporation): New West Publishing, Inc., 3600 South Beeler Street, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80237. Owners: Elizabeth D. Hamilton and Kelly B. Tisher at the address shown for the corporation.

11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None. 12. Tax Status:

80

Has not changed during preceding 12 months.

13. Publication title: Colorado Expression Magazine.

14. Issue date for circulation data below: October 1, 2020. 15. Extent and nature of circulation: 15(a). Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 21,187. No. of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 20,250. 15(b). Paid and/or requested distribution. 15(1). Outside County paid/requested mail subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541. Average, 8,159. Issue published nearest to filing date, 7,870.

15(3) Sales through dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales and other paid or requested distribution outside USPS: Average, 5,479. Issue published nearest to filing date, 5,293. 15(c) Total paid and/or requested circulation (Sum of 15b (1)(2)(3) and (4): Average, 13,638.

Issue published nearest to filing date, 13,163. 15(d).

Non-requested distribution by mail and outside the mail.

15(1) Outside County Nonrequested copies stated on PS Form 3541: Average 6,537. Issue published nearest to filing date, 5,931. 15(d) Nonrequested copies distributed outside the mail: Average 436. Issue published nearest to filing date, 492. 15(e). Total Non-requested

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021

Distribution (Sum of 15d (1)(2(3) and (4): Average 6,973.

Issue published nearest to filing date, 6,423. 15 (f). Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and e): Average 20,611. Issue published nearest to filing date, 19,586. 15(G). Copies not distributed: Average 576. Issues published nearest to filing date, 664. 145(h). Total (Sum of 15f and g): Average 21,187. Issue published nearest to filing date, 20,250. 15(i) Percent paid and/or requested (15c divided by f times 100): Average, 66%. Issue published nearest to filing date, 67%. 16. Electronic Copy Circulation. 16(a) Requested and Paid Electronic Copies: N/A no electronic copies. 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requester Publication is required and will be printed in the December 20 / January 21 issue of this publication.

I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete: Lisa Buscietta, Operations Director.

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and business closures throughout the state, the June / July 2020 issue and the August / September 2020 issue were digital-only issues available on the Colorado Expression website.

messika paris

ole lynggaard copenhagen

sylva

zenith

sethi couture

parmigiani fleurier

for all time Our family helping your family create keepsake memories since 2002 with today’s one-of-a-kind artisans. Shop osterjewelers.com for your holiday wishes.

251 Steele Street - Cherry Creek North 303.572.1111 | OsterJewelers.com

&

cie

Porsche performance.

Stevinson excellence.

Porsche Littleton. A Stevinson Dealership.

Now Open.

Porsche Littleton A Stevinson Dealership 5500 S. Broadway Littleton, CO 80121 (888) 992-3845 porschelittleton.com