New Styles Troy Guard’s Get Glowing for the Slopes
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He Wears Many Hats By Lindsey Schwartz As CEO of SSA Group, Sean McNicholas is involved in all facets of the familyowned business.
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Get Glowing By Georgia Alexia Benjou If winter and the holidays have taken their toll on your skin, here are some products and treatments to try.
coloradoexpression . com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
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Powder Push By Georgia Alexia Benjou Top brands and retailers are making it ever more stylish to spend time on Colorado’s slopes.
PHOTO: JENSEN SUTTA
features
OUR STATE, YOUR SYMPHONY
An Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr. and your Colorado Symphony APR 2 | SAT 7:30
January
An Evening with Dianne Reeves and your Colorado Symphony
Marin Alsop Conducts
FEB 19 SAT 7:30
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute
FEB 25-27 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✣ SUN 1:00
Beethoven Symphony No. 5
JAN 7-9 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✣ SUN 1:00 JAN 11 TUES 7:30
March
Danny Elfman’s Percussion and Piano Quartets
The Music of Queen with your Colorado Symphony
JAN 12 WED 7:30
Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton
MAR 4-5 FRI-SAT 7:30
An Afternoon Forum with Danny Elfman
MAR 6 SUN 2:30
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
MAR 11-13 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✣ SUN 1:00
Denver Young Artists Orchestra Side by Side: Elgar’s Enigma Variations
MAR 18-19 FRI-SAT 7:30
Tribute to The Great American Songbook
MAR 25-27 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✣ SUN 1:00
Magic Circle Mime Co - The Mozart Experience
JAN 14-15 FRI-SAT 7:30
Respighi Pines Of Rome
JAN 15 SAT 2:30
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE Orchestra World Tour
JAN 21-23 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✣ SUN 1:00 JAN 26 WED 7:00 JAN 29 SAT 7:30
Holst The Planets conducted by Peter Oundjian
April An Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr.and your Colorado Symphony
February Disney’s Fantasia with your Colorado Symphony
APR 2 SAT 7:30
Berlioz Symphonie fantastique conducted by Douglas Boyd
APR 8-10 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✣ SUN 1:00
The Times They Are A-Changin': The Words and Music of Bob Dylan
APR 16 SAT 7:30
FEB 4-5 FRI 7:00 ✣ SAT 2:30
FEB 11-13 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✣ SUN 1:00 FEB 18 FRI 7:30
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 Mahler Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” See our full event listing at coloradosymphony.org
These performances include FULL SCREENING OF THE FEATURE FILM!
PRESENTING SPONSOR
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departments In This Issue 12 .
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Shot in the Dark See who made the scene at fundraisers and social gatherings.
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Social Calendar Put these winter events on your calendar.
Hot Tickets Shows, concerts and events you don’t want to miss.
Nonprofit Profile Global Livingston Institute is changing communities and empowering people by creating jobs in Uganda.
Bits & Pieces Check out what’s new with people, places and businesses around Colorado.
58 Art Scene
Sip & Savor
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Public Persona Businessman and philanthropist Ron Williams is Citizen of the West.
Fresh Perspectives By Colleen Smith Expect to see a wide variety of artistic styles and mediums at the Coors Western Art Show.
Travel
Cover Photo by Jensen Sutta Sean McNicholas, Morris Price and Ron Williams are leaders in business and philanthropy.
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By Suzanne S. Brown Grange Hall in the Denver Tech Center is chef and restaurateur Troy Guard’s latest venture.
GET EVENT UPDATES BETWEEN ISSUES:
Colorado Weekends
FACEBOOK @coloradoexpression
By Lindsey Schwartz Vista Verde Ranch near Craig is the ultimate ranch getaway.
TWITTER @coloexpression
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From the Publisher
A WiesnerMedia Publication
A NEW YE AR
Group Publisher ELIZABETH HAMILTON ehamilton@coloradoexpression.com
It’s 2022 and I know I am excited to start a new year! The snow is falling and it’s a great time to get outside and experience the wonderful ways we can celebrate living in Colorado. We are so lucky to live in a place with such diverse winter fun.
Managing Editor SUZANNE S. BROWN suzanne@coloradoexpression.com Editor LINDSEY SCHWARTZ lindsey@coloradoexpression.com Operations Director LISA BUSCIETTA lisa@coloradoexpression.com Design/Production ANDREA SPÄTH, ELEANOR WILLIAMSON Digital/Social Media MISTI MILLS Photography PAMELA CRESS, JENSEN SUTTA Events and Partnership Coordinator SCOUT PETERSEN spetersen@chlml.com Production Manager DAWN PAUL dpaul@chlml.com Contributing Writers LINDSEY SCHWARTZ, COLLEEN SMITH, DANIELLE YUTHAS Advertising Account Executive sales@coloradoexpression.com Inquiries and Submissions info@coloradoexpression.com Printed in Denver, Colorado
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GEORGIA ALEXIA BENJOU, JOANNE DAVIDSON, CYNTHIA PASQUALE,
The National Western Stock Show is one of my favorite Denver traditions and I’m thrilled that it’s taking place in person this year. The stock show brings so much life to this city. From the Junior Livestock Auction to the Citizen of the West dinner and the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, there is something for everyone. Our cover features three incredible men who are leading the way in our community. I hope you find their stories as inspiring as I do. The New Year always brings thoughts of health, and now that means more than ever. I ponder what things I should take on as I get older in order to keep feeling healthy and energized. My skin is always a good place to start, and in this issue we show you ways to pamper yourself and re-energize your skincare routine. If you are looking at hitting the slopes, look no further than the story from our fashion guru Georgia Benjou, who shows us style on the mountain and where to buy the most luxurious outerwear for the season. Our story on Vista Verde Ranch reminds me of why I love Colorado. It’s not only for horse lovers like me, but also for anyone looking for adventure near beautiful Steamboat Springs. Horses, hiking, skiing, or just sitting by the fire, it’s all right here. I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together! Wishing you a healthy and happy New Year! ELIZABETH HAMILTON Group Publisher
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Colorado Expression, Colorado Homes & Lifestyles, Mountain Living
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coloradoexpression . com sept . oct 2021
Shot in the Dark
ALL FOR A
GOOD CAUSE
The Denver Art Museum “Unveiled” More than 600 guests celebrated the expanded and reimagined Denver Art Museum with a reception, gallery tours and dinner at the "Unveiled" gala held in the museum’s Sie Welcome Center on Oct. 15. Photography by Pamela Cress
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1 Cindy Farber, left, Robin Chotin, Diane Huttner 2 John and Anna Sie 3 Board Chairman Lanny and Sharon Martin 4 Charlie and Diane Gallagher, Michelle Sie Whitten and Tom Whitten 5 Lori and Grady Durham, Lauren Casteel 6 Pat Meyers, DAM Deputy Director Andrea Fulton 7 DAM Director Christoph Heinrich, Kira von Lil, Cathey and Dick Finlon 8 Richard Right, DAM fashion curator Florence Müller, Michele Right 9 Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld 10 Kasia Iwaniczko MacLeod, Andrew and Sarah Feinstein 7
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The Carousel Ball The Children’s Diabetes Foundation held its 35th annual gala at the Hyatt Regency Denver on Oct. 2 in an evening that included dinner, auctions and entertainment.
CAUSE
Photography by Pamela Cress
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1 High Hopes Award recipients Steve and Shelley Lucas; Lisa Biederman, Doug Antonof 2 Conor Hall, Harper Lodge-Rigal 3 Brian and Megan Morris, Heidi and Chris Humber 4 Brooks Roughton, CDF executive director Dana Davis 5 Justin Kroll, John Lacy 6 Brittany and Nick Paytas 7 Jason and Mindy Buehler 8 Michelle Shaw, Dr. Richard Ogden "Ogs" Roberts 9 Paul Anderson, Michelle Walker 10 Cameron and Tracy Van Orman, Kelly and Brad Schoenfeld 11 Kerry Jewelz, Honey Grimes, Jill and David Bayouth 7
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Shot in the Dark
ALL FOR A
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Fill a Plate for Hunger We Don’t Waste held its annual fundraising dinner Sept. 23 at ReelWorks Denver. Photography by Pamela Cress
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1 Phillip and Cathi Buckley 2 Daniel Epstein, Jessie Nichols, Allie Hoffman, Caroline Hissong 3 Page Sepic, Caroline Curran, Sarah Weily 4 Doug and Nonie Grounds, Katie Schmuhl, Sam Talarczyk 5 Steve Galpern, Tom Halverson, President and CEO of presenting sponsor CoBank; WDW board members Elaine Holoboff and Bruce Kirchhoff 6 Scott Sepic, Josephine Sinclair, Caroline Curran, Bill Sinclair 7 WDW founder and Executive Director Arlan Preblud with Leigh Sinclair 8 Cody and Faye Holloway, Anne Marie and Matt Brown 9 Jeff Lee, Mary and Jeremy Hopson 10 Derek Jones, Ben Brewer, Manny Ladis 9
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I t is one of the most beautiful
yet tragic love stories of all time. Choreography by Derek Deane that demands exceptional levels of ballet technique, artistry and acting, paired with Sergei Prokofiev’s phenomenal music, makes for an evening of stunning artistic grandeur that will take your breath away.
Presented by MIDFIRST
Jessica Payne & Jonnathan Ramirez by Rachel Neville
february 4 – 13, 2022
BANK ®
march 11 – 20, 2022
S eptime Webre’s dazzling
E LLIE CAULKINS OPE R A HOUSE wit h live music fea t ur ing t he COL ORADO BAL L ET ORCHEST R A
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coloradoexpression . com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
Leah McFadden by Rachel Neville
production returns, bringing Dorothy and a whirlwind of your favorite characters back down the Yellow Brick Road. Webre’s whimsical and timeless choreography showcases the athleticism of each dancer on their journey to Emerald City.
Shot in the Dark
ALL FOR A
GOOD CAUSE
Western Fantasy The 28th annual benefit for Volunteers of America Colorado was themed "Pioneer Spirit of Colorado" and held Oct. 16 at the National Western Events Center. Photography by Pamela Cress
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1 Adam and Barb Way, Gabby Martinez, Brian Smith 2 Rachel Greathouser, Jessica Boll, Michelle Curry, Anna Boll 3 Nod Norkus, Christina Carlson, VOA Colorado President and CEO Dave Schunk 4 Jeanie Engelbert, Stefani Hajovsky, Nancy Gooding, Jerry Burk 5 Denise Snyder, Michael James 6 Western Fantasy co-founder Sharon Magness Blake, Ferris Peery and Donna Donati 7 Eula and Janet Adams 8 Stephen Edmonds, Diane Sweat, Daniel Kopnisky 8
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THROUGH MARCH 13, 2022
N AT I O N A L TO U R S P O N S O R
John Singer Sargent, A Gust of Wind (Judith Gautier) (detail), about 1883–85. Oil on canvas; 24 ¾ × 15 in. (62.9 × 38.1 cm). Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin Collection. L.2015.13.47. Photo by Travis Fullerton. © Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters in France is organized by the Denver Art Museum and presented by Bank of America. The exhibition is supported by the Tom Taplin Jr. and Ted Taplin Endowment, the Kristin and Charles Lohmiller Exhibitions Fund, the Wyeth Foundation for American Art, Kathie and Keith Finger, Lauren and Geoff Smart, Christie’s, the French American Museum Exchange (FRAME), the generous donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine and CBS4.
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Shot in the Dark
ALL FOR A
Rev the Runway
GOOD
A reception, Neiman Marcus fashion show and auction benefiting National Jewish Health was held Nov. 4 at Mercedes-Benz of Denver. Photography by Pamela Cress
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1 Karly Farber, Erin Robbins, Misty Halaby 2 Monique Fox, Chiara Kline, Ru Schanman, Lynelle Wagner 3 James Mucker, Hailee Lucchesi, Charlie Price 4 Mariel Snyder, Denise Snyder, Diane Huttner, Suzanne Brown 5 Tammy Henkels, Angela Byrd, Caroline St. Clair, Mikki Warren 6 NJH director of special events Clem Connolly and his daughter, Meg Connolly 7 Karen and Rick Jacobs, Joey Wasko 8 Robert Phifer, Kate Wells, Candice Fletcher, Everett Schneider 9 Event chairs Jordan Feiner, Debbie Feiner, Lisa Walko 10 Kristin Saad, Julia Sullivan, David Saad, Hayley Servatius 11 Event co-chairwoman Debbie Feiner, honorary chair Cindy Farber
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BASED ON THE NOVEL BY STEPHEN KING MORAVEC & CAMPBELL’S
FEB. 26 | MAR. 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2022 Based on Stephen King’s spine-chilling novel, The Shining brings the hopeful Torrance family to Colorado’s isolated Overlook Hotel. Little do they know that the Overlook’s spectral guests are determined to repeat the hotel’s grim history.
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303.468.2030 (PRESS 1)
Shot in the Dark
ALL FOR A
Kentwood Golf Tournament
GOOD
Kentwood Real Estate held its annual benefit golf tournament Sept. 20 at The Club at Inverness. Photography by Pamela Cress
CAUSE
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1 Elizabeth Holz, Karen Brinckerhoff, Helena Buckley 2 Amanda Fein, Christy Andrisen, Paula King, Blake Harmer 3 Andrea and Eric Bell, Josh Steck, Kentwood COO Dierk Herbermann 4 Brendan Gustafson, Brian Roth, Greg Elsner, Danny Buckley 5 Jon Lopez, Kathy Tye, Thomas Dutzer, Jaryd Takushi
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A Celebration of Judi Wolf Judi Wolf and her late husband, Marvin Wolf, were honored for their contributions to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Sept. 25 at the Wolf Theatre. Photography by Pamela Cress 1
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1 DCPA’s Janice Sinden and Jamie Clements read a proclamation from Gov. Jared Polis 2 George and Gail Johnson, Kristina and Jay Davidson 3 Judi Wolf and her son Marco Chayet 4 DCPA’s Suzanne Yoe and Kevin Copenhaver 5 Judi Wolf and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock
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Social Calendar
The Lion Dance, Balls and Fergie, Too By Joanne Davidson
JANUARY
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FEBRUARY
12 Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation hosts its 10th annual Kaleidoscope Ball. Guests will check in at the Ritz-Carlton Denver for this weekend-long celebration that begins with a 5 p.m. cocktail reception. An Italian-themed dinner follows, along with entertainment and a casino night. An overnight stay at the hotel is included, as is brunch the following day. HealthONE is the presenting sponsor; Amanda Veit, chief operating officer at Vail Health; Dr. Andrew Veit, an anesthesiologist; Dr. Kristin Shipman,
PHOTO: TRAVIS BROXTON
Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, Inc. and Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce will induct seven laureates at the 2022 Colorado Business Hall of Fame dinner at the Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center. The inductees are Robert Albin, Tim Gill, Robert Newman, Nancy and Curt Richardson, Donald L. Sturm and the late Clara Brown. UMB Bank is the presenting sponsor. Tickets start at $400 each. coloradobusinesshalloffame.org
The Lion Dance is part of Nathan Yip Foundation’s Chinese New Year celebration.
a physician at Rocky Mountain Pediatric Surgery; and Dan Hackley, system lead at Ethicon Consulting, are the chairmen. Tickets start at $2,500 per couple. rmchildren.org/KB22
his wife, Robin; Karen and John Ikard; Terri and Vic Lombardi; Michele and Richard Right; and Maja and Mark Rosenquist. For ticket information, contact Clem Connolly. connollyc@NJHealth.org
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MARCH
Nathan Yip Foundation celebrates the Lunar Year of the Tiger at Into the Wild, a Chinese New Year gala chaired by Julia and Rusty Porterfield and held at the Grand Hyatt Denver. Festivities include silent and live auctions, a seated dinner, live entertainment and a Chinese night market. Tickets are $250 each; $150 for those up to age 35. nathanyipfoundation.org
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The Beaux Arts Ball is Feb. 26 to benefit National Jewish Health.
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National Jewish Health’s Beaux Arts Ball returns to an in-person format when supporters gather at the Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center for Moulin Rouge, a dinner and entertainment extravaganza presented by the Morgridge Family Foundation. The ball also is the occasion for National Jewish to honor its 2022 grand marshals: U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper and
coloradoexpression . com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
11 Sarah, Duchess of York, is the speaker for the 10th anniversary edition of The Journey, a fundraiser for the Junior League of Denver. “Fergie” brings awareness to causes that focus on children, wellness and education. The dinner is at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center. Tickets are $175 through Jan. 31; $200 after that. jld.org
19 The American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming honors first responders and others at its Rocky Mountain Heroes Soiree. The event, at Seawell Ballroom, begins at 5 p.m. and includes dinner, the awards presentation and an after party. redcross.org or 303-722-7474
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Join the DCPA for a night of world-class entertainment! Transport yourself to a spectacular soiree in Montmartre, home of the Moulin Rouge, at the Saturday Night Alive gala, supporting DCPA theatre and education programs. Romantic passion, unbridled glamour and bohemian extravagance await you at the biggest social event of the year. Cocktail Hour Three-Course Dinner Luxury Online Auction Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Buell Theatre Desserts
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Hot Tickets
IN TOWN Denver Winter Brew Fest
DON’ T MISS THESE
EVENTS
Samples from more than 45 vendors of beer, cider, kombucha, hard seltzers and more will be available Jan. 22 at the Denver Winter Brew Fest at Mile High Station. Live music and food trucks will be onsite and the event benefits nonprofit partner Big Bones canine rescue of Windsor. Day, evening and evening VIP tickets are available. brewfestevents.com/denver-winter-brew-fest
Golden’s Grass Festival UllrGrass, named after the Norse god of winter, Ullr, is Golden’s signature winter event. Filled with live music, performing arts and craft beer and cider, the Jan. 28-30 festival will be held under heated big-top tents in Parfet Park. The music lineup includes bluegrass, new grass, funk and jam band artists. Sunday is family day, with activities for all. The events will include a band contest, troubadour contest and costume contest. Viking wear is encouraged. The nonprofit partner is the Kids Music Project by Coral Creek. ullrgrass.com
Winter on the Rocks Red Rocks Amphitheater’s only winter show, Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks, featuring Diplo and Sofi Tukker, along with Talib Kweli, DJ Matt Cassidy and Jacoby is Jan 28 at 7 p.m. This is the 10th year Icelantic skis has hosted the Red Rocks event. redrocksonline.com/events/icelantic-s-winteron-the-rocks-diplo-sofi-tukker
Riverdance Turns 25
PHOTO: SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
The 25th anniversary show of Riverdance brings a reimagined version of the Irish and international dance favorite to the Buell Theater Feb. 2-6. Music is by Grammy Award winning composer Bill Whelan and is produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan. denvercenter.org/tickets-events/riverdance
Disney’s Fantasia in Concert The Colorado Symphony will play the music of the original 1940s version as well as the
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Celine Dion is at Ball Arena March 9.
coloradoexpression . com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
Hot Tickets
2000 version of Fantasia as the classic is played on the big screen for a truly immersive experience Feb. 4 and 5. The score includes “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and “Suite” from The Nutcracker. The Movie at the Symphony evening will be held at Boettcher Concert Hall. tickets.coloradosymphony.org
David Archuleta David Archuleta got his start in the public eye on season seven of “American Idol,” where he became runner up at age 16 in 2008. His first single, “Crush,” was double platinum, his selftitled album “David Archuleta” went gold. He is now on his ninth project, an album of selfdiscovery, and will perform in the Ok, Alright Tour on Feb. 21 at the Soiled Dove Underground. eventbrite.com/e/david-archuleta-ok-alrighttour-2022-tickets-148394232143
Celine Dion: Courage World Tour One of the top female artists of all time, Celine Dion, will perform at Ball Arena on March 9. The Courage World Tour is her first global tour in a decade and her second since beginning her residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. ballarena.com/events-tickets/calendar
OUT OF TOWN Ouray Ice Festival The Ouray Ice Festival to be held Jan. 20-23 offers enthusiasts and climbers of all skill levels the ability to learn techniques and tools, and for the world’s best climbers to compete. In the evenings, participants unwind with music, food and dance parties.
Ouray is home to the Ouray Ice Park, where ice farmers spray down the Uncompahgre Gorge, creating 150 man-made ice and climbing tracks, spanning 3 miles of vertical terrain. ourayicepark.com
Ski with Celebrities One of the hottest bands out of Nashville, with eight No. 1 hits since 2014, Old Dominion is headlining Rocky Mountain Ski Fest Feb. 8-9 in Beaver Creek, benefiting the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Concert tickets are available as well as the VIP Experience, which includes a pre-show meet-and-greet reception followed by a day of skiing the next day with the band, celebrities and the children affected by cancer at Children’s Hospital Colorado. rockymtnskifest.com
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Nonprofit Profile
GLOBAL
LIVINGSTON INSTITUTE
A Colorado-based organization works to empower people in communities in Africa by creating jobs. By Cynthia Pasquale
PHOTO: MARK BROSTE
A view of Entusi Resort and Retreat Center and Lake Bunyonyi from the hill behind the resort.
A TRIP TO EAST AFRICA in 2016 with the Global Livingston Institute opened Amber Valdez’s eyes about the ways many organizations strive to help underserved communities but sometimes fall short. In northern Uganda, she saw churches that had been abandoned and decrepit schools, built without plans for future maintenance. “Americans go in and we absolutely think we understand what is best, but a lot of time, we’re not listening to what the people we’re trying to serve actually need,” says Valdez. She had just graduated from the University of Colorado Denver with a master’s
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degree in public administration when she visited Uganda and Rwanda to learn more about GLI’s community development model. “The motto of GLI—Listen. Think. Act.— showed me that if you want to do work in other countries, you need to listen to what [communities] need, not just do what we think they need,” Valdez says. GLI was founded in 2009 by Jamie Van Leeuwen, who named the organization after Johnston R. Livingston (1923-2008), an entrepreneur and philanthropist from Colorado. Van Leeuwen, who visited Uganda and Rwanda in 2007 as part of the Livingston
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Fellowship he received from the BonfilsStanton Foundation, came away with the impression that good intentions did not always produce results. Through GLI, Van Leeuwen aimed to engage with East African communities, not “fix” them, and to teach others that “there is another model to community development that we can take, one that empowers communities rather than creates dependence.” Over the years, as CEO of the organization, Van Leeuwen has partnered with academic institutions, community leaders and philanthropists to help reach GLI’s goals of trans-
forming lives, with an emphasis on creating jobs. In Uganda, for instance, two recycling centers, developed in partnership with the University of Denver, are gearing up to eliminate 50 metric tons of plastic from the environment every month. The centers not only provide jobs, they also generate revenue. Also thanks to GLI, in northern Uganda, about 1,000 former child soldiers are now farming, and GLI is helping to move their crops to market by building more efficient systems. That project was done in partnership with students from Cornell University. GLI also produces large festivals in East Africa, where musicians from the United States—including many from Colorado—have teamed with those in Uganda and Rwanda for concerts. The festivals, says Van Leeuwen, not only share culture and music with rural communities, but are also a way to connect young people and women with access to HIV testing and other health services. Over the years, more than 3,000 people have participated in GLI’s immersion programs, traveling to Africa to learn more about the countries and develop best practices. The journey ends with a stop at the Entusi Resort and Retreat Center, which was established in 2012 in southern Uganda as a place for students, leaders and travelers to relax, learn and discuss social issues. The center, which is operated by Ugandans, hosts various events, including women’s leadership retreats, youth summits and mental health training conferences. GLI is preparing to rebuild the center with the help of BuildStrong Education, the foundation of Oakwood Homes. Company founder and CEO Pat Hamill is a long time supporter of GLI and pledged to match the
PHOTO: SETH GOLDSTEIN
Inside Colorado’s philanthropic organizations
Music festivals produced by GLI are a way to not only share culture and music but also provide access to health services.
first $100,000 for the project. Training practices developed by BuildStrong Academy will teach Ugandans the skills they need to participate in the Entusi remodel and prepare them for employment after the project is complete. “We think we’ve got something unique in the academy model that demonstrates how to do capital projects in hard-to-serve parts of the world,” says Amy Schwartz, executive director of BuildStrong Education. In November, GLI released Listen. Think. Act.: Lessons and Perspectives in Community Development, a textbook in which Ugandan and U.S. authors detail GLI’s work. And while GLI’s focus is international development, Van Leeuwen knows that visits to Africa or GLI’s virtual learning sessions can
THE DETAILS GLOBAL LIVINGSTON INSTITUTE 1031 33rd St., Suite #235 Denver, CO 80205 globallivingston.org
Global Living Institute partners with academic institutions, community leaders and philanthropists to transform lives through job creation in Africa. It also offers immersion programs to train leaders in development practices.
be translated into good works at home. During her trip to Africa, Valdez participated in a women’s retreat where participants shared tips on supporting each other and the next generation. Now she practices what she learned through her lobbying firm, Valdez Public Affairs, as she works to ensure there is diversity that reflects the population in government. She also uses the listen-first model as a board member of a group building a community center in the Westwood neighborhood of southwest Denver. “Before the project got funding and before we made any moves, we talked to neighbors in nine different languages and asked them what they wanted. We talked to other organizations in the neighborhood so that we wouldn’t repeat efforts but would create an ecosystem that works in the area,” she says. In 2020, she also became chair of GLI’s board of directors. “I’m really thankful to Jamie for opening up my world view and to GLI for being able to show me how small this world really is and that we have so much in common with people that we think we might not have.” Cynthia Pasquale is a Denver-based writer.
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Bits & Pieces
What’s happening in the West By Danielle Yuthas
INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTURE CHAMPIONSHIPS EVERY JANUARY historic downtown Breckenridge houses a temporary outdoor art gallery of snow sculptures. This year, the carving will begin on Jan. 24, when 16 teams from around the world will carve 20-ton blocks of ice into sculptures (no power tools allowed). Sculptures will be available for viewing Jan. 28-Feb. 2. gobreck.com/event/international-snow-sculpture-championships
SNOWSHOE, FONDUE AND WINE, TOO
The signature tour features food at five restaurants and optional drink pairings.
DELICIOUS DENVER
FOOD TOUR
oldest hotel. Upgrade to the optional drink package to add limoncello, wine and a margarita to your foodie adventure. deliciousdenverfoodtours.com
A variety of walking tours are held daily, including a food tour, wine walk, cocktails and tasting event or beer-centric experiences, starting at $68.
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PHOTO: MARCEL FLUKIER
PHOTOS: DELICIOUS DENVER FOOD TOURS
TAKE THIS WALKING TOUR to experience the diversity of foods offered in downtown Denver. You’ll taste authentic Neapolitan pizza, Colorado green chile, Wagyu beef tacos, empanadas and Southwestern fusion cuisine as you learn about the history and architecture of landmarks including the Dairy Block, Union Station and Denver’s
FROM JAN. 7 TO MARCH 20, Aspen Peak Cellars hosts guided snowshoe hikes culminating in a wine tasting and fondue pairing at the winery. These events, held in Bailey on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), sell out fast. aspenpeakcellars.com
What’s happening in the West
ROMEO AND JULIET AT
COLORADO BALLET WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S tragic love story of two star-crossed lovers is enacted through dance and set to a score performed by a live orchestra at Ellie Caulkins Opera House Feb. 4-13. These performances conclude the 50th anniversary season of the Colorado Ballet. tickets.coloradoballet.org/events
Escape the winter weather and tour the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory on Feb. 13 and 14 to learn about exotic plants with the power to inspire, enamor and seduce. Explore plants that engage the senses and have inspired myths. botanicgardens.org
WANTED
GREAT
WEDDINGS
Leftover Salmon is among the inductees in the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.
2021 INDUCTEES
COLORADO MUSIC HALL OF FAME SINCE OPENING 10 years ago, Colorado Music Hall of Fame has been on a mission to celebrate our state’s music heritage and inspire the future of Colorado music. The 2021 inductees are The Hot Rize, Leftover Salmon, The String Cheese Incident, Yonder
Mountain String Band and Boulder’s Fox Theatre. The Colorado Music Hall of Fame hosts the Hall of Fame Museum at the Trading Post at Red Rocks Amphitheater, which is free and open to the public 363 days a year. cmhof.org
& EVENTS!
FOR OUR ANNUAL CONFETTI ISSUE OF COLORADO EXPRESSION, which showcases special events and trends in the industry, we are asking for submissions of photos and descriptions of weddings, anniversaries and other life celebrations. We understand that 2020 and much of 2021 were a challenging time for the industry, but we also know that event planners, caterers, florists and others continued to do amazing work. Any wedding or event from Aug. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2021, can be submitted for editorial consideration. Celebrations that are chosen will be featured in the May-June issue. Please use this link to submit your event: tiny.cc/ColoradoExpression THE DEADLINE IS FEB. 4
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PHOTO: MARIA SBYTOVA / SHUTTERSTOCK
PHOTO: JOHN-RYAN LOCKMAN
PHOTO: SCOTT DRESSEL-MARTIN
LOVE POTIONS FROM THE VINE TOUR
Bits & Pieces
EL JAVI, PHOTO COURTESY OF MELISSA MARKLE
STRIKING A CHORD The National Guitar Museum’s touring exhibit, "Guitar: The Instrument that Rocked the World," is on display at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Hands-on experiences explore sound waves, frequency, mathematical scales, engineering and more. The world’s largest guitar, reaching 43 1/2 feet long, is among the 60 instruments that will be on display. Exhibition included with general admission. Tickets at dmns.org/guitars
EXPLORE
FRANCE’S STYLISTIC IMPACT ON AMERICAN PAINTING
PHOTO: TERRA FOUNDATION FOR AMERICAN ART, CHICAGO.
STEP INTO A PARIS SALON at the “Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters in France” exhibit at the Denver Art Museum through July. More than 100 works of art, created be-
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tween 1855 and 1913, are on display, including those of Cecilia Beaux, William Merritt Chase, Childe Hassam, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent and Henry Ossawa Tanner. Experience the deep cultural links between France and America through the 19th and early 20th centuries, represented by the work of the first wave of Americans to study art in Paris. Styles represented include tonalism, classicism, realism, impressionism and variations thereof. A separate exhibit ticket is required. denverartmuseum.org
Mary Cassatt’s "Children in a Garden (The Nurse)," an oil painted in 1878, is from The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Meredith J. Long.
James McNeill Whistler’s "The Beach at Marseille," painted in 1901, is from the Terra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection.
What’s happening in the West
PHOTO: MEGA PIXEL / SHUTTERSTOCK
VALENTINE’S TEA FEB. 13 AND 14 AT CHEROKEE RANCH & CASTLE Experience Valentine’s Day from a mountaintop castle and take a tour through time. Enjoy views of the Front Range paired with champagne, tea, scones, finger sandwiches, pastries, clotted cream and jam. cherokeeranch.org
RANCH-TO-RUNWAY BRAND Miron Crosby, the boot line founded by Dallas sister duo Lizzie Means Duplantis and Sarah Means, has opened a boutique in Aspen. The contemporary, 2,000-square-foot studio at 520 E. Cooper Ave. offers boots like the ones that have been spotted on such celebrities as Gigi Hadid, Kacey Musgraves, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kelsea Ballerini. Each pair of boots is handmade in the 160-yearold Rios of Mercedes factory in Mercedes, Texas. Also available are home and lifestyle accessories and the Ranch Water signature tequila cocktail. Custom Crosbys for men, women and children are available at mironcrosby.com.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF DENVER COMEDY UNDERGROUND
BOOTS SCOOT INTO ASPEN
Katie Hannigan
DENVER COMEDY UNDERGROUND Comedy Underground has a new location in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood at 1400 N. Williams St., Suite 100. Every week, new shows feature local and national talent, some of which are secret shows. denvercomedyunderground.com
THE JOURNEY FEATURING KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Sarah, Duchess of York WHEN:
Friday, March 11, 2022 — Event starts at 6 pm
WHERE: Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center TICKETS: Visit JLD.org for details @juniorleaguedenver
@jldenver
@juniorleaguedenver #JLDJourney
10TH ANNUAL JOURNEY EVENT Please join us for drinks, dinner and an inspiring speaker at our 10th annual fundraiser! Proceeds support our Mission to empower women to become civic leaders and impactful community volunteers, as well as our community work. Learn more at JLD.org.
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Bits & Pieces
PHOTO: THE HIP PHOTO
COLORADO GARDEN &HOME SHOW
MILEPOST ZERO FOOD HALL square-foot outdoor plaza, and weekly and seasonal community events. Milepost Zero also is a watering hole featuring nonalcoholic cocktails, perfect for family-friendly events including movie nights, concerts, festivals and more. milepostzero.com
DENVER was originally anchored by the railroad and train tracks, known as “milepost zero,” which is the heart of McGregor Square today. The eponymous 14,000-square-foot food hall offers eight culinary concepts, a pour-it-yourself bar and beer wall, a 28,000-
THIS DENVER ARTS SCENE FAVORITE is a juried fashion show of garments made entirely from paper by local artists. It has been rescheduled to March 10 at the Fillmore Auditorium. Fashions must be 90 percent paper and decorating the paper is permitted but any type of binding through sewing, tape, etc. is prohibited. This year’s theme
The largest and most prestigious garden and home show in the Rocky Mountain Region takes place Feb. 12-20 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Visit eight live gardens and learn from experts representing more than 650 landscaping- and homeimprovement companies. Proceeds support the Colorado Garden Foundation, which provides grants to organizations and scholarships to college horticulture students. coloradogardenfoundation.org
PHOTO: BLU HARTKOPP
PHOTO: JASON DEWITT
PAPER FASHION SHOW
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is “Chiaroscuro,” the juxtaposition of light and dark, and each designer will develop either a light or dark composition. The Denver Paper Fashion Show is volunteer-run and is the largest paper fashion show in the nation. It is presented by The One Club for Creativity (formerly the Art Directors Club Denver) and supports Downtown Aurora Visual Arts, which provides free after-school arts programs for urban youth. paperfashionshow.com
coloradoexpression . com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS.
Trusting The Real Estate Experts to sell our home was one of the best decisions we made last year.
DENVER • CHERRY CREEK • GREENWOOD VILLAGE • CHERRY HILLS • CASTLE ROCK • CASTLE PINES
If you’re planning to buy or sell a home in 2022, please call us for a complimentary consultation. JONATHAN KEILER 303-619-2917
TAYLOR PALESE 720-258-5669
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www.RikeJon.com www.TheRealEstateExperts-Denver.com
Public Persona
Ron Williams Citizen of the West is honored for his business sense and philanthropy
THE LAST PERSON TO SING Ron Williams’ praises is Ron Williams himself. He’ll downplay his business acumen and gloss over his ability to raise millions of dollars for causes in which he believes. Yet his voice cracks with emotion when asked how it feels to be the 43rd Citizen of the West, an honor he’ll accept on Jan. 10 at a dinner benefiting the National Western Scholarship Trust. “This is one of the great honors of my life,” Williams says. “I really wasn’t expecting it, so I was both excited and appreciative.” Fortunately, his friends aren’t shy about heaping on the praise. They’ll tell how he cochaired a $250 million campaign to build the new Children’s Hospital Colorado on the Anschutz Medical Campus; how he helped revitalize the Denver Public Schools Foundation by serving 10 years on its board and raising $10 million for its programs; or how he chaired the National Western Stock Show board and helped launch its $100 million Honor the Legacy campaign with a $10 million gift. In appreciation of that gift, the Stock Show honored him by granting in-perpetuity naming to one of its key areas. The 20-acre Cille and Ron Williams Yards will be a yearround venue for concerts, festivals, large equipment trade shows, sporting events and drive-in movies. The yards will have removable pens for livestock shows and can be transformed into a parking lot when need be. Don Elliman, chancellor of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, says: “Ron honestly believes he is not that special– and he’s dead wrong. Ron is a rock. Salt of the earth. He has the finest set of values I’ve ever known. He’s an incredibly caring and thoughtful person and does it all without air or any sense of self-promotion.”
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PHOTO: JENSEN SUTTA
By Joanne Davidson
Colorado’s Top Personalities
Paul Andrews, president and chief executive officer of the National Western Stock Show, adds: “Ron’s reputation as one of Denver’s premiere business leaders is second to none. He has the unique quality of being able to listen to differing opinions and know just how to get things done, even if the right decision isn’t his decision. He is absolutely one of the most influential board members in the history of the Stock Show.” Retired CU President Bruce Benson, who with his wife, Marcy, shared 2020 Citizen of the West honors, concurs. “Marcy and I believe that Ron Williams is one of the finest people in Denver. He is extremely smart and talented, yet always so humble. His contributions to Denver and Colorado are legendary. No one has been able to get him to agree to be honored until now, and it is about time.”
How do people describe you? As a good citizen. What one word do you feel best describes Coloradans? Hardy. How would you like to be remembered? As a good citizen. Who do you most admire, and why? My wife, Cille, because she’s an unusually strong wife and mother. What was the last great book that you read? Grant, by Ron Chernow.
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I’m seeing a tremendous effort being made toward making agriculture more sustainable. — Ron Williams
What’s your favorite Colorado restaurant? The National Western Club on the Stock Show grounds. Especially the beef tenderloin that is served there. Describe your fashion style. I’m most comfortable in jeans and boots. What are your hobbies? I’m really not a hobby person, but I have many interests. I like to fish, play golf and spend time at the ranch. What type of fishing do you like most? Catch-and-release fly fishing. What is your best fish story? The big ones! I’ve caught a rainbow trout that weighed about 15 pounds and, in the Florida Keys, I caught an 18-pound tarpon. What inspired you and Cille to become involved with the National Western? I grew up in a very small, rural town and spent much of my youth on farms, so agriculture always has been something very close to my
THE DETAILS Ron Williams
Age: 76 Marital status: Married to Cille since 1990 Children: Two boys, one girl and seven grandchildren Career: Retired president and chief executive officer, Gary-Williams Energy Corp. Hometown: A small town in Nebraska Where do you call home today? Denver, since 1977 Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of NebraskaKearney; master’s degree in business management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
heart. You could say (everything that the Stock Show offers) is in my blood. I’ve hardly missed one since I moved to Denver.
What is your favorite part of Stock Show? I like all of it, the whole enterprise. What kind of future do you see for the Western way of life? The Western way of life has suffered from development and the overall economics of business, but I’m seeing a tremendous effort being made toward making agriculture more sustainable. People are coming to realize how important agriculture is to our state and our society in general. How can we inspire young people to become interested in agriculture, ranching or farming? I think we’re doing that through educational programs that colleges in Colorado, Wyoming and surrounding states are offering. Education is key. Besides the National Western, what other nonprofit organizations do you support? Children’s Hospital, the Denver Public Schools Foundation … we do a lot of giving, so it’s hard to name just a few. What is it like for you and Cille to walk through the stockyards and see the signage for the Cille and Ron Williams Yards? It’s tough for me to talk about what it means. I feel a little … not overwhelmed, exactly … just appreciative of the recognition. It inspires me to do more. Joanne Davidson is a frequent contributor to Colorado Expression.
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Art Scene
FRESH FOR THE 29TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR at Denver’s National Western Stock Show, the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale is brewing. The show presents creative contemporary Western art and raises philanthropic funds, to boot. Rose Fredrick, the event’s longtime curator, culls the artistic herd by branding the show with a theme of American West subject matter rendered in contemporary realism. But the curator loosely holds the realism reins. One of the painters pushing the edges of realism is Clyde Steadman, bringing his impasto oil paintings to the Coors show for a third year. Steadman, who grew up in Santa Fe, did not set out to become an artist. In college, he studied math and philosophy, and when he graduated, Steadman aspired to write a book. Then, as he sat struggling to write that book in bars and coffee shops, he began drawing people and discovered his true calling. “My first love is the figure and portrait,” Steadman says. Today he says, that has changed. “These days, I probably do more still life than anything else.” Whatever his subject matter, Steadman distinguishes his paintings with his ragged brushwork in luscious and generous amounts of pigment. “My painting has the trace of the time,” Steadman says. “I don’t erase the record of my work. You can see I’ve taken marks out, fixed marks, moved paint around. You can see the physical relic of time and attention I put into it.” A Denver resident of 22 years, Steadman did not consider himself a Western painter until the Coors exhibit focused his work for
“Enigma Variations,” oil on panel, by Clyde Steadman
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Cultural connections
PERSPECTIVES Coors exhibit wrangles fine art at Denver’s National Western Stock Show By Colleen Smith
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Art Scene
THE DETAILS
PHOTO: STEPHEN HUME
coorswesternart.com
The Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale is Jan. 8-23 and includes works from 75 artists. The art gallery is located on the third level of the Expo Hall at the National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St. Hours for the art exhibit are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m, Sundays through Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
"Old John" sculpture by Amy Laugesen
the show. “The stock show was a chance to pay attention to where I am in a way I hadn’t before … to go outside and look at the hills, to ground myself where I am—Carbondale or Craig or Steamboat Springs or La Veta,” he says. “I live as intensely as I can here in the West, and I love this place.” For Steadman, the annual events bolster his prestige as a painter: “To be able to say, off-handedly, ‘I’m in the Coors show,’ that’s a big deal,” he says. Steadman particularly appreciates the event as a benefactor that underwrites education. “The idea of creating scholarships for people to leave the small-town, rural West, get an education and take their skills back to rural America—that’s a wonderful and urgent thing that needs to be done to preserve the West that we love. It’s really cool to be doing something so worthwhile.” Another standout at the Coors show is Amy Laugesen, a Denver native and longtime participant in the show. “I am honored to say that my equine ceramic and mixed media sculptures have been included in the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale since 2013,” Laugesen says. This year, Laugesen will be presenting four horse sculptures that simultaneously evoke ancient art history and contemporary art. “All four sculptures stand calmly on their bases. They are very grounded in the moment,” she says. “In memoriam, I dedicate this year’s sculptures to Richard Weldon, who helped with the fabrication of my bases
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"Colorado Countryside," acrylic on panel, by William Haskell
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for several Coors shows. He passed away this year, and he is profoundly missed.” Laugesen’s sculptures hold memories, particularly of her childhood horse, Tic Tac (“forever my muse,” says the sculptor). “One of the reasons I love to work in clay is because it is directly connected to me and holds the impressions of my hands and tools in its memory.” As a sculptor, Laugesen recognizes her tactile and spatial relationship to the world around her and how she influences the perceptions of others viewing her works. “Sculptures hold a space and presence that a painting cannot. A 3-D work takes the viewer on a journey in, around and through the negative and positive spaces, through the light, shadow and textures,” she says. “Without your sense of sight, you can tactilely experience the work of a sculptor.” Laugesen recently relocated from Denver to Crestone with her husband, Stephen Hume, a photographer. While they finish their offthe-grid home and studio, Laugesen works at Peter Durst’s ceramic studio in Denver, but already she envisions inspiration arising
"The Duellists (Right)," oil painting, by David Kammerzell
from her new home on the range. “The breathtaking view from our Sangre de Cristo mountain home and the rich horse heritage of the San Luis Valley is definitely influencing my work,” she says. In addition to paintings and ceramics, Fredrick emphasizes the wide variety of works she curated for the Coors show— everything from sculpted glass by Evelyn Gottschall Baker to compositions that Chris Maynard creates from feathers, and the fine art landscape photography of Andrew Beckham, who gathers minerals on location and grinds them to add subtle finishes to his work. At the Coors show, expect the highest caliber of Western art in every genre.
"Sheep Mountain," oil on canvas, by Rick Stevens
Colleen Smith, a longtime contributor to the magazine, writes about arts and culture for many publications.
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home on the grange Restaurateur Troy Guard serves up his casual and community-minded take on food halls in the Denver Tech Center By Suzanne S. Brown Photography By Marc Piscotty FOOD HALLS HAVE been a bright spot in the pandemic-plagued restaurant industry as consumers are able to quench their appetites for food that is quick, local, affordable, varied and in environments that are open and welcoming. Denver-based chef and restaurateur Troy Guard, who operates 17 eateries representing nine concepts, recognized this
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trend as one he wanted to jump on a few years back. He realized his vision in September with the opening of Grange Hall, a food hall, micro-brewery and bar in the Denver Tech Center. Guard and partners Kevin Hawkins and Ken Himel bought the space—a shuttered C.B. Potts restaurant—in 2019 and began the process of renovating it to house nine food stalls, multiple seating
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areas, outdoor patios with fire pits, a lounge area with a fireplace and cushy seating, and an event space. Painted bright white and trimmed in black, the sprawling, barn-like structure and its silo lend an Americana feel to the property despite the fact it is surrounded by parking lots, office buildings, apartments and hotels. Train your eyes on the view of Pikes
THE DETAILS
Grange Hall 6575 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. Greenwood Village, CO 80111 720-760-8247 grangehall-colorado.com Closed Monday; hours vary Tuesday through Saturday
RADO BURGERS, a new Guard concept, are made with grass-fed Colorado beef and come in multiple iterations, including the Truffle Shuffle (with truffle mayo) and the Andrew Jackson (it’s $20 and loaded with ingredients). There’s also a plant-based version and all kinds of add-ons, from foie gras to kimchi. Save room for Mrs. Guard’s triple-chocolate cookies.
Peak from the patio, and you momentarily forget you are in the suburbs. With plenty of businesses nearby and people going back to work, a stream of diners visits the hall each weekday for lunch. Grange also caters to the after-work crowd, and families and couples stop in for dinner before taking in a movie at the theater across the way or attending a concert at nearby Fiddler’s Green. Grange Hall also offers brunch on the weekends, has multiple screens for viewing sports, and hosts community-focused events like pumpkin carving in the fall. The Grange’s biggest draw is the variety of food: Eight stalls offer everything from pizza and burgers to bowls, chicken sand-
wiches, sushi, Mediterranean wraps, German-inspired ice cream and coffee creations. (See the full list, next page.) “You can come here every day for a week and eat something different each time,” says Guard, who is pleased with the lineup he and his team have put together. He admits he would have happily filled all the food stalls with his own concepts, but knew it would be better if he brought in a variety of options. And he even has a ninth spot he plans to use as a pop-up stall for a chef who wants to try out a new concept, or a seasonal offering such as holiday pies. “Troy is always on trend and right in the middle of the scene—and he certainly knows
how to build and open big, splashy restaurants,” says Amanda Faison, editor in chief of DiningOut Magazine and former food reviewer for 5280 Magazine. “He reads what Denver wants and he delivers.” The name for the food hall was inspired by the Grange movement started by American farmers in the 1860s. “Ranchers and farmers would come to trade and talk politics,” Guard says. In the updated version, he says. “It’s a place to come for lunch, have a date night, bring the kids, watch football and listen to music.” Suzanne S. Brown is managing editor of Colorado Expression.
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WHAT ’S ON THE MENU AT GRANGE HALL 1. BUBU is Guard’s globalinspired take on build-yourown bowls. Choose from popular selections like Thai, Mexican or poke; or create your own by picking a base of grains, noodles or rice; a protein to top it; and five additional ingredients, including locally sourced vegetables. 2. UPTOWN & HUMBOLDT serves Mediterranean street food created by chef Gio Dia, who also has a food truck in Denver. The menu changes frequently and includes items such as lamb and Baja fish gyros, cole slaw and yucca fries. uptownhumboldt.com
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3. TILFORD’S WOOD FIRED PIZZA started as a food truck and opened its first bricksand-mortar restaurant in 2019 in Edgewater Public Market. Tilford’s is known for its perfectly baked pizzas topped with fresh ingredients. The hand-tossed pizzas are 10-11 inches and will feed one or two people. The menu also features crisp salads with organic, hydroponically grown lettuce, and appetizers for sharing. tilfordspizza.com 4. HONEY FISH is the newest concept from Jianxiong Li, owner of Mizu Izakaya,. The stall offers temaki handrolls and sushi created with high-quality, fresh and sustainable ingredients.
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5. EISKAFFEE is a Germaninspired coffee and ice cream counter from Erika Thomas and Chad Stutz, who operate High Point Creamery. Customers can get their ice cream and coffee mixed in an eiskaffee that has a base of nitro cold brew topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate shavings and whipped cream, or can order their coffee and cold treats separately. Freshbaked goods are offered daily, and ice cream is also available by the pint. eiskaffee.co 6. A gourmet hot dog business based in Salt Lake City, Utah. J. DAWGS offers Polish, beef and beef combo hot dogs. This is the company’s first Colorado location. jdawgs.com
7. THE BAR, with cocktails created by TAG Restaurant Group’s beverage director, Nikki Guard and her staff. Pick from beers on tap, a wine selection curated by Guard, or signature cocktails such as The Grange Spritz, made with Ketel One peach vodka, lemon, elderflower, mint and soda. 8. THE CRACK SHACK got its start in San Diego in 2015, and Guard became a convert after sampling its chicken sandwiches. The Shack also offers such items as bowls, loaded fries and a Lil’ Cluckers kids meal. crackshack.com 9. LITTLE DRY CREEK BREWING COMPANY, with Ty Nash at the helm as head brewer, offers a dozen or so beers at a time, all brewed on site.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF TILFORD’S
2.
PHOTO: COURTESY J. DAWGS
1.
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he wears
many
hats From flipping burgers to crunching numbers, Sean McNicholas is an entrepreneur who does it all. By Lindsey Schwartz Portrait By Jensen Sutta
WHEN SEAN MCNICHOLAS walks through the National Western Stock Show’s Members Club, many of the regulars assume he is the maître d.’ That’s because McNicholas, CEO of SSA Group, the business that runs merchandise, ticketing and beverages for the stock show, is just as comfortable flipping burgers as he is crunching numbers. In fact, he loves to roll up his sleeves and do the work. “That is how you get to know your customers and what works and what doesn’t work,” says the CEO, adding, “Last year one of the members told me she thought I was really getting better each year, and she asked if she could tell my boss how much I have improved,” he says. “That was the ultimate compliment.” Service Systems Associates, or SSA Group, was founded in 1971 by Kevin McNicholas, Sean’s father. The company started on a handshake and a promise to operate food and beverage for the Denver Broncos and the National Western Stock Show. Today, SSA Group operates in 10 states with 72 partners and from 5,000 to 9,000 employees, depending on the season. The company works closely with its partners to integrate retail, admissions and dining at zoos, aquariums and cultural attractions, with the aim of providing customers the best possible experience. Employees focus on sustainability, inclusivity and innovation, which is transforming the industry. “No matter what we get into at SSA—new technologies, different partner industries—the common thread is family,” McNicholas says. “The partners have one thing in common: They serve the families in their communities, and we do, too.”
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The company’s current focus and a source of a lot of pride is dedication to community and sustainability at each venue. At SSA Group, giving back to local nonprofit organizations is a priority. In Colorado, the company partners with local food banks to find productive outlets for excess food. The focus on sustainability shows up in packaging and on menus, with an emphasis on local items and responsible choices. At the Monterey Aquarium in Monterey, California, for example, where SSA Group provides all the merchandise, the venue’s shop will be the first location to eliminate all plastic packaging. The National Western Stock show will see 700,000 people come through in January, consuming 30,000 pounds of meat. This is the 51st year that SSA Group will provide the food and beverage for the stock show, and it is dedicated to partnering with regional farms and supporting local businesses whenever possible. McNicholas takes a detailed approach to everything he does. At home, the family has five horses, dogs, cats, chickens and a pig. Each morning, McNicholas, his wife, Audra, and their two young girls get up and feed the animals together. McNicholas admitted he is not a morning person, but “the animals don’t feed themselves.” Sundays at the McNicholas home is dedicated to chores, which
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include picking up poop and working around the house. Then, the family goes horseback riding. “Everyone has duties, but we also have fun,” says the CEO. McNicholas always wanted to be a cowboy. He met his wife in 2009 at National Western night at a Colorado Rockies game where he was throwing out the first pitch. Audra, Miss Rodeo Colorado that year, was also at the game, and McNicholas says he was immediately taken by this true cowgirl. The two sat together, started dating soon after, and married in 2012. McNicholas laughs at the thought that he is an Irish city slicker, a wannabe cowboy, but is quick to point out that Audra is the real deal. She grew up on a ranch on the Western Slope, riding horses and competing in rodeos. On top of being a cowgirl, Audra McNicholas runs her own equine therapy business, where she takes miniature horses to visit patients in hospitals, nursing homes and to community events. In addition to their two daughters, the couple recently adopted a boy, Shamus now six months old. The child was in a high-risk situation, and McNicholas felt it was his and Audra’s calling to adopt the child. He says Shamus has been a wonderful addition to their full family. “Life is chaotic, but Shamus has given us beautiful clarity and forced us to take a step back.” McNicholas grew up in South Denver and attended
“THE PARTNERS HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON. THEY SERVE THE FAMILIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND WE DO, TOO.”
Regis Jesuit High School, where he now serves on the board of directors. Both of his parents pushed education, giving back to the community, and entrepreneurship. His dad, who died nine years ago, “always told us to treat everyone the same—from the person who washes the dishes to the person who runs the company,” says McNicholas. “And that is how we operate the SSA Group. There is value in every single person.” McNicholas acknowledges that running a 50-year-old family-owned business isn’t always easy. But, he says, partnering with his sister and brother, cousins and extended family members brings many more plusses than minuses. “We all know our job is to move the business forward, and we are extremely proud to work together,” he says. SSA Group is investing in digital operations, technology and e-commerce, and prioritizes convenience, sustainability and diversity for all of its partners and business operations. McNicholas is also proud to be a Colorado native. “Colorado is a positive place,” he says. “It’s a great place to run a business and have a family, and I love how upbeat Coloradans are.” Lindsey Schwartz is editor of Colorado Expression.
PHOTOS: COURTESY MCNICHOLAS FAMILY
— SEAN MCNICHOLAS
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PRICE IS
Rising
Whether working in education, government or philanthropy, Morris Price Jr. brings his "A" game By Colleen Smith Portrait By Jensen Sutta
MORRIS PRICE JR. exudes charisma. He’s an extrovert, dapperly dressed, impeccably mannered and effortlessly generous with his genuine smile. It comes as no surprise to learn that Price was nominated homecoming king at Colorado State University in 1985. “I came out my freshman year in college, and I was the first Black and first openly gay homecoming king at CSU,” says Price, 59. “Some people in the crowd called out the ‘N’ word. It was disappointing, but I wasn’t going to let them steal my joy.” Price went on to a career that encompasses 15 years working in higher education, including as associate dean and director of admissions at the University of Denver, 10 years in nonprofits including as a founding staff member of the Daniels Fund, and five years in the federal government as chief of staff in Denver for U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo. “Morris Price is a force to be reckoned with!” DeGette wrote in an email. “As my congressional district director, he used his intelligence and people skills to make our office always accessible to the community. I still count him as one of my closest advisers.” Dan Ritchie, DU chancellor emeritus, wrote, “Morris did great work for DU, very devoted and conscientious, always friendly and approachable.” In August, Price assumed his new position as vice president of grants at The Colorado Trust: A Health Equity Foundation. “It’s a different model for philanthropy,” Price says. “We’re a private foundation founded in 1985, but we’re not just sitting in Denver on an endowment of
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half a billion dollars. We let community members around the state decide their needs, whether playgrounds or help with food scarcity in the community. We empower communities to learn to use resources there and engage in creating power and change at local levels. We award grants of $22 million per year. It’s a lot, but it’s never enough.” Price and Teddy, his Westie-wirehaired terrier puppy, live in Denver’s Mayfair neighborhood. Growing up in a military family, Price moved frequently. His father, Morris Price Sr., was the first in his family to leave Louisiana, when he enlisted in the military and landed at Lowry Air Force Base in 1961. From Denver to South Dakota, after stints in Spain, California, Kansas, Germany and South Carolina, Price and his parents and two sisters returned to Denver in the late 1970s. Despite his years in other cities and states, Price considers the Mile High City and the Centennial State home. “I love this state, and there’s not another major city where I could have accomplished what I did here,” he says. “It wasn’t my money that got me recognition, it was being present. I’ve learned to be engaged. I serve on boards. I show up for events. I get to know people. Denver is small city with a lot of friends, and you can get to know anybody here with three handshakes.” Price credits his parents, in large part, for his success, as well as his evident peace of mind, which he admits is hard-won. “Inner peace after a long time,” Price says. “I’m not naive, but I am constantly optimistic. I am a community optimist.”
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Morris Price, Jr., at left received the Human Rights Campaign Paul Hunter Award in 2014. Celebrating with him were his twin sister, Marlene; his older sister, Velva; his mother, Joyce; and his father, Morris Price, Sr. Photo courtesy of Out Front Magazine
MORE ABOUT MORRIS PRICE JR. HIS HAPPY PLACE IN DENVER:
"My patio. It's small, but I can be myself and have friends over for a BBQ." HIS GUILTY PLEASURE: "I don't
drink or gamble, but I do like clothes: Tom James Custom Clothier. Joseph Abboud. Stubbs and Wootton shoes. My passion for clothes began in college when I worked in clothing stores." HIS FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND AND RESTORE: "Hot springs. My
favorite in Colorado is Mount Princeton, also Iron Mountain. And Ojo Caliente in New Mexico." HIS FAVORITE FILM: "Shawshank Redemption. 'Get busy living or get busy dying.' " HIS PSYCHE SONG: " 'Everyone's Free to Wear Sunscreen.' I listen to it once a week."
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HIS READING LIST: "In my 40s, I discovered I was dyslexic, but I read a lot. I stockpile magazines. I like biographies and selfimprovement books; right now Atomic Habits, What a Re-Imagined Society Looks Like (And how we get there), and Healing After Loss." HIS AWARDS: 2009 Professional Man of the Year Award: Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; 2021 Swanee Hunt Leadership Award: Women's Foundation of Colorado; 2019 Charles A. Lory Award for Public Service: Colorado State University; 2013 Al Matthews Civic Engagement Award: Urban League of Metro Denver; 2014 Paul Hunter Outstanding Community Leadership award, Human Rights Campaign. "I've won a lot of awards, and they mean a lot to me," Price says, "but what meant
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the most to me was hearing my dad as he was dying say, ‘I have a good son.'" HIS BOARD SERVICE: Rose Community Foundation; Colorado State University Foundation; Colorado Nonprofit Association, First Baptist Church of Denver; Compass Academy; the Denver Art Museum Marketing Advisory Board; and the Colorado State University LGBT Alumni Alliance. HIS CURRENT STATE OF MIND, POST-GEORGE FLOYD: "I have
more anger than pain. I am unhappy that in America promises have been made but not kept. I believe in the promise. I want people to stop making excuses. The opportunity that George Floyd gave us is that we are primed to reset."
PHOTOS: COURTESY MORRIS PRICE JR.
“I’VE WON A LOT OF AWARDS, AND THEY ME ANT A LOT TO ME, BUT WHAT ME ANT THE MOST TO ME WAS HE ARING MY DAD AS HE WAS DYING SAY, ‘I HAVE A GOOD SON.’” — MORRIS PRICE JR.
HIS HOPE: "We need policies to follow protests. We have a narrow window to define this work before it is institutionalized with an office of equity as a line item and to push the definition wide when it solidifies, because this is broader than just Blacks. Look at the attacks on Asians, continued marginalization of immigrants and all but ignoring the needs of indigenous people. We need to teach humility and manners and civic education. We need to be energized by people who are different from us. If we gather only with people who look like us and think like us and reinforce our likeness, we're not growing." THE MYTH HE'D MOST LIKE TO DISPEL: "That Black fathers aren't
HIS PARTING ADVICE:
HIS BOW TIES: "My dad wore bow ties and taught me how to tie one, because the rules of a gentleman: no clip-ons. My dad said a bow tie should have an imperfection. It shows it's OK to have a flaw."
"Consistently check your personal brand. Also, learn to embrace all the things you know about yourself that you think people won't accept. The worst-case scenario usually doesn't happen. In fundraising, there's asking and not asking. I've found that asking works better. And in life there's hiding parts of yourself or celebrating all of yourself, and I've found celebrating the whole self works better." Colleen Smith is an author, screenwriter and journalist who has devoted much of her career to creating multimedia communications for nonprofit institutions in Colorado, across the U.S. and in the Philippines.
involved with their kids: That's not a Black thing."
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GET
GLOWING
Revamp your skincare and wellness routines with beauty products and treatments
Treatments at Sesen Skin Body Wellness include a sculpting facial cupping ritual to lift, plump and stimulate the lymphatic system.
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PHOTO: CHANDLER KIM
By Georgia Alexia Benjou
Health & Wellness
GOODBYE BOOZE, BONBONS and blowout meals. Come January—after weeks of indulging in food and drink, dealing with travel anxiety and holiday-induced stress—it’s not unusual to look in the mirror and see skin that’s less than glowing. In short, the season of giving can leave skin dehydrated, reactive, sensitive and puffy, with more pronounced wrinkles and even breakouts. That’s why now is the perfect time to recalibrate your skincare and wellness rituals. Whether you’re looking to target fine lines with the latest at-home beauty device, level up your grooming regimen, or want to find the most effective spa treatments, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite products and services to boost any self-care routine.
1 Omega 6 Healing Cream by Truth Treatment Systems, $79 2 Intelligent Elixirs Vitamin B-5 Hydrating Serum, $50 3 Euphoralight LED Pro Device by Truth Treatment Systems, $350
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SKINCARE WE TURNED TO local beauty and wellness guru Michael Moore for tips on how to quickly rejuvenate skin. At the top of his list: the Euphoralight LED Pro Device by Truth Treatment Systems ($350). This rechargeable LED Mask treats both the outermost layer of skin as well as the dermis layer below it by delivering three different intensities of LED light treatment, allowing for a customized experience. “This LED mask treats anti-aging by stimulating collagen, firming skin’s elastin and promoting blood circulation,” Moore says. Available at Moore for Life, 3035 E. 3rd Ave., 303-484-1857, mooreforlife.com
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little TLC,” Moore says. “It’s even amazing for dry cuticles, lips and hands.” Available at Moore for Life, 3035 E. 3rd Ave., 303-484-1857, mooreforlife.com Swap out your usual serum for one that improves skin hydration. Denver-based Intelligent Elixirs Vitamin B-5 Hydrating Serum ($50) is a clean, oil-free, hyaluronic acid gel that co-founder Cat Tatman says reduces transepidermal water loss to balance the skin’s internal hydration level. “While a moisturizer treats dry skin on the surface by acting as a protective barrier and helping it hold moisture, a hydrator helps the skin hang on to its internal moisture,” Tatman says. It’s also lightweight and suitable for any skin type. Available at ieskincare.com
For a moisturizer upgrade, Moore recommends Omega 6 Healing Cream by Truth Treatment Systems ($79). This rich cream combines Vitamin C and Omega 6 fats to help improve skin hydration levels, while refining texture and smoothing fine lines. “Use this cream on anything that needs a
Retinol improves skin texture, increases collagen production, and reduces fine lines and wrinkles, but the downside is it can cause dry and irritated skin, and even peeling. Dr. Dennis Gross’s latest launch—Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Intense Wrinkle Cream
($75)—has a hydrating formula that includes retinol and natural retinol alternatives to handle heavy-duty anti-aging concerns, while antioxidants hydrate the skin and repair the moisture barrier. Available at Sephora, Sephora.com
IF YOU HAVE AT LEAST 60 MINUTES If your skin is in need of some serious TLC, head to Sesen Skin Body Wellness for either the Lymphatic Facial Ritual ($185) or the Sculpting Facial Ritual ($190). Both are ideal winter skin treatments that provide lymphatic support, hydration, gentle exfoliation, and imbue the skin with targeted nutrients. Founder and chief skin specialist Stacy Webb advises choosing the lymphatic ritual for a focus on lymphatic drainage, and the sculpting facial for lifting and a deeper massage. Sesen Skin Body Wellness, 1220 E. 17th Ave., 720-443-2715, sesenskinbodywellness.com
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Health & Wellness
1 Osea Malibu’s Undaria Algae Body Oil, $48 2 Skin by Tru’s Perfection Balm, $97 3 Marie Veronique Shave Prep + Daily Wash, $35
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MEN’S SKIN TENDS TO BE THICKER and oilier than women’s, and shaving can cause irritation and ingrown hairs. The takeaway? Men need products specially formulated for their faces. Here are a few products that will make every man’s grooming routine more effective. In 2002, French chemist Marie Veronique developed her own line of natural, nontoxic skincare products after finding nothing on the market to effectively address her rosacea. Today, her line melds nature and science to solve skincare issues for men and women without the hype of current “it” ingredients. Her Shave Prep + Daily Wash ($35) includes D-panthenol and lactic acid to clean and gently exfoliate the skin. Follow it with her post-shave Finishing Oil ($65), which is rich in free fatty acids and ceramides to restore and rebuild the moisture barrier. Available at Vert Beauty, 3442 W. 32nd Ave., 303-623-8378, vertbeauty.com Skincare doesn’t extend just to your neck but also your scalp. To help keep hair and scalp healthy, pick up one of Carbondale-based Leaf People’s scalp oils, each one with its own combination of potent botanical extracts and cold-pressed plant oils. The Scalp Support Oil ($65-$122) with strengthening ashwagandha nourishes dry or depleted scalp and promotes overall radiance, while the
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Scalp Boost ($72-$135) with Swiss apple stem cells helps maintain healthy follicle cells, especially for hair that tends to be oily. Available at leafpeople.com
HYDRATE IF YOU’VE BEEN SKIING, snowboarding or enjoying other outdoor winter sports, some-
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times your skin needs more than a cream. That’s where Boulder brand Skin by Tru’s Perfection Balm ($97) comes in. This professional-grade, small-batch skincare line’s nearly scentless balm (it has just a hint of vanilla) is for anyone experiencing serious winter dehydration. We love its fluffy texture (so unlike the waxy feel of most balms), and the combination of potent Vitamin C and ceramides that help reduce environmental damage, fade
PHOTO: CHANDLER KIM
MEN’S GROOMING
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Sesen Skin Body Wellness offers a variety of skincare products as well as treatments.
coloradoexpression . com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
Skincare Solutions
discoloration as well as calms skin and reduces sensitivity. Available at truskincare.com Though we frequently think about swapping out our face moisturizer or serum for a more hydrating formulation during the winter months, we don’t always extend that thought to our body care. But just like your face, it’s easy for the rest of your body to become dehydrated, irritated and even itchy due to colder outdoor temps and dry indoor heat. Here are a few of our favorites to help protect your skin from moisture loss and premature aging. Those with sensitive skin who want to avoid scented body moisturizers have options. The Body Lotion by Nécessaire ($25) is both unscented and hydrating. Its
formula is rich in vitamins B, C and E, as well as Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids to moisturize and strengthen skin. Available at necessaire.com Body oil is an excellent way to seal in moisture, and Osea Malibu’s Undaria Algae Body Oil ($48) is a cult and celebrity favorite. This seaweed-infused formula is high in antioxidant minerals and fast absorbing, so it doesn’t leave any residue on clothing. Apply it to damp skin to seal in moisture. Available at Aillea, 144 Steele St., 720-708-5168, aillea.com Upgrade your hand lotion with one from Boulder-based Pangea Organics. Its formulas are crafted with a proprietary blend of essential oils and plant-based bioactive ingredi-
ents, all sourced from more than 50 organic farmers around the world. “We harness the best ingredients from nature in our formulations, at active levels for real results you can see and feel,” says Jaimee Holmes, senior vice president of sales and marketing. The deeply replenishing Hand Cream ($48) includes soothing calendula and nourishing green tea, as well as anti-aging Reishi mushroom to protect like a second skin. Scents include Egyptian bergamot and geranium or Moroccan cedar and sandalwood. Available at pangeaorganics.com Georgia Alexia Benjou is a fashion stylist, editor and brand consultant whose work has been seen in numerous national and international publications, as well as a variety of fashion and lifestyle advertising campaigns.
LET A MAN TEACH YOU HOW AT MOORE FOR LIFE
3035 E. 3rd Ave Denver, CO 80206
303.484.1857 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 c oloradoexpression . com
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Body & Soul
CBD
FOR BEAUTY AND WELLNESS
Based in Denver, Jihi offers products to aid skin, soothe muscles and promote sleep By Georgia Alexia Benjou
own CBD company. The entrepreneur and her husband, Chase, launched a self-care brand, Jihi, in 2019 to harness the power of hemp-derived CBD in products to help those with sensitive skin. Beck is a huge believer in CBD as a skincare ingredient, especially for anyone experiencing breakouts and signs of aging (and who isn’t having one of these issues lately?). But, she says, some companies eager to jump on the CBD bandwagon have infused it into products with a lot of fillers or hyped it as a miracle cure for everything from anxiety to psoriasis. Overinflated claims aside, Beck said it’s time to get real about CBD. “I believe we need honest marketing as to how CBD performs and how it can best be used to enhance your inner and outer wellbeing,” she says. And just in case you’re wondering: No, CBD will not get you high. If it sounds like Beck knows a lot about CBD, there’s a good reason for it. In 2013, Beck and her husband launched Cannabase, which at the time was the first and largest online wholesale marketplace for the legal cannabis industry. They eventually sold the company in 2016, but continued to follow the CBD industry and its booming use in skincare. After trying a variety of products, CANNABIDIOL—better known as CBD—has been a buzzy skincare ingredient for nearly five years. It’s become such a popular trend in skincare that Jennifer Beck says she’s tired of hearing about it. That sounds slightly counterintuitive, since Beck is the co-founder and CEO of her
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coloradoexpression . com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
THE DETAILS Jihi products, priced from $55 to $75, at jihi.com
Jihi crafts CBD self-care products for those with delicate skin. The product line has been formulated to address the concerns of those with combination and aging skin, as well as breakouts.
Living a life of balance
the Becks were convinced they could do better by putting their cannabis knowledge to use. And what the data suggests, says Beck, is that applying CBD topically can help block the degradation of our own naturally produced cannabinoids. That means over time the benefits to our skin could be significant. “The cannabinoid system in our skin helps manage oil regulation, skin cell turnover, and inflammation,” Beck says. After taking a year to formulate the products, the Becks launched Jihi—a Japanese word for compassion—in January 2020. The products skew toward an older audience, and Beck says she even wanted Jihi to have a “mature-hippie feel.” But if you’re expecting patchouli oil and tie-dye packaging, think again: Jihi leans more sophisticated than psychedelic, with its upbeat colored packaging and sleek, dark bottles. Jihi’s current three-product range—Petal Milk Face Serum, Merriment Body Balm and Reverie Herbal Supplement—addresses such issues as fine lines and wrinkles, aching joints and sleep problems. The formulations use naturally active ingredients—no fillers, fragrances or substances known to aggravate the skin—and Beck infused each of them with triple-tested CBD to fight inflammation and restore skin balance. Petal Milk Serum, $55, includes a medley of non-comedogenic oils such as camellia and meadowfoam seed, making it a hydrat-
ing and restoring addition to any anti-aging regimen either on its own or layered under a moisturizer. Merriment Balm, $50, is a cooling, tingling salve that helps ease joint and muscle pain with the addition of menthol and arnica. (Beck even suggests applying it to condition nails and cuticles.) Reverie Supplement, $75, is a sweet orange-flavor nighttime tincture that Beck proudly says is probably the best tasting hemp-based elixir available. This non-habit forming combination of CBD, calming skullcap, and a touch of melatonin is designed as a sleep aid. If you suffer from middle-ofthe-night wakeups, follow Beck’s advice and combine Reverie with Merriment to turn off your mind, soothe muscles and get back to sleep quickly. Going forward, Beck’s goal is to round out her line by giving each product a partner. In 2022, look for new launches including Petal Milk Cream (hydrating moisturizer rich in collagen and black tea to complement the serum), and Merriment Body Balm in a stick formulation (perfect for traveling, stashing in
“
We take skincare seriously.” — Jennifer Beck, founder and CEO, Jihi
a drawer at work or even to use while on the golf course or to relieve tennis elbow). And for Jihi’s popular Reverie supplement, Beck created an antioxidant-rich, high-powered overnight face mask. As Beck expands her line, she continues to show how she’s rethinking the CBD skincare landscape and creating mindfully sourced and formulated products for delicate skin. So far, Beck has been pleased with Jihi’s reception, as she has yet to have anyone contact her with an adverse reaction to the products. “We take skincare seriously,” she says. Georgia Alexia Benjou is a regular contributor to Colorado Expression.
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Colorado Weekends
RUGGED, REL AXED,
REJUVENATING Vista Verde Ranch is the ultimate getaway for couples and families
By Lindsey Schwartz . Photography Courtesy of Vista Verde Ranch
THE BEST KIND OF VACATION leaves you transported, not just to a place but to a state of mind. That’s the goal Chris Jones had in mind when he and his wife, Laura, purchased the 590-acre Vista Verde Ranch near Clark in northwestern Colorado five years ago. The property is surrounded by the Park Range on one side, and the Routt National Forest and
The tubing hill above the horse barn is one of many wintertime activities.
The ranch, which can host 30 to 50 guests, has 12 individual cabins and three rooms in the main house. There are about 100 horses on the property.
Lights on the trees add winter magic at the ranch.
Mount Zirkel Wilderness area on the other. The valley and its beauty are untouched as far as the eye can see. The ranch, which can host 30 to 50 guests, has 12 individual cabins and three rooms in the main house. There are about 100 horses. There is an indoor riding arena, access to fishing and skiing, and miles of trails. Staff members tell arriving guests that they might think they came to fish or hike, but will return for something we never knew we needed or liked doing. “We want to institute positive life change for the guests,” says Jones, “and we want to
Sitting by the fireplace in the main lodge is a perfect way to relax on a cold day.
have the best guest ranch in the world.” The Joneses believe investing in staff is a key to achieving their goal. “We pour our resources into the staff and love them unconditionally. That makes the experience for our guests personal and intimate.” While instituting positive life change might seem like a lofty goal, guests discover that is exactly what happens. “This is by far our favorite week of the year,” says Donna Shaw, who has returned with her husband for 10 straight years. “I ride horses every day, my husband fly-fishes, we have amazing
food, and we leave recharged.” Often, the Shaws, who live in Chicago, come with their adult children, who say it is their happiest time as a family. “It is really like camp for adults,” Shaw says. Morning and afternoon activities, such as archery, horseback riding, fishing, snowshoeing and hiking, change with the seasons. In the fall, Vista Verde is an adult-only property, so the guest count is lower. During family weeks, the activities and the staff expand in order to accommodate different age groups and different kinds of entertainment.
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Colorado Weekends
Guests and staff dance to country music on Saturday nights.
Autumn splendor
My fiancé and I visited the ranch for a long weekend during fall when the leaves were at their peak. I am not an experienced horseback rider but was determined to experience all the ranch had to offer. Our afternoon ride took us through an aspen grove where the leaves were falling like rain and the chill in the air reminded us that winter was on the way. After an afternoon of archery with fellow guests (where I learned that I was quite a good shot), we were hooked. We
Cross-country skiing is one of many outdoor winter activities to enjoy at Vista Verde Ranch.
Colorado’s Iconic Places
had fallen under the spell of the ranch. Then there was the food. Our first night, the dinner menu included salad, BLT risotto, crispy prosciutto with herb sauce, halibut, ravioli and braised short ribs, and cheesecake for dessert. Wine and beer are included; other beverages are available on request. Head chef Jonathan Gillespie worked at the ranch for nine years. He briefly moved away from Colorado, coming back in 2019. He says he is back where he belongs. The food at the ranch is truly the icing on a very beautiful cake. Gillespie decides the day’s menu based on what’s fresh and available, so each meal is carefully crafted with local ingredients. Shopping local, and not just for the food, is an important part of the culture. The wooden bowls and some of the furniture are made from beetle kill trees, and much of the decor is made by local artisans. “What is special about Vista Verde are the people,” says Gillespie. “Not just the guests or the staff, but the owners, who make sure that we have everything and understand first-class service.” There is a large ranch staff that takes care of the horses, there are experienced riders, skiers, fishermen and cooks. During certain weeks in the fall, guests help round up the cattle. Each person is individually matched with a horse that usually stays with them for their week. But if riding isn’t your idea of fun, there is an experienced staff member for whatever activity you want to try. The cabins are elegantly decorated with Western furniture and fine Italian linens. There are individual hot tubs on each porch.
Guests are treated to meals the chef prepares using locally-sourced ingredients.
We engaged in all the activities, ate with the other 30 guests, and even had cocktails with the horses one evening, feeding them apples and carrots. When it snows, the hill above the horse barn is for tubing, a highlight for adults and kids alike. Jones says winter might be his favorite time of the year. The back country skiing, carriage rides in the snow and some of the best cross country trails in North Ameri-
THE DETAILS For more information, visit vistaverde.com
Vista Verde is a luxury guest ranch offering weeklong vacations and shorter stays available in October. Fishing, biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, archery and cooking classes are just some of the activities included in the price of the all-inclusive resort. Pricing depends on the length of stay and what time of year you visit.
ca make the ranch a winter wonderland. The last night of our stay, the staff turned into a country music band, singing and playing instruments as the guests sang and danced. Longtime returning guest Donna Judd wrote an ode to Vista Verde that she sang with the band as the others cheered her on. By the end of the evening, I truly felt like I had been at an amazing summer camp. We hugged our fellow guests and talked about returning together the next year. After our three days, we were torn. Not about whether we would return, but when. Should we go back with our new friends or bring the family and come in the winter to see the snow in this breathtaking valley? “Each season has its own magical element, because it is such a diverse region,” Jones says. One thing I know for sure is that this was not our last trip to Vista Verde Ranch because, like so many of our fellow guests, our time there was truly life-changing. Lindsey Schwartz is a producer for “20/20,” ABC News and the editor of Colorado Expression Magazine.
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Fashion
POWDER Top ski brands and retailers are expanding their high-country presence
COLORADO’S LEGENDARY SKI TERRAIN and culture have made it the epicenter of luxury skiing in the United States. Look at any top-10 resort list, and you’ll see at least three Colorado ski towns on it, with Aspen frequently taking the No. 1 spot. Alpine skiing has been part of Colorado’s outdoor culture since before we were even a state. The now-luxe sport got its humble start in the mid-1800s as a mode of transportation for miners and mailmen, and it wasn’t until the late 19th century that it evolved into a recreational activity. Since then, our mountains have served as training grounds for everyone from the 10th Mountain Division to Olympic athletes. It was during the 1950s that Colorado’s ski areas began to feel like European-style resorts, complete with chic restaurants and posh hotels. Of course, stylish skiwear goes hand-in-hand with high-end resorts, and it wasn’t long before ski luminaries like Klaus Obermeyer and Willy Bogner and retailers such as Gorsuch brought a refined sense of style to the slopes. Today, excitement in Colorado’s ski and outdoor sports community doesn’t just extend to which brands are opening new stores— like Aviator Nation in Vail—but pop-ups and collaborations as well. From Bogner’s FIRE+ICE x LoveShackFancy pop-up in
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PHOTO: COURTESY OF SKEA LIMITED
By Georgia Alexia Benjou
coloradoexpression . com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
SKEA Elle jacket in Aloha print, $658.
Style for the Slopes
Aspen to the reopening of AETHER Apparel Lounge at Boulder’s Corrida restaurant, ski fashion and culture are creating a buzz throughout Colorado. One of the biggest announcements has come from Moncler, known for its luxury fashion-meets-function ski and outerwear. This season, the Italian brand decided to expand its presence in the Rockies with a winter pop-up in Vail (the brand’s first U.S. store opened in Aspen in 2008). The boutique’s modern winter vibe emanates from its high-shine white and chrome finishes and graphic orange and black signage. Moncler Vail carries all-weather essentials for the whole family, including the Moncler Collection and Grenoble Genius Lines for men and
Christy Sports has a wide assortment of ski boots for sale or rent. This selection is in its Dillon store.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF OBERMEYER
POWER
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHRISTY SPORTS
Obermeyer Iba Down Hybrid Jacket in black, $599.
women, an elegant kids’ line, and even Poldo for the pampered pooch. In Aspen, the resort is celebrating its 75th anniversary. To coincide with the festivities, the Aspen Skiing Company has introduced a ski apparel collection called ASPENX. The clothing line is the first performance product line developed by any ski resort. Created with the input of the resort’s own expert on-mountain team for comfort and safety standards, the line includes men’s and women’s jackets, pants, base layers, sweaters and beanies. ASPENX opened a boutique last month that, in addition to its clothing collection, will offer bespoke retail, rental equipment, and even food and wine services, both on- and off-mountain.
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PHOTO: COURTESY OF MONCLER
Fashion
Moncler’s Vail pop-up store featuers high-shine finishes and clothing for men, women and children.
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THE DETAILS Dan Sharp Luxury Outerwear
MONCLER VAIL
141 E. Meadow Dr. #112 Vail, CO 81657 970-470-4968 moncler.us
218 Steele St. Denver, CO 80206 303-333-6666 dansharpluxuryouterwear.com
ASPENX
Gondola Plaza, Aspen aspenx.com
Obermeyer
obermeyer.com for retailers
SKEA
skealimited.com for retailers
Christy Sports
christysports.com for locations
PHOTO: COURTESY OF DAN SHARP
Speaking of on-and off-the-slopes, if braving the elements in style from mountain to town is top of mind, visit Dan Sharp Luxury Outerwear before heading to the high country. Many Denver fashionistas know the retailer for its high-end outerwear, but Sharp also carries timeless fur-collar jackets that can be worn on the slopes. They’re available in-store in beige and black, but if you’re willing to wait a few weeks, you can custom order your favorite color. If you’re a dedicated skier, a number of tried-and-true Colorado-based brands continue to refine technical wear and expand their collections. This season, Aspen-based Obermeyer has partnered with Dermizax, a Japanese-developed high-tech, high-performance material to create a hyper-technical line. The experts at Obermeyer have engineered a variety of pieces in its men’s collection, including the standout Iba Down Hybrid Jacket ($599) with Dermizax’s fourway stretch material to create a piece that allows for a full range of motion, while also being waterproof and breathable. The innovative fabric is lightweight enough to let you move freely while also providing the insulation and water resistance necessary to keep you comfortable in rain, sleet or snow. Known for its use of color and dressing the female figure in stylish, high- performance skiwear, Vail-based Skea turned to the art world for inspiration when designing this season’s line, transferring paintings to fabric to create bold and colorful technical apparel. The first painting is an upbeat, watercolor
print called Aloha, with cheerful bright hues of white, fuchsia and aqua. The second is a graphic paintbrush motif in bold tones of pink, turquoise and black. Of course, there are solid pieces to mix back to both prints, as well as a clean, sophisticated line in black, white, navy and taupe. Skea’s winter collection allows for maximum variety in styling, while staying true to its ski performance roots. Whether you’re shopping for high-tech performance wear or looking to rent or demo equipment, you’re likely to find your shopping experience this winter is better than ever. At Christy Sports, new back-ofhouse technology is making the customer
Dan Sharp Puffer jacket with fox collar, $1,695, Dan Sharp Luxury Outerwear
coloradoexpression . com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
rental equipment experience quicker, more seamless and paperless. In fact, Christy’s can even retain your rental information and recall it at any of its locations, allowing any store to access your favorite gear and rent it to you again or put you in something different that you’ll like even better. Rental packages are available for skiers and snowboarders, and include everything from skis, boots and bindings to poles and helmets. In addition, this season Christy’s has expanded its selection of ski boots. Georgia Alexia Benjou is a regular contributor to Colorado Expression.
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