Colorado Expression magazine - June-July 2020

T H E

B E S T

Karen Roehl Painter of Horses

O F

C O L O R A D O

Pet Friendly Hotels

L I V I N G

Gen Z Tea Aspen Podcast

O COLORAD expression

ON THE GO JUNE/JULY 2020

A N O T H E R

S U C C E S S F U L

P A R T N E R S H I P

“Our passion for perfection strengthens our partnership.”

- Larry DiPasquale, Epicurean Catering and Jay Davidson, First American State Bank TWENTY FIVE YEARS

6363 S. Fiddlers Green Circle Greenwood Village, CO 80111 303.763.1980 2009 Inductee into the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame

www.fasbank.com 303.694.6464

COVID-19

Photo: truelight / depositphotos.com

WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER

Please know that the family at Colorado Expression magazine is here for you and we are stronger together

CONTENTS

In this Issue

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44

50

Out & About 8

Features 48

Sip & Savor 44

Take a look at recent fundraisers for our local nonprofits and community gatherings.

Readers share photographs of their furry and feathered friends who are providing much-needed companionship during the coronavirus pandemic.

By Danielle Yuthas

Shot in the Dark

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Social Calendar

Fundraisers have been reimagined and rescheduled.

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Nonprofits adjust to the new normal

By Joanne Davidson

Organizations say the need for their services is increasing and they’re currently most in need of monetary donations and volunteers.

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Pets

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Karen Roehl

By Colleen Smith

This Denver-based artist combines abstraction and realism in her works.

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Hot Tickets

By Elizabeth Jones

Check out the lineup of summer concerts, music festivals and events for kids.

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Zomo

By Elizabeth Kosar

A family’s food legacy continues at this Asian-fusion restaurant in Englewood.

By Katie Coakley

Aspen Public Radio podcast hosted by teens offers insights into “Generation Z.

Facebook

facebook.com/coloradoexpression

Twitter

By Joy Lawrance

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Thai ice cream sandwiches, vegan and gluten-free offerings at this sweet spot.

Gen Z Tea

Bits & Pieces Read about the Colorado Ballet’s 20202021 season, the DCPA’s upcoming Broadway shows, Roundup River Ranch’s “A Grateful Harvest” fundraiser, the new Cheley Camp book and much more.

Melted

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

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

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

Copyright© 2020, New West Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Cover Photography:

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CONTENTS

In this Issue 58

Colorado Weekends

By Jen Reeder

Hotels welcome four-legged travelers with special menus, beds and “yappy hours.”

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Getaways

By Kim D. McHugh

Heritage Hotels & Resorts invites guests to discover the history and culture of New Mexico.

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Enterprise

By Colleen Smith

This floral and event designer not only talks to the blossoms, communication with clients is a key to her success.

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Body & Soul

By Elizabeth Kosar 62

Departments 24

68

Interior Designer

Public Persona

By Colleen Smith

By Marge D. Hansen

Andrea Schumacher and her team bring playful, youthful and fresh designs to their clients

Liz Vehko brings her love of rugs, textiles and diverse cultures to the community.

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Nonprofit Profile

Art & Design

By Joanne Davidson

At Lowell Ranch, they’re educating and inspiring young people about the importance of agriculture.

By Marge D. Hansen 58

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Public Spaces

By Kim D. McHugh

By Katie Coakley

The First Tee of Denver teaches kids both the game of golf and life skills.

Crested Butte’s Center for the Arts is the Western Slope’s newest jewel.

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Community

By Joanne Davidson

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM JUNE/JULY 2020

The Denver Design District is a key resource to the trade and consumers for furnishings and accessories.

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Colorado Kids

Bad things can bring the best out in people, as so many practice active kindness towards all.

A love of her dog and insurance led an entrepreneur to start a company offering safeguards for four-legged friends.

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From the Publisher

COLORADO expression OWNER/PUBLISHER

Elizabeth Hamilton

Quite a time Looking for the silver lining in a time of disruption, finding hope in our new normal

MANAGING EDITOR

Elizabeth Jones

W

here do we go from

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Suzanne S. Brown

here? We cannot even predict the next day,

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Lisa Buscietta

and certainly not the

next year. We find ourselves isolated, not being able to hug the ones we love

DESIGN/PRODUCTION

Connie Robertson Andrea Späth

the most, helping to teach our children, Zooming birthday celebrations, and witnessing

PHOTOGRAPHY

Pamela Cress Joanne Davidson Steve Peterson Caitlin Roth

grief—and

heroes—all

across the nation and the world. So we might have a little more time for reflection, reading, listening to music and cleaning out closets! At Colorado Expression we continue to share the

DIGITAL/SOCIAL MEDIA

Misti Mills CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Katie Coakley

richness our state has to offer—yummy ice cream at Melted; Zomo, an Asian-fusion hot spot in Englewood (and yes, they do curb-side); an incredible Denver-based painter, Karen Roehl; and a new understanding of Generation Z with an innovative podcast coming out of Aspen.

Joanne Davidson

This is also a time we are grateful for our furry and feathered friends, (I’m shown

Marge D. Hansen

above with my sidekick, Bo) so check out the stories on pet-friendly hotels where

Elizabeth Kosar

you can look forward to staying, pet insurance, and our favorite pet photos from

Joy Lawrance Kim D. McHugh Colleen Smith

readers. We top off the issue with flowers, reminding us that beauty, color and grace abound even when there is chaos and uncertainty. Bella Lu Floral is the

Jen Reeder

perfect symbol for that enchantment and romance. As I look forward to tomorrow,

Danielle Yuthas

I remind myself of the gifts in the present moment and the extraordinary I find in the everyday. I am so grateful for your support as we continue to build

CONTRIBUTORS

Michael Moore Mary Rogers

connections and community. Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay kind.

Elizabeth Hamilton

President and publisher, New West Publishing ADVERTISING AND SALES

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

info@coloradoexpression.com

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

JUNE/JULY 2020 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM 7

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SHOT IN THE DARK

All for a Good Cause Beaux Arts Rio Ball The Beaux Arts Rio Ball at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center benefited National Jewish Health.

Photography by Steve Peterson

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1 Chris and Joy Dinsdale, grand marshals 2 Judy and Charlie McNeil, grand marshals 3 Crestina Martinez, Gov. Jared Polis, Michael Niyompong, vice president of the Mental Health Center of Denver; Kenzie Crow, BJ Dyer 4 Dr. Michael Salem, president/CEO National Jewish Health, Steve Kris, board chair National Jewish Health 5 Larry Mizel, Meredith and Roger Hutson 6 Marc and Kelly Steron, grand marshals 7 Dana Veitch, founder/president of KissCam, LLC, Jan Hammond 8 Gordon Smith, Katherine Gold, grand marshal, Parker Semler 9 Rachel and David Fromal 10 Jensen and Kiha Sutta 11 Rob and Molly Cohen, grand marshals 12 Max and Andrea Fulton More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 8

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM JUNE/JULY 2020

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SHOT IN THE DARK

Mirth, Myth, Mystery Held at the new Asterisk Event Center, Mirth, Myth, Mystery was a benefit for the La Napoule Foundation and the Denver Public Schools Visiting Artist Programs.

Photography by Caitlin Roth

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1 Michael McNeill, Georgia Gallagher, Sarah Hart, Danielle Schmieder, Natasha Clews 2 Timothy Wilson, Paco Varela 3 Kristen Bokelman, Shari Hall 4 Steve and Felicia Zeeh, Monique Crine, Patrick Jager 5 Michael Burnett, Sue Oehme 6 Tammi Neukom, Deb Mager, Sean Hughes, Dana Keefe 7 Michael McNeill, Orchelle Johnson 8 Matthew Bruno, Joseph Grimm, Sharon Park, Cory Robinson 9 Laura Shill, Jennifer Miklosi, Diego RodriquezWarner 10 Rhonda Lee, Deborah Fard 11 Pietro Simonetti, Riccardo Mazzeo 12 Alicia Economos, Deborah Jordy, Gloria Schoch, Elaine Torres, Lindsey Schwartz

More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 10

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM JUNE/JULY 2020

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Crestmoor Park · Denver 415 Kearney Street, $3,395,000 Sandy Weigand, 303.880.3399, 415KearneyStreet.com

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1891 Curtis Street #1907

Cheesman Park · Denver $2,400,000

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LoDo · Denver

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Governors Park · Denver

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Cherry Creek · Denver 2 Adams Street #1603

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1510 East 10th Avenue #7W

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1320 Race Street

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15 Holly Street

$1,875,000

Cheesman Park · Denver $1,495,000

Coventry · Littleton

Hilltop · Denver $1,150,000

900 North Pennsylvania Street #100

Darrell Hamilton 720.353.3535 | ModernCondoDenver.com

Cheesman Park · Denver

Observatory Park · Denver 2327 South Josephine Street

1499 Blake Street #7A

$849,000

5124 West Fair Avenue

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

SHOT IN THE DARK

Breakthrough—Give Your Love The Give Your Love to Breakthrough Gala was held at and benefited Kent Denver School.

Photography by Pamela Cress

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1 Kaben and Sierra Nimtz, Marc Lund 2 April Doyle, Jeff and Kirby Joseph 3 CR and Tiffany Brinton, Jim and Kim Bolt, Seanna Mulligan 4 Drew Strickland, Rosie Orblom, Troy and Courtney McClymonds 5 Veena Dandapani, Brenna Mielenz, Preetam Dandapani 6 Liz Rollins, Lisa Benson, Kim Elmer 7 Mark Kennamer, Dr. Rand Harrington, head of school Kent Denver; Sarah Dutcher, executive director Kent Denver; Janice Laney, co-chair 8 Brooke Brewer, Kyle Bobrick, Lee and Betsy Barrow 9 Christina Caulkins, Jennifer and Sean Waters, Sarah Anschutz 10 Liz Rollins, Aimee and Jonathan Coleman, Blaine Rollins 11 Gretchen McLaughlin, Melinda Karp, Margo Sweany, Matt Troop 12 Marc and Margot Pinto, honorees More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 14

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Central City Opera’s 2020 Festival has been postponed to 2021.

Please visit centralcityopera.org for more information.

July 3 - August 1, 2021 ILLUSTRATION BY SONIA PULIDO

SHOT IN THE DARK

Denver Debutante Ball Announcement Tea This year’s Denver Debutante Ball Announcement Tea was held at the home of Sharon Martin.

Photography by Anne Zeckser

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1 An elegant arrangement of orchids, roses and freesia greeted the guests 2 Megan Branish, debutante; Annabelle Johnson, debutante; Lesley Branish, Christine Johnson 3 Jennifer Cain, Delaney Cain, debutante 4 Debutante notebooks and gifts from the ball committee await distribution to the newly-announced 2020 debutantes 5 Grace Faircloth debutante; Heather Faircloth 6 Guests were served tea 7 Joy Ford, Catherine Ford, debutante 8 Suzanne Coxhead, Denver Debutante Ball committee chairwoman; Sharon Martin, ball announcement tea hostess 9 Barbara Danos, Charlotte Danos, debutante; Kim Danos More photos for these events: coloradoexpression.com 16

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM JUNE/JULY 2020

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SOCIAL CALENDAR

Colorado’s Social Scene RESCHEDULED

Lotus Network

Jewish Family Service

Central City Opera

Event: Connect Now, It’s Never

Event: 2020 Executive Luncheon,

Too Late to be Happy Rescheduled date: Aug. 23 Location: Seawell Ballroom, 1350 Arapahoe St., Denver Tickets: connectnow@lotusnetwork.org, 303-770-2200

featuring golf legend Jack Nicklaus Rescheduled date: Sept. 25 Location: Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center, 650 15th St., Denver Tickets: jewishfamilyservice.org/ luncheon, 720-248-4633

Event: Theatre of Dreams Gala Rescheduled date: Sept. 18 Location: Denver Museum of

Children’s Diabetes Foundation

Event: Spring Brass Ring, featuring Hollywood designer Mark Zunino Rescheduled date: Sept. 9 Location: Hilton Denver City Center, 1701 California St., Denver Tickets: childrensdiabetesfoundation.org/event/2020-spring-brass-ring

Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver Tickets: centralcityopera.org/gala

Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies Event: Annual Gala Rescheduled date: July 18 Location: Tivoli Denver,

Cancer League of Colorado

A Precious Child

Event: Race 4 Research Rescheduled date: Aug. 16 Location: Washington Park,

Event: Seas (cq) the Night Gala Rescheduled date: Oct. 24 Location: Omni Interlocken Hotel,

Downing Street at University Boulevard, Denver Tickets: race4research.com

500 Interlocken Blvd., Broomfield Tickets: CC@apreciouschild.org 303-466-4272

900 Auraria Parkway, Denver Tickets: info@goldenrescue.com 303-279-2400

Dates were correct at time of publishing, but may have changed. Please check websites for updates.

Colorado Open Lands

Bonfils-Stanton Foundation

Event: 2020 Q for

Event: 35th Awards Luncheon Rescheduled date: Nov. 20 Location: Four Seasons Hotel Denver, 1111 14th St., Denver Tickets: bonfils-stanton.org

Conservation Dinner Rescheduled date: Oct. 6 Location: History Colorado Center, 1200 N. Broadway, Denver Tickets: 303-988-2373

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NONPROFIT PROFILE

Nonprofits Adjust to the New Normal

Fundraising goes online, dates are rescheduled, telemedicine on the rise in wake of COVID-19

By Joanne Davidson

N

NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT, there’s no getting around the fact that big changes are in store for nonprofit organizations as stay-at-home orders are lifted and life gains some semblance of normalcy.

The future of galas that once brought crowds ranging from 100 to 1,000 or more to hotels and other venues is uncertain. So, too, are plans for such popular and well-attended fundraising events as nights at the ballgame, concerts and 5K runs/walks.

We reached out to leaders of several organizations to assess needs going forward – and to get an idea of what, if any, changes might be made to structure and services.

The reply heard most frequently was that with demand for services increasing at sometimes overwhelming rates, the greatest immediate need is for donations of money and volunteer time. Also needed is advice and ideas regarding how to best assemble virtual fundraisers in light of the social distancing measures that are likely to remain in place for the remainder of 2020.

Denver Rescue Mission needs volunteers under age 60 who are healthy and have no underlying health conditions to volunteer as servers for the daily meals available to those experiencing homelessness. Donations of N-95 masks and thermometers – preferably those that register temperature by rolling the instrument over the forehead – are an ongoing need.

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And, notes of encouragement to the mission staffers on the job every day are always welcome.

Organizations with fundraiser dates in late summer or fall – such as the Aug. 8 Celebrity Waiters Dinner benefiting AMP the Cause, the Oct. 3 star-studded Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show benefiting the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and the Oct. 17 Western Fantasy, where the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band will entertain over 1,000 supporters of Volunteers of America – are crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.

The Fine Arts Foundation moved its annual Debutante Ball from June 20 to Aug. 8, noting that the August date would be reevaluated in mid-June to see if indeed it was still viable. Denver Ballet Guild was set to honor its 2020 debutantes and Young Men of Distinction on June 6 but opted to take no chances and has postponed the ceremony a full year, to June 11-13 2021.

The Spring Brass Ring, a luncheon and Mark Zunino fashion show benefiting the Barbara Davis Center, switched from May 6 to Sept.

9 in hopes that social distancing guidelines will have been relaxed and co-chairs Scottie Iverson and Dave Barnes would be able to fill the Hilton Denver City Center ballroom with about upwards of 900 of those committed to supporting the Center and its research and services to those with Type 1 diabetes.

Tennyson Center for Children conducted its 10th Mile High Country Q and Brew on Facebook Live.

The April 26 concert by country singer Lindsay Ell and auction called

by Gary Corbett reached 53,000 fans and raised $165,000. “Together We Breathe,” an April 24 virtual concert featuring Michael Franti and members of OneRepublic and The Lumineers, was so successful that National Jewish Health presented it again the following day. It raised over $100,000 for the hospital’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.

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WE DON’T WASTE, WHICH SINCE 2009 has recovered enough food from restaurants, caterers and venues to provide 100 million servings to hungry individuals and families served by food banks, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and community centers throughout the Front Range and the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota, considers itself lucky to have been “well positioned prior to and at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis,” says founder and executive director Arlan Preblud.

“We have had good relationships with the restaurants and venues throughout the metro area, so we benefited by large quantities of product being donated due to the closing of these establishments,” Preblud said. “Going forward, we have received continuing volumes of fresh product, produce, vegeta-

AN INSIDE LOOK AT LOCAL NONPROFITS

insurance. Pediatric clinical research has come to a stop. We are not enrolling new subjects and are limited to paperwork activities. The financial impact upon the families will grow even after the isolation gradually ends.”

Illustration: macrovector

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bles, dairy and some protein.” At the same time, however, demand for food has increased 25 percent from preCOVID-19 days and is a figure likely to increase as weeks pass.

We Don’t Waste’s major concerns include a reduction in the amount of food being donated as farmers and ranchers begin to adjust their production to a decrease in orders from restaurants, hotels and sports venues that are either closed or attendance-restricted.

“All of this is happening as the demand on food pantries, food banks and soup kitchens increases as those that are currently unemployed will not find sufficient opportunities to return to their previous employers since those employers are now out of business,” Preblud said.

At the Barbara Davis Center, Dr. Robert Slover shared that by the second week of March, the pediatric clinic that he directs had moved

almost entirely to telemedicine as a means of continuing to see patients.

“This was a large effort,” he said, “because up until that time only a few of us had used telemedicine.

All providers and staff were trained to conduct visits online. We called all scheduled patients and either switched the appointment to electronic or cancelled. From that time until now the only actual patients who have entered the building are newly diagnosed persons and their parents, because it is necessary to do at least a few hours of direct faceto-face teaching: how to give insulin and test glucose and ketones, and some opportunity to ask questions and seek reassurance.

“The impact on clinical care,” Dr. Slover adds, “has clearly been significant, despite heroic efforts on the part of all the staff. The financial impact for the clinic is very large, and will grow as parents are unemployed and lose

LIKEWISE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lisa Hill points out that her organization, Invest In Kids, “has had to rapidly adapt and creatively utilize technology and new strategies to continue delivering support to the public health nurses and teachers who deliver our programs – the Nurse-Family Partnership and The Incredible Years. One of the most important things we are doing is listening and responding to what each community’s needs are; each one faces different challenges and needs different resources.

“As we continue dealing with the impact of COVID-19, being able to support staff on the front lines, such as public health nurses guiding a first-time mom or teachers engaging with preschoolers via Zoom, becomes increasingly critical.”

Hill’s view is echoed by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s president and chief executive officer Michelle Sie Whitten. “Unfortunately, people with Down syndrome are high risk for COVID-19, so Global has quickly created an important Q&A to ensure our families take the utmost precaution. There is also shocking discrimination whereby people with intellectual disabilities would be denied COVID-19 care and we are fighting that every day.”

In light of the various challenges, however, nonprofit leaders are cautious not to discourage supporters or those on the receiving end.

Lauren Arnold, chief executive officer for The Adoption Exchange, seemed to reflect the overall stance of colleagues throughout the state when, in a video posted on social media, she noted: “Even when circumstances change, our work does not stop. We’ve got you.”

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PUBLIC PERSONA

A

ARTFUL LIVING CAN BE CALMING, invigorating, playful, serious and so much more. Few know this better than Liz Vehko, owner-partner of Denver’s Shaver-Ramsey. She is one of the lucky ones. Her work is her passion, just as traveling the world in search of exquisite rugs and textiles is a pursuit she lives and breathes.

Joining the firm in 1998, things aligned perfectly for the recent college student to become a partner within just three short years. Having explored political science, sociology and women’s studies, Vehko pairs that knowledge and her cultural experiences to assess the craftsmanship, quality and design of the pieces that ultimately find their way into Shaver-Ramsey’s impressive offerings. Her career has enriched her life immeasurably.

Liz Vehko

What surprises people about you?

That I am a partner in a rug store that has been part of the fabric of retail in Cherry Creek North for 43 years and I am only 45. That I have been a partner since I was in my 20s.

How do people describe you?

Sensible, candid, passionate, organized, sensitive, determined.

Who do you most admire?

My mom.

Favorite Denver metro restaurant?

Sushi Den and Barolo Grill would tie for my top choice.

AT SHAVER-RAMSEY, SHE BRINGS HER LOVE OF RUGS, TEXTILES AND DIVERSE CULTURES TO THE COMMUNITY

What is your biggest fashion faux pas?

That I wear way too much black!

By Marge D. Hansen

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

Beach time.

Name: Elizabeth Vehko (Liz) Age: 45 Marital status: Married Children: Jack, 9; Lillian, 7 Career: Owner-partner, Shaver-Ramsey Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia Where do you call home today? Hilltop in Denver Website: shaver-ramsey.com

What was your last major purchase?

A long-weekend getaway to Scottsdale with my children.

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GET TO KNOW COLORADO’S TOP PERSONALITIES

What gadget can you not live without? iPhone.

What are your hobbies?

Traveling, interior design, solving crossword puzzles, discussing politics, collecting shells, rare Persian textiles and antique ikat plates from Uzbekistan.

What one word describes Coloradans to you?

Proud.

What is your favorite spot in Colorado to visit?

Aside from the many beautiful mountain towns, my favorite spot would have to be my neighborhood park, Cranmer Park. It is two blocks from my house and has such beautiful views of the Front Range.

It holds so many great memories for me whether it’s the times I have watched my kids play sports there, the family picnics we’ve enjoyed there or the beautiful sunsets we have watched on summer nights.

Are you involved with any charities?

The charities I am involved in are one and the same as Shaver-Ramsey. The Eating Disorder Foundation, Denver Dumb Friends League, Reach Out and Read Colorado, The Global Down Syndrome Foundation and the Asian Art Association of Denver Art Museum.

What took you down this career path?

Serendipity really. I was just out of college and was looking to work a retail job specifically in Cherry Creek North for six months or a year before I would go to law school.

Shaver-Ramsey wasn’t hiring but saw that I had worked retail since I was 14 and had worked at a store on Nantucket that had working looms and did hand-weaving. Paul Ramsey, one of the preeminent scholars on rugs and textiles in the country, was

an amazing teacher and sparked my passion for delving further into the world of textiles and rugs. I started traveling and buying for the store within two years, which was so exciting. Then Carolyn Shaver, Paul’s partner, decided to retire, and that’s when the opportunity arose for me to become a full partner. So, ultimately, I never left after the six months that I thought I would be at Shaver-Ramsey and it is now 22 years later.

“PAUL RAMSEY WAS AN AMAZING TEACHER AND SPARKED MY PASSION FOR DELVING FURTHER INTO THE WORLD OF TEXTILES AND RUGS.”

What intrigues you most about other cultures?

The sociology of the cultures that I visit is the most intriguing, the ins and outs of daily life, the interactions of people and families in their daily lives.

What is your favorite international destination?

Istanbul because it has so much energy and beauty. There is barely a place you can be in the whole city and not be surrounded by the beautiful views of the Bosporus Strait and Marmara Sea. Who in your family most inspired your love of art and design?

My parents are both folk artists; my father is a carver and my mother is a painter. My mother is a master gardener and they have an interior landscaping business in New York City. They are both art collectors,

which fostered my sense of aesthetic and beauty.

What are some of the ways Shaver-Ramsey interacts with the Denver community?

Shaver-Ramsey has always viewed itself as a pillar of the community and has opened its doors at no financial cost to innumerable nonprofits, charities and neighborhood groups to host events and meetings. One of the most beneficial was opening our doors three times a year to Cherry Creek Theatre to host live theater.

We did this for six years, three times a year. We would move out all the rugs in our showroom and host 36 live performances, which over the years brought 20,000 people into our showroom. Paul Ramsey and I received a proclamation from the City and County of Denver for our significant contributions to the artistic and cultural landscape of Denver.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Enjoying a similar life to the one I lead now—one with my family, friends, community and Shaver-Ramsey.

What was your most exciting discovery on a buying trip?

A rare 17th century blossom carpet fragment from a trip to Istanbul.

What has your co-ownership of Shaver-Ramsey brought to your life?

Shaver-Ramsey brings me to a place every day where I am surrounded by beauty.

Do you have any special advice for those interested in buying rugs/textiles for their homes?

Buy what you love, trust in your taste, and trust who you buy from!

Marge D. Hansen is a frequent contributor to Colorado Expression. Her articles appear in a variety of magazines and lifestyle websites.

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NONPROFIT PROFILE

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WHEN A MIDWESTERN NEWS outlet recently posted a story on Facebook about how heavy rains had caused many of Indiana’s farmers to fall behind in their planting, someone responded: “Why is there a need for farmers growing corn and soybeans when most people go to Kroger or Albertsons to get groceries, anyway?”

An ignorant comment, or an innocent question?

Let’s go with the latter, especially if you’re fresh from spending an afternoon at the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation’s Lowell Ranch, learning about the nonprofit organization’s mission of “connecting people of all ages and abilities to agriculture through authentic educational programs, community programs and leadership opportunities.” And, “to help people experience agriculture and better understand the importance of agriculture in everyday life.”

Staff and volunteers at CALF’s Lowell Ranch hear, all too frequently, program participants saying they had no idea things like potatoes come from the ground—they only knew them as French fries, potato chips or as mashed potatoes that come from a cardboard box—or that hens lay the eggs that are tucked into their breakfast burrito or Egg McMuffin.

Others marvel at being able to run around on dirt instead of asphalt or concrete, or being able to splash around in a creek.

The Details Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation 2330 Interstate 25 P.O. Box 581 Castle Rock, CO 80104 303-688-1026 thecalf.org Admission to CALF’s Lowell Ranch is by reservation, or during public events.

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Connecting People to their Agricultural Roots

CALF program participant Tori works with a hog for her 4H project

YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN RESPOSIBILITY THROUGH RAISING LIVESTOCK AND TENDING CROPS

By Joanne Davidson

CALF was founded in 2002 by John and Bea Lowell, who put 133 acres of their 3,000-acre spread along Plum Creek, three miles south of Castle Rock, into a trust to be run by a foundation that would help to “preserve a piece of rural life within the suburbs and promote agriculture.” The Lowells died within weeks of each other in 2009 and in 2018 their son sold an additional 38 acres to CALF. Fundraising events this year, plus a $50,000 challenge grant

from the Gates Family Foundation, will help pay for it.

The programs at Lowell Ranch, says CALF’s president and chief executive officer Brooke Fox, reflect John and Bea Lowell’s vision of underscoring the importance of agriculture, both in keeping America fed and ensuring that young people would become inspired to become farmers and ranchers.

The Lowells were considered to be among the best sheep producers

AN INSIDE LOOK AT LOCAL NONPROFITS

in the country, Fox added, and a large part of why they formed CALF centered on “the great things they saw happen when kids had a chance to experience ranch life first hand.

They were dedicated to ensuring that all youth who wanted to be involved in agriculture had the opportunity to do so.”

Today CALF’s four paid staff members and 450 volunteers welcome 3,000 youngsters annually for educational programs that include Connecting Kids to Agriculture, a series of field trips that begin in April and end in October. There’s also Camp CALF, a day camp where third through seventh graders spend a week “running through the fields, feeding the chickens and tracking snakes and frogs.” A Camp CALF brochure points out that this is not a camp for the faint of heart. “Kids will come home dirty, wet, smelly and full of smiles,” it promises.

No ranch? No problem. That’s the call that goes out to members of 4-H and Future Farmers of America who raise their market livestock projects at Lowell Ranch. CALF Kids like 13-year-old Kenzie Summervill, a seven-year member of 4-H who is in her second year of raising pigs, sheep and chickens at Lowell Ranch.

Like other CALF Kids, Kenzie must come to Lowell Ranch twice daily to feed her animals and ensure their well-being. So devoted is the Summervill family to Lowell Ranch that they recently moved from Highlands Ranch to a home closer to the CALF property in an effort to reduce the commute time; Kenzie’s mom, Jennifer, also installed a wireless camera so that Kenzie and her brother, Ethan, also a CALF Kid, could more easily monitor a lamb that was about to give birth. Previously, the Summervill family, CALF’s 2019 Volunteers of the Year, would camp out in a trailer at Lowell Ranch whenever a birth was imminent.

“CALF teaches us to understand what responsibility is,” Kenzie notes.

Rochelle Belobraydic, CALF’s ranch manager, arranges seedlings in the greenhouse

CALF Kids work with their 4-H lamb projects

Elementary school students on field trips get to see the ranch animals

“Like what it means to sometimes have to stay up all night to feed our animals in order to keep them alive.” Kenzie is looking toward a career in culinary arts, specifically as it relates to farm-to-table eating.

Her brother plans to enter the field of animal science.

Animals aren’t the only focus at CALF. Gardens with hundreds of varieties of plants and herbs are planted, maintained and harvested by young people while representatives from Colorado State University focus on experimental planting—working, for example, with non-native trees to see which ones acclimate to this climate. Special raised beds are available for those with issues that prevent them from bending over. There also are gardens that accommodate those with sensory and tactile issues, a limited number of community garden plots and the opportunity for the public to pick and purchase tomatoes, kale, squash, pumpkins and other farmgrown produce at the Harvest Day held each September.

Andrew Salazar completed his preparation for becoming an Eagle Scout by making two potting benches and a mobile field washing station for the Lowell Ranch gardens. Young people also maintain ranch beehives.

Volunteer opportunities for families, teens and adults include helping with field trips, barnyard cleanup, livestock feeding, office duties and special events.

Carla Holst, a Sedalia rancher and president of the CALF board of directors, perhaps best sums up the organization by pointing out that “CALF programs teach how crops and animals can grow faster, better and stronger. We can be the center for the future of agriculture.”

Joanne Davidson’s hands-on experience with farm animals pretty much amounts to participating in a celebrity sheep-shearing contest at the National Western Stock Show. She came in dead last.

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COLORADO KIDS

Little Golfers, Big Goals The First Tee of Denver is enriching lives one swing at a time

By Kim D. McHugh

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THE PROVERB “FROM LITTLE acorns do mighty oaks grow” aptly describes the results of those participating in The First Tee of Denver.

The nonprofit organization, whose purpose is to educate and inspire youth academically, socially and physically through golf, first took root in 2002, building from what was then Denver Junior Golf, a program with similar goals. In 2001, Denver Junior Golf had 200 participants in its program, but the then-program director, David Kolquist, believed it had considerably more growth potential.

After visiting schools within walking distance of City Park Golf Course, Denver Junior Golf’s home course, he sparked more interest from educators, students and the community in the value of golf as a bridge to esteem-building, physical activity and academic excellence. A year later, the momentum continued when the First Tee of Denver became a chapter of the national organization, which launched in 1997.

A partnership among the USGA, the PGA TOUR, the LPGA, the PGA of America and the Masters Tournament, the First Tee began introducing an affordable junior golf program

to communities that did not have them, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. In the 23 years since the organization’s inception, the impact is as impressive as a 400-yard drive pounded by Rory McIlroy. Nationwide there are 1,200 programming locations, more than 3,900 active coaches, more than 24,000 volunteers, over 1,000 PGA and LPGA professionals serving as coaches, executive directors, staff and volunteers, and its National School Program has been introduced to over 9,000 schools. Locally, the impact is also significant.

“We started with 200 kids in 2002,” said Paula Purifoy, CEO of The First Tee of Denver, The First Tee of the Front Range and The First Tee of the Colorado Rocky

THE DETAILS The First Tee of Denver 3181 E. 23rd Ave. Denver, CO 80205 720-865-3415 thefirstteedenver.org

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM JUNE/JULY 2020

First Tee participants learn life skills as well as golf

Mountains. “In 2013, we were only serving 2,000 boys and girls. But at a fundraising lunch, my board member chair made a bold announcement saying we were going to serve 10,000 participants by 2020. We had 10,024 participants in 2019, so we reached that goal even earlier.”

To date, the three First Tee locations Purifoy oversees have attracted 59,447 kids and teens ages four through 18, each of whom is encouraged to employ the organization’s nine core values in their lives. Those include respect, sportsmanship, honesty, judgment, integrity, perseverance, confidence, courtesy and responsibility. In addition to learning golf’s fundamentals, the participants are also taught life skills such as how to manage emotions, resolve conflicts, make proper introductions, establish step-by-step goals, plan for the future, appreciate diversity and how to advance through the program’s six levels.

“Our vision is for every participant to carry golf club in one hand and a diploma in the other,” Purifoy added.

“We think sports and education are so important, and if you factor in character development with components like reading, math and science, you have well-rounded kids that grow up to be positive, contributing members of the community.”

Strengthening the educational component are the organization’s Read ‘N’ Swing and Club Building programs.

Set up as a one-on-one student-tovolunteer exercise typically lasting six to eight weeks, participants read for

CELEBRATING THOSE WHO MENTOR OUR YOUTHS

The First Tee of Denver had more than 10,000 participants in 2019

at least 30 minutes before engaging in any golf activities. Also over six weeks, students in the Club Building program are tasked with making a wedge and a putter. This encourages the students to employ math, reading and science skills resulting in the young golfer having the pride of accomplishment he or she can literally put into play.

“We’re tracking where they are with their reading skills at the beginning of the year and where they are afterwards,” Purifoy explained. “Our participants’ reading skills are improving at a faster rate and with a 50 percent higher reading proficiency than their peers that are not participating in our programs.”

The First Tee of Denver furthers its commitment to enriching the lives of its participants through its Peer Mentoring Program, where primarily at-risk children are paired with highschool-aged mentors. Proven to be extremely relatable, the mentors

are adept at helping the younger kids learn to communicate in a positive way, while also learning determination, what constitutes a healthy relationship and the importance of using good judgment. Passionate about why a good education is a springboard to a brighter future, The First Tee of Denver offers college scholarships annually to deserving students.

“We’re planning on giving away five college scholarships, each worth $10,000,” said Purifoy.

The program is designed not only to help children be more responsible, they’ll be in a trajectory towards getting better grades, more life skills, the ability to join the Youth Leadership Council, have a summer job and compete in local and national golf tournaments. Making the program accessible is the fact that participants need no prior experience with golf, no equipment and, unless they enroll in one of the year-round Birdie classes (a $125 fee), little to no fi-

nancial commitment, largely because the program is offered through affiliations with participating schools.

“We had a teen who started with us at 14 years old, he earned an Evans Scholarship, he graduated from college and now he is our marketing director,” Purifoy commented. “One girl earned an Evans Scholarship through caddying at City Park with us. She graduated from University of Colorado with no debt and went to work for an oil and gas company.

These are the kind of kids I’m talking about that are going to be leaders in the community.”

From little acorns do mighty oaks grow.

Kim D. McHugh, a Lowell Thomas award winner and member of the Golf Writers Association of America, has been writing about people, food and wine, travel and architecture since 1986. He appreciates what The First Tee of Denver does to grow the sport and encourage reading.

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BITS & PIECES

Photo: Joe Keum

Photo: Jonathan Phillips

What’s Happening in the West

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ONE OF THE TOP TOURIST ACTIVities in the Denver region has long been shopping in Cherry Creek. Of course, it makes sense when one thinks about the variety and caliber of boutique shops alongside a tempting array of dining options.

According to Kate Lynch, marketing and communications manager of the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District, the district has done some creative thinking during the virus shutdown. Until recently it has been offering virtual experiences for their customers confined at home, such as Motivation Monday, Retail Remedy Wednesday and SatisFriday. While these have offered fresh ways to engage their

Dates were correct at time of publishing, but may have changed. Please check websites for updates.

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Photo: Jonathan Phillips

Cherry Creek North Businesses on Rebound

customers, it’s now time to move forward as restrictions are being relaxed. Lynch says, “We’re tossing around some ideas, maybe a night activation where retailers might stay open later, and restaurants do a grab-and-go. But we want to be responsible with everything we’re doing. Virtual experiences are also in the works.” Cherry Creek North businesses care about customers and intend to follow city guidelines and provide a welcome, safe and clean environment, she says. She urges folks to support these locally owned shops and restaurants as they need our help more than ever now. Check the website for news and announcements and sure sign up for their newsletter to stay informed. cherrycreeknorth.com

COLORADO BALLET

Announces 60th Anniversary Season Colorado Ballet this year celebrates six decades and artistic director Gil Boggs says the organization is committed to offering something for everyone with a variety of eclectic and complementary programming. “Our 60th anniversary season is no exception—it will continue to delight and inspire audiences.” Opening the season on Oct. 9 will be Giselle, which continues to delight audiences. For the holiday season there will be brand new sets and costumes for the 60th annual production of The Nutcracker. The company will perform a new ballet, The Great Gatsby, and bring back The Wizard of Oz. Stunning repertoire featured in the Ballet MasterWorks program closes the season. Single tickets for the 2020/2021 season will go on sale July 15.

Tickets range from $35 to $160. coloradoballet.org

Eagle’s Hoop House Again Offering Knapp Ranch Farm Produce

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IN A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF “WHAT goes around, comes around,” folks in the Vail Valley purchase shares in a Community Supported Agriculture program in exchange for high quality, local produce. This innovative idea, especially during uncertain times, benefits everyone.

The retail nursery Hoop House and the CSA program is a function of The Farm at Knapp Ranch. CSA members purchase shares which in turn fund farmers who plant and tend crops. During the summer months members pick up weekly milk crates filled with an array of colorful vegetables – 75 percent organic with no pesticides or herbicides used. According to Sandy Story, sustainable

agriculture manager for The Farm, “Each share represents the work and attention to detail of The Hoop House employees to seed, transplant, weed, grow and harvest the prepaid shares.” A bonus comes from sister farms in Palisade providing fruit, herbs and live plants. It’s reassuring to know where the food comes from and that it is sustainably grown.

There are two share costs available: $234 for six weeks and $420 for 12 weeks. You can spend the same in the supermarket but not get the satisfaction of knowing you are part of a winning effort.

To purchase shares, contact sandy@knappranch.com; knappranch.com

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© 2020 Denver Design District. All rights reserved.

THE DENVER DESIGN CENTER A N D T H E C O L L E C T I O N AT B R O A D W AY PA R K ®

denverdesign.com/ce

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BITS & PIECES

What’s Happening in the West

By Joy Lawrance

17th Annual Castle Rock WineFest on Saturday, July 18

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Moulin Rouge

Denver Center Announces 2020/2021 Season

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THE DENVER CENTER FOR THE Performing Arts’ Broadway & Cabaret will present a veritable smorgasbord of dramatic and musical shows to tempt even the most reluctant theatergoer. Subscription Shows open on Oct. 13 with 1776, and include Tootsie, Hadestown, Pretty Woman: The Musical, To Kill a Mockingbird and the highly anticipated Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

To add to this delectable menu, Added Attraction Shows bring even more delight. Holiday treats include Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical and Jersey Boys. Later you’ll surely tap your toes with the Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show and enjoy favorite melodies from Les Misérables. The DCPA is one of

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COLORADO IS PRODUCING SOME great wines, and this event is a chance to sample more than 180 varieties from more than two dozen wineries. Some of those include Black Arts Cellars, Garrett Estate Cellars, Deep Roots Winery and Redstone Meadery. The annual affair draws aficionados not only for the diversity of wines, but for fabulous food trucks and live music for dancing into the night. There’s even a beer garden offering locally made brews for your pleasure. If you’ve ever wanted to get your “Italian” on, you can join the Grape Stomp and squish those juicy orbs! With tickets starting at the attractive price of $39 you’re sure to get plenty of entertainment value. If you would like to award employees, show customer appreciation, or just celebrate with family and friends, you can reserve a VIP Cabana lounge for up to 10 people to relax and enjoy the day in cool shade, complete with VIP services and amenities. The first 2,000 WineFest attendees will receive a free wine bottle tote and wine glass.

Hours are 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Butterfield Crossing Park in the Meadows and is an adults-only event, no children or pets allowed. castlerock.org/castle-rock-winefest

Pretty Woman

the nation’s largest nonprofit theater organizations and entertained over 900,000 visitors last season. denvercenter.org

Dates were correct at time of publishing, but may have changed. Please check websites for updates.

BITS & PIECES

A Grateful Harvest to Benefit Roundup River Ranch August 8

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HEAD TO GYPSUM ON AUG. 8, FOR A Grateful Harvest, a benefit for Roundup River Ranch, part of the SeriousFun Children’s Network. Here you’ll dine on cuisine from renowned chefs paired with exquisite wines while feasting on beautiful camp views and enjoying the sounds of campers performing. The evening will honor Kathy and Trent Cole as Paul Newman Legacy Society Inductees.

Paul Newman founded the first camp, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, believing that every child should have the chance to experience adventures and friendships while escaping the fear and isolation of their medical conditions. Tax-deductible donations to Roundup River Ranch ensure that children with serious illnesses can experience the joys of childhood at camp—completely free. roundupriverranch.org/event/ agratefulharvest

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

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BITS & PIECES

What’s Happening in the West

Cheley Colorado Camps Commemorates 100 Years of History

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THE DREAM BEGAN NEARLY 100 years ago when Frank Cheley hosted nine boys at a rustic summer camp near Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. His promise to the families was to help boys grow into manhood in the great outdoors. The Bear Lake Trail School opened in 1921, and in 1926 he welcomed “vigorous girls” to his “vigorous camp.”

Since then, the name was changed to Cheley Colorado Camps and four generations of the Cheley family have kept the dream alive fulfilling the original mission: “To inculcate in boys and girls that spirit of honesty, purity, unselfishness, love, alertness, determination and courage.” Colorado author Mary Taylor Young was approached to pen the story of this

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special place, tracing the history and stories of some of the thousands of young people who have experienced camp here. Brook Cheley-Klebe says, “Through the process it was clear that this book would not be able to encompass everything from the past 100 years. We wanted it to capture the beautiful essence of camp.” It is considered one of the most successful family-owned summer camps in the United States. I Found You in the Mountains: 100 Years of Cheley Colorado Camps is available for pre-order now. cheley.com

BITS & PIECES

LIVEDISTINCT Delroy and Stuart We found the perfect house for you!

Client

Photo: 7Cellars

I’m going on vacation and putting my home search on hold

Elway’s 7Cellars Announces the Launch of The Farm Collection

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COLORADOANS HAVE A SOFT SPOT inside for the number 7 – and for the quarterback who brought us two Super Bowl wins wearing that number. John Elway has since delighted folks with his upscale restaurants along with his wine company, 7Cellars, and the success of his Reserve Collection. “We have expanded our offerings to include a collection at an everyday price-point,” he says. “The Farm Collection pays homage to a place where many of my life’s early friendships were formed, and fondest memories occurred. It’s a place that helped shape who I am today – Stanford University, a ka, The Farm.”

The collection consists of three varietals created by 7Cellars winemaker and wine director Mari Coyle, in conjunction with winemakers Rob Mondavi and Tony Coltrin. The varietals are a 2018 chardonnay sourced

Dates were correct at time of publishing, but may have changed. Please check websites for updates.

from premium vineyards in Arroyo Seco in the heart of Monterey and aged for 12 months in French oak; a 2018 pinot noir, sourced from premium vineyards in Monterey, which has a medium, full-bodied structure, aged for 12 months in French oak; and a 2018 cabernet sauvignon, sourced from premium vineyards in Paso Robles, aged for 12 months in French oak, creating a full-bodied flavor and a bold, rich wine.

The Farm Collection retails for $19 a bottle in stores. Online purchases, at $30, can be shipped to 38 states. To make your wine enjoyment even more attractive, with every bottle purchased, 7Cellars donates to its partners at Team Rubicon, a nonprofit organization that supports, trains and deploys U.S. veterans on disaster relief missions around the world. To date, more than 5,870 veterans have been supported through sales of 7Cellars wines. As Elway states on the website, “I hope you savor our wines while celebrating life’s finer moments.” Cheers! www7cellars.com

Delroy and Stuart What vacation?

Client

Delroy and Stuart lol... I set a virtual showing for 1PM.

YOUR VACATIONS MIGHT BE ON HOLD, BUT YOUR REAL ESTATE SHOULDN’T BE. DELROY GILL 303.803.0258 | delroy@livedistinct.com STUART CROWELL 303.909.2331 | stuart@livedistinct.com livedistinct.com

@Live.Distinct

JUNE/JULY 2020 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

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LIVEDISTINCT

DENVER HELPING DENVER

Live Distinct delivering food to

MichĂŠlyn Johnson paid 51 Xcel Energy bills for families who cannot make their payments

Denver healthcare workers

Impact Denver serving food to Denver’s at-risk population

Bringing a hot dinner to a friend and front-line hero

Delivering meals as our sinc ere gratitude for our healthcare providers

Live Distinct feeding the hardworking nurses and doctors in Denver

When this is over, may we never again take for granted SUPPOR

T LO C A L

/ LO V E YO

UR HOO D Every T-sh irt purchase d = meals from local ordered restaurants & delivere d to local healthcare providers

A HANDSHAKE WITH A STRANGER F U L L S H E LV E S AT T H E S T O R E C O N V E R S AT I O N S W I T H N E I G H B O R S A C R O W D E D T H E AT R E F R I D AY N I G H T O U T T H E TA S T E O F C O M M U N I O N A ROUTINE CHECKUP

THE SCHOOL RUSH EACH MORNING COFFEE WITH A FRIEND T H E S TA D I U M R O A R I N G E A C H D E E P B R E AT H A B O R I N G T U E S D AY L I F E I T S E L F. The Junk Truck bringing meals to our healthcare heroes in Colorado

Delivering food to our local Denver hospitals

When this is ends, may we find that we have become more like the people WE WANTED TO BE WE WERE CALLED TO BE WE HOPED TO BE.

And may we stay that way better for each other because of the worst.

Platinum Window Cleaning & Pressure Washing cleaning local parks for the children to safely enjoy after they re-open.

- LAURA KELLY FANUCCI

The Junk Truck feeding our heroes in the Denver community

livedistinct.com

DELROY GILL delroy@livedistinct.com | 303.803.0258

@Live.Distinct

STUART CROWELL stuar t@livedistinct.com | 303.909.233

COMMUNITY

Coloradans Contribute

Myriad acts of kindness and donations helped lift spirits during the pandemic

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WHETHER INSPIRED BY VINCENT Atchity, president and chief executive officer of Mental Health Colorado, who urged state residents not to “miss this chance to practice active kindness to all” or merely relying on the innate goodness within us all, hundreds if not thousands of Coloradans rallied to help lift spirits and allay fears during the COVID-19 pandemic by engaging in heartwarming projects large and small.

Here are some of them. We pray that by the time you read this, the pandemic has subsided and the exam-

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ples in this story are but a memory of the good side of a grave situation.

Shopkeepers along a stretch of South Broadway in Denver turned what could have been a dismal and depressing sight into something cheerful and bright by painting pictures and spray-painting poems on the plywood used to board up doors and windows on their shuttered places of business.

A group of moms in Denver’s Mayfair neighborhood organized a “zoo walk” as a means of entertaining their kiddos. It involved having residents

place stuffed animals in their windows for children—and adults—to enjoy as they strolled the streets of this East Denver enclave. Viewings of “Red Panda,” “Sparkly Bunny” and “Moo Moo Moose” and others proved so popular that adjoining neighborhoods, including Hale, Congress Park, Montclair and Park Hill, quickly established zoo walks of their own.

It’s “little things like this that make the long days of social distancing much more fun for these kiddos,” observed Mayfair resident Crystal Whittenburg.

Photos: Will McDonnell (1), depositphotos.com (4)

By Joanne Davidson

STEPPING UP TO HELP

Literally within hours after sending out a query on the Nextdoor website to see if anyone in the Lowry neighborhood would be willing to help her support a local restaurant by donating any amount they felt comfortable giving so that she could purchase meals that she’d deliver to emergency room staffers at Rose Medical Center, Laurie Kagan’s inbox was flooded with replies. Before long a plan was in place to further support all of the Lowry-area restaurants— including Lowry Beer Garden, Café Mercato, Officers Club and North County—by purchasing from them for additional deliveries to those staffing the hospital’s intensive care unit and operating rooms.

The Colorado Symphony created a viral sensation with a YouTube video featuring 49 of its musicians performing Beethoven’s final symphony, Ode to Joy. It was no ordinary

THE COLORADO SYMPHONY CREATED A VIRAL SENSATION WITH A YOUTUBE VIDEO performance, though. Each musician recorded themselves playing his or her part in their respective homes and, says symphony spokesman Nick Dobreff, with the segments combined in post-production, creating the sound and experience of a full symphony.

The piece, Dobreff adds, has been performed “on other solemn occasions, including Tiananmen Square in Beijing and in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.”

In a similar vein, quarantined students at Berklee College of Music in Boston recorded a goosebumps-inducing rendition of the Burt Bacharach classic, “What the World Needs Now.” It also can be viewed on YouTube.

On the national level, country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood had 1 million fans tune in for a Facebook Live concert broadcast from their home studio; its success prompted CBS to engage them for a televised special that resulted in a $1 million donation to coronavirus relief charities. Elton John’s iHeart Living Room Concert for America, with performances by superstars Billie Eilish, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys and others, also raised money

Jodi’s Race for Awareness of Ovarian Cancer Virtual Dash!

Where will it take you?

Walk, run, use a treadmill, YOU choose how to support those affected by ovarian cancer! The beauty of Jodi’s Race Virtual Dash is that you can do the race at your pace–wherever you choose–while raising critical funds for Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance programs.

Register by June 30, 2020 and receive a cool virtual race party package!

Visit our website for important tips, FAQs and requirements.

Jodi’s Race, Together for Good Presenting Sponsors

www.jodisrace.org Benefiting

and

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COMMUNITY

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM JUNE/JULY 2020

Vail Resorts, and his wife, wellness guru and New York Times best-selling author Elana Amsterdam, donated $1.5 million to be distributed through their Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust to recipients that include Help Colorado Now, the Eagle Valley Community Foundation, the Summit Foundation and the Community Foundation of Gunnison Valley. In addition, they gave $1 million to the Epic Promise Employee Foundation to establish a new fund that will provide additional assistance to Vail Resorts employees impacted by COVID-19.

“I cannot recall another moment in my lifetime that has caused so much disruption to our lives—to our

OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT VIA VIRTUAL BRUNCHES, LUNCHES AND HAPPY HOURS

Joanne Davidson is appreciative of the many online services and entertainment opportunities offered over these past few months.

But even more, she is so very grateful for the selflessness and dedication of those on the front lines. We are forever in their debt.

Photos: depositphotos.com

for health care workers and first responders on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. New York’s Metropolitan Opera had nightly livestreamed performances.

Locally, popular Denver vocalist Hazel Miller kicked off a series of weekly Facebook Live performances with “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”

Singer-songwriter Hallie Spoor, daughter of Denverites Ann and Mark Spoor, gave virtual concerts every Friday night in April, live from her Brooklyn, N.Y., bedroom. She also offered donation-based, online ukulele classes, teaching students songs like “Let It Be” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Older adults living at The Residences at University Hills took a cue from the Italians and went out on their balconies to participate in an early evening singalong of patriotic songs.

Olympic gold medalist and World Cup alpine skier Mikaela Shriffrin joined other athletes in the Kindness in Crisis auction, donating proceeds from the sale of such things as her Oakley goggles, Bose Quiet Comfort headphones and a Killington Mountain World Cup slalom leader bid to the Colorado COVID-19 Relief Fund and Food Bank of the Rockies.

Rob Katz, chief executive officer of

work, to our health and to our communities,” Katz said in announcing the donation.

When Starbucks closed 80 of its stores that didn’t have a drivethrough service option, QDC, one of the company’s main suppliers, brought a truckload of fresh prepared food and milk to Food Bank of the Rockies for sorting and distribution by such FBR volunteers as Paul Berteau, who has shown up every day as he is able for 22 years.

Food for Thought, founded by Bob Bell and John Thielen and staffed by 7,000 volunteers, delivered bags of food to students from 53 Denver Public Schools every Friday. Bags filled with jars of peanut butter, cans of soup, oatmeal, crackers and canned fruit were given out at the 12 designated pickup locations.

Social media platforms like Zoom afforded friends the opportunity to connect via virtual brunches, lunches and happy hours. Birthday parties, anniversaries, even weddings, were celebrated this way, too. Apps and Facebook Live enabled folks to get their exercise in thanks to gyms like 24 Hour Fitness and Planet Fitness.

Denver-based Bodies by Perseverance enrolled clients for customized online classes.

Denver Public Library had live story times every Friday on YouTube; the Museum of Contemporary Art had weekly art challenges where supporters could draw, collage, photograph, paint or animate a project to be shared on the museum’s Instagram account.

Denver Botanic Gardens president Brian Vogt led visitors on a virtual tour of its soon-to-open Freyer-Newman Center and the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Arts provided virtual looks at its collections.

Does Your House Still Make You Smile?

CHE R RY C R E E K

1 01 S. MA DISO N ST.

C H E R RY CR E E K NO RTH 2902 E. 3R D AVE.

L ANDMAR K DTC

5375 LAND MAR K P L. / #104

303.39 9.777 7 | P E RRYAND CO. COM

HOT TICKETS

In Town July 26 Beethoven 9, Red Rocks The Colorado Symphony will be joined by four vocal soloists and a massive community chorus including the Colorado Symphony Chorus for this stellar evening under the stars.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Can’t-miss Events Throughout Colorado

July 29 The Band’s Visit, Buell Theatre This smash-hit Broadway musical is the winner of 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, making it one of the most Tony-winning musicals in history.

303-893-4100 • denvercenter.org

July 29 Goo Goo Dolls, Red Rocks The four-time Grammy Award-nominated rock band will bring its “Miracle Pill Summer Tour” to Morrison, with special guests Lifehouse and Forest Blakk.

720-865-2494 • redrocksonline.com

July 29 Guns N’ Roses, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Hard rock mainstay Guns N’ Roses travels to town with its “Larger Than Life” tour featuring original members Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan. dickssportinggoodspark.com

Eric Church, Cheyenne Frontier Days, Cheyenne, Wyoming, July 17-26

July 30

July 31-Aug. 1

Dispatch, Red Rocks This upbeat rock band, heralded as one of the biggest independent bands in history, will perform with the Colorado Symphony under the stars.

303-623-7876 • coloradosymphony.org

Tedeschi Trucks, Red Rocks The “Wheels of Soul” tour will feature St. Paul & The Broken Bones and Gabe Dixon, concluding their sixth annual run at Red Rocks.

720-865-2494 • redrocksonline.com

Dates were correct at time of publishing, but may have changed.

Please check websites for updates.

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM JUNE/JULY 2020

Elitch Gardens, through Nov. 1

HOT TICKETS

Out of Town July 17-26 Cheyenne Frontier Days, Cheyenne Wyoming Celebrate our western roots with professional bull riding, PRCA pro rodeo, a family carnival and concerts featuring Blake Shelton, Eric Church and Thomas Rhett. cfdrodeo.com

July 24-26 RockyGrass Festival, Lyons Held at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons, RockyGrass is revered internationally as one of the great traditional bluegrass festivals. bluegrass.com/rockygrass

July 31-Aug. 11 Vail Dance Festival The 32nd season brings together more than 150 dancers, musicians, composers and choreographers for 11 performances and numerous public events celebrating dance and music.

970-845-8497 • vaildance.org

“To see my daughter be a kid again after battling for her every heartbeat changed our lives.”

- Mom of Awnee Rose, participant

To learn more about how we bring hope and healing to children with cancer, visit ShiningStarsFoundation.org today!

Thank you to

for your support!

For the Kids Through Sept. 7 Water World, Federal Heights A summer of thrills awaits one of the country’s premier family water parks featuring nearly 50 attractions for the entire family.

303-427-7873 • waterworldcolorado.com

Through Nov. 1 Elitch Gardens Elitch’s begins its 130th year as one of the oldest consecutiveoperating amusement parks in the United States, providing quality family fun that has entertained Colorado for generations.

303-595-4386 • elitchgardens.com

JUNE/JULY 2020 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

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FOR THE FOODIE

The Scoop on Melted Thai ice cream sandwiches, vegan and gluten-free offerings at this sweet spot

T

The most Instagram-worthy cones, perfect for the ice cream socials you’ve been craving, are tucked away in the heart of RiNo. The Thai iced Tea signature flavor is a swirl of pure refreshment available at Melted at 3350 Brighton Blvd. located inside the contemporary-chic Source Hotel, a lifestyle hotel and artisan market hall.

A perfect fit for the eclectic, avantgarde neighborhood, Melted is a sweet spot for trendy foodies to flock to as the encore of the evening. The menu offers a seasonal selection of homemade soft serve ice cream and organic cones, including vegan selections like coconut (made with coconut milk) and chocolate (made with oat milk). Order a single flavor or two in a twist. Its iconic black cone is colored with activated charcoal instead of artificial coloring.

Owner Bryan Dayton said he is offering “decadent desserts that fit within dietary needs” including accommodations for customers who are on dairyfree, vegan or gluten-free diets.

The summer lineup is vegan strawberry, matcha (green tea), a take on sweet vanilla custard, and of course, Thai iced tea. The countdown to pumpkin flavor season has already begun and Halloween may just be Melted’s most photogenic holiday.

Candy corn included.

Dayton has loved ice cream since he was a kid and he started Melted in 2019 in order to take the fond childhood memories we all have and bring them into an adult form. Dayton’s “culinary purpose is to play with the 44

COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM JUNE/JULY 2020

Photo: Alexa Morr

By DANIELLE YUTHAS

palette,” and his “main goal is to be a fun, different, kitschy, dessert shop,” he said. Melted is pushing the envelope with flavors like the chartreuse, which is served at Christmas.

That’s not all that’s special about the candy-sprinkled cove. The menu contains a Southeast Asian specialty that is seldom seen in the United States, let alone Colorado: Thai buns. Thai buns are a literal take on the ice cream sandwich popular worldwide, meaning scoops of ice cream are served in a bun or slice of regular bread. In Sicily it’s gelato in brioche; Singapore has colored bread around a square of ice cream; in the Philippines scoops are served in pandesal; in Thailand a hot dog bun is popular; and even the

French fill profiteroles with ice cream from time to time. The American cousin is often an ice cream sandwich on a doughnut or a waffle.

Sandwich-izing soft serve is a tasty way to cool down on the fly. The purpose of the bread is not only for portability, but also for texture. In Thailand, bread is cut and served with ice cream even when it’s not in the form of a street food like a sandwich. The single slice of bread in Melted’s Thai bun is

Melted

At the Source, 3350 Brighton Blvd., #145 Denver, CO 80216 720-387-8349 meltedbecool.com

Danielle Yuthas is a Denver native, journalist and marketer who is as hipster as skinny jeans and has an eye for the Instagram-able.

Photo: Jamie Jaye Fletcher

fresh from the neighboring Reunion bakery, which is what truly makes the combo artisan. For Bangkok-style authenticity, the bun is then drizzled with sweetened, condensed milk and topped with a wide variety of toppings of your choosing.

When a cone breaks, it’s crunched up into a topping and when a sprinkle doesn’t stick it’s collected and added to a special mix known as “suicide sprinkles.” This sprinkle medley is only for the adventurous considering it could contain raw sugar, coconut, sprinkles, peppermint, cone bits, chocolate chips, you name it. Customers have even spotted candycoated sunflower seeds which only adds to the uniqueness of the treat.

Melted uses all biodegradable cups and spoons to further support the green initiative.

Dayton is no stranger to the restaurant scene considering he’s been in the business for more than 30 years and his resume includes nationally acclaimed Boulder restaurant Frasca. His sommelier training refined his palette and his extensive background in mixology of cocktails lends itself to his specific expertise in blending bold and seasonal flavors. Melted is expected to join the ranks of Dayton’s other ventures that have topped many “best of” lists including Oak at Fourteenth in Boulder, Corrida in Denver and Acorn, which is also located in The Source. Market Hall at The Source is a 45,000-square foot culinary complex that offers a little of everything including retail, apparel, a florist, a brewery, cocktails, pizza and a barber shop. It is home to a butcher, baker and a candlestick maker all under one roof. Market Hall is the perfect place for a date night or catching up with old friends and making new ones because you can go from drinks to dining to dessert to shopping and repeat. Market Hall is the ideal place to linger and doing so will add a cool factor to those hot summer nights.

STRAWBERRY STREUSEL COOKIES In addition to its ice cream, Melted also has fresh baked cookies daily. Melted’s consulting pastry chef Jennifer Akina shares the summer favorite Strawberry Streusel Cookie recipe here.

2 sticks butter 2¾ cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp salt 1 ⁄2 tsp baking soda ¼ cup dry milk powder ¼ cup sugar, granulated 1 cup brown sugar 2 eggs, whole 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 ⁄8 cup strawberry preserves 1 cup white chocolate chips 1 cup dried strawberries, chopped 1. Melt butter, cool slightly.

2. Sift flour, salt, soda, milk powder.

3. Paddle butter and sugars for approximately 2 minutes.

4. Add eggs, vanilla, preserves slowly.

5. Add dry ingredients slowly, scraping down bowl.

6. Fold in white chocolate and dried strawberries.

7. Scoop into portions, press down halfway, and top with streusel.

8. Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour.

9. Bake at 300 degrees on parchmentlined sheet tray for approximately 5 minutes, rotate pans and then bake for another 5-7 minutes until slightly golden around edges.

10. Cool completely.

STREUSEL

1 stick butter, room temp ½ cup sugar, granulated ½ cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup ground, freeze-dried strawberries Paddle all ingredients on low until crumbly (like gravel) JUNE/JULY 2020 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

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RESTAURANT

Recipe for Success At Zomo, a family’s food legacy continues

By ELIZABETH KOSAR

W When Alysia Davey met Ryan Anderson, there were fireworks—literally.

Today, the two own and run Zomo, a hot Asian-fusion restaurant located in Englewood. The initial sparks started flying when Alysia was working at a firework stand and Ryan walked over with his sister to buy some Ground Blooms. “I think he liked that I loved fireworks as much as he did,” she said.

More than a decade later, Alysia and Ryan decided to continue her family’s legacy of food and open Zomo. They were building on the foundation started by Alysia’s grandmother, Chi, and grandfather, Ty, who owned three restaurants in Kansas—Ty and Chi’s Oriental and American Restaurants.

Alysia explains, “I have always been really close with my grandparents— growing up I loved walking to their house to get food.”

The decision to open their own restaurant was also grounded in concern for family—Grandma Chi was working at another restaurant in town and needed the income, but also needed a better work/life balance.

Alysia shares that, “Ryan’s family has owned the building for decades and we had the chance to enter the space as a business. Instantly, Ryan and I agreed we needed to give the grandparents another go, but this time a little more new school with the grandkids involved.”

Zomo is an opportunity to re-imagine Ty and Chi’s for a modern audience. Asian flavors are balanced with a western palate in creative and imag-

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IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY Alysia Davey’s grandmother Chi Nguyen rules the kitchen at

Zomo, making all the sauces and marinades OPPOSITE PAGE Yellow Curry (upper) and Fried Rice (lower) are two of Zomo’s specialities

inative ways, many of which hail from Grandma Chi’s time in Kansas. Alysia explains, “Grandma was adopted by a church in a small small town, Stockton, Kansas. She was taught by the ladies in the church how to cook and provide for her family. When she was taught how to cook meatloaf, she thought to herself, “Why would they put breadcrumbs in there? It makes it so dry!” and voila! She decided to put bean thread noodles in there. That is a practice done with our egg rolls to hold the filling together.”

Zomo

3457 S. Broadway Englewood, CO 80113 720-739-8882 zomoeats.com

Ryan, Alysia, and Grandma Chi all have their favorite dishes and the meaning behind each is as savory as the dish itself. For Alysia, it’s all about the fried rice. “It is nostalgic for me, what I grew up eating. It is light and fluffy, but still flavorful. I get mine spicy with a fried egg on top. I like the yolk to mix in.”

Ryan loves either the rice bowl or the pho. “The rice bowl reminds me of flavors and foods I ate at my Chinese grandmother’s house. And who doesn’t love pho?” Grandma Chi prefers the yellow curry, “I like the rich flavors, the pumpkin and the veggies—the combo has the most flavor with all of the different meats.” But perhaps the most sentimental dish on the menu is Ba’s Shrimp. Alysia explains that it’s named for “My grandpa Ty, who didn’t

get to see this place open. The rice even comes out on the plate in a heart shape to commemorate him.”

Alysia and Ryan have been in business together since they were 17, first in construction and now running Zomo. It’s clear that at this point, it’s second nature for them to work together. Or as Ryan says, “We really get to share all of the special moments, joking with Grandma and really the whole build-out of the place. Also, we always have a second hand when loading and unloading groceries from the market or buying a new oven. Sometimes the stresses of the kitchen get to us, but we always come together before bed and reflect on how things should change the next go around.”

Grandma Chi rules the kitchen, including making all of the sauces, marinades, meatloaf and Jell-O cake.

She curated her perfect staff as Alysia and Ryan spent years building the restaurant itself. Alysia says that, “Grandma Chi and her elderly friends make that kitchen the light that shines.

All of the flavor, that is Grandma.”

But Grandma isn’t the only family member Ryan and Alysia pulled into the business of Zomo; Alysia’s mother, Kris, runs the front of the house and is indefatigable. Kris’ husband, Son, provides IT support in addition to being CIO for a major company. Ryan’s parents, Wanda and Todd, were there for every step of the three-and-a-half-year build-out (Wanda hand-sanded all of the brick on the exposed wall) and are now Zomo’s most loyal customers.

Alysia’s big sister Cerise trains the staff for best practices for alcohol and food safety, her brother Son Jr. is a bartender and mixologist, and her little sister Mya is a server and social media specialist.

Alysia and Ryan hope that Zomo “continues to feed and bring joy to people for a very long time. This place is so much more than a restaurant to all of us and we want that feeling to radiate as long as we are around.”

Elizabeth Kosar is a writer and strategist in Denver. Her family food traditions include her grandfather’s Bloody Mary recipe.

JUNE/JULY 2020 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

47

Part of the family Keeping us company Making us laugh THANK YOU, READERS, FOR SHARING PHOTOS OF YOUR FURRY AND FEATHERED FRIENDS

Artist Karen Roehl

Photos: Courtesy of Phillips

Denver-based painter combines abstraction and realism in her works

BY COLLEEN SMITH

K

Karen Roehl, known for her layered paintings depicting horses of different colors and patterns, has made her mark in the Denver art scene for years. She participated in the esteemed Coors Western Art Show & Sale for her sixth consecutive year in January. In late 2019, Roehl had a one-woman show at K Contemporary art gallery in Denver. Now Roehl’s horse paintings are represented in Santa Fe, N.M., by Tierra Mar Gallery on prestigious Canyon Road.

“I have a couple of collectors in the Santa Fe area, but I’ve not had my art represented by a Santa Fe gallery before,” says Roehl. “Canyon Road is an especially good location because it’s famous for its many galleries that one after another line the entire mile-long stretch. It’s the destination within Santa Fe that visitors and collectors make sure to include.”

For Roehl, having a Santa Fe gallery exhibit her horse paintings is a career milestone.

“It’s hard to get into a gallery in Santa Fe,” says Roehl.

“I’ve long wanted representation in that market because it’s one of the top art markets in the country, attracting collectors from all parts. And it’s an introduction of my work to an entirely new audience of art collectors.”

Roehl was recruited by Brenda Renner, owner of Tierra Mar Gallery. Although Tierra Mar is a contemporary gallery without a southwest theme, Renner notes that in Santa Fe, equine art sells well.

“My husband and I have known Karen for a while and have a couple of her abstracts in our personal collection,” Renner says. “I am happy to add Karen and her abstract horses to our premier collection.”

Roehl’s horse paintings combine and contrast abstract

More About Karen Roehl karenroehl.com REPRESENTED BY:

K Contemporary Art / 1412 Wazee St. / Denver, CO 80202 303-590-9800 kcontemporaryart.com Tierra Mar Gallery / 225 Canyon Rd. / Santa Fe, NM 87501 505-372-7087 tierramargallery.com

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COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM JUNE/JULY 2020

and representational influences. Roehl’s herd is both realistic and otherworldly. Renner first saw Roehl’s horse paintings a few years ago at a gallery on Santa Fe Drive, a Denver art district.

“I wanted some equine art at the new gallery that represented something fresh in the mix of abstraction and realism,” Renner says. “I loved how Karen started with her abstract base and then layered in the realism of the horse image.”

Roehl’s layering process includes strokes of serendipity that the artist compares to the surprise of opening presents on Christmas morning.

“I get excited by happenstance: things coming together beautifully without planning—by ‘accident,’ ” says Roehl.

In addition to being a highly regarded painter, Roehl is a popular instructor of painting at the Art Students League of Denver and in a Colorado correctional facility, as well as giving an occasional private lesson.

“I started teaching at the league 11 years ago. Working alongside other professional artists was a huge draw for me,” says Roehl, who also values the discipline required to translate her artistic process for her students.

“By doing so, I remind myself of certain fundamental practices and ‘rules’—elements and principles of art and design: line, shape, color, value, harmony, balance, composition. These tenets have been collected over generations by artists and scientists who have studied how we human beings perceive the visual world,” says Roehl.

Teaching keeps her own painting primed.

“As one journeys down their creative path and develops their own style, we tend to focus on certain things we like to do and gloss over or neglect other things we don’t like to do. This can lead to bad habits and/or a painting falling short of hitting the mark. But when I review these concepts for students, I’m reminded to put them into practice myself which creates a better chance for a successful painting outcome,” says Roehl.

Brenner has taken several of Roehl’s abstract painting classes at the Art Students League of Denver.

“If you are one of those people who looks at abstract art and says ‘my 4-year-old can do that,’ take one of Karen’s classes,” Renner says. “She’s a good teacher and certainly imparts to her students that creating her abstract work is a deliberate and thoughtful process. I particularly enjoy how she builds a composition by adding and subtracting with her mark-making.”

For Roehl, making a mark—a positive mark—on her students is another reward of teaching—especially when instructing incarcerated individuals in a program sponsored by the Art Students League of Denver.

“The thing about the prison classes is that most of the folks who participate are only mildly interested in art. They’re more interested in having something to do,” says Roehl.

“But, I thoroughly believe in the therapeutic and transformative powers of creativity. So, while the prison ladies—

“offenders”—may attend classes just to get out of their units and have something to do, I think they really do walk away having experienced something unique and satisfying,” says Roehl.

“Feedback includes words like ‘meditative,’ ‘relaxing’ and ‘calming.’ Those are all really good terms coming from people who are in a highly stressful life circumstance,” she says. “Art classes can be therapeutic, for sure, and maybe transformational down the road.”

Roehl’s artistic road includes a left turn: She’s been experimenting not only with new subject matter—landscapes, some with horses—but also with a new style.

“I want to go even more abstract,” says Roehl.

The artist lists a legion of famous painters as influences and inspirations. She’s also a fan of street art, graffiti, kids art, outsider art and folk art.

“Outsider art is basically folk art created by self-taught artists passionate about expressing themselves with little if any adherence to the ‘rules.’ Outsider artists are wildly inspiring to me,” Roehl says. “Their fearlessness and passion speak directly to my soul.”

Colleen Smith, a longtime contributor to the magazine, writes about arts, culture and gardening for many publications.

She met Karen Roehl through their book club.

Spill Gen Z Tea Aspen Public Radio podcast hosted by teens offers insights on how youths connect

BY KATIE COAKLEY

PODCAST

THE

the tea on

W “We are always connected but at the same time, we’re more isolated than ever,” intones Jane Marolt, one of the co-hosts of the Aspen Public Radio podcast, “Gen Z Tea.” The podcast with two 19-year-old hosts explores how this generation interacts with, and connects on, social media. • And the name? “Spill the tea” is a Gen Z way of asking someone to share the news or gossip. • “We thought about issues that faced our generation and we came across social media because it is such a large part of our lives,” Marolt said. “We use it every day and we kind of wanted to explore like the different paths that we use social media for.

So that included influencers and YouTube, politics and then just social media in general.”

GEN Z TAKES ON SOCIAL MEDIA Generation Zers (aka Gen Z, iGen or “centennials”) were born between 1996-2010. Raised on the internet and social media, they have never lived in a time without cellphones and the internet. The “Gen Z Tea” episodes, each about 20 minutes, started at a surface level with the first episode exploring the popularity of YouTube and the influencer culture before moving on to the mental health impact of social media, culminating in a discussion of social media and politics. Each episode builds on the other; listeners can hear as the duo gains experience in the medium.

The episodes are fun and engaging with Marolt and cohost Mariel Gorsuch sounding so polished that you’d be forgiven for thinking this was old hat for them. But interspersed there are other little breaks that remind listeners that they’re human and relatable, especially when they include clips from their parents after their foray into a digital detox.

Both co-hosts said that through this project, they learned about how their peers are using social media and that the answers surprised them. It can be productive, as demonstrated by the two teens who developed the notOK App. It has also become necessary for many people, whether it’s for work or for maintaining connections over long distances.

And through Marolt and Gorsuch’s work, listeners will be able glean insight as well.

BREWING A PODCAST The project came together as most great ideas do: “by accident,” said executive producer Tammy Terwelp. When thinking about topics and stories that people aren’t talking about, she realized that there was a ton of talk about millennials but the next generation, Gen Z, wasn’t getting much attention. Then, she met Mariel Gorsuch’s mom and, well, the rest is a podcast. Mariel brought in Marolt; Terwelp tapped Eleanor Bennett, an independent podcast producer and radio journalist (who happens to be a millennial) and the team was created.

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The project came together as most great ideas do: “by accident,” said executive producer Tammy Terwelp. When thinking about topics and stories that people aren’t talking about, she realized that there was a ton of talk about millennials but the next generation, Gen Z, wasn’t getting much attention.

The show definitely has an Aspen-focused tinge—for good reason. Marolt and Gorsuch were born and raised in Aspen. Gorsuch is a ski racer and attends the University of Denver; Marolt, also an avid skier and cross-country athlete, is studying mechanical engineering at the University of Southern California. Both recently finished their sophomore years amid the Coronavirus pandemic. Bennett has Aspen ties, too, as a former Aspen Public Radio intern; she has also covered issues of climate justice and female empowerment for SiriusXM Radio in New York City.

Terwelp created the team and then let them loose.

“I wanted it to not be, here’s, you know, Gen Z through my lens, ’cause I’m not living their life, anything close to it,” Terwelp said.

The result is truly through Gorsuch and Marolt’s perspective. Over the course of three months in the summer of 2019, the duo found the people to interview, recorded them, transcribed and created scripts for each episode. Each episode took about a month to create.

“I don’t think we really realized how long that would take and just all the work that goes into producing a podcast,” Marolt said.

“I like to do some experiments and take chances and I had no idea what to expect,” Terwelp said. “I was so impressed.

The ladies put a ton of time into it, did it smartly and had plans. And Eleanor is an amazing producer. It is hard and the ladies just did such an excellent job and were so professional and took it very seriously.”

Photo: Sierra Jeter

A GLIMPSE INTO A GENERATION The trailer purports that the podcast is “for teens, by teens” but it can also be used a window into this emerging generation that is starting to vote, work and form their own opinions.

For example, the politics episode illustrates not only how Gen Zers are getting their news, but also how they’re finding their voice in the current political climate. It’s important: For many in the Gen Z demographic (including Gorsuch and Marolt), this is the first time they’ll be able to vote in the presidential elections. Despite historical reports for the age group, together Millennials and Gen X outvoted older generations in both the 2016 election and 2018 midterms, including 4.5 million votes in the mid-term elections. This impact will likely be felt even more this fall when this demographic is projected to be 10 percent of eligible voters.

At the moment, there are no definitive plans to record more episodes of the podcast. However, Terwelp said that perhaps they could record a few episodes prior to the national election.

TEA TIME Podcast co-host Jane Marolt, middle, talking

during Aspen Public Radio’s Gen Z Tea Time and Chat at Gorsuch Ski Café in Aspen. She is joined by podcast co-host Mariel Gorsuch, right, and podcast executive producer, Tammy Terwelp, left.

“I really liked hearing the insight from this age group who is going to be in charge when I’m really old,” she said. “And you know, I think there’s so much happening that this age group perspective is just, it’s fascinating. And I think we should listen to it.”

The “Gen Z Tea” podcast is a big steaming cup of insight into a generation just coming into their own. Grab a cup and settle in; hopefully there’s another pot being brewed.

Katie Coakley is a freelance writer based in Denver covering travel, craft spirits and beer, and outdoor adventures. Her work has appeared in newspapers, magazines and online outlets like The National, Business Insider and Outside. She currently has approximately 57 podcasts in her listening queue.

Gen Z Tea

Available for download on iTunes, Spotify and Google Play.

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COLORADO WEEKENDS

Pet-friendly Properties

Hotels welcome four-legged travelers with special menus, beds and “yappy hours”

By Jen Reeder

T

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN sheep is Colorado’s official state animal, but the dog is our unofficial mascot. It’s so fun to hit the trails— and the road—with our pups. So it’s no surprise that an increasing number of hotels are not just welcoming dogs but sometimes even catering to them.

“The tourism industry has become smarter about how it competes for dollars,” says Skyler McKinley, director of public affairs for AAA Colorado. “It knows that pets are part of the family.”

While budget chains like La Quinta and Motel 6 are reliably pet-friendly, some boutique and luxury properties around the state are practically a canine destination in and of themselves.

You can bring your dog or your horse to Sundance Trail Guest Ranch in Red Feather Lakes

Southwest

Durango is a recreation wonderland where people love to get outside with their dogs. The Leland House and Rochester Hotel, which dates back to 1892, offers a prime base for exploration. The family-owned property’s primo location on Second Avenue means it’s easy to walk to nearby pet-friendly shops, the scenic Animas River Trail and the 23.6-acre Durango Dog Park. Dogs are also welcome in the hotel’s Secret Garden, home to a summer concert series that benefits local nonprofits.

Dogs only, $20/night per dog, no weight restrictions.

THE DETAILS Be sure to mention your pet and confirm pet policies when you make reservations.

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Palisade

Located in the “Peach Capital of Colorado,” Spoke and Vine Motel is just a 10-minute walk to Riverbend Park. The owners of the revitalized property are dog lovers, so pups are allowed on the beds provided guests cover it with a blanket, which they provide. Dogs and cats, $25/stay, no weight restrictions.

Aspen Spoke and Vine Motel, Palisade is near a park

Pampered pups can luxuriate two hours away in “mountain chic” at The Hotel Telluride, where they’ll receive organic dog treats on arrival.

It’s a splurge to feel good about: 10 percent of pet fees are donated to Second Chance Humane Society.

Dogs only, $25/night per dog, no weight restrictions.

Both canines and felines are welcome at Aspen Meadows Resort, which spans 45 acres of meadows, woods and trails. Four-legged friends get special treats at check-in. Cats and dogs, $25/night per pet, no weight restrictions

Breckenridge

The Lodge at Breckenridge is a renowned wedding property for dog lovers who want their pup to participate in the ceremony. In warm

UNFORGETTABLE COLORADO GETAWAYS

The ART Hotel offers cultured canines a curated map of walkable art destinations in downtown Denver

In addition to room service for the human guests, Grand Hyatt Vail offers Yappy Hour for pooches

JUNE/JULY 2020 COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM

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COLORADO WEEKENDS

months, guests can enjoy breakfast on the patio with their dogs. Dogs only, $30/night for up to two dogs, no weight restrictions.

Eagle County

Party animals will love the summertime “Yappy Hours” on Thursdays on a stunning outdoor terrace at Grand Hyatt Vail, with live music, appetizers, full bar—and special beef-flavored “beer” for canine guests. They can enjoy the “Pup Pampering Menu” for in-room dining, featuring salmon,

Grand Hyatt Vail

chicken and beef entrees, and “pupcakes” for dessert. Dogs only, $100/ stay, no weight restrictions.

Healthy hounds can chow down on the homemade dog treats at The Arrabelle at Vail Square—plus a special room service menu. After taking a walk with their people—or the accommodating bellmen—with hotel “Fit Barks” to track activity, they’ll recline on plush red velvet dog beds. Dogs only, $50/ night, no weight restrictions.

In nearby Beaver Creek, The Pines Lodge, A RockResort, offers man’s

The Pet-friendly Hotels The Curtis Hotel 1405 Wynkoop St. Denver, CO 80202 720-460-3700 hilton.com

The Leland House and Rochester Hotel 726 E. Second Ave. Durango, CO 81301 970-385-1920 rochesterhotel.com The Hotel Telluride 199 N. Cornet St. Telluride, CO 81435 970-369-1188 thehoteltelluride.com Spoke and Vine Motel 424 W. 8th St. Palisade, CO 81526 970-464-2211 spokeandvinemotel.com Aspen Meadows Resort 845 Meadows Rd. Aspen, CO 81611 970-925-4240 aspenmeadows.com The Lodge at Breckenridge 112 Overlook Dr. Breckenridge, CO 80424 800-736-1607 thelodgeatbrecken ridge.com Grand Hyatt Vail 1300 Westhaven Dr. Vail, CO 81657 970-476-1234 hyatt.com

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Sundance Trail Guest Ranch The Arrabelle at Vail Square 675 Lionshead Pl. Vail, CO 81657 970-754-7750 thevailcollection.com The Pines Lodge, a RockResort 141 Scott Hill Rd. Beaver Creek, CO 81620 970-754-7300 beavercreekresort properties.com The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon 126 Riverfront Ln. Avon, CO 81620 970-790-6000 marriott.com The Crawford Hotel (in Union Station) 1701 Wynkoop St. Denver, CO 80202 720-460-3700 thecrawfordhotel.com

The Maven Hotel at Dairy Block 1850 Wazee St. Denver, CO 80202 833-389-0636 themavenhotel.com the ART, a hotel 1201 Broadway Denver, CO 80203 303-572-8000 thearthotel.com The Embassy Suites by Hilton Boulder 2601 Canyon Blvd.

Boulder, CO 80302 303-443-2600 hilton.com The Elizabeth Hotel 111 Chestnut St. Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-490-2600 theelizabethcolorado.com Sundance Trail Guest Ranch 17931 W. County Rd. 74e Red Feather Lakes CO 80545 970-224-1222 sundancetrail.com

UNFORGETTABLE COLORADO GETAWAYS

Denver

Dogs visiting The Crawford Hotel at Denver Union Station enjoy turndown biscuits, chew toys, a custom “VIP” dog tag and Green Spaces Card, which highlights parks so pets know where to go. Dogs only, $50/night per dog, 60 pounds maximum weight.

The funky Curtis Hotel offers a “Furry Friend” package each spring in honor of the International Day of Happiness that includes handmade pet treats, stainless-steel food and water bowls, and souvenir Curtis Frisbee. All pets, $25/night, pounds maximum weight.

Photo: Courtesy of the Crawford Hotel

best friend the Pines Pup Bucket List with doggie hiking with GoPro rentals, maps of dog-friendly hiking trails, and souvenir bandanas. On checkout, canine travelers can “sign” the guest book by leaving a paw print with pet-safe ink, while pet parents snap a photo with the resort’s Polaroid camera. Dogs only, $50/night per dog, no weight restrictions.

The 40-mile Eagle River Trail runs directly in front of The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon for canine adventures. Later, pooped pooches can nap on Westin Heaven Dog Beds.

Dogs only, $75/night, no weight restrictions) The Crawford Hotel pampers pooches with turndown biscuits, chew toys and a custom dog tag

The front desk team at The Maven Hotel at Dairy Block greets canine guests with cookies and a map to Denver’s dog-friendly destinations.

Dogs and cats, $50/night, 60 pounds maximum weight.

The ART, a hotel, steps away from the Denver Art Museum, offers cultured canines a curated map to walk or jog to downtown Denver’s best public art pieces. Artist Larry Bell’s dog Pinky was the hotel’s first fourlegged guest. Dogs only, no pet fee, 30 pounds maximum weight.

More front range

The Embassy Suites by Hilton Boulder welcomes dogs with a special room service menu, including steak and carrots, chicken and rice, “burger dawgs” and peanut butter treats. All pets, $100/stay, no weight restrictions.

The Elizabeth Hotel in Fort Collins runs a “Pamper Your Pup” package that includes a bag of doggie snacks, water bowl from local pet shop Wagz Pet Market and a souvenir Elizabeth Hotel mat. Dogs and cats, $50/stay, no weight restrictions.

Ranch life

Photo: Derek Johnson

Located in Red Feather Lakes about 100 miles north of Denver, Sundance Trail Guest Ranch welcomes pet dogs—and horses!—to vacation on a dude ranch. Dogs can explore 22 miles of forested hiking trails and then listen to stories around the campfire each evening. Accommodates most pets, no pet fee, no weight restrictions.

Pups can be part of the wedding ceremony at The Lodge at Breckenridge

Freelance journalist Jen Reeder loves exploring Colorado with her husband and their rescue dogs, Rio and Peach. She is immediate past president of the Dog Writers Association of America. Visit her online at jenreeder.com.

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GETAWAYS

Suite Dreams

Heritage Hotels & Resorts invites guests to discover the history and culture of New Mexico

By Kim D. McHugh

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WATCHING A CORN DANCE AT THE Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo near Santa Fe gives those visiting New Mexico a better understanding of why Colorado’s neighbor to the south has “Land of Enchantment” on its license plates. In a gathering of more than 200 colorfully adorned, drumming and chanting tribal members, the

THE DETAILS Heritage Hotels & Resorts 201 Third St. NW, Suite 1140 Albuquerque, NM 87102 877-901-7666 hhandr.com heritageinspirations.com/ santa-fe-tours

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corn dance is performed as a prayer for rain and a bountiful crop.

It is one of many annual celebrations that occur at New Mexico’s 19 pueblos and an event that guests staying at a Heritage Hotels & Resorts property should add to their itinerary. Founded in 2005 by CEO James M. Long, and headquartered in Albuquerque, the hotel group counts 11 properties among its portfolio. A 12th generation New Mexican, Long has an afinity for preserving and advancing the unique cultural heritage of the state.

“Mr. Long feels that when people come to New Mexico as guests that they have an authentic experience,” says Molly Ryckman, vice president of sales and marketing for the company. “He believes it is important to highlight the history and culture

Works by Native American contemporary artists decorate rooms at Nativo Lodge in Albuquerque

of a particular destination and also showcase the truly distinctive personality of a property.”

True to what the company’s website states, the “hotels and resorts celebrate the rich, multi-cultural heritage of the Southwestern United States,” something that is evident to guests from the moment they arrive.

Whether staying at 203-room Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces near the southern border of the state, one of three hotels in Albuquerque, one of five properties in Santa Fe or a pair of choices in Taos, guests can see Long’s passion for the Southwest at every turn. The CEO, who has a degree in architecture from the

INSIDERS’ VACATION GUIDE

University of New Mexico, brings a blend of Native American, Mexican, Spanish and American Western influences into the exteriors, lobbies and guest rooms.

“About a half hour north of Santa Fe is Chimayo and we wanted to tell the story of what makes that village so special,” Ryckman explained. “So we employed weavers from Chimayo to do weavings in the lobby and in the guest rooms. That community is also known for its car culture, so we purchased a low rider that helps tell the story of that culture as well.”

Riding in a restored’64 Chevy Impala with Orlando Martinez, a native of nearby Española, guests not only learn about the pop-culture vehicles and the artisans behind the restorations, but also about Santa Fe’s history, including its status as the oldest capital city in North America.

Opened in 1924, Hotel St. Francis is one of the city’s oldest hotels and the 80-room property gives a nod to the Franciscan missionary influence long before New Mexico earned statehood in 1912. It wows guests with its Gruet Winery tasting room and Market Steer Steakhouse.

The iconic Inn and Spa at Loretto, though built in 1975, feels as if it could date to Santa Fe’s settlement in 1610. The hotel’s 136 rooms, the Spa at Loretto, Luminaria Restaurant, outdoor sculpture garden and outdoor heated pool make for a relaxing stay. With 219 guest rooms, the Nidah Spa, the Cava Santa Fe Lounge, a rooftop pool and hot tub, the La Capilla de Oro wedding chapel and the Agave Restaurant, the Eldorado Hotel & Spa is another exceptional option for those vacationing in “The City Different.”

Featuring 125 rooms, the Lodge at Santa Fe is a bit further from the city’s famed plaza, but a shuttle gets guests there quickly. Guests can lounge poolside and when night falls, go to the Benitez Cabaret, which hosts flamenco shows and performing arts events.

Sawmill Market Established in 1909 as the Paxton Lumber Company, the original building in Albuquerque’s historic Sawmill District was renovated and is now home to the Sawmill Market. Created in the spirit of the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco, New York City’s Chelsea Market, Denver Central Market in RiNo and the Oxbow Public Market in Napa Valley, the 33,000 square-foot food hall is the first of its kind in New Mexico.

James M. Long, founder and CEO of Heritage Hotels & Resorts, partnered with local restaurateurs Lauren and Jason Greene, owners of the Grove Café & Market, and the idea became a reality in March 2020.

“It was important to save this building and preserve the history of Paxton Lumber Company,” said spokeswoman Molly Ryckman. “We talked about what we could do that was similar to the amazing food halls throughout the United States and decided this was what New Mexico needed.”

Hotel Chaco in Albuquerque pays homage to Chaco Canyon, which is within Chaco Culture National Historic Park. Throughout the 118room property, guests see an array of works from 30 acclaimed local and regional Native American artists.

Panoramic views from the hotel’s Level 5 rooftop restaurant are as satisfying as the cuisine. In addition to its 188 rooms, Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town impresses guests with

inventive cocktails served at the QBar Lounge, delicious meals from Garduños and the artistry displayed at the Flamenco Tablao theater.

Albuquerque’s Nativo Lodge features 144 rooms, including artist guest rooms showcasing the works of 47 Native American contemporary artists. The value-oriented property has an indoor/outdoor pool open year-round.

El Monte Sagrado in Taos has 84 rooms and invites guests to unwind in its indoor saltwater pool and luxuriate in the Living Spa. Of its ten treatment rooms, two suites are designed for couples. Its De la Tierra Restaurant and Private Wine Room offer intimate dining experiences.

Inspired by the notable women of Taos (think Mable Dodge Lujan and Georgia O’Keeffe), the eight rooms at Palacio de Marquesa are beautifully appointed. Each has a mini-fridge and fireplace, select rooms have jetted tubs and spa showers, and guests can enjoy a customized gourmet breakfast each morning.

If you enjoy traveling with your four-legged family member, you’ll appreciate that only one property— Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town— isn’t pet friendly.

As comfortable as the rooms and common areas are in the hotels, it is definitely worth venturing off property. “We started Heritage Inspirations with Angelisa (Murray) and she does amazing tours,” Ryckman says. “She takes guests to Georgia O’Keeffe’s home in Abiquiú, she does glamping tours in Taos and Chaco Canyon, culinary, museum and gallery tours in Santa Fe, and if you haven’t had the opportunity to see a Native American dance at a pueblo, it is really beautiful.”

A stay at any one of the resort group’s hotels most assuredly immerses you in the culture, cuisine and artistry of New Mexico.

Kim D. McHugh is a regular contributor to Colorado Expression.

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ENTERPRISE

The Language of Flowers Floral and event designer not only talks to the blossoms, communication with clients is a key to her success

By Colleen Smith

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ANGELA ROHR’S ENGLEWOODbased small business, Bella Lu Floral and Event Design, is approaching its tenth anniversary. Her celebration will no doubt include flowers.

“I love flowers, and people know I love flowers,” says Rohr. “For the people who come to me, flowers are important. Flowers bring people joy, and that’s a big part of what’s reflected in what I get to do.”

The florist has an “everything’s coming up roses” disposition, yet her work comes with inherent stressors.

Part of the pressure of her job stems from customers’ high expectations for red-letter days and also the fact that fresh flowers are always changing.

Even after a decade, Rohr upholds her hands-on involvement in every step of her design process. Whenever possible, she selects her flowers primarily from Colorado growers.

“I personally want to buy first from Colorado farms. I try very hard to use Colorado flowers, and I walk the farms and handpick flowers. Not a lot of florists do that, because it takes extra time. When flowers are

THE DETAILS Bella Lu Floral Bella Lu Floral delivers in Denver and along the Front Range, as well as in Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, Steamboat Springs and beyond. Owner Angela Rohr says she typically serves clients with a $5,000 to $15,000 floral budget, but also creates bouquets and boutonnieres for couples eloping.

303-909-1476; bellalufloral.com

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Angela Rohr creates wedding bouquets that are “like a romantic garden that sits in front of you”

locally grown, I can pick them up at the last minute so they have a longer shelf life. Our Colorado farmers grow incredible flowers,” she says.

“In almost every case, I use flowers from the U.S. and try hard not to order outside of the country.”

Rohr, especially fond of farm snapdragons, also lists as favorites showy Colorado-grown heirloom dahlias, lisianthus, ranunculus, anemones and foxgloves. But beyond her selection of stems, Rohr’s style renders her arrangements extraordinary.

“My pieces look organic and lush.

I really love when flowers get to do what they do best. If there’s one with a crooked, bent head, I put her in front so when somebody looks, she really gets to stand out, that one flower, so we can admire the way Mother Nature made her,” Rohr says.

She cultivates a spiritual relationship with flowers. The self-taught flower-whisperer admits she does engage in one-sided conversations with the blossoms.

“I talk to the flowers. Flowers have souls. Flowers have personalities,” Rohr says. “I talk to them all the

INSIGHTS INTO COLORADO’S BUSINESS COMMUNITY

time. My family laughs at me. When I’m making bouquets, I ask the flowers if they’re where they should be, next to who they want to be next to.

It comes down to my love for letting flowers do what they do best. I often say, ‘She’s my new favorite but don’t tell the other ones I said so.’ ” Rohr’s process incorporates both intuition and practicality. Every arrangement, every wreath, every garland is singular and yet true to her style.

“My pieces look like a romantic garden that sits in front of you,” Rohr says, “I do pieces that are big and wild, but people want to visit at a table and see one another across a table, so I’m strategic in how designs come together to maximize the warmth of conversation. My pieces make people feel comfortable and welcome at the table.”

In a word, Rohr’s designs are romantic.She says, “To be quite honest, I’m a big romantic. I love love.”

Consequently, while Rohr designs a variety of events, she specializes in weddings.

“I do other events and corporate events, but weddings and the relationships I build through planning them give me the most joy,” she says.

“A wedding is the beginning of somebody’s story together. Some people say, ‘Oh, it’s just one day,’ but what you learn over time is that the wedding is the first day of marriage, and it’s a day couples can look back on when having a hard time in marriage.”

For Rohr, designing for a wedding involves emotion. “I cry at almost every wedding,” she says. “I become a sap because to be united, when a person finds the person to have their forever with, I’m so excited for the people.”

She’s not the only one excited by wedding flowers.

“When I pull in for the wedding day, mothers scream with excitement, and grandmas and aunts and best friends come out to peek inside the van to see what I’ve brought.

Flowers make the day complete,” Rohr says.

“At the end of the night when brides and grooms tell me ‘I had no idea you could make this day complete in the way you did’—those are my moments, knowing when they look back, my flowers are part of what they will remember.”

Rohr designs not only wedding flowers, but also the overall decor for the milestone event.

“I really love to get to know clients

and build a wedding around who they are,” she says. “I understand what my brides and grooms want. I ask them what they want their day to look and feel like. Fun? Elegant?

Romantic? What I do with event design is make all of those words become what they see and feel when they enter. Not just floral, but dressing the tables, linen selections, flatware, glassware, place settings, candlelight. I find a style to really fit their personalities—something that feels very unique to them and their personality and the kind of day they want for their families,” she says.

“I stand with every bride to teach her how to hold bouquet. I pin on every boutonniere and tie on every corsage,” she says. “I have a lot of love for what the flowers get to be and the relationships I get to have.”

Colleen Smith, a longtime gardener and garden writer, considers flowers one of life’s most magnificent joys.

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BODY & SOUL

Pet Protection

A love of her dog and insurance led entrepreneur to start company offering safeguards for four-legged friends

By Elizabeth Kosar

Photo: Joel Jares

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SOME PEOPLE LOVE THEIR PETS and some people, like Christie Horvath, love their pets so much that they start a company because of them.

“We’re a company built by people genuinely obsessed with their pets,” she says. “We’re committed to this for the right reasons.”

Horvath was a student at Harvard Business School when her beloved rescue dog Denver started experiencing seizures. Each vet visit cost her hundreds of dollars and the only insurance product available was for truly catastrophic cases—it wouldn’t apply to Denver.

Horvath wasn’t just any pet owner though—she happened to be a former BlackRock vice president who specialized in insurance, one who also was in the midst of an MBA program.

Horvath’s story actually began in Colorado, right outside of Denver.

Raised in the suburbs, she attended The Ricks Center for Gifted Children at the University of Denver before moving south to attend Fountain Valley School of Colorado. Horvath’s decision to attend Fountain Valley was guided both by her fierce intelligence and a sad situation at home; her father had become addicted to drugs and the family finances were in shambles.

Wagmo pet insurance was founded by Christie Horvath, right, shown with co-founder Ali Foxworth and her pooch Aspen

It was this financial insecurity that drove Horvath towards business at Northwestern University, “When I went to NU, I was pretty intent on doing something in finance or business … I knew I had to pick a functional major. I chose economics because it was as close to business as I could get.”

Wagmo Pet Insurance

Wellness and insurance plans start at $18 per month. See full details at wagmo.io

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Photo: Unsplash

THE DETAILS

Following graduation, she joined BlackRock as an analyst. “It was a great place to grow up and they taught me great financial fundamentals, including what an insurance company is.”

Though she enjoyed the education BlackRock gave her, Horvath notes that, “Pretty early on, I realized that I wasn’t interested in the finance aspect, I was interested in the insurance aspect. I actually realized that I LOVE insurance. I knew that was the aspect of the job that I loved the most. I became an insurance expert within our group. We would look at asset allocations for these companies and their peer groups. I spent most of my time thinking about insurance, the business model, the competitive landscape … I realized that since the next step at BlackRock was more

LIVING A LIFE OF BALANCE

about asset management than insurance, I needed to do something else.”

After evaluating her options, Horvath decided to pursue her MBA at Harvard Business School. Coming off her experience in the New York City finance world, she found herself “super interested in the entrepreneurship case studies at HBS, as well as product positioning.” She was uninterested in even getting dressed to go to a recruiting event for one of the big consulting firms. Instead, she went to a student panel about startup life as a joiner/founder and found her people.

“Someone said that this was the time in life when you can take a risk and that really resonated with me.”

She had already been kicking around the idea of starting an insurance company that would bundle individual items (such as laptops, cell phones, and bikes) when Denver’s illness made her consider the opportunity of pet insurance. Horvath obsessed over the pain points and eventually created Wagmo. As Horvath began building it, her first investment came from an unexpected source; her father. Now drug-free,

he gave his daughter his life savings to start her dream company before passing away just a few months later.

Horvath notes that human healthcare is trending towards prioritizing wellness and it makes sense that pet care should too. The actuarial science behind Wagmo is sound: cost is based on assumed use of product and wellness costs are more predictable than emergency ones. As a result, Wagmo

provides wellness packages for everyday pet expenses—annual exams, vaccines and boosters, flea and tick meds, teeth cleaning and grooming.

There are three annual membership plans: Basic, Legit and Extra, starting at $18 a month, with no deductibles.

The company’s online claims tool makes reimbursement user-friendly; take a photo of your receipt any time, 24/7 and Wagmo will reimburse you the very next day.

Wagmo recently secured $3 million in seed funding, co-led by Harlem Capital and Vestigo Ventures, with participation from Female Founders Fund, Clocktower Technology Ventures and The Fund.

Several existing and angel investors, representing Flatiron Health, Clover Health and more, also participated in the round. Horvath notes, “working with investors who are committed to diversity and inclusion is important.

We want investors who understand that there is a world beyond New York City and San Francisco.”

So what’s next for Horvath and Wagmo? They’ll be using the seed money to further scale its operations, build out the team, and expand its partnership distribution model with pilot pet services and employee perk programs. “We’re at a really cool point in the company’s life where we know customers love our products … now we’re focusing on scaling and making additional enhancements to the product and user experience. We’re pretty open to new ideas and constantly surveying customers about how can we help them with pet parenting.”

And while sweet Denver crossed the rainbow bridge, Christie has a new dog to inspire her … Aspen. Looks like you can take the girl out of Colorado, but she will always keep it close to her heart.

Elizabeth Kosar is a Denver-based writer and strategist. She dotes on her parents’ dog, Berkeley, a yellow Labrador who believes that all bicycles are a menace to society.

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INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Imaginative Interiors Andrea Schumacher and her team create home environments brimming with beauty and charm

Andrea Schumacher

THE DETAILS Andrea Schumacher Interiors, Inc. 303-458-6462 andreaschumacherinteriors.com

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Photo: Be Boulder Photography

By Colleen Smith . Photography by Emily Minton Redfield

“WHETHER YOU’RE AWARE OR NOT, you’re affected by surroundings. Surroundings affect emotions. If we’re in a dark and dingy room, we feel dark and dingy,” says Andrea Monath Schumacher of Andrea Schumacher Interiors, Inc. “Your mental state is everything because mental affects physical,” she says. “You only live once so you

might as well make it beautiful.” The design director of Andrea Schumacher Interiors, Troy Rivington, agrees: “It doesn’t matter the size of the home you live in, it’s about how you feel when you’re in it.”

Schumacher’s impressive design pedigree includes training at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

She’s taking classes to earn a master’s in architecture degree from the University of Colorado. Schumacher also works in Santa Barbara County and has done set design for the television show “Days of Our Lives” and also for Columbia Pictures.

Schumacher carefully considered her career.

“Design is highly important, and when I was picking my career in interior design, I wanted to be clear that I’m not just surface,” she says. “When I thought about it, I knew my design would impact lives — sometimes clients don’t know how deeply.”

Yet one particular project’s clients quickly felt the impact of ASI’s design and subsequently commissioned the firm to transform their Littleton home entirely. Originally, the couple hired ASI to remodel their kitchen with a budget of $150,000.

Delighted with the kitchen design, the homeowners turned over the rest of the large house to the firm, along with a budget of more than $1 million.

“The project blew up because the whole house needed help,” Schumacher said. “They liked our style and gave us carte blanche. The family was moving from New Jersey, so they weren’t living in the house at the time, and that helped because we took it down to the studs.”

IDEAS FOR ELEVATED LIVING

Custom living room furniture is paired with metal-accented tables

A white bone media cabinet and oversized antique brass mirror creates a memorable living room entrance

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INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Cabinets in dove gray complement a navy blue island and contemporary kitchen stools

The ASI team took on a total transformation of the home that “before” photos show was drab and outdated, nondescript. Now, thanks to ASI, it’s the complete opposite: airy, fashion-

able and filled with beauty and charm.

“It was ugly, a very large stucco house, very predictable with no personality,” Schumacher says. “The layout was decent, so we didn’t have

A green Murano glass Sputnik chandelier and blush chairs add elegance in this dining room

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to move walls, it was all more decorative. But all the walls had a horrible dry wall texture that we smoothed out so it catches light. We picked special areas for wallpaper. We redid all the fireplaces, every bathroom.

We added new cabinetry and lighting. We touched every surface in the home, even the door hardware.”

Rivington says, “It was a very typical 80’s home and didn’t suit them as a family whatsoever. But there are always ways to make something work is what we tell clients. Our job is to create a home that you don’t want to leave, a place that is a reflection of clients and their personalities and makes them truly feel at home.”

The designers selected a color palette emphasizing blues and yellows with pops of warm reds and shiny brass pieces. Fabrics for upholstery and window treatments playfully mix small and large patterns including polka dots and tropical prints.

IDEAS FOR ELEVATED LIVING

Opulent plumage on the wallpaper adds a luxurious note in a powder room

Mix treasured pieces from personal collections with a modern sconce and fresh white paint for a curated look

A serene reading nook adds a welcoming note in this cozy family room

In the light-filled master bedroom, a combination of turquoise and blues is restful

“The architecture had nothing interesting going on — just big boring walls and big boring windows — so we used a lot of pattern play to make the house more exciting,”

says Schumacher, who noted that although the home’s exterior remains nondescript, the interior sings.

In part, it’s the avian theme: “We used a lot of birds, and the whole

effect is airy and natural. The clients had traveled to Bali, and we used their carved wood piece in the entry and went with an Asian theme,” says Schumacher. “We kept things

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INTERIOR DESIGNERS

as light as possible.” In the dining room, a 1970s Murano glass Sputnik pendant lamp adds an unexpected element of design.

“It was a piece I fell in love with that I found on First Dibs, which has thousands of antique galleries around the world,” Schumacher says. “I like found objects whether from a flea market or travels or a vintage shop or online.”

Overall, Schumacher defines her designs as playful, youthful and fresh.

“It has to have a little sense of humor — maybe a funny table with duck feet. I don’t take it too seriously,” she says. “Nobody calls me to do a stuffy living room with golds and damask. If you want that, I’m not your person.”

A mixture of patterns and fabrics creates an opulent environment in a master bedroom

Rivington says the spectacular home interior owes to an ideal match between designers and clients. “This is a perfect example of what happens with open-minded and adventurous clients: Our creativity can flow even more for a really great result,” he says. “It takes a lot of trust, but so many times the things clients might question wind up being their favorite elements.”

As people recover from this spring’s stay-at-home order, many will re-evaluate the comfort of their own home and how their spaces served them during lockdown.

Forced to stay at home, many people want to improve their home’s form and function.

“People now working from home are realizing they want a room to function in a certain way. That will be important as we move forward after the pandemic lockdown,” Rivington says. “It’s also about relaxing at home, however you choose: if you watch TV or read a book, if you like silence or excitement. As my mother-in-law always says, ‘Everybody is different,’ and that’s why we can’t approach design the same way.”

In this entryway, a hand-carved sculpture makes a dramatic statement

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Colleen Smith is a regular contributor to Colorado Expression.

ART & DESIGN

Design Destination

The Denver Design District is a key resource for furnishings and accessories to consumers and the trade

By Marge D. Hansen

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THE FLAMBOYANTLY YELLOW, 85-foot, Herbert Bayer “Articulated Wall” sculpture is one of Denver’s iconic landmarks. It boldly announces the location of the Denver Design District, an impressive resource where consumers and designers can collaborate to view and select furnishings and accessories to create interior living and office spaces.

The design center covers 250,000 square feet, offering American-made and international products and

THE DETAILS Denver Design District Some ways that consumers can get the most from a visit to the DDD is to organize their thoughts:

materials from 1,400 manufacturers artfully arranged in 34 showrooms to provide anything-you’re-looking-for design project options.

Open access

The DDD’s trade-friendly retail messaging is an invitation to consumers, interior designers, architects and building professionals to explore its curated showrooms. With 300 professionals on hand, consumers can easily find design experts to work with and are also able to buy direct in some cases.

“Building awareness of our products, promoting good design and warmer spaces; that is the goal.

We represent a product that is an important part of our lives,” says Antonio Romero, sales manager at

Porcelanosa Denver. “We should be an important destination in our city, a place to be inspired and learn the latest trends or understand different materials and styles.”

Margarita Bravo, founder and creative chief officer of her eponymous company, agrees that the Denver Design District provides exceptional value to the region. “As a boutique interior design studio, we feel so lucky to have the DDD as a partner and a resource. All of the showrooms offer unique and high-quality products and helpful and knowledgeable staff to support us every step of the way.”

In addition to the size and the number of manufacturers represented, what surprises people most about the DDD is that it is open to the public Monday through Friday from

Define the vision and scope (large or small) of the project.

• Describe lifestyle and intended use of a space or specific pieces for a space.

• Bring magazine photos that com municate preferred styles and attractive ideas.

• Clarify budget and priorities.

• Ask about using a designer and how the designer charges for his/her services.

• Talk with designers and review their portfolios to determine comfort level and a good fit.

• Get references for designers under consideration.

Denver Design Center and The Collection at Broadway Park 595 S. Broadway Denver, CO 80209 303-733-2455 denverdesign.com

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Photo: Getty Images

•

High-quaility building and decorative materials are offered to the trade and consumers

AT HOME IN THE WEST

Designers and consumers can select materials from 1,400 manufacturers available in 34 showrooms at the Denver Design Center

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9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A “designer on duty” is available until 4 p.m. each day to facilitate immediate purchases, provide complimentary consultations and discuss the Designer Portfolio Program, which details the styles and areas of expertise of specific designers to help determine compatibility and make successful referrals.

Consumers and designers can also shop online by registering at denverdesign.com for 24/7 access to pricing, products tearsheets, quotes and more. The website is also a good way to take a virtual shopping trip and become familiar with the layout of the District, the names of the showrooms and view product lines available from the myriad manufacturers prior to arriving at the DDD. Browsing through photos of everything from artwork to lighting to indoor and outdoor furnishings, tile, cabinetry, antiques and the latest materials for wall treatments, flooring, window coverings and more is an excellent and comfortable way to play with new ideas, preview various pieces and styles not previously considered and help identify likes and dislikes.

Photo: Getty Images

ART & DESIGN

Homeowners can get designer referrals to help select fabric and furnishings at the design center

Tastes, trends, expectations

Colorado is an eclectic market when it comes to interior design, displaying decorating preferences that cross lines by creative blending rather than focusing on one distinct style.

Comfort is key. While interior

Denver Design Center is a resource for architects and building professionals

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design aesthetics arrive and then fade—some quicker than others— natural, sustainable and artisan-inspired accents are well-liked locally.

Purchasing furniture and designing living spaces is really all about personal taste.

While some showrooms are wholesale only, others sell direct. Retail customers are free to browse the district. With top brands represented, visitors will find the DDD convenient, easily accessible and energized by an urban vibe with an emphasis on friendly and knowledgeable customer service.

As Susan Konecny, the founder of Acacia Designs says, “Acacia Designs enjoys the one-stop shopping experience offered at the Denver Design District. With 34 showrooms featuring vast collections of furnishings, fabrics and more, this allows us to bring reputable, stand-behind product and service to our clients.”

Marge D. Hansen is a Broomfield-based writer/editor who has built ten of the eleven homes she and her family have lived in.

The guidance of interior designers and architects has been a mainstay in her life.

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PUBLIC SPACES

A Jewel on the Western Slope Center for visual and performing arts echoes the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape

By Katie Coakley . Photography by Nathan Bilow

I

IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO CRESTED Butte in a few years, the first glimpse of the Crested Butte Center for the Arts might throw you for a loop. The original Center for the Arts, created from a maintenance garage, opened in December 1987. Thirty years later, it was time for a new look, sound and feel. Now, visitors stop and wonder if they’re in Aspen or Telluride; there’s certainly nothing like it for miles.

“People are pinching themselves,” said Scott Clarkson, marketing director for the Center for the Arts. “It’s a quantum leap ahead of what used to be available here.”

On the outside, the 28,000-squarefoot building’s blue-stained siding echoes a Colorado bluebird sky; a copper finish alludes to a history of mining nearby. Inside, a striking atrium-style lobby with a floor-toceiling glass wall frames views of Paradise Divide and Gothic Mountain.

The Kinder-Padon visual arts gallery is filled with natural light and opens onto an outdoor terrace while the theater provides flexible seating configurations and a main stage that fits a full symphony orchestra. Designed

for the community, the Center is home to film screenings, theater, local and regional art exhibitions, classes, festivals and plenty of music.

A theater planned for performance

Nothing can ruin the experience in a performance space more quickly than the sound (it only takes one show in a poorly designed space to prove it). The Center has nothing to

fear. Designed by an acoustician, every element was considered to make the Steddy Theater perfect for both sound and silence.

Made of textured bricks, walls of the 6,350-square-foot theater are slightly tilted at three degrees; along with stepped woodwork balconies and curved ceiling panels, these elements capture and clearly reflect sound back to the listener. Fully-insulated 16-inch walls ensure that external

The Details Center for the Arts Crested Butte 606 Sixth St. Crested Butte, CO 81224 970-349-7487 info@crestedbuttearts.org crestedbuttearts.org

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Leftover Salmon, originally formed in Crested Butte, performs in Steddy Theater

WHERE COLORADOANS WORK & PLAY

The Donor Wall on the center’s second floor featues a sculpture in relief by local artist Nicholas Reti

sounds and vibrations from the rest of the building don’t creep into the theater. Solid 10-inch concrete walls separate the outdoors — a high school marching band could practice outside and you wouldn’t hear it.

The architecture only tells half of the story. The surround sound system, incorporating speakers throughout the house, projects rich, full sound from every nook. With two mixing stations (one on each level of the theater), every seat sounds as if you’re sitting on the stage with the performers. It’s the kind of complexity you might expect in a concert hall in New York City, but it’s not often found in a theater that offers less than 400 tickets to its shows.

The space also has the ability to morph depending on the type of performance and audience needs.

Though the balcony seating is fixed, the floor seating can go from an arena-style arc configuration with a sunken orchestra pit to an open, flat space perfect for dancing. Matisyahu and Leftover Salmon christened the space with performances this past winter.

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PUBLIC SPACES

Art for the eyes

The Center is home to many aspects of arts, including visual arts. The Kinder-Padon Gallery is immediately accessible from the main entrance and is the showpiece of the building, Clarkson said. The gallery opened with work from artist Richard Buchanan, who graduated from Western Colorado University in Gunnison.

Five shows followed and the summer will kick off in July with an exhibition from photographer Curtis Speer.

Aspiring artists are also welcome at the Center. Art workshops include everything from paper marbling and needle felting to henna designs, printmaking and journaling. The Creativity + Cocktail series includes fun boozy offerings like Painting + Prosecco, Abstracts + Absinthe and more. Wordsmiths can gather for the Gunnison Valley Literary Festival, taking place Aug. 28-30, to enjoy live readings and take workshops that explore the writing craft.

Sounds of summer

The Center for the Arts in Crested Butte will celebrate summer with a wide range of programming starting in July. The Alpenglow series takes place every Monday at 5:30 p.m. through August at the outdoor stage: Bring your blankets and some money for the food trucks and get ready to

The Crested Butte School of Dance rehearses in Jones Performance Hall

dance. Blues man Anders Osborne is scheduled to perform with singersongwriter Jackie Green on Aug. 9.

And that’s just the start of the

A mother and daughter enjoy the Majestic Mountain Wildlife photography exhibit in the Kinder Padon Gallery

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scheduling—in addition to music and visual arts, the Crested Butte Wine & Food Festival, July 25-28, will host the Reserve Tasting at the Center (please check the website regularly, as dates are subject to change).

Keep in mind, the spectacular building that you see now is only the beginning. Fundraising will continue: Phase II includes the renovation of the Center’s current building into an Arts Education Center. A larger and modernized outdoor stage will complete the project.

Katie Coakley is a freelance writer based in Denver covering travel, craft spirits and beer and outdoor adventures. Her work has appeared in newspapers, magazines and online outlets like The National, Business Insider and Outside. Her current favorite daydream is of hippie dancing at the new Center in Crested Butte.

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