Colorado Springs, CO April 2023

Image above: Eiko Otake at Tokyo Museum and Zoo Subway Station.

Photo by Tastuhiko Nakagawa

Brittany Experience Coordinator Rachel Senior Designer

Tricia Turk Principal | Designer

Explore

If you like to explore, you’re in the right place. Colorado Springs, that is.

The Pikes Peak region boasts more opportunity for exploration than most of us will accomplish in a lifetime. But let’s at least put a dent in that formidable list. Who is in?

Whether you’re an outdoors type, a foodie, a music lover or a museum aficionado, Colorado Springs and its surrounding communities offer it all! Below is a starter list. How many have you checked off already?

• Garden of the Gods – You’ve done it, right? Please say you’ve been here.

• Pikes Peak – Have you run it, driven it or ridden a cog railway up it?

• United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum – Check it out!

• The Manitou Incline – If you like to exercise, this is the thing for you.

• Old Colorado City – Colorado’s first territorial capitol. Walk around, eat and shop.

• Downtown Colorado Springs – So much great food and art and amazing local shops.

• Manitou Penny Arcade – Old school fun. Dump your change jar into your pocket and head over.

• Rock Ledge Ranch – A living history museum, right in our backyard.

• Space Discovery Center – Membership here gets you into science/tech centers around the world.

• Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum – Learn about history!

This list could go on for days… Cave of the Winds. Florissant Fossil Beds. Manitou Cliff Dwellings. National Museum of WWII Aviation. Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. Glen Eryie Castle. Paint Mines Interpretive Park. So many ways to explore.

Make yourself a local bucket list, then get out there. Read on for some other great ways to explore our region… Learn about a local magic theater, a working test kitchen and a traveling custom hat bar. Like art? Check out a mural painter and a local shop that's building community through art. Ever heard of vinegar drinks called "shrubs?" Now, you have. Read about a local organization that helps kids and another that helps wolves and other wildlife. And finally... we have a couple of delicious recipes to try.

Thanks for reading! We appreciate you.

ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK, EDITOR

@COLORADOSPRINGSLIFESTYLEMAG

April 2023

PUBLISHER

Scott Barr | scott.barr@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Stephanie Barr | stephanie.barr@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Ashley Hamershock | ashley.hamershock@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ashley Hamershock, Rochelle Reeder, Sydney Schardt, Jose Antonio Arellano, Gather Food Studio

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Stephen Martin / Explore with Media, Dave Gochis, Eric Casanova, Michael Smith, Danny Blair, Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center Staff, Cosmos Magic Theater, CASA, The Urban Farmhouse Co, Gather Food Studio

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Hunter Richie

LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster

The Naturopathic Medical team at Strata, Colorado’s Premier Wellness Distination, helps you find optimal wellness by addressing the root cause of illness, both acute symptoms and chronic diseases. Sessions are led by registered naturopathic doctors, Dr. Powell and Dr. Habashy.

•Thyroid Disorders

•Immune Conditions

•Gastrointestinal Disorders

•Anxiety and Depression

•Reversing/Preventing Cognitive Decline

12

APRIL

local experiences

You only live once; make the most of it! Choose your next adventure and broaden your horizons, increase your heart rate, and try something new that will fill your bucket.

FRONT RANGE CLIMBING COMPANY: Ready to climb? Front Range Climbing Company provides the most experienced guides for your climbing and canyoneering adventures across Colorado and Moab, Utah! 1676 S. 21st St, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904

GREAT OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Whether cruising scenic highways or tackling backcountry trails, this off-road, on-road rental company will help you experience adventures of a lifetime. 19251 E. US 24, Woodland Park, Colorado 80863

ROYAL GORGE ZIPLINE TOURS: Fast, smooth ziplines. These tours send you into the landscape where the settlers long ago forged their way through Colorado's untamed wild west. Open all year long.  45045 West US Hwy 50, Canon City, Colorado 81212

GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK: The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes and tundra. Experience "International Dark Sky" starry skies! 11999 State Highway 150, Mosca, Colorado 81146

MANITOU INCLINE: Want to try one of the toughest workouts around? Hit the Manitou Incline. It gains over 2,000 feet of elevation in less than one mile.  7 Hydro St, Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829

Want to recommend a local experience?

Photography: Daniel Forster Photography

Scan

BIG Art

TAYLOR HERZOG: PAINTING MURALS ACROSS AMERICA

ARTICLE BY ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC CASANOVA, MICHAEL SMITH & DANNY BLAIR

Taylor Herzog traveled to Colorado in 2014 to visit a friend.

During that visit, she fell in love. Not with a person – with Colorado. The art. The people. The energy. She traveled back to her native Wisconsin, painted and sold 50 works of art and used the funds to move to Colorado three months later.

THE SPARK TO CREATE

Herzog had worked in the service industry for 15 years.

“I wanted to go to art school, but the amount of money that art school costs scared me,” she said. “I kept putting it off. I was just like, ‘Well, I’ll just continue in the service industry until I find something that sparks my interest.’”

That something was the art scene in Colorado, specifically a mural festival in Denver’s River North Art District.

“I was just so blown away at the scale of everything,” Herzog said. “I just really wanted to be able to do that. It sparked something.”

GO BIG OR GO HOME

Since then, Herzog has made murals her primary medium.

In 2019, a friend asked her to paint a mural for a snowboarding company. She finished that and painted four more that year. She hasn’t stopped since, zigzagging the country to paint murals both indoors and outdoors.

“I hop around from city to city, wherever the art takes me,” she said.

Big Sky. Miami. Denver. And in September, she spent 40 days creating a massive mural tucked inside the courtyard of the hip, new VIM apartment complex at 322 E. Vermijo in Colorado Springs. Clients typically suggest certain colors and a general idea of what they want, then ask for Herzog’s inspiration.

“I create a mock up,” she said. “It’s followed by, ‘Is this ok? Do we need to change anything up?’”

UNLIKE ANY OTHER CANVAS

Tackling an entire wall requires a different kind of planning. Herzog often uses a “squiggle grid” with numbers or letters to help scale her vision.

“Sometimes, I don’t even do grids,” she said. “I just let my brain do it. A lot of the time, I use spray paint as a guide.”

Then, she paints. And paints. And paints.

“To paint a mural is super physical,” she said. “I’m very blessed to be able to get sports massages quite often when I am creating a mural.”

She uses the best paints to ensure her “bright, comfortable vibes” hold as long as possible. But the shelf life of a mural –especially an outdoor mural – depends largely on the texture of the building, the face on the building (north will bake in the sun, for instance) and the local weather.

No matter, she said.

“I think the beauty of it is changing over time.”

Website: https://www.taylorherzog.com/ Facebook: @taylorherzogartInstagram: @taylorherzog

Building Community through Art

Upcoming Project Raises Money To Renovate Colorado Springs Auditorium

First Fridays in Colorado Springs offer an occasion to gather and socialize in local settings throughout the city. Small businesses and museums stay open later to invite newcomers into their spaces and to reconnect with friends. Art galleries debut their artists’ latest creations, and the artists are often present during these openings to answer questions about their work.

In July of 2022, Emily and Clay Ross started The Look Up Gallery inside their retail space Yobel, a boutique in downtown Colorado Springs that specializes in ethically sourced, sustainable clothing.

GIVING BACK THROUGH ART

“We wanted to invite our community to pause, look up, and take a moment to connect with art,” says Clay, “The Look Up Gallery is an extension of our love for people by featuring local artists and giving back to our community.” Proceeds from The Look Up Gallery’s sales are donated to local charities. As Clay puts it, “A little local love does a lot of global good.”

In April, the gallery will display a collaborative project between abstract painter Karen Mosbacher and photographer Dave Gochis. Sales from this show, titled Chromaeasthetic Juxtaposition , will benefit the nonprofit Community Cultural Collective to restore the Colorado Springs Auditorium.

“When we heard about the project to renovate the auditorium, we decided to come together and collaborate on a new and different mixture of media and styles,” Gochis says.

Mosbacher, a recent transplant from the vibrant Santa Fe, New Mexico, art scene, found a welcoming, supportive community upon arriving in her new city.

“I wanted to gather the leaders of the art community in Colorado Springs to model for the photos and to include them in our support of the efforts to renew the City Auditorium,” she describes.

PAINTING STORIES

They asked local community leaders, including gallery owners, dancers, and musicians, to wear clothes from Yobel and pose for the large-scale black and white photographs. Mosbacher painted over the photographs, letting each image dictate what the painterly style should be.

“Painting the photos of the models has been a great deal of fun for me,” she says. “Each painting tells a story, and sometimes a mystery, that I imagined about the art leaders and their roles in Colorado Springs.”

The show brings together different members of the Colorado Springs community, and Yobel provides the gathering space. Chromaeasthetic Juxtaposition debuts at the Look Up Gallery on First Friday, April 7, and will remain on display through the end of the month. This collaboration is but one example of how First Fridays can serve as a monthly reminder to take the time to look up at art and each other.

Website: https://www.thelookupgallery.com/ Facebook + Instagram: @thelookupgallery

RICH SCHELL INTERIORS

59 Flavors of

“LIQUID GOLD”

When most people think of shrubs, the first thing that comes to mind is a bushy green plant.

To Priscilla Koch, shrubs are something else entirely. Back in 2019, Priscilla had a friend suggest she try drinking straight apple cider vinegar to help her with imbalanced gut issues. After about three weeks of choking down the pungent liquid, she noticed a positive change, but still couldn’t stomach the taste. Ready to throw in the towel, but determined to avoid pharmaceuticals that would only cover up her gut issues rather than heal them, Priscilla decided to get creative.

Enter Shrubs

With a little research, Priscilla discovered shrubs, vibrant and colorful elixirs with exceptional health benefits, also known as “drinking vinegars.” Fueled by the prospect of making her dreaded ACV palpable, Priscilla began concocting her own variations of shrubs and consuming them herself. She began noticing a major change in her gut health.

“I also noticed other subtle changes from drinking my shrubs, from my skin texture improving to my hair looking salon shiny. My allergies didn’t seem to bother me at all, and I hadn’t gotten the flu or a cold since starting my shrubs,” Priscilla explained.

THE URBAN FARMHOUSE CO SHRUBS: SMALL-BATCH DRINKING VINEGARS

ARTICLE BY SYDNEY SCHARDT PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE URBAN FARMHOUSE CO

Her family noticed too, and her husband soon thereafter suggested she begin offering this miracle elixir at local farmer’s markets. The rest was history. Demand at farmer’s markets grew so quickly that Priscilla launched The Urban Farmhouse Co. and took her sales online.

Endless Possibilities

Offering 59 different flavor varieties, Urban Farmhouse’s vinegar-based drinks are made in small batches and mixed with organic and locally sourced fruits, veggies, and herbs. Blueberry Lavender, Strawberry Mint, Peach Basil, and Cranberry Rosemary are just a few of the mouthwatering flavor varieties.

Shrubs can be used in a plethora of ways and have unique flavor profiles to enhance each and every one of your culinary creations. You can drink them straight, you can use them as mixers in cocktails, salad dressings, add a little sugar and boil them to make glazes – the possibilities are endless. No matter how shrubs are consumed, you get to reap the health benefits.

“These are essentially liquid vitamins,” Priscilla explains, “Shrubs are liquid gold!”

You can find her shrubs online and at your local farmers markets this spring.

Website:  https://www.theurbanfarm houseco.com/

Instagram: @anurbanfarmhouseco

WOLVES AND COYOTES AND FOXES, OH MY!

COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER: EDUCATION, CONSERVATION + PRESERVATION

ARTICLE BY ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLORADO WOLF & WILDLIFE CENTER STAFF

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get up close and personal with wolves?

You can.

Meet Na’vi, a 13-year-old black timber wolf named after the tribe in the movie Avatar. Nicknamed “Mr. Hollywood,” he comes from a famous bloodline – his uncle was the model for a computer-generated wolf star in the second “Twilight” movie.

Or a pair of seven-year-old artic wolf brothers, Raksha and Isha. Or Amarok, a golden-eyed boy who was found roaming the streets of Colombia. Nineteen wolves, all with their own stories, living out their lives on a quiet, wooded acreage in Divide.

THIRTY YEARS OF SANCTUARY

The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center got its start in 1993 when founder Darlene Kobobel rescued a wolf-dog named Chinook.

Today, the Center is one of a handful of sanctuaries in the United States certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a designation that goes beyond education, into application.

For instance, CWWC participates in the Species Survival Program by providing a home to Mexican grey wolves and swift foxes. “Those animals

are very hands-off,” said Erika Moore, CWWC’s assistant director and animal care supervisor, explaining that they may be released back into the wild someday.

Most of the other animals – including wolves, coyotes, foxes and wild dogs – were raised by humans as pups. Part of the center’s mission is to educate people about the difference between wild and domestic animals. To some people, the idea of having a pet wolf or a wolfdog is “cool,” Moore said.

“We encourage people to know what they’re getting into. … They’re escape artists. They’re highly destructive. If you don’t give them something to do, they’ll find something,” Moore said, adding that they don’t typically do well in houses and make terrible guard animals.

These human-raised animals likely wouldn’t survive in the wild, if released, so they get a second life at CWWC, where they receive lots of socialization, mental stimulation and training.

Some walk on leash to the so-called “day spa” – three acres of land with a pond and waterfall. For others, employees open up “hallways” between the roughly two-acre enclosures to give them additional territory to explore. Wolves mate for life and most here share an enclosure with one partner until one of them passes. The Center sometimes tries pairing the remaining wolf with another partner, but they leave it up to the animals to decide whether it’s a match.

“Some enjoy the single life,” Moore said.

WILDLIFE TOURS + MORE

CWWC offers various tours of the facility, including a onehour guided walking tour following a circular, football-field length path through the center of the property. For those

seeking a more close-up visit, there are small group meet-and-greet encounters, fullmoon tours, private VIP interactive encounters and more.

Advance reservations are highly recommended/required. Moore suggests visiting during the cooler months, when it’s less busy and the animals are more active.

There’s also a well-equipped visitor center with gifts, information, snacks, and an upstairs sitting area with a fireplace and huge windows overlooking the property. It houses smaller rescue animals, too.

“Our founder will rescue pretty much anything that needs a home that we have space for,” Moore said.

Website: https://www.wolfeducation.org/ Facebook + Instagram: @CoWolfCenter

A Traveling Custom Hat Bar

Walker Road Hat Co: Helping You Create Your Perfect Look

ARTICLE BY ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK

It was a partnership born during a global pandemic.

Emily Garnett and her husband moved into a wooded neighborhood in far north Colorado Springs in 2019. They’d just met their next-door neighbors, Kiersten and Troy Ellis. A few months later, the world shut down.

The families decided to form a quarantine bubble. Theyhungouttogethernearlyeveryday,sippingwine on their porches, talking about camping, travel and other adventures.

Fast forward two and a half years. The two couples took a road trip to Texas. Emily had been reading about how trendy wide-brimmed hats were and the womendecidedtodesignspecialhatsjustforthetrip.

“Wegottonsofcomplimentsonthem,”Kierstensays.

They wondered aloud whether they could create a business out of helping people design beautiful hats.

WALKER ROAD HAT CO. WAS BORN

“We had 16 hours on the way home to brainstorm,” Kierstensays.“Bythetimewegothome,weweredoingit.”

They already had a shop. In fact, Emily and her husband had bought their property specifically for a sprawling outbuilding Emily could use to expand her existing local business – Native Instinct Co., which makes blankets, scarves, bandanas and more for pets and humans.

The next step was deciding what kind of hats to offer, then scouring local shops like “Who Gives a

Scrap” for fabrics, ribbons and other new, vintage and antique adornments. At the moment, their hat inventory includes wool, felt, and rigid, shaped straw in various colors and price points.

HATS FOR EVERY STYLE

Kiersten loves cowgirl boots. Emily is more the combat-boot type. Their hats look great with both. They also complement heals, sneakers, hiking shoes, dresses, jeans and everything in between.

Western. Boho. Edgy.

“We can go super girly,” Emily says. “You can make it fit your personality. You don’t have to listen to country music and wear cowboy boots.”

The hats are terrific for men, too.

Brand it, burn it, distress it, shape it. Tie on a strip of velvet, chiffon or satin. Adorn it with a feather, bandana or leather strand. Top it off with the perfect vintage pin or decorative stud.

“Layering the different textures is huge,” Kiersten says. “Everyone wants leather. … You can wear (these hats) to a winery. They’re so versatile.”

Not sure what you want? No sweat. Take your time. Try different combos. Enjoy the process. Kiersten and Emily are there to help you create a hat that’s perfect for you.

Their website says it best: We believe a great hat can not only transform an outfit, but can also be a statement of who you are.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHEN MARTIN / EXPLORE WITH MEDIA

PARTIES + EVENTS

Walker Road Hat Co. doesn’t have a brick-andmortar store… yet. But watch for them around town. They’re hosting parties, private events and pop-ups.

They just finished the Bridal Expo and an event at Lost Friend Brewery. Upcoming public appearances include:

• April 22: Apricot Lane Boutique

• April 29: Kentucky Derby-themed “Brim and Brew” at Pikes Peak Brewing Co. in Monument

• July 11-15: Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo

• Aug. 27: John Denver Tribute event at Pikes Peak Brewing

In between, Walker Road is booking girls’ nights, birthdays, bridal events, corporate events and pop-ups at local businesses. They bring everything. All clients have to do is open the door and point this dynamic duo to where they should set up the beautiful custom hat bar.

“We will travel,” Emily says. “We’ll pop up anywhere.”

Website: https://wrhatco.com/ Instagram: @walkerroadhatco

Bettering Children’s Lives for More than 30 Years

CASA Volunteers: A Constant for Kids During Tumultuous Times

ARTICLE BY ROCHELLE REEDER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASA

This month has been deemed National Child Abuse Prevention Month in order to draw attention to the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect.

One of the organizations here in Colorado Springs dedicated to working toward bettering children’s lives for more than 30 years is CASA of the Pikes Peak Region. These 30 days are just a platform to aid them in reaching the community about their cause.

APPOINTING COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS

The CASA movement began in 1977 when Seattle Superior Court Judge David Soukup found he was having to make decisions on children’s welfare utilizing the sparse information available to him. This led him to start the program of appointing community volunteers to be a voice for the children and speak up for their best interests.

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates and presently, our community has about 400 volunteers representing children in the El Paso and Teller counties. Although that sounds significant, CASA Executive Director, Angela Rose, notes there are still children who are underserved.

“At any given time, there are about 150-200 kids who still need to be served, even with 400 volunteers right now,” she states.

CASA volunteers become a constant for kids who are removed from their homes and sometimes even their schools while they can’t be with their parents. It’s so much chaos and change in a time where routine and structure in child development is paramount.

“Any time you are going through adversarial times, having that one person can make all the difference. And I really believe the CASA is that for these kids,” says Rose.

CARING FOR KIDS

Volunteers take about three to five hours per week over an 18- to 24-month time period to support a child. During that time, the CASA volunteer will work with parents, foster parents, guardian ad litems, teachers, as well as the child to get a holistic view of the situation to include in their reports provided to the judges to aid in making decisions on behalf of the child.

When asked who would make a good candidate for a volunteer, Rose notes, “The wisdom of the community is what CASAs bring. If someone loves and cares for kids, then CASA can teach the rest.”

CASA of the Pikes Peak Region has additional programs, as well, that have been developed over their 33 years through the Milton Foster Children’s Fund (MFCF).

LEARNING LIFE SKILLS

The Hanger is a boutique-style shop where kids in foster care can come and “shop” new or gently used donated items that can be their very own. They are allowed five items per week – with no judgment and no budget. Kids are able to work in the Hanger as well to help build their resume. Teen Life Skills & Events classes are offered once or twice a month as well to make sure kids are being taught practical life skills.

“Many of these kids emancipate out of the family and we are just trying to give them the best chance,” Rose notes.

If you are in a position to donate or volunteer, you can visit the website to see what opportunities are available.

Website: https://www.casappr.org/ Facebook + Instagram: @CASAPikesPeak

“CASA volunteers become a constant for kids who are removed from their homes and sometimes even their schools while they can’t be with their parents.”

INGREDIENTS:

Conchiglie with Zucchini and Mushrooms

ARTICLE BY GATHER FOOD STUDIO

• 8 oz. conchiglie pasta, cooked

• ¼ cup butter • 1 small zucchini, large dice

• 4 oz. pioppino mushrooms

• ½ preserved lemon, diced

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 tablespoons harissa

• 1 cup canned diced tomatoes

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 tablespoon preserved lemon juice

• Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook pasta according to directions on package. Drain and set aside.

2. While the pasta is cooking, in a large sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat.  When hot, add the zucchini, season with salt and pepper and let cook for 1-2 minutes to soften.  Add the mushrooms and cook another 3-4 minutes until the mushroom and zucchini begin to soften. Add the preserved lemon and garlic and cook another 1 minute.

3. Stir in the harissa paste and let cook for 30 seconds to slightly toast.  Add the diced tomato and heat. Check for a final seasoning of salt and pepper.

4. Mix the olive oil and preserved lemon juice together in a small bowl.

5. Mix the pasta into the sauce and toss to heat.  Divide the pasta between 4 bowls and drizzle with the olive oil/lemon juice mixture. Enjoy!

SUGGESTED LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR INGREDIENTS:

• Pasta: Pasta di Solazzi ( https://www.pasta disolazzi.com/ )

• Butter: Sawatch Artisan Foods ( https:// sawatchartisanfoods.com/ )

• Mushrooms: Fungus Farm Colorado ( https://app.barn2door.com/ fungusfarmcolorado/all )

• Harissa & Preserved Lemons: Gather Food Studio ( https://gatherfoodstudio.com/ )

When walking to your gate feels more like walking down the aisle...

You might be in love with your airport.

You may ask yourself, “is it weird to be in love with an airport?” But with all of the amenities and conveniences at Colorado’s small airport, we completely understand the feeling. So lean into your affections when you Fly COS, and fall in love with Colorado’s small airport.

Abracadabra + Alakazam

COSMO’S MAGIC THEATER BRINGS A SPLASH OF INTRIGUE TO COLORADO SPRINGS

ARTICLE BY ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY COSMO’S MAGIC THEATER

Magic.

It’s tucked into a strip mall off Garden of the Gods Road. Victorian couches. Antique end tables. Pressed tin ceilings. Chandeliers. Vintage posters of great magicians.

Cosmo’s Magic Theater is the real deal. Owner Cosmo Solano has been doing magic since he was in kindergarten. He studied at the prestigious Chavez College of Magic and eventually became one of the busiest private event magicians in Los Angeles.

After performing for about two decades for celebrities, dignitaries and major corporations, he returned to his home state of Colorado to raise his family.

THE EVOLUTION OF COSMO’S

Back in Colorado, he eventually met up with an old friend, wrote a new magic show and booked the Pink House at Eyrie Castle for an intimate magic show with 10 people. That sold out, as did similar shows at other venues and he decided to make it a regular thing, turning his dining room into a magic room for performances called “The 10.”

After a couple of years, he needed more space and opened a theater in Colorado Springs. He was playing to a packed house. Then… the pandemic struck, shuttering the theater. Like other business owners, Cosmo thought it would be a short closure. But as weeks turned into months, Cosmo and his wife donated the furnishings to charity and closed for good.

“We did not think we were going to reopen,” he said.

But 455 days later, with the help of business incentives and arts grants, Cosmo’s Magic Theater reappeared in June 2021 in a new northside location.

“We hit the ground running,” Cosmo said. “We have an amazing following of people who keep coming back.”

CLOSE-UP MAGIC

Walk through the door from the ornate parlor, down a hallway and into a charming, 34-seat theater designed pro bono by friend Jack Hart. The Emmy-nominated set designer has worked on The Price is Right, Family Feud and several David Copperfield TV specials.

This space is where Cosmo performs his “close-up magic,” using traditional props like dice, cards and cups and balls on a small, green-fabric-covered table down front. He takes it slow, making sure no one feels “tricked,” but rather entertained, an approach influenced by Dai Vernon, a magician nicknamed “The Professor” – Cosmo’s hero as a child and mentor as an adult.

As Cosmo works his way through the show, there is silence, laughter, clapping and awe. His sleight-of-hand tricks and mentalism stump everyone in the theater. Just when people think they have it figured out, they realize they don’t.

“Don’t be in an analytical mind. … Chill out and try to stop figuring it out,” he said, adding that it’s his job to make the audience feel comfortable enough to want to be fooled.

Magic, he said, isn’t a puzzle. It’s a form of entertainment. And performing in front of a live audience? It’s risky.

“It’s the real deal,” he said. “You can’t go back and edit it.”  Website: https://www.cosmosmagictheater.com/ Facebook + Instagram: @cosmosmagictheater

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WORKING TEST KITCHEN

Shovel Ready at City Aud: A New

The Colorado Springs community continues to innovate in the social enterprise space.

The Colorado Springs restaurant community is tight-knit and became even more so after businesses and families were impacted in the 2020 closures due to impacts from COVID-19. As part of the recovery process from those closures, a government grant was awarded to impact COVID recovery to create immediate employment opportunities. This culinary arts program is just one piece of the larger picture in realizing those goals.

WORKING TEST KITCHEN

Shovel Ready at City Aud is a capstone culinary program that gives forward-facing and immediate front and back of house restaurant experience to students in the form of a working test kitchen. Participants can be of all ages and walks of life. They will not only develop and learn to cook a menu, they will network and learn how to locally source and purchase the ingredients for said menu items.

Mentorship is provided by some well-known restaurant industry professionals in our area: Brother Luck, Jay Gust and Justin Miller, to name a few. This six-week program is an earnand-learn opportunity for participants to gain real-time experience and focus on transitioning directly into employment as soon as their time is up.

What does that mean for the larger Colorado Springs community?  It means a new space for tasty treats that are shovel-in-yourmouth good, all while supporting a great cause. Shovel Ready is

“Shovel Ready at City Aud is one of four programs that are being incubated by Community Cultural Collective and partners as part of a larger historic adaptive reuse program.”

Space for Tasty Treats

located at one of the four kiosks at The Well downtown. Plan to visit often as the menu will change monthly and the chefsin-training will change almost as often. Check out  the website below for current menu offerings.

COMMUNITY CULTURAL HUB

Shovel Ready at City Aud is one of four programs that are being incubated by Community Cultural Collective and partners as part of a larger historic adaptive reuse program. They are a local 501(c)(3) who are taking the building’s motto “Usui Civium Decori Urbis” translated to “For the use of the people and the glory of the city” and applying it literally in their efforts to restore and revitalize this historic building to foster a community cultural hub.

In an effort to bring awareness to the project, the on-site event series “Elevate City Aud” will be hosted for regional and community corporate, business and foundation partners from April through December 2023, culminating in a 100-year birthday celebration on New Year’s Eve.

Website:  https://communitycultural collective.org/capstone-culinaryworkforce-program/

Facebook: @shovelreadyatcityaud

Instagram: @shovelreadycityaud

Spinach Artichoke Dip

ARTICLE BY GATHER FOOD STUDIO

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 (14 ounce) can water-packed artichoke hearts, rinsed, drained, and coarsely chopped

• 4 ounces cream cheese

• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 2 green onions , sliced

• 1 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

• 2 whole artichokes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut off the stem of the artichokes, then take off the tips with scissors. Place 1 cup of water and a steamer basket into your pressure cooker. Pressure cook on high for 10 minutes. Quick release and let cool. (If using stovetop, steam for 20-30 minutes covered).

2. Place half the artichokes in a food processor; add cream cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan, lemon juice, garlic, cayenne, and 3 tablespoons water. Process until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.

3. Scoop out the middle of the artichoke. Peel off the first 2-3 layers of leaves. Stuff dip into artichoke for center piece, then scoop 1 teaspoon dip onto remaining leaves and display around base of the center.

4. If desired, drizzle with butter and lemon juice.

5. Enjoy!

Website: https://gatherfoodstudio.com/ Facebook + Instagram: @gatherfoodstudio

Sleep Inside, Outside

It’s always magical to spend a night sleeping under the stars. In decades past, adventure seekers have packed the SUV or camper with tents and gear for ‘roughin’ it’ in the great outdoors. But the swanky and exploding category of luxury outdoor hotel is something to investigate for an unforgettable, next-level experience.

For those who prefer glamping rather than pitching their own tent fireside, here are a few options that incorporate sweeping views and a unique opportunity for travelers to be more authentically embedded in the landscape of the place they’re visiting. These resorts have bucket list-worthy rooms that capture the best of both the luxury resort experience and the outdoors.

Whether you crave the dry heat of the remote Utah desert or the luminous beauty of the Northern Lights, we’ve curated a short list of some places you *must* check out.

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland

These arctic igloos make Urho Kekkonen National Park look like a dreamy winter wonderland. Snuggle up inside the glassroofed globe and watch the dancing northern lights overhead. Get immersed in the world of northern lights, midnight sun and other miracles of this world-renowned arctic resort. Just bundle up before stepping outside – temperatures can drop to -22 degrees!

Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica

This jungle hideaway is so out there, you have to whitewater raft down a river or ride a gondola to get there. A network of hanging bridges connect the villas, which have thatched roofs, plantation teak wood floors, rattan furniture and private plunge pools. In the evening, zip 400 feet down a cable for a meal at the Nest, a platform at the top of a ceiba tree, then take a night-time stroll along romantic pathways lit by candles and lanterns.

Amangiri, Utah

In southern Utah, Amangiri is a five star resort perfect for an adventurous weekend in the desert. However, it is the simple rooms built to emphasize the beauty of Canyon Point that truly make it an incredible place to stay. Each suite has an outdoor lounge and fireplace with private pools or rooftop terraces available too. Don’t miss a dip in the ‘gram-worthy pool, which wraps around the landscape’s curved dunes and arid plateaus.

3 Incredible places to (literally) sleep under the stars

Photography by Pacuare Lodge

Photography by Amangiri, USA

Photography by Valtteri Hirvonen

events

A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

APRIL 6TH

Gladys Knight

PIKES PEAK CENTER | 7:30 PM

Few singers over the last fifty years have matched Gladys Knight's artistry. This seven-time Grammy winner has enjoyed #1 hits in Pop, Gospel, R&B and Adult Contemporary, and has triumphed in film, television and live performance. Known as the “Empress of Soul,” Knight was the first African-American performer to have a venue named after her in Las Vegas. https://www.pikespeakcenter.com/events/detail/gladysknight

APRIL 7TH

First Friday Downtown

DOWNTOWN COLORADO SPRINGS | 4:30 PM

Free and open to the public, First Friday Downtown features new art, live music, and special events on the first Friday of every month from 5-9 p.m. at dozens of galleries, retailers and nonprofits throughout Downtown Colorado Springs. https://downtowncs.com/events

APRIL 8TH

Black Forest Spring Markets

EDITH WOLFORD ELEMENTARY, 13710 BLACK FOREST RD | 10:00 AM

Join us as we welcome back some of our favorite vendors and get to meet some new ones at our Spring Markets this year! Unique gift items. Favorite food goodies you’ve been craving over the winter: meats, cheese, breads, shrubs, mushrooms, greens, pickled items and more. This will be an indoor market primarily. https://www.thebackyardmarkets.com/

APRIL 8TH

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana

ENT CENTER FOR THE ARTS | 7:00 PM

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, one of America’s leading flamenco companies, presents FRONTERAS. It's been hailed by The New York Times as “an uncommonly deft balancing of the individual and the group in flamenco, and solid entertainment to boot.” Choreographed by José Maldonado and Karen Lugo with an original score by Jose Luis de la Paz that will be performed by a live band. https://tickets.entcenterforthearts.org/4214/4215

APRIL 8TH

Latin Grooves' Salsa and Bachata Night

IVYWILD GYM | 7:00 PM

Latin Grooves' Salsa and Bachata Night at Ivywild is the biggest event for salsa and bachata dancers in Colorado Springs. Enjoy an incredible night in a vast open space with beautiful hardwood floors. There's also a number of different restaurants and bars with food, drinks and plenty of places to sit and relax when taking a break from dancing. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/latin-grooves-salsa-bachata-night-at-ivywild-tickets-563579540577

APRIL 13TH

Where We Belong

FINE ARTS CENTER MAINSTAGE | 7:30 PM

In 2015, a Mohegan theatre-maker moves to England to pursue a PhD in Shakespeare, grappling with the question of what it means to remain or leave, as the Brexit vote threatens to further disengage the UK from the wider world. In this intimate solo piece, we explore what it means to belong in a globalized world. Runs through April 23. https://fac.coloradocollege.edu/theatre-events/where-we-belong/#details

APRIL 14TH

Shorts Night

STARGAZERS THEATER | 6:00 PM

Rocky Mountain Women’s Film presents, for one night only, a lineup of some of the most decorated short films of the year, including winners of the most prestigious awards and festivals from around the world. Shorts Night is an annual fundraising event supporting the year-round programming of Rocky Mountain Women’s Film. This event sells out every year. https://rmwfilm.org/event-calendar/shorts-night-2023/

APRIL 16TH

Yuri's Night

SPACE FOUNDATION DISCOVERY CENTER | 5:30 PM

For nearly a decade, Space Foundation has hosted a “Yuri’s Night” to raise funds for Space Foundation education programs. This is a celebration of the first human space flight. Includes meet-and-greet with former NASA astronauts, silent auction, drone obstacle course, interactive space activities, and more. Ticket includes all activities, food, and one drink. https://www.spacefoundation.org/events/yuris-night/

APRIL 29TH

Colorado Springs Pet Expo

COLORADO SPRINGS EVENT CENTER | 9:00 AM

Colorado Springs is one of the most Pet Friendly communities in the country. The Colorado Springs Pet Expo features 165+ top pet exhibitors from across the state, along with lots of activities for animal lovers. The show will also host non-stop events throughout the weekend! https://www.coloradospringseventcenter.com/ events/colorado-springs-pet-expo-4

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April Showers Bring May Flowers!

Adventure with Porsche.

Perfectly equipped for Colorado with all-wheel drive and rugged styling and suspension, the Porsche 911 Dakar exemplifies the adventurous spirit of the brand. Porsche's dynamic line up is sure to deliver an experience like no other.