Colorado Springs, CO March 2024

Windows & Doors of Colorado Springs

Home

Home.

The word means something different to everyone.

To some, it’s a warm fireplace in the winter. To others, it’s the smell of familiar food in the oven. To yet others, it’s the hum of music floating through the air.

Home.

It can be a sprawling estate with manicured grounds. It can be a cozy bungalow, wrapped in wild vines. It can be in the city, in the suburbs, or in the country.

Home.

It’s where we feel a sense of belonging, comfort and security. It’s where we share experiences with loved ones. It’s linked to a sense of identity, where we feel connected to our roots and personal history. It can be a dwelling, a city, or a group of people. It can even be the photos or mementos of kin who came before us on our walls and mantles.

My husband grew up in one home. He lived there until he left for college and his parents lived in that house until their final days on earth. It was like a time capsule, capturing the various decades of life in stratified layers. My upbringing was a bit different. My family moved around a lot – more than anyone I knew. But you know what? I experienced “home,” too, because “home” to me is more a feeling than an individual place.

In this issue, we highlight the idea of “home.”

Read about a family-owned business that has been designing and building luxury homes for 40 years and a tree farm/nursery that has been supplying trees and plants to the local community for even longer than that.

Learn about a mountain treehouse built as an intentional place of peace and a local shop that encourages folks to slow down.

Like the idea of keeping things out of the landfill? We have all the details on composting, a non-profit that gives outdoor equipment a second life and a downtown shop specializing in slow fashion and vintage goods.

Finally, we give you the scoop on local macrame classes and on a moonshine distillery that got its start thousands of miles away with A&W Root Beer.

Thanks for reading!

ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK, EDITOR @COLORADOSPRINGSLIFESTYLEMAG

March 2024

PUBLISHER

Scott Barr | scott.barr@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Stephanie Barr | stephanie.barr@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Ashley Hamershock ashley.hamershock@citylifestyle.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Cara Bukacek | coloradosprings@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ashley Hamershock, Rochelle Reeder, Cara Bukacek, Lindsay Tallman, Kathy Roberts, Sydney Schardt

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Comito Home & Design, Ian Warren

Photography, Food to Power, Red Earth Knots, Jenna Jennings Photography & Events, Amy Nicole Photography, Heidrichs Tree Farm Nursery, Laura Rachelle Photography, The Elan Studio, 3 Hundred Days Distilling, Mountain Standard Goods, Bordon Photography

RETREAT REST REFLECT RENEW REIMAGINE

Escape the crowds and rekindle your spirit this spring.

Reconnect over a glass of wine or craft cocktail, schedule a soothing spa treatment, browse an eclectic mix of shops, and linger over long meals.

(866) 582- 1 646

HotelLoretto.com

Luxury Homes for 40 Years

History and reputation.

Those are the sturdy pillars upon which Comito Design | Build stands.

ARTICLE BY ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE ELAN STUDIO

Comito Design | Build: Honoring the Past and Looking to the Future

“We’ve been deeply rooted in this community and we’re not going anywhere,” says Nate Banet, one of two managing partners for this luxury home builder.

Comito, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, was founded by second-generation home builder Claude Comito. He continues to serve as business and construction consultant—and as a bridge from the past to the future.

“He brings a wealth of knowledge and tons of experience,” Banet says.

“He’s a true craftsman,” adds Lauren Comito-Perrault, the company’s other managing partner – a third generation home builder who happens to be Comito’s daughter.

INTENTION + INNOVATION

Not many businesses have been around for four decades. It’s a testament to Comito Design | Build’s solid craftsmanship, personal relationships and eye toward innovation. This design/ build firm is a leader—not a follower.

Comito can turn a patch of dirt and a client’s vision into their dream residence, all while helping guide the myriad decisions from a cost perspective.

“(Clients) always know where things are headed,” ComitoPerrault says. “We take an intentional approach to designing and building. We’re not just winging it. … Our business is a business of millions of details. We put a lot of effort into how things will look and function at the end of the day.”

During a recent build, a client initially wanted a specific accordion door. It looked great on paper, but Comito-Perrault and Banet didn’t believe it would hold up well over the years. They sat down with the client, explained their concerns and the client decided on a different, equally beautiful door that will stand the test of time.

“(Some) other builders will tell people what they want to hear,” Banet says. “We tell people what they need to know. … It’s not a dollhouse.”

Honesty and integrity matter—Comito’s team is upfront about costs, timelines and whether something will work or not. They believe transparency is key to trust and to designing and building a custom home clients can afford and will love for years to come.

“Everyone takes a lot of pride in what we do,” Comito-Perrault says. “We sweat the details.”

BUILDING TO THE LAND

Colorado Springs is a place of hills and boulders and red dirt and Ponderosa pines. And the views are magical. Different windows of a home here might look out on Pikes Peak, fiery sunrises or grazing deer and elk. That’s why Comito likes to work with clients from the start, often helping find the perfect canvas for their dream.

“No two lots are the same. … We’re really designing to the land,” Comito-Perrault says, adding that they build anywhere in the region.

As for the design of the home, the sky is the limit—that’s the beauty of a full custom home. If a client sees something spectacular in a magazine, the Comito team will do its best to track that item down. It’s those tiny details that make a home unique.

Comito-Perrault and Banet say they’re always up for a challenge—no style is out of bounds. At the moment, they are

constructing a mountain modern home with lots of steel, lots of glass and an intricate heating and cooling system.

“It’ll be a statement home in our community,” ComitoPerrault says.

Most of their clients are retired or professionals raising a family and the folks at Comito consider it a privilege to help them design and build their dream home.

“People have worked very hard to get to this point in their life,” Banet says.

This small firm with just a handful of talented employees only builds four to six homes per year. That means each home gets the “A” team every day. Comito isn’t just building houses; after all, it’s building legacies.

Website: https://comitodesignbuild.com/

Facebook: @ComitoBuilding

Instagram: @Comito_Design_Build

Well-Being The Beauty of

Neuroaesthetics is the study of beauty and science. Turk Interiors leaned into this science to be the leader in the Colorado Springs area to organically integrate these strategies throughout their client’s designs. Understanding and implementing these new technologies in human-centered design is more than an art, it is science. Turk Interiors is committed to incorporating beauty into your curated, joyful space designed to be mindful of your overall well-being.

“Creating a home environment that supports your well-being is true self care .”

Tricia Turk Principal & Designer

Step into a world where familiarity breeds joy and your story is honored in every detail. With Turk Interiors, your space becomes a reflection of your unique journey – a sanctuary where memories flourish, and happiness blooms.

Voted Best Interior Designer of Colorado Springs 2022 & 2023

A Treehouse with a Story

ARTICLE BY ROCHELLE REEDER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN WARREN PHOTOGRAPHY

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COLORADO CAMELOT: AN INTENTIONAL PLACE OF PEACE

“

It evolved from a dream to a reality, to an art project, to an intentional place of peace.

The crackle of the wood fireplace and the muffled sound of the creek rushing under ice sets the stage as we sip our hot beverages and the dog settles on the couch next to us. Even she knows the purpose of this space. One lazy leg hangs from the plush seat as she settles her snoot next to her owner in anticipation of attention.

There is a silence to the forest; we take a moment to savor the cozy hush.

This is my first time meeting Robin Wall, and with little background on the assignment, I had unwittingly invited myself into her home. She didn’t balk at the request. She knew the story was in the experience.

After driving the winding, snow-lined roads up to the property, I found the old hunting lodge nestled in a canyon at the base of Pikes Peak in a neighborhood called Crystal Park. Initially erected by Dr. Edward R. Neeper in 1910 as a place for him and his friends to get away from city life and experience the outdoors, the lodge has become Wall’s home.

AN EXTRAORDINARY TREE HOUSE

After quick introductions, we trek further down into the canyon to experience the tree house.

trees and overlooking the ice-covered creek: the tree house.

The sleek black dog leads us up the spiral log staircase to the deck surrounding the tree house, which is 20 feet high in places and tucked near some native boulders with the creek surrounding it on three sides. Turning slightly, I am ushered through an old barn door and into the tree house–one room with a wood burning stove in one corner and an L-shaped couch on the adjacent walls. We set our warm beverages on the coffee table bench and take a breath as the dog settles in.

Amid conversations of kids and jobs and life in general, the story of the tree house emerges. A mother made the historic lodge a home and raised her children in the outdoors of this Colorado canyon. A dream of building a tree house with her kids somewhere on the property came to fruition during the pandemic when both kids came home to take their college classes online.

Locally milled wood from the property, old brick from Denver, barn hardware from the main lodge and windows from a 1920s house complete the space.

A VARIETY OF ECOSYSTEMS

The story outside is just as interesting as the one inside.

Wall speaks about the landscape intimately, as she has spent years getting to know it. She reminisces about growing up in Papua New Guinea and how this landscape reminds her of parts of her childhood. The canyon in which she lives hosts a variety of ecosystems unique to Colorado encompassing streams and bogs where moss, fungi, and ferns live alongside cacti and evergreens. She is partnering with a neighbor who is

a master gardener to make the meadow between their homes more hospitable to local pollinators. She has also invited local botanists onto the property, and they have documented a handful of rare species including the oak fern and the bunch berry.

The tree house became a retreat for those experiencing the forest to stop and rest. It evolved from a dream to a reality, to an art project, to an intentional place of peace.

COLORADO CAMELOT

“What’s in a name?” Shakespeare penned for Romeo to wax disdainfully to his love over the tendency for our

species to give distinguishing conventions to things in the form of titles. But in this instance, I might have to disagree with the contempt Romeo has for this particular convention. Wall has nicknamed her little piece of heaven  Camelot. Even prior to King Arthur’s castle, according to Webster, this word carried the meaning of “a time, place, or atmosphere of idyllic happiness.”

With all the adjectives in the world at my fingertips, I cannot think of a better description of this space.

Wall invites those interested in visiting the treehouse to fill out a form under the "projects" tab on her website.

Website: https://www.coloradocamelot.com/

Consider Composting

Have you ever thought about where your trash goes? That’s the question Food to Power’s Compost Operations Manager Janerio Hardy hopes to encourage residents of Colorado Springs to consider. He wants people to get curious about where food waste goes and think about how that affects the planet.

Local nonprofit Food to Power operates a compost program for businesses and residences in Colorado Springs. They offer compost curbside pickup service to cover most of Colorado Springs. Dropoff stations are also available throughout the city.

Hardy says Food to Power hopes to demonstrate that food waste is not actually waste. He says, “If you want to turn it back into gold, you can.”

ARTICLE BY LINDSAY TALLMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY FOOD TO POWER

BENEFITS OF COMPOSTING

Why should people consider composting? The benefits of composting are numerous. Composting is the process of turning food scraps into a helpful soil amendment. Colorado Springs is a semi-arid, high-desert climate and compost is crucial for water retention in the soil, and erosion and flood prevention. In addition, people often complain about their trash smelling and trash attracts bears and other animals in many areas of the city. Putting food scraps into a sealed bucket rather than a trash can is a simple step that can reduce those issues.

In a landfill, food scraps decompose anaerobically (without oxygen). Food scraps in a landfill smell and emit methane gas which is harmful to the environment. When food scraps are collected and turned into compost in an aerobic (with oxygen) context, the scraps are turned so air can get to them and kept at safe temperatures to encourage good bacteria to thrive during the decomposition process.

Ruthie Markwardt, Food to Power’s compost director says, “A common misconception about composting is that it’s going to be a very stinky and unpleasant process, but I find when it’s going well it has kind of a sweet, earthy smell.”

Composting helps plants survive in our environment and some initial research is showing that compost can help in preventing fires. By composting, residents and businesses can play a critical, positive role in improving the ecosystem and keeping resources within the community.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Markwardt says, “We host workshops and classes to help make composting easier and more accessible for people in their own homes if they would like to compost at home or just learn more about the process.”

Classes like Composting 101 are offered for those wanting to learn more. Food to Power also works with youth in the summers to give them hands-on learning experience with the composting process so they can discover more about why composting is important for the community and the planet.

Composting can seem intimidating if you don’t know where to start and there can be some misunderstandings. Many don’t realize that composting is different from rot and natural decomposition. People manage the composting process which increases the speed, makes it

“IF YOU WANT TO TURN IT BACK INTO GOLD, YOU CAN.

safe to grow food in the nutrient rich material, and reduces harmful gasses emitted into the environment.

Twice a week from May through November, volunteers can come help with composting at Food to Power’s Hillside Hub and learn through that opportunity, as well. Community members are welcome to come in to learn and help.

Hardy says, "It’s important to be accessible to community members who want to come in and learn how to do this."

Markwardt wants people to know that through composting, you can take something that might be considered a nuisance or waste and turn it into a super valuable resource.

For more information about educational opportunities or to sign-up for the Food to Power Compost program, please visit their website.

Website:   https://foodtopowerco.org/compost Facebook + Instagram: @FoodToPower

MACRAME IS FOR EVERYONE!

Made popular in the 70s, macrame is a fiber craft that typically involves a combination of knotting and weaving cotton, hemp or jute rope into clothing, décor and accessories. In the “hippy era,” it was considered to be counterculture because it provided a means of self-expression and individuality.

If you have been to a craft fair or home décor store recently, you may have noticed that macrame is back… in a big way.

Red Earth Knots: Creating Something with your Hands

Janel Rogers is a self-taught fiber artist with more than 20 years experience. She can weave, knit, punch needle and macrame. She was inspired to learn how to macrame shortly after moving to Colorado Springs in 2017. She found several beautiful macrame wall hangings on Pinterest that she thought would look great in her new space. Motivated, she set about teaching herself to create macrame décor for her home.

ARTICLE BY CARA BUKACEK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RED EARTH KNOTS & JENNA JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY

FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER

Rogers has been teaching macrame since 2019. She partners with local businesses, boutiques, coffee shops, breweries, and restaurants. They provide the space and she teaches the workshop, attracting patrons to their establishments.

“Macrame is for everyone!” Rogers says. “There is no right or wrong in macrame, which makes for an easy crafting experience, especially for those who claim they ‘aren’t crafty.’ I take pride in being fun, patient, and approachable in my classes. Workshops feel inclusive, comfortable and enjoyable. Repeat students are the biggest compliment I can receive.”

DIY KITS

In addition to classes, Rogers also makes DIY macrame kits for students to make at home. These are available for purchase at her classes or through her social media accounts. She also sells her own macrame creations at local shops and through custom orders.

“Creating something with your own hands is really rewarding and good for the soul,” Rogers says. “When you attend a Red Earth Knots Workshop, you are not only learning a new (and addicting) skill, but you are also making memories, meeting new people, and supporting a business you might not have been before.”

Website: https://linktr.ee/redearthknots

Facebook + Instagram: @RedEarthKnots

INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO

At Julie Kay Design Studio, we’re dedicated to helping you transform your house into a beautiful, functional home where your family can grow and thrive. If you are building a custom home, remodeling, or simply updating furnishings, we can help with every detail. Full-Service Design Packages include: design conception, project management, space planning, interior architectural details, color palette, lighting selections, window treatments, furnishing plans, and accessory selections.

JKDS was selected as one of the Colorado’s Top Interior Design Firms in 2023 and 2024.

STOREFRONT-NORTH CO.SP.

Here you will find a unique collection of designer curated & custom pieces. Whether your style is modern, traditional, boho, or eclectic, there is a little something for everyone! We carry statement art, upholstery, rugs and many one-of-a-kind accessories that you’ll love to have in your home.

Our personal and welcoming customer service can help you find just what you’re looking for!

ONE to WATCH

Julie Riggin is an award-winning interior designer whose passion and achievements in design have positioned her as one of Colorado’s best. Julie unlocks a unique level of depth through her mutual consideration of interior function and personality. Her trademark style is evident through the sophisticated yet fun use of color, texture, and light. Every home she designs receives her personal signature of timeless casual elegance and simplicity.

Home, Clothing, Gifts... Sust ainably

MOUNTAIN STANDARD GOODS: A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Looking for a decidedly different place to shop?

Head downtown. Directly across from Acacia Park, you’ll find a terrific shop filled with ethically and sustainably made fashion, as well as lots of vintage goods. It’s owned by two sisters: Jessie and Hannah Gingrich.

“We’re taking something that would have ended up in the landfill and giving it a second life,” Jessie says.

THREE SHOPS IN ONE

Mountain Standard Goods (MST Goods) opened in November 2021 and expanded in November 2023. It now occupies three spaces–distinct and connected, at once.

The left, newest side of the shop features cocktail and bar items, new women’s clothing, a dressing room and bonus: a restroom for customers. The right side highlights vintage clothing for women, housewares and interesting gifts.

And the center? Mostly menswear.

“This is the heart and soul of the store,” Hannah says.

While working at nearby Terre Verde Boutique, she noticed a need for more men’s offerings downtown and approached her sister about opening their own shop. They made the leap and have been expanding ever since. They hope to open a second location in Denver next.

“We’ve always gotten along really well,” Hannah says. They split most duties and agree that being sisters makes running the business together easier–that they agree on most things, but on the odd occasion they have different opinions, they can be honest with each other without causing offense.

UNIQUE GOODS

The sisters attend trade shows from LA to Chicago to source new brands and items for the store, which at the moment sells about 90 percent of its goods from the brickand-mortar location and 10 percent (and growing) online.

ARTICLE BY ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOUNTAIN STANDARD GOODS

“It’s a fun, eclectic mix. We have a little something for everybody.”

Asked where they get their vintage items, Hannah laughs and says, “We don’t want to reveal our sources for vintage.”

They work with many Colorado and regional makers–businesses like Los Poblanos, a lavender farm in New Mexico, and Colorado artists Arna Miller and Ravi Zupa, a wife and husband team that has created a collection of art featuring drunk cats making questionable decisions. MST Goods carries signed and mounted pieces, as well as the most popular item in the store: drunk cat matchboxes.

“If we hear someone laughing in the store, we know they’re probably reading the drunk cats,” Jessie says.

Other unusual items include solid cologne by Fulton and Roark. The fragrances come in square, refillable, soap-like bars with names like Ramble and Lost Man. Secrid wallets from Holland are another fan favorite. They’re slim, hold six cards and allow instant access to all of those cards at the push of a lever. Brilliant. Then, there are those racks of gorgeous apparel.

Stop by regularly, as other merchandise is in backstock, just waiting for a spot on the floor.

“We have a unique collection of brands that you don’t see in Colorado Springs,” Hannah says. “It’s a fun, eclectic mix. We have a little something for everybody.”

Website: https://mstgoods.com/ Facebook: @MSTGoods Instagram: @MST_Goods

The Heidrich family has been in the tree business since 1977. Over the years, they have worked hard to establish a successful and trusted business here in our community. As residents in one of the toughest growing climates in the country, they saw a need for trees, shrubs and perennial plants that people could successfully grow. In the beginning, almost all the tree inventory was “collected” or dug up from its natural habitat. This insured that the trees were acclimated to the local environment. Today, most of the trees are sourced from contract growers that raise trees in similar climates. There is still a small percentage of “collected” trees like pinon pines, ponderosa pines, bristlecone pines, douglas fir and white fir.

PFULL-SERVICE TREE FARM

REPAREFOR PL ANTINGSEASO N

The Heidrichs take pride in helping their customers select, purchase, plant and care for their trees and plants. Their farm employs knowledgeable staff to ensure that patrons are able to access

Heidrich’s Colorado Tree Farm Nursery: Trees + Plants for Colorado’s Harsh Growing Climate

ARTICLE BY CARA BUKACEK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HEIDRICH’S COLORADO TREE FARM NURSERY

information, assistance and guidance. Four of their employees hold a CCNP certification (Certified Colorado Nursery Professional). Every plant and tree comes with a hassle-free guarantee.

PREPARE FOR PLANTING SEASON

With the growing season soon approaching, co-owner Levi Heidrich provided a list of tips to help homeowners prepare for the planting season:

• Start planning early! The winter months are a slower period at the tree farm and employees have more time to spend helping you plan, select, and organize your planting. Bring a picture of your space to help the experts understand your needs.

• Study your space. Imagine how the plants and trees will look in 20 years. It’s important not to overplant your space.

• Check your HOA requirements. Many HOAs have requirements on size, number of plants and banned species.

• Keep an open mind. The experts may suggest plants and trees that are more appropriate for your needs and space.

• Make sure your planting area has adequate drainage.

• If you’re overwhelmed by the landscaping process... Heidrich’s can organize a paid consultant to come to your home and help you make decisions on placement, plant selections, and to provide guidance on next steps.

• Plant early! March and April are the perfect time to plant trees and shrubs. The cool temperatures and abundant rain provide a wonderful start for plants. There is also a full stock of plants and trees to choose from.

“At Heidrich’s, we truly care about what we do,” Heidrich says. “We strive to provide the highest level of products and services to our customers. We live here, too, and understand the needs of our community.”

Website: https://www.coloradotreefarmnursery.com/

Facebook: @HeidrichsCTFN

Instagram: @Heidrichs.CTFN

Live Intentionally

ARTICLE BY ROCHELLE REEDER PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA RACHELLE PHOTOGRAPHY

It’s a philosophy.

Sunday afternoons are for self-care. They are for unplugging and being intentional with your time and efforts. It is about eliminating noise and seeing simple as good enough.

SLOWING DOWN

Hannah Duffy met her husband in Ireland. There, she learned the European way of life–a slower way of life. Function can be beautiful, and one quality item can suffice. Slowing down and creating connections are what makes one truly rich.

Duffy, owner of Idyll Manor downtown, is more focused on teaching her customers how to slow down. Counterintuitive to the American

IDYLL MANOR:

FOCUSING ON A SLOWER WAY OF LIFE

“THEY ARE QUALITY THINGS. THEY ARE CLASSIC THINGS.

THEY ARE TIMELESS THINGS.”

way of life that has been created to honor the hustle, Duffy stresses the need for intentionality and giving her patrons the permission to slow down and focus on connection.

Yes, there are things to purchase in her shop. They are quality things. They are classic things. They are timeless things.

Candles that burn for 80 hours, jewelry that does not tarnish, cutting boards made to be used but also made to last, cast iron that is beautiful and also functional.

TURNING TASKS INTO EXPERIENCES

Consider the taper candles.

Duffy didn’t go on about the sourcing, burn time or ingredients. She explained how she liked to light taper candles as she was cooking dinner. She lights the candles, pours herself a glass of wine, then begins the cooking process. She described an experience in place of what some would see as a task. This mindset turned a thing into a part of an experience.

So many times, life is seen as a task. There are things to be completed to get on to the next thing. But Duffy is passionate about life. Making dinner, for instance, needs to be done every day, but it doesn't need to be seen as a tedious task to complete before moving on to the next thing. Making dinner can be enjoyed or even looked forward to.

A shower or bath can be elevated by quality sourced products and intentionality will turn it from a task into a self-care event. A Sunday afternoon can be an intentional time to create a piece of art for the home.

And so on.

Duffy wants her patrons to be able to walk into her store and say yes to intentional living. To take the standard and elevate it to fully live life–not just to get through it.

Website: https://idyllmanor.com/ Facebook + Instagram: @IdyllManor

TRADITIONAL MOONSHINE + Modern TWIST

Mike Girard, owner of 3 Hundred Days Distilling, spent more than 22 years in the military as a bomb technician. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan disarming and dismantling bombs to help protect his brothers in arms. As an explosive ordnance disposal (OED) tech, Girard was highly trained in the chemistry of bomb making to better assist in his efforts. This knowledge eventually came in handy, but for a very different application.

INGENUITY IN ACTION

During deployments, he often had downtime between action. Alcohol wasn’t available and Girard overheard others talking about turning their pallets of A&W Root Beer into hooch. He was inspired to create an experiment to see if he could make a working still.

For training purposes, Girard had in his possession a dismantled IED made out of an old pressure cooker. He scavenged the base for materials and also sourced copper tubing and a hot plate. Using A&W Root Beer, distiller’s yeast, and his newly constructed still, Girard set about distilling his first batch of moonshine. Using available test equipment, he confirmed that what he had created was indeed alcohol.

COLORADO INFLUENCE

Once home, Girard continued to try new recipes. He also began researching the history of Colorado Moonshine. He discovered that in the days of prohibition, moonshine was made with

beet sugar, one of Colorado’s largest cash crops at the time. They also used baker’s yeast–not distiller’s yeast. The secret to keeping the yeast happy and healthy is a rather odd nutritional ingredient: tomato sauce. Girard embraced the idea of creating traditional Colorado moonshine, but with a modern twist. The beet sugar is locally sourced out of Ft. Morgan, Colo. As another nod to Colorado, Girard chose the name 3 Hundred Days of Shine, 3 Hundred Days Distilling, referring to the State’s abundant sunshine.

MOONSHINE SUCCESS

Eventually, Girard’s moonshine caught the attention of

ARTICLE BY CARA BUKACEK PHOTOGRAPHY BY 3 HUNDRED DAYS

DISTILLING

3 Hundred Days

Distilling:

“I lost so much time with them while I served and am now so lucky to be surrounded by them every day.”

some local investors. They helped him open his first commercial distillery, bar and tasting room, located in Monument. His distillery was so successful that he turned a profit in the first year and has been in the black ever since.

“The best part of this business is that it employs and sustains my entire family," Girard says. "I lost so much time with them while I served and am now so lucky to be surrounded by them every day.”

The modern twist that Girard applies to his traditional moonshine is the numerous recipes using all natural ingredients, which has resulted in several award-winning styles. He also makes a barrel-aged moonshine that is strikingly similar to high-quality whiskeys and bourbons. Whatever your preferred flavor profile, there is a moonshine to please your pallet.

Website: https://www.3hundreddays.com/ Instagram + Facebook: @3HundredDaysOfShine

Amanda

719-464-5822

aalenius@humana.com

humana.com/aalenius

TREASURE TROVE FOR ALL THINGS OUTDOORS

ARTICLE BY SYDNEY SCHARDT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

Mountain Equipment Recyclers: Breaking the Barrier to Outdoor Recreation

Ski. Ride. Camp. Hike. Fish. Cycle. Climb. Paddle.

Coloradans are no strangers to the countless outdoor escapades our beautiful state has to offer. Combine a collective love for the outdoors with our city’s knack for community involvement and it would be tough to find a business more befitting Colorado Springs than Mountain Equipment Recyclers (MER).

MER is a treasure trove for all things outdoors. As a retail and consignment outdoor gear store with a mission to “redistribute the reward,” it offers both new and used high-quality outdoor equipment. Camping, backpacking,

skiing, snowboarding, hiking, cycling, running, climbing, fly fishing, canoeing/ kayaking... this outfitter is fitted with the stuff of a Colorado adventurer’s dreams.

GOOD CAUSE

Founded in 2010, owner Mike Mazzola opened a consignment gear shop with the goal of supporting military non profits and giving back to relief programs that assisted PTSD-affected soldiers returning from combat. It wasn’t long before additional nonprofits began rallying behind the cause. In return, MER’s outdoor gear quickly became the currency of a community.

Now partnering with countless charitable organizations in the Colorado Springs community, MER has given over $100,000 to local charities and continues to break the barrier to outdoor recreation through its intentional sales, bridging sustainability with purpose and fostering the community’s inevitable love for the outdoors.

Beginning in 2017, MER took its initiative a step further, selling the business to local nonprofit Kids on Bikes, which enabled MER to operate as a social business. That meant 100 percent of their net profits could be directly dispersed to charitable causes. Partnering with Kids on Bikes also allowed MER to bring in the Pedal Station Community Bike Center; MER now houses the largest selection of quality preowned and refurbished bikes in the area.

CHOOSE WHERE YOUR DOLLARS GO

“What makes MER unique is the fact that people have a vote about where their dollar goes,” explains General Manager Ryan Gentges. “Whether they donate or consign with MER, they get to choose which partnering foundation benefits from the profits of their item. As a veteran myself, I find great intrinsic value in MER’s mission to bring awareness and recognition to the work local charities are doing.”

So, the next time you’re planning an outdoor adventure, outfit yourself at MER and know that every penny makes all the difference to the community around you.

Website: https://www.merecyclers.com/ Facebook + Instagram: @MERecyclers

Over 20 years of award-winning,

5-star event catering in Colorado Springs

Our decadent food and beverage options, created by Executive Chef Devin Spear, formerly of Michelin-star restaurant Marea in New York City, along with our excellent service, have earned us Best Of awards from The Knot, CSIndy, and The Colorado Springs Gazette and the opportunity to work with elite local institutions.

Flavors of Mexico

Inefable: Bringing the Seven Regions of Mexican Cuisine to Colorado Springs

ARTICLE BY CARA BUKACEK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BORDON INC PHOTOGRAPHY

Mexico is a large and geographically diverse country. Its regions comprise lush jungles, arid desserts, and thousands of miles of coastline. There are, in fact, seven distinct regional cuisines in Mexico that have been developed from the native crops, spices and proteins of each region.

Chef Fernando Trancoso’s concept for his new restaurant, Inefable, is to bring these varied regional flavors to Colorado Springs.

LEARNING THE ROPES

Born in Central Mexico, Trancoso moved to Santa Fe at the age of 16. He worked in various restaurants throughout his life and gradually climbed the ranks, learning everything he could about the industry. He educated himself about wine, ingredients and cooking techniques, and practiced his skills at home.

LAYING DOWN NEW ROOTS

For many years, he managed some of the toprated restaurants in Santa Fe. While he loved his work, his ultimate goal was to own his own restaurant. In 2020, when the pandemic shut down dine-in establishments, he relocated to Colorado Springs and invested in a food truck. His food truck, Tepex, introduced the city to authentic central Mexican cuisine and quickly amassed a huge following.

A PHYSICAL LOCATION

In 2023, local food hall Avenue 19 opened in downtown Colorado Springs. Many of Trancoso’s fellow food truck operators opted to move their businesses to this physical location. They invited him to come and check out the new space. Serendipitously upon his visit, Trancoso also met general manager Phil Duhon. Trancoso pitched his idea for a potential restaurant and arranged a special dinner to highlight his concept.

Inefable was born.

Trancoso, a logophile, has always loved the word Inefable {een-eh-fah-bleh} and what the

“His food truck, Tepex, introduced the city to authentic central Mexican cuisine and quickly amassed a huge following.”

word represents. The word simply means: “Too great to be expressed or described in words.” It perfectly encompasses what any great chef hopes to evoke with their cuisine.

THE MENU

The menu at Inefable reflects the various regions of Mexico while also including Colorado favorites such as pork belly and Hatch green chili macaroni and cheese and steak with garlic rosemary fries. Trancoso considers his signature dish to be his Pato al Pipian,  which is duck confit with toasted pumpkin seed green mole.

“This dish is a play on carnitas,” Trancoso says. “The cooking technique for confit and carnitas are very much the same. The duck is cooked low and slow in its own fat and juices.”

Trancoso plans to rotate the menu two to three times per year, as well as to offer special menus for events and holidays.

Website: https://inefableat19.com/ Facebook + Instagram: @InefableCOS

DO YOU SMILE WITH CONFIDENCE?

ZONE BLUE

What’s the secret to a happy, healthy, and long life? Believe it or not, it’s actually quite simple: There are no secret ingredients, no sizable expenditures, and absolutely zero manufactured elements of any kind. Dive in with us as we share insights from our interview with the internationally renowned Blue Zones Founder, National Geographic Explorer, and award-winning journalist who is revolutionizing the way Americans make choices that can lead to living your best life.

For over twenty years, Dan Buettner has been fully committed to studying the health and longevity of Americans as well as influencing the proper and attainable health-centric environments our communities should embody. What started with identifying five “blue zones” around the world where people are both living longer as well as enjoying a higher quality of life in their elder years has now also evolved into proactively creating eco-systems where our communities engage in setting the standard for clean health.

Most of us are well aware of the “American way of life” we reside in, that being one of convenience in all shapes and forms. We excel in offering the most fast food options in any country. We rank at the top of the most cars per household. We embrace a sedentary at-home lifestyle. In short, we categorically live in a country where processed foods and ultra-convenience, unfortunately, translate to life-threatening health diseases and a lack of organic joy.

What is the best news of all? All of these characteristics are wildly easy to overcome with effortless, yet conscious pivots to making better decisions with our time, our food, and our focus. Ask yourself: Are you driving or walking? Are you connecting socially? Set your sights on avoiding the majority of processed foods and start eating a largely whole-food and plant-based diet that will (statistically) give you another 10-12 years on your life.

Buettner’s first cookbook, The Blue Zones Kitchen, is a fantastic resource featuring ingredients and cooking methods that can increase longevity, wellness, and mental health. The recipes also include lifestyle tips such as proper portion sizes and the best times to eat dinner. Plus, check out his additional seven books that dig deep into the exact foods you should eat to how your circle of friends and family can influence your quality of life.

Who do you hang out with? Happiness is contagious. “The Blue Zone approach is to go through your contact base and think of some friends whose recreation is pickleball, biking, or gardening. Who will care about you on a bad day and have a meaningful conversation? Identify one or two friends who are vegan or vegetarian and show you how and where to eat whole foods. Actively invite them out for lunch, and bring them into your social circle: this will have a bigger, long-term impact on your behavior than any new diet or exercise, and it costs you zero. Plus, there is a ton of data that shows it works, and it’s long-term.”

Every time you go out to eat, you will consume an extra 300 calories that are laden with more sodium, sugar, and oil than eating at home. “Get your hands on a plant-based cookbook, pick a dozen recipes, and cook those with your family on Sundays. If you make the effort to cook it with your family, you will gain the skills and learn to make some good and whole food plant-based recipes.”

Tap into Dan’s wisdom that is creating a new category of places that are not merely the legacy of a healthy culture, but more consciously created by enlightened individuals that are intent on supercharging healthier communities!

Claim your home-away-from-home with a Garden of the Gods Club Membership. Choose a membership category fit just for your lifestyle. Enjoy world-class activities, amenities, social calendar of events and parties, luxury accommodations, and countless other exclusive benefits.

Explore membership today with a free tour!

Strata Med’s concierge approach to health shifts your goals from treating symptoms, to a comprehensive path towards whole body healing. Our team of skilled practitioners are here to help you reach your wellness goals through a personalized treatment plan, integrating Eastern and Western medicine.

MARCH 2024

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

MARCH 2ND

17th Annual Firkin Fest

Ivywild Gym | 1:00 PM

Bristol Brewing presents the 17th annual Firkin Fest, a cask ale celebration to benefit the Colorado Brewers Guild! Come on down and sample cask conditioned ales from a variety of Colorado breweries, with beer styles ranging from traditional to eccentric and everything in between. Firkin Fest 2024 will take place in the Ivywild School Gym. https://events.humanitix.com/firkin-fest-2024

MARCH 2ND

Sidewalk Astronomy - Colorado Springs Astronomical Society

Bear Creek Nature Center | 9:00 AM

Observe the sun through special solar telescopes operated by CSASTRO members. These telescopes enable amazing views of surface features, filaments, prominences, and flares on the Sun that can't be seen with ordinary telescopes or eclipse glasses. Free, drop in program. https://csastro.org/events-calendar/event/sun-day-in-the-park-bear-creek-nature-center-saturday-march-2nd-9-am-noon/

MARCH 3RD

Young Dubliners

The Black Sheep | 7:00 PM

After 30 years as one of the world’s leading Celtic Rock bands, the Young Dubliners have begun work on their tenth studio album. They have appeared on TV shows, had songs featured in TV shows and toured extensively as a headliner and as the opener for artists such as Collective Soul, Jethro Tull, Johnny Lang, Los Lobos and Chris Isaak. https://www.blacksheeprocks.com/

MARCH 14TH

Colorado Springs National Money Show

The Broadmoor | 10:00 AM

View millions in rare coins and numismatic treasures. See a legendary million-dollar penny and more than $100 million of other rare coins and paper money. Admission is free and visitors can find out what their old coins and currency may be worth. Buy, sell and trade with hundreds of coin dealers, attend lectures and presentations from noted numismatists. https://www.money.org/nationalmoneyshow/

MARCH 14TH

Cats

ENT Center for the Arts | 7:30 PM

In 1981 at the New London Theatre, a musical based on a little poem by T.S. Eliot changed the theatre world. Cats played there for 21 years and became the definition of a mega-musical. Cats is far more than just a whimsical tale about alley cats. It’s a human story of love, pain, growth, aging, and redemption. Runs through March 24. https://tickets.entcenterforthearts.org/4289/4290

MARCH 16TH

Atlanta Rhythm Section

Boot Barn Hall | 7:00 PM

Formed from the cream of Atlanta’s studio musicians, the Atlanta Rhythm Section came together in 1970 after working on a Roy Orbison recording session. In 1977, “So In To You” became the band’s breakthrough single. Their platinum follow-up album, Champagne Jam, broke into the Top 10 in 1978. The band got back together in the mid-‘90s. https://www.bootbarnhallco.com/upcomingevents?loxi_pathname=%2Fatlanta-rhythm-section-2-1552

MARCH 20TH

Lunch & Learn: Colorado Springs and the Eclipse of 1878

Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum | 12:00 PM

The total solar eclipse of 1878 brought the world’s greatest astronomers to the American West. Tourists crowded the streets, while astronomers carted a huge telescope to the summit of Pikes Peak. Hear about an exciting scientific event in our city’s early history. Steve Ruskin, PhD, is the author of the book America’s First Great Eclipse.  https://give.cspm.org/event/lunch-and-learn-colorado-springsand-the-eclipse-of-1878/e550419

MARCH 20TH

Jazz 93.5 Ad-Lib Lab

The Carter Payne | 5:30 PM

Young musicians can play with a professional host band at this free jam session! Open to all musicians, especially high school and college jazz musicians. Come prepared with one or two songs that you can play with the host band. The event is free for musicians and audience members. https://www.jazz935.org/events/

MARCH 23RD

The Organ Symphony

Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts | 7:30 PM

Since its premier in 1886, Camille Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony’s exhilarating finale continues to be one of the most beloved works in music. With Maestra Chloé van Soeterstède at the helm, The Philharmonic travels through time celebrating works from different eras. Cello virtuoso Zlatomir Fung explores Anna Clyne’s  DANCE,  inspired by mystical poet, Rumi. 30-minute pre-concert conversation. https://csphilharmonic.org/event/the-organ-symphony/