CURATE YOUR DREAM OUTDOOR SPACE
Schedule
The Foodie Issue: Who, What, When, Yum
Welcome fall! This month we bring to you our Foodie Issue, filled with ideas for what to eat, where to eat it, and who’s making it. October is our most delectable issue of the year, filled with some of our favorite dishes and beverages around town.
We had the pleasure of talking to Justin Adrian, longtime chef and president of operations at Vibe Concepts, a locally owned restaurant group that owns the new Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse in Lone Tree. The ThunderRidge High School graduate talks about finding success after his time at the bottom and his desire to offer support and mentoring to others in the often-grueling restaurant industry.
And get your tastebuds ready, you are in for a treat. We catch up with Larry Herz, former restaurateur who now runs his channels Ocn Eats and Ocn Drinks (which stands for Our Community Now) as a local restaurant promoter. He gives us the skinny on what to eat right now.
There is definitely an art to creating a flavorful dish that not only satisfies our taste buds but evokes memories. Autumn starts the season for comfort and nostalgia; the aroma of certain spices and foods can bring us right back to our childhood. Food brings us all together, and whether we are sharing a meal with loved ones or enjoying a night out on the town, the time spent together while enjoying food is invaluable.
As always, thanks for reading, and we’ll see you around town!
SONJA NIX, MANAGING EDITOR @HIGHLANDSRANCHCITYLIFESTYLE
October 2024
PUBLISHER
Jennifer Starbuck | Jennifer.Starbuck@CityLifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Sonja Nix | Sonja.Nix@CityLifestyle.com
PHOTO EDITOR
Lisa Lord | lisa@photolilo.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Angie Jehu | Angie.Jehu@CityLifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Larry Herz, Savannah Jaggears, Sonja Nix
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Lindsay Barlow, Larry Herz, Gregory Jaggears
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad
LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh
city scene
1—3: 100 Women Who Care Douglas County was proud to award over $14,000 to Help & Hope Center. The Help & Hope Center supports more than 30,000 Douglas and Elbert County residents in financial distress in navigating troublesome times with dignity. 100 Women Who Care Douglas County, led by volunteer Suzanne Wexler, is a group of local women eager to give back to the local community. 4—6: The Rotary Club of Highlands Ranch members pictured at its beer booth at Western Welcome Week in Old Town Littleton in August. They also sold western slope peaches to raise funds to send local students to leadership camp.
Agape Senior Daycare
Agape Senior Daycare is opening its new Lone Tree location on Oct.1. Looking for a lively and supportive environment for seniors to flourish? The goal is to improve a loved one’s quality of life through enjoyable activities, meals, and personalized care. The day program offers a safe place for loved ones while ensuring caregivers have peace of mind, knowing they are cared for. Open 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in a beautiful home overlooking the Rocky Mountains. agapeseniordaycare.com
Douglas County Community Foundation Announces 2024 Hero Award Recipients
The Douglas County Community Foundation is excited to announce the recipients of its Hero Awards, presented at the DCCF Heroes Gala Sept. 13. Law Enforcement Hero: Corporal Grant Collins, Lone Tree Police Department with special honors to the Douglas County Community Response Team and Clinician Sophia Lind. Fire Rescue Hero: Douglas County Search and Rescue Veteran Hero: U.S. Marine Corporal Ryan Garza (Ret.) Community Hero: Emily M. Davenport, CWR and Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance
Say saluti with family and friends in a space that will have you feeling like a world away from home. Couple this with any of our beauty services or treatments and you’ve got an event your guests will not stop talking about.
PERFECT FOR
Holiday Parties |Team-Building Outings | Meetings | Networking Mixers | Bachelorette Parties | Bridal Showers | Birthdays.
ARTICLE BY SONJA NIX | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
PUNK KID TO PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, A JOURNEY OF SUCCESS
VIBES, TRIBES AND GOOD TIMES
At age 14, after getting into some trouble, Justin Adrian moved to Texas to work under his uncle, Master Chef Michael Scott.
Mike, purchased DU hang-out Spanky’s Roadhouse in the mid-90s. There, they built Vibe’s founding principles: customer service, quality, and community.
“ENTERTAINING, BRINGING PEOPLE JOY THROUGH FOOD, ATMOSPHERE, CULTURE, MUSIC, VIBES AND SETTING…”
Given a flimsy aluminum vegetable peeler, a small counter at the back of the kitchen, and 150 pounds of carrots and potatoes, Justin's initiation into the restaurant business was not for the faint-hearted. It took several hours to peel and chop; the peeler broke, and he had blisters on his hands. Once done, his uncle picked up the veggies, walked out the back of the restaurant, and dumped them in the dumpster. Justin spent the next two weeks working to pay them off.
This might sound harsh, but anyone who has spent significant time working in restaurant kitchens has experienced something similar. It was Justin’s initiation into the restaurant tribe.
“I was a punk kid with a bad attitude; he wanted me to get a taste of what to expect,” he says. “After that, it was game-on.”
And game-on it has been. Justin is now the president of operations at locally owned restaurant group Vibe Concepts. Vibe’s owner, Lone Tree resident Dan Shipp, with brothers John and
Vibe now owns and operates Roadhouse restaurants in Boulder, Keystone, Beaver Creek, and Reivers in Wash Park. Their portfolio includes T-Street Restaurants in Lakewood and Aurora, and The Great Divide Brewery and Roadhouse in Castle Rock and Lone Tree.
After his formative experience in Texas, Justin returned to the Denver area. He balanced a 40-hour workweek at the old Bisetti’s in Highlands Ranch with living independently and graduated from ThunderRidge High School. His post-high school years included stints under renowned chefs in Texas, California, and the Virgin Islands.
Justin joined the Vibe family as the executive chef at the now-closed Hodson’s, moved into a general manager position, then Vibe culinary development, and now oversees all 11 restaurants. With his coifed mohawk and tattoos, Justin is an executive for the 21st century. You won't find him confined behind a desk or in a three-piece suit. If you ask for his business card, he’ll offer an e-card.
Justin’s story is both typical and unique. Restaurant kitchens often draw those looking for a non-conventional path for a multitude of reasons. One quality shared among most restaurant people is the ability to thrive among the chaos and the thrill of an adrenaline rush.
“The synergy is fast and fun, constantly meeting new people, new energy, and new relationships,” Justin says, accurate for the servers, the kitchen workers, and the executives. “Every day that goes by, I get a new grey hair on my head. I still love it.” He attributes the marriage of his passion for people and his love of food as what differentiated him coming up in the restaurant business.
“Entertaining, bringing people joy through food, atmosphere, culture, music, vibes and setting . . . I’ve been blessed to work under talented chefs, and I want to bring that here.”
He and the Vibe team are constantly working on building people up in the industry, creating longevity and retention, and making this a viable career path for the people he works with.
Media hype surrounds restaurant work, as evidenced by the likes of Anthony Bourdain, Gordon Ramsay and other celebrity chefs. The glorification and easy entry draw many young people to the industry. But the physically demanding work and grueling hours are lost in those portrayals. Justin strives to give his employees a safe space and a healthy environment.
“HE ISN’T
RUNNING FROM THE CHAOS, BUT
TOWARD IT.”
Justin sat on The Angel Relief Fund Executive Committee and was honored to participate with other industry leaders to provide a resource for financial stability for industry workers. A function of the Colorado Restaurant Association, it grew from the growing need for addiction-related treatment during COVID-19. He also served as VP of Health and Wellness for the Colorado Restaurant Association Foundation.
Time off for Justin isn’t running from the chaos but toward it. He skydives more than 100 times a year, rides motorcycles and snowboards, and has recently started rock climbing. Sleep isn't a priority for him; he is grabbing all he can from life.
Justin’s advice to young professionals entering the industry is simple yet profound: hard work pays off. He encourages them to stick with it, choose a dedicated team that hustles, and find mentors willing to share their knowledge. Justin himself is driven by the desire to be one of those mentors, a testament to the value of perseverance in this challenging yet rewarding field.
Living Al Fresco
ARTICLE BY SONJA NIX
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDSAY BARLOW
Outdoor Spaces for Three Seasons
Elite Landscape Outdoor Living and Pamela and Rich Cutshall (with children and four-legged family member Koda) gave Highlands Ranch City Lifestyle a sneak peek at their newly renovated backyard. These Chicago transplants love Colorado's outdoor living and called on Elite to help maximize their views in their BackCountry home.
GIVE OUR READERS A DESCRIPTION OF THE SPACE BEFORE AND AFTER THE CHANGES MADE.
Elite: The homeowners built this home in 2019. The original deck was small, and the yard sloped, making it unusable.
The Cutshall Family: The original deck was only functional for a meal outside but not truly functional for entertaining. The ground-level patio had a fire pit, which we rarely used. The heavily sloped yard contributed to our disinterest in sitting there.
Elite: The Cutshalls wanted a fresh new look that would maximize the use of their outdoor space, create a more inviting atmosphere, and seamlessly blend with their home's aesthetic and BackCountry’s natural environment. Design elements included moving the stairs and installing a sleek, contemporary handrail. A deck expansion using high-quality, low-maintenance decking designed for Colorado’s weather conditions expanded the deck further around the house to maximize the view. Adding square footage and natural light, a stylish and functional space allows year-round use and a comfortable seating area with a fire pit to entertain guests.
The family loves the outdoors, with growing children and a recently adopted new puppy added to their clan. We leveled the lower yard to remove the significant slope. New lighting was installed above
“A fresh new look to maximize the use of their outdoor space, create an inviting atmosphere, and seamlessly blend with the home’s aesthetic and BackCountry’s natural environment.”
and below the deck, as well as recessed stair lighting to create a warm, inviting ambiance.
The upper deck created space for grilling and dining, while the lower level featured a lounging and playing space.
Cutshalls : We replaced grass with pet-safe turf for aesthetics, water conservation, and to prevent wildlife issues like voles. The turf is visually appealing. We now have three-direction views: the mountains, the windmill, and open space views. The wire railings opened our view and helped us feel a part of the open space beyond our yard.
Elite helped us install a massive hanging swing under the covered deck on the lower patio. They added lighting which creates beautiful aesthetics in the evening. The side fencing and new plants help keep our new puppy enclosed and safe.
TELL OUR READERS WHAT MAKES PROJECTS IN BACKCOUNTRY UNIQUE.
Elite: The community of BackCountry in Highlands Ranch is known for its breathtaking mountain and city views, natural landscape and trails, expansive open space, and architectural diversity. Our projects here are designed to enhance these natural features, creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor environments to maximize the beauty of the surroundings.
Homes and structures in BackCountry are designed to blend harmoniously with the natural environment, so we use materials that complement the landscape, such as natural stone, wood, and earth-toned finishes. The goal is to create a seamless transition between the home and its surroundings while creating space for families to grow over the years.
“We love it for family time and spending time outside with the kids and puppy. The
kids go outside daily to run around in the yard.”
HOW DO YOU USE YOUR NEW DECK AND BACKYARD SPACE?
The emphasis on outdoor living is a hallmark of BackCountry projects, and projects here often include expansive decks, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, patios, water features, landscaped gardens, and lighting designed for entertaining. These spaces make the most of the area’s stunning views.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE BACKCOUNTRY AS A PLACE TO LIVE?
Cutshalls: The overall feel of the neighborhood, the incorporation of nature and natural features throughout, the available amenities, and the larger Highlands Ranch community.
Cutshalls: We love it for family time and spending time outside with the kids and puppy. We’ll certainly do more entertaining. The kids go outside daily to run in the (now flat) yard and the patio.
Elite Landscape & Outdoor Living is a leading landscape design, construction, and maintenance firm founded in 1990. A generational family business, it brings its clients' visions to life by creating extraordinary outdoor spaces, delivering exceptional quality, and exceeding expectations. denverelitelandscaping.com
Laura Tarket-Johnson, owner of T is for Table, designed the autumn tablescape pictured here. Located in the Streets of Southglenn since April 2017, they offer one-of-a-kind products and customer experiences, along with customized concierge shopping. shoptisfortablecolorado.com
Colorado Eye Consultants welcomes board-certified and ASOPRS fellowship trained ophthalmologist, Dr. Carl Rebhun, specializing in Oculofacial Plastic Surgery. His extensive training has helped him to establish his reputation as a highly skillful surgeon who utilizes the latest and most innovative techniques, to obtain exceptional, natural looking results. This approach, along with a compassionate bedside manner and dedication to helping others, has led Dr. Rebhun to help his patients achieve their medical and cosmetic goals through both surgical and non-surgical procedures. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, please contact us at (303) 730-0404.
SOUTHERN STYLE GOULASH
WELCOME HARVEST WITH THIS SIMPLE SOUP RECIPE
HistoryToday.com explains that goulash is a beefy soup that originated in the barren beauty of the Hungarian plains during the ninth century. The dish was prepared by Hungarian Cowboys who spent months roaming the vast expanses of Eastern Europe on horseback while tending to their cattle. A lifestyle of sleeping under the stars calls for simple meals. Such soups spread throughout Europe and later across the world.
Though the soup is intimately linked with Hungarian culture, my
grandmother created a Southernstyle version. To make supper time feel fancy, she embellished this easy weeknight meal by describing it as a special recipe from Hungary. She was known to stretch the truth with her imaginative tales, but she was right about this recipe’s origin.
Goulash is a quick, economical dinner with robust tomatoes and macaroni noodles for any working mom to whip up on a whim.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 Pound Cooked Ground Beef
• 1 Yellow Onion Diced
• 4-5 Russet Potatoes Peeled and Cut into Cubes
• 1- 28 Ounce Can of Whole Tomatoes
• 1 Cup Elbow Macaroni Noodles
• Salt and Course-Ground Black Pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat a lightly greased pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
2. Add the ground beef and brown.
3. Drain off any liquid or grease. Return to pot or Dutch oven to heat.
4. Add in onion, potatoes, tomatoes, salt and pepper.
5. Cover with water and boil. Stir occasionally, add more water as needed and until potatoes are cooked.
6. Stir in noodles and simmer until the noodles are fully cooked.
7. Serve with Southern cornbread.
ARTICLE BY SAVANNA JAGGEARS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREGORY JAGGEARS
Local Hidden Gems
OcnEats Shares His Favorite Off-the-Beaten-Path Eateries
Larry Herz of Ocn Eats is a New Yorker turned Coloradan, former restaurateur, food influencer, YouTube personality, and restaurant promoter. What he isn't ... a food critic. Now, he uses his passion for great food to highlight the remarkable dining that the Denver Metro and Boulder areas offer. Find him at ocneats.com or @Ocn_Eats
NEARBY
GQue BBQ
This fast-casual BBQ joint is tucked away on a secluded street at The Vistas at Park Meadows mall. Despite its hidden location, it’s a bustling spot that's always worth a visit. Like all great BBQ spots, they tend to run out of food later in the evening, so arrive early. Their smoked wings, potentially among the best in town, are a must-try. To top it off, they offer a selection of beer, wine, Bourbon, and their own ice cream shop, Ice Cream Farm.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY
BY LARRY HERZ
Sazón
Located on Park Meadows Drive in Lone Tree, next to a better-known Mexican restaurant, it is my go-to for tacos and margaritas. This mom-and-pop spot serves Mexican and Latin American fare. The unbeatable Taco Tuesday deal offers each taco at just $2.99. My top pick is the Vampiro, a unique creation that's a delightful blend of a taco, tostada, and quesadilla. It all starts with a grilled corn tortilla, layered with Sazon's signature Mexican cheese blend, grilled hanger steak, chorizo, bacon, onion, cilantro, and a hint of lime.
Sazón
GQue
Urban Village Grill
Located by Nordstrom in Park Meadows Mall, this Indian restaurant offers a fresh take on Indian cuisine. The Kale Chaat is one of my all-time favorite dishes made with fried kale, onions, tomatoes topped with mint & cilantro purée, tangy tamarind, and cucumber yogurt.
Nami Ramen and Poke
Even though the address is Englewood, it’s actually located just east of I-25 on Lincoln on Oswego Street. Expect to experience ramen like it was meant to be – with thick, rich broth in perfect balance with handmade noodles. Discover a wide array of authentic toppings, from tender pork chasu to a perfectly cooked and seasoned poached egg to fresh garlic, that will take your ramen bowl to the next level. Then, elevate your experience further by pairing it with small plates. Chef Zhang will bring you an authentic taste of Japan. He has over 7+ years of experience as a Sushi Chef at Sushi Den, the legendary sushi restaurant in Colorado.
Red Llama
Definition of a hidden gem located in a strip mall on County Line and Willow Street in Lone Tree. They serve authentic Peruvian cuisine, and they change the menu daily. Run by a husband and wife team, he cooks, and she runs the front of the house. The ambiance is cozy and the service is friendly. Don’t be intimidated by not knowing what to order. The first question is, have you tried Peruvian food before? The Peruvian Ceviche and Lomo Saltado are to die for. Lomo Satado is top loin strips marinated with Peruvian seasonings and fused with Asian influences. This dish is stir-fried with red onions, parsley, and tomatoes.
Nami
Red Llama
Urban Village
NOT TOO FAR
Carrera’s Tacos
This is one of my favorite restaurants ever. The Carrera brothers are bringing West Coast Mexican food where they grew up to Greenwood Village. Go hungry as their portions are generous. It doesn’t matter what you order; your eyes will roll back in your head no matter what you try. A few must-haves are the Elote, Spicy Pork Ribs, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich on a Concha, and always finish with the made-to-order Churro bites.
Pat’s Steaks and Subs
This is my favorite sandwich shop in the South Metro, brought to you by an ex-Philadelphian. Yes, his cheesesteaks are the real deal, but he also makes a great pastrami sandwich, hamburger, and Cubano. Try the Ocn Eats sandwich with grilled turkey, creamy cole slaw, Thousand Island, bacon, and melted pepper jack cheese on a perfect baguette.
CoArk Collective
Find this Korean food hall in Centennial on the corner of Parker and Arapahoe Roads. They opened on January 2023 with 10 vendor stalls featuring over 300 items of Korean street food, desserts, and beverages.
Colonna’s Pizza and Pasta
Located next to the Safeway on Arapahoe and Quebec in Centennial, this ex-New Yorker is a pizza snob and is my go-to spot for authentic New York-style pizza. They always have traditional and not-so-traditional slices available, including a fantastic Buffalo Chicken pizza. Insider Tip: Try the sausage fajita pizza.
Bud’s Cafe & Bar
Open in Sedalia since 1948, they are in the conversation for the best burger in the South Metro, especially for the price. The menu only has a choice of burger or cheeseburger. You can make it a double for less than $8 and it comes with a bag of chips, no fries! Also, bring cash as they don’t take credit cards.
Colonna’s
Carrera's
Pat's
Bud's
CoArk
PUMPKIN PERFECTION
Put the carving tools down and check out how you can add some pizzazz to your pumpkins with just a paint brush.
the CREEPY crawler
For this design, you’ll need several pumpkins or gourds in various shapes and sizes, some white and metallic acrylic paint, hot glue and some fake creepy crawlers.
Paint your “background” pumpkins in metallic colors. For your centerpiece, use white paint to cover the body, metallic paint for the stem and hot glue your creepy crawlers all around.
FIRST FOUR WEDNESDAYS IN OCTOBER
Spirits With The Spirits Mansion Tour
Highlands Ranch Mansion, 9950 E Gateway Dr., 80126 | 6:30 PM
Get into the Halloween mood during the Highlands Ranch Mansion’s Spirits with the Spirits evening tours for ages 21+. Enjoy spirits of the boozy kind while you explore the history, mystery and lore of this magnificent 19th-century mansion. Follow our guides through the dimly lit halls and historic rooms to hear tales and mysterious, spine-chilling experiences collected throughout the years. HighlandsRanchMansion.com
SELECT NIGHTS THROUGH NOV. 2
Magic of the Jack O' Lanterns
Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Sante Fe Dr., Littleton 80120
Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns will cast a magical glow of more than 7,000 pumpkins on select nights from through Nov. 2. Attendees of this year’s Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns will walk through a glowing trail of thousands of magnificent, hand-carved pumpkins and come face-to-face with their favorite characters, a nautical sea-scape, pirate ship, dragons, and much more. Tickets: MagicOfTheJackolanterns.com/Denver/
OCTOBER 6TH
Lone Tree Fall Festival
Schweiger Ranch, 10822 S. Havana St., Lone Tree | 11:00 AM
Celebrate the Fall in Lone Tree as historic Schweiger Ranch plays host to the annual Fall Festival. Enjoy a beautiful day on the ranch picking pumpkins, roasting marshmallows and story telling, checking out the petting zoo, crafting, taking a carriage ride, and learning the history behind Schweiger Ranch. Live bluegrass music, food trucks and vendors will also be onsite. CityofLoneTree.com/CityEvents
OCTOBER 10TH
Cranelli's Italian Restaurant at Taste of Life
Infinity Park Event Center 4400 E Kentucky Avenue
Lone Tree's Cranelli's is proud to participate in the 23rd Annual A Taste for Life benefiting Project Angel Heart’s home-delivered medically tailored meal program. Mix and mingle while enjoying delectable fare, specialty sips, a live auction of fantastic packages, music, fun, and a lot of heart. Cranelli's will serve its popular Pasta Alla Vodka to support this worthy cause. projectangelheart.org/events/a-taste-for-life
OCTOBER 26TH
Symphony of the Rockies "Beethoven, Brahms & Brittany"
Newman Center, 2344 East Iliff Ave. 80210 | 7:30 PM
Join the Symphony of the Rockies (formerly the Arapahoe Philharmonic) for an extraordinary evening of musical brilliance with "Beethoven, Brahms, & Brittany," featuring the acclaimed pianist Lorraine Min. Min will dazzle with her interpretation of Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1, a work of profound depth and virtuosity. Devin Patrick Hughes, conductor. For tickets and the season events, go to SymphonyRockies.org
NOVEMBER 2ND
The Aspen Effect Presents Cars & Cowboys
Rancho Via Con Dios, 485 S. Peak View Drive, Castle Rock | 5:30 PM
The Aspen Effect is hosting its Third Annual Cars & Cowboys Gala to support mental health programs for youth. Tickets are $75 each or $130 per couple. Dinner by Flying Horse Catering and silent and live auction with amazing items for bidding. The Aspen Effect’s mission is to create youth interactions that strengthen resilience and leadership to help prevent mental health crisis. TheAspenEffect.org
