Colorado Springs Independent: June 13, 2024

A Pikes Peak Media Company

Summer issue, had me a blast!

by Adam Biddle

&

PUBLISHER

Fran Zankowski

EDITORIAL

EDITOR IN CHIEF Ben Trollinger

REPORTERS Andrew Rogers, Cannon Taylor

CONTRIBUTORS

Adam Leech, Lauren Harvey and Camille Liptak

SALES

AD DIRECTOR JT Slivka

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Parker Sullivan, Monty Hatch, Erin Cordero

AD COORDINATOR

Lanny Adams

ART & PRODUCTION

SENIOR EDITORIAL DESIGNER

Adam Biddle

AD DESIGNER Catherine Higley

OPERATIONS

DIGITAL/SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

Sean Cassady

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Kay Williams

EMAIL

Submit a letter letters@ppmc.live News

sales@ppmc.live

kay.williams@ppmc.live

GPOINTS OF INTEREST ON THE FURY ROAD

By BEN TROLLINGER • ben.trollinger@ppmc.live

rowing up in Dallas, my family didn’t go on many vacations, but when we did, it was almost invariably to the Colorado Rockies for a week or two in the summer. In the intervening months between our annual trips, I’d daydream about the place constantly.

We’d drive, of course, packing coolers, clothes, brand new hiking boots, and a stack of comic books into our burgundy Toyota minivan. With Van Morrison’s greatest hits blasting on the stereo, we’d roll out of the driveway before dawn. There wasn’t much to see in the next 10 hours it took us to transect the Texas panhandle and the empty quarter of Northeast New Mexico. In an age before in-car flatscreens and smartphones, a drive like this consisted of card games, extended naps, and bickering with my little brother about snack distribution. Among the few highlights along the Fury Road was the billboard outside of Dumas, Texas. It boasted that the town was “The Home of the Ding Dong Daddy.” It gave us a brief moment of Beavis and Butthead-like joy. Mainly, though, we stared out the window and wished for a quick death. The boredom seemed crushing.

But once we crossed state lines and arrived in Trinidad, everything changed to Technicolor. The unrelenting ennui melted away. We had arrived in Colorado—the most beautiful and enchanting state in the

LETTERS .

A PEDESTRIAN PARADISE

Union (not that we’d visited many others at that point). There was no moment of the year that I looked forward to more.

After a night at the Trinidad Holiday Inn, it was on to Estes Park. Every year, we’d stay at the same cluster of cottages along Fall River, not far from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. But along the way to that ultimate destination, we’d sometime stop in Colorado Springs and do what tourists do— Cave of the Winds, Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs. You know, the hits. For an avid indoorsman like my childhood self, it was like landing in Narnia. You were called to adventure. It changed everything. A spell had been cast. Now that I’ve lived in the state for the past 12 years, and raised my children here, I have to say it’s lived up to my boyhood dreams and then some. As I drive around this state today—to a youth baseball tournament here, to a camping trip there— Colorado’s grandeur and charm still seems inexhaustible to me. That’s on full display in this issue’s summer guide (turn to Page 17), which was compiled by our new arts and entertainment reporter Cannon Taylor. There is an overwhelming list of things to do this summer in the Springs. Live music, community festivals, street fairs, auto races and art shows—you name it and it’s happening here. If you’re bored, you might still be in Texas.

Thank you for the new edition of the Independent and its coverage of the Colorado Springs area and local news. It’s always been a breath of fresh air amongst the partisan news and I am certain it will continue to enlighten many in its new format. All that aside. I have a proposed idea for my home city. As a long-time resident, I have watched the Colorado Springs downtown area transform from a placed barely used, with businesses moving out to malls and back again. With its current bustling usage, and our city council allowing developers to construct the numerous apartment buildings in close proximity to the downtown area to attract young people, I believe the Colorado Springs Master Planning committee needs to address making the downtown area vehicle free. My proposal addresses the streets from Colorado Ave north to Bijou or Kiowa between Nevada and Cascade. This would allow people to walk freely without traffic being a hinderance, opening more area for outside dining and other activities. Parades could still be conducted, moving to Cascade or Nevada. It’s also time the General Palmer statue at Nevada and Platte be moved to Tejon and Pikes Peak, thereby alleviating the current traffic issue that has been a problem for over fifty years.

Now, I am not naive enough to think there will be unforeseen consequences associated with the parade routes, the homeless, potential crime, etc., but I am sure businesses would welcome the idea and this proposal would need Police and public input to be successful.

Peter Gates, Colorado Springs •

GOING TO POT

I've written to the mayor about the millions of potholes in this town. I got a reply, to report the location of "the" pothole. I've talked to several motorcycle riders that have bent a rim. I believe that I saw on the news that the mayor has 2 crews out filling them. There is no way to report all the potholes. Like we are supposed to stop an get an address? I just renewed my license plates and was annoyed that most of fees were tax. People are swerving all over. I'm sure this practice has caused many accidents this far. Maybe sever injuries. The roads are a disgrace. We deserve better or should rename Colorado Springs- Pothole City.

Terry Tandy, Colorado Springs

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must be signed with full name and include daytime phone number, full address, or email address. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. | EMAIL ADDRESS: letters@ppmc.live

NEWS . NEWS STICKER SHOCK

IN BRIEF

MILITARY

Cadets Graduate from U.S. Air Force Academy on May 30

The annual commencement took place on May 30th for the 2024 graduating class of the Air Force Academy. The 974 cadets were commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants in the U.S. Air and Space Forces. This year’s class also included 305 female graduates, which accounted for 31% of the total graduating class. Vice President Kamala Harris was this year’s commencement speaker, telling the class, “Around the world, our allies are in awe and our adversaries, in fear of America’s dominance in the air.” The annual event was capped off with the traditional hat toss followed by the flyover and performance by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird demonstration team.

GOVERNMENT

Road Repairs Underway in Springs Neighborhoods Road work is underway across Colorado Springs. The ninth year of road improvements funded by the voter-backed 2C funding program will focus primarily on neighborhood areas.

“It’s a slower process in the neighborhoods,” says Corey Farkas, public works operations & maintenance division manager. He said that’s due to the higher number of houses and the need to get citizens to and from their homes. The 2C Road Improvement Program was approved in 2016 and renewed in 2019, using a 0.57% sales tax to fund road repairs. Mayor Yemi Mobolade and the Colorado Springs City Council plan to ask voters for a 10-year renewal of the 2C sales tax this coming November.

The full list of streets in this year’s plan can be found a www. coloradosprings.gov/2c.

Why Scarcity and Interest Rates are Driving Up Home Prices in Colorado Springs

By ANDREW ROGERS • andrew.rogers@ppmc.live

Colorado Springs is the 46th most expensive city to own a home in, according to first-quarter data from the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo. That’s despite the area’s existing home prices staying relatively flat, only increasing 0.9% compared to the first quarter last year.

Colorado Springs has been named the 3rd Best Place to Live, according to U.S. News and World Report, up 6 spots from 2023’s 9th place finish. The publication also listed Colorado Springs as the #1 most desirable place to live.

When discussing the ranking, U.S. News and World Report did note that the city’s housing prices are higher than the national average. This trend is expected to continue due to projected population

growth, combined with a limited supply of homes for sale.

April’s inflation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed shelter prices were among the largest areas of yearover-year growth at 5.5%.

STICKER SHOCK

According to the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors, the average home price in Colorado Springs was $564,715 in April of 2024. That is just over 6% higher than in April of 2023. That number also outpaces the April inflation report showing that national shelter prices jumped by 5.5% year over year. Data from the National Association of Realtors shows that median house price in Colorado Springs is 15.3% more expensive than the U.S. average.

In 2019, 74% of the houses sold in Colorado Springs were considered affordable compared to the median household income. Five years later, that number now sits at one in five.

“Twenty-two years ago, you could buy a home for $145,000 even with a 7 or 8% interest rate, that same home sold in March of for $440,000,” said Kyle Fisk a senior loan officer with the Fisk Team at PenTrust Mortgage.

Much of the local market’s affordability, or lack thereof, has been driven by multiple years of double-digit home value appreciation. Additionally, Justin Hermes, owner of The Property Group in Colorado Springs, said when it comes to the Pikes Peak region, housing prices are driven largely by supply and demand.

“We should be at least 3,000 homes on the market, and we’re sitting around a thousand,” Hermes said.

The Colorado Springs real estate market saw 25% fewer transactions in 2023 compared to 2022. That’s largely driven by concerns over high interest rates, which average between 7% and 8% for a conventional 30-year mortgage.

Fisk says that every percentage point change equates to an extra $365 on a monthly mortgage payment for a $500,000 loan. Fisk said that the biggest factor impacting your mortgage is the amount you borrow, not your rate. He noted the same percentage change on a $300,000 home would be $197.

According to a recent study conducted by The Common Sense Institute, Colorado Springs needs more than 27,000 additional housing units to meet the growing population. Local builders have been picking up the pace on new homes after multiple slow years, according to permit data from the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department.

“In 2022 we were down 28% then we

dropped even further in 2023. Now we’re starting to see the numbers kind of trend back up again, up 33 % so far this year,” said Greg Dingrando, public information officer for the building department.

RENT

Rental prices have cooled off slightly in Colorado Springs.

According to data provided by the firm 1876 Analytics, an affiliate of Apartment Appraisers & Consultants, Inc., the average residential rental rate for the Colorado Springs area was $1,446 a month in the first quarter of 2024. That shows a $22-a-month drop from the 2023 rental average in the city. The first quarter data shows that rental rates in Colorado Springs are also lower than the statewide average of $1,510 a month.

Hermes said one contributing factor to the Colorado Springs rental market is the high population of military personnel and the base housing allowance.

“If didn’t have them, we’d have less demand. If we had fewer soldiers, rental prices would be lower,” Hermes said, noting that the current base housing al-

City Launches Website to Track Development

The City of Colorado Springs has launched a website to track development projects under review or recently approved by the city. Mayor Yemi Mobolade said the webpage will provide useful information including upcoming neighborhood meetings regarding new developments and how to participate in public hearings. The tracker can be found at www.coloradosprings.gov/ developmenttracker.

Democrat enters DA Race Against Incumbent Allen

Democrat Jeremy Dowell has announced his candidacy against incumbent Republican District Attorney Michael Allen. Dowell said he decided to enter the race believing the DA’s office has become too political. Dowel is endorsed in the race by former State Senator Pete Lee. Allen, the incumbent was a senior deputy District Attorney before winning the election four years ago.

PUBLIC SAFETY

lowance is on par with the local market. TEMPERING EXPECTATIONS

Kyle Fisk said that the current interest rates and increasing prices aren’t going to prevent people from entering the real estate market. Instead, they will only temper expectations. He said that despite the slowing market and fluctuating interest rates, people will still need to buy homes. The bigger impact will be seen in the amount of house you can afford.

“People who hypothetically have a third baby on the way are still going to need to move out of a two-bedroom house,” he said.

Fisk noted that even with the current “sticker shock” if you plan to stay in Colorado Springs for at least three years, there are many benefits to homeownership versus renting. El Paso County saw an appreciation rate in 2023 of 4.9%, and even as rates fluctuate, Fisk said homebuyers always have the option to refinance to a lower interest rate if the rates drop in the future.

“Marry your house and date your mortgage,” he said.

Good Samaritan Killed in Crash on Interstate 25 Police responded to a wrong-way driver causing a head-on crash in the early morning hours of May 26. A Good Samartian who stopped to help the driver was hit by another vehicle traveling northbound on the highway. The Good Samaritan, Joel Montalvo, 64, and one driver, Heidi Jackson, 46, were found dead at the scene. The alleged wrong-way driver, who caused the crash, Dalisse Rivera-Albino, 37 later died at an area hospital.

Two Arrested in Connection to String of Business Burglaries

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office began investigating several business burglaries in the 6000 block of Bismark Road in unincorporated El Paso County on May 8. During the investigation, one of the suspects attempted to cash a stolen check from one of the businesses. A second suspect was also identified. A search of their home found several items connecting them to the burglaries on Bismark Road, as well as at least 10 other burglaries across the county.

New homes under construction in Banning Lewis Ranch | Credit: Andrew Rogers

. PRIDE OF PLACE

After Years of Tragedy and Setbacks, Businesses Build Safe Spaces for LGBTQ Community

By ANDREW ROGERS • andrew.rogers@ppmc.live

For nearly 20 years, Club Q was one of the only nightclubs catering to the LGBTQ community in Colorado Springs. It was considered one of the city’s few safe spaces. That all changed just before midnight on November 19, 2022, when 22-year-old Anderson Aldrich—armed with an AR-15, body armor, and multiple rounds—opened fire inside the club, killing five people and injuring 19 others.

Michael Anderson was there that night working at the bar. In the wake of the tragedy, Anderson struggled with symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, including constant anxiety and an overwhelming sense of hyper-vigilance. “No matter where you go, it’s like, what am I going do if something happens here at Target, or Walmart or here at the mall,” Anderson said.

No place felt safe to him. And yet, those feelings of anxiety soon grew into a sense of grief and loss—for those who died, for those who mourn them, but also for the sense of belonging that Club Q once provided. So, Anderson, along with a handful of other Colorado Springs entrepreneurs, decided to do something about it.

THE THIRD PLACE

It’s been a tough period for many in Colorado Springs’ LGBTQ community. The closure of Club Q after the shooting was compounded by a fire in December 2023 that displaced Icons, a musically themed gay bar in downtown Colorado Springs.

The loss of the welcoming “third place,” a location to find camaraderie outside of home and work, has left many in the local LGBTQ community feeling disconnected. While tens of thousands gathered in downtown Colorado Springs on June 8 and 9 for the annual Pikes Peak Pride Festival and Parade, organizers like Justin Burns said that the need for a year-round communal space for the LGBTQ community is like a Christian believer attending a weekly church service.

“This is their church. So not having a facility, we’re scattered right now,” he said. Burns said that Pride organizers decided to hold additional events beyond the

festival and parade this year, including a concert, because they recognized that the community was lacking a central hub. However, that is quickly changing as new businesses step up to fill the void.

THE Q

Michael Anderson can remember when he felt called to open a new space for LGBTQ people.

“I feel like I got punched in the stomach because I realized, for the first time in over two or three decades, Colorado Springs did not have a gay or queer space exclusively,” said Anderson.

This March, Anderson and fellow shooting survivor Tara Bush opened a new bar catering to the LGBTQ community called The Q. The new space is located inside the Satellite Hotel at South Academy Boulevard and Airport Road.

Anderson’s efforts to keep the legacy of Club Q alive have been met with near unanimous support. He called the opening night of The Q a “full circle” moment for him. Not only was he surrounded by patrons he hadn’t seen since the night of the shooting, he was surprised to meet a new mix of guests as well.“We knew we would see old friends, but I think we were genuinely shocked at how many new friends we’ve made since we’ve opened,” he said.

Anderson knew when it came time to create his new space, he wanted to honor what transpired at Club Q while also providing a new start.

“What we did here was not recreate Club Q, but create an offshoot or a sister bar, to remember what happened there and to carry the legacy forward within a new venue,” Anderson said.

Part of carrying that legacy into the future was taking more preventive measures to ensure that The Q was not only a welcoming space, but a safe one as well.

The venue is protected by the Satellite Hotel’s existing security measures, along with additional security at the bar, and they made sure to have several exits out of the space.

“That’s one thing I found comfort in because at Club Q that night, I got very

much physically trapped and could not leave the building,” he said.

ICONS

One location that filled the gap within the queer community in the aftermath of the Club Q shooting was Icons, which was known for its singing bartenders before the fire shut it down.

After meeting in New York City’s musical theater scene and later getting married, Josh Franklin-Wolfe and John Wolfe opened the bar in October 2020 after the pair moved back to Josh’s hometown. The Icons brand was an intentional move to provide a more out-in-the-open downtown establishment for the LGBTQ community. The legacy clubs Josh knew growing up in Colorado Springs, with names like Hide and Seek and The Underground, carried overtones of secrecy.

“After everything that the community has been through since I was a kid, it deserves a different option that was less of a club and more of a nice cocktail-in-a-glass kind of place,” said Franklin-Wolfe. The pair said that as the venue grew, it was the music that forged a common ground for the LGBTQ community and the rest of the city.

“I think people would feel silly to think; I can’t go to Icons because that’s a gay bar; and then they hear some of our voices and realize what they’re missing out on,” said Franklin-Wolfe.

In early December 2023, however, a fire started in the kitchen of a nearby restaurant spreading to other businesses in the Majestic Building at Bijou Street and Cascade Avenue, including Icons.

“We were actually on our first vacation since opening the bar,” said Wolfe. The closure was initially believed to be a temporary setback, but soon stretched from days and weeks to months before they began searching for a new location.

The fire, while devastating, also revealed how welcoming the city has become to queer-owned businesses.

News of the fire spread far and wide, reaching the attention of music superstar Gloria Estephan, who helped to spread the word of the ongoing fundraising efforts for Icons to reopen. That online fundraiser has raised nearly $52,000 towards the goal of $75,000.

“It feels like the entire city is behind us and is insisting that we persevere and succeed,” Franklin-Wolfe said.

The pair also said they’ve been overwhelmed with the support they’ve received from their downtown business neighbors, the Downtown Development Authority and the city.

“They are behind us a hundred percent, really helping us out, doing anything they can to make sure we succeed,” said Wolfe.

Icons is now in the process of building a new space to call home. Franklin-Wolfe and Wolfe recently purchased a new venue at 16 Kiowa Street, one block south of the original location. The re-opening is set for some time between August and October. The pair says the new location will be a larger and better space, for both staff and patrons, compared to the Bijou location.

“We’re investing every penny we’ve saved as a couple and business,” Wolfe said.

Another bright spot for Icons is that many displaced employees are eager to return.

“This is not just a job, this is their home

and their identity,” said Franklin-Wolfe MORE OPEN DOORS

Following the Club Q shooting, Atrevida Brewing in Colorado Springs has become another gathering place for the LGBTQ community. That has a lot to do with the brewery’s owner, Richard Fierro.

Fierro, a U.S. Army veteran, was at Club Q on the night of the shooting with his wife Jessica, their daughter, daughter’s boyfriend Raymond Green Vance, and others to support a family friend who was performing in a drag show. Richard was one of the clubgoers, along with Thomas James, who sprang into action to subdue the shooter and prevent further deaths. In his characteristically humble way, Fierro would rather praise others who jumped into action that night, tending to the wounded or immediately calling 911 for help.

“Everybody in there was a hero,” he said. Jessica and Richard Fierro started Atrevida in 2018 with diversity in mind. Jessica, the

head brewer, noticed a lack of Hispanic and female influence within the craft brewing market and decided to change that. From the beginning, the brewery on North Nevada and Mount Winters avenues was always intended to be a welcoming place to all.

“Making sure that everybody knows you’re welcome, not just serving the one guy that drinks beer or craft beer—it’s about serving everybody,” Fierro said.

In the weeks following the shooting, as the news of Fierro’s heroics spread, the brewery saw a spike in online merchandise sales as many raced to support the small business. The brewery was active in Pride events before the 2022 shooting and will continue to provide a welcoming space not just for the LGBTQ community, but everyone in the city, the Fierros said.“We’ve always been supportive and allied to almost every group out there. So, for us, it wasn’t unnatural. It was normal,” he said.

Josh Franklin-Wolfe and John Wolfe, owners of ICONS Credit Andrew Rogers

NEWS .

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9...

SAFE SPACES

Another part of the ongoing LGBTQ community rebound is the return of a larger resource center after the 2015 closure of the Colorado Springs Pride Center.

“Studies have shown that building strong, meaningful connections with others is a powerful protective factor in an individual’s health and wellness. It creates a sense of belonging and of being valued,” said Stoney Roberts, the site director for the newly formed Prism Community Collective. Prism is looking to take up the mantle of what the Pride Center did as well as provide mental and physical healthcare services and other resources to LGBTQ individuals.

Roberts said that having gathering places can create a sense of belonging among the Colorado Springs LGBTQ community, who may face discrimination and rejection in other spaces.

On the upside, Justin Burns, one of the organizers for Pikes Peak Pride, said that he’s seen a changing mindset among Colorado Springs towards the queer community. He credited developments like the overturning of the Defense of Marriage

Act (DOMA) and the military subsequently removing the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy in moving the city forward.

“I attribute a lot of the change in our city once DOMA was overturned, and our queer military friends could come out and be who they were, not just at their homes but in public,” he said.

Burns said despite the city’s evolution Colorado Springs still needs more safe spaces for the LGBTQ community. He said while large events like Pikes Peak Pride can allow people to develop those communal connections for one weekend a year, that still leaves the other 51 weeks of the year in question.

“No matter whether it’s a club or a hobby group, that’s where you build community,” he said.

That community is exactly what Michael Anderson is working to create at The Q. “Anytime you come to The Q, know that you’re welcome here, you’re safe here, you’re accepted,” he said.

“I’m seeing people finding new homes across the city and other bars and clubs and I love that, and my goal is for everyone to heal.”

Memorial for the victims of the Club Q shooting at The Q | Credit: Andrew Rogers

IN BRIEF

NEARLY 1,000 NEW JOBS COMING TO THE SPRINGS

The Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Corporation has announced that they’ve helped to secure 980 new jobs coming to Colorado Springs. The chamber said that through the first quarter of 2024, six companies have announced plans to call the city home. These companies include aerospace and defense companies, Ignite Ltd Invictus, Foundry Commercial, and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing company Spectrum Ocutrx. Cybersecurity and tech firm Omni Federal, and offshote wind turbine manufacturer WTG Blades. In total the chamber said that these jobs represent a $11.7 million in capital investment in the local area.

SEMICONDUCTOR FACILITY CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY

Construction is underway for Entegris’ semiconductor manufacturing center in Colorado Springs ahead of a 2025 opening. Entrigis announced the planned expansion and broke ground on the project in 2023 near Garden of the Gods Rd. and 30th street. This project represents a $ 600 million investment in the city and will create 600 new jobs.

MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC HOPES TO SERVE MILITARY

Katie’s Way Plus, a mental health clinic providing specialty care to the military and veteran community, held a grand opening for their Colorado Springs near Southgate Rd. and Lake Cir. on May 29. Katie’s Way Plus started in Anchorage, AK, and has locations in Kansas, Texas and Washington state.

Seasonal Spike

By ANDREW ROGERS • andrew.rogers@ppmc.live

The summer season continues to be a major financial boost to the Colorado Springs bottom line.

In 2022, the 24 million visitors to Colorado Springs spent $2.8 billion locally. Part of that windfall is captured by the lodging and rental (LART) tax, which goes toward marketing and other efforts to support special events that attract visitors to the region. In 2023 that tax brought in just over $10 million in 2023.

GAME ON

The summer tourism season is driven by several large sporting events such as the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

“It’s estimated at $14.7 million this year for economic impact,” said Alexea

Veneracion, director of communications for Visit Colorado Springs.

The nation’s second oldest auto race behind the Indianapolis 500 will turn the Pikes Peak Highway into a racecourse on June 23.

“In the motorsport industry around the world, you say Pike’s Peak, they think it’s the race first before they realize there’s a whole lot more to the community,” says Melissa Eickhoff, CEO of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

The “Race to the Clouds” was founded in 1916 by Spencer Penrose to attract visitors to Colorado Springs and his newly founded Broadmoor hotel. It’s a legacy that Eickhoff and her team is continuing to build upon. This year there

will be teams representing 13 countries, including the United States. Despite the race being a one-day event, the economic impact extends beyond that.

“We have one team doing some private testing [in the last week of May,] a pretty good-sized team, so they’re in town, probably for most of June—a lot of teams do that,” she said.

Eickhoff said that the average race team spends 14 days on average in area hotels and supporting various local businesses, everything from restaurants to local auto supply houses for any last-minute needs. The race has also attracted big-name manufacturers like Ford, BMW, Porsche and Hyundai to the area to compete in the race, not just for brand awareness but also to demonstrate

Spectators at Devil’s Playground Credit Larry Chen

Thanks to Senator Exum

for sponsoring HB1152 to allow Coloradans to build ADUs and make housing more affordable.

Paid for by Centennial State Prosperity

BUSINESS . IN BRIEF

NEW NAME FOR THE SUNSET AMPHITHEATER

On June 4, Notes Lives CEO J.W. Roth announced that his company has sold the naming rights for the Sunset Amphitheater to the Ford Motor Company. The automaker agreed to a 10-year naming rights deal for the new venue for an undisclosed sum. The first concert at the Ford Amphitheater, will be Colorado Springs’ own OneRepublic on August 9 and 10. The venue is located 95 Spectrum Loop. (Roth is the co-owner of Pikes Peak Media Company, the parent company of The Colorado Springs Independent.)

NEW DEVELOPMENT NOT JUST A NORTHSIDE THING

More infill development is taking place across the city. Officials with the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department said they wanted to show that building in Colorado Springs isn’t just limited to the city’s northern edge.

“We’re definitely seeing a lot of projects happening in all parts of the Pikes Peak Region, in particular, in the east portion, particularly around the airport,” said Greg Dingrando, public information officer for the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department.

Dingrando said some of the largest “infill” projects include a renovation for a new Burlington store at the Citadel Crossing shopping center on the east side of Platte and Academy, several apartment complexes and hotels near the Colorado Springs Airport, and the new Ascent at Skyview Village, which will provide more than 75 new homes near Powers Blvd. and Hancock Expwy.

UNITED WAY’S CEO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AFTER 10 YEARS

Cindy Aubrey announced her retirement from the role of president and CEO for Pikes Peak United Way after a 10-year tenure with the non-profit organization. Aubrey said that the retirement will be effective when the board of directors finds a new person for that role.

“The organization has achieved remarkable milestones and made a lasting impact on countless lives. We are grateful for her dedication, vision, and tireless efforts in advancing our mission,” said Dan Nordberg, president of the Pikes Peak United Way board of directors.

Aubrey says she plans to spend more time with her new granddaughter after retirement.

SUBMIT: Send business new tips and press releases to andrew.rogers@ppmc.live

Ford Amphitheater under construction | Credit: Andrew Rogers

new technology for the automobile industry.

The Hill Climb issues 1,500 parking tickets annually for the event and is expected to sell out before the race day. The camping passes are also a hot ticket as the Saturday before race day is the only day with camping allowed on Pikes Peak.

The Hill Climb organization also hosts Fan Fest, a 10-block street party on the Friday before the race that attracts nearly 35,000 people to downtown Colorado Springs. Eickhoff said that this year, they’re partnering with many downtown breweries for the Fan Fest beer garden to spread the financial windfall with other local businesses.

The out-of-town tourism is also boosted by the Pike Peak Ascent and Marathon each summer and other events such as the Rocky Mountain State Games Pikes Peak Regional Air Show and Labor Day Lift Off. Many of the sports-themed events are organized by the Colorado Springs Sports Corp.

“In 2023, the estimated annual economic impact is a hundred million dollars,” said Davis Tutt, director of sports tourism and Olympic engagement with the Colorado Springs Sports Corp.

Tutt said that last year 293,000 spectators attended events sponsored by the Sports Corp., which translated to 5,200 room nights at area hotels. In total, the group tasked with promoting sporting events locally held events in 72 different venues in Colorado Springs and El Paso County.

Veneracion said that while the summer season has always been a money maker, they’re seeing a changing trend for tourism, with more and more planning trips outside of the “traditional” summer season.

“Then [they] see a glimpse of Colorado Springs while they’re here, and then plan their trips to come back and return,” she said.

Veneracion said 2022 data shows visitors to Colorado Springs were largely from in-state areas, followed by Texas, California, Florida, and New York.

OLYMPIC CITY USA

Visit Colorado Springs expects a higher number of tourists this summer because of the events that are planned around city’s moniker of “Olympic City USA.”

Veneracion said there will be several events and watch parties hosted at the

US Olympic and Paralympic Museum featuring several Olympic athletes at various events during the two-week Paris games.

Visit Colorado Springs is also taping Colorado’s own Missy Franklin, a fivetime Olympic gold medalist swimmer, to help attract visitors to the area for the Olympic games locally.

Davis Tutt with the Sports Corp said that various national governing bodies headquartered in Colorado Springs are also helping boost the economic impact. He pointed to successful events held at Ed Robeson Arena by USA Weightlifting and USA Wrestling as examples.

“30,800 seats—that’s a really good size for a lot of national championships or international championships,” he said. Tutt also said more multi-year partnerships at local venues will be announced in the upcoming months with Colorado Springs-based Olympic sports.

OPEN YEAR-ROUND

Many of the city’s non-sporting attractions are becoming year-round destinations, including Garden of the Gods Park and the Pike Peak Highway, which has even moved to extend their hours in the fall and winter months, weather permitting.

The Pikes Peak International Climb is also branching out to help support a more year-round business. Melissa Eickhoff said that the safety infrastructure the organizing agency has developed for race day has come in handy for several auto manufacturers using the Pikes Peak Highway for their marketing efforts.

“Because if anybody’s on the road and going above posted speeds, that requires safety and we tap into our team and our resources to help,” she said.

Alexea Veneracion with Visit Colorado Springs said that while the summer season has been the big draw, the rest of the year is continuing to quickly catch up.

“29 % of our visitation [in 2022] took place July through September, but the other quarters were not that drastically lower,” she said.

Twenty-six percent of our region’s visitors in the same year came between April and June, followed by 24% between October and December, and 21 % came between January and March.

“I think people are catching on to the weather here, it’s super nice yearround,” she said.

Tee shirt cannon being shot at Fan Fest | Credit: Larry Chen

Car honoring

Who We Are

Encounter Alaska with an unparalleled fishing and wilderness experience in the majestic, rugged beauty of Ketchikan & Prince of Wales Island at Sportsman’s Cove Lodge Our passion has always been to create unforgettable moments through authentic experience and time spent outdoors

Experience Alaska

Experience the thrill of catching Salmon and Halibut in the pristine waters of Southeast Alaska Unwind in our comfortable, high-end accommodations, nestled on the remote Prince of Wales Island. Discover the untouched beauty of Alaska, a haven for fishing enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Our dedicated team ensures an unforgettable fishing adventure, combining expertise with a love for the sport

SUMMER EVENTS GUIDE

A CHOCKFUL SEASON IN THE SPRINGS

By CANNON TAYLOR • cannon.taylor@ppmc.live

Summer is a special time for Coloradans. Everyone wants a slice of that sunshine, from young kids to art connoisseurs to sports fans, but the question on everyone’s minds is what event is right for their personality and needs. We at the Independent have narrowed down various summer events into a comprehensible, chronological list covering everything from art festivals to donkey derbies. Rest assured, there’s something here for everyone.

JUNE

Kicking off our list is the Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival, taking place on the weekend of June 14-16 in America the Beautiful Park. The festival is free to attend, with a slew of events across the three days. The celebration will include comedians, dancers, live music, speakers, games, activities and even a car show and a fashion show. The schedule is different every day, so be sure to check out their website csjuneteenthfestival.com if you’re thinking about attending.

On that same weekend, two events are taking place in the town of Victor. The Victor Gem & Mineral show will be taking place in downtown historic Victor the whole weekend, and the Oddities Alley will be taking place nearby Black Monarch Hotel from 10 a.m. on June 15 until 6 p.m. on June 16. The Victor Gem & Mineral Show is looking to be a rocking celebration of Victor’s mining town roots, with vendors selling gems, jewelry, geodes and more. Gold and gem panning will also be available at the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum. Meanwhile, the Oddities Alley specializes in all things strange, be it vendors of artisanal goods made of everything from dead insects to animal bones or stunt comedy

performances by The Enigma. Food trucks and restaurants will be available at both events.

On June 20 will be the annual Colorado Springs Western Street Breakfast on Pikes Peak and Tejon. Those who are able to be there bright and early can enjoy a flapjack breakfast, a parade of 160 Pikes Peak Range Riders and live performances by local country bands and Native American dancers. The breakfast is $5 per person. Children under five years old eat for free.

If the Western Street Breakfast is a little too early for you, Vultures will be holding a Fun in the Sun Drag Show at 6 p.m. the same day. Tickets are $5 and the event is for those 18 or older. The event is presented by The United Court of the Pikes Peak Empire, an LGBTQIA organization that organizes charitable projects and events for the benefit of the community.

On June 23 will be the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and Fan Fest. The Hill Climb is an invitational car and motorcycle race to the summit of Pikes Peak, and takes place from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Fan Fest, a street party in the

heart of downtown Colorado Springs, will occur on June 21 from 5 to 9 p.m., and will involve meeting the drivers and sponsors and viewing stunts during the FMX Show Those wishing to spectate the race can find guidelines on their website ppihc.org. If donkey racing is more your speed, be sure to attend the Donkey Derby Days from June 28 to June 30. The titular donkey derby will occur on Saturday the 29th, with live music, children’s activities and food and drink available on all three days. Alternatively, you could spend the weekend at Pet ROCK!, a fundraiser for the Teller County Regional Animal Shelter at The Black Monarch Hotel. The event takes place on the 29th from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the 30th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event will have live music, pet-friendly vendors and even an adorable dog parade

JULY

There are many fun events to pick from for your Fourth of July celebrations. Rock Ledge Ranch is hosting their annual Family Fourth event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will offer live music, wagon rides, pie-eating contests, carnival games, re-enactments of historic speeches

and more. Tickets can be purchased at rockledgeranch.com.

Colorado Springs Philharmonic will also be holding their Star-Spangled Symphony at 4:30 p.m. at Pikes Peak Center for the Arts. The concert is free on a firstcome, first-served basis. Doors open at 3 p.m.

If you live up north, the Fourth of July Street Fair and Beer Garden in Historic Downtown Monument may be the best option for you. The event features a pancake breakfast and four-mile Fun Run at 7 a.m., parades starting at 9:30 a.m., and a family-friendly beer garden with live music and vendors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beyond Independence Day is the annual NFR Open championship at Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. There will be nightly rodeo performances July 9-13, with matinee performances on June 12 and 13. The evening performances begin at 7 p.m. each night, with the matinee performances beginning at noon. Visit pikespeakorbust. org if you want to watch these athletes (and animals) compete.

Preceding the NFR Open championship

Balloon glow at Labor Day Liftoff Credit Andrew Rogers

ARTS&CULTURE

A HEARTY WELCOME TO ART ON THE STREETS

W.I.P. IT

By LAUREN CIBOROWSKI

When you were a kid, did you ever put macaroni on a fork? You know, Cyndi Lauper-style, tine after tine? There was a piece by Justin Deister in Art on the Streets a few years ago that has never left my memory, and it was a depiction of just that. A comically large fork sprouting from the concrete with one giant, true-to-life unnaturally colored macaroni on each prong. It made me laugh out loud, and I absolutely love art that makes me laugh out loud.

I had a similar feeling when I caught my first glimpse of “Kissing Camels” by Naomi Haverland, one of this year’s new AotS pieces. This whimsical mural, located on the side of Henley’s Keys, is just pure fun.

I was lucky enough to get a special preview of part of this year’s AotS exhibit before it officially opens to the public on June 7. Walking around with Michelle Winchell, executive director of Downtown Ventures, I was especially struck by the vibrancy of many of the pieces. Vibrant. That’s another great characteristic of good public art, isn’t it? It really changes a street corner when you are, say, suddenly face to face with a DayGlo-bright butterfly, this one by Kasia Polkowska. Speaking of butterflies, there’s a fabulous selfie-worthy mural by Ian Stewart over by Salad or Bust featuring a cool interactive augmented reality component.

I also loved Aloft over near Boulder Crescent, the cold-cast aluminum piece by Jacob Burmood. The scale of it (large!) is compelling, as are the variations in texture across its many facets. How did we get so lucky to have not just these pieces, but new public art every

year? We have Judy Noyes to thank, way back in 1999. The first AotS exhibit featured 20 works, one of which still resides downtown in the median of Pikes Peak today, a bison by Richard Jagoda.

Fast forward to the 26th year of AotS, where three jurors combed through 100 different entries from all over the world to pick the 13 winners you see today.

Continuing our walk, a visit to the Pikes Peak Center lawn proved a pleasant one with the addition of Tuono by Collin Parson and Jodie Roth Cooper. This 1500-pound(!) behemoth of steel, some of it mirror-polished, balances majestically against the impossibly beautiful background of Pikes Peak.

Although I didn’t have time to see all 13 pieces, my favorite of the ones I saw was Sun Kissed, a collaboration between Pikes Peak Region Poet Laureate Ashley Cornelius and artist Jazz Holmes. The process of creating this piece is fascinating – Cornelius interviewed 14 community members as Holmes sketched them, with Cornelius eventually weaving the narrative of the interviews into a poem. The mural features the actual text of the poem next to luscious, luminous figures painted by Holmes. And the best part? It’s on the side of a building that many of us are very excited about—the next Icons! If you don’t know Icons, get excited. This amazing gay bar with excessively talented singing bartenders is about to literally rise from the ashes again after having to vacate their old smoke-damaged space a block away. I caught up with one of the owners, Josh Franklin-Wolfe, to ask him what he thought of this new artistic addition to their exterior. “We’re honored that our future home is already providing space for artistic expression and representation,” said Franklin-Wolfe. “To feature these iconic and influential community leaders at Icons is an exciting opportunity to start breathing life into our new space.”

Speaking of which, these latest art pieces breathe life into our downtown, and we are so fortunate to have them. Get out and take a gander, and let’s be grateful for public art! You need art. Art needs you.

Lauren Ciborowski writes about the arts and music in every issue. W.I..P. stands for Works in Progress.

will be the 81st Annual Pikes Peak or Bust Parade on July 6 at 10 a.m. on Tejon from St. Vrain to Vermijo. Right before the parade are two stick horse races. The Lil’ Cowpokes Stick Horse Races, for participants aged three to eight years old, start at 9 a.m. Parents can register their children for the race in advance for $15.00 or on race day for $20.00. At 9:30 a.m., the adults get in on the stick horse racing fun in the inaugural “City Stickers Cup” Stick Horse Race. The “City Stickers Cup” will be a race for stick horse glory between esteemed city officials, including the mayor, president of city council, chief of police and fire chief.

On July 18 from 5-9 p.m. is Taste of Pikes Peak, an outdoor culinary tasting experience allowing patrons to enjoy a wide array of local food and drink. The event takes place near the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum and tickets can be bought at tasteofpikespeak.com.

Three events on July 27 close out this month. The first of them is the Downtown Summer Fest, a free community event meant to kick off the 2024 Paris Olympics. The event will include the Rocky Mountain 5K Run/Walk & Kid’s Dash, sports and cultural demonstrations, live music and a broadcast of the Olympic and Paralympic competitions on the big screen. The Downtown Summer fest will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum

Also on July 27 is the 86th annual Bronc Festival in Green Mountain Falls. The festival promises all things western and old-fashioned, including food, games, art vendors, a pie contest and a parade

If you’d prefer a more floral day, check out the Rocky Mountain Flower Fest, a concert that combines two beautiful things: music and flowers. The Flower Fest is

your chance to enjoy a night of bluegrass, americana and folk music surrounded by flowers. Line dancing, flower crafts, food and drink are also available. Visit gathermountainblooms.com/flower-fest for more information.

AUGUST

On August 10 and 11, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be the Mountain Arts Festival at Memorial Park in the city of Woodland Park. This festival is the perfect opportunity to enjoy our local arts in a natural setting. There will be vendors of both food and art, a wine auction and a wine tasting on Saturday.

The Heritage Brew Festival will be August 17 from noon to 5 p.m. at Memorial Park in Manitou Springs. Over 20 brewers will be attending the event, which will also have food and live music. All proceeds benefit the Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum. Tickets can be found on their website.

As summer comes to a close over Labor Day weekend, be sure to check out one of the many outdoor events happening in the community. Memorial Park in Manitou Springs will be the venue of the 50th Annual Commonwheel Art Festival from August 31 to September 2. The event is held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and is free to attend. Local artisans will be selling everything from glass art and jewelry to pottery, paintings and photographs That same weekend will be the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift-Off, a three-day hot air balloon show featuring a morning lift-off of dozens of hot air balloons from 7 to 9 a.m. each day and an evening “Balloon Glow” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Each day will also be full of fun activities and local vendors selling food and drink. Visit coloradospringslabordayliftoff.com for the schedule, parking information and tickets.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17...

The Lil’ Cowpokes Stick Horse Race at the Pikes Peak or Bust Parade

Credit Dave Thomas and courtesy of the Pikes Peak or Bust Parade Committee

SUMMER MUSIC PREVIEW

By CANNON TAYLOR • cannon.taylor@ppmc.live

In a time where concert tickets can be a big-ticket purchase entering into the hundreds of dollars per person, it can be easy to forget that live music can be enjoyed for free, or at least for a very low price, in your local community. In fact, there are plenty of festivals and concert series happening this summer, and we’re here to guide you through what each of them offers.

One such event is Hillside Gardens’ summer concert series. Hillside Gardens is so unassuming from the outside that one could drive by it every day without realizing that such a gorgeous slice of nature is hidden away in an area as industrialized as downtown. Hillside hosts a concert with three different acts every Wednesday night through October 2. Hillside is a wedding venue first and foremost, and their garden center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but other than that, those Wednesday nights are the main time the gardens are open to the public. Each act performs in a different area of Hillside Gardens, so patrons can

pick and choose which to watch, or get a taste of each of them as they walk around the grounds. Hillside takes up four acres, so there’s no sound overlap between the performers as they play in different areas of the gardens. Some people even find areas away from all the noise to take in the garden peacefully.

Ashlee Kennedy, co-owner, explained that they take genre into account when scheduling bands. They try to designate each band area to a particular kind of act: the Pavilion for cover bands and other acts that people want to sing along to, the Boneyard for quieter jazz music for couples to dance to, and Cactus Jack’s for more acoustic-style music that draws in a younger crowd.

“You see people from every generation all in one venue, which is not that common,” Kennedy said.

Gates open at 5 p.m. every night, with the musicians performing from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The series is open only to those 16 or older to keep the plants in good condition—and to ensure no one’s kids get lost in the labyrinthine garden. Seriously, the

Free (or cheap) outdoor concerts a hallmark of COS

gardens are huge. You could walk around the gardens for a week and find some oddly charming decoration hidden away somewhere.

Admission is $15 and includes a house drink from the many minibars open across the site. While Hillside Gardens’ concert series is the only one on this list with a price to entry, Kennedy believes that the house drink and gorgeous sights make the price of admission worth it. “We like to think of it as a mini music festival every week,” she said.

Still, Hillside Gardens might not be in everyone’s budgets. Luckily, there are several free concert series being held this summer. For example, if you like the idea of a concert in a garden and adore jazz, Jazz in the Garden, hosted by Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, is the concert series for you. Concerts begin on May 31 at 7 p.m. and continue every other Friday through August 23. Their website suggests bringing blankets, lawn chairs, food and friends for a picnic while grooving to the sounds of jazz surrounded by natural beauty.

Big band and jazz enthusiasts should

also check out the Black Forest Community Club’s weekly concerts at the Black Forest Community Center. The concerts occur every Thursday from June 20 to August 15 (excluding July 4). Concerts take place from 5:30 to 7:30 pm every week, rain or shine. Food is served at 5:30, with concerts starting at 6.

Additionally, there are many free concert series taking place in public parks. In northeast Colorado Springs, Banning Lewis Ranch is hosting a Summer Concert series that takes place every other Thursday at Vista Park Pavillion from June 6 to August 1. Concerts will be 6-8 p.m. every day except July 4, during which the concert will be 7-9 p.m. instead. Genres include rock, Americana and pop. Classic Homes at the Greenways is presenting three free summer concerts at Sand Creek Park on June 8, June 29 and July 13 from 1-3 p.m. The bands playing are Martini Shot, a pop rock band, Wirewood Station, a pop/Americana band, and Collective Groove, a funk and soul band. And if you live up north, you can attend the weekly Concerts in the

Banning Lewis Ranch’s Summer Concert Series Courtesy Banning Lewis Ranch

ORDERING OFF THE VENUE MUSIC .

Various music venues around the Springs are also gearing up for summer. We spoke with Marc Benning, owner of Lulu’s Downstairs, about Lulu’s big plans for the summer.

Lulu’s moved from Manitou Springs to Colorado Springs earlier this year, so this is their first summer in a new city.

“I’d just love to see this neighborhood and this corner activate,” Benning said.

Lulu’s Fourth of July corner party, featuring Mo Lowda & the Humble and Jesus Christ Taxi Driver, is one of the summer events Benning hopes will draw a crowd. Benning also shouted out the Kyle Smith concert on July 5 and the Deslondes show on July 21 as some of the major shows this summer.

Benning also wanted to shout out some of Lulu’s lesser-known events this summer. Despite having a punk rock background, Benning wants to cultivate a space for all kinds of music, from Lulada Club, an all-women’s salsa band, to Black Uhuru, a Jamaican dancehall band from the 1980s.

Benning shared that a lot of artsbased businesses are feeling a need for the community to flock back to them. “I think there’s some lingering effects [from the COVID-19 pandemic] of people being a little apathetic or fearful of getting out there,” he said. “We need people to… trust and jump back in.”

Benning wanted readers to know that Lulu’s is open six nights a week and operates as a bar when there’s no show scheduled. “It’s an affordable, approachable, cool bar that doesn’t have TVs,” Benning said.

The Black Sheep and Vultures, two of Colorado Springs’ other biggest music venues, also shared their summer plans. Owner Geoff Brent said that summer is actually a slower time of year for the Black Sheep and Vultures due to outdoor concerts, music festivals, people going out of town on vacation and artists gearing up for

album releases during the fall (which typically has the highest volume of album releases in the year). Despite this, the two venues are staying busy throughout the summer, with the Black Sheep hosting about 10 shows per month, and Vultures around 20. Some of the biggest shows at the Black Sheep that Brent wanted to shout out were Arrows in Action, Stephen Wilson Jr, 10 Years, Jeff Rosenstock, The Crane Wives and Michael Marcagi. Highlights at Vultures include the HIRS Collective, Foxcult, Harvey Street, The Shackletons and Sunfish. Brent shared that the Black Sheep’s themed dance parties have also been popular recently and that there are many more to come, including Emo Night, Gimme Gimme Disco, Broadway Rave, Taylor Swift Night, Mac Miller Night and even a Shrek Rave. Outside of concerts, Vultures is running monthly showcases of local dubstep and rap music, a comedy show multiple times per month, open mic nights on most Mondays and karaoke on most Tuesdays.

Additionally, The Black Sheep, Vultures and What’s Left Records will be hosting a quarterly block flea market in August or September. These flea markets started when the venues were at limited capacity during the pandemic and have evolved over time into what Brent called “a three-location block party” with “an awesome showcase of local artists and vendors.”

And of course, closing out the summer will be the opening of the Ford Amphitheater near Bass Pro Drive in early August. Ford Amphitheater will be bringing big-name, arena concerts to Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs pop rock band OneRepublic will play August 9-11—a fitting first act to herald in a new era in the Colorado Springs music scene.

No matter your preferences or budget, there’s sure to be some live music in the Springs that’s fit for you. Now get out there and enjoy some sunshine and serenades!

Park in Limbach Park in Monument. The park will be hosting a new band each Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 pm, from June 5 to August 28 (excluding July 3). Food trucks will be present at each of these concert series if you’re looking to grab a bite. University Village Colorado is hosting a Free Summer Concert Series every Friday, 7-8:30 p.m., from June 7 to August 9. The lineup covers a wide range of genres, including rock, folk, jazz, dance and Spanish pop. Stadium seating is provided, though it is advised to bring a chair or blanket for the grass and other seating areas. The concerts take place in the North Plaza next to Hacienda Colorado Mexican Restaurant and Smashburger. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the North Plaza, but can be enjoyed on the patios of the restaurants. If you’d rather enjoy live music under the sun with an ice-cold beer with no restrictions, Bristol Brewing has you covered. They are hosting concerts every Friday in June and July at 6 p.m. outside in “The Schoolyard” ( the brewery used to be a school). Visit their Instagram page @

bristolbrewing for the whole lineup. Our final concert series takes place not at a park or garden or even a former school, but a museum. Cripple Creek District Museum is hosting Music at the Depot, a weekend of live music in front of the museum. Exit West is playing July 4, 3-7 p.m.; Slopeside plays July 5, 2-6 p.m.; and Jason Lee Band plays July 6, 2-6 p.m. The venue will have food vendors and a beer booth set up in the parking lot.

Banning Lewis Ranch’s Summer Concert Series | Courtesy: Banning Lewis Ranch

ON MEETING YOUR HEROES

Mark McGuire, the “Rookie of the Year” slugger for the Oakland A’s, was an absolute golden god in my puny 9-year-old brain. My dad had primed, sparked and lovingly nurtured the glowing embers of my love for baseball—not as an alpha athletic uber-parent bent on living out his dreams by militantly molding his offspring, but out of a deep love for the poetic majesty and timeless beauty of tossing ball at stick and running in circles. Back in the summer of 1988, he lampooned the family down to Tuscon, Arizona to see the Athletics brush off the dust at spring training Camp. Whilst bouncing betwixt games I deftly procured many an autograph—Jose Canseco, Reggie Jackson, Bob Eucker included. But the holiest of all grails would be the X of the all-mighty Big Mac.

Following one of many exhibitions, we again failed to catch the attention of the future ‘roid-rager, and as he disappeared onto the bus that would whisk him from field to locker, my dad, seeing my sadness, declared, “Come hell or high water, we will get that autograph.”

With the steadfast poise of Ken Griffey Jr. with a mouthful of nerve tonic, we dove into our chariot (Dodge Caravan) and tailed the autobus in classic Dragnet fashion. After a short pursuit the bus lurched to a halt, cattywampus, under the haunting gaslights of an otherwise abandoned lot. As the players disembarked I crouched motionless, ready to pounce at any sign of the future drug’n’slug king. As he stepped out our eyes locked. Mine with youthful exuberance. His with disgust.

“M… M..., Mr. McGuire… C… C… Can I have your autograph” I stammered as I held aloft my prized baseball. Snatching it from my tender grasp faster than Miguel Tejada with a head full of Adderall, he turned to my dad and said, “Can’t you damn people leave me alone?”

If you had a video and played it frame by frame, you’d be able to pinpoint the exact moment my love for baseball died. My dad, a true hero, looked him dead in his eyes, and through gritted teeth demanded, “Sign. The. Damn. Baseball.”

The moral, kids, is never meet your heroes. Unless your hero is Eddie Spaghetti of the “Greatest Rock’n’Roll Band in the World,” The Supersuckers.

I had this honor years ago as a writer for this very rag when I interviewed him about his storied career as the least appreciated songwriter in history. If they are gonna pass out Pulitzers, “willie-nillie,” to any ol’ minstrel like Bob Dylan or Kendrick (TKO) Lamar, they’d better reserve the biggest, shiniest one for the “Poet Laureate

By ADAM LEECH

of Hell City, Hell,” Mr. Spaghetti (aka Edward Carlyle Daly III, aka Eduardo Calienté), who I caught up with briefly last month when the ‘Suckers opened for the magnificent Electric Six. It’d been many years since Eddie and I were first acquainted, yet he most graciously lied and said, “yes, I remember you.” (Squee!) In those years he has not only written and recorded numerous Suckers records; a couple solo “joints;” collaborations with Steve Earle, Frank Meyer and Jordan Shapiro, and even cut a record at Willie Nelson’s house. A consummate family man, he and his lovely wife Jessika have three of the best named kids in the biz—eldest son Quattro, middle kid and daughter Elvis, and young gun Zeke. Despite playing the world’s greatest venues, despite seamlessly blending rock and country like nobody before or since, despite writing a couple of the world’s greatest songs (i.e. “Roadworn and Weary,” and “Born With a Tail,”), despite his duet with The Breeders’ Kelley Deal, “Hungover Again,” despite holding a full candelabra to the works of Her Majesty Dolly Parton and the deplorable Porter Wagoner, he is still the most humble man to ever trod god’s green earth.

In fact, the man is so damned salt of the Earth that for a mere $50 (paid via Venmo to @eddiespaghetti666) he’ll handwrite the lyrics to any of his songs, and for a measly $500 he’ll pen you an original composition, yours to cherish, ‘til death you depart. Unable to resist, he is currently “working on some lyrical miracle whip” for an ode to my day job, Leechpit Records and Vintage!

Not only that, he is also a genuine medical marvel, having kicked cancer’s ugly ass into a dusty whole in the ground. His 2015 diagnosis of Stage 3 oropharynx cancer would have destroyed a lesser man, but was barely a speedbump to the mighty Mr. Spaghetti. So, there you have it. Not all heroes wear knickers. Conan O’Brien rarely does, and if you need a drugged out baseball player to look up to, never forget that Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter on LSD! Smell ya later! Adam Leech is the proprietor of Leechpit Records & Vintage at 3020 W Colorado Ave.

Now Hiring Corporate Development Manager

Labs, Inc. has a Corporate Development Manager position in Colorado Springs, CO.

Identify, evaluate, & execute strategic initiatives that support the company’s vision & goals. Improve & develop the company’s operations, business relationships & partnerships, & technological infrastructure. Telecommuting is permissible. Requires 15% international travel & 20% domestic travel. Salary $135,886/yr.

To apply, please email resume to harrison.budge@revolvelabs.ai

Springs SCENE

THURSDAY, JUNE 13

Academy Jazz Ensemble | Jazz ensemble performing at Colorado Springs Airport. 7770 Milton E Proby Pkwy. 10 a.m.

Gentle Rain Trio | Live music at Rico’s Cafe & Wine Bar. 322 1/2 N Tejon St. 6 p.m.

Joe Nichols | Country musician performing at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Dr. 7 p.m.

Overtime, Big Murph, Jonezen, DurtE | Live music at the Black Sheep. 2106 E Platte Ave. 8 p.m.

Westrock | Live music at Buzzed Crow Bistro. 5853 Palmer Park Blvd. 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

Tawnya Reynolds | Country singer-songwriter performing at Front Range Barbeque. 2330 W Colorado Ave. 6:30 pm.

Don McLean | Folk musician performing at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Dr. 7 p.m.

Jazz in the Garden presents LOOK’EE HERE | Jazz band performing Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. 531 N Tejon. 7 pm.

JazzyTones | Live jazz music at Summa. 817 W Colorado Ave. 7 p.m.

UVC Free Summer Concert Series: The Long Run | Eagles tribute band performing at University Village Colorado Shopping Center. 5262 N Nevada Ave. 7 p.m.

Brother Ryan | Live Americana music at Ohana Kava Bar. 112 E Boulder St. 9 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

Teague Starbuck | Live music at Bell Brothers Brewing. 114 N Tejon St., #100 6:00 pm.

Pauline Reese | Country singer performing at Garden of the Gods Resort & Club. 3314 Mesa Rd. 6:30 p.m.

DJ Williams Band, Marcus Machado | Live music at Vultures. 2100 E Platte Ave. 7 p.m.

The Hirs Collective | Queer punk band performing at Vultures. 2100 E Platte Ave. 7 p.m.

Nube Nueve Latin Jazz | Latin jazz band performing at Summa. 817 W Colorado Ave. 7 p.m.

Texas Flood | Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute band performing at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Dr. 7 p.m.

Reecy Pontiff | Folk punk musician performing at Bar-K. 124 E Costilla St. 8 p.m.

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

Blue Frog Summer Sunday Series | Live music at Front Range Barbeque. 2330 W Colorado Ave. 6 p.m.

Social Cig, Glitter Porn, Charlieboy, the Ragetones | Live alternative music at the Black Sheep. 2106 E Platte Ave. 7 p.m.

Sam Burchfield & The Scoundrels | Folk band performing at Lulu’s Downstairs. 107 Manitou Ave. 8 p.m.

MONDAY, JUNE 17

Arrows in Action | Rock band performing at the Black Sheep. 2106 E Platte Ave. 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

Michael Reese | Guitarist performing at Rico’s Cafe & Wine Bar. 322 1/2 N Tejon St. 5 p.m.

Hillside Gardens Summer Concert Series: Nube Nueve, Brother Ryan, John Wise and the Tribe | Live music at Hillside Gardens. 1006 South Institute Street. 6 p.m.

Belmont, Can’t Swim, Capstan | Rock bands performing at the Black Sheep. 2106 E Platte Ave. 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

Banning Lewis Ranch Summer Concert Series: Titonic | Pop band performing at Vista Park Pavilion. 8833 Vista Del Pico Blvd. 6 p.m.

Craig Walter | Folk musician performing at Rico’s Cafe & Wine Bar. 322 1/2 N Tejon

St. 6 p.m.

Craig Morgan | Country musician performing at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Dr. 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

Hot Like Wasabi | Live music at The ViewHouse. 7114 Campus Dr. 6 p.m.

BlackHawk | Country group performing at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Dr. 7 p.m.

Dead Register | Rock band performing at Vultures. 2100 E Platte Ave. 7 p.m.

UVC Free Summer Concert Series: Incendio | Spanish pop band performing at University Village Colorado Shopping Center. 5262 N Nevada Ave. 7 p.m.

Belmont performing at the Black Sheep, June 19, photo courtesy of Pure Noise Records.

Pauline Reese performing at Garden of the Gods Resort & Club, June 15, photo courtesy of Pauline Reese.

Stephen Wilson Jr. | Singer-songwriter performing at the Black Sheep. 2106 E Platte. Ave. 8 p.m.

Kanales | Live music at Club VIP. 3506 N Academy Blvd. 9 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

Katie Hale and the P-47s | Swing ensemble performing at Rico’s Cafe & Wine Bar. 322 1/2 N Tejon St. 6 p.m.

GAYC/DC | Queer AC/DC tribute band performing at Vultures. 2100 E Platte Ave. 7 p.m.

Jim Messina | Country rock musician performing at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Dr. 7 p.m.

Sending Skyward, Cell 23, Ghost Trail, Smoke Burial | Rock bands performing at the Black Sheep. 2106 E Platte. Ave. 7 p.m.

Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show | Fleetwood Mac tribute band performing at Broadmoor World Arena. 3185 Ventucci Blvd. 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, JUNE 23

Blue Frog Summer Sunday Series | Live music at Front Range Barbeque. 2330 W Colorado Ave. 6 p.m.

MONDAY, JUNE 24

Free Throw, Slow Joy | Emo band performing at the Black Sheep. 2106 E Platte Ave. 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, JUNE 25

FOXCULT, Letters From The Sun, Lava Gato | Rock bands performing at Vultures. 2100 E Platte Ave. 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26

Hillside Gardens Summer Concert Series: Soapdish, Roma Ransom, The 719 Band | Live music at Hillside Gardens. 1006 South Institute Street. 6 p.m.

Mamma’s Marmalade | Bluegrass band performing at Front Range Barbeque. 2330 W Colorado Ave. 6:30 p.m.

Image: Detail, Clarence Shivers, Self-Portrait, oil on canvas. From the collection of Peggy Shivers.

photo by: Pikes Peak Region Attractions Assoc.

photo by:

Pikes Peak Region Attractions Assoc.

Road SHOWS

Statewide Live Music, June 13 through June 26

Silvestre Dangond, Paramount Theatre, Denver, June 13

Caifanes & Cafe Tacvba, Levitt Pavilion Denver, Denver, June 14

Joe Nichols, Grizzly Rose, Denver, June 14

Say Anything, Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, June 14

Shreya Ghoshal, Bellco Theatre, Denver, June 14

Zach Bryan, Sierra Ferrell & Levi Turner, Empower Field At Mile High, Denver, June 14

The Denver Ska Fest: Goldfinger, Less Than Jake & Five Iron Frenzy, Sculpture Park, Denver, June 15

Umphrey’s McGee, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 15

Janet Jackson & Nelly, Ball Arena, Denver, June 16

Kaleo, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 16

Todd Rundgren, Paramount Theatre, Denver, June 16

Iron & Wine, The Mission Ballroom, Denver, June 17

Megan Thee Stallion, Ball Arena, Denver, June 17

Motion City Soundtrack, The Summit Music Hall, Denver, June 17

Parcels, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 17

Hot Water Music, Ogden Theatre, Denver, June 18

Kevin Gates, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 18

Sham 69, HQ Denver, Denver, June 19

Cavetown & Mother Mother, Red Rocks

Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 20

Emmylou Harris, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, June 20

The Rolling Stones, Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, June 20

Tommy Emmanuel, Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder, June 20

A.C.E., Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, June 21

d4vd, Ogden Theatre, Denver, June 21

Widespread Panic, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 21-23

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Boulder Theater, Boulder, June 22

Craig Morgan, Grizzly Rose, Denver, June 22

The Knocks, Ogden Theatre, Denver, June 22

Hawthorne Heights, Anberlin, Armor For Sleep, Emery & This Wild Life, Ogden Theatre, Denver, June 24

Foreigner, Styx & John Waite, Ball Arena, Denver, June 25

Mat Kearney, Paramount Theatre, Denver, June 25

Ryan Bingham, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 25

Noah Kahan, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, Englewood, June 25-26

Adrianne Lenker, The Mission Ballroom, Denver, June 26

Third Eye Blind, Yellowcard & Arizona, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 26

EVENTS

ART EXHIBITIONS

TRIO Art Exhibit

Thursday, June 13, Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, 121 S Tejon St., Suite 111, 9 a.m.: TRIO features night scenes, subconscious abstractions, and collages by Chris Alvarez. June 27. alvarezschool.com.

A Retrospective: Life Artworks of Kang Lee Sheppard

Thursday, June 13, Academy Art & Frame Co., 7560 N Academy Blvd., 10 a.m.: Join us in June to celebrate the artistic talents of Kang Lee Sheppard with A Retrospective of her work. Kang Lee is an internationally recognized artist who has contributed in many ways to the artistic community in Colorado Springs. Through June 29. academyframesco.com.

Colorado Rhapsody

Thursday, June 13, Commonwheel Artists Co-op, 102 Canon Ave., 10 a.m.: The Pikes Peak Pastel Society annual members’ art show. The show’s theme, “Colorado Rhapsody,” will feature art by 24 of the Pastel Society’s local members with works of all sizes using the medium of soft pastel. Through July 1. commonwheel.com/pastel-society.

The Painted Dress Project

Thursday, June 13, Academy Art & Frame Co, 7560 N Academy Blvd., 10 a.m.: What started as an impulsive art therapy project to help AnaKacia Shifflet, a noted wedding and couture dress designer from Rye, Colorado, cope with COVID and the shutdown led to a very personal journey that resulted in the creation of The Painted Dress Project, which includes the release of her new book (“Throwing Paint”) and the creation of a nonprofit organization to raise awareness about Long COVID. Through June 28. academyframesco.com.

Six Local Artists

Thursday, June 13, Auric Gallery, 125 E Boulder St., 12 p.m.: “In the Meantime” by Meghan Wilbar, “Cloudy Thoughts” by Judith Marie, “The Virtues of Beasts” by Kristopher Orr Animalia, “Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf” by Gaby Oshiro, “REsurfaceD” by Ben Bires and “Attention” by Leila Davis. Through June 28. auricgallery.com.

Tapestry by Tish Lacy Reed  Thursday, June 13, Surface Gallery, 2752 W Colorado Ave., 12 p.m.: Collage and mixed media work by local Colo-

rado Springs artist. Tap·es·try: Used in reference to an intricate or complex combination of things or sequence of events. Perhaps a tapestry of cultures, races, customs or even beliefs. Through June 28. surfacegallerycos.com.

Charting Waters

Thursday, June 13, Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E Colorado Ave., 10 a.m.: Water in its many forms can nourish or destroy, fill an aquarium, flood a plain, quench your thirst, thaw, freeze, boil, or evaporate into the air. For this call we asked artists to examine the nature of water, and its simple beauty as a part of our environment. Through June 29. cottonwoodcenterfort hearts.com.

You Are Here: Lupita Carrasco

Thursday, June 13, Surface Gallery, 2752 W Colorado Ave., 12 p.m.: You Are Here is an observation and appreciation of the spaces we all share seen through the eyes of an artist. Through July 26. surfacegallerycos.com.

Huong Ngô: Ungrafting

Thursday, June 13, Colora do Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W Dale St., 10 a.m.: Time is crucial to Huong Ngô, who investigates the resonances of colonial histories in the present day. She explores various aspects of Vietnamese resistance to French colonialism through archival research, and activates the historical record via imagery, language, and material matter. Through July 27. fac.coloradocollege.edu.

Cosmo’s Magic Theater, 1045 Garden of the Gods Rd. Unit 1, 7:30 p.m.: Enjoy world-class sleight of hand right under your nose, performed by one of the world’s top sleight of hand artists. Enjoy a fun and elegant evening of comedy and magic in a beautiful Victorian parlor setting. cosmosmagictheater.com.  Pirates of the Carabiner

Friday, June 14, Iron Springs Chateau, 444 Ruxton Ave., 7:30 p.m.: “Pirates of the Carabiner…or…The Search for Booty” is a musical comedy

Saturday Night Improv  Saturday, June 15, Yoga Studio Satya, 1581 York Rd., 7:30 p.m.: If you like “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” you will love our show! Fast paced improv comedy, you help with suggestions and we then create the fun. Bring the family or make it a date, it will be a fun night out. improvcolorado.com/events/saturday-night-improv.

The Amazing Chemistry Show  Sunday, June 16, Coronado High School, 1590 W Fillmore St., 10:15 a.m.: Founded by Josh Denhart, The Amazing Chemistry Show is an educationally entertaining stage production using fast-paced and engaging science experiments to captivate kids and adults while sharing about the love God has for them. First Evangelical Free Church is hosting this free event. 1freechurch.org/the-amazing-chemistry-show.

PERFORMING ARTS

ACT OUT: 2 Gents

Friday, June 14, Memorial Park, 502 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, 11 a.m.: Join Theatreworks for a fast paced, energetic staging of one of Shakespeare’s overlooked comedic masterpieces! Public performances of ACT OUT are always free to audiences, from the oldest to the youngest, and everyone in between. Through July 6. Full list of dates and locations at entcenterforthearts.org/ theatreworks/events/act-out. Impossible Things  Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 22,

melodrama set at the Island of Tortuga in the mid-1800s. The Captain of the Minnie Pearl, Capt. Mack Sparrow, is in search of his family’s long lost buried treasures. But he may not be up for the challenges posed by the Dread Pirate Robber, a villainous character who has somehow become the governor of beautiful Tortuga. Through August 3. ironspringschateau.com.

Magic and Mind Reading

Saturday, June 15, Cosmo’s Magic Theater, 1045 Garden of the Gods Rd. Unit 1, 7:30 p.m.: Continuing in our tradition of storytelling, light and fun presentation and comedy, this show includes brand new, original material created specifically for this performance. The audience will even be “taught” and participate in telekinesis during the performance! Weekly performances throughout 2024. cosmosmagictheater.com.

Celtic Throne  Wednesday, June 19, Pikes Peak Center, 190 S Cascade Ave., 7:30 p.m.: Celtic Throne is coming to Colorado Springs on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 7:30pm. Created by Herbert W. Armstrong College and Armstrong Dance, with original new music from Golden Globe-nominated composer Brian Byrne, Celtic Throne celebrates the dramatic and mysterious origins of Irish dance. Tickets are available online at AXS.com or in person at the Pikes Peak Center box office. pikespeakcenter.com/events/ detail/celticthrone.

The Education of Angels  Thursday, June 20, Fountain Community Theater, 326 W Alabama Ave., 6 p.m.:

“The Education of Angels” is a witty and extremely funny play with a message that will touch every heart. Two unlikely characters, Nick and Jenna, are thrown together in this hilarious tale of two angels in training sent back to earth to help Dave, who is having cold feet on his wedding day. Through June 29. our. show/knitwjnd3j.

Fun In The Sun Drag Show  Thursday, June 20, Vultures, 2100 E Platte Ave., 6 p.m.: 18 and over drag show presented by the United Court of the Pikes Peak Empire. vulturesrocks.com.

Celtic Throne performing at the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts, June 19 photo courtesy of Celtic Throne.

The Brewery Comedy Tour

Saturday, June 22, Bell Brothers Brewing, 114 N Tejon St. #100, 7 p.m.: Currently in its eleventh year, this nationwide comedy tour has already hit 4,200 venues across the country. The drinks are pretty good too! allevents.in/ coloradosprings/the-brewery-comedytour-at-bell-brothers.

FILM

Summer Outdoor Movie Night

Wednesday, June 19 and Thursday, June 20, Heller Center for Arts & Humanities, 1250 N Campus Heights Dr., 9 p.m. Come join us for our Summer Outdoor Movie night as we show the storm chasing thriller Twister. PG-13. 1hr 53min. This event is free to all. Please your own chairs and blankets. heller@uccs.edu.

Film Screening: ‘MIRASOL, Looking at the Sun’

Tuesday, June 25, SCP Hotel, 2850 S Circle Dr., 5 p.m.: In this poignant new film, award-winning filmmaker Ben Knight challenges us to think about land and water use in the West through an intimate portrait of a rural farming community in Pueblo, Colorado, as they fight to protect their water and land, and in turn, their culture and livelihood. palmerland.org/event/mirasol-screening-at-scp-hotel.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Urban Market

Thursday, June 13 and Thursday, June 20, Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, 2 El

Paso Blvd., 5:30 p.m.: Our enchanting seasonal urban market will be set up in the serene backyard area, offering a delightful array of handcrafted goods from local artisans and makers. Once you’ve found your favorite finds, step inside the Lodge to savor Colorado’s finest brews, wines, or spirits while enjoying live music from 6-8 p.m. Every Thursday May through September. bicycleresort.com/ events-activities.

Westside Community Saleabration

Saturday, June 15, Westside Community Center, 1628 W Bijou St., 8 a.m.: You are invited to join a community garage sale, swap meet, recycling event, and block party with live music and food trucks. coloradosprings.gov/westsidecommunitycenter.

Artisan Alley Market

Saturday, June 15, Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E Colorado Ave., 11 a.m.: Dive into a world of creativity at Artisan Alley Market. Picture this: Local artists showcasing their masterpieces. Thrifters offering one-of-a-kind treasures. Makers crafting unique goods. Live entertainment filling the air with music and entertainment. Delicious aromas wafting from food trucks serving up tasty treats. wreckdcollective.com/ artisanalley.  Fan Fest

Friday, June 21, Downtown Colorado Springs, 1 Tejon St., 5 p.m.: Held on the Friday evening before Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Race Day, more

than 30,000 people gather in the heart of Downtown Colorado Springs to experience this 10-block street party. Come out and meet the drivers, visit with top sponsors and witness high flying stunts during the Colorado Springs Powersports FMX Show! ppihc.org/fan-fest/.  Front Range Maker’s Market

Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23, Lewis-Palmer High School, 1300 Higby Rd., Monument, 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.: Known for high quality and unique vendors. Shoppers always leave with one-of-a-kind items for every style and budget. Come hungry for food and coffee. Entry is $5 at the door—children 12 and under are free. Additional info and BOGO pre-sale tickets can be found at frmakersmarket.com.

OUTDOOR REC

Kite Festival

Saturday, June 15, Falcon Regional Park, 10990 Eastonville Rd., Falcon, 10

open to people of all ages. communityservices.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-kite-festival/.

Summer Solstice Hike

Thursday, June 20, Paint Mines Interpretive Park, 29950 Paint Mine Rd., Calhan, 5:30 p.m.:  Experience the beauty of nature and celebrate conservation with Palmer Land Conservancy at our Summer Solstice Hike at Paint Mines Interpretive Park. Please register by June 18. Free for Palmer members. palmerland.org/event/summer-solsticehike-at-the-paint-mines.

Paint. Sip. Safari.

Wednesday, June 26, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd., 6 p.m.: Join us for an adults only program where you not only get to create memories but a painting of one of our amazing animals as well. Spend the evening at the Zoo strolling through animal exhibits, enjoying an adult beverage, meeting animals up-close

Chateau

By JESSE PAUL • The Colorado Sun

If Colorado voters decide in November to pass a ballot measure making big changes to the way the state’s elections are conducted, it may be years before they go into effect — if ever.

That’s because of a last-minute amendment added to a broad bipartisan election bill awaiting Gov. Jared Polis’ signature. The provisions would create a major barrier to a proposal to alter Colorado’s primaries so candidates of all parties run against each other, with the top four vote-getters advancing to a ranked choice general election.

Now, proponents of the election overhaul, who were unaware of the big hurdles created by Senate Bill 210 until they were contacted this week by The Colorado Sun, are demanding that Polis veto the legislation.

County clerks and opponents of the voting changes are demanding that he sign it. Amid the growing pressure campaign, the governor won’t say whether he will sign or veto the measure, which would require ranked-choice voting to be tested in 12 municipalities before it could be used statewide. He has until June 7 to decide.

“The governor is reviewing the final version of the bill,” said Shelby Wieman, a spokesperson for Polis.

The future of Colorado’s voting process hangs in the balance. So does the rest of what’s in Senate Bill 230, which election officials say is necessary to safeguard state election workers.

Colorado Voters First, the group pushing for the election system changes, is spearheaded by Kent Thiry, the wealthy former CEO of the Denver-based dialysis giant DaVita. For years he has used his deep pockets to fund ballot initiatives, including ones aimed at tamping down on partisanship by letting unaffiliated voters cast ballots in partisan primaries and taking redistricting out of the hands of the legislature.

Colorado Voters First intends to place a measure on the November ballot asking voters to change how Colorado’s primaries are conducted and adopt ranked choice general elections, similar to what’s used in Alaska. The changes would go into effect in 2026. The overhaul would diminish the power of the two major political parties, which are chafing at the changes.

In ranked choice voting elections, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If a candidate wins more than 50% of the first-preference votes, they are declared the

RANKED CHOICE FACES HURDLES STATE MATTERS .

winner. If no candidate reaches that threshold, candidates with the fewest first-preference supporters are eliminated. The process continues until one candidate exceeds 50% of the total vote.

County clerks across the state have warned that they are unprepared for the overhaul and expressed anxiety about how the ballot measure could affect their ability to follow other state and federal election laws. They worked on the amendment in Senate Bill 210 delaying implementation of open primary system and ranked choice general elections alongside a group called Coloradans for Accurate and Secure Elections, a consortium of mainly progressive organizations opposed to the Colorado Voters First proposal.

The provisions would require a dozen Colorado municipalities in counties of a certain size and with a specific demographic makeup to conduct ranked choice elections before a ranked choice election could be used in a race for state or federal office. Additionally, Colorado could not move to the new primary system proposed by Colorado Voters First until that requirement has been met.

Finally, the amendment would require the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office to produce a report on how ranked choice voting went in the municipalities and present its findings to the legislature.

Only a handful of cities and towns in Colorado — including Boulder, Fort Collins and Telluride — currently use ranked choice voting in their municipal elections. Voter approval would be required before the change is adopted in some communities.

That means it would likely be 2028 or 2030 at the earliest before the new primary system and ranked choice voting could be used in state and federal elections.

The clauses were added in a two-page amendment to Senate Bill 210 adopted on the Sunday before the end of the state’s legislative session on May 8. There was no debate on the amendment, which was offered on the Colorado House floor by state Rep. Emily Sirota, a Denver Democrat and one of the bill’s main sponsors.

“This amendment was worked out with several of our (county) clerks to ensure that as new voting methods are implemented in different types of elections we have a good amount of data to analyze to ensure we’re not undermining Coloradans’ confidence in our elections and that voters understand

their ballots,” Sirota said on the House floor.

The amendment was introduced, explained and passed within a minute.

“These last-minute antics are what voters hate about politics,” said Amber McReynolds, an elections expert who is part of Colorado’s Voters First. “Communities across Colorado have already approved and used ranked choice voting in elections, and our fantastic clerks have systems in place to run and audit those contests. Using ranking systems simply gives voters more choice, and does not substantively change the way votes are processed.”

She said the way the amendment was adopted — with no chance for public input during a legislative committee — “begs for a veto.”

Curtis Hubbard, a spokesman for Colorado Voters First, went so far as to allege that the amendment was akin to Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

“Anyone who was—rightly—outraged by Trump’s efforts to overturn an election after the fact should be disgusted with this front-loaded attempt to undermine the will of the voters,” he said.

Matt Crane, who leads the nonpartisan Colorado County Clerks Association, said his organization worked on and supported the amendment. He said it’s smart policy for ranked choice voting to be tested on the municipal level before it’s adopted statewide. (Only Alaska and Maine conduct all statewide elections using ranked choice voting.)

“Anytime that you are going to make a seismic change to an election model, it’s a bad idea to do it without understanding all the impacts of it,” he said. “We just aren’t there with rank choice voting. Will it create broader voter confusion? Does it have a suppressing effect on people of color and the seniors?”

He added: “We like to be on the cutting edge. We just don’t want to be on the bleeding edge.”

Crane said if support for ranked choice voting is as broad as its supporters say it is, it shouldn’t be difficult to get the system adopted in towns and cities across Colorado. He added that because Senate Bill 210 would make a change to state law, the legislature could come back next year and strip out the statutory hurdles should voters overwhelmingly back the ballot measure on open primaries and ranked choice voting.

“As clerks, we don’t care about who wins,” Crane said. “We just care about who’s participating. Ranked choice, this movement is designed to change who wins.”

Crane said if the governor were to veto Senate Bill 210, which is 42 pages long, a laundry list of other provisions meant to improve the state’s election system would be collateral damage, including clauses protecting local elections officials from conspiracy theorists, improving safety for presidential electors and shielding county clerks from nuisance public records requests.

“It’s a critically important elections bill in an election year,” Sirota, one of the bill’s main sponsors, said in an interview Thursday.

She rejected the idea that the way the amendment was passed was inappropriate. She said the bill arrived in the House late in the session, crossing over to the chamber from the Senate on May 1 after it was first introduced April 17.

And, she said, the ranked choice voting provision is “a totally fair way to ensure if the voters pass a ballot measure that it is rolled out in a methodical way.” Sirota said the provision would force the rollout of ranked choice voting to be akin to how Colorado adopted its universal mail ballot system.

“I’m getting pretty tired of the uber-wealthy among us just throwing their money around and the impact on Colorado’s public be damned,” she said, referring to Thiry.

The legislature has passed other bills in recent years aimed at affecting ballot measures.

In 2021, lawmakers passed a bipartisan measure kneecapping a ballot measure seeking to cut property taxes. This year, the legislature approved a bill aiming to neuter the effects of a possible November ballot measure requiring voter approval for new government fees.

Colorado Voters First still has a way to go before it gets a measure on the November ballot. It must collect about 125,000 voter signatures by Aug. 5 to qualify. The group also hasn’t settled yet on which measure to pursue as two of its proposals are being reviewed by the Colorado Supreme Court. But because of Thiry’s deep pockets, it’s widely assumed that it will land a measure on the November ballot.

The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported, nonprofit news outlet that covers our state. Learn more and sign up for free newsletters at coloradosun.com.

Soured on Pickleball

By CAMILLE LIPTAK

It happens around this time of year in Olympic City USA—temperatures rise, the sun shines its warmth down upon us like a long-lost friend, and people flock to city parks to play. You swim! You jog! You throw the Frisbee. And for proud Springsters like myself, you also play tennis. At least, that was the case before pickleball.

Pickleball, for the uninitiated, is a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. It’s played on a court similar in size to a doubles badminton court, and players use paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball over a squat net. Now, I’m no history buff, but I think the game’s origins can be traced back to Florida retirees who couldn’t play tennis anymore due to their limited mobility and disinterest in looking cool. The aesthetic is something like a neon Trapper Keeper crossed with a Jazzercise class.

For reasons I have yet to figure out, the game has exploded in popularity recently, taking over parks and rec centers across the country. I suppose its appeal lies in its accessibility—young or old, athletic or not, just about anyone can pick up a paddle and play. And now, thanks to COVID-19, which contributed to the surge in pickleball popularity, the hybrid “sport” is everywhere.

Seriously, the sport is inescapable. It’s at the sprawling Monument Valley Park’s 15 courts and at the numerous sports complexes around the city. As you read this, faceless mannequins inside Target stores are modeling pickleball apparel and accessories. It’s all feeding a craze that I firmly believe needs to slow its

To be fair, I’ve never actually played pickleball. In part, that’s because my ego can’t take the humiliation of someone seeing me in a visor or any of the other

pickleball regalia. But mostly my refusal to play is an act of protest. It’s hurting the sport I love most.

There is a creeping injustice to the pickleball incursion that I as a proud, tennis-playing Springster can’t overlook or allow. This “sport” has annexed and gentrified our city parks without our permission. It has torn up my beloved tennis courts. (And also made it OK to go to a city park dressed like an aerobics instructor from 1985.) Sure, not every single tennis court in Colorado Springs has been obliterated. According to the Colorado Springs website, “The City maintains over 45 public tennis courts in parks throughout Colorado Springs. The main tennis facility, in Memorial Park, sports 15 courts…It is the hub of tennis activities.”

Forty-five?! Wow, that number sounds high—so do the alleged 15 tennis courts at Memorial Park —but how many of those courts are actually playable? How many of them are maintained? The 45 tennis courts Olympic City USA boasts about online are still standing. But barely. Colorado Springs is treating pickleball like it’s the golden child, giving it bright and shiny (and garishly colorful) courts, while city park tennis courts are left to

OPINION .

wither. Nets are drooping, courts are cracked worse than some of our city’s roads, and surfaces are uneven. All of which makes it nearly impossible to play and enjoy a game of tennis. So, I guess my problem isn’t with pickleball itself. No, my problem is with the city’s shiny object syndrome: the fact that Colorado Springs paid for construction that dismantled usable tennis courts in favor of a post-COVID culture craze; the fact that the dwindling number of tennis courts in city parks that are still alive—and are still seeing people line up to play on them—are not maintained. They’re not being given the same preferential treatment as the pickleball courts. City parks are for the public, the people who cherish and use them for various activities. For jogging. For swimming, picnics, and tennis. They’re not just for pickleball. And if Olympic City USA wants to pander to sporty trends, that’s fine. But it should remember that tennis is an actual Olympic sport. Pickleball is not—not yet thankfully.

Camille Liptak is lifelong Colorado Springs resident.

AMERICAN

AMERICAN

Mackenzie’s Chop House

Mackenzie’s Chop House

128 S. Tejon St. Historic Alamo Building / Downtown / 719-635-3536

128 S. Tejon St. Historic Alamo Building / Downtown / 719-635-3536

Voted Best Power Lunch, Steakhouse and Martini! Downtown’s choice for quality meats and mixed drinks. Mackenzieschophouse.com. Open Mon-Fri. 11:30a.m.-3p.m. for lunch, and 5pm every day for Dinner. https://www.MackenziesChopHouse.com

Offering half off all bottles of wine under $100! Voted Best Power Lunch, Steakhouse and Martini! Downtown’s choice for quality meats and mixed drinks. Mackenzieschophouse.com. Open Mon-Fri. 11:30a.m.-3p.m. for lunch, and 5p.m. - close every day for dinner! https://www.mackenzieschophouse.com

Tony’s Downtown Bar

Tony’s Downtown Bar

326 N Tejon St. / (719) 228-6566

326 N Tejon St. / (719) 228-6566

Winners of 80+ Independent “Best of Awards” in 25 years. A great Midwestern Tavern with warm beer, lousy food & poor service!!! Pabst, Fried Cheese Curds, Leinenkugle’s, Walleye Fish-fry, cocktails, burgers and more. 11am-2am daily. HH 3-6.

GO PACK GO!

Winners of 80+ Independent “Best of Awards” in 25 years. A great Midwestern Tavern with warm beer, lousy food & poor service!!! Pabst, Fried Cheese Curds, Leinenkugle’s, Walleye Fish-fry, cocktails, burgers and more. 11am-2am daily. HH 3-6. GO PACK GO! https://tonysdowntownbar.com

https://TonysDowntownBar.com

GERMAN

Edelweiss

Edelweiss

GERMAN

34 E. Ramona Ave. / (South Nevada & Tejon) / 719-633-2220

34 E. Ramona Ave. / (South Nevada & Tejon) / 719-633-2220

For 55 years Edelweiss has brought Bavaria to Colorado Springs! Using fresh ingredients, the menu invites you to visit Germany. Voted Gold Best German, Silver Dessert Menu and Bronze Best Patio by Indy readers! Reservations and the menu can be found online at https://Edelweissrest.com.

For 55 years Edelweiss has brought Bavaria to Colorado Springs! Using fresh ingredients, the menu invites you to visit Germany. Voted Gold Best German, Silver Dessert Menu and Bronze Best Patio by Indy readers! Reservations and the menu can be found online at https://EdelweissRest.com.

JAMAICAN

Rasta Pasta

JAMAICAN

405 N Tejon St. / (719) 481-6888

Rasta Pasta

405 N Tejon St. / (719) 481-6888

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Happy Hour daily 3-5 PM. Italian-Jamaican Fusion Cuisine, unlike anything else! Caribbean inspired pasta dishes, fresh and fun Salads, full bar with local drafts and rum specials, ridiculously good desserts. Lively atmosphere and friendly service. http://realrastapasta.com

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Happy Hour daily 3-5 PM. Italian-Jamaican Fusion Cuisine, unlike anything else! Caribbean inspired pasta dishes, fresh and fun Salads, full bar with local drafts and rum specials, ridiculously good desserts. Lively atmosphere and friendly service.

MEXICAN

http://RealRastaPasta.com

José Muldoons

MEXICAN

222 N. Tejon St. / 719-636-2311 / 5710 S. Carefree CR @ Powers / 719-574-5673

José Muldoons

222 N. Tejon St. / 719-636-2311

Celebrating 50 years! Authentic Tex-Mex & Mexican fare in a Contemporary Sante Fe-styled establishment. Across from Acacia Park Downtown. Award winning Queso, Chili Rellenos, and Mean Green Chili. https://JoseMuldoons.com

Since 1974. Features authentic Tex-Mex and Mexican fare in a Contemporary Sante Fe-styled establishment. Across from Acacia Park, and west of Powers and Carefree. Josemuldoons.com. Support local restaurants! We are open for delivery, carry out and dine-in at both locations! Please check our Facebook page for hours, as they are subject to change. https://josemuldoons.com

PUZZLES!

News of the WEIRD

BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

FIELD REPORT

Groundskeepers at the Wisconsin state capitol in Madison were tasked with removing some invasive plants from a tulip bed on May 16, the Associated Press reported. It seems someone planted cannabis amongst the blooms, according to Shelby Ellison, a botanist from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “It was just a large number of plants for it to be anything accidental,” she said. She was unable to determine whether the plants were marijuana or hemp; marijuana is still illegal in Wisconsin.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

• Are tacos sandwiches? Martin Quintana, 53, has hoped to open a second The Famous Taco location in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for a few years. However, businesses in the development he was eyeing are limited to “sandwich bar-style restaurants whose primary business is to sell ‘made-to-order’ or ‘subway-style’ sandwiches” -- so Quintana was shut out. He sued, the Associated Press reported, and on May 15, Superior Court Judge Craig Bobay laid down the law: “(T)acos and burritos are Mexican-style sandwiches.” Quintana said the new location should be open in two to three months.

• At the Krefeld Zoo in Germany, Jan, a Linne’s two-toed sloth, celebrated his 54th birthday on April 30, making him the oldest living sloth in captivity -- ever, United Press International reported. Zookeepers said Jan, who regularly sports a silk robe and cravat, is in terrific health and, as proof, he just fathered his 22nd offspring.

INEXPLICABLE

• Police in Pasadena, California, arrested Art Leon Berian, 63, on May 16 after an investigation revealed he had been setting off explosions in his neighborhood, KABC-TV reported. Berian is believed to be responsible for more than 150 unidentified booms over nearly two years, police said. Most happened in the middle of the night, but while collecting evidence, police heard a loud explosion

and saw a white BMW drive through the resulting cloud of smoke. Evidence from that explosion was found in Berian’s car. No injuries have resulted from the bombs; Berian is charged with three felonies, and bond was set at $1.5 million.

• A 45-year-old man identified as Omar B. was located in a neighbor’s house in Djelfa, Algeria, after being missing for 26 years, Gulf News reported. Omar disappeared in 1998 during the Algerian Civil War; his family assumed he had been kidnapped or killed. His captor, a 61-yearold doorman, was taken into custody after he tried to flee; Omar told officials on May 14 that he couldn’t call out for help “because of a spell that his captor had cast on him.” Omar is receiving medical and psychological help.

THE

PASSING PARADE

Have plans for June 8? If you’re free, head on down to Ocala, Florida, for the fourth annual Great Florida Bigfoot Conference. Click Orlando reported that the gathering will include “an all-star lineup of Bigfoot researchers, investigators and authors ready to interact with fans,” along with exclusive merch for sale. You might even want to get in on the “Share Your Experience” forum, where you can relate your personal Bigfoot encounter stories. Organizers recommend buying tickets in advance.

POLICE REPORT

The Escambia County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office, on the lookout for David Jerome Jackson, 31, found him in a heated situation on May 17, the New York Post reported. Jackson was wanted for a March 15 shooting in Pensacola. “After an extensive search,” police said, “deputies ... finally discovered Jackson, folded, not so neatly inside a remarkably small dryer drum. He was pulled from the dryer one limb at a time.” Jackson is being held on $120,000 bail at the Escambia County Jail.

Send your weird news items with subject line WEIRD NEWS to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com

THE BODY OF CHRIST COMPELS

“Priest Accused of Biting Woman During Communion,” Click Orlando announced on May 23. On May 19, an unnamed woman attended Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in St. Cloud, Florida, where she attempted to take Communion. Father Fidel, however,

allegedly refused to give her Communion bread because he said she had not confessed her sins. The priest said the woman pushed him and grabbed the tray of Communion bread, which is a no-no, and “the only way he thought to extract her from it was to bite her arm,” according to police. The priest has not yet been charged.

Mountain Manifest

AARIES

BY CAMILLE LIPTAK, COSMIC CANNIBAL

s spring morphs into summer, a cosmic cocktail of new events abound. That’s right, the next two weeks bring a bevy of small and mighty astrological shifts that are guaranteed to make an impact. Of course, you might be wondering: Are these impacts good? Bad? In a purgatorial middle ground? The answer to that, my friend, depends entirely on your zodiac sign. So, read on. Want more astro-logic from Cosmic Cannibal? Social Media @cosmiccannibalcamille,Substack cosmiccannibal.substack.com and the web cosmiccannibal.com

An apex moment for your career and professional persona arrives June 21. This might be the day you get a promotion or a Gold Star from the higher-ups. Celebrate and revel in the work-focused activity. Because June 20 onward, your home & family life see an influx of activity, emotion, and–dare I say–drama…

TAURUS

Talk is never cheap for you, as you always choose your words wisely. But by June 17, you may find yourself chatting it up with fond folks in your local scene: siblings, neighbors, Dutch Bros barista, etc. Give in to the call for connection, knowing you can always listen instead of speak…

GEMINI

Get your point across! Conversations receive added sweetness on June 16, and it’s a great day to explain how you’re feeling. (Or, to effortlessly persuade someone to buy what you’re selling. Wink wink.) Just be wary of saying—or pitching—the wrong thing to your boss. Offer extra clarification to prevent deception…

CANCER

Crab-like, you zig-zag out of your shell and into the sunlight on June 20, making a grand debut right before the Full Moon. Projects with your beau, bestie, or boss are finalized on this day. Prep for the emotional swell with numerous naps. You need to be rested to shine this summer…

LEO

Like a rockstar coming off of a monthlong tour, beginning June 20, you may find the lure of your cozy bed too strong to resist. Every superstar needs solo time, so give yourself permission to hide away at home. The fans will still be there when you’re ready to reclaim the spotlight…

VIRGO

Very often around summertime, you experience a flurry of to-dos at work. If these to-dos are too stressful and you’d rather do another job, June 16 is a fabulous day to groom your resume and send out applications. Just try to refrain from adding any obvious embellishments. Misrepresentation won’t win over anyone…

LIBRA

Life has likely been taking you on a few long-distance voyages, exposing you to new sights, sounds, and people. Starting June 20, you trade the all-who-wander exploratory life for the blue-collar, concentrating emotions and efforts on professional prospects. Though not nearly as adventurous, this is still a time for you to explore…

SCORPIO

Summer tends to be a high-vibing time for you. Wanderlust replaces a deep desire for brooding, and every week feels like Burning Man. At least, that’s the dream. The reality is that you simply go out more. Weekend concerts, art walks, vegan dive bars, mineral hot springs— these are all solid options…

SAGITTARIUS

Single or taken, your relationships have usurped much of your attention. Be it your best friend, landlord, or business partner-in-crime, by June 16, there’s a chance you and this person get your wires crossed. Who deceived who doesn’t matter. Hash it out, knowing June 26 brings an opportunity for a mutually-beneficial deal…

CAPRICORN

Collaboration isn’t your favorite word in the dictionary. (You prefer words like entrepreneur and tycoon.) But summer always signals you to shift into partnership territory. The good news? Communications should run smoothly between you and them, so it won’t be so awful having to work jointly with another person for a spell…

AQUARIUS

All spring long you’ve (hopefully) prioritized play, dabbling in a variety of things that bring you joy (dating, puzzles, gambling, etc.). By June 20, your attention shifts to work and the myriad ways you can be more productive at it. Though not as creatively vivifying as before, it’s a surprisingly welcomed change…

PISCES

Poetic to a fault, you’re stringing together witty words for loved ones. At least before physical affection takes their place on June 17. Also on the menu? An uptick in creative energy and a desire to have fun just for the sake of it. The arty hedonism surges from June 20 onward…

2024 Lineup

OneRepublic | August 9, 10, 11

The Beach Boys | August 16

Walker Hayes | August 17

Iration and Pepper | August 18

Lauren Daigle | August 23

Primus | August 24

John Fogerty | August 27

Dierks Bentley | August 30

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss | August 31

Jim Gaffigan | September 13

Pentatonix | September 15

Cage The Elephant | September 19

Barenaked Ladies | September 21

Steve Miller Band | September 27

ZZ Top & Lynyrd Skynyrd | September 28 for KING + COUNTRY | September 29

Godsmack | October 17

Experience the Suite life

Book a VIP fire pit suite for your favorite show