CS Independent Vol. 1 Issue 14 | November 14, 2024
CONCRETE CROSSROADS
Founder of a Candy Land of creativity reflects on nonprofit’s 20th anniversary BY CANNON TAYLOR, PAGE 10 IN THIS ISSUE: | KINDA BLUE: Vote totals show (slowly) shifting tide in El Paso County PAGE 6 | ELECTION DAY ALBUM: Snapshots of a historic Election Day PAGE 14
A Pikes Peak Media Company
“... the worst kind of garbage.”
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ben Trollinger
REPORTERS Andrew Rogers, Cannon Taylor, Noel Black and Karin Zeitvogel
CONTRIBUTORS
Lauren Ciborowski, Adam Leech, Bryan Oller and Bob Falcone.
COPY EDITOR Willow Welter
SALES
AD DIRECTOR JT Slivka
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Monty Hatch, Josh Graham, Carla Wink and Karen Hazlehurst
AD COORDINATOR
Lanny Adams
ART & PRODUCTION
SENIOR EDITORIAL DESIGNER
Adam Biddle
OPERATIONS
DIGITAL AND MARKETING MANAGER
Sean Cassady
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Kay Williams
Kiyana Newell, policy manager for the non-partisan group New Era Colorado, encourage students at Colorado College to vote. | Credit: Ben Trollinger
River Gassen at the Democratic watch party. | Credit: Adam Biddle
Steve Wood at Concrete Coyote | Credit: Bryan Oller
EDITOR’S NOTE
ELECTION DAY RAMBLE
By BEN TROLLINGER ben.trollinger@ppmc.live
As we hopped into a Subaru on the morning of November 5, reporter Noel Black and I didn’t know quite what to expect. Would the political acrimony finally boil over? Would our collective anxiety reach a fever pitch? What did the city feel like on such a historic day? We wanted to take the temperature as we drove around. We wanted to somehow capture the spirit of Election Day in Colorado Springs. (Turn to page 14 for an album of the results.)
With only an informal list of stops in hand, we started on the Westside, visiting the IBEW headquarters and then Manitou Springs City Hall. From there, we headed to the picturesque village of Green Mountain Falls and then circled back for a stop the Citizens Service Center on Garden of the Gods Road. The idyllic Colorado College campus was the next destination. Then we wandered around downtown, before eating lunch and setting out for the southeast reaches. Meanwhile, reporter Karin Zeitvogel and designer Adam Biddle roamed the north, visiting The Q bar, various polling places, and a late-night watch party.
Along the way, Noel and I thought we might see some protesters perched atop a highway bridge, or maybe a gaggle of activists holding signs and waiving at traffic. We didn’t. We wanted to see an
ornately decorated Trump monster truck (you know the ones). And while we did catch a brief glimpse of one, it remained elusive, ultimately leaving us in its exhaust and disappearing into the I-25 traffic. That truck was the white whale on our Election Day bingo card.
Not on the card — and knocking someone out with those American thighs — was the pair of patriotic bum huggers on a rangy, bearded man jogging down Manitou Avenue. We’ll remember that for next time — it was memorable.
In the end, we captured the standard iconography: people filling out ballots, people handing them off to workers at drop-off sites, lines snaking out of polling places, election judges laser-focused on the task at hand, the ubiquitous “I Voted” stickers, the third-party campaigners, and, of course, American flags … so many American flags. To cleanse the palette, we visited the Manitou Art Center to witness the beginning stages of a Tibetan Sand Mandala and see flags of a different stripe.
For the most part, people seemed to be going about their business. Whatever election electricity coursed through the city, it didn’t flash or flare too often on our drive-about. After voting at the Manitou City Hall polling place, one man did loudly exclaim — to no one in particular — “blank Trump in the blank.” I asked him who he voted for. He ignored me and quietly exited the building. The election judge who witnessed the scene smiled and chuckled a little, like a tolerant grandmother watching a beloved grandbaby misbehave. Perhaps we missed the real despairing drama, which seemed to take place on a subterranean level — mostly in private in dark houses and apartments, captured only by smartphones and broadcast to the wide world on TikTok. But on our trip, we didn’t witness meltdowns, confrontations, kerfuffles, or acts of civil, or uncivil, disobedience. Going into the next four years, let’s hope for times that are slightly less-than-interesting.
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 .
Independent welcomes publisher Fran Zankowski
Fran Zankowski has returned as publisher for both the Colorado Springs Independent and Colorado Springs Business Journal. His first day back was November 1.
“I’ve always felt a deep connection to the community, to the staff and to the mission of the organization,” he said.
Zankowski served as interim publisher this past spring to help local investors
STAFF REPORT • news@ppmc.live
Kevin O’Neil and JW Roth re-launch the Independent and Business Journal, which published their first issues in May and August, respectively. The Independent publishes once every two weeks and is free. The Journal comes out on the first Friday of each month and is subscription based.
“We had a first great launch this year of both publications. Now it’s time to grow them to become the major dominant media outlet in the Springs,” Zankowski said.
After attempts to rebrand and switch to a nonprofit model, both publications had folded due to overwhelming financial burdens back in December of 2023. In February, O’Neil and Roth announced they had purchased the rights to the publications from Zankowski for an undisclosed fee. As part of their agreement, Pikes Peak Media Company acquired the brand names, trademarks, copyrights, events, and distribution routes for the Independent and Business Journal.
"I’VE ALWAYS FELT A DEEP CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY, TO THE STAFF AND TO THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION ...I’M EXCITED AND SO HAPPY TO BE RETURNING ... "
Zankowski to Pikes Peak Media Company,” Roth said. “Fran is truly a staple of the Front Range media landscape, bringing with him decades of invaluable experience. It’s an honor to have him rejoin our team, and we look forward to the influence and leadership he will bring as we continue to grow and evolve.”
Zankowski first came to the Independent as general manager and advertising director in 2006. He was promoted in 2012 to the role of CEO of Colorado Publishing House, the umbrella company for the Independent and other publications, including the Southeast Express and Pikes Peak Bulletin. Zankowski departed in 2016 to serve as associate publisher of the alternative weekly Boulder Weekly before assuming the role of publisher in 2019.
Zankowski said that although he will miss his colleagues in Boulder, he’s looking forward to his Colorado Springs homecoming.
“I’m excited and so happy to be returning,” he said.
Zankowski has also served as the president of both the Foundation of Alternative Newsmedia and the Association of Alternative Newsmedia. From 1994 to 2000, he was the publisher of the Hartford Advocate. From there he went on to work as CEO for New Mass Media, a chain of six New England newspapers, for five years.
Downtown Holiday Events
Holiday
Character Stroll Nov. 16, 11 am-2 pm
Kick off the holiday season with Santa, the Grinch, Buddy the Elf, and Elsa & Anna as they stroll the shopping district. Carolers from Soli Deo Gloria Choir provide a holiday soundtrack for the day.
AND pick up your Holiday Coupon Book between 11 am & 1 pm.
Small Business Saturday Nov. 30
Join us in Shopping Small and check out our 150+ independent shops, galleries, restaurants, bars, breweries, coffee shops and more. Free parking at street meters for Small Business Saturday.
Still need a Downtown Holiday Coupon Book? Stop into Terra Verde or Mountain Chalet and pick one up.
“We are thrilled to welcome back Fran
Email Zankowski at fran.zankowski@ ppmc.live.
photos by Stellar Propeller Studio
EL PASO COUNTY VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS CONTINUE TO SHIFT (SLIGHTLY) BLUER
by Noel Black • noel.black@ppmc.live
On the surface, there weren’t many surprises in El Paso County’s election results on Nov. 5. If anything, it’s an island microcosm of the country.
Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris by nearly 20,000 votes in El Paso County. And, as anticipated, Republican Jeff Crank handily beat Democratic challenger River Gassen to win the House District 5 Congressional seat vacated by Doug Lamborn.
Lauren Boebert took more than two-thirds of the El Paso County’s sliver of U.S. House District 4. Republican Larry Liston won re-election in State Senate District 10 by a landslide, as did Rose Pugliese in District 14. Republican newcomer Jarvis Caldwell killed it in the deep-red District 20 by almost 15,000 votes, and Scott Bottoms took District 15 by almost 4,000 votes.
But when compared with the results of previous presidential election years, it’s clear that the otherwise red island of El Paso County is beginning to erode, if slowly, into the growing blue sea of Colorado. For president, over the past three election cycles, the percentage difference between votes for the Republican and Democratic candidates has shrunk significantly. And here are a few numbers to give you a sense of the trend.
In 2016, El Paso County chose Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton 179,228 to 108,101, a margin of almost 50%.
In 2020, El Paso County chose Trump over Joe Biden 202,828 to 161,941, a margin of 22.418%.
And this year, Trump, who won the popular vote and the electoral college for the first time since George
W. Bush in 2004, beat Harris 131,819 to 111,381, narrowing that margin to 16.4071%.
See Figure 1 for an illustration of the relative shrinking.
While these numbers also show diminishing relative support of President Trump over the past three election cycles when he has been a candidate, we can see the same trend over the same three election cycles for Congressional House District 5:
when I first arrived in the late 1960, early 1970s. We’ve gone from having one, maybe two Democrats in the state legislature to having several.”
In 2016, Republican incumbent Doug Lamborn beat Democrat Misty Plowright 191,983 to 96,903, a 65.83% difference.
In 2020, Lamborn beat Democrat Jillian Freeland 210,639 to 141,402, a 39.3% difference.
In 2024, Jeff Crank beat Democratic challenger River Gassen 131,145 to 100,613, a 26.3482% difference.
See Figure 2 for how that graph looks.
The trend in the narrowing gap between Republicans and Democrats is the same across many of El Paso County’s elected offices for the same three-year period. But this year, Democrats appear to have flipped Colorado State House District 16, which didn’t even have a Democrat as a candidate in 2016. Republican Andres Pico beat Democrat Steph Vigil 23,842 to 18,070 in 2020. And this year, Vigil (as of press time on Wednesday, Nov. 6) had managed to squeak by Republican Rebecca Keltie 14,346 to 13,948.
Perhaps even more surprisingly, the State Senate District 12 seat held by Republican Bob Gardner by large margins in 2016 and 2020 seems to have been narrowly flipped by Democrat Marc Snyder (the previous representative of State House District 18), defeating his Republican opponent, Stan VanderWerf, 26,275 to 24,768 (as of press time).
What’s also curious is that the relative number of registered Republican, Democrat and unaffiliated voters hasn’t changed much over the same period. But Bob Loevy, professor emeritus of political science at Colorado College, says the trend is real.
“The Democrats do much better in the county than
The election of Yemi Mobolade, the first independent mayor elected in Colorado Springs, is another indicator of the slow, if tenuous, shift leftward. Whether it continues depends on many factors, not the least of which are the political demographic shifts created by transplants to the Pikes Peak region, which continues to grow rapidly, and the continued integrity of the election process.
Loevy thinks it’s much less likely that U.S. House District 5 would flip anytime soon, even after Crank serves. As with his predecessors, the HD5 seat will likely remain his until he decides to step down. Given that he’s now in his mid-50s, it’s not inconceivable that Crank could hold the seat for the next 20 years or more. But given the statistical trends, it’s fair to say that when he does, it and El Paso County could slip into purple waters at the edge of Colorado’s growing ocean of blue.
Voters fill out ballots at Manitou Springs City Hall on Nov. 5. | Credit: Noel Black
SPRINGS COLLEGE STUDENTS IN SPACE
A project by students at Pikes Peak State College and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs is set to launch to the International Space Station in mid-November as part of the prestigious Student Spaceflight Experiments Program.
The experiment by Blake MacDonald, who began working on the experiment when he was at PPSC, and UCCS students Noah Grebe and Luke Davis, will look at how microgravity affects the formation of calcium sulfate crystals. MacDonald graduated from PPSC in May and is now at UCCS.
Also known as gypsum, calcium sulfate has a number of applications, including making fertilizer.
If successful, the experiment could pave the way for producing calcium sulfate during space missions, including long-term ones. Crew members could then use it to make fertilizers to help grow food.
The experiment will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Dragon rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Astronauts will monitor the experiment for two to four weeks after it reaches the ISS.
To read more, visit csindy.com
EDMONDSON TO LEAVE DOWNTOWN ORG
Downtown Partnership’s Susan Edmondson has stepped down from her role as president and CEO after 11 years due to health concerns.
“It has been the honor of my lifetime to work alongside passionate and principled people who share a vision for what downtown can be and work tirelessly to make it happen,” Edmondson said. “Despite my departure, I have every confidence the Downtown Partnership and its entities will continue to help existing and new businesses thrive while providing a sense of place for all to enjoy.”
During her time with the Downtown Partnership, Edmondson oversaw $2.3 billion in new investment into the 1-mile downtown corridor.
The Downtown Partnership’s Executive Committee accepted Edmondson’s resignation on Friday, Oct. 25.
Board Chair Jennifer Furda will lead the organization until an interim CEO is named.
“Admittedly, Susan’s news is surprising and heartbreaking, as she is well-loved and respected in our community,” Furda said. “For the past decade, Susan has played a pivotal role in the success and revitalization of downtown Colorado Springs. While Susan focuses on her health and well-being, the board is pleased that she will remain in an advisory position to further the economic progress and vibrancy of downtown.”
VENUE AIMS TO ADDRESS NOISE IN OFFSEASON
Sound levels at the Ford Amphitheater in northern Colorado Springs are compliant with decibel limits set in the development plan for the outdoor concert venue, an independent study commissioned by the mayor’s office shows.
But residents who live near the amphitheater say the study results don’t reflect the ear-jarring reality they’ve had to endure from August to October, when concerts were held at the outdoor venue. They have vowed to keep fighting to get the amphitheater to lower the volume, which they likened to an invasion.
“Our demand is simple: FIX THE NOISE,” a group called Ford Hurts Families said in an email. “Give us back the same peaceful enjoyment that we enjoyed prior to this invasion.”
Travis Easton, deputy chief of staff of infrastructure and development for Colorado Springs, said the city was “committed to working with neighbors and the amphitheater as it makes adjustments to further lessen these impacts.”
City Council President Randy Helms said days before the report was released that he is confident that VENU, the company that operates the amphitheater, will take steps to address noise complaints from residents. “I fully supported the amphi-
theater back in January of 2023 when it came before council, based upon the briefings we got that the music and noise would not go into the neighborhoods,” Helms told The Independent. “That (noise) has been identified as a problem, and JW Roth and his team are addressing that.”
No timeline has been set for the noise problems to be fixed, Helms said, although he expects some issues to have been resolved by the time concerts resume in May next year.
(JW Roth is a co-owner of Pikes Peak Media Co., which includes The Independent.)
To read more, including about what fixes VENU has proposed making, visit csindy.com
Blake MacDonald, a graduate of Pikes Peak State College, Noah Grebe and Luke Davis work in the lab. | Courtesy: Pikes Peak State College
City Council President Randy Helms responds to citizens complaining about the Ford Amphitheater. | Credit: Karin Zeitvogel
.
STRONG LANGUAGE
Southeast Colorado Springs has a plan. It just needs City Council to back it.
by KARIN ZEITVOGEL • karin.zeitvogel@ppmc.live
Southeast Colorado Springs has more needs than many neighborhoods.
It needs more, better bus service, less distance between bus stops, pedestrian crossings to safely get to the other side of busy roads and more bike lanes, community members said after a brainstorming session at Stompin’ Groundz coffee shop on Oct. 23.
The southeast also needs more trees. And curated street art might help make the area more pleasing to the eye, southeast residents brainstormed. Additionally, they said there need to be more job opportunities, affordable housing and
health clinics in the southeast, which has more poverty, a lower median income — around $51,000 versus $83,000 — and a higher crime rate than other parts of Colorado Springs.
Other items on the to-do list include a blighted shopping center needing to be revitalized. Artists and cultural groups that highlight the southeast’s cultural heritage also need support.
Because of its many needs, the southeast is the first Colorado Springs community to have a planning project get off the ground through the Neighborhood Planning Program, a citywide project that aims to equitably develop all of Colorado
Springs’ communities.
More than 100 residents gathered at Stompin’ Groundz on a fall evening to brainstorm priorities for the southeast and how to achieve them. They split into small groups and met in different parts of the cafe. After an hour of discussion in different parts of the cafe, many of them identified the same issues that needed to be overhauled or improved.
Yolanda Avila, who represents the southeast on City Council and has led Southeast Strong Community Plan since its conception four years ago, said she’s optimistic that the plan will be successful and help to revitalize the southeast.
“But we’re going to have to keep doing the work,” even after she steps down from the council in April, she said.
But Heather McBroom, executive director of The Thrive Network, which works to build and strengthen businesses in the southeast, worried that after Avila leaves the council, where she has served the maximum two terms, the southeast won’t have a strong voice in city government. That could mean that the priorities identified during the brainstorming evening at Stompin’ Groundz will struggle to take shape, she said.
“Nothing is going to happen without the
advocacy of our next councilperson,” she said. “And, as of right now, we don’t have strong candidates that are willing to run because City Council is paid like crap.”
The annual stipend for Colorado Springs City Council members is less than $7,000 for what is essentially a full-time job.
McBroom noted that the park her southeast community had been promised 20 years ago is still just a promise.
“It’s things like that that are why we want the southeast plan — so we can put pressure on (city officials) and go, ‘No, no, no. I know that money’s tight and you have to spread it all over, but something that was promised 20 years ago needs to happen this year.’” McBroom said.
Avila said she was confident the neighborhood would find a strong candidate to be its voice on council and that the plan would move forward.
The Southeast Strong community plan will go before the planning commission this winter.
The next neighborhood plan will be for the Greater Westside, which covers nine neighborhoods to the west and south of downtown Colorado Springs — Gold Hill, Ivywild, Mesa, Mesa Springs, Midland, Old Colorado City, Skyway, Stratton Meadows and Westside.
A resident of Southeast Colorado Springs takes notes at the community planning session at Stompin’ Groundz, Oct. 23, 2024. | Credit: Karin Zeitvogel
Heather McBroom (right, rear) listens as her breakout group brainstorms solutions for the Southeast. | Credit: Karin Zeitvogel
RAW MATERIALS
Concrete Couch founder Steve Wood reflects on 20 years of communitybuilding through the arts
by CANNON TAYLOR • cannon.taylor@ppmc.live
Steve Wood was all over the place. Wearing a fedora, T-shirt and paint-splattered hiking pants, he bounced around with the elasticity of a rubber ball as he came up to the mic. Standing in a wide Elvis stance, he introduced every one of the night’s speakers with the voice of a game show host and the animated gestures of an inflatable tube man dancing outside a car dealership. After announcing the next speaker, he stepped to a side table, listening intently with a wide grin, sparkling eyes and chin in hand like a romantic falling in love during a dinner date.
Leah Lowe took the mic. “Steve, when he was thinking about buying this land, he was on the board. I was board president, and we were doing a tour. And after the tour, I was terrified. I thought Steve had lost his mind.”
The crowd laughed wholeheartedly.
“I cannot stress enough how atrocious this piece of land was. This bay that we’re standing on was piled above the walls in garbage, illegally dumped,” Lowe recalled. “Everywhere you looked, there was garbage all over the ground, needles, the worst kind of garbage. There were so many houseless people trying to make a life on this land, and it was super toxic.”
Lowe didn’t mention the weekly police and fire calls, or the homicides that occurred on the property.
“I thought, ‘Yeah, Steve is doing something really sketchy here. I don’t know how he’s going to pull it off.’ But seeing the other things that Steve has accomplished, we just pressed on and had our faith in Steve,” Lowe said. “And who would have thought that this could happen from such raw — really raw — rough material.”
The makeover given to the property by nonprofit arts organization Concrete Couch was extreme. Art projects now dot the recultivated natural environment. The colorful barriers of a dirt soccer field announce the park’s name in graffiti: “Concrete Coyote.” Next to the soccer field sits a playground set made of recycled materials, and beyond that, a small trailer housing a children’s library. Wooden carvings of friendly animals are tied to the trailer’s canopy. Sculptures of clouds and the solar system hang from the trees in an area leading into a good few miles of interwoven hiking trails. Metal sculptures of a flying saucer and a panting coyote stand a stone’s throw away from a cordoned-off mountain of disused concrete — the last remains of the property’s wasteland origins.
On the stage, Lowe told the story of a high school student going through troubled times, finding an artistic outlet at Concrete Couch and eventually becoming a professional welder.
“That’s just one story of many of individual people who’ve been lifted up,” Lowe began to say. She was drowned out by applause. “Myself included.”
She continued, tearing up. “Steve sees the raw material in people, too.”
When Lowe finished speaking, Steve Wood crushed her in a hug. As others shared their stories of Concrete Couch’s impact over 20 years, 800 community art projects and 4,500 free classes, Wood scurried around in the background like an excited beetle. He engaged in side conversations with the countless people he’s met over the decades, able to name each of
them using his Rolodex of a noggin.
When Wood passed me in orbit, I introduced myself. We engaged in a brief chat before his planetary rotation continued, pulled by the gravity of old friends.
When I revisited Concrete Coyote three weeks later, the masses who had gathered for the nonprofit’s 20th anniversary party had disappeared. Strong winds blew dirt into my eyes and mouth. It took a few minutes of wandering around the ghost town of silent art projects to find a lonesome Wood, storing organization’s many buckets of paint so they wouldn’t freeze during the season’s first snowfall.
We tried to conduct the interview outside, but the wind whipped my mop of hair around, and I requested that we go indoors.
“We don’t have much in the way of indoors,” Wood said. He led me into a dimly lit trailer, providing a camping chair for me and a plastic school chair for himself.
As we began chatting, I noticed a difference in Wood. He sat as though wrapped in a blanket, holding a mug of apple cinnamon tea in two hands. His rapid-fire, shouty way of projecting was gone. He gave a thoughtful pause before each answer and rubbed his eyes like a sleep-deprived single father every few minutes. He was certainly still the excited puppy I observed during the anniversary party, but the gusts of a coming storm seemed to have worn him down.
Noting the change, I asked him about his childhood.
TEACHERS AND LEARNERS
The youngest of five, Wood was introduced to art by his parents at an early age. “I think they figured out at an early age that if they gave me art supplies, I would get out of their hair for half an hour or half a day,” he joked.
Wood got his hands-on construction knowledge from his father, Stephen Wood, who grew up on a farm and was always fixing things around the house. His parents owned a massive
Steve Wood at Concrete Coyote | Credit: Bryan Oller
garden on their property in Kingston, Rhode Island, where Wood was brought up. As such, he gained a passion for hands-on skills at a young age — a skill set now dying out in younger generations.
“It’s amazing to teach somebody. Whether it’s a middle-aged mom or a senior or a little kid, when they learn how to do something like use a drill or a hammer … [it creates] that feeling of, ‘I can really do things. So if I can do this little thing, maybe I could build a deck or I could build a computer or I could write a book,’” Wood said.
His advice to the hopeless and downtrodden is simple: Grow a carrot. You’ll gain perspective around food and an appreciation for the little things.
The son of teachers, Wood’s earliest experiences as an educator came when he was a teenager assisting his mom with lesson plans. Noticing her son’s growing interest in rock climbing during high school, Wood’s mother, Judy Wood, urged him to teach rock climbing to her students.
Now, Wood follows in his mother’s footsteps through Concrete Couch, helping others become teachers in their own way.
“We are a place where you can learn, but you can also teach the skills that you have,” Wood said. Share your knowledge, whether it’s how to make fajitas or to weld or make musical instruments from boxes. Those are just three of literally thousands of classes the community have taught through Concrete Couch.”
It’s not just the adults teaching classes, either.
“When [kids] come around and they prepare, and then they present, you can just see them getting bigger … like they’ve got more sense of self,” Wood gushed. “We can all be teachers, and we’re all learners.”
The teachers in Wood’s life have left a lasting impact.
He gets his love for nature and discipline for self-reliance from scoutmaster Dave McNab. Jean Hogan, Wood’s high school art teacher, taught him the essentials of artistry with a no-nonsense attitude. It was from her that Wood learned the concept of gesture, a keystone of his work.
“Maybe you can draft it incredibly well and super detailed, almost photorealistically, but if you don’t have the gesture, if you don’t have the spark, it’s going to be kind of a dead piece,” Wood explained. “You can go much quicker and looser without all of the detail, but have the gesture, and you have an incredible piece of art.” Wood met another of his greatest teachers after receiving his Bachelor of
Arts from Colorado College. Like a piece of driftwood, he floated around after graduation, painting and rock climbing, before the economic pressures of the world — in his case, health insurance — forced him to enter the workplace. He started working at Colorado Outward Bound School during the summer and the Bemis Art School during the school year.
The experiential education and outdoor focus of the Colorado Outward Bound School mixed with the art education of the Bemis Art School melded into Concrete Couch.
Around that time, Wood began painting murals. He found himself wanting to learn more about the art than his simple understanding of, “Isn’t it nice to paint big?”, and got what he asked for. He met nationally renowned muralist Eric Bransby and was taken under his wing for a weekly apprenticeship over the course of three years. It was an unpaid gig, but the experience gained was invaluable; much like the work of those involved with Concrete Couch.
“At Concrete Couch, we’re always saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got free classes!’ And then, kind of self-deprecatingly, we joke, ‘But of course, you’re working for free at the same
time,’” Wood said. “This morning, we were doing construction out here. We’re teaching people how to do construction, and they’re also helping us move wood and clean things.”
It was during his apprenticeship with Bransby when Wood began to fully understand murals as greater than the sum of their parts, not just visually, but behindthe-scenes.
“You’ll get people that come up with great ideas, or others that are incredible at drawing or coloring or brushwork, or others that are really good at building scaffolding or playing music while we’re working,” Wood said. “Concrete Couch is an outgrowth of that in a lot of ways.”
MIXING CONCRETE
In the 1990s, Wood involved himself in community art projects and initiatives throughout Manitou. It was in teaching a youth art program on weekends that he had a fateful meeting with puppeteer Patti Smithsonian.
“These were at-risk kids. A lot of them had a rough home life. Nobody would celebrate their birthdays. So, in our programs, Steve would buy them a birthday cake or pizza on their birthday with his own money,” Smithsonian recalled. “That was the kind of
teacher he was.”
Care for their students was something Wood and Smithsonian shared. While most of the faculty would leave the premises as soon as the program was over, Wood and Smithsonian stayed behind to ensure each of the kids got home safely.
While they were waiting for their students’ rides in the parking lot, Wood shared a seed of an idea that had been growing in his mind: an organization dedicated to building community through arts projects.
The idea took off, attracting teachers, artists and environmentalists. After some years of conducting community arts projects, Concrete Couch became a nonprofit in 2004. Their mission statement — “To work with kids and community groups to create public art, to build community and to create environments and experiences that humanize our world” — is purposefully broad to give leeway for the organization to address emerging concerns. Over the years, Concrete Couch’s projects have been varied. Smithsonian used her puppetry knowledge to help kids create giant marionettes of children’s book characters like the Rainbow Fish. Tile mosaics created by Concrete Couch can
A flying saucer sculpture sits among other art projects at Concrete Coyote.| Credit: Bryan Oller
COVER STORY.
still be found at the Old Colorado City and Penrose libraries, and their gargantuan Great Pumpkin sculpture looms across the street from the old Independent building.
Concrete Coyote is just the magnum opus of a long line of community projects. The Coyote’s roster of free classes and summer camps is extensive, covering visual, performing and culinary arts; construction; music; science and more. Despite this, they continue to take suggestions.
“Every time I come here, there’s something new. There’s a new house, there’s a new fire hydrant, there’s a new soccer field. You just keep it coming,” Colorado Springs City Council member Nancy Henjum observed during the 20th anniversary party.
Her comments came on the tailwind of a brainstorming session in which Concrete Couch members got onstage and wrote the crowd’s suggestions for additions down on a giant notepad — a parkour course, dance and filmmaking were a few ideas tossed around.
But according to Wood, the most desired addition to Concrete Coyote is a public restroom. Finally, it’s being done. Two buildings housing a public restroom, a small Concrete Couch office and a caretaker residence (employees will be hired to look after the property 24/7), are currently being constructed.
The construction of the two buildings marks the end of an era. When they’re complete, Wood will be stepping down as Concrete Couch’s executive director.
NEW FURNITURE
Wood used to love the ins and outs of running a nonprofit — not just the art, teaching and service projects, but the nightmare of logistics and paperwork that would keep him up late into the night. But now that his son, Jake, has begun building a family in Massachusetts, he’s finding it harder to get motivated.
“If I think about spending time on spreadsheets and grants and writing letters to request assistance or spending time with the grandbaby and family, it’s kind of an
easy choice there,” Wood said, a wistful smile on his face.
He’s been patient in building his legacy. After all, he knows how easily two decades of community-building can dissolve.
“I’ve seen other organizations like Concrete Couch come and then go when the founding board member or executive director leaves, because the next person might not work 60-hour weeks like the founder would do,” Wood said, adding that the massive workload, expenses and rent involved in running a nonprofit can scare off the new administration and cause them to fold. He’s hopeful that the physical presence of Concrete Couch’s offices and caretaker residence will provide longevity for the organization long after he’s gone.
Wood’s not leaving forever, though. He wants to be involved in Concrete Couch as a teacher throughout his life. After all, the problems Concrete Couch aims to address — social isolation, declining hands-on skills and environmental degradation — aren’t going away anytime soon, and the
organization will be needed far beyond Wood’s time.
“When you run a nonprofit, you have this mission, and you’re trying to fulfill the mission. And really, I think most executive directors of nonprofits are like, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if we fulfilled this mission, if we solved this problem and then we could just be done?’” Wood said. “That’s really almost never the case.”
It’s thankless work, but anyone can do it. Wood was born to be a teacher and community leader. He’s naturally outgoing, and more physically active at 62 than most are at 20. But he’s not some generational Superman who happened to fall to Earth. As he rubs his eyes and nurses a warming tea during the interview, he is undoubtedly tired but all the better for his life of service.
“Concrete Couch isn’t the only org. We’re very blessed in Colorado Springs with literally thousands of nonprofits that are doing really cool things. If you live in Briargate or down in Fountain, maybe you don’t want to do Concrete Couch because
we’re not in your backyard. But see what’s in your backyard,” Wood encouraged. “Get involved in your community and see if you can help other people. You’re going to get so much more back as far as mental health, community connection, even tangible physical contributions that it’ll seem like, ‘Wow, I wasn’t really volunteering at all. I was just part of a community. I gave, and they gave, and we all feel better for it.’”
On an autumn day haunted by the ghost of summer, Leah Lowe stood on a stage adorned with a mural of a sea dragon.
“As Steve steps away from the director position, the Couch is going to need us more than ever. So, we have to keep showing up so that we can continue this for 20 more years,” she yelled into the microphone.
“Give me a howl if you’re going to keep showing up for the Couch for the next 20 years!”
The band of coyotes howled into the night.
Steve Wood at Concrete Coyote. | Credit: Bryan Oller
APPETIZERS
MacKenzie’s Chop House
719-280-2086
128 S Tejon St. (Historic Alamo Building) • 719-635-3536
Voted Best Power Lunch, Steakhouse, and Martini! Downtown’s choice for quality meats and mixed drinks. Open Monday-Friday 11:30am3:00pm for lunch and 5pm every day for dinner. MackenziesChopHouse.com
Tony’s Downtown Bar
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, Leinenkugel’s, fried cheese curds, , walleye fish fry, cocktails, burgers, and more. 11am-2am daily. Happy Hour 3-6pm. GO PACK GO! TonysDowntownBar.com
Edelweiss
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 EdelweissRest.com
José Muldoons
222 N Tejon St. • 719-636-2311
Celebrating 50 years! Authentic Tex-Mex & Mexican fare in a contemporary Santa Fe-styled establishment. Across from Acacia Park Downtown. Award-winning queso, chili rellenos, and mean green chili. JoseMuldoons.com
South Park Brewing 2028 Sheldon Ave. • 719-836-1932
Craft brewing at 6050’! Best Smashburger in Colorado Springs. Brewpub and Distillery Tasting Room. Family-owned, award-winning beer. Butter burgers, chicken tenders, and Nashville hot chicken on the menu. Cocktails and wine. Plenty of on-site parking. SouthParkBrewingColorado.com
RAISE THE FLAG
6:07 a.m. A school district employee raises the American flag at the Colorado Springs School District 11 building.| Credit: Ben Trollinger
2:47 p.m. A man who goes by the name Weeds campaigns outside of Colorado Springs City Hall. The socialist libertarian was there to tout the Stein-Ware Green Party ticket. | Credit: Ben Trollinger
November 14 -
ELECTION ALBUM.
8:57 a.m.
Sporting patriotic shorts, a runner makes his way down Manitou Avenue.| Credit: Ben Trollinger
10:58 a.m. Geshe Tsewang Dorje with 3 Tibetan Monks prepares to create a Tibetan sand mandala over a five-day period in support of the Ngari Institute in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, India. The event was held at the BodhiMind Center at Manitou Art Center. | Credit: Ben Trollinger
3:30 p.m Pikes Peak Stage College on South Academy Boulevard was quiet aside from the flutter of small flags planted on the lawn. | Credit: Ben Trollinger
Center left: 5:30 p.m — Patrons at The Q watch political commentators on television before the first polls close on the East Coast. | Credit: Karin Zeitvogel
ELECTION ALBUM.
8:38 a.m. — Donna Smith and Scott Flora set up for Election Day at the IBEW Local 113 on the west side of Colorado Springs. | Credit: Ben Trollinger
&SIGNS WONDERS
Left: 9:58 a.m. A handcrafted wooden sign adorned the entrance to a residence on the road into Green Mountain Falls.
Bottom left: 10 a.m. A banner planted out front of a home outside of Green Mountain Falls features a famous image from the aftermath of an attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally in July.
Bottom right: 11:59 a.m. A nonpartisan sign sat at the center of the Colorado College campus.|
S. Cascade Ave., downtown Colorado Springs.| Credit: Adam Biddle
THEYVOTED
11:40 a.m. — A voter drops a ballot into the box outside the Pikes Peak Regional Development Center on International Circle. | Credit: Karin
6:47 p.m. Baby’s first polling experience. |
6:48 p.m. — Cmdr. Ezu, an Army veteran, removes the back of his “I voted” sticker outside the Fountain Utilities Department. Ezu voted for Kamala Harris because “her messages resonate with me. I wanted a president who has respect for people.” |
9:32 a.m. —
11:32 a.m. File it in the how-Colorado-can-
|
7:20 a.m. Morgan Plummer puts his “I voted” sticker on his vest after casting his vote for Vice President Kamala Harris at the polling station at Pikes Peak State College at Interquest. Plummer also voted to “limit the number of marijuana establishments in Colorado Springs, and for a lot of the constitutional propositions.” | Credit:
6:18 p.m. Voting in the lobby of the Satellite Hotel. |
Voters fulfill their democratic duty at the City Hall polling place in Manitou Springs.| Credit: Ben Trollinger
Zeitvogel
Credit: Karin Zeitvogel
Credit: Adam Biddle
you-get category, a mountain biker drops off a ballot at the Citizens Service Center on Garden of the Gods Road.
Credit: Ben Trollinger
Credit: Adam Biddle
Karin Zeitvogel
ELECTION ALBUM.
LET’S PARTY
5:30 p.m Patrons at The Q watch political commentators on television before the first polls close on the East Coast. | Credit: Karin Zeitvogel
8:41 a.m. — Kamille Williams, 17, airs up balloons to create an inflatable American flag at the IBEW Local 113.|
Credit: Ben Trollinger
8 p.m River Gassen, the Democratic Party candidate for Colorado District 5’s seat in Congress, reacts as she sees a friend in the crowd at the Democratic watch party at IBEW Local 113. | Credit: Karin Zeitvogel
12:15 p.m. A driver gets an “I voted” sticker from an election worker after dropping off their ballot at the El Paso County Department of Motor Vehicles on the southeast side. | Credit: Karin Zeitvogel
ARTS&CULTURE .
THANKSGIVING SO WHITE
Satirical play explores the pitfalls of good intentions, colorblind casting
by CANNON TAYLOR • cannon.taylor@ppmc.live
After being told that her scripts featuring Native American characters were uncastable, Sicangu Lakota playwright Larissa FastHorse turned around and wrote a play featuring an all-white cast — a satire following four well-meaning thespians’ attempt to write a politically correct elementary school play about the first Thanksgiving without the involvement of Native Americans.
A nationwide sensation, “The Thanksgiving Play” ran on Broadway last year and is now making its way to Colorado Springs.
“The Thanksgiving Play” will be Springs Ensemble Theatre member Kate Hertz’s directorial debut. At first, Hertz wasn’t sure about taking on the responsibility; then, they read the script and found the attitudes of the holier-than-thou “activist” characters to be hilariously and painfully real.
“I am not Native myself, but I am a person of color
who’s had to operate in the art/nonprofit world for a while,” Hertz said. “So, I feel that Larissa gets me on a certain level.”
Before Hertz found a mentor in professor Sarah Sheppard Shaver at Pikes Peak State College, they didn’t see a place for themself in theater. Historically, theater has excluded non-white actors from playing traditionally white roles.
Now, theater companies are increasingly asking audiences to suspend their disbelief around the diversity of their casts. After all, if audiences can accept a dinky prop as an automobile or the sound of waves over the PA system as a genuine ocean, then surely they can accept a racially diverse cast of actors portraying four biologically related sisters, as was done in Theatreworks’ 2022 production of “Little Women.”
“That’s just a story about family and loving each other, and it didn’t really change anything about the
script or how we received it,” Hertz said. “It’s nice that we’re eliminating those barriers that aren’t really serving much of a purpose.”
Colorblind casting shouldn’t go both ways, though.
“It’s not subversive to cast a white person in a person of color’s role because that was happening forever … in Hollywood and in theater and in educational plays about the first Thanksgiving,” Hertz said. “Why can’t white people do it? Because you guys did forever, and we would like you to stop, actually.”
The characters of “The Thanksgiving Play” are at least smart enough to pick up on that fact. They attempt to involve a Native American actor in the play, not realizing until rehearsals that the actor they hired is a white person who uses their ethnically ambiguous look to snag roles.
Scrambling to find a last-minute replacement, the characters realize that they don’t know any Native Americans in their personal lives, and quickly throw
Margaret Brophy and Amy Keating in “The Thanksgiving Play.” | Courtesy: Springs Ensemble Theatre
their hands up in failure, deciding to proceed without Native American characters or actors. It’s a clear mockery of the people who told FastHorse that her plays would be difficult to cast.
Recalling the production of “Midge and the Butcher” last year, Hertz said that the play’s main character, a transgender girl, was a difficult yet essential role to cast authentically.
“We clearly have people of all demographics in all facets in the theater community. We can look hard enough. We can leverage our connections,” Hertz said. “And if you can’t cast your show about a certain kind of person, then maybe it’s not your story to tell.”
Through her characters, FastHorse cuts to the heart of a larger issue: how centering our activism on a desire to be perceived as good people can distract us from the opportunities we have to make an actual difference in the world.
“You are not perfect. It is annoying when you act like you’re perfect, and it’s also bad for you to act like you’re perfect because you’re not giving yourself room to actually learn and actually be better than you are,” Hertz said.
In allowing us to laugh at the ridiculous antics of her characters, FastHorse creates space for us to criticize and correct some of our wellintentioned but misguided attempts to be good people.
“The more we are laughing at these characters, the more meaningfully we are engaging with this text and the more we are laughing at ourselves,” Hertz said. “No one’s going to leave feeling
Captions (clockwise from top)
Andrew Oleson. | Courtesy: Springs Ensemble Theatre
Margaret Brophy, Amy Keating, Matt Radcliffe and Andrew Oleson. | Courtesy: Springs Ensemble Theatre
The teachers look to their “Native American actor” for guidance. | Courtesy: Springs Ensemble Theatre
like, ‘Oh, God, I’m a terrible white person. I need to go self-flagellate.’ You will laugh. You’ll feel like you maybe want to have important conversations you haven’t, and maybe look into things that you didn’t realize you didn’t know much about, but it’s funny, and it is kind of opening the dialogue.”
Springs Ensemble Theatre’s production of “The Thanksgiving Play” runs Nov. 7-24 at The FiftyNiner. Tickets can be bought at springsensembletheatre.org.
ARTS&CULTURE .
THE ART OF ART HANGING
W.I.P. IT
By LAUREN CIBOROWSKI
Ah, curation. Sometimes you’re in the middle of a construction site, sweating it out 10 feet up on a ladder, calculator in hand, measuring four or five times to tap in a single nail … and sometimes you just wing it and speed hang. As for me, I like the variety. It’s been a busy few months of work for my curation business, Well Hung. (Yes. Like that.) It started with a call from The Resource Exchange, a wonderful nonprofit we have in town that partners children and adults with disabilities with the agencies that can most help them. T.R.E. had a 60th anniversary art show coming up and wondered if I could hang the 109 pieces they had received. This turned out to be a fun challenge of a show due to the varied media of the pieces, as well as the wide spectrum of art, from amateur to professional. It was a gratifying puzzle to arrange the pieces so they all looked their best, and T.R.E. sold a whopping 80% of the pieces the night of the exhibition, with proceeds going toward artists and the organization alike.
A few weeks later found me in the midst of total chaos — the build-out of the new location for Icons, downtown’s beloved and much-missed gay bar with singing bartenders. I had three hours to hang two huge pieces and one small one. (In comparison, I was able to hang all 109 pieces at T.R.E. in three hours, so every job is quite fascinatingly different). I started with “Ruby Slippers,” a 5-foot-by-8-foot behemoth by Hunter Chambers, which needed two wellplaced, far-spaced, level hanging nails, waaay up high. Measure 42 times, tap in nail once, and repeat. This was followed by Molly McClure’s lovely and vivid Lady Gaga portrait, much smaller, much easier.
(Very demure, very mindful?) And finally a giant, heavy, stunning Audrey Hepburn, a speed painting by Douglas Rouse, but on a wall with brand-new, gorgeous wallpaper (measure 157 times, say a little prayer, tap once!).
I have two interesting projects coming up in the next week. The first is a Small Works show at Ormao, a storied modern dance company here in town. Director Jan Johnson approached me recently with a fun idea to tie in her upcoming Small Works dance concert (Nov. 15-17) with a juried selection of small visual artwork in the hallways of Ormao’s space, where they both rehearse and perform. By the time of this publication, I will have juried by email (a first for me) and have subsequently hung up to 60 pieces of art, all under 12 inches, in the Ormao hallway. I love a good visual art/modern dance tie-in and am looking forward to seeing these tandem shows come to fruition.
For reference, I had a brick-and-mortar gallery downtown for 12 years, and my former partner and I did a small works show for the holidays every year, bringing in over a hundred new artists each time and somewhere around 700 pieces of art. It was a spectacle, a burden and a very fun part of my past curatorial life, as you might imagine.
Meanwhile, in a few days, I’ll hang the work of a new-to-me artist, Alexandra Feinstein. She approached me via email to show at the Ivywild School, a place I’ve been curating since it opened in 2013. I was immediately taken by the whimsical style of her art, and I’m glad for it to grace the grand, wide halls of Ivywild. (My 4-year-old is especially excited when we rehang the art there because it means a visit to Odds and Ends, our city’s most eclectic and wonderful gift shop for mostly-kids-and-some-adults.)
All this is to say, there’s lots of ways to hang art. There’s lots of places that need to hang art. There’s lots of people who have art to hang.
But all art should be well-hung. 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.
A Hand Up
-Ahavah Community Initiative
-Benefits in Action
-CASA of the Pikes Peak Region
-Court Care for the Pikes Peak Region
-Lotus Foundation
-Sleep In Heavenly Peace
-StableStrides
-Sue's Gift
-Sunrise Service Dogs
-TESSA
-Tri-Lakes Cares
see art, make art
-Millibo Art Theatre
-New Horizons Band of Colorado Springs
-Ormao Dance Company
-Pikes Peak Philharmonic
-Springs Ensemble Theatre
Veterans
-Home Front Military Network
-Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center
-Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing
Class of 2024
build community
-Citizens Project
-Festival of Lights Parade
-Friends of the Children-COS
-Pikes Peak Bulletin
-Pikes Peak Library District Foundation
-Help Autism Center
-Teller Senior Coalition
-The Arc Pikes Peak Region
-Westside CARES
Youth in Action
-Inside Out Youth Services
-Youth Documentary Academy
Inspired learning
-Atlas Preparatory School
-Banning Lewis Academy K-12
-Catamount Institute
-Educating Children of Color
-Mustang Ambassador Program
-Our House Inc.
get well
-Colorado Springs Therapeutic Riding Center
-National Alliance on Mental Illness
Colorado Springs
-Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership
-UCCS Aging Center
Great outdoors
-Blackpackers
-Code4Outdoor, Inc.
-Friends of Monument Valley Park
-Garden of the Gods Foundation
-MedWheel Trail Advocates
-Palmer Land Conservancy
-Rocky Mountain Field Institute
-Trails and Open Space Coalition
-Wild Connections
Animals
-All Breed Rescue & Training
-Cripple Creek Donkeys - Two Mile
High Club
-Faithful Hearts Equine Learning Center
-Happy Cats Haven
-Harley's Hope
-Look what the cat brought in
-National Mill Dog Rescue
-Paws N Hooves
-Safe Place for Pets
Big Ideas
-Manitou Art Center
-The Justice Center
home safe
-Energy Resource Center
-Porchlight Friends
-Safe Families for Children
-Savio
Dear Colorado Springs,
As our first season at the Ford Amphitheater wraps up, I want to share my deepest gratitude for our amazing community of music fans. It’s been an incredible season, and we couldn’t have done it without your support.
In just 20 shows, we welcomed 102,972 music fans from across the U.S., marking the start of what we hope will be a long legacy of entertainment in our city.
Looking ahead, we’re thrilled to keep building Ford Amphitheater into a beacon for music and entertainment.
Thank you for an unforgettable season –here’s to many more!
ONEREPUBLIC | THE BEACH BOYS | WALKER HAYES | IRATION AND PEPPER | LAUREN DAIGLE | PRIMUS | JOHN FOGERTY | DIERKS BENTLEY | ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS | JIM GAFFIGAN | PENTATONIX | CAGE THE ELEPHANT | BARENAKED LADIES | STEVE MILLER BAND | FOR KING + COUNTRY | FOREIGNER | IVAN CORNEJO | GODSMACK AND MANY MORE TO COME
FOR KING AND COUNTRY
“FROM THE PYROTECHNICS, A.K.A. FIRES IN THE LOUNGES, TO THE MOUNTAIN SCAPE VIEW BEHIND THE VENUE, TO THE KINDNESS OF THE CREW AND THE TEAM - OUR TIME AT FORD AMPHITHEATER WAS EVERYTHING WE HOPED IT WOULD BE AND MORE.” 09.29.2024
DON STRASBURG
PRESIDENT OF AEG PRESENTS ROCKY MOUNTAINS “IN EVERY WAY, FORD AMPHITHEATER EXCEEDED OUR LOFTY EXPECTATIONS. THE COMMUNITY NEEDED THIS INCREDIBLE SPACE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ONGOING SEASONS WITH THE WONDERFUL FORD AMP TEAM.”
MUSIC .
Battle Tested
Catching up with contestants of Colorado band competition
by CANNON TAYLOR cannon.taylor@ppmc.live
What is the best band in the world? The country? The state? BandWagon Presents is aiming to answer the last of these questions in the time-honored tradition of Battle of the Bands. Unfortunately, the musicians won’t be engaging in actual warfare, but a series of judged competitions throughout Colorado is the next-best thing.
On Nov. 23, four Colorado Springs bands will gather at Lulu’s Downtown. At the end of the night, a winner will be declared, who will move on to the finals at the Oriental Theater in January. This finalist will represent Colorado Springs in a competition against Denver’s, Greeley’s and Fort Collins’ greatest bands. The winner of the finals gets a grand prize of $5,000 and a feature on the cover of BandWagon Magazine.
That being said, let’s meet the competitors!
BOX STATE ROOTZ
Like any great band, Polynesian reggae band Box State Rootz started out of a garage.
“Our first show, we didn’t have a drum set. We just had a bass guitar and a regular guitar. So, to raise money for our drum set, we had a beer pong tournament in my garage, and we played at the same time,” said drummer Heti Lefano. “We’ve been on the run ever since.”
The band’s membership has now grown to a whopping seven members. The band’s three singers deliver the rich vocal harmonies common in Polynesian music in both covers and original songs.
Vocalist Jonathan Sagapolutele said that covering familiar R&B hits helps ease new audiences into their island reggae sound.
“Here in Colorado, for our Polynesian community, it’s hard to find other musicians like us,” added Lefano. “You can go to California, they’re everywhere. You can go to Utah, they’re everywhere. Here, it’s very slim.”
Providing visibility for their community is a strong motivator for Box State Rootz. After all, it was watching Polynesian musicians play live music that inspired them to pick up instruments in the first place. Now, they want to be that inspiration for a new generation.
“Having that outlet hopefully attracts more people to want to come back,” said vocalist
Aito Sagapolutele. “More importantly, it gives our community something to look forward to and something that they can relate to when it comes to live music out here.”
It seems to be paying off for Box State Rootz. Strangers are beginning to recognize them on the street, and occasionally they see people in public and online wearing their merchandise.
“Here I am at my day job, and people are recognizing us,” said Jonathan Sagapolutele. “We’ve got a lot of support outside of the box state.”
For Box State Rootz, Battle of the Bands is an opportunity to get their name out there, promote their upcoming EP and get pointers from other musicians.
Are they worried about being an island reggae band in a sea of competing alt bands? Not a bit.
“What I love about what we have in the Colorado Springs show is that it’s a wide variety, just like our city is,” said Aito Sagapolutele. “You’ve got to stand out when you’re doing music.”
ALIGNED IN RUINS
For a good few years, Aligned in Ruins have been bringing the rhythmic and vocal intensity of music ripped from the soundtrack of an ultragory “Doom” video game to concert venues, bowling alleys, pizzerias and barbecue restaurants. They’re certainly used to being the heaviest band in the room, and Battle of the Bands is no different.
“That works for us and against us, because they either like the heavy edge, or it turns them off,” said bassist Andrew Ryder. “It may not go very well, for all I know.”
Lately, the band has been trying to be more selective in the shows they play; these days, driving up to Denver to play for a bar of drunk people is just a waste of gas. But they couldn’t say no to a Battle of the Bands. As vocalist Flecha put it, it’s a chance to tighten up a band’s sound and onstage presence. Plus, it’s a great chance to push their debut album, “Cognitive Behavioral Torture,” which released in August. The songs cover mental health, social media’s effect on self-perception and more. There’s even a
love ballad about moon manifestation. Aligned in Ruins would love to win Battle of the Bands (Flecha has always been passionate about winning, even the most innocuous game of “Clue”), but they’re just happy to get in front of a crowd and help them groove to music a little heavier than
they’re used to.
SHOP DOG
No, they’re not the Californian rock band you’ll find if you look up “Shop Dog” on Spotify. This Shop Dog is an indie folk band made up of seven Colorado College students, bringing a sound influenced by the Tedeschi
Letters From the Sun | Courtesy: BandWagon Presents
Aligned in Ruins | Courtesy: Aligned in Ruins
Trucks Band and a wealth of musical genres. Soul, blues, rock and country are all found in their musical blend, but Shop Dog — which began as a collaboration between classmates in the school jazz band — grounds itself in improvisation.
“It’s super spontaneous. I feel like we never play one of our songs exactly the same way,” said bassist Maddox Rochman-Romdalvik.
Instead of playing a rapid-fire setlist of songs, Shop Dog plans to play fewer, lengthier songs carried by laid-back instrumental sections.
You might see a Grateful Dead cover in the mix, but Shop Dog’s goal is to play their original music and get their name out there. Battle of the Bands will be a networking event of sorts, allowing the band to play to a new crowd instead of one made up of classmates, friends and family members.
That’s not to say that winning isn’t a consideration. Shop Dog won their campus-wide Battle of the Bands earlier this year, despite being the only competing freshmen. It would be an exaggeration to say Shop Dog is out for blood, but they’ll definitely keep the other bands on their toes.
Given the comings and goings involved in a developmental period like college, the future of Shop Dog beyond graduation is a mystery. But with about 30 shows played in their first year and an EP on the horizon, the next semester looks promising.
LETTERS FROM THE SUN
Longtime patrons of the Black Sheep will be familiar with the punchy drums, misty guitar riffs and devastated wails that Letters
From the Sun have been serving up since 2018.
Some of those patrons might even ask if they broke up — really, they’re just busy.
“We’re all in our early 40s, so we all got careers, and we’re dads, for the most part. And those things take priority. They have to,” vocalist Steven Huckaby explained.
“We still talk every day, even though we might not play every day. We still pass ideas off to each other, and every once in a while, we’ll have a show.”
There’s a benefit to playing sparsely, for sure — the band puts all their energy and excitement into that quarterly performance.
It’s a more patient kind of musicianship than a younger Huckaby, preoccupied with chasing fame, would’ve expected from his older self.
“When I was in my old band … I don’t
even think I was really the best person,” admitted Huckaby. Then, he joked, “They always ask that question, ‘If you had a time machine and you can go see your younger self …?’ I don’t know if I would’ve liked [him], man. I might even have had to fight him or something.”
Fame and fortune are fun bonuses to musicianship, but now Huckaby is more preoccupied with practicing gratitude than
getting jaded. After all, he can complain about emerging knee pain and write dope music with a group of buddies he’s known for two decades.
Letters From the Sun would never sell their souls — or move to Denver — in pursuit of fame.
“We love the Springs, man. We’re Springs kids,” Huckaby said. “We’re going to represent this to the fullest.”
Box State Rootz | Courtesy: Box State Rootz
Shop Dog | Courtesy: BandWagon Presents
NO EPHS OR CAYS
By ADAM LEECH
Greetings, phriends, Phirst, allow me to apologize phor any conphusion you may pheel reading the phollowing the phew paragraphs. You see, I have lost all phunctionality ov my eph and cay qeys, and therephor will have to mayque due without them until I can phind a suitable solution. I was told it could be as many as phour to phive weex until replacements can be phurnished.
Thanqphully, I have also run phresh out ov phux to give, and therephor it should be ocay to proceed, hardly hindered by this insigniphicant interpherance. I don’t lique the loox ov this variety ov spelling any more than you do, as it mayx phor diphphicult reading, but hopephully you’ll be able to qeep up without too much phrustration! I assure you, this is no joque and ov course I don’t phind it amusing or thinq it phunny at all. Phor phux saiq, this is phrightphul, and I am loocing (pronounce with a hard “C”) phorward to a quiq phix phor this very unphortunate aphphair. All right, sorry about that. I just couldn’t help myself. (Lookie there, I got my F’s back! And my K’s too!) And it’s a good thing because I am writing this in the days preceding the scariest F’ing election of my whole F’ing life, and despite my desire to crawl into a hole and die, I really do give an F. In fact, I have lots of F’s to give! F’s for everybody! F for you! And F you! F every last one of you! By the time you read this though, assuming we’re not all dead by then, we will probably know who is going to be the next Resident of the Divided States of America, and no matter where the chips fall, half of us are going to feel hopeful, and the other half will feel completely F’d.
Thankfully, we can all find solace in two things I hold to be sacred and pure: music, and community. And in that regard there is no better bang for your buck than the timeless, tried-and-true tradition of tuning in and turn-
ing on the radio!
Colorado Springs is fortunate to be home to some of the longest-running and most revered radio stations in the great state of Colorado, including 91.5 KRCC, Colorado’s oldest NPR station (which first went on the air in 1951), KRCC sister station Indie 102.3 (which took over the music programming when KRCC merged with Colorado Public Radio in 2020), 94.3 KILO (founded in 1978) and KILO sister station 103.9 RXP (a relative newcomer to the frequencies, having first hit the waves in 2008 as a classic rock transmission that mutated into its current format X103.9 Alternative Rock over the last few years). And, of course, no list would be complete without mention of KCME 88.7 and JAZZ 93.5, which have fearlessly broadcast classical and jazz across southern Colorado for as long as I have been alive. I recently sat down with local radio “personality” Shawn Lucero, former host of the absolutely wonderful X103.9 “Sunday Service” (among other shows), who recently jumped over to CPR/KRCC, where she assumed the position of promotions coordinator. While the topics of discussion ranged from our shared love of live music (if there is a cool show within 100 miles, you can bet she’ll be there), our shared disdain for the “streaming” business model that is trying like hell to suffocate traditional radio stations while pillaging the pockets of artists and labels and, of course, our cherished childhood memories of sitting motionless in front of the radio waiting to pounce on the “record” button the instant a hint of our favorite song came through the speakers.
Asked if she worried about radio’s “death by streaming,” she didn’t sound too concerned, at least not in Colorado. “We have a solid radio legacy in southern Colorado,” she says, “and a strong, independent music ecosystem that really feeds the scene.” Further elaborating she says that “Colorado Springs radio has always had a hyperlocal focus and a strong pipeline of young, fresh DJs to stay abreast of local trends.” And despite satellite and streaming services like Spotify and Sirius poisoning our ears with media juggernauts like Joe Rogan and Conan O’Brien, she says all that would go away overnight with one massive solar flare or hacker attack. “Broadcast radio would still be there.”
You hear that, Conan? You beautiphul, evil bastard. Your days are numbered! Smell ya later!
Adam Leech is the proprietor of Leechpit Records & Vintage at 3020 W. Colorado Ave
THURSDAY, NOV. 14
SpringsSCENE
Jazz Thursdays | Free, live jazz music at the Mining Exchange Hotel. 8 S. Nevada Ave. 5 p.m.
Frog & Fiddle | Folk band performing at Armadillo Ranch. 962 Manitou Ave. 7 p.m.
Keely Dibb and Mekdes Moudjeh | Junior vocal recitals at Chapman Recital Hall at the Ent Center for the Arts. 5225 N. Nevada Ave. 7:30 p.m.
Huser Brother Band and Pecos & The Rooftops | Country bands performing at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Drive. 8 p.m.
Seven Kingdoms, Striker, Lutharo | Metal bands performing at Vultures. 2100 E. Platte Ave. 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, NOV. 15
Traxler and Jade | Guitar, vocal and cello duo performing at Rico’s Café & Wine Bar. 322½ N. Tejon St. 6 p.m.
Dueling Pianos | Pianists performing at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Drive. 7 p.m.
Joni Mitchell Tribute Show | Tribute band performing at Stargazers Theatre. 10 Parkside Drive. 7 p.m.
Aaron Noble Brown | Folk indie singer-songwriter performing at Ohana Kava Bar. 112 E. Boulder St. 8 p.m.
Gasoline Lollipops & The River Arkansas | Rock bands performing at Lulu’s Downtown. 32 S. Tejon St. 8 p.m.
Krew, Mayor Grey, The Pretty Shabbies | Indie rock bands performing at Oskar Blues Grill & Brew. 118 N. Tejon St. 8 p.m.
Suitable Miss, Ovira, City of Auburn, Get the Axe | Alternative bands performing at Vultures. 2100 E. Platte Ave. 8 p.m.
United We Dance | Rave at the Black Sheep. 2106 E. Platte Ave. 8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, NOV. 16
Runoff, Lava Gato, Lucked Out, White Oak Doors, Consolate | Local metalcore bands performing at the Black Sheep. 2106 E. Platte Ave. 7 p.m.
Kevin Austin, Eric Golden | Country musicians performing at The Whiskey Baron Dance Hall & Saloon. 5781 N. Academy Blvd. 6 p.m.
Revele and Paul | Variety duo performing at Rico’s Café & Wine Bar. 322½ N. Tejon St. 6 p.m.
SHIM with Shallow Side, Anything But Human, Chasing the Devil, Lions & Crows | Sick Puppies vocalist and rock bands performing at Sunshine Studios Live. 3970 Clear View Frontage Road. 6 p.m.
Jacob Larson Trio | Vocalist performing at Tokki. 182 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd. 7 p.m.
Nothing But Nineties | Tribute band performing at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Drive. 7 p.m.
Santa Rios | Carlos Santana tribute group performing at Stargazers Theatre. 10 Parkside Drive. 7 p.m.
The Hip Snacks, Rafiel & the Roomshakers, Matt Bloom Band | Rock bands performing at Oskar Blues Grill & Brew. 118 N. Tejon St. 7:30 p.m.
William Grant Still Symphony 2 | Colorado Springs Philharmonic performing at Pikes Peak Center. 7:30 p.m.
Equipment, Riley!, New Age Thief | Rock bands performing at Vultures. 2100 E. Platte Ave. 8 p.m.
Synth Night | Electronic musicians performing at Ohana Kava Bar. 112 E. Boulder St. 8 p.m.
SUNDAY, NOV. 17
Monument Music Rock Band Showcase | Free rock showcase at Sunshine Studios Live. 3970 Clear View Frontage Road. 2 p.m.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra | Progressive rock band performing their Christmas show at Broadmoor World Arena. 3185 Venetucci Blvd. 2 p.m.
William Grant Still Symphony 2 | Colorado Springs Philharmonic performing at Pikes Peak Center. 7:30 p.m.
MONDAY, NOV. 18
Edie Carey & Sarah Sample | “Lantern in the Dark” album release concert at the Millibo Art Theatre. 1626 S. Tejon St. 7 p.m.
TUESDAY, NOV. 19
Austin Ashmore | Senior bass vocal recital at Chapman Recital Hall at the Ent Center for the Arts. 5225 N. Nevada Ave. 7:30 p.m.
Ceschi & Factor, AJ Suede, Esh & The Isolations | Hip-hop artists performing at What’s Left
Sarah Sample, “Lantern in the Dark” album release concert at Millibo Art Theatre on Nov. 18 | Courtesy: sarahsample.com
E. Platte Ave. 8 p.m.
Stony Jam | Reggae band performing at Armadillo Ranch. 962 Manitou Ave. 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20
UCCS University Choir | Choir performing at the Ent Center for the Arts. Directed by Solveig Olsen. 5225 N. Nevada Ave. 7:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, NOV. 21
Jazz Thursdays | Free, live jazz music at the Mining Exchange Hotel. 8 S. Nevada Ave. 5 p.m.
E J R M | Ambient instrumentalist performing at Ohana Kava Bar. 112 E. Boulder St. 7 p.m.
Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas | Country Christmas show at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Drive. 7 p.m.
Taylor Shines — The Laser Spectacular | Taylor Swift laser show at Pikes Peak Center. 190 S. Cascade Ave. 7:30 p.m.
Crowbar, Morbid Visionz, Worry, Suicide Cages | Metal bands performing at the Black Sheep. 2106 E. Platte Ave. 8 p.m.
Dylan Kishner Band | Rock band performing at Armadillo Ranch. 962 Manitou Ave. 8 p.m.
Maya de Vitry & Brookelyn Rose | Folk musicians performing at Lulu’s Downtown. 32 S. Tejon St. 8 p.m.
Mutilation Barbecue, Panpsychism, Crotalus | Metal bands performing at Vultures. 2100 E. Platte Ave. 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, NOV. 22
Edison’s Medicine, Live Wire | Tesla and AC/ DC tribute bands performing at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Drive. 7 p.m.
Hot Boots Band | Variety band performing at The Buzzed Crow Bistro. 5853 Palmer Park Blvd. 7 p.m.
Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas | Country Christmas show at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Drive. 7 p.m.
Charli Parti | Charli XCX dance party at the
Charlie
Band | Funk band
at
Lindsey Meyers | Indie acoustic musician performing at Ohana Kava Bar. 112 E. Boulder St. 8 p.m.
Mariachi Lobos with DJ Tillman Wilson | Mariachi band performing at Lulu’s Downtown. 32 S. Tejon St. 8 p.m.
SATURDAY, NOV. 23
Eric Elison’s “Christmas With Bing” | Bing Crosby tribute singer performing at Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts. 304 CO-105. 2 p.m.
Battle of the Bands | Local bands Letters From the Sun, Shop Dog, Box State Rootz and Aligned in Ruins competing in BandWagon’s Battle of the Bands at Lulu’s Downtown. 32 S. Tejon St. 7 p.m. Return to Dust | Grunge band performing at the Black Sheep. 2106 E. Platte Ave. 7 p.m.
Sweetnotes Music | Pop singers performing at Sunshine Studios Live. 3970 Clear View Frontage Road. 7 p.m.
Tracy Byrd | Country musician performing at Boot Barn Hall. 13071 Bass Pro Drive. 7 p.m.
Jack Tracy | R&B singer performing at Ohana Kava Bar. 112 E. Boulder St. 8 p.m.
Wylie Jones | One-man reggae band performing at Armadillo Ranch. 962 Manitou Ave. 8 p.m.
SUNDAY, NOV. 24
Eliza Thorn | Country musician performing at Flying Pig Farm. 102 Crystal Park Road. 1:30 p.m.
MONDAY, NOV. 25
Felix Martin | Math rock band performing at What’s Left Records. 2217 E. Platte Ave. 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27
Jesus Christ Taxi Driver, [SALT], The Double And, Trepanned | Rock bands performing at Lulu’s Downtown. 32 S. Tejon St. 8 p.m.
Records. 2217
Black Sheep. 2106 E. Platte Ave. 8 p.m.
Milo
performing
Armadillo Ranch. 962 Manitou Ave. 8 p.m.
Statewide Live Music, Nov. 14 through Nov. 27
American Aquarium | Bluebird Theater, Denver, Nov. 14
Armin van Buuren | Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Nov. 14
Big Soto | The Summit Music Hall, Denver, Nov. 14
Dar Williams | Swallow Hill Music, Denver, Nov. 14
Amigo the Devil plays Ogden Theater Nov. 21-22 | Credit: Visions of the Abyss, courtesy All Eyes Media
Don Toliver plays Ball Arena on Nov. 21 | Credit: Gunner Stahl, courtesy Atlantic Records
CALENDAR&EVENTS .
ART EXHIBITIONS
“Alhamdu: Muslim Futurism”
Thursday, Nov. 14, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., 10 a.m.: Alhamdu is an evolving multidisciplinary exhibition and archive featuring a variety of work that explores five themes: imagination, identity, community, resistance and liberation. Through Jan. 11. fac.coloradocollege.edu
“Ofrendas”
Thursday, Nov. 14, Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E. Colorado Ave., 10 a.m.: Juan de Dios Morales’ foundation is built on graffiti and an extensive background in automotive prep and paint. His artistic style infuses bold colors, intricate details and a touch of urban flair. Through Nov. 30. cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com
“People, Places, Things”
Thursday, Nov. 14, Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E. Colorado Ave., 10 a.m.: Artist and former professional figure skater Max Settlage blends whimsical
season. Through Nov. 30. gallery113cos. com
“Ensouled” by Andrew Ramiro Tirado
Thursday, Nov. 14, Surface Gallery, 2752 W. Colorado Ave., noon: I add layer upon layer of paint, cognizant that most of it will never be seen, buried somewhere below the final, fixed, visible surface. If no one can see the buried layers, are they superfluous? Or is it possible that each layer can convey intention? Through Nov. 23. surfacegallerycos.com
“Historic and Contemporary First Nation Images”
Thursday, Nov. 14, Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum, 517 Manitou Ave., noon: These First Nation Images are representative of the photographers’ tribes, families, friends and landscapes and depict their way of life and communities. Through May 1. manitouspringsheritagecenter.org
Love in Danger by Michelle McMahan
Thursday, Nov. 14, Surface Gallery, 2752 W. Colorado Ave., noon: In her mixed media work, McMahan asks the question, “Will love hold fast our tenuous security?”
Through Nov. 23. surfacegallerycos.com
“Manitou Rails!”
elements with traditional fine art tropes, adding a bit of the unreal and unexpected to familiar situations and settings. Through Nov. 30.
cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com
“Sacred Feminine”
Thursday, Nov. 14, Green Horse Gallery, 729 Manitou Ave., 10 a.m.: Feeling the feminine spirit to be a woman and an artist, Tina Riesterer has been inspired by the feminine nature of mother, lover, warrior. Through Jan. 1. riestererart.com
“Dreams: Behind the Veil”
Thursday, Nov. 14, Disruptor Gallery, 2217 E. Platte Ave., 11 a.m.: Digital art and photography by the Peak Digital Imaging Society exploring the concept of dreams. Through Nov. 29. shutterandstrum.org
“Golden Autumn Light”
Thursday, Nov. 14, Gallery 113, 125 N. Tejon St., 11 a.m.: Gallery 113’s featured artists for November bring autumn’s golden light to life in their depictions of the
Ave., noon: See dozens of beautifully designed pottery creations crafted by Van Briggle Pottery, America’s longest-running pottery works, and Garden of the Gods Pottery, founded by early Colorado Springs craftsman Eric Hellman. Through Dec. 31. manitouspringsheritagecenter.org
“Moments”
Thursday, Nov. 14, Anita Marie Fine Art, 109 S. Corona St., 5 p.m.: Special moments are something to cherish, and Chuck Mardosz and Richard Dahlquist have captured over 50 special moments in original oil paintings. Through Jan. 4. anitamariefineart.com
Guided Tour: “CREATEing in Colorado Springs”
Saturday, Nov. 16, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, 215 S. Tejon St., 10:30 a.m.: From the dramatic silent film performances of Lon Chaney to the contemporary beadwork of Southern Ute artist Debra Box, guests are invited to explore the creativity, complexity and diversity of the Pikes Peak region. Through Dec. 21. cspm.org
Professional Artist Development 102 with MoNique LeRoux
Thursday, Nov. 14, Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum, 517 Manitou Ave., noon: The exhibit explains the role railroads have played in the development of our town’s history through our presentation of images, artifacts and video. Through Dec. 31. manitouspringsheritagecenter.org
Manitou Springs High School — “Then and Now”
Thursday, Nov. 14, Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum, 517 Manitou Ave., noon: The exhibit features Manitou Springs High School stories which focus on “Then and Now” themes and community building. Through Dec. 31. manitouspringsheritagecenter.org
November Exhibits
Thursday, Nov. 14, Auric Gallery, 125 E. Boulder Street, noon: “Preserves: Recipes for Domestic Rituals” by Ashley Andersen and Deborah Schoen, “The Spontaneous Gesture” by Patricia Coughlin, “Tapestries and Looking Sideways” by Carol Dickerson, “Hidden Strength” by Julie Kirkland and “Dropping In” by Carol Mordecai Myers. Through Nov. 29. auricgallery.com “Van Briggle Pottery” and “Garden of the Gods Pottery”
Thursday, Nov. 14, Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum, 517 Manitou
Saturday, Nov. 23, Manitou Art Center, 513 Manitou Ave., 3 p.m.: Students will learn how to build and compile an artist resume/CV, create an artist statement and bio, properly wire and hang/install their artwork on traditional drywall and successfully prepare for an art show. manitouartcenter.org
PERFORMING ARTS
“The Drowsy Chaperone”
Thursday, Nov. 14 through Saturday, Nov. 16, General William Mitchell High School, 7 p.m.: When a die-hard theatre fan plays his favorite cast album, the characters come to life in this hilarious musical farce. mitchelldrama.org
“Jellofish”
Thursday, Nov. 14, Millibo Art Theatre, 1626 S. Tejon St., 7:30 p.m.: Ante up and spend a fine evening with Billy, Kooch and Earl as they play their weekly poker game while charmingly coming to grips with the inevitable passage of time. Through Nov. 24. themat.org
“The Thanksgiving Play”
Thursday, Nov. 14, The Fifty-Niner, 2409 W. Colorado Ave., 7:30 p.m.: Four theatre artists attempt to devise a culturally sensitive Thanksgiving pageant for Native American Heritage Month. As the characters grapple with issues of political
“Love at Ease” from “Sacred Feminine,” through Jan. 1 |
Credit: Tina Riesterer, courtesy Green Horse Gallery
correctness, privilege and representation, the production exposes the pitfalls of performative activism with humor and biting wit. Through Nov. 24. springsensembletheatre.org
John Hastings
Thursday, Nov. 14, and Friday, Nov. 15, Loonees Comedy Corner, 1305 N. Academy Blvd., 8 p.m.: John Hastings has told jokes on BBC Radio 4, BBC 1, BBC 3, Comedy Central, CTV Australian Comedy Channel and CBC The Comedy Network. looneescc.com
“The Copper Cup”
Friday, Nov. 15, Boucher Art and Stage, 328 N. Nevada Ave., 7 p.m.: A spooky and thoughtful play about a woman finding out that the uncle she remembers from childhood doesn’t actually exist. Through Nov. 24. counterweighttheatre.com
Colorado Springs Poetry Slam
Friday, Nov. 15 and Friday, Nov. 22, Ultra Flat Black Gallery, 603 W. Colorado Ave., 8 p.m.: The Colorado Springs Poetry Slam is a high-octane competition complete with a musical guest, an open mic and the legendary DJ Squirrel curating the vibe along with “Super Host” Art the Poet! Every Friday. coloradospringspoetryslam.com
“The City Dog and the Prairie Dog”
Saturday, Nov. 16, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 11 a.m.: The City Dog and the Prairie Dog is a bilingual play about a prairie dog pup exploring the world, learning new things and coming home again. Through Nov. 24. fac.coloradocollege.edu
“Balloonacy”
Saturday, Nov. 16, Millibo Art Theatre, 1626 S. Tejon St., 2 p.m.: A red balloon drifts through the window of a solitary old man’s home, but then some serious silliness begins. Without a single spoken word, this sweet show is a tender and laugh-filled delight for all ages. Through Nov. 24. themat.org
“Remain”
Saturday, Nov. 16 and Sunday, Nov. 17, Roy J. Wasson Academic Campus, 2115 Afton Way, 2 p.m.: “Remain” tells the story of a kingdom broken by a love of the world, of themselves and a false sense of self-righteousness, all brought to life in beautiful costumes through modern, ballet and worship dance.
fideleyouthdancecompany.com
Magic and Mind Reading
Saturday, Nov. 16, and Friday, Nov. 22,
Cosmo’s Magic Theater, 1045 Garden of the Gods Road, 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. Weekly performances throughout 2024. cosmosmagictheater.com
Saturday Night Improv
Saturday, Nov. 16, Yoga Studio Satya, 1581 York Road, 7:30 p.m.: Improv Colorado is guaranteed to bring laughter to any date night, girls’ night out, meetup event or solo outing! fun@improvcolorado.com
“The Dinner Detective” Comedy Mystery Dinner Show
Saturday, Nov. 23, Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Drive, 6 p.m.: Solve a hilarious mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. thedinnerdetective.com
The Brewery Comedy Tour
Saturday, Nov. 23, Bell Brothers Brewing, 114 N. Tejon St. No. 100, 7 p.m.: Currently in its 11th year, this nationwide comedy tour has already hit 4,200 venues across the country. The drinks are pretty good too! bellbrothersbrewing.com
Nutcracker Tea
Monday, Nov. 25, and Tuesday, Nov. 26, Colorado Ballet Society, 8570 Criterion Drive, 4 p.m.: Tickets will include hot
CALENDAR&EVENTS .
the Gold Rush,” Ann Claire will be signing “A Cyclist’s Guide to Crime and Croissants,” and Linda Duvall will be signing “The Lightkeeper.” coveredtreasures.com
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Holiday Market
Thursday, Nov. 14, Commonwheel Artists Co-op, 102 Cañon Ave., 10 a.m.: Shoppers will find an amazing array of artisanal, handmade gifts, including ornaments, cards, soaps, candles, original artwork, jewelry, photography, functional pottery, scarves, knitted hats and so much more! Through Dec. 28. commonwheel.com
Colorado Country Christmas Gift Show
Friday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, Nov. 17, Colorado Springs Event Center, 3960 Palmer Park Blvd., 10 a.m.: Three days only to shop hundreds of booths in apparel, decor, seasonal gifts and more! coloradogiftshow.com
Altitude Maker’s Market
Sunday, Nov. 17, Memorial Park, 502 Manitou Ave., 10 a.m.: Shop handmade local ceramics, jewelry, candles, self-care items, natural remedies, prints, crochet plushies, macrame and more!
chocolate, tea and special treats with characters from “A Colorado Nutcracker,” photo opportunities with Nutcracker characters and Santa Clause, shopping at our Sugarplum Boutique and a breathtaking miniperformance of “A Colorado Nutcracker.” danceinthesprings.com
FILM
Youth Documentary Academy World Premiere of New Films
Saturday, Nov. 16, Cornerstone Arts Center at Colorado College, 825 N. Cascade Ave., 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.: From immigration and body image to faith and family, from homelessness and namesakes to memory and motherhood (and more!), come watch impactful stories as diverse as the youth who tell them. youthdocumentary.org
WRITING
Reggie Brick and Gina Gallaun
Saturday, Nov. 16, Covered Treasures
Bookstore, 105 Second St., 1 p.m.: Reggie Brick will be signing “Big Rock,” and Gina Gallaun will be signing “Embrace Your Brave in 30 Days.” coveredtreasures.com
Julie Bell, Ann Claire and Linda Duvall
Saturday, Nov. 23, Covered Treasures
Bookstore, 105 Second St., 1 p.m.: Julie Bell will be signing “Colorado Women of
Thursday, Nov. 21, Meanwhile Block, 119 Costilla St., 6 p.m.: Join Rocky Mountain Field Institute in your best flannel or overalls for an evening of celebration and fundraising, complete with live music, awards and a silent auction. rmfi.org/shindig Annual Holiday Pottery Sale
Friday, Nov. 22, and Saturday, Nov. 23, Studio Nadeau, 2997 Broadmoor Valley Road, 4 p.m.: Enjoy food and beverage and creative and well-crafted pottery while visiting with our artists. nadeau.com
Saturday, Nov. 23, 1350 Distilling, 520 E. Pikes Peak Ave., 11 a.m.: Christkindl is a German-style holiday market and your chance to snag those perfect holiday gifts form talented local artists and vendors! 1350distilling.com
OUTDOOR REC
Family Star Party
Friday, Nov. 15, Space Foundation Discovery Center, 4425 Arrowswest Drive, 6 p.m.: A safe, outdoor stargazing experience for all ages to engage with the wonders of the universe. discoverspace.org
“Balloonacy,” through Nov. 24 | Courtesy: Millibo Art Theatre
THREE WORDS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE
It shouldn’t be the case, but unfortunately, people requiring assistance on our trails or in our parks and not being able to tell 911 where they are is indeed a common occurrence.
According to Colorado Springs Fire De
declined because, well, technology. A GPS will give you the latitude and longitude coordinates of where you are, as will most mapping smartphone apps, usually with an error rate of as little as 10 feet or less. But, if you need to call for help because you find yourself lost or injured, how do you translate and share your information in a form that first responders can use? Latitude and longitude coordinates can be in any one of several different formats, and the format your device is using may be different from the one responders are using. And mistaking a comma for a period or just transposing a number here or there can throw your location off by a considerable distance. This is where the smartphone app “What3Words” comes to the rescue. The free app, available for both iOS and Android GPS-equipped devices, will find your location and display it on a map and also give your location as a string of three
transcribe it into What3Words, and then pass that information along to responders. Or in the case of a GPS-equipped hiker, they can give their coordinates to the 911 operator, who can then pass the three words to responders. Since it determines location by GPS, the app will provide the user with three words even if there is no cell service; however, the corresponding map will not display any details. What3Words is also used between responders. Once they have the threeword string, CSFD responders pass that information to one another, which can keep things from “getting lost in translation,” said Koch. While not officially endorsing any specific commercial product, Koch said that What3Words is one of many tools at the CSFD’s disposal when it comes to locating lost or injured hikers. For online device maps, he prefers the free Colorado Trails Explorer (trails. colorado.gov), a free app provided and
event someone has used What3Words to determine their location but can’t make a phone call, they can provide those three words to a passing hiker, who can then relay them to first responders. This is useful, particularly when there might be miles between their location and where a helper can get a cell signal. Instead of responders going to the caller and trying to determine the lost or injured person’s location, responders can then go straight to them. Also, the CSFD’s drone program can use the information from What3Words to deploy a drone directly to where help is needed, said Koch. What3Words has its limitations, mostly that you need a cellphone signal to summon help, so its usefulness in extreme backcountry locations is rather limited. For backcountry use, a personal locator beacon such as a Spot, InReach or ACR Resq device is a more reliable way to
By BOB “HIKING BOB” FALCONE
PUZZLES!
News of the WEIRD
BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION
THE CONTINUING CRISIS
There’s a metaphor for our times in here somewhere: In the wee hours of Oct. 21, 39-year-old Adam Sotzen showed up at his mother’s house in North Liberty, Iowa, The Smoking Gun reported. Sotzen, whose rap sheet is lengthy, was allegedly intoxicated and yelled at his mother while destroying property inside the house, police said, then shoved her to the ground. She was able to move to a recliner chair, where Sotzen approached her with a 3-foot-by-5-foot American flag that he had stolen from a nearby home. Twisting the flag into a rope, Sotzen began choking her while threatening to kill her; she fell to the floor, and Sotzen continued strangling her until her boyfriend intervened. The mother said her 6-foot-3-inch, 230-pound son was “capable of killing her” and used a lot of force while strangling her. Sotzen was charged with assault with intent to inflict serious injury and harassment and held on $30,000.
BUT WHY?
Mary Kay Bower, 42, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was arrested on Oct. 19 for rustling and livestock theft, which is a felony, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported. Officers were alerted to Bower when she and a man were seen walking a sheep and a dog on leashes. Bower told them that she purchased the sheep for $200, but her companion ratted her out: He said she stepped over a farm fence, put a leash on the sheep and pulled it out through the fence. When police checked with the farm owner, they found out that Bower had not paid for the animal, a breeding hair ram worth about $500. Bower’s tattoo might have given her away: She has a sheep inked on her left cheek.
OOPS
On Oct. 24, emergency officials in Stoughton, Wisconsin, contacted the county public health agency after transporting five people with “possible food-borne illness exposure,” The New York Times reported. The common denominator? Famous Yeti’s Pizza — but it wasn’t tainted onions or bad cheese that sickened patrons. On Oct. 22, a worker at Yeti’s
ran out of oil while making pizzas, so he visited a shared industrial kitchen nearby. The oil he grabbed was from “food-grade hemp” and contained Delta-9 cannabis, or THC — the active ingredient in marijuana. “The oil can be used to make everything from cookies to condiments,” the health department said. Famous Yeti’s served “60 contaminated pizzas,” prompting “dozens of reports” of sickness. The restaurant closed for deep cleaning on Oct. 25.
SPOOKY!
When Joshua Dairen and his wife, Keema Miller, bought a coffee shop in Opelika, Alabama, in early 2023, they might not have expected to experience paranormal phenomena — but the soldier ghost who frequents the place didn’t know that. Metro News reported that Dairen hears “rustling” noises from the back office when he’s in the shop alone, and on Sept. 24, the barista saw a “soldier” walking toward them before disappearing. Dairen believes the shop is haunted by someone who died in the Civil War. “I have seen unexplained boot prints on the floor,” he said. “Nobody in our shop has ever worn combat boots.” Dairen looked back into the town’s history and found that many soldiers lost their lives in a raid on Confederate supply depots there. “Luckily, nothing has presented itself as threatening toward us,” Dairen said.
English Heritage, a charity that oversees many historic properties, revealed that Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire, England, houses a “staggering array” of witches’ marks and curses carved into the walls. The Guardian reported on Oct. 29 that volunteer Rick Berry found and mapped about 20 ritual protection marks, believed to repel evil. Berry also discovered daisy wheels and hexafoils, thought to trap demons, and overlapping letter V’s, which called on the Virgin Mary for protection. “The Old Hall has undoubtedly had a tumultuous past,” said Kevin Booth, English Heritage’s head of collections. “Why it’s the scene of quite such a high concentration of protective carvings remains a mystery.”
THE LITIGIOUS SOCIETY
The Colorado Supreme Court in Boulder was the setting on Oct. 24 for a showdown between justices and five elephants, the Associated Press reported. The elephants — Missy, Kimba, Lucky, LouLou and Jambo — live at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. But the NonHuman Rights Project believes the pachyderms should be able to dispute their detention there because they were born in the wild in Africa and
are now showing signs of brain damage, such as rocking, which signals distress. The organization wants them to be moved to an accredited elephant sanctuary. The justices were moved by the story but skeptical: “How do I know when it stops?” asked Justice Melissa Hart, who was worried about pet emancipation. The zoo’s attorney wasn’t having it: “This court, no court is the proper venue for what they’re trying to accomplish,” he said.
Horoscopes .
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): You may be on the verge of the breakthrough I prophesied awhile back. Remember? I said you would be searching for the solution to a boring problem, and on the way you would discover a more interesting and useful problem. That exact scenario is about to happen. I also predict that the coming weeks will be a time when you tame an out-of-control aspect of your life and infuse more wildness into an overly tame part of you. I will speculate on one further stroke of good fortune: You will attract an influence that motivates you to be more passionately pragmatic about one of your key dreams.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s time for some friendly warnings that will, if heeded, enable you to avoid problematic developments. One: An overhaul in your self-image is looming; your persona requires tinkering. Two: Old boundaries are shifting and in some places disappearing. Be brave and draw up new boundaries. Three: Familiar allies may be in a state of flux. Help them find their new centers of gravity. Four: Potential future allies will become actual allies if you are bold in engaging them. Five: Be allergic to easy answers and simplistic solutions. Insist on the wisdom of uncertainty.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): To honor and celebrate your melancholy, I’m turning this horoscope over to Gemini author T. H. White and his superb formulation of the redemptive power of sadness. He wrote: “The best thing for being sad is to learn something. That is the only thing that never fails. You may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics or know your honor trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust and never dream of regretting.”
CANCER (June 21-July 22): A Massachusetts woman named Andrea Martin loves chickens so much she treats them as family. A few years ago, she took pity on one of her favorites, a young bird named Cecily, who had been born with a damaged tendon in one of her legs. Martin arranged to have the limb amputated. Then she made a prosthetic device on a 3-D printer and had it surgically grafted onto Cecily’s body. Success! The $2,500 cost was well worth it, she testified. I propose we make Martin one of your role models for the coming weeks. May she inspire you to take extra good care of and shower bonus blessings on everyone and everything you love. (P.S. This will be really good for your own health.)
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Once a year, Seoul, South Korea, stages a SpaceOut Festival. Participants compete to do absolutely nothing for 90 minutes. They are not allowed to fall asleep, talk or check their phones. To test how well they are banishing stress, burnout and worries, their heart rates are monitored. The winner is the person who has the slowest and most stable pulse. If there were an event like this in your part of the world sometime soon, Leo, I’d urge you to join in. I expect the winner would be a member of your astrological tribe, as you Leos now have a high potential for revitalizing relaxation. Even if you don’t compete in a Space-Out Festival, I hope you will fully cash in on this chance to recharge your spiritual batteries.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): My favorite Virgos love to learn. They are eager to add to their knowledge. They have a highly honed curiosity that is always percolating, continually drawing them toward new comprehension. On the other hand, some of my favorite Virgos are inefficient at shedding long-held ideas and information that no longer serve them. As a result, their psyches may get plugged up, interfering with their absorption of fun new input. That’s why I recommend that you Virgos engage in regular purges of your mental debris. Now would be an excellent time for one of these sessions. P.S. The futurist Alvin Toffler said that a key to intelligence is the ability to learn, unlearn and relearn. I invite you to act on that counsel.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I endorse Libran tennis star Serena Williams’ approach to self-evaluation — especially for you right now. She testified, “I’m really exciting. I smile a lot, I win a lot, and I’m really sexy.” I’m convinced you have the right to talk like that in the coming weeks — so convinced that I suggest you use it as a mantra and prayer. When you wake up each morning, say what Williams said. When you’re asking life for a sweet breakthrough or big favor, remind life why it should give you what you want. Feel free to add other brags, too, like, “I’m a brilliant thinker, a persuasive negotiator and a crafty communicator.”
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You are entering a phase when you can acquire more mastery in the arts of self-care and self-sufficiency. I hope you will become more skillful in giving yourself everything that nurtures your emotional and physical health. Have you gathered all you need to know about that subject? Probably not. Most of us haven’t. But the coming weeks will be a favorable time to make this your main research project. By the way, now is also an excellent time to kick your own ass and unbreak your own heart.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): My father was a big fan of the military. As a young man, he served as a lieutenant in the Army and for a time considered making that job his career. I’m the opposite of him. I keenly avoided becoming a soldier and have always been passionately antiwar. I bring this subject to your attention because I think now is an excellent time for you to get clearer than ever about how you don’t resemble your parents and don’t want to be like them. Meditate on why your life is better and can get even better by not following their paths and ways. There’s no need to do this with anger and blame. In fact, the healthiest approach is to be lucid, calm and dispassionate.
BY ROB BREZSNY
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): At age 49, James Patterson retired from his job as an advertising writer. Until then, he had produced a few novels in his spare time. But once free of his 9-to-5 gig, he began churning out books at a rapid pace. Now, at age 77, he has published over 305 million copies of 200-plus novels, including 67 that have been No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Would you like to make an almost equally memorable transition, Capricorn? The coming weeks and months will be an excellent time to plan it and launch it.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “The Breakfast Club” is an iconic 1985 film about teenagers coming of age. Critics liked it. At the box office, it earned 100 times more than it cost to make. Aquarian director John Hughes wrote the screenplay for the 97-minute movie in two days, on July 4 and 5 of 1982. I predict that many of you Aquarians will have a similar level of productivity in the coming weeks. You could create lasting improvements and useful goodies in short bursts of intense effort.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Ben & Jerry’s is a wildly successful ice cream maker that sells it products all over the world. Its founders are two Pisceans who met in 7th grade. In the 45 years since they launched their business, they have become renowned for their wide variety of innovative flavors and their political activism. When they first decided to work together, though, their plans were to start a bagel business. They only abandoned that idea when they discovered how expensive the bagel-making equipment was. I suspect that you are near a comparable pivot in your life, Pisces: a time to switch from one decent project to an even better one.
IMAGINE HAVING THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE – TO EVERY SHOW… EVERY
