Sensi Magazine - Denver/Boulder (September 2018)

DENVER / BOULDER

The

THE NEW NORMAL

CULT URE

30 Days of Colorado Culture Fill your calendar with artistic outings

High Hospitality

The good, the bad, the Airbnb

CRUSHing It Meet Patrick McGregor, the muralist making a mark on Denver’s walls

9.2018

Issue

{plus} [special report]

Concentrates: The BIG Idea Exploring Colorado CREATIVE DISTRICTS ART in Public Places

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 3

Performance | Vape | Technology

Vape different7

Los Angeles | San Francisco | Denver | Michigan 4 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

*OEM & ODM Projects Accepted, Private Labeling

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 5

6 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 7

8 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

® ® ®

August 8, 2018 August 2018 August 8,8,2018

Announcement from Willy Winer, Founder, President and CEO of FoxFarm: Announcement President and andCEO CEOofofFoxFarm: FoxFarm: Announcementfrom fromWilly Willy Winer, Winer, Founder, Founder, President

At this time, FoxFarm Soil and Fertilizer Company will no longer be At FoxFarm Soil and Company will will nolonger longerbe be Atthis thistime, time, FoxFarm SoilSupply, and Fertilizer Fertilizer Company associated with Sunlight acquired

by Scotts no Miracle-Gro associated

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Company. andits itswholly whollyowned owned subsidiary subsidiary Hawthorne Hawthorne Gardening Our industry has seen unprecedented changes over the last several years.

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We continue to be driven by the the same same goals and and visionsthat that FoxFarm NorthernCalifornia.

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WillyWiner Winer Willy Willy Winer President/CEO President/CEO President/CEO FoxFarm FarmSoil Soil& &Fertilizer Fertilizer Company Company Fox Fox Farm Soil & Fertilizer Company *Paidadvertisement advertisement by

by Fox Fox Farm Farm Soil *Paid Soil & & Fertilizer FertilizerCo.* Co.* *Paid advertisement by Fox Farm Soil & Fertilizer Co.*

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 9

10 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

ISSUE 9 // VOLUME 3 // 9.2018

FEATURES 74

S P EC I A L RE P O RT

DIVE IN Make this a September to remember

Big Ideas

Vaporizers and concentrates are more popular than ever. As we move ahead, will we be passing the joint or heating the pipe?

98

82 So You Want to be an Airbnb Host Plan on getting to know humanity— and yourself—better than you might want to.

90 Life Near the Fast Lane

Sensi’s senior editor spent 25 years as a rock critter. Was it worth it?

98 Cultural Calendar

What to do, see, and experience during the busiest month of the year in and around the Mile High.

THE PAINTING OF THE BULLS Get to know the Bulldog Guy

52

every issue 13 Editor’s Note 20 The Buzz 26 NewsFeed

TREAT LIKE ALCOHOL?

32 CrossRoads

GRASS LANDS

38 TasteBuds

PREP SCHOOL

46 AroundTown

GET SOME CLASS Craft school is in session

52 HighProfile

PATRICK McGREGOR

60 TravelWell

THE ART OF COLORADO

66 LifeStyle

GLASSBLOWER CULTURE

122 The Scene 128 HereWeGo

FALL PHOTO TIPS

CREATIVE CLASSES

Sensi magazine is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2018 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 11

sensi magazine ISSUE 9 VOLUME 3 9.2018

EXECUTIVE FOLLOW US

Ron Kolb ron@sensimag.com CEO, SENSI MEDIA GROUP

Tae Darnell tae@sensimag.com PRESIDENT, SENSI MEDIA GROUP

Alex Martinez alex@sensimag.com CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

EDITORIAL sensimediagroup

Stephanie Wilson stephanie@sensimag.com EDITOR IN CHIEF

Leland Rucker leland.rucker@sensimag.com SENIOR EDITOR

John Lehndorff edible.critic@sensimag.com DINING EDITOR

Robyn Griggs Lawrence CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

sensimagazine

Ricardo Baca COLUMNIST Tiffany Bergeron, Kent Gruetzmacher CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

A RT & D E S I G N Jennifer Tyson jennifer.tyson@sensimag.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jamie Ezra Mark, Rheya Tanner, Wendy Mak Josh Clark, Deb Matlock akers@sensimag.com sensimag

DESIGN & LAYOUT

BUSINESS & A D M I N I S T R AT I V E Liana Cameris liana.cameris@sensimag.com PUBLISHER

Richard Guerra richard.guerra@sensimag.com Olivia Kemp olivia.kemp@sensimag.com Amanda Patrizi amanda.patrizi@sensimag.com Tyler Tarr tyler.tarr@sensimag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS

Amber Orvik amber.orvik@sensimag.com CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR

Andre Velez andre.velez@sensimag.com MARKETING DIRECTOR

Hector Irizarry hector@sensimag.com DISTRIBUTION

M E D I A PA RT N E R S Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy 12 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

SHI F T I N G

Culture

editor’s

NOTE

So in August, my dad came to town and may or may not have tried cannabis for the first time ever. (Disclaimer: he won’t like that I’m sharing this story, hence the qualifier.) It may or may not have been half of a Wana gummy, which are my favorite.

We picked up the edible at Simply Pure dispensary in LoHi, where the very first issue of Sensi is framed and hanging on the wall, displaying the magnificent cheekbones of Simply Pure’s proprietor Wanda James, our first cover subject. Lots of firsts happening here.

So we go back to my dad’s RV—a 44-foot Winnebago Tour he drives across the country every summer—and have some dinner, some wine, and then his girlfriend and I pop a full 10 milligram serving to my dad’s 5 milligrams. About 45 minutes later, she and I are doubled over on the couch with the giggles, laughing at nothing and everything in that super fun way that getting a little lifted can make you do. My father looked at us with a not-exactly-bemused expression and told us we were faking. He had been told his whole life that cannabis was bad, and even though he’s a proud papa telling strangers he meets across the country that his daughter is the editor of a “weed magazine” (more on that later), he’s been inundated with the negative messages and he was physically unable to allow himself to enjoy trying it.

But he tried it. Baby steps. That’s what we’re seeing across the nation every day: baby steps away from prohibition. We saw it out at Outside Lands in San Francisco last month, where there was a whole Grass Lands section dedicated to cannabis. Sure, you couldn’t buy pot there nor could you consume it—hell, they wouldn’t even allow you to bring alcohol into the area—but it existed. Baby steps.

At Sensi, we’re all about those baby steps, about showcasing what we call the New Normal to an ever-wider audience of curious consumers. And we do so by integrating cannabis-centric pieces into a magazine filled with information about what’s happening around the city and the state, with engaging lifestyle content designed to draw the reader in, give them a moment of respite. This particular issue is, in my opinion, one of the finest examples of that mix to date. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed making it. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it either way.

Happy reading,

Stephanie Wilson ED I TOR I N CHI EF SENSI MAGAZINE

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 13

ADVISORY BOARD

1906 New Highs // CHOCOLATE The Adjustatorium // CHIROPRACTIC Agricor Laboratories // TESTING LAB Azara // COMPLIANCE Bear Mortgage // RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS Bulldog Protective Solutions // SECURITY Cannabis Tax Solutions // TAX AND ACCOUNTING Cannopoly // MOBILE COMMERCE CLogistics // COURIER The Clinic // SEED BANK Cohen Medical Centers // MEDICAL CENTERS Colorado Cannabis Company // THC COFFEE Concentrate Supply Co. // RECREATIONAL CONCENTRATES CWC Soil LLC // SOIL Denver Custom Packaging // PACKAGING EndoCanna // MEDICAL CONCENTRATES Escape/Evolutionz // THE CLEAR™ Evolve Formulas // TRANSDERMAL Franklin Bioscience // PILLS AND TABLETS Greenhouse Payment Solutions // PAYMENT PROCESSING GreenLink Financial // BANKING Hybrid Payroll // STAFFING AND HR BENEFITS Kindred Wolf // MARKETING AGENCY L’Eagle Services // SUSTAINABILITY Lab Society // EXTRACTION EXPERT AND LAB SUPPLIES Lowspark Incorporated // DISTRIBUTION Mac & Fulton Talent Partners // RECRUITING marQaha // SUBLINGUALS AND BEVERAGES Mary Jane’s Medicinals // TOPICALS MedPharm // LIFESTYLE VAPE Monte Fiore Farms // RECREATIONAL CULTIVATION Mountain High Suckers // CBD EDIBLES Mustache Dabs // ROSIN PRESS Nature’s Root // HEMP COSMETICS Next Frontier Biosciences // BIOSCIENCES Purple Monkey // TEAS Pyramid // DISTILLATES Revered Inc. // INHALERS RiNo Supply Company // CANNABIS CULTURE RxCBD // CBD PET TREATS Sharp Solutions Courier & Consulting // TRANSPORTATION Source Colorado // WHOLESALE CONSULTING SteepFuze // CBD COFFEE Steve’s Goods // CBG PRODUCTS Success Nutrients // NUTRIENTS Terrapin Care Station // RECREATIONAL DISPENSARY Toast // MINDFUL CONSUMPTION Wana Brands // EDIBLES WillPower // SPORTS NUTRITION Witlon Inc. // PAYROLL PROCESSING 14 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 15

16 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

COLORADO'S LEADING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BRAND ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT

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ZERO CHEMICALS

CELEBRATING

SEASON STOP IN TO ONE OF OUR EIGHT DENVER METRO LOCATIONS OR VISIT US ONLINE TO CHECK OUT OUR SEPTEMBER SPECIALS AND STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS ON OUR FALL EQUINOX CELEBRATION ON 9/22/18.

THE DIFFERENCE IS NIGHT AND DAY.

SPECIALIZING IN HIGH CBG AND RARE CANNABINOID O R G A N I C F L O W E R A N D C O N C E N T R AT E S W W W. P O T Z E R O . C O

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 17

18 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 19

THE NEW NORMAL

sensi

buzz

Art All Around Did you know this pearl of wisdom: 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Denver Public Art program, which intended to “expand the opportunities for Denver residents to experience art in public places, thereby creating more visually pleasing and human environments.”

The original executive order, signed in 1988, directed 1 percent of the construction budget for any capital improvement project over $1 million be set aside for the inclusion of public art in the design and construction. Over the next three decades, that program has donated more than $40 million and introduced more than 400 artworks to its public collection, which also includes historic works and ones contributed by outside donors. The collection isn’t limited to paintings and sculptures, either: there’s sound art, projection and light-based works, interactive new media pieces, temporary fiber-based works, and even some performances.

From familiar favorites like The Yearling sculpture at Denver Public Library and the murals lining the Cherry Creek Trail, to newer works like the City and County Building Chime—an

"THE YEARLING" SCULPTURE BY DONALD LIPSKI, ON DISPLAY AT THE DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY CENTRAL BRANCH

original musical composition that will announce important events—and the interactive public sculpture and monumental light display at the Carla Madison Recreation Center in the City Park neighborhood, art is all around us.

Learn more about it during tours led by the program’s team. This month, there’s the Civic Center Park Public Art

Get cultured without dropping any coin.

Sept. 1: Denver Art Museum Sept. 7: Museo de Las Americas Sept. 12 + 30: Denver Museum of Nature & Science (CO residents only) Sept. 6: Molly Brown House (Local county residents only) Sept. 14: Four Mile Historic Park BONUS DAY: Meditation in the Museum, Sept. 7 @ 6 p.m.

Unwind from your week with Denver Art Museum. The museum partners with Kadampa Meditation Center for a mindfulness practice dubbed the “happiness hour” of relaxation, reflection, and quiet calm. The 60-minute session is led amid the galleries, where chairs, yoga mats, and meditation cushions are provided. All you have to bring is your sweet self and an open mind. Note: It’s not entirely free, but it’s included with admission to the museum.

DENVERARTMUSEUM.ORG

20 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

Public Art Tour on Sept. 5 and 20; and the Colorado Convention Center Tour on Sept. 15.

Or you can take yourself on a journey of discovery, focusing on whatever piques your interest. On the website, you’ll find curated collections, from animals to Downtown Public Art, or you can search by artist, type, title, or neighborhood to create a visual journey of your own.

–Stephanie Wilson

DENVERPUBLICART.ORG

Tip: Post your snapshots with #denverpublicart30.

Bonus points for photos within this month’s theme: Latino and Hispanic History and Heritage. The team behind @denverpublicart is selecting their favorite 30 photos to share with followers each month.

THE 60-FOOT-TALL "DANCERS" SCULPTURE BY JONATHAN BOROFSKY WAS THE FIRST INSTALLATION IN DENVER’S PERFORMING ARTS SCULPTURE PARK.

THE YEARLING PHOTO BY EVAN SEMON / THE DANCERS SCULPTURE PHOTO BY VISIT DENVER

Free Days At Denver Cultural Institutions

and History Tour on Sept. 2, 16, and 30; the Golden Triangle

THE NEW PROFESSIONAL

Grab Some Art If you’ve got Veuve tastes but a Coors budget—and you’ve got some blank walls to fill—Denver’s Museum of Contemporary Art has you covered, maybe. MCA Denver’s Octopus Initiative offers ANY resident of the city’s metro area the chance to borrow and live with a work of art made specifically for this project by a leading Denver artist. By 2020, the library inventory will consist of 500 works by 20 artists. Each work is unique, two dimensional, and 16 inches by 20 inches or smaller to make it easy for the

M&F TALENT: CANNABIS INDUSTRY RECRUITING

borrower to transport it from the museum to their home for the duration of the loan.

And not just for the typical library two-week loan period, either. The lucky selected few get to hang out at home with the contemporary work for 10 whole months. But just like the typical library loan, it’s free. Here’s how it works, if you live in one of the six eligible counties (Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson): head to the website and sign up, then browse the online catalogue, hearting the ones you want to grace your domicile. Then cross your fingers and wait. Winners are randomly selected through a lottery and notified by email. It really is the coolest thing around, so spread the word using #livewithoctopi, and go heart some artworks you want to temporarily make your own. Need more inspiration? Visit MCA at 1485 Delany St. in Downtown Denver.

OCTOPUS.MCADENVER.ORG

Words Matter

–SW

Mac & Fulton Talent Partners is the most knowledgeable and attentive recruiting service in cannabis, dedicated to promoting professionalism and follow-through follow-th concerning our peers as well as clients, one that will help lay a solid foundation for industry growth and progress.

“Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs.”

— Thomas Wolfe

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 21

THE NEW NORMAL

sensi

buzz

Smooth Move: Dermaplanning + CBD

If you’re up on your skin-care trends, you’ll already know that dermaplane is the exfoliating skin treatment of the now. (Microdermabrasion is so oughts.) The downtime-free facial procedure does use a surgical scalpel, but don’t let that unnerve you: it’s just to shave your face.

No, really: an aesthetician skillfully and gently scrapes the blade along the surface of your face while holding your skin taut, removing the top-most layer (read: dead cells) and the fine vellus hair known affectionately as peach fuzz. It’s a super painless procedure that yields bright, smooth, glowing results, and it primes your skin for better absorption of skin-care products.

Like CBD. You know, the “it” ingredient causing a stir in health and beauty circles this year. At the Smooth Room, a wax and skin-care studio near DU, you can combine a dermaplane facial experience with a CBD package using a proprietary blend CBD facial oil infused with session ($95), you’ll also enjoy guided meditation, CBD massage, and CBD water, coffee, or tea—plus some take-home products to keep you glowing to the point even strangers may comment. (Editor’s note: it happened 7 times in the week following my visit.) Bask in the compliments and spread the word.

–SW

The Smooth Room in Salons by JC / 2130 S. University Blvd., Ste. 14 / THESMOOTHROOM.COM

22 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

PHOTO BY KYLE SMITH, UNSPLASH

anti-inflammatory herbs and terpenes. During the Calming the Nerves

Color Me Happy A recommendation, if you’re the type of person who likes colors or who likes order. Bonus points if you like color AND order. Download “I Love Hue,” available on the App Store and on Google Play. It’s a “gentle journey into color and perception” that involves putting blocks of varying hues into order, and it’s simultaneously calming and addicting. Don’t just take my word for it: Sensi’s creative director downloaded it and sent me this note the next morning: “I love it. I love the soft, quiet music that plays in the background when I’m building a perfect and beautiful screen, and I love the pure satisfaction and sense of joy I feel once I put together the perfect palette…” And she hadn’t even gotten to the level where the app rewards you with compliments, calling you a magnificent unicorn and iridescent moonbeam.

–SW I-LOVE-HUE.COM

Local Lexicon

Fast fact: Words with Friends has added the delightful Colorado term Fourteener to its house dictionary. sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 23

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{newsfeed}

by L E L A N D R U C K E R

TRE ATING C ANNABIS LIKE ALCOHOL? NOT YE T. Twenty feet keeps an old mansion from becoming a cannabis spa. Why can’t Denver get this done?

One thing I didn’t realize until recently about America’s prohibition of alcohol from 1920 to 1933 is that it was really a ban on bars, taverns, and places where people consumed alcohol. For 13 years in the United States, possessing or drinking alcohol wasn’t a crime, but doing it in public was.

After five years of legal cannabis in Colorado, it’s still that way here. Sure, there are a few private clubs that get around the restrictions, and parties can allow consumption under certain conditions.

Amendment 64 says to treat marijuana like alcohol, but we have yet to figure out how to incorporate it publicly as we have with booze.

There’s no ban in Colorado on marijuana, but there seems to be one on places to use it.

Shame on us for not including a clear path to public consumption in 64’s wording.

On the legislative front, Gov. John Hickenlooper vetoed a few cannabis bills this spring, including one that supporters hoped would make Colorado the first state to allow consum-

26 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

ers to use cannabis in restricted “tasting rooms” attached

tal as a lobbyist for health issues. She voted against

to dispensaries. Expect something like that to return next

Amendment 64, but after seeing her father get relief from

year, especially if Jared Polis is elected governor.

the pain of terminal cancer, she started looking into med-

Impatient Denver voters passed Initiative 300, a “can-

ical cannabis and became an advocate, most recently in a

nabis consumption pilot program,” in 2016, to allow busi-

campaign this year to add autism to the list of medical

nesses to apply for a license for adult marijuana consump-

marijuana conditions in Colorado, another bill that was ve-

tion in designated areas. Though I-300 conflicts with state

toed by Hickenlooper in the spring. She supported and

laws, the city works through its Department of Excise and

campaigned for Initiative 300 in 2016.

Licenses to allow businesses to apply for licenses.

About a year ago Sovine decided to renovate the histor-

So far the applications haven’t been flooding in. The

ic sandstone Creswell mansion, built in 1899 at 1244 Grant

only licensed, working business is the Coffee Joint in Lin-

St., and turn it into Utopia All Natural Wellness Spa and

coln Park, and Vape and Play, a cannabis lounge, has a li-

Lounge, a cannabis-infused wellness gathering place. She

cense and hopes to open this fall at its South Broadway

had big plans for an establishment where adults could get

location. “Our citizens say they’re interested in consump-

amenities like cannabis-infused massages and sip kombu-

tion, but it’s illegal under state law,” says Ashley Kilroy. “So

cha and CBD-infused smoothies. She envisioned it as a

how do we thread that issue? How does the city deal with

place where people interested in health could gather for

the issue with the state and fed impediments?”

seminars and hold meetings on all things healthy. “I want-

Kilroy admits that though it has tried to implement the will of the voters, the city has seen minimal interest from busi-

ed to provide a place for people trying to heal themselves naturally and give them the tools,” she says.

nesses to get licenses. “Some reasons are obvious,” she says.

It sounded like a great idea. With her political connections,

“No bars or restaurants are allowed unless they want to

Sovine knew she had to cover her bases. She needed the

change their license. Under state law, smoking indoors is

approval of one registered neighborhood organization. So-

prohibited.” Existing marijuana businesses that sell cannabis

vine approached and got supporting letters from five RNOs.

can’t apply for licenses because consumption facilities can’t

During her research, she found out that the mansion,

sell cannabis. A license applicant has to get approval from at

though more than three city blocks away and at least a

least one authorized neighborhood group and has to be at

five-minute walk, is 980.9 feet, as the crow flies, from the

least 1,000 feet from schools, city-owned recreation centers

Third Way Center child-care facility at 1133 Lincoln Ave.

and parks, child-care establishments, and rehab facilities.

She met with the license bureau and told them about the

That last restriction came up in the case of Cindy Sovine. Sovine’s is a well-known face around the state capi-

19.1-foot discrepancy and was told she needed to apply before a decision could be made.

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 27

Just to make sure, Sovine met with the owners of the Third Way, who signed a letter that said it had no problems with the application. Sovine formally applied on Feb. 7. She said the meeting went well. “I brought state Senator Jack Tate with me,” she says. “He sat with me and my attorney, and they said they really wanted us to apply, and we moved forward.”

Encouraged, and confident she had covered her bases, Sovine started renovating and getting the old building compliant, especially beginning the huge task of adding a proper ventilation system to comply with indoor smoke regulations and keep all odors inside the building.

On May 23, more than three months later, Sovine was told that her application had been denied by the hearing officer because it was too close to the Third Way. In its revocation, the license bureau argued that it had no control over the rules and couldn’t make an exception.

Sovine filed an appeal to the hearing officer’s decision, which was also rejected. Sovine argues that since the license division added the distance regulations to the original initiative, it can change or bend them, especially in the face

Sovine argues that since the license division added the distance regulations to the original initiative, it can change or bend them, especially in the face of so much neighborhood support. It’s doubly maddening, she says, since the Third Way is next door to a large outdoor bar.

28 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

of so much neighborhood support. It’s doubly maddening, she says, since the Third Way is next door to a large outdoor bar.

Kilroy says there are 9,000 possible businesses in town that could apply for licenses despite the distance restrictions. Sovine doubts the city’s numbers and says Denver is being overly restrictive and unresponsive to legitimate applicants.

Denver officials are within their rights to say that they shouldn’t make exceptions. But given the will of the voters and the lack of applications so far, the city might want to take another look at its own rules as it moves forward.

Sovine says she’s not giving up. Denver had a chance to lead the country on this issue, she says, and now Las Vegas and West Hollywood are moving forward with social-use initiatives that are not nearly as restrictive as Denver's program.

“I have done everything I know how to do to jump through these hoops to get the doors open for people to have a place to go to heal themselves naturally with cannabis,” Sovine says. “I have had every door after door slammed in my face, and the city is making it sound like I just don't know how to follow the rules.”

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 29

㜀㈀ ㌀㌀㠀㘀㌀㜀㔀 䌀伀一吀䄀䌀吀 唀匀℀

30 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

刀伀䈀䀀吀刀䤀䴀䌀刀䔀圀䌀伀䰀伀刀䄀䐀伀⸀䌀伀䴀 圀圀圀⸀吀㌀ ㌀䌀⸀䌀伀䴀

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 31

by R I C A R D O B A C A

A summertime music festival learns to embrace cannabis.

32 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

(OPPOSITE PAGE) PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA CORTLAND / ANDREW JORGENSEN

{crossroads}

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SFOUTSIDELANDS.COM / (BELOW) PHOTOS BY JACK GORLIN / (OPPOSITE PAGE) RICARDO BACA

As I continue to document the ever-creeping normalization of legal cannabis in this column each month, the world

first-of-its-kind activation will likely be remembered as an important moment on America’s normalization timeline.

around us continues to hit new milestones in the ways in

Festival organizers Another Planet Entertainment called

which we’re accepting and even embracing this once-slan-

the area Grass Lands, unrelated to the public relations agen-

dered psychoactive plant.

cy I run called Grasslands but a nod to the simple-yet-effec-

A few years ago, a Colorado marijuana business made

tive naming convention that years before brought Outside

headlines when it was announced to be one of the largest do-

Lands festival-goers Beer Lands, Wine Lands, Choco Lands,

nors to a new outdoor amphitheater on Denver’s west side. Of

and other substance-specific retail activations.

course marijuana companies should be sponsoring music

Grass Lands included branded activations from some of Cal-

venues and their efforts in the community—that wasn’t the

ifornia marijuana’s most recognizable names, including Kiva,

newsworthy aspect that garnered the many headlines.

Flow Kana, and Jetty Extracts, yet there were no sales or (legal)

Let’s remember that back in 2015–2016, it was still rare

consumption of the plant at the center of this celebration.

for a music venue of any kind to accept donations from weed

As a sign at Grass Lands’ entrance read: “This is a celebra-

businesses. Because of their federal illegality or the lingering

tory area for the cannabis curious and connoisseur alike.

stigma or their untouchable status, whatever—many can-

While we encourage you to explore and discover, please re-

nabis businesses couldn’t even give their money away in

spect our home in Golden Gate Park, and the park-wide no

those early days.

smoking policy.”

Which brings me to this year’s Outside Lands, the annual

While park rules nixed any opportunity for cannabis con-

large-scale music festival that takes over San Francisco’s

sumption, state laws and regulations prevented retail sales

stately Golden Gate Park each summer. As some friends and

from happening at Grass Lands—making for a somewhat

I planned our four-day getaway to the Bay in August, we

precarious activation of mixed messages. A well-known chef

knew the festival was marking its home state’s first year of

and curator of marijuana-infused dinners was selling unin-

legal adult-use cannabis sales in a

fused meals in Grass Lands, while one of the world’s largest

big way, and sure enough their

edibles brands served up uninfused samples of choco-

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 33

late-covered blueberries and mints that are normally infused

nicotine while cannabis kills 0 Americans (according to the

with pot.

Center for Disease Control, no less), let’s take a step back and

The Aug. 10 San Francisco Chronicle headline went straight to the core of the perplexing-to-many issue: “Pot at Outside Lands: You can smell, but you can’t buy.”

recognize this for what it is.

Outside Lands draws more than 60,000 people each year, so it’s a massive fest á la Coachella or Jazz Fest. This year’s

And while most people reading this magazine understand

headliners were A-listers Janet Jackson, the Weeknd, and

the ridiculous hypocrisy here, as more than a half a million

Florence + the Machine. And this mainstream event is em-

Americans die each year from alcohol and

bracing marijuana as much as the law will allow them to, less

34 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

(OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM LEFT) PHOTOS BY TOM TOMKINSON / RICARDO BACA / JOSH WITHERS

than eight months after recreational cannabis became the

regulate the cannabis space will more accurately reflect the

law of the land in California.

plant itself, which isn’t without its risks—though those risks

By celebrating weed alongside beer and coffee, cheese and wine, the progressive promoters behind Outside Lands

pale in comparison to those belonging to many other recreational substances.

were telling attendees (and those following along at home

Think about how we’ll all laugh at Outside Lands in 2021 as

on Instagram and YouTube) that cannabis deserves a place at

we think back to the 2018 fest that didn’t allow the consump-

the table, that marijuana deserves a sanctioned place at the

tion or sale of cannabis on-site. Surely the state of California

music festival.

will have figured out some way to permit consumption beyond

And that’s meaningful cultural change, friends.

state fairgrounds by then, and it might also figure out a way for

It’s also a situation of baby steps, a.k.a. having to start

retail sales to happen on festival grounds, too.

somewhere. Marijuana is currently one of the most highly

Just imagine having a package of edibles and a vapor pen

regulated industries in the world, but these often-ridiculous

delivered to you in the VIP section of a future festival, a trans-

regs—the result of decades of government-peddled misin-

action managed effortlessly via Apple Pay. Now that’s a fu-

formation and propaganda—are slowly starting to give way

ture I can get behind.

to experience- and reality-based rules that are more befitting of this still-new industry.

It’s going to take some time, but eventually the rules that

RICARDO BACA is a veteran journalist, thought leade,r and founder of The Cannabist.

His content agency Grasslands works primarily with businesses and individuals in the cannabis and hemp industries on thought leadership, publicity, and marketing projects via thoughtful, personalized content campaigns.

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 35

36 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 37

{tastebuds}

by J O H N L E H N D O R F F

38 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

PREP SCHOOL

At age 64, a food writer returns to the kitchen to sauté and ponder.

It is 7:01 a.m. on a summer Friday as I clock into the

large focaccia loaves into cubes and toasting them into

Front Range catering kitchen lit by fluorescent lights. I am

croutons as well as trimming, chopping, and washing ro-

in uniform: an all-black outfit, a pristine white apron. I set

maine lettuce then drying it in a giant salad spinner.

up a cutting board at my station—a stainless-steel table—and pull out my knives.

This isn’t how my particular American Dream was supposed to be progressing at the age of 64. I haven’t worked

“John, ignore the prep list. We need 58 lunch boxes set up stat.”

in a commercial kitchen since I cooked in Boulder restau-

It’s a last-minute lunch order. It means grabbing 58 flat

rants during the first Reagan administration in the early

boxes and setting them up on stainless-steel counters,

1980s. I used to have post-kitchen nightmares about be-

with 58 paper liners, 58 forks, 58 individually bagged pick-

ing chained to a fryer making onion rings for eternity.

les, chips, cookies, and various California club and grilled

Back then, I burned my greasy cooking clothes on a front

vegetable sandwiches on ciabatta rolls. They get closed,

stoop hibachi and swore I’d never cook again.

taped, labeled, stacked, and wrapped on sheet pans.

I won’t bore you with the life circumstances that brought

Now I can move on to the prep list, a sheet of culinary

me here, but I found myself between a rock and an even

tasks I need to accomplish today. I will be on my feet until

harder financial place. I couldn’t make enough as a writer

5 p.m., working continually except for a restroom break. I

to pay the bills. I realized that the only non-writing skill I

hate standing all day.

had to sell was cooking. I e-mailed a large catering compa-

First task on the prep list: pack up Caesar salad components for 40 people. That involves separating 32 eggs to

ny. I wasn’t even sure that I would hire me: an old, slow, big guy with an aversion to authority figures and recipes.

emulsify into Caesar dressing using a “hand” mixer the

My selling points were that I had a food encyclopedia in

size of a small outboard motor, weighing out 4 pounds of

my head and already knew the peculiar language and lex-

anchovies, shredding blocks of Parmesan cheese, and

icon of the working kitchen. Compared to the 25-year-old

squeezing a quart of fresh lemon juice. Next step: cutting

me, I’m an on-time professional who is dependable and

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 39

used to working extra-long days, albeit sitting down. My final selling point was my salary requirements. “I want to make whatever you are paying,” I said.

Honestly, I never thought I’d last two weeks, never mind five months. I’ve got some gimpy 64-year-old conditions including arthritis, worn knees, neuropathy, old rotator cuff and elbow injuries, and a year-old hernia that make standing up all day and lifting heavy things seem like a bad idea.

To my surprise, I have found that I can stand up, chop, fry, and sauté for eight or more hours, but not without significant discomfort and pain. Thank goodness for NSAIDS and CBD. I’m grateful the company gave me a chance, and the owners are happy because people willing to work in food service are hard to come by these days. Why peel potatoes when you can make $3 more an hour trimming buds for a dispensary?

Next prep list item: 5 pounds of fruit salad. That means hauling watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, and strawberries from the bedroom-sized walk-in cooler to my table. I stand and peel, scoop, and cut the fruit in semi-identical small cubes, then add grapes and blueberries. Pack it all into

That means hauling watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, and strawberries from the bedroom-sized walk-in cooler to my table. clear 1 quart plastic containers, labeled, dated, and color coded. Then I clean up for the umpteenth time this day. I make a delicious fruit salad.

The quantities are just staggering. We’ll make 150 tomato-basil-mozzarella skewers, 200 bacon-wrapped figs, or 100 spring rolls. It’s like Groundhog Day all over again as the tasks repeat.

As I chop, I’m enveloped by the aroma of the 30 pounds of bacon on parchment paper-covered pans in the oven behind me. It’s sweltering. I hate being hot, but the cacophony distracts me. The background roar of the overhead hood is joined by the syncopated pounding of chicken breasts with a metal hammer on a stainless steel table to make 150 rollatini for a seated dinner.

A funny thing happened to me on the way to making $11 an hour as a prep cook. I started enjoying it. I love working with food, learning about food, tasting food, and talking about it. I’m also in the best shape I’ve been in years. I tell folks that I have a personal trainer who drives me relentlessly 8 to 10 hours a day, three days a week. A 5-gallon bucket of pickle spears in brine is a major walking deadlift from the walk-in to the kitchen.

This kitchen is a friggin’ dietary gauntlet but wearing bright blue gloves makes it all seem rather clinical. I have lost 15-plus pounds, which makes my feet hurt less.

I work a nose-length from the pastry chefs making bars, tarts, cakes, cookies, and

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buttery biscuits almost every day. M&M’s, bags of white,

When you’re

milk and dark chocolate, bins of every kind of nut and dried

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fruit fill the pantry. I try to ignore it all.

After working as a journalist alone at my home desk, it’s nice

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less sexist than it was 30 years ago and that the staff includes many women. I enjoy my kitchen role as know-it-all music historian. I have also learned more about Mexican ranchera music and operatic heavy metal than I ever expected.

I am the oldest cook in the kitchen, but I’m not the oldest worker. Our chief dishwasher, a rock star who faces down soul-crushing piles of dishes and pots each week, just turned 68. He also has a second dishwashing job.

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Cooks have come and gone in my short time here, and even the chef who hired me has moved on.

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One of the nice things about the job is that a staff meal

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is served to everyone. One day, it was steak and eggs. Literally. Other days, there have been excellent pulled pork tacos and salad. There were pancakes and bacon one Sat-

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urday morning, served on china plates with metal uten-

ing to urgent care merely get shrugged off. You bandage up and

sils. There’s only one catch: Nobody in the kitchen sits

get back to making quinoa salad for a vegan wedding.

down to eat. You eat on the run at your station.

Final prep item: 10 pounds of tortilla chips. First, get 13 or

I bring my unprofessional knives from home because

14 pounds of corn tortillas and cut them into sixths. Grab some

this job involves working ingredients from scratch. If you

kosher salt and hotel pans. You can’t get too casual when you

need 10 pounds of shredded carrots, you don’t open a

are leaning over two vats of boiling vegetable oil, filling baskets

nag. You peel carrots and push them by hand through a

with corn triangles and eventually pulling up chips neither un-

Japanese steel mandolin slicer. I have shed considerable

derdone nor too brown that are salted while still warm.

blood using it and visit the first aid box often.

Listen: I know a modern kitchen is no country for old

Kitchens are dangerous places. I’ve cut and bruised

men. At the end of a 9-hour chop-a-thon, I feel like I’ve

myself more times than I can count on my oft-singed fin-

been mugged. However, I persist. If another job comes

gers. People have expertly sharp knives in their hands all

along and I have to leave the kitchen, I’ll miss it and need to

day long. “The line” is a wall of ovens, grills, and stoves

replace what it does for me…well, except for the pain part.

pouring out heat. Boiling soups get splashed.

On this Labor Day, I think about all the folks in kitchens all

That’s why you hear a steady patter of shouts all day

over the nation, sweating over our dinner. They do honorable

long. “Corner!” “Hot!” “Knife!” “Caliente!” “Behind!” And the

work. The next time you eat out, tip the kitchen or buy a round

ever-popular “Hot! Behind!”

of drinks for the prep cooks. Trust me: they deserve it.

Cooks compare scars and burns like soldiers bragging about past battles. “Want to see my blisters?” asked one cook, almost cheerful. Injuries that would send most people scream-

JOHN LEHNDORFF’s favorite cooking moments were catering a Boulder party and serving his chicken cacciatore to Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, and William Burroughs.

If another job comes along and I have to leave the kitchen, I’ll miss it and need to replace what it does for me… well, except for the pain part.

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 43

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{aroundtown}

by S T E P H A N I E W I L S O N

CRE ATIVE CL A SSES

Put your artistic talents to the test.

Throw Some Clay

Studio Arts Boulder / 1010 Aurora Ave. / Boulder / STUDIOARTSBOULDER.ORG

Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, you can

This nonprofit art education organization offers high-

reap the benefits of making some art—even if the end

quality ceramics programs at Boulder Pottery Lab and part-

product isn’t something you want hanging on the wall of

ners with studio arts organizations for programs in other

your living room. A study published in Art Therapy: Journal

mediums. What’re studio arts, you ask? They’re those art

of the American Art Therapy Association found that just 45

forms that require more than just a trip to your local Michael’s

minutes of creative activity significantly lessens stress in

to pick up some materials. Think ceramics, printmaking,

the body, regardless of artistic experience or talent. The

woodworking, glassblowing. At this studio, programs include

American Journal of Public Health published a review of 100

adult classes for a range of skill levels, and the next sessions

studies that looked at “The Connection Between Art,

begin the week of October 21, so you have plenty of time to

Healing, and Public Health,” which noted a wide range of

take a look at the full lineup and register. And here’s the best

impacts: improved well-being, reductions in stress and

part: the lab offers a ton of open-studio time to anyone cur-

anxiety, increases in positive emotions, and more.

rently enrolled in an adult program—an invaluable resource

All things you’ll want to get in on. Expressing yourself

for practicing and creating outside of your class time. The

with any kind of art—writing, painting, music, dancing,

cost for the 8-week Beginning Pottery course—perfect for

singing, expressing your creativity—is good for you. Here

those totally new to clay or still learning the basics—is $225

are some ways to engage your creative side.

and worth it for the chance to get your Ghost on.

46 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

Shake Your Thing

La Rumba / 99 W. 9th Ave. / Denver / L ARUMBADENVER.COM

If you’re not one for formal studio-style training, or if you need some liquid courage to get your body moving at the behest of someone else’s lead, you can get your groove on at Denver’s La Rumba. The Latin nightclub’s dance floor is open four nights a week, and the venue hosts dance classes all seven. Put on your finest dancing threads (there’s a strict dress code) and let yourself be enveloped by the high-energy classes, which range from beginner to expert for both men and women—styling, turns, shines, passes, and dips are all on display. If you’re more of a spectator, check the calendar and head on over to watch the experts take over the huge dance floor. You’re likely to be inspired to get out there yourself.

Grow Baby Grow

Bella Calla / 3100 N. Downing St. / Denver / BELL AC ALL A .COM

Terraria are all the rage in home decor, especially in this Insta age of #plantlady hashtags. The benefits of having houseplants are well-known (see Sensi’s August 2018 issue for a refresher). This class, held at the top-rated Denver floral and botanical studio Bella Calla, is a chance to build your own succulent terrarium under the guidance of experts. For $65, you’ll get to choose from an assortment of terrarium containers, succulents, air plants, stones, and other objects to create your miniature landscape. Plus, there’s wine and cheese to help feed your inner artist and unleash your creative juices. Classes are held every Thursday at 6 p.m. as long as two people have signed up. Call (303) 593.0716 to reserve your spot.

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 47

48 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 49

50 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 51

{highprofile}

by L E L A N D R U C K E R

CRUSHING IT Denver artist Patrick McGregor finds there’s no place like home for a vibrant art scene. His work is larger than life—and powered by Boug

52 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

In the last couple of decades, the United States has under-

I’m just a muralist. I do murals, and I do commissioned por-

gone a revolution in street art. Once the province of nameless

traits and, you know, every once in a while I’ll jump out and

truants furtively spraying graffiti on the sides of walls and train

paint a train with my delinquent friends,” he says, laughing.

cars while eluding law enforcement, it’s now given way to

If you haven’t heard of McGregor, you’ve no doubt seen

massive, commissioned murals and advertising, and as an ac-

Bouguereau, aka Boug, gracing walls around Denver. Mc-

cepted and expanding part of the art community. And nowhere

Gregor’s portraits of his now-deceased English bulldog,

more so than in Denver, where colorful murals decorate other-

named after French realist painter William-Adolphe Bou-

wise bland cement walls all around town and where the annu-

guereau, are in many places around town, in various guis-

al CRUSH WALLS event in Denver’s RiNo Arts District the week

es and sizes. That’s right. He’s the bulldog guy.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELLE WEBSTER

of September 3–9 brings together dozens of street artists for an arts festival that’s centered on urban beautification.

McGregor was born in Wheat Ridge and lived in Longmont as a child, and he says he wanted to be an artist from

Patrick Kane McGregor is one of those artists, and his

the time he started reading comic books and watching one

career parallels and encapsulates the rise and naturaliza-

of his father’s friends do cartoons. “He would babysit us be-

tion of the street movement. His advertisements and art-

cause my friend was his son and we’re the same age, and

works can be seen on the sides of businesses and in alley-

he was just drawing these cartoons and it just really kind of

ways and underpasses all over Denver. He has beautified

clicked for me.”

electrical boxes and decorated stairways in downtown ga-

After his parents divorced, he moved, first to Los Angeles,

rages. He’s on the CRUSH WALLS board of directors. “I think

where he got into the graffiti scene, running around at night. sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 53

But it wasn’t until he got a job at Tower Records when he was 16 that he began to find his path. At the time, Tower would commission artists to paint facsimiles of current album covers on the walls of its stores. “They came and asked us to do these displays of their new releases,” he says.

“My bulldog is kind of my staple… people have such a bond with their dogs, and they don't live that long.

I feel like I'm immortalizing him.”

—Patrick McGregor

McGregor headed to Portland in 2004, where he painted houses for a while to get by, in the process learning more about how to paint walls. “I learned that aspect of how to lay on paint and how to tarp things off and all that stuff.”

In Portland, he had an aha moment while watching artist Art Pastusak paint a mural for Blockbuster Video. “So he’s on a scaffold painting a mural, and I just went up to him and just bugged the guy until he gave me a job,” McGregor says. “I cleaned his brushes, and he taught me how to paint with oil. He’s classically trained, and I learned how to paint portraits and anatomy and color theory and all that—all that I use in the art that I paint now.”

He learned even more working for Colossal Media, an ad company in New York that specializes in painting advertising on walls. But it wasn’t until he returned to Denver in 2012 that things began to click. “I had to go see the rest of the world and make sure before I came back home,” he says.

What he found in Denver was the vibrant street scene that was precisely what he had been looking for when he left all those years before. Today, he has more work than he knows what to do with, and his son Tristan, a budding muralist himself, helps him with his Esoteric Art business. “When I started trying to focus on being an artist, I just started saying yes to everything that people would ask me to do—pretty much whether it was paid or not paid,” he 54 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

Bouguereaus come and go McGregor guesses there are about 10 images of Boug currently around town, but he can’t say for sure.

Due to the transitory nature of street art, that number can change at any time. We saw several powerful examples during a drive-by past some of his work.

The first is on E. 46th Avenue far below the I-70 viaduct west of York Street, where Boug’s smiling face lines an otherwise drab, faded concrete underpass wall alongside many other colorful, imaginative works from other artists. These paintings were all done in 2016, and soon they will be buried with the rubble of the viaduct as the I-70 replacement project gets underway.

A second one is a two-story vision of Boug’s face in rich, deep blue colors. It’s on a wall in a line of warehouses east of York Avenue at about 39th Street. He and a couple of other artists painted it last year during CRUSH WALLS. It’s my favorite, but McGregor says that it’s scheduled to be painted over by another artist at this year’s event.

His best-known Boug portrait is one that McGregor thinks might last awhile. It’s on the east wall of the Enrico motorcycle shop at 29th and Walnut streets and includes a huge portrait of stuntman Evel Knievel and an outsized image of Boug in a motorcycle helmet.

McGregor says he always wanted to do a Knievel wall and decided to pitch it to the motorcycle shop owner. “He sends me back a picture of himself wearing an Evel Knievel outfit because he’s such a big fan,” McGregor says. “So that wall is probably never going to go away. He won’t let anybody paint over it, and it’s like right in the middle of the CRUSH.” McGregor’s gotten used to the transience of his murals. “It’s just the way of the business, painting advertising murals. They’re fleeting, and it definitely taught me how to paint and keep sharp.”

says. “And then hopefully it would snowball from there.”

After doing a mural together, Denver artist Thomas Evans suggested that he needed something to distinguish his work. Boug was the immediate solution. “My bulldog is kind of my staple, and I guess I’ll stick with it because, you know, I enjoy it. And I feel like the message is strong, because people have such a bond with their dogs, and they don’t live that long. I feel like I’m immortalizing him, you know?”

There are a lot of street art events in Denver, but CRUSH WALLS is the largest and growing even more massive every year, as artists fan out across Denver alleyways and sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 55

walls and splash on brightly colored, fantastical designs.

year is going to put them on the map as far as art festivals

The headliner this year is Shepard Fairey, best known for

go,” he says. “There are a lot of artists here already, and

his red, white, and blue Barack Obama Hope sticker,

then there are a lot more artists coming here.”

among many art celebrities coming to town.

As a member of the CRUSH board, McGregor had to help trim more than 280 applications down to 70 artists. “This

56 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

CRUSH WALLS is an annual urban art festival taking place Sept. 3–9 in Denver’s RiNo Arts District. It’s 7 days packed with 77 free art happenings featuring 70 local and international artists. crushwalls.org / Insta @thecrushwalls

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 57

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{travelwell}

by C A I T L I N D AV I E S

Colorado’s certified creative districts are all around us and so worth a visit.

60 SEPTEMBER 2018 Southern Denver // Boulder Colorado

(Top) Downtown Telluride (Bottom Left) Golfing in Telluride (Bottom Right) Cave of the Winds

There’s something inspiring about the mountains, isn’t there? The stunning scenery, the fresh air, the open-minded citizens who voted to make the state of Colorado the first to legalize cannabis for adult use…the Centennial State is certainly a source of inspiration for artists of all types. And those artists are a boon

are promising: $1 billion in creative industry earnings; a cre-

for the state’s economy.

ative workforce of 13,098; and 2.8 million visitors to the var-

PHOTOS BY MATT INDEN

So much so that the Colorado Office

ious districts. Not too shabby.

of Economic Development (COED) went

So what is it, exactly, that makes an artsy neighborhood

ahead and started the Colorado Creative

an official creative district, you ask? Well, a Creative District—

District program earlier this decade.

proper noun—has to be a “contiguous area” that includes a

Since 2012, the Colorado Creative In-

mix of uses within its boundaries; it’s got to be walkable, and

dustries division of COED has created

distinguished by physical, artistic, and cultural resources. It

21 official Creative Districts across the

has to have a concentration of arts and cultural organizations

state with three distinct purposes: cre-

and creative enterprises. It’s got to have a mix of non-arts-

ate hubs and clusters of economic ac-

centric businesses such as restaurants, retail, housing, or

tivity; promote a community’s unique

lodging. And then it, of course, has to have vigorous arts and

identity; and enhance areas as appeal-

cultural activity: arts walks, festivals, concerts, community

ing places to live, conduct business, and

gatherings—all the sorts of things you visit the arts neigh-

attract visitors.

borhoods to experience.

These official districts are divided into what the organiza-

One of the newest districts to be certified in 2018 is Man-

tion describes as 6 creative economy enterprise subgroups:

itou Springs, which launched with a tag line that lets the

design; film and media; literary and publishing; performing

world know that just because the designation is new doesn’t

arts; and visual arts and crafts. The division has tracked the

mean the creativity flowing through its central business cor-

numbers since the inception of the program, and the results

ridor is: “Always Was. Always Will Be.” sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 61

The first big project in the works for the new district is a bigger and brighter holiday lighting plan, with a different aspect of the city being highlighted each year.

There’s also a city-wide Creek Walk in the works through Plan Manitou. The Creative District is supporting the effort through grant-writing and involvement in the design process. The vision is for a multi-themed outdoor experience that incorporates nature, health and wellness, and artistic elements to provide an alternative way to navigate the community. There’s also a much-needed broadband initiative push coordinated by the creative industries, which recognizes the economic benefit potential that high-speed internet access will bring to the area.

The town of Crested Butte was certified as a Creative District in June 2016, along with Breckenridge, Carbondale, Fort Collins, Golden Triangle, and Mancos. The charming mountain town has long called to the creative type, earning a reputation as a gathering place for artists of all mediums—and for art admirers as well, who flock to the small community throughout the year. Mother Nature uses the area as a canvas, blanketing the rolling landscape with a dizzying array of wildflowers during

Call us today at (303) 499-2700 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

the summer months and with foot after foot of blinding-white powder throughout the winter. Now, there’s a new heart for the creative district in the works: the Center for the Arts Crested Butte, a 31-year-old organization, is in the midst of constructing a new $12.5 million, 18,000-square-foot building that will house a theater, two dance studios, an art studio, gallery space, and a kitchen for culinary demos by top local chefs. It’s slated to be completed in January 2019, so you can take advantage of the new offerings during a winter ski trip or a visit during next year’s annual Wild-

62 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

MAIN PHOTOS BY MATT INDEN / ADDITIONAL PHOTOS (CENTER) COURTESY OF COLORADOCREATIVEINDUSTRIES.ORG

Crested Butte

flower Festival, which takes place every July. Tip: best Airbnb’s

but not estimated to be completed entirely until 2024, is set

book up quickly, so it’s worth staking a spot now.

to host museum-quality exhibitions, a screening room/per-

In Telluride, one of the first and by far one of the most ro-

forming arts/lecture hall, with plenty of gathering space to

bust of the state’s Creative Districts, another new center for

boot. It’s going to be able to host up to four concurrent events,

the arts is emerging right in the heart of the town. The Tellu-

mixing public and private affairs with local and tourist-driven

ride Transfer Warehouse, a 1906 sandstone structure that’s

happenings, just as Telluride manages to serve the two

been roofless and deteriorating since 1978, is undergoing

seemingly disparate groups without friction during its ongo-

transformation into what’s being billed as a world-class

ing, annual happenings that bring people to the most pictur-

home for the arts, thanks to an undertaking by the Telluride

esque of Colorado’s mountain towns, or as one friend de-

Arts organization. The new space, under construction now

scribes it: “My favorite cul-de-sac.”

Crested Butte

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sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 63

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sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 65

{lifestyle}

by T I F FA N Y B E R G E R O N

The Culture of Glass

66 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

It’s possible that pipe making is the most controversial

In the early 1990s, glass was booming on the lot. Pipes

subculture of glass, but glassblowers that make them con-

were being called spoons, sidecars, hammers, or bubblers.

sider themselves artists and the work they create to be

They were changing colors, bowls could hold water in them,

functional art. With the legalization of cannabis releasing

and they were a way for people to love art and defy societal

some of the stigma of pipe making, it’s possible that pipes

norms. The Grateful Dead played a huge role in the culture.

will soon be in galleries and museums signifying that it has

Faerron was born in Costa Rica and came to the States

found its place in mainstream contemporary art.

when he was 13. His first Grateful Dead show was in

Colorado glassblower Freddy Faerron still considers the

1988. “It taught me about being on the road and travel-

culture of glassblowing a grassroots movement. When he

ing,” Faerron says. He was a craftsman, making leather

started, there weren’t as many glassblowers around.

purses, selling stones, and silversmithing.

“I moved here as soon as cannabis became legal,” Faer-

While Snodgrass and all of the OG glassblowers were

ron says. Since pipe making is so closely tied with canna-

creating studios from their vans and busses, Faerron was

bis, many artists, including Faerron, have made the move

traveling and it wasn’t until 1997 that he learned how to

to states that have legalized.

blow glass. There were only about eight artists living in

Faerron has been a glassblower for over 20 years now, but remembers the days when pipe makers were just hip-

Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the time and Faerron got to know all of them.

pies who smoked a lot of flower. His garage/studio is a

“Once you start staring at the flame, you start meeting

frenzy of tools, torches, and glass, and he shares his space

all the other people who stare at the flame,” Faerron says.

with a handful of other glass blowers.

“Anyone could learn back then, it was an open-door policy.”

Glassblowing is a huge industry now, but Faerron remembers how it all began.

“It all started with the Grateful Dead and Bob Snodgrass,” Faerron says.

Faerron became the apprentice of one of the established glassblowers who lived in the area. Everything he was taught was grassroots, and he established himself as an artist through this training.

Snodgrass, a former woodworker, started making glass in

Faerron has made glass pendants and marbles for

the late 1970s. When he brought his glass on the road and

most of his career, and some of his work can be found on

started selling it on the Dead lot, it was the beginning of the so-

display at the Walnut Gallery in Louisville, Colorado. Geof-

called pipe movement. Pipes were selling well, and Snodgrass

frey Whitmore owns the gallery. Whitmore is a Dead Head

was able to devote himself full-time to glassblowing.

and pot enthusiast who toured with the Dead selling glass

Snodgrass is a figure in the pipe world not only because

pipes before he became a gallery owner.

he was the first to sell on the Dead lot, but he is also

“I bought my first glass pipe in Albany in 1991. That

known for inventing a technique called fuming that mixes

was when you couldn’t really find them,” Whitmore says. “I

silver and gold to create an opaque shade that changes

realized that glass allowed you to taste the better pot.”

colors each time the bowl is lit and hit. Snodgrass quite literally blazed the trail for artists like Faerron.

Whitmore started following the Dead in the late 1980s, and when glass started to burst onto the scene, he saw

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 67

that it was a profitable trade. In 1992, he started selling glass on tour with the Grateful Dead.

“A lot of people on Dead tour smoked pot, and glass was the best way to smoke pot. You could wipe a pipe

“I saw the value in being able to carry a good amount of

clean, and a glass pipe had bigger air chambers,” Whit-

glass in a compact space. I saw what glass was selling for,

more says. “A wooden pipe was pretty hard to get clean,

and I thought it would be a great way to fund the Grateful

so when you were traveling down the road you were po-

Dead tour, and I ended up selling a lot of Bob’s [Snodgrass]

tentially putting yourself at risk if you were caught.”

work,” Whitmore says.

Selling glass not only funded Whitmore on tour, but he

Like many pipe sellers, Whitmore enjoyed smoking out

also was able to quit his job and do it for a living. Whitmore

of a glass bowl. His selling point was that glass pipes had

was one of the first few people to ever sell bubblers on lot.

a clean burning site. You could always clean a pipe and

“People didn’t know what to do with them,” Whitmore

make it look new.

68 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

says. “I remember being at the Sombrero in Tampa Bay

when the Black Crows opened [for the Grateful Dead], and

E M SO

I snuck a bubbler in. I remember sitting right next to the soundboards and smoking a bubbler. People were amazed—they had never seen anything like that.”

When Whitmore met Kevin O’Grady in 1994, he saw an

E

opportunity to sell nonfunctional art like glass pendants and marbles. He never doubted that pipes were art, but he saw the stigma attached to the trade.

“To me, [pipes] were always art,” Whitmore says. “But after Jerry [Garcia] died, the whole scene changed, and the

I saw an opportunity for people who loved glass pipes to also love pendants, and bracelets, and marbles.

W A

You

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thought of having other types of glass made me interested. And nonfunctional glass art was also blowing up at the time. I saw an opportunity for people who loved glass pipes to also love pendants and bracelets and marbles.”

After the death of Jerry Garcia, glassblowers migrated home and brought their studios with them. Home studios created an environment for innovation. With the help of the Internet, the market became profitable even without Dead lot.

“We were just messing around, and to everyone’s standards making paraphernalia was worse than making a cheap wine glass, but pipes were profitable, though our

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 69

field really wasn’t getting any recognition,” Faerron says.

Now that there is a new wave in the glass pipe move-

But the industry would get some unexpected recogni-

ment, it’s a wonder whether or not pipe making will still

tion in 2003. Operation Pipe Dream was a nationwide in-

hold onto its grassroots nature and retain the open-door

vestigation targeting glassblowers and head shops that

policy it once had.

were tagged as selling drug paraphernalia. Artists and

“It’s hard to say,” Faerron says. “These glassblowers are

shop owners were arrested and faced serious charges.

picky and for good reason. They have expensive product

After the arrests, the industry hit a lull.

lying around now, you can’t just trust anyone like you

“People were afraid to buy pipes after that,” Faerron says.

could in the past.”

Faerron has seen rapid changes in the trade. Pipe makers still face some stigma and continue to challenge the rhetoric of our country. Nonetheless, glassblowing has all but recovered since Operation Pipe Dream. What the industry now faces is the flood of Chinese and Indian glass.

Glassblowers not only have competition amongst themselves, but now they have to compete with foreign exports of glass, mainly from India and China—the two markets where glass is as profitable as in the States. Today, it’s not as likely that the glass you are buying was made in the US. “It’s like they are trying to translate a language they don’t understand,” Faerron says about the foreign exporters.

Though not all head shops will carry Chinese or Indian glass, some still undermine the market by selling it. Most of the glass produced in India and China are produced in sweatshops, and sometimes with cheap material that easily cracks or breaks. American head shops will purchase the glass because it’s cheap, and most people will buy it unaware of where it comes from. It creates a culture of glass that makes it a cheap commodity instead of functional art.

“Pipe making is different from what it used to be. Back then we thought everything was so cool, and now you look

There is something special about those who stare

back and all the work looks amateur—it doesn’t even com-

into the flame. Glassblowing in some ways hasn’t

pare to the work that is being put out now,” Faerron says.

changed. The artists are still defiant and embedded into

High-end pipes just may break the barriers of stigma that

the counterculture established back in the 60s and 70s.

kept pipes from being seen as art. Some pieces go for thou-

They may be competitive, but they are also very open to

sands of dollars and are creating a new culture of pipe making.

share the trade.

70 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 71

72 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 73

BGI SPECIAL REPORT

Are concentrates taking over the marijuana market? The popularity of vaporizers and concentrates have created new products and delivery methods for users. As we move ahead, will we be passing the joint or heating the pipe?

by L E L A N D R U CK E R

74 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

DEAS AS THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO GROW AND MA-

TURE, SALES OF LOOSE FLOWER, OR BUD MARIJUANA, contin-

ue to decline ,

WHILE PRODUCTS MADE WITH CANNABIS

OIL ARE ON THE RISE. AND THAT HAS LED TO DISCUSSIONS AND SOME DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER CONCENTRATES WILL ULTIMATELY

supplant flower/bud

AS THE MAJOR DELIV-

ERY METHOD FOR CANNABIS USERS. It’s an interesting discussion because it has to do with what products will drive marijuana sales in the future. For many erstwhile American cannabis users, flower marijuana, crushed and usually smoked through a pipe, is the accepted, and for many years, pretty much the only way to ingest and enjoy cannabis.

Today that’s completely changed. Technically, a cannabis concentrate is any product made from cannabis oil extracted from the plant with solvents like butane, CO2, and ethanol. This includes a wide array of products. Vaporizers that

turn oil into vapor instead of smoke, especially the portable ones, have really caught on. Edible candies, gummies, and chocolates are infused with cannabis oil, as well as the growing number of tinctures, salves, ointments, sublinguals, and suppositories that many medical patients are finding useful.

But when most people talk about concentrates, they are referring to the high-potency substances derived from hash oil—budder, shatter, wax, rosin, hash, live resin, kief, etc.—that are extracted by using butane and are more commonly known as dabs. Shatter and wax dabbing products can test at up to 90–95 percent THC, while most flower products these days range from 15 to 30 percent THC. Dabbing gives the user a powerful, concentrated dosage and requires special preparation and equipment for proper use. Some dabbers use torches to heat special glass pipes, while others incorporate e-nails, powered by electricity or batteries, to get the desired consistency and temperature. A proper dab rig can cost hundreds of dollars. sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 75

That cannabis-oil products in general, especially vaporiz-

“Marijuana was so often the means of introduction, and

ers, are becoming more popular is without question. “There

there is a certain intimacy that I think fuels that commu-

is no doubt that concentrate sales have been on a tear, thanks

nity thing, the sharing of a joint with a person you don’t

in large part to the popularity of vape products and the prolif-

know,” says attorney Judd Golden, a longtime user and for-

eration of competitors and choices in the category,” explains

mer member of NORML. “It has lots of social reinforce-

Greg Shoenfeld, vice president of operations for BDS Analyt-

ment, and I think it helped make the experience of that

ics, which follows cannabis sales and trends in legal states.

In January 2014, when BDS began tracking sales at Colorado dispensaries, 70 percent of combined revenues across adult-use and medical dispensaries were contributed by loose flower/bud. Concentrates, the second largest category, commanded only a 15 percent share of the market. Since 2014, the concentrates share of the market has doubled as vape products have enjoyed hearty growth. Over the same time frame, flower sales have grown at a slower rate—in June 2018, flower’s share of Colorado sales was

generation, it helped fuel that spirit.”

Since 2014, the concentrates share of the market has doubled as vape products have enjoyed hearty growth.

Over the same time frame, flower sales have grown at a slower rate.

down to 43 percent.

Besides, flower marijuana just has an interesting quality, says Tyler Manning, hemp educator with Steve’s Goods, a wholesale seller of full-spectrum hempoil products. “People always enjoy breaking it down, the smell of the flower, enjoying the herb,” he says. “There is an addiction to rolling joints, and there will always be that desire.”

The number of products made from cannabis oil continues to expand. “Everybody loves flower,” says Chris Driessen, president of cannabis distributor Organa Brands, whose cannabis oil is used for O.penVAPE cartridges,

Bakked

cannabis

ex-

Data for California didn’t start becoming available until

tracts, and District Edibles. “But infused products can

March 2017, but the same trends are holding. In June of this

take on a thousand different forms and cast a much

year, flower’s share of California sales was even lower than in

wider net. Some people don’t like to smoke. Now you

Colorado, just 38 percent vs. concentrates share of 30 percent.

don’t have to. There is such a wide spectrum of uses. A

There are plenty of reasons vaporizers have become so

lot of people like to dab. Older people use topicals. They

popular, but discretion is the foremost. Currently, no state

offer much more appeal to a wider audience.”

allows public marijuana consumption, and portable va-

All cannabis use comes with some risks, but the jury is

porizers have the advantage that they emit vapor, not

still out on whether smoking bud or concentrates is safer.

smoke, making vaping an inconspicuous way to consume,

Shawn Honaker, who owns Colorado-based Yeti Farms

a must for many tourists in legal states these days.

and has been making concentrates for more than a de-

But it’s not like passing the pipe. Humans have been

cade, says that in his experience they are by far the best

smoking flower for a long time, and it’s part of the culture

way of ingestion. “It’s the safest way,” he says. “You can

that surrounds the plant, especially among the generation

take a small dab and fill your endocannabinoid system.

of Americans who grew up using it even though the US

As far as I’m concerned, they are far safer, followed by ed-

government was hell-bent on stopping us. The passing of

ibles and suppositories. I’ll smoke concentrate all day

the joint and the community that entailed has been, and

long. You don’t need the carcinogens. Plant material is not

still is, an integral part of the experience.

necessarily good for you.”

76 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

Mimi Friedman has been using cannabis to treat a va-

itive information out there on treating chronic pain with

riety of conditions, but primarily for digestive issues. After

cannabis,” he explains. “It’s not taught in medical schools,

moving to Colorado, she started using flower cannabis, but

and patients have been getting information from bud-

it wasn’t until she began dabbing concentrates that she

tenders. This is a remarkable medicine, and few people

was able to control the symptoms. She’s been using it now

know how to use it appropriately.”

for six years. “It’s allowed me to eat adult portions of solid food,” she says.

Though he recommends and advises patients on using tinctures, ointments, and vaporizers to control pain, after

Steve’s Goods owner Steven Schultheis says the sky’s

seeing younger patients dabbing concentrates, he’s

the limit for products made with THC and CBD cannabis

sounding the alarm. “The problem is that all people I

oils, and that things will only get better for consumers as

meet who dab do it all the time. They do it multiple times

we learn more about the science. “They will let us pinpoint

a day,” he says. “There is a higher risk in brains that are

what we want,” he says. “A few years from now, medicine

still developing until the mid-20s, and the people who

will be custom formulated. That’s when it will take over.”

seem to be most interested are in that age group.”

Not everybody is as enthusiastic about concentrates. Dr.

Ivker points me to a study published from Portland

Rav Ivker has a holistic practice in Boulder, Colorado, where

State University researchers that found that dabbing re-

he treats patients, mostly for respiratory problems, asthma,

sults in the production of toxic products that may cause

and allergies. Most of the patients he treats experience

significant harm to users. A University of Colorado

chronic pain, and after using it on himself after a severe

study of dabbing’s effects on young people is planned

case of shingles, he recommends cannabis for his patients.

but doesn’t have the necessary funding in place yet.

His book, Cannabis for Chronic Pain: A Proven Prescription

“We know that THC releases dopamine in your brain,”

for Using Marijuana to Relieve You Pain and Heal Your Life,

Ivker says. “Anything that affects the reward system in

was recently published by Touchstone Press.

the brain and affects dopamine can be addicting—sex, TV,

“I became a fervent believer in the healing power of

food—because they impact our reward system. It’s not as

cannabis, especially for pain, and there’s very little defin-

addicting as heroin, and it has more to do with the person

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using the drug than the drug itself. It’s an educated guess,

prices fall, bud might regain some share. “While concen-

but at higher concentrations, it’s got to be more addicting.”

trate/vape sales continue to rise, and as the category gets

One thing that will have to improve is the rig you need to

larger,” he says, “the rate of growth slows, and we can an-

ingest concentrates properly. When I first encountered a

ticipate the angles of the trend lines straighten out further

dab rig, my first thought was that I would never use a blow-

over time.”

torch to use cannabis. “The torch is definitely what turns a lot of people off,” says Honaker. “There’s a crack connotation,

something

negative

when they think about a torch.”

Manning says it took him a while to get his mother to try a dab. To old-schoolers, rigs are expensive and harder to use than just sitting down and firing up some bud. “Even as it becomes easier to dab,” he says, “there’s still gonna be that desire to roll that joint and sit back.”

BDS’s Schoenfeld says that if trends continue, it would be reasonable to assume that concentrates will overtake

Technology will improve and easi-

If trends continue, it would be reasonable to assume that concentrates will overtake flower sales sometime in the near future, although questions remain around pricing and how that might impact sales.

flower sales sometime in the near fu-

er-to-use rigs will make it more acceptable and give users a standard dosage.

“People under 21 shouldn’t be doing it,” says Driessen. “And they should always be done in moderation. Because they are so potent, you should take a much smaller dose. Today the word ‘dab’ has been stretched out to mean a glob.”

Honaker says anyone curious about dabbing should educate themselves first. Find someone at a consumption party who’s making dabs for guests.

“Go to a dab session,” he says. “Find somebody that you trust, and learn from them. You will see this entire industry move to concentrates. I still

ture, although he says questions remain around pricing

love to roll and smoke a joint. But it’s going to be a little

and how that might impact sales. In California, as flower

farther from the mainstream.”

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So you want to be an Airbnb host Plan on getting to know humanity—and yourself—better than you might want to.

by ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

82 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

I’M RIDING THE TAIL OF THE SLOWPOKE IN FRONT OF ME, AND I’VE JUST STARTED GESTURING FOR THEM TO PULL OVER SO I CAN PASS, THE WAY WE DO ON THIS TWO-LANE CANYON ROAD— THOUGH NOT EVERYONE IS AS OBNOXIOUS AS I CAN BE ABOUT IT, I’LL ADMIT—WHEN I NOTICE THEIR UTAH LICENSE PLATE. SHIT. OH, SHIT. IT’S MY SWEET AIRBNB GUESTS. I PUT A RESPECTFUL DISTANCE BETWEEN MY TRUCK AND THEIR CAR AND SETTLE IN FOR A SLOW RIDE HOME, HOPING THEY COULDN’T TELL IT WAS ME.

I’ve rented my Airstream, whom we affectionately call

I’m a Superhost, a status I will do almost anything to

Sallie, on Airbnb for two summers. I do feel a little guilty

maintain because potential guests can filter for it. I’m

about pimping out my girl to pay for her time on the road,

embarrassingly proud of the little Superhost badge on

but she hasn’t really complained. Guests adore her, and

my profile, even though it can’t be all that special—there

she gets a thorough cleaning every couple of days by a

are literally hundreds of Superhosts in my oversaturated

host obsessed with maintaining all five-star reviews.

market. Still, I’m as attached to it as I once was to my

For the most part, really, this Airbnb thing has been

Premier status on United.

amazing. It pays for Sallie and me to spend winters in

I smile and say it’s okay when people show up with

warmer climes, and it brings a lot of delightful, interest-

kids, even though my listing clearly states no kids (and,

ing people with vacay energy to our spot in the canyon.

wouldn’t you know, they end up being some of the clean-

We’ve had a wedding/elopement, two marriage propos-

est, most respectful guests we’ve had).

als, and a string of people on a new thing I didn’t know

I smile and clean up the mess when a guest puts a pa-

about called a “babymoon,” one last romantic trip cou-

per towel down the toilet, despite little reminders every-

ples take while pregnant with their first child. One guest

where about the sensitive plumbing, posted after abso-

gave us coffee he roasted in Austin; another left a mixed-

lutely no one seemed to read the directions, digital or

pack from a trendy local brewery.

printed, about some of the quirks of staying in an Air-

My listing states that Sallie is 420-friendly, and I nev-

stream (including using only the toilet paper provided).

er want for cannabis and pipes, left behind by out-of-

Most guests don’t get that we will eventually see every.

staters who can’t take them. A couple people have left

single. thing they put down the toilet. (I’m talking to you,

really nice vape pens with full cartridges, and I’ve

people who brought the pink toilet paper.)

scored a few THC-infused chocolate bars with one

I give the lady from a certain large Southern state an

10-milligram square eaten (one couple left two!) — indi-

immediate refund for a four-day stay (ouch!) when the

cating that maybe cannabis-infused food wasn’t their

temperature inside the Airstream won’t get cooler than

thing, but I love that they followed instructions and

70 degrees during the peak heat of a 95-degree day.

didn’t pull a Maureen Dowd in my Airstream.

I was the editor of a green-living magazine for eleven

Sometimes I see guests’ receipts when I’m sorting the

years, and the AC thing hurts my heart. It’s torture for me

recycling, and it’s truly astonishing how much money

to hear Sallie’s air conditioners working like dogs to cool

people spend to get high for a couple days—almost as

empty space while my guests are out hiking all day.

much and sometimes more than they pay to stay in Sallie. I’m pretty certain that’s another reason they love staying here so much.

Eco-Nazi or Superhost: You Can’t Be Both Being an Airbnb host has taught me a lot about humanity—and, most of all, myself.

I’ve learned to let that shit go. You don’t get to be an eco-nazi and a Superhost at the same time.

Clueless to Criminal, Persnickety to Predatory In the Airbnb world (as observed through Reddit), climate-control entitlement is a huge thing. Posts about fights between guests and hosts over air condisensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 83

tioning are among the most frequent—and virulent.

In one case, Airbnb required the host to have an HVAC technician come out when the AC couldn’t keep up with

The number of posts about racist guests who freak out when they arrive and realize they’re in a neighborhood with people of color makes me lose faith in humanity.

106-degree temperatures in the Northeast; he found nothing wrong except that it was too hot for any air con-

Cat Dabs, Babysitting, Sex, and Shrek

ditioner to keep up. In another, Airbnb gave a partial re-

Probably the thing that stands out most about humani-

fund to guests because the temperature wouldn’t go be-

ty on the Airbnb subReddit is the sheer number of air-

low 76. So, I did the right thing giving that lady her refund

heads out there. One guest wanted compensation for a

and not risking a bad review. (No one wanted her around,

parking ticket she was warned about in the instructions

anyway. She was a yeller.)

she didn’t read because they were “too long” (sigh); one

Both guests and hosts can post on the Airbnb subRed-

walked for two hours and through two villages even

dit, and it makes for enlightening and highly entertain-

though the directions said the house was 200 yards from

ing reading. I’ve learned a ton about what to do—and

the bus stop. I was super concerned about a young woman

what not to do—to keep my coveted Superhost status,

who posted that guests “poisoned” her cat until I read that

diminished as it is by what one post described as the

she advertised her shared space as 420-friendly and left

“Uber effect, where anything less than five stars is a

her highly allergic cat out all night with “scary” guests

failure, when five should mean exceptional.”

who burned the carpet, blasted the TV until 4 a.m., and

Hosts tell horror stories about guests ranging from

blew dabs into the cat’s face. I still feel bad for the cat.

clueless (by far the most prevalent) to criminal. Guests

Or they’re entitled. There was a mother who wanted

tell of hosts who are overly persnickety and sometimes

to drop off her 15-year-old son to stay for a week while

predatory. (I don’t completely get this shared economy

he attended hockey camp, which may have been less

thing, I guess, but I wouldn’t let my twenty-year-old

annoying than the older couple who asked the hosts for

daughter rent bedrooms to strangers, and I wouldn’t do

help with everything from downloading Uber to getting

it myself. There are some pretty creepy stories.)

out the ice cube tray and claimed their key didn’t work

How to Be a Superhost NO. 1 RULE: THE GUEST IS ALWAYS RIGHT. If you can’t deal with that, don’t do this. Never let anyone break your rules or do anything that makes you uncomfortable, but you can’t treat guests like they are your roommates or your children. You’re running a business, and customer service is everything.

OVER-COMMUNICATE. Welcome guests when they book, send clear directions and information a couple days before their stay, welcome them when they arrive, check in the first morning to make sure they have everything they need, then determine what level of communication they’d like to have throughout their stay. You may never hear from some guests again until checkout—or even ever. Everybody’s communication style is different, and having good instincts about that—as well as tolerance for people whose style isn’t like yours—is crucial. It’s not worth getting frantic about a guest who’s not responding to you only to find out he doesn’t know how to use the Airbnb app.

CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS. Have a thorough cleaning checklist for yourself or your cleaner. Accept that you’ll constantly need to buy new sheets and towels to replace stained ones (it’s a business expense). Cleaning up hair, especially when it’s wet, is gross. Get good at it. Guests will ding you if they find someone else’s hair in their shower or sheets—and I would, too.

DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD DO UNTO YOURSELF. As long as we’re pulling out old sayings…this seems obvious, but provide guests with the essentials for a relaxing first night and morning. There is seriously nothing worse than staying in an Airbnb with no means of making coffee (I’m an addict, and it’s happened twice), and Superhosts also provide creamers, sweeteners, and possibly granola and yogurt. If they’re over 21 and you’re in a legal state, leaving a couple beers from a local craft brewer or a small taste from a local cannabis store also goes a long way with weary travelers.

MAKE THINGS EASY. If your place is tricky to find, provide detailed directions with landmarks. Label drawers and cupboards with what’s inside and leave instructions for operating the TV and appliances next to them. Clearly label trash and recycling bins.

STAY IN YOUR PLACE. Try out the sheets, use the towels, figure out what little touches and conveniences would make it five-star.

84 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

so the hosts had to let them in and chat about their every move. Another older couple showed up with a wet, dirty service dog despite the host’s no-pets rule. (There’s no shortage of comments about what a pain in the ass older guests can be—largely because they don’t understand the platform and think they’re staying in a hotel— and I won’t comment because I don’t want to piss off all my wonderful boomer guests and Sensi readers. I will say that any time I’ve had the slightest problem, the person has been over fifty.)

Or they’re smelly. There was a guest who never showered during a three-week stay and left massive sweat stains on the mattress. One host complained that a guy hauled in his camp stove and fried a pound of bacon in his bedroom; another left a bad review for a guest because he left an epic stink bomb in her bathroom.

The real fun starts when people post about sex— which is rampant. I read about a sixty-something European man who walked around a young woman’s house in teeny tiny underwear and a “brother and sister” who woke everyone up in the middle of the night with their sexual ecstasy. People had gobs of

How to Be a Superguest COMPLETE YOUR PROFILE and include a photo. It’s reassuring for hosts to learn a little bit about you. Do not post a photo of your dog or a shadow of you doing a handstand against a sunset.

Hosts want to see who you are.

DON’T GHOST YOUR HOST. Let them know why you’re visiting, when you plan to arrive, when you’ve checked in, when you plan to check out, and when you’ve checked out. Acknowledge their messages.

LET YOUR HOST KNOW if you need anything or something isn’t to your liking. Do not say nothing and then give them a bad review.

Everyone deserves a chance to make things right.

FOLLOW THE RULES (read them first) and clean up after yourself.

Most people do. The ones who don’t really suck.

fun talking about the “drunken nympho” who slept

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 85

with one guest, gave hand and blow jobs to two oth-

Nothing like those horror stories has happened to me

ers, and tried to get it on with contractors working in

(knock on wood). I honestly enjoy sharing Sallie and a

the bathroom—until the host pointed out that she

spectacular part of the world with people who have the

was too drunk to be having consensual sex and he

time of their lives. I love hearing their laughter ring

was liable. There was a post from a woman who acci-

through the canyon as they enjoy a sunset on the patio

dentally turned on the VCR and started playing Shrek

and hearing about the concerts they go to. A lot of them

in the shared living room where she was watching a

say they have the best vacation of their lives.

couple get it on through a security camera. They never noticed.

Their appreciation is contagious. That may be the greatest gift I get from this Airbnb thing.

For the most part, really, this Airbnb thing has been amazing. It pays for Sallie and me to spend winters in warmer climes, and it brings a lot of delightful, interesting people with vacay energy to our spot in the canyon.

86 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

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90 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

Life Near the Fast Lane

I spent 25 years as a rock critter.

Was it worth it?

by L E L A N D R U CK E R MAKE NO MISTAKE: I LOVE MY JOB. BEING ABLE TO REPORT ON THE EARLY YEARS OF THE FIRST STATE TO DEFY THE WORLD AND LEGALIZE CANNABIS IS ENDLESSLY FASCINATING AND SATISFYING—I COULD NEVER HAVE DREAMED IT IN A MILLION YEARS. Yet somehow I don’t think it would be quite the same had I not spent 25 years as a rock critic. There are so many parallels. I mean, the obvious: Marijuana and music go along together like Keith Richards and cigarettes.

People who make music like marijuana, and people who listen to music like marijuana. I wasn’t that interested in trying cannabis until friends insisted that “it makes music sound better.” Damn, were they right, and I’ve never looked back—from either music or marijuana.

Rock critic. Just thinking about those two words today sounds pretty funny. I find out about new music today from friends, social media, Spotify, YouTube, and the radio station where I volunteer, but for a brief period newspapers and magazines actually paid people to cover popular music. Fun? You bet. Could there be a better way to arrest your development and remain in a state of almost perpetual adolescence well into your 50s? I’m kinda proud of that. sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 91

We gobbled up the packaging, as album titles, cover art, and liner notes begged listeners to know what was inside.

I don’t miss the hassle of going to concerts today, or stand-

doing much the same thing with cannabis, which, like

ing in a pool of spilt beer in some dank-smelling club waiting

music, changed my life in profound ways for the better.

for the next act to come out, just like I don’t miss meeting

Music and marijuana just kinda go together, you know.

some suspicious stranger to buy illegal Mexican weed. I’m not in awe of the rich and famous, who—no surprise—are just like the rest of us, equal parts mensches and assholes.

Vinyl Generation When the musical histories are written after my genera-

But back then, the opportunity to get all the new releas-

tion passes on, there will be a chapter focused on a certain

es, go to all the concerts you wanted, meet your heroes,

period, roughly from sometime in the 1960s to sometime in

and choose records you wanted to cover was pretty thrill-

the 1990s. It was like no other time—an era when music was

ing. The rock critic—or rock critter, as I was once more apt-

created, marketed, and sold in the form of long-playing vinyl

ly called—was the one with access to something most peo-

records, each carrying roughly 40 minutes of music, or about

ple didn’t have. I could turn people on to obscure and

12 three-minute songs, on a two-sided disc packaged in card-

little-known artists they might not otherwise hear about,

board and wrapped in plastic. Call us the Vinyl Generation.

something that probably doesn’t even make sense today to someone using a streaming service.

The LP, or long player, was introduced in 1948, and it took awhile for the concept to catch on. In the 1950s, peo-

I find the cannabis industry and the people in it inter-

ple still bought more singles than LPs, which also began to

esting and entertaining these days for many of the same

be called albums. Oh, there were some—Frank Sinatra

reasons I enjoyed covering the music beat. I’m easily

comes to mind—who realized the possibilities of the LP as

amused, and writing about rock and roll, which changed

something more than a collection of singles, but it wasn’t

my life when it came along, was nothing if not amusing. I

until the perfect market arrived—the post-war baby boom-

could obsess about a song or album or artist, write about it,

ers, the largest generation of youth in American history—

see a live show, and go on to the next obsession. Today, I’m

that everything came into focus.

92 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

And oh, were we ready for it. Singles were cool, but LPs

interviews and reviews showing up in papers all over the

were a whole new world, especially for younger listen-

country. (It was a treadmill: I once asked Marshall Crenshaw, a

ers: a way to filter everything—life experiences, world

popular performer in the 1980s, how many interviews he had

events, romance, religious beliefs, you name it. We all

done that day, and he answered, “You’re the ninth.”)

knew the language. Phrases and lyrics—“You don't need

I grew up in the middle of all that. For me and my gen-

a weatherman to know which way the wind blows;”

eration, that’s the way we thought music was created

“Tear down the walls;” “When you ain't got nothin’, you

and dispensed, and that it would be like that forever.

got nothin' to lose;” “All you need is love;” “Tin soldiers

Never did we think it would change. The joke was on us.

and Nixon coming”—became part of the zeitgeist.

Artists responded favorably to the idea of producing

Rock Critter

30 to 40 minutes of music. Creativity went through the

I was just the right age for the rock era. I remember see-

roof—double albums, concept albums, themed suites,

ing Elvis Presley on TV when I was eight, and, more impor-

even rock operas and musicals were soon being pro-

tantly, I completely lost my mind watching the Beatles on

duced for the new home stereo market. We gobbled up

The Ed Sullivan Show just before my 16th birthday. I had

the packaging, as album titles, cover art, and liner notes

always loved music—my first obsession was the Kingston

begged listeners to know what was inside. And every-

Trio—but the Fabs, Bob Dylan, and their contemporaries

body—companies, artists, consumers—bought into it.

kicked it into the stratosphere. I started buying albums

This growth explosion roughly coincided with a period in American journalism when city newspapers expanded and

and subscribed to Rolling Stone, Creem, and Crawdaddy magazines to keep up with all the activity.

contracted. By the 1980s, most metro papers had hired their

It wasn’t until 1975 that my first piece—a review of Bob

own rock critters, mostly male and white, to write about music,

Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks—was published in a local Kan-

artists, and trends, and the papers became part of the market-

sas City monthly. I soon applied to the Kansas City Times

ing machine. Musicians recorded albums, toured to sell them,

(back then, the Times was the morning paper, the Star the

and the growing rock press became part of the apparatus, with

evening), and by 1979 I was working full-time—first as a

1.1.1_oneeleven

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 93

clerk, then as obituary editor, while writing “Up and Coming,” a Saturday column that featured an interview with somebody coming to town. I was the rock ‘n roll obit editor.

There were a lot of packages addressed to Leland Rocker.

I spent four years at the Times, almost a college education in journalism (imagine having to call a family to explain why you spelled their deceased relative’s name wrong to get the picture). When the paper didn’t hire me as its first rock critter in 1983, my love and I moved to Boulder, where I’ve lived and worked ever since, writing for the Col-

orado Daily, Boulder Weekly, and Blues Access magazine. It wasn’t until then, when I struck up friendships with four or five other critters in the area, that I found out I had peers.

By the time we started attending the SXSW music con-

For my generation, that's the way we thought music was created.

ference in Austin, Texas, the music business had gotten even larger as vinyl gave way to compact discs, and, at least in my case, I tired of writing basically the same stories over and over. After failing on a couple of occasions

Today I get my musical thrills as a volunteer host on KGNU,

to chronicle the history of Boulder music in print, I got

Boulder’s community radio station. At this point, actually

the chance to co-write, direct, and produce, with Don

sharing the music I love on-air is highly preferable to writing

Chapman, a documentary film titled Sweet Lunacy: A

about it. Vinyl Generation was an incredible period, and I feel

Brief History of Boulder Rock (still available on Vimeo)

extremely fortunate to have been a part of it. I honor the few

and edited the Blues volume of the MusicHound encyclo-

rock critters who remain in their positions, and I still find

pedia series before moving full time into Internet work.

interesting stories about the new music business today.

94 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

But Vinyl Generation couldn’t last, for so many reasons.

quality in MP3s, and there’s certainly some merit to that

Today’s “resurgence” of vinyl is more hype than an actual

argument, but like most people, I listened to classic albums

movement, but it does show the vast appreciation people

of the 1960s and 70s on shitty stereos, so it’s not that big a

still have for album culture in a day when streaming and

deal. I just want the music streaming in my head.

making playlists fulfill the same basic function.

And I love listening to people in the cannabis industry talk

And at least for myself, having music digitally available

about their dreams and aspirations, just as I did with those

is the ultimate dream for someone who started with 45

musicians all those years ago. We all love to be part of some-

rpm singles, and many times more preferable than albums

thing, and I’ve been extremely fortunate to be part of both mu-

or compact discs. I hear the complaints about the lack of

sic and marijuana. They just go together, you know.

Not your BFF! Not to put too fine a point on it, but interviewing musi-

going to transition from teen star to adult star, he looked at

cians doesn’t necessarily make you besties. When I asked

me like I was nuts. (Turned out to be harder than he thought.)

Tom Robinson—an English musician in the 1970s—for an

There were a lot of good interviews, but Randy Newman,

interview after a show, he looked at his watch and told me,

besides being one of the era’s best songwriters long before he

“Sorry, mate, I’m off the clock.”

began doing film soundtracks, was always the best and the

That said, it was fun being a fly on the wall back then. On his first tour of the US, a 19-year-old kid named Paul David

smartest, interview—a star who always went beyond just answering questions and demonstrated a complete lack of ego.

Hewson who called himself Bono told me that if people would

I ate crow more than once. I reviewed one of Bob Dylan’s

just listen to the music of his new band, U2, that he thought

“religious shows” in 1981 for the Times. “Dylan has found his

they would really like it. I thought he was bragging—and he

ticket to heaven, and his slow train this night was a sight to

was—but he was right, too.

behold,” I wrote. Later, CBS Records contacted me and said

You never knew what might happen. Glenn Tilbrook of

Dylan wanted to print five reviews, including mine, on the in-

the British new wave band Squeeze gave me his home

side sleeve of his new album and was asking for permission.

phone number after one fun conversation. His partner,

I wouldn’t be paid, but I would get two vinyl copies of the al-

Chris Difford, the next year answered by saying, “Who are

bum. I signed the paperwork and promptly went out and told

you, and why the fuck am I talking to you?” Whoops. May-

every one of my friends and relatives, and anyone else with-

be I was his tenth interview that day. When I opened the

in earshot, to go out and buy the new Dylan album, where

door to blues musician Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown’s ho-

they would find a big surprise on the inside cover.

tel room, he threw a half pound of marijuana at me and told me to roll up some numbers.

The big surprise, however, was when the album came out sans the review—or any review, for that matter. Everybody who bought the album on my recommendation hated it. (It’s titled Saved, and it’s actually quite good.) When I called CBS, the rep said, “Bob changed his mind.” Sigh. I didn’t get the two copies of the record, either.

After a Kinks show, I perked up when I heard one of my heroes, lead singer and songwriter Ray Davies, say, “I want to meet the obit editor.” We were introduced and

Leland Rucker (left) interviews Leif Garrett (right).

chatted for a minute or two about the Kinks’ latest album and me being a rockcrit and overseer of the death section.

Given his penchant for writing droll, strange songs, I was sure it would give him an idea.

My interview with Joan Jett ended abruptly when she dropped the phone to throw up, and I wound up talking about

Thirty-five years later, and that song hasn’t shown up yet. I’m still waiting, Ray.

the old rock days with her manager and producer Kenny Laguna. When I asked Leif Garrett (pictured above) how he was

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 95

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What to do, see, and experience this month in and around the Mile High.

by S T E P H A NI E W I L S O N

The

CULTURAL Calendar

98 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

IN DENVER, WE CLING TO THE END OF SUMMER WITH ALL WE’VE GOT, CRAMMING AS MUCH REVELRY INTO THE WANING DAYS OF THE SEASON. LABOR DAY, THAT RAT BASTARD UNOFFICIAL END OF SUMMER, GIPS US OUT OF THREE FULL WEEKS OF SLOW DAYS GETTING KISSED BY THE SUN. With average high temps of 82 and lows of 40 and just four

This abundance of activities on the calendar this

days of rain, the Mile High is a pleasant playground during

month is also a chance to perfect the art of knowing what

the ninth month of the year. And there’s plenty of ways to

to ignore. Art is not what you see but what you make oth-

play, no matter your passion or your poison. If you’re not a

ers see, as the Degas quote goes. So grab a friend and go

snow bunny type, this is the month you can tire yourself out

wash the dust of daily life off your souls. (Picasso said

before the winter hibernation. If you are, then this is the time

that one.) See you out there.

to start building endurance for the coming powder days.

Temple Tantrum

@ Temple Arts Center

costumes are encouraged, and it’s closing down the

*CRUSH WALLS

@ RiNo Arts District

ing free works (think: mini “Blue Bears” and the like)

Start the month out in

block around the Temple

This seven-day urban

up for grabs around the

unique style at this new

Arts Center for an “auda-

art festival kicks off on La-

city—all you’ve got to do is

born-from-crowdfunding

cious smorgasbord of full

bor Day and it’s free to the

find them. How? Follow

block party. Billed as “a festi-

sensory experiences” com-

public for the duration. Art-

along for clues on social

val of characters,” an “experi-

plete with high-quality im-

ists from near and far bring

media, of course.

ential arts and music festi-

mersive installations, out-

their talents to RiNo and

ARTSANDVENUESDENVER.COM

val,” and “an amalgamation

door musical performances,

turn the neighborhood into

of all things fun,” this two-

and contemporary art galore.

a live art gallery, splashing

day bash is meant to bring

Proceeds are being donated

paint and personality on

the alternative creative cul-

to PlatteForum, a nonprofit

the walls for all to see.

tures of Denver together.

that supports contemporary

Sept. 3–9, CRUSHWALLS.ORG

What does that mean? We’ll

artists

*See HighProfile on p. 52.

find out soon enough. What

youth in Denver metro. Sin-

we do know is that it’s

gle day tickets are $25; the

sponsored by Meow Wolf,

weekend pass is $45.

and

underserved

Sept. 1–2, TANTRUMFEST.COM

Taste of Colorado @ Civic Center Park The free-to-enter fest-ival features big-name-but- pasttheir-prime headlining acts like REO Speedwagon, Leann Rimes, Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, Everclear, and Soul Asylum. There’s also the Mountain and Plain Marketplace with 175 booths selling arts and crafts, 50 different restaurants and food trucks, a kids zone, and more completing the three-day weekend of family-friendly fun.

Sept. 1–3, ATASTEOFCOLORADO.COM

Denver Food + Wine @ Various Venues

The signature Mile High culinary festival kicks off with the Culinary Cinema Series screening of The

Goddess of Food at Sie Film Center. The evening is designed to whet your appetite for the main event: Saturday’s Grand Tasting at the Pepsi Center.

Sept. 4–9, DENVERFOODANDWINE.COM

Lawn Concert

@ Clyfford Still Museum In

partnership

with

Swallow Hill Music, the final lawn concert of the summer features folk rock guitarist Kyle Emerson at the fore-

Art Drop Day

@ All Around Denver

court of the museum, which also offers free admission to-

Every year on the first

day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.—a

Tuesday in September, it’s

perfect excuse to check out

World Art Drop Day, and

what Smithsonian maga-

the Denver Arts & Venues

zine listed “among the best

org is trying to make it take

art museum experiences

off in Denver. Throughout

anywhere.”

the day, artists will be leav-

CLYFFORDSTILLMUSEUM.ORG

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 99

out season at the newly named Broncos Stadium

@ Museo de las Americas

at Mile High.

DENVERBRONCOS.COM

This is opening night of

Head and the Heart @ Mishawaka

The Mish is one of the coolest

venues

around,

even if it is a little far away— 13.7 miles up the Poudre Canyon Highway northwest of Fort Collins. And totally worth the drive. You’ll be surrounded by the starting-to-go-golden

aspens,

enjoy some “classic eats

Stanley Art Fest

and river beats,” and catch

@ Stanley Marketplace This is technically the final day of the three-day happening, although the Sept. 7 festivities are a ticketed-only affair/kickoff party. On Sept. 8 and 9, this CherryArts-produced fest blends local and national art flavors with family activities, interactive installations, and live entertainment.

El Infinito Exhibition Opening

the folk pop band during one of the two nights on the riverside stage in the outdoor amphitheater.

Sept. 10–11, THEMISHAWAKA.COM

the new exhibition, which runs through February 2019.

In preparation, we asked Chief Curator Maruca Salazar for her Curatorial Statement: “The powerful images taken by various satellites over the past 30 years are a testament to the connection that exists between humans, technology, and the Infinite. This magical triangle provides us with the opportunity to color the universe and establish an individual connection with the Gods, the eternal inhabitants of the universe.”

MUSEO.ORG

Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

STANLEYARTSFESTIVAL.ORG

@ Coors Field

CineLatino

with

@ Sie Film Center The opening night presentation of the four-day festival celebrating the hottest in Latino cinema takes place tonight with a screening of Constructing Albert followed by a post-film reception with food and drinks.

neon

glow-in-the-

dark water while a DJ spins fun tracks to set the festive mood. The touring event raises funds and awareness for childhood cancer with each city stop. Early tickets are $20 and go up to $50 as the night nears.

BLACKLIGHTSLIDE.COM

Sept. 6–9, DENVERFILM.ORG/CINEL ATINO

Blacklight Slide

@ Dick’s Sporting Goods Dance, play, and glow baby glow. Your body becomes your neon canvas at this totally different way to spend

an

evening.

At

Dick’s, you’ll don a white t-shirt or bathingsuit top, hop on an inner tube, and slide down slides filled 100 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

Whether it’s your first or your last game of the year, go cheer on the hometown team before the season comes to a close. And get a hot dog while you’re at it.

MLB.COM/ROCKIES

Blackbelly Farm Dinner @ Lyons Farmette

It’s always a good evening for a great meal. Join

Broncos Bonus: Home Opener Why: Football is life— especially in Colorado, regardless of whether we have a quarterback worth his weight in Super Bowl rings. The home opener against the Seattle Seahawks kicks off at 2:25 and starts another sold-

Top Chef winner Hosea Rosenberg as he and his culinary dream team work their magic for a seasonal multi-course feast served on the lawn at the picturesque farm. It’s $125 for the dinner; available

beverages for

sale

are and

funds benefit Give Back Yoga Foundation.

LYONSFARMETTE.COM

Breckenridge Wine Classic

@ Breckenridge Wine in the mountains: what’s not to love? During this

destination

event,

more than 100 food artisans, wineries, breweries, and other tastebud-tantalizing purveyors gather so you can sip, sample, and savor some sophisticated fun. The schedule features the standard wine fest staples: food and wine tastings,

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 101

seminars, luncheons, din-

here: food, spirits, art,

ners, and more—like some

yoga, dance, and the ele-

only-in-Colorado events, like

vated outdoors. There’s

the Hair of the Dog brunch,

even an 80s ski lodge beg-

The inaugural all-day

which entails a sweat-out-

ging you to get your best

gathering brings together

those-toxins mountain bike

Hot Tub Time Machine

civic-minded leaders from

tour in the thin mountain air

impression on. If the re-

a variety of sectors—busi-

on Sunday morning.

cent Outside Lands in San

ness, academia, govern-

Sept. 13–16, BRECKENRIDGEWINECLASSIC.COM

Francisco is any indica-

ment, startups, nonprof-

tion (see CrossRoads on p.

its—for a deep dive into

32 for more details), Colo-

what it takes to create

rado’s legal cannabis in-

a state full of connected

dustry is sure to make a

communities. Basically, the

welcome appearance on

day will showcase what it

the multi-stage, oh-so-ma-

takes to make a Smart City

ny-experiences-to-experi-

come to life. If you nerd out

ence golf course grounds.

on knowledge, this is the

@ Overland Park From the co-creators of Outside

Lands in San

Francisco and Bonnaroo in Tennessee comes the Mile High mega-festival featuring three days of some of the most celebrated musicians of the now, with a headlining lineup that consists of Pulitzer Prize-winning

Kendrick

Lamar on Friday, Florence + the Machine on Saturday, and Stevie Wonder on Sunday. It’s the first Colorado outpost of this type of music festival, and it’s set to be a celebration of all the things we love out

Sept. 14–16, GRANDOOZY.COM .

Fall Fest

@ Pearl Street, Boulder The annual autumnal celebration brings the com-

place to be today.

of

epic concert venue is all

plus the always-lovely Fire-

but guaranteed to be the

fly

Markets,

most memorable show of

where you can browse and

the summer. Hell, you

purchase

couldn’t even buy tickets

goods

from top-notch purveyors.

online; you had to brave

Sept. 14–16, BOULDERDOWNTOWN.COM

the crowds at the Denver

DAM will be the sole venue for this showcase, which features more than 100 prints plus several drawings and paintings from Rembrandt’s career. If you’re a member of the art museum, you can reserve a time to see the new exhibit before the rest of the world during the member’s preview on Sept. 15. Otherwise, it opens to the public on Sept. 16 and runs through Jan. 6, 2019. Go on day two for a

Coliseum Box Office back in May. The band is gonna make the effort worth it. As of press time, official AXS GA resale tickets were running just $110.

Sept. 18–19, REDROCKSONLINE.COM

Civic Center EATS @ Civic Center Park

It’s been a busy month: you need to refuel. Do so at one of the food vendors during one of the year’s final installments of this gourmet outdoor luncheon, which happens (almost) every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday but only

102 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

your tastes, this guy is funny a lot of the time, no matter the medium. For proof, listen to his top-rated podcast WTF with Marc Ma-

ron, pick up his book Waiting for the Punch, or watch him star in GLOW on Netflix and get giggling. His Denver tour stop in downtown’s

Larimer

Square

two

headlining nights at the

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munity together for great

@ Denver Art Museum

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@ McNichols Building

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Rembrandt Exhibit

(slightly) smaller crowd.

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Great American Beer Fest

@ Colorado Convention Center This is the 37th consecutive year of the much-loved and lauded local brew fest, and it’s even bigger than ever this time around. That means 62,000 attendees sampling more than 4,000 beers from over 800 breweries in a huge festival hall. It starts on Thursday evening and runs through Saturday, and you should go at least once. According to Thrillist, at least, this is “the one beer festival you must go to before you die.”

Sept. 20–22, GREATAMERICANBEERFESTIVAL.COM

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Handmade in Colorado Expo @ Skyline Park This year’s 10th annual showcase of contemporary artisan crafts kicked off in Estes Park in August. It relocates to Denver this weekend for a three-day celebration of original goods. The maker fair then heads up to Boulder in early October where it runs in conjunction with the Green Blue Festival on the same weekend as CU’s Parents Weekend.

PHOTO COURTESY OF STANLEYLIVE.COM

Sept. 21–23, COLORADOEVENTS.ORG

Graham Nash @ Stanley Live, Estes Park The full title: An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories with Graham Nash. Yes, that’s two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Graham Nash, and yes, he’s playing that intimate showcase at the legendary Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. The one-of-a-kind, historic venue, which debuted as a concert spot this year to much fanfare, features a floating stage with a glass wall looking out onto a granite backdrop. Oh, and it’s steps from the Stanley’s famous whiskey bar. One trip to see a show there and you’ll be a fan, too.

STANLEYLIVE.COM

Mic Night @ Various Venues With all the art seeing, music listening, and food eating you’re doing this month, you’ve likely got some pent up creative energy to expel. Denver’s got options: there’s close to a dozen places with karaoke or open mics tonight within a few square miles, or there’s even drop-in improv at Voodoo Comedy. Today, make your voice heard.

Denver Startup Week @ Various Venues The full week, which is focused on “innovation for founders, developers, product managers, designers, 104 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

marketers, sales teams, and makers” kicks off on Monday and continues through Friday, and you can check out the full schedule online. Why are we recommending Wednesday? The Puppy Panel, obviously. Which is a chance to rub paws with retrievers, labs, spaniels, and hounds galore at Catalyst in RiNo. Because puppies make everything better. Even the stressful startup life.

Sept. 24–28, DENVERSTARTUPWEEK.ORG

Art Fitness Training @ MCA Denver Art can be intimidating, especially the contemporary kind, where statements like “my kid could make that” are often tossed around by perplexed people staring at abstract works. But art doesn’t have to be intimidating. The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver holds this participatory 1.5-hour bootcamp each month to teach novices how to look at and appreciate any work of art—even the most difficult-to-grasp contemporary kind.

MCADENVER.ORG

Final Fridays @ Golden Triangle Arts District On the last Friday of the month, engage in an after-hours exploration of the quirky, creative corner of Denver, which includes not only Denver Art Museum but also: Clyfford Still Museum, Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, the Denver Public Libary, the Colorado Photographic Arts Center, and some of the city’s most celebrated galleries. The centerpiece of the happenings is at the centerpiece of the city’s art world, of course, as Denver Art Museum hosts its Untitled Final Fridays/Creative Takeover. The mixed media, late-night program is completely artist designed and delivered so you can experience the museum in a whole new light.

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Night Nation Run @ Elitch Gardens It’s self-described as “world's first running music festival,” and from the sounds of it—selfie stations, laser showcases, lantern lands, light shows, and live music on the main stage—it’s taking the typical fun run to a new level of lit.

NIGHTNATIONRUN.COM

106 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

The Art of Brunch

@ Santa Fe Arts District You made it through September. Raise a glass to that, take a deep breath‌and dive on into holiday shopping season during this day of gallery hopping and complimentary brunch bites at a dozen galleries and creative outposts in the Art District on Santa Fe. ’Tis almost the season, after all.

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PROMOTIONAL FE ATURE

HRVST

Race to the Bottom of Turnaround Time, Not Pricing ONE EXTRACTION LAB REFUSES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FALLING FLOOR PRICES OF CONCENTRATES—INSTEAD KEEPING CLIENTS HAPPY WITH EXTRAORDINARY CUSTOMER SERVICE, TOP-SHELF QUALITY AND LIGHTNING-FAST LEAD TIME. HRVST is staffed by a group of 20-plus people ranging from expert extractors with years of industry experience and accolades and executives coming from outside industries. Currently, they specialize in white label processing—taking raw cannabis from dispensaries and cultivators and processing it into a finished concentrate, an attractive, compliant, packaged product ready for consumers enjoyment.

HRVST operates a modest facility in Idaho Springs, 40 miles due west of Denver. Their prize possession is the Precision PX1 Extraction Solution that runs device is alongside two ETS 1300s, closed-loop hydrocarbon extractors from Denver-based ExtractionTek Solutions inHRVST, an extraction lab outside of Denver in Idaho Springs, Colorado is churning out extractions of all kinds— budder, shatter, wax, distillates, live resin and more— looking to fill the growing void for fast quality processing and above average customer service, according to owner Elias Egozi.

Egozi began in the cannabusiness by way of policy reform and advocacy, ultimately serving in Florida as state director for United for Care, the political action committee responsible for the passage of Florida’s Amendment 2 in the 2016 general election. He moved to Calaveras County, California, to found operate one of the largest cultivation facilities in that state, choosing to get his hands dirty in the industry instead of remaining in Florida to facilitate and advocate an efficient implementation of the amendment. Eventually, in a highly public and controversial decision, the Calaveras County ordinance for Cultivation was suspended and ultimately revoked, putting an end to Egozi’s operation and almost 600 others in the same county. That led him to Colorado and into the doors of the facility in Idaho Springs that soon would become HRVST. “It needed a little TLC,” says Egozi, “but I was happy to give it.”

112 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

side of a C1D1rated explosion proof room. The configuration allows for a logistical flow of operation that is key to the “high quality, fast turnaround” model touted by HRVST CEO Drew Frank. When he’s not running Ironman races or hiking one of Colorado’s many 14ers, he’s pushing our team to find new ways to improve in quality, efficiency, and most importantly enjoyment, says Egozi.

“We are a hybrid of industry experience, quality control and corporate efficiency,” says CEO Drew Frank. “That helps us position ourselves exactly where we need to be—available for our clients when they need us.”

“Our intention is to set the standard from quality turnaround time, professionalism and exciting packaging,” Frank says. “We’re not out to take other’s business, but we certainly want to keep everyone on their toes with respect to professionalism and quality.”

The company acquired their license in December 2017, and have been fully operational for almost a full quarter as of August 10, 2018. They are currently servicing 40 clients and adding more by the day.

For more info, email

INFO@HRVSTLIVE.COM

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 113

PROMOTIONAL FE ATURE

WITLON

Bringing Professional Savvy To Cannabusiness Owners DOING THE ADMINISTRATION TASKS YOURSELF IS A THING OF THE PAST AS THE INDUSTRY MATURES.

Denver-based Witlon Inc., takes on what an industry

getting a bank and doing some networking at various

focused on production and sales needs—management

cannabis trade shows, he sold his first contract to a busi-

details; specifically payroll management, accounting, reg-

ness with 15 employees. It’s a client he still has today—

ulatory compliance assessment, employee management,

now a thriving business that has grown to five stores and

and human resources work—with a more recent develop-

100 employees.

ment as a hemp brokerage and reseller through a subsid-

He says that Witlon has been selected as a preferred

iary, WASO LLC. They are a business cultivator providing

vendor by some of the largest banks that practice in this

what are essentially financial and back office services.

industry, which helps him introduce clients to financial

Making all those administration services work for the

institutions and then move them on to the pathway of

cannabis industry is the brainchild of Nick Murer, CEO of

compliance. “If I can get them a bank, it’s easier for me to

Witlon and a 20-year veteran of the power utility industry

do my job,” he says. “The goal is to get them a bank, and

who stepped away from that gig in 2014.

then I move to the second step, which is payroll and the

In early 2015, he started work as a project-management consultant for a client, now the former owner of

payroll-administration process, and help them get that moved over into an outsourced service.”

Witlon, who sold him the Witlon business. Murer expect-

Murer says that he looks at what Witlon does as a core

ed he would continue on the path of project manage-

function for cannabusinesses. “We do the work, where

ment in the power utility business.

our competitors just sell you software,” he says. “If some-

But as the power utility industry began trending

one gets hurt, Witlon takes care of that client with work-

downward, Murer looked into the cannabis industry on a

ers comp. If someone is let go, we deal with the human

friend’s suggestion. He quickly created a total solution

resources aspect of that particular situation.”

payroll model that was essentially a human-resource outsource service, transitioning employees from 1099 cash paychecks into W2 paychecks instead, with the premise of building out W2 paychecks complete with the proper tax structure that would also include worker’s compensation, healthcare, and 401Ks for employees.

His goal was to get these cannabusiness owners away from other contractors who really didn’t have the expertise to work within this tightly regulated industry. “We are specialists in payroll administration and payroll processing,” Murer says. “We are experts in compliance, now specializing in the cannabis industry. That is what we are.”

He spent months looking for banks that would work with him on payroll processing for the cannabis industry, checking out 120 banks. Then, in September 2015, after 114 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

For more info, visit

WITLONINC.COM

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 115

PROMOTIONAL FE ATURE

WILLPOWER

A Happier and Healthier Athlete Because of a CBDBlended Nutrition Supplement A FORMER PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE BUILDS A CBD BUSINESS THAT COMBINES THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. Will Carr, former college and professional basketball player and founder of WillPower, a CBD sports nutrition brand, stands 6-foot, 10-inches tall. He’s one of those guys you instantly recognize as an athlete.

that features the full entourage of cannabinoids. “We really wanted to be about general wellness,” Carr says.

His professional basketball playing days ended about four years ago (he played for a professional team in Lima,

He has used sports nutrition products all of his life. “I

Peru), but Carr still lives an active Colorado lifestyle—hiking,

have always thought that they were all total garbage,” he

skiing, and skydiving frequently, for instance. “Anybody

says. “They just pass through your digestive system, and

who wants to live a happy and healthy lifestyle, that is

you don’t absorb much of it.”

what this product is made for,” Carr says. “To give you that boost and a little extra willpower.”

The flagship WillPower product is ReGen PCR, which has 20 grams of grass-fed whey protein and 20 milligrams of full-spectrum, water-soluble CBD in every serving. It’s available in either cinnamon cocoa or vanilla flavors.

He outsources everything, he says, formulating the product from the highest quality ingredients. They are also working on introducing another blend made of vegan protein powder using all plant-based ingredients, and a protein bar, which will also have 20 grams of protein and 20 milligrams of CBD, Carr says.

He is in talks with various college athletic depart-

He first discovered the benefits of CBD, a cannabinoid

ments and is starting to have “big conversations” with

found in cannabis, when he got turf toe, a sprain of the big

people inside major professional sports about using his

toe joint and a common condition for athletes competing

ReGen product.

at a high level. “At that time, I knew nothing about CBD,” he

Four retail outlets are currently selling his product,

says. “But that injury was really annoying. I started taking

he says, but he is in talks with some big distribution

ibuprofen for two weeks, and then was invited to a golf

companies.

tournament where they were making CBD available. I took

“I saw an opportunity to do something exciting with

some, and 30 minutes later my toe didn’t hurt. I was blown

CBD,” he says. “All of those other CBD products—and

away that it was so effective in taking away my pain.”

don’t get me wrong, they’re great—are all just boring.

A few weeks later, taking his usual morning protein

Here we have something that is so awesome. CBD lets

shake, he had his aha moment—why not mix CBD in with

you do really cool things and physically feel better while

the protein drink?

being active.”

On April 7 he launched his company as a sports nutrition brand for the year-round athlete, with a product made of grass-fed whey protein blended with hemp oil 116 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

For more info, visit

WILLPOWER-PRODUCTS.COM

YOUR BUSINESS CATALYST FOR THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY 22,000+ cannabis business leaders and investors 900+ exhibitors ready for serious business discussions 120+ informative industry leading speakers

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SEPTEMBER 2018 117

PROMOTIONAL FE ATURE

BULLDOG PROTECTIVE SOLUTIONS

Security from the Best of the Best VULNERABLE CASH-ONLY DISPENSARIES LOOK TO RETURNING WAR VETS TO COUNTER THEFT AND PROTECT AGAINST OTHER SECURITY THREATS. When you want real, dependable security in the cannabusiness, you hire a marine.

And not just any marine, but a recently returned Afghanistan theater veteran like Sean Keebler, CEO of Bulldog Protective Solutions, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq on an anti-terrorism team, and as a security contractor in the Middle East.

Bulldog was started in 2015, named after Keebler’s college mascot (as well as the mascot of the Marine Corps). The company provides mainly dispensary security but also provides secure transportation and grow security. “Our biggest ongoing security concern is always the armed robbery,” he says. “With the status of the industry, a majority of dispensaries can’t put their money in a bank, and they are perceived as having a lot of cash on hand.”

Bulldog COO James Champlin is an Iraq vet with a background that includes private security operations in Africa. Trevor Milihram, another marine with experience overseas, is Bulldog’s regional manager.

All Bulldog employees go through extensive background checks. All are trained in firearms, threat identification and mitigation, escort services, executive and VIP protection, personal protection, and customer service.

Returning Afghanistan and Iraq vets will continue to be the workforce of Bulldog “almost exclusively,” Keebler says. “We’ll consider anybody, and if they can get squared away and be trusted with using a firearm, we might hire that person,” he says. “Other than that, we are 100 percent veteran—Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, even Navy.”

He says that’s because they find that vets are reliable, will be where they are supposed to be, and have the correct mindset that Bulldog is looking for. “We are not looking for the bouncers that are going to intimidate customers and scare them away,” Keebler says. “We want to hire professionals who are friendly and outgoing, and 118 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

who can handle anything when push comes to shove.”

One example of that military training being applied to a dispensary is where the cash drop occurs. A thief could shop at the dispensary a couple of times and figure out its routine. “Constantly changing patrol times and routes is a common infantry tactic which we have adapted to our business operations.”

He says they feel like they have made their footprint in the industry and are looking to grow from there— but with an eye on the changing cannabis landscape.

“Hopefully, cannabis will be, if not legal nationwide, at least more accepted to the point where our security professionals are not needed in stores,” he says.

“I always compare it to alcohol. There are no armed guards in liquor stores. So our focus would be to transition to large grow and processing operations and then branch out to other areas of security for the industry.”

For more info, visit

BULLDOGPROTECTION.CO

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 119

ADVISORY BOARD

AS THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY GROWS, SO DOES THE NUMBER OF PROFESSIONALS WITHIN IT, ACTING AS INCREDIBLE SOURCES OF INSIDER INFO ABOUT THE TRENDS AND ISSUES DRIVING THE MARKETPLACE FORWARD. THE SENSI ADVISORY BOARD IS COMPRISED OF SELECT CANNABIS INDUSTRY LEADERS IN A VARIETY OF FIELDS, FROM COMPLIANCE AND EDUCATION TO CONCENTRATES AND CULTIVATION. THEY ARE INVITED TO SHARE THEIR SPECIALIZED INSIGHT IN THIS DEDICATED SECTION. THIS MONTH, WE HEAR FROM A MEMBER IN THE TRANSDERMAL CATEGORY. F O R A F U L L L I S T O F A DV I S O RY B OA R D ME MB E R S , T U R N T O T HE M A S T HE A D O N PAG E 14 .

A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

How resveratrol and CBD improve overall health.

by DR. RICHARD KAUFMAN, CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER, NANOSPHERE These days, it seems everyone is pursuing the secret to combating aging, in hopes of unlocking the fountain of youth. Fortunately, a potent antioxidant known as resveratrol—in conjunction with CBD—might provide a real-life answer to those in search of a longer, healthier life.

Often referred to as the “longevity molecule,” resveratrol is a plant compound commonly found in red wine, grapes, raw cocoa and dark berries such as lingonberries and blueberries. This remarkable compound has been the subject of a number of studies in recent years, with research largely supporting its powerful restorative benefits. Below are just a few demonstrated advantages of adding resveratrol to your routine: LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE: Resveratrol may lower blood pressure by helping to reduce the pressure exerted on artery walls when the heart beats, as well as by helping to produce more nitric oxide, which causes blood vessels to relax.

HEART PROTECTION: Resveratrol is thought to help reduce inflammation, lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol, and make it more difficult for clots to form that can lead to a heart attack.

ANTIAGING PROPERTIES: By offering antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and antitumor benefits, resveratrol is believed to protect against many age-related diseases and can activate certain genes that ward off the diseases of aging.

CANCER TREATMENT: By inhibiting cell growth and preventing cancerous cells from replicating and spreading, resveratrol might offer special benefits for those with cancer.

HEALTHY BRAIN FUNCTION: Research suggests that resveratrol can increase blood flow to the brain, helping promote healthy brain function and neuroprotective effects, which can combat cognitive problems including Alzheimer’s, dementia, and others.

By managing inflammation in the body, positively impacting hormone production, improving blood circulation, and preventing fat storage, resveratrol exhibits seemingly unlimited potential. Even better: it can be combined with cannabinoids—namely CBD—to deliver added benefits for consumers.

CBD and resveratrol are strikingly similar compounds in terms of their effects on the body. Scientific and anecdotal evidence have shown both CBD and resveratrol to alleviate inflammation, promote positive cognitive health, along with a host of other benefits. When used in synergy, these healing supplements can help consumers achieve optimal physical and mental health.

That being said, when taken orally, resveratrol, like CBD, is extensively metabolized in the gut before reaching the bloodstream, thereby limiting absorption. As a result, it is advised that consumers select products that bypass the digestive process to avoid degradation.

Fortunately, both CBD and resveratrol can be administered topically through products like the Evolve Formulas CBD pen, which not only rejuvenates the skin but also enters the bloodstream for widespread systemic relief.

A match made in heaven, CBD and resveratrol might just be the wellness world’s next major breakthrough. After

DIABETES TREATMENT: Resveratrol may be helpful for in-

conducting personal research, consider elevating your

dividuals with diabetes and prediabetes by helping

self-care regimen with the addition of this dynamic duo

manage and regulate insulin levels as well as prevent-

to your product lineup, and experience its potential for

ing fat storage.

revitalizing the body and mind.

120 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 121

the

SCENE

FIRST-EVER SENSI DAY

The first-ever Sensi Day took place this summer at the celebrated Stanley Marketplace, where a whole new mainstream crowd was introduced to the New Normal. The event featured artisan booths, glassblowing entertainment, and info session featuring leading Colorado cannabis brands, who shared info and swag with curious guests. Plus there was a dunking booth with Denver mayoral candidate Kayvan Khalatbari that kept everyone entertained. The next Sensi Night is coming up soon, so keep your eyes on the mag’s Facebook page for details.

122 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

Where: Stanley Marketplace When: July 14, 2018

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 123

the

SCENE

SENSI DAY (CONTINUED)

124 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

Where: Stanley Marketplace When: July 14, 2018

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the

SCENE

YOGA WITH A V I E W

On that Sunday in August when fall suddenly arrived in Colorado, a blissful gathering took place on a picturesque farm near Boulder, where people came together to press pause on everyday life and to enjoy the rich bounties of Colorado during an impeccably curated event that combined cannabis, yoga, and brunch. The event was sponsored by leading cannabis brands such as the Farm dispensary, 1906, Olio, SteepFuze, and other top companies.

126 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

Where: Lone Hawk Farm When: August 18, 2018

sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 127

{HereWeGo}

by S T E P H A N I E W I L S O N

Golden Eye

Tips to turn your fall photos into wall-worthy works of art.

If you’re getting out of town this season to see some fall

your own visual clutter. Instead, slow down and try to cap-

foliage, your natural instinct may be to try to see as much

ture one that you’d be willing to hang on your wall…or at

as you can—so much so, you forget what you saw. While

least set as your lock screen. Here are five quick tips to help

snapping a quick photo may seem like a good way to create

you, no matter your device of choice. (Unless you’ve got a

a visual reminder, most of the time, you’re just adding to

flip phone. Then, you’re on your own.)

128 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder

1 2 3

Include a sign. For example, a “No Trespassing” posting

in the road. The key is to be open and to find the beauty in

helps provide perspective and a sense of place.

what surrounds you wherever you are. (That photo tip also

Capture the experience, not the destination. What do you see, hear, smell? Trace those objects to their origins; you’re more likely to get a perspective for your photo not every other shutter bug is capturing.

Avoid the landmarks. If you want a fantastic photo of the Maroon Bells in all their golden glory, buy a postcard. There are so many other fantastic scenic routes you can take through the mountains where there’s an arresting image just waiting for you to capture it around almost every wind

4 5

doubles as a key to life, so you’re welcome for the 2-for-1.)

Add a human element. It gives life to an image. Documenting a person going about their everyday life in a beautiful setting results in an uncanny voyeuristic look at an otherwise still image.

Shift your perspective. Climb a tree, lay on the ground, get a so-close-you-can-see-the-veins-in-the-leaf shot of the trees. Don’t just stand back and snap a landscape shot. You can do better. sensimag.com SEPTEMBER 2018 129

130 SEPTEMBER 2018 Denver // Boulder