Swillin' & Chillin' Summer 2026

Special 100% Issue!

Summer/Fall 2026

Celebrating the Vibe of the Yampa Valley

Reveling in RiverGrass with Adrift Dinosaur

Brewha Beta Late Night Happy Hours Sharing the Chair with … Restaurateur Collin Kelley

G’head, And Mucho Grab One, Mas More!

It’s

FREE!

Meet Steamboat’s Pizza Whisperer!

Plus: Bevvies Munchies Party Time Off the Couch The Straight Dope!

SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 1

2 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

Co-publishers

Eugene Buchanan | Deb Olsen

Editor

Eugene Buchanan

Contents

On The Cover

On the cover: Locals letting their hair out during the Acutonic show at the Keepin’ It Free Steamboat Free Summer Concert Series. (Photo by Julie McNally)

Departments

4 | Letter from the Editor 6 | Boat Bites

Art Director

Melissa VanArsdale

Ruff Ruff! A glimpse at Grass Sticks’ shop dogs;

Advertsing

commuting by kayak; sharing the chair with restaurateur

John Sherwood

Collin Kelley; a song and book about the Yampa; the

Digital Director Contributors Sophie Dingle Ben Duke Skylar Leeson Swillin’ & Chillin’ is published twice per year in summer and winter by WZ Publishing and is distributed free throughout the Yampa Valley. For advertising information, contact john@swillinandchillin.com! Got feedback? Meet us on the chair, in the eddy, or by emailing eugeneb@swillinandchillin.com.

“Favorite way to beat the heat?”

Pg. 32

COURTESY OF STORM PEAK BREWING COMPANY

resort’s new parking plan; lightning strikes Larry the

Kenny McCarthy

Eugene

Camel; how to score free beer; old folks rock; Dinosaur’s tammie slayers; an ode to Howelsen; and more!

20 | Munchies Love for 7th and Lincoln; Elkstone Farm’s farm-to-table dinners; Steamboat’s pizza whisperer; restaurant roundup; the Boat Latin Market; a new Pizza Page; and more.

30 | Bevvies Coffee corner; brewery roundup; a guide to rooftop bars; spicy marg sampler; Mountain Tap’s Buddy Board; Craig gets a new distillery; and more!

“A quick ‘Buchananball!’ plunge into the D-hole, and maybe trying to find the ‘latch.’”

34 | RiverWonderGrass Riding that wave train: A visit to RiverWonderGrass with Adrift Dinosaur on the Green River’s Gates of Lodore

Melissa

with Pickin’ on the Dead.

“Kick’n back on my shaded deck while enjoying a cold drink and a gentle breeze.”

Deb

“Sipping a beer while hanging on a hammock between two aspen trees. My dog asleep in the hammock’s shade.”

Pg. 34

COURTESY OF RIVERWONDERGRASS

38 | The Straight Dope Dispensary roundup; new bills affecting cannabis; the origin of “That’s dope!”; and more.

40 | Off The Couch Night golf at Haymaker; volleyball in the ’Boat; and e-bikes come to the desert.

41 | The Dirt What your drink order says about your home style.

John

42 | Party Time

“Cold Beer. Cool Lake.

Stagecoach.”

Happy hour roundup (including late-nighters); a summer après guide.

Kenny

43 | Tunes

“Enjoying a cold local brew by the river.”

One-on-one with Steamboat’s Randy Kelley; and shows to see this summer.

Sophie

“A post-dinner jump in Stagecoach Lake! Works every time!”

Pg. 43

COURTESY OF RANDY KELLEY

Skylar

“Picnicking and paddling at Pearl Lake!”

45 | Grateful Gear A Grateful Dead SUP and waders; Grass Sticks’ Bambroom; Town Hall gets into resale; and crocheted garb from the Front Range.

46 | Last Run Drone Town USA SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 3

But what do we really have to complain about? While the mountain might not have had a full head of hair this season, at least we’re all living in Steamboat, whose community far outweighs any seasonal challenges. And that’s what we try to celebrate every issue here at Swillin’ and Chillin’ – the community that makes this place so special. Which brings up something else you may notice this issue (like those combovers your friends might try to pass off). We gave it somewhat of a makeover ourselves, changing our cover tagline from “Your Complete Guide to Weed, Bites, and Wine in the Yampa Valley,” which references Little Feat’s “Willin’” song, to “Celebrating the Vibe of the Yampa Valley.” Because that’s what we’re trying to do: commemorate the reason we all love living here, from our community and lifestyle to food, libations, and access to the great, hair-blowing outdoors.

EUGENE BUCHANAN

Letter from the Editor The Combover

W

ell, that was certainly a dud of a ski season. Instead of skiing Champagne powder, we were drinking it – and not to toast our runs or après, but in our mimosas instead of hitting the mountain.

People were rafting the river in March this year, with the two bald spots on Storm Peak already touching, the wives’ tale indicating the year’s highest flow. Only this year, that didn’t hold true. They disappeared for a spell, getting what a hairstylist friend calls a combover: dustings of snow that covered the bald spot below. One came in early April, another on tax day, and another from a whopping 17 inches atop Mt. Werner in early May. But like any such smokescreen, they weren’t enough to really do the job nor hide the fact that what lay beneath wasn’t all that appealing.

Like perfecting those lone strand placements, they still left something to be desired, which in our case is snowpack. They were also subject to the season’s above-average wind, just like any other cover-up coiffure. Sure enough, the bald spots finally reappeared for good in mid-May, with no ballcap or toupee able to hide them.

The river hit its peak at 1,210 cfs at 12:10 a.m., in fact, on May 14.

You’ll also notice a bar code at the bottom of this note (okay, it’s actually a QR code; we used “bar” to get your attention). It leads straight to a survey so we can learn more about you, our illustrious reader, combovers or no. Scan it, fill out the form, and you’ll be registered to win prizes from our partners.

They say a Super Niño is on the way, replacing this year’s fickle La Niña. No matter what hairstyle he or she might be wearing this next season – poofy pompadour, knotted chignon, party-up-front mullet, or another attempt at a combover — we’ll be here ready, waiting, and celebrating. After all, even on a bad hair day, it’s not a bad place to be hunkered down.

Scan here to take our survey and win prizes!

No, it’s not a “bar” code offering deals at local saloons; it’s a QR code so we can learn more about you (and help you win swag! A $50 gift card to Mythology and two general admission tickets to WinterWonderGrass 2027).

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BOAT BITES Resort Rolls Out Paid Parking Plan

Woof, woof!

Well, there goes the neighborhood. Steamboat Resort has unveiled a new paid parking plan to start on opening day this coming season. The good news: Parking will still be free in the Meadows Lot on weekdays, from Monday through Thursday. The bad: Paid parking there will be $15 a day on Fridays, weekends, and during peak periods. The Upper Knoll Lot will be $20 a day on Mondays through Thursdays and $25 a day on Fridays, weekends, and peak periods.

The semi-good news: Those lots will be free after 1 p.m., and if you carpool with three or more, parking is free! A limited number of seasonal parking passes will also be available for the Upper Knoll/Meadows Lot for $600, as well as a Meadows Lot pass for $300 with access on a first-come, first-served basis.

Paid parking is also available in the Lower Knoll Lot, Steamboat Square Garage, and Ski Time Square Garage.

Yampa in the Spotlight!

Song, book herald Northwest Colorado waterway Dog log: A shrine along Spring Creek honoring our local tail-waggers.

Dog Shrine Stroll up the Spring Creek trail, and as soon as you leave the parking lot, you’ll find a shrine to some of Steamboat’s top tail-waggers. The shrine sits atop a stump to the left, with a plaque reading, “In memory of our trail dogs. They make our lives complete.” Hammered into the stump surrounding the plaque are metal dog tags in the shape of bones, hearts, and more, commemorating some of Steamboat’s lost canine companions. Dogs honored on the shrine (so far) include Tupelo, Piper, Rainier, Charlie, Lula Belle, Penny Land, Roger, KiyAnn, Stella Blue, and The Chunk (2008-2021), with the earliest date of passing belonging to Petex (2003-2013).

Sandler in the ’Boat!

Yep, the rumors are possibly, allegedly true (how’s that for covering our bases?).

Hollywood icon Adam Sandler (of “The Waterboy,” “Hotel Transylvania,” “Happy Gilmore,” and more fame) was reportedly spotted on the slopes of Steamboat this past February, even going so far as to autograph the whiteboard at the bottom of the Morningside lift with the words “Adam Sandler is skiing today.”

Later, someone else reportedly scribbled in, “in an orange jacket and black pants.” Reports claim he later made his way to the South Peak chairlift and even the Umbrella Bar at Rendezvous to take a much-needed break. And afterward, he likely headed to – where else? – Giggle Gulch or perhaps even Golf Course.

Lukas Nelson (Yes, Willie’s Son) Pens Song about Yampa River

We’re not the only ones who love the Yampa River. Musicians Lukas Nelson and Shooter Jennings – sons of Willie and Waylon, respectively – recently released a song called “The Last Wild River,” a tribute to the Yampa River. Frontman for the band Promise of the Real, Lukas reportedly got the idea when a friend told him about the Yampa, one of the last free-flowing rivers in the country, while driving through Colorado. He recorded it at Sunset Sound studios with Shooter producing. The pairing follows such Willie and Waylon collaborations as “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.” “The Last Wild River,” reports Parade magazine, tackles environmental themes – specifically the importance of preserving one of America’s few remaining free-flowing rivers. “It’s about the last undammed river in the U.S. … the Yampa River in the Colorado mountains,” said Lukas in a Facebook post. “It was a few years ago that I wrote it, so I’m glad it’s finally come to light. I was driving with a friend, and she told me about it, and I thought, ‘Man, what a great song.’ We recorded it at Sunset Sound. I think it’s got a great groove.”

New Book: Yampa Yearnings!

“It’s all in the hips.”

6 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

Love our backyard Yampa River? Then you’ll love “Yampa Yearnings,” a new book by award-winning author (and, ahem, Swillin’ and Chillin’ founder) Eugene Buchanan heralding northwest Colorado’s last remaining free-flowing tributary to the Colorado River Basin. The book chronicles Buchanan’s 33-year relationship with his beloved Yampa, from its headwaters a flycast from the birthplace of the country’s wilderness movement in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area to its confluence with the Green 250 miles later in Dinosaur National Monument. Along the way the Yampa supports agriculture, municipalities, a world-class ski resort, industry, endangered fish, unique riparian zones, water rights, recreation, and more, all while anchoring this town we all love. “Hopefully this will help increase everyone’s awareness of it,” says Buchanan, who has written for such publications as the New York Times, Men’s Journal, Outside, and National Geographic Adventure. “It’s the last major tributary to the Colorado that still retains its natural hydrograph, which is important in today’s era of climate change and increased consumption. Hopefully, it will get readers to think about the Yampa or other rivers in their own backyards.” Find it at Off the Beaten Path, Ski Haus, and Backdoor Sports, or visit www.eugenebuchanan.com.

Offering a Variety of Cuisine and Drinks

SOMETH I N G F O R EVERYO NE

Didja Know?

It’s one of the worst water years for the Yampa in recent memory. But there is help in restoring at least partial flows, with the Yampa River Fund helping the Colorado Water Trust (CWT) purchase flows from Stagecoach Reservoir.

Since 2001, the CWT has restored 27 billion gallons of water to 800 miles of Colorado rivers and streams (nearly 98,000 acre-feet), and in 2025, it restored more water into the state’s streams than any other year.

Eat + Drink

6 Amazing Independent Vendors

Benefits of a low-water year

The Common Bar - Unique and classically crafted bevvies Clyde’s Pies - Authentic old-style pizza napoletana

Sure, low-water years like this suck all around for everyone from ag users to recreationists. Pretty much everyone except grasshoppers. But to put on rosy The Common Barwe- Unique and classically bevvies shades, at least have this to be thankfulcrafted for:

Poke the Bear - Create your own poke bowl masterpiece La Cocina - Simple dishes you would find in the streets of Mexico

Clyde’sNo Pies - Authentic old-style mowing the grass (or pizza napoletana Dry ground good for

Pasta Bar - Fresh made pasta

watering lawn) kickball bounces Poke the Bear the - Create your own poke bowl masterpiece

Mr. Burger - Delicious burgers and wings

La Cocina - Simple dishes you would of Mexico Less green grass stains on find in the streets Lithia Spring cold plunge your- pants knees Pasta Bar Fresh made pasta

More- Delicious grasshoppers for … wings Mr. Burger burgers and

parties!

grasshopper pie!

Get into bike shape earlier

No clothes smelling like campfire smoke

Hopefully more donations to Friends of the Yampa and Yampa River Fund!

Sup Which U - Sandwiches, soups, and charcuterie

No burnt marshmallows!

Here in Steamboat, art experiences can now be prescribed as an antidote to stress or isolation through “social prescribing,” a non-medical approach to wellbeing that connects people to local activities, from nature walks to guitar lessons. In England, the practice has been a key component of health care for years, in Canada it’s resulted in reduced health care costs, and in the US, colleges, hospitals, and arts organizations are using it for well-being as well. Steamboat has also joined the movement, with the Prescription for the Arts initiative addressing youth mental health by connecting kids with art. “The prescription can be going to the movies, a concert, a hike or walk, or even drum lessons,” said Dagny McKinley of Undiscovered Earth, the nonprofit behind the program.

Larry the Camel Struck by Lightning Whether his hump was just a hair too high or it was his time to go, Larry the Camel is no more. A beloved local fixture for years who most recently lived at Kremmling’s Troublesome Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation, Larry passed away last summer when he was struck by lightning. He leaves behind his friend Camille the Camel, with whom he shared a pasture and corral. Tagging along with owner Bethany Aurin, Larry often visited local community members as a goodwill ambassador and was a frequent fixture at Steamboat’s Fourth of July parade and other events. “His absence will be felt greatly,” said rescue center board member Tracy DelliQuadri after his passing. “Everyone at Troublesome Horse Rescue loved him and we will miss him forever.”

COURTESY OF TRACY DELLIQUADRI/TROUBLESOME HORSE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION

Stressed? Jam a Hendrix Guitar Lick

Located @ 56 7th Street - Downtown Steamboat

SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 7

BOAT BITES Best Ways to Score Free Beer!

shows, and so does Long Drink, whose local sales representative, Maria Linna, often promotes it at concerts. “I love promoting at those shows and introducing to everyone,” she says, adding Steamboat is the state’s number two town for sales after Denver. Info: www.snowbowlsteamboat.com Chamber Mixers: Pay attention to the Steamboat Chamber’s calendar of events and you discover when and where their Chamber Mixers are being held, a chance to learn about and, more importantly, sample wares from local companies, including food, beer, wine, and more. Plus, a chance to win great prizes!

Beer League Hockey: Go in and watch a beer league hockey game at the Howie Dome downtown, and chances are whoever you sit next to will have a coldie they’re more than willing to share if you’re rooting for their team. The games are A, B and C level, with the biggest debauchery celebrated at such rivalries as the annual Ski Patrol vs. Ski School Classic.

Move Over Thin Mints COURTESY OF MARIA LINNA

Girl Scouts Launch Exploremores! Cookies

Get creative and there are all sorts of ways to enjoy free libations in town.

L

et’s face it … who doesn’t like getting a free drink every now and again?

Well, you’re in luck. Play your cards right, and you can sample free bevvies at a bevy of locations in town.

History Happy Hours: Not only do you get free beer from Storm Peak and whiskey tasting from Mythology at these events put on by the Tread of Pioneers Museum, but you also get a history lesson. Running the first Tuesday of every month from October to April in Howelsen Hill’s Olympian room, last year’s topics covered everything from Region’s Wild Horses and History of Black Cowboys, to Tales from the 10th Mountain Division; a History of Beer in the Centennial State; Tough Women: Colorado’s Unconventional Trailblazers; and Olympic Memories with Local Olympians. “They’re super popular,” says museum director Candice Bannister. “I think the free drinks help.”

First Friday Artwalk: Once a month, on the first Friday of every month, downtown art galleries host First Friday Artwalk, where you can go in and peruse artists’ paintings, sculptures, and more, and sample free wine and often beer to boot (along with appetizers). “It’s a great way to take in local art,” says Dancy Gould St. John of the Steamboat Art Museum. “There’s nothing better than sipping a glass of wine and enjoying art. There are a ton of great local artists in this town.” Info: www.steamboatcreates.org Friends of the Yampa Workshops: Learn about the Yampa River and drink a craft brew or two at Friends of the Yampa’s season-long presentations at the Yampa River Center downtown at 743 Oak St. The get-togethers cover everything from permit parties and river stewards to Dinosaur science programs, invasive species, and more. And river runners being river runners, most include free drinks and snacks for attendees. Info: www.friendsoftheyampa.com Snow Bowl Free Concerts: Hit a free concert at Snow Bowl on the right day, and you might just stumble upon free samplings in a tent at the back from purveyors pimping their latest elixirs. Mythology Whiskey often hands out its wares at 8 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

The Girl Scouts’ newest cookie tugs at our heartstrings. The 114-year-old organization recently launched its newest cookie, Exploremores!, whose messaging promotes – besides getting all hyped-up on sugar – getting outside. Flavor-wise, a new crispy chocolate outer layer surrounds a triple-threat crème layer featuring marshmallow, chocolate, and toasted almond flavors. Retailing for $7, they’ve been described as “chocolate Teddy Grahams,” with a subtle almond flavor. Who knows? They might just replace that bag of gorp you’ve been lugging around.

Issue Themes That Didn’t Make the Cut Pay attention to our recent covers and you likely noticed the inclusion of a few trendy issue “themes,” from “Special Muckbanging Issue” to “Special 6-7 Issue!” in the top left corner. This issue’s is “Special 100 Percent Issue!” Admittedly, some work, some don’t. And most of ours don’t. But that’s not to say we don’t weed out a few along the way. Following are a few cover taglines that didn’t make the cut (at least not yet): Special Delulu Issue; Special Touch Grass Issue; Special Crash Out Issue; Special Skibbity Issue; Special Looksmaxxing Issue; Special Brain Out Issue; Special Adult Swim Issue; Special No Cap Issue; Special Tea Issue.

Motorcycle Mama Won’t You Lay Your…

Motorcycle Gang Lands in Oak Creek No, those weren’t someone’s relatives stopping by for a quick visit in Oak Creek.

Last August, the Routt County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement related to the gathering of a motorcycle club considered to be an “outlaw motorcycle gang” by the Department of Justice. But despite being put on by the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club – a prominent mid-Atlantic gang, whose yellow, black, and red patches depict the Norse fire-giant Surtr sitting on a burning world with sword in hand – the event didn’t fire on all cylinders. While expected to draw nearly 700 riders, the gathering saw only 70 or so turn out, with everything going as smoothly as their tires.

Bring Your Own Geritol Old Folks Rock

Local restaurants might have noticed lower sales the night of Friends of the Yampa’s Dutch Oven Showdown.

FOTY Dutch Oven Showdown Think you have Dutch oven chops? Put them to the test. In November, river advocacy group Friends of the Yampa hosted a Dutch Oven Showdown, inviting camp chefs from across the valley to circle their wagons and D.O. it up for top bragging rights on the corner of 8th Street and Oak. Under the guidance of Cafe Diva’s Chef Kate Rench, the winners were: Judge’s and People’s Choice Winner – Patrick Keogh for his French onion short ribs/gruyere scalloped potatoes (with runner-up accolades going to Steve Randall’s Peach Cobbler and Melanie Stewart’s Apple Crisp). Shout-outs also went to chefs Margaret and Logan for their Charles’ Favorite concoction, as well as Lyndsay Beasley for her Chicken Noodle Cottage Pie.

Yes, they had bouncers ID people to get into this party. Only it was to make sure you were a Baby Boomer and actually over 65 years old. Last August, nearly 200 of town’s esteemed elderly persuasion gathered in the barn of Barry and Debbie Smith off Twentymile Road for a raucous rager, cramming a plethora of Steamboat history under one roof to share good times and relive the glory days. “It’s better to be seen than viewed,” commented one reveler. The party was restricted to “Boomers,” or those born between 1946 and 1964, putting some attendees at 79. The Geritol-fueled get-together featured three bars, four bands, a potluck for the ages, and even prizes for entrants with such categories as “Worst First Job in Steamboat.” “Mine was cleaning the bathrooms at Pine Grove,” said one attendee. Flies on the wall picked up such conversation snippets as “I couldn’t read the categories to sign up,” to “What was the percentage-of-people-who-havedied ratio at your reunion? Ours was 19 percent.”

Ways to Sneak Into a “Boomer” Party Too young to attend such a festivity? Consider the following ways to still get in (so you don’t have to crawl through a fence): • Show a fake ID • Break out an AARP card • Dye your hair gray

• Show your prescription receipts

SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 9

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BOAT BITES

A rendering of the Chief Theater’s planned rooftop patio.

Viva Le Chief!

After being shuttered by the former owners in 2021, the historic Chief Theater is beginning a new chapter with stakeholder Trace Adams submitting development plans to the city for a new venue. “It’s about preserving the spirit of Steamboat,” Adams wrote in a news release. “For locals, we’ll offer fair prices, happy hours, local music nights, and a space that truly feels like home. For visitors, we want the Chief to be an iconic destination that also captures everything Steamboat stands for. Too many resort towns have lost their soul to growth. Our goal is to make sure Steamboat never does.”

The space will be large enough to attract major acts while preserving its small-show atmosphere. The venue will also host such events as weddings, corporate gatherings, and family celebrations. Blending mountain-modern with rustic Western charm, plans include a ground-floor bar and entry lounge, central performance hall, second-level VIP floor, and third-floor event bar with open-air rooftop patio. Built in the 1920s for “motion pictures” by “Chief” Harry Gordon, a descendant of the Miami Tribe, the Chief was the town’s longest-running movie theater and, more recently, a performing-arts center.

“It’s about preserving the spirit of Steamboat,” said Adams, whose family has called Steamboat Springs home since the early 1960s and helped improve the Howelsen Hill ski jumps, build the Bob Adams Airport, and preserve Fish Creek Falls. “Our goal is to collaborate with every part of the community.”

Traffic Town USA? This spring, a spoofy Steamboat Traffic PSA Facebook post summed up one local’s sentiments about traffic in town. Directed to “Citizens of Traffic Town USA,” and complete with an AI photo of a freeway along the Yampa, it read: “While we wait patiently for the future construction of the Yampa Flyway/Steamboat High Road, the city has announced a temporary solution to our growing gridlock problem.”

“Beginning immediately, driving will now require scheduled permission. All residents will be assigned government-approved driving windows to maintain fairness and efficiency.

“Approved driving schedule: workers: 4 a.m.-5:30 a.m. outbound; 10 p.m.-11 p.m. return; second-home owners: 11:00 a.m.- 1 p.m. (lunch and shopping window); tourists: 1 p.m.-3 p.m. (souvenir and selfie window); Subarus with roof boxes: 10 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

3 p.m.-5 p.m. (mandatory scenic driving); Texas license plates: driving privileges suspended until further notice.

“Failure to comply will result in mandatory bicycle commuting on the Core Trail.

Remember … Until the Yampa High Road is built, your cooperation with the Temporary Transportation Control Program is appreciated. Thank you for doing your part to keep Traffic Town USA moving.”

Get Yer Duds at Sundog Now here’s a retailer we want to browse around in. Operated by friends Alayna Peddie and Winston Heuga (a mandolin player for the band Tenth Mountain Division), Sundog Steamboat, located at 635 Lincoln Ave., has a hat station to create your own lid, as well as everything from drybags and towels to unique t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies from local artists, including Intrigue Ink. The store also offers musical gear for local musicians, from guitar strings to drumsticks. But you had us at custom hat.

Rucksack Challenge Honors 10th Mountain Division In an event testing all 27 vertebrae, Steamboat Resort and the 10th Mountain Division Foundation staged their first-ever Rucksack Challenge this February, an uphill ski mountaineering event honoring the 10th Mountain Division soldiers. The event took place on the anniversary of the ascent of Italy’s Riva Ridge, with rucksack-carrying racers slogging up the slopes under the stars, inspired by the historic 1945 nighttime mission to break the Gothic line in Italy and win WWII. The 28 racers chose between two divisions: one carrying a 90-lb. weighted pack, symbolizing the load soldiers carried in battle; and another for those climbing without weight.

The winner of the back-breaking 90-lb. division was Ben Huston, followed by Kit Callahan. In the sansAnd you were complaining about that weight category, Chris Kricher won it for the men, with Adrienne Pereira beer you carried up skinning... winning the women’s division. “I am honored to have my hometown and resort support an event that honors those who helped shape our community’s contribution to the outdoor recreation industry,” says the Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Program’s Nancy Kramer.

Italy’s Lovers’ Arch Collapses on…

Valentine’s Day Talk about timing. While many in Steamboat Springs are still reeling from the partial collapse of one of the famous “Rabbit Ears” atop Rabbit Ears Pass a few years back, Italy’s famous “Lovers’ Arch” reportedly collapsed into the sea on none other than Valentine’s Day. The famous arch along the sea stacks at Sant’Andrea in Melendugno, Puglia, Italy – which served as a backdrop to countless marriage proposals – disappeared into the Adriatic Sea after a storm. One of the bestknown natural landmarks on the Adriatic coast, the arch’s collapse was due to strong winds, rough seas, and intense rainfall.

From swimsuit to swinging hips: Joan Anderson with her original Hula Hoop.

RIP Hula Hoop Inventor We owe all our late-night, hip-gyrating shenanigans to a swimsuit model.

Former (one-piece) swimsuit model Joan Anderson, who named the Hula Hoop and fostered its rise, died last summer at age 101. As the hip-circling story goes, she was visiting her native Australia from her home in the US when she spotted people swiveling wooden hoops around their waists. Mesmerized by the growing Aussie craze, she then shipped one of the toys back to the US. The 2018 documentary “Hula Girl” retells her story of dubbing it the Hula Hoop after the hip-gyrating Hawaiian dance, and how she and her husband first showed it to a toy company boss. It went on to sell millions worldwide.

art happens here. come be inspired.

OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA’S 35TH NATIONAL EXHIBITION MAY 29 - AUGUST 29

THE PAINTED WORDS WRITING COMPETITION | MAY 30 - JULY 10

+ THE PAINTED WORDS AWARDS & READINGS RECEPTION | AUGUST 13 | 5PM

SAM PLEIN AIR 2026 EVENT | SEPT. 18 - 25 EXHIBITION & SALE | SEPT. 25

plus workshops, special events, music, & more steamboatartmuseum.org

SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 11

BOAT BITES PenisGate?

Don’t worry, we’re not running a photo with this one. During this year’s Olympics in Milan, a top plastic surgeon renowned for his penis-enlarging procedures admitted injecting a ski jumper with hyaluronic acid in his private parts to help him jump farther. Reports from a German media outlet prompted speculation that ski jumpers were getting genital-enlarging injections to increase the surface area of their suits, which would increase the distance of their jumps. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation called it a “wild rumor,” while the World Anti-Doping Agency said it would investigate the matter. Swillin’ & Chillin’ reported on last year’s World Championships marred by Norwegian athletes being disqualified over baggy-fitting suits, with local Nordic Combined Olympian Ben Berend weighing in: “Ski jumping suits are our most important piece of equipment. You want as much surface area as possible, ideally between the arm and chest and between the legs (think wingsuit). And the suits are custom-tailored to each athlete, so athletes are always looking for ways to find grey area or maximize suit size.” And, no, this had nothing to do with the reported condom shortage at the Games.

New Look for Bar-U-Eat Local energy bar company Bar-UEat has a new look, with freshly redesigned wrappers celebrating its roots. “Our new wrappers and logo draw inspiration from the beauty of the mountain west and high desert,” says co-founder Sam Nelson, adding each flavor includes a unique, quirky drawing New branding, same bar. supporting the brand tagline, “Nothin’ Weird.” The company is named after Steamboat chairlift “Bar UE,” the cattle brand of the Werner family, one of the founding families behind the ski resort. “It made sense to embrace our area’s ranching history in this refresh,” he says, adding the artwork was done by his partner Jason Friday. “Jason’s vision and skill brought these designs to life, infusing each flavor with personality and a unique character. Check out the side of each bar for a peek into each character’s backstory.” The wrappers are also still compostable and 91 percent plant based.

Unleash the Wolverines On… Lynx, Wolves, and Wolverines, Oh My! There goes the neighborhood … again. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission recently unveiled a plan for restoring wolverines in the state. The long-haired predators will be the first predator released in Colorado since 25 wolves were released in Grand, Summit, Pitkin, and Eagle counties from 2023 to 2025. (Starting in 1999, Canada Lynx were reintroduced into the same habitat as the wolverines, which have since established a self-sustaining population). While no date is set yet for the wolverine release, finalizing the plan is a big step toward their reintroduction. The plan calls for translocating up to 15 wolverines per season for three-plus seasons in coordination with the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes in one of three zones – mountainous regions north of Interstate 70, between I-70 and U.S. 50 or within the San Juan Mountain range south of U.S. 50. CPW believes Colorado can hold about 100 wolverines once the population has been established.

12 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

Bonebrake’s oil-on-canvas “Buddy Werner” is currently on loan to the Steamboat Ski Resort and on display at Hazie’s.

Nice Name for a Ski Artist: Bonebrake It’s a fitting surname for an artist who paints skiing. But don’t let the name fool you. Local artist Brian Bonebrake is breaking the bank, not his legs, with his artwork, painting scenes of skiing, fishing, and more in Steamboat. Last winter’s display was entitled “Where Champagne Powder Meets the West” at the Jace Romick and R-Diamond Gallery, including an oil-on-canvas of Romick racing at his final World Cup race in Aspen. As well as those, you’ll find his fish-themed works there this summer. Bonebrake, whose corporate collectors include the Wrigley Family, Sara Lee Corporation, West National Bank, and the Art Institute of Chicago, was raised in Colorado and spent years on Europe’s Professional Freestyle Ski Tour before studying fine art in Italy and the U.S., including earning a Master of Fine Arts at the Art Institute of Chicago. “I’m just trying to convey the true vibe of skiing, the part that has never changed regardless of equipment or age,” he says. “The feeling of that turn where it feels like you’re flying and what makes skiing so addicting.” As for the name, he says it’s a convenient coincidence.

“Over in Europe I think they sometimes let me keep competing just so they could keep saying it over and over,” he says. “And it looks good on paper.”

a huge hit. The spectators went crazy. It made international news and Formula 1 proclaimed Valtteri the ‘Winner of Spring Break.’” Alas, this year they’ve changed it up, moving the hill climb to the main stage at Steamboat Resort with a cash purse and a 1.8-mile costume lap with less-filling prizes.

Ode to Howlie More sports than any other half-acre in the country?

Invasive exterminators: A tammie-slaying crew tackling the trees in Dinosaur.

Who Ya Gonna Call?

Let’s do the math. It’s our humble opinion that little ol’ Howelsen Hill rising right out of downtown has more recreation amenities packed into it than any other half square acre in the country. Don’t believe us? Let’s list them off, shall we? Ski area, five Nordic jumps, slopestyle features, winter tubing, sledding hill, Nordic

Tammie Slayers

Tired of getting skunked on the river permit lottery game? Put in some elbow grease and sign up to get on a tamarisk eradication trip put together by the park service. Every year, a group of locals bands together for the Drew Hyde Memorial Fund work trip in Dinosaur National Monument to help eradicate invasive tamarisk. Not for the faint of heart (or hands that blister easily), the work trip isn’t easy; it involves long, hot days using everything in the arsenal – including shovels, hoes, saws, and a monstrosity of a tripod rigged with a come-along – to combat the pesky plants. It’s all in honor of Drew Hyde, one of the most voracious volunteers the project has ever seen. “Volunteering for a service trip in Dinosaur is a unique and rewarding experience,” says longtime participant Holley Gardel.

“Not only do you get to see the river through the eyes of a park manager, scientist, or conservationist, but you get to give back to a place that gives so much.” As for the work, she adds, it’s hard. “It’s not a vacation or a booze cruise – it’s nonstop physical work, and it seems like there’s no end to it,” she says, adding the trips usually have room for up to 15 volunteers. “But doing it with the greatest people and in honor of someone we all loved very much is super special. Blood, sweat, laughter, hand tools, sore muscles, and deep camaraderie. Our buddy would be proud of us for keeping the stoke burning for this ass-kicking, tammie-wrestling project.”

SBT GRVL Awards Weight in Beer to Hill Climb Winner

This participant didn’t really need to win his weight in beer...

Now here’s some real incentive. Gravel riders in last year’s SBT GRVL’s hill climb were riding for something bigger than bragging rights on the line. The winner won their weight in beer. Fortunately, for organizers having to pay for the libations, bikers don’t weigh much. But we did the math, and let’s see, a beer weighs 12 ounces, so a 12-pack weighs about 9 pounds, so carry the one, and that means, for a boney-torso, 140-lb. rider, 186.6 beers (we’ll eliminate the 0.6 for spillage), or 7.7 cases. More importantly, it also means a lot of friends at the finish line. “The first two years of it were an overwhelming success,” says organizer Amy Charity. “The first year, Valtteri Bottas won and gave his beer away to the fans, which was

Let’s see ... I think we can fit a few more sports in here; how about shuffleboard and tiddlywinks? trails, mountain bike trails, pumptrack, basketball court, skate park, tennis courts, pickleball courts, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, softball fields, ice rink, kayaking/ rafting/tubing, fly fishing, bike path, rodeo grounds, icerink, playground. That’s 22, and we probably left a few out – enough that Norwegian namesake Carl Howelsen would likely be proud that his fun-loving heritage is living on. “At Howelsen Hill, recreation isn’t defined by a single activity but by its remarkable breadth and accessibility year-round,” says city spokesperson Mike Lane. “It’s a place that truly exudes the outdoor lifestyle – where all these sports and activities overlap in one historic setting. The result is a dynamic community asset where recreation isn’t just offered, but woven into the fabric of everyday life.”

New Branham Amphitheater at Strawberry Park To Be or Not To Be … Yes, To Be! There’s a new stage in Strawberry Park. The brainchild of Stuart Handloff – former executive director of nonprofit Piknik Theatre, now replaced by Celina Taylor – the new community performance venue in Spring Creek Park is the first outdoor venue of its kind in Steamboat, and is designed “to serve as a hub for creativity, education, and community connection.” Now hosting performances, the venue features a 1,000-square-foot covered performance stage, seating for up to 200 people – including fixed-bench seating for 100 people, an accessible area for wheelchairs, and an artificial-turf picnic area. Info: www.pikniktheatre.org.

SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 13

BOAT BITES Bill Amos later emailed customers clarifying the term. “Though I’ve lived out of a minivan, spent my 20s traveling and thinking about little other than climbing, I’ve never been a true dirtbag,” he wrote, according to “Expedition News.” “I’ve always had the safety net that a middle-class upbringing afforded me. A dirtbag is a special category of person. They cross the line from societally accepted pursuit of passion to vagrancy, not concerned with the norms most of us abide by. All in the singular pursuit of something greater. The dirtbag is a special, and perhaps dying, breed of human.”

National Nude Day is July 14!

RMYCers getting some of their yayas out at their annual Rendezvous Campout.

Rainbow Gathering or RMYC? In case you notice a field of tents camped out over the weekend of July 4th, don’t go reporting another Rainbow Festival. It’s just Rocky Mountain Youth Corps once again hosting its annual Rendezvous Campout for crew members, celebrating the end of their first crew session. In all, the event draws nearly a hundred crew members and staff to the banks of Steamboat Lake on Fetcher Ranch for a weekend of camaraderie, storytelling, awards, games, campfires, music, and more, celebrating all things RMYC. It also includes a dance party and an open mic/talent show for staff and crew members, with the days filled with swimming, hiking, yoga and plain ol’ chillin. Held every year since 2008, it’s designed as a mid-season meet-up for trail crew members who have been out working hard in the field on everything from trail-building and fence work to wildfire-mitigation efforts. “It’s not just about catching up; it’s about celebrating the heart and soul we pour into our work,” says RMYC’s Lauren VandenHurk. “It reminds us why what we do matters. It’s a nod to the trails we’ve restored, the connections we’ve made, and the communities we’ve enriched.”

Just saying. So go ahead and bare it all (at Strawberry Park Hot Springs after dark, of course), just 10 days after celebrating the 4th of July. Want to celebrate somewhere else? We did some, ahem, legwork and found a few places where you can also revel sans clothing: Mountain Air Resort (Littleton), billed as “Colorado’s Family Nudist Resort For Over 9 Decades”; Colorado Naturist (Denver), which “set the standard for the modern, open-minded nudist”; and Iron Aspen Ranch (Allenspark), a “30-acre high-country homestead offering nude hiking and camping.”

Ace to Offer Clothing!

Now you can go into Ace Hardware for paint and a pair of pants. The local hardware store, located in Ace Plaza, is now carrying clothing. Undergoing a redesign this spring, the new retail zone will encompass nearly 1,200 square feet of retail space and include wares from Carhartt, Ariat, Dkota Grizzly, and Dovetail. It’s located in the former pet category area straight ahead as soon as you walk in. “There might be a few extra brands we carry, and we’ll definitely change brands from time to time,” says manager Carl Fitzgerald. “We spend a lot of time talking to our customers, and they’ve been requesting clothing. I think the pricing will speak to local customers – we’re using manufacturing prices, the same as they offer online.”

Dirtbag Definition?

According to “Expedition News,” bestselling author David Gelles reveals in “Dirtbag Billionaire” (Simon & Schuster, 2025) how Patagonia became a global leader in doing well by doing good and how other companies are adopting its principles. Unveiling a company driven by environmental activism instead of capitalism, the story delves into Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, who started out as a self-professed “dirtbag” – a term bestowed on outdoorsfolk not afraid to sleep in the dirt – and he became a billionaire. Northwest Alpine CEO

“The dirtbag is a special, and perhaps dying, breed of human.”

–Bill Amos

14 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

Meow Wolf’s MonsterMashBash in the Adultiverse: You can check in anytime you like, but you can never leave...

Meow Wolf Hopped on the Meow Wolf bandwagon yet? If you’re looking for a cosmic experience in the big city, bop on down to Denver and check it out. The immersive art adventure keeps you guessing and giggling at every corner, with a mission to “inspire creativity in people’s lives through art, exploration, and play so that imagination will transform our worlds.” The exhibit’s full-time artists work in a

Whopper of a Fish Sage Bahnsen tapped into a lunker this spring while fishing a secret spot with his twin brother Stratton “somewhere on the Yampa,” pulling in a rainbow trout that measured 26 inches and weighed around 8 lbs. Sage, 16 and a junior at Steamboat Springs High School, is admittedly psyched about the catch. “It’s definitely one of the bigger ones I’ve ever caught,” he says, adding he caught it on a stonefly nymph. “After I landed it, I was pretty pumped – it fought super hard and took a few good runs before I could get it in my net.”

Karaoke 9 pm

Silent Disco 8 pm

COURTESY OF SAGE BAHNSEN

range of media, including sculpture, painting, fabrication, digital art, writing, film, and more. What started in 2008 as a collective of Santa Fe artists displaying their works has blossomed into five immersive locations around the country, from Las Vegas to Houston. The Mile High City’s multi-floored Convergence Station is the biggest and closest to Steamboat, where “four alien worlds joined together in a rare cosmic event and created a place where memories are currency. Expect the unexpected at this kaleidoscopic immersive art experience as you traverse luminous corridors filled with interactive elements, shifting soundscapes, and story-rich installations that ignite every sense. Every room holds a story, every portal a choice that could change everything.” Zones we liked? Try the Tilted Tunnel, Reflective Passage, Galactic Autoquarium, Navigator2, Moire Room, and Ossuary Library. And, oh yeah, pull the organ pipe levers in the sequence code “13542” (from right to left) of the Astral Wave Generator in the Kaleidogothic Cathedral of Eemia to trigger a special audio-visual sequence. www.meowwolf.com

Sage Bahnsen with the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Bands • DJ’s Karaoke • Comedy silent disco • Two Step

Best Sound in Town

Electronic 9:30 pm

Comedy 7:30 pm

We are your place for entertainment check the website for current schedule of events

schmiggitys.com | 821 Lincoln Ave | 970-879-4100 Open Nightly at 8 pm | Closed Sundays & Mondays

Live Bands 9:30 pm

Guitar Bar 8 pm SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 15

BOAT BITES Paddle or Tube the Yampa River Rentals, Lessons, Shuttles, Delivery

Pick your gear up at our warehouse or have us deliver to you! Located at 2618 Copper Ridge Cir, Unit E. Book in advance!

Rental Kiosk/Tiki Bar @ Pearl Lake Boards, Kayaks, Canoes & the famous 8 person SUPSquatch!

Pearl Lake State Park (61105 Rcr 129) 10-6 Everyday

970-846-5926

paddleboardadventurecompany.com

Bamboo barkers: Grass Sticks’ shop dogs (left to right): Hatch, Scruggs, Levee, and Howdy.

Meet Grass Sticks’ Shop Dogs!

You know you’re in Steamboat when a local company calls out its shop dogs on its “Employee Highlight” page. Well, then, let’s get to know the Grovers and Fidos at Grass Sticks!

Employee Highlight: The Shop Dogs

SANDWICHES FOR EVERY

ADVENTURE

If you’ve ever wondered how our crew keeps the stoke so high, it’s the dogs.

Not one of us hasn’t ended up sprawled out in a dog bed mid-day, soaking up the vibes from our four-legged coworkers. They keep us laughing and remind us that the best coworkers sometimes come with paws. Swing by and there’s a good chance you’ll be greeted by a bark, wag, or slobbery kiss.

Howard (aka Howdy) The “goodest” yellow lab you’ll ever meet is

3 years old and has been Grass Sticks’ morale-boostin’ manager since 6 weeks old. Howdy loves swimming and fetch, but what really sets him apart are his snuggles, complete with the softest ears in the business. Signature shop move: he can’t contain his excitement when his favorite humans walk in and “glee pee’s” on their toes!

Scruggs This polka-dotted pup is proof that you only get better with age.

The old soul of the crew at 10 years old, Scruggs is a true river dog, down for any adventure, especially if a raft is involved. Signature shop move: drinking water like he’s never tasted it before; slurping and dripping across the floor, leaving a trail of evidence.

Levee Levee is the perfect (and newest) addition to our doggy day care. He

is a little white-and-brown rescue, almost 2 now, and has settled into mountain life like he was born for it. You’ll likely find him curled up in someone’s arms; playful, curious, and full of character, he’s mastered the art of snuggly supervision. Signature shop move: finding bits of sun to soak up.

ORDER ONLINE - YAM ASANDWICHCO.COM 635 LINCOLN AVE | 970-879-3617 16 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

Hatch We’re thrilled to introduce the newest (and tiniest) member of the Grass Sticks crew, Hatch, also known by his full, very official title …

Hatchisaurus-Rex. Don’t let his size fool you, this little guy is spunky, full of energy, and absolutely fearless. Hatch keeps his three fur uncles (funcles) on their toes all day long, making sure there’s never a dull moment. Whether he’s zooming through the office or showing off his big personality, Hatch, proves that even the smallest team members can bring the biggest impact.

COURTESY OF TAYLOR BARKER

From river to real estate, local broker Taylor Barker knows how to navigate the currents.

Kayak Commute Broker Taylor Barker Paddles Fish Creek to Work!

A lot of us walk or even bike to work. A few even get to ski. Local realtor Taylor Barker one-ups all of us with a video he made last summer kayaking Class IV-V Fish Creek, onto the Yampa, and straight into his office at The Group Real Estate. With his work clothes under his drysuit, he then slipped on his loafers and strolled inside, ready to greet the day and his customers. We caught up with him for a few more comments on his commute: Swillin & Chillin: How great is it to be able to paddle a run like that right to work?

Taylor Barker: It is absolutely awesome, and something you can only do in a place like Steamboat. I think it’s pretty cool to be able to paddle four miles of Class V before you sit down at your desk, and it’s one of the many reasons why I love living here.

S&C: How did your coworkers react?

Taylor: They thought it was pretty cool; some didn’t even know you could even kayak Fish Creek from the falls, much less all the way to our office. Several coworkers also made their own videos showing them living the Steamboat lifestyle, which turned out great as well.

S&C: Get any odd looks changing back into your work attire?

Taylor: I had all my work attire on under my drysuit, so all I had to do was take my drysuit off when I got out of the river and stuff it in my kayak. There were people hanging out at the park where I got out who were pretty surprised to see me wearing a button-down shirt and long pants underneath my drysuit when I started unzipping it.

S&C: How hard was it to film?

Taylor: Not bad. Where we put in at Fish Creek Falls always has lots of tourists, who are usually surprised to see kayakers getting in there because the river is so fast and steep. This time we were filming the start of the run with a gimbal, cameras, and drones, so there was even more intrigue and hubbub from the tourists. Several families with kids were there watching the whole thing. Hours

later, when we finally got to the downtown park to film the exit, those same families were randomly hanging out there when I pulled up in my kayak. They recognized me, asked what we were filming, and asked if they could take my picture with their kids. They had no idea what we were filming, but they still wanted a photo with their kids.

S&C: How was your work day that day?

Taylor: It was awesome. I was already fired up from paddling and ready to bring the energy to selling real estate. I think I sold six houses that day! Just kidding.

In reality, the entire day was spent filming the video. But I can’t think of a better work day than paddling my favorite river several times over because “we have to get another shot” and with several friends who came out to help and be safety so I didn’t have to paddle alone. It was awesome.

S&C: How was the response to the video?

Taylor: It was great. A lot of people thought it was a creative way to advertise myself as a broker. And I got some good comments online, including “How do you get back home?” And all my paddling buddies still razz me about the video to this day, especially the line, “It’s truly my favorite thing to do.” What can I say y’all – it truly is! I haven’t had someone randomly view it and then call me for real estate services, but I have had several clients mention they had seen it and knew who I was before someone recommended me to them. Also, my girlfriend has since told me that she found and watched it while internet stalking me before our first date (we hadn’t met before) – and she still agreed to go skiing with me, so I’ll take it.

S&C: What were you trying to highlight by it?

Taylor: I was trying to show how awesome it is to live in Steamboat where you can do and have all of these amazing outdoor adventures, even on a work day.

I was also trying to show something unique about me and who I am as it relates to my real estate business, where I work, and why I care about what I do for a living here in Steamboat.

Watch video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F7ZRMjKwdQ&t=41s SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 17

BOAT BITES Sharing the Chair with Collin Kelley Steamboat restaurateur Collin Kelley is no stranger to fueling up locals and guests for their adventures in the Yampa Valley. With four restaurants under his chef’s hat – Cypress, Primrose, Slopeside, and Los Locos – and plans for a market and deli cooking for the west side of town, he’s as prolific with a spatula as he is with sharing his love for the community he calls home. We caught up with him for his take on Steamboat’s restaurant scene…

but it’s more magnified here. It makes me sad, as someone who came from workingclass parents. It used to be you could go out and get a dinner for four for $100, but not anymore.

Places like Locos, Backdoor Burger, and SunPies cover the lower end of the price point where the working class goes, and high-end restaurants cover the space for people with two homes, but there won’t be restaurants in the middle. Things like specials and happy hours for locals are helping, but it’s not enough.

Swillin & Chillin: When and how did you end up in Steamboat?

Collin Kelley: I moved here in 2010 from Denver, where I’d been working as a chef, to open Carl’s Tavern. Then I moved away after I sold that in 2017, and came back in 2020, succumbing to the Yampa Valley Curse.

S&C: What’s the best part about running your restaurants?

Collin: The magic is when the lights are right, the music is right, and the energy and vibe is happening, when everything’s great. You’re walking that razor wire when everything is perfect. There’s a magic in that that’s like a drug. And also, the people. We have more than 100 employees, and they’re all awesome. It’s a huge responsibility to be responsible for their livelihoods, but also the greatest reward.

The relationships you foster that come out of the hospitality industry are lasting and real. You get to hang out and be with them during their best times and comfort them on their worst days.

COURTESY OF COLLIN KELLEY

S&C: What’s going on at each of your restaurants this summer?

Collin: We’ll start at the mountain. Slopeside will be open Thursdays through Saturdays, with an emphasis on the beach scene and outdoor dining.

We also have a new 96-inch woodstove pizza oven and pizza kitchen, which are great. Next door, Los Locos is open seven days a week and is still all about margs and Mex. Downtown, Cypress is also doing great, especially with its weekend brunch menu, which has caught fire. I love the breakfast What’ll it be? Steamboat restaurateur Collin Kelley at your service. burrito, which has the best green chili around, as well as the fried chicken and buttermilk waffle, topped with a bacon and candy pecan crumble. It S&C: How are your plans for the new market on the west end coming along? also has a great build-your-own-Bloody buffet where we pour the vodka and you Collin: They’re going great. We closed on the land and are going as hard and do the rest, as well as a mimosa cart with eight different juices. Primrose has fast as we can to open in the spring of 2027. It’s going to be called “Forty West been going great also, especially its happy hours from four to six every day, which Mercantile.” From the beginning, we planned it to be strictly for locals, especially have taken on a life of their own. Everyone says the burger is the best in town. for those who live on that side of town. It’ll have something for everyone, from It’s only fifteen bucks during happy hour and is all steak trim from butchering high-quality seafood and steaks to a deli, bakery, grocery items, charcuterie our meat ourselves. We easily serve 50 a day, especially during the Friday Happy counter, and more. We made it for locals every step of the way – thinking about Hour, which is absolutely outrageous. what town didn’t have and what was missing – but tourists will love it also, S&C: What’s your take on Steamboat’s restaurant scene?

Collin: It’s twofold. On one hand, we’ve never been better, from the food to the inspiration behind it, to the quality of ingredients, everything. We’ve never been stronger. But as an industry, we’re facing some big-time challenges, which will likely be compounded this summer by low water and potentially less tourism.

One we have to face is our working-class folks. We have people who either have two houses or two jobs. We have a huge group of working-class people who are holding down one or two full-time jobs, as well as side hustles, who are just trying to stay here. We’re not greedy, price-gouging restaurant owners, but everything’s gotten more expensive with tariffs, inflation, the economy, and more all factoring in. Sadly, we’re at the cusp of losing what gives a lot of restaurants their local identity. The cost of living is outpacing income and affordability. We’re seeing fewer and fewer locals. We get it, but if that trend continues, restaurants will either have to close or cater to the people with two houses. It’s a different world.

You can’t make it selling a $30 entrée anymore. You can’t maintain business and keep locals coming through the door. Our industry is going that way nationally, 18 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

especially as the first place they hit coming in from the airport. To me, locals are the sundae, and tourists are the toppings and sprinkles.

S&C: How about your other project downtown?

Collin: We did the demolition in May, so no more Double Z or Orange Peel buildings. It’ll be about a two-year build-out and will be called The Latigo, which pays homage to horses, a key component of Steamboat’s and the Southwest’s horse culture. The restaurant will be called Lumbre, which is Spanish for “glow of the fire.” Its cuisine will be Spanish and Southwest inspired, telling the tale of how Southwest cuisine came to be, taking its influence from Spanish conquistadores on up to Native Americans of the Southwest. It’s sort of a romanticized dream to tell the story of that entire foodway. There’s no better way to honor these people and tell their story than through cuisine.

S&C: What are some of your favorite activities here?

Collin: I have four daughters, ages 13, 12, 4, and 2, so really my favorite thing to do is spending time with my family. But I also love snowmobiling and skiing in the winter and playing golf in the summer.

SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 19

MUNCHIES Quick Bites

Los Brothers Comes to West Side There’s a new, authentic Mexican joint on the west side of town. “Los Brothers” opened this spring next to West End Liquor by brothers Jaime and Antonio Escarcega, serving up open flame-grilled marinated spatchcock chicken in everything from flautas and burritos to take-and-go tacos. The brothers perfected their craft in Mexico before deciding to emulate the mouth-watering tradition here in Steamboat, offering meals for dine-in or take-out. “We’re super excited to be here,” says Jaime, adding that the location is perfect for those on the west side of town. “It’s our authentic recipes and techniques that we used in Mexico.”

Arrivederci Papa Murphy’s One of Steamboat’s best cozy-up-to-the-couch-andwatch-a-movie-at-home pizza joints is no more. In January, Papa Murphy’s, a longtime take-and-bake pizza joint beloved by costconscious, pizza-loving locals, threw in the chef’s towel, saying sayonara to its run in Ski Town USA. No word yet on what’s going to replace it, but you likely won’t be able to take it home and bake it for a delectable dinner in just 14 minutes. Hopefully, we’re not now restricted to Totino’s.

Skull Creek, Wild Plum, Hypnotic Chicken Owners Take Over The Egg Popular breakfast eatery The Egg in Sundance Plaza has flipped owners (just like a pancake or its overeasy creations). Jason Partovi, who runs Skull Creek Greek, Wild Plum Market, and Hypnotic Chicken, says the new addition is a great complement to their other offerings, giving the group four marquee eateries in town. Coincidentally, the new Egg addition is located conveniently close to the Hypnotic Chicken restaurant in Sundance Plaza, but which came first?

West End Out, Sherpa Spice In From cowboys to Calcutta. West End Sports Grill is officially hasta luego, and in its place is now Sherpa Spice.

Restaurateur Narayan Ramjali is slinging the culinary heritage of India, Nepal, and Tibet downtown after opening the doors of Sherpa Spice at 1106 Lincoln Ave. this past fall. Ramjali, who owns two other restaurants in Brighton and Denver, says it’s different than other Indian restaurants because they have yak, the “Himalayan mountain cow.” The menu features yak meat and various Himalayan dishes served in a variety of spice levels, including a large selection of sizzling tandoori dishes with chicken, shrimp, or salmon. You’ll also find lamb, paneer tikka, and such Nepali offerings as chicken, vegetable and chili momos (dumplings), and more. For apps, try pakora, pani-puri, chicken wings, and a variety of naan flatbread. “We wanted to give our customers a lot of options, so that’s why we have dishes from India, Nepal, and Tibet,” he says.

Info: www.sherpaspice.com

Lotsa Lunch!

Want a lunch that might lead to a nap? Sherpa Spice has unbuttoned the pants on its all-you-can-eat Lunch Buffet Meal, featuring unlimited servings of favorite Indian, Tibetan, Nepalese, and Chinese dishes. Just be prepared to not get much accomplished for a while afterward.

20 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

Shady characters and a shady tree on the deck of Taco Cabo.

Town’s Best Deckside Cottonwood Tree Cotton to dining under cottonwoods? The best place to do so in town could well be Taco Cabo downtown, whose back deck harbors Old Man Cottonwood himself, a gargantuan tree sprawling his massive trunk and branches across the patio.

In fact, it’s so prominent that, depending on where you’re sitting, you might have to duck under its horizontal trunk to reach the bar (almost as if it’s guarding the access).

Best Swiss Chocolate in Town

Sink Your Teeth into Daniela’s Chocolates at The Homesteader Willy Wonka has nothing on Daniela. Cuz’ Willy never made chocolates for Jay Leno. Yep, as well as carrying kitchenware from chefs knives to handcrafted cutting boards, Steamboat’s own gourmet kitchen store The Homesteader is home to Daniela’s Chocolates. The chocolate confectioner was born and raised in Zurich, Switzerland, where she studied chocolate-making, before moving to Steamboat Springs, where she’s been crafting such chocolates and sweets as truffles, toffee, caramels, and more since 2009. And lest you doubt her mouth-watering credentials, for years she made chocolates for Jay Leno, with her treats enjoyed in the green room by “The Tonight Show” guests.

COURTESY OF BOAT LATIN MARKET

Uh, we’ll take one of each, please...

OLD TOWN HOT SPRINGS

NATURAL HOT SPRINGS & GYM OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Arriba!

Boat Latin Market Booming Uno, dos, and now … très!

Want to cook some true Latin fare in the comfort of your own home? Hit the Boat Latin Market, now with three locations in town. Owners Keyla Villa and Sahara Estrada say their business has been booming in Steamboat Springs ever since opening in 2022, prompting them to open two additional locations. Their original store opened in 2022 at 130 Ninth St., with their second store coming shortly later at 675 S. Lincoln Ave. Most recently, they added a third on the west side of town.

The new 1,200-square-foot Mini Market is located at 2201 Curve Plaza and offers groceries similar to the other two. The concept: a one-stop shop for authentic Latin American groceries, with sections dedicated to different regions for making authentic dishes at home, whether you hail from Mexico, Central America, Peru, Venezuela, or any other Latin American country. The stores also carry traditional Latin snack foods, drinks, and treats, and recently added such items as fruit, vegetables, eggs, and milk. Our favoritos: fresh tortillas, chicharrónes (deep-fried pork skin or pork belly), frozen tamales, and banana leaves for making your own.

SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 21

MUNCHIES Experience mountain streams, learn about unforgettable local wildlife including elk, moose and beaver.

Y RE

COURTESY OF ELKSTONE FARM

970-314-5923 | Packtrip@cmn.net | WelderOutfitters.com

Yampa Valley Yummy Tummy Elkstone Farm-to-Table Dinners

Want fare as close to a farm as you’ll find in town? Join a casual farm-to-table dinner at Elkstone Farm in Strawberry Park. “It’s the most unique dining experience in the Yampa Valley,” says chef Russell Goodman, whose staff prepares dishes highlighting produce from the farm and the valley. “We normally have a mix of returning guests and first-timers. This year will be a challenging growing season because of the low moisture and warmth, but we’re well-positioned to provide a unique and expressive representation of what’s growing on the farm.”

The dinners are served in their subtropical greenhouse in the cooler months and covered patio when it’s warmer. Guests feast on a five-course meal cooked from scratch by Goodman, complete with thoughtfully paired wines from sommeliers at Ski Town Wine and Spirits.

This year’s focus, Goodman adds, is on sharing the Yampa Valley’s culinary identity through produce grown on the farm and proteins raised locally. “We have new farm and ranch partners delivering a great representation of the region’s terroir,” he says. “Having such immaculate products to work with makes my job both easy and hard; no vegetable is as perfect as it is the moment it’s plucked from the Earth, so my job is to convey those qualities by gently cooking and adorning them in a way that preserves their character.”

Accommodating 16 guests, seated at four tables of four (with customized options), the dinners are nonrefundable but are transferable, with the $150 price including gratuity. Info: www.elkstonefarm.com

2026 Farm Dinner Dates

June 12, 18, 19; July 9, 10, 24; Aug. 14, 27, 28; Sept. 11, 24; Oct. 7.

22 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

Imbibe at the Intersection!

Town’s Times Square? Try 7th and Lincoln New Orleans might have its Bourbon Street, but while we might not have their beignets or crawfish, Steamboat has its culinary corner downtown at 7th and Lincoln. Count them and there are more than 13 drinking and dining establishments within a Frisbee toss, and even more if you throw in Space Station for a quick, frozen burrito and an Elevated Olive or two. Below, we give you a drone’s eye view of your choices if you have a few finicky palates in your posse.

Big Iron Coffee anchors the morning crowd with espresso drinks, drip coffee and quick breakfast options like burritos and pastries. Early hours bring locals grabbing caffeine before work, while later mornings fill with remote workers and casual meetups. With plenty of seating and a relaxed pace, it’s easy to settle in and stay awhile.

2. Winona’s

Winona’s is a longtime downtown favorite known for homemade cinnamon rolls, baked goods, and classic breakfast comfort food. Weekend mornings often bring a steady line, but the wait is part of the experience. The cozy, welcoming atmosphere makes it feel like a true community staple. And order a cinnamon roll to take home.

3. Yampa Sandwich Company

Yampa Sandwich Company opens early with breakfast sandwiches, coffee and quick grab-and-go options, and then follows that up with some of town’s best sandwiches for lunch and now dinner. It’s a convenient, scrumptious stop before, during, or after work, your favorite outdoor activity, or even while running errands downtown. The casual, efficient setup keeps things moving without sacrificing quality.

KENNY MCCARTHY

1. Big Iron Coffee

9. Space Station

Space Station is the gas station on the corner offering fuel, snacks, drinks, and quick grab-and-go items. It’s a convenient stop for road-trip essentials, quick bites, or a fast caffeine refill. While not a traditional restaurant, it’s part of the rhythm of the corner and a practical stop for locals and visitors alike – many coming just to pick up late-night ice cream.

10. Elevated Olive

Elevated Olive offers tastings of olive oils and balsamic vinegars along with gourmet specialty foods. Visitors can browse, sample, and pick up cooking ingredients or gifts. It adds a boutique, culinary stop to the block.

4. Skull Creek Greek

11. Salt & Lime

Skull Creek Greek offers fast-casual Mediterranean dishes like gyros, pitas and fresh salads. It’s quick, flavorful, and easy to grab on the go. Bright flavors and fresh ingredients make it a reliable lunchtime or dinner choice. Hint: Don’t shy away from the tzatziki sauce.

Salt & Lime brings modern Mexican flavors to both its inside restaurant as well as its rooftop deck overlooking 7th and Lincoln. It serves everything from tacos and bowls to enchiladas and some of the best margaritas in town. It’s a lively happy hour destination that transitions easily into dinner upstairs and outside.

5. Noodles & More

12. Rex’s Burrito Bar

Noodles & More serves Vietnamese and Southeast Asian comfort food, including pho, curries, and stir-fried noodles (and sushi if you’re in the mood). It’s a dependable lunch and dinner option when you want something warm, healthy, and satisfying. The laid-back, welcoming atmosphere makes it easy to settle in for a relaxed meal and a ceramic shot glass of sake.

Rex’s Burrito Bar offers fast-casual Mexican favorites like burritos, bowls, tacos and house-made salsas. It’s a convenient option for a quick dinner or casual bite, especially for those looking for something filling, customizable, and easy to take home or eat on the run. The vibe is laid-back and approachable, making it an easy stop before or after exploring downtown.

6. Corner Slice

13. The Barley

Corner Slice keeps things simple with New York-style pizza by the slice and whole pies. It’s an easy stop for a quick lunch between errands or meetings, and a great, affordable dinner option, with cheap beer, massive salads, and occasional live music. The steady flow of customers gives the space an energetic, casual feel.

7. The Commons

The Barley rounds out the day as a craft-beer-focused hangout with rotating taps, wine, and cocktails. For grub, go with the giant pretzel with mustard and cheese sauce. It’s a natural meeting spot before dinner or a place to wind down afterward. Look for the smiley faces on the chalkboard behind the bar to see what beers are on happy hour, which, Hallelujah, runs until 7 p.m.

The Commons acts as a central hub with a food hall featuring multiple vendors, shared seating, and a Cheers-like bar. With options ranging from burgers and pizza to pasta and sushi, it’s ideal for groups with different cravings. The open layout and communal tables create a lively midday or evening gathering spot, be it happy houring on the deck or closing it down.

14. Mary’s Mountain Cookies

8. Clyde’s Pies

Rizzo’s Snack Shack offers sweet and savory crepes alongside ice cream and quick dessert options. It’s an easy stop for an afternoon treat or a post-dinner sweet while strolling downtown. The casual walk-up style and playful menu make it a fun, calorie-adding addition to the corner.

Clyde’s Pies serves handcrafted wood-fired pizza made with fresh ingredients and simple flavors. It’s a relaxed dinner option with casual seating and an easygoing atmosphere. Located beneath The Commons, it’s also a convenient stop before or after drinks.

Mary’s Mountain Cookies serves oversized, freshly baked cookies in rotating flavors (perfect for those late-night munchies). It’s a popular stop for dessert, gifts, or an afternoon treat. The colorful display makes it hard to walk by without stopping.

15. Rizzo’s Snack Shack - Crepes & Ice Cream

– Skylar Leeson SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 23

FROM STEAMBOAT TO BAJA

Follow WinterWonderGrass all year long from our mainstay home in Steamboat Springs, CO., along the Yampa River to our RiverWonderGrass offerings throughout the summer in Dinosaur National Monument and on down the Colorado River to the tip of the Baja Peninsula in La Ventana, Baja. Each event combines world-class music with chill vibes and company while supporting all the great causes we all care about, whether you just came off the ski slopes or river, or came from wing-foiling, kiting, surfing, snorkeling or swimming in the ocean.

24 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

www.winterwondergrass.com WinterWonderGrass

riverWonderGrass

bajaWonderGrass

sMAlltown gathering

Steamboat Springs, CO

dinosaur national monument

La ventana, baja

Salida, co

MARCH 5-7, 2027

MAY - SEPT., 2026

APRIL 22-24, 2027

SEPT. 25-27, 2026

Music, brews, mountains, love. That’s what you’ll get at WinterWonderGrass, our marquee three-day music festival held at The Knoll parking lot and other assorted venues around town in Steamboat Springs, CO. WinterWonderGrass is more than a music festival – it’s a family gathering celebrating mountain life and connecting Steamboat’s historic past with its vibrant present.

Join us on intimate river journeys, where we bring together friends and members of the RiverWonderGrass artist community on an adventure hosted by Adrift Dinosaur through the heart of desert canyons.

Sandy beaches, majestic hikes, thrilling whitewater, and musical floats are combined with healthy foods, deep conversation, and space to reconnect.

Enjoy a riverside musical performance each evening, plus improvisational jams.

Desert, mountain, sea…and bluegrass. An intimate gathering of friends, family, and fans in Baja California Sur with no hype – just an “X” on the map with some of our favorite WonderGrass artists.

The event is small, simple, and family-friendly, while supporting such local organizations as Azul Cerralvo Foundation and hosting daily beach cleanups.

A grassroots festival celebrating live music, yoga, nature, community, and sustainability. It features artists, workshops, music education, and outdoor activities, all in support of environmental and social causes. Set in Salida, CO., the event is known for its intimate, family-friendly vibe.

Over three days, festival goers enjoy great music, engaging activities, delicious food, and camping – a place where families unite, love flourishes, and music transforms.

Bonus: Enjoy a free cocktail festival cup with your general admission 3-day pass.

SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 25

MUNCHIES

The Flavor Trail of Steamboat Springs Restaurant Sampler

D

are we say, “Culinary Town USA?” Like a hidden powder stash in the trees, Steamboat’s dining scene is one of town’s best-kept secrets. Behind every cozy downtown doorway or riverside deck, chefs are crafting menus that rival those of big-city eateries, from intimate bistros to mouth-watering steak houses.

Following are a few S&C faves, listed alphabetically for your perusing pleasure:

Aurum: Start your culinary journey at Aurum Food & Wine, a riverside gem

perched along the Yampa River. Aurum’s seasonal New American menu captures the essence of Steamboat: refined yet approachable. Diners come for the signature crispy Brussels sprouts or bison short ribs, but it’s the warm service and glowing ambiance that make it special. At sunset, few experiences rival sipping a glass of pinot on the deck while the river hums below. And Aurum’s happy hour has practically become a local ritual.

Bésame: For a burst of color and spice, head to Bésame, where Latin-inspired

cuisine meets Steamboat soul. The restaurant buzzes with energy, serving tapas like pork belly bites, paella, and Caribbean shrimp. Vibrant cocktails – from passion-fruit mojitos to mezcal margaritas – complete the experience. Bésame’s lively atmosphere makes it a must-visit for group dinners or anyone craving bold flavors and festive vibes. Every bite feels like a small celebration.

and visiting food lovers looking for something sophisticated but approachable. With creative entrées – think crispy fried chicken with gourmet twists – and polished service, Cypress is quickly carving out a place among the town’s elite eateries.

E3 Chophouse: For carnivores, E3 Chophouse delivers one of the town’s best steakhouse experiences. Founded by the LaRoche brothers – who also run a cattle ranch – E3 offers true ranch-to-table dining (don’t be surprised if you hear a “moo!” somewhere). The cuts are generous, the cocktails strong, and the riverside patio lively come spring. The 12-ounce prime New York strip and Colorado rack of lamb are standouts, paired with loaded mashed potatoes and truffle butter. It’s the kind of place where cowboy boots feel just as fitting as a blazer.

8th Street Steakhouse: Grill it yourself at 8th Street Steakhouse, where

you’re the chef, firing up in-house cuts of Wagyu Kobe, Colorado Buffalo, USDA Prime NY Strips, Filet Mignon, Ribeyes, and more. And your waitstaff will offer you grilling guidance (five minutes per side for medium rare). This place serves steakhouse swagger without the steakhouse sticker shock. Also choose from a variety of salads, vegetable and potato options, as well as one of the best happy hours around, from 4:30–6 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m. seven nights a week (freshly ground steak burgers for only $7 and $6 martinis).

Brass Kitchen & Bar: Brass Kitchen & Bar offers a contemporary dining experience downtown with inventive small plates, a strong cocktail program, and thoughtful vegan and gluten-free options. Chef Ryan Fowler’s menu includes standout items like Colorado lamb meatballs and pan-seared trout, served in a relaxed but stylish space. Ideal for a date night or sophisticated dinner out, it brings craft cocktails to Lincoln Avenue, adding another vibrant choice to the downtown lineup.

Laundry: Laundry transforms a historic building into one of the town’s coolest

Brick: Brick serves up Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas, fresh pastas, and salads

Mambo Italiano: Mambo Italiano mixes modern and traditional Italian cuisine

in a friendly and casual setting at the base of the Wildhorse gondola. The crisp crusts and inventive toppings get consistent praise in this eatery that has become a solid dining choice and lets you take a gondola ride back to the base of the mountain.

Café Diva: Café Diva is the long-reigning queen of Steamboat fine dining. Hidden in Torian Plum Plaza, this intimate restaurant has built a loyal following over more than two decades. The space glows with candlelight and conversation, and the menu – featuring duck confit, elk tenderloin, and luscious house-made pastas – is pure indulgence, thanks to Chef Kate Rench and a team of top-notch sommeliers.

Cypress: One of the newer additions to Steamboat’s culinary scene, Cypress offers refined dining in a sleek, modern setting. Known for its expertly prepared dishes and thoughtful wine program, it’s the kind of restaurant that attracts both locals 26 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

small-plate spots. Once the Soda Creek Laundry, the brick-and-beam space now hums with the scent of smoked meats and craft cocktails. Diners share housecured charcuterie, roasted beets, and duck tacos while bartenders mix smoked Old Fashioneds with precision. It’s a favorite among locals for its balance of sophistication and warmth – social, creative, and endlessly delicious.

in the heart of downtown and with its Italian comfort food and cozy downtown patio, has become a staple for pasta lovers. From wood-fired pizzas to housemade pastas and seasonally sourced ingredients, the vibe is energetic yet approachable. Reviewers praise the house-made pastas and cocktail list. With its lively atmosphere, it’s a go-to for Italian comfort dinner.

Periodic Table: For something truly distinctive, journey to Periodic Table, an ever-evolving concept restaurant that reimagines its entire menu and décor each season. One year, it channels the French Alps with fondue and schnitzel; the next, it might explore Mediterranean flavors or coastal seafood. This past winter it was Scandinavian. It’s as much an experience as a meal – dining as theater, full of surprises. Locals love it for its creativity and seasonal flair.

Primrose: The brainchild of Collin Kelley, Primrose is one of Steamboat’s rising stars in modern cuisine.

Sleek and softly lit, Primrose combines mountain elegance with cosmopolitan flair. The menu changes seasonally, highlighting ingredients like Colorado trout, wild mushrooms, and heirloom carrots. The wine list, recognized by Wine Spectator, is among the region’s best. Primrose exemplifies the new Steamboat – refined but never pretentious, where diners linger over dessert because the atmosphere feels like home.

Saffron: Located downtown, Saffron Indian Restaurant brings bold, aromatic flavors of India to Steamboat, infusing the valley with modern Indian cuisine – rich curries, naan from a tandoor oven, and a welcome dose of global flavor in the Rockies.

Reviewers highlight standout dishes like lamb tikka masala, veggie korma, and garlic naan, praising the attentive service and welcoming atmosphere. Ideal for both casual meals and special dinners, it also offers generous take-out options.

Salt & Lime: When the craving leans toward casual comfort and Mexican fare, Salt & Lime delivers with street-style tacos, rooftop views, and all-day margaritas. It’s a downtown favorite for post-ski relaxation, especially in spring when the rooftop patio bursts with laughter and mountain air. The carnitas tacos and roasted corn elote are local legends, and the vibe is unfailingly upbeat. Salt & Lime perfectly captures Steamboat’s laid-back energy – fun, flavorful, and full of friends.

Table 79 Foodbar: A local favorite for refined yet relaxed dining is Table 79 Foodbar, a sister restaurant to Aurum. Its open-kitchen design lets diners watch the culinary artistry unfold – searing steaks, plating vibrant appetizers, and crafting desserts with flair.

Signature dishes like the pork chop with sweet potato purée or the roasted duck breast showcase creativity without pretense. It’s an ideal spot for date nights, family dinners, or even a solo seat at the bar to watch the chefs in action.

Truffle Pig: Located at the resort, Truffle Pig blends upscale yet approachable modern American cuisine with a lively après-ski atmosphere. With seating for over 150 inside and a patio overlooking Mount Werner’s gondola, it offers both fine dining and casual flair. Highlights include truffle fries, bacon-wrapped dates, prime cuts, and a large craft-cocktail and wine list. Ideal for ski day lunch or dinner with friends, arrive early for patio fire-pit seating and enjoy the mountain-base views.

Yampa Valley Kitchen: When the morning light hits Steamboat, Yampa Valley Kitchen is the place to be.

This sun-filled café focuses on organic and sustainable ingredients – many sourced from nearby farms. The breakfast sandwich on house-baked sourdough and the lavender latte are crowd favorites. With its airy patio and modern farmhouse charm, Yampa Valley Kitchen feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s a spot where people linger over brunch – even on a powder day.

FIND THE BEST VACATION SPOTS FOR SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’

DOWNTOWN

MOUNTAIN

PET FRIENDLY

START YOUR SEARCH TODAY AT FOURSEASONSSTEAMBOAT.COM

SKI IN/SKI OUT

CALL US AT 970.819.2728

SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 27

MUNCHIES The Pizza Page

In Steamboat, pizza takes on personality, with each place feeling like a different character – some loud, some refined, some just reliably there when you need them. Behold a rundown of some of the top ’zas in za ’Boat.

Antonio’s New York Pizza – Build Your Own

Antonio’s is all about flexibility with its popular Build Your Own pizza. Start with a solid crust and sauce, then pile on whatever toppings match your mood. It’s the perfect option for groups who all want something different. The casual setting gives it that classic neighborhood pizzeria feel.

Blue Sage – Full Boat

With an airy ambiance, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, Blue Sage keeps things simple with an open kitchen where you can grab a slice or order a whole pie – especially before taking in a movie at Wild Horse. The Full Boat lives up to its name, piled with pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, onion, green pepper, black olive, and bacon, delivering a bit of everything in every bite. Bang for the buck hint: look through the glass counter and order the biggest piece your server is likely to grab.

cheese keeps things simple, but the real move for many is pairing it with their warm chocolate lava cakes, whose gooey center hit the munchies spot after a long night.

How Ya’ Doin’ – Crispy Buffalo Chicken

How Ya’ Doin’ (try to say that without Joey’s accent from “Friends”) brings classic New York slice-shop energy to town. Known for big foldable pies and a fast, casual counter vibe, their Crispy Buffalo Chicken includes buffalo sauce over melted mozzarella for a spicy, cheesy punch. It’s messy, bold, and hits the spot after a day outside. The place leans into its East Coast personality – quick, loud, and proudly unapologetic. Bonus: bring it next door to go with a brew at Storm Peak, where dogs slurp up crust dropped on the floor.

Mambo’s – Principessa

Brick brings wood-fired pizza magic with crispy, blistered crusts and perfectly melty cheese. The Diavola is a local favorite, featuring spicy homemade sausage, pepperoni, and roasted serrano peppers, all smothered in mozzarella. Located at the base of the Wildhorse gondola, its open atmosphere and see-through kitchen is the kind of spot that feels just right after a long day outside.

Mambo’s is known for bold topping combinations and a lively atmosphere.

The Principessa shows off their creative side, built on garlic and oil instead of red sauce and layering light mozzarella, goat cheese, caramelized onions, mushrooms, prosciutto, fresh arugula, and a drizzle of truffle oil. The result is rich, savory, and decadent – the kind of pizza that turns dinner into a table full of shared slices. Bonus: their happy hour (4-5:30 p.m. daily) boasts one of the best pizza deals in town, with half-price specialty ’zas.

Brooklynn’s – Classic Pepperoni

Mazzola’s – Americano

Brooklynn’s leans into East Coast inspiration with dependable, straightforward pies. Their classic Pepperoni highlights the basics: crisp crust, bright tomato sauce, melted mozzarella, and pepperoni that curls and crisps in the oven. The relaxed neighborhood feel and pizza-slinging ambiance make it an easy local favorite.

Bonus: eat it on the tables outside or stroll down to a bench along the river.

While it’s located in a basement, Mazzola’s flavors are over the top. The Americano pizza is one of their best, stacking marinara, meatballs, melted onions, mozzarella, fresh basil, and a drizzle of garlic aioli. It’s built for serious appetites – like after riding the Stinger Loop up and over Emerald. Dining here feels more like settling into a full Italian meal than just grabbing a pizza.

Clyde’s Pies - Funghi Misti

Mountain Tap – Rancher

Brick – Diavola

For a pizza that’s as flavorful as it is local, try the Funghi Misti, made with housemade crema, braised leeks, thyme, mushrooms, Italian taleggio, fontina, and parmigiano-reggiano cheeses, fresh herbs, blistered pear tomatoes, olive oil, and a balsamic glaze. Co-owner Clyde Nelson got the idea for it in his first year in business, a banner year for foraging local porcini shrooms. “It’s just a rich, decadent, flavorful pizza and that says it all,” says Nelson, who roasts the mushrooms ahead of time with thyme and olive oil.

Corner Slice – Bruce’s Philanthropic

Give back to the community with Bruce’s Philanthropic pizza. Named for the restaurant’s “godfather” of pizza, Bruce Wasserman, the rotating pie benefits a different local nonprofit every few months. “The idea goes great with our goal of being your neighborhood pizzeria,” says owner Bryan Baker. “We get to make new friends in the community while supporting our favorite nonprofits.” Past versions have included crab rangoon, Hayden Fresh Farms breakfast, Taco, BLT, and peach. And watch for the Thanksgiving Feast ’za every November.

Domino’s – Cheese Pizza & Lava Cake

Okay, okay, but how can you have a Pizza Page without listing Domino’s? This one fills the late-night and delivery niche when convenience matters most. Their classic

28 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

Mountain Tap pairs wood-fired pizza with one of the best craft beer selections in town. Its pizza dough is made in-house with 00 flour from Italy, baked in a wood-fired oven that burns at 700 degrees, and its pizzas are Neapolitan-style, meaning the crust is delicate with a signature chew. Their all-time best-seller is the Rancher, topped with local Italian sausage from Steamboat Meat & Seafood, fresh mozzarella, fennel, oregano, and homespun San Marzano tomato sauce.

And a summer favorite is the Pesca, with Palisade peaches, Calabrian chilis, pancetta, Grana Americana cheese, white sauce, and fresh basil.

Slopeside – Broadway

Slopeside has redesigned and rebuilt its pizza kitchen, including adding a stateof-the-art, 6,800-lb., 96-inch Woodstone pizza oven and a new walk-up order window dishing out slices. Their ’za’s – known by such names as the “ACL – are built for carbo-replenishing meals after a day adventuring outside. The Broadway swaps red sauce for pesto and tops it with grilled chicken, caramelized onions, and sun-dried tomatoes. The flavors are bright, savory, and a little different from the usual lineup, feeling like a reward after a long day getting after it.

– Skylar Leeson

KENNY MCCARTHY

A FAVORITE COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE

Meet Steamboat’s Pizza Whisperer

Catching Up with the Brick’s JT Taylor Steamboat pizzamaker JT Taylor has been slinging ’zas locally for 30 years (even more in pizza years), through thick and thin, red and white, vegan and meat. He has the special touch, customers and bosses say, from the perfect toss to oven timing and the ever-important sprinkling of cheese.

When did you come to Steamboat? I moved here in 1997 for the mountain biking while I was in college. Then I fell in love with the snowboarding here and stayed.

How long have you been making pizzas here? Ever since I first got here.

My first job was at the Steamboat Brewery and Tavern, which later became Mahogany Ridge. They had a pizza oven, and I got sick of washing dishes, so they taught me how to make pizzas. I’ve been doing it ever since.

12 house-made beers on tap Full menu of wood-fired cuisine | Spacious outdoor patio Bounty of retail offerings | Beer and food to-go Mondays | Live local music on the patio.

Tuesdays| Token Tuesday fundraising for local nonprofits.

1st & 3rd Wednesdays | Joggers & Lagers fun runs.

Thursdays | Best of the Boat trivia night.

MON, Tue, Wed, Thur at 3 p.m. | Fri, Sat, Sun at 11:30 A.m.

910 YAMPA STREET|970-879-6646|MOUNTAINTAPBREWERY.COM

R E A L E S TAT E

Where all have you made them here? After the Tavern, I worked at Slopeside making pizzas for about 20 years. It was nuts. Back then, it was an awesome place to work, with a great crew, with people like Big Drew, Withy, Jason Rohde, and others. Our best-seller was probably the ACL, which came loaded with pepperoni and mushrooms. Now I’ve been making them at Brick for the past seven years or so.

What do you like about it? That’s a tough question. There’s kind of an art to making pizzas come out well. Everyone thinks they can do it, but it’s a lot harder than they think. I’ve trained a lot of people how to do it exactly like I do, but they can’t. I just have that touch for some reason. We literally have people calling the restaurant to see if I’m working before they come in. We even had someone call to see if I was going to be here for mud season.

What’s your favorite type to make? Probably Neapolitan, but I’m more of an East Coast-style person myself, which has a different cheese blend and a sweeter sauce. They’re also a little crispier than a Neapolitan.

What’s Brick’s most popular one? That’s probably the Diavola, which comes with pepperoni, sausage, and spicy peppers.

What’s your take on Steamboat’s pizza scene? It’s pretty good as far as mountain towns go. Not to cut anybody down, but at the same time, there’s also a lot of mediocre pizza in town.

What’s your secret? My boss always says it’s in the hands. I just care about what I do and try to make the best pizzas I can.

Any tricks of the trade you can share? There are a lot of tricks to hand-tossing a pizza. One of the big ones is to try to make a consistent base before you throw it in the air. You don’t want a thin middle that spreads out too easily when you toss it in the air.

The Steamboat real estate market can be as wild as its rivers. I have the knowledge, skills, and experience to help you navigate it successfully.

Contact me today!

TAYLOR BARKER Broker Associate 970-841-0122 taylor@brokerintheboat.com

www.BrokerInTheBoat.com SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 29

BEVVIES Short Pours

“Where’s my name?”

Who’s your buddy?

Mountain Tap’s Buddy Board!

Now here’s a chalkboard you want to be on. Behind the bar of Mountain Tap Brewery downtown is what’s affectionately called the “Buddy Board,” a chalkboard listing the names of people who other people bought a beer for. If you’re on it, all you have to do is point it out to your bartender and – voila! – redeem your free beer. (Go in with an ID saying you’re Tom Smith and you might get that one, too.)

“Guests love to treat their friends, relatives, or total strangers to a free beer on the Buddy Board,” says co-owner Wendy Tucciarone. “They use it to express gratitude to someone in the community or surprise visiting friends. Some Lucky Buddies have received 10 or more beers from a special friend.”

National Tequila Day July 24

Yes, there is such a thing. July 24 is National Tequila Day, so cut those limes, salt those rims, and get ready to celebrate (and salsa). Want to keep it local? Uncap a bottle of American Woman’s new Mujer Americana tequila, or Dangerous Dan’s, both of whose agave roots are right here in the Yampa Valley.

Mexico, the law protects the production of tequila. The rule states that Didja Intequila is only tequila if it is made within Jalisco and distilled from agave plants grown there. Additionally, the law limits production to regions in the states Know? of Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. However, the same ingredients distilled anywhere else cannot be labeled tequila.

Didja Also Know?

Certification: Look for four digits (a “NOM” code, Norma Oficial Mexicana) representing each distillery and assigned by the government certifying it. No NOM means not authentic.

TYPES Different types of tequila have different flavors and potency. Behold a cheat sheet to impress your friends!

Silver: Clear and the most popular, silver tequila is only aged for a few months, without the time to develop the color and characteristics of a longer aging process.

It tastes sweeter, with a refreshing, smooth finish, and is great for mixing into margs and other apres cocktails.

Anejo: Rich, full-bodied and caramel colored, Anejo is aged one to three years and is recommended for sipping (though it makes a great Moscow Mule or Negroni). A great choice to toast the day’s sweet turns.

Reposado: Aged anywhere from two to 11 months, Reposado has a smooth, even finish. It’s less harsh on the tongue and won’t give you as strong as a hangover for still hitting that powder day.

Breck Booze

Mythology Opens Breckenridge Tasting Room Heading over to Summit County? Now you don’t have to leave your beloved Mythology whiskey behind. The Steamboat Springs-based distillery, which recently opened a tasting room at the base of the mountain, has now also expanded to Breckenridge, opening a tasting room at 201 N. Main Street in the heart of downtown. “We’re stoked to have found a historic barn off Main Street to host tastings and sell bottles,” says owner Scott Yeates. “Breckenridge is the busiest ski resort in North America, and this new location provides incredible new brand exposure for us.” No matter that Breckenridge Distillery is just a cork pop away.

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Dano’s New Citrus Infusion Tequila

Fan of Dano’s Dangerous Tequila? Well, rejoice even further as the local tequila company now has a new citrus infusion as of this spring. “It tastes like a fresh lime margarita, but it’s 35 percent ABV tequila,” says the company’s Chris Timmerman. Dano’s Dangerous Tequila, known as the world’s first certified fresh fruit-infused tequila, also offers a Pineapple & Jalapeño infusion that’s turning tastebuds (and braincells) as well. Made with 100% Blue Weber Agave Blanco and no artificial flavors, like the citrus infusion it delivers a balanced, sweet-and-spicy flavor ideal for straight sipping or premium margaritas.

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New Distillery, Bad Alibi, Comes to Craig

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The city of Craig has a Bad Alibi. Bad Alibi Distillery just opened in Steamboat’s neighbor to the west at 23 1/2 West Fourth St. Using a grain-to-glass process for locally produced spirits, Bad Alibi “was founded to tell the stories of Northwest Colorado through craft spirits and historic Western narratives rooted in the region’s landscape and people.” “This project has been years in the making, and opening our doors marks an important milestone not only for us as founders, but for the Craig community,” says owner Wade Gerber. “We set out to build something that honors the history of Northwest Colorado while creating a new destination for locals and visitors. We’re thrilled to finally welcome people inside.” Bad Alibi’s grains are sourced from local producers as much as possible as part of an effort to honor the region’s Western past, celebrate regional agriculture and elevate local craftsmanship.

Info: www.badalibidistillery.com

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Forget cramming those tiny bottles of Fireball or what-haveyou into your ski jackets come winter or backpacks come summer. Breckenridge Distillery recently unveiled its brandnew whiskey, MountainShot, packaged in pocket-friendly 200ml pouches (that you can order in a 10-pack), for on-thego après celebration. And it has a taste as distinctive – and better – than that cinnamon-saturated, Big Red gum-tasting Fireball. It’s infused with Hen of the Woods mushrooms with added flavors of chocolate and mint, designed to “embody the free-spirited allure of the Rocky Mountains.” Billed as a “toast to nature, friendship, and the simple pleasures of life” and “something you’ll actually want to savor, versus a shot you shoot to get down quickly,” it also features a cute gnome as its mascot. Info: www.drinkmountainshot.com

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MountainShot Portable Pouches

Whiskey Lovers Rejoice!

American Single Malt Recognized as Own Whiskey Category It’s official. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has officially recognized American Single Malt as its own whiskey category. “This is huge for the industry, and we’re thrilled to be part of this emerging category,” says Santa Fe Spirits’ Kristen O’Brien, whose company has been crafting American Single Malt since 2011. “It’s the first new whiskey category to be recognized in over 50 years, a federal landmark event that elevates American single malts alongside bourbon and other iconic American spirits.”

The designation means whiskey needs to be made a certain way to legally be called American Single Malt. While they don’t make a single malt, local distiller Mythology says the designation is great for those that do. “This is awesome news for so many craft distillers that focus on single malt,” says owner Scott Yeates, giving a nod to Colorado companies such as single malt craft distillery Boulder Spirits in Boulder.

Providing Steamboat Springs’ Backcountry Enthusiasts with the Gear They Need Since 1986.

Wheels is proud to welcome the new owners of Backdoor Sports to 841 Yampa St. along the river.

Come visit us for all your bike, tubing and backcountry needs!

841 Yampa St., Steamboat Springs (Between 8th & 9th on Yampa St.)

Located on the river along the bike path.

A 60 second ride to the Emerald Mountain Trail System SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 31

BEVVIES

COURTESY OF STORM PEAK BREWING COMPANY

Undercover Spicy Margs!

Bevvies with a View

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Rooftop Bars! Arriba!

here’s something about wining and dining outside and above everyone else that fosters good vibes. Such is the case at a couple of rooftop bars in town where the air blows your hair and the views just might make you want to pitch your tent.

Vaqueros At Vaqueros, the rooftop is where the magic – from the moonlight to the mountains – really happens. Perched above Lincoln Avenue, this top-of-the-world hotspot is the perfect place to grab a seat, order a margarita, and soak in classic Steamboat views. Think downtown energy with a peek of the peaks in the distance. The vibe shifts effortlessly from sunny afternoon hangout to lively evening kickoff, making it just as ideal for lunch as it is for predinner drinks. Chips and dip are practically mandatory up here, whether you’re team salsa, guac, or going all-in with their fresh ceviche. If you’re ready for something heartier, the steak fajitas arrive sizzling and are always a favorito. And with a bar as stacked as theirs, you’ll never go thirsty – though the grande margarita deserves a little respect.

Salt & Lime Salt & Lime might be known for having some of the best margaritas in town, but high above its indoor diners is a rooftop deck bringing an atmosphere that’s just as memorable as the vittles and drinks. From Emerald Mountain to Buff Pass, your head will crane as much for the views as it does for your server bringing you a fresh round of margs. And waisthigh, see-through windscreens keep the chips in their bowl. It lets you enjoy the laid-back Steamboat air above the bustle below (if Steamboat really has a bustle). For rooftop grub, try starters like queso fundido, chorizo vampire, and Toritos poppers – pineapple-and-cheese stuffed, bacon-wrapped jalapeños with cascabel BBQ (you’ll want to throw them to your friends walking on the sidewalk below). In fact, you’ll like the outdoor vibe and vistas so much that margs could well turn into a main course.

Storm Peak Brewing Company Storm Peak’s rooftop on the west side of town brings a laid-back, local feel to summer evenings in Steamboat. With views of Sleeping Giant, its rooftop deck is right above the brewing vats below, so it’s only a flight of stairs away in freshness. Another perk of the rooftop perch: pizza, BBQ, burgers and more are all available to bring to your table from next door. The quieter setting offers a relaxed alternative to downtown, making it a favorite for locals looking to unwind in the sunshine. Bonus: you can bring your dog!

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Not every great spicy margarita comes from a restaurant or bar with a neon cactus and a mariachi playlist. Some of the best spicy margs in town are hiding in plain sight, at spots you wouldn’t expect, quietly shaking up heat that rivals any traditional Mexican joint. These are your undercover spicy margaritas – the ones you stumble upon at a casual happy hour and suddenly text your friends, “This is one of the best spicy margs I’ve ever had!” From smoky, jalapeño-forward sips to perfectly balanced sweet-heat combos, they prove you don’t need a sombrero on the wall to bring the fire.

Brick – Spicy Margarita Brick’s spicy margarita brings a little creativity to the heat. Made with your tequila of choice, Triple Sec, homemade pepper jam, lime juice, and simple syrup, it balances sweet and spicy in all the right ways. Finished with a tajín and salt rim, every sip hits with citrus, spice and just enough kick to keep things interesting – enough that you might find yourself singing “She’s a brick house …” as you walk out the door.

Cypress – Hot Honey Margarita Sweet, smoky and spicy: this one’s doing the most in the best way.

Herradura reposado tequila and Los Vecinos espadín mezcal create a smooth, smoky base, while chili-infused local honey adds a sweet heat that lingers just long enough. It’s bold, unique, and one of the standout spicy margs in town.

Ice House – The Spicy Margarita Ice House doesn’t mess around. Their jalapeño-infused 100% agave tequila brings the heat right from the first sip, balanced with Triple Sec and fresh lime juice. It’s crisp, bright, and just spicy enough to make you immediately order another. Bonus: you’re right on the river, which, psychologically at least, helps quell the heat.

The Laundry – Fiery Margarita The Fiery margarita from The Laundry blends just the right amount of spice, Sauza, citrus, sweet and salt to leave you craving another. And another.

Concocted way back when by head barkeep Tod “JJ” Johnson, it’s not fair to say it came to him in his sleep, but close enough. “It was invented at 3 a.m.,” he says, highlighting its high-quality Sauza tequila infused with garlic, red and green peppers, jalapeno and habanero for the perfect balance of heat and sweet. He also Dr. Jekylls the restaurant’s bestseller with fresh-squeezed lime and orange juice and a homemade cilantro/lemongrass simple syrup, with a splash of Triple Sec.

O’Neils – Margarita Add Spicy A classic margarita with a quiet kick. Suerte Silver tequila, Triple Sec, and house-made sour mix keep things refreshingly traditional – until you add the spice. It’s smooth, balanced and sneaks up on you. The perfect “I’ll just have one” that somehow turns into two.

– Skylar Leeson

Coffee Corner!

The dirt on local grounds

Albums and Au Laits?

Yes, you’ll find both café au laits and albums at Dusky Grouse Coffee, located midtown at 1585 Mid Valley Dr. Owner Stephany Traylor says the shop sells up to 100 albums a month – yes, the real ones that you spin on a turntable – and that they actually bring people in. “Offering vinyl here has been a blast,” she says. “It started with selling just some of the classic essentials like Joni Mitchell, Bowie, Nirvana, Nina Simone, the Clash, and Tribe Called Quest. But we’ve watched what sells and now we have an even more eclectic offering. More Billy Strings, Grateful Dead, Bob Marley, and lots of pop – we can’t keep Billie Eilish in stock. We have something for everyone.” They also pair their album offerings with who’s playing in town. “We do a massive purchase in spring to showcase summer Strings Music Festival artists, and we also highlight WinterWonderGrass artists. We also show our love for LGBTQ+ artists during Pride, Black artists during Black History Month, and Hispanic artists during Hispanic Heritage Month. There’s no better way to say you care about someone than gifting them music, and records make that possible. It’s cool that our community gets that.”

New Grounds for Seedhouse Coffee

Seedhouse Coffee has germinated! The coffee roaster recently moved into a new space down the alley from its old location, now housed in the back alley at 1009 Lincoln Avenue behind The Press. Co-owners Chase and Kendra Lovins, with partners Ryan and Alyssa Stauffer, purchased Seedhouse Coffee Roasters in 2022 and completed its move last October, including moving the roaster and renovating the new 1,400-squarefoot space. The new venue hosts coffee cuppings and tastings, letting customers learn about roasting from head roaster Nick Beckner. “It marks an exciting next chapter as we continue to grow, rooted in quality, connection, and community,” Kendra said, touting their coffee as USDA organic certified, supporting healthier soil, biodiversity, and safer conditions for farmers.

Vista Verde Offers Coffee Line

“Cup of Joe, Jake?” North Routt’s Vista Verde Ranch has rolled out its own coffee brand. Each of the five signature blends is fresh-roasted weekly and crafted to reflect a different rhythm of the ranch. Roasts include: Vista Verde Ranch (Medium) - milk chocolate, caramel, praline; Big Ben’s Campfire (Dark) - dark chocolate, molasses, smooth; Lolli & Pops’ (Medium) - berry, floral, punchy; Breakfast Ride (Light) - stonefruit, raw sugar, citrus; and Steak Ride (Decaf) - chocolate, toffee, almond. “They’re crafted to tell the story of life at the ranch, with each blend offering a distinct, approachable flavor,” says the ranch’s Erin Brosterhous. “We use the highest-quality beans that are fresh roasted in the mountains every week. And they’re shipped directly to your door, so every cup is a tasty reminder of the slow and quiet mornings on the ranch.”

Coffee Closings

Big Iron Shutters West End Location

SEPTEMBER 11 Downtown Beer Stroll 4 - 7 pm

SEPTEMBER 12 Beer Garden Steamboat Resort 2 - 6 pm | 1 pm for VIP

BEER - LIVE MUSIC - FOOD Learn more and get your tickets at www.steamboatoktoberwest.com

Coffee connoisseurs on the west end of town have one less spot to fuel their caffeine jones. In April, Big Iron Coffee Co. announced that it was shuttering its location at 1901 Curve Plaza, which it moved into in 2024 from another west end location just a few blocks away. Owner Bowen Rodkey said the move would allow it to focus on its growing roasting business as well as focusing on its remaining, original location downtown.

Emerald Mountain Coffee Closes Emerald Mountain Coffee, located at 700 Yampa St., is no more after three years of satisfying downtown coffee desires. “We loved the shop and the great people we met, but it was time to move on for personal reasons,” said co-owner Ani Tikku, who opened the shop with her husband, Walter Leskiff, in 2022. A favorite for locals and visitors, the business was named for Emerald Mountain, rising like steam across the Yampa River.

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Music on the River A Visit to RiverWonderGrass

EUGENE BUCHANAN

By Eugene Buchanan

“Riiipppplllee, in still water …”

The song is oddly fitting. Grateful Dead cover band Pickin’ on the Dead is playing it near Rippling Brook camp on the Green River’s Gates of Lodore canyon, atop a quartzite spire of the Lodore Formation, some of the oldest rock on earth. We had just returned from a hike to a nearby waterfall and found them playing on the precipice, complete with watermelon wedges and a cooler of beers. It’s a nice touch by outfitter Adrift Dinosaur, one of many we’ll savor on their multi-day RiverWonderGrass trip. “Tickets and ID?” jokes guide Soren, as we duck under a juniper branch onto a natural patio overlooking the river far below.

Other songs from the happiest of happy hours include Bertha, Sugaree, Box of Rain, and Cassidy – the latter perhaps a nod to nearby Browns Park, former home of Butch Cassidy and his Hole in the Wall Gang. They’ll play more tonight back at camp, for concert number three of six on this four-day trip.

Everyone likes a good round of campfire guitar singing on a river trip. But Adrift out of Jensen, Utah, takes it a step further with its RiverWonderGrass trips through Dinosaur National Moument. Professional bands tag along, playing at camp, on the water, and even on occasional pinnacles like this one, their songs echoing off canyon walls and into the memory banks of their clients forever.

“What a glorious time we had together,” participant Jadu Jagel, a psychologist from Honolulu, will write the group afterward. “Pure canyon magic … truly a

banquet for the senses and the soul. This was a total dream come true for me and I’m incredibly grateful remembering those magical moments … the bends in the river, songs in the air, droplets of rain, clouds overhead, wildlife, and red hued crags against the sky, and, hot damn, the cliff rock concert.”

Adrift certainly isn’t the first outfitter to incorporate music into their trips. Other outfitters have been booking music on their outings for years, mostly on multi-day trips out West. But they’re the first to take it to this level, integrating it in as a staple of their offerings. The floating formula – combining musical acts, often bluegrass, with boating – is working.

Adrift co-owners Scotty Stoughton and Javier Placer conceived the dream when they bought the business in 2019, offering their first such trip a year later in 2020. They’ve since expanded the line-up to nine such trips last year alone, including the Kitchen Dwellers, Fruition, Tyler Grant, Pixie and the Party Grass Boys, and more. Ours features Pickin’ on the Dead, led by frontman and part-time Adrift raft guide Tyler Grant, a national flatpick champion.

“These trips have become amazingly popular in a short time,” says Scotty, who also organizes Steamboat’s three-day WinterWonderGrass bluegrass festival as well as BajaGrass every April.

“They sell out all the time. Something about river trips and music just seems to resonate with people.

People say it just makes their lives better. Time’s moving so fast these days and this helps slow that all down.”

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I knew we in for a treat when, while chain-lining gear at the put-in, we handed off guitars, basses and mandolins alongside groovers, food, and water jugs.

And this trip added the common bond of the Grateful Dead. At the first night’s introduction we circled around and introduced ourselves, mentioning the favorite Dead song we wanted to hear. Countless Berthas, Box of Rains, Scarlet Begonias, Terrapins, and Dire Wolfs later, I threw out Shakedown Street from my high school days. “Are you talking from 1973?” chimed in someone across the circle.

Indeed, the trip drew an eclectic group of diehard Dead Heads, flying in from as far as Washington DC, Boston, Pittsburgh, Portland, Bellingham, the Bay Area, and even Hawaii for four days of the Dead in Lodore. It’s a combo that’s hard to beat. Named by John Wesley Powell after the English poem “Cataract of Lodore” during his first descent in 1869, the 44mile trip is filled with Class II-III rapids and towering canyon walls, making it one of the best multi-day rafting trips in the country. Throw in a little music and you won’t want it to end.

It’s no ship of fools at the helm or in the galley.

Adrift’s guides know their way around a river kitchen as well as they do the canyon, making sure coffee is ready at sunrise and, after whipping up Greek gyros, baking pineapple upside-down cake just in time for the evening concert. Our trip is led by Joy McCreary, 27, and her fleet of guides, including Soren, McCall, Miguelito, Mags, Bryson, and Tyler. “That’s why I came to Adrift – I wanted to be on these music trips,”

EUGENE BUCHANAN

Riding that wave train: Pickin’ on the Dead band members Michael Kirkpatrick (mandolin), Ace Engfer (bass), and Tyler Grant (guitar) jamming for guests on the Green River’s Gates of Lodore.

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“The songs are kind of like a canyon, and we fill that with water. We’re the snowmelt and the sounds are the canyon.

How we flow through them is different every time.”

–Tyler Grant she says. “It’s an opportunity to make magic in a place that does it for you on its own. Some of our guides come here just to guide them.”

And she loves the camaraderie they evoke. “I love the community it brings,” she says. “People that like the same music are generally more cohesive and jive together. It’s an extra layer of community and a common bond. I never want them to end.” She adds that bands like Pickin’ on the Dead, featuring Tyler Grant on guitar, Michael Kirkpatrick on mandolin, and Ace Engfer on bass, bring that common bond up another level. “The Dead community is even tighter knit,” she says.

We get a taste of what’s in store our first night at Pot Creek 1 camp. “Sorry about those parking spaces up front,” jokes Michael as the three musicians sit on rocket boxes in front of a propane fire pit, facing the guests in an amphitheater of chairs. “And the chairs are just a suggestion.”

A good one at that. Soon, everyone is up and dancing, raising their arms toward the canyon rims. The only real rule the band adheres to is no repeats for the entire fourday trip. That means by trip’s end they will have played 54 Grateful Dead songs, as well as a handful of originals and covers. And the guests on this trip have likely heard them all. “You know it’s a trip full of Dead Heads when no one requests Fire on the Mountain,” adds Michael.

The next morning, Tyler greets everyone with a coffeehouse session, while the sun bathes the cliffs in a soft glow. “Oops, got stuck on a couple of rocks there,” he says, on a rare chord progression stumble for a new original. A few hours later, he gets hung up on some real rocks in the river, in the shallow section below Huggy Bear in Hell’s Half Mile. No matter. Music and river running are improbably similar, he says, and some quick bouncing has them off and on their way again.

“You have to stay in the current and try to find that flow state, just like music,” he says. “In both, you’re existing in dynamic environments where nothing stays the same and you have to react to an ever-changing environment. Like a river, a performance is always going to be different. You can never depend on any sort of consistency in music, or on a river.”

That holds especially true for the Grateful Dead. “Their music is very liquid,” he says. “The songs are kind of like a canyon, and we fill that with water. We’re the snowmelt and the sounds are the canyon. How we flow through them is different every time.”

Another great feature of these trips: the band members are guests, just like you. You wait in line for the groover and coffee with them, share stories around the

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while I’m out on the river,” he says. “I’m too busy. But I collect ideas and lines for later. Sometimes it’s a melody or a riff or a lyric.”

campfire, wash dishes and scout rapids together, and schlep gear together – all of which brings you closer than at a more conventional concert. And the bands like it as much as the clients do. They get to cut loose, the stress of conventional gigs evaporating like the water off the river. “They love it – we have bands that come back every year,” says Joy. “It’s a nice break from their traditional summer tours. The trip affects the musicians as much as the clients.”

As with Tyler getting inspiration from the river, Adrift’s recipe combining raft trips with music is working. This year nearly two-thirds of Adrift’s 25 multi-day trips are music trips, nine open to the public and six private “chartered” trips, where someone books out the whole trip with a band. The draw is the feelings they evoke. “I love seeing people change from being on the river,” says Joy. “I feel it feeds back into their everyday lives after the trip.”

Perhaps no one loves it more than band frontman and award-winning flatpicker Tyler, who, after falling in love with rivers, has been working as a guide for Adrift since 2021. He grew up in eastern San Diego and moved to Nashville for seven years once his music career took off. “I always wanted to be involved in outdoor leadership,” he says. “This lets me do that while still maintaining a music career.”

When his fan base for his music and instruction developed enough, he moved to Colorado and has never looked back. Tyler is now finishing his new Lodore Suite album, due out in 2026. “I don’t compose music

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On day three, we float into Echo Canyon and the confluence with the Yampa, site of a heralded success story for protecting endangered peregrine falcons.

Tyler has us all yell “Jerry!” and we hear it reverberate off the canyon walls. We paddle up the Yampa and they play a concert on the water, their voices echoing in the natural amphitheater. During “Terrapin Station” they change the word to “peregrine,” which blends right in. The guests groove way and take it all in,

floating in duckies, rafts, and even their PFDs in the water. I’m not sure it’s what former Sierra Club president David Brower envisioned when he helped save these canyons from being buried by a dam in 1958, but I’m sure he’d approve.

That night we camp at Jone’s Hole for our final concert. After hiking up Jones Canyon to view Fremont petroglyphs and refresh ourselves under a waterfall, we return for costume night, with even the guides letting their river hair out. As a full moon rises over the canyon rim, they show up in silver, one-piece suits and rectangular Devo-type sunglasses, saying they’re from the planet Zoltar.

And then they start jamming. Everyone loves it and we gyrate the night away, dancing with our hands in the moonlit air. What a long, strange – but incredible – trip it’s been.

Split Mountain Fun: Don’t have time for a four-day river trip? Get a taste of Dinosaur’s scenery and splashes on an Adrift day trip down Split Mountain Canyon this summer. Info: www.adrift.com.

Hey, Deadheads … Want the Set List?

Uncle John’s Band, Shady Grove, Candyman, Brown Eyed Women, Queen Jane Approximately, China/ Rider, High Time (For Joy), Cumberland Blues, Why Don’t You Turn Out The Light (Ace Original), Joyful Song (Tyler Original), Wildwood (Michael Original), One More Saturday Night, Brokedown Palace

Rippling Brook Rock

2 Set One: Bertha, Sugaree, Box of Rain, Help/Slip/Franklins, Cassidy

Set Two: Let the Good Times Roll, Feel Like a Stranger, Bird Song, Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again, Stealin’, Monkey & The Engineer, Me & My Uncle, Mountains of the Moon, Scarlet Begonias, Breadbox, The Other One, Breadbox, Truckin’, Eyes, Throwing Stones, Midnight Moonlight, Must Have Been the Roses, Ripple

Rippling Brook Rock | Day 3

Set One: Echo Park/Yampa River): Sitting Here in Limbo, Come Back Home To Me (Michael Original), Here Comes Sunshine, Terrapin, Music Never Stopped, Row Jimmy Set Two: Echo Park/Yampa River): Sitting Here in Limbo, Come Back Home To Me (Michael Original), Here Comes Sunshine, Terrapin, Music Never Stopped, Row Jimmy

Your buyer exists.

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STRAIGHT DOPE Blunts

Put This Legislation in Your Pipe and Smoke It While our beloved Centennial State is over twelve years into recreational cannabis sales – the longest run in the country – issues keep surfacing, from taxation to sales and consumption, affecting everyone from growers to dispensaries. Three bills have been recently introduced of note to cannabis consumers and business owners. They include a proposal to allow marijuana-friendly special event permits (currently there are only four licensed lounges in the state, all in Denver); allowing medical marijuana inside hospitals; and updates to wholesale taxes. Rumors of additional measures are also on the way, all of which could continue setting trends that other states follow.

Two locations: Downtown Steamboat and Clark

www.clydespies.com | 970-875-4070

Simmering Sinsemilla Sales Colorado’s marijuana sales will likely reach $1 billion by the end of 2026, generating almost $200 million in tax revenue, according to a state agency. “Colorado’s world-class marijuana industry drives out criminals and cartels and is supporting Colorado businesses and jobs while driving revenue for school construction.

This important milestone is one that our state can continue to build on,” said Gov. Jared Polis in a statement. The state collected nearly $20 million last October and more than $105 million last September from marijuana sales, according to the report from the Department of Revenue. Marijuana tax revenue comes from three sources: A 2.9% state sales tax on marijuana sold in stores, a 15% state retail marijuana tax, and a 15% state retail marijuana excise tax on wholesale sales and transfers of retail marijuana.

Didja Know…

That’s Dope!

SATISFY ALL YOUR SENSES. 600 Lincoln AVE. 38 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

Next time you hear the phrase “That’s dope,” be the life of the party by knowing its origin! The phrase has roots in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and evolved over several decades. Originally, the word “dope” (dating back to the late 1800s) referred to drugs or something thick/liquid. By the mid-20th century, it started to take on slang meanings like “excellent,” “cool,” or “impressive.” The modern sense of “that’s dope” took off in the 1980s and 1990s, influenced by hip-hop culture. Artists and groups like Run-D.M.C. and N.W.A used “dope” in lyrics to describe something high-quality or exciting, helping spread it into mainstream slang.

By the 2000s, the phrase had become widely used across the U.S. (and beyond), especially among younger speakers, to mean: That’s awesome or impressive or cool.

And now you know the rest of the story…

We Deliver!

Steamboat’s Dispensaries Golden Leaf

Where: 1755 Lincoln Ave. | www.goldenleaf.co What: Located west of town, Golden Leaf cultivates cannabis with nutrient-rich soil, pure Rocky Mountain water and advanced growing techniques to produce some of the highest quality cannabis in Colorado. Whether you’re looking to enhance your Steamboat experience or help an ailment, Golden Leaf strives to provide a comfortable and informative experience for everyone. The awards it has garnered are a testament to its dedication and passion, from firsts in the THC Classic (for such strains as its Lemonhead Delight and Black Maple #22). With quality and attention to detail going into every plant, it prides itself on friendly, service-oriented budtenders and offers a complimentary shuttle service and online recreational ordering.

Billo

Where: 3150 Ingles Lane | www.mybillo.com What: Carrying a complete line of flower, concentrates, edibles, topicals and more, Billo is the only dispensary located in the Steamboat Mountain Village area and is the closest dispensary to the resort (and those coming into town off Rabbit Ears). Billo believes that customers deserve to know what they’re getting, where it was sourced, and how it will make you feel. Have your questions answered by industry professionals who take pride in helping people find the right mix of products to best enjoy their Steamboat experience. With straightforward pricing and a wide variety of products to choose from, Billo is handsdown the locals’ favorite for quality cannabis in the Yampa Valley.

Happy Hour

Mon-Fri 4pm-5:35pm

$2 Bites

Cheese slices, cheesy bread, garlic pretzels

Bevvies

$4 draft beers $5 wines by the glass

$12 Cheese Pizzas 635 Lincoln Ave, Unit N, Steamboat Springs, CO 970.871.0005 | thecornersliceco.com

Blue Heron

Where: 100 W. Main St., Oak Creek | www.blueherondispensary.com What: Oak Creek’s Blue Heron takes pride in having one of the best selections of high-quality, organically grown flower in the state. This small boutique-style shop offers constantly rotating strains of amazing organic flower and a wide selection of top-shelf products including dialed-in gummies, Spherex, Wyld, AO extracts and more. “We love being part of this community and catering to our locals on a first-name basis,” says owner Mark Wellstone, who named the shop in honor of his late best buddy Matt Lansing. “We’re the hidden gem in Routt County and carry the best of the best.”

Anna (Hayden) Blue Heron’s sister dispensary Anna (a play off the word “cannabis) fuels the cannabis stoke in Hayden at 735 E. Jefferson St. (next to the “windmill” property), carrying its high-quality, all-organic flower and locally sourced concentrates. It’s also the closest shop to the airport in Hayden. “We hope to be an important part of Hayden’s revitalization and are excited to provide top quality service to the community,” says Wellstone, who operates the boutiquestyle shop with partner Cherie Sanders.

Tumbleweed Steamboat

Where: 2093 Curve Plaza, #C-103 | www.tumbleweed420.com What: Proud to be owned and operated by females, Tumbleweed – named after the namesake plant its owners saw blowing across the highway when they moved west from Minnesota – began in Parachute, Colo., in 2016. Growing like a weed itself, it has since rolled across Colorado to include eight dispensaries in Frisco, Edwards, Carbondale, DeBeque, Eagle, Craig and Steamboat (which it formed by purchasing Rocky Mountain Remedies in 2019). Its Steamboat team has nearly 20 years of experience managing other dispensaries in Routt County, so is well-versed in understanding the wants of locals and visitors. It proudly serves the Colorado high country with quality green bud, edibles, topicals, CBD products, concentrates and everything in between.

SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 39

OFF THE COUCH Night Golf at Haymaker?

Unleash your own nocturnal Happy Gilmore at Haymaker, with glow-in-the-dark balls and lit-up fairways. Haymaker’s New Moon Glow Ball Nighttime golf event takes place in August every year, with twoplayer teams playing in a sixsome scramble duking it out in a six-hole/alternate shot event. “It’s a one-night tourney we hold once a year,” says Haymaker’s Cody Hasten. “It’s super popular and sells out pretty quickly.

It gets everyone from scratch golfers to people we see only once a year for this event.” And lest you want to bring the kids, it’s for adults only – last year’s event didn’t finish scoring until 1 a.m.

Like Bump, Set, Spike, Dude…

A big swing toward the Big Dipper.

Volleyball Booming in the ’Boat

E-bikes are barreling into the desert...

E-bikes in the Desert Next time you’re biking Fruita or Moab, you might have some e-company. In April, land managers in Moab began opening more than 200 miles of mountain bike trails to e-bikes, marking one of the largest e-bike expansions in the West. (The BLM opened the popular 18 Road area outside Fruita in 2019 to e-bikes and expanded e-bike access to 29 miles of trails in the North Fruita desert in 2022.) Meanwhile, the BLM’s Colorado River Valley Field Office is vetting a plan to open 220 miles to e-bikes, up from the area’s current 18 miles, allowing Class 1 e-bikes on trails across its jurisdiction spanning Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties – including trail systems Crown, Red Hill and Hardscrabble, along with other networks around Eagle, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, New Castle and Rifle. In a news release, Field Manager Lisa Dawson said that “local mountain bike groups” asked about expanding Class 1 e-bike access back in 2024 and that “feedback showed there was enough interest for us to move forward with an environmental assessment.” “When it makes sense, we work to improve access so everyone can enjoy our great trail systems,” the release stated.

Community Bike Shop!

Want to fix your bike under the guidance of experts? Ride County Riders’ Bike Match Community Bike Shop has opened at 2730 Downhill Plaza, Unit 106A, from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Cyclists can donate used bikes, be matched with refurbished ones, or work on their own under the tutelage of staff mechanics. The program is designed to let community members access, repair, and donate bicycles for others. Info: www.ridecountyriders.org

40 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

Serving up some volleyball fun at Howelsen.

Volleyball is alive and well in the ’Boat. Drive by the sand courts at Howelsen Hill and you’ll find bumpers, setters, and spikers having a ball, while friends barbecue and crank tunes in the background. It’s as close to Cali as Steamboat gets. This year’s lineup includes a King/Queen of the Beach drop-in every Tuesday from 6-9 p.m., with individual finishes tracked to determine the prize winner; the King/Queen of the Beach Tournament, where different partners play 2x2 throughout the day, with the most cumulative wins determining the winner; and a robust, 10-week Summer Beach Volleyball League with 12 teams per division, including 4x4 Coed and 2X2 with ABC levels. “Our volleyball leagues have taken off in a big way this season, with some leagues filling up within just an hour of opening,” says the city’s Austin Cagaanan, adding they have 90 teams participating this summer. “We’ve added more play times to accommodate as many teams as possible, which speaks to the enthusiasm our community has for it.”

THE DIRT

Beer: The Fixer Upper

What Your Summer Drink Order Says About Your Steamboat House Style In Steamboat, summer living has its own rhythm.

Afternoons stretch longer, patios become prime real estate, and what’s in your glass can feel just as personal as what’s on your front porch. Whether you’re sipping something crisp after floating the Yampa or ordering your go-to at happy hour, your summer drink might just reveal your home style alter ego. Here’s what your favorite warm-weather cocktail says about your Steamboat house vibe.

1. Aperol Spritz – The Downtown Bungalow Bright, charming, and always a little bit social, the Aperol Spritz belongs to the downtown bungalow.

This is the home with curb appeal, flower boxes, a sunny front porch, and a walk-to-everything address. It’s stylish without trying too hard and full of personality in a smaller footprint. Just like the drink, it’s colorful, classic, and made for long summer evenings with friends.

2. Ranch Water – The Modern Home Clean, crisp, and unfussy, Ranch Water is the modern mountain home in a glass. Think steel railings, oversized windows, smooth plaster walls, and a kitchen that says, “less clutter, better living.” This homeowner appreciates design, efficiency, and a seamless indooroutdoor lifestyle. Nothing overly sweet, nothing overly complicated, just sharp taste and a cool finish.

3. Whiskey Ginger – The Log Home A little rugged, a little timeless, Whiskey Ginger pairs perfectly with the log home. This is the house with a big stone fireplace, antler accents, hand-hewn beams, and a deck made for watching summer storms roll in. It’s grounded, warm, and deeply comfortable. The person ordering this drink likes tradition, texture, and a home that feels like Colorado.

4. Rosé – The Farmhouse Fresh, easy, and pretty, rosé is the farmhouse style to a tee. This is the house with white siding, black window trim, open shelving, wide-plank floors, and a porch that practically begs for a summer dinner party.

The farmhouse owner loves comfort with polish and

believes everyday living should still feel beautiful. Rosé says effortless charm with a little elegance mixed in.

5. Canned Hard Seltzer – The Rental Condo Practical, portable, and always ready for adventure, the canned hard seltzer is the rental condo personality. This is the lock-and-leave property near the mountain or base area that works equally well for weekend escapes and income potential. The owner values convenience, flexibility, and easy cleanup after a busy day outside. It’s not fussy, it’s fun, and it knows how to make the most of limited square footage.

6. Moscow Mule – The Work/Live Space A little industrious, a little creative, and definitely not boring, the Moscow Mule fits the work/live property. Picture a lofted setup, oversized garage doors, a studio workspace, maybe a shop downstairs, and living quarters above. This home style is for the entrepreneur, the maker, the one who wants function without sacrificing personality. Served in its signature copper mug, it’s ready to get things done.

7. Paloma – The Tiny Home Light, efficient, and surprisingly delightful, the Paloma is pure tiny home energy. It’s bright and fresh, with no wasted ingredients and plenty of flavor. Just like a welldesigned tiny home, it proves you do not need a lot of space to make a strong impression. This owner values simplicity, mobility, and smart design choices that let life stay focused on experience over excess.

8. Beer – The Fixer Upper Hardworking, unpretentious, and always earned.

This is the house with solid bones, a little dust on the floor, a project list on the counter, and real potential in the right hands. The person reaching for a cold beer is not afraid of sweat equity, weekend projects, or seeing value where others see work. It’s the drink of vision, grit, and knowing that the best results come from rolling up your sleeves.

-Lauren Bloom, Broker/Partner, The Group Real Estate RealEstateByBloom.com

wants to hear from YOU! Take our quick demographic survey for a chance to win: - A $50 gift card to Mythology - 2 General Admission tickets to WinterWonderGrass

SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 41

PARTY TIME Downtown Happy Hour Sampler Angling for some après? Hop on the happy hour bus, serving up drink and food specials for those who get there during the golden hours. The only problem: finishing your day’s adventure in time.

8th Street Steakhouse

4:30-6 p.m./8:30 p.m.-close daily; www.8thstreetsteakhouse.com

Aurum Food & Wine 4:30-6 p.m. daily; www.aurumsteamboat.com

Summer Après: A How-To Guide One Reveler’s Guide to the Summer Après Formula Start sunny. Add margs. Insert pizza. Turn up the music. Finish with one last drink. Repeat all summer long. In Steamboat, when the snow melts, the après doesn’t disappear, it just trades ski boots for dusty bikes, river floats and sun-faded hats.

Summer après is less about warming up and more about slowing down: that golden hour glow, a cold drink in hand and nowhere else you need to be.

Here’s your unofficial Summer Après How-To – a sampling of a Steamboat crawl built for slowing down, settling in, and soaking up summer.

Step One: Ease Into It at Los Locos

Start your summer après the right way – with tacos, tequila and zero urgency. After a day on Emerald Mountain, a float down the Yampa, or just a long sunny afternoon, Los Locos feels like the natural first stop. The patio hums with conversation, sunglasses stay on, and the smell of fresh tacos sets the tone. Order a round of margaritas, classic, spicy or whatever, and maybe a basket of chips and guac to share. Street tacos, loaded nachos and cold cervezas make it easy to settle in and let the day melt into evening. The vibe is casual and just lively enough to kick off the night without trying too hard.

Step Two: Grab a Slice at Corner Slice

Once you’re properly settled into the afternoon, head down to Corner Slice for the essential summer après refuel. There’s something about grabbing a hot slice after a sun-soaked day that just works.

People drift in and out, bikes parked nearby, friends regrouping while deciding what comes next. The

pizza is quick, and perfect for sharing – classic pepperoni, cheesy goodness, and maybe a cold beer to keep things rolling. The energy here is relaxed and social, the kind of place where you lean against a railing (perhaps next to the lifesize Danny DeVito cutout), laugh about the day, and realize you’re in no hurry to go anywhere.

Step Three: Turn Up the Energy at Schmiggity’s

As the sun starts dipping and the air cools, it’s time to turn the dial up a notch. Schmiggity’s brings the music, the movement, and the “let’s keep this going” energy that defines summer nights in Steamboat. Cold beers and cocktails flow while live music or DJs set the tone. The doors are open, people drift in from the street, and suddenly your laid-back afternoon has turned into dancing, catching up with friends, and maybe making a few new ones. It’s lively without being over the top – just the right amount of buzz to keep the summer vibes rolling.

Step Four: End the Night at Old Town Pub

Every great summer après needs a final stop, and Old Town Pub delivers the perfect landing. There’s something about the historic feel, the easygoing crowd, and the comfort of one last drink that makes it feel like the right place to wrap things up.

Grab a cold drink and some fries and settle in to recap the day – the ride, the float, the laughs and the inevitable “we should do this again tomorrow.”

The vibe is relaxed, familiar, and quintessential Steamboat summer.

–Skylar Leeson

42 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

Back Door Grill

3:30-5:30 p.m. daily, all day Sundays upstairs at the bar; www.thebackdoorgrill.com

The BARley Tap & Tavern

Mambo Italiano 4-5:30 p.m. daily; www.mambos.com

Ocean Dragon

3-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; www.oceandragonchinesesushi.com

Old Town Pub & Restaurant

3-6 p.m. daily; www.theoldtownpub.com

O’Neil’s Tavern & Grill

5-7 p.m. daily/Sunday all day; www.thebarleycolorado.com

3:30-5:30 p.m./ 10 p.m.-midnight daily; www.oneilstavernandgrill.com

Besame

Primrose

Brass Kitchen and Bar

Salt & Lime

The Common Bar

Schmiggity’s

4-5:30 p.m. daily; www.besamesteamboat.com 4-5:30 p.m. daily; www.brasssteamboat.com

Food: Sunday-Friday 2-5 p.m.; Bar: 2-5:30 p.m. daily; www.steamboatcommons.com

The Corner Slice

Monday-Friday 2-5 p.m.; www.thecornerslice.com

Cypress

3-5:30 p.m. daily; www.cypress-steamboat.com

E3 Chophouse

3-5 p.m. daily; www.e3chophouse.com

How Ya Doin’ Pizza & Eats

4-5:30 p.m. daily; www.howyadoinpizzaneatz.com

Johnny B Goods Diner 3-5 p.m. daily; www.johnnybgoodsdiner.com

Laundry Kitchen & Cocktails

4:30-5:30 p.m. daily; www.thelaundryrestaurant.com

Mai Thai

4-6 p.m. daily; www.primrosesteamboat.com 3:30-5:30 p.m. daily; www.suckalime.com 8-9 p.m. daily; www.schmiggitys.com

Seedz

3-5 p.m. weekends; www.seedz-café.com

Sunpie’s Bistro

3-6 p.m. daily; www.sunpiessteamboat.com

Table 79 Foodbar

4:30-6 p.m. daily; www.table79steamboat.com

Taco Cabo

4-6 p.m. daily; www.tacocabo.com

Vaqueros

2-6 p.m. daily; www.vaquerosmexican.net

Yampa Valley Ice House 2:30-5:30 p.m. daily; www.yampaice.com

Yampa Valley Kitchen 4:30-5:30 p.m. daily; www.yampavalleykitchen.com

3-6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; www.maithaimenu.com

Late Night Happy Hours Want bargains that continue until the cows truly come home?

Look for this

TUNES Catching Up with Randy Kelley

H

ead to any live music show around town, and you’ll likely find all-around Steamboat musician extraordinaire Randy Kelley up there picking away, whether it’s on a guitar, fiddle, or mandolin.

He’s as much a part of the local music scene as the venues he plays in and can mix up genres like bartenders do cocktails. Kelley was born in Philadelphia and raised in St. Louis, Chicago, and Denver before attending high school at Fountain Valley in Colorado Springs (coincidentally, where Bob Weir went). We caught up with him for all things strumming in Steamboat.

S&C: What’s your music background?

Randy: I’m pretty much self-taught. I took a month-long jazz guitar class and an introduction to theory course in Boulder, but I never really had a formal lesson or any real musical training. I started out on drums at about age 10, but was never really that good at them, and then was self-taught on guitar and bass at about age 15. I learned the banjo, fiddle, and mandolin at age 20. In Boulder, I bought a fiddle for $200 – my neighbors hated cats and had some in their furnace room and wanted me to play the fiddle to get them out.

S&C: What were some of your early bands in Steamboat?

Randy: As soon as I moved here, I got right into playing music. My first band was called Red Shoes with Margot Krimmel, and we played at the Cove in the Harbor Hotel downtown. We were way ahead of our time, playing pretty cool music in what was then pretty much a cowboy town. There are literally too many past bands to list, except some notable ones are Buffalo Commons, an original soul grass band; and Sundog, with Deanna Webb, Chris Koebnick, and Ron Wheeler, and a few other musicians for 26 years at the Western BBQ. S&C: How many bands are you in now?

Randy: A few. I play in The Worried Men, with Jon Gibbs, Willie Samuelson, Ron Wheeler, or Pat Waters – for nearly a decade we played every Friday night at Mahogany Ridge, which were big parties.

I also play in The Flattops with Lucas Mouttet and Eric Baker, playing a lot of songs Lucas writes; The Naturals with Joe Ghiglia – we play at Casey’s Pond every Tuesday morning; and new folk and blues with Sarah Kostin. I also sit in with other bands around town like The Little Moon Travelers, Bonfire Dub, Apple Pie, and others.

S&C: How many instruments do you play?

Randy: Guitar, both electric and acoustic, mandolin, fiddle, bass, and sometimes Native American flutes on the river, and the kalimba.

S&C: What’s your favorite?

Randy: It depends on the day, but the electric guitar is the most fun.

But I like acoustic guitar a lot, also. The fiddle is a crowd-pleaser, but my favorite is the guitar – it’s home base for me.

S&C: What do you like about teaching music?

Randy: I haven’t been teaching as much since my wife Mary died (editor’s note: Randy’s wife, Mary, died in a rafting accident on the

COURTESY OF RANDY KELLEY

Swillin & Chillin: When and how did you first come to Steamboat?

Randy Kelley: I moved here in November 1979 in my 20s, after getting a Geology degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and working on a geology project in Wyoming. My girlfriend at the time had friends here, and we had visited a few times. I liked it, so I said, ‘Let’s move there.’

“I like to play for people who want to listen.” –Randy Kelley Grand Canyon in March 2022), but I love teaching kids and families. I taught Suzuki guitar to kids ages 6-16 for 15 years. They’re such great learners at those ages and are so enthusiastic.

They’re just like musical sponges. But kids need a consistent lesson schedule, and I can’t provide that right now. I want to be a little flakier, and I think I’m succeeding.

S&C: What’s your take on Steamboat’s music scene?

Randy: It’s great. It’s very vibrant, open, and inclusive. You don’t have to be amazing to be welcomed into the music community here. It’s also low pressure compared to a city. If you’re in a city like Nashville, the pressure is so intense. There’s just so much going on here all the time. There’s also a pretty active bluegrass scene here, with a jam every Sunday night at the Depot and The Press. In Steamboat, you have more freedom and a chance to grow musically.

Consequently, people here have grown to become pretty good musicians. Personally, I just want to have fun playing music.

S&C: Other hobbies and interests?

Randy: Running rivers, skiing backcountry, music festivals, and travel. I loved raising my two boys – Ryan and David, both in their 30s – here in Steamboat’s Riverside neighborhood with my late wife, Mary; and I love my new life and traveling with my new wife, Aleka Scott.

S&C: Okay, have to ask … would you rather play on stage or around a river trip campfire?

Randy: That’s a tough one … I’d have to say both! But I do love campfires. I just like to play for people who want to listen.

SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 43

R E A L E S TAT E

This Is the Steamboat Lifestyle Let’s Find Yours LAUREN BLOOM BROKER ASSOCIATE/PARTNER

970.291.7727 | lbloom@thegroupinc.com RealEstateByBloom.com

Keepin’ It Free Summer Concert Lineup!

Hurray for Howlie!

Want to groove away with your besties to free tunes at one of the best outdoor venues in town? Hit this year’s Steamboat Free Summer Concerts at Howelsen Hill, whose high-energy shows feature everything from funk and rock to ragin’ bluegrass. Forsake driving by walking or riding your bike (there’s nothing better than riding your bike to a concert), then keep the vibe going by hitting downtown Steamboat afterward (hint: the musicians might play a late show at The Press). And please, tip your bartender or server. Info: www.keepinitfree.com JUNE Fri., 19 Lettuce JULY Sat., 11 BoomBox Sat., 18 Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (performing a “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” reggae-inspired set) Sat., 25 The Travelin’ McCourys SEPT. Sun., 6 Anders Osborne

SnowBowlapalooza!

35 free shows slated for summer, plus local bands on Sunday

Steee-rike! That’s the euphoric feeling you’ll have at Snow Bowl this summer as, in partnership with Schmiggity’s, town’s favorite outdoor concert venue has a whopping 35 – yes, 35 – free summer concerts lined up for every Wednesday and Sunday. While Wednesday shows will feature visiting artists, Sunday shows will be all local bands, letting you groove to your favorite musicians in the valley.

And you won’t want to miss the Putting the Giant to Sleep closing day festival on Sunday, Sept. 20, featuring four bands rocking the house from 3-8 p.m. “It’s going to be awesome,” says Schmiggity’s Kim Haggarty. “We added summer shows on Sunday at Snow Bowl featuring local bands all summer, which brings us to 35 free shows between Sundays and Wednesdays.” Showtimes, except for opening and closing festivals, are Sundays 5-8 p.m. and Wednesdays 6:30-9 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS

AUGUST

3 10 17 24

26

JUNE

Boot Juice High Step Society Bombargo J Roddy Walston

JULY

1 8 15

22 29

Corb Lund Bonfire Dub Chamberlin Birch/Bella Band The Saint Cecelia Sneezy

5 12 19

40 Oz to Freedom Wish You Were Pink King Cabbage Brass Band Float Like a Buffalo

SEPTEMBER

2 Steely Dead 9 Cousin Curtiss 16 J & the Causeways SUNDAYS MAY

31

Apple Pie

JUNE 7 The Flattops 4 Front Page Sound 21 Brian Smith Band 28 Speak of the Devil JULY

5 12 19 26

Mattie Silks Steve Boynton Trio Eric Delaney’s Taste Test The Schmiggs

2

Wordan Jilson & the Wild Bunch

AUGUST

9 16 23 30

JR Adams Band Rough Stock Worried Men Jay Roemer Band

SEPTEMBER

6

Hunter Archer & The Quiver 13 Fritz and Friends 20 Final Show Band 1: Giant Walking Robots Band 2: Wake Up & Live Headliner: Deadphish Orchestra

Wildhorse Happenin’s

You’ll have a wild time at Wildhorse Cinema + Arts this summer, as the venue will see a full cinematic schedule at 655 Marketplace Plaza.

Info: wildhoursesteamboat.org. And the drumroll, please…

1901 Curve Plaza, Suite 3 Steamboat Springs, CO

ONGOING

SUNDAYS Staff Pick Sundays: Employee selections of every genre on Sundays run throughout the summer.

SUMMER Dinner and a Movie: Paul McCudden and Chris Nyby host this get-together throughout the summer.

JUNE

10, 18, 24 Summer Blockbuster Film Series: Available every Wednesday evening, this baby runs weekly through June 24, featuring films from yesteryear. The series includes discussions by CMC Professor Paul McCudden, examining the impact of each film at the time of its theatrical release and its legacy since. Grab your popcorn for: “Trading Places” June 10; “Batman” June 17; and, yes, “Barbie” June 24.

18 !MindParade: A special musical performance by !MindParade in the speakeasy.

JULY

July 31-August 9 The Colorado 150 Film Festival: This cinematic extravaganza highlights films with a connection to Colorady and discussions with special guests. Movies include “True Grit,” “City Slickers,” “The Shining,” “Dumb & Dumber,” and more.

July 31-August 9 All Arts Week: A week celebrating local arts and culture, highlighting events and classes from Steamboat Art Museum, Tread of Pioneers Museum, Perry-Mansfield, Steamboat Dance Theatre, Piknik Theatre, Steamboat Symphony Orchestra, Strings Music Pavilion, Opera Steamboat, Steamboat Creates, local galleries, and more.

OrangePeelBikes.com | 970.879.2957 44 SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ | WWW.SWILLINANDCHILLIN.COM

AUGUST

5-8 Colorado Wild Horse Film Festival: In conjunction with the Equus Film and Arts Fest, this one kicks off with a special VIP screening of “5000 Miles, 5000 Mustangs,” including a Q&A with documentarian Julianne Neal.

GRATEFUL GEAR Grass Sticks BamBroom!

You have the poles and the ski pole plunger. Now complete your Grass Sticks home assemble with the new BamBroom! As its name suggests, the BamBroom is a bamboo broom, complete with trademark ski pole grips so it never slips out of your grasp and easy hanging storage. Light, strong, and beautiful, you won’t want to put it down. Made here in Steamboat Springs, for your broom nerds out there, it’s 55 inches long, with a bristle length of 6.5 inches and a shaft grip (for those extra tough spots) 13.5” below the main top grip for premium sweeping leverage. Includes the original Grass Sticks ski pole strap for hanging storage. $69, www.grasssticks.com Crochet Pants?

Yes, they’re a thing (as evidenced by attendees at this year’s WinterWonderGrass concert). Founded by Emily Alvizu, Aurora, Colorado’s Bohemian Scrapcity specializes 1970’s-inspired fashion made from upcycled materials. A pair of overalls that caught our eye at the concert was made from a hand-crocheted blanket that was remade into a custom set of trousers.

“The original blanket was made out of love, so what better way to honor that than by saving it from the landfill and making it into a super funky jumpsuit,” says Alvizu. “Our ethos is to incorporate as much used material as possible in every aspect of our business – our mission is to use used first.” www.bohemianscrapcity.com

Town Hall Inks Deal with Geartrade to Form RePlay Geartrade, an online resale platform for used outdoor gear and apparel, has partnered with Steamboat’s Town Hall to launch RePlay, a recovery and resale program devoted to kids’ winter gear. RePlay will be accessible through the Town Hall website and will provide a credit toward future purchases for the trade-in of any qualifying piece of the company’s winter apparel. All accepted trade-ins will be resold through Geartrade.com. “They’re a great resale team partner,” says Town Hall co-founder Robin Hall. “Kids outgrow clothes quickly, but great gear deserves more than one adventure.” Founded in 2020, every Town Hall product is made with at least 85% recycled materials and engineered for extended use across growing families and seasons. www.geartrade.com, www.townhallco.com.

Token Grateful Dead Gear!

Grateful Dead SUP! Casey Jones, you’d better watch your speed. While this price-point SUP from RetroSpec pales performance-wise to our own locally made Hala boards, its shortcomings are balanced by its Grateful Dead Steal Your Face graphics. The Bertha-themed board is an all-around rec SUP with a rounded nose and square tail for steering and glide, and a grippy, textured deck pad. But you’re really buying the limited edition design for Grateful Dead’s iconic Steal Your Face Logo and trademark 13-point lightning bolt. Made from AerGlide-Lite, it comes with a front storage bungee (for your Dead albums) and includes paddle and pump. Sizes: 8 feet for kids, 10’6”, and 15 feet. www.retrospec.com

Oakley

Blenders

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Coach

Saint Laurent

Goodr

Vuarnet

Ray Ban

Optic Nerve

Pit Viper Smith

Gucci

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Simms Grateful Dead Waders!

Roll away the dew. Angling company Simms has rolled out a limited edition collection of gear made for Dead Heads who live to chase their obsession. Billed as a “true American Beauty,” the collection includes hats, T-shirts/hoodies (“Grateful Threads”), and the Grateful Dead Guide Wader ($1,000), “built by hand, heart, and soul.” With a three-layer waterproof/breathable Gore-Tex upper and four-layer Pro lower, the stockingfoot wader has been modified with a Grateful Dead pocket and trim elements. www.simmsfishing.com SUMMER/FALL 2026 | SWILLIN’ & CHILLIN’ 45

LAST RUN

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEAMBOAT SKI RESORT

Drone Town USA

I

f you saw this year’s drone show Steamboat Ski Resort put together on January 31 for their Ski Town USA Olympic Sendoff Celebration, your neck is probably still sore from staring skyward. It featured everything from a rendering of Buddy Werner to Nordic jumpers soaring through the air with their skis in their trademark “V” formation. Below we bring you a few shots from the evening, as well as some behind-the-scenes info on the show from the resort’s Laura Kuczkowski.

Who put the show together? A small committee, including Brian Krill and Jeanne Mackowski from Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, as well as Traci Allen, Heidi Barbee, and I, created the initial story outline and renderings for it, working with a drone designer to create the artwork and narrow down designs for the allotted time. Then Morgan Bast wrote the script, which was recorded by Jay Kinghorn and voiced by John Shipley.

How many drones were involved? It included 200 drones. We worked with droneshow.com to source both them and the pilots.

How complicated is it? Depending on the image, some art comes together quickly. Traci and Heidi also had a similar rendering from a previous show that they could alter. Depending on the length and detail of the story being told, shows may take up to eight iterations to get a final product.

How was it received? We heard excellent feedback from locals and participating Olympians, all saying they loved it and it made them pretty emotional.

How does Ski Corps feel about drones vs. the typical fireworks show? Our events team uses both drones and fireworks, depending on the event. This past season, we had two drone shows, the Holiday show and the Ski Town U.S.A. Celebration. We also had two fireworks shows on New Year’s Eve and our February Light Up the Night extravaganzas. Both provide their own challenges and are weather-dependent. Drones are more susceptible to colder temperatures and wind, and also require a professional pilot to perform the show. But they also allow us to tell a story, which some events call for.

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