T H E
H U B
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A D V E N T U R E
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W E S T E R N
C O L O R A D O
OUTDOOR FIREPITS 16 RECIPES FOR WINTER WARMERS 20 ROMP SKIS 48 ICE KARTING 57 MOUNTAIN TOWN MUSEUMS 68
WINTER 2019-20 / ISSUE 10
CO N T what’s up in the west + what’s in season
lifestyle
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VOICES OF WESTERN COLORADO Locals weigh in on Celebrate
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WHAT’S UP IN THE WEST Grand Valley Gives Day
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WHAT’S UP IN THE WEST Evolve Wines: An Art + Science Passion Project Palisade High School Fish Hatchery
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BLOSSOM Don’t Treat Your Soil Like Dirt
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HOME + GARDEN Fire Pit Sanctuaries
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DRINK Sparkling Winter Citrus Punch
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EAT Winter Warmers: Hearty Stews
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BOOK+BEVERAGE Arches Enemy by Scott Graham Hot Chocolate by Enstrom Candies
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OUR FAVORITE INSTAGRAMS
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STYLE Lonewolf Collective
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MAKER Local Love at Hartmann Farmhouse
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ART Fun at Spun: Palisade Yarn Shop Offers “Unwind” Gatherings Theatre Aspen Breaks Into Winter WinterWonderGrass Music + Brew Festival
35 36 40
FOOD Career Center Culinary Arts Program
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FOOD COLUMN #thenewwest by Josh Niernberg
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WELLNESS + FITNESS How to Make Kombucha
E N TS adventure
features + events
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SPOKE Gear for the Season
64
I’D RATHER DANCE Old-Time Contra Dances
48
SPOKE Gear Profile: Romp Skis
68
MOUNTAIN TOWN MUSEUMS Something for Everyone
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SPOKE Athlete Profile: Andrew James
72
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF HOPE Local Superheros Save the Day
52
GRAND OUTDOORS Colorado Outdoors Program: Montrose
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EVENTS Winter Events in Colorado
53
ETIQUETTE The Not-Quite-Right Guide
80
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FAMILY Ski Weekends on the Cheap
WHO WE ARE Q+A with Angela Padalecki Executive Director, Grand Junction Regional Airport
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FAMILY Aspen Ice Karting: Pop-Up Ice Kart Rentals
58
TAKE A HIKE Grand Junction Classic: Mica Mine Trail
60
STAY + PLAY Palisade Gets an Upgrade
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GETAWAY Red Mountain Alpine Lodge SPOKE+BLOSSOM
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
CELEBRATE Colder temperatures and darker days don’t have to define the energy of winter. In western Colorado, these months can often be paired with blue skies and crisp air, a rigorous cross-country ski or cozy hours nestled by the fire. It’s certainly a good season to remember to celebrate. Meaningful traditions and festive gatherings bring together friends, families and entire communities, and even as abundant schedules and holiday to-dos can make for a whole lot of “busy,” this time of year can really be heartwarming in so many ways. As you sit to enjoy this issue of Spoke+Blossom, acknowledge all of the talented writers, photographers, editors and designers who made their creative marks on these pages, along with all the great businesses who support this publication and make it possible for us to print it. At S+B, we celebrate storytelling — the people, the places, the journeys, the recipes. From this issue, indulge in all the kitchen inspiration. Cat Mayer has contributed some delicious dishes to make, along with her beautiful photos, while Jayme Henderson whips up a craft cocktail, and editorial manager Lexi Reich writes on how to make your own kombucha. We get outside with Nordic athlete Andrew James, a backcountry getaway to Red Mountain Alpine Lodge, more affordable ski weekends, and ice karting in Basalt. We explore a couple of the exciting businesses that have opened up in Palisade this year: Spoke and Vine Motel and Pêche. Restaurant. From S+B editorial intern Jenna Kretchman, this season gets a little brighter as we read about the Justice League of Hope, a group of people who cosplay as superheroes and other characters and visit children in hospitals. This winter, take time to pause, to reflect and to be grateful. Spend hours preparing meals and even more time enjoying them. Get outside as much as possible, move your body and breathe deeply. Smile more, spread the cheer, and don’t forget to celebrate.
Founder Robin Brown Publisher Kim Fuller + Bobby L’Heureux Editor-In-Chief Kim Fuller Editorial Manager Lexi Reich Art Director Kitty Nicholason Staff Photographer Cat Mayer Advertising Hannah Odneal + Bobby L’Heureux Interns Jenna Kretschman + Naomi Allen Contributors Naomi Allen Rose Marie Binger Trent Bona Eric Coulter Jayme Henderson Jimmy Hummert David James Shenna Jean Jenna Kretschman Dylan Langille Kristen Lummis Mike Lyons Cat Mayer Cam McLeod Josh Niernberg Kane Scheidegger Ben Smith Sharon Sullivan Rick Svenson Caitlin Rose Ward Steven Waters Melanie Wiseman
Cover Photograph
Red Mountain Alpine Lodge, Courtesy Brandon Huttenlocher
Kim Fuller
Spoke+Blossom Magazine Jaunt Media Collective 2077 North Frontage Road / 103A Vail, CO 81657
Publisher + Co-Owner
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contributors
JOSH NIERNBERG Josh is a Colorado native who has called the Grand Valley home since 2007 with his wife, Jodi, and their two boys. Downtown Grand Junction’s Bin 707 Foodbar, Tacoparty and Dinnerparty are designed to showcase and promote the area.
SHENNA JEAN Based in Aspen, Shenna is a vision advisor, launch leader and content creator. Shenna completed her 200 YTT with C-Yoga in Chicago in 2012 and travels to teach Vision & Goal yoga workshops. Shenna enjoys live music and being outdooors.
ROSE MARIE BINGER Rose Marie has lived in Grand Junction for almost all of her 29 years and is in love with the Grand Valley she calls home. She spends her time enjoying local patios, reading, cooking and working on her podcast Babes.Books. Brews with her friend Emilie Stickley. Catch Rose Marie at Out West Books.
KRISTEN LUMMIS Kristen is a freelance writer focused on skiing and outdoor adventure. In addition to producing her awardwinning website, braveskimom.com, Kristin writes for FIS (International Ski Federation), Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month and Colorado magazines including Aspen Sojourner.
MELANIE WISEMAN Originally from Wisconsin, Melanie considers Colorado home after living here for 32 years. She takes advantage of all the amazing outdoor and cultural activities in our area, and loves writing about the people who make our community so special.
SHARON SULLIVAN Sharon Sullivan is a Grand Junctionbased freelance writer and editor. She enjoys finding and telling stories about interesting people and events in Colorado, Utah and Arizona. When she’s not working, you might find her hiking western Colorado’s public lands, or, perhaps backpacking in Grand Canyon — the place that brought her out West.
SPOKE+BLOSSOM
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