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MyDenver August 2026

BELCARO & BONNIE BRAE A RARE STORY

PRINTED PAGE BOOKSHOP

WHERE CREATIVITY GATHERS

THE ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF DENVER

From Seed to Cup

COPPER DOOR COFFEE ROASTERS

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Contents AUGUST 2026

18 F EATU RES

Where Creativity Gathers

The Art Students League of Denver’s beloved Summer Art Market supports the nonprofit’s vital cultural ecosystem. 18

From Seed to Cup

How Hannah Ulbrich transformed Copper Door Coffee Roasters while fostering equity for women in rural farming communities. 22

The Story of the Printed Page

Rare books, genuine character. Inside one of Bonnie Brae’s most charming book stores.

I N TH I S I S SU E

EDITOR’S NOTE Welcoming August

LOCAL PULSE Community Calendar

LOCAL TASTES Super Fluffy Focaccia

Q&A Match Point

BOOK NOOK Our Top Reads for August

MY SUNDAY Jeannette Torres

PHOTO OP Origin Story

COVER

Hannah Ulbrich, Copper Door Coffee CEO, and Lani Dobson, Copper Door Coffee Engineer Photograph by Lani Dobson

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

MyDenver BELCARO & BONNIE BRAE EDITION Publisher Sawyer Matz sawyer.matz@wainscotmedia.com Editor Emilie Trice

HELLO READERS, NEIGHBORS, AND FRIENDS, I have a hard time letting summer go. Always have. Plenty of people are ready to trade the heat for a sweater. I’m in no rush at all. I’m still squeezing August for all it’s worth. The long evenings, the way 8 p.m. still feels like late afternoon—I’ll take all of it for as long as the season will hand it over. There’s a stubbornness to August that I respect. It refuses to quit even as the school supplies show up in the aisles, and the light starts pulling back a little earlier each night. The

gardens are heavy. The patios are loud. The markets are at their fullest. The city is still very much in it, and so am I. This issue, though, has me thinking past my own porch— about the people around here who quietly spend their time and energy making this a better place to grow up, grow older, and belong. The neighbors and organizations doing the steady, unglamorous work that holds a community together. It rarely asks for attention. Which is exactly why it deserves ours. There’s something fitting about that in August. It’s a season caught between holding on and looking ahead, and a lot of good work lives in that same space—meeting people where they are while building toward what comes next. So I’ll keep stretching out these last warm nights. But I’ll be doing it a little more grateful for the people who spend theirs on someone else. Enjoy the issue.

Writers Erin Ahlfinger Emilie Trice Paige Dungan Roddy MacInnes Zach Martinucci Photographer Lani Dobson WAINSCOT MEDIA Chairman Carroll V. Dowden President and CEO Mark Dowden SVP, Group Publisher Thomas Flannery VP, Content Strategy Maria Regan VP, Director of Digital Media Nigel Edelshain Creative Director Kijoo Kim Art Director Rosemary O’Connell Associate Editor Sophia Carlisle Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer Operations Director Catherine Rosario Production Designer Chris Ferrante Print Production Manager Fern Meshulam Circulation Manager Kathy Wenzler

Sawyer Matz

Publisher, MyDenver sawyer.matz@wainscotmedia.com mydenvermag.com @mydenvermag

Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden

MyDenver magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Bonnie Brae and Belcaro, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2026 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

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LOCAL PULSE

Community CALENDAR

August in Denver delights with culinary festivals, award-winning musicals, concerts, and world-class art. Indulge in nostalgia because the season itself will soon be a memory. This month’s lineup makes the most of summer’s dog days and promises a feast for the senses.

Known for its eclectic architecture, from Queen Anne Victorians to mid-century modern homes, the Baker neighborhood is dotted with historical landmarks. Explore its beautifully preserved homes, churches, and community spaces on a self-guided tour organized by the East Wash Park Neighborhood Association. Proceeds support local public school DCIS at Fairmont (donate). The tour runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check in at DCIS at Fairmont (520 W 3rd Avenue). Tickets are $25 or $20 if purchased in advance. Check in at DCIS at Fairmont (520 W 3rd Avenue). To get tickets, visit bakerhometour.com.

August 13 to 23

August 15

This award-winning musical retells the iconic comedy classic “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Featuring flying cows, killer rabbits, and classic tunes like “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” Spamalot has been recognized with multiple Tony Awards, including Best Musical. With a world-class cast and nonstop critical acclaim since its debut in 2005, Spamalot is sure to delight all ages. Tickets are on sale now at denvercenter.org/ticketsevents/spamalot.

Deep Roots celebrates car culture, from bone-stock dailies to full-track builds—a showcase of craftsmanship and community. Join K Series Parts on the rooftop of one of Denver’s most iconic parking structures, with unforgettable panoramic views of the Front Range, unique street builds, live music, and giveaways. Located at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center’s West Parking Garage on the 6th Floor, the event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. More details at somo.social/da/e/ deep-roots-car-show-815.

Monty Python’s Spamalot at the Buell Theatre

Deep Roots Car Show

August 17

Sam Bush and phoffman at the Denver Botanic Gardens Summer is the season of bluegrass! Denver Botanic Gardens’ summer concert series presents Sam Bush and phoffman (from Greensky Bluegrass), two of the best bluegrass musicians on the scene. There couldn’t be a better place to enjoy this style of music than surrounded by the Gardens’ natural beauty. Tickets are priced at $100 for the general public or $95 for members. To learn more, visit botanicgardens.org/events/ public-events/summer-concertseries.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHEW MURPHY AND EVAN ZIMMERMAN

August 8

Baker Home Tour

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August 21

STRANGELOVE - The Depeche Mode Experience at the Gothic Theatre Feeling nostalgic for the 80s? This Depeche Mode tribute band invokes the new wave spirit that defined a generation. The band’s electronic rock meets synth-pop style transports the audience back to the era of MTV, Walkmans, and stone-washed jeans. Both new and longstanding Depeche Mode fans will appreciate STRANGELOVE’S sound and stage presence. Grab your Reeboks, Spandex, and hairspray and get ready to dance. For ages 16 and up, doors open at 7 p.m. For tickets, visit gothictheatre.com.

neighborhood, tickets go on sale August 1st. More information is available at asld.org/summer-artmarket. 200 Grant Street, Denver.

August 23

Four Mile Makers: Dog Days of Summer An homage to the Dog Days of Summer, the artists of Bigger Table Art Collective lead this event where pet lovers can glaze their own dog or cat bowl. Participants can choose from a variety of glaze options, learn new techniques from local pottery professionals and educators, and create a gift their pets are sure to enjoy! This class begins at 1 p.m. and is suitable for teens 13 and up.

then hosts The Shake + Brake Showdown on Thursday, a lively cocktail competition accompanied by endless appetizers from Denver’s most beloved food trucks, before culminating on Saturday with the celebration’s signature Grand Tasting. 1000 Larimer Street, Denver. Check out the festival’s vendors, map, and more at denverfoodandwine.com.

Sept 12 The Art Students League of Denver’s beloved Summer Art Market. Photograph courtesy the Art Students League of Denver.

August 22 and 23

Art Students League of Denver’s Summer Art Market Support the arts in Denver at this beloved summer tradition, which features 200 regional artists working in painting, photography, ceramics, jewelry and more, while supporting the ASLD’s year-round programming. ASLD classes serve hundreds of students every month, empowering creativity, artistic discovery, and cultural exchange throughout Denver’s arts landscape. Read more about the ASLD’s history and impact in this month’s feature story. Located at the historic Sherman School building and its surrounding

Oktoberfest on South Pearl Street We’re already looking forward to this annual tribute to Bavarian beer

culture and the legendary German Hofbräuhaus. Enjoy live music and traditional cuisine like bratwurst and oversized pretzels, along with a smorgasbord of local breweries in a jovial, family-friendly atmosphere. Dawn your Dirndl or hike up your Lederhosen for the costume contest or test your strength in the stein-hoisting competition. Located in front of Platt Park Brewing Co. Entrance at Colorado Ave and South Pearl Street. Purchase drink tokens in advance on Instagram @southpearlst and visit southpearlstreet.com/ oktoberfest for more details.

Located at Four Mile Historic Park, 715 South Forest Street, Denver. More details can be found at fourmilepark.org.

August 26 to 29

Denver Food & Wine Fest A literal feast for the taste buds and one of Denver’s most anticipated fetes, this multi-day extravaganza of food, wine, and spirits is presented by The Colorado Restaurant Foundation. The festival’s events feature the best of Colorado’s culinary community, the finest wines and spirits, and educational tasting seminars. The event kicks off on Wednesday with a wine seminar,

Denver Food & Wine combines street and gourmet cuisine. Photograph by Lucy Beaugard.

AUGUST 2026 |

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LOCAL TASTE S

Super Fluffy Focaccia BY ZACH MARTINUCCI AND CHEF JAN KRATZER

REBEL BREAD is more than a bakery—it’s a way of life. Founder Zach Martinucci studied Culinary Anthropology at UCLA, and Professional Bread and Viennoiserie at the San Francisco Baking Institute. Rebel Bread’s bakery has found a devoted following thanks to Martinucci’s flair for pastries, scones, croissants, and signature sourdough, while its bread school allows Martinucci to share his passion for culture and cuisine through community-oriented classes. Here, he shares a tried-and-true recipe for focaccia courtesy of Rebel Bread instructor, Chef Jan Kratzer. A style of flatbread dating back to the Etruscans, a pre-Roman civilization from 900 BC, focaccia was commonly consumed by Romans and Greeks, who flavored it with olive oil, herbs, and salt. Later, Italian regions developed unique variations, such as Ligurian focaccia with rosemary and sea salt, or southern versions with olives, tomatoes, or onions.

UNDERSTANDING THE FLOUR

• T65 Flour: Ideal for rustic, chewy breads like focaccia due to its higher protein content. • 00 Flour: Soft wheat flour used in Italy for pizza, pasta, and pastries. Produces a tender crumb in focaccia. • T80 Flour: Can be used for a denser, heartier texture with enhanced flavor.

THE BAKER’S PERCENTAGE

Hydration, or the water-to-flour ratio in dough, affects texture, structure, and crumb. High hydration (90%) is crucial for creating an open crumb and a soft, chewy texture in focaccia. Autolyse involves mixing flour and water, then resting to enhance hydration

and gluten formation. How do you calculate the hydration of your dough? The total flour in your dough is always considered 100%. If you use 900 g of water for 1000 g of flour, your dough has 90% hydration. This method of calculating ratios is a very effective way to scale recipes and is called Baker’s Percentage.

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FINAL DOUGH Baker’s Percentage (%)

Ingredients

Grams

100.00

00 Flour

500

90.00

Water

450

0.75

Instant or Active Dry Yeast

3.00

Salt

7.00

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

200.75

Total

1004

BREAD PROCESS FOR 1 QUARTER SHEET TRAY Scale

Measure water into a bowl and dissolve yeast in it; you can use your finger or any handy tool you have.

Autolyse

15 to 20 MIN Add the flour and thoroughly mix the ingredients with your hand until a rough dough forms. Once the dough comes together, start pinching the mixture until a cohesive mass forms. Let the dough rest for 15-20 minutes to allow the flour to hydrate. At this point, the gluten in the flour begins to activate, taking over the kneading process. This process is called “autolyse.”

Mix

SHORT MIX | D.D.T. 73 to 76ºF Add the salt and EVOO, and start pinching the dough while turning the bowl with your free hand to incorporate the ingredients. (You’re basically acting as a KitchenAid stand mixer at this point.) Organize the dough by performing a stretch and fold to create a smooth dough for bulk fermentation.

Bulk Fermentation

90 MIN | 3 FOLDS Over the next 90 minutes, perform three stretch and folds, every 30 minutes.

Divide/Pre-Shape

FOCACCIA IN OILED, PARCHMENT-LINED PAN After bulk fermentation, guide the dough from your bowl onto the well-oiled quarter sheet pan lined with parchment paper, and gently stretch the dough with oiled hands to roughly fit the pan.

Proof

30 to 50 MIN Let the dough rest in the sheet pan for another 30-50 min until large bubbles start to form and the dough starts looking like it will overflow out of the pan

Bake

STIPPLE AND ADD TOPPINGS BAKE 475ºF x 15 to 18 MIN Top the dough with more olive oil and start stippling. Gently push your fingers into the dough to create dimples. Top your focaccia with finishing salt and any other desired toppings, and place into a pre-heated oven at 475ºF or as hot as your oven allows. Bake for 15-18 minutes until desired golden brown color is achieved.

Cool, Evaluate, Eat, Share

FLIP ONTO COOLING RACK Flip the focaccia onto a cooling rack and remove the parchment. Let cool and enjoy!

AUGUST 2026 |

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Match Point Polica Houston, CEO of Denver Tennis Park, on building community both on and off the court. BY MYDENVER STAFF How did you start working in athletic education? My background in athletics spans more than two decades. I hold a Colorado High School Activities Association Athletic Coaching Certification and have coached high school football for many years, including All-American and All-State players. Early in my career, I served as the Youth Programs and Community Relations Manager at the University of Denver. I later served as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Northfield High School in Denver Public Schools, where I provided instructional leadership while overseeing the development of a new comprehensive interscholastic athletic program. Prior to my role as CEO of the Denver Tennis Park, I was the Vice

President of Programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado. During that time, we developed a partnership that enabled mentor matches to experience programming at the Park. Even early on, I was so impressed by the staff at Denver Tennis Park and the organization’s commitment to introducing youth to the game of tennis. What kind of impact do youth sports have on the community? Youth sports have the power to strengthen communities far beyond the playing field. When programs are intentionally designed around inclusion, positive coaching, and youth development, they create healthier children, stronger families, and more connected neighborhoods. Sports are among the few places where students

INTERVIEW WITH

POLICA HOUSTON, CEO OF DENVER TENNIS PARK

from different schools, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds come together around a shared purpose. According to the Aspen Institute’s 2025 “State of Play,” more kids are playing sports than at any time before the pandemic. The game of tennis also continues to experience remarkable growth across the country. In 2025, more than 5.6 million youth played tennis nationwide, contributing to a record 27.3 million Americans of all ages who took to the courts, the highest participation level ever recorded and the sixth consecutive year of growth. Research also shows that children who participate in sports are more likely to develop confidence, resilience, teamwork, leadership, and goal-setting skills that benefit them throughout

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their lives. At the Denver Tennis Park, we have experienced that momentum firsthand, with youth participation increasing by more than 12% this past year. Through scholarships, school partnerships, and community collaboration, we are committed to ensuring that every youth has the opportunity to experience the lifelong benefits of tennis, regardless of financial circumstances. How does Denver Tennis Park work with other organizations across the metro area? At Denver Tennis Park, we believe expanding access to tennis begins by meeting young people and families in their communities. Through partnerships with Denver Public Schools, the University of Denver, and the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation’s SERVES program, we bring tennis into schools and communities across the Denver metro area. During the 2026–27 school year, our collaboration with Denver Public Schools will introduce +11,000 students at Title I schools to the game through physical education classes and Advantage

Kids Programming. By working collaboratively, Denver Tennis Park and our community partners create lasting pathways that promote health, belonging, leadership, and opportunity for individuals of all ages. What are some lessons tennis can teach both kids and adults? As Arthur Ashe famously said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” That philosophy is at the heart of the Denver Tennis Park. We believe tennis is one of life’s greatest teachers, helping young people and adults develop resilience, discipline, confidence, and the ability to persevere through challenges. Every practice and every match is an opportunity to solve problems, manage emotions, build relationships, and grow both as a competitor and as a person. What does the future hold for Denver Tennis Park? The future of the Denver Tennis Park is about much more than tennis. We are building a community asset where every child, regardless of background or financial circumstance, has the

opportunity to develop confidence, resilience, and lifelong healthy habits through sport. Over the next several years, we will continue expanding our partnerships with Denver Public Schools, the University of Denver, USTA, and community organizations to bring tennis directly into neighborhoods and schools, creating clear pathways from a student’s first experience with a racquet to competitive play, leadership opportunities, college, and beyond. As both a USTA Premier Facility and a USTA Coaching Education Center, the Denver Tennis Park is uniquely positioned to elevate the game at every level. Our premier facility provides a first-class environment for players, tournaments, and community programming, while our role in coach education allows us to develop the next generation of tennis professionals who will inspire and mentor players throughout Colorado and beyond. By investing in coaches, we are multiplying our impact and ensuring that thousands of youth and adults benefit from exceptional instruction and meaningful experiences on and off the court. AUGUST 2026 |

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Saturday, October 17, 2026, Four Seasons Hotel Denver

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The Art Students League of Denver’s historic building, designed by Henry Dozier.

Where Creativity Gathers The Art Students League of Denver’s beloved Summer Art Market supports the nonprofit’s vital cultural ecosystem. BY EMILIE TRICE

THERE’S A ROMANTIC archetype of the solitary artist, toiling alone in their studio on the fringes of society, but that’s mostly a misconception. In truth, community has always been integral to the creative process. The Art Students League of Denver (ASLD), a long-standing pillar of the city’s cultural infrastructure, epitomizes this communal aspect of art-making. Founded in 1987, ASLD’s art curriculum extends from youth classes to advanced workshops for adults and encompasses the entire spectrum of visual artistic disciplines, serving over 900 students every month. The organization also mounts exhibitions, hosts visiting artists-in-residence, offers scholarships, and organizes year-round, worldclass programming. ASLD’s upcoming Summer Art Market, which takes place this year from August 22 to 23 and will showcase nearly 200 local artists, provides critical funding for the nonprofit’s many initiatives, while also offering first-hand exposure to its vibrant arts ecosystem. “Denver has a lot of creative districts,” says

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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF THE ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF DENVER

Clockwise from top: ASLD’s Summer Art Market. The ASLD’s Summer Art Market returns on August 22 and 23. ASLD instructor and encaustic artist Victoria Eubanks.

Victoria Eubanks, who’s been an ASLD instructor for 15 years. “Our city’s arts scene is also pretty widespread. It’s not only in downtown Denver—it’s in Englewood, Aurora, and out in Lakewood. RedLine has its niche, the MCA mounts fabulous shows, and then we have the galleries in the Santa Fe arts district.” ASLD functions as a crucial node within this wider cultural network by providing spaces for artmaking in a supportive, welcoming environment that caters to all levels of experience. Eubanks’ students have run the gamut from doctors and lawyers to aspiring professional artists, but all of them share a curiosity for the creative process. “Everyone has the capacity to be creative,” she says. Eubanks works in encaustic, an ancient art form dating back to the

third century A.D., when Greek artisans living in Egypt used the technique to paint funerary portraits. Encaustic art requires specialized tools to heat wax, which is then applied to a backing such as canvas, resulting in semi-translucent layers that appear ethereal and nostalgic, with a dreamlike quality. Eubanks’ work conveys the emotionality of everyday objects like old-fashioned kitchen chairs handed down from one generation to the next, which serve as symbols for loved ones whose absence is felt long after they’re gone. Her art has been shown in over 60 exhibitions and is in the collections of the University of Colorado (Boulder), PNC Bank, and the Denver Health Center, to name a few. The ASLD faculty comprises 200 seasoned artists like Eubanks, who lead

a range of classes in creative disciplines including book arts, ceramics, painting, printmaking, jewelry, fiber arts, and sculpture. The organization’s historic building in West Wash Park dates back to 1893 and originally served as a public school. Designed by noted architect Henry Dozier and known as the Sherman School, the historical landmark is one of the few Dozier structures still in existence. In 2025, ASLD expanded to Englewood’s CityCenter as part of the CitySpark initiative, which aims to revitalize the neighborhood through arts and entrepreneurship. ASLD’s Englewood branch includes a classroom and artist studios managed by CAST Colorado, further strengthening connections between local nonprofits, creatives, and the community. AUGUST 2026 |

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From top: A printmaking class at ASLD. A detail of Eubanks’s painting “Learning to Fly.”

INTERWEAVING CULTURES Noel Ordonez, ASLD’s ceramics department technician, was first introduced to the organization when he signed himself and his wife up for a class during the tail end of the pandemic. Ordonez had never formally studied ceramics before, but the class ignited a passion that has since become both his creative and professional outlet. With a background in woodworking, as well as architecture and design, Ordonez began making his own ceramic tools. Today, in addition to his work with ASLD, he and his wife are the founders of ORDO Tools and Ceramics, which sells bespoke artisanal pottery tools and has collaborated with local businesses on custom ceramics inspired by Latin American cultures. Ordonez’s wife hails from Guatemala, and he was born in northern Mexico’s Chihuahua region, not far from the ancient village of Paquimé, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a rich tradition of ceramics. Ordonez’s father would occasionally work on clay projects that utilized open burn pits, which were common in both Paquimé and Pueblo pottery practices. This kind of cross-cultural exchange, through materials, methods, and motifs, continues to inspire Ordonez’s own work. It’s also a tradition fortified by ASLD’s programming, especially its “Atelier” excursions, which organize guided trips to artisan enclaves in Spain, the French Riviera, Finland, Estonia, Asia, and beyond. This fall, ASLD faculty member Sammy Seung-min Lee, who was recently featured in a solo show at the MCA Denver, will lead an ASLD Atelier trip to Seoul, where she was born. Lee is a shining example of Denver’s flourishing creative community. Beyond her work at ASLD, she also runs SML | k, a contemporary art space in the Santa Fe cultural district; she’s served as an ambassador for Asian Art at the Denver Art Museum and is an alum of RedLine’s artist residency program. For ASLD’s Atelier program, Lee created an itinerary that connects art, food, cultural heritage, and various book-making techniques across South Korea’s capital city. Her work explores the porous nature of cultural heritage by interweaving themes of belonging, identity, and memory.

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From top: Noel Ordonez discovered a passion for ceramics at ASLD. Handmade ceramics at the ASLD Summer Art Market.

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH While some may view art as a luxury, studies have shown that both creating and interacting with art have proven physiological benefits. Researchers at University College London (UCL) recently found that regular exposure to art reduces biological aging by 4%. This means that “people were about a year younger, biologically, if they were regularly engaged in the arts,” explains Daisy Fancourt in an article published by NPR. Fancourt is a Professor of Psychobiology & Epidemiology and Head of the Social Biobehavioural Research Group

at UCL, as well as UNESCO Chair in Arts & Global Health. Her work investigates the link between creative practices, cultural appreciation, and physical wellbeing, an urgent topic in an age when art is increasingly imperiled by both political policies and AI. “I think that now, maybe more than ever before, it’s really the time to support and engage with people making things by hand,” Ordonez says. He feels the connections and conversations fostered by ASLD enhance his own creativity. Thanks to the community at ASLD, “My cup is

full,” he says. Eubanks agrees, adding that the creative process makes space for the profound and the hopeful, and also allows new relationships to take root and blossom. While ASLD has a storied history and an established presence in Denver, every ecosystem requires care and cultivation, and the arts ecosystem is no different. Both Eubanks and Ordonez will be exhibiting at the Summer Art Market, which is Denver’s opportunity to show up and support the Art Students League of Denver, a vital source of creativity that’s enriched our community for 39 years and counting. AUGUST 2026 |

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From Seed to Cup

How Hannah Ulbrich transformed Copper Door Coffee Roasters while fostering equity for women in rural farming communities.

FOURTEEN YEARS AGO, Hannah Ulbrich went out with her children to deliver newspapers and came home with a coffee roasting business. Copper Door Coffee started as a humble roastery in a neighbor’s garage, but under Ulbrich’s leadership, the company has grown into a veritable empire, encompassing seven cafes in Denver, soon to be eight, a wholesale business, and an entire ecosystem of educational programming, workshops, and classes. Additionally, Copper Door Coffee uses its

economic bandwidth to empower women-led agricultural collectives in rural Latin America and elsewhere, enabling them to develop their businesses, create equity, and strengthen their communities. Copper Door Coffee officially turns 20 this October and now employs over 40 people. Its public cafe next to the Denver Botanic Gardens is an aromatic oasis of caffeinated bliss. Creating a roadmap to scale the business, however, has been a trialand-error process for Ulbrich, who previously worked as a high school

English teacher. Her story is the stuff of underdog legend and, simply put, restores faith in the American Dream. In 2010, as the financial crisis reverberated through the global economy, Ulbrich and her family lost their home to foreclosure. They ultimately relocated from Phoenix to Denver to be closer to family and began rebuilding their lives. When her neighbor casually mentioned he was selling his roaster, she made him an offer on the spot, and he accepted, despite already having a buyer lined up.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LANI DOBSON

BY EMILIE TRICE

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THE ETHICS OF SCALE Ulbrich took out a loan to purchase that first modest roastery. At the time, she had no professional experience in the coffee business. “I have a high tolerance for risk,” Ulbrich explains. “I grew up in a chaotic environment without any structure, and I wanted to own something and end the poverty loop in my family.” Ulbrich soon found that her background in education lent itself to building a business. “Both parenting

and working with high school students have taught me how to manage people, communicate expectations, model accountability, and earn trust,” she says. Her work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Ulbrich was recently awarded a fellowship from the Tory Burch Foundation, which seeks to increase “women’s economic power by supporting entrepreneurs to build businesses that last.” The fellowship provides a highly selective cohort of women with access to mentorship, capital, and the kind of institutional knowledge that founders need to succeed. Since that first coffee roaster, Ulbrich has upgraded to a more industrial-grade machine, a drum roaster affectionately named Cecilia after the song by Simon and Garfunkel (“Oh Cecilia, you’re breaking my heart, you’re shaking my confidence daily”). “I had to fail in order to learn,” she says, laughing. The names of her coffee also reflect her humor and signature feminist style. “Shady Lady,” for example, is a roast that mixes beans from Colombia, Ethiopia, and Sumatra, with notes of black cherry, mixed berries, and lemon zest, while “Midnight Mama,” a French roast, includes hints of tobacco, walnut, and dark chocolate. According to Michelle Bachelet,

Former UN Women Executive Director, women statistically reinvest 90 cents of every dollar they earn back into their communities and families, with a focus on nutrition, health care, and education. Lani Dobson visited Copper Door’s farm partners in Guatemala this past spring and saw how this kind of investment can be a lifeline for rural communities. Dobson is Copper Door’s head educator and espresso machine technician, but her official title is coffee engineer. “Weeks and weeks of labor go into harvesting coffee beans,” she explains. “I’ve been a barista for over 10 years, but I never had that opportunity to see the agricultural side firsthand.” Dobson found that it’s often a single family doing all the labor to pick and process the beans. The farmers weren’t able to scale their operations and weren’t generating enough revenue, but Copper Door is working to change that by supporting women-led co-ops. “We’re thinking about equity all the way from seed to cup,” Dobson says. “The cooperatives we support aren’t just helping the farmers collect all their coffee and process it; they’re also building banks and daycares and investing all that money back into the community.”

Opposite page: Hannah Ulbrich, CEO of Copper Door Coffee. This page: Lani Dobson, Coffee Engineer and Educator, recently visited Copper Door Coffee’s farm partners in Guatemala. The Copper Door Coffee shop next to Denver Botanic Gardens.

AUGUST 2026 |

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A farm in Huehuetenango, Guatemala.

A CULTURAL PRODUCT Huehuetenango, the region in Guatemala that Dobson visited, is located in the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes mountain range and is extremely remote. “We took a little military plane to get there, and then we drove for two hours into the mountains,” she recalls. “It’s a very different culture from Guatemala City. A majority of the region is Mayan, so we had multiple translators.” Dobson explains that because the community is so secluded—the closest hospital is hours away—meaningful employment is scarce. “A lot of the men moved away to find jobs and send money back home, so the farm work then fell to the women,” Dobson says. “The women had a choice: either lose the farm or handle the farm. And those farms mean a lot to them, so it would have hurt to let them go.” Several farmers also told Dobson that if Atlas,

the Seattle-based company that imports their coffee, hadn’t shown up when it did, many families were planning to shut down their farms and leave the region, and they would have lost the whole community. Dobson began working as a barista and roasting her own coffee while studying dance in upstate New York. After graduation, she relocated to Denver and found a job listing online for a “coffee educator” and had to do a double-take. “I had never seen a salaried education position at a coffee shop,” she said. “Because of my background in dance and teaching dance, I had experience designing lesson plans.” Her work includes developing curriculum for Copper Door’s baristas but also for the general public. “I do a lot of private classes for people who’ve never touched an espresso machine and are trying to

learn,” Dobson explains. “I also teach brew science, latte art, a matcha class, and I do a cupping class where we talk about how to taste coffee and develop our palate.” In addition to her work with Copper Door Coffee, Dobson also maintains a creative practice as a dancer and installation artist. In fact, many of Copper Door’s employees are also engaged in the arts. It all contributes to the ethos of cultural vitality that Ulbrich has built into Copper Door’s mission since the company’s early garage days. As Ulbrich and her team continue to grow Copper Door Coffee Roasters, working with women in marginalized communities has become a core tenet of their values-led mission. “When we first started, we were just buying coffee like everybody else,” Ulbrich confesses. “But then we started working with our importers, and we realized there

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“Women reinvest 90 cents of every dollar they earn back into their communities and families, with a focus on nutrition, health care, and education.” - Michelle Bachelet, Former UN Women Executive Director

Coffee collectives help rural farmers strengthen their communities.

were a lot of farms run by women, but they weren’t making enough coffee to export it themselves, so I asked if I could try their coffee, and then I realized I could partner with them and pay them more than they were getting.” Her conscious decision to seek out and support these women-owned farms represents a broader commitment to intentionality and making every dollar count. Ultimately, the most important lesson Ulbrich has learned through her work, and hopes to impart, is that “being intentional at the grocery store and with our choices in general helps everyone down the supply chain,” she says. “Every purchase matters.” Emilie Trice is the local editor of MyDenver. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Paris Review, and many other publications. AUGUST 2026 |

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Left to right: The Printed Page on South Broadway. The Printed Page founder Dan Danbom with Molly the shop dog.

The Story of The Printed Page

Rare Books, genuine character. Inside one of Bonnie Brae’s most charming book stores.

EVEN IF YOU’RE paying close attention to the road as you drive down South Broadway, you might not notice one of the hidden gems of Denver’s independent business landscape. The Printed Page Bookshop lives in a charming Victorian cottage on Antique Row. A yellow and black sign on the front porch announces its focus on used and rare books, but a step inside is necessary to appreciate all that this charming storefront offers the reader. While the number of used

bookstores continues to decline, the argument can be made that the value they offer the communities around them is on the rise. Successful owners are the ones who have taken on unique business models focused on the specialized interests of their clientele, while at the same time maintaining broad bookworm appeal. With The Printed Page now in its seventeenth year of operation, its longevity is a testament to founder Dan Danbom’s steadfast commitment to literature, history, and the art of the written word.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS The Printed Page operates under a trio of owners—Dan Danbom, John Frantzen, and Chris Harned. Frantzen joined Danbom as co-owner a year after its opening, and Harned came aboard in 2020 following a career as a high school teacher. The store uses a co-op business model, and each of its nine booksellers rents their own section of the store where they stock titles that fall under the category of their specialty. Every subject matter is covered, and the selection is constantly changing. The Printed Page

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIN ALHFINGER AND EMILIE TRICE

BY ERIN AHLFINGER

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also serves as a hub for book collectors, a place to gather and share their own stories. Danbom places booksellers in a category with bartenders and barbers as he recalls being amazed by what complete strangers tell him about their lives. “Your taste in books is certainly very personal, and when you get into why you like what you like, the conversation can take a very personal route.” The Printed Page is a member of the Rocky Mountain Antiquarian Booksellers Association. Danbom, Harned, and Frantzen are all graduates of the Colorado Antiquarian Book School, an organization offering education to booksellers, librarians, teachers, and collectors. Asked what one learns at the Colorado Antiquarian Book School, Harned recalls the scope of his learning, as imparted by instructor Rebecca Romney, rare book expert on The History Channel’s hit TV show Pawn Stars. “They start from scratch: What is a book? A book is an object. How is a book constructed? We learned about the Incunabula, or the first books printed before the year 1500, on the Gutenberg Press. And, of course, how to source books and everything about the book business.” The meaning of the term Antiquarian is easily misunderstood to imply a simple connection to a bygone era. This nostalgic connection to the past is, in fact, the draw of antique collecting for the layman browsing the shelves of antique shops. The term antiquarian,

as it’s used in book collecting, refers to the value of the book, which is often not relative to its age so much as to other characteristics—its publishing edition and scarcity, whether it was signed by the author, or perhaps who it belonged to. What gives a book value is a complex story not visible to the untrained eye, and Danbom cautions that most old books are not valuable. “People think that antiquarian books are old books, and that old books are valuable. Most old books, frankly, are just old. But a first edition signed Steven King book might be worth $15,000.” FINDING THE “WHITE WHALES” Some of the most sought after titles that have come through the shop include a first edition of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” and Philip K. Dick’s “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”, the basis of the movie “Blade Runner.” Both arrived in a single collection of science fiction that had been sealed in storage for 30 years. Danbom comments that finding a rare book is easily the most fun you’ll have as a book collector. “It was just almost electric finding that science fiction collection and opening those boxes like a sealed piece of somebody’s life. I was like a panting dog,” he laughs. Financial success as a rare book dealer relies on one’s ability to let go of the gems he discovers. Danbom recalls selling first editions of “The Grapes of Wrath” and “The Catcher in the Rye” and wishing he had them back. He

consoles himself with the recognition that another might one day come through the shop. A treasure hunter will celebrate any prize he finds, though Danbom does have a few “white whales” he’d love to see come through the shop. A first edition of “Alice in Wonderland” would sell for several hundred thousand dollars. The initial printing was recalled because the illustrator was unhappy with the artwork, and only 12 copies remain in private hands. A signed first edition of “The Great Gatsby” is another holy grail. When the classic was initially published, F. Scott Fitzgerald was in Europe, and only a handful were signed. Danbom estimates the value of one of them to be around $900,000 as he reminisces about having seen and held one in his own hands. Some books are so rare that their value can’t be determined by any market. The notion that they might never change hands is hypothetical enough that the estimated price is simply whatever it would take to convince the owner to part with it. A TREASURE HUNTER’S JOURNEY The story of The Printed Page begins with its opening in 2009, just as the e-reader was growing in popularity. In the 1980s, Danbom held a career in corporate communications working for the Public Service Company of Colorado prior to AUGUST 2026 |

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from the bereaved as they offloaded the belongings of their recently departed kin. Indeed, one can tell quite a bit about a person from the books they owned, how they kept them, and the items found tucked inside.

its absorption by Xcel Energy. Denver Post reporter John Dunning was a friend of his and brought him on at The Post as a book reviewer. When Dunning later opened The Old Algonquin used bookstore on East Colfax, Danbom and his wife became minority silent partners. It was then that Danbom’s interest in books as collectibles began to take shape. He served as the “book scout” for The Old Algonquin, spending his weekends at garage and estate sales, sifting through boxes of paperbacks with coffee stains and dog-eared corners on the lookout for anything of value. His father would accompany him on these treasure hunts. “He asked me several times if I ever

thought about starting a bookstore, and I assured him that was a crazy idea.” The elder Danbom died in 2000, so when the younger opened The Printed Page in 2009, he honored his father through the naming of his own bookselling business within the co op: Danbom and Sons Books. Dan Danbom’s endeavors as a writer are not limited to book reviews; he was also a feature writer for The Post and has authored books of his own. Much of his writing is inspired by his experiences as a bookseller. Danbom’s “I Met Another Dead Man Today” and its sequel, “The Man From the No Kill Orphanage,” are collections of essays about his experiences buying book collections

FOR THE LOVE OF BONNIE BRAE While many of Danbom’s writings are diary-style anecdotes of the goings on inside The Printed Page, he dips his toe into history with “Becoming Bonnie Brae: The Story of a Neighborhood.” A Bonnie Brae resident since 1979 who has watched the neighborhood evolve over the decades, he was inspired by its centennial anniversary in 2023 to compile what he could through research and conversations with neighbors and local historians. The 55 page pamphlet offers a peek at George Olinger’s early vision for the neighborhood, its slow growth during the Depression, how life in the 1920s informed home design, and how the streets got their names. “Becoming Bonnie Brae” and “The Man From the No Kill Orphanage” are available at The Printed Page or directly from Danbom. Independent bookstores like The Printed Page remind us why certain businesses feel alive in a way no algorithm or overnight shipping box ever could. They’re built on human quirks, deep knowledge, and the kind of personal connection that can only happen face to face. They preserve stories, expertise, and relationships that would vanish in a landscape dominated by uniform storefronts. In a neighborhood that’s seen many beloved establishments fade with the passage of time, those that remain become anchors not because they sell something rare, but because they offer something indispensable: character. Erin Ahlfinger is a freelance writer and photographer who moved to Denver from Dallas in 2017, where she contributed to D Magazine covering the local culinary scene. She is a current contributor to Westword and enjoys cooking, gardening, and capturing the moments that make life in Colorado so unique.

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PARTN E R C ONTENT

Lynda Sailor and Kristina Scala, co-founders of Aspen Academy.

With its innovative Leadership, Finance, and Entrepreneurship (LiFE) curriculum, Aspen Academy leads by example. BY MYDENVER STAFF

A UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT once tried to take $5 million away from a group of students. One of them fought back, changed state law, and is now rewriting the rules of education. That was Kristina Scala, 20 years before she cofounded Aspen Academy, a Pre-K through 8th grade school in Greenwood Village where kids build real businesses, not pretend ones. Scala majored in business at California State University, Chico, one of the few academic programs in the country where all on-campus businesses were entirely student-owned and operated. When the university’s president decided to reallocate the revenue from the student businesses to cover the school’s deficit, Scala, who had been elected student body president, refused to back down. She organized a door-knocking campaign and, together with elected officials, drafted

legislation that was ultimately signed into law, establishing a landmark case of Eminent Domain for private enterprise on public university campuses. Scala applies that same tenacity to her work as President of Aspen Academy, which aims to create “a learning model that’s steeped in leadership, academic rigor, entrepreneurial development, community strength, and community service.” Its signature curriculum, known as Leadership, Finance, and Entrepreneurship (LiFE), is unique in the nation, enhancing the school’s internationally recognized academic programs such as Singapore Math, as well as its classes in STEAM, Spanish, arts, and fitness. By the time Aspen Academy’s students graduate, they will have received over 200 hours of personal financial education and had a stake in creating no fewer than ten businesses. “Most adults have

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ASPEN ACADEMY

A School of Student CEOs

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never run a business, read a P&L, or pitched an idea to investors,” Scala says. ”Our students do all three before they finish 8th grade.”

BUILDING BRIGHT FUTURES

Still, gaining business experience is just one of Aspen Academy’s core pillars. The school’s early learners (ages 2 to 5) spend 50% of each day outdoors, away from screens, while older students benefit from multiple recesses. This allows for real-world interaction, which strengthens their “durable skills,” generally defined as “human-centric” or “soft skills” (such as collaboration and communication) that transcend industries and are always in demand. Aspen Academy also recently joined the International School Partnerships, a network of 120 schools in 26 countries, facilitating cross-cultural exchange, global learning, and exposure to foreign languages. Aspen students have gone on to win Future Business Leaders of America honors at the state and national levels. The school’s values—be kind, do good, work hard, make the world better— represent a holistic view of learning, leadership, and community-oriented service. “We started Aspen Academy in a 10x12 foot office because we believed kids could do real things, not someday, now,” Scala explains. “20 years later, our 7th

graders run businesses that earned over $54,000 last year.” The lesson hasn’t changed. The kids at Aspen Academy aren’t being prepared for the real world— they’re already in it. One fight might still be ahead of her. No one—not parents, not teachers, not the people building the technology— knows what AI is going to do for the next 20 years of childhood. Aspen Academy is already building the one thing that won’t go out of date: durable skills. If the last two decades are any indication, Scala isn’t waiting to find out what that

means; she’s laying the groundwork for future success right now. Like the trees after which Aspen Academy is named, its students are given the freedom to grow independently while remaining connected to their shared roots, a critical foundation that enables them to meet every season of their lives with determination, creativity, and resounding confidence. Aspen Academy School Previews: Oct. 15, 2026, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 5, 2026, 9 to 10:30 a.m. AUGUST 2026 |

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BOOK NOOK

Our Top Reads for August

BY PAIGE DUNGAN AUGUST IN DENVER is for reading outside—on a patio, beside an alpine lake, or in a camp chair while the grill does its thing. It’s peak season for books, too: the publishing world saves some of its biggest titles for the heart of summer, and this month delivers. This list has something for every kind of reader: the novel all of America is reading right now, the year’s most talkedabout debut, the triumphant finale of a modern classic trilogy, a sweeping love letter to art and friendship, a beloved bestseller newly out in paperback, and a wilderness book made for everyone who heads west on I-70 every weekend. Grab your sunscreen and a bookmark, essential supplies for maximizing the height of summer reading. Paige Dungan is a Denver-based book publicist with 22 years of experience and a lifelong love of great stories. This past April, she opened Little Blue Pigeon, an independent bookstore on Denver’s historic Larimer Square.

WHISTLER

by Ann Patchett The most beloved book person in America returns with her finest novel yet. When Daphne Fuller bumps into her former stepfather at the Metropolitan Museum of Art—a man she hasn’t seen since she was nine—time falls away, and decades of memory, loss, and love come rushing back. Luminous, intimate, and quietly devastating. We love it so much we built a whole weekend around it: join us and the Magnolia Hotel Denver for the Little Magnolia Book Retreat, July 17 to 19.

COOL MACHINE

by Colson Whitehead The two-time Pulitzer winner closes out his Harlem Trilogy with an exuberant romp through 1981 New York—a city crawling out of ruin and buzzing with hustle. If you loved Harlem Shuffle and Crook Manifesto, this finale is the payoff. If you haven’t started yet, lucky you: you get all three at once.

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YESTERYEAR

by Caro Claire Burke The buzziest debut of 2026—and it earns every bit of it. Natalie Heller Mills is a “tradwife” influencer selling a picture-perfect pioneer life to millions of followers...until she wakes up in the actual 1800s, with no idea whether it’s a hoax, a twisted reality show, or something far more sinister. Darkly funny, razor-sharp, and impossible to predict, this satire-meets-suspense sensation is already headed to the big screen with Anne Hathaway. Read it before everyone’s talking about the ending.

CONTRAPPOSTO

by Dave Eggers A bold, fierce examination of art, love, and desire through the eyes of two lifelong friends. Cricket Dib is a prairie kid with no prospects until he discovers he can draw—and meets Olympia Argyros, the brilliant, worldly girl who will entangle his life for the next 65 years through friendship, partnership, and love. 20 years in the making and featuring artwork by the classically trained Eggers himself, this is a big, warm, very funny novel about what it means to make art—and to love someone across a lifetime.

THE NAMES

by Florence Knapp Now in paperback—and the perfect size for a beach bag or a backpack. In 1987, a mother registers the birth of her son and must choose between three names: the one her husband demands, the one her daughter dreams up, and the one her own heart wants. The novel follows all three lives that unfold from that single choice. A Sliding Doors premise with devastating emotional depth, this was one of the most beloved debuts in years. If you missed it in hardcover, your moment is here.

THE SAVAGE LANDSCAPE: HOW WE MADE THE WILDERNESS

by Cal Flyn The award-winning author of “Islands of Abandonment” journeys to the wildest, most remote corners of the planet— Iceland’s black-sand beaches, the deep Amazon, Antarctica— and asks what “wilderness” really means when humans have always been there. Lyrical, thoughtprovoking, and essential reading for anyone who loves the high country. AUGUST 2026 |

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MY S U N DAY

Jeannette Torres A yogi and aerialist starts her Sunday teaching yoga in the sunshine at Wash Park. WHEN I WAKE up on Sunday mornings, I have a lemon water, and then I have my espresso coffee because I’m Cuban, and we love our espresso coffee. I take my dog for a nice little walk—no phone, just super off-grid—and then I teach a 9 a.m. yoga class at Wash Park with Denver Yoga Social. We welcome all folks; it doesn’t matter what your level is, and the classes are donation-based, so people just pay what they can. Every class, we have a raffle for fun giveaways like free class passes. We also offer goat yoga classes and aquarium yoga, where we get to do yoga right by the fish. After finishing up my yoga class, I’ll usually have a nice little lunch in the park, and then I spend my afternoon

either on a bike ride or doing some other form of strength training. I really like to be active. I’m in the aerial community—I do the flying trapeze, and I do the pole, which is excellent for core strength. I really like to be with people on Sundays, and my favorite thing recently has been Jazz in the Park because it’s just such a nice way to wind down at City Park after a long week. They always have great bands, and there are amazing food trucks, so it’s a great place for a date or to just kick it with friends. I’ve been in Denver for a year now. I moved here from Mexico, where I had been living for about two years, getting my yoga certification. I’ve lived in a lot of major cities like Miami, Seattle, and Philly,

but I think Denver is the friendliest place I’ve lived. I’ve found it really easy to build community here. And I think people tend to stay in a location if they have a really good community—it’s becoming a lost art. My favorite things about living here are definitely the mountains, the music, and the people. I love peoplewatching in Wash Park, and the park itself is so beautiful. Practicing and teaching yoga on Sunday mornings at Wash Park is the perfect way to start my week, and I feel fortunate to share that experience with others. To learn more about Denver Yoga Social and sign up for donation-based classes, visit yogasocial.org and follow them on Instagram @denveryogasocial.

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PHOTO OP

ORIGIN STORY BY RODDY MACINNES

Brothers” was a collaborative project with my older brother, Dugie, an internationally acclaimed expressive mosaic artist who lives in Scotland. He constructs abstract impressions from Scottish slate, depicting landscapes from childhood memories of the forestry village in the Scottish Highlands where we grew up. His memory of the landscape is shaped by geology and archaeology. My childhood experiences were shaped by different stimuli. For the collaboration, I created photographs that represent more literal memory associations. Through two art media, the project conveyed distinct autobiographical interpretations of the same place. Religion was influential in my childhood. Scottish education included mandatory prayer and Bible readings, a practice that ended in the 1970s. Of about one hundred people in the village, my mother was among the few who regularly attended church. Her faith was personal; she never proselytized. My father believed in God but was

critical of organized religion. He rarely attended church services, and we often debated the meaning of life. In that environment, I was encouraged to keep an open mind and develop a critical understanding of existence. This image is from the project and honors the village church as a vital part of my childhood, both geographically and in spirit. To learn more, visit roddymac.com or follow him on Instagram at @weeroddy. Roddy MacInnes is a Professor of photography at the University of Denver’s School of Art and Art History. Originally from Scotland, he began taking photographs in the 1960s and considers himself an autobiographical photographer. His work has been featured in dozens of exhibitions, books, and public art installations

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Submit your high-resolution shot to emilie.trice@ wainscotmedia.com.

PHOTOGRAPH BY RODDY MACINNES

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