Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2015 i 5280 Magazine

SUBSCRIPTIONS A one-year subscription to 5280 costs $19 for 12 issues. A two-year subscription costs $34. Special corporate and group rates are available; call 303-832-5280 for details. To start a new subscription, to renew an existing subscription, or to change your address, call 1-866-271-5280 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, or send an email to circulation@5280.com. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, CALENDAR & DINING GUIDE Letters to the Editor must include your name, address (both of which can be withheld upon request), and a daytime phone number. Letters may be submitted via regular mail, fax (303-832-0470), or email (letters@5280.com). Calendar events should include a basic description of the event; its time, date, place, and cost; and a phone…

1 The number of dancers who asked photographer Benjamin Rasmussen (“The Contradictions Of Colfax,” page 96) if 5280 covers the stripping industry. The short answer: Yes. See “Naked Ambition,” our 2005 feature on Troy Lowrie, owner of multiple Denver strip clubs. 14 The maximum number of inches you can (allegedly) lose during a 90-minute body wrap at a Denver-area spa. 5280 editorial assistant Mary Clare Fischer decided to give it a whirl for “Find Your Bliss” (page 88), only to be bound straightjacket-style with plastic wrap and regaled with stories of the massage therapist’s recent divorce. We’d rather keep our cellulite, thank you. 90 The number of losses the Colorado Rockies had tallied—on their way to one of the worst records in baseball this season— after losing their September 24…

In 1993, Vail snowboarding instructor Arn Menconi realized his sport had a major PR problem: The perception of snowboarders as on-mountain hooligans had gotten so bad that Vail was considering banning all riding. To offer a positive spin, Menconi founded the Snowboard Outreach Society, a nonprofit that organized competitions to benefit local charities. In 1995, the organization became SOS Outreach, which aims to make snowboarding and other Colorado sports more accessible to low-income youth. In addition to supplying kids with gear, SOS assigns volunteer mentors to accompany participants on one- or five-day outdoor excursions throughout the year. To date, the nonprofit has brought more than 45,000 underserved kids into the great outdoors. This ski season, SOS is looking for volunteers to help organize gear inventory, track attendance, and/or mentor kids.…

POPULARIZED BY FRENCH DESIGNERS Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel and Jean Patou in the 1920s, the little black dress remains the go-to staple for affairs of any sort and will be making myriad appearances at holiday parties this season. But just because, as Karl Lagerfeld put it, “one is never overdressed or underdressed with a little black dress,” that doesn’t mean donning an LBD is a foolproof endeavor. We help you maximize these timeless looks this season, whether you’re hoping to impress co-workers or revel with friends. FOR TOASTING THE SEASON WITH FRIEND SEXY & SOPHISTICATED DO When selecting a casual LBD, go with subtle, interesting details—but no bedazzling. (This one has a knot at the waist, which creates a flattering silhouette.) You can still go audacious with a bold-tone clutch and…

Push/Pop/Kick NOV. 18-DEC. 13 These days, using canvas as your artistic surface could be considered old-school. For this modern show, local artist and curator Mark Bueno asked more than 40 creatives to turn to skateboards as a backdrop instead. Participants as varied as Denver-based wood sculptor Bryan Andrews and popular skateboard artist Winston Tseng covered board decks, grip tape, posters, and other objects with neon colors, psychedelic imagery, and skulls (a common motif in board culture) to provide commentary on themes including violence, politics, and religion. Wed 4-7 p.m.; Thu 4-9:30 p.m.; Fri 4-8:30 p.m.; Sat noon-6 p.m.; Sun noon-5 p.m. Valkarie Fine Art Gallery, 445 S. Saulsbury St., Lakewood, 720-220-7587, valkariefineart.com. Free. Uchay Joel Chima NOV. 2-DEC. 18 PlatteForum’s artist residency program supports creatives who examine important social issues,…

MUSIC On November 4 and 5, Nocturne, a nine-monthold jazz and supper club in RiNo, presents drummer and composer Colleen Clark. The promising young musician, who is touring to promote her debut album Introducing Colleen Clark, burst onto the New York City jazz scene in early 2015. nocturnejazz.com THEATER Through November 15, the Ricketson Theatre plays host to Tribes, an off -Broadway show that premiered in North America in 2012 but has never before been produced in Denver. The critically acclaimed production, which focuses on Billy and his highly analytical yet proudly politically incorrect family, explores what it means to belong in a witty, bold, and humorous way. denvercenter.org COMEDY The month of November brings a host of well-known comics to Comedy Works’ two metro-area stages. Louis Johnson, Michael Ian…

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR Long used as a home remedy for warts, mildly acidic apple cider vinegar helps regulate the pH balance of skin and softens hair. MANGO BUTTER Mango butter’s healthy fats make it a great option for nourishing dry skin. JOJOBA OIL An oil in name only, this wax closely resembles the substances your skin naturally produces and is great for treating acne or inflammation. PEPPERMINT An aromatic herb that improves circulation, peppermint also provides a cooling sensation. CINNAMON This spice serves as a powerful antioxidant and can send warmth to stiff muscles. SEAWEED Packed full of minerals such as potassium and iron, seaweed also has calming properties that help inflamed skin heal.…

Fifteen years ago, biochemist Dr. Cindy Jones started making soaps and serums from herbs she grew in her Lakewood garden to give as Christmas presents. Word spread about her all-natural products, and by 2007 she had relocated her growing business to a 10-acre farm north of Longmont and dubbed it Colorado Aromatics. Her Meadow Mist face cleanser, made with cucumber distillate, mallow and rose extracts, and oat powder, is our favorite for daily use, but the green tea herbal bath is an excellent pick-me-up on days that get you down. coloradoaromatics.com Christin Wingo put her background in business consulting and herbalism to use when she created Canopy Skincare in 2013. And the Boulderite puts her Colorado knowledge to use in products like Ski Cheeks, a face balm that uses ingredients…

NOCTURNE JAZZ & SUPPER CLUB In addition to being Denver’s newest old-school jazz haunt, RiNo’s Nocturne partners with local nonprofits and makes its stage and performance space available to educational and rehearsal groups that work with youth during nonbusiness hours for free. nocturnejazz.com VETERANS EXPEDITIONS National Geographic named VetEx co-founders Stacy Bare and Nick Watson its “Adventurers of the Year” in 2014 for the way they’ve helped turn veterans—more than 1,500— into outdoor enthusiasts. VetEx leads treks to sites as far-flung as Alaska and New York; it organizes everything from climbing and snowshoeing to biking and white-water rafting trips with the goal of restoring the sort of camaraderie and sense of accomplishment vets loved in the military. vetexpeditions.com COLORADO CHILDREN’S CAMPAIGN A longtime advocate for our state’s most vulnerable populations,…

1 Confit one head of garlic by combining 1⁄3 cup olive oil and 2⁄3 cup vegetable oil in a medium saucepan. Add peeled garlic and bring to a simmer; cook for 30 minutes or until garlic is tender. 2 Meanwhile, over an open flame, roast 12 washed and hulled tomatillos and four chilaca chiles.* Once blackened and fragrant, place the chiles in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to steam for 5 minutes. Peel. *Poblanos or Hatch chiles can be substituted. 3 In a blender, combine the garlic, roasted peppers, 1⁄3 cup lime juice, and salt and pepper. Buzz until smooth. Taste and season with additional salt, pepper, or lime juice if necessary.…

CRISPY PIG TROTTER Colt & Gray 1553 Platte St., 303-477-1447, coltandgray.com It’s not every day that you see pig foot listed on a menu, but we promise this snack is good for more than just a dare. Meat from the foot and hock is slowly braised, mixed with spices, and then breaded and fried, making it something like a porky crab cake. Pair a trotter with one of Colt & Gray’s cocktails (the Scotchbased Unemployed in Greenland should do the trick), and start your night off on the right, well, foot. SALT & VINEGAR POPCORN The Populist 3163 Larimer St., 720-432-3163, thepopulistdenver.com Not all snacks are guilty pleasures. Case in point: the Populist’s relatively healthy salt and vinegar popcorn. Chef Jonathan Power put it on the menu for guests looking…

One of my favorite things about working at 5280 is the variety of stories I have the pleasure of reading each month before we go to press. As you peruse this issue, you’ll find features that range from what we call reader service (“Winter In The City,” page 78; “Find Your Bliss,” page 88) to a beautiful photo portfolio (“The Contradictions Of Colfax,” page 96) to a unique package on people doing selfless things in our community (“The 5280 Guide To Building, Growing, Doing, Teaching, Inspiring, Being Good,” page 112). Our big read this month profiles several of your and my neighbors who have experienced homelessness and takes an in-depth look at how Denver’s attempts to address the issue have been largely unsuccessful (“Our Town,” page 120). And that’s just…

DAVID JAMES, Ph.D., physics The former grad student has parlayed his research at LASP into a full-time job with the lab—including work on missions to the moon, Mars, and Jupiter’s moon Europa (a mid-2020s endeavor)—as a calibration engineer. TIFFANY FINLEY, M.S., aerospace engineering Following a stint as an aerospace engineer, Finley joined the Southwest Research Institute and now works on the New Horizons mission, for which she develops operations command sequences for the Student Dust Counter. ANDREW POPPE, Ph.D., physics Poppe still uses dust counter data in his role as assistant research scientist at the University of California, Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory.…

CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE WAS ONE of the 16th century’s greatest playwrights, an Elizabethan poet so talented his work is said to have influenced William Shakespeare. Denver’s Chris Marlowe also happens to be a man who craves a big stage—a former actor and Olympic gold medalist in volleyball who this year celebrates his 11th season behind a microphone as Altitude Sports & Entertainment’s TV play-by-play voice for the Nuggets. As an homage to the former (and to the start of the Nuggets’ regular season), we give you the extraordinarily unpredictable life of the latter presented in four acts. ACT I In which our protagonist, growing up in Southern California in the 1960s, discovers volleyball. “I lived three miles from Santa Monica State Beach. Volleyball seemed like a great lifestyle. I’d get up…

This being a democracy in which the most votes (usually) win, it’s not shocking that politicians tend to ignore the micro-minority. “The littlest of the little guys don’t have a political voice, but they have big needs,” says Greg Bashaw, who co-founded the four-month-old Colorado MicroBusiness Alliance (CMBA), a Centennial-based organization that seeks to give the more than 400,000 Colorado companies with 10 or fewer employees a megaphone. For one thing, microbusinesses wouldn’t mind a simpler sales tax process. Right now it’s left up to local governments, which means different forms and procedures depending on where products are bought. That’s the kind of red tape that can strangle a craftsman selling at markets and fairs. Bashaw, a former deputy legislative counsel in Nevada, is one of the group’s lobbyists and…

FOOD IS THE CENTER OF MY UNIVERSE, which means I don’t think one or two meals ahead but several. A typical week consists of dining out many times, thumbing through achievable after-soccer-practice recipes, and planning multiple dinner parties at once. All of this fuels my hunt for ingredients, the more obscure the better—especially if the search requires four stops and driving across town. Some might call it masochistic; I call it inspirational. This quest often delivers me to Denver’s vast lineup of ethnic markets. H Mart, Arash International Market, and Jerusalem Market are three of my staples. I walk through the doors and breathe in the musty spices, the exotic produce, the iron-y funk of fish and meat and cheese. As I walk the aisles and check off my list,…

CHRISTOPHER DRAGON associate conductor, Colorado Symphony LAST JOB: Until the end of the year, Dragon is also the assistant conductor of the Western Australia Symphony Orchestra. DEBUT MOMENT: This past August’s Boston Pops tribute concert at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities FIRST IMPRESSION: “The amount of concerts that the orchestra performs still amazes me.” (The symphony plays approximately 110 concerts per year.) SAGE ANN SCHEER interim president,* Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design (RMCAD) LAST JOB: Scheer served as chairman of the board at RMCAD and has been a member of RMCAD’s Board of Directors since 1992. DEBUT MOMENT: Last month’s State of the College presentation NEXT STEPS: “[At RMCAD] we want the ability to grow our programs even further so that we can begin looking…

BUILD A BANJO How: By piecing together a pre-prepared banjo kit while learning about the instrument’s long history, varied musical stylings, and complex mechanics. Where: The Living Arts School; taught at Silver Sage Village, 1650 Yellow Pine Ave., Boulder When: November 7, 1 to 5 p.m. How Much: $210 Sign Up: livingartsschool.com TRY IMPROV How: By dropping in to an improv class, where instructors guide students through small scenes, group work, and even musical improv. Where: Voodoo Comedy Playhouse, 1260 22nd St. When: Monday and Tuesday nights, 6 to 7:30 p.m. How Much: $5 donation Sign Up: voodoocomedy.com/dropin MAKE CHEESE How: By signing up for the Brie and blue cheese class, a group lesson that details how to make these two delicious fromages. You’ll get to take home two small…

CLYFFORD STILL’S REPLICAS AND THE NEW SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART November 11, 6:30 p.m.; free; Clyfford Still Museum Listen as Neal Benezra, director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, explains the important role the Bay Area played in Clyfford Still’s life. Not only did the abstract expressionist live there for much of the 1940s, but he also made some of his most noteworthy paintings while residing there. Benezra will share stories about Still’s special relationship with the SFMOMA and present new assessments about the acclaimed artist’s body of “replicas”—works that are closely related in composition. Additionally, Benezra will give attendees a sneak peek of the $610 million expansion project at the SFMOMA, an effort that’s adding 125,000 square feet of space and more than 4,000 works…

MONDAY: Book a day-of-the-week special like Martinis & Massages Monday (20 percent off your treatment) or Treat Your Toes Thursday (complimentary paraffin treatment) at the Spa at the Ritz-Carlton, Denver. These fill up fast, so request a spot online a week in advance. ritzcarlton.com TUESDAY: Make a same-day appointment any day of the week at TallGrass Aveda Spa & Salon for a 15 percent discount on any service (chakra pedicure, anyone?). tallgrassspa.com WEDNESDAY: Head to Fingers & Toes A Nail Retreat in Wash Park on a Wednesday for a classic pedicure and receive a mini manicure on the house. fingersandtoes.net THURSDAY: Take advantage of Matrix Fitness and Spa’s generous happy hour, Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for 20 percent off any service, including additions like peppermint…

✓DO: Disconnect Instead of disturbing your “me” time (not to mention the peace and quiet of those around you), put your cell phone—and your mind—into silent mode. ✓DO: Make Yourself At Home You never-nudes out there might be horrified at the thought of going sans clothing, but fewer layers can actually make the massage therapist’s job easier— and give you a better experience. With that said, it’s all about your personal comfort level. ✓DO: Let Go Even while on the table, many people try to help massage therapists or estheticians by, say, repositioning their arms or lifting their necks up during neck rubs, says Melissa Rackliff, longtime spa director of TallGrass Aveda Spa & Salon. Don’t. Just let yourself totally relax. ×DON’T: Be A Cheap Bastard (Drink The Free Champagne,…

For 10 years, There With Care has helped families with critically ill children by providing the basics, including paying for groceries, gas cards, and car repairs, and giving rides to appointments. Each fall, the organization honors its families, supporters, and volunteers with dual celebrations—one at the Boulder Theater and one in Denver (2015’s was in Infinity Park). There With Care founder and executive director Paula Du-Pre’ Pesmen leverages contacts and expertise from her film career— she’s helped produce Mrs. Doubtfire, two Harry Potter films, and numerous documentaries— to create evenings that elicit joy, tears, and renewed commitment to the organization’s mission. She shares her secrets for creating an unforgettable event. Make sure you have enough comfortable seating and space for the guests. We also do a live show, so we…

KEY: Scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most effective HOUSING FIRST What It Is This strategy places people in longterm housing before tackling issues like job placement and substance abuse treatment. Will It Work? Using Housing First methods, Salt Lake City has shrunk its number of chronically homeless individuals. Unfortunately, the reasons why people fall into homelessness— loss of a job, divorce, medical emergency—are unabated. Plus, Denver has a dearth of affordable housing options. Rating SOCIAL IMPACT BONDS What It Is Private investors foot the bill for public programs—like homeless housing—and get a cut of the money that the programs save the city. (Denver currently spends up to $38,000 a year per homeless person on jail costs, health care, and other city services.) Will It Work? Social impact…

200 Pounds of spinach Pressed Juice Daily uses each week to make its juices. pressedjuicedaily.com EAT CHEAP! OUR FAVORITES Mediterranean Lemonade $1 Dolma $1.50 (three rolls) Greek Salad $6.25 Doner Kebab Sandwich $6.25 Pita and Hummus $1.50 My first taste of doner kebab was from a hole-in-the-wall in Western Germany. Typically served as a sandwich, kebab, or plate, the Turkish version of the gyro is addictive to almost everyone who has tried one. So, when I saw Shondiz— a bustling food truck on the corner of Glenarm Place and 16th Street—advertising doner, I got in line. Shondiz’s kindly chef, Ahmad Esmaeili (whose brother Mohammad owns the cart), offered menu suggestions while shearing fresh lamb off a rotating spit. I pondered the chicken but ultimately settled for a classic—the lamb and…

NOT LONG AGO, while my husband was away on a business trip, I bartered with my three-year-old son, Oliver, about dinner. An offer of mac and cheese elicited a stubborn “no.” Green things were rejected outright. A burrito was “too hot,” and yogurt was “for breakfast, Mommy.” Desperate, I offered a compromise: a chocolate-chip cookie and a glass of milk. The next day, when his dad asked him what he’d been up to, Oliver grinned and ratted me out, yelling: “COOKIE DINNER!” It was not my proudest parenting moment. Giving in to Oliver’s sweets obsession has been diffi-cult. I rarely stock treats at home. I hate chocolate. My menus are filled with low-carb, low-sugar options. But when Oliver started to jabber, “cookies” was an early word (I blame the grandparents).…

FOLLOW @5280SPOTLIGHT for a BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK a t 5280 MARKETING ONGOINGS. PIE IN THE SKY OCTOBER 1–NOVEMBER 19 Denver and Colorado Springs. Order your delicious, fresh-baked Thanksgiving pies from Project Angel Heart’s Pie in the Sky fundraiser, and help provide nutritious, customized meals for Coloradans living with cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses. Available in apple, cherry, pumpkin, and pecan. Information at pieintheskycolorado.org. 5280 DO GOODER NOMINATION OCTOBER 30–NOVEMBER 13 Do you know someone making a difference in Colorado? Head to 5280.com/DoGood through November 13 to nominate exceptional individuals and organizations affecting change in our communities. We’ll select one nominee to be featured in an online article later this month. Enter online at 5280.com/DoGood. THANKSGIVING TURKEY DRIVE NOVEMBER 1–30 Denver Metro Area and Fort Collins. This holiday season, help Denver…

9Health Fair 1139 Delaware St. Denver, CO 80204 (303)698-4455 9healthfair.org As the largest volunteer-driven, non-profit health and education program in the nation, 9Health Fair has provided life-saving health screenings and education to 2.1 million Coloradans over the last 36 years. With the sole mission of granting access to affordable and convenient prevention and early detection, 9Health Fair empowers Coloradans to Own their Health. Through unique partnerships and endorsements, 9Health Fair is a leader in inspiring healthy actions. Your donation provides important health screenings, education and awareness for thousands of Coloradans. ABILITY CONNECTION COLORADO 801 Yosemite St. Denver, CO 80230 (303)691-9339 abilityconnectioncolorado.org For 70 years, Ability Connection Colorado (ACCO) has proudly served Colorado. A GuideStar best practice organization, ACCO makes certain that .89 cents on every dollar supports at-risk Coloradans and…

Business Planning Mark Le Strange Beaton · Bukaty Mark Johnson · Western Wealth Management Tad Lyle · Planning Resources Roy Schieffer · R.B. Gold Estate Planning Clark Griggs · Griggs Wealth Management Reid Johnson · MBA Wealth Management Financial Planning Kenneth Acampora · Durable Wealth Management Chad Alevras · Gregory & Associates Steve Allender · Aspen Creek Investments Aaron Anderson · CoBiz Wealth Valerie Antonioli · Cherry Hills Investment Advisors Page 7 Mark Arlen · Lincoln Financial Advisors Terri Ashton · Townsend Retirement Specialists Susan Baldwin · Legacy Wealth Partners Laurie Barela · Vargas Wealth Management John Barry · Barry Financial Services Jeffrey Bartleson · Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Bob Bastiaans · Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Page 14 Aaron Bauer · Bauer Financial Management Tom Baumler · Asset One Karine…

BENJAMIN RASMUSSEN Colfax Avenue has long been home to Denver’s disenfranchised, but local photographer Benjamin Rasmussen tried to capture the vitality of the people living and working along Denver’s longest road. In his 16-page photo portfolio (“The Contradictions Of Colfax,” page 96), Rasmussen used bright light and clean compositions to depict his diverse subjects. “I wanted everything, from strip clubs to schools to bakeries, to receive the same visual treatment,” he says, “and I wanted that to match how I would photograph someone of social power.” Rasmussen’s work has also appeared in GQ and Wired. NATASHA GARDNER Writing and editing can be a solitary experience, but that wasn’t the case with this month’s “Our Town” (page 120), a report on homelessness 10 years after the city of Denver resolved to…

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a… mustache? That’s the guessing game travelers have been playing since the exterior of the Westin Denver International Airport hotel and conference center started to take shape. (Actually, the architects at multinational firm Gensler had to figure out a way to fit 519 rooms into a space hemmed in by existing bridges and the Federal Aviation Administration’s guidelines that prohibit blocking the view from the control tower. The result just happens to look, officially, like a bird.) The Westin, which opens on November 19, may not be fine art itself— though there’s plenty of that in and around the estimated $544 million building, including a $2 million sculpture by environmental artist Ned Kahn—but its purpose was always intended to be practical. The Westin…

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS MONTH, U.S. ground troops fought their first major battle in the Vietnam War. The Battle of Ia Drang Valley took place from November 14 to 18. By the end of the fight, 250 U.S. soldiers and 1,000 enemy combatants were dead. (The Vietnam War claimed 1.3 million lives total; of the 58,220 U.S. troops killed, 623 were Coloradans.) Colorado remains particularly connected to the bloody fight at Ia Drang: The commanding officer on the ground during the first phase of the conflict, Hal Moore—still alive today—later took over as executive vice president of Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Here is Moore’s story, as well as a snapshot of Colorado’s veteran community. NUMBER OF VETERANS living in Colorado 413,271 *This category, as defined by the Department of Veterans…

Marlowe On… ROOKIE EMMANUEL MUDIAY “I was in Los Angeles when Magic Johnson first got there. Mudiay’s got a similar game. He’ll make everyone better. He’s going to be the leader we haven’t had. He could be that way for the next 10 years.” Marlowe On… COACH MICHAEL MALONE “Of all the coaches I’ve seen here, he has the best feel for how a team should defend. He’s got a very effusive style. You get the feeling he’s in it with you—he’s always positive.”…

NOVEMBER 2013 In most of the catalogs, books, and magazines Lukavic paged through in preparation for the exhibition, “Indian Power” was cited under “collection unknown.” Finally—in a 1977 catalog for an exhibit in Santa Fe, New Mexico—Lukavic uncovered an owner: John Hawn of Breckenridge. Through tax records and the inaugural board members of the 35-year-old Breckenridge Film Festival (in an old newspaper article, Lukavic discovered Hawn had donated money to the festival), Lukavic tracked Hawn to Austin, Texas. He contacted Hawn’s wife on Facebook. APRIL 2014 Hawn’s wife confirmed that her husband had owned “Indian Power,” but he no longer had it. She promised to reach out to the new owner; months passed without word from her. With the deadline for the exhibit’s catalog approaching, Lukavic gave up: “Indian Power”…

MERCURY CAFE The Scene: One of Denver’s most wonderfully weird cultural spots, the Merc is part cafe, part dance club, and part poetry guild. The Music: Depending on the day, a DJ spinning hip jazz tunes or a band belting out similarly fun swing music When: $10 Lindy Hop classes at 6 and 7 p.m. on Thursdays, plus DJ music at 8; swing classes on Sundays at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., then a live band starting at 8 ($10 includes the classes) Don’t Miss: If you had no idea there was such a thing as blues dancing, check out the Merc on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. for a $5 beginner’s class. mercurycafe.com DENVER TURNVEREIN The Scene: The two formal dance floors in this 1920sera building are packed with local dance…

SPIRITS Leopold Bros. Distillery Tour There’s no better way to see how hooch should be made than to take the Connoisseur Tour ($15) at Leopold Bros. During this threehour booze-apalooza, visitors learn about the processes that go into making some of the country’s finest spirits. The best part? Included in this mega-tour is the opportunity to taste the distiller’s entire lineup of the hard stuff. Visit leopoldbros.com to check availability. BEER Banjo Billy’s Denver Brewery Tour Sure, there are many ways to tour Denver’s craft brewing scene, but come winter, a walking tour might not feel like such a great idea. Instead, reserve a seat on Banjo Billy’s Denver Brewery Tour bus. For just $40, you’ll get a warm ride between Renegade Brewery, Beryl’s Beer Co., and Prost Brewing—plus three…

HALOTHERAPY Not all sodium is bad for you. Especially not the more than six metric tons lining the new 5 Star Salt Caves Wellness Center and Spa’s salt cave. Developed in Poland as a method for soothing headaches and clearing lungs, halotherapy has become common across Europe. The 400-squarefoot salt cave inside this Wash Park West spa is Denver’s first. $35 for 50 minutes; 722 S. Pearl St.; 855-578-2725; 5starsaltcaves.com 24-KARAT-GOLD FACIAL Bond can have his Goldfinger. We’ll take a gold face, courtesy of Serenity on St. Paul Day Spa. Here, estheticians transform gold into a shimmery mask that’s purported to help decrease the size of your pores and accelerate the cell renewal process for smoother skin. $200; 240 St. Paul St., Suite G-115; 303-393-8989; serenityonstpaul.com MARIJUANA-INFUSED LOTION In Colorado’s…

5280: How did this organization grow out of the flobots.org nonprofit? BRACKETT: That started around 2007. We ended up having a hit and signing with a national label, so we expanded it into activism workshops, including a national street team in 2008 that registered voters at our shows. After the election it became tough to organize 10,000 budding activists across the country, so we took it local, changed it to Youth on Record, and focused on [music] programs we’d been doing the entire time. We began after-school programs at Denver Public Schools middle schools. Eventually, DPS high schools started inviting us to do the programs during the day, for credit, which was the dream for us. What does a typical program do? We’re working in populations where often the music…

ONE WEARIES OF THE FUSSY dissertations about provenance, purity, and technique that make up a lot of restaurant menus these days. I’m grateful to chefs who let their food speak for itself—and Hosea Rosenberg, owner of Blackbelly Market in Boulder, is one example. Rosenberg could have turned his restaurant’s butchery and charcuterie programs, managed by Nate Singer, into a lot of nose-to-tail proselytizing. Breaking down a steer or hog carcass is, after all, big work—as is getting the right texture and flavor out of all that carefully ranched flesh, bone, and blood. Instead, Rosenberg just stocks a meat counter near the door with surplus cuts for takeaway sale. On the dinner menu, he marks the day’s specials as “from the butcher”; there are a few words about sourcing and cooking,…

If there’s a dish that screams “comfort food” more than the green chile–goat cheese cornbread at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox—Justin Cucci’s seven-month-old “gastro-brothel” and music venue—we haven’t found it. Roasted Hatch chiles, goat cheese from Broken Shovels Farm in Henderson, and a knob of house-made fennel-honey butter elevate this humble fare into a dream-worthy dish. Executive chef Jeremy Kittelson folds the chiles and cheese into the bread’s base and then bakes it to order in individual cast-iron loaf pans. After service, whatever batter is left over becomes the base of Ophelia’s popular brunch dish: the Berkshire pork rib Benedict. 1215 20th St., 303-993-8023, opheliasdenver.com…

Symbol Guide Indicates a restaurant featured in 5280 for the first time (though not necessarily a restaurant that has just opened). Indicates inclusion in our annual list of Denver’s best restaurants released each October. These selections are at the discretion of 5280 editors and critics and are subject to change. Indicates inclusion in our annual list of Denver’s best new restaurants released each March. These selections are at the discretion of 5280 editors and critics and are subject to change. THE DOLLAR SYMBOLS included in each listing indicate how much you can expect to pay for an average dinner entrée: $ Average entrée under $10. $$ Average entrée $11–$15. $$$ Average entrée $16–$25. $$$$ Average entrée $26 and higher. A ACE EAT SERVE $$ UPTOWN AREA / ASIAN / This…

AUGUST 1990 Cherry Creek Shopping Center attracts about 300,000 shoppers its opening weekend—double what had been projected. During Cindy Crawford’s appearance at the May D&F department store, the 24-year-old supermodel is asked to sign her Playboy spread. Classy, Denver OCTOBER 2015 Furniture chain Restoration Hardware opens RH Denver, the Gallery at Cherry Creek, in the spot formerly occupied by Saks. Modeled on classical architecture, the gigantic store (one of five in the country) is the centerpiece of Cherry Creek Shopping Center’s 90,000-square-foot redevelopment. NOVEMBER 2009 Upset at being booted from Cherry Creek’s taxi stands because of the mall’s exclusive deal with two cab companies, more than 100 taxi drivers protest by encircling the mall and hitting their horns. Cherry Creek offers to let the companies back in if they agree…