Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2015 i 5280 Magazine

Regardless of their political leanings, Americans seem to agree: One of the things we dislike most about elected officials in the nation’s capital—and, to a lesser degree, in our respective state governments—is their inability to get anything done. Even so, as our representatives continue to pander, pontificate, and raise their personal profiles, we have an irritating tendency to keep re-electing the very same types of pols we say we disdain. We scream for change, but our votes tell a diffierent story, and the politicians seem happy to give us what we perhaps deserve: gridlock. Doing nothing, however, is not a luxury members of Denver’s City Council have. “This is an operational job, not a policy job,” former council president and current District 5 councilwoman Mary Beth Susman says. “You’ve got…

TURN THE PAGE for the Centennial State’s best (and worst) 2015 moments. 2015: A Look Back Jessie Hernandez Death In January—five months after the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, changed the tenor of the discussion around police brutality— Denver officers shot and killed 17-year-old Jessie Hernandez as she was driving toward them. They said it was in self-defense; the coroner ruled Hernandez’s death a homicide. Four months later, District Attorney Mitch Morrissey declined to file criminal charges against the officers. Big Brewery Expansion For the past few years, small neighborhood breweries have been popping up by the dozens; 2015, however, was the year of the big craft brewery. Well-established operations Avery, Great Divide, and Breckenridge all expanded into slick new facilities, pushing the boundaries of what’s considered “micro.”…

CHRIS OUTCALT Associate editor Chris Outcalt had his first cup of coffee during his junior year of high school. He filled the cup with cream—a lot of cream—and sugar. Since then, Outcalt’s java routine has evolved (he now takes the drink black) and expanded into a passion, making him the logical person to edit “The Beginner’s Guide To Denver’s Exploding Craft Coffee Scene” (page 74). “Coffee is part of the day for so many people, but it’s also something people know very little about,” Outcalt says. “I wanted to make the culture more accessible to those who depend on coffee yet don’t fully understand what they’re drinking.” SPENCER CAMPBELL & JESSICA LARUSSO Associate editor Spencer Campbell and managing editor Jessica LaRusso both admit they could use help in the gift-giving…

RESUMÉ NAME: Bill Cadman AGE: 55 OCCUPATION: President of the Colorado Senate What were the highlights of the 2015 session? We said we were going to do something on school safety, workforce development, testing reform, government accountability, and increases in educational funding. We did all of them. [Editor’s note: The 2015 state Legislature’s specific accomplishments in these realms were creating a bipartisan committee to address school safety, crafting financial incentives and new programs for postsecondary training, increasing standardized testing flexibility, increasing government audits, and setting a minimum per-pupil amount for schools.] Why do you think it was so productive? Republican leadership [laughs]. For the most part, 98 percent of what we do isn’t partisan. I think Colorado is unique in that legislators don’t spend a lot of time fighting about…

“The way you help infants and young children is via the relationships with their caregivers.” BABIES ARE A LITTLE (OK, A LOT) EMOTIONAL. One moment they coo, and the next they sob seemingly because you had the audacity to hand them a favorite toy. That over-the-top spectrum of behavior is completely normal. What’s not is an unusually withdrawn baby, one who has stopped crying to communicate, which can be an early sign that his mental wellness is hurting. “We diagnose PTSD in babies as young as nine months old,” says Dr. Shannon Bekman, program manager for Denver’s Right Start for Infant Mental Health. “You can diagnose depression fairly reliably in an infant as young as four months.” That doesn’t mean Bekman and her team—seven full- and part-time staff ers at…

FOR YEARS, BRETT MADDOX, a white-haired, white-bearded bed-and-breakfast owner in Manitou Springs, thought he made a decent Santa Claus. (He played the jolly man in red for friends and family and events at his B&Bs.) Then, on a friend’s suggestion in 2011, he attended Susen Mesco’s Professional Santa Claus School in Denver—and after a weekend of classes in everything from sign language to suit fitting, he felt he’d stepped straight out of Miracle on 34th Street. “I am Santa,” Maddox says, adding that Mesco’s classes helped him score lucrative gigs at country clubs and, this year, a Colorado Ballet Association fund-raiser. “There are a lot of guys running [around] out there with white beards, and they’re smoking a cigarette or drinking a beer,” he says. “Susen teaches you to be…

FRIENDS WHO DESERVE BENEFITS DESERVE: Fancy Tiger Crafts DIY-ers love Fancy Tiger Crafts for its inventive classes, supplies, and Tuesday evening Open Craft Nights, when you can get guidance on whatever project you’re working on at home. In December, this spot will also off er classes on making scarves, aprons, monogrammed totes, and more. Check website for schedule; $25–$35 (materials not included); 59 Broadway, fancytigercrafts.com/classes MAKE GRANDMA’S HOUSE EVEN WARMER WITH: 4 Favorites Rugs Got a particularly artistic child? Email a photo of her latest masterpiece to 4 Favorites Rugs, and the e-retailer will turn it into a playful wool accent rug. Pick the size and customizations (background color, monogram, etc.) and receive options to choose from. The process takes eight weeks, but you can print out your pick and…

FOR YEARS, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE CONSIDERED COFFEE LITTLE MORE THAN A vehicle to deliver caff eine to the body, a morning jolt scooped from either a red can or a blue can. But there’s far more to coffee than caff eine. During the past decade, java has evolved from a universal stimulant to an obsession among foodies and craft-culture fanatics. These days, the diff erence between a cup of Folgers and coffee from a good roaster is something like the diff erence between the Filet-O-Fish at McDonald’s and the catch of the day at Sushi Den. And perhaps nowhere has this evolution been more evident in recent years than in Denver. “It’s definitely a very exciting time,” says Jake Brodsky, who in 2002 co-founded Novo coffee, one of Denver’s…

FOR ADVENTURERS Hala Straight Up inflatable stand-up paddleboard (a repair kit, wheeled backpack, electric car pump, hand pump, and fin are included; three-piece Grafik travel paddles are $259 each), $1,359, halagear.com FOR GOOD LISTENERS Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats self-titled vinyl album, $24.99, available at Twist and Shout, 2508 E. Colfax Ave., 303-722-1943, twistandshout.com FOR COCKTAIL SIPPERS Strongwater herbal bitters sample box (one ounce each of Amores Melipona, Sweet Riza, Fire Tamer, and Golden Ichor flavors), $35, sipstrongwater.com Thoughts That Count You may not love them. Heck, you might not even know them that well. There are people, however, you simply cannot face empty-handed this season. Here, inexpensive gifts ($22 or less) that are anything but cheap. MAIL IT IN The easiest (and most costeffective!) way to spread holiday…

CHO77 42 S. Broadway 720-638-8179 cho77denver.com For more on our ratings, visit 5280.com/ratings. THE DRAW A fun tour through Southeast Asia—and beyond—via its street food THE DRAWBACK Playful interpretations don’t always nail the essences of these great dishes DON’T MISS Thai chicken curry, steamed buns, any noodle dish DETAILS Small plates $8 to $10; mains $14 to $15. Open 5 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 5 to 11 p.m. Friday; 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday; and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Street parking. THERE ARE FOOD STALLS in Singapore, Bangkok, and other parts of Southeast Asia to which I would happily award four stars. When I lived in Southeast Asia for three years as a teenager, and then when I returned on…

WINTER IN COLORADO means two things: soft powder on the slopes and craft suds waiting for you back at the lodge. Those are two pretty great things—and they can actually be made better when the après-ski drink becomes a beer-based cocktail. Here, four ways to elevate your stout, all approved by local brewmasters COOKIES ’N’ CREAM Cookies and milk are a classic pairing, but Left Hand Brewing Company’s Milk Stout Nitro makes this sweet treat all the better. Emily Armstrong, spokeswoman for Left Hand, says the cocoa notes of the brewery’s milk stout are perfect for this mix. 1 ½ ounces Fernet Branca ½ ounce Caff è Borghetti espresso liqueur Milk Stout Nitro vanilla–milk stout whipped cream* 1 ounce Monin dark chocolate sauce Mix the Fernet Branca and espresso liqueur…

THE GUIDE Our guide to the best of local dining. Find our comprehensive list at 5280.com or on your mobile phone at mobile.5280.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…

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF SHERLOCK HOLMES NOW THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2016 Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Step into Arthur Conan Doyle’s Victorian London and work side by side with the legendary Sherlock Holmes to tackle a baffling case. Investigate a crime scene and emboss, stamp, rub, and draw your observations to discover the truths behind the mystery. Information and tickets at dmns.org. MILE HIGH HOLIDAYS NOVEMBER 27–DECEMBER 31 Denver. Celebrate the holidays with spectacular light displays, heartwarming holiday shows, and festive New Year’s Eve fireworks. Make a night of it with hotel rates starting at $99. Information at milehighholidays.com. THE NUTCRACKER NOVEMBER 28–DECEMBER 27 Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Leave the holiday to-do’s behind, and get lost in the glittering snowflakes and shimmering sugarplums in Colorado Ballet’s 55th annual production of…

CHATTER “HEY SKIERS - NOW IS THE TIME TO SUPPORT ACTION ON CLIMATE (OR MAYBE START BOWLING).” @MarkTercek, via Twitter, on November’s “Meltdown,” a profile of Auden Schendler, Aspen Skiing Company’s vice president of sustainability. “BEST PHOTOS OF #COLFAX I’VE SEEN YET.” @Rachelsapin, via Twitter, on “The Contradictions Of Colfax,” a photo portfolio by Benjamin Rasmussen in the November issue Buzz of the Month DOG DAYS It didn’t take long for 5280 deputy editor Lindsey B. Koehler to pen “Divine Creature” (September), a tribute to her boxer, Bodhi (pictured), who died this past January. “The words just kinda poured out of me in the days after Bodhi left us,” Koehler says. “Writing is usually painstakingly slow, but it was easy to write about an animal I loved so much.” Given…

Although traditional eggnog certainly has its place at our winter table (especially when spiked with bourbon), ’tis time you made a fresh round of cold-weather cocktails part of your holiday traditions. We asked local bartenders to reveal the best not-nog concoctions on their menus. The picks all have one thing in common: While they begin with simple flavors like maple syrup, ginger, and apple, a dash of inventiveness creates surprising (and festive) results. Whether you’re looking to inject some joyful spirit into Scrooge-y guests or simply stay warm, these libations are sure to stir up some holiday cheer.…

1 ARAUJO’S RESTAURANT This could be called a hole-in-the-wall if not for its mint green facade, which isn’t the only thing that makes Araujo’s stand out. The restaurant offers $1.50 handheld breakfast burritos featuring diff erent meats each day (bacon Mondays, chorizo Tuesdays, etc.; Saturday is the chef’s choice). If dining in, we suggest the spicy, green chile–smothered version ($3.50) and a strawberry agua fresca ($2.95). 2900 W. 26th Ave., 303-455-3866 2 DESEO SALON & BLOWDRY Dark wood and a sparkling chandelier welcome patrons to two-month-old Deseo Salon & Blowdry, which offers cuts, color, and blowouts and also brings facial waxing services to Jefferson Park. 2855 W. 25th Ave., 720-662-7100, deseo.space 3 SEXY PIZZA After opening its first two locations in hipster haven Capitol Hill and familyfriendly Platt Park, Sexy…

THE SCIENCE BEHIND HEROISM Dissecting why some people run toward danger—instead of away from it. The Chinese zodiac calendar designates 2015 as the Year of the Sheep, but we take issue with that characterization of timidity. We like to think of 2015 as the Year of the Hero. And not because the (perplexingly) popular NBC television series made a brief reappearance this fall. Consider: Spencer Stone and the thwarted Paris train attack; Umpqua Community College shooting victim Chris Mintz, who tried to block the gunman’s progress and was shot seven times; closer to home, University of Colorado Boulder student Max Demby, who stopped a sexual assault this spring; or the good Samaritan who hauled a drowning man out of Monument Creek near Colorado Springs in October. Obviously, there are people…

AFTER COURTROOM 201 SHUT DOWN AND THE REPORTER SLEFT, AFTER THE QUESTIONS HAD BEEN ASKED OF WITNESSES AND THE TEARS SHED, GEORGE BRAUCHLER WOULD return to his home and attempt to make sense of what seemed to be a senseless situation. He’d kiss his wife. He’d eat dinner with his family. He’d read with his four children and help put them to bed. With the house finally quiet, he’d step into the closet just off his bedroom. He’d turn on the overhead light and close the door. The files and the photos were there, atop a small desk he’d bought at IKEA and put together himself. There, each night, were the horrors from the movie theater, which would await him in court the next morning. Inside his six-by-four-foot closet, the…

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE GANACHE Pizzeria Locale uses this mild, silky chocolate ganache to top its butterscotch budino. Make a batch at home; it adds a lavish note to any dessert. —CALLIE SUMLIN 1 In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, scald (heat to just below boiling) 3 ¼ ounces heavy cream. 2 Place 2 ½ ounces chopped milk chocolate (for a richer flavor, substitute dark chocolate) in a heat-proof bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let sit for 30 seconds. 3 Stir slowly with a spatula to incorporate; strain through a chinois if desired. Use the ganache as a delicious base for chocolate mousse or hot chocolate, as a dip for pretzels or fresh fruit, or as a decadent frosting for cupcakes or tortes. ON THE WEB Find Pizzeria…

KATSU RAMEN For all of its ethnic eateries, Aurora has typically been devoid of notable ramen houses. Not anymore. Katsu Ramen chef Shinsuke Hirao, who earned his cred in Osaka, Japan, serves traditional ramens. Try the spicy chicken version with thick noodles and peppery broth. 1930 S. Havana St., Aurora, 303-751-2222, ramendenver.com UNCLE If a line out the door is a sign of a good spot, Uncle in LoHi is winning. Fans clamor for Tommy Lee’s boldly flavored ramens, all six of which are built on dynamic, layered broths that can hold up to the spice and umami-rich flavors of the toppings. And heck, if your noodles need more heft, Lee offers sides of what he calls “umami bombs”—such as miso-bacon jam and spicy seven-pepper paste. 2215 W. 32nd Ave.,…

INSPYRE Four Locations | InspyreBoutique.com CHECK ME WARM Checkered Red Coat with Fur-Lined Hood ($98), Black Woven Scarf ($21), Knitted Beanie ($28), Black Skinnies ($44), and Cow Skull Necklace ($28). LoHi, Cherry Creek, Park Meadows, Southwest Plaza PLUM CONSIGNMENT Denver/Stapleton | PlumGood.com CHIC BOHEMIAN DETAILS Be Hippy Necklaces ($140-$150) and Bracelet ($38), Prickly Hearts Necklaces ($54-$64) and Bracelets ($32-$35). Find them at Plum for the free-spirited fashionista. WILDE BELLE BOUTIQUE Belmar | ShopWildeBelle.com FABULOUS FALL FRINGE Olive Fringe Dress ($68), Brown Katie Suede Jacket ($72), Old Gringo Rio Boots ($425), Boot Belle Austin Boot Wrap ($62), M. Kaltenbach Pendant Necklace ($120) and Bracelets ($28-$30). NEST CHILDREN’S BOUTIQUE Denver | NestChildrensBoutique.com A POP OF PINK Joules Constance Woven Dress ($68) and Jingle Silver Button Through ($46), Peppercorn Heart Charm Purse ($18),…