Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2017 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. 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 number…

COMPASS The Brown Palace’s Champagne cascade may look like a cavalier display of elegance, but slicing the tops off bottles of Moët & Chandon bubbly with replicas of Napoleonic sabers is a serious—and dangerous—endeavor. Just ask Mat Dinsmore, who’s been involved in the delicate task at the hotel (which celebrated its 125th anniversary in August) for the past 15 years: “If you miss, the bottle is so pressurized that it blows up, and those glass shards cut right through your shirt and neck and chest.” The fourth-generation Loveland native gleaned such wisdom from his father, Dennis, a former Moët employee who built the Brown Palace’s multistory pyramid of Baccarat crystal when the event first began 30 years ago. (This year’s sabering happens on November 19.) Back then, Moët’s resident swordsman,…

Drink: Ska Brewing Co.’s Modus Hoperandi At: O’Learys Stockholm Tolv Event Center What’s it doing in Sweden? As a citrusy IPA with notes of grapefruit, it pairs well with Sweden’s smoked fish and meats. Drink: Great Divide Brewing Co.’s Yeti Imperial Stout At: Oliver Twist Pub & Restaurant What’s it doing in Sweden? “Yeti has a huge fan following in Sweden,” says Shannon Berner, marketing manager at Great Divide. “It’s our second-largest market for Yeti sales.” Drink: Avery Brewing Co.’s Ellie’s Brown Ale At: Söders Hjärta restaurant What’s it doing in Sweden? The government organization that chooses which beers to import picked Ellie’s as the best American brown ale.…

Boulder’s Neptune Mountaineering has survived everything from recessions to rent hikes over the past 40 years. But shortly after Gary Neptune (who opened the shop in 1973 to serve the Front Range’s b urgeoning climbing community) sold his iconic store to Texas-based outdoor retailer Backwoods in 2013, things started to go sideways, and Backwoods filed for bankruptcy in 2016. Then, earlier this year, Boulderites Andrew and Shelley Dunbar, the North American distributors for outdoor gear manufacturer Sea to Summit, stepped in and purchased Neptune—with big plans for its future. By Thanksgiving, they’ll have devoted at least a thousand more square feet in the Table Mesa Shopping Center location to retail; put in a 35-foot-wide climbing wall for demos and clinics; converted part of the space into Colorado Mountain School’s new…

Unlike most gobblers awaiting their ends this month, 13-year-old Rawley Godsey’s buff turkey, Peanut, doesn’t have anything to worry about. While the pint-size poultry farmer occasionally raises birds for meat, Rawley’s got a principle for deciding which ones get the ax: “Our general rule is: If they get a name, they’re safe,” he says. Rawley, a decorated 4-H winner, has made a name for himself over the past two years as one of the Denver area’s youngest egg and chicken sellers. When they’re in stock, you’ll find his Pan’s Prize Eggs at the Preservery in RiNo. The Bennett Middle School eighth-grader has already learned some harsh business lessons. Last fall, he lost almost 30 frozen chickens to a production glitch: His Akbash dog, Nika, got into the freezer, helped herself…

Piñon nuts. Almonds. Lime juice. Thyme. Oaxacan ancho and pasilla criollo chiles. Burnt corn tortillas. If those sound like bizarre ingredients to add to cherry jam, then you haven’t tried RedCamper’s Piñon Cherry Deliciousness preserves. Maura Gramzinski, founder of the 13-year-old Denver condiment company, was inspired to create the spread after falling for the flavors and culture of Oaxaca, Mexico, on a recent vacation. “RedCamper has always been about place. I wanted to celebrate both countries [Mexico and the United States] and the specialness of their ingredients,” she says. Gramzinski partnered with Oaxacan chef Eduardo Vera Morales of the acclaimed (now shuttered) Atila del Sur restaurant for the project. Together, they spent a month picking apart his 45-ingredient mole recipe to identify the elements that would best complement Colorado cherries…

ON THE WEB Ready for another slice? Find our complete guide to Denver pizza at 5280.com. THE DETROIT-STYLE STUNNER Blue Pan Pizza opened a second location in Congress Park in August (the original is in Highland) to feed the growing horde of fans clamoring for its pan-baked, crispycheese- edged, fluffy-crusted, rectangular Detroitstyle pies. Order the Brooklyn Bridge, topped with pepperoni, sausage, mozzarella, brick cheese, pecorino, and creamy whipped ricotta, and you’ll get the hype. 3930 W. 32nd Ave., 720-456- 7666; 3509 E. 12th Ave., 720-519-0944; bluepan denver.com THE ITALIAN JOB The culinary crime of bland crust is never an issue at Brava! Pizzeria & Cafe (a two-year-old offshoot of the original, now-shuttered downtown location of Brava! Pizzeria Della Strada) inside Avanti Food & Beverage in LoHi. The rustic, Neapolitan-style pies,…

PLANK PRESS PUSHUP WITH A PLANK JACK Do a pushup by moving from a high plank down to your forearms and back up. Then kick your legs out to the sides, jumpingjack- style, and back in. TRICEPS DIP KICK Start in a crab walk position. Lower yourself toward the floor and come back up, then lift your left leg and stretch your right hand to touch your ankle (or as far as you can reach). Repeat on the other side.…

MOST SURPRISING Jon Snow’s resurrection Echo: Response in Movement Two of the best purveyors of local art, the Clyfford Still Museum and the Wonderbound dance group, are teaming up—twice. On November 16, Wonderbound’s artistic director, Garrett Ammon, will choreograph a duet on-site inspired by the museum’s latest exhibit, Still & Art, which displays more than 80 of Clyff ord Still’s works alongside pieces by other artists. Then, on January 11, Wonderbound dancers will perform a fleshed-out version of the routine at the company’s Five Points studio. Degas: A Passion for Perfection The Denver Art Museum is the only American institution that will show this exhibit of more than 100 works from French master Edgar Degas, a pioneer of impressionism. February 11–May 20 Bill Cunningham The work of this legendary New…

EXTRA CREDIT Developed by Arvada resident Nate Craner (with help from his two young sons) after a rollover car accident left him dealing with debilitating headaches and panic attacks, Freedom Fidgets’ elevated take on this year’s hottest gas-station toy is designed to reduce stress and anxiety. The intricate texture, white noise, and mesmerizing motion help Craner’s fidget spinners serve as meditative focal points. Find more tips for using them as therapeutic tools—such as adding calming essential oils to the four pinholes—at freedomfidgets.com.…

280E: The section of the IRS tax code that prevents marijuana companies from claiming federal business tax deductions. Cannabis: The plant genus that includes all varietals, including hemp, and is the preferred industry term. Weed and pot— and almost any other colloquialism—come with their own associations, typically of the Dorito-munching stoner variety. Cole Memo: The 2013 memo from then Deputy Attorney General James Cole that essentially informed states with legalized marijuana laws that the Department of Justice would not make it a priority to enforce the Controlled Substances Act, provided the states demonstrate robust and effective regulatory and enforcement systems that control marijuana cultivation and distribution. Extraction: The process of removing desired cannabis components—such as THC and cannabidiol (a nonpsychoactive chemical with reported health benefits). These are used to create…

“The biggest mistake a lot of businesses make is not having enough experience in a regulated industry. It’s a lot cheaper starting off your business compliantly than getting fined $100,000. If you don’t have a full-time compliance specialist on your payroll, you will not succeed.” —Kevin Gallagher Executive director, Cannabis Business Alliance “The customer base is not always what you think it is. When I first got into this, I thought I was making someone the equivalent of martinis. But with pain, insomnia, PTSD, seizures, epilepsy—a lot of people don’t want to try to get a medical card, so they come through the retail side.” —Charlotte Peyton Vice president of business development, Stratos “When I started my brand, I was pretty much the only company using the Mary Jane’s name.…

THE TRUMP EFFECT> On January 23, the president begins making good on his promises to “drain the swamp” and decrease the size of the government by signing a presidential memorandum that temporarily halts all nonmilitary federal hiring. The freeze is lifted for certain departments in April; a month later, Trump releases his 2018 budget proposal, which calls for major cuts to many executive branch departments. THE COLORADO CALCULATION> 7 The (rather insignificant) number of federal employee jobs that were lost in Colorado in the first quarter of 2017. Based on Trump’s budget proposal, a variety of departments could see workforce reductions. With that said, the number of Coloradans working for cabinet-level federal agencies has been on a mostly downward trajectory (the most recent data from March 2017 had the number…

HICK’S PICKS Colorado’s governor weighs in on the top five areas in which he thinks Trump has influenced the Centennial State. >Health care >Climate change >Infrastructure >Legal marijuana >Other environmental issues (Gold King Mine cleanup, sage-grouse habitat, Canyons of the Ancients protections) SENATOR’S SELECTS 5280 asked both U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Senator Cory Gardner to detail the five areas in which the Trump administration has affected Colorado most. Gardner didn’t respond to our request. Bennet did. Here is his short list. >Proposed budget cuts >Health care bill >Immigration policies >Travel ban >Pulling out of the Paris Agreement…

THE TRUMP EFFECT> On July 17, the Department of Homeland Security raises the cap on H-2B visas for low-wage seasonal workers for the remainder of the fiscal year. THE COLORADO COROLLARY> In 2016, 6,179 workers came to Colorado on H-2B visas —the third highest total in the country. In mid-July, Trump increased the annual cap on H-2B visas— which allow companies to hire foreign nationals to do unskilled, nonagricultural labor on a temporary basis—from 66,000 to 81,000. The National Ski Areas Association, as well as Colorado’s two U.S. senators, lobbied for the one-time expansion. With the state’s unemployment rate at a historic low, mountain resorts rely on the visas. “These workers are vital to Colorado communities,” a spokesperson for U.S. Senator Michael Bennet says, “especially those that rely on tourism,…

“Life moves pretty fast,” Ferris Bueller famously said. “If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” I thought of that quote in early October as I was trying to make sense of the news coming out of Washington, D.C.: There were President Donald Trump’s tweets taunting the leader of North Korea. There was the botched response to the humanitarian disaster in Puerto Rico. There was the rollback in birth control coverage for women. And there was the president’s war of words with Republican Senator Bob Corker. By the time you read this, there surely will be more sensational headlines, more meshuggaas. And yet, Americans knew this was coming with Trump (a recent headline in the New York Times read: “For Trump, the Reality…

#4239875230-01 TOTAL FINE $55 *Fees depend on infraction severity; price ranges are for non–school zone and non–construction zone infractions, which are usually doubled. **Only applies to texters driving in a “careless and imprudent manner” ***There is no statewide ban on texting while driving in Arizona, but new drivers (under 18) can be fined $75 if they commit the offense within their first six months. We all despise that tiny, terrible envelope tucked under our car’s wiper blade. But under former Libertarian presidential candidate Steve Kerbel’s Stop the Shakedowns proposal— currently gathering signatures for inclusion on Colorado’s 2018 ballot—city governments would no longer collect traffic fees. Instead, Coloradans would donate their fine to the charity of their choice. That might take some of the sting out of a $50 speeding ticket.…

Ski movies are usually known for their sequences of heart-pounding action. On November 16, when the Bluebird Theater screens the ski racing documentary Streif, there will be a heartwarming element too. The film, which follows four athletes en route to one of the most prestigious downhill races in the world, will be shown as a fundraiser for the Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Project. The organization— launched in 2013 by the professional downhill skier—helps students find their academic or athletic niches with lessons in the classroom and on the slopes. Ticket proceeds ($40) will support Anthony’s endeavors, such as busing kids to resorts for ski lessons and delivering school presentations about peer pressure. Anthony’s inspiration stems from his own struggles as a student with dyslexia. With his mastery of skiing came…

Life is full of unknowns, especially for expecting parents—and in November, many Coloradans will begin their journeys into that uncharted territory. Nationally, more babies are born in July and August, nine months from now, than any other months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In short, the countdown has begun. But don’t worry: We consulted medical experts, baby specialists, and the most experienced sources we know (moms) to come up with key to-do’s for pregnant Centennial State mothers—as well as helpful tips for those not growing tiny, adorable humans.…

IL POSTO 2601 Larimer St. 303-394-0100 ilpostodenver.com THE DRAW: A flashy, modern RiNo space; an excellent wine program THE DRAWBACK: Inconsistent, overly complicated Italian fare DON’T MISS: The StraCapra and Burrata appetizers, piadina-style sandwiches, thoughtfully paired wines If you’ve ever been to a high-end fashion boutique in, say, Milan, you know the elegant, spare, intimidating atmosphere of the Italian modern style—crisp as a Brioni suit, not a thing out of place. But there’s a quirky variation, found from Naples to Rome and beyond: eccentric modern. It eschews restraint in favor of swanky, oddball, personal flash, hinting at the swinging Italian movies of the ’60s and ’70s. Look at the grill of a 1970 Alfa Romeo Montreal coupe and you’ll get the picture. There’s more than a touch of eccentric modern…

1. Don’t Force It Even just two minutes can help reprogram your mind to healthier and happier patterns. 2. Find Your Happy Place You can’t declutter your mind in a cluttered space. Take a seat in a tidy, tucked-away room. 3. There Is An Echo In Here Repeat a mantra or positive affirmation. Here’s one you can borrow from Pagma: The nature of my mind is peaceful. The nature of my mind is happiness. Say the phrase again and again until your mind slips into a meditative state in which the distractions of the day disappear and your mind is calm.…

TROY GUARD Closed: Lucky Cat Because: The busiest chef in Denver needed time to focus on other projects. Opened: Exhibit A is Hashtag (pictured), his first breakfast spot. Order: Teriyaki steak with kimchi fried rice (savory) or bread pudding French toast (sweet) SEAN KELLY Closed: Desmond Bar & Grill Because: It’s unclear. Opening: He and two partners have another iteration of the Denver Central Market’s rotisserie-focused SK Provisions on the docket for DIA next year. Order: The porchetta with roasted potatoes and vegetables FRANK BONANNO Closed: Lou’s Food Bar Because: The Denver legend sold the Highland building that housed his fried-chicken joint. Opened: That freed him up to work on downtown bistro French 75 (plus a new Dairy Block outpost of Lou’s, coming in 2018). Order: The lobster roll CHAD…

SWITCH ON THE HOLIDAYS Location: Pearl Street Mall, 1300 Pearl St., Boulder Date: November 19 (the lights will shine until the end of January) Cost: Free Main attraction: More than 35,000 LEDs and 300 illumed ornaments lighting up the Boulder County Courthouse and the Pearl Street Mall at 5 p.m. Perks: Modern renditions of classic carols by the Boulder Chorale and the Boulder Children’s Chorale before the lighting ZOO LIGHTS Location: Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St. Dates: November 24 to 25 and December 1 to 31 Cost: Starting at $5 for kids, $7 for senior citizens, and $9 for adults Main attraction: More than 150 animal light sculptures are scattered across 60 illuminated acres, alongside the real animals Perk: A New Year’s Eve celebration featuring face painting and a magic…

A CUT ABOVE Up the hostess gift ante with an eye-catching cutting board, like this responsibly sourced cherry, walnut, mahogany, and maple beauty ($50) made by Denver’s Hidden Gnome Wood Working. Carbon Knife Co., 3264 Larimer St., 720-292-4277, carbonknifeco.com…

A SPLURGE YOU CAN…EXPERIENCE She’s a snowsports fanatic, but he’s just in it for the après: We all know that couple. Luckily, the Hotel Telluride’s new Sled & Soak, Ski & Sip package ($3,999 for two, starting November 23) is the perfect compromise. The three-night getaway includes one full day of backcountry snowmobiling—but the destination is the restored ghost town of Dunton, where a gourmet lunch and natural hot springs await. It also comes with a lift ticket for two to shred Telluride Ski Resort’s legendary terrain—but it’s followed up by a Champagne pairing dinner back at the chalet-style hotel. And thanks to nonstop flights from DIA to Telluride, an offering Great Lakes Airlines launched just shy of a year ago, there won’t even be arguments about who’s driving. 199…

1 INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE PRICES SOAR. As the demand for space for indoor grows, well, grew in Denver, so did industrial real estate prices—from about $40 per square foot in 2014 to more than $80 in 2015. Between 2010 and 2015, rental rates also jumped by about $2 per square foot. That’s good news for Colorado’s economy and for landlords who are able to charge a premium for the spaces. But the folks living in neighborhoods with a high concentration of warehouses—like those in north Denver and off of Santa Fe Drive— had to deal with an increase in pot’s skunky smell. The city has tried to address this by capping the number of indoor cultivations and retail stores it will allow (that figure is still TBD) and by imposing…

Standard messaging: Beyond the somewhat obvious warnings about health risks and intoxication effects, the state also requires manufacturers to list all nonorganic pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides applied during cultivation as well as all solvents and chemicals used in creating concentrates. Translation? While the state is doing its best to keep products safe, there are no guarantees. Childproofing: Per state rules, packages must be child-resistant and contain a statement saying as much. Weed-product packaging also can’t contain the words “candy” or “candies” on it, and the look of the product inside can’t appeal to kids— so cartoon characters or geometric shapes that might reasonably lead little Johnny to think he’s about to swallow a fruit snack aren’t allowed. Serving size and total active THC statement: Every package must include a standard…

*Inauguration Day through September 20, 2017 Two weeks after the nation watched Donald Trump take the presidential oath of office, a handful of 5280’s editors and writers sat together in a conference room, admittedly a little befuddled. Few of us could fully reconcile the notion that the guy who popularized—and delivered with such glee—the phrase “You’re fired!” was now the leader of the free world. Even so, the magnitude of that moment in history was not lost on us as Americans. It wasn’t lost on us as Coloradans, either. In fact, on that day in early February we resolved to monitor how Trump would both directly and indirectly affect the Centennial State, which had voted for Hillary Clinton by a margin of almost three percentage poin. As the first few…

THE TRUMP EFFECT> In March 2017, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos praises Denver Public Schools for its efforts to support school choice. Then, she backtracks and tosses a bomb at DPS, saying the district only appears to have school choice but actually lacks a “full menu of options” for families. She suggests that without vouchers to pay for private schools (a program the Colorado Supreme Court has twice shot down as unconstitutional), DPS’ praiseworthy accessibility is canceled out. THE COLORADO QUOTABLE> DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg takes down DeVos in a statement that reads, in part: “We respectfully disagree with Secretary DeVos. We do not support private school vouchers. We believe that public dollars should be used for public schools that are open to all kids, whether they are district-run or…

SYMBOL KEY NEW Indicates a restaurant featured in 5280 for the first time (though not necessarily a restaurant that has just opened). 25 BEST Indicates inclusion in our annual list of Denver’s best restaurants, released each October. These selections are at the discretion of 5280 editors and are subject to change. PRICE KEY (Average Entrée) $ under $10 $$ $11 to $15 $$$ $16 to $25 $$$$ $26 and higher A 25 BEST 12 at Madison $$ Congress Park / American With a menu offering 18 small plates meant for sharing (plus one large format dish meant to feed two to four people), Jeff Osaka’s cozy restaurant is ideal for dining with a small group. Don’t miss the banh mi. Reservations accepted. 1160 Madison Street, 720-216-0190. Dinner, Brunch Abejas $$$…

JOSH COCHRAN Illustrator The dense, colorful images that flow from Josh Cochran’s hand channel the frenetic activity you might find in Where’s Waldo? books. That chaotic style was a good fit for this issue’s story about the state of the local cannabis scene five years after legalization (“Budding Industry,” page 110). The illustrator, based in Brooklyn, New York, set to work creating what he dubbed a “surreal marijuana fantasy land that still resembled Denver.” One of Cochran’s reference points was Disneyland maps he grew up looking at as a kid in Southern California. “They held a certain amount of intrigue and whimsy that I try to recreate in my pieces,” Cochran says. His work has also been featured in the New York Times and GQ. MORGAN RACHEL LEVY Photographer Carrying…

The importance of outer beauty: Winners of the 2017 Mayor’s Design Awards for local architecture will be announced November 14. The pros (less driving) and cons (more hangovers) of Lyft’s expansion to more than 20 Colorado mountain towns this ski season. Fiscal duty. On November 7, citizens vote on Denver’s $937 million general obligation bond package, most of which would improve transportation infrastructure. The sweet new stateflag-inspired uniforms Colorado State University will wear on November 11 when they take on Boise State. Why metro Denver is prime real estate for Amazon’s second HQ (the state submitted its proposal for the facility in mid-October).…

In the early 1900s, the opulent Oxford Hotel wasn’t just for the wealthy; artists often paid their bar tabs at the posh spot by creating original works. Little wonder, then, that Denver’s Sage Hospitality, which operates the Oxford (and many other local and national hotels) today, continues to give local artists a footprint in its properties. For example, all 172 guest rooms of Sage’s Hilton Garden Inn (pictured), opening in Boulder this month, will feature screen-printed murals by Johnny DeFeo, who graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in May with a master’s in painting and drawing. His 16 prints speak to Boulder’s status as both a college town and a haven for nature lovers. (One of the zany drawings, “Late-Night Take-Out,” depicts raccoons scavenging for food.) The project is…

2,000 Visitors DMNS hopes will participate in its nine-month taste study There’s a scientific reason why eating french fries without ketchup is sacrilege and thinking of ChoLon’s soup dumplings makes me salivate: Humans can detect five tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami), and dishes with the right balance of all five are the most delicious. But how do different tastes interact in a meal? Does genetics play a role in how we perceive flavor? Dr. Nicole Garneau (pictured), leading scientist at the Genetics of Taste Lab at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS), intends to find out. ¶“Umami and sour together is one of the most universal taste combinations,” Garneau says. “We want to figure out what the impact of acidity [sour] is on the way we…

2 cups flour ¾ teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon sugar 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder* 2 tablespoons shortening ¾ cup of milk *If you care for more flaky biscuits use 4 teaspoons baking powder. Mix together and sift dry ingredients. To this add 2 tablespoons of your favorite shortening. Mix well with fingertips, then add milk. This will give you a spongy dough. Pour out on floured board, knead lightly. Have greased pan ready. Roll out about ½ inch thick, spread melted butter half way over dough with knife, fold over and roll again; cut out and bake in hot oven, 12 minutes. Oven must be hot before baking biscuits. Very good. ON THE WEB For more of Hattie McDaniel’s Thanksgiving recipes, visit 5280.com.…

The Alto at Midtown’s grand opening party on September 1, 2015, involved a fair amount of pomp, treating around 400 guests to Moët & Chandon Champagne and clear views of the Denver skyline. In the following months, the rectangular, so-called “post-modern” residences inside a master-planned community in north Denver went on to achieve both commercial and critical successes: The builder, Denver’s Infinity Home Collection, sold all 29 houses in a year and a half. Meanwhile, the National Association of Home Builders gave the architect, Woodley Architectural Group of Littleton, a national design award. But the praise wasn’t universal. Brad K. Evans, a graphic designer with no formal architectural training, characterized the Alto’s general aesthetic as “prisontecture.” Just in case that description wasn’t clear, Evans later used more colloquial language in…

STANLEY MARKETPLACE Aurora Laps to 10,000: 11.5 (first and second floors equal one lap) This former aviation manufacturing plant offers different pathways to keep your walk interesting. And although the smells coming out of Glazed & Confuzed Donuts might be a distraction, it’s a heck of a lot better than passing the Gap again and again. COLORADO STATE CAPITOL Downtown Denver Laps to 10,000: Six (using the distance of the standard tour) Sure, the 123-year-old building’s gold-plated dome gets plenty of attention, but the inside is just as stunning. Its walls are gilded with rare Colorado rose onyx; white Yule marble graces the floors; and stained-glass windows abound. (Free public tours are offered hourly on weekdays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) IN CASE OF EMERGENCY The Voodoo Comedy Playhouse…

HOME TRUTH tells the heartwrenching story of Coloradan Jessica Gonzales Lenahan, whose three daughters were kidnapped and killed by their abusive father in 1999. Lenahan sued the Castle Rock Police Department for not enforcing the restraining order on her estranged spouse the night before the killings, and the case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY examines the complex evolution that took Nye from innocuous kids’ program character to champion for rational thought in the age of anti-science sentiment. Plus: those bow ties! IN CASE OF EMERGENCY Former Vice President Joe Biden will deliver memorable sound bites during a stop at the Paramount Theatre on December 2, when he’ll discuss his new memoir and why he chose not to run for the top office.…

1 A Winter Wonderland Wait until it snows, and then head to Clear Creek History Park in Golden. The scene—bundledup shoppers and an idyllic 19th-century iron bridge with snowcapped mountains in the background—is straight out of a snow globe. 2 Quintessential Colorado The oh-so-recognizable 300-foot monoliths (Ship Rock and Creation Rock) at Red Rocks Amphitheatre serve as a reminder to your friends and family back in the pancake-flat Midwest that life is a little more interesting here. 3 Natural Meets Urban Visit Riverfront Park, where the juxtaposition of the futuristic Millennium Bridge set above the churning South Platte and surrounding green space lets people know that while you love the outdoors, you’re no Luddite. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY Get the kids interested in music early by taking them to History…

November 6, 2012 Coloradans pass Amendment 64, legalizing marijuana for adult recreational use, by a margin of 55 percent to 45 percent. May 28, 2013 Governor John Hickenlooper signs legislation that establishes the regulated marijuana market, including laws related to purchase limits (one ounce for an in-state resident), driving under the influence of drugs (five nanograms of active THC per milliliter of blood), and taxation (initially, these taxes total 25 percent). July 23, 2013 By a vote of 5-4, the Colorado Springs City Council bans the establishment of recreational marijuana dispensaries in city limits. Manitou Springs, just beyond the town’s borders, does not. November 21, 2013 The Drug Enforcement Agency raids more than a dozen dispensaries and homes linked to Denver’s VIP Dispensary; it’s one of the biggest federal actions…

If all you think about when you hear “marijuana” is THC, you haven’t been paying attention. Although the market for THC-rich plants abounds, another component of the plant has become an industry all its own. Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is one of the more than 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. It’s a nonpsychoactive chemical, which means it won’t get you high, and has been linked anecdotally (and in some international research) to easing seizures, pain, anxiety, and other health issues. In fact, the World Health Organization is currently considering whether CBD should be rescheduled separate from cannabis as a result of this anecdotal evidence. Consumers seem to have latched onto the substance as a supplement. A recent Hemp Business Journal study estimated that hemp-based CBD products grossed…

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 2016–’17 MTCF appropriation: $8.5 million The money CDE received on top of its $40 million for BEST was broken up into grants for things like early literacy initiatives ($4.4 million), school health professionals ($2.3 million), dropout prevention ($900,000), and bullying prevention and education ($900,000). While helpful, pot revenue still only accounted for about one percent of the 2016–’17 CDE budget of $5.4 billion. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT 2016–’17 MTCF appropriation: $18 million CDPHE got the largest piece of the MTCF pie and put most of it to use in one of two ways: public awareness campaigns ($7 million) and abuse prevention initiatives ($7.1 million) that follow the Communities That Care model. This approach helps communities identify risk factors among children and develop strategies for substance…

THE TRUMP EFFECT> On January 27, Trump signs a presidential executive order called “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.” It’s quickly dubbed the “travel ban.” Chaos ensues at international airports around the country. THE COLORADO COROLLARY> Amal Kassir is the 22-year-old Aurora native who planned Colorado’s most visible protest of Trump’s travel ban. There’s more than one way to build a wall —especially when nobody has to pay for it. Trump’s fifth executive order, released on January 27, suspended “aliens” from seven Muslim-majority countries—Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen—from entering the United States for a period of 90 days. (After a federal court approved a restraining order on the ban, Trump issued a second edict, in March, that removed Iraq from the list.)…

THE TRUMP EFFECT> On May 23, Trump releases his 2018 fiscal year budget proposal. The Environmental Protection Agency is the biggest loser in the plan. THE COLORADO CALCULATION> 31 The percentage by which the EPA’s budget could be slashed, if Trump’s proposal is approved as-is by Congress. Although few White House wish lists of this nature make it through Congress untouched, the proposed decrease to the EPA’s coffers signaled to state environmental agencies that reductions could be coming. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment— which receives 27 percent of its total annual funding for environmental programs from the EPA and manages clean water, air, and hazardous waste cleanup for the state—could see appreciable effects. Cleanup efforts at the Gold King Mine, for example, could be strangled by a…

KIDS & FAMILY NOV. 4 Mermaid Breakfast Dine under the sea while watching the enchanting movements of the aquarium’s Mystic Mermaids. Guests will feast on scrambled eggs, French toast, hash browns, and other delicious breakfast foods while the Mermaids perform choreographed dances alongside their fishy friends. Photo ops are available after the show, and all diners receive 50 percent offtickets for exhibits so the aquatic adventure can continue. Sat 9:45 a.m. Downtown Aquarium, 700 Water St., 303-561-4450, aquarium restaurants.com. $9-$13. BEST BET NOV. 18–JAN. 6 Winter Wonderlights This winter, dazzle the kids with festive lights in an unexpected setting: an African sculpture garden. For almost two months, the majority of a 26-acre sculpture park will be illuminated by a display of bright lights synchronized to holiday tunes—all set amid 82…