Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2020 i 5280 Magazine

We live in a world in which nothing is static: Software updates often tweak how we interact with our computers, and apps on our phones refresh themselves with an almost disturbing regularity. Magazines are a bit more measured in the ways they change, renew themselves, and reimagine the reader experience. By way of illustration, the last time we completely redesigned 5280 was three and a half years ago, back when a man named Barack Obama was president and the Broncos were actually a good football team. (I know, it seems so long ago.) The issue you’re holding in your hands does not represent a complete design overhaul, but we have modified a few things that you might have already noticed as you perused the table of contents. Some of our…

Brittany Charboneau says that after nearly 20 years together, she and running have reached the empty-nest phase of their relationship: “It’s like the kids have moved out and the two of us have found a whole new vibrancy.” It’s the sort of punch line you’re bound to hear during My Long Distance Relationship With Running: From the Early Miles to the Olympic Trials, Charboneau’s one-woman show at Bovine Metropolis Theater in LoDo—and the third leg in this love triangle. When Charboneau met running, she was 13 and fresh off a string of bad relationships with other sports (which is to say, she wasn’t good at them). The Denver native joined the cross-country team at Colorado State University and later moved to Chicago to study at the famed improv institution Second…

After a combined 38 seasons, you’d think producers of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette would have realized that sending contestants on awkward, rapid-fire dates rarely yields lasting love. But even if the show can’t engineer stable relationships, it does churn out alums who know a lot about courting. Which is why we asked Centennial State vets of the franchise to bestow roses upon their most memorable date spots. FIRST DATE Denver Central Market Despite a 2019 appearance on Bachelor in Paradise, a spinoff set in Mexico, McNary returned to Denver as single as he left. Staying unattached has helped him find the ideal first-date spot: this RiNo food hall. “Fewer guidelines allow the date to be more playful,” McNary says. Plus, the plethora of options gives McNary key insights into…

On paper, Lafayette’s Acreage by Stem Ciders offers many of the comforting virtues one seeks from a cold-weather dinner out: wood-fire cooking; robust alpine European flavors imported from the Basque region of Spain and Alsace in France; an impressive variety of hard ciders; and cheery communal tables with views of the Flatirons. You can easily build a layer of winter insulation there via its snappy cider bratwurst lashed with hot mustard and sauerkraut or perhaps a plate of charred pork belly with a soft egg and an order of fries. Pair your meal with something a little off-piste—perhaps Stem Ciders’ dry Chile Guava. For a sweet ending, order the warm, spicy cider doughnuts. Eat hearty, knowing that tomorrow, you Orange Theory at dawn! It all sounds like so much fun.…

WeldWerks Brewing Co.’s head brewer and co-founder Neil Fisher, who began brewing beer in—you guessed it—his garage, is known for sending it. Which may be why WeldWerks is bringing big medals (most recently, a gold and a silver from GABF 2019) back to its A-frame production facility and taproom (formerly a used car lot and showroom) in Greeley. “We leaned into what came naturally—innovation and recipe design—mainly because we didn’t know any better,” Fisher says. Now, even as he and the rest of the WeldWerks team prepare to open a second taproom in Colorado Springs this spring, the prolific brand is also going into its fourth straight year of producing, canning, and self-distributing 150-plus different beers (a monumental feat of both marketing and logistics). Its myriad offerings include fan-favorite New…

LAGER Bierstadt Lagerhaus’ Slow Pour Pils, 4.9 percent ABV Crisp, aromatic, and crushable, this traditional German pale lager is worth the four- to six-minute wait it takes to achieve the proper pour—resulting in the perfect head—at Bierstadt’s massive, two-level, game-filled RiNo taproom. BELGIAN-STYLE Primitive Beer’s Harbored in the Fuzz, 6.2 percent ABV First, this Longmont brewer’s two-year-old spontaneous, lambic-style beer is refermented for 10 months on Red Globe peaches from Hotchkiss’ Deer Tree Farm and Agroforest; then it’s bottle-conditioned (refermented inside the bottle with added sugars) for six months on local alfalfa honey. The result? A dry-as-a-bone brew with funky stone-fruit aromas, deep peach notes, and a bit of blue cheese intensity. FRUITED SOUR Casey Brewing & Blending’s Funky Blender Preserves–Laroda Plum, 7 percent ABV Glenwood Springs brewer-owner Troy Casey aged this farmhouse…

For spouses José D. Beteta and Tamil Maldonado-Vega (center and right) and head brewer Martín D. Vargas (left), co-founders of five-month-old Raíces Brewing Co., slinging suds is about more than just making great-tasting beer. “Everything we do is to celebrate Latino culture and highlight the vast number of subcultures that exist under ‘Latino’—because a Colombian Latino is very different from a Puerto Rican or U.S. Latino,” says Beteta, a native of Costa Rica. Thus, when the trio opened Raíces’ (which means “roots”) first taproom in burgeoning Sun Valley this past fall, events were at the heart of the brand’s mission to facilitate cultural under-standing: Its calendar is packed with everything from celebrations for Latino national holidays to fútbol (and football) watch parties. Latin- and Caribbean-inspired food trucks provide fare that…

$4.68 billion Money collected by 7,321 Colorado charities in 2018, the most recent year for which data is available. That’s roughly $33 million less than in 2017. 67% Percentage of Coloradans* surveyed by the Colorado Nonprofit Association (CNA) in July 2019 who said they donated money to charity in the previous year. In a similar CNA survey in 2014, 80 percent of respondents said they had recently donated to charity. 63% Percentage of Coloradans* surveyed by the CNA in July 2019 who said they donated household items to charity in the previous year. In a similar CNA survey in 2014, 86 percent of respondents said they had recently donated household items. $39.6 million Amount raised in 2019 for Colorado Gives Day (coloradogives.org), organized by the Community First Foundation in December…

Erin Pulling is careful to say no nonprofit is perfect. The president and CEO of Denver’s Food Bank of the Rockies explains her hunger-relief organization, like all nonprofits, has its challenges. But, she says, prospective donors and volunteers should investigate the operational prowess and current leadership before offering support to any philanthropic organization. “It’s difficult to know all you need to know from a website,” Pulling says. “Signing up for one or two no-strings-attached volunteer opportunities is a great way to pull back the curtain.” She recommends taking notice of the following and asking plenty of questions. TOP-TIER NONPROFITS GENERALLY… THAT’S IMPORTANT BECAUSE… Have ample volunteer opportunities that vary in time commitment Not only does it show a certain level of organizational sophistication (mobilizing people is difficult!), but it also…

CAROL STEELE IS, in her own words, a “retirement-age white woman who lives in a nice community in Denver.” Sammie Wicks is, as he jokingly puts it, “a 32-year-old black man who’s never going to be a white woman.” Yet Steele and Wicks have found common ground while serving on the board of Denver’s Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT). The 10-year-old nonprofit has long worked to diversify its board and created a mentorship program that pairs people who are in the early stages of their careers with those who are in or nearing retirement. “We’ve found there’s a lot of teaching going on in both directions,” says Amanda Finger, LCHT’s co-founder. Steele and Wicks concur and agreed to explain what they’ve learned from serving the LCHT—and from each other.…

SPECIAL EVENTS • ARTS & EXHIBITS • CULINARY • KIDS & FAMILY MUSIC • PERFORMING ARTS • SPORTS & RECREATION SPECIAL EVENTS FEB. 5–9 Winter Carnival Steamboat Springs began this five-day annual soirée over a century ago to help residents endure the dreary days of winter. Over-the-top activities—such as the “donkey jump,” in which horses pull children on skis before sending them over small jumps—will ward off guests’ blues. Peruse snow sculptures crafted by locals before warming up with hearty chili and toasting s’mores. If that’s not enough to brighten your spirits, stick around to watch skiers draped with LED lights jump through fiery hoops and a daring performer shoot fireworks from his pyrotechnic suit. Wed-Sun, times vary. Locations vary, Steamboat Springs, 970-879-0695, steamboatchamber.com. $10. FEB. 10 How is Mars…

The state’s growing tourism economy has triggered an era of competitive creativity among Colorado’s swankiest resorts, which keep dreaming up ever-more-inventive lodging packages to attract well-heeled visitors. Some of these amenities have become so bizarre, though, they seem fake. In fact, under each category below, one of the promotions has been fabricated. It’s up to you to sort the lies from the weird-but-we-swear-they’re-true frills. FOOD & DRINK A. A crickets and cheese board at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, part of the allegedly haunted resort’s “Halloween Spooktacular” (from $1,200 for two nights in October). B. A $125 bottle of bourbon made especially for the Oxford Hotel’s “Laws Whiskey House Experience,” which also includes a tour of the Laws Whiskey House distillery in Denver (from $239 per night). C. Your…

In the not-so-distant past, artists were tethered to their representing galleries. Making it big (and sometimes even making a sale) required negotiating a contract with a gallery owner, installing an exhibition, waiting patiently for a piece to catch the eye of a prospective buyer, and, when it did, splitting the profit with the gallery. Now, with the dawn of sites like Saatchi Art, Artsy, and Society6, as well as the influence of Instagram, artists are in control of their output—and, in turn, their creations are more accessible to novice collectors than ever before. One way Denver artists are reaching these burgeoning art lovers is through prints: easy-to-produce digital replicas that, lucky for us, usually come at a fraction of the price of originals. The idea of reproductions may conjure thoughts…

While testing recipes this past fall, chef Tim Dotson found himself struggling with the focaccia he wanted to use at his now month-old Dimestore Delibar. “The sandwiches were falling apart when we picked them up,” Dotson says. “Then an idea I’d had years before came back to me: Roll it up.” Today, seven burrito-sub hybrids—dubbed “Dimerolls”—are on the bar/deli/market’s menu. In each, tender sheets of toasted focaccia from Englewood’s Trompeau Bakery encase savory fillings, such as roast beef with pepper-onion relish and smoked aïoli or, Dotson’s favorite, the umami-bomb meatloaf with pickled jalapeño slaw. But Dotson’s problem-solving didn’t stop there. Dimestore Delibar itself is a fix for another issue he and partner Chris Fuentes had identified: a lack of affordable (and late-night) dining and shopping options in LoHi. That’s why…

In a large, open room in Capitol Hill’s Metropolitan Community Church of the Rockies, about 20 adults are sitting around tables and chatting quietly. A few scoop up popcorn and grab cookies from a long table. The room is too warm; a fan in the far corner tries and fails to push out the late July heat. The scene is the perfect archetype of the bad church meeting room. Everyone here is a stranger to me, but we’re a few sessions into what will be a series of six three-hour meetings, and their faces are becoming familiar. There are the women who are my mother’s age, the college students, and the twentysomething professionals who’ve clearly scrambled to get here from work. (I hear one of them tell another, “This popcorn…

When you walk into Source of Nature’s 5,600-square-foot warehouse in the small town of Wellington, just north of Fort Collins, you’ll spot ropes of dried hops, a mountain of wine barrels, pallets of beer cans, bags of ground vanilla beans, and a freezer crammed with orange zest. And while clients—craft brewers, distillers, even kombucha makers—patronize Alex Leedy and Lavelle McGovney’s four-year-old sourcing clearinghouse for the flavorful, sometimes rare ingredients the duo procures, it’s what you can’t see that makes the company a novel resource for about 250 U.S. beverage brands, including Denver’s Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project and Longmont’s Left Hand Brewing Company. McGovney has a background in international business operations, and Leedy worked for years at New Belgium Brewing, collaborating with craft beer masters across the country. Together, they…

I have a simple palate. And when it comes to beer, my palate and I have almost always preferred easy-drinking, easy-on-the-wallet lagers to heavier, more complex brews. But when I left behind my days (and nights) of chugging PBR in New Mexico for a gig at 5280, I felt pressured—obligated, even—to try all the bold brews made here, lest I be ridiculed for drinking “water.” So, I sipped on local sours, stouts, and saisons. I downed Centennial State IPAs. I spent more money than I care to confess at area breweries, hunting for my new favorite beer. Then, late one evening at Don’s Club Tavern, I found the brew I’d been searching for: a $2.50 Coors Banquet stubby. Maybe it’s the Rocky Mountain water. Maybe it’s the Moravian barley. Maybe…

Name: Next Generation Giving (NG2) Affiliation: Denver Health Foundation Age: 2 Most passionate about: Making sure those who can’t afford health care get the medical attention they need, whenever they need it Most important qualities in a partner: An irrepressible desire to help all living beings, no matter how helpless; zero aversion to that latex-and-coffee aroma of hospitals Seeking: 25- to 39-year-olds Nonnegotiables: Attending monthly meetings and several fundraising events throughout the year; bringing $500 to the cause annually; posting on social media platforms to promote volunteer opportunities and fundraising events You should message us if: You want discounted tickets for good-cause events like the Hot Rocks Griller Challenge and NightShine Gala. denverhealthfoundation.org Name: Denver Active 20-30 Children’s Foundation Affiliation: N/A Age: 33 Most passionate about: Helping at-risk or disadvantaged…

Every winter, more than 10 million people hit the slopes in Colorado, almost all of them with skis and snowboards coated in petroleum-based wax for optimum schussing. That grease can often get left behind, a problem considering the manufactured compounds used in many such waxes don’t always decompose naturally. When the snow melts, perfluorochemicals (which studies suggest cause thyroid issues in animals and humans) and hydrocarbons (a less toxic substance, but one some scientists say may not be fully biodegradeable when used in large quantities) can eventually enter streams and rivers. The thought of wax in his water inspired Peter Arlein to invent a greener alternative: In September, the Carbondale resident unveiled MountainFlow Eco-Wax, North America’s first line of plant-based ski waxes. A longtime ski bum, Arlein spent two years…

It’s a chilly Saturday night in December, and I’m surrounded by concertgoers from every Denver subculture. Hipsters in denim vests. Flannel-clad dads. Heavily pierced guys in Black Sabbath shirts. The only thing they have in common? Everyone seems to have ear protection. Minus me—an unprepared indie-music lover who dances to Janelle Monáe alone in the elevator. It’s my first doom show, and I’m going to leave it without my hearing. My journey to see the band Primitive Man at the Oriental Theater began nearly two years ago when, eyes bright and ears undamaged, I moved to Denver. I was living outside the Midwest for the first time, and my family, generational Illinosians, didn’t have much advice for acclimating to my new home. The only tip I got came from Uncle…

Sweating and laughing, our line of 14 ski-touring ladies skinned through knee-deep February powder en route to the Sisters Cabin on Baldy Mountain, just outside of Breckenridge. A few selfie stops and nips of whiskey later, the forest opened before us, revealing our snowy hut away from home. Inside, we peeled off wet layers, called bunk dibs, and sparked a warming wood stove fire—before laying out all of the charcuterie, cheeses, and happy-hour accoutrements we’d strategically packed. Sure, lightweight, calorie-dense MREs may be backcountry hut-trippers’ rations of choice, but as a group of foodies escaping our daily grinds (and kids and spouses), we’d carefully planned our expedition to mix adventure and gourmet pleasure. A shared Google spreadsheet that detailed who was responsible for which meals and listed ingredients, down to…

TIVOLI BREWING COMPANY + BACON SOCIAL HOUSE = PEACHY KEEN BRUNCH BEER What happens when a brewery and a pork-centric restaurant create a beer? Brunchtime magic, that’s what. At a morning-friendly 4.5 percent ABV, Peachy Keen is a rich ale bursting with stone-fruit flavors, thanks to the 180 pounds of Palisade peaches that went into the tank. Find It: At Bacon Social House’s two locations GOLDSPOT BREWING COMPANY + LAWS WHISKEY HOUSE + BONACQUISTI WINE COMPANY = DOPPLEBOCK For the Regis neighbor-hood brewery’s fifth anniversary this month, Kelissa Hieber, Goldspot’s head brewer, worked with Laws and Bonacquisti on a special three-way project: First, Laws aged its three-year-old bourbon in Bonacquisti’s Cabernet barrels for at least 18 months; then, Hieber put a malt-forward dopplebock into the same barrels for four months.…

Love ’em or hate ’em, India pale ales are here to stay. But what’s the difference between, say, a New England and a West Coast? And what do “pale ales” have to do with anything? Brandon Capps, co-owner and head brewer at four-year-old IPA specialist New Image Brewing in Arvada, gave us the lowdown on how today’s most popular styles fit together, plus his picks for the best local IPAs. WEST COAST IPA (aka American IPA) American hops give this crystal-clear, best-selling style intense flavor, aroma, and bitterness. The brew’s boom can be traced back to the 1970s, when breweries in California and Washington began using Oregon-grown Cascade hops. Tasting Notes: Bold pine and citrus flavors Average Hoppiness: Try: Juicy Banger IPA at Station 26 Brewing Co. WEST COAST PALE…

This is not a guilt trip. Giving back, paying it forward, carrying out random acts of kindness—most of us want to do these things. We really do. But then work… and kids…and tight finances…and in-laws who always seem to be in town…and, well, life often bump those humani-tarian inclinations right off the to-do list. Even when bullet points such as “call about volunteering” manage to remain on your Post-it, it still feels like a monumental task to figure out which nonprofits are worthy of your goodwill. And with the new federal tax code rendering itemization unnecessary for many Americans, that cherry-on-top incentive has virtually disappeared. So, we get it. It’s easier to push those items to next week’s agenda and convince yourself you’ll get it done then. Easier, maybe, until…