Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2016 i 5280 Magazine

Perhaps it was serendipitous that I had a medical procedure as we were wrapping up this issue. My primary care doctor wanted me to have a colonoscopy, given my family history of colon cancer; however, I am 42, and most people don’t get the screening until they’re 50. So before I scheduled anything, I decided it would be wise to consult with deputy editor Lindsey B. Koehler, who had been working for months on “Savvy Shoppers” (page 120), a companion to 5280’s Top Doctors list that explores how to better understand our labyrinthine health care system. Then I did something I’d never bothered to do before: I investigated the potential costs. 5280’s benefits liaison informed me that because I wasn’t 50, the colonoscopy would not be covered as a preventive…

Late one night in 2009, Davy Lindig, a distiller at Peach Street Distillers in Palisade, was feverishly working on several batches of gin. In his haste, Lindig made what could have been a $70,000 mistake. The distillery’s Jack and Jenny Pear Eau De Vie and Jackelope Gin were in their distinct tanks waiting to be bottled, and Lindig, seeing the identical clear spirits, assumed they were the same and combined the two. Only afterward did he realize his blunder. Lindig called Rory Donovan, one of Peach Street’s founders, in the middle of the night. Donovan asked if Lindig had tasted the commingled spirits. He hadn’t—but when he did, he was pleasantly surprised, as was Donovan. And with that, the libation was christened Jackelope and Jenny Pear Gin (it was, after…

Watermelon Day Rocky Ford Fairgrounds August 20 Cantaloupes might be the most familiar produce bearing the Rocky Ford designation, but it all started with watermelons when, in the mid-1870s, G.W. Swink began growing them in Rocky Ford—and hosting free watermelon feasts for locals. Over the decades, watermelons grew to be a major crop for the region. “Watermelons and cantaloupes are tied at the hip down here, so you can’t enjoy one without the other,” farmer Michael Hirakata says. “The watermelons are head and shoulders above any other watermelons throughout the United States.” Swink’s feasts have become a tradition: The 138th consecutive Watermelon Day—complete with free watermelons—will be held at the Rocky Ford Fairgrounds on August 20. arkvalleyfair.com…

This past year, the United States was expected to reach an unfortunate milestone in health care: The National Healthcare Expenditure—stats gathered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—was forecasted to breach the $3.2 trillion mark, which would mean health-care spending per American would eclipse $10,000 annually. The final tally won’t be released until late 2016, but no matter what, that’s a lot of dough to shell out for a system that rates fair to middling in comparison to those in other developed countries. While very few people are likely to be surprised by the fact that health-care spending is spiraling wildly out of control, too many of us are underprepared for the position it puts us in: being held accountable for how we use health care and health…

If you weren’t sure about Denver’s commitment to two wheels, the city is doing its best to convince you: Last year, Denver added 13 miles of buffered and protected bike lanes (meaning parked cars and/or small curbs separate riders from traffic). It also established the “Green Wave” along East 16th Avenue between Park Avenue and Broadway: Ride your bike at a steady 13 mph along this stretch to downtown, and you’ll never hit a red light. These new routes were part of a $119 million plan to improve Mile High City bikeability, but they were just a start; several more projects break ground this year. Here are the highlights. × STOUT AND CHAMPA STREETS : Riders along these busy Curtis Park one-ways will get their own space when the city…

Roll out of downtown via Water Street to the West 23rd Avenue bike lane, then detour a few blocks north on Clay Street for a Southern breakfast at (1) Sassafras American Eatery (the breakfast po’ boy should provide adequate caloric prep). Properly fueled, head west on 23rd again to (2) Sloan’s Lake; pedal northwest through the park to West 26th Avenue, where you’ll pick up a dedicated bike lane. Cut across 242-acre (3) Crown Hill Park—past its bass-, trout-, and catfish-stocked lake—and disobey Google Maps’ suggestion to stay on West 32nd Avenue. Instead, pick up Holland Street and follow it north to West 38th Avenue. Turn left, then go right on Independence Court and left on Kline Street. A bike path on the right, west of the tennis courts, leads…

I’ve moved at least 10 times in my life, creating new homes in nine cities, three states, and two countries. An armchair psychologist might deduce that I covet change—but what I’m really after is discovery. And as I’ve learned with every major relocation, there’s no better vehicle for discovery than a bike. When I was nine, my family traded an orchard, garden, and massive backyard in a town on the fringes of Portland, Oregon, for safer streets and better schools in inner suburbia. My Diamondback BMX bike proved key to finding new friends: Make enough laps around the neighborhood and eventually some kid is bound to come out and play. Later, in my 20s, I transitioned from living carless overseas to living carless back in Portland, where my cheap hybrid…

PERFORMING ARTS BEST BET AUG. 5–7 Aerial Dance Festival Showcase This gravity-defying performance features artists who have worked with nationally touring ensembles such as Cirque du Soleil. Using lyra hoops and trapezes, dancers perform daring physical feats set to music by artists such as Beyoncé and the Portland Cello Project. Fri 8 p.m.; Sat 2, 8 p.m.; Sun 2 p.m. The Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., 303-440-7826, thedairy.org. $20-$25. AUG. 12–SEPT. 3 The Toxic Avenger: The Musical The classic story of a radioactive accident resulting in superhuman powers gets a new twist in this quirky rock musical. Instead of Superman, we meet the Toxic Avenger, an average guy turned hero who wants to prevent pollution in his home state of New Jersey. Up against a corrupt mayor…

ROBERT SANCHEZ Senior Staff Writer Treasure Island was one of 5280 senior staff writer Robert Sanchez’s favorite childhood books. So when he learned that a Colorado man had disappeared while searching for the infamous Fenn treasure, he was beyond intrigued. “I had to know how a thirst for hidden treasure somehow made this guy get on a raft in the dead of winter and risk his life,” Sanchez says. It took Sanchez more than three months of reporting and several trips to Santa Fe, New Mexico—the last place treasure hunter Randy Bilyeu was seen—to produce “Lost” (page 142). “There are so few mysteries these days,” Sanchez says. “But this case is a real modern-day puzzle. One day Randy was on the phone with his best friend—and the next day he…

Former pro soccer player Taryn Hemmings knows what it’s like to have her perspiring mug flashed across the big screen. That’s why the University of Denver grad co-founded Sweat Cosmetics, a makeup brand formulated to stay drip-free and out of your eyes even when your face is slick with sweat. Last month, timed for the start of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the 14-month-old Denver company expanded its offerings by releasing an illuminator and bronzer that are bolstered by zinc oxide, a natural sunscreen. Olympians Natasha Hastings (track) and Lauren Billys (equestrian) will wear the products in Rio, but Sweat Cosmetics provides just as much UV protection at 5,280 feet.…

GEAR My Trail Co.’s Pyramid 4 Shelter BORN IN Boulder WHY YOU NEED IT Thanks to its innovative pyramidal design—which is a 1/80 scale model of the Great Pyramid of Giza—this 87-square-foot tent gives Mom, Dad, and two little ones a bit more elbow (and arm and leg) room. WHO’S USING IT Car-camping families and former GoLite brand devotees. (My Trail is the descendant of the Boulder company, which went bankrupt in 2014.) GET IT $399, mytrailco.com…

Independence Day may have come and gone, but burgers are still king when it comes to summer cookouts. To wit: On August 4 in City Park, the seventh annual Burger Battle pits the state’s very best offerings against one another in an epic food fight. Last year, TAG Burger Bar’s Truffle Shuffle (pictured) won the People’s Choice award. “I almost feel like it’s cheating to do anything with truffle,” chef-owner Troy Guard says with a wry smile. “People just love it.” Chefs will have a difficult time one-upping Guard’s winner—60 percent chuck, 20 percent brisket, and 20 percent short rib served with Swiss, mushrooms, truffle aïoli, and Ruffles tossed with Parmesan and truffle oil. The champion sandwich won’t make an appearance this year, but you can still order it at…

In what may rank as one of the coolest work trips ever, Mike Johnston, owner of Savory Spice, embarked on a barbecue pilgrimage last summer. His goal: to do hands-on research on regional differences in barbecue. After 43 days of driving, logging 7,000 miles across 14 states, and visiting 88 barbecue joints, Johnston won’t spill on his favorite, but he’s working components from each of the distinct regions into a new line of sauces and rubs that will launch at Savory this month. Here’s what he learned, with tips from the pros themselves. THE MEAT: All things beef—brisket, sausage, ribs BARBECUING METHOD: Low and slow FUEL : Post oak, live, or white variety SPICES/SAUCE: Saltand-pepper blends; sauces might not even be on the table AT-HOME TIP: Mix mustard and pickle…

SUSHI RONIN 2930 Umatilla St. 303-955-8741 sushironin denver.com THE DRAW: Beautifully prepared omakase dinners at the sushi bar THE DRAWBACK: À la carte menu can be hit-or-miss; deep-frying is a weak point DON’T MISS: Omakase menu, chef’s nigiri picks, broiled hamachi collar, agedashi tofu PRICE: $ $ $ $ Just once, I’d like to taste Japanese food as a Japanese native would and understand exactly how Sushi Ronin’s Godzilla roll would strike a Kyoto traditionalist. Sushi rolls in Japan are plain and simple things—cucumber or egg in rice with a seaweed wrapper—but in American restaurants, they have morphed into a huge, pop-baroque genre: Japanese food to the tune of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Hapa Sushi Grill and Sake Bar, the apex of the Japanese-American hybrid trend in Denver and Boulder, offers more…

Denver Metro-Area Hospitals Because of space restrictions, we abbreviate the names of some of the area hospitals in the listings. Below are our abbreviations and the official names, as well as their health-care systems. If applicable, we include the names of some surgical centers in the listings; however, they are not included below. AURORA – The Medical Center of Aurora—HealthOne AURORA NORTH – The Medical Center of Aurora-North—HealthOne AVISTA – Avista Adventist Hospital—Centura Health BOULDER COMMUNITY – Boulder Community Health CHILDREN’S – Children’s Hospital Colorado CRAIG – Craig Hospital DENVER HEALTH – Denver Health Medical Center GOOD SAMARITAN – Good Samaritan Medical Center—SCL Health KINDRED – Kindred Hospital Denver LITTLETON – Littleton Adventist Hospital—Centura Health LONGMONT – Longmont United Hospital—Centura Health LUTHERAN – Lutheran Medical Center—SCL Health NATIONAL JEWISH –…

Last year, 2,579 bicycles were stolen in Denver. Registering your bike with the police before it gets pinched presents your best chance at getting it back. It’s easy and free: Simply visit the theft and fraud prevention section of denvergov.org, and have your ride’s make, model, and registration number handy. If police can’t find the owners of stolen bikes within about eight weeks, the unclaimed cycles wind up at the Denver Police Bicycle Bureau Bicycle Auction in RiNo, where they’re auctioned off five or six times a year. Keep an eye on the auction page at denvergov.org for the next date.…

Boulder-based Handlebar Mustache’s line of casual bike-themed shirts (from $26) feature designs that range from whimsical to obscure. Haul your gear in style with Green Guru’s Joyride Roll Pop Backpack ($100), made in Boulder from upcycled fabrics and weatherproof vinyl. Denver’s Mad Alchemy Pro+ Chamois Cream ($19) ends saddle chafing. Store your bike without scratching the walls with the Velo Wall Rack 2D ($42) from Golden’s Feedback Sports. Fuel your ride with energy food such as the tasty Fruit Drops ($2 per package) from Boulder’s Skratch Labs.…

SYMBOL KEY NEW Indicates a restaurant featured in 5280 for the 􀁷rst 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 critics and are subject to change. PRICE KEY (Average entrée) $ under $10 $$ $11 to $15 $$$ $16 to $25 $$$$ $26 and higher A Abejas $$$ Golden / Seasonal Enjoy seasonal new American plates at this community restaurant. The ever-changing menu features farm-fresh produce and organic meats. Reservations accepted. 807 13th St., 303-952-9745. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch Ace Eat Serve $$ Uptown Area / Asian This Uptown restaurant and ping-pong hall features Asian-inspired cuisine, 10 ping-pong tables, and house-made juices and sodas.…

In Denver’s exceedingly fierce real estate market, it’s not surprising that every square foot of ground is being scrutinized for new uses—including downtown’s alleys, historically relegated to dumpster storage. Not anymore, thanks to events like Rialto Cafe’s four-year-old Brewer’s Alley (pictured), which features samples from local brewers. The party became so popular, in fact, that Rialto’s alley, on 16th Street between Curtis and Champa streets, is hosting two editions this year: The first was in May, the second is in September. The Dairy Block, a development near Coors Field set to open in 2017, plans to use its alley as a pedestrian-only lane with storefronts, as does the nearby Market Street Station development, debuting in 2018. In short, the future of urban retail looks to be right up Denver’s alleys.…

Love Rocky Mountain National Park? Want to help preserve it? Buy this T-shirt (below). It’s part of a collection made—in the USA—by Parks Project, an apparel line that contributes a portion of every sale to conservation efforts in 22 national parks. Proceeds from the Rocky Mountain National Park shirts ($36) go toward supplies for the Rocky Mountain Conservancy-Conservation Corps, an educational work program that repairs trails and assists with revegetation. Right now, Denver’s nearest national park is the only one involved with Parks Project, but founders Keith Eshelman and Sevag Kazanci hope to expand the collaboration to Colorado’s three other national—and even some state—parks soon. Your wardrobe will get a boost, and so will our Centennial State gems.…

Adecade ago, Littleton resident Luis Benitez was one of the most sought-after mountaineering guides in the world. Benitez’s foray into government, however, might be his most pioneering excursion yet. Last summer, Governor John Hickenlooper hired Benitez as founding director of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, an agency tasked with bolstering the state’s $13.2 billion outdoor sector. Colorado is only the second state, after Utah, to carve out a special spot for outdoor rec within government—meaning there aren’t many best practices to copy. Benitez, 44, spent his first year in office building an advisory council of 32 executives across the state’s varied outdoor segments as well as organizing regional coalitions in recreation hot spots. “It’s about getting the different segments of the industry talking and hopefully pointed in the same…

ELEMENTARY Fjällräven Räven Mini, $60, fjallraven.us This backpack’s G-1000 Heavy Duty material means the Räven, made by Fjällräven (whose North American headquarters are in Louisville), can survive being a makeshift home plate. The wax coating guards four bright colors against inevitable Capri Sun spills. COLLEGE Topo Designs Y-Pack, $98, topodesigns.com This is the time to express yourself, and no one does that with more style than Topo Designs. Plus, beyond the standard book and laptop slots for schoolday use, the lowprofile straps make the Y-Pack a comfortable daypack for introspective hikes in Chautauqua Park. HIGH SCHOOL Madden Equipment Dan’s Pack, $100, madden equipment.com Inspired by classic models (think: JanSport), Dan’s Pack fits in while still flashing some local style with Colorado bison leather details. There’s also an expandable front pocket…

5280: What’s your key piece of advice for drivers? Megan Hottman: Give riders as much space as possible. The law requires three feet, but honestly, that’s the minimum. How should a cyclist handle a nasty confrontation, or worse, a collision with a motor vehicle? Engaging with an angry motorist is never a good idea. Instead, call in the incident to local police and add it to the Close Call Database (closecalldatabase.com), a national site that tracks dangerous areas for cyclists as well as repeat offenders. You can also call the Colorado State Patrol aggressive driver hotline at *277. If there’s a collision, call 911. The cyclist needs to stay put where she landed to prevent potential further injury—unless, of course, she is in danger of being run over. Someone should…

BIKE DENVER’S BIKE AMBASSADOR RIDES What: These small (10 to 15 people) group rides, which debuted this summer to help educate newer riders about how and where to bike safely, also introduce cyclists to bike routes they can take for short trips (like to the grocery store) instead of hopping in their cars. When: Visit bikedenver.org for upcoming ride details TOUR DE FAT What: Brought to you by New Belgium Brewing, this festival celebrates bikes, beer, and music. It kicks off with a family-friendly three-mile ride around City Park (costumes are encouraged) before transitioning into a more grown-up affair as the day—and beer consumption—wears on. When: September 10 DENVER CRUISER RIDE What: To join a roving party of two-wheelers, point your single-speed to the Gin Mill or Little Machine Beer…

Broadway and East 12th Avenue Accidents (since 2011): 10 Why: With no designated bike lane, Broadway isn’t exactly friendly to twowheelers. Plus, on this stretch drivers are tempted to accelerate as the cityscape opens up and density drops. Lincoln Street and East 11th Avenue Accidents (since 2011): 11 Why: Lincoln was designed to quickly funnel autos into downtown, so bikers have to squeeze through heavy one-way traffic. South Parker Road and East Mississippi Avenue Accidents (since 2011): 8 Why: The High Line Canal trail halts here, and riders must cross seven lanes of a major road to continue on the path. Meanwhile, a dedicated right-turn lane from Mississippi onto Parker leads drivers to assume they can zoom through without checking for bikers.…

@velosteef Who: Stephen Fitzgerald, founder of Denver-based cycling team Rodeo Adventure Labs What: Inspiring landscape and action shots of Adventure Labs riders in Colorado and beyond @BikeDenver Who: Advocacy group for Mile High City cyclists What: An up-to-the-minute source for metro Denver’s newest bike developments; a heads up about local fund-raising events and City Council agenda items of interest to cyclists @matthewcbeaudin Who: Personal account of Colorado Springs’ Matthew Beaudin, communication director for Cannondale Pro Cycling What: Well-informed and humorous insights into the sport of pro cycling and top-tier events such as the Giro d’Italia @CycloFemme Who: Grassroots Boulder group that celebrates women and cycling in lessdeveloped parts of the world What: Inspirational quotes and stories; updates about the organization’s casual meet-up rides @taylorphinney Who: Pro cyclist and Boulder resident…

VAIL FARMERS’ MARKET & ART SHOW Sundays through October 2, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. East Meadow Drive, Vail. The Vail Farmers’ Market & Art Show is entering its 15th year. The event has grown to over 135 tents including local artisans, stores, restaurants, take-home food,t and produce. Please join us for our final Farm To Table Dinner of the season on Friday, August 12, featuring seasonal and local ingredients! Information at vailfarmersmarket.com. FOR ALL WHO WISH TO LEARN, 100 YEARS OF EMILY GRIFFITH’S LEGACY August 8, 2016–January 1, 2017 Denver Public Library Central Branch. Emily Griffith was a visionary educator who created Opportunity School in 1916 to provide education “for all who wish to learn.” Her vision is alive today at Emily Griffith Technical College. This exhibit tells both an historic…