Founded in 1993, 5280 is the largest local magazine in Colorado. The magazine's stories often make national headlines, and since 2005 5280 has been nominated for four National Magazine Awards. Get 5280 Magazine digital subscription today.
Tradition dictates that to celebrate an anniversary, one gives a formal, tangible gift. But the logistics, not to mention the cost, of handing out actual trinkets to 50,000 print subscribers and roughly 40,000 daily digital newsletter readers are, regrettably, prohibitive. To commemorate 5280 ’s three decades of covering Denver, a milestone the magazine reaches this month, I thought I’d instead share what I think is the most valuable lesson I’ve learned during my 22-year journalism career, all of which has been spent within these walls. Ready for it? Be generous. That may not seem like an axiom one would glean from an industry built on delivering the truth at all costs. And if I had worked at another media company, my takeaway might’ve been very different. Fortunately, 5280 ’s founder,…
Low And Behold Thanks to movies, the media, and plain ignorance, lowriders have been cast as the exclusive conveyance of drug dealers and gang members. That depiction couldn’t be further from the truth, says Carlos Frésquez, a local artist who has been creating vibrant paintings, prints, and murals inspired by the Mile High City for more than 40 years. Now he’ll help shatter the stereotype. Beginning July 9, the Denver Art Museum’s (DAM) Desert Rider: Dreaming in Motion exhibition will use the work of Latino and Indigenous artists to explore how vehicles have shaped Southwestern identity. Although the show originated at the Phoenix Art Museum, DAM curator Victoria Lyall tailored Denver’s version to the city by adding works—including Frésquez’s 1985 mixed media collage, “Cool Couple; Series #10” (pictured)—from seven Colorado…
1 Fifty-two 80’s A Totally Awesome Shop 1874 S. BROADWAY Sure, Fifty-two 80’s vintage offerings may be sourced from 1975 to 1995, but they’re far from stuffy heirlooms. And if the Day-Glo kaleidoscope of He-Man and Star Wars action figures, Troll dolls, trading card packs, and other toys lining the shelves don’t thrill you, just come back later: Co-owners Tony Vecchio and Dede Thompson are always procuring new memories to stir multigenerational nostalgia. 2 Public Offering Brewing Company 1736 S. BROADWAY No Denver hot spot would be complete without a beer hall (or five), and from Dos Luces Brewery’s Latin American– inspired libations to Grandma’s House’s buzzy crafting nights to Ratio Beerworks’ second location, South Broadway has plenty. After joining the crowd in 2022, Public Offering immediately stood out thanks…
What’s behind the beard? It’s been almost a decade since Charlie Blackmon hid the lower half of his face behind a majestic mane, but we used to know. When the Rockies first called Blackmon up to the big leagues in 2011, he sported sideburns but left his plump 24-year-old cheeks exposed to the world. Then he got hurt. Less than a week after hitting his first home run, Blackmon broke his left foot sliding into third. He grew a baby beard while rehabbing, shaved it for the start of the next season, bounced between the minors and majors for two more years, and then, finally, retired his razor for good before the 2014 season. Blackmon made his first All-Star team that year. He later told mlb.com that his facial hair…
Fungi have long been symbols of decay and witchcraft, but recently, our cultural mycophobia has been giving way to wellness-driven mushroom mania. Studies suggest that pompom-shaped lion’s mane (pictured), for instance, can promote brain health and that cordyceps—the cause of the zombie apocalypse in HBO’s The Last of Us—exhibit cancer-fighting properties. “I think these types of functional mushrooms have more potential to help humanity than psychedelic mushrooms and CBD combined,” says veteran Colorado mushroom forager Del Jolly. That prospect inspired him to co-found Longmont-based Umbo in 2020 with Rashad Evans, a former UFC fighter based in Boca Raton, Florida, and retired Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer. Plummer, who lives in Boulder, also co-owns MyCOLove Farms, a gourmet and functional mushroom grower in Fort Lupton. Umbo’s shroom-packed snack bars, tinctures, and…
Fully Realized You might not expect a less-is-more philosophy from an alum of Napa Valley’s three-Michelin-starred French Laundry. But you won’t find Jarred Russell, who took over as executive chef at 16-year-old Fruition late last summer, creating thyme-scented foam or freezing berries with liquid nitrogen in the Country Club establishment’s kitchen. Instead, at owner Alex Seidel’s classic farm-to-table eatery, Russell uses his love of working with local farmers and making ingredients shine with as few additives as possible to produce fare that’s approachable and injected with just the right touch of fanciness. That means serving dishes—such as asparagus with soft scrambled eggs and crispy prosciutto bits, roasted chicken with bacon-braised beans, and shrimp agnolotti with confit zucchini and basil (right)—that guests can feel comfortable enjoying any night of the week.…
