Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2025 i 5280 Magazine

Some of my earliest recollections arefrom hazy summer days at my grandparents’ lake house in southern Michigan: casting my Snoopy rod from the rickety wooden pier with my Poppop. Shrieking and clinging to a tube pulled by their boat. Building forts out of the half-dozen mattresses in the un-airconditioned A-frame’s loft. Reading in a hammock strung between two giant trees, using my feet to rock myself off a perfectly positioned third. Standing statue-still in the muck of the shallows while minnows nibbled my toes. Maybe it’s simply because school was out, but warm-weather scenes monopolize my childhood recall. Now, as a parent, an urgency sets in around June 1 every year to create as many core memories with my family as possible. The months always fly by, and come Labor…

Smoke Show If you’ve been chasing your canine companion along Lair o’ the Bear Park’s winding trails since dawn, odds are you’ve worked up an appetite so strong you’d wrestle the popular recreation area’s namesake for some good barbecue. Luckily, all you have to do to get your hands on a sandwich nearly as tall as the mountain you just climbed is drive 3.5 miles west to Switchback Smokehouse. In the tiny town of Kittredge, owner and pitmaster Darryl Swarts slow-cooks a variety of proteins both traditional (pulled pork, St. Louis ribs, sausage links) and harder-to-find (duck breast, bourbon-glazed salmon, Montreal-style brisket). Order them by weight from the butcher counter or meet the meat head-on in a loaded sandwich called the Devil’s Elbow: a hellacious haystack of luscious pulled pork…

Located on the fifth floor of a commercial complex in Colorado Springs’ Briargate neighborhood, JW Roth’s office offers a stunning view of Pikes Peak. Or, at least, it usually does. On this overcast February day, the main attraction isn’t the mountain hidden behind the haze of clouds, but rather the massive vinyl collection displayed around the room. Albums line the walls and span a variety of genres and artists, from the Beatles to Bob Seger to Willie Nelson. And these are just a fraction of the 3,000 LPs Roth has amassed over the years. “They would be a lot more valuable, too, if I had known back then what I know now,” he says with a chuckle. His records bear telltale rings on their jackets, suggesting they’ve been played and…

GROSS RESERVOIR “Reservoir” and “best campsite” don’t often appear in the same sentence, especially in a state as flush with pretty patches of soil as ours. But on Winiger Ridge, a spruce-shrouded peninsula that juts into Gross Reservoir, a couple dozen secluded spots may have you reconsidering your criteria. Just a 40-minute drive from Boulder proper, Gross Reservoir—which provides water to 1.5 million people in metro Denver—masquerades as a subalpine lake with teal water lapping against forested slopes pocked with granite outcroppings. “It feels backcountry,” says Andrew Bydlon, a documentary videographer and photographer who first visited Gross Reservoir when scouting scenes for local outdoor shoots. “Now, I’ll just head up there for a quick night out when I want to get away.” Getting away is, of course, much of Gross’…

When Julee Wray stumbled upon the 1941 home in Hilltop she’d go on to buy, she swooned over the exterior’s classic French Modern architecture—a style known for its sharp symmetry, steep rooflines, and arched doorways. But when she stepped inside, she felt like she was in a completely different home. The interior’s contemporary design (frameless kitchen cabinets, steel stair railings, all-white walls) didn’t align with the elegant facade. Although Wray initially had grand visions of gutting the interiors and starting fresh, her budget stymied that plan. Instead, she had to figure out how to marry some of the home’s existing elements with her desire for more traditional charm. “I needed to soften it and make it feel more feminine,” says Wray, founder and lead designer at Denver-based Truss Interiors. Here,…

“It’s like everything just feels darker.” Mikaela Shiffrin was sitting in her hotel room in Austria. The day before, on February 11, the winningest alpine skier in history had grabbed gold in the team combined event (slalom and downhill) at the World Championships. However, she’d made the painful decision to sit out the giant slalom, due to what her psychologist would go on to diagnose as post-traumatic stress disorder. In November 2024, the Edwards-based phenom, then 29, had crashed in the giant slalom in Killington, Vermont, sustaining a serious abdominal puncture. Many thought it was a season-ending injury. She not only returned to the World Cup circuit just two months later, but she also made history on February 23 when she earned her 100th World Cup victory. Celebration ensued, but…

Before Travis Hunter, the University of Colorado Boulder’s most versatile athlete was Byron White. In the 1930s, the Whizzer was an All-American halfback, hit .400 in baseball, and started for the basketball team. He then really showed his range by serving on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1962 to 1993. It’s unlikely Hunter will ever compete in that arena. Then again, plenty of people criticized him after the five-star recruit committed to tiny Jacksonville State University. When he transferred to CU, they said he’d never be able to play receiver and cornerback full time against Division 1 competition. Amid fevered pearl-clutching over the transfer portal’s role in killing the “student-athlete,” Hunter posted a 3.8 GPA in Boulder. So, yes, keep doubting him. Perhaps that’s all the motivation Hunter needs to…

Teresa Anne Volgenau did not cry when her oncologist confirmed that her cancer had returned, spread to her lymph nodes, and gotten dangerously close to her pancreas. It was a weekday in August 2023, and Volgenau, then a 50-year-old ballet teacher, actress, and artist, had recently returned to Westminster after two months in Colombia—a healing trip she’d taken to recover from her first battle with the disease, which claimed her uterus and ovaries and required a total bowel reconstruction. Treatment began immediately at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora. Volgenau’s regimen included immunotherapy, though she stopped it early after the treatment shredded her thyroid, left her with gum damage, and caused her to lose enamel on her teeth. Still, she kept a positive attitude. She told friends she…

Jessica L’Whor doesn’t wait for the spotlight; her life is a stage. After beginning her drag career as a student at Colorado State University, the local LGBTQ+ icon now performs at Osteria Marco’s drag-brunch bingos, hosts RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing parties at Hamburger Mary’s, and judges auditions for drag shows at Denver Pride. She even made national headlines in 2018 when she, as her family-friendly alter ego Miss Jessica, spoke at a Thornton middle school. Though her anti-bullying presentation was age-appropriate, some parents weren’t happy—and seven years later, most Coloradans still don’t quite get drag, says Jessica (who, when not performing, goes by Zachary Sullivan). That’s why, in July 2023, she began her “Ask A Queen” video series on TikTok. The premise is simple: Jessica plants herself in a busy…

The Butterfly Pavilion has long been a beloved attraction for anyone with a soft spot for the spineless. The thousands of guests who pass through its doors in Westminster each month can pet a hissing cockroach, gawk at the many tarantulas (all named Rosie or Goldie), and wander through Wings of the Tropics, a 7,200-square-foot rainforest that’s home to 1,800 flittering butterflies. But the Butterfly Pavilion is more than a niche attraction. Co-founded by local entomologists Michael Weissmann and Richard Peigler, the facility made history in 1995 when it became the first freestanding butterfly house and invertebrate zoo in the United States. Back then, its mission was simple: to make people grateful for insects by teaching them why bugs are important. It continues to meet that goal by hosting daily…

Is Traveling Mercies a bar or a restaurant? Esquire, the James Beard Foundation, and this magazine have given the spot—the second Stanley Marketplace offering from Annette co-owners Caroline Glover and Nelson Harvey—best new bar nods. And then there’s Traveling Mercies’ own description, which plainly states that it’s a cocktail and oyster bar. I, however, beg to differ. At Traveling Mercies, the food should be what we’re raving about. In fairness, cocktails (including several zero-proof creations), wines (by the the bottle and glass), and beers outnumber dozen or so plated options threefold. But the array of simple, briny coastal fare is exactly what I want to eat when I don’t want to think too much. Those exquisite bites make Traveling Mercies—named for a phrase Glover’s mom uses to wish someone a…

HORSETOOTH RESERVOIR The perfect lake for boating should have long, unbroken stretches for riding waves; secluded coves for escaping the chop; and an epic backdrop for sneaking eyefuls between surf sessions. For all that, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better spot than Horsetooth Reservoir, just west of Fort Collins. A 6.5-mile-long tongue of water splashed between walls of pink sandstone, Horsetooth (which provides drinking water and irrigation for the Eastern Slope) offers the longest straightaways near Denver. Advanced riders on wakeboards, surfboards, water skis, or hydrofoils can rip, while newbies can learn without the hassles of cross traffic or a constantly turning boat. This is not to say that Horsetooth is free of waves—it’s the thirdbusiest reservoir in Colorado—but there’s a predictability to it. For mirrorlike water, hit the…

With one cheek pressed flat against a 3,000-foot vertical granite face, Tommy Caldwell’s chalked, chapped fingers danced insistently on the sheer surface of a monolith that has claimed more than 30 lives. The Colorado native was trying to lock in the perfect grip on El Capitan’s Dawn Wall in Yosemite. To the untrained eye, there was nothing to grab onto—and 1,300 feet of air beneath him. It was an impossible move. Except that for Caldwell, it wasn’t. Engaging the most infinitesimal muscles to transfer his weight from one millimeters-thick wisp of a hold to the next, Caldwell methodically scaled one of the most unforgiving routes in the world without the aid of ropes, bolts, or other gear (he was only attached to a safety line). In this way, Caldwell and…

Taylor Knibb qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the cycling time-trial event, an achievement that would mark the high point of most athletes’ careers. But that’s not even her best sport. The 27-year-old Boulderite and dual-sport Olympian is currently the world’s No. 1 ranked triathlete, according to the Professional Triathletes Organisation, having won the past three Ironman 70.3 World Championships (half the length of a standard triathlon) and gold in nine of her 14 races on the T100 Triathlon World Tour since 2022. So what does it take to swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles, and run 13.1 miles faster than any other woman on the planet? Consistency, routine, and the unusual blend of a sunny disposition and a no-nonsense outlook. We caught up with Knibb to dig into…

PRICE KEY Average Entrée $ under $15 $$ $16 to $20 $$$ $21 to $30 $$$$ $31 and higher SYMBOL KEY • Indicates a restaurant featured in 5280 for the first time (though not necessarily a restaurant that has just opened). ★ Indicates inclusion in 5280’s 2024 list of Denver’s best restaurants. These selections are at the discretion of 5280 editors and are subject to change. ★ A5 STEAKHOUSE $$$$ LoDo / Steak House This rarified chophouse by the team behind Tap & Burger features a range of specialty steaks, eclectic sides with Asian influence, and draft cocktails. Never pass up the beef tartare katsu sando and the chickpea fries to start your meal. Reservations accepted. 1600 15th St., 303-623-0534. Dinner AFRICAN GRILL & BAR $$ Lakewood / African Explore…

1. Fruity Arts Fest Previously known as the Rainbow Market, this annual bazaar features independent LGBTQ+-owned businesses. Now in its fourth year, the event is upgrading its name and location, with a move to RiNo’s 22,000-square-foot ReelWorks Denver, where you’ll find a lineup of more than 75 vendors (including founder Elle Billman, who sells line art drawings) on June 8. Expect flash tattoos, handmade jewelry, tarot card readings, and enough glitter to keep you sparkling all summer. 2. Drag Nation On the last Friday of every month, Tracks nightclub in RiNo transforms into a drag lover’s dream during Drag Nation, where the city’s fiercest queens perform for an 18-and-older crowd. Catch local talent, national icons, and even stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race as they sashay across the stage. This month,…

REVIVAL DENVER PUBLIC HOUSE This Uptown eatery offers regular specials from both coasts; choose them raw, baked, or broiled. If it’s your first time trying uncooked oysters, start with Oishis from Washington. These guys are small, low on brine, and cucumber-sweet on the finish. 630 E. 17th Ave. CART-DRIVER As it turns out, pizza and oysters make for an unusual but terrific combo, and at Cart-Driver’s RiNo and LoHi spots, these bivalves are shucked and left beautifully alone, save for DIY servings of fresh horseradish, zingy mignonette, and a lemon wedge. 2500 Larimer St.; 2239 W. 30th Ave. COPERTA If you’re not going to slurp oysters straight from the shell, then make sure to order them at Coperta in Curtis Park. Here, the broiled mollusks taste less of the sea…

BEST OF THE REST Sometimes the best lake is the one that requires the least time in the car.—Rose Cahalan CHATFIELD RESERVOIR Horseback riding and camping are two of the many activities at this 5,381-acre state park 30 minutes south of Denver. Hot air balloons often launch here, and there’s even a dedicated field for flying model airplanes. On the lake, you can boat or paddle (rentals available on-site) or fish for walleye and rainbow trout. $12 daily vehicle pass CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR There’s something very Colorado about sunning yourself on a sandy beach while gazing out at snowcapped peaks. You can do just that at Cherry Creek, which also offers boat and paddleboard rentals. Kids will enjoy the recently upgraded playground by the water, while dogs can roam free…

Anna Hall won two individual track-and-field national titles in college. She owns the second-highest score ever recorded by an American heptathlete, behind only Jackie Joyner-Kersee. And she is one of only two U.S. women to win two medals—a bronze in 2022 and a silver in 2023—in the two-day, seven-event competition (100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin throw, and 800-meter run) at the World Championships. There’s just one place Hall hasn’t excelled: the Olympics. A hurdle crash that resulted in a broken foot thwarted her at the 2021 Olympic Trials and a herculean effort to come back from knee surgery ahead of the 2024 Olympics stalled in Paris, where she finished fifth. Here, the 24-year-old Greenwood Village native talks records, resilience, and her next shot at…

In April, Valor Christian High School retired the jersey of its most famous alumnus, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. The ceremony took place more than a decade after the Castle Rock native graduated, in 2014, which makes you wonder: What took so long? McCaffrey ranks second in Colorado high school history for career points and all-purpose yards and is third in touchdowns. He also led the Eagles to four state titles. But while those stats are impressive, the only people who really understand how dominant McCaffrey was in high school are those who experienced his legendary feats firsthand. We asked a few of them to recount McCaffrey’s miracles. ORIGIN STORIES A.J. Cecil, Valor starting quarterback (2012–13): We played against each other in the sixth grade, and he returned…