Lifestyle | Music & Art Pioneers Come Together For A Collaborative Gallery Opening Red Bull House of Art Synesthesia
The Red Bull House of Art Synesthesia Galleries are a celebration of multidisciplinary artists in Denver whose creative sensibilities have led them to express themselves through fine art. We are bringing together visual artists and the musicians who inspire them. Each visual artist will present their original works and the musicians will perform live in an immersive, abstract experience that brings the creative process full-circle.
In Denver, the intersection of art and music will take place on Thursday, November 12th with a curated roster of 6 local, visionary artists and 6 local, live performances. Hosted at Exdo, 1399 35th Street, the innovative gallery space is set to unveil the exclusive works of Jon Strieby, Thomas Evans, Jaime Molina, Matt Alberts, Andrew Hoffman & Jesse Frazier. This is the first time these works have been exhibited in public.
The public gallery opening is Friday, November 12th from 8pm-12am. Unlike most gallery shows, Synesthesia will feature each artist creating live during the event. The first exhibition kicks off at 8pm. It is free & open to those 21 and older. For up-to-date information about Red Bull House of Art Synesthesia, visit win.gs/HOADEN or
It is curated by Pedro Barrios and will host the talented:
JON STRIEBY - Jack-of-all-trades, but master of none. http://www.jonstrieby.com/ @striebeast
THOMAS EVANS - My current art focus is all about connecting music and fine arts through traditional methods and technology. www.iamdetour.com @IamDetour303
JAIME MOLINA - Began at a very early age and continues to draw epic battles, houses, people and animals on paper and walls across the globe. www.cuttyup.com @cuttyup
MATT ALBERTS - I want to make pictures that you can brag about that also make your friends and family laugh and cry. www.thelifersproject.com The Lifers Project
ANDREW HOFFMAN - I’m Andrew. I’m an artist, illustrator, designer and teacher. www.andrewhoffmandesign.com@andrewhoffman84
JESSE FRAZIER - Raised on a steady diet of horror movies, comic books and ROCK N’ ROLL, Jesse Frazier is a one-man pop art blitzkrieg. @faimworldwide
Ultraween | Lifestyle feature: KIND Bars & Snacks
There’s healthy. There’s tasty. Then there’s healthy and tasty. KIND Bars believe you deserve both and are continually thinking up new ways to delight taste buds while keeping the body happy and healthy. “From the healthy snacks we make to the way we work, live and give back, our focus is on making the world a little kinder, one snack and act at a time.”
This belief inspired the KIND Movement - their mission to spread and celebrate kindness. Every day, the KIND community (aka all of us) brings us one step closer to our goal of making kindness a state of mind. They believe if you can’t pronounce an ingredient, it shouldn’t go into your body, or even into your pantry. That’s why KIND Snacks are made from whole nuts, fruits and whole grains. Just a delicious way of getting your body essential nutrients like fiber, protein and antioxidants, to name a few. If you haven’t ever tried a KIND Bar you have been missing out, and with their new lines of breakfast bars and protein-packed "Savory Strong" KIND bars, there are plenty of delicious and nutritious options for everyone.
Luckily for all you Ultraween party-goers, KIND has donated a plethora of bars for our event! We figured with all the tasty cocktails, energy drinks, beers and food vendors also available, a KIND bar will be a nice balance to keep the crowd ‘strong and kind’. Everyone can grab one of these healthy treats Saturday night, while they last!
Ultraween: Lifestyle Feature: The Wright Group Event Services
Ultraween wouldn’t be half the amazing party we know it will be without the support of The Wright Group Event Services. The Wright Group is a family owned event Services Company and has been in business here in Colorado for 30 years. They specialize in small and large event services, ranging from tents and stages to audio equipment and dinnerware. Their mission is to bring customer’s events to life by providing rental equipment and services, including event and wedding planners.
In addition to all of their rental and event services, they have two sister companies that aim to market and promote their customer’s event, company or brand. The first is Guru Graphics, which delivers products such as wrapped vehicles, banners, business cards and printed shirts. The second is Monster Marketing, which takes the business approach to offer experiential marketing through branding. Monster Marketing has three monster trucks that are equipped with LED screens that advertise quality images of a company’s logo.
The Wright Group has seen many changes in their 30 years of business, and have watched the event industry grow and develop, pushing them to grow as well. Nowadays, they are happy to be dealing with customers with enthusiasm to make their events as successful and visionary as possible. A few events that The Wright Group was involved in this year were: Riot Fest Denver, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Race, Taste of Colorado, Warbirds Over The Rockies, a Kaiser Permanente event and Oktoberfest!
The Wright Group is truly a one stop shop for rental, marketing, event and graphic needs and the Ultra5280 Team is beyond grateful for their sponsorship.
Lifestyle | The Great American Beer Festival | Review and Photos
The Great American Beer Festival is all about tradition and the present day festival lives up to the high standards set in the earlier years. For example, the first GABF steins were made completely out of glass (whose great idea it was to give a bunch of drunks glass, is beyond us). But, each time someone dropped their cup, the hall would erupt in laughter and shame the poor soul. So now, whenever you hear someone oooh, ahhh, laugh, point, gawk or squeal at someone who has just dropped their tasting cup, it is only the sweet sound of tradition rearing it’s devious head. And it is tradition in itself that has made the GABF the monumental event that it is today. It’s a bunch of easy-going beer lovers, getting together to nerd out and celebrate the artistry of craft beer. And hey, if they can laugh at a few drunk bozos who drop their glass, then it only adds to the fun.
We were honored and more than excited to cover this year’s festival. If something is going to get us up by noon on a Saturday, you can bet your ass it’s beer. The event was put together very nicely, with minimal to non-existent lines and an eager to help/knowledgeable staff, we were given the tools to explore and make the event our own. With that being said, even if we were sober (which we definitely were not) I still think we would have had a difficult time navigating the arena. The Mountain region was somehow everywhere and nowhere. First it was upper right then it somehow migrated towards the midwest? A thought for next year would be to map it out like America and have the Eastern breweries be on the East and the Western breweries on the West. But what do we know (seriously…) we’re just a couple drunks that were too lazy to open our directory. An added bonus of not knowing where we were was that we threw caution (our detailed and thought out lists) to the wind and followed our beer bellies to the next thrill. Which was everywhere.
Remember that scene in Family Guy where he gets locked in the brewery and drinks his way out? Well, that’s what the Great American Beer Festival is like, except you’re drinking rare, expensive craft beer and there is no bottom of the distilling vessel. With over 750 breweries in the brewery hall and 3,800 beers served there was no possible way to try them all… We don’t all have the tolerance of Peter Griffin.. But with that being said, there were a few that stood out to us.
Mcclain Morris (Lifestyle Editor)
1. Goose Island Beer Company: Lolita
2. Black Bottle: Cerealiously Count Chocula
3. Revolver Brewing: Sangre Y Miel
4. Deschutes: Zarabanda Saison
5. The Perch Pub & Brewery: Perch Belgian Peach
Matt Smith (Photographer)
1. Almanac Brewery: Valley of The Heart's Delight
2. All Rise Brewery: Three Orange Wit
3. The Collective Brewery: Petite Golden Sour
4. Santa Fe Brewery: Los Innovadores Kriek
5. Dry Dock Brewery: Apricot Blonde Sour
Robert Castro (Managing Editor)
1. Revolver Brewing: Blood and Honey
2. Avery Brewing Company: Rumpkin
3. Short's Brewing Company: Key Lime Pie
4. Boston Beer Co: Sam Adam's Utopias
5. 512 Brewery: Pecan Porter
Click Here for a list of complete winners.
Best Booth: Uintas Brewing
Best place to get this adorable glass mustaches: Squatters Brewing
Best use of a can for a necklace: Oskar Blue's
Best use of marketing: Bull and Bush photo cut-out.
Overheards:
"I think this was made with real blood"-random white dude
"I don't understand all the pretzel necklaces"-random white girl
"Do they have a happy hour here?"-Anonymous
"Where is the wine section?"-Kristal (I think that was her name)
"I could do this all day!"-Castro "sampling" Twin Peaks Brewing
From small to large, each brewery is just living out their own unique version of the American Dream. And it warms our heart and our cheeks to watch it all unfold during this one monumental event. From finding our new favorite beers, getting a fake tattoo sleeve and downing an entire bag of GF pretzels, we had the time of our life. And we owe it all to you… GABF. Until next year… Our livers could use a break.
Lifestyle | Wanderlusting in Aspen-Snowmass | Review
Wanderlust Festival (Photo Credit: Ali Kaukas)
Wanderlust Festival bestowed the gift of positive energy, music, healthy eats, and, of course, delicious yoga over July 4th weekend. Aspen, Colorado is one mountain town that needs no introduction. The sweeping landscape, the sunshine, the fresh air, and the plethora of outdoor sports is a haven for a mindful festival like Wanderlust Festival.
The layout of the festival was vaster than in past years at Copper Mountain. It forced you to unintentionally explore Snowmass Village, either by gondola or hike, from one end to the other. The festival staff did a tremendous job of turning conference room spaces into a pseudo yoga studio with different lighting, rugs, and geometric altars donned with organic trinkets. The space felt intentional and inviting. This is something that in past years was not given any attention so it felt like you were doing yoga in, well, a conference room. Not the most grounding experience.
Wanderlusting in Aspen (Photo Credit: Ali Kaukas)
The festival has evolved and seen improvements, much like the yoga spaces, in other areas as well. The music scene had more variety, which catered to a wider crowd. Of course, the resident dj’s, Moby and DJ Drez, were both present. Singer-songwriter Nikki Lane offered a style different from the eclectic, electronic beats we’re used to hearing at Wanderlust. The folk-rock vocals were the perfect pair to a cloudless afternoon. High and Mighty Brass Band had a lively, party-like way of having a presence. Throughout the festival they would stop, drop, and get down. It could be mid-afternoon amongst a sea of people hustling from class to class and they were shaking Snowmass Village with their buoyant sound, reminding attendees that it’s okay to slow down and shimmy and shake with a stranger! Sometimes yoga can be so serious and personal that we forget the community aspect. Live music brings out the creativity and movement that is a delicious compliment to an inward practice.
Wanderlust Festival Aspen-Snowmass (Photo Credit: Ali Kaukas)
The festival was a beautiful success, per usual. We can’t say enough of the venue, the people, the teachers, and the vendors. It’s a weekend well worth the dollar spent as you leave feeling fulfilled and rejuvenated. As a teacher, I left feeling inspired by my fellow yogis who consistently push themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. This festival has seen tremendous growth over the past few years, spanning the world, and I can’t wait to find out where they will go next. I am appreciative that they allowed us to capture the journey and share it with you.
-Amanda Spilos
Lifestyle | Imbibe and The Colorado Brewers Guild: Sesh Fest | Saturday, August 1st
As you may have noticed we are pretty big fans of all things beer related here at Ultra5280. One event we like to partake in is beer festivals and we want to hook up one lucky winner with a pair of tickets to join us this Saturday at Sculpture Park for Sesh Fest. The contest is up on our Instagram, if you don't win don't feel left out you can purchase tickets at a discounted price by using code "ULTRA" at Sesh Fest. So what exactly is Sesh Fest?
We can’t find a real definition for session beers, but we here at Sesh Fest define them as any beer under 5% ABV with a balance of flavor between hops and malt and a clean, crisp finish all combine to give a beer high drinkability. The real purpose of session beers is to allow all the beer lovers out there (we know there are a ton of us!) to enjoy multiple flavorful beers in one sitting without feeling the overwhelming effects of alcohol.
We've got an afternoon full of fun. Joining us on the 1's and 2's will be DeeJay Mac... a real deal disc jockey spinning only the finest wax. Old school. Country and rock 'n' roll. Old School, ya dig?
Rounding out the afternoon will be Josh Moorehead & The GuestList -- one of Denver's hottest acts as of late. We couldn't be more excited about this one folks...
There will be lawn games. There will be food trucks, and of course, there will be plenty of delicious beer under 5% -- perfect for a 90 degree day.
We found this new trend in brewing fantastic, and of course, our friends at the Colorado Brewers Guild did as well. So, naturally, we teamed up with them to bring you Sesh Fest last year! This year we return for summer’s best beer event held at the Sculpture Park on August 1. With Denver’s most delicious food trucks, art, lawn games, and music to complement the Colorado craft beer, Sesh Fest was the perfect way to celebrate both Colorado’s local breweries and the joys of summer. All the breweries participating are listed below. Get your ticket before they sell out!
Lifestyle | Breckenridge Brewery's 25th Annual Hootenanny
What do you get when you combine a bevy of booze, blues and babes? The Breckenridge Hootenanny that is. And their 25th anniversary party was nothing short of a rip roaring good time. With specialty beer, a pig roast and a Colorado torrential down pour--it goes down in the books as one of the best birthday parties we've ever been to.
One of the main things that surprised us (other than unexpectedly getting drenched by the rain) was the sheer amount of people that showed up to support Breckenridge Brewery. You know you've tipped the scale from small town brewery to craft beer mecca when you can sell 7,000 tickets to an event. The crowds may have been vast but they sure new how to handle the masses. Which was surprising given the newborn status of the brewing grounds.
There's nothing we love more than Breckenridge's craft beer. They're always pushing boundaries and dreaming up new and delicious beer. Couple that with a delicious pig roast and we were in heaven. But, with that being said, we would have liked more food options given the longevity of the day. The logistics of having shuttles bus people in and out was very well organized and made it easily accessible to those attending. Judging by the sheer amount of bikes locked up, riding your bike seemed like the most common mode of transportation.
A highlight for your Ultra5280 team was seeing Anders Osborne- an annual staple at Telluride Blues and Brews he is no stranger to rocking a stage. Leftover Salmon closed out the night, it may have been the music or it may have been the fact that it was the end of the day and we had been been drinking Leftover Salmon Indian Pale Lager all day, but it was incredible. Left us awe struck-mouth agape in wait of next year's Hootenanny.
Thanks Breckenridge brewery for a great time and even better beer!
Words: Mcclain Morris
Photos: Robert Castro
Lifestyle | Denver’s Newest Foodie Mecca with a View | Avanti F&B
A new trend has been popping up in the big cities of America, starting in 2010 with the opening of Mario Batali’s Eataly in New York City. This is the food hall concept, popular in Europe, where multiple eateries and bars are housed under one roof. Think of The Source and Union Station here in Denver, and now add to that list newly opened Avanti Food & Beverage in the Highlands.
Avanti Food & Beverage is described as a “culinary collection of start-up restaurants, all of which are self-contained shipping containers occupying a decades-old, repurposed two-level warehouse.” When you arrive, there is someone to greet you and offer information about the space and how the process works. Inside, there are seven distinctly different chef-driven eateries, large open dining areas, and a lounge downstairs by the bar. Upstairs there are two outdoor patios with plush lounge chairs, formal table dining, and casual bar and stadium style seating options, all with an incredible view of the Downtown Denver skyline. Arguably the best in the city.
Many of the different eateries at Avanti are offshoots of current Colorado restaurants and these kitchens are rented for one to two years. Westword’s July 10th article states, “Leases are intentionally short so that turnover is a built-in part of the concept, which will allow new talent to come in and give their ideas a temporary testing ground before moving on to bigger things.” They all have small spaces, which means the kitchens and plating are all visible to the guests. The current collection of eateries is as followed: Poco Torteria, a torta shop from Pinche Tacos chef-owner Kevin Morrison. Farmer Girl, a farm-to-table concept from Tim Payne. MiJo, a Japanese-influenced izakaya from John DePierro. Brava, a wood-fired pizza and sandwich shop from chef David Bravdica. Quiero Arepas, Venezuelan arepas from chefs Becky and Igor Panasewicz. Bixo Mediterranean Bites, a modernized Mediterranean menu with a Mexican twist from chef Marco Gonzales. Souk Shawarma, offering Lebanese shawarmas and rice bowls from chef-owner of Bistro Barbes, Jon Robbins.
Living up to its name, there are just as many beverage options as there are food selections. We were briefly baffled when presented with four alcoholic beverage menus as well as a self-serve soda fountain and canisters of Teakoe iced black and green teas.
Their large beer selection includes ten taps from Dogfish Brewery and ten seasonally rotating taps of Colorado craft brews. There are eight wines of both red and white by the glass, plus Infinite Monkey Theorem on tap, and sake. Their cocktails are creative along with a few classics, and fairly cheap considering their quality contents.
Avanti makes group dining a breeze. So feel free to introduce your gluten free friend to your vegan-pasta loving bestie, as this place is sure to please everyone. Picky eaters of Denver-unite! . The abundance of choices also means that you’re faced with the tricky decision of choosing where and what you want to eat. We somewhat solved that dilemma by asking for meals to-go in order to sample dishes from all of the eateries. Don’t be afraid to do the same- as there are indeed a wide variety of culinary delights. We also suggest taking your time with it all; peruse all of the menu options to craft a general idea for your foodie journey, switch up your seats throughout the venue, sip a cocktail, soak up some sun on the deck, strike up a conversation over the game on TV, relax and savor.
Thoughts by Tiffany Candelaria
Lifestyle | Bonacquisti Wine Company | Denver’s Urban Winery
In the Ultra5280 spirit of experiencing all local activities Colorado has to offer, I’ve been researching local wineries. One of Denver’s urban wineries is Bonacquisti Wine Company, located in the Sunnyside neighborhood at 46th Ave and Pecos. The vineyards used are not located in Denver, but they rely mostly on grapes grown in Palisade, CO, and more recently from California and New Mexico as well.
Bonacquisti Wine Company has been transforming grapes into wine at this location for nine years, a skill that owner Paul Bonacquisti learned from his Italian father. They currently produce 2,200 cases of wine a year and introduce three new wines each quarter. Two years ago they introduced 1 Liter growlers for guests that are refillable from any of their rotating wines on tap. This classic Italian format has caught on as a more economical way to buy wine, with 1,700 growlers sold since their introduction.
Paul keeps the Italian spirit of family, friends and good libations alive with various events, ever-changing wine blends, a tasting taproom and free tours of the winery. “We want to make this a place the whole family can enjoy" he says as he tells me about their weekly "Fridays Uncorked" event. Each Friday from 6-9pm the winery hosts a live band and a food truck either out on their patio or inside their two-story building. The lineup for each week can be found under their website’s Events tab.
They also hold special events, such as the DiFranco's dinner & wine paring event I attended. We were greeted by Paul Bonacquisti and chef Ryan DiFranco, and offered a glass of Bella Risa, a custom white blend wine to accompany a traditional antipasti meat and cheese platter from DiFranco’s restaurant. After a leisurely wine and antipasti sampling, DiFranco presented each person with their first course and an appropriate wine was poured alongside. All of the dishes were delicious and I could really taste the freshness of the ingredients. DiFranco’s Restaurant opened on 9th Ave and Lincoln in Denver in 2012, and won Westword’s “Best Italian Restaurant” its very first year. DiFranco also comes from an Italian family who loves good food. He recalls growing up, “We would be sitting at the table eating dinner, (already) talking about the dinner we would make tomorrow.”
The event was sealed up with a sweet Port style Grenache straight from the barrel and a chocolate cake and cannoli. Despite feeling satiated by the previous courses, I indulged in both desserts and may have asked for seconds on the Grenache. . .
thoughts by Tiffany Candelaria
Lifestyle | Breckenridge Brewery & Leftover Salmon kick off 25th Anniversary Celebration at new Littleton Brewery on July 18th
Plans have been brewing for months, and now two Colorado-born craftsmen are tuned up and ready for a unique silver anniversary celebration. Rock/bluegrass band Leftover Salmon and Breckenridge Brewery have each enjoyed twenty-five years of success. To commemorate this milestone they have joined forces to release a collaborative beer, packaged with twenty-five live tunes from Leftover Salmon, which will debut at Breckenridge Brewery's annual Hootenanny on July 18th.
Back in March, the two groups got together over a few pints to share ideas on just the right beer recipe for the momentous occasion. They embraced an India Pale Lager style and aptly named it Silver Salmon. “A hoppy lager is a lighter, thirst-quenching style that we thought would be perfect for an outdoor music scene,” explains Brian Reinecke, the brewer for Breckenridge Brewery who formulated the recipe. “We used American hops that give the beer flavor and aroma, but not too much bitterness. To give Silver Salmon some depth, we used Vienna malt and added in some flaked oats. The oats increase the body and give the beer a visual dimension, an opalescence.”
This isn't your typical brewery-musician collaboration, though. While the brewery brewed and nurtured Silver Salmon IPL, the band compiled and mastered twenty-five outstanding live performances for release alongside the beer. With the purchase of a 22-oz bottle of Silver Salmon is a free download code for the album. The 25 songs were selected from various shows over the past two years. These live cuts highlight the current band today, which includes the addition of Bill Payne of Little Feat. After releasing two studio albums in the past three years, Leftover Salmon wanted to spread the live sound that people enjoy at their shows.
On July 18th it all comes together as Breckenridge Brewery hosts its annual Hootenanny with Leftover Salmon headlining the all-day music festival and pig roast. This year the brewery hosts the event at its newly opened 12-acre brewery campus in Littleton, Colorado, nine miles south of its previous Denver location. “One would think our new brewery was built for this party,” says Todd Thibault, Culture Czar for Breckenridge Brewery. “Maybe it kind of was. We have plenty of room for two stages that will feature live performances all day long. We've got great music, great food, and great beer in store again this year. Closing our first Hootenanny at the new brewery with a live Leftover Salmon performance will be legendary.” Anders Osborne, Zach Deputy, and MilkDrive take the stage leading up to the Leftover Salmon performance, and a second stage hosted by WinterWonderGrass Festival will feature an array of local and regional bands.
Tickets for the Hootenanny can be purchased in advance at www.breckbrew.com/Hootenanny25.
Those attending the Hootenanny will be the very first to sample Silver Salmon IPL. In the fall, commemorative 22-oz bottles of the collaboration beer, featuring custom artwork by John Vogl and packaged with a free album download code, will be available in select stores across the United States.
The impressive histories of Breckenridge Brewery and Leftover Salmon started within months of each other in small mountain towns two and a half decades ago, taking similar but separate paths as they each blossomed and earned national acclaim.
Leftover Salmon co-founder, singer, guitarist and washboard player Vince Herman led the Salmon Heads in the late 1980s. He asked future co-founder Drew Emmitt of the Left Hand String Band with bassist Glen Keefe to fill in for some missing Salmon Heads for a show in Crested Butte, Colorado. Together, they took the name Leftover Salmon and the group played its first show New Year's Eve, 1989, in the small mountain town. Emmitt reflects fondly on the band’s early days. “We knew we were doing something special” he says. “At that point in the early-‘90s, it was the birth of the jam band movement, Phish was starting out, Widespread Panic was starting out, and they were a little ahead of us, obviously, but we were one of the first bands to get out there with bluegrass and just get on the road and try to make something happen without a record deal. We were just following in the footsteps of New Grass Revival, Hot Rize and Little Feat, but by doing that I think we inspired some other bands too.” The band went on to produce successful album after album and tour nationally, becoming unwitting architects of the jam grass genre.
Similarly, back in the late 1980s in another small Colorado mountain town, ski bum Richard Squire shared his talents for a different kind of craftsmanship. Richard had a knack for making extraordinary home brews, and for years, only his closest friends were able to enjoy his beer. They encouraged him to share his creations with others, so in February of 1990, Richard opened the doors of Breckenridge Brewery, Colorado’s third modern-day craft brewery. The company quickly expanded to Denver to improve its ability to distribute. That's when Todd Usry, the brewery's current Brewmaster and Director of Brewery operations, joined the team. Breckenridge Brewery's mission has always been to produce very balanced and highly drinkable beers. Through steadfast commitment to quality and steady organic growth, the brewery is now one of the top 50 craft breweries in the nation.
The paths of Leftover Salmon and Breckenridge Brewery came together in 2012 when they threw a street party in celebration of the band's "Aquatic Hitchhiker" album launch. The first of their beer and music collaborations was in 2013. Leftover Salmon created four original songs that were pre-released exclusively through Breckenridge Brewery’s 12-pack Sampler Packs on Artist Series coasters. The relationship has prospered and the groups continue to collaborate on beer-music projects like Silver Salmon IPL.
About Breckenridge Brewery
Breckenridge Brewery was founded in 1990 in Breckenridge, Colorado. In the past two decades Breckenridge Brewery has grown from a small 3,000-barrels-a-year brewpub to one of the most successful craft beer and restaurant companies in the nation. It now handcrafts more than 64,000 barrels of fresh beer annually and owns and operates five brewpubs and ale houses in the state of Colorado. For more information visit www.breckbrew.com.
About Leftover Salmon
Looking back over the past 25 years of rootsy, string-based music, the impact of Leftover Salmon is impossible to deny. Formed in Boulder at the end of 1989, the Colorado slamgrass pioneers took their form of aggressive bluegrass to rock and roll bars at a time when it wasn’t so common, helping Salmon become a pillar of the jam band scene and unwitting architects of the jamgrass genre. Today, Leftover Salmon is: Vince Herman (vocals, acoustic guitar, washboard); Drew Emmitt (vocals, acoustic and electric mandolin, electric guitar, fiddle); Andy Thorn (vocals, acoustic and electric banjo); Greg Garrison(vocals, acoustic and electric bass); Alwyn Robinson (drums); Bill Payne (vocals, keyboards). For more information visit www.leftoversalmon.com.
Lifestyle | Taco Fest Distress | June 27-28
Let's tacobout why this past weekend's taco fest was more of a distress than a fest. First of all, there was absolutely NO organization. The ticket takers and cops were both unsure of who was checking IDs at the door. Plus, there was a side entrance where a bunch of freeloaders were sneaking in. Pure taco filled chaos.
Secondly, no one was watching the band except two people and we didn't see the lucha libre wrestling or chihuahua races happening. Did anyone? Were we being punk'd?
A few food trucks were selling tacos ranging from $2-10 and others were selling pizza and hamburgers. All of which seemed like they had just woken up, decided to start a food truck, wrote a sign in Sharpee and happened to come across this fest. Sadly, the lines were too long to eat, so we have no idea if it was tasty or not. For all we know we could have missed out on a great meal, or maybe we just escaped salmonella poisoning... Some things are better left unsolved.
Moral of the story: Do not be tempted by the promise of milk and honey (read: tacos and beer), for all you know, it will end up being a chaotic vat of sweaty lost souls, lines, and a few food trucks.
Lifestyle | Breckenridge Brewery Just Changed The Craft Beer Game | Opening June 21
Summer in Colorado revolves around beer, park days, hiking, beer, camping and fights over who gets to sit next to the fan. But, after this Sunday it's going to revolve solely around Breckenridge Brewery's new restaurant/pub. Like the sun that all of us so gleefully orbit, Breck's new location is an institution and we're giving in to its gravitational pull. There's no sense in fighting it... hell, we may as well even camp out in the back. Lord knows they have enough space.
The wait is finally over! Breck will open their doors for public tours this Sunday (reservations are highly encouraged and what better gift to give dad?). Anyways, here's the low down on what to expect, what to bring and how to behave when touring this craft beer haven.
From Breckenridge Brewery's press release:
The brewery will host four scheduled tours a day, Wednesday through Monday. "We want to create a very personal experience with each tour, so you'll find that we take our time getting to know small groups of guests and introducing them to Breckenridge Brewery, behind-the-scenes," says Sarah Kokkeler, director of the brewery's tour program. Tours start in the brewery's tasting room, across the plaza from the Farm House, with a 10-oz pour from the daily selection on tap. The tour path leads from tasting room to brewery mezzanine overlooking the four-vessel 100-barrel brewhouse, across the bridge to the fermentation building, and continues on to barrel aging and packaging. Tours conclude back in the tasting room with four 4oz samples of each. Tour reservations can be made at http://www.breckbrew.com/about/tours. The $3.00 charge for tours covers generous sampling, and a portion will go to rotating charities. Non-drinkers, including those under 21, are welcome to participate in tours, and there is no charge.
So, as you can see their tours are going to be pretty wonderful...and you can even bring your baby! Start em' young. That's what we always say. But, all that really means is that it's a family affair, bring a picnic blanket, sunscreen and camp out in the back. With bocce ball, craft beer and an amazing restaurant, what else could you Coloradans possibly need? See what we mean about the orbit? Are you feeling the pull yet?
Breck has already filed a restraining order against Castro because he was caught lurking in the shadows one too many times. We can't blame him tho! It's science.
After touring the brewery we're certain that this will go down in Colorado history. Thanks to breweries like Breckenridge, Colorado has become a mecca for craft beer connoisseurs and nerds alike. But, this new pub has pushed the ceiling just a little bit higher. It is because of innovation like this, that we know Breck will continue to break records, brew crazy beer with Buddha hand fruit and set the standards for what it means to be a craft brewery.
See you guys on the bocce ball court, it's going to be an amazing summer!
(All Images courtesy of Breckenridge Brewery)
Lifestyle | Denver Comic Con 2015 | Photo Recap
This year over 100,000 people congregated to the Denver Convention Center for the 2015 Denver Comic Con Festival. The festival in only it's fourth year continues to grow and showcase an array of vendors, vendor booths, celebrities and some of the best cosplay costumes you will ever see. We had a chance to take in the festivities on Sunday afternoon and spend a whole day marveling in the sights and sounds of the ever growing fest that benefits the need for innovative literacy education in Colorado inspired Pop Culture Classroom and its education programs. Being one of the few independently run events of its size and type the three day festival attracts tourist from all over making if one of the biggest Comic Con Festivals in the world.
The Joker and Harley Quinn (Photo: Robert Castro)
Cinderella (Photo: Robert Castro)
All images copyrighted.
Lifestyle | Where To Find Breck Brew's Hulk's Mash Glasses & Win Tickets To Denver Comic Con
Who doesn't feel like the hulk when they drink? Drinking beer and breaking things go hand in hand and blind rage too... So you know you want to get your nerdy little hands on one of Breckenridge Brewery's Hulk's Mash Comic Con glasses. There are a couple of events coming up around Denver where you can secure one of these glasses for your own AND win 3 day passes to Denver Comic Con! So read on nerds because you won't like us when were mad and drunk..
Breckenridge Brewery is giving away TWO 3-day conference passes to Denver Comic Con at TWO of these events - a total of FOUR passes will be given away!!
These are the places you can win:
1. Thursday, May 21 at World of Beer LoDo - 6:00 p.m.
1555 Blake Street, Suite 102, Denver
What's happening:
- Meet the Brewer
- Breckenridge Brewery Tap Takeover, including Hulk's Mash, a refreshing pale ale brewed with pulverized Mango and Mosaic hops
- Commemorative Hulk's Mash Glassware Giveaway, while supplies last!
- ENTER THE DRAWING for TWO 3-day passes to Denver Comic Con
2. Friday, May 22 at The Monkey Barrel - 8:00 p.m.
1611 Platte Street, Denver
What's happening:
- The first of three "Geekender" events hosted by The Monkey Barrel during Denver Comic Con
- Breckenridge Brewery Tap Takeover, including Hulk's Mash
- Commemorative Hulk's Mash Glassware Giveaway, while supplies last!
- ENTER THE DRAWING for TWO 3-day passes to Denver Comic Con
ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE? VISIT THE "COMIC CON CANTINA" TO RELAX, ENJOY A BEER, AND PLAY SOME VIDEO GAMES DURING THE CONFERENCE
Breckenridge Brewery partners with The 1up to give conference goers a chill place to hang at the Denver Convention Center during the conference.
The Comic Con Cantina features:
- Hulk's Mash, the official beer of 2015 Denver Comic Con
- Special edition TAPPER video game, with Breckenridge Brewery influence
- Ultra-rare WRECK-IT RALPH video game
WHERE TO FIND HULK'S MASH AND GLASSWARE GIVEAWAYS:
go to http://www.breckbrew.com/denvercomiccon for a map of the following locations:
All Bar Locations Inside The Convention Center
700 14th St
Hyatt Regency - 650 15th St
Saturday, May 23rd at 4pm
Pizza Republica - 890 14th St
Glassware Giveaway May 23rd, 24th, 25th at 5:30pm / Tap Takeover
Tilted Kilt - 1201 16th St
Glassware Giveaway Saturday May 23rd at 6:30pm
World of Beer - 1555 Blake St
Glassware Giveaway Saturday May 23rd at 7:00pm
Breckenridge Colorado Craft - 2220 Blake St
Glassware Giveaway Saturday May 23rd at 8:30pm
Hard Rock Cafe - 500 16th St
Glassware Giveaway Saturday May 23rd at 10pm / Ticketed Event
Stout St. Social - 1400 Stout St
Glassware Giveaway Sunday, May 24th at 4pm
Illegal Pete's - 1530 16th St.
Glassware Giveaway Sunday, May 24th at 5:30pm
Paramount Cafe - 519 16th St
Glassware Giveaway Sunday, May 24th at 5pm
Marlowe's - 501 16th St
Glassware Giveaway Sunday, May 24th at 6:30pm
Scruffy Murphy's - 2030 Larimer St
Glassware Giveaway Sunday May 24th at 7:00pm
5280 Burger Bar - 500 16th St
Glassware Giveaway Monday May 25th at 4:00pm
1up Lodo - 1925 Blake St
Glassware Giveaway Monday May 25th at 5:30pm
Tarantula Billiards - 1520 Stout St
Glassware Giveaway Monday May 25th at 7:00pm
This isn't necessarily a breckbrew event, but how cool is this?! ~
GRAFITTI ART BENTLEY @ PIZZA REPUBLICA WITH INK MONSTR
During Comic Con weekend, drop by Pizza Republica to find your inner artist. Ink Monstr, Denver custom print shop, has wrapped a Bentley for graffiti painting during Comic Con. Pizza Republica, 890 14th St, Denver, (303) 623-2811.
Lifestyle | Cameron Esposito & Rhea Butcher | Comedy Works | May 15
Source: Instagram @cameronesposito
There is something to be said about bad two ass women. Women empowering women. And just all around badassery. Bottom line? these two were just flat out wonderful. Touring the world with your significant other can be difficult, especially when everyone in the crowd wants to fuck you. Literally every single women in the audience, straight or lesbian, wanted to get themselves a bit of fine comedic ass. (I say straight because I was questioning myself there for a second).
Source: Instagram @rheabutcher
Rhea opened the evening and right off the bat, I wished that I could call her up late night and talk about her dog eating Pizzle Sticks. This women is straight up hilarious. Her set contained the obvious jokes about being a lesbian, which are always funny, but transcended the traditional with funny anecdotes about being a vegetarian and eating bacon or having to buy your dog a dried bull's penis. Rhea just has a way with words and I'm quite smitten to be honest. I loved Cameron Esposito's set, but Rhea connected with the crowd on a more intimate level and in my opinion, had a better set than Cameron.
Cameron surprisingly wasn't wearing her signature jean, but instead opted for the vest button down combo which accentuated her eyes. I loved her lesbian and "being a women" jokes. I will never ever look at my period in the same light. Or maybe just in the light in general. I'll stick to back alleys and dark rooms from now on... Or will I ever eat strawberries without silently dying inside. Listening to Cameron talk about growing up in Rural Suburban Town, America wearing a coon skin cap to school everyday was the highlight of my week. But also, watching her get ogled and heckled by hungry lesbians was a close second.
It must be hard to be in the same profession as your fiance, but these two have it down to an art. I was lucky to see them at Comedy Works and will be stalking them on Instagram until they come back to the Mile High. (You should too. #relationshipgoals)..
Lifestyle | Cameron Esposito @ Comedy Works | May 14-16
We know you have a busy weekend ahead of you, full of lying around with your cats, eating CheezIts straight from the bag (no box) and reruns of How I Met Your Mother... but we have something way better planned for you. Cameron Esposito is gracing Denver with her beautiful half mullet and golden brown eyes this weekend at Comedy Works and we couldn't be happier. Castro even dusted off his denim wedding dress for the occasion.
According to non other than comedy legend, Jay Leno Cameron Esposito is the future of comedy and we totally agree. She has been on Chelsea Lately, The Late Show, The Late Late Show, CONAN, has a killer new album out and a bunch of viral vids on YouTube. (Yes we shortened that because why not. Get off our ass dad).
Side Note: We think Cameron Esposito may have Lena Dunham beat as the voice of our generation. *gasp*
And guess what! She is performing this weekend at Comedy Works and we wanted to extend the invitation to you to come see her live. There's going to be a lot of denim and who knows, maybe we'll even bring our cat(s).
Buy tickets: http://www.comedyworks.com/comedians/807
Take a look at some of the stuff Cameron's been getting into:
Album track "Woman Who Doesn't Sleep With Men" viral video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSJGaVuJJn8
Cameron performs on CONAN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlUWrbY86Yk
Cameron performs on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mp4AzWjow0
Video for album track "Guacamole" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esFP8eO7Ojo
"Ask a Lesbian" video series:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av2PU3wLGio
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_N36YpApQA
Cameron's "Who In The World is Cameron Esposito?" AV Club column http://avc.lu/1Bv3ey5
Kill Rock Stars press page: http://killrockstars.com/samesexsymbol
Cameron's site: http://cameronesposito.com/
@cameronesposito
Lifestyle | 14er Season Is Coming
Our new and lovely La Sportiva boots with GORE-TEX Surround technology.
Poor Colorado. We’re trapped in the hellish purgatory between snowboarding season and hiking season. A season that’s plagued with waiting indoors and polishing kayak oars while we cry for summer’s warm embrace. This awkward tween season has inherited the name of mud season from Colorado natives and “locals” alike. Mud season is a wonderful time when Coloradans drive around in their Subarus, ride indoor bikes and fog up windows waiting for the rain to stop. We can still hike...but is it worth ruining your hiking shoes and/or risking blisters or other complications associated with hiking around water?
Don’t worry, there’s hope! Enter: GORE-TEX Surround technology. GORE-TEX makes a lot of products, but in our circles, they’re better known for making a kick ass hiking boot. Their boot technology has helped people summit peaks like Mount Everest and complete the Pacific Crest Trail. When it comes to hiking, they’re the boots that you want on your feet. Which is why we were thrilled when they asked us to review their latest GORE-TEX Surround technology and boot collaboration with La Sportiva. The boot boasts being durable, waterproof AND 100% breathable....Crazy right? We had to put this to the test.
Whelp. We’re stumped. I was very hesitant to try this, as I have grown very fond of my new boots, but I put them on and dunked them into a bucket of water. NO water got in and my feet stayed dry and airy. We suspect magic, but it may just be #science.
Since then, they have accompanied me to Alderfer/Three Sisters Park and a couple of romps around the city. And in a week they will accompany me to Bogota and Cartagena, Colombia for a backpacking, camping and hiking trip. That’s how much I trust these puppies.
We’ve compiled a list of pros and cons to further assist your consumerism:
PROS: Waterproof, Breathable, Light weight, Hike longer and brave more elements, Comfortable
CONS: No ankle support in the La Sportiva model we received, but other modes and brands with the technology carry them.
Shop now: http://www.gore-tex.com/resources/goretex/static/en_US/surround/index.html
Hope to see you all on the trails when I get back. Surely by then it will be 14er season. Stay tuned for a list of our favorite hikes and our 14er monologues this summer!
Me on top of Mount Missouri last summer. We plan to hike around 10 this summer and chronicle our journey and provide tips for each mountain!
GORE-TEX provided us with a pair of La Sportiva boots. All of the opinions in this article are my own.
Words: McClain Morris
Lifestyle | Star Wars Celebration | April 16-19 | Anaheim, California
“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for." (Photo Credit: Juan Colmenero)
Here I am walking up to the Anaheim Convention Center to experience my first convention as a fan. I can’t help but be mesmerized by all of the costumes and overhearing the reciting of lines throughout the area.
“Move along….move along” as I was passing the food truck courtyard.
“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.” whispered a young man near the fountain.
“I don’t think the Empire had Wookies in mind when they designed her, Chewie” was overheard while waiting in the Queue Hall minutes before doors opened.
I’m talking about Star Wars Celebration Anaheim; the place to be if you’re a Star Wars fan. Unfortunately, I missed out on the Opening Ceremony (a panel featuring The Force Awakens Director J.J. Abrams and the CEO of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy) due to me flying in later that day. That panel was the talk of the convention and hearing everybody’s reaction made you feel just how excited everybody was during the Opening Ceremony.
Celebration had everything you could have ever wanted from a Star Wars convention.
Cosplay contests, behind the scenes photos, autograph sessions, panels featuring people who are/have worked on the Star Wars movies, video game flight simulators, limited edition memorabilia that was specific to Celebration.
On my first day there, I followed John, a 6’5” gentleman from St. Louis who has been to multiple Celebrations prior to Celebration Anaheim, up to the third floor to try and get a sneak peak at the new Star Wars Battlefront game that’s coming out in November. We made it to the back of a very long line and after waiting 30 mins and moving what seemed like 10 feet, the Digital Stage had reached capacity and were no longer letting anybody in to see the trailer.
I realized that this was a common sight at Celebration.
The newest droid in the Star Wars Galaxy BB-8 (Photo Credit: Juan Colmenero)
Want to watch Mark Hamill’s panel? Better line up 2 hours prior. Ok well Carrie Fisher has a panel at X PM better line up 2 hours before that. Want to buy merchandise from the official Celebration store? Gotta wait in a line to get into the line that gets your into the store and then wait another 2 hours just to check out.
Lots of waiting with no guarantee that you were going to see/experience the event of your choice. Everyone at the convention kept blaming Disney for them wanting to host Celebration about a mile away from Disneyland. Now, I get it. I understand why Disney would want to host Celebration so close to their parks and Downtown Disney. It’s the same reason they host D23 at the same convention center.
What I, and I’m sure everybody else who attended Celebration, would like to see is Disney take the technology they use for time/line management and use this to make Celebration lines more about interaction and less about waiting. I’ll give Disney a pass on this Celebration as this was their first one since the Lucasfilm acquisition but hopefully the next stateside Celebration will be better.
All in all, I had a blast. From hearing everyone’s Opening Ceremony’s stories to seeing all of the costumes and watching the new Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One trailer (which hasn’t been released anywhere), this has been a convention that I’ll never forget and I’m already planning to go to Celebration next year in London.
-Juan Colmenero
Lifestyle | Totally Tennyson Street Crawl
This past Saturday, April 25th was the 5th annual Totally Tennyson 70s-90s themed street crawl. Many of the restaurants, bars, shops, and businesses located on Tennyson from W. 35th to 46th Avenues open up to attendees and offer a “free” takeaway with ticket purchase. Tickets cost $25 with proceeds going directly to 15 local participating schools and includes an awesome 80's cover concert from the 6 Million Dollar Band at the Oriental Theater.
This was my second time attending and my friends and I had a totally fun night! We started at 6pm at Elitch Lanes (which closes May 18th FYI) on the North end, checking in to receive our punch card with all the destinations that were giving things away. Before even leaving that parking lot we received samples from Little Man Ice Cream, some candy, and my friend won two Colorado Rapids tickets from a spin the wheel game! From there we waited in a few different lines to receive a beer sample, food bites, or to browse in some boutiques. About an hour after we began, we reached the South end and took a break to grab a drink and mingle at Local 46. They have a big bar with a pool table and a nice outdoor patio with a bar, tables, fire pits, cornhole, and lots of greenery.
As we danced our way up the other side of Tennyson we came across a parking lot dance party, a few good-looking new restaurants, and then one more dance party at The Berkeley Inn. After a free beer sample and some dancing we waited a couple minutes for the party bus. Yep, the event had a party bus open to everyone with an event ticket so you could quickly and easily get from one end to the other. It was 9pm and time for us to hit the party bus so we could get to the concert! The party bus lived up to its name as people, myself included, were dancing, sharing pizza, and chatting all under black lights with crazy laser light specks.
The Oriental Theater was packed full of fun-lovin, costume-wearin people, just as I’d remembered from my first experience. Both times the culminating concert was the highlight of my night and the 6 Million Dollar Band rocked our tube socks off! They played all the best hits from the 80s and sprinkled in a few 70s and 90s jams. My friends and I managed to get front row center and danced our fannies off past midnight.
If you love a good decade-themed crawl or live cover bands I highly recommend getting tickets to Totally Tennyson next year. We had a great time, got our money’s worth of free samples, discovered some cool new eateries, and danced our way though the 70's, 80's, and 90's. On top of all that we helped raise money for Denver’s public schools, with a total of over $140,000 in the past four years.
http://www.totallytennyson.com
http://www.theorientaltheater.com
http://www.elitchbowling.com
http://www.local46bar.com
Tiffany Candelaria
Lifestyle | Wanderlust Festival Headed Back To Colorado | July 4th Weekend
Photo Credit: Ali Kaukas
It’s that time of year again! The sun is out and the temps are high. As we start to move our yoga practice from indoors to outdoors, Wanderlust Festival invites you to participate in a weekend of mindfulness, asana, eatery, and great music during Fourth of July weekend at Aspen-Snowmass. A weekend filled with yoga and meditation, outdoor adventures like biking, hiking, and SUP yoga (a raving trend of downdoggin’ on a paddle board), you’re not-so-typical college lectures, an array of musical talent, and a Farm to Table dinner experience to tie the weekend together. This incredible festival has grown exponentially over the past few years, spreading awareness for the yoga community from Vermont to Hawaii to British Columbia and in between. The weekend will leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the world with a clear mind.
Photo Credit: Ali Kaukas