5280 Magazine November 2024

BY ROBERT SANCHEZ

Shop Local!

LOCALLY SOURCED. LOCALLY LOVED.

SO BOULDER.

Did you know that of downtown Boulder’s 140+ retailers 75% are locally owned and operated? There’s the Boulder you think you know, and the one waiting to be discovered. Come experience all the local shopping, dining and fun that makes downtown Boulder So Boulder.

40

Shop Local

In the era of Amazon, gifting has become an impersonal, compulsory exercise—but around Denver, brick-andmortar retailers are pushing back on that shift. We found 16 spots that will make present-buying fruitful and fun this holiday season.

EDITED BY JESSICA LARUSSO

How To Be A Good Citizen

Whether you are red, blue, or purple, chances are you don’t like something the government is doing. The good news is that, at least in Colorado, there are plenty of ways you can effect change.

BY SPENCER CAMPBELL

The Killing Field

Unraveling the 160-yearold mystery of a family’s murder on Colorado’s Eastern Plains—and its long-forgotten link to one of America’s worst military atrocities. BY

ROBERT SANCHEZ

Heirloom-quality blades from New West KnifeWorks in Cherry Creek

22

FROM THE EDITOR

14 Be kind and go vote.

COMPASS

17 DESIGN

Inside an 1886 Queen Anne–style mansion turned boutique hotel in Capitol Hill.

18 HEALTH CARE

How the Colorado Doula Project helps women navigate abortion care in a post-Roe world.

20 CULTURE

Highlights of this month’s inaugural Aurora Borealis Festival.

22 FASHION

Hoohah is boosting women’s confidence on the slopes via embroidered bibs and fringed coats.

24 ESSAY

Outdated laws have forced One Colorado’s Nadine Bridges to marry her wife three times. She hopes her group’s November ballot initiative will finally seal the deal.

27 WHAT’S HOT

Luchador Taco & More brings Mexican street eats and Peruvianinspired plates to Whittier.

28 REVIEW

LoHi’s Jacques delivers the French culinary techniques, indulgent flavors, and leisurely pacing that we rarely bestow upon ourselves at home. Plus: the perfect wine pairings for brasserie favorites.

80 DINING GUIDE

COLUMN

32 SPORTS

After leading the University of Colorado to consecutive Sweet 16s, can ninth-year head coach JR Payne take advantage of the recent popularity of women’s hoops to get the Buffs to the next level?

BY GEOFF VAN DYKE

ACT LIKE A LOCAL

104 THE OVERSIMPLIFIED GUIDE TO: MILE-HIGH HOSTING Five tips from a longtime Brown Palace Hotel and Spa concierge for keeping your out-of-state relatives happy. ON THE COVER

Clockwise from top left: Sarah Banks (3); Courtesy of Hoohah

Photograph by Stephen Cardinale West Highland’s Flouwer Co.

A mountain escape in the Mile High City, Halcyon on Ice.

Come together to savor drinks and dining at our rooftop lounge and apres. Nestled atop Halcyon in Cherry Creek, experience a connection with friends through carefully curated music, drinks, dining, and ice skating in the clouds.

245 Columbine St. Denver, CO 80206

EDITOR

Lindsey B. King

ART DIRECTOR

David McKenna

DIGITAL DIRECTOR

Maren Horjus

EDITORIAL

DEPUTY EDITOR

Jessica LaRusso

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Robert Sanchez

FEATURES EDITOR

Spencer Campbell

SENIOR EDITOR

Michelle Shortall

FOOD EDITOR

Patricia Kaowthumrong

SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jessica Giles

ASSOCIATE FOOD EDITOR

Ethan Pan

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Barbara O’Neil

COPY EDITOR

Dougald MacDonald

RESEARCHERS

Laurenz Busch, Kim Habicht, Amanda Price, Julia Ruble, Taj Smith

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kelly Bastone, Laura Beausire, Jay Bouchard, Christine DeOrio, Courtney Holden, Sarah Kuta, Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, Jenny McCoy, Allyson Reedy, Meredith Sell, Daliah Singer, Martin J. Smith, Andy Stein

DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO EDITOR

Charli Ornett

DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR

Sean Parsons

DEPUTY PHOTO EDITOR

Sarah Banks

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Stephen Cardinale, Barbara Gibson, Simone Massoni, Kevin Mohatt, Arthur Mount, Nicole Xu

CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Daniel Brogan

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

Camille Hammond

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Ari Ben

MARKETING DIRECTOR niel Simegn

SENIOR ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

Angie Lund, Molly Swanson

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

Craig Hitchcock, Kara Noone

ADVERTISING & MARKETING COORDINATOR

Tamara Curry

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Grace Zahn

BRAND SERVICES

CHIEF BRAND OFFICER

Carly Lambert

PRINT OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Megan Skolak

CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER

Chelsea Conrad

DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

Shundra Jackson

SENIOR GRAPHIC & UI DESIGNER

Caitlin Brooks

AUDIENCE GROWTH COORDINATOR

Greta Kotova

RODUCTION COORDINATOR

Alyssa Chutka

STAND CONSULTANT Alan Centofante

CIRCULATION CONSULTANTS

Meg Clark, Greg Wolfe

ADMINISTRATION

HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

Derek Noyes

OFFICE MANAGER

Todd A. Black

BILLING & COLLECTIONS MANAGER

Jessica McHeard

A

Keep Colorado Wild

Let Nature Unlock Your Creativity

For only $29, get a Keep Colorado Wild Pass with your next vehicle registration and find unlimited inspiration. The pass gives you entry to all state parks and funds education programs and wildlife conservation statewide.

cpw.info/KeepColoradoWildPass

Jay Moore, artist Roxborough State Park

costs

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the editor must include your name, address, and a daytime phone number (all of which can be withheld from publication upon request). Letters may be submitted via regular mail or email (letters@5280.com). To have a restaurant considered for our Dining Guide, contact us by phone or email (dining@5280.com) to receive a submission form. We also encourage you to contact us if your experience at a restaurant differs significantly from our listing. Information for this section should be subm itted at least six weeks before the issue’s cover date.

WRITER’S GUIDELINES

Writer’s guidelines can be found online at 5280.com/writers-guidelines. To suggest a story idea, email us at news@5280.com.

ADVERTISING

5280 offers businesses the most costeffective way to reach Denver’s upscale consumers. Information about advertising is available on the web at 5280.com/ advertising. Call 303-832-5280 to request a printed media kit.

SPONSORSHIPS

5280 actively supports organizations that make our city a better place to live and work. Submit sponsorship proposals to Piniel Simegn, marketing director, at sponsorship@5280.com.

Rock The Kindness

I used to have a three-by-five note card pinned above my computer at the office (these were prepandemic days). It had two words scrawled on it: Be kind. You wouldn’t think anyone would need to be reminded of a life lesson that one’s parents should’ve imparted to their children in toddlerhood, but as those who know me will likely confirm, I can be quick to judge and impatient with what I view as incompetence. Not exactly virtuous character traits. Hence the note card, which I used as a daily nudge to be a better person.

In this month’s “How To Be A Good Citizen” (page 50), features editor Spencer Campbell has penned a 10-page-long note card equivalent that will hit newsstands roughly a week before Americans head to the polls for a potentially historic and undeniably contentious election. Campbell’s guide is less about minding your manners and more about how Coloradans can fully exercise their rights, help others feel part of this thing we call democracy, and better understand the processes for making change in a world where individuals often feel like they have little agency or ability to make an impact.

“Some of the information in this story can be put to good use during this election,” Campbell says. “But much of it is about how to be more civically

^

Eyni Jama (left) and Jane Kirema of Warm Cookies of the Revolution are leading an initiative to increase civic engagement in Aurora.

engaged in between filling out those mail-in ballots.”

That actionable material is critical to creating not only a more politically savvy electorate, but also, possibly, a more civil discourse. “Engagement leads to dialogue and, if you’re doing it with an open mind, to empathy,” Campbell says. “That’s what creates change.” I sincerely hope that no matter what side of the aisle you stand on, you agree that being kind to one another, despite

deep political differences in a post-truth era, is something worth remembering. Also worth remembering? Election Day is November 5. Please vote.

LINDSEY B. KING Editor

lindsey@5280.com

MICHELLE SHORTALL

Senior editor

Michelle Shortall has long served as 5280’s home editor, but she recently took on a new gig: overseeing Compass, the magazine’s frontof-book section comprising short, newsworthy pieces. This month, Shortall penned three of its pages: a look inside the Urban Cowboy hotel (“Past Preserved,” page 17), an ode to hip skiwear (“Slope Style,” page 22), and an as-told-to essay from an LGBTQ+ Denverite about an upcoming marriage equality initiative (“For Better, For Worse,” page 24). For the last, Shortall shares the story of two women who had to marry three times to make their union legally valid. “As someone who recently got married, I can only imagine how frustrating that must have been for them,” she says. But, as Shortall puts it, it’s stories like those that make Compass unique. “It’s the perfect place to discover a new local business, meet a prominent Denverite, get the lowdown on a fun event coming to town, or learn more about a pressing issue in city politics. Bonus: It’s especially great for adding to your arsenal of dinner-conversation talking points.”

CORRECTION

In the September issue, we reported in “Serve You Right” that AmeriCorps had chosen Colorado as one of Youth Mental Health Corps’ first four service areas; however, the Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest, which helped fund the initiative, actually chose Colorado. We regret the error.

From top: Sarah Banks; Arthur Mount

OCTOBER 13, 2024–FEBRUARY 17, 2025

Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak has been co-organized by the Denver Art Museum and the Columbus Museum of Art in partnership with The Maurice Sendak Foundation. It is curated by Jonathan Weinberg, PhD, Curator and Director of Research at The Maurice Sendak Foundation and Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the Denver Art Museum. This exhibition is presented by the Clarence V. Laguardia Foundation with additional support provided by the Tom Taplin Jr. and Ted Taplin Endowment, Bank of America, Kathie and Keith Finger, Lisë Gander and Andy Main, the Kristin and Charles Lohmiller Exhibitions Fund, Sally Cooper Murray, Kent Thiry & Denise O’Leary, an anonymous donor, the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine and CBS Colorado. Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are (detail), 1963, watercolor and ink on paper, 9 3/4 x 22 in. ©The Maurice Sendak Foundation

Colorful Prairie Ride , oil, 16” x 20” © Karen Roehl

Past Preserved

A stay at the Urban Cowboy hotel, which opened in Capitol Hill last month, is like taking a trip in a Denver DeLorean. Set inside an 1886 Queen Anne–style mansion—designed by prominent local architect F.E. Edbrooke for hatmaker turned real estate mogul George Schleier—every inch of the boutique inn and on-site bar is outfitted with period details, from gargoyles carved into the staircase balusters to ornate tile surrounding the fireplaces to hammered-copper soaking tubs in all 16 of the guest suites. Husband-and-wife owners Lyon Porter and Jersey Banks’ design goal? For the building’s recent additions to be indistinguishable from its original features. “We want people to walk in and go, Was this here all along?” Porter says, noting that Denver was the perfect fit for Urban Cowboy’s fourth location—they started in Brooklyn before expanding to the Catskills and Nashville, Tennessee—because it encapsulates the 10-year-old hotel brand’s nostalgic Western aesthetic. The Mile High City also happens to be Banks’ hometown. The couple worked with GBX Group, an Ohio-based real estate firm that revitalizes historical properties, and Historic Denver to preserve the Millionaire’s Row mansion’s century-old architecture. “It’s a piece of art; it’s a piece of history,” Porter says. “We’re just the stewards of it for a moment, but it’ll be here long after us.” Suites start at $200 per night —MICHELLE

SARAH BANKS

Rising To The Occasion

Holly Ballard of the Colorado Doula Project (CDP)—whose volunteers help pregnant people navigate abortion care—on the organization’s exponential growth, the new pipeline of patients from Texas (and other states), and this month’s ballot initiative to codify the right to an abortion in Colorado’s constitution.

LINDSEY B. KING

5280: You not only became the development director of the CDP in 2023, but you also became one of its first fulltime employees. How did it exist for nearly 10 years without a staff?

Holly Ballard: CDP started in 2015 as a small group of concerned citizens, and it was an all-volunteer operation for a long time. The organization offered both birth and abortion doulas in the beginning. But the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, was the breaking point. We had to grow to meet demand, including hiring three full-time staffers and switching our focus to abortion care.

Where did that demand come from?

In 2021, we worked with roughly 100 clients. This year, our 100 volunteers will likely serve about 1,200 people. In the first half of 2024, we’ve seen clients from 28 states. The largest percentage of them are from Colorado—about 52 percent so far this year. Last year and this year, the second-largest percentage was from Texas, which is not unexpected considering the laws there and the need. One result of Dobbs is that people are more aware of abortion funds and practical support organizations like us, and people needing abortions in protected states are more likely to seek help in their home state.

This month, voters will decide if the right to abortion care will become part of the state constitution—does CDP get involved in such matters?

This is the first election cycle where we’ve had enough full-time staffers to start asking ourselves how and if we

want to be involved. We partner with organizations that are heavily engaged in politics, and we work to support them. But our focus is on our clients and individualistic care. We’re not neutral; we support legislation and initiatives that protect access to care, but we aren’t an advocacy group.

What exactly does an abortion doula do? Our trained volunteers pick people up from the airport, drive them to appointments, bring them food, sit with them in waiting rooms, hold their hands, provide short-term childcare, and even take them for ice cream as a pick-me-up. Everyone’s needs are different, and our intake team asks what each person needs the most. If someone requires assistance beyond what a doula can provide—like help paying for a hotel room or help finding a health care provider or help paying for abortion care—our staffers try to meet those needs.

Can anyone become a CDP volunteer? To become an abortion doula, volunteers

must complete our online training, which is self-paced and usually takes between 10 and 20 hours. But I wouldn’t say anyone can be a doula: Our volunteers must be committed to reproductive justice, equality, anti-discrimination, and anti-racism. They must also have empathy and compassion. If they have all these things, the training will help channel those beliefs into how to do this work well.

Now that CDP has grown up from its grassroots beginnings, what’s next? We are piloting a program to support people with self-managed abortion, which happens at home with medication. This support would be via phone and text, and the goal is to provide virtual care to Coloradans and people across the country. That would extend our volunteers’ reach and help people—especially those who don’t have a support network or who need secrecy for what can be a variety of reasons—navigate what is the most common form of abortion in the country.

PHOTOGRAPH BY SARAH BANKS

Time To Shine

If you didn’t catch the Northern Lights dancing their way across Colorado skies for the first time in two decades this past May, don’t fret. The inaugural Aurora Borealis Festival (November 1 to 3 at Aurora’s Winged Melody Park) provides a chance to relive the atmospheric phenomenon. Complete with stellar light exhibits and interactive art, the free, familyfriendly event (and, dare we say, brilliant marketing scheme) will celebrate the city’s diversity, creativity, and collaboration, says Randi Morritt, chief operating officer at Visit Aurora, which is producing the affair. Here are just some of the megawatt offerings attendees can expect. —COURTNEY HOLDEN

1 Aurora Borealis Effect

It wouldn’t be the Aurora Borealis Festival without a re-creation of its namesake light display. Venture to the borealis viewing area at sunset each evening to see green, blue, and magenta striations—created by nine multicolored lasers projected through a foggy haze—cover nearly 30,000 square feet of sky.

2 Stanley Marketplace Orb Garden

Six spheres, all constructed on-site out of 2,500 feet of neon nylon, will rest on the gathering’s northeastern edge. What are they? “Pop-up art lounges,” says Denver-based artist Diana Merkel, who designed the orbs, each of which seats eight. “They provide a fun, vibey, safe space to chill and connect with others.” Although open throughout the day, the globes will be particularly illuminating at night, when color-changing LEDs inside radiate a range of different hues.

3 Global Gift Bazaar

No, that sandy-hued tent with eight massive peaks isn’t Denver International Airport. It’s the festival’s home for artisanal goods. Grab an Apricot Blonde from Aurora’s Dry Dock Brewing Co., then gander at the wares on offer from 20 different local vendors. A luxurious whipped body scrub from Shai Naturals or a versatile essentials pouch from Kahealani Lee Designs will help you get an early start on holiday shopping.

4 Architects of Air’s Daedalum

Get lost in this 11,000-square-foot luminarium by internationally recognized sculpture group Architects of Air. The inflatable fun house for light comprises 19 interconnected caverns and dozens of winding paths, all awash in vibrant colors created by daylight filtering through its fabric walls.

5

Flavors of Aurora Food Court

This culinary cornucopia celebrates Aurora’s distinction as Colorado’s most diverse city with an array of mouthwatering bites from more than 20 globally inspired local eateries. Nibble something spicy from Flavor of Tabasco; slurp noodles from Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodles; and share (or don’t) fresh waffle-cut potato chips from Curbside Kitchen Ltd. with a fellow festivalgoer.

Slope Style

Despite being a competitive skier for most of her adolescence, Anna Tedstrom is a big proponent of not taking oneself too seriously on the slopes. Hence, Hoohah, her Littleton-based outdoor apparel brand. Tedstrom began embellishing thrifted ski suits with colorful fringe, flower-shaped patches, and shimmering rhinestones in 2020 to boost her girlfriends’ fun and confidence on their skis and boards. (The name means exactly what you think it means; it’s Tedstrom’s way of reclaiming the word.) Today, Hoohah creates ski gear in bold colors and playful patterns that are sure to strike up chairlift conversations. “Other brands in the outdoor space are focused on speed, endurance, hucking cliffs, and backcountry skiing. Those are all great things, but not everyone relates to it,” Tedstrom says. “I want to make gear that makes you smile—that’s so fun that it takes away the intimidation factor and makes you want to ski more.” –MS

Want to try before you buy?

Style meets sensibility in the Western bibs in beryl blue ($315), which are made with recycled, water-resistant fabric and two layers of insulation.

term pop-up shop, which will take over a retail space on Boulder’s Pearl Street in February and March 2025.

“Fringe makes you fast,” Tedstrom says of the

The recently released daisy vest in raspberry ($178) provides just enough warmth during shoulder seasons.

For Better, For Worse

Outdated laws have forced One Colorado’s Nadine Bridges to marry her wife three times. She hopes her group’s November ballot initiative will finally seal the deal.

Two years after I proposed with a black-pearl ring and her favorite cupcakes from City, O’ City, I married my wife at the Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens in the Highland neighborhood. The service was everything we wanted it to be. One of our best friends performed a smudging ceremony to honor Liz’s Native American heritage; we jumped the broom to pay respects to my African American ancestry. We walked down the aisle to a ukulele version of “Wagon Wheel” and had country line dancing at the reception (we were really into that back then). There was just one catch: It was June 2013, and same-sex marriage wasn’t legal at the time. After our wedding,

we filled out paperwork for the next best thing—a civil union.

The next June, when Boulder County clerk Hillary Hall announced that she would sign same-sex marriage certificates, we drove to Boulder right away. What better way to celebrate our first anniversary than by getting hitched… again? About a month later, however, we received a letter from the state attorney general informing us that our new marriage wasn’t legal. Colorado didn’t recognize gay marriage. We pasted that note alongside the newly void license in our wedding book and carried on with our unsanctioned relationship.

Don’t get me wrong; a lot of folks are happy with a civil union. But being

legally married was important to us because we wanted the same rights as anyone else. We never wanted to be in a situation where, say, one of us needed emergency care and the other person couldn’t make decisions on their behalf. Moreover, society had been telling us that we were “less than” for most of our lives. We were tired of it.

Finally, on June 26, 2015, three days before our second wedding anniversary, the U.S. Supreme Court guaranteed same-sex couples the right to marry. Liz and I joined hundreds of other people, including our closest friends, on the west steps of the Colorado Capitol, where we hugged, laughed, and cried tears of joy. When President Barack Obama declared that marriage equality was now the law of the land, I breathed the deepest exhale of my life. After signing the right documents, our marriage would become legit, and no one could take that away from us—or so we thought. It wasn’t until 2021, when I became executive director of One Colorado, a statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, that my new team brought this sentence in our state constitution to my attention: “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.” Voters approved this language in 2006. Thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling, Amendment 43 has no practical impact on queer Coloradans today.

But the conservative justices who now control that bench could always decide to strike down that previous decision— an idea that doesn’t seem so far-fetched following Roe v. Wade’s reversal. Should that happen, same-sex couples would no longer be able to get married.

That’s why One Colorado worked to get its Protecting the Freedom to Marry initiative on this month’s ballot. The measure would repeal Amendment 43, demonstrating that—no matter what happens on the federal level—the Centennial State is committed to equity, inclusion, and freedom. More important: It would protect families like mine. I love that my wife loves me enough to have married me three times, but neither she, nor anyone else, should have to endure such arduous trials to prove it.

AS TOLD TO MICHELLE SHORTALL

Nadine Bridges (right) and her bride, Liz Campbell

Courtesy of Nadine Bridges (inset)

Eat & Drink

Knockout Round

Usually, the word “luchador” conjures the boldly masked athletes who participate in a Mexican style of pro wrestling. In Denver, though, the term has taken on a much more delicious connotation. Ever since chef Zuri Resendiz, who came up in local fine-dining restaurants like Cattivella, launched the Luchador Food Truck by Chef Z in 2022, he has dazzled Front Rangers with his casual yet expertly executed dishes that draw on his native Mexico’s street cuisine. In August, Resendiz parked his wheels at Luchador Taco & More, a cozy brick-and-mortar location in Whittier where diners can enjoy his colorful, flavor-packed fare under the gaze of a luchador mural. As the name suggests, the tacos are title-worthy: The pulpo (octopus) al pastor is even better than the porky predecessor, especially when joined by avocado purée and habaneropineapple salsa. In the “more” category are composed plates, some of which explore the cuisine of Peru, Resendiz’s wife’s home country. For example, the lomo saltado—filet mignon stir-fried with tomato, onion, and potatoes—and causa tartare, which comprises chile-infused potato mash, finely diced steak, and crispy sweet potato layered into a tower, are both elegantly plated homages to classic Peruvian dishes. And because they complement, rather than fight with, the rest of the menu’s Mexican flavors, the only thing you must wrestle with is how many courses you can stomach. —ETHAN PAN

PHOTOGRAPH BY SARAH BANKS

Simple Gifts

LoHi’s Jacques delivers the French culinary techniques, indulgent flavors, and leisurely pacing that we rarely bestow upon ourselves at home.

—ALLYSON REEDY

If the definition of a gift is something you wouldn’t normally grant yourself, then the time, effort, and more-is-more mentality underlying French food is the ultimate extravagance. Jacques, the more traditionally French, quasi-sister restaurant to the Cole neighborhood’s rowdier Brasserie Brixton, has been spoiling us in all the right ways for the past year, marrying disciplined techniques with indulgent ingredients and a menu that changes with the season.

In my home kitchen, I would never spend four hours cooking down sweet yellow and red onions until they melt into glassy, caramelly shadows of their former pungent selves to produce something like Jacques’ French onion soup. (I also wouldn’t be so freewheeling with the wine, which is deliciously noticeable in the broth.) Covered with a gooey blanket of Gruyère, Emmentaler, and other Swiss cheese, chef Nicholas Dalton’s vegetarian rendition of the classic starter is the perfect

way to commence your meal, with its welcoming warmth and richness. Or you could begin with the crackly crusted house-made baguette, served with a generous dollop of ultracreamy salted French butter. Better yet, order both, so you can dip the bread in the soup’s rich, comforting broth. Better still, also get the steamed mussels and swish the carbs through the garlicky sauce.

Jacques’ menu is divided up by proteins rather than by appetizers and mains. The mussels are a worthy selection from the seafood section, but the meats are popular picks. Four-year-old Brasserie Brixton has

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH BANKS

^ From left: Nicholas Dalton; Jacques’ seasonal duck confit

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become locally famous for its decadent double Gruyère burger, but Jacques’ iteration is just as good. This may be a French restaurant, but the two perfectly charred patties, American cheese, In-N-Out-like sauce, and shredded lettuce on a sesame bun scream USA. The matchstick taters, which are available as a side, are my fry ideal; some are chewy (but never greasy or gummy) and others are supercrunchy. They taste like— forgive me, France—a better version of McDonald’s fries.

The duck is my favorite thing on the menu. In late summer, it came with chunks of Palisade peaches, a dark mole, seedy salsa macha, and pickled cherries. Even if I could somehow master the crispy, tender duck confit itself at home, I could never re-create the complexity of the chile-laced mole. That bit of kick juxtaposed with the sweet peaches, pickled cherries, and savory duck made for a very special bite.

Least successful for me is the half chicken. While the plate is visually beautiful and the bird’s skin is crispy and well-seasoned, the black pepper sauce it was served with at the time was overwhelming. The strong, piney pepper overpowered the otherwise well-cooked meat. By the time you stop in for dinner, it will hopefully rest upon a more complementary sauce.

The blow from a misstep such as this can be softened by a good drink. Here, I’d happily linger over a glass of Syrah or Chardonnay from the mostly French wine list. Or, if booze is in order, the sweet and cool Cucumber du Désir cocktail made with St-Germain, gin, and lemon is a standout. And then, why not close it out with a digestif—maybe a pour of chartreuse or cognac?—to end on a high note, à la the French.

Another high note is Jacques’ service, which is better than I’ve experienced at a Denver restaurant in a long time. Dinner here is a splurge—I never made it out for under $100 for two, even without alcohol—but I appreciated that my server was still budget-conscious, pointing out happy hour versions of menu items to save me a few bucks.

I also was grateful for other things I rarely experience at home. One is the date-night-ready ambience—the marble bar, deep green and blue paneling, and banquettes feel chic and sophisticated—that’s also comfortable and relaxed, thanks both to the garage-style windows and casual meal pacing. Dinner at my house is quick and economical, often dependent on how I can best feed my two kids with the least amount of effort so they can get back to their activities. At Jacques, lingering is welcome, so I wasn’t at all surprised that the couple sitting by the window when we came in didn’t look anywhere near done when we left. It’s the kind of experience you can savor as slowly or quickly as you want. That relishing of food, drink, and company is what Jacques is all about. This isn’t the place to watch calories or count dollar signs or worry about where you need to be next, and that’s the gift of this corner bistro in LoHi. That sort of dining experience is a treat we don’t normally give ourselves—but should.

BETTER TOGETHER

We love enjoying a glass of wine (or two) with our meals, particularly with French fare. After all, France is the world’s second-largest producer of wine. At Jacques, beverage director and co-owner Jerome Lavaissiere curates a list of 120 bottles, 90 percent of which are imported from his native France. Consider these pairing tips from Lavaissiere for your next brasserie-style meal. —AR

If you’re having: MUSSELS

Ask for: A glass full of grapes grown close to the ocean, which will bring out the seafood’s salty notes. Lavaissiere recommends a Muscadet, a dry white from west of the Loire Valley.

If you’re having: DUCK

^ Jacques’ mussels swim in a garlicky sauce that’s ideal for sopping up with bread.

Ask for: A Syrah from the SaintJoseph appellation of the Rhône Valley, where the fruit thrives in the black schist soil. “It yields a rich, deep flavor of black olive tapenade with hints of smoky black pepper,” he says.

If you’re having: SALMON

JACQUES

3200 Tejon St. jacqueslohi.com

The Draw: Gussied-up French classics in a refined yet relaxed setting

The Drawback: Some dishes have undesirable flavor profiles

Noise Level: Low

Don’t Miss: French onion soup, duck confit, burger, French wines

Ask for: A Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, a white wine crafted near Avignon in France’s Provence region. The variety’s balanced blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, and Clairette makes for a sipper with subtle floral notes.

No Payne, No Gain

Can JR Payne take advantage of the recent rise in popularity of women’s hoops to lead the Buffs deeper into the Big Dance?

BY GEOFF VAN DYKE

JR Payne got her first coaching gig when she was in fifth grade. This was the late 1980s, an era in which kids played sports for fun and camaraderie and to learn a thing or two—like, in this case, how to properly shoot a jump shot or set a screen. Parents would cheer for both teams.

The problem was that the coach of this particular team, at Payne’s elementary school in North Vancouver, British Columbia, had little experience with basketball, even though she was the physical education instructor. Fortunately, she had Payne, who at the time was all of 11 years old. “She asked me if I could help coach the team,” Payne says. “It was like, ‘Can you tell me some drills we can do?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know what we’re doing!’ ”

Except that Payne did know what she was doing. She started by teaching the

PHOTOGRAPH BY SARAH BANKS

coach how to run drills she’d learned from her older brother, like the one where you walk down the court bouncing the ball between your legs with alternating hands, and ended up helping out the entire season. “I’m sure JR chose what position she wanted to play,” Molly Payne, JR’s mom, says with a laugh. (She did: point guard.) “But I’m sure she never made the coach feel like she didn’t know what she was doing or made her feel uncomfortable. That’s truly a trait that JR has: making people feel like they’re important.”

Today, Payne is the head coach of the University of Colorado Boulder’s women’s basketball team, but her philosophy toward leadership hasn’t changed. “She’s got three children of her own and then 14 other ones, and she does a great, great job,” says Ceal Barry, who led the CU women’s basketball team from 1983 to 2005 and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2018. “I can tell you: It can be tiresome to be emotionally available to that many people. And she’s got a tremendous capacity to be available. She’s got a lot of love to give.” Jaylyn Sherrod, who played at CU under Payne from 2019 to 2024 and is now a backup point guard for the WNBA’s New York Liberty, says, “She’s like a second mom for me.”

So, no, Payne did not graduate from the Bobby Knight Institute of Basketball Coaching. She’s not even from the Kim Mulkey School of Hoops. But the Buffs’ impressive results over the past three seasons—three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including two Sweet 16 appearances, a 71-28 overall record, and a 32-19 record in the Pac-12—show her philosophy can be fruitful. The question is whether that success can endure.

KELLY GRAVES STILL remembers Payne’s high school highlight tape. The flashy passing and slashing style reminded him of Jason Williams, the NBA point guard who went by the nickname White Chocolate. Graves ended up coaching Payne at St. Mary’s College of California in the Bay Area, where she proved to be smart, coachable, and difficult to defend because of her quickness and six-foot-tall stature. During her senior season, she helped the

JR Payne changed the culture in Boulder by instilling an “expectation of winning.”

Gaels earn the first NCAA Tournament berth in school history.

After graduation, Payne gave up the game to pursue a master’s degree in French—until Graves reached out in 2000. He’d taken the top job at Gonzaga University and wanted Payne to join his staff. She landed her first head coaching position at tiny Southern Utah University, 250 miles south of Salt Lake City, in 2009. Payne led the Thunderbirds to their first Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) in her fifth year there, then moved to California’s Santa Clara University, where she engineered a 12-win turnaround in two seasons, warranting another WNIT berth in 2016. That’s when the Buffs came calling.

CU had mostly struggled since Barry’s retirement and went 7-23 overall and 2-16 in the Pac-12 the season before Payne was named head coach. In Boulder, she immediately got to work reforming the culture. “Changing the mindset was a really, really big thing,” Payne, 47, says. “I think in our first couple of years, everyone wanted to win. But I never felt like we had any real expectation of winning. No one really believed that we were going to go in and win at Oregon or win at Stanford.”

The Buffs finished 44-50 overall in Payne’s first three years. Graves, now the coach at the University of Oregon, says Payne remained patient, even when her teams weren’t winning. “Other [athletic directors] would have panicked and maybe made premature moves,” Graves says. “Rick George didn’t. He stuck with her, and it paid off.”

It was in 2019-’20, Payne’s fourth season at CU, that the cultural shift started to translate to wins. One of Payne’s top recruits that year was Sherrod, a point guard from Birmingham, Alabama, who’d missed most of her senior season in high school due to a hip injury. “They didn’t know if I was going to be 100 percent healthy, if I was still going to be dealing with the injury, but they still believed in me, and they still took a chance on me,” Sherrod says. “The loyalty they showed me throughout the recruiting process really still holds a special place in my heart.” CU was the only Power 5 school to offer Sherrod a scholarship, but she was everything Payne wanted the program to be: tough, hardworking, and disciplined. Payne continued recruiting and developing talent that wasn’t necessarily at the top of prospect rankings but that, like Sherrod and Sirena “Peanut” Tuitele, had the characteristics she coveted. Tuitele, a six-foot forward from Chico, California, was both a strong scorer and rebounder and helped take Pleasant Valley High School to the state championship in 2018. Six games into her freshman year at CU, she became a starter.

Tuitele also struggled with depression, anxiety, and PTSD (which she wrote about at length for the Players Tribune in 2023).

“It’s not easy to ask for help, especially [from] a head coach,” says Tuitele, who’s currently playing basketball professionally in Spain. “But Coach J and the staff helped me get into therapy because they saw that I was struggling. She helped me willingly. She saw me not just as Peanut, her player, but as Peanut, the human being.”

By her sixth season, Payne had led CU women’s basketball to a 22-9 record and its first NCAA Tournament in nine years. Creighton upset the Buffs in the first round, but it was the start of a run that saw the school reach as high as number three in the 2023-’24 AP rankings and make back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances the past two seasons. Both times, however, Payne and the Buffs ran into a tourney-ending buzz saw named Caitlin Clark.

EVEN THE MOST casual sports fans know that women’s basketball is having a moment. Last year’s NCAA Tournament championship tilt, which featured the nation’s best team (the University of South Carolina) and the nation’s best player (Clark, playing in her final game for the University of Iowa), drew an average combined audience of 18.9 million on ABC and ESPN, according to the Associated Press. By contrast, the men’s championship averaged 14.8 million viewers.

When Clark moved to the WNBA this season, several teams had to relocate from their home courts to larger facilities to meet the demand for tickets. In June, the WNBA reported that, year over year, merchandise sales were up 236 percent; sellouts had increased by 156 percent; and, across four networks, viewership was three times higher.

Much of the attention has centered on Clark, who set the all-time record for scoring in Division I women’s basketball at Iowa and then set WNBA rookie records for points and assists. But a group of young stars has also caught the attention of fans at both levels: players like Angel Reese (Louisiana State University and the Chicago Sky), Cameron Brink (Stanford University and the

LA Sparks), Paige Bueckers (University of Connecticut), JuJu Watkins (University of Southern California), and Hannah Hidalgo (University of Notre Dame). “It’s been an amazing ride to see this explosion of growth over the past couple of years,” says Brenda VanLengen, an analyst who calls women’s college basketball for ESPN. “It’s been remarkable and satisfying and, in some ways, emotional, because I know how hard so many people have worked for so many years to get to this point.”

Although Payne may not be a marquee coach like LSU’s Mulkey or South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, there are indications that the women’s basketball popularity surge has reached Boulder. This past season, the Buffs recorded their first home sellout—against UCLA—in almost 30 years. The increased attention to the program leads to, among other things, the sale of more player jerseys, money that is funneled directly to the student athletes through a name, image, and likeness deal. “The more of our players’ gear we sell, the more money we bring in,” Payne says, “and the better it is for our department.”

Of course, winning creates its own virtuous cycle, and few teams are coming off of repeat

Sweet 16 appearances like the Buffs. Maintaining that level of excellence isn’t easy for any program, but CU should face a softer schedule this year after the school moved from the Pac-12 to the Big 12. When asked about her goals for the program, Payne offers a very coachlike response: “We don’t really talk a lot about, like, We want to go to the Final Four this year, or We want to win this many games We just focus on being excellent every day in everything we do.”

She does admit, though, that after two Sweet 16 appearances, she would like for the team to take home a conference championship. With so many new players on the roster, Payne says she worked during the summer to develop relationships, trust, and unity. “When you can combine talent with cohesiveness, regardless of how many new players you have, it gives you a chance to really do something special,” Payne says. “So right now, we’re focused on today and tomorrow. And in the end, hopefully that will carry us to a championship and a deep run in March.” Well, that, and the absence of Caitlin Clark. m

Geoff Van Dyke is a Denver-based writer. Send feedback to letters@5280.com.

SHOP LOCAL FINDS!

This year, make it a priority to support local establishments. Dive into the stories of our community businesses and explore the unique treasures they offer.

Scan the QR Code below to view the digital version of this section, plus links to these local businesses.

ENSTROM CANDIES

Enstrom Candies, established back in 1960, has become a household name in the world of sweet treats. For over sixty years, we’ve been satisfying cravings with our handcrafted confections. With a commitment to quality and a knack for creating joy, we’ve become the go-to place for folks looking to make life a little sweeter.

Our Traditional Almond Toffee is a classic, made with nothing but the finest ingredients: grade A butter, pure cane sugar, roasted almonds, and milk or dark chocolate. It’s not just a confection—it’s a feel-good moment wrapped in sweetness. Beyond toffee, we offer a fine assortment of premium chocolates, truffles, and toffee popcorn, each crafted with care and old-fashioned know-how. Whether you’re marking a special occasion or simply indulging in a well-deserved treat, our confections are sure to add a bit of charm to your day.

We know a thing or two about gift-giving. Each package is lovingly packed, and our beautifully curated gift boxes and baskets add just the right touch to your thoughtful gesture.

Treat yourself—or someone special—by visiting us at enstrom.com.

WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE:

Today, Enstrom Candies is still proudly family-owned, now in its fourth generation. Every batch of our Almond Toffee is still made by hand in Grand Junction, Colorado, just like it’s always been done. We’re also pleased to offer a selection of treats that are Gluten Free and Kosher Dairy, ensuring everyone can enjoy a little sweetness from us.

WHERE TO FIND US:

Cherry Creek: 303.322.1005 | 201 University Blvd., Suite 118, Denver, CO Arvada: 303.215.9905 | 6770 West 52nd Avenue, Unit C, Arvada, CO ENSTROM.COM

NEW WEST KNIFEWORKS

American Made Knife Art

From their workshop in the Teton Mountains, New West KnifeWorks makes more than tools—they make knife art that inspires creativity in the kitchen and brings joy to everyday chores. Combining cutting-edge design with the highestperformance American-made particle metallurgy steel, each blade is crafted by an individual maker who pours their expertise and passion into every detail.

For over 25 years, New West has built a reputation recognized by prestigious publications like The New York Times, Bon Appétit, Food and Wine, and many of America’s finest chefs. With a lifetime guarantee and free sharpening for life, New West fosters a lasting relationship between the customer and their tools.

Looking for special presents this holiday season? The ultra-giftable knives from New West KnifeWorks are a rare gift your loved ones will use every day and think of you fondly when they do. The pro-quality steel and lifetime guarantee mean they will continue to inspire for many holidays to come.

WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE:

New West’s Cherry Creek shop resembles an art gallery, showcasing their latest hand-forged hunting knives and custom kitchen blocks. Guests can also enjoy the thrill of tomahawk throwing in the space’s “Mtn Man Toy Shop,” adding a playful Western twist to the luxury shopping experience. Get ready for the holidays and bring your favorite knives to get sharpened while you shop for American-made gifts sure to leave a lasting impression.

WHERE TO FIND US:

185 Fillmore Street, Cherry Creek Jackson Hole - Napa - Park City - Denver - Big Sky - Victor NEWWESTKNIFEWORKS.COM

CHERRY CREEK

Get Ready For Winter Wanderland

Cherry Creek North is the largest collection of independent retailers in the greater Denver area—making it a true one-stop destination throughout the year. However, the neighborhood shines especially bright during Winter Wanderland, with fun and festive events from November 14 to December 29.

Denver’s Biggest Lights Display

Kick off the season with the Million Light Plug In and watch as Cherry Creek North is illuminated by dazzling lights in every direction. Have a cup of cheer in the pop-up Mistletoe Lounge, too!

Shop Till You Drop

Get your holiday shopping done at the Cherry Creek Holiday Market, where you’ll find plenty of unique gifts for everyone on your list from 40 different vendors. If you’re in the giving mood, look for the Giving Machines: vending machines that raise money for a collection of charities.

Events All Season Long

Winter Wanderland also includes Small Business Weekend, the Chanukah Celebration and Saturday Night Lights. Come get in the holiday spirit and join the good times of Winter Wanderland in Cherry Creek North.

WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE:

Cherry Creek North is illuminated by more than a million shining lights during Winter Wanderland, making it one of the biggest free lights displays in Colorado.

U.S. SENIOR OPEN AT THE BROADMOOR

Give the gift of an unforgettable experience this holiday season with tickets to the 2025 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor. Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, The Broadmoor’s East Course offers a unique challenge, known for its dramatic elevation changes, undulating greens, and picturesque views. It’s a course where precision and strategy are paramount, making it a perfect stage for the legends of the game to showcase their experience and mastery, June 25-29, 2025.

The Broadmoor is steeped in golfing history, having hosted numerous prestigious championships. The 2025 event will add another chapter to this storied venue, offering fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch golfing greats like Steve Stricker, Padraig Harrington, David Toms and more. Beyond the competition, spectators will be treated to the Broadmoor’s luxurious atmosphere, blending championship golf with the resort’s famed hospitality, ensuring a memorable experience both on and off the course. Holiday packages, tickets, and hospitality options are now available and make the perfect gift for any golf fan or loved one looking for a unique experience. Visit broadmoor.com to secure yours today!

WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE:

The 2025 U.S. Senior Open offers a rare chance to see the world’s top senior golfers compete at the highest level of the sport, while enjoying an iconic destination.

WHERE TO FIND US:

In West Highland, Flouwer Co.’s shelves are stocked with great gifts for holiday party hosts.

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LIn the era of Amazon, gifting has become an impersonal exercise—but in and around Denver, brick-and-mortar retailers are pushing back on that shift. Here, 16 knowledgeable shopkeepers, interactive experiences, and unique offerings that will make present-buying fruitful and fun this holiday season.

EDITED BY JESSICA LARUSSO PHOTOGRAPH BY STEPHEN CARDINALE

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TOWN HALL COLLABORATIVE

Baker

If you’ve heard of two-year-old Town Hall Collaborative, you might think of it as a place to see an all-female comedy show, dance with your crew on queer country night, or grab a bourbon-heavy Short King and catch up with an old co-worker. In April 2024, however, the Santa Fe Drive venue that houses a Queen City Collective Coffee shop, flexible event space, and bar added a permanent marketplace where vendors sell everything from handcrafted jewelry to herbal remedies to zero-waste toothpaste tablets.

This season’s merry event schedule was TBD at press time; years past, however, have brought in a vegan holiday market, with dozens of local crueltyfree vendors selling goods such as body butter and crocheted baby booties, and a screening of Elf complete with treats inspired by the film. “We love to do a good themed holiday party,” says co-owner Denise Day. Quick tip for whenever you go: Town Hall has 25 parking spots just south of the entrance, a relief when your hands are full of purchases from these three marketplace vendors. —

Priscilla

Blossom

1 That Witch Apothecary

Whether you’re looking for incense to use in a winter solstice ritual or a trinket for that picky Virgo in your book club, check out the 100 percent vegan goods at That Witch Apothecary, all handcrafted by head witch in charge Rory Kennedy. The astrology-inspired candles are perfect for Secret Santa exchanges.

2 Rainey Pottery

From a watering can for the gardener in your life to a pretty vase for your co-worker to a dish set for your favorite couple to a coffee mug for, well, anyone, this shop stocks fired clay goods made by owners Audra and Jason Rainey. The latter is a veteran who left the health care industry to start this family business with his wife, a longtime sculptor.

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Rainbow Reva’s With a mission to empower readers to be confident, kind, and caring, this cozy bookstore—curated by parent and library science graduate student Reva Canali—feature social-justice-oriented reads for all ages, including biographies, historical works, memoirs, poetry collections, parenting tomes, and picture books.

STRYKER STUDIO

LoHi

This gift is a twofer. At nine-month-old Stryker Studio, you and your BFF not only can come home with beautiful, handmade baubles, but you also get to spend time together making them. By offering guided jewelry-making workshops, owner Lydia Stryker has delivered holiday shoppers a rare opportunity to slow down and actually enjoy the season of giving. Here’s how it works: Sync calendars with your pal, book two spots in one of the near-daily workshops ($85), and show up ready to do your best Tiffany & Co. impression. When you walk in the front door, a studio staffer will guide you through the process of selecting what you want to make—a ring? a necklace? a bracelet? a bolo tie?—and help you choose a semiprecious gemstone (starting at $10) and a setting (standard options are included in the workshop fee). Our suggestion: Each person should pick the components they like but then swap so you’re fashioning one another’s jewelry. Worried your handiwork will make your present look a little too homemade? Fear not; a silversmith instructor will assist you with all the fluxing, soldering, pickling, polishing, and burnishing so you’ll be sure to craft a gift your friend can enjoy all year long. —Lindsey B. King

Sarah Banks; Styling by Charli Ornett

(jewelry)

“We wanted to make clothing for real people— particularly women and, more precisely, moms.”

ALYTH ACTIVE

Golden

Theresa Gardner and Alysha Schuring knew they’d be entering a supersaturated athleisure market when they decided to launch Alyth Active as an e-commerce business four years ago. But they felt they had identified a niche: “Athletic apparel is plagued by size 0 models who look like they work out every day,” Gardner says. “We wanted to make clothing for real people—particularly women and, more precisely, moms.” To fashion threads that would ebb and flow with women’s constantly changing bodies and on-the-go schedules, the thirtysomething friends played around with spandex-to-nylon ratios, reimagined where stitching falls on diverse bodies, and focused on neutral colors that can make a top acceptable attire for a morning at the office and an afternoon in the park. When they heard feedback that customers wanted a location for inperson perusing, Gardner and Schuring opened their Golden shop in 2022 and a micro location in Lakewood in 2023. When their husbands complained that they wanted Alyth duds, too, the duo started a men’s line in 2023. By the end of 2024, Alyth plans to expand to Breckenridge. “Our most popular products are our women’s dynamic leggings—the ribbed fabric blurs out those perfect imperfections—and the men’s Worthy shorts and Strong tees,” says Gardner, who adds that holiday shoppers really can’t go wrong because “we bump up our free returns policy from 30 to 45 days in case that gift doesn’t fit just right.” —LBK

When charcuterie destination Il Porcellino Salumi closed its nearly decade-old Tennyson Street shop early this year, it left a soppressata-size hole in the neighborhood’s heart. Luckily, Boulderborn BLACKBELLY MARKET swiftly moved in to fill its meat curing and butchering shoes. Although Santa may not want to hang a rib-eye from the mantel overnight, cured meats like Blackbelly’s sticks of Spanish chorizo and rounds of salami and pepperoni are good at room temp for months. Foodies will also appreciate the shelves filled with high-quality, locally made pantry items such as Primo jams (in sweet-heat flavors like blackberry serrano and cherry Aleppo) and jars of pour-it-on-everything Chile Crunch. The market even uses dehydrated pork skin to make dog treats for your Frenchie’s stocking…because of course your Frenchie has a stocking. —Allyson Reedy

Town Hall Collaborative

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Most pet stores look like they’ve been designed without regard for the humans who spend money there—but not eight-year-old LUKE & CO. Proprietor Luke Johnson spent nearly four years building a modern barn-esque structure around an existing 1948 gas station on Broadway before moving into the nearly 6,500-squarefoot space in December 2023. Rough-sawn timber shelves hold kibble, toys, collars, and leashes, and a 19-door freezer is filled with perishable food, but Johnson says the hot gift of 2024 is Colorado-based Woof’s rubber, refillable Pupsicle. Reserve a slot during the store’s photos-with-Santa event to get a free portrait of your pet in front of a 1953 Chevy pickup and a two-story evergreen. —JL

EBISU JAPANESE LIFESTYLE STORE

Aurora

As life-size figurines of One Piece’s Monkey D. Luffy and Naruto’s Son Goku usher you into Ebisu Japanese Lifestyle Store, it might seem that the brightly lit emporium only caters to an anime audience. But since it opened inside the Shoppes at Parker Commons three and a half years ago, the storefront has invited Front Rangers of all persuasions to find delightful Japanese novelties among its neatly stocked rows. According to store manager Nana Guan, the 5,000-square-foot shop—one of a dozen or so American storefronts operated by a rapidly expanding Osaka-based exporter—grants customers the fun of perusing its imported products in person and eliminates prohibitive shipping fees. Although Ebisu specializes in apparel, stationery, toys, and other collectibles from popular Japanese media franchises such as Pokémon, Hello Kitty, and Demon Slayer, there’s plenty else for gift shoppers. Assemble a snack box for your favorite foodie out of spicy crayfish Lay’s chips, latte-flavored hard candies, and bottles of Calpico (a noncarbonated soft drink that tastes like yogurt). Or nab kid-friendly wooden block puzzles and tubes of sheer green lip gloss from the Land of the Rising Sun—by way of the North Pole, of course. —Ethan Pan

Assemble a snack box for your favorite foodie out of spicy crayfish Lay’s chips, latte-flavored hard candies, and bottles of Calpico.

New West KnifeWorks

DENVER PLANT CLUB

Platt Park

Patrick Gonzales is a half-Hispanic, half-Norwegian former finance guy who counts late Breckenridge Brewery founder Richard Squire as one of his most influential mentors. In fact, it was Squire who encouraged Gonzales, now 42, to get out of the accounting game in 2017 and find something he was passionate about. So, after traveling the world, Gonzales decided to open the Denver Plant Club, a sustainability-focused plant store along South Broadway. “The Norwegian half of my family immigrated to North Dakota and became barley farmers for Budweiser,” Gonzales says, “so I feel like I’ve always understood plants. Most just need a little love and attention to thrive.” Since November 2023, Gonzales and his staff have been teaching Denverites what that looks like—e.g., exactly how much water and how much light—so they can be successful plant parents. “We’ll start people off with beginner plants like pothos, money trees, snake plants, and ZZ plants, which also make great gifts,” he says. “That way, you don’t give something to someone and make them worry they’ll just kill it.” —LBK

NEW WEST KNIFEWORKS

Cherry Creek

Walking into New West’s two-year-old store is a little like walking into an art gallery—an art gallery that lets you throw tomahawks, that is. Up front, kitchen knives with vibrantly colored handles are displayed on pedestals in gorgeous wood-and-rock blocks, perfectly spaced on magnetic racks, and even placed inside frames on the bright white walls. “We’re taking this everyday tool and making it a little piece of functional art that you use every day,” says Mike Milligan, brand manager and brother of New West founder Corey Milligan, who began making knives for craft shows more than 25 years ago in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Over the decades, the brand has refined its techniques and materials to develop heirloom-quality products it backs with a lifetime warranty (for noncommercial use) and free sharpening. Along with a handful of storefronts from California to Montana, New West runs a sub-brand called MTN Man Toy Shop, and it’s in that section of the Cherry Creek shop that the retail team teaches shoppers how to huck a nearly 19-inch tomahawk. Once you’ve had your fun, pick out one of the following form-meets-function gifts for someone on your (very) nice list. You can even add a custom laser engraving to remind them whom to thank when they’re doing meal prep every night. —JL

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If your giftee cooks: Lots of fresh vegetables

Get the: 7-inch Teton Edge Santoku $400 Because: The etching of the Teton Range along this all-purpose home chef’s knife isn’t just for show; it also makes sure it slices cleanly through sticky ingredients like onions.

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If your giftee cooks: Meat

Get the: 10-inch Yellowstone BBQ $575 Because: The knife was created in partnership with Gator Guilbeau—who plays a chef on the hit Western drama series Yellowstone and also actually cooks for the cast and crew—and the badass blade’s clip point is perfect for stabbing steaks and carving up smoked turkey.

3

If your giftee cooks: Anything, or nothing

Get the: 6-inch Petty $255

Because: The stainless-steel alloy used to create this unintimidating, lightweight knife is thin but superstrong, holds its sharpness, and makes everyday kitchen tasks like slicing up apples a joy.

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If your giftee cooks: By the campfire

Get the: Tactical Outdoor Chef $450

Because: This new-this-year blade’s partial serration is designed to cut through rope or the hide of a freshly harvested antelope just as easily as a hunk of bread. Its rubber composite handle provides a slip-free grip in wet or dry conditions.

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RANCHER HAT BAR

Cherry Creek

Anywhere fashionable gals gather, at least a few of them are bound to be wearing Western-inspired, wide-brimmed hats. Making sure yours stands out in the sea of felt is the problem this nearly two-year-old brand, which was born in a vintage trailer in California, wants to solve. In September, its fourth brick-and-mortar location opened in Denver, and it’s a party, y’all. Country music blasts through the speakers, and staffers hand out sparkling water to customers who can spend hours selecting the perfect combo of adornments for classic cowboy hats (starting at $50 with hundreds of accessories that range from $5 to $45) or punny, sassy patches for trucker hats (starting at $25). Save your BFF the decision fatigue and use the knowledge you’ve collected about her over the years to assemble a headpiece that will make her feel seen. —JL

1 Hats

Many of Rancher Hat Bar’s felt hats are adjustable, which is good because purchases are nonrefundable and nonreturnable. Choose among neutral shades like tan, black, and brown—or, if your friend is a flashier dresser, go for teal or hot pink.

2 Bands

As the base layer of most hat designs, bands set the tone: Braided horsehair lends an authentic cowboy feel, colorful leather cords skew hipster, lace dresses things up, and frayed-edge fabric (layer a few in complementary colors) works with just about anything.

3 Flair

If your girlie likes to glitter, add blingy elements like rhinestones or metal chains. For a more natural beauty, consider feathers or beads. You can even bring in your own items (think: a wedding dress swatch or heirloom brooch) for an extra personal touch.

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Branding

From her initials to the coordinates of the college dorm where you met to a sun design to symbolize her bright disposition, the options for what can be burned into the hat’s felt are as endless as your Instagram meme exchanges.

GARAGE SALE VINTAGE

Boulder

It’s a bar…it’s a store…it’s Garage Sale Vintage, which opened in February on the east end of Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall. Stroll in and order a couple of birria tacos and a Watermelon Crush margarita from the U-shaped bar. Then browse the racks of flowy hippie-era duds, ironic ’80s ringer tees, and theme-party ’fits (looking at you, neon orange Euro-style ’70s ski onesie) while your order gets prepped. The idea here is to fight fast fashion and divert landfill waste by procuring authentically old pieces from local vintage vendors and through a buy-sell-trade program for patrons—all while putting out stay-a-while vibes. The store defines “vintage” as anything older than 17 years, and the atmosphere reflects that mélange of bygone decades: M*A*S*H* reruns loop on flat-screens under an art deco ceiling hung with a spinning disco ball, and neon bar signs illuminate trendy modern-industrial exposed ductwork. Coveted items such as retro vinyl, comic books, and throwback concert posters—plus a huge wall of hot sauces—add to the appeal and the gift-shopping possibilities.

Owner Josh Sampson’s Garage Sale Vintage empire also includes a Larimer Square location in Denver and outposts in Nashville and New York City—evidence that with the right twists, brickand-mortar retail can thrive. “The online shopping experience is its own sort of video game addiction,” he says. “You either want to be around people or you don’t.” Need more incentive to buy in the flesh? Customers who ring up $100 or more earn a free shot of infused liquors like the Super Freak (strawberry vodka) or Purple Rain (gin with lemons and lavender) at the bar. —Julie Dugdale

Sarah Banks; Styling by Charli Ornett (vinyl)

SECOND WIND SPORTS

Overland

Even if you’re looking for a gift, buying brand-new outdoor gear often seems like a waste of cash. After all, a well-cared-for, previously owned backpack works just as well as a never-used version—and likely costs half the price. At least, that’s the idea behind Second Wind Sports, a well-curated consignment shop that opened along South Broadway in February 2023. During multiple late-summer visits, our arms were full of potential present purchases, but we were particularly pumped about these three finds. —LBK

FOR THE COMPETITOR: With two paddles, four balls, and a carrying case, the Kukoofyer pickleball set ($30)—which would cost roughly $60 new—will make your buddy reconsider having turned down the chance to dink his way through your fall beer league.

FOR THE WHITEWATER ENTHUSIAST: Why would anyone shell out $105 for footwear that’s really only necessary during whitewater rafting trips? Instead, opt for a gently used pair of Chaco women’s adjustable strap classic sandals ($30)—we spotted several sizes and colors—that can be worn once and then forgotten about until the next river adventure.

FOR THE BACKCOUNTRY CAMPER: Cortez-based Osprey’s packs are made tough enough to take a beating from multiple owners, so picking up a used Osprey Aether 60L men’s backpack ($180)—the discontinued Aether 60L’s replacement costs $390 new—is a total pro move.

Osprey’s packs are made tough enough to take a beating from multiple owners.

Getting a few pair of plain Hanes in that big ole sock was probably when you realized Santa shopped at Walmart, just like Mom. Now that you’re all grown up, you can play Bad Santa by filling your SO’s stocking with naughty, unbelievably soft undies from Denver’s SHINESTY, a 10-year-old, primarily e-retail clothing brand that opened a kiosk in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center in November 2023. Shopping online for undergarments with flirty emojis and cows doing Kama Sutra poses is perfectly fine, but being able to see the Christmas-inspired Kiss Me There iteration—you can probably guess where the mistletoe is strategically placed—in person is so much more festive. —LBK

Rancher Hat Bar

WILD WEST BABY CO.

Berkeley It might appear as though Britni Jensen has bad timing. She founded Inspyre, a women’s clothing boutique, in 2011, just as e-commerce was taking off. She opened April & West, Inspyre’s elevated sister concept, the day before COVID-19 shutdowns. And this past spring, she launched Wild West Baby Co.—then shortly gave birth to her third child. Still, Jensen has continued to grow her physical retail presence: In addition to those shops, all now located on Tennyson Street, Inspyre has locations in Lone Tree, Cherry Creek, and Littleton. We talked with the shopkeeper about how she’s defying market trends and why you can trust the gift-worthy goods at her new baby store. —JL

DENVER PREMIUM OUTLETS

Thornton

I come from a family of bargain shoppers. Employees at multiple Front Range locations of Costco know my mother by name. When aunts and cousins living in Bangkok visit us in Denver, they always depart with suitcases stuffed with discounted name-brand clothing and cosmetics. And my sister-in-law and I make an annual all-day excursion to the Outlets at Castle Rock.

My affinity for retail therapy reached new levels of credit card debt when Denver Premium Outlets opened in Thornton in 2018. Less than 10 miles from my home, the outdoor shopping center has 70-some stores with deals to be scored on everything from Kate Spade purses to Le Creuset cookware.

On temperate fall days, my husband, Gavin, and I push our one-year-old, Jack, in a stroller while we stock up on gift-worthy goods. At lunchtime, we devour cheese-stuffed Korean corn dogs from ThirsTea Tiger in the food court. Then, while I hit the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store for cologne for my dad, Gavin takes Jack to watch the bigger kids play on the mall’s sprawling playground, where we hope he will someday make friends on the slide and ropes course. I love heading home with items ready to be wrapped and nestled under the tree. But knowing our family’s shopping traditions will bring joy to another generation is more satisfying than any purchase. —Patricia Kaowthumrong

My affinity for retail therapy reached new levels of credit card debt when Denver Premium Outlets opened.

5280: What made you decide to launch Wild West Baby Co. while in your third trimester?

Britni Jensen: I just get these bursts of ambition—I opened April & West when I was seven months pregnant. Other people do nesting; I open businesses. Maybe it was partially because I had my first child during COVID, in June 2020, and I felt like I missed out on this crucial piece of just wandering through a baby store and snuggling stuffies and asking the salesperson, “What does this product even do?”

How have you survived the post-pandemic surge in online shopping?

Recently, we’ve seen much more traction in store versus online. So many people are getting burned by photo editing, and then they’re like, “This is nothing like the picture; this quality feels like garbage.” I have touched every garment that enters all of our stores. You’re not going to be bamboozled. You don’t have to worry about what’s coming

Wild West Baby

from a source that you don’t believe in—their ethics or their morals. I will be your filter and do that vetting for you.

Any gifting suggestions?

When a postpartum mom can cuddle up with a blanket from Barefoot Dreams or Little Giraffe—that’s just beautiful, when you get this little touch of elegance. Or, if it’s the middle of the night and the baby’s fussy, then we have these weighted stuffed animals that smell like lavender, and they give parents a little brightness. I’m speaking from experience.

Shop!

Any shop with a 50-year tenure has some kind of magic going on. At the Pearl Street Mall’s BOULDER BOOKSTORE, a captivating labyrinth holds page-turners across genres along with novelties that range from embroidered journals to vegan chocolate bars. Our fave picks to set out by the menorah? A Latitude 40 Degrees Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map detailing one of your giftee’s favorite outdoor places; colorful iron-on Fantasia Products patches to spruce up your little adventurer’s backpack; and a mini clip-on light for reading in bed. For the BookTok addicts on your list, check the shop’s online events calendar and catch one of the many in-house author talks to score a signed copy. —JD

FLOUWER CO.

West Highland

It was a shared love of throwing get-togethers that bonded Flouwer Co. co-owners Theresa Halliburton and Kristen Kapoor. Around 2018, they began making and selling charcuterie boards and then launched a foodstuffs business around their smash hit dried-flower-studded crackers in 2019. So perhaps it’s not surprising that their two-year-old shop brims with mostly edible small-batch products that make perfect gifts to have at the ready for the hosts of all the parties this season brings. Stock up on Flouwer Co.’s flagship goods, and when you give them out, pass along Kapoor’s suggestions below—or use them yourself when you unexpectedly have company over the holidays and need to put out an effortlessly gorgeous spread. —JL

1

Artisanal Crackers, No. 1 $12

“We were really careful with the flavors so that it has flavor on its own, but it’s not going to overpower or distract if you use it with a cheese,” Kapoor says. Set out a bowl of these beauties—which are flecked with dried marigold, calendula, blue cornflower, chive blossom, and rose—with Burrata or high-quality salted butter.

2

Finishing Sugar $18

No-brainers for a kids cookiedecorating party, these colorful sugars—in orange blossom, French lavender, and sweet rose water—also elevate grown-up treats. “I’ll cut the top off of a Brie, sprinkle the orange sugar on top, and then [caramelize it with] a flame,” Kapoor says. Or rim a London fog latte or French 75 cocktail with the lavender variety.

3

Cocktail Cubes $18

Offered in the same three flavors as the finishing sugars, Flouwer Co.’s cocktail cubes add floral sweetness to just about any drink. Drop them into glasses of bubbly or use them to add a twist to a gin and tonic.

4

The Garnishing Set $36

This pairing combines Flouwer Co.’s floral garnishing salt and edible petals, which are, Kapoor says, “the easiest things to use, because they can go on everything.” She likes to sprinkle them on salads, bread and butter plates, and even hummus: “You probably don’t think chips and hummus is very exciting, but I swear, if you just take a spoon and swirl it around, put a little olive oil and then the garnishing salt on top, it’s a completely different dish.” m

Flouwer Co.

GOOD HOW TO BE A

CITIZEN

We, the people of the United States, are dissatisfied. Whether you are red, blue, or purple, chances are you don’t like something the government has done, is doing, or plans to do. The good news is that, at least in Colorado, there are plenty of ways you can effect change.

BY SPENCER CAMPBELL

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY NICHOLAS HUNT ILLUSTRATIONS BY BARBARA GIBSON

Show Your Hand

Coloradans are working hard to protect your right to vote.

In 2018, the Colorado secretary of state’s office mandated that all county jails create and implement plans that would allow eligible voters in their custodies to cast ballots. It was an important rulemaking because many people held in county-level detention centers haven’t been convicted of anything; they simply can’t afford bail before their days in court.

Five years later, Jasmine Ross, the civic engagement manager for the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC), pulled up election data from 2020 and 2022 and saw that only seven percent and 4.7 percent, respectively, of eligible incarcerated voters statewide had submitted ballots. Those stats didn’t track with what Ross knew about inmate enfranchisement: In 2020, the CCJRC had helped bring in-person voting to Denver County jails, the first such initiative in Colorado. For 2023’s school board election, which typically yields a lower turnout than presidential or midterm elections, 43 percent of electors in Denver’s Confined Voter Program submitted a ballot.

When she began working with the Denverbased nonprofit as a 20-year-old volunteer canvasser in 2017, Ross didn’t even realize individuals with criminal backgrounds could vote. (In Colorado, those who have completed their felony convictions or are on parole or probation are free to participate. People convicted of misdemeanors can vote no matter what.)

The more Ross learned, the more she began to believe that the criminal justice system offered little justice to those who need it the most—in particular, the people of color who make up a disproportionate share of confined voters in Colorado.

In response to her number-crunching, Ross decided Colorado needed a more systemized

and enforceable approach to inmate voting. So, Ross recruited state Senator Julie Gonzalez, a Denver Democrat, as a sponsor, and in May, Governor Jared Polis signed the Voting for Confined Eligible Electors Act. Largely an expansion of Denver’s Confined Voter Program, the law requires that, beginning with this month’s election, Colorado county clerks and recorders must oversee in-person registration and voting systems in jails.

While other state legislatures continue to squeeze voting rights, the Centennial State has only become more expansive in its accommodations. In fact, Colorado ranked as the fifth-easiest state in which to vote, according to the 2022 Cost of Voting Index—and, as Ross’ law shows, participating has become even more painless since then. “What I really respect,” says Beth Hendrix, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Colorado, “is that the Legislature, the secretary of state’s office, and a whole mess of nonprofit organizations are forever working to raise [Colorado’s voting rights] from gold to platinum.”

Voting may be the simplest way to participate in Colorado politics, but it’s not the only instrument for change. On the following pages, we outline how residents can become more active in civic matters, from pulling the proverbial lever at a poll to pulling the levers of power themselves. Because while not everyone has the time, passion, and profile to become an elected official, we all deserve a say in how our lives are legislated.

Jasmine Ross, liberator of Colorado votes

YAYS & NAYS

Four easy ways for political rookies to get involved— plus four easy ways to get in trouble.

YAY

Voting!

We do, after all, live in a democracy.

How To Vote

A checklist for Colorado electors.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?

I’m a U.S. citizen

I’m at least 18 years old (you can preregister to vote at 16)

I’ve been a Colorado resident for at least 22 days

I’m not incarcerated for a felony conviction (you can vote on parole or probation)

NAY

Voting on behalf of your missing wife.

In 2020, Barry Morphew of Chaffee County submitted a mail-in ballot for his spouse, Suzanne, who had disappeared earlier that year. Morphew was later charged with her murder. Although that charge was dropped, the state prosecuted Morphew, who said he “just wanted Trump to win,” for forgery and a mail-in-ballot offense.

Becoming an election judge, aka an election worker.

Election judges are temporary, paid staffers (in Jefferson County, you’ll receive $14.50 to $18 per hour) who help county clerk and recorder offices run elections by doing everything from picking up ballots from drop-off boxes to running voting centers. The best place to start is by contacting your local Republican or Democratic party; unaffiliated voters can apply directly to their clerks.

Supporting your candidate.

In Colorado, individuals can donate up to $4,675 to a political party, up to $725 to most statewide candidates, and up to $225 to state Legislature candidates in each election cycle.

Participating in a poll.

Yes, those text messages are annoying, but they help politicians and officials understand public opinions about policy decisions, says Courtney Sievers, director of quantitative research at Broomfieldbased Magellan Strategies.

Letting your friends fiddle with the ballots.

After the 2020 general election, former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters gave a conservative conspiracy theorist access to a voting machine, from which he took passwords and other sensitive data that later appeared online. A jury convicted Peters of seven criminal charges in August.

Stealing or damaging your neighbor’s political yard signs. That’s a misdemeanor under Colorado law, and you may have to pay to replace it.

Taking an informal poll at Thanksgiving dinner. The election is over. Find something else to fight about.

HOW DO I REGISTER?

Obtain a valid Social Security number, Colorado driver’s license, or Colorado ID card Register online with the Colorado Secretary of State, through a mail-in form, or in person at a Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles office or other approved building Submit online or mail in your registration at least eight days before an election to receive a mail-in ballot, or register in person on Election Day until 7 p.m.

HOW CAN I VOTE?

In person (find your voting center at govotecolorado.gov)

Mail-in ballot (every registered voter in Colorado receives one; it can be mailed in, placed in a ballot box, or returned to a voting center)

WHAT IDENTIFICATION

DO I NEED TO VOTE?

In person: You’ll need a valid ID (a Colorado driver’s license or Colorado ID card are the most common forms, but find the full list of acceptable IDs on the secretary of state’s website)

Mail-in ballot: Recent registrants and first-time mail-in voters should include a photocopy of their IDs

WHAT’S THE DEADLINE TO VOTE?

In person: You must be standing in line at a voting center by 7 p.m. on Election Day

Mail-in ballots: Your ballot must be received by a local county clerk and recorder by 7 p.m. on Election Day

POLITICAL SCIENCE 101

With great voting power comes great responsibility, so learn how to wield it.

You probably know who’s running for president, but how about the state Legislature? The state Board of Education? The state Supreme Court? (Wait, aren’t those judges appointed?) The League of Women Voters of Colorado has been doing its best to answer electors’ questions since 1936, when it printed its first election guide. Since then, the nonprofit, which has 19 local chapters and about 2,400 members (including, yes, men) in Colorado, has expanded its materials to help provide pathways to advanced political education.

CRACK A TEXTBOOK

The league’s printed guide, distributed in September, only covers statewide ballot measures. For a more comprehensive cheat sheet, visit the nonprofit’s vote411.org and input your address for a sample ballot based on your specific location. Then simply hover your cursor over an issue for an explanation of what a “yes” or “no” vote means; doing the same on candidates reveals their answers to a leaguecommissioned survey.

Field Trip

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Local chapters hosted more than 100 candidate forums across the state in 2024, ranging from panels to “candidating” events, in which political hopefuls move between different groups, à la speed dating. The vibe is more Fresh Air than Jerry Springer and leads to a shockingly (at least in today’s environment) civilized discussion of ideas.

TAKE NOTES

This past January, the Colorado Media Project gave the league $25,000 to underwrite its Eyewitness Corps—cadres of league members from local chapters who attend public meetings to ensure everyone’s keeping their hands clear of the cookie jar. The grant will fund the corps’ partnerships with local newspapers, who, due to smaller staffs, can’t provide the same level of vigilance as they once did.

PICK A MAJOR

Should you feel particularly passionate about a certain issue, you can always join one of the league’s 10 task forces, which center on topics such as reproductive freedom, education, and housing. The commitment is minimal: Simply log onto a Zoom call to participate in discussions and listen to guest speakers who are experts in the field.

Interested in a liveaction Schoolhouse Rock? In March, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado hosts Advocacy Day at the Capitol, during which the nonprofit holds a meet-and-greet with lawmakers. Afterwards, you can tour the House and Senate.

(Sign up at wfco.org.)

“It really breaks it down for you and makes it seem like, ‘Oh, this isn’t as scary as I thought. This is what it’s like at the Capitol,’ ” says Lisa Christie, a spokesperson for the foundation. “It kind of takes away that mystique.”

Conversation Starters

Aurorans Eyni Jama and Jane Kirema seek to bring political discourse to the living room.

When Eyni Jama arrived in Colorado from Somalia in 2013 as a seventh grader, she kept mostly to herself; the language and cultural barriers created a sense of isolation. To ensure others never felt the same, in high school she co-founded the Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau, which arranges for refugees and immigrants to share their stories with local churches, schools, and other community groups.

Jane Kirema first came to Colorado from Kenya in 2000. When police officers murdered George Floyd in Minneapolis 20 years later, she participated in Denver’s Black Lives Matter protests—though she was terrified throughout the demonstrations. Kirema, now 50, simply didn’t know if marching against a government agency would get her arrested or, perhaps, expelled from the country.

Jama and Kirema’s experiences eventually led them both to Evan Weissman and Warm Cookies of the Revolution. A former playwright and actor at Denver’s Buntport Theater Company, Weissman had become disenchanted by the demographics at public meetings, such as City Council meetings. “It’s older, whiter, wealthier folks who have been trained that their voices matter,” Weissman says. He founded Warm Cookies in 2012 as a way to encourage a more diverse set of people to show up for civic matters—both literally and metaphorically—through a litany of educational but fun-focused events (see: “Coup Curriculum” below). In 2022, the group launched Suburb Futures, an initiative that looks to expand its mission of engagement beyond Denver, starting with the city’s largest satellite: Aurora. Jama

and a group of women began interviewing Aurora residents of all backgrounds about the issues they care about. They also attended City Council meetings—and encountered the same type of people Weissman saw more than a decade earlier. “It’s not a lot of people of color,” Jama says, “because everyone is doing two to three jobs just to survive…. Even if they have the chance, if they have the time, they’re also—they’re just scared.”

Kirema joined Warm Cookies this year and is leading Suburb Futures’ second phase. Between July and December, Warm Cookies is organizing get-togethers by paying residents to host what the nonprofit is calling “house parties,” though they could be held at a park, for example, or a mosque. Kirema and her team will cover the cost of child care, translation services, and, of course, food, allowing the small groups to discuss topics like work-life balance, entrepreneurship, or even end-of-life decisions like estate planning. Those subjects might not directly connect with politics, but Warm Cookies views the forums as an opportunity to make people comfortable engaging with their communities. Plus, Kirema won’t miss an opening to plug more direct action. “You want to talk about death? Absolutely,” she says. “But can we also ask, before we die, ‘Have we voted?’ ”

SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ATHEISTS

Discuss the big ideas—forgiveness, for example, and how it relates to criminal justice reform—that churches traditionally contemplate, without all that “eye for an eye” business getting in the way.

THE PEOPLE VS.

The court of public opinion decides the fate of controversial topics— such as artificial intelligence and drones—in this mock trial, during which experts serve as attorneys and attendees are the jurors.

THE HUDDLE

Instead of speculating about whether the Broncos will stage a late comeback, you’ll spend halftime talking civics with fellow sports fans. Bonus points: You just might learn who actually bankrolled Empower Field at Mile High. (It was taxpayers.)

Three of Warm Cookies’ insurgency shindigs.

Eyni Jama (left) and Jane Kirema

Voices Of Change

Entering the public arena can make you a target of hate. It can also reveal a community’s capacity for kindness.

Laura Pretty was running out of space. Founded in 2012, Monarch Montessori in Montbello houses both a preschool and an elementary school, and in recent years an influx of applications from immigrant students interested in the public charter’s bilingual program had led to a shortage of square feet. Pretty, Monarch’s executive director, began looking at temporary trailers as a possible solution, but she felt their unsightly appearance didn’t mesh well with the Montessori approach to learning, which values pleasing environments. That’s when students began advocating for a yurt.

To Pretty, it sounded like a great solution—an opportunity to better connect pupils with the outdoors even when they’re inside a classroom. The problem: The city had never approved a yurt for a school before, because a school had never asked for a yurt before. To avoid any red tape that might arise while trying to navigate Denver’s zoning laws, Monarch decided to appeal to a higher power. Spotting a potential civics lesson, Monarch enlisted four students to speak at a Denver City Council meeting in May. Two would advocate for the yurt; the others would speak on behalf of walkability improvements around the school.

Not long into the students’ first speech, though, a spectator in the meeting’s Zoom audience unleashed a racist diatribe on the students. Councilmembers and teachers tried to console the pupils, who broke down in tears, but they were too upset to finish their speeches.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the end of the civics lesson. “What was really neat coming out of that was how it felt like all of Denver wanted to demonstrate that this didn’t represent our city,” Pretty says. Members of the City Council attended fifth-grade graduation. DPS’ Board of Education invited the students to come to one of its meetings. A local radio station held a fundraiser for the yurt, which Monarch installed in August. A new crosswalk and school zone signs are coming soon.

That being said, the students never got to finish the pitch they wrote themselves for the yurt. So, because in a democracy every voice deserves to be heard, we decided to publish it here.

“

A yurt is a portable, round structure traditionally used in the mountains of Asia.

We need a yurt because we need space because our school is growing. We had to exclude some people from the preschool because we didn’t have large enough classrooms. The yurt would be used for music.

Some schools have trailers for extra classrooms, but they ruin the area underneath them and often look ugly. A yurt is less than half the cost of a trailer, and so it would save our school money. Yurts are environment-safe structures.

Yurts are also safe. They have been used for thousands of years. We will install heating and cooling systems, electricity, and all of the other things that a building requires to be a safe space for children.

The City Council can help by accepting the yurt. Then we can have more space. Please help us get a yurt.

“

Facing page:

Courtesy of Evan Semón Photography (New Era)

Students make a joyful noise in Monarch’s new yurt.

TEAM BUILDING

In politics, you’ll always go farther together.

It’s a nice idea to think that one person can make a difference, but, at least in politics, numbers matter. “It always impressed me,” says Cole Wist, a former state representative from Arapahoe County, “when people walked in the door with a coalition of people that supported an idea.” Perhaps no local political group has managed a more impressive act of coalition-building in recent years than New Era Colorado. Founded in 2006, the Denver-based nonprofit has one overarching goal: to mobilize young people, a demographic that is notoriously resistant to organized direction, to be more active in politics. 5280 recently spoke with executive director Nicole Hensel to find out how New Era has been able to harness the power of youth.

ROCK THE VOTERS

The most successful organizations meet their target demographics where they are, which is why New Era is a constant presence on college campuses and at community events. The group’s most direct objective is to build power through numbers, because, 34-year-old Hensel says, young voters can’t show strength through dollars, “because we don’t have them.” Organizers then enlist new electors to the cause. “Something that we commonly do is called vote tripling, where you ask them to name three of their friends or family members who they’re going to reach out to,” Hensel says. “It’s actually a highly

TAKE AIM

New Era bills itself as a nonpartisan group that just wants to activate voters between 16 and 34, but it does have an advocacy arm. To find out which way to point it, the nonprofit spoke to 1,200 young people on a statewide listening tour in 2021 and used the conversations to form a 10-point policy platform called Youth Agenda, which focused on pillars such as climate change and reproductive rights—issues that New Era now advocates for on state and federal levels. For example, the nonprofit was part of a coalition that worked to get Amendment 79, which would enshrine the right to abortion in Colorado’s

LEAD

Democrats Joe Neguse (a Colorado congressman), Leslie Herod (a state representative), Steve Fenberg (president of the state senate), and Lisa Kaufmann (formerly Governor Jared Polis’ chief of staff) co-founded New Era. Now, the nonprofit is focused on finding the next next generation of heavyweights. “We are often a launching pad for young people early on in their political careers,” Hensel says, explaining that New Era cultivates future power brokers by spotting promising members of the group’s base and shepherding them from volunteer to intern to employee, teaching fundamentals such as organizing

Blah, Blah, Blah

How to maintain productive politics?

Just keep talking.

During George W. Bush’s presidency, concerned parties started thinking about imposing stricter regulations on private security firms. The United States, however, would never accept greater oversight of the contract armies it used in Iraq and Afghanistan—at least, that’s what Deborah Avant, then a professor of international studies at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., told the Swiss Foreign Ministry and the International Committee of the Red Cross. “They didn’t listen to me,” says Avant, now the Sié Chéou-Kang Chair for International Security and Diplomacy at the University of Denver. “Thank goodness.” Government, industry, and other stakeholders continued meeting; eventually, the latter came to view oversight less like handcuffs and more like a colander that would help them filter out rogue companies. And so, in 2013, the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers—“a key component that we have now for regulating this industry,” Avant says—was born. The lesson? There’s no better way to prevent progress than to stop talking to the other side, no matter how impossible finding common ground might seem. “When you have that kind of openness,” Avant says, “there is a much greater possibility for creativity, for new ideas, for innovation.”

THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER?

We asked five elected officials in Colorado to explain the realities of running—and holding—political office.

“Being in the minority doesn’t mean you can’t affect policy. We’ve been able to insert amendments into laws that make them more functional for people who have to live with those policies. The majority gets its way, but the minority gets its say.”

Paul Lundeen, State Senate Minority Leader, District 9, El Paso County

“When I ran for the state Legislature in 1992, I replaced a guy who had been in the House for 27 years, but a new term-limits law forced him to retire. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Four years after that, Pat Schroeder, who had been the Denver congresswoman for 24 years, suddenly and unexpectedly announced she was retiring. I just happened to be the senior ranking Democrat in the state Legislature by then, so I was positioned to run for that seat. Some of it is ability—the ability to put together a campaign, to raise the money, to be able to connect with the constituents, to have the depth of knowledge. All of that’s important, but a lot of it is just luck.”

Diana DeGette, Congresswoman, 1st Congressional District, Denver

“In the beginning, raising money is very difficult. For me, it was extremely difficult, because I was an unknown entity running for a seat that no one gave me a chance to win. Trying to figure out who to ask, who to talk to, where to get the money from, and how to organize that fundraising—political parties help, for sure, but if you’re not [running for one of the districts they are targeting in that election], they’re not really helping you.”

Chris Kolker, State Senator, District 16, Arapahoe and Jefferson Counties

“I get very turned off by people who come up to me and say, ‘Hey, I want to be a commissioner, I want to be a mayor, I want to be a city council person.’ Because to me, they’re saying, ‘Hey, I want a title.’ They are the type of people who will change their values to get elected. I had a citizen named Jessica Johnson in my district. She had never done anything in government, but she found out that we were using Roundup as a weed spray in the county and in Lone Tree. She encouraged us to look at organic compounds that were just as effective—and we did it. We just made the change because of her caring and her desire to make a difference. That’s the type of person who should run for office.”

Abe Laydon, Douglas County Commissioner

“There are no boundaries. Your life is public. Your address is public. I had an ex-boyfriend that I had a restraining order against when I was in the military show up at my house after my stuff got public. You just don’t have boundaries anymore.”

Lisa Feret, City Councilwoman, Arvada

top: Courtesy of Colorado Senate GOP; Courtesy of the Office of Rep. Diana DeGette; Courtesy of Chris Kolker; Heather Carlson/Courtesy of Lisa Feret; Courtesy of Douglas County Government

Power From The People

When policymakers ignored their appeals for greater protections, wildlife conservationists took their case directly to Colorado voters.

While working at a veterinary hospital in San Miguel County in 2017, Dr. Christine Capaldo learned that a hunter had killed a bobcat near Telluride Regional Airport. After watching a video of the incident on social media, she contacted a witness to the harvesting. He told her that a hunter had strangled the animal to preserve the pelt, which Capaldo insisted was cruel. “Well,” he responded, “that’s how trappers do it around here.”

Trapping bobcats is not only legal in the Centennial State, but Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) also sets no quota for the animals. “I was determined to figure out a way to stop this from happening,” Capaldo says.

Capaldo first tried to petition CPW directly to ban the fur trapping of bobcats. The agency denied it. She, as part of a larger coalition, then attempted to outlaw bobcat, lynx, and mountain lion hunting in 2022 through legislation at the state Capitol. The bill never made it out of committee. “I did quickly learn that it is very hard to change laws from the top to the bottom,” Capaldo says. So, she decided to try to reverse the path of power.

Colorado is one of 26 states that permits citizen-led initiatives. If advocates for a new law can gather enough signatures of support, they can place the proposed proposition on the November ballot. The Centennial State is also just one of 18 states that allows residents to do the same with constitutional amendments. From 1880 to 2023, 251 citizen-led ballot initiatives reached electors, and 90 of them were adopted. Capaldo hopes to increase that number by one in 2024.

Capaldo had worked with Washington, D.C.–based Animal Wellness Action to help craft the bill in 2022, and, a year later, the nonprofit took the lead in forming an advocacy group for a bobcat initiative called Cats Aren’t Trophies (CAT). CAT hired Sam Miller, a veteran political operative, as campaign manager and Mark Surls, a Lakewood-based wildlife photographer, as volunteer coordinator. The group’s first step was getting the text of its measure, which seeks

to ban bobcat, lynx, and mountain lion hunting, to the Legislative Council Staff by 2024’s deadline (March 22). It then had to submit the initiative to the secretary of state, whose Title Board helped fashion the wording that voters would read on the ballot, concentrating on, among other things, whether it’s posed in an easily decipherable yes-or-no format. This year, hundreds of petitioners submitted initiatives to the council staff. Only 37 had a petition approved for circulation and signature gathering. CAT’s was among them.

Citizens wanting to see their propositions on the 2024 ballot then had to collect 124,238 signatures from registered voters. (Changes to the constitution require signatures from an additional two percent of registered voters in each of the state’s 35 senate districts.) CAT recruited 900 volunteers from the local outposts of nonprofits like the Sierra Club—and a small number of paid signature-gatherers—and dispatched them to grocery stores, concerts, and festivals.

Progress was slow. Hunting advocates filed a challenge to the initiative with the Colorado Supreme Court, which ultimately denied the opposition’s petition. Nevertheless, the legal wrangling didn’t end until February—and winter isn’t the best time of year to stand outdoors and pitch a petition to passersby. “It’s amazing how quickly the temperature drops when you’re just standing still,” Surls says. By the end of the first month of work, only 8,000 Coloradans had inked their names. Surls also had to make sure volunteers remained vigilant about penmanship (if the secretary of state’s office can’t read the signature, it throws out that endorsement).

As the weather warmed, so did people’s dispositions to the cause. Spring and summer festivals were a boon: “Our biggest festival was Denver Pride,” Surls says. “We gathered about 8,000 signatures there. If we could have just replicated that event over and over again, it would have been easy.” Nevertheless, by the August 8 deadline, Surls had more than 188,000 signatures sitting in 30 boxes in his basement.

Surls says it was the most difficult job of his life. Miller agrees. “I would put childbirth and the ballot initiative, probably similar,” she says. But, like labor, it wasn’t a fruitless endeavor. CAT’s bobcat measure, aka Proposition 127, will be one of seven citizen-led initiatives on Colorado’s ballot this month (five are propositions and two are amendments). “It’s definitely not easy,” Miller says, “but if you care, there’s a path.... And I think that’s the hopeful part.” m

Statewide citizen-led ballot measures adopted by Colorado voters since 1880

Proposition 127 seeks to outlaw bobcat hunting.

KILLING THE

Unraveling the 160-year-old mystery of a family’s murder on Colorado’s Eastern Plains and its long-forgotten link to one of America’s worst military atrocities.

BY ROBERT SANCHEZ

FIELD

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN MOHATT

FEW THINGS IN THIS WORLD ARE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO LINDA KETTER THAN A GOOD STORY.

In 2000, the real estate agent, horse breeder, and novice cattle rancher purchased a parcel of land about 30 miles southeast of Denver that had been part of an early pioneer settlement. Ketter, who was in her early 40s at the time, moved into a ranch-style house at one edge of her 100 acres, near the intersection of two country roads.

The property, located in what is now Elbert County, felt as if it were linked to a different era. A golden carpet of unbroken prairie stretched in every direction. A strip of box elder trees grew thick through the middle of Ketter’s field, marking the banks of Running Creek, a shallow stream that runs strong after heavy rains. Ketter would climb a grass-capped hill out back, stop at the top, and stare at the vastness. “There probably aren’t many places in Colorado where the view hasn’t changed much in 100 years, 150 years,” she told me one morning this past August as we toured the land with Luke Aaron, 34, who cares for Ketter’s dozen or so cows. “You can feel the history out here.”

That history began to reveal itself to Ketter soon after she moved in. The way she remembers it, she arrived home one day to find a card from a University of Colorado Boulder professor on her front door. He was requesting access to her land and mentioned the Hungate murders. Ketter called the professor, who told her the story of the area. “That’s when the obsession began,” she says.

The details of the killings were alarming. On the afternoon of June 11, 1864, a 29-year-old ranch hand named Nathan Hungate, his 25-yearold wife, Ellen, and their two-and-a-half-year-old and five-month-old daughters, Laura and Florence, were murdered somewhere outside the

family’s small cabin near Running Creek. Nathan’s face appeared to have been tomahawked. Ellen had been scalped and sexually assaulted. Both children’s throats were slashed. Their cabin had been set on fire and left in ruins.

While the murders remain unsolved to this day, the brutal deaths of the young pioneer family were blamed at the time on a band of Arapaho or Cheyenne Native Americans who roamed the territory and likely had participated in some cattle thefts and skirmishes with U.S. troops that summer. The seemingly unprovoked and random Hungate deaths often are considered an opening salvo in the Colorado War—years of brutal fighting between Native Americans and the U.S. Army that started in 1864 in territory that encompassed the state of Kansas plus lands that would become the states of Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming.

Most important, the murders provided an antecedent to the massacre of more than 200 Indigenous people five months later, on November 29, at Sand Creek, roughly 130 miles away. In time, the Hungate Massacre, as the event would eventually be called, became a rallying cry and a decadeslong justification for the atrocities committed against Native Americans in southeastern Colorado.

Nearly 160 years after the Sand Creek Massacre, Ketter, Aaron, and I took off in a Polaris Ranger utility vehicle and zoomed over the property. We crossed the creek, which was swollen from a storm, and headed for a hillside. Eight head of Ketter’s Angus cattle lazed in the morning sun, swishing their tails while munching on native grass, pasture mix, and brome. Aaron stood on the hill’s highest point, which overlooked a sea of land to the north and east. The Hungate cabin once stood below, about 1,000 yards in the distance, just beyond Ketter’s property line. “I bet Nathan saw the smoke and came riding right through,” Aaron said. He drew a pathway with his right arm through the empty land: “Your mind can just go wild.”

A FEW WEEKS EARLIER, I had been in Beulah, a community tucked into the Wet Mountains, 25 miles southwest of Pueblo. A rectangle of black cardboard inlaid with a thin layer of white fabric sat on a table in front of me. There was a bullet casing, what appeared to be the heel of a leather shoe, a burned firing plate from an exploded Civil War–era long gun, and other items I couldn’t quite make out. This, Jeff Broome told me, was what remained of the Hungates’ life in Colorado. To be honest, I was somewhat embarrassed that I hadn’t known about the family, particularly their connection to Sand Creek. I grew up in the 1980s and ’90s on five acres just 12 miles from

the Hungate site and loved history. Still, the story had never been told in my classrooms. I also didn’t learn about the 1895 Hunter Act and how it devastated Colorado’s Southern Ute Reservation. I didn’t hear about the desecration of Mesa Verde’s cliff dwellings by 19th-century Anglo settlers. I didn’t study the Colorado War. And I don’t remember discussing Sand Creek.

The details surrounding that massacre are known to most of us now. On November 29, 1864, men from Colorado’s volunteer 3rd Cavalry Regiment and 1st Infantry Regiment descended on a peaceful encampment of Arapaho and Cheyenne along Big Sandy Creek, in present-day Kiowa County. Under the command of Colonel John Chivington—a Methodist preacher and Civil War officer responsible for fending off Confederate forces two years earlier at New Mexico’s Battle of Glorieta Pass—an army of about 600 Coloradans attacked the Native Americans, despite the fact that their tribes had been assured U.S. government protection.

Hundreds of Native Americans, most of whom were women, children, and the elderly, were murdered in the ambush. The event is often considered one of America’s worst military atrocities and ended Chivington’s military career. Acts of violence at Sand Creek included murder, rape, dismemberment, genital mutilation, and the desecration of corpses. As details became known over the months, years, and decades, the massacre would come to underscore the brutality of the U.S. government’s policies toward Native Americans.

However, in the immediate aftermath of the massacre, the mass murder was hailed as a victory for Anglo settlers in a long-simmering fight over the territory’s future: The decimation and supplication of Native Americans hastened

the expansion of the Anglo population as it made an effort for statehood. What’s frequently glossed over today is that the Sand Creek attack was once viewed as retribution for the Hungate murders, which the territorial government used as a pretext for intensified military operations and anti–Native American rhetoric.

Despite a joint Congressional report released in 1865 that condemned both Territorial Governor John Evans and Colonel Chivington and that eventually booted them from their positions, Anglo settlers in the territory used the Hungate murders to justify the massacre and celebrate the colonel. “The immediate cause of the Sand Creek Massacre, in which [Chivington] took such an active part, was the cruel butchery of the Hungate family…,” the Summit County Journal reported in November 1894, one month after Chivington died from cancer. “Their bodies were afterwards found literally ripped to pieces, and…Colonel Chivington swore he would raise an expedition of 1,000 men and clear out the redskins entirely. He kept his word and terribly revenged the massacred family.”

THE PROPERTY WHERE the Hungate family had lived and died was, in those days, owned by a Denver businessman and absentee rancher named Isaac P. Van Wormer, who’d hired Nathan Hungate to care for the property and its cattle. The land included a well and the cabin near Running Creek. Hungate arrived from Nebraska with his wife and children in April 1864, about two months before their deaths. Hungate’s brother-in-law was a frequent visitor, as were road-weary travelers crossing the Smoky Hill Trail.

From left: Artifacts Jeff Broome collected from the Hungate site in modern-day Elbert County; Luke Aaron and Linda Ketter on Ketter’s property, which lies adjacent to the land that historians say was occupied by the Hungate family in the mid-1860s

THE KILLING FIELD

Roughly 135 years later, Jeff Broome became one of the few historians to gain direct access to the Hungate site. Broome had learned about the Hungate story during graduate school at the University of Colorado Boulder when one of his philosophy professors mentioned the incident. “There seemed to be a real mystery about it,” he told me. Broome then read a retelling of the Hungate story from a July 1935 Colorado Magazine article. In the piece, one of Van Wormer’s children, Ruth V.W. Oettinger, went to Elbert County and recalled the location of the old well, which appeared as a rough, rocky outline in the dirt. She claimed that the Hungate cabin had once stood nearby, perhaps only 15 feet away.

Broome was intrigued, and sometime around 2000, after studying a map of the area, he drove out to the spot where he believed the Hungates had once lived. The owner at that time had subdivided much of the land (selling a portion to Ketter, whose property now overlooks the general vicinity of the old cabin site) but gave Broome access. Broome quickly discovered the site of the cabin, and his metal detector lit up. He dug at that location for weeks. Next, he headed 15 yards east with the metal detector and found the old well.

Among other things, Broome found—and, ultimately, kept—18 melted bullets, seven lead pistol and rifle balls (two of which appeared to have been fired), a fired .44-caliber Henry bullet, a fired .56-caliber Spencer bullet; a fired .44-caliber bullet; a .50-caliber bullet, four fired .32-caliber

bullets, 20 Spencer casings for a Warner Carbine long gun, nine .32-caliber pistol casings, eight .44-caliber Henry casings, and a melted 1862 Colt pistol with its serial number still intact. He found evidence of a family, as well. There were horseshoes and thin metal plates—with tiny hearts cut into them—that had once been part of a woman’s shoes. He found burned harmonica reed plates. He found square nails that had likely been used in the cabin’s construction.

I’d been told by various historians that Broome was an amateur, an apologist—Colorado’s version of the lost-cause Confederate revisionists who once tried to explain away the roots of the Civil War. His research interests regularly put him at odds with his counterparts, who offer post-Colonial criticisms of borderlands life that often revolve around the abuse of Native Americans—namely, the stories of broken treaties, massacres, mass starvation, and boarding schools—and dominate historical scholarship today.

Broome, who is now 72 and a retired Arapahoe Community College professor who holds a Ph.D. in philosophy, has taken what might be considered an all-lives-matter approach to settler–Indigenous peoples relations. (Tom Noel, the famed Colorado historian, told me Broome was the “bad boy” of the state’s historical researchers.) Throughout his career, Broome has focused on the overarching violence and no-holds-barred attitudes that permeated the frontier and has written books about Native American raids, George Armstrong Custer’s tour of the West, and the abduction and 1869 murder of a white settler named Susanna Alderdice by Cheyenne Dog Soldiers.

His house is just up the road from Beulah’s small downtown and is a monument to his work. In his basement, there are thousands of old books, neatly packaged files he dug up and copied from the National Archives, and a personal microfiche reader. On the day I visited, Broome’s Frenchmade Deus II metal detector rested in a protective plastic case on the family room floor upstairs. Relics he’d discovered during his metal-detecting trips cover the walls: bullets from Sand Creek, horseshoes from two vanished stagecoach stops near Sterling, and battlefield ephemera from Kansas’ Kidder Fight.

Broome is particularly taken, though, with a hunk of metal he found at the Hungate site. He handed it to me as we stood in his kitchen. “I couldn’t believe my luck,” he said. It was a pitted, brass firing plate from a long gun.

To Broome, it appeared the firing plate had burned. It had a wisp of green-tinted oxidization and was partially flayed—peeled open like a banana—as if it had exploded. Broome said he took the plate to a friend, a frontier archaeologist, who confirmed that it was part of an 1864 Warner Carbine and that it had fired .50-caliber bullets like the one found at the site.

Broome took the artifact from my hands and placed it on his kitchen table. Then he began to explain what he thought really happened to the Hungates on that afternoon 160 years ago.

ON JUNE 15, 1864, bells at the newly opened Methodist Seminary rang out over Denver, announcing that residents could finally view the four Hungates’ mutilated corpses. The family had been buried in a makeshift gravesite, possibly behind a sawmill in present-day Elbert County, but the bodies were dug up a day or two later, placed in an ox wagon, and transported to the city. News stories from the time offer conflicting reports about the viewing’s location. Some say the family was displayed at a downtown store, while others report they were in a shed, at the post office, near Denver’s current City and County Building, on present-day Market Street, or somewhere in the center of downtown.

The murders couldn’t have come at a more fortuitous moment for Territorial Governor Evans, who’d spent much of the previous year agitating for federal troops to fight Native American tribes on the Eastern Plains. In the years leading up to the Hungate killings, thousands of Native Americans had been moved to reservations on the east end of the Colorado Territory, where hunting grounds were quickly eroded and Anglo settlers encroached on sacred lands.

Over time, as tribes struggled to survive, they turned to cattle theft to feed their people. Days before the Hungates were killed, Native Americans made off with 150 head of cattle from a territorial ranch. A soldier’s horses were also stolen. A settler’s mules were stampeded. Those were all property crimes, though. The Hungate murders were something else entirely.

For years, Evans’ concerns about Native Americans had mostly been dismissed at the federal level. The nation was in the midst of the Civil War, and deploying troops into the Colorado Territory would have been a grave misuse of desperately needed resources. With a dead family of settlers, however, the governor saw a renewed opportunity. A day before the viewing, Evans announced in a telegraph to Secretary of War E.M. Stanton that the Hungates’ “murdered and scalped bodies” had arrived in the city. The governor reminded Stanton of the recurring “Indian hostilities” and

again asked for reinforcements. Might Stanton authorize a 100-day militia to defend the territory? the governor wondered.

Evans understood a secured territory would both boost his popularity among voters and open the door to statehood, which could eventually lead to his ultimate goal: a seat in the U.S. Senate. If he failed to defend white settlements that had expanded since gold was discovered along Cherry Creek in the late 1850s, Evans knew he could forget about a political future in Washington, D.C.

An inquest was held over the Hungates’ remains shortly after their arrival in the city. In his brief report, coroner James M. Broadwell echoed the prevailing narrative at the time: The family was “feloniously killed by some person or persons to the jury unknown, but supposed to be Indians….” There’s no account that the Hungates’ bodies were photographed or that there was a larger investigation. Troops scoured the prairie immediately after news of the Hungate killings reached Denver, but no Native Americans were found.

The family was eventually buried at Mount Prospect Cemetery, which is now Cheesman Park.

At the June 15 viewing, Nathan was situated near his wife, Ellen. Laura Hungate and her sister, Florence, were placed in each of their mother’s arms, for dramatic effect. The Denver residents’ hysteria baffled Nathaniel P. Hill, a Brown University chemistry professor who’d arrived in town

From left: Jeff Broome outside his home in Beulah; a historical photo of 1864’s Camp Weld Council, a meeting between tribal chiefs and territorial officials; Ray Sumner, a doctoral student studying anthropology at CSU

CHARITABLE GIVINGGuide TO

This holiday season, spread the spirit of giving by supporting local organizations that make a real impact. Unsure where to begin? Explore these charities that help keep our community strong and vibrant.

ADAPTIVE

ADVENTURES

When you support Adaptive Adventures, you’re not just making a donation— you’re joining a movement. A movement that empowers individuals with physical disabilities and their families by providing life-changing outdoor sports opportunities. We ensure that no one is left behind due to financial limitations, equipment needs, or location.

Imagine a world where someone with a disability is told their life will never be the same—only to discover they can still kayak down a river, bike along a mountain trail, or ski on fresh powder. This is the reality that we create. As the only fully mobile adaptive sports program in the country, we travel to underserved communities, establishing sustainable programming that allows those who need it most to experience the freedom, joy, and exhilaration of outdoor recreation.

What makes us truly unique is that most of our staff and volunteers have physical disabilities themselves. We understand firsthand the challenges that participants face, coming alongside people in their pain and trauma in an authentic way. When the perceived impossible becomes possible, it is transformative.

At Adaptive Adventures, we remove barriers by offering free, progressive programs using cutting-edge equipment and a highly skilled staff team. But we go further—we create lasting change by training local mentors and organizations, making communities more accessible and inclusive through education and support. When you give to Adaptive Adventures, your impact extends far beyond a single event. You help someone regain their independence, find community, and experience the joy of outdoor adventure. You help families heal together, and you pave the way for a more inclusive world.

Be part of this movement—give today, volunteer, and share the adventure with Adaptive Adventures.

9053 Harlan Street, Suite 34 Westminster, CO 80031 (303) 679-2770 AdaptiveAdventures.org

BUTTERFLY PAVILION

Invertebrates, which make up 97% of all animal species, are the backbone of life on Earth—and they are in peril. Though small in size, their impact is enormous. The health of our planet depends on their survival. These vital creatures are facing a global biodiversity crisis, putting the balance of ecosystems around the world at risk. Invertebrates create soil, purify water, pollinate food, and maintain the delicate balance of life.

Butterfly Pavilion is dedicated to changing this trajectory. Our responsibility is clear: to lead the way in groundbreaking invertebrate research, conservation, and education in Colorado and around the globe. We’re committed to protecting biodiversity, advancing science, and inspiring future generations to safeguard our environment. For nearly 30 years, Butterfly Pavilion has been a cornerstone of the Colorado community, welcoming over five million visitors from around the world. As the first Association of Zoos and Aquariums–accredited, stand-alone, nonprofit invertebrate zoo, we educate communities, lead groundbreaking scientific research, and drive efforts to sustain invertebrate species and their ecosystems for future generations. Beyond Colorado, our global invertebrate conservation efforts reach from Tanzania and Sumatra to Mongolia and Mexico.

As the year comes to a close, we’re reflecting on our strides and the impact of these remarkable creatures on our world. We’re more determined than ever to continue our vital work, which goes beyond our doors. We’re committed to protecting biodiversity, advancing science, and inspiring future generations to safeguard our environment.

We can’t do it alone—your generosity drives our mission. Join us this end-of-year season to protect the web of life. Donate today to protect and conserve invertebrates with Butterfly Pavilion. Remember: If we save their world, they will save ours.

CONSERVATION COLORADO

Conservation Colorado is the state’s largest environmental organization, dedicated to fighting climate change, conserving public lands, protecting air and water, and ensuring equitable access to a healthy environment.

We rise to the climate emergency to protect people and create a just society. We build political power to achieve lasting outcomes, centering people and community needs. Our work secures policies and elects leaders who advance climate action and environmental justice. We help them succeed and hold them accountable, positioning Colorado as a national leader in climate action.

Conservation Colorado recognizes that systemic inequities fuel many environmental problems, and we fight for justice by standing with communities and cultivating leaders who understand these challenges firsthand. We empower those most burdened by environmental injustices to lead the way forward. In recent years, this commitment has driven nationally leading climate policies, conserved hundreds of thousands of acres, and protected communities from injustice. The stakes are high, but the rewards are greater. The future is worth the fight— for ourselves, our communities, and generations of Coloradans to come.

Donate now to help Conservation Colorado secure our state’s climate future.

Give at: conservationco.org/support

Conservation Colorado: The Future is Worth the Fight

303 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400, Denver, CO 80203 (303) 333-7846 conservationco.org/support

CHELSEA HUTCHISON FOUNDATION

The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation (CHF) grants comfort and hope to those affected by epilepsy through providing tangible monitoring resources, vital information, and a safe haven for conversation and community. Our main goal is to raise awareness of SUDEP and to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families living with epilepsy. We raise funds to provide seizure response service dog grants, lifesaving movement monitors that help to protect against SUDEP, and so much more.

PO Box 630048, Littleton, CO 80163 (303) 250-7739 chelseahutchisonfoundation.org

COBALT ADVOCATES

Nothing should stand between you and your health decisions, which is why Cobalt is dedicated to fighting for systems, structures, and policies that guarantee reproductive rights and protect comprehensive, universal access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion. Cobalt’s vision is for every Coloradan to be able to make any health decision that is right for them, knowing that they can do so free from judgment and that any resource they may need will be available. Learn more at www.cobaltadvocates.org.

cobaltadvocates.org

DENVER URBAN GARDENS (DUG)

Making a gift to Denver Urban Gardens cultivates food, community, and climate resilience across metro Denver. Established in 1978, today DUG stewards over 200 foodproducing community gardens and food forests and supports 40,000 people across the Denver metro area. Give today and help keep DUG strong and ensure a thriving urban future where people are deeply and directly connected to the earth, each other, and the food they eat.

1031 33rd Street, Suite 100 Denver, CO 80205 (303) 292-9900 • dug.org/donate

DENVER CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION

Denver Children’s Foundation (DCF) raises and distributes funds to transform the lives of disadvantaged, at-risk youth. DCF’s mission targets marginalized youth—almost 85% are from low-income families and suffer disproportionately from educational, social-emotional, health, and economic disparities. With decades of experience and deep relationships with the community’s charities, DCF grantmaking ensures the greatest impact on the marginalized children we support. DCF also offers a Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit for every cash donation of $1,000 or more. For the kids!

FOCUS POINTS FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

Focus Points Family Resource Center has a powerful mission—to build better communities by strengthening families.

Meet Malalai and her family. Malalai, a native Dari speaker from Afghanistan, is one of many participants in our Wildflower English for Newcomers program that offers free virtual and in-person English language classes at our Mango House location in Aurora. An educator back in her home country, Malalai has rapidly progressed to our higher English classes in the year and a half she has been in our program, acquiring new skills for work and beyond.

For nearly three decades, Focus Points has brought life-changing, innovative programs and services to the Denver area’s most underserved neighborhoods.

Focus Points is a multigenerational, onestop shop for families to access all kinds of services—early childhood education, workforce development, basic needs assistance, and support for older adults. We offer free English language classes to immigrants and refugees, both virtually and on-site, as well as free mental health counseling accessible in both Spanish and English. Our service center, located in the heart of Elyria-Swansea, features an urban farm that hosts a local “pay-what-you-can” farmers’ market throughout the growing season. Our innovative social enterprise, Comal Heritage Food Incubator, located in the RiNo Art Park, is a full-fledged restaurant serving breakfast and lunch daily, while training refugee women for jobs or entrepreneurship in the culinary arts. Come visit us and learn more about how you can support families and local entrepreneurs right in your own backyard!

PO Box 202684, Denver, CO 80230 denverchildrensfoundation.org

2501 E. 48th Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80216 (303) 292-0770 focuspoints.org

Make a Difference Today with the Children's Diabetes Foundation

Diabetes, which afflicts over 463 million people, is rapidly on the rise. Each year, approximately 64,000 Americans are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Every day, people living with type 1 diabetes face challenges that require constant care. Your donation helps us fund groundbreaking research and prevention, provide vital support services, and educate the community about type 1 diabetes at The Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.

Be a part of this powerful legacy and help us continue this critical work by donating this holiday season!

DENVER ZOO CONSERVATION ALLIANCE

At Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA), we’re proud to set the gold standard for wildlife under human care. We are dedicated to the costly endeavor of creating personalized well-being plans for every member of our animal family. Each plan is carefully crafted to help them live their BEST lives.

More than the Bear Necessities

To manage Tundra’s, our rescued grizzly girl, topor (the lowering of body temperature and metabolic activity many animals experience during the winter months), her nutrition plans shifts to suit her needs. She’s also treated to more bedding material to support her natural denning instincts!

Bachelors Doing Their Best

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHV) is a fast-acting virus that poses a threat to elephant health in the wild and under human care. Groucho, Billy, Duncan, Baylor, and Jake are all trained to voluntarily donate plasma, which has already helped save lives.

Betty, the “Lessest Kudu”

Betty the gerenuk fractured her leg in 2021, but with an industry-leading and unique well-being action plan in place for almost two years, she’s made an inspiring recovery. Today, Betty shares her home with our lesser kudu herd. This has earned her the affectionate nickname, “the lessest kudu.”

This Colorado Gives Day, we need YOU! Your impact makes an elephant-size difference—providing SO much more than the bear necessities. Donate now to give DZCA a leg up for all species and continue to pay for world-class animal wellness programs.

2300 Steele Street, Denver, CO 80205 (720) 337-1400 denverzoo.org

DENVER PARK TRUST

Parks are an essential part of Denver, but some 70,000 residents, many of which are low-income families with children, do not have access to a park nearby. At the Denver Park Trust, we believe that every resident, in every neighborhood, deserves to live within a 10-minute walk or roll of a high-quality park. Public parks and green spaces not only contribute to the well-being of our environment but also to the well-being of the communities and residents who surround them. The Denver Park Trust works closely with community leaders, neighborhood associations, and Denver Parks and Recreation to enhance existing parks and add public green spaces in a thoughtful, equitable, and sustainable way. Specifically by:

• Acquiring land to add parks where none exist

• Supporting community-led initiatives through a community grant program

• Fundraising for park enhancements like playgrounds, walking trails, and skate parks

• Promoting resiliency and stewardship through volunteer cleanup events and sustainability initiatives

By supporting the Denver Park Trust, you become an active contributor to the betterment of our environment, our city, and the people who live here.

Thank you Denver Park Trust for supporting our community with funding to buy land for a future park in a neighborhood that lacks green space.

–Angela Garcia, Globeville Resident

Donate at bit.ly/GiveDPT or scan the QR code

Denver Park Trust, PO Box 102325, Denver, CO 80250 info@denverparktrust.org www.denverparktrust.org

DENVER RESCUE MISSION

Hope starts here. As a community-funded, faith-based organization, the Mission serves anyone who walks through our doors, providing shelter to more than 1,000 each night, 365 days a year.

Last year alone, the Mission helped 574 households obtain stable housing, more than ever before! We also served more than 1.2 million meals and provided nearly 472,000 nights of shelter to the most vulnerable in our community.

We help restore the lives of people experiencing homelessness and addiction through emergency services, rehabilitation, transitional programs, and community outreach across Denver and Northern Colorado.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Mission, with many ways to get involved—serving or preparing meals, mentoring adults or children, sorting donated items, and more. Donations are also vital! When you give to the Mission, you are providing for the immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness through warm meals and safe shelter, as well as offering lifechanging opportunities to guide men, women, and children on a path out of homelessness. Help us end homelessness, one life at a time—donate today.

Mission Statement: Denver Rescue Mission is changing lives in the name of Christ by meeting people at their physical and spiritual points of need with the goal of returning them to society.

6100 Smith Road, Denver, CO 80216 (303) 297-1815 denverrescuemission.org

All the causes you care about in one place.

Give early for Colorado Gives Day, when all of Colorado comes together to give to what we care about the most. Join us in lifting up our community with thousands of nonprofits to support. It’s easily the best day to give.

Give today at ColoradoGivesDay.org

December 10

HISTORY COLORADO

We are Colorado. Together, our generational work centers communities, deepens knowledge, and catalyzes the transformative power of history.

Established in 1879, History Colorado is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and an agency of the State of Colorado under the Department of Higher Education.

We are committed to serving all Coloradans and offer access to our state’s history through enriching experiences at 11 museums and historic sites, with engaging exhibitions and activities. We steward more than 15 million objects, photographs, and archival resources that make up the state’s collection, and we serve tens of thousands of learners of all ages through dynamic programs. We work with school groups and youth through field trips, day camps, and traveling programs across the state of Colorado. We’re home to a free public research center, Colorado’s Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP), and the Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), the nation’s largest preservation program of its kind.

We hope you will join us in this work— because we’re stronger when we do it together.

Your gift to History Colorado benefits all Coloradans across our great state—now and into the future, supporting our work to: Invest in Rural Prosperity

We invest in rural prosperity for the wellbeing of communities across Colorado. Strengthen Colorado Through Education

We transform lives and strengthen Colorado communities through education. Share the Diverse Stories of Colorado

We share the diverse stories that highlight Colorado’s collective history.

Thank you for your generosity!

1200 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203 (303) 866-4737 historycolorado.org

PROJECT ANGEL HEART

Project Angel Heart’s purpose is to deliver comfort and support through high-quality nutrition services, including medically tailored meals, while also advocating for the principles of “Food is Medicine.” Regardless of a person’s background or circumstances, they believe everyone should have access to the nutrition they need—especially when they’re sick.

Each week in Project Angel Heart’s kitchen, they create meals from scratch, made in partnership with a registered dietitian, that are tailored to meet the specific dietary needs of people living with severe illnesses such as cancer, heart failure, HIV/AIDS, and more.

This year, Project Angel Heart will homedeliver 815,000 meals to neighbors in need across Colorado.

Merrissere’s Story: Meals Help Recent Retiree Feel Stronger, Focus on Recovery After Stomach Cancer

Merrissere, a 74-year-old recent retiree with a love for travel, received a life-altering diagnosis: Stage 3 gastric cancer. It came as a shock, as her only symptom was persistent acid reflux.

“I had no idea I had cancer,” Merrissere said. “I was enjoying life, went on a cruise with friends, and then I found out I had a mass in my stomach. I was in disbelief.”

Living with Type 2 diabetes, Merrissere was accustomed to staying on top of her health. However, her first rounds of chemotherapy and radiation brought challenges for which she wasn’t prepared. The treatments sapped her energy. She lost 10 pounds in one week.

Merrissere’s treatment also included significant surgery to remove her tumor. “They took 60

DENVER OFFICE & KITCHEN

4950 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 (303) 830-0202 projectangelheart.org

percent of my stomach, and I had problems digesting food,” she said. She tried storebought microwaveable meals, but they upset her stomach.

That’s when her health care team at Kaiser Permanente referred her for Project Angel Heart’s meal program. “I didn’t know what ‘medically tailored meals’ meant. I learned it means these meals are made just for me and where I am in my life right now,” she said, touching her heart with a smile.

Since receiving meals from Project Angel Heart, Merrissere feels stronger. Her A1C, a test showing blood sugar, improved significantly, going from nearly 8 to 6.5. The Project Angel Heart meals also are easier for her to digest and have helped her regain energy.

Now in remission for four months, Project Angel Heart meals have allowed Merrissere to focus on recovery. She’s also looking ahead. “I want to travel again. And if I get my strength back, I’d like to deliver Project Angel Heart meals,” she added.

Gobble Gobble Give

This Thanksgiving, give thanks by delivering meals directly to severely ill neighbors in need like Merrissere. Project Angel Heart is organizing their largest-ever delivery day on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and need 400 volunteers to make it happen—lots of roles, lots of shifts, lots of joy! Deliver meals with your family. Package meals with your friends. Join in!

Not able to volunteer? Make a gift to provide meals instead.

Learn more at ProjectAngelHeart.org/gobble

COLORADO SPRINGS OFFICE

1625 W. Uintah Street, Suite I Colorado Springs, CO 80904 (719) 323-0084

ENERGY OUTREACH COLORADO

Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) is a nationally recognized organization dedicated to supporting households with their home energy needs and maintains the highest ratings from independent charity reviewers, including Charity Navigator, Candid, and the Better Business Bureau. Every year, EOC assists tens of thousands of Coloradans through our services including energy bill payment assistance, repairing or replacing heating systems, and much more.

303 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 405 Denver, CO 80203 (303) 825-8750 • energyoutreach.org

NOURISH

MEALS ON WHEELS

One in eight older adults in the U.S. experience hunger. At Nourish, our caring volunteers deliver more than a nutritious meal—they bring comfort and connection to neighbors across south metro Denver. For many we serve, it’s their only daily interaction. We honor every client’s individuality by tailoring meals to their unique needs. Aging with dignity means never facing hunger or isolation. Join Nourish in bringing food and friendship to those who need it most—one meal at a time!

92 E. Arapahoe Road, Littleton, CO 80122 (303) 798-7642 • nourishmealsonwheels.org

HUNGER FREE COLORADO

Help end hunger in your community this season. Hunger Free Colorado connects people to food resources statewide and drives policy change to end hunger. We help thousands access SNAP and other programs to ensure Coloradans can obtain nutritious, culturally relevant food and work to transform food systems to make them more equitable and just. Through community-driven policy, including the passage of Healthy School Meals for All, we’ve shown a path forward based on building community power to drive transformational change.

3840 York Street, Suite 245 Denver, CO 80205 (720) 328-1284 hungerfreecolorado.org

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

Every acre, every river mile, and every species protected begins with you. To address the complex challenges facing our planet, we need ambitious and innovative solutions. By supporting The Nature Conservancy, you’re supporting a future where nature and people thrive. Join us to make a difference for Colorado’s future.

2424 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302 (303) 444-2950 nature.org/colorado

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHILDREN’S HEALTH FOUNDATION

Navigating life with an infant or child with a health condition can be overwhelming, and at Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation, we get it. No family should face their child’s medical journey alone or have to worry about meeting essential needs along the way. We provide the financial, nutritional, and emotional support these families need to keep moving forward.

When your child is in the hospital, everyday costs you used to take for granted quickly become overwhelming. Many families must choose between staying with their child or going to work to cover their daily expenses. The emotional and financial hardship these families endure is unthinkable—and that’s where we come in.

We help families meet their essential needs, putting relief and stability within reach. Every family’s situation is unique, so we tailor the way we support each family to fit what they need. Sometimes, it’s a rent payment so parents can take time off work during their child’s cancer treatment. Other times, it’s gas to get to doctor’s appointments, groceries, or medications. For infants in neonatal ICUs, it’s the nutritional support of donor milk. For kids facing scary procedures, it’s the comfort of a furry friend through our hospital and companion dog programs.

With costs on the rise, the need to support these children and families is only growing. With your help, we can ensure every family in our community feels supported throughout their child’s medical journey. Because when we do, they can focus on what really matters: their child.

5394 Marshall Street, Suite 400, Arvada, CO 80002 (303) 839-6782 rmchildren.org

Photo By: Ethan Herrold, TNC Photo Contest 2019

PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

For over 20 years, Rebecca has been a pillar of her Colorado community, providing care at her local Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) health center. But her journey with PPRM began as a patient— walking through the doors of the very same health center, seeking accurate information and compassionate care after discovering she was pregnant. This is her story.

I can still remember the flood of emotions I felt after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade—from anger and outrage to sadness and concern. Wondering how this would affect PPRM, my health center, and our country was overwhelming. But with every challenge, my conviction and commitment to abortion care has only strengthened.

Over the past two decades, I have had the great fortune to assist in providing services I care deeply about, in the same Colorado community I grew up in. There is no doubt there have been challenging times, but the passion that I have for abortion care has helped carry me.

I had my first PPRM experience when I was 16 and found out that I was pregnant. I was terrified and didn’t know how to talk to my parents about it. The staff at PPRM guided my mom and me through a conversation about all my options.

After leaving, I couldn’t stop thinking about the amazing staff and the time they spent with us. The provider was incredible,

and I still remember her face to this day; she listened, and I felt like I could tell her anything without shame or judgment. I left that day knowing that I wanted to be just like her. Later that year, I had my son, born four days shy of my seventeenth birthday.

Four years later, I started my own career at PPRM. I am deeply proud to show up for people both from Colorado and across our country during some of their most vulnerable times, helping to normalize abortion care and affirming people’s decisions about when and if they want to parent. I never make light of the opportunity we hold to affect our patients’ lives and make the very most of our time with every patient who walks through our health center doors, just like the staff did for me many years ago. I know how much our community needs and appreciates us, and I hope to be a part of this work for another 20 years.

Last year, we provided essential health care services, such as family planning, cancer screenings, gender affirming care, and abortion care to nearly 50,000 people across Colorado. Your gift makes a difference in the lives of countless patients. Consider donating on Colorado Gives Day so your impact can go even further: give between November 1 –December 10 at ColoradoGives.org/pprm or any time at wearepp.org/pprm.

WHO WE ARE:

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM)— including Colorado, New Mexico, Southern Nevada, and Wyoming—has been delivering the highest quality reproductive and sexual health care, teaching medically accurate, age-appropriate sexuality education, and diligently protecting the right to access safe, legal abortion since 1916.

WE DON’T WASTE

We Don’t Waste believes that nutritious food should go to people, not landfills. Forty percent of food produced in the U.S. ends up in the landfill, yet up to one in three Coloradans will experience food insecurity at some point this year. We Don’t Waste reduces hunger and food waste in the Denver area by recovering quality, unused food from local businesses and distributing it free-of-charge to food pantries, schools, shelters, and more, as well as directly to the community through their Mobile Food Markets. By recovering food that would have otherwise gone to waste, We Don’t Waste is also protecting our planet from greenhouse gases produced by food rotting in landfills. Since 2009, We Don’t Waste has recovered and distributed over 220 million servings of food.

We Don’t Waste is a simple, innovative concept that has met a vital need within our community. In addition to the core programs of food recovery and distribution, We Don’t Waste has an active education team that teaches thousands of students each year, from kindergartners to seniors, about nutrition, the environmental impact of food waste, and creative ways we can all reduce our food waste. Together, we can end food insecurity and food waste in our community. YOU can help us achieve our vision!

SISTER CARMEN COMMUNITY CENTER

Did you know that almost 24% of Boulder County families can no longer make ends meet? It now takes a family of four about $104,000 per year to pay for the basics.

At Sister Carmen, we’re seeing this crisis firsthand. We’re a non-religious Family Resource Center whose mission is to provide assistance to residents of Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, and Erie who are in need—without discrimination. We help with food, rent, services for those experiencing homelessness, connections to other resources, and more.

655 Aspen Ridge Drive, Lafayette, CO 80026 (303) 665-4342 • sistercarmen.org

CAL-WOOD EDUCATION CENTER

Since 1982, Cal-Wood Education Center has connected diverse communities to the wonders of nature through immersive outdoor experiences at our 1,200-acre outdoor classroom. Our vision is to inspire a lifelong love of the outdoors while fostering environmental stewardship and resilience. We offer school programs, camps, bilingual family adventures, event hosting, and retreats—all with a focus on removing barriers to nature for underrepresented communities. Through hands-on science, outdoor adventure, and conservation research, we empower participants to explore and protect the natural world with confidence.

WOMEN’S GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT FUND

Women’s Global Empowerment Fund supports women and families through economic, social, and political programs in some of the world’s most marginalized regions. Our initiatives provide women with the framework to create sustainable opportunities that address inequality and advance the access, participation, and voices of women. We support women to become their own advocates—and enable communities to create their own solutions— to move themselves, their families, and nation toward a more stable and equitable future.

Denver, CO • microfund@gmail.com (303) 520-7656 • wgefund.org

THE WILD ANIMAL SANCTUARY

A 33,000-acre network of sanctuaries with over 1,000 lions, tigers, bears, wolves, and other rescued animals.

Please help us save more lives!

6090 E. 39th Avenue, Denver, CO 80207 (720) 443-6113 wedontwaste.org

2282 County Road 87, Jamestown, CO 80455 (303) 449-0603 • calwood.org

1946 County Road 53 Keenesburg, CO 80643 (303) 536-0118 wildanimalsanctuary.org

ROSE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

For nearly 30 years, Rose Community Foundation has empowered generous individuals, families, and businesses to make a lasting impact through their giving. Rooted in our history and values, our team has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the Greater Denver region. Donors benefit from our longstanding relationships with local nonprofit organizations and policymakers who are driving sustainable change in the community. Since our founding in 1995, we have awarded more than $400 million in grants to over 2,000 organizations and initiatives.

For David Asarch and his wife, Anna, their donor-advised fund at Rose Community Foundation has made it easier to identify and support the causes that matter to them. David credits the Foundation with helping his family develop a holistic approach to philanthropy and be thoughtful about their long-term giving. “The support we’ve received from the staff has been invaluable, and it’s been rewarding to learn how to ensure our grants have the greatest possible impact,” David said. “As our region grows, philanthropy becomes even more essential in helping those in need.”

Siblings Marlene and Morris Price use their donor-advised fund at Rose Community Foundation as a way to collaborate on their charitable giving, leveraging their individual strengths to make a difference. Much of what drives their philanthropy is a commitment to

advancing equity and creating opportunities for others. “We must help build a world where people can thrive,” Morris said. “Our voices are a powerful tool for change, and the foundation of all that change is philanthropy.”

When you open a fund with Rose Community Foundation, you join a community of donors who are making a meaningful impact on the causes they care about most. Our staff facilitates conversations around mission, vision, and values, helps donors develop giving strategies, and supports families working across generations with succession and legacy planning. For those seeking a locally informed and connected philanthropic partner, Rose Community Foundation offers a flexible, efficient, and tax-effective way to take your giving further.

Donors who partner with Rose Community Foundation benefit from:

• Personalized service from philanthropic advisors who understand your giving priorities.

• Resources to help refine your giving strategy, including webinars, giving guides, and toolkits.

• Invitations to events focused on philanthropy, local issues, and the work of nonprofit organizations.

• Support in creating a meaningful and lasting charitable legacy.

WHO WE ARE:

Rose Community Foundation strives to advance inclusive, engaged and equitable Greater Denver communities through values-driven philanthropy. The Foundation envisions a thriving region strengthened by its diversity and generosity, and it uses the varied tools at its disposal— grantmaking, advocacy, and philanthropic services—to advance this aspiration.

Photo Credits: Jewish Studio Project, Mirror Image Arts, Colorado Education Initiative

Dining Gu ide

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.

ACE EAT SERVE

$$$

Uptown / Asian This Uptown restaurant and pingpong hall features Asian-inspired cuisine and 10 ping-pong tables. Try the Sichuan shrimp wontons. Reservations accepted. 501 E. 17th Ave., 303-800-7705. Dinner, Brunch

ALMA FONDA FINA

LoHi / Mexican This contemporary Mexican restaurant wows with its creative, shareable plates, which often feature homemade masa and flavor-packed salsas. The camote asado (roasted sweet potato) is an excellent way to start off your meal. Reservations accepted. 2556 15th St., 303-455-9463. Dinner

AMERICAN ELM

$$$$

are welcome. Sip on spiced lattes and indulge in pastries and light lunch fare. Reservations not accepted. 4935 W. 38th Ave. Breakfast, Lunch

DÂN DÃ

$$ Aurora / Vietnamese Time-tested family recipes dazzle at An and Thao Nguyen’s Vietnamese eatery dedicated to comfort food. Don’t miss the dazzling spring roll towers and bubbling clay pots. Reservations accepted. 9945 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 720-476-7183. Lunch, Dinner

DEW DROP INN

$$

Uptown / Contemporary Uptown’s chic neighborhood watering hole serves not only fine cocktails but also thoughtful small bites such as the Big Bowl of Mussels. Reservations not accepted. 1033 E. 17th Ave., 720-612-4160. Dinner

DOUGH COUNTER

$$$

Berkeley / American Elevated American fare and classic cocktails anchor the menu at this neighborhood spot. Order the rib-eye French dip or the roasted half chicken. Reservations accepted. 4132 W. 38th Ave., 720-749-3186. Dinner, Brunch

BAEKGA

$$$

Lowry Field / Korean Chef-owner Sean Baek serves flavorful Korean eats at this quaint Lowry Town Center spot. Don’t miss out on the lunch specials, hearty portions of protein and rice that come with plenty of banchan (side dishes). Reservations not accepted. 100 Quebec St., Suite 115, 720-639-3872. Lunch, Dinner

BLACKBELLY

GUSTO

$$$

West Colfax / Italian From chef Lon Symensma of ChoLon fame, this Italian eatery abutting Sloan’s Lake plates up a playful variety of antipasti, pastas, and pizza. Reservations accepted. 1671 N. Raleigh St., 303-284-0932. Lunch, Dinner

HIRA CAFE & PATISSERIE

$ Aurora / Ethiopian Pastry chef-owner Hiwot Solomon pairs her from-scratch desserts and Ethiopian breakfast plates with house-roasted, single-origin coffee at this cheery cafe. Reservations not accepted. 10782 E. Iliff Ave., Aurora, 720949-1703. Breakfast, Lunch

HOP ALLEY

$$

University Hills / Pizza This fast-casual pizzeria specializes in Sicilian- and New York–style pies. For the former, we especially like the Triple Threat, which is striped with marinara, pesto, and vodka sauce. The house-made chicken tenders are also delightful. Reservations not accepted. 2466 S. Colorado Blvd., 303-997-8977. Lunch, Dinner

EDGEWATER PUBLIC MARKET

$$

Edgewater / International Satisfy your cravings for everything from wild game sandwiches to Ethiopian fare at this collective of nearly two dozen food stalls and boutiques. 5505 W. 20th Ave., Edgewater, 720-749-2239. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

EL TACO DE MEXICO

Lincoln Park / Mexican This Denver favorite serves Mexican food with an emphasis on authenticity. Try the chile relleno burrito. Reservations not accepted. 714 Santa Fe Drive, 303-623-3926. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

FRASCA FOOD AND WINE

$$$

Boulder / American Chef Hosea Rosenberg’s carnivore-friendly menu focuses on charcuterie, small plates, and daily butcher specials. Try the koji-cured heritage pork chop. Reservations accepted. 1606 Conestoga St., Boulder, 303247-1000. Dinner

CARNE

$$$$

RiNo / Steak House The newest restaurant from chef Dana Rodriguez, this “steak home” grills up exquisite cuts of beef at a range of price points. Also explore its internationally inspired menu of shared plates and composed entrées. Reservations accepted. 2601 Larimer St., 303-953-1558. Dinner

CONVIVIO CAFÉ

$

Berkeley / Cafe This bilingual cafe is named after the Guatemalan convivio, a get-together where all

$

$$$$

Boulder / Italian The elegant fare at Frasca, an ode to the cuisine of Friuli-Venezia Giulia in Italy from master sommelier Bobby Stuckey and chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson, always wows. Splurge on executive chef Ian Palazzola’s ninecourse Friulano menu. Reservations accepted. 1738 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-6966. Dinner

FRUITION RESTAURANT

$$$$

Country Club / American This farm-to-table restaurant led by executive chef Jarred Russell focuses on seasonal dishes that are big on flavor. Go for any produce-driven small plates. Reservations accepted. 1313 E. Sixth Ave., 303-831-1962. Dinner

THE GREENWICH

RiNo / Pizza Restaurateur Delores Tronco brings a slice of her favorite New York City neighborhood to RiNo at the Greenwich. Reservations accepted. 3258 Larimer St., 720-868-5006. Dinner

$$$

$$$$

RiNo / Chinese From Tommy Lee of Uncle, this neighborhood hangout’s daily menu is composed of dishes rooted in Chinese tradition with a distinctive flair. If spots are open at the luxurious chef’s counter, though, don’t miss the exclusive experience. Reservations accepted. 3500 Larimer St., 720-379-8340. Dinner

INDIA’S RESTAURANT

$$ Hampden / Indian This spot serves traditional fare, including flavorful dishes like tandoori chicken. Take advantage of the lunch buffet, and be sure to try the cinnamon bread pudding. Reservations accepted. 8921 E. Hampden Ave., 303-755-4284. Lunch, Dinner

ISTANBUL CAFE & BAKERY

$ Washington Virginia Vale / Middle Eastern Inside the shopping center at the intersection of South Monaco Parkway and Leetsdale Drive, friendly owner Ismet Yilmaz prepares authentic Turkish pastries. Reservations not accepted. 850 S. Monaco Parkway, Suite 9, 720-787-7751. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

JACQUES

$$$

LoHi / French This romantic restaurant serves top-notch renditions of all the French classics— duck confit, French onion soup, mussels—but don’t miss dishes like the American-style burger and fries, which impress just as much. Reservations accepted. 3200 Tejon St., 720925-2332. Dinner

JERUSALEM RESTAURANT

$$

University / Middle Eastern You can’t beat this spot’s tasty, affordable, and traditional Middle Eastern fare, including gyros, baba ghanoush, and sambusas. Reservations accepted. 1890 E. Evans Ave., 303-777-8828. Lunch, Dinner

KAHLO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

$$ Westwood / Mexican Enjoy plates of mole and enchiladas verdes, as well as a menu of almost 30 different juices and smoothies, in a space decorated with the art of Frida Kahlo. Reservations accepted. 3735 Morrison Road, 303-936-0758. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Give the gift of local culture.

Packed with dining reviews and recommendations, adventure how-tos, deep dives into the state’s long-lost stories, and more—5280 is the perfect gift for the Denverite in your life.

12 ISSUES FOR $ 14 . Scan to start sending gifts!

KIKÉ’S RED TACOS

LoHi / Mexican This brick-and-mortar location of the popular Mexican food truck is known for its queso tacos, which come stuffed with cheese and your choice of meat. Doctor up your order with the rainbow of sauces at the salsa bar. Reservations not accepted. 1200 W. 38th Ave., 720-3970591. Lunch, Dinner

LA FORÊT

$

MAJOR TOM

$$$$

Speer / French Transport yourself to the forest at this cocktail-centric French restaurant decorated with floor-to-ceiling aspen trunks. Head in during pastis hour to sample the anise-flavored apéritif with small plates, or dine on dishes like stag au poivre or rabbit vadouvan. Reservations not accepted. 38 S. Broadway, 303-351-7938. Dinner

LUCHADOR TACO & MORE

$$

Whittier / Mexican Chef Zuri Resendiz’s vibrant takes on Mexican street food are refined and full of flavor. Don’t miss the Peruvian-inspired plates, either, such as the lomo saltado or causa tartare. Reservations accepted. 2030 E. 28th Ave., 303954-0672. Dinner

LUCINA EATERY & BAR

$$$

South Park Hill / Latin American Bold flavors from Latin America, the Caribbean, and coastal Spain tantalize at this lively restaurant. Try the mofongo (plantain mash) or the two-person paella with rotating toppings only served on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations accepted. 2245 Kearney St., Suite 101, 720-814-1053. Dinner

“A

$$$$

RiNo / American This lounge from the team behind Beckon offers a Champagne-centric drink menu and a delectable lineup of shareable bites. Enjoy larger-format plates at a table inside, or throw back some oysters on the beautiful patio. Reservations accepted. 2845 Larimer St., 303848-9777. Dinner

MAKFAM

MOLOTOV KITSCHEN & COCKTAILS

$$$$

City Park / Eastern European The ever-changing menu at this aptly kitschy restaurant from chef Bo Porytko celebrates the cuisine of Ukraine. Try creative takes on borscht and Eastern European dumplings. Reservations accepted. 3333 E. Colfax Ave., 303-316-3333. Dinner

NI TUYO

$$

Baker / Chinese The Chinese food at this streetfood-inspired, fast-casual eatery eschews tradition for a whole lot more fun. Try the jian bing (scallion pancake) sandwiches and the crab cheese wontons, which come dusted with sugar. Reservations not accepted. 39 W. First Ave. Lunch, Dinner

MARIGOLD

$$$$

Lyons / European This small, light-filled restaurant serves seasonally driven French- and Italianinfluenced fare. The pink-peppercorn-laced farinata (chickpea pancake) is a delicious mainstay of the frequently changing menu, and the amarofocused cocktail program is also delightful. Reservations accepted. 405 Main St., Suite B, Lyons, 303-823-2333. Dinner

MASON’S DUMPLING SHOP

$$

Aurora / Chinese House-made steamed, boiled, and pan-fried dumplings complement noodle and rice bowls and vegetable sides at this Los Angeles–born spot. Reservations not accepted. 9655 E. Montview Blvd., 303-600-8998. Lunch, Dinner

$$$

Belcaro / Mexican Visit this Bonnie Brae eatery for bubbly molcajetes, piping-hot stone bowls of Mexican meats and veggies stewed in chile sauce. Or grab a seat at the bar for a tasty margarita with an order of chips and salsa. Reservations not accepted. 730 S. University Blvd., 303-2828896. Dinner

NOISETTE RESTAURANT & BAKERY

$$$$

LoHi / French Chefs Tim and Lillian Lu serve elegant renditions of bourgeoisie-style specialties (French home-cooked comforts) in a romantic, light-drenched space. Tear into the perfectly crisp baguette to set the Parisian scene for your dining experience. Reservations accepted. 3254 Navajo St., Suite 100, 720-769-8103. Dinner, Brunch

ODIE B’S

Sunnyside / American Sandwiches reach their prime at this fast-casual restaurant. Try twists on classics like the fried chicken sandwich with deviled egg spread and the mixed bag of fries, which combines four different shapes of fried spuds. Reservations not accepted. 2651 W. 38th Ave., 303-993-8078. Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

$

A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens

Adapted by Richard Hellesen Music by David de Berry

Directed by Anthony Powell

The 2023 cast of A Christmas Carol. Photo by Jamie Kraus Photography.

ONEFOLD

$$

City Park West / Contemporary This eatery does early-day dining justice. Pair the bacon fried rice with house-made bone broth, Vietnamese iced coffee, or a local IPA. Reservations not accepted. 1420 E. 18th Ave., 303-954-0877. Breakfast, Lunch

OTOTO

$$$

Platt Park / Japanese From the team behind Sushi Den and Izakaya Den, this sleek eatery breaks away from its Den Corner counterparts by focusing on more casual Japanese eats. Try the yellowtail collar grilled over white oak charcoal. Reservations accepted. 1501 S. Pearl St., 303-9421416. Dinner, Brunch

POINT EASY

$$$$

Whittier / Contemporary This stylish, inviting farm-to-table eatery produces feasts made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients, many of which are grown locally. Pair the calamari- and tomatostudded bucatini nero with a specialty cocktail. Reservations accepted. 2000 E. 28th Ave., 303233-5656. Dinner

THE PORCHETTA HOUSE

City Park West / Italian The porchetta at this lunch-to-late-night eatery is an expression of both Italian tradition and globally minded creativity. Try the al pastor porchetta sandwich with pineapple pico and Cotija cheese. Reservations not accepted. 1510 Humboldt St., 303-861-7333. Lunch, Dinner

$

POTAGER

$$$

Capitol Hill / Contemporary Since 1997, this rustic Capitol Hill restaurant has specialized in fresh, seasonally driven food. The menu replete with small- and large-format plates changes once a month. Reservations accepted. 1109 N. Ogden St., 303-246-7073. Dinner

QUE BUENO SUERTE!

Nguyen finds its culinary footing in Vietnamese flavors. Herbaceous offerings like culantrocapped tomato toast and lemongrass-scented pork shoulder are favorites of the menu. Reservations accepted. 2550 E. Colfax Ave., 303-736-2303. Dinner

SPUNTINO

$$$

Platt Park / Mexican The menu at this vibrant restaurant offers familiar items like tacos and fajitas as well as upscale, regionally inspired Mexican fare. Try the molcajete on Friday and Saturday. Reservations accepted. 1518 S. Pearl St., 720-642-7322. Dinner, Brunch

RAS KASSA’S

Lafayette / Ethiopian Find shareable Ethiopian cuisine in a comfortable environment. Order a meat or vegetarian combo plate and a glass of honey wine. Reservations not accepted. 802 S. Public Road, Lafayette, 303-447-2919. Dinner

RESTAURANT OLIVIA

$$$

$$$$

Washington Park / Italian This cozy yet modern neighborhood spot specializes in fresh pastas of all varieties. The ravioli and other stuffed pastas are must-orders, and a specialty Negroni doesn’t hurt either. Reservations accepted. 290 S. Downing St., 303-999-0395. Dinner

SAP SUA

Congress Park / Vietnamese This smart eatery from husband-and-wife duo Ni and Anna

$$$

$$$$

Highland / Italian Enjoy the eclectic and locally sourced menu at this Italian-inspired, husbandand-wife-owned spot. Go for any of the dishes with Southern Indian influences—a product of chef Cindhura Reddy’s heritage—like malai kofta gnocchi. Don’t miss the house-made gelatos for dessert. Reservations accepted. 2639 W. 32nd Ave., 303-433-0949. Dinner

STONE CELLAR BISTRO

$$$

Arvada / Contemporary Visit this farm-to-table spot in Olde Town Arvada for beautifully presented dishes made with local produce by chefs Jordan Alley and Brandon Kerr. Don’t miss the foie gras parfait or the hot honey fried chicken. Reservations accepted. 7605 Grandview Ave., Arvada, 720-630-7908. Dinner

SUNDAY VINYL

$$$

LoDo / European This Union Station restaurant offers warm hospitality, exquisite cuisine, and an extensive wine list, all to the soundtrack of a vinylonly playlist. Order the caviar-topped hash brown patty and something from the indulgent selection of sweet treats. Reservations accepted. 1803 16th Street Mall, 720-738-1803. Dinner

Unwind and make lasting memories with your loved ones at The Broadmoor with Winter Spectacular rates starting at $360 (inclusive of Daily Resort Charge and Public Improvement Fee) per night. Play till your heart’s content in our indoor pool or catch a movie in our theatre. Or take on an adventure with some of our Broadmoor experiences such as falconry, zip lining, mountain biking and more. Perhaps a little competition is more your speed with a friendly round of complimentary golf.

OFFER INCLUDES:

• Complimentary golf greens fees (cart rental not included November 21, 2024 – March 13, 2025 (weather permitting)

• Complimentary outdoor tennis and pickleball court time November 21, 2024 – March 13, 2025 (weather permitting)

• All o ers include 25% discount on suite rates

All of this coupled with our legendary service are sure to make for a spectacular experience. Visit broadmoor.com for more information today.

TRAVELING MERCIES

$$$

Aurora / Seafood Annette’s Caroline Glover expands her offerings in Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace with this petite yet airy oyster and cocktail bar. Any meal here deserves an order of the anchovy and baguette with French churned butter. Reservations accepted. 2501 Dallas St., Suite 311, Aurora. Dinner

TU’S KITCHEN

$$

Broomfield / Vietnamese Thuy Le, former owner of Boulder’s Chez Thuy, delivers flavor-packed Vietnamese cuisine at her new restaurant. Reservations accepted. 6500 W. 120th Ave., Broomfield, 303-975-6001. Lunch, Dinner

URBAN VILLAGE GRILL

$$$

Lone Tree / Indian This eatery serves classic and contemporary dishes from regions across India. Order the chef’s tasting menu. Reservations accepted. 8505 Park Meadows Center Drive, Suite 2184A, Lone Tree, 720-536-8565. Lunch, Dinner

US THAI CAFE

Edgewater / Thai Fresh ingredients, spicy dishes, and a chef straight from Thailand make for an authentic, if mouth-tingling, dining experience. Reservations accepted. 5228 W. 25th Ave., Edgewater, 303-233-3345. Lunch, Dinner

VINH XUONG BAKERY

$

mi sandwiches and other tasty Vietnamese treats. Reservations not accepted. 2370 Alameda Ave., 303-922-0999. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

VOGHERA APERICENA

XICAMITI LA TAQUERÍA

$$$

Berkeley / Italian Enjoy Italian-style tapas such as beef tartare, Burrata, and pancetta-wrapped scallops at this rustic-chic Berkeley outpost. Reservations not accepted. 3963 Tennyson St., 303-455-9111. Dinner, Brunch

WELLNESS SUSHI

$$

Congress Park / Japanese Vegan sushi stars at this fast-casual joint by husband-and-wife duo Steven and Phoebe Lee. Don’t miss hot options like the soupless ramen. Reservations not accepted. 2504 E. Colfax Ave., 720-306-4989. Lunch, Dinner

WHITTIER CAFE

Whittier / Cafe This espresso bar, which supports social-justice-related causes, serves coffee, beer, and wine sourced from various African nations and a small menu of pastries, breakfast burritos, panini, and more. Reservations not accepted. 1710 E. 25th Ave., 720-550-7440. Breakfast, Lunch

THE WOLF’S TAILOR

$$

Washington Park / Vietnamese This family-owned bakery has roots in Denver that stretch back more than 25 years. They serve up delicious banh

$$

Golden / Mexican This long-standing joint serves cooked-to-order burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and alambres (skillet dishes). Reservations not accepted. 715 Washington Ave., Golden, 303-2153436. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

YAHYA’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL & PASTRIES

$$ City Park West / Mediterranean This family-run restaurant serves silky hummus, a variety of excellent grilled kebabs, and from-scratch sweets. Try the beef koobideh. Reservations accepted. 2207 E. Colfax Ave., 720-532-8746. Lunch, Dinner

YUAN WONTON

$

$$ North Park Hill / Asian House-made dumplings earn top billing at this ambitious eatery from chef Penelope Wong. Head in on Fridays for a dimsum-themed lunch that showcases the best of Wong’s hand-folded delicacies. Reservations accepted. 2878 Fairfax St., 303-320-5642. Lunch

ZORBA’S

$$$$

Sunnyside / Contemporary This Michelin-starred restaurant from chef-restaurateur Kelly Whitaker transforms local ingredients into a globally minded, prix fixe tasting menu. Don’t get too full before pastry chef Emily Thompson’s dessert course. Reservations accepted. 4058 Tejon St., 720-456-6705. Dinner

$$

Congress Park / Greek Zorba’s has served American and Greek fare—salads, sandwiches, and breakfast dishes—in Congress Park since 1979. Reservations not accepted. 2626 E. 12th Ave., 303-321-0091. Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

 These listings are in no way related to advertising in 5280. If you find that a restaurant differs significantly from the information in its listing or your favorite restaurant is missing from the Dining Guide, please let us know. Write us at 5280 Publishing, Inc., 1675 Larimer St., Suite 675, Denver, CO 80202 or dining@5280.com.

NOV 1-10

Denver Arts Week

Throughout Denver On Friday November 1, walk through Denver’s famous art districts and streets during expanded First Friday Arts Walk. On Saturday, November 2 visit Denver’s many museums and exhibits for free with Free Night At The Museums. Then, don’t miss Denver Film Festival, November 1-10—the largest film festival in the Rocky Mountain region.

Information and tickets at denverartsweek.com.

NOV 2

Free Day and Night at the Museums

Clyfford Still Museum | 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Explore the Clyfford Still Museum free from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. During the day, discover what’s new and enjoy hands-on mini tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Then, experience CSM and other Denver museums after dark.

Information and tickets at clyffordstillmuseum.org/events.

23

2024 Loveland Winter Wonderlights

Chapungu Sculpture Park, Loveland

Don't miss Winter Wonderlights free holiday light show spectacular in the heart of northern Colorado. Shows run nightly on the half-hour from 5-9 pm and special live programming November 23, December 13 and 14 starting at 4:30pm!

Information and tickets at visitloveland.com/winterwonderlights.

JAN 11-26

National Western Stock Show

NW Complex, 4655 Humboldt St, Denver

Get ready for the ride of a lifetime! For 16 unforgettable days in January, the National Western Stock Show turns Denver into the ultimate Western destination with thrilling rodeos, champion livestock, exciting horse shows, and fun-filled family events. Don’t miss out!

Information and tickets at nationalwestern.com.

SCENE CALENDAR

DEC

7

50th Anniversary of 9NEWS Parade of Lights

Denver | 6 p.m.

The 2024 9NEWS Parade of Lights, produced by the Downtown Denver Partnership and celebrating 50 years of holiday magic, will feature over 40 floats, balloons, marching bands, cultural displays, and special guests like Major Waddles and Santa.

Information and tickets at winterindenver.com/parade.

JUN 25-29

2025 U.S. Senior Open

The Broadmoor

The 2025 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor brings world-class golf to an iconic destination. Watch top senior players compete at this legendary course, while enjoying breathtaking views and rich history. It’s a can’t-miss event for golf lovers and social goers!

Information and tickets at broadmoor.com.

DEC 10

Meow Meow

Newman Center for the Performing Arts 7:30 p.m.

International chanteuse and comedienne extraordinaire Meow Meow brings her unique brand of holiday hilarity and musical mayhem. A rollicking tonic, “Feline Festive” will rekindle the spirt of the holidays, featuring a band of superb musicians and song.

Information and tickets at newmancenterpresents.com/meowmeow.

the same day as the Hungates’ bodies. He’d spent time traversing the Great Plains and wrote to his sister that he’d passed “a good many Indians” on his trip. He’d initially been worried about being attacked, but he noticed that Anglo settlements in Colorado were mostly undefended and easily could be taken by groups of Native Americans.

Why weren’t killings like the Hungates’ more prevalent? he wondered. “[A]s I learn the facts and begin to understand the relation of the Indians to the whites, my fear subsides,” Hill wrote.The viewing, as he witnessed it, was nothing more than propaganda. The bodies were “exposed in the streets” as a way to “convince the incredulous of the fact of the murder,” he wrote. Hill left the city disgusted. “So fond are these Westerners of excitement,” he wrote, “that all the people of the town, with a few honorable exceptions, went to see” the Hungates.

A year later, a report from the U.S. Congressional Joint Committee on the Conduct of the Civil War condemned the Hungate display as it related to the Sand Creek Massacre. The report said the viewing was a political trick designed to provoke “hatred of the whites to the Indians” and that the Hungates’ bodies were “exposed to the public gaze for the purpose of inflaming still more the already excited feeling of the people.”

After being notified of the Hungate killings, Chivington had left his post at Fort Lyon— near Sand Creek—and headed to Denver to take advantage of the fear he knew had gripped the city. Months after Sand Creek, in testimony to the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the Civil War, the colonel recalled the Hungate display to defend his decisions during the massacre. “[A]ny person who could, for a moment, believe that these Indians were friendly…must have strange ideas of their habits,” Chivington told the committee. “We could not see it in that light.”

The impact of the Hungate exhibition was immediate. That night, word arrived that around 1,000 Native Americans were heading toward the city, prepared to overtake its residents. Citizens rushed into the streets

and took refuge inside the Denver Mint and a building on Ferry Street. Over the next several hours, city residents awaited an attack that never came. The Native Americans bearing down on the city, it turned out, were a herd of cattle kicking up dust in the distance.

It’s uncertain where Evans was at this time, but the governor’s ultimate plan was clear. Fewer than two weeks after the Hungate bodies had been displayed in Denver, the governor issued a proclamation that “friendly Indians of the Plains” were to report to military outposts for safety and protection. In time, his message would change. An ultimatum was released that August. The territory’s citizens, the governor declared, were to “kill and destroy, as enemies of the country, wherever they may be found…hostile Indians.”

ROUGHLY 15 YEARS before Broome excavated the Hungate site, another historian had visited. In 1985, Robert Akerley, a research author writing for the Aurora History Museum, spent three days at the site and was the first person to record a systematic modern search there. With the help of several organizations, including the Eureka Metal Detector Club and the Cherry Creek Valley and Elbert County historical

societies, Akerley and his crew set up a grid in the alfalfa field and began probing for the burned cabin, the well, and the outhouse.

Writing an assessment of the work in November 1986, Akerley recorded minor discoveries, including a burned thimble, buckles, a mule shoe, window-glass fragments, and other items. He reported that a rod was repeatedly plunged into the earth but failed to turn up the well or the cabin’s foundation.

Ed Miller, one of Broome’s CU philosophy professors, also spent time at the property. About a year after Akerley’s search, he took another inventory of the site. Miller, who died earlier this year, also recorded the property’s convoluted history in his manuscripts.

After the killings, Miller wrote, Van Wormer had allowed his land to revert to the government. In 1874, the land was deeded to the Kansas Pacific Railroad, and two years later, it was sold to a private landowner. Miller explained that there was “some slight evidence” that a landowner rebuilt on the same site as the Hungates’ cabin. At some point, Miller wrote, the old well and cabin site were turned into dumping grounds for neighbors.

Miller’s work, to that point, had been the most complete at the site. The philosophy professor went even further with his investigation, though. He visited sites where Nathan Hungate had lived in Nebraska and Illinois and attempted to give insight into the Hungate family’s brief life in Colorado. Using the evidence he’d gathered, Miller came to his own conclusions about the attack, which he attributed to a feud between Van Wormer and Native Americans who’d stolen 40 head of cattle from the land a year earlier. From Miller’s viewpoint, the Hungates had been caught up in something beyond their control.

At best, Miller’s conclusions form a hypothesis of what happened at the Hungate cabin— but it’s still more complete than many of the news reports that were published in 1864. “It’s very difficult to believe anything that was written” at that time, says Jeff Campbell, a former New Mexico cold-case investigator who spent more than two decades reconstructing the mass murder at Sand Creek and spent years investigating the Hungate killings. “The facts don’t add up neatly in any retelling, and lots of post-Hungate recollections are used to excuse what Chivington did, so you’re going to have this reimagining of events.”

Campbell says there is a high likelihood of gross misrepresentation in 1864 accounts, in large part because of the anti–Native American sentiment in the Denver media. The pro-settlement Rocky Mountain News publisher was William Byers, a close friend of Evans whose newspaper advocated for citizen militias to punish “the merciless savages.” A

Weekly Commonwealth story published in the Hungate aftermath reported that “Moccasins, arrows, and other Indian signs were found in the vicinity,” but there’s no proof that those things had actually been found. They were not brought as evidence to the coroner in Denver. “You’d think those items would be kept, as direct evidence, to prove what was done to that family,” Campbell says. “If you’re looking for a smoking gun, that would be it. But none of this exists, outside the newspaper.”

In a September 1864 meeting with tribal chiefs at Camp Weld—in what’s now southwest Denver—Evans questioned Arapaho Chief Neva about the Hungates. Neva said several Native Americans were likely responsible for the killings, including men named Roman Nose and Medicine Man. Still, even this information was suspect. It’s possible Neva simply wanted to offer something to territorial officials in an attempt to show cooperation and ensure his tribe’s survival. (“All we ask is that we may have peace with the whites,” Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle said at the meeting, according to a transcript of the event that was published in the Rocky. “We must live near the buffalo or starve.”) There are other issues with the admission Evans got from Neva: There were at least two men who went by the name Roman Nose in the Great Plains, and an Army official noted that Medicine Man had been outside of the Colorado Territory on June 11.

Over time, the Kiowa, Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Sioux tribes would all be blamed for the Hungate killings. After Sand Creek, the Rocky Mountain News reported, without evidence, that White Antelope—a 75-yearold Southern Cheyenne chief who’d been at Camp Weld with Black Kettle and was well-known for advocating for peace with settlers—was “one of the murderers of the Hungate family” and had been the first person killed at the Sand Creek Massacre.

IN A LOT OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL

work, grids are set and workers meticulously and methodically cover an area—placing pins to mark locations and recording depths and positions of their findings. “It’s pretty basic-level stuff, because the goal is to put together a story that is supported by evidence, and you have to know where that evidence was found or you can’t put together the correct story,” says Ray Sumner, a Colorado State University doctoral student who is researching a post–Sand Creek battle site in Julesburg. “You can’t just say, ‘I found something cool,’ and leave it at that, because every bit of what you find needs context.”

In his 2000s excavations at the Hungate site, Broome found hundreds of artifacts, but none pointed directly to Native Americans. Despite the dozens of bullets and spent casings, he

never found a single metal arrowhead that would have been commonplace among Native Americans of the Great Plains at the time. Perhaps more important, Broome didn’t follow basic best practices of archaeology in his work at the site. He says he made his searches over several years but didn’t keep detailed records— a failing that leaves his findings, no matter how compelling, open to criticism. “I can walk you around where the cabin is and show you about where I found this and that,” he says. “It’s all right there. What difference does it make if [something] was found four feet over there, or eight feet here?”

In the mid-2010s, the landowner revoked Broome’s access to the site after he’d left the dug-out well exposed for too long and some of his students he’d taken to the property began trespassing on the site and taking, and keeping, artifacts. (The current landowner, the third since Broome’s work began, did not return a call seeking comment and has told Luke Aaron that she does not believe the Hungate cabin was on her land.) Still, Broome takes credit for keeping the cabin’s location safe. In the 2010s, he said, new landowners were contemplating building a larger home on the property. Broome said he visited the couple and walked them into a field on their property. “I said, ‘Hey, this is the site,’ ” Broome recalls of the conversation. “ ‘You probably don’t want to build on this.’ ” They didn’t.

Regardless of the effort, Philip J. Deloria, a Harvard University history professor who studies Native American histories across the Great Plains, said Broome’s work likely complicated further investigations and might have actually damaged the historical record at the site. Broome “is like a true-crime person in a way,” Deloria said. “It’s like, I’m going to figure this thing out. I got my metal detector and I’m going to go out, and I’m going to find these things, and I’m going to take them out of the public realm. It’s rife with a jump to the spectacular.”

In this case, any archaeological work at the cabin would also need interpretation, likely from multiple sources, some of whom should have Indigenous backgrounds. “This is a set of killings, and it’s also an ideological structure,” Deloria said. In a sense, the site is “not only a public history; it’s also a Native history that belongs, in some ways, to some Native people.”

At his place in Beulah, everything Broome found at the Hungate site is either on his kitchen table, hanging on walls, or stacked in a shed out back. The most intriguing find, in Broome’s mind, is the flayed brass firing plate, because he believes Nathan Hungate used the gun during the attack. Broome postulates that Hungate repeatedly fired it until “black powder made that barrel so hot, you

couldn’t touch it.” At some point, Broome thinks, the weapon must have exploded in Hungate’s face.

Broome says his own investigations prove there’d been heightened tensions in the days before the Hungate killings on June 11, but none in the area had ended with a deadly interaction. There’d been a documented event on June 7 of an interaction between settlers and Native Americans, though no shots were fired and no one was injured. According to a report, there was a cattle theft the same day as the attack on the Hungate cabin.

Two other notable events occurred as well, Broome says, which he’d culled from research at the National Archives: On June 9 or June 10, Native Americans stole seven horses and were chased for three miles by a settler. “They didn’t kill her,” Broome says. Around the same time, possibly on June 10, seven freight wagons stopped in a camp outside Denver to allow roughly 40 oxen to graze and rest. At some point, four Native Americans surprised the group and chased off its animals. Three members of the party had pistols, according to Broome’s research, but no one fired a shot. “The Indians could have killed those people,” Broome says. “They didn’t.”

Which brought him to the Hungate attack. Reports at the time said Hungate had been in the field with another hired hand when he saw his cabin burning in the distance and rode his horse into a fight with the attackers. By then, it’s assumed, his wife and children were already dead. Hungate’s body was found near the creek. A whip was also recovered at the site, according to a report.

But none of that story makes sense to Broome: “Why the hell would the Indians kill this family when everything shows they were doing nothing but stealing stock that day?” He ticks through the list of items he found in the remains of what he says is the old cabin: bullets, casings, the pistol, the firing plate. There’d been obvious violence at the site, but to Broome, much of it appears to have been directed from the inside out.

Broome developed his own hypothesis. There had been an attack, that was clear, but it didn’t happen as it had been reported at the time. Native American depredations had been happening around the area, and Broome believes Hungate had possibly gotten caught up in the excitement. Perhaps because Hungate was a new hire who didn’t want to be responsible for his boss’ cattle being stolen— and he didn’t understand the way in which Native Americans and settlers interacted in the area—Broome thinks there may have been an encounter in which Hungate caught Native Americans stealing Van Wormer’s cattle. Unlike the woman who’d seen thefts of her own horses and tried to chase the culprits, Broome thinks that perhaps Hungate had shot at the Native Americans, wounding or killing one of them. Hungate, Broome says, should have understood that the loss of the animals was not worth killing a thief and any resultant violence against him or his family. Broome believes that at some point, Hungate and his family took cover in the cabin. Nathan Hungate would have been shooting the long gun, which exploded during the firefight. It was then, Broome surmises, that the Native Americans set fire to the cabin. His wife and children fled and were caught and killed. “This was a raid that turned violent, and it was caused by Nathan Hungate,” Broome says. “He caused the death of his own family.”

If this were true—and we will likely never know, in part because of Broome’s disorganized work at the site—then it’s fair to wonder if the Hungate family would’ve lived if Hungate had let the Native Americans take off with the cattle. It’s also fair to ponder if, perhaps, the tragedy at Sand Creek wouldn’t have happened, either.

ON A BRIGHT AFTERNOON this past August, Sumner, the CSU doctoral student, met me in Julesburg, where he and his team of undergraduate students, graduate students, and volunteers were investigating a battle site just outside of town. I’d been invited because I wanted to get a sense of what rigorous archaeological study of a Hungate-era site really looked like.

An 1864 poster recruiting volunteers to enlist in the volunteer cavalry, which took part in the Sand Creek Massacre on Chivington’s orders

I followed Sumner as he drove his red Hyundai Sonata across a stretch of sandy road a few hundred yards from I-76, near the Nebraska border. There were farms with tractors parked out front and occasional fields of corn and millet. We pulled off the road along a section of unfarmed land that bordered a ditch. Beyond the barbed-wire fence directly in front of us, a flagpole rose in the middle distance. “There it is,” Sumner, 52, said.

On January 7, 1865, a small army of Cheyenne, Arapaho, and two bands of Lakota attacked a mail coach and then a wagon train here. The plan was to draw out forces from nearby Camp Rankin and ambush them. The incident, which later was named the Battle of Julesburg, was the first of many post–Sand Creek fights across Colorado and the Eastern Plains that have been categorized as part of the Colorado War.

Old Julesburg (the present-day town is about nine miles to the northeast) had been a prominent Overland Trail way station that connected the Kansas Territory to the Oregon Trail. Before the attack—which left 15 American soldiers and four citizens dead— Old Julesburg had been an important strategic point on the Great Plains. There was a town

with a military encampment, a stagecoach station, a large frontier store, and a telegraph office that connected Old Julesburg to Denver. “This was the Walmart of the Old West,” Sumner told me.

A retired Army officer originally from Iowa, Sumner served in Iraq, Korea, and Saudi Arabia and moved to Colorado in 2016 with his family to pursue his doctorate in anthropology. The idea of digging up the past appealed to Sumner, whose ancestors include Elizabeth Minerva Sumner, whose husband was William Byers, the Rocky Mountain News founder and publisher who helped stir up post-Hungate chaos. In 2018, Sumner and one of his professors took a trip to Old Julesburg to check out the site, which appeared to be nothing more than an unfarmed field next to a house and some outbuildings.

Sumner began doing research on the January 1865 battle. He learned that Native Americans had returned a month later to resupply and ultimately burned the town. Many of the Arapaho and Cheyenne who’d participated in the raid had previously fled north after the massacre at Sand Creek. They’d survived on limited supplies in the first months in the wilderness, but an already bleak situation grew

worse. “They were just trying to figure out how to make it out alive,” he said. “And you had a little town with all this stuff. Where do you think you’re going to go if you’re worried you might starve to death?”

A few months after seeing the Battle of Julesburg site for the first time, Sumner returned. He spoke to the landowner, who gave Sumner and his team access to the property. Sumner divvied the land into a grid and led multiple metal detectorists across the field. “There was stuff everywhere,” said Sumner, who had a salt-and-pepper beard and was wearing an Indiana Jones T-shirt when we met.

In time, the search area stretched beyond the area where the town had been and included about three miles of land to the southeast, from which the Native Americans had launched their surprise attack. On the site of the former town, Sumner and his group discovered thousands of artifacts— from bullets and pieces of cannonballs used in battle to everyday items such as buttons and belt buckles. Each item was meticulously preserved and catalogued; their locations in the earth and their relations to other nearby artifacts were precisely recorded.

Detailed records “allow you to put together a narrative of real people doing real things,” Sumner said. At one point during their work, the CSU team discovered a cannonball near the old telegraph station, which Sumner believes was launched by soldiers as they tried to clear a path back to Camp Rankin. “That’s when the history comes alive,” Sumner told me.

Eventually, Sumner hopes he can place specific groups of Army soldiers and Native Americans on the land. He wants to understand where they were fighting, where they had come from, and what they might have been doing at a singular moment in time. Similar work has been done at the Battle of Little Bighorn, where an archaeological team linked weapons and ammunition to specific individuals, recording where they fought and died. Sumner believes advanced work in Julesburg could eventually open the property to formal status as a protected U.S. battlefield. The federal designation, he said, would help preserve the land for future generations. Just as important, it would keep the area sacred.

And that’s where Broome’s work on the Hungate property has fallen short. Sumner knows Broome and considers him to be a good historian, but his lack of cataloging, his failure to record specific locations of artifacts, and his use of untrained students searching without true supervision likely ruined the Hungate site for further, serious exploration. “I would never say anything bad about Jeff, but things might have been done differently,” Sumner said. “I think the book is pretty much closed there.”

Sumner stood behind a fence of barbed wire that helped guard the Julesburg property and scratched his beard. “It’s too important to lose this historical record,” he said. “If we’re not out here responsibly researching this site, who’s going to do it?”

BACK NEAR THE HUNGATE site, Aaron hopped in the driver’s side of the Polaris with Ketter in the back and headed past the cattle and down the hill. One of the heifers had given birth a couple of days before, and Aaron said he hadn’t seen the calf all morning. “You don’t think it’s dead, do you, Luke?” Ketter asked.

Aaron shook his head. “I’m sure it’s bedded down somewhere,” he said as we trekked across the field. “Don’t worry. We’ll find it.”

The land outside this rural bubble was beginning to take on characteristics that Ed Miller, the college professor who searched the Hungate site nearly 40 years earlier, had feared when he asked to dig on the land. Back in the 1980s, the area was entirely rural. There were dirt roads, and it seemed everyone had horses or cattle or farms on properties that stretched 200 acres or more. Elbert County eventually allowed plots to be subdivided into smaller parcels, which brought more development. Roads were improved, and cars sped across miles of now-unbroken pavement. A subdivision west of Ketter’s property seemed to materialize overnight.

Even the land that had once belonged to Isaac P. Van Wormer has been part of the change: The property owners Broome dissuaded from clearing the former cabin’s site eventually built a sizable house. A driveway now runs perpendicular to Running Creek, near where Nathan Hungate’s body was reportedly discovered.

Aaron rents the ranch house where Ketter used to live and is a country singer-songwriter. He played a show recently in nearby Elizabeth, and then returned to the house. Aaron opened the garage door, cracked open some beers, and hung out with his buddies. Deep into the night, Aaron said, people started telling stories. The subject of the Hungates came up. “Murder and mayhem,” Aaron said as we zipped around in the UTV, looking for the missing calf. “You can’t escape it.”

He and Ketter went quiet for a moment.

“A family lost their lives out here, for whatever reason,” Ketter hollered over the engine’s whine. “You have to respect that history. Those people came from a long way away to start a life here, and it didn’t work out for them. In some way, maybe we can be some of the people who hold onto that memory.”

After a few minutes of speeding around the field, Ketter was thinking about her missing calf again. “Luke, I’m scared,” she said. “Do you think a coyote got to it?”

“It’s fine; it’s fine,” Aaron said, trying to reassure her. “That momma wouldn’t let that happen to her calf. They can get real mean, charge right at you.” Aaron weaved the Polaris as he drove toward the creek. He watched the mother cow, to see if she showed interest in where we were going.

“C’mon, Momma,” Aaron said. Nothing.

It went like this for the next several minutes. We checked another trail across the river. We investigated a brushy nest of outgrowth next to a couple of massive cottonwoods. Aaron finally said he needed to drop me off. “I’ve gotta find this thing,” he said, and we headed back to the house. He’d find the calf later that day.

The moment wasn’t lost on him. Aaron had moved in and helped Ketter with her cow operation and was managing the rest of the property, much like Nathan Hungate did 160 years earlier. How many times did Hungate go searching for missing cattle? Aaron wondered.

He stopped on the dirt drive and let me out. Before he and Ketter left me, Aaron said some of the animals would soon be sent to slaughter. The meat would be sold across the state. Ketter said she already had a name for it: Hungate Beef. m

Robert Sanchez is 5280 ’s senior staff writer. Send feedback to letters@5280.com.

From left: Ketter’s Angus cows; Luke Aaron cruises around the property looking for wayward cattle.

Kevin Mohatt (2)

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FIVE STAR INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL

DETERMINATION OF AWARD WINNERS CRITERIA

The investment professional award goes to estate planning attorneys, insurance agents and select others in Eligibility Criteria – Required: 1. Credentialed with appropriate state or industry licensures. 2. Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years. 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review. 4. Accepting new clients. 5. One-year client retention rate. 6. Five-year client retention rate. 7. Number of client households served. 8. Recent personal production and performance (industry specific criteria). 9. Education and professional designations/industry and board certifications. 10. Pro Bono and community service work. This year, we honored 11 Denver-area investment professionals with the Five Star

This award was issued on 10/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 12/12/2023 through 07/09/2024. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed considered for the award; 224 (9% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of 1/4/21 - 7/30/21; 2020: 2,172, 213, 10%, 10/1/20, 1/20/20 - 8/14/20; 2019: 2,146, 262, 12%, 10/1/19, 1/21/19 - 8/23/19; 2018: 2,255, 267, 12%, 10/1/18, 1/18/18 - 8/21/18; 2017: 2/19/13 - 8/17/13; 2013: 2,083, 607, 29%, 10/1/13, 2/19/12 - 8/17/12; 2012: 1,965, 611, 31%, 10/1/12, 2/19/11 - 8/17/11. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment

All award winners are listed in this publication.

Wealth Managers

Business Planning

Jay Clark Lucet Advisors

Mark Goodside Retirement Solutions of Colorado, LLC

Financial Planning

Robert H. Bastiaans

Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Page 8

Karine R. Beard

Clarus Wealth At Plum Creek

Leann Canty Canty’s Financial Strategies, Inc. Page 9

Benita Creacy DC & Associates Advanced Financial Solutions

Jeffrey J. Donahue LPL Financial

Derek N. Eichenwald Triumph Capital Management Page 8

James M. Graham IV LPL Financial/Mariner Independent Advisor Network

Brad Hablutzel

Mosaic Financial Planning, LLC Page 9

Darin Hammerschmidt LPL Financial/ WealthClarity

David Henderson Jenkins Wealth

Deron L. Hickman

Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Page 6

Jody K. Hinsey Mint Financial Strategies

Grayson Hofferber Millennial Wealth Management

Robert L. Holland Jr. Holland Financial Inc.

Amy King 29:11 Financial Planning

David Lawyer DALA Financial Services

Ed Lee The Integrity Wealth Group

Lori J. Miller LPL Financial

Adam J. Moeller AJM Financial, LLC Page 7

Alie Olsen Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Jeff Smith Householder Group

Julia J. Smith Financial Balance Wealth Management, LLC

Brian Timothy Stark Triumph Capital Management

Sam Tenney Fidelis Wealth Advisors

Kris Tower American Portfolios Advisors

Nick Weisert Integra Financial, Inc. Page 7

Shaun Michael Williams Paragon Capital Management Investments

Bruce G. Allen

Bruce G. Allen Investments, LLC Page 3

Willis Ashby · Integra Financial, Inc. Page 7

Brandon Dornseif Wells Fargo Advisors Page 8

Brandon C. Drespling Triumph Capital Management

Brian Goodstadt Paragon Capital Management

Jeffrey Gore Gore Financial Management, Inc.

Todd M. Hauer

Morgan Stanley

Tara Hefty

Peak Asset Management, LLC Page 5

Shelley Hertel LPL Financial

Heather Holtzinger Grandview Investment Advisors, LLC Page 8

Jeffrey Hutcheson Aspen Wealth Management

Jonathan Russell Kelley Hinds Financial Group

Eric Koeplin Alpha Principle

Christopher Lynett Wells Fargo Advisors Page 5

John McCorvie · Peak Asset Management, LLC Page 5

Meghan McGuire Wells Fargo Advisors/ Virtuent Wealth Management Group Page 4

Elizabeth O’Donnell O’Donnell Wealth Management

Mick Pepper

Wells Fargo Advisors/ Virtuent Wealth Management Group Page 4

Brian Joseph Perkins CDP Financial Group, LLC

Julie Pribble

Peak Asset Management, LLC Page 5

Keri Pugh Fusion Financial Group Page 9

Terry Robinette · Peak Asset Management, LLC Page 5

Shelley Schlossberg Castlemountain Financial Services

Elizabeth A. Thorpe Wells Fargo Advisors

Page 6

Brian Whatley Wells Fargo Advisors

T.H. Williams

Wells Fargo Advisors/ Virtuent Wealth Management Group Page 4

Thomas Wolf Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

Taxation

Rick Whipple Whipplewood Advisors, CPAs

Investment

Professionals

Certified Public Accountant

Greg Zick Zick Business Advisors, Inc.

FIVE STAR PROFESSIONAL

Three sources of nominations: – Firm nominations – Peer nominations

– Prequalification based on industry credentials NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES

REGULATORY CONSUMER COMPLAINT REVIEW

All candidates must demonstrate a favorable regulatory history.

Candidates must complete either an online or over-the-phone interview. CANDIDATE SUBMISSION OF PRACTICE INFORMATION

EVALUATION OF CANDIDATE PRACTICE

Candidates are evaluated on 10 objective evaluation and eligibility criteria.

FIRM REVIEW OF AWARD CANDIDATE LIST

All candidates are reviewed by a representative of their firm before final selection.

Finalization and announcement of Five Star Professional award winners. 2024 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2,435 Denver-area wealth managers were candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 2,580, 247, 10%, 10/1/23, 12/12/22 - 6/30/23; 2022: 2,132, 235, 11%, 10/1/22, 1/17/22 - 7/15/22; 2021: 2,158, 206, 10%, 10/1/21, 1,716, 287, 17%, 10/1/17, 1/18/17 - 8/9/17; 2016: 1,552, 515, 33%, 9/1/16, 2/23/16 - 8/26/16; 2015: 3,008, 517, 17%, 10/1/15, 2/19/15 - 8/17/15; 2014: 4,385, 528, 12%, 10/1/14,

FSP’s

This award was issued on 10/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 12/12/2023 through 07/09/2024. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed were considered for the award; 224 (9% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # 206, 10%, 10/1/21, 1/4/21 - 7/30/21; 2020: 2,172, 213, 10%, 10/1/20, 1/20/20 - 8/14/20; 2019: 2,146, 262, 12%, 10/1/19, 1/21/19 - 8/23/19; 2018: 2,255, 267, 12%, 10/1/18, 2014: 4,385, 528, 12%, 10/1/14, 2/19/13 - 8/17/13; 2013: 2,083, 607, 29%, 10/1/13, 2/19/12 - 8/17/12; 2012: 1,965, 611, 31%, 10/1/12, 2/19/11 - 8/17/11.

Virtuent Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors

Left to right: Vicki Hansen, Senior Registered Client Associate; Sandra McClaury, Client Associate; 2020 – 2024 winner Meghan McGuire, CFP®, MS, ChFC®, RICP®, First Vice President – Investments; 2012, 2014 – 2017 and 2022 winner Steve Zahorik, MBA, CRPC®, Senior Vice President – Investments; 2013 – 2024 winner T.H. Williams, PhD, CFP®, Private Wealth Financial Advisor, Managing Director – Investments; 2019 and 2023 – 2024 winner Mick Pepper, Senior Vice President – Investments; Scott Shuler, Client Performance Analyst – Vice President; Donna Boyette, Senior Registered Client Associate; Susie Kaufman, Senior Registered Client Associate

questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2,435 Denver-area wealth managers Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 2,580, 247, 10%, 10/1/23, 12/12/22 - 6/30/23; 2022: 2,132, 235, 11%, 10/1/22, 1/17/22 - 7/15/22; 2021: 2,158, 1/18/18 - 8/21/18; 2017: 1,716, 287, 17%, 10/1/17, 1/18/17 - 8/9/17; 2016: 1,552, 515, 33%, 9/1/16, 2/23/16 - 8/26/16; 2015: 3,008, 517, 17%, 10/1/15, 2/19/15 - 8/17/15;

Christopher Lynett

Peak Asset Management

• Investment management and tax, financial and estate planning, all under one roof

• Fee-only, independent advisory team always acting as your fiduciary

This award was issued on 10/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 12/12/2023 through 07/09/2024. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed considered for the award; 224 (9% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of 1/4/21 - 7/30/21; 2020: 2,172, 213, 10%, 10/1/20, 1/20/20 - 8/14/20; 2019: 2,146, 262, 12%, 10/1/19, 1/21/19 - 8/23/19; 2018: 2,255, 267, 12%, 10/1/18, 1/18/18 - 8/21/18; 2017: 2/19/13 - 8/17/13; 2013: 2,083, 607, 29%, 10/1/13, 2/19/12 - 8/17/12; 2012: 1,965, 611, 31%, 10/1/12, 2/19/11 - 8/17/11.

Twelve-year winner Christopher Lynett

Left to right: Five-year winner John McCorvie; Four-year winner Tara Hefty; Six-year winner Julie Pribble; Two-year winner Terry Robinette

Union Boulevard, Suite 1050 Lakewood, CO 80228 Office: 303-763-8300 betsy.thorpe@wellsfargoadvisors.com www.wtfinancialgroup.com

ourselves on bringing you the opportunity to work with a team of 125 years of integrity-based experience. Elizabeth Thorpe is a 2014 – 2024 Five Star Wealth Manager.

questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2,435 Denver-area wealth managers were candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 2,580, 247, 10%, 10/1/23, 12/12/22 - 6/30/23; 2022: 2,132, 235, 11%, 10/1/22, 1/17/22 - 7/15/22; 2021: 2,158, 206, 10%, 10/1/21, 1,716, 287, 17%, 10/1/17, 1/18/17 - 8/9/17; 2016: 1,552, 515, 33%, 9/1/16, 2/23/16 - 8/26/16; 2015: 3,008, 517, 17%, 10/1/15, 2/19/15 - 8/17/15; 2014: 4,385, 528, 12%, 10/1/14,

2024 winner Deron L. Hickman, Financial Advisor, Managing Director

Left to right: William Werley Jr., Senior Vice President – Investments; 2014 – 2024 winner Elizabeth A. Thorpe, Senior Vice President – Investment Officer

Willis Ashby and Nick Weisert

• Operating independently with no broker-dealer

• Investment fiduciary putting your interests first

• Managing client assets since 1992

We provide high-value, personalized investment planning services tailored to you throughout your financial life. As investment fiduciaries our primary responsibility is to you, not a broker-dealer. We believe the true measure of our success is client satisfaction and retention. Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Willis: 303-220-5525 • willis@integrafinancial.ws Nick: 303-819-1820 • nick@integrafinancial.ws www.integrafinancial.ws

Adam J. Moeller

Where Clients Come To Win at Retirement

Independent fiduciary with 21 years of

• Wealth management, asset protection, income planning, long-term care alternatives, estate planning, tax planning

Adam was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. His mom was a teacher in Cherry Creek schools, and his dad was a Lutheran minister. He is married to his beautiful wife, Jennifer, a prominent attorney. They have three children: Jackson, Jordan and Sophia. After college and getting a degree in finance, his basketball talents allowed him to play professionally. His competitive nature and desire to do the best thing possible for all clients is why he started his independent fiduciary firm. When Adam is not meeting with clients, he is coaching, fishing or golfing. Adam prides himself in educating his clients on the why, what, when and how of planning for retirement. Adam has been published in The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. Tune in every weekend at 8 a.m. on KOA 94.1 FM or 104.3 the fan for Mile High Money with Adam Moeller.

80237 Phone: 720-974-4800 adam@myajmfinancial.com www.myajmfinancial.com

This award was issued on 10/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 12/12/2023 through 07/09/2024. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed considered for the award; 224 (9% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of 1/4/21 - 7/30/21; 2020: 2,172, 213, 10%, 10/1/20, 1/20/20 - 8/14/20; 2019: 2,146, 262, 12%, 10/1/19, 1/21/19 - 8/23/19; 2018: 2,255, 267, 12%, 10/1/18, 1/18/18 - 8/21/18; 2017: 2/19/13 - 8/17/13; 2013: 2,083, 607, 29%, 10/1/13, 2/19/12 - 8/17/12; 2012: 1,965, 611, 31%, 10/1/12, 2/19/11 - 8/17/11.

to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP

Left to right: Thirteen-year winner Willis Ashby, President, CFP®; Alison Ashby; Four-year winner Nick Weisert, CFP®

winner Adam J. Moeller

Robert H. Bastiaans

CFP®, APMA™, MSFS, CLU®, ChFC®, BFA™, Private Wealth Advisor

Heather Dianne Holtzinger

Owner

R.H. Bastiaans and Associates

A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

7979 E Tufts Avenue, Suite 120 • Denver, CO 80237 Office: 303-689-7424 bobbastiaans.com

Understanding Your Goals and Dreams

• Planning for the certainty of uncertainty

• Developing strategies tailored to your needs

• 2012 – 2024 Five Star Wealth Manager award winner

For 47 years, I have been helping clients develop financial planning strategies that address multigenerational planning as well as day-to-day needs. My talented team and I strive to enhance our clients’ abilities to make financial and investment decisions.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, C ertified f

P

™, and the CFP® mark (with plaque design) in the U.S.

Not FDIC or NCUA Insured No Financial Institution Guarantee May Lose Value Investors should conduct their own evaluation of a financial professional as working with a financial advisor is not a guarantee of future financial success. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC.

Derek N. Eichenwald

CEO, Senior Investment Executive Triumph Capital Management 1610 Wynkoop Street, Suite 550 Denver, CO 80202 Office: 720-399-5551

dereke@triumphcapitalmanagement.com www.triumphcapitalmanagement.com

heather@gvadv.com

www.gvadv.com

Heather has over 15 years of experience in the financial industry. As a woman, business owner and principal owner of Grandview Investment Advisors, LLC, she brings a unique perspective and understanding of her clients’ needs and financial goals.

Heather moved to the U.S. from Zimbabwe with her parents and two siblings in the 1980s. With just five suitcases and $100 dollars, Heather saw first-hand what hard work and dedication it takes to make the American dream a reality. Heather’s life experiences allow her to better understand her clients’ different walks of life, listen to their needs and work to create a specific financial investment plan. She enjoys helping each client meet their overall financial goals.

Grandview Capital, LLC and its management (Grandview) does business as Grandview Investment Advisors, LLC. Grandview is a Registered Investment Advisor firm. Being “registered” does not imply a level of skill or training. Additional information about Grandview is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Content for Grandview Capital, LLC can be found under CRD# 139202.

Dornseif

Senior Financial Advisor, Managing Director – Investments 5613 DTC Parkway, Suite 910 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Phone:303-784-7773

brandon.dornseif@wellsfargo.com home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/Brandon.Dornseif

Is About Being in a

Brandon has provided customized financial advice in the Denver area since joining the industry in 2007. He has built a successful practice by taking a personalized, comprehensive approach to investment planning and examining every element of a client’s financial life. Brandon believes the most important factor in a relationship is trust and understanding. That is why he takes the time to build lifelong relationships with his clients as well as their families.

questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2,435 Denver-area wealth managers were candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 2,580, 247, 10%, 10/1/23, 12/12/22 - 6/30/23; 2022: 2,132, 235, 11%, 10/1/22, 1/17/22 - 7/15/22; 2021: 2,158, 206, 10%, 10/1/21, 1,716, 287, 17%, 10/1/17, 1/18/17 - 8/9/17; 2016: 1,552, 515, 33%, 9/1/16, 2/23/16 - 8/26/16; 2015: 3,008, 517, 17%, 10/1/15, 2/19/15 - 8/17/15; 2014: 4,385, 528, 12%, 10/1/14,

defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Denver-area investment professionals with the Five Star Professional award.

Brad Hablutzel President, CFP®, CFS™, CTS™, MBA

7200 S Alton Way, Suite B290 Centennial, CO 80112

Phone: 720-617-4400

bhablutzel@mosaicretirement.com www.mosaicretirementplanning.com

Mosaic Retirement Planning, LLC is a comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory firm that provides proactive solutions to retirees and pre-retirees based on the belief that it’s always right to do the right thing, foremost putting clients’ interests first.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™, and the CFP® mark (with plaque design) in the U.S. Investment advisory services offered by duly registered individuals through CreativeOne Wealth, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser. CreativeOne Wealth, LLC and Mosaic Retirement Planning, LLC are unaffiliated entities.

Leann Canty President, CFP®, CSA®, CFS™, CAS®, EA 5720 Zephyr Street Arvada, CO 80002 Office: 303-424-8757 receptionist@askthetaxexpert.com www.cantysfinancial.com

I have a distinct combination of qualifications to help you build wealth. Why? I have over 30 years of tax expertise combined with over 20 years of financial planning experience. By combining both areas of expertise, I build individualized strategies to meet you and your family’s financial needs. After all, building wealth is about what you get to keep.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified finanCial Planner™, and the CFP® mark (with plaque design) in the U.S.

Wealth Managers

G. Martin Agebrand Morgan Stanley

Chad Michael Alevras · Gregory & Associates

Cynthia Diane Alvarez · Wambolt & Associates

Allen David Andes · Investment Professionals of Colorado Inc.

Mark Dale Arlen · Lincoln Financial Advisors

John Lee Arnold · Robert W. Baird & Co.

Susan Gough Baldwin · Legacy Wealth Partners

Michael Gary Ball · Transform Wealth

Laurie Dolores Barela · Vargas Wealth Management

Ali Barghelame · BWA Financial

Keri Pugh CFP®, AIF®, Founder, Financial Advisor

10488 W Centennial Road, Suite 406 Littleton, CO 80127 www.fushiofingroup.com

The cornerstone of Fusion Financial Group is coaching-based financial planning, which helps clients understand their financial personalities and behaviors so that they can make smart money and investment decisions.

A WEALTH MANAGER

can help with retirement planning, legal planning, estate planning, banking services, philanthropic planning and risk management.

All award winners are listed in this publication.

Jared David Barkmeier · Mariner Wealth Advisors

Daniel I. Barotz · Focused Alpha

John Thomas Barry · Barry Financial Services

Gordon William Bauer · LPL Financial

Gregory Reid Beal · Western Wealth Management

Bruce Richard Bendell · Mercer Global Advisors

John Russell Bennett · First Command Financial Services

A. Raymond Benton · Lincoln Financial Advisors

Tyler Gregory Bernard · Lincoln Financial Advisors

Donald Billings · Charles Schwab & Co.

Donna Mcdermott Boender · Wells Fargo Advisors

Kean O. Boucher · Boucher Wealth Management Group

Khankeo Vongsakoun Campbell · Wells Fargo Advisors

Robert Logan Campbell · Transform Wealth

Evan Bernard Carabello · Raymond James & Associates

Shaun Michael Cavanagh · Wambolt & Associates

Mark William Christofferson · Wells Fargo Advisors

Michael Andrew Cohen · Sagemark Consulting/Lincoln Financial Advisors

Peter Jon Coleman · Coleman Capital & Risk Management, Inc.

M. Katharine Collins · LPL Financial

Bartley Corfee · Corfee & Associates

John Leland Davis · JL Davis Financial

Jordan Mark Dechtman · Dechtman Wealth Management

W. Greg Denewiler · Denewiler Capital Management

Ralph David Diaz · Wells Fargo Advisors

Angus Elder Dillon · Wells Fargo Advisors

Dustin Scott Dinges · Insight Asset Management

Gary Lynn Dissette · Osaic Wealth, Inc.

Frank Frank Djonbalaj · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Kathleen Ann Ann Drake · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Scott H. Dulgarian · Charles Schwab & Co.

Andre Duplessis · Capstone Colorado

Robert Schuler Eberhardt · Eberhardt Wealth Management

Samantha L. Ediger · Morgan Stanley

Daniel David Ellis · Western Wealth Management

Chad Nathaniel Ernzen · Edelman Financial Engines

Galina Yakovlevna Esterby · Morgan Stanley

Carol Dailey Fabbri · Fair Advisors

Jodi Rene Fleisher · Morgan Stanley

Gustin D. Fox-Smith · FS Advisors Wealth Management

Karl Frank · A&I Wealth Management

Brian Jay Friedman · GHP Investment Advisors

G. Todd Gervasini · Wakefield Wealth Management

Kimberly Ann Gieseler · Valorem Financial

Richard Paul Gongorek · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Darcy Gonsalves · Maia Wealth

This award was issued on 10/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 12/12/2023 through 07/09/2024. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed considered for the award; 224 (9% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of 1/4/21 - 7/30/21; 2020: 2,172, 213, 10%, 10/1/20, 1/20/20 - 8/14/20; 2019: 2,146, 262, 12%, 10/1/19, 1/21/19 - 8/23/19; 2018: 2,255, 267, 12%, 10/1/18, 1/18/18 - 8/21/18; 2017: 2/19/13 - 8/17/13; 2013: 2,083, 607, 29%, 10/1/13, 2/19/12 - 8/17/12; 2012: 1,965, 611, 31%, 10/1/12, 2/19/11 - 8/17/11. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com. This year, we honored 11

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the

Gerald Allen Graham Jr. · Cetera Advisors

Elbert Clark Griggs · Griggs Wealth Management

Whitney Winslow Grimm · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Nicholas Manning Hamilton · The Hamilton Group

Chad Michael Harmon · A&I Wealth Management

Roger Kent Harris · R.Kent Harris & Associates, Ltd

Samantha Jane Hedberg · PFS Investments

G. Bruce Hemmings · Morgan Stanley

Jennifer Hilts · LOTUS Financial Partners

Alexander I. Hock · The Colony Group

Malcolm A.W. Horn · Alliant Credit Union

Darryl Craig Hudspeth · Eagle Strategies

Sebrina Chriselda Ivey · GHP Investment Advisors

Geraldine Ann Janiczek · SRS Capital Advisors

Dustin Dustin Jeschke · Wealth Strategies

Reid Michael Johnson · MBA Wealth Management

Lorie C. Jones · Fidelis Wealth Advisors

Nick Ryan Jones · Morgan Stanley

Stephanie L. Herdahl Jordan · Next Generation Wealth Systems

Tom Michael Kapaun · PFS Investments

Andrew Michael Kark · MZ Kark & Associates

Garry R. Kirkland · Peak Wealth Advisors

Andy Abraham Klein · Paramount Associates

Steven Andrew Kletter · DAR Financial

H. Scott Koplar · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

WEALTH MANAGERS — INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS

All award winners are listed in this publication.

Nick Damon Krenz · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Paul Gerard Kropatsch · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Nathan James Kubik · Transform Wealth

Keith James Kulesa · Morgan Stanley

Patricia Brown Kummer · Mariner Wealth Advisors

Ronald Joseph Lambke · Wells Fargo Clearing Services

Derek James Landis · Normandy Capital Management, LLC

Ryan James Landsberg · Plante Moran Financial Advisors

Andrew Bruce Lang · Wells Fargo Advisors

Sean Laws · Cetera Wealth Partners

Chad Allen Leigh · Leigh Wealth Management Group, LLC

Richard Jason Levine · Synergy Financial Partners

Austin Lewis · Lewis Wealth Management

Geoffrey Russell Luchetta · High Point Financial Group, LLC

Andrew Charlton Lyford · Charlton Investment Services

Tupper Gordon MacDowell · Robert W. Baird & Co.

Kimberly K. Maez · Chrysalis Wealth Management

Gary Alan Mangelsdorf · Western Wealth Management

Michael Anthony Markovich · Encompass Wealth Management

Deric Kriston Martin · Morgan Stanley

Quinn A. Martinez · Creek Investment Services

Dan L. Mayer · Triumph Capital Management

Deirdre Marie McGuire · GHP Investment Advisors

Kevin John McNab · ACE Wealth Partners

Brandy S. Merriam · Householder Group

Kathy Mezei Mezei Raabe · Seneca Financial Advisors

Ann Marie Milinazzo · Hadad-Milinazzo Financial Group

Jonathan Edward Miller · Parsonex Advisory Services

Lauretta Carlene Moell · Benjamin F. Edwards & Co.

Derek Andrew Moore · Five Peaks Capital Group, LLC

Mike Nielson · Nielson Wealth Management

Dan Albert Noven · SRS Capital Advisors

Angie M. Osili · Williams Investment Network

Daniel Richard Palm · Robert W. Baird & Co.

Christopher William Parsons · Well Fargo Advisors Financial Network

Charles David Partheymuller · Normandy Capital Management, LLC

PJ Patierno · Peak Planning Group, LLC

Edward William Pearl · Wells Fargo Advisors

Kirk Robert Peterson · Peterson Financial Services, LLC

Russell West Petrin · Morgan Stanley

Matthew Bishop Pezel · Charles Schwab & Co.

Nicholas Dean Phillips · Morgan Stanley

Nick Stewart Pirnack · LotusGroup Advisors

Christine Lynn Plentyhoops · Primerica Advisors

Jerry Robert Reiff · Morgan Stanley

Adam Robinson · Sevenwealth

Brian Thomas Robinson · Robert W. Baird & Co.

Cory Philip Robinson · Triumph Capital Management

Michael D. Rosenthal · Elevate Wealth Management

Haley Ann Sanders · Altitude Wealth Management

Daniel Brian Schultz · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Arthur Barry Segall · Morgan Stanley

Clayton John Shearer · Strategic Partners Financial Group

William H. Shriver · Gilpin Wealth Management

J. Kim Simmons · Dynamic Financial Services

Catherine Stahl-Scheuber · LPL Financial

Rush Barrett Steelman · Private Client Wealth Advisors

David Lee Stevens · A&I Wealth Management

Michael Thomas Sullivan · GHP Investment Advisors

Theodore James Swenson · Valorem Financial

Jessica J. Tai · Robert W. Baird & Co.

Barbara Elizabeth Terrazas · GHP Investment Advisors

Jeff M. Thompson · Colorado Financial Partners

Charles Edmond Tobler · Star Financial Services

Kristy Toshiko Tochihara · Trailhead Wealth Management

Jennifer Koonz Trembley · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Scott Tremlett · Paramount Associates

Lee Trexler · Wells Fargo Advisors

Matthew Lindsay Trontel · Robert W. Baird & Co.

David Anthony Twibell · Custom Portfolio Group, LLC

Derick Lance Volle · Western Wealth

Carin Dawn Wagner · GHP Investment Advisors

Rhonda Wagner · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Damian Daniel Walsh · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Brett Allen Weaver · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Robert Newman Webster · Webster Investment Advisors

Brian David Williams · G&W Wealth Management

Matthew Williams · Morgan Stanley

Douglas Charles Wills · Eagle Strategies/ High Point Financial Group

Scott Robert Wingfield · Wingfield Wealth Management

Eleni Yeros · Wambolt & Associates

Taylor Nolen Yionoulis · Nolen Western Company

Ali K. Yousaf · Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Michael Gene Zahler · Wells Fargo Advisors

Diane Carol Zing · Trilogy Capital Investment Professional

Marilyn R. Burnside · Marilyn R. Burnside, LLC

Frank J. Danzo · Chayet & Danzo LLC

Jonathan Day · Elevate Estate Planning

Chris Hambor · Stockman Kast Ryan + Co.

Miranda K. Hawkins · Hawkins Gordon PC

Elizabeth D. Mitchell · Ambler Keenan Mitchell Johnson

David Osterman · Osterman Law Firm P.C.

Kimberly Raemdonck · Legacy Planning & Probate, LLC

Karen Shirley · Holmes Shirley Law

David Urban · Urban Law

questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2,435 Denver-area wealth managers were candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 2,580, 247, 10%, 10/1/23, 12/12/22 - 6/30/23; 2022: 2,132, 235, 11%, 10/1/22, 1/17/22 - 7/15/22; 2021: 2,158, 206, 10%, 10/1/21, 1,716, 287, 17%, 10/1/17, 1/18/17 - 8/9/17; 2016: 1,552, 515, 33%, 9/1/16, 2/23/16 - 8/26/16; 2015: 3,008, 517, 17%, 10/1/15, 2/19/15 - 8/17/15; 2014: 4,385, 528, 12%, 10/1/14, adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Denver-area investment professionals with the Five Star Professional award.

questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2,435 Denver-area wealth managers were candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 2,580, 247, 10%, 10/1/23, 12/12/22 - 6/30/23; 2022: 2,132, 235, 11%, 10/1/22, 1/17/22 - 7/15/22; 2021: 2,158, 206, 10%, 10/1/21, 1,716, 287, 17%, 10/1/17, 1/18/17 - 8/9/17; 2016: 1,552, 515, 33%, 9/1/16, 2/23/16 - 8/26/16; 2015: 3,008, 517, 17%, 10/1/15, 2/19/15 - 8/17/15; 2014: 4,385, 528, 12%, 10/1/14,

adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed

Denver-area investment professionals with the Five Star Professional award.

Mile- High Hosting

During its 132-year history, the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa has entertained titans of industry, presidents (both foreign and domestic), and the Beatles. Surely its longtime concierge Leewood Grove III knows how to keep your out-of-state relatives happy during their Thanksgiving visits. —SPENCER CAMPBELL

You are the kind of Coloradan who bushwhacks through bear-inhabited forest to find a slice of solitary wilderness. Your guests—especially the ones from Kansas—just want to gawk at a majestic peak, so keep the outdoorsing simple. “The perfect Rocky Mountain view,” Grove says, “is [from atop] Lookout Mountain.” 2

Grove will often survey big groups and break them up based on interests, sending natural spectators to a Nuggets game, for example, and more virile guests to, say, an ax-throwing parlor. Denver has something for everyone; don’t shoehorn everyone into doing the same thing.

Two items tourists never pack enough of are moisturizer and lip balm. Grove keeps extras at his desk for unprepared lodgers. Follow his lead by preparing a welcome bag stocked with both, along with sunscreen for the state’s harsh rays and a spare Nalgene to help prevent dehydration in our arid climate. 3

That new speakeasy/ tapas bar/petting zoo is all anyone can talk about, but you haven’t had a chance to try it. Now is not the time. Before Grove will recommend a restaurant (a go-to is Uptown’s Coperta), he’ll eat there multiple times to ensure guests won’t be disappointed while dining in Denver.

Should tempers flare, “stay positive,” Grove says. He always leaves his desk to sit down with disgruntled guests in order to make them feel like they’re being heard—while also isolating the virus before it infects the rest of the party.

LOVE IN VERONA