AvidLifestyle April 2023 Issue

4 beds / 4 baths / 3,253 sqft / cul-de-sac location / stunning views / $895k

650 MAROONGLEN COURT colorado springs

4732 EAST PINEWOOD CIRCLE greenwood village 5 beds / 4 baths / 4,443 sqft / list $1.385m

SETTING THE STAGE

Warm weather ahead!

By Heather Shoning

ON THE AGENDA

Yoga on the Rocks, hikes, Women+Film Festival, JDRF Dream Gala and more

ACTING ON A NOTION

Heavy Gus rises from a Lumineers’ artist’s side project By Kastle Waserman

RESTAURANT UPDATE

What’s new in the south Denver dining scene

By Joyce

Hendley

ETHICAL ETHOS

A Greenwood Village remodel shines without wasting quality materials

By Heather Shoning

SPRING INTO FASHION

These on-trend staples allow you to mix and match your outfits

By Hailee Lucchesi

INSPIRING DESIGN

How local interior designer Kimberly Timmons-Beutner built her company from the ground up By Jessica Hughes

JUST LIKE ME

Chaitra Wirta-Leiker educates others about transracial adoption

By Lisa Truesdale

ON HIGHER GROUND

Mountain golf getaways to start planning now

By Susan Fornoff

PHOTO

April

PRESIDENT/GROUP PUBLISHER

Allen J. Walters

PUBLISHER

Chris Phillips

art & editorial EDITOR

Heather Shoning

ART DIRECTOR

Brenna Farrell

CONTRIBUTORS

Chad Chisholm, Susan Fornoff, Joyce Hendley, Jessica Hughes, Amanda Lacey, Hailee Lucchesi, Mark Samuelson, Lisa Truesdale, Kastle Waserman, Elizabeth Watson

sales, marketing & advertising

VP OF SALES & MARKETING

Lori Perry

DIGITAL STRATEGIST

Brandon Kusek

TALK OF THE TOWN

KNOW SOMEONE who should be featured in AvidLifestyle?

Tell me about them at heather@avidlifestyle.com

WARM WEATHER AHEAD!

I LOVE SPRING IN COLORADO —when we get to experience all four seasons in one day! It took me many years after moving here to learn to dress in layers or at least to bring a sweater or a jacket on the days I’d leave home when it was warm and sunny. When I didnʼt, I always paid the price by evening when I would have goosebumps from head-totoe. But it really is a special time of year—and it gives your wardrobe a workout.

Because we’re in the mood to get outside, writer Mark Samuelson gives an early look at water activities in the south metro area—places to kayak, sail, wind surf, paddleboard, fish and more (Agua Pura, page 28). Whatever water activities you’d like to partake in, there’s probably a perfect spot for you within just a few miles. If you’ve got your mind on hitting the links, start making plans now for a golf weekend in the high-country, where the season will be short this year (On Higher Ground, page 68).

I remember when my kids were little, and I attended what was then called JA BizTown with them. An entrepreneur at heart, I found this a magical experience. (My kids loved it, too, by the way.) But the new Junior Achievement Free Enterprise Center in Greenwood Village takes educating kids about money and business to a whole new level. Writer Elizabeth Watson walks us through this new facility and introduces us to Robin Wise, president and CEO of JA Rocky Mountain, who has overseen the development of this new experiential learning space (Business Ed, page 36).

Interior designer Margarita Bravo recently completed a Greenwood Village remodel where she took pride in salvaging many items in the dated home by giving them a modern refresh (Ethical Ethos, page 42). She kept refuse out of the landfill, while giving a relocating California family the perfect landing place for a new Colorado lifestyle.

Our Influencers department is one of my favorites because I love to meet the people who are blazing trails in our neighborhoods. We feature a couple of amazing women in this issue: interior designer Kimberly Timmons-Beutner (Inspiring Design, page 60) who built one of Denver’s top design firms from the ground up, and licensed psychologist Chaitra Wirta-Leiker (Just Like Me, page 64) who helps children and adults navigate transracial adoption through her private practice and a series of books she’s created.

With every new issue, and every new face, I’m nothing short of amazed at the inspiring, talented, creative people in our community. Happy reading!

Heather Shoning

AvidLifestyle is a luxury lifestyle magazine serving Denverʼs south suburbs. And weʼre excited to add new, experienced writers to our growing list of contributors. Do you have magazine writing experience? Do you know Denver’s south suburbs? Can you dig deep for the unique story about the people, places and events that make our community special? If so, we want you! Please email heather@avidlifestyle.com with basic info about yourself and at least three published clips (links are fine).

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Wendy Lee

THE U.S. AMATEUR

is the oldest USGA championship in golf having been created in 1895 and won by the greats: Palmer, Nicklaus, Woods and many others. Many legends of golf credit the U.S. Amateur as a “turning point” or stepping stone in their careers.

PLAYERS UP CLOSE

Unlike other Championships, the U.S. Amateur has no grandstands. Fans get to walk side by side the competitors and see each shot up close as they cheer for their favorite player.

JUNIOR GOLF EXPERIENCE

An added addition at Cherry Hills will be a Junior Golf Experience where youth can come into a pavilion and challenge themselves to a long putt contest, try out a golf simulator and learn about sustainability and golf. There will also be opportunities for youth to be exposed to all that golf can offer them through scholarships, job opportunities and life lessons.

BE PART OF THE ACTION

Cherry Hills and Colorado Golf Club look forward to welcoming the community as we dwindle from 312 players to 2 and crown our champion in 2023. We can’t wait to welcome you. For tickets and information, please go to chcc.com.

Ongoing

FIDDLER’S GREEN CONCERTS

The 2023 season schedule is posted for Fiddler’s Green, so check it out and get your tickets early, since many events sell out. The calendar, which begins in early May, includes Fall Out Boy (July 9), Lynyrd Skynyrd & ZZ Top with Uncle Cracker (August 7) and Goo Goo Dolls (August 30).

FIDDLER’S GREEN, fiddlersgreenamp.com

Save the Date!

YOGA ON THE ROCKS

Downward Dog with a view? Count us in! Yoga on the Rocks at Red Rocks is back this summer, complete with live music. But these events commonly sell out, so check online for tickets right away. RED ROCKS, redrocksonline.com

Opens April 4

EXPLORING THE LIGHT PHOTO SHOW

For this 21st-annual exhibition, photographers from the Lone Tree Photo Club present their very best photos on the theme, “creating a visual collage of different styles, subjects and sentiments.” The opening reception, open to the public and including hors d’oeuvres, is April 8 from 4–6 p.m. The show runs through June 5 at LONE TREE ARTS CENTER, lonetreeartscenter.org

April 1–2

ROCKY MOUNTAIN TRAIN SHOW

This big annual expo showcases everything there is to know and see in the world of model railroading. You’ll be amazed at the massive— and very detailed—layouts, and if you need supplies for your own layout at home, you’ll find everything you need at the dozens of vendor booths. Kids under 12 get in free.

NATIONAL WESTERN COMPLEX , rockymountaintrainshow.com

April 1

THE BIG WONDERFUL

“The Big Wonderful” is a beer and music event up in Winter Park, featuring live bluegrass, maker booths with outdoor apparel, jewelry and gifts, and unlimited beer samples from dozens of local breweries. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. at WINTER PARK RESORT, thebigwonderful.com

April 5

FULL MOON HIKE

Learn about the history of Aurora while hiking beneath a pink full moon. This program, for families with children ages 6 and over, is a guided nature hike from 6–7 p.m. PLAINS CONSERVATION CENTER, botanicgardens.org

April 6

MAPPY HOUR CLASSIC COLORADO HIKES

“Mappy Hour” is a monthly meetup group that gets together to discuss the great outdoors and all the great hiking adventures out there to explore, especially in Colorado. The April 6 event in Golden features Jon Kedrowski, who has hiked up and skied down every 14-er in the state. 6:30 p.m. at COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB, mappyhour.org

PHOTO COURTESY LONE TREEE ARTS

“White Wash” by Chuck Rasco

PHOTO COURTESY ROCKY MOUNTAIN TRAIN SHOW

GOLF HISTORY

JOIN US!

123RD U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

AUGUST 14-20, 2023

JOIN US!

CHERRY HILLS COUNTRY CLUB | CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, COLO.

123RD U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

COLORADO GOLF CLUB | PARKER, COLO.

AUGUST 14-20, 2023

CHERRY HILLS COUNTRY CLUB | CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, COLO.

COLORADO GOLF CLUB | PARKER, COLO.

To volunteer, purchase tickets or learn more about the upcoming U.S. Amateur, please scan the QR code with your smart phone.

We can’t wait to see you there!

To volunteer, purchase tickets or learn more about the upcoming U.S. Amateur, please scan the QR code with your smart phone. We can’t wait to see you there!

April 10–16

ASPEN SHORTSFEST

Short-film fanatics often make the yearly trek up to gorgeous Aspen for this weeklong festival, showcasing dozens of short films from around the world. The big event also includes panels, workshops and other programs that spotlight the art and craft of making shorts. ASPEN, aspenfilm.org

April 13–16

WOMEN+FILM FESTIVAL

This annual festival, presented by Denver Film, showcases the very best in womencentric programming—movies by and about women, but for everyone to enjoy. Barbara Bridges, the festival’s founder, says it’s “an important platform to shine the light on women working behind the scenes to create change.” Screenings are at SIE FILMCENTER, denverfilm.org

April 14

PIANO BATTLE

Internationally acclaimed pianists Paul Cibis and Andreas Kern “battle” for audience votes during this event that’s part classical recital, part “tongue-in-cheek performance.” The interactive show is divided into several rounds, each with a different musical style, and the pianists will improvise based on audience requests. This show has played to sold-out venues all over the world, so get tickets early. PACE CENTER, parkerarts.org

April 14–16

ANASTASIA: THE MUSICAL

A romantic and adventure-filled movie jumps from the screen to the stage for this new Broadway musical, in Denver for a limited engagement. The dazzling scenery transports the whole family from Russia to Paris as Anastasia sets out to solve the mystery of her past. Matinee and evening performances at BUELL THEATRE , denvercenter.org

April 15

INTERACTIVE ROCKY HORROR

PICTURE SHOW

It’s an interactive presentation of a classic film, where audience members are encouraged to dress the part, then sing and dance along. If you don’t already have Rocky Horror essentials for your costume, they will be available for purchase before the show. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. at THE STUDIO LOFT AT ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE , artscomplex.com

April 15

COLORADO SYMPHONY: THE MUSIC OF PINK FLOYD

In this amazing mash-up of classical music with classic rock and roll, the Colorado Symphony performs a concert of 17 classic Pink Floyd tunes, including “Learning to Fly” and favorites from “The Wall.” 7:30 p.m. at BOETTCHER CONCERT HALL , coloradosymphony.org

April 15 & 22

MURDER & MYSTERY SHOW

Cherokee Ranch and Castle is the perfect setting for a “whodunit” set in the 1950s. Detective Polkinhorne and a colorful cast of characters will present the details and see who can solve the “murder.” The event also includes food and a cash bar, and attendees are encouraged to wear springtime garden-party attire. Register early, as it should sell out. CHEROKEE RANCH & CASTLE , cherokeeranch.org

Opens April

16

FROM CHAOS TO ORDER

With “From Chaos to Order: Greek Geometric Art from the Sol Rabin Collection,” visitors will get to view 57 stunning Greek works of art dating back to 900 BCE, many of which have never been on public display. General admission includes this temporary exhibition which runs through July 30. On April 28 or July 28, make it a date night and combine your visit with the quarterly “Untitled” after-hours series (6–10 p.m.), which includes live music and a cash bar. DENVER ART MUSEUM, denverartmuseum.org

April 19th

BLOSSOM!

A free event about aesthetics to benefit Bags of Fun/Gabby Kraus Foundation. Food, open bar, entertainment and demonstrations from 3–8 p.m. The Fountain of Youth, Greenwood Village, thefountainofyouthmedspa.com

April 15–16

HOLISTIC EXPO & CREATIVE MARKET

The Center for Spiritual Living in Parker presents the second-annual expo, a roundup of healing, wellness, metaphysics, self-care and more. Explore the many products and services, connect with healing practitioners, shop for jewelry and crystals, register for door prizes, and more. One small entry fee gives access both days. DOUGLAS COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, cslparker.org

April 20–23

THE LITTLE PRINCE

Lamont Opera is on stage with “The Little Prince,” based on the beloved classic novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. As the Little Prince—visiting Earth from his home, a tiny asteroid—explores, he meets a number of colorful characters. This opera is fun for the whole family! GATES CONCERT HALL AT NEWMAN CENTER, newmancenterpresents.com

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/MARTIN SUCHANEK

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/STOKKETE

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/AVN PHOTO LAB

April 21

JDRF DREAM GALA

Dress in your best black-tie attire for this fabulous gala, which raises important funds for Type 1 diabetes research. It includes cocktails, a formal seated dinner, presentations, live music, and silent and live auctions. Get tickets in advance online. HYATT REGENCY COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER, jdrf.org/mountainwest

April 22

REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

The Reduced Shakespeare Company presents “The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged),” covering comedy through the ages, from Aristophanes and Shakespeare to Vaudeville and Charlie Chaplin, to The Daily Show. It’s “shtick” with lots of wordplay, improv and music. One show only; 8 p.m. at LONE TREE ARTS CENTER, lonetreeartscenter.org

April 22

EARTH DAY FESTIVAL

Bring the whole family to the big Earth Day Festival in Castle Rock from 9 a.m.–3 p.m., featuring demos, vendor and nonprofit booths, food trucks, and activities. Volunteers are also needed on the same day (9–11 a.m.) to help with native grass planting and watercress removal. FESTIVAL PARK , crgov.com

April 22

BOLD WOMEN. CHANGE HISTORY. THE SUMMIT.

In this one-day gathering, women leaders from many professional fields and walks of life take part in breakout sessions and other activities to share how they “show up, create, disrupt and transform our communities.” The keynote speaker is Alicia Garza, co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. at HISTORY COLORADO CENTER, historycolorado.org

PHOTO COURTESY TOWN OF CASTLE ROCK

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/RTIMAGES

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ ELENASHOW

Acting on a Notion

HEAVY GUS rises from a side project with a dreamy, playful pop

By Kastle Waserman

NO MATTER HOW SUCCESSFUL a band is, the musicians’ creative juices still flow for other ideas and side projects. The pandemic shutdowns of 2020 provided many opportunities to try out those callings. When the husband-and-wife team of Stelth Ulvang (multi-instrumentalist with Colorado’s beloved Lumineers) and Dorota Szuta suddenly found themselves grounded from touring, it gave way to exploring songwriting and recording. Under the name Heavy Gus, they joined with their friend and drummer Ryan Dobrowski of Blind Pilot (Dobrowski’s fiancé, Lauren Jacobson, plays violin in The Lumineers).

“Ryan and I spent a lot of time backstage on Lumineers tours, just hanging out, eating snacks and saying we should start a band of

our own,” says Szuta. The idea led to a couple of recordings on a stop in Nashville during a Lumineers tour, and a dreamy pop sound emerged with layered soundscapes that go from slow flows to bouncy rockers, like a mix of Mazzy Star meets the Breeders. Then the world shut down.

“We thought, ‘Why not try to record?’” says Szuta. They embarked on a road trip across the country to a friend’s studio that had cancellations from the pandemic. All the time on their hands led to recording an entire album—the debut LP “Notions” released in August 2022.

The band admits they didn’t really have a plan. They gave the songs to a few friends, and the album got attention from record labels,

culminating in an unexpected signing with BMG music company.

“We didn’t even think that would happen so quickly,” says Ulvang. “It was a sweet surprise.” As established musicians in their own rights, Ulvang, as a touring member of the Lumineers and Szuta, a singer and violinist who has played and toured with several bands over the past 15 years, Heavy Gus provided a way for the couple to create music together.

Szuta admits much of her songwriting stems from missing her husband when he’s on tour, as well as the time she spends working outside during her full-time job as a freshwater biologist in Bishop, California.

PHOTO BY LAUREN JACOBSON

“When I’m outside and asking questions about the world, I feel like my brain is looser, and I’ll just sing little lines or make voice memos.” She says her songwriting approach is stream of consciousness, but Ulvang’s songwriting practice is more disciplined, writing a song a day. Then they exchange notes and edit each other’s songs.

“I’m not that great at editing my own work, and that’s where we help each other,” says Ulvang. “It’s easier to come at each other’s song without the ego and attachment.”

Drummer Dobrowski is also credited with giving the band its momentum. “If it were just Stelth and me, we would never have the direction that Ryan brings. He grounds us and keeps us going,” says Szuta. In the middle of forming a new band, the couple also had a baby. Szuta’s various stages of pregnancy can be seen in several of their music videos. They confess parenthood changed their perspective on songwriting and touring.

“Since having a baby, my songs are more of a patchwork of ideas,” Szuta says. “I don't get those long periods of breathing room, time to think through a thought and see where it will go. It’s more like a collage.”

When it comes to playing shows, the couple says that having a nanny backstage with their child is critical, and they take one on the road. “I think it’s good for our child to have parents that have interests and passions that aren’t just him,” says Szuta, who admits it’s hard balancing a job, a toddler and being in a band.

Heavy Gus is looking forward to playing in Colorado in April, so audiences get a glimpse of their personalities.

“We’re still developing our stage dynamic, says Szuta. In our personal lives, we’re both a couple of ding-dongs, so it gets pretty goofy. That can make it hard to sing the serious songs sometimes. But it’s a nice balance. You don’t want to take yourself too seriously.”

Heavy Gus performs at the Bluebird Music Festival in Boulder on April 29 and 30.

PHOTO BY BRIAN ELERDING

PHOTO BY LAUREN JACOBSON

The

Resistant Ledger has you

Photo by Taylor Grote on Unsplash

PHOTO COURTESY MY NEIGHBOR FELIX

Restaurant Update

What’s new and what’s coming to the SOUTH METRO

By Joyce Hendley

HEADLINES LIKE “DINING IS BACK!” have been flooding our news feeds for a while now, and that’s certainly the case in Denver’s south suburbs—where tables are turning, so to speak, more than ever. “We’re never not busy!” admits Nate Lawrence, of YaYa’s Euro Bistro in Greenwood Village. New openings, new concepts, expansions, renovations—and of course, everyone’s giving their menus a fresh spring update. Here are some of the recent changes in the local dining scene we’re excited about and a few coming down the road.

MOD MEXICAN

Margaritas were flowing at the early March opening of a Centennial branch of My Neighbor Felix, the uber-popular pan-Mexican kitchen and bar. Known for its elevated menu that showcases all seven regions of Mexico (not to mention the extensive tequila and mezcal selection, and said margaritas), the new location—in a gold-dome-topped, 60’s-era landmark building—has a lighthearted Mexico City vibe. There’s artwork by Mexican artist Erick García Gómez and a spacious outdoor bar and patio with two fountains. On the menu, along with favorites like tequila shrimp and braised short rib or lobster enchiladas, there’s an expanded steak program that includes chilhuacle skirt steak and bone-in ribeye with side-sauce options like mole poblano and chimichurri. Or, as director of culinary Johnny Curiel puts it, “our version of what a steak should be.”

7209 Clinton Street, Centennial 720.73.8616

myneighborfelix.com

PHOTO BY LORI PERRY

PHOTO BY LORI PERRY

WINNING WITH WINE

When you make any changes to a longstanding institution you tread carefully. That’s why when owner Nate Lawrence wanted to renovate YaYa’s Euro Bistro, a longtime Greenwood Village institution, he chose to do it gradually and keep the place open throughout. First came a more modern, lighter look and a kitchen update with a new copper pizza oven. Next, new seating and wine rooms, with a walk-under wine bridge. “Our goal is to have the number one wine list in Colorado,” says Lawrence, “so why not make it fun?” Additional renovations, including expanded three- and four-season patio space, will follow into summer. But Lawrence, who oversaw the original opening of YaYa’s in 1996 by its previous owners, knows what not to change—such as the over-the-top brunch, with its unlimited mimosas and bloodys, made-toorder crêpes and benedicts—and the panEuropean menu that offers everything from grilled salmon salad and gyro pizza to phyllo brownies.

8310 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village 303.741.1110

yayasdenver.com

PORTABLE PIES

Indulging a Colorado-style pizza craving has been getting easier than ever, as BeauJo’s the originator of Colorado-style pizza, some 50 years ago—has been exploring new ways of pizza-procuring beyond its six original locations. Last year it introduced a food truck, and now BeauJo’s2Go, a take-out and delivery-focused location in Lone Tree. “We’re creating a concept that can bring us into the future,” says spokesperson Codi Bair, daughter of BeauJo’s founder Chip Bair. The new venue also offers counter service and indoor and outdoor seating, so you can order a pizza to go and sit down to enjoy it without having to wait for a table—an option customers have long been asking for, she adds. That means the distance between you and one of BeauJo’s signature mountain pies, with its steep-edged braided crust that holds in a heap of toppings—is potentially shorter than ever. And of course, the thinner-crusted prairie pies and crustless skillet-pizza pies, offer even more possibilities. We’re on board with it all.

9234 Park Meadows Drive, Suite 300 Lone Tree, 303.993.5763

beaujos.com

PHOTO COURTESY YAYA'S EURO BISTRO

PHOTO COURTESY BEAUJO'S

PHOTO COURTESY YAYA'S EURO BISTRO

PHOTO COURTESY BEAUJO'S

TASTEFUL TAVERN TO-BE

For a couple years now, owners and life partners Jen Black and Brent Niedringhaus have been serving up sophisticated chef-driven tavern food and a creative cocktail menu at Black + Haus Tavern in Parker. Now, they’re bringing the concept—as well as its popular wine and bourbon dinners—to Littleton. Executive chef Kurt Eichenberger will be overseeing the menu, with more room to play in a bigger kitchen. Expect to see old favorites like the steak sandwich with caramelized onion, cotija and garlic confit aioli (perfect with a smoked old fashioned), and ginger miso charred salmon. The ambiance and vibe will be similar to the energetic one at Parker, promises Black—plus “a big bourbon list, lots of wine options and great food.” Opening soon.

2429 W. Main Street

Littleton

blackhaustavern.com

THE LONG-AWAITED RETURN OF CASA BONITA

The subject of much speculation, many memes, and even an art show, the date of the much-anticipated reopening of the vaunted Casa Bonita—the 52,000-square-foot pink architectural confection and restaurant/entertainment complex in Lakewood—is no more certain than “May 2023” at press time. Famously purchased by “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone with fervent pledges to “change nothing but improve everything,” it’s been under a cloud of mystery ever since. Will we still be able to brave Black Bart’s Hideaway? Will Chiquita the Gorilla and the cliff divers still perform? And will there still be unlimited sopapillas? No answers yet. But we have hopeful expectations for the menu, since it’s helmed by Dana Rodriguez, oft nominated for the prestigious James Beard Outstanding Chef award (and currently in the running again for her Denver restaurant, Super Mega Bien). She’s clearly having fun: In Casa Bonita’s hiring pitch video, standing with Governor Jared Polis, she’s dubbed Dana “Loca” Rodriguez. Opening in May.

CASA BONITA

6714 West Colfax Avenue Lakewood 303.232.5115, casabonitadenver.com

PHOTO COURTESY BLACK + HAUS TAVERN

PHOTO COURTESY BLACK + HAUS TAVERN

PHOTO COURTESY BLACK + HAUS TAVERN

Agua Pura

Discover rivers and lakes around home that enrich a mile-high lifestyle

By Mark Samuelson

HOW FAR IS IT FROM METRO DENVER to a serious body of water? Perhaps one with big waves and miles of sand or fresh lobster and saltwater taffy? The Pacific shore at San Diego is 830 miles west, while Cape Cod is 1,800 miles east. Minnesota’s Land of Ten Thousand Lakes is just 650 miles northeast.

But water is part of the image that lures Coloradans to their Mile High surroundings now—not just in lakeside settings up in the Rockies, but right in the city and its suburbs.

“Coming out here, there was the pain of leaving the ocean,” recalls Steve Watson of Parker, who moved his family east from California decades ago. “I fell in love with the lakes here; it’s given me a connection to Colorado.”

It wasn’t always this way. When explorers Zebulon Pike and Stephen Long, who each left his name on 14,000-foot peaks near Denver, reported on the vast expanse along the Rockies, they both gave a bleak account of water resources—giving readers back east the image of a Sahara-like landscape. But thanks to the massive engineering projects of the last century, tunnels beneath the Continental Divide now carry water eastward from the Colorado River drainage, creating many of the popular scenic reservoirs of today.

PHOTO BY GINNY TORY, COURTESY DENVER SAILING ASSOCIATION

AURORA RESERVOIR

That’s how the 31,000-acre-foot Aurora Reservoir, which opened in 1989 and drew some 686,000 visitors last year, feeds its sailing waters and swimming beach. Much of the inflow passes from Lake Dillon under the divide by way of the 23-mile-long Roberts Tunnel built in 1962, and from there into the South Platte River, to Strontia Springs Reservoir in Waterton Canyon, and by pipe under the Denver Tech Center to the lake near E-470 and Quincy Avenue.

“We’re a regional resource for water sports,” says Brian Green, the City of Aurora’s acting manager of open space and natural resources, adding that the reservoir offers one of nicest sand beaches away from any coast, with a designated swim area staffed during the season by a lifeguard.

Meanwhile, that reservoir provides drinking water for Aurora residents. “So, it’s very clean and clear, and for that reason, we don’t allow regular motorized watercraft with fuel-burning motors,” says Green. Aurora Reservoir— like a growing number of water recreation sites serving metro Denver—caters exclusively to popular sports that are naturally powered and non-polluting, like sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing and kiteboarding.

“We’re a huge destination for kayaks and paddleboards,” Green adds, noting that devotees like that they’re not competing on the water with powerboats and jet skis. “It’s a great place for windsurfers. You get a lot of predictable wind.”

CHERRY CREEK STATE PARK

Wind-powered craft first caught the fancy of Jeff Lampe, “commodore” of the Denver Sailing Association, in 2015 in Florida, where he was recovering from a lower leg amputation following a motorcycle accident. With a new leg, Lampe learned to sail and was back skiing in Colorado within months after the surgery. Later, when he made the Centennial State his home, he was relieved to be able to continue to enjoy sailing.

Now Lampe and his shipmates ply the waters of several metro lakes and make their home base at Cherry Creek State Park, where the marina opens onto an 850-acre, 3-mile-long lake.

“It’s a large part of life for me and probably takes more time than my girlfriend would like,” Lampe says. He and other members sail all over the state and have sailed competitively on the coasts. Still, they enjoy the nice clubhouse at Cherry Creek, which is close to the park’s privately operated Lake House,

with a bar, dining and concerts overlooking the marina. “We want to grow the sport, so people know what sailing is about,” Lampe adds (Learn more at denversailing.org)

Aside from requiring specialized skills, Lampe notes that sailing puts a particular focus on the megadrought across the west that has affected local water levels. Since sailboats have a four- or five-foot-deep keel below the craft that gives the ability to navigate into the wind, and they require deeper water than powerboats to launch—or a crane to hoist the vessel. Even a three-foot drop in the water level causes problems, something the association is working on with the state park and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Although drought is the risk today, Denver has suffered severe floods, including one in 1844 before the city was founded, that reportedly filled the South Platte Valley from bluff to bluff. In 1948, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began building the dam across Cherry Creek, 11 miles upstream from downtown, to mitigate the peril (the park opened in 1959); then followed up by building Chatfield Dam across the South Platte, following a 1965 flood on the river that wiped out hundreds of homes and businesses.

PHOTO BY WAYNE D. LEWIS, COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE, CHERRY CREEK STATE PARK

COMMUNITY of the YEAR

yOnce you experience it, you’ll see that it’s more than the miles of trails, spectacular views and acres of open space. It’s how the thoughtfully crafted homes and gathering spaces are perfectly situated to take advantage of it all.

From the mid $600s to over $1 million. With a distinctive Castle Pines address. MODELS OPEN DAILY

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This is not an offer for real estate for sale, nor solicitation of an offer to buy to residents of any state or province in which registration and other legal requirements have not been fulfilled. Pricing does not include options, elevation, or lot premiums, effective date of publication and subject to change without notice. All square footages and measurements are approximate and subject to change without notice. Community amenities are proposed and preliminary, and are subject to change without notice. Views not guaranteed and may change over time. Models are not an indication of racial preference. Maps and renderings are artist’s conception based on preliminary information, not to scale and subject to change. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. Equal Housing Opportunity. © 2023 Shea Homes, Shea Canyons, LLC. And The Canyons.

This is not an offer for real estate for sale, nor solicitation of an offer to buy to residents of any state or province in which registration and other legal requirements have not been fulfilled. Pricing does not include options, elevation, or lot premiums, effective date of publication and subject to change without notice. All square footages and measurements are approximate and subject to change without notice. Community amenities are proposed and preliminary, and are subject to change without notice. Views not guaranteed and may change over time. Models are not an indication of racial preference. Maps and renderings are artist’s conception based on preliminary information, not to scale and subject to change. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. Equal Housing Opportunity. © 2023 Shea Homes, Shea Canyons, LLC. And The Canyons.

CHATFIELD STATE PARK

Like Aurora Reservoir, both Cherry Creek and Chatfield (Chatfield State Park opened in 1975) have swimming beaches and launch areas for sailcraft, but both also allow jet skis and powerboats—creating a huge attraction, according to Colorado State Parks public information officer Kara Van Hoose.

“They’re packed all the time, and we want those spaces to be available for generations,” she says. That requires good cooperation from boat owners, starting with a “boat ed” safety course. “Both for people who have lived in Colorado or from out of state, it’s easy to forget about getting a license,” Van Hoose notes. Boaters must also clean their crafts to ward off invasive aquatic nuisance species—like New Zealand mud snails—that can stow away. Captains and crew need to wear life jackets (as with kayaks, canoes, SUPs and smaller sailcraft, they’re available for rent) and need to keep an eye on the weather.

SODA LAKES

Meanwhile, residents who push west toward the foothills can find some rarified settings ready and waiting for watersports, including the Soda Lakes, part of the City of Lakewood’s Bear Creek Lake Park and State Park, off Morrison Road just east of C-470.

“We reach capacity every weekend at the park; people picnic and make a day of it,” city parks zmanager Jim Haselgren says, noting that Soda Lake has a concession stand and rentals. In addition, there’s a ranger staff devoted to ensuring that paddlers, swimmers and users of non-powered boats are safe and well-educated on the waters. There’s a roped-off swim beach, but nearby on Little Soda Lake, a separate concessionaire offers rented powerboats and waterskiing. Further east, serene Bear Creek Lake is open to anglers and allows smaller boats with trolling motors up to 10 horsepower.

RUETER-HESS RESERVOIR

All three reservoirs serving the south metro area are a lure for residents of places like Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Rock and Castle Pines. But those towns have an additional site on the horizon that could become an even closer attraction. Rueter-Hess Reservoir, a pump-storage lake for drinking water created by Parker Water in 2012, is highly visible now east of I-25 at Castle Pines Parkway. This spring, a planning commission involving the four Douglas County entities is exploring what it could offer recreation-wise as part of an intergovernmental agreement.

Among the possibilities are paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking (some events have already been held) and other non-powered boating. Also fishing. “Fishing is very desirable,” planners said at the meeting, noting that water quality will always be a primary focus. With a 1,170-acre surface and a depth of more than 180 feet in some places, Rueter Hess could store 75,000 acre-feet—by far the largest volume reservoir on the Front Range. An agreement could be in place as soon as this year, and commissioners are anxious to create ways for access.

PHOTO COURTESY COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE, CHATFIELD STATE PARK

PHOTO COURTESY BEAR CREEK LAKE SODA LAKES, LAKEWOOD PARKS

PHOTO COURTESY BEAR CREEK LAKE SODA LAKES, LAKEWOOD PARKS

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SOUTH PLATTE THROUGH THE PIKE NATIONAL FOREST

And if you’re looking for a wilder, more wideopen water experience that’s less than an hour from home, head to the South Platte River in the Pike National Forest, just over the hill from Sedalia, via Highway 67.

With four campgrounds and a ton of day-use areas, the South Fork South Platte winds for 15 miles through scenic forest and rocky dales, where fly-fishers compete with rafts and float tubes. (Several miles are Gold Medal trout waters restricted to flies and lures only, with any caught fish less than 16 inches released back into the water.) Ranger Donna Maxon with the South Platte Ranger District asks rafters to be considerate of fly-fishers and cautions about parking in non-designated areas.

“The national forest isn’t like a national park,” Maxon says, adding that only a small team of rangers patrols the area. Trash must be packed out, including dog-poop bags. “And be mindful of the conditions,” she warns. “They can change very rapidly.”

PHOTO COURTESY DENVER WATER

PHOTO COURTESY DENVER WATER

“WE HOPE IT WILL HELP YOUNG PEOPLE FIND A PATH TO PURPOSE.”

Business Ed

Greenwood Village’s new Junior Achievement Free Enterprise Center provides

immersive educational experience for Colorado’s youth

By Elizabeth Watson Photography Courtsey JA Free Enterprise Center

WHEN THE DOORS of the Greenwood Village Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, Inc. (JA) Free Enterprise Center open for the first time this spring, local students will step into an immersive, educational experience that provides them with crucial financial skills. The space and experiences are designed not only to encourage them to dream, but it will set them on a path to achieving those dreams. Junior Achievement’s purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

For more than 100 years, and through more than 100 areas across the country (and even more globally), JA has provided students with the knowledge and skills required for economic success, has helped them plan for their futures, and guided them in making smart academic and economic choices. In our area, with the addition of the JA Free Enterprise Center in Greenwood Village, the organization anticipates being able to provide services to an additional 20,000 students every year.

JA Rocky Mountain recognized the importance of a facility in the south metro area when its Thornton Free Enterprise Center hit capacity and wasn’t able to serve school districts south of Denver due to transportation challenges.

The Greenwood Village location was made possible through a donation of land from local real estate developer John Madden. Robin Wise, president and CEO of JA Rocky Mountain, says, “Mr. Madden gave us this gift of land. It is the perfect location. Close to light rail with good visibility, and it’s in the cultural heart of Greenwood Village.”

The first shovel hit the dirt for this 27,000-square-foot project in March 2022, and JA is anticipating a spring 2023 opening with participation of approximately 750 students scheduled for April 2023.

This is a building designed to engage, inspire and educate. From the moment local school children walk through the door, JA wants them to have a “wow” experience. With an eye on work and life in the 21st century, this new space lends a modern edge to the main JA content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

Plenty of natural sunlight flooding the 18-foot ceiling spaces, a wall of oversized televisions in the main lobby and two separate high-tech learning exhibits contribute to an immediate sense of cutting-edge technology combined with educationally focused experiences.

The Robert and Judi Newman JA Finance Park is the first of two fully immersive learning experiences the students will participate in at the JA Free Enterprise Center.

ROBIN WISE A Leader In Action

President and CEO of JA Rocky Mountain Robin Wise recently received the Leadership Program of the Rockies (LPR) Leaders in Action Award. LPR identifies and brings together emerging leaders from the legal, economic, business, political, nonprofit and civic professions to learn how visionary, principle-centered leadership can positively impact their community. These leaders attend nine full-day sessions, and Wise is a member of the LPR class of 2014. Of her, the organization says: “Robin fully understands the long-term cultural power of arming young leaders with the message of freedom and personal responsibility. Robin’s support for the mission of LPR is woven into every aspect of her career and it shows in her evergrowing sphere of influence—she truly is a leader in action.”

“The ‘stores’ on the perimeter represents a thing in your life that you have to purchase to live. Kids arrive, they’ve had curriculum before they come, they come here and put that theory into practice,” says Wise. Each student receives an iPad with a randomly assigned job, a corresponding salary and a life situation such as married, single and with or without children. In addition, the iPad lists major life purchases such as housing, transportation and health care and also lets them know their credit score. Priority deductions include things like taxes, insurance and credit card debt. The experience paints a real-life picture for the student.

JA Finance Park’s educational approach is recognized by Harvard University. Wise says, “It’s a Harvard best practice for teaching financial literacy because it’s immersive.

PHOTO BY MARISSA ANDERSON

Robin Wise, CEO

PHOTO COURTESY JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT-ROCKY MOUNTAIN, INC.

Junior Achievement

Protecting assets is what we do, making a difference is who we are.

Since 1974, we’ve been about more than just insurance to the Denver community. We work to make a difference in the lives of young people learning the value of the free enterprise system.

Without us having to lecture kids, they learn that with education or a skill you have more choice in life.”

The second fully immersive learning experience at the JA Finance Park is The Daniel Fund JA Dream Accelerator. Created by award-winning exhibit designer Gallagher & Associates—the firm that also designed the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs—this exhibit has students participate in an entrepreneurial learning opportunity.

“The Dream Accelerator is an immersive career exploration,” Wise says. “We hope it will help young people find a path to purpose.” She gives an example of a scenario where a group of students are given a business plan for opening a brunch restaurant. As the team debates the benefits of available locations, those locations start to disappear. It’s reflective of how in the real world, things can change quickly. Those locations might be purchased by another company looking to start their own business, which in turn can affect your business plans.

In a quote on the Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, Inc. website, Mark Cuban, JA alumnus, Dallas Mavericks owner, “Shark Tank” personality and American billionaire, says, “Junior Achievement really was the only outlet, the only place I could go where I could truly learn about business. Going to Junior Achievement, I learned everything. I learned how to incorporate, I learned all the different roles, sales, cost of goods sold, production, making products, selling, and selling at a profit, all the pieces. We literally ran a business. Just that whole concept of the American Dream I think drives so many kids. Junior Achievement is a good opportunity to understand what it takes to be successful as an entrepreneur in this country.”

Wise is also quick to point out that JA emphasizes that college is not the only direction available to students. Whether it’s trade school, an apprenticeship or a business startup, JA wants to provide that spark that makes kids ask, “What’s next?”

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT-ROCKY MOUNTAIN, INC.

Greenwood Village JA Free Enterprise Center

303.534.5252

jacolorado.org

Ethical Ethos

Design details make a BIG IMPACT without wasting quality materials in a Greenwood Village remodel

By Heather Shoning

Photography by Denver Image Photography

Refinishing the existing kitchen cabinetry was a huge budget- and waste-saving design choice. Bravo was able to achieve the black cabinetry finish the homeowner wanted, then punctuated the space with soft brass finishes for contrast and a sophisticated style.

IT’S EASY TO GUT A HOUSE and start over, but there’s a certain amount of finesse involved in working with existing design elements while creating a fresh feeling and designing a home for the way new homeowners want to live in it. Designer Margarita Bravo took that approach for redesigning a Greenwood Village home for a family relocating from Los Angeles. While the new design did call for some structural changes to open up certain spaces, and she did eliminate some architectural elements, the designer was careful to coach her clients through using existing components—especially major ones—by refinishing them to achieve the desired effect.

Two areas that saved the homeowners not only thousands of dollars, but also saved perfectly good materials from being landfill fodder were the windows and the kitchen cabinetry and countertops. The exterior of the transitional Cape Cod–style home was in great shape, so Bravo just specified a new paint color and upgraded exterior lighting. But when the client wanted black metal-framed windows, Bravo offered an alternative—to paint the existing windows black both inside and outside, then eliminate the window casings on the interior, replacing them with a wrapped drywall edge. “The biggest thing was for her to have that aesthetic,” Bravo says. “We were able to accomplish it for a minimum portion of what brand new windows would have cost, and they turned out really well.”

Because Bravo has several design studios across the country—including Miami and Montecito— under the firm name MARGARITA BRAVO, she’s accustomed to working across a variety of design styles. And although the design firm—which she started in 2015 after a career in engineering—specializes in beginning-to-end design and project management, she’s always careful to let her clients’ identities and styles guide the process. Strong relationships with real estate agents help her connect with clients early in the home-buying process so she can be involved from the very beginning, which is exactly how this project started.

When she first met with them and toured the home, she was able to help them understand how they could change the structure to meet their needs, along with providing ballpark numbers, so they could make an informed offer on the house. “It’s a house that was built 30 years ago when there were more closed-off spaces,” Bravo says. “We wanted to open it up as much as possible, more in the entry into the kitchen area, and there were a couple of different structural pieces that we had to do in order to accomplish that.”

It was important to the homeowners to have a separate beverage station, so Bravo designed new cabinetry to mesh with the existing and added refrigerators in the lower section.

Interior Designer: Angie Hilmes

Photo: EMR photography

ONCE THEY OPENED UP THE ENTRY and rebuilt the staircase and replaced the railing with a modern style, Bravo suggested refinishing the kitchen cabinetry. “It was a whitewash wood, but she wanted to have black painted cabinets, Bravo says. “We had to be creative. And keeping in mind, it’s not about affordability or having the budget, it’s also about being mindful of reusing the resources.” The team tried several paint samples until they were able to achieve the look the client wanted. The homeowners did want to add a beverage station, so Bravo added some cabinetry wine refrigerators. To bring warmth and richness to the space with dark cabinetry and dark countertops, Bravo changed the design style of the kitchen hood to incorporate warm wood tones and opted for brass hardware, fixtures and lighting. “We wanted to make sure we had some elements that created contrast, that created a breaking point between all that darkness,” she says.

Off the kitchen, there had been a small doorway leading to a formal dining room. Because this family with three children and a dog, wanted openfloor-plan living, Bravo opened up the wall and turned the old dining space into the family room. The other direction, the kitchen is wide open to the dining area and living room. Bravo kept the brass fireplace but designed a new brick surround with a warm wood mantel, drawing the elements from the kitchen across the large room. Although the family remained in LA during the remodeling project, Bravo was mindful right from the beginning of the furnishings they already had and planned to bring into the new home.

The hardwood floors throughout the home were in good shape, so Bravo advised refinishing them for a more modern look and adding new in areas that previously had carpet. From the beginning, the designer knew the homeowners would be bringing furniture from their California home, so she planned for it from the initial design phases.

Once a closed-off formal dining area, Bravo transformed this into an open-concept family room off the kitchen to better align with the way the family wanted to use the home. Refinishing the windows with black paint and wrapped drywall edge (instead of millwork) gave the industrial, modern style the homeowner wanted without wasting the existing high-quality windows.

The primary bathroom was another space the needed Bravo’s design creativity. It had lots of wasted space, and L-shaped vanity that wasn’t functional and a miniscule shower. Bravo was able to reconfigure the space to include an ample double vanity, water closet, freestanding tub and a large glass-enclosed shower.

“We love projects with all these challenges,” Bravo says. “We’re determining how we’re taking it from point A to point B and finding all those elements that can be reused, that can be tweaked, that can make the house look brand new house without tearing everything down and starting from scratch.”

Project Resources

Kitchen hood: Designed by Margarita Bravo Hood construction/cabinetry refinishing/ window refinishing: Deluxe Design and Construction

Hardware/fixtures: Ultra Design Center

Lighting: Urban Lights

Primary bathroom shower tile: Total Floors Bathtub/fixtures/sinks: Ultra Design Center

Vanity: BKC Kitchen and Bath

Mirrors/ Powder bathroom lighting: Urban Lights

Primary bathroom lighting: Visual Comfort Powder bath vanity: BKC Kitchen and Bath

Bravo completely rethought the primary bathroom for a luxurious layout and better functionality. Now the homeowners can enjoy a separate water closet, oversized shower, freestanding soaking tub plus a double vanity with plenty of storage.

Shown: Castelle Saxton Deep Seating

SPRING INTO FASHION

THESE ON-TREND STAPLES ALLOW YOU TO MIX AND MATCH YOUR OUTFITS

By Hailee Lucchesi

WHEN IT COMES TO FASHION TRENDS, we are lucky enough to call Colorado home, as the fickle weather allows us an array of styles to experiment with. One of the hottest trends for spring is mixing and matching prints, colors and textures. The traditional rules no longer apply, and we couldn’t be happier. Look no further than these head-to-toe looks layered with playful prints and colors to keep you right on trend.

If FARM Rio isn’t already on your radar, today is your lucky day. This Brazilian-based maker has been designing powerful, colorful, bold pieces since 1997 to inspire positive transformations in everyone, everywhere. The Mystic Scarf cardigan is certainly no exemption. This go-to garment, with its versatile function, makes it a closet necessity. While it could be styled in an assortment of ways, we’re keeping it Colorado casual with our effortless combination.

Although this Isabel Marant Zutti modern sleeveless cotton t-shirt may appear simple at first glance, the consideration to design with the striking sleeve makes it anything but ordinary. The structured shoulder allows for a polished look layered or alone, providing a sharp and modern appeal. Your basic white tee has never looked so good with this elevated piece.

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again. The perfect pair of denim jeans should always be a top priority in your wardrobe. Luckily for us, Madewell continues to provide foolproof denim time and time again. The Perfect Vintage straight jean in a ferman wash is a no-brainer. The waist-accentuating high-rise silhouette and classic wash will have you wearing them nonstop. The best part, they also come in a curvy fit to keep women of all shapes and sizing on trend this season.

Top off this look with Warby Parker’s Corwin polished gold-and-whiskey tortoise sunglasses. Made in Italy with round lenses, brow bar, and mod bridgeless construction, these specs take eyewear to a new level. Incredibly elegant and stylish, these are the only sunglasses you’ll need this season.

The Perfect Vintage Straight Jean, $128 at MADEWELL , Park Meadows, 303.792.4682, madewell.com

Mystic Scarf Cardigan, $195 at A LINE BOUTIQUE, Belleview Station DTC, 303.773.8200, aline-online.com

Isabel Marant Tee, $360 at NORDSTROM, Park Meadows, 303.799.3400, nordstrom.com

Corwin Sunglasses, $195 at WARBY PARKER, Park Meadows, 888.492.7297, warbyparker.com

What was once a pandemic trend is now a well-established category that is here to stay. Currently, loungewear ranges from informal to avant-garde, and we can’t get enough of it. There is no better example of fashionable loungewear than this ba&sh Balloo hoodie sweater. The colorful organic cotton and ethically sourced striped wool instantly draw you in. The attention to detail in the braided strings and cozy hood makes this piece a showstopper. Pop the hood and layer for a contemporary look by pairing it with ALLSAINTS Morgan convertible leather bike jacket. White leather is sweeping the market, but what makes this exceptional is the clever trimmed fastening to allow for removable sleeves. The ability to transform from a jacket to a vest in seconds elect this piece unmatched.

Another trend that is sure to stay is establishing core pieces of jewelry for your daily uniform. Local designer Trice Jewelers is one of the best in the game when it comes to this mindset. With an eclectic range of metals and styles, it’s almost impossible not to find something you love while exploring their vast collections. Their I. Reiss 14-karat yellow gold cuff ring is the perfect piece to top off your look. The matte and hammer-finished scalloped-edge design with burnished set diamonds is stunning. Wear it alone or layer it with stacking bands to make it uniquely yours.

ba&sh Baloo Hoodie Sweater, $450 at A LINE BOUTIQUE, Belleview Station DTC, 303.773.8200, aline-online.com

ALLSAINTS Morgan Convertible Leather Biker Jacket, $589 at NORDSTROM, Park Meadows, 303.799.3400, nordstrom.com

I.Reiss Ring, $2,300 at TRICE JEWELERS, Centennial, 303.759.9661, tricejewelers.com

While ALO first began making its mark in women’s fashion with athleisurewear, the brand has stepped out into ready-to-wear, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. This High-Waist Pursuit trouser comes in a multitude of colors, but we’re drooling over this delicious cinnamon brown color. Although they appear incredibly poised, they fit like a dream. The lightweight fabric with a faux belt and side pockets makes them street-ready and easily dressed up or down.

Far from her days as a Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham has taken the fashion scene by storm. Her ability to create timeless, trendy pieces keeps her collections coveted season after season. The Mini Chain Pouch in fuchsia is just one of many examples of this revolution with its vibrant color and softly structured shape.

It’s no wonder Philippines-born designer Natori always designs with making women feel powerful in mind. Her Radial leopard-printed sandals are certainly no exception. Easily styled with both looks, these sandals instantly take your outfit from bleak to bold.

Victoria Beckham Mini Pouch, $990 at A LINE BOUTIQUE, Belleview Station DTC, 303.773.8200, aline-online.com

Natori Radial Leopard Printed Sandals, $140 at DILLARD’S, Park Meadows, 303.790.0100, dillards.com

High-waist Pursuit Trouser, $148 at ALO, Park Meadows, 720.381.2863, aloyoga.com

At Vibrance Dentistry, we believe that dentistry is not “one size

all” and that your experience should be pleasant and relaxing. Our commitment to Holistic and Biological dentistry ensures that your visit will leave you feeling better, looking better and living better. Our state-of-the-art equipment and spa-like amenities allow us to offer services that transcend traditional dentistry and promote whole-body wellness.

We offer a full range of dental services, from family and preventative dentistry to cosmetic dentistry including smile makeovers. Call us today at 303-770-1116 or visit vibrancedentistry.com to schedule an appointment and discover the difference!

Inspiring Design

How a LOCAL INTERIOR DESIGNER built her company from the ground up

By Jessica Hughes

As a child, KIMBERLY TIMMONS-BEUTNER was always interested in design, from designing her childhood dollhouse to aspiring to become a fashion designer. Soon after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in interior design, her career kicked off working for a local Denver design firm, where she stayed for 10 years.

As she worked her way up from entry level to design director, the desire to call the shots led her to create Kimberly Timmons Interiors in 1997. “I wanted the freedom to design what I wanted to design,” says Timmons-Beutner. “I am very much a perfectionist and push design to the best it can be.” Fueled by that passion and a determination to succeed, the award-winning visionary built one of Denver’s top design studios from the ground up.

She started the company from the guest bedroom of her home, and after hiring two employees, the room became a bit tight, so she expanded to an office in downtown Denver. Over the years, Timmons-Beutner grew the company from those first two employees to 12 designers. Today, the design firm with 24 employees and a portfolio of clients that expands beyond Colorado is based in the Golden Triangle Creative District with plans to relocate to the Colorado Center in late spring. The company will also add a new warehouse to store its inventory and project purchases, a luxury not all interior design firms can offer.

PHOTO BY KYLIE FITTS

Kimberly Timmons Interiors operates under three different design studios: luxury residential, hospitality and interior merchandising. As a designer, Timmons-Beutner says her design process begins with inspiration. “I find inspiration almost everywhere I go,” she says. “It can come from anywhere. It comes from my travels, architecture, fashion, art—even the smallest detail can inspire me.”

The renowned designs speak for themselves. Timmons-Beutner describes the company’s work as well-balanced and proportioned with a level of detail that sets them apart from other design firms. “We don’t have a set style; we listen to what the client wants,” she says. “We are very versatile in our design style. We get down into the details.” Timmons-Beutner says customization of furnishings makes her company unique. One of her favorite projects over the years included Denver’s own Guard and Grace but would love to see herself designing a five-star tropical resort one day.

But life as a business owner hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Like many, surviving the crash of 2008 was not easy. “It was painful and hard. It took great determination and a never-give-up-attitude,” says TimmonsBeutner. “I remember having to take money out of my 401(k) just to keep my employees paid.” Then, of course, the pandemic hit, which Timmons-Beutner describes as the second 2008 crash.

She credits much of the company’s success to its designers and employees and the value she places on pleasing the client. “I am always searching for those unicorns, those unique individuals who are well-rounded, energetic and passionate about what they do,” she says. “Ultimately, client happiness drives everything.”

PHOTO BY CHAD DAVIES

PHOTO BY KYLIE FITTS

JUST LIKE ME

CHAITRA

By Lisa Truesdale

IN THE FIRST of her six-book “Adoptees Like Me” series, Chaitra Wirta-Leiker writes about Marie, a young transracial adoptee who is learning how to answer—or not—all the personal questions she gets about her family.

“People are usually well-intentioned, but they don’t consider how insensitive their questions can be,” explains Wirta-Leiker, a licensed psychologist in Greenwood Village. “Kids aren’t taught to navigate those situations. They’re either like a deer in the headlights, or they’re embarrassed about oversharing.”

Wirta-Leiker is uniquely qualified to tell Marie’s story. Like Marie and her other main characters, she’s a transracial adoptee herself, and she’s the adoptive parent of a transracial child. Today, she specializes in helping adult adoptees and adoptive parents and caregivers struggling with issues of identity, race, societal expectations and family relationships. Each book also includes downloadable references to assist parents with vocabulary and emotional concepts, language that supports developmentally appropriate conversations, and ideas for interactive activities.

WIRTA-LEIKER uses her personal experiences to educate others about the intricacies of transracial adoption

PHOTO BY CHAD CHISHOLM

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Wirta-Leiker says she’s known since her first high school psychology class that she wanted to be a psychologist. After the Columbine tragedy hit close to home, she began working with youth and families who had experienced trauma. “I worked in residential treatment and mental health centers, and schools and daycares, and with kids in the foster care system,” she says, adding that she felt especially strong connections to the latter. Yet it wasn’t until she and her husband were adopting their child from Ethiopia that she began specializing in adoption counseling, with an additional focus on transracial adoptions.

“During the mandatory training [to be an adoptive parent] everything just felt like common sense,” she says. “They were asking my opinions, because I could offer additional personal insight into what adoptees need, and also provide a clinical lens. And I realized there was a huge need for this specialty.”

Wirta-Leiker sees adult clients in person or via telehealth at her private practice, Beyond Words Psychological Services. She also conducts pre-adoption evaluations for prospective adoptive parents, trains other professionals specializing in adoption counseling, speaks around the country on adoption topics and created an online directory of licensed professionals in the U.S. who work with adoptees.

Wirta-Leiker appreciates that she’s able to provide resources that weren’t available when she was growing up, especially when she sees positive results from her work.

“One big success is when a family with a transracial adoptee moves to a more diverse area for the sake of the child,” she says. “The family is recognizing the importance of the racial and cultural mirroring, and relationships can develop more organically.”

Though Wirta-Leiker has transitioned to working with only adults in her practice, she created the book series as a way to help younger adoptees, too. “Each book is written from the perspective of the adoptive child, and in each story, the child is coming to visit me for therapy.”

That way, she explains, readers get to be part of the therapy session. “It gives readers the words and concepts to understand what they may be experiencing,” she says. “It also normalizes seeking professional mental health, and it gives access to mental health support for those who can’t access it nearby.”

The second book in her “Adoptees Like Me” series, “Casey Conquers Bedtime,” is scheduled for publication this spring. In addition to the children’s book series, Wirta-Leiker’s wrote self-reflection journals for adoptees and adoptive parents offer dozens of writing prompts to help guide them along their adoption journey.

PHOTO BY CHAD CHISHOLM

On Higher Ground On Higher Ground

MOUNTAIN GOLF GETAWAYS to start planning now

By Susan Fornoff

THE WINTER’S GENEROUS SNOWFALL promises lush, verdant golf courses around Colorado this spring. Even in drought years, these three exquisite destinations—all at 8,000 feet or higher—traditionally have shorter golf seasons than Front Range mile-high courses. This year, they’re not likely to open fully until mid-May, which puts them in high demand for summertime 2023.

There are no full-service golf resorts on these courses, and that’s OK. It frees you to à la carte your own pool, spa and dining. Leave the pushcart at home and ride on the high side

with one of these tried-and-true formulas or combine them for one glorious, elevated week.

Vail and Beaver Creek are shooting for May 17 openings. Get your practice round in at Vail Golf Club, a scenic layout along Gore Creek that’s walkable or golf-bikeable, provided you’re acclimated to 8,200 feet. Next, you’ll enjoy a two-day membership at Red Sky Golf Club, in partnership with Vail Resorts, which offers lodging guests exclusive public access to the otherwise private Norman and Fazio courses. Last year, guests could play Norman on odd-numbered days and Fazio on even days.

You’ll love the views, and unique forward tee looks on the Norman. Book now to be able to play both.

Lodgings range from starred resorts with luxury spas, like The Sebastian-Vail and Sonnenalp, to condos with full kitchens. Pines Lodge is a smaller hotel within walking distance of the shops and restaurants of Beaver Creek Village.

PHOTO BY JEFF ANDREW, COURTESY RED SKY RANCH

Colorado's Preferred Club Car Dealer for 40 Years

WAYFARERS// high-country golf

Keystone is shooting for a May 12 opening. The Ranch and River courses, up there at 9,280 feet, are favorites of Colorado AvidGolfer readers. The average woman golfer will feel like she’s on vacation playing front tee layouts of 4,758 yards on the roller-coaster-riding River and 5,041 yards on the older, links-style Ranch, while long drivers can step all the way back to 7,017 on the Ranch. The River has the views, but the Ranch has, well, the Ranch—an acclaimed restaurant.

Unlike at Red Sky, you do not have to be a lodging guest to play the courses. But a complimentary twilight round on the day of arrival is among the perks of stay-and-plays at the Keystone Resort and Spa, neighboring condos or other properties near Lakeside Village and River Run Village. For golf alternatives, time your visit with one of the villages’ popular summer festivals, like Bacon & Bourbon (June 24–25) or Wine & Jazz (July 15–16), take the gondolas to trailheads or rent a kayak on the lake.

Grand County is shooting for an opening in late April. Pole Creek Golf Club’s three nines, always manicured and with Continental Divide views, have won the hearts of visitors to the Winter Park/Granby/Grand Lake area. It’s 8,812 feet at the highest point, the No. 8 tee on the Ridge 9, and then the No. 9 tee offer the most breathtaking vistas. The nearby up-and-comer is Granby Ranch Golf Course, where the bucolic front nine wanders down by the Fraser River, and golfers can wave to Amtrak’s Zephyr, chugging by daily en route to San Francisco.

PHOTO BY KATIE YOUNG, COURTESY KEYSTONE RANCH

PHOTO COURTESY KEYSTONE RANCH

PHOTO COURTESY POLE CREEK GOLF COURSE

PHOTO COURTESY GRANBY RANCH GOLF COURSE

Take refuge at the secluded Devil’s Thumb Ranch, where you can have a Peak Performance Massage on your golf muscles and experience the healthful benefits of the Ranch’s own wagyu beef over dinner. Or rent a property through SkyRun, which partners with a company called Xplorie to offer guests a free round of golf daily at Pole Creek and other activities almost as much fun.

GRANBY RANCH GOLF COURSE 970.887.2709 golfgranbyranch.com

KEYSTONE GOLF CLUB 970.496.1520 keystoneresort.com

POLE CREEK GOLF CLUB 970.887.9195 polecreekgolf.com

RED SKY GOLF CLUB 970.754.8425 redskygolfclub.com

VAIL GOLF CLUB 970.479.2260 vailrec.com

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH BRUMM, COURTESY DEVIL’S THUMB RANCH RESORT & SPA

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH BRUMM, COURTESY DEVIL’S THUMB RANCH RESORT & SPA

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH BRUMM, COURTESY DEVIL’S THUMB RANCH RESORT & SPA

Through its charitable arm, the Colorado Golf Foundation, the CGA provides funding for junior player development, caddie programs, and community partnership that bring the game to a wider and more diverse audience throughout Colorado.

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