Boulder Weekly 11.21.2024

COMMENTARY

OPINION

READY FOR A FIGHT

BY JENNIFER ROKALA WRITERS ON

THE RANGE

President Donald Trump’s first term was a disaster for America’s public lands. While the prospects for his second term are even more bleak, Westerners across the political spectrum — even those who voted for Trump — stand ready to oppose

attempts to sell off America’s public lands to the highest bidder.

As for Trump’s pick for Interior Secretary, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum: If Burgum tries to turn America’s public lands into an even bigger cash cow for the oil and gas industry, or tries to shrink America’s parks and national monuments, he’ll quickly discover he’s on the wrong side of history.

Public lands have strong bipartisan support in the West. The annual Conservation in the West Poll, last released by the Colorado College State of

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

Volume 32, Number 14

PUBLISHER: Stewart Sallo

PUBLISHING CONSULTANT: Francis J. Zankowski

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Shay Castle

ARTS EDITOR: Jezy J. Gray

REPORTERS: Kaylee Harter, Tyler Hickman

FOOD EDITOR: John Lehndorff

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Clifton Adcock, Rob Brezsny, Ryan Call, Michael J. Casey, Justin Criado, MB Partlow, Jennifer Rokala, Sebastian Rotella, Dan Savage, Garrett Yalch, Quentin Young

COVER CREDIT: Tyler Hickman

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the Rockies Project in February 2024, found that nearly three-quarters of voters — including Republicans — want to protect clean water, air quality and wildlife habitats, while providing opportunities to visit and recreate on public lands.

That’s compared to just one-quarter of voters who prefer maximizing the use of public lands available for drilling and mining.

According to the poll, which surveyed voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, 80% of Westerners support the national goal of conserving 30% of land and waters in America by the year 2030.

Bipartisan support for more conserva-

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tion and balanced energy development has been a cornerstone of the poll’s findings since it began in 2011. Under the leadership of President Joe Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the current administration has made progress over the past four years in bringing public land management in line with the preferences of Western voters. That includes better protecting the Grand Canyon, increasing accountability for oil and gas companies that operate on public land, and putting conservation — at last — on par with drilling and mining on public land.

The president-elect may find it hard to immediately block what Westerners want. After Trump took office in 2017 promising to transform public land management, his team was unprepared and used its power to benefit its own interests, ignoring the wishes of the American people.

Trump’s first interior secretary, Ryan Zinke, misused his position to advance his dream of owning a microbrewery in Montana. Trump’s second interior secretary, oil and gas industry lobbyist David Bernhardt, put his finger on the scale in the interest of a former client. Trump’s choice to run the Bureau of Land Management, William Perry Pendley, served illegally without being confirmed by Congress.

We worked hard to shed light on this corruption and defend public lands from Trump’s attacks. Still, Trump’s Interior Department allowed oil and gas companies to lock up millions of acres for bargain basement prices.

In his second term, Trump will attempt to shrink national monuments like Bears Ears in Utah and permit drilling and mining in inappropriate areas. The presidentelect has already committed to undoing

President Joe Biden’s energy and environmental policies.

Project 2025, the policy handbook written by former Trump officials, clearly lays out a plan to gut the Interior Department and remove environmental safeguards that ensure the health of our public lands. Project 2025 would give extractive industries nearly unfettered access to public lands, severely restrict the power of the Endangered Species Act, open millions of acres of Alaska wilderness to drilling, mining and logging and roll back protections for spectacular landscapes like Bears Ears and Grand StaircaseEscalante national monuments. It would also remove protections for iconic Western species such as gray wolves and grizzly bears.

What can we do about this assault? The law and public opinion are on our side. Public land protections are stronger today than ever, thanks in large part to the grassroots efforts of tribes, local community leaders and conservation organizations.

We know much of what’s in Trump’s public lands playbook, and we will fight back. We’ll continue to shine a light on corruption within the Trump administration and hold it accountable.

Our partners will work in Congress to stop bad policies and projects from going forward. We are ready to take action in the courts and in the streets. And we’re not waiting until Inauguration Day to start.

Jennifer Rokala is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about Western issues. She is executive director of Center for Western Priorities, a nonpartisan public lands advocacy group.

STATE SHOULD MANDATE TRASH GAS TRACKING

Colorado could become a national leader in reducing landfill methane emissions

BY RYAN CALL

Colorado is making great strides in clean energy and electrifying transportation. But there’s an untapped opportunity for us from an unexpected source: our trash. By updating how we regulate Colorado’s 59 landfills — and the polluting gasses they emit — we could become a model for the nation and make a profound impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Landfills are the third-largest source of methane in the U.S. It’s a climate super-pollutant that is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) at trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere when measured over a 20-year period.

Methane is generated when organic matter, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, breaks down without oxygen in airtight landfills. While the ultimate solution is to quit burying organic matter in landfills and instead put these materials to beneficial uses such as making compost, the latest science shows us that we can — and should — take immediate steps to reduce landfill emissions now.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), landfill emissions in the U.S. are equivalent to the pollution from 24 million passenger vehicles. There’s growing evidence that these emissions are dramatically underreported, meaning the true environmental cost could be far greater. It’s not just methane that seeps out of landfills, but a host of other nasty trashgas chemicals, too. “Co-pollutants” such as carcinogenic benzene, toluene and other volatile organic compounds are also escaping into the atmosphere.

Methane pollution contributes to the Front Range’s ozone crisis, which causes health problems like respiratory issues and worsening conditions like asthma and emphysema.

We don’t all experience these impacts equally: 46% of the 3.2 million U.S. residents who live within one mile of a landfill are Black, Indigenous or people of color, according to the EPA. Landfill pollution is not just a threat to public health and the environment; it’s also an environmental justice issue that disproportionately impacts communities already experiencing inequity.

Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, pictured in 2016. Credit: Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management

OPINION

There is good news. State leaders have identified methane reduction as a priority in an updated Greenhouse Gas Reduction Roadmap, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) agreed to update its landfill emission regulations. In doing so, Colorado will join leaders like Maryland, Washington, Oregon and California in adopting rules that go above and beyond federal standards. CDPHE will propose its draft rule by February 2025 and the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) will vote on it next July.

Colorado has already proven to be a leader in reducing methane from oil and gas drilling and production; our state was the first in the nation to adopt a “greenhouse gas intensity rule” requiring oil and gas operators to monitor methane and reduce emissions. Now we have the opportunity to apply this cutting-edge technology to reducing landfill emissions, setting a national precedent.

Requiring advanced methane monitoring is one of the most impactful rules Colorado could adopt — after all, we can’t manage what we can’t measure. By using drones and satellites to monitor emissions, landfill operators can quickly pinpoint methane. In Pennsylvania, advanced monitoring technology found 10 methane plumes that were previously undetected, helping them to reduce landfill methane emissions by 37%.

If Colorado included such a mandate in its regulations, we would become the first state in the nation to require this technology for landfills, leading to significant emissions reduction.

With the $129 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant recently awarded to the Colorado Energy Office, there’s funding available for methane monitoring. We also need to make sure Colorado’s updated rules require the largest landfill methane emitters to take action when large methane leaks are detected. Other proven common-sense methane reduction measures include requiring smaller landfills to install gas collection systems and improving landfill cover practices and materials to help prevent leaks.

A coalition of 34 pro-climate organizations, including Eco-Cycle, have urged CDPHE to draft a strong, nationleading landfill methane emissions rule. We invite you to weigh in as well. You can join this movement and learn more by visiting ecocycle.org/landfill-methane and signing up to receive updates and action alerts.

There is no single solution to our climate crisis; we need a multipronged approach. But reducing landfill emissions is an effective solution we can put into effect now.

We have the technology, we have the funding — we just need the rule.

Despite the progress being made elsewhere, bone of the above states require advanced methane monitoring.

Ryan Call is the campaigns coordinator for Eco-Cycle, a Boulder-based nonprofit provider of recycling and other zero-waste services.

NEWS

TRUMP TAPS COLO. CLIMATE DENIER FOR DOE

Chris Wright is founder of Denver-based

oil and gas company

BY QUENTIN YOUNG COLORADO NEWSLINE

Republican Presidentelect Donald Trump announced Saturday he wants Chris Wright, a Colorado oil and gas executive who denies that the world faces a “climate crisis,” to serve the new administration as Department of Energy secretary.

cies justified in the name of climate change,” he said in the video.

He suggested that any warming attributable to the burning of fossil fuels is worth the benefits, such as “wealth, health and opportunity,” that fossil fuel energy brings.

He spread misinformation in the video.

“We have seen no increase in the frequency or intensity of hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts or floods despite endless fearmongering of the media, politicians and activists. This is not my opinion. This is the facts as contained in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports,” he said.

Wright will also be a member of the Council of National Energy, the formation of which was announced Friday. Details on the council are scarce, but it’s widely viewed as a further indication that the Trump administration intends to boost domestic fossil fuel and other energy production.

“Chris will be a key leader, driving innovation, cutting red tape, and ushering in a new ‘Golden Age of American Prosperity and Global Peace,’” a statement from the Trump transition team said.

The Energy Department oversees the nation’s nuclear infrastructure and energy policy. Wright, who grew up and still lives in Colorado, is the founder, CEO and board chair of Liberty Energy, based in Denver.

Last year in a video he posted to LinkedIn, Wright dismissed phrases such as “climate crisis,” “energy transition” and “clean energy” as “alarmist, deceptive marketing terms.” He acknowledged that global warming has occurred, but he chafed at its characterization as a crisis.

“The only thing resembling a crisis with respect to climate change is the regressive, opportunity-squelching poli-

IPCC reports actually say the opposite.

“Evidence of observed changes in extremes such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and tropical cyclones, and, in particular, their attribution to human influence, has further strengthened since (the previous report cycle),” the IPCC’s 2023 “synthesis” report says.

“Human influence has likely increased the chance of compound extreme events since the 1950s, including increases in the frequency of concurrent heatwaves and droughts.”

Wright’s views directly contradict the Energy Department’s climate change mission under Democratic President Joe Biden.

“There is no greater challenge facing our nation and our planet than the climate crisis,” the department’s website says.

Wright’s nomination is one of several made by Trump — such as that of former Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to be attorney general and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead Health and Human Services — that appear intentionally disruptive.

“Picking someone like Chris Wright is a clear sign that Trump wants to turn the U.S. into a pariah petrostate,” Jean Su, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s energy justice program, said in a statement. “He’s damning frontline communities and our planet to climate hell just to pad the already bloated pockets of fossil fuel tycoons.”

Chris Wright speaks at a June 2023 event in Salt Lake City, Utah. Credit: Gage Skidmore

HINDSIGHT’S 20/20

Vision Zero is a learning process in Boulder County cities

BY TYLER HICKMAN

Longmont is accelerating on the road toward its goal of zero traffic deaths by 2040 with the launch of its Vision Zero program this fall, joining an effort to improve road safety along with cities across the globe.

Vision Zero is a community-focused approach with the goal to eliminate death and severe injury from car crashes, making roads safer for all users — pedestrians, bikes and cars alike.

As of last February, more than 50 cit-

ies in the U.S. have made the same commitment, according to the Vision Zero Network. Since that list was last updated, several Colorado cities — including Longmont, Fort Collins and Lafayette — have taken the initiative.

The results have been mixed at best. Nationwide traffic deaths reached an all-time high in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Boulder’s 10-year long program has led to stagnant results.

Longmont is confident it can use the shortcomings of Vision Zero in other communities to its advantage. They have a decade of both effective and ineffective strategies to draw from since the initiative first debuted in the U.S., and a network of cities to lean on.

VISION ZERO TAKES COMMITMENT

“There’s a lot of sharing across communities, across the country, about what is working and what isn’t working and why,” said Longmont’s Vision Zero coordinator Cammie Edson.

Ninety-two people died in car crashes in Longmont from 2000-2021.

While safety improvements have been on the city’s radar since before the pandemic, Longmont officially adopted Vision Zero in April 2023 when the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law promised billions of dollars in funding for road safety programs nationwide.

But taking a Vision Zero pledge does not immediately translate to lower traffic deaths.

“Making a commitment to Vision Zero doesn’t necessarily mean suddenly all of the internal processes and ways you’ve been doing this work are suddenly changed,” said Tiffany Smith, program manager for Vision Zero Network, the organization behind the global effort.

It’s been a decade since Boulder committed to its own Vision Zero plan. While the city has reduced crashes overall, fatalities and severe injuries from car crashes haven’t really fallen.

In 2013 — the year before Boulder first set a goal to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injury by 2030 — the city reported 55 severe car crashes resulting in serious injury or death. According to Boulder’s principal traffic engineer Devin Joslin, there were 55 of those same types of crashes in 2023, three of which were fatal, despite there being 1,300 less collisions overall.

Part of Boulder’s lack of results, according to Alex Weinheimer who served on the Transportation Advisory Board

(TAB) from 2019-2024, stems from where the city decides to invest their dollars.

“In the past, the city has chased highdollar, one-off projects,” he said.

Take the intersection at 30th and Colorado Avenue for example. According to the city’s 2023-2027 Vision Zero Action Plan, there were only two crashes causing severe injury or death at that location from 2016 to 2020. Boulder recently completed a $15.9 million project — $8 million of which came directly from city funds — to construct a protected underpass for cyclists and pedestrians.

“We’ve got hundreds of severe crashes citywide, [with] some locations, especially corridors, that have higher numbers,” Weinheimer said. The ironic thing about that location [at 30th and Colorado] is there were … as many crashes at the signalized intersections north (Arapahoe) and south (Baseline) of there”.

It’s worth noting that, despite the amount of severe crashes reported at this location, it’s one of the busiest intersections in the city, according to the City of Boulder. More than 1,500 pedestrians and bicyclists travel through it per day, and there were 86 collisions — 18 of which involved a bike — at the crossroads from 2012-2018.

The 30th and Colorado underpass was one of eight projects to receive a 2024 Metro Vision Award from the Denver Regional Council of Governments in 2024.

“There’s been reward for chasing these big dollars and spending big. There hasn’t been an incentive structure

Density of crashes in Boulder from 2016-2020, with an arrow indicating Boulder’s underpass at 30th Street and Colorado Avenue. Courtesy: City of Boulder/Chris Sawyer

Cyclists ride through the $15.9 million underpass at 30th Street and Colorado Avenue. Credit: Tyler Hickman

in place to do the little things that might not be as flashy, but might be far more effective when it comes to capital projects,” Weinheimer said.

COURSE CORRECTION

A majority of severe and fatal crashes happen on Boulder’s arterial roadways — high-capacity urban roads that move motorists around, not unlike how our bodies move blood cells (hence “arterial”). The city’s most recent analysis of traffic collisions, the 2022 Safe Streets Report, revealed that 67% of severe crashes occur on these roads.

“What we recognized through that review… was that, it’s really about twothirds of those severe injury and fatal crashes [occuring] on our arterial roadways,” Joslin said.

Toward the end of 2021, TAB developed the Core Arterial Network (CAN), a data-based map of Boulder’s busiest intersections and bike, pedestrian and transit routes. The goal was to identify corridors where the city should concentrate their infrastructure dollars to help reduce severe crashes systematically.

“What has changed now is the department is really focused on the strategic execution of projects that will transform our arterial streets,” Joslin said, “because that is where the data shows that people are most often getting hurt or killed.”

This data-driven approach has informed a number of lower-cost projects, including:

• the ongoing readjustment of speed limits, the first phase of which rolled out this summer;

• an update to signal timing practices, funded by a $1.2 million grant from DRCOG awarded in 2024;

• exploring protected left-hand turns and no right-turn-on-red rules at targeted intersections;

• and expanding the use of photo enforcement at signalized intersections in the city, made possible by a resolution passed by city council at the end of last year.

Boulder also received a $23 million Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant at the end of 2023, which will help fund a study into the effectiveness of right-turn slip lanes, enhance nine pedestrian crossing locations and make improvements to multiple intersections along 30th Avenue.

“Traffic signal timing updates, having more protected left turns, beginning to look at no right turn on red: Those are incredibly low-cost opportunities that are backed by data, and won’t win these big awards or pull in millions of dollars for one-off projects, but I think places where we’ll start to see some improvements,” Weinheimer said.

That shift in thinking is also occurring globally as more communities adopt Vision Zero.

“Where we see investments and complete streets, we notice the changes, but it’s much more piecemeal,” Smith said. “So it’s like, how do we move from this sort of fragmented approach to treating improvements, to really thinking systematically.”

WHERE THE MONEY FLOWS

Improving road safety has been on Longmont’s radar since before the pandemic, but the funds to take action haven’t been available until recently, Edson said. The passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2023, which authorized up to $108 billion in federal funding for transit, opened the door for the city.

“Now there [were] the resources to also back up the work and make the work actually come to life,” Edson said.

Most recently, the city received $1.2 million in a grant from SS4A. “These

funds will enable staff to gather essential data and develop a comprehensive, safety-focused Vision Zero Action Plan,” Edson said in a Sept. 10 press release, in addition to highlighting initial projects aimed at lowering speed limits in targeted areas around Longmont.

The city is in the process of building a map that identifies Vision Zero priority areas, according to Longmont public information officer Rogelio Mares.

In the meantime, officials have named 10 high-risk corridors as locations for traffic enforcement cameras, along with other areas with heavy pedestrian traffic, such as school zones and streets along city parks.

In the city’s 2024 Transportation Mobility Plan, Longmont also identified clusters of pedestrian- and bicycleinvolved crashes — which account for 20% of car crash fatalities nationwide — along Main Street north of 9th Avenue, and at the Main and 3rd Avenue intersection.

YOUR MOVE, LONGMONT

Longmont is not Boulder. On a given weekday, Boulder sees more traffic, with an estimated 60% of its workforce commuting from outside the city. A 2023 study found that 18% of trips made by Boulder residents are on a bike or scooter.

“We’re going to end up having different things we need to focus on, but it’s possi-

ble that we’ll have some similar things we need to focus on,” Longmont’s Edson said, “looking to what can we do from a systemic approach versus a spot treatment approach, so we can apply consistent benefit across so we don’t have that ‘They have it, why don’t we have it?’”

Longmont is still in the very early stages of developing its Vision Zero Action Plan — its second task force meeting was Nov. 18. Right now, conversations revolve around the numbers.

“We’re really focusing on the data,” Edson said. “What we know and don’t know and what additional data we need.

“Before we commit our limited resources, let’s make sure we understand where we need to be investing.”

One of the city’s first steps will be to initiate a traffic camera enforcement program of its own. At a Nov. 19 meeting, city council adopted an ordinance to install a network of cameras that will detect and photograph traffic violations in priority areas like school zones and around city parks, something that Boulder has been doing for decades.

The city still sees initiatives from other communities, including Boulder, as an opportunity to learn.

“They made a lot of mistakes when they did Vision Zero early on,” Edson said. “We’re all sort of reaping the benefit of learning from them, of what worked and what didn’t early on.”

A pedestrian waits to cross Arapahoe Avenue at Folsom Street, the site of more than 150 crashes from 2016-2020. Credit: Tyler Hickman

BOCO, BRIEFLY

Your local news at a glance

BY KAYLEE HARTER

RECOUNTS PLANNED FOR HOUSE SEAT, CITY OF BOULDER AND SUPERIOR

With several close races, recounts loom in Boulder County for the 2024 general election.

Dan Woog (R) is narrowly defeating Jillaire McMillan (D) by just 123 votes for the House District 19 seat as of Nov. 20, meeting the threshold for an automatic recount. If Woog beats out McMillan, it will be one of three house seats to flip from blue to red, with Dems losing their supermajority in the House.

Boulder’s measure to give city council more control over boards and commissions is failing by a margin of 64 votes as of Nov. 15, and is set for a recount. If it fails, changes to boards and commissions will continue to require voter approval, as is specified in the city charter. Boulder voters also passed measures to increase council pay and allow for executive sessions.

The Town of Superior is set to elect Mike Foster, incumbent Jason Serbu and Heather Cracraft to fill its three open seats on the town board, but Cracraft is defeating incumbent Sandie Hammerly by just 15 votes — which meets the threshold for a recount. The town also passed a .315% sales tax increase to fund big projects. Superior voters will decide in a Dec. 10 special election whether to adopt a home rule charter. (Read more: bit.ly/ HomeRuleVoterGuideBW)

The Boulder County Clerk’s office anticipates the recount will begin after Thanksgiving Week, and the deadline to complete it is Dec. 6.

CLOSE BUT NOT TOO CLOSE

In Louisville’s battle of the Joshes, Josh Cooperman is defeating Joshua Sroge by just 19 votes for the Ward 1 council seat, according to the Nov. 14

data from the county, which doesn’t meet the threshold for a recount in this race. Cooperman was sworn in to office on Nov. 19.

In Erie, Andrew Moore will take back up the post of mayor, garnering 51.43% of the votes over incumbent Justin Brooks. Anil Pesaramelli and John Mortellaro are poised to take the D1 seats, with Mortellaro defeating incumbent Andrew Sawusch by just 19 votes but not triggering a recount.

Erie’s Dan Hoback and Brandon M. Bell are set to keep their seats in D2, and incumbent Emily Baer and Brian O’Connor defeated Travis Pinz by more than 1,000 votes in D3. The town also passed a marijuana excise tax, which will allow cannabis sales within the town.

See all the election results at bit. ly/2024ElectionResultsBW.

DRACO PAD PAUSED

analyzed further, but if it didn’t come to fruition he would “feel comfortable that the current location is ultimately approvable.”

NED EYES BUYING ELDORA MOUNTAIN

The Draco Pad oil and gas project has been halted indefinitely after a unanimous Nov. 15 vote from the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission — but that doesn’t mean there won’t be new fracking activity in Boulder County. The current Draco Pad plan would have put a fracking well just outside Erie and in close proximity to residents. The wells extend underground into Boulder County, but the pad itself would be in Weld County, putting it outside the jurisdiction of the Town of Erie and Boulder County.

Commissioners said they were putting a stay on the application because of these jurisdictional issues and to allow further analysis on a different location within Erie’s borders.

The proposed location, which received significant pushback from residents, is within 2,000 feet of five existing homes and 72 planned homes. Some commissioners said they weren’t convinced the developers had properly followed the required “mitigation hierarchy,” which first requires avoiding any harm possible.

The commission’s chairman, Jeff Robbins, said he’d like to see the alternative site

The Town of Nederland is considering buying Eldora Mountain and making it “the flagship of a future recreation district” after current-owner POWDR listed it for sale in August.

Owning the resort would “enable the town to control the use of the mountain area for activities beyond the current winter sports, such as concerts, night skiing, as well as summer events,” according to the town’s FAQ page about the acquisition. Expected cost of the resort is $100 million to $200 million, according to the page. Nederland is currently exploring funding options and evaluating the resort’s financial health. There is not a contract or agreement yet.

STUDY: COLORADO PRISONERS AT RISK FROM CLIMATE CHANGE

Colorado prisons have “failed to provide humane protections from growing environmental hazards brought on by climate change,” according to a release on a recent CU Boulder study.

Of the 35 formerly incarcerated people from 23 prisons and 15 jails in the state who were interviewed for the study, all of them said they experienced “uncomfortable temperatures, poor air quality or water issues, such as burst pipes and sewage backups.”

The study, published last month, found that 60% of those interviewed had directly experienced “at least one of the four main climate hazards in Colorado: extreme heat, extreme cold, wildfires and floods.” More than a third had experienced at least one wildfire while incarcerated and said they were “left to breathe soot and ash for days,” according to the release.

“That kind of discomfort, over long periods of time, I suppose is a very small form of torture,” one interviewee told a researcher, according to the release.

At least three-quarters of Colorado’s jails and prisons are susceptible to at least one natural disaster in the next year, according to the team’s prior research.

“Even if we fully agree that the response to a crime is that you should be locked in a cell for a certain amount of time, nowhere in the law does it say you should be exposed to poor air quality, extreme temperatures, or the risk of living in sewage water for a week,” the study’s first author, Ben Barron, said in the release. “These vastly exceed unreasonable, disproportional punishment.”

IN OTHER NEWS…

The City of Boulder is looking for feedback on the future of its civic area. This phase of the project encompasses the area between 9th and 14th streets and Arapahoe Avenue and Canyon Boulevard. Two design concepts are on the table, and the city is accepting feedback through Dec. 14. View the concepts and take the survey: bit.ly/ CivicAreaBW.

Courtesy: Joshua Cooperman

A hydraulic fracking operation

GOV’T WATCH

BY BOULDER WEEKLY STAFF

Elected officials are not holding public meetings the week of Nov. 25 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Meetings will resume the week of Dec. 2.

LONGMONT CITY COUNCIL

On Nov. 19, council:

• Approved an ordinance that will bring traffic enforcement cameras to the city as a part of Longmont’s Vision Zero strategy.

The city plans to use the cameras, which will monitor speed and traffic signal violations, in school zones, construction areas, streets bordering city parks, residential neighborhoods and an additional 10 corridors that it has identified as high-risk due to frequent crashes and complaints from residents.

These streets are: Hover Road/N. 95th Street, Airport Road/N. 87th Street, 17th Avenue, Mountain View Avenue, 11th Avenue, 9th Avenue, 3rd Avenue, Pike Road, 21st Avenue and 23rd Avenue.

Speeding fines will range from $40$80 depending on the severity and number of previous violations and no more than $75 for running red lights.

These cameras are an initial step toward Longmont’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injury by 2040. The automated system is expected to debut in 2025.

• Fielded complaints from residents about noise levels and emissions from flight operations at Vance Brand Municipal Airport. The airport is largely under FAA control, and the city is limited in its capacity to impose its own regulations, according to attorney Peter Kirsch, who presented possible solutions at the meeting. Council voted to add further discussions of solutions to the agenda for an executive session.

• Held a discussion on proposed new urban design standards, which would

change the Public Infrastructure Design Standards in an effort to eliminate cost barriers for affordable housing developments.

Proposed changes could include allowing for more compact utility corridors, reducing the required width for streets and alleyways, and adjustments to stormwater management that would allow for increased housing density.

The hope is the new standards would allow for higher density developments and increased land-use efficiency, creating incentives for developers to build more affordable housing.

Council asked staff to draft an ordinance to adopt these new development standards.

LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL

On. Nov. 19, council:

• Approved $650,000 in grant funding to 18 organizations for mental health and human services. An advisory committee of appointed residents suggested how to distribute the funds, which come from a dedicated sales tax that voters approved in 2021; 45 groups requested funding of over $1.6 million.

• Discussed improving safety on Baseline Road, where two children were injured by cars in September. A discussion on photo enforcement options is planned for early 2025.

• Appointed 19 new or returning members to boards, commissions and committees following the new recruitment process adopted earlier this year

LOUISVILLE CITY COUNCIL

On Nov. 19, council:

• Swore in Joshua Cooperman as the new Ward 1 representative. Election results are still unofficial, and Cooperman leads challenger Joshua Sroge by just 19 votes.

• Approved an eight-year, $14 million Downtown Vision Plan that includes redeveloping Front Street; adding trees for shade; raised pedestrian crossings; a revamped Steinbaugh Plaza; new signage to help navigation; new and extended bicycle lanes and other enhancements.

All agenda items are subject to change. Karen Norback and Mark Cathcart contributed reporting.

OH, CHRISTMAS TREE

How and where to cut your own holiday evergreen

BY COURTNEY JOHNSON

IMAGES: CAL-WOOD EDUCATION CENTER

Deep in the roots of ancient Roman and Egyptian history are tales of evergreens being used for decoration. Since the 1800s, candlelit trees have been a symbol of the holiday season in the U.S., drawing inspiration from German tradition. Electric lights eventually replaced the wax and flame of olden days for a safer celebration.

The U.S. Forest Tree Program began in the 1940s and serves two purposes — providing families with a true Christmas tree and conserving forest land. Permits allow for the removal of trees to be placed and adorned in homes all across the country, and money collected from permit sales goes directly back to the Forest Service for continued conservation efforts. The 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas tree comes from the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska.

In Colorado, the U.S. Forest Service allows cutting as a tool to manage the forest. Chopping down a yearly tree has become a tradition for many families, mine included. Make a day of your cutting adventure with good food and merriment. Here’s where and how to cut your own Christmas tree in a Colorado national forest.

CHOOSE A LOCATION

There are 11 national forests in Colorado covering 14.5 million acres, but not all allow Christmas tree cutting. Head to the National Forest page to search for your desired location. The locations closest to Boulder County include Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest and Pike National Forest.

GRAB A PERMIT

For the 2024-2025 cutting season, permits go on sale Friday, Dec. 8. Cost ranges from $10 to $25 per tree, depending on location, with a maximum of five tree permits for the season. The most convenient way to grab a

permit is online at recreation.gov, especially for weekend cutting at the more popular locations, including Buffalo Creek, and popular times (especially the Thanksgiving holiday weekend). Weekdays tend to be less crowded and more peaceful.

Some locations, such as Fairplay, allow permit purchasing onsite at a National Forest Service ranger district office, but online buying can save time and hassle. Most locations check permits as you enter or exit, so don’t forget to print the permit and bring it along.

In Colorado, fourth graders can get a free tree permit: Pick them up at any U.S. Forest Service District office or purchase them online for a small fee through the Every Kid Outdoors program. (Read about other perks for Colorado’s fourth graders: bit.ly/4thGradeCO.)

BE SAFE AND PREPARED

Check the current weather conditions for your cutting area, including the future forecast. Colorado conditions change quickly and often.

Most locations are on mountain roads that may or may not be paved the whole way. Cell reception is not reliable, and four-wheel drive is essential. Having weight in the back of the vehicle can help with traction; tire chains are even better. Gates on seasonal forest service roads close Dec. 8, so be prepared for a longer trek.

Remember that the sun also sets earlier in the mountains. Head up in the morning to avoid getting stuck after dark.

Be sure to read the federal cutting rules including the distance of the tree from the road, tree trunk size, etc.

PACK THE ESSENTIALS

• Permit

• Map of the cutting area

• Saw (like a bow saw)

• Tarp

• Rope

• Ice scraper

• Shovel

• Extra warm clothes (hats, gloves, socks, blanket)

• Emergency kit: first-aid, food, water and jumper cables

• Traction (snowshoes, spikes, skis)

Visit the Know Before You Go page from the U.S. Forest Service for more information.

DON’T FORGET THE TRIMMINGS

Make your forest trek even cozier with these non-essential supplies:

• Hot cocoa or other warm beverages

• Soup, chili and warm food

• Camp chairs

• Sled for post-tree-cutting fun, tired kids or to pull your tree back to the car

OTHER TREE-CUTTING OPPORTUNITIES

• Golden Gate Canyon hosts a yearly lottery for tree cutting on a specific date in December. The 2024 lottery closed Nov. 15, but be sure to put it on your calendar for next year: bit.lyGolden GateTreesBW.

• Cal-Wood Education Center in Jamestown is hosting its tree harvest fundraiser Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a minimum $300 donation per family. The festivities include lunch and cookie decorating at the Calvert Lodge.

MOVED BY THE SPIRIT

Jesus Christ Taxi Driver pushes boundaries from the pulpit

BY JUSTIN CRIADO

Ian Ehrhart might be possessed. By what is up for debate, but he certainly acts like it every time he hits the stage with his band, Jesus Christ Taxi Driver. And at this point, the 27-year-old guitarist and frontman embraces the unknown entity that makes him do things no sane person would attempt.

Take the Denver-based group’s Aggie Theatre set at this year’s FoCoMX, when Ehrhart felt compelled to eat a patron’s cigarette out of their hand after he fell into the photo pit and spotted it dangling in front of his face.

Colin Kelly, the bluesy punk trio’s lead guitarist, recalls a similar incident of temporary insanity, when Ehrhart simulated a sex act with an unlikely fashion item while opening for a country band.

“He jumped into the crowd, took a cowboy hat off of some big dude’s head and fucked it,” he explains. “We were like, ‘We don’t know if he’s going to get killed or praised for this.’”

But the audience loved it, which is typically the response evoked by Ehrhart, Kelly and drummer Miles Jenkins.

“Afterward, there was a line of cowboys who wanted me to fuck their hat, too,” Ehrhart claims. He says he can’t really explain what exactly comes over him and his bandmates during shows, but it always makes for an interesting night.

“Everything’s spur of the moment, in the middle of the show, when our eyes roll back in our head and it becomes a whole different reality,” Ehrhart shares.

Kelly, who also plays in Boulder band Augustus, describes the erratic, Erieraised Ehrhart as a “court jester” behind the mic, perpetually poking and prodding at onlookers’ sensibilities.

“He’s making people feel things, but also making them chuckle,” the 37-yearold says. “There’s usually some moment of Ian pushing the boundaries of people’s comfort.”

‘I JUST LET THE WORLD SPEAK TO ME’

If you’re wondering what the name Jesus Christ Taxi Driver means, Ehrhart doesn’t have a cool backstory. It came to him on a whim, but feels like the perfect moniker to describe the raucous indie rock the band has kicked out since their 2023 debut LP, Lick My Soul

“I was in Mexico, and our taxi driver’s name was Jesus. That’s it,” Ehrhart says. “You know how it goes looking for band

names: You don’t want it to be too serious, and you don’t want it to be too silly. This was like the second time in my life I had to think of a band name, so I just let the world speak to me, I guess.”

Still, at the core, it’s the music that really makes it all work. Inspired by his Catholic upbringing, Ehrhart’s irreverence for the faith is on full display on Lick My Soul, especially on songs “STUPIDMOTHERFUCKER,” “Goat Hell” and “Diabolical Catholic.”

“It’s harkening back to my younger days going to church and Catholic school and feeling alienated and confused and tricked,” he says.

“‘STUPIDMOTHERFUCKER’ is leaning into another thing religion bestowed upon me, unfortunately: this self-hatred,” he says. “I’m leaning into it like, ‘Yeah, I’m stupid, whatever.’ It feels cathartic and good to sing. It’s surprising how many people relate to that and hear something similar to what I hear.”

PLUGGING IN AND LETTING IT RIP

This absurdist worldview and approach, paired with the punk-rock energy Jesus Christ Taxi Driver thrives on, makes Ehrhart & Co. one of the most exciting new bands lighting up the local circuit. If

nothing else, you’ll at least get your money’s worth, as every gig is truly one-of-akind and off-the-cuff.

But in a sense, having no method to the madness has become the blueprint. It’s all about plugging in and letting it rip. The rest is left up to some sort of diabolical, rock-and-roll divine intervention.

“The most exciting thing about us is none of what we’re doing is planned. We don’t have setlists,” Ehrhart says. “Right before we go on, we’re like, ‘Let’s play this first and then go for it.’ Then whatever happens, happens.

“Songs can devolve into something else. If there’s an opportunity to fuck a cowboy hat or eat a cigarette or something, the songs take on a different tone and it’s going to go somewhere else,” he says. “[It’s] the nature of walking on a knife’s edge. It could fall apart at any moment. It’s exciting when it doesn’t, and exciting when it does.”

ON THE

BILL:

Jesus Christ Taxi Driver with The Thing and Bitchflower. 8 p.m. Saturday, November 30. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway, Denver. $19

“None of what we’re doing is planned,” says Jesus Christ Taxi Driver frontman Ian Ehrhart. Credit: Patrick Heath

You never know what you’re going to get when Denver’s Jesus Christ Taxi Driver takes the stage. Courtesy: Jesus Christ Taxi Driver

Lick My Soul by Jesus Christ Taxi Driver was released July 7, 2023. Courtesy: Daddyrock Records

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COTTONWOOD KENNELS

7275 Valmont Road, Boulder

303-442-2602

cottonwoodkennels.com

Here at Cottonwood Kennels, we believe that each pet is an individual and should be cared for based on their physical and emotional needs. We provide a balance between social enrichment, individual activities and rest. We treat each pet as we would our own, and we believe that open communication with their owners is crucial to success.

Cottonwood Kennels has been in operation since 1972, and although our business has grown, we are still about the person-to-pet connection. With upward of 40 staff members year-round, there is always lots of love to go around to the furry friends that visit us.

Happy Holidays!

DOWNTOWN BOULDER

1942 Broadway, Suite 301, Boulder 303-449-3774

visitdowntownboulder.com

Welcome to winter in downtown Boulder! It’s the perfect season to rediscover the magic of this vibrant district. Within downtown’s 49 walkable blocks, you’ll find over 110 locally owned shops and galleries. Dine at one of six acclaimed restaurants featured in the Colorado Michelin Guide, or choose from nearly 100 dining spots offering flavors that satisfy vegans and carnivores alike. On Saturdays and Sundays, year-round, the City of Boulder provides FREE parking in five downtown garages (learn more at BoulderParking.com). This winter, shop small, dine local, and support the businesses that are the true heart and soul of the Boulder community!

LONGMONT BICYCLE COMPANY

314 Main St., Longmont

303-834-9994

longmontbikes.com

Longmont Bicycle Company is a local, family-owned business selling Longmont’s largest selection of bicycles. Whether a novice or seasonal rider, we’ve got you covered, carrying mountain, road, gravel, touring, hybrid, electric, cruiser and kids’ bikes. We take great pride in our selection and customer service, as well as our service & repair department. A few bike brands we carry in-house and source for customers are Trek, Electra, Surly, All City, & Salsa. Stop in and say hi; we’d love to meet you!

FOUR PAWS & CO.

1225 Ken Pratt Blvd  #108, Longmont 303-485-1565 fourpawsandco.com

Longmont native Carrie Adams has been around animals all of her life and worked professionally with animals for over 20 years. Carrie’s extensive animal care experience had her working as a vet tech, operating a kennel, training dogs and breeding, raising and showing her German Shepherd dogs.

Motivated by the animals in her care, Carrie received her bachelor’s degree in nutrition, which included Animal Science and Animal Nutrition courses. With all of her knowledge and experience, opening a pet food store was the perfect choice for her.

Since opening in 2003, Four Paws & Co. has specialized in premium natural foods and treats, including a large selection of frozen diets and raw bones. Along with the excellent choices in food for cats and dogs, we carry supplements, grooming supplies, leashes & collars, toys, beds, cat condos and much more. It’s safe to say there is something for all of your fur babies in the store.

Our staff are experienced and knowledgeable on our many products and are dog and cat guardians themselves. Stop in soon and see how Four Paws & Co. can help you care for your best friend! Shop Local for your dog & cats toys & treats! Happy Holidays!

I LOVE LOCAL Guide to the Holidays

ASPEN EYEWEAR

2525 Arapahoe Ave., Suite E-23, Boulder

303-447-0210

aspeneyewear.com

Our family has owned and operated this fullservice optical shop since 1985. We have the largest frame and sunglass selection in Boulder. Our eyewear collection ranges from modern to contemporary, but it’s not just about quantity; our quality is unbeatable. We are always keeping up with our education, current fashion and changes in technology to best serve every one’s optical needs. Our customer service is exemplary. Our friendly and helpful staff has over 200 years of combined experience! We are voted “Best of Boulder” every year for a reason. We are offering 10% off complete pair, frame and lens purchase until the end of December. Sunglasses and readers make a wonderful gift, and we also accept flex money. We’ll be seeing you!

WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED

1520 S. Hover St., Suite D, Longmont

720-680-0551

wbu.com/longmont

Locally woman-owned and operated, Wild Birds Unlimited specializes in bringing people and nature together through the hobby of backyard bird feeding. We offer a wide variety of nature-related products and expert, local advice. Our store stocks the highest-quality products including bird food, baths and houses. We fill our store with quality items made in the USA with an emphasis on eco-friendly products and recycled plastics. We source our unique gifts from Fair Trade companies and local artisans. We also have gift cards and last-minute gift ideas. Stop in and let us explain our mission to Save the Songbirds one backyard at a time. Happy Holidays!

DOWNTOWN LONGMONT

320 Main St., Longmont

303-651-8484

DowntownLongmont.com

Downtown Longmont is Holiday Central! No matter who you’re shopping for, you’ll find the perfect gift downtown. Explore unique, local shops and boutiques for one-of-a-kind gifts. Eat, drink or order to go at our wide variety of award-winning restaurants, breweries, and distilleries. Don’t forget your Winter Passport, where buying local can earn you prizes. Or purchase a Downtown Longmont Gift Card, accepted at more than 80 businesses. Come back often for events and activities every week. Downtown Longmont has all your holiday needs covered.

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS AT THE GIFT OF HOME TOUR

December 5th–7th. thegiftofhome.org

Tour four professionally decorated homes, where most decorations are available for purchase.

HABITAT’S THE GIFT OF HOME CHRISTMAS TOUR

St. Vrain Habitat is proud to host Colorado’s oldest holiday tour, The Gift of Home, featuring professionally decorated homes.

THE VIP PARTY – December 5th

Offers exclusive early access to tour and shop, plus light bites and complimentary drinks at Parkway Food Hall. Hurry—tickets sell out fast!

GENERAL TOUR – December 5th–7th

Explore the beautifully decorated homes at your own pace and soak in the holiday spirit.

TICKETS: Available at ReStore, Bricks on Main, or online.

ST. AIDAN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

2425 Colorado Ave., Boulder 303-443-2503 saintaidans.org

St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church invites you to experience the wonder and joy of Christmas with us. Our Christmas Eve services on December 24 have something for you and yours: a family-friendly celebration at 5 PM featuring carols and a children’s pageant, followed by a candle-lit service at 7:30 PM with choir and communion. Join us at 10 AM on Christmas morning for a joyful service filled with familiar Christmas carols and community. St. Aidan’s is part of the Boulder community, adjacent to the University of Colorado. Rest, reflect, and rejoice with us in the hope of the Christmas season. Come as you are—there’s a place for you here!

I LOVE LOCAL Guide to the Holidays

BOULDER

ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY

Dairy Arts Center

2590 Walnut St., Suite 10, Boulder

303-351-2382

betc.org/ticketing

Little Women, Written By Louisa May Alcott

Adapted and Directed by Jessica Robblee

“Christmaswon’t be Christmas without any presents.”

And so begins one of the most beloved classics of American literature - a story that has warmed generations of readers since it was first published in 1868. With the men off fighting the Civil War, Marmee and sisters Jo, Beth, Amy and Meg are left to fend for themselves. They learn how to grapple with poverty, sickness and death as they each discover and embrace their destinies.

Bring your family to the Dairy this holiday season and spend some time with the March family. Relive their adventures, their passionate loves, their ups and downs and their joy in being together.

Dates: Dec. 5 - Dec. 29, 2024 (Opening Night - Sat., Dec. 7)

NIWOT TAVERN

7960 Niwot Road

303-652-0200

niowttavern.com

Niwot Tavern is holding its fifth annual Christmas clothing drive for people experiencing homelessness. For the past five years, Tara, I (Stacy), and a few volunteers head to Longmont and Boulder with meatloaf meals and van loads of donations for those less fortunate. We get donations from our food company and from a very special customer who would rather remain nameless to help with the food costs. What we need for donations most this year is socks, blankets, men’s coats, and men’s jeans. Hygiene items, water, and hand warmers are also great items for our mission. We appreciate the help every year with this and love the opportunity to give back, Thank you!!

CYL

SAUNA STUDIO

1850 29th Street Mall, #1012, Boulder

720-550-4052

cylinfraredstudio.com/boulder

W14ER HOLISTICS

2897 Mapleton Ave., Unit 800, Boulder 303-539-6525

14erboulder.com

Established in 2010, 14er is a Colorado-born, locally owned, and vertically integrated company dedicated to sustainable cultivation and exceptional genetics. Over the past 14 years, we’ve harmonized tradition with cutting-edge practices to elevate the cannabis experience, prioritizing the well-being of our customers, employees, and the environment.

Our flagship store is located at 2897 Mapleton Ave, Suite 800, Boulder, CO 80301. We invite you to visit us in person or explore our offerings online at 14erboulder.com. Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or new to cannabis, our knowledgeable staff is here to ensure you find exactly what you’re looking for.

THE DEN ON ELEVENTH

1111 Francis St., Suite A, Longmont 720-340-8662 thedenoneleventh.com

The Den on Eleventh invites you to celebrate the holidays with unforgettable dining and special offers. Through December 26, enjoy 20% off gift cards valued between $75 and $150 with code GCHOLIDAY24—the perfect gift for the food lover in your life.

Toast to the New Year local style with a festive evening showcasing the best of Longmont. Indulge in a thoughtfully curated three-course menu for $85 per person or $125 per person with wine pairings from Kuper Wine Bar. Dishes are elevated with Bella La Crema’s artisanal butter, making this an evening to savor. Celebrate local flavors and community spirit—reserve your spot today at TheDenOnEleventh.com.

hen it’s cold outside, who’s keeping you warm?

This holiday season, let CYL Sauna Studio be the warmth you hold onto! Our infrared saunas and lymphatic roller services soothe your soul, boost circulation, relieve pain, and melt away stress, leaving you glowing and refreshed. New clients, warm up with your first sauna or roll session for just $29! Whether you’re easing holiday tension, chasing wellness, or escaping the chill, CYL Sauna Studio is your place to unwind. Embrace the heat, feel the rhythm of relaxation, and start your wellness journey today! Visit us now to claim your special offer! Reg Session $49.

FRONT RANGE MERCANTILE FLEA MARKET

1201 S. Sunset St., Longmont 303-776-6605 frontrangeindoorfleamarket.com

Locally owned and operated since 1989, Front Range Mercantile Flea Market offers a truly unique shopping experience this holiday season. Our 21,000-square-foot showroom features more than 90 dealers, each with their own variety of offerings. Front Range Flea Market is your one-stop shop to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this year. We have fantastic gift ideas for all ages, 0-99! From the funky to the functional, grand to giddy, you’ll find the area’s most deliriously delightful shopping at Front Range Mercantile Flea Market. Stop in today, because what you are looking for might be gone tomorrow! Open MondaySaturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

LIGHTHOUSE BOOKSTORE

1201 Pearl St., Boulder 303-939-8355

thelighthousebookstoreofboulder.com

F or over 40 years, Lighthouse Bookstore has been curating unique works of art and tools for the spiritual seeker from our location in Boulder. Now, you can continue your journey from the comfort of home! All in store items are also listed for sale on their website, making finding that perfect gift a breeze. Bring the magical and mystical to each present moment with our selection of statues, lighting, and decor for all ages. We’ll help you light the way.

For a limited time Lighthouse is offering a buy one get one free sale on all items in stock. This free gift with all purchases is to thank the Boulder Community who has made Lighthouse a Pearl Street Staple for all of these years.

pARTiculars

401 S. Public Road, Lafayette 720-890-7888 particularsart.com

WGo visit The Lighthouse Bookstore of Boulder on the corner of Pearl Street and Broadway, underneath the Ben & Jerry’s.

e make gift-giving a treat for everyone with our creative handmade pieces designed by local artists. Our annual Holiday Art Faire runs throughout the month of December, with unique ornaments available Nov and Dec.

pARTiculars Art Gallery and Teaching Studio is an eclectic cooperative gallery in the heart of downtown Lafayette. Celebrating 15 years of showcasing original art from 40+ local artists, we believe in the gift of community, the power of creativity and the beauty of handmade art. Our mission is to build the artist community by offering the opportunity for local artists to showcase their work as we proudly offer a place to build connection and appreciation of the arts through classes and events. Remember when you give the gift of art classes it gives an experience they will draw on for years to come.

Winner of 2024 Best of East County Lafayette Art Gallery.

I LOVE LOCAL Guide to the Holidays

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WASHED UP CAR WASH

1876 Hover St., Longmont

303-532-4365

washedupcarwash.com

Keep your vehicle looking its best this holiday season with a Washed Up Car Wash gift card or Wash Club membership. Now through December 31st, when you purchase one gift card for $25 or more, you will receive a second gift card free (like amount). Perfect for stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, neighbors, and those hard-to-shop-for relatives! After all, everyone loves a clean car!

Washed Up Car Wash is a locally owned, express exterior car wash with cutting edge equipment. The car wash tunnel includes an easy loading dual belt conveyor and free vacuums and mat cleaners with car wash purchase.

MORNING GLORY

1377 Forest Park Circle, Suite 101, Lafayette 303-604-6351 morningglorylafayette.com

Ilove beautiful food, a lovely atmosphere and fun! Growing up in the restaurant industry only increased my love of ALL those things. My mom (Jules) introduced me to an incredible amount of food knowledge from an early age. She inspired me to always try new and exciting foods, from rattlesnake to sushi (at age 5). I have very early memories of being in the kitchen and directing her sous chefs on meat temperatures and plating (precocious much?).

I love food so much and it makes me incredibly happy to serve beautiful and plentiful dishes at Morning Glory. The restaurant itself is one of my great loves, besides Gizmo my pug of course. The restaurant industry can be incredibly difficult but I find it very fulfilling. I like nothing more than making someone’s day better with a good nutritious meal, a delicious cocktail and fantastic conversation. Food equates to love in my mind. I think we serve the community’s belly with our menu and their soul with our hospitality. Please come join us for a filling and friendly meal!

Thanks, Lilly

HISTORIC BOULDER

885 Arapahoe Road, Boulder; 1200 Pearl St., #314, Boulder 303-444-5192 historicboulder.org

This is the 38th year Historic Boulder, Inc. has helped to kick off the holiday season with a house tour. The Homes for the Holidays tour runs Dec 7th and 8th from 11:00 to 4:00 in the Uni Hill neighborhood in Boulder. Attendees can tour five festive homes packed with historic and architectural charm. The University Place historic district is featured, with a variety of home styles and stories, all decked out in holiday finery. Proceeds from the tour help support preservation activities throughout the year. Advance ticket prices are $30 for members, $40 for nonmembers and $20 for students. Tickets at: https:// go.historicboulder.org/HolidayHome.

SUITE SLEEP

2820 Wilderness Place, Unit D, Boulder 303-449-4135 suitesleep.com

For over 20 years Suite Sleep has been a leading provider of Sustainable Luxury Mattresses and Bedding to Boulder residents and beyond. With over 25 hotels featuring luxurious organic latex mattresses around the world, dozens of retailers nationwide featuring the Suite Sleep brand, and homes across the nation sleeping soundly knowing the beds they slumber in are free from chemicals and made with 3 simple ingredients: wool, organic latex, and organic cotton. Founded in Boulder by Angela Owen, Suite Sleep is a small family run business that has stayed true to its values with unwavering commitment. Come visit at our new location for our Black Friday Sale starting November 29th.

DENVER GAY MEN’S CHORUS

303-325-3959

denverchoruses.org/north-pole-brigayde

DGMC’s annual holiday show stops in Boulder on Friday, December 13th!

The singers of the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus are putting on their elf shoes for North Pole BriGAYde, the first concert of its 43rd season. In their annual holiday concert, see what holiday queer means in a story of love, acceptance, and holiday cheer! North Pole BriGAYde will be performed December 5-8 at Central Presbyterian Church in Denver, Friday, December 13 at Unity of Boulder, and Sunday, December 15 at St. Andrew United Methodist in Highlands Ranch. Visit dgmc.org/tickets for more information.

CHRISTINA’S LUXURIES

2425 Canyon Blvd., Suite 100, Boulder 303-443-2421 christinasluxuries.com

Time to start thinking Christmas and Christina’s! From show stealing “stocking stuffers” to unbelievable holiday dressing, you’ll know what to give and what to ask for. Christina’s is a woman’s paradise of lingerie, clothing, sleep and swimwear of outstanding quality and fit. We bring a luxurious sense of comfort and style to women of all ages with smart, beautiful clothes for work and life. The gifts you buy here will outshine the rest. In celebration of a woman’s individuality and the pleasures of being feminine, shop Christina’s for your gift giving, especially for you! Happy holidays from your friends at Christina’s.

I LOVE LOCAL Guide to the Holidays

BOULDER PUBLIC LIBRARY

1001 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder 303-441-3100 boulderlibrary.org

LIBRARY DISTRICT DELIVERS ON PROMISES

Boulder Public Library District was created in 2024, and immediately began fulfilling its promises to the community. The district has expanded hours, opened North Boulder Library, increased security, reopened Carnegie Library for Local History, improved book and digital resource collections, opened Canyon Theater for free public use, expanded programs at BLDG 61 and STUDIO 24 Makerspaces, added bilingual staff and increased community outreach for the BoulderReads literacy program, and begun renovation of a new Gunbarrel Library to open in 2025. The library district invites all community members to take advantage of these enhancements and continue to engage in dialogue to ensure the needs of the community are met.

BRICKS ON MAIN FEATURING MISS KRISSY’S BISTRO

471 Main St. Longmont 720-600-2350 bricksonmain.com

Two powerhouse women are behind the sip shop and eat concept celebrating one year this October. Founders Krissy Lewis and Jennifer Ferguson partnered up to re-invent the 1907 building which is quickly becoming the hottest spot in Longmont to see music, find local gifts, get drinks and dance! Krissy is the food and bar owner with over 18 year experience at 2 local BBQ icons and now bringing comfort favorites to the table in her own way. Menu highlights include a magnificent french onion soup, salads, deviled eggs, pressed sandwiches and flatbreads in a “cheers” like atmosphere. Bricks, which started 4 years ago in another location in Longmont, has become well known as the shop where you find curated local gifts. Jennifer also serves as talent buyer for the music that happens 5 days a week on the Stage at Bricks. It’s a community hang out place that delivers on a cozy, fun, and friendly experience! We invite you to come sip shop and eat!

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I LOVE LOCAL Guide to the Holidays

LONGMONT THEATRE COMPANY

513 Main St., Longmont 303-772-5200 longmonttheatre.org

In1990, the Longmont Theatre Company worked with Richard W. Klein, owner of the old Trojan Theatre at the present 513 Main Street location to purchase the historic building. By the fall of 1992, the first production, “Fiddler on the Roof”, opened in the newly renovated theatre.

On August 20, 2015, the Longmont Theatre Company celebrated the opening of the 59th Season by honoring the legacy of the theatre’s people and the community who have contributed to its long success. In their honor tonight, we ILLUMINATE THE MARQUEE.

The Longmont Theatre Company will celebrate 68 years of live theatre with the 2024-2025 season. We are one of the oldest nonprofits in Longmont. producing quality entertainment at a reasonable price, and supporting educational and outreach programs to give back to our community.

THE SINGING COOK

728 Main St., Louisville 720-484-6825 singingcookstore.com

The Singing Cook is Louisville’s destination kitchen shop for a reason! We stock a wonderful assortment of colorful, fun and functional kitchenware, from basics and essentials to more specialized items for those who are exploring and expanding their culinary prowess. In addition to items for the home cook, we also have Colorado gifts, gourmet food and British goods, seasonal gifts, cookbooks, home goods, and so many items you never knew you needed!

Visit our shop in the heart of Historic Downtown Louisville this holiday season and let us help you find the perfect gift for anyone on your list. We look forward to seeing you! Happy Holidays!

I LOVE LOCAL Guide to the Holidays

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SPACE STATION

206 S. Main St., Longmont

720-487-9229

spacestationdispensary.com

Our goal is to create a happy & memorable experience for all customers that enter our Space Station. Upon entering, we will take you on a personal journey to help you find the products you need to get out of this world. At Space Station, you will have your very own bud commander. Every commander will be knowledgeable of our universe of medical and recreational marijuana products. We strive to consistently provide the best priced products.

SCHAPELL JEWELERS

3163 Walnut St., Boulder

303-442-1135

schapell.com

Visit Schapell Jewelers for a warm and welcoming shopping experience in the heart of Boulder. Since 1964, our family-owned store has been helping you find timeless pieces for every style and generation. Surrounded by a cozy atmosphere, our knowledgeable team treats you like family, guiding you to the perfect gift that will make this season truly magical.

Come discover the sparkle that’s been a Boulder tradition for 60 years!

MIKE’S CAMERA

2500 Pearl St., Boulder

303-443-1715

mikescamera.com

Personalized gifts reflect the time, effort, and thought put into creating something unique for someone. Instead of a generic item, a photo gift shows you’ve considered what will resonate with them personally. No one else will have a gift exactly like it. A photo gift can’t be replicated, and it’s often a standout among more conventional presents. At Mike’s Camera we can make your gift perfect with your own images and love!

GROUNDWORKS ART LAB

3750 Canfield St., Boulder groundworksartlab.org

Looking for the perfect local, handmade gift? Groundworks Art Lab’s annual Holiday Sale is just the place to find it! Join us at our new Main location in Boulder to shop an inspiring collection of one-of-a-kind artwork across a variety of mediums, crafted by local artists. Come by on December 14 & 15 from 10am to 5pm and find something truly special for everyone on your list (or a treat for yourself!).

Tickets available in-person at The Habitat ReStore 1351 Sherman Dr or BRICKS on 471 Main Sign up to Volunteer and receive a FREE General Admission Ticket

SPONSORS

VENDORS December 5-7, 2024

SPONSORED CONTENT

NOV. 23

SWEET AS PIE COOKIE DECORATING CLASS

10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, Planks and Paint DIY Workshop, 12716 Lowell Blvd., Broomfield. $60

The pie and the cookie are undefeated in November and December. This fun class for all skill levels combines both — you’ll be creating pie-shaped cookies in a laidback workshop atmosphere.

FIREFLY HANDMADE

BOULDER HOLIDAY MARKET

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, Pearl Street Mall, 1303 Pearl St., Boulder. Free

Pearl Street can be overwhelming, from the foot traffic to the street parking, but trust us: This annual market is worth braving the tourists. More than 80 creators set up shop up and down the mall, showcasing endless handmade crafts for you to fall in love with.

10TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY MARKET

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Nov. 23-24, Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism, 424A East Simpson Ave., Lafayette. Free

HOLIDAY CALENDAR

NOV. 27

HOLIDAY SIDES AND THE ARTS OF ROASTING

4:45-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, 637 S. Broadway, Suite H, Boulder. $75

Do you prefer ham to roasted turkey or chicken during the holidays? That could be because you don’t know what you’re doing. And that’s OK! These common birds are harder to cook perfectly than most assume, and Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts wants to help you nail it, along with tips on mouth-watering sides.

NOV. 30

CERAMIC ORNAMENT WORKSHOP

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, The New Local, 741 Pearl St., Boulder. $20

Head over to The New Local and craft yourself something special to hang on the tree. Supplies for one ornament are included with your $20 sign-up.

DRESS UP DOWNTOWN SANTA CRAWL

5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, Downtown Longmont, Main Street. Free

Hit the town dressed up like the man himself. This holiday crawl will feature stops at local businesses on Main Street for drinks, food, games, photo ops and more.

BLUE VIOLIN CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS

7-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, Gordon Gamm Theater at Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. $30

Blue Violin is a force to be reckoned with on the strings. Once a first chair in the Boston String Quartet, the celebrated artist now travels the country, blending dance and song for a showstopping live performance — and this time around, he’s mixing in the holiday hits.

Find a unique gift at this holiday market, as well as an astrology reading, chair massage, antioxidant juice workshop and Sweet Cow Ice Cream’s food truck onsite.

MERRY-ACHI HOLIDAYS PLAZA LIGHTING

6-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, 350 Kimbark St., Longmont. Free

Santa and a mariachi band is the holiday combination you didn’t know you needed. Join High Plains Bank in lighting the Library West Plaza in Longmont, featuring music by Las Dahlias, sweet treats and warm drinks.

THE NUTCRACKER

1-3 p.m., 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 and 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, Macky Auditorium, 1595 Pleasant St., Boulder. $29

If you’ve never seen a performance of The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s revered holiday classical ballet, you must be from another planet. The Boulder Ballet and Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra’s collaboration on this masterwork is a can’tmiss performance.

DEC. 1

BROOMFIELD HS BAND HOLIDAY MARKET

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, Broomfield High School, 1 Eagle Way. Free

Broomfield High School is putting on a holiday market in which all proceeds support their band program. Get your festive fill at this event with a silent auction, and support these bright young musicians at their inaugural holiday get-together.

I LOVE LOCAL Guide to the Holidays

DEC. 5

LAPOMPE: A VERY DJANGO HOLIDAY SHOW

8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, Chautauqua Community House, 301 Morning Glory Drive, Boulder $30

Break out your dancing shoes — LAPOMPE invites you to a night of early swing and hot-club jazz at the foot of the flatirons.

THE GIFT OF HOME TOUR

4-8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri., Dec. 5-6 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, Habitat for Humanity, 303 Atwood St., Longmont. $45

Whether you’re searching for your future abode or not, house tours are a fun peek into strangers’ lives. Get some tickets and take a friend along for this selfguided showcase of homes that are “dressed up” for the holidays. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley, raising money for affordable homeownership opportunities.

DEC. 6

HOLIDAY SPECTAPULAR

7-8:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Dec. 6-7, The Spark Boulder, 4847 Pearl St., Suite B4. $25

Rocky Mountain Rhythm will be clicking and clacking all night at The Spark, where they’ll be hosting 90 minutes of holiday tap-dancing and entertainment.

DEC. 7

WINTERFEST

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, Chautauqua Park, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder. $23+

Few places feel as apropos for holiday celebration as Chautauqua Park. Their yearly WinterFest is back — it’s a full day of activities, grub, shopping and much more.

ELDORADO HOLIDAY ARTISAN MARKET

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Dec. 7-8, Eldorado Mountain Yoga Ashram, 2875 County Road 67, Boulder. Free

Peace and tranquility are the name of the game at this artisan market. Free yoga and meditation classes, a silent auction and live music will be on offer for all who swing by.

26TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY HARP CONCERT

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Library. Free

Do you know the difference between an orchestral pedal harp and a folk harp? Neither do we, but if you’d like to hear skilled harpists rip holiday classics like “Greensleeves” and “Shalom” on the both of them, this is the show for you.

By Louisa May Alcott

Adapted and Directed by

Jessica Robblee

Bring your family to the Dairy this holiday season and spend some time with the March family. Relive their adventures, their passionate loves, their ups and downs and their joy in being together.

Dec. 5 – Dec. 29

Dairy Arts Center | Boulder

SUBSCRIPTIONS & TICKETS at BETC.ORG

WINTER FEST - A FROZEN ADVENTURE

4-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, Kinesis Dance, 635 S. Broadway St., Unit D, Boulder. $12

Round up the family and kick off December the right way at Kinesis Dance. This holiday event features hot chocolate and delicious treats, plus a photo station, a family dance party and Santa’s workshop, all featuring Elsa and Anna from Frozen

DEC. 8

NIWOT HOLIDAY MAGIC CONCERT SERIES WITH THE REBECCA FOLSOM TRIO

2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, Niwot Hall (formerly Left Hand Grange), 195 2nd Ave., Niwot. $50

The Rebecca Folsom Trio is bringing their folky sound to Niwot for one night of wintertime jams: warm drinks, holiday spices and good vibes will be provided.

DEC. 13

HOLIDAY ICE SHOW

4-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, Apex Center Ice Arena, 13150 W. 72nd Ave., Arvada. Free

Go watch local skaters tear around the ice with elegance and grace at this holiday ice show in Arvada.

DEC. 14

THE LONGS PEAK CHORUS PRESENTS “SONGS OF THE SEASON”

2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, The Heart of Longmont United Methodist Church, 350 11th Ave. $15

It’s exactly what it sounds like, folks: The ever-talented Longs Peak Chorus is back again for another night of harmonious holiday staples, sung in an a cappella format that rings through the concert space.

DEC. 15

HAZEL MILLER AND THE COLLECTIVE HOLIDAY SHOW

4-5 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. $15-$23

Hazel Miller and the Collective will be rocking out at the Dairy Arts Center for what has now become a holiday tradition here in Boulder. Don’t miss out on this powerful local performance this time around.

DEC. 18

BRENDAN JAMES COZY HOLIDAY SWEATER SHOW WITH GUEST RYAN DART

8-11 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl, Suite V3A, Boulder. $35

Your Christmas sweater is probably ugly. Own it! You’ll need it when singersongwriter Brendan James rolls through Roots Music Project for a special holiday show.

DEC. 19

CASS CLAYTON BAND: CHRISTMAS OF SOUL

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, Nissi’s, 1455 Coal Creek Drive, Unit T, Lafayette. $15

Cass Clayton has a voice of gold, and her six-piece band only elevates her pipes. See her and her funky outfit during this pre-Christmas show at Nissi’s.

DEC. 21

HOLIDAY CHARCUTERIE CLASS WITH HONEY & BRIE 303

2-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, Bookcliff Vineyards, 1501 Lee Hill Drive, Unit 17, Boulder. $75

Get your board skills up! Honey & Brie are taking over Bookcliff Vineyards in Boulder for a full-body tutorial on how to create a stunning charcuterie spread — the edible cornerstone of any get together.

MAKING SPACE

Sean Baker on screwball sex-work comedy ‘Anora’

BY MICHAEL J. CASEY

“Idon’t know why film school teaches you certain things; I really don’t,” filmmaker Sean Baker says, shaking his head. “I’ve had to unlearn everything I learned.”

Maybe that’s not a ringing endorsement for Baker’s alma mater, but the unlearning has worked for him. The independent filmmaker from New Jersey has directed eight features, and his most recent one, Anora, won the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

“I honestly did not have any expectations for the movie,” Baker says regarding Anora’s chance in Cannes’ main competition. And, as he points out, it’s rare that “a film with overt comedy in it will win the Palme d’Or.”

But anyone who has seen Tangerine, The Florida Project or Red Rocket knows comedy is far from rare in a Baker movie. It’s essential. And in Anora, a magnificently energetic, high-pitched screwball comedy of chaos provides the bulk of the narrative.

Set in New York City, Anora centers on Ani (Mikey Madison), an exotic dancer who can speak a little Russian and ends up in the lap of Ivan (Mark Eidelshtein), the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch.

Ivan is a spoiled rich kid with the attention span of a gnat, but he’s a party to be around and has the cash to support it. He buys Ani’s company for a week, then proposes marriage. She says yes, and quicker than you can run off to Las Vegas’ Little White Wedding Chapel, the two are hitched and mommy and daddy oligarch are pissed. So they call in Ivan’s handlers, Toros (Karren Karagulian), Garnick (Vache Tovmasyan) and Igor (Yura Borisov), to manage the situation. Then everything goes sideways.

“I knew there was going to be this home invasion moment or sequence,” Baker says. “As we started fleshing it out, I realized: ‘OK, I want this to be the showstopper.’ I want this to be the thing after an hour-long montage — an abridged version of a romantic comedy — [that] was going to slow everything down and keep the audience sitting in this real-time, scary, threatening incident that Ani is going through.”

‘A STOCKHOLM SYNDROMETYPE THING’

Baker explains that this scene — one of the movie’s best — wasn’t the genesis of Anora but the place where disparate

Known for stylistically daring and heartfelt movies like The Florida Project, Tangerine and Red Rocket, director Sean Baker has established himself as one of the era’s most essential filmmakers. Courtesy: NEON

ideas converged into the narrative at hand.

“[Anora] started from my desire to tell a story in the Russian American community in Brighton Beach and Coney Island, Brooklyn,” he says.

Then, while making Red Rocket, Baker heard a story about “a young woman being held as collateral by the Russian mob because her husband owed money,” he says. “And she started

to realize over the course of 24 hours that she married the wrong man because he never came to her rescue.”

So, “she started to experience a Stockholm syndrome-type thing, where she was gravitating toward her captors.”

It was an intriguing plot, but Baker didn’t want to tell a gangster story. “And that’s when we came up with the idea of her marrying the son of a Russian oligarch.”

Then, in 2022, the final piece fell into place.

“Scream opened, and that’s when I saw Mikey [Madison] and knew she was our Ani,” Baker says. “I had the meeting with her and said: ‘If you’re down for this, I will go write this screenplay.’... That’s what really got the ball rolling.”

SPACE TO CREATE

Anora is Baker’s fifth movie exploring the world of sex work. After winning the Palme in May, the 53-year-old filmmaker dedicated the award to “sex workers past, present and future,” adding that sex work should be decriminalized and “not in any way regulated.”

“It’s a sex worker’s body, and it’s up to them to decide how they will use it in their livelihood,” Baker said at the Cannes press conference.

But it’s not just the profession that connects Anora to Baker’s previous films. His ability to create space for his actors to craft performances is unparalleled. Everyone here, from Madison to Karagulian and especially Borisov, plays their roles so close to the bone that they feel found, not formed.

“My actors were giving me such gold every day that I knew about a week in that we were making something special,” Baker says. “And it was because of the performances.”

Baker isn’t wrong, but he’s being modest. The performances are gold, but so is the script, the direction, the cinematography, the editing — everything. Anora is indeed something special, and Baker is one of the most fascinating voices in American cinema. His Palme d’Or isn’t just deserved; it’s overdue.

ON SCREEN: Anora is currently playing in theaters.

Mikey Madison stars as Ani in the Palme d’Or-winning film Anora, in theaters now. Courtesy: NEON

BOOKS

BOOKS AND BELONGING

How a gay high school dropout went from an Oklahoma trailer park to winning Colorado’s top literary prize

BY MB PARTLOW ROCKY MOUNTAIN READER

When author David R. Slayton took the stage to accept the 2024 Colorado Book Award for his latest fantasy epic Dark Moon, Shallow Sea, he was visibly surprised.

“I didn’t expect to be here,” the celebrated sci-fi writer told the crowd. “Gay high school dropouts who grew up in a trailer in the woods outside of Guthrie, Oklahoma, don’t get to write books. And they don’t get to win awards.”

So how did Slayton make the journey from trailer park to award-winning author?

Growing up the third of four children, he says two things set him on the path to literary success. First was being left alone. He was a “spare” — not the first son, not the only daughter — so lack of attention allowed him time alone to read and explore imaginary worlds.

“I had Star Wars action figures, and I made up stories for them,” he says.

Slayton also counts himself lucky for having had access to books of all different kinds. He had plenty of time alone, to just “grab stuff and read.” At first there was no restriction on what he could enjoy. But after his mother found God, he wasn’t allowed to read anything having to do with magic.

“All the Star Wars figures that were aliens were gone,” he says. But mom had a soft spot for Star Trek, and frequently bought “those novels that were churned out once a month.”

There was one more thing Slayton attributes to his survival.

“Being gay saved me when it should have killed me. I had to reject where I came from to survive,” he says. Most people in that time and place “suppressed it, threw themselves into religion or killed themselves. The clear choice was to reconcile Christianity and hide who I am, or reject it and walk away. That was the thing that saved me: Knowing I’m never going to fit in and they’re never going to want me here gave me the ability to leave.”

‘BACK TO THE GRIND’

After his parents divorced, Slayton’s mom was more focused on religion than education. Instead of hearing an encouraging word when he left for school in the morning, he was more likely to hear: “Don’t forget, today is the day the Rapture could happen. Don’t do anything bad or you’ll get left behind.”

David R. Slayton’s latest novel, Dark Moon, Shallow Sea, won the 2024 Colorado Book Award in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category. Courtesy:

At age 17, Slayton dropped out of school. He reached out to his father, who took him across state lines to Texas. There, he earned his GED and started taking classes at a local community college.

Slayton eventually made his way to Metropolitan State University in Denver, where he earned a degree in history and another in English. He later earned a master’s in computer information systems

at the University of Denver. His writing life didn’t begin in earnest until age 33.

“I knew I wanted to write books, epic fantasy in particular, with a gay main character,” he says. “I had this idea that writing was very esoteric, drinking coffee and thinking deep thoughts. It’s a grind. Butt in chair. Pick up the hammer and go back to the grind.”

‘SOMETHING WEIRD AND GAY’

Slayton wrote off and on for years, using his laptop on his one-hour commute to and from work. He wrote his first novel. Then he started going to writing conferences, first Backspace in New York, then Pikes Peak Writers Conference in Colorado Springs. This, he says, is where he found his people.

tasy called White Trash Warlock. His agent loved it so much she woke her boss to make her read it.

The biggest selling point? “Books about gay characters that are not about being gay,” he says. “No AIDS. No coming-out trauma.”

White Trash Warlock, the first installment in the Adam Binder series, was published in October 2020 and was a finalist for the 2021 Colorado Book Award. It was followed by Trailer Park Trickster and Deadbeat Druid in the following years.

The title character’s background mirrors Slayton’s own story, except for a superpower known as The Sight — an ability to see into other realms. With equal parts heart and humor, the series draws in readers with magic, good ol’ boys and an urban legend about lizard people living beneath the Denver airport.

“Be gracious,” he says. “Because these people you’re meeting? You will be seeing them again.”

It wasn’t until his second agent that Slayton got published, when he was on the verge of giving up. He had reworked his first books to the point that he had begun to hate writing. That was when he threw out everything he knew and wrote “something weird and gay,” an urban fan-

The series is set to continue with Red Neck Revenant in 2025 and Backwoods Banshee the following year. A spin-off book, Rogue Community College, debuts this fall, set in the mythical plane of existence Adam can access with his Sight. Slayton calls it “Dr. Who meets The Umbrella Academy,” a little lighter and more whimsical than the usual fare.

His most recent book — the epic Dark Moon, Shallow Sea that earned him top honor in the science fiction and fantasy category at this year’s Colorado Book Awards — is classic fantasy. Adventure, alliances and magic combine under the Gods of Night and Day to forge new paths out of old pains.

Despite feeling at home in these fantasy worlds, Slayton says he never saw himself represented in fiction — so he wrote the books he wanted to read. But the author says his success in the industry is about something more basic.

“Talent is great, but you need persistence,” he says. “You need to practice, because if you don’t, you don’t grow. Keep hammering away at it every day.”

“Talent is great, but you need persistence,” says Colorado author David R. Slayton. Courtesy: David R. Slayton / Facebook

Blackstone Publishing

ON STAGE

ON VIEW

ON THE PAGE

Join author and Naropa professor

Gaylon Ferguson for a discussion about his new book Welcoming Beginner’s Mind: Zen and Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom on Experiencing Our True Nature Ferguson will be in conversation with Christian Dillo of the Boulder Zen Center for this in-store event. See listing for details

Personal, historical and social forces collide in the regional premiere of Confederates at Denver’s Curious Theatre Playwright Dominique Morisseau and director Marisa D. Hebert present this ambitious, timescrambling story about an enslaved person turned Union spy and a modernday university professor unpacking the insidious effects of institutional racism through the ages. See listing for details

Boulder-based fiber artist Darcie Shively explores the possibilities of chance in A Woven Channel, on display at BMoCA @ Frasier through Feb. 2. Making choices based on coin flips and Magic 8 Ball consultations, her vibrant tapestry series outlines the possibilities of “rekindling a relationship with the unknown and disrupting patterns, both in weaving and in life.” See listing for details

WELCOMING BEGINNER’S MIND: ZEN AND TIBETAN BUDDHIST WISDOM ON EXPERIENCING OUR TRUE NATURE BY GAYLON FERGUSON.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Through Dec. 1, Jesters Dinner Theatre, 224 Main St., Longmont. $35

CONFEDERATES

Through Dec. 8, Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma St., Denver. $42+ BW PICK OF THE WEEK

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. Through Dec. 29, Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. $56

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Through Dec. 29, Denver Performing Arts ComplexWolf Theatre, 1101 13th St. $40+

SCROOGE! THE MUSICAL Through Jan. 12, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown. $15-$45

SMOKE & MIRRORS Through Jan. 12, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 1750 13th St., Boulder. $2

DARCIE SHIVELY: A WOVEN CHANNEL Through Feb. 2, BMoCA @ Frasier, 350 Ponca Place, Boulder. Free BW PICK OF THE WEEK

LAURA BRENTON: FULL CIRCLE Through Dec. 8, Dairy Arts Center - Locals Only Gallery, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. Free

6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, Boulder Bookstore, 1107 Pearl St. $5 BW PICK OF THE WEEK

KGNU AND BOULDER BOOKSTORE RADIO BOOK CLUB: HOOF BEATS BY WILLIAM T. TAYLOR. 9-9:30 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 28, Boulder Bookstore, 1107 Pearl St. Free

TOOTH AND CLAW: A LONGMIRE STORY BY CRAIG JOHNSON. 6 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 22, Tattered Cover, 2526 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $30 (includes book)

CURIOUS REALMS: STEP INTO ABSTRACTION. Through Jan. 5, Dairy Arts Center - Locals Only Gallery, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. $5

WILD THINGS: THE ART OF MAURICE SENDAK Through Feb. 17, Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave. Parkway, Denver. $22+

HANGTIME: ARTIST MEMBER ANNUAL EXHIBIT. Through Dec. 1, Firehouse Art Center, 667 4th Ave., Longmont. Free

WRITERS’ CLUB 6 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 25, Tattered Cover, 2526 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. Free

BOMBAY GIN LITERARY JOURNAL EDITORS READING

6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, Trident Booksellers & Cafe, 940 Pearl St., Boulder. Free

COOKING MINDFULLY BY KAIT WELCH. 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, Tattered Cover, 2526 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $25+ (includes book)

ART & SIP: PAPER ARTS + COLORFUL COLLAGE

4-6 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road. $45

Get crafty (and a little tipsy) at this Longmont Museum class designed for beginners and experienced crafters alike. Make an abstract collage inspired by the colors and shapes of LEGO bricks, the theme of the museum’s ongoing special exhibition. Register online or by calling 303-651-8374.

21 AND NOW … FEATURING

6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, Trident Booksellers & Cafe, 940 Pearl St., Boulder. Free

Let your hidden talent shine during this monthly variety show at Trident. Hosted by Aimee Herman, this regular showcase features local artists of all stripes, from poets to comedians and points in between: “Read a poem, sing a song — the stage is yours.”

21

GRATEFUL DRAG

8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $15-$18

The world’s first Grateful Dead-themed drag band BERTHA takes the stage for a night of queer-affirming joy. Queen Potted Plant will be your host at this benefit for Transformative Freedom Fund, Bread & Roses Legal Center and Rocky Mountain Equality.

23

BOULDER FARMERS MARKET

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, 13th Street and Central Park. Free

Not ready to say goodbye to the Boulder Farmers Market? Enjoy the last event of the season by stocking up on apples, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts and other autumnal produce — or just hang out and enjoy a warm meal and some live music. Longmont Farmers Market vendors will also be on hand to send off the season in style.

23

MERRY-ACHI HOLIDAYS PLAZA LIGHTING

6-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, Library West Plaza, 350 Kimbark St., Longmont. Free

¡Feliz Navidad, Longmonsters! Follow the sweet harmonies of Las Dahlias’ mariachi to the annual holiday plaza lighting. Countdown to the big moment while you warm your hands with a cup of hot chocolate. Keep an ear out for sleigh bells: We heard Santa might be making an appearance.

23

FIREFLY HANDMADE HOLIDAY MARKET

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, Pearl Street Mall, Boulder. Free

Keep the kitsch off the holiday gift list and find the perfect handmade present on Pearl this Saturday. Check out artisan goods from more than 80 vendors, from pre-bottled craft cocktails to psychedelic ceramics. Plus live music from Strings and The Box and d’Lovelies.

23 – 24

HERBALISM HOLIDAY MARKET

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Nov. 23 and Sunday Nov. 24, Old Town Lafayette, 424 E. Simpson St. Free

Stock up on natural remedies to keep the winter blues away at this holiday market hosted by the School of Clinical Herbalism. Food, drink, merriment, an ice cream truck and astrology readings are on the menu in addition to the artisan market. Learn how to make a “holiday antioxidant juice” at a mini workshop each day at 1 p.m. for $15.

24

DICKENS FALL DRAG NIGHT

6-8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, Dickens Opera House, 302 Main St., Longmont. $17.75

Local diva Jessica L’Whor takes the stage with a cast of Colorado’s best drag performers for a night you don’t want to miss. Prepare to be starstruck by dazzling dance routines and jaw-dropping musical numbers for seasoned drag showgoers and newcomers alike. Event is 21+ and tickets go up $5 on the day of the show.

24

SWITCH ON THE HOLIDAYS

5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, 1300 Block of Pearl Street, Boulder

Flip the switch on holiday cheer during the annual lighting on Pearl Street Mall.

Local dance group Kids in Locomotion kicks off the festivities, followed by classic excerpts from The Nutcracker by Boulder Ballet. Plus music from the Boulder Chorale and an appearance from your favorite North Pole characters (including the Big Man himself).

24

GIVING THANKS OUTDOORS

2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, Outdoor Classroom, 105 W. Baseline Road, Lafayette. Free

‘Tis the season of gratitude, so tap into the spirit of thanks on this 1.5-mile walk hosted at Lafayette’s Outdoor Classroom. This “contemplative outing” will include stories, discussions and introspection on Mother Earth. Registration required.

24

LOCO UKULELE JAM

2-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free

If you like your weekends with a little whimsy, you don’t want to miss the LoCo Ukulele Jam at Bootstrap Brewing Company in Longmont. Growing from a smattering of less than a dozen uke enthusiasts to standing-room only blowouts over the past seven years, this quirked-up tradition is the perfect antidote to the Sunday Scaries.

28

PODCASTING 101

4-5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28, Longmont Public Media, 457 4th Ave. $75

Are you a gifted yapper looking for the right outlet? Learn the ins and outs of podcasting during this introductory class at Longmont Public Media. You’ll get the lowdown on everything from sound and video setup to branding, SEO best practices and more.

Want more Boulder County events? Check out the complete listings online by scanning this QR code.

LIVE MUSIC

THURSDAY, NOV. 21

CHUCK SITERO WITH DYLAN KOBER

5:30 p.m. Spirit Hound Distillers, 4196 Ute Highway., Lyons. Free

KAREN FINCH 6 p.m. Bricks on Main, 471 Main St., Longmont. Free

TONY CRANK 6 p.m. Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free

TOM PAKELE WITH STEVIE GUITAR GLOTZER 6 p.m. 300 Suns Brewing, 335 1st Ave., Unit C, Longmont. Free

ERIC GOLDEN 6 p.m. The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd., Unit 900, Westminster. Free

ANNA TIVEL WITH ALEX HARDESTY 7 p.m. eTown Hall, 1535 Spruce St., Boulder. $19 BW PICK OF THE WEEK

PLEASURE PRINCE WITH BODY AND NEOTOKYO PHILHARMONIC 7 p.m. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway, Denver. $13

CORSICANA WITH SOUND OF HONEY.

8 p.m. Chautauqua Community House, 301 Morning Glory Drive, Boulder. $24

THE HIP SNACKS WITH RIVER SPELL.

8 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $20

BILLY FAILING BAND. 8 p.m. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $38

BLIND PILOT WITH MOLLY SARLE

8 p.m. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood. $44

FRIDAY, NOV. 22

HALEY MAE CAMPBELL 5 p.m.

The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd., #900, Westminster. Free

COLORADO JUNCTION STRING BAND

5:30 p.m. Left Hand Brewing, 1265 Boston Ave., Longmont. Free

TONY TRAHAN & THE BLUE KREWE 6 p.m. Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free

Holiday Sale

ON THE BILL

Portland, Oregon-based folk artist Anna Tivel comes to the People’s Republic of Boulder for a show with Alex Hardesty at eTown Hall on Nov. 21. The critically lauded singer-songwriter takes the stage in support of her sixth full-length album, Living Thing, released this summer via Fluff and Gravy Records See listing for details

MOUNTAIN DUO 6 p.m. Bricks on Main, 471 Main St., Longmont. Free

SKYLER SUN WITH WILL DEHEEGER AND ECHO 6 p.m. Trident Cafe, 940 Pearl St., Boulder. Free

LOST PENNY 6 p.m. Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids, 1555 Hover St., Longmont. Free

MANY MOUNTAINS WITH LUCY MOORE MUSIC. 7 p.m. Oskar Blues Grill and Brew, 303 Main St., Lyons. Free

FADED FRIDAYS 7 p.m. Asher Brewing, 4699 Nautilus Court, Suite 104, Boulder. Free

STRANGE AMERICANS WITH FACEMAN 8 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $19

KATE HOPE BAND. 8 p.m. Louisville Underground, 640 Main St. $20

MS. BOAN WITH JEFF IN LEATHER, MOON 17 AND AS IN HEAVEN AS IN HELL 8 p.m. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway, Denver. $15

SPAFFORD. 8 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $25

A’BEAR AND FRIENDS. 9 p.m. Mountain Sun Pub, 1535 Pearl St., Boulder. Free

SHALLOU 9 p.m. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $42

SATURDAY, NOV. 23

SUGAR BRITCHES TRIO. 5 p.m. Left Hand Brewing, 1265 Boston Ave., Longmont. Free

MIKE LAMITOLA. 6 p.m. Spirit Hound Lyons Tasting Room, 4196 Ute Highway, Lyons. Free

JAY MARTIN 6 p.m. The Bluegrass, 18068 W. 92nd Lane, #400. Free

WEST HWY 7. 6 p.m. Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free

DELTA SONICS 6 p.m. Bricks on Main, 471 Main St., Longmont. Free

COLORADO CONNECTION 7 p.m. Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl St., Suite V3A, Boulder. $18

JOHNSMITH WITH DAN SEBRANEK 7 p.m. Muse Performance Space, 200 E. South Boulder Road, Lafayette. $20

ETHAN JODZIEWICZ WITH MAYA DE VITRY 7 p.m. Gold Hill Inn, 401 Main St., Gold Hill. $15

SONS OF GENESIS WITH MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE 7:30 p.m. Nissi’s, 1455 Coal Creek Drive, Unit T, Lafayette. Free

JD MCPHERSON WITH KATE CLOVER

8 p.m. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood. $46

ANDY BABB & LARA ELLE WITH DANIEL WANDER AND GHOST OF CAROLINE 8 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $24

LEIF VOLLEBEKK WITH RACHEL BAIMAN 8 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $35

FOGGY MOUNTAIN SPACESHIP DUO. 8 p.m. Longs Peak Pub, 600 Longs Peak Ave., Longmont. Free

5280S BAND 8 p.m. The Louisville Underground, 640 Main St. $20

LOCO UKULELE JAM. 2 p.m. Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free

SUNDAY, NOV. 24

SCOTT VON & FRIENDS. 5:30 p.m. Left Hand Brewing, 1265 Boston Ave., Longmont. Free

GUS BALDWIN & THE SKETCH WITH FLORA DE LA LUNA AND RUGBURN

7 p.m. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway, Denver. $15

LIONEL YOUNG DUO 8 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. Free

MONDAY, NOV. 25

BRETT HENDRIX. 6 p.m. The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd., #900, Westminster. Free

“GROOVE” WITH BOULDER PHIL STRING ENSEMBLE 6:30 p.m. Dickens Opera House, 300 Main St., Longmont. $25

CLOUD NOTHINGS WITH ARMLOCK AND FARMERS WIFE 8 p.m. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $38

TUESDAY, NOV. 26

DAVE HONIG. 5:30 p.m. Boulder Depot, 2366 Junction Place, Boulder. Free

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27

VUDU SUNSHINE 6 p.m. Rosalee’s Pizzeria, 461 Main St., Longmont. Free

THE LONG RUN 7:30 p.m. Nissi’s, 1455 Coal Creek Drive, Unit T, Lafayette. $25

FLUX PAVILION WITH DOCTOR P, OLIVERSE, FUNTCASE, CONRANK, MIKESH!FT AND PHOCUST. 8 p.m. Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $55

EVENTS HOLIDAY MARKET

ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Award-winning Aries filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was born and raised in the U.S. But he has said, “I don’t make movies for America. I make movies for planet Earth.” I applaud his expansive perspective and recommend you cultivate your own version of it in the coming weeks. You will generate good fortune for yourself as you enlarge your audience, your range of influences, and your sphere of activity. It will be an excellent time to transcend previous notions of who you are and what your life’s assignments are. The frontiers are calling you to open your mind wider than ever as you leap to the next higher octave of your destiny.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): “Earth knows no desolation. She smells regeneration in the moist breath of decay.” Author George Meredith said that, and now I’m conveying it to you. Why? Because you’re entering a phase when you will have maximum power to ensure that decay leads to regeneration. My advice: Instead of trying to repress your awareness of what’s decomposing, tune into it energetically. The sooner you embrace the challenging but interesting work to be done, the faster and more effective the redemption will be. Here’s your battle cry: Turn rot into splendor!

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Mercury will be your slippery but sticky companion in the coming weeks, Gemini. Whether or not you believe he is a literal god who abides in the spiritual realm, I trust you will acknowledge that he is a vivid archetype. He symbolizes forces that facilitate communication and promote connection. Since he is constantly traveling and conversing, he also represents boundary-crossing and thresholds. I encourage you to summon his assistance whenever you want to lubricate links and foster combinations. He can help you unify disparate influences and strengthen your network of allies.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Utility poles and telephones poles may seem to be indestructible towers, but they have a limited life span. A prime factor in their gradual demise is woodpeckers. The birds drill holes that over time weaken the wood. Their handiwork allows moisture to seep in, causing rot, and creates access points for small animals to burrow in and cause further disintegration. I bring this to your attention because I want to encourage you to launch a woodpecker-like campaign against any seemingly impregnable structures that oppress and restrict you. It might take a while to undermine their power to interfere with your life, but now is an excellent time to begin.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): As an American, I’m jealous of how many festivals the Japanese people celebrate. By some estimates, there are over 100,000 events every year — an average of 274 per day! They may feature music, theater, dancing, entertainment, karaoke, sumo matches, games, delicious food, colorful costumes, spiritual observances and parades of floats and shrines. If you are a Japanese Leo, you’re in luck. The astrological indicators suggest that in the coming months, you should take extra advantage of your culture’s revels, parties and social merriment. If you’re not in Japan, do your best to fulfill your cosmic mandate to frolic and carouse. Start as soon as possible!

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): The Flintstones was an animated TV comedy show broadcast in the U.S. from 1960 to 1966. It was colossally silly and wildly popular. It portrayed cavemen and cavewomen living suburban lives in the Stone Age with dinosaurs as pets and cars made of wood and rocks. The chirpy theme song for the show was stolen from a piano sonata written by the classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I invite you to steadily carry out the opposite of that conversion. Transform what’s daft or preposterous into what’s elegant and meaningful. Change superficial approaches into righteous devotions. Move away from trifling diversions and toward passionate magnificence.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Even if you’re not a professional writer, I invite you to compose three lyrical messages in the coming days. One will be a psalm of appreciation for a person who enchants your imagination and inspires you to be your best self. Another will be a hymn of praise that you address to yourself — a gorgeous, expansive boast or an outpouring of gratitude for the marvel and mystery of you. The third salutation will be an address to a higher power, whether that’s God, Goddess, Nature, your Guardian Angel, Higher Self or Life itself. If you can find it in your brave, wild heart to sing or chant these exaltations, you will place yourself in close alignment with cosmic rhythms. (P.S. In general, now is a fantastic time to identify what you love and express your feelings for what you love.)

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): The Greek term pharmakon has a complicated set of meanings: scapegoat, poison, remedy and recipe. According to my astrological analysis, all of these could soon be operative in your life. One surprise is that a metaphoric “poison” you are exposed to may ultimately serve as a remedy. Another curiosity is that a scapegoat may reveal a potent recipe for redemptive transformation. A further possibility: You will discover a new recipe for a very fine remedy. I’m not certain exactly how the whole story will unfold, but I’m betting the net effect will be a lot of healing.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): The Museum of Broken Relationships is in Zagreb, Croatia. It collects castaway objects left behind after intimate relationships have collapsed. Among its treasures are love letters, wedding rings, jars of bitter tears, stuffed animals, feather-filled quilts and matching sweaters. Inspired by this sad spectacle, I invite you to create a very different shrine in your home: one that’s dedicated to wonderful memories from times of successful togetherness. Making this ritual gesture of hope and positivity will prepare you well for the potential relationship growth available for you in the coming months.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): It’s the Soul Retrieval phase of your long-term cycle, Capricorn. Have there been people, either alive or dead, who wounded or pirated parts of your treasured essence? Have you experienced painful events that weakened your connection to your inner riches? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to undertake meditations in which you carry out repair and restoration. You will summon curative agents whenever you reclaim lost and missing fragments of your soul. Be aggressive in seeking helpers who can synergize your own efforts.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): The Wistaria Vine in Sierra Madre, California, is the world’s biggest blooming plant. Spread over an acre, it weighs 250 tons and teems with over 1.5 million blossoms. I propose we regard it as your inspirational symbol for the coming months. Why? I expect you will be more abundantly creative and generative than maybe ever before. Your vitality will overflow. Your vigor will be delightfully lavish and profound. Homework: Start planning how you will wield and manage all that lushness.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Piscean playwright and songwriter Robert Lopez is the only person to have won all four of the following awards more than once: Oscars, Tonys, Emmys and Grammys. He was also the youngest person to have won all four. I propose we make him your inspirational role model in the coming weeks and months. According to my astrological analysis, you are primed to ascend to new levels of accomplishment in your chosen field and to be acknowledged for your success. Think big! Then think even bigger.

I might be falling in love with my husband’s identical twin brother. My husband and I have been in a traditional monogamous cishet straight marriage for 12 years. It wasn’t until the last few years that I started catching feelings for my brother-in-law, who is also married. I started to notice my BIL in a way that surprised me when we went on a family vacation together. He’s just so empathetic, compassionate and articulate. He also has the same body my husband does (obviously), although my BIL is a little fitter than my husband.

SAVAGE LOVE

BY DAN SAVAGE

est in men is purely sexual.

I have kept this a secret my entire life. I do enjoy watching gay porn and I fantasize about having sex with a man, but I have turned down several opportunities to be sexual with a man, which I almost regret.

What is really hard to understand is that my feelings for my husband haven’t changed. Do I love them both? Is that possible?

I can’t tell anyone about this, and I’m desperate to hear what you think. Could I have chosen the wrong twin? I am afraid the only way forward is to just keep quietly loving my BIL and never say anything.

— Crumbling Rapidly Under Stupid Heartache

It’s possible for a cishet married monogamously married person to have one of those run-of-the-mill, all-consuming, life-affirming, harmless crushes on someone they’re not married to. It’s not a sign that there’s something wrong with their marriage.

But when the object of a crush is someone explosively inappropriate… when the disclosure of the crush would create a blast radius so wide nothing for miles could possibly survive… that crush can best be understood as a kind of death wish. In other words, CRUSH: sometimes a crush is just a crush, and sometimes a crush is a manifestation of a subconscious desire to blow it all up. What can be done about a death-wish crush? Nothing. All you can do — if you don’t wanna blow it all up — is wait it out, same as you would one of those harmless crushes.

I’m a man in my 30s. I have been in several serious relationships with women, but I am also attracted to men. My inter-

I am now in a serious relationship with someone I love. She wants to settle down, get married and have kids. Do I owe her the truth? Or do I take this to the grave? My girlfriend is very supportive of the LGBTQ community. But I don’t know if she would be open to actually bringing another man into our bed or letting me experiment with another man on my own.

— Truth Or Lying Daily

You’re bisexual and heteroromantic, TOLD — only attracted to women romantically but attracted to both men and women sexually.

One of the reasons bisexual people have worse mental health outcomes than straight or gay people is not being out to their romantic partners or having romantic partners who are openly hostile to their bisexuality. For the sake of your own mental health, you need to tell your girlfriend the truth before you marry her.

And you owe your girlfriend the truth.

When you ask a person to enter into an open-ended and hopefully lifelong romantic and sexual relationship with you, your sexual orientation is a highly relevant data point. Your girlfriend can’t meaningfully consent to marrying you in the absence of this information.

You aren’t going to be able to take this to the grave. You might lose your girlfriend by doing the right thing and coming out to her now, TOLD, but you stand to lose a lot more if you get caught cheating on your wife with a man a decade from now.

Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love

A ta ste of Japan in the heart of Colorado

Whe re ce nturie s of culinary exce lle nce ge t a f re s h touch. S us hi, mode rn Japane s e, and hand-craf te d cock tails

WHERE THE WILD TASTES ARE

Your itinerary of new and unusual food and drink experiences to charm visiting relatives

BY JOHN LEHNDORFF

We love our foodie family and out-of-town friends. They love visiting us in Boulder County during the end-of-year holidays.

Besides having to clean the house, the biggest challenge facing hosts is what to do with these repeat visitors. You’ve already brunched with them at Chautauqua Dining Hall, munched at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, took the Celestial Seasonings tour and sipped sunset hot toddies outside at Acreage in Lafayette. They’ve gawked at the amazing walls of kitchen implements at McGuckin Hardware and at the hundreds of cookbooks at Peppercorn. They’ve been mesmerized by the revolving glazed fried goods at Voodoo Doughnut.

While planning out the umpteenth outing for your nearest and dearest, some may be tempted to quote Russell Crowe in Gladiator: “Are you not entertained?”

Instead, introduce them to the bevy of new and undiscovered culinary attractions in Boulder County and beyond. The nice thing for us hosts is that we get to taste something new, too, during these yuletide meanderings.

The following suggestions are organized roughly according to needs and cravings.

OFF-THE-GRID CAFES FOR JADED VISITORS

For something completely different, try a change of pace Boulder destination with a twist. Full Cycle Cafe & Bar (fullcycle cafebar.com) is a celebrated bicycle sales and repair shop and home to a coffee and beer café that hosts jazz performances on the weekend. If your visitors like shopping with a side of margs and tacos, belly up to the bar at Garage Sale Vintage (garagesalevintage.com). For kids and adrenaline junkies of all ages, immerse in the jungle gym-meets-hip café coolness of Junkyard Social Club (junkyardsocial club.org).

LONGMONT BREAD-ANDBUTTER DREAM

Foodies love tastings, and what tastes better than butter? Get the good stuff at Longmont’s Bella La Crema (bellala crema.com) or wear your winter coat when you shop the refrigerated charcuterie wonderland at Cheese Importers (cheeseimporters.com) in Longmont. They offer a more than a dozen of the best full-fat cultured butters made in Europe. Be sure to grab some fresh baguettes and a bottle of rosé for a palate-pleasing butter-and-bread tasting. Note: Leftover butter, if any, can be used to craft a fine holiday pie crust.

GET UNCLES AND AUNTS TOTALLY WIRED

Boulder’s Ozo Coffee Company (ozo coffee.com) hosts a first-ever open house Dec. 14 at its roastery and lab. Coffee

fans can taste a variety of coffees prepared using different techniques. It’s a great hands-on opportunity to learn ways to brew a better cup every day.

WOW THEM AT THE BIG WINTER MARKET

The popular farmers markets in Boulder and Longmont are closed for the season — except for one last blast. The Dec. 7 and 8 Winter Market (bcfm.org) fills a huge hall at the Boulder County Fairgrounds with dozens of bakeries, food artisans, cheesemakers and gift booths.

CAN WE ALL JUST COOK TOGETHER?

Put aside your political differences and sign the family up for a cooking class. Boulder’s Food Lab (foodlabboulder.com) offers a Family Holiday Baking Workshop (Dec. 14) and Holiday Tapas Class (Dec. 26, 27). Longmont’s Journey Culinary (journeyculinary.com) stages immersive classes including A Peruvian Christmas Dinner (Dec. 13) and a French Christmas Dinner (Dec. 7, 20).

FOR CACAO/WHISKEY NERDS

FOR FINE DINING BUCKET LIST VISITORS

Folks serious about fine dining are already making reservations for holiday feasts at Boulder’s many Michelin Guide eateries. Frasca Food and Wine is the city’s sole winner of a Michelin Star for two years running. Blackbelly Market and Bramble & Hare earned Green Stars, honoring their sustainability efforts. Basta and Ginger Pig received Bib Gourmand awards for offering affordable fine meals.

In addition, Michelin’s recommended restaurants include Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, Oak at Fourteenth, Santo, Stella’s Cucina and Zoe Ma Ma. Chef Johnny Curiel earned a Michelin Star for his Alma Fonda Fina restaurant in Denver shortly after opening Cozobi Fonda Fina in Boulder.

WHERE TO TASTE AMERICA’S BEST BREWS

There are craft breweries everywhere in Boulder County, but only two of them offer beers that won gold medals at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival. Head to

Besides offering charcuterie plates and caviar with its cocktails, Louisville’s recently opened Jasmine Bar (thejasminebar.com) offers a trio of chocolate-filled artisan truffles to pair with a flight of rare Japanese whiskeys.

Bourbon tasting at Old Elk’s Fort Collins distillery. Courtesy: The Reserve by Old Elk

Boulder Weekly Market

NIBBLES

Lafayette to sample El Poblano Borracho (chili beer) from Liquid Mechanics Brewing Company (liquid mechanicsbrewing.com) and Western Justice (wood- and barrel-aged strong stout) at Westbound & Down Brewing Co. (westboundanddown.com).

VISIT THE LEBKUCHEN SOURCE

Longmont is the under-the-radar home of a bakery known nationally for its holiday lebkuchen (pronounced leyb-kookuhn). Leckerlee, 1689 Skyway Drive, produces dense glazed gingerbread cookies made from almonds, almond paste, hazelnuts and candied citron in several varieties. The bakery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Sunday for drop-in customers. It’s worth a visit just for the spicy aromatherapy.

DINING LIKE THOR AND LOKI

It is far from Valhalla, but the Julebord Christmas Buffet is the opportunity to sample a real Scandinavian smorgasbord Dec. 14 at Viking Hall (sonsof norwaycs.com) in Colorado Springs.

FOR TRUE BLUE, RABID BOURBON HUNTERS

If bourbon is the thing that rings your guests’ jingle bells, blow them away at The Reserve at Old Elk Distillery (oldelk.com) in Old Town Fort Collins. From its flagship blended straight bourbon whiskey to its celebrated port caskfinished straight bourbon, Old Elk spirits are coveted by bourbon geeks worldwide. The tasting room offers a full food

menu and tastes of limited bottlings and only-in-Colorado spirits like Old Elk Dry Town Gin.

While you are in Fort Collins, visit nearby Ginger and Baker (gingerand baker.com), a wonderful market, pie bakery, cooking school and eatery set in a historic building.

DIVE INTO A WILLY WONKA SUGAR BINGE

Colorado’s coolest immersive food experience is dished at The Inventing Room Dessert Shop (inventing-room. com). Chef Ian Kleinman — a fan of candy and molecular gastronomy — hosts hour-long sessions featuring the making (and tasting) of six treats like edible wallpaper, liquid nitrogen sundaes and glow-in-the-dark cotton candy.

SHOW CHEESEHEADS THE WHEY TO CURDS

MouCo Cheese Company in Fort Collins has a national reputation for award-winning soft-ripened cheeses like camembert. Secretly, it has a fanatic following for fresh, squeaky Wisconsin-style cheese curds — an essential poutine ingredient. Informal group tours (up to 15 people) of the factory and retail shop can be scheduled on Tuesdays. To set up a tour, click “Contact” at mouco.com.

John Lehndorff will be serving his family’s Italian sausage and mashed potato stuffing on Thanksgiving Day. Try the recipe: bit.ly/StuffingRecipeBW.

Chef Ian Kleinman at The Inventing Room. Credit: John Lehndorff

ON DRUGS

ESCAPING OKLAHOMA

An inside account of life on an illegal cannabis farm

BY SEBASTIAN ROTELLA, PROPUBLICA

GARRETT YALCH AND CLIFTON ADCOCK, THE FRONTIER

Lin’s most vivid memory of the marijuana farm is the moment he found himself staring into the barrel of an AK-47.

He was one of several dozen Chinese immigrants who had spent months working without pay at the farm in Oklahoma. Seething with anger and frustration, he gathered his courage, confronted the manager and demanded his unpaid wages. As Lin’s wife looked on, aghast, the manager reached for an assault rifle and raised it to Lin’s face, he said.

“The gun was against my forehead,” Lin recalled in an interview. “I believe he was capable of pulling the trigger.”

The terrifying incident caused the couple to flee to New York. Three years later, Lin said he has received menacing calls from the farm’s owner and anonymous men. His former bosses blame him for inciting labor conflicts at the farm and for a drug raid that shut it down in 2022, he said.

Lin’s story is a rare firsthand account of the harsh conditions and violent atmosphere endured by Chinese workers on many marijuana farms in Oklahoma and other states. Chinese criminal groups, some with suspected ties to the Chinese state, have become

a dominant force in the illicit U.S. marijuana trade and subjected thousands of Chinese immigrant laborers to abuse and exploitation.

Lin, a youthful 44-year-old, asked to be identified by his surname for his safety. He said he decided to recount his experience to seek justice. Interviewed through an interpreter, he spoke in a soft, strained voice as he described threats, stolen wages and employees confined to the farm against their will.

Reporters corroborated many aspects of Lin’s story with law enforcement and labor officials, court files, other government documents, interviews with another former worker, Chinese-language media reports, communications records and other sources.

The owner of the now-defunct farm, Lamkam Ho, 58, pleaded guilty last year to a charge of marijuana trafficking. She and her companion, Zhixuan Hai, 48, who was the manager, are awaiting trial for allegedly robbing a business associate in Oklahoma City last year.

In addition, Ho has had contact with a suspected Chinese organized crime group involved in illicit activity in several states, according to a U.S. law enforcement offi-

cial who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of ongoing investigations.

NO SHORTAGE OF VIOLENCE

Lin is from the tough coastal province of Fujian. He says he left in 2016 because the government persecuted him for his Christian faith. He paid $50,000 to smugglers who bribed Chinese officials to issue him a passport and then sent him by plane to Tijuana, Mexico, where he climbed over the border fence into the United States and applied for political asylum.

He settled in New York. But when the pandemic disrupted the economy in 2020, he became one of many Chinese immigrants who found marijuana jobs in the West.

In September 2020, Lin and his wife got hired at a former cattle farm in Maramec, about 45 miles west of Tulsa. His skills as a plumber and electrician made him a kind of leader among the employees, he said. At first, he won the trust of Ho, the owner, and Hai, the manager, who had both recently relocated from the Los Angeles area to set up a new operation, Lin said.

Lin laid pipes and did electrical work at the Maramec farm and at others nearby owned by the couple’s associates, he said. He did errands between the couple’s farm and their house in an upscale suburb of Oklahoma City.

As one of the few employees at the remote compound who owned a vehicle, Lin took road trips to New Mexico to bring back heavy equipment, sleeping in his car rather than hotels to save money. Hai even sent him on a mission to New York to pick up a kitchen

stove — and $50,000 in cash hidden in appliance boxes, Lin said. In text messages about that October trip, Hai wrote “Thank you, brother” and told Lin “safety first,” according to a screenshot of the conversation.

But the mood at the farm darkened when planting began in dozens of greenhouses and sheds spread across 30 acres. The management hired three guards who patrolled the locked and fenced compound around the clock, Lin said. At least one of the guards has an arrest record, public records and media reports show. The armed men in civilian clothes intimidated the employees and kept them confined to the grounds unless they had permission to go out, Lin said.

“Their mere presence posed a threat,” he said. “They made the farmworkers feel threatened and afraid of the bosses. … There was no shortage of verbal violence.”

‘HE REALLY LIKED TO PULL OUT THE GUN’

A month into the job, Lin said, Hai told him the management could not pay his $4,000 monthly salary until after the harvest. Fellow employees who had moved with the bosses from a New Mexico farm to Oklahoma told Lin they were still owed many months of wages, he said.

Lin said he and his wife discussed the workers’ plight with one of the few outsiders at the farm, a local contractor who drove a bulldozer and befriended them because he was a fellow Christian.

Despite Hai’s claims of financial difficulty, he drove a Mercedes and the couple owned homes in gated communities in Oklahoma and Southern California, records show. Ho incorporated a second

marijuana-related business in Oklahoma with a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur who is a leader of diaspora organizations affiliated with the United Front, the Chinese Communist Party’s influence arm, according to business records and media reports. (The entrepreneur did not respond to requests for comment.)

By December, Lin had had enough. One day, he and his wife went to a room in the main house that Hai used as an office and sleeping quarters, he said. Lin declared that he wanted his pay. The Lins watched in disbelief as the manager pulled an AK-47 from beneath his bed and aimed it at Lin’s forehead, backing him against the wall, he said.

He said the manager told him: “After the harvest, I can give you the salary. If you continue like this, I will not be this courteous to you.”

ProPublica and The Frontier were not able to corroborate the allegation about the gun. But another former worker, who asked to be identified only by his English first name, Chris, described a similar dispute in which Hai threatened him and his friend with a gun after they demanded their first month of wages while filming him with cellphones.

“He really liked to pull out the gun and threaten people — I experienced that firsthand,” Chris, a 35-year-old from Jiangsu province, told ProPublica and The Frontier. “We quickly snuck away and called the police.”

‘WE ARE AFRAID’

After the confrontation at gunpoint, Lin said, the manager ordered him to stay in the compound. One night shortly before New Year’s Eve, there were no guards in

sight. Using a bolt cutter from the tool supplies, Lin broke through the lock on the front gate and sped off in his car with his wife and two co-workers from the same village in Fujian. They drove all the way back to New York.

On Jan. 3, 2021, Lin sent a complaint about unpaid wages by email to the Oklahoma Department of Labor. Emails show that a state official referred him to a Chinese-speaking employee of the U.S.

shut,” he said. “My wife got really scared.”

Former co-workers told Lin by phone that the employers were looking for him and had even called a farm at which he’d worked in New Mexico asking about his whereabouts, he said. The workers also told him that others had followed his lead and complained about their unpaid wages to the owners and a reporter for Chineselanguage media, he said.

The reporter relayed their accounts to

investigation and, in September 2022, agents raided the Maramec farm backed by National Guard troops and sheriff’s deputies.

Ho had hired an Oklahoma resident, a known “straw owner” used by criminals to elude laws requiring local ownership, to pose as her majority partner, court documents say. Prosecutors charged Ho with illegal cultivation and trafficking, and she was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport before she could board a flight to Hong Kong. In June of last year, Ho pleaded guilty to trafficking and received a deferred sentence to be imposed after a threeyear probation period, court documents say.

Department of Labor, but Lin said he did not hear from that agency. An official at the federal agency declined to comment.

The Lins also called their friend the bulldozer contractor and told him what had happened, Lin said. About a week after the escape, the owner of the farm called Lin’s wife, complaining angrily because the contractor had urged her to pay her workers, Lin said.

“She was telling us to keep our mouths

federal labor officials, who advised the Oklahoma Department of Labor, according to Daniel Mares, the state agency’s assistant general counsel. State labor officials interviewed employees about the wage problems and alleged threats by the owners and alerted the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics because “concerns of potential human trafficking arose,” according to department emails provided by Mares.

The state narcotics bureau opened an

A lawyer representing the couple, Tyler Box, said he and his clients had no comment about the allegations against them. Ho and Hai did not respond to requests for comment.

Lin, who has become a legal U.S. resident and embarked on a new life, says he has received several anonymous phone calls from Mandarinspeaking men warning him not to cause trouble and threatening to hurt his family. He believes his former bosses are behind the threats, though he cannot prove it. Friends have warned him to stay away from New York’s Chinatowns and other places with large Chinese populations.

“These people are still searching for me,” he said. “We are afraid.”

Kirsten Berg contributed research.