ZEKE Pusateri Celebrity Status!
Check out this month's New Culture Girls! Brooke Chantel Priscilla Lauren
SYC FUK Bucky Bakes Street, Youth, Couture
The Tattoo Issue!
Micayla Stevie
Staff & Contributors Michael Imperatore - CEO Josh MacSleyne - COO Bradi MacSleyne - Lead Stylist Welcome to New Culture Magazine! Each month we will be bringing you the best that Denver has to offer, the best women, content, fashion, and information needed to be the most sylish and contemporary man! Each month we will be including 6 of Denver's most beautiful women into the pages of New Culture Magazine for you to vote for! These girls need your help to get them to the finals, where they will compete with your help for a huge grand prize package! So, help out your favorite girls and get to.........
www.newculturemagazine.com ....to vote!
Cameron Cowan - PR Director Joe Cusack - Senior Editor
Writing Staff Tracie Khokhlov- Skakovsky Kristen Colangelo Joe Cusack Cameron Cowan Michael Beckerman Ben Simons Robert Bills
Photographic Team Sean Hartgrove Radek Hruby Michael Beckerman
CELEBRITY TATTOO & PIERCING
Bill Brown Todd Razor Arroyo
Stylists Stacey Iva Bradi MacSleyne Michael Imperatore Brittney Torrez
Hair & MU Team Tori Paplow Apodaca Camille McCool Tyler Hoff
March 2012
contents pg. 8 Zeke Pusateri Celebrity Status! by. Michael Beckerman
pg.13 Priscilla pg.17 Brooke pg.21 Chantel pg.24 Bucky Bakes Streets, Youth, Couture Syc Fuc Fashion Spread Photos. Sean Hartgrove Written By. Tracie
PG. 36 Monthly Cigar Review by: Patrick Gallagher
PG.41 Lauren PG.45 Micayla PG.49 Stevie PG.52 Rockies Pre-Season Review by: Joe Cusack
pg.64 Into the Mystic Mystic Ink by. Michael Beckerman
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New Culture's Monthly Scotch Review McClellandʼs Islay Single Malt Whisky by: Ben Simons
One of the more distinctive styles of Scotch whisky derives its name from the southernmost of the Inner Hebridean Islands known as Islay. This spirit-producing mecca is known for creating Scotch whisky that is characterized by many of the flavors and aromas that you might expect from a small island in Scotland, including peat, seaweed, and salt. There are few spirits that can convey the spirit of the location where they were produced like an Islay Scotch. Islay Scotch can be an acquired taste for some people’s palate. The influence of peat on the nose and palate in some whiskies of this style can be a bit over the top for the casual Scotch drinker, although fans of Islay Scotch cannot seem to get enough of it. The McClelland Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky serves as a good entry point into Islay Scotch. Its affordable price and relatively mild levels of peat make it accessible for newcomers to the style. McClelland is produced by its parent company Morrison Bowmore Distillers, and is one of the most affordable Islay Scotches that you can find. Aged 5 years, this Scotch is significantly younger than most that you will find on the market, which at least partially explains the price.
The whisky has a honey-like golden color in the glass that is fairly light. On the nose you will find many of the elements that typify an Islay Scotch. Smokey oak notes of charred wood and vanilla lead the way, with some medicinal character, leather and peat also coming across. The whiskey has a medium body, with a slightly oily consistency. The peat comes through a bit more on the palate than was present on the nose, along with a significant amount of smoke. Overall, the flavors of the Scotch are not overly complex, with very little fruity or sweet elements that fight their way through the peat and smoke. The smoke elements carry through into the finish, with a slight bitterness lingering on your palate. I would recommend drinking this whiskey with a splash of water or on the rocks to soften it a bit. The McClelland Islay Single Malt is definitely a value Scotch, and the youth of the whiskey is certainly evident. There are much better Islay Scotches on the market; however, the availability of this whiskey at around $22 a bottle makes it a good introduction to the style. Some drinkers do not find the peaty Scotches enjoyable, and the McClelland Islay gives enough of the peat characteristics to make for a good test of the Islay waters. Since most of us are not going to regularly spend $50 or more for a bottle of Scotch, this one makes for a decent daily drinker for Islay fans. Overall, this single malt is a great value.
When you first meet Zeke Pusateri, the owner of Celebrity Tattoo, you might be inclined to jump to conclusions and fall back on old commonly held, societal stereotypes about those among us that have tattoos: tough guys, bad boys, rough customers, people you would certainly not want to mess with or make angry. While "Chicago Zeke," as he is known, certainly has some elements of each of those things in his personality, there is a whole other side to him that is separate and distinct from all that as well. A much different side that sits just below his street hardened exterior. As the owner of Celebrity Tattoo, Zeke is the captain of his ship…and a very successful one at that. With three locations around the Denver Metro Area, Celebrity is widely considered to be one of the most admired and respected tattoo companies, not just in Colorado, but in the entire country as well. Zeke attributes his company's success and growing popularity to two core factors that speak right to the very heart of his philosophy of doing business: respect for the customer and consummate professionalism at all times. Walking into any of the three Celebrity locations, the first thing that strikes you is how neat, clean, and organized everything appears. Celebrity's locations, if it were not for all the traditional tattoo artwork displayed on many of the walls might easily be mistaken for a doctor's office or a dental clinic by the casual observer walking in off the street. The waiting area up front is neat, clean and inviting. It offers comfortable chairs and couches designed to make the rookie tattoo customer feel calm and relaxed and the veteran tattoo customer feel right at home. That waiting area also provides an open and unobstructed view to the booths and rooms where the actual tattoo and piercing work is done. Nothing is hidden from view, nothing is disguised. Everything at Celebrity is right out in the open for all to see.
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Zeke Pusateri Celebrity Status Written by: Michael Beckerman
Photography by: Sean Hartgrove
It's like this way for a good reason too: because Zeke wants it this way. Although many tattoo shops in the past have been stigmatized for years for being "churn and burn" type operations, Celebrity takes an entirely different approach. For far too long, too many tattoo shops simply cared about slapping the customer down in the chair, inking them up and getting them out the door as fast as possible, while lightening their wallet as much as possible along the way. Celebrity Tattoo's whole reason for existing as a business is to stand clearly and distinctly as a breed apart from all that. That's no accident either. It's entirely by design. Zeke Pusateri originally got into the tattoo business many years ago in Chicago not just because he loved tattoos but, also because he saw an industry that was sorely lacking in professionalism and integrity across the board. He knew he could do better. When starting off in Chicago working in a variety of different tattoo related ventures, Zeke learned the value of developing long term relationships with each and every one of his clients that walked in the door. Through contacts made during pursuit of some of his other passions along the way such as professional body building, acting, modeling and music, Zeke was able to cross paths and become friends with many nationally and internationally known celebrities and super stars. He quickly realized that not just the most famous among us enjoy and appreciate being treated like millionaire rock stars, but that everyone, right down to the common citizen walking right in off the street with just his most recent paycheck in his pocket to spend, does as well. That realization was the main motivation behind his naming his business Celebrity Tattoo. Not just anyone can work as a tattoo artist or a piercer at Celebrity though. Anyone that wishes to become part of the Celebrity team has to demonstrate to Zeke that they understand and can consistently adhere to his personal philosophy of how business should be done.
This involves first and foremost a deep understanding that tattoos are not just permanent works of art, but also permanent expressions of meaning that are very special and highly personal to those that choose to get them. This requires that every customer that walk in the door be given shown the utmost respect given careful consideration about who they really are as a person, where they presently are in their journey though life and what it is that they are either looking to memorialize through a tattoo or what they are looking to express with it. Sometimes that means helping customers to understand that what they initially might have thought they wanted when they first arrived, isn't necessarily what would really best compliment their overall body shape or physique. By taking a highly consultative approach to the process of guiding each customer to their desired end point of having a new tattoo, Zeke and the Celebrity team strive to create a bond and a relationship with each and every one of the customers that walk through their door.
The objective for the Celebrity team here is a simple one of course. Don't just sell the customer a product and send them on their way. Instead, create a lasting bond of mutual respect and trust with them that will last the rest of their days. Based on the amount of repeat business that Celebrity sees from their customers, and the large number of customer that will come in from out of town, or even from across the country, just to work specifically with Celebrity Tattoo's artists, it's safe to say that Zeke and his skilled crew have managed to accomplish this goal in a very big way. The goal at Celebrity, from the very top of the organization all the way down is very clear: it's not about the money. It's about creating customers for life. With families commonly coming in together to get tattoos where two, three or even four generations of family members are represented, it's very clear to see that this goal is being achieved and things are being done exactly the way Zeke wants them done at Celebrity. But nobody's perfect, right? People make mistakes all the time. Sometimes that "his and hers" matching tattoo that a loving couple came in to get together last year, all of a sudden doesn't look like such a great idea now that trouble in paradise has lead to a nasty break up. This can be an especially big problem if the tattooing of a significant other's name was involved. As is often the case, this permanent record of one's affection for another will certainly remain long after the flames of love have been extinguished and the once inseparable couple has broken up and gone their separate ways. When something unfortunately like this occurs, Celebrity seeks to be there for their customer, both in good times and in bad. Solutions to these types of problems often involve modification of an existing tattoo to change the meaning or the message of it for the customer..
Sometimes this may even involve covering up certain portions of a tattoo entirely with a new one to bring a completely different meaning to the message that is being conveyed by the art. Other times, it's not the meaning of the tattoo that's the problem. It's the skill level of the person that created it that leaves something to be desired. One important thing that Celebrity tries to convey to each of their customers early on in the process, before any tattoo is ever applied, is that not all tattoo artists are necessarily created equal. Some have more advanced artistic skills in certain areas than others. Just because an artist might be very skilled at creating a tattoo of a rose or your favorite tribal design, does not always mean that artist is going to be as skilled at recreating a photo-realistic image of a lost love (person or pet alike). Different artists have different skill sets and competencies in different artistic areas. .
Celebrity understands that and seeks to always match up the right customer with the right artist before any ink is ever applied to skin. This is another reason why their consultative approach to working with each and every customer to truly understand their needs is critically important to their overall success as a business The other main component of Celebrity's business model is piercings. Although not anywhere near as permanent as tattoos, piercings are still every bit as important and personal to the customers that purchase them. Just like with tattooing, Zeke and his Celebrity staff go to great lengths with each customer to make sure that they choose the best possible piercing for them, one that will best compliment their type of body structure. The goal is to send customers home with something that truly makes them happy, allowing them to express their personal style in the best way possible. With all the fame, success and acclaim that Celebrity has garnered over the last several years, one would be tempted to wonder if success has gone to their heads. As for Zeke, the answer is certainly no. He remains every bit as humble and as unassuming today as when he first started off in the business. As Zeke will be happy to tell anyone that asks, his hard work and dedication to his company is not at all about making Zeke Pusateri famous or admired. It is instead about doing everything he possibly can, at every possible level, to make every single customer that walks in his door feel like they are famous and admired when they leave. Although we have seen an absolute explosion of reality TV shows over the past few years that showcase various tattoo shops around the country for all the world to see,
Zeke sees these shows today largely in the same light that he saw the tattoo industry as a whole when he first got into the business in Chicago: it’s in need of serious help. Although he appreciates them, their incredible popularity does help to raise awareness of the tattoo industry in general. His main concern, however, is that although they claim to be "reality shows," the image that they are presenting to the world of the industry he cares so much about all too often has nothing to actually do with realty. Worse yet, it may even be doing more harm to the industry than good. Might we see Zeke and the Celebrity Tattoo crew jump into this reality TV arena in the near future to try and bring some much needed sanity and professionalism to that industry as well? Although Zeke won't reveal any specific details about pending projects of this sort that might be in the works, he does admit that he has been approached
by
several
prominent
production
companies about the possibility of working together on such a project. So, will it happen? Stay tuned to find out, because if it's one thing that we all know for sure, it's that absolutely anything can happen, at any time‌when you're a Celebrity.
Priscilla Cover Photography: Sean Hartgrove Clothes: Rack & Roll Clothing New Culture Boutique
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Brooke Oliver Photography: Sean Hartgrove Hair: Camille McCool MU: Tori Paplow Apodaca Bronze & Beautiful
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S I A R A G R A Y
Bucky Bakes Syc Fuk Couture Theories of the Streets, Youth and Couture Written by: Tracie Khokhlov Sarkovsky Photography by: Sean Hartgrove
P O I S O N
Colorado natives will be proud to hear that Bucky Bakes, the owner and designer of SYC FUK Clothing, originated from Loveland, CO. As a young boy, Bucky always had an eye for edgy street wear or what he likes to call 'antifashion'. He listened to Old School, Black Flag, TSOL, and the Circle Jerks, which lead to some of his inspiration. He would rip, tear, and paint his clothing, whatever inspired him. He considered himself 'from a different planet' so he picked up and moved to Denver. With help from his friends they started the clothing company called Fumes. They were doing trade shows and received more and more recognition from New York City.
C H A N T E L
Because of his recognition, he needed to move to New York to broaden his work. He had an outstanding order from Neiman Marcus, but unfortunately his friends were not as serious as he was, so he left for New York alone. Without any help, Bucky fell into depression and was diverted from his work by indulging in the party scene and eventually Fumes fell apart. He states, “That time was a blur,� and now that he looks back, he is sure his friends as well as himself regret overlooking the amazing opportunity to work in New York.
AUDREY
A L E X I S
Determined to make something of him, Bakes moved to Los Angeles in 1993 and started a band called Syc Bois. He had fun with the band but knew this was not his calling, his passion was fashion design. Although no longer in the band, he loved his fashion design so much he devoted his life to his new self-owned, self-profited clothing company, SYC FUK Clothing. What makes his line so special is that each piece is custom made for his customers and the only way to purchase an item is through his show room in Los Angeles, California, or through his website. This is probably what attracted Holly Madison, star of Peepshow in Las Vegas, Nevada, to his line. She loved his line so much that Bakes and Madison decided to collaborate in 2008. They called the line SYC LUV. She now has a store in Las Vegas, Peep store, where she sells their line.
H a n n a h
L E A
Bucky has seen great success from his dedication. In 2011, he got the opportunity to do a fashion show in Roppongi, Japan hosted by FOX TV. He even once was invited to have his booth at the Miss Universe Pageant Show where he got to meet Donald Trump. Bakes says of his experiences, “I am so blessed to be in this position, it is tough to stay motivated but I like working for myself.� He felt he needed to give back what he was given so when he has the time he actively involves himself in volunteer work. Giving food to the homeless where he feeds about 100-200 patrons at Skid Row is just one example of the good deeds he has returned to the community.
He also involves himself in charity fashion shows in order to raise money for clothes and food to give. Bucky stands for a positive attitude, helping people out and steering them in the right direction, and enjoys being a mentor and pushes people to think for themselves with a 'Punk Rock attitude'. When asked what his biggest accomplishment was he said, “I have not and still do not have financial support from investors but hope someday that will happen.� This just shows anyone trying to achieve their dreams can make it happen even when no one else is a supporter.
2012 is the year of the Dragon and Bucky is determined to stay strong. One of his goals is to someday make a special piece for Johnny Depp, and possibly collaborate with someone in the rock-n-roll world for a new clothing line. Another of his goals put into progress, he wants to expand from custom products to a broader crowd by having more designs to attract different crowds of men and women. Hopefully he can start getting his products in stores. “LA is tough and VERY competitive; it is easy to get distracted with great weather and music, so this year will be focus and preservation.�
His last piece of advice was directed to the youth of America. “Whether stoner or jock, listen to your elder. They have wisdom, knowledge, and experience. The best thing you can do for yourself is to gain as much knowledge from school and others because one day it will come into play in life. Choose the right path, and if you have taken the wrong path simply learn from your mistakes and move on.�
Bucky Bakes serves as an amazing inspiration to the youth as well as aspiring fashion business owners. “Its long hours and no money is made overnight. Don't butcher others’ work, stay focused, feel, design, and create.” What better inspiration than a hard working man from our very own state of Colorado?
www.marlaesk.com
Here is to firsts. We all had our firsts- our first love, first kiss, first drink, and first smoke. This is also my first, my first opportunity to share with you a love and passion for the finer things in life. Being a Colorado native, I am honored to have the opportunity and privilege to contribute to this Colorado publication. Colorado is an amazing place, especially Denver. It’s a big city with a small town feel. This is home! Another amazing thing about Colorado is the weather. It’s Saturday in the middle of winter and its damn 70 degrees. This is perfect cigar weather. I sit with my Liga Privada Feral Flying Pig by Drew Estate; I ponder how I am going to construct this piece. As I said before, this is my first so I’m just going to go for it.
Top: Tegan Peabody Bottom: Brooke Oliver
Photography: Todd Razor Arroyo Hair & MU: Camille McCool
Without further ado I want to share with you my passion and love, cigars.
This particular Cigar is the “go big or go home” type, definitely not for rookies. Today I’m enjoying a beautiful double figurado from the Drew Estate Factory, the Feral Flying Pig. This cigar was artfully crafted in Esteli Nicaragua, and will put a Cuban to shame. This is par of the Unico series, which means that there are only three expert rollers who are the only ones allowed to roll these cigars,
New Culture Magazine's Monthly Cigar Review Written by: Patrick Gallagher
Brought to you by: Smoker Friendly .
The Pig is beautifully constructed from Habano sun grown tobacco. The four to one Nicaraguan to Hondoran filter is bound by a tasty Brazilian Mata Fina leaf. The cigar is finished by a deep chocolate brown Connecticut Broadleaf viso wrapper. As I pull the cigar from the box, a sweet syrupy spice aroma teases my nose; it almost reminds me of a delicious piece of teriyaki jerky. This cigar has a beautiful oily sheen and a toothy wrapper: my mouth begins to water. The initial pre-light taste is sweet and spicy. This 5 3/8 x 60 cigar is finished with a “pigtail” cap, and gets the name “Flying Pig” from the old Cuban style cigars of days gone by. I can tell this cigar is well constructed by its firmness and density as I clip the cap. A cigar this size is going to require about an hour or two from my day. No problem!! As I toast the foot of the Pig, the smell of sweet meats, peppery spices, and earthy notes, waft in the air. I give the Pig a few puffs and we are off. The initial bite of the ligero leaf and Mata Fina wrapper makes my tongue tingle and my mouth water. This bad boy has some kick to it. I watch the smoke gently rise sun hits my face, life is good!! I continue to smoke the cigar, taking my time, pondering the content of this written piece. The cigar is really going now. I’m not even drawing on it and this thing is smoking like a chimney. The smoke smells even sweeter as it progresses. And the burn, it is tight, sharp, and even. A firm white ash begins to develop, revealing to me that the terrior from which these tobaccos were grown is full of nutrients. I work my way through the first 1/3 of the cigar to the second third. It is revealing notes of sweet chocolate, smoked meats, and nuances of black pepper, leather and coffee. The strength of the cigar begins to develop a bit more as I get a nice little nicotine buzz.
The complexity and flavor of the cigar continue to develop as I puff the worries of writing this piece away. The Feral Flying Pig is producing a hearty chewing smoke that tickles my pallet. Even though I am smoking mid day, it would also be a great after dinner smoke. The size and strength, in addition to flavor profile, suggests a “wind down” smoke. I imagine a hearty dinner-maybe elk and venison red chili, or a slow smoked beef brisket with a dry rub, a pint of porter or glass of tempranillo, or cabernet sauvignon. I close my eyes and let the smoke pour out of my mouth. What should I write, I wonder. Let me say this real quick, if you are the novice smoker, I recommend you smoke this stick on a full stomach sitting down, but take your time and work your way to the heavy hitters. As I near the final end of the cigar, I notice it loosened up a bit. This is also a tell- tale sign of well constructed cigar. I said loosened, not unraveled. The smoke is still dense and chewy; you could almost cut it with a knife. Sweet smoky molasses, spicy nuts and subtle creaminess are revealed to my pallet. I do not put this cigar down. The burn still remains tight and there was no need for corrective torching. I think I’m going to burn my fingers as I try to gather every last bit of smoke out this masterpiece. The Feral Flying Pig was a magnificent treat. It is often said that smoking is an experience. This experience was the best way I could think of to kill a couple hours on a Saturday afternoon. A very well constructed, full strength, full flavored cigar was my mistress for an afternoon delight. I hope you can experience this as well. Stay lit Colorado!!
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2008 L’Ecole No. 41 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Merlot
New Culture's Monthly Wine Review
by: Ben Simons
If any grape variety has gotten a bad rap over the last ten years, it is Merlot. Sales of Merlot suffered significantly in the wake of Paul Giamatti’s irate rant about the variety in the 2004 wine country road movie Sideways. The market seems to have finally started evening out when it comes to Merlot, and the many great examples of the variety are once again garnering the respect that they deserve. This resurrection is great news to the wineries of Washington State, which produce some of the country’s best Merlot wines. One of Washington’s most respected and historic wineries is L’Ecole No. 41, a Walla Walla winery that makes its home in an old schoolhouse that was originally constructed in 1915. Over the last several years, Walla Walla has become one of the most well-known wine regions in Washington, producing many of the top wines that the state has to offer. The winery has been producing wine since 1983 and has become a fixture of the Washington wine scene, having consistently produced wines that receive rave reviews from customers and critics alike. Their production is relatively large for a family owned Washington winery, with around 30,000 cases of wine being released every year. They are also one of only a handful of Washington wineries with any significant amount of distribution across the United States. Along with two other partners, they grow fruit on their estate, Seven Hills Vineyard.
The 2008 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Merlot is a great example of the quality that can be found in Washington Merlot. The wine is made up of 80% Merlot, and includes 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. The grapes are hand harvested, fermented in stainless steel, and the wine spends 18 months in French Oak Barrels. The alcohol comes in at 14.5%. The nose on this young Merlot is alive with aromas of cedar, vanilla and dark fruit after it has spent some time opening up. The palate gives off generous and luxurious dark fruit, headlined by blackberries and blueberries, along with chocolate and some minerality that is characteristic of the vineyard site. The velvety mouthfeel of the wine is combined with a substantial amount of tannins, especially for a Merlot. The tannic structure of this wine suggests that it has a long life ahead of it, and would probably be best if cellared for at least two or three years prior to consuming. If you are going to drink it right away, I would recommend that you decant the wine for a couple of hours prior to pouring. This elegant Merlot can be purchased directly from the winery for $36 a bottle, but can sometimes be found for closer to $30 a bottle. For its mid-range price, the L’Ecole No. 41 Seven Hills Merlot represents a great value and is comparable to some more expensive Merlots that you can find from Washington or California.
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Rockies Pre-season 2012 It is going to be a very interesting year for the Rockies. They had such mile-high expectations last season and flopped, traded away their star pitcher in Ubaldo Jimenez, and left their fans scratching their heads. They have their work cut out for them, as the Rockies built up what is most likely to be the most aged team of veterans in all of baseball. This has its pros and cons. To begin with, 3B Ian Stewart went to the Cubbies, and was replaced by 38 year old Casey Blake, who spent most of last season injured, having played only 63 games with the Dodgers. However, he is a reliable veteran with no major history of being injury prone, yet his health is something to watch for. A great defensive 3B with good pop in his bat, manager Jim Tracy will be keeping his fingers crossed that Blake can stay healthy. DJ LeMahieu, with only 60 career at-bats in 37 games in the majors, will be the primary back-up.
At the other corner infield spot, 1B Todd Helton is no youthful sprite either. Still, he last year found his mojo, and produced 69 RBIs, and a .302 batting average that fans are used to seeing. While he may never hit 49 home runs like he did back in 2001, so long as the vet stays healthy, he should at least carry his weight at the plate, hitting for average while playing top-notch defense. Jason Giambi, who last year had 13 home runs in 131 at-bats, and has a career .404 OBP, will fill in as the primary back-up at 1B for when Helton needs days off. Troy Tulowitzki, the star SS who led the team last year in BA, HRs, and RBIs (.302, 30, 105), will be expected to at least have similar numbers this coming season. In fact, so long as the rest of the team can at least get on base, then the perennial all-star should be able to improve on the RBIs. To round out the middle infield, veteran Marco Scutaro will be at 2B. The 35 year-old came off his best season of his career with the Red Sox last year, with a .299 BA, .358 OBP, and struck out only 36 times in 395 at-bats. What is more significant is that he is returning to play 2B, a position he is most comfortable with. Last year in Boston, he had 12 errors in 109 games at SS, but those errors will drastically reduce with him playing his most natural position. Despite what others might think, Scutaro was a great pick-up for the Rockies, but I would not expect him to play 2B every day. He has a decent chance of injuring himself at his age, and will also need days to rest himself, so Jonathan Herrera, a solid defender will be needed to step-up and produce at the plate. Like last season, primary center fielding will go to Dexter Fowler. A lot of expectations are coming out of this guy, who had a .363 OBP last year, crossed the plate 84 times, and stole 12 bases. The biggest surprise of him last season were his 15 triples and 35 doubles, but the downside to his season was his .266 BA, the fact that he struck out a whopping 130 times, and was caught stealing 9 times. Hopefully he will develop more patience at the plate. Backing Fowler up will be Eric Young, who will most likely be filling in at a number of positions throughout the year.
At left field is Carlos Gonzalez (CarGo), who even though technically had an off season last year in comparison to the 2010 season, he still came up with a .295 BA, 26 HRs, 92, RBIs, 92 RS, and 20 SBs. Management is expecting a return to his 2010 stats, which can only spell success for the organization. Eric Young and Tyler Colvin will be filling in when CarGo is not playing. With Seth Smith traded, a player who was 2nd on the team in BA and HRs last season, Michael Cuddyer was signed from free agency to fill the void at right field. He is the kind of guy every team wants. He can play almost any position and is a consistent producer and great all-round athlete. Do not underrate this guy’s ability nor this team’s acquisition of him, because Cuddyer is the kind of support the Rockies really need right now. Tyler Colvin will be providing the backup help at RF. Overall, the Rockies line-up is promising despite its aging players. They should have an exceptionally above-average defense this season, so expect really great fielding. In addition, the hitting should be better than last year, especially at home, and more hopefully on the road, where they need it most. The pitching staff is a whole other concept up in the air. One of the major issues for the Rockies throughout the years, as is with any other team, is pitching, but if they want to compete in the West, especially against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the pitching needs to uphold for 162 games. Ubaldo Jimenez was traded away, as expected. It’s been proven time and time again that you do not have to go deep into your pockets to get good pitching, and the Rockies want to stick with that philosophy. They are not a big market team: their payroll is only between 80-90$ million, and spending big money for a pitcher or two can be costly in the long run (just look at former Cy Young winner Barry Zito). Not that the Rockies are not without their paid SPs - Jorge De La Rosa, who would otherwise be their number one starter had he not undergone Tommy John surgery last season, is expected to earn $10 million this year, despite the fact that he will not return until May or June. De La Rosa is very up or down. Every time he takes the mound, you never know who you’re going to get. He is a high strikeout pitcher, but if he does not keep his WHIP down (walks and hits per innings pitched), then he is bound to end up with a high ERA. Before his injury last season, he posted a 3.51 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 59 innings pitched with 52 strikeouts, as batters hit just .222 against him. The Rockies want to win their division, they are going to need the same kind of numbers out of him when he returns.
Still, there is optimism. The projected #1 starter for opening day will be Jhoulys Chacin, who had a great season in 2011. In 342.1 career major league innings pitched, he has a 3.52 ERA and 301 strikeouts. Last year he finished with the team’s lowest ERA (for SPs) and the most wins and strikeouts. He might give up a lot of hits and walks, but has proven that he can get himself out of jams. Perhaps he likes the pressure? Destined for the number 2 or 3 SP slot is Juan Nicasio, who was a rookie last year, pitching in just 13 starts, yet finishing with a respectable 4.14 ERA and notching 4 wins through 71 innings. He will be expected to be a work horse this season, but has a young arm. The true workhorse of the rotation will be the new acquisition, Jeremy Guthrie, recently traded for from the Orioles. He finished last season with an abysmal 9-17 record, and a 4.33 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. Even though the Orioles proved their offense last season, Guthrie still lacked in run support. If the Rockies offense can be better than last year, Guthrie could finish with more than 9 wins. Think of him as the next Aaron Cook, and expect him to have a better season than last, since he should be relieved to finally be out of Baltimore after 5 seasons. The last 2 slots of the starting rotation are up in the air. The two pitchers the Rockies traded Jimenez for, Alex White and Drew Pomeranz, are favored by some to at least fill one of those slots, but neither one has proven themselves yet. Esmil Rogers will be in the mix for sure, so will rookie Christian Friedrich. Newly acquired Tyler Chatwood is certainly a contender for either spot. His rookie season was in 2011, but in 25 starts, he only racked up 142 innings pitched, with a 4.75 ERA and a whopping 1.67 WHIP.
Even 48 year-old Jamie Moyer is battling for an SP spot, but the more likely candidates to win are Guillermo Moscoso and Josh Outman. Moscoso finished last season with a 3.38 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through 128 innings with Oakland. The kid’s got some stuff: not a huge strikeout pitcher, but he was successful, and should be a favorite coming out of spring training. Josh Outman is another possibility who should end up taking the 5th spot. Even though he started only 9 games last year, also for Oakland, he still finished with a 3.70 ERA. His problem was his mechanics, but the lefty has the potential to give quality starts on a consistent basis. Last year’s set-up man will be this year’s closer: Raphael Betancourt, who had a 2.89 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP last season. He has 45 holds over the past 2 seasons, and proved himself to be good enough to be a primary 9th inning closer. This means that Matt Belisle, who won 10 games last year as a reliever, will be the team’s set-up man. The Rockies can be bound for success, but they have a stiff competition, especially with Arizona. It is a tough road ahead, but they can pull it off if they stay consistent. This is a new-look Rockies, and they have the ability to once again be that Cinderella team, magically bringing October baseball back to Coors Field.
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Going to a spring wedding? Brighten up your look with these ties that are not only eco‐friendly, but hand sewn in New York. They are made from all‐ natural silk or wool dyed with azo‐free dyes and available in traditional tip‐ point, round‐bottom, or bow tie. Just make sure you don’t outshine your date!
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Nixon, known for thinking outside the box and giving you exactly what you want, even before you knew what you wanted. Their Time Teller P Watches not only tells time, but are quite the conversation starter. Available in 30 different color ways, from matte black to bright blue to Rasta colors, there is something for everyone.
Last but not least, don’t forget about your underwear. There is no reason why you can’t have a little brightness and fun underneath it all!
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Spicing It Up! Monthly Tips on Keeping Things Hot & Interesting in the Bedroom and Out! by: Kristen Colangelo
Remember when wearing leather pants, leopard print and getting a tattoo with your mom's name in it was edgy? Remember when no one expressed their true sexual desires and the acts of spanking and role playing in the bedroom were thought of as "kinky" or "alternative" sex? Well, those days have changed. Finding someone in today's modern society without a small fetish, some leopard print in their closet, or a tattoo is rare. Self expression and being edgy have taken on a totally new meaning. Let's face it: most men and women who are sexually active have practiced these behaviors once labeled as edgy or hardcore. These once-alternative sex acts are now being performed in suburban bedrooms, after dinner when the kids are asleep. With that said, let's not pull out the gag balls just yet. Since these sexual techniques have gone mainstream and have been spotted in everyday media, some men may think it's okay to jump the gun and leave vanilla sex in the past.
But listen guys: just because Rihanna proclaims her desire for whips and chains does not mean you should start flogging your girl tonight. And just because Xtina appeared in a music video with a mask and a gag ball strapped on her face also does not mean you should run to the nearest fantasy and fetish store and pick one up for Valentine's Day. Even one of America's favorite shows, "Glee," released a fetish hit called "Fat Bottom Girls," giving chubby chasers of the world an outlet to mainstream desire and justification for their fetish. However, men should not just throw the fun kinky stuff out the window: you just might have to calm down and wait for the right time to bring out the handcuffs and hair pulling, because the most common mistake, with this approach, is assumption. Just because you once met a girl in Vegas who liked to bite and asked you to choke her during her orgasm doesn't mean the girl with the "tramp stamp" and gaged ears who works at Hot Topic wants to enter the dungeon with you tonight.
First things first: most women are not unfamiliar with fetishes, S&M, and role play. That doesn't mean we have participated in it, but any girl who has not been living under a rock or in Salt Lake City has seen Samantha from "Sex and the City" partake in some rough match bang fests including swings, nipple clamps, and recreational Viagra. We all have fantasies (most of us have small fetishes). We are just like you except, we probably look better in leather head gear â&#x20AC;&#x201D; think Halle Berry in the Catwoman suit. Don't assume women are oblivious to the BDSM movement or swinging because our fantasies don't include Fabio or riding on a rainbow together anymore. Now that we know looks are not a window into her deep desires, and just because you call yourself a butterfly chaser hoping for an easy in, doesn't mean girls with "tramp stamps" are easy or edgy. Since we are not assuming any more, the next step is moving in. Sharing your fetishes and alternative sexual desires with a woman can be tricky â&#x20AC;&#x201D; only because you may not know her true reaction right away.
So slowly moving away from vanilla sex (if people still participate in that) into a little bondage or role playing is key. Try suggesting a little rough play, like picking her up or taking her into the kitchen. Try something subtle like grabbing a scarf or a tie and binding her hands together. Just please don't come right out and tell her you have a "True Blood" obsession and would like to break the skin on her neck and draw blood. That would be considered line crossing. The key is not to scare her or look awkward. After she lets you blindfold her, don't sneak over and force a gag into her mouth or take a hit with a whip. Don't dress up in a furry mascot outfit until she is ready to participate in dressing up.
Let her know what you want to do and don't forget to tell her you think she would look sexy doing it. Make it about her instead of focusing on your fantasy. No girl wants to know you have sucked every girl's toes. She wants to feel like you enjoy every inch of her body, including her toes, and that's why you want to taste them. Say something like, "I bet you would look good in a sex swing with your legs tied open. Want to try it?" or "I want to make you cum until it hurts," before introducing your electro shocking fetish. Small techniques are easy to introduce as long as you make sure you don't seem selfish or strange. Include her in the fantasy and make sure she knows this will benefit her just as much as yourself because her pleasure is more important to you than your own (which is bullshit)
Keep in mind it is perfectly fine to keep things "normal" or vanilla. Just like finding a girl without a tattoo is becoming close to impossible, soon vanilla sex will be unique because no one remembers what it is, and if you definitely do not want any part of alternative sex, that's fine, but don't say I did not warn you when she takes initiative while waiting for your prude ass. Now, you find yourself stuck in a dungeon with a collar around your neck being forced to drink from a dog bowl while you wonder why the librarian you met without any tattoos, piercings, or leopard print shoes is now in a full latex suit telling you to refer to her as Mistress Scarlet.
I Hope You Know What You Are Wearing! by:Robert Bills I want to talk about a problem I’m witnessing in my day to day life. I call it a problem but I think it could be classified as an epidemic or pandemic of sorts. It inflicts thousands of men each day; it is silent, has no specific cause, and can have lasting effects that can leave a man a shell of a human being with no chance of recovery. I am of course talking about the problem of irresponsible, irrational and just plain wrong fashion choices. What is wrong with you guys? To answer this question and not go on ad nauseam about the hundreds of bad decisions you may see in a given hour walking down the street; I’ll just compose a top ten of infractions I believe are worth speaking out about. 10 through 6 this month, the top 5 next. #10. This one is simple, but I see it done so often that I believe there may be some misinformation being bantered about. A tag is for advertising a product, once you buy the product a tag is no longer a needed or valued part of said product. Take off the tags! The obvious ones are the hats with tags on them but this is crossing over to high fashion as well. When you buy a sport coat, an overcoat or jacket and there is a tag sewn on the end of the cuff with four little strands of thread holding the whole thing together: it is meant to be removed. Please stop thinking it’s a badge of honor to let everyone know you have a brand new Calvin Klein overcoat. I promise you, Calvin did not build this into the design of the jacket. #9. This slot is reserved for those people who for the most part like to believe they don’t live in a cold state. I see it every weekend downtown: walking around, shivering, and complaining to everyone that you don’t want the responsibility of lugging a jacket around all night. Then in the next breath complaining how cold it is outside, looking for any escape from the chill that obviously could be avoided with a jacket. Just a hint to both sexes, you look foolish and a little cheap when you don’t have a jacket in your wardrobe to fit the occasion that brought you out in the cold in the first place. The finishing touches in an outfit, especially the ones that are functional (you know for warmth) can set you apart and make your look complete. #8. Unfortunately, technology has made it difficult at times to stay looking your best. Whether it’s the bulky smart phone or the Bluetooth earpiece glowing in your ear, you have a choice. You do not have to strap your phone to your belt, they are not that big, and you can find a pant pocket or inside chest pocket to store it in. You look like an urban commando ready for an assault on style.
And don’t even get me going about the Bluetooth earpiece, this is a valuable and indispensible piece of hardware for answering a call when you are driving. That’s about it. If you’re enjoying a nice dinner with your significant other and you have it sitting there in your ear, blinking in my face and you’re not on a call, then you are misinformed about your importance. #7. This isn’t a farfetched one, but it happens far too much. Black shoes....black belt, Brown shoes...brown belt. It’s not a multiple choice thing, it is about as basic in style matching as it gets. If you don’t own a brown belt, don’t wear brown shoes. It can be carried over to clothing as well, black pants; don’t you dare put brown shoes under those. If you’re unsure, ask somebody, just don’t leave the house looking like that anymore
#6. Flipflopsaregreatforhotsummerdays,hangingatthe beachorthepool. Youmayevenbeokrunningafewerrands intheflops. Otherwise,theyshouldnotbewornunderjeansor outtodinnerordrinkswithfriends. 99.1%ofthemenIknow donothaveregularpedicures,hellmostofthemdon’tlookat theirtoestoooftenperiod. Whywouldyousubjectan unsuspectingpublictothosenastythingsespeciallyatameal thatdoesn’tincludesandandbuildingafire? Pleasestopit; thereareplentyofstylish,closetoedsandalsthatwillgiveyou theopenairfeelwithoutshowingoffthosebarkingdogs. Oh andonasidenote,whitesockswithsandalsisworsethanflip flops. Hope you learned from 10 through 6. We’re not talking rocket science, but you may wonder why your buddy keeps getting the dates and you don’t. If you did not know these were common errors in judgment and you were one of the offenders then please tune in to next month when we tackle the top 5 fashion no-no’s!
Into the Mystic! The Mystic Ink Family Written and photographed by: Michael Beckerman
Although Willy Smith, the founder and owner of Mystic Ink Tattoo in Denver, always loved tattoos from a very young age, and even self-applied his first one at the ripe old age of 11, he did not originally set out to be a tattoo artist at all. He wanted to be an animator in the film and TV industry. Fate however, had another path for him in mind. It didn't take long for him to realize that sitting in a classroom at the Rocky Mountain School of Art while his professors droned on incessantly about mindlessly boring things that he knew would never help him expand and grow as an artist, was not the kind of thing that was ever going to take him where he wanted to go. Then one day he happened to run into two accomplished, local tattoo artists that were working on doing a large tattoo on a customer's back. Shortly after witnessing this work in person, Willy Smith knew what it was that he wanted his life's work focused on: becoming the best tattoo artist he could possibly be. For Willy, the appeal of becoming a tattoo artist was not just about creating beautiful art. That by itself alone would not have been enough for him. It was also about being in an industry that allowed him to constantly develop and grow his skill set as an artist,
and push his limits on the kinds of things that he was able to design and create. Being able to be part of an industry that was filled with so many incredibly talented and artistic people constantly creating new and different things, meant that for him that the journey really was the destination. Mystic Ink Tattoo was founded back in 2006 with one simple goal in mind: providing customers with the absolute best possible tattoo experience. Willy strives to staff his business with the most talented team of artists available who not only have exceptional artistic and design ability, but also ones that understand that it takes equal amounts of professionalism and integrity to really make a shop successful. Willy is always looking to work with the best and brightest new artists available. Those who make the best fit with Willy's team are people with open minds and fresh ideas about who they are today, what they can become tomorrow, and where they can go in the future. This means working with people that are not only honest about and in touch with their strengths as artists and business people, but also their weaknesses.
Being able to consistently match a customer up with the best possible artist for the type of work they are looking to have done, means hiring people that are just as comfortable with espousing their strengths as an artist as they are with acknowledging their shortcomings and limitations. Part of what has made Mystic Ink so successful is Willy's innate ability to consistently match the customer up with the best possible artist on his team with the work that they are looking to have done. Being the best possible tattoo shop involves extensive travel every couple of months to participate in various tattoo industry conventions, seminars, and competitions. This is a key factor in the formula for success at Mystic Ink because the industry is constantly evolving and being pushed forward into new and different directions by those that are the very best in the world. Willy is a firm believer in the idea that in order to learn and be inspired by the best you have to spend time meeting with them, talk with them, get to know them and share experiences in person. This is not something that can be done by just reading a magazine or checking out a web page.
Clearly this philosophy has paid dividends for Willy and the Mystic Ink team, as they have developed a fiercely loyal customer base over their last seven years in business. So much so that they no longer even refer to their many dedicated patrons as customers or clients. Instead, they think of them as members of their extended tattoo family. As we all know about family ties, just like with the application of lines of tattoo ink on skin, once created, they run very strong and very deep. This approach to business is something that will surely bode well for Willy Smith and the Mystic Ink team of exceptionally talented tattoo artists for many years to come.
Love On the Rocks!
by: Tracie Khokhlov Skakovsky
If you happened to catch my column last month then you already have an idea of what women do not look for in a man. After getting your date, you need to know essential tips for actually keeping it. There are countless things that can go wrong while going out, but here are some general tips every man should abide by: 1. Keep up grooming habits! Make sure to take care of personnel hygiene. Please. There is no polite way to tell someone they reek. Shower before the date, deodorize, use cologne, and don't forget to use mouthwash. Check your hair, is it time for a trim? We will certainly notice if you need one. That includes facial hair as well, is it overgrown? Five o'clock shadows can be sexy as long as they are well kept and under control. 2. Dress appropriately. Once you decide where to take your date, dress to the occasion. You would not wear a tux to the football game, so don't wear sweats to dinneror a t-shirt. Make sure your shoes are appropriate as well. Women tend to look at shoes to see how much you are willing to spend on quality products.
Don't wear sneakers with your nice jeans and button up. Always let your date know what the dress attire requirements are for where you are going. If you take her to a five-star restaurant I can guarantee she will be utterly mortified showing up in dressy casual clothes. 3. Common courtesy and manners are a MUST. If you want to swoon her, do simple things like opening doors (especially the car door), pull out her chair and help her take off and put on her jacket. You don't have to do anything extravagant, anyone and everyone appreciates common courtesy so be mindful. If you have a potty mouth, lose it quick! We don't want to be embarrassed when families sitting close by at dinner darts a nasty look at us.
4. Be goal oriented. Even if you don't have a career in line, it is nice to see a man with ambition. Let us know what your plans and dreams are. If you do have a career, tell us what your short term goals may be, like traveling, starting on a new project at home, etc. There is no excuse for not having ANY goals, this is just plain laziness. 5. Don't be a chatter box; we will either think you are nervous or egotistical. Either one is not a good look. It is fine to talk yourself up but don't do it so often that we cannot get a word in. We understand how impressive you are otherwise we would not have accepted the date, but let us ask questions too, so it is not a one sided conversation. Oh and sometimes we like to try and impress you too, so give us a chance to do it.
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