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P e r f o r m a n c e | T e c h n o l o g y | I n n o va t i o n
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10 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 11
12 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
ISSUE 1 // VOLUME 4 // 1.2019
FEATURES
S P EC I A L RE P O RT
74 Forgive and Forget?
More and more Americans can obtain cannabis legally. What happens to those incarcerated or with criminal records for possessing something that is lawful today?
82 Digital Gypsy
Setting yourself up for the freedom of life on the road is a journey in itself.
90 New Year, New You
9 ways to love yourself in 2019, AKA Things I Learned in Magazines.
GOOD ENOUGH, SMART ENOUGH People Love You
90
THE SUPER BOWL OF STOCK SHOWS Returns to National Western Complex for its 113th year.
every issue 15 Editor’s Note 18 The Buzz 24 NewsFeed
FIVE YEARS LATER
32 TasteBuds
HAVING SOME BALLS
40 AroundTown
WESTERN ROOTS
48 LifeStyle
THRIFTING YOUR STUFF
56 TravelWell
SLOPE-SIDE HAPPENINGS
64 HighProfile
COLD CARVINGS
122 The Scene
SENSI LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
128 HereWeGo
JUST GO, MAN!
Sensi magazine is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2019 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 13
sensi magazine ISSUE 1 / VOLUME 4 / 1.2019
EXECUTIVE FOLLOW US
Ron Kolb ron@sensimag.com CEO, SENSI MEDIA GROUP
Tae Darnell tae@sensimag.com PRESIDENT, SENSI MEDIA GROUP
Alex Martinez alex@sensimag.com CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
EDITORIAL sensimediagroup
Stephanie Wilson stephanie@sensimag.com EDITOR IN CHIEF
Leland Rucker leland.rucker@sensimag.com SENIOR EDITOR
John Lehndorff edible.critic@sensimag.com DINING EDITOR
Robyn Griggs Lawrence CONTRIBUTING EDITOR sensimagazine
Ricardo Baca Dr. Angie McCartney askangie@sensimag.com COLUMNISTS
A RT & D E S I G N Jamie Ezra Mark jamie@akersmediagroup.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Rheya Tanner, Wendy Mak Josh Clark, Deb Matlock akers@sensimag.com sensimag
DESIGN & LAYOUT
BUSINESS & A D M I N I S T R AT I V E Liana Cameris liana.cameris@sensimag.com PUBLISHER
Richard Guerra richard.guerra@sensimag.com Steve McMorrow steve.mcmorrow@sensimag.com Amanda Patrizi amanda.patrizi@sensimag.com Tyler Tarr tyler.tarr@sensimag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS
Amber Orvik amber.orvik@sensimag.com CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR
Andre Velez andre.velez@sensimag.com MARKETING DIRECTOR
Hector Irizarry distribution@sensimag.com DISTRIBUTION
M E D I A PA RT N E R S Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy 14 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
WHAT’S OLD
IS NEW AGAIN
editor’s
NOTE
As a January birthday baby, I’ve got a spe-
cial affinity for this time of year. As a magazine junkie, that feeling is made all the stronger every year as my favorite national glossies all bust out shiny new versions of the age-old messages that January is a time of renewal, with tips and expert-backed tactics to help us all live our best lives, as Oprah has taught us all to do.
Pay As Little Tax As Possible Maximize Every Deduction Be Ready For An Audit
So the issue you hold in your hands is Sensi’s take on that topic. We’ve fashioned this edition around a “What’s New, What’s Next” theme—but because “what’s old is new again” is a trend on the rise in our Buffalo Exchange, Posh Mark era, we’ve got a series of articles about how to make the most of the past as well, including thrifting tips from our senior editor Leland Rucker and a look at the history of this month’s National Western Stock Show. Related, we’ve got a hilarious column about how Rocky Mountain “oysters” came to be the delicate delicacy for which Colorado is best known. At the center of the edition is the Special Report on Record Expungement in the light of this new age of cannabis legalization. How can people who have been charged or are still in jail for a cannabis conviction get that wiped from their history or sealed? It’s a compelling, complicated question and a timely topic, with news about how various states are handling the process coming out daily. Elsewhere, you’ll find tips for making the transition to fulltime nomadic living, a lengthy look at the importance of magazines as self-help tools, and more. Happy New Year. If you’ve yet to make any resolutions for the coming year, may I suggest this one: To love yourself unconditionally. Cheers,
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Call us today at (303) 499-2700 for a FREE CONSULTATION. sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 15
ADVISORY BOARD 1906 New Highs // CHOCOLATE The Adjustatorium // CHIROPRACTIC Agricor Laboratories // TESTING LAB Bear Mortgage // RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS Cannabis Tax Solutions // TAX AND ACCOUNTING Cannopoly // MOBILE COMMERCE CLogistics // COURIER The Clinic // SEED BANK Cohen Medical Centers // MEDICAL CENTERS Colorado Cannabis Company // THC COFFEE Concentrate Supply Co. // RECREATIONAL CONCENTRATES CWC Soil LLC // SOIL Escape/Evolutionz // THE CLEAR™ Evolve Formulas (Nanosphere) // TRANSDERMAL Franklin Bioscience // PILLS AND TABLETS Greenhouse Payment Solutions // PAYMENT PROCESSING GreenLink Financial // BANKING Hybrid Payroll // STAFFING AND HR BENEFITS Incredibles // WELLNESS Kindred Wolf // MARKETING AGENCY L’Eagle Services // SUSTAINABILITY Lab Society // EXTRACTION EXPERT AND LAB SUPPLIES Lowspark Incorporated // DISTRIBUTION LUXX Retreat // LODGING Mac & Fulton Talent Partners // RECRUITING marQaha // SUBLINGUALS AND BEVERAGES Mary Jane’s Medicinals // TOPICALS MedPharm // LIFESTYLE VAPE Monte Fiore Farms // RECREATIONAL CULTIVATION Mountain High Suckers // CBD EDIBLES Mustache Dabs // ROSIN PRESS Nature’s Root // HEMP COSMETICS Next Frontier Biosciences // BIOSCIENCES PotGuide // TRAVEL/TOURISM Purple Monkey // TEAS Pyramid // DISTILLATES Revered Inc. // INHALERS RiNo Supply Company // CANNABIS CULTURE RxCBD // CBD PET TREATS Sharp Solutions // TRANSPORTATION Source Colorado // WHOLESALE CONSULTING Steve’s Goods // CBG PRODUCTS Terrapin Care Station // RECREATIONAL DISPENSARY Toast // MINDFUL CONSUMPTION Wana Brands // EDIBLES WillPower // SPORTS NUTRITION Witlon Inc. // PAYROLL PROCESSING 16 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
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RESOLUTION:
Money Management 5 Tips for Financial Health
Making ends meet in today’s economy isn’t always easy, and getting your financial house in order can sometimes seem like an insurmountable task. But by incorporating some small changes and simple habits into your life, you can learn to save money more effectively, manage debt, and hold yourself fiscally accountable. Here are five tips to get you started.
1. Track Your Spending For one month, only use one credit card. When you get your statement, go over it line by line, categorizing your purchases to see where your money is going. So often, people are shocked to learn how much they spend eating out or ordering in via almost-too-easy apps like Uber Eats. Spending $5 on a coffee might not seem like much, but doing so five days a week adds up to $100 a month, $1,200 a year. For a more complete picture, sign up for free personal finance app Mint. It takes a few minutes to set up, and once you connect all your accounts, you can easily analyze your spending habits, set goals, get bill reminders, and monthly credit score updates, and even receive alerts when you’ve blown your monthly budget on lattes again. 18 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
2. Pay Your Balance When Your Statement Closes If you have balances on your credit cards, you’re accruing interest every month. So you are essentially paying interest on the interest you already owe. If you can’t pay off your balance every month, make at least the minimum payment the day after your statement closes. Don’t wait for your due date. You can’t avoid interest on previous purchases, but you can avoid additional interest on newer purchases by implementing this strategy.
3. Use Autopay We all know if we are late paying our bills, there’s almost always a fee. Plus, if you’re late more than once, your interest rate is likely to skyrocket. So avoid all of the penalties by putting all your bills on autopay. This will ensure you never miss a payment and will force you to budget your money to maintain the necessary balance in your checking account. Banks already make money on your money; don’t give them more of it for nothing.
The Beat(en) Path
Not everybody in Denver knows that Beat mentor and “unnatural son”
Neil Cassady, protagonist of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, Hunter Thompson muse, and driver of the Merry Pranksters bus memorialized in Tom Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, grew up in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. Cassady would have been 93 years old next month, and to celebrate, the Cassady estate is hosting its 10th annual Birthday Bash on February 8 and 9 to remember his infamous and eventful life. Everything kicks off Friday upstairs at the Mercury Cafe, 2199 California Street, with music by the David Amram Quartet and Jello Biafra, poetry and memories. Saturday’s lineup starts at 4 p.m. at the Alamo Drafthouse, 4255 W. Colfax Ave., with panels, poetry, and an evening of Beat films beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Mercury Bash (with Amram and Jello) are available at brownpapertickts.com and for the Alamo (poets, speakers, and films) are available at DRAFTHOUSE.COM
–Leland Rucker
4. Link Your Checking and Savings Accounts Connecting the accounts allows you to set up overdraft protection, saving you costly fees if an automatic payment accidentally empties your account. Those overdraft charges add up quickly. Most banks allow you to set up an auto-transfer to savings. If yours does, set it up—it’s a great way to start an emergency fund or to begin saving for a special purchase. Every time I swipe my Wells Fargo debit card, $1 is transferred into my savings. Just like the morning lattes, the small amounts add up quickly. If you don’t trust yourself to not spend cash that’s just sitting there in your account doing nothing, get it out of there. Find a bank that will auto-transfer into an IRA instead. Keep your money working for you.
5. Use a Digital Calendar and Reminders Your phone has a calendar. Spend a half hour adding all your bills to it as recurring monthly events and set reminders so you’ll always know what bills are coming up and when the funds will be deducted from your account. Eliminate surprises and stay outta the red in 2019. –Amber Meyer sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 19
Fizzy Fun
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Cannabis-infused skincare and bath products are prevalent these days, with good reason: They work. This is the first in a new monthly series reviewing some of the must-try products on a dispensary shelf near you. The Symphony Collection by the award-winning Coda Signature includes three body-melting bath bombs featuring 45 milligrams of THC and 45 milligrams of CBD each. The collection includes three varieties: Uplift, with an energizing blend of vibrant grapefruit, bergamot, black pepper, and sweet marjoram—plus a dash of rosemary to help with focus; Balance, with patchouli, lavender, and rose geranium; and Calm, with the earthy aroma of cedar wood blended with lavender. Drop a single bath bomb into a tub filled with warm water, submerge yourself, breathe deeply, and let the effervescent experience wash over you. Those are pretty basic instructions for any bath bomb. But the experience I had with these bombs was unlike any soak I’ve enjoyed before. You see, I carry all my tension in my back, a condition that’s exacerbated by long, motionless stints at the desk in my home office where I like to spend the overnight hours writing undisturbed by the constant barrage of notifications that define the daylight hours. At the end of a recent binge-writing session, my upper back had completely locked up. When I stood up to call it a night, you could hear the muscles grinding against each other when I rolled my shoulders. Given the twitching muscles and massive amounts of caffeine I had running through my system, I knew it would take a lot to calm my body and mind. I filled my tub, dropped in the calming lavender bomb, and settled in. Soon enough, the muscles in my back melted into the water. I felt my heart rate slow, I began to breathe deeper. While I typically can only spend about 10 minutes in a hot bath before emerging, this night, I got lost in the book I was reading, topping off the bath with warm water multiple times before emerging and stumbling to my bed where I crashed in a relaxed state. Two nights later, I repeated the experience. I started sharing the story with friends, and discovered I wasn’t alone in my bath bliss: the recommendations for the Coda Bath Bombs that came from anyone who’s had the joy of trying them were universal. A set of three runs for about $30, and you can find them at dispensaries around Colorado. So if you’ve resolved to make self-care a priority this year, start here. –Stephanie Wilson
Words of Wisdom
“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier.’” —Alfred Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland
National Plan for a Vacation Day 2019
It’s a kinda-sorta holiday to remind you to plan a holiday, and that’s
something we can all get behind. This year, January 29 is #TravelTuesday, thanks to Project: Time Off—an organization powered by the US Travel Association—which has declared the last Tuesday of January a day for planning the year’s getaways to ensure no vacation day goes unused. It’s time to stop making excuses and start making plans. Pick out a destination, determine a realistic budget, and put in for your days out of the office. Then start dreaming of the details. And as it turns out, the act of planning a vacation is proven to deliver as much happiness as the act of taking the vacation itself. So use this month to determine how many vacation days you’ll have at your disposal this year and then figure out how you are going to make the most of them. You’ll be more likely than ever to actually use all of your paid time off.
–Caitlin Davies
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sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 21
22 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 23
{newsfeed } by L E L A N D R U C K E R
24 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
FIVE YEARS LATER A half-decade after this crazy legal recreational cannabis experiment began, the State of Colorado is still learning from its mistakes.
It’s kind of hard to believe, but January 1 marks five
Though he has a documented history of violent be-
years since recreational sales of cannabis began in Colo-
havior, road rage, and outbursts of anger, Kirk claims that
rado. For so many of us who still remember buying dime
the marijuana caused him to open a password-protected
bags of brown sticks and stems and taking whatever you
lock-box, take a loaded gun from it, and kill his wife while
were given from your dealer—no questions asked—it’s
she was on the phone begging a 911 operator for help.
definitely been a godsend.
A partially eaten edible was discovered in the home, and
Colorado, where polls closed an hour before Washington,
a toxicology report found that Kirk had 2.3 nanograms of
became the first state to legalize cannabis for adult use in
THC per milliliter of his blood, below the five nanogram
the 2012 election, and Amendment 64—the ballot mea-
limit for stoned driving. Still, he claims the pot made him
sure that created the framework for the commercial sale of
do it. “I know with certainty if I did not ingest that marijua-
the federally illegal plant—for the most part, has stood the
na edible, Kris would still be here today,” he says.
test of half a decade. Our legislators, regulators, and opera-
Right about the same time, New York Times columnist
tors are often sought after by people around the world when
Maureen Dowd came here to report on legalization. She
they have questions about how legalization is working.
ignored the advice she was given about edibles at the
I remember giddily standing in line on that first day at
dispensary where she shopped and wound up curled
a Denver dispensary—January 1, 2014—to purchase an
in a ball in her hotel room thinking she had died. Her
eighth of an ounce of legal marijuana and wondering what
column became a kind of wake-up call on edibles, es-
was going to happen. The television stations and newspapers
pecially after another report claimed that a young man
were filled with stories about the long waiting lines and dis-
apparently ate an edible and jumped out of a motel
ruptions in the supply chain, the same stories that dominate
window to his death.
the coverage of every state that changes its laws. Ho, hum.
The state was unprepared for the fallout. The law had
Have we learned anything? You bet. I was reminded of the
been built around the one created for medical patients,
state’s earliest missteps recently when Rocky Mountain PBS
most of whom were used to higher dosages. Under the
interviewed Richard Kirk. You might remember him. He is
original rules, for instance, consumers were told that a
serving a life sentence for shooting his wife in the head while
candy bar contained 100 milligrams of THC and to slice
their children were home on April 14, 2014. At the time of his
or bite off what you wanted, which wasn’t adequate for
crime, Kirk blamed his actions on the marijuana edible he had
novices and newbies. And as Dowd found out, sometimes
ingested, and apparently he still blames the THC.
it takes a couple of hours for edibles to kick in. sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 25
26 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
Not everybody was happy with the result, but the state spent a couple of years refining rules and regulations around edibles that better reflect the majority experience. Changes were made in packaging, and servings are now limited to 10 milligrams a dose. Edibles can’t come in animal shapes (an effort to reduce children’s interest in trying the “candy”), and each serving contains a THC stamp. The stories about dangerous edibles have dried up. No one else, at least so far, has claimed cannabis caused them to commit a horrendous crime.
that date back to the 1930s film, Reefer Madness. It was
And who could forget the state’s first cannabis “edu-
so badly thought out and in such poor taste that the Boul-
cation” effort? Soon after legalization, in 2014, Gov. John
der County School District, certainly no fan of cannabis use
Hickenlooper’s office unveiled a high-profile marketing
among children, came out publicly against it, and the cam-
campaign intended to deter teens that included the instal-
paign folded as quickly as it arrived.
lation of a number of super-sized lab-rat cages in locations
The state learned its lesson here, too. Today’s educa-
around the state. It was immediately assailed—and cor-
tion programs are more lighthearted and informative—
rectly so—for its resemblance to failed scare campaigns
the latest includes video tips from “Meg the Budtender,” sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 27
28 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
Denver media coverage reached fever pitch in the days leading up to Halloween, with television announcers suggesting to gullible parents that evil pot smokers would not hesitate to dose innocent children.
pertinent information on health effects, and tips for those
people never seem to learn.
tourists who visit the state because they’re curious about
All these areas are signs of an emerging industry, and we
legal cannabis. And the section for parents emphasizes
still have things to get right. Most importantly, the state
actually talking with your children—what a concept—
needs to match the way it treats alcohol when it comes to
over trying to frighten them.
social consumption. Adults and tourists need places to con-
And the great Halloween “cannabis candy” alarms pro-
sume. Since testing for driving under the influence of canna-
moted by the Denver Police Department and anti-canna-
bis is still based around roadside exams designed for alcohol,
bis groups have finally stopped here. The first couple of
the state needs to come up with a better way to distinguish
years, Denver media coverage reached fever pitch in the
cannabis-altered driving than just a blood-content level.
days leading up to Halloween, with television announcers
The state hasn’t yet dealt with what to do about fel-
suggesting to gullible parents that evil pot smokers would
ons and inmates with cannabis-related offenses. Having
not hesitate to dose innocent children. This despite the fact
a legislature dominated by Democrats and a new gover-
that there had never been a credible report of candy-lacing
nor who might already have his own ideas about cannabis
in the state and that the idea that pot smokers would put
laws here is a positive.
marijuana gummies in kids’ Halloween tote bags to make them sick is abhorrent and stupid.
And things could be a lot worse. The state of Maine, which approved a ballot measure legalizing cannabis
There are still no documented cases of kids being poi-
for adults more than two years ago, still hasn’t opened
soned by marijuana-laced Halloween candy anywhere at
stores, and Congress has held up funding for retail outlets
any time. Zero. Yet October headlines in other states this
in the District of Columbia, where most members live, de-
year included, “Authorities Concerned About Candy That
spite the fact that a vast majority of DC citizens voted to
Could Get Kids High” and “Those Gummy Bears in Your
legalize in 2014. Think about that the next time you visit
Child’s Halloween Bag Could be Edible Marijuana.” Some
your favorite dispensary. sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 29
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{tastebuds } by J O H N L E H N D O R F F
HAVING SOME BALLS The offal truth about Colorado’s affection for Rocky Mountain “oysters.”
Until I started handling balls on a regular basis, I really didn’t feel very comfortable about the task. Frankly, no-
What Is a Rocky Mountain “Oyster?” Rocky Mountain “oysters”—also called prairie oysters,
body expects to be standing there holding large slippery
mountain tenders, calf fries, and huevos de toros—come
testicles in their hands. You don’t think you’ll end up peel-
from buffalo, beef, lambs, turkeys, and even goats, and
ing the skin off of balls like a condom. They need to be
preferably young animals because the gonads of old-
sliced, an action that can make even stout men shrink.
er ones taste much gamier. “Oysters” are almost always
I was working in a long-ago Boulder restaurant, Tom
served fried in a coating or batter with spicy dips, including
Horn’s, named after a hired killer hanged in Cheyenne
cocktail sauce, duk (apricot and horseradish) sauce, and
in 1903 and buried in Boulder. The “oysters” arrived in a
spicy aioli.
10-pound frozen block that was quite a sight as the tes-
You needn’t hunt around for evidence of Colorado’s
ticles gradually thawed. I was initially squeamish but after
preoccupation with Rocky Mountain “oysters,” as they
you prepare Rocky Mountain “oysters” for a while they
are served across the state, including at Denver Interna-
seem like just any other cut of meat.
tional Airport. At Coors Field, the Rocky Mountain Po’Boy
32 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
Where to Sample Rocky Mountain “Oysters” Buckhorn Exchange Denver // BUCKHORN.COM
Bruce’s Bar
Severance // BRUCESBAR123.COM
The Fort
Morrison // THEFORT.COM
Creekside Cuisine and Craft Beer Manitou Springs // CREEKSIDECUISINE.COM
Timberline Steaks & Grille,
Denver International Airport, Concourse C // FLYDENVER.COM
Golden Flame Hot Wings,
Co. Springs, Aurora, Parker, Castle Pines // GFHWINGS.COM
The Gashouse
Edwards // GASHOUSE-RESTAURANT.COM
Lulu’s Inn
Watkins // LULUSINN.COM
comes filled with “oysters,” garlic slaw, guacamole, and pico de gallo. Denver’s Wynkoop Brewing Company crafts
Pearl-Diving Colorado’s “Oyster” History When you see lists of Colorado’s iconic foods, Rocky
a seasonal Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout brewed with 25
Ford cantaloupe, Olathe corn, and Palisade peaches are
pounds of roasted bull testicles.
often mentioned, along with Colorado lamb. The one dish
In Colorado Springs, the new minor league baseball
always included is Rocky Mountain “oysters.” The question
team asked fans to pick its name from among five final-
is: Other states are associated with things like cheese.
ists including Punchy Pikas and Happy Campers. The top
How did Colorado end up with testicles?
vote-getter was: the Colorado Springs Rocky Mountain
Rocky Mountain “oysters” are part of Colorado’s ranch-
Oysters. The team instead chose the Rocky Mountain
ing history celebrated each January at Denver’s Nation-
Vibes with a s’more-shaped mascot. Squeamishness won
al Western Stock Show. In the spring at ranches across
the day. That happens a lot with balls. After all, the kick in
the region, young bulls are castrated in an effort to grow
the groin is one of the mainstays of physical comedy and
more meat and less bull-in-a-china-shop aggression. Af-
adolescent humor.
ter harvesting, the fresh testicles are often cooked over sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 33
34 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
Balls are low-fat, high-protein, and packed with vitamins and minerals. Traditionally, consuming gonads made the meal manlier, but that effect is more symbolic than actual.
the branding coals at so-called “nut frys.” They were done
wizard who opened the The Fort restaurant in Morrison.
cooking when they, uh, explode.
It was built as a replica of a Colorado frontier fort, with a
Making sure every part of the animal is put to use and
menu reflecting the region’s outlaw, frontier, and cowboy
never wasted was an essential part of ranching life and
provenance. His invitation to a curated judging of five kinds
the Native American belief that you honor the animals you
of “oysters” opened my eyes to the dish’s finer aspects.
slaughter. Besides, if you’re going to eat an animal’s butt or belly, you might as well eat his balls, too.
The Fort was also the family home where the current owner, Arnold’s daughter Holly Arnold Kinney, grew up.
Organ meats—sometimes called offal—have largely
“My father was curious about all kinds of meats, espe-
disappeared from the menu, except at a few 4-star bistros
cially buffalo, and different types of fries—calf, lamb, and
and ethnic eateries where they are celebrated delicacies.
even turkey,” she says. “It goes back to Colorado’s Native
The ironic truth is that organ meats are among the most
American and ranching history. The ranchers would eat all
nutrient-dense foods and often the least expensive. Balls
parts of the animal, including the bone marrow, and make
are low fat, high protein, and packed with vitamins and
other parts into head cheese.”
minerals, including a ton of zinc. Traditionally, consuming
Sam Arnold was famous for his annual Awful Offal din-
gonads was supposed to make the meal manlier, but that
ners at The Fort, featuring buffalo tongue, “oysters,” lamb
effect is more symbolic than actual.
brains, sweetbreads, kidneys, calf liver, and blood sausage.
Rocky Mountain “oysters” are on menus at bars and eater-
“My father was a pioneer. Through his sheer personal-
ies across Colorado. One of the most famous is Bruce’s Bar in
ity and charisma, he pushed buffalo and Rocky Mountain
Severance, which dishes a sampler plate of beef, buffalo, and
‘oysters’ to the forefront by serving them in public spaces
lamb testicles and has specialized in “oysters” since it opened
and to celebrities like Julia Child,” Kinney says.
in 1957. The success of the biker bar prompted a new town slogan for Severance: “Where the geese fly and the bulls cry.”
Sam Arnold: He Gave Colorado Balls All these “oyster” purveyors, including me, owe a debt of gratitude to Sam Arnold, the man who single-handedly
She has seen all sorts of reactions over the years to “oysters” at The Fort. “There was one funny story. There was a longtime customer, a woman going through a long, bitter divorce. When it was settled, she brought her girlfriends to The Fort and ordered platter after platter of ‘oysters,’” Kinney shares.
mainstreamed testicles in Colorado. Arnold was a Western
The Fort sells about 200 pounds of buffalo “oysters” a
history buff, early TV cooking show host, and marketing
week, she tells me, adding that millennials and younger sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 35
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Make Your Own Rocky Mountain Oysters INGREDIENTS • 6 calf, veal, or turkey testicles • 1 cup panko bread crumbs • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper • ½ tsp salt • Canola oil, for frying DIRECTIONS STEP 1: With a sharp paring knife, cut and peel the skin away from the testicles. They will peel and slice much more easily if they are slightly frozen. STEP 2: Cut the testicles into 1-inch slices. In a shallow
baking pan, combine the panko, black pepper, cayenne, and salt. Completely coat each slice in the panko mixture.
STEP 3: Heat the oil to 375ºF and preheat oven to
200ºF. Fry the breaded “oyster” for about 3 minutes, or until a light crust forms. Do not overcook them! STEP 4: Drain on paper towels and keep warm in the
oven. Serve with cocktail sauce, sweet chile sauce, chutney, or spicy aioli. — From Shinin’ Times at The Fort by Holly Arnold Kinney (Fur Trade Press, 2010)
diners are the ones doing the ordering after watching the Food Network and travel shows like Anthony Bourdain’s. Denver’s Buckhorn Exchange is infused with Old West culture and is the Mile High’s oldest operating restaurant. Opened in 1883, the Buckhorn is decorated with Western art and artifacts, including myriad taxidermic animals, and boasts a menagerie of meats from rattlesnake to yak on its menu. For the first 85 years of the Buckhorn’s history, “the original sack lunch” was not on the menu, according to Bill Dutton, general manager of the restaurant for the last four decades. “We started offering them in 1978. We wanted to honor the ranch tradition, but we didn’t really know if diners would order them. Right from the start ‘oysters’ were popular,” he says. “A lot of people order them on a dare. It’s a real tee-hee kind of dish.” Unlike in the old days, it’s not just men ordering them. “A lot more women are eating them, and they are not shy about it,” Dutton says. He estimates that the eatery processes about 500 pounds of calf fries weekly from 12- to 16-month-old animals. Some of the fresh interest in calf fries and other organ meats comes from new consumer interest in whole-animal butchery and the rise of the high protein Paleo and Keto diets, according to Nate Singer, head butcher at Boulder’s Blackbelly Market. “People are rediscovering the nutritional value of organ meats and are reviving recipes used by their grandparents, but if you are going to eat organs you have to be aware of how the animals were raised and where they came from,” Singer says. There is a large medical center located next to Blackbelly. “The doctors send some of their patients over for bone broth and organ meats to enhance their diets,” he says. Calf fries are only rarely on the menu at the next door Blackbelly restaurant, operated by chef Hosea Rosenberg. Since Singer and his crew butcher whole animals, the inhouse supply of testicles is limited. “We do love bison balls. The golden color in the older animals is amazing. It means they were grass fed all their lives. Grass fat is gold,” he says. Whatever you choose to call them Singer agrees that while they taste great, “oysters” do not taste like chicken. Chicken liver, perhaps, but definitely not chicken. JOHN LEHNDORFF cooks for a Boulder caterer and hosts Radio Nibbles on KGNU.
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 37
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{aroundtown } by S T E P H A N I E W I L S O N
WESTERN ROOTS
To get where you’re going, don’t forget where you came from. The annual National Western Stock Show reminds us that Denver’s Wild Western origin got us to where we are today, at the crossroads of commerce and culture. 40 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
In 1858, a small group of prospectors from Georgia crossed the great plains of the Colorado Territory and made what’s been called a “region-changing” discovery at the base of the Rocky Mountains: Gold. Not a whole lot of it, but that news isn’t what spread faster than a wild fire. The mere mention of the precious metal caused a stampede of get-rich-quick folks to descend on the region, hoping Colorado would be the base for the same kind of Gold Rush that had brought untold riches to some lucky folks in California less than a decade earlier. In the early days, Denver was a bleak version of a Wild West settlement, according to Tom Noel, a former chair at the Denver Landmark Preservation Commission and a professor of history at the University of Colorado Denver. He told Visit Denver that early on, the settlement was filled with a lot of shacks, shanties, and log cabins—and teepees, too, where the Arapaho tribe, led by Chief Little Raven, lived. Less than 50 years after that precious metal discovery, the premiere livestock show in the historic “yards” was held in town. Fast forward to today, and the National Western Stock Show—considered the Super Bowl of livestock shows—is still held each January for 16 days. The nationally recognized heritage and entertainment event hosts nearly 20 breeds of cattle and includes one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, world-class equestrian shows, and Colorado’s largest agricultural trade show. Last year, that lineup brought in more than 705,000 visitors during its two-week-plus run (the largest stock show attendance was in 2006 for its 100th anniversary, which brought in 726,972 guests.) Denverites can celebrate the city’s rich western history and enjoy the lively entertainment
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW.
that comes in all sorts of forms: more than 15,000 animals, rodeos featuring top-notch bull riders, horse shows, livestock competitions, auctions—and acres of shopping at the state’s largest Western trade show. It all takes place at the National Western Complex— where there’s more than 600,000 square feet of event space dedicated to the show. You won’t be able to see it all, but what you do see will be highly entertaining no matter when you attend. (A tip: Weekdays are the least crowded and easiest to navigate.) Don’t miss the Hall of Education, located next to the Expo Hall. On the third level, you’ll find the Coors Western Art Ex-
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 41
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your interests lay, you’ll find something to deem worthy of hibit & Sale, a fine exhibition of contemporary realism of the Western United States. This particular addition to the stock show lineup dates to 1993, a joint inspiration of Coors Brewing Company and the National Western Stock Show. The historic—and nonprofit—event is designed to strengthen American agriculture through enrichment programs and youth education in livestock, equestrian farming, ranching, animal awareness, and appreciation. “We celebrate western lifestyles, our communities, provide life-long memories and family traditions,” states the official literature. The fun this year begins on Thursday, January 10, with the 2019 Stock Show Kick-Off Parade, led by Grand Marshall Dana Crawford, a Denver urban developer and preservationist. Weather permitting (it didn’t permit in 2017, as icy streets and hooves don’t mix, leading to its cancellation) she’ll lead the traditional drive of Longhorn cattle, horses, and western wagons through the streets of downtown Denver. The parade begins at noon outside of Ms. Crawford’s namesake hotel, The Crawford at Union Station, and marches 15 blocks down 17th Street to Tremont. The day will be officially declared as “Dress Western Day” by a City of Denver proclamation, so get your cowboy boots and hats ready to roll. It’s a modern spectacle of an age-old tradition—an instagram-worthy experience at the very least. Attending the stock show is a rite of passage for Denverites—a way to show your civic pride while honoring the city’s history and its future. With so many different events and happenings going down during the 16-day run, no matter where
your time and attention. From the Llama Arrival at Murdoch’s Jr. Barn on January 11 at 9 a.m. to the Colorado Rocky Mountain Fiddle Championships at Beef Palace Auction Arena on January 12 at 9 a.m. to the Colorado vs. The World Rodeo at the Coliseum on January 12 at 11 a.m., there’s a nonstop lineup of events worthy of your calendar alerts. Here are some of the bigger highlights: FOR FOODIES:
5th Annual BBQ Throwdown SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 10 A.M. – 4 P.M.; FREE WITH GROUNDS ADMISSION
Forty teams compete for the coveted Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion titles in a wide range of categories, including pork, ribs, chicken, and brisket. The throwdown includes competitor viewing, live music, culinary demos, grill giveaways, free samples, and even a free beer power hour. FOR MOTOR HEADS:
CINCH Equicross
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2:30 P.M.
A gymkhana-style rodeo—that’s a type of motorsport where speed is the focus—consisting of four events: Rescue Race, Key Hole Racing, Ring Race/Musical Ropes, and Flag Racing. Contestants are between 14 and 18 years old, competing for $5,000 in scholarship prizes. FOR FANS OF THE RODEO:
Colorado vs. The World Rodeo MULTIPLE DAYS AND TIMES
The semi-final event takes place on Saturday, January 12 @ 3:30 p.m. and includes the coronation of Miss Rodeo Colorado. sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 43
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FOR WHOLESOME FUN:
For the full schedule, which is packed with non-
Stadium Arena Mutton Bustin’
stop activities in all sorts of categories, head to
One of the most popular events, Mutton Bustin’ features children ages 5–7 and under 55 pounds riding sheep out of a chute and into the arena, trying to hold on for as long as they can.
happenings are free with a general admission to the
JANUARY 22, 6 P.M.
FOR DOG LOVERS:
Stock Dog Trials VARIOUS DATES & TIMES
From backyard pets to a rancher’s top assistant, dog’s are man’s best friend. These trials let you witness the furry herders in all their trained glory—and there’s even the 10th annual Stock Dog Sale if you’re in the market for a new companion.
NATIONALWESTERN.COM/SCHEDULE .
Many
of
the
grounds, which runs for $22 per person. You can ride a mechanical bull, catch livestock auctions, 4H shows, and rodeos of all kinds. You can indulge in fair fare, from funnel cakes to turkey legs. Your kids can hop on some free pony rides. You can browse Western-themed jewelry, arts, and crafts proffered by nearly 1,000 vendors. Catch some sheep shearing, swine shows, dancing horses, bison judging, yak seminars, top hogs of the wild west competitions. And so much more. You just have to see it for yourself—think of it as an act of support and civic pride.
Altogether, the event has an economic impact of around $115 million per year, with 60 percent of that being from non-local sources, generating $6 million in local and state tax revenues. Those funds are expected to increase once the reimagined National Western Center campus is complete—a hefty undertaking launched five years ago and funded through Colorado State University, the Western Stock Show Association, the City & County of Denver, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and History Colorado—plus a capital campaign hoping to raise $100 million. The new campus—to be built in phases over roughly 10 years—is designed to be an international center of excellence in agricultural innovation, education, research, and technology, serving the interests of farmers, ranchers, tourists, researchers, students, and educators from around the world. sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 45
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{lifestyle } by L E L A N D R U C K E R
STUFF You can’t live with it. You can’t live without it.
48 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
We all have stuff. Things we had when we were kids are fondly remembered and sought after as we age. My house is bursting with hoarded life detritus, and I sometimes wonder why I still have so much of it—and why it’s so hard to get rid of. There are plenty of reasons for the accumulation. The tiny footstool my toes rest on is the very same one that I played with as a child at my uncle’s house, one of my earliest memories. I have books of post cards I once collected. I started with baseball cards back in the 1950s, graduated to singles and vinyl records in the 1960s, and have gone through all sorts of obsessions since then: books on bears, wolves, and elephants; songbooks and sheet music; CDs and now mp3s. But when and how to get rid of that stuff can be a tough decision. I stewed on it a couple of years before unloading my vinyl records, and finally sold the collection I had been building since 1962, about 3,000 LPs strong. Though I loved everything about vinyl and was proud of the collection’s depth, as I started to accumulate mp3s and .wav files, I found less use for them. Finally, I was digging out the fading vinyl covers while listening to the digital recordings. I thought selling them would be devastating. It was liberating.
“Too much stuff, there’s just too much stuff. It’ll hang you up dealing with too much stuff.” –Delbert McClinto
n, “Too Much Stuf
f”
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 49
50 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
So you need money and you have a full closet. You would
thrift and bargain shops. Then cross-check your own stuff
like more of the first and less in the second. How do you de-
and see what you have that might be worth something to-
cide what to keep and what to get rid of? How much do you
day. Besides, just looking around, there’s always a chance
want to get from your possessions? How can you know which
that you find something you have been seeking that costs
things are worth something and which things are worthless?
$100 brand-new for less than a third of the price, and
Take the closet. First thing to ask yourself is when was the
that’s a good feeling to know. Things go in and out of style,
last time you wore that shirt, or coat, or pair of sneakers? When
and you have to know when to sell and when to hold.
do you expect to wear it next? The lengthier the answer, the
Fortunately, Denver has thrift shops everywhere. A quick
more reason to get rid of it. (For the record, I have two sweat-
look in the search engine brings up dozens of places that
ers from high school that, though they are too small and I will
sell things on consignment. Each is unique, which is why
never wear again, I just can’t seem to throw away.)
you have to get out there and spend some time. The easiest
The next thing is to find out what people are buying and
might be Buffalo Exchange, a national chain with two loca-
selling and for how much, and the best way is to frequent
tions in Denver and one on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder.
“Sooner or later, everything old is new again.” –Stephen King, The Colorado Kid
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 51
The Online Option Online peer-to-peer resale sites are another option if you want to get the prices you want for your clothes or paraphernalia. All are more time-intensive than consigning your stuff. Here you’re in charge of posting and sending the items you want to sell. Overall, they’re likely to get you higher prices, but they also take more effort on your part. eBay once owned this market, but new platforms and apps are coming online every day. Today’s competitors include Poshmark, Depop, Heroine, and Instagram’s @noihsaf.bazaar. When you read the dozens of pros/cons reviews on each, remember that the most important thing is that they work for you, so do some serious research before you jump into anything. 52 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
All are quick and easiest to negotiate. The Exchange offers
Ramones or Born in the USA t-shirt. And the South Broad-
quick and easy cash, but it’s pennies on the dollar compared
way area is a mecca for second-hand stores if you do just a
to what you could get by getting more involved.
little sight exploring. You don’t even need GPS.
Plum Consignment (2373 Central Park Blvd. #106) ad-
And for many of us, it’s just as good to donate our used
vertises itself as a clothing curator that offers nearly new,
stuff to those less fortunate before we start over. All of
mint-condition, “Banana Republic or better” clothing for
the proceeds gathered by Peak Thrift (4890 Pecos St.) go
women and children, including items from Nordstrom, An-
towards its mission of helping homeless youth get back
thropologie, Prada, and Louis Vuitton. Regal Vintage
on their feet, and there are numerous Goodwill Industries
(1866 S. Broadway), on the other hand,
and Salvation Army outlets whose profits are funneled
is stocked with vintage clothing,
back to the community. It can feel good knowing someone
collectibles, and children’s toys
else is proudly wearing something you once proudly wore.
dating all the way back to the
In the long run, no matter what you decide, ultimately,
1920s. This is where you’re
you’re going to get what you put into it. So get started, and
more likely to find that old
happy thrifting. sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 53
54 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 55
{travelwell } by S T E P H A N I E W I L S O N
SLOPE-SIDE HAPPENINGS Head for the hills and take in some of the signature annual events taking place all winter long throughout Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.
56 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
Whether you’re a skier or a snowboarder or one who prefers to not strap yourself to slippery devices and go hurdling down a mountain, there’s plenty to entertain you in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado all winter long. There’s a host of signature events plus some one-off happenings to put on your wintery-mix radar, starting with the Norse tradition celebrating the bountiful snowfall.
55TH ANNUAL ULLR FEST
rade, which starts rolling down Main Street at 4:30 p.m.
Breckenridge // Jan. 9–12
on Thursday, January 10. In the past, floats have included
Pronounced like “ruler,” this long-running traditional
ski jumps, hot tubs, snow globes, and other seasonally
celebration originated in the 1960s, thanks to some Nor-
appropriate themes. Viking helmets are encouraged, as
wegian skiers named Trygve Berge and Siguard Rockne—
are general costumes. And since many of those costumes
thank those two for founding Breckenridge Ski Resort, too.
tend to incorporate layers and layers of fuzzy, furry ac-
The origin story goes that the duo wanted to pay hom-
cents, the costumes can be the difference between being
age to the Norse god Ullr, which the site Mythology for
a freezing spectator or a toasty participant.
Smart People describes as an “obscure and enigmatic
Another big Ullr Fest tradition is Breck’s battle with Park
Norse god” and an “excellent archer, hunter, skater, and
City, Utah, over which town holds the title for the World’s Lon-
skier, handsome, warlike, and an especially apt deity to in-
gest Shot Ski. Breckenridge Distillery is throwing its weight
voke before a duel.” The annual festival was deemed to be
behind the efforts to keep the title in Colorado, promising to
about thanking him for the area’s bountiful snowfall, but
deliver more skis, more people, and more shots this year than
as the town’s official Ullr page points out, there were also
ever before. You’ll want to sign up for this event in advance; it
a lot of snowed-in locals looking for an excuse to party.
sells out quickly, and takes place right before the parade.
Fast forward a few decades to the modern Ullr Fest,
Other Ullr happenings: Maggie Pond Ice Plunge (described
which brings out more than 12,000 enthusiasts to line
as an “activity for the brave and crazy ones”). A town-wide
the streets of the mountain village for the annual Ullr Pa-
talent show. Crowning of the Ullr King and Queen. The post-parade town bonfire—a great opportunity to retire your Christmas tree. And so much more. Visit GOBRECK.COM for
IMAGES COURTESY OF BRECKENRIDGE TOURISM OFFICE/LOUIE TRAUB
all the deets.
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 57
58 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
WINTER CULINARY WEEKEND Beaver Creek // Jan. 24–27 Fancy yourself a little too…grown-up for the target demographic of the X Games? There’s a tasty mountain alternative for you to enjoy that same weekend—and it’s a bit closer to the Front Range than Aspen. Beaver Creek’s annual luxe dining fest brings out some celebrity guest chefs for a series of intimate, luxurious culinary explorations combined with high-alpine outdoor adventures. This year’s guest chefs include Geoffrey Zakarin, Emma Bengtsson, Jamie Bissonnette, and other renowned toques from around the country. (Brother Luck of Four by Brother Luck in Colorado Springs and Alex Seidel
WINTER X GAMES Aspen // Jan. 24–27
from Fruition and Mercantile in Denver among them.) It all kicks off with the aptly named Culinary Kickoff fea-
With all competitions open to the public, there’s no
turing Colorado Flavors, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan-
reason not to head to Aspen for the high-flying fun and
uary 24. The tasting of the best the Centennial State has to
revelry surrounding the annual competition, which fea-
offer is showing off the small plates by Seidel, Brother Luck,
tures some 200-plus world-class action sports athletes
and Beaver Creek’s own executive chef Riley Romanin.
competing for medals and prize money. Some of the high-
Wines from Denver’s Infinite Monkey Theorem urban win-
est-profile skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers are
ery complement the offerings, as do concoctions poured by
performing their tightest tricks for the cheering crowds.
top mixologists. Tickets to the tasting run for $60.
Some of the competitions include: Big Air, Super Pope, and Slopestyle disciplines.
Friday, the Guided Snowshoe Excursion and Gourmet Luncheon is a half-day affair, kicking off at 9:30 a.m. with
As always, the Winter X Games brings out some big-
a tour of the secluded Beaver Creek Nordic Sports Center
name musicians and acts to support the energetic atmo-
and McCoy Park, which features some 18 miles of trails.
sphere. This year, the mountain stage hosts performances
After working up an appetite, let top chefs satiate you
by Lil Wayne (Friday), Louis The Child (Saturday afternoon),
with some fine dining at Grouse Mountain Grill. Tickets for
The Chainsmokers (Saturday night), and Kygo (Sunday).
this event are $150, and include all snowshoe equipment
An all-music GA pass is available for $120, with individual
and foot passenger lift access.
tickets starting at just $20, although prices go up as the
WINTER X GAMES IMAGE COURTESY OF VISIT COLORADO
event approaches. If you can’t make it out, you can still catch the action on ESPN and ABC. If you’ve got a college ID from an accredited four-year college and you’re age 24 or younger, you’re in for a treat: For just $95, the College X Pass gets you two days of skiing and/or riding on all four mountains at Aspen Snowmass during the X Games. This is the 18th year the pass is available, its popularity helping drive the ongoing success of the winter games, which is one part elite sport competition and one part youth lifestyle festival. The pass is valid January 24–27, and must be purchased by January 23. sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 59
60 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
Other Friday happenings include the “Art of Dessert”
vate lessons and luncheon cost $150, and that price doesn’t
cooking demo, a craft burgers and beers gathering during
include a lift ticket or equipment rental, so you know it’s go-
Village Apres, and the Shaken & Stirred cocktail-and-app
ing to be good. Additional cooking demonstrations, gourmet
party in the Colorado Tasting Room. For the full experience,
meals, apres gatherings, and more round out the day.
opt for tickets to the super-special Willamette Valley Wine
New this year is Synesthsia: Culinary Showcase and Con-
Dinner at Trapper’s Cabin. Nestled among the aspens and
cert with Lord Huron, hosted by Geoffrey Zakarin. Taking
pine trees at 9,500 feet, the venue welcomes guests to
place Saturday evening, this event is named for the phe-
trade their boots for fuzzy slippers as they are greeted by
nomenon involving the overlap of two senses—in this case,
the staff proffering warm drinks to get the evening started
taste and sound. It starts out with a two-hour tasting from
before the culinary showcase starring Oregon’s Pinot Noir
6 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by the intimate concert at the Vilar
country begins. ($200 per person.)
Performing Arts Center. ($175 per person.)
Or if you prefer an Epicurean Escape, there’s one taking
For the full weekend lineup, head to BEAVERCREEK.COM.
place at Allie’s Cabin that evening as well. It’s featuring the delights of chef Emma Bengtsson from New York’s Aquavit—where she just earned her second Michelin Star. Capping off the gustatory delight is a sleigh ride back to Beaver Creek Village at the end of the night. ($175 per person.) The delights continue throughout the weekend, with Ski. Eat. Ski. mountain explorations with expert instructors followed by culinary pairings on Saturday morning—for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders only. The prisensimag.com JANUARY 2019 61
#DabbleDaily DabbleExtracts@gmail.com 719.390.7269
62 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
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sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 63
{highprofile } by L E L A N D R U C K E R
At the International Snow Sculpting Championships, big snow rules in Breck. 64 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
The first time you come upon the giant snow sculptures
Riverwalk Center, literally in the middle of Breckenridge.
in Breckenridge, it’s kind of overwhelming. Sixteen larger-
Fifteen teams from China, Ecuador, France, Germany,
than-life creations, fanciful takes on classic works, eccen-
Great Britain, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Mongolia, and
tric creatures, and futuristic conceptions loom over and
Turkey, plus two other US teams, will gather beginning
above you. At night, gleaming in the cold dusky lights, they
January 21 to take square blocks of solid ice and snow and
seem almost ready to leap as you walk past. And then,
turn them into works of art. Public viewing begins on Jan-
after five days, they are gone.
uary 25 and extends through 7 p.m. January 30.
For Tim West, a member of Team USA-Breckenridge,
West, who owns Breckenridge Outfitters, is not an artist
the annual International Snow Sculpture Championships
by trade and says he got involved with the frozen cham-
in late January are like a siren, beckoning him to return
pionship by drinking and partying and playing with snow.
again and again. And he does.
He started competing in the Snowflake Challenge, a local
“When you experience them for the first time, they’re
sculpture event held in December, and this is his eighth or
just monumental,” West says. “To create a sculpture that
ninth year as part of the Breck team, which also includes
goes back to the earth, that melts, that is not permanent,
Keith Martin, Tom Day, and Margo Jerkovitz, plus a host of
is incredible,” he says. “People look at art as a material
other unnamed people involved in the effort.
thing, something that will outlive them, that will be around
This year, the event actually begins on January 15 with
for generations. Sometimes you don’t get the artistic val-
what is called Stomping Week. The 25-ton, 12-feet-
ue of being in the moment, of experiencing something no
square blocks used as the blank canvases are built by
one else is going to experience.”
dumping snow into forms and having locals literally stomp
The 29th edition of the International Snow Sculpture Championships is being held January 21–30, 2019, at the
it down to make it more compact. West says that the Breck happening is one of many
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 65
66 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
snow sculpture events held in Germany, Switzerland,
West says. He says that there are lots of ideas in the pipe-
Australia, and other countries, which makes for intense
line before the final decision is reached. “That’s why we
competition. A huge festival in Sapporo, Japan, in February
have a team captain—he’ll have the final say.”
draws two million visitors. “These snow events are hap-
A model is built to precise 1:10 scale for them to work
pening all over the world,” he says. “It’s bigger than most
from. The serious work begins on January 21, and once
people think.”
the clock starts ticking, the teams have 96 hours to create
Planning starts long before Stomping Week. “We’ve been discussing ideas and designs for over a year now,”
a finished product. “I didn’t realize how much work it is because you’re grinding the whole time,” he admits.
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 67
The first rule of the competition is that power equipment of any kind is banned. Which leaves the teams to their own devices. They first have to reduce their block of snow down. So the first day or so, it’s mostly lumberjack stuff, using scaffolding and ladders to use saws, axes, augurs and trowels to whittle it to sculpture size. Then they become like Michelangelos of the snow. Using a wide variety of constantly evolving tools made from cheese graters, sandpaper, kitchen utensils and homemade sheet metal implements, they labor day and night. The colder it is, the better to work with the snow, since it dries out almost immediately with the dry air and strengthens the finished work. By Friday night, before the public viewing begins Saturday morning, the tension has built to fever pitch, and teams generally toil through the night and up to the public opening. Friday night is also when the locals traditionally come down to check things out, and the whole thing takes on an international party feel. “You’ve busted your ass all week, you see the finish line, and you let loose a little bit,” West says. “Everybody brings libations from their home country. One year Mexico made shot glasses out of ice, and we all got shots.” There’s no monetary compensation for winners, but there are bragging rights among the competitors. And even if his team doesn’t win, there’s just something that keeps West coming back. “Every year, I say it’s my last year, but whether you win or not, it’s so rewarding,” West says. “The muscles are sore the first couple of weeks. But a few months later we start again, and the next thing you know, it’s here.”
68 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
If You Go The International Snow Sculpture Championships take place at the Riverwalk Center, 150 W. Adams Ave., Breckenridge Stomping Week: January 15–18. International Snow Sculpture Championships: January 21–25. Snow Sculpture Viewing Weekend (weather permitting): January 25–30. More Info: GOBRECK.COM
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 69
70 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 71
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sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 73
More and more Americans can obtain cannabis legally. What about those incarcerated or with criminal records for possessing something that is lawful today? by L E L A N D R U C K E R
74 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
Michael Diego-Rivera was 19 years old and out with friends WHEN HE WAS STOPPED BY POLICE IN COLORADO SPRINGS. “THEY PULLED US OVER WITH GUNS DRAWN AND ASKED US WHAT WE WERE DOING,” HE SAYS. AFTER HE REFUSED TO ALLOW A SEARCH OF THE CAR, A WARRANT WAS OBTAINED, AND OFFICERS FOUND THREE BAGS, EACH WITH LESS THAN AN OUNCE OF CANNABIS. Those three bags led to a felony distribution charge, and
through public-interest groups like Cage-Free Cannabis,
Diego-Rivera, a citizen of Puerto Rican descent, wound up
California Cannabis Advocates, and Smart Pharm Research
taking a plea bargain that reduced the charge from distri-
Group to raise awareness and provide support by offering
bution to possession. Because he had a job, he wound up
employment opportunities, online resources, and health
serving seven months on a work-release program with three
screenings. The goal is to shine a light on the problems peo-
years probation and restitution. When he tried to get his con-
ple face after they think they have paid their debt to soci-
viction expunged from his record, he found that can’t hap-
ety. “Once you’re arrested, it’s difficult to get a job, get a loan,
pen until 2023, because he had a reckless driving charge in
get housing,” says Dan Gilmore of the Massachusetts Rec-
2013, and you have to go 10 years without any kind of offense.
reational Consumer Council, another Expungement Week
“I can’t work in the cannabis industry, which was auto-
sponsor. “They just want to continue with their lives.”
matically interesting to me, because of the marijuana felony,”
As more states decriminalize, it would seem that the
Diego-Rivera says. “It’s an opportunity I would like to pursue.
number of people arrested for cannabis infractions, espe-
But they wouldn’t let me do something I was doing anyway.”
cially for possession, would go down. That was the trend
Erving Jean Jacques was arrested in Boston more than
until 2017, when the number of arrests actually rose from
10 years ago on a firearms possession charge and served
the year before. FBI data indicate 660,000 people were
a mandatory prison sentence of a year and a half. Though
arrested in 2017 for cannabis violations, and 600,000 of
he wants to work in the cannabis industry, especially the
those, or 90 percent, were for possession.
medical side, the felony charge follows him around and prevents him from doing that in Massachusetts.
Though African-Americans and Latinos make up 31.5 percent of the population, they account for a dispropor-
He found employers hesitant to hire him once they saw his
tionate 46 percent of those arrests. While some of the ar-
record, and he had no idea how to break the cycle. “Whatever
rests reflect the continuing black market, it also means
mistake I made in my 20s, society just won’t let that go. It’s a
police are still arresting citizens for doing what people
scarlet letter, basically,” he says. “I get it that I did something
can do legally on the other side of a state line.
bad. But what about after? No one cares about that.”
Expungement is a way to acknowledge and address the
Those are just two of the many untold stories of people who,
government’s past, says Shaleen Title of the Massachu-
because of mistakes made when they were young—much of
setts Cannabis Control Division. “The ability to expunge a
the time simple possession of marijuana—can’t seem to shake
record allows people to live their lives and pursue oppor-
once they’re back out on the street. Arrest records are for life.
tunities without the failed War on Drugs following them
Marijuana convictions rarely involve long prison terms,
around and obstructing them in a way that perpetuates
but any blemish can make life more difficult once you’re out.
the discrimination built into the criminal justice system.”
There are 77 million Americans with convictions on their records, many of them for cannabis and other nonviolent,
A Patchwork of Approaches
drug-related offenses. What do you do with those who are im-
Let’s face it, the best time to tackle expungement is
prisoned or have paid their debt for possessing a substance
right now, as legalization takes hold. Canada once fined
like cannabis that today they wouldn’t be arrested for?
people up to $1,000 and gave them six months in jail for
The best way, of course, would be to allow individuals in
possession. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who cam-
those situations to have their records expunged or at least
paigned on cannabis reform, has announced the country
sealed from public viewing. (To expunge is to complete-
will initiate a program that would allow people convict-
ly eliminate a criminal record. Records can also be sealed,
ed of pot possession before it was legal to fill out a form,
meaning they can only be opened under certain conditions.)
much as it has for people convicted of same-sex partner-
Getting the word out is most important. Jacques told
ships, to get their records removed or sealed.
his story during National Expungement Week in Boston,
Oh, that it could be that easy here in the United States. “It
a weeklong event in cities around the country organized
just can’t move forward until federal law catches up,” says sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 75
Julie Saltman of Buddle, whose practice in Boulder, Colorado, is devoted to helping people understand and navigate complex cannabis laws. “There’s just this sort of roadblock in terms of what’s been created by the federal law.” There are bills pending in the US Congress that address various aspects of legalization. Sen. Cory Booker’s bill for legalization includes expungement of records for cannabis crimes, but it might be the least likely to get any movement forward. “You know, we sit here and we say, ‘Oh, it’s so crazy that you wouldn’t want to clear the record of people for this thing that we’re all now agreeing is legal,’ ” Saltman says. “But so many people in the government writing the laws don’t think that way. They think, ‘Well, it was illegal when you did this. So…’ ” Events like National Expungement Week are a good start for raising awareness, but there’s plenty of work to be done to get this issue on the radar of the majority of people who can’t comprehend the problems those who have served time face in getting their lives back together. In November 2018, legislators in New Jersey, who are now considering legalizing cannabis, proposed a plan that includes fast-tracking the procedure. “By streamlining the expungement process, the state can help ensure that people with criminal records for marijuana-related offenses get a clean slate,” Kate Bell, counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project, said in a statement. “Nobody should be branded a criminal simply for using a substance that is less harmful than alcohol.” In September 2018, all seven judges of the Seattle Munici-
If you have a cannabis conviction on your record or know somebody who does, online resources can help you through the process of getting rid of it. “Part of the battle is using software to automate the process of filling out a petition,” says Julie Saltman of Buddle. “We’re trying to make it so that the user can generate that from our software and just make it as simple as possible.” Find out more at BUDDLELAW.COM . The National Expungement Week site (OFFTHERECORD.US ) also includes a wealth of information about getting rid of criminal records. Its expungement toolkit is at NATIONALEXPUNGEMENTWEEK.SQUARESPACE.COM/TOOLKIT
“How to Seal or Expunge Decriminalized Cannabis Cases,” a booklet from Greater Boston Legal Services, is another great resource: MASSLEGALHELP.ORG/CORI/SEALING-EXPUNGINGDECRIMINALIZED-MARIJUANA-CHARGES-BOOKLET7.PDF
pal Court signed an order to create a process to vacate cannabis offenses that were illegal then but legal now. More than 500 people could be affected, dating from 1996, when municipal courts began handling these cases, to 2010, when the city completely stopped prosecuting low-level cannabis offenses.
days later, the city of Denver said it would begin proac-
In Michigan, where voters just passed an initiative to le-
tively helping citizens get their records expunged. “This
galize adult-use cannabis, new Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says
is really a program based on fundamental fairness,” As-
her administration will take action to free anyone in prison
sistant District Attorney Ken Kupfner told newspapers. “It
and expunge criminal records for cannabis crimes that will
just seems like the right thing to do in these circumstanc-
become legal under the state’s recreational cannabis law.
es is to vacate and seal those convictions.”
Colorado allows juvenile records to be expunged, but
When Colorado passed Amendment 64 to legalize canna-
adults can seal their criminal convictions. It’s a process
bis for adult use in 2012, expungement of criminal records
that involves obtaining your criminal record and history,
wasn’t part of the conversation. “Back then when Colorado
filling out forms and filing a petition, which is then re-
legalized, nobody was thinking about this,” says Buddle’s
viewed by the court for approval.
Sarah Gerston. “And I think what states like Massachusetts
That could change. On December 1, the Boulder Coun-
and California are trying to do is make sure that the indus-
ty District Attorney’s Office announced that as part of a
try is accessible, particularly for those people who were
“Moving on from Marijuana” program, it would vacate
harmed by criminalizing cannabis.”
and seal the records of people arrested for possession of
Massachusetts, which opened recreational stores in
less than 2 ounces and all paraphernalia charges—which
November 2018, passed a criminal justice reform bill
could affect 4,000 people arrested since 2008. Just a few
last year that would allow people to get their records ex-
76 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
Ingrid Archie, after being imprisoned twice in California, is now the Prop 47 specialist for New Way of Life, helping others get their records expunged or sealed.
punged or sealed. The Massachusetts Rec Council’s Gilmore says it took intense lobbying to get it into the current plan. “It’s restrictive, with no teeth, and it’s not helping the people it should help,” he says. But, he adds, it’s a start. In 2014, California passed Prop 47, which allows many nonviolent offenses, such as drug and property offenses and shoplifting, to be changed from felonies to misdemeanors. Gov. Jerry Brown last fall signed Assembly Bill 1793, which requires the Department of Justice, before July 2019, to review hundreds of thousands of cannabis cases in the state’s database and identify convictions that should be dismissed, vacated, or reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor. And the city of San Francisco is working with a nonprofit organization that would allow cannabis convictions to be vacated within its jurisdiction.
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 77
Simplifying the Process The key to making this work is to simplify the expungement process. Kathleen Bryson, a lawyer in Humboldt Coun-
ed again after a gang friend stashed his cannabis at her place and did a three-year sentence in state prison.
ty, California, says people should seek out clinics at cannabis
After she was released, things didn’t get any easier.
events and public defender offices that offer aid to people.
In 2009, she was laid off by a telecommunications com-
She helps clients and former clients with expungement pro-
pany that had just hired her after it found her record. In
cedures and problems, which vary from county to county.
2013, she was arrested again and served three more years.
“Each county has a different character with different local
While there, she found out about Prop 47. She educated
rules and policies,” she says. “Humboldt County is generally
herself, used the statute to get her sentence reduced, took
known as a more progressive county than any of its neigh-
back custody of her two children, and today works as the
boring counties. In particular, Mendocino and Trinity, the oth-
Prop 47 specialist for New Way of Life, an organization
er two counties in the Emerald Triangle, have vastly different
devoted to helping others break the cycle.
courtroom cultures from Humboldt and from each other.”
Archie uses her story to give others the courage to do
That leads us to Ingrid Archie. She had a troubled child-
what she did. “It kind of helps give people hope because
hood, grew up in foster care in California and fell in with a
the laws were passed to make our community better, but
bad crowd while staying in group homes. At age 18, about
they don’t understand how to do it,” Archie says. “When
the time her first daughter was born, she was arrested
they see the impact that it has on my life, and to know it
for selling drugs and put on probation. She was arrest-
has worked, they want to take advantage of it.”
78 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 79
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Gypsy Digital
Setting yourself up for the freedom of life on the road is a journey in itself. by R O BY N G R I G G S L AW R E N C E
82 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
I’m about to hit the road and live in my Airstream. I HAVE A PLAN (THOUGH NOT AS MUCH OF ONE AS I’D LIKE) TO SPEND THE WINTER IN BAJA, THEN I DON’T KNOW WHERE I’LL END UP. I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR MOST OF MY LIFE. I’M PETRIFIED. I’m joining the nearly half-million people in the United
Then Dennis will travel with me through Baja—just in
States who live full-time in their rigs, and I’ll be one of a re-
time to celebrate legal cannabis in Mexico, maybe?—before
cord-breaking 10 million RVers hitting the road as #vanlife
he goes back to Colorado and leaves me on my own. That’s
explodes, driven largely by experience-hungry millennials
where my plan ends, but the whole idea is to be OK with that.
and Instagrammers. The $19.7 billion RV industry has seen
It’s amazing how much planning and organization it’s
sales grow 200 percent over the past eight years, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, and RV shipments are at their highest level ever. Sales at Thor In-
taken to get here.
Freedom Isn’t Free
dustries (which owns Airstream) grew 57 percent to $2.02
The first thing I never considered was what I couldn’t do
billion in 2017, and Winnebago sales skyrocketed 75.1 per-
without a permanent address. I can’t vote, get health insur-
cent in the last quarter of that year to $476.4 billion.
ance, have a bank account, pay taxes, get a driver’s license, or
The industry is changing, responding to the needs and
register my vehicles, to start. And, of course, I can’t get mail.
desires of the new RVer, whose average age is 48—not the
Or I thought I wouldn’t be able to. Then I found professional
stereotypical snowbird traditionally associated with RV-
services that receive, sort, scan, forward, and shred mail like
ers (though plenty of boomers are still on the road). Ac-
Escapees Mail Forwarding from a big clearinghouse in Tex-
cording to CARHUB.COM , about one-third of new RVers are
as that helps people set up mailing addresses in that state.
under 35, and that makes RV resort hot tubs a lot more fun.
There are a lot of these services in Texas and South Dakota,
Before we head to Baja, Dennis and I have a spot reserved
the friendliest states for nomadic travelers to establish resi-
for a month at the Chula Vista RV Resort, a beautiful too-
dency, but I’m not ready for that yet. I’ve lived in Colorado as it
good-to-be-true park on San Diego Bay that shares space
has turned from red to blue, and I like having my vote count.
with a marina (and sailors are also pretty great for hot tub
I’ve already digitized most transactions that used to rely
fun) where I spent last winter. On February 1, everyone has
on snail mail, so my best option is to keep my Colorado
to clear out so the resort and marina can be bulldozed for
address and have any important mail that might trickle
a billion-dollar convention center and waterfront develop-
in forwarded to me wherever I’m staying. Who knew you
ment. A lot of folks have wintered in Chula Vista for de-
could get mail sent to you care of General Delivery to any
cades. It should be a hell of a month.
town and pick it up at the main post office?
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 83
a large dog bowl and dog chain. No one ever messed with her. Be wary of helpful people. “Generally speaking, people in RV places are fun, friendly, interesting, and very helpful,” Vogel says. But sometimes they can be a little too helpful, and it’s no fun getting frazzled when their directions make no sense to you. Vogel also found that people who tried to help her hook up threw monkey wrenches into her routine because they did things differently. It’s usually best to politely refuse their assistance.
I spent many long nights researching the RV lifestyle online, but nothing beats a real conversation with a real pro, and Jane Vogel is that. Vogel grew up traveling in her parents’ Airstreams; she and her sister took away their trailer when they turned 85 and were accused for 15 more years of stealing their lifestyle. When she retired in 2009, she bought a 26-foot Winnebago Aspect that she named Frieda Rome and spent the next two years wandering. A former president of the Winnie Singles Club, Vogel wrote a cookbook for RVers, Grill It or Skillet. She gave me the advice I couldn’t find online. Stop driving before you get tired. “When you’re tired, you make mistakes and break stuff,” Vogel says. Know where you’re ending up each day. When she stopped for lunch, Vogel would call campgrounds to find her destination for the end of that day. She always asked if the website’s directions were accurate and if there was construction in the area. Never rely on GPS. Vogel learned that the hard way when she ended up on a flooded gravel road while towing a Jeep. “GPS can really mess you up,” she says. Wasp spray is a weapon. Vogel chose not to carry a gun. Instead, she kept wasp spray by
the front door to disable potential intruders. Join a club. Moose and Elk Clubs and American Legions allow members to camp on their grounds, often with water and electric hookups, for as little as $15 a night, and annual memberships are cheap. Women traveling alone: take precautions. Vogel bought a Winnebago instead of an Airstream because she didn’t want to have to go outside from her vehicle to the trailer in the dark or when she didn’t feel safe. She bought the largest pair of men’s boots she could find at a thrift store and put them next to the door along with two chairs, one with a beer can and a Tom Clancy novel, and
Go minimalist in the kitchen. Vogel carried basic spices—the most exotic was lemon pepper—in jars with their names written on the lid in a shoe box. The only electrical appliance she had was the skillet. She used an ice cream scoop as a masher and had a collapsible colander, flexible cutting board, and a chef’s knife with a sharpening sheathe. RVers don’t need place settings for six, she says. “You’re not going to be inviting two other couples over,” she says, “and if you do, it’ll be paper plate night. You’re not really running a house like you’re used to.” Go minimalist in the closet. “You don’t need six pairs of blue jeans,” Vogel says. “You only need one hoodie. You’re not seeing the same people every day, so you don’t need different clothes every day.” Go minimalist in the shower. Thick, fluffy towels take forever to dry and are too heavy for the clotheslines in most RV showers. Cheap, lightweight towels are more practical when paying for laundromat drying time.
Then there’s health insurance, a hellish mess even
and slow. (Internet connectivity consistently ranks as
when you’re staying in one place. The marketplace options
one of the worst things about full-time RV living.) I had
barely cover me when I’m out of network, which is where
to invest in a Jetpack and an unlimited data plan, and
I plan to spend the year. I made an appointment with Por-
I’ll still be data-starved because “unlimited” data slows
tia at RVERINSURANCE.COM to help me sort out my options.
down after I’ve used 15 gigs. I also had to buy a weBoost
I also learned about an app I wish I’d known about years
cell booster, which adds a bar or two in weak areas and
ago called GoodRx (GOODRX.COM ) that lets me download
could make the difference between a work day and a
coupons for super cheap prescriptions at pharmacies near
non-work day. I have nothing against non-work days,
me—wherever that may be.
but I’d rather plan them than have them forced on me.
And finally, there’s connectivity—that crucial element
It costs a lot, it seems, to be free. I’ve also spent a small
for working on the road that’s notoriously scarce in RV
fortune on gadgets for better Airstream living, every-
resorts, where the “Free Wi-Fi” is always painfully weak
thing from a sewer hose support to refrigerator organiz-
84 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
PHOTO COURTESY OF AIRSTREAM INC.
Jane’s World
A good grill is an RVers best friend. Grill It or Skillet is about “putting good, honest food on the table without using pots and pans,” because she didn’t want to wash mixing bowls and pans in her tiny sink. She made every meal on a portable Weber grill or, in terrible weather, an electric skillet. She even made eggs on the grill using grill mats and silicon egg rings.
er bins, a laundry backpack, and bag with door hooks
three-outlet desktop charging station is for our sanity as
to a collapsible laundry basket for trash and recycling.
we both try to use all our devices while sharing one outlet.
I bought silicon molds for oversized ice cubes because
The two of us sharing an 8-by-27-foot space for four
they melt more slowly, and they’re great for freezing
months might be the craziest part of my non-plan. We get
stocks and juices—and cocktail hour’s a pretty big thing
along fabulously in his 3,500-square-foot house where I have
at RV resorts.
my own room and an Airstream, and we’ve done well on two-
Dennis was a little alarmed when the big Amazon box
and three-week excursions. We’re not married, and we have
full of these on-the-road necessities arrived, especially be-
our own cell phone plans, so we don’t have much to fight
cause he’s been watching me get rid of the trappings of my
about except closet space and clutter. My Amazon binge was
house life for a good two years. I explained that the non-
a lame attempt to wrest control through retail therapy.
slip glow-in-the-dark tape for the front steps and the mo-
I’ve never been here before, about to embark on a journey to
tion-sensor LED emergency flashlight that will be mount-
an unknown end, and I’ve worked my whole life to get here.
ed by the front door are for our safety and the three-USB,
I can be military-level meticulous and download every app
I’ve worked my whole life to embark on this
journey to an unknown end. It’s amazing how much planning and organization it’s taken to get this far.
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 85
Apps for RVers
available to help me navigate roads, campgrounds, and relationships, but I can’t control what’s about to happen. The funny part is that I ever thought I could. Here’s to partying in Chula Vista like it’s 1999. ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE, author of the bestselling Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook, went to San Diego last winter to write Pot in Pans: A History of Eating Weed, which will be released by Rowman & Littlefield in May. The book would have been out for 4/20 if she’d had a little less fun in the hot tub.
Download these before you hit the road. AllStays
(iOS only) has extensive filters that help you find campgrounds, RV parks, and related services and check GPS-based weather reports, road conditions, and state laws.
Coverage? lets you quickly find where the best cell coverage is along a route and compare carrier coverage maps.
GasBuddy finds the best gas prices on your route. Hurdlr helps freelancers keep track of mileage, expenses, income, and tax deductions in real time. (And I didn’t have this one years ago because…?)
inRoute
(iOS only) lets you plan optimal routes based on weather, elevation, road curviness, and other factors. It navigates with voice-guided turn-by-turn directions with automatic severe weather alerts.
the Next EXIT gives a thorough, exit-by-exit service listing, including gas, food, lodging, camping, shopping, and more.
Rand McNally RVND, a standalone RV GPS device, offers navigation and routing, RV tools, points of interest, real-time traffic updates, and predictive traffic videos and photos.
State Lines tracks more than 55 pieces of travel-relevant
information for all 50 states, including cell phone and texting bans, gas and diesel taxes, towing and RV-specific laws, rest area overnight parking limits, and alcohol sales laws and taxes.
WeatherTAB provides forecasts as far as 18 months out. Windy is for anyone who drives through blustery places like
New Mexico, offering precise hourly forecasts and a wind map.
86 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 87
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90 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU
9 WAYS TO LOVE YOURSELF IN 2019 AKA, Things I’ve Learned in Magazines. by S T E P H A N I E
WILSON
IT’S THE TIME OF YEAR FOR RESOLUTIONS, FOR COMMITTING TO BETTER ONESELF. THE MEANS VARY YEAR BY YEAR; THE END GOAL HOLDS STEADY:
improve your life.
When I began working this article, my focus was on
me and cry with me and call me out on my bullshit.
quick fixes to “undo the damage” you inevitably did
They listen to me in a way that makes me feel heard.
during the holidays. A listicle of sorts with tips and
My finances are in order, with a credit score that rang-
tricks to quickly get your body and mind back in some
es from “good” to “excellent” depending on the scoring
semblance of shape before you departed on that beach
agency. That’s a long way from where it was five years
vacation you booked way back when your skin was still
ago when it hovered in the 520 range. I love my work, my
kissed by the summer sun—way before the first pump-
team, my company. I believe in what we are doing, and
kin pie of the season made its way into your grocery cart
the struggle of launching a startup provides a challenge
and found its way onto your thighs.
that keeps me motivated. I’m healthy, relatively fit, and
But then in my deep dive into magazines past, I came
don’t loathe what I see in the mirror.
across a strong notion that made me change course. Rath-
I’m turning 38 at the end of this month. Perhaps my
er than coming up with a list of things you want to change
acceptance with my current state of being is due to age,
about yourself—lose 10 lbs, start a 401K, become a morning
but more likely it’s the result of some conscious deci-
person—this year, consider this instead: Resolve to accept
sions I’ve made to create the life I want to live. It wasn’t
yourself as you are. Unconditional self love is not easy.
an intuitive progression—and it’s all about progression.
Self-criticism is that nagging voice in our heads telling us we’re not good enough, that we don’t deserve hap-
It was the result of endless hours spent reading magazines, the original self-help works.
piness until we change, until we drop that weight or get
In The Magazine from Cover to Cover, the authors write
out of debt or learn how to bake an Insta-worthy cake.
in the preface that “since the mid-1700s, the magazine has
Until we’re better than we are now.
played a role in shaping what individuals think and how
But here’s the catch: it’s those feelings of inadequacy
they respond to the world around them. Magazines help
that hold you back from taking the steps to make a change.
us understand ourselves, live more fully, and vicariously
When you perceive your thighs as too large, you are saying
enjoy different lifestyles. The result: we are what we read.”
that you are flawed. A loser. And losers have thighs that are
Later, in a chapter about magazines as cultural influ-
too large. So it’s not even worth trying to change. You are
ences, they write: “Magazines help us choose our kitch-
a loser with big thighs: that’s the narrative in your brain.
en colors and Christmas trees, raise our children and our
But if you love yourself unconditionally, you still love yourself as you struggle to change. This made me take stock of my life. Which is pretty
standards, save our marriages and our money. Open the pages of a magazine and it opens the world to us. It helps us build our foundation and our beliefs.”
great overall. I love where I live; my apartment is a true
I subscribe to 20-something magazines—the number
reflection of me. I’ve found a group of amazing friends
varies as one subscription ends and another begins—
who are each inspiring badasses in their own right. They
and I make it a point to at least flip through the pages
make me laugh, they push me to do better, they support
of each one every month, reading parts here and there, sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 91
92 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
others I devour from cover to cover. 5280, Health, Cosmo-
first outpost opened in Colorado. When I book a bike, I’m
politan, Better Homes & Gardens, Wired, Esquire, GQ, Elle,
financially committed; if I don’t show up, I’m charged any-
Marie Claire, New York, Shape, Bon Appétit, Harper’s Ba-
way. That’s that extra piece of motivation that gets my ass
zaar, Condé Nast Traveler, Sunset, O, Men’s Health, Vani-
in the seat (and then out of the saddle, tap tap tapping it
ty Fair, InStyle, En Compass, and more: these periodicals
back) multiple times a week. It works for me.
shape my perception of the world, and I keep a notebook
If you haven’t discovered a workout that works for you,
next to me when I flip through them, noting interesting
embark on a journey of discovery. ClassPass is a great
facts or story ideas for Sensi that a piece sparks.
way to sample a variety of top studios around town.
Along the way, I’ve garnered some expert advice that I’ve applied to my own life. And since I know that most people don’t have the time, never mind the desire, to read two dozen or so mags each month, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best tips instilled in my brain from countless articles on the subject of how to become a “new you.”
Barre, yoga, bootcamp, boxing, Pilates, and—yes!—cycling studios are all on the lineup.
Create a space you love. I was flipping through a Better Homes & Gardens issue last spring sitting in my living room and came to a page that was almost a mirror of the scene in front of me. The
Find a workout that works for you.
bohemian vintage-style multicolored rug, the blue velvet
It all comes down to discovering what motivates you
couch, the geometric throw pillows—even the pink wall
to show up and put in the effort. For me, it’s part finan-
behind the scene was the same. Ok, the magazine version
cial accountability, part group motivation, part awesome
had painted the wall pink whereas my pink was contained
playlist, and part anonymity. I’m an indoor cycle junkie,
in the oversized painting hung on the wall of my rental.
have been since the first cycling class I took a decade
It was a validating moment: I moved into the apartment
ago at the then newly opened David Barton Gym across
last November without anything other than a mattress and
the street from my apartment in South Beach. David Bar-
some bookshelves from Ikea. In six short months, I had cre-
ton’s slogan and my goals aligned: Look Better Naked.
ated a magazine-worthy space with pieces culled largely
Before that class, I had
from Amazon Prime. (I drive a
struggled to find the motiva-
Fiat so delivery is the only op-
tion to workout. I had played team sports my entire childhood, but found myself bored by the Stairmaster at the gym. And
forget
running—that’s
what you do when you’re being punished for missing your foul shots or showing up late to practice. I’ve tried to become a runner repeatedly as an adult—it’s free! you can do it anywhere! it’s free!—but I’ve got a mental block that has
“All the changes you want to make in your life—your relationships, your work, your self— it all starts right here. Here, you get stronger.” —CycleStar Thomas
tion for anything larger than an 8x10 frame.) I did it on a budget, using advice and tips culled from the pages of decor magazines and websites. It’s my version of Apartment Therapy, an online magazine where I turn to for inspiration, tips, and advice about how to make the most of my small home. (They also keep an eye out for great sales.) The site turned me onto the gallery
yet to permit me to run more
wall trend a few years back,
than a mile consecutively.
and I took it to the extreme:
On a bike, in a dark room,
there’s not much blank white
led by a perky instructor yell-
wall left in my place. Just how
ing at me to love myself, I can
I like it. I look around here and
go all out for the duration of
I am content. I want to spend
the class and then on a good
time here. It’s soothing, it’s
day stay for a second helping.
comforting, it’s aggressively
I got into Flywheel in Mi-
female and totally me. And
ami, and then jumped on
there’s no place like home
the CycleBar bikes when the
when you love your home. sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 93
Journal and Read. Writing out your thoughts helps you discover what you’re really thinking. It helps you get to the “why” behind your reactions to situations. Most likely, your actions are based on something that happened in the past. But if you don’t take the time to explore your actions, you’ll never know that and then you’re doomed to repeat it. As far as reading, I mean everything: books, magazines, newspapers, flyers; read a variety of genres and topics and authors. You’ll learn, you’ll clear your head, you’ll increase your attention span. And if you’re reading a self-help book—don’t knock it until you try it—you’ll better yourself. I recommend You Are A Badass: How to Stop Doubt-
ing Your Greatness and Start Living An Awesome Life by Jen Sincero. The audiobook has won some Audible awards, and it’s a pleasant message to listen to during any road trips. Or while stuck in traffic. Or while you’re cleaning your apartment. Because the message that you are a badass is never a bad one to hear. If you’re unlikely to make the financial commitment to a self-help title, don’t fret! A local magazine turned me
Get growing.
onto Libby last year. It’s an app for the library that lets you borrow ebooks and audiobooks with just the click
Houseplants are good for you. And it’s rewarding to
of a button. Check out the “Too Hot to Hold” section for
watch a living thing thrive under your care. I have three
titles available right now—no lines, no waiting. That’s
types of palm trees growing in my southern-facing, light-
where I found the Badass book, which I listened to while
filled space. If you do a Google image search for “paradise,”
driving down to Pueblo for a Sensi Night late last year.
guess what comes up? Palm trees. My palms are a reminder that paradise is within reach. Along with the palms, I’ve got a collection of other thriving houseplants around the place. I live right off the highway, and the plants help naturally purify the air. They also raise humidity in the home.
Get a handle on your finances. Financial security is paramount to creating a life you love. For more tips on how to achieve it, check out the Buzz on p. 18. One tip that you won’t find in that list: Don’t fear credit cards. I made this mistake for most of my life and it pains me to think of all the rewards I missed out on by relying only on my debit card. If you’re an Amazon Prime member and you don’t have an Amazon Prime Visa from Chase, you’re leaving 5 percent of all your prime purchases on the table. Whole Foods purchases too. I bought my entire apartment from Prime, and I used the card to pay for everything I could. In 2018, that earned me close to $500 cash back, part of which I turned into a Roomba that takes care of one of the chores I loathed. 94 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
Stay hydrated. Get a humidifier. The humidity in the air is low enough in Colorado year round. Combine that with the cold air of winter and the indoor heat—which zaps what little moisture we have in the air right out—and we’re destined to have some chapped lips and flaky skin, this time of year especially. There are a few ways to combat that, and while the specific recommendations change from year to year on the pages of the national glossies, the basic message is the same: drinks lots of water, get a humidifier, and slather on some products. Let’s start with the internal hydration. If you, like the old me, have a hankering for the lightly flavored bubbles of La Croix, it’s time to invest in a Soda Stream. Not only will you be saving the environment one dozen less aluminum cans in your recycling bin at a time, you’ll be saving your wallet, too. Sparkling beverages add up. One Soda Stream cartridge can make your basic tap water effervescent. Squeeze in some fresh lemon or other citrus for a burst of calorie-free flavor and drink up. Your body will thank you. Get a humidifier and keep it filled—and keep it clean. (Mold is a pesky problem no matter the dry conditions.) I wasn’t a fan of the blue-bubble-shaped design so many popular humidifiers are sporting these days, in no small part because it is conspicuous, it doesn’t blend into the design of my home, and I’d need to also purchase a table or stool to give it a place to live. Then Amazon suggested the VAVA’s ultrasonic floor humidifier, which has a sleek design and long nozzle that helps get the moisture into the air in an efficient, aesthetically pleasing manner. On the low setting, it will run for almost an entire day, which makes me more likely to keep it filled than if it required more constant attention from me to keep spouting water vapor into the air. Last month, Shape magazine passed along this tip that has made a world of difference in my skin: to double the impact of your humidifier, place it in your bedroom. Before sliding beneath the covers, slather some moisturizer with hyaluronic acid onto your face and neck and let it do the work while you sleep. Despite its harsh-sounding name, this particular acid is a bit of a wet dream. It can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, pulling it directly from the air and into your skin. I’ve started using Water Drench by Peter Thomas Roth and have had nary a flaky patch of skin since. Bonus tip: In January, all of the gift boxes that didn’t sell are on clearance at places like Sephora, so you can score quite a deal on some of the top hyaluronic-packed moisturizers. sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 95
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Pamper yourself. CBD massages. Bath bombs. Fine wines. New pair of fuzzy Uggs. Treat yourself like the amazing human you are in whatever manner fits into that budget you created for yourself. Because you deserve it. Believe it. My personal anecdote for this section comes in the form of a magnificent trip to Avon, where Spa Anjali hosted me for its coveted CBD massage, featuring products by Mary’s Nutritionals. My pup Gidget and my boyfriend came with me for the overnight excursion to the Westin at the base of Beaver Creek, and we indulged ourselves in the Heavenly
done, without causing me any pain (or any of the telltale
experience. Gidget especially so: I positioned her Heaven-
bruising that accompanied some of my previous trigger
ly Dog Bed in front of the fireplace in our mini suite and
point therapy treatments). Speaking with him afterward,
she barely moved an inch for the duration of our stay.
I asked how the CBD oils affected the treatment on his
The highlight of the trip was, of course, the spa treatment
end, and he raved about the experience.
at the on-site facility, which the readers of Condé Nast Trav-
“I get all of the benefits as well,” he shared. “It allows
eler ranked among the nation’s best. My treatment was the
my hands to stay stronger, longer, and I feel rejuvenated
first one in the morning, so I had the locker room to myself
after the experience. I encourage people to add it on to
upon arrival. To limber up my cold muscles and get ready,
their massages.”
I hit the steam room for some light stretching before meeting the massage therapist.
The 50-minute massage is pricey: $180, compared with $150 for the basic massage. But you do get to keep the left-
The treatment was by far the most productively enjoy-
over CBD balm at the end of your treatment, which alone is
able massage I’ve experienced since moving to Colorado.
worth the price. Mary’s is among the best in the industry.
The knots in my back often connect to the knots in my forearms and hands—injuries of the writing trade—caus-
Create connections with others.
ing my fingers to go numb and tingle when things get ex-
Loneliness is literally deadly, and stems from a lack of so-
treme. While I dig a thorough deep-tissue treatment, the
cial connection with others. I had trouble connecting with
level of work my shoulders need tends to be rather painful.
other women for most of my adult life because I was scared
This was the opposite of painful. The pre-treatment
to let my guard down, to reveal my flaws and my fears. I suf-
warmup steam and stretch, combined with the thera-
fer from rampant perfectionism that leads to isolation if I
peutic benefits of the Mary’s Nutritionals CBD allowed
don’t make a continual effort. Admitting my crazy has been
the therapist to go deeper than he otherwise would have
one of the most beneficial moves I’ve ever made.
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on my headphones, opened Spotify’s Discovery suggestions, and hit play. King and Country sang directly to me: To every soul locked in a cage, In the prison of your past mistakes, There is no time left to waste. You’ve got to make your great escape. We’re made to run wild. Run wild. Last summer, when I hit the wall at the end of a burnout cycle stemming from launching the magazine in your hand, I ran away to the woods to get a handle on myself. When I got to the teepee I booked, I pushed play on the first playlist Spotify recommended that day. And on came Birdtalkers: If you’re lost and you’re lonely, Go and figure out why. Take a trip to your dark side, Go ahead and have a good cry. Cause we’re all lonely, we’re all lonely, together. Leave what’s heavy behind. And so I did. I spent the next four days crying and writing and digging down to the source of my unhappiness, and had some profound realizations that ultimately led me to leave what was heavy behind. It may sound like woo-woo craziness—and it did lead me to bring some woo-woo activities into my life (sage burning, anyone?)—but it’s profound where you can find yourself if you’re just open to watching for the signs of the universe. Call it intuition, to following your gut, to looking for a sign, or divine intervention: be open to it, follow the path before you, and live your best life.
Listen to what the universe is telling you. It speaks to me in song, and it has my whole life. If I
If you don’t know what that means for you exactly, pick up some magazines. They’ll help guide you on your way.
wasn’t open to the messages, I would have missed them. When I was sixteen, my parents bought me a new Volkswagon Beetle, and I turned it on to pull out of the lot the first time and Madonna’s “Ray of Light” was playing. “She’s got herself a little piece of heaven,” I sang along. When I bought an Audi I couldn’t afford in my late 20s, the first song to play when I put the key in the ignition was Rihanna and T.I.’s hit “Live Your Life.” And damnit I was going to be a shining star with fancy clothes and fancy cars. A few years later, I was debating whether I wanted to stay in Miami after my company eliminated my position or if it was time to move on. I went down to my pool to ponder, put sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 99
100 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
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1906 NEW HIGHS
Creating Edibles to Optimize Your Life 1906 CRACKS THE CODE ON WHAT CONSUMERS REALLY WANT.
Most cannabis consumers will tell you the edibles
Barsoom started 1906 as a cannabis product re-
being sold out there need a little tweaking—or even a
search and development company in 2015, eventually
major overhaul.
rolling out its first edibles brand in 2017. The compa-
A few brands provide reliable edible experiences, but the general consensus is that many miss the mark
ny’s infused oils come from specific strains grown at certified green farms in Colorado.
when it comes to consumer expectations. Peter Bar-
The company currently offers a full line of artisanal
soom, CEO of Denver-based 1906 New Highs and a
chocolates and is working on launching a line of pills,
former Wall Street financier, saw the writing on the
infused beverages, and Pax pod vapes.
wall. “We immediately found that there was lot to be desired when it comes to edibles,” he says. Most edibles suffer from three major problems, he says. First, they taste bad. Second, they leave consum-
1906 edibles are made using a lipid encapsulation process to help the body process THC faster. They are low-dose and fast-acting—with onset at 20 minutes or less—so consumers know what to expect.
ers wondering how they’ll feel, which is problematic
The company has a research and development team
because most people use cannabis for therapeutic
of six, including experts in botany, technology, biosci-
reasons. And third, edibles have a very slow and un-
ence, confections, and more, and 20 employees work-
certain onset time, which is a problem that has been
ing inside a 6,500-square-foot state-of-the-art food
dogging edibles manufacturers for years.
manufacturing facility and lab doing industrial-scale
“We set out to solve these problems and come up with solutions that truly work for people,” Barsoom
manufacturing, where 20,000 pieces of chocolate are produced a day.
says. “Consumers want products that are predictable
Barsoom says 1906 wants to expand in Colorado
and consistent, work quickly, and deliver the experi-
and is getting ready to open operations in Massachu-
ences they want—from energy to relaxation to arousal
setts and Illinois. He has also applied for a license in
to sleep to bliss.”
New Jersey.
He says if cannabis is going to be a replacement
1906 has its sights on international markets as
for alcohol or pharmaceuticals, it needs to perform
well, but the burgeoning Canadian market is not edi-
the way those substances perform. “What we wanted
bles-friendly right now. “We are excited about the Ca-
to do was to create an edibles company focused on
nadian market, but we still don’t know what the rules
high-functioning adults who need to know what they
are around edibles,” Barsoom says.
are getting and how it will affect them,” Barsoom says.
Whatever the future holds, 1906 is confident that
1906 combines cannabis with other plant medi-
giving consumers what they truly want and need is the
cines to work synergistically and target specific effects
first step in revolutionizing not just the edibles market,
with their various products: Midnight for sleep; High
but destigmatizing cannabis for a global future.
Love for sex; Chill for relaxation, Go for energy, and Bliss for bliss. 1906 products are sold at more than 200 dispensaries in Colorado.
For more information, visit:
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NATURE’S ROOT
It’s All Natural ONE LONGMONT SPA TAKES THE HEMP ROUTE TO GOOD HEALTH.
Dani Fontaine never really intended to launch a
New on the shelf are a line of easy-to-use salves
company selling therapeutic and body-care products
containing CBD and aromatherapeutic botanicals in
made from Colorado-grown hemp or to become a na-
a balm stick rubbed on the afflicted part of the body.
tional spokesperson, but a driving passion for a hum-
The roster includes Extreme Sore Muscle Balm 200,
ble plant inspired her.
Itch Balm 200, and Brain Balm 200. Coming soon is
“I believe in the greatness of hemp as a solution to
an anti-inflammatory spray to relieve tooth and gum
so many problems. It’s good for the farmers, it’s good
pain. The company is looking into future Nature’s Root
for the soil, and it’s a sustainable crop,” Fontaine says.
spas on the island of Jamaica and other locations, in-
She
started
the
Colorado
Hemp
Project
cluding Hawaii. “We want to see hemp planted sus-
(COLORADOHEMPPROJECT.COM ) in 2013 with her father
tainably everywhere and used for everything from
to promote that crop. “We had the hemp seed, and
food and medicines to building materials and textiles.
we started to find farmers who would grow it. They
We have to stop killing our planet,” Fontaine says.
planted some of the first hemp harvested in the US in almost 60 years. Then we had to find a use for all that hemp. I asked myself: ‘What do people use every day?’ So we started making hemp body-care products,”
For more information, visit:
NATURESROOT.COM
she explains. Fontaine had earned her certification in massage therapy and esthetics in 2011 with a plan to open Nature’s Root Spa in Longmont with her mom and partner, Tracee Box. Today, the spa menu includes massages, facials, waxing, and other services for rejuvenation and whole body healing. “Every single product that we use contains hemp,” Fontaine says. Nature’s Root products are sold at the Longmont locale as well as at other spas and beauty and natural foods stores across the US. The lineup features oils, skin lotion, tinctures, lotions, and scrubs for men and women, including Max Sore Muscle Salve, Hemp Coffee Scrub, and Hemp Oil Tinctures. A range of products for pets includes Fur-Get About It Wound & Skin Care Oil. Vital Hemp Oil Supplements in capsule form are available for people and pets. Fontaine credits her mom with much of the success of the company. “She has done amazing things helping to grow the business while I’ve been developing new products,” she says. sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 107
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REVERED
An “Aha” Moment That Resulted in a New Product REVERED INC.’S MALE ENHANCEMENT POWDER WITH THC DISTILLATE OFFERS A ONE-OF-A-KIND BUZZ.
After seeing how competitive it was to do a culti-
says. “I didn’t see that with the Aeroinhaler because
vation operation in what was clearly a growth indus-
that product took a bit of time to move. There is quite
try, Ted Naylon, CEO of Revered Inc., who was already
a bit of education involved. And it’s a bit of a high-
selling all-natural male-enhancement supplement
er-end product. CannaMojo sells for 10 bucks, and
HardMojo online, refocused on working with cannabis
people really want to have better sex.”
concentrates—specifically, using extraction techniques
He says the company has been fielding a lot of calls
to create live resin products. “We are growing plants
and emails about licensing CannaMojo in California,
specifically to make fresh frozen cannabis and extract-
Oregon, Florida, and Nevada. “I think it’s going to be
ing the oils from the fresh frozen and turning it into a
big in Nevada. I think the casinos will want to sell it
concentrate that is super potent,” he says.
in their hotel rooms.” Revered is also working on CBD
Revered built a lab in 2015 and began selling Quest
versions of the product.
Concentrates, part of a higher-end concentrate line
“The big thing for us right now is focusing on our
that included live budders, sugars, crystals, and sauce.
licensing deals,” Naylon says. “We are looking at trying
About a year later, the company began looking for
to get in as many states as we can, as well as Canada.”
unique products to make and decided on a pharma-
Canada’s stricter approval process has proven more
ceutical-grade adult recreational device called the
difficult for the inhaler and the CannaMojo product.
Aeroinhaler. “We formulated a way to make THC shoot
The male-enhancement powder is a supplement, re-
out of the inhaler over 100 times, getting about 6 mil-
quiring different regulations in Canada then in the
ligrams of THC per spray in a metered dose spray,”
United States.
Naylon says. “That way, the consumer is getting a con-
Revered already has licensing deals in California, Ne-
sistent dose of THC, and the effects are felt within
vada, Oregon, and Puerto Rico. Deals in Michigan and
seconds or minutes because it’s getting metabolized
Jamaica are expected to close soon. “We don’t plan on
through the lungs.”
selling a lot of our products in Jamaica, but Jamaica
That product is available in about 100 dispensaries in Colorado, he says, with more added each month. In March, he was talking with his marketing director
allows exports,” Naylon says. “So we would be able to create our products there and export them to other countries.”
about other products when the idea hit him—why not combine the distillate used in the Aeroinhaler with his male-enhancement supplement powder? Experiments began with a 10-milligram distillate and powder combination, and the response was overwhelm-
For more information, visit:
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ingly positive. Revered started selling that new product, dubbed CannaMojo, in mid-August. “The stores that we are in are reordering and are starting to reorder faster,” he sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 111
112 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
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New Personnel Department SPECIALIZING IN TAKING CARE OF INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES AND OWNERS. Once upon a time, caring companies had something called a “Personnel Department.” It’s not today’s “Human Resources,” which tends to focus more on numbers and dollars. Personnel was there to help people, the prized employees, and make sure that the tons of paperwork got completed properly. It solved potential headaches for company managers and owners before they happen. For many cannabis- and hemp-related businesses in Colorado and across the United States, Witlon is how they spell relief today. The administrative services firm provides payroll, accounting and banking solutions in a cash-based industry. “Witlon is a holistic service provider that helps businesses grow strategically. We get to know the customers. We are paid by the client, but our customers are the employees. We make sure they have W-2s and arrange direct deposit, worker’s comp, health care sign-up, compliance with federal and state laws and 401k’s,” says Nick Murer, president of Denver-based Witlon. The company has proper documentation in place on worker’s comp and any employee issues, warnings and unemployment claims, he says. These businesses include dispensaries, cultivation facilities, marketing companies, equipment suppliers, and other cannabis- and hemp-related ancillary companies. “We help a lot of companies in the startup phase that don’t have the bandwidth or interest in dealing with payroll, accounting, and liability insurance,” he says. Using Witlon typically saves companies money because they have so much invested in fi nding and keeping employees. “A good example is a dispensary worker who makes $15 an hour. I tell owners that they really have to think about that as a $21 an hour job when all the costs are factored in,” Murer says.
There is also the peace-of-mind factor. If there is an audit from a government agency including the IRS, Witlon represents the client. A well-established concern in Colorado, Witlon functions as the back offi ce for large and small businesses across the United States and Canada. “We are where there are medical and recreational cannabis sales, including Washington and Pennsylvania,” he says. The other side of Witlon’s business involves working and investing in Colorado’s nascent hemp industry with its unique legal challenges. “We want to put legitimacy behind hemp sales and help to connect growers with processors and other users,” Murer says. “The cannabis industry is really still in its infancy with tremendous growth potential. The growth potential is even bigger in hemp and CBD. Farmers need to be convinced that hemp is a legal cash crop that helps rejuvenate the soil,” he says. “Colorado is a real leader in figuring out these challenges,” Murer says. For more information, visit:
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It’s now 2019, and with the start of a New Year, comes the time for New Year’s Resolutions. At the beginning of
As the cannabis industry grows, so does the number of professionals within it, acting as incredible sources of insider info on the trends and issues driving the marketplace forward. The Sensi Advisory Board is comprised of select industry leaders in a variety of fields, from compliance and education to concentrates and cultivation. They are invited to share specialized insight in this dedicated section. This month, we hear from members in the Sports Nutrition and Topicals categories. FOR A FULL LIST OF ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS, SEE THE MASTHEAD ON PAGE 16.
every year all around the world, people make resolutions with the idea to improve their life. We say, “It’s a New Year, and it’s time for a new me.” We commit to start doing this, to stop doing that, and to do even more of something else. The sad truth of the situation, however, is that the majority of our New Year’s resolutions won’t last through January. Ask yourself why we do this. Why do we continue to leverage the New Year as a time to motivate us to change something in our lives when we rarely keep those commitments? It comes down to our perception and expectations. When we are motivated by external factors rather than
RESOLVE TO KEEP TRYING by W I L L C A R R , F O U N D E R O F W I L L P O W E R
a sincere fire and drive within us, permanent and real change isn’t likely. We must also understand that progress takes time. We live in a culture where we expect everything now. In a world where we have to do nothing more than give a simple voice command to Amazon’s Alexa to have virtually anything delivered to our front door, patience is becoming more of a lost art every day. We start a new diet with the expectation to look in the mirror and notice a difference immediately. We start a new exercise routine with the idea that we’re magically going to be healthier on day one. In reality, it takes time and consistency and realistic goals based on your lifestyle. If it’s realistic for you to commit to exercise once a week, then make that your goal. Set attainable expectations for yourself. Then go out and crush that workout. Dominate your goal. Achieve what you set out to do, and then look for what is attainable next. When the little goals you accomplish are strung together over the years, they can move mountains. True change comes when something inside us shifts. When our perception pivots and widens, we see things we were previously blind to. We become aware of our why. Was our motivation to live healthier due to insecurities we have about our outward appearance? Or was it because we genuinely desire our mind and body to feel better and function at a higher level? New Year’s resolutions are a wonderful thing. They allow for us to take time to look inward and reflect on what is important to us. They enable us to give thought and consideration to what changes we need to make and why we need to make them. Whatever your New Year’s resolutions may be for 2019, make sure they are coming from a place of authenticity and a genuine sense of who you are—and where you want to go from here. sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 119
ACHIEVING HOLISTIC HARMONY:
The Cannabis and Yoga Connection by D A H L I A M E R T E N S , C E O O F M A RY J A N E ’ S MEDICINALS
Yoga is one of the best ways I know to center myself, bringing together my body and mind in harmony. And I have found that pairing cannabis with my practice deeply enhances the experience on many levels. Research shows cannabis may be effective for helping to reduce effects of stress; the same goes for yoga. One such study, published in Seminars in Immunology in 2014, found that chronic stress reduces the brain’s production of endocannabinoids that regulate emotions, which suggests that using cannabis to boost endocannabinoid system function may help stabilize moods. In a similar vein, a 2011 research review conducted by the University of Mississippi’s Center for Health Behavior Research found yogic practices help inhibit the posterior, or sympathetic, area of the hypothalamus, thus restoring “autonomic regulatory reflex mechanisms associated with stress.” In other words, meditative yoga helps inhibit
ment meditation, and cannabis takes you right there. It
the areas of the brain responsible for producing feelings
cracks open the spiritual door.”
of fear, aggressiveness, and rage, while stimulating the brain’s rewarding pleasure sensors, thus lowering anxiety, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure.
Yogi D and others who are working cannabis into their practice are indeed following an ancient tradition. Cannabis has been used as a spiritual and meditative
Given the overlapping therapeutic and wellness ben-
aid for thousands of years in India, where it’s closely tied
efits of cannabis and yoga, it’s not surprising that can-
to yoga. It is believed that Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of
nabis is increasingly popular among yoga practitioners.
creation, destruction, and yoga, was rejuvenated after
People like Darrin Zeer, or “Yogi D” as he’s known to
consuming cannabis. This religious connection may be
many, offer cannabis-friendly yoga retreats. For more
the reason cannabis remains a fundamental element of
than two decades, he has combined cannabis with yoga
yogic practice among certain groups in India.
to further promote tranquility and well-being, and calls them “the two ancient sister medicines.”
In today’s fast-paced world, most of us juggle so many things on a daily basis that we’re in a constant state of ten-
“They really go hand-in-hand. With the assistance
sion. We frequently hold our bodies so tight with anxiety
of cannabis, the body knows how to unwind itself. It’s
and stress that it’s difficult to unwind and settle into a re-
a beautiful practice,” Yogi D told me recently. “Cannabis
storative yoga practice. That’s why cannabis is so useful in
helps us remember what yoga is all about. It’s a move-
helping to ease us into a calm and focused mindful state.
120 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
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As with any new experience, it’s best to take it slow at first, pacing your consumption so you can be sure to remain aware of your body’s movement and your breathing. And different people may find they prefer different types of cannabis to enhance their practice. Some enjoy smoking or vaping cannabis just before they practice yoga. Some might pop an edible ahead of their session. Some prefer to utilize non-intoxicating infused topical salves and lotions to reduce physical pain and increase relaxation before their practice. And others like to combine these options. It all comes down to what makes you feel good, and what helps elevate your practice of yoga. For me, cannabis helps quiet my thoughts, allowing me to reach a deeper meditative state. When the mental noise fades away, I find I can focus intently on the harmony between my mind, body and spirit.
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SENSI LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
If you were one of the nearly 30,000 attendees at this year’s fantastic MJBizCon trade conference in Las Vegas, you probably saw us there. We had our leadership conference there. You may have even hung out with us there. Some of you definitely partied with us there. In any case, it was definitely a “you had to be there” week, and if you weren’t there, call this the next best thing.
122 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
What: MJBizCon Where: Las Vegas, Nevada When: November 15–16, 2018
sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 123
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{HereWeGo } by S T E P H A N I E W I L S O N
JUST GO , MAN!
Feeling flush? Check out this extravagant package from Denver’s Curtis Hotel. If your 2019 goals are to live the highest life, then this
cluding the new Marvel Suite on the Superhero floor—has
fresh travel package from the Curtis Hotel should be the
put together the Dumb and Dumber: Lloyd & Harry Meet
top of your Valentine’s Day wish list and totally redeem
the Curtis Package, which puts the “aspire” in the aspira-
yourself for whatever dumb things you spent your discre-
tional travel concept.
tionary income on in 2018.
It’s pricey, to say the least: $10k, in fact. Dumb money.
The Curtis—a property dedicated to celebrating all
What does that get you? An over-the-top weekend get-
things pop culture, with colorful hyper-themed rooms, in-
away that includes two nights at the Curtis in a Corner
128 JANUARY 2019 Denver // Boulder
King Deluxe room. Which typically runs for less than $200
Luxury transportation to the jet and to the mountain on
a night during a weekend in January. So what’s the other
either side of the short airborne jaunt. Your limo driver
$9,600 or so get you?
may or may not ask you why you’re going to the airport.
Two ruffled tuxedos with top hats—in that signature
“Flyin’ somewhere?” On the flight home, libations from
orange and powder blue—which you must don as you ride
Aspen Beer Co. are yours to enjoy. Once you’re back, head
your rental moped around Denver for three hours. It’s up
to the Corner Office to hang by the bar, put out a vibe.
to you whether you want to wear the infamous look while
If you’re interested in booking this getaway, good for
you board your private jet, waiting to whisk you to Aspen
you. Just know, they don’t take IOUs. Give 303-571-0300
to hit the slopes in your new Colorado-made Icelantic skis.
a call, and promise us you’ll post photos of the tuxes. sensimag.com JANUARY 2019 129
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