Sensi Magazine - Denver/Boulder (May 2019)

DENVER / BOULDER

THE NEW NORMAL

5.2019

MAY FLOWERS SEE THE SPLENDOR

TRIP TO THE WILD SIDE Meow Wolf’s Kaleidoscape

BARCELONA BOUND! Cannabis + Spannabis

{plus}

WEEKEND WARRIOR RVING ADULT SUMMER CAMPS AND SO MUCH MORE

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ISSUE 5 // VOLUME 4 // 5.2019

FEATURES 98 Trip for a Lifetime

An ode to the seductive allure of travel.

106 Spring On: May Flowers

Get going. Get growing. The world is abloom and your home can be, too.

116 Barcelona Unbound

This city on the Iberian Peninsula is a cannabis lover’s paradise.

every issue

38

WHAT ABOUT MEOW Kaleidoscape to Elitch Gardens

17 Editor’s Note 20 The Buzz 30 NewsFeed

106

UPDATES AROUND THE REGION

38 AroundTown

A TRIP TO THE WILD SIDE

46 StarPowered

MAY 2019 HOROSCOPE

52 LifeStyle

WEEKEND IN THE WILDERNESS

60 TasteBuds

A TASTE FOR TRUCKIN’

FLOWER POWER Get Growing

68 LifeStyle

COOL CUSTOMER

74 HighProfile

ENHANCING THE MUSIC

82 TravelWell

CAPTURE THE FLAG. CAPTURE THE FUN.

88 TravelWell

LUXURY MEETS ADVENTURE

136 HereWeGo

HIGH IN THE TREES

Sensi magazine is published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2019 SENSI MEDIA GROUP LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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sensi magazine ISSUE 5 / VOLUME 4 / 5.2019

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 Ricardo Baca, Natha Campanella COLUMNISTS sensimagazine

Cathy Brooks, David Duran CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

A RT & D E S I G N Jamie Ezra Mark jamie@emagency.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Rheya Tanner, Wendy Mak, Josh Clark em@sensimag.com DESIGN & LAYOUT

sensimag

BUSINESS & A D M I N I S T R AT I V E Liana Cameris liana.cameris@sensimag.com PUBLISHER

Ilee Desoto ilee.desoto@sensimag.com 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 16 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

OPEN YOUR

MIND

editor’s

NOTE

As I was putting the final touches on this

travel-themed issue, a push notificaton interrupted my screen with news that Notre Dame Cathedral was burning. The world watched in horror.

Soon enough, my newsfeeds were filled with posts detailing the connection my friends and associates had with the iconic structure—photo after photo of smiling faces in front of the landmark, each accompanied by a story about the moment in time being shared. Each one an attempt to establish connection with the monumental moment in history we were witnessing. Each one an unknowing example of how traveling establishes a connection to a global community.

To paraphrase Mark Twain, travel is the antidote to ignorance. It opens the mind to new places, new experiences, new people, new ways of life. And in some ways, cannabis does the same. It certainly changes the way we interact with the world. From my own personal travel journals, I offer this example: I spent the summer after my junior year at UMass studying Spanish in Salamanca, Spain. My journal from that period is filled with alcohol-drenched stories of dancing on bars and wandering the streets until dawn, fueled by wine and the camaraderie of my fellow students. The phrase “I don’t really remember what happened next” made more than one appearance. The alcohol I consumed with gusto each evening dulled my senses and my memories; my notes include few details about the town, the architecture, the city, the way of life. Instead, it reads like the diary of a drunk teenager, which (honestly) I was—just one pretending to be worldly.

After the summer session came to an end, I hopped over to Madrid, then Paris, then finally Amsterdam where I would embark on my return flight home after a few days at the famous Flying Pig hostel. While there, I put down the wine and picked up the cannabis—and the entire tone of my trip, of my travel journals changed. Rather than drunken tales of revelry, I began to note the details of my foreign surroundings. Cannabis allowed me to slow down and appreciate the moments I had been racing through all summer, eager to encounter the next “experience.” I focused instead on colors and textures, noting the way the leaves on the tree outside the window left dappled shadows on the Indian-inspired pillows in the lounge at the hostel, where I was surrounded by conversations in six different languages. I noted the way my head was buzzing while my body was calm. I noticed things. Cannabis made me present.

Which is just a long way of saying: cannabis is a gift that can open your mind and enhance your connection to the world around you, no matter where your travels take you. Enjoy it. Or don’t. You do you. Which is the best thing you can be, no matter where you are. Get going.

Stephanie Wilson ED I TOR I N CHI EF SENSI MAGAZINE

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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 Canyon Cultivation // MICRO DOSING 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 Evolutionz Consulting // THE CLEAR™ Evolve Formulas // TRANSDERMAL Franklin Bioscience // PILLS AND TABLETS General Cannabis // CONSULTING GoFire // DOSE CONTROL Greenhouse Payment Solutions // PAYMENT PROCESSING GreenLink Financial // BANKING Higher Grade // BOUTIQUE CANNABIS Hybrid Payroll // STAFFING AND HR BENEFITS Incredibles // WELLNESS Jupiter Research // INHALATION HARDWARE 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 Next Frontier Biosciences // BIOSCIENCES PotGuide // TRAVEL/TOURISM 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 ULEVA // HEMP PRODUCTS Wana Brands // EDIBLES WillPower // SPORTS NUTRITION Witlon Inc. // PAYROLL PROCESSING You Deserve a Massage // VIBROACOUSTIC SOUND LOUNGE 18 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

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Affordable Travel Takes The simple things make traveling so much easier.

As we pack our bags in hopes of either an overnight staycation or a true escape somewhere fascinating, the continual shift in what we can and can’t take with us seems to be mounting faster than we can keep up. Thankfully, as flight rules change and road trips become more popular, traveling light doesn’t mean giving up things that matter. Beauty regimes, fitness routines, creature comforts, and clean clothes make traveling all the more successful. Following is a look at some products I’ll never travel without. Whether I’m road tripping or traveling to the other side of the world, these things make my life on the road easier, more luxurious, and lighter—and fit snuggly in my suitcase.

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–Dawn Garcia

BEAUTY + SELF-CARE In a world where beauty tricks and fads seem to hit our inbox faster than a hummingbird’s flapping wings, travel-friendly products are becoming more the norm.

Listening as consumers demanded less bulk and more quality product, some brands took note.

Burt’s

Bees

Micellar

Cleans-

ing Wipes // $5 per package: These makeup-removing wipes are hands down one of the best. They’re gentle enough not to irritate your skin thanks to cypress oil, they remove everything including lipstick and mascara, and they smell like a day spa.

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Yes to Cucumbers Calming Sleep Mask // $12 for a 4-pack: When traveling, especially somewhere hot, having a good calming mask can be the difference between clogged pores and dehydrated skin or worse, painful sunburn. The Yes to Cucumbers calming sleeping mask is an individually wrapped mask with cucumber extract.

OMG! 4-in-1 Zone System Mask // $7 per sheet: This is an eye mask, charcoal clay mask, Kaolin clay mask, and a finishing cream. All you have to do is wash your face and apply each of the three masks to the designated area and follow it with the moisturizer. It comes in a single sheet with four perforated sections, making easy to pack and easy to use.

SLEEP + WELLNESS One of the most difficult aspects of travel is sleeping in hotels. It can be the ultimate challenge to feel comfortable and get a good night’s rest. The two products below will help make that possible.

Brave Era Silk Travel Sheet // $100: There’s nothing quite like resting your head on a perfect sheet, but sometimes, no matter how much money you spend, a sheet can be less than optimal. This travel sheet is 100 percent mulberry silk and hypoallergenic. Plus, it’s as soft as it seems, is machine washable and air dries.

Hemp FX, Relax // $107.07 per bottle: This mint-flavored sleep aid is full of goodness and everything you need to take the edge off and get a good night’s rest. While this bottle can’t go on your carry-on, it is safe to take on an airplane, containing 750 milligrams of active hemp phytocannabinoids.

Be sure to check any travel restrictions, but if you get the green light, this is terrific for long travels with severe time change. It will help calm jet lag.

Snark City Sleep Masks // $11: There’s nothing quite like sarcasm, so a sleep mask with a snarky sense of humor is a dream come true—literally. These catchy sleep masks are comfy and will make you laugh before putting them on and nestling into your slumber.

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Direct to Humbolt

Next month, United Airlines launches a nonstop flight from DIA to the Emerald Triangle. Here’s a little about what’s happening in the region that will make you want to hop aboard.

Last year was a prodigious one for the Emerald Triangle. Not only did California officially legalize recreational cannabis, the backbone of the area’s economy and cornerstone of its culture, but travel titan Lonely Planet named the Redwood Coast the number one destination in the United States.

The two events equal a potential so huge that comparisons of cannabis tourism to Napa Valley’s famous wine country are now the talk of the town. Like wine, cannabis is a pleasantly intoxicating substance with millions of aficionados. But unlike alcohol, cannabis is also highly medicinal and at the heart of countless miracle stories. For anyone who has personally experienced or watched a relative or friend overcome epilepsy or MS, get off opioid painkillers, or beat cancer with the help of ganja, it’s a plant to be revered.

Cannabis has also driven some of the most creative el24 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

ements of America’s counterculture movement in terms of art, music, progressive politics, sustainable agriculture and holistic health—all are on full display in Humboldt County. Add the pristine ancient forests, wilderness, coastlines, historic small towns, and the living jewels we call rivers, and what emerges is a cannabis tourism destination without compare.

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Recognizing the rare and special qualities of life in the Emerald Triangle, the Southern Humboldt Business & Visitors Bureau (SHBVB) has kicked off its Elevate the Magic campaign, branding the region as America’s Cannabis Heartland. The SHBVB produces high-quality video profiles of local Southern Humboldt (known colloquially as SoHum) farms, such as Alpenglow, Huckleberry Hill, and Lady Sativa. The footage showcases the region as a stunning backdrop for a cannabis-fueled adventure. The SHBVB also plans to welcome guests to America’s Cannabis Heartland through a Meet Your Farmer dinner series to be launched this spring, says Laura Lasseter, SHBVB director of operations.

While the historic farms of SoHum will undoubtedly draw visitors with their sun-grown ganja flowers, Northern Humboldt County is also positioned to become a cannabis mecca. In Eureka, Matt Kurth runs Humboldt Cannabis Tours 26 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

out of an office on 2nd and C streets in Old Town. “We start our tours here because there are more lodging options in town,” says Kurth.

In Kurth’s perspective, cannabis tourism is not in competition with other area attractions like the mighty Sequoia sempervirens or the local art scene, but rather enhances them. For example, in Eureka, visitors can enjoy oysters, wine, Victorians, and local art in the waterfront district, while trails and beaches are only minutes away. At Eureka’s Sequoia Park Zoo, the world’s first old-growth redwood canopy walk is under construction. Such attractions add to the intrigue and excitement for cannabis tourists, visitors who crave the “real” Emerald Triangle experience.

While it’s exciting to see new facilities, events, and activities created around cannabis tourism, it’s important to recognize that the experience is about more than collecting tourist dollars. Cannabis tourism is a platform to share the culture and legacy of Humboldt County’s small, sustainable, and family-run farms with the public. In an industry threatened by corporate investment, mom-andpop farmers are still major players in the cultural shift around mainstream cannabis acceptance and education.

“For branding Humboldt, tourism can and will be invaluable,” says Kurth. “If someone visits your farm and then sees your product next to another product on the shelf, they’re going to choose your product.” Kurth explains that while Humboldt cannot compete with other potential growing regions pound for pound, the region should dominate the craft cannabis market—tourism is key to making that happen. “You don’t need huge numbers to have a big impact,” says Kurth.

Despite its humble reputation, Humboldt is already synonymous with topshelf quality when it comes to the nation’s fastest-growing industry. It’s time to put the Emerald Triangle legacy to good use.

–Ocean Malandra

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{newsfeed }

by L E L A N D R U C K E R

UPDATES AROUND THE REGION

AURORA POT POOL We hear a lot about how much tax revenue the state of Colorado is getting from the sale of adult-use and medical cannabis, but many wonder where that money is going.

In the city of Aurora, it’s paying for a lot of stuff, including helping allay the cost of two ultra-modern recreational centers as well as allocations to combat homelessness and aid city road and intersection projects. Cities that sell retail cannabis get a percentage of state sales taxes, and they also receive a portion of revenue from the state’s wholesale excise tax, both of which amount to more than nine million dollars a year, according to Terri Velasquez, the city’s finance director.

The crown jewel is the Central Recreation Facility, located at 18150 E. Vassar Place and scheduled to open

30 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

this summer. It’s about as modern and high-end as rec centers are allowed to be, and the city approved it only after extensive input from Aurora citizens about what they wanted. The pool includes a “lazy river,” a unique, neon-light laden indoor-outdoor slide with lap and kiddie pools. Other amenities include a basketball court, aerobics rooms, and classrooms for yoga and exercise. Cannabis dollars went toward its $30 million price tag. The second facility hasn’t broken ground yet.

Some municipalities, like Boulder, dump their cannabis tax monies into their general fund. Aurora looks at it differently. “We go through the process and discuss this with City Council, who determines the use of those funds, and they let us know what their priorities are,” Velasquez says. “Most dollars are obligated to homeless programs, transportation projects, and the two recreation facilities.”

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HEMP GOES BIG TIME The sixth annual NoCo Hemp Festival was held at the Crown Plaza DIA the last weekend in March. I attended on Friday, my third year at the event.

The last two years NoCo was in Ft. Collins and was a smaller, more local and intimate gathering of true believers, business owners, investors, and the hemp-curious. This year it moved to Crown Plaza DIA, but even that upgrade was almost too small for the event, as about 10,000 people from around the world came to its business conference, farm symposium, workshops, trade show, art exhibits, entertainment, speeches, seminars, and panels on every aspect of the budding industry.

I talked with business owners from Nepal (with hemp-fiber backpacks) and the Czech Republic, both trying to reach the American market. Old standby Deere and Company was peddling John Deere tractors to hemp farmers, while an Australian consortium was trying to get hemp gin into the American market and sell American-made goods Down Under. The intensity was palpable in the crowded aisles.

So the hemp industry is poised and ready to enter the legal market. The Farm Bill that passed last December removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act and placed it in the same class as other agricultural products.

That change also puts hemp products under the purview of the US Food and Drug Administration. This means the FDA has to provide rules for regulation of those products. Though many are available around the country

32 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

and more on the way, CBD is not federally legal as an ingredient in food, drinks, or supplements.

With millions of hemp-derived products already on the market and stores opening up all over the country, even in states that don’t allow medical cannabis, this could be a deliberative and exhaustive process. The FDA has already issued warning letters to companies it says are making what it calls “egregious, over-the-line claims” for CBD’s effects on cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, fibromyalgia, and drug addiction.

The agency recently announced that it will convene a public hearing on regulations for hemp-derived CBD on May 31. No decisions will be made, but the FDA has lots of questions. Are there any “particular safety concerns” in regulating CBD products? Should specific groups (like pregnant women) be taken into consideration? What’s the maximum acceptable daily CBD intake? Are there side effects that need to be considered?

The FDA also has concerns that if CBD is allowed in the food supply or as a dietary supplement, it might hinder drug companies from undertaking expensive clinical trials to investigate its therapeutic potential. The agency is also considering best practices for the manufacturing and marketing of hemp products and how to properly notify consumers about health risks through labeling.

Mark the date; it’s gonna be a big one. Expect a lot of conflicting and emotional testimony. If you’re wondering where the FDA stands, it provides an FAQ page on FDA.GOV .

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{aroundtown }

by S E N S I S TA F F

A TRIP TO THE WILD SIDE Must-see this month: The new Meow Wolf Kaleidoscape at Elitch Gardens.

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It’s the colorful explosion you’d expect from the otherworldly art collective known as Meow Wolf.

Made at High Altitude in Durango, CO

Haven’t yet had a chance to escape to Santa Fe to experience the wondrous world created by Meow Wolf in the House of Eternal Return exhibition? Don’t fret. This summer, the art is coming to you. At Elitch Gardens. Really!

Kaleidoscape by Meow Wolf previewed to Elitch Gardens’ season ticket holders in the middle of April, and is slated to be open to the public on April 20 (on track as of press time). It’s described as a never-before-seen attraction that takes guests on a densely immersive and fully interactive experience. “Riders who journey on Meow Wold’s Kaleidoscape will be transported to other-worldly motion, deep sound, wild color, and interactive moments that create an immersive world around you. This intriguing attraction [is] the first artist-driven dark ride the world has ever seen,” teases the Elitch site in the days leading up to the ride’s debut. The Denver Post calls it a “hallucinogenic gallery of neon art” with a “self-consciously ridiculous cosmic theme.”

As Sensi reported last spring, Meow Wolf—one of the most successful interactive art collectives in the country—announced it will soon be opening shop here in Denver, calling the planned 90,000-square-foot space a boon for the independent art scene. When it was announced, our reporter wrote “it was a rare case where both the developers and creators lauded the news—the former knowing the tourist revenue they’ll draw with the latter hoping for more creative opportunities after watching corporate entities swallowing up outlets

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ELITCH GARDENS

around them left and right.”

The downtown Denver Meow Wold permanent exhibition space is under construction, with the cranes visible from Sensi’s editorial office perch in Turntable Studios next to Mile High Stadium. And just across the highway, we can spy some of the preview action going on at the city’s main amusement park— the 129-year-old Elitch Gardens, Colorado’s only theme-slash-water park, where the new Meow Wolf Kaleidoscape ride has taken over and repurposed the indoor space formerly occupied by the 20-year-old Ghost Blasters II carton-rails attraction.

It’s a colorful explosion as one would expect from the otherworldly art collective. The arts and entertainment group outta Santa Fe teamed up with the

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(story continues on p. 41) sensimag.com MAY 2019 39

40 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

Fast Facts: Elitch Gardens HBD

Elitch Gardens celebrates its 129th birthday on May 1, 2019.

Making a Splash

2019 Dive-In Movies

Catch a flick from the wave pool.

JUNE 28

Aquaman JULY 5

Elitch Gardens opened to the public for the 2019 season on April 20. The water park is slated to open May 25.

Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse

Did you know?

The Little Mermaid

Both the LA Times and USA Today called Kaleidoscape one of the Top 10 Most Anticipated Rides of 2019.

JULY 12

Ralph Breaks the Internet JULY 19 JULY 26

Mary Poppins Returns

Summer Concert Schedule Free with admission. More to come.

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Crowder

AUGUST 2

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sensimag.com MAY 2019 41

42 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

amusement park to create a mind-bending art ride that travels through artist-designed landscapes, checks out unreal creatures, and explores interactive ride features.

The preview videos showcase trippy landscapes created by a half-dozen Denver artists selected by Meow Wolf, who created a world punctuated by bright colors and happy lights. There’s some ski boots topped with a cooler. A giant neon tree frog. Spiky neon plants that look like they were plucked from the other side of the looking glass in Alice in Wonderland. Repurposed materials plucked from the space’s previous occupant. It’s like a trip through House of Eternal Return in miniature, a colorful blast to all the senses that is overwhelming in all the right ways.

It fits right in with Denver’s elevated, open mindset.

(And is even more engulfing if you go in with an elevated mindset of your own. Wink, wink.)

The three-minute experience is only the second permanent installment for the art collective—a milestone moment for both Elitch and the Meow Wolf group. And it’s free to experience with admissions to the amusement

IT’S LIKE A TRIP THROUGH HOUSE OF ETERNAL RETURN IN MINIATURE, A

colorful blast

TO ALL THE SENSES THAT IS OVERWHELMING

in all the right ways.

park. Meet us there, OK? SAVE $20 on general admission by buying tickets online. Each ticket is $39.99 at ELITCHGARDENS.COM . Door cost is $59.99 each.

sensimag.com MAY 2019 43

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{starpowered }

by N AT H A C A M PA N E L L A

MAY

especially if it feels like people are holding their expectant hands out, waiting for you to give (and give and

HOROSCOPES

give). Take it as a sign to retreat into the comforts of your private space.

Spend money on things that make you feel safe and secure, and share your time with people who make you feel the same way.

TAURUS

Apr 20–May 20

LEO

ware that thinking about strategies

July 23–Aug 22

doesn’t replace actually implement-

The sun is coming out, and that’s

It’s your birthday month, and you’re

ing them. If you want to bring proj-

your ruling planet, so you’re feeling

going to like it. You’ll find nothing

ects to completion, you’ll need to sit

on top of the world right now. Get

too difficult will be expected of you.

down at some point and actually do

clear about your intentions early in

This will allow you to do the kinds

any work you’ve committed to.

the month so you can use the power

of things you love the most: relax, make art, eat good food, and save your money. Beware of any die-

CANCER

June 22–July 22

of your decisions to fuel you. This is a period of good fortune; the things you set your mind on should arrive easily.

hard desires to put your nose to the

You know what’s important to you?

Romance will have a little extra spice

grindstone and work through your

Tending to those you love. But you

to it, although toward the end of the

free time. Don’t be stubborn—grant

can’t care for everyone else if your

month, your partner might tire of the

yourself the chance to chill for the

own tank is empty. You’ll get a chance

fun and games and just want to chill

next few weeks while demands are

to practice self-nurturing this month,

at home. That may not be the easiest

low. The best opportunities tend to

prospect for you (because you love to

arrive right after we’ve given our-

see and be seen) but communicating

selves time to rest.

GEMINI

May 21–June 21

Never one to appreciate being tied down, dear Gemini, this month will

Cancer, take this chance to retreat to the comforts of private space.

your wants and needs around it all should be more fluid than usual, so sharpen up those negotiation skills.

VIRGO

Aug 23–Sept 22

support you in that preference.

May might start out rough. While

Those you love will be eager to jump

your focus is generally on the details,

into action with you (and dull and

the rest of the world is busy ignor-

boring conversations will be few and

ing those details. The first part of this

far between). May will be a stimu-

month brings flaky people flocking to

lating month indeed, but if you have

you, adding insult to injury by ignor-

assignments with deadlines, be-

ing your opinions and bypassing your

46 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

instructions like crazy. Breathe deep.

The second half of the month you can relax as the people around you

Sagittarius, if you can’t accomplish adventure in the flesh this month, find a book or teaching to dive into.

settle down and become more interested in security and stability. It feels like a breath of fresh spring air.

LIBRA

Sept 23–Oct 22

When relationships aren’t going your way, you might feel tempted to bend over backward trying to buy love or gossip about what a horrible person your lover or friend is. If you notice you’re doing either, be prepared to advocate for yourself instead. Don’t let the idea scare you. Arguments are a great way to get everything on the table and find a peaceful middle ground. And don’t worry, things will settle down, especially if you commit to communicating clearly and directly, to set yourself up for a much more satisfying spring.

SCORPIO

Oct 23–Nov 21

The truth is, you like a little drama.

But that’s a good thing, because May will bring challenge in love which, at the very least, will keep things in-

one of being flaky just because they

will benefit from the discussions that

don’t want to talk about emotions.

stem from the things you’re learning.

By the end of the month, you’ll be

Be careful you don’t come across as

able to relax and share your feelings

a know-it-all though, or those same

in more satisfying ways.

people will challenge, or worse yet,

SAGITTARIUS

Nov 22–Dec 21

pull away from you.

CAPRICORN

Dec 22–Jan 19

teresting. If you want to come out

Your sense of push and pull will be

on top, here’s the key: just because

strong this month. Adventure will call

Governing others brings you a sense

your partner or friend has higher en-

(as it usually does) but when you’re

of security. There’s nothing wrong

ergy or conflicting needs, it doesn’t

finally ready to make something

with that; you’re good at being the

mean they’re dishonest or disloyal.

happen, you won’t be in the mood

boss. The trick is in remembering

People need to express themselves

for it anymore. Even if you can’t ac-

that people require communication.

in their own ways—even if you find

complish adventure in the flesh this

Ordering people around won’t work

those ways annoying. Avoid verbal

month, find a book or teaching to dive

out, so if you feel pushback, step

sparring and try not to accuse any-

into; your friends and those you love

aside and assess why you’re using sensimag.com MAY 2019 47

48 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

Aries, your version of relaxation has less to do with laying around and more with excitement and activity, so get on that.

ARIES

so much force. If you don’t feel heard,

as may be your tendency. Verbalize

change up your approach. The sec-

your feelings and don’t get too stuck

ond part of the month will be easier,

on trying to convince your partners

This is a good month to take it easy.

especially if you realize that, while

to take your perspective because as

Your version of relaxation has less to

you’re the CEO of your own life, that

accurate as you think yourself to be,

do with laying around and more with

doesn’t necessarily give you permis-

it won’t work out like you planned.

excitement and activity, so get on that.

sion to rule your coworkers and loved ones with an iron fist.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Feb 19–Mar 20

Mar 21–Apr 19

Head outside, hit the mat, work up a sweat. This goes for physical intimacy as well. Invigorating activities with

Daydreaming is the way you take

people you have the feels for may lead

breaks from the stress (and bore-

to hot and heavy action. Just don’t for-

Air signs love to brainstorm, dis-

dom) of life. You might spend the first

get to engage in good old-fashioned

cuss and debate, so good news! This

half of May floating along in reverie.

conversations as well. These can be

month you’ll have brilliant ideas and

Let yourself rest; a busy schedule or

just as stimulating as exercise.

right answers. If you’re knee-deep

even demanding conversations with

in projects, complete them quickly

others could result in unneeded frus-

lest you be dragged down by mood-

trations. Take a break from romance

iness later in the month. (Ugh, emo-

early in the month, and rest assured

tions!) Speaking of feelings, don’t

that in good time, everything will be-

keep those you love at arms-length

gin to feel stable again.

Jan 20–Feb 18

NATHA CAMPANELLA is a professional astrologer specializing in evolutionary astrology. While some say astrology is a science, and some say it’s an art, Natha says it’s both. When she’s not working, you can find her writing for online publications and conducting interviews on her podcast Star Narratives.

Instagram @NATHA_CAMPANELLA_ASTROLOGY NATHACAMPANELLA.COM

sensimag.com MAY 2019 49

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sensimag.com MAY 2019 51

{lifestyle }

by L E L A N D R U C K E R

52 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

WEEKEND IN THE WILDERNESS Overlanding becomes more accessible with RV rentals.

OK. You’re yearning for a little quiet time every now and then, and hotel and motel rooms seem overpriced and all the same. You desire the wonder of Colorado without having to hit chain restaurants.

sensimag.com MAY 2019 53

54 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

“We want to offer a place to sleep and a kitchen with pots and pans for folks who don’t have any gear and want to camp, cook and have a good time.”

—Mike Gentile, Spirit of 1876

But you don’t have the equipment to go camping. What’s

grand for a rooftop tent. We’re seeking to accommodate

a bored traveler to do these days to get away from it all for

folks that want to get out but don’t have anything so they

a weekend?

can find out what camping is like.”

One option has never really gone out of style. Recre-

Options are endless. It’s possible to find rental vehicles

ational vehicles and trailers are as popular as ever, and

that start at around a hundred dollars a night and up from

many Americans are renting them as an easy alternative

there, depending on the number of people, your wants

to go places you might not otherwise go and to avoid some

and needs, and your pocketbook. But expect to spend

of the drudgery and expense of traveling. These days it’s

more than that. There are lots of websites that offer RVs

called overlanding, or mixing camping and off-roading,

for rent, and today’s models are pretty nifty.

and it’s easier than you might think. You have to bring your own towels, but there’s no check-out time, either.

Gentile says his rentals are intended to give people options and see if they want to invest further. “It gives you a

“The concept of camping and getting outdoors to es-

chance to demo it first,” he explains. An example is that he

cape crowds and noise is getting trendy,” says Mike Gen-

offers Yeti coolers with his rigs. “That’s an expensive cool-

tile of Spirit of 1876, which sells and rents recreational ve-

er. But I can’t tell you how many people tell me, ‘This Yeti

hicles in Denver. “Overlanding has become an extension of

cooler kept my bacon cold.’ It opens the door to products

the ‘weekend warrior’ concept. But the cost of having all

they might think are ridiculous and wouldn’t invest in.”

the equipment needed can deter someone from getting

Trailers are really popular items these days, and they

involved. They don’t have 30 grand to buy a trailer, or four

come in different shapes and sizes. Teardrop campers are sensimag.com MAY 2019 55

56 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

Also popular are roof-top tents that fit on the top of

Get on the road!

(But start on the web.)

Here are some websites to help you begin your research: 1876CO.COM/RENT-NOW RVSHARE.COM/RV/RENT-RV-FOR-WEEKEND THERVNOMAD.COM/RENT-RV-FOR-WEEKEND/ GORVING.COM/WHERE-TO-FIND/RENTALS

sport vehicles and can sleep from two to five people. Offroad trailers with independent suspension are designed to go anywhere, Gentile says. “We allow you to rent these to get the whole experience.”

As anybody who lives or visits knows, Colorado is getting mighty crowded. Camp spots are fewer and farther between, and they fill up long before summer. You might not be able to just show up in June and find one. Gentile suggests

HIPCAMP.COM ,

a website with a search engine

that offers public and private land areas that might give you ideas and suggestions for places to not just camp, but camp in a secluded area.

As with anything new, Gentile says to do your research

those cute trailers, some that include a queen-sized mat-

before spending your money, and booking early is certain-

tress that folds into a couch and bunks for kids that make

ly encouraged. Do your homework on where you want to

them great for family weekend travel.

go and look for a rental that gives you what you need, he says. “We want to offer a place to sleep and a kitchen with pots and pans for folks who don’t have any gear and want to camp, cook, and have a good time.”

sensimag.com MAY 2019 57

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sensimag.com MAY 2019 59

{tastebuds }

by J O N L E H N D O R F F

A TASTE FOR

TRUCKIN’ Dining pioneer Josh Wolkon talks Steubie Snacks, jam bands, and cannabis in the kitchen.

He didn’t imagine owning four eateries and food truck, but

restaurants and at a catering company. I really learned a lot

Josh Wolkon knew he wanted to open a restaurant eventually

about what it takes to put out consistently good food,” he said.

when he migrated to Colorado from Boston in 1995. “I had

He also encountered the storied association between

never worked in a kitchen so I took a lot of cooking jobs at 60 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

cannabis and Colorado’s commercial kitchens.

“I had smoked, but I came to Boulder after managing at a

His philosophy toward people may have more to do with the

very conservative Westin Hotel. Weed was still illegal. I start-

many longtime employees than luck. “I do the orientation for

ed working at a restaurant, and we all stepped outside for a

every new hire we do. It’s important that we welcome people

cigarette break. Somebody broke out the pipe, and we passed

into the community and have everyone on the same page,” he

it around—even the executive chef took a hit,” he said.

said. Opening the new eateries created new opportunities for

In an industry with a horribly high mortality rate, Wol-

the many veteran cooks, waiters, and managers.

kon and his wife, Jenn Wolkon, now oversee a thriving,

Wellness has been on Wolkon’s mind since the start for

300-person community of culinary businesses including

a simple, sad reason. “I’ve seen too many good people go

Vesta, Steuben’s (in Denver and Arvada), and Ace Eat Serve.

down the wrong road in this industry. We need to balance

Steuben’s Food Truck (STEUBENS.COM ) pops up at some of

the hard work and party lifestyle of restaurants,” he said.

the most interesting private events along the Front Range.

The restaurants sponsor wellness weeks, company-wide

OF CANNABIS AND COOKS

cleanses, yoga, and a group run at the Bolder Boulder.

In 1997, Wolkon opened Vesta Dipping Grill (now simply

WOULD YOU DO IT FOR A STEUBIE SNACK?

called Vesta). He introduced the region to unstuffy “casual

In the heart of the recession in 2006 Steuben’s opened in

fine dining” by dishing eclectic, hip fare highlighted by 15

Denver’s Uptown neighborhood in a renovated gas station.

to 20 highly flavored dipping sauces.

Named after a classic Boston restaurant owned by Wolkon’s

Vesta became a hot dining destination and he faced the

great uncle, Steuben’s is a chef-driven modern diner serv-

cannabis question in business at a time when it was still il-

ing scratch-made regional American favorites from Maine

legal in Colorado. “We have never drug-tested anyone,” he

lobster salad rolls to chicken and waffles and green chile

said. “At our restaurants, the expectation is that you are so-

cheeseburgers along with chicken pot pie and deviled eggs.

ber and functional. It doesn’t matter if it’s weed, alcohol, or

The staff noticed a curious seasonal happening almost im-

even prescription drugs. It’s a safety issue. You shouldn’t be

mediately. “At most restaurants, Valentine’s Day or Mother’s

working with sharp knives or around hot stoves.”

Day is the busiest day of the year. The busiest day at Steu-

That said, there is an alternate reality. “I’ve worked

ben’s Uptown was April 20,” Wolkon said. 4/20—and Labor

alongside a lot of stoners who did an excellent job. You

Day weekend when Phish plays at Dick’s Sporting Goods

don’t always know someone is stoned. As long as they are

Park—continue to be the restaurant’s peak days, he added.

doing a great job,” Wolkon said. “I do think there is a creative part of cannabis that appeals to chefs and cooks.”

The birth of legalized recreational pot inspired the über-popular Steubie Snacks. “We needed a tasty snack

In an industry notorious for turnover, Wolkon feels “lucky”

for 4/20 you could hold in one hand. We deep-fried pork

that he’s only had three head chefs in more than two decades.

shoulder chunks until crispy, added powdered sugar and

sensimag.com MAY 2019 61

62 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

put them in a paper cone,” Wolkon said. Steubie Snacks SIDE ORDER:

Doughnut Holes, Preserves, and Jam Band Culture Music is not a minor aspect of restaurateur Josh Wolkon’s life and he has found a rock fan’s dream life. His company caters backstage food for some of Denver’s top concert venues, and he gets to see lots of shows and hang out with folks like Oteil Burbridge (Allman Brothers Band, Dead & Co.) Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), Jon Fishman (Phish) and Nathaniel Raitlief. Members of the Infamous Stringdusters, the Motet and Soulive have frequented his restaurants when they are in town.

“The live music culture, the restaurant culture and now the cannabis culture all cater to open minded people who crave experiences, whether they be outdoors, at Red Rocks, or in a restaurant with vibe and soul; anything to get away from our screens,” Wolkon said.

Music even plays a role in hiring, although devotion to jam music is not a prerequisite. “It’s always been a good sign when a candidate for a job can connect over a band,” he said.

Tunes were a vital force in creating the community Wolkon now has around him. “The Allman Brothers Band was my go-to band as I was building Vesta in 1997,” he recalled. “ I vividly remember my daily drive home to Boulder on US 36, with not much development between Denver and Boulder at the time. I was jamming out to ‘Jessica,’ ‘Ain’t Wasting Time No More,’ and ‘Mountain Jam,’ while trying to roll with the anxiety and excitement of watching my dream come to reality. I love that I now hear ‘Jessica’ ripping from the guitar of my 16-year-old son. I’m doing something right.”

were soon enshrined on the menu.

By April 20, 2019, special menus of $4.20 items were served at Steuben’s and the nearby Ace Eat Serve. Steuben’s munchies-busters included a maple bacon vanilla shake with bourbon blended with a whole frosted chocolate cupcake. Ace featured savory pancakes wrapped around pork belly, cabbage, scallions, Kewpie Mayo, and teriyaki sauce.

Another garage was rehabbed to create the vibrant Ace Eat Serve in 2012 showcasing Asian street comfort food from Chef Thach Tran with a side of ping pong at 10 tables.

“I love restaurants but I’ve never been into owning a whole bunch of them. Our growth has been organic,” he said.

That growth hasn’t included opening in nameless beige shopping centers from Anytown, USA. “I like going into neighborhoods undergoing revitalization. All of our restaurants are in old buildings that have character,” Wolkon said.

Steuben’s Uptown had been an old gas station. The second Steuben’s was born in 2016 because the iconic 25-year-old Gunther Toody’s Diner building in Olde Town Arvada became available. “There is a story in that place.

Our intention has been to open restaurants that feel like they have been around forever,” Wolkon said.

CANNABIS CAUSING COOKING CUTS? Cannabis intersected dining in challenging ways post-legalization. “When we opened Vesta and Steuben’s we had stacks of résumés. The pool of people interested in restaurant work has shrunk with the low unemployment rate while the number of restaurants has expanded.

Some workers attracted to restaurants also find work in the cannabis industry. We’ve lost a few folks to edibles companies but it’s not that big a story. Our job is to attract people excited about hospitality,” he said.

“Happy” customers are not a new phenomenon nor have they been a problem. “Stoners are far easier to with deal with than drunks. Occasionally, a newcomer eats too many edibles—they just go limp—but it’s rare,” Wolkon said.

Some had predicted that THC-infused diners would drink less and hurt restaurants which traditionally make critical income from cocktails and beer. “We saw no impact at all on alcohol sales from legalization,” he said.

Colorado’s thriving food, craft beer, cannabis, music and wellness cultures have blossomed together in recent sensimag.com MAY 2019 63

64 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

years because they all focus on creating community. They share a focus on product quality, Wolkon said. They de-

HAVING A SMOKE AFTER DINNER? Wolkon’s cannabis-friendly approach does not extend

velop loyal regulars by serving them on many levels. Bud-

to smoking pot in public places. “I don’t want anyone

tenders, waiters, and bartenders share an ability to figure

smoking anything or vaping on the patios,” he said. Unlike

out the needs of guests and satisfy them.

his younger customers, Wolkon remembers when ciga-

In fact, cannabis has opened the door to new business.

rette smoke filled local cafes.

“At Ace, we’ve hosted a lot of local cannabis companies for

“At Vesta, we initially allowed smoking in the bar. One night

gathering and annual parties. These are non-consumption

I was sitting eating dinner and I had a smoker on my right and

events but they are a lot of fun,” Wolkon said. The compa-

a smoker on my left. I couldn’t eat without inhaling smoke.

nies partying at Ace have range from Lightshade Labs and

We killed smoking in the restaurant right after that,” he said.

Marys Medicinals to Native Roots and iVita.

When it comes to private events it’s a different story.

Wolkon launched the Steuben’s Food Truck in 2009 at the

“Our intention has been to open restaurants that feel like they have been around forever.”

—Josh Wolkon, Steuben’s

dawn of Denver’s food truck boom.

The truck has been seen at many outdoor block parties, birthday parties, anniversaries, and music festivals—many of them cannabis-friendly. “For us it’s easy. We’re just there serving food. We did a great wedding recently where little pinner joints were available at the bar. Grandmas were out on the floor smoking and dancing and having a good old time,” he said.

“I appreciate the fact that cannabis is finally losing its stigma. People at a party can get what they like and it’s not a big deal. They don’t have to hide it. At some point, it just becomes normal,” Wolkon said.

JOHN LEHNDORFF is the former Dining Critic of the Rocky Mountain News. He hosts Radio Nibbles on KGNU. Podcasts at NEWS.KGNU.ORG/CATEGORY/RADIO-NIBBLES .

sensimag.com MAY 2019 65

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sensimag.com MAY 2019 67

{lifestyle }

by S E N S I S TA F F

COOL. CUSTOMER When it comes to hemp products, the sky’s the limit.

68 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

It’s no secret that hemp is one interesting plant, one whose uses seem to be expanding daily. Much of the excitement these days is based around cannabidiol, or CBD, considered a major healing compound in cannabis. But hemp, the cannabis plant with little or no THC, is far more than just wellness products. So we thought we’d take a look at other hemp stuff so you can promote the startling adaptability of this plant while making it part of your own life.

TOTE With the continuing emphasis on sustainability and eliminating plastic from our lives, many communities are in the process of banning or discouraging the use of plastic bags from retail stores. In effect, this makes the canvas bag de rigueur for environmentally conscious shoppers. And what better way to show your support for hemp products than a sturdy tote from HEMPGOGREEN.COM that will ensure all your perishables get home safely for a long time to come?

AROUND THE HOUSE Hemp is an industrial agricultural plant, and its uses include mundane tasks like keeping your house tidy. Scrub brushes now come with hemp fiber bristles (ZORO.COM ) that will clear up any mess your cat makes in the kitchen or living

EYEWEAR Ski season is ending, so be thinking about next year with

room. There’s even an alternative to traditional wood products: hemp industrial oil for your old wooden table or chairs.

CASKETBUILDERSUPPLY.COM/PRODUCTS/FINISHES-HEMP-OIL

some hemp ski googles from Bosky (BOSKYOPTICS.COM ), that feature a tear-resistant hemp ventilation system among its innovations. (It’s also making eyeglasses of hemp that are very stylish.) And you’ll want a warm, striped hemp crew sweater (GARMENTORY.COM ) to keep away the chill as you’re making your way up the lifts or flying down the slopes.

CLOTHING Hemp has been used in apparel for generations. Many feel it’s superior to cotton because it weighs less and softens with every wash. Hemp is more expensive, but is also more durable. There are hemp socks that wick away moisture sensimag.com MAY 2019 69

70 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

and sweat and come in an assortment of different colors.

Other accessory items to build your hemp profile include a sun hat (with a cannabis leaf on it, if that’s your thing), and belt made from hemp fiber. There are even hemp pull toys to play with your pooch at the dog park. And Kind Hemp (KINDHEMPCO.COM ) plants a hemp seed for every item it sells.

There are more and more choices out there, like on Jungmaven (JUNGMAVEN.COM ), for hemp shirts, vests, and jeans for all sexes. And today you can even find sheets and pillowcases made from 100 percent hemp. (Don’t forget that hemp sheets get softer with every wash.) If you like linen sheets, you will probably love these, too.

INSTRUMENTS Luthiers are always looking for innovations for instruments, and there are a number of them that are now offering hempbased guitars in acoustic and even electric models. Canadian Hemp Guitars (CANADIANHEMPGUITARS.COM) says its guitars are as vibrant as any ash or maple-mahogany instrument.

Morris Beegle (he’s the guy behind the NoCo Hemp Festival) offers a line of Canadian Hemp Guitars down here that includes the Hempcaster and offers customizable color finishes, electronics, bridges, fretboards, tuners, and knobs.

AND FINALLY… Who doesn’t need a break after hitting the trails, cleaning up the house, or just enduring a shitty day at work?

How about a meditation pillow from Samadhi Cushions (SAMADHICUSHIONS.COM )? Each pillow is made of sustainable 55 percent hemp and 45 percent cotton with a cushion that raises the hips for more comfort in your favorite meditating positions. Add a mat for the complete package. Happy day.

sensimag.com MAY 2019 71

72 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

sensimag.com MAY 2019 73

{highprofile }

by L E L A N D R U C K E R

74 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

ENHANCING THE MUSICMARIJUANA CONNECTION Disco Biscuits and Green Dot Labs hook up for a special concert cartridge.

It’s certainly no secret that musicians, for the most part, love cannabis, and many use it as part of their creative process. And audience members have been smoking pot at concerts for as long as I can remember. With legalization of adult-use, it was only a matter of time before bands began creating special blends for fans to enjoy at shows.

The Disco Biscuits are one of the leading jam bands in the country, and the quartet comes to Colorado every few months with its experimental, in-your-face, improvisational style. Influenced by disrupters like Frank Zappa and electronic music, the Biscuits are known for never doing the same show twice, a trait that keeps their fans coming back for more.

“We wanted to make the craziest, wildest music of all time,” bassist Marc Brownstein said recently about the group he’s spent a quarter century with. “We’re out there, and we’re not trying to make it pleasant or easy on the listener,” he explains enthusiastically. “We felt our job as creative people is to take what existed before us and push the envelope. We’re a four-to-five-songs-per-set kind of band. It takes us a long time to get where we’re going.” I could just about see his smile over the phone.

The band hails from Philadelphia but finds itself in Colorado a lot. “The whole jam band scene is rooted in Colorado these days,” Brownstein says, adding that he is generally here four or five times a year, sometimes with the band, sometimes just to hit the slopes. “So many people sensimag.com MAY 2019 75

76 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

from all over the country—especially after the 2009 legalization—flocked to Colorado for career opportunities.

A lot of those were in music, and it’s become a hotbed of the music scene.”

One of the Biscuits’ most-devoted fans is Dave Malone, who began digging the band back in 2002, long before he started Green Dot Labs in Boulder with his wife, Alana. A huge Phish fan, Malone was looking for similar groups when he was introduced to the Biscuits, whose creative style hooked him big-time. “What appealed to me was how much improvisation is part of their music,” says Malone. “They are constantly creating content in the live setting, and 70 percent of it is improv, which means it’s a unique show every time. They just kinda wing it—they play with their ears as much as with their hands.”

The Disco Biscuits play May 23 and May 24 at the Ogden Theatre and May 25 at Red Rocks Amphitheater.

Tickets at DISCOBISCUITS.COM .

Malone started posting on band/fan websites and social media, Brownstein says. “He was a fan and active on our Facebook page. I kept an eye on him over the years as

On 42 Limited Release live-resin cartridges and dabbable Live Badder for the concert will be available at Kind Love and adult-use retailers all month, and will retail for $50–$60. Each cartridge comes with a Green Dot Labs variable-temperature battery. Updates at: GREENDOTLABS.COM/BLOG .

he become one of the leading extractors in the country. It

Visit the Cannabis Voter Project at

page for more details.) Some advice Brownstein got from

just naturally led to this collaboration.”

The “collaboration” is a special blend, On 42, created jointly by the Biscuits and Green Dot for three concerts the band is doing at the end of May in Denver. (See sidebar on this

CANNABISVOTERPROJECT.ORG

sensimag.com MAY 2019 77

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78 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

his lawyer about possible

“We went through our gardens and picked the plants they

partnerships like this stuck

preferred,” Malone explains about the process. “We set-

with him. “She said to look

tled on a blend of lemon-peel flavor and a long-lasting,

for something you would be

energetic buzz, something that would pair to escalate the

proud to put your name on.

overall experience.”

We’ve been offered a lot of

On 42, named after “42,” a favored Biscuits improvi-

partnerships, but if we were

sation, will be available at dispensaries across Colorado

going to collaborate, we

this month leading up to the band’s Memorial Day Week-

wanted it to be the best of

end run, which includes two nights at the Ogden Theatre

the best.”

and a third at Red Rocks. A portion of proceeds go to the

Green Dot’s reputation for

Cannabis Voter Project, a nonprofit organization that en-

high-quality THC products is considerable. (I can attest per-

gages and registers voters at concerts co-founded and

sonally to this.) Malone had worked with South Tribe Sector

co-chaired by Brownstein. “We’re harnessing the power

Nine on a similar project, and he reached out to Brownstein.

between artists and fans and using it for positive social

“Creating is the nature of what we do,” Malone says. “We do

impact registering voters,” he says. “We signed up Ariana

improvisation in our own business. We’re trying new things

Grande, and she’s now one of our main clients.”

with technology, trying to push the envelope. There are par-

Malone says that though this is a one-off, it could wind

allels between what they do and what we do. We are con-

up becoming a strain of its own. “It started as a blend,”

stantly creating content, extracts, genetics. I connect with

he says. “But I can crossbreed those two and create the

what they do. I kind of apply that to my own business.”

cultivar, and it will become its own plant. Consumers are

The special limited release combines two Green Dot

looking for new products that will increase everything

strains: Sour Best Lemons and Dubble OG, in live-res-

they do. It’s an interplay with music and cannabis and the

in cartridge or dabbable Live Badder, both packaged in a

synergies between them. We could do many more down

special-edition box designed with and for the Biscuits.

the road.”

sensimag.com MAY 2019 79

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sensimag.com MAY 2019 81

{travelwell }

by S T E P H A N I E W I L S O N

CAPTURE THE FLAG. CAPTURE THE FUN. Adult summer camps have popped up all over the country. Let’s go.

No matter what you called it—sleep-away camp, summer

mastering the art of wind surfing and capture the flag, the

camp, or just plain ole camp—getting out of your year-long

evenings spent singing Kumbaya around the campfire, ingest-

surroundings and into the wilderness to experience orga-

ing as many s’mores as you possibly can. I’ve said it before

nized activities and adventures was always a highlight of the

and I’ll say it again: I camp solely for the marshmallows. Bonus

summer. (In New Hampshire, we just called it camp, but I’ve

points if those are the infused marshmallows from High Des-

had many mom friends tell me that’s misleading because

ert Cannabis, if your camp is in Colorado…but I digress again.

that’s what the day-only variety is called, but I digress...)

Perhaps I’m distracted. A weekend in the wilderness occupied

Where was I? Oh, right. Packing for camp. You know, the

by organized activities is just what the doctor ordered. So with

kind where iron-on labels bearing your name are affixed to

that in mind, I rounded up some of the adult summer camp

every article of your clothing. One where the days are spent

options in Colorado and beyond for us to explore together.

82 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

CAMP SHENANIGANS

The Camp Shady Brook YMCA // Sedalia, CO // CAMPSHENANIGANSCOLORADO.COM

With transportation to and from the Front Range, this Rocky Mountain-based adult getaway hasn’t announced its 2019 lineup yet, but there’s a whole lot in store. With activity highlights that run the gamut from archery to zip-lining, this is the typical summer camp expierience—enhanced with an open bar. Some of the other activity highlights include: capture the flag, dodgeball, relay races, obstacble courses, color wars, beer pong, cornhole, and so much more.

With a target audience of fun and flirty Colorado singles, this is a place where debauchery is likely to go down.

Although the organizers did stress to the Denver Post last summer that it is “by no means a drug fest,” nor is it a “hookup camp.” Instead, co-founder Beth Bandimere told the paper that it’s for “people who like to cut loose and have fun.”

type of summer, there’s still time. At this Michigan-based institution, adult band camp is a thing, as more than 70 adults from across the United States and around the globe gather to, as the official literature describes, “experience the joy of ensemble performance in a challenging, supportive, fun, and friendly environment.”

This year’s dates run from Tuesday, August 6 through Sunday, August 11, for a fee of $595. The instrumental faculty teach master classes, coach daily chamber music sessions, and play in the full ensemble with students.

Private lessons in brass, saxophone, woodwinds, and more are on offer, as are sectionals, breakout sessions, and other musically inspired happenings. While there’s a group dinner on the first night to encourage camaraderie among attendees, the rest of the week is up to your discretion. And if American Pie taught us anything back in the 90s, discretion is key when it comes to what happens at band camp.

WOMEN’S ADVENTURE CAMP

@ Camp Chief Ouray // Granby, CO // CAMPCHIEFOURAY.COM

This female-only bonding getaway in Colorado is taking place from September 6–8 this year. Women are invited to “come find your place in the outdoors” for just $325 per person. During the getaway, you’ll learn outdoor adventure skills while playing in the wilderness. There are sessions on topics like how to pack your backpack, proper hik-

ADULT BAND CAMP

Interlochen Center for the Arts // Interolchen, MI // COLLEGE.INTERLOCHEN.ORG

A more sophisticated and educational option, if you please. If you never had a “this one time, at band camp”

ing techniques, basic wildlife knowledge, and more. PLUS, there’s the standard camp happenings: archery, arts and crafts, birding, canoeing, fishing, hiking, high ropes, goat yoga, zip lining, and so much more.

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{travelwell }

by DAV I D D U R A N

LUXURY MEETS ADVENTURE O’ahu beckons everyone to come experience its beauty.

You don’t need an excuse to head to O’ahu. While known

takes you to a nearby, secluded beach where you will learn

for being an island intended for relaxing, it’s not always

how to ride the waves on one board (it’s easier than you

about chillin’ at the beach or slurping down drinks in the

think). The expert guides will be out there with you, making

cabana. Travelers nowadays are searching for a bit of ad-

sure you are safe while snapping some great shots of you

venture to mix in with their resort time. The Four Seasons

riding the waves to shore (proof you did it). Afterward, en-

Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina, located outside of the wildness of

joy an easy uphill climb to Pink Pillbox, where you can take

Waikiki, in a more tranquil part of the island, has partnered

in breathtaking views of the coastline. The Surf Safari also

up with local operators that include retired Navy SEALs,

includes a stop for lunch. When booking, make sure to ask

professional competitive surfers, and conservationists to

for a stop at Ruby’s food truck, a local favorite that makes

fill its guest’s itineraries with incredible once-in-a-lifetime

the most incredible healthy-ish fruit bowls and sweets.

experiences. Ever shared a massive stand-up surfboard with five of your friends or hovered over the ocean in a

SCUBA DIVE WITH NAVY SEALS

helicopter with your scuba gear strapped on your back,

Whether you are a diver or a novice, you can spend the

moments before you jumped in? Now you can, and after-

day underwater with the world’s best. Experience the

wards, you have the luxury of heading straight back to that

wonder of being submerged in the clear blue waters, ex-

cabana for a well-deserved cocktail. Following are some of

ploring the ocean world as you learn basic diving skills and

the incredible adventure activities offered at the Four Sea-

enjoy hand-held experiences with certified PADI instruc-

sons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina.

tors. All equipment for this adventure is provided, including

RIDE A WAVE WITH YOUR FRIENDS

snacks and a fun crew of professionals. You will head to Electric Beach and the natural surrounding reef, which are

Grab your friends and get on a SUPSquatch. What in the

known for pristinely clear waters and an abundance of reef

world is a SUPSquatch, you ask? It’s basically an oversized

fish, turtles, octopi, and the occasional white tip reef shark.

inflatable stand-up surfboard that fits up to six people. The

Trident Adventures (TRIDENTADVENTURES.COM ) also offers

Four Seasons offers an exclusive Surf Safari Experience

more elevated experiences such as diving out of a helicop-

unique to the resort, and the adventure begins with a ho-

ter directly into the water with your gear on—if you really

tel pickup by Let’s Surf HI (LETSSURFHI.COM ). Let’s Surf HI

want that full Navy SEAL experience.

88 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

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LIVE OUT YOUR MAGNUM P.I. FANTASY

Farm-to-Forest Experience that explores the confluence of

There are quite a few helicopter options on the island, but

West O’ahu’s natural and cultural histories through its historic

none can compare to the Magnum P.I. Experience provided by

sites, stories, people, and food, as well as a Birds and Wildlife

Paradise Helicopters (PARADISECOPTERS.COM/TOURS/OAHU).

of O’ahu experience that takes advantage of Hawaii Forest

Covering the island from above, the Magnum Experience

and Trail’s unparalleled land access and expert birding guides.

O’ahu helicopter tour will show you all the island’s highlights.

See the North Shore, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, fly over Waikiki, and more. Did I mention this is all done in a doors-off helicopter that looks exactly like the Magnum P.I. chopper? If you’re not really into Magnum P.I., other helicopter options and tours are available. Paradise Helicopters is the only green helicopter company in Hawaii and donates $6 of each booking to plant trees throughout the state.

STORYTELLING AT ITS FINEST What makes a tour guide extra special is when the guide is not only friendly and knowledgeable but also an excellent

PLANT A LEGACY + RIDE INTO THE SUNSET

storyteller. Hawaii Horse and Trail (HAWAII-FOREST.COM) offers

A unique experience on O’ahu is a visit to Gunstock Ranch

experiences that take you into nature. From lush forests to di-

(GUNSTOCKRANCH.COM), which offer various options and

verse communities, the company takes guests outside of their

packages. One of the most popular is the two-and-a-half-

resorts to enjoy the nature and culture that shapes O’ahu. The

hour Horseback Planter’s Experience, in which you embark

tours are designed around exclusive access to places visitors

on a guided horseback tour that travels up the beautiful

cannot go on their own, as well as interpretive guides who are

mountainside trails, offering stunning views of the ocean,

highly knowledgeable about the Hawaiian Islands—and who

coastline, and hills and valley of the Koolau Mountains. On the

share their personal interpretation of what makes the land,

way back, you will descend into the Hawaiian Legacy Forest,

culture, and lifestyle on the island so special. Guests will leave

where you will be able to select your own Legacy Tree that

their tours with an enhanced love for Hawaii. Tours include a

you will personally plant and dedicate. The trees are tracked

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via radio-frequency identification technology, and you are provided with a certificate of planting that enables you to track your tree’s growth. Gunstock Ranch also partners with Paradise Helicopters so that guests who want to do both can incorporate a stop at Gunstock into their flight plan.

#RESORTLIFE After your adventures, there’s an incredible resort waiting for you to enjoy. The Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina sits on O’ahu’s wild and rugged western coast, where vast ocean views and lively pools and lagoons provide the setting for an unforgettable resort adventure. Guest rooms and suites provide some of the most coveted views of the island and come with all the modern comforts that you never knew you needed, like an in-room iPad for your use during your stay (used to order room service). The resort is also home to Mina’s Fish House by acclaimed Chef Michael Mina. The signature line-to-table restaurant has a menu that features locally caught whole fish and local produce. Spend some time with the in-house fish sommeliers to learn more about the fresh catch for that day.

The Four Seasons Resort (FOURSEASONS.COM/OAHU ) O’ahu at Ko Olina is more than happy to help arrange any of the above experiences during your stay at the resort. You can also rest assured that if you want to modify or combine

STAYCATION ABROAD

The Four Seasons, O’ahu offers additional localized experiences.

ACTIVITIES • Ko Olina Golf Club • Sunset cruises • Paddleboarding • Deep-sea fishing

FOODIES Taste of O’ahu with executive chef Richard Polhemus gives local, sustainable cuisine found only on the island. Enjoy with Hawaiian Agricole rum on the Ko Hana Rum distillery tour.

SPA SERVICES Naupaka Spa & Wellness Centre offers specially curated experiences that mirror the mindset of Hawaii such as: • Quest for Wholeness (80-minute experience) • Mana ‘aina, a healing therapy using native plants • Intraceuticals facials • Sodashi face therapies • Keiki o Ka ‘Aina therapies EXTRAS Adult infinity-edge pool, a child-free zone with views of the Waianae mountain range. After your swim, they’ll have a cocktail waiting.

any of the experiences, they will happily make it happen. sensimag.com MAY 2019 93

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An ode to the seductive allure of travel.

by L E L A N D R U C K E R

98 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

A few decades ago, on a drive ACROSS SALISBURY PLAIN IN SOUTHWESTERN

ENGLAND, MY LOVE BILLIE AND I WERE SPENDING A NIGHT IN THE VILLAGE OF WELLS. AFTER FINISHING DINNER AT A LOCAL PUB, IT WAS STILL LIGHT, AND WE HEADED OUT A WINDING COUNTRY ROAD TO GET A LOOK OVER THE MOORS OF SOMERSET AT SUNSET. Near the top of the Mendip hills, we were startled by

We had noticed it earlier looming over Glastonbury

a raucous herd of sheep, and I pulled off the road along

Abbey ruins while we stood before a thorn tree that the

a low stone wall and parked at the edge of a field to lis-

signage explained bloomed from a cutting that grew

ten. The receding sun shone across the gently sloping

from a staff that Joseph of Arimathea himself stuck in

hills and dales, manicured fields, fences, and farmhouses

the ground right here. Huh? The hill loomed above us

while hundreds of rams and ewes bleated in the twilight.

while we examined the spot where medieval monks

But my eye went straight to a mound rising out of the

found mysterious bones that they proclaimed were the

mist. A pyramidal hill with something at its crest, look-

very skeletons of King Arthur and Guinevere. What?

ing for all the world like the lowest rung on the stair-

This was long before the internet, and we left the next

way to heaven. The mysterious prominence reached

morning, so it wasn’t until I got back home and did some

out, shimmering in its ghostly light. “I’m here,” it said.

research that I found out that structure was the Glaston-

“Come on over and see me some time.” I was spellbound,

bury Tor, beckoning to me was the just as it has to hu-

unable to take my eyes away. What was this hill calling

mans for centuries. I found out more about how Joseph,

me like a siren?

a minor New Testament character, got mixed in with

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the legends of the Knights of the Round Table. I learned that some stories claim that Joseph, while spreading the Gospel, brought the Holy Grail to the Glastonbury area—a place where many Arthurian legends linger. In the early 19th century, poet William Blake imagined the possibility that Jesus even came to this spot when he was young, and his piece titled “Jerusalem” notes the below passage:

And did those feet in ancient times Walk upon England’s mountains green And was the Holy Lamb of God On England’s pleasant pastures seen?

Even earlier, the Tor was considered the place where fairies entered and left the earth. The more I studied and learned about the area, the more fascinating it all became. Two years later, Billie and I returned, this time to climb and stand atop the Tor and breathe in all that mythology/history/splendor for ourselves.

Our Glastonbury experience taught us perhaps the two most important tenets of travel: You never know when or where the really cool stuff is going to happen, and sometimes the trip itself is only the beginning of the journey.

Vacation is Static; Travel is Action No matter the convenience or conveyance—we started by walking, remember—humans have always loved to travel. Lusted to travel. To go places we haven’t seen. To see things we didn’t know existed. To cross impassable rivers and climb distant mountains. We will go to incredible lengths to reach out-of-the-way places for that moment of complete, total, gobsmacking surprise that stays with us forever.

Travel expands our boundaries and expands our worldview. Moving from one place to another and seeing locales that were once no more than dots on a map is easier than ever, although almost anyone who’s been flying for more than 20 years knows it can be a lot less fun than it used to be, too.

Early travelers used natural landmarks as guideposts to other places. Today, we just dial in the GPS and sit back.

Soon we’ll have driverless vehicles and, if the billionaires have their way, tourist space vehicles, and people will pony up and stand in line to board, no matter the cost.

Vacations are one thing, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with hopping a jet and sitting in a beach chair contemplating the horizon while sipping fruity rum drinks.

We can all use that tropical getaway every now and again. sensimag.com MAY 2019 101

102 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

But travel is something else. Vacation is static; travel

Or there was that time I made the mistake of eating

is action. It is doing something you might not ordinari-

smoked salmon just before climbing on a tour boat for

ly do, something distinct from your daily routine, and

Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. I saw mostly the

it involves an ability to sometimes just let go and allow

interior of a commode, but still managed to view icebergs

things to happen. It isn’t magic. You might return from

calving and the breaching of sperm whales around us.

a vacation tanned and rested, but travel might leave you

Then there was the eight-hour flight in the middle of

more tired and worn out than when you left. But taking

the 80th row of the largest jumbo jet I’ve ever seen that

that chance makes moments like finding Glastonbury

included a metal pipe where my right leg was supposed

Tor out there in the mist even greater experiences.

to reside—really unpleasant. The payoff: a week up close

That doesn’t mean you don’t plan for your travels. Today, you can seriously research before you depart on your ad-

and personal with African elephants. Worth every second of torture. I’d sign up again in a flash.

venture to help you make better decisions on the road. To

And that’s why we keep coming back. Traveling can do

find places otherwise hidden. To look for out-of-the-way

wonders for your self-confidence and esteem. I was ter-

places. One resource I mine regularly for ideas is Atlas Ob-

rified about all aspects of spending four days camping

scura, a simple guide to little-known curiosities all over

at McNeil River in Alaska with brown bears everywhere.

the world. Think things through before you leave, know-

But in the process, I lost my fear of small airplanes and

ing you can’t plan for everything. And after you get home

learned to respect grizzlies as the intelligent creatures

from any trip, head for the library or the internet to find

they are. Today I’m more afraid to drive from one city to

out as much as you can about what you’ve seen and done.

another than I was walking out there with the bears.

Travel involves risks, many unseen. At Glastonbury,

Travel builds the spirit, even if you aren’t always in

we mistakenly left all our travel cash on a bench inside

control. That evening in Glastonbury was 45 years ago.

the church grounds, and we spent 45 nervous minutes

Even without cellphones and selfies, I can still be on the

searching before a wonderful English lady returned it to

Tor looking out over the moors anytime I want.

us just as she found it.

May all your travels be adventures.

We will go to incredible lengths to reach out-of-the-way places for that moment of

complete, total, gobsmacking surprise that stays with us forever.

sensimag.com MAY 2019 103

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SPRING ON: MAY FLOWERS Get growing. Get going. The world is abloom and your home can be, too.

by S T E P H A N I E W I L S O N IT’S CLICHÉ BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN IT’S WRONG:

flowers make people happy.

JUST ASK ANY PERSON (MYSELF INCLUDED) WHO’S RECEIVED A COLORFUL BOUQUET DELIVERY AT THE OFFICE, STIRRING ENVY IN THE HEARTS OF COWORKERS WHILE SERVING AS A REMINDER THAT SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, HOLDS YOU IN THEIR HEART. Ok, that anecdote may be as corny as it is cliché, but there’s some science behind the happiness-inducing properties flowers bring to our lives. According to Rutgers researchers Jeannette Haviland-Jones and her husband Terry McGuire, flowers may be potent mood elevators. In fact, their research concluded that if spring brings a certain lightness to your step, you just may have flowers to thank.

In some double-blind studies, the researchers found

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108 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

that people gifted flowers universally reacted with what’s

And I’ll grow some from the list I put together below of

called the “Duchenne smile,” a.k.a. the real kind that can’t

flowering houseplants, rather than just flowering plants,

be faked. And the happy feelings that those flowers de-

which is where I believe I went wrong. It’s a learning pro-

livered lasted for days. When asked by university reps

cess, one wrought with trial and error, as any home de-

what she thought about flowers make humans so happy,

cor project should be. A home is a living, ever-evolving

Haviland-Jones explained that flowers are basically the

space; sometimes, something you try to do to enhance it

pets of the plant world. “Flowers, like pets, help reduce

just doesn’t work. The important thing is to not give up;

stress,” she shared. “And, thanks to the new field of posi-

keep trying, keep perfecting, keep growing.

tive psychology, there’s more evidence that positive emotion is healing and enhances reproductive fitness.”

Because who doesn’t love having flowers growing at home? It’s a source of pure joy I first discovered while living

Flowers make us happy. Period. But why? She con-

in humid Miami, where my balcony was overgrown with

tinued: “One of the original theories, from [biologist and

tropical flowers of all sorts. Vibrant, blooming, ever-chang-

environmentalist] E.O. Wilson, was that flowers were a

ing sources of happiness I was devastated to leave behind

marker for fruit, and that’s why people liked them. But

when I left the tropics for Denver’s drier clime.

people don’t actually prefer flowers that lead to fruit, so

So this year, I bought a few humidifiers and set out to

it seems like a weak argument. … It could be odor, which

turn my apartment into a tropical wonderland, with vary-

I think is particularly likely. Color is another good pos-

ing degrees of success. To help you keep your green thumb,

sibility. And there is some research that we’re drawn to

well, green, I’ve consulted expert sources and put together

symmetrical shapes and patterns.” She does conclude

the following recommendations for various kinds of flow-

that not all flowers are symmetrical, but “most are.”

ering houseplants you can grow in your own home. And

Since you’re likely already growing a house plant or two—

then I’ve rounded up some of the best places in Colorado

it is the trend of the time, after all, with #plantlady hashtags

where you can travel to see the flowers blooming this year,

trending up and garnering a growing number of GIFs—why

where we are expecting one hell of a wildflower season.

not consider upping the happiness-inducing factor of your green habit by growing some flowers indoors?

I tried my hand at growing some flowers indoors this spring with limited luck. At the local Home Depot on Colfax, I had bought a container with primrose (a sun-loving annual), one with lupine (a hummingbird-attracting perennial), and an Iceland poppy, a fragrant perennial. (I also purchased a cannabis plant clone, but we’ll get to that in the next issue. As a preview, I can tell you that it’s happy and growing. And that makes me happy to be growing it.)

As of this writing, only the Iceland poppy has any hope of survival, but that’s not due to my black thumb; my southern-facing apartment is bursting with greenery and I’ve got plenty of Instagram stories to prove it. (see @STEPHWILLL Turntable highlights if you need visual ev-

idence, I swear.) But rather I was lazy and being cheap; I didn’t buy the bigger pots the plants should have had because I was “going to go thrift shopping tomorrow to save a ton of money” and that never happened. So when I watered these plants, still in their original plastic containers without a drainage plate beneath them, the liquid would run right through and pool on the windowsill, spilling onto the floor below. Basically, I killed the plants by being lazy. Moral of this anecdote: do as I say, not as I do. I’ll be trying this growing experiment again this week…after I head to a thrift shop and find some cheaper pottery in which the plants can live. I swear this time. sensimag.com MAY 2019 109

110 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

GET GROWING

cubes in the pot once every seven to 10

Blooming houseplants don’t have to be a chore. Here are some top expert

days and voila! You should be golden.

recommendations. Because everyone can be a tropical gardener, no matter

Or purple. Or white, as the case may be.

where they reside. “It may be a little tricky, but adding that special warmth and color to your home definitely can be done,” Andrea Haywood, a certified master grower from South Florida, told a cruise line’s onboard magazine.

Research shows that houseplants lower blood pressure, increase happiness, and reduce stress. Flowering houseplants serve a twofold decorative function: they provide a brilliance color in their blooming season and cleanse the air year-round, providing a restorative addition to any room in your home. Here are some options to consider. easy—you can find at least five different varieties at any given Safeway in Denver. Bromeliads produce brilliant, long-lasting blooms with ornamental foliage, and the care needs vary from type to type. Be sure to read the tags in

Bird of Paradise: This colorful plant resembles a tropical bird. And it requires a ton of sun, so only go for this option if you’ve got southern exposures waiting to bathe it in lots of

There are a ton of varieties to choose from, so you’ll likely find one that’s perfect for your home’s conditions.

Just avoid getting water on the fuzzy leaves; that causes brown spots.

This plant tops ev-

liad, and it’s super easy to grow in-

tolerant of low light and low humidity.

doors. Next time you buy a full one,

Its subtle white blooms last basically

just slice off the spikes and top, and

forever, too. However, it is toxic to pets

stick it in some dirt by the window.

and children, so if you have any ankle

It’ll spout a new fruit. It may take

biters, best to avoid this plant. If you

awhile for it to be mature enough to

don’t, you’ll be able to find this one at

eat, but it’ll be fun to watch it grow.

the local grocery store year round as

the summer, feel free to transport it

last very long, opening in the morn-

to a sunny outdoor spot. Consider it a

ing with the sun and closing and fall-

vacation for your potted friend.

ing off that night, but a new flower

are just about as prolific as they are

bloom year-round with little effort.

with good reason. The peace lily is

keep coming. They typically don’t

thing but high maintenance. And they

plants, and they can

Fun fact: the pineapple is a brome-

plant can bloom year-round. During

ic appearance, these beauties are any-

grow flowering house

one that works for your home.

with huge colorful blooms that just

ing than the last. And despite the exot-

among the easiest to

ery list of easy-to-grow house plants,

the right conditions, the perennial

of them, in fact, each one more strik-

& Gardens, this is

Peace Lily:

Hibiscus: This plant is powerful,

all sorts of varieties—more than 3,000

According to the experts at Better Homes

the pot before purchasing one and find

light. If you are lucky enough to have

Bromeliad: These plants come in

African Violets:

may take its place the next morning.

These come in all sorts of colors, can grow tall or stay small, depending on the pot, and despite the incredibly

well. That’s where I picked up mine.

And it’s doing just fine. I also grabbed its cousin, the flamingo flower, which is super similar in appearance and care, except with pink flowers instead of white. It’s doing just fine in a shady part of my apartment, although it’s been awhile since it bloomed. I’ll be moving it to a sunnier spot to remedy that situation this month.

enchanting reminder of escapes to tropical islands are so easy to grow.

It’s almost a shame to not grow one if you have any direct sun in your home.

Just do it. Thank me later.

Orchids: Not always easy to keep alive but relatively low-maintenance, orchids are a classic choice. You can also find them at any given grocery store. Keep them away from direct sunlight, water by putting some ice sensimag.com MAY 2019 111

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BACK TO THE WILD After a wet winter in Colorado, the state’s snowpack numbers were hovering at above 140 percent of normal at the start of April. While 83 percent of the state was under some sort of drought, just 0.58 percent of the state was experiencing what’s considered “extreme drought” conditions, according to the United States Drought Monitor. The report at the start of April concluded that the entire High Plains area of the United States “remained nearly devoid of drought or abnormal dryness,” with 78 percent of the state experiencing no drought. Compare that to last year, when only 12.38 percent of Colorado was experiencing no drought conditions.

According to the Dictionary of Proverbs, the origin of the saying “April showers bring May flowers” can be traced to an 1886 saying: “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.” As anyone who was anywhere along the Front Range or in the High Plains this March when the Bomb Cyclone hit can attest, Colorado certainly hit the first part of that equation hard this year.

And with a rather wet April, the state is on its way to an explosion of color this spring and summer as wild flowers sprout around the state.

In fact, every summer, more than 3,200 species of

Tiptoe through the Tulips

Here are some of classic wildflower hikes, according to the experts at Visit Colorado.

Willow Creek Trail at Roxborough State Park

Nearby Cities: Denver, Littleton, Sedalia, Castle Rock Best Blooms: Early May through June

Rabbit Valley Recreation Area

Nearby City: Grand Junction Best Blooms: Late April through June

Crested Butte

Nearby City: ummm…Crested Butte Best Blooms: July, which is when the annual Wildflower Fest takes over the blooming capital of Colorado

Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area Nearby City: Fort Collins Best Blooms: June through August

Goose Creek and Molly Gulch

Nearby City: Deckers Best Blooms: April through Early June

wildflowers spring up around the state. They tend to start sprouting out of the soil in April and May out on the eastern plains, working up to higher elevations after the snow melts. In some parts of high country, the biggest booming periods don’t happen until August. So if you plan your weekend getaways well, you can embark on wildflower hikes all summer long.

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Premium Cartridges Available in Full or Half Grams

114 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

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BARCE UNBOUND With legendary seed banks, social consumption clubs, psychedelic architecture, the Mediterranean Sea, and nightlife that never ends, this city on the Iberian Peninsula is a cannabis lover’s paradise.

by R O BY N G R I G G S L AW R E N C E

116 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

ELONA! LOOKING TO ENJOY FINE LOCALLY GROWN CANNABIS

in a spectacular setting

WITH PALM TREES AND BEACHES? CALIFORNIA’S NOT YOUR ONLY OPTION. A QUICK HOP ACROSS THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR FROM MOROCCO— WHERE SOME OF THE WORLD’S BEST HASHISH HAS BEEN MADE FOR CENTURIES—SPAIN HAS

BEEN A NATURAL PORT OF ENTRY FOR CANNABIS INTO EUROPE SINCE THE TRADE BEGAN. The country was generally tolerant of its use until the UN Single Convention on Narcotics pressured it (along with the rest of the world) to outlaw the plant in 1967. Even so, for the hippies and other pilgrims who rebelled against the iron fist of global prohibition throughout the next couple decades, Spain remained a pot of gold at the end of the Hashish Trail.

Never happy with prohibition, Spaniards have done what they could to dance around it. In the 1980s, the Supreme Court ruled that cannabis possession for self-consumption couldn’t be prosecuted, and the government decriminalized all drug use. Then, alarmed by the amount of Moroccan hashish flooding Spanish streets, the government cracked down in 1992 with a decree that anyone carrying cannabis in public could be searched and fined (from €350 on up to €30,000), leading to the arrest of 300,000 people—and a new name for Spanish stoners: “kangaroos,” because they stashed joints in their underpants where the police couldn’t search.

Unwilling to risk being harassed on the street, Spaniards turned to home cultivation in a huge way. In 1994, activists planted 200 cannabis plants in Catalonia, and five years later, legendary Australian breeder Scott Blakey, aka Shantibaba, sprinkled Spain with 25,000 seeds of strains he had created for a Dutch company, forever changing the gene pool—for the better. sensimag.com MAY 2019 117

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¡VIVA LA CANNABIS! Spaniards celebrate their love for the leaf (Spain is behind only the United States and Iceland in per capita consumption) during Spannabis and the World Cannabis Conference, which brings more than 30,000 aficionados from Europe and around the world to Barcelona during the second weekend of every March for an expo that rivals Northern California’s famed Emerald Cup as the world’s largest.

Reflecting Spaniards’ preference for smoking flower over vaping and edibles, the show is a deep dive into the serious genetics that have landed in the country as well as the tools and inputs necessary to grow them. It’s a plant lover’s paradise—and if you’re into CBD, even better. CBD is being heavily marketed as a wellness product and tobacco substitute throughout Europe, and Spaniards’ appetite for CBD and hemp products has soared.

SPANNABIS.COM

selling CBD products and cannabis seeds are as common as tapas bars. Though home growers are technically supposed to keep their plants away from public view, it’s not uncommon to catch a glimpse of one or two on a Barcelona balcony.

Today’s freedom is the result of an active cannabis rights movement that grew up in the 1990s and saw opportunity in provisions of Spanish law that allowed for private cultivation and shared consumption. The group used those as the basis for founding the country’s first cannabis club, Club de Catadores de Cannabis de Barcelona, a collective that pooled its resources to grow cannabis for members’ personal consumption in members-only establishments, in 2001. Immediately slapped with lawsuits that went all the way to the Supreme Court—which ruled in the club’s favor—Club de Catadores paved the way for cannabis social clubs to start popping up throughout Spain.

And pop up they did. Ranging in style from hippie living rooms to sleek wellness centers to a famous Barcelona collective open only to women in their 80s, the clubs offer cannabis flower, hashish, concentrates, and edibles for members’ shared consumption on the premises. In 2017,

Today, Spain, where cannabis may or may not be legal

consumers were estimated to have spent about €1 billion

(depending on where you are and who you ask), is a grow-

in Spain’s more than 700 cannabis clubs, clustered largely

er’s mecca—and by default, an imbiber’s mecca as well. A

in Catalonia, where rules are most lenient. With 300 clubs

healthy domestic crop that flourishes in abandoned urban

within its limits, Barcelona has become known as the Am-

warehouses and once-fallow farms along Spain’s Mediter-

sterdam of southern Europe. Some call it New Amsterdam.

ranean coast has long since usurped Moroccan imports and, in fact, makes up much of the stocks on the shelves

Not Just Another Amsterdam…

of Amsterdam’s infamous coffeehouses. “We could have

To be sure, the scent of cannabis hangs over Barcelona,

Europe’s main plantation here and be the California of the

wafting above the streets and sidewalks and out from un-

south,” Pedro Perez, president of the La Santa cannabis as-

der doorways in less-expensive hotels. Cannabis is readily

sociation in Madrid, told El Pais. “We know how to do it, we

available from street dealers if you’re paying any attention

have the sun, the tradition, and the best seed banks.”

(and don’t have a problem with breaking the law—a terrible

Spanish citizens are allowed to cultivate and consume

idea even when you’re not in a foreign country), and social

their own cannabis as long as they do it on private property,

clubs are easy to find online. Entrance to the clubs, reserved

and it’s legal to buy and sell seeds, paraphernalia, and hemp

for Spanish citizens with a local address (a technicality

products. In tourist areas like Barcelona’s Las Ramblas, stores

that’s easy to get around, if the

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GET SMART When you’re in Barcelona, make sure to visit the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum, a fascinating collection chronicling cannabis’s rich history as well as its promising future.

Located in a stunning 15th-century building in central Barcelona, the museum features a permanent exhibition that shows how the plant has been and continues to be used for industrial, nutritional, medicinal, sacramental, and recreational purposes and how modern citizens have fought against repressive government measures and prohibition.

HASHMUSEUM.COM

imports—and no one seemed concerned about the legality of that—but there’s really no need to go down that road, because the flower grown in Spain is out of this world.

In 2017, the Catalonian government voted overwhelmingly to regulate cannabis clubs, and it now oversees transportation, packaging, hygienic storage, testing, and distribution of the cannabis that clubs cultivate. Though the industry is legitimizing and even has an agreed-upon code of ethics and set of rules (such as limiting members to receiving three grams per day and 25 grams per week), the responsibility for enforcing cannabis laws falls to police agencies and the courts. This can be inconsistent, and the threat of police raids has forced many clubs to stop growing their own and buy products from the black market (which explains the California connection).

A serious effort to legalize is under way throughout Spain, but until that happens, social clubs operate in a legal vacuum—which is a shame. A study by Autonomous University

club even asks), can be obtained by following and contact-

of Barcelona found that the cannabis industry could put

ing a club on social media, then paying a yearly member-

€3.3 billion in taxes and Social Security into Spain’s coffers,

ship fee of anywhere from €5 to €80 (for your share of the

and lord knows the country could use it. With spectacular

harvest) to gain access. Inside the club, cannabis is “shared”

seed banks and legendary growers, psychedelic architec-

rather than sold and can be procured through “donations.”

ture and palm trees, the Mediterranean Sea and nightlife

Even if you’ve spent time in Amsterdam, Colorado, or Cal-

that never ends, Barcelona is much more than just anoth-

ifornia, Barcelona’s social clubs are revelatory—in that their

er Amsterdam. This place is paradise, and the homegrown

products compete. Though the edibles selection isn’t as ro-

makes it even more so.

bust as you’ll find in other places, the homegrown flower and concentrates, from blingy Moroccan dry sift to pungent rosin, can’t be beat. Some menus include California

ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE is the author of the bestselling Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook: Feel-Good Food for Home Cooks and the newly released Pot in Pans: A History of Eating Cannabis.

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CANNA HEMP

Building the Largest, Nevada-Based CBD Brand THIS ENTREPRENEUR FOUND HIS CALLING IN HEMP-BASED CBD MEDICAL PRODUCTS.

Bedside manner isn’t solely reserved for medical

Then, out of nowhere, he hit a serious roadblock.

practitioners at the hospital—just ask cannabis en-

“Unfortunately, I was part of a raid in February 2016,

trepreneur Chris Rebentisch, the founder, president,

and it was all taken away from me,” Rebentisch says.

and CEO of Canna Hemp. It was through his person-

“The most devastating part of the experience was go-

al relationships with medical-marijuana patients and

ing to patients’ houses and seeing the pain in their

passion for providing them with natural wellness that

eyes, and not having products to help them.”

led him to create Canna Hemp, now the largest Nevada-based CBD brand.

During this time, there were not a lot of CBD products on the market, and Rebentisch couldn’t partic-

Before joining the cannabis business full-time in

ipate in any THC-related business, which led to the

2013, Rebentisch was working in cosmetics manu-

formation of Canna Hemp as he began working with

facturing. It was through that experience that he de-

CBD sourced from industrial hemp.

veloped an understanding of chemical compound

The Canna Hemp line launched on June 1, 2017,

creation—and soon saw an opportunity to use that

with products available at more than 600 retail loca-

background in Nevada’s cannabis industry.

tions in 46 states around the country, including CBD

Rebentisch says as he continued to gain more ex-

vape pens, cartridges, lotions, elixirs, capsules and dabs.

perience, he was attracted to the medical cannabis

It also sells a strong CBD recovery cream for high-per-

sector and the life-changing benefits its products had

formance athletes, Canna Hemp X, as well as a line of

to offer. “You would walk into someone’s home, and

CBD products specifically for pets, Canna Hemp Paws.

you would see the pain and anguish in their eyes,” he

“We are also looking at [our Canna Hemp X] product

says. “Then they try the products you offer, and you can

as something that may help people overcome opioid

see that pain go away and the relief they were get-

addiction,” Rebentisch says.

ting from the product. That became very addicting for me—to help people through cannabis.”

Rebentisch ended up focusing his entire company on medical cannabis, working with cancer and multi-

For more information, visit:

CANNAHEMP.COM

ple-sclerosis patients, among others. sensimag.com MAY 2019 125

126 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

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sensimag.com MAY 2019 127

128 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

LUXX RETREAT

All-Inclusive Luxury Comes to Cannabis HOW ABOUT A CANNABIS-FRIENDLY VACATION HOME WITH SEVEN CUSTOMER SERVICES? After three more groups came through that day with the same query, Shine and Beebe realized that there might be a new business opportunity. They did some market research on cannabis-friendly lodging, and, at first, thought about doing a full-scale retreat in a location like Estes Park, Colorado.

Realizing that was beyond their budget, they opted for a more flexible, Airbnb-style model that allows them hook up customers with private vacation homes where they could safely consume cannabis. They launched Luxx Retreat in September 2018. “We wanted to act as an agency that comes in, and, as property manager and marketing firm, sets up a turnkey solution and provides value to the property owners,” Beebe says.

Their model can work in other states (or Washington, D.C.) where recreational cannabis is legal, but social consumption is still an issue to be worked out. Beebe can see the demand growing. “Looking forward, we want to take this model globally,” he says.

Currently, in addition to the home itself, Luxx Retreat offers seven different services, including guided yoga and meditation, private chef, infused massage, black-car service, grow tours and shopping assistance.

Beebe says it has been challenging to get the business off the ground, because, like any cannabis business, Luxx is not allowed to use most forms of advertisLuxx Retreat all began when two guys working in a dispensary in Fort Collins noticed something about their customers.

Soon-to-be business partners Maxim Shine and Wyatt Beebe were slogging away in a dispensary in September of 2017. “There was one day when two different groups of tourists came through and spent a couple of hundred dollars on cannabis products,” Beebe says.

“At the end of the transaction, they asked where they could go to legally consume what they purchased. We told them they were basically shit out of luck.”

ing. There has been a more than 50 percent occupancy rate the last two months, and that is on the rise.

Beebe and Shine created a top-of-the-line, all-inclusive package for last month’s 420 celebration that included six guests staying three nights at Luxx Retreat, along with meals, transportation, lodging, entry to the Mile High 420 Festival and VIP tickets to Method Man and Redman that ran about $2,000 a person.

For more information, visit:

LUXXRETREAT.COM

sensimag.com MAY 2019 129

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130 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

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132 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

STASHLOGIX

Keeping Cannabis Ready, Discreet and Safe STASHLOGIX OFFERS OPTIONS FOR TRAVELING WITH CANNABIS THAT DON’T SCREAM, “CONSUMER!”

Skip Stone, CEO and co-founder of Stashlogix, in-

Stashlogix offers many home-based storage systems.

vented his business to essentially scratch his own itch.

Some people who travel want just a small amount

“I have young kids, and I enjoy edibles,” Stone says.

locked for the trip—for instance, parents who have a

“Then, in 2014, I realized that edibles would now be

couple of edibles with them and don’t want their kids

available to the masses.”

to see it. “Sometimes you are hiking, or you are riding

He put his engineering degree to work on products

a city bus or going to a restaurant,” Stone says. “We

designed to make moving about with cannabis easier

wanted products that would incorporate all of those

and safer. “Cannabis is sticky and dirty and smelly. Also

opportunities.”

beautiful and powerful. And there are lots of pieces

Can his products stand the test of drug-sniffing

and parts involved in it, and how you keep that orga-

dogs? “That is not what we are trying to do,” he says.

nized,” he says.

“We are trying to help people stay compliant with the

Products to store and transport cannabis in the past

law more than break the law. We do try to help people

focused mostly on padding, he says, but the industry

be more discreet, and follow the law, but also not get

has became a lot more than just glass pipes. “I want-

in trouble. We offer protection so that they are not the

ed to integrate cannabis into people’s lives, and being

source of probable cause.”

discreet is a big part of it.”

Sustainability is key, he says. The company’s first

He sought a product that would seal in odors, or ab-

product was an eco-stash hemp bag. “We try to incor-

sorb the odor with liners, and allow people to move

porate hemp fiber or hemp plastics that are reusable,”

about with cannabis, without “waving the telltale

he says. “We also incorporate renewable products like

green flag that they are a cannabis consumer.”

bamboo. That is a focus of ours—adding more of these

He applied to business accelerator CanopyBoulder,

sustainable resources.”

where he got some funding and entrepreneurial training and met his mentor and now co-founder, Steve Norman. They set up the business and started selling products in late 2015.

For more information, visit:

STASHLOGIX.CO

sensimag.com MAY 2019 133

BEAUTIFUL WHEN YOU MEET THE RIGHT HAIRDRESSER. LIFE IS MORE

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134 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

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{HereWeGo }

by S T E P H A N I E W I L S O N

136 MAY 2019 Denver // Boulder

HIGH IN THE TREES The OG cannabis-friendly Tree House Joint bed-and-breakfast in Washington State is waiting for your arrival.

If your summer travel wish list includes an elevated glamping experience in the Pacific Northwest, consider heading to Monroe, Washington, a quaint destination about an hour northeast from Seattle, and check into one of the three tree houses at the aptly named Mountain Views Tree House Joint.

On the property, you’ll find three different uplifted cabin structures to choose from—the Pot Leaf Tree House, the Hashtag Tree House, and the 420 Tree House—as long as you and everyone in your travel party are over 21. They start at about $150 a night, depending on the dates and other such standard factors. Other accommodation options include camping, RV, and standard lodging rooms.

The abodes share a farm with a horse, donkey, two dogs, a swearing African grey parrot, and a mini pig that loves to play dress up. And you can rent the whole thing out for about $1500 a night—perfect for a “high-end” destination event.

The eclectic property found its way onto Sensi’s radar last summer via Instagram, where the property’s proprietor keeps an active account filled with wanderlust-inducing photos of the happenings at the property.

And if it wasn’t entirely clear from its name, this is one very 420-friendly property. It’s located right next to Cascade Loop Highway, just minutes from Wallace Falls State Park, where there are ample trails for biking and hiking—12 miles in fact. Follow them up the Wallace River to see Wallace Falls, where three tiers of water rush over rock and timber, tumbling into the clear pools below. If you’re so inclined to explore more of the park, head down the old logging road or the Greg Ball Trail to discover the swimming holes and boating and fishing ops in Wallace and Jay Lakes.

Mountain Views Tree House Joint // 14308 Reiner Rd. // Monroe, WA Instagram @TREEHOUSEJOINT // MOUNTAINVIEWSBB.COM

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