S OU T HER N COL OR ADO
BA NISH the
MUNCHIES
Healthy Snack Alternatives
L AUGH
factory
The Rise of the Local Comedy Scene
09.2017
money to
BURN Marketing Breaks Away from the Clichés
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SEPTEMBE R 2017
contents. ISSUE 5 // VOLUME 1 // 09.2017
THE change +
culture ISSUE
FEATURES 32
Hack the Munchies
How to deal with the cravings—plus healthy snack alternatives.
38
S P EC I A L R E P O R T
Going Mainstream
To reach the coveted new demographic of cannabis users, marketers are realizing they have to reach beyond the tired old stoner stereotypes.
44
The Local Stand-Up Scene is No Joke
The 719 area code is known for a lot of things, but can it be funny?
ISSUE
EVERY 7 Editor’s Note 8 SensiBuzz 12 NewsFeed
44
32 MUNCHIES NO MORE!
Smarter ways to get your snack on
Just the Facts
1 6 CrossRoads The New Neighborly
38
20 EdibleCritic
best of soco
24 AroundTown
fall arts preview
28 TravelWell
LE AF PEEPING
48 SensiScene
SENSI NIGHT SOCO
50 SoCO
ArtoCade
Sensi Southern Colorado is published monthly in Denver, CO, by Sensi Media Group LLC. © 2017 sensi media group llc. All rights reserved.
SEPTEMBE R 2017
www.sensimag.com
5
mast sensi magazine
EXECUTIVE
FOLLOW US
Ron Kolb
CEO, Sensi Media Group
ron.kolb @ sensimag.com
Tae Darnell
President, Sensi Media Group
TAE.DARNELL @ sensimag.com
Alex Martinez
GENERAL MANAGER
ALEX.MARTINEZ @ sensimag.com
sensimediagroup
EDITORIAL Stephanie Wilson
editor in chief
STEPHANIE.wilson @ sensimag.com
Randy Robinson
managing editor
RANDY.ROBINSON @ sensimag.com
Leland Rucker
SENIOR editor
LELAND.RUCKER @ sensimag.com
sensimagazine
ART & DESIGN Jennifer Tyson
DESIGN DIRECTOR
JENNIFER.TYSON @ sensimag.com
John “Ljfresh” Gray
Head of Production
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Danielle Webster
contributing PHOTOGRAPHER
sensimag
BU S I N E S S & A DM I N I S T R AT I V E Liana Cameris
publisher
Tara Schwartz
Associate Publisher
Liana.cameris @ sensimag.com tara.schwartz @ sensimag.com
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MARKETING DIRECTOR
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Distribution
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6
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SEPTEMBE R 2017
head.
CULTURE
editor’s
NOTE
shifts back
ISSUE 5 VOLUME 1 09.2017
A DV I SORY B OA R D 1906 New Highs // Chocol ate
When Sensi Magazine first started in the spring of 2016, our mission was ambitious yet simple: Shift the culture by documenting the New Normal. By
Craft // Recreational Concentrates
“shift the culture,” we meant present cannabis in a revolutionary way, by incor-
Compliant Packaging // Packaging
porating this plant into the publication as just a normal, everyday part of life.
Dabble Extracts // Medical Concentrates
Since then, cannabis has made its way into morning show segments, wedding bouquets, gourmet truffles, and even Martha Stewart’s holiday brownies.
Doctors of Natural Medicine // Medical center
Then, two months ago, the unthinkable happened. On July 1, Nevada finally
Faragosi Farms // Recreational Dispensary
opened its recreational pot shops. The first customer was Tick Segerblom, a
GreenHouse Payment Solutions //
state senator, who made this historic first purchase while encircled by local
PAYMENT PROCESSING
and national media. To think, just 25 years ago, Bill Clinton flippantly claimed he “didn’t inhale” when he admitted to smoking pot. Even Barack Obama’s
GRND Staffing Solutions // Recruitment
smoky Choom Gang photos from college stirred some controversy back in
Happy-Kitchens // Home Edible Maker
2008. Today, we have politicians like Segerblom openly buying legal cannabis
Herbal Healing // CompliancE
to a chorus of cheers and a parade of smiles. Colorado remains ground zero for the Great Cannabis Experiment. Our
IHR // MMJ & Hemp Waste Management
state started this wave of normalization across the country and around the
King’s Cannabiz // Medical Dispensary
world. But our way of life continues to evolve while neighboring states play
Lux Leaf // education
catch-up. As the culture shifts toward a greater acceptance of cannabis, its medical properties, and its burgeoning recreational industries, we’re seeing
Maceau Law // Legal
something else happen: cannabis is shifting our culture, too.
Monte Fiore Farms //
These cultural and societal shifts have made our state a veritable goldmine
Recreational Cultivation
for researchers and academics. CSU-Pueblo, once a tiny three-room school
Show Me Kindness // Caregiver
hidden in the Pueblo County Courthouse, commands the Institute of Can-
Stained Glass // Medical Cultivation
nabis Research, a multidisciplinary project designed to understand the effects
Studio A64 // Cannabis Club
legal cannabis has not only on our health but also on our economy, our education, and our way-of-life in general.
Taste Budz // Confections
Southern Colorado is witnessing shifts outside of academia as well. The rising comedy scene in Colorado Springs and Pueblo may one day rival Den-
M E DI A PA RT N E RS
ver’s top-dog status, and in these pages, we speak to two of the men leading
National Cannabis Industry Association
that charge. The surge in our region’s commerce is stimulating artistic output, as our fall art preview offers a mere glimpse at what’s coming in the
Women Grow
approaching months. And this month’s Special Report looks into how namebrand corporations are finally embracing cannabis by catering to our sensimilla sensibilities. Where do we go from here? It’s hard to tell, but we’re all in it now, and
© KIM SIDWELL
we’re cruising toward the future together.
Randy Robinson
managing editor
sensi southern colorado
SEPTEMBE R 2017
www.sensimag.com
7
sensi
buzz
the ne w n o r m al
DID YOU KNOW ? Colorado Creative Districts are officially designated areas deemed by Colorado Creative Industries (a division of the state’s Office of Economic Development) as hubs of “vigorous arts and cultural activity.” These community hot spots host enriching events — art walks, craft festivals, performances, concerts, and other gatherings — that draw people together throughout the year. There are four such districts in Southern Colorado, each one distinct, vibrant, and worthy of exploration. –STEPHANIE WILSON
Corazón de Trinidad Creative District corazondetrinidad.org
hot happening Join 100,000 other hotheads for mild, medium, hot, and XXX-hot Mosco, Mirasol, Big Jim, and dozens of other chile varieties at the 23rd Annual Chile & Frijoles Festival, a celebration of Pueblo’s harvest season presented by Loaf ‘N Jug. The three-day affair brings together music, vendors hawking artistic wares, cooking competitions, and spicy food galore. The menu includes green chile hot dogs, jam, jerky, burgers, and the iconic roasted chile and cheese quesadillas. You can also nab locally grown green chiles—roasted or raw—by the bushel along Pueblo’s Union Avenue Historic District. –JOHN LEHNDORFF
T he 23rd A nnual C h i l e & Frijol e s Fes t i va l
September 22-24 // Downtown Pueblo pueblochilefestivalinfo.com
Pueblo’s Creative Corridor
puebloarts.org/about/pueblo - creative - corridor
Downtown Colorado Springs Creative District
downtowncs.com/live/arts -and - entertainment
Manitou Springs Creative District manitouspringsartscouncil.org/ manitou - springs - creative - district
thunderbirds
are go!
8
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This year’s Pikes Peak Regional Airshow at the Colorado Springs Airport marks a momentous occasion. Taking place September 23 and 24, the airshow is just a week after the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United States Air Force, and a Platinum Jubilee of this magnitude calls for world-class headliners: the USAF Thunderbirds, the world’s third-oldest squadron of aircraft acrobats celebrated around the globe for their pinpoint synchronicity. The Thunderbirds join a lineup that includes the USAF Wings of Blue parachute team, aerobatics performances featuring a range of history-making aircraft, a bomber and fighter parade, displays of US Army vehicles, and more. Get there early for a chance to walk the flight line and check out the performance planes. Tickets start at $25. For more info: ppRairshow.org –randy robinson
SEPTEMBE R 2017
Leland’s
sensibilities
Sensi Senior Editor LEL AND RUCKER on the Elevation Blues The hoary anti-drug warrior and conservative pundit William Bennet t was in Denver recently to speak to the American Legislative Exchange Council ( ALEC) convention. He said Colorado would soon regret legalizing cannabis. “Why in God’s name would you make a drug available to children that destroys or inhibits focus or at tention?” he asked his audience. Bennett, of course, would like to see ALEC—a nonprofit organization that mixes lawmakers with lobbyists to advance conservative agendas—write legislation that would return us to the glory days, back when he was director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under George H. W. Bush and approving enormous amounts of tax money for preposterous policies like Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) and Just Say No in his unending quest to keep us from using cannabis. Bennett still evokes the same tired tropes he used 30 years ago. Legalizing cannabis for medical and adult use hasn’t made cannabis more available to children—quite the contrary—but it does place more of the yoke of responsibility on parents, which is where it should be, especially since we are finding out that parents are a majority of cannabis users. I’m not in favor of children using it, but to try and stop at least one-sixth of the adult populace, probably more since most users can’t admit their illegality, from using a plant when a significant number of © KIM SIDWELL
that populace is raising kids is, well, preposterous. Ever think of working with parents on education instead of this quixotic effort to stop cannabis use? Bring back DARE? Why would it be any less a failure today? People like Bennett won’t be happy until we’re buying plastic bags of weed from the cartels again. And it begs another question we tend to ignore: Why is cannabis’s altered state of consciousness so bad? We modify our brains with substances and stimuli every day, but for some reason the cannabis “high” is so much more dangerous than any others. Alcohol gets you high, with often stupid and sometimes disastrous and violent results, yet many who oppose pot celebrate alcohol use while watching a sports event. People drink coffee daily for its buzz and stimulation. Pharmaceutical drugs make people high, and addictively so, just one of the reasons we’re awash in opioids. I think of the many congresspeople willing to accept medical marijuana but who balk at recreational—even though both elevate you, and as we’re finding out (see last month’s story on the endocannabinoid system on sensimag.com), the elevation is part of the healing, too. Just as it is with oxycodone. It’s madness. It makes no sense. Sometimes, frustratingly, #thenewnormal isn’t much different from the old one. –LEL AND RUCKER
SEPTEMBE R 2017
www.sensimag.com
9
{newsfeed} by Randy robinson
JUST THE FAC TS CSU-Pueblo’s Institute of Cannabis Research intends to answer some pressing questions for our state’s most famous industry. What are their researchers looking for, and how may their findings impact our way of life? Over half a million Coloradans consume cannabis
MacColl recently took over the ICR after years of
at least once a month. The industry rakes in hundreds
working in management and education. She says she
of millions of dollars a year but many questions remain
has no prior experience with cannabis or the cannabis
unanswered: How is this new industry shaping the jobs
industry, but these traits are precisely what CSU-Pueb-
market? What long-term effects will all this widespread
lo was looking for to preserve the program’s objectivi-
smoking and vaping have on the population? And how
ty. Besides, ICR’s projects at CSU-Pueblo work with the
do we keep kids away from it, even as we tote legaliza-
kind of cannabis that lacks the party factor.
tion’s wholesale successes? The Institute of Cannabis Research (ICR) at Colora-
hemp,” MacColl adds. “We’re not studying marijuana
do State University-Pueblo was founded last year to
on campus.” Although hemp and marijuana are both
examine the effects generated by Colorado’s cannabis
Cannabis sativa, hemp is legally defined as cannabis
industry. To date, ICR is the only university research
with less than 0.3 percent THC, the molecule respon-
program looking at the overall societal impact of legal
sible for the plant’s elevating effects.
cannabis, though its laboratories have undertaken several medical and biological projects, too.
12
“We know it’s controversial, but we’re studying
Cultivators in Colorado primarily grow hemp not for industrial purposes such as textiles or ropes but for CBD
ICR’s goal, however, is understanding, not endorse-
extraction. CBD, another molecule found in cannabis,
ment. “We’re for cannabis research,” says Wendy Mac-
doesn’t have psychoactivity like THC but it possesses
Coll, the director of ICR. “We’re not a cannabis advocacy
many promising medicinal properties. Marijuana can
center institute. We’re just interested in the research
contain CBD, but hemp produces much more. CBD prod-
regarding what goes into this plant and the many dif-
ucts such as oils and edibles are often touted as com-
ferent aspects of it that this research can confirm—
pletely legal and safe for pets, but there isn’t much
or eliminate.”
peer-reviewed research on CBD’s long-term effects.
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SEPTEMBE R 2017
SEPTEMBE R 2017
www.sensimag.com
13
No More Anecdotes : Real Science Jeff Smith, PhD, a molecular biologist at the university, leads a study into CBD and its consequences for memory formation. From a medical perspective, increased e n e r gy
Uplifting & Euphoric
e l e va t e d alertness
Heightened Creativity
such as post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition
SATIVA
where traumatic memories can lead to insomnia, eat-
We’ve got the whole spectrum covered
INDICA
z
z
certain memories can contribute to health problems,
ing disorders, mood swings, and even suicide. Since PTSD recently became a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in Colorado, Smith’s data could prove invaluable as more veterans and trauma survivors
z
turn to cannabis for relief. Sleep Aid
deep relaxation
Pain Relief
appetite stimulant
“Any medicine can be used properly and can be misused, and we want to know the proper way to use cannabinoids as medicine,” says Smith. “If you want to know how to properly use a drug, or how it can harm people, you need to know how it works.” According to Smith, a growing body of research shows CBD can reinforce certain types of memories, specifically those formed from “fear learning.” Fear learning occurs when individuals develop behaviors to avoid or adapt to a traumatizing or fear-inducing event. Hypothetically, CBD’s ability to solidify the formation of memories could be detrimental—if it were given to a soldier in a war zone, for example. However, Smith believes CBD could alleviate PTSD by enhancing the practice of “exposure therapy,” a type of therapy where patients overcome their fears by being exposed to trauma triggers in a controlled manner. Hands-Off Approaches
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SEPTEMBE R 2017
Smith’s lab is one of 10 under the ICR. Dr. Barbara Brett in the school’s psychology department runs an investigation into cannabis therapies for seizures that do not respond to conventional medicines. Another study, led by Dr. Chad Kinney, seeks to find more efficient ways to extract CBD from hemp. Dr. Brian Vanden Heuvel’s lab wants to see how well hemp can remove sewage sludge from landfills. But not every project at the ICR involves directly handling cannabis or its constituent cannabinoids. Some studies do not even concern themselves with
the plant per se but rather are looking at how legaliza-
the brightest and most curious brains in cannabis
tion’s effects are rippling through society. One of these
can meet to share ideas.
studies, co-investigated by Drs. Sue Pettit and Margie
Earlier this year, CSU-Pueblo kicked off the program
Massey, explores data on cannabis use among minors,
with the first ICR conference. According to Jennifer
and intends to discover new methods to improve drug
Mullen, then the interim director of ICR, the confer-
education curricula to keep kids away from pot in a state
ence drew attendees from 21 US states and 10 coun-
where there are more dispensaries than there are Mc-
tries. Some of the most prominent visitors were re-
Donald’s, 7-Elevens, and Starbucks combined.
searchers from Israel—including the most influential
Brad Gilbreath, a professor of business, never needs
cannabis scientist in the world.
to touch cannabis for his research, either. He wants to
Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, who delivered the key-
know about the quality of jobs created by Colorado’s
note speech at ICR’s first conference, has been dubbed
legal cannabis. In 2015, estimates from the Marijuana
the “father of cannabis science.” In the 1960s, he was
Policy Group suggested Colorado’s cannabis industry
the first chemist to isolate and identify THC. His ground-
created over 18,000 full-time positions since legal-
breaking discovery was only possible because Israeli
ization, but whether these are good jobs, where em-
police allowed him to smuggle 11 pounds of Red Leb-
ployees feel fulfilled and secure, has yet to be an-
anese—considered the Middle East’s finest hash-
I n 2 0 1 5 , estim at es f rom t h e M a r i j ua na P ol i cy G r o up s u gg es ted o ur c an n ab i s i n d u st r y cre ated o v e r 1 8 , 0 0 0 f ull - time p o sitio n s si n ce l e g a li z a tio n , b ut w h et h er t h ese are good j ob s , w h ere em p l o y ees f e el f ul f illed and secur e , h as yet t o b e ans were d . swered. Gilbreath plans to share his findings with
ish—from an evidence locker to his lab at the Uni-
business owners in the cannabis industry so man-
versity of Tel Aviv.
agers can apply the research toward better business practices.
Mechoulam’s story illustrates the obstacles current-day researchers experience when trying to work
“Employees tend to be happiest at jobs where
with cannabis and its extracts. State agencies, in ac-
they’re doing something they really believe in,” says
cordance with federal and international laws, keep a
Gilbreath. “I’m still collecting the data, but I suspect
tight leash on cannabis research—so tight even the
we’ll see that a lot of people in the cannabis industry
most straight-laced scientists cannot get access to
are happy with their jobs because they see them-
it, which is one of the reasons CSU-Pueblo chose to
selves doing something that benefits society.”
work mainly with hemp over marijuana. Mechoulam’s catalogue of research into CBD for
A Gathering of Insightful Minds
treating nausea in children on chemotherapy, osteo-
ICR conducts research, but understanding in ac-
porosis in women and the elderly, Alzheimer’s, and
ademia goes far beyond gathering information and
pain management went largely ignored for almost half
forming conclusions. Director MacColl says the ICR is
a century. Now, research initiatives such as those con-
currently putting together a peer-reviewed journal for
ducted by ICR can build on his findings and those of
cannabis research. In addition to an academic jour-
others to finally shift our culture toward a more en-
nal, the ICR also hosts an annual conference where
lightened future. SEPTEMBE R 2017
www.sensimag.com
15
{crossroads} by RICARDO BACA
coming out Opening up about your personal cannabis use to the people in your orbit can be a scary step—and it’s one worth taking. At first I was slightly baffled when the overly fa-
malization: You actually forget about the larger-than-
miliar Uber Eats driver standing on my front porch
life cannabis leaf in your front yard—an eye-magnet
gave me a confident fist-bump and a knowing wink.
many passers-by see on a daily basis. And perhaps the
The older gentleman, rocking greased-back hair
greatest sign of this crazy-normalized world we live
and a Led Zeppelin T-shirt, had left his car running and
in: I impulse-purchased that doormat last year at the
double-parked on the street, the driver’s side door
Bed, Bath & Beyond down the street as I was refilling
flung wide open and blaring a classic rock jam into the
my SodaStream CO2 carbonators.
dark and otherwise quiet night. “The delivery dude just winked at me,” I told my
by the legalization of cannabis. We can walk into shops
wife a few moments later as we excitedly unpacked
and purchase edibles as if they were a six-pack. We
our favorite Chinese take-out onto the kitchen count-
can attend luxe marijuana-infused dinner parties with
er. “It seemed friendly and all, but I still don’t know
open consumption. And we can be more open about
what that was all about.”
our own relationships with cannabis—with our friends,
And that’s when my lady solved the mystery: “Do you think he noticed the doormat?”
16
These are only some of the luxuries we’re afforded
our families, and our neighbors. And this is a unique part of the normalization con-
Of course the delivery driver saw the doormat—a
versation, communicating with our neighbors about
durable coco mat emblazoned with the word WELCOME
our personal consumption patterns. In a way it can be
underneath a large, green cannabis leaf. But the mat
more daunting than opening up to your own family.
has been sitting outside our front door for more than a
Think about it: Your house represents the biggest
year now, so it was I who had forgotten it was there.
financial investment you’ll ever make. So you’re spend-
You know you live in a normalized state when you
ing hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not more) on
flaunt your affinity for a Schedule I substance at your
this property that shares boundaries with people you’ve
home’s very entryway. An even greater sign of nor-
never met before moving in. (Even if you’re renting in-
www.sensimag.com
SEPTEMBE R 2017
RICARDO baca is a veteran journalist and the founder and original editor in chief of The Cannabist. His content agency Grasslands works primarily with cannabis and hemp businesses on messaging and branding via thoughtful and personalized content campaigns.
SEPTEMBE R 2017
www.sensimag.com
17
stead of buying, it’s not like you were able to pick your neighbors in the process.)
Our conversations since then—usually spurred
Some of us are lucky enough to have quality neigh-
by her hearing me interviewed on NPR or seeing my
bors—people with whom you can communicate on
writings in the Denver Post—usually follow the same
important and often complex issues. But others aren’t
path. I don’t preach to her, or anyone else for that
so lucky, and those strained relationships with the
matter. But I do step in to correct any of her outdated
folks living in the closest proximity to your home can
notions about cannabis as they occasionally surface.
complicate matters quickly. Me, I’m a lucky one. My longstanding neighbor to the north is a kind-hearted older woman who loves
Still, these over-the-fence back-and-forths are significant. Here we are, neighbors of 15 years, talking about something so complicated as cannabis use.
gardening, maintains a beautiful yard, and is the block’s
I took that conversation a couple steps further one
de facto neighborhood watch. My neighbors to the
night with my other neighbors, the young couple. It
south are a young Latino couple who have lived next
was a Friday evening, and I was sweaty and covered in
door for more than a decade; I’ve watched their son
dirt while (appropriately) weeding our front yard. I was
grow up, and we have each other’s backs—even while
about 15 milligrams into some energizing edibles and
our chihuahuas noisily raise hell each time they’re in
finishing my second ice-cold water bottle when the
our abutting backyards at the same time.
couple pulled up and started chatting me up.
The first time my gardener neighbor and I talked cannabis was pretty straightforward. “I don’t like it myself,” she quipped. “I prefer to get
18
high on my walks. I feel so great after a good walk.”
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SEPTEMBE R 2017
After a few pleasantries about their night (margarita happy hour at a favorite Mexican resto) and my night (yard work while the wife was out with friends),
they complimented my hard labor and apologized for
another hour, packing the disheveled weeds into trash
the way I was spending a beautiful Friday evening.
bags and cleaning up the mess I’d made. As I surveyed
“Oh, I’m actually having a blast right now,” I told
my handiwork, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of ac-
them, inspiring a confused stare back in my direction.
complishment. Sure, my yard looked so much better
“When I got home from work, I ate some edibles and
than before, but I also felt better and more transparent
put on some music, and three hours later here I am.”
about my newfound openness with my neighbors.
I must have looked like a crazy person—sweaty,
I found that night, and it’s something that remains
filthy, stinky, and smiling. And while I was immediately
true to this day, that opening up about my own relation-
nervous about my admission as soon as the words “I
ship with marijuana to the people closest to my person-
ate some edibles” escaped my mouth, when I told my
al orbit has been nothing but a good thing. It helps us
dear neighbors who I adore and respect, I felt a weight
understand one another on a deeper level, and it helps
lift off my shoulders.
us build a better and more honest community.
And I felt even better when my admission spurred
This newfound depth of openness is certainly a by-
an awesomely normal conversation with the neigh-
product of legalization, and something that isn’t as
bors about cannabis legalization, about its known
commonplace in prohibition states. And like the mari-
effects on our city and populace, and about my own
juana sales that have recently become so normal, this
personal consumption habits.
newfound ability to be more forthcoming with our
They laughed when I told them I didn’t smoke mar-
opinions on cannabis—with our neighbors, with those
ijuana, that I only eat it. And as they went inside their
delivering our favorite Chinese take-out, and with oth-
house for the evening, I lingered in my front yard for
ers—isn’t something we should ever take for granted.
SEPTEMBE R 2017
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19
{ediblecritic} by JOHN LEHNDORF F
LE T US KNOW about SoCo FOOD
Send tips on your favorite eateries, bakeries, chocolatiers, and other food crafters and attractions in Southern Colorado to ediblecritic @ sensiMAG.com .
20
www.sensimag.com
SEPTEMBE R 2017
JOHN L EHNDORFF writes the Nibbles column for the Boulder Weekly and hosts Radio Nibbles on KGNU: NEWSKGnu.org/ category/radio-nibbles .
SOUTHERN COMFORT The lower Front Range is Colorado’s secret stash of great taste destinations. After decades in the shade of states on the coasts,
Pizza, Poetry, Pastry & Whiskey
Colorado is finally getting its day in the culinary spot-
Some destinations have everything going for them.
light. Chefs and sommeliers here are winning national
Poor Richard’s packs a few of my favorites in a block-
honors. List after national list of the best foodie towns
long building with a toy store, bookstore, coffee shop, gift
or places to drink beer or eat farm-to-table cuisine now
shop, and an eatery that bakes great whole wheat pizza
spotlight destinations in the state. This summer the in-
topped with a sauce made from fresh tomatoes. The
augural Slow Food Nations brought the world’s foodies
Colorado Springs menu boasts lots of vegetarian, vegan,
to Denver and the big food event will return next July.
and diet-sensitive options, which are balanced out by a
The recognition is well-deserved but the kudos are
notably dense, sweet, and yummy coconut cream pie.
almost exclusively focused on Denver, Boulder, and a
324 1/2 N. Tejon St. // Colorado Springs
few mountain resort towns like Aspen, Vail, and Tel-
poorrichardsdowntown.com
luride. The rest of the state including the southern Front Range seems to be regarded as foodless places
Across town The Ivywild School is the kind of learning
to fly over on the way to dinner.
institution we can all support. Set in a rehabbed school,
We know better.
the edifice encompasses the Bristol Brewery, The Prin-
SoCo’s attractions go way beyond the famous spots
cipal’s Office (coffee and wine), the Meat Locker (butch-
and experiences such as The Broadmoor’s splendid
er), Old School Bakery (bread and pastries), and Axe and
Sunday brunch, the summer Saturday night wine din-
the Oak (distillery and tasting room).
ners in the Vista Dome car on the Royal Gorge Route
1604 S. Cascade Ave. // Colorado Springs
Railroad, and the Boeing KC-97 tanker that serves
ivywildschool.com
as a dining room at The Airplane Restaurant. As a longtime Colorado food journalist, I’ve been
Pie & Doughnuts & Pignoli Cookies
lucky enough to make many memorable road trips
I like Amy’s Donuts because you can choose the filling
through the region looking for tastes that I couldn’t
you want injected into your Glazed, Almond Banana
forget. I’m sharing some of my favorite spots, but
Caramel, or Zesty Lemon confection.
keep them to yourself. You don’t want hordes of hip-
2704 E. Fountain Blvd. // Colorado Springs
ster foodies descending on Black Forest or Pueblo.
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The otherwise ordinary, weekday-only Corner C afe is worth a visit because the owners believe in the great American pie tradition. They slice generous wedges of everything from Apple Raisin and Buttermilk Pecan to towering Lemon Meringue pies. 7 E. Vermijo Ave. // Colorado Springs cornercafecs.com
Pueblo’s East Coast Pizza and Bakery
does a good
job of living up to its name with reputable pizza, pasta, and eggplant parm grinders. What really floats my boat is the counter full of biscotti, ricotta pie, tricolor cake, cannoli, and pignoli cookies. 1638 W. US Hwy. 50 // Pueblo EastCoastPizzaPueblo.com
The Slopper & The Chile Cheeseburger At
Bingo Burger
Pueblo’s finest crop—the Mosco
(or Pueblo) chile pepper—is celebrated in a big way. Chopped roasted chilies are added to the beef before burgers are griddled and topped with chile cheddar and red (ripe) green chilies. 101 Central Pl aza // Pueblo 132 N. Tejon St. // Colorado Springs bingoburger.com
It was at the down-home Gray’s Coors Tavern that Pueblo’s most iconic dish was invented. The Slopper is two open-face cheeseburgers in an oval bowl inundated with pork green chile sauce, chopped onions, grated cheese, and/or saltines.
© bingo burger
515 W. Fourth St. // Pueblo // 719-544-0455
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SEPTEMBE R 2017
Pizzelles & Peanut Brit tle As the grandson of an Italian-American grocer, I find Gagliano’s Italian Market
always makes me talk
with my hands. It’s natural when I come home to crisp pizzelle cookies and classic chile Italian pork sausage sandwiches with whole milk mozzarella. The historic store is jam-packed with Italian grocery items, Sicilian flags, and Torrone almond nougat. 1220 Elm St. // Pueblo // 719-544-6058
Endless free samples of caramels, brittles, salt water taffy, fudge, and dozens of other candies are the lure to visit Patsy’s Candies factory store, where the behind-the-scenes tours of the candy-making process stays with you. Immersed in a sugary perfume, the tour is a thrill for a machinery geek and concludes next to a cauldron filled with 2,500 pounds of liquid milk chocolate … and more sweet samples. 1540 S. 21st St. // Colorado Springs 930 Manitou Ave. // Manitou Springs patsyscandies.com
Rellenos & Fideo Not far from the lighted bocce ball court in downtown Trinidad, Mission at the Bell inconspicuously dishes rellenos worthy of the spotlight and a break from the highway. Large whole-roasted peppers filled with cheddar are lightly battered and served with fideo — a vermicelli side dish—and a choice of five heat-seeking chile sauces.
’s SoCO GLOBA L TASTES { Mofongo to Lumpia }
Southern Colorado has been a magnet for centuries for immigrants who brought along their cuisines from Italy, Eastern Europe, and Spain, and Mexico. Now the region is drawing new residents from around the world, judging by the array of international dishes available at local ethnic eateries. Jamaican Flavor
Jamaican curry goat with dumplings and fish fritters 3016 S. Academy Blvd. // Colorado Springs // 719-391-0142
L and of the Pyramids
Egyptian lamb stew, rice pudding, and koshari 905 W. Garden of the Gods Road // Colorado Springs 719-445- 0997
Mi Viejo San Juan Puerto Rican mofongo—a spicy plantain mash—with mojito or salsa verde 1861 S. Academy Blvd. // Colorado Springs // 719-632-6619
You -Ka Café
Filipino longanisa burger, salted egg salad, and lumpia egg rolls 3743 Bloomington St. // Colorado Springs // 719-309-6934
Mr. Tandoori Urban Bar and Grill Indian shrimp vindaloo with Pueblo chile naan 310 S. Victoria Ave. // Pueblo // pueblomrtandoori.com
134 W. Main St. // Trinidad // 719-845-1513
Hellish Pizza & Heavenly Spätzle Meanwhile, tiding of comfort and apple strudel mit schlag (whipped cream) bring me back time and again
Puukaow Thai Restaurant
Thai Red curry with pumpkin (5-star “Extremely hot! No refunds!”) 1021 Market Plaza North // Pueblo West puukaowthai.com
to the Edleweiss. Heavenly Wiener schnitzel, housebaked brötchen rolls, and spätzle dumpling-ettes
Don’t let the bright red and slightly satanic decor scare
with gravy call my name. Guests have been known to
you off from Ruffrano’s Hell’s Kitchen Pizza and its
hum “Climb Every Mountain” while sipping lager from
mountain variation on authentic New York pies.
a glass boot.
9 Ruxton Ave. // Manitou Springs
34 E. Ramona Ave. // Colorado Springs
1670 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd. // Colorado Springs
edelweissrest.com
ruffranoshellskitchenpizza.com
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{aroundtown} by Randy robinson
artistically inclined Autumn signals a new season for the arts. What’s coming to us this fall? This fall, the lineup of arts and cultural experiences
this genre utilize as mere samples: the violin and the
in Southern Colorado includes a vast intersection of
viola. Influenced as much by Mozart as by Grandmas-
perspectives and approaches. While next month is
ter Flash, Black Violin’s songs fuse classical music with
officially Arts Month in the Pikes Peak region—a
hip-hop, bringing fresh vitality to both genres. Catch
period during which everyone is encouraged to have at
the group on September 26 in Colorado Springs at the
least one new cultural experience—September is rife
pikes peak Center and on September 27 at Duran-
with events, exhibits, and shows that can whet your
go’s COMMUNIT Y CONCERT HALL .
cultural whistle. You can listen to hip-hop driven by violin strings, witness romantic love expressed through a
visual
science lesson, and ponder Armageddon embodied as
The Sangre de Cristo Arts Center serves as
opalescent floating forms. The following is a preview of
an anchor site along Pueblo’s Creative Corridor, Colo-
a few of the most anticipated autumn arts events hap-
rado’s largest certified arts district. This museum has
pening in the southern Colorado region.
featured local and international talent alike over the years, and this fall will be no different.
MUSICAL
24
For starters, you can still catch Ramona Lapsley’s
The award-winning team at the DURANGO arts
My World until September 24. Lapsley, an elementary
center is presenting the head-banging Rock of Ages
school art teacher at Fort Carson, offers her collection
from September 7 to 10. If you missed the recent Tom
of linoleum block prints that capture the magnificence
Cruise movie version, here’s a plot primer: Rock of Ages
of the ordinary world. There are few opportunities to
tells the story of a rowdy rock star and a lowly bus-
see a bird feeder through the kaleidoscopic lens of
boy who join forces to stop money-hungry land devel-
seemingly living colors—this is one of them.
opers from demolishing Hollywood’s Sunset Strip.
Also running until September 24 is Sordid and Sa-
The musical incorporates songs from some of the
cred: The Beggars in Rembrandt’s Etchings. Yes, that
1980s’ most hair-ilicious glam metal bands, includ-
Rembrandt. This exhibit of the Dutch master’s orig-
ing tunes by Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Bon Jovi,
inal sketches features one of his favorite subjects—
and Poison. Trust us: you’ll want to sing along.
street beggars—conceptualized as biblical char-
Later in the month, a different kind of musical art
acters. The priceless Villarino collection showcases
takes center stage. Black Violin, a Florida-based hip-
Rembrandt’s genius in its earliest steps, cataloguing
hop duo, rely on two instruments that most artists in
the transition of his ideas from blueprint to canvas.
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{ LOCATIONS } DURANGO arts center 802 E. 2nd Ave. // Durango Durangoarts.org
pikes peak center
190 S. Cascade Ave. // Colorado Springs pikespeakcenter.com
COMMUNITY CONCERT HALL 1000 Rim Dr. // Durango Durangoconcerts.com
Sangre de Cristo Arts Center
Theatreworks at the Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Center 3955 Regent Cir. // Colorado Springs theatreworkscs.org
colorado springs fine arts center
ABOVE :
30 W. Dale St. // Colorado Springs csfineartscenter.org
Wendy Mike and De Lane Bredvik’s exhibit Ragnarök SEPTEMBE R 2017
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Courtesy of the FINE ARTS CENTER
210 N. Santa Fe Ave. // Pueblo sdc-arts.org
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The colorado springs fine arts center em-
THEATRICAL
bodies the spirit of the city’s founder, Gen. William
The name “Heisenberg” may conjure recollections
Jackson Palmer. Palmer wanted the city to be Amer-
of Breaking Bad, and the hit play named after the
ica’s cultural utopia, and although that dream is still
man who inspired Walter White’s infamous alter ego
a work in progress, the local scene continues to en-
on the AMC series is as intriguing as its namesake.
gage and enrich its community. Known as the Broad-
Although the German physicist does not make an
moor Art Academy until the 1930s, it now houses
appearance in Heisenberg, the budding romance that
some of the region’s most important works.
drives the story—a twist on the old trope of two
From now until the first week of January 2018, you
people falling in love at a train station—draws heav-
can see Wendy Mike and De Lane Bredvik’s exhibit Ragnarök, which references the apocalypse from Norse mythology in a most postmodern manner. The Norse finality for the world but rather foretells a planetary rebirth after a series of cleansing deluges and conflagrations. Given the spate of wildfires and floods in the Pikes Peak region over the last few years, the cautionary tale hits close to home. This mixed media exhibit exploits the center’s space, challenging its wandering audience to consider the outcomes of our day-to-day actions. On the other side of the globe from Scandinavia lies Brazil, a nation rocked in recent months by political upheavals that produce gripping headlines worldwide.
Martinis and art and go together like cocktails and canvases. On September 29, raise a glass of the former while toasting to the latter at ARTINI, the official kickoff party for Arts Month 2017, the fourth-annual celebration of the
Courtesy of SANGRE DE CRISTO ARTS CENTER
Pikes Peak region’s rich cultural offerings. In downtown Colorado Springs, at The Mansion and The Mezzanine nightclubs, musical acts, aerialists, acrobats, and a bunch of local performers will showcase their talents to partygoers sipping on tasty concoctions shaken-not-stirred to palate-pleasing perfection by the area’s top mixologists. Cheers to that.
peakradar.com/ArtsMonth
ily from his quantum concepts of a limitless yet unThe Sculpture Garden at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center
26
{ art + martini = Artini }
predictable universe. Theatreworks at the Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Center is staging the play from
September 7 through 24.
Raízes/Roots: Transformations in Contemporary Brazil-
On a more playful note, Parallel Lives by Kathy Na-
ian Art brings together the works of Brazilian artists
jimy and Mo Gaffney explores the protocol of two god-
Annie Gonzala, Elisa Reimer, Henrique Oliveira, and
desses as they fashion the rules dictating how their
Ana Carolina Fernandes to pose the question: what
newest creation—humanity—must go about daily
does it mean to be Brazilian in today’s world? Their
existence. This performance, held from September 8
questions—and their answers—may be more rele-
to October 1 at the Pikes Peak Center, features just two
vant to America’s current identity crisis than we may
actors humorously swapping between a multitude of
care to admit.
quirky characters caught in banal but trying situations.
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Courtesy of pe akradar.com
end-of-days, however, never leads to a permanent
{travelwell} by DAV INA VAN BUREN
LEAF PEEPING Five places to witness fall foliage in all its golden glory this month. We may not have the fiery array of color that Appa-
Road winds east to west across the park for 48 miles,
lachia and New England boast, but Colorado autumns
passing through elk-filled meadows and ancient forests
are stunning in their own right. Come fall, the Rockies
while climbing 4,000 feet to the alpine tundra. With 11
are awash with brilliant shades of gold, thanks to the
miles of the road above tree line, the scenic byway of-
aspen groves that call the Centennial State home.
fers a bunch of popular overlooks where you can snap
Like our growing season, the window for leaf peep-
scores of Instagram-worthy panoramic shots of as-
ing is short—a week or two in most places. If you have
pen-dotted forests. For a vantage point that’s more mi-
some flexibility, block out travel dates, then follow the
cro than macro, opt instead to take Old Fall River Road
color. For busier areas like Estes Park, Grand Lake, and
to the Alpine Visitor Center at 12,000 feet. The narrow,
Aspen, however, you’ll want to secure lodging for over-
one-way road climbs a series of switchbacks through
night trips. Whether viewed from the car, the treetops,
the wilderness up to the tundra, where it meets up with
or even your backyard, there’s nothing like this annual
Trail Ridge Road. You can head back to Estes Park or
show from Mother Nature.
continue to the charming town of Grand Lake on the park’s western border. Insider tip: you won’t see moose
Rocky Mountain National Park Looking for the quintessential Colorado mountain
on the eastern side of the park, but they are frequent visitors to the lower elevations on the western side.
drive? Estes Park, with its galleries, cafes, and sweet shops, makes an ideal base from which to explore the
28
aspen
beloved national park. (Plus, September is rutting sea-
As the name indicates, this region is prime leaf view-
son when elk practically take over the village.) To get
ing territory. Just 12 miles southwest of Aspen, the Ma-
a lay of the land, take the Estes Park Aerial Tramway,
roon Bells are striking all year round, with two 14,000-
which passes over shimmering aspen stands as the
foot peaks blanketed with aspens towering above the
car climbs Prospect Mountain just outside of town. At
placid Maroon Lake. But in the early fall, when the lake’s
the summit, you’ll have panoramic views of Longs
mirror-like surface only amplifies the golden glory of
Peak, the Continental Divide, Rocky Mountain Nation-
the season, it’s easy to see why this landmark is called
al Park, and miles of aspen groves. Relish the views
the most photographed spot in Colorado. There are many
from the observation platform or opt for a short hike
hiking trails in the area, but in the fall they can get quite
before you head back down to venture into the park.
crowded with hikers and photographers in cue to cap-
There are no commercial enterprises in the 415-
ture the iconic shot of these majestic twin fourteeners.
square-mile park, so gas up before you go and bring
Rise above that. Aspen has a number of aerial outfitters
snacks and plenty of water. From Estes Park, Trail Ridge
who can get you a bird’s-eye view of nature’s artistic
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display. Soar above the aspen stands in a hot air balloon
to enter the mesa outside of Delta. Encompassing
for a serene early morning viewing. Aspen Paragliding
several hundred square miles, this is the world’s larg-
offers adrenaline junkies an opportunity to view not
est flat-topped mountain, rising 11,000 feet above sea
only the brilliant fall colors but deer, coyotes, and other wildlife from 11,000 feet, sharing the sky with hawks and golden eagles.
Grand Mesa National Forest
For the ultimate in posh leaf-peeping (and to cover maximum ground while rising above it), sit back and relax while Aspen Heli Charter takes you on a private, narrated tour. A favorite aerial route provides soaring views of Mount Sopris, McClure Pass, Snowmass Peak, the Maroon Bells, Pyramid Peak, Snowmass Lake, and Independence Pass. GRAND MESA One of Colorado’s most underappreciated drives is
30
level. Dress warm: temperatures never rise above 80 degrees on the mesa, even in summer.
from Grand Junction to Grand Mesa. Adrenaline ad-
More than 300 alpine lakes dot the 63-mile drive
dicts with 4-wheel-drive vehicles can take Highway 50
across the mesa, and the postcard-worthy views are
to Lands End Road straight up the side of the moun-
particularly remarkable in fall. At some points, aspen
tain, via a gravel road full of switchbacks. For a more
groves stretch as far as the eye can see. While you’re
leisurely drive, head down US 50 to State Highway 65
marveling at the scenery, you might also spot elk, mule
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SEPTEMBE R 2017
deer, moose, and black bears in the meadows along
golden towers will be gone the next day.
the route. Devil’s Head Kebler Pass
This adventure starts with a 10-mile drive down
Did you know that aspen stands are actually one
bumpy, gravel roads outside Sedalia—which weeds
living organism? What looks like individual trees are
out the masses. Once you’ve reached the parking
actually “root suckers” from a single seedling. Colorado
area, head for the steps and climb straight into a
is home to one of the largest aspen stands in the world,
shimmering stand of aspens. Take note of the mes-
on Kebler Pass. From the charming town of Crested
sages and symbols carved into the tree trunks by
Butte, County Road 12 starts off paved then turns to
young lovers and BFFs over the years.
smooth gravel before the pass. The 30-mile route takes
Follow the switchbacks past a massive outcrop-
about two hours to complete in normal conditions, and
ping of boulders, through serene groves that appear
peak leaf viewing time is the last week of September.
to glow from within. To the east, you’ll find expansive
The aspens here are massive: tall, mature, and
views of Pike National Forest and downtown Denver
healthy. You’ll want to pull over, get out of your car,
in the distance. Once you reach the clearing, take a
and stand in the presence of these giants. Look for
breather—you’ll need it—before climbing the 143
two marked paths, Dyke Trail and Lost Lake Trail,
steps up to the fire tower. This leg is not for the faint
both about half an hour outside Crested Butte. But
of heart, especially when it’s windy. Those who make
remember: this is high country, and weather is un-
it to the top are rewarded with 360-degree views of
predictable. Be prepared, and know that once the
mountain scenery where millions of golden leaves
first winter storm hits, the delicate leaves of these
tremble in the afternoon sun.
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How to DE AL with the CRAVING S — plus HE ALTHY SNACK alternatives.
32
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hack by Robyn Griggs L awrence
If you’ve ever smoked a strong
indica , you know the munchies. They’ve
been a thing since humans first began using cannabis. In fact, people in ancient China and India drank cannabis te a a s an appe tite stimulant, and this remedy
shows up MANY TIMES in medical and pharmaceutical texts throughout the ages.
We’ve known for thousands of years that ingesting
The only thing we can control is how we react to
cannabis can inspire hunger. Only recently, though,
this phenomenon, a welcome effect for people who
have we begun to understand why—and it comes
have lost their appetite to wasting disease or chemo-
down to THC, the cannabinoid (chemical compound)
therapy but a scourge of varying degrees for those
found in cannabis plants responsible for the psycho-
watching our waists and our wellness (most of us).
active properties. THC stimulates dopamine pro-
First, be informed. THCV, a close cousin to THC, is
duction, making eating more pleasurable. Scientists
an up-and-coming cannabinoid because scientists
have also found that THC acts on receptors in the
have discovered it has appetite-suppression capa-
hypothalamus to produce the hunger-stimulating
bilities. Real Housewives star Bethenny Frankel is
hormone ghrelin. In a 2014 study published in Neuro-
using that information to develop Skinnygirl diet-
science Nature, researchers found that THC fit into
conscious cannabis (announced in 2015 but still not
the olfactory bulb of mice’s brains, enhancing the
launched), and GW Pharmaceuticals has filed a pat-
smell—and therefore taste—of food, causing the
ent to use THCV to control insulin levels.
rodents to eat more.
To prevent the munchies, find cannabis with the
So, we can take heart. It’s not our fault when we
highest THCV content you can (strain suggestions on
devour an entire bag of Paqui Spicy Queso chips with
page 34). Appetite-suppressing THCV is most abun-
queso dip, a package of Milano double-milk chocolate
dant in landrace African sativas, but cannabinoid
cookies, a carton of Häagen-Dazs chocolate peanut
content varies from grower to grower and harvest
butter ice cream, two Diet Cokes, and a box of gluten-
to harvest. To ensure THCV-rich cannabis, seek out
free cheddar cheese crackers (because they were the
strains that have been lab tested.
only things left). We can’t control the THC that’s controlling our brains.
Second, be prepared. When the munchies hit, there is nothing more heavenly than a visit to 7-Eleven, SEPTEMBE R 2017
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33
with its gleaming cases of high-fructose corn syrup and pizza rolls, shelves stuffed with pork rinds and Hot Tamales. The snack-filled store would be paradise if it weren’t for the inconvenient truth that the food there makes you fat and sick. Keep yourself out of the aisles of temptation by cleansing and restocking your kitchen.
{ MUNCHIE - FREE } strains BL ACK BE AU T Y This sativa-dominant hybrid with a pineapple-like aroma has a 2 : 1 ratio of THCA :THCV and produces a fast-acting, euphoric high. DOU G’S VA R I N The first strain bred to contain massive amounts of THCV, this rare sativa with a piney-citrus aroma has a THCA : THCV ratio of 5 : 4, with a whopping 15 percent THCV and a significant amount of myrcene, the terpene that rushes concentrated THC and THCV to the brain. DURBA N POI S ON The THCV content in this pure African sativa with a spicy-sweet aroma ranges between 0.2 and 1.8 percent, fueling productivity and focus. MOBY D IC K THCV is present in this strong sativa with a sweet-citrus aroma that delivers a powerfully uplifting high. JACK THE RI PPER THCV is present in this lemon-scented sativa that makes you feel talkative and invigorated. P INE A PPL E PURPS The THCA : THCV content in this sativa-dominant strain with a sweet pineapple aroma can be as high as 3:1, giving it a THCV content of more than 4 percent. Grab this euphoric strain when you can; it isn’t easy to find. P OWER PL AN T THCV is present in this African sativa with a spicy aroma that inspires and uplifts. RED C O NGOL ES E THCV is present in this African sativa with a sweet floral aroma that energizes and uplifts. (It’s been called “the cocaine of cannabis.”)
Anton Chekhov said if there’s a pistol in the first act, it will be fired in the second. It’s the same in your kitchen. If there are Hot Pockets in the freezer, you will eat them when you’re high. Stock up instead on healthy whole-food snacks that satisfy 7-Eleven-caliber cravings without the sweet-salty pistol whip of guilt (snack suggestions on page 36).
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Healthy Snacks YOU WON’T H ATE A IR -PO PPED P OP CORN
Eating popcorn keeps your hand moving and your mouth chewing with a lot fewer calories than a bag of chips. Skip the butter and spritz with a little olive or sesame oil instead, then keep it interesting with creative seasonings: chili or curry powder, garam masala, dill weed and lemon zest, cinnamon, Sriracha and lime zest, truffle oil, malt vinegar, bullion powder, white vinegar and sea salt, Mexican hot chocolate mix, or matcha green tea powder. C EL ERY
The vegetable is fun to crunch, great for cotton mouth, high in fiber and vitamins C, A, and K—and has six calories per stalk. Celery’s a great vessel for all sorts of delicious dips and toppings. Peanut butter is the classic, as long as you don’t mind its 16 grams of fat per serving. Try these alternatives instead: toasted
beat the { MUNCHIES } GET B US Y >> Practice yoga, climb a rock wall, knit, play a video game or the piano. With your head and hands busy, you’ll think less about food. DRI NK WAT E R >> You need to do this in Colorado, anyway. Keep your water bottle with you at all times. Flavor it with chunks of fruit or sip on seltzer. DRI NK C OF F EE OR GREEN TEA >> Caffeine dulls appetite, and you can keep yourself amused trying all the different varietals and varieties of coffee and tea now available. You can add a little honey to shore up your blood sugar—but a white chocolate mocha, even with skim milk and no whip, defeats the purpose. C H E W G UM >> Sometimes your mouth just wants to be busy. Chew sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol, a natural corn alcohol that won’t spike blood sugar. Y E A H , N O F R I E S >> Researchers have found that one taste of fatty food signals the brain and gut to want more. You really can’t have just one.
sesame oil and sesame seeds, olive oil and capers,
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Frozen Greek Yogurt with Nuts and Berries { Serves 4 – 6 } This is great when you really want a carton of Chubby Hubby. Greek yogurt is creamier, has a quarter of the carbs, and twice the protein of regular yogurt. You can use any variety and combination of yogurt, nut butter, fruits, and nuts. If you use plain yogurt, you might want to mix in a couple tablespoons of honey or maple syrup. You could even sprinkle in some mini dark chocolate chips, but that’s kind of cheating.
* 2 cups Greek yogurt, any flavor * 1/ 2 tablespoon sesame oil * 1/ 2 tablespoon nut butter ( almond, cashew, peanut ) * Pinch of sea salt Optional :
* 1/ 2 cup berries or fruit ( blueberries, strawberries, mango) * 1/4 cup toasted nuts ( HAZELNUTS, ALMONDS, PECANS ) · Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or waxed paper. Chop fruit and nuts into small pieces. · Spoon yogurt onto baking sheet. Spread evenly into a quarter-inch layer. · In a small bowl, whisk together sesame oil and nut butter. Drizzle over yogurt. · Sprinkle remaining optional ingredients over yogurt and finish with sea salt. · Freeze 5 to 6 hours or until firm. To eat, break into pieces.
horseradish and lemon zest, feta and mint, hummus, baba ghanouj, miso paste, tapenade, bean dip, or salsa. F ROZ EN GR A PES
The ultimate natural popsicle, frozen grapes are simple to make and fun to pop in your mouth. Remove the stems, place grapes on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper or aluminum foil, and freeze for four to five hours. One cup has 100 calories. VEGGIE CHI PS
Get your veggies and a salt fix, too. You can pay a fortune for low-calorie, low-carb potato chip alternatives at Whole Foods, or you can make them yourself in minutes. Toss two handfuls of chopped kale, spinach,
Dip It Good { MAKES 3 CUPS }
cabbage, ultra-thin radish slices, or another slivered
Let’s be honest. Even when we call them crudités, vegetables are pretty boring. That’s why we serve them with buttermilk ranch dip at parties. That secret sauce is a fat trap, though— you might as well be eating ice cream. Try dipping carrots, celery, peppers, snap peas, broccoli, and cauliflower in this low-fat vegan version instead. (You need to soak the almonds overnight and let the dip thicken for two hours or more in the refrigerator, so plan ahead.)
pepper. Place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum
* 1 1/ 2 cup unsweetened almond milk * 1 1/ 2 cup cashews * 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar * 2 cloves garlic * 2 tablespoons fresh parsley * 2 teaspoons onion powder * 2 teaspoons salt * Ground black pepper to taste
· Place cashews in a small bowl and cover with almond milk. Cover bowl and refrigerate overnight. · Combine cashews and almond milk with remaining ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. · Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight.
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vegetable (go wild!) with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and foil and bake at 300˚ F for 20 minutes. GREEK YO GURT
Low-calorie, high-protein Greek yogurt has a thick, creamy texture and is a great source of calcium, potassium, protein, zinc, B vitamins, and probiotics. You can also use it in place of sour cream and mayonnaise. NUTS
Nuts are way better for you than chips, and they provide heart-healthy fat, protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants—but you won’t lose weight if you down a bag every night. Eat nuts judiciously. Almonds, cashews, and pistachios are lowest in calories. Macadamias and pecans are high in fat and low in protein. Nuts roasted in oil may contain hydrogenated fats and fewer nutrients. Robyn Griggs L awrence is the author of The Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook.
GOING
MAINS by LEL AND RUCKER
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TREAM To reach the coveted NEW DEMOGRAPHIC of cannabis users, MARKETERS are realizing they have to reach beyond the tired OLD STONER stereotypes.
If you caught
the official theatrical trailer for The Hero
this spring, you’d think the film was a classic redemption tale about an aging H olly w ood star played by Sam E lliot t, the smooth - voice d, thic k-mustached ac tor who made his silver screen debut in Butch C assidy and the Sundance Kid in 19 6 9. Nick Offerman, the burly guy best known for his portrayal of man’s
man R on S wanson in N B C ’ s Par k s a nd Re c re at ion , cos tars . B ut if you s aw a trailer for the same film at a dispensary in Southern California, you’d think
The Hero is a buddy comedy in which “Sam Elliot t and Nick Offerman Get Stoned. Really, Really Stoned.”
And rightfully so: that’s the exact phrasing that
him in the spring about how to market The Hero to
appears amid clips of Elliott and Offerman rolling
cannabis consumers. “I suggested we re-cut the trail-
joints, talking strains, getting high, and laughing
er to play up the stoner buddy angle between Elliott
about how Elliot’s deep cowboy drawl could sell “a
and Offerman,” he says. “Add another level to the
shit-ton of pot” during a 60-second trailer targeting
story.” The directors agreed and collaborated with Wil-
cannabis consumers. The custom spot wasn’t some
fert to create the new version. Once that was complete,
bootleg ripoff cut together by pot-loving film aficio-
the challenge was getting it in front of its targeted
nados with time on their hands. It was an official trail-
audience of legal cannabis users—a group that runs
er, commissioned by The Orchard, which acquired the
the gamut from 21-year-old gamers to 76-year-old
film’s distribution rights at Sundance earlier this year,
grandmas. Traditional methods wouldn’t work be-
and created by the creative agency arm of The World’s
cause there is no typical cannabis user. What do a
Best Ever (TWBE), a Webby-nominated culture site.
majority of cannabis users have in common? When
David Wilfert, the advertising and marketing con-
they need to buy some pot, they go to a dispensary.
sultant behind TWBE, says The Orchard approached
So that’s where the trailer needed to go.
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39
Wilfert connected with an LA-based media company that operates an in-store network of televisions streaming ads and limited cannabis programming. The Hero ’s pot-centric trailer was soon part of the lineup. “Customers in a pot shop see a TV playing a trailer with these two guys smoking pot, and it’s very relatable,” Wilfert says. The spot was shown in 182 dispensaries in California leading up to The Hero ’s theatrical release. ( Today, you can find both trailers on YouTube, but the film’s official website only has the original pot-free version.) This type of targeted marketing designed to reach cannabis consumers is the latest step in marijuana’s march into the mainstream, another aspect of the New Normal. And it won’t be long before more major brands
36 percent of consumers in
Colorado identify as very social people who enjoy the outdoors at a higher rate than those who merely accept cannabis use or reject it entirely. AS CI TED BY BDS ANALYTICS
follow The Orchard’s lead. Cannabis users are an untapped demographic of consumers with money to burn. With marijuana now legal for adult or medical use in 29 states and counting, people are coming out of the socalled cannabis closet, admitting they use the elevating plant themselves or support the rights of others to do so. A landmark cannabis consumer research study by BDS Analytics, a business intelligence firm, is underway, compiling demographic and psychographic data to help marketers better understand who is using marijuana, who isn’t, and why. The initial results of the ongoing study are in—and the profile of a cannabis user that’s emerged is so far removed from the tired old stoner clichés. The average annual household income of California “Consumers”— people who use cannabis—is $93,800, while “Rejectors”—people who do not use cannabis and wouldn’t consider it—average $75,900. Twenty percent of California Consumers hold master’s degrees, compared to 12 percent of Rejectors. In Colorado, 64 percent of Consumers have full-time employment, 10 percent more than Rejectors. In California, 64 percent of Consumers are parents, and 38 percent say they volunteer their time to help others. In Colorado, data shows Consumers identify as creative, social people who enjoy the fine arts and the outdoors. Basically, the actual modern cannabis user doesn’t have much in common with the lazy pothead depicted in popular culture since Reefer Mad-
ness became a cult classic 80-some years ago. But that doesn’t stop modern-day marketers from trotting out the same old stereotypes time and again—especially around the unofficial “high holiday” on April 20. This year, you may have seen a TV ad for Totino’s 40
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SEPTEMBE R 2017
Pizza Rolls, owned by General Mills, depicting a 420
may have felt edgy and fresh at some point now come
angle and pushing a #betterwhenbaked hashtag. If
across as stale. Taco Bell’s been making not-so-sub-
you were near the Colorado/New Mexico border, you
tle references to getting high for over a decade. It’s
may have spotted a McDonald’s billboard likening
time to move on.
breakfast burritos to joints with the slogan “Usual-
Slowly, signs of progress emerge. In 2011, General
ly, when you roll something this good, it’s illegal.”
Mills used Cheech and Chong to reach Baby Boom-
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, never one to shy away from
ers with an ad for Fiber One brownies. The online-only
pot references as evidenced by flavors such as Half
campaign sought to reassure a middle-aged audi-
Baked and Dave Matthews Band Magic Brownies,
ence that regular is the new high. The narrator ex-
debuted the Chill-aco, a munchie-quashing waffle
plains it like this: “Because now that you’re getting
ice cream sandwich, on 4/20 itself.
older, you need a new kind of magic in your brownie.”
Whereas the legal cannabis marketplace is still
A few years later, in 2014, just days after Colorado
new, mainstream brands creating campaigns laden
became the first state with a legal recreational mar-
with old tropes is not—especially when it comes to
ket, Spirit Airlines released an ad with this state-
the movies and/or the munchies. The stoner comedy
ment: “The no-smoking sign is off in Colorado.” An-
genre debuted with the release of Cheech and Chong’s
other declared, “If you want to make a beeline for
Up in Smoke in 1978, and flicks like Half Baked, Dude,
Colorado right now, we don’t blame you—but we’re
Where’s My Car?, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle,
up to take you to plenty of chill destinations.” The
Pineapple Express, and the upcoming Super Troop-
absence of stereotypical references at first glance
ers 2 , set to be released on 4/20/18, keep resurrecting
seemed promising. But, alas, one step forward was
the same old jokes while depicting pot users as stupid,
followed by one step back. The ad concluded: “Book
hapless, and addicted to junk food. Late-night ads
today…and be sure to pack some munchies.” ( Be-
riddled with must-eat-all-the-food-now references
cause there aren’t any snacks in Colorado, obviously,
SEPTEMBE R 2017
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41
the stoners ate them all.)
42
goal is just that: create brand campaigns that “de-
That part aside, these big-name brands were among
fine a new era of cannabis culture,” as the website
the first to dip a toe into what is on track to become
states. Redefining Cannabis grew out of Gabbay’s
a marketing mainstay as more states legalize can-
U2R1 Media agency, which worked mainly with life-
nabis use. In the interim, companies have to be care-
style and hospitality clients such as Hilton Los An-
ful not to alienate customers who still believe what
geles and Égard luxury watches. Today, Redefin-
they were taught in DARE—cannabis is a no good,
ing Cannabis lists Cannabis Retreats, Erbanna high
awful, very bad drug—while also appealing to peo-
fashion, and a selection of gourmet edible compa-
ple who know better.
nies among its array of clients. Gabbay launched
Wilfert explains that any company marketing to
the new firm a few years ago to deal with cannabis
cannabis consumers, young or old, needs to under-
branding and marketing for small businesses try-
stand that users have a special connection that sets
ing to distinguish themselves from other similar
them apart from the status quo. “Pot smokers relate
companies—all of which are new to the newly legal
to each other,” he says. “Because of how marijuana
consumer. It’s taken over most of her time. “I’m a
has been criminalized over the past century, we’ve
cannabis entrepreneur now,” she says.
been placed into a secret club where we have shared
She explains that cannabis brands aren’t that
the wonders of this plant. Now it is our duty to open
much different from companies in any other indus-
the club’s doors to everyone.”
try looking to market themselves without playing
Sari Gabbay, a marketing consultant and creative
into the stereotypes. “More companies are looking
director in Los Angeles, spends most of her ti me
to us for expertise in how to break into the market
these days trying to fulfill that duty. Her creative
without looking like stoners themselves,” she says
agency is called Redefining Cannabis, and the firm’s
in our interview. “People come to me and say, ‘I know
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SEPTEMBE R 2017
The average annual household income among California cannabis consumers is $ 93,000, with 20 percent of those consumers holding master’s degrees. 64 percent of California consumers are
PARENTS.
AS CI TED BY BDS ANALYTICS
what I do, but I don’t know how to market myself.’”
focused on cornering the ever-expanding market of
So she focuses her efforts on research, working with
cannabis growers. Hawthorne Garden Company is
the client to develop a plan to connect consumers
the umbrella over a portfolio that includes acquired
with the brand in a meaningful way. “We are their
companies such as General Hydroponics as well as
voice,” she says of her cannabis accounts. “How they
craft brands like Black Magic Performance Hydro-
communicate will help change people’s perspective
ponics sold at Home Depots in select markets where
about the plant.”
cannabis is legal. The hydroponics subsidiary is pro-
She tells her clients that consumer education is the key to getting rid of the stigma that continues to
ducing upwards of $250 million a year according to an October 2016 report by Bloomberg.
surround cannabis use—especially when it comes
This is big business, and it’s charting new terri-
to the medical benefits. (She does note that in Cali-
tory. The first television ad for Black Magic could be
fornia, where cannabis is already a fully established
used as an example of the right way to market to
part of the wellness community, the stigma isn’t as
cannabis users and growers. First step: just say no
strong as it is in other states.) “We’re developing prod-
to stereotypes. Black Magic’s ad didn’t portray pot
ucts that are science-based, that have real science
growers as tie-dye wearing slackers. It showed clips
behind them. Cannabis is real medicine, and we’re
of clean-cut guys in their 20s and 30s, dressed like
working with other brands to spread that message,
guys that age do, tending to plants in a variety of
to drive consumers to that space. Big companies are
Instagram-worthy urban settings. The look was so-
not going to sit back [while cannabis brands target
phisticated, the message modern and inspiring, the
their customers with new products].”
takeaway clear: Black Magic is leading the charge
Scotts Miracle-Gro is one of those big compa-
into a future where cannabis growers (and users)
nies—one of the biggest names in the lawn and
can come out of hiding, emerging from literal base-
garden realm in fact. Under chief executive Jim
ment grows and proverbial closets empowered to
Hagedorn, Scotts has invested more than a half bil-
garden with a “higher purpose.” To yield to no one.
lion dollars into the pot industry in recent years,
This is the future. And under the grow lights, the
launching a hydroponics subsidiary in 2014 that’s
future looks bright.
SEPTEMBE R 2017
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43
the LOCAL
STAND -UP SCENE is The 719 area code is known for a lot of things: MEGACHURCHES, obtuse rock formations, blue-collar neighborhoods, and POTHOLES. But can it be funny? A growing community of LOC AL COMEDIA NS think so, and if they keep it up, they may one day create a comedy scene rivaling denver’s.
44
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SEPTEMBE R 2017
by Randy robinson
NO JOKE If you
google him , you will
find headline after headline referring
to a serial killer with the same name. I assure you, the Wade Ridley we’re talking ab out only S L AYS WHEN HE ’S ON S TAGE . Ridley and I first met at The Angry Pirate in Colo-
wild and at punk hangouts Flux Capacitor and Triple
rado Springs, a cozy sports bar the size of a large
Nickel. “When I started doing comedy, I knew there
apartment. Born and bred in Pueblo, he’s a lanky lo-
was no real scene here,” Ridley recalls. “I got all the
cal stand-up comic, a hole-in-the-wall hustler push-
comics together, and I knew we had something spe-
ing 40 while maintaining a spry, youthful composure.
cial. If we could give touring comics a place to stop
He doesn’t look a day past 30. He rocks a slight mus-
here, we can get to know them without driving all
tache that looks as if cartoon villain Dastardly Whip-
the way to Denver. And that plan could’ve worked, but
lash was groomed by auteur John Waters. He self-
instead we cannibalized each other.”
identifies as a “fucking prick,” but he’s nothing but
John Brown was one of Ridley’s comic colleagues
cordial during our talk. He even invites me to see a
who, like Ridley, was born in Pueblo. Brown, Ridley,
gay, Mexican comedian who supports Donald Trump
and another comic, Charlie McMullen, once ruled the
—a brain-twisting combo I couldn’t turn down.
proverbial roost together over Pueblo’s comedy scene.
On the weekends, Ridley hosts stand-up shows at
But disagreements inevitably crept up, and egos got in
Loonees, the oldest comedy venue in Colorado Springs.
the way of progress in 2015. The rift drove wedges be-
For the longest time, Loonees was the only spot for
tween comedian cliques in both Pueblo and Colorado
stand-up in southern Colorado. “Years ago, there real-
Springs, upending the momentum garnered between
ly were no comedy shows going on outside of Loonees
the area’s three dozen active comics.
if I wasn’t putting them on,” he says. “If I didn’t do it, the comics weren’t going to do it.”
“Tension between comics is fairly common anyway,” recounts Brown. “But when we split up, a lot of
Between 2013 to 2015, Ridley kept busy. When he
the things we were doing just kind of went away.” That
wasn’t running his Pueblo-centric podcast 719 The
meant fewer stages for open mics, which meant fewer
Blocks, he threw events at school-turned-brewery Ivy-
opportunities for comedians to nab the spotlight. SEPTEMBE R 2017
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45
“ w he n we split up, a lot of the t hings we w ere d oi ng just kind of w ent away,” re counts JOHN B R O W N. T h at m e a nt fe w er stages for open m ic s, w h ich me a nt few er opport unities for com e di ans to nab the s potl igh t. As the comics vied in vain for what Riley calls
shot at stand-up 13 years ago. In 2015,
“the imaginary crown for Southern Colorado’s King
after moving to the Springs, he start-
of Comedy,” his initial enthusiasm for the local scene
ed open mic nights in the same building as today’s
waned. Dejected by the drama, Ridley packed up his
Dab Lounge. “There weren’t enough spaces in Colora-
life and skedaddled to Kentucky to continue honing
do Springs where comics could try new material,” he
his craft in front of a Midwestern audience. When he
says. “We went from a once-a-week open mic to a dai-
returned to Pueblo this year, the beefing comics let
ly open mic to three shows a week on top of the open
bygones go bye-bye, and the group is now coordinat-
mics. It’s hard work, but it keeps getting bigger.”
ing with one another to keep the scene going.
Verbeck’s persistence over the last two years has
“Even during the break, Wade was calling me to
paid off. The Dab Lounge brings in comics who’ve been
help with my shows, and I’d call him to help with his
featured on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Com-
shows,” says Brown. “Everything’s fine now. It’s all
edy Central, such as Geoff Tate, Emma Arnold, and
water under the bridge.”
Allen Strickland Williams. Denver ComedyWorks
Although Ridley’s absence and Brown’s reloca-
headliner Sam Tallent makes regular visits to the
tion to Denver temporarily brought a halt to many
lounge, as does John Brown. But the Dab Lounge does
funny BUSINESS Beyond The Dab Lounge a nd Loonees, yo u ’ l l f i n d g u t - b u s t i n g c o m e d y a t t h e s e C o l o r a d o Sp r i n g s s p o t s.
ROFL Stand - Up Open Mic The Underground // 110 North Nevada Ave.
something much different than Loonees, since it gives amateur comedians a shot at recognition, something unheard of in southern Colorado just a decade ago. That the Dab Lounge is the only comedy venue where the audience can, in fact, dab, is no coincidence, either. “I do believe one of the reasons comedy is so big in Colorado is because of the legalization of recreational cannabis,” Verbeck says. “There was a time when most people had to stick to getting high at home. Back then, I know my preference was to recommend watching comedy with my friends. It really goes
Thursdays, 9:30 p.m.
hand in hand.”
Open Mic & Karaoke Night by Terrapin Comedy
lifted on cannabis can behave somewhat unexpected-
8th St. Lounge // 310 S. 8th St.
Saturdays, 8 p.m.
Ironically, both Verbeck and Ridley note an audience ly. “Something I’ve seen in crowds of people who’ve been drinking is they laugh audibly,” says Verbeck. “Often, during a cannabis comedy show, I’ll see people
Happy Hour Stand - Up
making faces like they are laughing, but no sound is
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
coming out. It’s a strange phenomenon, but it happens
at Colorado College // 30 West Dale St.
quite a bit. A good comic, however, will get just as many
First Fridays, 6 p.m.
laughs in a room filled with stoners as they would in a
Gold Camp Brewing Company 1007 S. Tejon St.
Various Days and Times
room full of people who’ve been drinking.” “Sometimes stoners take a few seconds to catch on to the joke. The crowd will start laughing a few beats after the punchline,” says Ridley. “Sometimes that messes with the pacing, but if it keeps going
of the area’s DIY shows, other comedians kept the
you get the ‘rolling laugh,’ where one person starts
laughs rolling. One of those comics is Ben Verbeck,
laughing, then the people next to them start laugh-
who manages the Dab Lounge in Colorado Springs. Verbeck hails from New York, where he got his first 46
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SEPTEMBE R 2017
ing, and before you know it, the whole crowd is laughing and can’t stop.”
P R O MOT ION A L F E AT URE
MOTA POT
Must-Have Kitchen Gadget : The Mota Pot in 10 M I N U T E S , you c an be well on your way TO M A KING A NY DI S H A N E L E VAT E D E D I B L E . Cooking with cannabis has never been more
pliance resembling a tea kettle. Just load a stick
popular than it is today. With the Mota Pot, cook-
of butter, some coconut oil, or any other cooking
ing with cannabis has never been easier, too.
oil into the Mota Pot, then add cannabis to the
How? The Mota Pot, designed by a food scien-
catch, and that’s it. Place the Mota Pot on a stove
tist at Johnson and Wales University in Denver,
for 10 minutes and voila! Out comes fully infused
simplifies the process of infusing cannabis into
cannabutter or oil ready to enhance any meal.
cooking oils or butters. It takes just a few minutes,
The short preparation time not only hastens
and all it requires are ingredients found in any
the cooking process, it also reduces the bitter fla-
home, a stove top, and some quality cannabis.
vors found in many elevating foods. Slowly infusing butter with cannabis in a crockpot, babysitting the blend as it turns green, doesn’t always pay off, King explains. “It ends up tasting herbaceous. I put a lot of love and time into my food. I want it to taste like food, not grass.” “The Mota Pot is smaller than my French mandolin that I use to cut vegetables,” she continues, noting that the device won’t clutter even the busiest kitchen. There are no electronic parts, either, so it can soak in a sink or run through a dishwasher cycle and still keep churning out great infusions. The real kicker of the Mota Pot, however, lies in
Carolyn King, CEO of Happy-Kitchens, distrib-
the freedom it provides to any chef. When one
utes the Mota Pot. A self-taught chef, she discov-
can infuse the most basic ingredients, the possi-
ered the Mota Pot while studying different ways
bilities for adding cannabis to a dish become
to make cannabis extracts for cooking. “When I
limitless: salads, chicken, steaks, meatballs, coffee
was looking at recipes for making cannabis but-
creamers, candies — even flour for baking breads
ter, they all required between an hour and eight
or making cookies. “The Mota Pot gives you a
hours to make,” she says. “Baby, I ain’t got that
basic template to make whatever you want at
kind of time to spend with butter.”
home,” says King. “It’s perfect for the home cook
The Mota Pot is a straightforward kitchen ap-
who wants to control their dose.”
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47
Sensi Night Premiere
sensi
SCENE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Evan Hurst
Since its inception in 2016, Sensi has thrown some of the most poshy-yet-banging Sensi Night parties in Denver. On August 18, the team brought the party down south to The Mansion in Colorado Springs for the first of many events honoring the cannabis community. Local industry leaders, advocates, artists, and activists from around the state came to celebrate the region’s newfound freedom through our favorite flower during a festive evening. The next Sensi Night SoCO is happening in November. Keep an eye on the Sensi Media Group Facebook page for details.
48
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SEPTEMBE R 2017
What: Sensi Night SoCO Where: The Mansion When: August 18, 2017
P R O MOT ION A L F E AT URE
LU X L E A F
Uplifting Care C A N N A B I S may be able to tre at scores of M E D I C A L M A L A D I E S but w hat kind is be s t for you ? L et L U X L E A F be your guide. At Lux Leaf dispensary in Colorado Springs, the focus is always on the patients. Part medical canna-
ing how cannabis can help in all of those areas or in certain areas.”
bis dispensary, part education center, Lux Leaf of-
The concierge-style consultations are based on
fers consultations for all patients, regardless of the
both published scientific research and patient tes-
person’s past or current experiences with cannabis.
timonials regarding cannabinoid therapies. Along
“We’re 100 percent patient-oriented,” says Court-
with Lux Leaf ’s trained consultants, the company’s
ney Hays, the director of dispensary operations at
executive team includes a certified medical pro-
Now that PTSD has been added to the state’s list of qualifying medical conditions for cannabis, Lux Leaf is lending a hand to southern Colorado’s veterans and trauma survivors. fessional to verify the efficacy of patient responses. “Many of our patients are curious about a particular product they have heard about. We carry a wide variety of products in select dosages to ensure we Lux Leaf. “Working with our patients and their med-
are able to find the right cannabis therapy for you,”
ical diagnosis to decide the best cannabis treat-
says Hays. “If it’s out there, there’s hope, and we’ll
ment for them is our main goal.”
work to find something right for you.”
The center’s consultants work with new patients,
Now that PTSD has been added to the state’s
discussing their health care needs and goals to first
list of qualifying medical conditions for cannabis,
determine if cannabis is a treatment option. If it is,
Lux Leaf is lending a hand to southern Colorado’s
the consultant then helps determine what kind of
veterans and trauma survivors. On September 28,
cannabis is best suited for the patient’s needs.
the dispensary is hosting a free event to educate
“The basis of our consultations is to really dive
patients and their loved ones about how cannabis
into your diagnosis, what your current treatment
can alleviate the symptoms of PTSD. It runs from
plan is for it, and what you are looking for,”
5 : 30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visit Luxleaf.com for more in-
Hays says, “then taking all of that and determin-
formation.
SEPTEMBE R 2017
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49
{soCO} by Randy robinson
As the slogan goes: “If you can’t drive it, it’s a float.” For one weekend this month, the Colorado border town of
TRINIDAD transforms into a round-the-clock parade where form meets function, where aesthetics meets engineering, where a giant fire-breathing dragon made of metal plates meets Main Street. It’s the ArtoCade, the nation’s second-largest artcar spectacular, and it’s happening on September 8 and 9. The ArtoCade attracts vehicular artisans from all over the country who accessorize an assortment of automobiles with everything from jet turbines, imposing skeletons, and ornate jewels to a caricature of Albert Einstein’s head. The only limits at the ArtoCade are the ones posted on the traffic signs. This year marks the ArtoCade’s fifth gathering in Trinidad, but the showcase continues all year long through the town’s newest museum, the Bizarre Car Garage. The garage, which currently has 25 art cars on display, gives everyone a chance to catch the ArtoCade’s marvels, whether you missed the event or just
© Joe Kusumoto
can’t get enough of it afterward.
50
Bohemian Rhapsody by Rebecca Bass and Reagan High School, Trinidad’s ArtoC ade
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