by Mark Smiley | Oct 24, 2018 | Main Articles
by Mark Smiley
Elvis In The Building: Elvis Presley, seen here eating a “Fools Gold” sandwich at the Colorado Mine Company in Glendale, once boarded his private jet from Memphis and flew 1,000 miles to have a midnight snack in Glendale.
The “King of Rock and Roll” Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, at his home in Graceland purportedly sitting on a porcelain throne in his bathroom. The cause of his death at age 42 was cardiac arrhythmia, i.e. a heart attack. Some of his admirers have blamed his death on the “Fools Gold” sandwich from the Colorado Mine Company in Glendale, Colorado, while others have blamed it on the potpourri of drugs that flowed through his system at the time. But fans claim the “Fools Gold” sandwich was, in fact, deadlier for the heart than almost any drug.
The sandwich consisted of an entire loaf of sourdough bread with massive amounts of peanut butter and blueberry jam along with crisp bacon. The sandwich was an alternative, fun staple at the Colorado Mine Company which was an upscale steak, lobster and prime rib restaurant in the heart of Glendale. On East Virginia Avenue, p
Good Old Days: The Colorado Mine Company was a hot spot along Virginia Avenue in Glendale in the 1970s and 1980s.
rofessional athletes, rock stars and other celebrities hung out at the establishment when they came to Denver during Glendale’s entertainment heyday in the 1970s and early 1980s.
The Colorado Mine Company was owned by Buck and Cindy Scott. The Lift Nightclub was across the street and Mr. Lucky’s was next door, which was purportedly owned by the Detroit mob. Adjoining the Colorado Mine Company was Glendale’s Municipal Wastewater Plant. The restaurant had large bay windows which looked out upon a scenic pond that, in fact, was a wastewater pool but, in the moonlight, appeared highly romantic.
The Colorado Mine Company under Buck and Cindy’s aegis began in 1971 with 16-year-old chef Nick Andurlakis, the progenitor of the “Fools Gold” sandwich at the food helm. “We took off pretty good. We were doing 2,000 dinners per night,” said Andurlakis. The restaurant in its heyday served the 2,000 meals nightly at 400 tables.
The restaurant closed with the demise of the oil boom in 1982. Among the celebrities who hung out there were Clint Eastwood and his wife, Davey Jones the lead singer for the Monkees, as well as actor Telly Savalas. But there was no greater star at the time than Elvis Presley, who visited the restaurant on eight different occasions.
Although Elvis is gone, Andurlakis is not and, in fact, owns and operates Nick’s Café at 777-1/2 Simms Street in Golden. Elvis memorabilia adorns the walls of his café with a story behind each picture. Every year on Elvis’s birthday, January 8, many of the King’s fans flock to the café to partake in the “Fool’s Gold” Sandwich.
Elvis loved the sandwich so much that on February 1, 1976, he took his private jet to Denver in order to have a midnight snack. Elvis arrived in Denver and was greeted at 1:40 a.m. by Buck and Cindy Scott of the Colorado Mine Company carrying 22 fresh Fool’s Gold Loaves. He was then escorted to the restaurant by a platoon of Denver police officers led by Jerry Kennedy, then Chief of Police of the City and County of Denver.
Elvis ate three 8,000 calorie sandwiches and gave two to his daughter L
Still Serving: The “Fools Gold” sandwich is still available at Nick’s Café in Golden. He is pictured here holding the original Colorado Mine Company menu and the original platter he served the sandwich on to Elvis. Nick Andurlakis has operated his café for 32 years. It is open 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day.
isa Marie. Andurlakis still has the platter on which he delivered the five sandwiches.
Andurlakis remembers Elvis fondly. One time, Elvis noticed that Nick was looking at and admiring his necklace. Elvis took it off and put it on his neck telling him it was now his and no amount of protestations from Andurlakis would deter him. Andurlakis has never taken the necklace off from the time it was given to him by Elvis except for an operation when he was given no choice in the matter.
The cost of the sandwich at the Mine Company was $37.95, but on the menu it was stated, “This price is negotiable. (Inflation is killin’ us!).” Andurlakis states that Buck and Cindy would tell the waitresses that anything over $20, they were to keep for themselves. Since the waitresses were often extremely attractive and the normal male consumer may have been drinking prodigiously they often got more than the list price of $37.95.
Elvis impersonators love to stop by Nick’s Café and partake in the sandwich. Cody Ray Slaughter, an award-winning Elvis Tribute star, who has appeared on such shows as the Late Show with David Letterman, was recently in town appearing at the Lakewood Cultural Center. He reports that you cannot perform for several hours after consuming a “Fools Gold” sandwich as the peanut butter stays with you for hours.
In light of Glendale looking forward to bringing back its entertainment district along Virginia Avenue, to be titled Glendale 180, members of the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce are hoping to lure Andurlakis back to Glendale for a special event. Sometime during this occasion, the mayor might present him a key to the city. No better way, it is thought, to bring Glendale’s past and present together.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 24, 2018 | Main Articles
Flying Machines Impact Valley’s Workplace, Output; Altering Local Real Estate, Events, Construction, Mining
by Glen Richardson
Drones Over Denver: There are no specific rules for drones in Denver other than they are not allowed in parks or within a five-mile radius of any airport. They are allowed to fly at or below 400 ft., or about as high as a 40-story building.
To be sure drones aren’t yet as American as apple pie. Experts predict, however, that within the next decade unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones will be as indispensable as the cell phones we carry everyday — tools that make us productive, safer and more connected.
Delivery of doughnuts to Denver’s mayor a year ago has thus far been the city’s single significant drone headline. Can’t drones wing it over the Rocky Mountains?
Despite creating little buzz locally, drone dealings are booming and doing double duty in Denver. Consider these examples:
Top Denver Deals
- Xcel Energy is the first utility in the nation to routinely fly drones beyond the operator’s line of sight as it surveys transmission lines around Denver;
- The University of Colorado at Denver offers a Drones 101 course that is the only academic one of its kind in the country;
- Valley drone company Juniper Unmanned has performed unmanned aircraft missions for companies on six continents;
- Drone companies did live demonstr
ations on the roof of the Convention Center when Denver hosted XPONENTIAL, the world’s largest drone expo this summer; and
- Denver-based Lockheed Martin is offering a $2 million prize in its Drone Challenge titled AlphaPilot.
Donut Delivery Dunked
Amazon, Google and Walmart are experimenting with drone delivery but despite the publicity it is not on Denver’s immediate radar. That’s in spite of the successful delivery of donuts to the mayor.
Why? Deliveries require a lot of work, more powerful drones, better battery life and extremely smart systems that can prevent collisions with people, aircraft and power lines.
Drones also need to be able to verify that they’re delivering something to you and that they’re leaving it in a safe place.
Out Of Sight Flights
In January of last year with FAA approval (2017), Xcel Energy began to operate drones within operators’ visual sight for power line inspections. The work established that drones improved productivity and safety without the use of trucks, helicopters or other utility equipment. Xcel inspects more than 320,000 miles of electricity and natural gas infrastructure to ensure the safety and reliability of its energy systems.
This summer the Federal Aviation Administration announced it had also authorized Xcel drone flights out of the operator’s line of sight. The FAA’s decision to allow these flights is unprecedented in the utility industry, the company says. “Xcel Energy is honored to be the first utility to conduct flights that will enhance grid reliability and safety for our employees and the public,” says Ben Fowke, chairman-CEO. “With this groundbreaking decision, we are advancing the use of technology that improves our efficiency and prov
Nation’s First: Xcel Energy is the first in the nation authorized to fly drones beyond the operator’s visual line of sight. Flights are within a designated area north of Denver to inspect assets.
ides cost savings for customers.”
The company is now routinely operating drones beyond the visual line of the operator’s sight within a designated area north of Denver. Licensed pilots remotely operate small, unmanned drones that look like helicopters weighing less than 55 lbs.
Drone Academics
Housed at CU Denver’s College of Engineering & Applied Sciences is a course titled Unmanned Aerial Systems. Often described as Drones 101, it is teaching a new generation of scientists about applications and research opportunities afforded by unmanned aircraft.
Taught by Jeff Cozart who also happens to be the chief executive officer of Juniper Unmanned — the leading drone company in the world — students are taught mission planning, UAS operations, collection procedures, data processing and analysis. Students also study the legal, ethical and economic implications of drone use.
Offered since 2014 and believed to be the only academic course of its kind in the country it has made Denver the nation’s scholastic leader in Unmanned Aerial Systems. Furthermore, Cozart is a member of the Aviation & Aerospace Science faculty at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he teaches undergraduate courses in unmanned aircraft.
Business-Industry Leader
Valley drone company Juniper Unmanned is the world leader in unmanned aircraft missions for business and industry. Named the 2018 Colorado Company to Watch, the Golden-based firm has conducted operations on six of the world’s seven continents. Among the firm’s clients are Disney, AECOM, Caterpillar, Trimble, Rio Tinto, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Office of Surface Mining, the Bureau of Land Management and Department of Energy.
The company has completed work ranging from complex urban centers to remote, environmentally sensitive locations. Work is conducted from roads, bridges, earthen dams and power plants.
The company also provides drone solutions for commercial, federal, state, and military organizations. The company integrates best-in-class aircraft with the most advanced sensors. When combined with Juniper’s engineered processes, advanced software, and analytics, clients receive unmatched data and actionable intelligence to improve their business.
Has World’s Eye
After considering sites in San Francisco and New York, Propeller Aero, an Australian maker of drone software for construction and mining has landed in a 3,200-sq.-ft. space on Larimer St. downtown.
After closing on a $10 million round of funding in June, the Sydney-based company has hired a dozen Denver employees and expects the number to double. The firm was founded as a drone data company for mining, construction and waste-management in 2014.
Now, Propeller helps companies set up and fly a drone, then stitch together the photos it shoots into a 3D model to show customers how deep a hole has been dug, how much dirt is in a pile or the various gradients of a surface. In addition, the company produces AeroPoints, a hardware square plate that surveyors lay down on a site that collects data from drones.
Photos & Prizes
Commercial drones are revolutionizing Valley mining, construction and civil engineering. Drones are being used to survey building and the surrounding landscape. Equipped with cameras, GPS and rangefinder measurement tools they provide a detailed bird’s-eye perspective of projects. Some construction drones also have thermal imaging scanners that identify hot and cold spots on projects. A cold spot could indicate insufficient installation, hot spots an electrical problem. Drones can also inspect hard-to-reach areas such as the roofs of high-rise buildings.
Denver realtors are now using portfolios of drone photography to sell property. Drone film companies or realtors themselves shoot and use a diverse mix of aerial camera work from a variety of altitudes and angles. Drones are also now commonly used to shoot weddings and other Valley special events. Keeping their feet on the ground, companies such as Littleton’s Lupher Arts Wedding Motion Pictures use these flying machines to capture breathtaking shots.
Finally, Denver-based Lockheed Martin is offering drone enthusiasts a $2 million design prize. The Challenge: Design an artificial intelligence and machine-learning (AI/ML) framework capable of flying a drone though several professional drone racing courses without human intervention or navigational pre-programming.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 24, 2018 | Feature Story Bottom Left
by Shideh Kerman, BS, MBA
AFC Urgent Care Denver
Members of AFC Urgent Care Denver’s experienced medical staff.
Approximately 152 million Americans depend on employer-sponsored coverage for their healthcare needs. According to a new report published by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, employer-sponsored premiums increased across the board in 2018.
The findings show how healthcare costs have changed in just the past seven months, and review some of the major trends of healthcare costs in recent years.
Trend Alert: Premiums For Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Plans Increased In 2018
The Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits Survey assessed 4,070 randomly selected, non-federal public and private firms with more than 3 employees between January and July of this year. They found that employer-sponsored family health coverage rose by 5% to a dollar average of $19,616. Coverage for single premiums rose 3% to a dollar average of $6,896.
Unfortunately, increasing healthcare costs do not appear to stay in pace with other factors including wages and cost of living. According to the report, average family premiums have increased by over half (55%) since 2008, despite earnings increasing by only 26% and inflation increasing by 17%.
It’s not just premiums that are on the rise, either. 85% of employees covered by employer-sponsored health insurance have to pay a deductible (up from less than 60% one decade ago). And the average single deductible is now $1,573, almost 50% greater than a single deductible back in 2008 ($735). 25% of all covered workers are now expected to pay deductibles of at least $2,000.
This burden can have a significant impact on a person or family’s ability to manage bills associated with medical care.
Changes To Individual Health Insurance Plans Expected In 2019
The open enrollment period for 2019 begins on November 1. At that time, individuals living in the state of Colorado will be able to sign up with one of several different health insurance plan options, whether these are procured through employers or offered on the exchange.
Individual health plan options from major providers including Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, Bright Health, Kaiser Permanente CO, and Rocky Mountain Health Plans include HMO or Health Maintenance Organization, PPO or Preferred Provider Organization, HSA or Health Savings Account plans, Tier Plans and/or Catastrophic Plans which are a type of high-deductible health plan for people under 30 or those who qualify for a “hardship exemption.”
Coloradans who may be interested in new individual health plans include those who are self-employed, those who work for an employer who does not offer group plans, those whose benefit needs have recently changed, or those who are enrolled in a group plan or health plan that does not cover spouse or dependents or has high premiums.
Some Coloradans can expect some extra assistance in premium payment in 2019. That is, monthly premium tax credits for individuals in Colorado are expected to increase by 10% in 2019, from $212 in 2018 to $233. This is based on baseline hypothesized data from a 40-year-old non-smoker making $30,000 per year.
Prior to tax credits, 2019 monthly premiums for individuals in Colorado are projected to decrease by 6% for low-tier bronze plans, increase by 6% for middle-tier silver plans, and decrease by 5% for high-tier gold plans.
Employers Strategies In Combating Rising Health Insurance Costs
Many employers plan to incentivize employees to opt for high-deductible insurance plans as a way to control costs. An additional cost-effective approach may include incentivizing healthier life choices, e.g., many employers may contribute to health savings accounts or reimburse employees for gym memberships. Individuals and families can do their part to minimize healthcare costs by taking advantage of employer-sponsored incentives and adopting healthy behaviors as a lifestyle. Research indicates that preventive measures such as proper nutrition, regular physical activity, and disease screening can save thousands of dollars in medical costs.
Some other employers might cover some services offered in low healthcare costs settings. Reports indicate that three quarters (76%) of large companies cover healthcare services that are offered in retail clinics, such as urgent cares. Even a small number of companies provide financial incentives for workers to use these clinics. At AFC Urgent Care Denver with a new location just opened off of Speer Blvd., experienced medical staff is continually doing what they can to stay up-to-date with current changes in the socioeconomic dynamics of this country.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 24, 2018 | Editorials
Penfield Tate
In spring of 2011, the citizens of Denver in their infinite wisdom decided to elect the unintelligent but gregarious Michael Hancock who as The Denver Post stated, had a “feel good story” rising from poverty to become the plaything of Green Valley Ranch developer Pat Hamill who owns Hancock lock, stock, and barrel along with his fellow crony capitalists at Colorado Concern. Of course The Denver Post never revealed who was actually running Hancock as it had become, as the only major paper in the city, as corrupt as the city government itself.
Hancock barely made the 2011 runoff beating out James Mejia by only 1,491 votes for the last spot behind first round leader Chris Roemer. Just think only 1,491 votes and the race would have been between two highly qualified and experienced candidates either of whom would have run Denver a multitude of times better than Hancock. For the last eight years high density developers and the Brownstein law firm have run and raped the city for fun and profit while Hancock has spent his time working out in gyms and chasing skirts.
Four years ago everyone realized what an awful mayor Hancock was but no credible candidate arose to run against him due in large part to the massive fundraising advantage Hancock had over anyone who would run against him. For a while it looked like 2015 would repeat itself with Hancock running essentially unopposed.
But over the last 30 days two highly credible candidates, Penfield Tate and Lisa Calderon, have thrown their hats into the ring for office of mayor of the City and County of Denver which will give Denver real choices.
Penfield Tate III is 62-years-old and an attorney with the national law
Lisa Calderon
firm of Kutak Rock. He was a state representative from 1997 to 2001 and state senator from 2002 to 2003. He represented northeast Denver which is the base of power for Mayor Hancock. He knows what he is up against having run for mayor in 2002, getting beaten out by John Hickenlooper.
He correctly points out how the rapid growth of Denver has been grossly mismanaged by the Hancock administration. The last eight years with all the wealth pouring into the city should have been Denver’s Golden Age, instead it’s been an unmitigated disaster for everyone but developers.
Tate has declared: “Development is out of sync with neighborhoods, disrupting the quality of neighborhoods. It’s imperiling open space and having an impact on parks. It’s driving gentrification. It’s impacting small businesses that are . . . getting driven out of neighborhoods. It is impacting affordable housing.” We could not have articulated some of the major problems of the Hancock administration better.
Lisa Calderon is a longtime community activist from north Denver and presently the co-chair of the Colorado Latino Forum — Denver chapter. Her parents were an African-American and a Latino. She has a law degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, as well as a doctorate in education from CU Denver.
She has been a advocate against the treatment of prisoners at the Denver jail. She has held rallies against Michael Hancock’s harassment of and lying about his relationship with Denver Police Detective Leslie Branch Wise. She recently sued the City and County of Denver for canceling a contract to run a re-entry program for former inmates based on, she alleges, her criticism of the mayor and his harassment of Leslie Branch Wise.
She believes that the city is at a critical juncture: “So, I kept waiting for the candidate to emerge that I would support, who represented my values and my concerns about affordable housing and women’s issues, and concerns about the cultural preservation in our city. And I realized, I was waiting for me.”
Her platform centers around affordable housing, “resident-led” development, decentralizing the mayor’s office, and women and workers.
When asked how affordable housing and “resident-led” development mesh she stated:”We need to look at what does each community need in their neighborhood,” she said. “I can tell you right now I don’t need a big behemoth building shadowing over all of the other units, but there is a way to build for density that still takes into account community.”
She went on to note: “There are ways to do density that really centers a community in it, rather than a developer’s idea about cramming so many people in there.”
Eighteenth century diplomat and philosopher Joseph de Maitre declared that “in a democracy people get the leaders they deserve.” It is hard to fathom that anybody deserves a sexual predator and corrupt mayor like Michael Hancock, but we will find out next spring. Hancock has raised $700,000 from the worst of the worst in Denver, but no amount of money can scrub clean the permanent stains he has made across the city. We will have a choice next year in Denver and it can only be hoped that we choose wisely.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 2, 2018 | Main Articles
The Extraordinary Journey Of Richard Robbins
by Charles C. Bonniwell
Watch Expert: Peter James, the worldwide mystery novelist, has utilized Richard Robbins’ expertise on early pocket watches in his book Dead Man’s Time and he recognized him by name as an “expert in timepieces in Denver, Colorado.”
Richard Robbins had lived what it looked like a perfect corporate executive life. After graduating from college he joined Kraft Foods, a Fortune 500 company. He traveled around the country doing important assignments as a key executive for over 20 years. He decided the constant moving was too stressful for his wife and two daughters, so he took a job as the president and CEO of a local bank in the Chicago area.
But after a decade as a bank president, Robbins went through a devastating divorce and he questioned whether he wanted to spend the rest of his productive working life in the role of a button down corporate executive. After a brief stint in New Zealand, he decided to move to the wilds of Colorado, i.e. Cherry Creek.
One of the verities of living a happy life is to find something you love and figure out a way to make money doing it. Robbins’ father had been a highly successful antique furniture dealer and Robbins had retained a love of beautifully made furniture. He
Handmade: Robbins has a passion for crafting walnut furniture and collecting and repairing early pocket watches from the 1700-1800 ca. His businesses can be found on the second floor of The District Shops, formerly occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond at 2500 E. First Ave in Cherry Creek North.
decided to start making desks and tables from the trunks of whole trees. The pieces of furniture can weigh as much as 100 pounds and are built to last generations.
He took space out at The District Shops in Cherry Creek Shopping Center which provides areas for artisans and other small businesses in the old Bed Bath and Beyond store. He crafts the fine furniture in the basement area of the shopping center at Robbins Woods.
In addition to his love of furniture, Robbins had a love for antique pocket watches. While in the Chicago area he had learned the ins and outs of pocket watches from a third generation Middle Eastern pocket watchmaker over a four-year period.
He decided to also turn that knowledge into a business venture. He acquired a large inventory of antique pocket watches from sales across the country and founded The Pocket Watch Shop leasing out separate space in The District. He repairs, buys, sells and trades the very best in antique pocket watches, specializing i
Many Talents: Richard Robbins has an unusual background which began with Kraft General Foods (20 years), followed by bank president in Chicago for 10 years. He now crafts all sorts of items out of different types of woods, including walnut and oak.
n timepieces made in America, England, France and Switzerland.
Robbins makes sure the timepieces are in perfect working order and meticulously researches, in the extensive timepiece library he has collected, the country of origin of each watch and the individual craftsman whose skill and inventive daring resulted in the pocket watch. When you acquires a pocket watch from The Pocket Watch Shop you are acquiring not only a timepiece, but a piece of history which has been carefully documented.
His expertise has become so well known that best-selling novelist Peter James extensively consulted him for his horological knowledge for his best seller Dead Man’s Time which has sold over 13 million copies. James repeatedly acknowledged and thanked Robbins for his help in the introduction to the novel.
Now a full-time Cherry Creek artisan, Robbins lives in a home in Washington Park along with his second wife and soul mate Kerry Moriarity who works as a custom travel agent in Cherry Creek. He stays closely involved with his two daughters, both of whom are graduates from the University of Colorado-Boulder, with one living in Denver and the other in the Chicago area.
To reach Richard Robbins call 847-370-0825, or visit www.antiquepocketwatchbuys.com.
