A new month is with us; the month of flowers, the fifth
month of the year and the month of big, important celebrations. Welcome May!
All things seem possible in May. Spring has sprung and we can again enjoy
running outside, the beauty of new flowers, and the passing of showers. It is
said this is the month when plants really start to grow.
May was originally the third month of the year in older
Roman calendars. It became the fifth month when the months of January and
February were added.
Here are our sweetest, stimulating springtime choices for
shopping, dining and entertainment to send you off into May’s bright, sunny
days as the clouds move on:
3 As the
ponies get ready to “run for the roses” on Sat., May 4, race down to the Bar
Car on Colorado Blvd. for Leukemia’s Benefit Bash derby party. The start time
is noon for this fun fundraiser. Information: 720-524-8099.
3 For a top
flight day, wing it to Jewish National Fund’s Breakfast for Israel at Wings
Over the Rockies May 9, 7-9 a.m. Information: 303-573-7095.
3 Enjoy a
colorful start to spring attending Spring Blossoms Gala benefit at Infinity
Park Event Center May 10, 5:30 p.m. Information: 303-867-4605.
3 Experience
the Harmony of Children at Children’s Choir concert of fun songs in Gates
Concert Hall May 11, 3 p.m. Information: 303-300-0470.
3 Allow
springtime and banking to blossom by banking on Sunflower Bank’s service this
season. It’s the largest bank headquartered in Denver with offices in Cherry
Creek and downtown. Information: 303-297-0333.
3 Transition
into spring-summer by enjoying late nights at the Bull & Bush. Popular
brewery-eatery offers a “$10 Late Nite Menu” from 10 p.m. to midnight every day
with burgers, more. Information: 303-759-0333.
3 Symphony
plays film scores from Psycho, Mother Goose and Batman at Boettcher May 17-19,
7:30 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m. Information: 303-893-4100.
3 See nearly
30 paintings by Denver born artist Jordan Casteel on display at the Denver Art
Museum through May 26. Information: 720-913-0130.
3 As Mother’s
Day (May 12) approaches nearly 48,000 women in Denver and Colorado are living
with Alzheimer’s disease. Women account for roughly two-thirds of all cases.
Furthermore nearly two-thirds of all unpaid volunteer caregivers are women. As
you celebrate your special mom consider a donation. Plus plan for annual
two-mile walk Sept. 4 to support the Sherman St.-based Assn. Information:
303-813-1669.
The hallmark of Spring is the return of color. The skies
seem bluer, the grass begins to green again, and the flowers bloom, bursting
open with color and fresh life. The trees begin to bud and the birds and
animals are becoming active again. The entire Cherry Creek Valley seems to be
waking up from this year’s very long Winter’s nap.
James Thomson, known for his poems The Seasons, put it this
way: “Among the changing months, May stands confest; The sweetest and in
fairest colors dressed.”
T.S. Eliot famously wrote: “But May is here, and what better
way to welcome this merry month than with music?” Johannes Brahms set many
texts about May and springtime to music. Yet it is Lerner & Loew’s The
Lusty Month of May from Camelot that for us lets memorable melody flow: “It’s
mad, it’s gay, a libelous display.”
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at
newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
If Helen of Troy launched a thousand ships this sad young
woman closed a thousand schools. Front Range media went on full alert, in fact
some businesses closed because she was here in the Mile High City.
I’m sure by now you all recall in the week leading up to the
20th anniversary of the mass murder at Columbine High School we had a very
underweight, very small 18-year-old girl who never saw snow in her life arrive
at DIA. In a matter of hours, she became a combination of Rambo and Che
Guevara, frightening the entire Front Range from south of Greeley to north of
the Springs as the FBI claimed they were investigating her as a “credible
threat” against Colorado schools.
The evidence now points to she never made a death threat on
anyone, never threatened anyone. One of her friends said she was infatuated
with Columbine. Note to self, the entire Front Range media including my
award-winning radio show has been infatuated with Columbine. They red flagged
the entire state of Colorado. There’s been a post death complex picture of this
young woman. She’s been described as deeply troubled, lonely, talked about
suicide, and was also described as brilliant, kind, and a very talented artist.
That sounds like a lot of people I’ve worked with in radio.
Her mother told the cops she never did drugs as they filed
the missing persons report after her last text when she said she was going to
an art history review.
The seemingly missing pieces of this puzzle are why did the
FBI get involved? Who notified whom? Did the Miami FBI call the Denver FBI? Was
she on her way to DIA? This one person held all of the school systems and, in
fact, the whole Front Range hostage and to a high degree of probability was dead
in the snow (not nude and no tattoos of Klebold and Harris) by the time the
massive manhunt was even launched.
She went up there, saw snow and killed herself near the Echo
Lake Lodge near the base of Mount Evans. She purchased three one-way tickets
for three different days, which is dumb but not against the law. The gun dealer
who sold her a shotgun did not break any laws. So, you tell me, why was she
such a “credible threat?”
But the real critique comes in the aftermath with the
opinion makers, the Governor, and other dumbasses who seem to be running the
State of Colorado.
How about armed guards at schools? While I was researching
this thesis, I found numbers of papers and reports done by the politically
correct who say guns on the teacher’s hips will frighten the children and they
won’t be able to study. Having been in Israel that must be news to all the kids
there who go on to earn great degrees. It would make infinite sense but as you
now know the PC left of center advocates say a gun can never be a good thing.
And hence, as Patsy Ramsey noted, a gun can’t be an answer except when it’s
World War II when a good guy with a gun comes up against a bad guy with a gun.
So, when little Muffy and Buffy don’t have armed guards to
stop armed intruders they will hide in the closet and the lunchroom and you
know how fast police will respond.
Schools should have armed guards to stop armed violence.
Is it missing on the Front Range media and Democrat Party
that you cannot find one mass shooting at a police station, National Guard
armory or a sporting goods store that sells guns? Conspicuous by its absence
because good guys stop bad guys. It’s a simple reason we should embrace armed
guards in schools. I love it when the Democrats say guns in school produce a
police state and America will become an armed camp.
Really? Don’t forget we have armed guards at Broncos games,
Denver City cops working off duty to protect the south stands from the Oakland
Raiders.
But don’t expect to see anyone talk about this.
She was more than just a threat; she became an excuse and in
the brilliance of my grandson who, when his mother told him school was closed
that day, looked out the window and asked, “where’s the snow?” Someday maybe
he’ll write this column.
The Denver municipal election is set for May 7, 2019, and
City Council District 5 promises to be a close race with incumbent Mary Beth
Susman vulnerable to defeat or perhaps a run-off election which would be slated
for June 4, 2019. A run-off would occur if no candidate receives more than 50%
of the vote. In that case, the top two vote getters would go head-to-head in
the June 4th election.
Leading Contender: Amanda Sawyer, who many feel has the best chance of defeating the incumbent, has gained ground with a campaign that speaks about common sense and a rational approach to development within the city.
Incumbent Susman has a reputation in Denver for being a
proponent of high-density development even in quiet residential neighborhoods.
As a result of her negative reputation she has garnered three opponents for the
District 5 seat. District 5 includes the neighborhoods of Hilltop, Crestmoor,
Mayfair, Lowry, Windsor, Washington Virginia Vale, Hale and Montclair.
One candidate who is apparently gaining ground and hoping to
defeat Susman on May 7 or at least June 4, is Amanda Sawyer. Sawyer’s message
is resonating with voters and experts say she has a legitimate shot to upset
the incumbent Susman. Susman has $106,000 in her war chest while Sawyer has
approximately $75,000.
Also in the hunt for the District 5 seat are Michele Fry and
Steve Replin. Fry, a lifelong Mayfair resident, also has attracted supporters
with her experience in government and close ties to the community. She has
raised $24,000 to date.
Dark Horse: Steve Replin is running for city council in District 5 and has proposed a moratorium on all building projects for two years. Replin is seen as a dark horse candidate but Denver residents remember that John Hickenlooper was considered a long shot when he ran for Mayor in 2003.
Hopeful Opponent: Michele Fry, a lifelong Mayfair resident, hopes to defeat Mary Beth Susman in the upcoming May 7 election.
Replin, although a dark horse candidate, has proposed a
two-year moratorium on building anything within the city. To date, Replin has
not yet reported any outside contributions to his campaign.
District 5 is known for activists fighting inappropriate
development and, in at least one case, they were victorious. The proposed Green
Flats project on Holly Street, which this newspaper covered extensively, was
defeated by neighborhood groups even though Councilperson Susman tried to force
the development on the neighborhood.
The Green Flats project is what prompted Sawyer’s interest
to run for the District 5 seat. She has been vocal about development in her
district and is unafraid to ask the tough questions of developers. She
recognizes that development will happen in Denver, but she wants a more
thoughtful approach and protection of the character of the neighborhoods.
As Denver voters are grappling with this decision in
District 5, a candidate forum is scheduled to help them make an informed
decision. The Cranmer Park/Hilltop Civic Association and Bellevue-Hale
Neighborhood Association will co-host a forum on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at
6:30 p.m. for the candidates seeking the District 5 Denver City Council seat:
Michele Fry, Steve Replin, Amanda Sawyer and Mary Beth Susman.
Additionally, there will be information and presentations on
ballot initiatives. Specifically, they have invited the supporting and opposing
organizations for Initiative 300, The Right To Survive, to present their
positions an take questions.
Unpopular Incumbent: Mary Beth Susman, whose popularity has plummeted, is fighting for her political life and faces three strong candidates in the municipal election set for May 7, 2019.
On March 16, 2019, Two Parts hosted the 6th Annual
Collaboration Beer Fest at the Hyatt Regency in Denver. This creative beer
festival featured 100+ beer projects with over 200 participating breweries. How
does a beer project happen? Two or more breweries come together to brew
something special with one or both being a member of the Colorado Brewers
Guild. The result? Some of the most exciting, rare, and delicious beer tappings
you’ll find anywhere.
Comrade Brewing: Benjamin Housman, left, and Andrew Lester from Comrade Brewing were among the breweries that collaborated with other breweries to make unique beers. Comrade, located at 7667 E. Iliff Avenue in Denver, worked with Pelican Brewing and Epic Brewing.
Many good beers filled the exhibit hall of the Hyatt
Regency. Some standouts were Comrade Brewing and Epic Brewing (Denver) who
combined to make a Dry-Hopped California Common. Comrade Brewing also
collaborated with Pelican Brewing (Pacific City, OR) to brew an IPA with Orange
Peel and Citrusy Hops.
The longest lines were at the booth reserved for Cerebral
Brewing (Denver) and WeldWerks Brewing Company (Greeley) who collaborated to
make a New England-style Double IPA Brewed with Nelson Sauvin, Sabro, and Citra
Hops.
New Terrain Brewing Company (Golden) and Molly’s Spirits
(Lakeside) also had a crowd for their Desert Berliner Weisse with Yogurt. It
was one of the most unusual beers found at the fest and was a hit among
attendees. Stop by Molly’s Spirits in Lakeside for this and other collaboration
beers while supplies last.
Milkshake IPAs were at a few booths and one collaboration
that stood out was from Launch Pad Brewery (Aurora) and Bent Barley Brewing
(Aurora). This beer was brewed with fresh carrots, walnuts, lactose, vanilla
beans, and spices.
Fiction Beer (Denver) and Calicraft Brewing (Walnut Creek,
CA) brought a single malt grain bill to set the stage for the combination of
yeast, hops, and fruit. Peaches and Viognier Grapes made up 25% of this beer. A
custom blend of bretttanomyces and champagne yeast were used to ferment this
beer dry with almost no residual sugar. Only whirlpool hops and huge dry hops
add to the complexity. The bright aroma of citrus, tropical and stone fruit
from the hops are the perfect complement to the sweet nectar and herbal aroma
from the fruit and our blend of yeast. The flavor is enhanced by the incredibly
dry finish. Crisp, bright, and complex.
Collaboration Fest: The 6th Annual Collaboration Fest was held on March 16, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency in Denver.
Visit www.collaborationfest.com for more information and a full list of all collaborations. Stay tuned for next year’s event as Two Parts always puts on a high quality and well-organized event.
Planned 2019 Test Flight To Hit Speeds Of 1,688 MPH;
Denver Co-Founders Raise $150 Million For Start-Up Firm
Future Boom Operator: Japan Airlines has invested $10 million in Boom and was given a special tour of the Denver headquarters. The airline has pre-ordered 20 aircraft and got a peek at the XB-1.
The XB-1 aircraft dubbed Baby Boom — a one-third-scale
supersonic demonstrator — being built by Denver-based Boom Supersonic plans its
first test flight later this year. Designed to reach speeds of up to 1,688
miles per hour or twice the speed of sound, it is the prototype for a
commercial 55-passenger plane with a range of 5,180 miles to be introduced by
2023.
Co-founded by Denverites Blake Scholl and Josh Krall in
2014, the firm had raised $151 million by January of this year. Among the
startup investors were several venture funds that kicked in $33 million in
March 2017. In December 2017 Japan Airlines invested another $10 million,
enough to build the XB-1 “Baby Boom.” Then in January Boom Supersonic was given
another $100 million by Apple founder Steve Jobs’ widow Laurene Powell Jobs.
Supersonic Building Boom: Co-founded by Denverites Blake Scholl and Josh Krall in 2014, Boom Supersonic plans a test flight of the XB-1 aircraft dubbed Baby Boom this year.
Comfortably Close: The 55-seat plane named the Boom Overture will be able to fly from New York to London, Paris to Montreal, and Madrid to Boston in under four hours or less than half the time of conventional jets.
Boom says its aircraft — with a price estimate of $200
million — will produce a sonic boom at least 30 times quieter than the
Concorde, which was also dogged by high operating costs and fuel consumption
plus low capacity utilization. Boom estimates that fares for its aircraft will
be 75% lower than the Concorde and comparable to current business class
tickets, due to better fuel efficiency.
Pre-Orders Booming
Boom has 76 pre-orders for the 55-seat plane. The first
commercial airline to back the venture with investments was British airline
Virgin Atlantic that has options for 10 of the new aircraft. They made the deal
14 years after the final flight of the Concorde. In addition Japan Airlines has
the option to purchase up to 20 Boom aircraft and will assist efforts to hone
the aircraft’s design and passenger experience, according to the companies.
Called the Boom Overture, the 55-seat plane will be able to
fly from New York to London, Paris to Montreal, and Madrid to Boston in under
four hours — less than half the time of conventional jets. Although the plane will
have fewer than half the seats of a Concorde, company officials say it will
have a much better range — a staggering 5,180 miles.
The supersonic jet will also be more economical, and its
sonic boom will be “at least 30 times quieter” than Concorde, the company
claims. They also say that when it comes to landing and take-off: “Overture
will be as quiet as the subsonic aircraft flying similar routes today.”
Mach 2.2 Speed
The firm says its jetliner — expected to enter service by
the mid 2020s — will fly at speeds of Mach 2.2, 10% faster than the
British-French joint venture Concorde, which popularized supersonic jet travel
in the 1970s.
With 500 viable routes, there could be a market for 1,000
supersonic airliners with business class fares. It expects to keep the delta
wing configuration of the Concorde but would be built with composite materials.
It would be powered by three dry 15,000 20,000 lbf (67-89 kN) turbofans; a
derivative or a clean sheet design will be selected in 2019.
General Electric Co., Honeywell International Inc. and
Netherlands-based TenCate Advanced Composites are among suppliers for the
Denver firm’s supersonic jets.
Accessible Planet
The Denver-based company was founded for the express purpose
of making our planet dramatically more accessible. “We are taking proven
science and engineering and using it to build a Mach-2.2 airliner that will
kick off the supersonic era. And we are making the company a place where the
best people on the planet can be inspired and enabled to do the best and most
meaningful work of their careers,” says Founder-CEO Blake Scholl.
Blake’s Baby: Making high-speed travel mainstream is why Blake Scholl, who lives in Denver and is the father of three, founded Boom Supersonic.
Speed isn’t about going really fast Scholl says, “It’s about
closeness. It’s about making far-away places feel like they’re right around the
corner.” His point: Some people say that speed makes the world smaller. But at
Mach 2.2, the planet is as big as ever. Life is bigger when it is experienced
in person — with supersonic speeds, we’ll all experience a bigger world than
ever before.
Over long distances people don’t think in miles and kilometers.
They think in hours,” the CEO clarifies. He explains it this way: Crossing the
U.S. takes about five hours. Going from New York to Dubai takes about 14. Speed
isn’t about going really fast. It’s about closeness. It’s about making far away
places feel like they’re right around the corner. If we can fly twice as fast,
the world becomes twice as small, turning far off lands into familiar
neighbors.
Founding Trio
Making high-speed travel mainstream is exactly why Scholl
who lives in Denver and is the father of three founded Boom Supersonic. With a
BS in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon, he has held leadership roles at
Amazon and Groupon and co-founded mobile technology startup Kima Labs that was
acquired by Groupon in 2012.
Engineering Change: The first go of Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 engines on a U.S. Air Force Academy test cell ran to 95% of power.
Sitting at the intersection of engineering, design, and marketing, Josh Krall — who also lives here — co-founded Boom with Scholl. He also attended Carnegie Mellon and has an MBA-MPP from Chicago Booth. Co-founder of two startups, his technical work includes owning multidisciplinary design automation software used for conceptual and preliminary aircraft design. He is leading Boom’s efforts to re-imagine the experience of flying and to craft the company’s brand.
Andy Cipra is the third member of the Boom team. He served
as head of marketing at Denver’s Dish Network where he created partnerships
with Southwest Airlines, Apple and Netflix. Most recently he was Chief
Marketing-Commercial Officer for several start-ups in the healthcare and
technology space. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Purdue and an
MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
