by Mark Smiley | Jul 24, 2025 | Main Articles
Glendale Brewery Wins 3 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal And 1 Bronze Medal
by Mark Smiley
The Bull & Bush Brewery has been named the 2025 Grand National Champion at the U.S. Open Beer Championship.
The Bull & Bush Brewery, a Glendale landmark since 1971, has been named the 2025 Grand National Champion, taking home 3 gold medals, 1 silver medal, 1 bronze medal, and Brewery of the Year (1,001-2,000 Barrels), at this year’s prestigious national beer competition.
Gold medals were awarded to the brewery’s standout creations:
- Royal Oil
- Pimp My Rye
- Nappy Nap Time
Two additional medals further cemented Bull & Bush Brewery’s reputation as one of America’s top craft breweries:
- Hucklesherry Hounds (Silver)
- Ghoul Fuel: Rum Diaries Edition (Bronze)
“This is an incredible honor for our team and a reflection of the passion we put into every pint,” said Erik Peterson, Minister of Progress at Bull & Bush Brewery. “Our mission has always been to create beers that are as memorable as the moments our guests share in our pub. Winning the Grand National Champion title reinforces our commitment to quality and innovation.”
Head Brewer Gabe Moline added:
“We love making beer and spreading cheer. Winning awards is the extra foam on top of a pint of beer. We’re lucky to do what we love every day.”
Founded in 1971, Bull & Bush Brewery is more than a brewery — it’s a family-owned English-style pub that has become a beloved part of Denver’s cultural fabric. Known for its award-winning, hand-crafted beers, Bull & Bush Brewery also offers a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that has drawn generations of locals and visitors alike.
by Mark Smiley | Jul 11, 2025 | Travel
By Mark Smiley
Katy Perry returned to Ball Arena on July 10, 2025 after her original performance date was rescheduled. Perry’s Lifetimes Tour began in Mexico City on April 23, 2025. The concert had a futuristic “video game” theme where Perry plays a half‑human/half‑machine hero battling an AI villain who’s stolen butterflies.
Similar to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, Perry rattled through each era of her music during her two-hour performance. The 25 song setlist included all of her hits such as Roar, Teenage Dream, California Gurls, and Firework (her closing number). It also included the deep track Not Like the Movies which she hasn’t performed live since 2012. Fans experienced the full breadth of her career—from early hits to new tracks.
The stage theatrics included wire‑flying, a lightsaber duel, metallic costumes, and intergalactic visuals. The effects included over 20 screens and large props. With all of the theatrics, Perry also took time to bring five kids on stage to ask them questions and have them perform with her. She also took a phone from a fan and took selfies and videos with it.
The tour will conclude on December 7, 2025. This tour supports her seventh studio album, 143. Visit www.katyperry.com/live for more information.
by Mark Smiley | Jun 20, 2025 | Uncategorized
Ideal For Dedicated Coffee Fans Who Enjoy A Proper Home Brewed Cup
by Mark Smiley
Making pour-over coffee at home is becoming more popular as prices rise at coffee shops around the Cherry Creek valley. Besides the savings, pour-over coffee at home offers several other advantages. It offers superior flavor control with control over the water temperature, coffee grind size, and brewing time. This results in a cleaner, more nuanced cup with clarity and complexity often lost in automatic machines.
Pour-over coffees also offer a level of freshness. You’re likely using freshly ground beans and filtered water. The result is a more aromatic, flavorful cup compared to pre-ground or store-bought coffee.
If you’re particular about taste or enjoy the craft of coffee making, pour-over is hard to beat. However, one disadvantage would be the time it takes to make those cups at home. That is where the xBloom Studio machine comes into play. xBloom is a premium specialty coffee system designed for home baristas who care about precision, flavor, and convenience. If you want café-quality pour-over with automation and the ability to customize every variable, this machine is worth a look.
xBloom Studio is an automated pour-over coffee machine with a built-in burr grinder, scale, and touchscreen. It supports three brewing modes: Autopilot, Copilot, and FreeSolo. The autopilot allows you to tap an NFC “xPod” card to pull a roaster-curated recipe, and the machine handles grind, water temp, pour pattern, and timing. The copilot mode allows for use of your own beans and the ability to customize every parameter via the xBloom app. The FreeSolo mode offers complete manual control using the machine’s onboard dials, grinder, and scale.
The system uses biodegradable whole-bean “xPods” with embedded RFID chips to automatically load brewing profiles; you can also pour in your own beans or use a Kalita dripper.
“As a dad of two, convenience is everything — and this machine delivers,” said Mark P., a Verified buyer of the xBloom Studio. “It’s incredibly easy time feels like a treat. I’m seriously wondering why I didn’t buy this earlier.”
The xBloom Studio has a built-in 48 mm conical burr grinder, 0‑2 kg scale (0.1 g resolution), touchscreen, and metal dials on the front for precise adjustments. With all of the components, it features a small footprint and is a sleek and stylish machine that looks good in any kitchen and does not take up a lot of space.
It features precision pouring and heats water instantly via nanofilm heating and delivers water in circular patterns while gently agitating the dripper for even extraction. The xBloom app connects via Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth to set up brew recipes, control every variable, monitor grind.
The xBloom Studio is one of the most advanced home pour-over systems available. It’s a strong pick for dedicated coffee fans who appreciate control and quality in a sleek package.
At time of press, the xBloom Studio retails for $599. Chronicle readers can use promo code Glendale-20 to receive $20 off their purchase. Visit www.xbloom.com to learn more and to purchase.
by Mark Smiley | Jun 20, 2025 | Main Articles
Artists Stop Through Glendale To Promote The Show
by Mark Smiley
Cirque In Glendale: Henrik Veres (right) and Eddie John Browne visited Glendale’s Infinity Park to promote the upcoming Cirque du Solei show, ECHO. They had fun with a rugby ball on the field and enjoyed learning more about the Village during their visit.
Cirque du Soleil returns to Denver with its latest show, ECHO, a story of connection, intention, and the symbiotic unions between humans and the animal kingdom. The show will be under the big top in the parking lot of Ball Arena from July 12 to August 17, 2025.
Fueled by the power of change, the hope of the youth, and the value of empathy, ECHO follows an inquisitive young woman named FUTURE as she wanders into a fantasy world that explores our sacred bond with animals and nature. When FUTURE and her best friend, the DOG, encounter a mysterious CUBE, they quickly learn how their actions have the power to shape this world, and if we come together, we can rebuild our planet to create the world we all want to live in.
Henrik Veres is a 6th generation circus performer from Hungary. He is performing the role of EWAI the aforementioned Dog in the show and has been with Cirque for seven years. This role is different for Veres as much of the show, he wears a mask. “Throughout this whole show having, my face covered with the mask, I really had to learn different ways of communicating, with the audience and communicating my emotions,” said Veres. “When I pull the mask off and reveal my face is when I feel like I can really just go full out and do what I’m the best at, my juggling number.”
Veres started juggling at the age of 12, and performed his very first show at age 14. He was been
honing his craft and working in circus arts ever since, performing previously with Cirque du Soleil’s CRYSTAL and Cirque du Soleil at Sea. Over the past 15 years, he has performed in over 5,000 shows across the world. A seasoned circus performer, Veres joined ECHO a few months ago, as a juggling act and one of two artists, a principal role on the show.
Eddie John Browne’s path to the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil bega
n in Sierra Leone, where he grew up and discovered a passion for movement and performance. Eddie was honing his flexibility and control from a young age.
Specializing in dislocation and contortion, Browne masters the art of bending and twisting the human body in extraordinary ways. These disciplines require not only physical prowess but also immense dedication and resilience.
Cirque du Soleil’s 20th Big Top show brings bold new visuals and a unique aesthetic on tour. Packed with vibrant characters, inspiring music, astounding lights and projections, and never-before-seen acrobatic feats, ECHO invites audiences on a journey through a universe of color, wonder, and infinite possibilities.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/echo.
by Mark Smiley | Jun 20, 2025 | Main Articles
by Mark Smiley
Ricky King
Ricky King, a DJ at Glendale’s Shotgun Willie’s for 30 years, and a Glendale City Councilman from 2005-2014, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2025, at the age of 62. After battling health issues that landed King in the hospital on a couple of occasions, he died of cardiac disease at AdventHealth Parker Hospital.
King will be remembered as a kind and generous person, and everyone who came in contact with him, took a liking to him. Growing up in Kansas, King had a Midwestern charm to him which is a large part of why there is an outpouring of support on social media.
A longtime friend and colleague, Rob Reese posted: “35 years of sharing DJ booths and microphones… from our days at PT’s San Antonio in 1990, to Shotgun Willie’s. You were a damn good soul with a big heart and a legendary voice. You were loved by all and will live on in legend and legacy among all of us who knew and loved you. Rest easy my friend… we’ll keep the show going in your memory.”
Many chimed in calling King “the voice of Shotgun’s.” If you stopped in on what the club calls Country Mondays, you would hear King bellowing out the next performer’s name and what stage she should report to.
“He was a decent human being who was full of honor and honesty,” said Deborah Dunafon, owner of Shotgun Willie’s. “He was a great team member who supported everyone around him and was always there when you needed him. I was proud to have considered him a friend and I have never met a more sincere person.”
King was considered a leader in his community, especially the eight years he served on city council in Glendale. He was also a devout Glendale Chamber of Commerce member. “I had enormous respect for Ricky,” said Jeff Allen, Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce COO. “He was always willing to lend a hand and help where needed. He was truly an authentic guy. He will be missed in our business community.”
King is survived by his wife Beth and son Wahaj. Ricky King’s celebration of life was held on June 25 where many of his friends and family gathered to tell stories of a man they all loved and admired.
