by Jessica Hughes | Jun 20, 2025 | Travel
By Jessica Hughes
120 yogis attend the first guided yoga class at the UCHealth Health and Welleness Zone. Photo provided by Outside.
Lord Huron closed out the second Outside Festival and Summit in Denver. Photo by Jessica Hughes
Austin has South by Southwest — now Denver has the Outside Festival and Summit. Any lingering doubt that Colorado is the epicenter of the outdoor industry was put to rest last month, as the Outside Festival and Summit returned to downtown Denver, doubling both its attendance and presence.
Founded by Outside Interactive Inc. and presented by Capital One and REI Co-op, the Outside Festival and Summit exceeded expectations with 35,000 attendees over the weekend — far surpassing the anticipated 25,000 and nearly doubling last year’s debut turnout. The event didn’t just grow in attendance; it also expanded its footprint, with the Outside Summit taking place across two locations and offering 11 sessions and two workshops.
This year’s four-day event — two days focused on outdoor industry professionals and two days of public festival programming at Civic Center Park — kicked off with the debut of Outside Ignite, a national startup pitch competition. New to the festival, the competition drew nearly 200 applicants, from which five finalists were selected to pitch live to a panel of five judges. The grand prize, valued at $100,000, was awarded to Carbondale-based Raide Research, while Campfire Ranch took runner-up honors and won the audience-voted People’s Choice Award. “This is the Shark Tank of the outdoors,” said Jessica McGee, Director of Marketing at Outside. “These participating contestants — from hospitality to gear — are helping reshape the industry.”
Following Outside Ignite; the Outside Summit welcomed 900 attendees to 15 sessions featuring 46 speakers. Highlights included insights from Conor Hall of Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Office; Mary Beth Laughton, president and CEO of REI Co-op; and Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, who shared his latest vision for Powder Mountain, a project aiming to disrupt the ski industry.
The second Outside Festival doubled in attendance at Civic Center Park. Photo by Jessica Hughes
The Outside Festival took over Civic Center Park on Saturday and Su
nday with a dynamic mix of programming. Industry icons like Alex Honnold headlined presentations, while 500 climbers scaled The North Face climbing wall and over 100 walkers joined Diana Nyad and Bonnie Stoll for the EverWalk session on Sunday.
Attendees also heard “Tales from the Trails” from seasoned backpackers, sharing stories from their outdoor journeys. Between sessions, a standout lineup of 12 musical acts kept the energy high, with headliners including Trampled by Turtles, Sylvan Esso, and Lord Huron. New this year was the UCHealth Health and Wellness Zone, where 120 yogis greeted the day with sunrise salutations, and the Ultimate Basecamp where industry professionals and athletes engaged audiences in inspiring conversations about adventure and the outdoors.
“This year’s Outside Festival and Summit proves that we’re building something much bigger than an event… we’re fostering deeper connections and bringing the outdoor community together,” said Robin Thurston, CEO of Outside Interactive. “The Outside Summit rethinks the traditional outdoor trade show model and brings leaders in the industry together to discuss new ideas, successes, and challenges that top outdoor businesses are facing today. The Outside Festival is where we see huge potential for more engagements at t
he event, continuing to celebrate outdoor culture and attract fans of music, film, wellness, and adventure. We hope to keep growing this event and adding value for years to come.”
The timing of the Outside Festival feels especially significant, as Colorado’s position as a leader in the outdoor industry was called into question following the Outdoor Retailer trade show’s 2022 departure from Denver back to it roots in Salt Lake City. But with Outside Inc. relocating its headquarters from Santa Fe to Boulder, the company has forged a strong partnership with the state — paving the way for the creation of this new, uniquely Colorado event, says McGee.
Denver responded to the moment, launching a festival that not only attracts industry professionals but also directly engages outdoor enthusiasts, bridging a gap that hadn’t been crossed before.
“Outside brings a South by Southwest approach to the outdoor space,” says McGee. “We’re not trying to be another expo,” McGee adds. “We want people to come for the connections, the conversations, and the fun. Brands benefit, too connecting with both their industry peers and with consumers in one vibrant space.”
For those in the industry, McGee emphasizes the importance of building community and fostering dialogue about where the outdoor world is heading. For consumers, the mission is simple: get people outside. That’s why the festival is free for kids 12 and under — to make it as accessible as possible and inspire the next generation of outdoor lovers. “It’s all about kicking off the summer season and getting people excited about the outdoor lifestyle.”
With plans already underway for a third year — scheduled for the weekend after Memorial Day — the Outside Festival is quickly establishing itself as the unofficial launch of summer. “We’re committed to growing this event year after year,” says McGee. “The goal is to keep the momentum going and build the go-to gathering place for the entire outdoor community — professionals and consumers alike.”
by Jessica Hughes | Jun 20, 2025 | Main Articles
Will It Be Worth It?
by Jessica Hughes
Unique Business Corridor: Colfax Avenue is known for its various small businesses such as the Bluebird Theater. Some wonder how many such businesses will be able to survive the disruption of the many months of renovation of much less a street with the number of automotive lanes cut in half.
Bird’s Eye View: Looking west down Colfax Avenue from Adams Street.
One of Denver’s most historic streets gets a modern facelift that threatens the very businesses that make it so special. The construction for the East Colfax Rapid Bus Transit project has recently claimed the lives of several local businesses in the last few months including Middleman, a neighborhood gem that also operates the James Beard Award-nominated Misfit Snack Bar — closed last month.
This is just one of many stories people have shared in response to the BRT project. The nearly 10-mile project, which only began in October 2024, is already causing local businesses to struggle, some even closing. As disruptions continue, many business owners are left questioning how they’ll survive through the project’s projected completion in 2027. And if they do survive, will the reconfigured Colfax help the street boom or destroy it as a business district?
The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems — a train-like system that offers fast and reliable transportation without the high cost of building a rail system — have become popular solutions to public transportation in larger cities. But at what cost? There might be an easier flow of traffic, but for some local business owners, they don’t see the long-term benefit. Like Libby Anglin, owner of Base6Fitness at 3805 E Colfax Ave., who says since COVID, she’s seen a constant stream of construction along Colfax and thinks the BRT project won’t be worth it in the end for local businesses. “The constant construction over the last four years on Colfax has been an unmitigated drag on our business. In the end I hope I am wrong, but I do not see how it will be good for the city or worth it for businesses or residents.”
Over the past several decades, Denver has steadily worked to change Colfax from a former federal highway into a lively neighborhood main street. As part of this transformation, the city has introduced bike and bus lanes to modernize transportation along the corridor, and now most recently the BRT system. But while these upgrades signal progress, they’re also creating new challenges — particularly for the local businesses that are the heartbeat of Colfax and Denver. “Keeping these businesses alive, keeps the soul of the city alive,” says Don Novak of the Bluebird Business Improvement District.
The biggest issue for business o
Closed For Business: The once popular Pete’s Greektown Café at Filmore and Colfax has been closed down and no new tenant is likely until the Colfax Avenue renovations are fully completed.
wners, Novak says, is people avoiding Colfax because of the construction. “Traffic has been pushed to nearby streets, so there aren’t as many people driving in front of the businesses.” He says the most difficult points are the bus stations in the middle of the street, which construction on these started in 2025. “Some of these businesses are completely covered with no access to their entrance. It looks like a barracked war zone,” says Novak referencing the long-time local businesses such as Tommy’s Thai, PS Lounge, Enzo’s, and Lulu Rose, who currently sit behind a fence.
While the Denver Economic Development & Opportunity department has $15,000 grants available to businesses to keep them open, you have to apply and prove a 20% loss in revenue. But for these businesses, they say it’s often too late at that point. In addition, some businesses claim that $15,000 does not keep them open mo
re than a few more days or one week in total. “In the meetings I have attended, most businesses feel that if they are down 20%, they are already in the red and closing their doors,” says Spero from Hooked on Colfax.
Anglin of Base6Fitness, also points out the city should fully acknowledge the majority of brick-and-mortar businesses depend on ease of access and people being on site. “All brick-and-mortar businesses thrive best with ease of access,” says Anglin. “So perhaps rather than making businesses prove loss of business, perhaps it should just be a given.”
The Colfax construction isn’t the only hardship contributing to hard times for local businesses since COVID. Unfortunately, the planned construction didn’t, and coul
Goosetown Tavern: Successful operations such as Goosetown Tavern at Adams and Colfax have been hurt by the East Colfax renovation. The impact is not as severe since their frontage is not blocked.
dn’t, account for the global issues businesses face today having to adapt to not only local concerns but global concerns as well. “Things are getting increasingly difficult for Mile High businesses in the last few years with minimum wage going up in Denver, but nowhere else in the state, plus with the addition of tariff-talk, when you add in a massive construction project, it doesn’t help,” says Novak. “While we have been talking about this project for over a decade, we unfortunately didn’t plan for things going to shit.”
For Spero, owner of Hooked on Colfax coffee for the past 20 years, the last five years have been the most challenging by far. “All costs have spiked, from property taxes to delivery fees to the cost of coffee beans. We only have front door street access, so the BRT project has made it incredibly difficult to receive product deliveries. And customers who used to park out front and grab a coffee on their way to work can no longer do so because the parking spaces have been removed.”
So, local neighborhood associations and committees are stepping up to help local businesses weather the storm. The Bluebird Business Improvement District — a community organization funded by taxes from those in the district — works to support the businesses and aesthetic of the nine-block area between St. Paul Street and Colorado Blvd., especially during times like these. “We represent and offer overarching support for business owners and neighbors in the Bluebird District,” says Novak. “We are to work with the city of Denver and the BRT project to help businesses thrive, especially during times like these.”
Colfax BRT: East Colfax Avenue from Union Station to 1-225, is undergoing ten miles of major renovation featuring a Bus Rapid Transit Corridor which replaces two automotive lanes with bus lanes. There will no longer be on street parking along Colfax. While it will assuredly increase bus ridership, some believe it will destroy the businesses along Colfax Avenue, it is purportedly designed to help.
One of which was an effort to provide a temporary parking solution by working with the owners of the parking lot at the corner of Colfax and Adams Street — previously occupied by Paradise Cleaners, where they have “paved Paradise to put up a parking lot.”
“We see non-monetary support options from both the city and the local Bluebird Business Improvement District,” says Patrick Brown of Twist and Shout Records. “Internal solutions are being implemented with local businesses, like Paradise Cleaners at the corner of Adams and Colfax, that the BID is providing, opening up its parking lot for all customers along Colfax.”
Regardless of these temporary band-aids, are they enough to weather the storm? “The issue really comes down to businesses renewing their leases, or not,” says Novak. “The result of this project could be amazing, but the survival right now is way more challenging.”
Other business owners who have recently spent a lot of time and money updating and renovating, like Gwen Campbell, owner of the Lost Lake Lounge and Goosetown Tavern, which she just bought in March 2024, are now faced with unexpectedly slow business because of the construction. “We invested a lot into updating the business, putting in a new kitchen, bringing on a new chef, and developing a new menu with BBQ, bar bites, and burgers.”
Famous for its dive bars and historic restaurants, Colfax is home to legacy businesses and a bustling community that prides itself on the number of independent businesses in the area. And so their main concern is keeping the legacy businesses, like the Goosetown Tavern, in place. “These businesses are our culture here in Denver. We are dedicated to keeping these legacy businesses in place,” says Novak.
“The Bluebird District on East Colfax is special, it’s known for live music, local art, quirky shops, diverse restaurants, unique bars, and a counterculture vibe,” says Campbell. “This has evolved to where it is today over time. If businesses don’t make it, it will take at least a generation to revive.” Despite what feels like an agonizingly slow death, Novak reiterates that the goal is to have construction complete within 18 months from now. So, the trade-off: two years of construction that threatens to wipe out the culture of a neighborhood that would take a generation to revive.
“I am hopeful that once the project is completed, it will improve the aesthetics on Colfax and business will get back to normal,” said Campbell. “I truly hope when this is completed, there will be solutions for parking because p
No Parking: Various retail businesses along Colfax have been cordoned off from their customers.arking is critical for retail shops, hair salons, and food & beverage.” Unfortunately, the Johnson Administration is not inclined to promote parking. In fact, it is inclined to do the opposite.
If small businesses close, who comes in their place? Of course, it’s always the fear of big box chains and restaurants — the ultimate death and destruction of any local community. “What has always made Colfax is the unique nature of the businesses along the street,” says Brown. “Chain stores and restaurants erase the local character of their cities into a homogeneous sameness, and Colfax has a long-standing tradition of having locally owned small businesses as the dominant flavor.” “It’s been proven time and again that small businesses have a greater positive net impact on their communities and Colfax is evidence of that — from hiring locally, to keeping tax dollars in the community, to diversifying the neighborhoods, to reacting to community needs.”
One thing all these business owners agree on is that Colfax is the heartbeat of Denver. Colfax is as central to our city’s transportation as it is to our memories as Denverites, whether it’s catching a show at the Bluebird Theatre, getting a free rose at the PS Lounge, or grabbing a bite at Goosetown Tavern, everyone in the city has a story about Colfax.
“Colfax deserves a glow up,” says Spero. “I am excited for the curbs to be repaired and the potholes to be filled. Added trees will be lovely. I suppose only time will tell if the new bus stops will be beneficial and encourage more people to ride the 15.”
Campbell, like many other business owners, wants to remind people Colfax is still open. “Once a month, try a new restaurant or tavern on East Colfax, go see a concert, grab a drink at one of the quirky, cozy bars.” Plus, a chance to show your support in September with the Bluebird Bodega, a big music and food showcase to support the area businesses along Colfax.
by Jessica Hughes | May 16, 2025 | Glendale City News
by Jessica Hughes
At California Closets with Mary Gelwick, Alexandra Sandberg, Kristin Becker, and Jena Brenneman (from left to right).
Cherry Creek Design Collective event at TOWNhouse.
Element Home hosted Jarred de Palo aka Mr Depalakua at their Cherry Creek store.
Just in time for the annual spring refresh we all look forward to in our homes, the Cherry Creek North neighborhood held its first ever Cherry Creek Design Day. Hosted by the Cherry Creek Design Collective, the inaugural event brought together the area’s top design retailers for a full day of networking, hands-on experiences, and inspiration from Cherry Creek’s design community.
Event organizers, Kristin Brown of Rocky Mountain Shutters and Kristine Vanacker of Ann Sacks, are also the brains behind the newly-formed Cherry Creek Design Collective — a group that aims to unite the neighborhood’s top design retailers that have flocked to the high-end Denver neighborhood over the last few years.
The idea came shortly after Vanacker moved her tile and stone showroom from Denver’s Design District to Cherry Creek, “She asked if there was a design group in Cherry Creek of like businesses and I said no but there should be,” says Brown. “Ever since that first meeting, we have been working with the Cherry Creek Chamber to build this group. This idea truly was to bring awareness to the public and professionals the great design and home furnishings offerings in Cherry Creek.”
Ann Sacks Tile & Stone showroom finds itself in good company with newer high-end design retailers moving into the Cherry Creek North shopping area in the past few years, including TOWNhouse and Joybird. As Cherry Creek North continues to expand its offerings of design retailers, Brown and Vanacker felt inspired to create a central event that highlighted these industry experts that reside in their backyard.
“We wanted to host an event that brought professionals into the neighborhood and got them exposure to the wonderful design and home furnishing offerings in Cherry Creek North,” says B
Attendees visit Ann Sacks Tile + Stone at the first annual Cherry Creek Design Collective.
rown. “This first event was focused on providing an introduction to the businesses a part of the collective, while our next event we plan to have a consumer day as well.”
Brown says the collective includes members from the Cherry Creek Chamber, members that work in the design and home furnishings in the Cherry Creek area, which can be retail locations in the neighborhood or professionals who want to work in the area.
Attendees began their journey at Rocky Mountain Shutters, Shades & Closets, where they enjoyed mimosas and breakfast treats, and explored offerings from Hunter Douglas Window Fashions and The Designery. The day continued with visits to various showrooms opening their doors, including organizing tips and tricks at California Closets, non-toxic interior design at Interior Define, with Uniquely You Decor, on-Budget Design Service at The Brass Bed, and more.
“The idea is that as a group we can get our individual businesses in front of the eyes of our consumers whether for professionals or direct to homeowners, and bring awareness to the wonderful home furnishing and design options in Cherry Creek North,” says Brown.
The Collective also commissioned local artist Michael Dowling to conclude the event with a meet-and-greet happy hour at TOWNhouse. “A wonderful addition to the event was from artist Michael Dowling. He donated a beautiful design featured on our swag bags, which he signed for each participant.”
As the Cherry Creek Design Collective looks to the future, they are excited to have the event grow in the number of businesses participating as well as people attending. “We hope to have a professional and a consumer day next year and we are excited to have this continue to be an annual event,” says Brown. “As a collective we will also be hosting more events throughout the year, including a walk with the owners and managers of these businesses this summer for the Cherry Creek Summer concert series, as well as a CEU day for design professionals and many more!”
To learn more about the Cherry Creek Design Collective follow them on Instagram @cherrycreekdesigncollective.
Photos provided by Cherry Creek Design Collective.
by Jessica Hughes | Apr 18, 2025 | Main Articles
by Jessica Hughes
Cherry Creek Shopping Center now charges employees to park in its garages.
Employees and customers now both must pay to park in the Cherry Creek West Deck garage.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center employs over 3,000 people.
The Cherry Creek Shopping Center now requires employees to pay to park when clocking in for work, a change that has sparked confusion and frustration among workers. As of April 1, 2025, employees now must pay $20 per month if paid online or $25 per month if paid in person. Prior to this change, employees paid a one-time $30 refundable deposit to park.
When news broke out about this change, Michael Wilson, the Cherry Creek Shopping Center General Manager, said this had been in the plans since the mall first announced paid parking for customers in 2017, which received a similar response from mall patrons.
“Free parking for our tenant employees was always intended to be a short-term benefit that we offered when we originally implemented our paid parking program,” Wilson said. If this had always been in “the works,” why was it announced eight years later? A question Wilson did not specifically answer.
In 2017, the announcement of paid parking for customers was framed as a benefit that would ensure mall patrons had a spot to park by preventing non-shoppers taking up spots in the garage and parking lots. In fact, a Denverite article published in 2017, stated that the “roughly 3,500 people who work within the shopping center won’t be expected to pay for parking, the mall previously said in a statement.”
There was even reassurance that “fees are expected to be waived for the Cherry Creek Fresh Markets, Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Cherry Creek Sneak, and other community events,” which is also not the case anymore.
Employees are outraged both with the change and the timing of its announcement. “I don’t drive to work, so I don’t have to worry about it, but I still think it’s a crummy thing to do,” says a current employee at the Warby Parker store. “Everyone at this location thinks it’s stupid and is a cash grab from the mall by exploiting its employees. They’re basically pricing out people who want to work here. It’s a raw deal on all sides.”
But in a city where you pay to park almost anywhere you go, this doesn’t seem too far out of left field. “Free tenant parking is not a benefit widely offered at other businesses in the Cherry Creek neighborhood other than for those retailers who choose to pay for their employees’ parking, many of those spaces are significantly more per month.”
Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
He’s correct. Christina Lewis, a full-time salaried employee at Brillant Earth located in Cherry Creek North, pays $140 a month to park in the Clayton Lane West Garage, adjacent to Whole Foods. And with monthly parking rates at the Fillmore Plaza Garage even higher, at $170 a month, $20 a month doesn’t seem like much. But for both the mall employees who are part time high school and college students and the Simon Property Group who owns the mall, the monthly fee adds up.
With roughly 3,000 employees working at the mall, this new fee could generate around $900,000 per year (assuming each employee paid the full monthly fee of $25), a significant amount that plays out well for Simon Property Group, but not its workers.
“It’s $240 a year just to come to work. That sucks,” says the employee at Warby Parker. They say some stores are paying for employee parking. “Particularly billion-dollar corporate stores like Sephora. But some either don’t have the money to pay for their employees or are greedy themselves and refuse to.”
Employees also haven’t heard of any plans about how the additional money might be used. “There’s nothing we see that money going toward. No mall security, no nicer facilities, no fixes when we need them,” says the Warby Parker employee. When asked if there were any plans for improvement with additional income, Wilson did not provide any details or insight into this question.
With no planned improvements on the docket and plenty of back peddling about the rationale behind the decision, this new change seems to only hurt employees and benefit the wealthy corporation implementing it.
All photos by Jessica Hughes
by Jessica Hughes | Mar 28, 2025 | General Featured
by Jessica Hughes
A packed house of players at the Denver Metro Bridge Studio.
Weekly bridge games are played at the Denver Metro Bridge Studio.
The tight-knit community of bridge players at the Denver Metro Bridge Studio in the greater Glendale area (Leetsdale Drive and Forest Street) works to rebuild five years after the COVID pandemic while preserving a game that offers far more than just entertainment.
Five years after a bridge tournament in Colorado Springs, turned into a COVID superspreader claiming the lives of six players, the Denver bridge community is still working to recover its momentum. “It became difficult after COVID. Bridge clubs closed and were going away,” explains Kathy McMahon, a dedicated member and player at the Denver Metro Bridge Studio. Like many social institutions, bridge clubs faced an existential threat during the pandemic.
For the game to survive, it had to pivot quickly. “We had to play online,” McMahon recounts. The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL), which governs competitive bridge in North America, developed online platforms where players could continue earning masterpoints — the currency of achievement in bridge competitions.
Despite these efforts, the pandemic created significant gaps in the community. The club lost many instructors and an entire generation of potential new players. “We missed the opportunity to train new people during COVID.
With the average age of bridge players in their late 60s or older, recruiting new enthusiasts has become vital for the game’s future. While the game is played by people of all ages, the benefits for seniors are particularly compelling: mental exercise, social con-
nection, and continuous learning. Bridge demands strategy, memory, and problem-solving skills — a true mental workout that research suggests may help delay cognitive decline. The game also provides crucial social connections, particularly important for seniors vulnerable to isolation.
“For seniors, playing bridge keeps them social and happy. It keeps brains healthy and keeps your brain going,” McMahon explains. These benefits extend beyond the individual to create vibrant communities centered around the game.
The Denver Metro Bridge Studio serves multiple roles — it’s both a competitive venue and a teaching center. The club offers lessons for beginners, mentorship programs, and games for various skill levels throughout the week. “We want bridge clubs to continue to be the social networks that they are,” says McMahon. “Playing in person brings this
Denver Metro Bridge Studio Club Owner, Elly Larson.
social aspect, which is so important.”
A typical sanctioned game at the club takes about three hours, with players rotating to play the same hands against different opponents. While competitive games allow players to earn points toward rankings like Life Master (requiring 500 master points) or the prestigious Grand Life Master (requiring 10,000 master points), the club also hosts more casual social games for those who aren’t concerned with earning points.
The community is diverse in age and gender, with its oldest member turning 100 this year. McMahon herself didn’t begin playing until near retirement, proving it’s never too late to start. She now plays approximately three times per week with various partners.
“We are in the post-pandemic r
Denver Metro Bridge Studio meets at 5250 Leetsdale Dr. in Denver.
ebound, so there’s been much more of a need to advertise these clubs,” McMahon notes. The Denver Metro Bridge Studio has invested in outreach efforts aimed at attracting both seniors and younger players.
For newcomers interested in learning, the club offers beginner classes and assistance with finding partners. They provide food and drinks during games and maintain a welcoming atmosphere for players of all levels — though McMahon says that depending on when you play, beginners might find themselves facing off against the club’s “sharks,” their most accomplished players.
As online bridge helped save the game during pandemic lockdowns, the Denver Metro Bridge Studio is working to preserve what makes in-person play special: the bonds formed across the card table, the shared excitement of a well-played hand, and the community that grows around a common passion.
For those looking to exercise their minds, expand their social circles, or simply find a fulfilling hobby, visit www.bridgewebs.com/denvermetro.
Photos provided by Kathy McMahon
