by Jessica Hughes | Oct 20, 2023 | Main Articles
by Jessica Hughes
Colorado’s largest fashion event is back. Denver Fashion Week hits the runway on November 11, 2023, with the largest lineup of local emerging and established local designers.
Named by Forbes as “a trusted alternative to New York for emerging talent” and featured in ELLE, DFW is the city’s largest fashion event bringing together an eclectic array of new and seasoned designers with local boutiques, hair stylists, make-up artists, and models. Denver Fashion Week has been in production since its inaugural show in 2012 with the goal of supporting Denver’s fast-growing fashion industry. In 2018, DFW partnered with Denver Arts & Venues and VISIT DENVER to become Denver’s first official fashion week.
Kids take the runway with designs from Rainey’s Closet at the DFW Kid’s Fashion Show.
“Each season, we help new models get into the industry, supporting designers to break into the industry, working with Visit Denver to bring tourism to Denver, and putting Denver on the national fashion map as seen in Forbes and Elle Magazine,” says the Aharonian Family, founder and producer of Denver Fashion Week.
For the first time ever, DFW will be held at the York Street Yards in Denver. The 2023 fall line-up features six runway shows, the Southwest Hairstyling Awards, and a Model Industry Workshop. Highlights include eight days of fashion events, 36 local designers, 500+ models, the longest DFW runway to date with the largest LED runway backdrop, and brand-new lighting design.
“Once again, we’re elevating the experience for Denver Fashion Week with the fall shows,” says the Aharonian Family. “We’re excited to introduce the longest runway we’ve had since the show began with a completely fresh lighting design at an incredible new venue. We’re also pleased to introduce our new runway producers Nikki Strickler
Walking the runway in Geo in Style x Lasha Jokhadze at Denver Fashion Week Couture show.
and Hailee Lucchesi, and welcome new and returning designers.”
The show will feature emerging and established local, national, and international designers and boutiques showcasing their collections’ key seasonal styles. Kicking things off will be DFW’s largest international designer yet — St. John. The Sustainable show will be held on National Recycling Day (Nov. 15) and will feature nine local designers.
Fashion designers to look out for include Max to the Couture — the first fashion week for the seven-year-old ingenue designer showing his first collection in any fashion week here in Denver on Nov 18. Also keep your eye out for the Emerging Designer Challenge winners, J. Lin Snyder and Okime Kollections — both Denver-based.
The Streetwear and Sneakers show will feature one of the Emerging Designer Challenge winners, Okime Kollections, and an emerging local artist MCT who will be introducing his wearable art line at the show — with many of the art pieces that inspired his fashion pieces.
Society show will feature the other Emerging Designer Challenge winner, J Lin Snider.
In addition to the runway shows, enjoy a two-hour red carpet cocktail party before each show, where you can mingle with likeminded, top media personnel, and local celebs. Taste some of Denver’s top restaurants in the VIP room, and don’t forget to come dressed in different fashion attire based of the theme of each show.
Denver Fashion Week Schedule:
Saturday, Nov. 11 – Ready to Wear by St. John
Sunday, Nov. 12 – Southwest Hairstyling Awards
Monday, Nov. 13 – Fashion Model Industry Workshop
Tuesday, Nov. 14 – Streetwear &
Cherry Creek Dance at the Denver Fashion Week celebrating kids’ fashion.
Sneakers
Wednesday, Nov. 15 – Sustainable
Thursday, Nov. 16 – Society
Saturday, Nov. 18 – Couture
Sunday, Nov. 19 – Kids Fashion Show
You can learn more at denverfashionweek.com.
All images from Denver Fashion Week
by Mark Smiley | Oct 20, 2023 | Uncategorized
by Mark Smiley
The 14th Denver Rare Beer Tasting was held on Friday, September 22, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the McNichols Civic Center with 63 breweries pouring some of the hardest to find beers on the planet. Pints for Prostates sponsored a free health screening before the event, which is a five minute blood test valued at $700.
The all-inclusive ticket included four hours of beer sampling, the opportunity to meet the people who brewed them, buffet lunch, collectible tasting glass, t-shirt, and program.
The brewery roster this year had many fan favorites from the previous 13 events, along with 22 first-timers and one other that previously only participated remotely during COVID. This year breweries from 24 states participated, including 18 from Colorado. The beers poured at the Denver Rare Beer Tasting represented a range of styles and many represented one-time small production runs or the last remaining supplies of a noteworthy brew.
“Not only is the event a chance for beer fans to get to try limited edition beers, it is an opportunity for them to take charge of their health,” said Rick Lyke, founder of Pints for Prostates. “The generosity of the participating breweries enables Pints for Prostates to reach people through the universal language of beer with an important health message. We’ve been able to provide free health screenings for thousands of men over the years because the craft beer community has made the Denver Rare Beer Tasting an annual celebration of beer passion.”
“We created the Denver Rare Beer Tasting to be a special experience for beer fans and brewers, with a mission,” said Lyke. “This is not only one of the top annual craft beer events in the country, it’s also a time to remind people about the importance of early detection in fighting prostate cancer. A simple blood test in 2008 saved my life and we want guys to understand that paying attention to regular health screenings can help them to take charge of their health.”
Learn more about Pints for Prostates and how they use the funds they raise by visiting pintsforprostates.org. The website has a transparency page that provides details on the 501(c)3 charity, including complete IRS filings.
by Jessica Hughes | Oct 20, 2023 | Uncategorized
by Jessica Hughes
In the mid to late 1800s, gold and silver are what brought people to Victor, a historic mining town located outside of Cripple Creek. But now another treasure brings visitors to this small mining town, only you don’t have to dig underground to find it.
Colorful birdhouses guide the way to Rita.
A larger-than-life troll, Rita the Rock Planter, by Danish recycle art activist, Thomas Dambo, has made its way to Victor. Dambo, who refers to himself as a “recycle artist,” believes in turning trash into art and uses recycled materials to make his famous trolls.
Rita is now one of 119 trolls found all over the world, melting the hearts of the young and old with their charming faces and playful demeaner. Dambo and his crew, plus volunteers who often travel long distances to help build these whimsical sculptures, build the trolls using local scrap wood and recycled materials, placing them amongst nature to naturally die out and return to the earth’s soil. He uses these materials to show the world how much potential and beauty lays hidden in our trash.
All in a span of 12 days, it took a crew of 100 local volunteers, Dambo himself, and his crew to finish Rita the Rock Planter. But Rita wasn’t Colorado’s first troll sculpture. In 2018, “Isak Heartstone,” a 15-foot troll made of foraged sticks and recycled wood, was installed by Dambo and his team on the outskirts of Breckenridge. Isak garnered so much attention and love from visitors, the local residents resisted its newest resident who brought in excessive foot traffic. After much debate, the city council made the decision to relocate the troll near the Illinois Gulch trailhead.
So far, Rita’s presence hasn’t caused any problems, in fact she’s brought in nothing but love and affection from locals and visitors alike. The town of Victor has accepted Rita with open arms by thoughtfully placing colorful birdhouses throughout its downtown streets, guiding the way to the trailhead. Her location is even sketched on the town’s map and her picture has been added to Victor’s welcome sign on H
WY 67 — making it nearly impossible to miss Rita.
Visitors can find Rita gathering rocks atop the Little Grouse Mountain Overlook. There are two parking lots at the trailhe
Rita the Rock Planter is the 119th troll artist Thomas Dambo has built.
ad, a lower and an upper lot. To hike the full one-mile loop, start at the lower parking
lot, or begin at the upper lot for a shortened version of the hike. You’ll know when you’re there with old mining relics of the American Eagle Mine at the trail’s entrance and the story of Rita welcoming you — “A hundred suns, that is how long a nap is for a troll. When Rita woke again, her mountain side has grown a hole. The humans must have dug them in their search for shine rock. But someone could fall in, so Rita went to tidy up.”
To see where all of Dambo’s trolls live, X marks the spot
Views from the Little Grouse Mountain Overlook.
on his Troll Map. Learn more about Dambo and trolls visit thomasdambo.com.
All images by Jessica Hughes
by Mark Smiley | Oct 20, 2023 | General Featured
Colorado Breweries Win 40 Medals
by Mark Smiley
Full House: The 42nd Annual Great American Beer Festival was held from September 21-23, 2023 at the Colorado Convention Center.
The 41st anniversary of the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) returned to the Colorado Convention Center September 21-23, 2023. GABF has grown exponentially since 1982, where just 24 breweries and 47 beers were present; 41 years later, GABF featured more than 2,000 different beers from nearly 500 of the nation’s finest breweries.
The 2023 GABF competition awarded 303 medals to 263 of the best commercial breweries in the United States. Presented by the Brewers Association (BA), GABF is the nation’s largest professional beer competition.
Top-tier brews spanning 99 beer categories across 175 beer styles (including all subcategories) received prestigious gold, silver, and bronze medals. In addition, three GABF Collaboration medals for beers created by a team of two or more professional breweries, and three GABF Pro-Am medals for beers developed by teams of professional brewers and amateur homebrewers, were announced.
The competition took place in three phases over nine days and was judged by 250 beer experts from 10 countries, including the U.S. In addition to evaluating 9,298 commercial brewery entries from all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, the judging panel assessed 95 Collaboration and 50 Pro-Am entries. The competition was made possible with the help of more than 300 volunteers.
Colorado breweries showed very well, bringing in 40 medals during the festival, the most since 2017 and up from 26 the year before.
Avery Brewing Company was one of those breweries as they took home two awards. Avery’s White Rascal won Gold in the Belgian-Style. “These awards are a testament to the great work of the Avery Brewing team,” said Elton Andres Knight, CEO of Mahou USA and Avery Brewing Company. “They have a longstanding commitment to their craft, and these awards confirm what we’ve all known — that Avery and Mahou USA make some of the best beers in the country.”
An annual event tied in with GABF is the Samuel Adams and Dogfish Head Great American Beer Festival Beer & Brunch event. This year’s event was held on Friday, September 22, at West of Surrender on 16th Street Mall.
Winners: Left to right: Sam Calagione, Founder of Dogfish Head Brewery; Rich Bloomfield, Funkytown Brewing; Jim Koch, Founder and Brewer of Samuel Adams; Zack Day, Funkytown Brewing; Greg Williams, Funkytown Brewing. Funkytown Brewing won the 12th Brewing & Business Experienceship from Samuel Adams.
The event featured Funkytown Brewing from Chicago, winners of the 12th Brewing & Business Experienceship. Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream, the revolutionary philanthropic program aimed at providing mentorship and access to capital for food and beverage entrepreneurs nationwide, was on full display at the brunch. Chicago’s Funkytown Brewery was welcomed to the coveted class of emerging craft brewers to receive support and unique experiences on behalf of Samuel Adams.
The Brewing & Business Experienceship is an annual program that invites craft brewers nationwide to apply for the chance to win unparalleled access to brewing and business resources from experts at Samuel Adams, including founder and brewer Jim Koch. One lucky craft brewer is selected to come to the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery, work side-by-side with a team of mentors, and collaborate on a specialty beer with Samuel Adams.
Twin Peaks: Twin Peaks added some spice to the 42nd Annual Great American Beer Festival. Twin Peaks has three convenient locations in Colorado.
Black-owned, Funkytown Brewery was founded by childhood and lifelong friends Rich Bloomfield, Zack Day, and Greg Williams, who share a passion for their hometown of Chicago and home brewing. Largely influenced by the Chicago craft scene and ’90s Hip Hop and R&B, Funkytown Brewery started home-brewing in a family garage. The brewery later launched in 2021 with a mission to introduce craft beer to underserved communities and provide a deeper understanding of different beer styles, tasting notes, aromas, and colors. Today, Funkytown Brewery aims to serve craft beer deserts and add diversity and representation to the shelves of established retailers.
“The Great American Beer Festival competition serves as a platform for the finest beers from across the nation to undergo rigorous scrutiny and vie for the title of ‘Best in Class,’” remarked Chris Williams, competition director for the Great American Beer Festival. “The beer community’s unwavering commitment to pushing the frontiers of innovation and quality is truly commendable. The Brewers Association takes great pride in recognizing the achievements of this year’s winners.”
For more information on GABF and to see the list of all the winners, visit www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com. For more information on the Colorado Brewers Guild, visit www.coloradobeer.org. The 42nd Great American Beer Festival is set for October 10-12, 2024.
