by Jessica Hughes | Nov 15, 2024 | Glendale City News
by Jessica Hughes
Hotel Clio in Cherry Creek North makes the perfect staycation this holiday season. Photo by Hotel Clio
Cherry Creek North Lights Up as Colorado’s largest free lights display. Photo provided by Cherry Creek North
Cherry Creek North illuminates the Mile High City with this year’s Winter Wanderland and Holiday Market. The experience begins with the Million Light Plug-in event that lights up the entire 16-block area of Cherry Creek North with a million twinkling lights — making it Colorado’s largest free lights display.
Soon to follow will be the opening of the Holiday Market on Fillmore Plaza, plus a whole host of festive events and activities to round out the holiday season.
“This holiday season we are excited to offer our local community and visitors alike, a full and festive holiday experience that captures the season’s essence,” said Lisa Voss, Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District’s VP of Marketing. “Whether it’s shopping locally during Small Business Weekend, staying in one of our award-winning hotels, strolling during Saturday Night Lights, having a festive dinner with friends, or giving back to the community, there is something for everyone in Cherry Creek North to enjoy this holiday season.”
The Cherry Creek Holiday Market returns for a fifth season, from November 21 through December 24. The market features 40+ rotating vendor booths lining Fillmore Plaza, with a curated selection of Colorado-based companies and artisans. Check everyone off your list while enjoying live entertainment and sipping on your favorite cup of hot cocoa.
Four holiday-giving machines will be available at the entrance to the Holiday Market. Photo provided by Cherry Creek North
The best way to shop local is during the three-day Small Business Weekend, November 24 – 26, with giveaways and deals from 175+ local businesses. It’s the perfect chance to shop small and support local businesses during the holiday season.
The Holiday Market isn’t just about shopping, it’s also about enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday season. So, this year the market brings back the Mistletoe Lounge. Located next door to the market in Fillmore Plaza, the upgraded two-story holiday pop-up bar features a highly decorated atmosphere, a themed seasonal drink menu, and live music from local acts.
Cherry Creek North Holiday Market celebrates its fifth year. Photo by: Fetch Concepts
Also returning this year are the Giving Machines. The pop-up features 30 donation options for five local and two international charities. It’s an easy way to tap into the true meaning of the season and give back to your community.
Mark your calendars for December 7, 14, and 21 when Cherry Creek North comes alive with Saturday Night Lights. Cozy up with a cup of complimentary hot chocolate and tasty treats while wandering under one million dazzling lights throughout Cherry Creek North. Beyond the lights, dance on a light-up dance floor with live DJs and stroll through a 40-foot tunnel of lights for an immersive holiday experience.
Snow or sun, the Holiday Market is the place to be this holiday season. Photo by: Fetch Concepts
You’ll also have a chance to return to the classics with ice skating at the Halcyon Hotel. Returning for its second year as a completely revamped experience in the clouds, Halcyon on Ice is the quintessential holiday experience. During the holiday season, the hotel’s rooftop lounge transforms into a dreamy winter wonderland with an ice skating rink, cozy holiday cocktails, a specialty food and drink menu, and beautiful city-to-mountain views. This year, Halcyon on Ice is free to attend, and food, drinks, and ice skate rentals are available for purchase.
Make it a staycation and book an overnight at one of Cherry Creek’s award-winning hotels; the Hotel Clio. Recently named, as one of the top 15 hotels in Colorado by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Hotel Clio is a hospitality highlight in Cherry Creek. And this holiday season, Hotel Clio gets festive with its wreath-making class and carolers throughout the month of December. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy all the festivities right from your doorstep with its location next to Fillmore Plaza.
by Mark Smiley | Nov 15, 2024 | General Featured
The Family-Owned Restaurant Makes Big Moves Into The Mile High City After Decades In Surrounding Suburban Cities
by Mark Smiley
Coming Soon: Los Dos Potrillos will open in early 2025 in the space formerly occupied by Hacienda on South Colorado Boulevard. It will be the first restaurant for the family in the city of Denver after decades in the suburbs.
Los Dos Potrillos, the family-owned Mexican restaurant known for its Mexican comfort food, will open its first Denver location near Colorado Boulevard and I-25 at 4100 E. Mexico Avenue. The space was formerly occupied by Hacienda. Los Dos Potrillos aims to open in early 2025 with space for 253 patrons inside and 70 more on its patio.
They have been eyeing locations in Denver over the last several years but could not find the right area. “Whenever we look at any type of location, we always want to make sure it fits our way of going into any type of property,” said Danny Ramirez, CEO of Ramirez Hospitality Group, who owns Los Dos Potrillos. “We look forward to becoming a welcoming haven for our growing community, offering the same quality, consistency, service, and commitment that defines the Los Dos family,” Ramirez.
“Expanding to Denver is an important step for us, allowing us to connect and serve a new group of diners. Our Los Dos family is excited about this growth and cannot wait to bring our delicious food and overall dining experience to a new community in such a centralized location,” added Luis Ramirez, COO and President.
This milestone brings their family recipes and welcoming atmosphere to the heart of the Mile High City, marking a new chapter and the seventh Los Dos Potrillos full service restaurant opening in the Ramirez family’s journey.
Founded by Jose Ramirez in 2002, Los Dos Potrillos has grown from a single restaurant in Centennial to a popular local brand with multiple locations across the Denver metro area. This Denver location represents the seventh addition to their growing family, joining the ranks of their other establishments.
The Denver announcement comes just seven months after the successful opening of their Castle Rock location, featuring a 8,000-square-foot restaurant and brewery. The Colorado Boulevard location will be the second largest footprint for the restaurant family next to the aforementioned Castle Rock location.
The Denver Los Dos Potrillos will uphold the traditions and quality that have made Ramirez Hospitality Group a beloved household name across the region. Customers can expect the same welcoming atmosphere, excellent service, and Mexican comfort food that have earned the restaurant group a loyal following.
Taking over an existing Mexican restaurant makes it a bit easier to move forward. “There is not much to do since it was a Mexican restaurant,” said Daniel Ramirez. “All we have to do is come in and put our touch to it. We are going to change the outside of course and change the interior. The kitchen is in immaculate condition. We just need to add our spice to it, literally,” Ramirez said with a smile.
For more information, visit www.los2potrillos.com.
by Mark Smiley | Nov 15, 2024 | Travel
Over 12,000 Hours Dedicated To Creating Colorado’s Largest Indoor Ice Attraction
by Mark Smiley
Thirty ice artisans from Harbin, China, arrived at Gaylord Rockies to begin the annual carving process for ICE!, a holiday attraction featuring ice sculptures that will bring this year’s theme, The Polar Express, to life. They have transformed 2 million pounds of ice into a 17,000-square-foot display, using chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders, and chainsaws.
The artisans traveled over 5,700 miles from Harbin, China, famously known as “Ice City,” home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival. Since 2001, Gaylord Hotels has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and these talented artists to capture their extraordinary craftsmanship here in the U.S. At Gaylord Rockies, some of the same artisans behind the Harbin festival will sculpt 300-pound blocks of ice into larger-than-life scenes from Warner Bros. The Polar Express™.
The artisans, drawing on generations of expertise, work from a detailed 300-page design book to bring the ice spectacle to life. Each artisan contributes a unique talent — some mastering demolition with chainsaws, while others focus on intricate, precise carvings. Ice carvings range in size from details as tiny as a coin to scenes more than 30 feet tall. A cutting-edge chilling system will keep the entire space at a frosty 9 degrees Fahrenheit, and guests will stay cozy in the attraction’s signature blue parkas.
This holiday season, guests will embark on a journey through hand-carved ice sculptures depicting nine scenes from The Polar Express. In celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, featured scenes include the Polar Express arriving at Hero Boy’s house, passengers enjoying hot chocolate aboard the train, an exhilarating descent through Glacier Gulch, and the enchanting arrival at the North Pole. The attraction will use colored ice, clear ice, and LED lights to create the breathtaking display.
In addition to the awe-inspiring ice sculptures from the beloved Christmas film, guests can take rides down the two-story-tall ice slides, traverse through ice tunnels and arches, and visit the carver showcase to watch artisans perform live carving demonstrations. The ICE! experience concludes
in a separate area dedicated to the Nativity scene, meticulously carved and shaped in a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice. ICE! featuring The Polar Express will run from Nov. 22, 2024, to Jan. 1, 2025.
Christmas at Gaylord Rockies packages that include special room rates and admission to select events are now available. Guests are encouraged to book their experiences early, as advance online reservations are required for all ticketed events, and prime dates are expected to sell out. For tickets, more information, or to book an overnight stay, guests may visit ChristmasatGaylordRockies.com.
by Editorial Board | Nov 15, 2024 | Editorials
Editorial —
Philip Anschutz
The richest man in Colorado, billionaire Phil Anschutz, is a highly secretive individual. What exactly his political views are is unknown but he is usually described as “deeply conservative.” He is highly interested in influencing Colorado politics and policy and he spends millions of dollars every year to do so.
He funds or partially funds think tanks and policy groups like the Independence Institute and Advance Colorado; publications like the Colorado Springs Gazette, the Denver Gazette, Complete Colorado, and Colorado Politics; and even radio personalities like Jimmy Sengenberger.
Like many billionaires in America his views have evolved over the years. He was a strong Bush/Cheney supporter and hates Donald Trump due to his views on immigration and tariffs as well as his far from gentlemanly demeanor and personal conduct. Anschutz seldom contributes in his own name to politicians, but did so for Liz Cheney in her unsuccessful bid for re-election in Wyoming. Anschutz is referred to as the Liz Cheney of Colorado in grassroots circles in Colorado.
Dave Williams
He has always disliked Colorado’s Republican Party’s primary system with caucuses and assemblies that allows everyday grassroot Republicans a chance to be a candidate for public office in a general election. Back in 2016, he supported Proposition 107 behind the scenes. The proposition opened party primaries to unaffiliates purportedly to ensure that moderate Republicans like Joe O’Dea and Walker Stapleton would win the Republican primaries.
Anschutz has almost always controlled the chair of the Republican Party due to his contributions to the party, but in 2022 there was a grassroots pro Trump revolt and Dave Williams was elected chair, and other grassroots candidates such as Hope Scheppelman Vice Chair and Anna Ferguson for Secretary also won.
That was too much for Anschutz and he stopped giving to the Colorado Republican Party. He threw his hidden support to Proposition 131 which would do away with party primaries for jungle primaries with rank choice voting in general elections. Prop 131 was backed by Democrats like Governor Jared Polis and Senator John Hickenlooper as well as a war chest of fifteen million dollars.
If one wishes to gauge Anschutz’s views on any matter just listen to the Independence Institute’s board member Dick Wadhams and President Jon Caldara. Both wrote numerous articles in the Anschutz publications praising Prop 131 and Wadhams was even paid as a consultant to back the measure.
Practically the only voice opposing Prop 131 in public was Republican Chair Dave Williams who, with virtually no money, managed to defeat Prop 131 and Anschutz 55% to 45%.
Anschutz and the Republican establishment had attempted to recall Williams as Chair of the Republican Party right in the middle of the election season, but Williams defeated them in court and by vote of the Colorado State Central Committee.
The purpose of the recall was not only to get rid of Anschutz’s nemesis but also to be sure the Republican Party would have a bad election night under Williams’ tutelage. But instead, the Republicans had a very good night. They gained a Congressional seat as well as three in the State House defeating a Democrat supermajority. While Trump lost Colorado, the margin decreased from 13.5% to 11%
It is not often that a billionaire like Phil Anschutz is handed a spanking by an underfunded grassroots leader like Dave Williams, but that is the under reported story of the general election of 2024 in Colorado.
— Editorial Board
by Mark Smiley | Oct 18, 2024 | General Featured
by Mark Smiley
The summer months are behind us but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider a quality cooler to have in your inventory. There are still soccer tournaments, softball games, backyard parties, and other activities this fall. Plus, Denver weather has remained unseasonably warm. Having a quality cooler to keep the drinks and food cold is essential. Whether you are in the market for a new cooler, want to add to your fleet, or just want an upgrade, consider the BrüTank 35qt rolling cooler made by BrüMate.
The BrüTank 35qt has a capacity of 36 cans (12oz) plus ice, 25lbs ice, or 9 bottles wine/liquor wit
The BrüTank 35qt rolling cooler comes in a variety of colors including denim.
h the Drink Tank installed. Some premium coolers offer disappointing capacity considering how large they are on the outside. The BrüTank 35qt is exactly what you would expect when you open the lid.
The claim is that ice retention lasts seven days, but even though it was properly prepared with a sacrificial bag of ice and cold beverages added, the ice lasted three days with temperatures soaring into the 80s.
The weight is much more manageable than other premium coolers at this price point, which at time of press was $324.99. It comes in under 30 pounds, including the fact that it features premium all terrain wheels. Wheeling this cooler to a soccer game with the telescoping handle was a breeze, and when finished wheeling, easily slid back into place making it easy to store.
One of the unique features of this cooler is a removable 1.8-gallon drink tank with a built-in tap, providing easy access to your favorite beverages. This simplifies drink mixing and facilitates cleaning. Once mixed, the tank can be placed in the cooler for later use. Moreover, the tap is designed to be easily removed, allowing for effortless cleaning without the need to empty the tank beforehand. This feature makes the process considerably more efficient while maintaining the integrity of the drink.
The BrüTank 35qt is also comfortable to sit on as the foam seat top allows you have this cooler perform as an additional seat on your adventure. BrüMate thought of every detail, down to including a different cork when not using the drink tank. This cooler is well made, can easily be wheeled through tough terrain, and keeps drinks cold for days.
BrüMate also offers other products such as hydration packs and drinkware. Visit www.brumate.com for more information or to purchase.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 18, 2024 | Editorials
by Mark Smiley
BikaBahn step-thru ebike in red.
BikaBahn is a good option for those looking to commute in the city.
This publication has reviewed a few different electric bikes over the last couple of years. They have ranged from Class 1 with fat tires to Class 2 with regular tires and everything in between. The BikaBahn is the first brand to be located in Denver and they have burst onto the scene this summer and fall.
BikaBahn launched its first electric bike on July 13 and 14, 2024, at the Electrify Expo in Denver. BikaBahn introduced its commuter bike and they proclaimed it is “designed to make city commuting easier and more reliable than ever.”
The electric bike space is extremely competitive, so BikaBahn needs to set itself apart from the competition. They are focussed on one style bike and the rider’s experience. “We’ve poured our hearts into designing a bike that caters to the needs of urban commuters,” said Dharmin Dontamsetti, Founder and CEO of BikaBahn. “Our goal is to make commuting easier, more enjoyable, and more sustainable for everyone.”
Bikabahn loaned the Chronicle one of these bikes for 72 hours and it was put through the paces by three different people. One thing to note is that these bikes are a little smaller than other electric bikes on the market so they make it ideal for women and teenagers. With that said, the bike offered a comfortable, smooth, safe, and peppy ride.
BikaBahn launched in July 2024 at the Electrify Expo in Denver. They are Denver based and attempting to upset a saturated electric bike market.
It features an electric propulsion which is either pedal assist or a throttle for the difficult hills. “As a seasoned cyclist in a hilly area, I struggled with exhausting commutes until I discovered Bikabahn’s e-bike,” said Kimberly Read. “This bike has been a game-changer, allowing me to conquer any terrain with ease using its adjustable assist features. It’s not only ergonomic and stylish but also packed with innovative features like zero flat tires. My rides are now enjoyable and effortless, reigniting my passion for cycling. I highly recommend Bikabahn to enhance your cycling experience.”
As a Class 2 ebike, this bike tops out at speeds of 20 miles per hour. In our test, it did not make it past 18 miles per hour which is an attractive option for parents looking for their children to own an electric bike.
As mentioned above, Bikabahn has produced a smooth riding electric bike, in part because of the flat-free tires and its advanced front and rear suspension systems. The bike absorbed shocks and bumps with ease with the alloy wheels performing well. These aluminum alloy wheels protect the motor, ensuring a long-lasting and sturdy ride. These features make BikaBahn a great choice for anyone looking for a dependable electric commuter bike.
The handlebar and seat is height-adjustable and allows you to customize your riding position for maximum comfort and control. And, the basket and cell phone holder attached to the handlebars are included in the cost, which at time of press, is $1,550.
The BikaBahn electric bike also features an LCD display (which most electric bikes have) that keeps riders informed about their speed, battery life, and riding mode. There are five levels of pedal assist and manual riding using the 1/2 twist throttle. Bikabahn is not the lightest on the market at 55 pounds, but certainly not the heaviest. The regular tires help keep the weight down and allow for a more manageable storage solution.
“Riding the BikaBahn e-bike has been an absolute pleasure,” said Lori Pesola. “It’s smooth, powerful, and makes every ride so much more enjoyable and accessible. I highly recommend this bike to anyone looking to elevate their biking experience.”
For more information or to purchase, visit www.bikabahn.shop. Chronicle readers can take advantage of a $50 discount by using the code Cherrycreek50.
