by Mark Smiley | Feb 22, 2023 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
The Earl: Tecovas boots go through a 200-step man-made process. The Earl has a lower heel and a shorter shaft than the traditional cowboy boot. It is made for comfortable wear all day long.
There are two staple items that every Coloradan needs in their closet, a good pair of boots and a comfortable hoodie. From fashion to function, cowboy boots are an essential statement piece to anybody’s wardrobe. And there isn’t anything quite like having a hoodie to keep you warm on a cold Colorado winter night.
One boot to consider purchasing is The Earl, a roper boot made by Tecovas, a company founded in 2015. A roper boot is a streamlined modern version of the cowboy boot with a lower heel and shorter shaft. The Earl features a heel shorter than that of a traditional cowboy boot. The vamp is left unadorned in order to showcase the ultra-soft, hand-burnished calfskin, bovine, or goat leather.
The Earl stands on a stacked leather heel with a rubber end cap. It’s available in a classic, ultra-soft calfskin, bovine, or goat leather. Goat is rich with natural oils, so the boots will quickly earn an aged look.
It takes over 200 steps to make a single Tecovas boot, and each one is crafted by hand in León, Mexico. León has a reputation for manufacturing excellent leather goods and Tecovas boots are known for their exotic leathers — from python to crocodile — as well as for their intricate stitch designs.
This boot is easy to slide on and comfortable to wear all day long. A boot remover tool makes it easier to remove the boot. These boots are stylish with jeans and also look good with slacks.
“Having bought a number of Tecovas boots/access
The Evolution Hoodie: Each hoodie contains three cups of recycled coffee grounds and 10 recycled plastic bottles.
ories, and given them as gifts, I can say that those who received them are extremely happy with the styling and quality of your products,” said Craig A. “And my dealings with customer service have always been a pleasure in their timely actions. You can rest assured that there will be future purchases.”
Tecovas operates on a direct-to-consumer model with all of their products, including boots for women, and wallets, available on their website. This allows them to keep the cost at a reasonable price point. The Earl retails for $265 and is available online or in store.
They also have a brick-and-mortar store located in Cherry Creek North. Tecovas is located at 3030 E. Second Avenue. They welcome you in store with a boot fitting, a boot shine, or whatever else you may be looking for. Even walking in on a busy Saturday, they will make you feel like you are the only one in the store.
Another company’s product to consider for comfort and style is Coalatree, based in Salt Lake City and founded in 2010. Their designs have eco-minded gear and apparel for athletes and photographers, to your average city folks, and weekend warriors.
The Evolution Hoodie has over 20 features for everyday wear and travel. The zippered kangaroo pocket keeps your ite
ms safe and secure. It also folds into a pillow making it easy to pack for travel.
This hoodie is made from spent coffee grounds that are mixed and melted down with recycled plastic bottles to create the fibers for this hoodie. The result is a hoodie packed with features and finished with a water-repellent coating. It also resists odors since coffee naturally absorbs and neutralizes odors. It is very soft and comfortable to wear all day and retails for $109.
“This product is very good,” said Kristin Covalt. “Hoodie maintains size after first wash. Roo pouch in the front is a carry case for the Hoodie or a pillow in a pinch. Fabric is very comfortable, similar to getting a hug. If you are thinking of getting something to spend those crisp mornings in, or just relaxing around on a fall day, this is absolutely a hoodie worth getting. I am sure for the winter months it will absolutely hold its own.”
For more information, visit www.coalatree.com. You can find Coalatree on all social media platforms @Coalatree.
by Laura Lieff | Feb 22, 2023 | Editorials
by Laura Lieff
All In The Family: Dave and David Wroblewski are the first father/son officers to be part of the Glendale police force.
For the first time in its 63-year history, the Glendale Police Department has a father and son on the force. With the recent hiring of David Wroblewski, the son of Glendale police officer Dave Wroblewski, Glendale welcomes a new family member. While Dave has been with the department since October 2011, his son David was hired in January after graduating from the Arapahoe Community College Police Academy.
According to Glendale PD Captain Jamie Dillon, “David interviewed with several departments and we’re happy he chose Glendale. Over the years, a few officers have married dispatchers, but back in the 1980s and 1990s one was required to leave because family members were not allowed to work together.”
Although family members are not permitted to supervise other family members directly or indirectly, Dillon says that kids raised in police families usually have a better understanding of what the career entails. He adds, “They understand up front that their parents will be working shifts in all sorts of weather and will regularly miss holidays because they are working.”
Dave, who has been in law enforcement for over 30 years and was a Marine before that, has seen a lot of changes over the last three decades. “I decided to be a police officer because I wanted the chance to make a difference,” he explains. “I chose Glendale because it is a smaller jurisdiction which has allowed me to get to know the people I am serving on a personal level. In fact, there have been many occasions where people have requested certain officers because of the relationships the smallness of the city allows us to build.”
Father And Son
When asked about his son David following in his footsteps, Dave says he is thrilled. “I am excited and proud about what my son has chosen to do and uphold,” he says. “The most rewarding part of this job is knowing that you truly make a difference every day and the toughest part is the current anti-police outlook by the media and in general.”
Adds Dillon, “Because David is joining the police force at a time when officers are under a great deal of pressure and scrutiny, it says something that Dave would encourage his son to follow in his footsteps and also to come to Glendale.”
After finishing his first week on the job for the Glendale PD, David believes he made the right decision to work for a smaller force with “a welcoming atmosphere.” He says that he’s both excited and anxious.
“Being officially sworn in is the start of a rewarding career and I am looking forward to what the FTO [Field Training Officers] program has to teach me, although I am nervous because of the unknown,” David says. “It’s not only a high honor to be given the opportunity to serve as a law enforcement officer, but to carry on the tradition of policing in the family makes it even better.”
by Glendale Sports Center | Feb 22, 2023 | Glendale City News
by Amber Millison, MS, RDN and Alyssa Leib, MS, RD
Where does our food come from? You might think of exotic places around the world or your own backyard. Most of our food travels thousands of miles by land and sea. This travel can create emissions that may be harmful to the environment. During March’s National Nutrition Month and beyond, we can make a difference through some of our own food choices! Read on to learn more about how you can Eat for the Environment.
- Include more plants. Did you know that it takes almost 2,000 gallons of water to make one 3-ounce serving of beef? Nearly 100 pounds of greenhouse gases are released during that beef production, as well. In comparison, the same amount of tofu requires just 500 gallons of water. Eating more plants can have a positive impact on the environment, but that doesn’t mean you need to stop eating meat altogether. Instead, focus on being plant-forward and including more plants in your diet by trying some of these ideas:
- Try Meatless Monday or commit to trying one new vegetarian recipe per week.
- Try different plant proteins, like beans/ lentils, quinoa, nuts/seeds, tofu, tempeh, and seitan (a wheat-based meat substitute) in your meals.
- Think globally! Many cuisines around the world center around plant foods, such as Indian, Ethiopian, and Mediterranean cuisines. Take inspiration from these cultures to try something new at home!
- Eat locally when accessible. Eating produce that is in season and grown locally provides many benefits for you and the environment. For you, the produce is higher quality — it contains more nutrients and tastes better! For the environment, there are fewer emissions from production and transportation around the world when the food doesn’t have very far to travel. Here are some tips to find local produce:
- Use a seasonal chart when purchasing produce to make sure you are shopping in season.
- Look for the Colorado Proud sticker or stamp on Locally Grown Foods (many grocery stores promote Colorado-farmed food).
- Farmer’s Markets sell foods harvested from late Spring through Early Fall. Find one near you!
- Shop frozen or canned. When a recipe calls for produce that is not currently in season, you can turn to canned or frozen fruits and veggies. These foods have a longer shelf-life, which means they can be transported more sustainably and you are less likely to waste food. Here are some tips for choosing and using canned or frozen produce:
- Look for canned foods packaged in their own juices or water. Be aware of additives such as sugar, salt, and other seasonings.
- Choose frozen produce for a nutritious produce option. Because they are flash frozen immediately after harvest and do not contain additives (unless stated on the package), they can actually be more nutritious than the fresh option harvested out of season or transported a long distance.
Our food choices can have a big impact on the environment. We can reduce this impact when we become more aware of our habits and try making shifts, like the suggestions above. We hope that you find these tips helpful and that they encourage you to eat more plants, buy local seasonal produce when you can, and turn to canned or frozen foods as an alternative. Eating in this way will not only promote the quality and nutrition of your meals but also positively impact the environment.
It’s never too early to learn about where our food comes from and start making some of these food choices from a young age for long-term eating patterns and habits. The YMCA’s newest summer camp, “Dig In!” will teach your kids where food comes from through hands-on activities in our very own gardens. Learn more at www.denverymca.org.
by Mark Smiley | Feb 10, 2023 | Travel
Thanatoid rested on Laws Whiskey Four Grain Barrels for 14 months and then was aged on a pound per barrel of Madagascar vanilla beans.
Our Mutual Friend Brewing (OMF) kicked off 2023 with the launch of a new rotating IPA series and the return of Thanatoid, the brewery’s Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout that last made its appearance at OMF in 2020.
“Thanatoid is special to us because at the heart of it the beer is a simple but decadent whiskey barrel-aged stout, but with each release we try to improve on it,” says OMF Co-Owner and Head Brewer Jan Chodkowski. “This release is by far our best!”
Thanatoid rested on Laws Whiskey Four Grain Barrels for 14 months and then was aged on a pound per barrel of Madagascar vanilla beans. The result is a slow sipper, with notes of vanilla, marshmallow, nugget, toffee, dark chocolate and whiskey-soaked oak, and clocks in at 15.3% ABV.
Well-balanced and approachable, Spillover IPA, is a beer that one can enjoy throughout the day. At 5.1% ABV, this easy drinking IPA is hoppy and flavorful. Hopped with Citra, Mosaic and Strata, Spillover IPA has flavors and aromas of citrus, berries and tropical sweet fruit.
Slow Tale, a collaboration with Trophy Brewing out of Raleigh, NC, is a Barrel-Fermented Saison brewed with Colorado malt and hops. The name and liquid is a nod to the older beer style and slower fermentation process. Barrel and bottle conditioned, Slow Tale has flavors of mango, passion fruit, peach, leather and light oak.
“We’re excited to kick off Wave Motion, a new rotating IPA series where we will explore and experiment with new hops, new hopping methods, and new brewing techniques,” says Chodkowski. “This is an opportunity for us to explore IPA in a broader way!”
Wave Motion: Terre Verte is the first iteration coming out of the experimental IPA lineup. This Juicy and Hazy IPA is hopped with El Dorado and Citra hops, as well as NZ-214 hops which provide aromas and flavors of apricot, papaya, and stone fruits.
Established in 2012, Our Mutual Friend is a relaxed brewery and taproom in Denver, CO whose goal is to create world-class beer using local ingredients whenever possible and serve as a gathering place for the Five Points neighborhood. This small brewery has earned acclaim and numerous awards with eight GABF medals, including a gold medal for Saison Trystero and silver medal for Biere Ovale in 2022, and a 2018 gold medal for Saison Trystero at World Beer Cup. Learn more about OMF at OMFbeer.com.
by Regan Bervar | Jan 19, 2023 | Editorials
“Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States.”
by Luke Schmaltz
At first glance, “magic” mushrooms and marijuana seem to be kindred commodities. Both have deeply stigmatized perceptions which are softening due to the myriad benefits of their consumption.
Yet, when examined through an economic lens, these elements are less like siblings and more like distant cousins.
The “green wave” was one of the most significant economic and social events in Colorado history. According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, state-licensed sales of marijuana have exceeded $13.4 billion since 2014 — resulting in $2.3 billion in tax revenue.
Not So Fast
Decriminalization: Local mushroom entrepreneurs contend that decriminalization of psilocybin will not lead to another “green wave.”
Yet, marijuana’s fungal counterpart — mushrooms containing psilocybin — are having a much more subtle impact. In November 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 122, which decriminalizes the possession and consumption of psilocybin while making it legal to grow over 50 species of mushrooms within the Psilocybe genus.
This piece of legislation sets a legal precedent, making Colorado the only state in the union aside from Oregon to decriminalize at this level. This does not necessarily mean big business is lining up to throw capital investment dollars at mushroom-based startups. Rather, according to some, this burgeoning marketplace will be relegated to scrappy, niche-savvy entrepreneurs who have already been hard at work building an economic framework to support the needs of psilocybin consumers.
Organic Roots
Monster Mushroom Company is one such enterprise, headed by a Denver — based entrepreneur, who introduces himself simply as David. The company manufactures and markets grow kits designed for those who aim to cultivate mushrooms for private consumption. “I started growing mushrooms about 15 years ago as a personal hobby,” he begins. “I got pretty good at it but didn’t do anything with it except to occasionally grow for myself and friends.”
David talks about his personal journey of growth and healing through psilocybin mushrooms. “I was able to solve a lot of personal issues through microdosing. I was able to get off SSRIs (antidepressants) and other medications. Then, in May of 2019, they decriminalized mushrooms in Denver, and I thought to myself, ‘There’s got to be a business opportunity here.’”
To clarify, the May 2019 passing of Initiative 301 deemed the prosecution of psilocybin “the lowest legal priority” according to Decriminalize Denver — the political action group who introduced the measure.
Opportunity Knocks
“Since I already knew how to do it, I started making the grow kits,” David continues. “I went to a grow store called Cultivate, and said, ‘I have these grow kits I’ve been making and I would love to get them on your shelves’ and they gave me a shot. Basically, no one else was really interested at the time, but they saw the possibilities and they started selling our kits. It’s been a long stair-step,” he explains.
“I got into one store, then into five stores, and now I’m in about 120 stores nationwide,” He continues. “It started in my basement and garage, and two years ago we moved to a 3,300 square-foot, climate-controlled warehouse facility in Wheat Ridge. That was not easy because no one wanted to rent to a startup company, especially not in a taboo industry like the mushroom industry.”
Its Own Monster
Grow Kits: Monster Mushrooms Grow Kits are affordable and usable by just about anyone. Photo: Monster Mushrooms
While Monster Mushroom Company’s operation doesn’t parallel the massive labor teams necessitated by the large-scale cultivation of marijuana, the small but mighty enterprise does have its own distinct type of economic impact. “We’ve created over nine jobs,” David begins, “My business partner is a single mom working hard to support herself and her kids. She is also a practicing Mycologist, which is the study of mushrooms,” he explains. “We are cash flow positive, and we are paying all of our bills, but it has been an uphill slog without a doubt.”
“There are all kinds of people who think of this as the new cannabis, which it is not,” David attests. “I don’t see it (psilocybin) ever becoming legal for recreational purposes, at all, and I’m happy about that. It’s a powerful drug. I spend at least 25% of my day on the phone answering questions from people who say, ‘Hey, you guys sell mushrooms?’ and my answer is always, ‘No, we do not grow or sell mushrooms, we merely supply the materials so that you can grow your own.’”
Beware The Uninformed
“Then, they’ll ask, ‘Where can I buy them?’ and I’ll say, ‘It is legal to grow, possess, and consume mushrooms in Colorado but it is not legal to buy or sell them.’ I doubt you’ll ever, in our lifetime, be able to walk into a dispensary and buy a half-ounce of mushrooms,” David says. “There’s just too much risk. If we just open this up to recreational use and there’s tours coming through here, people are going to get more messed up than they know what to do with, and it’s not going to be a good situation.”
“I firmly believe in this medicine for therapeutic use,” David says. “But the people who were against Proposition 122 thought the same thing that happened with cannabis was going to happen with mushrooms. They thought the guys in suits would come in and turn this into a big corporate money-making machine. I certainly hope that does not happen. Allowing people to grow their own plant medicine is a wonderful thing. But I don’t see this becoming a full-on Amsterdam where you can go into a place and buy a sack of mushrooms.”
“Therapeutic use is great and I’m a proponent of microdosing, but I place a strong caution on use,” David says. “People can smoke cannabis four or five times a day or more, you’re definitely not doing that with mushrooms. That’s one of the reasons why I don’t think it will be the new cannabis. People don’t consume mushrooms four or five times a day — it just doesn’t happen.”
Far Cheaper Than Weed
From a practical standpoint, David points out that anyone interested in growing their own mushrooms can do so with a low investment. “Less than 100 dollars will get you everything you need,” he explains.
As a former cannabis grower, David is quick to point out the drastic differences in what it costs to grow fungus versus weed. “It costs a lot of money to grow cannabis,” he begins, “Equipment, lights, nutrients, you name it. The electricity alone is astronomical. But you can grow a batch of mushrooms in your closet for almost nothing — just 100 dollars to get you going and nothing else — no lights, no nutrients, they will grow in a small environment, and you don’t need to dedicate a whole room of your own house.”
Future Growth
Not only has Monster Mushroom Company created quite a few jobs, they are supplementing a local cannabis industry that has fallen on tough times. “We have a couple local retailers who have indicated that they wouldn’t be open right now if it weren’t for the mushroom supplies they were selling.”
“We’ve got a couple chain stores, but 90 percent of our business is mom and pop retail chain stores,” David says. He cites local sole proprietorships such as Mile Hydro in Lakewood and Aurora Hydroponic who claim to be selling more mushroom growing supplies than anything else.
“We also work with bigger chains such as Cultivate and Way to Grow. We are everywhere that has decriminalized mushrooms such as Washington, D.C.; Santa Cruz, CA; Oakland, CA; Detroit, MI; Ann Arbor, MI; and a couple places in Massachusetts,” he says.
Unlike marijuana’s “green wave” of big business, the mushroom boom is destined for a different path. The benefits of this grassroots economic movement will be realized incrementally and enjoyed by mom-and-pop pioneers like Monster Mushroom Company.
by Mark Smiley | Jan 19, 2023 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
Now that the holiday season is in the rear-view mirror, many valley residents with families are now focused on traveling for weekend ski getaways and spring break. Those trips undoubtedly require luggage and many people have been using the same pieces for years without realizing that they are in need of an upgrade. We reviewed the Carry-on Pro from Carl Friedrik in a past edition. With so many roller luggage options on the market, it can be hard to know where to even start. The following pieces are ones to consider rounding out whatever trip you have planned next.
Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case
Spectra 3.0: The Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case is a rugged and handsome piece of luggage that can fit the entire family’s clothing and toiletries for a trip. It features innovative materials and thoughtful design that is built to last.
Victorinox is a knife manufacturer and watchmaker best known for its Swiss Army knives. They also have a line of travel gear and the Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case is one to consider adding to your lineup of luggage. The Spectra 3.0 features innovative materials, expandable compartments, and clever engineering. This collection is made with SORPLAS, a high-performance recycled polycarbonate designed to withstand the rigors of travel. SORPLAS is made from used water bottles and waste optical discs collected from factories, and has a proprietary flame retardant quality.
This suitcase was put to the test over the holidays and it did not disappoint. It proved to be durable, smooth gliding, and easy to maneuver with its 4-wheel dual caster wheels. It allowed for maximum packing with 103 liters of space that also expands to 40% more of its capacity. It was large enough to pack Christmas gifts and clothes, yet never felt too large to wheel through the airport and check in. This piece weighs 15 pounds and measures 12.6 x 20.1 x 29.5 inches. In addition, it was easy to spot at baggage claim.
While the wheels are smooth, so are the YKK racquet coil zippers that are strong yet smooth and feature a water-resistant coating for improved weather resilience. Also, this suitcase can be locked using TSA approved locks with three digits providing peace of mind and secure storage for belongings. The process of setting the combination and locking the zipper pulls into place was effortless.
If you are in the market for an attractive, durable, and easy to handle suitcase with plenty of space to pack for the entire family, consider the Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case.
For more information or to see what other options Victorinox has to offer, visit www.victorinox.com. This piece retails for $700.
Nomatic Check-In
The Nomatic Check-In: This suitcase is made of ultra-durable polycarbonate material and effortlessly glides through the airport without any problem.
Another large suitcase that was also put to the test over the holiday season is the Check-In suitcase from Nomatic. Relatively new to the travel game, and founded in the summer of 2014 by cousins Jacob Durham and Jon Richards, Nomatic prides itself on creating minimalist products like travel bags, backpacks, watches, notebooks, and wallets.
The Nomatic Check-In proved to be durable and the wheels glided through the airports thanks to silent Hinomoto wheels. These wheels are smooth, whisper quiet, and almost run on their own.
All Nomatic suitcases are built from an ultra-durable polycarbonate material intended to survive impacts with sledgehammers and even cars. The usual impacts during airline baggage handling are no problem for this piece.
Another nice feature of this suitcase is that it offers a number of individual zippered compartments inside. These zippered compartments are not intended to store bulky items or much clothing but are great for containing things like chargers, small electronics, toiletries, books, socks, and the like.
Magnetic Compression Straps: The Nomatic Check-In features 78 liters of space and magnetic compression straps. These straps allow you to ratchet down your neatly folded clothes in order to maximize your space.
It also has magnetic compression straps which allow you to ratchet down your clothes to maximize the space, also giving the benefit of keeping your neatly folded clothes in place during transit. The Check-In also comes with a folding compression panel, which compresses what you want and in which area of the suitcase you want it.
Similar to the Victorinox Spectra 3.0, the Nomatic has the TSA approved locking YKK zippers. No additional lock needs to be purchased to lock the zippers as the combination lock built into the top of the case will handle that for you.
The Nomatic Check-In weighs in at 12.32 pounds and has a capacity of 78 liters and 90 liters when expanded. The size is 29” H x 18.5” W x 9” D. It features low profile handles for ease when gliding through the airport.
More information about this piece of luggage can be found at www.nomatic.com. The Check-In retails for $600.
Filson Original Briefcase
Filson Original Briefcase: Made of rugged twill, a water repellent, industrial fabric, this briefcase can be your everyday staple no matter your career.
Construction Details: The Filson Original Briefcase features Tin Cloth binding on the interior seams that prevents fraying and wear. Two interior dividers keep contents organized and are sized to accommodate tablets and smaller laptops.
To round out your trip, consider the Filson Original Briefcase as a piece of carry on. This briefcase can be used as your new day-to-day briefcase between home and the office.
Filson has designed, manufactured, and distributed men’s and women’s outdoor clothing, accessories, and luggage since 1897.
The original briefcase is made of rugged twill, a water repellent, industrial fabric. Filson Rugged Twill is a very dense, 100% cotton fabric made from 2-ply and 3-ply yarns woven in a 2×2 twill pattern. This material is abrasion resistant and comes from Britain’s oldest, most-storied mills, and is lightly waxed to keep valuables dry and protected from the weather.
The individual compartments inside are suitable to separate your laptop from your tablet and your documents from your other items. Exterior stow pockets keep quick-access necessities close at hand, and the adjustable shoulder strap is detachable for convenient hand carry.
There are two strips of heavy-duty leather for the two very solid brass zippers that close from either side of the top of the bag. Covering that is an extra rugged twill flap that buttons closed over the zipper. The shoulder straps and handles are made of bridle leather and are durable enough for horse tack. The rustproof heavy-gauge zipper is built from solid brass and is reinforced with more saddle-grade leather.
This briefcase, like the aforementioned suitcases, is durable. It adds an element of class to your workday and in-person meetings. It is a unique combination of style and durability which most will find suitable for their job or travel. It won’t be one you replace anytime soon, if at all.
For more information on this briefcase or any other products Filson offers, visit www.filson.com. The original briefcase retails for $450.
