The Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center reopened for reservations on June 25, 2020, after being closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Staff members, wearing masks and having been retrained for enhanced cleaning technologies, were eager to greet guests as they checked in for the first time in months.
Outdoor Pool: The Arapahoe Springs pool now requires reservations. Each guest can choose between an 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. slot for each night of their stay. A limited number of guests are allowed in for each time slot.
The reopening comes with limited capacity and strict social distancing measures. The resort has set up directional arrows for walking throughout the resort, hand sanitizing stations throughout, and limited restaurant availability. The Mountain Pass Sports Bar, which features a 75-foot viewing screen, the largest in the state, is the only restaurant open. In addition, the Arapahoe Springs Bar & Grill near the pool, Rockies Marketplace, and the taco bar near the Pinyons bar are other options. The Pinyons bar now forms a single file line to order drinks which allows for social distancing. For the time being, the other restaurants are closed. However, the resort does allow outside food to be brought in. Convenient options are services such as Uber Eats or GrubHub.
The Arapahoe Springs pool area is now under a reservation only system. Guests can choose either an 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. slot. The pool closes from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. every day for enhanced cleaning measures. These reservations allow staff to monitor how many people are in the pool for each time slot and limit the number of guests there at once. For guests with younger kids, it is recommended to reserve the 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift as the pools and lazy river are less crowded during that time slot.
The pools are definitely the resort’s main attraction. There is an indoor and outdoor pool (which includes an infinity pool), an outdoor lazy river, and three water slides. This water park is spread out over 22,000 square-feet which allows for proper social distancing. The entire resort is situated on 85 acres of land, so it never feels crowded even under normal circumstances. Guests can reserve a cabana if they want their own dedicated space. Or they may snag a chair by the lazy river and relax.
Every night at 9 p.m., the resort plays a kid-friendly movie on the lawn with plenty of room for families to spread out. They also have games such as bingo on the lawn. The activities are less than usual but it is still a nice getaway if families feel the need to get away for a couple of days yet are not ready to jump on an airplane.
Gaylord Rockies is near Denver International Airport and is a Marriott property that opened in December 2018. The 486,000 square feet of convention space makes it the largest combined resort and convention center in Colorado. It is the fifth Gaylord property to open with the others located in Washington, D.C, Nashville, Orlando, and Dallas.
The Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center is located at 6700 North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard. For more information about the resort or to make a reservation, visit www.gaylordrockies.com.
There were high hopes when 13-year Denver police veteran Paul Pazen was appointed the Chief of the Denver Police Department (DPD) following the retirement of the highly controversial Robert White. White’s seven-year reign was marked by controversy after controversy and he was largely detested by the police officers themselves. Mayor Hancock’s appointment of Pazen from within DPD was popular with the rank and file. A former Marine, Pazen has an attractive appearance and seems to have at least average intelligence. Until July of this year, he generally received plus marks from the press and the public at large.
Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen
He has now, however, proven himself to be dishonest and a coward to all concerned. Those attributes have brought shame on the DPD at just the wrong time, when police departments across the country are under attack.
Every year, for the last five years, attorney Randy Corporon and organizer Ron MacLachlan have held a “Back the Blue Rally” at Civic Center Park in mid-July, without incident. When Corporon obtained a permit for this July, Pazen told him he did not want a rally this year, asserting it could get his officers hurt. Corporon responded in shock, indicating this of all year’s his officers needed support and that citizens have a First Amendment right even if Pazen didn’t believe in the same.
The rally attended by approximately 250 people, including celebrity Michelle Malkin and House Minority Leader Patrick Neville, started off with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer, when a mob of approximately 750 ANTIFA and BLM supporters smashed into the event blaring horns and attacked the rally participants. Women. including Michelle Malkin, were punched and beaten with batons. MacLachlan was badly bloodied with bull horns and skateboards. Dozens of DPD officers did literally nothing while the carnage was occurring. A grand total of one arrest was made for “public fighting.” Only after all of the rally participants had left, and ANTIFA and BLM rioters went after the police themselves did the DPD use pepper spray.
It was one of the most shameful moments in the history of the DPD. It was obvious that the officers were ordered to stand down by Pazen who had marched earlier in the summer arm and arm with BLM.
But if the event which made national news wasn’t bad enough, Pazen’s performance on media to justify his actions bordered on criminal. He appeared on the Steffan Tubbs show on 710 KNUS and the Dan Caplis Show on 630 KHOW claiming his police had been valiant in defense of the citizens and moreover it was the fault of the rally organizers. He claimed under permit orders for an event in the City and County of Denver, you must supply your own barricades and security. He also claimed that the organizers had said they had 200 security personnel for the event which was obviously a lie by him. According to Pazen, if you are a group of citizens in the City and County of Denver and want to express your First Amendment rights you must provide your own street army to bloodily battle it out with those who want to squash your freedom of speech. According to Pazen, Denver is no different than Berlin in the 1920s where deadly street battles were a common occurrence.
It is not clear whether Pazen is indirectly supporting the BLM position that the police need to be abolished. If they won’t protect its citizens from attack, who needs them? Devious, dishonest and cowardly, Pazen is a bad political hack for the mayor. If the police in the City and County of Denver ever want any support from anyone, Police Chief Paul Pazen needs to be removed and the sooner the better.
Denver’s food scene has taken a hard hit, caused by the recent pandemic, with long standing restaurants such as Old Chicago, formerly located at 1280 S. Colorado Boulevard, permanently closing their doors. However, conversely the Mile High City is welcoming its newest food hall, Junction Food & Drink, just down the road at 2000 S. Colorado Boulevard. The new food hall is managed by National Food Hall Solutions, a Texas-based company founded in 2018 that owns and operates various food halls.
Interior seating at Junction Food and Drink, photo provided by Lincoln Property Company.
This addition comes as part of the enhancement project at the Colorado Center, which includes a Dave & Buster’s, an IMAX theater, and the Colorado Boulevard light-rail station. Colorado Center is a mixed-use, transit-oriented development located between Downtown Denver and the Denver Tech Center. It comprises four Class A office towers totaling approximately 713,000 square-feet with a rooftop event space and 11,569 square-feet of high-end retail.
The 12,220-square-foot food hall will feature 10 food stalls, the Denver-based Sonder Coffee & Tea stand, plus a 40-foot bar and seating for 400 people, which will include both indoor seating and a 4,000-square-foot outdoor patio. Aside from its unique collection of chef-driven food vendors, one of the food hall’s biggest perks is its abundance of parking. The nearby parking garage offers ample space for parking with unlimited parking on the weekends.
With focus on small businesses, Pat Garza, the President and CEO of National Food Hall Solutions, wanted to feature vendors focused on local, quality-driven, authentic foods. From California-style street tacos to Nashville-inspired fried chicken, there is something that will satisfy everyone’s taste buds.
Exterior of Junction Food and Drink, photo provided by Lincoln Property Company.
Vendors include the following:
Big Wave Taco Shop: Founded by Chef Troy Guard, Big Wave Taco Shop, part of the Denver-based TAG restaurant group, will feature California-style tacos with various salsas, chips and queso.
Bird on a Wire Southern Chick’n: Nashville-style chicken and Southern favorites from the Garner Brother’s family-owned restaurant. Choose from fried chicken sandwiches, southern smoked wings, chicken tenders, plus sides including fried pickles, coleslaw, waffle fries and more.
Ebisu Ramen and Sushi food stall at Junction Food and Drink, photo provided by Lincoln Property Company.
Ebisu Ramen and Sushi: Chef Soon Choi, a former head chef from Sushi Den, brings Ebisu Ramen and sushi with a menu of small plates, sushi rolls, sushi bowls and ramen.
Grind and Grill Burger: A family-owned elevated burger concept, Grind and Grill Burger offers a wide variety of burgers, fries and shakes.
Lazo Empanadas: Serving traditional Argentinian, farm-fresh empanadas, Lazo is a local favorite with four other locations in Denver.
Mr. Miner’s Meat & Cheese: With its first location at Golden’s Tributary Food Hall & Drinkery, Mr. Miner’s Meat & Cheese will open its second location at Junction Food & Drink. The menu will include meat and cheese charcuterie boards, salads, sandwiches and a variety of shareables.
Paciugo Gelato: Using the freshest fruits and all-natural ingredients, Paciugo Gelato serves up gelati and sorbets the traditional Italian way. Their menu will feature gelato, frappes, gelatee and pastries.
Pete’s-A-Pie of Denver: A chef-driven purveyor of pizza using fresh, all-natural ingredients, Pete’s-A-Pie of Denver will feature New Haven-style pizza by the slice and whole pie.
Shawarma Shack: A Mediterranean food experience where patrons get front row access to the mesmerizing slow cooked meats roasting on spits, Shawarma Shack will also offer vegetarian and vegan options.
Smok Barbeque: With a focus on classic barbecue from across the county, including special notes from Austin, Texas and Kansas City, Smok will feature BBQ sandwiches, a variety of smoked meats and tasty sides, plus brisket and pulled pork tacos.
In addition to the food stalls, the Junction Food & Drink bar will offer a line-up of local craft beers and wine, plus a full bar serving up refreshing summer drinks.
Junction food hall is set to open early August with all the proper standards in place for social distancing. Adhering to all guidelines, each table will be six feet apart, with additional tables outside for eating and drinking. They will also offer curbside pick-up for food to go.
For further information, visit their website at junctionfoodanddrink.com. Junction Food & Drink at Colorado Center is a project of the partnership between ASB Real Estate Investments and Lincoln Property Company.
Out of everything that’s been lost over the past few months, one of the few things that won’t be lamented is the brown cloud of pollution hanging over Denver like a giant swarm of gnats.
Composting is a clear, logical way to reverse global warming on an individual scale.
As the city reopens, the brown cloud will return, but if you happened to go outside and glance upward anytime in late March, April or May 2020, you were probably shocked at how blue the sky actually is — even over a large city. In early April, The Denver Post reported an 80% decrease in sulfur oxide in the downtown area and up to 50% reduction of particulates such as nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide compared to data from the same time in 2019.
Although the shutdown briefly reduced carbon emissions at home and across the globe, the respite is not nearly enough to reverse 200+ years of industrialization. If a significant reversal of global warming is to occur, everyone has to do their part. This does not mean you have to wear hemp sandals and ride a bamboo bicycle to work. You can actually help the planet out by doing less, that is, when it comes to throwing away grass clippings, dead tree branches and other detritus generated from landscaping and routine yardwork.
The Basics
But first, for those who may yet be unaware, the combustion of fossil fuel in automobiles, industrial machinery and farming equipment along with other agricultural activities releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, energy-related CO2 emissions across the globe are projected to increase from 32 billion metric tons in 2016 to 35 billion by the end of 2020. This atmospheric carbon, combined with methane, sulfur oxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide make up what are known as “greenhouse gasses.” The greenhouse effect occurs as these gasses allow sunlight to pass into the atmosphere, yet they do not allow heat from the planet to radiate into space. The result is global warming, which if allowed to continue, can have devastating effects on human populations worldwide — especially in coastal areas.
Carbon emissions from here can be reduced from the same place, one yard at a time.
Make The Yard Work
While the population as a whole might be able to reduce how much they travel via automobile, bus and airplane, curtailing the use of fossil fuels is not enough to reverse global warming. As an individual, however, you can lessen your carbon footprint by decreasing the amount of atmospheric carbon that originates from your front and back yard. Activities once deemed as essential must be reexamined through a CO2-awareness lens. Upending the soil for gardens, incessant cutting of grass, trimming of hedges and pruning of trees all release carbon in one form or another. Tilling and digging opens up the topsoil — and the escaping carbon mixes with the ever-present atmospheric oxygen and becomes CO2. Meanwhile, organic material in the form of grass clippings, hedge trimmings and tree twigs that gets hauled off to the landfill generates methane as it decomposes.
A Novel Approach
The brown cloud was lifted, but global warming is bigger than a brief shutdown.
Carbon sequestration is the process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it through either biological or geological means. Plant life on your property is already doing this, all you have to do is to not interrupt the process with traditional yard maintenance protocols. Instead, you can leave dirt and soil undisturbed by growing flowers, plants and vegetables in raised garden beds. This leaves the soil intact while producing more oxygen and more plant material to reintroduce back into the ground. When you mow the lawn, prune trees, pull weeds and trim shrubbery you can take the trapped carbon in this “yard waste” and sequester it by breaking it down into small pieces (use a wood chipper for branches and twigs) and integrating it back into the soil through a deliberate process.
Composting Yard Waste
1.Air, water, nitrogen and carbon are the four essentials for compost. Nitrogen is supplied in the form of organic kitchen waste and green grass clippings. Carbon is just about anything organic that is brown such as pine needles, dry leaves, grass clippings, hay and sawdust as well as shredded paper and cardboard. The ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C:N) should be anywhere from 25:1 to 40:1 — which basically means material that is drier than fresh waste.
2.Choose a space that is approximately a cubic yard in dimension (3x3x3) and that is removed from high traffic pathways and living quarters. To partition off the area, you can use old wooden shipping pallets, hay bales, chicken wire or anything similar you have sitting around.
3.Next, build your compost pile keeping C:N ratios in mind. Be sure to place food scraps beneath pine needles, leaves, dry grass, etc. in order to keep odors down and insects and rodents away. Next, wet the pile and then simply allow worms, microorganisms, bacteria and fungi to break down the material. You can add air by poking the pile with a pitchfork or a rake or by turning it every few days with a shovel. Add a small amount of water every few days to keep the breakdown agents moist, and when you add more to the pile be sure to integrate the new material in with the old.
4.Once your compost is dark brown with an earthy texture, it can be added to your raised beds, placed at the base of trees and shrubs and sprinkled about the lawn. Composting can save you money on fertilizer, generate less waste that needs to be hauled away by a fossil fuel-burning engine and help yield lush plants and trees. Basically, to do your part for the planet, keep the carbon in the yard.
On May 26, 2020, during a televised press conference, Colorado Governor Jared Polis made a statement that turned more than just a few service industry heads.
New Space: Glendale’s Bull & Bush got the jump on outdoor seating through an expedited application process.
He suggested that Denver restaurants, upon reopening after the forced Covid-19 closure, commandeer adjacent outdoor areas, parking lots and even residential yard space so that they could increase their serving capacities under the current social distancing regulations. To many, the idea must have initially sounded farfetched and perhaps a bit naive. Yet now, for most establishments looking to resume business while complying with Department of Health regulations, this tactic may be their only hope.
Impossible Rules?
Governor: Colorado Governor Jared Polis stepped in to help restaurants quickly get approved for outdoor seating.
The restrictions on reopening are many and read like a restaurateur’s worst nightmare. Most involve distancing measures not only between patrons, but between employees as well (six feet seems to be a figure of ubiquity) and as anyone who has worked in a restaurant knows, following such a stipulation in a kitchen, behind a host stand, behind a bar or in a wait station is practically impossible. Navigating this turbulent stretch of the proverbial reopening waters seems daunting enough, that is, until you get to the part about capacity limits. All establishments must keep tables, yep you guessed it, six feet apart and can seat only up to 50% capacity or 175 people — whichever is less. Yet, realizing that restaurants employ 10% of Colorado’s workforce (300,000 people) leaders like Polis are urging proprietors and service professionals to get back to work — a crucial step in offsetting the economic disaster that looms on the horizon.
Uncertainty With A Side Of Harsh
So far, restaurants across the Mile High City in districts such as Glendale, LoDo and many others are getting creative with their proximal outdoor spaces. This unprecedented period of reopening could be deemed as a restaurant’s life support phase before either recovering enough to be released from the ICU or giving up and pulling the plug. After being shut down for three months (takeout and delivery notwithstanding) many places are simply unable to recover after such an extended hiatus from revenue and have already thrown in the towel. According to the National Restaurant Association, revenue losses through April 2020 are estimated at $80 billion and project to be as high as $240 billion through the end of the year. While (sadly) many restaurants forced to close are one-of-a-kind, mom and pop joints, several national chain restaurants are being forced into early retirement as well.
The New Abnormal
Despite the setbacks, some establishments with a loyal clientele and a strong identity across the neighborhood culture are attempting to forge forth. In doing so, however, they are forced to cut indoor capacities in half. This is where auxiliary external spaces turned into temporary seating areas can make a big difference. Bull & Bush Brewery (4700 Cherry Creek South Dr.) co-owners David and Erik Peterson have opted for a temporary exterior expansion. “So far it’s working out quite well,” David explains. “The waitstaff are all young, energetic and eager to work — so to them a few extra steps is no big deal.” While a recent Friday afternoon lunch service was moderately busy at best, Peterson was confident that the evening’s numbers would be many times greater — meaning that his overflow patio would indeed be helping circumvent the restrictions so that the restaurant could operate at an optimal capacity.
Another long time Glendale business, Shotgun Willie’s, has had to reimagine what their footprint looks like and how they can maximize their space while adhering to guidelines. When businesses were shut down, they shifted their sister company TBar (adjacent to Shotgun Willie’s) to a To-Go food and liquor business. They were even able to run some car washes during the warmer days to help generate some revenue which owner Debbie Matthews allowed her employees to keep. “I wanted to make sure when we reopened, that some of my most loyal and hard-working employees would come back,” said Debbie Matthews, owner of Shotgun Willie’s. “We got creative and kept Shotgun Willie’s and TBar on people’s minds. Now, having reopened, Shotgun Willie’s and TBar are seeing loyal customers return. They are both open for business at noon, seven days a week.
TBar: Jeremy Marshall stands inside TBar Patio which is the bar adjacent to Shotgun Willie’s at 490 S. Colorado Blvd. TBar Patio has an open-air concept and serves cold draft beer, specialty cocktails, and has plenty of games to choose from.
Unlikely Allies
While restaurant owners/managers have often found dealing with the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses to be highly challenging, getting approval for outdoor seating areas has been fast and easy for most. Whereas pre-Covid-19, garnering such clearance would have taken weeks or even months from an agency that is notorious for red tape, miscommunication and outright hostility toward businesspeople. Observations aside, the truth behind the sudden expediency is that on June 5, Governor Polis signed an executive order requiring that the Department of Revenue and the Liquor Enforcement Division respond to applications for extended seating/serving areas within 24 hours. The order allows restaurants to extend dining areas up to 1,000 feet of their entryways while allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages within these areas as well.
Expansion: Esters has expanded into their parking lot in order to adhere to new regulations and serve at an optimal capacity. Pictured here is Paul Sullivan, owner of Esters Neighborhood Pub
Determined Stalwarts
Meanwhile, Esters at 1950 S. Holly has expanded outdoor seating into the adjacent strip mall parking lot. A staff member explained that an application was recently submitted and approved — giving the place the green light to expand seating by 40 guests at the start of the third week of June. “This is not something we would have normally done,” said Paul Sullivan, owner of Esters Neighborhood Pub. “This gives us open air seating which I think people are looking for. The landlord at this location and the other tenants were cooperative on getting this going and adjusting to our new reality of what people want in a dining experience. I am thankful we are allowed to do this, I hope people enjoy it, and I feel this is going to help us survive this tough time.”
Beer Garden: Blake Street Tavern has expanded their serving capacity and are now “in the beer garden business.”
Further west into LoDo, longtime area staple Blake Street Tavern is ahead of the curve. Of the 700+ Denver restaurants who applied for additional patio space permits, they are already serving meals in their parking lot like their aforementioned Glendale counterparts. In a recent piece published by CBS4, owner Chris Fuselier states, “We’re in the beer garden business now. It’s all about outdoor dining.” Although Colorado is beloved for 300+ days of sunshine per year, that was not the case the day Blake Street opened their temporary beer garden, as violent winds showed up without a reservation and made for an interesting afternoon. This brings to light another potential issue: While the additional seating remedy is seasonal at best and better than nothing at all, inclement Colorado weather that hits hard and fast can cause inadvertent violations. Should an outdoor area need to be evacuated quickly, a bunch of patrons being herded indoors will take the social distancing regulations and scrape them into the trash bin.
Silver Linings
Perhaps on the brighter side, diminished capacity of all restaurants still in business as well as the closure of so many others could present a boon for places like Bull & Bush, Esters and Blake Street Tavern, as other establishments competing for the dollars of patrons could be at an all-time low. Yet the question remains whether a society that has been cooped up for three months is ready to go out to eat again, or if they are still skittish — content to stay at home and dine with caution.
United States Rugby Foundation has recognized Glendale Mayor Mike Dunafon with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented to the mayor August 2020.
Lifetime Achievement: Glendale Mayor Mike Dunafon is receiving the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from United States Rugby Foundation in August 2020. He is shown here in Chile back in 2001 while he served as Manager of the United States U-19 National Team.
Dunafon was a football, rather than a rugby standout, in his youth. He was a star running back at Golden High School and then played at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) where he played H-back and wide receiver. Many of Dunafon’s receiving records are still intact at UNC. He was signed on as a wide receiver by the Denver Broncos in 1976, but injuries curtailed his professional career.
In 1978 he traveled down to the Caribbean island Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, where he was introduced to one of the islands’ favorite sports — rugby and he fell in love with the game’s continuous play and the camaraderie between players and teams.
Dunafon has stated that: “Rugby has had an incredible impact on my life; it’s an extended family that welcomed me instantly as I took to the pitch for the first time and it has since instilled in me an inherent respect and acceptance for people.” He went on to note, “I knew that if I could share that experience with my community, we could create something truly extraordinary that exceeds the bounds of race, religion, sex and economic standing.”
Island Paradise: Mike Dunafon, pictured here in a promotion for Village Cay Marina in the Caribbean island Tortola in 1978, the year he was introduced to the sport of rugby.
He played for British Virgin Islands RFC until 1992 when he moved back to Colorado. He also has a USA Rugby Level 3 coaching certification. From 2000 to 2001, he was the Manager of the United States U-19 National Team, taking them on three international tours to Australia, a World Cup Qualifier in Trinidad, and the 2001 Junior World Cup in Chile.
“Rugby continues to be a big part of my life and has become part of the Glendale lexicon since Infinity Park was established in 2007,” says Dunafon. “I’m thrilled to be honored by the U.S. Rugby Foundation and look forward to the August award event.”
As the only municipally-owned, rugby-specific stadium in the United States, Infinity Park has hosted teams from all over the world. According to U.S. Rugby Foundation Executive Director Brian Vizard, Dunafon’s “biggest impact on rugby in America is the development of RugbyTown USA in Glendale, Colorado.”
On May 30, 2007, then Governor Bill Ritter officially proclaimed Glendale to be the “Rugby Capital of Colorado.”
Vizard went on to note: “As Mayor of Glendale, Mike’s vision was to revitalize a community by embracing the ethos that he saw in rugby — the camaraderie, sportsmanship, and commitment to community. Infinity Park is widely considered to be the finest rugby training facility in the country. I have seen the growth of RugbyTown over the years and am truly amazed by what Mike and the City of Glendale have been able to accomplish.”
Adds Vizard, “We look forward to . . . recognizing Mike with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his over 40 years of service to the sport.”
Glendale has various men’s, women’s and under 19 teams as well as junior programs for kids of all ages. The Glendale Raptors recently withdrew from Major League Rugby wanting to concentrate on developing top players for the national team known as the American Eagles. With regard to the same, USA Rugby has moved from Boulder to Glendale which should greatly assist such an effort.
Dunafon who was reelected for another four-year term as Mayor of Glendale in April 2020, indicated that: “Glendale’s role in the world of rugby will keep on growing. As much as we have achieved over the last decade it is just the beginning. We hope that every kid who plays rugby will want to someday visit and play in RugbyTown U.S.A.”
