by Mark Smiley | Nov 20, 2017 | Travel
by Ruthy Wexler
SAME Café’s mission is feeding the hungry. Its name stands for So All May Eat. But the café itself resembles an elegant little bistro, complete with outside dining.
Nothing about SAME Café, at 2023 E. Colfax, says “homeless” or “charity.” That’s the uniqueness of this restaurant, where Cherry Creek residents, suburban folk, busy professionals — and people down on their luck — all get welcomed and well-fed.
Uniquely Different
I’ve ordered lunch, it looks delicious — but I stand confused. No prices listed, no cash register in sight.
How do I pay? I ask.
“You pay what you want,” smiles the girl at the counter.
After devouring the richly flavored soup (homemade vegetable stock, definitely) and relishing my pizza’s contrasting bites of apple, kale and blue cheese, I wonder: How could a “donation based” restaurant serve such exquisite food — and survive?
The answer, says Executive Director Brad Reubendale, is community. “We have the greatest group of volunteers and customers, who are invested in our succes
s.”
More and more groups now use the café for meetings. Increasing numbers book it for private parties and events. The café’s good intentions toward the community have brought win/win results.
Doing Well
Having supported local farmers, the café now receives so much donated produce, they only have to purchase basic food. They support local businesses — and a local businessman, and their landlord sets their rent below market value.
“What I see over and over, if you trust people to be helpful and intelligent, for the most part, they’ll be that way,” says Reubendale. “People on the poverty line pay a dollar for lunch. Others know this and give way more than the meal’s worth”
“We eat here a lot,” says Laura Mueller, lunching with fellow retired physician Danica Larson. “We want to support their mission. And the food is amazing. So healthy!”
Healthy food — where it all started.
History
In 2003, Brad and Libby Birky were at a crossroads. An IT consultant, he yearned to be a chef. But Birky wanted no part of the late-night restaurant lifestyle, so they researched other options. Both had volunteered at soup kitchens, but the disconnect between those who doled out the food and those who ate it didn’t sit right. And the food was not healthy.
What if a soup kitchen served food so good that people with money chose to eat there, too?
There was one such restaurant, they discovered. After visiting One World in Salt Lake City, the Birkys became 100% committed. Banks refused to loan them money so they cashed in their IRAs. The city’s red tape almost botched 
the project. But finally, on October 20, 2006, the SAME Café opened.
Something Incredible
The Birkys’ original idea — giving everyone access to good, healthy food — remains the café’s driving force.
People get interested in the café’s mission. They return because of the food. Each day, two kinds of soup, two kinds of salad, two pizzas, and one cookie are offered. Natural-ingredient menus planned by an exuberant chef feature Strawberry Soup, Braised Brisket Stew, Roasted Mushroom and Quinoa Salad.
Tables for two line the walls, but the long table down the café’s center affords an unusual opportunity: eating alongside someone from a very different life. “Something incredible happens when people who have millions sit down next to someone experiencing homelessness,” reports Reubendale.
So Much Change
A volunteer describes when someone who’s been living on the street comes in to eat. “They light up, like, ‘All this nice stuff for me? I’m not looked down upon here?’”
“It’s beautiful. No one brags about money here. No one’s shamed if they don’t have it.”
People living below the poverty line are treated with as much dignity as a wealthy person, says Reubendale. “That’s why we don’t give handouts. If someone wants free food, we say, ‘Here, please eat. Then we ask how they’d like to participate in our community. One hour of work pays for a meal.’
“When someone’s ready, we have a great resource list. A computer they can use to research jobs or housing.”
“So many lives have been changed here,” Reubendale muses. “Not just the hungry. Rich people who needed purpose. Sick people who began eating healthy, then got well…”
People often asked the Birkys how to start a restaurant just like SAME. Now the couple is on a road trip, visiting the 50+ cafés across the country they inspired and mentored.
Talk about change.
Holiday Giving
The café has just created wooden circles that say SAME Café: One Free Lunch.” Think of driving down Speer Boulevard with a bagful of these tokens to give out! Purchasing them provides two good works in one: giving to SAME Café’s mission — and connecting a person in need with a service that could change their lives.
You can buy the tokens with a donation (the café suggests the full price of meals, around $12). Or email brad@soallmayeat.org, who will get the tokens to you.
The SAME Café is open Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information visit www.soallmayeat.org.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 23, 2017 | Travel
60,000 Attend The 36th Annual Event
by Jeff Stiglic and Mark Smiley
The 36th Annual Great American Beer Festival (GABF) was held October 5-7, 2017, at the Colorado Convention Center. Over 800 breweries poured 3,900 beers over the three-day fest hosted by the Brewers Association. Attendees surpassed 60,000 making it the largest attended GABF ever. It has come a long way since 1982 when it was held at the Harvest House Hotel in Boulder. There were 24 breweries, 47 beers and 800 attendees back then.
The state of Colorado won 38 medals as Glendale’s very own Bull & Bush Brewery took home a bronze medal for their Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer called Woody Pils. Colorado tied their total from last year with an impressive lineup of entries. As an attendee who lives in Denver, it is nice to support the home team but it is also an opportunity to taste beers that are otherwise unavailable in this state. And, it is a chance to sample beers that are just starting distribution in Colorado such as Surly Brewing Company from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Two Roads Brewing Company from Stratford, Connecticut.
“Having just launched our beers in the Colorado market, it was a great opportunity to gain brand recognition locally,” said Lizzy Shpitalnik, Colorado Sales Manager for Two Roads Brewing Company. “We also had Two Roads staff at the booth pouring our ten offerings at all times, so we were able to connect with festival goers on a deeper level.”
Two Roads was also invited to an event called What the Funk hosted by Crooked Stave Artisans. This event was one of many held outside the confines of the Colorado Convention Center. On Wednesday, October 4, 2017, The Studios at Overland Crossing played host to this year’s event. Attendees were treated to rare beers and adventurous concoctions that served as a great lead in to this year’s GABF.
The crew of Brewski-Reviewski not 
only attended the three day GABF but also covered many of these events in and around town to see how they enhanced the week dedicated to beer.
Thursday, October 5, opening night of GABF, the crew started the first hour at the festival getting a feel for the layout of the hall so they would be able to easily navigate it on Saturday, October 7, after the awards ceremony. After that, it was off to Epic Brewing for the 5th annual 50 Firkin Fiasco.
The event was set up throughout the brewery with 50 specialty beers they brewed and collaborated with other breweries. Epic did not disappoint on this, with beers scattered everywhere to taste, and live music to set the mood. From standard beers like IPAs and stouts to beers brewed with sage and even one with Swedish Fish, this is a recommended event for next year.
Bierstadt Lagerhaus was the venue for the Beer Hall Brawl with Melvin Brewing from Wyoming. This event could be characterized by one word: crazy. The crew from these two places combined the in-house beer from Bierstadt with Melvin, having Hacksaw Jim Duggan wrestling with the team from Rocky Mountain Pro Wrestlers. The crowd enjoyed the theatrics of the wrestlers with some great German style beers.
Friday morning had two interesting events to choose from. Samuel Adams hosted its annual Brewers Brunch at Marlowe’s off 16th Street Mall. And, Oskar Blues promoted a Friends and Family Backstage Pass and Tour with a bus from Denver to the brewery in Longmont.
The Brewers Brunch organized and hosted by Samuel Adams is a
Sam Adams GABF brunch Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in Denver. (Photo by Jack Dempsey for Boston Beer Company)
time-honored tradition and a chance for beer enthusiasts to engage in conversations about all things craft beer. Jim Koch, founder of Samuel Adams kicked off the event welcoming the capacity crowd to Denver. Koch started Samuel Adams in his kitchen in 1984 when imported and domestic beers were the only options for beer lovers.
A panel moderated by Bob Pease, President and CEO of the Brewers Association, included Koch and other craft brewers who shared their stories on what makes their breweries successful and the challenges they face.
Samuel Adams capped off the event by introducing its newest beer that will hit the market early next year called Sam ’76. It’s a beer that takes two active fermentations and blends them together with Cascade, Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe and Galaxy hops. It imparts a tropical citrus aroma that gives way to a bright, juicy citrus hop flavor but without the hop bitterness.
Turning to the Oskar Blues event, media and guests were greeted at the Longmont brewery with a pint of Fresh Hop Pale Ale. There were six groups each with 15-18 guests to walk through the brewery with head brewer Tim Matthews.
Part of the tour focused on the actual science that goes into the brewing process. The tour was followed up with a lunch provided by CHUBurger by Oskar Blues while Matthews described what goes into four of their beers: Mamm’s Little Pils, Pinner, Dales Pale Ale, and IPA. All in all, a tour at Oskar Blues is a good experience. They conduct tours every day of the week. Visit www. oskarblues.com for more information.
On Friday afternoon, Avery hosted a guided tasting with brewer Andy Parker at Hayter’s & Co. in LODO. Parker described each of the beers on sample at the ro
oftop event while guests sampled them all. It allowed for plenty of time to try many of the beers offered by Avery and make it to the GABF on time.
The Awards Ceremony is the key event for brewers and a big part of why they participate in the festival. It is a chance for smaller breweries to win a medal and be recognized for the hard work they put into their beers. The medal winners were announced on Saturday morning, October 7.
Launch Pad Brewery in Aurora is a small brewery that took home a silver medal for session beers with a beer called Peacekeeper. “It’s a bigger feeling than I thought it would be, and it’s great to be recognized by your peers for your hard work,” said David Levesque, owner of Launch Pad Brewery.
The 37th Annual GABF will once again be held at the Colorado Convention Center but earlier in 2018. It will be held from September 20-22, 2018. Visit www.great americanbeerfestival.com for more details.
To listen to interviews with brewers, visit www.brewski-reviewski.podbean.com.
by Mark Smiley | Sep 25, 2017 | Travel
One Of The Great Public Venues In The Cherry Creek Valley Is CommonGround Golf Course
by Mark Smiley
Now that summer is in the rear-view mirror, it is time to winterize the lawn mower, make sure the snow blower starts, and put away the golf clubs. Not so fast on the golf clubs. Autumn is a great time of year to golf. The courses are less crowded, the green fees are less expensive, and the fall colors in Colorado are spectacular.
The Colorado Golf Association (CGA) has many courses in its directory that feature fall golf. The CGA’s purpose is to represent, promote, and serve the best interests of golf in the state of Colorado, and has been throughout its history. The organization is the official representative of the United States Golf Association (USGA) for the state of Colorado.
The Colorado Golf Association (CGA) was established in August 1915. The CGA’s first official function was to formally take over the administration of the state’s amateur match play championship, which started in 1901. This tournament is still conducted by the Colorado Golf Association, making it the oldest golf tournament in the state of Colorado.
Today, over 43,000 men and 17,000 women are members of the CGA and the Colorado Women’s Golf Association (CWGA). Those that have a handicap are eligible to be members of the CGA or CWGA and those that do not can set one up at a course that is owned by the CGA, CommonGround.
CommonGround, located in Aurora and in proximity to Glendale, is an affordable championship course that opened in 2009 
and was designed by world renowned golf course architect Tom Doak. Doak has four courses ranked among the top 100 in the world according to the “Top 100 Courses in the World” list compiled by Golf Magazine. Ballyneal Golf Course in Holyoke, Colorado, is one of those four courses.
Members of the CGA get 25 percent off their green fees at CommonGround and becoming a member is $55 annually. In addition to its 18-hole course, CommonGround also features a 9-hole Par 3 course. This is designed for juniors or seniors who want to get a fast game in and practice. CommonGround allows anyone 18 years of age or younger to golf the 9-hole Par 3 course at no cost. Adults are $10.
CommonGround is not only a championship course at an affordable rate but will serve as the stroke play co-host course for the 2019 Mid-Amateur.
Golfing in the fall is often overlooked but the 
fact of the matter is that fall has the least precipitation of the non-winter months, has cooler temperatures, and is the most scenic time of the year. “Fall is the most beautiful time of the year in Colorado,” said Aaron Kellough, Director of Communications for the CGA. “If you want to get up in the mountains in late September or early October when the aspens start changing, it’s unbelievable.”
Some of the more technical reasons why golf in the fall works well is the ground is harder and drives go further. It gives golfers better chances to score. Courses are also less crowded which can make for a more enjoyable experience.
“This fall is an opportunity to play three courses that you won’t play again in the same way,” said Ryan Smith, Director of Development for the CGA. “Now is the time to go see City Park before the new design and for those who love the history and the past, get over to Fitzsimons and get over to Park Hill because the future is changing for them.”
Fall is also the time of year that smaller charities will host golf tournaments due to the prices being lower. It’s a good time to work on one’s game and have fun without a lot of the pressure that exists in the summer. Members of the CGA can post scores even if they retreat for the warmer temperatures of Arizona or Florida in the fall and winter.
To learn more about the Colorado Golf Association or to join, visit www.colora dogolf.org. A list of all 240 Colorado courses to play in the fall can be found on the website.
by Mark Smiley | Aug 30, 2017 | Travel
by Julie Hayden
“I try to live normal, whatever normal is,” Christine Howard says matter of factly. That simple statement underscores the courage Howard packs into living every day with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. “I’m not a survivor, anymore. It’s gonna beat me. It’s an illness that’s going to kill me. I can’t say I’m okay with that but it’s a reality with me.” But Christine is not going down without a fight — for other breast cancer patients.
“I am very passionate about Sense of Security,” she exclaims. Howard devotes endless energy and time to the Denver-based charity. It gives direct support to breast cancer patients in treatment with $500 a month for six months to help pay for necessities like food, housing and transportation.
Over the past 15 years, Sense of Security has provided nearly $2 million to more than 1,300 Colorado breast cancer patients.
Howard is one of them, receiving the aid when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. “I felt a golf ball in my chest.” Howard started cancer treatment, working hard to keep her job. “I had decent health insurance but the bills were mounting up. No one budgets for cancer,” Howard explains. “I was under so much stress, I was just trying to keep my head above water.”
Then someone told her about Sense of Security.
“Sense of Security came in at the right time so I could get caught up,” Howard says. Executive Director Tim Taravella says Sense of Security was founded in 2000 by two women after they saw what a friend with cancer went through. “Our mission is to help the middle class,” Taravella explains. “Below certain income levels there are state and federal programs that can help. But
there is no safety net for the middle class.”
Taravella says most Sense of Security grantees are in Stage 1 or 2 cancers and will successfully go through treatment to live full, vibrant lives. But he says the time they are undergoing treatment can be what he calls “financially toxic.” “Cancer is a ruinous disease financially,” Taravella says. “People are looking down the barrel of financial ruin because of cancer. Anyone who needs cancer treatment will face huge expenses and experience financial decline. Sense of Security’s mission is to stop that decline before they hit bottom. We do what we can to help them get through everything better, financially.”
Howard says Sense of Security provides something more. “It helps financially and that helps emotionally and by relieving the stress it also help patients recover faster.
It gives you that relief, “she adds, “It’s one thing that you don’t have to worry about and that trickles down and helps with overall relief and stress reduction.”
Taravella says Sense of Security is unique in that it is completely community supported. “We don’t get a dime from the gover
nment.” The organization’s major fundraiser is coming up September 16, 2017, at Four Mile Historic Park in Glendale from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Taravella describes the “Distinctly Colorado” event as a “un gala.” “Wear your jeans and boots, learn to fly fish, hit some balls at the golf simulator or take two-step dance lessons.” They raised $75,000 last year and hope to hit $100,000 this year. He says, “This fundraiser is crucial to help Sense of Security continue to help Colorado breast cancer patients.
Howard will be there and urges people, “If you want to help, give to Sense of Security.” She adds, “Just be good to each other. If everybody tried to be a little kinder to people every day, it would make such a big difference in the long run.”
For more information or to get tickets to the Distinctly Colorado event go to senseofsecurity.org.
by Mark Smiley | Jul 24, 2017 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
You may have noticed some shiny new blue boxes in popular spots around town. The Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle has invested in 10 outdoor newsstands that have been placed in high traffic areas around Glendale and Denver.
The newsstands can be found in front of such businesses as Sam’s No. 3, Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, Brown Palace, Snooze, Oblio’s Pizzeria, and Washington Park Grille. Two stands are situated in Cherry Creek North and for the first time, the Chronicle can be picked up in Stapleton as one of the new stands is located in front of Starbucks in 29th Avenue Town Center. As always, copies in these stands and elsewhere are free of charge.
The Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce helped support the project to boost their membership and the increased distribution of the paper. The Chamber has increased their membership in 2017 and at the time of press, they have climbed to 280 members. On June 23, 2017, the Chamber was ranked number 23 among all chambers in the metro area based on membership.
The Chronicle now has a distribution of 86,200 with over 83,000 of those being mailed directly to homes and businesses from Lodo to the Dam. The remaining copies are distributed to 50 locations including the 10 new outdoor stands. For a complete list, click here.
by Mark Smiley | Jun 23, 2017 | Travel
by Ruthy Wexler
The U.S. Constitution is mentioned a lot these days — as a talking point. TV pundits warn that it’s being destroyed; politicians blithely assure us that a recent action they took is “in the Constitution.” If only we could go someplace and learn from scratch: what is this document that began our country?
Turns out there is such a place: the National Constitution Center.
Of course, it’s in Philadelphia — but your journey there will be shorter and less arduous than the ones delegates undertook in 1787: jouncing in carriages or on horseback, they traveled rough roads for days. Once in Philly, they sat in a sweltering hot room and argued. Why couldn’t small states have as many representatives as big ones? What sort of leader should they have, if any?
Finally they emerged with a blueprint for a free nation.
Agreed, their country wasn’t wholly free. Some delegates owned slaves, women had few rights. And no, our current society isn’t perfect. But before you withdraw into cynicism, go visit the Constitution Center. You’ll see how this complex document allowed the United States to change over the years — and how those long-ago men planned a distribution of power so skillfully, our democratic experiment is still alive.
Freedom Rising
Best to start a few blocks away where the Constitution was written: Independence Hall, which looks exactly the way it did 230 years ago. A guide points out the dais where George Washington sat and watched each day’s proceedings without ever saying a word. (Everyone knew how much he cared.)
Approaching the Constitution Center, a shining white structure set way back on a wide lawn, I’m stirred to wonder: how did the Founding Fathers come to design a country around the idea of freedom?
The introductory multimedia presentation, Freedom Rising, explains. Colonists knew they needed a central government for safety — but feared giving any foothold to tyranny, the thing they hated most. So their representatives, framing the new government’s basis, analyzed each sentence and statue: would it allow liberty to survive?
“Can liberty survive?” the narrator concludes dramatically. “It depends on you … and you … and you.”
Rich History
The Story of We the People, the ring-shaped series of exhibits on the second floor, constitutes the heart of the museum. One of the first displays is a shelf of Enlightenment books that delegates referenced while deliberating. We learn that Thomas Jefferson shipped volumes from France so James Madison could study ancient federations. Whatever their limitations, the framers were not, as some have claimed, interested only in protecting their property.
With timelines etched above, explanations at eye level and details crammed in every corner, history comes alive. Exhibits, arranged in chronological order, show how the Constitution was challenged and survived. There are exhibits for each of the original seven articles, for the Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments) and the other amendments as well. Because they’re connected to constitutional issues, we learn about slavery, freedom of speech, labor unions and capital punishment.
Forward March Of Justice
It’s not just gazing into glass cases. You can pull levers in a voting booth, take the presidential oath at a podium, watch a video of new U.S. citizens. Winding my way around the rotunda, I see, at intervals, the same interactive screen: Can You Vote? Early on, the screen asks, “Are you white?” I press “yes” and am allowed to continue. But when I say no to the next question, “Are you a man?” a big red DENIED lets me go no further.
Even though I knew it was coming, I feel the unfairness.
Subsequent screens show how fairness got slowly instituted: nonwhites able to vote after the Civil War), then women (19th Amendment), then 18-year-olds (26th amendment. The framers, men of their time, were wise enough to know that times change; to ensure liberty for unknown future generations, they put the amendment process in place.
Exhibits show how the Constitution stretched for justice to march forward. Sometimes, as demonstrated in the Dred Scott exhibit, freedom took a backward step, when judges were slaves to beliefs of their time and could only interpret the Constitution narrowly.
It’s a document to be proud of, but not complacent about. More deeply than ever before, I’m seeing that if liberty is to survive, it is truly up to “you … and you …” and me.
The last exhibit is delightful Signers Hall, where 42 life-size figures — the 39 who signed the Constitution and the three who refused — stand frozen in thoughtful poses. I see how tall Washington was, and that Alexander Hamilton, of recent Broadway fame, was quite short!
As everyone snaps selfies with the signers, a docent offers personal tidbits; e.g., Rufus King of Massachusetts borrowed books from the library but never returned them; Washington went fishing during the August recess and caught some perch. And when the Constitution came back from being engrossed on parchment, it was, Washington said, “little short of a miracle.”
After all, this was the first time that a people had written down rules to start a nation off from scratch.
Historic Philadelphia
The National Constitution Center welcomes visitors seven days a week (except major holidays). Children enter free; tickets (adults, $14.50; seniors, $13) are half price if you go first to the Visitors Center, get tickets to Independence Hall and present those passes. Another advantage to stopping at the Visitors Center: the roving Once Upon A Nation storytellers who will spin a true yarn while you rest on a bench.
The Constitution Center frequently hosts presentations, “timely constitutional conversations from all sides of the debate” and your trip could possibly be planned around one of these enlightening town halls. To find out more, visit constitutioncenter.org or call 215-409-6600. To see more pictures, visit www.glendalecherrycreek.com.
