by Mark Smiley | Dec 15, 2025 | Travel
Grinch Adventure, More Runs Through January 2
by Mark Smiley
Beautiful Decorations: The inside of the Gaylord Rockies features millions of twinkling lights and more than 200 decorated trees.
Gaylord Rockies: Twinkling lights drape the massive timber beams of Gaylord Rockies like a Colorado winter wonderland
A team of 40 master ice artisans from Harbin, China, arrived at Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, to transform two million pounds of ice into a breathtaking winter wonderland. The group has spent more than 12,000 hours hand-carving intricate sculptures for this year’s ICE! experience, themed around Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Hailing from Harbin — famously known as “Ice City” and home to the world’s largest ice and snow sculpting festival — the artisans have traveled more than 5,700 miles to Colorado. Since 2001, Gaylord Hotels has partnered with these highly skilled carvers to bring their centuries-old craft to life for American audiences.
Using tools such as chisels, tongs, hand saws, grinders, and chainsaws, the team begins with over 6,000 blocks of ice, each weighing about 300 pounds. Working from a 300-page design book, the artisans sculpt everything from coin-sized details to 30-foot-tall scenes inspired by Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday tale.
Guests visiting ICE! at Gaylord Rockies will be transported through the classic story — journeying from the Grinch’s snowy mountaintop lair and his sneaky sleigh ride into Whoville, to the Whos’ joyful celebration and the Grinch’s heartwarming transformation. Brilliant colored ice, dazzling LED lights, and a precisely maintained 9-degree environment combine to create a mesmerizing display. Visitors can borrow signature blue parkas to stay cozy during the experience.
Artisans: Armed with chisels, tongs, hand saws, grinders, and chainsaws, the artisans begin with more than 6,000 blocks of ice to create ICE! at Gaylord Rockies.
The attraction also includes two-story ice slides, sparkling tunnels, and live carving demonstrations in the Carver Showcase. ICE! concludes in a serene Nativity scene, sculpted entirely from crystal-clear ice. The display runs through January 2, 2026.
While ICE! is the crown jewel of Christmas at Gaylord Rockies, the holiday spirit extends throughout the resort, which features millions of twinkling lights and more than 200 decorated trees. New this year is the Sugar Snow Station, a whimsical area featuring Candy Cane Mountain Indoor Snow Tubing, Gumdrop Gliders Ice Puck Challenge, and the Sugar N’ Spice Bar offering festive treats.
Other seasonal highlights include:
Feast with the Grinch, a family dining event where guests can meet the famously grouchy green guest of honor and his dog, Max.
Sippin’ Santa, a tropical tiki pop-up bar serving island-inspired holiday cocktails in collectible mugs.
Gingerbread Mountain Cabin, a life-sized creation built from over 1,400 pounds of gingerbread, icing, and candy.
Festival of Trees, an annual fundraiser benefiting Lantern (formerly Bright by Text), supporting early childhood development.
Guests can also enjoy festive favorites like the Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt, the Gingerbread Decorating Corner, Photos with Santa, the Elf Training Academy, Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions, and the Yuletide Street Market in Mistletoe Village.
For those looking to extend the holiday magic, overnight guests receive special perks such as “Chill Pass” front-of-line access to ICE! and entry to the resort’s indoor Arapahoe Springs Waterpark.
Tickets for ICE! and other Christmas at Gaylord Rockies attractions must be purchased in advance, as peak weekends often sell out. For details, overnight packages, or reservations, visit ChristmasAtGaylord Rockies.com
by Mark Smiley | Nov 17, 2025 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
Ice Slides: 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.
Ice Sculptures: Colorful ice sculptures recreate scenes from Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! inside the ICE! exhibit at Gaylord Rockies Resort.
A team of 40 master ice artisans from Harbin, China, has arrived at Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, to transform two million pounds of ice into a breathtaking winter wonderland. The group has spent more than 12,000 hours hand-carving intricate sculptures for this year’s ICE! experience, themed around Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Hailing from Harbin — famously known as “Ice City” and home to the world’s largest ice and snow sculpting festival — the artisans have traveled more than 5,700 miles to Colorado. Since 2001, Gaylord Hotels has partnered with these highly skilled carvers to bring their centuries-old craft to life for American audiences.
Using tools such as chisels, tongs, hand saws, grinders, and chainsaws, the team begins with over 6,000 blocks of ice, each weighing about 300 pounds. Working from a 300-page design book, the artisans sculpt everything from coin-sized details to 30-foot-tall scenes inspired by Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday tale.
Guests visiting ICE! at Gaylord Rockies will be transported through the classic story — journeying from the Grinch’s snowy mountaintop lair and his sneaky sleigh ride into Whoville, to the Whos’ joyful celebration and the Grinch’s heartwarming transformation. Brilliant colored ice, dazzling LED lights, and a precisely maintained 9-degree environment combine to create a mesmerizing display. Visitors can borrow signature blue parkas to stay cozy during the experience.
The attraction also includes two-story ice slides, sparkling tunnels, and live carving demonstrations in the Carver Showcase. ICE! concludes in a serene Nativity scene, sculpted entirely from crystal-clear ice. The display runs from November 24, 2025, through January 2, 2026.
While ICE! is the crown jewel of Christmas at Gaylord Rockies, the holiday spirit extends throughout the resort, which features millions of twinkling lights and more than 200 decorated trees. New this year is the Sugar Snow Station, a whimsical area featuring Candy Cane Mountain Indoor Snow Tubing, Gumdrop Gliders Ice Puck Challenge, and the Sugar N’ Spice Bar offering festive treats.
Ice!: Guests will embark on a journey through hand-carved ice sculptures depicting iconic scenes from Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Other seasonal highlights include:
Feast with the Grinch, a family dining event where guests can meet the famously grouchy green guest of honor and his dog, Max.
Sippin’ Santa, a tropical tiki pop-up bar serving island-inspired holiday cocktails in collectible mugs.
Gingerbread Mountain Cabin, a life-sized (12 foot high) creation built from over 1,400 pounds of gingerbread, icing, and candy.
Festival of Trees, an annual fundraiser benefiting Lantern (formerly Bright by Text), supporting early childhood development.
Guests can also enjoy festive favorites like the Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt, the Gingerbread Decorating Corner, Photos with Santa, the Elf Training Academy, Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions, and the Yuletide Street Market in Mistletoe Village.
For those looking to extend the holiday magic, overnight guests receive special perks such as “Chill Pass” front-of-line access to ICE! and entry to the resort’s indoor Arapahoe Springs Waterpark.
Tickets for ICE! and other Christmas at Gaylord Rockies attractions must be purchased in advance, as peak weekends often sell out. For details, overnight packages, or reservations, visit ChristmasAtGaylord Rockies.com.
by Amber Wyatt | Oct 20, 2025 | Travel
by Amber Wyatt
The Skinny Dip: A classic cocktail with a lemon twist, known as The Skinny Dip, awaits at The Bar Car, where the vintage ambiance and neighborhood camaraderie make every sip feel like home, no matter where you’re from.
Cozy Patio: The Bar Car at 819 Colorado Blvd. welcomes locals with its cozy patio, signature menu, and the promise of good times where “friends and neighbors meet.”
Neighborhood Favorite: With a lineup of craft beers, top-shelf spirits, and hearty pub fare, The Bar Car continues to be a favorite neighborhood stop for both drinks and bites.
On a stretch of Colorado Boulevard better known for fast traffic than lasting community, BarCar has carved out something rare: a true neighborhood bar that doubles as a second home. For majority owner Victor Muñiz and part-owner Andrew Callahan, the mission is clear — create a space where locals feel seen, safe, and connected.
“Working at BarCar is working at a neighborhood spot that is truly a neighborhood spot,” Callahan said. “It is for the neighborhood, by the neighborhood. Most of us live close by.” For Callahan, who has lived in the neighborhood for over a decade, the bar is both a livelihood and a love letter to the community.
That grassroots spirit is built into the very structure of the business. Unlike most establishments, BarCar is largely employee-owned. “We are a mostly employee-owned bar,” Callahan explained. “Almost all of the investors, except for I think one right now, are employees of the bar. We’ve told our entire staff that if they work with us for a couple years and want to become an investor, we’re open to that. That is a path they can take.”
This model has given the bar an unusually high level of buy-in from its team, especially from veteran bartenders who appreciate the stability and the opportunity to shape the place where they work. “Having the opportunity to become financially invested is a big plus,” Callahan noted. “Not a lot of places always offer that.”
That sense of ownership translates directly to hospitality. Muñiz, who also owns the Owl Saloon, describes BarCar as nothing short of a dream realized. “It’s my dream come true,” he said. “Everything about it — friends, family — it’s just a great place to be all the time.”
For Muñiz, the family feel isn’t a metaphor. It’s the guiding principle. “We created a community where we have your makeshift family here,” he explained. “That’s what it’s about. That’s what bars are about in my opinion.”
That philosophy manifests in everyday moments. Neighbors use BarCar as a meeting place before concerts, after games, or just to catch up on life. “A lot of people come before they do other things in life and meet up here or afterwards,” Muñiz said. “Honestly, I think that’s the best thing we do — we keep the neighbors together.”
The idea of BarCar as a community hub is reinforced by personal milestones. When Callahan married his wife, who also works in the hospitality industry, they hosted their wedding reception at another venue — then, naturally, the celebration moved to BarCar. “At around 9:30 or 10, most of the people at our wedding, who were industry workers as well, showed up here,” he recalled. “It became quite a big party to have the neighborhood people getting married, you know?”
Muñiz, who spent years as a bartender and server before stepping into ownership, says that lived experience informs his leadership. “I believe in a bartender-driven industry,” he said. “I know we could have extra staff, but at the end of the day, it’s a staff of people that care and like doing what we do.”
That tight-knit crew has weathered challenges together, particularly during the pandemic. “Coming out of COVID, we had a lot of employees that we needed, and we’re back to the hardcore seven,” Muñiz said. “That’s how we built this bar before COVID, and then we’re back to that again. It’s seven people that give a shit.”
And that’s exactly the vibe patrons notice. BarCar feels less like a business transaction and more like a gathering in someone’s living room — with better cocktails. “We want to be there for everybody that’s looking to have a good time in a cool, comfortable environment,” Muñiz said. “We’re all about being a safe place for people to come and hang out and not worry about the bullshit life has.”
The menu reflects that same spirit of neighborhood hospitality. During my visit, longtime bartender Brandy mixed me a Skinny Dip — a smooth, subtly sweet cocktail built with Deep Eddy sweet tea vodka, a squeeze of lemon, and just enough water to keep it light. It was the kind of drink made for conversation, and sure enough, I enjoyed it while chatting with Callahan and the cook, Will, who proudly shared that the kitchen rotates its cheese curd flavors. The current favorite? Dill pickle. Naturally, I had to try them. Crisp, golden, and tangy, the curds carried just enough bite to spark a round of laughter as the basket quickly disappeared among us.
That theme of comfort and camaraderie carried right into lunch. I went for a proper Chicago dog, stacked with the traditional fixings, and paired it with sidewinder fries that were as hearty as they were shareable. To balance it out, Brandy slid across the bar a Jabroni Negroni — the house’s playful take on a classic. Made with Hendrick’s gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, the cocktail leaned pleasantly bitter and sour, a bold counterpoint to the rich food and the easy banter flowing through the room.
As Callahan put it, “This neighborhood bar — we focus on just making sure everyone’s taken care of. Everyone knows each other around here. And everyone that’s new to the neighborhood, we always welcome them in.”
On Colorado Boulevard, where strip malls often outnumber handshakes, BarCar has become something enduring: a place where the beer is cold, the people are warm, and the neighborhood spirit is alive and well
by Jeff Shultz | Sep 22, 2025 | Travel
by Jeff Shultz
The South Metro Fire and Rescue will seek voter approval for a 3 mill property tax increase in hopes the increase will help the emergency agency overcome a huge anticipated budget shortfall in 2026 and beyond.
The proposed ballot question will appear on the November 4 general election ballot for voters in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties.
Currently the district has a property tax rate of 9.25 mills but changes in the law has created a potential budget shortfall for the fire and rescue district.
The SMFR Board of Directors discovered the budget shortfall when the board met last year to plan its 2025 budget.
“That timing followed the passage of HB 24B-1001 in the special session, which significantly reduced property tax revenues for fire protection districts like ours,” said Jim Albee, SMFR Board Chairman.
“As we reviewed our long-term financial projections, it became clear that without action, South Metro would face a $16 million shortfall by 2026 and a projected $270 million gap over the next decade.”
In addition to the budget shortfall created by HB 24B-100, SMFR would need an extra $34 million annually to maintain its level of service to communities and retain staff.
Albee has served on the SMFR Board for five years and has been the board chairman for the same amount of time.
“My commitment has been driven by a deep belief in the importance of the life-saving services we provide and a responsibility to ensure we remain financially sustainable for the future,” he said.
According to Albee, the property tax increase would provide the needed $50 million to give SMFR the needed funds to maintain its current levels of service while also giving SMFR additional funds to operate from.
Plane Crash: On Friday, August 22, 2025, South Metro Fire Rescue and the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-engine biplane crash at Centennial Airport. The pilot safely evacuated the plane.
“While a portion would cover necessary administrative functions that support public safety, the majority would go toward critical service delivery, equipment, apparatus, maintenance, and facilities to ensure we can meet our community’s expectations.”
Albee said the district’s staffing and equipment costs are the district’s two highest budget items.
“Over 80 percent of our budget is tied to personnel,” Albee said, noting that if additional funding is not secured staff reductions would be “unavoidable.”
“Reductions could impact personnel, which would directly affect response times and service delivery, and programs.”
Equipment costs and maintenance would have to be prioritized, he added
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen cost increases ranging from 40 percent to nearly 80 percent on critical gear and apparatus.”
Grass Fire: On August 12, 2025, South Metro Fire Rescue and Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a vegetation fire near 11032 Cottontail Lane in unincorporated Douglas County.
The rising costs for equipment is one of the biggest reasons for SMFR seeking additional funding. Some equipment cost increases include:
- The cost of a new fire engine has risen from approximately $725,000 in 2019 to $1.3 million today. Our fire engines, medic units, and other apparatus are replaced according to our Fleet Capital Replacement Schedule that looks at useful service life and the age of our fleet to determine the appropriate time for replacement.
- A 100-foot hose has increased from about $660 to nearly $930.
- Bunker gear, which includes a helmet, jacket, protective pants, boots, and gloves, is essential to protect our firefighters from carcinogens encountered during emergency responses.
“Each firefighter is required to have two full sets of bunker gear, and these must be replaced every five years for safety compliance,” Albee noted.
“The cost of one set has risen from $3,660 six years ago to over $5,120 today — a 40 percent increase.”
“Ensuring our teams have the proper protective equipment, reliable apparatus, and advanced medical tools is fundamental to maintaining safety for both our personnel and the public.”
House Fire: South Metro Fire Rescue and Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies recently responded to a single-family residential house fire on Eagle Valley Way in Highlands Ranch. Engine 20 arrived to find smoke coming from the roof and quickly pulled a hose line to extinguish the fire.
As part of their long-term planning, the SMFR board is identifying areas of growing populations within the district for possible new stations. “We anticipate adding two new stations over the next five to 10 years to help maintain appropriate response times and meet community needs,” Albee said.
Meanwhile, Albee says there are no expansion plans by the district. “Our immediate priority with any new revenue is to stabilize and sustain current services for the communities we serve today.
“While future expansion could always be considered, it is not in our current plans and would only be done with careful planning, ensuring we can maintain our high standards of service without compromising financial sustainability.”
Albee and the board see the property tax increase as an investment in the three counties (Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson) the district serves.
Currently, the fire district’s ISO rating, which is used in determining property insurance premiums, is at its best level and passage of the property tax increase will ensure the rating to stay where it is at now.
“Our current ISO rating is Class 1, the highest possible, which reflects the strength of our operations. “Additional funding will provide the best opportunity to maintain this rating through continued investment in staffing, training, equipment, and facilities.
“Maintaining a strong ISO rating helps keep insurance costs lower for residents and businesses and reinforces our commitment to excellence.”
If the ballot measure fails this November, then the board will have some difficult decisions to face.
“Those difficult decisions could include slower response times due to fewer firefighters on crews, potential delays in station openings, and closure of some existing stations.”
Further cost cutting measures could include a reduction in specialty services such as wildfire, water rescue, hazmat, and technical rescue
photos courtesy of SMFR
by Mark Smiley | Aug 22, 2025 | Travel
Experience Thousands Of Craft Beers, Ciders, Cocktails, And More This October 9-11 In Denver
by Mark Smiley
Tickets to the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) are officially on sale. Hosted by the Brewers Association, the trade organization representing small and independent craft brewers, GABF will return to the Colorado Convention Center on October 9-11, 2025.
Following last year’s buzzworthy debut of ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs) and beyond-beer beverages, GABF is distilling even more fun in 2025. For the first time in 43 years, GABF is offering an all-new Distilling Experience, welcoming full-strength spirits to the festival floor. This designated spirits-tasting area will showcase 20 distilleries, offering .25oz pours across three GABF sessions. Festgoers can look forward to sampling smooth whiskeys, refreshing vodka variations, bright botanical gins, and much more.
Beverage makers will be grouped by themed experience areas for the second year in a row, each immersive section offering a unique blend of themed décor, specialized pours, engaging activities, and vibrant entertainment guaranteed to brew up a good time. Themed areas include Prost!, inspired by traditional German Biergartens; Score!, a sports fa
n’s haven; Fright, a timely Halloween-themed experience; Blast Off, bringing out-of-this-world flavor from beyond beer beverages and more; a Meet the Brewer section; Chill, a backyard-style space hosting singer-songwriter live music, lawn games, and unique brews; and new this year, the Mile High Stage at GABF featuring live music and other entertainment.
While craft beer remains the heart of the festival — whether trying an Italian-Style Pilsener for the first time, searching for something bold and unexpected like a barrel-aged stout, or a tried and true Juicy or Hazy IPA — there’s a beverage for every palate at the Great American Beer Festival. From spirits, cider, and hard kombucha, to hard seltzers, hard tea, and zero-proof options, GABF is an annual showcase of beverage innovation in all its forms.
Tickets are available for anyone of legal drinking age (21+) at www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com.
by Jeff Shultz | Jul 24, 2025 | Travel
by Jeff Shultz
South Metro firefighters prepare to battle a Parker Road vegetation fire on July 7, 2025. Emergency calls such as this one to SMFR have grown, placing a heavier demand on SMFR as funding for the large south Denver area fire and rescue department is in dire straits.
The organization dedicated to providing fire and rescue services to a three-county area south of Denver is sounding the alarm that a funding crisis is imminent, threatening the emergency services offered by the group. South Metro Fire Rescue (South Metro) provides a full-service firefighting and medical emergency service to portions of Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties.
Recently the organization announced on its website that unless a new source of revenue is found by 2026 the department “will not be able to maintain the high level of fire and emergency services our residents expect and rely on.” According to South Metro, a Colorado House bill passed in 2024 signaled the beginning of South Metro’s funding woes.
House Bill 24B-1001 lowered property taxes throughout Colorado, crucially diminishing funding for fire protection districts such as South Metro. South Metro is predicting a $16 million shortfall next year and close to $270 million in revenue losses over the next 10 years.
Meanwhile, the demand for emergency resources in the South Metro service area are rising higher since 2019, the South Metro website states.
“Demand for our services has grown 20%, and it’s not slowing down,” the website alleges.
Some of the more notable past service calls include:
A revenue shortfall could mean severe reductions for fire and medical response times and a slash in staffing and capital investments such as vehicles, stations, and equipment. Other cuts could be in health prevention programs and wildfire preparedness and response times.
These cuts would affect the 571,000 residents South Metro serves, including 12 municipalities, Centennial Airport, Highlands Ranch, and the Pinery.
South Metro is eyeing three possible solutions to ward off predicted funding shortfalls.
- Cuts to Essential Services
Currently South Metro touts a world class fire and EMS service with a patient transport, 4-firefighter staffing for maximum response times, the ability to respond to all hazard emergencies, and a constant expansion of public health programs.
South Metro states the organization prioritizes public safety from the time a call comes into the dispatch center to the reply given by highly trained responders. If South Metro doesn’t find additional revenues the organization will be forced to cut important services.
“Response times for fires, medical emergencies, and accidents could be impacted,” their website says. Slower response times would be the tip of the iceberg if South Metro is forced to make budget cuts, South Metro alleges. Budget cuts would also mean a reduction in firefighting crews, compromising public safety, and patient care during emergencies.
Additionally, budget cuts would mean a reduction in wildfire, water rescue and hazardous materials responses. Funding shortfalls would also threaten airport firefighting units.
“In extreme budget scenarios, fire station closures and delays in adding new stations that would serve our growing community are possible,” South Metro alleges on their website.
- Increase in Property Taxes
South Metro is considering a ballot measure that would increase property taxes district wide by three mills. Voters, according to South Metro, haven’t been asked to approve a property tax increase in 20 years, except when some districts increased their mill levy to merge with South Metro.
South Metro says an average homeowner with a $750,000 home would have to pay $11.72 more a month if the ballot measure passes. A district wide property tax would generate approximately $50 million a year for South Metro.
- Passage of a Dedicated Sales Tax
A second possible ballot measure would be a proposed district wide half-cent sales tax to fund emergency services. Noting that for the first time state law allows fire districts to collect sales taxes to fund emergency services, a half-cent sales tax would provide approximately $50 million annually for South Metro.
SMFR Water Rescuers conduct a search of the lake at Chatfield State Park on July 7, 2025. SMFR were called to the park after a paddle-boarder had fallen off his paddleboard. The call came in just after 4 p.m. and after an extensive grid search, divers were able to recover the victim shortly after 7 p.m. Photo courtesy of SMFR
A dedicated sales tax for firefighting services is gaining popularity in other states as a funding mechanism for fire departments. In Garvin County, Oklahoma, voters in 2012 passed a county wide quarter-cent sales tax earmarked for firefighting services.
Twelve fire departments in the county receive an equal portion of the tax funds, after 4 percent of the money generated goes to the county 911 center. While Garvin County is much smaller than South Metro’s service area (26,656 population verses 571,000) the small Oklahoma county can understand South Metro’s dilemma, according to Garvin County Clerk Lori Fulks.
Prior to the passage of the sales tax all 12 fire departments were in dire straits due to funding shortfalls caused by declining city sales tax collections.
“They couldn’t purchase proper equipment and gear. A couple of fire departments were worried their trucks would break down on them on the way to a fire or, worse yet, while they were fighting a fire,” said Fulks. Since passage of the sales tax, Fulks said all 12 fire departments have purchased new fire trucks and essential gear.
According to Fulks, the quarter-cent sales tax generated over $1.2 million in 2024.
Fulks said the dedicated sales tax was the fairest solution to the funding shortfalls.
“Not only do the county residents pay the tax when they purchase goods and services in the county but also travelers when they stop to eat, get gas, or stay the night,” she added.
South Metro’s Board of Directors will decide soon whether or not to place a property tax increase or sales tax question on the November ballot.
Before then they are seeking the public’s input on the three proposals. Residents in South Metro’s service area can seek information by visiting the website Engagesouth metro.org.
Information on South Metro’s funding needs, a FAQ fact sheet, and information on public hearings being held in the district can be found on the website.
According to South Metro, representatives from the organization have presented or met with 1,820 individuals at 40-plus events or meetings since April 1.
