by Mark Smiley | Apr 21, 2022 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
Collaboration Fest: The Fillmore Auditorium was the venue for the 7th Collaboration Fest on April 2, 2022.
After a two-year hiatus, Collaboration Fest returned on April 2, 2022, at the Fillmore Auditorium. Ticket holders who purchased tickets to the 2020 fest that was cancelled due to the pandemic enjoyed over 150 beers. Guild members teamed up with fellow local and national brewers to create unique and interesting beers that were brewed specifically for this event.
Dubbed as one of the most unique and creative beer festivals in the world, Collaboration Fest is an annual beer festival hosted by the Colorado Brewers Guild. The Colorado Brewers Guild is a non-profit trade association representing Colorado craft breweries and brewpubs founded in 1995. CBG sponsors various beer events each year, such as the Colorado Pint Day, Colorado Brewers Rendezvous, Colorado Strong, and the Collaboration Fest. All of these are designed to increase awareness and appreciation of Colorado brewed beer.
“The sheer number of collaboration beers tapped in one single day is phenomenal,” said Shawnee Adelson, CBG executive director before the festival. “Beer lovers will get to sample everything from tried-and-true styles to some off-the-wall creations. There will be something for everyone at Collaboration Fest.”
Mockery Brewing and Baere Brewing Company collaborated for the seventh time spanning the entire life of the festival. Their first collaboration was Mocking Baered Episode I: Lost On Lacto Island. It started as a joke but then became a story they have told over the course of seven years collaborating together.
“This year, it is an Imperial Red [MockingBaered Episode 7: Some like it Hot!] with a lot of spicy and hot peppers, carrots, ginger, and smoked pineapple,” said Zach Rabun, owner of Mockery Brewing. “We are dipping back into some old recipes for this one. Chile beers are already a pretty polarizing category so we definitely want people to know that they’re going to have a chile beer,” said Ryan Skeels, owner of Baere Brewing Company. “This year we decided to incorporate some elements from collaborations of years past and throw a scorching amount of heat into an otherwise malty, sweet, and fruity beer.”
Mockery & Baere: Back row, left to right: Zach Rabun, owner of Mockery Brewing; Ryan Skeels, owner of Baere Brewing Company; and Jason Woody, Head Brewer of Mockery Brewing. Front row, left to right: Mandie Hardison, Mockery Brewing; and Matt Schenck, Head Brewer of Baere Brewing Company.
Collaboration Fest is among the beer fests that attendees look forward to the most. Also, brewers enjoy this one and were excited to see it return. “I think it would be a universal, industry response that there would be nothing but good things said about it [Collaboration Fest],” said Rabun. “We all do a bunch of different festivals in different formats all throughout the year but collab fest stands out because of the format and while we see the same handful of people at all festivals, this one is unique because everyone is pouring something that was created purposely for this festival. So, it’s not their normal lineup of beers you see at every other festival. You can see the different identities of each brewery and it’s cool to see what they can come up with.”
“Mockery is known for putting unique ingredients in their beers in a thoughtful way and now this is the one time a year that everyone decides they should do that so it is pretty fun,” said Skeels.” “Collab beers tend to be more experimental.”
Other stand outs at the festival were Comrade Brewing Company and Cheluna Brewing Company who collaborated on Szech Juan IPA, an American IPA with Szechuan chiles/peppercorns and Tamarind pulp for a combination of sweet/ spicy/hoppy to hit all the bases. “It’s great to have the festival back after a 2-year hiatus,” said David Li, owner of Comrade Brewing. “It showcases the community and camaraderie the craft brewing industry has. The szechuan peppercorn tamarind IPA we brewed with Cheluna Brewing finally happened after we were talking about it in early 2020.”
Comrade Brewing also teamed up with Glenwood Canyon Brewing Company to brew an American Style Double IPA. They experimented with Thiol enhanced brewing techniques for this collab. Jake Lancaster (Glenwood Canyon), Mark Lanham and David Lin (Comrade) have known each other for some time, and each got the ball rolling on this project.
All collaboration beers can be found at each brewery while supplies last. Comrade Brewing is located at 7667 E. Iliff Ave. in Denver, Mockery Brewing is located at 3501 Delgany Street in Denver, and Baere Brew-ing Company is at 320 Broadway in Denver. For a complete list of beers, visit collaborationbeerfest.com. Follow the Colorado Brewers Guild on social media @coloradobrewers guild.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 18, 2022 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
Spa: The spa features Hydrotherapy in an area that resembles a cenote. The one-hour treatment features a sauna, steam room, and jetted pools to relax in.
Paradise: Dreams Natura Resort & Spa is a 553-room resort and a short 10-mile drive from the Cancun International Airport.
Dreams Natura Resort & Spa is a new resort which had the unfortunate timing of scheduling to open just before the COVID-19 pandemic began. After being closed for months, and then shifting to limited capacity, the resort is open to tourists at full capacity.
Dreams Natura, part of the AMR Collection, which also owns Secrets and Breathless Resorts, is located in Puerto Morelos, a 20-minute ride from the Cancun Airport. The resort prides itself on great service, beautiful landscaping, views, and activities throughout the day and night keeping the entire family engaged. “This resort has some of the best staff I have ever encountered at a resort,” said one guest. “They really enhance the experience by going above and beyond and always being friendly and accommodating.”
The 553 rooms are spacious and come stocked with free minibars, TVs with satellite channels, whirlpool tubs, and furnished terraces. Expect lots of open-air spaces, and a wristband-free all-inclusive program with good food and several places to eat or grab a drink without reservations. “Staying At Dreams Natura was so fun!,” said 10-year-old Ellie Smiley (this author’s daughter). “My favorite part of Dreams Natura was probably the activities and food. The days I was there I really enjoyed. They have such nice workers and the resort itself is so nice, I would definitely recommend.”
Infinity Pool: The main pool is where most of the action happens during the day. The entertainment team orchestrates activities and staff is on hand to keep the drinks flowing.
While the resort offers a beautiful place to have a wedding, relaxation with the family at their infinity pool, time on the beach, three water slides, or the on-property roll glider, the crown jewel of this resort is the spa. “The spa area is so nice and I loved how they designed it to be like a cenote,” said another guest. “The hydrotherapy circuit was such a special treat and I would highly recommend adding this to your treatments.”
The hydrotherapy experience begins with the sauna, moves to the vapor steam room, and then to the pools, the first of which has jets to relax the body, and then the last two being the hot tub and a colder pool to soak in. The entire treatment lasts one hour and leaves the guest refreshed and ready for the rest of the day.
While visiting the Riviera Maya, consider a catamaran sailing trip to Isla Mujeres. Cancun Sailing offers four different packages to choose from, all of which include a friendly staff that guides you through the process which may include snorkeling, shopping, drinks on board, and lunch. Cancun Sailing is one of the only companies, now 13 years old, to include docking fees in the price paid up front. They also have packages that include transportation from Dreams Natura. Visit www.cancun sailing.com for more information.
Southwest, Frontier, and United Airlines offer nonstop service from Denver International Airport to Cancun International Airport which takes less than four hours. With an additional 20-minute ride from the airport, it makes the travel a breeze. Once you are greeted at Dreams Natura resort with a cold beverage and towel and walk through the immaculate grounds, you are on vacation and have entered your home away from home.
For more information, visit www.amrcollection.com/en/resorts-hotels/dreams/mexico/natura-resort-spa, follow them on twitter @DreamsResorts or on Facebook at @DreamsNaturaResort.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 4, 2022 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
Bird’s Eye View: Winter Brew Fest capped the attendance which made for an enjoyable experience for all attendees.
Denver Winter Brew Fest was held on January 22, 2022, at Mile High Station. Over 40 craft breweries from around the state and a few from outside of Colorado were on hand each day to pour their winter beers.
Made Here: Amanda Kruczynski from Made Here Beer was in attendance at the Winter Brew Fest on January 22, 2022.
The event featured live music from Journey Girls during the afternoon session and Stone Beat Invasion for the evening session. These bands added to the already festive atmosphere. Food trucks flanked the event including Basic Kneads pizza which has been with the fest each Winter and Summer.
The first Denver Brew Fest by RightOn Productions was created in a parking lot near Coors Field. Since then, the Summer and the Winter Brew fests have developed into an annual Denver tradition at Mile High Station and now the celebrations have been expanded to Vail.
WeldWerks Brewing Company from Greeley had one of the most interesting and flavorful beers as they often do. They poured a Candy Cane White Chocolate Cheesecake Berliner which is a Berlin-style sour ale brewed with white chocolate, candy canes, cheesecake, vanilla, milk sugar, graham cracker and with natural flavors added.
Impressive Display: Made Here had one of the best displays of any brewery at Winter Brew Fest.
A newcomer to the fest was Reverence Brewing Company which just opened last year at 17th and Franklin in City Park West. They poured two standout beers, a Cherry Wheat and a Hazy IPA. Long lines upstairs told you everything you needed to know about those beers.
Made Here Beer was also on hand for their second time. They had all three of their beers: lager, American Ale, and IPA available, along with plenty of giveaways for each attendee. Made Here is an American beer brewed in Colorado using 100% American ingredients.
The Summer and Winter Brew Fest held at Mile High Station has become an annual pilgrimage for many as it is a great way to sample many beers in a relaxed and festive atmosphere. “The Mile High Station is such a great venue and we have done both the winter and summer festivals for the past year,” said Amanda Kruczynski, Made Here Brand Lead. “It is really well organized and staffed and we feel like it is great exposure to the entire front range area for us to showcase our beer.”
Proceeds from the event benefited Big Bones Canine Rescue. For more information on all of the fests including the Summer Brew Fest coming July 23, 2022, visit www.brewfestevents.com.
by Mark Smiley | Jan 21, 2022 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
Wynkoop Brewing and Head Brewer Todd Bellmyer have brewed a new West Coast IPA beer, Much Needed Moisture IPA, to help those impacted by the Boulder wildfire. All proceeds from sales of this beer will be donated to the Boulder County Wildfire Fund. This beer launched on Friday, January 14, at Wynkoop Brewing Company, Ale House Denver, and both Cherry Cricket locations. Wynkoop’s parent company will make a 1:1 matching donation.
The golden hued brew features copious amounts of six different hop varieties and an ABV of 6.7%. The aroma is slightly tropical with a light bitterness and that classic West Coast IPA flavor.
Wynkoop Brewing opened in 1988 in Lower Downtown Denver and is Colorado’s first brewpub. For nearly 35 years, they have been brewing handcrafted beer in the basement brewery underneath Denver’s largest pool hall. Over the years the neighborhood has transformed and Colorado’s craft beer industry has exploded.
Fundraiser: All proceeds of the sale of Much Needed Moisture IPA benefits the Boulder County Wildfire Fund. The beer is available at Wynkoop Brewing Company, Ale House Denver, and both Cherry Cricket locations.
In addition to craft beer, Wynkoop offers an extensive menu complete with items such as nachos, mussels, a variety of salads, burgers, short ribs, pasta, and more. Executive Chef Chris Collins takes pride in the menu that he has put together. Collins is no stranger to Denver as he was the head chef at the Inn at Cherry Creek, a now closed popular spot in Cherry Creek North.
Wynkoop Brewing is located at 1634 18th Street in Denver. Visit wynkoop.com for more information or follow them on Instagram @wynkoopbrew.
by Mark Smiley | Dec 17, 2021 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
After record-breaking performances in Dallas, Texas, the Jurassic World Exhibition will open in Denver on March 4, 2022, at the National Western Center, located at the Washington Street exit of I-70. For the first time ever, Denver fans of the Jurassic World film and television franchises can experience the dinosaurs in their own community inside a 20,000 square foot immersive experience.
This experience is based on one of the biggest blockbusters in cinema history. Visitors will walk through the world-famous “Jurassic World” gates, encounter life-sized dinosaurs, and explore richly themed environments. Guests will have an up-close look at a Velociraptor, stand under a towering Brachiosaurus, and encounter the most fearsome of them all, the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Guests will be able to imagine what it would have been like to roam among these creatures and even interact with new baby dinosaurs, including “Bumpy” from the popular animated series Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous which airs on Netflix.
Following an initial launch in Melbourne, Australia, JURASSIC WORLD: THE EXHIBITION has become a global success with over three million visitors since 2016. The Exhibition has opened its gates to fans in Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia, Paris, Madrid, Seoul, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Shanghai.
Universal Parks & Resorts’ President of Global Business Development, Michael Silver said, “What excites us about JURA
Jurassic World: The Exhibition: An immersive 20,000-square-foot experience based on the movies that have grossed over $5 billion worldwide. The exhibit has had over three million visitors since 2016 in Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia, Paris, Madrid, Seoul, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Shanghai.
SSIC WORLD: THE EXHIBITION is the opportunity to give fans a real-world, immersive experience based on the amazing adventures of the films and delivered to a location near them. Visitors will come face-to-face with life-sized dinosaurs and walk through richly themed environments, all inspired by the beloved global franchise.”
Cityneon’s Executive Chairman & Group CEO, Ron Tan said, “JURASSIC WORLD: THE EXHIBITION features cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technology that is powered by Animax Designs, our animatronics powerhouse located in the U.S. This immersive exhibition is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience that our friends in Denver can look forward to. With sold-out shows in Dallas since its opening there in June 2021, we are confident that our fans in Denver will be wowed by this exhilarating experience.”
“After record breaking sales in Dallas, we are incredibly excited to bring this show to Denver to share with our millions of fans,” said Stephen Shaw, Founder and Co-President of Round Room Live. “The ability to walk amongst these HUGE creatures will amaze and entertain fans with this breathtaking and truly immersive experience.” Shaw went on to explain that the dinosaurs are animatronic but “shockingly realistic.”
“Denver was a chosen city because we love the city,” said Shaw. “There is always a great response to entertainment in Denver, whether it be concerts, touring shows, or family shows. We have always loved going to Denver.”
Tickets to JURASSIC WORLD: THE EXHIBITION start at $29.50 for adults (16 years +) and $19.50 for youth (3-15 years). Children under three years of age are free with accompanying parent or guardian. Flex Passes are available, as well as special pricing for senior citizens and military. Group sales packages are available for groups greater than 10.
For more information, visit JurassicWorldExhibition.com. The exhibition will be at the National Western Center’s new Stockyards Event Center until Labor Day, 2022, 5004 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216.
by Mark Smiley | Nov 19, 2021 | Travel
The Covid Grinch Could Steal Christmas As State Becomes Giant Covid-19 Mixing Bowl, Mountain Town Cases Soar; Flare-Ups In Denver Are Threatening Christmas Concerts
by Glen Richardson
Hospitalizations Skyrocket: Dr. Abbey Lara tends to patients in an ICU room at UCHealth as hospitalizations soar. She is pleading with people to do the “easy thing” and wear a mask and limit social gatherings.
As Cherry Creek Valley residents and families look to celebrate the holidays this month, Colorado has become a giant Covid-19 mixing bowl. Seeking a safe way to get festive, travelers and shoppers are shifting their sights away from mountain towns and downtown Denver to the Cherry Creek-Glendale neighborhoods. Nevertheless, fears are growing that the grouchy covid-19 creature is attempting to put an end to those holiday hopes.
At the beginning of November with Thanksgiving still weeks away, Colorado hospitals for the first time moved their transfer plan to the highest level during the pandemic. About one in every 51 Coloradans is now contagious with Covid-19 as the state registers the fifth-highest rate in the country with new infections compared to population.
With the pace of new coronavirus cases accelerating in Colorado, the state had asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to send in medical teams to help in areas where hospitals are especially full. During the last two weeks of October the rate of new infections in Colorado accelerated rapidly. Only Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming have higher case rates compared to population.
County Countdown
Colorado Cases Spike: Daily Covid-19 cases in Colorado started ramping up in May and were soaring by early Sept. The Colorado Public Health & Environment chart was created by Evan Wyloge.
Most of the state’s large counties have seen increasing cases, though the trend line is especially steep in Pueblo County, which concerns state officials. “It’s probably not a coincidence that this is roughly the same time that Colorado saw rapidly increasing cases last year, though it’s not clear if that reflects changes in the weather itself or in human behavior,” they suggest.
If the current trajectory continues, the state should stay slightly below the peak set in December 2020, when 1,847 people were hospitalized with confirmed Covid-19, officials estimate.
Even if transmission goes down by 5% it’s still possible the state could exceed the previous peak, they warn. As the holiday nears, some heath officials are urging Gov. Jared Polis to issue a statewide indoor mask mandate.
Denver Cases Rising
Even more worrisome, the number of hospitalized covid patients and deaths in Denver County is also on the rise. An average of 274 cases per day were reported in Denver County as November got underway, a 47% increase from the average two weeks earlier.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, one in eight residents of the City & County of Denver has been infected, a total of 93,464 reported cases.
Events Altering Tune: Fans at this year’s Westword Music Showcase in September were greeted by reminder to show their Covid-19 vaccination status. Photo: CPR News
An article in the New York Times at the beginning of November suggested, “Denver County is at a very high-risk level of unvaccinated people because there was an average of 37 daily cases per 100,000 people reported in the past two weeks.” The risk in Denver County will decline from the high-risk level if the daily case rate drops to less than about 11.4 cases per 100,000 and the test positivity stays low, the paper suggested.
Christmas Events Impact
Holiday Crowd Concerns: With tens of thousands expected to attend holiday events such as the Dec. 14 Colorado Symphony Holiday Brass concert, check for new rules and regulations in advance.
In addition to the normal winter shows and concerts, dozens of Christmas events that were canceled last year are scheduled to return this month. They include several Nutcracker performances, A Charley Brown Christmas at Dazzle, and Colorado Symphony’s Holiday Brass at Boettcher Hall.
Covid flare-ups at metro-area concerts and events have been rare this year, with fewer than a half-dozen indoor events being canceled according the state’s Department of Health.
Nonetheless, promoters and artists are scrambling to impose sterner guidelines to slow down the virus and keep holiday concerts and shows on track. Upshot: If you and your family are among the tens of thousands planning to attend a holiday performance this month, check for new rules and regulations in advance.
Mountain Town Spike
People from all 50 states arriving in Colorado’s mountain towns to play this winter — plus vaccinated foreign travelers since Nov. 8 — are contributing to the high-country spike. Mountain activities where people gather without masks at restaurants-bars plus carpooling can lead to transmission. Many communities are seeing high enough Covid-19 transmission that authorities are putting restrictions on indoor dining, lodging, and gatherings. A surge of hospitalizations in Pitkin County — where Aspen is the county seat — has already resulted in a mask mandate order.
In addition to the influx of visitors, elevating factors include the winter weather, and because many essential employees live together in dense housing. Moreover, many of the visitors are coming from high pandemic states. Health officials have also found that when there is an increase in the number of mobile devices pinging in mountain towns, a rise in coronavirus cases follows seven to 10 days later.
Additionally, the pandemic is driving a migration of Americans to the state’s high-country communities. San Miguel County, for example, has seen a 20% increase in full-time residents. Plus, many people that own second-homes in the mountains are now starting to relocate to their mountain homes permanently.
Downtown Decline
Mountain Crowds: Even before the ski season began, crowds were flocking to Colorado’s mountain towns. Photos show crowds at September’s Jazz Aspen and at Little Nell’s gondola base. The hospitalization surge in Aspen has resulted in a mask mandate order for all of Pitkin County.
While mountain towns are booming, downtown Denver isn’t faring nearly as well. Denver’s downtown is currently seeing about 150,000 people walking around downtown compared to between 250,000 to 300,000 prior to the pandemic. According to the Downtown Denver Partnership, it’s hard to draw an apples-to-apples comparison because the data doesn’t go back to the summer of 2019. Nevertheless, it’s clear downtown foot traffic remains way down.
Remote work is a major reason for the drop downtown. Many companies still offer flexible work-from-home policies. Others are beginning to delay employee office return plans due to the renewed pandemic surge.
But pared down corporate travel to downtown Denver is also a major factor. Activities at the Denver Convention Center have picked up somewhat, yet remain far below where it was prior to the pandemic. Rich Carollo, director of sales and marketing at the Convention Center, reported few events in November.
