Cherry Creek, CO August 2023

5050 S. Lafayette Lane CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE

Pura Vida!

I have to brag for a minute. I write this from a beautiful white sandy beach on the North Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, in the province of Guanacaste.

Throughout my stay here this past week, in between sunburns and piña coladas, the phrase "pura vida" has been said and heard, give or take, about 100 times. Translated directly to "simple life" or "pure life", in Costa Rica, it means much more than that. It is a way of life. Costa Ricans use this term to say hello, goodbye, everything's great, and everything's cool, or even the things that are not cool, but, you know, happened. The culture here has encouraged me to celebrate everything life brings, and to just be happy we're on this planet and have made it this far! I know that I will be heading back home refreshed and with a new perspective; yes, life can be hard, but aren't we lucky to be here in the first place?

For the rest of this summer, and hopefully beyond, I am challenging myself to continue to find the joy in the little things. The key to my happiness can't just be what I get on vacation, but rather simple and small things every day that help remind me of how lucky I really am! I challenge us all to love what we love with abandon and make it something easy that we can add into our everyday life. When we pause and take a moment to look around, we can relish in the beauty of the lives we have created for ourselves.

August 2023

PUBLISHER

Andy Manz | amanz@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Kate Manz | kmanz@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Chantel Ellerington | chantel.ellerington@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATORS

Kelsey Huffer | kelsey.huffer@citylifestyle.com

Kailey Beuerlein | kailey.beuerlein@citylifestyle.com

COPY EDITOR

Emily O'Brien | emilytellsstories@gmail.com

SALES DIRECTOR Denise Stoot | denise.stoot@citylifestyle.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Kelsey Huffer | kelsey.huffer@citylifestyle.com

INTERN

Avery Young | avery.young@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tony Firestine, Linden Butrym, Emily O'Brien, Lisa Van Horne

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jimena Peck, Alex Medvick, Kalli Wilkins at Photosynthesis Creative Studio, @Texas.Explorer

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

CONTROLLER Gary Johnson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman

LAYOUT DESIGNER Eva Tucker

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A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Enjoy the Ultimate Dairy Block Foodie Experience with Dairy Block Dines

Embark on a culinary journey this September with Dairy Block Dines, a sophisticated outdoor dinner party for 150 people in the Alley at Dairy Block on Thursday, Sept. 14. Designed to celebrate Dairy Block’s vibrant cocktail & food scene, this four-course dinner will feature a thoughtfully prepared menu by top Dairy Block Chefs, including Chef Michael Diaz de Leon of BRUTØ and Chef Cesar Tamariz of Kachina Cantina. Tickets are $75-$125 per person. DairyBock.com/Events/

ART & SCIENCE

Advanced eye care is complex and requires knowledge, skill, and experience.

COLORADO EYE CONSULTANTS is committed to delivering compassionate and quality care in a safe and nurturing environment. Using the latest technology and innovative practices, our doctors dedicate themselves to excellent outcomes, every time. For more than forty years, the Colorado Eye Consultants team has been caring for patients and changing lives.

To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, please contact us at (303) 730-0404.

1501 West Mineral Avenue | Suite 100 | Littleton, CO 80120 ColoradoEyeConsultants.com

Union Station Celebrates the Denver Nuggets

Denver Union Station welcomed tens of thousands of enthusiastic basketball fans on Thursday, June 15th for the Denver Nuggets 2023 NBA Championship Parade with great drink and food specials at the Terminal Bar, Pigtrain Coffee Co. and more. Visit Denver’s historic train station this summer to enjoy the Denver Union Station Farmers Market every Saturday, monthly dog-friendly Yappy Hours and more. DenverUnionStation.com

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FARMER'S MARKET SEASON

Rounding Up Some of Boulder, Denver and the Mountains’ Most Exciting Summer Market Events

Celebrating locally grown products and the creativity of local makers is a staple of the Colorado spirit year-round. This is especially true during the summer months when the Front Range, Rocky Mountains and many suburbs of the state’s metro areas positively teem with vibrant farmers market events.

It’s no surprise that perusing the booths of local farmers, start-ups and artists has been a favorite summer pastime of many Coloradans for decades given the proud local culinary and artisan traditions of so many of the state’s locales. But these markets aren’t just about gastronomic delights, as many of these events and their institutions serve important philanthropic purposes when it comes to advocating for environmental and agricultural sustainability, supporting community members in need and much more.

With farmers market season in full swing, we put together a quick round-up of a few of these events for you to sample when you’re craving a day of local excitement and community connections.

CONTINUED >

BOULDER COUNTY FARMERS MARKETS

To say that the Boulder County Farmers Markets organization has grown since its inception would be an understatement. What started as a small gathering of local farmers sharing their wares in 1987 has evolved into a much-loved nonprofit institution that is integral to Boulder’s summertime culture. While its scope and popularity have blossomed, its goal of supporting the health and success of the local food system has remained.

Boulder County Farmers Markets runs recurring seasonal market events as well as a yearround online marketplace. The summertime Boulder Farmers Market on Saturdays runs from April to November from 8 AM to 2 PM. In addition to a cornucopia of culinary delights, visitors enjoy live music, activities for children and artisan markets on the second Saturday of each month. These events are complemented by the Boulder Farmers Market on Wednesdays, which runs from May to October from 4 PM to dusk.

Meanwhile, the Longmont Farmers Market operates from April to November from 8 AM to 1 PM and likewise features monthly artisan markets (on the fourth Saturday of the month) and an impressive host of local producers and makers.

Boulder County Farmers Market events are also great places to score your stash of Palisade peaches, with the most abundance in August and September.

CHERRY CREEK FRESH MARKET

The list of goods available at the Cherry Creek Fresh Market is enough to make any food lover swoon. From locally grown fruits and vegetables to local honey, artisanal baked goods, fresh smoothies, exquisite cheeses and much more, it’s an event that boasts enormous opportunities for fresh food and handcrafted treasure discovery.

The Cherry Creek Fresh Market is part of Colorado Fresh Markets, an incubator program that has supported hundreds of local food producers, entrepreneurs, artisan makers and food-related causes through its seasonal fresh food events since 1997.

The Cherry Creek Fresh Market encompasses a number of dog-friendly events, including the Saturday Fresh Market and Makers Marketplace from May 6 to November 4 from 9 AM to 2 PM and the Wednesday Summer Market from June 14 to August 16 from 9 AM to 1 PM. For those searching for coveted Palisade peaches, the fruit is listed as one of the market’s “4 Favs” of summer along with homegrown tomatoes, Olathe sweet corn and Rocky Ford melons.

The Denver Metro Area plays host to numerous additional farmers markets throughout the summer as well, including the City Park Farmers Market, the Union Station Farmers Market and many more.

FRESH FOOTHILLS FINDS

Venturing into Denver’s foothills, locavores can find multiple farmer's markets with distinct community vibes. The Golden Farmers Market, established in 2002, is one such much-loved local event. With a mantra of “Community Sprouting Growth,” these events feature myriad local businesses and vendors and are run by the Golden Chamber of Commerce in an effort to promote connections, growth, innovation and food equity. These events occur on Saturdays from 8 AM to 1 PM from June 3 to October 7.

Further into the foothills is the Evergreen Farmers’ Market, which recently moved to its new home at the historic El Rancho restaurant. This Tuesday market runs from May 30 to September 26 from 10 AM to 2 PM.

MOUNTAIN TOWN MARKETS

Whether it’s for a day trip or a weekend getaway, jaunts to explore Colorado’s mountain towns can be enhanced with a stroll through many of these locales’ unique farmer's markets.

The Aspen Saturday Market is a much-loved local tradition that was established in 1998. From mid-June to early October on Saturday mornings from 8:30 AM to 2 PM, visitors can enjoy a bevy of Colorado-grown and produced artisan goods in a stunning ski town setting.

Meanwhile, the Steamboat Springs Farmers Market is celebrating its thirteenth year this summer with its vibrant Saturday markets from June 10 to September 23. From 9 AM to 2 PM, visitors can peruse the booths of vendors offering a host of fresh, local consumable goods and enjoy a kaleidoscope of arts and crafts.

LINEN DREAMS

THIS DENVER ENTREPRENEUR SEEKS TO IMPROVE OUR SLEEP, ONE LUXURIOUS THREAD AT A TIME

Starting her own business was always in the back of Katerina Rothman’s mind, but she couldn’t decide what to pursue. “I’ve worked in the corporate world, in diamonds, real estate, and oil and gas,” she says. “However, since college, I had a dream that I wanted to work for myself. I just wasn’t inspired enough by something to figure it out.” Inspiration struck in a slightly unusual way after Katerina met her husband Sam, an Englewood, Colorado native, and discovered he was a hot sleeper—constantly struggling to stay cool and comfortable throughout the night. She then thought of her mom, a creative seamstress who often used linen to craft colorful hats and gloves for Katerina as a child growing up in Russia, so that she could easily spot her from far away. “She also made very pretty coats,” Katerina recalls. “I was the most sophisticatedly dressed kid.” In researching linen, Katerina learned it’s made from fibers in a flax plant and is one of the most natural, breathable fabrics in the world. (Quite the versatile and sustainable plant, flax is also coveted for a variety of culinary and medicinal uses in seed and oil form.) Linen is inherently durable and moisture-wicking, making it an ideal textile for bedding. “It’s going to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the wintertime,” Katerina says. “It’s a magical fabric.”

Using her own savings, Katerina started Beflax Linen in December 2017, two years after the idea first came to her. Her Denver-based e-commerce platform launched with cozy natural linen bathrobes as a test for customer interest. “The bathrobe covers most of your body and gives you that breathability and temperature regulation,” she explains. Enthusiastic reviews followed, prompting the company to expand into sheets. Katerina partners with a family-owned factory in Portugal that sources its linens from France and Belgium, where the climates are perfect for growing flax.

Available in gorgeous neutrals like cream, bone and charcoal and lively hues of mustard, terra and denim, Beflax products now include pillowcases, shams, comforters, throws and blankets, all made with 100 percent linen. For hot sleepers like Sam, those with sensitive skin, menopausal women

and even babies, these non-toxic, hypoallergenic pieces are extremely helpful for getting a great night’s sleep.

Sustainability is also important to Katerina, who says customers receive Beflax bedding in recyclable bags that match the color of what they ordered. Some reuse the bags for laundry when traveling, to dry herbs or to hold bread.

“It's a crime to open a business in the 21st century that isn’t sustainable,” Katerina shares. “There has never been any piece of plastic in our packaging. I feel like we can all do a little better to lead healthier, happier lives and not be wasteful.”

Beflax Linen can take custom orders, like a pair of linen gloves a client recently requested. In a full circle moment, Katerina’s mom moved to Colorado to help with these bespoke projects. Beflax’s staff is small—just 3 people—and Katerina outsources services like digital marketing so she can focus on growing her offering. A baby collection is in the works for next year. “You know, it would be so much easier to have a corporate job than to run my own business,” she says with a laugh, “but I do not regret it one single bit.” BeflaxLinen.com

G ING FOR IT O

Artist

about Jumping in Feet First to Change—and Life Itself

Laura Go d s n Art o

Born and raised in Texas, Laura Goodson didn’t start out as an artist. It was quite the opposite. She didn’t even start painting until a handful of years ago—and it was to grab the attention of a woman she was pursuing who was a frequent art collector and gallery-goer.

“I knew nothing about art…still don’t know all that much, but I just do what feels real to me,” Laura says.

Much to her surprise, not even a week after finishing her first few pieces, she landed a pop-up show right out of the gate, after a friend showed a photo of Laura’s work on her cell phone to a shop owner. The offer came so quickly that it felt incredibly intimidating to her; she initially declined, feeling like she didn’t deserve a show yet. But luckily through encouragement, she nervously went through with it.

“I go head first and full on…and in many cases, it has served me well, and in other cases, like shallow pools, it’s been a bit painful,” she says.

The night before her show, she produced 12 pieces.

“I had no idea how long oils took to dry so I took wet pieces to my show,” Laura laughs.

That show, she sold a few of her first paintings.

“In everything I do, I tend to just go for it,” Laura says. “I produce in a quick way because it’s a single color and typically single brush strokes and then I’m done.”

She said she never wrestles with wondering if a piece is done or not. She always just knows. Her art has graced the walls of The Pilsen Yards in Chicago, Modern Nomad in Denver, The Clayton Club in Cherry Creek and a permanent exhibition is on display at the Hacienda Zotoluca in Apan, Hidalgo, Mexico. A position at an environmental engineering company and easier access to the mountains brought her to Denver. While her initial romantic pursuit was the spark to her art career, and she did end up dating the woman, many changing winds led them in different but mutually art driven and supportive directions.

c wboy motel

“I hold a great appreciation for what others can bring out in parts of you that we alone sometimes don’t even know exists and that’s how my art got started,” Laura says. Someone else shed light on something inside of me. Now I spend time shining that light myself but I am always grateful for my journey and the way it all started including the people who started it.

She started painting cowboys and says they haven’t changed much. She tends to paint 25-50 pieces a month for her art drops and requested commissions..

“I honestly do not think much, I just let whatever is real and authentic to me come through onto the canvas…and it’s been cowboys for the most part,” Laura says.

Her paintings fall into a cohesive black-and-white color scheme.

“I can’t even begin to think about color. It honestly overwhelms me…I went into an art store and asked for black paint. And it has been that since,” she says. Well, up until recently where she went completely wild with a hot pink collection, launching on July 15th.

She comments that this notion overflows to her wardrobe, which leans heavily on the same all-black shirt, black jeans and same boots because her mind is so consumed by other things. She prefers to stay simple in these spaces.

“I have seen myself liberated in ways and able to expand into abstract work that feels like I’m mirroring my mind, thoughts and feelings,” she says.

“My abstracts are like one of my Man in Hat pieces

exploded...you see all the different elements plus other things less literal.”

Laura’s sense of freedom and letting her intuition drive her is what’s led to two other successful rental endeavors: The Cabin and The Cowboy Motel.

The Cabin, tucked away in Uvalde, Texas, serves as an artist’s retreat. Available for Airbnb rental listed as Hat Hill Hideaway, the 2-bedroom, 2-bath, “interactive cowboy-themed space” offers guests the chance to unwind and reconnect to nature. It’s also shoppable for art, limited edition jackets and curated vintage items.

The Cowboy Motel is located about 20 minutes from The Cabin. The endeavor started when her mom sent her a screenshot of the motel’s real estate listing from social media and Laura immediately put in an offer. Less than a month later, she was shocked to find herself as the owner of a motel she’d purchased sight unseen and knew nothing about.

Even though she says she didn’t have a clue what she was doing, it came together. On opening night, The Cowboy hosted its first five guests.

“I still don’t {know what I’m doing}, but I’ve spent a LOT of time figuring it out. And most days I get help from YouTube, the cowboys/ranchers at the cafe across the street, and so many other amazing people on my path that I absolutely can not thank enough.” Laura says. She adds that while she’s still not where she wants to be with the motel, she is far from where she started.

Keep an eye out for upcoming shows on her Instagram account, @LauraGoodsonArt. LauraGoodsonArt.com

“I have seen myself liberated in ways and able to expand into abstract work that feels like I’m mirroring my mind, thoughts and feelings.”

10 BARS AND EATERIES TO ENJOY ALFRESCO

BY TONY FIRESTINE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX MEDVICK, KALLI WILKINS AT PHOTOSYNTHESIS CREATIVE STUDIO & JIMENA PECK

Pa tio Rou nd up

With the amount of sunshine that Denver gets, it’s no surprise that there are so many options for alfresco dining. For a city rife with people-watching and an ever-expanding culinary scene, we’ve put together a list of the best patios and outdoor eating spaces for your easy reference. So...call some friends and don’t forget your Ray-Bans and sunscreen.

Ace Eat Serve (Uptown)

If Ping-Pong is your jam, Ace is the place. You can rent tables by the hour, or just relax and watch the paddle battle while noshing on their Asian-inspired menu. Whole Peking duck is available for pre-order if you want to make a party of it, or do it Dim-Sum style by choosing some small plates like Korean-fried wings, Sichuan shrimp wontons, and brussels sprouts with shishito peppers.

Forget Me Not (Cherry Creek)

This luxurious cocktail bar in Cherry Creek is perfect for those sweltering summer nights. Cool off with champagne, caviar, and oysters. Don’t miss the several creative libations including large format cocktails that quench the thirst of four or more, like the “Prospector’s Payoff” featuring bourbon, honey, and pineapple.

Opposite page top: Elevated Rooftop Bar

Photography credit: Jimena Peck

Opposite page bottom: Ace Eat Serve, Photography

Credit: Kalli Wilkins at Photosynthesis Creative Studio

Ratio Beerworks (RiNo)

A creative craft brewery with a cult following whose owners come from a punk rock background, Ratio’s location on Larimer in RiNo (there’s another in Overland) boasts a relaxed urban patio where you can chill over a pint or two. Be sure to try the King of Carrot Flowers, their elderflower carrot saison.

Mercantile Dining and Provision (Union Station)

This restaurant and marketplace by James Beard award-winning chef Alex Seidel is the spot for tourist watching outside the Union Station entrance right along Wynkoop. Smack dab in between Ball Arena and Coors Field, enjoy open-air dining before walking to your game of choice. Start with a market & provision board (a selection of meats and cheeses and house accompaniments) and move on to one of the seasonally changing house-made pastas, like casarecce with duck confit and chanterelles.

Tamayo (LoDo)

Chef Richard Sandoval’s modern Mexican at Tamayo boasts not only a spacious patio but a killer everyday happy hour and a bottomless brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Not just bottomless cocktails but bottomless small brunch plates with bright flavors, combining Latin ingredients with modern culinary techniques.

Avanti Food & Beverage (LoHi)

With 7 mini restaurants housed in shipping containers in Denver’s LoHi neighborhood, even the picky eaters can find something that strikes their fancy at this culinarily-diverse food hall. From Pho to Arepas, there’s something for everyone. Avanti also has 2 bars cranking out craft beers, varied wines, and classic cocktails, one of which is located on their rooftop terrace with a stunning view of the Denver skyline.

Happy Camper (LoHi)

This casual eatery that started in the Chicago area specializes in a bevy of specialty pizza options as well as plenty of small plates and salads. The kicker is the feeling of dining like you’ve backed up your teardrop camper to a spot at the local KOA with picnic tables, artificial turf, and string lights. The only thing missing is the campfire.

Dos Santos (City Park)

This Yucatan-inspired spot (with other locations in Colorado Springs and Castle Rock) is all about the tacos and margs. Grab yourself a margarita flight and come on Taco Tuesday for some special deals on top of a tortilla or Wu-Tang Wednesday for some old-school hip-hop all day long.

Linger (LoHi)

This former mortuary (yes, you read that correctly) has one of the coolest rooftop bars in Denver, if not the entire country. The 1975 GMC RV, which somehow made it up on the roof, doubles as a bar and food truck. Both the food and drink menus, as well as the surroundings, lean toward the eclectic. Think a mélange of bao buns, sweet potato waffle fries, and chili relleno tamale alongside their Sangria Rosa.

Elevated Rooftop Bar (Cherry Creek)

At the top of the Halcyon Hotel in Cherry Creek, sits a posh and elegant spot for rooftop drinks and eats with unparalleled views of the Rocky Mountains. Get yourself a private cabana and sip on one of their many craft cocktails or some bubbles and snack on shrimp cocktail and deviled eggs.

U n r i v a l e d P e r f e c t i o n

in hilltop

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CASA BONITA IS BACK

COUNTLESS IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE ICONIC RESTAURANT'S REOPENING

Back in 2020, Casa Bonita’s model wasn’t conducive to how most restaurants had to pivot to takeout or socially distanced dining when the pandemic hit. Some restaurants relied solely on their takeout business and some others got creative and expanded patios or built outdoor dining to house diners safely. Considering you had to line up cafeteria-style to order and that the food came a far second to the ambiance (cliff divers included), Casa Bonita had no choice but to close their doors for good. That was before Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the duo behind South Park,  everyone’s favorite show about a fictional Colorado town and its quirky inhabitants, decided to purchase the iconic establishment purely from their nostalgic love of the Casa Bonita experience. There are also a lot of Colorado natives out there with Casa Bonita memories and the same sense of nostalgia.

What some thought was an ironic joke on the part of Parker and Stone, has become the most anticipated restaurant reopening in Colorado history.  While Casa Bonita isn’t quite open to everyone

yet, many superfans have had the chance to check out the new digs and, of course, the new and greatly improved menu. In June, a link was sent to a lucky number of subscribers of Casa Bonita’s email list giving them the option to pay for a timed ticket during a handful of dates during that month’s last couple of weekends. For a restaurant that seats close to seven hundred guests, a ticketing system allows them to spread out the traffic as they serve potentially thousands of guests a day. More dates are being added as the restaurant readies for a full reopening.

With an original budget of ten million dollars, it’s been reported that Parker and Stone have now spent upward of forty million restoring Casa Bonita, which opened in 1974 and was recognized as an official landmark by the Lakewood Historical Society in 2015. Parker and Stone joke that they want to keep “everything the same, but now sanitary” and that the total cost “approaches infinity.”

As for the food, to say it’s a vast improvement is an understatement.

James Beard nominated chef Dana Rodriguez (Super Mega Bien, Work & Class, Cantina Loca) is at the helm and is

bringing her take on fresh Mexican cuisine to the iconic establishment. There are now eight dishes to choose from with no orange-tinged nacho cheese sauce from a can in sight: enchiladas with red or green chile (or Christmas-style with both); carnitas topped with green chile and served with tortillas on the side; adobo chicken in chipotle sauce; picadillo (ground beef, green chile, and potato stew); calabacitas for the vegetarians (a mélange of roasted vegetables and queso fresco); camarones in adobo sauce; chicken mole with pumpkin and sesame seeds; or a taco salad in a crispy tortilla shell. All but the taco salad come with a fresh side salad and savory rice and beans. Of course, the famous unlimited sopaipillas drizzled with honey are still included with your meal (as well as several a la carte desserts to choose from) and you still raise the flag at your table to signal your server when you’re ready.

Whether you’re brand new to Casa Bonita or if you grew up with it being part of your childhood, the bright pink building is ready with a fresh coat of paint and an immaculate interior, as well as a brand new menu, to impart some new and improved memories at “The Greatest Restaurant in the World.”

“...the bright pink building is ready with a fresh coat of paint and an immaculate interior...”

“As for the food, to say it’s a vast improvement is an understatement. James Beard nominated chef Dana Rodriguez (Super Mega Bien, Work & Class, Cantina Loca) is at the helm and is bringing her take on fresh Mexican cuisine to the iconic establishment.”

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