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F E B R UA RY 2 022 | TH E LO C A L LOV E I S S U E

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Local Love

February 2022 PUBLISHER

Scott Barr | scott.barr@citylifestyle.com EDITOR IAL COOR DINATOR

Over the last two years, many of us have shifted more of our spending online. No judgment. It certainly is convenient to order something from our living room at 9 pm and have it arrive on our front porch the next day. If we could travel back in time and tell our great grandparents about it, they’d wonder if we were pulling their legs. Smart phones. Same day, no-contact delivery. The ability to live life in a virtual bubble. Look, technology is great, but are we losing something in the process? Are we forgetting what it’s like to walk into a shop and feel the fabric? To ask an employee for guidance in person rather than via an online chat box? To smile at another customer? What would our great grandparents think? Something tells me they might encourage us to step back and think about the importance of connection. That there’s something special about visiting a local business and chatting with other humans. Are we doing our best to support Colorado Springs’ vibrant community of shops, restaurants and other locally owned businesses? These are our neighbors and friends. Let’s show them some extra love in 2022. We’re all about local here at Colorado Springs Lifestyle Magazine. We care deeply about the businesses and the people of the Pikes Peak region. Read on for some heartwarming stories about our incredible community.

ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK, EDITOR

Stephanie Barr stephanie.barr@citylifestyle.com EDITOR

Ashley Hamershock ashley.hamershock@citylifestyle.com AD DESIGNER

Whitney Lockhart LAYOUT DESIGNER

Kelsey Proctor CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Ashley Hamershock, Rochelle Reeder, Sydney E. Nelson, Karen Mitchell, Centura Health CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Mia Luna Photography, Sydney Rezner Photography, Pikes Peak Alpine School, Centura Photography, Cacao Chemistry, Blackhat Distillery, IFly Photography, Gleb Sokolovsky, Michael R. Cunningham, Michelle Kennett, Her Honey Lens Photography, Lindsay Pierce Martin, James Niehues, Wrestle Like a Girl

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER Bruce Ianni DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

(Correction: In the January issue, the Brother Luck article listed incorrect names for the writer and photographer. The correct names are Rochelle Reeder and Brother Luck Photography, respectively.)

Learn how to start your own publication at: citylifestyle.com//franchise

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Colorado Springs Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Colorado Springs area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Colorado Springs Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered

L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

inside the issue The Local Love Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

14 Financial Planners that Treat Clients Like Family

Lifestyle Letter

Local Experiences

Financial Buzz

Must See

Local’s Choice

Culinary Creations

FO O D + B EV E R AG E

Outdoor Adventure

S PO RTS + R E C R E ATION

Inspired By

Hot Spot

Artist’s Palette

Self Care

Athlete Life

Local Firm Thrives on Doing Things Differently

24 No Ordinary Flower Shop

Let Your Imagination Blossom at Sweetwater Flower Market

28 Delicate Truffles + Charming Shop = Sweet Love

Cacao Chemistry Brings Beautiful Chocolate to Colorado Springs

46 The Man Behind the Maps

Ski Resort Map Maker James Niehues Starts New Project

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: “Created by Abbey” - Abbey Hirvela 10

FI NA NC E + LEGA L SE RV IC E S

FI T NES S S HO PPI NG

FI T NES S

FO O D + B EV ER AGE EDU CAT I O N

HEA LT H + WELLNES S HEA LT H + WELLNES S

EXPLORE A NEW LEVEL OF VALENTINES EXCITEMENT...

February is the Month of Love Celebrate Valentin e’s Day Ever y Nig h t in t h e Mo n t h o f Febr u a r y

W H E R E F O O D & C U LT U R E M E E T A N D T H E C O N V E R S AT I O N B E G I N S

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F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

local experiences Locals recommending the best places and things to do in the city.

Celebrate the ones you love this Valentine's Day by treating them to a night out at one of your favorite restaurants or experience something new and find a hidden gem around town. Whatever you are looking for, we have you covered.

Romantic Date Ideas SEVEN FALLS: Head over to Seven Falls, a stunning series of waterfalls situated in a 1,250-foot-wall box canyon. Follow with dinner at one of the Broadmoor's restaurants. 2850 S Cheyenne Canyon Rd Colorado Springs, CO SUNWATER SPA: Go for total relaxtion at SunWater Spa in Manitou Springs. Get a massage, soak in the spring-fed tubs and dry off in the sauna. 514 El Paso Blvd Manitou Springs, Co THE R ABBIT HOLE: From the street, it resembles a subway station. But don't be fooled. Descend the steps into the Rabbit Hole for a unique downtown dining experience. 101 N Tejon St Colorado Springs, CO BOUR BON BR OTHER S: Enjoy a relaxing dinner at Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern, followed by a concert or dueling pianos at the adjacent Boot Barn Hall. 13021 Bass Pro Dr Colorado Springs, CO THE MINING EXCHANGE, A WYNDHAM GR AND HOTEL & SPA: Book an overnight stay at the charming Mining Exchange hotel downtown. It's the perfect combination of historic architecture and modern conveniences. Spa. Restaurant. Bars. Ahhhh..... 8 S Nevada Ave Colorado Springs, CO

Sunwater Spa

Scan for more photos and the full list.

Want to recommend a local experience? Scan the QR code and message us on Instagram.

LOCA L E X P E R IE N C E S

F IN A N CIA L BU Z Z | FIN ANCE + LE GAL S E RVI CE S

Financial Planners that Treat Clients Like Family LOCAL FIRM THRIVES ON DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY ARTICLE BY ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK PHOTOGRAPHY BY SYDNEY REZNER PHOTOGRAPHY

Does your wealth advisor know your name? Listen to you? Initiate the difficult discussions? Ascent Financial Group believes these things are crucial to successful relationships. Clients typically meet with their advisors face-to-face at least four times a year. And if they have questions in between meetings, they can expect quick answers. CONTINUED >

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“We pride ourselves in getting to know our clients, staying in touch and being proactive,” said co-owner & founder Doug Barton, who started the company in 2005. “We treat everybody like family.”

FEELS LIKE HOME From the first step in the door, it’s clear that Ascent Financial is different. This is no high rise with floor-to-ceiling windows, minimalistic glass conference tables and marble floors. Instead, you’ll pull into a quiet, tree-lined parking lot, climb a few steps and be greeted by plush carpet, shelves of family photos and just three people—each of whom knows you by name. To the right rests a comfortable conference room furnished with solid wood to go over paperwork. To the left? A cozy sofa nook affectionately nicknamed the “living room,” featuring multiple marathon medals, awards and other memorabilia. Executive assistant Hilary Dobrich instantly felt at home a decade ago when she started at Ascent. “I knew right away we would have a lasting partnership. Ten years and still a very happy employee!”

MORE THAN A NUMBER How many times have you called a business and found yourself winding through a dizzying phone menu labyrinth only to be put on a lengthy hold or sent to voicemail? Not here. It’s the personal, professional service that sets Ascent apart. That’s why about 90 percent of their new business comes from word-of-mouth, Doug said. There’s no pressure. In fact, the owners of Ascent often encourage potential clients to take time to digest what they discussed and even get a second opinion, rather than signing paperwork immediately. “We always want people to go home and think about it,” said co-owner Josh Griffin. In other words, they aren’t seeking quick deals. Ascent is all about educating clients and building long-term relationships. As independent advisors, they are not tied to any particular family of funds or product, and as accredited investment fiduciaries, they recommend only what is in the best interest of their clients.

F IN A N CIA L BU Z Z | FIN ANCE + LE GAL S E RVI CE S

Early in Doug’s career, he broke away from a large firm, whose focus was pushing their proprietary products first. This gave him the opportunity to offer his clients products based on their needs. In 2005, he bought an office building and established his own business. “I promised myself that I would never be in a captive environment,” he said. “Our clients deserve access to the full array of financial products available in the marketplace.”

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING The initial step at Ascent is to look at your big picture— health insurance, life insurance, estate and legacy planning, risk management and asset protection, business succession plans and more. Doug and Josh make a point of discussing uncomfortable topics such as death, disability, and nursing homes. If those pieces of your financial picture aren’t in order, investments may not matter much, they said. Another important topic is long-term care insurance—a sector that has changed dramatically in recent years to offer a wider variety of products. While the traditional “use it or lose it” long term plans still exist, so do single-pay and hybrid life insurance options. Once you have discussed the various issues that could quickly deplete your investments, it’s finally time to assess how much risk you’re comfortable with and decide what investments align with that risk level. And if you want to set aside a little slice of “fun money” to manage yourself? Perfectly fine. “Stocks, bonds, funds, etc.—they’re just commodities at this point,” Josh said. “Anybody can buy investments online, but few people achieve the diversification and balance that we strive for with our plans.” When it comes to managing your “serious money?” Doug and Josh have made it their life’s work to help clients plan for tomorrow, next year and the decades ahead. Website: https://ascentfinancialgroup.com/

Ascent Financial

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/C OLORAD O S P R I N G S

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WE STa n d M A I N H O M E S .CO M

Indoor Skydiver To Help Introduce the Sport to

Colorado Springs Colorado's 15-Year-Old Sydney Kennett Among Best in the World 20

M UST SE E | FITN ESS

“There really is nothing like indoor skydiving,” beams Sydney. “It’s a one-of-a-kind experience and I can’t get enough.”

Colorado Springs has a new shooting star, but you won’t catch this star soaring through the night sky. Instead, you can usually catch her flying in wind tunnels. Meet Sydney Kennett, a Colorado native known as one of the best indoor skydivers in the world. At only 15 years old, it’s no doubt that Colorado’s altitude runs through her veins as she skyrockets through the sport. She has participated in competitions around the world, earning dozens of accolades. After winning multiple awards in 2017 & 2018 from the Colorado Sportswoman of the Year committee, she became the youngest female in Colorado history to be inducted into the Colorado Sportswoman Hall of Fame in 2019. And since Sydney is a flying force to be reckoned with, she also holds a Guinness World Record for the most split spins in a vertical wind tunnel in one minute. You might be wondering what a vertical wind tunnel is. Get ready, local friends, because Colorado Springs is about to get a firsthand experience with its very own.

Just outside the North Gate of the Air Force Academy, arguably the birthplace of “modern” flight, three retired Air Force Generals are opening a 14-foot indoor skydiving tunnel: iFLY Colorado Springs. With an athlete like Sydney blazing the trail, it’s no doubt that Colorado Springs is about the become an epicenter of the up-and-coming professional sport of indoor skydiving. iFLY will not only be a place where skydiving athletes can practice their captivating routines, but also where first-time fliers can have a chance to experience the rush of skydiving. “There really is nothing like indoor skydiving,” beams Sydney. “It’s a one-ofa-kind experience and I can’t get enough.” Although flying through a 14-foot wind tunnel may sound less intimidating than flying through the sky, there is no shortage of extensive skill that is required in the sport. “Body flight requires the skill, core strength, and drive of gymnastics, the grace of dance, and the quick reflexes of many action sports. It’s arguably the

most visually stunning sport in existence,” Sydney’s father, Andrew Kennett, explains. And if you do a little research on some of Sydney’s flight videos you will not only agree, but will likely be blown away. If you’re interested in meeting the shooting star herself, check out the brand-new facility when it opens this year. You can be sure to catch Sydney, an iFLY ambassador, doing flying demos and sharing her passion for this exciting sport. “We would love nothing more than to share this sport with the local community and we can’t wait for Colorado Springs to experience what it’s like to fly.” Sydney’s Website: http://tunnelgirl.co/ Instagram: @tunnelgirl24_sydney iFLY Website: https://www.iflyworld.com/ colorado-springs/ Facebook + Instagram: @iFLYColoradoSprings

ARTICLE BY SYDNEY E. NELSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY IFLY/MICHAEL R CUNNINGHAM/MICHELLE KENNETT

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/C OLORAD O S P R I N G S

MARGARETT HANSEN PHOTOGRAPHY

M A R G A R E T T H A N S E N P H O T O G R A P H Y. C O M

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No Ordinary Flower Shop Let Your Imagination Blossom at Sweetwater Flower Market ARTICLE BY ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIA LUNA PHOTOGRAPHY & HER HONEY LENS PHOTOGRAPHY Walk through the front door of Sweetwater Flower Market, dream you’re in a field of fragrant lavender and feel all stress melt away. Short on time? Pick up a grab & go bouquet and be on your way. Have a few minutes? Wander. Then, swing by the gorgeous Bouquet Bar and follow the instructions: 1. Choose your flowers. 2. Wrap with love. 3. Tie with a bow. 4. Take home and let love grow. If flowers aren’t your thing, check out the candles, soaps, sweet treats, hand creams and other items. Or take a class with friends. So much beauty and serenity here. Stop by and see for yourself – you can thank us later. Sweetwater Flower Market is a fast-growing force in Colorado Springs. The first shop opened in

Old Colorado City in March, followed recently by a second location near Interquest and Voyager in north Colorado Springs. They also have beautiful flower trucks that travel to events and make deliveries. We caught up with owner Kristyn Cline, who explains why you should visit.

FOR FOLKS WHO HAVEN’T BEEN THERE, WHAT MAKES SWEETWATER SPECIAL? It is an experience! We want every encounter to be one of sweetness – from the moment you walk through the door to the moment you leave. The staff, the products and the beautiful floral. We offer full floral and destination mercantile, so each visit you’ll CONTINUED >

LOCA L’S CH OICE | SHOPPI NG

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/C OLORAD O S P R I N G S

find something new. In addition, we have flower trucks that allow you to share in the texture, while you create your own bouquet from the truck. Our flower trucks grace flower markets, weddings, events, bridal showers and birthday parties. Such joy and fun in a different way.

IT’S ALMOST VALENTINE’S DAY. WHY FLOWERS? Beauty comes in many forms, but flowers are unique like every love story. Sharing with someone how special they are is done well with flowers and the joy of the present can only bring smiles.

WHAT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER GIFTS DO YOU OFFER FOR VALENTINE’S DAY AND YEAR ROUND? We offer many special gifts in our market store to celebrate the sweetness of Valentine’s Day, as well as Valentine’s wreath and bouquet classes. We also offer floral to fit all needs. We will have designer’s choice in three sizes or we will gladly create a palette all your own.

IF A RECIPIENT HAS A FAVORITE TYPE OF FLOWER, CAN YOU CUSTOMIZE AN ARRANGEMENT? We love to make visions come to life, so we ask what they are looking for and what their favorite flower is. This way, we can help them build a perfect arrangement to fit the special occasion.

WHAT DO YOU OFFER IN THE WAY OF WEDDINGS? We offer a way to celebrate your special day with your visions in mind. We want to know who you are and about your special day so we can bring that to life. We offer all floral setup and tear down. We offer rehearsal dinner arrangements, bridal shower bouquet classes, flower trucks and so much more.

CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK HISTORY OF SWEETWATER? HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE FLOWER BUSINESS? I went to Nashville in 2020 for some rest and relaxation and I found my rainbow – an

LOCA L’S CH OICE | SHOPPI NG

“We love to make visions come to life, so we ask what they are looking for and what their favorite flower is. This way, we can help them build a perfect arrangement to fit the special occasion.”

inspiration I just knew Colorado needed. I returned home and created my vision: an interactive bouquet bar, buy-by-the-stem flower trucks and a unique mercantile destination. I knew this peace and joy would be so well received in this community.

YOU OPENED A SECOND LOCATION IN NORTHERN COLORADO SPRINGS IN DECEMBER. WHAT MADE THAT THE RIGHT SPOT FOR EXPANSION? We had to expand this joy to more locations and north seemed the perfect fit. To allow beauty in a high-growth area, but to emphasize weddings and the sweet brides who buy their dresses at Something New Boutique, which we are located under. Website: https://www.sweetwaterflowermarket.com/ Facebook + Instagram: @sweetwaterflowermarket

DELICATE TRUFFLES + CHARMING SHOP = SWEET LOVE Cacao Chemistry Brings Beautiful Chocolate to Colorado Springs ARTICLE BY KAREN MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY CACAO CHEMISTRY

Two chocolate lovers — Travis Ashing and Sam Lang — met on a dating app almost ten years ago. Not long after meeting Travis, Sam returned to Colorado Springs from culinary school in Denver. While on the lookout for a chef position in what was a somewhat sleepier town back then, Travis and Sam started brainstorming. During Thanksgiving of 2014, they decided they wanted to open up a company. For Travis, it would be a side hustle to his full-time engineering and project management career and for Sam, it would be full-time. These two went with the route we call “building the plane in the air.” Two weeks later, they had products being sampled at a chocolate festival hosted by our very own Broadmoor. What was a seemingly gutsy entry for a start-up paid off. The next two years were spent in summer and winter farmer’s markets and chocolate festivals in a variety of locations. The two attended festivals often and knew that the type of chocolate and product that they were sampling had not yet touched base in Colorado Springs. This would be the realization that pushed them to become a delicious truffle-making company for us. Through mutual contacts, the Savory Spice shop connected these chocolate-making heroes with a brick and mortar space and it opened up on Valentine’s day of 2016. A cute space with a kitchen, a few tables, and a couple of truffles has grown into a shop of mouth-watering desserts and pastries, ice cream, sourced product from other dessert artisans, French almond macaroons, house-made truffles, and a rotating menu—mostly when they get bored, but also around different holidays.

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

Valentine’s Day this year will have French bonbons! “When we use the word bonbon in America, people assume we mean frozen balls of ice cream covered in chocolate. This is the Belgian version of a truffle. A beautifully sculpted chocolate shell with a filling,” Sam explains. Sam’s favorite treat to eat is the dark chocolate salted caramel bar… drool. Make sure you’re following along on social media for updates as to when they’re hosting chocolate pairings with local breweries, a potential second location opening, and special updates along the way. Website: https://www.cacaochemistry.com/ Facebook + Instagram: @cacaochemistry

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D E SIG N S T UD I O O PEN I N G E AR LY 2 02 2 IN N O R T H G AT E

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ARTICLE BY SYDNEY E. NELSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY PIKES PEAK ALPINE SCHOOL

ADVENTURE, ADVENTURE + MORE ADVENTURE PIKES PEAK ALPINE SCHOOL TAKES OUTDOORS SERIOUSLY

O UT D OOR A DV E N T U R E | S PORTS + RE CRE ATI ON

Trekking the north side of Pikes Peak, backcountry skiing Quandary Peak, or glacial climbing in the Cascades can be intimidating affairs to many. But to the guides at Pikes Peak Alpine School? It’s just another day on the job. “Every adventure I guide, I would go on even if I wasn’t guiding anyone!” says owner, Pete Lardy. “Our vision and mission here is to share our passion for adventure and to give people the opportunity to experience something truly spectacular.”

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE Pikes Peak Alpine School is a mountaineering-based adventure guide service and when the guides at PPAS say adventure, they really

mean it. Offering guided rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and avalanche education, PPAS employs professional guides for every outdoor adventurer’s dream. Established in 1989, PPAS has been a premier boutique guide service in Colorado with a mission to prioritize safety and adventure in the Colorado outdoor community. Every guide at PPAS is highly trained in their skillset and is certified through the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), making them the most qualified guides with the highest level of training you can get in their trade. PPAS takes outdoor adventures to another level, as their guides intentionally specialize and tailor adventures to specifically fit every client’s needs. What’s unique about the adventures at PPAS is that most of the climbs and outings they guide have 2:1 guest-to-guide ratios. This makes it easy for guides to be more hands-on and also gives clients an opportunity for bigger objectives and more tailored courses.

ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE

PIKES PE AK ALPINE SCHOOL

“If we have two clients who want to book an adventure together, but each has different levels of experience, our guides are capable of specifically tailoring the perfect adventure that caters to both of their needs in different ways,” Pete explains. The guides at PPAS have experience guiding adventures across the Front Range, including Pikes Peak, the Crestone Peaks, Rocky Mountain National Park, and even offer adventures outside local boundaries such as Red Rock Conservation Area (Nevada), and North Cascades National Park (Washington), just to name a couple. With a love for rock, snow and ice, the guides at PPAS offer adventures year-round. “First and foremost, we only guide adventures we ourselves are passionate about,” Pete says. “Our vision as a guide service is to use our passion, knowledge, and experience to give people a truly remarkable experience that they wouldn’t otherwise get to have.” So the next time you’re itching for an adventure, consider experiencing the phenomenal terrain of Colorado from a whole new perspective with Pikes Peak Alpine School. Website: https://pikespeakalpineschool.com/ Facebook + Instagram: @pikespeakalpineschool

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COLORADO SPRINGS LIFESTYLE

DON’T RETIRE,

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Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive February 7 th - 11th

Let’s do something sweet for our neighbors in need this Valentine’s Day! Participate in Care and Share Food Bank’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive. To view drop-off locations or to donate online, visit careandshare.org/spreadthelove

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/C OLORAD O S P R I N G S

WRESTLE LIKE A GIRL ARTICLE BY ROCHELLE REEDER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY WRESTLE LIKE A GIRL

Worldwide Campaign Gets Girls Excited about Wrestling

“Anything you can do, I can do better. I can do anything better than you,” has been a mantra of little girls thanks to the famous song by Ethel Merman. The first time the song resonated with me was watching a Gatorade commercial featuring soccer star Mia Hamm and basketball-great Michael Jordan going head-to-head in just about any sport they could. The competitive spirit of those two was palpable, and leveled the playing field. For many, competitive sports have been an accelerator to development, teaching more than rules of a game. Motor skills, routines, regular exercise, teamwork and self-esteem are only a few of the noted benefits participants have carried into adulthood. Studies show that a large percentage of women currently working in a C-Suite role played sports at one point in their lives. Additionally, other articles tie their success back to learning leadership skills early on. Sally Roberts is no exception to this statistic. She struggled in junior high, behaviorally, until she found wrestling as a sport. It was a natural fit. She ended up representing the United States at both the U.S. National Championships and the World Wrestling championships where she has an impressive string of medals to show for her commitment and effort. Roberts took a break from wrestling to join the Army where she volunteered for a deployment to Afghanistan. While there, she noticed that her reception was quite different than that of her male counterparts. She had a number of young girls approach her and she realized that in that area, women in leadership positions were rare.

I NSP IR E D BY | FITNESS

She started contemplating her long-term impact and decided to “bloom where she was planted.” Wrestling is where she was planted and the sport had offered her experiences and opportunities she might not have gotten otherwise. That is where she would begin. Wrestle Like A Girl (WLAG), a not-for-profit organization, started in 2016 to “advance girls and women using the sport of wrestling to be successful in life,” Sally remembers. “How hard could it be to start a business?” she laughs. “My own naïveté was the courage I needed.” She has surrounded herself with some smart people who are advocates of both the sport and her cause, and the growth has been exponential. What started as a chance to get girls excited about the sport of wrestling and teaching coaches to coach female wrestlers has morphed into a worldwide campaign. Because sport is neutral, WLAG is able to share concepts like democracy, freedom, gender equality and human rights using the sport as a catalyst. They have worked to increase high school girls’ wrestling as a sanctioned sport in multiple states. They are working with the NCAA to advance and develop the sport offering more opportunities at the collegiate level. They provide research to advance inclusion in the sport. “This is the year to get involved in women’s sports,” Sally says. If you are at all passionate about advancing women’s inclusion in the area of sports, WLAG has a way for you to get involved. Website: https://wrestlelikeagirl.org/ Facebook + Instagram: @wrestlelikeagirl

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H OT SP OT | FOOD + BEV E RAGE

Grain-to-Glass Spirits BLACKHAT TO BECOME ONE OF COLORADO’S LARGEST DISTILLERIES

ARTICLE BY ROCHELLE REEDER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLACKHAT DISTILLERY

Nothing to see here. Just a home distiller building a business in spite of the challenges 2020 presented for the restaurant industry. If that doesn’t catch your attention, not much will. Blackhat Distillery started in September 2019 and brought on Kim Immel as its head distiller. He’d been injured and was at home on leave from his railroad job when he picked up home distilling as a hobby. No background in chemistry; no experience in the food service industry. He simply appreciated quality ingredients and wanted to spend his time productively. After a few trial batches, he found he was quite good. He started passing his product to his friends as gifts and developed a bit of a reputation amongst his circle.

INTERESTING PROPOSITION One of those friends invited him look at a space just purchased to become a re-branded distillery. When Kim gave his wife, Jess, a run-down of the meeting, he feared he had been a bit too honest with his interviewers. The space was set up as a distillery, but he felt there was quite a bit

of work that could be done to improve the existing product. Apparently, his honesty and passion for quality was exactly what the owners were looking for. He received a call minutes later offering him the position. “I was in the army and then at the railroad. I had a path that didn’t necessarily include being a business owner, but here we are,” he shrugs. Within the first six months, they won two gold and two silver medals in the World Spirits Competition. Jess recalls that Kim’s first reaction was “Only silver? Why!?” Although they chuckle about it now, it is a testament to the standard to which they hold themselves and their product.

GRAIN-TO-GLASS They have been functioning with small batch production and high-quality ingredients with each run (or batch) only producing 100 bottles at a time. But, batches of what? Blackhat fills a niche market for making high-quality agave spirits (better known as tequila when produced in a different part of the world) and rum. This along with

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brandy, the occasional small batch single malt whiskey and seasonal spirits when they have the time. All are top shelf, following the “grain-toglass” model which uses premium ingredients sourced directly from farmers to impart the true flavor of the thing. It’s almost a “Willy Wonka effect”–the agave spirits taste like agave, the apple brandy tastes like apples and the molasses is prominent in the rum. Their spirits are developed to stand alone and are not meant to be back-sweetened or altered after distilling. What comes out of the pot, goes in the bottle. “I am not going to put something in a bottle that I don’t want to drink,” says Kim. “We know where our ingredients come from,” Jess says. This honors the ingredients and allows them to state confidently if a product is gluten-free or certified vegan (many of them are).

EXPANSION PLANS Get down to the tasting room and take advantage of their small batch offerings and uniquely curated cocktails now, as 2022 is set to be a big year for the Immel family and Blackhat Distillery. They have outgrown their 2,000 square feet and are set to move into a 13,000-square-foot space at Fillmore and Nevada soon. The new location will upgrade from a 175-gallon to a 1,000-gallon still. They are looking forward to growing their Barrel Program as well as starting to age more of their spirits to diversify their offerings. With the changes, they are set to become one of the largest producing distilleries in the state. Their current tasting room on the south side of Colorado Springs has become known for its elevated, spirit-forward cocktails. Bartenders highlight the integrity of the ingredients and offer patrons a top-shelf version of something they may have had a different relationship with until now. Patrons often mention, for instance, that they don’t drink tequila. Kim just smiles, thinking, “You don’t… yet.” Website: https://www.blackhatdistillery.com/ Facebook: @theblackhatdistillery Instagram: @blackhatdistillery

H OT SP OT | FOOD + BEV E RAGE

The Man Behind the Maps SKI RESORT MAP MAKER JAMES NIEHUES STARTS NEW PROJECT

ARTICLE BY ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDSAY PIERCE MARTIN If you’ve ever relied on one of those handy, folding ski maps to help you down a tricky run, you can thank James Niehues. He is the man behind the maps. Niehues painted his first ski map in 1988 and since then, has created more than 350 different views for resorts, tourist bureaus, golf communities and outdoor sports related entities. His maps circle the globe.

BOOK OF SKI MAPS He recently released a 292-page hardcover coffee table book – a stunning compilation of maps spanning his career. The ski tome appropriately titled “The Man Behind the Maps” has amassed hundreds of five star ratings. His use of color has changed a bit through the years, but the detail is similar.

A RT IST ’S PA LE T T E | ED UCATI ON

“I go back to some of my early ones (maps) and look at them and I am surprised at how good they were back in the early days,” he said. “I liked them then and I like them now.” He’s painted Breckenridge, Jackson Hole, Whistler and practically everything in between. Are any iconic resorts missing from his portfolio? As a matter of fact, yes. “One in particular. I’ve done every Vail resort that there is, I think, except for their namesake,” he said. He painted Vail early in his career, but as computer imagery came onto the scene, Vail opted to go with a computer image rather than a handpainted map. “I don’t know why they still use an inferior product,” Niehues said.

No matter. Niehues retired in October from painting ski resort maps. But before we discuss his latest venture, let’s take a peek at the process behind his art.

CREATING AERIAL ART His first step is to visit a place for about a week to do flyovers and take photos. Sometimes, the weather is clear; other times, it’s not. “I can remember flying over southern Canadian area – Mont-Sainte-Anne. It was so cold that the windows would frost over. The heaters weren’t doing any good. I’d have to take out my credit card and scrape the frost off the window and shoot a photograph, then re-scrape it again for the next photograph,” he said. “And we were bouncing all over at the same time.”

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Niehues takes most of the photos himself and has no idea how many photos he has on his computer. In drawing ski resorts, he started out with a blank sheet of paper and sketched out the lift areas first, then went through his photographs to fill in each section. That took about a week. After receiving approval on the sketch from the resort, he transferred the sketch to the painting surface, then took two to four weeks to paint the whole map in watercolor. He has sold prints for years, but just recently started selling a limited number of originals. In October, he sold a handful to help raise money for the Colorado Snowsports Museum in Vail. At the moment, he’s selling paintings to benefit the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah.

GREAT AMERICAN LANDSCAPE PROJECT While ski resorts have been his bread and butter over the years, Niehues has taken a staggering number of photos of other beautiful landscapes, as well. “I fly so many different areas for the ski resorts. Whenever I do fly over national parks or really interesting terrain, I’ll have the pilot drop down and get some shots,” he said. “I’ve always been wanting to get to them and have never been able to do it.” At 76 years old, he realized that he simply can’t paint all of them. So he decided to stop at the sketch for his Great Landscape Project. So far, he’s sketched 26 of the 50 on his list. He’s targeting many of the western national parks and other dynamic scenery in the United States like Niagara Falls, Devil’s Tower National Monument, the Cirque of the Towers and the Wind River Mountain Range.

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“I’m doing them all in pencil,” Niehues said. “The black and white I really like. I like my sketches. It’s where the guts of the composition are created – where you put things together. It’s kind of exciting to me to show these in black and white. It lets the viewer use their own imagination and put their own colors in.”

WHY CHANGE DIRECTION? Niehues has been painting scenery since he was a teenager. “I look back and there wasn’t a whole lot of talent there at that time, but you just keep working at it and practicing and you get better and better,” he said.

Over the years, ski resorts have kept him so busy that he’s had precious little time to tackle other scenery. He said he’s just finally circling back to what he initially wanted to do 60 years ago. One last question… Niehues has had a long, successful career. Why not retire for real and sit on a beach somewhere? Why launch a huge new project at 76 years old? “It’s in my blood,” he said, laughing. “That’s just what I do. It’s a passion. I can’t turn it off.” Website: https://jamesniehues.com/ Facebook: @jamesniehuesorsc Instagram: @jamesniehues

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HONORING OUR FALLEN BY SUPPORTING THE DREAMS OF THEIR CHILDREN

OVER 16,000 CHILDREN HAVE LOST THEIR MILITARY OR FIRST RESPONDER PARENT SINCE 9-11. Children of the Fallen are at high risk for:

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It’s not just health care. It’s caring about health, every step of the way. We’re part of a network of hospitals, urgent cares, physician practices and more. More importantly, we’re people. There are 21,000 of us, united by a vision for the future of health care. Together, we bring you the right care online, at home and in your neighborhood. And the best part is this movement is just beginning. Get ideas, get tools, get inspired at centura.org

Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2021. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-719-776-5370 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-719-776-5370 (TTY: 711).

February Heart Health Awareness: KNOW YOUR CALCIUM SCORE, LOVE YOUR HEART

CALCIUM SCORE HEART SCAN HELPS IDENTIFY CALCIFIED PLAQUE LEVELS IN YOUR HEART ARTERIES.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CENTURA HEALTH

S ELF CA R E | HEALTH + WE LLNE S S

According to the American Heart Association, men over 40 and women over 45 years of age may have one or more risk factors for heart disease, even in good health. Family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes are all factors leading to a good reason to get a calcium score heart scan. Cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death worldwide leading to more fatalities each year from heart attacks and strokes than any other cause. Cardiac and vascular diseases can strike anyone; men and women of all ages, races, and economic classes. A calcium score heart scan helps identify calcified plaque levels in your heart arteries so that, if your score is elevated, you can make appropriate lifestyle and medication changes. These changes may reduce your chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke, possibly averting a life-threatening event. A calcium score heart scan detects calcified plaque in the heart (coronary) arteries by measuring the density of the calcium particles in the plaque along the coronary artery walls. A high level

of plaque can potentially block the coronary arteries which carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart. Knowing your score can help your doctor determine the most appropriate treatment for slowing the progression of coronary artery plaque, also known as Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). The calcium score heart scan can easily and painlessly provide a clear view of a person’s cardiac risk because the measurement of calcified plaque allows physicians to identify possible coronary artery disease before any signs or symptoms show up. The high speed, low dose CT scanner looks inside a person’s heart on the walls of the arteries to check for buildup of calcium. Results of the test are provided to you and your physician to discuss future actions and care plans. Centura Health is currently offering calcium score heart screening—there is no preparation required, and no referral is needed. To learn more or to schedule a calcium score heart scan at a location nearest you, visit https://www.centura.org/.

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Dive Into The Wellness World’s Hottest (Actually, Coldest) Addition

The Cold Plunge

Are you ready to take the plunge? It’s a question you may not have asked yourself before but will now. So what is “The Cold Plunge?” In short, it’s a brisk, three-minute immersion into a cold tub that triggers the body into a state of regulation, greatly improving levels of energy, mental and physical strength and blood circulation. The profound effects of The Plunge can impact your overall health, from reducing chronic pain and inflammation to boosting metabolism and focus and creating better sleep and mental clarity. Co-founded by two entrepreneurs who bonded over their love for health and business, Ryan Duey and Mike Garrett found a friendship and created a vision to rejuvenate people. Two to three minutes a day of plunging into 39-55 degrees of cold water stimulates the mind, body and soul and sets your day into optimistic motion. The goal with the cold water is to lower your core body temperature, and it takes time to do that. “Water cools your body at 25 times what cold air does. Cold water is the quickest activation to do it.”

AT H LE T E LIF E | HEALTH + W E LLNE S S

Cold plunging can be done daily or multiple times a day. It’s all about getting people to explore what works for them. They may offer up recommendations, but ultimately it’s you building a relationship with your cold plunge. Many like the morning plunge, others enjoy nighttime. For some, it cools the body down resulting in better sleep. The Cold Plunge offers four different models, all the same size, all cold at 39-55 degrees, and one that can turn into a hot tub at 103 degrees. The heat can be great for clients in really cold environments. There is also an app to control the temperature via bluetooth. You can find The Cold Plunge at thecoldplunge.com and @the.coldplunge on Instagram.

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