Experience the grit and glory of the 2026 Winter Games at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. We are open seven days a week during the Olympic (Feb 6–22) and Paralympic Games (March 6–15), bringing the spirit of the Games to life with exclusive fan programming, weekend athlete meet & greets, and interactive tours.
daily at the museum
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Artifact Demonstrations
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Victory on Ice Guided Tour All day Live Games Coverage
Museum Olympic Program Schedule
2/6 2026 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
2/7 Downtown Winterfest, hosted by Sports Corp
2/14 Bernard Sandoval Live Winter Olympics Painting
2/22 2026 Winter Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
Museum Paralympic Program Schedule
3/6 2026 Winter Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony
3/7 Paralympic Day + CSFD Touch-a-Truck
3/14 Bernard Sandoval Live Winter Paralympics Painting
3/15 2026 Winter Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony
Hoop dreams.
STAY A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME
Experience all there is to love at Garden of the Gods Resort & Club, inspiring locals for the last 75 years.
Photography: Sydney Brewer
JULIE KAY DESIGN STUDIO
Galentine’s Day at Ascend Spa & Wellness
February 13th, 8 am–5 pm | Five 45-minute workshops $22 per class (limited to 8 guests per session)
Love is most meaningful when it is intentional. This February, Ascend Spa & Wellness invites guests to gather, reflect and restore during Galentine’s Day, a thoughtfully curated day of wellness and workshops designed to honor care, curiosity and connection.
Workshops Include:
- Sunrise yoga and intention setting
- Inner dialogue guided journaling and meditation
- Mini facial and self-care masterclass
- Create-your-own aromatherapy rollerball
- Sound Therapy
In addition to the workshops, Ascend Spa & Wellness will offer curated treatments for loved ones, including couples experiences and weekend-long offerings centered on care and connection.
Drop off peanut butter and jelly donations at our distribution centers in Colorado Springs and Pueblo from Monday, February 2nd – Friday, February 13th.
We are always in need of peanut butter because it’s a great source of protein for kids, seniors, and families in need.
Add jelly and they’re the perfect pair.
Monday, February 2nd – Friday, February 13th.
To view drop-off locations or to donate online, visit careandshare.org/spreadthelove
DIG IN. LET’S MAKE SOME HISTORY.
UNFORGETTABLE AFFAIRS
For those yearning to visit Colorado and leave with a bit of gold dust on their boots, the Mining Exchange is just the place. Our completely reimagined 128-room hotel is a tribute to the wild souls who carved hope and prosperity out of the mountains. Be part of a story that’s still unfolding.
Enter the grand lobby where floor-to-ceiling windows and high ceilings make the most of Colorado Springs’ 350+ days of sunshine per year. Our flexible ballrooms and outdoor space set the stage for grand weddings and swanky cocktail receptions tailor-made for you. So, go ahead and plan your destination wedding, rehearsal dinner, and bridal brunch. With on-site catering, bridal suite, groom’s den and a dedicated events team, you’ll be hard-pressed to find more impressive wedding venues in Colorado Springs.
Local Love
Local love isn’t loud. It doesn’t clamor for attention or trend on a screen. It lives in the quiet choices we make every day—where we shop, who we support, how we show up for one another.
In this issue, we’re celebrating the places and people that give the Pikes Peak region its pulse. The tearoom where the server knows your order. The boutique owner who remembers your name months later. The artist who captures the essence of the Rockies. These are the things that stitch a city together.
Loving local is about more than geography. It’s recognizing that when we invest in our community, the return isn’t just economic—it’s emotional. Local love builds trust, resilience and loyalty, turning ordinary streets into home.
This issue highlights the makers, the dreamers, and the doers who pour their hearts into Colorado Springs. Their stories remind us that passion is contagious and that creativity can come from anywhere. Each profile, recommendation and photograph is an invitation to slow down for a closer look at what's right outside your door.
Love food and beverages? Read about the region’s only AAA Five-Diamond rated restaurant’s stunning facelift. And check out our round-up of fabulous local tearooms and tea shops.
Into night skies? Learn about a nearby luxury resort built for stargazing.
Enjoy art? Get the details about one local artist whose work is quite literally made from the land and another who painstakingly restores curated vintage and heirloom jewelry to retain its patina.
Finally… Read about a series of seamless boutiques bringing European whimsy to Colorado Springs and a flower market that goes far beyond traditional bouquets.
As you turn these pages, we hope you’ll feel inspired to deepen your relationship with where you live. Try something new. Support something small. Celebrate something familiar. Because when we choose local, we’re not just loving a place— we’re loving the people who make it matter.
Each meticulously crafted treat undergoes a four-day process, resulting in the creation of heavenly 109 -layer cronuts - a delightful marriage of the beloved donut and flaky croissant.
flow from
living and
With expansive decks overlooking the neighborhood, this home offers a rare combination of privacy and comfort in one Colorado Springs most sought after settings.
House of GOCA
Ent Center for the Arts celebrates avant-garde fashion and wearable art, where designers, artists and performers transform the runway into a living gallery. This year’s House of GOCA theme, STARDUST, draws inspiration from the cosmic work of world-renowned artist Nina Elder, whose practice explores the material remnants of time, space and human impact. STARDUST celebrates the elemental and the ephemeral, reminding us we are all made of the same stuff. 6-10 pm, Feb. 20. gocadigital.org
Wild Rose Bakeshop Opens Downtown
Downtown Colorado Springs has a delicious new addition: The Wild Rose Bakeshop. Signature offerings include pecan sticky buns, red velvet and carrot cake slices, muffins and scones, cheesecakes and more. Wild Rose, at 119 E. Boulder, is owned by mother-daughter duo Lisa Vaughn and Brooke McKenzie, who also operate Toodles Tea Room across the street. “We want people to come for the treats and return for the way they were treated,” Vaughn says. wildrosebakeshop.com
2026 US Olympic & Paralympic Museum Games Experience
As attention turns to Milano Cortina, the US Olympic & Paralympic Museum will serve as a hub for live viewing and more:
• Opening Ceremony watch party - Feb. 6
• Downtown Winterfest - Feb. 7Citywide celebration in partnership with the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation
• Winter Games-focused tours, demonstrations and athlete meet-and-greets
• Local sports artist Bernard Sandoval creates live, Winter Games-inspired artwork on Feb. 14 and March 14.
• Paralympic Day - March 7
Visit usopm.org/ 2026-museum-games-experience
Photography by U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Photography by The Wild Rose Bakeshop
Photography by Stellar Propeller Studio
Love lives in the little moments at home.
A Treasured Piece of Colorado Springs History
THE PENROSE ROOM: INCREDIBLE FOOD + A LIVING MUSEUM
ARTICLE BY ROCHELLE REEDER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE BROADMOOR RESORT
Spencer Penrose was an avowed bachelor prior to meeting Julie Villiers Lewis McMillan. Julie was born into Detroit high society as daughter of the mayor, and later married the son of a U.S. Senator. She was heavily involved in civic life even after their family moved from the big city to Colorado Springs so her husband could be treated for tuberculosis. Sadly, her husband passed away. After mourning, she met and later married Spencer, one of Colorado Springs’ most eligible bachelors.
Not only did Spencer and Julie combine their fortunes, they combined their visions as well, leaving behind a significant philanthropic legacy in Colorado Springs. These endeavors fundamentally shaped the culture, healthcare and landscape of Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas. Penrose St. Francis Hospital, The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, as well as the El Pomar Foundation are all thanks to the Penroses’ efforts.
FOUR PILLARS
While traveling, Spencer and Julie Penrose focused on four core pillars: luxurious hospitality, fine arts, diverse global cuisine, and active recreation—all of which they systematically imported to Colorado Springs to create The Broadmoor. They were avid collectors of fine wines and spirits, maintaining a high standard of libations, even during the “dry” culture of their era. Their travels were marked by active pursuits and a fascination with how people moved.
The Cog Railway, the Pikes Peak Highway, and subsequently the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, as well as Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and The Broadmoor are some their efforts to create a sense of world-class tourism in their city. In addition to car racing, golf, polo and figure skating all have been part of the sports scene hosted by the Penroses at the Broadmoor.
THE PENROSE ROOM
As stewards of a historical landmark as well as curators of Colorado Springs cultural heritage, any renovation that occurs at The Broadmoor is carefully considered. The Penrose Room was the latest on the list. Located on the top floor of the south building, it boasts sweeping views of Cheyenne Mountain to the west and the city of Colorado Springs to the east.
The timing was right. Over the past decade, fine dining has undergone a cultural shift. Guests are no longer seeking four-hour meals defined by hushed tones and rigid formality. Instead, they crave connection, comfort and recognizable dishes executed at the highest level. The new Penrose Room answers that call, without sacrificing sophistication.
“We wanted to honor the history and tradition of the resort while bringing the space into the modern era,” says David Patterson, vice president of food and beverage at The Broadmoor. “Spencer and Julie Penrose were an easy vehicle to do that. They loved to entertain. They loved a good party. That spirit is exactly what we were after.”
INCREDIBLE FOOD + A LIVING MUSEUM
Drawing inspiration from Julie and Spencer’s history as well as their extensive travels, the Penrose Room is not simply a AAA Five-Diamond-rated restaurant, it is a living museum. Curio cases invite guests to linger and explore, displaying artifacts curated by The Broadmoor’s historian, including personal items on loan from El Pomar Foundation.
Created in partnership with New York-based Tihany Design, the space unfolds across multiple dining rooms: the Gold Room, Jade Room, and Copper Room, each layered with meaning.
The Copper Room architecture nods to the Penroses’ pioneering migration to Colorado Springs and Spencer’s mining endeavors that ultimately funded his fortune. The room represents the refined masculinity of Spencer Penrose, combining elements of a vintage train car and a western salon. Surrounded with copper tones, tooled-leather and enveloped in warm wood and ornate ceiling tiles symbolizing the warmth and sophistication that Julie brought to his life, this room is set up for conversation.
The Copper Room leads into the main dining space, or the Gold Room. This room also speaks to Spencer’s gold-mining success with the Cash on Delivery (C.O.D.) Mine. This gilded room accented with sculptural chandeliers offers a fine dining experience to guests.
The Jade Room is next – named for Julie’s love of the pale green gem. It is the private dining room and offers a more intimate setting draped in jade tones. The plush carpeting is reminiscent of the cloisonné vases that Julie brought back from adventures to Asia.
Lastly, guests can take a stroll down a hallway inspired by the mining tunnels of the C.O.D. to discover a bookcase at the end of the hallway. In honor of Spencer’s famed secret doorways, the books lead to a private enclave, speakeasy-style bar dedicated to The Broadmoor Polo Association established in the early 1920s.
The entire space is sprinkled with select works from Denver’s American Museum of Western Art - Anschutz Collection, hand chosen and placed by Anschutz himself. The keen eye can also spot hints of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo peppered throughout the space.
SPECIAL; NOT STUFFY
As a treasured piece of Colorado Springs history, the team at the Broadmoor strove to create an air of accessibility, inviting all of Colorado Springs to enjoy the Penrose Room for more than just a special occasion. It is the perfect setting to grab drinks on a Tuesday evening or a night out with friends.
“We wanted a space that feels special, but not stuffy,” Patterson explains. “You don’t need an occasion to come here—you are the occasion.”
Rather than building the concept around a single cuisine, the team took an atypical approach: designing the restaurant from
the guest experience outward. The result is an eclectic menu rooted in nostalgia and worldliness, much like the Penroses themselves. Each dish is carefully curated, down to the porcelain on which it sits. Created in partnership with Florence’s Ginori 1735, the custom Antico Doccia china was designed exclusively for the Penrose Room in reflection of Julie Penrose’s love of fine china and the restaurant’s legacy of refined performance, marrying heritage craftsmanship with the theater of fine dining. Tableside theatrics include carved Beef Wellington, flamed Baked Alaska, and rolling cocktail carts–a nod to old-world glamour, while sushi, sashimi, Pacific Rim flavors,
and globally inspired dishes reflect the couple’s extensive travels.
The menu reinforces that sense of place and purpose. Ingredients are sourced as locally as possible, including Wagyu from the resort’s own Eagles Nest Ranch in northern Colorado. Bread is baked on property. Chocolate comes from an exclusive partnership with Valrhona, featuring a proprietary Broadmoor Blend. Even the custom Hawaiian roll brioche has a backstory rooted in the Penroses’ travels.
Equally important is the people.
“You can have the most beautiful room in the world,” Patterson says, “but without the right team, it doesn’t matter. Our staff truly cares. They’re committed to taking care of you.”
The response has been resounding. Legacy guests and locals, many with generational ties to the original room, say the same thing: It feels new, yet timeless, as though it’s always been this way.
The Penrose Room remains a staple, an institution, and once again, the heart of celebratory dining at The Broadmoor. Come as you are, dress up if you like, stay for sushi or a burger on a Tuesday night. Sit back, relax, and let the experience unfold.
As a token of appreciation to our Colorado neighbors, throughout January and February*, The Broadmoor’s array of restaurants will have three-course Colorado Appreciation Prix Fixe Dinners. The Penrose Room is $79 per person, Italian-centric Del Lago’s is $59 per person, gastropub Golden Bee’s is $49 per person, while contemporary American Summit and steakhouse Taverne are $69 per person. For more information and to see menus, visit www.Broadmoor.com/Dining . Reservations are highly recommended. COLORADO
Prix fixe menus are available January 1 - February 28, 2026, excluding February 12-15, 2026. Pricing not inclusive of tax and tip.
FINDING CONNECTION IN THE GROUND BENEATH OUR FEET: AUDREY GRAY
INSPIRATION IS EVERYWHERE
ARTICLE BY CHRISTA HAYS PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUDREY GRAY
“WHEN LIFE IS HARD, I HOPE PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER THE EARTH IS BEAUTIFUL.”
For artist Audrey Gray, painting doesn’t begin in a studio—it usually starts on the side of the road.
Whenever Gray travels, she always packs a small trowel and a few bags, pulling over along road cuts and hillsides across her path to gather dirt, sand and even coal. These raw materials later become her inspiration and her paint—the reds, pinks, earth tones, greens, and deep blacks—used to create textured landscapes inspired by the places she’s explored. Her work is quite literally made from the land it represents.
MATERIALS + INSPIRATION FROM NATURE
Gray’s journey as an artist began in Georgetown, Texas, where she studied art before settling in Austin for the next decade. While living there, she visited Georgia O’Keeffe sites that sparked a major shift in how she approached her artwork. Drawn to O’Keeffe’s deep connection to the natural world, Gray decided she no longer wanted to rely on synthetic pigments. Instead, she began experimenting with making her own paint from natural materials gathered directly from the environment. This proved difficult, but the desire to connect back to the Earth proved stronger and she kept digging.
That curiosity followed her to Colorado, where she moved with her family to the Woodland Park area and then to Colorado Springs. Now, surrounded by the dramatic landscapes and ever-changing skies of the Pikes Peak region, inspiration is everywhere. Gray continues to snap photos on her road trips all over—cloud formations, mountain horizons, or even ocean views like those she captured on her last trip to Galveston, Texas— and later revisits these moments in her paintings.
Coal collected from the Four Corners area becomes a deep, velvety black, while soils from across the Southwest create a calm, earthy palette. Mixed with sand, mica, and occasional natural elements like sticks, her finished pieces have a soft, organic glow that encourages viewers to slow down and take a closer look.
At its core, the art Gray creates is about connection—to the land, to creativity, and to the simple act of paying attention. She hopes her art encourages people to get outside, engage with their surroundings, and feel more grounded. In a world increasingly shaped by technology and AI, her work is a reminder of the value of curiosity, hands-on creation, and
making something tangible. When life feels overwhelming, Gray believes the earth remains a steady, grounding presence.
“I feel like technology like AI is causing us to lose our connection with the real Earth,” she says.
HONEST, EVOLVING + ROOTED IN RESILIENCE
That idea became especially meaningful for Gray as she received a cancer diagnosis this past year. The experience brought uncertainty and fear, and returning to her art became a way to process those emotions. Her recent work reflects that journey—honest, evolving, and rooted in resilience.
“Creating art has been my therapy to work through my feelings about being sick,” she says.
Looking ahead, Gray is preparing for a new show titled Motherland , which will explore how people interact with and rely on the land. She also plans to continue experimenting with new materials and techniques, pushing her practice in unexpected directions.
“When life is hard, I hope people will remember the Earth is beautiful,” she says.
Through her work, Gray invites viewers to pause, reconnect, and remember that beauty—and meaning—can often be found at home, right beneath our feet.
Must-Try Tearooms and Tea Shops in the Pikes Peak Region
Tea has always been more than a beverage. From its earliest beginnings, it has invited people to slow down, gather, and reflect.
Legend places tea’s discovery nearly 5,000 years ago in ancient China, when leaves from a nearby plant are said to have drifted into a pot of boiling water, releasing an aroma that would shape centuries of culture and ceremony.
As tea journeyed across borders, it absorbed the values of the cultures that welcomed it. In China and Japan, it evolved into a quiet, intentional practice shaped by balance and respect. Across the Middle East and North Africa, tea became a gesture of welcome, offered freely to guests as a sign of generosity. Britain later transformed tea into a daily ceremony of its own—afternoon tea—where porcelain cups, shared
conversation, and a brief escape from the day took center stage.
Today, tea continues to evolve, while honoring its roots. A renewed interest in loose-leaf blends and mindful sipping has brought tea culture into modern life— including here in Colorado Springs.
Glen Eyrie Castle hosts a well-known tea service in the region, featuring Afternoon Tea at the Castle—a luxurious event with dainty bites and clotted cream. Try the handcrafted specialty teas accompanied by seasonal soup, salad, sandwiches, canapes and pastries. It is a wonderful way to step back in time in the historic Castle Music Room.
And... that is far from the only spot in town to enjoy a delightful cup of tea. Read on for a Q&A with some of the best tea shops and tearooms in the Pikes Peak region. Happy sipping!
THE QUEEN’S TEAPOTHECARY
WHAT SIGNATURE TEA OR HOUSE BLEND BEST REPRESENTS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP, AND WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?
Our signature tea blend of the King’s Chocolate Chai offers a handcrafted, noteworthy blend that’s rich, warming, and indulgent. ... It combines rich black tea with creamy chocolate notes and warming chai spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves. This creates both spice and sweetness, making it a comforting, slightly decadent cup that suits the relaxing and peaceful atmosphere of our unique bouTEAque.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE GUEST EXPERIENCE?
Guests walk into a warm and bright space that blends history and artisanal charm, starting with a soothing aroma of tea and herbs that makes you want to linger, relax with a book, or enjoy slow conversation. This 1891-built historical location features floor-to-ceiling windows with high, golden ceilings, original hardwood floors and rustic, raw brick that offers stylish and comfortable sitting areas where you can drink tea in-shop or take it to-go. The shop itself has a beautifully arranged, vintage-themed interior with unique teas, intentional accessories and apothecary-style botanicals, showcasing selections from various talented, local female vendors.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR TRADITION OR DETAIL THAT SETS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP APART?
At The Queen’s TEApothecary, we specialize in premium, smallbatch teas and herbal infusions, all handcrafted with organic and ethically sourced ingredients. ... The Queen’s TEApothecary offers tea blending workshops and stands out through its handcrafted, organic blends; ethical and health-focused products; engaging, personalized service; apothecary-style offerings; and welcoming historic boutique atmosphere—creating an immersive experience that’s both educational and communal.
www.thequeensteapothecary.com | 2504 W. Colorado Ave | 719-313-9904
MIRAMONT CASTLE: QUEEN’S PARLOUR TEA ROOM
WHAT SIGNATURE TEA OR HOUSE BLEND BEST REPRESENTS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP AND WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?
There are 28 different flavors of tea ranging from high to no caffeine, herbal teas, black teas, you name it we got it. I think that’s one of the things that sets us apart. Plus, everything is made in-house, including the breads.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE GUEST EXPERIENCE?
Our tea room is set in an 1895 castle. The experience should be a “once in a lifetime” and we try very hard to achieve that goal. The tea room also has signature adult beverages to enhance the experience. Our guests have related to us that our portions of food are much more substantial than most other tea rooms.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR TRADITION OR DETAIL THAT SETS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP APART?
We simply try to provide the very best food and experience possible in an amazing setting. www.miramontcastle.org/tea-room
THE BRITISH PANTRY & TEA ROOM
WHAT SIGNATURE TEA OR HOUSE BLEND BEST REPRESENTS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP, AND WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?
Our signature tea is PG Tips, the classic black tea enjoyed in homes across the UK and the very same brew our owner grew up drinking in Brighton. It’s bold, comforting, and unmistakably British—exactly the flavor we want guests to experience from their very first sip.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE GUEST EXPERIENCE?
Guests are welcomed into a cozy, quintessentially British space where afternoon tea is served with unlimited pots of PG Tips and a three-tiered stand filled with finger sandwiches, warm scones (including our scone of the month), and a rotating dessert menu featuring classics like millionaire’s shortbread and mince pies. It’s an experience designed to slow you down, spark conversation, and make you feel like you’ve stepped into a charming tearoom on the English coast.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR TRADITION OR DETAIL THAT SETS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP APART?
We’re proudly owned by a Brit from Brighton, and that authenticity shapes everything—from the tea we pour to the recipes we bake fresh each morning. Our commitment to traditional British afternoon tea, paired with the warmth of a neighborhood gathering place, creates a uniquely heartfelt experience you won’t find anywhere else in Colorado Springs.
www.thebritishpantry.net | 2403 W. Colorado
YELLOW MOUNTAIN TEA HOUSE
WHAT SIGNATURE TEA OR HOUSE BLEND BEST REPRESENTS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP, AND WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?
Our signature is the anti-inflammatory tea. It’s special for its natural ability to reduce inflammation, detoxify the body, and help balance blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol—delivering a warm, energizing flavor with real wellness benefits.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE GUEST EXPERIENCE?
A serene, relaxing escape with soft lighting and aromatic teas. The unique highlight is our expert dim sum pairings, perfectly complementing each tea for a harmonious, sensory delight.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR TRADITION OR DETAIL THAT SETS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP APART?
We brew every tea using the traditional Gongfu ceremony— precise, multiple steepings that unlock maximum flavor, aroma, and health benefits, creating a mindful, immersive ritual.
www.yellow-mountain-organic-tea.com
TOODLES TEAROOM
WHAT SIGNATURE TEA OR HOUSE BLEND BEST REPRESENTS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP, AND WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?
Our signature blend is Colorful Colorado, a naturally caffeine-free rooibos tea that captures the cozy charm and playful spirit of Toodles Tearoom. Smooth, with a touch of an amaretto undertone, it’s the kind of tea that feels like a warm hug in a teacup. We love that everyone, from little ones to lifelong tea lovers, can enjoy it at any time of day!
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE GUEST EXPERIENCE?
From the moment guests walk in, they’re greeted warmly and encouraged to settle in and enjoy! We want every guest to feel cared for, seen, and genuinely welcomed. It’s a place where conversations unfold naturally, celebrations are honored, and everyday moments feel special. Many guests tell us they love our decor and feel like they’ve been transported straight to London!
IS THERE A PARTICULAR TRADITION OR DETAIL THAT SETS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP APART?
At Toodles, we serve bottomless pots of tea, each in your own individual teapot, so the only hard decision is which flavor to try first. Guests are encouraged to sip, switch, and sample to their heart’s content—one cozy cup can easily turn into a delightful little tea adventure.
www.toodlestearoom.com | 110 E Boulder St. | 719-660-0590
MANITOU
TEA MARKET
WHAT SIGNATURE TEA OR HOUSE BLEND BEST REPRESENTS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP, AND WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?
Manitou Tea Market is best represented not by our flavors, but by our curated collections. Our Back-to-Basics Heritage Collection honors classic teas that have anchored cultures for centuries, alongside our Wellness Collection and rotating Seasonal Curations. The balance between education and creativity allows our guests to explore tea in its purest form or fall in love with expressive flavors like our current favorites: banana nut bread or blueberry matcha, which feel both nostalgic and modern.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE GUEST EXPERIENCE?
The experience was designed to be immersive and welcoming—guests are encouraged to smell, touch, and explore our tea jars together, turning discovery into a shared experience. Our shop is intentionally lively (no hushed tea time here!), where curiosity is encouraged with our friendly, knowledgeable team that will guide you through the world of tea with warmth and genuine care.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR TRADITION OR DETAIL THAT SETS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP APART?
Our Tea Bar is a unique concept, offering over 100 teas by the cup so guests can find their new favorite in a lively, social setting. Our seasonal tea-mocktails highlight how elevated drinks can be made with tea bases—recipes we happily share—alongside our small patisserie with French macarons, seasonal tartlets, and grab-and-go desserts so guests can sip, snack, and stroll through downtown Manitou Springs.
> We want every guest to feel cared for, seen, and genuinely welcomed.
TEA & TIDBITS
WHAT SIGNATURE TEA OR HOUSE BLEND BEST REPRESENTS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP, AND WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?
At Tea & Tidbits, variety itself is our signature. With 20-25 rotating tea blends, guests are encouraged to explore and discover something new with every visit.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE GUEST EXPERIENCE?
The guest experience at Tea & Tidbits is welcoming, relaxed, and intentionally unhurried, much like visiting a friend’s home. Thoughtful touches and attentive hospitality are woven throughout, so guests feel genuinely welcomed and cared for.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR TRADITION OR DETAIL THAT SETS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP APART?
What sets Tea & Tidbits apart is our focus on thoughtful details, with menus that change monthly and special themed experiences woven throughout the year. This allows each visit to feel familiar yet fresh, giving guests something new to enjoy each time.
FESTIVITEA
WHAT SIGNATURE TEA OR HOUSE BLEND BEST REPRESENTS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP, AND WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?
We have over 100 teas we offer through retail and wholesale, including private label. The one we chose as our signature tea, which we also translated into candles and room sprays, is our Earl Grey Creme. This tea perfectly blends classic bergamot with extraordinary French vanilla. Like this tea, our tearoom is intended to give our communiTEA a sense of familiarity while experiencing something special.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE GUEST EXPERIENCE?
We strive to make our guests feel like drinking tea is unfussy, fun, but still special. Providing hospitality and creating communiTEA is very important to us! We believe each guest deserves to feel seen, valued, and welcomed. We practice all of this while educating our guests about tea; ultimately we want our customers to get the most out of their tea experience in the shop or at home.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR TRADITION OR DETAIL THAT SETS YOUR TEAROOM/SHOP APART?
Not only do we offer a wide selection of unique teas, but we also have products from dozens of local makers in our BouTEAque. Many of these creators also teach classes in our CommuniTEA Workspace. We take pride in offering a space focused on building communiTEA and sharing local and global culture, all revolving around a soothing cup of tea.
STARGAZING AND STILLNESS
KOSMOS STARGAZING RESORT: RECONNECTING WITH NATURE... AND YOURSELF
Kosmos Stargazing Resort began five years ago during a personal journey of self-discovery by founder and CEO Gamal Jadue Zalaquett. While traveling through Colorado’s San Luis Valley, Zalaquett found himself standing beneath some of the darkest, clearest skies in North America. In that moment of silence and vastness, he felt called to step away from the fastpaced business world and create something more meaningful.
ARTICLE BY JESSI SCOLETTI PHOTOGRAPHY BY KOSMOS STARGAZING RESORT & SPA
Inspired by the Valley’s Bortle Class 2 skies and its proximity to Great Sand Dunes National Park, he envisioned a place where astronomy, wellness and sustainable design could coexist in harmony. He invested his personal
savings into 40 acres of land and launched a crowdfunding campaign that resonated globally, raising nearly $2 million and becoming one of Indiegogo’s most successful travel campaigns.
To ensure the resort aligned with his environmental values, Zalaquett founded Naturalia LLC to build Kosmos using hempcrete—a low-carbon, nontoxic, breathable material, paired with solar energy. Drawing on five generations of hospitality heritage, Kosmos was created as a space for guests to slow down, reconnect with nature, loved ones and themselves—all beneath the stars.
ONE-OF-A-KIND MAGIC
Described as “healing, unique, and magical” by Kosmos Resort Marketing Manager Laura Rios, Kosmos is one of very few resorts in North America designed entirely around the night sky. From its architecture and lighting to its location and guest experience, everything is engineered to enhance stargazing.
With sky guides and an astronomer at your fingertips, Kosmos is also the largest hempcrete commercial project in the United States, making it a rare intersection of luxury hospitality, astronomy, and regenerative construction.
“Guests aren’t just visiting a dark-sky destination; they are staying inside healthy, breathable villas built in true partnership with the land,” Rios explains.
INFLUENCES AT PLAY
The resort is in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, just 15 minutes from Great Sand Dunes National Park, surrounded by protected public lands and a 700-acre conservation easement that guarantees unobstructed views and minimal light pollution.
The architecture blends modern, futuristic design with deep respect for nature and astronomy while prioritizing sky visibility, privacy and comfort. Each villa consists of three distinct spaces:
• A central dome featuring a living area and full kitchen, with a transparent section that allows uninterrupted views of the night sky
• A private bedroom equipped with a Celestron Origin smart telescope
• A transparent stargazing spa dome with a jacuzzi Interiors are intentionally minimal and warm, allowing the stars, not distractions, to take center stage.
THE EXPERIENCE
By day, Kosmos feels “expansive, serene, and grounded, framed by mountain views, silence, and vast open skies,” Rios shares. By night, the atmosphere transforms completely. Artificial light disappears and red lighting gently guides movement, allowing the stars to dominate. The transition is dramatic, grounding, and often emotional for firsttime visitors.
At Kosmos, every guest becomes a stargazer with signature experiences that include:
• Private stargazing decks with zero-gravity chairs, heaters, and red-light illumination
• In-villa libraries with curated astronomy books
• Professional telescopes and binoculars in every villa
• A private clear dome jacuzzi designed for soaking under the Milky Way
The experience is both educational and deeply personal, turning astronomy into a nightly ritual.
“People want to come and be guided,” Zalaquett says.
“Guests are guided toward meaningful, low-impact experiences — from Great Sand Dunes night hikes and wildlife viewing to hot springs, wetlands, and cultural visits in Alamosa. Kosmos acts as a gateway, not a bubble,” Rios highlights.
EXPANSION AND FLOW
Interested in being part of something more?
“We want to establish a community,” Zalaquett says. The resort offers a unique ambassador program to those who want to share the starlight experience. Kosmos also actively partners with local businesses, guides and restaurants while prioritizing regional employment.
When is the best time to visit this extraordinary resort?
“Each season offers something unique, but late spring through early fall is especially magical due to clear skies, Milky Way visibility and comfortable nighttime temperatures. Winter, however, offers incredibly crisp skies and profound stillness for those seeking solitude,” Rios says.
THE FUTURE OF STARGAZING
From the standard and private two-hour stargazing experiences, beautiful villas, events and workshops, Kosmos has more in store for their guests. The resort is currently in the final stages of Dark Sky Certification and in 2026, Kosmos will open a Stargazing Park featuring a remote observatory, daytime nature playground, and nighttime event space for talks and celestial celebrations. An onsite wellness center and spa is currently being developed and will offer many services for a holistic wellness experience.
In 2027, plans include a stargazing center and planetarium. In parallel, Kosmos will introduce its on-site restaurant concept, focused on thoughtfully sourced, seasonal cuisine, along with a RAW store offering pre-measured, high-quality ingredients that allow guests to easily cook in their villas. Finally, Kosmos has county approval to expand with up to 18 hotel rooms, allowing the experience to become more accessible, while preserving dark-sky integrity.
“Kosmos stands as both a destination and a movement, inviting guests to remember their place in the universe,” Rios says.
This is your star sign. Pack your bags. Open your heart, eyes and mind. Adventure awaits.
Address + Phone: 5290 N 113 County Road, Mosca | 719-496-0180
Website: www.kosmosresort.com
Facebook + Instagram: @KosmosResort
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SAY IT WITH FLOWERS
Sweetwater Flower Market: Offering Unique Florals & A Variety of Gifting Options
With Valentine’s Day swiftly approaching, the search for a gift that feels both intentional and inspiring begins. Whether you’re celebrating a partner, a friend, a family member, or yourself, Sweetwater Flower market makes it easy to say it with flowers—and so much more. From artfully curated florals to unique gifts, Sweetwater offers something for every kind of love and every style of gifting.
A FLOWER SHOP AND SO MUCH MORE Sweetwater Flower Market rises to the occasion with offerings that go far beyond traditional bouquets. In addition to their
professional floral arrangements and their interactive bouquet bar, the pressure to find the perfect gift will dissolve as you discover a variety of gifting options:
• Subscription Service – flowers delivered to your door, business or office space on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. Customers can choose from wrapped bouquets or vase arrangements, and each delivery comes with a care card
• Sweetwater Boxes – themed gift boxes that include a variety of items, many locally sourced, to create the perfect gift for any occasion
ARTICLE BY CARA BUKACEK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SWEETWATER FLOWER MARKET & EPOCH
• Artisan Gifts, including soaps, candles, bath & body products, edibles and kitchen wares
• Gift Cards – to be used to purchase florals, gifts, or to attend one of the many Sweetwater crafting workshops Bring this article in for 20% off your Valentine’s gift purchase.
FLORAL DREAMS COME TRUE
When it comes to weddings or events, Sweetwater Flower Market turns floral visions into unforgettable experiences. Event planners and couples are invited into a fully customizable process—selecting everything from blooms and vessels to design styles and color palettes—ensuring each arrangement feels personal, intentional, and perfectly aligned with the moment being celebrated.
Whether your event is romantic, modern, whimsical or wildly imaginative, Sweetwater’s team brings creativity and expertise together to make every detail feel thoughtfully composed.
FLOWER TRUCKS
For those looking to offer guests something truly memorable, Sweetwater’s flower trucks add an interactive and playful element to any gathering.
These mobile flower bars allow guests to create their own arrangements, choosing stems to design a bouquet they can take home—a living keepsake long after the event ends. It’s a hands-on experience that blends beauty, creativity, and connection, transforming florals from décor into a shared moment.
WORKSHOPS
Sweetwater Flower Market’s workshops offer a way to connect with flowers beyond traditional gifting. Hosting both public and private events, these creative sessions invite participants to slow down, learn, and create something beautiful with their own hands. From wreath making and pressed floral crafts to dried floral arrangements, needle felting, and whimsical flower crowns, each workshop is thoughtfully designed to inspire creativity and spark joy.
For more information about gifting ideas, events and weddings, and workshops, visit the website and socials below.
Address + Phone: 2419 W. Colorado Ave | 719-434-1615
Website: sweetwaterflowermarket.com
Instagram: @SweetwaterFlowerMarket
Facebook: @SweetwaterAFlowerMarket
What SLOWING DOWN... ENDURES?
ARTICLE BY ROCHELLE REEDER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK NORRIS
Patina: Timeless Jewelry that Gets Better with Age
Can something be calm and analytical, while also being dramatic? Can the meditative and the precise exist in the same space as the theatrical?
Christy Metz believes they not only can, but they must. Many stories are happy and bright, but rarely are they without tension or complexity. Without resistance, there is nothing to transform; and without transformation, there is no story. This idea sits at the heart of Metz’s creative practice. Whether working with flowers or objects of adornment, she is drawn not to perfection but to process; what time leaves behind and what meaning accumulates through use, age and experience.
GROWN BEAUTIFUL WITH AGE
Metz built a following through her visual storytelling with botanicals. Through seasonal arrangements, tablescapes, and bouquets, she showcases blooms in every stage of life—fresh, fading, and fragile, honoring their full narrative rather than a single moment of perfection. Like Georgia O’Keeffe, Metz’s work transcends “pretty,” instead focusing on scale and context, forcing viewers to look again, revealing hidden beauty.
Metz is in the business of appreciating something in its entirety rather than consuming it at a glance. Such is the
philosophy of her newest business endeavor, Patina
The word patina itself reflects an ethos of an appearance grown beautiful with age or use; an aura derived from association, habit, or established character. It is not something applied, so much as it is something earned.
Her background in fashion and merchandising, working in design, styling and presentation for brands such as Neiman Marcus and Ralph Lauren in Chicago has trained her eye for balance, restraint and storytelling.
That same approach now guides her work with jewelry. Where jewelry is often treated as detail or embellishment, Metz is drawn to pieces that have history and a story.
“I vividly remember the jewelry my grandmothers wore everyday as well as the silver and turquoise pieces worn by my mother in the 1960s and ‘70s,” she recalls, “timeless jewelry that gets more beautiful with age.”
UNMISTAKABLY ARTFUL
Through travel and research, Metz collects and curates vintage and heirloom jewelry. If a piece is signed, she researches the designer. If it shows wear, she reads it as history rather than flaw. She describes her pieces as “something old that somehow becomes current, even modern, and unexpected.”
CONTINUED >
Restoration, when needed, is done without erasing the journey the object has already taken. The process matters as much as the result: finding, learning, preserving, then presenting.
Presentation is where Patina becomes unmistakably artful. Metz displays pieces on pages of books by artists she admires, creating new conversations between mediums. On German photographer Karl Blossfeldt’s pages, organic forms become architectural; symmetry, repetition and geometry revealed through close observation. Metal against botanical imagery mirrors age, weather and curiosity. McQueen’s pages tell another story: dark beauty, structured, emotional and timeless. Like Blossfeldt and British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, Metz does not copy nature or history, she translates them into form.
“My collection is as much about curating and styling as it is about each individual piece,” she says.
FAVORING TIMELESS OVER TRENDS
Patina is about transcending trends in favor of the timeless.
“These are pieces that can be worn with a simple t-shirt and jeans or paired with Dolce & Gabbana,” Metz explains. “It’s every day, elevated.”
The goal is to express personal style while placing the wearer in conversation of art, history, and the natural world.
“It’s not just art, not just clothes; it’s a lifestyle,” she says.
We are given a finite number of days, and each becomes part of our story. To accessorize that story with a piece of history, one
that can be passed down, reinterpreted, and lived with again, is both an intimate and enduring act.
Patina invites deep, focused looking. It reminds us that stillness can hold strength, beauty can be quiet, and what lasts is rarely untouched by time.
Come find the next piece of your story at her pop-up trunk show, hosted by Yobel on February 8.
Website: www.christymetzdesign.com
Instagram: @ChristyMetzDesign
ARTICLE BY JACEY BLUE RENNER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HALLE MURR
PHOTOGRAPHY
SPLENDOR of ARTISTRY
Flourish Boutiques: Bringing European Magic and Whimsy to Colorado Springs
“From the moment someone walks in, I want it to be an experience,” says Victoria Hayden, Flourish Boutiques owner and interior designer. “I love things that tell a story, and things of old.”
A self-taught seamstress and artist, Hayden’s roots in design, decor and antiques created the framework for her best work.
Storytelling begins the moment you step into Flourish, a series of seamless boutiques nestled just off Briargate that flow together to create something at once unique and memorable in Colorado Springs. The splendor and artistry is immediate. Modeled after the European markets that merged community, family and storytelling, Flourish has grown from the seedlings of Hayden’s biggest dream: to have her own brick-and-mortar marketplace that celebrates not only antique and vintage design, but modern fashion and local artisans.
EUROPEAN INFLUENCE
Deeply inspired following an amazing women’s trip to France in 2016, Hayden remembers “for the first time in my entire life, I felt I was home.” The impact of that trip, and connection with the French countryside, was undeniable in her design and curation of Flourish, which celebrated its grand opening in October.
“I wanted a European marketplace, I wanted to bring a piece of Europe here,” she says.
With an eye for detail and design even as a young girl, Hayden’s creative culture and vision ebb beautifully throughout every corner of Flourish. Her community-focused marketplace brings Colorado artists and artisans together under one bespoke and gorgeously chandeliered roof.
She partnered with Little Wildflower Co., a Peyton-based small-batch candle company, to create a signature candle
and scent for the boutique. The shop features British handbags from Fable, French-inspired scents and homewares, Portuguese cork-art, fresh-made sourdough on Fridays, and vintage, modern and boho fashion. Flourish creates another space for visitors, that gives pause, allows for dreaming, and the space for daily beauty.
“I wanted to make everything beautiful,” she says. “Details tell the full story.”
WHERE YOUR STORY AND STYLE BLOOM
“We’re a destination retail space,” Hayden says.
As Flourish continues its bloom and growth, Hayden hopes to host more events in-store. Look for painting and pottery classes, farmers market collaborations, more crepes (they often partner with 4th Avenue Crepes), fashion shows and possibly even Mahjong nights in 2026. Guests will find bistro tables outside to chat during warmer days, and Flourish hopes to add a garden, growing community, growing partnerships, bringing Colorado Springs together in Flourish’s resplendent market space.
“I believed in my vision and my vendors and what we all could bring and that we could flourish together,” she says. “We’re creating a little piece of history in Colorado Springs, an imprint. It’s a dream. I love seeing people happy.”
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS FEBRUARY 2026
events
FEBRUARY 7TH
Orchid Showcase & Sales
Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. | 9:00 AM
The Denver Botanic Gardens' Orchid Showcase runs through Feb. 16. Free admission with advance reservations on Feb. 12. Enjoy a mindfulness journey while strolling through the display to help start the new year on a tranquil note. Colorado orchid grower Fantasy Orchids will be selling orchids in the Orangery on Feb. 7 and 14, while supplies last. botanicgardens.org/events/seasonal-plant-displays/orchid-showcase
FEBRUARY 13TH
Marshall Tucker Band
Phil Long Music Hall | 7:30 PM
Since forming in South Carolina in 1972, The Marshall Tucker Band has helped define Southern rock with timeless favorites like “Can’t You See,” “Heard It in a Love Song,” and “Fire on the Mountain.” The band’s blend of country, rock, blues, and jazz has filled over 20 studio albums, gone multi-platinum, and influenced generations of artists. phillongmusichall.com
FEBRUARY 14TH
Cripple Creek Ice Festival
Cripple Creek | 10:00 AM
The Cripple Creek Ice Festival amazes spectators of all ages with ingenious and grand displays of wintery fun. Previous event themes featured a Mythological Wonderland, Renaissance, the Old West and Under the Sea. Vote for your favorite ice sculpture. Bring your little ones and create some chilly fun with ice slides, mazes and more. Runs through Feb. 22. cityofcripplecreek.com/marketing-events/ page/2026-ice-festival
FEBRUARY 14TH
2026 Carnivale Parade
Manitou Springs | 1:00 PM
It’s tradition in Manitou Springs to march down Manitou Avenue and celebrate Mardi Gras in true fun and funky color that Manitou is known for! So grab your beads and costume-up! The theme for 2026 is: All You Need is Love! The more the merrier. Always free to join in, RSVP required. manitousprings.org/carnivale-parade
FEBRUARY 24TH
The Music Man
Pikes Peak Center | 8:00 PM
Meredith Willson's Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Music Man follows a fast-talking traveling salesman as he cons people into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band, despite the fact that he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef. Featuring songs such as "Seventy-Six Trombones" and "Trouble," this is a family-friendly story. Runs through Feb. 26. pikespeakcenter.com/events/detail/bway-themusicman
FEBRUARY 24TH
Elegance in Red: A Pinot Noir Dinner
uva wine bar | 6:30 PM
Celebrate one of the world’s most expressive and finicky grapes, known for its thin skin and incredible ability to reflect where it’s grown. Expect pairings that highlight everything from the grape’s signature red cherry and raspberry notes to the subtle earth and spice it’s famous for in cooler regions. Welcome wine followed by three courses paired with wine. uvawinebarcos.com
