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Style
Style is more than the clothes we wear; it's an expres sion of our personality, identity and mood. It's a silent language that speaks to who we are before we utter a word.
Though influenced by media and personal experiences, timeless style transcends fleeting trends. It’s about finding pieces that make us feel confident and comfortable. Style is about authenticity. It's an ongoing journey of self-discovery.
Style in Colorado Springs is a blend of practicality and individuality, influenced by the city's natural beauty and outdoor lifestyle. Comfort with a touch of rugged sophistication. I noticed an exchange on social media recently that perfectly encapsulates this. Someone was asking what to wear to an event–casual or closer to "cocktail" attire. Someone else jumped in to say (only half-jokingly) that the event was in Colorado Springs, where cocktail attire was jeans and a collared shirt.
Of course, that's not entirely true. But it's not wildly inaccurate, either. The style in Colorado Springs leans toward expressing individuality, while staying ready for adventure–whatever that means to each of us.
Personally, I wear hiking shoes about 350 days per year–they’re my signature. I prefer wildflowers in my front garden. And my home? Intentionally casual.
What is your style?
This issue has some great pieces about style. It also has some fantastic reads about other people, places, things and events in our region.
Read about a stunning boutique hotel with an interesting history, about an iconic stadium positioning itself to be an even bigger community asset, and about a lighting company whose fixtures are more like art.
Learn about the history of our city's community-owned utilities and a local museum with a brand-new exhibit. Shopper? Read about a pair of local businesses–one creating heirloom-quality leather goods; the other a boutique women's clothing store. Foodie? Get the details on a local-ish chile and frijoles festival and a restaurant offering salads and other healthy options.
Happy September!
September 2024
PUBLISHER
Scott Barr | scott.barr@citylifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Stephanie Barr | stephanie.barr@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Ashley Hamershock ashley.hamershock@citylifestyle.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Cara Bukacek | coloradosprings@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ashley Hamershock, Rochelle Reeder, Kristian DePue, Cara Bukacek, Sydney Schardt
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Colorado Springs Utilities, Allison Daniell, Stellar Propeller Studio, Dawn Christine Photography, Ali Garcia Photography, Michael Kleinberg Photography, Mining Exchange, Treimer Creative, BLK MGK Coffee, Golden Hour Bar, The Vault, Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, Pueblo Chile Festival, Kelley Tutas, Sam Vaughn Photography, Bonnie Singleton, AF Academy, Association of Graduates, Air Force Academy Foundation, Air Force Athletics
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall
LAYOUT DESIGNER Rhiannon Coffman
Beauty, Style + History
The
Urban
Urbane
BEAUTY, STYLE + HISTORY
THE MINING EXCHANGE: DOWNTOWN BOUTIQUE HOTEL OFFERS WHISPERS AND NODS TO ITS ILLUSTRIOUS PAST
ARTICLE BY ROCHELLE REEDER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MINING EXCHANGE, MICHAEL KLEINBERG PHOTOGRAPHY AND TREIMER CREATIVE
“STOP IN FOR A COFFEE, A DRINK, A SNACK OR A STAY. THE MINING EXCHANGE HOTEL LOOKS FORWARD TO BECOMING AN INTEGRAL PART OF YOUR DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE.”
Tens of thousands flocked to the Rocky Mountains in search of their own personal prosperity.
Winfield Scott Stratton, son of a ship builder and a carpenter by trade, moved out west to Colorado Springs in search of his own fortune. He opened a carpentry
and general contracting business and after a few years caught the Gold Rush Fever. He began prospecting for gold and silver in the summer and working his business in the winter. He took metallurgy and mineralogy classes to educate himself. It was 17 years of this lifestyle before he
struck gold on the south slope of Pike Peak and claimed one of Cripple Creek’s richest discoveries: Independence Mine.
As the first millionaire of the Cripple Creek Gold Rush, Stratton used his money in many philanthropic ways that have left his name sprinkled about Colorado Springs. One of his endeavors was to establish The Board of Trade and Mining Exchange and construct the present-day Mining Exchange building in 1902. During its 31 years of operation, the trading floor saw upward of $34 million in annual transactions in peak years, making it one of the largest stock exchanges in the world.
NEW LIFE
Today, the building serves Colorado Springs as a boutique hotel with whispers and nods to its illustrious past offering adventure seekers little nuggets to find.
The search for treasure continues.
Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners purchased the property in 2022 and set to work breathing new life into this old soul of Colorado Springs, while honoring its past.
“There were two sides of the gold rush,” explains Gus Krimm, general manager of the Mining Exchange, “the rugged and the refined.”
There was the movement of western expansion where people and families picked up their entire lives to move west and “manifest destiny” with empty pockets and high hopes. And then there was the success of finding gold, leading to opulence and excess.
PRESERVING HISTORY
With an airy yet approachably opulent lobby and several seating areas, it’s easy to understand his meaning.
The old trading board, the safe and vault doors as well as other historical elements are integrated into the design, marrying the past with the future. The lobby coffee shop BLK MGK–the other black gold–offers a wide array of beverages including craft coffees for visitors to enjoy, featuring local roaster Hold Fast Coffee Co. There
THIRD SPACE
They focused their efforts on creating an experiential effect versus standard and unimaginative, thus maintaining the soul of what this building has been for the city throughout its existence. Krimm explains they sought to fill a niche with a higher end feel that places guests at the very heart of downtown, creating a third space of sorts.
“We want to host your meetings, events and your guests; we are for the residents of Colorado Springs as well as those visiting,” Krimm explains.
is local art on display in an area called The Vault, curated by Auric Gallery, that will change out quarterly in order to keep things visually interesting. And if an afternoon visit is preferable, Golden Hour, the hotel’s indoor/outdoor bar can provide libations, or a nightcap paired with decadent artisanal bites during shared conversation or while wandering around the lobby looking for little historical nuggets that tell the story of the history of the Mining Exchange.
Website: https://www.miningexchangehotel.com/ Facebook: @TheMiningExchange Instagram: @MiningExchange
If an extended stay is on the menu, the redesigned rooms of the Mining Exchange Hotel are an experience all their own. The designer incorporated the high ceilings and exposed brick and wrapped it in the gilt and green of success. Modern amenities offering a nod to the past with leather, white oak, bronze and marble leave a quiet, plush way to savor your time in downtown Colorado Springs.
Stop in for a coffee, a drink, a snack or a stay. The Mining Exchange Hotel looks forward to becoming an integral part of your downtown experience.
COLORADO'S SPICIER SIDE
The Pueblo chile is iconic. In fact, it’s considered to be one of the most famous crops grown in Colorado. These peppers have a distinctive flavor and range from mild to very hot. They have a meaty flesh and thick skin that makes them perfect for roasting. These unique chiles have helped shape Colorado’s food scene, making green chili one of the most popular and traditional dishes found in our state.
Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival: Paying Homage to Agricultural Roots + Local Culture
CHILES AND PINTO BEANS
“The Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival was started in 1994 by Rod Slyhoff, then-CEO of the greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, along with partners of the community, to pay homage to our agricultural roots and to elevate the brand of the Pueblo chile,” says Donielle Kitzman of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. “It was one block long with one farmer, Pete Giadone,
ARTICLE BY CARA BUKACEK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY PUEBLO
CHILE FESTIVAL & PUEBLO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
who agreed to roast the Pueblo chiles. Thirty years later, it is over ten blocks long with six local farmers, two hundred vendors, four entertainment stages, and 150,000 attendees over three days.”
Along with the Pueblo chile, the festival celebrates another major crop grown in Pueblo: pinto beans. The addition of pinto beans sets the event apart from other chile festivals across the country. According to Colorado Proud, Colorado is ranked ninth nationally in dry bean production.
“Chile and beans are the peanut butter and jelly of Pueblo,” Kitzman says. “’Don’t Forget the Frijole’ social media campaign celebrates the pinto bean and use in our local cuisine.”
LOCAL CUISINE, ARTISTS, MUSICIANS AND A FARMER’S MARKET
The three-day festival celebrates local heritage and traditions. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a taste of Pueblo that includes local cuisine, artists, musicians and a farmer’s market. There are scheduled events including a jalapeño eating contest, chihuahua parade, chile and salsa competition, and hot-air balloon festival. The complete schedule of events and ticket information can be found in the links following this article.
“You have not fully experienced Colorado if you have not come to the 'spicer side' of the state," Kitzman says. "Colorado is not just beautiful mountains, but it is also the people, plains, rivers, farms, traditions, food and fun.”
Website: https://pueblochilefestival.com/ Instagram @VisitPueblo Facebook @PuebloChileFestival
HEL P I NG YO U GO WITH THE F L O W FOR T H
E
PA S T 100 YEA R S.
When you’ve been around for 100 years, you’ve been around for a lot of glasses of water, tooth brushings, hand washes and water balloon fights. Our Century of Service is not just about providing water, but enriching your daily lives. Supporting you through the practical and the playful, and ensuring that every drop contributes to a century of well-lived moments. That’s a Century of Service. And that’s worth celebrating.
ARTICLE BY ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES
of Service A Century
COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES: AMERICA'S LARGEST FOUR-SERVICE, COMMUNITY-OWNED UTILITY
The year was 1924.
Calvin Coolidge was president. The first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France. The Jazz Age and flappers were in full swing. And Macy’s held its first Thanksgiving Day parade.
By the mid-1920s, more than 60 percent of American households had electricity, compared with 16 percent in 1912, according to History.com. It all started on Sept. 4, 1882, when Thomas Edison’s Edison Illuminating Company flipped the switch on a power station in lower Manhattan, providing electricity to homes at a price comparable to gas. By the end of the month, they had 59 customers. The following year, they had 513.
PIKES PEAK REGION
Gas and electricity trekked west to the Pikes Peak region shortly thereafter, however, the services were owned by various private companies and were less-than-reliable and expensive. Even after a major consolidation, things hadn’t improved much and in 1924, voters approved a $1.25 million bond that authorized the city to buy the company supplying light, heat and power to Colorado Springs residents.
Adding electric and gas services to the existing municipal water and sewer systems created a community-owned, four-service utility. The Pikes Peak region was home to about 40,000 people at that time, according to Census data. Since then, the population has swelled to roughly 20 times that number, making Colorado Springs Utilities the largest of its kind in the country.
“What makes us unique is that four-service aspect,” says Amy Trinidad, public relations supervisor for Colorado Springs Utilities.
Equally important, she says, is that the region's citizen-owners elect Colorado Springs’ city council, which also serves as the utilities board, which governs Colorado Springs Utilities.
LOOKING BACK
Colorado Springs Founder General William Jackson Palmer believed the city’s future was inextricably tied to the development of utilities. The El Paso Canal was constructed in 1871. Later that decade, Colorado Springs voters approved a bond issue to build the first municipal water system, followed by the city’s first sewer system.
Prior to that, people hauled water home from nearby water sources, hoping their neighbors’ livestock hadn’t just been wading upstream, says Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Travas Deal. Suddenly, water was more accessible and safer.
“Then electricity came along,” Deal says. “It was great.”
Oil lamps began to fall out of fashion. Residents could simply hit a switch and voila! Well, sometimes...
“One hundred years ago, transmission wasn’t good,” Deal says. “You wanted reliability.”
That led to the vote in 1924 to authorize the city to take over electricity and gas. Rapid improvements occurred in electric reliability with the opening of the Martin Drake Power Plant in 1925 and the installation of the city’s first gas pipeline in 1931.
Along came electric irons, washing machines, radios, refrigerators and freezers, electric stoves, vacuum cleaners, heating systems, air conditioners and eventually, televisions.
Manufacturing increased exponentially.
“That industrial revolution never would have happened without electricity,” Deal says.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
In 2021, the Drake Power Plant received its last coal train delivery. The century-old coal plant helped drive growth and reliable energy for the region, but the increasing availability of renewable energy, high maintenance costs of running an aging coal-fired plant and impact of anticipated regulation helped prompt the decision to close the plant. Demolition is tentatively scheduled to finish later this year.
“I think some kid who isn’t even born is going to come up with something we can’t even imagine.” -Travas Deal
Six modular natural gas generators installed next to the old structure provide power at much lower costs and with fewer emissions. Discussions are ongoing about what to do with that city-owned property longer term.
Colorado Springs Utilities is entering a period of major change.
Currently, it has about $5 billion worth of infrastructure and expects to add another $3.7 billion in assets over the next five years through capital investments. These investments are needed, Deal says, to ensure compliance with regulatory mandates, to support community growth and to maintain or improve system reliability for customers.
“We have to transform our entire footprint,” Deal says.
The vision for the future includes solar, hydro, batteries, natural gas and other mechanisms for producing reliable energy. While there will always be a need for power, how it’s delivered will continue to change – just as it has over the past century. That, he says, is why the utility has a 50-year plan, but reviews it every year and overhauls it every five.
“I think some kid who isn’t even born is going to come up with something we can’t even imagine,” Deal says.
Website: https://www.csu.org/
Facebook: @ColoradoSpringsUtilities
Instagram: @CSUtilities
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BEHIND THE SCENES OF INTERIOR DESIGN
OUR 3-STEP PROCESS ENSURES A SEAMLESS AND FUNCTIONAL PROJECT
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT & PRESENTATION
After meeting with you during an in-home Design Consultation, our experienced design team will work closely with you to understand your vision and lifestyle. We will dive deep and get to work creating conceptual designs and full plans to show you exactly what’s possible in your space. Once the finishing touches have been put on your design plan, you'll enjoy a beautiful indepth presentation of your new space.
PROCUREMENT & MANAGEMENT
Once the design plan has been confirmed, we move into the procurement & management phase. Our team will order, track, and keep the project moving handling all the backend headaches such as damaged items and claims. We work directly with skilled tradespeople, contractors, and builders to orchestrate and implement your unique design.
INSTALLATION & DETAILS
Design details are key... from scheduling and planning to installation and styling, JKDS handles it all with precision. From the initial concept to the installation day, we've got you covered.
Lighting with Style
Urban Lights: Offering Functional Art for Every Space
ARTICLE BY ROCHELLE REEDER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAWN CHRISTINE PHOTOGRAPHY
The door opens into a gallery of multi-dimensional art. It’s mounted on the walls, the ceiling, and even rising up from the floor. It’s displayed on tables and layered in every room. Some have kinetic elements and most are interactive. The mood changes from room to room. Some rooms are spacious and invigorating, others are warm and intimate.
One thing is consistent; this space is inspiring.
Lighting can evoke feeling, enhance design, shape an atmosphere, highlight something special and even alter the size of a room. Light is scientifically proven to impact mood and cognitive functioning.
FOUR DECADES OF LIGHT
David Nestor has been in the business of shedding light for 40 years.
Nestor started his business in Denver and through the years says he has seen Colorado Springs blossom with a level of sophistication that excited him about bringing his business to this market. Urban Lights is a gallery-style showroom offering boutique lighting for every space.
The showroom is divided into sections that allow the client to journey from rustic modern, to mountain vogue, to peaceful zen, and into traditional charm. Lighting experts are available to help clients traverse indoor and outdoor needs for a highly personalized experience.
TECHNOLOGY + DESIGN
“Lighting is a fundamental design fixture that can change the perception of a space,” Nestor says. In his 40 years, he has seen lighting technologies change. Recessed lighting has transformed with beam spread options, switches and dimmers that allow precision within the space. Incandescent has moved toward LED and is breaking the original spectrum of warm and cool light to incorporate color.
LED lighting also reduces heat output, allowing the incorporation of more organic materials like jute, wood, bamboo, alabaster and kappa shell. This elemental change brings the outdoors in and has a grounding effect on the space in the most beautiful way.
Nestor and his team are experts in ambient, accent and task lighting and how each of these can be strategically used to enhance a room both practically and artistically. It’s not a department store experience. It’s not choosing a light to banish the dark in a room or a fan to circulate the air. It’s choosing a functional, impactful piece of art to infuse personality into a space.
Let there be light.
Website: https://urbanlightscs.com/
Facebook: @UrbanLightsCOS
Instagram: @UrbanLightsDenver
“Lighting is a fundamental design fixture that can change the perception of a space.”
Lighting as Art
Shop SMALL + LOCAL
URBANE
COLLECTIVE: MAKING WOMEN FEEL AS UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL AS THEY ARE
ARTICLE BY SYDNEY SCHARDT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALI GARCIA PHOTOGRAPHY
Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned, and sometimes we end up on an unexpected path to something much better. For Molly Fish, that something better is Urbane Collective: a boutique women’s clothing store with two locations in the Colorado Springs area.
The first Urbane Collective was opened intentionally and thoughtfully, with the community in mind. Molly wanted to create a space where local artisan offerings were highlighted and displayed, clothing was all-size inclusive, and consumers could find quality pieces at competitive retail pricing.
AND MORE…
Along with clothing, each location is packed with provisions for thoughtful living,
including home decor, plants, gifts, and more, all of which highlight Molly’s warm demeanor and eclectic spirit.
Yet the beautiful spaces sprinkled with bright colors and burst of green foliage offer more than just clothing and goods. Above all, Urbane Collective is a place where the community can come together.
Opened in the wake of COVID-19, Urbane Collective endured thanks to the tangible vision Molly was able to carry through.
“In a world where every order is at the tap of our fingertips, I believe there is still so much value in walking into a brick-and-mortar shop, a beautiful place, where it feels good to be, and where the community is prevalent,” she says. “Shopping small and local brings so much support to the community.”
EVENTS, TOO!
Urbane Collective frequently hosts store events such as bingo night, art classes, a walking club, social hour and more. In September, they are hosting their own fashion show, featuring local stylists, models and artists.
It offers an array of styles, a welcoming place to linger, an opportunity to support local businesses and a community where all are welcome and encouraged to shine.
In Molly’s own words, it’s “a one-ofa-kind woman’s clothing store where everyone could feel welcome and find something that made them feel as unique and beautiful as they are.”
Website: https://www.urbanecollectiveshop.com/ Facebook + Instagram: @UrbaneCollectiveLLC
Act ual Porcelain Veneer Patient
Women Expressing Creativity
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum: Reopened after Renovation and Debuting Brand-New Exhibits
As an institution, the unique and treasured Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum— housed in the old, historic El Paso County Courthouse, which functioned from 1903 to’73—has undergone an extensive renovation with the intention of preserving their priceless values.
PRESERVING THE PAST
What did this involve? Essentially, an entire overhaul of their HVAC system, so they can house their valuable art and historical artifacts at a proper temperature. Atmosphere control is vital for any museum.
“So first and foremost, this project began with the need to replace an ailing, aged HVAC system,” says Leah DavisWitherow, historical curator of the Pioneers Museum.
Witherow is well aware of the professional preservation of history and art. It’s critical for museums to have their environment controlled in order for their collections to exist, preserved in perpetuity.
“That is our number-one responsibility,” says Witherow. “The project began— and burgeoned—because our HVAC system
has been faulty occasionally. I wanted it nipped in the bud before it became a real problem.”
Witherow has a Bachelor of Arts in history, with a certification in Eastern European and Russian studies. She’s also highly experienced and specialized in the historical culture of Colorado—and specifically, Colorado Springs. To put it simply: she knows what she’s doing.
NEW EXHIBIT
In addition to the HVAC overhaul, there are other visible, fresh changes. One is a grand and brand-new exhibit featuring women: 50% of the Story: Women Expressing Creativity.
“If we’re not talking about women in history and their impact on culture, we’re missing 50 percent of the story,” Witherow says. “This is the first time that there will be a significant regional exhibit on women artists. And that should be surprising to most folks. Why hasn’t this happened before?”
Museum collections across the country are vast.
Women have always imbued memory and meaning into objects.
-Leah Davis-Witherow
“But on average, museums that collect art, 92 percent of that art is created by men and eight percent is created by women,” Witherow says. “So, museums have a collecting problem. We’ve missed out on opportunities to feature women artists.”
“Women have always imbued memory and meaning into objects,” Witherow says. “Weaving, or a piece of embroidery that your grandmother or your aunt made—the intention, the meaning, the memory, that connection in that object is a powerful storytelling tool. Women share stories, memories and history.”
THE BUILDING ITSELF
“The historic 1903 El Paso County Courthouse is the museum’s largest artifact and home,” adds Diane Stine, development director. “In order to protect the building, our collections, and exhibits, we need to be able to maintain a stable environment in these spaces. For most visitors, they will not see the result of this work, but they will feel it.”
WHAT ELSE IS NEW?
• Camping in the Rockies. A fun play space where kids aged two to eight can practice camping in “the great outdoors” of Colorado.
• Accessorize It! Drawing on the vast collections of the CSPM, this open storage display shares a wide variety of interesting objects. From shoes and hats to jewelry and pipes, there’s something for everyone in this eclectic exhibit.
• Visible Collections Workspace: A behind-thescenes view of how the museum works. See how objects are catalogued and prepared for exhibition in the newly renovated collections workspace. And, of course, there are still so many existing exhibits to explore at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, such as The Story of Us and COS@150.
Website: https://www.cspm.org/ Facebook + Instagram: @CSPioneersMuseum
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Heirloom-Quality Leather Goods
John Tutas has been working with leather for nearly 20 years. He was introduced to the craft in 2005 while working on a ranch in Montana. He learned how to repair saddles and other leather goods. Over the years, he continued to cultivate his techniques and refine his skills.
“I am mostly self-taught,” Tutas says. “I learned through a lot of trial and error and watching videos. I called it You Tube University.”
FROM HOBBY TO FAMILY BUSINESS
In 2017, Tutas was given a gift card from his parents. He decided to use the card to purchase some leather and he crafted a holster. His friend really liked the holster and purchased it. Word got around and Tutas began to get requests for leather goods like knife sheaths and custom-fit holsters.
Tutas Leather: Crafting Custom Pieces from Your Ideas
ARTICLE BY CARA BUKACEK PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLEY TUTAS & SAM VAUGHN
PHOTOGRAPHY
Leather crafting soon became a family affair after his wife, Kelly, and his son, Jacob, took an interest. Kelly uses the scraps from larger projects to craft jewelry, key chains, and bag charms. Jacob uses his technical know-how to film and create videos for his dad’s leather tutorials, available on You Tube.
Along with custom leather pieces, Tutas Leather creates leather totes/purses, money clips, guitar straps, fly fishing wallets, belts, and jewelry. The items are currently available for purchase on their website as well as at Garner & Gather in Parker and various local markets.
OVERCOMING TRAGEDY
Over the years, Tutas became more serious about the idea of taking his leather side-gig and turning it into a full-time career. He built up a large stock of leather items with the intention of opening a storefront. Then, tragedy struck.
In March 2023, the day before Kelly’s birthday, a fire broke out in the Tutas Leather workshop. The family was preparing to head to dinner for the birthday celebration. The shop, warmed by a woodburning stove, was a place that whole family enjoyed spending time together. Before leaving, Jacob cleaned out the ashes in the stove and came inside. Tutas headed out to get another fire going so that the shop would be warm for their return.
“As soon as I stepped outside, I saw the flames coming from the shop,” he says. “It was too late to stop the fire, so my next thought was to try and save some of my tools. I opened the door and realized the fire was out of control. I had to shift gears and then focused my efforts to prevent our house from catching fire.”
WORKING TOWARD A DREAM
The house was saved, but they lost the shop, their deck, and had to replace siding on one side of the house. As Tutas processed the event, he recalled a dream he had prior to the fire.
“I had this really vivid dream of my property," he says. "The shop was new and everything Kelly and I had discussed adding down the road was there, exactly the way we had envisioned it.”
A few days later, his daughter Izzy shared that she also had a dream prior to the fire. She drew a picture of what she saw in her dream and presented it to her dad. It was exactly the same as the image Tutas saw in his dream.
“I had goosebumps," Tutas says. "We told the family about the shared dream and we decided that this was a sign that better things were to come.”
FUTURE PLANS
In the year since the fire, the family has come together and is closer than ever. Because the shop burned down, the leather crafting has moved into their home, creating more quality family time. They continue to build up their stock of leather goods, working toward the dream of a new shop and eventually a brick-and-mortar storefront.
In addition, Tutas would like to pass on the knowledge of leather crafting to future generations to help ensure the trade doesn’t die. They are looking forward to having a space where they can offer classes to both adults and children.
Website: https://tutasleather.com/ Facebook + Instagram: @TutasLeather
Touchdown!
Falcon Stadium: Ready for Football + More, More More
ARTICLE BY ASHLEY HAMERSHOCK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES, AIR FORCE ACADEMY FOUNDATION, AIR FORCE ATHLETICS
It’s a Colorado Springs icon. And it just got better.
Much better.
Hundreds more premium seats. Myriad new food choices. High-tech LED lighting. Lots of banquet space. Loads more restrooms and entrances and concession windows.
After a $90 million facelift, Falcon Stadium is greeting the 2024 football season with a massive addition and countless other renovations. In recent weeks, about 200 contractors worked 10 hours per day, six days per week to put the final touches on the facility before the Falcons’ opening game against Merrimack College.
“I think it’s an incredible upgrade for Falcon Stadium,” says Athletic Director Nathan Pine.
THE “FRONT PORCH”
Perhaps the most immediately visible change is that the main entrance has moved to the east side of the stadium. This area is spacious and open, with wide and accessible walkways, 12 new ticket windows and a permanent Fanatics team shop tucked into the covered heritage plaza concourse. A gigantic sign reminds visitors that oxygen is scarcer at 6,621 feet above sea level.
Various historical elements made their way into the new design, too, including a monument wall and the repositioning of flag poles and the falcon statue from the existing stadium. The entrance also features the “Falcon Stadium” letters that adorned the stadium when it first opened in 1962.
“The design has come together. … We’ve brought a lot of old into the new,” says Rob Clough, project superintendent for GE Johnson, the construction company leading the project.
INSIDE THE STADIUM
The new east-side building is named the Kucera Legacy Center in honor of lead donors Jack Kucera (class of 1978) and his spouse, Vianne.
Upstairs is the new East Club presented by L3 Harris, a state-of-the art space with 1,200 new premium seats, including 850 new indoor premium club seats with four seating options: living room loge, standard loge, premium club and standard club. These offer stunning views of the field from climate-controlled comfort. The living room loge and premium club are already sold out. Below are 350 covered outdoor chairback seats in an area called The Overlook.
Behind the seats in the East Club is an 11,000-square-foot banquet space with sweeping views of Colorado Springs on one side and the field on the other. Graphics and mementoes line the walls throughout–a collection of Falcon football helmets behind glass and artsy renditions of the Cadet Chapel and Polaris Hall. Adjacent north and south open-air decks will be available for alumnae gatherings, recruiting, corporate events and more.
The east-side addition will have a noticeable impact on the entire stadium, multiplying by four the concessions capacity, as well as the number of entrances and bathrooms.
Lighting also got an overhaul—to LEDs, which will allow for light shows, quick on-and-off capabilities and an increased “fun fan experience,” says Matt McGahey, Air Force senior athletics director for external operations.
FOOD + BEVERAGES
Earlier this year, Air Force Athletics partnered with hospitality guru Levy to handle food and drinks for the stadium and other USAFA venues. First step? Building a commercial kitchen on site.
“You’re going to see a lot of really elevated food options,” McGahey says.
A recent media tour of the stadium included tastings of some of the new offerings. Among the highlights? B-21 Bomber Nachos: chips
shaped like Stealth bombers and manufactured just for USAFA by Denver-based Raquelitas, topped with a secret sauce and other bits of deliciousness. And the bonus... The nachos come in a Stealth-shaped box, with “Go Falcons” imprinted on the bottom. Once fans finish their snack, they have ready-made signs to wave.
Other options include Blue Steely Mac-n-Cheese (white mac-n-cheese topped with spicy blue chips), Fighting Falcon Dog (spicy sausage topped with coleslaw and spicy mayo) and a Green Chili Chicken Wrap. They are also debuting more “grab-and-go” options and a Kids MRE, which comes in its own souvenir lunch box.
Wondering about the beer? There is a new, local sponsor: Bristol Brewing Company.
A substantial increase in the number of food and beverage points of sale is expected to cut the register-to-patron ratio in half, meaning less time in line.
OTHER EVENTS
Falcon Stadium is, of course, best known for Air Force football games and USAFA graduation.
With the upgrades, however, the stadium is positioned to become a much bigger player in hosting other local events on non-football days. Weddings. Reunions. Receptions. Corporate events.
And a major expansion of the tunnel coming into the stadium on the north end to accommodate bigrig trucks opens the door to concerts and other high-profile events.
In other words, Pine says, stay tuned. Falcon Stadium is ready to soar.
Websites: https://goairforcefalcons.com/ and https://falconstadium.org/ Facebook: @AF.Falcons Instagram: @AF_Falcons
Care and Share is celebrating 50 years of serving our neighbors.
LFPA program. We are highlighting local farmers and ranchers we are helping through this program. We are able to purchase food from farmers and ranchers and then use that food to serve our neighbors through our mobile food markets. 7195281247 |
SALAD OR BUST: BRINGING HEALTHY EATS TO TWO SPRINGS LOCATIONS
Salads, Soups, Sandwiches and Much More!
ARTICLE BY CARA BUKACEK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BONNIE SINGLETON / POLLINATE MARKETING
Salad or Bust participates in the First Friday Art Walk downtown. Stop in to see a new artist’s work each month.
Have you ever found yourself at an outdoor festival and wished there were healthier food options?
This is something that Bob and Stephanie Curtis found lacking at a local music festival in 2017. They were inspired to start a food truck of their own and decided that a salad bar food truck would not only be original, but also cost-effective and easily customizable.
THE IDEAL SET OF WHEELS
Stephanie, a principal at a local school, bought a small school bus.
“A bus is set up perfectly for a salad bar,” Bob says. “You enter at one end and head down the main isle. The salad bar supplies and ingredients are located on both sides of the aisle for customers to select their toppings. Then, you exit out the back and pay for your plate based on weight.”
TIME TO PIVOT
In 2018, Salad or Bust was open for business, and it was hit. In a full-circle moment, the popular food truck was present at the music festival that inspired their idea. Everything was going well until the 2020 pandemic, when salad bars were suddenly considered a public health risk and customers were no longer allowed to be inside food trucks.
“We had to pivot. We started making pre-designed salads and sandwiches,” Bob says. “Because people were no longer allowed on the bus, we were also able to offer hot items like nachos.”
A NEW HOME
Early in the pandemic, Bristol Brewing invited Salad or Bust to park at Ivywild so they could legally sell beer. It was a mutually beneficial relationship. Then, in March 2021, Salad or Bust was invited to move inside Ivywild and it became their first brick-and-mortar location. Around the same time, the food truck was rear-ended, incurring considerable damage. The Curtises decided to sell it.
A SECOND HOME
In October 2021, the Curtises learned that the Pita Pit in downtown Colorado Springs was closing. It was set up perfectly for their business model and had all the right equipment. They opened a second location and Chef Erin Bray was hired to lend her expertise on designing a new menu that also included grain bowls and a soup program.
COLLABORATION
As an homage to the food truck community that they once belonged to, the Curtises decided to offer collaboration dinners once a month.
“We started doing this because we wanted to provide opportunities for our food truck community to branch out and leave their comfort zone. We invite a food truck to create a dish, a beverage distributor to provide cocktail or beer pairings, and Chef Bray designs the menu around a theme and creates the remaining three courses.”
These monthly dinners allow the food trucks and beverage distributors to demonstrate their creativity and signature flavors; they also highlight the immense talent of Chef Bray. She executes a very elevated dining experience.
LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS
• Salad or Bust offers several vegan options.
• You can purchase frozen soups to take home; just ask for a list at the counter.
• Seasonal items are added to the menu throughout the year.
• If you can’t decide what to order, try a combo.
• Salad or Bust participates in the First Friday Art Walk downtown. Stop in to see a new artist’s work each month. And enjoy the acoustic duo, Amore, while you gaze at the art.
Website: https://saladorbust.com/
Instagram: @SaladOrBust
Facebook: @SaladOrBustDeli & @SaladOrBustDowntown
Humana can help you choose a Medicare plan
Humana can help you choose a Medicare plan
Find a Humana plan that fits your g oals and your life
Find a Humana plan that fits your g oals and your life
It’s time to choose your 2023 Medicare plan, and Humana and I are here to help you understand your options. A Humana Medicare Advantage plan gives you everything you get with Original Medicare, and may have additional benefits and services that meet your healthcare needs. Humana offers these plans at attractive premiums.
It’s time to choose your 2023 Medicare plan, and Humana and I are here to help you understand your options. A Humana Medicare Advantage plan gives you everything you get with Original Medicare, and may have additional benefits and services that meet your healthcare needs. Humana offers these plans at attractive premiums.
Call a licensed Humana sales agent
Call a licensed Humana sales agent
Humana MarketPoint® Office
Humana MarketPoint® Office
719-532-7700 (TTY: 711)
719-532-7700 (TTY: 711)
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal.
Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal.
Y0040_GHHHXDHEN _23_SMAD_M
events
SEPTEMBER 1ST
Taking Truffle Dinners to New Heights
The Broadmoor's Cloud Camp | 7:00 PM
The Broadmoor's all-inclusive mountaintop hideaway, Cloud Camp, turns to all-things truffle through the end of its 2024 season. The limited-edition truffle dinner menus will celebrate this mushroom delicacy with multiple dishes such as Eagles Nest Ranch Wagyu tenderloin (truffle crusted beef tenderloin, roasted root vegetables, parsnip purée, truffle jus). These special menus are only available for Cloud Camp’s overnight guests beginning September 1. https://www.broadmoor.com/cloud-camp
SEPTEMBER 4TH
Summer Concert Series
Hillside Gardens | 6:00 PM
Hillside Gardens summer concert series happens every Wednesday through October 2nd. Three bands every night. Music from 6-8:30 pm; gates open at 5:00 pm. Admission is $18. They offer a variety of wines, beer, and cocktails at eight different bars. Local food vendors serve a variety of fares from light bites to dinner. Bring folding chairs or blankets. Ages 16 and up. https://www.hillsidecolorado.com/wednesdayconcerts
SEPTEMBER 8TH
Porchfest
Block Party on North Corona Street, Patty Jewett Neighborhood | 1:00 PM
Summer in Colorado Springs isn’t really over until Porchfest is over! This year the big Porchfest block party will be on North Corona Street from 1-5 pm. This is a family-oriented afternoon where you’ll hear three bands on three different porches. Choose from a dozen food trucks (or, try them all!). Face-painting and other activities for kids and the kid in all of us. https://www.peakradar.com/event/porchfest/
SEPTEMBER 11TH
Wynonna Judd
Pikes Peak Center | 7:30 PM
Wynonna Judd is bringing her Back To Wy Tour to Colorado Springs. With the release of her 1992 self-titled solo debut, Wynonna emerged as a singular force in American music. Grammy Awards. Multi-platinum albums. Sold-out tours. Wynonna has matured into a woman who has embraced how life is filled with peaks and valleys, great thrills, and heavy disappointment. https://www.pikespeakcenter.com/events/detail/wynonnajudd
SEPTEMBER 14TH
3rd Annual Best of the West Wing Fest
Western Museum of Mining and Industry | 1:00 PM
Ever wondered, “What’s the best chicken wing in Colorado Springs?” No need to wonder anymore. Come to Best of the West Wing Fest to help decide who’s got the best! This event is a fun, community-building festival with something for everyone, where the community (not a panel of judges) gets to crown the best chicken wing in Colorado Springs. www.bestofthewestwingfest.com
SEPTEMBER 14TH
Fiestas Patrias
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum | 11:00 AM
This two-day family festival invites people from diverse Hispanic origins to come together and experience the rich tapestry of our heritage. Get ready for a weekend filled with live music, colorful dancing, and the exhilarating spectacle of Mexican wrestling. Browse through our array of vendor booths offering crafts, artwork, and authentic Hispanic goods, and tantalize your taste buds with a variety of mouthwatering food options. www.fiestaspatriascolorado.com
SEPTEMBER 15TH
Taste of OCC - Food & Wine Festival
Bancroft Park | 1:00 PM
Grab your friends and families for a day of eating, drinking, and entertainment! This event is FREE and open to the public. A select few of the best local restaurants will each offer their most delicious food items. Food tickets will be conveniently available on-site. And the Old Colorado City Partnership (OCCP) will be running the beer and wine tent, offering a fantastic selection of beverages. https://www.oldcoloradocitypartnership.org/events/taste-of-occ-food-wine-festival
SEPTEMBER 15TH
Pentatonix
Ford Amphitheater | 7:30 PM
Three-time Grammy Award-winning artist Pentatonix has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide and performed for hundreds of thousands of fans. This a cappella group is characterized by the pop-style arrangements with vocal harmonies, scat singing, riffing, vocal percussion and beatboxing. https://fordamphitheater.live/upcoming-shows/
SEPTEMBER 21ST
Pikes Peak Ascent
Downtown Manitou Springs | 7:00 AM
The Pikes Peak Ascent is a grueling 13.3-mile race from Manitou Springs to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak. Beginning in downtown Manitou Springs, the course proceeds along 1.5 miles of road before joining into Pikes Peak’s Barr Trail. This is the sister race to the Pikes Peak Marathon, run the following day -- all the way up, then back down. https://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/
SEPTEMBER 21ST
14th Annual Powwow
Rock Ledge Ranch | 10:00 AM
The Garden of the Gods Rock Ledge Ranch Powwow celebrates and honors Native American cultures and history through song, dance and traditions. It brings people together to see old friends and make new ones. Before the grand entry of dancers, a storyteller and dance troupe will perform. Enjoy an Indian taco or other delicious food, and explore the vendors selling an assortment of items, mostly homemade. https://rockledgeranch.com/event/annual-powwow-2/
SEPTEMBER 24TH
September Wine Dinner
UVA Wine Bar | 6:30 PM
Friuli Colli Orientali (“eastern hills of Friuli”) is a significant DOC title used in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in the far northeastern corner of Italy. It is an astonishing land that tells its story through its unique wines. Enjoy dinner and some beautiful wines from this region. $75 per person. https://www.uvawinebarcos.com/events
SEPTEMBER 27TH
Los Lobos
Boot Barn Hall | 7:00 PM
Los Lobos have created an unprecedented body of work. The numbers are staggering: 100+ gigs a year for five decades running, crossing millions of miles to rock millions of fans. Five blood brothers who have dedicated their off-stage time to helping others, working for peace and justice, penning important music. https://bootbarnhallco.yapsody.com/event/index/811469/los-lobos?tag_code=4e53381d74
