Today’s deal is from a National Championship pair event. South was Riva Ko, from Goshen, New York. Ko didn’t have much for her overcall, but she doubled three clubs thinking the opponents might be out of their depth at the three level. She was right about that, but her partner was after the
vulnerable game bonus and bid four spades. Making four spades would be easy thanks to the favorable layout, but Ko found a way to make an overtrick – precious in a pair event. Ko won the opening heart lead with her ace and led the jack of spades, covered by the king, and won with dummy’s ace. A low heart went to East’s seven, and East continued with a high heart. Ko ruffed with the eight of trumps and led a diamond to dummy’s jack and East’s ace. Another high heart was ruffed with the nine of spades. Ko played the ace of clubs and ruffed a club, followed by the King and another diamond. East ruffed and Ko over-ruffed with the 10. This was the position:
Ko ruffed a club with the six of spades, ruffed a diamond with the two of spades, and took the last trick with dummy’s queen of trumps, finally drawing West’s last trump. Well done! 8
Friday, March 6, 5–8 p.m.
From ‘Anchorman’ to ‘The Office’
Actor and comedian David Koechner, who’s made a career out of playing the loudest character in the room, is coming to The Black Sheep.
15
Yard art earns the spotlight in new exhibit
More than 30 artists are part of ‘Where I Learned to Look: Art from the Yard’ at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College.
16 20
A topical-ish take on ‘Bride of Frankenstein’
‘The Bride!’ might be edgy and evocative but the storytelling suffers, critic Katie Walsh finds.
High-flying fare at Springs food truck
With wings and sandwiches, Flighty Fowl food truck offers creative, well-prepared chicken.
PHOTO BY CRISS CAIN
Heart will draw on 50-plus years of hits for Springs performance
BY DAVE GIL DE RUBIO
Last Word Features
In September 1975, Heart’s debut album, “Dreamboat Annie,” was released.
Fast-forward more than a half century, and Heart has resumed a tour that was interrupted in 2024 when lead singer Ann Wilson was diagnosed with cancer.
According to Nancy Wilson, her sister received the necessary treatment, and Heart has been back on tour for nearly a year now.
“She’s actually really doing 100% great — looking good, sounding good, feeling good,” Nancy said. “She really did all the homework and got herself really well. Now it’s back to the loud office, back to the rock job.”
That rock job brings her to Colorado Springs on Monday for a 7:30 p.m. show at The Broadmoor World Arena, 3185 Venetuc-
ci Blvd. Tickets start at $49.50 and are available at broadmoorworldarena.com and axs.com. Special guest Lucinda Williams will open the performance.
“We’re going to have a real flexible set,” Nancy Wilson said. “You could do the rocked-out big hits at the beginning and then do more acoustic, less rock in the second half or something in between.
It’s nice to have all these cool songs to look at, pick from.”
The ability of the Wilson sisters to write songs that range from melodic heavy rock to lovely acoustic ballads has given Heart sustained success. In all, the band has released 16 studio albums, had 20 Top 40 singles and sold 35 million albums. Heart was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
The members of Heart.
‘LA VIDA LOCA’ BY COLORADO SPRINGS PHILHARMONIC
The vibe is turning hot this weekend when guest conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez, guest vocalists Jackie Mendez and Ender Thomas, and guest musicians José Sibaja on trumpet and percussionist Luisito Quintero belt out hits by several popular Latin artists. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave. Tickets are $35-$121; pikespeakcenter.com, axs.com.
THE ELDERS
The longtime, six-piece Celtic rock band from Kansas City, Mo., will perform its blend of Irish roots, folk-rock and Americana at 7 p.m. Friday at Stargazers Theatre & Event Center, 10 S. Parkside Drive. The band’s popular songs include “American Wake,” “Racing the Tide,” “Gael Day” and “Story Road.” Tickets are $25; stargazerstheatre.com.
View the complete list online!
FRIDAY MAR. 6 FRI & SAT MAR. 6 & 7
‘LIFE AND TIMES: A JIM CROCE LEGACY BAND’
Local guitarists Dale Miller and Doug Zinn, along with bassist Rob Pearson, will pay homage to Jim Croce, a 1960s and 1970s folk and rock singer-songwriter whose songs include “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” The free show is at 7 p.m. Saturday in Packard Hall at Colorado College, 5 W. Cache La Poudre St.; coloradocollege.edu.
TOBYMAC, CROWDER AND JEREMY CAMP
This weekend, three Christian artists will light up The Broadmoor World Arena, 3185 Venetucci Blvd. On deck are hip-hop, pop and rock singer TOBYMAC, best known for “I Just Need U” and “Everything”; Crowder, known for “Good God Almighty”; and Camp, who sings “I Still Believe.” Show is at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $30-$245; broadmoorworldarena.com.
LOCAL H
SUNDAY MAR. 8
1990s grunge is alive with Local H, an alternative rock duo that hit it big with their 1996 album “As Good as Dead” and its single “Bound for the Floor.” The show kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Phil Long Music Hall at Bourbon Brothers, 13071 Bass Pro Drive, $25.64-$59.52; phillongmusichall.com.
SATURDAY MAR. 7
SUNDAY MAR. 8
Electronic music — and mushroom music — take the stage at festival
BY JENNIFER MULSON Springs Scene
Next time you eat a mushroom risotto, know those fungi were making music before sliding down your gullet.
It turns out mushrooms have an electromagnetic field that makes music, and you can hear their songs at the third annual Electrowave: The Rocky Mountain Electronic Music Festival. The mostly free event is Friday through Sunday at Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Ave.; electrowavemusicfestival.org.
“There are little synthesizers that you can hook up to mushrooms, and they respond to the mushrooms’ electromagnetic field, and they make music,” said the festival’s co-founder and artistic director, Jon Forshee. “Kind of a mystical windchime.”
A Myco-Music Installation, where festivalgoers can listen to the mushrooms, will be available. And a Myco-Music Performance will feature
COURTESY OF JON FORSHEE
Trumpet player Jeff Kaiser will perform at Electrowave: The Rocky Mountain Electronic Festival this weekend at Ent Center for the Arts.
musicians collaborating with the sound of the mushrooms. It’s at 3 p.m. Sunday within Nina Elder’s “The Source Never Diminishes” exhibit in the Galleries of Contemporary Art at the Ent Center.
MARCH 6TH & 7TH, 9AM - 5PM
MARCH 8TH, 10AM - 4PM
Join us for our 30th Garden Success Show seminar series and kick-off to our 92nd spring in business! We have a great lineup of speakers from Spencer’s and our trusted colleagues. Visit www.spencersgardens.com to sign up. Registration is FREE but space is limited so you must reserve your spot.
The festival, a collaboration between the Colorado Modular Synth Society and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Department of Music, was conceived to pay homage to electronic music, electronic mu-
sical instruments, and performers, composers and facilitators of electronic and electroacoustic music.
Among this year’s offerings are a Friday night dance club party with five DJs, two free concerts each day, lectures, workshops and a synthesizer petting zoo, where attendees can play with different synthesizers.
A Friday afternoon lecture by UCCS lecturer, composer and sound designer Bonny Baez will focus on developing audio for video games, and on Saturday night, trumpet electronics musician Jeff Kaiser, from the University of Missouri, will perform.
“This one should be pretty far out,” Forshee said. “He’s a guru in the electronic music world. He’s innovative in a lot of ways, combining live trumpet performance with electronics, and making interesting and bizarre things like noise music covers of Bob Dylan.”
11:45 A.M. New Varieties from Ball FloraPlant & Selecta
1:00 P.M. Mythbusting & Common Questions
2:15 P.M. Designing and Planting Beautiful Flower Pots
3:30 P.M. Plants for the Western Garden
SUNDAY, MARCH 8TH
10:15 A.M. Tomatoes
11:30 A.M. Great Hardy Landscape Trees & Shrubs
12:30 P.M. FoxFarm
1:30 P.M. Lawn Care for the Pikes Peak Region
2:45 P.M. Beautiful Roses: A Simple Guide to Growing and Nurturing
Register at www.spencersgardens.com!
Event
FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES MUSHROOMS
BY JENNIFER MULSON Springs Scene
Ben Kinsley is a man who likes to dress up as a mushroom.
IF YOU GO
What: Fungi Film Fest
When: 1-3 p.m.
Sunday Where: Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Ave.
Price: $5-$15; entcenterfor thearts.org
For the past several years, he and his creative team of Riitta Ikonen and Jessica Langley have attended the Telluride Mushroom Festival, which is famous for its costume parade and costume contest.
And each year, they’ve managed to crack the code and win awards for their costumes. There’s even a documentary, “Fest in Show,” about their costumes available on YouTube.
Last year, the trio built a
20-foot-long log and dressed up as Chlorociboria, a widespread genus of fungi that produces very small, blue-green cups. They wore form-fitting blue and green outfits and rode inside their log apparatus to imitate the microscopic mushrooms that grow on sticks.
“We dressed as the larger version and got wheeled through the parade,” said Kinsley, a professor and co-director of visual art in the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Department of Visual and Performing Arts.
“It’s a cool mushroom because it stains wood turquoise. In fine woodworking, you’ll see turquoise
inlays — that’s wood turned turquoise by the mushroom.”
After winning their award, the trio made a four-minute film while in their costumes and submitted it to the 2025 Fungi Film Fest.
“It’s a fun way to get people excited about paying attention to the small things in the forest and scientifically documenting them,” Kinsley said. “You’ll learn about this genus and how to identify it. It’s edutainment (educational and entertainment). Educational in a way that helps people understand the importance of scientific collections and documentation of mushrooms you can find.”
Chanterelles, morels, waxy caps and puffballs. There’s no doubt about it — mushrooms are en vogue.
Fungi flew under the radar for centuries, says Peter McCoy, co-founder of Radical Mycology, a Portland, Ore.-based organization that helps promote the study of mycology, or fungi. But over the last 10 to 15 years, there’s been a cultural shift, and fungi fans have begun to cast a spotlight on the vital organisms that are so beneficial environmentally and biologically.
COURTESY OF FUNGI FILM FEST
In 2020, Peter McCoy founded the Fungi Film Fest, the world’s only film festival devoted to mushrooms, lichens and micro fungi, and it’s coming to Colorado Springs for the first time on Sunday, during Electrowave: The Rocky Mountain Electronic Festival at Ent Center for the Arts.
The festival will act as a fundraiser, with 30% of ticket sales going to the film festival, and the rest helping to support the University of Colorado Mycological Society, the student mushroom club at UCCS.
“For the bulk of Western civilization’s development, we’ve had a poor relationship with mycology, and a limited understanding,” McCoy said. “We’ve been ignorant of them until recently. In the last quarter of the 20th century, we began to understand how important they are. We’re developing an unprecedented relationship with an aspect of the natural world that we feared.”
HOW MANY FILMS?
The 125-minute festival features 14 films of varying lengths, from a couple of minutes to 20 minutes, by filmmakers from around the world.
WHAT KIND OF FILMS?
All types: comedies, animation, music video abstract. This year leans more toward documentaries.
“A lot of people loved this year the most, this is what they’re more comfortable with, what they expect – more science-y, more straightforward. We have a couple of creative films this year,” McCoy said.
A FEW OF THE FILMS
• “Caverns and Coprophilia”: A doctor and a biologist make scientific discoveries underground while collecting rare specimens of poop-loving fungi. (Documentary)
• “Awake: The Dark Night of the Soul”: A sad alien eats a magic mushroom trying to escape his problems, but suddenly starts a psychedelic trip to self-knowledge. (Animated, experimental)
• “Myconism”: Exploring what it would look like if humanity were born from a cult devoted to fungi. A combination of animation and photography imagines fungi being honored through values, prayers, dances and rituals in harmony with nature. (Experimental)
• “Savior – Mars FM”: A fuzzy little guy takes viewers through the forests of the Pacific Northwest as he investigates mushrooms, until one mushroom helps him investigate himself. (Music video)
ANOTHER COLORADO FILM IN THE FESTIVAL
• “Peaks to Prairie: A Holistic Regenerative Approach”: Longmont-based filmmaker Chad Weber won the festival’s award for best edutaining film. The film shows how fungi are used to restore degraded lands in Boulder County. It depicts the cycle of better forest management to avoid wildfires.
“It’s better to trim trees and underbrush and take the underbrush out of the forest so it’s not fuel, and feed it to the mushrooms, grow mycelium, and apply that in degraded pasture land to build up the soil,” McCoy said.
RICK SCUTERI, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY APRIL BORJON Springs Scene
A self-centered 1970s sports broadcaster in “Anchorman.”
The obnoxious menace of a co-worker in “The Office.”
And the chaotic, unpredictable uncle in “Hannah Montana.”
Those are just a few of the larger-than-life personalities brought to the screen by actor and comedian David Koechner, who’s made a career out of playing the loudest character in the room.
Now, armed with nothing but a microphone, Koechner will give Colorado Springs audiences the chance to decide: Did his comedy skills create the outrageous characters or have the characters refined his outrageous style of comedy?
As part of “The Never Ending Tour,” Koechner will take the stage at The Black Sheep on Thursday, bringing his anything-goes humor to an intimate venue.
Ahead of his performance, he reflected on his experiences in film and television, real-life comedy inspirations and what audiences can expect from his upcoming show.
How does your comedic approach differ when you’re performing for a camera compared to when you’re onstage in front of a live audience?
I’ve always found myself pursuing the laugh since I was in grade school. I think that’s probably the point for me — what I was made to do, I’m guessing. That’s the thing I enjoy most, getting a laugh, and when you’re on stage or on camera, that’s what you’re doing. When doing stand-up, when you’re doing improvisation, that’s a form of acting. I like to leave room for some spontaneous stuff throughout the show, but there’s strategy behind my questions. Stand-up is acting just as much as filming.
Champ Kid in “Anchorman” and Todd Packer in “The Office” are prime examples of the hilarious, outrageous characters you tend to play. Have those roles influenced your stand-up style or shaped the way you think about comedy? You have peaks and valleys in your ca reer. For whatever reason, right now, the bulk of my work is stand-up. I’ve been inspired, but I’m more grateful. If you reflect back on how grateful you are that all these opportunities came and you met the challenge, things tend to turn around. You never know what’s going to happen in your showbiz life. It used to be you’d make a certain amount for a role, and it paid very well, but times have changed because of AI and all this other stuff. Now, I’m just grateful that I have something where I can create my own job.
of things that are available to fuse your act with something fresh or create a new avenue for success with a laugh. Experimentation is always a good idea.
Many comedians draw from their personal lives for material. Are there particular experiences or moments in your own life that you feel have significantly shaped your sense of humor?
My whole act is about my life. You can’t believe some of the real things that have happened that turn out to be great comedy bits. So for me, it all has a grain of truth in it. For instance, there’s this bit I do: I was at a kid’s birthday party when a man I introduced myself to said, “We’ve met three times.” That interaction spurred a whole thing, and I was like, “Well why don’t you be a little bit more memorable?” A small story became a bit, and stories like that happen every day. It’s just about how you play with the topic.
You’ve worked alongside some notable names in comedy over the years. Are there comedians or collaborators who’ve had a lasting influence on your style or perspective?
When I was a kid, I was a big fan of Abbott and Costello, the Marx Brothers and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Obviously, Will Ferrell, me and Steve Carell have had a fun relationship. There are also several writers I’ve worked with again and again over the years. You find these relationships that work, then you get a good intuitive sense of working with each other and sparks fly.
Since your early days of performing, how has your approach to comedy evolved? Well, it’s like anything. The more you do something, the better you get. You know, you can see great names at different times in your career, but at some point, it becomes all about how much work you put into it. Some people like their sets to be very rigid, and that works for them, but I like to leave room for spontaneity. You might discover a different way of doing things, or you might play with language. Wit is just brevity of the soul, so the fewer words you can use to tell any story or joke, the better it’s going to be. There’s a myriad
You’re bringing “The Never Ending Tour” to Colorado Springs. What can audiences expect from this show, and how did the tour earn its name?
I have five kids. Their expenses are never-ending, so I can’t stop. I’m an alcoholic and divorced father of five, so all of those complications, irritations and delights are encapsulated in my hour of stand-up. Rob Maher and I have worked together for eight years, and he’s been my opener for all that time. My daughter also goes to school in Boulder, so after the Colorado shows, I get to see her for a few days before heading to El Paso, Texas, next.
JEFF DUNHAM: ‘ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE’
The hilarious ventriloquist and his cast of puppets, including Walter, Peanut and Bubba J, are coming to The Broadmoor World Arena. Known for blending sharp stand-up with outrageous puppet banter, Dunham delivers rapid-fire punchlines. 7 p.m. Wednesday, 3185 Venetucci Blvd., $77$231; broadmoorworldarena.com.
TREVOR WALLACE: ‘THE ALPHA BETA MALE’
The stand-up comedian and internet sensation takes the stage at Shockley-Zalabak Theater at Ent Center for the Arts for his latest tour. With more than 2.5 billion views across social media, his resume includes Comedy Central and the Netflix Is A Joke Festival, 7 p.m. Saturday, $43.50$53.50; trevorwallace.com.
View the complete list online!
‘SUITCASE FAIRYTALES’
Birgitta DePree brings Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved stories to life in this playful, interactive production at The Millibo Art Theatre. Featuring favorites such as “The Little Mermaid,” the 50-minute show mixes silly characters, lively storytelling and audience participation, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, 1626 S. Tejon St., $15; themat.org.
MIKE STANLEY LIVE!
The veteran comedian brings his stand-up to Loonees Comedy Corner. Having appeared at Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, he has shared the stage with comedy heavyweights including Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams and Bill Burr. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, 1305 N. Academy Blvd., $15-$80; looneescc.com.
NIGHT OF HOPE: ‘CASA GOES COMEDY’
Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Pikes Peak Region hosts its Night of Hope fundraiser at The Pinery at the Hill. The evening features a comedy show, buffet, two drink tickets and a silent auction, all supporting CASA’s work with local youth, 6 p.m. Saturday, 775 W. Bijou St., $145; thepinery.com.
MONTE VISTA CRANE FESTIVAL
The 43rd annual festival gives visitors a front-row seat to thousands of sandhill cranes, ducks, geese and raptors migrating through the San Luis Valley. Tours embark from the Ski Hi Complex (2335 Sherman Ave.) in Monte Vista, where attendees can learn about birds. Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., $10-$48.15; mvcranefest.org.
DENVER RESTAURANT WEEK
From Friday until March 15, more than 270 restaurants across the metro are serving up special multicourse menus at fixed prices of $25, $35, $45 or $55. Presented by OpenTable and organized by Colorado Restaurant Association, the event highlights Michelin-starred kitchens and James Beard Award-winning chefs; denverrestaurantweek.com.
SAT, SUN MAR. 6 - 8
FRIDAY, MAR. 6, THROUGH MAR. 15
LEADVILLE SKIJORING
Returning Saturday and Sunday, this fast-paced competition has horses and riders pulling skiers through gates, jumps and rings for cash prizes. A Colorado tradition since 1949, the free event kicks off at 9 a.m. both days along Harrison Avenue, with an award ceremony at the Elks Club, 123 W Fifth St., Leadville; leadvilleskijoring.com.
ANA MARÍA HERNANDO: ‘SEGUIR CANTANDO’
Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (1485 Delgany St.) presents the largest solo museum exhibition in a decade by Argentine-born, Colorado-based artist Ana María Hernando. Available to view through July 5, the opening party takes place Thursday from 7:30 to 10 p.m., Denver, $32.77-$69.40; mcadenver.org.
‘A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM’
THURSDAY MAR. 5
Colorado Ballet returns to Ellie Caulkins Opera House (1400 Curtis St.) for the first time in a decade with Christopher Wheeldon’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” from Friday until March 15. The Shakespearean comedy is accompanied by Mendelssohn’s score performed by Colorado Ballet Orchestra, $40-$160, Denver; coloradoballet.org.
& SUN MAR. 7 - 8
FRIDAY, MAR. 6, THROUGH MAR. 15
Win Over $850 in Prizes — Including a 3‑Tier Wedding Cake ($425 value) from Icing on the Cake!
Sweet treats for every event & occasion
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As a limited‑time bonus, couples who reserve their wedding cake by the end of March can receive 10% off using promo code Gazette10. The code must be provided before payment and cannot be combined with other discounts.
In addition to an extensive selection of flavors, the bakery can accommodate a myriad of dietary needs, including vegan, gluten‑free and vegan‑gluten‑free options. Beyond cakes, Icing on the Cake provides customizable dessert bars featuring fresh‑baked cookies, mini and whole cheesecakes, assorted pies, brownies, lemon bars, cake pops, cupcakes and more. These dessert assortments are ideal for weddings, showers, parties and corporate gatherings, and can be tailored to match any style, theme or guest count.
Icing on the Cake looks forward to being part of its customers’ sweetest celebrations and creating desserts that make every moment unforgettable.
1/29/26 – 3/05/26
If you would like your business to be featured in one of The Gazette’s Business Spotlight series, please contact: Nikki Dirks - 719.636.0325 - nikki.dirks@gazette.com
Continued
‘BRANSBY RETROSPECTIVE’
Eric Bransby, who died in 2020, has 30-plus murals in prominent buildings across the U.S. His wife, Mary Ann Bransby, who died in 2011, was a longtime painter who founded Pikes Peak Watercolor Society. A collection of their works is up through March 13 at Pikes Peak State College Gallery at Studio West. The free opening reception is 5-7 p.m. Friday, 22 N. Sierra Madre St.; pikespeak.edu.
‘RADISH ROW’ BY JASMINE MCGLADE AND ‘COLLECTING CHANGES A PERMANENT RECORD’ BY DIANE REEVES
Inspired by the structure and life of gardens, McGlade created bold paintings indicative of plants. Reeves has a display of living plants that have been pressed, named and archived. A free opening reception is 5-9 p.m. Friday. Up through March 27 at Surface Gallery, 2752 W. Colorado Ave.; surfacegallerycos.com.
View the complete list online!
THROUGH MAR. 13
THROUGH MAR. 27
WORKS BY APRIL STARK AND KEN WILLIAMS
Both artists work in watercolor, oil and acrylics. Exhibits open with a free opening reception with complimentary wine and chocolate from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Gallery 113, 125 N. Tejon St. The shows are up through March; gallery113cos.com.
‘MARIA GASPAR: CLAMOUR’
In 2021, as Cook County Department of Corrections began demolishing jail dormitories, artist Maria Gaspar documented the event. “Clamour” captures one part of the building block being torn down. It’s part of the Contemporary Film, Video and Sound Series at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College. It runs through April 4; 30 W. Dale St.
THROUGH APRIL 4
‘SACRED ROOTS: THE ART OF THE LIVING EARTH’
BY MADHURI AND ‘STEP, REPEAT’
Madhuri uses ancient Indian art forms to explore the relationship between heritage and the environment. In “Step Repeat,” works use a repeated pattern as an intentional element. Both are up through March 28 with a free opening reception from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E. Colorado Ave.
THROUGH MARCH
THROUGH
MAR. 28
COURTESY OF JOSH T. FRANCO
A piece of yard art in the original exhibit “Where I Learned to Look: Art from the Yard,” produced by the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania.
New exhibit features yard art by 30-plus artists
BY JENNIFER MULSON Springs Scene
Art exhibits don’t only inhabit fancy galleries.
They can also sprout up in the most innocuous of spaces — a front yard.
The new exhibit “Where I Learned to Look: Art from the Yard” at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., explores the role of yards in shaping contemporary art in the U.S. It opens Friday with a free opening reception from 5-8 p.m., and runs through July 25; fac.coloradocollege.edu.
“I’m thinking of it (yard art) as the space between home and the wider world that people still have creative agency over and putting it on display for the greater world, rather than a certain kind of shape or form,” said artist and art historian Josh T. Franco, who curated the show.
Franco got curious about yard art due to his grandfather, a prolific yard artist whose works will be in the group show, including a windmill he made.
The reason for Franco’s intrigue is simple: “That you can basically do what you want.”
Imaginations soar in a world of wild swans, brave princesses, silly emperors, rascally weavers, and flying suitcases. Don’t miss this captivating treat for all ages.
SAT 11am & 2pm SUN 1pm & 3pm
More than 30 artists are included in the exhibit. Works include small pieces, like framed snapshots, and much larger works, like the oversized cornhole set in the FAC courtyard that people can play and the beautifully decorated Volkswagen Beetle in the gallery.
Franco will install a new piece in the outdoor sculpture gardens facing Cascade Avenue, as will Denver Native American artist Steven Yazzie, who will contribute a sculpture based on real estate signs.
“Some is art from actual yards, some is art that depicts yards,” Franco said. “Some of it is contemporary art made in a studio, made in context for a gallery or museum, but takes the language of yard art in some way. There’s a good track record, a few decades, of people thinking about this world of art.”
Franco also will install two snake sculptures at The Yard, a project space and site for public art curated by Jessica Langley and Ben Kinsley in their front yard in the Divine Redeemer neighborhood. Plug the coordinates 38.847596,104.799216 into Google Maps for an exact location.
Enjoy a selection of original short plays, poetry, monologues, music, and dance exploring the theme of “Women’s Work”. Now in its 20th year, the WTF continues to serve as a vital platform for showcasing the work of women artists and bold, original plays by visionary creatives. THUFRISAT 7:30pm SUN 2pm
Millibo’s award-winning summer programming in theatre, circus, and performing arts ignites imaginations, grows language and physical dexterity, and encourages children ages 4 to 18 to innovate, create, and dream! Summer Camp Schedule is Online Registration Open Now!
‘THE BRIDE!’
BY KATIE WALSH Tribune News Service
With her audacious sophomore feature “The Bride!” writer/director Maggie Gyllenhaal offers a topical-ish take on “Bride of Frankenstein”: What if “the Joker” was “brat”? (To borrow Charli XCX’s ineffable description of a rebellious party girl personality.)
Gyllenhaal brings this modern concept to the 91-year-old James Whale film (his sequel to “Frankenstein”), in which Elsa Lanchester made the Bride of Frankenstein an icon with her stripy electrified ‘do. But Gyllenhaal also pays homage to the era that birthed our Bride, and locates her as a feminist symbol in her past and our present. Set in 1936, Gyllenhaal’s future Bride is drunken flapper Ida (Jessie Buckley), a gangster’s moll who has run afoul of Chicago mobster Vito Lupino (Zlatko Buric). Ida’s at the end of her run, puking up oysters on the trousers of mob heavies while tormented by intrusive thoughts. But when she meets her demise and ends up in a pauper’s grave, that’s just the beginning of her story. Ida is plucked from the dirt by Fran-
kenstein’s monster (Christian Bale), who has traveled to Chicago in search of a wife to assuage his loneliness. He has sought out the expertise of Dr. Euphronius (Annette Bening) to bring life to his love, but when they lay out beautiful Ida on the slab and zap her back to life, neither were expecting a dame with such spark.
MOVIE DETAILS:
Clad in orange satin, with a fried blond bob and an inkblot of coughedup reanimating fluid smeared across her face, our Bride cuts a distinctive figure with her new lease on life.
(Jake Gyllenhaal), and the Bride can’t help but start a feminist revolution wherever she goes. Soon packs of copycat girls are aping her looks and posing provocatively with Tommy guns, while a pair of Chicago detectives (Peter Sarsgaard and Penélope Cruz) are hot on their heels in pursuit.
Rated R for strong/ bloody violent content, sexual content/nudity and language; 126 minutes; 2 stars (out of 4)
She and her Monster are hard to miss as they embark on a “Bonnie and Clyde” crime spree that involves going to a lot of movies and killing a lot of cops.
They’re a real film bro boyfriend/riot grrl girlfriend pair, as the Monster is obsessed with the films of a Fred Astaire-type movie star, Ronnie Reed
Movie Minis
BY CARLOTTA OLSON Springs Scene
‘DOLLY’
(Horror, R, 82 minutes). A young woman named Macy is abducted by a monstrous figure who intends to raise her as its own child.
‘ENHYPEN: WALK THE LINE SUMMER EDITION –IN CINEMAS’
(Music, not rated, 123 minutes). Looks at how the special bond between members of Enhypen helped fuel the band’s success in reaching a million-seller status within the first year.
‘PEAKY BLINDERS: THE IMMORTAL MAN’
(Drama, R, 112 minutes). Tommy Shelby returns to a bombed Birmingham during World War II to join a secret wartime mission, which forces him to come to terms with his past
‘PROTECTOR’
(Action, R, 92 minutes). After former war hero Nikki’s daughter is kidnapped, she finds herself thrust into the criminal underworld, being hunted by the cops and the military as she fights to rescue her child.
‘THE ROYAL BALLET: ROMEO AND JULIET’
(Performing Arts, not rated, 156 minutes). A ballet of feuding families where grudges spark conflict and violence.
“The Bride!” might be edgy, evocative and filled with sleazy goth vibes, but Gyllenhaal relies on mood, atmosphere and provocative imagery to the detriment of the overall storytelling, which borders on the incoherent. The film is handsomely shot by Lawrence Sher (“Joker”), with a camera that never stops moving, and a surgically skillful edit by Dylan Tichenor (“Boogie Nights”) knits it all together within every scene, but the narrative itself feels as dismembered and sewn back together as one of Frankenstein’s monstrous creations.
‘HOPPERS’
BY KATIE WALSH Tribune News Service
ton, where she makes herself a nuisance to the local mayor, Jerry (Jon Hamm).
‘YOUNGBLOOD’
(Drama, PG-13, 105 minutes). When Dean Youngblood, a Detroit hockey phenom, joins the Hamilton Mustangs, he must choose between revenge and maturity after he is benched.
A recurrent theme in movies aimed at younger audiences is often the idea of sharing — learning to coexist in harmony with the many occupants of the world around us. It’s an important lesson for kids, told in an appealing fictional form, but for older audiences, these morality tales can often feel like a balm, especially during troubled times. This story of community cooperation is at the core of “Hoppers,” the latest Disney/Pixar film co-written and directed by Daniel Chong (best known for the “We Bare Bears” series and movie). But what keeps “Hoppers” from drifting into Pollyannaish sensibility is its charming spikiness, and embrace of the weird, wacky and witty as it unfurls a high-tech action thriller about a strange, if brief, merging of the human and animal worlds.
Early on, Chong signals that this isn’t your average Disney animated movie with a Bikini Kill needle drop soundtracking the entrance of our hero, Mabel Tanaka (Piper Curda). Mabel is a fiery 19-year-old biology student and eco-activist in her hometown of Beaver-
When Mayor Jerry moves forward with the construction of a beltway that will destroy the glade where Mabel learned to calm her nervous system and love nature with her wise grandmother (Karen Huie), this riot grrl skates into action.
Mabel’s plan to lure animals back to the glade, thereby stopping the beltway, takes a curious turn when she follows a beaver to the university lab, where we finally learn the concept of “hopping” as
MOVIE DETAILS:
Rated PG for action/ peril, some scary images and mild language; 105 minutes; 3.5 stars (out of 4)
Mabel discovers that her professor has invented a technology that allows humans to transplant their consciousness into highly realistic robot animals.
While the academics wish only to use their powers for research and study, Mabel immediately hops into the beaver body with revolution on her mind.
Once Mabel is on the ground and up close with the animal kingdom, we can revel in the delightful textures that the
animation team has rendered: fuzzy beaver fur, blades of grass and pools of water that are all shockingly tactile. It’s stunning artistry mixed with a very funny introduction to King George (Bobby Moynihan), a benevolent beaver leader who has assembled every displaced animal in Beaverton in his massive dam. Despite the daily aerobics and rules about friendliness, it’s clear George’s commune is unsustainable, only further galvanizing Mabel’s commitment to stopping the beltway. The villain of “Hoppers” isn’t Mayor Jerry — he’s very likable, and just wants to get things done. It isn’t even the tyrannical monarch, though he has a touch of megalomania. It’s the finite resources of Beaverton. The animals, bugs, birds and fish understand that everything needs to be shared equally. It’s the humans who need that reminder, and it’s one that the future generations will have to take to heart more than anything.
DISNEY/PIXAR VIA TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
NIKO TAVENISE, WARNER BROS. PICTURES VIA TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
‘THE BRIDE!’
BY KATIE WALSH Tribune News Service
With her audacious sophomore feature “The Bride!” writer/director Maggie Gyllenhaal offers a topical-ish take on “Bride of Frankenstein”: What if “the Joker” was “brat”? (To borrow Charli XCX’s ineffable description of a rebellious party girl personality.)
Gyllenhaal brings this modern concept to the 91-year-old James Whale film (his sequel to “Frankenstein”), in which Elsa Lanchester made the Bride of Frankenstein an icon with her stripy electrified ‘do. But Gyllenhaal also pays homage to the era that birthed our Bride, and locates her as a feminist symbol in her past and our present. Set in 1936, Gyllenhaal’s future Bride is drunken flapper Ida (Jessie Buckley), a gangster’s moll who has run afoul of Chicago mobster Vito Lupino (Zlatko Buric). Ida’s at the end of her run, puking up oysters on the trousers of mob heavies while tormented by intrusive thoughts. But when she meets her demise and ends up in a pauper’s grave, that’s just the beginning of her story. Ida is plucked from the dirt by Fran-
kenstein’s monster (Christian Bale), who has traveled to Chicago in search of a wife to assuage his loneliness. He has sought out the expertise of Dr. Euphronius (Annette Bening) to bring life to his love, but when they lay out beautiful Ida on the slab and zap her back to life, neither were expecting a dame with such spark.
MOVIE DETAILS:
Clad in orange satin, with a fried blond bob and an inkblot of coughedup reanimating fluid smeared across her face, our Bride cuts a distinctive figure with her new lease on life.
(Jake Gyllenhaal), and the Bride can’t help but start a feminist revolution wherever she goes. Soon packs of copycat girls are aping her looks and posing provocatively with Tommy guns, while a pair of Chicago detectives (Peter Sarsgaard and Penélope Cruz) are hot on their heels in pursuit.
Rated R for strong/ bloody violent content, sexual content/nudity and language; 126 minutes; 2 stars (out of 4)
She and her Monster are hard to miss as they embark on a “Bonnie and Clyde” crime spree that involves going to a lot of movies and killing a lot of cops.
They’re a real film bro boyfriend/riot grrl girlfriend pair, as the Monster is obsessed with the films of a Fred Astaire-type movie star, Ronnie Reed
Movie Minis
BY CARLOTTA OLSON Springs Scene
‘DOLLY’
(Horror, R, 82 minutes). A young woman named Macy is abducted by a monstrous figure who intends to raise her as its own child.
‘ENHYPEN: WALK THE LINE SUMMER EDITION –IN CINEMAS’
(Music, not rated, 123 minutes). Looks at how the special bond between members of Enhypen helped fuel the band’s success in reaching a million-seller status within the first year.
‘PEAKY BLINDERS: THE IMMORTAL MAN’
(Drama, R, 112 minutes). Tommy Shelby returns to a bombed Birmingham during World War II to join a secret wartime mission, which forces him to come to terms with his past
‘PROTECTOR’
(Action, R, 92 minutes). After former war hero Nikki’s daughter is kidnapped, she finds herself thrust into the criminal underworld, being hunted by the cops and the military as she fights to rescue her child.
‘THE ROYAL BALLET: ROMEO AND JULIET’
(Performing Arts, not rated, 156 minutes). A ballet of feuding families where grudges spark conflict and violence.
“The Bride!” might be edgy, evocative and filled with sleazy goth vibes, but Gyllenhaal relies on mood, atmosphere and provocative imagery to the detriment of the overall storytelling, which borders on the incoherent. The film is handsomely shot by Lawrence Sher (“Joker”), with a camera that never stops moving, and a surgically skillful edit by Dylan Tichenor (“Boogie Nights”) knits it all together within every scene, but the narrative itself feels as dismembered and sewn back together as one of Frankenstein’s monstrous creations.
‘HOPPERS’
BY KATIE WALSH Tribune News Service
ton, where she makes herself a nuisance to the local mayor, Jerry (Jon Hamm).
‘YOUNGBLOOD’
(Drama, PG-13, 105 minutes). When Dean Youngblood, a Detroit hockey phenom, joins the Hamilton Mustangs, he must choose between revenge and maturity after he is benched.
A recurrent theme in movies aimed at younger audiences is often the idea of sharing — learning to coexist in harmony with the many occupants of the world around us. It’s an important lesson for kids, told in an appealing fictional form, but for older audiences, these morality tales can often feel like a balm, especially during troubled times. This story of community cooperation is at the core of “Hoppers,” the latest Disney/Pixar film co-written and directed by Daniel Chong (best known for the “We Bare Bears” series and movie). But what keeps “Hoppers” from drifting into Pollyannaish sensibility is its charming spikiness, and embrace of the weird, wacky and witty as it unfurls a high-tech action thriller about a strange, if brief, merging of the human and animal worlds.
Early on, Chong signals that this isn’t your average Disney animated movie with a Bikini Kill needle drop soundtracking the entrance of our hero, Mabel Tanaka (Piper Curda). Mabel is a fiery 19-year-old biology student and eco-activist in her hometown of Beaver-
When Mayor Jerry moves forward with the construction of a beltway that will destroy the glade where Mabel learned to calm her nervous system and love nature with her wise grandmother (Karen Huie), this riot grrl skates into action.
Mabel’s plan to lure animals back to the glade, thereby stopping the beltway, takes a curious turn when she follows a beaver to the university lab, where we finally learn the concept of “hopping” as
MOVIE DETAILS:
Rated PG for action/ peril, some scary images and mild language; 105 minutes; 3.5 stars (out of 4)
Mabel discovers that her professor has invented a technology that allows humans to transplant their consciousness into highly realistic robot animals.
While the academics wish only to use their powers for research and study, Mabel immediately hops into the beaver body with revolution on her mind.
Once Mabel is on the ground and up close with the animal kingdom, we can revel in the delightful textures that the
animation team has rendered: fuzzy beaver fur, blades of grass and pools of water that are all shockingly tactile. It’s stunning artistry mixed with a very funny introduction to King George (Bobby Moynihan), a benevolent beaver leader who has assembled every displaced animal in Beaverton in his massive dam. Despite the daily aerobics and rules about friendliness, it’s clear George’s commune is unsustainable, only further galvanizing Mabel’s commitment to stopping the beltway. The villain of “Hoppers” isn’t Mayor Jerry — he’s very likable, and just wants to get things done. It isn’t even the tyrannical monarch, though he has a touch of megalomania. It’s the finite resources of Beaverton. The animals, bugs, birds and fish understand that everything needs to be shared equally. It’s the humans who need that reminder, and it’s one that the future generations will have to take to heart more than anything.
DISNEY/PIXAR VIA TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
NIKO TAVENISE, WARNER BROS. PICTURES VIA TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
Scene TO STREAM
Netflix
‘The Iron Claw’
Feel like shedding a tear? “The Iron Claw” has landed on Netflix, bringing the tragic true story of the Von Erich family to your screen. Starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Lily James, the film shows the rise of the Von Erich brothers in professional wrestling and the devastating losses that followed. More than a sports drama, “The Iron Claw” dives into brotherhood, ambition and the crushing weight of legacy. — April Borjon
‘Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association’
The NBA before the NBA was the ABA. That’s the compelling argument of a new docuseries, “Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association,” which chronicles the league’s electric, short-lived era starting in 1967. Colorado Springs resident Rick Barry figures prominently, as does Spencer Haywood of the former Denver Rockets. Streaming on Amazon Prime. — Seth Boster
Words’
Eric Dane’s “Famous Last Words” posthumous interview leaves a mark. Just one day after the “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria” actor died Feb. 19, Netflix released the exclusive episode as part of its docuseries interviewing notable figures before their death. Having battled ALS for less than two years, Dane filmed his last words in November, leaving the world with one final message. — April Borjon
‘Love Story’
To this day, people remain fascinated by John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who died in 1999 when their plane went down off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. Only 38 and 33, respectively, people mourned, and still mourn, the untimely deaths. “Love Story,” a four-part limited series on FX and Hulu, immerses us in their relationship. — Jennifer Mulson
Peacock
‘Song Sung Blue’
Time to prep for the Oscars. Check out Kate Hudson, nominated for best actress, in the biopic “Song Sung Blue” on Peacock. She stars alongside Hugh Jackman as Claire and Mike Sardina, a couple who travel the country as a Neil Diamond tribute experience. The soundtrack is a banger, of course, with hits such as “Sweet Caroline,” “Song Sung Blue” and “Cherry Cherry.” — Jennifer Mulson
16,667 Square Feet of Awesome –
We are a donation based scrap store that carries an impressive mix of arts, craft, and hobby supplies in addition to unique vintage finds. We carry everything from scrapbook paper to game pieces, from used books to sewing patterns — the variety is a crafter’s dream. The reuse of materials is the most environmentally friendly way to reduce the waste stream. Come search for treasures on our 10,000+ sq. ft. sales floor!
464 TONS Diverted from our landfills in 10+ years so far
Despite its name, Flighty Fowl food truck is not for the birds, but it should appeal to anyone who appreciates creative, wellprepared chicken.
CODY VAN HOOSER, SPRINGS SCENE
THE MENU
The clucks have it! Wings, sold by the half and full dozen with a selection of five sauces, many with a lot of heat/ spice elements, are a big draw. Poultry, as expected, was the featured ingredient in the five available sandwiches. Surprises come in the sides — fries, cheese curds and dusted sweet potato puffs — but more on those later.
ON THE TABLE
Given their award status (see Critic’s Tip), we ordered half a dozen PBJammin wings. These glistened with a blackberry balsamic glaze, but it was the combination of creamy peanut butter, sweet chile and maple bacon jam that provided an over-the-top taste sensation. Savory and sugary tender pieces of chicken made me wish the wings were bigger. Or, next time I order a dozen.
A thick, still juicy chicken breast atop a bed of curried apple compote was only part of the story of the Wanderlust (&13). Melted smoked gouda, strips of brown-sugared bacon and whole grain mustard brought everything together on a toasted bun. This two-fisted sandwich was not meant for dainty eaters. It was gooey, messy and too good to be interrupted by conversation between bites.
Fortunately, the same was true of the One Fowl Philly ($15). An open-face baguette stuffed with hand-pulled chicken, caramelized onions and red peppers, was nearly hidden by chile con queso with an abundant amount of diced green chile. Although there was no heat symbol associated with this, there was a palate-pleasing kick.
Those aforementioned sweet potato puffs ($5) proved to be a treat. The menu offered no ideas on what they were, so I had to ask and was glad I did. These were baked tater tots lightly dusted with spiced sugar. The crispy cubes were creamy on the inside and not at all saccharine.
Flight Fowl (food truck): Chicken wings and sandwiches
Location: Varies; information social media
Contact: 719-985-5480; flightyfowl.com
Prices: $5 to $19
Hours: Varies, depending on location.
Details: Credit cards accepted.
Favorite dishes: PBJammin wings and One Fowl Philly sandwich.
Other: Gluten-free options availabl.e
El Paso County Health Department Inspection: In compliance (May).
CRITIC’S TIP
A lot of menus have items with symbols or notations indicating some sort of special recognition. This holds true for Flighty Fowl with small trophy icons next to two of its wings selection. Yes, I could assume they were winners for something, but it was interesting to find out why: The PBJammin and the Pollo Asado wings garnered awards in the West Wing Fest in 2022 and 2024.
THE VENUE
It’s a food truck, so where you decide to enjoy the food is your call. Still, the vibrant colors and cartoonish designs suggest fun and creativity, both of which are evident in what’s prepared. The people running the show were friendly and patient, answering questions in spite of the line behind us.
AFTERTHOUGHTS
Be prepared for lines. Also, Flighty Fowl should not be confused with fast food: preparation takes time. The truck has a following. Tracking it down isn’t difficult since its locations are listed on its website and social media.
The menu remains consistent from location to location, but there was a lemon pepper sauce for wings available as a special flavor when we visited.
This is a family-owned business, as noted on the Flighty Fowl website. The owners are identified as “The Flock.”
GOLD: GOAT PATCH
BREWING CO.
Since 2017, Goat Patch has changed the craft beer game in Colorado Springs. It’s proudly “the Home of the Balanced Brews,” but these could also be called innovative brews that expanded local palates. Yet it’s a trendy, familiar style most beloved here: the hazy IPA.
2727 N. Cascade Ave.; 12245 Voyager Parkway; 1756 Lake Woodmoor Drove.
BRONZE: BRISTOL BREWING CO.
One might say the city’s craft beer scene began with Bristol opening in 1994. The love for flagships such as the Laughing Lab Scottish Ale and seasonals such as the Venetucci Pumpkin Ale has never waned. And while Red Leg is the newest and coolest, locals and tourists alike know the old Ivywild School to be the place for a beer.
1604 S. Cascade Ave.
ISILVER: RED LEG BREWING CO.
BY SETH BOSTER Springs Scene
From humble beginnings in an industrial zone, the veteran-owned brewery has grown into one of the Springs’ coolest, scenic hangouts. Near Garden of the Gods is this multiplex of shipping containers slinging food beyond the main taproom, where favorites from those humble roots remain, including the Howitzer amber.
2323 Garden of the Gods Road
n this weekly feature, we’re celebrating the best of Colorado Springs’ food and drink scene — as determined by voters in the 2025 Best of the Springs (thebestofthesprings.com). We’ll throw in our own recommendation, too. Up this week: breweries
OUR RECOMMENDATION:
FOSSIL CRAFT BEER CO.
We agree with Best of the Springs voters: It’s hard to beat Goat Patch. But the folks of Fossil don’t try to beat anyone, and we love that. Fossil is proudly Fossil, retaining the true, increasingly rare feel of a neighborhood brewery. But if we are talking about beating a beloved hazy IPA, we’d say the one here might do it.
2845 Ore Mill Road
Tasty tidbits
ROCK’S 24 PIZZERIA
2810 E. Fountain Blvd.
Rock’s is as much a bar as it is a place to grab a bite. Fortunately, you can expect above-average fare. We started with a half pan of Italian nachos ($10), which proved to be a multicultural mashup with fried wonton wrappers covered with pepperoni, Italian sausage, pepperoncini and mozzarella. There was a container of housemade marinara for dipping.
Our group shared an Italian chopped salad ($14), which also had similarities to pizzas thanks to the inclusion of salami, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, pepperoncini and black olives. These were mixed among a blend of iceberg and romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, shredded cheese and lots of croutons. The salad was coated with creamy Italian dressing.
Rock’s Italian beef ($15) should make anyone from Chicago homesick. Thinly sliced roast beef, with a choice of sweet peppers or spicy giardiniera, came with a choice of wet or dry (au jus on the side). We
chose dry, which was fine since the meat was plenty moist and plentiful stuffed inside a toasted hoagie bun. The blend of tangy pickled veggies added a kick to the tender meat. It was a no-brainer to order Sara’s Sausage since it was the star of the loaded sausage pizza. The pies, described on the menu
as Classic Chicago Crust but simply meant thin, were cut into squares rather than triangles. Each piece featured a significant amount of meat and cheese.
The Chicago stuffed pizzas start at $30 for a 10-inch and take 45 minutes. A return visit might be needed to see if they’re worth the wait.
The papadum platter ($7.99) is piled high with sheets of paper-thin lentil and cup-shaped rice crisps. They were a sharp visual contrast to the colorful mint, tamarind and mango chutneys served on the side. With its medium spice, Malabari coconut curry with chicken ($18.99) blended the best of the sweet coconut milk and curry leaves. Tender pieces of chicken practically bathed in the abundant sauce, and we spooned it over the Basmati rice that comes with most entrees. Biriyani is among the more popular dishes. Our server likened it to fried rice, but only in as much as the grain is the main ingredient supplemented by, in our case, an abundant amount of shrimp ($22.99), caramelized onions and seasonings.
Most entrees come with a choice of protein that includes chicken, lamb, shrimp, goat and fish.
ROBIN INTEMANN, SPRINGS SCENE
PHOTOS BY CODY VAN HOOSER, SPRINGS SCENE
Colorado Springs lounge pours coffee by
day, cocktails by night
BY TERESA FARNEY Springs Scene
Each year, while perusing entries for the Best of the Springs magazine, there are always a few spots that come as a surprise — hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Such was the case with Reception, a coffee-and-cocktail lounge at 2460 Montebello Square Drive.
The address might sound familiar to some; it’s the former reception space for Almagre, the event venue known for thoughtfully curated wine, beer and cocktail dinners. The creative force behind both is Grace Harrison, who also owns the nearby Hold Fast Coffee Roasters, making the expansion into a dedicated coffee service a natural evolution.
On a recent Saturday morning, Reception felt almost as quiet as a library.
A handful of guests tapped away on laptops while others lingered over artfully prepared espresso drinks.
A few couples eased into the weekend with cocktail-style sips.
DETAILS receptioncos.com
The overall atmosphere is warm, intimate and inviting, a place designed to encourage lingering. In the evening, the space transitions into a cocktail lounge with a small menu of shareable bites.
Coffee hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, and cocktails are served 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Reservations for evenings are recommended.
TERESA FARNEY, SPRINGS SCENE
Megan Phillips is a barista at Reception, a new coffee and cocktail lounge.
SHERMAN’S LAGOON by J. P. Toomey
BALDO by Hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos
RHYMES WITH ORANGE by Hilary Price
PICKLES by Brian Crane
THE FAMILY CIRCUS by Bil Keane
MARMADUKE by Brad and Paul Anderson
DENNIS THE MENACE by Hank Ketcham
MR BOFFO by Joe Martin
PEANUTS by Charles Schulz
BLONDIE by Dean Young and John Marshall
LUANN by Greg Evans
MUTTS by Patrick McDonnell
FRAZZ by Jef Mallett
Edited by Patti Varol
TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter
MOTHER GOOSE by Mike Peters
HAGAR THE HORRIBLE by Chris Browne
BEETLE BAILEY by Greg, Brian and Neal Walker
LOLA by Todd Clark
BIZARRO
SWEATER
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
B.C. by Hart
ZITS by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
JUMP START by Robb Armstrong
CELEBRITY CIPHER by Luis Campos
by Wayno and Piraro ARGYLE
by Scott Hilburn
TAKE IT FROM THE TINKERSONS by
POOCH CAFE by Paul Gilligan
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE by Stephan Pastis
BABY BLUES by Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman
SALLY FORTH by Francesco Marciuliano and Jim Keefe
Bill Bettwy
Dear Eric: Our son, who is in college, began losing his hair in high school. It could be genetic, but this does not run in the family. Although he is skinny, he eats terribly. He fills up on junk food, juice and soda. Sometimes he eats nothing.
When he lived at home, I could influence at least some of what he ate, but he always denied there was anything wrong. His pediatrician (male, for what it’s worth) always dismissed my concerns. I helped him find a new doctor when he turned 18 but now that he’s an adult, there is even less I can do.
We know that he is unhappy with how he looks. My husband has tried to talk to him gently about speaking with his doctor specifically about his hair and its connection to his diet and potentially an underlying health problem. On a side note, our son has occasionally seen a counselor at school about unrelated issues, when we suggested it, so he does not always reject our advice out of hand. If he liked the way he looks, and if it were totally clear that this isn’t a health issue, we would leave it alone. But given the circumstances, do we need to leave it alone anyway? — Concerned Mother
Dear Mother: Right now, the most supportive thing you can do for your son is continuing to listen to him and provide help when asked for. He’s on a journey with his body — as we all are. And while there are a variety of hair treatments available and many resources for getting help with one’s diet, he has to learn to be proactive about them if he wants something to change. While it’s hard for parents to watch their children feel around in the dark, this kind of independent decision-making is an important part of development.
Lead with curiosity instead of concern as much as possible here. You can ask him about his feelings about himself or his eating habits, but try to focus more on asking him about who he is, what he wants and what’s going on in his life. As he spreads his wings in college, it will help him to understand how an adult solves a problem. That problem could be as complex as addressing hair loss with a professional, or as simple as “how do I make dinner for myself?”
Send questions to eric@askingeric.com.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Today’s underwater day score makes this a day to sit out for anything important. Tomorrow gives you slightly better odds.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
By all means, work on projects when stars are negative; just revisit your work and wait to launch once day scores get above zero.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
Improvements at work could start to show up once stars change back to the positive next week; some potholes could get filled in.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
Culture is oriented toward ‘“now,” yet nature takes her own time. Spring doesn’t arrive until winter is past. Flow with the stars like seasons.
Dear Dr. Roach: My doctor’s office makes patients sign in for appointments on their electronic kiosks. When you sign in, you must accept that doctors are using an AI tool during your appointment. You cannot decline using AI; either you accept, or you cannot sign in for the appointment. It says that you can tell your doctor if you do not wish to use AI.
Here is the problem: Doctors use it anyways and get very mad when you request for them not to use AI. When you get your after-visit report of the appointment, it shows that they used AI. My question is, what can a patient do?
I am sure that other hospitals are doing the same thing. Patients have rights, but they are ignoring them.
AI tools do make mistakes. Should we contact the state attorney general office or the Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration?
They are not respecting patients’ wishes. It is only going to get worse as AI gets more predominant. — Anon.
Answer: It is increasingly common for physician’s offices to use AI scribes, which capture the conversation during the visit. AI uses this to create a clinical note, which your doctor can then edit. The idea is to improve the quality of the note and reduce the documentation time for your physician.
AI is not making clinical decisions, but you are right that it can still make mistakes, which might lead to incorrect information being put into your medical record. (Humans, including doctors, nurses and medical students, have also been making mistakes and putting wrong information into medical charts since medical charts began.)
You have an absolute right to opt out of the AI scribe. Your doctor should not get mad and should turn off the recording device for the AI scribe. It is likely that the medical records software automatically says that the note is made using AI, even if it wasn’t. If they still choose to use it, you have the option to choose a different physician (or an entire medical group), but I imagine that your doctor’s practice would rather you not do this.
Email to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.
Dear Heloise: Vehicles that sit unused for weeks can attract mice that are looking for a warm nesting spot. They often build nests and chew wiring, leading to expensive repairs.
To help deter them, I place a few mothballs inside vehicles that aren’t driven regularly. The strong scent repels mice and other small pests.
I keep the mothballs in small breathable containers so that they stay put and are easy to remove.
Before driving, I simply open the windows to air out the smell.
Be sure to keep mothballs away from children and pets as they can be harmful if swallowed. — Jeff Wilkins, in Colorado Springs
Dear Heloise: When our family of 30 gathers together, every outlet fills up with phone chargers. By the day’s end, everyone’s asking, “Is this mine?”
To prevent mix-ups, each person marks their power adapter and USB cable with the initial of their first name by using a permanent marker. We also assign different ink colors so that chargers are easy to spot at a glance.
This simple system saves time, prevents accidental swaps, and makes cleanup much easier when guests are heading out the door. A little identification goes a long way! — Ruby Kent, in New Boston, N.H.
Dear Heloise: I use 7-by-10-inch paper gift bags as small, lightweight wastebaskets for bedrooms, bathrooms, and my home office. They’re perfect for holding tissues, bits of paper, or other light waste.
When a bag is full, I toss it and replace it; there’s no need to scrub or disinfect a plastic can. The bags can sit on the floor or hang from a drawer pull or a cabinet knob to save space, which is helpful in small rooms.
Gift bags come in many colors and patterns, so you can match them with your decor or swap them seasonally for a new look. Functional and decorative — a win-win!
Yours is my favorite column in the Ventura County Star. — Dory M., in Camarillo, Calif.
Send hints via email to heloise@heloise.com.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
Many personal money blocks are ending ,but wait until next week to make any moves or changes, Universal blocks remain until then.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
You might see a new way to improve finances, but as with Leo above, wait for better stars to bring you better odds before you take action.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Your ability to analyze your feelings for greater understanding could be on point now, though any conclusions you reach should be revisited. T
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Some genuine inner peace could be yours for part of today despite the dragging-down effect of below-zero universal stars.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Manage your expectations of others; someone could be a disappointment. Today’s domestic stars are a double-whammy for you.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Navigate carefully; sidestep anything that could smack of disloyalty and instead lean into good ideas for the future.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Don’t commit your heart or your wallet to a new mentor or concept; anything begun under today’s dark stars won’t likely work out well.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
Someone may not see you clearly if they’re projecting themselves onto you. Stay neutral and observant.
March 5
Roll past anyone who doesn’t have your back; leave them behind as you roll toward great ideas, effective communication, enhanced creativity and long-term financial stability. The second part of the month concentrates most of your challenges for the remainder of the year into just a couple of weeks. You’ll need all your selfhelp tools to avoid a temporary loss of hope.
