Finding A Rhythm In Antelope Canyon

 

21 SEP 15

BY TYRA SUTAK IN ADVENTURE TRAVEL | SUP | TRAVEL |

Zen. It’s such a small word, but more often than not, it can be a hard feeling to find. Some people find zen through meditating. Some people pray. Some people sit in scorching hot yoga studios and twist their bodies into pretzel-like shapes for an hour. For me, zen has always been somewhat elusive. I’m a mover. And a shaker. And I’m typically highly caffeinated and sleep-deprived—which makes for a combination of energy that people with normal sleep patterns will never truly understand. When I’m seeking a few moments of zen, I usually hit a trail. My zen can almost always be found on the way to a summit. But this summer, I started to find my rhythm, and a little piece of zen, on top of a stand up paddleboard.

I got my first taste of SUP on the calm waters of a darling little lake at the Red Canyon Lodge at the Flaming Gorge earlier this year. I followed that up with 360-mountain views seen from the middle of Lake Estes in Estes Park, Colorado. A few weeks later I rented a board from the awesome people atRocky Mountain Paddle Board and paddled out to watch the sun slowly lower itself over the Front Range from the center of the Boulder Reservoir. With each outing, my rhythm got better. And as I concentrated on holding that rhythm and keeping myself upright, my zen level rose. When the opportunity to paddle through Antelope Canyon at Lake Powell came up, I jumped at it. I had found all of the zen on top of a stand up paddleboard this summer, and I was feeling confident and a little cocky about my SUP skills—even as strong wind gusts pushed against my car that afternoon as I made my way to the Lake Powell Paddleboards rental shop. The owners of Lake Powell Paddleboards loaded up my board on top of my vehicle, mentioned that the morning is actually the best time to SUP in Antelope Canyon, and sent me off with directions down to the public loading dock at Lake Powell. As I unloaded my board, several big gusts of wind pushed and pulled at the tip. But I was determined. Despite the wind, I was going to find my zen. And catch a glimpse of the famed two-toned colored, carved out walls found inside of the canyon. As I pushed off from the dock, I knew I was in for a challenge. I was battling the wind, and the wind was winning. From my knees, I paddled as hard as I could towards the canyon walls, which offered sanctuary from the elements. No matter how hard I paddled and fought, the wind fought harder. And it wasn’t until I took a deep breath, found my zen, and started to find a rhythm on the sparkling wavy waters of Lake Powell that I really started to move forward. Paddle once to the left. Twice to the right. Paddle. Paddle. Paddle. I started to find my rhythm, and it was leading me right into Antelope Canyon. As the waves in the water got choppier, my zen level got higher. I was feeling it. I could tackle any challenge. Adventure was my middle name. I was zen. I was doing this. I owned these waves.

It was a perfect storm of sorts that followed my moment of zen. As my board rose up on top of a fast-moving wave, the wind shifted. And instead of hitting my board straight on, it blasted it from the side and flipped me and my operation right over. It took me a minute to regain my senses and grab my paddle and sunglasses—and my breath. If zen levels were measured like the pain scale at a doctor’s office, mine would have dropped to a drooping frowny face with sad eyebrows. I had just achieved all the zen, and it was pulled out from under me like someone pulling a crisp white tablecloth out from underneath a 5-star dinner. When I finally made it back on top of my board, I was more determined than ever to reach the nearby mouth of Antelope Canyon. The canyon wall, with it’s different layers and all of it’s adventurous glory were almost within reach. With water dripping over my eyes and newly formed knots on the places of my body that my flailing board had hit, I pushed forward. But the harder I pushed, the harder the wind blew. And my efforts simply became a mere show for nearby hikers and sunbathers layered along the solid rock-formed banks. After two-hours, I ended the battle. With the wind at my back, the paddle back to the public dock wasn’t much. It was mostly just a challenge to not flip over in the increasingly rocky waters—again. When I reached the dock and pulled my board up along the shallow banks, my body was quaking all over. My quivering legs were a dead giveaway that I’d fought the wind, and the wind had won.

Some people have their “Mount Everest”. I now have my “Antelope Canyon”. In the end, we’re all just chasing something.

Beneath The Grand Canyon’s Rim

 

16 SEP 15

BY TYRA SUTAK IN ADVENTURE TRAVEL | HIKING | TRAVEL |

For decades, a trip to the Grand Canyon has been the ultimate summer vacation outing for families all around the world. With it’s breathtaking views, and natural wonder, it’s no surprise that the national park that houses one of Mother Nature’s most epic creations stays incredibly busy year-round.

I hit the Grand Canyon this week to relive my childhood summer vacation memories and to experience the park in a way that most people don’t—by venturing below the rim. Clad in heavy duty hiking boots and sporting my trusty backpack full of water and other supplies, I ventured around the park, often times connecting with paths that ebbed and flowed alongside some of the parks main paved roads. I stared in awe at the throngs of charter busses, packed to the brim with well-dressed tourists eager to snap a selfie at one of the many designated overlooks near the visitor center before hopping back on the bus and heading back to a nearby hotel. I felt sorry for them. All crammed on top of one another, vying for a quick view to aim their point-and-shoot cameras at before their vehicle carried them off on a trail of tar. One after another, they passed by. Staring out the windows at the wildlife and rugged hikers daring to travel the park by foot. After awhile, I realized the feeling was mutual. I could see the confusion and sorrow in their eyes for the poor traveler forced to brave the elements. It was overwhelming at how few people in the park actually wanted to experience it’s grandeur. It was time to get off the beaten path. And that meant traveling below the canyon rim.

It was a little after 5 o’clock in the morning when we hopped in the car and left our campsite in the Mather campgroup located in the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. It was pitch dark outside, and the thunderstorm that had hit the park the night before left a chill in the morning air that had us reaching for all of the layers and winter hats. We were headed to the South Kaibab trailhead, about a twenty minute drive from the campsite. The trail was supposedly home to some of the best places to catch the sun’s colorful morning rays as they crested over the canyon wall—casting light over the rocky nooks and crannies that make up the Grand Canyon’s interior. We arrived at the trailhead around 5:30 a.m. and started our descent beneath the canyon’s rim. A series of switchbacks quickly led us about 600 feet below the rim to the Ooh-Aah Point that provided us with our first look into the canyon towards the east just in time to see the first rays of light pour in—setting fire to every red rock and ridge they touched. The light show lasted about fifteen minutes, and a few other early-rising hikers gathered around us to take it all in. Some continued along the trail that led to several other resting places before reaching the river below. Some opted to make the steep hike back up to the rim to head back to the campsite for a rewarding breakfast or another hour of sleep. For us, it was enough to be right where we were. Staring down at the earth below, trying to pinpoint the actual canyon floor and pointing out newly lit up rock formations and canyon treasures that we hadn’t noticed before.

For some people, tar trails and selfie stick-worthy overlooks are enough—but if you really want to see the Grand Canyon—take a trip below the canyon rim.

The Rise Of Hard Ciders

 

09 SEP 15

BY TYRA SUTAK IN BEER | TRAVEL |

Beer is booming, especially in a sudsy state like Colorado that boasts 6.1 breweries per capita and produces roughly 1,673,686 barrels of craft beer per year. But last week, with sweeping views of Copper Mountain and a blissfully blue sky framing the scene—hundreds of tasting glass-toting festival-goers gathered together in Colorado not in the name of beer—but in the name of ciders. Some of the ticket holders for this year’s Cider Circus that took place at Copper Mountain Resort on August 29th were dressed in their festival finest, donning wide brimmed floppy hats and clothing from various breweries and cideries. But most of the thirty-something craft consumers wandering around the festival grounds were fresh off the mountain and still wearing droplets of sweat, CamelBaks, and the appropriate footwear from the morning adventures.

While it’s been proven that in moderation, beer has some health benefits that most habitual beer drinkers can list off at a moments notice, many active Americans are preferring to reach for the hard cider.

Here’s why:

Two words: Gluten. Free. Many avid athletes follow a strict gluten-free diet in hopes of improving their athletic performance. For the most part, hard ciders fall in this category and offer an accessible and enjoyable alternative to beer for gluten-conscious people.

Antioxidants. Ciders are made from fresh fruit. Traditional ciders are made from apples, which are packed with immune-boosting vitamin C and other antioxidants that provide the basis for the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

They’re light and refreshing. Although ciders typically carry the same amount of calories as beer, the drink’s minimalist approach to ingredients leaves behind a light and refreshing beverage that transcends seasons and trends.

The cider industry is growing. The days of breaking out the hard ciders only when the temperatures begin to drop are done. Ciders are more accessible than ever, and many cideries are not only serving up their products from their tap rooms, they’re packaging them and taking them on the road to liquor stores, bars, and beer festivals across the nation.

Whether they’re dry or sweet, the drinkability factor of ciders is high.

Here are some of our favorites that we tried at this year’s Cider Circus.

The Ginger Cider by C Squared Ciders {2875 Blake St Unit C, Denver, CO}

Balance is the name of the game when it comes to the sweetness level of ciders, and this one has it. The ginger flavor took this cider from a basic beverage to a drink that you’ll seek out in the future.

Cherry Daze Hard Cider by Big B’s Fabulous Juices & Hard Ciders {39126 Highway 133, Hotchkiss, CO}

The tartness of the cherry cuts through the sweetness of this cider, made from locally harvested apples in Hotchkiss, Colorado. We also love that Big B’s is serving up this cider, along with several other hard ciders, in 16 oz. cans—upping the portability factor.

Grasshop-ah by Colorado Cider Company {2650 West 2nd Avenue #10, Denver, CO}

Colorado Cider Company’s hard ciders can be found all throughout the state of Colorado, often on tap a restaurants and stocked on shelves of liquor stores. We dug the Grasshop-ah’s citrusy kick of lemongrass that made this cider especially refreshing on a warm Colorado day.

What’s Left Behind – The Impact Of The Colorado Floods On The Town Of Lyons

 

05 SEP 15

BY TYRA SUTAK IN ADVENTURE TRAVEL | HIKING | LIFESTYLE | MOUNTAIN BIKING | TRAVEL |

It wasn’t until I was standing there, ankle-deep in sand, holding a child’s sandal, that I realized how lucky we all were. After the worn sandal, it was a mangled clump of wood and nails that still slightly resembled someone’s staircase that brought me to tears. In the weeks that followed the massive flooding of the St. Vrain River in the small town of Lyons, Colorado, more items would be discovered. A grand piano, covered in silt and tree debris, sitting silently in the remnants of a horse pasture. A car, crunched from both ends, frozen in time outside of the empty shell of a house. Water-stained family photos mixed in with broken pieces of bridges and roads, all washed up along the newly-formed banks of the once peaceful river.

I was six when I first became a resident of the town of Lyons. I was old enough to appreciate the three acres of land that my family had purchased just outside of town, and young enough to not feel stifled by the town’s two stoplights and the somewhat secluded lives of its 2,000-ish residents. The friends I made on my first day of first grade at Lyons Elementary School became lifelong friends. We enjoyed small town life until high school graduation commenced and we were launched, all fifty-two of us, feet-first into the real world—occasionally dropping back into our hometown to visit family and friends, and reminisce about the old times.

And then it happened. When the walls of the water came crashing through the canyons above town on September 12, 2013, it brought heartbreak and sorrow to a town typically sought after by tourists and outdoor adventurers for it’s welcoming but challenging landscape and historically charming atmosphere. On that dreary fall day, the St. Vrain River, which typically flows at 1,200 cfs (cubic feet per second) during the yearly spring runoff, leapt up to a roaring 26,100 cfs. Flow rates of 8,800 cubic feet per second categorizes a 100-year flood, making the disaster in Lyons a 300+ year event that understandably, nobody saw coming. The water ripped through town, dispersing trees—roots and all—along with downed electrical poles, pieces of decimated homes, and other debris throughout destroyed neighborhoods and disheveled parks. Nearly every bit of the town’s infrastructure was destroyed, beginning with electric, gas, and communication lines, followed by the town’s waste water plant, and solidifying the severe destruction by washing away large chunks of all roads leading into and out of town. 2,000 residents were evacuated. In total, 211 homes were damaged. Schools in town were relocated for three months, and all businesses were closed for at least seven weeks until the roads leading to and from Lyons and the town’s infrastructure could be repaired. Overall, Lyons experienced an estimated $50 million dollars in damages—a number still resonating today.

For a small town that relies mostly on recreation tourism, the $3.5 million dollar loss in sales that occurred in the few months following the flood was more than staggering. Small retail shops and restaurants were no longer able to welcome the bikers, and hikers, and Rocky Mountain National Park visitors that flock to the town during the warmer months. The Planet Bluegrass grounds that host two of Colorado’s most popular music festivals, and two of the town’s largest tourist attractions, RockyGrass and the Rocky Mtn. Folks Festival, were buried under a few feet of water, leaving an after-math so visually devastating that many were unsure that the festivals would continue the following year. The town parks that draw hundreds of people in during annual events like Oskar Blues’ Burning CAN and the Lyons Outdoor Games became unrecognizable. The flood left a 400-foot gash through the middle of town, and on the two-year anniversary of one of the area’s worst natural disasters, many of the scars left behind in the landscape, and the people, have still yet to heal.

But like all scars, healing comes one day at a time. And you’ll be hard-pressed to find a scrappier group of folks than those that hail from/live in a small town. If you’re in the Lyons area during the month of September, be sure to pay the town a visit. Buy a bottle of newly-released, flood-surviving whisky from Spirit Hound Distillers. Attend the Viva Lyons Beer Dinner at the Lyons Fork on September 10, featuring food pairings with beers from Lyons-born Oskar Blues Brewery and Berthoud-based City Star Brewing. Stop into one of the quaint antique shops that mark nearly every street in downtown. Grab a cup of coffee at the Barking Dog Cafe or the Stone Cup. Bring your bike or your hiking shoes and explore the manicured trails and soak in the natural palette of colors. And don’t forget your manners and your smile. Sometimes they’re all it takes to add one more stitch to a healing wound.

Epic Sunsets And Campfires At Utah’s Bear Lake

 

02 SEP 15

BY TYRA SUTAK IN TRAVEL |

As the sun slowly set behind the silhouette of the nearby Wasatch Mountains, it dragged with it fiery orange and bright pink streaks that melted into the light blue sky and grew more intense as nature’s colorful light show dwindled to an end and darkness settled in. It was one of those unforgettable travel moments. The kind that you file away in your memory until a similar mind-blowing experience makes you reach back in, brush the dust off, and remember that time that you watched one of the most epic sunsets you’ve ever seen from the banks of a lake in northern Utah.

Unlike the epic sunset, the 9-hour drive to Bear Lake was mostly forgettable. Table top-shaped red rocks jetted out of the dry landscape that rolled alongside the miles and miles of highway that flat-line through the state of Wyoming—eventually connecting with one windy road that spits vehicles out of the rolling hills of northeastern Utah towards the vast waters of Bear Lake. One hundred and nine square miles in size, the sparkling turquoise waters of the lake stretch across the Utah and Idaho border and attract tourists in the region to the area with its beauty, beaches, and adorable lakeside towns whose lights drape across the lake at night.

It was beautiful sight, at first. Enamored by the brilliant color of the water and the string of picturesque lighthouses, I stopped my car at the first parking area that I could find, and ventured out over the rocks and sand that led to the warm lake waters. But as I continued north along the busy road that day that hugged parts of the shoreline, my heart started to sink. Here I was, in the middle of a solo road trip in my trusty Toyota 4Runner that I had proudly converted into my home-away-from-home for the week, and I had somehow found myself in the middle of the Jersey Shore of the west. As far as the eye could see, bathing suit-clad tourists lined up like sardines along the accessible stretches of lakeside beaches. They moved briskly along the sidewalks of the various lakeside towns—the largest boasting a population of a whopping 560-some people. As I drove north along the western side of the lake, my hopes and dreams of enjoying a can of campfire beans and finding a spot near the lake to crash for the night started to fade. It wasn’t until I crossed the Idaho border and stopped at a pretty appropriately named convenience store that my faith was restored. The older gentleman behind the counter at the store sent me off with a few needed provisions for the night, a 6-pack of Montana-made beer, and a map leading me to the east side of lake, where I pulled my car into the Cisco Beach campground, paid my $12/night camping fee, and backed my SUV into a campsite with a path leading down to the lake. I was thrilled. It was exactly what I was looking for. Even the the shrieks of nearby boaters on the lake couldn’t dampen my spirits.

The first dip of the sun was like a visual dinner bell, prompting everyone out and about on the lake to get dressed, collect the hoards of things they had brought to enjoy the beach, and head to the one of the numerous ice cream or burger joints around the lake where they waited in long lines for a taste of summer. All around me, abandoned tents flapped in the breeze. It was quiet. And calm. And I watched the night move in from a cozy rock along an empty beach a stone’s throw from my campsite. Beams of sunlight lit up the gem-colored waters moving the reflection of the bright sky along with each ripple. The finale played out in silence, only to be followed by the ignition of dozens of campfires lining the shores of the beach. For a moment, surrounded by sky and water and mountains, I wasn’t in a touristy town. I was heaven.

Favorite Playlist: Interstate Stash Express
This Colorado-based power trios puts forth the perfect blend of rock and obliterating guitar riffs that create the ultimate soundtrack for a long day on some of the regions loneliest roads.

Favorite Piece of Gear: Secur Bluetooth Lantern & Powerbank
I picked up this Bluetooth speaker, collapsable LED lantern and LED flashlight combination shortly before my trip, and I’m glad I did. In it’s folded state this product fits in the palm of your hand, making it incredibly convenient to bring on long backpacking trips, or to provide some tunes and light on a weekend camping trip. The lantern and flashlight capabilities were powerful and long-lasting (over a week without recharging in total). And the Bluetooth speaker streamed my favorite playlist with a great volume range and working distance of about 30 feet. At $59.99, this nifty gadget will quickly make it’s way into your adventures.

Favorite Campsite Brew: Big Sky Brewing Moose Drool
After nine hours of driving, a cold brew becomes a necessity and a accompaniment while setting up camp. A sixer of Big Sky Brewing’s Moose Drool Brown Ale really hit spot. Four different malts and four hop additions give this beer a lot of flavor while still retaining a light body and only 5.1% ABV.

Favorite Lodging: Cisco Beach Campground
Tucked into the relatively quite east side of the lake, Cisco Beach is located in Bear Lake State Park and offers a slew of camping spaces that run along the lakeside. If you go, plan on arriving early on in the day to secure a campsite with a path that leads down to the lake. Nightly campsite rental fees are $12.

The Wild Horses Of Green River, Wyoming

 

07 AUG 15

BY TYRA SUTAK IN ADVENTURE TRAVEL | MOUNTAIN BIKING | TRAVEL |

The jarring sounds of rocks striking the undercarriage and the cool mountain air moving through the windowless truck served as a better wake-up call than a steaming hot cup of coffee, as the old army vehicle we were traveling in careened deeper and deeper into the rugged Wyoming wilderness. It was 8 o’clock in the morning and Rich Nobles, owner of Green River Wild Horse Tours and our driver and guide for the day was busy shouting out all of the different types of creatures that called White Mountain home. There’s the pigmy rattlesnake, and the ancestor-less pronghorn, and white tail deer, and mule deer, and coyotes, and badgers, and porcupines, and mountain lions. But as the sun settled into the vast blue sky above Sweetwater County on this crisp summer morning, it wasn’t Wyoming’s typical wildlife we were in search of. We were on a mission to catch a glimpse of Green River’s famed wild horses.

Traveling west, is like traveling back in time when freedom was something that was much bigger than a three-day weekend or leaving the office an hour early on a weeknight. White Mountain encompasses every bit of the west’s wild independence and free nature. Even the grains of sand at the Killpecker Sand Dunes only answer to the wind, rambling along the mountainside with each gust, forming a brand new landscape as it blows along. In this land, the sun is king, and the sky bends down to touch every sandstone and shale rendered rock formation that gently rise from the earth below. It wasn’t until that day, as my fingers dug into the side of the truck that raced faster and faster along the rocky dirt roads, that I truly grasped what it meant to roam free. Our truck and tour guide maneuvered us through a spider web of dusty mountain trails for close to an hour, veering from the main county roads that make up the self-guided wild horses scenic loop tour, to the lesser-known areas off the beaten path, before we spotted the messy manes of one of the herds of wild horses that call the mountain home. As we crept closer, we could see the scar markings on their bodies, and bite marks in their ears. Protected by the Federal government, the 250-some head of horses that roam White Mountain don’t answer to anyone. They wander the land, politely lining up single-file to drink at the watering holes, and answering any and all disputes within the herd, or with members of other herds, the only way most feral animals know how. But as the horses stood defiantly before us, with the wind rustling their tangled manes, and Pilot Butte Rock framing the background, it was clear that they understood what it meant to be free.

The guided tour lasted approximately 6-hours and included visits to the Killpecker Sand Dunes, theWhite Mountain Petroglyphs, Boars Tusk Rock (an ancient volcano plug), and amazing up-close views of Wyoming’s wild horses. A long-time local, Nobles not only offered up a rare look into the area’s history, but also provided great insight to the best hiking and biking trails on the mountain along with the best camping locations, and important safety information pertaining to the land. Roughly a six-hour driver from Denver, the Green River Wild Horse tour is something I would highly recommend, especially before you head out into the welcoming world of White Mountain on your own.

If you go: Late spring through early fall are the best times to go. While many tourists crowd nearby Jackson, WY and Yellowstone National Park in the summer, the area around Green River in Sweetwater County remains free of crowds, making exploring the area by bike or by foot a pretty wonderful experience.

Live Music, Hut Trips, And Backcountry Fun In Aspen, Colorado

 

04 AUG 15

BY TYRA SUTAK IN ADVENTURE TRAVEL | BACKPACKING | LIFESTYLE | TRAVEL |

Aspen—where the beer flows like wine and the aspen trees cover the mountainsides like a happy Bob Ross painting. Aspen has always been a destination for tourists looking to soak in the stunning scenery and 300 days of sunshine in Colorado. In the winter, high-profile celebrities flock to Aspen’s ritzy downtown area and exclusive ski resort. But at night, when the bright lights that illuminate the flashy purses and stilettos in the display windows at Gucci and Louis Vuitton go out, the town of Aspen becomes something more than a place to drop a couple hundred dollars on one meal or to catch a glimpse of some of Hollywood’s hottest actors. It resets back into a quaint Colorado mountain town, with it’s crisp mountain air and small town charm, perfect for hitting up for a wonderful weekend getaway.

With good intentions and plans to enjoy the great outdoors in Central Colorado, my recent trip to the area actually began with a stay at theHotel Aspen and some live music at the Belly Up. After getting caught up in a delaying rockslide on Independence Pass, unlocking the door to my spacious room at the clean and conveniently located Hotel Aspen was just what I needed. Situated a few blocks from Aspen’s main drag, the Hotel Aspen’s affordable prices and friendly and knowledgable staff definitely won me over as a go-to place to stay while in town. After a quick shower and change of clothes, I headed down to the front desk in search of directions to the Belly Up. But instead of directions, I was offered a free ride by the hotel’s shuttle, and within minutes, equipped with some newly acquired breakfast joint recommendations, I landed outside of the Belly Up Aspen for my first Belly Up show ever. And it was awesome. I spent the next few hours soaking in the incredible intimacy and sound in this small venue, listening to the original tunes penned and performed by Austin-based artist, Shakey Graves. If you’re a fan of live music, you owe it to yourself to catch a show at this venue that has featured artists like John Hiatt, Eve, Michael Franti, and REO Speedwagon. The remaining summer line-up at the Belly Up Aspen is something to plan your summer vacation around.

The following morning, after indulging in a little too much whiskey and rock music the night before, I made the short walk across the street for some breakfast fuel at the Main Street Bakery and Cafe—the spot recommended most by the Aspen locals I came across. If some rigorous outdoor activities are on your agenda while in town, the Main Street Bakery and Cafe is a pretty solid place to start your day. For breakfast, I devoured a massive and delicious chorizo-filled breakfast burrito and a soul-saving cup of coffee before heading out to meet up with the folks from Aspen Alpine Guides to spend a little time exploring the area’s beautiful backcountry.

As a born-and-raised Colorado kid, the concept of hiring a guide for a trip to the mountains that I’ve been exploring for nearly three decades was a little strange to me. But shortly after arriving with our team of friendly guides at the Harry Gates Hut nestled in a particularly gorgeous section of the Sawatch Mountain Range about 15 miles northeast of Aspen, I knew that this was going to be an enlightening trip. Surrounded by clear blue skies and some of the most beautiful natural scenery imaginable, our group quickly got situated claiming sleeping bag-clad beds in one of the two common sleeping areas in the hut. Part of the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, the Harry Gates Hut is the largest hut in the association, comfortably accommodating 16 people with 2 private bedrooms upstairs, 6 beds in the upstairs communal area, and suitable cushiony furniture dotted throughout the rest of the hut. When you roll with guides, expect to feel at ease as you explore your new surroundings. After a tasty snack at basecamp, the group headed out on a hiking trip, led by a seasoned guide with a crazy amount of knowledge about the mountains, weather patterns, and secret places not to be missed while hiking in the area. Secret spot #1 consisted of waterfall, streaming like a freight train from an opening in the brilliant blue sky above. But hiking up to get a view of the waterfall wasn’t enough. Our guide safely led us behind the steady downpour of water to really appreciate nature’s beauty and everything that comes along with it, (i.e. a cool-down on a hot summer day and a all-natural sunglass cleaning). Secret spot #2 was a series of natural springs jetting out from the mountainside a mere 2-hour hike from our hut.

As we made our way back up through the narrow footpaths towards our lodging for the night, a simple breeze brushed through our group of hikers, prompting our guide to correctly forecast an afternoon rainstorm the next day. Visions of the white tails of deer lingering nearby dotted openings throughout the forest as we made our way back to the hut that afternoon. On top of creating an incredibly efficient and comfortable experience in the great outdoors, the folks at Aspen Alpine Guides also arranged a 5-star worthy dinner that evening, utilizing the talents of a local Aspen chef to create a meal made up of a rich and hearty snow pea risotto, delicately grilled asparagus, a decadent sweet corn soup, and an expertly cooked bone-in pork loin with a romesco sauce. When spending the night out in the wilderness, a skillfully made risotto is typically the farthest dish from a backcountry campers mind. But anything goes with the Aspen Alpine Guides. Whether you’re looking for guidance on finding the least crowded place to explore the backcountry in the area, or you’d rather “glamp” than camp, Aspen Alpine Guides can make it happen. On this trip, my time putzing around the mountains in and around Aspen was definitely enhanced by the preparations and education offered up by the guides. Their presence is a great reminder that regardless of your pre-conceived notions of a place, or town, or experience, there’s always some hidden gem, or secret natural spring, or adventure waiting to be discovered—as long as you’re willing to seek it out.

Big City Mountaineers Celebrates 25 Years

07 JUL 15

BY TYRA SUTAK IN BACKPACKING | HIKING |

BCM has been introducing under-resourced youth to the great outdoors for a quarter century.

There’s no denying that spending time breathing in fresh mountain air and exploring the great outdoors is good for the soul. In 1990, Jim Kearns, founder of Big City Mountaineers, was on a quest to share some quality outdoor time with his son Drew when something happened that would change the course of his life and career forever. A resident of Miami at the time, Kearns was browsing through the Miami Herald when he came across a travel deal that he couldn’t pass up. Buy one adult plane ticket and receive a child’s ticket for one dollar. Along with his son, Kearns also enlisted a friend for the trip to Missoula, Montana, but another adult on the trip meant that he still needed to find one more child to take advantage of the $1 deal. And then it hit him. Kearns made contact with a local teen shelter, inquired about any deserving teenage boys that might benefit from some fresh mountain air and paid airfare, and thus Big City Mountaineers was born.

“That experience really sparked the idea to do these sorts of trips more often and in more places,” said Bryan Martin, executive director for the organization.

In the years that followed their inception, Big City Mountaineers would run one to three trips per summer. Today, the Colorado-based organization runs 40 trips per summer and serves around 1000 under-served youth each year—operating expeditions in Colorado, California, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, and the Miami area. BCM works closely with youth organizations in the urban cities in each of those states, seeking “under-resourced” and deserving kids ages 13-18 from programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters and The Boys and Girls Club to take advantage of a funded wilderness trip away from the urban cities they call home.

“We really want to make sure we’re serving a certain demographic of kids,” said Martin. “Most of the youth that come through our programs haven’t slept in a tent before, and it’s challenging for them. There are definitely times during the expeditions where kids break down. They’re being challenged physically, mentally, emotionally. They hit that adversity and find their ability to overcome it, and that breakthrough helps them to breakthrough challenges back home.”

Each week-long backpacking expedition includes five kids and five adult mentors, providing a 1-to-1 ratio that’s very important to the success of the program, according to Martin. Big City Mountaineers also administers follow-ups with BCM participants to get feedback on the trips and verify the effectiveness of their services. Many participants return for alumni trips, and some return to the program as volunteer mentors. 

While this year has been a reflection on the past 25 years of operation for the organization, that hasn’t halted their big plans for the future. In addition to week-long backpacking trips, Big City Mountaineers also has plans to incorporate more overnight camps for kids 8-12 years old, focusing on environmental education and providing a safe experience in nature. The organization also plans to boost their Summit for Someone program, which is a fundraising initiative launched in 2004, allowing individuals from all over the world to commit to summiting a mountain of choice, pledging to raise funds for BCF along the way. And perhaps the biggest goal in sight in the next few years for the organization is to expand expeditions to include the Northeastern U.S. 

“We really want to make nature accessible,” said Martin. “Over the past quarter century, Big City Mountaineers has taken over 7,300 under-served kids camping, hiking and paddling. There are so many kids that would love and need these expeditions, and we want to give them that opportunity.”

Learn more about Big City Mountaineers here: bigcitymountaineers.org.

SALT’s DIY Cocktail Menu

 

The Cocktail Element menu lets you design your own drink

“Anything sangría,” the well-dressed man behind the bar at SALT the Bistro {1047 Pearl Street, Boulder; 303.444.7258} responded when we asked him for recommendations on a refreshing summer drink. But unlike most craft cocktail menus, choosing a drink from the Cocktail Element menu at SALT isn’t as simple as randomly choosing the menu item with the most intriguing name. It’s advertised as a “personalized cocktail invention.” SALT’s DIY cocktail menu employs a three-part ordering system created to encourage customized drinks and the exploration of new cocktail combinations. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Select a spirit. Choose from high-quality and often locally made vodka, gin, rum, tequila, bourbon, or Scotch liquors.

Step 2: Select a house-infused simple syrup. Using fresh ingredients, and all made in-house, the simple syrup offerings range from commonly used simple syrups like vanilla, cucumber, mint, and lemongrass, to unique infusions like strawberry-basil, blood orange-rosemary, chipotle, and ginger.

Step 3: Select a style. Options include French 75 (sparkling wine and lemon juice), gimlet, sour (Rickey), cocktail, fizz (Collins), or an Old Fashioned. Cute images of the glassware for each option will help you identify the kind of style you’re looking for.

Taking a cue from the talented cocktail chemist behind the bar on our trip, we opted for a sangría-style drink made with vodka and strawberry-basil house-infused simple syrup. Not only was the color and presentation of the drink visually stunning, but you better believe it was delicious and downright thirst-quenching on a hot Colorado day.

Find out more SALT’s cocktail program here: saltthebistro.com.

By Tyra Sutak | Contributing Writer ​

ROAD TRIP: PALISADE, COLORADO

 

14 JUL 15

BY TYRA SUTAK IN ADVENTURE TRAVEL | BACKPACKING | BEER | FEATURED | FESTIVALS | ROAD CYCLING |TRAVEL |

photo courtesy of Palisade Chamber of Commerce & Jim Cox JC/Photography

In Colorado’s Western Slope, located just off of Interstate-70 and only a 4 hour drive from Denver, is the small town of Palisade, affectionately dubbed “The Wine Capital of Colorado” thanks to acres and acres of vineyards and an abundance of wineries that make up the town’s landscape. With the Book Cliff Mountains looming near and the Colorado River rolling through town from the mouth of DeBeque Canyon, Palisade is not only a destination for a relaxing getaway, but also for adventure-seekers and outdoor-lovers looking to paddle, bike, and hike their way through the area’s breathtaking scenery. The year-round climate in Palisade is mostly warm and sunny, but the months of May, June and September offer especially mild temps, perfect for enjoying a glass of wine outdoors after a day of exploring. Charming inns and bed and breakfasts provide lodging options, and meals can be sourced from the locally-grown produce stands in town, or at one of the rustic restaurants in downtown Palisade, which is also home to the Palisade Brewing Company andPeach Street Distillers. Visit Palisade September 17-20 for the Colorado Mountain Winefest which features tastings, grape stomps, live music, and a 25-mile bike ride through Palisade’s picturesque wine country. 

Wild Woods Brewery Brings the Best of Camping to Boulder

 

Wild Woods Brewery is ideal for Boulder's beer and outdoor enthusiasts

For outdoor enthusiasts, there’s a real sadness that hits when a camping trip comes to an end. A gloomy feeling sets in when the campfire has been extinguished, the car has been repacked, and the beautiful mountains that have served as a temporary home become nothing more than another photo on your Instagram feed.

But the best parts of spending quality time in the outdoors don’t necessarily have to end once you hit that on-ramp heading eastbound on I-70.

Wild Woods Brewery. Photo credit: Tyra Sutak.

Enter Wild Woods Brewery, a charming nano-brewery located in the up-and-coming foodie district of East Boulder. From the second you set foot inside this craft brewery, you can tell that the owners of this popular neighborhood watering hole have a passion for the great outdoors; just check out the various tree branches that decorate the walls, and the names and flavors of each brew. Stepping inside Wild Woods is like stepping into the back-country, surrounded by lush trees with a blue sky above and a cold brew in your hand.

Belly up to the bar at Wild Woods and take a moment to appreciate the handcrafted wooden bar and the woodsy hues of the place. If the camping experience for you is defined by those gooey, messy campfire smores, then order a pint of the Smores Stout. Made with cocoa nibs, this sweet and roasty beer measures in at 4.9-percent ABV, making it a sessionable beer to enjoy in the tap room—or out of a growler on your next camping trip. The crisp and hoppy nose on the Treeline IPA makes you feel like you’re breathing in a breath of mountain air first thing in the morning. And the smoky but smooth flavors in the Campfire Red Ale will have you telling your favorite campfire stories to all of the other patrons in the bar.

When you visit Wild Woods, you might even be lucky enough to enjoy a pint of the River Rock Brown ale tapped from the cask. And keep an eye out on the Wild Woods Facebook page for official release dates for the Ponderosa Porter and Treeline IPA in 22-ounce bombers—the brewery’s first packaged beers since their inception in 2012.

By Tyra Sutak | Online Contributor 

The Cured for What Ails Boulder

 

By Tyra Sutak

In the cycling world, all eyes are on France right now. Yet Will Frischkorn, former pro cyclist, Tour de France competitor, and current co-owner of Cured — Boulder’s favorite cheese shop — the focus this week is on an outdoor activity of a different variety.

These days, Frischkorn and his wife and co-owner Coral are busy taking the cheese game beyond the walls of Cured’s quaint shop in downtown Boulder’s east end neighborhood. Made especially for a town that appreciates the outdoors, Cured fixes up specialty picnic baskets to be enjoyed along with the outdoor-loving lifestyle in the area, and their customers are definitely loving it.

“Picnics are a big things for us,” said Frischkorn. “We live in one of the most perfect places in the country for picnicking. We build picnic baskets full of items that you can put into your backpack, head up to the hills with, and enjoy on the top of a mountain.” According to Frischkorn, the “Backcountry Picnic,” advertised for two adventurous souls and packed with cheese, salami, Marcoa almonds, Nita Crisp Crackers, apples, and two cookies made in-house are flying out the door at the moment. Cured’s pre-made picnic baskets range in price from $40 to $100, and feature items from the shop that has become the go-to location in Boulder for cheese and charcuterie aficionados.

But it’s not just cheese heads that are making the trip to Cured. The shop has become a neighborhood gathering place with many regulars from downtown Boulder neighborhoods stopping in to do some foodie-inspired shopping. There’s also the added bonus of visiting with Will, Coral, and their young son, Holden— fueling a neighborly vibe that Frischkorn envisioned when the couple opened the shop nearly four years ago.

“When we opened Cured, it filled a niche in Boulder that hadn’t been filled at the time,” Frischkorn said. “Almost every place in our neighborhood is locally owned, and people in Boulder really support that. They get behind what their neighbors are doing, which is great, because a lot of our customers live pretty close to the shop.”

When it comes creating menus for the shop, the Frischkorn’s find most of their inspiration from their active lifestyles. “One of the biggest things that we champion in general is doing it right,” Frishckorn said. “We want to make things that are delicious, but also healthy. But we really focus on the quality first.”

Aside from all things cheese, Cured also serves up specialty sandwiches during lunch and nightly specials for dinner. Weekly specials have been so in demand that customers are getting into the habit of calling ahead to the shop to place dinner orders for takeout. Cured offers fresh pasta dishes on Monday and chicken specials on Thursday. Frischkorn highly recommends checking on the fresh fish dishes they’re serving up on Friday nights. Follow Cured on Facebook to stay updated on which delicious variety of menu items they’re serving up each day.

Visit Cured online for more info and to browse their speciality picnic options. Happy snacking!

Image Credit: Cured – Boulder, CO

Big City Mountaineers Celebrates 25 Years

 

07 JUL 15

BY TYRA SUTAK IN BACKPACKING | HIKING |

BCM has been introducing under-resourced youth to the great outdoors for a quarter century.

There’s no denying that spending time breathing in fresh mountain air and exploring the great outdoors is good for the soul. In 1990, Jim Kearns, founder of Big City Mountaineers, was on a quest to share some quality outdoor time with his son Drew when something happened that would change the course of his life and career forever. A resident of Miami at the time, Kearns was browsing through the Miami Herald when he came across a travel deal that he couldn’t pass up. Buy one adult plane ticket and receive a child’s ticket for one dollar. Along with his son, Kearns also enlisted a friend for the trip to Missoula, Montana, but another adult on the trip meant that he still needed to find one more child to take advantage of the $1 deal. And then it hit him. Kearns made contact with a local teen shelter, inquired about any deserving teenage boys that might benefit from some fresh mountain air and paid airfare, and thus Big City Mountaineers was born.

“That experience really sparked the idea to do these sorts of trips more often and in more places,” said Bryan Martin, executive director for the organization.

In the years that followed their inception, Big City Mountaineers would run one to three trips per summer. Today, the Colorado-based organization runs 40 trips per summer and serves around 1000 under-served youth each year—operating expeditions in Colorado, California, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, and the Miami area. BCM works closely with youth organizations in the urban cities in each of those states, seeking “under-resourced” and deserving kids ages 13-18 from programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters and The Boys and Girls Club to take advantage of a funded wilderness trip away from the urban cities they call home.

“We really want to make sure we’re serving a certain demographic of kids,” said Martin. “Most of the youth that come through our programs haven’t slept in a tent before, and it’s challenging for them. There are definitely times during the expeditions where kids break down. They’re being challenged physically, mentally, emotionally. They hit that adversity and find their ability to overcome it, and that breakthrough helps them to breakthrough challenges back home.”

Each week-long backpacking expedition includes five kids and five adult mentors, providing a 1-to-1 ratio that’s very important to the success of the program, according to Martin. Big City Mountaineers also administers follow-ups with BCM participants to get feedback on the trips and verify the effectiveness of their services. Many participants return for alumni trips, and some return to the program as volunteer mentors. 

While this year has been a reflection on the past 25 years of operation for the organization, that hasn’t halted their big plans for the future. In addition to week-long backpacking trips, Big City Mountaineers also has plans to incorporate more overnight camps for kids 8-12 years old, focusing on environmental education and providing a safe experience in nature. The organization also plans to boost their Summit for Someone program, which is a fundraising initiative launched in 2004, allowing individuals from all over the world to commit to summiting a mountain of choice, pledging to raise funds for BCF along the way. And perhaps the biggest goal in sight in the next few years for the organization is to expand expeditions to include the Northeastern U.S. 

“We really want to make nature accessible,” said Martin. “Over the past quarter century, Big City Mountaineers has taken over 7,300 under-served kids camping, hiking and paddling. There are so many kids that would love and need these expeditions, and we want to give them that opportunity.”

Learn more about Big City Mountaineers here: bigcitymountaineers.org.

Tips for Backyard Burger Grilling

 

Inspired by Rueben’s Burger Bistro in Boulder

Photo credit: ruebensburgerbistro.com

Bust out your “kiss the cook” apron and get out the ground beef and buns, it’s grilling season! When it comes to grilling up the best backyard burgers this summer, try taking a page from the folks at Rueben’s Burger Bistro {1800 Broadway, Boulder; 303.443.5000}, one of the top burger joints along the Front Range, for their tips for backyard burger grilling. Since opening their doors in 2010, this Boulder burger joint has mastered the perfect burger set-up, and here are a few reasons why:

• They focus on the ingredients. In your quest to cook up the perfect patty, make sure you start with the best ingredients. Rueben’s only uses 100-percent all natural Colorado beef— and trust us, you can taste the difference.
• They let you build your own! Rueben’s menu has a whole page devoted to burger options, but instead of issuing standard burger menu items, they let you build your own. Pick your protein, pick your bun option, and pick your sauce— then pair it up with one their 16 cycling-themed “toppings” combinations to finish it all off.
• Think outside the sesame bun. One of Rueben’s offerings that keep diners coming back for more is their signature pretzel bun. The pretzel bun elevates the entire dish and offers a steady and secure vehicle for your burger patty, condiments, and vegetables to come together as one.
• Add a homemade sauce. At Rueben’s, people dig the fry sauce on everything. But burger aficionados are also ordering up one of the many aïoli options offered on the menu. This includes a roasted garlic aïoli and a chipotleaïoli, which both add a nice touch of flavor to any burger dish.
• Don’t forget the sides. Instead of regular old potato chips or french fries, offer up some tasty alternative options for your guests. Along with their hand-cut french fries, Rueben’s also serves up some very popular sweet potato fries, a side salad, and beer battered onion rings.
• Serve it with a cold beer. Unlike Rueben’s, you might not have 42 beer taps from which to serve your guests, but that’s okay. Stock up on a couple of options, serve ‘em cold, and you’re bound to have some happy people!

Check out Rueben’s Burger Bistro’s full menu:http://ruebensburgerbistro.com/menu/.

By Tyra Sutak | Contributing Writer

Juice Away Your July 4 Guilt at Zeal

 

Juices and cleanses that will make it all better

It’s not your fault; we totally get it. It was the smell of those juicy burgers on the grill. And the cooler stocked full of ice-cold beer. That checkered tablecloth topped with sweet treats, and those adorable little red, white, and blue jello shots that seemed so harmless. The Fourth of July holiday weekend owned you, and your liver and stomach have joined forces in a pretty serious revolution against the rest of your body ever since. For those pour souls in the Boulder area suffering through a post-holiday weekend hangover, help isn’t far away.

Inside the vibrant dining room of Zeal – Food For Enthusiasts {1710 Pearl Street, Boulder; 720.708.6309} is a magical fountain of natural elixirs concocted to cure whatever ails you. This downtown Boulder eatery and juice bar is known for their organic, cold-pressed juices, which are all made in-house–some are even served straight from the tap. (Check out Zeal for happy hour from 4-5:30 p.m for $5 juices on tap.)

Order a glass of one of Zeal’s Red, Yellow, Green, or Orange juices made with fresh organic ingredients like ginger, kale, spinach, pineapple, beets, and an assortment of other healthy produce. If you can’t decide on a color, grab a juice flight for $8 and enjoy short pours of all of Zeal’s juice offerings.

If smoothies are more your style, Zeal has a variety of options featuring their freshly made juices plus a variety of other healthful ingredients like honey, cacao nibs, and peanut butter. Get your body back on track with a Green Alkalizer ($8.25) made with spinach, kale, avocado, ginger, chia, cinnamon, dates, green juice, almond, and hemp or coconut milk. If you really went hard over the week, it might be best to order the Delightful Detox ($8.25). The combination of spinach, green apple, cucumber, celery, parsley, ginger, lemon, and coco water might just save your soul.

If you need more than one glass of juice to counter all of the holiday weekend fun you had, Zeal also offers one-day ($70) or three-day ($180) juice cleanse packages from their pals at Boulder-based Conscious Cleanse. The juice cleanses are meant to give your digestive system a rest and to provide your body with nutrients, live enzymes, and minerals needed to detoxify your body and help you feel your best—just in time to celebrate all over again this weekend …

By Tyra Sutak | Contributing Writer ​

Meadow Lark Farm Dinner Tickets on Sale

 

Secure tickets for an August dinner beginning July 6

Colorado’s Front Range is dotted with fields of rolling farm land, pumping out fresh produce and other goods that eventually end up for sale at farm stands, weekly farmers’ markets, and in the kitchens of Colorado restaurants committed to supporting local farmers.

With so many accessible farms in the area, it’s no surprise that the popularity of farm dinners is on the rise. And thanks to businesses like Meadow Lark Farm Dinners, they’re highly in demand this summer. Created in 2008, the mobile eatery hosts community-style dinners in the fields at a handful of local farms like the Lyons Farmette, and east Boulder’s Cure Organic Farm and Munson Farm.

Using fresh ingredients sourced from the host farm for the evening, Meadow Lark creates and serves five-course meals under the brilliant colors of a Colorado evening sky. Along with a menu inspired by the day’s harvest, guests also get the chance to share a meal and a personal farm tour with the farmers who grew the bounty served on their plates. If you’re looking for a true farm-to-table experience, this is definitely it.

Meadow Lark Farm Dinners are held every Thursday and Saturday evening from June through September. Reservations are made in a lottery fashion, with each month’s lottery lasting 24 hours, after which time 42 lucky diners per dinner will be awarded a dinner invitation. The ticket price per person is $125 and wine pairing suggestions and arrangements are available for an additional fee.

The lottery for Meadow Lark Farm Dinner’s August season opens up Monday, July 6. More info on making reservations and Meadow Lark Farm Dinner’s can be found at farmdinners.com.

By Tyra Sutak | Contributing Writer

Catching Up With Tyler Grant of the Boulder-Based Band, The Grant Farm

 

By Tyra Sutak

For decades, the Front Range of Colorado has been drawing musicians in like a harmonious magnet. We have drummers and guitarists, composers, and Grammy winners. With so many musicians making roots in the area, it’s only natural that many newly formed groups are short-lived.

But a few Boulder-grown bands have built great relationships with local venues and fans and have gone on to sell out venues like the Boulder Theater and the Fox Theater. Local band, The Grant Farm is one of those bands that have survived the five-year mark— steadily growing it’s fan base each year not only in their home-state of Colorado, but while touring around the country. Performing original tunes seeped in American Roots-Rock, founder and frontman, Tyler Grant, and his crew aren’t planning on hanging up their boots anytime soon. We caught up with Grant, a National Flatpicking Champ and guitarist/vocalist for The Grant Farm, to talk about the local music scene, check in on the Farm, and see what’s sprouting up next for this Boulder-based group.

Q: You’re originally from California. You spent some time in Nashville. You’ve travelled all over, but you planted roots in Boulder, Colorado. What brought you to the area?

A: During my time in Nashville, I took a lot of side-man gigs, and played a lot of festivals. I ended up playing Rocky Grass in 2004. The music scene in Colorado is the most happening scene that I have witnessed out of all of my travels as far as decent bands doing their thing and consistently having fans come out to support their music. There’s no place like Colorado. I lived in Nashville until 2009, but I was doing a lot of touring with the Emmitt-Nershi Band, and we started spending a lot of time and building a big fan base here in Colorado. I’m a west coast guy. I like the outdoors, and moving to Colorado had always been a bit of a fantasy for me. So in 2009, I made the move. I decided that instead of playing the Nashville game, I would rather go to Colorado and be an artist.

Q: You’ve toured with some impressive bands. You’ve done a lot of solo work. But your main project these days is The Grant Farm. How did that come about?

A: The original Grant Farm was a side-project filled with original tunes with just me and Andy Thorn, banjo player for the Emmitt-Nershi band. Andy ended up joining up with Leftover Salmon, but I knew that I really wanted to take The Grant Farm and run with it. I felt like there was so much bluegrass going on and I wanted to do something different. So I got back into playing electric guitar and started up a regular old roots-rock, kind of electric, group— thinking that the scene really needed that. The Grant Farm started full-time in 2010. Adrian [Engfer - bass/vocals], has been in the group for over four years. Our drummer, Sean [Macaulay] has been with us for two years, and our keyboard player, Kevin [McHugh], joined just last year. Since 2010, we’ve put out two albums, Grant Farm (2012), and Plowing Time (2014), along with an EP  released in 2014 called Meeting on the Mountain.

Q: The lyrics and music of The Grant Farm are very positive and upbeat. What’s the inspiration behind your tunes?

A: My mission is music to try to help the world. I feel like we’re all pretty fortunate to be able to play music as our profession. I feel the return of that gratitude is to try to help the world in some way. We’ve always done charity work, and we try to speak to that in our music. I feel like putting out a positive message right now is one of the best things that we can do to elevate society. Our mission statement as a band is to be the best band that we can be, and to elevate our audience with authentic music and a positive message. 

Q: A long list of impressive “honorary farmers” have sat in with The Grant Farm during local shows. Boulder seems to have a very collaborative musical spirit. Why do you think it’s become home, and a home-away-from-home for so many musicians?

A: The mentality of nice-weather places with lots of sunshine isn’t typically conducive to artistic growth and a thriving artistic community, because everyone spends their free time outside. But in Colorado, somehow, everyone maintains an active lifestyle, yet they’re still involved in the arts and in music. I think that has a lot to do with the progressive festival scene here, starting with the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. A lot of acts came through that really made it fun and built up a following that really hasn’t been seen since the The Grateful Dead and Phish. That’s a universal thing with festivals all around the world. In Colorado, there is a very unique mix of musicians from different regions with different styles. I think the collaborative spirit of the festivals here has really spawned a lot of healthy, new music. Between the outdoor scene, the festivals, and the craft beer movement, we’ve really built a community here of people enjoying where they are.

Listen to The Grant Farm’s tunes for free here. Download them on iTunes. Check out theirupcoming tour dates here.  And catch them on June 4th at the Fox Theater with fellow Colorado band, Great American Taxi. 

Basta: A Boulder Culinary Favorite

 

By Tyra Sutak

Basta. It’s the Italian word for “enough”.

It’s also the name of one of Boulder’s most-talked about restaurants, and a mission statement of sorts for Chef Kelly Whitaker, the man behind the busy eatery located at 3601 Arapahoe Avenue. For Chef Kelly, it’s all about creating flavorful and tasty dishes using fresh, locally-made ingredients and simple cooking methods.

Since 2010, Basta has been a culinary mecca in Boulder, serving up Italian-inspired cuisine for diners that take on the challenge of tracking down its location. It isn’t uncommon for first-time Basta diners to break out the GPS to find this restaurant, which is located at the base of The Lofts at Peleton Boulder.

Much like the chef behind the restaurant, Basta’s location isn’t flashy, or pretentious. It’s inviting and comfortable. Warm hues and wooden tables make up the interior of the place, and delicious and smoky smells waft throughout the small space from the wood-fired pizza oven and the kitchen. With a 1000-degree oven in the back, it’s no surprise that Basta’s speciality is pizza. Pizza options range from classic pizzas like the Daisy (tomato sauce, mozz, basil, olive oil) to the Clam— a salty and spicy but mildly sweet combination of clams, chili, panna, and herbs.

Pizza pricing ranges from $14 to $18, and are large enough to eat solo, or share with a friend. Meat and cheese plates, Duck Rillete, and other starter items are a great way to kick off the meal here. Be sure to try the Chicken Liver Mousse, served on citrus focaccia bread with a creamy mustard that really takes this dish over the top.

And if you’re not exactly in the mood for pizza, Basta is also serving up popular dishes like a Whole Colorado Bass, Bone-In Ribeye, and the Wood Roasted Half Chicken— a dish rated “top chicken dish in Boulder” in 2013 by the Daily Camera. To further enhance the warm and cozy dining room as the perfect meet-up spot, Basta’s concocting  thoughtful cocktails, and serving craft beer, and a wonderful wine list by Alan Henkin, a level 2 sommelier formally of Frasca in downtown Boulder. A glass of the Jouclary syrah/cabernet is a beautiful pairing with the tomato-sauce based pizzas on the menu, creating a palate-cleansing effect that enhances each bite of the bubbly crust and the melty cheese goodness.

Basta is open Monday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner, and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch.

Image Credit: Basta

BoCo Summer Craft Beer Seasonals to Drink This Summer

 

By Tyra Sutak

The warm weather is back in Boulder County, which means locals are trading out après drinks on the mountain for weekend afternoon bike rides to nearby tap rooms. Warm temps mean full brewery patios complete with cold beverages that typically land on the lighter side of the beer spectrum. It’s time for stouts and porters to get a much deserved rest, hibernating in shiny fermenters and oak barrels until the snow starts to fall once again. In the summer, anything goes when it comes to beer drinking, but brewers in the area have stepped up their seasonal beer list game, featuring light-bodied, low ABV beers along with barrel-aged sours and fruity wheat beers. Here’s a guide to limited release seasonal beers to add to your must-try list this spring/summer.

Avery Brewing Co.

Tectum et Elix: Avery is welcoming warm weather by releasing four new barrel-aged beers throughout the spring months. First up, this sour ale aged in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels made with multiple Brett and Saccharomyces strains to give this beer some extra funk. Available now at the Avery tap room and select liquor stores. 5.5% ABV.

Insula multos Collibus: This one is a whopper, coming in at 9.7% ABV. This strong sour ale has been aging in fresh bourbon barrels for the past nine months and has also been fermented with cherries. The beer will be available at the Avery tap room starting on April 26th and will also be packaged in bottles and sent to select liquor stores in Colorado and beyond.

Fortuna: A citrusy sour beer aged in Suerte tequila barrels for nine months, finished off with fresh lime zest and Maldon salt. At 8.1% ABV, this is the perfect beer for the indecisive folks that can’t choose between having a beer or a margarita. This best-of-both-worlds brew will be available on tap at the Avery tap room on May 3rd, also making an appearance at select liquor stores shortly after.

Boulder Beer Company 

Cold Hop British-Style Ale: A draft-only release, this beer is an ode to Charlie Papazian. It’s made with malts from Great Britain and a combination of Czech and New Zealand hops like Willamette, Saaz, Hallertau, Hercules, and Nelson Sauvin. Pairs nicely with the beautiful patio attached to the brewery. 6.3% ABV.

Kinda Blue Blueberry Wheat Beer: A personal favorite, the Kinda Blue is a fantastically refreshing beer for sipping on a hot day. Released annually in March/April, this beer can typically be found until the snow starts to fall. Find it locally on draft and bottled in six-packs at local liquor stores.  5.2% ABV. 

Finkel & Garf Brewing Company 

Peach Wheat: Busted. Finkel & Garf’s Peach Wheat is technically served on tap year-round at the brewery, but this Gunbarrel location is still pretty new, and chances are you haven’t had a chance to sip on this great summertime beer. At 4.7%, this Peach Wheat is pretty perfect for sipping at the halfway point of your next bike ride…

Oskar Blues Brewery

Gubna Imperial IPA: Let’s be real. Tears are shed every year when the last of the Ten Fidy Imperial Stout (Oskar Blues’ winter seasonal) leaves the shelf, leaving a dark hole in the local beer industry. But a few years ago, this Longmont brewery came up with a summer seasonal to fill the empty void. The Gubna Imperial IPA weighs in at 100+ IBUs, giving hop heads something to drool over. The Gubna recipe changes each season to feature the best and most exciting hops from each year. At 10% ABV, this is a big beer, and can be found on draft at local drinkeries as well as in 4-packs at liquor stores just about everywhere.

Tickled Pink Saison/Farmhouse Ale: Saisons are synonymous with summer, which is why locals are really digging the Tickled Pink specialty brew from Oskar Blues. And not only is a crisp, refreshing beer for a hot summer day— it’s also tastes like raspberries. But in true Oskar Blues fashion, this light-bodied beer still rings in at 6.6% ABV.

Upslope Brewing Co.

Belgian-Style Pale Ale: Light and laced with coriander, this limited release is deceiving, tipping the ABV scale at 7.5%. This brew is available on tap at both of Upslope’s tap rooms and in cans at select liquor stores as well.  

Thai Style White IPA: This beer is made up of citrusy and crisp flavors created by a combination of Belgian Wit yeast, plenty of hops, and Asian-inspired spices. Keep an eye out for this beer on tap at both Upslope tap rooms and in cans beginning at the end of the summer.

Wildwoods Brewing 

Gin Barrel Aged Treeline IPA: The Treeline IPA is an American-style India Pale Ale, dry-hopped with Centennial and Columbus hops and conditioned with juniper berries, making it a favorite of hop-lovers that frequent the Wildwoods taproom. But for a limited time, the folks at this east Boulder brewery are serving up a gin barrel-aged version of the beer, accentuating the juniper berry flavor and creating one tasty warm weather brew. Find it on tap at the Wildwoods tap room now.

Tourist in Your Own Town: Taste of Pearl Returns to Downtown Boulder for 6th Year

 

By Tyra Sutak

Walk a bit. Sip some wine. Sample tasty culinary creations from local restaurants. Rub elbows with award-winning chefs.

It’s all part of the Taste of Pearl, back in its 6th year on April 19th, and it’s a fabulous way to kick off spring, support local, and spend an afternoon getting lost in the sights, sounds, and tastes of Boulder’s historic Pearl Street. Whether you’re a local, or visiting from out of town, this event is a great way to take a whimsical tour of the Pearl Street Mall, Boulder’s impressive dining scene, the area’s emerging wine scene, and the unique and quaint shops that line the streets of Boulder’s bustling downtown hub.

The event is put on by the folks at Downtown Boulder, Inc.— the non-profit organization responsible for promoting and preserving downtown Boulder as a center of commerce and community in the city. The Taste of Pearl features pairings from 15 different restaurants and 15 different Boulder County wineries, all taking place within 15 different retail shops along the Pearl Street Mall. It’s the best of all worlds.

“It’s a great tasting event that also puts the downtown retail scene in the spotlight,” says DBI’s Marketing & Communications Director, Terri Takata-Smith. While ticket holders get to experience the food and wine scene in Boulder at a micro level, they also get a fun introduction to retail shops of the clothing, shoes, art, and artisanal food supply variety as well. Participating retailers include: Patagonia, Starr’s Clothing— a Boulder clothing store icon since 1914, Savory Spice Shop, the Pedestrian Shops shoe store, Art + Soul Gallery, and more. This year’s restaurant participants include two James Beard award semifinalists— Frasca Food & Wine (nominated for Outstanding Restaurant), and OAK at Fourteenth (nominated for Best Chef: Southwest, for chef/owner, Steve Redzikowski) along with Spruce Farm and Fish, newcomers to the Boulder dining scene. Beloved downtown sushi joint, Japango, is also participating in the Taste of Pearl for the first time as one half of a pairing with Wild Cider. Proceeds from the event benefit EFAA, Boulder’s Emergency Family Assistance Association. Over the past five years, the event has managed to raise $35,000 for EFAA, a local organization that provides food, shelter, and other basic items for those in need.

Food. Wine. Shopping. Supporting local and non-profit orgs in your community. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that the colorful tulip gardens that rise up from the bricks along the mall are starting to bloom. In addition to the food and wine pairings that you’ll find at each retail stop along the way, Taste of Pearl-goers can also enjoy future discounts from participating vendors included on the tasting tour.

“It’s all about loving local,” said Anna Salim, Downtown Boulder, Inc. Event Director. “It’s definitely a unique experience, and downtown Boulder has a really hot culinary scene right now.”

For a full list of Taste of Pearl participants, and to purchase tickets, visit Taste of Boulder online.