The Colorado Blog – Page 2 – Colorado Traveler Magazine

Off the Grid: White Fence Farm

Published on April 5, 2017 in Attractions/Dining & Nightlife/Front Range Attractions/Front Range Dining & Nightlife/The Colorado Blog by Ellen Gray

Want to discover places only the locals know about? Longtime Denverite Bill Husted introduces you to this hidden gem:

The Denver dining scene has exploded in the past decade, with nationally recognized eateries opening on every corner. Expensive and somewhat precious, Denver restaurants are to be reckoned with. Ask any foodie.

But one mess hall has been serving up exactly the same simple grub since 1973 to hundreds of people every night (except Mondays). On Mothers Day and Easter they serve more than 3,000. That’s a lotta fried chicken.

Yup, fried chicken. Finger lickin’ chicken at White Fence Farm. Sitting on an eight-acre spread in Lakewood, a short drive from downtown Denver, this extra family-friendly eatery keeps it simple. Oh it serves salmon and the obligatory steak – but people come here for the fried chicken and the sides. The chicken comes piled high, a sizzling plateful the size of your head, almost impossible to finish. And the sides keep coming, bowls of bean salad, coleslaw, cottage cheese, pickled beets, hot corn fritters, chicken gravy, potatoes mashed, French fried and baked. This is all so homey and genuine you think Tom Saw- yer is your waiter.

WFF is run by legendary Denver restaurateur Craig Caldwell. For de- cades he operated sports bars like Brooklyn’s, checking IDs and planning Happy Hours. Now at WWF it’s always Happy Hour with families and friends pouring in for that familiar chicken.

If there’s a wait, no one seems to mind. They literally like to wait because they’re on the farm and there’s plenty to do. Dancing to a live band, petting the three goats, squeezing the balloon animals, chasing the geese, watching the model trains, climbing the tree house, eating the fudge, posing for the period photographs – even bellying up to the bar for a drink.

This is not your usual tourist destination. This is its own little corny world from yesterday. Work up an appetite and a sense of humor. White Fence Farm has a chicken with your name on it.

Colorado’s Entertainment Scene

Published on March 8, 2017 in The Colorado Blog by Ellen Gray

BY OLIVIA CRIST

Colorado has become a force to be reckoned with when it comes to entertainment. From theatre, comedy shows and beyond there is just so much to see in Colorado!

The Denver Center for the Preforming Arts

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts offers up great performances of comedy, musicals and dramas. In fact, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts won a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Here is a brief overview of what is currently playing at The Denver Center. Be sure to check it out!
Under Musical (2017)
An American In Paris (March 8-March 19) Buell Theatre
Beth Malone: So Far (April 15) Garner Galleria Theatre
Frozen (August 17- October 1) Buell Theatre
Under Comedy (2017)
An Act of God (October 15-April 8) Garner Galleria Theatre
Cult Following: Rated G (April 29- May 13) The Jones
Kinky Boots (March 21-March 26) Buell Theatre
Under Drama (2017)
Disgraced (March 31-May 7) Ricketson Theatre
The Last Five Years in Concert (May 22) Seawell Ballroom
Two Degrees (February 3-March 12) The Jones

**www.denvercenter.org**

Comedy Works Denver

Perhaps you’re in the mood to see a stand up comedy show. Comedy Works Denver has some really fabulous stand up comedy. This month you can buy tickets to go see Fortune Feimster, named Variety’s “Top 10 Comics to Watch” in 2014. Fortune wrote and preformed on the Chelsea Lately Show and is a series regular on The Mindy Project. Also this month you can buy a ticket to see David Spade. David Spade has had an impressive career in comedy. He starred in movies such as Grown Ups 2 and Tommy Boy. Spade also starred on the hit sitcom 8 Simple Rules and the popular CBS Comedy Series Rules of Engagement.

Check out www.comedyworks.com

Colorado Shakespeare Festival

If you are looking for that classic Shakespearian theatre experience, look no further than the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. “The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is a professional theatre company in association with the University of Colorado Boulder. Since 1958 the festival has celebrated and explored Shakespeare and his continuing influence and vitality through productions of superior artistic quality, education and community engagement.” The festival starts this summer in June and goes on until August of this year.

Check out their website and grab those tickets ahead of time!
www.coloradoshakes.org

A Colorado Wild West Experience

Published on March 3, 2017 in The Colorado Blog by Ellen Gray

By OLIVIA CRIST

Are you looking for that Colorado Wild West experience? Well, look no further. Colorado has a bounty of wild west type attractions that are just waiting for you to visit and enjoy!
There surely is nothing more wild west than horseback riding. Take a look at these fabulous dude ranches and other horseback riding opportunities!

Elk Mountain Ranch is “located in the heart of the Rockies, adjacent to the Browns Canyon National Monument. Elk Mountain Dude Ranch is secluded within the San Isabel National Forest near Buena Vista, Colorado.” Guests can look forward to horseback riding and a stay in some rustic style lodges.

**www.elkmtn.com**

Located in Colorado Springs, CO, Garden of the Gods is certainly a popular attraction for outdoor enthusiasts. But, did you know you could go horseback riding there? Academy Riding Stables offers an incredibly scenic trail ride for riders of all skill sets.

**www.academyridingstables.com**

Perhaps you want to involve a little fly fishing on your getaway. The High Lonesome Ranch offers some exciting fly fishing expeditions in addition to some old west style horseback riding and lodging. You can find the High Lonesome Ranch in De Beque, CO.

**www.thehighlonesomeranch.com**

Drowsy Water Guest Ranch is located in Granby, CO. Guests have the option of staying in cabins or lodges. This ranch offers horseback riding and a number of other activities ranging from rafting, a zip line course to even some western dancing!

**drowsywater.com**

Make sure to check out these attractions and get a taste of what Colorado’s wild west has to offer!

Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF) 2017

Published on February 22, 2017 in The Colorado Blog by Ellen Gray

BIFF This Year~ March 2-March 5

By Olivia Crist

It’s almost that time of year. Boulder International Film Festival is back and bigger than ever. Whether you are just visiting Boulder or are a local, be sure to come out and support film in Colorado March 2 through March 5! Boulder International Film Festival “attracts more than 25,000 film enthusiasts, media and industry each year and has been proud to host and celebrate some of films most talented artists, including award-winning actors Alec Baldwin, James Franco, Martin Sheen, Shirley MacLaine, Alan Arkin, Bruce Dern, Oliver Stone, William H. Macy, Peter Fonda, Blythe Danner, Maria Bello…Chevy Chase” and so many more! I was lucky enough to sit down and talk to Kathy Beeck, Co-Founder and Director of Boulder International Film Festival.

Interview with Kathy Beeck
O.C. – How did Boulder International Film Festival come to fruition?
K.B. – My sister and I founded it in 2005. We were filmmakers and had traveled to a lot of festivals. We decided that Boulder was a great place for a film festival and realized it didn’t have one, so we took the best elements of all those other festivals we were attending and put them into starting the Boulder International Film Festival.
O.C. – What do you think it is about BIFF that draws such an international audience?
K.B. – I think it’s the films and the programming, we also have a lot of fun things going on at the festival. We have a lot of parties, we do panels, we have call to action programs, a youth pavilion, we’re doing VR this year, virtual reality. But, the basis has always been great storytelling, we have the best films that are available in international cinema this time of year. That’s really the foundation of the festival. The program has been critically acclaimed over the years and continues to get better and better and this program is our best yet. In addition, Boulder itself is a great destination.
O.C. – What sorts of events can we look forward to during the festival?
K.B.- We always have a great singer/songwriter showcase, where we bring in talented singers and songwriters and connect them with the filmmakers and it’s also nice just to offer free music. We have tons of free music at all the parties, the singer/songwriter showcase and at the venues. We’re excited this year to even bring in some jazz experts to talk and or play before a few of our jazz films. We also have CineCHEF again, we have a great lineup of 8 fabulous chefs of Boulder’s big time restaurant scene. We have the youth pavilion again, which is free programming for kids all through out the festival.
This year we are doing something new, we are doing a virtual reality pavilion. It’s really an immersive experience and puts you in the middle of what’s going on. This will be free and open to the public, people can come all day Friday and Saturday over at Galvanize and experience that. We’re going back to Longmont again this year, we had a lot of interest there last year so we are happy to be expanding our program again there.
O.C.- So there is lots to look forward to it seems! I noticed there was some overlap between Boulder International Film Festival and Sundance, which is amazing, how much overlap can we expect this year?
K.B.- This year we’re screening three award winning Sundance films. For example, the winner of the documentary audience award was a film called “Chasing Coral” and we’re going to be screening that closing night, that’s also a local Boulder filmmaker. It is a fabulous film, so we are really looking forward to that and having a wonderful closing night.

Kathy Beeck was an absolute pleasure to talk to. It is clear that there is a lot to look forward to this year!
***Be sure to check out the BIFF website to find out more about tickets, the festival and events at www.biff1.com. ***

Reader’s Choice: Best Golf Courses in Colorado

Published on February 15, 2017 in Activities/Attractions/Front Range Activities/Front Range Attractions/Mountain Activities/Mountain Attractions/The Colorado Blog/Uncategorized by Ellen Gray

Help us find the best golf courses in Colorado! Take our survey and vote for your favorites in our three categories: Best Overall Golf Course, Prettiest Golf Course, and Most Challenging Golf Course. Our top Reader’s Choice Picks will be included in the Summer issue of Colorado Hotel Magazine.

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Denver Central Market – A Mile-High Market Hall

Published on January 5, 2017 in Attractions/Dining & Nightlife/Front Range Attractions/Front Range Dining & Nightlife/The Colorado Blog by Ellen Gray

BY MONICA PARPAL STOCKBRIDGE

Unless you live or work in Denver’s River North Arts District (also known as RiNo), you may not have noticed the H.H. Tammen building — a former curio shop and Native American crafts store that operated during the mid-1900s. After standing vacant for years, the building was renovated, refurbished and reopened in September as Denver Central Market, breathing new life into the former manufacturing hub of the city.

Over the past several years, Denver has been steadily building its reputation as a sophisticated and seasoned foodie destination. In particular, RiNo and other neighborhoods north of downtown have seen a revitalization of new businesses, residences, arts and entertainment. Part of this renaissance includes the introduction of gourmet food and retail markets and food halls, a national trend reflecting European-style open-air markets and food emporiums. Concepts like Oakland’s Rockridge Market Hall and Grand Central Market in Los Angeles (which will celebrate 100 years in 2017), Manhattan’s EATaly (with more than three dozen locations worldwide), and Chicago’s recently opened Latin food hall, Latinicity (by Richard Sandoval), are just a handful of national market hall spaces gaining ground around the country.

Before Denver Central Market opened, the modern food hall concept had taken hold in just a handful of distinct places in the Mile High City: The Source, built in a renovated foundry in RiNo, offers a mix of retail and restaurant spaces, a central bar, and upstairs office spaces. The Highlands’ Avanti serves as a modern food court and restaurant incubator. About seven concepts rent space in former shipping containers, aiming to refine their offerings, generate a following, and create a new style of dining in the city. The Stanley Marketplace is another example, currently opening in an expansive 140,000-square-foot space housing more than 50 businesses.

Denver Central Market, however, aims not to hatch new concepts or simply capitalize on a trend. Instead, owners Ken Wolf and chef Jeff Osaka sought to bring fundamental amenities to an under-served neighborhood. “I’d walk the neighborhood and found that, even just a few blocks away, there were no basic services around,” Osaka says.

Jeff Osaka’s first restaurant, Twelve, was open for six years in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood — just a stone’s throw from RiNo. The neighborhood was largely a commercial and manufacturing hub for many years. But Wolf had purchased the H.H. Tammen building nearly two decades earlier and had that very space in mind when he and Osaka connected.

Indeed, the two harbored a shared vision of bringing a market hall concept to the neighborhood — a place where people could purchase fresh fish, butchered meats, bread and produce, as well as sit down for a drink or a bite to eat.

“To be a true marketplace rather than a food hall, we needed retail aspects. We wanted a produce department, a butcher shop, a fishmonger,” Osaka says. “We wanted to cover all bases.”

The first step was to reinvent the space. Wolf and Osaka updated the building with elegant floor tiles, modern seating and mid-century light fixtures to illuminate the original brick and wood beams in the ceilings and walls. They organized cooking, prep, and handwashing stations for nearly a dozen vendors while keeping the space open, airy and walkable. They conjured a combination of original elements and modern furnishings designed to evoke a bygone era, achieving a sense of stepping back in time without sacrificing any of the modern comforts we enjoy.

Osaka understood that when it came to leasing the space, they needed a group of vendors firmly grounded in the Denver food scene. Justin Brunson was a natural choice for artisan cheeses and cured meats with Culture Meat & Cheese. Etai Baron of Izzio Artisan Bakery (formerly Udi’s) would provide the market’s bakery addition. Green Seed produce shop and restaurant would sell whole fruits and veggies as well as plated salads and fresh juices. Neighboring Crema Coffee House was a natural choice for the market’s java spot, and homegrown High Point Creamery was chosen to churn gourmet ice cream. “The Market really speaks to what we love most about Denver: amazing food, collaboration, and community,” High Point Creamery owners Chad Stutz and Erika Thomas write on their online vendor page.

In a feat of organization and collaboration, all 11 vendors opened for business at the same time on September 25, 2016, each bringing something unique, high quality and memorable to the market. “We put out a great product, whether a cut of beef or an ice cream sandwich,” Osaka says. “We’re very proud to be who we are and proud of the product that we put out.”

Providing many different options under one roof has proven successful at places like Avanti, The Source, and even the recently revitalized Union Station. And while the people living and working in RiNo tend to be part of a younger demographic, “we get people of all ages in the market,” Osaka says. “Just today there were little kids here, and elderly people. It’s a progression throughout the day. And while we thought a lot of people would walk here, we see people driving from all parts of town — even from as far away as Castle Rock.

With a minimum five-year lease, the goal at Denver Central Market is to create longevity among its vendors. “We want people to come back again and again and know the butcher will be there, or chocolatier will be there,” Osaka says, adding that he and Wolf purposely designed the building to reflect its mid-1900’s origins. “We want to be around for a long time.”

Visiting Central Market is, for some, a daily or weekly ritual for a fresh cut of meat or a morning espresso. For others, it’s an occasional excursion, a place to experience the sights, sounds, and flavors that define Denver’s evolving personality. In the early morning, when the windows filter sunlight through a patina of an earlier time, it’s impossible not to wonder about the people who used to roam the hall, and the things they found here. Luckily, that element of discovery — as well as an age-old appreciation of good food and vibrant community — is alive and thriving in the new Denver Central Market.

A Winter to Remember

Published on January 5, 2017 in Attractions/Front Range Attractions/Front Range Hotels & Resorts/Hotels & Resorts/Mountain Attractions/Mountain Hotels & Resorts/The Colorado Blog by Ellen Gray

BY REBECCA TREON

When winter has worn you down and cabin fever begins taking hold, it’s time to take advantage of all the spectacular happenings at local hotels and resorts. From s’mores on the slopes to cog railroad rides through the snow, here’s a look at Colorado’s top spots offering exciting alternatives to spending the chilly season homebound.

Staycation

Downtown Denver has plenty of options for those wanting a mini-getaway. Whether you’re simply treating yourself to a night of wonder or you want to be close to all that the heart of the city has to offer, these locales will make the winter season unforgettable.

The Art Hotel

Visitors will enjoy the spectacular art collection that gives The ART Hotel its name, the luxe rooms with deep bathtubs, and the rooftop cocktail lounge with multiple fire pits (wrap up in a cozy blanket with your loved ones while you enjoy happy hour in front of the fire). One of the biggest perks here is the proximity to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, where you can catch any number of Broadway hits. This season, enjoy faves like An American In Paris, Kinky Boots, and Mamma Mia, and brace yourself for Frozen: The Musical and Hamilton, both slated to debut this fall.

www.thearthotel.com

Brown Palace Hotel

From the first morning when the Brown Palace Hotel’s annual champagne cascade kicks off the beginning of the holiday season, Denver’s most elegant historic hotel embraces the warm and merry traditions of winter. With the lobby bedecked in sparkling lights on its grand chandelier to live music at high tea, families who love tradition will adore The Brown. Colorado families leave their holiday decorations up through the end of the National Western Stock Show in late January, and The Brown is no exception: It hosts a very special guest for photo opportunities—the event’s prize-winning steer has its own corral in the lobby for one morning only.

www.brownpalace.com

The Crawford Hotel

The Crawford Hotel is located right inside Union Station, which is the ultimate place to while away an afternoon. Union Station has a train that whisks travelers directly to Denver International Airport, making the Crawford the place to stay before you jet out of town. Amid the elegance of the sprawling and newly remodeled main terminal, lounge in one of the armchairs or play some shuffleboard with the family, take your pick from any number of top-notch bars and restaurants (we love Mercantile, James Beard-nominated Chef Alex Seidel’s brain child), or simply people watch. Those who book winter stays at The Crawford with the Winter Nights and City Lights package will receive a winter-themed gift, complimentary room upgrades, and two winter warmer cocktails at the swanky Cooper Lounge.

www.thecrawfordhotel.com

Farther Away

Looking to get out of town and still enjoy everything our state has to offer during the winter season? These spots both near and far have you covered. From Frisco to Steamboat, a weekend away will create treasured family memories in your new home away from home.

Town of Frisco

Start planning your next winter’s holiday getaway now. Just a stone’s throw from Denver, the town of Frisco goes all out for the holidays, hosting its annual Wassail Days. For the first two weeks in December, local restaurants and shops offer their own version of the traditional spiced cider served during the holidays. Sampling 12 different sips will earn you a commemorative mug, but stick around to see the light display at Triangle Park and the 600 luminarias that line the town’s quaint Main Street. There are carolers, visits with Santa, and the legendary Ugly Sweater Challenge – where guests take on holiday-themed challenges (think snow angels and eggnog shooters) while donning their favorite knit apparel. Active families will love easy access to tubing, Nordic skiing, and snowshoeing; there are horse-drawn sleigh rides, and even a soup-making face-off between restaurants and amateur chefs alike. It’s the quintessential Colorado Christmas.

www.townoffrisco.com

Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch

A visit to the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch represents the ultimate in luxury. After being welcomed by Bachelor, their resident pup, hit the slopes just outside your door with the lodge’s unparalleled ski-in, ski-out access to Beaver Creek Mountain. Enjoy s’mores in front of the roaring fire pit while you warm your toes, play an old-fashioned board game with the kids, or take advantage of activity offerings like the Ritz Kids Program, night hike with their naturalist programs, and even booze-paired crafting for adults. The Ritz-Carlton has everything you need to create an unforgettable family getaway.

www.ritzcarlton.com

Devil’s Thumb Ranch

What better way to celebrate a Colorado wintertime fairytale than a stay at Devil’s Thumb Ranch? The 6,000-acre resort is nestled just a few miles outside Winter Park, but feels like it’s a world away. Wintertime outdoor activities in this wonderland range from ice skating and tubing to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, but don’t miss out on the geothermally-heated pool. All winter long there are also sleigh rides and s’mores at the stables—like something out of a John Denver tune.

www.devilsthumbranch.com

The Broadmoor

A collection of Colorado’s ultimate resorts wouldn’t be complete without including The Broadmoor, a jewel in the crown of Colorado’s grand hotels. Colorado Springs’ legendary complex does every season right, and during the winter months, your new home-away- from-home offers everything from outdoor adventures like a ride on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway to dance classes. Of course, you’ll need to make time to simply explore the resort itself, including the Play room (bowling, foosball, and more), the indoor pool, and the spa—perfect for a mom/daughter mani-pedi date.

www.broadmoor.com

Steamboat Grand

After a stressful year, a retreat in Steamboat Springs may be just what the doctor ordered. At the Steamboat Grand, you’re right at the base of the mountain when you want to hit the slopes, but you also have easy access to a slew of family friendly activities. Adventurers may want a hot-air balloon ride or a snowmobile tour, but the more tame among us can enjoy tubing, night skiing, and gondola rides with a bird’s eye view. Things the whole family will love? Sleighride dinners, snowshoe or cross-country ski tours, and of course, a long soak in the beautiful natural hot springs at Strawberry Park.

www.steamboatgrand.com

Going to Great X-tremes

Published on January 5, 2017 in Activities/Attractions/Mountain Activities/Mountain Attractions/The Colorado Blog by Ellen Gray

BY PAIGE SLAUGHT

Let your heart not be troubled, the 2017 ESPN Winter X Games are returning to Aspen’s Buttermilk Mountain on January 26-29!

With all competitions free and open to the public, what better way to start off the new year than watching the world’s best action sports and music live and on ice?

(Photo by Tomas Zuccareno / ESPN Images)

On the music side, there will be performances by Bassnectar, Anderson Paak & The Free Nationals, The Chainsmokers and G-Eazy. While admission to the action sports competitions will be free, X Games musical performances require a ticket purchase. Music fans can buy individual concert tickets, or purchase an All-Music pass for $125.

On the sports side, the top ski, snowboard, and snowmobile athletes will compete in 18 different disciplines during four days of extreme action and festivals. While a full list of athletes can be found online, here are some interesting athletes to watch for:

JOSSIE WELLSA

New Zealand native, this five-time X Games medalist is known as one of the planet’s most versatile skiers. Wells won his first X Games gold medal in 2016 for his Slope Style performance, marking him as the first athlete from New Zealand to win at an X Games.

CHLOE KIM

Front and center in women’s snowboarding, Kim is on course to win her fourth consecutive X Games gold medal. After earning her first X Games medal at age 13, she is the only X Games athlete ever to win three gold medals before age 16. A trilingual, first-generation American, she is the youngest member of the U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe Team.

ROBBIE MADDISON

Most people know this daredevil Aussie for his record-breaking jumps and creative stunts. One of his most famous leaps was in 2011, when he jumped more than 378 feet, setting a new world record distance jump during the Red Bull New Year’s event.

We also are excited about our local faves, including Bobby Brown, Gus Kenworthy, Alex Ferreira and Arielle Gold, Taylor Gold, Matt Ladley, and Torin Yater-Wallace. These Colorado athletes really know how to wow a crowd!

A special addition to this year’s docket is the Women’s Ski and Snowboard Big Air Finals. Previously held in Europe, this event makes its domestic debut for the first time at X Games Aspen.

Additionally, the 2017 Games feature the introduction of a brand-new event, Snow Bike racing. This competition uses modified dirt bikes, which replace the front wheel with a front ski, and the back wheel with a snowmobile track! On that note, Snowmobile Best Trick will also return to the lineup for the first time since 2013.

All medalists from the 2016 X Games Aspen are invited to return this year, so don’t miss your chance to see your favorite athletes do what they do best! With any luck, you just may stumble upon a meet-and-greet or autograph signing somewhere in Buttermilk Village. This weekend is destined to meet your full “X-Pectations”!

For more information visit: www.xgames.com

Artful Living – Denver Curator Brings the Finishing Touch

Published on January 5, 2017 in The Colorado Blog by Ellen Gray

Sarah Jo Fischer knows her art. Art is her passion. Art is her calling. Art is her life. And so it’s no wonder she is a highly sought-after consultant, imbuing a sophisticated, personal and even magical element into every project she undertakes. Her take on art is simple, yet in another sense it’s quite profound. “Art is about our culture and our humanity,” she reflects. And because our culture is dynamic, art is constantly changing.”

Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, Fischer spent hours in the Art Institute, where her love of art was cemented. She attended college in New Mexico, then moved to the Caribbean to become a cook on private yachts. Her love of art drew her back to Mexico, where she became assistant gallery director of the acclaimed Fenn Gallery, and also served as Chair of the Education Committee of the Georgia O’keeffe Museum. In 2008 she began dabbling in film and television production, and currently consults on the popular series, Better Call Saul, the spinoff hit of Breaking Bad.

And recently, another move, this time to Denver, where she is continuing her successful career as a curator. Her latest move represents the culmination of a massive eight-month project curating a collection for a private foundation for the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in New Mexico. Four additional medical colleges are being built, and Fischer will curate individual collections for each.

Operating from the belief that art’s function is to elevate us emotionally, Fischer strives to challenge her clients to install pieces that spur critical thinking and enhance dialogue. “Art should create an emotional response. And the interesting part is that everyone approaches the visual from their own frame of reference, which influences their perception of the world at large.”

When it comes to selecting a piece of art, Fischer counsels her clients to go beyond the surface, and to search for a deeper connection. Acquiring art is about much more than just appearance, she says. A lot of thought and consideration should go into the process. “There are many questions you should ask before you make a decision. For example, how does it makes you feel? Does it work within your budget? Do you have the space for it? How does it enhance the overall environment you are living or working in?” But the most important piece of all, Fischer says, is to “buy what you love!”

Especially in a private home, Fischer is respectful of the occupant’s personality and careful to inspire that perspective. “Art is the soul of a person and there’s some-thing beautiful about viewing art in that way. It’s the very part of a person that is non-verbal and that can only be expressed through art,” she says. “Take for example the artist who created a certain piece. Often, he cannot even attend his own opening and instead leaves it to the art itself to communicate what he physically cannot.”

Beauty in the eye of the beholder. With a little help from Sara Jo Fisher’s expert guidance.

Denver Central Market

Published on October 18, 2016 in The Colorado Blog by Ellen Gray

Whether you are making a fancy dinner to impress your friends or meeting everyone out for lunch you can find everything you need at The Denver Central Market. It’s trendy, it’s fun and it has everything you want and unfortunately much more than you need.

Want to stop in to grab some bread from Izzio? You’ll probably end up stopping for ice cream at High Point Creamery or grabbing a chocolate from Temper. Because you deserve it, right? And while you’re there you could always pick up some fresh produce from Green Seed and maybe stop by Silva’s Fish Market and imagine all the impressive meals you could make with your armload of food already. You could even just stop in on another occasion for some coffee at Crema Bodega before grabbing some meat from The Local Butcher, or have them make it into a sandwich to go. Meet a friend for a drink at Curio and get a pizza from Vero. Stop in for lunch at SK Provisions and walk back to work with a meat cone from Culture.

All this is located on the corner of 27th and Larimer in the 14,000 square foot, 1920’s era building that used to house the H.H. Tammen Curio Company. Plus, it’s all inside so when that Colorado winter gets going it will still be accessible. The main takeaway here is that there is so much that this market has to offer that you will have to come back time and time again just to experience it all. And you will want to experience it all.

Need more convincing, just check out their website and learn more about all the vendors.