Founded in 1993, 5280 is the largest local magazine in Colorado. The magazine's stories often make national headlines, and since 2005 5280 has been nominated for four National Magazine Awards. Get 5280 Magazine digital subscription today.
As a high schooler, my dad played hockey in New York City. He was pretty good, I think; at least, that’s what I gathered from the trophy I found in an old box when I was a kid. Not that it mattered. What did matter was that he brought hockey into my and my younger brother’s childhoods, although probably not in the way you might think. There wasn’t an NHL team in my home state of West Virginia, so we didn’t go to games all that often. Instead, my dad set up a makeshift rink in our basement by placing nets on either side of the roughly 25-foot-long tiled floor. My brother and I had plastic sticks while Dad had an old wooden one. We spent hours down there slapping…
For this issue’s roundup of the best bars in the metro area, deputy photo editor Sarah Banks was tasked with not just photographing the entire feature (“The Occasional Drink,” page 36), but also taking the photo that would grace the cover. To choose the spots that would be featured, Banks first perused the list in search of picturesque spaces that also had eye-catching cocktails. Then she spent hours sifting through inspiration images and combing sites like Yelp to get a sense of what angles she could expect once on location. During the shoots, Banks and her colleagues made further alterations to the scenes—dozens of tiny adjustments, like moving a glass just one inch to the right. A few different locales were initially in the running for the coveted cover spot,…
Founded in 2015, Invisible City treated Denver partygoers to a bacchanal of masquerade balls and disco brunches—until COVID-19 put an end to the revelry. After a two-year hiatus, the upscale events business relaunched in September, and while it still throws one-off fetes, founder Paul Laurie has added Clubhouse to Invisible City’s portfolio to ensure its members will always have a spot to gather. Located in a former Lincoln Park factory space decorated with eclectic items Laurie discovered during his world travels, the expansive private hideout includes a lounge, a patio, a wellness room, and co-working hours. Members also receive a “key to the city,” which unlocks perks around Denver such as free drinks at partner locations and backstage passes to local concerts. The timing was perfect: Social clubs such as…
Janel Forde had never visited the Mile High City before, but after Mike Johnston won the mayoral election in June, she accepted an offer to become his chief operating officer and moved to Denver from Chicago sight unseen. One draw was the chance to help the city tackle homelessness and youth gun violence—two issues she cares deeply about. But the clincher was discovering she’d be joining an all-female senior leadership staff, something she had never seen despite working in city administration for more than a decade. Denver had never seen it either, until Johnston’s administration. In addition to Forde, Jenn Ridder, one of the mayor’s former campaign strategists, became his chief of staff, and Nicole Doheny left international accounting firm Ernst & Young to become Denver’s chief financial officer. Kerry…
The first thing to know about cold plunging—the act of dunking yourself in frigid water for an extended period of time—is that it may induce total bliss, pure agony, or both. “It’s completely subjective,” says Justin Weiss, founder of Colorado cold plunge group Ice Church. What’s more definitive is that the practice is heating up thanks to its purported health benefits, including remedying chronic pain, inflammation, and post-workout soreness. (There are dangers, too, such as hypothermia and cold shock, so start slowly, don’t dunk alone, and make sure you have dry clothes and a place to warm up quickly.) Weiss battled fibromyalgia for years until he discovered cold immersion in 2015. “In a few days, my pain was melting away,” he says. But finding the right place to take a…
Outward Hound SnuggleSoft Faux Fur Pet Blanket The SnuggleSoft from Centennial-based Outward Hound imitates a mother’s fur, helping your doggo warm up after a day of romping in the snow while also protecting your back seats from mud and more on the drive home from the trailhead. $25 Atlas Pet Company Lifetime Lite Leash When icy trails make hiking poles a must, use this leash’s adjustable, rust-free buckle to strap Fido to your waist. And don’t fret if your puppy thinks the tether is a new chew toy: Golden-based Atlas offers free lifetime repairs. $75 Dog Mocs Like most booties, Dog Mocs will protect your pups’ paws from ice and snow. Unlike other brands, though, these stylish deerskin leather constructions are supple enough to allow your dog to sense the…
