Inside Colorado’s Devastating Fentanyl Crisis
The Centennial State’s fentanyl overdose death rate is the second-worst in the nation, which means Coloradans still don’t seem to understand that one pill can kill you.
Why Did Walter Springs Die?
When a 24-year-old Denver soldier was shot and killed by military police near his base in Texas in 1942, his family and friends suspected the official story wasn’t complete. They were right.
Living Off the Grid in Colorado’s San Luis Valley
Five-acre homesteads with views of the Sangre de Cristos for $5,000 might sound like a bargain. But off-grid life in the middle of the San Luis Valley has a distinctly rough aspect, as the author learned when he volunteered to support locals whose lives become precarious when the weather gets cold.
What Will Denver Look Like in the Metaverse?
The sites that are sure to populate Denver’s version of the Metaverse.
The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Backcountry Skiing and Boarding
Want to leave the lifts—and the lift lines—behind? We spoke with Centennial State ski guides, avalanche safety educators, and other experts to get the down low on skiing the high country.
Why Stopping the Time Change Might Actually Be Good for Us
Local #LockTheClock advocate Scott Yates breaks down why the twice-yearly time change might not be so good for us after all.
The Impact of Dogged Reporting
A letter from the editor of 5280.
10 Expert Tips for Coping With Diminishing Daylight
Reduced sunlight during winter can impact your mood or lead to seasonal affective disorder. Local psychologists share practical advice for coping, plus telltale signs to seek professional help.
Cold-Weather Activities Just Got More Accessible for Plus-Size Adventurers
Denver-based Smartwool now offers its best-selling line of women’s merino base layers up to size 3X.
Underwear Company Introduces Line of Spooky Hard Seltzers
Denver-based Shinesty, known for its irreverent designs and antics, launches seltzer line inspired by a Saturday Night Live sketch.
Pulitzer Prize–Finalist Ted Conover on Living Off-Grid in the San Luis Valley
We sat down with the veteran journalist to talk about his new book, Cheap Land Colorado, his unique style of immersive reporting, and why parts of the San Luis Valley look like a set from Mad Max.
15 Out-of-State Specialties That Taste Just as Good in Colorado
There’s no need to fly out for iconic regional foods such as Italian beef sandwiches, Texas-style brisket, and lobster rolls when these Front Range restaurants are slinging them.
Your Guide to Denver’s 2022 Ballot Measures
Denverites can vote on seven local ballot issues that will affect life in the Mile High City, ranging from recycling requirements to eviction defense to sidewalk fees.
Meet Tommy Brown, College Football’s First Professional Underwear Supermodel
We caught up with CU offensive lineman Tommy Brown to talk about his new NIL partnership with Denver underwear maker Shinesty.
Cold-Proof Your Running Season with This Collection of Local Colorado Must-Haves
Don’t let Old Man Winter put an end to your season. Keep making miles with the right gear.
Meet Justin Fulton, the Chef Behind Margot, a Sunday-Only Pop-Up at Coperta
Each Sunday, guests can revel in 10-course meal featuring the Colorado native’s technique-driven, contemporary American cuisine in a laid-back environment.
An Inside Look at the Spooky World of Haunted House Acting
Veteran scare actress Morgan Tucker shares insights from 10 years on the job.
7 of the Best Adult Hockey Leagues in the Denver Metro Area
A guide to the Front Range’s ice, inline, and coed leagues for novices and snipers alike.
Expert Tips for Making the Most of Your Property’s Curb Strip
Here’s how to transform that sad little patch of grass between the sidewalk and street into a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant source of serious curb appeal.
Season Preview: Denver East High School Angels Hockey
The public school kids shocked the state—then the country—last year. With their health, scrappy play, and next-man-up mentality, can the prep Angels repeat?
How the Youth-Led Podcast Generation Collaboration Is Driving Social Discourse
Together with Youth on Record and Colorado Young Leaders, high school students are featuring youth voices and encouraging intergenerational conversation through a new podcast.
3 New Bakeries in Denver and Boulder Worth Visiting Now
Whether you’re craving a chocolate shortbread sandwich cookie, croissant, or morning bun, these pastry havens have you covered.
As a Wave of Musicians Cancel Concerts to Focus on Mental Wellness, Denver’s Music Community Weighs In
Maintaining mental wellness has always been a challenge for working musicians. But now, more artists are willing to talk about it—and take action.
First-Timer’s Guide: Fall in Grand Junction
In autumn, Colorado’s Western Slope offers cool-weather adventures and a bountiful harvest of fresh produce.
The 9 Best Places to Watch the Colorado Avs
Because the next-best thing to rink-side seats is the bench at your local hockey bar.
Aspen Archives Showcases Tree Carvings Left by Sheepherders in Colorado’s High Country
On display at DU’s Davis Gallery through October 20, the exhibit tells stories of the migrant workers who left their marks on Colorado’s aspens.
Why Locally Owned Liquor Stores Are Worried About 3 Upcoming Ballot Measures
If passed, propositions 124, 125, and 126 could usher in wine sales in grocery stores and liquor delivery, altering Colorado’s booze purchasing landscape.
These Artful Glass Sinks Are Made Right Here in Denver
Since its debut decades ago, Denver-based Vitraform has been inspiring the industry—and a global clientele—with its eye-catching assortment of sculptural glass sinks.
Halloween for Weenies: 10 Festive but Not Actually Scary Things to Do in Denver
From running in costume to carving pumpkins with cats, here’s how to celebrate the year’s spookiest holiday in Denver—sans the jump scares.
Do You Dine Like a Colorado Avalanche Player? Let’s Find Out.
From Quality Italian in Cherry Creek to RiNo’s the Greenwich, here’s where you might bump into an Avs player around town.
Season Preview: Colorado Avalanche Hockey
The Avs return one of the best core group of players in the game—but several offseason personnel changes may make their road to the Stanley Cup Finals more difficult than it was last season. Here’s what we’ll be watching for when the puck drops on October 12.
Season Preview: University of Denver Pioneers Hockey
A laser-focused young coach with a bench-full of National Champions—and nine newcomers—looks to lead the Division I Pioneers to their record-breaking 10th championship in 2023.
A Hockey Primer for (Denver-Based) Dummies
If you jumped on the Avs’ (or Pioneers’) (or Angels’) bandwagon last season without knowing a lick about the sport, fear not: We’ve got you covered with this quick-hit explainer so you can sound like Barry Melrose, without the Canadian accent.
A Hockey Mom’s Guide to Navigating Youth Hockey in Denver
Youth sports are rarely easy to negotiate, but when it comes to hockey if you don’t know the difference between a Pee Wee and a Squirt, then we’re here to help.
Protecting a Historic Legend: President Biden to Declare Camp Hale a National Monument
Camp Hale will be designated as a national monument—finally.
Meet Colorado’s Most Majestic Mullet
And the mullet’s host, Darius P. Nabors, who’s vying to win the USA Mullet Championships on Tuesday.
10 Local Theater Performances to Look Forward to This Fall
Live theater is finally back and in full swing. From musicals to murder mysteries, here are 10 theater companies in the Denver metro area with upcoming performances you won’t want to miss.
Central City: Central City Cemetery
Century-old grave markers dot this easy, meandering hike through aspen-filled Central City Cemetery.
Onigiri is Popping Up on Menus Across Denver and Boulder. Here’s Where to Find it
The nori-wrapped, stuffed rice ball—a popular comfort food in Japan—is affordable and delicious.
Allenspark: St. Vrain Mountain
Break through a mixed forest with splashes of fall color to big-time vistas of the serrated skyline of the Continental Divide.
Andres Delgado Explores the Intersection of Art and Food in Abstract Gallery Show
On October 7, the artist will debut a multi-sensory experience featuring paired food from local chef Edwin Sandoval of Xatrucho.
Longmont-Based Musician David Lawrence Debuts New Solo Album, Marking a New Chapter in His Multifaceted Career
The Lapompe frontman and former chef discusses his new album, Lean In, plus how cooking and starting a family have shaped the way he thinks about music.
9 Questions for Attorney General Candidates Phil Weiser and John Kellner
5280 sat down with both candidates in the tight race to discuss fentanyl, crime, reproductive rights, and other issues that the top law-enforcement official in the state will face.
The Great American Beer Festival Returns to Denver This Week. Here’s What to Expect
GABF is back October 6–8 at the Colorado Convention Center. Find out how to make the most of the event and sip the best suds (even if you don’t have a ticket).
8 of Denver’s Best Places to Grab Late-Night Bites
One editor’s tribute to after-hours grub.
Move Over, Tang! Crested Butte’s Instant Coffee is Going to Space
Specialty quick-brew coffee maker First Ascent has earned a spot on the next launch to the International Space Station.
A Ghost Story for Every Kind of Coloradan
Colorado has friendly ghosts and evil ghosts. You just have to know where to find them.
The 25 Best Restaurants in Denver 2022
After a two-year hiatus, 5280’s list of the top places to eat, drink, and be delightfully satisfied along the Front Range returns. We’re thrilled to be back at the table. Won’t you join us?
Sorry, Detroit: Denver Is the Real Hockeytown Now
The Motor City may have the trademark. But we have the goods—aka, the Denver Avalanche and the Stanley Cup.
What You Need to Know About Rowing in Colorado
Ahead of the Rocky Mountain Rowing Club’s inaugural regatta, we give ye landlubbers a beginner’s guide to crew.
How to Find the Right Third Space in Denver for You
Connect with your fellow Denverites at these four communal spaces.
A Denver Orchestra Makes Music Just for Kids
Inside the Orchestra debuts its first-ever original score this month.
How Small Aesthetic Upgrades Are Paying Off Big for Sellers in Denver’s Cooling Real Estate Market
One local interior designer turned broker shares how she uses paint, lighting, and staging to get her clients top dollar for their homes—even amidst the current market slowdown.
5 Squashes to Buy This Fall and Winter
We asked Colorado farmers and one chef about their favorite varieties of the late-season heroes and how to prepare them.
What Makes Spanish-Style Churros at Churreria de Madrid So Special
Jose Manuel Marquez is bringing the treats to Stanley Marketplace—and giving you permission to eat them any time you like.
The Latino Cultural Arts Center Has Big Plans to Show Denver—and the World—What Its People Have to Offer
In the coming years, a three-site campus will house galleries, museums, artist work areas, and event spaces, all dedicated to nourishing and highlighting the contributions of Denver’s Latino community.
The Stretch of I-70 Through Glenwood Canyon Is 30 Years Old. Will It Survive Another 30 Years?
Thirty years ago, engineers completed construction on the Glenwood Canyon stretch of Colorado’s most important east-west interstate. Today, climate change threatens that critical section of I-70—and anyone who travels it.
Is Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch a Conservative—or a Wild Card?
Nearly five years into his tenure on the U.S. Supreme Court, Colorado’s Neil Gorsuch has established himself as a modern textualist in the mode of Antonin Scalia. He’s also become something of a conservative wild card. Will that unpredictability extend to gay rights?
Dining Out
A letter from the editor of 5280.
Sizzling or Simmering? Designers Rank Design Trends of the Past Decade
Local designers dish on the popular home materials and furnishings they hope to see more (or less) of in the next 10 years.
4 Predictions for Denver’s (Cooling-Off?) Real Estate Market
LIV Sotheby’s International Realty’s Live Distinct team looks into their crystal ball.
Add Creative Spark to Your Home With These Artsy Decor Finds
Denver designer Angela Harris’ 10 picks for art-inspired living spaces.
A Mural by Prolific Denver Street Artists Inspired This Daring Dining Room
Step inside the LoHi space decked out in turquoise, plum, and geometric patterns.
Boulder Textile Innovator Edie Ure’s Botanical Wallcoverings Put Nature Center Stage
The collection features wildflowers, dirt, and rocks gathered in the Mountain West.
How to Pick the Best Paint Colors for Every Space in Your Home
Local pros share their nuggets of design wisdom for using color to set the right mood in every room.
Meet 6 Local Makers Whose Creations Will Make Your House Sing
Step into the studios of a textile artist, a contemporary-Western painter, and more.
Miranda Cullen’s Littleton Home Is Filled With “Wow” Moments
Every space in the designer’s house is a canvas for experimentation with bold, layered decor.
This Vail Home Is Black, White, and Cozy All Over
Warm woods, plush sheepskins, and vintage rugs add a softness to the stark color palette.
A Denver Art Museum Curator Shares One of His Beloved Personal Art Collections
Darrin Alfred reflects on his zine collection by photographer Paul Mpagi Sepuya.
Happy Birthday, Home!
A letter from the editor of 5280 Home‘s 10th Anniversary Issue.
Nederland: Lost Lake via the Hessie Trailhead
Score a panorama of yellow aspens on this fall-perfect, 4-mile round-trip to Lost Lake outside of Nederland.
Jena Griswold Has Transformed the Traditionally Staid Role of Secretary of State
During Griswold’s first term as Colorado’s chief election official, the office has become both more prominent and more controversial. Voters will now decide if they want to give her audacious approach another term.
Your Guide to Colorado’s 2022 Ballot Measures
Coloradans can vote on 11 different initiatives on issues ranging from tax cuts to housing to psychedelics.
Your (Not So) Silly Questions About This Year’s Elections, Answered
With the Colorado general election almost upon us, we’ve rounded up a list of questions you might have about the judges, regents, and board of directors on this year’s ballot.
Colorado Activists Are Divided Over November’s Psychedelics Ballot Measure
Proponents of Proposition 122 say legal access to psychedelic mushrooms can help solve a mental health crisis in Colorado. So why is there so much opposition coming from other psychedelic activists?
The 12 Best Colorado Pumpkin Beers to Welcome Fall
These local brews pair well with corn mazes and pumpkin patches.
Ever Heard of Skyrunning? We Hadn’t Either Until a Colorado Native Brought Home Gold in the Running Discipline’s Top Competition
Carbondale-based runner Joe DeMoor just won the Skyrunning World Championships. This is how he did it.
Meet the University of Colorado Boulder Professor Who Helped NASA Slam a Satellite into an Asteroid
As the DART spacecraft hurtled toward an asteroid at 14,000 mph, Jay McMahon watched from Boulder, hoping the mission might prove a way to defend our planet from killer space rocks.
An Inside Look at Aurora’s Upcoming La Plaza Marketplace
The indoor-outdoor development—which will feature vendors, food trucks, a bar, and retail and event space—seeks to serve burgeoning business owners of Latin American descent and become a community gathering place.
The Cheapest All-You-Can-Eat Buffets in Denver and Beyond
Put on your stretchy pants to enjoy these smorgasbords, which feature everything from Indian to Italian fare.
Estes Park: Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route
Climb to the crown of the Front Range on an all-day adventure.
Forgeries or the Real Deal?
This month, photographer and art collector Ron Pollard invites the public to see a treasure trove of (potentially) priceless Russian art at the Armory Denver.
Road-Trip Restaurant: The Parshall Inn Near Hot Sulphur Springs
Stop into this middle-of-nowhere honky-tonk for a delicious burger and a good time.
4 Karmic Ways To Celebrate the Autumnal Equinox in Denver
Yes, it’s getting darker, but you can still let your light shine with these fun-meets-philanthropy ways to mark the changing season.
14 Farm-to-Table Denver Restaurants Serving the Best Late-Summer Produce
From roasted poblano gnocchi to tempura-fried mushrooms, here’s where to sample the season’s bounty along the Front Range.
Shotgun Willie’s Turns 40—But Still Acts Like A (Hot) Twentysomething
Say what you will about gentlemen’s clubs, but this mile-high icon continues to be a sexy AF night out.
Houston Housed 25,000 People Who’d Experienced Homelessness. Can Denver Do the Same?
Houston has touted its “housing first” approach to homelessness. Denver-area officials traveled to Texas to see how it works—and what might be replicable in the Mile High City.
Meet Ludo Lefebvre, the Celebrity Chef Behind Denver’s Chez Maggy
Though best known for his television appearances, Lefebvre is bringing fine French fare with a Colorado twist to the Mile High City.
Mountains Majesty: Backpacking in the Indian Peaks
Plunge into Denver’s backyard range on one of our four favorite close-to-home backpacking adventures now that permit restrictions have eased.
Denver Theater Kids Travel Internationally to Perform Musical about their Disrupted Lives
This past August, Denver School of the Arts students traveled to Scotland to perform re:ACTION—a musical they wrote during the pandemic—at the world’s largest theater festival.
5 Wine and Seafood Pairings to Celebrate Summer’s End
Not sure which glass or bottle to order with your oysters? Professional sommelier Maia Parish is here to help.
