8 Things Every Bandwagon Colorado Rapids Fan Needs to Know
The team, which finished atop the Western Conference during the regular season, kicks off its playoff run on Thanksgiving Day.
Ahead of Denver’s Birthday, the City’s Most Prolific Cartoonist Reflects on Its Evolution
For Denver’s 163rd birthday, we asked Karl Christian Krumpholz to share illustrations that best encapsulate the Mile High City’s streets and characters.
Why Hasn’t Denver Gotten Any Snow Yet?
Severe drought expands in Denver, as the city awaits its latest first snow on record.
Lonnie Hanzon’s Art Finds the Magic for Everyone’s Inner Child
The self-taught designer and immersive art pioneer behind the popular Camp Christmas exhibits leaves something for every Coloradan to behold.
Escape Into Denver’s New Absinthe-Inspired Tapas Bar and Restaurant
Three Saints Revival serves up Mediterranean-inspired wine, cocktails, and small plates in a psychedelic setting.
8 Local Holiday Markets To Find Unique Gifts This Season
These Denver-area events will help you get into the festive spirit, as well as find those handcrafted tchotchkes that’ll have your friends asking, “Where’d you get that!”
Rock On, Colorado: 7 Local Musicians Are Part of a New Guitar Exhibit
Seven musicians from the Centennial State are highlighted in a new exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science exploring the engineering, physics, and magic of the guitar.
The Pandemic Loosened Long-Standing Dining Regulations. Here’s What’s Likely to Stick
Takeout booze and year-round outdoor dining are here to stay (at least for a few more years).
Hikes We Like: Mt. Morrison South Ridge Trail
This stunning trail just outside of Morrison leads to an expansive summit with a 360-degree view of the Front Range and beyond.
Your 2021 Guide to Thanksgiving Dinner on the Front Range
Pick up full meals, scratch-made sides, perfect pies, and more from these local eateries.
Casa Bonita Names Dana Rodriguez as New Executive Chef
The culinary mind behind Work & Class and Super Mega Bien will revitalize the menu with scratch-made Mexican fare. Here, she dishes on Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s plans for the Denver icon.
6 Aurora Teenagers Hospitalized After Drive-by Shooting at Nome Park
All six students survived the incident, but one was admitted for emergency surgery. Aurora Police asked for help finding suspects.
A Look Inside the Hythe, Vail’s New Luxe Hotel
The refreshed and relaunched hotel celebrates Vail’s history with a style that blends contemporary alpine cool with echoes of ’60s mod.
Local Companies Help People on the Autism Spectrum Develop Dating Skills
Neurodiverse Connections recently held its first mixer for singles on the autism spectrum. The group’s efforts are part of a small, but growing, movement in the Mile High City to help neurodiverse individuals when it comes to dating.
The Top 9 Colorado Hot Sauces to Gift, Ranked by Spiciness
Because nothing says “Happy Holidays!” quite like a bottle of sauce that will burn your face off.
From Sweet to Savory, These 10 Colorado Treats are Perfect for Gifting
From Hammond’s iconic candy canes to Four Directions Cuisine’s blue corn cookies, these edible gifts are sure to wow all the food lovers on your list.
8 Coffee Companies that Give Back
This holiday season, give the Java Joe or Joelle in your life something they can feel good sipping.
7 Essential Colorado Cookbooks For Foodies
Plus, local cooking classes that also make great gifts.
5280’s Holiday Booze-Buying Guide
From syrah-finished whiskey to gin infused with warm winter species, we have options for every casual sipper or mixologist in your orbit.
Could a Seed Collection Program at Copper Help Offset the Resort’s Carbon Footprint?
Jeff Grasser, Copper Mountain’s efficiency manager, developed a plan to gather native seeds and spread them in areas where growth has been disturbed by humans.
What It’s Like to Relax in a Hops-and-Barley Bath at the Beer Spa
A trip to Whittier’s dreamy, beer-centric spa is the perfect gift for any relaxation seeker (including yourself).
All Adults in Colorado Are Officially Eligible for COVID-19 Booster Shots
Governor Jared Polis issued an executive order that formalized the new policy on Thursday morning, as ICU bed capacity surged to 95 percent across the state.
All the Pandemic-Related Regulations at Colorado Ski Resorts for the 2021–’22 Season
You don’t have to make reservations or wear masks outdoors, but you’d better keep a face covering handy.
One Year Later, Colorado Wildfire Survivors Stare Down the Long Road to Recovery
Lyons resident Travis Ochs and his beloved donkey, Ennis, were just a few of the Centennial State residents who lost homes, land, and livelihoods during 2020’s devastating fire season. Now, a year out from the tragedy, the ash has only begun to settle.
Where to Buy Farm-Fresh Goods After the Markets Close
Enjoy fresh produce even as the snow starts to fall with these four initiatives.
Where to Eat and Drink in the Fraser Valley Right Now
Discover the flavors that put Grand County’s hardy rural valley on the culinary map.
Tour the Modern Aspen Retreat Highlighted in Designer Shawn Henderson’s New Book
The sophisticated mountain getaway is one of two Colorado residences featured in the New York–based designer’s first monograph, Interiors In Context, out this month.
A Consequential Rulemaking for Colorado’s Oil and Gas Industry is Happening Right Now
Financial assurances may sound complicated—but if they’re not fixed, Coloradans may wind up paying to plug orphan oil and gas wells. We help you wrap your mind around them.
Run Infinite’s Virtual Reality Library Helps Viewers Hit the Trails
A local coaching company is creating the world’s first 360-degree VR trail library one trail run at a time.
Powder Days Details Ski Bum Culture Past, Present, and Future
Veteran ski journalist Heather Hansman’s non-fiction book debuts November 9th, and Colorado plays a starring role.
How to Celebrate Diwali this Year
Denver-area eateries are ringing in the Indian festival of lights with crowd-pleasing dishes. Here’s where to go and what to order.
2021 Denver Election Results: City Initiatives, Statewide Measures, and DPS School Board Races
Initial results showed Denver voters approving much of Mayor Hancock’s RISE Denver plan but stopping short of funding a new arena. Meanwhile, three statewide initiatives are failing and local school board races remain tight.
4 Must-See Movies at Denver Film Festival
Colorado filmmaker Skinner Myers discusses his new feature film, plus other movies he’s excited to check out at this year’s event.
Havana Street Gains Influx of New Restaurants, Bakeries
Look for new spots serving Korean pastries, mochi doughnuts, and fried chicken in Aurora’s hub for minority-owned food businesses.
Meet Denver’s Navajo TikTok Creator Confronting Racists Online
Navajo Nation native Lance Tsosie has amassed 2.3 million TikTok followers advocating for Indigenous people and calling out bigots. Watch 5280‘s video profile on the Denver influencer’s life.
Concussion Treatment Is Suffering From the ‘Nocebo’ Effect
A group of Colorado researchers are finding that negative connotations with treatment could slow and impair recovery from concussions.
Your 2021 Holiday Gift Guide for Colorado-Made Goods
Consider surprising your loved ones with one of these 25 locally-made gifts this holiday season, helpfully arranged by the feels they give us.
What to Order at La Rola Urban Colombian Food Inside Zeppelin Station
From 10-inch hot dogs to empanadas, the food stall offers hearty South American street fare at its best.
Vail Employees Really Should Wear Tuxedos
Aspen just debuted a custom uniform for its staff. So we imagined what workers at other resorts would wear to reflect their employers’ most recognizable traits.
The Dire Consequences of Pleading Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity in Colorado
People found not guilty by reason of insanity are sent to Colorado’s mental health hospital ostensibly for treatment. Here, a look inside one man’s three-year-long struggle for freedom.
Jessica Watkins Could Be the First Woman and Person of Color on the Moon
The Lafayette astronaut is training for NASA’s Artemis mission, which aims to return humans to the lunar landscape by 2024.
Inside Denver’s New $80,000 Sneaker Store
Two sneaker heads have combined their collections to open a LoDo outpost bursting with rare finds.
How Tad Boyle Has Made CU Men’s Basketball Into a Powerhouse
The Colorado native has made the Buffs a consistent winner. But does he have the institutional support he needs to lead CU deep into March Madness?
How Denver Film Worked to Add Diverse Films to Its Annual Festival
The efforts included tapping Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival to help bring Oscar-worthy flicks to Mile High cinephiles.
Hoops Dreams
A letter from the editor of 5280.
Everything You’ve Ever Needed To Know To Go Winter Camping in Colorado
We asked local backcountry veterans for tips, tricks, and hacks that will help you gear up, stay warm, sleep (relatively) well, eat right, be safe, and have a great time in Colorado’s winter wonderland.
Colorado Bush Pilots Are Taking to the Skies in Search of Backcountry Ski Lines
Nathan Kurth has a secret weapon for monitoring avalanche conditions and scouting new runs: a 230-horsepower airplane.
Celebrating One of the Country’s Oldest Pay-What-You-Can Restaurants
SAME Café, which provides healthy food and dignity to Denver’s most vulnerable citizens, celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2021. We look back on its significance.
A New Law Grants Key Rights to Colorado’s Agricultural Workers
The initiative includes safeguards that most nine-to-fivers take for granted.
10 Local Natural Food Products You Didn’t Know You Needed
Colorado’s health-food startups gathered last month in Boulder for the 17th Naturally Boulder Innovation Showcase and Pitch Slam. Here’s what we liked.
Lady Nomada is Bringing Serious Beach Vibes to Olde Town Arvada
A visit to this restaurant and music venue is like taking a trip back in time to Mexico’s sunny coast.
4 Cozy Cocktails to Keep You Warm Around the Campfire This Fall
Bust out your camp stove and stave off the chill in the mountains with these yummy, belly-warming beverages.
Poet Leonora Simonovis Is Looking for New Language
The winner of the 2021 Colorado Prize for Poetry talks process, diaspora, and Venezuelan politics. Plus, listen to her read two poems from her award-winning book.
A New Grocery Store Aims to Address Food Access Issues in Sun Valley
The project, Decatur Fresh, opens November 2 on the ground floor of Denver Housing Authority’s Gateway South building.
Meet the Entrepreneurs Taking Denver’s Music Industry to the Next Level
A new crop of local labels and talent agencies are working to make the Mile High City the next global music hub—and nurture the art while they’re at it.
Colorado Launches Free Mental Health Care for Kids
Online platform I Matter seeks to address the mental scars incurred from the pandemic by offering youth a free mental health screening and up to three therapy sessions.
The Health of Colorado’s Forests Is More Critical Than Ever
Not-so-hardy forests are threatening our air quality and putting the more than 50 percent of Coloradans who live near them at increased risk of wildfires.
Snow Capped’s New Speciality and Reserve Lines Rival Ciders Made in France and England
Cider maker Kari Williams is putting Colorado on the map with single-apple varietals that are balanced, crisp, and aromatic.
If You’ve Had Weird Thoughts About Zombies and Vaccines, You’re Not Alone
Earlier this year, stories about people, including Coloradans, blaming their vaccine hesitancy on I Am Legend emerged. We explored the connection.
Why Ghost Stories Have Such an Enduring Appeal
Do ghosts exist? One writer puts his belief to the test during a paranormal investigation—and finds that tales about spirits force us to grapple with more than just whether they’re real.
Don’t Want to Buy a Haunted House? Do Your Research
Colorado law bans sellers’ agents from disclosing anything but physical property damage. Ghosts? Murders? You’re on your own to figure it out.
5280 Staffers Share Their Scariest Colorado Urban Legends
From Riverdale Road to the Yellow “Honk” House, we detail our favorite tales of spooky locations in the Centennial State and elsewhere, as well as personal ghost stories.
11 Restaurants Serving Inventive, Green Chile–Inspired Dishes
From poutine to ramen to chocolate, these clever bites (and a few classics) celebrate the cult-favorite pepper.
The Father of Colorado’s Iconic Ski Maps Retires
Over the course of 30 years, James Niehues has illustrated hundreds of maps for more than 200 ski resorts. Watch 5280’s video tour into his eminent paint and sketch studio.
This Southern Colorado Distillery Is Reviving A Colorado Family’s Storied Past
San Luis Valley Distillery, which will produce vodka with local potatoes, quinoa, and carrots, honors the family awarded the state’s first wine and liquor license.
Inside Aspen’s Lavish New Coffee Shop Designed by Ken Fulk
Aspen’s new Felix Roasting Company at the Hotel Jerome is a charming escape from reality, with a posh vintage vibe.
Top 7 Candy Hot Spots for Trick-or-Treating in Denver
Come Halloween, costumed kids have limited time to take to the streets. These Denver neighborhoods will ensure your little ghosts, ghouls, and goblins conjure a terrifying amount of candy.
Denver Art Museum Is Unveiling a $175 Million Renovation—and a Commitment to Telling Inclusive Stories
The updated campus (re)opens to the public on Sunday, October 24, with a free day.
5 Questions for Rob Hurd, Executive Chef of Boulder’s Frasca
The Michigan native dishes about growing up in the Great Lakes region, why he’d love to make cassoulet for Anthony Bourdain, and what’s on the menu at Frasca right now.
We Tried Red Rocks’ New Audio Technology
The iconic concert venue partnered with tech company Mixhalo to bring audio straight from the soundboard to your headphones—an option that’s helpful for people with hearing difficulties.
