So, for Yellow Scene’s 2010 Green Issue, we opted to go 100 percent waste free, putting our carbon footprint where our mouths are. From a local filmmaker who’s looking to put himself out of business to local green experts’ tips for your home and office, our eco-minded issue is as green as they come (minus the electricity used to keep our computers chugging). Also, check out YS associate editor Lacy Boggs’ “Ho Hos at Home,” in which she makes processed foods from scratch, and a sneak peak of Spring Leaf, Boulder’s zero-energy model home.

Everybody’s Water—A sprinkler repair man isn’t the first person you’d think of to be a champion of saving water, but this filmmaker defies all the stereotypes.

Ho Hos at Home—Is an organic toaster pastry really that much different—or better—than a regular Pop-Tart? It was a question I started to ask when I saw a recipe for homemade Pop-Tarts. Maybe that was the answer: homemade treats instead of fabricated and chemicalized food. But would it even come close to the real thing? We decided to find out.

Eating Your Greens—The eco-revolution is changing the way we dine out, and Boulder County restaurants are on the forefront of the revolution.

Home Sweet Net-Zero-Energy Home—Spring Leaf is a net-zero energy infill housing project that is like no other in the county and probably even in the country.

The Green Thang— These days, it’s hard to know what’s truly green and what’s been “greenwashed” to seem greener than it really is. It makes shopping with a conscience challenging to say the least. Luckily, we’ve been able to find a few products that are both super-cool and truly eco-friendly that would be great as gifts or just additions to your greenie lifestyle.

Growing Green Kids — Saving the world is hard work. But your kids can learn a greener way of life before they even learn to say “carbon emissions.” If you play your cards right and teach them the right lessons in the right way, sustainability will become second nature to them.

Greenovators — Once upon a time, merely recycling your pop cans and newspapers put you into an elite class of people who were going to save the planet, not to mention the whales. There was a time when simply not littering made you ecologically superior. Those days are long gone.

Farm Fresh — A new generation of Boulder County residents is returning to the area’s farming roots, and they are a whole new breed of farmer.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea — The must sublime scene in the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove is not the dramatic and heart-wrenching footage that the film leads up to with every frame. It’s a scene in which the filmmakers and their team of elite activists infiltrate the hills around Taiji, Japan, at night to place an entire movie studio’s worth of specialized hidden cameras to secretly record the slaughter of hundreds of dolphins the following day. Out in the bay, the animals spend their last night in an area hemmed in by nets to prevent their escape. From high atop one of the hills, a cameraman uses a high-tech thermal imaging camera of the sort used by the military to look down on the water. The dolphins can be seen as slim gray forms just below the surface of the water, swimming in a clockwise circle, like a swirl of commas.

The Defender of Food — For me, the revolution started in January of 2007 when I read a feature article in The New York Times Magazine called “Unhappy Meals.”

He’s usually not one to sashay around in his high plastic heels. Petersen typically spends his time directing movies and making bold declarations about water conservation. Outside a coffee shop in Louisville, he revealed this glitter-free façade. Turns out the director/lawn-irrigator has a self-described cynicism about the very business he owns, which includes an idea to “tear our your lawn.”

Ironic? Sure. Crazy? Don’t think so.

Years in the sprinkler-repair and installation business have led outdoor-loving Petersen to a conclusion that could ruin his business: maintaining that turf and landscapes are a major threat to water and energy conservation. While this issue is only one blade in the ever-growing lawn of environmental conservation, it is an important one and one Petersen has waxed neurotic about in his unique brand of eco-cinema. Turf is the largest crop in America, and if Petersen had his way, the pesky household chore known as lawn mowing would be nothing more than a forgotten pastime.

While this idea would not only make him a hero among teenagers everywhere, it has logic behind it. With his first-hand knowledge of the energy and water it takes to keep our lawns and landscapes green and thriving, the local filmmaker has a point: It is hard to justify maintaining this pretty problem.

“It’s not just water,” he said. “It’s the enormous amount of energy that we pour into this little postage stamp (or big postage stamp).”

It’s easy to see—from his unique films to his website—this Boulderite hopes to spread the message faster than relationship updates on Facebook. “What are (we) doing?” he asks, and not just hypothetically.

This is where a seemingly crushed childhood dream comes in to play. Literally. After being voted “most likely to be a filmmaker” in high school, Mark Petersen’s dreams fell away as he grew older. However, these sparks were rekindled by a last-minute acting performance five years ago, eventually leading to the first of three water-conservation films.

With what Petersen explains as his “relief,” his latest film More or Less won the Green Industry Award from Rain Bird’s Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition. This film, which includes a hunchbacked irrigator sporting flippers and scuba gear, a somewhat hairy drag queen, and a homeowner best described as “piggish,” was created from his frustration of the lifestyles of many Americans today.

“The beginning of More or Less,” he explains, “is basically modeled after people I have met. This is how they live and this is how they think. They literally own their own parks and water them seven days a week.”

There is motivation behind the futuristic, glitzy costumes. Petersen wanted the wise words spoken by the boa-wrapped drag queen to be received: “It may be your lawn, but it’s everybody’s water.” Using quirky characters and bizarre scenes allow Petersen to share “the essence of the film” without seeming “teachy.”

But Petersen is far from finished with his creation. He has already shown it in a school and hopes to earn the approval of many more youngsters. His first viewing with this age group (his wife’s children) went better than he expected, keeping their wandering minds focused and earning an “OK” rating (a prestigious accomplishment for the “know-all” age). More or Less is also being shown in the Bug Theater in August, and he hopes to have it shown in the Denver Arts and Humanities center for a (slightly) older audience.

Aside from his ability to pull off fake eyelashes, what else makes this lawn irrigator/ environmentalist different from others?

It could be his boldness. Petersen often puts his job at stake, persuading his clients to remove their thirsty turf. He admits he was nervous to say anything at first, but came to a realization. To make a difference, he says, it is going to take people who are willing to say “You know what? Maybe we shouldn’t be doing this anymore.”

So how can us home-owning, lawn-loving Americans can do our part in water conservation? Petersen had some interesting advice. Should we choose to keep our neatly trimmed patches, the most important thing people can do is make sure sprinkler heads are set “correctly”. Or for those green to irrigating terms, “level in the ground.”

“This is the No. 1 thing that’s missing all across the board, and if I made a film showing [how to set sprinkler heads], it would start to change some things” Petersen explained. For those interested, the finished movie will be shown for free on his website, waterketch.com. Trickling down from this is his idea to tighten regulations in Colorado through enforced codes, similar to those in the electricity/plumbing world.

Peterson recognizes that these changes are a process, and require a new train of thought. Hinting at his artistic side (or maybe budding poetry skills), Petersen described life as a story, in which we are the writers in need of sharper editing skills.

“My attitude is its time for a new story, because this story isn’t going to work,” he said. “No one saw the end of the story and we are really starting to see the ramifications of it.” The stories in Petersen’s films, while they were his inspiration, wouldn’t have been complete without his wife Eeris Kallil’s assistance in storytelling and editing, as well as the help of everyone involved in the film.

“It was a collaborative process.” He claims. “The story for the environment needs to be the same.”

ReDirect Guide
Maybe the most important thing you can have in your green arsenal, this directory is like an old-school phone book and a local green-living resource guide all wrapped up into one. Whether you pick up one of their totally free paper guides or use the website, be assured you’ll find businesses and products that have been verified as green. Plus, you’ll be supporting local businesses, which is one of the most responsible things you can do as a consumer. redirectguide.com

English Re-Treads
As a hardcore vegetarian, Heather English needed a handbag that was durable and fashionable—but not made from leather. The answer struck her as she was tubing down Boulder Creek: why not make handbags from recycled inner tubes? The line combines classic shapes with nearly indestructible rubber collected from local truck stops. englishretreads.com

Save The Sea Eco-Friendly Swimwear
Fashion-forward Yoox.com has launched a collection of sustainable swimwear on their website created exclusively for them by British designer Katharine Hamnett. The collection includes ’50s-style swimsuits, bikinis, cover-ups, towels and totes all made from sustainable fabrics and a portion of the price goes to help farmers in West Africa through the Fashioning a Better Future project. Yoox.com

ECOlunchette Kit
Plastic sandwich bags and paper napkins are becoming so passé—which is great for the Earth and for Earthlings’ wallets. The ECOlunchbox line of products includes beautiful cloth lunch bags with matching cloth napkins and stainless steel containers in a bento box style as well as sporks made from renewable bamboo. Everything is 100 percent plastic-free, waste free, lead-free, BPA-free, PVC-free and vinyl-free. Toss the brown bag and “brown bag it” in style—whether you’re four or 40. Available at Ellie’s Eco Home Store in Boulder. Ecolunchboxes.com

SOLIO Classic Solar Charger
Coloradans live an active, outdoorsy lifestyle, and we don’t want to be tied down by a power cord. Enter the Solio Classic solar charger. This little beauty can charge more than 3,200 devices including phones, cameras, MP3 players and GPS units all with the power of the sun. Unfurl the three blades, set it someplace sunny, and get on with your adventurous life. Solio.com

Soapnuts
Toss the Tide. The movement is on to find greener, more natural cleaning products for all aspects of our home, and soapnuts are the dried fruit of the Sapindus Mukorossi which contain natural surfactants perfect for washing clothes. Organically grown, pesticide and chemical free, totally biodegradable, naturally antimicrobial and low-sudsing, these are nature’s miracle fruit and a wonderful alternative to traditional detergents. Laundrytree.com

Colorado Organic Cookbook (Cooking Seasonally, Eating Locally)
One of the keys to eating more locally starts with eating seasonally. That means no tomatoes or strawberries in January, but more specifically it means eating what’s available now, while it’s at its freshest. The recipes in this cookbook are from eight of Colorado’s top chefs, using produce from eight local farms from across the state and they illustrate how farmers and chefs are interconnected in an organic lifestyle. seasonalandlocal.com

That’s the big picture.

Here, in north Boulder, the geothermal-powered air-conditioning softly hums while the 9.99 Kilowatt photovoltaic system on the roof powers the LEDs in the kitchen, and the super-duper air-sealing package (also referred to as “a guy with a calking gun”) keeps the coolness in, the heat out and everyone happy.

This is Spring Leaf, a net-zero energy infill housing project that is like no other in the county and probably even in the country. The model home—which will be one of 12 total homes in the development, including six single-family homes and six townhouses—is net-metered, and it will produce as much energy, if not more, than it consumes annually. It boasts what is possible with cutting-edge materials, conscious planning and contemporary design, and it’s the culmination of lessons learned on numerous low-energy and net-zero energy projects.

This, however, is still a home: its “greenness” does not outshine the warmth or the simplicity, the mountain views or the lux tub in the master bath. The home has a contemporary, clean aesthetic with warm woods dancing with steel, white walls and big, well-placed windows.

“We want the material to be expressive of its own use and its history,” architect George Watt said. “…When it comes down to it, we build homes that are welcoming. It’s your house, your sanctuary. All these systems and materials need to fade into the background.”

To Watt, the hominess trumps the sustainability. It’s more important to have the home feel like a home, he says, than for it to be fanatically green. Still, the systems and the materials lend to the aesthetic—and ultimately make this project extraordinary.

The all-electric home is crowned with a sleek-looking, inlaid photovoltaic system that can produce more than enough power to keep this house cool and calm in the summer and produce more than it uses over the span of a year; in the winter, the home will occasionally use the electric grid for backup.

Watt and the developers have also focused on conservation, insulation and sealing. Likely to receive LEED-platinum certification, which is the highest of all LEED achievements, the house is filled with sustainably harvested woods, passive solar, xeriscaping, toxin-free and low-flow water systems, sustainable and recycled countertops (the kitchen counters are made of concrete and wine bottles, which is more beautiful than it sounds), cabinets and other materials. Beetle-killed trees find a second life here as fencing, and a permeable pavement stormwater drainage system to filter water is just part of the landscape.

The home is a treehugger’s dream and a modern environmentalist’s haven. And it satisfies many of the promises made by urban development. The project is across the street from a Lucky’s Supermarket, a coffee shop, restaurants and all the essentials.

“When we do a project, we can create the technical pieces, but the lifestyle is up to the homeowner. Here, we enhance the ability to live an efficient lifestyle,” Watt said.

Overall, the house and the future homes and townhouses are placed, planned and designed to maximize their efficiency and conservation as well as the efficiency of the future homeowners. It’s overwhelming in its attention to the details of sustainability and eco-awareness. Yet, it’s all about simplicity. Which is why the architect and the developers wanted to put everything on an electric system (a reason why the house doesn’t have a solar thermal system).

But green doesn’t always translate to green…as in, cold hard cash. And a photovoltaic system can seem like an ancillary investment in this economy. So, adjustments have been made, like giving homeowners the option of not having solar panels or the geothermal system. Instead, the next 11 homes will be “net-zero ready” unless a buyer is willing to fork out the extra money right now.
“We are giving people the opportunity to grow into their house,” Watt said.

According to Deanna Franco at 8030 Realty, it’s a consumer-driven change. She said the townhomes will start at $650,000, which is down from $800,000; the single family homes will start at $800,000. If the consumer does want to make the net-zero plunge, the single family homes could reach $1.2 million, which is big bucks in this economy but not unheard of in the Boulder area.
“What we provide for them is an incredibly energy efficient home. If they want to be a team player, they can,” Franco says.

Mary Coonce, principal of developer Porchfront Homes, said while the decision was not part of the plan, it does allow potential customers to have freedom to pick and choose what their homes look like. At the same time, it’s making them more realistic.

When he interviewed for his position in 2006, Sneed thought a lot about what could set this Shakespeare company apart from the rest.

“I was thinking about what made Shakespeare popular in his day,” Sneed said. “I thought about his historical plays. They were so popular because the audiences were seeing their own history on stage.”

Sneed wanted to cultivate scripts that cover specific moments and provide commentary and encourage discussion about U.S. history. At the same time, leaders of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Shakespeare & Company in Massachusetts were thinking the same thing.

“This must be an idea whose time has come,” Sneed said.

Last month, CSF and Shakespeare & Company hosted a conference of playwrights, historians and others to discuss the project. They covered hefty questions about “the American story” and how to tell it. The conversation is inspiration for the first four plays being commissioned; funding for the writing of two plays has been secured, but CSF is now in search of funds to commission two more and to produce the plays. Sneed doesn’t expect production to start until 2012. That gives them plenty of time to work with the playwrights.

“We are taking the go-slow approach. This is going to be a decades-long project that will hopefully be picked up by our successors,” Sneed said.

On the plays: There are key moments, people or eras that Sneed would like to see put on stage—like the rarely told points of view of American Indians. It’s important, Sneed said, to reproduce history—whether it’s with comedy, tragedy, political drama or satire—with flair, making it entertaining and accessible but still intellectual. “We want to make history come alive in exciting and dramatic ways,” Sneed said.

On the project: CSF will take a curatorial role in overseeing the production of the plays and scripts. “We want it to work as a whole,” Sneed said. “We want to make sure they get it. …The Elizabethan era was an important time for playwrights. They all lived and worked and drank together. We are learning now there was more collaboration than previously thought. …That’s what we are working to achieve. We know that the conversations have started and we want them to continue.”

On the audience: More than anything, Sneed hopes the plays that come out of the project will someday trickle down into community theaters and high school drama clubs. “We do hope that it will add to the national debate,” he said.

But you already knew that, didn’t you? It seems over the past year that everyone has heard about Boulder’s infamous gardener, a woman who has irked her neighbors and the parents and teachers of a nearby school while getting slammed from media pundits and local bloggers alike. But for Catharine Pierce and her husband, Robert, it’s become a fight for freedom of expression—not just a personal battle.

Deemed the “topless gardener” by the press, Catharine Pierce has received complaints about gardening sans shirt since last year. She thought wearing pasties and duct tape over her nipples would make her more discreet, but that did not seem to quell the complaints. Meanwhile, Robert Pierce has gardened in a thong for the past several years and hasn’t received any public opposition. She started making headlines when Boulder Housing Partners, their landlord, threatened the Pierces with eviction if her hobby continued. In April, Catharine and Robert Pierce appealed to the Boulder City Council, which approved a new nudity ordinance that continues to let women go shirtless. While Boulder Housing Authority had proposed changing their rules to ban exposed breasts, they eventually followed the city council’s lead.

As she folds her legs underneath her tiny frame in her sun-ripened living room, Pierce recounts her story of how she triumphed over what she believes is modern-day discrimination.

“The very first time I started to go top-free was last year,” she says with a tinge of a Southern accent. “My husband’s been doing it since the day we moved in. He moved in here with a thong on, nobody objected.”
The two residents moved into the brand-new neighborhood in 2001 but have called Boulder their home for the past 35 years. Regardless, the current neighborhood conflict hasn’t derailed the Pierces from changing their lifestyle. Together, they have successfully demanded equal rights—saying there should not be a distinction between a woman’s bare breasts and a man’s shirtless torso in Boulder’s newly approved nudity ordinance.

“If I take off my shirt, then a woman should be able to take off hers,” Robert Pierce says. “The trouble is women don’t get respect when they take off their shirt. So we’re trying to educate the public and have them respect women whether their dressed or undressed.”

But her gardening attire—or lack thereof—is only half the problem. The other half is the fact that the Pierces live behind the Shining Mountain Waldorf School and next to the school’s primary bus stop. This has rightfully given fuel to the community’s objections; though, Robert is quick to debunk that protest.

“There has never been a case where nudity has offended a child so much where it has caused irreparable damage. Never,” he says. “So how does it hurt a child? It’s a natural thing.”

Robert Pierce speaks from experience. He grew up with a nudist family and has raised his own family in a nudist environment. Though their children have matured and left the nest, he says neither he nor their children were ever socially damaged from the exposure.

“Our kids got along with other kids, and we’ve been doing this our whole lives,” he says. “When I was growing up, my family never saw anything wrong with it, and we were the only nudists in town. But friends came over, they played with us, there were no jokes said about us.”

Despite the conflict, the Pierces say they try to maintain consideration and respect for their neighbors’ space, making a point to avoid contact with any children when they are gardening. Catharine Pierce will move to the backyard if she sees them playing up front, or vice versa.

“We’ve had four or five neighbors move into the duplex next to us,” she says. “Every time someone else moved in I’ve gone over and introduced myself and my husband and say, ‘You know, we’re naturists and nudists. You’ll see me outside topless, if you have any objections because of your kids, let me know. I’ll do my best to not be outside when you or your kids are out there.’”

Taped to the outside of their door is a printed note card, warning anyone who approaches the household that the residents are nudists, and if any visitors aren’t comfortable with the visual, then they shouldn’t knock. They say their neighbors haven’t approach them directly—nor does it seem they ever will.

“All of a sudden, you get caught in the situation in which neighbors won’t talk to you, management takes an attitude toward you, and you’re in the complete wrong with no one to turn to. …If you don’t like it, tough titty. Move out, leave,” Catharine Pierce says.

To make their point of view heard, the couple went in front of city council to object to possible adjustments in the city’s nudity ordinance. No residents at the meeting objected and they were the only ones there to oppose expanding the nudity ordinance.

“It was mind boggling that out of all the police reports and complaints called on us, not one person showed up from this community or any place else to object to it,” she says. “I couldn’t believe it. I expected a lot more people if they had a problem with it.”

On April 6, city council voted to keep the nudity ordinance the way it was—allowing both men and women to be topless. Soon after, the Boulder Housing Partners decided to follow city council. Catharine Pierce calls it a major win and a step forward for women and equal rights. The achievement wasn’t a personal gain for the couple, she says.

“When it came out into the newspaper that I won, I just sat there thinking what did I really win?” she says. “I didn’t win anything—it was for the community. It was the city council that decided and their understanding of the law that they couldn’t discriminate. Not unless they’re going to do the same thing to men and make men wear a top, too. It’s no difference.”

And despite the neighborhood commotion, they’ve received support.

“We have gotten more kudos for having (courage) to stand up for civil rights,” she says. “From what I understand, very few people take a stand for equal rights between a man and woman in the last 30 years.”
But the fight isn’t over. They’re both in the advocacy business and are fully committed to demanding equal rights. They say they mainly fight for the rights of children with disabilities. Although they’re both receiving disability payments from the government right now, their equal rights work is a regular day job for them; Robert Pierce wouldn’t elaborate in what kind of disability he or his wife has, saying it was beside the point.
But even with the success, Catharine and Robert Pierce still feel largely segregated from their community and their neighbors.

“It’s amazing because whether I’m topless or completely dressed, people will say you stay away from that woman, don’t talk to her, don’t associate with her,” she says. “It’s kind of like, wow, you know, I haven’t done anything. I don’t even know the neighbors around here.”

Regardless of the dirty looks, Robert Pierce reflects on the whole community conflict, and he’s glad they stood their ground.

“We’re just two boring people wanting to get out and have a little fun gardening,” Robert Pierce says. “And this was one issue that we weren’t going to ask permission on.”

Mile High Music Fest
Commerce City, Aug. 14–15
Here, there are moments of small-venue intimacy. There are also moments of huge, roaring crowds, strobe lights and giant names in music. There are moments of defeat—when the wind disappears, you don’t care who’s on stage, you just want to escape. And then there is victory. Like when Eugene Hutz looks me right in the eye and yells “PURPLE!!!” Like when John Mayer abandons his pop inclinations and goes bluesy. Mile High Music Fest, if nothing else, has made our summers a lot more interesting. It’s a true music festival—with music being the one thing that will inspire a trek out to the windless tundra that is Commerce City. The crowd is all young things with barely there tank tops and flowy dresses. There are always good finds within the line up, bands you never knew existed but now love with all your heart and the band you always wanted to see. 2010 Line-up: Steve Miller Band, Dave Matthews Band. Weezer, My Morning Jacket. —AC

Jazz Aspen
Snowmass, Sept. 3–5
The sun always comes out. How do I know? A higher power seems to shine down on the Snowmass valley, where Jazz Aspen/Snowmass sets up shop. There will be rain and clouds. But the sun always comes out as the headliner is taking the stage. I’ve seen everyone from the Black Eyed Peas, John Legend and Kanye West to Bob Dylan (twice), Sheryl Crow and Tom Petty…maybe only one or two actual jazz performers in the mix over the last few years. But it’s a crazy unique venue—with postcard perfect views, crowds of Aspen’s finest juveniles and WASPY elites mixed with throngs of traveling music lovers. Prepare for mud and getting trampled by those who ferret toward the front mid show. Prepare to see an amazing performance just as the sun comes out. 2010 Line-up: Wilco, the Black Crowes and the rest to be announced.—AC

Folks Fest
Lyons, Aug. 13–15
Folks Fest blows my mind—always in the best of ways. Every year, I’m constantly surprised and utterly in awe. Because no matter the young singer-songwriter or the folksy old-timer or the musical master taking the stage at Planet Bluegrass’ ethereal setting in Lyons, it’s always amazing and new. In its 20th year, Folks Fest continues to be a beacon for the hippie-yuppies of Boulder County and beyond and bring in artists from all over. Last year, lesser known Blind Pilot made a crowd of fans who had only heard about their cycling adventures on NPR; you may not know everyone in the line-up but you know they’ll be good. 2010 Line-Up: Ani DiFranco, The Swell Season, Jenny Lewis, John Prine.—AC

Rockygrass
Lyons, July-23–25
Here’s the coolest thing about Rockygrass: I can sit and chill in a creek under a towering cliff with hawks circling while listening to some of the best musicians on the planet. Where Telluride is a big tent musically, Rockygrass concentrates on bluegrass, both traditional and contemporary, with some other acoustic relatives included. The music suits this more intimate venue in Lyons with a smaller crowd that skews a little older and more toward families. For some the highlight of the weekend is to sit and pick their own instruments around the campfire late into the night. I love Rockygrass in part because it’s a commuter festival where you can sleep at home and return the next day to sit in reverential awe at the guitar genius of Doc Watson, Tony Rice and Bryan Sutton. 2010 Line-up: Patty Loveless, Seldom Scene, Bobby Osborne, Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Greensky Bluegrass and Infamous Stringdusters.—JL

Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Telluride, June 17–20
Even after attending the Telluride Bluegrass Festival for 30 years, I still get giddy every June when I come around that corner and see Bridal Veil Falls. That high-mountain setting has never failed to spark over-the-top sets of jamgrass, country, swing, gospel, rock, soul and folk music. Even though the bluegrass greats have played here, I love Telluride precisely because it is NOT a bluegrass festival. I love the traditions, like the morning “running of the tarps” by folks who stayed in line all night to secure front-of-stage space and the fact that a cast of virtuosos—Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, Peter Rowan and Edgar Meyer—are on the bill every year. I love the multi-generational audience that is famously open-minded about new acts, how the music shifts from quiet acoustic in the morning to rock and beer toward midnight, and how “Killer Flank Steak” aroma wafts across Town Park. I’ll make the pilgrimage again to recharge my musical batteries with new tunes and to commune with the spirits of John Hartford, Bill Monroe, Dan Fogelberg, Johnny Cash, Richard Manuel and other passed festival goers. 2010 Line-up: Alison Krauss, Edward Sharpe, Del McCoury, Josh Ritter, Keller Williams, Lyle Lovett, Court Yard Hounds, Hot Rize, Yonder Mountain String Band, Brandi Carlile, Bela Fleck and the Drepung Monks.—JL

Also, check out our guide to Colorado’s music festivals, fairs, parades and more; get grilling tips from those in the know; and sip on the YS beer guru’s Top 10 Summer Beers.

Drink it in, BoCo, and don’t think we didn’t warn you: This is hot!

On the prowl: Sequins and sparkles dress up a dark, skinny jean. Ashley is wearing a Statement Sequins Top by Fumbling Foe and Big Star Skinny Dark jeggings with silver bangles by NYC Metals, all from Holiday & Co. Alex sports a 7 Diamond Vertical Horizon khaki shirt, Lucky 181 jeans and a Fossil belt from Starr’s. Background art by Beverly McIver, during her Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art exhibition.

10 Places to See:

1. The Shambhala Mountain Center Great Stupa is one of the most beautiful and surprising finds in the Colorado mountains. Taking 10 years to build, the outside of the gold-accented building is a breathtaking vision, inside it’s a piece of art and a spiritual refuge. Who: Those seeking solace, in need of meditation and in the mood for a glorious summer journey. Where: Up 74E in the foothills of Northern Colorado, near Red Feather Lakes, and along an easy, meandering path, the Great Stupa sits. When: The stupa is open for “business” every day, but it’s best to call to make sure Shambhala is not closed to the public (970.881.2184). Why: First, this mountain retreat is visually spectacular. Whether you are Buddhist, Buddhist-leaning, or simply a soul in need of peace and/or quiet, the Stupa welcomes all. If you like this, try: Sophia Peace Center, Dolores.
2. Colorado Rapids games—as the team pursues the 2010 MLS Cup in November. Who: Soccer fans, football buffs looking to diversify their sports portfolio, and those who want to continue their World Cup merriment. When: Check out an evening game any time this summer. Where: Commerce City, baby! Well, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, which is the largest soccer complex in North America and certainly the coolest part of Commerce City. Why: With soccer stars like Conor Casey and Colin Clarke, the Rapids are set for a brilliant season. And Rapids games are insanely fun—with a nice blend of families and rabid soccer fans. If you like this, try: The Denver Roller Dolls are so hot right now. And they’re just down the street. Check them out at the 1stBank Center.
3. The famous Flatirons, with extraordinary views that will knock your climbing shoes off. Who: The climberati of Boulder County. When: Any day but a weekend for the easier east-facing routes because they attract thousands of climbers. Also, some parts of the area are closed for falcon nesting (through July 31) and bat nesting (through Aug. 31). Where: Go west for a less crowded climbing spot. Before heading up, check with Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks for tips and info on closures and routes. Why: They are easy to climb and have unparalleled views of Boulder and Denver. If you like this, try: Lumpy Ridge in Estes Park; from the summit, you can see RMNP, so it provides a very alpine feel.

   Bohemian Cool: Pair a blousey top with classic cutoffs and strappy sandals for instant artsy chic. Ashley wears an embroidered chartreuse top by For Joseph, Big Star dark wash jean shorts with a fringed cuff and a silver beaded fringe bracelet by NYC Metals, all from Holiday & Co. Her shoes are copper strappy sandals by Gee Wawa from Two Sole Sisters. Alex wears a grey T-shirt by Alternative, Lucky 181 dark wash jeans, both from Starr’s. He wears a grey hat by Retro 7 from Common Era, Vargas sunglasses by Salt from Wink Optical, and brown leather flip flops by Reef from Brown’s Shoe Fit Co.

4. Upstairs, where Everything and everyone is sexy and stunning and full of swagger. Who: Pretty people and those who like to be around them. When: Evening. Where: The intimate wine and beer lounge above The Kitchen on the west end of Pearl Street. Why: OK, let’s just be honest, Boulder does entertainment and nightlife very well. Want a night out with a bit of glam and crowds that look chic by trying to not look chic? Upstairs serves up plenty of booze, wine and beer with apps and a side of Boulder’s beautiful crowd. If you like this, try: The Cheeky Monk, The Orchard’s new Belgium beer bar. Ja!
5. The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art is dedicated to presenting the significant art of our time, be it local, national or international in origins, and the museum’s dynamic venue stretches the boundaries of what art can be, including traditional art, installation art and performances in its historic, warehouse-style space. Who: Those looking for broadened horizons. Where: 1750 13th St., Boulder When: The museum’s latest exhibitions open June 11 through September. Why: Art expands your mind, exposes you to different points of view and can be a really impressive date. If you like this, try: The Longmont Museum’s Bicycles! 150 Years of Gears is a great way to get a gearhead interested in a museum.
6. Long’s Peak, named after Major Stephen Long—yes, another East Coast transplant—is one of the most popular and majestic 14ers in Colorado. Who: Everyone with legs. When: Start early in the morning; afternoon showers are common and you don’t want to get caught in a storm. Plus, this trail gets crowded, so try to do the hike on a weekday. Where: Off of Highway 7 north of Allenspark, a sign will lead you to the trailhead. Why: Because non-climber types want stunning mountain views too. A hike to the summit of Long’s Peak is amazing. You can even look directly over the cliff face of The Diamond down to Chasm Lake. If you like this, try: There are 53 other 14ers in the state, so you really have your pick. Also, try out the Grey Rock hike, which is up the Poudre Canyon.Beachy Brunch: Chunky shoes bring this flirty dress down to earth. Ashley wears a tiered flowered dress by MM Couture from Starr’s and brown strappy wedge heels by Coconuts from Two Sole Sisters. Alex wears a grey T-shirt by Alternative, a blue striped button down by Jachs and linen Chinos, all from Starr’s. His brown leather Reefs are from Brown’s Shoe Fit Co.
7. Kasbah Moroccan Restaurant What: The hungry masses seeking a different kind of dining experience. When: Sundays are family night, but we suggest taking friends for an uproarious Friday evening or grab your gal for an exotic date. Or simply come when you feel like dancing. Where: Lafayette’s downtown Moroccan hideaway, a beautiful space where diners eat with their hands and learn to belly dance from the pros. Why: Because you’ve eaten at every contemporary American bistro in the region and you’re craving something new. This is it. If you like this, try: Waterloo in Louisville serves up its famous burgers with live music.
8. There’s something so quintessentially summer about watching a movie outdoors. Maybe it’s the camaraderie of sharing bug spray and marshmallows with your neighbors. Maybe it’s the glow and flicker of the moving pictures in the lingering summer twilight. Maybe it’s just the fact that they’re free. Who: Film buffs, outdoor enthusiasts and families with young kids who haven’t been to a movie theater since their bundle of joy arrived. When: Film on the Rocks at Red Rocks begins June 8; Boulder Outdoor Cinema starts July 11. Other communities in the area, including Erie, start even earlier. Check with your city. Why: Because sometimes your favorite movie is even better when seen in a cool locale. If you like this, try: The 88 Drive-In Theater is a blast to the past. 88drivein.com
9. The Boulder International Fringe Festival Who: Artists and art-lovers, quirk-seekers, nutty professors, those who color outside the lines and those who prefer the fringe. When: Aug. 18–29. Where: Various locations throughout Boulder. Why: Because you can’t always follow the rules. The Fringe Fest is a place to absorb off-beat, inspiring and invigorating performances of theater, dance, music and more. Local and international performers alike help turn Boulder into a place to discover, laugh, cry and, most importantly, think. If you like this, try: Head up to Fort Collins to check out Bas Bleu Theatre, which takes on some of the most edgy, heady plays around.
10. Colorado Shakespeare Festival Maybe you knew that one of the top Shakespeare festivals in the country calls Boulder home (and you can call them your neighbors). But now is the time to take advantage of having this theatrical think tank and power house so close. Love a good political drama? King Lear is one of the English language’s most powerful dramas. More of a chick flick sort of person? The Taming of the Shrew is a provocative rom-com about the eternal battle of the sexes. Other shows this season include Measure for Measure, Our Town and The Fantasticks. Who: Theater junkies, drama queens, poetry buffs and romance lovers. When: Tickets are on sale now, with performances running July 1 thru Aug. 8. Why: Even if you think you’re not a Shakespeare fan, Colorado Shakespeare Festival will change your mind. If you like this, try this: The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is putting on a plethora of new and old favorites this summer, including Young Frankenstein, South Pacific and Grease.Art Class: Take a new look at a preppy staple with a blazer and gladiator sandals. Soften the look with jersey instead of a button down.Ashley wears a navy blazer and khaki skirt by Costa Blanca with a white henley by Alternative; all from Starr’s. Double knotted pearls from Common Era. Her Gold Gladiator strappy sandals are from Two Sole Sisters. Alex is in a white T-shirt and grey sweater by Alternative and plaid shorts by Union, all from Starr’s. His brown Reef flip flops are from Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. Background art by Pattie Lee Becker, as seen in her exhibition at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.

10 Places to Be Seen:

1. Greenbriar Inn’s morning brunch with a perfect patio table in their grassy front yard. Who: Sun seekers in need of conversation sustenance, and vitamin D. When: Sunday mornings. Don’t forget to make reservations…you aren’t the only person with this brilliant idea. Where: Along Highway 36 between Boulder and Lyons. Why: Because an all-you-can-eat buffet of breakfast classics, prime rib, Benedicts, oysters and champagne is best consumed in the summer sun. Rub shoulders with the Polo-wearing elite of Boulder County, ladies who lunch and those seeking the best buffet in and out of town. If you like this, try: Centro Latin Kitchen. Talk about heat—enjoy a spicy breakfast with a bloody Mary in your hand and your sunglasses on your nose on Centro’s sunny patio.

2. Summer community festivals, like the Lafayette Peach Festival, are a must in summer. Who: The stroller set. When: Aug. 21. Where: Downtown Lafayette. Why: Your neighbors have abandoned their gardens to meander through crowds of townsfolk and tourists to lap up sweet, juicy peaches. Better than the array of fruity finds, it’s the comfort of community that makes the Peach Fest so spectacular. You’ll run into your kids’ teachers, co-workers and every other mother in your baby playgroup. Put on some sunscreen, pick up some peach cobbler and say hello. If you like this, try: Longmont’s Rhythm on the River, July 9–10.

3. Beer Dinners Who: Foodies and beer snobs. Where: Restaurants like Magnolia, Greenbriar Inn, Praha and Terroir have partnered with Boulder Beer, Left Hand Brewing and Twisted Pine Brewing to create multi-course pairings like glazed quail with Flashback India Brown Ale. When: Keep an eye out for them throughout the summer. Why: Because beer dinners are all the rage. The popularity of wine dinners has translated well into this hoppy alternative dimension, and local breweries and restaurants have embraced them happily. There’s no better way to spend an evening than with great food and drink. If you like this, try: The Boulder Brew Bus: Hop on Banjo Billy’s Bus to check out three breweries—Upslope, Twisted Pine and Avery—and then grab some grub at Westend Tavern, which has organized this amazing beer concept.

4. The Denver Century Ride, the Mile High City’s new 100-mile challenge that pits cyclist against cement through a rigorous course around the Denver area. Who: Gearheads. When: June 20. Where: Starts and ends at Invesco Field (that’s Mile High Stadium to the traditionalists out there). Why: Usually cyclists have to travel elsewhere to find a 100-mile ride, so the inaugural Denver Century Ride is sure to be a gathering place for the who’s who of pedaling. If you like this, try: Venus de Miles, a beloved Boulder County ride with 67-, 51- and 33-mile courses.

5. The Tasty Weasel, Oskar Blues’ laid-back, uber funky warehouse-turned-tap room. Who: Beer-lovers. When: After work. Where: Up an indescribable staircase on the side of an indescribable warehouse at Sunset and Pike in Longmont. Why: Because after you’ve done your 9 to 5, all you want is a pint of Momma’s Little Yella Pils and a place where everyone knows your name. The Tasty Weasel is just that: packed with tables of like-minded, hardworking, beer-loving folk. It’s like Cheers but with better beer. If you like this, try: Mountain Sun on Pearl Street and Avery Brewing, 5757 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder.

6. Tubing down Boulder Creek has long been a favorite pastime of hip locals looking for a way to cool off with a little adventure thrown in. In some places, tubing means relaxing on a lazy river; in Boulder Creek, it can be thrilling, fast-paced and almost guaranteed to dunk you at some point. Who: Sweaty, toasty, sweltering adventure seekers. When: Don’t go too early when the water is too cold and too high; wait until the dog days of summer when the water level sinks and the cold will feel refreshing instead of refrigerating. Why: Because you love to get a little wet and wild. If you like this, try: Other places to float include St. Vrain Creek, the water of the Greenway in Longmont and the Golden Ponds, Rogers Grove and Izaak Walton trailheads.

7. The Kinetics Sculpture Challenge, the risen-from-the-dead race of human-powered vehicles that travel across land and sea. Who: Costume-wearing, sea-faring masters of the craft. When: Aug. 28. Where: Longmont’s Union Reservoir, which is the newest home for the nomadic event. Why: Because you only live once…and can you even call it living if you’ve never shown your mad mechanical skills? Build it, drive it, float it and then you can die a legend. Kinetics is a touchstone in the wacky history of the county, and by joining other kineticists, you become a part of that history. If you like this, try: There’s nothing quite like Kinetics, but there are plenty of madcap events elsewhere. Check out Tour de Fat this September in Denver or Fort Collins for some cycling mayhem.

8. Farm dinners are super popular with local chefs this year. Chef Brett Smith of Zolo will host a dinner at his favorite, Isabelle Farm in Lafayette, in June. And Black Cat chef Eric Skokan often offers “dirt dinners” with produce harvested fresh from his farm. And Hush, the super exclusive supper club in Denver, is hosting its first Boulder County dinner literally out in a field to benefit Slow Food Boulder. Who: Foodies, locavores, culinarians and the generally hungry. When: Zolo’s farm dinners take place June 14 and Aug. 30. Call Black Cat at 303.444.5500 for information on the dirt dinners. Why: Because food just tastes best when it’s super fresh. If you like this, try: Make your own farm dinner with purchases from the Boulder County Farmer’s Markets in Boulder or Longmont, or visit the Lyons Farmette to learn how to grow and then cook your own bounty.

9. Louisville street Faire. Let’s face it: Louisville is cooler than all of us put together. It seems like every publication in the country thinks so. And the Louisville Downtown Street Faire is sort of the cream of the crop. It is the place to be seen on a Friday night in Boulder County. Don’t believe me? Top Chef Hosea Rosenberg has chosen it as one of only a handful of inaugural locations for his brand new mobile kitchen called StrEat Chefs. Look for the Airstream, or just follow your nose. Who: The people in your neighborhood—and the people who only wish they were cool enough to live in your neighborhood. When: Every Friday night, June 11 thru Aug. 13. Why: Because we all secretly want to live in Louisville, right? If you like this, try this: Longmont ArtWalk on July 16.

10. Mobile dining units, aka food trucks. The Boulder area has recently welcomed Comida, serving up Mexican food out of a bright pink truck, and StrEat Chefs, Top Chef Hosea Rosenberg’s newest project, focused on international street foods. Who: Street foodies and diners who prefer the fast-casual experience. When/Where: Follow Comida on Twitter to find out the haps (twitter.com/eatcomida), and StrEat Chefs will be found at the Louisville Street Faire, Chautauqua and other popular locales. Why: Because Austin, NYC and LA have known the true joys of food trucks for a few years now, and it’s just about time for this food trend to hit our humble hometowns. Now, everyone is clamoring for the new way to get food to go. If you like this, try: The pupusa cart on the corner of 95th and South Boulder Road in Louisville.
    ]]> http://yellowscene.com/2010/06/10/20-places-to-see-and-be-seen/feed/ 0 http://yellowscene.com/2010/05/13/unsolved-mysteries/ http://yellowscene.com/2010/05/13/unsolved-mysteries/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 19:47:42 +0000 andra http://yellowscene.com/?p=16510 Right now, on the other side of the world, two beams of protons are zooming around a 17-mile loop in opposite directions at speeds of 11,000 times per second. The particles are smashing into each other at levels never before seen. And from the collisions, high-energy detectors are collecting so much data that in 10 to 20 years, the volume of recorded information will equal all the words spoken by humans since humans began speaking.
    
    Over the last six months, the physicists of the world have worked on and watched this experiment in awe. They have raised their glasses of champagne in victory, dreaming dreams of discovering proof of particles like the so-called “God particle,” dark matter, extra dimensions, super symmetry and string theory.

    Right now, on this side of the world, grad students and university faculty are pouring over the data coming out of this over-the-top, newfangled machine. And while it all seems like magic with unfathomable potential to change the world as we know it, Brian Drell and Bernadette Heyburn just want to get their degrees.

    “Other than a PhD?” Drell laughs, when he’s asked about his hopes and dreams for the project. “That’s pretty much it at this point.”

    Drell, who is from Louisiana and has a wickedly dry sense of humor, is sitting in a window-filled room at the top of Gamow Tower with colleagues Heyburn, a Colorado native who studied nuclear physics during her undergrad, and assistant physics professor Kevin Stenson.

    Gamow is one of two physics towers on the CU campus. Here, students and faculty are diving into data that could change how we look at the universe and existence.
    The team has spent years collaborating with thousands of physicists on the world’s biggest physics project: the Large Hadron Collider. It’s a particle accelerator located underground at CERN, also known as the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Geneva. The team works on the part of the experiment called CMS, or Compact Muon Solenoid, one of two main detectors that examine the reactions of the collisions. And while they are thrilled with the progress being made with CMS, they are not seduced by the big-picture potential of the experiments. They are too much in the nitty gritty to wax gleefully about extra dimensions and God particles.
    Still, they take some time away from their number crunching (or whatever it is that they do ) to talk a little about their work with the Large Hadron Collider and how they found themselves getting up close and personal with the largest physics experiment known to man.

    “I originally wanted to be an astronaut, but that looked too hard,” Stenson says.

    Which is funny, seeing that these days Stenson, who’s been on the CU faculty since 2005, focuses on experiments that search for matter that can’t be detected.

    “You really are trying to understand the origin of how everything works,” he says. “It’s at the most basic level. Which turns out to be—ironically—the most inaccessible. So, we need these huge colliders, lots of money, big detectors and lots of people in order to get the kind of physics we want out of it.”

    Fundamental physics focuses on the basic building blocks of the universe. It’s quarks, electrons and leptons. It’s existence.

    “I argue with my friends that I study more important physics than they do,” Heyburn says as she smiles innocently. “They don’t appreciate that.”

    “That’s why we say fundamental, as opposed to important,” Stenson says. “But really what we mean is important. Fundamental sounds less like a value judgment.”

    “Yeah, there’s no arrogance in physics,” Drell adds wryly.

    But within this very important realm of physics, there are many unknowns. There are theories, but it takes time, technology and big budgets to find answers. That’s where these particle accelerators come into play, attempting to solve some of the universe’s greatest unknowns by recreating the moments after the big bang occurred.

    “During the big bang, everything was really hot and close together,” Stenson said. “And that’s what we are trying to do with these colliders: make everything hot and close together.”

    The Large Hadron Collider is a gianormous particle accelerator used to study the most miniscule matter. The expectation from physicists is that discoveries made with the Large Hadron Collider will be revolutionary, proving theories of particles like the Higgs Boson or disproving portions of fundamental physics as we know it. Despite running on lower energy and with fewer collisions, the project’s two main detectors—ATLAS and CMS—are churning out so much data that thousands of physicists from around the globe have been and continue to work 24 hours a day to collect, analyze and interpret the data.

    “There are good things and bad things about it. It’s a bunch of people, so that can be a problem,” Drell says. “But there are amazing things you can do with that many people when they pool their efforts.”

    The entire Large Hadron Collider project is cooperative. That means scientists and teams everywhere help build, repair, run, calibrate and maintain both the hardware and the software. They also take care of their own research.
    “It’s a combination of what we are interested in and what the experiment needs,” Stenson says, noting that CU’s efforts cover five sub-fields of high-energy physics. “There is some trickiness because everyone wants to do the exciting physics and make the big discoveries.”

    CU’s Large Hadron Collider team built environmental chambers to store the detectors and shipped them off to Switzerland. Heyburn and another grad student helped set up the forward pixel detector at CERN; she was there for two and a half years.

    These days, much of their work revolves around taking information from detectors and making what they call tracks.

    “We are essentially making 3-D pictures of all the particles that are coming out of the collisions,” Drell says.
    That’s kind of like the filing of the physics world—not what you write prize-winning papers on. “But they are necessary to get those physics papers out,” Stenson says.

    What is interesting fodder for a thesis paper or graduate research? Stenson and Drell study beauty quarks, and Heyburn is working on super symmetry, a theory that has no proven backing.

    “There is no evidence for it yet, but it has really nice theoretical correlations,” she says happily.

    But what if the experiments don’t detect things like super symmetry and the Higgs Boson? Stenson says it’s a reality, at least for now.

    “The likelihood that we will see something interesting by the end of 2011 is small,” he says. “After 2011, they will shut it down for a year. And then get it up to the designed collision rate and energy. So, now we are talking end of 2013 by the time you can really see something.

    “There is a lot of other stuff we can do that is not exactly Noble Prize-winning stuff,” he continues.

    On a personal level, that would make writing papers and getting advanced degrees much harder. When the Large Hadron Collider broke in 2008, some grad students had to find new experiments because of a 14-month delay to repair the collider.

    In the big picture, not finding something interesting may not be so bad.

    “We all expect the Higgs to be there, but if we discover nothing it’s a much bigger challenge for a theorist to explain,” Stenson says. “Though the funding agencies might not agree with it, the physicists would actually be excited because it means we don’t understand what is going on—when we thought we did.”

    ]]> http://yellowscene.com/2010/05/13/unsolved-mysteries/feed/ 1 http://yellowscene.com/2010/05/13/the-professionals/ http://yellowscene.com/2010/05/13/the-professionals/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 19:15:19 +0000 andra http://yellowscene.com/?p=16505 his is your recreational playground—and it’s play time. But there’s more to sports and recreation than a pair of tennies and Spandex. Whether you’re a competitive climber, weekend warrior or an occasional off-road biker, sports medicine is vital. Without proper treatment, a little proactive care and some attention paid to your bod, all athletes are at risk for aches and injury. Here, the professionals talk about training for the big event, listening to their bodies and following their sports medicine commandments.
    
    
    Mary Beth Ellis // Professional Triathlete.
    Mary Beth Ellis, sitting in a Boulder coffee shop, is a slight figure with a sweet face and bright blond curls pulled back in a ponytail. But on the road, in the water and on her bike, she’s nothing but fierce.

    The 32-year-old professional triathlete and Boulder resident is the 2009 Pan American Champion and 2009 Escape from Alcatraz Champion. She took second in the 2009 and 2008 70.3 World Championships and is now making a push toward the 2012 Olympics. She continues to thrive in a tremendously tough sport, and from her point of view, she has the next eight to 10 years to make the most of a running, cycling and swimming career.

    “It’s a bit of a selfish pursuit,” she said. But what else can she say, she loves it.

    Ellis is diligent in maintaining her healthy and injury free body, so she can perform at the top of her game in 12 to 15 Olympic-qualifying triathlons and two half-Ironmans a year. That means sleep—8–10 hours a night—hydration, massage, icing, stretching and consistent training in all three disciplines.

    But when it comes down to it, the thing that keeps Ellis going during the hardest of events is simply listening to her body.

    “It’s so much better to take care of something, instead of pushing through it,” she said. “We think about it like, ‘Man, I’m being a wimp if I stop.’ But you realize that it’s really not about being a wimp. It’s knowing the difference between pain that’s normal and pain that’s pushing toward injury.”

    That’s a lesson she has learned first hand: “You name an injury,” Ellis said, “I’ve had it.” She lists everything from shin splints to stress fractures.

    In fact, it was an injury that made Ellis the athlete she is today. She was a college swimmer and cross-country runner. She later focused on marathons.

    “I was competitive but not at the level to be professional,” Ellis said.

    But then came the osteoarthritis in her hip. Ellis’ doctors told her she must stop long-distance runs “or I would need a hip replacement by the time I hit my mid 30s. That scared me enough into changing.”

    However, months later, she was ready to hit the road. Instead of marathons, she took up triathlons, which allowed her to compete yet took the pressure off her hips. She turned professional in 2007, making training and competition her full-time job.

    “It is such a challenging sport,” she said. “You really have to be balanced in all three disciplines and you have to be in shape for all three disciplines. But there is so much enthusiasm in the athletes. When you get to the starting line of each race, you really see why everyone is there.”

    Training Tip:
    Professional triathlete Mary Beth Ellis suggests athletes train in groups and even with a coach. “I feel like more is better,” she said of training with others. “It’s the opportunity to get advice from people who are experienced, especially when you are starting a sport. It helps with training and in preventing injuries and even equipment. In triathlons, we do so many revolutions, if you have a problem with your form, it will cause an injury. When you work out with others, they can stop you from making the same mistake they made.”

    
    Michael Lovato //Professional triathlete and Ironman Champion
    Boulderite Michael Lovato is one of the country’s best Ironman athletes. Which, if you’ve never seen the ESPN specials on the Ironman race, is incredibly impressive. It’s 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of cycling and then a marathon. It’s man versus the road, the pack, the heat and himself. It’s grueling, daunting, invigorating and even exhausting to watch.

    And so when Lovato uses the term “normal,” which he does frequently, we doubt it’s actually the same normal of the rest of the population. He’s won two Ironmans and placed in the top 10 numerous times since he turned pro more than a decade ago. These days he calls Boulder home but spends the winter in Austin, Tex., training most days and traveling for races, including several 70.3 triathlons throughout the spring, summer and fall. He also blogs about the racing life: tips and tricks, stories of triumph, sponsor plugs, and the ups and downs.

    “I know very well how capable the Ironman distance is of picking apart an athlete, and exposing his every weakness or flaw,” Lovato wrote in a recent post, admitting to his readership he will not make the inaugural Ironman St. George because of some yet to be identified setback. “I have promised myself that without being 100 percent healthy to tackle the challenges of the day, I would not put myself out there.”

    In an email interview with Yellow Scene, Lovato talked a lot about his training and how he avoids making small injuries big. His is an outlook that’s optimistic, smart and gung-ho, and it’s apparent that both his viewpoint and his body have been vetted by 18 years of competition.

    “I am good at listening to my body. It generally tells me when to ease up, when good pain starts to turn into bad pain, and when enough is enough,” Lovato said. “Listening is one part of the equation, paying attention to what you hear is another thing altogether. In other words, it’s key to do something about what your body tells you. Not everyone can do that, but I tend to do alright with it.”

    Usually, Lovato does two Ironmans a year, with other triathlons in between. In the off-season he works on swimming, cycling and running as well as conditioning, working on core strength, flexibility and stability.

    “As long as I keep some sort of consistency, it keeps my muscles well balanced and in line, so I am ready to roll when the real training begins,” he said. “Prepping for a busy season starts with a consistent January and February. Keeping things going then enables me to handle the training, travel and racing load of the main season.”

    As for sports medicine, Lovato says getting regular massages is essential. He also uses Norma Tec MVP, which is pneumatic compression; ART (Active Release Technique); a chiropractor; and he has his blood checked for serum ferritin levels, which monitor iron levels. He also maintains his normal lifestyle and normal outlook, especially before a big race.

    “Leading into an Ironman, I try to keep things as close to normal living as possible,” Lovato said. “Normally there is very little stress in my day-to-day living, and normally I have a good time with what I do.

    “So, in those days leading into an Ironman, I try to keep that pattern going. I do, however, pay attention to my hydration, especially in Hawaii, where the climate is extreme. I eat well, but nothing different from what I normally eat. I sleep a bit more, and I try to remember that I do Ironman because I love it, which reminds me to not take things too seriously—and to have fun.”

    Training Tip:
    “If you focus on what those around you are doing, you will more easily be derailed, and possibly over trained,” professional triathlete Michael Lovato said. He suggests athletes pay attention to their program, instead of paying attention to what others are doing. “It’s pretty simple really: swim a little, bike a little, run a little and take rest days. We tend to complicate things too much,” he said.

    
    Steve Antonopulos //Head Athletic Trainer, Denver Broncos.
    hen talking with Steve Antonopulos, head athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos, the one word that’s repeated over and over is “integrity.”

    Sure, that might be his way of intervening on questions about contentious controversial issues surrounding the professional football industry right now. Or it could just be how Antonopulos sees his responsibilities.

    “That means doing the right things the right way—from a moral and ethical stand point, from a relationship standpoint,” he said. “And that includes loyalty to (Broncos owner Pat) Bowen and the club and to the people you work with. It’s just going about your business the right way.”

    Which matters when you work for an organization for 35 years, when you work with some of the best athletes on the gridiron, and when said athletes depend on you for health, wealth and future. Antonopulos, also known as “Greek,” says his department is just one piece of the puzzle that keeps players healthy; though, it’s an important piece. In the big picture, the Broncos do whatever is feasibly possible to keep players from getting injured: from a serious focus on strength and conditioning to nutritionists, from chiropractors (each specializing in different types of treatment) and massage therapists to highly technical screens that intuit potential injuries.

    “Strength and conditioning is the secret to the whole preventive thing. Today, the players couldn’t prevent injuries at this level if they weren’t into strength and conditioning big time,” he said. “Way back when, guys didn’t do as much of it as is done today. But now, they have to.”

    But it doesn’t necessarily start out that way, at least for many of the athletes.

    “I think most of them have no clue of what it takes. You see it every year: Guys have been working since the end of college football season in preparation for combine and the draft and camps and then preparing for training camp. Even then, they are so overwhelmed because it’s so much bigger than what they anticipate,” Antonopulos said. “Everybody is at a much higher level. In college, they were at the top.”

    But he said it’s not abnormal to see a guy make tremendous jumps from rookie year to sophomore season—because they are not so overwhelmed.

    “It’s mental,” he said. “It’s been said that some of the mental preparation at this level is harder than any class you can take in college.”

    Truly, you can expect a professional team to have a fleet of specialists and trainers, but what’s most fascinating is how Antonopulos talks about the mental and emotional aspects of training and injuries. It becomes very clear that part of that integrity he talks about is dealing with his athletes as people—not superheroes, celebrities or gods.
    “When a player gets injured it’s devastating. They don’t feel like part of the team. They hurt. And in their mind, if they are not participating they are not doing their part,” he said. “If they are at this level, they want to play.

    “We really focus on keeping them interested and keeping them positive,” he continued. “The guys who get injured and are still rehabbing, you have to keep them upbeat. You have to find ways to motivate and get the best out of them and get them focused.”

    Training Tip:
    Broncos head athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos suggests that preventing injury is all about preparation. “Anytime you are an athlete there is always potential for injury. You need to do what you can to prevent getting in those situations. Warm up. Make sure you are hydrated. Keep yourself hydrated. Sleep right. Eat right,” he said. Also, if you are just beginning a sport or just starting to get active, take it slow. “Progression into activity is the sanest thing you can do,” Antonopulos said. “You can’t go crazy.”

    
    Craig Magri //Head athletic trainer, Colorado Mammoth. Assistant athletic trainer, Colorado Rapids.
    Craig Magri is struggling with a long-distance relationship.

    Magri is the head athletic trainer for the Colorado Mammoth, the professional indoor lacrosse team that calls the Pepsi Center home. And he’s the assistant athletic trainer for the Colorado Rapids, the Kroenke-owned professional soccer team filled with some of the country’s best soccer players. About half of his 23 Mammoth athletes are Canadian and travel back and forth between Denver and their homeland every week between games. As their go-to guy for all things medical, Magri must keep them healthy from thousands of miles away.

    “We play a Saturday night, and they are on a plane Sunday morning. I don’t see them until the next weekend. They basically fly in and fly out,” Magri said.

    It’s his biggest challenge in keeping his players on the field, and it means he has to email them exercises for injuries and send them to doctors and physical therapists in their hometowns across the border. And it also means that the guys tend to play through more injuries.

    Though, because there is an emphasis on strength training during the lacrosse season and volunteer chiropractors and massage therapists who work on the players pre- and post-game—plus, many of the Mammoth play professionally in Canada during its professional season—most have avoided major injury this season. And when it comes down to it “if they are too injured to play, they don’t play.” Magri, for the most part, deals with pulled muscles in the pre-season and contusions, rug burns and a couple staph infections during the season.

    But occasionally the injuries are more concerning than the scrapes and shiners that come with playing a contact sport on AstroTurf. For Magri, concussions are the sports injuries that worry him the most.

    “They are just so vague. It can be a minor thing or it can be a career ender. There are just so many unknowns because you can’t see the damage from the outside,” he said.

    As brain injuries have become an issue in sports like football, Magri has seen an increased focus in lacrosse. This past season, he had a player sit out the entire season because of a series of concussions last year. The league is looking at bettering helmets and making stricter penalties for gratuitous roughness.

    “But we could always do more,” he said.

    Lacrosse season ended last month, and Magri now spends all his time with the Rapids. That means a little more sunshine, a few more players to help and a few more injuries to deal with. But, he says, when it comes to preventing injury, it’s all the same.

    “You need proper conditioning, good nutrition, a solid routine that includes stretching and working out,” he said. “And you have to take care of your bumps and bruises in a timely manner.”
    
    Training Tip:
    Craig Magri, head athletic trainer of the Colorado Mammoth, says athletes—whether they are occasional hikers or weekend warriors—should warm up longer than they think they need to. “Dynamic warm ups, like playing soccer or jogging, are great. Your warm up needs to be better than stretching to your toes when you tie your shoe,” he said. “And after your game, before you have a beer in the parking lot with your buddies, get some proper nutrition.”

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