Scene: Why I am an activist

I am an activist. By definition, an activist is a person who campaigns to bring about political or social change. I do not subscribe to a particular political party, but I will support politicians that push a humanist cause. My name is Chris Ward and I am about as typical a mid-Western man as one can find. I was born in small town Iowa and raised in small town Missouri. Late night, even as a...

Toasting Colorado’s Progressive Brewing Culture

At this day and age, Colorado’s economy has become synonymous with its brewing industry. To provide some context, the state is home to four of the top 50 brewing companies in the nation and is ranked number one in terms of gross beer production according to the Beer Institute. Those are some statistics worth raising a cold one over! Fortunately, Colorado’s citizens and its visiting tourists...

Celebrating the Craft of the Summer Brew

Cider, Bluegrass and more liven up the fourth annual Boulder Craft Beer Festival If Napa Valley brings to mind images of long-stemmed glasses, stomping grapes and wine tastings, than a mere mention of Colorado should conjure pictures of hops, barrels, yeast and grain. As one of the biggest centers for craft beer in the country, Colorado has become a destination for brew-lovers from all over the...

Scene: Why I am an activist

I am an activist. By definition, an activist is a person who campaigns to bring about political or social change. I do not subscribe to a particular political party, but I will support politicians that push a humanist cause. My name is Chris Ward and I am about as typical a mid-Western man as one can find. I was born in small town Iowa and raised in small town Missouri. Late night, even as a...

Voices: Boulder to Homeless: No Help for You Here

The City of Boulder has failed its citizens experiencing homelessness, but it is all too apparent that it has achieved exactly its goal: eliminating emergency and supportive services in an effort to push homeless people out of town. It has likely pleased the portion of the business community who want pressure put on homeless looking individuals so they will leave the downtown area. This comes in...

Month in Review: Condensing the News of 104th North

On Saturday morning, May 20, the bodies of John “J.P” and Elizabeth “Stacy” Farrar and their four-year-old son Ian were found in their Erie home at 1973 Gordon Court. Police believe John Farrar stabbed his wife and son to death before fatally shooting himself. One person was killed and three injured in an explosion near Mead on May 25. The blast was reportedly triggered as Anadarko...

Northern Coalfield History: Lafayette Elementary Fire

Ask any longtime resident of Lafayette, and they will remember the day Lafayette Elementary burned down. They will even remember where they were, or what they were doing when the rising smoke plumes were seen from miles away. Fires have been the bane of towns since the dawn of civilization, a fact that has only changed in the past few generations. Before occupancy limits, sprinkler systems, and...

Flower Power: Wildflower Festival a Crested Butte Staple

There is arguably no better place to witness this magnificent botanical transformation then in Crested Butte. For over three decades the town has been recognized as the wildflower capital of the state and continues to uphold its reputation through the annual Crested Butte Wildflower Festival. Now approaching its 31st year, the celebration attracts visitors from all over the globe and offers...

Greeley Stampede Celebrates Historic Tradition of Festivity and Charity

Colorado has a knack for preserving its western heritage in some pretty unique ways. Whether it be through the careful conservation efforts of protecting its old mining ghost towns, educational programs initiated through the National Western Stock Show or even through the grit, glamour and glory of a rodeo themed festival, Colorado is proud of its western spirit. One of the most historically...

Making Educational Enlightenment the New Superpower at Denver Comic Con

On any normal day, it is commonplace for the average American citizen to become absolutely inundated in a world of pop culture. Many of us experience it before we even leave our homes. The movie posters that line our walls and television programming reverberating throughout our living rooms serve as just a few examples of its many manifestations. Pop culture is so prevalent in our country that it...

Rock, River or Road: The Front Range is Famous for its Natural Playgrounds

June Snaking vertically through a number of Denver’s parks and attractions, the South Platte River might as well be called the Denver River. What better way to kick-off the summer than a two-day, environmentally friendly, beer-soaked festival on the South Platte? Denver’s fifth annual South Platte RiverFest, located at Confluence Park and Little Raven Street, has got you covered. From...

Independent Film Festivals & Red Rocks Viewing Parties Lead the Way in Summer Colorado Cinema.

The home of the Rocky Mountains might not necessarily seem like the place where homage would be paid to this particular form of entertainment. However, Colorado has served lovers of this particular niche for years and today hosts more than 30 film festivals every year. Whether you’re a fan of action, suspense, romance, gore or just the plain absurd, the abundance of film festivals each year...

The Word on Lit Events

It’s a long-lived festival with an equally long name: Naropa University’s Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics’ Summer Writing Program, from June 11 to July 1 at the school’s downtown Boulder campus, is in its 43rd year. The internationally-renowned festival is open to aspiring writers  of all levels. “At the Summer Writing Program there’s no sense of gatekeeping, or that type...

Hi, this is your dog. And I’ve got a few ideas about our summer plans…

By Johnathen Duran Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, summer is finally here! Dogs love summer, but what’s a dog to do? Here I am, all paws and fur and wiggles and wishes, excited that the wet, stinky fur season has passed. I’m so ready for the outdoors. My human and I are going to have the most fun. We always have fun because my human loves me like I’m one of their children (and sometimes a...

Inspired locations: Visit Some of Hollywood’s Most Memorable Settings

It’s no secret that Colorado is among the most visually stunning places on the planet. Visitors the world over flock here to commune with the jagged snowy peaks, high alpine lakes, golden aspen groves, carved canyons, and rushing rivers. But did you know that Colorado boasts a glitzy legacy as a set for Hollywood’s silver screen? Thousands of films have been shot in the Rocky Mountains...

Hot Issue Travel: Durango, Glenwood Springs, Gateway

Durango was the set for the classic film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a western starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman that chronicles the mostly true tale of the outlaws’ last months. The film features train robbery scenes that were shot on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Redford reportedly wanted to perform his own stunts, including jumping onto the train and...

Pot Picks: Cannabis enters the mainstream, joining forces with travel, tourism and arts to draw a different clientele.

While recreational Marijuana passed by voters back in 2012, the cannabis lifestyle has been distinguishing itself far beyond that. With each season, a new wave of culture rolls through exemplifying pot’s recreational context. Summer sun beating down, a gentle evening breeze, beautiful mountain backdrop and a doobie to top it off. It has become a new time in the age of mainstream cannabis...

Spirited Festivals

Looking for some great local spirits with a bit of travel? Check out these other great beer and wine festivals from all over Colorado this summer. Attack of the Big Beers Copper Mountain, Colorado June 23 through 25, 2017 Colorado’s only craft beer and film festival featuring 75 brews and several local films. Tickets: $20 to $100, attackofthebigbeers.com. Reds, Whites & Brews In...

Catering to the Active Appetite

Summertime foods are all about eating light, staying active and cooking on the go. Whether you’re looking for the perfect foods to take on your summer picnic or in need of some fuel for your weekend hike, there are lots of great spots and fun ways to fill up fast and healthy in the Boulder area. And since summer is unofficially festival season in this beautiful state, there are also lots of...

What Happens in the Shadows

Two things happened last month that, amidst the roiling, boiling sea of insanity that has become the political atmosphere around our federal government, may have been easily shrugged off by the Left and Right alike — the Left just adding to our teeth-gnashing and hand-wringing; the Right shrugging it off as yet another example of the Left looking for any reason to castigate our...