Denver Life Magazine November 2022

I often say that I’m a creative maximalist who makes magazines for a living and throws color around the world like confetti for fun. I also often say the difference between a magazine and a catalog is aspiration—without it, a publication is just a list of places to go, people to know, things to do without any context or explanation how these people, places, things can enhance readers’ lives. As I write this, it’s the start of my fourth week at Denver Life Magazine, and if you can’t tell from the smile in my photo (that’s Gidget with me, by the way), I am loving this new role—and not just because I am completely obsessed with magazines. I’ve spent a majority of the last 20 years at the editorial helm of…

1 Finally checking out Theater of the Mind, the immersive mind-bending experience created by the Talking Heads’ David Byrne that’s running through Dec. 18. theateroftheminddenver.com 2 The return of stone crab season. Catch the crustaceans at Water Grill, which you can read more about on p. 52. 3 Mason Jar Event Group’s Fall Take & Bake, with a preprepped meal from Chef Tori Hartsoe from Wildcraft Kitchen and a goodie bag featuring treats from top cannabis brands. The accompanying curated playlist Mason Jar puts together to set the mood is always so on point. masonjareventgroup.com 4 The collaborating artist meet-and-greet at Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station on Nov. 9, part of Denver Arts Week. I’ve found that learning about what went into creating the massive art installations changes the way you experience the new cultural landmark. meowwolf.com/denver 5 The annual…

@denverlifemagazine @denverlifemag Want to be featured? Tag @denverlifemagazine in your Instagram photos. Out of the kitchen On Nov. 7, Cook Street School of Culinary Arts begins the second round of its hospitality management program. “The program helps chefs move into the front of house, run a food truck, cater and do other things outside of the traditional restaurant,” says Cook Street owner and director Lindsey Reese. Visit denverlifemagazine.com to read the full story. Social highlights Denver’s Cult of Mane salon tagged us in this photo of their client undergoing a fall style refresh, which is exactly what our annual Style Issue is all about. While @cultofmane’s caption reads, “Don’t get color on the jacket. Don’t get color on the jacket—our thoughts all day, every day,” (and we’re totally with them on that: don’t get color on…

DANCE Absolute Beginner Ballet Dance Classes NOV. 3, 7, 10 No previous ballet training? No problem. The Colorado Ballet Academy’s got an adult dance class just for you. Intended for students with little or no previous training, this Thursday night class series provides a basic intro to ballet vocabulary and technique. coloradoballet.org ART Denver Fashion Week NOV. 12–20 This November, the largest fashion show in Colorado is at Sports Castle, a Non Plus Ultra venue. Each day has a different exciting theme, from the Hair Show and Lifestyle to Streetwear, Local Couture and more. denverfashionweek.com Annual Open Studios NOV. 19 The annual event is back at the Blue Tile Gallery where artists invite the public to view work-in-progress projects and completed pieces. Viewers also get to take a look at the current exhibition in the Blue Tile…

Day of the dead Celebrate DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS at the Denver Botanic Gardens on Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The holiday originates in Mexico where families decorate nichos (alters or shrines) to welcome back friends and family who have passed. The holiday takes a joyous rather than somber tone as the culture celebrates death rather than fearing it. If you are looking to honor the holiday in Denver, the Botanic Gardens’ celebration is complete with a short film competition with entries illustrating what Día de los Muertos means to the filmmakers, El Mercado where visitors can purchase original and authentic art, and, of course, nichos so people can pay homage to their departed loved ones. “Since 2011, Denver Botanic Gardens’ observance of Día de los Muertos has…

When master distiller Greg Metze first began working with Old Elk back in 2012, little did he know that he would one day become the iconic Colorado distillery’s master distiller. At the time, Metze was with Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana, and Old Elk was a client. Metze was tasked with creating and producing custom mash bills (the combination of grains used in a distiller’s recipe) for the Old Elk brands—his first opportunity to create new products from scratch in his long, storied career. He has subsequently crafted and produced an impressive 13,000 barrels of three unique mash bills specifically for Old Elk. We asked him to tell us more. What does a typical day look like for you at the distillery? My role has shifted from being an “in the trenches” master distiller,…