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For 50 years, a Pepto Bismol-pink tower has loomed large over the Lakewood shopping center marking the spot of the legendary Casa Bonita. The tower is something of a beacon, calling to longtime fans and would-be diners with the promise of mariachi music, cliff divers, crispy sopapillas and the kind of fun that inspires childlike joy. Next week will mark the 50th anniversary the day that Oklahoma City entrepreneur Bill Waugh opened Denver’s Casa Bonita in a former Joslin’s department store. The restaurant was part of a…

As ski passes for the 2024-25 season go on sale this month, one small Colorado resort has decided it will not open for at least the next year. Hesperus Ski Area near Durango said it “will not operate for the 2024/2025 season. … Both downhill and uphill skiing as well as winter tubing will not be available.” That means Hesperus will be closed for two consecutive seasons after a mechanical failure with its sole chairlift prevented the ski area from opening this winter. While Hesperus’ Bighorn Lift is still in disrepair,…

A Denver distillery is relocating operations to the suburbs, and when it does it will close its taproom and restaurant in the city. Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse, which opened in the River North Arts District in 2018, will soon break ground on a brand new production facility located at 1303 Empire Rd. in Louisville. According to an announcement Wednesday, the new spot will enable the company to bring its distillery and barrel-aging program under one roof and to provide a new drink-centric destination for locals.…

Colorado’s legal psychedelic therapy industry is beginning to take shape as regulators recently unveiled the first rules regarding facilitator education, training and licensure. In late February, the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) released a draft of these rules, which was informed by recommendations from the 15-member Natural Medicine Advisory Board, The board spent the better part of a year researching and discussing what they think are best practices for facilitators — the people who guide or advise people…

A Colorado company is on a mission to reimagine the country’s campgrounds and it’s starting by building tent- and trailer-friendly accommodations near the state’s national parks. In 2023, Ramble opened its first campground on a 640-acre plot near the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Alamosa. It features 25 camping sites each equipped with amenities like a smokeless fire pit, chairs, and a built-in camp stove. It’s preparing to debut its second location in Cortez near Mesa Verde National Park this spring. The Golden-based…

In a video posted on TikTok, Fort Collins resident Rachel Pastor outlines the key ways to benefit from microdosing with psilocybin. Take care of your physical body, she says, and be sure to set an intention when taking the substance. Have a consistent microdosing routine and, most importantly, make time to reflect on the experience and apply any lessons learned to other aspects of life. Pastor’s video, which has been viewed more than 10,000 times, is like many others on the social media platform that tout the benefits of…

Since the founding of Parker’s Downhill Brewing in 2017, owners Jake Minturn and Doug Hyndman always planned to expand to multiple locations. By then, the craft beer market had matured enough the duo felt they couldn’t rely on the production and distribution model. Instead, they tried to build a welcoming space — and one with a vibe that could be replicated in new places. After years of searching, Minturn and Hyndman finally found their ideal spot. Downhill Brewing’s second location in Greenwood Village opened at 9672 E.…

Denver-based Stranahan’s distillery marks its 20th anniversary this year, and to celebrate, the whiskey maker is tracing its roots back to Aspen with a new tasting room and restaurant opening in March in the mountain town. The Aspen Whiskey Lodge, at 307 S. Mill St., serves alpine-inspired dishes alongside drams and cocktails featuring the distillery’s original spirits. It opens March 9 and given its proximity to Aspen Mountain, head blender Justin Aden expects it will be a popular après ski destination. “My favorite part…

A new THC-infused seltzer is now available in Colorado and, in a departure from cannabis norms, locals don’t need to go to a dispensary to purchase it. That’s because Cann seltzers are made with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) extracted from hemp rather than from marijuana. In Colorado, marijuana can only be sold by heavily regulated dispensaries or recreational pot shops. But since hemp isn’t a federally controlled substance, products derived from it can be sold anywhere. In January, Cann launched one of…

Coloradans looking for excellent whiskey don’t need to look far. That’s according to the judges at the Whisky Magazine Awards, who recently honored several local distilleries in its nationwide competition. Laws Whiskey House’s Four Grain Bourbon Cask Strength was named the best single-barrel bourbon (non-Kentucky) at the 2024 Whisky Magazine Awards.(Provided by Laws Whiskey House) Six Colorado spirits makers earned accolades in categories such as best finished bourbon made outside of Kentucky and best single-cask,…