When it comes to cinema, we’re living in an age of marvels. Take the long view for a moment, and consider that with theatrical releases and streaming platforms, we have access to a wider and deeper selection of films than at any point in human history. You can immerse yourself in independent films, catch up on old classics, watch virtually whatever you want whenever you want. To say that there are no good movies anymore is wildly inaccurate, you just have to work a little to find them. That concept also means that, increasingly, the theatrical experience is reserved for blockbusters. You know... Read More

Denver has long been in need of a giant music festival. Several have been attempted in recent years, but nothing has stuck. Lucky for us, Superfly is giving it a shot this summer. They’re sponsoring a new event called Grandoozy, September 14th –16th. With huge names and more than 35 artists already announced, it’s looking pretty epic. Festivals of this magnitude tend to book artists from a bunch of different genres. Grandoozy follows suit with a focus on rap and rock. The full daily schedules haven’t been announced yet, but we do know the headliners. Friday night features Kendrick Lamar,... Read More

Poetry and cinema collide at Ham on Rye, a monthly event series. I had the pleasure of interviewing Travis to get the inside scoop.    Ham on Rye normally occurs on the first Wednesday of each month (May 3rd) at 7:00 PM. Film screening at 8:30. The address is BarFly 4255 W. Colfax Denver, CO 80204 What should one expect to experience at Ham on Rye? Each reading begins with a song to set the mood, selected by the featured writer for the evening. I give a brief talk about poetry, the world, the intersection of poetry and film, or something relevant to the reader. I also have a 10,000 foot scroll... Read More

A recent article in the journal The Conversation, asked the question “Is walking enough exercise?”  Four out of five experts said yes. The one expert who said no, qualified his response by saying that walking is better than no exercise at all. He goes on to point out that, ideally, strength training and higher intensity exercise is ideal for good health. While strength training and higher intensity exercise along with moderate exercise is the ideal situation for many, the National Runners’ Health Study found that moderate-intensity walking and vigorous-intensity running resulted in similar... Read More

Change in Denver is on the Horizon Denver is an ever changing patchwork puzzle, and I love it! Neighborhoods are quickly morphing from older established communities to areas where younger hipster millennial types are moving in to purchase run-down properties and fix them up. With what result? Older historic homes owned by 3rd generation original families are nestled right in there between three-story modern triplexes with organic, Colorado-forward exteriors and a rooftop terrace. Case in point, the Balistreri Winery, a European oasis for organically made wine and gourmet dishes in Denver, buried... Read More

Burlesque gloriously celebrates the art, the performance, and the subversion in the embrace of sexuality. It’s an opportunity for women to kick off some of the social expectations and oppressions that society at large has about female power, expression, and sex. It’s also huge fun. It’s exhilarating to create exactly the appearance and presentation that you want and have an audience raucously endorse you for it. I understand the urge for gentlemen to join in the fun, but burlesque is a female art form. When men dress up and strip down, it’s not called burlesque, but rather “boylesque.” A... Read More

Let’s take a moment to consider just how much it must suck to be an actor of Middle-Eastern ethnicity in Hollywood. You’ve spent a fortune on headshots, spent even more on acting classes, and you’re ready to tackle the big time. There’s just one problem, and I know you know what it is. Everybody wants you to play a terrorist. Maybe you’re apolitical, and you simply want to tackle some challenging material or star in a Marvel movie. Maybe you believe in representation, and you want to show that a person that originally has roots in the Middle East can play…well…anyone.* But... Read More

The Colorado Book Awards celebrate the immense literary successes of local authors. Madelyn is a Colorado Book Award nominee in the Poetry category. She will read alongside fellow nominees on April 27th at Denver’s BookBar beginning at 7PM.  Celebrate National Poetry month while showing support for local writers! Lucky for us, Madelyn Garner was emphatic to share a little bit about Hum of Our Blood, her debut poetry collection that was over twenty years in the making. About Madelyn Garner: Master teacher, editor, and poet, Madelyn Garner has degrees from the University of Denver and Mills College.... Read More

The Terpenes and Testing Magazine World Conference, described as “the most promising and comprehensive cannabis science expo in the United States,” was held April 11-12 in San Jose, CA. This two-day conference was a collection of the top cannabis science experts in the world. It is currently the largest gathering of cannabis science thought leaders on the planet and I feel honored to have been involved. Antonio and I both had the pleasure of participating as panelists on their Hemp Panel. We spoke about how hemp is part of our daily lives as a food source, a natural plant medicine, and how... Read More

The Colorado Book Awards celebrate the immense literary successes of local authors. David Hicks is a Colorado Book Award – Fiction nominee. He will read alongside fellow nominees in various categories on April 27th at Denver’s BookBar beginning at 7PM. Show your support for these nominated Colorado greats. Lucky for us, David Hicks was happily willing to let me pick his brain a bit. About David Hicks: David is the author of the debut novel, White Plains, which was published by Conundrum Press in 2017. Excerpts from the novel have been published as short stories in Glimmer Train, Colorado... Read More