Next weekend is the Underground Music Showcase. The streets of South Broadway will be flooded with people and bands. The Baker neighborhood will be bursting at the seams with house parties to accommodate the overflow. We covered this a few weeks back. I recently got the chance to interview one of the artists playing the showcase and I thought it might be a good warm up for next week’s mayhem. Jon Medina is a super talented and dedicated DJ based in our very own Denver. You can catch him regularly at local venues like Vinyl and Bar Standard. He was kind enough to sit down with me to talk about... Read More

Brain injury has been a hot topic of conversation since Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist, conducted the autopsy of Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster in 2002. The autopsy led to his discovery of a new disease that he named chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. CTE is the term used to describe brain degeneration likely caused by repeated head traumas. Symptoms of CTE include difficulty thinking, impulsive behavior, depression, short-term memory loss, emotional instability, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts or behavior. At present, diagnosing CTE can only be done after death.... Read More

Hiking is a popular activity around the world. It’s a great way to get exercise while enjoying spectacular views, natural scenery, and observing wildlife. The incredibly beautiful country of New Zealand offers a huge selection of outstanding hiking trails. Before starting out on any hike, always ensure you are prepared. Hiking boots are essential, along with several layers of appropriate clothing and a hat. Take plenty of drinking water, emergency food supplies and a medical kit. Don’t forget that your skin can lose a lot of vital moisture during long hikes, so always bring a good moisturiser... Read More

In the 2011 NBA draft, Cleveland selected Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick as other teams contemplated top talents that could help their franchise. Klay Thompson went number 11 to the Golden State Warriors, and Kawhi Leonard went 15th ending up with the Spurs.  But like most NBA drafts, the rest of the picks were filled with unknown names with questionable talent and hopeful aspirations.  At the back end of the draft Dallas chose Targuy Ngombo with the 57th pick, the Lakers took Ater Majok with the 58th, and the Spurs went with Adam Hanga at 59. Obscure players from places like Qatar,... Read More

This is a Tale of Two Sandwiches; they were the best of sandwiches, not the worst of sandwiches. While I spend most of my time in this column talking about the cool things to do in Denver after the Rockies swallow the sun, today I’m going to deviate a tad from discussing venues’ sweaty greenrooms and sticky floors to discuss another critical piece of nightlife: what to eat the next day. While Pizza by the Slice has a special place in my heart, I love me a good sandwich, too. On the morning after, sometimes all you want is to swallow a Plan B and a hunk of buttered toast. There’s something... Read More

In our interconnected world, it’s pretty much a given we will have a multitude of interactions with others each and every day. We have co-workers, teammates, spouses, friends, family, and the list goes on. We communicate with a host of people directly and indirectly, through social media, etc., every day. Throughout these sometime brief or sometime lengthy conversations, a lot can be transmitted. When someone says a little or a lot, their body language can communicate even more. The sentiment of the communication in all of these interactions can be positive or facilitative, it can be negative... Read More

“Pictures were made to entertain. If you want to send a message, try Western Union.” That quote was originally attributed to film mogul Samuel Goldwyn.* It proves that, ever since the dawn of the motion picture business, studio heads usually didn’t give a damn about making an artistic statement. They are, as a great American philosopher once said, all about the benjamins. Sometimes that’s cool! Sometimes we just want pure entertainment for a couple of hours, a way to escape from a chaotic and hostile world. We don’t want to think of movies as Art, because we think Art is work. I think... Read More

I am a sponsored trail runner and personal trainer and I incorporate cannabis in my daily training routine.  Specifically, I consume either flower, concentrates or edibles before hitting the gym, trails or yoga sessions.  I also apply topicals to achy joints, such as my knees and shoulders and consume hemp foods throughout the day. Cannabis is a powerful anti inflammatory, and when consumed before a training session, allows me to focus mentally. This helps me maintain longer training sessions. My husband, Antonio DeRose, also uses cannabis as a part of his daily health and fitness routine. We’ve... Read More

If you’re into jam bands or are even vaguely familiar with that scene in Denver, you’ve probably heard of Jay Bianchi. If that doesn’t ring a bell, you’ve most likely been to Sancho’s Broken Arrow, or Owsleys. Maybe you remember Quixote’s(RIP). If none of this sounds familiar, you may have just gotten here, which is fine, and now you know about some cool spots to check out. Bianchi is a die-hard deadhead and his establishments tend to reflect the sentiment. They’re all incredibly welcoming places to relax, grab a drink, and enjoy good music. His latest project, Be On Key Psychedelic... Read More

If you haven’t heard that omega- 3 fatty acids are good for you, you’ve not been paying attention.  Two crucial omega- 3s are primarily found in certain fish. ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), another omega-3 fatty acid, is found in plant sources such as nuts, seeds and even leafy greens like cabbage. Not only does your body need these fatty acids to function, but also they might deliver some big health benefits like improving heart and brain health and curbing the pain and stiffness of arthritis. If you don’t get enough omega-3-rich foods in your diet, you may be thinking about a dietary supplement. ... Read More