The local literary scene is, one must remember, a community.  (One you can be a part of, by the way, whether you’re a writer or reader!) In fact, after I interviewed the poet Elizabeth Robinson who connected me with fiction writer David Hicks, and it was David Hicks who recommended that I reach out to poet Alyse Knorr. It was my pleasure to read two of Alyse Knorr’s poetry collections, Copper Mother and Mega-City Redux for the purpose of this interview. These collections of poetry and prose respectively are both delightfully dense and unusual explorations which perpetuate insightful... Read More

Hello. My name is Katie…. And I am a candy-a-holic. (Hiiiiiii Katie) It’s true. I’m a sucker for it. Fully addicted. Gummy bears, jelly beans, sour patch kids, york peppermint patties, fun dips, pixie sticks, sweet tarts, taffy, Swedish fish, Cat tails – even those yucky little hard candies every grandmother has sitting in a old dish – You name it. I like it. I know what you’re thinking. Katie – you need help. Seriously girl, get your self together. The truth might be in the pudding – mmmm pudding – but the reality is much more straightforward; here is no real rehab for... Read More

            This article is to not serve as a promotion for any businesses mentioned below   We have all been there, watching the food channels on the television, and the thought occurs to you: What are these professionals using? Which knife brands should I be looking at? While we all love a celebrity chef, let’s consider the local professionals that work hard to bring quality to your plate, whether you used a delivery method to eat at home, or you are dining in, you matter. In the same breath, the quality of their tools matter, it is easy to understand that a sharp knife... Read More

Hotel Luna Mystica Down in New Mexico at the foot of Wheeler peak and right next to the Taos Mesa Brewery Mothership stands a little-known hotel…if you want to call it that.  Hotel Luna Mystica is what they call it and it is an amazing place dotted with restored vintage trailers, campsites, and even trailer hookups if you bring your own. Trailer park? Not quite. At the risk of this place being overrun, let me tell you a little bit about it. The Best Winter Glamping Escape Close to Colorado Hotel Luna Mystica is an experience, to say the least, they have several restored vintage trailers... Read More

Thanksgiving kicks off weeks of eating, shopping, parties, and family gatherings. Most people feel a mix of joy and anxiety right before and during the holidays. Statistics show that up to 69 percent of people are stressed by lack of time, 69 percent are stressed by a lack of money, and 51 percent are stressed out about the pressure to give or get gifts. A British study examined people’s stress levels and other behavior during the holiday season. For anyone feeling less than on top of things, the turning point from mild to severe stress comes on December 18 and peaks on Christmas Day. According... Read More

I’ve never had much truck with communism. I was born in the 80’s and have only the faintest memory of the Berlin Wall coming down. My ultra-Conservative scholastic education impressed upon me that the only success of the Soviets and the “Red Chinese” (yes, that was the actual term used) was to slaughter and starve millions of people. This impression was not wrong; Stalin and Mao weren’t fun people at parties. And it left me with a deep distrust of anything labeled “The People’s,” whether that’s an army or an industry. Thus, it was with some skepticism that I learned that there’s... Read More

There’s a vast world of difference between a family movie and a kid’s movie. If you’re a) a parent or b) someone who spends a chunk of time around children, you know the difference immediately. But what is the difference? It’s a tricky concept, to be sure, and I think there’s a great deal of overlap between the two. I can hear you muttering under your breath, “Who cares? What difference does it make?” Here’s the thing about that, Disgruntled Reader Whom I Just Made Up — at some point in your life, you may be called upon to take a kid to a movie. Your enjoyment of the film may... Read More

Could you use some extra cash for the holidays? Are you active and consume cannabis? How about just active? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might qualify to participate in ongoing cannabis research right here in Colorado! There are several research studies being conducted throughout the state, and you can find one that fits you best. For any athletes out there who currently consume cannabis or haven’t consumed any cannabis products for the past 6 months, you could qualify for the cannabis activity study! The University of Northern Colorado Sport and Exercise Science Department... Read More

As I sit here looking at the aftermath of yet another successful Thanksgiving – a sink full of dishes, stretchy pants donned, and a can of cold cider in hand. I reflect on the next few weeks and wonder silently to myself, “How will I possibly work off my holiday indulgences and still enjoy my favorite beers?!” After I briefly panic at the thought of cutting my favorite brews out of my routine; a thought crosses my mind, “Why not incorporate my favorite breweries and beers into my workout routine?!” Genius. Here’s 3 ways to incorporate your favorite brewery into your post-holiday workout... Read More

Gillian Cummings is the Author of The Owl was a Baker’s Daughter, winner of the 2018 Colorado Prize for Poetry selected by John Yau, forthcoming this November from The Center for Literary Publishing at Colorado State University. I reached out to Gillian Cummings directly regarding her success, and she enthusiastically consented to an interview. About The Owl Was a Baker’s Daughter: The title The Owl was a Baker’s Daughter originates from a line spoken by Shakespeare’s Ophelia in Hamlet whose grief and guilt at which point have overwhelmed her into a sort of psychosis. The Owl was a... Read More