Indy - Aug. 9, 2023 Vol 31. No. 31

Sushi Row is painfully good — raising the ante in Smallorado Springs

EVERYBODY WELCOME?

Mayor Mobolade speaks at revival alongside transphobic religious leaders

Our mission is to deliver the truth, build community and engage citizens.

PUBLISHER

Fran Zankowski

COVER DESIGN BY Zk Bradley

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Bryan Grossman

MANAGING EDITOR Helen Lewis

COPY EDITOR Mary Jo Meade

SENIOR REPORTER Pam Zubeck

CULTURE REPORTER Nick Raven

INTERN Marynn Krull

CONTRIBUTORS

Rob Brezsny, Jim Hightower, Mike Littwin, Matthew Schniper, Tom Tomorrow, Andrew “Shaggy” Warren

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Nick Raven

THE WIRE

By Helen Lewis and Pam Zubeck

The

customers

as Colorado Springs’ long-awaited fourth Sprouts Farmers Market location opened for business at 7 a.m. Friday, Aug. 4. More than 5,600 people visited the 1720 S. Nevada Ave. store on its opening weekend, Pam Greene, Sprouts’ manager for Grand Openings, told the Indy. The 23,600-square-foot market anchors the north part of Creekwalk, the new neighborhood shopping center that runs alongside Cheyenne Creek in the South Nevada Avenue Urban Renewal Area. — HL

NO SEVERANCE DEALS

Mayor Yemi Mobolade, who took office June 6, has appointed four people to his staff under employment letters that contain no provision for severance pay.

Severance pay has been a controversial issue in city government since 2011, when the city’s first “strong mayor,” Steve Bach, paid more than $1 million to remove several department heads and others and replace them with his appointees.

Former Mayor John Suthers was no fan of severance and paid in only a handful of cases, but he did allow up to six months’ severance pay in contracts for his finance director Charae McDaniel and Chief of Staff Jeff Greene, if dismissed without cause.

Mobolade dismissed Greene after he was elected, and did not pay him severance, which was allowed under Greene’s employment letter “at the sole discretion of the mayor.”

According to records obtained by the Indy via the Colorado Open Records Act, the four Mobolade appointees without severance agreements are:

• Chief of Staff Jamie Fabos, who’s paid $235,000 annually, letter dated June 1.

• Executive Assistant to the Mayor Yemail Sanchez, $76,980, letter dated May 19, three days after Mobolade won the seat in the runoff election.

• Thomas Thompson, part-time community affairs adviser (0.75 full-time equivalent), $120,702, letter dated June 21.

• Sallie Clark, $138,736, senior community affairs adviser; letter dated July 24.

“Expected duration” of agreements with Clark and Sanchez runs until June 2027, the end of Mobolade’s term. The other two letters have no duration stated.

All four are not subject to the 40-hour workweek, meaning they are not paid overtime for extra hours. — PZ

ACLU FILES LOCAL LAWSUITS

ACLU of Colorado filed two federal lawsuits last week — one against the city of Colorado Springs, four officers and the FBI on Aug. 1, and another on Aug. 3 against the Woodland Park School District, its board and Superintendent Ken Witt.

The city case centers on claims that officers obtained “unjustified search warrants” for the private Facebook messages of the Chinook Center and all of Jacqueline “Jax” Armendariz Unzueta’s personal devices, including cell phone and laptop.

According to the complaint, in July 2021, during a housing rights march in Colorado Springs in which Armendariz Unzueta and Chinook Center members participated, CSPD officers “targeted” and arrested the activists for marching in the street and other minor violations. CSPD used the minor charges as the basis to execute “dragnet search warrants” against the plaintiffs, the complaint says.

CSPD also enlisted the help of the FBI to search and copy the contents of Armendariz Unzueta’s seized personal devices.

The lawsuit says the warrants “were part of a pattern and practice of unconstitutional actions intended to teach activists a lesson: Colorado Springs police would retaliate against political expression with dragnet warrants to chill free speech.”

CSPD declined to comment on the case, as is its practice.

The Woodland Park School District lawsuit was filed on behalf of district patron and former employee Logan Ruths, who was banned from district meetings and events for more than a year after making a sarcastic remark at a June 14 board meeting.

The ACLU contends the ban constitutes an infringement on Ruths’ First Amendment rights.

WPSD has made national and statewide headlines in recent months for gag orders on teachers, lack of transparency, and protests, after conservatives took a majority of board seats.

Ruths was fired from his district job in March after voicing concern about the district either withholding records or redacting them unnecessarily in responding to Colorado Open Records Act requests. WPSD officials didn’t respond to the Indy ’s request for comment.

See more details of both cases at csindy.com. — PZ

Matter of Record

Four Colorado Springs Police officers were disciplined in connection with a use-of-force incident during a traffic stop with Dalvin Gadson Ochoa last October that gave rise to a federal lawsuit. See more details at csindy.com.

Senate Bill 23-169, which raises the minimum age to purchase a firearm in Colorado from 18 to 21 years old, took effect on Aug. 8. Rocky Mountain Gun Owners has filed a lawsuit and is seeking a restraining order to bar enforcement of the law.

COVID cases are creeping up again. State data show 862 cases reported the week of July 23, the most recent available, which is the highest since mid-May but not as high as in midApril when 2,234 cases were reported. In El Paso County, there were 1,028 cases reported in April, 579 in May, 403 in June, and 459 in July, but a spokesperson says the figures don’t include home tests. State data show El Paso County has the highest number of cumulative cases in the state, at 241,259, and the highest number of deaths, at 2,297, over the duration of the disease.

The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments invites the public to take a short survey to assist in forming the 2050 long-range transportation plan for motor vehicles, transit, bicycles and pedestrians. Through Sept. 7, the survey is available at surveymonkey.com/r/PPACG_2050LRTP.

line of

snaked around the block

Pam Greene

I’M PONDERING GETTING MYSELF

banned from Sushi Row.

Nothing dramatic, like causing a scene. Just asking the owners to place me on an 86’d list, like how gambling addicts sign up for voluntary self-exclusion at casinos.

It’s that good. I live less than 2 miles away. I could spend all my money here. Seriously. All the money. It’s not cheap. That’s pretty much the first thing I hear out of anyone’s mouth who’s been there. The next thing they say? Well, people — those whose opinions I trust — say it’s worth it. (Sure, there are detractors elsewhere.)

Take it from me — someone who’s been tracking and writing about Smallorado Springs’ food scene for nearing two decades — there’s nothing else like this in town. Sushi Row has elevated the game.

It’s like a drug. Fitting for a place that offers caviar

In case you missed it in early May when I previewed the spot (at sidedishschnip.substack.com), Sushi Row hails from Riley and Jason Wallenta, co-owners of Dos Santos, Dos Dos and White Pie. They’ve partnered here with longtime chef and friend Zaya Altbish, formerly of Denver’s Sushi Sasa. He and his team hold extensive sushi knowledge and experience. Altbish himself has been at it more than 20 years, since he was 17. His second-in-command holds just as many years, I’m told.

THE VIBE

Where else have you heard hip-hop playing at a sushi restaurant?

Continuing the style of Dos Santos, which brought us Wu-Tang Wednesdays, Sushi Row merges cultures inoffensively and creates cool mashups that somehow make sense. Everything’s better to a beat.

As pricey as it is, Sushi Row’s far from pretentious

gives us excellent service.

Her knowledge is strong on everything we inquire about as we initially study the menus. We ask her to share her favorites and go with just about everything she suggests plus a couple personal choices. We don’t have regrets. (Yes my friends, a callback to one paragraph ago. Baller. I know.)

THE FOOD

We start with the Toro Tartare and Jalapeño Sashimi with a caviar bump.

Toro’s the fatty belly part of bluefin tuna, a prized cut that justifies its price. It’s rightly described as rich and buttery because of its soft, melty texture. You could have convinced me this fish was caught just hours ago, given how fresh and pure it tastes. The chive and daikon on top create a measured, sharp flavor pop against it and crisp, thin onion tuiles give a texture contrast as scoopers.

The Jalapeño Sashimi’s elegant plating — see it on this issue’s cover — is a striking use of negative space, drawing your eye toward one color-abundant part of the round plate, ponzu and shiso oil pooled in the center cavity. We’ve chosen hamachi (yellowtail tuna) over salmon as our protein, and the mild, delicate fish accepts the biting, spicy elements of the dish’s garnishes beautifully. The caviar’s burst of ocean brine rides atop the peppers’ earthy heat and tomato slivers punctuate with juicy acidity. A dip in the pool adds shiso astringency and citrus cleanness to the overall impact. Phenomenal bite.

Next up uni nigiri and something unique called Crispy Rice on the menu.

Uni (sea urchin) is called the ocean’s foie gras for good reason. It’s a textural treat that melts like ice cream over the tongue, with creaminess and faint sweetness in contrast to the pungent saltiness — all of which results in a one-stop umami punch. Well, two if you’re counting each piece at $11. (Read to the bottom to find out why I always order it when I see it, and what’s behind the “creamy” descriptor.)

Think of the Crispy Rice as rice’s equivalent to potato’s hash browns. The wad of rice underlying spicy tuna, spicy salmon and scallop gets caramelized to a superlative crispy/crunchy texture. What’s atop that is a creamy delight of layered fish flavors with soft avocado slivers and shichimi-dusted cucumbers garnishing. Spice level: perfectly medium. Dopamine release: high.

The single best tip we get from our bartender/ server Cleary is to order the Hamachi Kama. Why? Because we’ve shown up close enough to opening hours for it to be in stock. She tells us they literally only get two or three orders a night of this dish to sell. Go early or it’s gone.

Hamachi Kama is tuna collar, just below the fish’s head — like neck meat if fish had necks. (Man, would that be weird. I digress.) No surprise, it’s a coveted delicacy because it’s also higher in fat content. Are you seeing the trend, here?

Fat = fabulous flavor.

Sushi Row presents the dish with a Mexican-type treatment on a rough stone plate. A charred lemon half rests next to a saucer of ponzu with a pinch of grated daikon. The collar — with thick, pretty grill marks, its fins on, and ample sweet char flavor from the teriyaki glazing — zig zags across the plate’s center on top of a bamboo leaf.

My girlfriend says it reminds her of eating shark. I think of Northern Pike my buddy and I caught in Alaska on a canoe trip. We pick the fin area like a chicken wing and nibble cautiously around bones. The skin’s a particular treat. We taste some portions that remind us of unagi (eel). A tiny pocket of darker flesh evokes bone marrow’s richness. We’re all in, feeling like $22 is worth every penny on this one.

From a short list of sushi rolls, the Spicy Lucca Roll has my number. (Its number is 23, being the dollars it costs.) I wouldn’t rate it very spicy, but it’s not without a little zing and sting from lemon zest and

a dark pesto-looking Macho sauce. That’s composed with grilled jalapeños, shiso, cilantro, ponzu and salt, and adds ample brightness. The roll’s body consists of unctuous scallop segments with cucumber wrapped under hamachi and avocado slivers. I would skip any soy sauce dip on this one and enjoy the essence of each flavor undisturbed — fresh and light.

THE DRINKS

OK, so you can trust that I’m not giving Sushi Row a total BJ, I’m happy to report I’ve found room for improvement on the cocktail list. The ideas are good on paper, the execution needs final tweaking.

The Pretty Boy evokes a Whiskey Smash with the interesting but subtle addition of Ume plum liqueur along with IWAI 45 Japanese whisky. Its gold cup robs the potential impact of that liqueur’s butterfly pea-like color (in a way glass would highlight it). It’s fine, but doesn’t fully meet the $16 standard.

I would say the same about the Matcha-Rita, for which I had high hopes. When I see matcha on the menu I want to taste it more, if not prominently — not just view its color in the salted glass with a pretty blood orange garnish. I want to taste its astringent bitterness in contrast to a sweet mandarin flavor, both playing off Arette Tequila essence.

Cleary humors me with a side sipper of the matcha simple syrup they’ve made for the drink and that’s where I’d begin the adjustment toward more green tea taste. I pour it in my cocktail to see if it can get there without over-sweetening, but I break the balance. I think the drink can be brilliant, so I’d encourage the staff to revisit its mix.

Redemption and reassurance arrive with the Tokyo 23, though, an absolutely delightful blend of gin, yuzu extract and shiso simple syrup with a sparkling sake float. Highly botanical and citrusy with a touch of crisp effervescence, it sips in perfect harmony and acts in the most food-friendly manner with the sushi.

THE COST OF A GOOD TIME (FOR TWO)

Yeah, I could have skipped the caviar bump and uni nigiri and limited us to a single cocktail each, and left

Toro Tartare with daikon, chives and onion tuiles

Sushi Row gives Hamachi Kama thick grill marks and leaves the fins on, served with charred lemon.

Crispy Rice

Appetizers

AMERICAN

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Sea urchin — the ocean’s foie gras

➔ continued from p. 6

a little less than a $50 tip without being insulting. That would have reduced my out-the-door bill by about $60. In the end, though, I spent $265 all-in.

But I credit Sushi Row with exciting me enough, casting a spell, such that I stopped counting in my head and decided this was a moment to enjoy being alive. Don’t come here to skimp. Skip it until you’re ready to drop some bills. Special occasion or not. Pay the credit card later.

On our way out the door at meal’s end, I ask my girlfriend: “Hey, do you know any rich people that want to take me to dinner?”

Maybe I can work that specific clause into my request for Sushi Row to ban me. Like: “Let me in so long as someone else promises to pick up the tab.”

We step out into the warm summer night and agree that yes, we still have room in our bellies to hit Josh & John’s across the street. The ice cream is cold, and good.

RANDOM, RELATED THROWBACK

The reason I always tend to order sea urchin (uni) on any sushi menu where I see it is because of a very fond memory of visiting Santiago, Chile’s Central Market in 2011.

My friend, and former Indy food writer from the early aughts, David TorresRouff, took me there during my visit; he and his wife were in-country teaching at the time.

There was a fish stand inside the market selling fresh-caught sea urchin. We bought some and ate the gooey goodness right out of the spiky shell. Heavenly. Then, I came to learn that there’s a parasitic crab (named Echinoecus pentagonus) that lives inside the urchin’s rectum. David and the kiosk vendor told me that the crab’s a delicacy of sort, but one that you don’t swallow — you just chew and suck on it and get this juicy, one-of-a-kind flavor. At first, I thought they were fucking with me and about to play dupe-the-dumbass-tourist (get your cameras ready). But they weren’t. I went for it. It was weirdly epic. It kinda had a dill aftertaste. I can’t explain it.

Anyway, if you’re at all grossed out by the description of eating a crab out of a sea urchin’s butt, just know that the fabulous yum-yum you’re eating on top of that rice and seaweed wrap is actually the urchin’s gonads. That should give a new appreciation for the flavor descriptors of it being “creamy” and “custardy.” You’re welcome.

Matthew Schniper is the former Food & Drink editor and critic at the Indy. You can find expanded food and drink news and reviews at sidedishschnip.substack.com.

BIG TENT?

Mayor Mobolade speaks at “Fire and Glory” revival, alongside transphobic religious leaders

BY PAM ZUBECK | zubeck@csindy.com

IT’S NO SECRET THAT MAYOR

Yemi Mobolade is a former pastor who wears his faith publicly.

It’s also no secret that Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region host several far-right homophobic and transphobic churches, with leaders known for anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and far-right political activism.

What might be surprising is that Mobolade, elected as mayor in May, spoke alongside them at a Christian “revival” event last month.

Labeled the “Fire and Glory” tent revival, the four-day event started on July 16, as reported by the Colorado Times Recorder. (All quotes in this story on the event come from the Times Recorder report.)

The lineup at the revival included a MAGA pastor who has railed against both Sesame Street ’s Big Bird and “the left” as “demonic”; another speaker urging Christians to “rise up and vote for conservative candidates” in school board elections; and another who condemned what he called the “trans agenda” as “anti-Christian.” More on them later.

During his speech, which opened the event, Mobolade said, “Scholars believe that every 500 years is as though God is having a giant yard sale to shake up the church to get rid of its old stuff, its lessthan-desirable self, to free it from its cultural compromises and its political compromises so that new growth may occur.”

Asked to elaborate on what he meant by that remark, he tells the Indy in an emailed statement that he accepted the invitation to speak because “I am committed to being a mayor for all people.”

While several local churches known for their support of the LGBTQ+ community either couldn’t be reached or didn’t respond when asked to comment, one pastor issued a gentle rebuke, saying she wished Mobolade would “distance himself from the hateful rhetoric” that regularly streams from some of the Fire and Glory speakers.

THE EVENT WAS HELD JULY 16-19 in a big tent set up next to Church For All

Nations, located on Templeton Gap Road.

Among those who spoke was Lance Wallnau, who promotes the Seven Mountain Mandate (more on that below) and told the Fire and Glory crowd, “you can begin to ... rebuild the walls of culture so your children aren’t going to be drag-queened or transgendered.”

Another speaker was author Bill Federer, a senior fellow at the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship, founded by anti-LGBTQ megachurch leader D. James Kennedy.

Federer warned the audience against transgender people, saying, “They say, ‘Yeah if you’re a Christian you will be silent while we teach your kids the trans agenda,’” he said. “Question, would Jesus teach that? Jesus said he who made them at the beginning made them male and female, in the image of God, and yet they’re telling you to be silent while we teach your kids something Jesus would never teach the kids. Matter of fact, it’s an anti-Christian gospel — because if that behavior is not sin, arguably there are no sins, right? Sex outside of marriage, and if there’s no sins you don’t need a savior, so it’s undermining the entire gospel.”

Another speaker was MAGA pastor and faith healer Mario Murillo, who told the audience, “We need to break the demonic power of the left in Jesus’ name. The threat is a demonic system that overrules a free election for the enemy, and the threat is a concerted, well-funded, multi-layer media event to brainwash the next generation away from God.”

Last year, when Murillo appeared at a tent revival at Radiant Church, he said, “Get in that pulpit and destroy the witchcraft in Colorado Springs,” the Indy reported at the time.

Last month’s event was hosted by Radiant Church Pastor Todd Hudnall and Church For All Nations Pastor Mark Cowart. Both churches are more politically active than many local churches.

(The Indy reported earlier this year that Cowart’s church sued to assert it held rights to a site for an airplane hangar at Colorado Springs Airport; that cost

the church more than $750,000 in hangar-related payments and attorney fees, including those of the defendant. The church lost the case.)

Cowart serves on the board of directors of the Truth & Liberty Coalition, a nonprofit set up by evangelist Andrew Wommack, who’s built a compound in Woodland Park and claims the United States was “founded to be a Christian nation.”

The nonprofit’s purpose, its website says, is to “educate, unify and mobilize believers in Jesus Christ to affect [sic] the reformation of nations through the seven mountains of cultural influence” — family, religion, education, media, entertainment, business and government.

Cowart has openly preached that homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism are evil, saying during a sermon last February, as the Indy previously reported, “Once they stayed in the closet. And it’s out in the open now.” Cowart also said, “The reason we have all of these issues going on in America is the church has allowed it,” but now the church should “stop fooling around” and get “all hands on deck” to battle what he called evil forces.

COWART INTRODUCED MOBO

lade to give the opening remarks.

“Greetings and good morning. It’s a joy to be here,” the mayor said. “Here’s the beauty I walked into — an environment that’s full of so much energy so much joy so much unity. What do you expect when God’s people... get to get together? This is what it looks like, and this is what heaven looks like.... Friends, I believe that Jesus is introducing a new world order that is the ushering of his kingdom once again right here and right now.” He then quoted Jesus saying, “I will build my church and the powers of

evil and the powers of Darkness hell will not conquer it.”

Asked by the Indy about his appearance and his saying God would “free” the church from “cultural ... and political compromises,” Mobolade responded in a statement.

“My first vocation in this city was as a pastor with a work emphasis of activating the churches of Colorado Springs to move past the four walls of the church to serve the city with no strings attached. I accepted [the tent revival invitation] because I am committed to being a mayor for all people,” he wrote, noting he also spoke at the June 10 Pride Fest kickoff event.

His statement said his June 16 sermon was “not a political message,” but rather “an invitation back to the basics of what I believe the church needs to be. That is to love God, love our neighbors, forgive others, and love our adversaries.”

Lastly, his statement said, “We have to live in this tension or we risk becoming a myopic city that cannot benefit from diverse perspectives.”

Pikes Peak Pride didn’t respond to a phone call and email seeking comment. Nor did several local churches known for their inclusiveness provide a comment.

-

But the Rev. Anne Cubbage, pastor of Broadmoor Community Church, says via email that while she applauds Mobolade for wanting to be “mayor for all people,” she has reservations about his appearance at the revival.

“I can wish that he would distance himself from the hateful rhetoric that is used regularly by some of the speakers (outsiders) at this event,” Cubbage says. “And although his first call was as pastor, he needs and must remember that he is now mayor, not pastor, and his actions and thoughts should reflect that different focus in order to represent ‘all people.’”

I can wish that he would distance himself from the hateful rhetoric...

— Anne Cubbage

Mayor Yemi Mobolade on June 6, the day he took office

Sean Cayton

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SOFT LANDING

After losing her mayoral race but endorsing the winner, Clark lands a city job

BY PAM ZUBECK | zubeck@csindy.com

NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR

Yemi Mobolade announced July 31 he has hired one of the people who provided a key endorsement in his bid to outpoll career politician Wayne Williams in May’s mayoral runoff election.

Sallie Clark, 63, has been hired at a salary of $138,749 as the city’s government and military affairs adviser, effective Tuesday, Aug. 1.

“In this role, she will engage local, regional, state, and federal government partners, and lead the engagement strategy regarding military and veteran affairs from the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs,” the city said in a news release.

“As Colorado Springs continues to grow in both its footprint and prominence,” Mobolade said in the release, “it’s critical for our City to have a voice at the table where important decisions are being made and continue serving as a trusted partner for our military community.”

Mobolade, 44, noted Clark’s “extensive experience serving at varying levels of government.”

Clark served part of a term on City Council, served 12 years as a county commissioner and was president of the National Association of Counties toward the end of her county commission tenure.

After leaving office, she worked for then-President Donald Trump as an outreach person in his Department of Agriculture. In that role for USDA Rural Development for Colorado, she advocated for rural Coloradans by assisting communities through housing, business and community infrastructure programs. She was also a military spouse and has volunteered extensively with military organizations, the city said in a release, including the Home Front Military Network. Clark also runs a bed and breakfast on the city’s Westside.

Clark endorsed Mobolade, a political newcomer, former Colorado Springs

Chamber & EDC employee and business owner, on April 27 after she ran third in the April 4 election, behind Mobolade and Williams. Mobolade then claimed the seat in a May 16 runoff.

During her announcement in front of City Hall, Clark said, “Yemi is the only one in the race who will look at things with a fresh perspective, with a willingness to challenge the status quo.” She also noted his “values” most mirror hers, those being “to keep Colorado Springs beautiful into the future,” and to “find common ground on difficult issues.”

When Clark endorsed him, the Indy asked a campaign worker about any quid pro quo arrangements, and the worker said Mobolade had made no promises in exchange for any endorsement, including the one from Clark.

Asked about that after he announced her hire on July 31, Mobolade said in an emailed statement:

“Sallie’s experience and leadership at all levels of government, including local, state, federal and with the military is exactly what I need in this role. Democracy thrives through diverse perspectives, including the leadership experiences from my political opponents. In addition to adding Sallie to my team, I have invited Wayne Williams and [former Council President and mayoral candidate] Tom Strand to serve as volunteer advisors to my office. This was the political genius of Abraham Lincoln, a leader I deeply admire. By putting his rivals in his cabinet, Abraham Lincoln sharpened his own thinking, giving him access to a wide range of opinions, support, and help unifying the country. Just like Abe, I am building my own team of rivals.”

The city’s release said her appointment fills an existing “vacant position” in the mayor’s Office of Community Affairs. In response to a question from the Indy, the city said the vacancy was created by the departure of Jessie Kimber, who took a job with Colorado Springs Chamber.

Sallie’s experience and leadership

... is exactly what I need in this role.

— Mayor Yemi Mobolade

In the same release, the city announced the retirement of longserving Economic Development Officer Bob Cope, to whom Mobolade reported when he worked for the city from 2019 to 2022 as small business development administrator.

Cope’s last day is Sept. 2. He’s been with the city since 2008 and led the economic development division since 2011, shepherding the City for Champions tourism venture that’s constructed several major enterprises, including the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, the Bill Hybl UCCS Sports Medicine Complex, Robson Arena at Colorado College, Weidner Field in lower Downtown, and the Air Force Academy Visitors Center, the latter of which is not yet built.

“We thank Bob for his many years of excellent service,” the mayor said in a release. “He has brought wisdom, positivity, and constancy to the role and has seen us through a period of prosperity and record job growth and development. His dedication to the City for Champions initiatives was vital to the success of these five game-changing projects. There were long hours, many presentations to City Council and the community, and a lot of hard work and community-building efforts to bring these projects to life. We wish him the best in his next adventures.”

Mayor Yemi Mobolade and Sallie Clark at a July 31 news briefing about Colorado Springs’ retention of Space Command.

Courtesy city of Colorado Springs

PLAYING AROUND

WEDNESDAY, 8/9

Double Barrel, country/classic rock ; 6 p.m., Boot Barn Hall, bootbarnhallco. com.

Edith Makes a Paper Chain, “Gypsyinspired indie-folk”; 6:30 p.m., Front Range Barbeque, frbbq.com.

The Marshall Tucker Band, rock; 8 p.m., Pikes Peak Center, pikespeakcenter. com.

James McMurtry, rock/folk, Betty Soo, folk; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

School of Rock, acoustic; 7 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/jackquinns/ events.

Joe and Katie Uvegas, rock/folk/jazz; 6 p.m., Broadmoor Community Church, broadmoorchurch.org/music-ministry.

Triple Play, jazz; 6 p.m., Bear Creek Regional Park, communityservices.elpasoco.com.

WireWood Station, Americana; 6:30 p.m., Limbach Park, Monument, townofmonument.org.

THURSDAY, 8/10

Jeffrey Alan Band, variety; 6 p.m., ViewHouse, viewhouse.com/coloradosprings-events.

Chicago, rock; 7:30 p.m., Pikes Peak Center, pikespeakcenter.com.

Decrepit Birth, death metal, with Psycroptic, Victim Ritual; 7 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

Katie Hale & the P47s, classic/modern swing; 7:30 p.m., Summa, dizzycharlies.com/schedule.

Heavy Gratitude, “sentimental occult noise,” with Sex Funeral, Castration Pact, Seance; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

Living Dead Girl, heavy metal, with A Ronin’s Test, No Amnesty, Aligned in Ruins, LCFP; 6 p.m., Sunshine Studios, sunshinestudioslive.com.

Nerea the Fiddler, fiddle/stepdance; 7 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/ jackquinns/events.

Sicard Hollow, psychedelic punk-grass rock ; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs. com.

Tall Tall Trees, “psychedelic banjo joy,” with Surtz; 7 p.m., Brues Alehouse, Pueblo, bruesalehouse.com.

FRIDAY, 8/11

A Carpenter’s Daughter, mountain folk rock/Americana; 6 p.m., Buffalo

Lodge Bicycle Resort, bicycleresort. com.

Chris Duarte, “punk blues”; 7 p.m., Stargazers Theatre, stargazerstheatre.com.

Fayuca, reggae-rock/Latino, with P-Nuckle, Ghost.Wav; 7 p.m., Oskar Blues, coloradosprings.oskarbluesfooderies. com.

Jason Figz, one-man looping band; 7:30 p.m., Back East Bar & Grill – Briargate, backeastbarandgrill.com/briargateevents.

GEL, hardcore punk , with Truth Cult, Destiny Bond, Skull; 7 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

Mike Mains & The Branches, indie rock; 7 p.m., Brues Alehouse, Pueblo, bruesalehouse.com.

Paizley Park, Prince tribute; 6 p.m., Viewhouse, viewhouse.com/coloradosprings-events.

Michael Reese, rock; 9 p.m., Cleats Bar and Grill, facebook.com/CleatsBar/ events.

Soapdish, party/variety ; 8 p.m., Good Company Bar, goodcompanybar.com.

Sofakillers, dance/variety; 5 p.m., Boot Barn Hall, bootbarnhallco.com.

GR Swardson, rock; 8 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/jackquinns/events.

Tenderfoot Bluegrass Band, bluegrass; 6 p.m., Palmer Lake Town Hall Green, tinyurl.com/Tenderfoot2023.

SATURDAY, 8/12

Collective Groove, soul/funk/dance; 4 p.m., Gold Hill Mesa Community Center, goldhillmesa.com.

Colorado Floyd, Pink Floyd tribute; 7 p.m., Boot Barn Hall, bootbarnhallco. com.

The Crystal Swing Band, swing; 7 p.m., Unity Spiritual Center in the Rockies, tinyurl.com/UCR-swing.

The Eternal Temples, jam rock/space funk ; 7 p.m., Mash Mechanix, mashmechanix.com.

Fayuca, reggae-rock/Latino, with PNuckle, Ghost.Wav; 7 p.m., Brues Alehouse, Pueblo, bruesalehouse.com.

The Giving Moon, alt-rock, with Ozonic; 7 p.m., Oskar Blues, coloradosprings. oskarbluesfooderies.com.

Brandon Henderson, singer-songwriter; 7:30 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/ jackquinns/events.

Joe Johnson, country/rock/folk; 6 p.m., Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, bicycleresort.com.

Randall King, country; 6 p.m., Whiskey Baron Dance Hall & Saloon, tinyurl. com/whisk-dh.

Kirk Larson Trio, variety; 8 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch. com.

Black Joe Lewis, blues/soul/R&B ; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

Jared James Nichols, blues-rock; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

Nube Nueve, Latin jazz; 7 p.m., Jives Coffee Lounge, dizzycharlies.com.

Redraw the Farm, bluegrass/Americana/folk; 8 p.m., Mother Muff’s, shopoldcoloradocity.com.

Run With Scissors, rock; 7 p.m., Stargazers Theatre, stargazerstheatre.com.

Soapdish, party/dance variety ; 6 p.m., Trainwreck, trainwreckco.com.

Velvet Hills Chorus: Women of Note, choral variety ; 2 p.m., Ent Center for the Arts, velvethills.org/events.

SUNDAY, 8/13

Nash Daniels, punk/bluegrass; 5 p.m., Goat Patch Brewing, goatpatchbrewing.com.

Steve Langemo, variety; 1 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com.

The Mountain Grass Unit, bluegrass, with Timberline Troubadours, Manitou Strings; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs. com.

No Lungs, rock , with One Of These Nights, Get the Axe; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

Traditional Irish Music ; 3 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/jackquinns/ events.

Truck Pussy, hardcore, with Spit; 7 p.m., Dog House; doghousecos.com.

MONDAY, 8/14

Jason Crowe Bass Extravaganza, jazz; 6 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com.

Left Lane Cruiser, blues-rock , with Gasoline Lollipops, Grant Sabin; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusidownstairs.com.

Little London Winds: People’s Choice, wind ensemble; 7 p.m., Soda Springs Park, Manitou, littlelondonwinds.org/ concerts/2023/summer.html.

LOOK’EE HERE!, blues/jazz ; 6 p.m., Green Mountain Falls Gazebo Island, discoverutepass.com/monday-musicseries.

The Short-TERM, indie rock, Twin Archer, “experimental dream noise rawk”; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

Phoenix-based reggae-rock/Latino band Fayuca plays Oskar Blues here Friday and Pueblo’s Brues Alehouse Saturday night.

Courtesy Fayuca

PLAYING AROUND

TUESDAY, 8/15

Peak Big Band, jazz; 6 p.m., Bancroft Park, occpartnership.org. Viewfinder, indie rock, with Oyarsa, The Acharis, Grimmly; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

WEDNESDAY, 8/16

Academy Jazz Ensemble, jazz; 6 p.m., Bear Creek Regional Park, tinyurl.com/ elpasoparkconcerts.

Al Chesis, blues; 7 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/jackquinns/events. Collective Groove, funk/soul/rock; John Wise & Tribe, New Orleans R&B/ blues/jazz/island; Brandon Henderson, singer-songwriter; 6 p.m., Hillside Gardens, hillsidecolorado.com/ upcoming-events.

Countywyde, bluegrass; 6:30 p.m., Front Range Barbeque, frbbq.com.

The Dave Matthews Tribute Band; 7 p.m., Brues Alehouse, Pueblo, bruesalehouse.com.

ZookRaught, alternative/indie, with Sponge Cake, Glitter Porn; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

THURSDAY, 8/17

Frog and Fiddle, folk; 8 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, armadilloranch.com.

Kevin McDeviant, Celtic rock; 6:30 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/jackquinns/events.

Alex Williams, R&B/soul/country ; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

X-Raided, hip-hop/rap; 7 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

BIG GIGS

Upcoming music events

The Strokes, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 14

Beck and Phoenix, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 15-16

Foreigner, Ball Arena, Denver, Aug. 16

Weyes Blood, Boulder Theatre, Boulder, Aug. 16

Alex Williams, Vultures, Aug. 17

Mt. Joy, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 17-18

Dominic Fike, Mission Ballroom, Denver, Aug. 18

Leo Kottke, Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder, Aug. 18

Sam Smith, Ball Arena, Denver, Aug. 18

Reggae on the Rocks, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 19

Jess Williamson, Lulu’s, Aug. 19

Singer-songwriter/upright bass player Amy LaVere joins musician husband Will Sexton at Lulu’s on Sept. 12.

Satsang, Fox Theatre, Denver, Aug. 9

The Marshall Tucker Band, Pikes Peak Center, Aug. 9

James McMurtry, Lulu’s, Aug. 9

Maggie Rogers, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 9

William Beckmann, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 10

Chicago, Pikes Peak Center, Aug. 10

Decrepit Birth, Black Sheep, Aug. 10

The Pharcyde, Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver, Aug. 10

The National, Mission Ballroom, Denver, Aug. 11

Jon Pardi, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 11

Black Joe Lewis, Lulu’s, Aug. 12

Slightly Stoopid, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 12-13

THE U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC EXPERIENCE

ONLY RIGHT HERE IN OLYMPIC CITY USA! Take a tour of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center and get a glimpse of the day in the life of a Team USA Athlete training for Olympic and Paralympic glory. Want the full Olympic & Paralympic experience? Check out the Podium Package and save big on visiting the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum here in Colorado Springs!

For more details: www.TeamUSA.org/PodiumPackage

Ed Sheeran, Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Aug. 19

THE SIDS 40th Anniversary Dance Party, Lulu’s, Aug. 19

Wildermiss, Black Sheep, Aug. 19

Santa Fe Klan, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 20

Bastardane, Black Sheep, Aug. 22

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 22-23

The Acacia Strain, Black Sheep, Aug. 23

Pantera, Lamb of God , Ball Arena, Denver, Aug. 23

Five Finger Death Punch, Weidner Field, Aug. 25

Gavin DeGraw, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, Aug. 25

Corey Taylor, Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, Aug. 25

Ziggy Alberts, Boulder Theater, Boulder, Aug. 25

Rupert Wates, Lulu’s, Aug. 25

My Morning Jacket, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Aug. 25-26

Lil Durk, Ball Arena, Denver, Aug. 26

Continued at csindy.com

Courtesy Amy LaVere

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center

Your guide to events in the Pikes Peak region CALENDAR

ART EVENTS

“Your Cake/Rituals,” “In this exploratory storytelling performance, Dillavou speaks on femininity, desirability, the rituals set by machismo parameters and the celebration of change. Cake and razors, Champagne and guitar riffs, feminist n’ freaky. Afterwards, guests are welcome to stay for questions and to enjoy the exhibition in the space.” Saturday, Aug. 12, 6:30 p.m.; True North Art Gallery, 31 E. Bijou St.; tinyurl.com/Jasmine-cake.

Mountain Artists Festival, “a heaping dose of local and national art talent, live music, face painting, and some great local eats.” Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 12 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Aug. 13, (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Memorial Park, 200 N. Park St., Woodland Park; tinyurl.com/wp-mountain.

ART EXHIBITS

45º Gallery, 2528 W. Colorado Ave., Suite B, 719-434-1214, 45degreegallery.com.

Gourd artist Dawn Healy and painter Michelle Lopez.

Academy Art & Frame Company, 7560 N. Academy Blvd., 719-265-6694, academyframesco.com, How Do You See God?

— works by artists of “all faiths and beliefs, as well as all media, all ages, and 2D or 3D works.” Through August.

Art 1eleven Gallery, 111 E. Bijou St., 719-

WHEN YOU’RE SERIOUS ABOUT REAL ESTATE

493-5084, facebook.com/Art1elevenGallery. Large-scale abstract oil paintings by Bill Stone.

The Bridge Gallery, 218 W. Colorado Ave., #104, 719-629-7055, thebridgeartgallery. com. Clayprints, monoprints created by using clay as the printing medium, by Michael Cellan, Mary Lynn Baird, Tracy Frickey, Allie Moore, Kate Dulaney, Tamara Folven Andersen, Katy Irvin, Miki Reddy, Cindy Migliaccio, Clyde Tullis, Sandy Kinnee and Tiffany Yeats. Through Aug. 26.

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., 719634-5581, fac.coloradocollege.edu. Solo(s): Krista Franklin. Franklin “creates books, poetry, collages, handmade paper, installations, murals, performances, sound works, sculptures, and lectures.” Through Dec. 16. In Conversation: Krista Franklin and Ionit Behar, Thursday, Aug. 31, 6 p.m. FAC museum free days, Aug. 12 and 18.

Commonwheel Artists Co-op, 102 Cañon Ave., Manitou Springs, 719-685-1008, commonwheel.com. 12 Hands: Works in Clay by six Bemis School of Art ceramic instructors who “share the joys of the many facets of the ‘mother earth’ medium — clay.” Through Aug. 28.

Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E. Colorado Ave., 719-520-1899, cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com. Animal, Veg-

etable, Mineral, a juried show by artists from the Pikes Peak region and beyond who were asked “ to study their subject with a faithful eye, showing us a glimpse of modern life, culture, and/or experience. The goal is to communicate essential qualities that get at the ‘real’ and not the ‘ideal.’” Through Aug. 26.

Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, 121 S. Tejon St., #111; facebook.com/ artsculturefun. Stone Boats, O Vases, and Other Fleeting Things, “freshly created stoneware ceramic pieces by local artist and educator Jeremiah Houck. Featured items include wheel-thrown vases, sculpted treasure chests, and a small armada of wall floated sushi serving vessels.” Through Aug. 25.

G44 Gallery, 121 E. Boulder St., 720-9510573, g44gallery.com. Suz Stovall: A Conversation with Color (photo, opposite). Memento by Felicia Kelly, “who works mainly with ‘traditional women’s craft’ mediums with a current focus on collage. Inspired by Victorian photocollage she almost exclusively uses second-hand, used, and upcycled materials.... She loves exploring the vast stories and histories within the pages of used books and revels in their potential for creating something new.” Artist talk Aug. 17, 5:30 p.m.; through Aug. 25.

Gallery 113, 125½ N. Tejon St., 719-6345299, gallery113cos.com. August’s show features Karen Standridge’s contempo -

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rary abstract paintings, and works by Mary Sexton, a rural-landscape painter working in pastels.

The Garfield Gallery, 332 E. Willamette Ave., 719-227-8836, garfieldgallery.com. Playtime by Jeffrey Allan Rozell. Using photos of ’90s-era Playboy and Playgirl models “to envelop the awareness of fleeting beauty,” the exhibit “ serves as a time capsule of exuberance that blends the body with disorder, color, and an occasional unclear form. We live in our skin as it fades with us.”

GOCA (Galleries of Contemporary Art, UCCS), Marie Walsh Sharpe Gallery, Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., gocadigital.org. Caesura, “Martha Russo’s genre-defying body of work is experienced as an exercise in contradiction. Upon first encounter, her sculptural investigations appear at once fragile and potentially dangerous, cautioning one away while hypnotically drawing one in — ever closer — for intimate examination.” Through Dec. 2.

Kreuser Gallery, 125 E. Boulder St., 719464-5880, kreusergallery.com. Curse You, Tiny Paintings: “Through a collection of 100 miniature oil paintings, artist Chris Alvarez invites viewers into a world that weaves together his life experiences and his deep connection to the landscapes of Colorado, New Mexico, and New England.” In Master Copies — “a curated selection of

Beautiful 5.25 acre lot in a small gated community called Rainbow Ridge with only 9 parcels.

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ART EXHIBIT

Suz Stovall: A Conversation with Color : “Manipulating layers of paint to reveal themselves, I allow the paint to be in control and be authentic. Once I understood how to let go and take each day as it was dealt, I became a much happier artist.” G44 Gallery, 121 E. Boulder St., 720-9510573, g44gallery.com.

master copy paintings,” Alvarez “takes on the role of interpreter, allowing us to experience the artistic vision and technique of iconic artists.” Neon Arcade, new works by Colorado Springs native Jon Francis: “I am currently focused on painting urban landscapes as a way to record, preserve, and savor what has shaped my childhood and shaped Colorado. The old, the rusted, the abandoned have a beauty all their own.”

Through Aug. 25; artist talks Wednesday, Aug. 16, 5:30 p.m.

LightSpeed Curations, 306 S. 25th St., 719-308-8389, lightspeedart.art. Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop, with works by Brian Tryon, Johnny Larson, Dreamscaper, Elizabeth Juvera and more.

The Look Up Gallery, 11 E. Bijou St. (inside Yobel), thelookupgallery.com. City Series, a solo show by Clay Ross: “11 large-scale paintings of Colorado Springs from a townie’s perspective.”

Manitou Art Center, 513/515 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, 719-685-1861, manitouartcenter.org. Father & Son, a commemoration of the life’s work of photographer Cris Pulos, who died in 2022, and a celebration of new work by Nikos Pulos.

The Peake Gallery, 14 S. Tejon St. (inside The Perk Downtown), instagram.com/ Peake_Gallery. Second Friday celebration with a solo show by Aurora artist Ryan Secora upstairs and a quarterly group show on the first floor, music by DJ Gravity, and an art table where creativity can happen. Aug. 11, 4:30-6 p.m.

Portraits of Manitou by C.H. Rockey, features original town views and significant historical buildings. Manitou Springs Heritage Center, 517 Manitou Ave.; manitouspringsheritagecenter.org; through November.

Surface Gallery, 2752 W. Colorado Ave., 719-359-6966, surfacegallerycos.com. Ordinary Fields, “paintings by Betony Coons exploring Midwestern iconography in richly storied environments both personal and collective.” PARTS, new abstract works by Jes Moran, “explores the multifaceted identities in a world that often de-

mands simplicity. It serves as a reminder that we are not defined by a single label or limited to a singular narrative.” (Artist talks for Moran and Coons, Aug. 26, 11 a.m.) Connections: a Fibers Exhibition by Art Quilters With Altitude: “Our futures are frequently based on the foundations laid by our previous connections. Sometimes, we’re the catalyst for these welds. Other times, we’re the result.” Through Aug. 26.

True North Art Gallery, 31 E. Bijou St., 210-842-2476, truenorthartgallery.com. New work by 18 local artists.

UCCS Downtown, 102 S. Tejon St., downtown.uccs.edu/our-space. The Urban Animalz, a themed group art exhibition

ZoneFIVE, 1902 E. Boulder St., zonefivecs.com. Idiom: Works by Warren Arcila, “a collection of paintings, drawings, and sculptures created throughout the years.” Through August.

KIDS & FAMILY

Colorado Blaster Bash, an all-day outdoor foam dart tag event (with, of course, a bevy of costumed zombies). Three sessions: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2-5 p.m., or the “epic all out battle” Zombie Attack fight from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11; Weidner Field, 111 W. Cimarron St; see tinyurl.com/ blaster-weid for tickets and more.

Cool Science: The Magic of Harry Potter, “[l]evitate feathers and other objects; Look into the Mirror of Erised; taste Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans; find out what Hedwig has eaten; use the Sorcerer’s Stone to turn pennies into gold.” Saturday, Aug. 26., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; general admission required; Space Foundation Discovery Center, 4425 Arrowswest Drive; tinyurl.com/cs-harryp.

Once Upon a Sign: ASL Storytime, “early literacy activities and stories signed in American Sign Language by a deaf role model, and spoken aloud in English.”

Thursday, Aug. 17, 9:30-10:30 a.m., PPLD’s Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Drive; lpowers@ppld.org, librarymarket.com/onceupon-sign-asl-storytime-8.

Summer Family Day, Saturday, a history fest including Palmer Lake Historical Society, Colorado Military History Group, Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and more, plus costumed interpreters, a soap-box derby, gold panning, blacksmithing demonstration, hay rides, barbecue and more. Aug. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Western Museum of Mining and Industry, 225 North Gate Blvd.; 719-488-0880, wmmi.org.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Donkey Derby Days, a parade, live music, races, a Friday night street dance, vendors and a beer tent are basic components of this annual homage to the town’s resident donkey herd. Friday-Sunday, Aug. 11-13; Cripple Creek; see visitcripplecreek. com/event/donkey-derby-days for a full schedule.

Courtesy G44 Gallery

Soccer, Flag Football, Lacrosse, and So Much More Colorado

Springs Premiere Sports & Events Facility!

• Year Round Adult & Youth Indoor Soccer leagues.

• Award winning Upper 90 Tavern serving some of the best food & brews in the Springs.

• Year round youth sports camps & programs.

• Host to a variety of special events and activities for the community

• Available for birthday parties, group outings, corporate events and trainings, and so much more!

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE WANTED

➔ continued from p. 13

Black Forest Festival, it all starts with a beer garden fundraiser for the Black Forest Community Center “Love the Logs” project, Friday, Aug. 11, 6:30-9 p.m. Saturday’s fest, from morning to late afternoon, includes a pancake breakfast, parade, booths, a children’s entrepreneur market, beer garden, live music, pony rides, tractor rides, kids’ crafts, and demonstrations of beekeeping, goat milking, chainsaw carving and other rural pursuits. See tinyurl.com/BF-2023fest for a full schedule.

Music on the Mesa, a free family- and pet-friendly fest with food trucks, vendors, beer and wine, a car show, kids’ activities, and funk and soul dance music by Collective Groove. Saturday, Aug. 12, 4-7 p.m. (bring a blanket/lawn chair); Gold Hill Mesa, 142 S. Raven Mine Drive; tinyurl. com/ghm-music.

On the Road: Elevating Youth Voices in the Pikes Peak Region, a discussion and Q&A, part of Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum’s 2023 lecture series. With Tom Shepard and Mari Moxley of the Youth Documentary Academy and UCCS’ Dr. Nadine Boljkovac. Saturday, Aug. 12, 1:30 p.m.; Ent Center, 5225 N. Nevada Ave.; free, but register at tickets.entcenterforthearts.org/4534/4535.

Colorado Lowrider Super Show, “custom and classic cars, trucks, motorcycles, bikes and more from throughout the Southwest!” Saturday, Aug. 12, 11 a.m.; Broadmoor World Arena, 3185 Venetucci Blvd.; see tinyurl.com/lowride-cs for tickets and more info.

Happy Trails BBQ Fundraiser, “join El Paso County Nature Centers for an evening of great food, music, wine, incredible desserts and friends.... Support the nature centers and the future Fox Run Nature Center!” Friday, Aug. 18, 6-9 p.m.; $50, $300/table; 245 Bear Creek Road; 719-520-6387, see tinyurl.com/coparksfundraiser for tickets.

Manitou Springs Heritage Brew Festival, an afternoon of (unlimited) craft beer

ART EXHIBIT

Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight is “the story of African Americans who, despite facing tremendous racial barriers, attained amazing achievements in aviation history. ... several stories and artifacts from local Tuskegee Airmen will be on exhibit to highlight the many Black heroes in our community.” Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; free; Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum Annex, Plaza of the Rockies, 121 S. Tejon St., #100; cspm.org.

tastings from 20+ breweries, along with live music and vittles from local vendors. Saturday, Aug. 19, 1-5 p.m.; Memorial Park, 502 Manitou Ave., manitouspringsheritagecenter.org/heritagebrewfest.

THEATER

The Odd Couple, Neil Simon’s classic comedy about divorced sportswriter Oscar who moves in with finicky Type A Felix and funny things happen. FridaysSundays, Aug. 11-20; First United Methodist Church, see tinyurl.com/FUMC-OddCouple for times/tickets and more info.

SPRINGS ENSEMBLE THEATRE’S SEASON 14 LINEUP

All shows will take place at SET’s new space at The Fifty-Niner, 2409 W. Colorado Ave.; facebook.com/springsensembletheatre:

• Midge and the Butcher (Sept. 28-Oct. 15), written by SET’s Quinn Smola — “Midge, a recently out trans teen, has been having some troubles with a former-friend-turned-bully.”

• The Seafarer (Nov. 30-Dec. 17) — “It’s Christmas Eve in Dublin, Ireland. In the rundown house where Sharky cares for his blind brother, old acquaintances gather for a card game — joined by an ominous stranger.”

• Annapurna (Feb. 1-18) — “After 20 years apart, Emma tracks Ulysses to a trailer park in the middle of nowhere for a final reckoning.”

• Proof (April 11-28) — “On the eve of her 25th birthday, Catherine, a troubled young woman, has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions.”

• Ripcord (June 6-23) — “A sunny room on an upper floor is prime real estate in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, so when the cantankerous Abby is forced to share her quarters with new-arrival Marilyn, she has no choice but to get rid of the infuriatingly chipper woman by any means necessary.”

Courtesy CSPM

RULES

From Aug. 2 to Sept. 5, vote for your favorites to determine who is the Best Of Colorado Springs! Fill out this ballot or vote online at csindy.com. Vote in at least 20 categories for your vote to count. Winners will be announced in the Best Of magazine inserted in the Oct. 25 Indy !

BACK TO BASICS:

1. One ballot per reader, including online. All paper ballots must be postmarked by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5; online ballots must be submitted before midnight Sept.

5. Paper ballots must be sent via U.S. Postal Service. Faxed, handdelivered or photocopied ballots will not be accepted.

2. You must vote in at least 20 categories for your ballot to count.

3. For verification purposes, ALL BALLOTS MUST INCLUDE NAME, ZIP CODE AND A VERIFIABLE EMAIL ADDRESS.

4. If we can’t read it, it doesn’t count. Spell check is a thing; please use it.

5. Take time to review this year’s categories. Some are new. Some are gone. Quick heads-up — there must be at least three businesses operating in a given category in order for that category to appear on our ballot.

6. Cheaters never prosper so don’t even think about it. We see you and you’ll be excommunicated from future Indy love.

All fields required NAME CITY STATE ZIP

EMAIL

Mail completed ballot to: Best Of Colorado Springs · Colorado Springs Independent 235 S. Nevada Avenue., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 · Or vote online at csindy.com

When categories specify a region (North, South, East, West, Downtown), vote based on these boundaries in order for your vote to be valid: North/South dividing line: Pikes Peak Avenue.; East/West dividing line: Cascade Avenue.; Downtown: between Uintah Street and Fountain Boulevard and from Wahsatch Avenue to I-25.

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Hail CAESURA!

GOCA and the Ent Center welcome Martha Russo’s massive new organic exhibit

BY NICK RAVEN | nick@csindy.com

CAESURA IS A BIT LIKE TOURING A beached whale: It’s massive, it’s out of the ordinary, it’s a bit macabre, and it invites vast quantities of questions and speculation. The new exhibit by Colorado-based artist Martha Russo — presented by the UCCS Galleries of Contemporary Art at Ent Center for the Arts — has been nearly a decade in the making.

It’s a feast for the imagination — from the organic appendages piled up on the patio made of erosion-controlling wattles to the massive “logs” in the exhibition space that appear to be covered in fungi, sea anemone tentacles or Barbie doll legs.

“The interpretations are great,” Russo says. “It depends on where you grew up. If you grew up on the coasts, you see more ocean. If you grew up in the middle of the country or away from the coast, it’s all prairie grass and logs. I love it because it brings people back to who they are.”

The title Caesura — which are the breaks in poetic

The experiments of Caesura

lines or sentences — sets the stage for the exhibit’s five large artistically dense “pieces” that stand alone while carrying simple names. Beyond an artist statement and exterior branding flanked by wallborne wattles, there’s nothing explicitly stated.

The works here — large, small, singular or plural and many handpicked from hundreds of failures — are experiments in material and biological study.

The bellies of “pensum” are swollen transparent acrylic embedded in the wall, casting fascinating shadows. Inspired by California redwoods, the massive dual “logs” of “lacuna” are placed in a way that implies metaphorical loggers would have to use a chainsaw to keep the trail open.

Caesura also dares you to explore traditional mediums in new ways. When you think of ceramic art, it’s easy to recline into thoughts of drink- and cook-ware or domestic pottery, rather than the multitude of petri dishes of “incubo” that reveal themselves as abstract artistic experiments. With the pandemic shrouding the exhibit’s lengthy creation process, you can gaze upon fictional biology that’s succeeded and failed as you tour its glass-tabled span. Every piece is the result of some kind of chemical experiment built on Russo’s experience working with the medium. While the fringes of “incubo” feature smoother, colorful dishes, the corner is anchored by its largest: an ugly and fractured experiment that resembles some terrible failure of man or nature. Because of their unique compositions, Russo couldn’t replicate these works even if she tried.

“I try to create these things called eutectics,”

she says. “You know what copper oxide will do and you know what silica slip will do, but when you put them together it can [chemically] alter the two of them and they’re unrecognizable.”

As you work your way around the room, Russo presents “chute” — a metal chute with what look like the crafted remains of a youthful spine (functionally described as and literally made from sponges) alongside cartilage and tendons representing her aging body and a lifetime of injuries. She says it might be the most literal work she’s ever done.

“By titling it ‘chute,’” she says, “it’s like I’m giving you a break.”

With a dream of becoming a medical professional and even an Olympic field hockey player before a knee injury ended her career, she takes great care in studying anatomy and asking questions, especially about her own medical procedures. It’s interesting then that her abstract, accidental work resembles the precision of the biomechanics she studies so closely.

“I feel like I’m kind of a fake scientist, fake doctor in a way,” she says.

The show — from the wattles lounging in the Ent Center’s upper atrium (that have apparently become great conversation starters among those auditioning for Theatreworks shows) to those swollen transparent bellies — is the product of weeks of execution after nearly a decade of planning and research representing the lifetime of the artist.

Throughout the exhibit, it’s easy to feel both the joy of physical biology as well as its gritty realism through its interesting, experimental abstraction. It can be beautiful and grotesque in the way that the natural world can be, balanced entirely by the observer’s biases. It’s Russo’s hope that these works — filled with vast, fractal-esque levels of incidental detail — engage the viewer at deep levels, inspiring curiosity.

In the end, those ceramic fingers that look like sea anemone tentacles to some are just going to look like Barbie doll legs to others.

IF YOU GO

Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Ave.; through Dec. 2; see tinyurl.com/gocacaesura for more info.

I feel like I’m kind of a fake scientist, fake doctor in a way.

— Martha Russo

log? A reef? What is it? The exhibit’s not telling...

NickRaven

FAIR AND UNBALANCED

By Mike Littwin Courtesy The Colorado Sun

themselves Trumpist, and yet a majority of those say they may vote for him.

Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign is built on twin premises — relitigating the Big Lie of the 2020 election while delaying his trials until he could possibly return to office. If he is nominated, as it appears he will be, and somehow wins, I don’t think he would try to crown himself instead of taking the oath, although he might. But he definitely would appoint a servile attorney general willing to toss out all the cases. And if that failed, he’d try to pardon himself in the federal cases anyway, in what would be one more unfunny chapter in the Trump clown show.

AND THE STAGE SEEMS TO GROW BY THE day. It’s one thing, as Trump has said so often, to promise to drain the so-called Washington swamp. But now Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump’s putative leading rival in the GOP primary, is running against Trump by raising the ante, promising to “start slitting the throats” of Washington bureaucrats, which is even harsher than his plan to shoot unconvicted border-crossing drug dealers “stone cold dead.”

THE CONVICT IN CHIEF?

IF YOU’VE READ THE NEWSPAPER RECENTly or watched any cable TV news that isn’t on Fox or Newsmax, you must know the extent of legal jeopardy in which Donald Trump now finds himself. I mean, after his third indictment in four months, it’s looking ever more likely that the former guy could actually someday go to prison, where he would finally be held to account and might even be forced to change his dietary regimen from Mar-a-Lago cheeseburgers to, uh, jailhouse cheeseburgers.

But while an ex-president going to prison would be unprecedented and might well make it more difficult for Trump to return to the White House — although not necessarily to the presidency, which he could presumably handle from inside a prison cell if elected again, as he might very well be — that’s not the most critical question facing America.

The real question is: Who is in greater trouble, Donald Trump or the rest of us?

I’d say it’s a close call. At this stage, I’m leaning toward the rest of us, those who have to live with the idea that their country could possibly elect not just a twice-impeached, thrice-indicted carny-barking demagogue, but also a convicted felon, as president.

And not just any convicted felon, but one charged with undermining American democracy itself, which you’d think might be a disqualifier for the job.

Of course, he has been undermining democracy for years, and yet he’s been elected once and received 73 million votes in the election he lost. This year, he’s running away with the GOP primary while employing his full range of ugly rhetoric, even calling special counsel Jack Smith a “crackhead,” and suggesting that it might have been him — if it wasn’t the Bidens — who left the cocaine at the White House.

But it’s not the outlandish Trump that’s most concerning. If he’s elected again, it would mean that his long-running campaign to sow distrust in an unending list of American norms and institutions would have scored a huge and possibly enduring victory.

I don’t expect Trump’s base — something like four in 10 Republicans — to ever abandon him. But another 40 percent of Republicans — those somewhere in the middle of the right-leaning party — say they don’t consider

Trying to out-Trump Trump is at least a strategy. Thinking you can do it by trying to out-Stalin Stalin is something different.

And that’s what should worry us. It’s bad enough that 69 percent of Republicans still say they believe, against all evidence, that Biden’s 2020 victory wasn’t legitimate. It’s bad enough that more than half of Republicans say they favor Trump in the GOP primary or, crazier still, that 71 percent say Trump hasn’t “committed serious federal crimes.”

Then there’s this: According to the latest New York Times/Siena poll, Trump and Biden are tied. You don’t have to imagine it. Just read the numbers.

No wonder Trump and his lawyers believe that he can beat the charge that he conspired to overturn the election. His lawyers insist Trump actually believed that he had won, despite all those, including just about every lawyer in the White House, who repeatedly told him he hadn’t. If a majority of Republicans can believe it, why couldn’t Trump? (There are a lot of reasons why, but consider that a rhetorical question.)

By now, we understand Trump’s hold on many of the red-hatted MAGA cultists. He tells them at every turn that he is the victim of the Biden crime family, of fake news, of crooked judges, of crackhead prosecutors, of commie socialists, of RINOs, and the list goes on.

And then he says that if they can come after him, a former president, they can come after anyone — including you. For eight years now, we’ve heard the cheers from those who believe they’ve been overlooked, passed by, marginalized and in need of someone to give the finger to any and all perceived enemies. We’ve heard the cheers as Trump gives permission to embrace prejudice and bigotry as he invites white nationalists to dine with him.

The real question is: Who is in greater trouble, Donald Trump or the rest of us?

Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

Once Trump said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a vote. He’s taken that concept another step. Every time he’s indicted, his poll numbers go up. In fact, as he headed to the New York courtroom the other day, he wrote this on his social media site: “I just need one more indictment to ensure my election.”

As you probably know, that fourth indictment is probably coming soon from Georgia for Trump’s effort to bully officials to find him 11,000 votes he needed to win but never received.

As Nate Cohn wrote in The New York Times recently, the MAGA base doesn’t support Trump in spite of his flaws, or even, as I’d say, because of his flaws, but because they don’t believe he has any flaws. And because they don’t believe Trump has flaws, Trump’s many Washington enablers, including many in the field running against him, are afraid to say otherwise.

So, we know about Trump. What if it’s not just Trump? What if all that distrust and disaffection is not just about a cult, but has become systemic? What if a Republican Party that has lost its way to Trump gives way to a Trumpism without Trump? That’s what the distrust numbers seem to say. After all, Trump didn’t just come from nowhere. There was a Richard Nixon. There was a Pat Buchanan. There was a Newt Gingrich.

But for now, there’s Trump and, if you believe the early polls, no one else. Special counsel Smith has produced a lean indictment on Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election, one suited for a quick trial. The trial judge seems inclined to go along with that.

If that happens, Trump could be convicted before the election in November. Would Trump voters have second thoughts? Could he still win? If he could, if the nightmare came true, here’s where we’d be. Trump would be the convict in chief and the rest of us the ones deeply in trouble.

Mike Littwin’s column was produced for The Colorado Sun, a reader-supported news organization committed to covering the people, places and policies of Colorado. Learn more at coloradosun.com.

*Pricing is shown as PRE-TAX. Cannabis tax will be added at checkout.

Not only has Amnet been recognized ten times as the Best IT Firm by Colorado Springs Business Journal readers and made its way into Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado’s Excellence in Customer Service Hall of Fame — They also have the cutest dog!

Two right-wing haters

By Jim Hightower jimhightower.com

AND THEIR TARGETS

LITTLE-KNOWN

FACT: A leading cause of death in Texas is Gov. Greg Abbott.

Yes, by intentional actions and deliberate inactions, Abbott has used his gubernatorial policies to kill thousands of Texans, including: his calculated refusal to extend Medicaid to millions of poor Texans (including nearly a million children)… his intentional denial of water breaks for outdoor workers broiling under this year’s 100-plus-degree heat dome… his lethal deregulation of utilities causing the state power grid to collapse for days in the deep freeze of 2021 with hundreds dying for lack of heat and water… his shameful prioritizing of gun extremism over the lives of schoolchildren... and his despicable grandstanding stunts at the Mexican border, killing migrant families by design.

These people are not dying accidentally, but are victims of Abbot’s premeditated policies and political ambition. Consider his silly scheme of throwing $9.5 BILLION of Texas taxpayers’ money into the ditch of his highly ballyhooed border-security PR show. Grandiosely branded “Operation Lone Star,” it has posed Generalissimo Abbott as a rightwing border hero.

Some hero. He has stretched miles of razor wire underwater in the Rio Grande, slashing the flesh of migrant families and trapping babies and pregnant women in the coils. And Abbott’s state troopers have been commanded to shove exhausted and injured refugees back into the river toward Mexico. As one appalled trooper says: “We have stepped over a line into the inhumane.”

This willful cruelty is immoral, but it’s made ridiculous by the fact that Abbott’s militaristic power play has totally failed to deter migration. After all, these families are fleeing for their lives and future, so he can wrap all of Texas in razor wire — and they will still come… and find a way in.

Abbott can kill lots of them, but he can’t kill the human spirit.

MEANWHILE... ARKANSAS SEN.

Tom Cotton, another far-out, right-winger, is to good public policy what a boll weevil is to a good cotton crop: totally destructive.

But he is politically candid — rather

than disguising his racial bigotry, for example, Tom flaunts it, as he did last month in an open letter to retail giant Target. While the senator is usually a devoted corporate-hugging Republican, he lashed out at Target for business policies that he furiously condemns as racially discriminatory… against white people!

What popped Tom’s cork was the chain’s pledge to increase the number of Black people it hires by 20 percent. Holy Dixieland, wailed Cotton, hiring more of them means fewer jobs for us white people! He insisted that Caucasians have the right to take any and all of Target’sjobs.

Interestingly, Target’s gesture to racial equality was made three years ago, with no peep or protest from the now-infuriated Cotton. What changed? The GOP’s dog-whistling tune. The new politically correct line from anti-Black racists (even parroted by today’s Republican Supreme Court) is that all efforts to provide racial fairness and balance are — get this — illegal racism against the white majority!

So Cotton is just scurrying aboard his party’s latest anti-Black bandwagon, proclaiming that whites must be protected from racial progress. Not only are Tom and his ilk threatening teachers, librarians and local governments for promoting equality, but also brand-name corporations that they claim are “woke” — that is, not solely focused on profits, but also paying a little attention to America’s need for social justice.

Ironically, Tom’s clique piously claims to be devout Christians. But guess who was supremely woke? Jesus!

Tom Cotton needs to review the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus declared that those who hunger and thirst for justice are blessed.

We have stepped over a line into the inhumane.

— Texas state trooper

News of the WEIRD

BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL

Special delivery

Cindy Smith of Prince William County, Virginia, definitely did NOT order hundreds of headlamps, glue guns and children’s binoculars, WUSA-TV reported, but still they showed up at her home in more than 100 Amazon boxes. “A lot of people thought I was weird,” Smith said. “I would drive around with headlamps and glue guns in the car. I gave them to everybody I met.” WUSA looked into the situation for Smith and learned that sellers from China that need to get their merchandise out of Amazon’s warehouses are “just picking random addresses,” according to an attorney who represents companies that sell on Amazon. “They’re just having them sent there, because it’s just cheaper for them to do so.” Amazon said it has closed its account with this particular seller.

Suspicions confirmed

Zookeepers at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio were taken aback on July 20 when Sully, an 8-year-old western lowland gorilla whom they had assumed to be male, gave birth. Sully has lived at the zoo since 2019, United Press International reported. “It’s hard to tell the sex of younger gorillas,” the zoo said in a statement. “They don’t have prominent sex organs.” They said Sully had been healthy and did not need any procedures or medical care that would have clued them in to her gender. “Sully is taking good care of [the baby],” zookeepers said, adding that eventually they’ll do a DNA test to find out which of three males is the father.

Bright idea

Hong Kong’s health minister, Professor Lo Chung-mau, is urging public shaming as a remedy to unlawful tobacco use, Sky News reported. “Cigarettes can harm the health of all of us,” Lo told a meeting of the Legislative Council’s health service panel on July 14. “When members of the public see people smoking in nonsmoking areas ... we can stare at the smokers. Everyone on the premises can stare at that person.” He believes this behavior would help create a nonsmoking culture in the city. He also said authorities would use surveillance footage to crack down on smokers flouting the rules.

The passing parade

Barbie mania has taken the world by storm — including in Brazil, where Burger King is selling a sandwich with a bright pink sauce that looks like “chewed bubblegum” and has a “smoky” flavor, according to Burger King. CNBC reported on July 13 that the BK Barbie Combo comes with a cheeseburger, a pink vanilla-flavored milkshake, a doughnut sprinkled with pink frosting and an order of Ken’s potatoes (also known as fries). The combo is not expected to be offered in the United States.

Awesome!

On July 22 at Tracouet, Switzerland, 100 alphorn players gathered for the 22nd International Alphorn Festival, Yahoo! News reported. (You know alphorns: Think Ricola commercials.) The competitors are judged on interpretation, musicality, accuracy and rhythm, said festival founder Antoine Devenes. “It’s easy to play but difficult to play it well,” said Marcel Henchoz, 85, one of the participants. He was joined by players from France, Germany, America and Canada. The youngest competitor was 11 years old. Adolf Zobrist, 58, from Brienz, Switzerland, took the title for the fourth time.

“It’s my hobby and it’s my passion. I’ve been playing since I was 12,” Zobrist said. “It’s the sound of the mountains.”

Great art?

Hankering for a high-dollar auction rush? Sotheby’s has you covered — or at least your feet. A pair of white sneakers from the 1990s, branded with the rainbow-colored Apple logo, will start at $50,000, Sky News reported. The shoes were distributed to employees at sales conferences and are among “the most obscure in existence,” Sotheby’s said. “Highly coveted” on the resale market, the sneakers are in their original box and are in a condition “consistent with age.” And bonus! They come with an extra pair of red shoelaces! Sold!

Saw that coming

... or not. At 11:55 p.m. on July 22, a speeding boat with eight people aboard left the water at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri and crashed into a home along the bank. KMIZ-TV reported that Adam

UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPONRY

POLICE IN TILDEN TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA, ARE GOING bananas trying to figure out who was throwing frozen bananas from a truck on July 24, WFMZ-TV reported. “We had five vehicles traveling eastbound on Hex Highway,” said Sgt. Peter Witman. “People traveling westbound threw frozen bananas and struck windshields and other car parts.” One driver had her window down and was struck by flying banana debris. “It’s extremely dangerous,” Witman said. “This could injure, or worse, you could cause vehicle crashes by doing this.”

Ramirez, 47, was driving the boat when the accident happened. After the boat hit the home, it overturned and ejected all eight passengers, who were taken to a hospital, six of them in serious condition. Two people in the home at the time were uninjured. Ramirez was charged with boating while intoxicated. Travis Coleman with Tow Boat US Lake of the Ozarks said crashes on the lake are common, and alcohol and darkness can play a large role.

Nope

You might not have it on your calendar, but Aug. 5 is National Mustard Day!

Rather than celebrating with a hot dog or a burger smothered in the yellow condiment, the French’s company wants you to try Mustard Skittles, NBC New York reported on July 25. “Skittles is always looking to inspire moments of everyday happiness and deliver unexpected ways for fans to experience the brand,” said Ro Cheng, marketing director at Mars. The new flavor “combines their tangy mustard flavor with our iconic chewy texture to deliver this unique summer treat.” Adventurous mustard-lovers can try to win a bag of the candy through an online sweepstakes.

Warren Epstein

Borscht Belted

Laughs, Dreams & Cold Beet Soup in

Free Will ASTROLOGY

(July 23-Aug. 22): Now and then, there comes a time when I acquire an uncanny knack for seeing the totality of who you really are. I tune in to everything you do that few others know about or appreciate. I behold the big picture of your best possible fu-

ture. One of those magic moments has now arrived. And it’s no accident that your energy matches mine. In other words, my power to consecrate you reflects your ability to bless yourself. So give yourself the ultimate gift, please.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In the 17th century, Virgo musician Johann Pachelbel composed a piece of music he called the “Canon in D.” It soon went out of style and disappeared into obscurity. But over 250 years later, a French chamber orchestra rediscovered it, and by the 1980s, it was everywhere. Ever since, “Pachelbel’s Canon” has been used in many pop songs and is a common anthem at weddings and funerals. I’m predicting a comparable revival for you, Virgo. An influence, creation or person that has been gone for a while will reemerge as a presence in your life. Be decisive in adopting it for your benefit.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Author Iain S. Thomas tells us, “There is magic even in gridlock, in loneliness, in too much work, in late nights gone on too long, in shopping carts with broken wheels, in boredom, in tax returns.” He says it’s the same magic that prompted Joan of Arc to believe that God spoke to her and empowered her to lead an army. I wouldn’t agree that it’s the same magic. But I do advise us all to be alert for enchantment and interesting mysteries even in the most mundane affairs. I am a champion of the quest for holiness, delight and marvels in seemingly unlikely locations. In the coming weeks, Libra, you will have a special talent for finding these revelatory joys.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Let’s be honest. Most of us — maybe all of us! — fail to grasp the world objectively. Our perceptions get filtered through our opinions and beliefs and mind habits. The events we think we see are shaped by our expectations about them. Our projections often overrule the possibility of unbiased impartiality. We are serial misinterpreters. But there’s no need to be ashamed! It’s a universal human tendency. Having said all that, however, I believe you will have a special knack, in the coming weeks, for observing reality with more clarity and openmindedness than usual. You will have an unprecedented opportunity to see accurately and gather fresh, raw truths.

panions or collaborators, friends or colleagues, you need and deserve the highquality, emotionally intelligent exchanges they offer.

To parents, campers, teachers and staff for making MAT’s 2023 Summer Camps the Best Ever! 20 Camps Ages 4 through High School.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Poet Rainer Maria Rilke said, “Self-transformation is precisely what life is.” If that’s true, you are in luck. Of all the zodiac signs, you are the most skillful self-transformer. Moreover, you are entering a prolonged phase when your instinct and talent for self-transformation will be even more potent than usual. I plan to observe you closely in the hope of learning your tricks for changing into an ever-better version of yourself. Show us all how it’s done, dear Scorpio!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Born under the sign of Sagittarius, Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) was one of history’s most influential composers of classical music. His elegant, lyrical works are still widely played today. He was also a revolutionary innovator who expanded the scope of many musical genres. One composition, Piano Sonata No. 32, prefigures elements of ragtime, jazz and boogie-woogie — 70 years before those styles emerged. In this spirit, I invite you to plant a seed for the future. You will soon get glimpses of creative shifts that will someday be possible. And you will have an enhanced ability to instigate the inventive momentum that generates those shifts.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Is this a phase of your cycle when you’ll be prone to saying things like “Why do you take me for granted?” and “I’m feeling cranky” and “It’s not what you said, it’s the way you said it”? Or are you in a time when the following expressions are more likely to emerge from your mouth: “I have come to understand you in a totally new and interesting way” and “Life has blessed me by removing one of my unnecessary obstacles” and “I would love to learn more about the arts of cooperation and collaboration”? Here’s what I think, Aquarius: Which way you go will depend on how clearly you set your intentions. Life will respond in kind to the moods you cultivate and the specific requests you make.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Our bodies are imperfect. They are often less than 100 percent completely healthy. They don’t always do what we wish they would. Yet even when we feel less than our best, our body continually carries out millions of biochemical marvels, mostly below the level of our conscious awareness. As the creation of an evolutionary process that has unfolded for eons, our precious organism is an amazing work of art that we have every right to regard as miraculous. According to my astrological reckoning, the coming weeks are the best time this year to honor and celebrate your body. What does it need to flourish? Ask your intuition to show you.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In Stephen King’s novel It, a character named Beverly is in love with a man who projects a sense of authority but also listens well. He is strong-minded but receptive; confident but willing to be changed; self-possessed but open to influence. That’s an apt description of the allies I wish for you to attract into your life in the coming months. Whether they are lovers or partners, com-

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Seventy-yearold Taurus-born Eric Bogosian is a prolific playwright and author renowned for his hard-edged satire. The title of one of his books is Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead. But one critic speculates he may be softening as he ages, noting that he “seems more amused than disgusted by the decaying world around him, as if his anger has been tempered by a touch of hope.” The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to cultivate a comparable reshaping, dear Taurus. Can you tenderize what has been tough? Is it possible to find redemption or entertainment in situations that have been challenging? Are you willing to add more levity and geniality to your perspective?

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Decca is a UKbased record label that has produced the work of many major musicians, including Billie Holliday, the Rolling Stones and Tori Amos. They made a huge mistake in 1962, though. A fledgling group named The Beatles tried to get signed to Decca. An executive at the company declined, saying, “We don’t like their sound. Groups of guitars are on their way out.” Oops. The Beatles eventually became the best-selling and most influential band of all time. I don’t think you’re at risk of making as monumental a misstep, Gemini. But please be alert to the possibility of a key opportunity coming into view. Don’t underestimate it, even if it’s different from what you imagine you want.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I’m a Cancerian who used to be overly reactive to people’s carelessness. If someone was in a bad mood and flung a rash insult at me, I might take offense too easily. If a friend misunderstood me, even with no malice intended, I may have sulked. Thankfully, over time, I have learned to be more like a honey badger, whose thick skin protects it well against stings and pricks. I bring this up because the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to practice my approach. First step: Understand how people sometimes direct their frustration about life toward undeserving recipients. Second step: Vow to take things less personally. Third step: Give yourself regular compliments. Actually say them aloud.

HOMEWORK: What story do you tell yourself about your life that’s less than 20 percent true? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology. com.

Focus Minority-owned Businesses

Analysis: The resilient rise

The state of Black business in Colorado Springs

BY RODNEY GULLATTE JR.

Colorado Springs is an enviable place to be. Immersed in a vibrant community and breathtaking landscapes, we’ve become accustomed to our city staying near the top of so many national rankings — like Best Places to Live, Best-Performing Cities, Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best, and the prestigious “52 Places To Go.” But another important measure of the community is emerging: the way Colorado Springs has been making strides in promoting diversity and inclusion in its business landscape, and the ways Black entrepreneurs and leaders have been shaping the future of Black business in the city.

It was big news in 2021 when Colorado Springs ranked 21st on Smart Asset’s first ever “Where Black Americans Fare Best Economically” study of 129 major cities,

with measures including Black labor force participation rate, percentage of Black adults with a bachelor’s degree, median Black household income, and percentage of business owners who are Black. It was even better news this year, when Colorado Springs jumped all the way to 9th place in the second “Where Black Americans Fare Best Economically” study — this time of 200 cities. Additionally, the University of California, Berkeley studies show Colorado Springs is consistently one of the most racially integrated cities in the United States, a distinction the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC highlights as a significant advantage as we continue to grow our business community and diversity.

Still, when it comes to Black business, we’ve got our issues. Like every American city, Colorado Springs has struggled with

systemic racism that’s limited the growth and potential of Black-owned enterprises. We know that nationwide, Black Americans generally hold less wealth — census data shows that the median Black household income is 33 percent lower than the overall median household income, and the Black homeownership rate is 22 percentage points lower than the general homeownership. Federal Reserve data reveals even starker disparities in wealth: Black families’ net worth is 87 percent lower than that of white families, and 33 percent lower than that of Hispanic families. That’s a real problem in the fight to close the racial wealth gap. Money brings more money. People and groups who have assets to invest will keep building wealth; those without assets can’t invest, can’t launch businesses, can’t expand — and therefore lose.

So access to capital is a crucial concern for Black entrepreneurs. Despite various initiatives aimed at providing financial support, it’s still hard for many to secure loans and attract investors, due to historic disparities and biased lending practices. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, when Black businesses attempt to establish relationships with banks, credit unions and other financial institutions, 53 percent are unable to get the funding they need, compared with just 25 percent of white borrowers. Per Crunchbase, Black entrepreneurs face major disparities in securing venture capital funding and typically receive less than 2 percent of overall dollars each year.

The U.S. Department of Commerce states that access to capital “remains the most important factor limiting the establishment, expansion and growth of minority-owned businesses.” So, some of the goals we continue to work toward are building alternate funding streams, increasing awareness of and access to grants, and supporting financial institutions that follow through on racial equity commitments.

Other systemic inequalities, such as disparities in education and workforce development, continue to impact the growth potential of Black businesses. Addressing these issues takes a concerted effort from the entire community and policymakers to bridge the gaps and provide equal opportunities for all.

Despite these obstacles, our Black community in Colorado Springs has persevered and fought for economic empowerment. A major part of that work is building relationships. What I’ve noticed about this community is that the barriers here are not so much about racism as much as they are about lack of relationships. When I first moved to Colorado Springs, I would often meet other Black professionals who I thought could work together toward important goals, only to discover they’d never even heard of each other. This is where professional organizations — not only the Colorado Springs Black Chamber of Commerce, but the Chamber & EDC, the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber, the Hispanic Chamber and more — are so important. To collaborate, you have to be seen, and you have to understand each other, and you have to have resources.

So we’re working to give our people

continued on p. 27 ➔

From left: Black Chamber President Rodney Gullatte Jr. with director Kendall Godley, members Xavier Clay, Mary Lou Fulson and Kevin Davis, and Vice President Dr. Kenya Lee

Rodney Gullatte Jr.

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opportunities to make connections, network, brainstorm; to make them aware of what’s available to them in terms of grants, loans, tax credits, economic development programs; to offer business education; to address inequities in access to funding and opportunities. And we know it’s important for our people to see each other achieving and progressing, because mentorship happens even informally. I often say that many of my mentors didn’t even know they were my mentors — but I learned so much from observing them.

Colorado Springs has seen a surge in Black-owned businesses over the past few years, from innovative tech startups to thriving retail ventures, premier auto dealers to government contractors, restaurants to music and event spaces, Black entrepreneurs are making their mark here. The growth of Black business in the Springs can be attributed partly to supportive initiatives in the public and private sectors at both the local and state levels. Government bodies, nonprofits, and community leaders have joined forces to provide mentorship, access to capital, and business development resources to Black entrepreneurs and businesses. A few among many: Pikes Peak Community Foundation’s Fund for Racial Equity; El Pomar Foundation (including its Black Advisory Council for Emerging Leaders Development); Thrive Network; Colorado Enterprise Fund; OEDIT’s Business Foundations Technical Assistance program; Pikes Peak SBDC; and the Colorado Department of Human Services EDI Program. These organizations and initiatives have been crucial in nurturing talent and fostering an environment of inclusivity.

In recent years, Black-owned businesses in Colorado Springs have been excelling and expanding, showcasing their versatility and entrepreneurial spirit. Many have found success in sectors such as technology, health care, food and beverage, professional services, and arts and culture. The diversification of industries has helped

strengthen the economic foundation of the Black community and reduce our reliance on any single sector.

One of the defining characteristics of Black businesses in Colorado Springs is our commitment to community empowerment. We’re involved in outreach programs, mentorship initiatives, and job creation efforts to uplift the community as a whole. By doing so, we’re creating a positive ripple effect that extends beyond our own business ventures, fostering a stronger and more resilient business landscape for everyone.

Black entrepreneurs in Colorado Springs actively seek out opportunities to connect with other businesses, both within the Black community and across diverse backgrounds, leading to mutual growth and creating a more inclusive business ecosystem. We are fortunate to have leaders in this region who lead by example. There is always room for more people to step up — and there’s no time like the present.

The state of Black business in Colorado Springs is a testament to the tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit of the Black community. Despite historical challenges and systemic barriers, Black-owned businesses are thriving, thanks to supportive initiatives and the determination of their founders. As Colorado Springs continues to make strides towards greater diversity and inclusivity, it’s vital to recognize the invaluable contributions of Black entrepreneurs and work together to break down remaining barriers. By fostering an inclusive business environment, Colorado Springs can unlock the full potential of its Black businesses, creating a more prosperous and united community.

Disclosure: Gullatte’s business, Firma IT Solutions, is paid for services by the Colorado Springs Business Journal’s parent company.

Rodney Gullatte Jr. is president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Black Chamber of Commerce, and a small business owner. He can be reached at info@cosblackchamber.com.

➔ continued from p. 25

Kristen Faith Sharpe, Dr. Kenya Lee and Donna Nelson at a Chamber event

Helen Lewis

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BY KATHERINE ATHERTON

Rachel Espinoza

The Downtown Dentist

In her work at The Downtown Dentist, Dr. Rachel Espinoza focuses on helping patients with headaches, migraines and jaw disorders by using Botox. Most people have heard of TMJ problems — TMJ is the temporomandibular joint, an area in which Espinoza specializes. “Clicking, popping, clenching your jaw to the point where it becomes painful — Botox treats that,” she explains. “It’s a neurotoxin that prevents the muscles that we treat from contracting, and when they’re not contracting, they’re not able to produce pain.” A 2017 graduate of the UCLA School of Dentistry, Espinoza is now pursuing a Master of Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado, which she hopes will better guide her work consulting companies as they navigate their entry into the dental space.

On her days off, she likes listening to podcasts, scrapbooking and playing with her beloved dog Mila.

What brought you to Colorado?

I got in touch with a recruiter for a dental company and they had openings in Fountain so I looked up the area — and I looked up Colorado Springs. I had visited southern Colorado with a family friend, and I had really liked it, so, it was kind of like a nobrainer. I’ve seen San Francisco. I saw Los Angeles. Let’s see what southern Colorado has.

Tell us a bit about your time at UCLA.

People like to say it was the best of both worlds, but it was really the most interesting of both worlds. I was in such a vibrant place and such a great learning community.

I was at the School of Dentistry, so I had the courseload of a graduate student with a very vibrant and lively undergrad [environment] surrounding me. I felt like everything was going on around me and I was in our little capsule or little dental capsule.

...It was great to be around some very bright minds in dentistry. To have those people in such close range and such close reach to me in a very cooperative environment.

What made you choose the dental profession among other careers in the health care?

As a child I really enjoyed the interpersonal connection that my dentist had with

me and my family. He was my dentist for probably 20 years. So, I wanted something similar to that in my professional career.

It didn’t seem as urgent or as emergent as medicine — [medical doctors] think about broken bones, this and that. But I learned very quickly in practice that yes, there’s a portion of our practice that is very emergency focused: a lot of accidents on the playground, accidents at work, chipped teeth from metal straws — I’ve forgotten how many of those I’ve fixed. So I was kind of wrong there with setting myself up for that expectation in my career.

But this work is a lot of interpersonal connection and being able to not only use my brain, but also do a little ‘arts and crafts’ — that’s what my mentor calls it.

What does your work with the Colorado Springs Dental Society look like?

I love it. It’s given me such an opportunity to learn about the ins and outs of how dental policy works in our state. It allows me to have a voice in advocating for our patients.

The people that are writing our legislation and health care policy, they don’t really see it from the angle of our vulnerable populations, our elderly population. They really need that input from us to have effective health care policies. And I don’t think I would have ever had that opportunity if I didn’t become involved with [the Colorado Springs Dental Society].

So a lot of work with them is — I don’t like saying it — lobbying. A lot of it’s lobbying and communicating between Capitol Hill in Denver, and dentists here in Colorado Springs, and letting them know about the updates of what’s going on or how a specific bill is progressing. Because, as with any profession, our professionals have really busy lives, and we just want to make it simpler for them so that they know that they’re being taken care of and we’re looking out for them. Because that’s how we’re a stronger profession.

Any oral hygiene tips?

Fall in love with the feeling of clean teeth. Just enjoy that feeling of just getting your teeth cleaned, and you’ll find that you will want to floss and brush regularly because you want to get back to that feeling of just being out of the dentist’s office. n CSBJ

Front The

Lessons on loss

Grief can be lonely; it can be overwhelming. And for so many veterans and families, it can lead to survivor’s guilt, post-traumatic stress disorder, and getting stuck in a cycle where grief never ends.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

As a licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner, I counseled hundreds of people through the grieving process. I also experienced — and am still experiencing — grief myself. Three of my children, Johnny, Reggie and Miah, all died over the course of 16 years.

That’s where the 45 Days of Grief project was born. I needed to set aside the time and space to work through the grief of losing my children. It’s not easy, but I believe sharing my own grief and vulnerability can help others. (45 Days of Grief is a YouTube series on the Mentally STRONG Academy by Dr. B channel. Find it at youtube.com/@ DrBMentallyStrong.)

I developed the Mentally STRONG method (mentallystrong.com) first to help myself, and then I knew I needed to share it with others. It’s designed to improve resiliency and empower individuals to take control over their own mental health. So often, people must come face to face with hardship before they are tested — and they find their resiliency isn’t quite developed enough to overcome the pain of difficult circumstances.

That’s where counseling and therapy can help — and medication can assist with getting through the rough spots. The combination of counseling and medicine can be vital to help struggling people. As a mental health professional, I know how to help people deal with their emotions and remember their loved ones with joy instead of grief.

But the 45 Days of Grief project was personal. I wanted to devote time every day, for 45 days, to my grief. Giving in to the tears, if they came; the anger, if that came. I met with counselors; I swam with dolphins. I had my brain scanned to understand that trauma changes brain function. And I filmed it all.

The process left me amazingly vulnerable to having people see me at the lowest points, to see me raw and in pain. I did it because I know other people are struggling with grief and overcoming the loss of loved ones. I did it to help remove the stigma of grieving and getting help when needed. As a veteran, I’ve seen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines struggle after losing comrades in arms to battle, to life’s challenges, to accidents. I wanted people to know they weren’t alone. Despite years of education, training and experience, the loss of my children led to a journey to understand and heal.

The trauma from their deaths — I was the one who found Miah — led to post-traumatic stress disorder. Soon after, still deep in grief, I was on a ship with other Naval personnel. On that ship, I learned there was someone arrested for harming their child. I just couldn’t deal with what was happening around me. The PTSD led to flashbacks of unexpectedly discovering my child in her bed, lifeless.

Even though I have spent years treating PTSD in other people, I knew I needed to seek outside help. I knew I was changed from the trauma and loss. And I’m proof it is possible to get out of bed in the morning, to continue to help others, and to continue living. It’s possible to heal from PTSD, grief and trauma.

It’s a difficult path for all of us. But we can all get to the point of remembering without pain, healing the guilt, surviving, and thriving. It takes time. It takes dedication. And it requires being good to yourself and getting help when needed.

What I’ve learned, through education, professional training and personal experience: Grieving is an individual process. Everyone handles loss differently and no set of rules will get people where they need to be. Help is available to navigate the worst part of grief: counseling can help, a strong support network can help.

I have learned that even prolonged grief is OK, even though the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders says

that grief that lasts more than 18 months is a diagnosable mental health issue that requires treatment. If you need that level of help, get it.

When my children died, it was a gut punch. It seemed unfair that the world kept spinning and people kept living their lives when there were such big holes in my universe. I deliberately confronted the grief and now have a better understanding of life and how to help others through their grief.

If you need help processing your own

grief, don’t wait to seek help. You can see a counselor or a therapist, talk to a pastor or a priest. Reach out to people who know the experience through group therapy for grief. You don’t have to go through it alone.

Dr. Cristi Bundukamara is a licensed psychological nurse practitioner with more than 20 years of experience as a therapist and medical provider. She developed the Mentally STRONG method to guide people through grief and trauma.

The Veterans Voice News Service, presented by The Veterans Voice Project and Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, provides weekly, military and business-themed news, analysis and commentary for The Front in partnership with the Colorado Springs Business Journal

Dr. Cristi Bundukamara

I knew I was changed from the trauma and loss.

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213 Coffee Pot Drive

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6943 S Picadilly Street

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Stunning stucco and brick 6963 sq ft custom 2-story home on over 1/3 acre private lot in coveted neighborhood! 5 beds, 6 baths, study, 4-car attached garage, & amazing 13,504 sq ft lot. Curved open staircase. Gourmet kitchen. Formal living & dining rooms. Oversized master suite. 3 fireplaces. Wet bars. Trex deck and balcony. Solar panels. Cherry Creek schools. Close to Buckley SFB, golfing, shopping, dining, parks, trails, pools, club house, playground, and tennis courts. MLS# 2560918

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