Food + Beverage

Red Velvet Cheesecake

A Show-Stopping Dessert for Special Occasions Article by Sari Suzanne | Photography by Candace Cross Cheesecake 3 lb cream cheese soft 2 C. sugar 1 c. sour cream 2 TBS Vanilla paste 6 eggs ½ tsp salt 1 c. cocoa powder 10 drops organic red     Red Velvet Cheese Cake Makes 1 Deep Dish Cheese Cake Special Equipment: 8 inch Spring Form Pan Cook Time: 30-40 minutes Ingredients FOR THE CRUST 4 cups finely crushed rice crispies (Use a Cuisinart with blade) 2 cup finely ground...

Home + Design

Blooming Beauties: Crafting Your Perfect Centerpiece

A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Stunning Floral Arrangements for Any Occasion Article by Natalie McLain | Photography by Andy Wingerd Materials Needed: Fresh Flowers : sunflowers, dahlias, roses, mums Foliage : eucalyptus, magnolia, or fall leaves Seasonal Accents : small pumpkins, gourds, berries, pinecones Chicken Wire A Vase or Shallow Bowl Pruning Shears or Scissors Step 1: Choose and Prepare Your Container Select a vase, shallow bowl, or rustic wooden box. Make...

Local Services

Empowering Lives Through Inclusive Support

Empowering Families: How Community Connections Transforms Lives Through Advocacy and Lifelong Support Article by Theresa Blake Graven | Photography by Hannah and Lynn Martens Since its founding in 1985, Community Connections has been a beacon of support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Southwest Colorado. Serving five counties, the organization has spent 39 years offering vital care coordination and case management services to individuals and their...

Education

House and Home

New Owners at Gable House Balance Comfort with Elegance and the Environment with the History Article by Jennifer Mason | Photography by Renee Cornue Studio Elders, aunts and uncles trickle through the front door, escaping the wintry morning. The air is so cold it nips like a crotchety lap dog. Warm drinks circulate. Stories and laughter mingle. Platter after platter colonizes the dining table with a glistening, steaming feast. Jolly holiday gatherings form the bulk of Tracie Trotter’s...

Life + Culture

Inspiring the Leaders of Tomorrow

FLC's Director of Belonging: A community connector and student supporter. Article by Kalista Peña | Photography by Kelly Miranda In this position, Kate Suazo hopes to create a culture that emphasizes authenticity, kindness, and love. Further rallying and binding Fort Lewis College together as the community navigates new spaces and paves the way for a more inclusive future. As Director of Belonging, she wants to “institutionalize the expectation that each student, staff, and faculty member...

Home + Design

Durango Cabinet Company Excellence

Nick and Lindsay Garrison: Your Local Experts in Custom Cabinetry and Personalized Design" Article by Nick and Lindsay Garrison | Photography by Andy Wingerd We are Nick and Lindsay Garrison, your Durango neighbors and owners of Durango Cabinet Company. As a husband-and-wife team, we blend practicality and creativity in every project. Nick, with 20 years as a contractor, handles installations with precision, while Lindsay manages scheduling and client communications. Our...

Food + Beverage

Wild, Green, and Abundant

Katrina Blair tells us about wild foods and gives a few tips for fall foraging Article by Kalista Peña | Photography by Andy Wingerd With the inspiration of her parents and her many adventures, Katrina Blair has discovered that “wild foods [are] the most optimal way of being.” This realization led her to create Turtle Lake Refuge, a nonprofit that celebrates the connection between personal health and wild lands. Blair, a Durango local, has dedicated her life’s work to educating people about...

Food + Beverage

The Garden of Eatin'--It's in the Bag

Farm to Summit Chops Backpacking Food Weight and Waste Article by Jennifer Mason | Photography by Louise Barton and Robert Hill Mmm. Rocks. Hard on the tongue, harder on the gut. Rocks are every backpacker’s favorite meal at the end of the long day’s trek. This statement is not hyperbole. Conventional packaged meals for backcountry feasting are typically loaded with enough preservatives to make them outlast the rocks of the Rocky Mountains.   As a professional botanist studying endangered...

Home Services

Redefining Design: Concrete, Steel, and Wood

CounterKulture Design Studio's Innovative Approach Merges Materials to Create Unique and Timeless Creations Article by Gavin McCalden and Andrew Barber | Photography by Gavin McCalden Founded in 2005, CounterKulture Design Studio has established itself as a leader in concrete design, dedicated to exceeding the highest expectations of builders. Over the past 19 years, the studio has crafted thousands of square feet of countertops, wall panelings, fireplaces, tables, furniture, planters, and...

Food + Beverage

Better Together

The Good Food Collective places community first and aims to create a thriving foodshed for all Article by Kalista Peña | Photography by Kelly Miranda Southwest Colorado is a magical place to visit, attracting thousands of tourists each year. But those of us who have been here for years or generations and have planted deep roots in this area know that the true beauty is found in our community and the ways we support one another.  When Rachel Landis first set foot in the Animas Valley to...