REZ | Articles – Page 3 – REZ

Best Colorado Beers and Breweries

Colorado loves its breweries. In fact, even though state is home to less than two percent of the U.S. population, Colorado has the fourth most breweries per capita in the entire country. In other words, Colorado is home to more than 400 established breweries, each one a bringing its own uniqueness to the party. Every kind of beer you can imagine is brewed here. This variety ranges from the Fat Tire and 90 Shilling to rare seasonal barleys and ales. Here are some of our favorite picks. Also, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Colorado, consider Mark Eibner as your agent.

Colorado Beers and Breweries

The award-winning Bierstadt Lagerhaus has to be at the top of our list. Many of this establishments brews have been nominated for best beer. Besides having great tasting brews, their ability to adapt to the pandemic has keep them a Denver favorite. To stay alive during this difficult time, Bierstadt has began canning its world-class beers for the first time. They even opened a huge outdoor yard and served small personalized kegs for quarantine pods to drink beer safely at a distance when social distancing guidelines were still active.

Another popular brewery in Colorado is Amalgam Brewing. Amalgam is a small Denver brewery, so small in fact that it typically opens only once a month and distributes just a small number of bottles outside its beer club. Amalgam specializes in barrel-aged sours and saisons, a pale ale that is highly carbonated, fruity, spicy, and often bottle conditioned. Amalgam also brews amazing stouts. These stouts are loaded with vanilla and other adjunct ingredients like maple syrup and coffee. With so many breweries in Colorado, you can’t visit them all. However, these are certainly two you should add to your Colorado Bucket List.

Colorado Class 4 14ers

Colorado is one of the best states for mountain climbing and hiking in the country. However, you should know how difficult the hike will be before heading out. Fortunately, 14ers.com has all the mountains in Colorado mapped on a difficulty scale from class 1 to 5. In this article we will be going over some of the most popular class 4 mountains, which means you will be climbing to move upwards. This will be a little tougher than the class 3 14ers. Also, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Colorado, consider Mark Eibner as your agent.

Tough Colorado 14ers

To start things off, there’s North Maroon Peak in the Elk Mountain Range. This 14er has a standard climbing route along its northeast ridge, an elevation gain of 4,500 feet, and spans a distance of 9.25 miles. This peak is one of the most popular in the country, as it is one of the most photographed mountains in Colorado. Then there’s Pyramid Peak, North Maroon Peak’s sibling. Pyramid Peak has a standard route also along its northeast ridge, an elevation gain of 4,500 feet, and a distance of 8.25 miles. These two mountains are close to the towns of Aspen and Snowmass.

Higher and steeper is Mount Wilson in the San Juan Range. Wilson has a standard climbing route along its north slopes, an elevation gain of 5,100 feet, and a distance of 16 miles. Mount Wilson is part of a group that also includes Wilson Peak and El Diente Peak. And then there’s Sunlight Peak in the Eolus group of the San Juan Range. Sunlight Peak has a standard route along its south face, an elevation gain of 6,000 feet, and a distance of 17 miles. Remember that these are mountains that require climbing gear and should only be attempted by experienced climbers.

Reviving The Colorado Yard

Colorado weather can annihilate a great yard. During the winter grass turns yellowish-brown and most plants lose their leaves. During the summer, the Colorado sun can also be brutal and cause grass to die, leaving unsightly patches of dirt in your lawn. We all know that a pristine front lawn is the best first impression for guests. It is equally as important when it comes to selling your home. Continue reading for some tips on how to recover your yard when the harsh Colorado weather has damaged it. Also, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Colorado, consider Mark Eibner as your agent.

Breathing Life Back Into Your Yard

Utilizing a good fertilizer is a great defense again the Colorado weather. Between the last of the snow flurries and the beginning of the intense heat, enrich your yard with fertilizer. By this time, you’ll be watering your yard twice a week combat the arid climate here. Remember not to overwater your grass as well. Too much water will damage the struggling grass that’s trying to come out of dormancy.

The next problem you’re going to face is weeds, tons of them. During this time of year, Colorado gets wind. Wind picks up the seeds of weeds and spreading them around. The best way to combat this is by applying pre-emergent weed killer in the spring. Pre-emergent herbicides will prevent seeds from growing so your lawn won’t have to compete with the weeds for moisture. Also, when those inevitable dirt patches spring up, fill the area in with grass seed and fertilizer as soon as you can. If watered properly these patches should turn green again.

Colorado Sculptures

When it comes to the city of Colorado Springs, art plays a surprisingly public role. This is indicative of the many public sculpture that you can see throughout the city. Walking tours are a great way to get to know a city intimately and you will definitely see your share of sculptures and statues along the way. Continue reading to find out about some of the most popular pieces of street art you’ll see in Colorado Springs. Also, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Colorado, consider Mark Eibner as your agent.

Popular Colorado Sculptures and Statues

One of the most popular sculptures in Colorado Springs is called “Recycled Rainbow” by artist Maxine Grossman. Recycled Rainbow is a sculptural butterfly decorated with recycled materials and mosaics. It is located just outside of the church near the intersection of Cascade and Platte. There are actually many of these butterflies around the city. They are part of a program called “Flight” that is held by the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs. Each year, the sculptures are painted by local artists to help raise money and awareness for children’s art programs.

Another Colorado Springs favorite is the “Fuji Arch”, which sits in the median of Nevada Avenue’s intersection with Kiowa. This sculpture was presented to the city of Colorado Springs by the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs in 1966. This sculpture commemorates the city’s relationship with its sister city in Japan, Fujiyoshida. Fujiyoshida was Colorado Springs’ first established sister city of which now there are seven. For more information on Colorado Springs and their international sister cities, check out their sister city website about advancing world peace, friendship, cultural understanding, and mutual economic reward.

Building Upwards

Has your family outgrown your home in the city? You could sell your home and try to move into something bigger, but remember that the market is going through some growing of its own. Inventory is down and prices are through the roof. In other words: you could definitely sell your home in the market, but finding something affordable to move to in the same area will not be easy. Continue reading to find out how you can increase the square footage of your home without selling. Also, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Colorado, consider Mark Eibner as your agent.

Adding Vertical Square Footage

If you are in a single-family, detached home, the best way to increase your square footage might be building upwards. When it comes to cost, relatively speaking, the overall cost is very similar to building outward. Of course this will vary depending on how much remodeling of the existing square footage needs to be done to accommodate the new square footage. Oftentimes it can be more cost effective to build upwards because the owners may not need to remodel their existing home.

The other benefit to building upwards is that it often adds a lot of value to your home than building on a new room, finishing a basement, or converting a garage. Typically, most homeowners that build upwards recoup their construction costs as equity within two to five years, depending on how the market is going. Before listing your home, contact your local contractor to talk about what it would take add a second floor to your home. Don’t know any contractors? Check out my list of preferred contractors and other service providers on MarkEibner.com.

Colorado Class 3 14ers

Colorado is one of the best states for mountain climbing and hiking in the country. However, you should know how difficult the hike will be before heading out. Fortunately, 14ers.com has all the mountains in Colorado mapped on a difficulty scale from class 1 to 5. In this article we will be going over some of the most popular class 3 mountains, which may have un-roped climbing. This will be a little tougher than the class 2 14ers and will require you to use your hands to hold the terrain due to steepness. Also, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Colorado, consider Mark Eibner as your agent.

Steep 14ers in Colorado

We start our list off with Mount Sneffels. Located in the San Juan Mountains, Sneffels has a along its southern slope, an elevation gain of 2,900 feet, and a distance of 6 miles. It is also located in the Grand Mesa Uncompahgre National Forest giving it some of the best views around. Another popular class 3 14er is Mount Lindsey. Lindsey is in the Sangre de Cristo range, has a standard route along its northwest gully, an elevation gain of 3,500 feet, and a distance of 8.25 miles. This 14er is close to the town of Alamosa, the home of Adams State University.

Kit Carson Peak is another popular 14er in the Sangre de Cristo Range. It has a standard route along its northern slop called Challenger Point. It also has an elevation gain of 6,250 feet and a distance of 14.5 miles. And then there’s Wetterhorn Peak. This popular class 3 14er has a standard route along its southeast ridge, an elevation gain of 3,300 feet, and a distance of 7 miles. A popular place to stay for this summit it Lake City Colorado. Though this town is small, it makes up for it in a rich history dating all the way back to the 1800s.

Office Decor

The pandemic made a lot of jobs move to being performed at home. Many of these occupations will likely stay that way even as coronavirus cases lessen and restrictions ease. That means your home office space is going to become the most important part of your home and in order for it to feel that way some redecorating may be in order. Continue reading for some simple ways to get started. Also, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Colorado, consider Mark Eibner as your agent.

Decorating The Office

One of the easiest way to spruce up your home office is by adding wall art. As opposed to the living room, artwork in your home office should be home about inspiration than family photos. That is to say of course you’ll have some family photos in the mix, but more predominantly your office wall art will be more work-related. This could be anything from an award you received from your boss to an inspirational quote that helps keep you focused on your work.

It all comes down to personalizing the space. If putting up artwork conjures up too many ideas for the space that you have, don’t worry—you can still have everything. Create a rotating gallery that changes from day to day or week to week. The easiest way to do this is to install a shelf on the wall for the rotating art. This way you will not have to keep readjusting where the art is hung on the wall to accommodate larger pieces. Another thing you can do to personalize your home office is by adding an accent chair. No matter how focused you get, you will still have lulls in your work day just like at the office. Being able to move away from your computer for a moment and rethink things could be just the thing you need to get back into the right frame of mind.

Messy Room Hacks

The daily hassles of being a parent means tackling a lot of clutter. From messy bedrooms to kitchen nightmares, kids of all ages tend to leave places in disarray. Of course you will have your kid clean up after themselves, but there are places in the process for you to embrace the chaos. Continue reading to find out how you can do this and trick your kids into being more organized. Also, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Colorado, consider Mark Eibner as your agent.

Embrace The Chaos

The amount of wall and fridge art that you accumulate as a parent is staggering. No matter your kid’s age, everything from finger-paintings to college essays find their way somewhere in the kitchen. Embrace the chaos by designating an area of your fridge, your kitchen wall, or even your windows to display their best creations and achievements. They can go from messy to looking planned and thought out. Plus, it will keep your kid confident in their work.

One of the easier ways that you can tackle a messy room is by making the bed. It might seem silly at first, especially if the rest of the room is also a wreck, but it works. Plus, carving out that time at the start of every day can help you to feel more accomplished even before tackling your to-do list. The other bedroom solution is organized storage. Nothing beats a good bin or basket. Labeling these spaces with your kid’s name, like “Michael’s Socks” or “Trisha’s Bracelets,” will give them a sense of ownership. Kids are more likely to stick to an organization solution when they feel like it’s theirs.

Self-Help Comedy

People are generally reluctant to read self-help books because they are come off as preachy or judgmental. It turns out the answer to creating a self-help book that doesn’t make the reader feel bad is humor. On May 20 JAAMM is welcoming author Amy Fish to discuss her humorous self-help book, “I Wanted Fries With That: How to Ask For What You Want and Get What You Need.” This will be a virtual event hosted by the JCC Mizel Arts and Culture Center. Also, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Colorado, consider Mark Eibner as your agent.

Getting What You Want

On “I Wanted Fries With That,” author Amy Fish writes: “At some point in our lives, we’ve all experienced a small injustice – like, a fellow airline passenger squashing us by moving their seat back – and we suffer in silence for fear of offending anyone. When we fail to speak up, however, we end up shortchanging ourselves.” When these things happen most people will verbalize their complaints. However, did you know that there was a way to complain to get what you want? Fish illustrates how to achieve this with funny real-life stories.

How does Amy Fish know so much about complaints? She is the Chief Complaints Officer, also known as the Ombudsperson, at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. In this position, she is responsible for promoting fairness and making sure everyone’s voice is heard on campus. Amy teaches writing workshops at the Quebec Writing Federation and the Hippocamp Conference for Creative Non-Fiction, where she specializes in humor writing and memoir. Adding to her writing chops, Fish has work published in Hippocampus Magazine, Readers’ Digest, Huffington Post and several other journals.

How to Pick Artwork for Your Home

Artwork (paintings, pictures, and other wall-mounted décor) can really pull a room together. But with so much to choose from at the stores and online, how do you pick? What’s the best ratio between family photos and paintings? The short answer is to pick artwork based on the room, tailored to your taste. Continue reading on how to do that. Also, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Colorado, consider Mark Eibner as your agent.

Picking Home Artwork

Start with the most difficult room first. One of the most commonly forgotten rooms in terms of artwork and the hardest to get right is the kitchen. The kitchen is the most used room of the house. That means the pressure is on to get artwork on the walls and fast. Countertops or spaces above cabinets are perfect places for art. When it comes to finding pieces for the kitchen, lean toward smaller artworks that complement, not overwhelm, the space. Since you spend your mornings in the kitchen, keep the style light and funny. Though family photos are uncommon for kitchens, one of two pieces (especially hanging from the fridge) is not a bad idea.

Besides the living room, the bedroom one of the most important rooms to decorate. The bedroom is a place for relaxation and the artwork that you use should reflect that. The best walls for art in the bedroom are directly over the bed or on the wall opposite the bed. Unlike the kitchen, the bedroom needs large pieces of art. Remember that everything should be hung at eye level. Look for abstract pieces with soothing colors, landscapes, and desaturated photos in the bedroom. Keep the frame size small—larger frames should be reserved for statement pieces in the living room.