Downtown Insert

DOWNTOWN COLORADO SPRINGS • www.DowntownCS.com JUNE 15, 2014

First Friday Bike Tourspage 7

The Economics of Art and Cultureguest column, page 4

Spreading the Love of CraftQ&A with Stitch Studio, page 6

The Business of Health, Wellness and Sports page 3

First Friday Bike Tourspage 7

The Economics of Art and Cultureguest column, page 4

Spreading the Love of CraftQ&A with Stitch Studio, page 6

The Business of Health, Wellness and Sports page 3

Photo by Bill Vogrin, The Gazette.

~ 2 ~

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my left sneaker. It’s resting in a corner of my closet, neglected since I broke my foot a month ago. I have about another month until I’ll be wearing two shoes again. My temporary state of limited mobility has gotten me thinking a lot lately about the impor-tance of proximity, and how proximity promotes livability, innovation and a more engaged com-munity. It takes me a bit longer to get where I’m going these days, but from my downtown office I’m within one block of six places for coffee and a half dozen places for a happy hour drink – and even more places for lunch, dinner, shopping and cultural experiences. Recently, I attended two after-work business events down the block directly across the street from each other, and I was able to get there with the aid of my trusty knee cart. It’s something we know intuitively at Down-town Colorado Springs: a compact, connected downtown is more accessible and even more fun, but it goes further than that. Denser, more com-pact cities realize greater economic mobility, and

people who live in denser areas are more physically active. Studies also show that walkable neighbor-hoods and urban areas raise home values. What does this mean for us at Downtown Partnership? It means that the pedestrian/bicyclist perspective influences much of our day-to-day and long-range work—from keeping sidewalks clean; supporting major initiatives such as the Legacy Loop trail system encircling the greater downtown area; participating in the Regional Nonmotorized Transportation Task Force; promotion of mixed-use design; having more bike racks in key loca-tions; beautifying streets with public art; adding walking and biking tours; and much more. We don’t just focus on the pedestrian/bike experience out of personal preference: We do it to help make Colorado Springs more competitive to attract new business, young professionals and tourists. According to the US Census, the number of people commuting to work by bike increased 60 percent over the past decade. And a study released last month shows a large majority of Millennials prefer a lifestyle less reliant on cars. We know a

thriving downtown is the essential component to an economically vital city. Making our downtown accessible on foot and bike – as well as cars – is a high priority. We’ve got work to do: we need more residential options, transit options, protected bike lanes. But we’re headed in the right direction. My right sneaker misses its mate, but either way you’ll see me out on the streets of downtown, exploring all it has to offer.

Susan Edmondson is President and CEO of Downtown Partnership, www.DowntownCS.com.

The Famous

Brown’s Shoe Fit

The articles contained in this insert are provided by Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs, © 2014. Photos used with permission. No part of this content may be duplicated without written consent from Downtown Partnership, www.DowntownCS.com or 719-886-0088.

Susan Edmondson (pre-broken foot) biking the trails in and around Downtown Colorado Springs. Photo courtesy of jana l bussanich, Fine Art Photography.

IMPROVING THE PEDESTRIAN AND BIKING EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN

DID YOU KNOW?91% of downtown retailers are locally owned businesses

Downtown has more locally owned restaurants than any other area of the city

Nearly 35,000 people live within one square mile of downtown

The 80903 ZIP code represents over 6% of all regional business even though it only covers 2.5% of the city’s land mass

More than 6,800 people attend worship services downtown each week

Downtown is home to nearly 3,500 businesses and a workforce of 23,000 people

Learn more about Downtown Colorado Springs, the Downtown Partnership, and our family of organizations: the Greater Colorado Springs Business Improvement District, Greater Downtown Development Authority, and Community Ventures in the 2013 Report to the Community available at www.DowntownCS.com.

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DOWNTOWN COLORADO SPRINGS • WWW.DOWNTOWNCS.COM ~ 3 ~

More than a century ago, health seekers sought out

Colorado Springs, lured by a dry and mild climate, sunny

weather, and easy access to beautiful and rugged terrain.

The city has remained a health and wellness destination ever

since. Nowhere is that more evident than in heart of the city:

downtown. Downtown Colorado Springs is a rare intersection of an urban lifestyle of shopping, nightlife, and arts and culture that also boasts easy trail access, numerous parks, and businesses that embrace fitness and well-being as central to their work.

The connection of active lifestyles and businessToday, the sports industry alone brings in over $31 million in revenue to downtown. More than 85 downtown businesses are directly related to the sports economy, plus dozens of businesses that indirectly connect with the industry or provide health services such as doctors, personal trainers, chiro-practors, and nutritionists.

With a system of parks and trails, multiple running clubs, bike tours, yoga studios, gyms, and even Olympic athletes close at hand, downtown provides an active outlet for all ages and abilities. But more than leisure activity, the health and wellness environment also attracts businesses and grows the regional economy.

Companies such as Aspenware Technology, a Denver-based firm with a passion for the Colorado “work hard, play hard” lifestyle, is just one company

THE BUSINESS OF HEALTH, WELLNESS AND SPORTS

PPCC

continued on page 5

Active lifestyles have been part of Colorado Springs culture from the beginning, as seen in this photo from 1889. Photo courtesy of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.

PIKES PEAK COMMUNITY COLLEGE

PPCC.EDU

What you’ll � nd will surprise you.

by Andy VickExecutive Director, COPPeR

I’m a big believer in the power of the arts as a tool for economic development and com-munity revitalization. In my previous job as the

executive director of the Allegany Arts Council in Western Maryland, I saw first-hand how a vibrant creative community can be a catalyst for economic vitality, a draw for tourism, and a meaningful way to increase quality of life for area residents. Now, as the new executive director of the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR), my staff and I are working diligently to achieve those same suc-cesses here in our community.

In the few short months since my wife and I moved to Colo-rado Springs, I’ve heard a lot of business and political leaders talk about the need to attract and retain more young professionals to our community, and cultivate more innovation in our regional workforce. I completely agree. Both of these ambitious goals are important challenges for our area, with long-term implications for the future success of our entire economy. While a sustainable solution to these initiatives will likely involve a number of different and complementary approaches, targeted investment in the local arts and cultural community is one of the most cost effective ways to cultivate an inviting environment where young professionals and creatives of all types want to live, work, and play. In fact, this economic development strategy has proven to be quite

successful in countless other communities facing similar challenges across the country.

We already have amazing art and culture happen-ing throughout the Pikes Peak region. All of this creative activity is potent and meaningful in and of itself. However, the arts also have a significant economic impact. A 2012 study commissioned by COPPeR, and executed in cooperation with Amer-icans for the Arts, determined that the arts have a $72 million dollar impact in the Pikes Peak region: $37.4 million in spending by nonprofit arts groups and $34.5 million in spending by their audiences. These dollars support local restaurants and bars, retail establishments, and area hotels – 13% of our 1.3 million arts attendees are actually visitors from outside of the Pikes Peak region. That same study reported that our “region is home to more than 2,492 creative businesses employing almost 7,000

people, ranking 23rd for creative busi-nesses per capita out of the 100 largest metropolitan areas.”

These numbers are impressive, but just think about what they could be if we really embraced the arts as a tool for

economic development, and significantly increased our local investment in the arts from both the public and private sectors! A paradigm shift of this nature would facilitate new and expanded artistic programming, grow existing cultural organizations and encourage new ones, entice new artists to relocate to our community, encourage the renova-tion of underutilized properties for new creative enterprises, and enhance the perception of our community as a regional arts destination. That’s exactly the kind of positive energy and forward momentum that will encourage innovation, improve our quality of life, and help us to attract and retain creatives and young professionals to our

community. It’s really all within our grasp…we just need to bring together our business, political and cultural leaders, and work collaboratively to make it happen.

The arts have a $72 million impact in the Pikes Peak

region.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ARTS AND CULTURE

Read the full Arts & Economic Prosperity report at www.coppercolo.org.

Opens July 6 at Acacia Park Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

July 6 through October 26

Locally grown food, artisan goods, entertainment and more!

FREE on-street parking

Downtown Colorado Springs is designated as a Creative District Candidate through Colorado Creative Industries, a state agency. The creative district program began in 2011 to support local work to integrate arts, culture, creativity and innovation into economic development, tourism, quality of life and community-build-ing initiatives.

Factors considered for creative district designation include one-of-a-kind arts, cultural and entertainment opportunities such as:• Concentration of galleries, museums, ven-

ues, and cultural attractions. Nearly half of all cultural events in Colorado Springs take place downtown.

• Cultural landmarks and historic architecture. One-third of the registered historical land-marks within El Paso County are downtown.

• Activities such as First Friday Downtown, art and history tours, the Art on the Streets public art exhibit, and Acacia Park Concert Series.

Additional information can be found at www.DowntownCS.com/CreativeDistrict.

BECOMING A CERTIFIED CREATIVE DISTRICT

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that chose to expand to downtown Colorado Springs for the active culture it embodies. “Downtown Colorado Springs is an invigorating place to be – with exciting events like the Olympic Downtown Celebration, great local restaurants and coffee shops,” said Adam Roderick, CEO of Aspenware. “The emphasis on the health and sports industries fits well with our own active lifestyle brand and character. Where else can someone run the Incline, grab coffee at the Wild Goose, and be in the office ready for morning meetings?”

Entrepreneurs also are reaping benefits from locating their sports-related businesses downtown, where they take advantage of close proximity to other business owners as well as outdoor enthusiasts. From the collaborative Epicentral Coworking space on North Tejon Street, Get Outfitted founder Julian Flores created his online rental shop for high-end ski gear. A few blocks away, Borealis Fat Bikes established the headquarters where they assemble their ultra-light-weight fat bikes. One advantage of being downtown? Accord-ing to the Borealis website, “We love riding the local Colorado Springs trails during lunch break.”

The next generation of health and wellness This summer, construction of Creekside at America the Beautiful Park will connect the park to the edge of Fountain Creek. It will enable use of the creek for recreation, and create wetlands and natural play areas. Funded by a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, the Downtown Development Authority, and Colorado Springs Utilities, Creekside is part of a greater effort to connect the loop of parks and trails envisioned by city founder General William Palmer. Also in planning stages, this Legacy Loop will create a 10K route along Monument Creek, connecting with Middle Shooks Run. The loop is designed to include underpasses to avoid busy street crossings, facilitating access for local walkers, runners, and bicyclists.

Downtown’s health and wellness story todayBeyond the headquarters of the United States Olympic Committee and numerous national governing sports bodies, active lifestyles and sport indus-tries are woven into the everyday fabric of downtown. Up to 2,000 runners attend the weekly Jack Quinn’s Running Club. Jimmy John’s deliveries are made by bicycle. Office workers go for runs along the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail, or walk to yoga studios, classes at the Tai Chi Association, and CityROCK climbing gym. Olympic athletes have become a frequent sight at

Ola juice bar, and retired athletes own businesses throughout downtown. Destination retail stores like Mountain Chalet, Runner’s Roost, Title Nine and Lululemon attract shoppers from miles around. From weekly UpaDowna bike rides to 5k runs and an upcoming half-marathon, opportunities for fit-ness and activity abound. With roots as a health destination, Colorado Springs today has grown to nearly 600,000 residents spread across 196 square miles, yet downtown remains central to the health and wellness of our community.

To learn more about outdoor activities and events, check DowntownCS.com.

DOWNTOWN COLORADO SPRINGS • WWW.DOWNTOWNCS.COM ~ 5 ~

Wellness and Sports, continued from page 3

Creekside at America the Beautiful Park and the Legacy Loop will bring people closer to the water for outdoor fun.

Zerbe

Phantom

Engaging ColoradoSince 1972

212 N. TejonDowntown Colorado Springs

719.635.3521www.ZerbeJewelers.com

Tues. - Fri. 10am - 5:30pmSat. 10am - 4pm

~ 6 ~

New to downtown, Stitch Studio opened in April 2014 in the Old Depot Building on Sierra Madre, just down from the former Giuseppe’s restaurant. Owners Jenna Hilb and Theresa Whitman have taken inspiration from their past to create a fun and inventive crafters heaven. With original classes, resale and consignment materials, organic and boutique fabrics, patterns, and yarns available nowhere else in the city, Stitch Studio brings a new class to craft. Q: What inspired you to open Stitch Studio?

Jenna: Theresa and I both worked at Fabric Bliss, a fabric store over on the Westside that closed after being open only 8 months. When they announced they were closing I thought, at the very least we still have to do classes. One thing I had noticed was that everything was so pricey. Crafting can be so expensive and I thought I have so much stuff in my house that I wished I could trade in! So I got the idea of a resale shop for craft supplies.

Theresa: When the store closed Jenna just said, “We can do this, we can totally do this,” and I said, “Ok!” So here we are.

Q: What do you like about being in the old depot building, and being downtown?

Jenna: We started looking for places, and we wanted to be downtown mostly because of the arts culture–it just fits us. There’s a lot more culture here than other places in town. People downtown are into local businesses, they’ll come to your shop just because you’re locally owned, which is something we appreciate. I’ve lived here my whole life and I was excited because everybody knows this building and this area. I had a few concerns, but Theresa really convinced me.

Theresa: Yeah, because there are trains! It’s a really nice location though. We were willing to put in the work to make our space what we needed it to be. Everybody likes the location since it’s right off the highway, easy to find, and there’s plenty of parking.

Q: Now that you’re open, what are your aspirations with Stitch Studio?

Jenna: We are one-of-a-kind here in the Springs – there’s really nothing else like Stitch Studio here in town. But it’s also a kind of sustainability and a frugal living thing.

We want to bring crafting to the masses, bring it back, make it popular with younger people again! Actually, we had two young guys–college kids–come in the other day to buy yarn for crocheting. They wanted to make beer koozies! These guys were dudes, and it was awesome! I was like “go tell your friends!” We want the young generation to get together and have something to do other than going out to the bar.

Theresa: Here’s the other thing: Everyone works in cubicles and offices now. You have nothing tangible to show you earned that paycheck, you have noth-ing sitting there in front of you where you can say “I made this.” Computers have really taken away our accomplishments! You come here, you make some-thing, and everyone’s face just lights up when they turn their project around and it’s theirs, they made it. That thrill right there is what everyone needs to have. It’s therapeutic!

Q: What can you tell us about the classes you offer?

Jenna: We have lots of different sewing and crocheting classes, and are plan-ning to do more things like fabric dying. Class sizes are no more than four people and about three hours. You just can’t give individual attention to more than six people, so we keep them really small. Most classes are a single session, and you’ll have a completed project by the end. Some projects take a bit more time and are two sessions, but we don’t want it to be a huge commitment. We also give a tutorial afterward so they can go home and repeat it. And there’s no prerequisite, most classes can be a beginner’s class. Some of the more advanced ones we ask them to at least have sewn before, but we are pretty flexible as far as meeting people at their skill level.

Theresa: We do things like skirts and aprons, bags and accessories - even dog collars. We work with fabrics and yarns, and also have classes on basics, like how your sewing machine works.

STITCH STUDIO: SPREADING THE LOVE OF CRAFTQ&A with Jenna Hilb and Theresa Whitman

Cloud 9 organic fabrics at Stitch Studio.

DOWNTOWN BUSINESS PROFILE

continued on page 7

DOWNTOWN COLORADO SPRINGS • WWW.DOWNTOWNCS.COM ~ 7 ~

Stitch Studio50 South Sierra Madre, Colorado Springs CO 80903

Services/goods: sewing classes, crochet classes, buy and sell fabric and yarn

Hours: Tues-Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 12pm-6pm; class hours vary

Contact: 719-422-9688 or stitchstudiocoloradosprings.com

COPPeR

FujiyamaThe bag shown here is typical of a class project.

Stitch Studio, continued from page 6

Q: Do you offer classes for kids?

Theresa: We’re offering kids camp this summer. It’s a day camp, three hours each day, and we’ll do finger crocheting, hand sewing, and some machine sewing. We’ll also start doing some single kids classes, probably when school starts up again. Like “Kids Crafternoons,” something where they could come after school for just an hour or two.

Jenna: We also have a class for ’tweens. A lot of our classes are for adults, but focus on things for kids, like toddler dresses or tops.

Q: Do you do parties?

Jenna: YES! We would love to do that, girls nights, baby showers, bridal showers, you name it!

POUNDING THE PAVEMENT: WALKING AND BIKE TOURSIf you’ve ever wondered who the bronze gentleman is standing on the west side of the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum, or what the giant pixie sticks were doing in front of City Hall last year, here’s your chance to be in the know.

The new Core Culture tour series provides a fun way to learn about the artwork, sculptures, and historic architecture of downtown Colorado Springs.

See it by footWalking tours take place the second Saturday of each month. These hour-long tours start with a hot coffee, and focus on one of three topics: • Creative Spaces - public art in public places.

From the annual Art on the Streets outdoor art exhibit to several permanent sculptures, this tour explores the public art that dots the streets and parks of downtown.

• Notable Faces - a collection of realistic bronze sculptures memorialize legendary civic founders. Visit the places and faces that helped to shape our city.

• Historic Places - historic architecture is one of the most distinctive features of downtown. Learn about architectural styles, the people who built them, and their uses throughout the decades.

If Saturday mornings aren’t your thing, try a Happy Hour walking tour on the third Thursday of each month. Kick off the tour with a happy hour drink, then spend a leisurely hour learning about the arts and culture of downtown.

Pedal to the pavementLooking for a bit more adventure? The new First Friday Bike Tours may be just the thing for you. Guided by UpaDowna, you’ll ride to several galleries and retailers on First Friday. Meet artists, enjoy live music and performances, and get a little physical activity in the mix, too.

The DeGraff Building, 2013; photo by Allison Daniell.

All tours are $10 per person. Saturday tours include a hot coffee or beverage of your choice, and Happy Hour tours include a happy hour beverage. Bikes and helmets provided for the bike tours, or supply your own.

Register by calling 719-886-0088 or online at www.DowntownCS.com/tours.

Fill your night with our local stars!

Find over 2,500 events, 300 cultural groups and 365 artists, day or night, with just one click ...

Your source for arts, culture and fun in the Pikes Peak region

Daily SpecialsLunch Monday-Friday (11am-2:30pm)50% Off Sushi and Rolls

22 S. Tejon • 719-630-1167 • Fujiyamasushi.com

Voted Best Japanese, Sushi and Tempura!

June 21 Grant Sabin and The BUS Band with Special Guest Joe Uveges

June 28 Chauncy Crandall and Eros and the Eschaton July 5 Curtis Boucher and Chimney Choir July 12 Moonhoney and Briffaut July 19 Water Bear and We Are Not A Glum Lot July 26 Jason Klobnak Jazz Quartet and New VintageAug 2 I Sank Molly Brown and El Toro de la Muerte

Saturday nights 6 p.m. at Acacia Park

ANB Bank

SUMMER EVENT & ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS

More events, activities, and details at DowntownCS.com

DOWNTOWN COLORADO SPRINGS • WWW.DOWNTOWNCS.COM

FREE Outdoor Concerts

First Friday Downtown When: First Friday of every month,

5-8 p.m. (some open later) Why: great opportunity to see art, meet

artists, and enjoy live music and other performances

Where: galleries throughout downtown

UpaDowna Pedal Party When: Every Wednesday, 6 p.m. Why: all ages, all abilities bike ride Where: starts at McCabe’s Tavern and

utilizes trails and streets down-town (pre-registration required)

Range Riders Street Breakfast When: June 18, starts at 5:30 a.m. Why: pancakes and live music for a

great cause Where: Pikes Peak Avenue/Tejon Street

10th Annual Pikes Peak Arts Festival When: July 4, 5 and 6, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Why: one-of-a-kind works of art by

more than 100 juried artists, plus food, performances and fun

Where: America the Beautiful Park

Rocky Mountain State Games Downtown Olympic Celebration When: July 25, starts at 5 p.m. Why: meet athletes, demonstrations,

live music, food and drink Where: Tejon Street between Kiowa

Street and Colorado Avenue

U.S.A. Pro Cycling Challenge When: August 21 Why: root for the world’s top cyclists

at one of the largest cycling events in U.S. history

Where: Streets of downtown

Summer months are packed with family-friendly events and activities, and many are FREE! Here are some you won’t want to miss:

“50 Years of Personalized Customer Service”For 50 years we’ve supported the Pikes Peak region. As an independent, community bank, we have a tradition of extending our valued customers the personal attention that sets us apart, along with a commitment to giving back to our communities. We continue to be dedicated to giving to a variety of charitable causes and community endeavors such as:

Alzheimer’s Association

Care & Share Food Bank

Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo

Pikes Peak Community Action Agency

Safe Passage

United Way

Cheyenne Village

Goodwill of Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity

Pikes Peak Hospice

“50 Years of Personalized Customer Service”“50 Years of Personalized Customer Service”…before it was the trend.

It’s our way of doing right by our neighbors and making ANB a � nancial institution worth banking on.Stop in today and see how ANB Bank can serve all of your personal and business banking needs.

719-473-0111 • ANBbank.com • Member FDIC

Cascade & Bijou • Circle & Uintah • Academy & CarefreeBriargate & Rangewood • Garden of the Gods & Forest Hill