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One of my favorite things about working at 5280 is the variety of stories I have the pleasure of reading each month before we go to press. As you peruse this issue, you’ll find features that range from what we call reader service (“Winter In The City” ; “Find Your Bliss” ) to a beautiful photo portfolio (“The Chronicles Of Colfax”) to a unique package on people doing selfless things in our community (“The 5280 Guide To Building, Growing, Doing, Teaching, Inspiring, Being Good,” page 112). Our big read this month profiles several of your and my neighbors who have experienced homelessness and takes an in-depth look at how Denver’s attempts to address the issue have been largely unsuccessful (“Our Town“).
And that’s just one month of stories. This year alone, we’ve written about topics as diverse as immigration, police brutality, suicide, and veterans’ issues. We’ve profiled a soccer coach and a skiing wunderkind and detailed the epic fall of the University of Colorado football program. And, of course, we’ve provided incisive reporting on Denver’s booming restaurant scene, the Front Range’s medical community, and the state’s tourism industry. All these disparate articles are part of the wonderful weirdness of producing a general-interest magazine. In an era of vertical media outlets and extreme audience segmentation, what I love most as an editor is still being able to provide a diverse group of stories to 5280 readers each month.
Which brings me back to this issue’s features, which are so varied they might even appear contradictory (best spas and homelessness—in the same magazine?!). And you know what? These stories are contradictory, much like Denver is as it wrestles with the growth that comes with being one of the most popular cities in the nation for transplants, both young and old. Subjects like the ones you’ll find in this issue may appear to be strange bedfellows, but that’s part of the tension of living in a vibrant, constantly evolving city. Denver is thriving, and we can quite literally see the exciting changes happening in real time. But there are also significant problems that affect all of us—homelessness is just one of them—and we and our elected officials must address these in serious, substantive ways. We consider it our responsibility to highlight the good, the bad, and the ugly—to bring you a snapshot of the city as it is each and every month. There’s a lot to read in the following pages; I hope you’ll find something that’s entertaining, enlightening, and informative. And, as always, don’t hesitate to let us know what you think as we continue to chronicle the Mile High City.
