Little India in Downtown Denver Bursts with Flavors

 By: Antoinette Simonetti, Practicum Reporter                

With four locations surrounding the Denver metro area, Little India is well-known for its unique spices and flavors, courtesy of the Baidwan family, who founded the restaurant in 1998. Out of curiosity – after reading so many outstanding reviews – I decided to check out the downtown Denver location.

The central shop is located at 1533 Champa St, making it difficult to find parking, and when parking was finally found, it was a four-block walk to the restaurant. There’s a parking garage across the street from Little India, but it’s a pricey$25 charge.

On the initial approach, it seemed like the perfect summer hangout: The restaurant boasts a spacious outdoor patio for the summertime and a cozy comfortable hideaway for the wintertime. After walking through a narrow corridor entrance, I observed how small the space was for such a well-known restaurant, yet it could be perceived as adding to the “feel” of the place. The lighting was dim and tinted orange and yellow, which made the restaurant glow.

 With a wide variety of menu choices, such as masala, naan and curry dishes, there is a lot to choose from. The menu offers gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options for all kinds of diners. From my research of the restaurant, I learned the saag curry is the most popular dish. Saag is a vegetarian dish that incorporates spinach, mustard greens, cumin, turmeric, coriander and garlic.

With my excitement about trying this popular, traditional Indian dish, I was happy to see my server approach with a glass of water, ready to answer my questions about the menu. My server was exceptional at explaining the tastes of the various dishes. All around, the service was fantastic.

After only 20 minutes with a packed restaurant, my saag was served and ready to enjoy. The meal was separated by the bowl of curry and a tray of rice. I appreciated that they were separate because I could choose the amount of curry I wanted mixed in with the rice. My first bite provided an immediate burst of flavor. The saag had an earthy, unique texture and taste. The meal was extremely addicting, it was so delicious. Regardless of how full I was getting, I wanted to keep eating it.

Not only did I have exceptional service on a busy night at Little India, but the food was superb and arrived very fast. I definitely would come back to this location and enjoy another meal. I amconfident that the next plate I try will be delicious and well explained by staff. I would recommend this restaurant to my friends, coworkers and family.

Ski resorts are being blessed with heavy snowfall this season; here’s why

By: Joshua Lenahan, Practicum Reporter

Blue Sky Basin at Vail opened Nov. 29this year – more than a month earlier than last year. Aspen Highlands had the earliest opening since 1992. As of Nov. 9, the Loveland Ski Area had had the best opening in its 81-year history, passing the 10-foot mark before December. Breckenridge had fewer than five runs open this time last year; now nearly 100 percent of the runs are open. 

“It’s absolutely dumping, and has been since October,” said a 10-year ski patrol veteran at Copper Mountain. “It doesn’t even compare to last year and we’re loving it.” 

The heavy snowfall seems to have caught every major ski area in the state. The totals are nothing short of jarring compared to last season’s snow tally. 

Keeping in mind the records that so many ski resorts are reporting, how good is this season? How does it compare to normal years (surely, the totals could feel exaggerated when compared to last year’s extreme lack of snow)? 

Well, Colorado is still in a drought, but it’s beginning to catch up. With 20 percent of the state, mostly in the Southwest, in extreme drought, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System, there’s a lot of catching up that needs to be done. Vail has the most ski terrain open than any resort in North America right now with 4,200 acres in total, and they’re considered to be in a severe drought. 

The high snowfall totals were only one piece to the puzzle that is this season. Consistent cold temperatures has kept the snow on the ground and blessed snowmakers with ideal snowmaking conditions. Snowmakers were able to blow snow to form safe bases for early season skiing. Some high winds earlier in the season helped pack down the snow and form a base for the areas that snowmakers can’t get to. This was important for places like A-basin, which rely heavily on natural snowfall instead of man-made snow. It also helped the higher and harder-to-access terrain elsewhere. 

Early-season starts are heralded not only by ski resorts, but other businesses too. Restaurants, ski shops, dispensaries and hotels benefit from the massive flocks of tourists. 

This season hasn’t been without challenges, however. A heavy early-season snowfall also means heavy early-season avalanches. With avalanches being reported as early as mid-October, the mountains aren’t messing around this season. Additionally, good ski conditions bring tourists, which means traffic, which means accidents. Mid-November brought its fair share of accidents on I-70, but the worst was a multi-car pile up that resulted in four tragic deaths.  

With snow totals piling up fast, resorts are opening new terrain and new lifts, and new skiing opportunities are being offered. The Alterra Mountain Co. introduced the Ikon Pass, a new all-season option for riders, and coincidentally picked what most might consider the best season in years to do so. 

Reality Check: The Ups and Downs of a Holiday UPS Job

By: Antoinette Simonetti, Practicum Reporter

With the holiday season upon us, the stress to find the perfect gift for a loved one is at an all-time high. 

This perfect gift may only be one click away, except who is going to deliver it?

It may not arrive from a heavyset man with a long white beard in a red suit and hat, but rather from your local UPS driver dressed like a potato. On average, UPS delivers 20 million packages and documents every day.

I have had worked for UPS as a driver’s seasonal helper for the past two years and, to say the least, it’s a difficult position. I’ve gained a tremendous amount of respect for UPS drivers.

The position requires employees to lift over 70 pounds, be able to work a long day outside in the cold, and be ready for the ultimate butt-whooping. In the job description, they try to educate and prepare you for the long, physical and energy-draining days to come. On the bright side, the pay is $20 an hour plus overtime. 

My first day on the job, I was told to meet my driver at 3423 Rt. 206 at 8:00 a.m. sharp, and if I was late, the driver would be forced to leave and continue the work day without me. 

Of course I arrived on time, bundled with two pairs of thick leggings, a fleece and winter coat, gloves (with hand warmers inside), and a thick hat with the addition of the very fashionable thin, brown UPS vest with yellow reflectors going down both sides. I was ready to go.

Envisioning this job as a workout, I felt more confident working at a fast pace. 

At first glance, I couldn’t believe how many packages were stocked in the back of the truck. It was like the Great Wall of China except with Amazon boxes. 

I thought to myself, how in the world are we going to complete this in 12 hours? 

As the day began, I learned how to scan packages and become a productive member of the team.

The process of buckling the seatbelt, then .5 seconds later unbuckling it, grabbing and scanning a  package, walking up a long, uphill driveway to deliver it in a discrete corner – and doing it over and over again – was becoming tedious and tiresome, especially in the snow. 

With sweat underneath my clothing in the 10-degree weather after working only seven hours, I was exhausted, to say the least. It didn’t matter if I was tired, we still had a half a truck to go. 

From 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., my first work day at UPS was near its end. With a stuffy nose, pounding headache, growling stomach, sore muscles, and no capacity to think, I was beyond ready to get in bed for the night. 

It’s not any easy position, but the pay made it a worthwhile job during the holidays, especially for a college student. 

Start getting out your checkbooks, people, and don’t forget to tip your UPS driver during the holidays. They do every day of the year what I struggled to do for one week. They deserve it. 

Beau Jo's in Idaho Springs

Photo source: newdenizen.com and gastronomblog.com

By: Antoinette Simonetti, Practicum Reporter

With six locations around the east side of the state – in Evergreen, Arvada, Idaho Springs, Ft. Collins, Longmont and Steamboat Springs – Beau Jo’s is well-known for its “mountain crust” pizza. The Idaho Springs location is off I-70, so it’s a great stop-in spot for hungry travelers. 

The restaurant has been open for more than 40 years and attracts locals and tourists alike who enjoy dipping the thick and doughy crust in honey, a Colorado tradition. The dough is even made with honey. 

“That’s right; our dough uses natural sweetener instead of sugar – after a good roll-out and toss, our crust is braided, allowing an unspeakable amount of toppings, sauce, and cheese to be cradled and baked – we call this the containment system and you can’t get it anywhere else in the state.” 

I had to check it out. 

The drive to the Idaho Springs location from the Northwest Denver Campus takes 55 minutes, accompanied by beautiful mountain scenery. The restaurant is visible from the highway with a big “Beau Jo’s” sign. The town itself is nudged up against the mountain side, surrounded by many shops, breweries and other restaurants. 

Although there’s a parking lot that costs $10 for the whole day, the most convenient place to park is on the street, where the parking meter costs $1for an hour. 

Walking in to the aged building, it smells fantastic. The circular hostess stand has its own room separated from the dining rooms. The wait for a table was only 15 minutes and the waiting room was spacious and comfortable.  

The style of the restaurant is rustic and maintains an old Colorado mining vibe. 

After being seated, our server approached with water and pointed me in the direction of the salad bar. Knowing what I was going to get on the menu – the famous mountain crust pizza with honey – I ordered immediately. 

Within 20 minutes the pizza was served on a circular, raised tray leaving enough room on the table for my plate and the rest of my personal belongings. The thick crust was shaped into a spiral leaving creases to pour the honey. The pizza had a hint of sweetness and the cheese and sauce were fresh and unique to my tastebuds. 

The service was great. I was approached to make sure I was enjoying the meal and was asked if I needed anything else and was constantly served with a smile.  

I would recommend Beau Jo’s to a friend visiting the area, a local who has a sweet tooth, and anyone who is interested in having the famous Colorado “mountain crust” experience. The food was tasty, the service was exceptional and the experince was unforgetable. 

The Western Netflix that Needed

By: Joshua Lenahan, Practicum Reporter

The short attention-spanned, bingeaholic, audiences of 2018 are tough to produce movies for, but if anyone can pull it off, would it not be the Coen brothers? 

“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” is the Coen brother’s elegant response to a changing cinema audience. With six distinct chapters, The Ballad keeps viewers interested by telling a new story every 20 minutes or so, appealing to the short attention span of today’s Netflix-gorging viewers. An interesting platform for a Coen brothers release, Netflix’s decision to work with the duo resonates with its attempts to bring not only more, but higher quality, original TV shows and movies to the site, which is under the stress of new competition in the streaming world. 

The richest part of the movie is hands down the characters. While we only get to know them for a short period, they leave deeper impressions in 20 minutes than most characters in feature length films. Add in an all-star cast, and the characters become increasingly memorable. Rich, unique characters are combined with carefully scripted dialogue (and monologues), then paired with beautiful shots filmed all over the West. It all adds up to a satisfying viewing experience that’s becoming increasingly rare. 

An emotional rollercoaster, the plot twists and turns throughout each story while playing with viewers’ emotions. Drawn out, but intricate dialogue is complemented by quick plot twists that rapidly move the film along. They mix in tragedy with laughter and put depressing moments next to silly ones – a new concept for a Western. Hopefully, this movie sparks a wave of new Western films.  

The choice to release the film both in theaters and on Netflix is an interesting one for sure but emphasizes the actual experience of going to the movies. Directors of “Fargo,” “The Big Lebowski,” “No Country for Old Men,” among others, it isn’t surprising the Coen brothers have produced a hit like this. In today’s cinematic landscape, it’s refreshing nonetheless. 

The last tale in the movie ends with a long section of back-and-forth dialogue, songs and philosophical thought; it’s a deep reminder of the kind of movie the Coen brothers can produce. The story even ends with a conversation about death, a lesser friendly reminder of how harsh the West was years ago.

Every story is a struggle with death in one way or another, but many are watered down with laughter and wittiness. The last story ends the movie on a solemn note, but it respectively ties up the golden thread of the movie’s many scenarios, proving again that the Coen brothers rarely disappoint. 

Must watch Netflix shows/movies for break

By: Rose Ferrie, Staff Reporter

Rose’s Picks:

1. Queer Eye

2. Stardust

3. Friday

4. Parks and Recreation

5. New Girl

6. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

7. Merlin

8. Big Mouth

9. Fullmetal Alchemist- Brotherhood

10. Sense 8

Coming Soon:

1. The Bird Box

Comedy Specials:

1. Trevor Noah- Son of Patricia

2. John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons

3. John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City

4. Bert Kreischer- Secret Time

5. Hasan Minhaj- Homecoming King

6. Ali Wong- Baby Cobra

Hero Movies/Shows:

1. Black Panther

2. Guardians of The Galaxy (1 and 2)

3. Thor Ragnarok

4. The Defenders (and all of their seperate TV Shows)

Rom-Coms:

1. Sixteen Candles

2. #realityhigh

3. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

4. The Kissing Booth

5. Set It Up

Holiday movies:

1. The Princess Switch

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

3. Love Actually

4. A Very Murray Christmas

Disney movies:

1. Emperor’s New Groove

2. Beauty and the Beast

3. Moana

4. Coco

5. Lilo & Stitch

6. Atlantis The Lost Empire

7. Tarzan

8. Hercules

9. Mulan