For over 30 years, 5280 magazine has served its readers as an essential guide to life in the Mile-High City and beyond. Throughout those three decades, the publication has stayed true to its original mission: proudly locally owned and strongly committed to delivering award-winning journalism that tells Denver’s story with authority and style. Each month, 5280 covers the greatest and latest in dining, culture, wellness, travel, and adventure content.

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Full Spectrum • The creator of Black in Denver on how the series found new purpose following the Black Lives Matter protests.

Relationship Goals • If absence makes the heart grow fonder, quarantine prepares it for commitment. That’s what customers have been telling Jeffery Bolling, ring designer and owner of Jeffery B Jewelers in Cherry Creek. And with the holidays already a popular time for proposals, we put Bolling on the spot by popping either-or trend questions (his answers in bold) in preparation for engagement season.

Out Of Range • Denver’s park rangers reconcile conflicting roles while fighting the opioid and homelessness crises.

ROLL CALL • Every four years, politicians tell us that this November’s election is the biggest, most consequential ever—this month’s push to the polls being no different. But what ballot decision has actually shaped the state more than any other? Even experts have a difficult time agreeing on an answer.

SKIN DEEP • Fastidious hand-washing is an essential part of staving off the novel coronavirus—but it’s not doing much for your skin. Raw cuticles and dry patches don’t have to be your destiny, though, as long as you follow our prompts to find the best Colorado-made lotions and balms to soothe your specific epidermis woe.

Helping Hands • Let a butcher shop and cafe in Aurora bring the flavors of Mexico and the Mediterranean to your Thanksgiving feast.

On Pizza Alone • A restaurant critic solves a local Neapolitan-style mystery: takeout, kit, or homemade?

Safe Return • Twelve years ago, curators at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science realized it held stolen artifacts. What it took to get them home highlights the complex nature of decolonizing museums.

HIGHER GEAR • Colorado is home to thousands of acres of the world’s most epic terrain—and to cutting-edge inventors, ski bums, and pro athletes who are making some of the best gadgets, gizmos, toys, and tools to help you explore it. Here, a guide to assembling the ultimate Centennial State stash.

THE PIONEERS • Today it’s easy to find supplies for traversing the backcountry, but decades ago, we weren’t so lucky. Thankfully, these inventors used their wits and wilderness experiences to create goods that help recreationists not just survive but also truly enjoy the great outdoors.

GEARING UP • Three go-to outfitters.

FOR STARTERS • It doesn’t take long to accumulate enough gear to overflow a closet (or garage), but figuring out where to begin can be intimidating—and expensive. John Weir, the floor manager at Golden’s Bentgate Mountaineering, says beginners should think about building their collections in terms of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: Start with things that keep you stable and secure, and then work up to more indulgent wants.

THE NEWBIES • Though these companies are each only about a decade old, they’ve quickly established themselves as gear gods in the making.

SHOW BUSINESS • Every summer since 1982, Outdoor Retailer has given gear makers a chance to market their wares. Every summer except this one, that is.

GIFTABLE GEAR • Four Centennial State–made presents to put under the tree this holiday season.

THE CONSUMMATE CAMPING SETUP • While many outdoor sports have high barriers to entry (navigational experience, avalanche safety...