Colorado Springs Independent

Look out! It's a Super-Sized Bonus CineFiles!

Louis Fowler — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:38:00 -0600

Most weeks, I review more DVDs than the Indy can fit into print. You can look for extra write-ups here, on the IndyBlog.…

Sand bags to the rescue

Pam Zubeck — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:08:00 -0600

Today's drippy skies serve as a reminder that people who live in a potential flood zone can pick up some sand bags today, compliments of the Colorado Springs Office of Emergency Management.

They're available today starting at 5 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless building, 2424 Garden of the Gods Road, the city says in a news release.…

Voodoo Doughnut expanding into Denver

Matthew Schniper — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:46:00 -0600

One of the first places that travelers to Portland, Ore. aim for is Voodoo Doughnut. The shop is legendary, from multiple TV appearances to Rogue's Bacon Maple Ale tribute.…

Help two CC alums 'rediscover' the prairie

Edie Adelstein — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:22:00 -0600

In 1806, Thomas Jefferson predicted that it would take 100 generations or more to inhabit the western U.S. He had sent Lewis and Clark to forge a path from the Missouri River to the sea and inspect the vast lands the country had just acquired via the Louisiana Purchase.

It didn't take 100 generations.…

Tom Nalen named to Broncos' Ring of Fame

Bryce Crawford — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:18:00 -0600

Gary Zimmerman may have been the quintessential ’90s-era Denver Broncos offensive lineman — with his reticence to talk to the media, generally undersized frame and maniacal zone-blocking tendencies — but it was like-minded center Tom Nalen who always had my heart.

That shaggy dude was the linchpin for every success enjoyed by the cast-off running backs that coach Mike Shanahan would pull from the dregs of the draft, and for it he'll join 23 other former players in the team's Ring of Fame.…

Frack war tonight in Boulder

Matthew Schniper — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:41:00 -0600

If for some reason you can't make (or wait for) tomorrow night's screening of Gasland Part II at UCCS, you could always leave for Boulder. Like, now-ish.…

Fighting gravity at the Colorado Springs Airport

John Hazlehurst — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Make the first seven days of long-term parking free. by John Hazlehurst Slow news day? Not to worry — our irascible mayor will make something happen.…

Todd Snider trips the life fantastic

Chris Parker — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

The folk-punk-hippie troubadour gets by with a little help from his drugs by Chris Parker In some ways, closing night MeadowGrass festival headliner Todd Snider is the living embodiment of Richard Linklater's film, Slacker. While a football player at his Beaverton, Ore., high school, Snider literally turned on, tuned in, and dropped out after sampling some psychedelic mushrooms.…

The park's toxic neighbor and renewable rural energy

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Letters Editor, 235 S. Nevada Ave., CS, CO 80903 • e-mail: letters@csindy.com If your comments are mailed or e-mailed to us, we'll consider them for publication — unless you request otherwise.…

Mari-wanna?

Kendall Kullman — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Even though the state will allow commercial sales of recreational cannabis, local governments can still ban it. by Kendall Kullman Even though the state will allow commercial sales of recreational cannabis, local governments can still ban it. And Colorado Springs City Council is expected to consider the issue soon.…

Showcase shifts, MeadowGrass firsts, and a timely benefit

Bill Forman — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Reverb by Bill Forman Does Joe Pug look like the kind of guy who would steal songs? Of course he does.…

Manitou leaders say visitors and residents will be protected in a flood

J. Adrian Stanley — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Fear not, tourists by J. Adrian Stanley As of May, Saturday and Sunday driving along Manitou Avenue has become a miserable experience. The cars are bumper-to-bumper.…

Bar and club gigs in the region

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Playing Around Venue directory 2 South Wine Bar, 2 S. 25th St., 351-2806…

Going hungry in Houston

Jim Hightower — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

An ordinance dating way back to 1942 says that "molesting garbage containers" is illegal. by Jim Hightower Whenever one of our cities gets a star turn as host of some super-sparkly event such as a national political gathering or a Super Bowl, its first move is to tidy up — by having the police sweep homeless people into jail, out of town, or under some rug. But the tidy-uppers of Houston, Texas, aren't waiting for a world-class event to rationalize going after homeless down-and-outers.…

As water worries complicate its fight with the city, Smokebrush plans to relocate

Pam Zubeck — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Digging in, but heading out by Pam Zubeck Two months ago, the Smokebrush Foundation sued Colorado Springs over carcinogens blowing onto its property from a city demolition site. The suit remains ongoing, but executive director Don Goede says Smokebrush won't be holding tight as it plays out; instead, the foundation will up and move.…

Seven days to live

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

22 Wednesday film…

Manitou could try a 'density cap' for recreational pot

Bryce Crawford — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

CannaBiz by Bryce Crawford Beware the banhammer Last Wednesday, during his monthly press conference, Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach said he'd be going to City Council on May 28 to tell them his opinion on what the city should do regarding recreational-marijuana stores.…

Vampire Weekend, LL Cool J, The Dillinger Escape Plan

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Sound Advice Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City…

Indy demands severance contracts from city

Independent staff — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

by Independent staff Severance agreements between Mayor Steve Bach and numerous city employees should be released in accord with open records laws, according to a letter submitted to the city Monday on behalf of the Independent. The city has denied access to the agreements, although it has released the amounts paid to some 23 employees since Bach was elected in mid-2011.…

A not-so-open relationship

Amy Alkon — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

With friends like her, who needs bar fights? by Amy Alkon Smells like libertine spirit I got involved with my co-host on my Web show — a woman in an "open relationship" with her live-in boyfriend of two years.…

Major concerts in Colorado

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Big Gigs Rehab, Black Sheep, May 24 • MeadowGrass Music Festival, feat. Blitzen Trapper, Dawes, Todd Snider, La Foret Conference & Retreat Center, May 24-26 • Logic, Black Sheep, May 25 • Trapt, Black Sheep, May 26 • Escape the Fate, Black Sheep, May 27 • Ivan & Alyosha, Black Sheep, May 28 • Dropkick Murphys, Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, May 29 • Beware of Darkness, Black Sheep, May 30 • Scale the Summit, Black Sheep, May 31 • Buddy Whittington with the Atomic Fireballs, Crystola Roadhouse, Woodland Park, May 31 • Bassnectar, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, May 31-June 1 • Atlas Genius, Black Sheep, June 1 • Fleetwood Mac, Pepsi Center, Denver, June 1 • Gina Sicilia, Venue 515, Manitou Springs, June 1 • Taylor Swift, Pepsi Center, Denver, June 2 • The Mowgli's, Black Sheep, June 3 • The xx, Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, June 3 • Sting, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 5 • Darius Rucker, with Rodney Atkins, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 6 • Umphrey's McGee, Dr. Dog, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 7 • Celtic Woman, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 9 • Logic, with Skizzy Mars, Summit Music Hall, Denver, June 11 • Pitbull/Ke$ha, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood, June 11 • Trace Bundy, The Loft, June 14 • DeVotchKa, with the Colorado Symphony, Amanda Palmer, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 14 • Fitz & The Tantrums, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, June 14 • Datsik, Ogden Theatre, Denver, June 14-15 • Tim McGraw, Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood, June 15 • Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, June 17 • Tony Bennett with Antonia Bennett, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, June 18-19 •…

City and county oil and gas regulations

Pam Zubeck — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

by Pam Zubeck El Paso County commissioners adopted oil and gas regulations in early 2012. While they at first insisted on retaining authority over water quality, they backed off after the Colorado Attorney General's Office muscled in to say oil and gas rules fall under the state's jurisdiction.…

Recalling a past public-safety sham, Josh Fox returns to the fracking fracas

Matthew Schniper — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Contami-Nation by Matthew Schniper Of all things flammable in the wide world, tap water shouldn't be one of them. At least that's the consensus — call it crazy — among environmentalists and fracking foes, for whom the phenomena, supposedly brought on by nearby hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas extraction, has grown into quite a powerful symbol.…

Putting the 'tea' in trouble

Rich Tosches — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

At issue are conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. by Rich Tosches If less than the entire value of the trust (or other property) that the donor has included in Parts 1 and 3 of Schedule A is entered as a deduction on line 4, the donor shall be considered to have made an election only as to a fraction of the trust (or other property). The numerator of this fraction is equal to the amount of the trust (or other property) deducted on Schedule A, Part 4, line 6.…

Fracking's eco-impact

Matthew Schniper — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Long Story Short by Matthew Schniper While preparing for my interview with controversial Gasland filmmaker Josh Fox last week (see here), I spoke with an old friend who'd not-long-ago left the notoriously underpaid world of cheffing to become a rather lucratively compensated oil driller. Or fracker, if you wish.…