Where’s the Beer? A Toast to the Great American Beer Festival
As the story goes, during a visit to England for the Great British Beer Festival in the early 1980s, Charlie Papazian – founder of the Great American Beer Festival and considered by many to be the godfather of American home brewing - turned to his British hosts and said that he thought it would be a good idea if the United States had its own beer festival. To which famed British beer and whiskey writer Michael Jackson replied dryly, “But where will you get the beer?” Jackson had a point. At the time the United States was home to less than 100 breweries. The nation’s brewing industry had been largely decimated by the effects of Prohibition and industry consolidation. Experts believed that by the turn of the century the United States would be down to two or three massive companies producing Budweiser, Miller and Coors – pretty much the same type of beer brewed to appeal to the masses. Papazian, however, had a different vision. He knew of bold entrepreneurs and upstart breweries that were trying[...]
Announcing Fresh Deck Premium Deck Service Plan
DeckTec is introducing a new premium deck maintenance plan for its valued clientele. “The Next Generation in Deck Protection,” the new Fresh Deck program will formally launch at the Colorado Garden & Home Show in Denver in February. Fresh Deck plan offers a consistently beautiful deck, peace of mind protection for your home and lifestyle, proactive inspections, hassle-free communications, in addition to the convenience of automatic scheduling, easy payments, bonus services, and more! Fresh deck clients will enjoy reduced lead times, structural multi-point deck inspections, and referral rebates. To guarantee premium service Fresh Deck will be limited to our top tier of current DeckTec Customers. Interested deck owners should contact DeckTec’s service department at 303-277-1550 for information and special introductory offers. Quality custom decks are the most cherished and highest-returning home improvement investment along the Front Range. With wood decks increasing in value and sophistication, so has the demand for specialized expert care and service. Colorado is an ideal environment for year-round outdoor living enjoyment. However, the region’s weather can pose challenges for finishing and maintaining[...]
Crispy Cauliflower “Wings” from Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza
Steve loved cauliflower “wings” from Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza so much that we talked them into giving us the recipe! Breading Mix Start with equal parts cornmeal and either wheat or rice flour (gluten free). Add salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper to taste. Mix evenly and set aside. Prep You can start with cauliflower florets or cut a whole head into bite-size pieces. Place the pieces in a mixing bowl and add enough buttermilk to coat the cauliflower, but not pool at the bottom. Once the cauliflower is coated in buttermilk, continue tossing and sprinkle with breading mix. Add enough mix so cauliflower is coated and not sticking together. It should appear fairly dry. Bake Place in preheated fryer at 350 degrees for approximately 2-3 minutes. Dip in your favorite dressing or sauce. Enjoy!! Dip Suggestions Ranch mix and milk is easy dressing! Frank’s RedHot and butter makes yummy hot sauce! Try soy sauce, lemon pepper, or just plain! Special Thanks To: Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza 1305 Washington Avenue, Golden www.woodysgolden.com 303-277-0443
If It’s Labor Day, Why Don’t We Have to Work?
From startups to natural foods Colorado is a bellwether state and has been ahead of the curve in so many ways. Did you know that the Centennial State was one of the first to give women the right to vote? We were also one of the very first states to celebrate Labor Day. That’s right – Coloradans like a good day off when we see one! The very first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City in 1882. It was organized by the Central Labor Union and about 10,000 laborers marched in that first of many “workingmen’s” parades. There were some Labor Day holidays held at the municipal level in 1885 and 1886. In February 1887 Oregon was the first to make Labor Day a state holiday, after which four more states – our beloved Colorado along with Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – followed suit later that year. Before long Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania jumped on the Labor Day bandwagon and in 1894, by which point 23 states had enacted their own Labor[...]
Don’t Neglect Your Deck
Schedule Now to Protect and Restore! Thank you for allowing us to service and maintain your deck. This year’s especially cool, wet and unpredictable Colorado weather diminished decks that haven’t been regularly and properly refinished or maintained. When summer hits, the hot and dry summer days and the classic monsoons can exacerbate the issue and reduce your deck’s life. Fortunately, deck neglect can be corrected with a quality refinishing or protective deck maintenance application by DeckTec. Be sure your deck is ready for whatever Colorado has in store. Call Adam today at 720.388.1210 or visit DeckTec.com/Deck-Refinishing before the hot and dry weather impacts the finish on your deck. Enjoy every summer opportunity, as well as the gorgeous fall season and protect your deck for winter!
DeckTec’s Guide to the Best Farmers Markets
Go local and get your fresh on! Farmers market season is happily upon us, and with so many great locations and schedules to choose from, the only problem is deciding where to go first! Each market has its own unique vendors and flavors, so go ahead and explore off your beaten path. Be sure to check out other great markets in Evergreen, Wheat Ridge, Berkeley Lake, Littleton, Highlands Ranch and to the north, Longmont, Louisville and Lafayette. Union Station 1701 Wynkoop Street Saturdays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., May 11 – October 26 New! RINO Boxyard Park, 2500 Broadway Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. June 15 – October 12 Old South Pearl Street From Buchtel to Jewell Avenues Sundays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., May 19 – November 27 Cherry Creek Cherry Creek Shopping Center 1st Avenue and University Blvd. Saturdays 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., May 4 – October 26 Wednesdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., June 12 – September 25 City Park Esplanade Sullivan Fountain, 2551 E. Colfax Avenue Sunday 9 a.m. to[...]
Deck-Worthy Cocktails Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails
Ingredients 1/4 c. water 1/4 c. granulated sugar 8 c. diced seedless watermelon (1 lb.) 1/4 c. fresh lime juice 1 3/4 c. blueberries 3/4 c. lightly packed fresh mint leaves 8 mint sprigs for garnish 1 1/4 c. silver tequila ice Directions In small saucepan, bring water and sugar to simmer. Stir over moderate heat until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Let sugar syrup cool. In a blender, puree watermelon until smooth. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and strain watermelon juice, pressing gently on the solids to extract maximum juice. Discard pulp. In a large pitcher, combine sugar syrup with lime juice, blueberries and mint leaves. Using a wooden spoon, lightly muddle blueberries and mint. Add watermelon juice and tequila. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. Pour cocktail into tall ice-filled glasses. Garnish with mint sprigs and serve.
Passionate about Outdoor Living
Ever since I can remember, every holiday, birthday and family event were held outside on the deck and patio if the weather allowed. Beginning with landscaping as a summer job in high school, my career evolved through landscaping, sunrooms and cedar homes before I came to specialize in decks and outdoor living. Not everyone sees a deck and patio the same way. Builders and architects usually see these additions as a necessary extension of the house (if they give any thought to it at all). Typically in the past its main function was as a way to get out of the house with a little space for a grill and table. Mostly square and very generic, this is what we currently refer to as a “builder deck.” Having begun my career in landscaping, I have always viewed a deck and patio area differently, more a part of the overall outdoor living environment, or at least a transitional space that blends the home into the outdoors. I’ve always wondered why anyone would settle for just a deck,[...]
Meet Our Hardy Hardwoods: Mahogany and Ipe
With decks such an important space in today’s homes, it makes sense for quality-conscious homeowners to seek out premium materials to enhance the appeal and durability of their outdoor living additions. Clients are rediscovering the unique qualities and value of certain tropical hardwoods like red balau mahogany and ipe (pronounced “ee-pay”). In addition to the rich, natural beauty, longevity and scratch resistance of these hardwoods, Colorado’s increasing frequency and severity of hail storms make ipe and mahogany great choices. There can be a lot of confusion about the names of these materials. Like cedar, pine and other types of wood, there are many different varieties of mahogany, and many different common names, in addition to the scientific botanical names. For example, ipe is also referred to as Brazilian walnut, Brazilian redwood, and ironwood. (Start Planning: DeckTec's Buyer's Guide) While there are many other types of hardwood available, DeckTec focuses on mahogany and ipe because of their overall availability and because of their availability in the specific dimensions of lumber needed for our custom construction projects. Ipe[...]
Plan Your Perfect Southwest Road Trip
Relative newcomers to Colorado may have experienced relatively mild and dry winters, however, to long-time residents, this last winter season has been more like we remember (in the past) with regular snow and consistently cool, if not cold, temperatures. Now’s the time to chase the winter chills out of your bones under the warmth of the beaming southwestern sun! The good news is that here in the metro area we’re within a day’s drive of some of the most beautiful and interesting places on earth, popular destinations such as Santa Fe and Taos, the Four Corners area with Mesa Verde National Park, Utah’s Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and Moab – a jeep and off-road mecca – and lots more as you’ll in our “Southwest Attractions” below. These are high desert areas that can be quite hot if you wait till summer. In the spring, everything is green and if conditions are right there are incredible trails for hiking and biking. The not-so-good news is that there are millions of people living here and most everyone[...]
Recent Works
