Here at WideFoc.us, we understand our fellow busy Denverites don’t have the time to go wandering around looking for cool things to do here in the Queen City of the Plains so we’ve compiled a small list of wicked rad things for you to do during this last long weekend of May. It’s all about the experience, people. Go. Live. Denver Day of Rock – May 28 The WideFoc.us fam loves FREE events, so when we heard about Denver Day of Rock we broke into our happy dances (and yes, they’re something to behold). The one-day music event takes over the 16th Street Mall on Memorial Day weekend to benefit Amp The Cause (a nonprofit organization that improves the livelihood of children). 2016 Denver Day of Rock performers will include: POPFILTER, Mark Broussard, Dearling, The Burroughs, Austin Young Band, Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers, The Railbenders and many more. Get all the details and full lineup! The Big Wonderful – Every Saturday until June 25 If you don’t already know about The Big Wonderful, have you been living in a cave somewhere? Come out of the darkness and join us in the awesomeness that combines art, music, food, and fashion. The Big Wonderful isn’t a weekly festival; it’s an experience. With three different locations (sadly, that number is soon to drop to two when the RiNo location shuts down after June 11), you have zero excuses to stay inside and overwork your Netflix subscription. Experience the wonderful! Yoga Rocks the Park – May 29 We all want to at least pretend we’re in shape, right? So why not go pretend with hundreds of other people at Denver’s own Sunken Garden Park. We know what you’re thinking: “I’m not really a yoga person.” Well neither are we, (okay, Rachel, one of our community managers, is, but the rest of us can relate), but we’re out there working on our downward dogs anyway. Yoga Rocks is no regular yoga; there’s a DJ and you can feel extra zen after you donate to Food Bank of the Rockies. Take comfort in knowing that most attendees aren’t pro yogis and will be shaking in their yoga pants just like you. Learn more. The Big Lebowski at Film on The Rocks – May 30 The Dude abides. And this weekend, he does so at Red Rocks Amphitheater. If you’ve never been to Film on the Rocks because it’s too far, or too cold, or too whatever, you’re missing out. There’s nothing more Dude-like than drinking a cold beer, listening to a local band, taking in a cartoon, and then watching one of the funniest, most philosophical, and just plain crazy movies ever made. If nothing else, do it for those of us that will be hungover on Tuesday after the holiday. Nothing cures a wicked hangover like a solid “Lebowski” quote. Learn more, Donny. --by Stephanie March Stephanie March is a Denver native (people seem to like this detail), who hates hiking and the mountains, but will travel for a cold PBR and an enlightening convo about the awesomeness of Anais Nïn. She’s a community manager and specializes in sending semi-inappropriate GIFs to her team members. It’s a skill, people.

Bold, in-depth cover stories about social media always fill me with a mix of apprehension and optimism. Coverage in mainstream media means that marketing communications’ use of social tools is finally being taken seriously by older generations in leadership positions. That’s good for business at WideFoc.us, and better for consumers like me, who use social media every day—to cultivate personal and professional relationships, to share what we’re doing or learning or reading (or eating), and to make buying decisions. When companies or nonprofits I care about use social media well, I feel more informed about my decisions, empowered to share my positive experiences, and am predisposed to return as a customer or donor. So I had that familiar frisson when I saw the cover of Harvard Business Review’s March magazine, which touted the article “Branding in the Age of Social Media.” Its author seemed to have true bona fides (former Harvard and Oxford professor turned founder of an agency), but I also knew I should gird myself against big pronouncements and limited practical information. Author Douglas Holt’s thesis, that the use of social media for branding has turned out to be largely disappointing due to companies’ and creative agencies’ expenditures of obscene sums of money to create branded content, is insightful and sort of interesting. Especially if you actually conduct branding for a firm that has an enormous marketing budget. His coining of the term “crowdculture” for the way digital creators form their own niches, co-opt brands, and create their own (much more interesting) content hearkens back to something the visionary author William Gibson said to me in an interview way back at the turn of the century. He told me that the new “bohemias” were happening online—the confabs of misfits and artists, niche hoarders of media and inside jokes, and the original meme creators (remember “All your base are belong to us”?) weren’t gathering together in grottos and sketchy neighborhoods anymore. They were finding their tribes online. But, as is so often the case with articles like these, where the author proclaims definitively that something has failed, the reality of the situation is much more nuanced. If you run a giant digital agency or are CMO of a multi-billion dollar consumer brand and you put the majority of your budget into branded content that you’re hoping will “go viral,” then you’re missing the point and the power of social media. But if you’re a communications manager of a national nonprofit or a chain of retail stores, or you’re the founder of a burgeoning startup, or the marketing director of a medium-sized tech solutions company, then splashy videos, hashtag takeovers, and PR stunts aren’t feasible or even worthwhile; they’re not going to help you meet your goals. You’re focused on the less-sexy but more worthwhile day-to-day interaction and engagement. What articles like this one never seem to provide is practical, relevant insights for marketing and communications professionals who don’t have billion dollar budgets; for people who need to create sustainable, ongoing interactions with current and potential customers; for people who are held accountable for every penny spent. A potent social media program leverages a mix of content sources: Owned — Photos, videos, blog posts, and other branded messaging. It’s the most powerful and authoritative type of content—it uses strategic key words and phrases, is easily shared, and often lives on the website. Earned — Articles and blog posts about your brand from third-party sources. Earned content connotes credibility. It’s repackaged and used across social platforms and the website. Curated — The majority of posts and tweets are curated and link to external blog posts, news items, inspirational quotes, or additional information. Curated content helps your brand become a resource for target audiences, supplements your social presence, develops thought leadership, and demonstrates generosity and community spirit. Paid — Advertising, advertorial, and paid engagement. It’s resonant and strategic, tied to target audiences, and linked to relevant pages on your website. Its look and feel are co-opted into your social channels to provide brand unity. Practical social media isn’t just about those big, sharable pieces of owned content. In fact, although they can be helpful when kick-starting brand awareness, their value is time-limited, quickly becoming last week’s (or last night’s) news. You spent $100,000 making a funny video that captures the soul of your brand while demonstrating that you’re up on pop culture and the latest coolness. It was viewed hundreds of thousands of times (it was that good, and you had the right people sharing it). You drove a bump in traffic to your website, or were mentioned by Good Morning America, or called out on Conan. Then what? Do you have a plan for making the most of that short-lived attention? “Branding” doesn’t help if it doesn’t drive measurable behaviors that are tied to business goals. And because social media is the confluence of strategic thinking between PR and marketing, tying these disciplines together and making them less distinct from one another, branding has become an integrated piece of the entire communications suite — it no longer stands alone. The best and most effective use of social media has never been as a broadcast channel for your own stories. It has always been about steady, consistent give-and-take—sharing owned content and messaging, of course, but also generating and maintaining relationships by creating a sense of community and thought leadership. It’s the curated content, usually comprising 40% - 70% of your weekly output, that generally results in the measurable, useful, rewarding outcomes that make social media a worthwhile effort. As our own Operations Maven Leah Charney says, creating a content calendar of curated stories is like stocking the refrigerator. You want lots of delicious stuff in there. Most of it is nutritious, but you also lay in an assortment of confections. Curated content sources include mainstream media, influential blogs, inspiring “words on images,” and real-time trending news. Finding and positioning curated content is a down-in-the-trenches activity that involves mining the web for tasty bits that your brand’s target audiences will find relevant and useful, or at least entertaining. Not only is curated content helpful in supplementing daily output, so your brand is not always broadcasting about itself, it establishes your social platforms as a resource for your target audiences. It gives your current and potential customers a reason to follow your social channels. If they know they can count on a daily mix of useful information and branded messaging, they’re more likely to remain engaged over the long-term. Curated content plays several other roles, as well. Sharing content from influencers or interacting with them conversationally puts you on their radar and can develop goodwill. Influencers are more likely to amplify your messaging if they see you being generous with theirs. We often ask our clients’ PR teams for the names of outlets, reporters, and bloggers they’re trying to get in front of so we can “soften the market” before they begin pitching by following, sharing, and interacting with them on social channels. Same for the development teams at nonprofits, when they’re trying to attract the attention a major donor, potential sponsor, or strategic partner. Sharing others’ owned content and providing context can be a simple, elegant way to begin a conversation. When a brand (or small business or restaurant or global nonprofit) integrates thoughtful curation and relationship-building with a strategic owned content plan, and generates steady, consistent value in its social presence beyond some flashy one-off, key behavioral information and measurable results begin to emerge. But all that takes work. It requires thought and time, and a strategic outlook. It requires more than making a cool YouTube video or co-opting a pop culture meme or recruiting makers with their own audiences to share your message. It’s not sexy and it can be a slog. But the results are worth the sustained, ongoing, daily effort. —by Eric Elkins As CEO and Chief Strategist of WideFoc.us, Eric brings nearly two decades of of experience to our clients. In his other life, he’s a single dad, a good eater, and a bourbon aficionado.

Here at WideFoc.us, Leah Charney, our chief flamingo wrangler and director of operations, likens proper social media etiquette to a cocktail party. Nobody likes the person who only talks about himself all night. Far more interesting is the person who takes an interest in what the other guests have to say, discusses a recent article they read on a topic related to their business, or shares an interesting statistic they learned. That perfect party guest asks questions and is genuinely interested in the answers. It’s not public speaking; it’s having a conversation. This is also how a small business should approach its social media strategy: People want to like the minds behind the product as much as the product itself. Don’t be afraid to have a personality! You shouldn’t have to run every tweet or facebook post up the chain of command for approval if you understand the voice and personality of your brand. Social media effectiveness is more than just customer service and responding to questions or complaints, though that’s obviously an important component. Be proactive with your engagement. Reach out to other local businesses or potential strategic partners. Ask questions of your followers. Talk about things that concern their community – after all, it’s yours, too. If you’re local, be local! Show your product within the community and encourage your customers to do the same. Make it a contest, or do it just for fun. If your staff takes a tour of a brewery or goes to a company lunch at a local restaurant, share pictures of the event on your social channels and tag the place. It’s one thing to start a local business, it’s quite another to embrace that local aspect and embed it into your company’s culture—to demonstrate that you’re part of the community. You're not a mega-corporation with billions of dollars in revenue. You're not even a nationwide chain with an outlandish advertising budget. And that’s fine. In fact, you probably set up shop because you wanted to provide a local alternative to those places. But if your social media channels are dedicated solely to promoting your business, you might as well be shouting into the void. --by Jordan White The self-described Cormac McCarthy of basketball, Jordan is a writer for WideFoc.us and also contributes to online publications such as VICE and Uproxx.

In 2015, WideFoc.us broke our record for annual revenue, but that wasn’t even the best thing that happened in the last year. In addition to marvelous personal highlights (including two weddings and a few killer trips), the team came together in a big way. Even Pluto got a new tank! Some 2015 achievements: We expanded our client base to include more nonprofits, which is rewarding to the whole team on many levels. We supported clients across multiple verticals, including technology, real estate, nonprofit, government, apparel, tourism, retail, health/wellness, publishing, startups, and restaurants. We added several team members to our roster of awesome people (and, I’m both proud and sad to say, lost a couple of our staff to new opportunities where they’ll use the skills and experience they acquired from their time at WideFoc.us for big things). Our client, Global Down Syndrome Foundation, was named a Social Media Powerhouse by the Denver Business Journal, due to the enormous engagement and audience base that we’ve helped grow over the past year. We expanded our skills and client base even further in social media engagement for real estate and communities. Community-building for neighborhoods (new and established) is a core specialty, and we're proud that we continue to help home builders, developers, and master-planned communities with their outreach and engagement goals — increasing website traffic and model home visits, building awareness, and improving search ranking. We've been a trusted resource to this industry for more than six of our eight-plus years in business. We helped HW Home, another client, launch new social channels, maximize new sponsorships, expand their email list, and host one of their most successful Annual Warehouse Sales in 16 years (watch for info about this popular event in coming weeks — you won’t want to miss it). Drew a record 785 RSVPs for our Denver Startup Week talk. Across all clients: More than 55,000 new Facebook likes, 6,500+ new Twitter followers, at least 1364 Instagram followers, hundreds of thousands of impressions, people reached, and other impressive stats! Mostly, though, we worked together to help more companies and organizations use social media to meet business goals, and we’ve supported each other, learning and growing along the way. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished this year, but it’s not something that would have happened without the dedication of the WideFoc.us team and our warm, professional, and fruitful interactions with our beloved clients. I’m grateful for our team, humbled and honored to work with so many stellar clients, and am eager to make our ninth year in business even more special and fulfilling for all of us. Happy New Year from the Widefoc.us crew and me! —by Eric Elkins As CEO and Chief Strategist of WideFoc.us, Eric brings nearly two decades of of experience to our clients. In his other life, he’s a single dad, a good eater, and a bourbon aficionado.

The holidays have a way of making us reflect on the things that are most important: Loved ones, sources of happiness in our day-to-day lives, goals we’d like to accomplish in the new year. This time of year can also be tough—maybe we aren’t close to family or we’re grieving people we’ve loved and lost. For a lighter way to capture the holiday spirit, while still honoring those who might be having a hard time, we decided to ask our team members to name three things they just can’t see themselves living without. Rachel, Community Manager 1. Pearls! The studs in my ears and my dainty drop necklace are daily staples in my personal style. 2. Chapstick. I have a mild addiction... 3. Good food, whether homemade or from a restaurant. Rachel loves to eat, cook, and garden. Learn more about what a day in her life is like. Alli, Community Manager + Content Specialist 1. My loved ones 2. My cats 3. Art (music, literature, film) Inside Scoop: Alli loves cats so much that she spends one day a week volunteering with Cat Care Society! Leah B., Copyeditor Hmm, I'd say: 1. My cat's auto feeder, which prevents her from waking me up at 5am every morning. 2. Metro Card [she lives in New York]. 3. Two Dots app - I'm totally addicted. We know the struggle is real, Leah B. Jordan, Community Manager Family and friends aside, I guess I'd say: 1. My kindle 2. My music 3. My dutch oven? I guess? What do you mean you guess? “Well,” Jordan explains, “it was that or my swimsuit (because I swim a lot), but that sounds weird. I guess my dutch oven because I cook almost everything in it, whether it's stews, soups, stir-fry, stuff cooked with wine, whatever. I think it's cast iron. My mom had it for a long time then gave it to me. And, obviously, because I love cooking. Duh.” What can we say—we’re an eclectic, food-obsessed team! One that wishes you and yours the happiest of holidays and a terrific New Year.

The holiday season is well underway, with Thanksgiving and Hanukkah behind us and Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s ahead. Recent snows have bathed the Metro area in white, so we truly resemble a winter wonderland this week. Instead of getting cabin fever, we long to be outside, enjoying the temporary festivities and ogling the fancy light displays. Forgive me if I’m a little punchy—that’s just the holiday spirit taking over. This month in Denver, you’ll find a bevy of outdoor activities to celebrate the holidays and winter, and to see some sparkling spectacles. Now, onto all that glitters! Through December 23: Denver Pavilions Holiday Carousel It’s hard to believe that the first holiday carousel in the history of the 16th Street Mall only launched for the first time in November 2014. Now in its second year, you can ride the ponies and re-live childhood glory days (or bring a kid and introduce them to the whimsy of a ride) at the Denver Pavilions Holiday Carousel. Rides are just $3 each or free when you bring a canned food donation for Food Bank of the Rockies. Giddy-up! What: Denver Pavilions Holiday Carousel When: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily through December 23 Where: Denver Pavilions, 16th Street Mall and Glenarm Place Tickets: $3 per ride Through December 23: Denver Christkindl Market In the 14th Century, German Christmas markets were all the rage. Trends may change, but Christkindl markets still feel timeless (the mulled wine might help) and this year, Denver’s Christkindl Market celebrates its 15th anniversary. If you’re not into watching music or dancing, stop by to check out all the trinkets, baubles, and tsotchkes. You might even find a gift for someone on your “nice” list. Grab a glass of gluhwein—hot spiced wine made of delicious—or a Paulaner and do some people-watching soon, as this German beer garden is only around for about a month each year. Prost! What: Denver Christkindl Market When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday through December 23 Where: Skyline Park, 16th Street Mall and Arapahoe Street Tickets: Free Through December 31: Downtown Denver Illumination Though the Parade of Lights is always a big deal in early December (especially the traffic, oy!), the lights are on through December 31. Wander by foot or pedicab from the City and County Building—which, you have to admit, looks a little like Casa Bonita, but in the best way possible—through downtown to Denver’s Union Station. Look for twinkling lights along the 16th Street Mall and other buildings all decked out as well. The Denver Gas & Electric Building at 15th and Champa is a personal fave. What: Downtown Denver Illumination When: After dark through December 31 Where: Throughout downtown Denver Tickets: Free Through January 2: Blossoms of Light If you’re going to pay to see holiday lights, this is my favorite and totally worth the entrance fee. The gardens are gorgeous this time of year and I turn into a kid at Christmas (get it? get it?) when it comes time to don HoloSpex glasses and wander through the maze of decorations. With several HoloSpex options to choose from, I recommend bringing along a few friends so you can each try out seeing holographic images. Pro tip: I always get snowflakes. Even without springing for the glasses, it’s gorgeous. What: Blossoms of Light When: 5:30-9 p.m., through January 2 Where: Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street Tickets: $13 Adult; $11 Adult Member, Senior (65+), Military; $10 Child (Ages 3­-15); $8 Child Member; Free for children 2 or younger; Group of 15 or more ­- member pricing applies Through January 3: Zoo Lights I have a confession to make: I’ve never been to Zoo Lights. It’s on the list because it’s hosted by a Denver cultural landmark and it’s the kind of thing I’d definitely like to check out one day (I mean, many of the lights are animal-themed—how could I not be intrigued?). With 70 acres of lights and more than 150 animated animal sculptures, this year’s showcase is nearly twice its previous size. If you’ve been before or you go this year, send me a full report! What: Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo When: 5:30-9 p.m., through January 3 Where: Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele Street Tickets: Prices range from $8-$13; click here to see details and buy tickets online Through February 15: Southwest Rink at Skyline Park This is the only one you don’t have to rush out and make happen right away, but there *is* something magical about ice skating during the holiday season. It has a soft sort of romance. Plus, picture a date with ice skating followed by some gluhwein at the Christkindl Market. It’s practically a John Cusack movie! Ready to lace up your skates? What: Southwest RInk at Skyline Park When: Hours vary by day and month, through February 15 Where: Skyline Park, 16th Street Mall and Arapahoe Street Tickets: Rent skates for $2 or bring your own to skate for free Is something noteworthy missing? Or is one of these on your all-time favorite or oh-hell-never-again lists? Comment below or give me grief about it (and keep us in the loop for next time) over on our Facebook page! —by Leah M. Charney Leah Charney is sassy yet classy and is most excited by the things she can't stop writing about, like food, music, and people. She directs operations for the WideFoc.us team, which is just a fancy way of saying she is chief cat herder.

Morning. I’ve never been a morning person, so I roll over and hit snooze at least once. I set multiple alarms so that I can wake up on time and enjoy my morning. To fully wake up, part of my morning routine is to be present and get up slowly. I begin by appreciating where I am. The comfort of my bed. The easy breathing of my sleeping husband. The gentle weight of our dog and cat sleeping on our legs. The sun streaming in from behind a white linen curtain casts the entire room in a warm glow. These few moments of peace are some that I enjoy just for me before getting up to face the day. Breakfast. I unlock the doors and let the pets out back. While we are out there, I check on the six laying hens we have and collect any eggs that I didn’t see yesterday. The chickens are already up and about, looking for treats. Back in the house, we humans prepare our breakfast. Because he eats much more than I do, my husband cooks a large meal in the morning while I get ready to go into WideFoc.us for my office hours. I do my makeup, pick out my clothes, and use a few bobby pins to tame my curls before I pack up my work bag and am ready to head out the door. Office hours with my WideFoc.us team! To get settled into my work day I like to put everything that I’ll need out on my desk. I line up my laptop, charger, planner, notepad, pens, glasses, and chapstick. Then I make my master to-do list for the day and prioritize my tasks. We share a fun and cozy space that allows us to easily collaborate, have meetings, or share advice on a project. Office hours allow our team to come together and work as one business, and it is when we are together that our unique personalities can shine through. Lunch. I start craving lunch. I eat late, usually around 2:30 p.m., but it works for me. I often go home and put together something quick and fresh before getting back to work or checking in on a few personal projects and needs for the house. Exercise! I love my hot power yoga classes and make it a point to go to at least one per day. A few times a week I will also go to the gym with my husband and we will work out together. I like running and cardio, but lately he has been showing me how to properly lift weights and strengthen my training through lifting. Once a week we try to get outside for some exercise, and one of our favorite activities to do is go up into Clear Creek Canyon with friends and go rock climbing! We also love to take our dogs for walks or to the dog park for some fetch and swimming. Nighttime. In the evening you’ll find me in the kitchen. My husband and I love to cook, and we have a steady balance between light, healthy, and simple and new, fun and adventurous. We love setting aside time to try a new recipe from one of the cookbooks we have stacked in our kitchen or a recipe from one of our robust Pinterest accounts. We never have a shortage to experiment with. Our favorites lately have been grilled salmon, and trying out our new pasta roller for some fresh, homemade pasta. We eat late and stay up late, too. After dinner, I will log back into work and finish up any remaining projects from the day. Taking a break in my afternoon helps me to re-focus and be more productive at night. I’m a night owl, so I usually don’t log off for good until after 11pm! —by Rachel Mincarelli A native of New Hampshire, Rachel Mincarelli has settled into being a resident of Denver. She enjoys writing because it connects her to communities and their stories while simultaneously allowing her to express her own interests.

Autumn is officially here, though it began feeling like fall around Denver a couple weeks ago. The Broncos started their season, evenings are cooler, and Halloween swag went on-sale everywhere. We know no better place to enjoy the beauty of autumn than the Mile High City, especially when you’re doing so from the comfort of a lovely patio. These locales throughout the Denver metro have some of the WideFoc.us team’s favorite outdoor seating! East The Berkshire in Stapleton serves up a delicious spread for lunch, dinner, and brunch on weekend mornings. Plus, you can enjoy this scrumptious food from the comfort of their shady patio. Community Manager Erin explains, “We find lots of good shade from trees and the building. It’s a great place for people watching since it’s in the middle of Stapleton!” The Berkshire 7352 E. 29th Ave. Denver, CO 80238 Aviano is nestled in the swanky Cherry Creek North neighborhood. Erin also recommends sipping a tasty cup o’ Joe here while watching the world go by from this spacious patio. Aviano Coffee 244 Detroit St. Denver, CO 80206 A sidewalk patio flanks The Berkshire in Stapleton. South For more than 30 years, El Noa Noa has served up some of the most delicious Mexican food. “I love the patio at El Noa Noa,” Operations Maven Leah says. “It’s a Denver classic, really, right in the heart of the Santa Fe Arts District.” What more could you want on a Saturday morning than traditional Mexican fare on a beautiful garden patio? El Noa Noa 722 Santa Fe Dr. Denver, CO 80204 If you’re looking for a cozy rooftop patio along South Broadway in the popular Baker neighborhood, check out Content Specialist Alli’s choice: the Irish Rover. Enjoy your favorite libation along with Irish-inspired fare until 2 a.m., but her favorite is to watch the sunset over the Front Range. Irish Rover Pub 54 S. Broadway Denver, CO 80209 Central/Downtown A Denver hotspot, Steuben’s has two patios for enjoying happy hour, although our preference is to sit on the back one. WideFoc.us community manager Sara puts it simply: “It doesn’t matter what the weather is—you can go there any old time.” Perfect whether it’s snowing or the temperature is approaching 100℉ (which could happen on the same day, here in D-town, right?). Steuben’s 523 E. 17th Ave. Denver, CO 80203 More on the casual end of the spectrum, Bayou Bob’s has a small patio, unbeatable happy hour drink specials, and some of Denver’s most bizarre people watching experiences. According to Alli, the Cajun cuisine at Bayou Bob’s is some of the best you’ll find in the metro area. Bayou Bob’s 1635 Glenarm Pl. Denver, CO 80202 The patio at El Noa Noa. North Another pick from Leah is Fuel. “I adore the natural environment and the feeling of being tucked away but in the middle of the city,” she says. In an effort to cook with the freshest ingredients in their New American eatery, Fuel’s head chef redrafts the menu monthly. Enjoy a brand-new eating experience from their patio every time you visit. Fuel 3455 Ringsby Ct., #105 Denver, CO 80216 Call her nostalgic, but in college Community Manager Rachel used to scoop ice cream at the first Sweet Cow location. The Colorado-based ice creamery converted a neighboring parking lot into a grassy patio area, complete with space for children to play while parents keep an eye out from the many seats available. “The grassy area outside with the chairs—that’s my happy place,” Rachel reveals. “Kids are always playing, and it’s so cute.” Sweet Cow Ice Cream 637 Front St. Louisville, CO 80027 West For the diner seeking more than cheap drinks during happy hour, Eric, WideFoc.us Corp’s founder, CEO, and chief strategist, recommends Old Major in LoHi. Old Major offers New American farm-to-fork fare on their cozy patio. “And their Manhattan with a big rock is stellar,” he says. Old Major 3316 Tejon St. Denver, CO 80211 Not surprisingly, another of Eric’s favorite patios is also nestled in LoHi. He says, “I love the idea of a startup incubator for food, and the view from the outdoor seating area is one of the best in the city.” Order food from one (or more) of Avanti’s seven culinary pop-ups, find yourself a cocktail or a tall beer at one of their two house bars, and enjoy it all from their rooftop patio. Avanti Food and Beverage 3200 Pecos St. Denver, CO 80211 Tell us: What's your favorite patio in Denver? Avanti boasts two rooftop patios and outdoor bleacher seating.

Recently, a potential client decided that his company wasn’t ready for a sustained, strategic social media program. The startup had just received a new round of funding, and he wasn’t sure they had “enough to talk about” to get started (that’s another blog post, entirely). Via email, he mused about just hiring an intern from the local university to set up social channels and run them. I hear otherwise intelligent people say things like this often. They think they’ll save money by hiring a “kid” or lone practitioner to run their daily, forward-facing communication channels, because they don’t understand the critical nature of social media for business. When this particular client emailed me his decision, I responded: Whatever you do, please, please, please don't hire a college student to be the front line of your brand. You wouldn't have a kid write your content, or speak to the press for you. You wouldn't have a college student create your marketing materials or respond to customer complaints. Your vision is to build global reach for your events, services, and expertise. Do you think a college student has the understanding, the writing skill, and the business acumen and sophistication to be the person in charge of making your first impression to thousands of potential customers? I understand that our level of strategy, our team-based approach, and our ability to create large audiences means that we would be tough on your budget right now. Maybe you could find an independent social media practitioner who would at least keep your social platforms warm. Don't expect huge results, or a big improvement to your brand visibility, but at least you'd have a consistent presence, which is an essential first step. Make sure you hire someone who can write well and who understands how to use an advertising budget (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) to drive interactions. And be sure that person understands your brand and your voice and personality! I probably wouldn’t have responded with such pepper to someone I didn’t know well. Luckily for me, this was a friend who took my tough love email with grace and understanding. It was an emotional message, and maybe not particularly professional. But, over the last eight years that WideFoc.us has been in business, I’ve been approached by many, many companies who put their social media in the hands of interns or unsophisticated “experts,” only to feel like they threw their money away and missed revenue-building opportunities (best case scenario) or had some true customer service or online reputation disasters (worse case scenario). So many times, I’ve heard, “We tried social media, but it didn’t work,” only to learn that “trying” social media meant taking a tactical, non-strategic approach, without clear goals or someone in place who knew how to reach them. A college student might know how to use Facebook and SnapChat, but that doesn’t mean he or she has been socialized and trained in marketing best practices. It doesn’t mean he or she has the good sense to post some things, and not to post others. The interwebs are littered with stories about interns and their gaffes. We’ll make the occasional mistake, too, and it does take time to get to know a client’s voice and brand language. When we hire new community managers, we don’t have any trouble finding people who know how to post something on Facebook or write a tweet. We don’t have a problem finding hungry, talented people who want to work. The challenge is in finding strong writers with the proper seasoning and experience to handle sensitive brand strategy. We can teach new employees our processes and social media best practices, and we can bring them along to become stronger social media professionals. But we also have the time and resources to build them up. Most companies need that competence and expertise right away. Hire that intern, if you’re ready to be hands-on, constantly monitoring, and constantly correcting—it’s a generous way to provide a young person with new experience. Just remember that you’re not hiring a professional, and stay vigilant. —by Eric Elkins As CEO and Chief Strategist of WideFoc.us, Eric brings nearly two decades of of experience to our clients. In his other life, he’s a single dad, a good eater, and a bourbon aficionado.

September is Beer Month in Denver. Let me repeat: September is Beer Month in Denver. It’s also Septemberg (more on that below), a month to help put an end to childhood hunger, and a month to get smarter, thanks to Denver Startup Week. It seems there’s always something interesting to do in Denver these days, and September is (thankfully!) no different. While there's not a beer-specific event listed below, you can drink a beer at each and every one of our This Month in Denver picks! Denver Flea Fall Flea Just like its namesake city, the Denver Flea is growing up. Now on their sixth event, the Denver Flea aims to change the way people think of a flea market by bringing unique vendors together to generate an enjoyable retail experience for shoppers. If you’re in the market for home goods, fashion, cottage crafts, or fancy foods, get yourself over to the Sculpture Park (home of “The Dancers,” AKA the dancing aliens) and support local makers! Did we mention that one of our favorite clients, HW Home, is a sponsor this year? Stop by their booth and tell them we sent you. What: Denver Flea No. 6 When: 12-7 p.m., Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13 Where: DCPA Sculpture Park, 1345 Champa St. (Speer and Champa) Tickets: Free! Third Annual CollaborEAT Picture an al fresco dinner, surrounded by... strangers? CollaborEAT is an extrovert’s dream and the ultimate community table. The event—part of Downtown Denver Partnership’s CityBuild Denver initiative—transforms a space in downtown Denver into an outdoor dining room and community gathering place. Grab your tickets to this unique social event before they’re gone! What: CollaborEAT When: 5-8:30 p.m., Thursday, September 17 Where: Denver Pavilions, 16th and Glenarm Tickets: $25 members, $35 non-members Alamo Drafthouse Septemberg What happens when the Alamo Drafthouse devotes an entire month to Steven Spielberg films? Septemberg, naturally. From Jaws to the Indiana Jones trilogy to Saving Private Ryan, this month provides an excuse to see some of your favorite films return to the big screen. Is your favorite Spielberg film on the roster? What: Septemberg When: Films showing through September 26 Where: Alamo Drafthouse Littleton, 7301 S Santa Fe Dr, Littleton Tickets: Prices vary per event; $5-$20 Denver Startup Week Denver Startup Week returns for a fourth year, taking over locations all over central Denver to offer talks, workshops, and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs. It also marks the return of our own Denver Startup Week session, with an all-star panel discussing how to create a strategy that combines SEO, paid advertising, and social media. More than 750 people RSVPed for last year’s session! Make your schedule today and make sure we’re on it; we’d love to see you (and come say hi!). What: Denver Startup Week When: Monday, September 28-Friday, October 2 Where: Various locations throughout downtown Denver Tickets: Free, but registration is required Dine Out for No Kid Hungry® No kid should go hungry, that’s something we can all agree on, right? This September, restaurants across America are teaming up with No Kid Hungry® to help end childhood hunger. Here’s how it works: You dine out at a participating restaurant and Share Our Strength receives a donation. Easy! Find a participating restaurant or make a reservation today. What: Dine Out for No Kid Hungry® When: Through September 30 Where: Various locations across the Front Range and the U.S. See you around Denver, Denver! Did we miss something major? Give us grief about it in the comments and keep us in the loop over on our Facebook page! —by Leah Charney Leah Charney is sassy yet classy and is most excited by the things she can't stop writing about, like food, music, and people. She directs operations for the WideFoc.us team, which is just a fancy way of saying she is chief cat herder.

The Widefoc.us team was stoked when Riot Fest asked us to help them get the word out about their music festival in Denver, this year! Most of us are major music fans and we’re always introducing bands and artists to each other during status meetings. Whether it’s for the lyrics, the nostalgia, or for the sake of discovering new music, a lineup like this is a dream come true for us! Riot Fest is celebrating its third year with three days of bands and entertainment, starting this Friday, August 28. This time, they’re posting up at the National Western Complex, home of the National Western Stock Show. With four stages, carnival rides, and a ton of local food trucks, the event will be a huge draw for the city. Because we’re working with the festival, we have a pair of three-day passes to give away. So read our picks, then add a comment with your own best bets for a chance to win! Eric’s picks: This will be the third year in a row that I take my daughter to Riot Fest, and we’re both counting down the days. By the time Violent Femmes played at Riot Fest Denver 2014, she had seen 55 bands, with a big increase in that tally coming from our itinerant explorations at the festival over the years. This year, I’m most-excited to see Tenacious D. Although I’m a bit concerned about my 15-year-old being corrupted by the awesome Jack Black and Kyle Gass, I love watching these two play live, and will sing along to “Wonderboy.”. I’m also thrilled that Flogging Molly will be there — I’ve been a fan for more than a decade, and Simone got to see them play (backstage) when she was five years old (her second concert, ever, after The Go-Go’s). The Pixies and The Dead Milkmen (Bitchin' Camaro!) will be brag-worthy additions to Simone’s list (and hearken back to my own wonder years), and I’ve never seen Rancid live, but they rock my punk heart. Erin’s picks: Since discovering Flogging Molly in high school, I’ve loved the energy of their faster songs and the soulful melodies of their slower material. This will be the first time I get to see them live. And then there is System of a Down! My favorite SOAD material is equal parts fun and drama. I listened to their music almost exclusively for parts of high school, but never got to see them in concert—until now! Other than those two, I am excited to see Coheed and Cambria. I’m not terribly familiar with most of their music, but I’ll have to try not to hurt myself jamming along if they play “Welcome Home.” This will be my first Riot Fest, and my husband’s, as well. We’re both looking forward to it! Malcolm can’t wait to see Explosions in the Sky. Rachel’s pick: This is the first year that Riot Fest has been on my radar, thanks to the rest of the WideFoc.us team. Raised on a steady diet of modern country music, I haven’t discovered many of the bands that are performing. I have heard Kongos on the radio and have enjoyed the few songs of theirs that I know. Otherwise, my excitement around Riot Fest comes from using the rest of my team’s recommendations to explore genres of music and talented artists that I had not previously considered. Thanks for the tips, team! Sara’s picks: I have been obsessed with Less Than Jake since I was about 14. I thought I was the only person still listening to ska in this city until I started going to their shows. I would tweet (jokingly) that, if only I wanted a boyfriend, I’d be able to find one at their concerts. I think the ratio of men to women at a Less Than Jake show is about 10:1. The band began playing along with me on Twitter, agreeing that their shows are “total sausage fests.” I’ve met them a couple of times, including once when I had broken my foot and still went to one of their gigs in college. They signed my crutches after the show and I think I still have them somewhere in storage! Less Than Jake are an absolute blast and I can’t wait to see them again for the 10th or 11th time. I may not still have my Converse with their lyrics written on them (and Thrice’s and The Get Up Kids’ and Coheed and Cambria’s!), but my teenaged emo-and-ska-loving heart is ready to rock! And, quite frankly, I am interested to see which bands will be paired up with a bucking bronco display. Leah’s picks: Where to even start! How about with the man himself: Iggy Pop. He likely needs no explanation. If you need convincing, the man has released 20 studio albums in almost twice as many years, so there are more than a few options to listen to in advance of his taking the Riot Fest Denver stage. And then we have Modest Mouse, Pixies, Run DMC, The Dead Milkmen (!!!!), and The Vandals! High-school-and college-me is all about the Saturday Riot Fest Denver lineup! I can remember driving around in my friend Sarah's car screaming "I have a daaaaaaaaate!" at the top of our lungs. We were wearing studded belts at the time, obviously. I still listen to many of these bands today, including some through the lens of nostalgia. (Modest Mouse has a new record out and if you’re into The Pixies, listen to some of Frank Black’s many many many many albums and side projects.) Also, "Punk Rock Girl" is one of my favorite songs of all time. I know people love "Bitchin' Camaro," but quotes from "Punk Rock Girl" seem to be lobbed around more often. Specifically, I'm fond of saying, "If you don't know Mojo Nixon then your store could use some fixin'," and then listening to some Mojo Nixon, like you do. Just me? Oh. Ok. Finally, I have Snoop Dogg listed as a must-see (because he's performing all of Doggystyle), Babes in Toyland (because college me is so so excited to hear Bruise Violet and Sweet*69 and try to determine if I was ever even remotely punk rock by association.) --- There you have it! Our office is pumped for the variety of acts spread across three awesome days and nights. Need to catch up on who's on the Riot Fest schedule? Eric & Sara have compiled a Spotify playlist for you. Who are you most excited to see? Leave a comment below on this page (or on this Facebook post), and we will pick the winner of a pair of three-day passes no later than Friday morning!

Musicals, beer, comedy, and music: these are a few of our favorite things! One of the best parts about living in Denver right now is watching it grow, because with growth comes so many more fun experiences to enjoy! In this month’s edition, we found something for everyone. August 11-September 13: The Book of Mormon You don’t have to be from Colorado to know the reputation that precedes “The Book of Mormon.” Sure, it was created by the guys who brought us South Park, but it has become so much more than that. The musical has won NINE Tony Awards and currently holds the all-time single-ticket on-sale record for The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, with more than 38,000 tickets sold on a single day. It’s kind of a big deal! Want to learn some of the songs before heading to the show? Start with this emoji version of “Hello!” and then watch Andrew Rannells perform “I Believe” at the Tony’s! What: The Book of Mormon When: Tuesday, August 11 - Sunday, September 13, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Where: The Ellie, Denver Performing Arts Complex Tickets: Tickets start at $35 August 15: Hops in the Hanger What happens when you combine an air and space museum, housed inside of a WWII-era Air Force hangar, with beer? The manliest event in Denver! You don’t have to grow a mustache to enjoy this event, however. It’s open to all (as long as you’re 21+, of course). More than 20 of Colorado’s breweries will share samples while you savor mouth-watering pulled pork, sausage, and brisket from Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q. If you have more of a sweet tooth, Tommyknocker will also be serving up root beer floats! What: Hops in the Hanger When: 5-11 p.m., Saturday, August 15 Where: Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 East Academy Boulevard Tickets: $25-$45 August 20-22: High Plains Comedy Festival If you want to LOL or even ROFL this month, your best bet is the High Plains Comedy Festival. Founded in 2013 by Denver comedian/writer Adam Cayton-Holland (a co-star of the new TruTV series “Those Who Can’t”) and comedian/producer Andy Juett, the festival features a mix of local and national comics in venues throughout the city—with a special emphasis on the historic Baker neighborhood surrounding South Broadway. Fun, food, and laughter? Can’t think of a much better combination! What: High Plains Comedy Festival When: Various times, Thursday, August 20 - Saturday, August 22 Where: All around Denver! Tickets: Prices vary per event August 28-30: Riot Fest Denver Dust off your studded belts and Converse sneakers because Riot Fest is back! If you enjoyed The Warped Tour back in the ‘90s and early 2000s, you’re sure to love this lineup. And this year, the three-day concert takes place at the National Western Complex. That’s right—where rodeos happen. Can you imagine Rancid playing while a cowboy is trying to stay on a bucking bronco or bull? We can’t either, but we’re thrilled to try! The Widefoc.us staff is so excited, in fact, we’ve started a Music Monday series for our most anticipated Riot Fest Denver acts. What: Riot Fest Denver When: Friday, August 28 - Sunday, August 30 Where: National Western Complex, 655 Humboldt Street Tickets: Prices vary per event; one-, two, and three-day passes are available Is something noteworthy missing? Give us grief about it (and keep us in the loop) over on our Facebook page! —by Sara Grossman Sara Grossman is a Floridian-New Yorker now residing in Denver. When she isn’t busy thinking in spurts of 140 characters, you can find Sara enjoying live music, planning her next travel adventure, and trying to make her Mini Schnauzer famous on Instagram!