Jessica Giles, 5280 Magazine Journalist Profile

Articles

Be a Good Person Celebrates a Decade in Business—and Its Message Still Rings Clear

1 week ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

The four words beamed out from a brick wall on the side of a gym in the Golden Triangle. They were big and bold—in size, in color, and in meaning. When I first saw them, back in 2017, I thought they were a joyful message of positivity from one of the city’s many talented street artists. I was half right. The mantra is admirable. And it was painted by local creatives. But the team behind it was actually a nascent Denver brand aiming to promote kindness via a straightforward slogan and a clothing line.
4 Ssssurprising Facts About That Viral Colorado Rattlesnake Mega Den

2 weeks ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

If the phrase “rattlesnake mega den” makes you shudder, you aren’t alone. Rattlesnakes don’t get much love, at least not from the roughly half of Americans who feel anxious about serpents, with the most fearful two to three percent identifying as true ophidiophobes. And rattlers, with their potentially deadly bite and vibrating tails, tend to prompt an especially strong reaction.
Step Inside Rockies’ Pitcher Austin Gomber’s Offseason Home

4 weeks ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles |Daliah Singer

The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today! Professional athletes grow accustomed to moving a lot. But no matter where they’re based, baseball players in the Cactus League spend a lot of time in Scottsdale, Arizona, for spring training.
An Insider’s Guide to Red Rocks Amphitheatre

4 weeks ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

We won’t mince words: Going to Red Rocks Amphitheatre can either be heavenly or hellish—rarely in between. Without a little planning, you could easily miss your favorite song in a 30-minute queue for the bathroom, reach the front of the merch line only to find a pathetic stash of XX-smalls, and, before you know it, you won’t be able to hear Lord Huron without thinking about that time you tumbled down a flight of Red Rocks’ iconic stadium stairs in your stilettos. The point is, preparation is key.
Will Travel for Food: Where to Eat and Drink in Breckenridge

1 month ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

There used to be a mud season in Breckenridge: A time in May and October when business owners would lock up and head to Cabo or Moab while the snowmelt trickled down from the Tenmile Range, fattening rivers and making hiking and biking trails impassable. These days, Main Street Breckenridge doesn’t know a slow season. Visitors continue to flow in from I-70 and Highway 9, shopping, eating, staying in hotels, and seeking out dry patches of “mud season” recreation.
This Council Member Wants to Fix Denver’s Scooter Problem—Here’s How.

1 month ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

When Chris Hinds first saw a person zip past him on what looked like a “skateboard with a stick on it,” he didn’t realize the electric scooter revolution had arrived in Denver. Nearly seven years later, the Denver council member is one of the most outspoken voices confronting the city’s complicated relationship with e-scooters. Locals complain about unsafe conditions for pedestrians, cluttered sidewalks, and obstructed curb ramps.
Representative Brittany Pettersen Just Scored a Win for Working Moms in Congress

1 month ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles |Rose Cahalan

Brittany Pettersen’s message to Congress: “Don’t f— with moms.”That’s what the Colorado congresswoman told reporters after she held her nine-week-old son, Sam, while making an emotional plea on the House floor Tuesday. Pettersen, who represents the state’s 7th Congressional District—the western Denver metro area—defended her proposal that would allow any new parent serving in Congress to vote by proxy, instead of in person, while caring for an infant.
The 12 Best Gyms and Fitness Studios in Denver

1 month ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles |Alyssa Chutka

We’d bet good money you’re seated while reading this. How did we know? Because one in four Americans spend more than eight hours a day on their rear end, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All that time on your tush can result in high blood pressure, obesity, and an increased risk of heart disease—the leading cause of death in the United States. The good news?
Meet the Owner of Tease, Denver’s Sexiest Fitness Studio- 5280

1 month ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles |Jessica LaRusso

When Ashlee Renee was jokingly gifted a Groupon for a lap dance class at Tease Studio, the Denver nurse didn’t expect to become a regular at the RiNo gym—let alone to buy it. Founded by a former ballerina in 2007, Tease has offered a variety of fitness modalities over the years, but the foundational draw has always been, and remains, pole dancing. “Pole dancing builds strength very quickly,” says Renee, who took over Tease in 2015, “and to counter that, you need to increase your flexibility.
5 Ways To Make the Most of Your Stay at the New Hotel Alpenrock in Breckenridge

1 month ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles |Daliah Singer

It’s been just over five years since a new hotel opened in Breckenridge (the last one being Gravity Haus in December 2019), but the drought has finally ended. Hotel Alpenrock, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, debuted in January, making it the portfolio’s first property at a major ski resort. The 205-room hotel (near the base of Peak 9) is the result of a two-year renovation of the former DoubleTree.