For several months, I've been spearheading an effort to help merchants in Lower Highland more effectively market themselves and the neighborhood. After many meetings to share ideas and strategize, we've decided to create the LoHi Merchant Group. Rather than organizing under an existing neighborhood organization (such as Highland United Neighbors Inc.) we've decided to stay independent to specifically focus on promoting the services and products offered in LoHi.

Though our group is new, we've already made strides in furthering LoHi's reputation as a unique destination. Several merchants in our group have banded together and joined VISIT DENVER, which markets the city to tourists, meeting planners and even potential new residents. As part of the membership, the merchants will be featured on the organization's website, in the Official Visitors Guide and in brochures displayed at the Visitor Information Center downtown and at Denver International Airport.

We've also established committees to tackle such tasks as developing a website for our group and exploring the possibility of starting a shuttle service that would run from downtown to LoHi. Though we have some goals we want to accomplish, our group is still very much a work in progress. At our next meeting we'll decide what amount to assess for annual dues to help cover expenses.



We meet on the last Monday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Our next meeting is Monday, March 26th at 5:30 p.m. at the Lumber Baron Inn, 2555 W. 37th Avenue. If you're interested in finding out more, please join us. You can also contact me for more information via email or at 303-477-9902.

One of my newest clients is not only keeping me busy, but introducing me to a whole new world of Mexican food. Paxia Authentic Mexican Cuisine, located in Denver's Sunnyside neighborhood, offers real Mexican fare - the kind that dates back centuries and includes such traditional dishes as Tlacoyos (oval-shaped masa and black bean cakes topped with pear cactus, jalapeno, tomato and onion) and Molcajetes (a mouth-watering stew that I've been dreaming about since I first tasted it, made with tomatoes, garlic, jalapenos, onions and either fish, meat or a mixture of both). Open since August 2011, Paxia is the brainchild of brothers Cesar, Roberto and Igancio Leon, who started the Los Carbonitos chain of taquerias in 2004.

Paxia is like Los Carbonitos' sophisticated sister, providing gourmet Mexican food in a stylish, yet comfortable atmosphere, complete with a tequila lounge and inviting patio. And the restaurant is starting to gain new fans. Denver Post Features Writer Bill Porter just gave Paxia a glowing review.

If you haven't tried Paxia, there are plenty of opportunities to experience the Leon family's culinary talents.  On February 9th, the restaurant is offering a preview of its Denver Restaurant Week menu, which includes its special "lamb barbacoa" entree. The dish, which is slow roasted after soaking for hours in a chili marinade, will become a permanent part of the menu every weekend, starting March 10th.



For Valentine's Day, the restaurant is offering a four-course Prix Fixe meal (featuring a mix of Mexican mainstays - Carne Asada, for example, as well as more contemporary creations), served with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine for $50 per person.



The restaurant's Happy Hour also provides a chance to sample Paxia's unique menu at discounted prices. Available daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and again from 9 to close, Paxia's Happy Hour includes drink specials as well as tamales, tacos, oysters, and Ceviche. Paxia is open for lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and serves dinner from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.



To make reservations for Valentine's Day or Denver Restaurant Week, call 720-583-6860.
For more information, visit www.paxiadenver.com or follow the restaurant on Facebook.

Part of my job involves educating myself about new media outlets and new industries, so with that in mind, I attended a private event last week hosted by the publisher of the trade magazine Imaging Notes. Imaging Notes is the premier publication for commercial, government and academic remote sensing professionals around the world and it’s based right here in Denver.

Publisher Myrna Yoo, (owner of Blueline Publishing LLC), welcomed more than 125 people all over the country, who were in Denver for ILMF – the International LIDAR Mapping Forum. The event was a great opportunity to network and focused on LIDAR software, (Light Detection And Ranging) a technology that uses remote sensing and light to gather data used in creating maps.

While I don’t deal with remote sensing industry, I enjoyed learning more about the technology involved. I am always on the lookout for new and different opportunities for my clients – even if it is introducing them to new industries (they never thought of before!). You never know what kind of business one can build by marketing to a whole new industry!

For more information, check out Imaging Notes.

Happy New Year! I am excited and hopeful about what 2012 holds, especially after such an eventful year in 2011.

Last year, The Stasko Agency developed campaigns to launch everything from a new outdoor gear protection system to comfort food-filled waffle cones. We also rekindled relationships with former colleagues and friends and helped them promote a variety of projects.

I am proud of what we accomplished and thought I'd share a few highlights from 2011:

• Crafty Ladies: In March, Highland Tap & Burger introduced the Crafty Ladies Beer Club, giving beer-loving babes a great reason to gather. We helped spread the word about the club, whose members meet twice monthly for tastings and to learn about their favorite beers from the craft brewers who make them. Here is 9News Reporter Heidi McGuire interviewing the club's former spokesperson, Amy Pardee, back in April. The Crafty Ladies Beer Club is the brainchild of one of the Highland Tap and Burger owner's Juan Padro, and his dynamic team!
  

• Urbandwellers Showroom Shines: We're huge fans of urbandwellers partners Larry Beard Jr. and Bruce Littlehorn and their unique, space-saving furnishings. So, we were thrilled to help them unveil their 1,000-square foot showroom in the Water Tower Lofts downtown. The space (which doubles as their home) landed on the cover of The Denver Post's Lifestyle section in November.

• Growing Good Food Locally: We learned a lot about the importance of sustainable farming last summer when we launched a campaign to promote Circle Fresh Farms - a network of farms that produces organic, pesticide-free produce in greenhouses year-round. Our early efforts gained the company coverage in a slew of papers in the Boulder area (Longmont Times-Call, Boulder Daily Camera, Boulder County Business Report) where one of its farms is thriving. A second campaign to promote a program that helps turn returning veterans into farmers, drew attention from 9News, 7NEWS and the Denver Business Journal.

• LoHi Merchants Join Forces: This past summer, I worked with LoHi realtor Paul Tamburello to create a way for neighborhood business owners to share information and resources and promote each other to residents. The LoHi Merchants Collaborative, which meets monthly, helps achieve those goals and allows local businesses to market the neighborhood more effectively. We are working on several initiatives to drive business to LoHi, including a welcome basket for new residents and a shuttle that would run from downtown to Highland. Our next meeting is slated for 5:30 p.m. on January 30th. If you'd like more information, drop me a line here.

• Protecting Precious Gear: Driving into the garage with a bike still mounted on your car's roof rack can leave you in tears, which is why our friends at HeadsUp Systems decided to prevent anyone from suffering that sad fate. Their wireless alert system warns drivers as they approach their garages, reminding them about the bikes, kayaks, canoes and other equipment they may have mounted on top of their vehicles. In addition to garnering a bevy of trade industry press, the company's unique product was also recently featured in a 9News story about great holiday gifts. You can view the story here.
  
  

• Paris Celebrates a Silver Anniversary: Helping entrepreneurs mark significant milestones is always satisfying, but providing support for Paris On the Platte's 25th birthday party was particularly special, given the memories we've built there. And thanks to a mention in Penny Parker's Post column, both longtime patrons and new customers turned out for the celebration and shared their stories of the legendary cafe and bar.
  
  
  
  


• Developer David Zucker's Real Estate Deals: Zocalo Community Development, led by David Zucker, kept us busy last year. In September, we helped the company announce plans to build a 13-story, 220-unit apartment project at Union Station. A month later, we worked with David to announce the sale of its downtown hi-rise apartment building Solera. The sale was a record for the state of Colorado and garnered the attention of the Denver Business Journal, Inside Real Estate, The Denver Post and Yahoo! Finance.

• Bobo's Create a Buzz: A waffle cone filled with macaroni and cheese instead of mint chocolate chip ice cream? It may sound strange, but it's actually a delicious mobile meal, launched last fall by Little Man Ice Cream. Called Bobo Cones, the new cold weather fare passed KDVR's Dan Daru's taste test when he sampled a macaroni and cheese-filled Bobo Cone during the station's morning broadcast. The cones were also featured in the Huffington Post and on several food blogs including IceCream News.
  
  
  
  


• Menchie's Makes Highland a Hot Spot for FroYo: We wrapped up the year by introducing LoHi residents to Menchie's, a frozen yogurt shop that just opened an outpost not far from North High School. For its opening celebration, Menchie's hosted fundraisers for The Tennyson Center for Children and the Rocky Mountain Rollerpunks. Here's a great shot of Rollerpunks members hugging the Menchie's mascot.

I look forward to continuing our momentum and making new connections in 2012!

I am a big fan of the Rocky Mountain Rollerpunks and it's not just because my niece (Anya Blindside) is a member of the roller derby junior league. The Rollerpunks teach teamwork and build confidence while giving kids a great reason to get off the couch. The league is open to girls and boys ages six to 11 and girls ages 12 to 17, who learn skating skills, roller derby rules and strategy, fitness and sportsmanship.



Wednesday morning, Good Day Colorado Reporter Dan Daru helped spread the word about the Rollerpunks, capturing league members practicing with Coach PJ "Dangerous Leigh A'Zon" Shields. I was so excited to be on hand to see the girls in action on live television. Although Dan didn't strap on a pair of skates (he said he left them at home 30 years ago!), he still had a ton of fun. You can view the story here.




The Rollerpunks, started by the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls in spring 2010, have also been featured in Westword, 9News and most recently, The Denver Post. The league's season runs from April to October, but that didn't stop the girls from rising early to promote the sport. Registration for new members will be held on March 24. More information will be posted as the event draws near on The Rocky Mountain Rollergirls website.

Congratulations to Laughing Latte for capturing the grand prize in the first annual LoHi Wreath Decorating Contest. The contest required participants to create wreaths that best reflected the nature of their businesses. Laughing Latte (located at 32nd Avenue and Tejon Street) got the top nod for a festive wreath made out of coffee filters (which gave the appearance of creamy foam) and accessorized with coffee beans and sprigs of cinnamon. You can check out the winning wreath below.

Pasquini's Pizzeria was first runner up; Pilates studio Joie de Vivre, which incorporated springs from its reformer machines into its wreath, was awarded second runner up status and LoHi Fitness Club was third runner up. You can see a sample of the some of the lovely wreaths below.


Thanks to the 29 LoHi merchants who participated in this year's contest. We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to our judges: Westword Editor Patty Calhoun, 9News reporter Heidi McGuire, Lorenzo Gibson and Samantha Martel of Denver News and 5280 Magazine's Luc Hatlestad. The wreaths will be on display until Christmas, so I encourage you to stroll through the neighborhood and check them all out.



The contest kicked off with a holiday lighting ceremony at Little Man Ice Cream, complete with carolers, Santa Claus, live reindeer and free pizza from Pasquini's. The event drew such a supportive crowd that we hope to make the lighting celebration a holiday tradition. I feel so lucky to live in a neighborhood with such a strong sense of community. Happy Holidays!