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Welcome to Springs and Things, the podcast where two close friends spill the tea on all things Colorado Springs! From culture and community to hidden gems and neighborhood lore, we’ve got it covered. Join us as we sip our coffee (or maybe something stronger) and dive into the stories and secrets that make this city so unique. Whether you're a local or just passing through, our fun, light-hearted, and always entertaining take on the quirks, hot topics, and insider tips will keep you coming back for more. Discover what’s really happening in the Springs—beyond the mountains and parks!
In this episode, we're posted up downtown with our bread from Provision Bakery in one hand and our drinks from Cinchona in the other. And side note, I mispronounced Cinchona throughout the episode, and I'm really embarrassed about it. So don't hate me. Anyway, we're walking through our August must do list and sharing it with all of you. We're talking Food Truck Tuesdays, outdoor concerts and festivals, and so much more, including more ways to celebrate Colorado one fifty even though the official birthday has already passed.
Carly Ries:Moral of the story, it's August. Summer will be ending soon. So get these last minute activities in before they are done for the season. And this episode is brought to you by Vanguard Aesthetics. It is continuing to be so hot.
Carly Ries:You guys do not forget that sunscreen outside and take care of your skin.
Lauren Ferrara:Hey, everyone. I'm Carly. And I'm Lauren.
Carly Ries:We're two Colorado Springs locals who love uncovering everything that makes the city special.
Lauren Ferrara:If you're the kind of person who wants to know where to go, what's happening, and stories behind it all, then you're in the right place. Welcome to Springs of Things, your insider's path to hidden gems, local flavor, and unexpected moments that make The Springs one of its kind. From secret spots and can't miss events to arts, eats, and those you've gotta hear about at Local Stories.
Carly Ries:We've got you covered.
Lauren Ferrara:So grab your coffee, settle in, and get ready to fall a little more in love with Colorado Springs.
Carly Ries:Let's dive in to Springs and Things. What's a thing called where people can't stand to hear people chew?
Lauren Ferrara:You ask that as I'm swallowing this bread. I know.
Carly Ries:Do you
Lauren Ferrara:have that? I don't have that,
Carly Ries:but I feel like we need to apologize to our listeners if they do have that because I cannot stop eating this bread.
Lauren Ferrara:I was trying to do very, very quietly.
Carly Ries:Well, so we're sitting at Provision Bakery right now downtown, and I it was an impulse buy. I was just gonna get a chocolate croissant for my daughter.
Lauren Ferrara:Poccia. Right?
Carly Ries:Yeah. It's an onion poccia. And you just thought And this gal in front of me got it, and I was like, I must have that.
Lauren Ferrara:There's no there's no polite way of eating this, I don't think.
Carly Ries:But I'm nervous that I'm gonna not be able to not eat it during this interview because it's just
Lauren Ferrara:so good. Just snack it away. Yeah. So I hope you don't have the the the thing that Copia people eating. No.
Carly Ries:We'll be really quiet. But we also just got I just got a delicious matcha, and I'm a very I'm a matcha snob. Eared cappuccino snob.
Lauren Ferrara:I am. And we
Carly Ries:just had the best drinks
Lauren Ferrara:Yeah. Over at Tinchona, which is right next to Provisions. And so had you been there in its original location, like, probably two years ago?
Carly Ries:I hadn't. No. Okay. I just I've been wanting to
Lauren Ferrara:go there for months since we opened. So it had opened. No sign out front, like, right outside the mining exchange, like, right across the street. And they had it was, like, such a fun place to hang at that time. They had, like, video games so the kids could play video games.
Lauren Ferrara:It was, like, dog friendly. I think it probably still is dog friendly.
Carly Ries:Talked about
Lauren Ferrara:it in an episode. And then it vanished. Like and I you know, there was no website. There was no I had no idea where it went. So when you said, let's go get a coffee at Chinchono, was like, oh my god.
Lauren Ferrara:It's back. So it's delicious.
Carly Ries:And it
Lauren Ferrara:has, like, this kind of, like, Japanese vibe. Well, always. Yeah. I think I think the owner and who's amazing barista, he spent some time in Asia.
Carly Ries:The matcha was legit. Like, you you like, I the way that they were making it, I was like, that's that's how you're supposed to. Well, all this to say, is a delightful way to spend a Sunday morning and to kick off August. As we said last month, Lauren had a genius idea. At the beginning of every month, we're gonna share, like, what we wanna do.
Carly Ries:Yeah. There's always so much going on, but these are the things that really caught our eye. Do wanna kick it off?
Lauren Ferrara:And just because it is Sunday and we're doing Sunday things, you know, at the bakery and then the coffee shop, and I love right after Port Collective, like, right after Pilates going to the Acacia Park Farmer's Market, that goes till mid mid October or late October, really. And they have so much, like, produce, crafts, live music. It's such a, like, fun little stroll right after class.
Carly Ries:My friend Britney, she's also she's not gonna like that I'm calling it this. I call it the mermaid hair, but it's the tinsel hair. She has she goes there on Sundays, and so kids can get the tinsel hair. And look, I call little mermaids.
Lauren Ferrara:Well, my daughter had got tinsel in early May, and it just recently came out. So Yeah. It lasts.
Carly Ries:And, yeah, it is worth it. It is so fun. But, yeah, it's it's a great place to go.
Lauren Ferrara:Yes. And so another, like I used to go all the time to Food Truck Tuesday outside the Pioneers Museum, I and haven't been in a long time. So I was like, oh, that's going on for a little bit longer. So I do wanna catch some of those food trucks.
Carly Ries:But it's August. You need to get these experiences in while you can before fall hits, which I cannot believe.
Lauren Ferrara:Oh, no.
Carly Ries:I have to say by the time fall hits.
Lauren Ferrara:I feel like every every summer, I have this, like, grand plan of, like, all these things, all these activities we're gonna do, and, like, just plan too much. And, yeah, I need to do less. Right. You did go to
Carly Ries:the the Wednesday concert nights at Hell's Eye Garden, which is a huge win.
Lauren Ferrara:Oh, that was so fun. Yeah. That is, like, well worth it. One of the best margaritas. I think I already told our listeners and you this, but one of the best margaritas I've ever had in my life.
Carly Ries:So good. So, yeah, catch those concerts, go to the farmer's markets, get food truck Tuesday because summer or it's August, we're we're coming to an end soon. But we also have a really we have a big month, and I know that you're gonna talk about this too. It's the, ugh, I don't know why this word is so hard. Why do we pick an easier word to say than I will not.
Carly Ries:Sesquicentennial celebration?
Lauren Ferrara:I'm gonna call it Colorado's one fifty.
Carly Ries:Colorado one fifty. You know, it's big year, January, February. August is the big month. And in our our last pick or our last July roundup, we talked about some events happening on August first and second that have already passed at the time of this episode. But there are some things you can do in Colorado Springs to celebrate the sesquicentennial, including at Catamount Institute.
Carly Ries:They're having a family fun day to celebrate Colorado's one fiftieth anniversary. They're gonna have a picnic. You can learn all about Colorado and its history. There's fun take home crafts. It is for the entire family, and I just thought it was a good way to continue the celebration of our birthday.
Carly Ries:But you also have something that is celebrating Colorado's
Lauren Ferrara:one fifty. So you know I've been talking about more talking about less doing, but learning Colorado history since you guys all took that in probably fourth grade. I did not because I was taking Texas history. But the Pioneers Museum, which we've done a podcast with, and they have so many cool programs. But as part of the one fifty, they are doing these history strolls, and it's a one mile walk around downtown Colorado Springs, leaves from the mining exchange, and they have one in the mornings and one in the afternoon.
Lauren Ferrara:The afternoons has cocktails, which is kinda nice, but it's a ninety minute tour, and you can, like, explore how we've marked time throughout the history of Colorado Springs. So that's actually, like, a recurring event. They happen on Saturday mornings. There's one on August 8 and August 22, and the link
Carly Ries:for that is in our show notes. Alright. Let's take a quick break to talk about our wonderful sponsors, starting with Vanguard Aesthetics because, honestly, they are a game changer. If you've been on the fence about getting a little skin refresh, this is the team you want. They're not pushy.
Carly Ries:They actually listen to your goals, and the whole vibe is just warm and welcoming, not intimidating like some med spas can be. And, also, we wanna give some love to Core Collective. They have been with us since the beginning. They are a reformer Pilates studio in Downtown Colorado Springs, and my body has not been the same since I started going. And I mean that in the absolute best way.
Carly Ries:It's challenging, and the instructors are so good. Like, they actually cue you through every movement, so you're feeling it all in the right places instead of just guessing. And the community there is just awesome too. It's one of those places where you walk in as a stranger and leave feeling like you found your people and you just wanna keep going back. And the greatest thing is if you get to check out when you are booking a class, type in the code Springs and Things, all caps, no spaces, because that'll unlock three classes for just $30.
Carly Ries:That's $10 a class, which is crazy and awesome. So be sure to visit their website. That link is in our show notes as well. Okay. So I'm gonna circle back.
Carly Ries:We were just saying, like, you went to the Wednesday night concerts at Hillside Gardens. We were saying you have to catch all of the music that that's happening all summer at these summer currents concert series. But Rocky Mountain Flower Fest is happening at Bintuchu Farms on August 8.
Lauren Ferrara:We actually just talked about that in a recent episode with Gather Mountain Blooms. And I've been there. Been to two of the flower fests. I think the the first two, it is such a fun day.
Carly Ries:So general admission includes entry to the Flower Farm Festival. There's live music performances, line dancing, access to artists and vendors, and a farm shop. It's the cutest farm shop. There's gonna be food trucks. There's be a booze bar, lemonade stand, and just major festival vibes and cute photo areas.
Lauren Ferrara:And you can get a little, like like, it's an add on to your ticket, but you can get a little flower crown
Carly Ries:when you're there. Yes. It's lovely. It's just a music festival full of flowers. It's happening on August 8 from four to nine.
Carly Ries:Okay. What do you have next?
Lauren Ferrara:Okay. You know I love theater, and I have not been to the Funky Little Theatre Company's productions. But in Palmer Lake Town Hall, they are doing the Savannah Sipping Society, which sounds like a really great show. It's described as a delightful laugh a minute comedy. Four unique southern women all needing to escape the sameness of their day to day routines are drawn together by fate.
Lauren Ferrara:So that goes until August 9. So if you wanna go, go go soon. Okay. So the next one
Carly Ries:I have, it's funny because my husband and I went some friends to we went to midnight on the mountain. I think that's what it's called at the zoo, and we went and tried all these different moonlight on
Lauren Ferrara:the mountain. Right? Yeah. Not midnight. That's your bedtime now.
Carly Ries:Way past our bedtime. We went to moonlight on the mountain, and we had we got to try all these different beverages from vendors around town, food, listen to live music, see the animals. It was so fun. But at the zoo, they also have Tales, Tunes, and Taste. I I'm still trying to figure out the difference between those two, but I will say it was so much fun.
Carly Ries:So I want to go to the Tales, Tunes, and Taste because it's a 21 and over evening with unlimited small plates, drinks, live music, and your favorite animals. How to get tickets ahead of time, but it's just a unique way to explore the zoo. But, again, we talked about this in a past episode, but it was moonlight on the mountain. But this is different,
Lauren Ferrara:I guess, but still sounds awesome. But you know what? That is also I mean, anytime there's an event for grown ups at the zoo, it's super fun. Because, you know, when we go with our kids, we're just, like, so focused on what they wanna do, and it's just very cool to be there without without kids as much as we love them. But, you know, that's also the full moon that night at Tales, Tunes, and Tastes.
Lauren Ferrara:So I'm gonna get a little woo woo on you here again, but there's some other cool things going on. This is all August 27. Singing bowls of the Rockies. So remember that they came to the wellness pass event, and I don't know if you did their whole experience, but you lay down on, like, this yoga mat essentially, and they put a bowl on your chest, and it's really soothing. But they have an event called Sunset Reset Floating Full Moon Sound Bath, and it's over at Hotel Polaris.
Lauren Ferrara:So you can actually, like, lay on one of the poolside loungers, and they do the full sound bath experience, and it just sounds super awesome. And, also, we've been talking about going, and I used to go pretty consistently, but the full moon every month at Sunwater Spa, they have the most fun event. It's a yoga class and then a soak, and Kat Tutor hosts it and does the yoga class. Her husband's, playing the accordion, and you do things like howl at the moon, you know, pretend to be a squirrel as as one does in yoga classes. And then you finish it off with a lovely soak, and it's just, like, an awesome way to spend the full moon.
Carly Ries:I also think every episode, we just need to do something either cat tutor related or smoke brush foundation related and a way to get her on the show. So if you're listening to this, we want you on the show. I think
Lauren Ferrara:we just need to email her.
Carly Ries:Yeah. Apparently, we should that'll be our first step instead of just talk starting a public campaign. So yeah. Yeah. Telepathically, we watch you on the show.
Carly Ries:Well, been finally getting a little stormy, and I we've been getting some rain in the afternoons again. So, Lauren, I bet you think I'm gonna talk about the weather. I'm not talking about the weather.
Lauren Ferrara:Thunder I know what you're talking about.
Carly Ries:I know because I was gonna surprise you, but you also had it on your list.
Lauren Ferrara:This is not what I thought you
Carly Ries:were gonna talk about. This is probably not what anybody thinks I'm gonna talk about, but thunder from down under. I was gonna do that in an Australian accent, and I spared my listeners.
Lauren Ferrara:I appreciate that. But so you'll find this entertaining. So Joe and I, my husband and I, we met in Las Vegas. I was a reporter there, and he was what I like to tell people. People are like, oh, how'd you meet?
Lauren Ferrara:You know? They're like, oh, you're from Vegas or lived in Vegas. And I, like, straight face, look at them dead in the eye, and I was like, oh, yeah. He was on feather from down under or, like, he was a Chippendales dancer, and then, like, we hit it off. And people are like, oh, like like, totally believe me.
Lauren Ferrara:He he is not a dancer, but I do. That's that's how I tell people we met.
Carly Ries:Grab your girlfriends if if anybody knows. It's like or doesn't know about it. It's kinda like a Chippendales esque show, but it's, like, so entertaining. Can I
Lauren Ferrara:tell you another funny Chippendales story? So my very first job, I was a reporter in Lubbock, Texas, and there's all these, like, you know, all these laws on the books that are still, like, from a hundred years ago, but there's still laws that haven't been repealed yet. So Lubbock, Texas or or Texas had a law saying you could not arouse people for money. So the Chippendales did a traveling show, and they're, like, doing their thing on stage, and cops came on stage, threw them down to the ground, and arrested them for breaking the law.
Carly Ries:Would think that was, like, a part of their show. Like, I would think that the cops are, like, start stripping.
Lauren Ferrara:It was insane. It, like, made national, like, got national news, and the poor DA was, like, super he declined to press charges because that's ridiculous. But it was a very fun press conference. I'm, like, raising my hand. I'm like, how can you prove that these women were actually around?
Lauren Ferrara:Exactly. What evidence do you have?
Carly Ries:Some testimonials.
Lauren Ferrara:So the, yeah, the DA was quick to decline to prosecute and basically told the police chief to get
Carly Ries:a life. That is amazing. Well, all this to say, this is happening at the Pikes Peak Center on August 29, so it'll just be a good time with your buddies.
Lauren Ferrara:I don't think they're gonna get arrested here on the spring.
Carly Ries:I do not think so either, but we'll find out. No. So I have one more, and this is kind of a joint one because you're the one that put me up for this.
Lauren Ferrara:Yeah.
Carly Ries:Pasta in the Park is happening. Pasta in the Park is Tessa's annual fundraiser. It supports survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and it you have been to this event so many times. Gosh. It's decades long.
Carly Ries:How long? Yeah.
Lauren Ferrara:It was gosh. It they took a a hiatus. It was Pasta in the Park at the Myron Stratton campus, which, you know, under the big white tins, gorgeous. And then for a couple years, they had an event at the Broadmoor instead, and then CEO and Mark Lee brought it back to Myron Stratton campus for the last several years, and it has been awesome. But survivors, like, survivors of domestic violence will share their stories on stage.
Lauren Ferrara:That's also, like, it so it sounds heavy and hard, and it's raising money for a great cause, but it's a really fun event. So different organizations in town will create a pasta sauce, and then it's a competition. So you go all around and try all these different pasta sauces, and that is where you come in, my friend.
Carly Ries:I am gonna be one of the judges. I'm, like, already, like, testing my palate. Yeah.
Lauren Ferrara:You well, you need to start, like, training and eating a lot of pasta because it's quite the quite the food festival.
Carly Ries:So if I'm, like, a 100 pounds heavier before August 15, that's because I'm training
Lauren Ferrara:to taste the pasta sauces. They have, like, drinks and desserts, and it is just an an amazing silent auction. It's a really fun event.
Carly Ries:Yes. So, be sure to check that out. The link for that is in our show notes as well. But other than that, it's back to school time. It's back to routine time.
Carly Ries:It's August, you guys,
Lauren Ferrara:and I have crushed your fipasha bread. Hope you weren't planning on taking
Carly Ries:this back to your family. I'm actually really proud of us because I don't think we were noisy. I we were eating at the entire interview. Is this an interview? This is an interview.
Carly Ries:This is our entire conversation. Conversation.
Lauren Ferrara:But I wish I'd yeah. If if you heard us, let us know. We're we're curious how much this we can get away with.
Carly Ries:And we're really sorry. But this is a great way to do these conversations out and about. But be sure to check out Chinchona and and Provisions Break Bakery. Oh my gosh. So good.
Carly Ries:Great for your friends. Great for the family. We brought my youngest here, and she had an awesome hot chocolate and just crushed a chocolate croissant because I'm that mom today.
Lauren Ferrara:And if you guys have August events that you're excited about, we would love to hear about them. So let us know on our social media.
Carly Ries:Exactly. Or you can email us at SpringsandThingspod@Gmail. But as always, thank you so much for tuning in. Please leave that five star review. It helps us build extra credibility to help spread the word to other locals in the area.
Carly Ries:Share this episode with a friend that you wanna take with you on any of these adventures in August, and don't forget to subscribe on Apple or Spotify, honestly, anywhere you listen to podcasts, but those are just the ones I think people listen on. And we'll see you next week on Springs and Things.