We occasionally like to highlight some interesting folks crafting Colorado experiences and art. If you know someone who belongs on our Characters of the Craft pages, let us know.
Monte Michael Moore
Professional fine artist and illustrator
Age: 53
What do you love about your job? After 30 years as a full-time illustrator, I still get a charge out of turning a blank sheet of paper or canvas into something completely different. You’d think when you’ve created several thousand pieces of art you would get burnt out, but I still love creating. It feels like It’s a kind of magic.
What is the hardest part of your job? Staying on top of client projects and deadlines. You don’t have the luxury of not feeling in the mood to draw or paint. When you have a deadline and you have committed to a project, you just sit down and create and some days that is harder than others, and sometimes it just flows.
What gets you out of bed in the morning? I’m extremely driven to succeed, so knowing the competition might be sleeping, gets me up and motivated to forge ahead and get my day going, whether it’s making art, building unique frames or interacting with clients and fans on social media, I love every aspect of it.
What’s one thing about you that most people in your circle wouldn’t know? My partner and I are planning on opening a bistro in 2024 in the Littleton/Highlands Ranch area that will also have live art events! Very few people know about it, not even our parents!
What would be your favorite Colorado staycation? Why? We love Breckenridge, and visit quite often. It’s the perfect mix of old mountain town charm with great shopping and fabulous restaurants. Breck is very foodie for those that don’t know. Ember, Radicado, Blue River Bistro, Empire Burger, Legends Steakhouse and even the highest tiki bar in America - Castaways Cove.
What’s one of your favorite places to eat or drink in Colorado? I would say Ember in Breckenridge, owned by head chef Scotty Boshaw. The food is really unique and amazing and we love to sit at the bar some nights and chat with locals and tourists from around the world.
Hillary Eales
Founder and winemaker at Mafia Princess Wine
Age: 38
What do you love about your job? I love that I get to make it my own. Taking the leap to buy a vineyard and start our own winery has been an incredible adventure that is uniquely ours. We created a brand around family stories that we get to share with all our guests, as we welcome everyone to be part of our family through wine. I get the opportunity to make wine that reflects my creativity and desire to use out-of-the-box winemaking methods to achieve great wines (things like not pressing my reds for 10 months, for which I’ve been called crazy by other winemakers).
I also love that we can make this a family affair. While working and living and raising kids all in the same place, has its challenges, it also has its rewards. Like harvesting with our kids, even if they are eating more grapes than end up in the wine.
What is the hardest part of your job? Finding the balance between work and family. It’s a hard balance no matter what you do for work, but when you run your own business, it is easy to let the business run you.
What gets you out of bed in the morning? Coffee! Well, only partially. I like to get up before the rest of the family, have a cup of coffee and read a good book. It’s often the only bit of quiet in my day.
What’s one thing about yourself that most people in your circle wouldn’t know? I grew up with horses and even still have my saddles from when I was a kid. My dream is to have a horse-powered vineyard. In talking to my husband about this, he actually agreed that if we buy more property, we can plant a horse-powered vineyard on it! I love the idea of being able to run a vineyard without any mechanical equipment. Vineyard life is already romanticized, adding horses would just be icing on the cake.
What would be your favorite Colorado staycation destination? Why? I’d stay right here in the Grand Valley. I’d do all the things … carriage ride to the wineries, mountain bike in Fruita, hit up the breweries, float the river, all in a long weekend. So often when you live in a destination, you miss out on all the cool things people come from all over to do.
What’s one of your favorite places to eat or drink in Colorado? 626 on Rood in Grand Junction is definitely one of my favorites. They always have a great wine selection and the always changing food menu is fun. One time I went with a friend from Oregon who picked out a Pinot Noir from a winery he was familiar with, and a vintage he said was one of the best. To date, that’s been the only Pinot Noir wine I thought was outstanding (no doubt I just offended a bunch of Pinot drinkers!).
Nic Weber
Chef/owner of Bird Dog Culinary LLC, a western Colorado culinary consulting firm
Age: 33
What do you love about your job? Connecting guests with the bounty of local agriculture and history.
What is the hardest part of your job? The light switch never turns off. When entrenched in this industry, the mind is an ever-burning ember that needs stoked and snuffed constantly.
What gets you out of bed in the morning? My smiling 5-month-old daughter, Magnolia.
What’s one thing about yourself that most people in your circle wouldn’t know? Nothing comes to mind. This is an intimate work environment, and I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. My stories are a compilation of lessons I have learned through success and failure that I often share with those I am close to.
What would be your favorite Colorado staycation destination? Why? The campsites along the Dolores river on 4.1 Road near Gateway. I have a lot of fond memories of that river, whether it be camping with friends and having big cookouts or just walking the banks and reflecting with my English Setter, Belle.
What’s one of your favorite places to eat or drink in Colorado? Brasserie Brixton. The team there is largely a collection of friends I was shoulder to shoulder in the trenches with earning the James Beard Award for best chef Colorado at Mercantile Dining & Provisions in Denver. The food is amazing, the atmosphere fun, the service impeccable. They are also next door to Yacht Club so after your meal you can cap the night with some of the best cocktails around.
Art by Tate Hamilton
Tate Hamilton
Artist/oil painter
Age: Ageless, or possibly 68
What do you love about your job? I get to do what I want everyday, which is create art and then travel around the country with my wife, doing art festivals, meeting people and selling my work.
What is the hardest part of your job? Sometimes bad weather can be a detriment while at the art festivals, and sometimes long drives can get a little boring.
What gets you out of bed in the morning? Lately, woodpeckers banging on the metal gutters around my house. I get it, mating season and all, but could you wait until noon at least?
What’s one thing about yourself that most people in your circle wouldn’t know? I’m an open book. I think all my friends know me pretty well.
What would be your favorite Colorado staycation destination? Why? I don’t really have one particular place but my wife and I do enjoy staying at The Monarch in Black Hawk, occasionally.
What’s one of your favorite places to eat or drink in Colorado? There are so many places that we love to go to eat and drink. For great northern New Mexico food, we like Tamales by La Casita. For pizza, we like Carl’s Pizza on West 38th. We also like Blue Pan Pizza and Rico’s Pizzeria.
Candice Mohr
Owner of Snowy Peaks Winery in Estes Park
Age: 53
What do you love about your job? I love that it uses all my skill sets, which keeps it interesting every day. I love meeting people from all over the world and getting to be a small part of their Colorado vacation. I especially love the community we’ve built with our regular customers, local artists and musicians, non-profit organizations and so many more people over the last 19 years.
What is the hardest part of your job? Keeping all of the balls in the air.
What gets you out of bed in the morning? Wondering what new adventure the day will bring.
What’s one thing about yourself that most people in your circle wouldn’t know? I used to be a wildland firefighter with Rocky Mountain National Park.
What would be your favorite Colorado staycation destination? Why? Here’s my top three: Palisade for great food, fresh peaches, beautiful hikes and of course enjoying wine tastings at all the wonderful wineries. Steamboat Springs for fall color, great restaurants, beautiful hikes and Strawberry Hot Springs. But honestly for a true staycation, just being in Estes can’t be beat. Almost unlimited hikes through all kinds of terrain, great restaurants, and awe-inspiring views everywhere you look. I love just sitting on my deck with a glass of wine in my hand, watching the birds and other wildlife and enjoying the Colorado sun.
What’s one of your favorite places to eat or drink in Colorado? Seasoned Bistro in Estes Park. The food is always creative, super fresh and visually stunning. The ambiance is homey and comfortable, while still being elegant and the service is top notch.
Owner and winemaker at Vines 79 Wine Barn
Age: Old enough
What do you love about your job? Sharing a glass of one of my wines with a new friend.
What is the hardest part of your job? Working around Mother Nature’s unpredictability.
What gets you out of bed in the morning? The morning sun coming through my window or my dog Rico.
What’s one thing about yourself that most people in your circle wouldn’t know? I owned a dairy farm in New York State with my husband Dan and we milked 60 head.
What would be your favorite Colorado staycation destination? Why? Estes Park, I love the wildlife walking through town!
What’s one of your favorite places to eat or drink in Colorado? The Winery Restaurant in Grand Junction because it’s always a special treat.