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TeamSPS 2022 Kubb Tournament

We had our 4th annual TeamSPS Kubb Tournament today. We were graced with impeccable weather to throw some Kubb. We had 16 teams of five or six people. The tournament format we used was very similar to last year, and simple to play. We had four round robin groups of four teams each. They played three single-game rounds, time limited at 25 minutes. At the end of 25 minutes the team with the most baseline Kubbs standing was declared the winner. A throw off would have been used on a baseline tie, but that wasn’t even needed.

Groups of people playing Kubb on a grass lawn surrounded by urban office buildings, with wooden blocks arranged across the field. Five people playing Kubb on a grass lawn outside a modern office building, one player mid-throw with a wooden baton toward wooden block targets. Group of people playing kubb on a grass lawn beside a modern building, wooden block targets arranged across the field foreground. Five people standing on grass in front of a parking garage, each holding a wooden Kubb baton raised in the air and smiling at the camera. Person in teal shirt tossing a wooden baton at wooden kubb blocks on a grass lawn, with a group of onlookers behind and office buildings in the background. Five coworkers stand on a grass lawn holding wooden Kubb batons and smiling at the camera, with trees and a modern office building behind them. Person in a gray shirt and baseball cap throwing a wooden kubb baton across a grass field toward scattered kubbs and watching players Two people playing Kubb on a grass lawn outside office buildings, one leaning down to pick up a wooden block while others watch nearby. Wooden kubb king piece and scattered kubbs on a grass lawn with groups of people watching in the background near modern office buildings. Group of coworkers playing Kubb on a grass lawn between urban office buildings, one player mid-throw with wooden batons and kubbs scattered across the field.

After the round robins were completed we ranked each team first to fourth in their group, and then went out into four simple brackets to get a winner from each.

Handwritten Kubb tournament bracket on poster paper showing Bracket 1 with Naming Things vs Rubiks Kubb and Kubb-etche Team 13, and Bracket 2 with Horton Hears Team 11 vs Ice Kubb Creme de la Kubb, Handwritten tournament bracket sheet on a table showing Bracket 3 KnowMoreDoMore and Bracket 4 GiveBack matchups with team names, beside a gold medal on a black lanyard.

We did have a bit of a surprise when the sprinkler system at SPS Tower turned on while we were still playing. It continued and interfered with one final game, but everyone was a good sport about getting a little wet. 💦

Six people playing Kubb on a grass plaza in an urban setting, with wooden blocks scattered across the field and one player mid-throw.

Final results of the #LeadTheWay bracket gave the overall with to Rubiks Kubb!

Handwritten Kubb tournament bracket sheet on a clipboard showing Bracket 1 won by Rubiks Kubb and Bracket 2 won by Creme de la Kubb

This is such a great event and everyone has a wonderful time. I can’t wait to direct the 2023 Tournament!

See: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, and 2018 tournaments.

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Meow Wolf

Meow Wolf seems impossible to describe. They describe their mission as

We create immersive and interactive experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of story and exploration.

They certainly are doing that. Tammy and I found Meow Wolf incredible at every turn. We could have spent much more time here, and will definitely return with the kids at the earliest opportunity. It felt like we were walking inside of an art experience. There are hidden gems everywhere, and even better it is all connected with an overarching story. Simply incredible. If you are in Denver, Santa Fe, or Las Vegas — GO!

Glowing heart-shaped resin pods embedded in a textured red and pink sculptural ceiling lit with magenta and amber lights Visitors walk winding ramps through a vast multi-level immersive art installation filled with glowing coral-like sculptures, hanging orbs, and vivid pink and red lighting. Glowing fantastical castle with red spires and neon lights nestled among illuminated ice cave formations under deep blue lighting Chaotic immersive art installation with hundreds of colorful street signs bursting from a crashed bus, a starfield ceiling, and visitors exploring on two levels
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Pedego Bikes on Cherry Creek Trail

We saw these Pedego bikes at the Minnesota State Fair and Tammy saw they had a rental option in Denver. We got a couple of Element Fat Tire bikes and took Cherry Creek Trail to the city limit and back, just over 20 miles.

This was Tammy’s first time on an electric bike and she thought it was fun. It was also a much more “assisted” ebike than I had used before. We didn’t love the Element, mostly because the geometry was super compact, but it was still an awesome time.

We stopped at the Cherry Creek shopping area on our way back. Twenty years ago when we went there it had a bunch of art galleries and such. Sadly, it didn’t have any of that unique character anymore.

Two red fat-tire electric bikes parked beside the Denver Parks and Recreation Cherry Creek Trail entrance sign on a sunny day. Two orange Pedego Element fat-tire electric bikes with blue and red rims parked on a paved trail stretching through open grassland under a clear blue sky. Steel footbridge over a rocky waterfall cascade on Cherry Creek, surrounded by cottonwood trees under a clear blue sky. Cyclist in a race jersey and helmet rides a road bike across a red-decked bridge on a paved trail, while another person stands beside two red fat-tire bikes nearby
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Brandi Carlile at Red Rocks

We have seen Brandi Carlile play many times. Tammy discovered her years ago when she performed at showing of Wits. After we heard her a couple of more times we declared that if she was playing within 100 miles of us, we were going. When Tammy heard that she was playing at Red Rocks, we had to get on a plane and go much further than 100 miles. Brandi Carlile is an epic performer, and Red Rocks is an epic venue. Epic ^ 2!

The Indigo Girls opened for Brandi which was amazing. Tammy is a big fan of the Indigo Girls, and Brandi shared with the audience that the Indigo Girls were a huge help to her early in her music journey. There was a lot of love on the stage and in the audience. Allison Russell was the first opener and what we saw of her was also incredible!

Packed outdoor amphitheater at night with red rock formations lit blue, a performer on a purple-lit stage in the distance, and a large video screen showing a guitarist Night concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre with a performer in a white shirt playing guitar shown on two large LED screens flanking the stage Packed outdoor amphitheater at night with large LED screens showing performers on stage, red rock formations lit in blue behind the crowd Two concertgoers smile for a selfie high in the seating at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, colorful stage lighting and a packed crowd visible behind them.

See list of Brandi Carlile shows.

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Heading to Red Rocks on Bus to Show to see Brandi Carlile! 🤩

Two people seated on a school bus smiling at the camera, wearing jackets, with an Office Depot visible through the window outside.
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Smiling man in a blue floral shirt posing cheek-to-cheek with a large black-and-white cow statue indoors
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We had a fun time experiencing the “Beyond” show at the International Church of Cannabis. I tagged the new graffiti wall, and Tammy crushed it in the Ms. PAC-MAN console that was set to hyperspeed.

Two people smiling for a selfie inside a church covered floor-to-ceiling in vivid rainbow murals and whimsical characters. Eclectic gallery space with floral sofas, arcade games, chess tables, tie-dye clothing rack, and colorful murals, visitors browsing throughout International Church of Cannabis exterior with rainbow-painted steps, ivy-covered brick facade, and a colorful space-themed arched window mural. Church sanctuary interior covered in vivid rainbow murals with two large fantastical figures flanking a stained glass window, pews and flower cushions in foreground Hallway with large black marquee letters spelling WEED mounted on a purple-lit wall, with globe pendant lights overhead. Wall with large glowing eyes sculpture and hand-drawn bird sketch signed by Steve Berke beside Thingelstad.com 2022 and Teeny tags
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Denver Milk Market.

Outdoor alley dining area at Denver Milk Market with string lights, green bistro chairs, white picnic tables, and potted plants between brick buildings.
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Denver skate park.

Large concrete skatepark with bowls and ramps, a gazebo nearby, trees, and Denver city buildings under a cloudy sky.
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The view from our hotel room. 😕

Multi-story parking garage exterior showing cars on four open levels, beside a gray brick building wall with windows.