Battery621 opened for business just about one short year ago. And what a year it’s been. It was finally time to hold a GRAND OPENING, our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, and kick off the first annual LAUNCH OF WINTER. What better way to celebrate our first year of operation than visits by Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, two visits by 9 News during our packed week of events, and over 3,000 people walking through our doors.

This celebration began October 4th, and events ranged from Subaru debuting the all new 2012 Impreza, to Icelantic Skis presenting their ‘11-12 line of skis, the announcement of the SI Snowsport Entrepreneur Award, live music, engaging panel discussions with some fantastic like minded personalities, and a photographic art installation by The Public Works. Many great companies from within Battery621 and partners such as Vail Resorts, Loveland, Echo Mountain, Tommy Knocker, Create Denver, CMH heli-skiing, Muscle Milk and Smashburger came together in the name of anticipating another amazing winter.

On Tuesday, October 4th, Something Independent packed the house and announced the winner of their inaugural SI Snowsport Entrepreneur Award with the help of Colorado Governor Hickenlooper and their esteemed panel of judges. The award recognized Flylow, a Colorado ski and snowboard outerwear company, that embodies the spirit of entrepreneurism and shows us how the Colorado snowsport culture inspires their ideas and influences their business.

Governor Hickenlooper, who kicked off the event, said, “Part of being an entrepreneur is seeing opportunity where other people don’t. Nothing would make me happier then having Colorado known as the single greatest place for entrepreneurs.”

Westword Article: Flylow Gear wins first annual Something Independent Snowsport Entrepreneur Award

Denver Post Article: The inaugural Snowsports Entrepreneur Award goes to…

The night of Thursday, October 6th was The Business of Fun, an event where a panel of fine and creative humans spoke about how they followed their passions through their career path rather than the bottom line. Preston Strout, former pro shred and current owner of High Cascade Snowboard Camp, moderated the panel of 6 professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds. The panel included: Chris Davenport – Freeski legend, Steve “Stix” Nilsen – PBR Lifestyle Marketing Manager, Steve Chambers – CMH Heli-Skiing, Revelstoke Area Manager, Kristin Rust – World Traveler, PR Guru, Chris Berry – Team Pain Skate Parks Supervisor, and Gabe Anderson – Co-Owner of Jiberish Clothing. The event was a huge success all around and netted a full segment on 9 News and coverage in multiple media outlets.

“A great evening and a pleasure to get to meet everyone and share our stories. As I said before, it’s pretty easy to talk about something you’re passionate and excited about. The Business of Fun is definitely on to something,” said panelist Steve Chambers.

Battery621’s monthly First Friday event was stepped up to a new level with an art show by The Public Works, which brought out the best of over two decades of photographic pursuits printed on mixed mediums. Other higlights included Icelantic Skis unveiling their new ‘11-12 line of skis to the public, the all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza debuted for the first time in Colorado, and live music from Filthy Children. Over 2,000 patrons passed through the doors that night, all of whom were all able to buy season passes to Vail Resorts, Loveland, and Crested Butte. When people were hungry, Smashburger was on site with burgers and fries and sold out of product, and Sweet Cow Ice Cream served up desert.

Saturday October 8th, Battery621 started the weekend with a co-sponsored passport art walk throughout the Sante Fe Arts District. Parents joined their little rippers on a stamp- gathering hunt down Sante Fe Drive, ending at Battery621. Movies from Capita, Poor Boyz, Never Summer, Sandbox and Level 1 and MSP screened all day while everyone recovered from the fun filled hectic week.

Make sure to check the photos via the Galleries link to the left!

Thanks to: Subaru, The Public Works, Icelantic, Spyder, Something Independent, Emage, TommyKnocker Brewery, Canadian Mountain Holidays, Vail Resorts, Smashburger, Echo Mountain, Loveland Ski Area, Crested Butte Mountain, Larkburger, Pasbt Blue Ribbon, Turnstone, High Cascade Snowboard Camp, Whole Foods, Snowboard Colorado Magazine, the GRO project, Matchstick Productions, Level 1, Poor Boyz, Never Summer, Capita, and everyone who attended!

So our First Friday Fun Facts will be a little bit different than our regular Fun Fact Friday posts. In the FFFF, we’ll let you know what you should be looking forward to at tonight’s First Friday event.

First, there will be artwork. The Got Metal? gallery continues its run in the Spyder gallery, complete with sculpture, metalwork, and paintings. Secondly, we’ll have new art from Whit Boucher of Boulder, Colorado. You can check out his work at Phivekvisuals.com or tonight in the Icelantic Gallery and the common area. There is already some great stuff hanging on the walls.

Secondly, we’re going to kick things up in a different notch. Tonight, we’re celebrating America as July 4th is just around the corner. We’ll be decorated out in Red, White, and Blue, and we encourage you to come over dressed up in your best America ensemble. Icelantic will be holding a costume contest for the best American themed costumes, with yet to be announced prizes to go to the winners. We’re also going to have cotton candy and snocones available for all attendees, and just because Battery621 is the coolest place to be… We’re going to have a Stars and Striped waterslide in the parking lot!

Third, we’re going to be debuting the Battery621 First Friday Gigantic Jenga tournament. We’ve taken Jenga, made it much bigger and burlier, and those of you interested can compete in a bracket style tourney for prizes as well. We think this is going to go off, so get here to sign up. Tournament starts promptly at 8.

Lastly, we’ll have live music tonight from Dynohunter. You can get a preview of their sounds at http://soundcloud.com/dynohunter. Dynohunter starts at 9, and will be on until 11 in the Spyder Gallery.

That’s about it for tonight, but you never know what else is in store unless you get down here tonight. Doors open at 7 with adult beverages provided by TommyKnocker Brewery. See you all then!

Let’s face it: The snowsports industry has seen tremendous growth over the past 10 years. New brands have popped up, competing with the big dogs that have been in the industry since the beginning. So that begs the question, what does it take to be unique in a crowded industry? One of Battery621′s very own tenants, Icelantic Skis, has figured out a way to stick out in the industry. It all boils to their Colorado roots and the construction of their skis. Watch the video below:

Icelantic: Handmade in Colorado, USA

Icelantic is committed to local processes and partnerships for many reasons. Service, convenience and a belief in supporting the local economy are important but are really just the icing on the cake. The primary reason for our local commitment is QUALITY! Our boards are Never Summer Factory Built. Never Summer Industries has been perfecting sandwich construction for over 15 years and are known throughout the industry for their bombproof durability. Every product made in the NS facility is handcrafted with skill, care and attention to detail. Combine this with Icelantic’s truly unique designs and top-of-the-line materials, and you have the most durable, innovative and exciting ski on the market! Icelantic believes that high-quality, locally handcrafted products are just plain better. Our comprehensive two-year warranty is a testament to the confidence we have in our products and we know you will feel the same way as soon as you try a pair of Icelantics for yourself.

We are proud to announce that we will be hosting the Rise In The West fundraiser for Japan on May 14th from 7-10pm. Put on by Ricochet Denver, the event aims to raise funds for those in Japan affect by the tsunami and earthquakes. See below for the full press release and event poster.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2011
Denver artists and creative entrepreneurs present “Rise in the West” fundraiser for Japan Tragedy

Contacts:
Jake Rishavy | (720)231-6542 | jake@ricochetdenver.com
Patrick Ryan Corrigan | (303) 910-9213 | thetiredpirate@gmail.com

DENVER—Online pre-registration opens today for Rise in the West, a visual art- and action sports-based fundraiser created by a group of Denver artists and creative professionals with personal and business connections to the people of Japan.

Rise in the West, taking place Saturday, May 14, from 7 to 10 p.m., will feature a silent auction of works from a number of local artists and creative professionals, as well as a variety of products donated by local businesses. Attendees will enjoy samplings of local craft brews and food from a number of local mobile food trucks. All proceeds from the event will benefit the American Red Cross in its efforts to provide relief to the people of northern Japan affected by tsunami and earthquakes.

The event, spearheaded by local artist Patrick Ryan Corrigan, AKA The Tired Pirate, will be held in partnership with a number of local creative entrepreneurs at Battery621 at 621 Kalamath Street, in the Denver Santa Fe Arts District.

Event space, auction items and promotional support have been generously donated by Battery 621 resident companies and friends including well-known action sports, lifestyle and media brands Jiberish Clothing Company, Icelantic, The Public Works, Spyder, and many others. Services ranging from chiropractic sessions to beauty services will be available for bidding. Artworks will include original works and prints from local artists including Corrigan, Kurt Redeker and Knew Conscious, Tripps Prints, Digital Mavrik, AugArt Design (the big art division of Eye Candy Graphics), and many others.

Artist print services are being generously donated by Denver-based visual media company, Harmonic Media.

New artist and product sponsors are being announced daily from today until the event date on the event’s Facebook page.

For Corrigan—who has family living fewer than 60 miles from the Fukushima nuclear power plant—the cascading tragedies that followed an 8.9 magnitude quake off the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011 hit far too close to home.

“My family and I have an intensely personal connection to Japan, and we were devastated to hear of the recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster,” said Corrigan, who creates locally under the moniker Tired Pirate. “Because of my own ties to the area and those of my friends— many of whom have travelled to Japan for various action sports—the tragedies of recent weeks have inspired in me an intense desire to help.
“This desire, along with my passion for our thriving Denver art scene, has inspired me to create an exciting event that would not only raise money for the beautiful country and people of Japan, but also shed a light on the Denver’s growing cultural movement,” he added.

The event will feature live music, craft brews from official beer sponsor, Fort Collins, Colo.- based Odell Brewing Co., and food from a number of local mobile food trucks. Rise in the West is currently soliciting additional event sponsors and product donations. Registration for the event ($16 online in advance, $20 at the door) is now available online HERE. For additional details, please visit www.riseinthewest.org or www.facebook.com/riseinthewest.

The Public Works, Icelantic, and Battery621 represented each other and our unified mission at the Sports Career Fair during Sports Career Day, an event sponsored by Denver Public Schools, Denver Parks and Recreation and Goodwill Industries. The event was held at Denver’s Auraria Campus, with the intention of the fair to expose young people to careers related to sports that go beyond professional athletics and coaching.

This marked the first time that Battery621 and its tenants were able to give back to the community in a unified effort. The Public Works was part of a speaking panel which gave insight into sports careers and how young people can begin planning for a career in sports. Afterward, The Public Works teamed up with Icelantic and Battery621 to provide further information to interested students about the great things going on in the snowsports industry, as well as the synergies happening on a daily basis at Battery621.

More more information on Battery621, check out the rest of our website. If you or anyone you know is interested in having those involved with Battery621 speak at a sports or business related event, please email info@battery621.com.

To say Icelantic is on fire would be the understatement of this still young 2011. With killers showings at both this year’s SIA and ISPO tradeshows, as well as another record year in sales, Battery621 is proud to have Icelantic under our roof. One local TV station 9NEWS took notice and did a piece which aired last week. View it below:

by Jesse Placky, condorcam

Working together…Icelantic and condorcam had a fun filled day shooting Icelanic’s new gallery and office space in Battery621. Ben Anderson from Icelantic approached me in early December about getting the condorcam to fly in their new space. I was stoked to work with the Icelantic Crew, they’re a great bunch of people; always smiling and welcoming into their space in the building. Their gallery was a perfect place to fly my cablecam system and I couldn’t ask for more engaged people to work with. The shoot was very relaxed, Ben wanted to get some fly overs of their art and skis displayed on the walls. Once we got those shots on the bag, it was time to have some fun. We shot a bunch of slow motion of the Icelantic crew skateboarding and goofing around. Being over the holiday break and a little slower, we had many other tenants in 621 engaged with the video shoot. I know this shoot got me more connected with Icelantic and many others in the building. Special thanks goes out to Ben Ford from Wink In.c for being a natural driver of the condorcam and Nick Adorni from The Public Works for taking the sweet photos! I look forward to collaborating with other tenants in the building and strengthening our bonds as we continue in 2011. May it be a great year!

This past Friday, December 3rd, Battery621 opened its doors for the first time to the general public. It was the start of first Fridays at 621, with Icelantic drawing its usual crowd in the tradition of Denver’s First Friday gallery openings. This opening was different, more of a teaser of whats to come from the creative minds that make up 621.

The divers crowd finished the five kegs that Tommy Knocker Brewery graciously donated along with a delicious spread of BBQ sandwiches, bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapenos, and fancy cheeses courtesy of Stoney’s restaurant. In the Spyder showroom, their custom chairlifts were a hit all night as everyone caught up on the plush seats and enjoyed the ecosmart fireplace. A big thanks goes out to Icelantic for hosting a splendid opening first Friday, as well to all the tenants of Battery621 for making it possible. Expect more events in the future and stay tuned for the completion of Battery621′s stage II of construction.

Here are some pictures from that nights festivities:

Tommy Knocker provided a great selection of brews

The Tommy Knocker crew

Icelantic brought in a DJ to keep the crowd entertained

It would be an understatement to say that there was a lot of attendees

Icelantic continued its yearly tradition of displaying their current line of skis