Madden Equipment

Classically styled packs from a recently revived Colorado heritage brand

Forty years ago in a small shop in Boulder, Colorado, Outward Bound instructor Dan Madden set out to make a better pack that would suit his and his students’ needs in the backcountry. After 10 years off, Madden Equipment is back, producing outdoor-focused packs with enough technical features for adventures and classic styling for the city. Most of the original machines, patterns and employees from …

East Van Roasters

Bean-to-bar (and cup) chocolates and coffees with a social mission in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside

Just a short walk from Vancouver, BC‘s historic Gastown neighborhood lies East Van Roasters. Situated in the city’s Downtown Eastside neighborhood, the airy facility fills the surrounding blocks with a nutty, toasted scent. The recently opened non-profit roaster buys fair trade coffee beans and cacao from around the world, then takes them from raw commodity to craft product. “Sourcing directly from organic farms, the cacao …

Test Drive: 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA

Part SUV, part urban roadster, the latest entry-level offering from the German automaker impresses in the city and out

The spending habits of younger consumers have changed drastically in recent years—especially when it comes to large purchases like cars and real estate. Whether due to economic forces or shifting social norms (or a combination of both), companies are racing to appeal to this new brand of consumer by combining the luxury of the past with the value this new generation of consumer seeks. With …