Meet Brittany Werges | Editor-in-Chief, 303 Magazine

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brittany Werges and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittany, what role has risk played in your life or career?
My whole journey at 303 Magazine has been rooted in some sort of risk or at least deciding to take a chance on myself. In college, I always thought I’d go to grad school and pursue a master’s or a Ph.D. But after my mother passed away, right before my senior year of college, I decided to go after something I’ve always wanted but never considered because it didn’t seem like a “safe” career choice. That’s how I ended up in an internship at 303 Magazine.

From there on out, my time at 303 has felt like a continual decision to keep pushing forward to build something, even if it didn’t seem like the most stable option. I’ve turned down previous “dream jobs” and other opportunities over the years to support my hopes with 303 Magazine and turning it into the publication I knew it could be. There have definitely been ups and downs, but I’m really proud of what we’ve built and maintained — even through a global pandemic. I am also aware that certain privileges in my life, and the sacrifices my mom made, allowed me to even consider taking these risks and I’ll forever be grateful for that.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been at 303 Magazine for almost nine years and have helped build much of what you see today. But I got lucky and I was fortunate enough to start when there was endless opportunity and room for growth. However, there wasn’t much else. We just stopped printing and moved to digital-only, so there was little to no infrastructure. We didn’t have an office, no advertising strategy, no steady revenue, no social media and very little staff. For this, I used to describe the publication as a house of cards. But over the years, we’ve built a sturdy foundation molded by dedicated and talented editors, writers, photographers and advertising executives. I live and die by the motto that a business is only as good as its people. And I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some truly wonderful and ambitious individuals who have been willing to hold this together with me. Surviving a pandemic is a testament to the strength of our house and I am so proud of that. I am hopeful for the future and what 303 will become.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Wow, this is a tough one because there is so much to do and see. But I’ll break it down into a few categories and try to limit my choices!

Food and Drink
– Coffee: Crema is the quintessential coffeehouse in Denver and has excellent food as well. I live and die by their quiche, sweet potato waffle and chocolate chip cookies.
– Breakfast: Onefold is always a hit. Their breakfast tacos are insanely delicious — as is everything else on the menu. The second option is dim sum at Star Kitchen. Get all the noodles.
– Lunch: Cart Driver can also be excellent for dinner but it’s easier to get into for lunch. Their clam pie is the best pizza in town. Runner-ups are Vinh Xuong Bakery, the barbacoa tacos at Los Molinos, grilled pork and egg roll noodle bowl at Pho 95 and Curtis Park Deli.
– Dinner: Options are endless but Hop Alley never fails me. Other favorites are Noble Riot, Tavernettta, Sushi Den/Temaki Den, Uchi, Dio Mio, Mister Oso and Safta. If you’re feeling adventurous Szechuan Tasty House is the truth and Misfits Snackbar crushes it every time.
– Cocktails – Run For The Roses, Brass Tacks (especially for late-night food, same goes for Middleman – see Misfits above) and Lady Jane are all excellent choices. Also the new “Forget Me Not” looks incredible and if you *really* want to impress someone Death and Co is the only place to go.
– Beer: Ratio for a good time and great beer and Bierstadt for the best lagers in the country.

Culture
– Museums: I’d definitely recommend people spend the day (or maybe days) museum hopping. They are all relatively close together so I’d start with an abbreviated look at Denver Art Museum (whatever their featured exhibit is at the time, it’s usually a grand must-see), then swing over to Clyfford Still to view the work of one of my favorite artists and end it at MCA to find out what’s cool and thought-provoking now and end it with a drink on their hip rooftop.
– Street art: Denver has amazing street art, especially in RiNo. Make sure to walk the alleys between 25th – 32nd off Larimer to get the best of it.
– Music: When music is back (and it soon shall be), you can’t miss a concert in the Mile High. We have an explosive local music scene and just as many (or more) live shows as any other major city. Red Rocks really is a must-do, but don’t forget about our smaller clubs and venues. The Ogden and The Bluebird are always putting on great acts whereas Larimer Lounge and Lost Lake give you local and regional flavor. If you want a dive with a side of music, South Broadway is where you need to be. The Hi-Dive, coupled with late-night corn dogs at Sputnik is a quintessential Denver night.

Outdoor
– I love exploring Golden Gate Canyon State Park for several reasons. It’s only 45-minutes from the heart of Denver but you feel much further, you skip the majority of I-70 traffic and there’s a great brewery right on your way out (Cannonball Creek). Also if you’re here in the fall, it is one of the most beautiful places to hike for aspens. I love these trails: Ralston Roost, Frasers Meadow and Tallman Ranch.
– Bike: Denver could be more bikeable but Cherry Creek Bike path is a great way to explore the city and also see great street art. It’ll connect you to most major neighborhoods in Denver. Pack a picnic and end the day in Riverfront Park.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that make me who I am, but I’d like to focus on the women in my life. I am so grateful to have been surrounded by incredible ladies for my entire existence. My mother was a powerhouse and everything you’d want in a role model — kind, loving and sometimes very silly but also intensely hardworking, dedicated and sharp. She was both the quintessential neighborhood mom and an international businesswoman. She showed me there was no limit to what I could do. Her ability to balance work and life proved professional success didn’t mean you had to discard or downplay your love of being a mother or being an empathetic woman. Her lessons stay with me long after she passed and luckily, she also had a strong group of women who I consider secondary mothers and support me to this day.

Additionally, I have two amazing sisters who are my best friends. We couldn’t be more different but we support one another in individual ways that make my life more full. I could say the same thing about my best women friends — many who have remained in my life for decades and are each so unique, smart, talented and wonderful. Professionally, I could not be more pleased with the awesome ladies I’ve had the pleasure of working with at the magazine. Over the years we’ve had a strong presence of women in leadership roles at 303 and they have taught me so much. Their support and respect have meant more to me than I can say.

Website: 303Magazine.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/brittanywerges

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-werges-28538a62/

Image Credits
Photo of me: Kyle Cooper Team: Denver Fashion Week: Kyle Cooper Record: Amanda Piela Protest: Brittany Werges