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Lakewood man organizing vegetarian festival

Contributed by: Erin Feese/YourHub.com on 3/31/2008

Dan Hanley has a passion for good food. When the Lakewood resident became a vegan 12 years ago, there weren't many restaurants offering vegan-friendly cuisine, "so I had to learn how to cook," he said.

Now the general manager for WaterCourse Foods, a vegetarian restaurant at 837 E. 17th Ave. in Denver, Hanley shares his enthusiasm with others on a daily basis.
However, Hanley said he wanted to reach out to the vegetarian and vegan community even more. He decided to organize Denver's first vegetarian festival, the Denver Veg Fest and Health Expo, which will take place April 12 at the Ritz-Carlton, 1881 Curtis St., Denver.

The event is attracting people from not only all over Colorado, but from states such as Arizona and New Mexico, Hanley said.

"I believe we've tapped into something people are very much interested in, not only vegans and vegetarians, but anyone who's interested in healthy living," he said.

In general, someone who follows a vegetarian diet doesn't eat meat, and a vegan diet excludes all animal products, including dairy and eggs.

Veg Fest to offer education, awareness
The Denver Veg Fest and Health Expo has come to mean quite a lot to me.
I decided to plan the fest as I felt that the Denver metro area has a lot to offer people who decide to be vegetarian or vegan. With similar fests happening all over the country (and the world), it was truly time to organize one here.

My hope is that the diversity of our fest will bring people together from all different walks of life. My other hope is that this will give people the knowledge and tools they need to introduce vegetarian and vegan dishes to their lives. For people who are not only interested in the health aspect of a plant-based diet, the fest will offer education through speakers and vendors regarding the effect on animals and the environment a vegetarian or vegan diet has.

Food festivals happen all the time, and this one is perfect for anyone who has even the slightest interest in vegetarian and vegan food, how to prepare it, and the effect of this type of lifestyle on your body, on animals and on the earth. Visit http://denvervegfest .org to learn about our incredible speakers and vendors.

-- Dan Hanley
Denver Veg Fest

The Veg Fest will feature a variety of speakers, such as Tim McIlrath, of Chicago-based vegetarian punk band Rise Against, and booths showcasing nonprofit agencies.

The event also will have chefs from around the country performing cooking demonstrations, Hanley said. All the food served at the event will be vegan and is included in the $10 ticket price.

"Sometime people think they don't have the time to eat vegan," he said. "We want to show that it is easy. The benefits - to animals, the planet, your body - really outweigh anything else."

Hanley, a self-described "animal person," became a vegan because he is an advocate for the ethical treatment of animals. Now that he is in his 40s, he said he is embracing the health benefits of a vegan lifestyle.

"When you really look at what you're putting in your body, (being a vegan) is so much healthier," he said.

As the co-owner of the company Cruelty Free World, Hanley sells animal-friendly wallets, purses and accessories during the summer at the The Market at Belmar. He said he has noticed a growing interest in vegan products.

"I know from my neighbors at Belmar that there is an interest in being healthy and looking at what we are eating," he said.

To read a review of WaterCourse Foods by YourHub.com user Stan Dyer, click here.

Veg Fest speaker schedule
Veg Fest will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12 at the Ritz-Carlton, 1881 Curtis St., Denver.

10:30 a.m.
Tim McIlrath, frontman of Chicago-based vegetarian punk band Rise Against

11:15 a.m.
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, founder, Compassionate Cooks, creator of Food for Thought podcast, columnist, VegNews magazine

Noon
Nathan Runkle, executive director of national nonprofit animal advocacy organization Mercy For Animals

12:45 p.m.
Dr. Milton Mills, associate director of preventive medicine for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, nutrition spokesperson for the Discovery Health Channel

1:45 p.m.
Dan Landes, vegetarian chef, co-owner of Denver's WaterCourse Foods and City, O' City

2:30 p.m.
Dan Shannon, assistant director of youth outreach and campaigns manager for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

3 p.m.
Sarah Kramer, author of La Dolce Vegan!, co-author of How It All Vegan! and The Garden of Vegan

SOURCE: DENVERVEGFEST.ORG


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