BAR: WYSTONE’S WORLD TEAS
Wystone’s World Teas, at 7323 W. Alaska Drive in Lakewood’s Belmar center, is all about the tea. Lotsa tea. About 150 glass canisters of exotic teas line the walls behind the small counter — each category of tea demanding the right water temperature, the right steeping time, the right cup, the right attention. Not that it’s easy to make coffee, but the process at Wystone’s seems more exact, more subtle. Wystone’s serves the teas, hot and cold, with tea-inspired breakfast, lunch and dinner, every day, on a large patio, in a handsome main salon and in a small gift shop that doubles as a private tea room. It’s owned and loved by Wy Livingston. If you’re serious about tea, this is your cup.
GRILLED: ERIC LEE
Eric Lee, 39, is the president and chief executive of the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce. He was raised by his mother in Kansas and Nebraska, went to Nebraska’s Wayne State College as an undergrad, and got his Ph.D. in education and human resources at the University of Nebraska. He spent time in South Africa and Boston, but was lured to Denver by his wife, who grew up here as Dana Underwood. Now they are home with two sons in Centennial. Lee, who took over the chamber from interim president Wellington Webb in April 2009, knew he had large shoes to fill. The chamber helps its 1,000 business members with networking and strategy, a challenging task in difficult times. He orders a green-tea lemonade.
BH: You like being called “Doctor.”
Lee: Yes. But I’m good with Eric.
BH: It’s good to be a doctor.
Lee: It’s good for making reservations.
BH: You left Suffolk University to take this job.
Lee: It’s a small, private college specializing in law. I was assistant to the president. I called myself the “it” guy. Whatever it was, I worked on it. Diversity, information technology, strategic planning, it was an incredible role. It allowed me to participate in the complete administration of the university.
BH: Why did you leave Boston?
Lee: Boston was great; we had an incredible amount of fun there as a family. And the sports. When I was there they won football, basketball and baseball in the same year. But we wanted to be home in Denver. My wife’s family is here; it’s just always felt comfortable here.
BH: It’s a tough switch, from academia to chamber chief.
Lee: Well, Wellington Webb is a pretty big guy, he’s about 6-5 and I’m about 5-11. So I had to know that he wouldn’t be standing over my shoulder all the time. I wanted to know that I’d be able to put my footprint on this. But he was awesome. He was like, “Dude, it’s yours. My role is to help you be successful.” And he has been that guy for me.
BH: What’s your report card so far?
Lee: I would give myself a solid B. We have done a lot internally, worked really hard. There are many challenges in this state. Right now it’s access to capital and credit.
BH: Do you miss academia?
Lee: I really miss academia. This past weekend, I was the commencement speaker at the University of the Rockies, in Colorado Springs, and just being there with the administration and the students, I realized how much I missed it. It was a lot of fun. But these are also good times for me. I just have to find other ways to fulfill that part of who I am. The saying is “To whom much is given, much is expected.” I think it’s “much is required.” A lot of incredible men have come into my life and helped me when my father wasn’t there. Now it is my responsibility. I have to be able to do that. For me, to be able to help not only my sons but other young men as they develop is the greatest gift you can ever bestow upon the world.
BH: Having missed your father, how does that affect you and your family?
Lee: As a father and former athlete, the joy that comes to me to see my son run his first touchdown, absolutely incredible to experience those kinds of moments.
BH: What about the 2007 World Series, when Boston whupped us in four games?
Lee: I didn’t come out here for that. But it was strange. I was not a baseball fan, but all of a sudden I am hugging my neighbor in the middle of the street. I mean, Colorado has always had a place in our hearts, and we knew that the series meant a lot to Colorado.
BH: How do we compare as sports towns?
Lee: There is an odd history in Boston when it comes to sports. When you talk basketball, you talk these incredible legends like Bill Russell and Larry Byrd. When you talk about the Red Sox, they had been losers for so long. And look at the Patriots: They didn’t even have their own field. There is an incredible history to those teams. But I forced myself to get rid of all my Red Sox hats. My youngest son was born in Boston, so he still wears his stuff.
BH: Do you work out?
Lee: I work out about three days a week, and I go to a 5:30 a.m. class at Touch ‘Em Up Boxing. I try to hit the Denver Athletic Club for the cardio stuff. I weigh 195 pounds. I haven’t been this big in a long time. The life of a chamber president involves a lot of dinners. That’s why I go to the gym.
BH: How did you pick this tea house?
Lee: My wife found it. And it’s my kind of place. I don’t go to a bar. I’ve never had a beer in my life. I had my first drink at 31.
BH: What’s your idea of happiness?
Lee: Sitting on the sidelines with my wife watching one of my boys play ball.
BH: What living person do you most admire?
Lee: Muhammad Ali.
BH: What was South Africa like?
Lee: If I win the lottery, that’s where we’re heading. It’s the most beautiful place I have ever been.
BH: What’s an overrated virtue?
Lee: Vision. We always say we want visionary leaders, a guy who comes in and talks about what should happen. We need someone who can gets things done.
BH: Is there a phrase you overuse?
Lee: If you don’t like change, you’ll like being irrelevant even less.
BH: Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
Lee: My wife, Dana. And basketball.
BH: Playing it or watching it?
Lee: Playing it. There is no other sport that allows you to do what you do in basketball. I have terrible knees now and cannot play, but I want to play so bad it hurts. Even to watch my son, it hurts not to participate.
BH: When and where were you happiest?
Lee: I don’t think I have ever been really unhappy. I have had a marvelous life. I have had challenges, but I have never been unhappy.
BH: What’s your greatest achievement?
Lee: Seeing my little sister graduate from the same college I did. When she did that, I felt successful.
BH: Where would you like to visit?
Lee: Rome.
BH: What’s your most treasured possession?
Lee: My grandfather’s Mickey Mouse watch.
BH: What do you drive?
Lee: I drive what I drove as a graduate student, a 1996 Dodge Stratus.
BH: Cars aren’t important to you?
Lee: No. They are immediately depreciating objects. My kids don’t mind jumping into it, my wife likes it. All of our cars are paid for and we feel good about that.
BH: Your son will probably get that car.
Lee: I told him he’s driving it to college.
BH: What’s your favorite thing to do?
Lee: I love to fish. I love to get into a lake about 5 in the morning just as the sun comes up and start throwing those topwater lures out there for bass. I don’t think there is anything better than that.
BH: What’s your most marked characteristic?
Lee: My personality. There is a lot of it.
BH: Writers?
Lee: Right now it’s Mike Lupica. He writes this series on sports for kids, I buy them for my sons, and I end up going right through them.
BH: iPod?
Lee: It’s loaded. Everything from Coltrane live to Kirk Franklin gospel to Lady- smith Black Mambazo to Phil Collins.
BH: Food?
Lee: I love 8 Rivers and Famous Dave’s. We are addicted to Famous Dave’s.
BH: What do you dislike?
Lee: Reality TV.
BH: Clothes?
Lee: I have always been a bow-tie guy.
BH: What’s your biggest regret?
Lee: Not spending more time with my grandfathers.
BH: Facebook?
Lee: Yes.
BH: Twitter?
Lee: No. Who has time? And who really cares?
Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Bill Husted: 303-954-1486 or bhusted@denverpost.com.
