May 14th, 2010
Rumor has it that when God takes a vacation, he goes to the Colorado Wilderness!! Therefore, “May the Peace of the Wilderness be with You.”
That could not be more truth. The scenery is just breathtaking and leaves you speechless. It is hard for me to be at a loss for words, but, I am not kidding, I was. There was no need for words. Nature said it all.
The city of Boulder is about 5,700 feet high and Lost Gulch is much higher. The way to get there, if you are in Boulder, is to take Broadway and Flagstaff Rd. and travel 5.5 miles west on Flagstaff.
We were at an area called Lost Gulch Lookout Vista from Flagstaff Mountain. At a distance you could admire the Indian Peaks and Gold Hill.
Indian Peaks are located in the Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forests. Serrated ridges and jagged peaks are the characteristics of the Indian Peaks Wilderness. It contains a handfull of remnant glaciers, considered by some to be the Southernmost permanent glaciers in North America. Among those peaks there are about 50 lakes. The elevation? 8,400 – 13,502 feet.
Golden Hill is the other view along those peaks; a settlement northwest of Boulder. Elevation 8,300 feet. It was a mining town, and the site of the first major discovery of gold during the 1859 Colorado Gold Rush.
It is a quiet isolated haven with no paved streets. Gold Hills is accessible from nearby Left Hand Canyon Road by way of Lick Skillet Road which is the steepest county road in the United States.
As I was enjoying these mountains, I could not help notice signs posted here and there. These are the signs that warn you about wildlife and what to do if you encounter one. No screaming. I think that would be the first thing I would do then pass out.
The City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain parks has 144 miles of hiking trails. You are bound to encounter a wild animal if you are a hiker. No question about it.
From the mountains, back in Boulder, walking was what I did. There are so many creeks and streams all over. The land along creeks, rivers and other bodies of inland water is called a “riparian” area.
Boulder Creek’s riparian corridor is one of the city’s most valuable resources. Riparian areas represent only about 2% of the land in Boulder County, but they are used by roughly 80% of the area’s wildlife.
Through my visit in this town, people were out enjoying the outdoors, but once the week-end arrived, they were really out. Outdoor games, rafting in the river, eating at picnic tables; just having fun. The residents are very aware of what a special place they have and the place is spotless; no trash.
Preserving and protecting is the responsibility of all of those who visit.
You wonder why is she still writing about Boulder? I know, I blog about our beaches. The ocean is what I love, but there is something so intoxicating about these mountains, that if you experience it, then you have to talk about it.
Just a few more blogs from Boulder, though. If Boulder had an ocean you would never leave.
Talk to you later…..
Note: Information for this blog was taken from www.coloradowilderness.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Hill,_Colorado
May 13th, 2010
“Gourmandise is an impassioned, rational, and habitual preference for all objects that flatter the sense of taste.” From The Physiology of Taste
On that same train of thought I wonder, what is a delicacy? Is it a cultural thing? Or is it because of the unusual flavors, charasteristics or, really, because it is rare? I think it is a combination of all those things.
Visiting Boulder gave me the opportunity to try different cuisines. Some of them I blogged about, just like this post and some I just kept to myself. Boulder has cuisine from all over the world, and I was ready to try it all.
After visiting the Boulder Beer Company, we decided to eat some Tibetan food. The Tibet Kitchen was our choice. They are located at 2359 Arapahoe Ave., Tel. 303-440-0882. The website is http://tibetkitchen.com. They deliver, have party trays and do catering. You may eat in or out, in their courtyard.
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north of the Himalayas. Average elevation is 16,000 feet, therefore it is the highest region on Earth. Considered to be the “Roof of the World”. Tibet is part of the People’s Republic of China and it is a land of contrasts.
It is important to know that the most important crop is barley. Dough made from barley flour called stampa, is the staple food of Tibet. It is rolled into noodles or made into steamed dumplings called Momos. That is exactly what I had for lunch at the Tibet Kitchen. These dumplings are considered a national dish. The shape of the dumpling is symbolic of the coming together after a long interval. At the Tibet Kitchen, they are made fresh every single day and we had a combination of the vegetarian, chicken and beef, accompanied with a hot sauce. They were absolutely delicious.
 Momos We also had the Jhasa Shamdah, which is a chicken curry, marinated in home made yogurt and potatoes. Delicate flavors and spices. Very good.
 Jhasa Shamdah (Chicken Curry) It was a cool day but the sun was strong. As we sat outside in this courtyard you could not help to look at the decorations. They all had meaning. I really did not know what it all meant so I started searching for some information.
The irons perfectly placed in pyramid form; the same with the CDs and other figurines. They had to have symbolism.
The Tibet Stupa is called a Chorten in Tibetan. It means “basis of offering”. The Chorten is a statue or monument, often pyramid shape in structure.
The Chorten reminds those who encounter it to focus on their path to enlightenment. The ways in which your eyes travel from its base to its dramatic crescent at its top, reflects the transition to an enlightened state.
We had such a nice lunch in this garden, taking it all in; the mountains, the beautiful weather, the clean air, happiness, the food but most of all the company. Perfect!!
Talk to you later….
Note: Information for this post was taken from www.tibetway.net, www.crystallinks.com/tibet.html, www.ackland.org.
May 12th, 2010
If you are visiting Boulder, you will probably be taken to a tour of the Boulder Beer Company.
Well, it was the perfect tour after a really fantastic Commencement at the University of Colorado. Let me tell you a bit about it.
The University holds the general commencement exercises at a certain time. After that, then the different Colleges will hold individual commencements and that is where I found myself. Specifically, at the English-Literature commencements.
It was held at the Mary Rippon Theatre inside the University. It is an outdoor theatre in a gorgeous setting. The perfect commencement for English and Literature. On summer evenings, Colorado Shakespeare Festival performances take place here.
The theatre was named in honor of Mary Rippon, who in 1878 arrived at CU and was the 3rd faculty member; it is believed the first woman to teach at a state university. Pretty impressive. She was described as quiet, low-voiced, attractive, full of energy, and wholly devoted to her work.
Since we had finished with graduation, we had the afternoon off and we were on our way to the Boulder Beer Company.
This was Colorado’s first microbrew and the 43rd licensed brewery in the United States. There are 1,500 licenses at the present time. Founded in 1979 by physics professors at University of Colorado who were home brewers, as well. The brewery started on a farm in a “goatshack”. They are no longer the owners, but they do visit regularly.
The company is very civic minded. In 2008, it became a sponsoring partner in Boulder’s “10 for a Change Challenge” and is already PACE Certified (Partners for a Clean Environment). It also participates in “Beer 4 Boobs), a nationwide charity program raising money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. And, they also host an annual “Goatshed Revival” Beer Festival in honor of their first brewery that was in a shed shared by goats. Proceeds are donated to the Community Food Share, a non-profit organization feeding the community’s poor.
 Overflow Boulder Beer Company is located at 2880 Wilderness Pl. Tel. 303-444-8448. Website is www.boulderbeer.com.
 Quality Control They had a lot of people in attendance. It is not just a microbrew; it has a restaurant called The Pub. It serves pub grub and has indoor and outdoor seating. Full bar, of course, offering all their beers. They also offer Gluten Free Beer, not brewed by them, but up the road. During this trip, it was amazing to see how progressive this town is in regards to food allergies.
The tour started in the Brew House with full explanation of how everything worked. Then, inside to tour the facility. You can see it from the pictures. On this particular day, they unveiled their first canned beer. Not their goal but needed for when bottles are not allowed. Hazed & Infused is one of their most popular ones and they started with that particular one.
 First Canned Beer 
The list of beers are:
Hazed & Infuzed – Dry Hopped Ale
Mojo – India Pale Ale
Flashback – India Brown Ale
Sweaty Betty Blonde – Kefeweizen (Bavarian style)
Cold Hop – British Style Ale
Mojo Risin’ – Double IPA
Buffalo Gold – Golden Ale
Pass Time – Pale Ale
Singletrack – Copper Ale
Sundance – Amber Ale
Planet Porter – 2007 Bronze Medal. Smooth with a hint of coffee.
Soon the Kinda Blue will be out. It is a Blueberry Wheat (American Wheat Beer).
After the tour, we were all invited to a Beer Tasting and my top 3 were the Hazed & Infused, then Mojo and then the Singletrack.
It was very nice and enjoyable. Definitely, worth it.
From there we took off to eat Tibetan food…..will tell you later about that one.
Note: Information for this post was taken from www.boulderhistorymuseum.org/rippon.asp and http://en.wikipedia.org
May 11th, 2010
I arrived in Boulder last Thursday, full of that East Coast “rush”. I don’t know why. I felt like I was talking and walking a mile a minute. Crazy.
I know that in some of my posts I always say to the people visiting the Delaware and Maryland Beaches to “kick back and relax”. Well, that is exactly what I did, even though it took me more than a few hours to get used to the altitude and the dry air.
Boulder is unique. As you approach the city, the first thing that comes into view are the Flatirons, which are the background to this college town.
What a difference!! A few hours before, I was in Delaware, at sea level, and now I was 5,700 feet high.
No, my oxygen level was fine and I was not huffing and puffing as I made my way to Jill’s Restaurant for a drink and a couple of appetizers to tie my group over until dinner time.
Jill’s Restaurant is a modern bistro that encourages organic farming practices. The restaurant showcases contemporary cuisine with a Mediterranean accent.
It seats 70, has a full bar, and a beautiful private room, called the Honey-Onyx Room. You may dine outdoors, weather permitting overlooking the Flatiron Mountains. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We sat at the bar. The restaurant was crowded since it was graduation week-end at University of Colorado, right in town.
We just wanted a few drinks and a little something to eat. We chose the Fat Tire Steamed Mussels, with roasted crostini. They were delicious and the broth was to die for. Fat Tire is an amber ale beer brewed in Fort Collins, Colorado. We also had the Veggie Spring Rolls with a Chili Ginger Sauce, which were very good, as well. We chatted, relaxed and took notice of how pretty this bistro was. The main dinning room had an open kitchen so you could appreciate the comings and goings of a busy restaurant. The whole set up was very comfortable.
Jill’s Restaurant is located at 900 Walnut Street. Tel. 720-406-7399. The website is http://www.jillsdining.com. Please check out the website because there are different events coming up during the month of May and other pertinent information.
The restaurant is in the St. Julien Hotel & Spa. This hotel is a sophisticated retreat. It has a serene atmosphere accentuaded by the gorgeous mountain views. Their tel. is 720-406-9696 or 720-406-8218. Website is www.stjulien.com.
It is beautiful with an attentive staff.
Yes, that is how my stay in Boulder started…..talk to you later….
May 10th, 2010
Conch Island is the new addition to the many restaurants in downtown Rehoboth Beach. I love seeing all these new places opening up at this time of the year. More blogging for me.
The owners of Conch Island are not new to the restaurant business; they own several others at the beaches. I wanted to check the place out, so I stopped to have a drink. It was actually a little too early but perfect if I wanted to take some pictures. It is hard to take pictures if the place is full of patrons.
Conch Island is located at 207 Rehoboth Avenue, right in the center of town. The tel. is 302-226-West.
The restaurant is large and there are 3 bars. It is not crowded with tables; bar tables are spread out. It is going to be perfect for listening to music. They do have a stage and on week-ends they will have entertainment.
Conch Island has the Captain Morgan Bar. It is a quiet corner of the restaurant, where you can chat with friends away from the music on the other side.
It is a fullfledged restaurant. Some of the appetizers that caught my attention were: Conch Fritters, Smoked Fish Dip, Cracked Conch, Tuna Tataki and Jerk Chicken Quesadillas.
I love Conch Chowder and they do have it, as well. Sandwiches like the catch of the day and the Cuban Sandwich interested me, as well.
For entrees they do have the classics from the grill like New York Strip and Filet Mignon. Other additions are Key West Scallops, Cayo Hueso Paella, and Key West Pink Shrimp among others.
The desserts that tempted me were the Key Lime Pie and the Chocolate Republic Rum Cake which is served warm with a white chocolate glaze.
I think they will do well. The restaurant is casual just like it should be at the beaches. I really would like to visit on a week-end when maybe a little Calypso music could be enjoyed.
Have a great day!!! Talk to you later….as usual….
May 9th, 2010
The Pottery Place has been around for many years. I remember the first time I met her owner, Sandy Flynn. She was the first person I met that rescued greyhounds. Wow, she would be so impressed if she came to Dewey Beach in the Fall and see what a turn-out the “Greyhounds at the Beach” get.
The Pottery Place was in Fenwick, and it still is. But, they have opened one in Rehoboth Beach. Sandy’s daughter, Kim, is the owner of Pottery Place. She runs both stores. I went to visit the store in Rehoboth Beach last Friday. It is in the “Forgotten Mile”, which is that stretch of highway as you leave Dewey Beach, going North. It really is not that forgotten; there are plenty of businesses along the highway. But, you might want to forget this stretch if you get caught in one of the many traffic jams on the week-end, at the height of the summer season.
Pottery Place is located on 20717 Coastal Highway (Rt. 1), Rehoboth Beach. Tel. 302-227-1660. The website is www.potteryplaceperks.com.
You cannot miss this store. The colors scream summertime and outdoor living!!
Pottery Place is funky, fun and fabulous. An eclectic mix of unique accessories. It has great items available for your home decor, but also gifty things and ideas. Tropical novelties and planters abound.
The Pottery Place was established in 1972. It is definitely a family business. They import merchandise from Indonesia, Africa, Thailand and China. They offer the largest selection of pottery on the beach, and they buy directly from potters from all over the world.
I hope you enjoy the pictures I have taken. They give you a glimpse into this very unique store.
Enjoy the weather!! It is so nice in the Delmarva Peninsula. Talk to you soon…
Note: Information for this post was taken from www.potteryplaceperks.com.
Pottery Place in Fenwick Island is located at the Sunshine Plaza, Rt. 1. Tel. 302-539-3603.
May 8th, 2010
Dogs, kids, sand, the beach; they all go together when you are vacationing at our beaches.
Remember the other day how hot it got? Well, I was walking in Rehoboth with my friend, and her dog ,Tucker. The poor guy got so hot that he had to just plop in front of Browseabout Books, right there on the Avenue for a drink of water.
I just remembered that Jim from Doggies at the Beach, had sent a list of the dog friendly restaurants in the area. Tucker could have been much more comfortable if I had had the list with me. Doggies at the Beach, by the way, is located on 188806 John J. Williams Highway (Rt. 24). Tel. 302-644-8200, website is www.doggiesatthebeach.com. This is a cage free facility. I can recommend them fully because, Addy, my” rescue” is a frequent guest.
Remember that you should always confirm with the restaurants to make sure that they are sill accepting dogs at their establishments.
Rehoboth Beach:
GreenMan Juice Bar & Bistro – Wilmington Avenue
Retro Cafe, Wilmington Avenue
Seafood Shack, Baltimore Avenue
Shag, Wilmington Ave., Please mention Doggies at the Beach for a Buy One and Get One Free.
Rigby’s (old Partners), Rehoboth Avenue
Hobos (old SOB), Baltimore Ave.
Dos Locos (side of building), Rehoboth Ave.
Grotto’s Pizza, Rehoboth Avenue only
Arena’s Deli, Rehoboth Ave.
Ocean Highway or Rt. 1:
Tijuana Taxi
Lazy Susans
Crabby Dick’s
Bethany Blues, Rt. 1, Lewes
Arena’s Deli, next to Big Fish, Rehoboth
Dewey Beach:
Sharky’s
The Sunrise
Ed’s
Scully’s
Gary’s DB Grill
Note: Dewey allows licensed pets on the beach all summer before 9:30 a.m. and after 5:30 p.m.
Have a great week-end!!
May 7th, 2010
A big event again in Rehoboth is Paint Out. It is a an Art Festival Week-End when 30 regional artists who have been juried into this event will paint from dawn until dusk on Friday, May 7th and Saturday, May 8th.
The artists will be painting out in 13 locations including parts of the Boardwalk, downtown Rehoboth, Silver Lake and Gordon’s Pond.
On Saturday, May 8th, the beach blocks of Baltimore and Wilmington Avenues will be filled with bright tents and wares of local 3-D and photography artisans from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
On Sunday, May 9th, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. is the Paint Out Awards and Exhibit Reception at the Rehoboth Theatre of the Arts, located on Baltimore Avenue. Enjoy light fare, Mimosas and live jazz ($20/person).
Need more info? Please visit www.downtownrehoboth.com. You may also call 302-227-2772.
Enjoy the week-end!!!
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