August 12th, 2012
“In times past, markets were the centers of towns and villages, the place people gathered to buy or barter goods and services and to catch up on village news.”
In some ways that is true today, as the resurgence of farmers markets are taking towns by storm.
Local agriculture and family farms are an important part of our past, present, and future.
It had been 2 years since I stopped in Boulder. This city is one of the healthiest and fittest in the country.
The scenery is gorgeous; the Flat Irons on the background, watching over Boulder.
The Farmers’ Market in Boulder is one that is supported by the community and visitors. It is huge. 150 vendors. The Market is located at 13th St., between Arapahoe and Canyon; next to Central Park in Downtown Boulder. Website? http://www.boulderfarmers.org
It began in 1987, and it is a Colorado non-profit corporation, established to provide an outlet for local agricultural producers to sell their products directly to the public.
The producers participating in the Market range from professional farmers, to week-end growers with small acreage, backyard gardeners and hobbysts.
Local food establishments, musicians, and monthly art shows are selected to appear at the Market.
Some of the produce has been grown conventionally; all certified organic has been certified as organic by the state of Colorado.
 
When it comes to food, Boulder is very progressive. The Market offers so many gluten free products; the food establishments do so, as well.
It was so funny, when we stopped at Boulder Granola I thought I would get some gluten free granola. I was telling the lady that I was from Delaware. She asked, Rehoboth Beach? She grew up in Rehoboth and even went to school there. Her name was Anne. Small world.
Strolling through the market with my friend, Cindi….buying wine, cheese, and taking it all in.
Talk to you later….
July 6th, 2010
I am writing this post with a little bit of sadness because this was probably my last visit to Boulder for some time. Yes, he did graduate and all packages have been mailed back east.
Nevertheless, Boulder is so unique; it is a people’s town. No high rises, just the mountains. Every time I have visited I could not help to notice how everyone is outdoors enjoying what nature has to offer. It is contagious and all of a sudden you want to go hicking, tubing, rock climbing (well, not me), walking or just sitting outside in one of the many outdoor cafes.
Boulder is known to have 300 sunny days per year. The town has about 1,000 businesses and the best part is that they are 85% locally owned.
“The community is a paradoxically mix of left-leaning politically-correct environmentalism and yuppiedom.”
Part of enjoying the outdoors in Boulder is walking around Pearl Street Mall, Pearl Street’s East End, The West End or anywhere in between.
Pearl Street is a 4 block pedestrian mall, right in the middle of Boulder; outdoors, of course. It is also the place to be at night. Restaurants, street performers, musicians, fountains, sculptures, and flowers are everywhere.
Last Wednesday, we were on our way to the Boulder Theater to see Jesse Cook. He is a Canadian guitarist whose music is a mixture of Rumba, Flamenco Music, Latin and a little bit of French and Moroccan. It was fantastic and if you get a chance check him out at www.jessecook.com.
The Boulder Theater has been an independent theater since 1935. It opened in 1906 and in 1927 the first talkie “The Jazz Singer” was presented.
At the present time, the theater is primarily an entertainment venue. The Boulder Theater is versatile, perfect for events ranging from meetings to conferences and live theater, private parties and concerts. In a way it reminded me a lot of the Milton Theater in Milton Delaware. They are gems.
Boulder Theater is located at 2032 14th St. Tel. 303-786-7030 and the website is www.bouldertheater.com. Please check the website for a complete schedule of events.
7/6 – A Movie: The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom
7/7 – An Evening with Hapa
7/9 – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The hotel I chose to stay on this visit was the St. Julien. It is located on 900 Walnut St. telephones 720-406-9696 and 877-303-0900. Website www.stjulien.com.
I have been wanting to try the St. Julien because it was within walking distance to everywhere that interested me. The hotel is very service oriented. The valet guys were great. The staff wanted to make sure that your expectations were met.
The hotel was busy and at night the back terrace was crowded and music was in the air.
What else can I say? It was great!!
Yes, that was my last post for Boulder for the time being…..talk to you later…
July 5th, 2010
Four of us for dinner with no reservation. That was our dilema. Where to go in Boulder with so many restaurants within walking distance, on Pearl Street.
We decided to to to Jax, located on 928 Pearl St. Tel. 303-444-1811, website http://www.jaxfishhouseboulder.com.
It was crowded. The time 6:30 p.m. Jax is not big but they can fit a lot of people. Busy, a little noisy but that is the way you want this fish house.
The first thing we saw as we stepped in, was the Raw Bar. Up to about a dozen varieties of oysters, clams, chilled crabs and lobsters are flown every day.
We had a certain amount of time in which to order and eat since we were on our way to the Boulder Theater to see guitarist Jesse Cook.
Our waiter was amazing and I am so sorry I did not get his name. He was a professional.
We were a party of 4. We started with 3 dozen oysters. Salty, and very cold, just like we like them.
For dinner, I followed the suggestion of our waiter and had the special of Mahi Mahi. It had polenta, hearts of palm and the broth was well seasoned and delicious. The presentation was beautiful.
My friend ordered the Mississippi Skillet Catfish. You had the choice of blackened or fried. She chose blackened. On the bottom pancakes, andouille sausage gravy, onion rings and a side of the sausage. Great combination and never had seen it presented in such a way.
An order of Black Mussels was another dinner and the broth was so good that more bread was requested.
The Lobster BLT, had lots of lobster and house smoked bacon, citrus aioli, and arugula. Crispy french fries and cole slaw that got great reviews. So good in fact that he went a couple of days later with friends and they all had this entree.
Jax is offering Dinner Series with Chef Hosea Rosenberg. He was in Season 5 of “Top Chef”.
The first dinner is taking place on July 14th at 6:00 p.m. Only 18 seats are available per dinner. $100 per person. The theme? “As Fresh as it Gets”: The Pacific Northwest.
For more info. and reservations please check the website or give them a call.
Note: Jax has Happy Hour from 4 – 6 p.m. Dinner starts at 4:00 p.m.
I am back in Delaware so talk to you later…..
July 3rd, 2010
This town has been called “the little town nestled between the mountains and reality”. I won’t be here for the 4th of July celebrations but I can imagine what a display they will have with the mountains as a background for fireworks. Shoud be gorgeous.
4th of July is celebrated with Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast!!
Ralphie is one of the most unique and fascinating Mascots being that it is a real buffalo. It is present at all footbal games at University of Colorado, Boulder.
The location is Folsom Stadium at CU.
Admission is free and there will be free HOP shuttles from downtown and 29th St.
8:00 – Gates open
8:45 – 9:30 – Entertainment by Skip Its, Open Space Ranger’s Sing Along, and CU Mascot Ralphie Run.
9:30 National Anthem
9:33 – FIREWORKS!! – The display will be with shells, oriental flower patterns, sky works comets, aerial salutes, color and fancy star shells and patriotic designer shells; 4,640 shells in just 30 minutes.
Colorado Shakespeare Festival – 7/2/10 – 8/8/10 – Location” The Mary Rippon Outdoor Theater and CU.
This is one of the top Shakespeare Festivals in the United States. Experience classic theatre at its best in the shadow of the majestic Flatiron Mountains.
For schedules and complete information, please visit www.coloradoshakes.org.
Have a wonderful time!!!
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….
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