What's Happening in Boulder, Colorado?

Welcome to Your Boulder, a guide to what’s happening in one of the happiest, healthiest, and creative cities around. Did we also mention that Boulder, Colorado is one of the most beautiful places on earth?

The epic scenery, athletic opportunities, and splendid climate captivate you immediately. Then it’s time to discover the world-class restaurants, the vibrant technology scene, and the quirks of an amazing college town that’s more than a mile high above sea level.

We keep you informed about the events, outdoor recreation, restaurants, shopping and real estate news you need to get the most out of Boulder. Plus, we profile who and what’s happening around town with our feature articles – to give you a deeper flavor for this fantastic town.

If you’re visiting or new around these parts, here’s your jumping off point for experiencing the best and brightest that Boulder, Colorado has to offer. Take your pick of topics below, or head to the home page for the latest happenings in Boulder.

History

Boulder is 25 miles northwest of Denver, in the heart of Colorado. Nestled up against the base of the Rocky Mountains, its elevation of 5,430 feet makes it higher than the Mile High City to the southeast (in more ways than one).

It was gold that truly brought Boulder to life. Fortune seekers made Boulder County home on October 17, 1858, at what is now known as Settler’s Park at the far West end of Pearl Street.

Geography

Boulder is often referred to as “25 square miles surrounded by reality” for its progressive politics and laid-back lifestyle, but also for its stunning natural beauty. Even with quick access to the world-class city of Denver and an international airport, there’s often very little reason to leave.

Sitting in a valley at the intersection of the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains, Boulder is associated with the immense sedimentary rock formations to its west known as the Flatirons. The city takes its name from Boulder Creek, a rushing tributary powered by melting mountain snow and healthy springs to the west of town.

Climate

Boulder has a semi-arid climate that supports a mild but fully distinct four seasons. Add to that 300 days of annual sunshine, and you realize why Boulderites prefer to be outside, immersed in the copious natural beauty.

Yes, it gets cold, and yes, it snows. But the mountains to the west help shield the city from precipitation in winter, and the sun melts the snow before it gets messy. Summers are mild (but watch out for the sun), and spring and fall are pure bliss.

Culture

Look up the definition of "progressive city" in the dictionary, and you'll find See Also: Boulder, Colorado. The town prides itself on creative, independent, and forward thinking, which in turn powers the intellectual vibe, intense athleticism, and technology start-up scene.

Boulder has been named the Happiest, Brainiest, Foodiest, Healthiest, and most Creative city in the United States, among other accolades. People aren't just content to live here, they're thrilled by it -- which is why protection of the environment, alternative energy, and sustainable practices are a top priority to the citizens of Boulder.

Schools

Boulder is home to the flagship main campus of the University of Colorado, also known as CU. The university is considered one of the thirty "Public Ivy League" schools according to The Public Ivies: America's Flagship Public Universities. Boulder is also home to Naropa University, a private liberal arts college founded by Tibetan Buddhist teacher and Oxford University scholar Chögyam Trungpa.

The Boulder Valley School District is the local public school system, which includes two high schools and several middle and elementary schools. There are also a variety of private schools, including several Montessori schools, a Waldorf school, and a selection of religious and secular private institutions.

Head back to the home page.

Your Boulder is a Tangible Digital production, headquartered at The Riverside in beautiful Boulder. It's founded and funded by habitual entrepreneur and Boulder resident Brian Clark.

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14Feb, 2013

Boulder Self-Storage Options for Your Stuff

By Erika Napoletano

We tap into self storage for a wide variety of reasons. Maybe you’re a student heading home for the summer and moving next semester. Perhaps you just relocated here and are in temporary housing.

Or maybe (cough) your garage is just too full of…everything…and you need to make some room. Well, Boulder’s got its fair share of places for you to store your stuff. All you have to do is get it there.

If you’re moving, you might want to check into either the U-haul or Budget Truck Rental locations in Boulder, as both have on-site storage units. It’s never a bad idea to kill two birds with one stone — pick up a truck, pick up our stuff, move what you’re keeping, and then drop the truck and load up your storage unit at the same time.

11Feb, 2013

Boulder Live Music Venues: Chautauqua Auditorium

By Erika Napoletano

In the south of Boulder, you’ll find rolling lawns filled with gorgeous trees. If you wander a bit to the west of parking, you’ll be hiking up the Flatirons and enjoying some of the most iconic views in Boulder County.

But nestled into this space of green grass and Flatiron views are two of Boulder’s most celebrated destinations for live music: Chautauqua Auditorium and the Community House.

Chautauqua Auditorium was erected on July 4 of 1898 and since has hosted some of the region’s most celebrated performances. Artists like Joan Armatrading, Lyle Lovett, The Indigo Girls, and Joan Baez have all graced its stage.

08Feb, 2013

ReSource: A Homeowner’s Treasure Trove

By Erika Napoletano

Did you know that you can use other people’s homes to remodel your own?

It’s true! Boulder’s ReSource Store, a project of The Center for ReSource Conservation, is a 501 c(3) organization that accepts donations of architectural and building materials and then resells them to homeowners (like you) for their own projects.

If you’re getting ready for a home improvement project, you definitely owe it to yourself to stop by ReSource before you head to the bigger home improvement stores. All of the materials in the store have been donated by homeowners, contractors, businesses, and deconstruction experts.

Just imagine — a neighbor decided to re-do all of the window coverings in their home. You could walk into ReSource and find the perfect window coverings for your home — and not just have them for a song, but help out an amazing nonprofit in the process.

07Feb, 2013

Taking Your Pet Off-Leash in Boulder County – A Guide

By Erika Napoletano

Boulder County is a mecca for all sorts of walking and hiking trails. When you move to Boulder with your dog, you’ll likely want to know about Boulder’s off-leash regulations as quickly as possible.

Your pooch (or pooches) are welcome to roam off-leash in many areas of Boulder. You do, however, have to know the basics so you don’t find yourself ticketed by either Animal Control or the Park Rangers.

Boulder’s Voice and Sight Dog Tag Program

First, you’re probably curious as to where you can go in the Boulder area where dogs are welcome on the trails. Boulder has an extensive dog trail map system that will let you know all of the areas you’re welcome to hike and run with your pups.

01Feb, 2013

Running Free: Dog Parks in Boulder

By Erika Napoletano

Sometimes you just need to get your dog out of the house, out of the yard, and let him run — that why the City of Boulder created four dog parks for you and your pooch.

They’re located at strategic points throughout the city so you’ll never have to drive far to give your dog a place to run and play. If you live in an apartment or condominium without a yard, you’ll likely find that Boulder’s dog parks will become regular destinations for both you and your furry friend.

All of the dog parks in Boulder are double gated for your and your dog’s safety. This means you’ll enter through one gate, close it behind you, and then a second gate will take you into the dog park. This gives you a safe place to unleash your pet and allow them to safely enter the park without pulling.

30Jan, 2013

Boulder Startups: Local Resources for Entrepreneurs

By Erika Napoletano

Boulder’s startup scene has created quite the buzz in the tech community. Leading technology publications like The Next Web have tagged it as “the next Silicon Valley”, but those involved in Boulder’s rich startup culture prefer to see the city as simply a great community in which to build a business.

Many of the startups in Boulder come straight out of the TechStars startup incubator. This program, founded in 2006, receive applicants from all over the world who want the chance to be a part of one of the most successful business launching platforms in the world. But even beyond the walls of the prestigious TechStars community, Boulder has created a startup culture that welcome innovation, daring ideas, and fresh avenues for making the connections necessary for a new idea to become a big idea.

Resources to Explore in Boulder’s Startup Scene

If you’re new to town and looking to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, Boulder has you covered. There are multiple events that go on throughout each month and year designed to get you plugged in and moving forward.

27Jan, 2013

Student Living in Boulder: Getting Around

By Erika Napoletano

Welcome to Boulder, Colorado! Living in Boulder as a student means you’re in the heart of one of the fastest growing tech cities in the world. It also means that you’re going to have to figure out how to get from your campus at Naropa or University of Colorado – Boulder to wherever you need to go.

And here’s the best thing about being a student in Boulder — you really don’t need a car! The Front Range has an incredible public transportation system as well as a myriad of bike paths and alternate forms of transportation (like bike rentals and car sharing services) that will get you where you need to go, when you need to be there.

Riding the Bus in Boulder, CO

The buses you’ll likely be taking most often go along two routes: The Hop and The Skip. Both service the University of Colorado – Boulder campus and get you around to key points in town.

21Jan, 2013

Boulder Book Culture: A Guide to Independent Bookstores on Pearl Street

By Erika Napoletano

boulder bookstores pearl street independent

Image via Creative Commons, Nimunosity’s photostream on Flickr

Boulder is rich with locally-owned businesses and you won’t be at a shortage for finding Boulder bookstores that fit the bill.

Since Pearl Street is the town’s most popular shopping area, we thought we’d introduce you to everywhere in the vicinity of the Pearl Street Mall where you can walk in and find a new page to turn.

While you’ll find the big box behemoths like Barnes and Noble in other parts of Boulder (over by the 29th Street Mall), Pearl Street boasts most of Boulder’s independent bookstores — and all within the length of a few blocks.

19Jan, 2013

A History of Boulder: The Mining Days

By Erika Napoletano

Gold_Hill_Historic_District_Gold_Hill_CO

Gold Hill Historic District – Image courtesy of Wikipedia

When you drive around Boulder today, you see a bustling town rich with many flavors: technology, dining, music, education, and a seemingly endless outdoor recreation scence. Boulder’s history, however, is also rich with roots formed during the mid-1800s, days filled with prospectors moving West to try their luck in various forms of mining.

Gold seekers came to Colorado in 1858 and founded the first non-Arapahoe Indian settlement in the area, eager to seek their fortune in the gold trade. You can still take trips up Jamestown Canyon into Left Hand Canyon, happening on areas like Wall Street, complete with old mining relics and the same gravel roads that served the mid-19^th century prospectors.

10Jan, 2013

The Historic Hotel Boulderado

By Erika Napoletano

Image via Creative Commons – jdeeringdavis’ photostrream on Flickr

Whether you live in Boulder or are just visiting, you’re due for a trip to the historic Hotel Boulderado. Tucked neatly into the corner of Spruce Street and 13^th Street, this beautifully maintained luxury travel destination has roots that date back to 1909.

Named for a combination of the words Boulder and Colorado, it’s pretty impossible that any guest has ever forgotten where they stayed and the name of the hotel. Designed to be a shining example of modern technology, the hotel’s 75 rooms were all outfitted with lighting powered by a combination of natural gas and electricity. Hot water was coal-powered and it took a mighty team to keep the hotel’s furnaces stoked for the bathing comfort of its guests.

When you walk into the hotel lobby, you’ll notice the Hotel Boulderado’s incomparable stained glass canopy ceiling. Originally crafted of fully leaded glass, a massive snowsotrm caused the original glass ceiling’s collapse in 1959. Today, you can see the third version of the ceiling installed (the interim ceiling was a lacklusted red, white, and blue Plexiglass number) in 1977, designed to recapture the classic beauty of the original stained glass design from the hotel’s beginning days.