Boulder Creek Hometown Festival runs Labor Day weekend →

 

Summer’s last gasp

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   08/27/2012 09:41:49 AM MDT

Updated:   08/28/2012 04:49:46 PM MDT

 

 

 

Fire Marshal Dave Lowery takes a bite of on of the Chili Inferno Cook Off entries at last year’s Boulder Creek Hometown Fair in Boulder. ( MARK LEFFINGWELL )

CORRECTION: This story originally misidentified the band Cracker.

 

Just as the Boulder Creek Festival marks the beginning of summer in the Boulder area, the Boulder Creek Hometown Festival is a sign of summer’s end.

In its 14th year the Hometown Festival which runs Saturday through Monday, has gained a reputation for being the relaxed baby brother of the popular Boulder Creek Fest which celebrated its 25th birthday in May.

“The Boulder Hometown Festival is the bookend of summer,” says Boulder Creek Events Director of Communications, Meg Denbow.

Unlike the exceptionally busy Boulder Creek Fest that draws in visitors from all over with a wide variety of vendors and activities, Denbow says the Hometown Festival “was created as a hometowny event that is much more intimate and easier to navigate with a lot of activities for the entire family.”

The three-day festival is composed of multiple events split into east and west event areas located on each side of Broadway Street on the banks of the Boulder Creek.

If you venture to the west side of Broadway to the municipal building lawn, you’ll find the Sports Kids Expo featuring demos and interactive events put on by vendors such as ABC Kids Climbing, Vail Resorts, Avid4 Adventure, and Athlete’s Honey Milk. You’ll also find a climbing wall, an obstacle course, a bungee trampoline and a zip line. Other Hometown west events include the 3rd Annual Family, Fun & Fitness 5K on Monday, a pie-eating contest, the Big Wheel 500 race and festival favorite, the Great Zucchini Race — an event where kids creatively decorate and strap wheels on a zucchini before racing it down a five-lane wooden ramp.

On the east side of Broadway, you’ll find live music in the bandshell (located off of Canyon and Broadway) by popular local performers such as Girls on Top, Fierce Rabbit, Mojomama, Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams, Rebecca Folsom, the Informants, and first-time Boulder Creek Hometown Festival performers Cracker — a nationally touring alt-rock group performing in the bandshell from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday night. The east side of Broadway is also where you’ll find the Classic Car show on Sunday as well as the Chili Inferno Cook-Off which is held from noon-4 p.m. on Monday and will feature chili recipes cooked up by local professional chefs, cooks and citizens. Celebrity judges for this year’s Cook-Off include Boulder Mayor Matt Applebaum, and KBCO radio personality Ginger.

Hometown Festival east also plays host to nearly 100 art booths set up along the creek. Unlike the Boulder Creek Festival, Denbow says the art booths at the Hometown Fest showcase Boulder-area artists and every booth is easy to get to.

Among the many artists displaying work, you’ll find work by Boulder painter, Phil Lewis, who is known for putting a colorful twist on nature paintings. Cowboy’s Sweetheart will also be displaying rustic, hand-crafted jewelry along with other artwork such as handmade leather goods by Dying Breeds, artwear by Nina Paul Batik, and fair trade accessories by Threads Worldwide.

“You can find everything from $5 trinkets to expensive paintings at this festival,” Denbow says.

Festival activities run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday.

“This festival is a good way to rediscover your community,” Denbow says. “You may have heard of some of the events, but you don’t really get it until you see it for yourself.”

The Bolder Life: Good deed, good karma →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: August 22nd, 2012

 

Volunteering can be fun, and rewarding, and really good for chalking up a few points in the karma column. Becoming an avid volunteer is a lot like finding a good pair of shoes. Sometimes you have try on a few pairs until you find the right fit. And sometimes, the karmic rewards of your good deeds are immediate; like getting a free beer or meal for volunteering your time. Or getting an access pass to a fun festival, free of charge.

The Boulder area has a few fun festivals and events coming up that benefit local non-profit groups and will be a great opportunity to test the volunteer waters and rack up a few good citizen points.

I’ve listed a few upcoming volunteer opportunities below, but keep an eye out for volunteer needs at your favorite events. Couldn’t get festival tickets? Check the volunteer options. Can’t afford it? Check the volunteer options. Who knows, you might even get a free t-shirt out of it, and everyone loves a free t-shirt.

Truck It 2!! Food Truck Party!
August 24 | Gateway Fun Center
Yes! So Boulder jumped on the food truck party bandwagon a few months ago and are back for round two this Friday at the Gateway Fun Center Park in Boulder. Proceeds from all beer sales of this event will be donated to Parenting Place, so even buying a brew will get you a few karma points. However, if you won’t bonus karma points, sign up for the 7-10 p.m. volunteer shift and get your volunteer on while you assist the event organizers and support your community. Word on the street is there might be some instant karmic rewards for those who sign up…

USA Pro Cycling Challenge\
August 20-26th | Colorful Colorado
The USA Pro Challenge is underway and if you’re a huge cycling fan, or just want to see what all of the fuss is about, then sign up to volunteer as a course marshal or help out with other needs of this exciting local bike race. Even if you’re not interested in volunteering, but are intrigued about this race, check out this website. It’s a really fun way to stay up to date on all of the cycling action.

Boulder Creek Hometown Festival
September 1-3 | Downtown Boulder
Just as the Boulder Creek Festival welcomes summer to the Boulder area, the Boulder Creek Hometown Festival is a sign of summers end. This “homey”, local festival is filled with fun for the whole family and is a great way to bid summer farewell at the events beautiful downtown Boulder location. Like the Boulder Creek Fest, this festival draws in a lot of visitors, and volunteers are always needed. Sign up here, and do some good for the community. You were planning on going anyway, right? So why not donate a few hours of your time and help make this festival great.

The Bolder Life: Happiness Is… →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: August 16th, 2012

 

Some people find happiness at the bottom of a giant bowl of triple fudge ice cream. Others define happiness by the amount of extra zeros on their paycheck. For me, happiness is a cool mountain breeze, the taste of a perfectly roasted marshmallow and the feeling you get when you reach the top of whatever mountain you’re trying to climb.

I love Colorado.

I can’t get enough. I load up my car with campfire grub, hiking and biking gear, and some good ol’ canned craft beer and head west on the weekends. Lately, “west” has meant a long and winding drive on I-70 to the Glenwood Springs area. I’m not sure what it is, but I seem to have found my summer in the red canyons of this sulfurous town.

Last weekend, I found myself soaked in water, helping guide a raft down the Shoshone rapids on the Colorado River. Two weekends ago I was on the seat of my mountain bike, Liv, cruising alongside the Colorado River and soaking in the beauty and stories of the majestic canyon walls.

Although it’s about a three-and-a-half hour drive from the Boulder area to Glenwood Springs, it’s totally worth it for a little weekend vacay. For those of you looking to blow the city limits and climb some mountains of your own, I suggest loading up a car and heading to the land of the hot springs. And while you’re there, you should probably check the following places out:

1.) The Hotel Colorado
Whether you’re staying at this (haunted) hotel or not, be sure to at least tour the main floor and check out all of the portraits and stories of the famous guests that have roamed the grounds before you. And while you’re there, grab a seat on the charming outdoor porch for a nice dinner or a wild west-themed cocktail from the bar. The smell of the fresh mountain air mixed with the old-timey, relaxing atmosphere found at dusk is a must-do for your mini-vacay.

2.) Hanging Lake
Nature’s first infinity pool. The trail head for this 1.2 mile hike is found just outside of Glenwood Springs and is well worth the 3 hour round trip hike. Pictures and words can’t even begin to capture the beauty of this National Landmark. After a steep hike through the canyons off of I-70 you are rewarded with a lake with water so clear, pictures taken from above the lake look as if they were shot underwater. It’s exceptional. And there’s also a waterfall—sprouting from the center of a canyon wall. It’s unbelievable. But get there early because the small parking lot at the trail head typically fills up by 8:30 a.m. and the trail becomes inundated with families and tourists willing their  sea-level lungs and shaky legs to get them a glimpse of this scenic wonder.

3.) Glenwood Hot Springs
I feel a little obligated to add this to the list since it’s kind of the main tourist attraction for this city. Swimming at this historic destination has been said to cure what ails you with at least fifteen minerals working in harmony to rejuvenate your mind and body. The Ute Indians were the first people to take advantage of Glenwood Springs healing waters, and now the pool stays jam-packed with visitors looking to gain the same benefits. As with most tourist attractions in this area, get there early to avoid battling major crowds.

4.) Rafting on the Colorado River
For the past twenty-seven years of my life, I’ve been more of a land-dweller and less of a water baby, so when I came across a Living Social deal for some beginner white water rafting offered by the Colorado Adventure Center, I jumped in head first. This is how I found myself sitting in the back of a raft cruising through the cool waters of the Colorado River last weekend. Although I did sign up for the beginner trip, I was hoping for a little more action and little more splashing coming from hardcore rapids and not the clumsy lady struggling to paddle in front of me. The company offers a few different options, including kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding, and this stretch of the river currently offers some of the best water for water babies in Colorado due to the lack of rain across the state.

5.) Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
As we were calmly coasting along an easy stretch of the river, our rafting guide pointed towards the sky to something swaying back and forth over the canyons edge. It turned out to be a swing, full of people that voluntarily got on the Glenwood Canyon Swing ride at the Caverns Adventure Park. Whoa. The hair on my arms stand up just thinking about hanging thousands of feet in the air over the side of a canyon. But if you’re the adventurous type, this ride is must-do. For others, like myself, that like to keep their feet on the ground, check out the cave tours. Not only is it an opportunity to learn the history of Glenwood, but you’ll get some exercise in and also get some killer views of the city as well.

6.) Four Mile Road Camping
On my first visit to Glenwood Springs, I stayed in a hotel and did a little late-night drinking at the Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co. (and other various watering holes around town) before I switched gears and moved on to camping at Turquoise Lake outside of Leadville on my way back to civilization. Last weekend, I arrived in Glenwood, seeking tips from locals on campsites semi-close to town. Turns out—there really aren’t any. But if you’re looking to spend some time in the great outdoors along with partaking in activities found inside of the Glenwood Springs city limits, camping off of Four Mile Road about 45 minutes outside of town is the place to go. Exploring a tip from our rafting guide, we made our way into the mountains and set up camp underneath a sky filled with stars… and an owl’s nest. You win some and you lose some. Nothing beats the way the sleepy sun highlighted every leaf, flower and blade of grass as it climbed its own mountains early the next morning.

**Mini Mountain Vacays are super fun! but traffic on I-70 isn’t! Be sure to plan accordingly and avoid eastbound 1-70 from noon-7:00 p.m. if you can.

The Bolder Life: Friday, Friday, Friday… →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: August 10th, 2012

Sing it with me now!

In the words of Rebecca Black, it’s Friday, Friday, Friday—and I think we’re all pretty thankful for that.

With the weekend creeping up around the corner and the end of summer nearing, I’ve already entered warm-weather-is-ending panic mode which naturally mean that I have a Colorado weekend full of rafting, mountains, hiking, beer-drinking and camping planned. I’m leaving cell service behind and heading to the mountains to enjoy the rest of summer to the fullest! I was so excited about my weekend vacay that I’ve already packed up the car, grilled up some campfire grub and filled up the cooler—I—am ready to go. Which means my Friday night just freed up a little!
So I’m gonna paint the town red tonight! Well, I have an early morning, so I’ll probably paint the town more of a pretty pink color, but you get the idea. Here are three places you’ll probably find me this Friday, Friday, Friday…

Boulder Outdoor Cinema
The Boulder Outdoor Cinema exists, which is great, but ridiculous that I just figure out that there’s an outdoor theater in Boulder. Tonight, there’s a true classic showing at the Boulder Outdoor Theater which is located in the lot behind the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Jurassic Park is playing. I know. You just got so excited! Catch some tunes by 80’s cover band, the Goonies before the show, bring your own comfy seat and snacks, and enjoy a warm summer evening at the movies.

Avery Brewing Co.
At 5:00 p.m. today, Avery is tapping and servings up the 15%er, Mephistopheles. This tasty stout sounds like the perfect way to end the week!

Lucky’s Market Food Truck Friday
Comida and the Sweet Cow food trucks will be at Lucky’s Market from 5:30-7:30 p.m. tonight with live music by Holly and the Husbands on the Lucky’s Market patio. I’ve been craving some Comida comida lately, so you can bet I’ll be at this Friday night party.

The Bolder Life: Food Truck Roundup →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: August 7th, 2012

Food trucks are all the rage in Boulder County these days. They’re everywhere. They set up shop in busy office parks during lunch and feed grateful and hungry patrons outside of restaurant-less breweries—they even make special appearances at weddings!

I love food trucks. And the variety and quality of food coming out of these mobile foodie joints continues to fascinate me every day. My favorite thing about food trucks in the Boulder County area, is the fact that they occasionally join forces to form one big, awesome, outdoor “restaurant” with a little something for everyone– including dessert.

I just love it.

So here’s the scoop. Whether they’re rolling solo or traveling in packs, here are a few tips on tracking down your favorite mini restaurant on the move.

1.)    Social Media. Let’s be real—even my pops and my grandma have a Facebook page these days. Follow your favorite food trucks on Facebook and Twitter to find out when they’ll be serving up some delicious grub near you.

2.)    Tap Rooms. I’ve eaten tacos from the Verde Truck at Upslope, grilled cheese from the Bone Wagon truck outside of the Oskar Blues brewery and pizza from theAblaze food truck at Asher Brewing. Food trucks are also pulling up at Bootstrap Brewing in Niwot and Left Hand Brewing in Longmont. Food trucks and tap rooms are a match made in tasty heaven.

3.)    Prospect Eats. The original food truck meet-up. I was first introduced to the world of super friendly food trucks working in unison to provide the fair people of Boulder County with a variety of dinner options last summer when I dragged a friend of mine to a park in Prospect to find out what all of the buzz was about. I ate an appetizer from one truck, dinner from another, and I finished my meal off with a killer cupcake from the Tasterie Truck and some live music on a beautiful Colorado night. Find trucks like Top of the Hill Grill, the Salt Food Box, and the Heirloom Truck every Monday night through the end of September from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Prospect Park.

4.)     Lucky’s Market. Lucky’s recently started a little neighborhood gathering on Friday nights outside of their store where they feed hungry folks fresh food from the market and it’s also where you’re likely to find healthy food from the RollinGreens truck as well as tasty desserts from Louisville’s Sweet Cow Moo Mobile. It’s definitely worth checking out this event since some of the hottest local bands are playing there.

5.)    Vista Ridge Food Truck Party & Gunbarrel Commons Food Truck Party.Food trucks are in such high demand these days that they are throwing parties in local neighborhoods bringing a whole new meaning to “delivery food”. Check out the Vista Ridge Food Truck Party in Erie on Tuesday nights and stop by the Gunbarrel Commons Food Truck Party on Wednesday nights. Food trucks really are taking over the world—one neighborhood at a time.

6.) Truck It 2! Not too long ago, Boulder finally jumped on board with the whole food truck party idea and threw a giant bash complete with local craft beer and live music at the Gateway Fun Center in north Boulder. It was such a huge hit that round two is happening on August 24thfrom 4-9 p.m. atthe same location. Enjoy beer from Avery and Twisted Pine. Play a few rounds of putt putt or some volleyball, listen to some live music and nosh on food from the Sesame Seed Truck, Crock Spot and the Cheese Louise truck. The first Truck It! event in Boulder was packed, so bring two wheels or walk if you can, because parking will fill up fast!

August art walks: Artist tries to capture ‘heightened color’ of dreams →


Boulder’s Annette Coleman among May art walk attractions

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   07/29/2012 08:29:57 AM MDT

Updated:   07/29/2012 08:30:43 AM MDT




Ellen Spiller, of Boulder Arts and Crafts Gallery, prepares one of the works of David Mayhew. ( CLIFF GRASSMICK )

Art walks in AugustFriday, August 3


First Friday

Pearl Street, Downtown Boulder

6-8 p.m.

firstfridayboulder.com

NoBo Nite Out

Broadway from Lee Hill Road to Pine Street

6-9 p.m.

noboartdistrict.org

First Friday Art Walk

Downtown Louisville

5-8 p.m.

louisvilleartsdistrict.com

1st Friday Art Walks

Old Town Niwot

5-8 p.m.

niwot.com/events/art_walk

Friday, August 10

Second Fridays

Downtown Longmont

6-9 p.m.

downtownlongmont.com/arts-and-entertainment/fridays

Friday, August 17

Art Night Out

Downtown Lafayette

4-9 p.m.

cityoflafayette.com/sectionindex.asp?sectionid=78

It was 41 years ago when a small group of local artists came together to form the beginnings of the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery — a current familiar sight on the 14th block of the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, and one of the oldest and most successful cooperatives in the U.S.

The year was 1971, the place was a waterbed store on Broadway Street, and the people were local artists searching for an opportunity to take charge of their artistic visions and to sell some artwork.

It was a symbiotic relationship.

The waterbed store had wall space and was seeking a way to bring new customers in the door, and the artists had artwork with no place to display it.

Forty-one years and two locations later, the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery is now owned by 37 artist-owners and has become a go-to place on Pearl Street to find gifts for just about everyone.

“It’s a really comfortable gallery and there’s something for just about everybody here,” said Ellen Spiller, one of the 37 artist-owners and local ceramics artist. “We’re trying to focus on local artists who have a following because we would like to support them.”

The gallery currently carries everything from fiber and ceramics — to glass, wood work and metal work as well as photography, a variety of paintings and the gallery’s most popular item, handmade jewelry–all produced by over 200 local artists.

“It’s a local stop. When you come you’ll see your friends and people you know,” says Spiller.

Aside from being a longstanding business on the Pearl Street Mall, the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery is also a leader in downtown Boulder’s First Friday art events. Every first Friday, the gallery hosts an artist reception which includes new artwork on display by six to 10 artists, live music (performed by artists currently showing at the store), beverages provided by Atlas Purveyors, and an assortment of healthy snacks to dine on.

Colorado photographer David Mayhew is one of the artists showing new work during the August First Friday reception at the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery. As a storm chaser, Mayhew delicately captures the dramatic colors and beautiful landscapes, stormscapes and skyscapes created by nature. Mayhew will be on hand from 6-8 p.m. on Friday to chat about his unique artwork and recount the stories behind his captivating pieces.

Contact Tyra Sutak at tyra.sutak@gmail.com.

The Bolder Life: 13th Annual Rocky Mountain Tea Festival →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: July 24th, 2012

Shortly after The Bolder Life was born last summer, I got an email from the editor of Yellow Scene asking if I wanted to go to the Rocky Mountain Tea Festival at the Dushanbe Teahouse in Boulder.

“I can get you a media pass, if you’re up for it,” she said.

Although she had me a “media pass” (media passes are always just really fun things to have), I was so intrigued by the fact that I’d been living in Boulder for the past seven years and had never heard of anything like the Tea Festival, that I would have gone anyway.

I was in. My name was added to a list somewhere and I showed up on a bright summer day and took my seat in on the beautiful south patio seated just above a peaceful babbling creek in the heart of downtown Boulder’s bustling Farmers’ Market. The beyond-stunning hand-crafted Teahouse offered cool relief from the hot summer sun and I was quickly served a refreshing cup of tea as I waited for the first in a series of tea-tastic events to start.

Last year, my favorite event at the Rocky Mountain Tea Festival had to be the class hosted by Boulder herbalist, Brigitte Mars. Brigitte not only taught me which types of herbal teas offer the most benefits, but I also learned that if you’re living on a commune and your husband gets bit by a venomous snake, it’s totally cool to break out the vacuum cleaner and use it to suck the venom out. The more you know, right? It was an incredibly interesting session, to say the least, and full of samples of tasty teas.

This year marks the 13th year of the Rocky Mountain Tea Festival, and I’m most excited about the Tea and Cocktails class taught by Teahouse General Manager and exceptional cocktail-crafter, Kassi Tenborg. Kassi is mixing up a selection of tea-infused cocktails that pair perfectly with a warm summer afternoon and the serene décor of the Teahouse. Her Boulder Tangerine Bourbon Sour is kind of to-die-for, and she’s not only ready to show you how to make it during her four o’clock class on Saturday, but she’s also been generous enough to share the recipe!

Other popular classes include Cooking with Tea with Lenny Martinelli—the very passionate and energetic owner of the Dushanbe Teahouse and the rest of the Three Leaf Concepts restaurants.

And if you have a little princess (or prince) at home, be sure to take them to the Mommy and Me Princess Tea Party on Sunday, July 29th. Get your adorable on by dressing up in your Sunday best and enjoying a tea party fit for a princess complete with mini scones, cucumber sandwiches, and of course—tea. Reservations are required be sure to RSVP today!

Click here for a complete schedule and more information on the Rocky Mountain Tea Festival.

Boulder Tangerine Bourbon Sour
1 ½ oz Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1 oz Sour Mix
1 oz Boulder Tangerine Syrup
Rocks Glass
Add ice to rocks glass and add bourbon, sour mix and Boulder Tangerine Simple Syrup. Shake. Pour into rocks glass. Garnish with cherry and orange.

The Bolder Life: The Perfect Summer Day →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: June 18th, 2012

It’s rare that I find myself in the middle of one of those perfect summer days; the kind of day that has a seemingly fake backdrop of fluffy white clouds floating in a never ending sky of blue. The kind of day that starts with the sounds of robins chatting outside your window in the morning and ends with a dramatic exit by the sun.

To me, the perfect summer day is an empty square on the calendar. Not having anywhere to be and not having to be anyone opens up a world of possibilities for the day!

Saturday proved to be the best day to experience my perfect summer day. My robin alarm clock went off around 7:00 a.m., and by 8:30 a.m. I was parking Lilly the Jeep at the Chautauqua trailhead. Along with my best friend and sister, I started up the Royal Arch trail and by 9:30 a.m., I was breathing in a stunning view of the city of Boulder (and beyond) and standing eye-level with the one of the famed Flatirons. Happiness. A slight breeze at the top of our trek and a series of photos taken under the picturesque arch that the trail got its name from rewarded us for reaching out destination.
By 10:00 a.m. we were back on the road and I was serenading my passengers with the sound of my starving stomach. A breakfast bagel at Moe’s quieted the growling and a quick cat nap gave my muscles a much needed rest.

Thrifting came next. I made a special trip to Longmont to ‘ohh’ and ‘ahh’ at the amazing vintage finds at Serendipity. If you’re one of those creative types or fancy vintage pieces, then I highly recommend that you make a trip to this store. The selection of well-maintained vintage furniture, historical pieces (they have a huge record collection!), antique jewelry and weathered picture frames are just waiting for you to fix them up, or leave them in all of their charming glory. I was busy looking for cool accessories and decorations for my sister’s upcoming wedding. A huge selection of hand-painted tea cups, lacey tablecloths and vintage wedding jewelry kept my brain spinning with fun ideas. This store is a little tricky to find, but once you get there, you’ll be happy you made the effort!

Dinner was a combination of bbq pork sliders, sweet potato fries, Belgian beers and sunshine on the patio of Rueben’s Burger Bistro.

I finished off my evening with a sweet, but not too sweet gluten-free beer on the patio at Shine Restaurant and Gathering Place.

Cool summer air, total relaxation, tired muscles and a delicious craft beer—what more could you ask for out of your perfect summer day?

Cheers to your perfect summer day!

The Bolder Life: Bootstrap Brewing →

July 10, 2012

Tyra Sutak

Published on: July 10th, 2012

I have this friend. We grew up together which is why he trusts me enough not to question me when I text him an address and tell him to meet me at a place he’s never heard of. He either has a really great GPS system or a really good sense of direction because he always shows. Without fail. He waits patiently as I ask a hundred questions about the beer list and he usually approves of whichever beer I finally settle on.

He’s not a total foodie, but he’s always game to try new beers which is why I dragged him along on my first trip to Bootstrap Brewing, the new nanobrewery located in Niwot.

For being only two weeks old, the tiny tasting room located behind the Niwot Tavernand Winot Coffee was pretty packed. The mastermind couple and owners of Bootstrap Brewing were still buzzing around close to the 8 p.m. closing time—chatting with customers and doing some quality control on their product. I was impressed, and a little surprised. Whether it’s the small town love from their community or the fact that they’re putting out some pretty decent beers, it’s pretty clear that this baby brewery has a pretty solid future.

The place is definitely quaint, to say the least. The tasting room has a comfortable, homey vibe and is equipped with fabulous garage-style door that open up creating a much bigger space, and although there isn’t a “patio” per se, there are some places to sit and enjoy your beer outside in the peace and quiet and soak up some of that small town feel that is Niwot, Colorado.

While there isn’t a ton of variety to the beer menu at this point in the game, Bootstrap does have some very palatable beers including two versions of an IPA and a delicious brown ale. (Ever since I tried my first beer, a One Nut (Leroy) Brown from Oskar Blues, I’ve been hooked ever since).

They also currently have a Flagstaff Amber on tap and they’re donating a portion of the proceeds from that beer to the Boulder Wildfire CO-OP. (I don’t even have to say it, you already know how much I love a good cause that involves good craft beer).

And even though this brewery is the new kid on the block, they’ve already figured out the genius of a good food truck/tap room pairing.

I can’t wait to see what their draft list will evolve into.

And if you’re not quite ready to make the trip to Niwot to check out this new gem of a brewery, then get to Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids on Friday night and check out one of the three Bootstrap brews they’ll be tapping at 4:30 p.m. Grab a pint of the IPA, the Flagstaff Amber or the Boomer Brown and help give BoCo’s newest brewery a friendly, neighborhood welcome!

The Bolder Life: A Little Taste of Sanity →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: June 28th, 2012

This week scrambled me up, cooked me in butter, added some salt and pepper and ate me for breakfast.

It’s probably been a pretty stressful week for everyone.

We’ve been glued to our TVs watching wildfires engulf our state. We’ve had cell phones cemented in our hands as we wait for news on loved ones and get word on our own homes. We’ve donated money to the Red Cross and we’ve pulled our cars off to the side of the road to make room for fire trucks with blaring sirens that are racing towards billowing clouds of smoke.

On top of all of that, it’s roasting out. I can’t remember the last time that I didn’t have to apply sunscreen and deodorant multiple times in one day. And of course we all (well most of us) have jobs, and we have to go to them on time and do work during the day. That is by far the most difficult part of the week.

I’ve been counting down the days ‘til the weekend and I’ve been trying to figure out the perfect cure for all of the stress and heat and craziness that have hijacked this week. And I think I’ve figured out just the thing.

Beer.

Come on, you live in Colorado, don’t act like you don’t use a cold, refreshing, craft beer as a reward/your salvation after a crazy week.

Here’s a list of places that you’ll probably find me enjoying a cold one and toasting to a small glimpse of sanity this weekend.

Cheers!

Oskar Blues Tasty Weasel Tap Room | Longmont
If breweries were like universities, Oskar Blues would be my alma mater. However, my tenure with this company didn’t include the awesome new patio they recently built as an addition to their tasting room. Stop by the brewery this weekend, grab a beer and catch a tour of the place and try to relax a little, huh?!

Bootstrap Brewing | Niwot
I’ve haven’t been yet, but I know that you should go here and check out this week-old nano-brewery. I had plans to go earlier this week, but a fire broke out in my ‘hood, and stuff happens. This place is getting warm welcome right now from the local beer scene and is definitely worth checking out.

Boulder Beer | Boulder
I’m a huge fan of Boulder Beer, and even though I stick to one seasonal beer here (Kinda Blue is the epitome of a summer beer), I still can’t think of a patio that I would rather be on at my worst, sitting in the cool shade and noshing on a plate of nachos. Go here. Make an afternoon out of it.

 

Left Hand Brewing | Longmont
Left Hand is the place to be on June 29th to catch Grateful Dead cover band, the Dark Star Orchestra, and support the victims of the High Park fire while sipping on one of Left Hand’s tasting beers and snacking on some food. The place is gonna be packed. It’s kind of the place to be tomorrow night.

The Bolder Life: Heat Wave →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: June 26th, 2012

I don’t know about you, but temperatures in the triple digits really aren’t my thing.

Like, they really aren’t my thing.

Getting blasted by a wall of hot air every time I leave the house and having my face melted off before I even reach my car just isn’t my idea of a good time.

Above all, the worst thing to come out of this Colorado heat wave is the unbelievable damage being done to our scenic landscape. As of today, thirteen fires are burning in Colorado. Thirteen. There’s a fire ban covering most of the state and one look at the hazy and distorted backdrop to the west is enough of an advisory to adhere to the warnings and keep outdoor activities to a minimum.

So aside from getting your daily rain dance on outside, try mixing things up a little this week by keeping a low profile and checking out these indoor events that are not only friendly on your lungs… but equipped with air conditioning!

Climate Change on Earth and Other Planets – Featuring Bill Nye the Science Guy
Tuesday, June 26th | 8:00 p.m. | The Boulder Theater | $10
Admit it—you totally used to watch Bill Nye the Science Guy. You were super impressed by the egg in the bottle trick—I know. Mr. Nye will be giving the keynote tonight and will be speaking along with a handful of presenters about climate change on earth and other planets. Check out everyone’s favorite scientist, get yourself up to speed on this controversial topic and escape the heat wave at the Boulder Theater tonight!

Ash Ganley Live and Girls Night Out!
Wednesday, June 27th | 6-9 p.m. | Wine & Cheese
Ashy Ganley is kind of adorable, and the perfect local performer to play at a Ladies Night! Get your group of friends together, listen to Ash play a set list made up of his own songs along with other popular blues/rock music while you dine on (seriously) delicious cheese plates and sip on a refreshing glass of wine.

Garden Program With Ollin Farms
Friday, June 29th | 11:00 a.m. | WOW Children’s Museum
Ollin Farms is one of my favorite local farms. They are constantly getting involved in the community and holding events to help encourage gardening and farming through the county. This Friday, the folks from Ollin Farms will be tending to the garden at the Children’s Museum in Lafayette were they’ll be giving pointers on successfully growing a garden of your own.

Dark Star & Cold Brews Fundraiser
Friday, June 29th | 7-11:00 p.m. | Left Hand Brewing Tap House
If you’ve been feeling a little helpless lately due to the fact that there really isn’t much you can do to help extinguish the flames threatening so many different areas of Colorado, then I have the perfect event for you. Left Hand Brewing is throwing a fundraiser this Friday night to raise funds to support the Northern Colorado Chapter of the Red Cross and the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department, both of which are experiencing depleted resources due to the High Park fire in Fort Collins. The popular Grateful Dead tribute band, the Dark Star Orchestra, will be rocking the house with live music, and proceeds collected from ticket, beer, food and merchandise sales will help benefit those affected by this fire.

The Bolder Life: Burning Can Is Back →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: June 8th, 2012

You heard me right—I said Burning Can, not Burning Man; and the action is all going down this weekend in my tiny hometown of Lyons, Colorado. Once again, Oskar Bluesand the Lyons Outdoor Games are teaming up to throw a weekend bash filled with action, sports, beer, competition and live music.

Imagine this: a quaint little town, filled with some of your favorite hiking trails and restaurants in Boulder County. Now imagine that little town filled to the brim with craft beer aficionados, professional mountain bikers and kayakers, and hundreds of people, just like you, watching competitions, attending clinics, carving things with chainsaws, listening to live music, drinking really good beer from over 30 craft breweries, and let’s be honest—probably kicking themselves for not putting on sunscreen.

Oh, and did I mention there’s a 5K happening? Why wouldn’t there be a 5K race during an event where over 30 craft breweries are pouring beer samples. Makes total sense. Like peanut butter and jelly sense.

So here’s the deal—cancel your Saturday plans, because this is what your Saturdayactually looks like.

Sleep in a little. You’re wise to rest up and it’s totally okay to grab a few more zzz’s.

If you’re one of those over achievers, you might want to stop by The Stone Cup and grab a light breakfast and a smoothie before you make your way over to Bohn Park for the Burning Can 5K run. Race starts at 11:30 a.m. and begins and ends right next to spot where the breweries have set up shop on. Register for the 5K race here.

If you’re not one of those people that have signed up and run every 5K within reasonable driving distance in the past four months, then you should grab some brunch, it’ll totally do the trick and set you up for success in your endeavors for the rest of the day. The Lyons Fork has quickly become everyone’s favorite spot to post up for some mid-morning grub—and since you’ll already be in Lyons, it just makes sense to give ‘em a try.

Now that you’re officially fueled—head on over to the St. Vrain River at noon and watch the Kayak Open Freestyle event. The Lyons Outdoor Games is a qualifying event for the U.S. Freestyle team, so you know the competitors are going to put on a show.

After checking out the kayaking action, head on over to Bohn Park around 1:00 p.m. and watch crazy people on BMX bikes do back-flips and defy gravity off of the dirt jumps at the Lyons Bike Park. This event is always a crowd favorite and runs until 4 p.m.

By this time, you’ve probably worked up a thirst, which means it’s time to head over to the Burning Can headquarters conveniently located in Bohn Park. Sample beers from a slew of local and out-of-state craft breweries and you’ll probably be hungry for a snack which isn’t a problem. Just grab a bite from one of the ten food trucks that will be hanging out at the event.

At this point, you’re having a blast. You’re probably dancing to some music by one of my favorite local bands, Interstate Stash Express, you still have a view of the crazy people jumping bikes over dirt hills, you just fell in love with beers from Golden Road Brewing from L.A. and Maui Brewing and you’ve visited the Upslope booth at least twice. It’s time to make a decision; either call it quits and head back to your camping spot in Meadow Park, or catch the free bus back to Boulder.

Or—keep the party going, and make your way to the Oskar Blues Party Barn (the original OB brewery), and catch some more live music, food and the Lyons Outdoor Awards ceremony.

Wow. At this point you’re pretty tired. You should probably plan ahead and cancel your Sunday plans as well.

The Lyons Outdoor Games run from Friday, June 8 to Sunday, June 10th. Click herefor a full Lyons Outdoor Games schedule. All proceeds from Burning Can will benefit the Lyons Park and Recreation Department and the Colorado Brewers Guild.

The Bolder Life: Weekend Plans →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: June 1st, 2012

TGIF! Am I right? This week has been exceptionally long, and difficult. I’m so happy that’s it’s Friday and I’m counting down the minutes until I’m free for the weekend.

There’s a lot of awesome stuff going on this week. Like the Denver Chalk Art Festival going on June 2nd and June 3rd in and on Larimer Square. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, you can view artwork and stroll through a museum of chalk art created by over 200 artists. The artwork is absolutely phenomenal. It’ll make you want to run out and buy some chalk to start creating your own masterpieces on your driveway, or the sidewalk leading up to your house, or you neighbors house… This unique festival is definitely worth checking out. And did I mention it’s free? I didn’t? Oh, well this great festival is absolutely free of charge and worth twice as much.

If you’ve had just about enough of life the busy city life, then maybe you should slow things down a little with a day trip to Estes Park this weekend.  Bring your fishing pole, and your half-pints if you have any, because the Fishing Derby is open to fisherman of all ages, and the registration fee is only $4. Super cheap way to spend your Saturday. Registration starts on Saturday, June 2nd at 6 a.m. and the actual event begins at 8 a.m.  So nice, peaceful, and relaxing– and prizes are handed out to the fisherman that catches the biggest fish!

If you’re looking for some high energy action this weekend, then check out Quemando on the patio at Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids tonight from 8:00 to 11:30 p.m. This popular local band always brings the energy, and the dance party, and will be playing to a packed patio tonight—so be sure to get there early, or call ahead to reserve a table in advance. Bring your dancing shoes and kick off your weekend with some salsa dancing, some craft beer, and some classic southern food with a an Oskar Blues twist!

And if you’re really looking to get your art on, then make the drive to Lyons this week for the Lyons Art Walk that runs on the 2nd and 3rd of June. Tour artists’ studios and listen to live music and live readings down by the river. According to the folks behind the Lyons Art Walk, art, is the L.A.W.—which means you’re for a seriously good time.

It’s (almost) the freaking weekend people. Have fun. Get a little crazy. You’ve earned it.

The Bolder Life: A Little Louisville Loving →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: May 30th, 2012

I’m a sucker for a quaint main street, filled with cozy restaurants tucked inside remolded historic houses shaded by giant oak trees and surrounded with sidewalk patios.

I love spending the afternoon browsing in cutesy antique stores and inhaling the musty scent of a used bookstore followed by a refreshing adult beverage at a good beer bar with more than ten beers on draft.

I’m a huge fan of small town festivals—especially ones that shut down streets and intersections in downtown. The kind with plenty of live music and street food where you’re bound to run into a handful of your closest acquaintances.

In summary: I love Louisville.

Louisville truly embodies everything that is good about a small town. There is always a tremendous amount of community involvement and pride and it’s most apparent when you visit the downtown area.

Plus, there’s always something going on in downtown Louisville. There always seems to be an excuse to throw a big event to entice people to wander the streets of their charming community.

Downtown Louisville is full of great events this summer starting with some art-centric and dining-centric events coming up this weekend followed by the kick-off of theLouisville Street Faire on June 15th! If I were you I would totally take my advice and check out these events. Maybe grab a bite at Huckleberry, or a beer a Lucky Pie. Take a stroll over to Front Steet and check out the quirky, vintage-inspired furniture and household items in Old Friends—I hear they’re open on Sundays now…

A little downtown Louisville loving is good for the soul.

Friday, June 1st | First Friday Art Walk | 6:00-9:00 p.m.
First Friday Art Walk action is back in downtown Louisville and will feature artwork by several artists at the Creative Framing Art Gallery, Creations Gallery – Gifts and Fine Art, the Anthony Grant Studio as well as the grand opening of Bella Frieda, a store featuring “clothing and folk art de Mexico”. Enjoy refreshments at the Anthony Grant Gallery and listen to live music while helping Creations Gallery celebrate their 3rd birthday. Click here for more Art Walk info including a First Friday Art Walk map.

Saturday, June 2nd | Taste of Louisville & Taste of Louisville Half Marathon and 5K run | Running Events Begin at 8:00 a.m. & Taste of Pearl Begins at 10 a.m.
Why wouldn’t you throw a half marathon and a taste of the best dining in your town on the same day? It’s really a win-win for everyone. Gather a ton of people downtown, throw an event that’s sure to work up an appetite, plan out a race course that passes just close enough to see and smell all of the vendor booths that will be set up in the street. Genius. Well played, downtown Louisville! Enjoy food served by local restaurants, check out craft booths, keep the kids occupied with kid-specific events and listen to music by The Low Flying Knobs, Back Pocket, I’m on Fire, 2 Dog Tuesday, The Whiskey Bottles and Highway 50—a band made up of Al Laughlin from the Sables and Brian Nevin from Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Get more info:here.

Saturday, June 2nd |Opening Day of Louisville Farmers’ Market | 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
As if there isn’t enough going on in downtown Louisville this weekend, why don’t we throw in the opening day of the Farmers’ Market! Located in the Steinbaugh Pavilion on Front Street, the Louisville Farmers’ Market features locally grown products and live music. Get inspired by the delicious food you sample at the Taste of Louisville, then head over to the Farmers’ Market and pick up some fresh food items to create a tasty meal of your own.

June art walks preview: Longmont sculptor to offer clay demonstration →

 

Muse Gallery in Longmont puts on interactive events on Second Fridays

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   05/27/2012 09:10:40 AM MDT

Updated:   05/27/2012 09:11:55 AM MDT

 

 

 

Longmont Council for the Arts Executive Director Joanne Kirves stands next to sculptures by Duane Farquhar. ( Matthew Jonas )

Art walks in JuneFriday, June 1

 

First Friday

Pearl Street, Downtown Boulder

6-8 p.m.

firstfridayboulder.com

NoBo Nite Out

Broadway from Lee Hill Road to Pine Street, Boulder 6-9 p.m.

noboartdistrict.org

First Friday Art Walk

Downtown Louisville

5-8 p.m.

louisvilleartsdistrict.com

1st Friday Art Walks Old Town Niwot

5-8 p.m.

niwot.com/events/art_walk

Friday, June 8

Second Fridays

Downtown, Longmont

6-9 p.m.

artslongmont.org/longmont-colorado-art-festivals-events

Friday, June 15

Downtown Lafayette

4-9 p.m.

cityoflafayette.com/sectionindex.asp?sectionid=78

Muse Gallery, located in the heart of downtown Longmont, has been a gathering place for the community to view artwork created by local artists for the past 11 years. Muse provides a venue for local artists to showcase their work, making art more accessible to the public through free, family-friendly events that occur on a monthly basis.

This upcoming Second Friday, June 8 at 7 p.m., Muse Gallery will be hosting local ceramic and sculpture artist Duane Farquhar as he describes and demonstrates techniques used to create his unique and lighthearted artwork. During the interactive event, the public will have the opportunity to follow along as he creates a new sculpture using clay.

Farquhar is a former IT specialist turned artist who draws on his sense of humor to turn ordinary materials into fun works of art. After leaving his career in computers, Farquhar enrolled in art courses at Front Range Community College where he recently graduated with a degree in fine arts. He is mostly known for his clay work but also creates sculptures made of metal. For the most part, Farquhar takes a surrealist approach to his artwork by distorting and exaggerating physical features in his pieces and using a combination of different metal objects to recreate human characteristics.

Farquhar is currently one of the local resident artists with artwork featured in the main gallery at Muse Gallery through June 30. Featured artwork in the main gallery changes every two months and admission to the gallery is free.

Joanne Kirves, Executive Director of the Longmont Council for the Arts, the nonprofit that runs the gallery, is thrilled with the community support that local artists and art programs have been receiving.

“There’s a solid core of artists that live and work in Longmont,” says Kirves, “there’s a good sense of collaboration and a certain synergy going on in downtown right now.

Along with providing space for artists to showcase their work, the LCA also supplies administrative support, educational classes in grant writing, fundraising assistance, and marketing, promotional and community outreach support.

The Longmont Council for the Arts is also behind the monthly art events that occur downtown on the second Friday of every month. Second Friday events include gallery openings and receptions, performance art shows along Main Street and artists talks and demonstrations.

Contact Tyra Sutak at tyra.sutak@gmail.com.

The Bolder Life: Top 5 Reasons to Attend the Colorado Urban Winefest →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: May 25th, 2012

Last month, at the DrinkLocalWine Conference in Denver, Local Winos Media debuted a fun video of Oskar Blues Brewing founder, Dale Katechis, comparing his canned craft beer revolution to the booming wine business in Colorado. Katechis noted that members of the craft beer industry thought that he was “bat s*** crazy” when he decided to put good beer in a can—the same thought that Katechis had when he heard that people were trying to make good wine in Colorado.

Turns out, everyone was wrong.

Katechis built a brewing empire out of putting good beer in a can, and Colorado wineries are pumping out more and more popular wine each year.

The 2nd Annual Colorado Urban Winefest is a celebration of the bat s*** crazy people and wineries that are behind the amazing wine coming from our fair state.

As part of Colorado Wine Week, the Colorado Urban Winefest runs from noon – 6 p.m. on June 9th at the Denver Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $51.90 per person and include wine tastings, food for purchase by a slew of local food trucks, educational seminars and much more.

If you haven’t already purchased your tickets for this event—I, because I care about you, have put together five reasons to encourage you to get it in gear and make your reservation for this event today!

5 Boulder County Wineries Will Be There

Five of BoCo’s very own wineries will be serving up tastings of their popular wines at the Urban Winefest. Now I’ve attempted to hit five Boulder County wineries in one day, which sounds fairly easy but is definitely a logistical challenge. So make it easy on yourself and try wines from Redstone Meadery, Augustina’s Winery, Bookcliff Vineyards, Boulder Creek Winery and Settembre Cellars all in the same venue, on the same day. You’ll be glad you did.

It’s for a Good Cause

I’m all about events that involve drinking for a good cause. Proceeds for this event support Colorado Winemakers and grape growers through education and research. Find out more about CAVE, the Colorado Association for Viticulture and Enology here.

Keeping it Local

Move over Napa Valley, Colorado’s coming in hot! More and more sections dedicated to Colorado wines are popping up in liquor stores, a sure sign that Colorado folks are doing their part to support local. Show up and show your support for local businesses—they’ll be very happy you did.

Unlimited Samples

Enough said.

It’ll Get You out of the Boulder County Bubble

Boulder County folks have all been guilty at one point or another of becoming too attached to the Boulder County bubble. Here’s your chance to venture into the big city and fill your quota for Denver trips for the month. That way, next time your Denver friends ask you to name the last time you actually made a trip to Denver, you’ll have an actual comeback.

Click here for a complete list of participating Colorado wineries.

THE SISTERHOOD OF THE HOP EDUCATES WOMEN ABOUT BEER →


The Sisterhood of the Hop Educates Women About Beer

Tyra Sutak May 15, 2012

At the 2012 Craft Brewers Conference earlier this month, a rep from Dogfish Head Brewing tweeted a picture of a long line to the mens restroom with the caption, “Best thing ever (for women at a brewer’s conference!) The only bathroom lines are for the men’s restroom!”

While it’s certainly true that the number of men in the craft brewing industry highly outnumbers the women, more girls are sneaking into traditionally male-dominated roles as brewers, owners, and Presidents and VP’s of successful breweries; women are also busy collecting paychecks designing marketing programs for breweries, running territories as saleswomen and slinging beers and craft beer knowledge at popular beer bars. With the recent increase of women in the craft brewing industry, it’s no surprise that the number of female craft beer consumers has increased as well. It’s been said that women will be the ones to keep the craft beer industry barreling ahead at full steam, and with dedicated female brewery employees, such as the crew of women at Avery Brewing, I don’t doubt that statement for one second. 

Avery Brewing’s Sisterhood of the Hop is doing their part to get women involved in craft beer by holding monthly educational meetings that include everything from tastings, to recommendations on beer/food pairings, to dissecting and examining the brewing process and providing an in-depth history of specific beer styles. The majority of the monthly Sisterhood meetings are typically held in the barrel-aging cellar/private function room at Avery Brewing, however, the group occasionally ventures out into the local craft beer scene, sampling different styles of beers in some of the best beer bars in Boulder. The Sisterhood of the Hop meetings are not only a great way for women to get involved and interested in the craft beer scene, but also a great way to help members of the community, both women and men, gain a new appreciation and understanding of the complexity of the beer products that they consume each week.

Last month, I had the privilege of attending my first Sisterhood of the Hop meeting. I sat in Avery’s chilly barrel-aging cellar, devouring the ever-present smell of hops and savoring a selection of Belgian-style beers by Avery and a few other special breweries. Although you generally can’t go wrong by serving people healthy portions of good beer, the women behind the Sisterhood of the Hop are also serving up a wealth of experience and knowledge about the beer scene. It’s no surprise that Jess Steinitz and Amy Newall-Large, the women behind the Sisterhood, are filled with passion and opinions about craft beer– they are a part of one of the most popular breweries in Boulder County and their engaging and energetic stories about their experiences and love of the craft beer business is absolutely infectious to fellow beer drinkers and enthusiasts.

I, as usual, was late to the meeting, but pleasantly surprised to be greeted with many smiling faces of eager women (and a few men), along with a sample of Avery’s Karma Belgian Pale and perhaps the best meeting itinerary of any meeting I’ve ever attended: an outline of the beers (in order of planned consumption) along with a short description and space to write in first impressions and to guess ingredients was laid out in front of me. Amy and Jess took turns providing the history of Belgian beers along with ABV percentage, the general ingredients of each beer and a personal food pairing preference to enhance each beer.

This month, the women of Avery are throwing their monthly Sisterhood meeting smack dab in the middle of American Craft Beer Week with a screening of the film, “The Love of Beer”, a documentary celebrating the women of craft beer on Wednesday, May 16th.  Tickets for the event are $10 and include a pint of Avery beer and the opportunity to hang out in the scared room filled with aging and infusing beers at the Avery Brewery. Regardless of your level of understanding of craft beer, be sure to follow the Sisterhood of the Hop group on their Facebook page and be sure to check out at least one of their events. You’ll leave feeling inspired, empowered, and possibly a little bit tipsy…