The Bolder Life: The Sweet Life →

 

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: December 18th, 2012

Pecan pies, brownies, pumpkin pies, red and green cakes with sprinkles, and those tasty little sugar cookies—all cutesied up like Frosty the Snow Man or Jolly Old Saint Nick. Delicious. I’ve never been one to obsess about sweets, but I can guarantee that when I’m filling up my Christmas-themed plate with juicy turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, and sweet potatoes, topped with mounds of giant marshmallows—the imminent dessert course is always in the back of my mind.

Now baking during the holidays is hard. Baking in general is fairly difficult for me, so I’ve heeded the pleas from, well, pretty much anyone who has tried my baking recently, and I’ve started leaving the holiday baking in the capable hands of my favorite bakeries. Yep, the cat’s out of the bag folks, I’m a crummy baker—you can’t be good at everything. Lately, my go-to bakery that delivers a great product with the authenticity of a home-cooked treat is Sugar Bean Bakery. Sugar Bean is an up-and-coming bakery in the Denver Metro area and they’re serving up just about everything from create-your-own-flavor-combination cupcakes, to specialty cakes, to a slew of cookie, brownie and bar options. Sugar Bean is even whipping up breakfast treats like muffins, scones, coffee cakes and some delightfully gooey cinnamon rolls—all perfect items to have on hand for seasonal guests that will soon be filling your house. The New Year will bring a storefront location in Thorton for Peggy Seubert and Kyndra Aragon, the mother and daughter team that run the bakery, and while the ladies of Sugar Bean Bakery look forward to finishing up construction on their retail location, they continue to stay busy operating their business as real life Sugar Fairies. As long as you’re in the Front Range/Denver area, Sugar Bean will deliver your favorite sweets to you. Just place your order online, and it’s like magic. Before you know it, you’ll be accidently “breaking” sugar cookies (which are unfit to serve) and sneaking tiny bites of flaky crust off of the pecan pie. I’ve even been known to sneak a taste of Sugar Bean’s not-too-sweet frosting off of the side of a cake which usually leads to guilt and me doing my best Martha Stewart impression to try to cover up my crime which typically leads to me make a bigger mess out of the cake. Go ahead and laugh, but don’t act like it’s never happened to you.

So whether you’re a fantastic baker and short on time, or are in the business of pretending like you can actually baked edible goods, give Sugar Bean Bakery a call. They added the perfect touch of sweetness to my Thanksgiving and I’m sure they’ll make you the most popular person at your Christmas table—behind the person that brought the wine, of course!

*Sugar Bean Bakery will be taking orders for Christmas until December 23rd.  

Lucky’s Cookie Craze

 

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Tyra Sutak, 8z Pulse Contributor

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As a kid, aside from getting to open one present on Christmas Eve, no tradition was more important in my house than baking and decorating cookies for Santa. My mom and my sisters and I would make Santa’s, and coincidentally, my dad’s favorite sugar cookies every year and decorate them as jolly snowmen and pretty snowflakes topped with green and red sprinkles and delicious icing. I used to always volunteer to clean up the sugary scraps of dough so I could sneak a taste (or two) here and there. 

This year, I’m leaving the Christmas baking in the capable hands of the folks at Lucky’s Bakehouse and Creamery. Lucky’s is offering an extensive Christmas Menu  this year which includes a Christmas Cookie Box filled with an assortment of 1 dozen cookies for only $13.99. If leaving Santa some saltine toffee, cocoa nib short bread or chocolate dipped hazelnut meringue won’t get me on the Nice List, then I don’t know what will!

Boulder pianist makes another run at elusive Grammy →

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   12/08/2012 01:00:00 AM MST

Peter Kater is in good company at the 2012 Grammy Awards ceremony, where he waits on the red carpet behind Tony Bennett. (Courtesy photo)

Related

• Q&A: Pianist/composer Peter Kater

Kater’s nomineesPeter Kater albums (by year they were released) that have been nominated for a Grammy Award:

2004: Red Moon

2005: Piano

2006: Fire

2007: Faces of the Sun

2008: Ambrosia

2009: In a Dream

2011: Wind, Rock, Sea & Flame

2012: Light Body

For most Boulder residents, Grammy night means getting together with friends, dressing up in whatever ballgown or tux is collecting dust in the closet, sipping a Grammy-themed cocktail and spending a few hours of time being wholly invested in the best musicians on the scene today.

But for one Boulderite, Grammy night means so much more.

Peter Kater, a multiplatinum-selling pianist/composer, learned Wednesday night he had been nominated for the 2013 Grammy Awards for Best New Age Album for his work, “Light Body.” And not long after, the congratulatory texts and emails from family, friends and peers began pouring in.

Though he has seen his name on the list of Grammy nominees seven times before, Kater says it’s always an exciting moment.

“I saw my name, and it was a huge rush and an affirmation,” he said. “I felt thankful. It was a big deal.”

Kater, who was born in Germany, got his start in music at age 7, when his mom demanded he start playing the piano in their New Jersey home.

And, now, the 54-year-old will be eagerly waiting to hear his name called for the first time as he sits among the well-dressed, cream-of-the-crop of the music business at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 10.

“Getting nominated is an amazing thing,” Kater says. “I’ve been nominated seven times (before) and haven’t won. I know, it’s kind of stupid to complain about.”

Considering he is in a category that has been won by the likes of Peter Gabriel, Pat Metheny, Enya and plenty of Kater’s mentors, including cellist David Darling, Kater realizes the journey and the nomination are just as important and humbling as the win.

“The main thing to focus on is we’re all in it together, and it’s an honor to be there,” he said. “And you know, someday I’ll win. Maybe this time, maybe next time.”

Despite having fallen short in his quest to return to Colorado with a Grammy, Kater continues to remain optimistic and enthusiastic and supportive of his peers. The New Age category is mostly home to instrumental artists but has also included a variety of vocalists.

“New Age music is kind of a throw-away category for music that doesn’t really fit anywhere else,” Kater said. “There’s a degree of soulfulness in the music that comes from a heart-centered place.”

Music actually led Kater to Colorado. He credits John Denver as a huge driving force in his decision to initially relocate here in the ’70s. Songs such as “Rocky Mountain High” and “Country Roads” ignited a curiosity in Kater, just out of high school, as he sought creative inspiration for his music.

Kater spent four years in Maui before returning to Boulder in 2011.

“There’s a bit of an edge here,” he said of his adopted hometown. “There’s something that’s kind of resonating — it’s active, not passive. It’s agitating, and I want to dig deeper and explore that creative edge in myself. It becomes a need almost.”

As a Grammy Awards red-carpet regular, Kater’s quite familiar with all the festivities associated with the glamorous evening — pre-Grammys party attendance, having a range of stylish outfits from which to choose, knowing how to work the red carpet, sometimes sneaking back through the press line more than once.

And, of course, meeting legends such as Tony Bennett, Ringo Starr, Chick Corea and Robert Plant.

Whether he walks away from these Grammys a winner, Kater plans to continue to create and produce his own music as a Boulder resident.

“I haven’t done my best record yet, I’m always looking forward to getting back to it,” he said. “I guess that’s why I still do it after all of these years — I’m still totally interested in it.”

And if Kater were to come away with the big prize in February, he knows exactly where he’d keep it.

“I joke around and say that I’m going to put it on the counter of my favorite sushi bar in Maui,” he said, “but realistically, I’ll probably keep it in my bedroom somewhere.

“It’ll be nice to look at.”

The Bolder Life: In the Know →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: December 7th, 2012

There’s a lot going on around the Boulder County area recently. CU’s football program is a disaster—which really isn’t new news, however head coach John Embree was released from his position last week, stirring up some more drama for the team. Mother Nature hates Christmas and is straight up boycotting the holiday by not producing any snow and keeping temps around the 60s. There’s a bunch of professional football players from Australia wandering around in fairly short shorts in Boulder as part of a 2-week high-altitude training.

So much going on. So let’s catch up a little. Here’s what you need to know to be in the know this week:
• It was just announced that G. Love & Special Sauce will be paying a trip to theBoulder Theater on Friday, March 15th. Tickets go on sale on December 14th, and will definitely sell-out quickly. Add it to your calendar.
• Spirit Hound Distillery in Lyons kicked off what they hope to be many, many more years of business last week and are serving up specialty drinks made with house-made vodka, gin and the very lethal Richardo’s Never Clear – Decaf Liquor. Stop into the cozy tasting room this weekend and check them out.
• Oskar Blues is opening yet another business. Seriously guys? We’re still reeling from the last announcement! Keep an eye out for the new CHUBurger burger joint to open in Longmont next year. OB is promising tasty burgers with grass-fed beef from their Hops and Heifers farm as well as frosty shakes made with craft beer.
• The CU Buffs football program is… what it is—but the Buff’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams are kicking butt! Both teams are riding high this week after defeating in-state nemesis, the CSU Rams. Tickets prices are increasing and aren’t as easy to come by this season, due to the success of both teams, so check their schedule here, and make sure you catch a game this season.
• Bingo is cool again—well, at least I think so. I’ll be at The Bingo Mine this Saturday with my collection of troll dolls and different colored dobbers trying to win some big bucks while spending some quality time with my family. Sure, you’re laughing now, but I’ll get the last laugh when I steal the $75 grand prize away from an elderly woman by winning a game of black out.

And that is what you need to know to be in the know.

Zen Mustache – December 1st – Jamestown Mercantile →

 

By

Tyra Sutak

– December 7, 2012Posted in: Reviews, Slideshow Articles

 Photo by Peter Gibbons

The Scene: For me, the mention of a “cover band” conjures up images of old dudes with long hair, bandannas and black leather vests unsuccessfully attempting to bring back the 80s. (Just for the record—the ‘80s are not coming back, sorry.) That said, one night of solid tunes at the strangely beautiful and exceptionally unique venue known as the  Jamestown Mercantile by Boulder-based band, Zen Mustache, changed my views on cover bands forever.

This show was a lampshade-shaking good time. If you’ve never been to a show at The Merc in Boulder’s tiny neighboring town of Jamestown, it’s definitely worth the visit if only to soak in the total weirdness of it all. It’s a long and windy road to get to there and after spending 30 minutes of my life trying not to drive off the side of a mountain, Jamestown appeared through the darkness and the Merc was a welcomed sight.

Walking into the Jamestown Mercantile is always a trip. The place has to be a least a hundred years old and I’m sure has been home to an interesting variety of people, businesses and things. The Merc’s tiny stage sits in front of a huge window that watches over Main Street, and has this magical Mary Poppins-bag-quality where it holds more musicians and gear than should physically be possible. The layout of the venue is open and friendly and I’m pretty sure was a wonderful house for some kid to grow up in once-upon-a-time. Several tables with an assortment of random chairs dot the hardwood floor in front of the stage. A handful of deliciously tacky lampshades adorned with fringe and some kind of a paisley pattern straight out of the ‘70s provide the dim lighting for the room. The bar is more like a nook, and ordering a Left Hand Sawtooth was less like ordering up a beer at an establishment and more like being offered a cold brew at a friend-of-a-friend’s house. A collection of weird things like fish head art and strange old photos decorate the walls of the joint and the open kitchen looks, and smells, just like my kitchen after I go through the trouble of actually cooking a homemade meal. You’ve gotta see this place for yourself.

Zen Mustache: If I were to throw this band into one musical category, I’d probably file them under Funk because their bassist definitely brings the funk; especially during “peanuts time” (better known to most of us as guitar string change time). But after getting drawn into a deeply soulful version of The Allman Brother’s “Soul Shine,” I would change my mind and move them over to Rock. And then I’d remember how crazy the crowd went, running into lampshades and moving the furniture in the room around for more dance space when the band played their versions of Weezer’s“Undone (The Sweater Song)” and “All These Things I’ve Done” by The Killers. Then I’d listen to the ZM original, “Hey Jane” featuring some pretty damn good harmonies and songwriting, and an appearance by one of my favorite instruments, the mandolin, and I’d throw my hands up in the air and give up on trying to categorize these guys. This group has the chameleon-like ability that’s necessary to perform covers and seamlessly transcend genres while still maintaining their own identity and musical integrity.

When the six guys that make up Zen Mustache stepped on stage on Saturday night, the crowd was still buzzing with conversation; some folks were still eating in dinner and most everyone was paying attention to anything other than what was happening on stage. That all changed when the band launched into a super funky version of “Whoomp (There it Is).” Yes, you heard me correctly. A funky, soulful, rocking cover band with a hint of Bluegrass opened their set with a song that was rated #97 on VH1’s One-Hit Wonders list…and it was pretty awesome. It shut the crowd right up, and the band had everyone’s undivided attention for the rest of the evening.

As the band started to play I couldn’t help but think that lead vocalist, Kyle Mason, was hands down the most talented guy in the up there. His stage presence, his voice, and his ability to tackle every cover song and make it his own, would all be enough for me to get on board with him as a solo act, but as the night went on, I realized that while all six of the musicians in the band could easily go at it alone, they definitely create something special as Zen Mustache. Geoff Madding seemed possessed all night by the greatest guitar players of all time. With his eyes closes, he destroyed some of his guitar riffs so hard that I couldn’t catch up to the beat. For a good portion of the night, Madding turned me into that awkward girl on the dance floor stomping her foot on the offbeats. Guitarist Ted Martens won me over when he picked up a mandolin. Drummer Justin Mirarack did his best to get me back on the beat, Johnny Drozdekshined during “Feelin’ Alright” on the keyboards, and bassist Phil Moss brought some fun funk to “Up on Cripple Creek,” one of my favorite songs of all time.

At one point in the night the owner swooped in a moved all of the furniture off of the dance floor and bodies quickly filled in the empty space. It wasn’t long before a big circle was formed and everyone took turns showing off their moves in the center. It was as if everyone was under a spell and physically unable to leave the dance floor. Every time I tried to leave, a song like Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al,” or theDoobie Brother’s “Black Water” would come on.

I felt at home on Saturday night. I had one of those great nights where anything goes. Nobody cared that I kept losing the beat or occasionally shouted out the wrong lyrics. The band handed out mustache stickers that mostly ended up on people’s faces. The town was welcoming and friendly, and the six guys that make up Zen Mustache put on a killer show to reward everyone for it.

Energy: A +
Musicianship: B+
Sound: A-
Stage Presence: A
Set/Light Show: B

Overall: A-

The White Buffalo – November 17th – Oskar Blues Grill and Brew →

 

By

Tyra Sutak

– November 21, 2012Posted in: Reviews, Slideshow Articles

The Scene: Every time Jake Smith, a.k.a The White Buffalo, steps on stage, straps on his guitar and explodes into one of his lyrically perfect alt-country songs—Johnny Cash sits up in his grave. It’s that simple. The man has soul, and he found himself playing in front of a sold-out crowd at Oskar Blues Grill and Brew in Lyons on Saturday as the headliner of the popular Colorado brewery’s celebration of ten years of canning badass beers.

In the darkness of the bar, filled with reminders of music royalty’s past and located on the first floor of Oskar Blues’ flagship endeavor, The White Buffalo, along with Matt Lynott on drums and Tommy Andrews on bass, had the entire crowd (in a venue where bodies in seats typically outnumber bodies on the dance floor), on their feet.  We raised glasses filled with award-winning craft beer and crammed ourselves as close to the stage as possible as we devoured every last word streaming through the microphone.

The White Buffalo: WhenThe White Buffalo took the stage at about 9:30, the crowd was already good and warmed up and ready to rock thanks to opening sets by the loveable singer-songwriter, and former Lyons resident, Erik the Viking, and the popular Lyons-based rock band, Interstate Stash Express. The loyal and energetic crowd, composed mostly of thirtyish-something music lovers, were taking swigs out of tall boys of Dales Pale Ale or the celebratory SKA/Oskar Blues collaboration beer oSKAr the G’Rauch, and everyone was feeling good.  I think we caught The White Buffalo off-guard a few times by sincerely reciting every word of “Bar and the Beer,” one of the best drinking songs every written, and crooning along to the Buffalo’s heartfelt rendition of “Love Song #1.”

I was first introduced to The White Buffalo three years ago on an exceptionally hot summer day. I was standing on the side of Pike’s Peak, sucking air and chugging water after finally reaching the halfway-to-the-summit mark while The White Buffalo performed a few intense, yet airy songs about love, life… and drinkin’ for our group ofLove Hope Strength (a Denver-based cancer-fighting charity) supporters and hikers under a serene sky of blue and engulfed in the natural beauty that defines Colorado.

Accompanied only by his guitar, Jake Smith left a lasting impression that day on three tired and sore Oskar Blues employees and later that night the three of us stood mesmerized, again, as we listened to him perform some more up-tempo beats at theHard Rock Café in Denver as part of that same Love Hope Strength event. His lyrics were sincere and personal then, and although he’s experienced a surge in his fan base in the past three years, he still sings with as much heart and soul as he did in the sweltering heat on the side of that mountain and on the stage at the Hard Rock three years ago. I left that day with a $5 copy of The White Buffalo’s album, Hogtied Revisited, and in a trance, I played his song “Damned” on repeat the entire way home.

With a voice that delicately borders soft and buttery, and raspy and authoritative, it’s really no surprise that The White Buffalo collects new fans in every town that he plays in. His vocals are more than enough to captivate an audience, but the added personal connection that he creates with his self-written lyrics seem to  leaves fans speechlessly bobbing their heads in tune.

Hailing from California, and in the middle of a multi-state tour to promote his recently released album Once Upon a Time in the West, The White Buffalo’s sound was revved up to the nines on Saturday night after having been invited by longtime Oskar Blues Marketing Director and avid fan (from the Pike’s Peak days), Chad Melis, to be a part of the Oskar Blues celebration. Although the stage was considerably smaller than other venues that I’ve seen the trio play, all three members still performed with passion. They all grinned ear-to-ear while Lynott destroyed a drum solo and smiled while Smith and Andrews deviously plucked their guitar strings faster and faster to see if all three members could keep pace with the beat. As a lone member of the herd The White Buffalo holds his own, but like every good herd he is better as part of the group.

The $15 cover charge on Saturday night, like the price of most cover charges you’ll ever pay to see him perform, doesn’t even come close to reflecting the ROI on your purchase. When you watch The White Buffalo perform live, you take a trip to the past—to the days when music was sacred and told stories. The days when musicians wrote and sang their own songs, and spent months touring the old fashioned way—sans egos and entitlement, with a lot of booze and gratitude—full of appreciation for the ability to make a living doing what they love.

If you have the chance to check out The White Buffalo live—take it. If you can’t make one of his upcoming shows, check out his website full of song downloads and music videos, but prepare to be addicted. His music will infiltrate your playlist and find its way into your sentimental stories for years to come.

Energy: A
Musicianship: A+
Sound: A-
Stage Presence: A
Set/Light Show: B

Overall: A

The Bolder Life: Weekend Love →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: November 16th, 2012

In Boulder, Christmas comes a little early for foodies, and if you haven’t already plotted out and participated in the first few days of First Bite Boulder, don’t worry—you still have time to fulfill your food fantasies.

First Bite Boulder continues through Saturday, and there’s still time to make reservations. The menu at John’s Restaurant is ridiculous. Laudisio’s is serving up some creamy gnocchi that’s to die for, and chances are you’ll love anything coming out of Colterra’s kitchen! Nearly 50 Boulder (and restaurants in neighboring cities) are participating in First Bite Boulder and offering up three-course menus for $26 per person. It’s really amazing. Be sure to make a reservation, like, yesterday—and ask about special wine pairings!

Other events happening in Boulder County this weekend:

Oskar Blues is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their bustling brewery with a huge party in the Oskar Blues Barn at their Lyons location—the place where is all started. The music line-up includes nationally touring singer-songwriter, the White Buffalo; the Lyons-based Interstate Stash Express, and singer-songwriter, Erik Oftedahl. The music alone is enough get you interested, but OB will also be serving up a collaboration beer with brewing brothers, Ska Brewing. Click here for more info.

Downtown Boulder is Switching on the Holidays on Sunday. Take a trip to the bricks a watch Boulder’s beloved Pearl Street light up the Christmas lights for the first time this season. Listen to the Boulder Chorale, do a little ice skating, and ask St. Nick if you landed yourself on the naughty or nice list this year. Throw in some hot chocolate and you’ll be the epitome of the Christmas Spirit.

Saturday, November 17th marks the last day of the Boulder County Farmers’ Markets. Get out the Boulder and Longmont locations, support local, and stock up on some fresh veggies and supplies for a Thanksgiving feast before it’s too late.

And be sure to do a ton of eating this weekend. Practice makes perfect, and no time like the present to bust out your stretchy eatin’ pants and do a trail run for the big day!

Happy Weekend-ing!

Downtown a nice venue for great outdoors

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   11/03/2012 01:00:00 AM MDT

This head-turning photo by Rob Palmer is among the works you ll see at Nature’s Edge Gallery. (Courtesy photo)

If you goWhat: Nature’s Edge Gallery

When: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, through mid-January

Where: Swiss Chalet, 1642 Pearl St.

Cost: Free

Info:

Sue Palmer:

sooselene.com

Rob Palmer:

falconphotos.com

Fi Rust:

focus-on-nature.com

A new art gallery has made its way into downtown Boulder and will be featuring award-winning images by three Boulder-based artists who specialize in capturing unique images of scenic natural landscapes, entertaining local wildlife and the overall spirit of the great outdoors.

Located in the Swiss Chalet in downtown Boulder’s east end, Nature’s Edge Gallery is the collaborative effort of wildlife photographers Rob Palmer and Fi Rust and fine artist Sue Palmer.

“We were trying to come up with a name that would actually fit most of our artwork, and that’s how we came up with the name Nature’s Edge — because it’s kind of like photography on the edge of nature,” said Rob Palmer, an award-winning wildlife photographer whose work has been featured in several publications, including National Wildlife Magazine, Nature’s Best Magazine and Audubon Magazine.

As a falconer, and former biology teacher, Rob Palmer’s connection to birds of prey runs deep and is very apparent in his work. He has produced captivating shots of bald eagles scuffling in midair, burrowing owl chicks yamming it up for the camera and falcons majestically gliding below a beautiful blue Colorado backdrop.

Born out of demand from a loyal following gained by all three artists through a series of periodic art shows, the Nature’s Edge Gallery will include artwork by each artist through

Fine artist Sue Palmer’s print “Snowy Volcano with Sun” is on display at Nature’s Edge Gallery. (Courtesy photo)

mid-January.Featured alongside Palmer’s birds of prey and other various photos of Colorado wildlife are photos by Fi Rust, who eloquently captures life in the Rocky Mountains for wildlife inhabitants, and Colorado landscapes and other paintings by Sue Palmer.

“It’s standout stuff that isn’t your normal, run-of-the-mill wildlife photography,” Rob Palmer said.

Group marks 50 years of BUFFoonery →

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   10/29/2012 04:00:00 PM MDT

The CU BUFFoons, an a cappella group, have been going strong since 1962. (Courtesy photo)

If you goWhat: The CU BUFFoons’ 50-year reunion

When: Friday-Sunday

Where: Various locations around Boulder and the University of Colorado campus, including CU’s home football game with Stanford at 4:15 p.m. Saturday

Info: cubuffoons.com or cualum.org/back2boulder/reunions/buffoons/

For many people, the mention of a cappella evokes images of Lea Michele and the rest of the “Glee” cast parading through the halls of their fictitious high school, singing pop songs from the past decade in perfect harmony and performing choreographed twirls.

But for a group of past and current members of one University of Colorado Boulder singing group, a cappella means so much more.

And so many more years. It was 1962 when Colorado’s oldest collegiate a cappella group was formed on the CU campus. Modeled after and inspired by the prestigious Yale Whiffenpoofs, the CU BUFFoons began performing locally.

“Just the fact that we got something going on the CU campus; we used to sing at the sororities and dorms, just drop by and sing. Those were happy memories,” said Oakleigh Thorne, who founded the CU BUFFoons 50 years ago after serving as musical director for the Yale Whiffenpoofs.

Now in its 50th year, current and former BUFFoons — the group is composed each year of 13 elected male undergraduates — will be reuniting during CU’s homecoming weekend, Friday-Sunday to celebrate their half-century of existence.

Any reunion of a group of singers wouldn’t be the same without a performance, and former and current members of the group will perform Friday at the Pearl Street Stampede and Saturday at Folsom Field just before CU kicks off its football game with Stanford.

Joe Riedel, a current CU senior who is second tenor and business manager for the BUFFoons, is ecstatic he got to be a part of the storied group.

“It has definitely been the best decision of my college career,” Riedel said, “These guys are musicians, and we all have the same attitude about music.”

The current CU BUFFoons will perform its fall concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at Old Main. Admission is free.

The Bolder Life: Fall Out of the Boulder Bubble →

Tyra Sutak

Published on: October 24th, 2012

Sometimes, I feel like the “Boulder Bubble” actually physically exists. I get a little antsy, and my hearts beats a little faster when I approach Boulder city limits. I get lost in neighboring cities. It’s really quite ridiculous. But sometimes, venturing out of one’s comfort zone can lead to some pretty amazing places—places that might just be located just beyond your own backyard and are perfect for spending a fall dat.

Just a stone’s throw from Boulder lays the tiny town of Niwot, and my new favorite place to spend a weekend afternoon. With fall in full swing, the town, named after Arapaho tribal leader Chief Niwot, is a bustling hub for brunch lovers, and coffee sippers, sidewalk strollers and small town loving folks that enjoy a break from city life and the simplicity of small town living.

I recently fell in line with those folks on a crispy, sunny fall day that started with a trip to the Red Wagon Organic Farm (located a few miles south of Niwot), where I snagged some pretty perfect pumpkins straight off the vine. I found a short and chubby pumpkin perfect for carving the CU Buffs logo into to show my support for my team during this difficult, frustrating period of rebuilding…
After getting my farm fix, I moseyed over to Niwot for a private event in which I was able to taste a sampling of the cuisine being offered up by local restaurants. I tasted a roasted pumpkin spaetzle by Niwot Market’s chef, Justin Hirschfield that was nothing short of the perfect combination of creaminess and spices complete with toasted pumpkin seeds. I devoured a juicy Kobe beef slider with horseradish, Havarti cheese and arugula whipped up by the Garden Gate Café, and I cleared my sinuses after eating some flavorful French Vietnamese chicken wings from Trepedda’s. And perhaps the best part of meal was washing everything down with some expertly paired beers from Niwot’s newest craft beer hang out, Bootstrap Brewing.

I had paid Bootstrap a visit a few days after they opened and was pleasantly surprised by the quality product that first time brewery owners Steve and Leslie Kaczeus were pumping out. Now in their 4th month of existence, the crew at Bootstrap, which includes former Pumphouse Brewery brewer, Dave Mentus, has improved their initial line-up of beers and are successfully venturing into the creative specialty brews territory. Recent specialty/seasonal offerings include a merlot-aged Boomer Brown Ale, and Oktoberfestbier, a Mo-Mentus Fresh Hopped Imperial Amber, and my favorite— a pumpkin beer. It isn’t officially fall without a good ol’ pumpkin beer, and the Punkin’ Ale at Bootstrap will definitely hit the spot.

So tear through that Boulder bubble and spend a little time enjoying the remainder of fall in Niwot style.

HALLOWEEN IS SNEAKING UP: DO YOU HAVE PLANS YET? →

 

Posted by tsutak in Daily Camera, EventsOctober 4, 2012

Halloween is sneaking up: Do you have plans yet?
By Tyra Sutak For the Cameradailycamera.com
Posted: 10/04/2012 02:32:01 PM MDT
October 14, 2012 2:47 PM GMTUpdated: 10/14/2012 08:47:43 AM MDT

Click on any photo to see full gallery (Updated Oct. 14, 2012)

Goblins, ghosts and ghouls — oh, my! With acres and acres of sprawling cornfields and pumpkin patches, coupled with historical roots dating to the mid-1800s, Boulder and its surrounding cities have become the perfect location to catch the Halloween spirit.

This Halloween, local farms and businesses are offering up a steady stream of Halloween- and fall-themed events, including a corn maze shaped like Peyton Manning, rows and rows of pumpkins, costume contests, live music, spooky haunted houses and cemetery tours.

Whether you have a sugar-loving mini goblin, are seeking an outing for the entire family or just want an excuse to wear tights and a wig for an evening, you might find the perfect event below.

FUN FOR ALL

Ollin Farms Pumpkin Festival, 8627 N. 95th St., Longmont; Oct. 14

Snag the perfect pumpkin, fresh heirloom tomatoes, winter squash, roasted chiles, beets, carrots, apples and other farm-fresh vegetables to make the perfect fall meal. More information is available at ollinfarms.com.

“Bedtime Stories: A Legendary Haunted House,” Boulder High School, 1604 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder; weekends, Oct. 19-31

This is the main fundraiser for the school’s theater department, and the students might be on to some good scare tactics when they say: “All your favorite childhood memories are coming back to haunt you.” Open 7-11 p.m. Oct. 19, 6-11 p.m. Oct. 20, 7-11:30 p.m. Oct. 26, 6-11 p.m. Oct. 27 and 6:30-10:30 p.m. Oct. 31. They have a special, less-scary day for youngsters, 1-4 p.m. Oct. 28. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for students/seniors. More details are available at ecornell0669@bvsd.org or 303-440-4395.

YA YA Farm Apple Fest, 6914 Ute Highway, Longmont; Oct. 20

There’s nothing like picking your own apples,

This father and son make quite the skeleton crew in Longmont s 2011 Halloween Parade along Main Street. Who knows what terrors we ll see in this year s parade. (Longmont Times-Call)drinking some apple cider and snacking on apple cider donuts to get in the fall spirit. And don’t forget the hayrides. Festival entry is $15 per person for patrons 8 and older (tickets must be purchased in advance, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the third Saturday in October. Learn more at yayafarmandorchard.com.

Monster Dash 5K & Kids Race, Old Town Louisville; Oct. 27

Mix fitness with fun at the second Monster Dash 5K in Old Town Louisville. The Spooky Sprint is perfect for the little ghouls, goblins of all ages will enjoy the Monster Mini-Mile and adults can challenge themselves in the Monster Dash 5K. Costumes are highly encouraged. Find out more

Peyton Manning might stir fear in opposing defenses, but it s only at night that Fritzler s corn maze dedicated to the Denver Broncos quarterback gets really scary. (Courtesy photo)at http://monsterdashrun.com. For more details, go tohttp://monsterdashrun.com/home.html.

Anderson Farms Fall Festival, 6728 County Road 3-1/4, Erie; through Oct. 31

In addition to Colorado’s longest-running corn maze and pumpkin patch, Anderson Farms offers live music (Oct. 13-14 and Oct. 20-21), seed survival education for the little ones, zombie paintball and the infamous after-dark Terror in the Corn Maze (recommended for ages 7 and older). For more information, visithttp://andersonfarms.com.

Cottonwood Farm’s Halloween Pumpkin Patch Fall Fest, 1535 N. 75th St, Boulder; through Oct. 31

Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Play in the corn and straw bale mazes, free of charge. Plenty of pumpkins, natural Halloween decorations, hayrides, friendly farm animals and a farm stand featuring local honey also are offered. For more details, go to cottonwoodfarms.com.

Fritzler’s Corn Maze, 20861 County Road 33, LaSalle; through Oct. 31

Get lost in the Fritzler Maze every Wednesday through Sunday through the entire month of October. By day, the maze is an intricately shaped design of Denver Bronco quarterback Peyton Manning, but by night, the

Erik Paulsrud, left, does the heavy lifting after he, Ulysses Paulsrud, Amy Hayes and daughter Lillian Hayes narrow their pumpkin choices at Munson Farms (Cliff Grassmick/Daily Camera)labyrinth transforms into the haunted and very spooky “Scream Acres.” For more information, go to http://fritzlermaze.com/index.html.

Red Wagon Organic Farm Pumpkin Patch, 7694 N. 63rd St., Niwot; through Oct. 31

Farm stand and U-Pick pumpkin patch with straw-bale maze and farm animals. Peaceful, rural setting on an organic vegetable farm. For more details, go to redwagonorganicfarm.com.

U-Pick-Em Pumpkins and Corn Maze, Rock Creek Farms, Broomfield; through Oct. 31

A fun play area for the family offers kids the chance to go wild, jump around on hay bales and slide down super slides. Enjoy a tasty caramel apple after you complete the corn maze, and don’t forget your $6 U-Pick-Em pumpkin before heading home. Find out more at rockcreekfarm.com/explore-the-farm/family-fun-area.

Banjo Billy’s Ghost Story Tours, Boulder; every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October

From Macky Auditorium to the haunts roaming the cemeteries, Boulder is full of ghosts — and for $22 per adult and $12 for children 6-12, the folks at Banjo Billy’s bus tours will introduce you to all of them. Tours sell out quickly, so check out banjobilly.com/banjo-news for ticket information.

El Dia de los Muertos Celebration, Longmont Museum; through Nov. 4

This monthlong multi-event celebration includes Dancing Skeletons (for kids 7-10) on Oct. 13, a Kids Ofrenda Workshop on Oct. 21 and a family celebration on Oct. 27. There’s plenty more to do, so check out ci.longmont.co.us/museum/education/day_of_dead.htm.

Fall Harvest Festival, 13912 County Road 19, Miller Farms, Platteville; through Nov. 15

Check out the tractor rides, petting zoo, corn maze and pumpkin patch — and harvest your own veggies. And if you’re brave — check out the Haunted Adventure through Halloween night. Entry to the festival is $15 per person. Discounts are available for active military, police, EMTs and firefighters. Learn more at millerfarms.net/events/fall-harvest-festival .

Wagon and horseback rides, 6120 State Highway 7, Aspen Lodge Resort & Spa, Estes Park

What better way to experience the fall colors in the high country than on the back of a horsedrawn wagon? Enjoy dinner and ride for $50 per person. Wagon and horseback rides are available from noon to 5 p.m. every Sunday, as weather permits. For more information, go to aspenlodge.net/index.php/activities/events.

KID FRIENDLY

Lyons Spooktacular Halloween, Main Street, downtown Lyons; Oct. 27

Activities in Sandstone Park from 3-5 p.m. on the fourth Saturday in October include live music, pumpkin carving, mask making, pumpkin ring toss, pumpkin bowling and a costume contest. The Lyons Halloween Parade will march through downtown Lyons beginning at 6 p.m. and wil be followed by trick-or-treating at participating businesses. Learn more at townoflyons.com/index.php/2012-halloween.

Longmont Halloween Parade, downtown Longmont; Oct. 27

Parade starts at 10 a.m. followed by trick-or-treating at local merchants, a scary-story time at the Longmont Library and make-and-take crafts, also at the library. For more information, check out ci.longmont.co.us/rec/special/halloween.htm

Munchkin Masquerade, Pearl Street Mall, Boulder; Oct. 31

Rain or shine, this gathering, from 2 to 5 p.m., of costumed munchkins trick-or-treating at shops on the Pearl Street Mall is an annual hit. Get more details at boulderdowntown.com/events/munchkin-masquerade.

ADULTS ONLY

The Gold Hill Inn Murder Mystery Dinner, 401 Main St, Gold Hill; Oct. 20

Murder Mystery Dinners at The Gold Hill Inn include hors d’oeuvres, champagne, a three-course meal — and, of course, a murder mystery. Tickets are $65 per person. Learn more at goldhillinn.com/murder.html.

DeVotchKa’s Day of the Dead Ball, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder; Oct. 26-27

Upholding an annual tradition, Denver band DeVotchKa is back and kicking off the Halloween weekend with Friday and Saturday shows. Tickets, at $29.50 per person, are available for both shows and can be purchased at bouldertheater.com.

The Shining Ball, 333 Wonderview Ave., The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park; Oct. 27

Spend the weekend before Halloween at one of the most haunted places in America. The eccentric costume contest promises to be outrageous, and you might even see a real ghost or two. Sorry, but the murder mystery dinner the previous night is sold out. Get more details at stanleyhotel.com/halloween.

The Motet plays Parliament-Funkadelic, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St, Boulder; Oct. 31

The Motet will be playing to a crowd of costumed fans and have promised to throw a wild and raucous psychedelic Halloween dance party of epic proportions. For more information, visit bouldertheater.com.

Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams Halloween Costume Party, Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, 303 Main St., Lyons; Oct. 31

Wofford, also a children’s book author, and his band return to Oskar Blues to entertain the partygoers at the Oskar Blues Halloween Costume Party. Music is from 8 to 11 p.m. Get more details at oskarblues.com.

Click on any photo to see photo gallery Frightmare Haunted House, 108th & Old Wadsworth, Westminster; through Oct. 31

If you like dark, scary places filled with ghosts and goblins around each corner, this haunted house is for you. It’s open Sunday through Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 7 to midnight. For more info, visit thefrightmarecompound.com.

Skrillex,1st Bank Center, 11450 Broomfield Lane, Broomfield; Oct. 31

Skrillex will be playing his electronic music at the 1st Bank Center again after a successful Halloween show last year. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. Get the scoop at 1stbankcenter.com.

Get your art jewelry fix at NoBo’s First Friday →

 

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   09/29/2012 01:00:00 AM MDT

If you goWhat: NoBo Art District First Friday

When: 6-9 p.m. Friday

Where: The NoBo Art District runs along Broadway from Lee Hill Road south to Pearl

Info: http://cargocollective.com/noboartdistrict,meetup.com/BoulderMetalsmithingAssociation or bethmerckeldesigns.com

Ask any gallery owner in Boulder which medium of art is their bestseller, and nine of 10 responses will be “jewelry.”

Wearable art, or art jewelry, has become a fashionable and affordable way to support local artists and galleries. And when it comes to jewelry, it’s the one-of-a-kind pieces with contemporary flair that are highly sought after. And that is exactly the kind of artistic touch that local metalsmiths are working to create.

When artisan jewelry designer Beth Merckel made the move to Boulder in 2009, she fell in love with the city but realized one thing was missing: the support from fellow metalsmiths she had come to know while learning her craft in Northern California.

“There weren’t a lot of options for a ground-floor metal work in Boulder,” Merckel said. “I always wanted to live in Boulder — and when I moved here, I realized that the only thing missing were my metalsmithing friends back home.”

So Merckel went to work creating her own network in Boulder by founding the Boulder Metalsmithing Association. Her first meet-up group consisted of only four local metalsmiths, including herself. But since that initial gathering, that group, plus nearly 160 additional members, have been meeting and connecting on a monthly basis to discuss new techniques, artwork and opportunities.

With the Boulder Metalsmithing Association creating so much interest in metalwork, Merckel sought out a location where the group could display its work.

Then came a case of what Merckel describes as “people who know somebody helping people who need something.” She was connected with Jerry Gehringer of the North Boulder Metalsmithing School, where Merckel and other members of the Boulder Metalsmithing Association have been displaying their work during NoBo Art District First Friday events since January.

“People are interested in art jewelry and in the school and what we do,” said Merckle, who mostly works with silver, gold and gemstones to create strong, yet feminine pieces. “Our first showing was really positive. It’s difficult to find a venue for showing jewelry, and we’re delighted to be part of the NoBo Art District’s First Friday.”

Look for Merckle and fellow jewelry artists such as Carrie Appel, Mollie Stauss, Barb Amador, Shar Louis, Amy Sanders and Michele Conn at the NoBo Art District’s First Friday next weekend.

Art event remains true to its roots →

 

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   09/29/2012 01:00:00 AM MDT

Updated:   10/04/2012 03:16:21 PM MDT

Bill Border discusses his artwork with Jane Saltzman at the 2011 Open Studios Fall Artist Tour. (Courtesy photo: photosbypinque.com)

If you goWhat: Open Studios Fall Artist Tour

Where: Various studios in the Boulder area

When: Noon-6 p.m., Oct. 6-7 and Oct. 13-14

Cost: Free and open to the public

Info: http://openstudios.org, http://openartsboulder.org

(This story was updated on Oct. 4, 2012, to add the website for OpenArts.)

Let’s rewind to 1994, when the Boulder art scene was seamlessly thriving in a fantastically disorganized way. Members of the tight-knit art community were working solo at the time, straining to garner attention and generate sales for their handmade designs.

It was during this time that Gary Zeff got the notion that those artists needed an avenue to gain recognition in their communities. So he conceived what would become the Open Studios Fall Artist Tour.

A Boulder wood-turner, Zeff reached out to the local art community with his idea and gathered 84 artists to participate in the initial tour. He stipulated that each artist must offer an educational element, and he got funding from sponsors such as Ideal Market and Allegro Coffee to stage the event in the first two weekends of October 1995.

Fast forward to 2012.

More than 100 artists are finishing up preparations to host art enthusiasts from noon to 6 p.m. on two weekends, Oct. 6-7 and Oct. 13-14. Professional artists excelling in nearly every artistic medium will be offer live demos, show off their workspace and attempt to sell their artwork.

“The event remains very similar to the initial tour in 1995. Buy a map, go around town to visit studios and engage with the artists. It’s about people engaging with artists in their studios,” said Bill Capsalis, executive director of OpenArts, which was an offshoot of Zeff’s original concept. OpenArts, a Boulder-based nonprofit, also includes the Open Arts Fest and the Clementine Studio, which provides experimental art classes for students of all ages.

Although a map isn’t required to partake in the Open Studios Fall Artist Tour, Capsalis believes it provides the best experience. The maps show each participating artist’s studio location and are organized by medium and studio number, thus making it easier for art lovers to seek out and find the exact style of artwork that will please their palate. Maps can be purchased from OpenArts (openarts.org/donate) for $10 (plus shipping and handling) and at various retail locations in Boulder (also available on the website). All proceeds from map sales go toward the production of the Fall Artist Tour.

OpenArts will kick off this year’s fall tour with a reception in the Canyon Gallery at the Boulder Public Library (1001 Arapahoe Ave.) from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Artwork by each of the artists participating in this year’s fall tour are currently on display in the Canyon Gallery and will continue to be featured in the library through Oct. 14. Entry to the opening reception is free of charge and an assortment of snacks will be served.

“The artists exhibit at the library is gorgeous this year,” Capsalis said. “It’s a big public event, and the artists are really involved.”

An estimated 1,000 art enthusiasts attended the opening reception at the library last year, and a similar crowd is again expected at this year’s event.

Capsalis recognizes the hard work it takes for the artists to prep their studios and ready themselves for the throngs of people who will step through their doors during those four days in October. He also knows how beneficial the tour can be for those artists.

“There’s a serious business element as well as an educational element going on,” Capsalis said. “People are buying directly from the artist, and the artist can talk about the piece and take commissions, as well.”

He also sees benefits for art enthuisasts:

” . . . It’s a perfect opportunity to engage with people in the community and even artists doing amazing work in their own neighborhood — plus it’s just an enjoyable way to spend a fall day.”

The Bolder Life: Twirl brings tasty fro-yo to the Boulder community →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: September 24th, 2012

Since the frozen yogurt boom of the 1980s, fro-yo shops have become a dime-a-dozen in the United States and seem to hold a pretty constant place in the hearts of Boulderites as shops dedicated to this frozen treat continue to pop up in local business developments and all around the streets of Boulder.

It seems like when it comes to frozen treats, frozen yogurt takes the cake…

But when Twirl opened up their doors in the spring of 2012, they didn’t just open up the doors to yet another frozen yogurt shop in Boulder, they opened up the doors of an inviting community gathering place and they opened up doors of opportunity to local students and teens as well.

Located just a few blocks northwest of Boulder High School, Twirl Boulder – Frozen Yogurt and Beyond, offers a selection self-serve, all-natural frozen yogurt with a kid-in-a-candy-store selection of organic toppings and unlike most other frozen yogurt shops, Twirl also offers lattes and other coffee drinks as well as filling food– for the people, by the people, in the form of comfort menu items like cheeseburger sliders and grilled cheese. Mmm… grilled cheese.

At Twirl, the fro-yo flavors, topping choices, menu items and just about every other decision in the shop are made by members of the Student Advisory Council, a group of students that work closely with the Twirl owners and staff to make Twirl a safe and fun environment, filled with their favorite food items and activities—you know, the kind of place that every parent hopes their kid heads to once the school bell rings.

The community concept of the shop stems from owners Ken and Robin Luff and was developed from a combination of their passion for helping and supporting their community, and the realization that their growing sons lacked a comfortable, fun—yet safe place that they could hang out at after school. The décor of the place is very student-friendly and includes the Purple Lounge which has a TV, X-Box games and a karaoke machine available for use by all and can also be reserved by not only students, but members of the community as well. And the best part? It’s free. Fun really is free at Twirl, and although they aren’t just giving out their fabulous frozen yogurt and food, they are offering super cheap meal deals for students and low prices for everyone else.

And if this place doesn’t already sound pretty awesome, Twirl’s street cred was elevated by making an appearance on a trip to Mt. Everest and the DNC in its short existence. The Twirl flag that made the trek up the highest mountain on earth is framed and proudly hangs in the Twirl lobby—and Robin, a proud Obama supporter, and a group of students hosting a DNC watch party at Twirl were featured on the big screen at the Democratic National Convention earlier this year.

If that isn’t cool, then I guess I just don’t know what cool is.

Stop by Twirl Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on the weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. And if you’re a student and interested in joining the Student Advisory Council, just stop in and chat with Robin. She’ll give you all the info that you need it’ll be a great excuse to pick up some tasty frozen yogurt.

The Bolder Life: X marks the spot – TEDxBoulder returns for a third year →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: September 19th, 2012

Boulder is a city run on innovation, creativity, forward-thinking and a collective desire to create a healthy and happy community for those who inhabit it.

This city has become a mecca for entrepreneurs that pave new paths and solidify Boulder as the ‘it’ place for start-ups and people with trailblazing attitudes.

It truly is amazing and inspiring, and this weekend brings an event back to Boulder that embodies and endorses that exact trailblazing/creative spirit that thrives in the area.

TEDxBoulder is back. This Saturday, September 22nd, TEDxBoulder returns to its digs at Macky Auditorium on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. This year’s theme is “Edges and Experiences” and the list of speakers scheduled for their 20 minutes of fame is top-notch and includes everyone from successful writers, to advertising folks, to firefighters and even a talk by TEDxBoulder organizer, Andrew Hyde. On top of the impressive collection of credentials and accolades attached to this year’s speakers, the third annual TEDxBoulder will also feature live musical performances by a grammy-winning singer songwriter whose work is featured in the hit movie Juno, and a 13-year-old singer songwriter that has already made a name for herself on the main stage at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Impressed yet? How ‘bout intrigued?

If you aren’t familiar with TED, then get familiar here and learn all about the origins and growth of this 28-year-old non-profit “devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading”. TEDx events, such as TEDxBoulder, are independently organized events by the community for the community and have become a melting pot for topics all across the board including but not limited to: technology, entertainment, and design.

Tickets for the main event are still on sale and available here. Doors open at 4 pm, show starts at 5 pm and the event is scheduled to run until 9 pm. Remaining tickets range from $25 to $35 in price depending on the seating location within the venue. No matter which section of the auditorium you end up in, you’ll still be rubbing elbows with somewhere around 2,000 TED enthusiasts throughout the evening.

Since you’ll already be in the area, I suggest an early evening dinner or late night cocktails at Café Aion, located just across the street from Macky Auditorium on the ever entertaining University Hill. You can find their menu here. The place is kind of to-die-for. Super charming, tasty food, and hand-crafted cocktails that will make you forget you’re sitting a stones throw from a campus that has repeatedly found its way on the list of  top ten party schools in the nation.

Don’t pass up this opportunity to get to know TED– you’ll be glad you did.

Twisted Pine Continues Steady Growth →

 

Tyra Sutak September 12, 2012

In my heyday, (which I’m starting to think is unfortunately nearing its end), I used to sell craft beer— legally, of course. I spent my days selling beer in a can for a local brewery and I spent my weekends sampling the cream-of-the-crop of local and national beers from everyone else. As you can imagine, it was an extremely tough job, and I loved it.

During my stint in the beer world, and as a resident of Boulder, I always knew about Twisted Pine Brewing, located in their current convenient location just east of 30 th Street on Walnut. I knew that Twisted Pine had been around for quite awhile and that they stayed fairly busy crafting up a palatable line-up of beers that even my craft beer-loathing friend would drink. Aside from that, Twisted Pine really wasn’t on my radar. I never purchased a six-pack of their beer at a local store, or even ordered a pint at my favorite local watering hole. Twisted Pine seemed to stay afloat with a very local, long-standing following and really didn’t spend too much time worrying about pushing the beer boundaries too much—unlike the rest of the Boulder County breweries that found themselves immersed in their own extra hoptastic and high ABV races.

But lately, Twisted Pine has stepped it up a notch. I’ve been seeing them everywhere. I had one (or two or so…) Twisted Pine beers at the Boulder Food Truck Party at Gateway Park a few weeks back. (A portion of all beer proceeds from the event were donated to local non-profit, Parenting Place). I also found myself at a friend’s barbeque where the host promptly placed a tall boy of Hoppy Boy in my hand upon arrival. Twisted Pine has also been making headlines lately by announcing the expansion of their brewery and tasting room, kicking up their social media efforts a notch, and brewing one ofthe hottest beers on the planet… the Ghost Face Killah, which is currently on tap in their tap room.

On my last visit to the Twisted Pine tap room, owner Bob Baile was seated at the bar, sharing laughs, greeting patrons, chatting about beer, enjoying his own product, and eventually giving up his seat in an increasingly busy tap room for a group of regulars that greeted Bob with a handshake and a big smile.

In the beer business, there’s nothing better than sitting down in a tasting room and enjoying a cold one with the owner himself.

Although Twisted Pine is experiencing an exciting expansion and is recently selling their beer in nine states, they’re still taking the time to create some buzz in their tap room. A few carefully-placed TVs transmit a steady stream of sports games, a trivia night has recently been introduced and they’re offering up happy hour specials nearly every day of the week.

Unfortunately, as with a good majority of tap rooms, it’s a toss-up on the kind of customer service that you receive. On my last trip to the brewery—I showered, did my hair, wore lipstick and generally acted like really decent and knowledgeable craft beer-loving lady—but I still had to fight to get refills and my tab (which consisted of only three beers) was still wrong. As a former brewery employee, I understand that things come up. People want to tour the brewery, and ask questions about the types of malts and hops that go into the beer—and as a tap room employee, you’re first in line to answer all of those questions.

And although the Twisted Pine tap room does serve food, the selection is pretty limited—however they do offer an interesting grilled cheese and beer pairing selection that’s worth checking out.

Bottom line, as a long-term staple in the Boulder beer scene, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on the growth that Twisted Pine is experiencing. The view of the Flatirons from their patio on a clear day is worth the trip alone.

The Bolder Life: Moving Mountains →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: September 11th, 2012

One year ago today, I was laid up, and severely drugged up, nestled in a fort of pillows and sipping on Cherry 7-Up at my parent’s house after having my third ACL/meniscus repair and my fifth knee surgery overall.

It was terrible.

It was the worst recovery that I’d ever experienced, and I can’t even express with words the type of depression that came with complete immobility and the loss of the active person that I had spent the past twenty-six years of my life as.

I was pretty devastated, and after spending a month on crutches, I spent a solid chunk of the rest of the year focusing on the little things, like walking, and completing deviating away from the activities that used to bring a giant smile over my face on a daily basis. I became a couch potato and a self-proclaimed work-a-holic. I started painting and writing more, and I made up every excuse in the book to remain a stationary object and avoid any situation that might once again result in a hospital stay.

I was scared, and I easily could have continued on that path without any cares—but the problem is—I live in Boulder. You can’t cross the street without dodging a cyclist or a runner or someone voluntarily walking home from work or the grocery store.

As soon as I got the doctor’s clearance to ease back in to being a functioning member of the fit Boulder society again, I jumped feet first back into everything. I woke up early on the weekends and went hiking. I bought a mountain bike, name her Liv, and collected some scrapes and bruises on the trails. I started playing softball again and I steered my road bike, Lilly, all over Boulder County. I found that part of me that had been lost for the past year, renewed the definition in my muscles and begged my lungs to help me through numerous heart-racing events.

After spending the last year moving mountains in my own way, it seemed fitting to finally end my summer by finally doing it for real. It was time partake in a timeless Colorado tradition by waking up before dawn and dragging myself up a 14er; and not just any 14er, but Long’s Peak—which at 14,259 feet towers over the Front Range. Go big or go home, right?

I hit the trailhead at 4 a.m., an hour behind the recommended start time, which meant that the trailhead parking lot was completely full, but parking was quickly found just down the road.

I couldn’t wait. I geared up, tightened the laces on my hiking boots, turned my head lamp on, took one last look at the trail map, and along with my best friend, took the first step of the 12 hour, 15-mile round trip climb to the summit. The complete darkness for the first two hours of the climb made the brilliant half-moon and blanket of starts even more spectacular.
Occasional breaks in the tree tops framed a scenic sky that stopped us in our tracks, mouths agape, appreciating life more than once. The first part of the climb was quiet, and so peaceful. The silence on the side of mountain at 4 a.m. is unlike anything else—it grabs your heart and squeezes it a little, but the steady sea of moving lights from headlamps along the mountainside make you feel completely safe—and like you’re part of something. Being part of something like that eases your worries and encourages your feet to keep moving forward.

Like clockwork, the sun greeted us with the most powerful performance that I’d ever seen. It chose a color of red that couldn’t even be found in a Crayola box to brush the sky with before taking its rightful place above us.
The next five hours were spent testing the strength of the new ligaments in my knee and pulling myself up and over rocks of just about every size. After a short break at the Keyhole to take in the view and catch our breaths, we made our way through the Narrows to the Trough (where I nearly found myself back at the bottom of the Trough at the hands of falling boulder) before eventually taking in the breathtaking view at the top.

My head has truly been in the clouds ever since.

Having my feet firmly planted on the ground just hasn’t been the same. I notice Long’s Peak all of the time now. I can feel it watching over me like we’re old friends.

Bluebird skies and perfect weather made this trip possible, and there’s still time for you to conquer this massive beast of a mountain before the weather makes  It’s definitely a challenge, and not anything to be taken lightly. It sounds silly, but it’s important to show some respect for the mountain and come prepared. Gloves, a hat, proper layers and my down jacket made the experience so much better for me.

So go move your own mountain. And if you’re not quite up for climbing a Class 3 14er right out of the gate, then check out this detailed list of other 14ers in Colorado.

The view from the top is something you will never, ever forget.

Art flourishes on Niwot First Friday →

Galleries, shops enliven downtown

By Tyra Sutak For the Camera

Posted:   09/07/2012 04:26:10 PM MDT

Updated:   09/07/2012 04:27:54 PM MDT

Anne Postle of Osmosis Art and Architecture in Niwot. ( Paul Aiken )

Art walks in SeptemberFriday, Sept. 7

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, Sept. 14

Second Fridays Downtown Longmont 6-9 p.m., www.downtownlongmont. com/arts-and-entertainment/fridays

Friday, Sept. 21

Art Night Out, downtown Lafayette 4-9 p.m., cityoflafayette.com/ index.aspx?NID=565

A little over three years ago, Anne Postle, owner of Osmosis Architecture, decided to use the additional space in the front of her downtown Niwot location to expand her business to include an art gallery — a decision that would eventually influence modernday Niwot’s First Friday Art Walk events.

Housed in a historic brick church building on Second Avenue, Osmosis Gallery has grown significantly in the past few years, displaying a variety of artwork from more than 40 Colorado artists.

‘There is art everywhere,’ says Postle. ‘We have art in every size, medium and price range.’ Postle isn’t kidding.

Colorful artwork blankets the walls of both floors of this building. Even the landscape surrounding Osmosis is brimming with art, and the beautifully-manicured sculpture garden and back patio have become a main attraction for visitors of the gallery.

Along with fellow Niwot galleries — Manifest Art Gallery, Nomad Gallery and Little Bird — Osmosis Gallery opens its See ART , 2d

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doors from 5-8 p.m. every first Friday of the month and invites people in to browse through the gallery while enjoying live music and a selection of appetizers. Additional artists will also be showing work in the Emporium Building on Second Avenue and a selection of local shops and restaurants in the downtown Niwot and Cottonwood Square areas will also be offering up special hours and discounts for art enthusiasts strolling through town.

‘Niwot is a very vibrant community,’ says Postle, who sees the town come to life on the first Friday of the month. ‘There’s a lot going on here and the town gets hopping!’ On Friday, Sept. 7, Osmosis Gallery will be featuring new work by four different glass artists as part of Niwot’s First Friday Art Walk events, including glasswork by Dee Crouch — a longtime Boulder resident and former emergency room doctor who left a 22-year career in medicine to pursue his MFA at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Although several neighboring towns host Art Walk events on the first Friday of each month, Postle says that First Fridays in Niwot are definitely worth a visit.

‘Niwot is a charming historic town with beautiful patios, wonderful restaurants and great stores and shops to wander in. There’s really a mix here — not just fine art but crafts, western art, wonderful quilt and jewelry shops; there are so many places to go.’ Contact Tyra Sutak at tyra.sutak@gmail.com.

The Bolder Life: Everybody Homebrews… →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: September 5th, 2012

President Obama spoke on the CU Boulder campus on Sunday and made quite an impression on the large crowd that packed themselves together like sardines to hear some hopeful words about the future from the current president. Though Obama has obviously been making more headlines than usual lately, chalked up to the election season, he’s also making headlines for joining the 1,000,000 folks that are estimated to brew their own beer at home. In response to an online petition started on thewhitehouse.gov website, the official recipes for two of Obama’s favorite homebrews were released. If there are there are three things you should know about the POTUS, it’s that he supports gay marriage, (which is awesome for my many friends that are truly waiting for equal rights), he’s really forgiving when people spill yogurt on his pants, and he really likes honey. Like, he really likes honey. Obama is putting honey from his wife’s White House garden in Brown Ales, Porters, and Blonde beers.

The word on the street is that although some people are skeptical about some of political promises Obama has made in his time, his homebrews really deliver. Even top U.S. Cicerones have deemed them tasty and avid homebrewers are busy scrambling to re-create the famous recipes.

The good news for us Boulder County folks is that we have a fantastic homebrew supply store right in our backyard.
The Hop to It! homebrew store has always been on my radar, but until my recent purchase of a homebrew kit from their shop, I haven’t really been inside. Now—like many other homebrewers, I’m addicted. While I wasn’t as well received or acknowledged in the store as my male counter-part homebrewers, I was still set up with a decent starter kit and sent on my merry way—encouraged to go forth and join the ranks of local homebrewers everywhere.

So whether you’re so inspired by the President’s homebrew antics, or simply looking to outdo his own personal homebrew, Hop to It! In Boulder is the place to go.

Here’s a print-out of the President’s recently released homebrews.

Print ‘em out. Take them by Hop to It! They’ll fix you up. You’ll be brewing like the President in no time.

C lick here for a link to the recipe and instructions for brewing up The White House Honey Brown, and The White House Honey Porter.

The Bolder Life: The Dating Life →

 

Tyra Sutak

Published on: August 27th, 2012

Dating. Is hard. And unlike a fine wine, it doesn’t get any better with age. Lately I’ve been hitting the dating scene a little harder than usual. I’m mostly in the market for a reliable date to be my plus one at the weddings of all of my engaged friends so I don’t have to deal with the awkward conversation that inevitably comes from the token single guy that gets assigned to sit next to me—the poor token single girl.

Dating takes a lot of patience. I curled my hair, put on deodorant, wore lipstick and only cursed three times on my last date—which I’d say was pretty successful on my end. Aside from watching my language, I also have to tone down the number of times I mention my adorable dog and work hard to stop treating a silent moment in the conversation as a challenge to see who can fill it first.

I might be a little ridiculous as a date, but when it comes to figuring out what to do on the perfect date, I’m not half-bad.

So this one’s dedicated to the token single people at the random guest table hidden in the back of wedding receptions everywhere. May these date ideas provide you with good conversation, and run just long enough to give you an out if you should need one!

Prospect Eats Food Truck Party
I used to be a picky eater, and would only order salad on dates (which can be justified but is kind of a no-no, girls). Now I’m just an indecisive eater and I freeze up when asked what kind of food I’m in the mood for. So—to avoid debating on which restaurant to go to, why not stop by the Prospect Food Truck party on Monday nights? Not only is there a variety of food and a little something for everyone, but it’s outdoors, and there’s live music. And if the date is going exceptionally poorly, there aren’t any walls to stop you from making a beeline for it when your date gets up to use the restroom.

Boulder Outdoor Cinema
This is one of my new favorite things to do in Boulder. Unfortunately, this Friday is the last time you can catch a movie in the parking lot behind the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Boulder. This Saturday’s flick is Pulp Fiction—which, unless you date hates Quentin Tarantino movies should work out fairly well and provide some good first date conversation. Grab some food to go from one of downtown Boulder’s tasty restaurants, a six-pack of some good craft beer or a bottle of wine and post up in the parking lot for dinner (and live music) before the show. Be sure to get there early, because the place fills up quickly, and don’t forget to bring your own chair. I mean, how embarrassing would it be if you had to sit on the ground…

Lyons Fork Beer Dinner
The Great American Beer Festival is coming up, and while I wouldn’t recommend attending the festival with a first date, for obvious reasons, I would recommend hitting up local beer events happening at breweries and beer bars near you. This year, the Lyons Fork is hosting a Maui Brewing beer dinner with 5-courses of amazing food expertly paired with craft brews from the Maui Brewing Co. Wear your cutest eating pants because no matter how polite and well-mannered you try to be, the food and beer at this event will be too good to leave sitting at the table.

Farmers’ Market Date
Yes, farmers’ market dates are a little cliché and borderline too cute, but if the date starts to go south, you can always use your newly purchased groceries as an excuse to go home. And if you go to the farmers’ market in old town Louisville, and the date doesn’t suck, you can always keep it going by heading over to Lucky Pie for a tasty cold beverage or make a trip to Sweet Cow if it’s not an appropriate hour to be drinking beer, or if desserts are just more you thing. Either way, farmers’ market dates are a good way to go.