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Best of Boulder County 2004
But just as Britney Spears–once hailed as the "new Madonna"–will never usurp Madonna’s place in pop culture, no town can ever take Boulder’s place in fact or in legend. We’re happy to announce that Boulder is the new Boulder, the inimitable People’s Republic. Anyone who says Boulder’s glory days have come and gone must not be living in the same community as we do. With the most educated populace of any city on the planet, Boulder is also home to some of the nation’s most active people. While the University of Colorado, Naropa University and Front Range Community College meet our intellectual needs, the mountain crags and trails provide us with every opportunity for adventure and exercise. Add to this restaurants spanning every culture and offering plentiful organic and healthful fare, and you have a recipe for healthy minds and healthy bodies. To dwell on this is to miss Boulder’s most distinct trait–it’s humanitarianism. From dreadlocked Rainbow kids and businessmen in Armani suits who share the Pearl Street Mall to Buddhists and Christians who discuss global politics while doing yoga, there’s a shared desire among Boulder residents to help those in need and to make the world a better place for everyone. While we often disagree about how this should be done, we’re all more or less on the same side, whether we hail from the left or the right, whether we approach life from a secular point of view or follow a more spiritual path. In celebration of our unique community, we at Boulder Weekly have polled our readers about the businesses, trends, events and personalities that make this town a great place to live. We’ve taken our readers’ opinions, combined them with a few of our own and have put them together for our annual Best of Boulder edition. We’re sure that after you’ve read through it, you’ll remember why there’s only one place to live–the one and only Boulder.
Best of Boulder Food & Drink
OVERALL RESTAURANT Step into the little corner oasis that is reader choice Full Moon Grill & Pasta, and you can fully withdraw from the hustle of a busy day. Bask in the glow of good food, good service, good drinks–an outstanding meal doesn’t cost a small fortune, especially if you go for lunch. The Greenbriar Inn, the top choice of B-dub staffers, offers a luxurious setting for wedding parties, special dinners and those times when you just feel like treating yourself to a delicious meal. It’s far enough out of town to be exotic but close enough to be easy. Runner-up The Mediterranean is a perennial favorite of visitors and locals alike.
BREAKFAST/BRUNCH Both Boulder Weekly staff and our readers selected Lucille’s for best breakfast/brunch in Boulder. The tiny neighborhood two-story-turned-restaurant has the perfect combination of atmosphere, location, price and great taste. Put it this way: Lucille’s could also win an award for being the only restaurant for which we’ll wait outside for a table in the winter. The super-sized, melt-in-your-mouth biscuits and authentic Creole-style cooking are well worth the wait. If you’re looking for the combination of old-school diner, new-age coffeehouse and casual sandwich shop, runner-up the Walnut Café is the restaurant for you. Honorable mention Rocky Mountain Joe’s upholds a longstanding Pearl Street tradition of charm and great eats.
LATE-NIGHT FOOD Overwhelmed by late-night cravings? Luckily Boulder has many quality eateries open late to satisfy those hunger pangs, be they drunk or sober. Boulder Weekly staff and our readers agree that the best place to slake that nocturnal hunger is at Abo’s Pizza. Abo’s serves up New-York style pie that you’ve got to fold to eat. That’s the goods. Runner-up Illegal Pete’s delivers late-night grind in large quantity, high quality and for a low price. Honorable mention Cosmo’s Pizza has struck upon a winning formula: great pizza, large slices and inexpensive prices. Where numerous pizzerias have failed, Cosmo’s has turned their Hill locale into a late-night winner.
WINE SELECTION The triplets of Boulder have done it again. Trilogy Wine Bar, the Boulder Weekly reader and staff pick for best wine selection, stock their cellar with a dazzling array of reds, whites and blushes. Combine this with their gourmet menu, terrific martinis and live music, and you have an elegant dinner with your significant other or a great way to spend the entire evening with friends. Runner-up Full Moon offers a fabulous selection of wines to complement its lunch and dinner menus. Flagstaff House, with an internationally recognized and award-winning wine list, received an honorable mention.
BAKERY Don’t let the name fool you. The Belgian Bakery, which Boulder Weekly readers voted best bakery, serves more than just tasty European-style pastries. While they offer a scrumptious selection of eclairs, turnovers and the like, the Belgian Bakery also serves up soup, quiche, stuffed breakfast rolls and a delicious chicken curry sandwich. Meanwhile, the Boulder Weekly staff pick went to the Cream Puffery, which now specializes in catering and is known for its beautiful wedding cakes and decadent pastries. At least one member of our staff loves Cream Puffery best for its mouth-watering marzipan cakes. If you’re strolling down Pearl Street and looking for a sweet treat, best bakery runner-up Spruce Confections is the place to stop. Breadworks received honorable mention from our readers, who appreciate good breads and nutritious lunches.
BURRITO It’s hard to imagine a world without Illegal Pete’s, let alone a best burrito category without Pete’s at the top of the list. Apparently the majority of Boulder Weekly readers feel the same, as both staff and readers alike bestowed top burrito honors on the popular Boulder eatery. It’s not hard to see why. With locations at the heart of both the Hill and Pearl Street Mall, late-night hours, a hip environment and unbeatable food, Pete’s is the obvious choice. McDonald’s-owned Chipotle is this year’s runner-up.
BURGER Burgers from Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery and it’s South Boulder little sister, Southern Sun, are giant with all-natural beef patties. This means no antibiotics, no added growth hormones or steroids and that none of the cows are fed a diet of other cows. So, as opposed to eating some drugged-out mutant cow that looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger and glows in the dark, you’re eating happy cow burgers made with love by the people at Mountain Sun, and happy cows equal happy people. As Southern Sun Pub & Brewery is within walking distance of Boulder Weekly, you know it’s going to be numero uno in our book. If there were an award for friendliest neighbhood pub, surely Southern Sun would win that award hands down. See you there. Tom’s Tavern, the runner-up, offers you a damn good burger and gives you a chance to hang out with old-town regulars.
PIZZA EAST of 95th STREET [Staff award] Take a trip back to Naples with an authentic Neapolitan pie, the kind that’s thin, oven-baked, hand-tossed, a little burnt and bubbled to artful perfection. With hot pizzas pulled directly from the oven onto the table, Proto’s Pizzeria Napoletana makes diners realize just how much they’ve been offending their taste buds by having those corporate grease discs delivered every Friday. Mama mia! We can almost hear the waves crashing along the Amalfi Coast just thinking about master pizzaiolos Rayme Rosell and Pam Proto’s creations. Also be on the lookout for Proto’s cannolis, salads and coffee and espresso drinks, but don’t let them get in the way the pizza.
COFFEE HOUSE If Hemingway were ever to visit the Trident, he might write a sequel to A Clean Well-Lighted Place. A staple of West Pearl since 1982, the cozy atmosphere of beans, books and art has developed a strong contingent of local regulars and become a must-visit for out-of-towners. But here at Weekly HQ, stressed and sleepy staffers are indebted to nearby Caffe Solé for their richly roasted java that keeps us happy and highly caffeinated as deadlines loom. Attached at the hip to Boulder’s biggest indie bookstore, Bookends is a hot hangout among bibliophiles and known for great coffee and oven-fresh baked goods.
FAST FOOD Celebrating its 25th anniversary next month, Falafel King is one of the oldest Mediterranean joints in town and has long been a destination for hungry lunchers looking for a cheeseburger alternative. Imported Israeli spices, music and a recently redecorated eating space heighten the authentic atmosphere. Authenticity is also definitely found at Illegal Pete’s, where rock ’n‘ roll burritos bust bellies but not wallets. Noodles & Co gets its mention as another chain that’s thriving on our populace’s desire for a quick healthy lunch. But it’s Wok & Roll that gets the Weekly’s hooray for some hearty healthiness and drive-by teriyaki. You can fill your belly without busting your zipper.
FINE DINING The view alone from Boulder Weekly reader and staff pick Flagstaff House is worth the drive up the mountain. The food and service has hit a high note these days, and the wine list has been a Wine Spectator award winner for more than six years running. It’s great for appetizers and wine at sunset. Runner-up Full Moon Grill & Pasta serves up fresh dishes from the grill and the pasta pot, of course, and much more. For great-tasting natural foods and interesting organic drinks served with professional gloss, try honorable mention Sunflower.
BEER SELECTION How can you possibly make Mountain Sun’s beer any better? Make more of it. Last year the Mountain Sun opened a sister store, the Southern Sun, in the Table Mesa Shopping Center, doubling the live music, quality food and killer homegrown suds that has made the original Sun a Boulder landmark. Both Boulder Weekly readers and staff selected the Mountain Sun/Southern Sun for well-deserved top honors. Runner-up Old Chicago boasts more than 100 beers and challenges all comers to taste them all on their World Beer Tour. Honorable mention Walnut Brewery is home to some of the more cleverly named brews in the area. Check out Big Horn Bitter, Old Elk Brown and Devil’s Thumb Stout.
TAKEOVER BY A LOCAL BUSINESS OF SPACE FORMERLY OCCUPIED BY A CHAIN [Staff AWARD] Usually the story goes that local businesses get pushed out of the market by cookie-cutter chain restaurants. Well, here’s a takeover tale with a much happier result. The prime restaurant real estate on the northeast corner of 28th and Pearl streets–most recently home to corporate monster T.G.I. Friday’s–is the new home of local favorite Turley’s. While the neighborhoods around Arapahoe and Folsom will miss the homegrown hunger-slater, the whole city will benefit from the central placement and expansive parking lot of the new location. Though the address has changed, the Turley’s scramble and big-as-your-head cup of chai are just as delicious and filling as they were before. Let’s hope that Turley’s move starts a new trend of quality, local businesses pushing the soulless box stores out.
JAPANESE It’s hard to know what’s better at Boulder Weekly staff and reader favorite Sushi Zanmai: the food or the atmosphere. On one hand, you have ultra-fresh sushi prepared while you watch, including specialties like the Colorado Roll (raw filet mignon) and the LSD Roll (lettuce shrimp deluxe). On the other you have the Saturday-night no-holds-barred karaoke party where you can satisfy your Lost in Translation fantasies late into the evening. Despite the whole land-locked thing, Zanmai has some serious competition in the sushi department around these parts, such as the posh Hapa Sushi Grill & Sake Bar, where you can enjoy a Multiple Orgasm for $12.95, and Sushi Tora, featuring the aptly named Foreclosure Roll, which might break the bank but is well worth it.
HAPPY HOUR When the thirst and hunger hits in the late afternoon, The Med from 3to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, is a popular destination for drinkers who want an open-aired change of pace from happy hour at some dank, crusty bar. With $1 off draft beers, well drinks and house wine, you’ll have lots of cash left for their $1-to-$5 tapas and inexpensive pizzas. But we shouldn’t print anything about their reputedly sexy wait staff, says the manager. OK, Rob, we won’t. From 4 to 6 p.m. you’ll find B-dubbers hitting up classy Bacaro for its $2 draft beers and $15 Sangria pitchers. Or try their Margherita al Lampone. Come for the great drinks, but stay for the delicious Italian menu. As if Boulder’s love for the Mountain Sun weren’t clear enough already, $2 pints and $6 pitchers of house beer during happy hour cement the relationship.
PLACE TO BUTTER YOUR BISCUITS [Staff Award] After the demise of Boulder’s beloved greasy spoon The Aristocrat, sour-bellied hung-over people could be heard moaning into the Sunday morning air from Table Mesa to Valmont. Lord knows the mere thought of shuffling bleary-eyed and reeking of booze into a Village Inn to stand amid the gawking geriatric church-goers was enough to cause most of us to blubber pathetically into our pillows. Well, dry them tears, sugar. With dark organic coffee, gut-hugging breakfast burritos, and the fluffiest damn biscuits you ever done tasted, Dot’s Diner, on 28th and on the Hill, is one breakfast hole where the wait staff will serve you with speed and sass no matter how screwed up you look.
MICROBREWERY/BREWPUB Not since Mork and Mindy has Boulder seen such a sweet relationship as the one shared by the town’s two funkiest brewpubs. The original Mountain Sun holds its cozy niche downtown, while the wide-open upstart Southern Sun allows for all manner of socializing. Both locations, well-loved by Boulder Weekly staff and readers alike, keep our bodies energized with an eclectic mountain-town menu and our dreadlocked heads swimming with a hefty selection of original back-room brews like Kind Ale and Java Porter. Meanwhile, the O.G. of Boulder brewpubs Walnut Brewery hits the award-winning high mark with brews like Singletrack and Buffalo Gold. Release your inner Cajun over at Redfish with the sizzlin’ New Orleans vibe and some cold pints of Big Easy Pale or Badonkadonk Brown.
ITALIAN Once again the long-time family-owned-and-operated Laudisio Ristorante Italiano takes best vino e cucine italiano under the Flatirons. Owner Antonio Laudisio is a descendent of chefs who once cooked for the last king of Italy, and it shows in food so delicious it has both our readers and staff singing arias. Laudisio is now going national as Antonio takes to the airwaves, sailing along the East Coast with his son on the new cooking show Fat Guy on a Boat. As long as he cruises back into our port soon, we’ll be happy as a big pizza pie. With the return of original owners Liz and Tom Neapolitan, D’Napoli , the runner-up in our reader poll, is once again treating locals to its classic dishes. Café Gondolier wins an honorable mention for its all-you-can-eat spaghetti nights.
RESTAURANT ABOVE 8,000 FEET [Staff Award] While Nederland may feel like a veggie-burger-and-pizza kind of environment, the mountain town is really quite similar to Nepal. With both featuring windy snowcapped mountains and populations likely to be found meditating in full lotus, the two could be sisters. Honoring the familial bond is Kathmandu Restaurant, where urban ski bums and mountain locals alike can find tasty curries and homemade rice pudding. Not many restaurants in Nederland make waves down in Boulder, but this one does. Head up for the samosas, if not for the high.
NEW RESTAURANT We can’t remember any place opening to more hype in recent years than Boulder Weekly reader’s choice for best new restaurant, L’Atelier. Everything from the kitchen equipment to the ingredients to the plates was very carefully picked, and the result is fine, indeed. Staff pick Nabil’s has moved into the old Antica Roma location, keeping the fancy interior design, while serving superior meals. Lucca Lucca is as slick as a spoon. Their counter-service Italian food is attractive and fresh and won’t stretch your wallet excessively. Brasserie Ten Ten is crowded, loud and very popular, seemingly starting down the same successful path as its big sister, the Med, across the street.
MEXICAN/SOUTHWESTERN RESTAURANT For anyone who says that it’s hard to find good Mexican food in Boulder, the throngs of Boulder Weekly readers and staff have but one response: Get thee to Juanita’s. Inexpensive, tasty fare serves as the perfect medium for absorbing margarita after margarita, and the adjacent taxicab stand ensures that the overindulgent need never risk a DUI getting home. Casa Alvarez’ authentic Mexican fare and fun atmosphere earned it lots of votes as our runner-up. Zolo Grill, with its extensive selection of tequilas, received honorable mention.
MARGARITA When it comes to margaritas, nobody does it like The Rio Grande. Winner yet again of top reader and staff accolades, The Rio puts a limit on their magical tequila concoctions–no customer is allowed to drink more than three. Of course, rules can be broken. And there are a couple of us here at B-dub who have managed to sample as many as six Rio margs in one sitting. Take our word for it: We won’t do it again. A few blocks away, runner-up Juanita’s serves great margaritas in a fun and funky atmosphere. Zolo Grill, honorable mention in this year’s poll, offers the widest selection of high-quality tequilas in town, together with a refreshing and unique Mexican menu.
REASON NOT TO FLUSH [Staff award] If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down. Unless you live in Boulder, that is. The city of Boulder, always on the forefront of good environmental policy, wants to compost human excrement and other "bio-solids" on land near Valmont Butte that is sacred to the American Indian nations. The area is also home to one of the oldest pioneer cemeteries in the state. While certainly this bit of city planning is an excellent metaphor for white-Indian relations, aren’t we supposed to be the city that tries to do everything right? There are viable alternatives to dumping our feces on land that is sacred to others, including continuing to outsource it as we currently do. Yet, the city seems to be moving inexorably toward building new facilities on this site. How would city planners feel if we saved up our bio-resources and dumped the whole reeking mess onto their ancestors’ graves?
SALAD BAR Yeah, reader pick Whole Foods is a part of a chain, but when it comes to putting out the salad it’s all local, baby. In addition to prepared salads and sandwiches, runner-up Café Prasad has got the natural salad bar going. A behemoth in the world of salad bars, honorable mention Souper Salad is a cheap way to fill up a hungry stomach and avoid the grease pit of fast food. Staff pick wSunflower offers the finest in natural foods and a unbeatable salad bar in a posh downtown location.
SANDWICH Here are the rules: Step up to the counter, order ready. There is no dilly-dallying when it comes to ordering some world-class bread-enclosed goodness at Salvaggio’s Italian Deli, Boulder Weekly readers and staff nod for best Boulder sandwich. Luckily for all those stammerers and indecisive eaters out there, there is no sub nazi at Salvaggio’s waiting to deny you your Boar’s Head meats drizzled in oil, vinegar and pepper and packed into a fresh-baked roll if you take too long, but we’re waiting in line right behind you, so you better hurry your butt up. Runner-up Snarf’s is strategically located between Salvaggio’s two Pearl Street locations, so wayward sandwich eaters can wander into the funky establishment and snarf down a hearty meal. Or you can head up to the Hill and tackle the Zonezilla at Deli Zone. Odes to Japanese monster films never tasted so good.
SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Someone once told us never to eat seafood in the desert. Well, Boulder may qualify as desert, but you can’t keep me away from Jax Fish House, this year’s Boulder Weekly reader and staff pick for Best Seafood Restaurant. From the extensive raw bar to the lovingly prepared entrées, every bite at Jax is a pleasure. Plus, while you are waiting for your meal you can unleash your inner child and make refrigerator door-worthy crayon drawings on the paper tablecloths. Bar none, runner-up Sushi Zanmai has the best sushi happy hour around, and honorable mention Dolan’s is the perfect place to take the folks.
REASON NOT TO BE A VEGETARIAN [Staff award] Next time a fourth-level vegan admonishes you for chowing down on a Big Mac, look them straight in the eye and say, "When it comes to cows, it’s kill or be killed." That’s right. Cue the Braveheart music. These big-eyed, cud-munching poop machines are ready to fight for their freedom. It all started around here last spring when local Elaine Kingston was inexplicably rammed by a grazing cow in open space and badly injured. This wasn’t an isolated incident: Between 1990 and 1995, there were 14 cow attacks in Britain, five resulting in human deaths. Some say cow attacks suggest we should all stop eating meat, so cows can begin living self-determined lives. We disagree–could you imagine the damage these crafty bovines would do if they were allowed to go free?
JUICE/SMOOTHIE BAR Boulder Weekly reader and staff selection, Jamba Juice, serves bigger-than-necessary smoothies that are popular in the let’s-eat-healthy land of Boulder. They are as sweet as ice cream but have the benefit of being made with fruit. Add a few vitamins or a protein powder here and an immune boost there, and you’ve got a filling treat that gives you your five-a-day plus in one handy take-away cup. But beware of brain freeze. It’s all natural all the time at runner-up Café Prasad, where you are likely to find someone sipping a hearty helping of freshly (what, mown?) wheat grass juice as a cold, fruity concoction.
MARTINI Don’t let the name fool you: Trilogy Wine Bar does serve a mean glass of vino, but it also gets the nod from Boulder Weekly readers and staff alike for expertly preparing wine’s posher, stronger brother–the martini. Nothing’s cooler than sipping on your Tanq and Vermouth by the bar as a local DJ spins in the corner. Then when you’ve had one too many to look cool anymore, stumble onto the dance floor in back where you’ll fit right in with all the other sloshed noodle dancers. You will also do no wrong by mixing a few of your raw oysters with a martini or two at Jax Fish House–try their Kamikaze Martini, Orange Julian Martini or their fantastic dirty martini.
REASON TO EAT FRENCH FRIES [Staff award] When Rudolph Diesel invented the engine that sports his name in 1896, he meant it to work with a variety of oils, particularly peanut oil. Boulder Biodiesel is taking this tradition forward, and a little to the left, by reconstituting french fry grease to power Boulder’s diesel vehicles. The group focuses on using domestically grown vegetable oil in place of diesel gasoline, often retrieving fry-a-lator grease from fast food joints. So even if you don’t personally drive a vegetable-powered diesel truck, you can still help the environment–by eating french fries.
TEAHOUSE There aren’t many other cities that have a spectacular building as a gift from another city. We have Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, reader and Boulder Weekly staff favorite. Play a little backgammon or chess there, and you could be in Tajikistan, the city of the building’s origin. On a warm day take a table outside near the creek and enjoy the lovely exterior and the rose garden. A relative newcomer to the Boulder tea scene, runner-up Pekoe offers the funky feel of a coffeehouse with the taste of tea.
BAGEL The bagel began wreaking havoc with the low-carb diet in 1683 when a Viennese baker dedicated the first delicious, doughy delight as a tribute to Jan Sobieski, the King of Poland. King Jan had successfully defended the people of Austria from a group of militant Turkish terrorists who had hijacked three Polish carriages and crashed them into a street bazaar, killing thousands of Austrian shoppers and causing the market to close for several days. After the market re-opened, King Jan commanded the leading Polish advertising agency to develop a public relations campaign that encouraged the citizens of Vienna to shop as a way of revitalizing the slumping Austrian economy. As part of this campaign, free bagels were provided to all citizens who went shopping. Ever since, the bagel has been an international symbol of freedom. Had Bush and Co. realized the terrorist-busting potential of this remarkable food, the "War on Terrorism" could have been concluded by Oct. 1, 2001. Hats off to this year’s BOB winners, Moe’s Broadway Bagel and City Street Bagels for doing their part to generate peace and freedom through this remarkable food.
RéSUMé KILLeR [Staff award] These days the top gridiron job in Colorado outside of Invesco Field is as much a scarlet letter as a merit badge. Gary Barnett may have raised the idiocy bar with his totally whacko response to locker-room rape allegations, but looking at the legacy of his two predecessors, Barnett is just upholding a black-and-gold tradition of questionable coaching behavior. The Buffs won a national championship in 1990 under Coach Bill "Promise Keeper" McCartney, but following his tenure allegations surfaced that the program recruited gang members. These allegations made CU the centerpiece of an ESPN exposé on gangs in sports in 1997. In 2002 the university admitted to 40 of 51 NCAA allegations of recruiting violations committed by mid-’90s coach "Slick" Rick Neuheisel–who was fired last summer by the University of Washington for gambling violations. In future job interviews, interim head coach Brian Cabral may want to keep his recent promotion to himself.
SPORTS BAR What could be better than rooting for your favorite team surrounded by your friends and working on your third pitcher of beer? Being able to do it downtown. That’s right, Boulder Weekly reader and staff selection for best sports bar, Lazy Dog, is moving from their current digs on the Diagonal to 1436 Pearl St. By early May you’ll be cheering on the Rockies in the shadow of the Flatirons. And though the location will change, the beautiful and talented staff will remain the same. Like Cher and Madonna, runner-up the Barrel House has gone for the mono-moniker. It’s just the House now, and unlike yours it’s clean and full of attractive women. The Dark Horse and its legendary Burger Madness received an honorable mention.
TAKEOUT/DELIVERY First practice by saying Neu Nam Tok and Gung Ob Moh Din 10 times fast and only then, Grasshopper, will you be ready to order some quick Thai at Siamese Plate on the Go, which gets Boulder Weekly’s staff and reader vote for best takeout. But over along the Broadway corridor, Khow Thai’s inexpensive, healthy, vegetarian-friendly menu and prompt service has endowed it with a loyal following, the sign of a true takeout black belt. But, Grasshopper, do not underestimate the skills of the Falafel King, a true master of quick and tasty Greek cuisine.
PLOTLINE FOR A B-SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE [Staff award] The scene opens with a beautiful foothills vista. Mr. and Mrs. Smiths are sitting amid the xeric tall grass as their son Billy frolics nearby. Suddenly there’s a scream. It’s Billy. The Smiths rush to investigate. To their horror, they come face to face with a 10-foot tall Preble’s jumping mouse with Billy’s lifeless body dangling from its mouth. Mrs. Smith opens her mouth to scream, but there is no sound. She looks down to find a bloody hoof speared through her gut, courtesy of a three-headed elk. The mouse and the elk move in on Mr. Smith. As the end draws near, he lets out one final, anguished curse. "Damn us all to hell! We thought Rocky Flats was safe for recreation, but we were wrong! We gambled with Mother Nature, and now she’s come to collect! We’re all doomed! Doomed! Doomed!" Coming soon to a closed nuclear weapons plant near you.
PLACE TO EAT OUTDOORS For many Boulder locals, the first whiff of spring in the air sends them rushing ecstatically into the foothills to sweat, strain and work out their well-conditioned bodies in ways never meant for homo sapiens. We here at Boulder Weekly, on the other hand, see spring as the blessed return to our open-air glut-a-thon at the many wonderful outdoor eating venues in town. One of our first stops is always the Chautauqua Dining Hall, Boulder Weekly reader and staff pick for best place to eat outdoors, since this grand lady in Chautauqua Park not only boasts some of the best views of the Flatirons, but also lip-smacking good cuisine created by internationally recognized chefs Bradford Heap and Tim Bouse. Runner-up Dushanbe Tea House and honorable mention Farmer’s Market actually make for a great outdoor eating combination. Stop by the Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning for a corn tamale al fresco and then wash it all down with a cool ice tea on the patio at the tea house next door.
RESTAURANT TO TAKE KIDS It must be the person in the giant robin costume along with the allure of fries, free balloons and video games that makes reader and staff pick Red Robin attractive to kids. Burgers are king here and come in sizes to please the big fat man and the little tiny kid. Considering how much burger and fries a kid can put away, sometimes that’s the same thing. Runner-up Noodles & Co. is perfect for the kid who will only eat mac and cheese or the one who loves anything in a bowl. Well, isn’t that actually all of us? Honorable mention Mountain Sun/Southern Sun is the place if you want to feed the kids and satisfy your own grown-up tastes.
Local Radio Host [Staff Award] Four years ago, Sam Fuqua decided that communities across Colorado didn’t have sufficient access to the goings-on of the Colorado General Assembly. So he applied for a grant, and his Capitol Reporting Project was born. Each day during the legislative session, Fuqua, who serves as the news and public affairs editor for KGNU Radio 88.5 FM, files a report detailing the day’s events in Denver. Thanks to his effort and ingenuity, citizens across Colorado have a much better idea of what their elected representatives are up to. Fuqua, who has been with KGNU for 13 years, is known for his calm demeanor and his willingness to act as a mentor for people interested in alternative radio. For these reasons, and many more, Sam Fuqua rocks our world.
NATURAL/VEGETARIAN Although they offer a very good selection of dishes that will feed the serious vegetarian and the hardcore vegan, Boulder Weekly reader selection Sunflower restaurant also has plenty of dishes to satisfy the hungry carnivore and the picky pescatarian. The food is fancy and upscale, and the kitchen is full of talented cooks who know how to make both soy products and game meats delicious. Boulder Weekly staff pick Café Prasad offers a counter service deli with many offerings for the hungry hippie (and anyone else looking for a meal that doesn’t contain hydrogenated fats or highly processed ingredients). It’s inside the Boulder Co-op, so you can do a little shopping to whet your appetite.
DESSERT Call it BOB affirmative action if you must, but the Cheesecake Factory was forced to the sidelines last year. We simply could no longer tolerate this cheesy choice in a city overflowing with deserving winners. Ballot casters responded by selecting the Cream Puffery in 2003, and they repeated the same act of righteousness in 2004, despite the end of the Cheesecake Factory’s one-year probation. We couldn’t be more delighted. We’ll bet dollars to vending machine cheesecake that nobody in any of the Cheesecake Factory’s 75 locations has a college degree in "Baking and Pastry Arts" like Cream Puffery co-owner Amy Dewitt has. Blend in a generous quantity of the Latin American flair that co-owner Lourdes Sanchez brings to the kitchen, and you’ve got the ingredients for a series of awards that eclipse even this second consecutive BOB award. Despite rumors to the contrary, Amy and Lourdes are still raising blood sugar levels at the 15th Street location they have occupied for three years, having merely allowed the runaway success of their bakery to fill the space that once also occupied a café.
Reason not to breathe [Staff award] For a decade, people who live around the Cemex cement plant oustide Lyons have complained of cement dust blowing through their yards and fields. Some say the chemically corrosive dust has ruined the finish on their cars and gotten into their homes–and lungs. But Cemex officials steadfastly denied that any cement dust was leaving their property and claimed they had done everything possible to be good neighbors. But on Monday, Feb. 23, state air-pollution officials slapped Cemex with more than $282,000 in fines and other fees for violating state air-pollution regulations. Violations ranged from visible dust emissions to claiming for two years to have a dust-control system on one of their buildings while, in fact, such a system was not in place. There’s nothing like a good neighbor. And clearly Cemex is nothing like a good neighbor.
THAI RESTAURANT When folks speak of bravery in Boulder, the most common images are of scaling the Flatirons without a rope, paragliding off northern peaks or holding a pro-Bush rally on the Mall. If you ask us, bravery is running a downtown restaurant along Broadway during the near two years of small-business-killing construction. Serving up top-notch food while surviving the construction woes was enough to earn Khow Thai props as best Thai restaurant from both Boulder Weekly readers and staff. Incorporating traditional Thai food with Japanese fare and sushi, Siamese Plate was an obvious choice for runner-up honors. Since leaving the Pearl Street Mall a couple years ago, Sawadee has settled comfortably into its new digs on 30th Street. The food is as great as ever, earning Sawadee an honorable mention.
ICE CREAM Mark Mallen is serious about creating the best ice cream in the world. And clearly he’s succeeding. Once the undisputed domain of Ben & Jerry’s, Mark’s Glacier Homemade Ice Cream has been steadily climbing the BOB poll, having reached the zenith for the first time this year. We’re betting on a long run. Not only has Glacier opened a second location on the Hill, Mark scored an incredible coup recently when he won the contract for a location in a new Whole Foods Market opening in Colorado Springs. Even more impressive than the rich taste of Glacier is the way Mark maintains his chiseled physique in the presence of all that yummy ice cream. The two guys from Vermont look like they’ve been indulging shamelessly for years; Mark looks like he’s never touched the stuff, thereby making a solid case for his own product in this health-conscious town.
TICKETMASTER VENUE [Staff award] As we covered in the Aug. 21 ("TicketMonster") and March 18 ("Fox on the run") issues, Boulder has given TicketMaster the boot. The city’s two biggest venues–the Fox Theatre and the Boulder Theater–both operate their own ticketing services, and SCI Ticketing has taken TicketMaster to task for an alleged ticket monopoly. What does this mean? It means that Boulder is living up to its independent label, thanks to the Fox Theatre, Boulder Theater and SCI Ticketing. This means lower ticket prices and the opportunity to purchase concert tickets without the guilt of half the money going for curiously tacked-on charges that fatten the coffers of an evil corporate empire. Now that the local, independent ticketing options are out there, it’s up to the public to break the corporate habit and support local music, local music venues and Boulder’s independence.
PIZZA There’s only one way to eat pie, and that’s folded. Abo’s Pizza serves up New-York style, folding-required pie with a flavorful sauce that has earned the pizzeria top honors from Boulder Weekly readers. With convenient locations on the north side, south side, Downtown, on the Hill and beyond, it’s also the easiest to find. Featuring gourmet pizza and a central location serving the university, downtown and Boulder High, Boulder Weekly staff selected Jalino’s as the city’s tops. Love gourmet pizza but don’t care for the pizzeria atmosphere? Try Nick ’n‘ Willy’s, the honorable mention, who let you take your pie home to bake it.
VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT Boulder Weekly reader and staff pick for best Vietnamese restaurant, Chez Thuy, has seen a lot of changes around its little stretch of 28th Street. One thing that hasn’t changed is Chez Thuy’s specialty: serving quality take-out and dine-in food at affordable prices. For under $8 you can enjoy the best in Vietnamese fare. There are three reasons you see crowds of people huddled with noodle-stuffed mouths outside runner-up Kim Food to Go on the Hill: great food, great prices, great location.
Healthful Way to beat the midnight Munchies [Staff AWARD] Here’s a somewhat novel concept: Finish off your next night of drinking and clubbing by eating something healthy instead of the standard Taco Bell/McDonald’s/Denny’s fare. That’s some "fresh thinking," which is one half of the Pita Pit’s motto. The other half is "healthy eating," which is just what the Pit provides. Serving all things pita, from traditional gyros to BLTs, the Pita Pit is delicious and filling. Best of all, they’re open late–until 3 in the morning Thursday through Saturday. In fact, the earliest they close (which is Sunday night) is 1 a.m. And if you’re lucky you’ll get a show with your late-night dinner. The Pita Pit has become famous for its "people piles," where young partiers pile through the doorway hungry and more than a little tipsy. For you early birds and recovering alcoholics, you don’t need to tie one on to eat there. The Pit is open regular business hours and is a great lunch and/or dinner option.
CHINESE RESTAURANT Don’t let the fact that it shares a parking lot with Target put you off. Boulder Weekly reader and staff pick Golden Lotus is not a large-scale chain restaurant. Folks love their familiar American-style Chinese food, and the interior is decorated with statuettes and wall hangings. A long-time favorite in Boulder’s restaurant scene, runner-up Orchid Pavilion serves up great spicy, saucy, sweet, tangy food.
INDIAN/NEPALI Reader pick The Taj has a great lunch and dinner buffet. If you aren’t a buffet person, their menu has all the favorites of Northern Indian cuisine, including lamb and curries. Staff pick Tandoori Grill is also famous for their great lunch buffet. They fancy up at dinner and serve off the menu. Their eggplant dish is the best in town, spicy and smooth. Strap on some crampons for our honorable mention, Sherpa’s. Their menu is a balance between Indian-style and Nepalese dishes, and you can’t go wrong either way.
RESTAURANT THAT SHOULD SERVE LUNCH [Staff award] Love of good food and great beer is all that’s needed to kick back and enjoy Southern Sun–unless, of course, it’s lunchtime on a weekday. As South-Boulderites, the staff at Boulder Weekly would be much obliged if lunch appeared on Southern Sun’s weekday menu. That said, the atmosphere at the Mountain Sun’s bigger little sister is that perfect mix of Colorado: relaxed and mountain-beautiful. The inside is comfy and the view is fantastic–a panorama of the Front Range. It’s the perfect place to do a Boulder-style power lunch! Best of Boulder Culture, Sport & Scene
FESTIVAL (NON-MUSIC) The Boulder Creek Festival, the reader’s choice for best festival, has become the official kickoff event of summer in Boulder, featuring live music, the famous duck race, activities for the kids and a bounty of food and beverages. Every summer, some of the greatest interpretations of the Bard come to Boulder as part of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, this year’s staff pick for best festival. Sit under the stars, and watch some of the greatest plays ever written come to life at the hands of internationally acclaimed actors. Combining big name bands, improbable land-water vehicles and enough beer to fill a reservoir, the KBCO/Kinetics Festival is runner-up for best festival. Tamer in nature is honorable mention the Boulder County Farmer’s Market, a twice-weekly celebration of local agriculture, healthy living and community bonding.
HOLISTIC SENSORY EXPERIENCE [Staff award] Boulder is home to an uncommon bounty of quality artists, arts organizations and art appreciators. Every possible medium is represented at the epicenter of the Boulder arts community: the Dairy Center for the Arts. Located in the former Watts Hardy Dairy, music, dance, theater and visual art come together in a year-round celebration of creation at the Dairy Center. Measuring in at more than 40,000 square feet and housing 19 arts organizations, the Dairy puts out enough quality art to sustain a small country. From gallery showings to the Boulder Philharmonic to the Helander Dance Theater and beyond, the Dairy Center for the Arts is a holistic arts encounter and a full sensory experience. If you’re interested in the creation as well as appreciation of art, classes in nearly every discipline are available at the Dairy Center, including programs through Naropa University, Community Television Channel 54 and PeakArts Academy.
PLACE OF WORSHIP Of all the Best of Boulder categories, place of worship received the most interesting and diverse responses. But in the end, Boulder Weekly readers and staff decided that the No. 1 place was Unity of Boulder. Celebrity spiritualist Jack Groverland’s weekly talks and Power of Now series are part of the reason. As punkers Operation Ivy sang in their anti-violence, anti-hate number, "Unity": "There ain’t nothin’ wrong with a Unity song." The same goes for Unity of Boulder. Established in 1875, runner-up Sacred Heart has seen the turn of two centuries, a millennium, the building of CU and the rise of Boulder as an international city. Honorable mention, the Shambhala Center, provides an abundance of local Buddhist-centered community events and services. For more information, visit www.boulder.shambhala.org.
PLACE TO DANCE It’s no great secret that we here at the Weekly are incredible dancers. We’re just very modest, that’s why you don’t see us out on the floor… ever. But Round Midnight’s nightly mix of live acid jazz, funk, rock, hip-hop, Latin, reggae, live DJ’s and blues makes it a prime destination for Boulder to get funky. Can you say Hammer Time? And the Fox Theatre pulls in the hottest acts in town to get your groove goin’. But when Weekly staff get hankerin’ for a ho-down we head north on Highway 36 until we hit Planet Bluegrass, where some of the biggest names in Bluegrass can be heard pickin’, while we do the Running Man in the dirt. Holla!
Rooftop Deck [Staff award] Used to be you could sit on the roof of The West End, a pint in your hand, and get an unobstructed view of the Flatirons and Pearl Street Mall. An unbeatable place to spend a warm summer evening, The West End’s view is now blocked by some unfortunate construction next door. Though the West End is finding ways to keep their deck appealing–and succeeding–those unobstructed views are history. Thank goodness The Foundry offers a place for those of use who like our brew al fresco with beautiful scenery. Notice to developers: Don’t even THINK of building anything tall nearby. We can’t take the heartbreak again.
PLACE TO PLAY POOL If you haven’t played pool at The Foundry, you haven’t played pool. Row after row of regulation tables, an elegant bar and a charming café make it the most sophisticated pool hall in town. But maybe you like your pool with pizza and beer instead. The Rack offers 14 tables plus darts, video games and foosball. An honorable mention goes to Round Midnight, a great place to shoot stick. After a friendly game you can forget defeat on the dance floor.
LIVE THEATER Think you have to go to Broadway to see performances like Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Cabaret, Chicago or Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat? Wrong. You just have to go to Arapahoe Avenue, where the Boulder’s Dinner Theater–voted by Boulder Weekly readers as the best live theater in the city–will not only put on a show, but provide you with a fine meal, served by the actors. A summer institution, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival was voted runner-up for its stunning performances under the stars in the Mary Rippon Theatre. The Dairy Center for the Performing Arts, which is home to numerous arts organizations and multiple stages of live theater, received an honorable mention.
Mayor
PARTICIPATION SPORT When we asked our faithful readers to inform us of their favorite participation sport, was their any real doubt in our mind that rock climbing would be the No. 1 choice? With the Flatirons and Eldorado Canyon offering some of the best boulders and crags you can find anywhere, and more killer routes than you can shake a carabineer at, sticking on horizontal ground around here seems to be a thing of the past. Even in the winter you can’t get us Boulderites out of the mountains as evidenced by skiing taking the runner-up slot for best sport. While running, which snags an honorable mention, could be considered a flatlander activity, we know for a fact many local asphalt slappers prefer to take their jogging shoes up mountain trails like Mount Sanitas. We’re just waiting for resourceful Boulderites to make water polo a mountain sport, too.
GOLF COURSE The Pope met with the College of Cardinals to discuss a proposal from Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister of Israel. "Your holiness," said one of the cardinals, "Mr. Sharon wants to determine whether Jews or Catholics are superior, by challenging you to a golf match at Coal Creek Golf Course." The Pope was greatly disturbed, as he had never held a golf club in his life. "Not to worry," said the Cardinal. "We’ll call America and talk to Jack Nicklaus. We’ll make him a cardinal, and he can play Ariel Sharon. We can’t lose!" Everyone agreed it was a good idea. The call was made and, of course, Jack was honored and agreed to play. The day after the match, Nicklaus reported to the Vatican to inform the Pope of his success in the match. "I came in second, your Holiness," said Nicklaus. "Second!" exclaimed the surprised Pope. "You came in second to Ariel Sharon?" "No," said Nicklaus, "second to Rabbi Woods."
PLACE TO WATCH SPORTS WITH WOMEN [Staff award] A B-dub staff member was watching an Avalanche game the first time he was invited to The Yard–Boulder’s gay bar. He decided to forgo the third period to hang out with his friends. "Any chance they’re going to have the game on at the bar?" he asked half-jokingly. Not only did they have the Av’s game on, but they also had the Rockies game going on another television. But instead of a rowdy gang of sweaty men around him, our intrepid staffer was surrounded by flannel-clad women. At one point he was the only man in the vicinity of a television. The lesson? When it comes to the Yard, leave all preconceived stereotypes at the door. How many other gay bars are situated across the street from a blue-collar, sometimes biker bar? It’s another example of something wonderful that can exist only in Boulder.
Place to eat with your hands [Staff award] Ras Kassas Ethiopia Restaurant sits in a very unexotic location on 30th Street between a strip mall and the backside of Target. But don’t let the surroundings fool you: This piece of Africa has a beautiful interior and a creek-side patio, not to mention friendly service that can transport customers far from Boulder. Diners settle down around authentic Masab basket tables to peruse Ras Kassas’ extensive wine list. The only silverware at this table is the injera bread, which patrons use to scoop up their selection of stews and meat and vegetarian dishes. Finger licking never tasted so good.
Surf shop in a landlocked state [Staff award] Is the stream flow high up at the Big Thompson? Check. Kayak? Check. Paddle? Check. Don’t forget the life jacket. With lots of used gear and lessons, clinics and guided trips, the Boulder Outdoor Center is a prime stop for all the river rats who want to show that Coloradans can still get crazy in the surf. But they also specialize in that other kind of white water: snow. They’ve got snowshoes, backcountry skis and tips on avalanche awareness (one type of wave you want to avoid). Surf’s up!
PUBLIC SCHOOL Ah, yes, what fond memories are to be had of high school–making the football team, dating the prom queen, becoming valedictorian, single-handedly saving a truckload of rare blue-tailed chimpanzees from a fire. Those were the days. Boulder Weekly readers and staff both chose Boulder High School as best public school because of its commitment to students and education in the classroom. One of Colorado’s oldest and finest high schools, Boulder High boasts champion sports teams, a diverse student population and state-of-the-art science labs, among other things. Fairview High School, with its varied academic curriculum and highly acclaimed fine arts program, received runner-up, while New Vista High School, a wildly successful alternative high school, took this year’s honorable mention.
INDOOR CLIMBING WALL With 11,000-square-feet dedicated to vertical fun and fitness, The Spot Bouldering Gym wins this year’s contest for best indoor climbing wall among both readers and B-dub staff. The Spot features bouldering space and roped climbing with routes ranging from a 5.3, perfect for beginners, to an extreme 5.13 for world-class climbers, many of whom train at the Spot. Its biggest claim to fame are the massive freestanding boulders that have been hand-sculpted to resemble famous climbs, but don’t overlook the café, the great locker rooms or the yoga classes in the yoga room. Boulder Rock Club, Boulder’s first indoor climbing facility and this year’s runner-up, stands apart for its route setting, with roped climbs that range up to a 5.14a. Off the Boards makes a hit as our honorable mention, offering indoor soccer as well as bouldering, 135 feet of roped climbing and a welcoming family atmosphere.
PLACE FOR WOMEN TO BUY PORN [Staff award] The word "porn shop" conjures up images of ramshackle storefronts, creepy-looking men and questionable stains on the carpet–a place women should avoid. If that’s still the image you have in mind, you haven’t been to Fascinations. With lingerie in the windows and everything from sex toys to the latest in XXX movies on the shelves, Fascinations marks the shift of adult entertainment into the mainstream. The store is very woman-friendly, with a largely female sales staff that will be happy to offer suggestions if you need help picking a flavored lube or deciding which vibrator will give you the most buzz for your buck. And, yes, they sell batteries.
YOGA/PILATES STUDIO At Öm Time, students are led through guided meditations and supported yoga postures. After class relax with a Double Abhyanga massage, performed by two therapists working in synchrony, then stop into the shop where you can browse through yoga wear created by small, independent clothing companies. Our readers also like Bikram’s Yoga College of India for certified Bikram technique. The yoga, performed in a heated room, is said to clear the arteries and strengthen the heart. For a fun workout that targets your core muscles, check out the Pilates Center.
SKI RESORT Eldora, number one in Boulder Weekly staff and readers’ book for best ski resort, is only 30 minutes from Boulder, which is about the same amount of time you can spend just trying to get out of other resorts’ parking lots. The growing ski mountain is often dismissed with the nickname "The Rock," but for its convenience and relatively diverse terrain–like a snowboard park, as well as a few double black diamonds–it makes for a great day trip from Boulder city limits. Runner-up Copper Mountain often gets passed over in favor of other Summit County mega mountains, which is good because it makes for shorter lines and fresher turns. Vail is famous for its light powder and seemingly endless run options.
WOMAN AHEAD OF HER TIME [Staff award] Massachusetts and San Francisco, get with the times. When it comes to upholding a person’s right to same-sex marriage, good old Boulder has these places beat by nearly 30 years. When Boulder County Clerk Clela Rorex issued a same-sex marriage license to two men in 1975, she was just following the laws–there was no state statute outlawing same-sex marriage. But the decision set off a nationwide firestorm with gays and lesbians flocking to town to be married until the Colorado attorney general voided the licenses. Rorex still lives in town and still fights the good fight for a national nonprofit. Unfortunately, it ain’t too likely that another Rorex will be appearing around here, since the smart-thinking legislature has outlawed same-sex marriage and, with people like Shawn Mitchell and Marilyn Musgrave around, we wouldn’t be surprised if soon just mentioning Clela Rorex’s name becomes a capital offense.
LIVE JAZZ CLUB With good acoustics, an enviable dance floor, quality food, great beer and a solid lineup of jazz artists every week, it’s no wonder that Boulder Weekly readers and staff voted the Redfish New Orleans Brewhouse the best live jazz club in the city. While enjoying the club’s top-notch entertainment, sip on one of the brewpub’s fine homegrown suds, such as Angry Monk, Big Easy Pale Ale or Old School ESB. If you’re looking for big city atmosphere in Boulder, you’ve got to put on your best threads and take a subterranean jaunt to Round Midnight, where the music’s always jumping, the drinks pouring and the bartenders entertaining.
PRIVATE SCHOOL Boulder Weekly readers and staff chose Alexander Dawson School as first place in the private school category because of their philosophy of delving deeply into all the many facets of K-12 education. "We ask them to do a lot here," said Dawson’s director of admissions, Jim Mitchell. And these kids do it all well. The Sacred Heart of Jesus School, the oldest Catholic school in the county, and the September School, which offers a quality high school education in a small interactive learning community, tied as the runners-up.
LOCAL sleuth [Staff award] Heavies, hoods, hoodlums, hooligans and hustlers beware: Silvia Pettem is on the case. This mild-mannered local historian and author is actually a relentless sleuth of the highest order. First she exposed how Mary Rippon, CU’s first woman professor, led a second life complete with love children and liaisons with students. Then she unearthed the mysterious death of police officer Elmer Cobb, Boulder’s oldest unsolved murder. Now she’s working to re-open the case of Jane Doe, an unidentified woman killed in Boulder Canyon 50 years ago. She’s raising money to disinter and run DNA tests on Jane Doe’s remains. For more information go to www.boulderjanedoe.com. Whoever killed JonBenet better hope Pettem doesn’t go after the Ramsey case next.
ART GALLERY Maybe it’s the natural beauty of the landscape or maybe it’s just the thin air, but Boulder has become an art mecca of SoHo proportions–which makes Art & Soul’s capturing of top art gallery honors from both Boulder Weekly readers and staff a notable accomplishment. What makes Art & Soul so accessible is a healthy offering of unique, affordable artwork in addition to high-end fare. Featuring three rooms of artwork and creative installations, an in-house theater, live music and spoken-word events, runner-up the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art is the epicenter of the Downtown Boulder art scene.
LOCAL CELEBRITY What do a busker, a hot dog entrepreneur, an African-American blues singer and a rock star have in common? Isn’t it obvious? The common thread running through this seemingly unlikely group is that they are this year’s most celebrated group of Boulderites. David Rosdeitcher, aka the Zip Code Man, has been entertaining audiences on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall with his uncanny ability to match zip code to hometowns since 1991. He’s even set the Guinness world record for most zip codes consecutively identified. And Weekly staff favorite "Fast" Eddie Ermoian has endeared himself to folks on the Mall and at the Farmers’ Market with his hypnotic chant of "Hot dog, hot dog, hot dog; Pepsi, Pepsi, Pepsi" ever since he moved to Boulder in 1993 to fulfill a 40-year dream of serving up juicy, Chicago-style hot dogs in the old-time spirit. What’s inspiring about both of our winners is their commitment to making a living by doing what they love to do. Maybe that’s why they’re so celebrated.
WAY TO COVER UP YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION [Staff award] What’s up Marilyn Musgrave’s rear? We can’t say for sure, but there must be some subconscious (or conscious) source of Musgrave’s rampant homophobia. Perhaps she’s just repressing? For those not familiar with Musgrave, she is a congresswoman from Colorado best known as the sponsor of the controversial Federal Marriage Amendment, which defines marriage as being only between a man and a woman and has launched a legislative and cultural assault against homosexuals. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, one of Musgrave’s jurisdictions is the inspection of seafood and seafood products. As readers of Boulder Weekly learned in the April 1 "Sinning with seafood" Web Watch, the bible explicitly states that shrimp and the like are abomination. Let’s hope Musgrave uses her fundie, extremist zeal to impose strict anti-shrimp legislation as well. Or maybe she’s one of those self-loathing, closet shrimp eaters.
CLASSICAL MUSIC The Front Range is a utopia for lovers of classical music. Hardly a night goes by without some classical action going down somewhere. With dignitary Marin Alsop and the Tonight Show’s Doc Severinsen at the helm, it’s no surprise that the Colorado Symphony Orchestra was voted tops in classical music by Boulder Weekly readers. With year-round performances featuring world-class musicians, the CU Concert Series received the Boulder Weekly staff pick for best classical music. Be sure to get your tickets early! The Boulder Philharmonic is a top-notch ensemble that boasts great musical selections and affordable performances without the drive to Denver. Thanks to ambitious performances (such as their recent take on Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture), the Boulder Phil received an honorable mention.
LOCAL MUSICIAN With a wealth of musical talent in Boulder, it takes a lot to be the big dog in the yard. Boulder’s String Cheese Incident has become a national act in recent years, and last summer became a champion for independent music everywhere when the band and its ticketing service, SCI Ticketing, took on the evil TicketMaster corporation. Great music and groovy vibes made String Cheese the top reader pick. Staff selection Wendy Woo is a well-rounded musician with the ability to perform solo or with her backup band. Woo is also a teacher, making her one of the busiest musicians in the city. Her new CD, Walking the Skyline, was released on April 1 and should guarantee her placement in the Best of Boulder ’05. Runner-up Big Head Todd and the Monsters are one of the most successful bands to ever come out of Boulder, becoming one of the leading bands on the alternative scene in the mid-’90s. Honorable mention Hazel Miller has a set of lungs as powerful as the mighty Flatirons, and she has also grabbed a piece of the national spotlight in addition to her local fame.
Place to swing both ways [Staff award] With new sandwich shops opening up each season, Boulder’s love for the sub may be reaching critical overcapacity. But Half-Fast Subs is a place where both veg-heads and flesh-eaters can come together between two slices of fresh-baked harmony. A questionable renaming contest a few years back changed the Planet Sub sign to its current self-deprecating and fleetingly funny title. But don’t worry. This Hill sub shop has more than 17 vegetarian options including baked tofu or BBQ tempeh. And for the carnivores they serve cheesesteaks and a heart-clogging little beast called the Beefeater (roast beef, bacon and cream cheese). Did we also mention they have happy-hour microbrew pitchers for $4.50? Oh, yeah, well they do.
FUNDRAISING EVENT It’s somewhat hard to award Boulder Weekly staff and reader choice for best fundraising event to Exotica Erotica, since it’s difficult to imagine anything this naughty is actually doing good. But sure enough, you can flaunt your fetishes, taste temptation and spot lots of skin at the annual Exotica Erotica Costume Ball in October and at the Exotica Erotica Fashion Show that precedes it and still rest assured St. Peter will still let you into the party in the sky since proceeds from the events go to the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Boulderites sure like to mix their charity with sensuality–the other fundraiser award goes to the Annual Chocolate Lovers’ Fling, a decadent dinner and auction in February that benefits the Boulder County Safehouse. Now, please excuse us. We need to go take a cold shower.
NONPROFIT/CHARITY In a town populated by pet guardians it’s no surprise that a facility dedicated to caring for homeless pets takes top honors among our readers. The Humane Society of Boulder Valley provides shelter to about 7,000 lost and homeless pets each year, and, unlike many animal shelters, does not euthanize adoptable animals. While communities around the nation are buried in half-truths, shock jocks and bad music courtesy of corporate radio, Boulderites get the latest news and views from around the world thanks to KGNU Radio 88.5 FM, which tied for reader pick. Boulder County Safehouse, our honorable mention, provides safe shelter, support and advocacy for battered women and their children. B-dub staff couldn’t let this issue go to press without offering our thanks to the people at Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center, who offer affordable health care, including counseling, contraception and abortion services, to teenage and adult women. Having the right to choose means nothing if there’s no one around to help you.
LESSER OF MANY EVILS [Staff award] All right, we know–fast food isn’t very healthy or environmentally friendly. Taking this grain of truth with a grain of salt, we also realize that sometimes you just gotta eat. If so, you might as well choose Good Times, a Boulder-based fast food chain specializing in Coleman all-natural beef–the same meat you buy at the expensive natural food stores. But at Good Times all you have to do is drive up and shout your order into the little box. The fries kick butt, too.
MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO Despite what Ralph Macchio might tell you, the martial arts aren’t just about head butting plywood or fighting off 12 ninjas at once with a rolled-up newspaper. Diligence, spirit, dedication, discipline, honor, integrity and loyalty–these are the things students at Shaolin Hung Mei, Boulder Weekly’s staff and reader choice for best martial arts studio, are made of. Kung Fu may have originated in China but the Shaolin brand has found a home at Shaolin Hung Mei, where willing apprentices learn the history, philosophies, theories, culture and techniques of the traditional art. The 2,000-year-old Korean form of Soo Bahk Do also has a healthy following at the Flatirons Martial Arts studio, our reader’s choice for runner-up. Finally, the Tae Kwon Do curriculum of Tran’s Martial Arts & Fitness, our honorable mention, can give you a degree in self-defense that 100 viewings of The Karate Kid never could.
MOVIE HOUSE/THEATER As the world slips into the apocalypse, chances are Arnold Schwarzenegger will find a way to become president. When he does, we suggest he sets up residence in the Boulder Theater, since there’s no better staging point for celluloid’s world takeover than this film Mecca. From its historic Art Deco design to its devotion to new film masterpieces and cult classics alike, Boulder Theater makes going to the movies a downright regal experience. While several local movie houses are closing shop, Boulder filmophiles still have the luxury of many great theaters, including runner-up Landmark’s Crossroads Common, featuring arthouse and international films and AMC Flatiron Crossing, the high-end megaplex just down U.S. 36.
MUSIC FESTIVAL Is Planet Bluegrass a feather in the cap of Boulder’s music scene or what? Year after year, more and more Boulderites–not to mention music lovers from all over the world–travel to a different planet for the summer: Planet Bluegrass. It all starts at the onset of summer with the Telluride Bluegrass Festival (June 17-20), continues in the heat of the season with RockyGrass (July 23-25), and ends when the nights begin to turn cooler and there’s just a hint of autumn in the air with Folks Festival (August 13-15). Along the way you might make the acquaintance of such world-class musicians as Tim O’Brien, Jorma Kaukonen, Lyle Lovett, Victor Wooten, Sam Bush, Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez (stop me if I’ve made my point), Edgar Meyer, Mark O’Connor (OK, you get the picture). And these festivals take place in two of the most beautiful settings imaginable. So, put on your tie-dyed shirt, strap on the mountain bike and blast off for the newest planet in the solar system.
ADVANCED EDUCATION/TRAINING What if you could read minds? Find out in "Spiritual and Scientific Implications of Psychic Abilities." It’s one of many unique classes offered by internationally acclaimed Naropa University Extended Studies, where Buddhist-inspired teaching methods attract students from the community and abroad. Naropa’s programs earned both top reader and staff honors this year. Looking for something a little more conventional? Try CU Continuing Education, where classes like real estate appraisal can help you launch a new career. If the hands-on approach is more your style, Boulder College of Massage Therapy is the school for you.
MUSIC VENUE Boulder County is blessed with one of the most primo music scenes in the country. So it only makes sense that we would be similarly blessed with great venues to enjoy all of this primo music. Weekly readers seem to flip-flop more predictably than a presidential candidate during an election year (unless it’s Dubya, who sticks to his guns–you’ll pardon the metaphor–no matter how illogical his initial position, but we digress). One year it’s the Fox Theatre, the next year it’s the Boulder Theater, then the Fox, and so on. Well, this year it’s the Fox Theatre winning the top spot in our reader poll after giving way last year to this year’s runner up, Boulder Theater. But look, up in Lyons, it’s a new contender, it’s an outdoor venue, it’s Planet Bluegrass. Yes, home to perennial Best Music Festival winner RockyGrass, Planet Bluegrass is being awarded one of our newfangled Boulder Weekly Staff Picks, placing it in the elite company of the two theaters. Located in Lyons, just a short 20-minute ride from Boulder, Planet Bluegrass is simply the loveliest place to spend a day enjoying an outdoor music festival imaginable. If you’ve not yet been initiated into the "festivarian" ranks, your chance is coming. RockyGrass (July 23-25) and Rocky Mountain Folks Festival (Aug. 13-15) are right around the corner. This year’s line-ups include the likes of Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, Sam Bush, Mark O’Connor, Joan Baez and Greg Brown. But don’t wait too long; this is an intimate Planet, including wading-room-only on the adjacent St.Vrain River.
CHIROPRACTOR [Staff award] It can start with a minor fender-bender, the way you walk or even how you sit at your desk. Over time your spine becomes misaligned, and your joints may begin to lock up, sending your muscles into more spasms than Mick Jagger on stage during a reunion tour. Before you know it, you wake up and find yourself looking like one of the creepy clowns from Cirque du Soleil, causing children to run away from you screaming in terror. To fix the problem for good, seek chiropractor Thomas D. Groover at Groover Spinal Care, whose one-two punch of powerful perspective and multiple chiropractic approaches re-establishes the correct relationship of one bone to the next within your soon-to-be pain-free body. Best of Boulder Retail
Iliquor Store According to health experts, wine is good for you. That must mean that shopping at Liquor Mart is good for your health. Liquor Mart has a wine department that would make Dionysos proud, with bottles from Colorado and California vineyards, as well as a full selection of imported wines from around the world. For those who prefer fermented grain to grape, there are local microbrews, national brands and a wide variety of imported beers. Add whiskies, liqueurs, brandies and tequilas to the mix, and you have one hell of a hangover. Ace Discount Liquor earns this year’s Boulder Weekly staff pick for its outstanding customer service. Matej, the general manager, does his best to make sure people feel comfortable while shopping there. He and his staff are ready to answer questions about the wines, brews and meads they carry so that customers know they are getting the best beverage for the best possible price. Ace works with local breweries and meaderies to give our local economy a needed boost. Its wide selection and low prices make A-OK Liquors a perennial favorite with Boulder Weekly readers, who once again voted it runner-up.
BAR FOR GREEKS [Staff award] It’s always exhilarating to observe the elusive frat boy (Rudalotus Greekis) in his natural habitat. The Walrus is one such bar where the intrepid explorer can interact with these magnificent specimens of university life and witness them perform such ancient rituals as the "liter of Bud chug" and the ever-sacred "foosball atonement." Along with providing a diverse selection of ales to satiate the thirst of the hard-working Greek-watcher, this environment provides dozens of televisions playing what’s known as "sports" to put frat boys at a state of ease. Late in the evening, one may also perceive the high-pitched Greek mating call: "Wooo! College, baby! Wooo!"
PLACE TO GO FOR A CRUZE [Staff award] There’s a reason Sports Garage is the launch site every Thursday night for the Boulder Cruzer Club, the freewheeling, cacophonous, costume-bedecked, delightfully Lycra-free mobile party powered by vintage cruiser bicycles. It’s because there’s no better place in Boulder–hey, perhaps the Front Range–than the Sports Garage to procure your alloy rims, swooping handlebars, balloon tires and bike seats as big and comfy as a sofa. If you prefer your bike with brakes and gear shifters, the 10-year-old Sports Garage also offers world-class mountain bikes, locally handcrafted bikes and a wide ski and snowboard selection to boot.
BOOKSTORE It’s no surprise that Boulder Book Store wins this category every year. Boulder is one of the most educated cities in the world, and we take our reading seriously. Whether searching for the latest book by a local author or attending a book signing by an internationally acclaimed spiritual leader, you’ll find Boulder Book Store’s staff is eager to please. If they don’t have a title in stock, they’ll be happy to order it for you. Bookworm makes another appearance as the runner-up. With more than 300,000 titles for readers to peruse, it’s a great place for a bibliophile to spend a Saturday morning.
CAMERA/VIDEO/PHOTOFINISHING So you just bought a super-high-end 17.9 gigapixel digital camera capable of shooting pictures faster than the speed of light, but the 3,000-page instruction booklet is in ancient Mandarin. Never fear, wary photographer, Mike’s Camera, Boulder Weekly’s staff and reader winner for best camera store, is here to help. Thanks to its 70-person workforce (all certified photographic consultants), state-of-the-art facility and impeccable customer service, for more than 30 years Mike’s been a godsend for industry professionals and amateur camera buffs alike. Runner-up Moto Photo is also pretty close to picture perfect, especially with its super-saving ClubMoto discount program.
Way to save the day [Staff award] There are only a handful of quality rooftop patios in the city, and we lament that one of the finest–the West End Tavern–has been compromised by the building of condos and retail space next door. But Boulderites are a resilient lot. The new owners have re-decked the patio and installed a sit-down bar. The southern view of Chautauqua and the Flatirons remains unobstructed for lunch and dinner patrons, and the restaurant/bar is now open for breakfast one day a week. The renowned West End patio will reopen for lunch on April 15 and open for nights soon after. But what about that building disrupting the glorious view of the Front Range? Nothing is set, but the West End plans to incorporate the obstruction in a creative and positive way. Big props have to go out to the new owners for saving one of Boulder’s most cherished landmarks.
CAR DEALER–NEW CARS Boulder Weekly readers and staff both chose Boulder Toyota as the best place to buy a new road warrior because of its famous courtesy and ability to keep you calm when making a several-thousand-dollar expenditure. Apparently high employee retention and a knowledgeable sales staff is a good equation. Who would’ve thought? Fisher Chevrolet Geo Honda, the runner-up, has been serving Boulder since 1968, and there’s a good reason for that. Flatiron’s Acura Subaru gets honorable mention and, with its huge customer base, is still one of Boulder’s all-time favorites.
CAR DEALER–USED CARS Whether justifiably or not, used-car lots have become the cliché for "hard sell" in modern America. But Boulder Weekly readers and staff both agree that Blue Spruce Auto Sales/Service is an exception to the used-car reputation, thanks to its tried-and-true mantra that pressure is not part of the formula. "We try to make it a human experience, buying a car," says owner Joe Morelli. "It’s really threatening to a lot of people and is out of their comfort-zone. Because it is a lot of money, we just try to humanize the whole process." Boulder Toyota gets runner-up in this category for its loyal staff and customers, resulting in its undeniable word-of-mouth popularity.
WAY TO CLEAN UP YOUR ACT [Staff AWARD]The next time you’re running late for work because you can’t find your car keys–ANYWHERE–remember the name Creative Chaos. This extra-special locally owned personal organizing service is here to help. Whether you have a messy office or a disorganized garage, Creative Chaos will get rid of the clutter and get you compartmentalized. These organizational experts can handle any room in the house–even on moving day. They also do events, so you can relax with your guests while they take care of all the complications. Here is a service Boulder Weekly’s staff could use!
SHOE STORE Pedestrian Shops was chosen for first place by readers and staff because the staff knows better than anyone about Boulder’s desire for comfortable, functional shoes. They should, since they’ve been in the biz for a long time. "I guess over 30 years you figure out how to do it right, or at least you hope so," said owner Richard Polk, who explained that part of their success is due to luck and to being a case of the last man standing. Luckily he’s standing in comfortable shoes. Fleet Feet Sports, specializing in footwear and apparel for Boulder’s sizable running population, finds itself as runner-up in this race, and Frolic-Shoes for Her, where you’ll find fashionable yet affordable shoes and accessories for all female feet-covering needs, receives an honorable mention.
JEWELRY STORE John Atencio Designer Jewelry, our reader pick this year, operates out of Flatiron Crossing Mall, offering custom-made jewelry to fit your tastes. Hurdle’s Jewelry, the winner of our staff poll, has been a family owned and operated business for three generations, having opened its doors in 1947. Hurdle’s skilled designers and gemologists can help you create future heirlooms in platinum or gold, as well as repair your watch and appraise the heirlooms you already own. Angie Star, which won an honorable mention from our readers, offers unique jewelry crafted by local artisans.
BICYCLE SHOP Boulder is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the country. So when people around this town say they need to take their vehicle for a tune-up, they often mean they’re heading to the bike shop. The blokes at University Bikes, the favorite of B-dub staff and readers alike, have been tuning up two-wheelers since the mid-’80s. They now lead the cycling pack with friendly service and a sleek selection of fast-spinning Treks, Giants and Bianchis. If you feel like crusin’ without a brusin’, though, hop on an Electra beach bike and take it on the mellow. But if you still somehow take a spill, head out to 27th and Spruce, and the dudes at the Sports Garage, our runner-up, will get you rolling again with bikes by Jamis, Ellsworth and Devinci. If all else fails, you may want to check into getting a sweet set of training wheels.
TIRE SHOP There’s something about Discount Tire being locally owned and operated, and the franchise in general being America’s largest independent tire company, that makes you feel good, more patriotic even, when you shop there. Think of it this way: When you’re replacing those nasty, bald tires, maybe, just maybe, you are also fighting The Man. So, put on your Ché Guevara beret, and drive your car with pride! Staff pick Trepke’s Tire Town in Boulder, Longmont and Lafayette not only sells you tires, but their ASE-certified technicians will take care of all your automotive needs. Runner-up Big O Tires specializes in wheel alignment and axle repair.
TATTOO/PIERCING PARLOR The first thing that stands out about staff selection Bolder Ink is that their artists’ artwork is phenomenal. The lasting impression is that the staff is professional and courteous and the parlor is exceptionally clean–and sterility is priority one. And their work is bad-ass. Enchanted Ink is a legendary staple of the Pearl Street Mall. The shop is also known for quality artwork and attention to cleanliness and is this year’s runner-up. K & K Piercing–thankfully back in Boulder–holds the record for poking more college girls than anyone in the city. They poke guys, as well, and you don’t have to be in college. They received honorable mention for their friendly service, flawless work and exceptionally clean shop.
BANK Getting tired of your friends making fun of you for keeping all your hard-earned money in an old shoebox under your bed? If you are, maybe its time to stash your cash at 1st Bank, which has more than 100 locations in Colorado and gives away free lollipops. 1st Bank even has free online checking, so you can manage your fortune while looking cool sipping on a latté at the Trident. Runner-up in this category is U of C Federal Credit Union, a nonprofit financial cooperative that donates an amount equal to 2 percent of its annual net income to the Boulder community. Honorable mention goes to Wells Fargo, which has been expertly protecting people’s money since 1852.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Robb’s Music is a perennial winner in this category, taking both reader and staff honors again this year. Locally owned, Robb’s is home to skilled professionals who will share their love of music and their expertise to help you choose the right instrument, whether you’re a seasoned musician or a first-grader about to start trumpet lessons. HB Woodsong’s, our honorable mention again this year, offers a full range of acoustic instruments.
WAY TO PLAY WITH YOUR privates IN PUBLIC [Staff award] Last fall, the Denver Civic Theatre brought Puppetry of the Penis to town, a show that redefined the term physical comedy and offered exhibitionists the prospect of Freudian sublimation by auditioning local testes tricksters. As great as the show was, the greater victory was that the show was allowed to play here at all. When the show was first booked, the city of Denver attempted to block the show’s performance, saying the full-frontal nudity violated the terms of the Denver Civic Theatre’s liquor license. Accommodations were made, and the show, as they say, went on. But that was only the first victory for edgy art performances. Last month, the Colorado Senate shot down H.B. 1078, a dangerously broad obscenity bill that could have inhibited future performances of plays like Puppetry of the Penis. Now the show will be coming to the Boulder Theater this summer. Hats off to both the Denver Civic Theatre and the Colorado Senate.
ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE After a hard day traversing a 14er or bombing the backside, what could be better than an invigorating session of Shiatsu? For those short on dollars but still in need of a good rub, Boulder College of Massage Therapy is Boulder’s choice. Massages are reduced price but first rate. For natural women’s healthcare, Boulder’s choice is WiseWomanhood. Owner Terra Rafael has practiced holistic women’s health for more than 20 years, specializing in ayurvedic medicine, midwifery and maya abdominal massage. No matter how busy you think you are, there is always time to take care of yourself.
AUTO SERVICE/REPAIR When a brand new company wins Best of Boulder, it’s got to be good. Green Earth Auto Repair is a step into the automotive future, where coolant is recycled and used transmission fluid is used to heat the shop, while customers enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages. But our readers haven’t forgotten their roots. Hoshi Motors High Touch Service has been around for 20 years, specializing in Hondas, Acuras and Volvos. For Subaru service, Super Rupair, which stocks even high-performance parts, won an honorable mention from our poll of readers.
SKATE SHOP [Staff award] It’s guaranteed we’re going to love a skate shop that promotes companies that give back to the skating community, strives to become a hub for kids to hang out and get schooled in anti-corporate consumerism and installs friendly sidewalk rails to grind on. Meta Skateboards’ owner, Sam Hines, wants to direct you to the best skating brands simply because they are the best. He’s quick to warn you when "The Man" owns a skate company, or let you know if the company’s in it simply because its employees truly love skateboarding. Thanks to Hines’ belief in putting his community first, Meta Sketboards boasts a killer word-of-mouth popularity.
COMPUTER STORE CompUSA is a geek Nirvana, offering the latest in computer technology at prices the average person can afford. Its massive store carries all the major brands of computers, printers, copiers, faxes, phones and cell phones, in addition to more than 2,000 software titles, and a bounty of office supplies, accessories and gadgetry for those of you who take your work seriously. Computer Renaissance, the store of choice for Boulder Weekly staffers, offers new, used and built-to-order computers, laptops, upgrades, service and installation at affordable prices. The only independent Mac dealer in Boulder, Mac Shack, our runner-up, is a haven of repairs, products and advice for Mac owners.
CD/RECORD STORE–NEW AND/OR USED With a diverse selection of new and used CDs on the ground floor and an impressive and equally large house of vinyl upstairs, we’re not exactly sure what the term "cellar" has to do with Bart’s CD Cellar on Pearl Street. What we do know is that Bart’s was voted best CD/record store in the city by both Boulder Weekly readers and staff. Second Spin was voted runner-up, and Albums "On the Hill"–which also has an impressive collection of CDs and vinyl and has been home to many a historic in-store or sidewalk concert–received an honorable mention.
EDIBLE CELEBRATION OF THE AMERICAN DREAM [Staff award] Syrian immigrant Nabil Karkamaz always had bigger things in mind while he ran Shish Kabob restaurant in the old Crossroad’s mall food court, like completing his two advanced degrees in engineering. A resident of Boulder for 20 years, Karkamaz last year ran for a seat on the City Council but ended up sticking with what he knew best, great Mediterranean food (as well as a little engineering consulting on the side). Nabil’s Fine Mediterranean, his restaurant across from the Boulder county courthouse, preserved the Roman ambiance of the Italian restaurant that preceded it but mixed it up with some Middle Eastern flair. If you’re in the mood for some kabobs, gyros or simply want to get your shawarma on, head over to Nabil’s and pledge your empty stomach as well as your future vote.
DENTIST With so many world-class eateries around here, we Boulderites sure know how to give our chompers a run for their money. Luckily, we can reward our pearly whites every six months with a trip to the dental office of Robert Baxt and Andrew Sewell, which Boulder Weekly staff and readers agree is like a full-service spa and salon for your teeth. You won’t have any problem opening wide here, thanks to an exceptionally friendly, hands-on approach by dentists and dental hygienists alike, not to mention a cushy atmosphere complete with DVD screens, great tunes over the speakers and beautiful posters on the ceiling–for when you are horizontal in that great big comfy chair. Runner-up Mark Birnbach focuses on aesthetic and cosmetic dentistry at Boulder Smiles on 16th Street and is a dentist to be reckoned with–he’s thrice been awarded "Clinician of the Year" by the Boulder Dental Study Club. Plus he’s a swell guy.
PLACE TO WORKOUT Be honest. Isn’t it true that you’ve been intending to join a gym and try to shed some of that excess poundage and regain that lost strength, flexibility and stamina? If you answered "yes," we’ve got the place for you. For the fourth time in the past five years, Mountain’s Edge Fitness Center takes top BOB honors, after giving way last year to this year’s runner-up, Rally Sport. Don’t let its South Boulder location dissuade you. Mountain’s Edge is the best gym in town, whether you don’t know a dumbbell curl from a pec fly or are a dedicated gym rat. It’s worth the short drive, bike ride or run to get to a gym that has everything you need to get in shape and the staff to guide you toward whatever fitness goals you choose to set. Best of all, Mountain’s Edge has an atmosphere that’s supportive and certainly not intimidating. It’s more of a club than a gym. If you want to check it out, log on to www.mountainsedge.net and familiarize yourself with what Scott Carew and company have to offer.
PLACE TO GET COLORFUL [Staff award] OK, so you are not going to find an eraser shaped like Van Gogh’s missing ear here or any salespeople who look like they stumbled out of an Abercrombie and Fitch catalog. The folks at Guiry’s Color Center are the real deal. They’ll mix your paint, recommend the right kind of charcoal or anything else you might need in the way of art supplies and even help find the right kind of wallpaper. They are road-weary artists who know the difference between robin’s-egg blue and schizophrenia yellow. Pretty much anything you can think of in the world of art is available at Guiry’s without your having to deal with a snob in a beret.
CLOTHING STORE–WOMEN’S The women in Boulder do not mess around. When we say women’s clothing, they think lingerie. Christina’s Lingerie, to be precise. Since 1979 Christina’s is where the girls go to get slinky and sexy in silk and cashmere. Christina’s also carries bathing suits and formal wear. For those on a budget, Rags to Riches never fails to delight. The second-hand store carries top-notch items that look as good as the day they first came off the rack.
CLOTHING STORE– CHILDREN’S Boulder’s GapKids takes first place in kid’s clothing stores with a staff that knows the regular clientele on a first-name basis. In the back of the store, they’ve set up a place for kids to sit and color, just to give it that personal and child-friendly touch. (We at Boulder Weekly find this particularly touching, as we grew up playing with cinder blocks and sharp sticks.) Brave New Kids, offering child-sized "survival gear for the new millennium," came in close as the runner-up in this category, and Rocky Mountain Kids, offering kid’s clothes for tykes zero to 12–and complimentary animal crackers–gets an honorable mention.
NURTURE YOUR INNER CHILD [Staff award] Tired of the same old boring Freud? Is that Rorschach inkblot test bringing you down again? Is having a full-fledged mid-life crisis just too expensive these days? Perhaps it’s time to get in touch with your inner 12-year-old. Head on up to Boulder’s Gateway Park Fun Center, where you can live out your Caddyshack daydreams on their two 18-hole miniature golf courses. Or, finally live out your coveted Days of Thunder role-playing fantasy in public on the longest go-kart road track in the state of Colorado. Did you cry when you watched Field of Dreams? Do you want to relive the wasted youth you spent slouched in front of the TV by training for professional baseball in Boulder’s only batting cages? Take heart friend, you are not alone. Reduce your stress with some good old-fashioned fun and let your jaded inner child out to play.
CLOTHING STORE–MEN’S Hey, guys, if your idea of clothes shopping consists of waiting for the Budweiser girls to give out promotional T-shirts at the Sink, then it may be time to revamp your style. Active Endeavors has some casual polos by G-Star and Penguin and faded denim by Seven to replace the purple sweatpants you’ve been rocking since Clinton. Feeling cooler yet? Don’t stop there. The next block over, Starr’s Clothing and Shoes earned Boulder Weekly’s pick for their large selection of casual and rugged clothing. Urban Outfitters has some upscale duds to match your disheveled hair and tons of quirky accessories. And if you’re really looking to go hipster, the Buffalo Exchange has carefully staff-screened used and vintage clothing.
CLOTHING STORE–USED Are those Gucci shoes you’re wearing? Why, yes, they are! Where did you find such a lovely pair? At Rags to Riches, of course, and they only cost $32. You go, girl! When we need to turn our wardrobe from drab to fab without dropping our bank account from a mil to nil, we all head over to staff/reader winner Rags to Riches consignment store, a paradise lined with sequins, fur trim, frills and lace. Best of all, all sales are split 50/50 between the store and the garments’ original owners. Buffalo Exchange still turns quite a few heads thanks to its ultra-hip used duds for guys and gals. Savers offers not only used clothing, but household goods as well, all at a price even starving artists and college students can afford.
DAY SPA Everything’s better when dipped in chocolate, including you. At The Finishing Touch Salon and Day Spa, the favorite of both our readers and our staff, you can take a dip in a sweet cocoa body wrap. Miss the sea? Try the algae-infused ocean bath. Choose from an organic facial or warm stone massage. Mayan Riviera décor will relax the senses. Essentiels Spa is Boulder’s retreat by the "sea," a seascape décor complete with relaxing waterfall and a line of soothing sea-based products. Amore Spa’s individualized attention to pampering its clients has earned it an honorable mention.
EYECARE Tom’s Sportique knows that Boulder is the most active city in the nation and offers eyewear for those of us who climb, run, kayak, ski, paraglide, cave and ride our bikes. With certified optometrists on hand to assist you and an independent doctor of optometry to give you the most accurate prescription, Tom’s Sportique will have you back outdoors in no time. Runner-up Dr. Dennis DuPuis, of the Eyecare Center of Boulder, specializes in contact lenses and LASIK surgery co-management. And speaking of LASIK, Boulder Weekly doffs its hat to Dr. Morris Tilden at the Eye Care Center of Northern Colorado, a recognized expert in refractive surgery. Tilden has taken three members of Boulder Weekly’s management team from glasses to 20/20 vision using technology that seems to come straight from Star Trek. Ranked among the top 50 LASIK surgeons in the United States, Dr. Tilden offers CustomVue LASIK, the latest innovation in this field.
GROCERY STORE Shopping at Whole Foods, Boulder Weekly reader and staff fave, is more than a grocery run. It’s the closest you can come to a natural high without having to worry about Ashcroft and Co. Next time you stop in for your papaya and proscuitto, take a look around. Everyone is wandering the aisles with blissful expressions on their faces. It’s no wonder, thanks to an extraordinarily knowledgeable staff (how do they know so much about butter lettuce?), ample free samples and even an "only-in-Boulder" smoothie bar. It’s like throwing a big cocktail party with a few hundred of your friends. We’re happy to see Boulder Co-op Market get the nod this year, too. Founded on the highest ideals and operated by committed people, it is an asset to our community in so many ways and deserves all the accolades we can heap on it. And don’t turn your Boulder nose up at King Soopers–this super-sized grocery store still manages to provide the friendly service and diverse wares locals crave.
FLOWER SHOP Our readers love European Flower Shop, where beautiful blooms are displayed in European fashion on the floor (rather than in a cooler) for aromatic pleasure. The European Flower Shop works closely with local flower growers to strengthen our local economy and encourages Boulder residents to shop locally, as well. Bloemenhaüs, our runner-up, is known for their elegant custom floral arrangements. Or meander down to Sturtz and Copeland for a lovely stroll through a lush garden filled with exotic blooms and a bright green parrot named Lindy.
HAIR SALON Wish you were in Mexico? Head to Finishing Touch Salon and Day Spa, and you’ll feel like you’re sitting on the Mayan Riviera. Its experienced staff can help you trim your split ends or give you an entirely new look. While you’re there, you might as well get a massage or a facial. It’s the next best thing to a real vacation. Runner-up Wildflowers offers haircuts for men and women, as well as facials, massage and a line of environmentally friendly products. They’re open seven days a week, as well, giving us working stiffs a chance to be pampered. Making your hair look great is the primary focus of the experienced staff at Amore Spa, which also offers a full range of spa treatments.
HOME FURNISHING Good Use is a locally owned used furniture store like no other. Using recycled materials, Good Use salvages, refinishes and restores previously used home furnishings. The results are spectacular, the style a cheerful mix of function and whimsy. A 1960s retro refrigerator might sit right at home next to faux cowhide kitchen chairs, or cozied up to a lime-green butcher-block table. For a look inspired by Southeast Asian style, our readers like Indochine Treasures and Furnishings, where rich dark wood pairs with silky pillows for an elegant yet eclectic décor.
HARDWARE Was there ever any doubt? McGuckin is a Boulder institution and, with more than 200,000 items on its shelves, is one of the biggest hardware stores on the planet. The store’s staff–easy to spot in their green McGuckin vests–are happy to help you find exactly what you’re looking for or to order it for you. Home Depot, our runner-up again this year, carries everything you need to spruce up or repair your home and garden. RAD Table Mesa Hardware offers friendly service, helpful tips and great prices to its South Boulder customers–truly rad.
MASSAGE Alfred Westlake graduated with honors from the Boulder College of Massage Therapy and is renowned for his sense of touch and control. This has earned him first place in massage from Boulder Weekly readers and our staff. "I talk with my clients," says Westlake. "People who have been in pain for years won’t know why. I’m really good at explaining what is going on with them and on client education." Clients come to see Westlake for everything from injuries and relaxation to using his massage as an adjunct to their psychotherapy. Forest Kelly is the runner-up in this category for his intuitive massage techniques.
NATURAL FOODS STORE These days everywhere you look you’ll find products and foods of the free-range, grain-fed, trauma-free variety. Whole Foods, Boulder Weekly reader and staff winner for best natural food store, started this trend when people still thought buying organic products was weird. Luckily, Whole Foods still holds true to its name, offering an incredible international selection of organic produce, a bulk aisle and a variety of cleaning products that will keep your abode clean without dirtying up the environment. It’s no wonder Boulder Co-op Market gets runner-up, since it’s hard to get more natural than getting your food straight from a local organic farmer. And Wild Oats still delivers goodness the best way possible: no preservatives, no artificial colors and no cruelty to animals.
OUTDOOR GEAR Boulderites like their toys, and we’re not referring to Furbies and Barbie Dolls. We’re referring to Swiss Army knives, hydration packs, Primus stoves and GPS units. Since that’s the case, best outdoor gear store Recreational Equipment, Inc. is by far our grown-up Toys R Us. Now 2 years old, the 18,000-square-foot store offers a huge amount of outdoor gear at competitive prices, a member discount program and a super-knowledgeable staff kept at the top of their game thanks to regular in-house training programs, service projects and company trips. Now we at Boulder Weekly are traditionalists; we do our outdoor shopping at staff pick Neptune Mountaineering shop/climbing museum, which has been in the business since before "extreme" meant something positive. If you’re looking for a huge selection of camping equipment, not to mention a disarmed hand grenade or two, stop by runner-up Boulder Army Store on Pearl Street.
PLACE TO PUT UP OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS Welcome to the Hotel Boulderado, Boulder Weekly reader and staff selection for best place to put up out-of-town guests. Any time of year, you can find the luckiest Boulder visitors here. For 96 years the Boulderado has played host to rock stars, politicians and your great-aunt Tilly. The Boulderado now offers free high-speed wireless Internet access, as well as interactive murder-mystery dinner shows. Located close to the University of Colorado campus, the Boulder Marriott is our runner-up. Although they may not be able to spell it or know what it means, your out-of-town guests will thank you for putting them up in the historic cabins at Chautauqua, this year’s honorable mention.
OIL CHANGE Grease Monkey won readers’ first place because their service is fast and friendly, making an oil change something you can do for your car while you’re on your lunch break. The Grease Monkey franchise is one of the largest of its kind that is not owned by a major oil company, giving them the advantage of being able to focus on their customer’s needs and not on a specific oil brand. The staff pick goes to Green Earth Auto Repair, which goes above and beyond by making their business a positive experience not only for consumers but also for the environment. They offer drivers free drinks and snacks–and a clear conscience. Runner-up in the oil-change category is Jiffy Lube.
SKI/SNOWBOARD SHOP Even the smallest child in Boulder is a serious airdog. When Colorado’s sweet powder falls, this town empties in a mass 4x4 exodus west to the mountains. It’s time to ride! If you need gear (and we all do) head to Boulder Ski Deals first. They carry top-of-the-line clothing and equipment that’s the epitome of style. The friendly staff is as eager to help newbies as old-timers, so take out-of-towners there to rent equipment before you hit the slopes. Christy Sports gets runner-up for their great selection and quality service.
STEREO/ELECTRONICS STORE If you’re the type of person who demands the newest in electronics gear from flat screens to digital cameras, SoundTrack is your playground. With the newest in brand-name technology, home theater equipment and portable electronics, SoundTrack is a place where seemingly normal people can be found entertaining their inner geek. Just don’t drool on the keyboards, OK? Circuit City is also a prime place for DVDs and CDs. Then there’s ListenUp, the Boulder Weekly’s fav and staff pick, which can make your wildest home entertainment dreams come to life.
PLACE TO IMITATE IMELDA MARCOS [Staff AWARD] The Internet isn’t the only stomping ground for those obsessed with the sensual qualities of the foot. At Frolic, toe-tappers can find fashionable yet affordable shoes and accessories for all their feminine feet-covering needs. Those five little piggies must be squealing for shoes by 9 West, Franco Sarto, BCB Girls and more. Frolic also has many accessories like handbags, wallets, jewelry, belts, scarves, hats and mittens to bring attention back to your other fine features.
TRAVEL AGENCY Why in the heck would anyone in Boulder want to leave town? Well, since most Boulderites are transplants, the only reason we can imagine is to visit family. Boulder Weekly readers voted Travel Ease as the best travel agency in Boulder. Runner-up to Travel Ease is James Travel Points, which specializes in Belize and Costa Rica but can put you or your business on a flight to anyplace on the planet. STA Travel, which is reportedly the largest travel agency for students and young people in the world, received an honorable mention.
USED TREASURES If you ever wondered what happened to that really ugly dresser your aunt had in her parlor, you might be surprised to find it had a face-lift and is now for sale at reader and staff pick Good Use. The fine folks at Good Use take furniture that has outlived its usefulness (or fashionability) and repaint, resurface and redo it to make fun and funky house fittings. Runner-up Feather Thy Nest is a bit like your grandmother’s attic–if your grandmother had the biggest selection of funky stuff this side of the Mississippi. Honorable mention Buffalo Exchange takes only what’s hot and hip, so you can be sure you’re well outfitted if you shop there.
VIDEO STORE You didn’t have to be psychic to know Video Station would take top honors among both readers and staff in this category. A locally owned business, Video Station carries the largest collection of celluloid–from Disney fluff to the most unintelligible Swedish flick–this side of Bollywood. But its staff is surely the secret to the store’s success. Unlike the hard-working young folks at the local McVideo chain, the staff at Video Station are grownups who love films and know so much about them that they can likely figure out what you want to watch before you do. With friendly service and a store on every corner, Blockbuster is again our runner-up.
FUTURE Corporate Criminals [Staff award] With a recent string of wacky political events like the Affirmative Action Bake Sale, the CU College Republicans have obtained the kind of overnight publicity usually slated for radical eco-feminist groups or Canadian improv troops. Pissing off liberals is productive and fun is the thinking of Chairman Brad Jones who was once impeached from student government but now may be running for most hated person on campus. By brandishing T-shirts that say "Join us now or work for us later," the CU Republicans have clearly risen to the kind of humor that will get lots of future chortles in corporate boardrooms across America–where "screw the poor" is the punch-line, as well as company policy. Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com |
Rumor has it there’s a new Boulder. Depending on whom you ask, Lyons or Fort Collins or any number of little mountain towns is the "new Boulder"–an unsullied version of what our town used to be 20 years ago. 