Boulder Weekly | Student Guide '05

Student Guide '05

Student Guide '05 sections
LIFESTYLE
ENTERTAINMENT

LIFESTYLE
A-to-Z Guide to Boulder
How to talk like a native
by Pamela White (Editorial@boulderweekly.com)

A — Alcohol—See "booze."

Alferd Packer—Colorado's famous cannibal headed into the snowy San Juan mountains in January 1874 with five other men to prospect for gold and emerged in April alone and looking fit. His companions, who'd been murdered and partly eaten, were later found near a fork in the Gunnison River at a place now called Dead Man's Gulch not far from Lake City. Packer, who was convicted first of murder and then, when that sentence was overturned on a technicality, of voluntary manslaughter, spent 16 years in prison before being released due to bad health. He told several versions of his tale over the years, admitting that he'd eaten bits and pieces of his companions but denying he'd killed them for food. The Alferd Packer Grill in the University Memorial Center is named in honor of this famous man-eater.

Activism—Boulder isn't referred to as the People's Republic for nothing. The city's residents feel closely connected with the rest of the world and are involved in issues that span the globe, from ending the Chinese occupation of Tibet to preventing the extraction of fossil fuels on the traditional lands of the Gwich'in in Alaska. As a result, Boulder's City Council has at various times crafted its own foreign policy, boycotting products from Burma for example. Some locals say City Council should focus on problems closer to home—like Boulder's economy. But as any activist worth his or her time in lockdown will tell you, in a globalized world, everything is a local issue.

B — Booze—Although the U.S. government can put you behind the wheel of an armored vehicle and ask you to die for your country when you're 18, it won't allow you to drink booze. Colorado raised its drinking age to 21 in the '80s after federal bullies threatened to withdraw highway dollars. At first the state enforced this new drinking age with a kind of "don't ask, don't tell" attitude. But after a young CU student was killed in a drunk-driving accident on Flagstaff Mountain, the city police and the university began to crack down seriously on underage drinking.

This resulted in building tensions between CU students and police, turning the Hill into a tense place to be on a Friday night. The conflict came to a head in May 1997, when police in riot gear clashed with couch-burning students in three nights of mayhem. A couple of police officers were seriously injured by rock-throwing idiots. Property was damaged, both residential and retail, and some students found themselves in jail instead of in college.

Though CU and the city have tried to work to ease the tension and create a booze policy that doesn't result in rioting, the situation is still ridiculous and inherently unjust. Anyone old enough to go to war is old enough to drink a beer. The fact that students died of alcohol poisoning both at CU and at Colorado State University last year only proves that prohibition doesn't work. Instead it creates an environment in which young people see drinking as a form of excitement and rebellion—and sometimes do tragically stupid things. (See also "riots.")

C — Chakra—You didn't know it, but you have several of these all along your body. Take time while you're in Boulder to get them scrubbed, lubed and realigned. (See also "New Age.")

Chautauqua Park and Auditorium—Sure it's a great place to walk your dog and sunbathe, but Chautauqua Park also happens to be one of the more historically significant places in the city. Created by an alliance of Texas teachers and Boulder civil leaders, Chautauqua was founded on July 14, 1898, as part of the Chautauqua movement—an effort to bring communities together for education and cultural activities during the summer—that was sweeping the nation. Boulder's Chautauqua is one of only three remaining in the United States. The Auditorium, which is on the National Register of Historical Places and still hosts concerts and other events, and the Dining Hall, which offers amazing meals year round, were built in 1898. And, hey, it's spelled AU-AU-UA. Easy, right?

Chief Niwot—Born in the 1820s, he became a chief of the Southern Arapaho nation when whites first came to Boulder Valley. His name means "Left-Handed." He and his people maintained a camp along Boulder Creek, hunting and fishing in the area and using Valmont Butte for sacred ceremonies. Chief Niwot led his people through one of the most troubled times in their history, reluctantly taking them from their ancestral home along Boulder Creek north in a vain effort to protect his people from violence. In 1860, a group of white men attacked Niwot's village while he and most of the adult men were away hunting, raping the women.

With game decreasing, Niwot's people began to starve. November 1864 found them encamped under an American flag and a white flag of peace along Sand Creek, where they had been promised safety and provisions by U.S. troops. What they got instead was the Sand Creek Massacre, led by Col. John Chivington, whose 550 men, many of whom were from Boulder, butchered mostly women, children and old men, leaving some 163 dead.

Couch—An item of furniture commonly used for sitting and sleeping upon, oftentimes used to start large bonfires on the Hill. The popularity of couch-burning as a centerpiece of Hill riots resulted in City Council banning indoor furniture from being placed outdoors. No couches allowed on porches. This has had the unintended consequence of fewer people being able to rent their porches to students. Who wants to sleep on a metal bench?

D — Devil's Thumb—A large pillar of stone that juts out from the mountains south of town, it looks much more like, well, the Devil's dong than his thumb. Leave it to Mother Nature to be obscene.

Dildos—Boulder is often in the national spotlight, and it's usually a lot of fun. A few years back, the city's lefty librarian decided to take down the American flag. Though she claimed it was too large to hang in the place it was hanging, conservatives accused her of removing it as an anti-war statement. At about the same time, she allowed artist Susanne Walker to display her latest work—ceramic dildos with hooks through them hanging from a clothesline and titled "Hang 'Em Out to Dry." Walker's work was targeted toward Domestic Violence Awareness Week.

Bob Rowan, a local flag-waving redneck stole the display, calling himself El Dildo Bandito. He later returned the phalluses, but drew a suspended sentence on a misdemeanor charge for taking them. Of course, he also got lots of airtime on right-wing talk shows. But nothing he or his talk-show hosts could say can change this fact: In Boulder, there are lots of people who'd rather be caught waving a dildo than a flag.

Dogs—At some point, there will likely be more dogs in Boulder than people. Boulderites love their dogs and take them everywhere. Everywhere. Restaurants. Yoga class. Work. Politically savvy Boulder residents know that only two political action organizations have any real pull in this town: the Sierra Club and FIDOS, aka Friends Interested in Dogs and Open Space. Boulder resident Patrick Murphy gained national acclaim for mapping piles of dog shit using state-of-the art satellite technology. We have bakeries for dogs, and dog washes galore. If only Boulderites were as devoted to picking up after their pampered pooches as they are to the critters themselves. (See also "pet guardians.")

Doobie—See "marijuana."

E — Environmentalism—Green is Boulder's favorite color. Everyone claims to love the environment and to want to protect it. Here it's not unusual for people to introduce themselves as environmentalists, as if it's a profession. And for some people it is—or at least it's a lifestyle. In Boulder, environmentalism encompasses everything from what you eat to what kind of clothes you wear to what you put in your gas tank—natural gas, biodiesel, gasoline—and whether you use gas-fueled transportation in the first place. And then there are enviro-hypocrites—the folks who ride their bikes to buy organic greens, while parking their gas-guzzling SUVs at home.

F — 420—Not four-hundred-and-twenty, stupid. It's four-twenty. Though there are lots of urban legends about the origin of this term, April 20 has become a national day of protest for people who want to object to the criminalization of marijuana. Here in Boulder, it's generally celebrated by massive pot smoking on Farrand Field. Although the police have tried to discourage this activity—most recently this year—it's clear they're fighting a losing battle.

Fatty—See "marijuana"

Flatirons—Most of the time, people referring to "the Flatirons" are talking about the five enormous slabs of red rock numbered one through five moving right to left across Green Mountain.

The Third Flatiron, known for the deadly rappel off the back, sports the remnants of decades-old graffiti, the result of a clever CU student who decided to paint a 100-foot-high "CU" on the rock. Over the years, the paint was refreshed, though it has been tampered with, turning into an "OU" one night before a big game against Oklahoma. Yes, the city has tried to remove it, and while it's much harder to spot than it was in the '60s and '70s, when it was blatant, bright and white, the city's efforts have resulted in a semi-permanent rock tattoo.

The Third is also known for the wacky ways in which people have climbed it—nude, on roller skates, feet only. No kidding.

Foothills—See "mountains."

G — Ganja—See "marijuana"

GLBTQ—Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer and Questioning. Though sometimes strung together in a different order, this is how you'll most often see it in Boulder. Though Colorado is the Hate State—the state in which voters passed Amendment 2, prohibiting laws that protect GLBTQ people from discrimination—Boulder is an island of openness and affirmation compared to much of the rest of this redneck state. One of a handful of cities in Colorado that has an anti-discrimination law to protect GLBTQ people, Boulder fought to defeat Amendment 2, and eventually it was struck down.

H — Hank Brown—Tough guy, former war hero, CPA, lawyer, former U.S. Senator, new president of the University of Colorado.

Herb—See "marijuana."

Hill, The—Don't call it "University Hill," unless you're a CU bureaucrat, a member of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, or sit on City Council. It's the part of town immediately west of campus and the off-campus hangout for much of the city's student population. With a host of hip shops and eateries, it's a great place to be, especially late at night.

But the Hill is also home to some wealthy people, who find themselves upset when their young, student neighbors park junky cars on the street, hold late-night parties and puke on the lawn. They may be wealthy, but obviously they're not smart. What do you expect when you move into a student neighborhood?

Hippie—True hippies are a dying breed, but there are still a few left in Boulder. You'll be able to tell their hippie authenticity by their smell, which should reek of dirty feet and B.O., masked by the scent of patchouli. These true hippies are also activists (See "activists"), don't eat anything that casts a shadow and partake in smoking ganja (See "marijuana"). Don't be confused by the rich, wannabe hippies who buy their ponchos at Nordstrom's (See "Trustafarian").

I — IGMEEL—I Got Mine, Everybody Else Leave. This is the attitude of some people who manage to build mansions on beautiful mountain property—and then spend the rest of their natural lives trying to prevent anyone else from being able to do the same. They favor growth restrictions, zoning changes and heavy land-use regulation, but only after they've built their dream homes. Rather than saying, "I'm selfish and want to look 360 degrees around my property and see no signs of other human beings," they fall back on environmental arguments, claiming to want to preserve the landscape. Ignore them. Mock them. They deserve it.

J — Joint—See "marijuana."

JonBenet—What is your obsession?

K — Ku Klux Klan—Tomas Robb came to Boulder in 1994 to host a Klan rally in what he called one of his favorite cities in the United States. His attraction? Demographically, we're almost 90 percent white. Robb congratulated Boulder for decades of exclusionary planning practices (cloaked as environmentalism) that have kept ethnic minorities away.

But that's not the city's only connection with the KKK. Colorado was once a Klan stronghold. Even the governor had sworn allegiance to the Klan. In 1922, members of the KKK staged a parade down Pearl Street in Boulder, where it had a local chapter, and then set fire to a cross on the summit of Flagstaff Mountain.

L — Land use—There's the Blue Line. There's the Danish Plan. There's open space. All of it works together to prevent urban sprawl, to protect everyone's view of the mountains and to make certain that view is of mountains and not mountain homes. As a result, we have few high buildings to block our view, few houses on the Foothills to look at and a nice barrier between us and the other communities in Boulder County. But the city's land-use policies are also why you're paying $800 for a room in that shack you share with four assholes.

M — Marijuana—It's not addictive like tobacco. It's much less dangerous than alcohol. And it has true medicinal value. But unlike tobacco and alcohol, it's still illegal. Worse, it's the Bush administration's No. 1 priority when it comes to the War on Some Drugs. Never mind that the worst thing a person can do after a few bong hits its eat an entire bag of Twizzlers, the Bush administration thinks pot is a bigger problem than methamphetamine or crack cocaine. But here in Boulder, pot is king. Boulder came in No. 2 in a nationwide survey on marijuana use, second only to the city of Boston. While getting caught with dope as a college student means the end to your financial aid, Boulder residents consume a lot of it. While we at the B-dub don't advocate drug use—it's illegal!—we are hoping those of you who lied when the survey was conducted will tell the truth next year. We're No. 1!

Mountains—Here's the rule: Take nothing but photos, and leave nothing but footprints. That means no flower picking. No collecting bugs or butterflies. No bringing fossils or pinecones home with you. And don't leave your trash, leftover food or dog's crap behind.

N — "Native" bumper sticker—You see them all over the place—bumper stickers that look like Colorado's green mountain license plate and say "Native." Don't feel bad if you can't sport one of these. The only people who can truly claim Native status are the tribes who once called this area home—the Plains Nations and the Ute. (See "Chief Niwot.")

New Age— 1) A holistic spiritual approach to life that integrates the teachings of many spiritual traditions and natural health therapies, unifying mind, body and spirit. 2) A deeply centered and spiritual approach to narcissism. It really is all about you.

Niwot's Curse—When white men first came to Boulder in 1858, they were looking for gold. What they found instead were Southern Arapaho warriors under Chief Niwot who wanted them to leave. When they refused, Chief Niwot supposedly uttered this curse: "People seeing the beauty of this valley will want to stay, and their staying will be the undoing of its beauty." (See also "open space.")

O — Open Space—Environmentally minded Boulderites many years ago opted to tax themselves to purchase as much property surrounding the city as possible in hopes of creating a barrier against urban sprawl, but also to preserve the environment and create opportunities for recreation. Although Boulder residents love open space, they don't all agree on how it should be used. Some want it opened for recreation of all kinds—dog-walking, hiking, jogging, mountain biking, horseback riding. They view any attempt to close off parts of open space as cause to panic.

But city officials are determined to find some kind of balance on the issue by limiting use when necessary. They do this not because they're cruel fascists, but because the land can take only so much when more than 1 million people visit our trails each year. (See also "Niwot's Curse.")

"Only in Boulder"—Yeah, some weird and wonderful stuff happens in this town. But don't walk around saying this all the damn time. You'll sound like you're fresh out of Topeka.

P — Pet guardians—Boulder's residents are nothing if not kind-hearted and well intentioned. And so it is that in the city of Boulder, people are not pet "owners," but rather pet "guardians." The change, adopted by City Council a few years back, is intended to drive home to city residents the responsibility they have in caring for the animals they bring home.

People's Republic—A nickname given to and proudly adopted by Boulder. Also the name of a popular fiction feature in Boulder Weekly written by local author Rob Sheely. (See also "activism.")

Pot—See "marijuana."

Prairie dogs—Prairie dogs are a source of great contention in this town. Viewed by some as adorable animals whose continued survival is essential for the health of our environment and by others as nuisance animals, they take up more city government time and money than issues like racism.

Q — Queer— See "GLBTQ."

R — Rape—Don't let Boulder's friendly atmosphere lull you into a false sense of safety. It can be dangerous to walk the streets late at night/early in the morning, and it's definitely not a good idea to drink heavily, even around people you think you know. Remember that most rapes are acquaintance rape and that rapists rarely go around with the words "violent pig" tattooed into their foreheads. Contact Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA) for more information on how you can keep yourself safe or for ways to volunteer to help the victims of this unforgivable crime, 303-443-0400. MESA's 24-hour hotline number is 303-443-7300.

Reefer—See "marijuana."

Riot—The history of rioting on the Hill dates back at least to the Vietnam War, when students on several occasions burned and bashed and broke stuff. Colorado Bookstore used to have floor-to-ceiling windows on the side facing Broadway. Thanks to rioting in the early '70s, the store is now made of concrete. Although the '80s were fairly quiet, the '90s saw several riots, sparked by Halloween, Super Bowl wins, and the Rodney King beating in LA. Best known today are perhaps the May 1997 Beer Riots—three days of violence caused by the police crackdown on underage drinking. The most recent riots occurred Halloween Weekend 2004, when police broke up a student party and then took on the partiers—and innocent bystanders—in the streets. Word to the wise: If people start tipping cars and lighting dumpsters on fire, get the hell out of there.

S — Smart—Boulder's populace is the most educated per capita in the nation. Here, doctorates are a dime a dozen. Master's degree? How very passé. Bachelor's? Don't embarrass yourself by bragging about it. To what do we owe our hyper-educated status? It may have something to do with the University of Colorado sitting right next to the mountains. Smart people come here to get an education or to teach, take one look at the Flatirons and decide to stay. It might also have something to do with social privilege. (See also "white folks," "Niwot's Curse")

Spliff—See "marijuana"

T — Trustafarian—Rich hippies. Sounds like an oxymoron, but in Boulder such people are just part of the scenery. Hey, living a life free of materialism can cost a lot of money. Has anyone seen the price of beads and Birkenstocks lately? Other accessories, such as blown glass pipes, gauzy tie-dyed gowns, funky hats, minivans and illicit drugs, are likewise expensive.

U — University Hill—See "Hill, The"

University of Colorado—Scandal-prone CU is the driving force behind Boulder's economy. It's also one of the reasons our city is such a great place to live, offering cultural events, concerts and performances of all kinds. And no matter what it says in the PR packet they gave you, it's primarily a party school.

V — Valmont Butte—Follow Valmont Road east. When you reach the edge of town near the recycling and garbage facilities, you'll see a basalt dike made when the earth split millions of years ago releasing molten rock. Sacred to Plain Indians and used to this day in prayer and ceremony, the Butte might soon become the site of a biosolids composting facility—i.e., a place where your shit is turned into fertilizer. Naturally, American Indians, who feel they've been crapped on enough, aren't fond of this idea and have been battling for years to preserve the cultural resources housed on and around the Butte.

W — White folks—This is what Boulder is made up of predominantly. It didn't used to be this way. White folks are relative newcomers in the history of this valley, having driven out the Cheyenne and Arapaho and other Indigenous people who called the area home. And although Boulder is home to Latinos, Asians, Indians and African-Americans, one rarely hears their concerns being voiced publicly. This sucks and needs to change.

X — Xenophobia—A fear of or contempt for that which is foreign. In Boulder, this manifests itself primarily as a fear of poor people and Texans.

Y — Yuppie—These young urban professionals spend a mint to live a simple, gracefully accessorized life—the right stereo, the right plasma screen TV, the right BMW, the right clothes, the right massage therapist. In Boulder, they're ubiquitous. (You're a college student; use your dictionary.)

Z — Zip Code man—Gotham City had Batman, and Boulder has the Zip Code Man. On Pearl Street Mall, one finds a plethora of buskers and musicians. Among the more famous and astounding performers is the Zip Code Man. He asks perfect strangers from all over the country what their zip codes are, and without looking it up he tells them what city or even the approximate neighborhood they're from.

Buffalo sex
Back-to-school, back-to-bed
by Paul Joannides

The Weekly has asked me to mention a few things about sex that might be helpful for new and returning students. Best wishes with the new school year!

Masturbation when you have a roommate:

This is usually easier for females, unless you're the kind of girl who can't get there without firing up a 30-amp vibrator or humping her teddy bear until his stuffing starts to explode. A guy, on the other hand, has to wait until his roommate is making sleeping noises. This is not as easy as it sounds, since his roommate is probably waiting for him to make sleeping noises as well. (The finger might not be mightier than the fist, but it is quieter.)

Students also tend to masturbate when their roommate is at class. Since people often find it more embarrassing to be walked in on while they are masturbating than when they are having sex with a partner, it is good form to knock and fumble a moment with your keys if you are coming back to your room early.

As for what boy Buffaloes do with the sticky stuff once the deed is done, we once did a survey. It seems that the shower drains in Williams Village and Kittredge are no stranger to copious amounts of CU guy-splooge. Tissues and toilet paper remain the usual standbys, although socks came in a strong second. Also, if you are new to shower wanking, it's better to use hair conditioner as lube than soap, although when the conditioner claims that it adds volume, I don't think that leaving it on your penis is what they had in mind.

Drinking and date rape:

In a more perfect Boulder, a girl could go anywhere and get absolutely polluted and not have to worry about waking up the next morning wondering where her panties are. Like it or not, if you drink and party or date, you are inviting bad things to happen. I'd venture to guess that the vast majority of date rapes got their start when a girl had a beer at a party, club, concert or wherever. And guys, even if she's the one who brought the alcohol, pleaded with you to join her, and had her lips around your penis before you could say "Jack Daniels," you are the one who will be facing rape charges if she is so inclined to file them. I'm talking possible felony charges if she wakes up the next morning and decides it wasn't consensual sex, and if you want to know how well college boys do in crowded jail cells, feel free to ask my wife who is a criminal defense attorney.

Talking about it:

I just received a letter from a guy who said he used to think he was pretty good in bed until he met a woman who set him straight and taught him all sorts of things he didn't know. There is plenty we can all learn about sex, and a fun way is to learn it together. Some of the best advice I can give is to not even bother staining the sheets unless you and your partner are willing to talk to each other about what feels good sexually and what doesn't. Evolving a way of talking to each other about sex is one of the more important and useful things a couple can do. It's also helpful to remember that in our culture we are not taught to explore our own bodies. In having sex with a partner, we are often learning about our own sexual makeup. This means we might not know what to say when a partner asks "Does this feel good?" or "How do you want me to do it?" Rather than ignoring the question or giving a half-assed answer, why not say "I'm not sure. I'll have to learn with you!"

Birth control and STIs:

In the next week or two, I'll do my entire Boulder Weekly "Getting It On" column on the latest in birth control. In the meantime, please be sure to have plenty of condoms and lube handy, and feel free to read the free chapter on birth control on the website for The Guide To Getting It On at www.goofyfootpress.com. Hopefully, you've already visited Planned Parenthood or a health-care provider to find what methods of contraception and STI prevention are best for you.

Paul Joannides is the author of our weekly column on sex, "Getting It On." He is also the author of the award-winning book on sex, Guide To Getting It On!

Stay sexy, stay healthy

Area resources for sexual health

by Grace Hood

Sex. For some it's a great unknown, while others consider it a regular pastime. Regardless of your knowledge level, there are plenty of Boulder clinics that can meet your needs. The closest resource for students is Wardenburg Health Center (303-492-5432). The center offers a full range of birth control options like the pill, depo provera and the vaginal contraception ring. Confidential STI and HIV tests are available for students and they're free for those who have University of Colorado insurance. Anonymous testing is also an option; it just requires a bit of creativity.

"We have tested Cher and Britney Spears," says Joanna Fleming, coordinator of the Sexual Health Education Program. "So students can use whatever name they want to make it anonymous."

While Fleming coordinates sexual education training for new students, she's also behind the condom potpourri baskets that you may have seen hanging around dorms, Greek houses, student group offices and Wardenburg.

If you've had unprotected sex and are concerned about pregnancy, Wardenburg also offers emergency contraception, which women can use up to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse.

Also offering emergency contraception and a medication option for abortion is Boulder Planned Parenthood Clinic (303-447-1040). Planned Parenthood offers same-day appointments and hormonal birth control prescriptions without an exam. The clinic also has a full range of STI testing—including syphilis, herpes and hepatitis.

Those without health insurance or limited funds will want to consider Boulder Valley Women's Health Center (303-442-5160), which offers contraception, emergency contraception, STI testing and annual exams on a payment scale that varies depending on income. Should someone have an abnormal pap smear, Women's Health also offers follow-up diagnostic screening on a sliding scale. For abortion medication and surgical procedures, Women's Health has the Reproductive Equality Fund, which offers a percentage of funding to women who opt for this procedure but can't afford it.

From neophytes to old-hands, every student runs into unanswered questions about sex or maybe just needs a pointer to the right form of birth control. In the end, finding the right answers and learning how to take care of yourself is all part of the college experience.

No strings attached
Thanks to these Boulder cafes, you'll never have to pay for wireless access again
photos and story by Grace Hood

For any student, free Internet access is a right, not a privilege. While there are still some coffee shops that idiotically charge for wireless access (hello, Starbucks!), Boulder has plenty of cafes that can get you connected for free. Because all of the following destinations have stellar coffee and treats, we offer the information you'll want to consider when choosing your coffee shop hangout—ambiance, clientele and, of course, available forms of procrastination.

The Trident
940 Pearl St., 303-443-3133
Centrally located on Pearl Street, the Trident café boasts street-side and backyard patio seating— in addition to plenty of indoor tables. The high ceilings, wood floors and furniture give the shop a sophisticated ambiance, while the clientele exudes a pseudo-intellectual vibe. For all you used-book lovers out there, the Trident is connected to a new and used bookstore that has plenty of good reads—a perfect interlude between study sessions for your Spanish final.

Amante Coffee
1035 Walnut St., 303-546-9999
4580 Broadway Ste. A, 303-448-9999
If you want to catch a game of soccer while cranking out your Astronomy 101 paper, Amante is your cafe. With a big screen TV, sidewalk seating and sleek contemporary design, Amante has a Euro-chic feel—perfect for all you recently departed France/Spain study-abroad students. And if it's a night out on the town that you're looking for, don't forget about Amante. The cafe has a liquor license and boasts fun, pre-party drinks like the Shottino. Even if you're not headed out to paint the town red, don't forget to try Amante's coffee/liquor drinks. Who knows, a shot of hard-liquor might be the ticket to your most productive study session ever.

Caffe Sole
637R S. Broadway, 303-499-2985
Those who call South Boulder home will want to check out Caffe Sole. With plentiful indoor and outdoor seating, this cafe has one of the most diverse coffee shop crowds in Boulder. Those who want to hang with the crowd can chill in the main space, while students looking for solace can retreat to the less-populated side room for peace and quiet. And don't forget about Caffe Sole on Fridays and Saturdays if you're looking to catch some acoustic music. The shop doubles as a venue and hosts local musicians.

Jet's Espressoria
2116 Pearl St., 303-247-0124
Perhaps the only downtown Boulder coffee shop with guaranteed parking, Jet's Espressoria has a laid-back vibe and a huge backdoor patio. Located near several Boulder architecture firms, Espressoria draws hip artists as well as laid-back students. The vintage '50s décor gives Espressoria a fun yet comfy feel and the scrumptious chocolate brownies are not to be missed!

Bookends Cafe
1115 Pearl St., 303-440-6699
If you're looking for a central downtown cafe, Bookends is your place. Studying at Bookends can be as quiet or social as you want it to be, thanks to the great mix of students and urban professionals. And with patio seating directly on the Pearl Street Mall, Bookends boasts great people watching, and it's connected to the Boulder Book Store—great options for those students in need of a study break.

Vic's
2680 Broadway, 303-440-8209
3305 30th St., 303-440-2918
Anyone who's spent time at Vic's knows that it's the place to see and be seen. While it's not always the quietest place to study, the shop has other advantages that always make up for the noise—i.e., good jazz, hot dudes and gals to share tables with and close proximity to eateries like Breadworks and Moe's Bagels. Although you might not finish your math homework at Vic's, you'll probably make a friend or two. And in the end, isn't socializing what college is really about?

Five steps to a good shave
Grooming for the man's man
by Daniel Boniface

Men have so many options these days: Goatee, muttonchops, Super Troopers mustache, full-on Hemingway beard, handlebar mustachios or even a completely shorn baby face. And with commercials for razors that lift and cut stubble, or blades that flex to fit your face, all the while leaving the skin soft and smooth, what's a man to do? To shave or not to shave, that is the question.

And once a man has the answer to that eternal question, he has to figure out whether he wants a close shave, or a comfortable shave, all too often sacrificing one for the other. But, luckily, it doesn't have to be that way. I searched high and low to bring the man's man of Boulder the best shave in town—close and comfortable.

Finding a barbershop that offers a straight razor shave is rare in recent times. But luckily for Boulderites, the Buff's Barbershop at 1087 13th St. on the Hill still offers this quaint service for the reasonable price of $12, and it still comes with all the old-world charm you'd expect—and hey, you might even learn a thing or two about shaving.

Step 1: Prepare the skin

I take a seat in the comfy barber chair, relaxing as barber Ben Amay fully reclines my seat. Just when I think I can't be anymore relaxed, he lays a hot towel on my face to help soften my unkempt beard, open the pores and clean the skin.

It's an important step, and one that many people neglect—but not the folks at Buff's Barbershop. It's always wise to shave after or during a shower and never before if you're shaving at home. Next, he gets out the electric clippers and gives me a preliminary trim to cut the longer whiskers and get me ready for the straight razor.

Step 2: Lather up

Amaya puts the hot towel on my face once more to open the pores. After removing it, he lathers my face with warm shaving cream. This also helps keep the pores open, producing a closer and more comfortable shave. The cream is the perfect temperature, and I'm totally relaxed and at ease. It's important to use hot water while shaving to keep the pores open throughout the shave.

Step 3: Shave

I begin to realize just how close a shave can be as Amaya begins whittling away my stubble with his straight razor. He works slowly and confidently—two very important characteristics for a good shave because you must trust the person with the blade. Amaya's confidence helps put me at ease, and I lean back and enjoy the royal treatment. He shaves with the grain, then re-lathers in spots and shaves against the grain, giving me a totally close shave.

Step 4: Treat the skin

According to Mary Bollinger, owner of the Buffs Barbershop, their skin-treatment technique started one blistering-hot summer afternoon many years ago. A man had just received a straight razor shave, and she wanted to help him cool off, so she wet a towel in ice water and put it on his face. The man said it was the most refreshing thing he'd ever experienced, and so she says they've made it their tradition ever since. And it makes good sense: The ice-cold water helps close the pores, preventing most dirt or toxins from entering, and it cleans off dead skin cells, loose stubble and excess shaving cream as well.

Step 5: Moisturize

The last step to the perfect shave is moisturizing the skin. This step is especially important in Colorado where the high altitude can dry skin out quickly. Most alcohol-based aftershaves can dry out the skin even more, so if you use one, you'll want to combine it with a moisturizing lotion. Apply a moisturizing lotion several times throughout the day to ensure your skin will stay soft and smooth. At the Buff's Barbershop, they have a variety of aftershaves. I went with a Bay Rum selection and walked out feeling like a new man.

Nail care for low-maintenance women
Think treating your nails involves wearing acrylic press-ons? Try a pedicure.
by Grace Hood

Receiving professional nail care always seemed to involve crossing an invisible line for me in the world of beauty treatments. On the one side are people like myself: active, self-respecting women who basically appreciate a good haircut, color and the occasional massage. On the other side stand the high-maintenance women: unnatural blondes who constantly diet and wear acrylic, pink, jewel-studded talons on their fingers—ladies who in my opinion take female pampering one step too far.

Fortunately, there's a DMZ between these two nail-care worlds: the pedicure. One of the more chill, less-pretentious places in Boulder that caters to our folk is the ten20 nail and waxing spa (720-565-1020), located at 2005 Pearl St. Granted it's only the second nail salon I've entered, but it has a friendly, down-to-earth feel. If you don't immediately pick up on the relaxed vibe, the big screen TV playing reruns from Sex in the City will immediately transport you to the temporary vacation zone. Add this to the complimentary Diet Coke and M&Ms, and it's official: You're in paradise.

After I meet my upbeat pedicurist Maribeth and place my order for M&Ms (plain; I find that peanuts unnecessarily complicate the delicate chocolate/candy coating combo), I sink into one of ten20's plush velvet lounge chairs and put my feet into a warm soap bath. Meribeth lets me in on a little secret at the beginning of our session that I don't fully appreciate until after I've completed my appointment.

"Pedicures are highly addictive," she says.

It all starts with a seemingly innocent foot soak for a few minutes. Maribeth pulls out one foot at a time to do some preliminary preening and buffing. After examining my feet, she tells me that she works on a lot of runner/Boulder athletic types. Translation: There's hope for all you gals out there with blistered, battered and—in a few places—toenail challenged little digits.

ext comes the foot scrub and massage portion of the pedicure—which totally wins me over. Those of you in need of some extra lovin' might want to add a paraffin wax to your pedicure session. While I wouldn't recommend it to the claustrophobic, it's a great way to add some additional moisture to especially run-down feet. After placing my feet in plastic baggies in the shape of a boot, Maribeth pours a moderately heated wax that molds around each foot. It feels really good, but my feet look even better after they emerge from their little wax cocoons.

Who said that comfort and vanity couldn't inter-mingle?

Even though I haven't gotten my nail polish yet, my feet look the best they have in years. Once Maribeth applies my chosen color (one of the 15 billion shades of pink), I'm officially hooked. I spend the next month playing a sort of pedicure pity-party game—a highly objective exercise that involves admiring my flawless pedicure and comparing my feet to those of others in various Boulder establishments. Let me just say that I haven't lost the game once.

ail care can involve pink and perhaps the occasional jewel stud—but it doesn't require pasting on long, faux acrylics to your nails. And, really, that's where I draw the line. Beauty treatments should make you look better—not prevent you from living your life. Because in the end who really wants to spend extra time at the keyboard or indefinite visits in the, um, bathroom? Not this girl.