4 25 13 best of boulder

COUNTY 2013 The results of our annual reader poll, plus our irreverent take on what’s best about living in Boulder County

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staff Publisher, Stewart Sallo Special Editions Editor, Elizabeth Miller Director of Operations/Controller, Benecia Beyer Circulation Manager, Cal Winn

EDITORIAL Editor, Joel Dyer Managing Editor, Jefferson Dodge Associate Editors, David Accomazzo, Steve Weishampel

SALES Retail Sales Manager, Allen Carmichael Account Executives, Andrea Craven, Joe Fuchs, David Hasson, Chelsea Mack

PRODUCTION Production Manager, Dave Kirby Art Director, Susan France Graphic Designer, Mark Goodman

GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE Marketing Manager & Heiress, Julia Sallo Circulation Team Dave Hastie, Dan Hill, George LaRoe, Jeffrey Lohrius, Elizabeth Ouslie, Rick Slama 13-Year-Old, Mia Rose Sallo

contents: Food 8 Drink 38 Entertainment 50 Fitness & Health 68 Retail 82

6 April 25, 2013

Susan France

Mari Simon, bartender at Boulder Distillery, makers of 303 Vodka, winner of best distillery in the Best of Boulder County 2013

BEST OF BOULDER

W

County

e came into this year’s Best of Boulder season wondering if anything could top last year’s run — our biggest Best of Boulder edition — and our readers blew us away again. Our online survey, which allowed voting all through the month of March 2013, saw a record-breaking number of people logging on to weigh in with their thoughts about the best of the best in Boulder County.

Our winners — except when we’ve noted a staff pick — are all selected by those voters. Even the survey itself has been crafted in response to previous reader requests, comments and write-ins from past Best of Boulder voting records. We use staff picks, typically, to chat up niche categories our readers haven’t brought up yet, or to revisit some of the news from the past year in a cheeky reminder of the local characters and events that make Boulder County the only place we’d want to call home.

Not to get too warm and fuzzy, but we all know there are plenty of reasons to love living in this place — great restaurants to entice the foodiest of foodies; amazing beer and liquor selections and purveyors; stunning options for entertaining and educational days and nights on the town; a banquet of options for staying healthy; and shops that provide one-of-a-kind items as well as shopping experiences. We could gush — and gush we did, for more than 100 pages. Take it in, Boulder County. You made it happen. We couldn’t have done it without you.

So enjoy the results of your voting and please accept our sincere thanks.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Dave Hasson

Place to Party Old-School Style

1940S WWII ERA BALL

Boulder Airport, 3393 Airport Road, www.1940sball.org

T

he clever man’s response to an invitation to the 1940s Ball is, “Didn’t we miss that by about 70 years?” We don’t have an equally clever rebuttal to that, but the gist of the answer is decidedly “no.” For five years, the 1940s WWII Era Ball has been enchanting Boulder locals with an evening filled with big band music and swing dancing, 1940s-era impersonators and WWII planes. For one night in June, you can hop in your own personal time machine (well, along with about 2,000 other people who gather around a hangar at the Boulder Airport) and crank the clock back to simpler times — but ones that involved far more complicated clothing.

Lindy hoppers and Bing Crosby lovers can round out the year by catching the White Christmas Ball, a ’40s/’50s-themed holiday party in December, and Voodoo Island, a 1950s tiki exotica ball on Labor Day weekend that brings surf music, bamboo huts and hula dancers to the Millennium Harvest House.

Jon Stabile of The Boulder Bikesmith

First Annual Best of Boulder Business Integrity Award

JON STABILE — THE BOULDER BIKESMITH 2432 Arapahoe Ave., 303-443-1132

“Necessity may well be called the mother of invention but calamity is the test of integrity.”

– 18th-century English writer and printer Samuel Richardson

M

ostly hidden in the far southwest corner of the shopping center on the southwest corner of 28th and Arapahoe works a man who loves bicycles.

His name is Jon Stabile and he is known as the “Boulder Bikesmith.” Jon officially became the Boulder Bikesmith when he purchased his business, which had been operating under the same name, from his former employer.

However, Stabile has earned the moniker by displaying his skill and commitment to building and repairing bicycles over the course of the past decade. Indeed, Jon was scheduled to receive the “Best Bike Mechanic” award when Boulder Weekly publisher Stewart Sallo brought his beloved mountain bike to the Bikesmith for some early season maintenance. It was at this point that calamity struck and the “Best Bike Mechanic” award — which Stabile will still receive — gave way to a more important award.

On the appointed date, Stabile faithfully and expertly performed the work that he and Sallo had agreed on — new drive train, new brake pads, and general tune-up — and wheeled the perfectly running bike to the front of the store for Sallo to pick up the following morning. But Stabile was awakened in the middle of the night by Boulder’s finest and informed that a rock had been thrown through the front glass of his shop. Upon arriving at the Bikesmith it appeared that nothing had been taken, but Stabile subsequently realized that Sallo’s bike was missing.

The following morning an unpleasant phone call was placed and an argument ensued that would last for two weeks, until the day when Sallo and Stabile worked together in Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

Sighting

NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTER

T

he annual animal sightings around Boulder follow a pretty predictable pattern — as do the responses from the public. There’s the spring return of prairie dogs, which had better inspire an “Aww” or you’re a monster; the January-to-July nesting period for cliff-dwelling raptors, which blocks access to numerous climbing areas; and the osprey pair that nests at Boulder County Fairgrounds and is popular enough to have a live video feed.

But the best sighting of the year has to be the North American River Otter, spotted by an Open Space and Mountain Parks wildlife surveillance camera along Boulder Creek March 7, 2013. The endangered mammal was photographed at night, chowing down on a fish. Driven to local extinction by hunting and pollution early in the 1900s, the otter’s on its way back on the Western Slope. Here’s to hoping this is the first of many sightings on the Front Range.

the impeccably equipped workshop at the back of the shop building a totally sweet, brand new mountain bike. But it was not the kind of argument that one would expect in this epidemically no-fault world we find ourselves in. Rather, Stabile argued that he should take full responsibility for Sallo’s loss, while Sallo argued that it wasn’t Stabile’s fault that the theft occurred. “If I fail to take responsibility for this, then I am not the man I say I am,” Stabile asserted.

In the end, a compromise was reached that both men felt good about, a new mountain bike was ordered and built, Sallo hit the trail at Hall Ranch a few days later, and a friendship was strengthened. But something more important occurred here that should not be missed. When adversity inevitably presents itself, integrity is just as inevitably tested. The integrity Jon Stabile demonstrated in this story serves as an example of how the world can work for all of us if we simply take responsibility and do the right thing.

And, of course, the opposite is also true, as we have all experienced far too many times.

So, alongside the “Best Bike Mechanic” award, Boulder Weekly is pleased to give Jon Stabile of the Boulder Bikesmith the First Annual Best of Boulder Business Integrity Award for showing the Boulder community that success in business and integrity can be good partners. Congratulations, Jon! April 25, 2013 7

Susan France

American Restaurant

MOUNTAIN SUN 1535 Pearl St., 303-546-0886

SOUTHERN SUN

627 S. Broadway, 303-543-0886 Second Place: The Kitchen Third Place: SALT Fourth Place: World Famous Dark Horse Bar and Grill Fifth Place: Foolish Craig’s

P

earl Street is by no means a picture-perfect, small-town-Main-Street slice of Americana — a few too many buckets being used as drums. But foodwise, Pearl is the spot for a taste of America. Aside from runner-up Dark Horse, the top vote-getters in this category represent a culinary trip up and down the main strip of the city. There’s the farm-centric, carefully crafted fare of The Kitchen and SALT, the French-influenced mainstay Foolish Craig’s and this year’s winner, Mountain Sun/Southern Sun, with a burger-centric fixed menu and hyper-creative specials. Whether you pore over the salad and wrap specials or go straight for a favorite burger or soup, the Sun’s food deserves as many accolades as its beer — and with its new Under the Sun, this empire keeps upping the ante.

Appetizers/Tapas

THE MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT 1002 Walnut St., 303-444-5335 Second Place: Brasserie Ten Ten Third Place: Boulder Cafe Fourth Place: The Kitchen Fifth Place: Aji

I

t just seems right that a category with the word “tapas” should honor a restaurant that has the word “Med” in its name, especially since there are so many Spanish appetizers to choose from at this establishment. Just enunciate when you tell your friends — or even more importantly, your in-laws — that you want to go to a tapas bar, or they may think you are referring to a less-respectable joint that features women without blouses. When it comes to respectable, The Med takes the cake in this category yet again, with unbeatable ambiance, a charming patio and a long list of small plates ranging from simple olives and almonds to carefully prepared seafood and meats.

8 April 25, 2013

Julia Buonanno and Dana Derichsweiler of the Southside Walnut Café and the Walnut Café in Boulder

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

~Thanks for voting us the~

BEST OF BOULDER! First Place

KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

First Place

BEST TAKE-OUT

~Spring dishes from Your World KitchenÂŽ~ Available for a limited time!

~ asparagus stack ~

Side of fresh asparagus spears, feta cheese, bacon crumbles and a wedge of fresh lemon.

~ garden pesto sautĂŠ ~

Fresh spring asparagus in a light lemon Genovese pesto tossed with our delicious gluten-free fusilli noodles, red bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, pecans, feta and spinach.

Your World Kitchen

~ springtime f latbread ~

Crispy flatbread appetizer topped with fresh asparagus, mushrooms, melted parmesan cheese and bacon.

Susan France

Brunch

Burger

SNOOZE

LARKBURGER

1617 Pearl St., 303-225-7344 Second Place: Walnut Café/ Southside Walnut Café/Super Mini Walnut Café Third Place: Tangerine Fourth Place: Brasserie Ten Ten Fifth Place: Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

2525 Arapahoe Ave., 303-444-1487 Second Place: Mountain Sun/ Southern Sun Third Place: Smashburger Fourth Place: Rueben’s Burger Bistro Fifth Place: The Sink

W

hen you think about it, burgers are a pretty complicated and delicate food.

You’re starting with ground beef, a tricky protein that can go dry or flavorless if you’re not careful. Add on some of the less-thrilling vegetables out there — does anyone really salivate over lettuce? — and a bun that, again, could be a letdown if you aren’t picky about it.

Really, there’s a lot that could go wrong with burgers. But the winners in this category pull them off with panache and keep us hungry for more. Tops again this year is Larkburger, which gets the job done with simple, delicious ingredients — and the brioche bun, Tillamook cheddar and house sauce don’t hurt. In second place, Mountain Sun and Southern Sun get creative, topping their burgers with things like date puree and poblano peppers.

W

e hardly know where to start with the praise of Snooze, which is pretty much like the experience of going to Snooze.

Fortunately, they’re accustomed to this kind of menu-induced overload, because they’ll let you mix and match a few pieces together.

Can’t decide how you want your hollandaise? Get both the Bella! Bella! Benny and the Loxness Benny. Thinking pancakes? Get a flight to sample from options that include Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes, Sweet Potato Pancakes, the “Coffee and Donuts” (buttermilk pancakes glazed with maple icing and topped with crushed pecans) and the Chestnuts Roastin’ Pancakes, which are filled with spiced pears and topped with roasted chestnut caramel, sweet cream and citrus butter.

Thirsty? Their coffee is an exclusive house blend from Guatemala, their Mmm…Mmm… Mimosa mixes pomegranate liqueur and champagne with orange juice, and their bloodies are everything a bloody mary should be.

And we know to come prepared to take a cup of coffee outdoors to wait out the line for a table. It’s never a disappointment.

Burrito

ILLEGAL PETE’S

1320 College Ave., 303-444-3055 1447 Pearl St., 303-444-3955 Second Place: Chipotle Third Place: Efrain’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina Fourth Place: Big City Burrito Fifth Place: Santiago’s

Emily Pearson of Snooze in Boulder

Breakfast

LUCILE’S

2124 14th St., 303-442-4743 Second Place: Snooze Third Place: Walnut Café/Southside Walnut Café/Super Mini Walnut Café Fourth Place: The Buff Fifth Place: Tangerine

T

here aren’t many things that make us wish for morning to come, but just the thought of biscuits and gravy at Lucile’s is enough to start counting the hours until we can get out of bed. If flaky, buttery biscuits topped in sausage-laden gravy doesn’t motivate you to set your alarm a little earlier, consider the Eggs Jennifer, a tasty take on a benedict that dresses an English muffin, spinach, tomato, avocado and poached eggs in hollandaise, or the New Orleans praline waffle, which tops a pecan batter waffle with more pecans, fruit and whipped cream. Of course, don’t forget to start with an 10 April 25, 2013

T

Biker Bar With a Secret Garden

JERRY D’S

604 8th St., Dacono, 303-833-3469

Y

ou have got to check this place out. Yes, we know that Dacono is technically outside of Boulder County, but there just weren’t any good biker bars with secret gardens that compared to Jerry D’s, so we gave it to them anyway. Don’t let all those Harleys or the first impression of the place fool you. If you keep on walking you will eventually arrive at one of the area’s best-kept secrets, an outdoor paradise complete with tropical grass hut bars and stage, a regulation sand bocce ball court, a toilet full of flowers, tons of green grass and a lot of fun-loving people.

So make the trek, grab a pitcher and some Mexican food, and enjoy the good old rock and roll that’s always on the jukebox.

order of beignets — puffy, hot pastries covered in powdered sugar — and chicory coffee.

The creole-inspired café is cozily situated in an old house just off Pearl Street, mak-

ing it an easy stop-off before a Saturday of shop browsing, people watching and busker patronizing.

here’s a noticeable split in this competitive category between the fast-casual cafeteria style, like winner Illegal Pete’s and runners-up Chipotle and Big City Burrito, and the green chile spice of more traditional Tex-Mex runners-up Efrain’s and Santiago’s. Within those categories, it’s all about the little differences. Was it the punkmetal theme as compared to the world music and metallic gleam? Was it the mixing of ingredients before wrapping the tortilla up? Was it that great blessing for dairy haters and avocado lovers: Pete’s gives guacamole free if diners decline sour cream and cheese? No doubt all sorts of reasons crossed voters’ minds. It should be fun to watch — and continue to taste — what these restaurants come up with next.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Susan France

Adrian Lebian of Efrain’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina in Lafayette

Reader Comment “Obviously, I love Dot’s. Been goin’ there since I was a wee one.”

East County Restaurant

EFRAIN’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT & CANTINA

101 E. Cleveland St., Lafayette, 303-6667544 1630 N. 63rd St., Boulder, 303-440-4045 451 S. Pratt Parkway., Longmont, 720494-0777 Second Place: Colterra Third Place: The Huckleberry Fourth Place: Lucky Pie Pizza and Taphouse Fifth Place: Sugarbeet

E

ver tried the Mexican Ribs at Efrain’s?

Sweet mother of Zeus, they are spicy.

We’re not talking about your classic barbecue ribs, these babies are soaked for, like, days in green chile. And this may well be the best, hottest green chile this side of Taos. Makes the margaritas go down a lot quicker, let’s put it that way. The nice thing about this East County restaurant is that 12 April 25, 2013

there are three locations, so no matter what ‘L’ town you live in, you’ll never be far from delicious Mexican food. But when ordering, keep an eye on the handy spicelevel scale that appears next to each dish on the menu. Your tongue will thank you later.

Fine Dining

FLAGSTAFF HOUSE RESTAURANT

1138 Flagstaff Road, 303-442-4640 Second Place: Frasca Food and Wine Third Place: The Kitchen Fourth Place: Brasserie Ten Ten Fifth Place: Black Cat Farm-Table-Bistro

T

op honors in this category have changed this year, as Boulder’s finest continue to jockey for best fine-dining experience. Rising from second place, Flagstaff House has grabbed the top spot with its French-American menu,

devised by Executive Chef Mark Monette after extensive experience in kitchens in New York, France and Asia.

Flagstaff House knows how to get everything about a fine dining experience right. Romantic tables overlook Boulder from the restaurant’s spot nestled on the mountainside. The wine list boasts an enormous, award-winning collection of wines, and its menu items have included Maine Day Boat Lobster and Buffalo Filet Mignon and Foie Gras “Wellington.” And there’s the attentive waitstaff, who keep your plate warm with tasters between courses. Headed by Monette, his brother Scott and father Don, staff continue to earn Flagstaff House national accolades.To our readers, the dining at Flagstaff is as fine as the view.

Place to Go on a First Date

THE MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT

Second Place: Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse Third Place: Centro Latin Kitchen Fourth Place: Brasserie Ten Ten Fifth Place: Pizzeria Locale/The Kitchen

O

n a first date, you don’t want to go over the top, visiting a super-expensive, ritzy, pretentious place that will make your date feel like you are either a stuckup snob or about to pop the question.

And yet you don’t want to go too lowbrow. Your love interest will think you are a cheapskate if your idea of splurging is super-sizing your extra value meal. That’s why The Med is such a great option for a first date. It’s a comfortable yet elegant environment without the pretense and prices that usually come with a nice restaurant. And your date will easily find something to like on the wide-ranging menu. Even, um, dates.

1002 Walnut St., 303-444-5335

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

JAI HO Boulder happens...

When the kitchens of South & North India tangle, When Dosas & Naan melt with Biriyanis & Curries like never before,

A happening new way dine Colorado’s Most Diverse and Authentic Indian Menu Awarded Best of Denver 2012 Gourmet Lunch Buffet every day with Soft drink included.

Delicious dinner menu

You Crave It! We Got It! NOW OPEN IN BOULDER! 1915 28th Street Boulder, CO 80301 303-444-5151 www.jaiho.us.com Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 13

T H A N K YO U BOULDER

Susan France

For All The Votes & Support Full Catering Available.

Stop by for our new Happy Hour Food & Drink Specials!

303.440.4BBQ (4227) Located 30th & Baseline

Boulder’s Best Olive Oil Tasting Bar Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar

Tara Kengott of the Sink Restaurant in Boulder

Food on the Hill

THE SINK

We pride ourselves on offering the freshest, tastiest & healthiest authentic extra virgin olive oils and finest aged balsamic vinegars that are sure to enhance your favorite recipes.

Come & sample our selection of 50+ EVOOs from around the world and balsamic vinegars from Modena, as well as locally crafted gourmet foods & more!.

Trust Your Tastebuds

14 April 25, 2013

1165 13th St., 303-444-7465 Second Place: Illegal Pete’s Third Place: Café Aion Fourth Place: Half Fast Subs Fifth Place: Five Guys Burgers and Fries

L

et’s put it this way. When the president of the United States comes to Boulder, what restaurant does he visit? That’s right, The Sink, a Boulder institution with a colorful history that stretches back nine decades. Robert Redford pushed a broom there before he went on to bigger and better things. How cool is that? And in addition to being one of CU’s most well-known student hangouts, it’s a fun place to eat, not just because of the tasty burgers, but also because of the amazing artwork on the walls, painted by Boulder beatniks beginning in 1955. And while you’re there, try what Obama ate during his visit last year: a pizza that has been renamed the “POTUS Pie.”

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Happy Trails Riding Center

Place to Eat Breakfast in Last Night’s Clothes

THE BUFF RESTAURANT

1725 28th St., Boulder, 303-442-9150

J

udging by the stampede of youngsters frequenting The Buff Restaurant every weekend, it’s clear there’s only one place in which to recap last night’s debauchery over a comforting, hangover-assuaging plate of eggs and bacon. This unassuming restaurant, hidden in a Best Western parking lot, is just what doctors Pabst and Coors ordered after a long night of drinking. If the food isn’t greasy enough (and it might not be; the menu is pretty solid), the $1 bloody marys (with the purchase of an entrée) will provide you both nutritious sustenance and the hair of the dog.

The waitstaff, accustomed to the half-awake, won’t judge your slurred speech or your puffy red eyes, making The Buff the best place in Boulder to end your walk of shame.

Food Delivery

COSMO’S PIZZA

659 30th St., 303-447-3278 1325 Broadway #108, 303-447-1133 Second Place: Jimmy John’s Third Place: Abo’s Pizza Fourth Place: Sun Deli & Liquor Fifth Place: Blackjack Pizza

C

risis: you’re hungry. But you’re glued to your couch. No worries, dude — order a pizza. If you order from this year’s winner, Cosmo’s Pizza, you can get free delivery. Sweet. Cosmo’s has two Boulder locations, including one on the Hill. Their menu offers popular pizzas like the Hawaiian, the Veggie Supreme and the Meat Lovers. Load up with extra toppings like artichoke hearts, fresh basil or anchovies. As a side, you can order a pint of Cosmo’s homemade spicy ranch dressing in which to dip your crusts.

Lyons Restaurant

Jeremy Williams

OSKAR BLUES GRILL & BREW

303 Main St., Lyons, 303-823-6685 Second Place: Lyons Fork Third Place: Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ & Taphouse Fourth Place: La Mariposa Mexican Restaurant Fifth Place: Barking Dog Cafe

T

he folks in Lyons know good food, and, as voters have attested, none is better in this fair town at the foot of A jam session at Oskar Blues the Rockies than at Oskar Blues Grill & Brew. The brewery’s original restaurant has a longstanding dedication to blues music and Southern cooking (founder Dale Katechis hails from Alabama). And it sets itself apart by infusing its dishes with the brewery’s signature beers — take, for example, Dale’s Pale Ale Original Wing Sauce. To top it off, Oskar Blues has its own “Hops and Heifers” farming operation that provides local, grass-fed Angus beef for the restaurant (coming to you direct in the form of delicious half-pound burgers).

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

• Lessons • Training • Boarding • Summer camps • Horse Camp - all levels and interests • Outdoor Adventures Camp • Science Camp • Day Camps • Extensive cross country course • Indoor arena • Multiple outdoor arenas We are a year round friendly and open equestrian and educational facility. Our adult and youth riders are competitive in all styles of riding, including Western, Dressage, Hunter under saddle, hunt seat, show jumping, three day eventing, and endurance.

Some of our affiliates include: USEF. AHA, FEI, AERC, Jockey Club, and most jumper organizations.

Early Registration discounts available until May 1st.

Camps fill quickly!

Curriculum available upon request.

Like Us On FACEBOOK April 25, 2013 15

Susan France

Ice Cream

Italian

GLACIER HOMEMADE ICE CREAM & GELATO

PASTA JAY’S

1001 Pearl St., 303-444-5800 Second Place: Carelli’s Restaurant Third Place: Ristorante L Fourth Place: Il Pastaio Fifth Place: Arugula Bar e Ristorante

4760 Baseline Road, 303-499-4760 3133 28th St., 303-440-6542 1387 South Boulder Road, Louisville, 720890-5992 Second Place: Ben & Jerry’s Third Place: Cold Stone Creamery Fourth Place: Two Spoons Gelato & Soup Fifth Place: Lindsay’s Boulder Deli at HaagenDazs

A

s one of the best-established and most widely known ethnic foods in the U.S., Italian should be pretty predictable at this point. It should be like a hot dog or a turkey sandwich: You know exactly what you’re going to get.

And, in some cases, it is. But the winners in this category demonstrate there’s still a world of surprises in Italian cuisine. Whether it’s blending Italian and the West with its buffalo ravioli or bringing together shrimp, crab and scallops over linguine with clam sauce, winner Pasta Jay’s brings out the creativity in one of America’s favorite Old World cuisines. And of course, Pasta Jay’s also dishes out comforting favorites like baked rigatoni, caprese salad and a variety of pizzas.

S

ure, it’s best in the summer, but ice cream is pretty fantastic all year round. You may have also noticed that it’s delicious at any time of day. What’s better than eating ice cream?

Not much. Except perhaps eating ice cream while simultaneously supporting local businesses. Glacier Homemade Ice Cream & Gelato has been making fresh daily batches of ice cream, gelato and sorbet in Boulder since the turn of the century. Instead of adding the chemical cocktail infused in most of America’s ice cream, Glacier uses fresh ingredients like real fruits, chocolate and nuts.

Pretty radical stuff. They’ve mixed more than 800 flavors since they started, and usually have about 80 available in each location. Flavors like chai embrace tastes favored in Boulder. With a new flavor introduced every couple weeks, Glacier may keep surprising us. Who knows what food trend will succumb to creamy goodness next? Kale gelato? Glacier could probably make that delicious, too.

Indian

SHERPA’S ADVENTURERS RESTAURANT & BAR 825 Walnut St., 303-440-7151 Second Place:Tandoori Grill Third Place:Taj Indian Cuisine Fourth Place: Kathmandu Fifth Place: Nepal Cuisine

Overall Restaurant

THE MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT

Kate McAndrews, general manager of Glacier Homemade Ice Cream

1002 Walnut St., 303-444-5335 Second Place: The Kitchen Third Place: Jax Fish House Fourth Place: Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse Fifth Place: Brasserie Ten Ten

Reader Comment

I

“Love them all, wish I could vote for more than 1!”

n a city like Boulder, where there is, like, one restaurant for every six residents, getting crowned the best overall is saying something. And The Med has repeatedly been awarded this honor. Deservedly so. They do so many things well, from top-notch service to a wood-fired oven to delectable drinks to sumptuous tapas to delicious entrees.

We know that when we bring relatives and friends to town, after seeing the sights on the Pearl Street Mall, this is the place that can satisfy all discerning tastes. The runnerup,The Kitchen, isn’t exactly a slouch, either, with its clean atmosphere and locally sourced ingredients that make you feel good about eating out.

16 April 25, 2013

A

Most Surprising Place to Find Great Huevos Rancheros

THE GARDEN GATE CAFÉ

7960 Niwot Rd., #B4, Niwot, 303-652-8595

Y

ou wouldn’t guess it from the outside and, frankly, you wouldn’t guess it from the inside either. You wouldn’t guess that this Niwot breakfast and lunch establishment that decks itself out in early granny’s-house decor and looks about as capable of producing a great plate of Huevos Rancheros as one of Tiger Woods’ blonde Scandinavian girlfriends, can and does do exactly that. Go figure. But if you find yourself craving this classic Mexican dish some morning, head for The Garden Gate Café. You’ll be surprised and glad you did.

ll restaurants smell good — hopefully.

But few can compare to the aroma of an Indian establishment, that complex, mouth-watering fragrance that sometimes hits you well before you open the door.

Sherpa’s has been gracing Walnut Street with its amazing smell for more than 10 years, and once again Boulderites have thanked the restaurant with a Best of Boulder selection. Stepping into the eatery housed in a house is like walking into Food Smell Heaven, as you’re hit by a rich, simmering curry and fresh-baked naan.

It can’t hurt that, along with a long and varied Indian menu, Sherpa’s features a few dishes from Tibet, including Tibetan noodles and momo dumplings.

Most nights you’ll find owner Pemba Sherpa seated at the bar, chatting with staff and diners alike. And if you don’t see him at the bar, his face and those of many other mountaineers, along with a slew of mountaineering gear and Everest climbing permits, adorn the walls.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

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*Offer ends 5/31/2013. Pure Broadband available to qualifying residential customers only. The listed monthly rate of $39.95 requires a 12-month term agreement (after which the rate reverts to the then-current standard rate), and applies to up to 12 Mbps service for Pure Broadband. An additional monthly or flat fee, installation fee, and separate shipping and handling fee may apply to customer’s modem or router, depending on HSI package and options selected. One offer per household. Offer may not be combinable with other offers. Excludes taxes and fees. General – Services and offers not available everywhere. CenturyLink may change, cancel, or substitute offers and services, or vary them by service area, at its sole discretion without notice. Requires credit approval and deposit may be required. Additional restrictions apply. Terms and Conditions – All products and services listed are governed by tariffs, terms of service, or terms and conditions posted at www.centurylink.com. Taxes, Fees, and Surcharges – Applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges include a Carrier Universal Service charge, National Access fee or Carrier Cost Recovery surcharge, a one-time Pure Broadband activation fee, state and local fees that vary by area and certain in-state surcharges. Cost recovery fees are not taxes or government-required charges for use.

Taxes, fees, and surcharges apply based on standard monthly, not promotional, rates. Call for a listing of applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges. Pure Broadband – An early termination fee will apply as either a flat $99 fee or the applicable monthly recurring service fee multiplied by the number of months remaining in the minimum service period, up to $200. Customers must accept High-Speed Internet Subscriber Agreement prior to using service. Listed broadband speeds vary due to conditions outside of network control, including customer location and equipment, and are not guaranteed. Qualifying Services – CenturyLink® High-Speed Internet service and/or Prism™ TV Package (each a “Service”) are eligible for referral within the Program. Service is not available everywhere. CenturyLink may change, cancel or substitute Service, or vary them by service area, at its sole discretion without notice. All products and services listed are governed by tariffs, terms of service, or terms and conditions posted at www.centurylink.com. ©2013 CenturyLink. All Rights Reserved. The name CenturyLink, the pathways logo and certain other CenturyLink names are property of CenturyLink. All other marks are property of their respective owners.

•fresh fruit infused water - $1.99• •awesome smoothies - $3.99• •Best gummy selection in town•

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Also

GRAB GO Breakfast Sandwiches and Burritos Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

open 24 hours/7 days a week • locally-owned for over 25 years 800 Pearl street

303.443.8329

Plenty of free Parking

April 25, 2013 17

HAPPY HOUR DRINKS

3:30pm - 6:30pm $2 PBR, Tecate, Utica Club, $1 off Draft Beers, $3 Wells, $4 House Wines, $1 off Frozen Margs

HAPPY HOUR FOOD 4pm - 6pm $2 OFF Smoked Wings & Sliders

DAILY SPECIALS MON - $3 PBR, Jim Beam, Smoked Tacos TUES - $3 Shiner bock, $4 Deep Eddy, $6 Republic Tequila, $4.50 Tito’s Vodka WED - $3 Craft Beers, Smoked Reuben THU - Keg Party...$12 a cup til keg’s gone FRI - $5 Texas Slush, $18 Smoked Prime Rib SAT - $4 Margaritas, $13.5 Smoked Pork Chops SUN - $4 Bloody Mary’s, $5 Smoked Wings 701 B Main Street • Louisville, CO

720-583-1789

www.lulus-bbq.com

THE LOO HOUR

4:00 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. DAILY Well Drinks 2.5 House Chardonnay & Merlot 3.5

DAILY EVENTS THURSDAY

BBQ Beef Brisket 9.5/14 $1 off any Colorado beers & spirits 9:00 P.M. to close - Open Mic!

FRIDAY

Pork Spare Ribs 15/25 Daily Pint Special 3 Live Music - 9:30 P.M. to close

SATURDAY

BBQ Pulled Pork 9.5/14 Stella Artois pints 3 Live Music - 9:30 P.M. to close

SUNDAY

Brunch & Chef’s Choice Specials Daily Pint Special 3 Bacon Bloody Mary’s 5

MONDAY

Cheeseburger & French Fries all day! 6 Modelo Especial 2

TUESDAY

3 Tacos or 2 Tacos and a Tecate 6 Live Music - 8:30 P.M. to close

WEDNESDAY

Sweet Potato Burger 8/12 PBR pints 2 Live trivia 8:30 P.M. - Weekly Prizes!

809 Main St. Louisville, CO 80027 www.waterloolouisville.com / 303-993-2094

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www.dabblepaintandsip.com 2330 Main St., Unit E, Longmont 303.827.3523 18 April 25, 2013

Garlic Fries

28TH STREET TAVERN 2690 28th St., 303-444-1562

A

fter he was done reading from his newest book, Smoke Signals, mountain man M. John Fayhee took questions from the audience. Predictably, a woman asked him what some of his favorite hiking and camping spots were in Colorado. Fayhee, an enemy of crowds, gave an honest answer: “I’m not telling you,” he said.

That’s where a prominent Western writer stands on a tricky paradox for journalists, particularly travel writers. The paradox goes like this: Articles about “secret,” undiscovered or less-traveled spots are very popular, but by writing them, you’re making the spots public, discovered and well-traveled. The reason Fayhee likes his favorite trails is that they aren’t getting trampled into oblivion. So he can’t write or talk about which ones they are.

Thus it is with a fond goodbye that we tell our readers about the incredible fries at 28th Street Tavern, a bar that isn’t empty by any means, but that is nonetheless off the beaten path. The fries, crinkle-cut and absolutely doused in garlicky oil guaranteed to utterly screw up your date, are one of Boulder’s best-kept secrets. Sure, they come plain and Cajun, too, but we can’t bring ourselves to order them any other way. Dear, delicious fries, dotted with diced garlic, we’ll miss having you all to ourselves. But you’re just too good to keep a secret.

Late Night

Mexican Restaurant

COSMO’S PIZZA

EFRAIN’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT & CANTINA

659 30th St., 303-447-3278 1325 Broadway #108, 303-447-1133 Second Place: World Famous Dark Horse Bar and Grill Third Place: Abo’s Pizza Fourth Place: Boulder Baked Fifth Place: Hapa Sushi

D

o you really need that slice of pizza after last call? Yes, you do. Luckily, Cosmo’s Pizza serves up its pizza and calzones and spicy ranch dressing until 2 a.m. Don’t forget — even if pizza helps soak up some toxins, it won’t replace brain cells. Also, if the room is spinning, or slanting, or otherwise disobeying the laws of contemporary pizza-place design, latenight pizza may not be your best choice.

Perhaps you’d be better off at the Dark Horse, the second-place winner, where comparably booze-absorbing bar food is served through an easily navigable window from bar to kitchen.

1630 N. 63rd St., 303-440-4045 101 E. Cleveland St., Lafayette, 303-6667544 451 S. Pratt Parkway., Longmont, 720494-0777 Second Place: Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant Third Place: Zolo Grill Fourth Place: Agave Mexican Bistro & Tequila House Fifth Place: Casa Alvarez

O

ur favorite dish at Efrain’s is a little something called blue corn enchiladas with chicken and a side of green chile to pour over the top, to give it a spicy kick.

Oh, and a margarita or a Negra Modelo with lime. Sorry, just drooled a little bit on the keyboard. Efrain’s has been a Boulder County institution for more than two decades, delivering authentic northern Mexican cuisine from the state of Chihuahua. It is a recipe for a satisfying south-of-the-border experience. Olé.

Reader Comment “I miss these places! (I live abroad).”

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Empanadas

RINCON ARGENTINO

2525 Arapahoe Ave. #A05, 303-442-4133

I

t’s a wonder that empanadas aren’t more popular. The pastry, basically dough folded and baked around various combinations of meat, cheese, sauce and vegetables, is essentially a South American calzone. You can find them all over Central and Latin America, but they are most prevalent in Argentina, which is fitting, given the country’s strong Italian influences. The empanadas of Rincon Argentino will transport you south of the equator for fractions of the price of a plane ticket.

Stepping into the store is like getting a glimpse of Argentina — people order in Argentine Spanish, pronouncing “pollo” as “poisho” — and, in the ultimate sign of Argentinian authenticity, the jersey and portrait of soccer great Diego Maradona graces the wall.

KATHMANDU

110 N. Jefferson St., Nederland, 303-2581169 Second Place: Backcountry Pizza Third Place: Wild Mountain Smokehouse and Brewery Fourth Place: Sundance Lodge and Café Fifth Place: The Savory Café

I

New Restaurant

UNDER THE SUN

T

he only reasonable argument we’ve ever encountered for derailing once you’ve got a Sun restaurant on the mind

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

Simple, Natural, Elegant Italian

BREAKFAST + BRUNCH + LUNCH

dinner: daily at 4:30 lunch: wed-fri 11:30-2:30 happy hour: daily 4:30-6

OPEN DAILY: 7AM-2:30PM 2785 Iris Ave, Boulder 303.443.5100 arugularistorante.com

BAR

e

2777 IRIS AVE, BOULDER 303. 443.2333 WWW.TANGERINEBOULDER.COM April 25, 2013 19

R I S TO R A N TE

RIS

627 S. Broadway, Ste. A, 303-927-6921 Second Place: Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place Third Place: FATE Brewing Company Fourth Place: OAK at fourteenth Fifth Place: Native Foods

e

BAR

Take out, Delivery, Catering, and Online Ordering www.aloythai.com

e

f anything could awaken the frozen dead guy from his icy slumber, it would probably be the tantalizing smells wafting out of Nederland restaurant Kathmandu. Our winner draws hungry guests to the small mountain town with its authentic Nepalese and Indian cuisine. Kathmandu dishes are made fresh using family recipes and include starters like samosas and dal soup, as well as entrees like vegetables korma (vegetables in a coconut cashew sauce), saag with freshly made panir cheese and sweet potato masala. Backcountry Pizza, our runner-up, is also a local favorite where patrons can enjoy a beer while waiting for their pie to cook to perfection.

(the Southern Sun and Mountain Sun having becoming much-loved Boulder institutions) is the wait time. It’s hard to not share your craving for craft beer and solid pub fare with many, many other hungry and thirsty people.

So when the Sun estates announced they were expanding in Boulder by acquiring a recently vacated space in the same shopping center as the Southern Sun, cheers likely went up around town. But it’s still surprising — and impressive — to see Under the Sun hop to the front of the Best New Restaurant category just a few months after opening their doors.

What those doors open to is a world where Sun taps are shared with other carefully cultivated beer choices, the menu makes plentiful use of a large wood-fired oven for entrees like tasty flatbread pizzas and roasted chicken, and the staff carries on with the same cheerful and friendly feelings that other Sun restaurants have made a fundamental part of a cherished brand. So we’ll happily raise a glass to — or, more optimistically, actually at — this latest Boulder institution.

The light of Under the Sun may have taken the lead, but let’s not let the sun blind us entirely. Our runner-up in the new restaurants category, Shine (are we sensing a theme here?) with its entirely gluten-free menu and generous vegetarian options, is another welcome addition to the community. And, beer aficionados that we are, we’re glad to see FATE Brewery arrive on the scene as well. May their new, extrafancy brewing system see many a long pour.

BAR

Nederland Restaurant

Gluten free and vegetarian options available.

Open hours : 11:00 am. - 10:00 pm. daily At 2720 Canyon Blvd., Boulder, CO 80302 Tel: 303-440-2903, 720-381-6620

Nanobrewery

in Boulder serving Handcrafted Beer inspired by the outdoors.

Visit our Tasting Room to enjoy a pint of fresh small-batch beer or get a growler to go!

Reader Comment “This is making me hungry!!!”

Susan France

5460 Conestoga Court • Boulder 303-484-1465 www.wildwoodsbrewery.com Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@wildwoodsbeer) for new beer releases and other news.

Download the official

Best of BoulDer app, Boulder County’s only authoritative app for locals and visitors.

Navigate through Boulder, access exclusive deals, and nominate your favorite businesses for next year’s survey.

Download this free app now, and start exploring the Best of Boulder on the go.

Brought to you by Boulder Weekly and VisitMobile.

20 April 25, 2013

Jennifer, Jill and Jessica Emich, owners of Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place.

Gluten-Free Menu

Organic Restaurant

SHINE RESTAURANT & GATHERING PLACE

THE KITCHEN

2027 13th St., 303-449-0120 Second Place: Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant Third Place: Alfalfa’s Fourth Place: Modmarket Fifth Place: Tangerine

1039 Pearl St., 303-544-5973 Second Place: Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant Third Place: Turley’s Fourth Place: Black Cat Farm-Table-Bistro Fifth Place: Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place

F

G

or the indecisive, sometimes going gluten-free can be a blessing. Fewer menu options usually means faster decisionmaking. But when it comes to Boulder’s own Shine, the gluten intolerant have their work cut out for them. The three sisters who own and operate the restaurant and gathering place have created a menu that is almost totally gluten-free.

Even the more traditional plates, such as the grass-finished beef burger or the grilled cheddar sandwich, can be prepared sans gluten. From the house-made coconut curry to super tender buffalo short ribs, Shine is a gluten-free gold mine.

iven the value and interest Boulderites give to all things organic, it’s not a surprise that there’s a list of places to consider when it comes to scouting for organic dining. What sets The Kitchen apart is the way it matches dishes elegantly crafted from locally sourced, organic ingredients with an experience that feels a little like coming home.

The Kitchen’s founders, Hugo Matheson, Kimbal Musk and Jen Lewin, opened the restaurant in 2004 with the idea of providing a world-class meal in an environment that offered a community feel. They’ve built their community to include the local farms and ranches they source for many of their ingredients, and those farms are often credited in the menu. The results are simple, tasteful, farm-to-table dishes that rotate regularly to take advantage of the season’s best.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Thanks for votin’ us

BEST SANDWICH!

Est. 1995

2049 Pearl St. 303.444.7766 5340 Arapahoe Ave. 303.444.3404 Oh yeah...

If you like SNARF’S. you’ll LOVE

2000 Arapahoe Ave.

DownloaD the snarfs app, orDer aheaD anD skip the wait!

W W W. E AT S N A R F S . C O M

Susan France

Tyler Liu of Snarf’s Sub Shop

Sandwich

edged out the brewpubs in the end.

The Walnut has long been known for super-friendly service, which can include banana bread and coffee for those waiting for tables. The staff is prompt and friendly, and comes armed with advice and recommendations, a good thing when you’re staring down a blended coffee drink menu as expansive as the Walnut’s. The same is true for the runner-up Suns and their beer.

SNARF’S SUB SHOP

2128 Pearl St., 303-444-7766 5340 Arapahoe Ave., 303-444-3404 645 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont, 303-7741441 2130 Mountain View Ave., Longmont, 303702-1111 Second Place: Salvaggio’s Italian Deli Third Place: Half Fast Subs Fourth Place: Great Harvest Bread Company Fifth Place: Deli Zone

Pizza Slice

ABO’S PIZZA

2761 Iris Ave., 303-443-1921 1124 13th St., 303-443-3199 637 S. Broadway, Ste. S, 303-494-1274 Second Place: Cosmo’s Third Place: Pizza Colore Fourth Place: Backcountry Pizza & Tap House Fifth Place: Nick-N-Willy’s Pizza

B

oy, this establishment has really taken off since its humble beginnings in what was little more than a shack on Pearl Street.

Now, in addition to two Boulder locations, it has two shops in Longmont. Oh, and there are locations in Fort Collins, as well as all over the Denver metro area. Did we mention Chicago and St. Louis? Yes, the sandwiches are that good. Check out the Italian.

Snarf’s Sub Shop has even started serving breakfast at some of its non-Colorado locations. Please let it happen here too. Soon.

Winning this award is a tall order in a county that is chock full of great sandwich shops like the runner-up Salvaggio’s, so this latest Snarf’s victory is a true testament to how darn good this place is.

Place to Eat Outdoors

CHAUTAUQUA DINING HALL

900 Baseline Road, 303-440-3776 Second Place: Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse Third Place: Rio Grande Fourth Place: The Mediterranean Restaurant Fifth Place: Boulder County Farmers’ Markets

W

e can only take the fact that the Chautauqua Dining Hall was closed for months prior to this year’s Best of Boulder survey as a ringing endorsement for this historic eating establishment. The Dining Hall, first opened in 1898, reopened April 10 with new management, updated décor and a refreshed menu. Care of the Dining Hall now rests in the hands of the same folks who have been tending to another local treasure, the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse: Lenny and Sara Martinelli.

Dining outdoors at Chautauqua means taking a seat on the wrap-around porch and taking in the views of the scenic Chautauqua Park. Whether pre-concert or post-hike in the Flatirons, it’s an idyllic setting in which to enjoy offerings from a menu that focuses on Colorado products, including locally made beer, liquor and wine as well as produce from local farms.

22 April 25, 2013

P

roud-of-their-town New Yorkers would tell you there’s no slice like one from Brooklyn. And Boulderites have spoken: New York style in Boulder takes the top prize again, as Abo’s Pizza retains its title.

Abo’s pizza is hand-tossed at every location and boasts a cracker-like thin crust and a wide array of toppings. If you’re out for the afternoon with the kids, check out the arcades at Abo’s North or South. If you’re craving a beer and a slice bigger than your face, make your way to Abo’s on the Hill. Although all Abo’s are not created exactly the same, you can rest assured that the dough, the sauce and the cheese at all locations will create Boulder’s best slice.

Reader Comment “National chains should not be included.”

Restaurant Dessert

Restaurant Service

THE KITCHEN

WALNUT CAFÉ

1039 Pearl St., 303-544-5973 Second Place: SALT Third Place: The Mediterranean Restaurant Fourth Place: The Bitter Bar Fifth Place: Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

W

hether there could ever be a bad dessert is an issue left to be debated by pastry chefs and culinary students. Those of us better armed with forks than whisks and more inclined to spend our time with our napkins in our laps and our spoons at the ready pretty much come to the conclusion that any chocolate cake is better than none at all. That said, if you want to sink your fork, spoon or fingers into the best of what Boulder has to offer to finish off a delectable meal in the foodiest town around, the place you’ll want to stop is The Kitchen. With dishes as carefully crafted as we non-chefs assume pumpkin crème brulée must be, or as simply delicious as house-made gelato, we’re going to stack The Kitchen’s after-dinner offerings in the category of even more evidence that desserts can do no wrong.

3073 Walnut St., 303-447-2315

SOUTHSIDE WALNUT CAFÉ

Pizzeria

SUPER MINI WALNUT CAFÉ

1730 Pearl St., 303-442-3003 Second Place: Beau Jo’s Third Place: Proto’s Pizzeria Napoletana Fourth Place: Backcountry Pizza & Tap House Fifth Place: Lucky Pie Pizza and Tap House

673 S. Broadway, 720-304-8118

2770 Arapahoe Road #116, Lafayette, 720328-9208 Second Place: Mountain Sun/ Southern Sun Third Place: Flagstaff House Fourth Place: Frasca Food and Wine Fifth Place: The Kitchen

T

here’s a war going down in the restaurants of Boulder. It’s a very polite war.

Its weapons are speed, smiles and samples.

Its armor is aprons and no-slip shoes. Its battleground is the unsuspecting diner. But, trust us, that’s a good thing.

This category is as close and as fiercely fought as any in our Best of Boulder contest.

Last year, Walnut Café/Southside Walnut Café and Mountain Sun/Southern Sun fought to a draw, each taking home a share of the title. This year, it looked like the same outcome was inevitable, but the cafés

PIZZERIA LOCALE

I

f you want to view Boulder foodies in their natural habitat, look no further than the artisan cheese-topped goodness at Pizzeria Locale. Our winner serves up Neapolitanstyle pizzas so good that you may feel the urge to kiss your fingers and come back again with your mama. Creatively crafted dishes include the white “Panna e Crudo” (mozzarella, egg yolks, crème fraiche, prosciutto crudo, garlic, arugula, parmigiano reggiano) or the red and veggie “Ortolano” (tomato sauce, mozzarella, pecorino, zucchini, eggplant, peppers).

If you’re craving a straightforward pizza born in a nearby mountain town, check out our second place winner, Beau Jo’s.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Weddings and Special Events Farm-to-Table Dinners • Organic Produce On 120 rolling acres just 10 miles north of Boulder, Lone Hawk Farm provides a lovely, peaceful setting for special events. The diversified farm supports our local food community with organic gardens, orchards and vineyards. same owners as taj mahal in louisville 15 years expertise specializing in northern indian cuisine

lonehawkfarms.com • 303-776-8458

now serving Beer & wine!

Everyday Lunch Special

7.99

$

25% OFF

ANY PURCHASE expires 4/1/14

Mon - Sat: Lunch 11:00 - 2:30 Mon - Thurs: Dinner 5:00 - 9:30 Fri - Sat: Dinner 5:00 - 10:00 (closed Sunday) Dine In and Carry Out

1214 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO 80302 303.442.0999 free customer parking upon validation

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

THANK YOU BOULDER

for all the VOTES and SUPPORT

Best Frozen Yogurt

Best New Business

Best Independent Business

Best Frozen Yogurt

Best Frozen Yogurt

1682 30th Street • 303.444.0690 RippleYogurt.com April 25, 2013 23

Voted Boulder’s

Sushi

SUSHI ZANMAI

#1 Chocolatier! s s e n t e e w S FT OF

E GI IVE TH

G

words? t h g i r nd the chocolate! fi t ’ n a C cious i l e er, d d rememb Sen

ay t to ou wan berries will s y e n o y w r a for eve re. e or str Perfect fine chocolat end to and mo om f t r in so sf our gift verything you love with gift tory! c r e a u hem yo in Chocolate F t w o h S Mounta Rocky

Spend $25 and get

A FREE CARAMEL APPLE Must present this ad.

Serving up sweetness since 1982 1300 Pearl Street, Boulder Call or place an order online 303-444-8455 www.rmcf/CO/boulder50490 24 April 25, 2013

1221 Spruce St., 303-440-0733 Second Place: Hapa Sushi Third Place: Sushi Tora Fourth Place: Japango Fifth Place: Sushi Hana

B

oulder is blessed with fantastic sushi from any number of world-class restaurants. Our children start stuffing raw octopus in their mouths just about as soon as they learn to walk. By the time they hit grade school, most Boulder tykes wouldn’t even consider knocking back a little Uni without insisting on adding the raw quail eggs. In other words, when our well-educated, well-traveled readers — folks who have literally grown up on sushi and have consumed this delicacy in some of the finest sushi haunts from around the world — say that Sushi Zanmai is the best sushi restaurant in this sushi town, it’s really saying something. And it speaks very highly of every restaurant on this list.

Take Out

NOODLES & COMPANY

2602 Baseline Road, 720-304-2044 1600 28th St., 303-546-9000 1245 Alpine Ave., 303-440-0991 Second Place: Snarf ’s Sub Shop Third Place: Khow Thai Fourth Place: Chez Thuy Fifth Place: Nick-N-Willy’s

Y

ou don’t know if you want Chinese, Nepalese, Italian or just plain old American. All you know is that you’re starv-

ing and way too tired to worry about making dinner, let alone putzing around the grocery store.You know you need take out, and you need it now. From Asian to Mediterranean to American food, Noodles & Company has all your bases covered.

Whether it’s homestyle mac & cheese for the kiddos, a Mediterranean salad you’re taking to the gluten-free neighbor or a bowl of savory Thai curry soup you want all to yourself, Noodles has got your back. So, fear not, hungry Boulderites, for Noodles is fast food that you can feel good about grabbing.

Thai Restaurant

KHOW THAI

1600 Broadway, 303-447-0273 Second Place: Buddha Thai Cuisine Third Place: Thai Kitchen Fourth Place: Aloy Thai Fifth Place: Busaba

B

oulder has a healthy variety of restaurants serving up pad thai, spring rolls and yellow curry. But when it comes down to it, locals choose Khow Thai — in fact, 2013 marks the 10th consecutive year the restaurant has won Best of Boulder.

Regulars swear by the reasonably priced panang curry and Pad Kee Mow (spicy flat noodles). And it’s hard to resist Khow Thai’s origin story of hard-working Toi Newman, an immigrant with a knack for cooking who, along with her husband, opened a restaurant in bustling Boulder and made their dream come true. Here’s to 10 years of awesome!

Place to Go Hunting

MAPLETON HILL

A

late-night shooting in a quiet neighborhood; a defenseless victim; cops out of control; community outrage. Take a sad, all-too-common story in today’s news, and then hilariously Boulder-ize it, and you’ve got Mapleton Elkgate.

At its heart, of course, the story isn’t funny. Boulder cops allegedly broke the law and killed an adult elk out of season in a residential neighborhood. Alert residents on Mapleton Hill recorded the cops posing with the dead animal and taking it away, leading to an investigation and, eventually, to the cops’ resignations and to charges from the Boulder County district attorney.

The funny part? Take your pick: A Facebook page in memory of “Big Boy” has almost 1,000 “likes.” Residents have proposed a statue of an elk. Boulderites held a candlelight vigil, calling the shooting a “murder” and a “tragedy.”

We don’t mean to offend by calling these things funny. But when you’re faced with Facebook comments about the officers like “I would go to the elk’s memorial before ever going to theirs!” we laugh because otherwise we might cry.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

s r e n n i ulder W

o B f o Best

ahouse e T t s e B biance, m A t s e E-B Outside S t a U E O o H t EA ce ANBE T taurant Best Pla s H e S R L U L y l A D d H ULDER an Frien INING i O r D B a t A E e g U H e T Q V AUTAU T - Best H N C A E R H U T A N REST A I R A T EGE LEAF V

THREE LEAF CONCEPTS FOOD • TEA • FARM

THE BOULDER DUSHANBE TEAHOUSE | THE CHAUTAUQUA DINING HALL LEAF VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT | AJI LATIN AMERICAN RESTAURANT ZUCCA ITALIAN RISTORANTE | THE HUCKLEBERRY THREE LEAF FARM | THREE LEAF CATERING

www.threeleafconcepts.com

THE BOULDER TEA COMPANY

Susan France

Kristi Rippley of Moe’s Broadway Bagel

Asian-Fusion Restaurant

to donuts. And you can always pile on the superfood toppings.

CHEZ THUY

2655 28th St., 303-442-1700 Second Place: Hapa Sushi Third Place: Khow Thai Cafe Fourth Place: Buddha Thai Cuisine Fifth Place: Moongate Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar

W

hen it comes to Asian fusion cuisine, Chez Thuy shows us time and time again that it’s a step above the rest.

With dishes inspired by French, Indonesian, Malaysian and Chinese flavors, Chez Thuy is more than your typical Vietnamese restaurant. Perhaps it’s the taste-budtantalizing Lobster Tamarind or the Kung Pao Tofu that keep Boulder residents coming back for more, or maybe they spiked the boba. Either way, they’ve got our vote! This year marks Chez Thuy’s (pronounced “twee”) 20th in business, and what better way to celebrate than with yet another Best of Boulder award proving the restaurant is still around for a reason.

Bagel

MOE’S BROADWAY BAGEL

3075 Arapahoe Ave., 303-442-4427 2650 Broadway, 303-444-3252 3267 28th St., 720-406-9000 Second Place: Einstein Bros Bagels 26 April 25, 2013

Barbecue

KT’S REAL GOOD BBQ

Third Place: Big Daddy Bagels Fourth Place: Panera Bread Fifth Place: Mickey C’s Bagels

D

onuts have sometimes been doomed in Boulder, but their close relative, bagels — which can be adorned with hummus, sprouts and other Boulderitefriendly toppings — are a hit. Moe’s Broadway Bagel, this year’s winner, sells its doughy, fresh-baked bagels in flavors from jalapeño to granola at three Boulder locations. Moe’s also offers locally themed sandwiches like the Mount Sanitas, which could power a bagel-loving local up the steep popular hike. (Though slogans like “Only the Best Get Baked!” indicate that some bagel buyers may have another agenda.) They also sell tie-dyed shirts, in case you forgot yours, and dog treats for your pooch. You can also grab a dozen bagels for under $10 if you’ve got a big crew with a bagel hankering. At least they’re nutritionally superior

2675 13th St., 303-442-3717 7464 Arapahoe Road, 303-786-7608 Second Place: West End Tavern Third Place: The Rib House Fourth Place: Moe’s Original Bar B Que Fifth Place: LuLu’s BBQ

K

eep it simple, stupid.

That might as well be the mantra for this category’s winner, KT’s Real Good BBQ, and untold numbers of other barbecue joints around the country. At KT’s, you’ll find the five meats that make barbecue magical — pork, beef brisket, chicken, hot links and spare ribs — and the three sides that barbecue demands — cole slaw, mashed potatoes and beans. A barbecue chicken salad is about the only deviation from the basics that define barbecue.

Tack on one of KT’s three sauces, which cover the thick and sweet Texas style, the vinegary Memphis and the straight-up spicy, and you’re ready to get messy.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

VOTED BEST OF BOULDER NEARLY EVERY YEAR SINCE 2OO1

YOUR BEST VISION STARTS HERE iLASIK Technology

(used @ BEYER LASIK) :

• Is approved by NASA for military pilots and astronauts • Precisely measures your refractive error & unique irregularities to program customized treatment • Includes ActiveTrack 3-D, the first FDA approved system that tracks eye movement along the X, Y and Z axes

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• Has performed LVC longer than any other surgeon in Colorado • Was on surgical team that performed the world’s first LVC • Co-authored the original scientific paper describing the LASIK procedure • Has trained surgeons throughout the world

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Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

303.499.2O2O WWW.BOULDEREYES.COM

April 25, 2013 27

courtesy of Noodles & Company

Noodles & Company

Japanese Restaurant

Kid-Friendly Restaurant

SUSHI ZANMAI

NOODLES & COMPANY

O

J

1221 Spruce St., 303-440-0733 Second Place: Hapa Sushi Third Place: Sushi Tora Fourth Place: Japango Fifth Place: Amu Sake Bar and Restaurant ur readers love Japanese cuisine. As a result, the city is in a constant state of hyper-competition to see which of the area’s top Japanese restaurants will win the coveted readers’ choice for Best of Boulder.

Because it is so competitive, it’s truly impressive that Sushi Zanmai has once again reined supreme in this year’s competition. Sushi Zanmai’s food ranges from sushi, of course, to offerings such as beef sukiyaki, tonkatsu, pepper steak and noodle selections including yakisoba and curry udon. The restaurant offers happy hour sushi as well as lunch specials. But the secret to SZ’s success is as much about the atmosphere as it is the great food.

Bottom line, Sushi Zanmai is always fun, whether it’s a chef blowing on a saxophone or karaoke on a Saturday night. And who doesn’t love a party?

28 April 25, 2013

Various locations around Boulder County Second Place: Mountain Sun/Southern Sun Third Place: Burger Works/Red Robin Fourth Place: Walnut Café/Southside Walnut Café/Super Mini Walnut Café Fifth Place: Wahoo’s Fish Taco ust by the category title, readers might be inclined not to take this group very seriously. “Kid-friendly” sounds like they’ve got a clown wandering among the tables or photos of Yo Gabba Gabba! characters pasted on the walls.

But with childhood obesity, nutrition and development at the forefront of people’s minds, earning the top spot for being kid-friendly is a big deal. It means you’ve got food that kids love and you’re conscious about how to serve it.

This year, Noodles & Company once again takes first for its kidfriendly menu — if you have the rare child who isn’t fond of macaroni and cheese or spaghetti, there’s bound to be a noodle somewhere on the board they’ll like — and for its casual atmosphere. Runner-up Mountain Sun/ Southern Sun provides a kids’ menu and a stack of board games.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Thanks Boulder for Voting Us Best Bar Best Beer Selection Best American Restaurant Best New Restaurnat (Under The Sun) Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 29

Susan France

2650 Broadway, Boulder 303.444.3252 3075 Arapahoe, Boulder 303.442.4427 550 Grant, Denver 303.733.7331 3267 28th St. Boulder 720.406.9000 Visit us at moesbagel.com

FREE BAGEL

w/ PLAIN CREAM CHEESE Must present this coupon.

Expires 5/9/13

Thank you, Boulder.

Your mouths have spoken.

Steven Hirschhorn at Snooze

Pancake/Waffle

SNOOZE

1617 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-225-7344 Second Place: Walnut Café/Southside Walnut Café/Super Mini Walnut Café Third Place: The Buff Restaurant Fourth Place: Dot’s Diner Fifth Place: The Huckleberry

P

2013 Best of Boulder Winner - Best Burger Larkburger Boulder

ancakes don’t often get treated to more innovation than Mickey Mouse ears or the addition of blueberries or chocolate chips and the occasional attention of one of those people who can flip them straight out of the pan. They’re a breakfast standard — good just as they are.

But Snooze has taken it to a new level, and with entries like the “Coffee and Donuts” pancake, a pancake glazed with maple icing and crushed pecans, served with espresso cream, it’s not tough to imagine what’s taken them to the lead in the category for best pancake in town. This decadent maple number isn’t alone on the menu — it’s accompanied by pancakes served a la pineapple upside down cake, with carmelized chunks of the tropical fruit, vanilla crème anglaise and cinnamon butter; sweet potato buttermilk pancakes; and classic favorites with chocolate chips, blueberries or chocolate and peanut butter. They even have gluten-free options.

The innovation just keeps coming, and Snooze likes to keep the menu a little fresh and surprising, so it’s possible that a beloved pancake could rotate off for a while. But we have faith that they’ll keep plating up appetizing options for the sweet tooth at the breakfast table.

The Village, 2525 Arapahoe Avenue • 303.444.1487

Reader Comment

find us on:

“Boulder Weekly is liberal minded, intelligent and thoughtfully written.”

30 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Business Lunch

THE MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT 1002 Walnut St., 303-444-5335 Second Place: The Kitchen Third Place: Brasserie Ten Ten Fourth Place: Boulder Cork Fifth Place: OAK at fourteenth

W

e know how it is with these business lunches. The boss clamors for Spanish food.

The visiting executive wants Greek. The worker bees are making overtures about Italian. And the IT guy wants Egyptian. Well, you are in luck. There is a place that serves all of these cuisines and more, and it’s in downtown Boulder. It’s The Med, and the ambiance is perfect for professionals, whether you get seated on the gorgeous patio or in one of the clean, tastefully decorated dining rooms. The menu is diverse enough to satisfy all tastes, and if it’s one of those three-martini lunches, they can accommodate!

Catering

A SPICE OF LIFE CATERING

5541 Central Ave., Ste. 272, 303-443-4049 Second Place: Dish Gourmet Third Place: Il Pastaio Fourth Place: Ristorante L Fifth Place: Sage and Savory Catering

W

hether you’re hosting a wedding, bar mitzvah or birthday bash, everyone knows one of the key ingredients to creating an event to remember is the food. Since 1987, A Spice of Life Catering has made a name for itself as a caterer that won’t leave you hanging with overcooked steaks or too few salmon fillets. If you prefer full-service, A Spice of Life boasts its own event center in addition to specialized vegetarian, kosher and brunch menus. But beyond the great food, A Spice of Life takes its mission of sustainability seriously, with a commitment to farm-to-table ingredients, zero waste and giving back to the community.

Spicing up Boulder since 2008!

Chinese Restaurant

CHINA GOURMET

3970 N. Broadway, 303-440-3500 Second Place: Golden Lotus Third Place: Moongate Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar Fourth Place: Five Spice Fifth Place: Spice China/May Wah (tie)

I

t’s hard to say what magic lies within sesame chicken or crab cheese wontons dipped in sweet and sour sauce, but when you’re craving Chinese food’s marriage of savory and sweet, nothing else will do. While Boulder has many local restaurants to choose from, our winner, China Gourmet, stands above the rest. Regular patrons come back again and again not for the décor, but for China Gourmet’s fresh ingredients (like healthy, steamed veggies), reliable quality, fair prices and quick service. Our runner-up, Golden Lotus, is also known for its tasty Asian cuisine and makes for a festive evening out.

Caribbean Style Fish House

TORTUGAS

218 Coffman St., Longmont, 303-772-6954

F

or 16 years Tortugas has been serving up the best Caribbean style seafood on the Front Range. The owners not only greet you at the door, they cook up every amazing meal of fresh coastal seafood from the U.S. and Mexico paired with fresh fruit salsas and other distinctive Caribbean and Cajun ingredients.Throw on some “Pete’s Heat” — Tortuga’s own magical concoction — and you will swear you’re sitting on an island beach.Throw back a few rum drinks and you might even hear the ocean. This place is a must.

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 31

Susan France

Bakery

Vegetarian Friendly

BREADWORKS

LEAF VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

2644 Broadway, 303-444-5667 Second Place: Great Harvest Bread Company Third Place: Spruce Confections Fourth Place: Boulder Baked Fifth Place: Tee & Cakes

I

t’s the third day since you started the Atkins Diet and you haven’t so much glanced at a bagel or apple turnover, but today, your alarm clock didn’t go off.You find yourself stopping for coffee and suddenly the pastry case is seducing you with it’s Breadworks was voted the best bakery in the county. sugar-coated gluten goodness.

Stop — before you are inclined to indulge — are you at Breadworks? You’ll know right away: you can smell the freshbaked artisan breads the minute your nose Salad Bar gets past the door. From the basics of a BEAU JO’S PIZZA baguette to the highly specialized cranberry 2690 Baseline Road, 303-554-5312 semolina loaf, Breadworks uses stoneground, organic flour in all of its breads, e are a health-conscious staff here at Boulder Weekly. When which are made fresh every morning. This we’re hungry, we think lean, so we go green.Veggies, that is. And classic, locally-owned bakery doesn’t stop Beau Jo’s Pizza has the best salad bar in town. I mean, who doesn’t there. An extensive list of muffins, croislove a hot, steaming slice of salad, with delicious, lycopene-rich tomato sauce sants, tarts, cakes, cookies and brownies, as topped with heaps of healthful, protein-filled cheese and meats. Beau Jo’s salad well as an entire breakfast and lunch a la comes with a thick, doughy crust, which, when dipped in honey, is a dessert in and carte dining area, is bound to satisfy even of itself. And if you’re feeling decadent, there’s a whole buffet of non-salad items, the toughest critic. So before you swear off such as lettuce and other vegetables, with various sauces on which to lather them. carbs for life (again), delight yourself to danish and coffee at Boulder’s best bakery.

W

32 April 25, 2013

2010 16th St., 303-442-1485 Second Place: Modmarket Third Place: Native Foods Fourth Place: Shine Restaurant and Gathering Place Fifth Place: Ras Kassa’s Ethiopian Restaurant

V

egetarians, vegans and carnivores get along pretty well in Boulder. That’s probably because they don’t have to fight over where to eat. Plenty of local restaurants offer options to all sects of diners. But those who want a completely vegetarian experience turn to Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant. It offers eggs from its own farm while still catering to vegan and even raw-food diners with options like raw ravioli and raw enchiladas. And if you have an adamant meat-eater in your group, you can order from the Leaf menu at neighboring Aji Latin American Restaurant, which is under the same ownership.

At the second-place winner, Modmarket, you can grab a quick, farm-fresh bite on the Twenty Ninth Street mall without needing to venture downtown.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Authentic & Original Recipes Thank Y Boulde ou r for consiste voting ntly us the

“Best o

f Bo

Locally-Owned since 1993

• Grilled Meats & Seafood • Full Bar • Stir Fry • Vegetarian Specialties • Salad-Style Noodle Bowls

Since 2 ulder” We app 003 r your su eciate pport

• Curries & Stews • Traditional Noodle Soups (Pho) • Crystal Rolls & Wraps • Kids Menu

2655 28th Street, Boulder Convenient free parking behind building

303-442-1700

Dine-in or Carry out. See full menu at:

www.ChezThuy.com

Comida Food Truck

Food Truck

Frozen Yogurt

COMIDA

RIPPLE PURE FROZEN YOGURT

720-204-6455 Second Place: Oskar Blues Bonewagon Third Place: RollinGreens Fourth Place:The Wandering Cow Frozen Yogurt & Waffles Fifth Place:Verde Food Truck

I

t’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a bright pink food truck serving up Mexican comfort food out of a kitchen on wheels.

It’s hard to miss the Comida food truck stopped on a side street, standing out against a mundane, ever-so-normal neighborhood, the smell of sizzling steak and pork carnitas wafting in the breeze. Changing the game of fast food, Comida serves $3 tacos and $2 Mexican Cokes to those trying to eat on the run — or anyone hoping to break up the monotony of leftovers in the office break room. Curious diners can catch the pink truck at festivals, in office parks and at neighborhood events.

1682 30th St., 303-444-0690 Second Place: Spooners Frozen Yogurt Third Place:The Boulder Chill Fourth Place: Aspen Leaf Yogurt Fifth Place: Boom Yogurt Bar

F

or Boulder, the frozen yogurt boom is far from a bust. Hey, at least it’s made with non-fat or low-fat milk, right? Heck, some flavors are even made with almond milk now.

So it’s at least kind of good for you, right?

Looks like Boulderites are all voting yes on this one, and Ripple Pure Frozen Yogurt has stolen Boulder’s heart once again. Aside from all of Ripple’s dairy-free, non-fat deliciousness, the store is keeping Boulder’s sweet tooth sustainable one ounce at a time.

Ripple owners buy local as much as possible and purchase milk from Front Range dairies, yogurt from Noosa Yoghurt and toppings from Fiona’s Granola. Plus, their spoons, water cups, take-away bags, sample cups and napkins are all compostable.

Misplaced Restaurant

CAFE AION

1235 Pennsylvania Ave., 303-993-8131

W

ithin a couple blocks of Cafe Aion, there are three pizza places, multiple late-night joints catering to the drunk student crowd, cheap Chinese, a hookah bar, a popular music venue and more. Yet Cafe Aion has made a name for itself offering high-quality tapas and entrees, despite being surrounded by nothing but college students. The restaurant has managed to find a strange niche at the site of the old Aion Used Books — they get students reaching up, young professionals, and the University Hill and South Boulder homeowners who don’t want to make the drive to Pearl Street. Their tapas and happy hour are of big-city quality, and get there Wednesday night for their paella and a bottle of wine deal for two.

34 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

I am

67

Susan France

VOTED

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Let Us Cater The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

Restaurant Ambiance

THE BOULDER DUSHANBE TEAHOUSE 1770 13th St., 303-442-4993 Second Place: Flagstaff House Third Place: The Mediterranean Restaurant Fourth Place: The Kitchen Fifth Place: Black Cat Farm-Table-Bistro

your next party 28th St. , Boulder 10% OFF 3325303-247-9000 YOUR NEXT PARTY PLATTER Expires 4/1/14

dangelosdeli.com

I

f you’re looking for ambiance, it’s hard to beat a place where you can either sit outside, listening to Boulder Creek babble by, or dine under a ceiling that was hand-carved and painted with Persian art halfway around the world. The cedar columns inside the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, of which no two are exactly alike, were also carved without the use of any power tools in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The teahouse was sent to Boulder from its sister city, Dushanbe, in ready-to-reassemble parts, as a symbol of international friendship. We’ve welcomed it with tourists, locals, business meetings and specialoccasion gatherings — and anyone else who can’t get enough of the unmatched atmosphere.

But if your preferred ambiance involves wine or breathtaking views, you may go for the runner-up, the Flagstaff House, which is built high on Flagstaff Road and overlooks Boulder.

Place to Get a Gluten-Free Panini and a Chocolate/Bacon Bar While Looking at Local Art and Listening to Live Folk Music

SUN ROSE CAFÉ

379 Main St., Longmont, 303-651-3533

Y

ep, you can get all that and more at the Sun Rose Café. This place is definitely a little different, in a very good way. The Sun Rose supports the local arts scene by providing abundant space on its exposed brick walls for artists to show their wares. And a regular lineup of folk and bluegrass music keeps the place lively.

The menu has a great selection of sandwiches and salads, and in the evening the Sun Rose rolls out a special menu of fine dining to accompany the regular menu choices. And they sell an eclectic selection of organic products, from chocolate to chips to sauces and beverages that you can’t find just anywhere. It’s well worth checking out.

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 35

Susan France

Lauren M. Rosinski of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Chocolatier

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE FACTORY 1300 Pearl St., 303-444-8455 Second Place: Piece, Love & Chocolate Third Place: Chocolove Fourth Place: Seth Ellis Chocolatier Fifth Place: Robin Chocolates

W

hether you’re the helpless victim of a bad breakup and fighting to find the strength to get off the couch, in dire need of a little afternoon pick-me-up or looking to celebrate a regular Tuesday, let’s face it — everybody loves chocolate. From white to milk to dark to extra dark and noir, the art of making chocolate is just that — an art. For Boulderites this year, the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is the master of chocolate making. Despite being a national company, it’s no doubt that the factory has down-home roots. Chocoholics who come to the Boulder store can hang out and watch staff members pull apples from a copper kettle or learn to make fudge on an old-fashioned marble slab. Plus, you’ve got to give Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory bonus points for its limitless supply of free samples.

Hole in the Wall

RESTAURANTE 100% MEXICANO 2850 Iris Ave., 303-440-4141

C

alling a restaurant a “hole in the wall” isn’t a bad thing, any more than calling a shirt “long-sleeved” is. It’s just a fact.

And no restaurant’s more of a hole in the wall than Restaurante 100% Mexicano, a cafeteria-bright spot tucked into the Diagonal Plaza’s mini-mall with a DMV office and a check-cashing service, among others. But 100% isn’t just the biggest hole in the wall. It’s also the best. 100% is a truly authentic Mexican restaurant, meaning you won’t see Combination Special No. 5 on the menu, you’ll see eight tortas and menudo — weekends only, naturally — not to mention tongue tacos and birria lamb stew. It’s the kind of place that has horchata, carrot juice and Jamaican flower juice.

36 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

For all Abo’s locations check:

www.abospizza.com ABO’S PIZZA SOUTH

637 S. Broadway St. • Boulder • 303.494.1274

BEST SLICE OF PIZZA IN BOULDER COUNTY. PERIOD. ABO’S PIZZA NORTH

2761 Iris Avenue • Boulder • 303.443.1921

Susan France

Best Local Barrel-Aged Gin

ROUNDHOUSE SPIRITS

H

ere in Boulder County we are lucky to have one of the few distilleries in the country that makes a special light-brown gin that is aged in oak casks. It’s the Imperial Barrel Aged Gin from Roundhouse Spirits. Some call it “ginskey” because the process introduces subtle tones of scotch and whiskey. Swing by and give it a taste sometime.

Bar

MOUNTAIN SUN

1535 Pearl St., 303-546-0886

SOUTHERN SUN

627 S. Broadway, 303-543-0886 Second Place: The Bitter Bar Third Place: West End Tavern Fourth Place: Conor O’Neill’s Fifth Place: World Famous Dark Horse Bar and Grill

I

t’s easy enough to joke about Boulder as a hippie town, or an ex-hippie town. It might be accurate, too. But the winners here show that it’s by no means a complete picture of the city.

In fact, the top three best bars are an interesting cross-section of Boulder.

Topping the category is the Grateful Dead-esque Mountain Sun/Southern Sun, easily one of the liveliest spots in town any night of the week. The busy, friendly bar also represents Boulder’s much-loved breweries on this list.

Then there’s the upscale craft cocktails of The Bitter Bar, drawing in its own distinctive clientele, followed by the beer-and-bourbon specialists at West End Tavern. Naturally, all three pack in the crowds, spanning from hippie to yuppie to sports and barbecue fans. And of course, live music is a fixture at each of this year’s winners.

Southern Sun Pub & Brewery kitchen manager Evan Fox, left, and general manager William Doerrmann.

38 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Best Liquor Store Best New Business

Susan France

Reader Comment “Been out of the circuit too long!”

Happy Hour

THE MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT 1002 Walnut St., 303-444-5335 Second Place: Boulder Cafe Third Place: Brasserie Ten Ten Fourth Place: Jax Fish House Fifth Place: Mountain Sun/Southern Sun

H

appy hour at The Med should be called happy “hours,” since it lasts from 3 to 6:30 p.m. every day of the week. And happy they are, indeed. The Med’s happy hour menu features a long list of its tasty, reasonably priced, small appetizer plates known as “tapas,” of both the hot and cold variety. Beers are a buck off, cocktails are $4, sangria is $4.50 and a margarita or martini will only set you back six bones. But more important, we think, is the atmosphere at The Med. It just screams, “Hey! You deserve a drink with friends downtown after that long, hard day at work!”

Beer Labels

LEFT HAND BREWING COMPANY

Runners-Up: Upslope Brewing Company, Avery Brewing Company

W

ow. This was our most talked-about staff pick. From its start, when someone on staff suggested “Prettiest Beer Bottle,” it was hotly debated. It turned into one of those arguments — er, discussions — where you run up to a friend and ask their vote but start walking away three words into their answer when you realize they aren’t in your corner.

The contestants: Upslope, the quintessential minimalist approach, with its attractive label switching colors chameleon-like on different cans. Oskar Blues, also in the color-swapping class but with a dominant font and a little attitude. Boulder Beer, which hits all the notes (the Flatirons, pictures of hops, hippie font) but is really two different styles depending on the beer. Avery, with the familiar window style and the distinctive characters of a naked albino devil and a cute dog.

This isn’t even taking into account beer logos, an entirely different category that FATE Brewing, with its clever negative-space emblem, has to be a favorite in.

Honorable mention there might go to the West Flanders lion head, which kind of bridges the gap between a soccer club’s logo and a brewery’s, and the in-your-face BS of Bootstrap Brewing.

Ultimately we landed on Left Hand. Swirling, dark and mysterious; recognizable but detailed; when you think about it, a little obsessed with skulls. You know you’ve got strong design when people name Fade to Black as a great label, and there really isn’t anything on the label but white lines on black. Another favorite is the startling, confrontational Oktoberfest Märzen Lager, the best of many lions’ heads on the market. Left Hand’s hit the perfect balance: You know the brand right away, but you can study the details as you empty the bottle.

40 April 25, 2013

Ozo Coffee barista Greg Lefcourt

Coffee House

OZO COFFEE CO.

1015 Pearl St., 303-645-4885 5340 Arapahoe Ave., 303-440-0233 Second Place: The Laughing Goat Third Place: Vic’s Fourth Place: The Cup Fifth Place: Amante

O

zo Coffee Co. makes a pretty darn good espresso, but to judge a coffee shop by just its coffee is akin to judging a book by its cover. The atmosphere, the seating, the product, the wifi and the service all contribute to the ambience that creates a fine coffee shop. Ozo scores highly in all categories. Its friendly staff are more than willing to talk your ear off about the subtle flavors in its ever-rotating list of roasts. The chairs are comfortable enough to make you feel welcome staying a few hours. And, the list of lattes and mochas is long enough to ensure you never run out of new flavor combinations to try. Taking second is The Laughing Goat, which provides music and adult beverages in addition to wonderful coffee.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

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24 BEERPS oN TA

HAPPY HoUR 3-6PM EVERYDAY

20% off

all entrees Cannot be combined with any other offers.

Specials not included.

Dine in only. Valid at Lyons location only.

Expires 4/1/14

Susan France

LoCALLY oWNED & oPERATED

THE BEST

SMoKED BBQ

228 Main St., Lyons 303-823-RIBS (7427) www.smokindavesq.com

a place to nourish ourselves through food, community, and celebration. . .

Shiloh Lewis, bartender at 303 Vodka

Distillery

303 VODKA/BOULDER DISTILLERY

r ou Lig ht u p Y

open for lunch and dinner daily plus brunch on the weekends. we also host daily events in our beautiful gathering place.

2500 47th St., #10., 303-442-1244 Second Place: Roundhouse Spirits Third Place: Altitude Spirits Fourth Place: Rob’s Mountain Gin Fifth Place: Spirit Hound Distillers

Li f

T e.

. .S

100% gluten free Kitchen

in h t hine from wi

thAnK You BouLDer for Your ContinueD Support

2027 13th St. Boulder 303-449-0120 www.shineboulder.com

he story behind the winner of the inaugural “Best Distillery” category is a good one.

303 Vodka founder and physicist-by-trade Steve Viezbicke stumbled onto a recipe for potato vodka in a trunk belonging to his grandfather, “Grandpa Pete,” a Polish immigrant. A couple years of tinkering later, Viezbicke launched his distillery. The company now makes a whiskey as well as a vodka (no word yet if that recipe also came from a dusty attic). At the company’s distillery, an adventurous drinker can get all sorts of creative cocktails, such as a root beer-vodka concoction called “vootbeer” (get it?) and a number of different martinis, including a “candy cane” and a “Boulder Creek” varietal.

Roundhouse Spirits, which makes a killer gin, took second.

Reader Comment “Bartender at the Boulder Cafe is the only one who knows how to make a dirty martini!”

.

42 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

YOUR FAMILY

WILL THANK YOU. Susan France

SHOW THEM YOU CARE. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY.

Thank you for your votes for the Best of Boulder! www.pprm.org Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Katie MacBride of The Rio Grande

Margarita

THE RIO GRANDE

1101 Walnut St., 303-444-3690 Second Place: Tahona Third Place: Efrain’s Fourth Place: Zolo Grill Fifth Place: Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace

O

ur favorite story about The Rio Grande is when a margarita-loving relative, who will go unnamed for his own protection, became a regular in the bar there and after a few years saw a menu and asked incredulously, “They serve food here?”

Yes, Virginia, they serve food at the Rio, not just their world-famous margaritas, and it’s quite good. The food, that is. Not that the margaritas aren’t. That’s our whole point. These bad boys are so strong that they literally won’t let you drink more than three in one night. And don’t order anything too spicy here, if you do go for the food, because those margs go down really smoothly and quickly when you’re thirsty, which can be dangerous. But fun.

Underappreciated Bar

CATACOMBS

S

ometimes you need to get off the beaten Pearl Street Mall path and hit a basement bar like the one under the historic Boulderado hotel. Catacombs is a Boulder original, a classic, funky establishment that has pool tables and arcade games, not to mention trivia night on Tuesdays and karaoke on Wednesdays. Plus, they recently upgraded their dance space, so check out the DJ scene Thursday through Saturday.

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 43

Celebrating 20 Years of Kids Riding Bikes

Ages 7-17

Susan France

Easy to advanced trail riding allows young riders the opportunity to master new skills in a safe, fun and supportive environment.

Weekly Summer Camps June - August

Weekend, Afterschool and Team Programs February - October

www.ridesmba.org • jessie@lertprograms.com (303) 447-8014

Coffee Roaster

OZO COFFEE CO. 1015 Pearl St., 303-645-4885 5340 Arapahoe Ave., 303-440-0233 Second Place: Boxcar Coffee Roasters Third Place: Brewing Market Fourth Place: Conscious Coffee Fifth Place: The Unseen Bean

Keeping Boulder County Safe & Sexy since 1973 Whether you’re a woman, man or teen looking for low-cost birth control, STI testing and treatment, or reproductive health care, the sexual health experts at Women’s Health can help.

See what Women’s Health can do for you.

303.442.5160

boulderwomenshealth.org boulderwomenshealth 2855 Valmont, Boulder 82 21st Ave, Longmont

44 April 25, 2013

A

s the general populace’s knowledge of coffee has increased over the past few years, so has the number of competitors in this once-lonesome category. It seems every coffee shop now either roasts its own beans or gets them carted in by donkey from a guru on top of a mountain. This year, Ozo Coffee Co. once again takes home the trophy. The mad scientists at Ozo are constantly developing titillating new roasts, satiating the thirst of even the most adventurous coffee drinker. Boxcar Coffee Roasters, which supplies beans to several coffee shops around the city, takes second.

New Beer

BRU’S BEEZEL BELGIAN STYLE GOLDEN ALE

Runners-Up: Bootstrap Brewing’s Pumpkin Ale; Wild Woods’ Ponderosa Porter; Twisted Pine Brewing’s Cucumber Cream Ale

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e really can’t say enough good things about new breweries and new beers in Boulder County. This staff award, if it continues, could be the most difficult to decide in coming years, as local breweries continue to amaze and delight beer lovers.

This year, we’re naming a few brand-new beers, and, by chance, our favorite new beers are all of the added-ingredient variety. Beer’s a flexible fluid, and these three found ways to introduce new ingredients to the mix to give their brews complex and unusual flavors.

Among many worthy candidates, we’re honoring BRU, a one-man operation started in 2012 by Ian Clark, a well-known Boulder chef. BRU’s Belgian-style golden ale features black pepper, bitter orange peel and honey, giving it a firmer backbone and clearer citrus flavor than most Belgians. At Wild Woods, owners Jake and Erin Evans turn out a kickass oak-aged porter made with whole vanilla beans, Bootstrap brewers Steve and Leslie Kaczeus have concocted a spicy and delicious pumpkin brown ale, and Twisted Pine’s refreshing cucumber ale is summer in a bottle.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Susan France

Microbrewery

Chai

AVERY BREWING COMPANY

BHAKTI CHAI

5763 Arapahoe Ave., 303-440-4324 Second Place: Mountain Sun/ Southern Sun Third Place: Oskar Blues Fourth Place: Left Hand Brewing Company Fifth Place: Upslope Brewing Company

I

n Boulder’s craft brew scene, Avery Brewing Company is the black sheep, the class clown and the mad scientist. The brewery consistently offers out-there concoctions like the world-renown Maharaja, made with four varieties of hops, and the deep burgundy Beast Grand Cru Ale, clocking in at 15 to 17 percent alcohol. The taproom, which is scheduled to move to Gunbarrel in the near future, provides a warm atmosphere for trying samples of Avery’s latest experiments, and the brewery periodically hosts awesome beer events like the Boulder Strong Ale Fest and the Boulder SourFest.

Cocktails

BITTER BAR

835 Walnut St., 303-442-3050 Second Place: The Mediterranean Restaurant Third Place: St Julien Hotel Fourth Place: OAK at fourteenth Fifth Place: SALT

T

ake equal parts talented mixologists and craft liquors, and you’ve got the recipe for some great cocktails — which is much what Bitter Bar pours every night. Bitter Bar staffs a fleet of innovative, determined (and now award-winning) bartenders and stocks a bar with rare and meticulously cultivated craft liquors. The blend leads to some creative cocktails with flourishes, like fresh ginger, cayenne maple syrup and ice cubes of almond milk or cider that leave martini glasses topped in lime wedges feeling a little underdressed.

Greta Kuhlman of Avery Brewing Company

C

Reader Comment “Going on what I hear, I don’t drink.”

Latte

OZO COFFEE CO.

1015 Pearl St., 303-645-4885 5340 Arapahoe Ave., 303-440-0233 Second Place: The Laughing Goat Third Place: Vic’s Fourth Place: The Cup Fifth Place: Amante

N

othing makes the somewhat bitter taste of espresso palatable to the coffee-averse like a well-made latte. Mix in milk and perhaps a shot of flavoring, and you’ve got something even a tried and true sweet tooth can enjoy. But let’s not knock the palate of hard-core latte drinkers. We’re sure the Italians had some much higher, more refined purpose in mind when they started blending espresso with steamed milk. We just got so distracted by those hearts, leaves and other designs gracing the top of the foam that we forgot to think much about it.

In any case, if you want a coffee with both the artistic and culinary imprints of your barista, the best stop in town, our readers say, is Ozo Coffee Co.

Juice/Smoothie

JAMBA JUICE

3053 Arapahoe Ave., 303-247-1170 Second Place: Whole Foods Market Third Place: Alfalfa’s Market Fourth Place: Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place Fifth Place: Rush Bowls

E

ver get a mid-day craving for the perfect blended concoction of mango, pineapple and passion fruit? Maybe you’re more of a strawberry-banana gal or a pomegranateblueberry-raspberry guy. No matter what your frozen desire, Jamba Juice has got you covered. And if the fruit in your smoothie isn’t enough of a health reason to drink your lunch, of course you can always add multivitamins, energy or protein for a little incentive boost. Our runner-up this year is Whole Foods, which includes a splash of green in each of its blended beverages — think spinach, chard, bok choy or kale.

Health alert!

Reader Comment “I could sure use one [drink].”

46 April 25, 2013

1048 Pearl St., 303-484-8770 Second Place: Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse Third Place: Third Street Chai Fourth Place: Pekoe Sip House Fifth Place: Trident Booksellers and Cafe hai tea’s sweet and spicy blend is Boulder’s personality in a cup. Its exotic flavors even find ways to adapt through the seasons; iced chai in the summer is refreshing after a yoga session, and warm chai’s spices feel like a good seasonal choice during chilly winter afternoons spent reading in a local coffee shop. Locally owned Bhakti Chai blends of black tea, cardamom, ginger and cane juice emulates the fiery “masala chai” tea made in India. No variation says Boulder quite as well.

Beer Selection

MOUNTAIN SUN

1535 Pearl St., 303-546-0886

SOUTHERN SUN

627 S. Broadway, 303-543-0886 Second Place: Backcountry Pizza Third Place: Oskar Blues Fourth Place: Old Chicago Fifth Place: Rueben’s

A

sk any 10 Boulderites their favorite Mountain Sun beer, and you’re likely to get 10 different answers, from the FYIPA to the Java Porter to the Colorado Kind or Annapurna ambers. Toss in the ridiculous variety of the rotating taps, which could have a barley wine one day, a Belgian the next and an imperial stout after that, and you’ve got a head-spinning range of brews to choose from. On top of all that, there’s the fact that Mountain Sun, Southern Sun, brand-new Under the Sun and Denver’s Vine Street are the only places you can get any Sun. Meanwhile, if you’ve just got to have a pint from that one brewery way off in — well, just about anywhere on Earth — runner-up Backcountry Pizza is all but guaranteed to have you covered.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 47

B

E

ER KAR D L AT OU

Jeremy Williams

VOTED BEST MARTIAL ARTS

Children & Adults

Customers at Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

Reader Comment

Call for First Free Class: 303.442.4330

BoulderKarate.com

just for girls!

Mocha

OZO COFFEE CO.

1015 Pearl St., 303-645-4885 5340 Arapahoe Ave., 303-440-0233 Second Place: The Laughing Goat Third Place: The Cup Fourth Place: Vic’s Fifth Place: Starbucks

Strong girls.

Strong women.

Better world.

Fun, creative, inspiring wilderness adventures...

“Need best dive bar.”

Y

Summer Courses Enrolling Now!

* * * *

1 to 14 day courses for ages 8-18 Generous financial aid available Professional Staff Excellent Safety Record

ou think you know coffee, but Ozo Coffee Co. has a list of mochas like you’ve never seen. With more than a dozen varieties, Ozo offers concoctions like the “Island” mocha, with coconut and macadamia nut syrup mixed in with the standard chocolate, and the “Lumberjack,” which blends 64 percent Costa Rican dark chocolate with maple syrup and vanilla flavors. With seemingly endless options, there’s a delightfully tasty option for everyone on Ozo’s mocha menu.

Teahouse

THE BOULDER DUSHANBE TEAHOUSE 1770 13th St., 303-442-4993 Second Place: Pekoe Sip House Third Place: Ku Cha House of Tea Fourth Place: Celestial Seasonings Fifth Place: Atlas Purveyors

S

303-938-9191

48 April 25, 2013

* womenswilderness.org

pice up your tea life at this year’s winner for the teahouse category: The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. Their lengthy list of offerings sample from the four main types of tea: white, green, black and oolong with imagination-piquing names like Silver Dragon. They have herbal teas, which technically aren’t really tea at all, but herbal infusions masquerading as tea. But the herbs included have special benefits, according to

Dushanbe’s website, that can include help with indigestion or flatulence or sleeplessness. And, of course, the Teahouse offers all kinds of teas in a hand-carved, ornatelypainted teahouse.

Your tea life could also get a dose of excitement at Pekoe Sip House, this year’s runner up, where the Spicy Green Chai (made with ginger, green tea and steamed milk) will leave a pleasant zinging sensation on your tongue.

Wine Selection

FRASCA FOOD AND WINE

1738 Pearl St., 303-442-6966 Second Place: Flagstaff House Third Place: The Kitchen Fourth Place: Boulder Cork Fifth Place: The Mediterranean Restaurant

G

reat meals deserve to be paired with great wines, and that is the essence of Frasca Food and Wine. At this worldclass restaurant, Owner and Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson works his magic over 200 varieties of wine chosen from some of the world’s most acclaimed vineyards, as well as amazing bottles from lesser-known regions and winemakers. The wait-staff at Frasca is extremely knowledgeable and can answer almost any wine question, but just in case they can’t, Frasca’s own sommelier, Bobby Stuckey, is nearly always walking the dining area to answer any questions and, as the restaurant’s website says, “offering unpretentious guidance and thoughtful recommendations.” If you truly love wine, you will love Frasca.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

TENT SALE

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Bank

ELEVATIONS CREDIT UNION

2960 Diagonal Highway, 303-4434672 (and numerous other locations around the county) Second Place: Wells Fargo Bank Third Place: Chase Bank Fourth Place: Boulder Valley Credit Union Fifth Place: First Bank

W

BOULDER BALLET

e’re all about keeping it local in Boulder County, and we’re not just talking about food. Keeping our money local in a credit union like Elevations Credit Union is just plain smart. It keeps more green in our own economy, and keeps the big banks’ paws off. Besides, Elevations is just plain easy to work with. Our staff has dealt with them for everything from a basic checking account to car loans to credit cards, and the service has been impressive.We also like how they were a key provider of loans for the county’s EnergySmart program for energy efficiency upgrades.

It pays to go with Elevations. You can bank on it. (Insert groan here.)

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Music Venue

RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, 720-865-2494 Second Place: Boulder Theater Third Place: Chautauqua Auditorium Fourth Place: Fox Theatre Fifth Place: Planet Bluegrass

Melissa Heslep & Matthew Helms. Photo by Mihail Codrescu

50 April 25, 2013

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his isn’t even a contest. This is like 1997 Jerome Bettis lining up against a Pop Warner team. Or like John Bonham and Justin Bieber having a drum battle.

It’s not fair for the other venues when they’re up against Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the best place in the world to see music. The breathtaking natural beauty of Red Rocks makes any show there that much better. Ask Colorado music fans to list their favorite concerts, and chances are more than a few will have been at Red Rocks.The runner-up, Boulder Theater, provides a more intimate concert experience, shrouded in a gorgeous art deco backdrop.

20132014SEASON • The Nutcracker with full orchestra November 29–December 8 • Stepping Out 2014 world premiere ballets February 21–23 • Storybook Ballet a student performance March 7–9 • Coppélia a family-friendly ballet for Mother’s Day May 11 • Ballet in the Park free outdoor concerts June 22–29

w w w. b o u l d e r b a l l e t . o r g Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

MAY

JUNE

J U LY

1

24

Joan Baez*

Ryan Bingham*

8

8

21

Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell*

MeMber Pre-sale

Pink Martini

Umphrey’s McGee SOLD OUT!

18

16

Mary Chapin Carpenter & Marc Cohn

Richard Thompson*

April 26 @ 10 AM General Public on sale:

May 3: @ 10 AM

Old Crow Medicine Show

25

online only at chautauqua.com *denotes shows on sale NOW

22

27

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

John Hiatt & The Combo

AUGUST

3

5

Paula Poundstone

thank you to our sponsors!

Indigo Girls

6

10

Elephant Revival w/ CMF Orchestra

Toad the Wet Sprocket

22 Shawn Colvin

SCFD Scientific & Cultural Facilities District

Making It Possible.

900 baseline road • boulder co

coloradochautauqua

@colochautauqua

Susan France

Jeremy Williams

Randee Toler of the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art

Yonder Mountain String Band

Art Gallery

Local Musician/Group

BOULDER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND

1750 13th St., 303-443-2122 Second Place: Dairy Center for the Arts Third Place: Boulder Arts & Crafts Cooperative Fourth Place: Art & Soul Fifth Place: Rembrandt Yard

www.yondermountain.com Second Place: Big Head Todd and the Monsters Third Place: Face Fourth Place: Gregory Alan Isakov Fifth Place: Big Gigantic

T

Y

he Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art brings a slice of big-city art culture to small-town Boulder, offering a wide variety of thought-provoking and clever exhibits that satisfy both the curious and the knowledgeable patron.The museum brings artists from around the world to Boulder and also showcases the talents of locals.

BMoCA doesn’t just put art on a pedestal; it invites the community to participate as well. Patrons could make tea from herbs growing in the gallery as part of a 2012 exhibit, and community members donated more than two dozen items for an exhibit called The Museum of Broken Relationships. Admission is free on Saturdays during the Farmers’ Market.

Local Celebrity

ZIP CODE MAN

Pearl Street Mall Second Place: “Big Head” Todd Park Mohr Third Place: Hazel Miller Fourth Place: Brigitte Mars Fifth Place: Gregory Alan Isakov

A

h, yes, the ZIP Code Man. If you are a local and you have never seen this guy in action, you should get your Boulder credentials revoked. And if you are not a local, head on down to Pearl Street and marvel at this gentleman’s ability to recall details about where you live, based solely on the ZIP code you provide. He can even tell you which laundromat you use and which gas station has the cleanest bathroom. OK, maybe we’re exaggerating a bit, but you get the idea. A Boulder institution. Check out the other buskers downtown as well. They each have their own distinctive talent and place in our hearts. And throw them a buck.

52 April 25, 2013

onder Mountain String Band’s “progressive bluegrass” is as catchy and addictive as it is insanely popular. These guys are playing at such a high level it’s hard to consider them local:They sell out Red Rocks Amphitheatre, host their own festival … Yonder Mountain is big, and they launched out of Boulder and the surrounding mountain towns.

They’re so popular they won this category despite not having released an album since 2009. With just four members and not a drummer in sight (unless you count the brief stint when Phish drummer Jon Fishman toured with them), the four acoustic string players create grooves and jams that will get entire arenas full of people dancing.

Attempt to Get in a Taylor Swift Song

GEORGE BOEDECKER

W

hen it comes to lyrics, country superstar Taylor Swift really only has one trick in her bag. Heartbreak, namely her own, is Swift’s favorite subject to sing about, and given her fame, beauty and wealth, there are many men out there dying for the chance to inspire a new hit.

But when Crocs founder George Boedecker got arrested on a DUI charge in August 2012 (to which he eventually pled guilty), he took celebrity-chasing to a whole different level. When officers found his Porsche Carrera parked askew with one wheel on the sidewalk, he told them his girlfriend had been driving the car and had gotten out and left him. He told the officer his lady friend was “really fucking famous,” and then asked, “Do you know who Taylor Swift is?”

Boedecker makes Manti Te’o look like a total gentleman. At least Te’o claimed to be in love with his imaginary girlfriend — Boedecker tried to make his a patsy.

One thing we know for sure: She will never, ever, ever write a song about that imaginary experience.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

2013 , boulder s premier kentucky derby event

University of Colorado / Casey Cass

for more information and to buy tickets call 303-823-2320 or go to

www.boulderderby.com

Date: Saturday, May 4 time: 1 - 6 pm place: The Stadium Club

at Folsom Field 2400 Colorado Ave. Boulder, Colorado

Our 2nd annual Boulder Kentucky Derby Party features unlimited gourmet food, mint juleps, and beer & wine, plus live and silent auctions, live music, a DJ, dancing, and casual betting.

, All proceeds from this event benefit Front Range Hippotherapy, Colorado s leading equine assisted therapy center.

Performance

arts Venue

Advanced Education

art gallery

W

moVie house th eatr e

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO

1600 Pleasant St., 303-492-1411 Second Place: Naropa University Extended Studies Third Place: CU Continuing Education Fourth Place: Front Range Community College Fifth Place: Boulder College of Massage ell, we saw this one coming. The biggest kid on the playground wins again. The good old University of Colorado is not only alma mater for many of us, it’s at the heart of what makes Boulder such a special, distinctive place to live and work.

Imagine if we didn’t have the plethora of entertainment and cultural opportunities that the university delivers. Imagine the business we’d lose if it weren’t for those tens of thousands of college kids. Imagine the traffic … OK, well, bad example. We love you, CU. There. We showed great restraint. Didn’t mention the football team once.

Reader Comment

thedairy.org 54 April 25, 2013

“How are we supposed to pick a ‘best’ nonprofit?”

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Glenn Ross Photography

NOW LIVE

Boulder County’s Definitive Guide to Local Events BoulderCountyEvents.com

Music Director Michael Butterman conducting the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra.

Classical Music

BOULDER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA 2590 Walnut St., 303-449-1343 Second Place: Colorado Music Festival Third Place: Colorado Symphony Orchestra Fourth Place: CU Presents Fifth Place: Boulder Chamber Orchestra

B

oulder is definitely a great place to be when it comes to the music scene. But in a city full of college-aged dwellers, it’s easy to forget about the part of the population who would rather not listen to dubstep at some raging keg party on the Hill this weekend.

It turns out that Boulder has a soft spot for the classics and is home to an uncommon diversity of classical music options. Our winner this year, Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, has been churning out classical masterpieces since the 1950s. There’s no doubt that the Boulder Philharmonic is an essential piece of Boulder’s music scene, and without it, well, we’d all be a little less classy.

Open Mic

THE LAUGHING GOAT

1709 Pearl St., 303-440-4628 Second Place: Conor O’Neill’s Third Place: Catacombs Fourth Place: Boulder Outlook Hotel and Suites Fifth Place: Innisfree Poetry Bookstore & Cafe

F

inding a place where you can have your choice of fair trade coffee, loose-leaf tea or local craft beer ranks pretty high up on the totem pole for most Boulderites. But when you can find a place with all of that and a decent live music scene, not to mention a laid back atmosphere, well you can’t get much higher than that. But The Laughing Goat on Pearl Street has got all of that and then some. The baristas are almost always smiling, the pastries are fresh and there’s always a new batch of local talent brewing on The Laughing Goat stage, which opens up its microphones each week, as it has for decades, to poets and musicians alike.

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Elbow Room at a Concert

CU’S 4/20 WYCLEF JEAN SHOW

A

mong the goofy ideas that CU had for keeping people from smoking pot at the annual 4/20 event on Norlin Quad in 2012 (remember the fish fertilizer?) was to bring in Wyclef Jean to play a concert at the Coors Events Center. Um, the trouble was, hardly anyone showed up. The CU student government shelled out about $150,000 for the event. Lesson learned.

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

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April 25, 2013 55

2 hour validation at St. Julien garage

11-7 MON to SAT, 12-5 SUN • www.TheDandelionCO.com • 845 Walnut St. Boulder CO • 303.459.4676

2 hour validation at St. Julien garage

11-7 MON to SAT, 12-5 SUN • www.TheDandelionCO.com • 845 Walnut St. Boulder CO • 303.459.4676

Thank you

from the tip of our tails for voting for us in boulder weekly’s best of boulder!

Reader Comment “There are not enough women on the local celebrity list!!!!!!”

Festival (Non-Music)

boulderhumane.org 303.442.4030

I

t would take a long Friday and a few beers in our bellies before anyone here would even think of dancing; and even then, we’re fairly certain our “dancing” 1900 13th St., Boulder, 303-910-2236 wouldn’t be an especially pretty sight.

9595 Nelson Road, Longmont, 303-910That’s why we have to give props to live 2236 dance groups and the Courtesy of St Julien Second Place: arresting beauty they Boulder Creek create through moveFestival ment. Our winner, Third Place: Frozen Boulder Ballet, has Dead Guy Days been lauded for the Fourth Place: Colorado stunning live shows Shakespeare Festival that always deliver on Fifth Place: Boulder theatrics and impresInternational Film sive choreography.

Festival Past productions include Carmen, e don’t have to Cinderella and their beat the annual Nutcracker “local” drum on this holiday show. Our one, do we? The runner-up, Frequent immense popularity Flyers Productions, of the Farmers’ Inc., takes live dance Market, this year’s to new heights with winner yet again for amazing aerial-dance best non-music festi- The Spa at St Julien performances. val, speaks for itself.

BOULDER COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET

W

It’s a sure sign that we have — finally — exited Boulder Weather Snow Phase and entered Boulder Weather Unimaginably Nice Phase: The farmers’ market claims a city block downtown and takes over the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont.

The reasons that voters love the Farmers’ Market are as varied as the market’s selection: the friendly, neighborly atmosphere; the, well, selection we just mentioned, which can span way more options than the typical vegetables; the abundance of organic products. And yes, there’s also the fact that shopping at the market means supporting local farmers.

Live Dance Group

BOULDER BALLET

2590 Walnut St., Suite 10, 303-443-0028 Second Place: Frequent Flyers Productions, Inc. Third Place: Streetside Studios Fourth Place: Ballet Nouveau Colorado Fifth Place: Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet 58 April 25, 2013

Live Jazz Venue

ST JULIEN HOTEL & SPA

900 Walnut St., 720-406-9696 Second Place: Laughing Goat Coffeehouse Third Place: Oskar Blues Grill & Brew Fourth Place: Hotel Boulderado Fifth Place: Nissi’s

B

oulder may not have the jazz clubs of Chicago or New Orleans, but it does have the St Julien Hotel & Spa. Step into the swanky ballroom area, with its fireplace and leather armchairs, and you’ll be stoked that they host live music several nights a week. With plenty of room for big bands and many instruments, the St Julien is the perfect setting for a jazz-filled evening. And it offers beverages like martinis that pair well with smooth jazz. The Laughing Goat Coffeehouse, our runnerup in this category, hosts live jazz musicians in a more intimate setting.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 59

TICKETS

START! AT $15

Jeremy Williams

Inside the Score

MAY 3 • FRI 7:30 PM

AN EVENING WITH BÉLA FLECK

Scott O’Neil, resident conductor Béla Fleck, banjo

Pops

MAY 18 • SAT 7:30 PM

RHAPSODY IN BLUE

Andrew Litton, conductor and piano

TICKETS

START!

Reader Comment “Why don’t you ever nominate any poets?”

Movie House/Theater

AT $25

BOULDER THEATER

2032 14th St., 303-786-7030 Second Place: Century Theatre Third Place: Boedecker Theater Fourth Place: Chautauqua Auditorium Fifth Place: Boulder Outdoor Cinema

M

ovie theaters might be losing their appeal as more and more people invest in home theater systems, but there’s something indescribably fun about enjoying a flick with a host of your fellow humans. The communal experience of watching a movie gets amplified at the Boulder Theater, with its bar and enthusiastic crowds. The art deco décor provides a beautiful backdrop for whatever movie you see, whether it’s part of one of the film festivals the theater hosts or simply an independent flick touring the country.

Catch the blockbusters at runner-up Century Theatre, and fulfill your art house desires at Boedecker Theater.

Museum

BOULDER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

coloradosymphony.org 303.623.7876 the colorado symphony ANDREW LITTON, ARTISTIC ADVISOR BOX OFFICE: MON-FRI 10 AM - 6 PM; SAT 12 PM - 6 PM Keep up with us online!

60 April 25, 2013

1750 13th St., 303-443-2122 Second Place: The University of Colorado Museum of Natural History Third Place: Boulder History Museum Fourth Place: National Center for Atmospheric Research Fifth Place: WOW! Children’s Museum

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rt is a magnificent, bubbling cauldron of change, innovation and new blood. Old ideas get reinterpreted, recycled and re-envisioned; new artists come up with styles and work that change the never-ending conversation of what art should and can be. This is all a way of saying art didn’t end with the impressionists, and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art is dedicated to showcasing a slice of the art of the present and the living, breathing artists that make it. By offering exhibits that intrigue, challenge and educate, the museum has made itself a gem of learning and creativity in downtown Boulder.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Stewart Sallo

Open 10 to 8 most days!

Music Festival

TELLURIDE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL 500 E. Colorado Ave., Telluride, 303-823-0848 Second Place: Colorado Music Festival Third Place: RockyGrass Fourth Place: NedFest Fifth Place: Rocky Mountain Folks Festival

S

o why is the Telluride Bluegrass Festival even in our Best of Boulder competition?

And even more to the point, why does it keep winning this category year after year?

There are a couple of reasons, really. First, Planet Bluegrass, the company that puts on this amazing event, is a Boulder County operation located in Lyons. And second, because you could say that “Boulder” is as much a state of mind as it is a place. Boulderites love this festival and every year it seems like half the county shuts down and makes the sevenhour trek to Telluride. So we figure Boulder is a moveable feast of sorts. Once the music starts, Telluride is Boulder, at least in spirit. That’s our story and we’re sticking to it. Or there’s the shorter explanation: As long as our readers keep voting it first place, we’ll keep writing it up. See you there.

Nonprofit/Charity Organization

HUMANE SOCIETY OF BOULDER VALLEY 2323 55th St., 303-442-4030 Second Place: Eco-Cycle Third Place: Planned Parenthood Fourth Place: Community Cycles Fifth Place: Boulder Valley Women’s Health

A

nimals have a habit of warming themselves into our lives in ways we could not have imagined. So considering that more than 9,000 companion animals go through its doors each year, it’s really no surprise that the Humane Society of Boulder Valley is Boulder’s favorite nonprofit. Beyond the sheltering services for lost and surrendered pets, the organization, which is more than a century old, runs training and behavior courses, a veterinary clinic and two retail stores that raise money for the animals. Coming in second place is Eco-Cycle, which Boulderites love for its commitment to keeping the community ahead of the curve when it comes to recycling.

Reader Comment “Mateo and Marcus play guitar on the street ... they belong in Carnegie Hall.”

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 61

Karaoke

OUTBACK SALOON

3141 28th St., 303 444-0081 Honorable Mention: The World Famous Dark Horse Bar and Grill

T

he vast majority of well-adjusted adults have faced the fact that they won’t ever be rock stars. Let’s just admit it: Most of us won’t even get the 15 minutes of fame we are all promised. Thankfully, there’s karaoke to fulfill our inner rock-star fantasies, and our favorite place to ham it up on the mic is Outback Saloon, where the friendly KJ and non-judgmental crowds bring out the David Lee Roth in us all. The singing starts at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, so get there early, get a pitcher to lubricate the vocal chords and start looking for your favorite song.

Performance Arts Venue

DAIRY CENTER FOR THE ARTS 2590 Walnut St., 303-440-7826 Second Place: Boulder Theater Third Place: Chautauqua Auditorium Fourth Place: Macky Auditorium Fifth Place: Boulder’s Dinner Theater

T

he line-up at the Dairy Center for the Arts is like a box of chocolates — yes, you know how it goes. The Dairy Center opens its doors to such a wide variety of local theater and dance companies that you just never know what you’re going to get — but, as with chocolate, it’s going to be a treat.

By building relationships with resident organizations that emphasize arts education, the Dairy Center has also made itself an incubator for new, young performers studying with lauded local arts organizations like Boulder Ballet, CenterStage Theatre Company and Imagination Makers Theater Company. The stage is also opened for eclectic and adventurous endeavors like an original steampunk opera and a performance that matches an African marimba ensemble and singers with an aerial dance company.

Courtesy of St Julien

Place to Dance

ST JULIEN HOTEL & SPA

900 Walnut St., 720-406-9696 Second Place: Avalon Ballroom Third Place: Boulder Theater Fourth Place: Absinthe House Fifth Place: Fox Theatre Before making your stop at the St Julien Hotel & Spa for a night of dancing, you may want to detour by our runner-up, the Avalon Ballroom, for a few classes that cover little things like how to dance. By the time your dancing shoes step out on a floor as big and grand as the one at the St Julien, you’ll want to know what you’re doing. Or at least have a pretty good sense for telling your tango from your foxtrot.

62 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

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Bold. Magical. Compelling.

Made-up Riot

TYLER, THE CREATOR

I

n March 2013, Tyler, The Creator, of rap group Odd Future, was scheduled to play a free show at the Fox Theatre. Crowds, estimated to be in the thousands, started lining up for tickets at 3 p.m., and at around 6 p.m., things started getting unruly. A Jimmy John’s employee got punched in the face, bottles might have been thrown. Cue the Boulder Police Department, which responded to the “riot situation” by sending 75 officers, some in riot gear, to the scene. (Tyler, for his part, did his role to help calm the situation by tweeting out gay slurs.) But judging by all accounts, a riot it was not. It’s tough to tell what exactly warranted all those cops from BPD — wouldn’t 15 have done the trick? It’s not like a herd of elk was marching on the Hill or anything.

Susan France

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE OUR TOWN SHOW BOAT IN DENVER World-class. Intimate.

A musical and theatrical experience unlike any other.

June 29 - August 11

You won’t know until you go.

303.292.6700 | CentralCityOpera.org Central City | 35 miles from Boulder

64 April 25, 2013

Place to Play Pool

SUNDOWN SALOON

1136 Pearl St., 303-449-4987 Second Place: Catacombs Bar Third Place: World Famous Dark Horse Bar and Grill Fourth Place: Lazy Dog Sports Bar & Grill Fifth Place: The Attic Bar & Bistro

R

ack ’em up! The Sundown Saloon, aka “The Downer,” takes this category for the third year in a row. The place only has five pool tables, but what it lacks in numbers it makes up for in ambience. Dark wooden benches provide ample seating for your friends as you show off your skills, and $6 pitchers of Pabst Blue Ribbon help ease the pain of losing to one of The Downer’s sharptoothed pool sharks. There are even tournaments for the serious players.

And if you can’t get on a table, as is bound to happen on a weekend night at one of Boulder’s busiest bars, there are darts, shuffleboard, foosball and the occasional live show.

Sundown Saloon

Place to Wi-Fi

OZO COFFEE CO.

1015 Pearl St., 303-645-4885 5340 Arapahoe Ave., 303-440-0233 Second Place: The Laughing Goat Third Place: The Cup Fourth Place: Panera Bread Fifth Place: Vic’s

T

the beans. People tend to make coffee shops their mobile office or library, so for freelancers, students and the unemployed, a fast, dependable Wi-Fi connection is key.

Ozo Coffee Co. wins this category in its first year, probably as much for its excellent coffee roasts and welcoming ambience as for Internet speed. So head to Ozo next time you need a new place to procrastinate and pretend to do work. And grab a mocha while you’re there. Trust us.

hese days, a good Wi-Fi connection is just as important to the coffee shop as

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Susan France

BECAUSE THEY SHOULD THRIVE

Experience the BCD Difference Sports Bar

Public School 9-12

THE LAZY DOG SPORTS BAR & GRILL

BOULDER HIGH SCHOOL

1346 Pearl St., 303440-3355 1604 Arapahoe Second Place: Ave., 720-561-2200 World Famous Second Place: Dark Horse Bar Brad Dickman at The Lazy Dog Sports Bar Fairview High and Grill School & Grill Third Place: Harpo’s Third Place: New Sports Grill Vista High School Fourth Place: West Fourth Place: Niwot End Tavern High School Fifth Place: Walnut Brewery Fifth Place: Monarch High School

W

e’ve learned the hard way that it is usually not OK to yell in a bar. It is also usually not OK to yell at inanimate objects.

But sports make both of those things very OK. Yelling during sports is always encouraged, even though TVs with little microphones that broadcast directly to a game’s referees and coaches still haven’t been developed.

And yelling is best when you’re not doing it alone. That’s why The Lazy Dog, this year’s best sports bar, is a great place to yell. There’s likely to be a lively crowd for every game taking place, no matter how farflung the teams. And besides the yelling, Lazy Dog has great TVs — and, just as important, good angles to see the action — and a variety of food options like Atlantic salmon, barbecue, burgers and fish tacos.

Small Class Sizes Challenging Academics IB Accreditation Extraordinary Faculty

Exceptional Arts Character Education Spanish, French and Latin Cutting Edge Technology

Welcoming applications for Fall 2013 Call or email today to schedule a visit.

303-527-4931 / info@bouldercountryday.org / www.bouldercountryday.org

B

oulder High School, this year’s Public School 9-12 winner, presents its students with an abundance of ways to succeed. The school employs exceptional teachers and offers ample academic opportunities for students, such as its Advanced Placement (AP) classes, which are a chance to rack up college credit early, and its array of foreign language classes, which include Japanese and Latin among others. The school is also known for high-caliber extracurricular activities, including its athletic department, Model United Nations and its distinguished music and theater programs. Our runner-up, Fairview High School, has also received accolades for its high test scores, International Baccalaureate (IB) and AP classes, and its stellar athletics and fine arts programs.

Nobel Prize Winner

DAVE WINELAND OF NIST

N

ot many award-winners in this publication have met a reigning monarch. In fact, it’s probably exactly the same number as could explain what Dave Wineland, a physicist who works for NIST and the University of Colorado, studies.

Wineland took home a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2012 for his work in the field of quantum physics, particularly quantum clocks and quantum computing. He was awarded the prize in Stockholm, Sweden, by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

Wineland’s work involves isolating single particles like atoms or electrons, or small groups of them, according to his Nobel Lecture. Being able to monitor, predict and control those particles can lead to computers and clocks exponentially faster and more accurate than conventional versions.

Wineland’s Nobel Lecture slides repeatedly cite and credit dozens of other physicists, and he shared the prize with French colleague Serge Haroche. We say, enough with the humility. Congratulations.

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

TICKETS START AT JUST $12!

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April 25, 2013 65

Meghan Barrett

Colorado Mountain Ranch

Public School K-8

close as you’ll get to a Meatballs experience as Boulder has to offer. For more than six decades, kids have spent summers hiking, canoeing and horseback riding — all on the ranch’s 200acre property near Gold Hill. And there’s this kid named Rudy who is kind of an outcast, but he runs the big end-of-summer race and wins the camp its honor back. Oh wait …

BOULDER COUNTY SCHOOL OF INTEGRATED STUDIES 3995 East Aurora Ave., 720561-6500 Second Place: Casey Middle School Third Place: Peak to Peak Charter School Fourth Place: Centennial Middle School Fifth Place: Horizons K-8 School

W

e’d never say any Best of Boulder categories are unimportant. They aren’t.

But some are kind of more important than others. If you want a latte or a sandwich, and you decide to hit up a business that didn’t win those categories, you’re a darn fool but you’ll be just fine.

This category, hey, it might matter a little more. It’s only your child’s education.

Boulder Weekly readers say the Boulder County School of Integrated Studies, sprawled along Aurora Avenue just west of Foothills, wins the category with its arts-focused, multi-cultural curriculum. The K-5 school aims to integrate recent research on how kids learn into its methods, including some Waldorf and Steiner school theories.

BCSIS also emphasizes a holistic approach to address the head, heart and hands of its students. That’s definitely a greater goal than boiling up the best hot dog.

66 April 25, 2013

Private School

Summer Camp

COLORADO MOUNTAIN RANCH

10063 Gold Hill Road, 303-442-4557 Second Place: YMCA Summer Camps Third Place: CU Science Discovery

Fourth Place: Avid4 Adventure Fifth Place: Thorne Nature Experience

A

re you ready for the summer? Are you ready for the good times? OK, maybe this isn’t a Bill Murray movie. But that doesn’t have to change your answer.

Colorado Mountain Ranch is about as

Place for Enjoying Reverse Gravity

WORLD FAMOUS DARK HORSE BAR AND GRILL 2922 Baseline Road, 303-442-8162

I

f you think too long about the age of the Dark Horse, and the litany of stuff affixed to the bar’s ceiling — like a carriage — you could start to wonder about exactly how that stuff is attached to the surfaces above your head. So let’s go with gravity. Secure, constant, unfailing. Now, tip your chin back in wonder and marvel at the veritable trip down memory lane affixed to the ceiling of the bar. Then get your burger and beer and ready your tricycle for the races.

We’d also like to note that the Dark Horse was in consideration for an award for “oldest joke in town.” Yes, the bathroom labels were funny the first time — you know, back in 1975 when the bar opened? At this point, though, it feels a little more groanworthy.

SHINING MOUNTAIN WALDORF SCHOOL

999 Violet Ave., 303-444-7697 Second Place: Alexander Dawson School Third Place: Boulder Country Day School Fourth Place: Sacred Heart of Jesus Fifth Place: Friend’s School

P

rivate schools might get a bad rap on TV and in movies for breeding preppy aristocrats. But here in Boulder, we know that places like Shining Mountain Waldorf School have a lot more to offer than Social Climbing 101. For 30 years, Shining Mountain Waldorf has been offering Boulder County’s children only the best in private education. The school uses the Waldorf method of teaching, which bases its lessons and progression on childhood development.

But what really keeps students and parents coming home happy is the caring faculty and staff and their ability to foster a love of learning academic subjects as well as art and music.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Dawson School

The experience of a lifetime. dawsonschool.org

BOULDER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Have you heard the Boulder Phil lately?

MICHAEL BUTTERMAN, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Voted ‘Best Classical Music’ 2013

by Boulder Weekly readers

Photo: Glenn Ross Photography

2013-14 Season Nature & Music: The Spirit of Boulder

New Subscribers 50% Off! • www.BoulderPhil.org • 303.449.1343 ext. 2 Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 67

Susan France

Barber Shop

FLOYD’S 99 BARBERSHOP

2790 Pearl St., 303-442-2279 Second Place: Al’s Barber Shop Third Place: Silver & Gold Barbers and Stylists Fourth Place: Alpine Barbers Fifth Place: Northside Barbers

F

or a good time — call Floyd. At least that was the concept behind the original rock and roll barbershop Floyd’s 99 Barbershop. This barbershop has old school on the mind with a modern rock twist that involves its own tailored radio station and poster-plastered walls. Whether you are looking for a traditional Floyd Cut, a basic, non-layered cut complete with a neck shave and shoulder massage, or something more stylized, head to Boulder’s best barbershop for a good time and a good haircut to boot.

Alternative Health Care

HOLOS HEALTH (A.K.A. “JOURNEY 2 LIFE LLC”)

5377 Manhattan Circle, Stes. 204 & 104, 720-273-3568 Second Place: Chautauqua Health Third Place: Rolf Institute of Structural Integration Fourth Place: Helios Integrated Medicine/Red Aspen Herbs & Acupuncture (tie) Fifth Place: Mountain Acupuncture Clinic

A

t Holos Health/Journey 2 Life, alternative health care doesn’t just mean marijuana. Well, it means that, too. Holos Health provides medical marijuana evaluations for prospective MMJ patients. But wellness practitioners at Journey 2 Life, which is also run by Dr. Joe Cohen out of the same facility, provides integrative services, including functional medicine, women’s health, medicinal cannabis evaluation, integrative bodywork and massage, Shamanic healing, spiritual counseling, nutrition and fitness therapy. It’s one-stop wellness, right here in Boulder.

Thank You Boulder For Voting Us...

Cassie Gurrola, a stylist at Floyd’s 99 Barbershop in Boulder

BEST SHOE STORE!

2775 Pearl St. Boulder • 303-RUN-WALK (303-786-9255) • www.BoulderRunningCompany.com Monday - Friday 10am - 7pm • Saturday 10am - 6pm • Sunday 10am - 5pm

68 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

OP.COM FLOYDSBARBERSH

Courtesy of St Julien Hotel & Spa

St Julien Hotel & Spa

Chiropractor

and place education — for both staff and patients — at the heart of their practice. Just be sure to ask your questions after you’ve rinsed and spit.

THE JOINT

2525 Arapahoe Ave. Ste. C2, 303-4408019 Second Place: Swan Lake Chiropractic Clinic Third Place: Duggan Chiropractic Fourth Place: Cafe of Life Fifth Place: North Boulder Chiropractic

Golf Course

FLATIRONS GOLF COURSE 5706 Arapahoe Ave., 303-442-7851 Second Place: Boulder Country Club Third Place: Indian Peaks Golf Club Fourth Place: Haystack Mountain Golf Course Fifth Place: Coal Creek Golf Course

W

hen you feel your back is a bit out of whack, where do you go? If you’re like the majority of your Boulder County neighbors, your answer is probably The Joint. Part of a nationwide chain of back specialists, the folks at The Joint strive to offer fast, friendly, affordable adjustments for all who need them.

What sets this place apart from the rest is the open-door policy that invites all patients to drop in when they feel even the slightest bit misaligned. The staff is amazing, the service convenient and it’s worthy of many a return visit.

S

hortly after its invention in Scotland in the 1400s, golf was banned as a nuisance, danger and distraction from other more productive tasks, like work or practicing archery for the military.

More than 500 years later, the ability of clubs and little white balls to lure people away from their tasks at hand endures. And in Boulder, readers say the best place to make your swings is at Flatirons Golf Course. It’s biking distance from downtown Boulder and those sunny greens sport views of the Flatirons and Green Mountain. Just blame that bogey on the mountain vistas.

Dance Studio

BOULDER BALLET

2590 Walnut St., Suite 10, 303-443-0028 Second Place: Alchemy of Movement Third place: The Avalon Ballroom Fourth place: Streetside Studios Fifth place: Kakes Studios

B

oulder Ballet is so talented it has been selected for a dance award twice! In addition to winning our Best Live Dance Group award, Boulder Ballet provides unparalleled instruction in both contemporary and traditional dance forms. It also has a program specifically designed for male movement, and these classes encompass everything from ballet to mime and juggling.

Past Storybook shows, where students showcase their work, have included Wizard of Oz, The Little Match Girl and Peter Pan. Our second-place winner, Alchemy of Movement, is known for its informal, non-competitive fitness-meets-dance classes like SoulSweat and World Heat.

Day Spa

ST JULIEN HOTEL & SPA

900 Walnut St., 720-406-9696 Second Place: Essentiels Day Spa Third Place: Ten20 Fourth Place: Finishing Touch Fifth Place: Sensorielle 70 April 25, 2013

Energy Drink

HICKENLOOPER’S FRACKING FLUID

Gym/Fitness Center

Y

eah, this one takes the cake as one of the worst, most misleading publicity stunts we’ve seen all year. When our governor, John Hickenlooper, told a congressional committee in February that he drank fracking fluid to demonstrate how safe it is, it turned out that the version of fluid he was drinking was not actually the toxic brew that’s being used in wells in Colorado. It was a new, safe-to-drink version that is too expensive for companies to use. Maybe when he doesn’t get re-elected, Frackenlooper will wake up and smell the methane.

T

here are a lot of luxurious options in the 10,000-square-foot spa and fitness center at the St Julien Hotel & Spa. Unwind in the eucalyptus-infused steam room. Enjoy signature treatments that use plants indigenous to Colorado. As long as they aren’t making massage oils from prickly pear cactus or Lodgepole pine cones, that sounds pretty awesome. And it gets better: In one daylong package, they serve guests champagne and cheese platters. Because you can’t stick to Colorado-grown plants all day.

Dental Care

NORTH BOULDER DENTAL GROUP 1001 North St., 303-447-1042 Second Place: Boulder Dental Center Third Place: Boulder Smiles Fourth Place: Alpine Dentistry Fifth Place: Comfort Dental

T

he North Boulder Dental Group strives to make sure that the routine trip to the dentist is not a physical, emotional or financial roller coaster for patients.

They encourage patients to ask questions

COLORADO ATHLETIC CLUB 1821 30th St., 303-501-1700 Second Place: 24 Hour Fitness Third Place: YMCA Fourth Place: North Boulder Recreation Center Fifth Place: Flatiron Athletic Club

S

ometimes you need a place to go when it’s one of those five days each year that Boulder is without sunshine, when it’s the week your job actually managed to eat all the daylight hours, or when it’s just time to crank the treadmill to 11 (wait … don’t those actually go to 15 or something?).

Anyway, when it’s time for workouts after dark, in the cold or that involve lifting the weight your toddlers just don’t amply provide yet, or time to catch a swim, hot tub soak or a chill-out session in the sauna, you’ll want to hit the gym to keep you sane, fit and feeling good. And come sun or come rain, the Colorado Athletic Club is keeping Boulder sane, one elliptical at a time.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

ON-SITE EXAMINATIONS

ON-SITE CUSTOM LAB

3rd GENERATION FAMILY-OWNED & OPERATED STORE BOULDER'S LARGEST SELECTION of FRAMES & LENSES

in the Village at 2525 ARAPAHOE 303.447.0210 www.aspeneyewear.com

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we’ll be seeing you.

Doctors Murphy, Sica, Brown & Welden NORTH BOULDER

DENTAL

NORTH BOULDER DENTAL GROUP—Family Dental Practice

Thank You Boulder! Our Patients are the Best!

We are proud participants of:

American Dental Association “Give Kids a Smile Program” Colorado Dental Association “Colorado Mission of Mercy”

Boulder Valley School District “Adopt a Smile Program”

Boulder Homeless Shelter Dental Clinic National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped “Dental Lifeline Network”

Best Dental Care

1001 North St., Boulder • www.BoulderDental.com 303-447-1042 • PatientCare@BoulderDental.com

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 71

Ron Propri/Boulder Rock Club

(tie)

Hair Salon

TWIG SALON

1831 Pearl St., 303-447-0880 Second Place: Voodoo Hair Lounge Third Place: The Parlour Fourth Place: The Sidedoor Salon Fifth Place: Salon Salon

T

Boulder Rock Club

here’s the shampoo that smells so much better than whatever you’ve got at home; the lather that’s really just a soothing scalp massage; your stylist, who is not only a gracious listener, but can wield a round brush and hair dryer like nobody’s business. These are all reasons we can’t wait to set a hair appointment, but as environmentally conscious Boulderites, we’re naturally worried about all the resources a salon would no doubt consume. Twig Salon makes the cut as our winner in part because it not only offers the royal hair treatment, but

also finds ways to be green. With renewable energy credits, recyclable foils and color tubes, and reusable bottles — to name a few — Twig Salon takes luxury to responsible new levels.

Indoor Climbing Gym

BOULDER ROCK CLUB

2829 Mapleton Ave., 303-447-2804 Second Place: Movement Climbing + Fitness Third Place: The Spot Bouldering Gym Fourth Place: Lakeshore Athletic Club Fifth Place: Colorado Athletic Training School (CATS)/Dick’s Sporting Goods (tie)

C

limbing is an integral part of the Boulder community. But on days when Boulderites are stuck at the office until dark, what’s a climber to do? Head to the Boulder Rock Club, of course.

With a significant remodel and the addition of a new program, Tiny Tots, to care for the kids, the BRC is holding on as the classic, beloved climbing gym in Boulder. But we’d take to the ropes at runner-up Movement any day of the week, too.

LASIK Services

BOULDER EYES

1810 30th St., Ste. B, 303-816-8223

BOULDER EYE SURGEONS

Try Rolfing

®

Structural Integration

4745 Arapahoe Ave., Ste. 100, 303-444-3000 Second Place: Insight LASIK Third Place: Eyecare Center of Northern Colorado

I

f you wake up in the morning, have had your coffee and still find yourself waving to or even embracing strangers in the coffee shop — post-caffeine fix — because you’ve confused them with your friends and family, it may be time to consider an upgrade to your eyesight.

In Boulder, you have a choice when it comes to eye services. Boulder Eyes and Boulder Eye Surgeons tied this year for Boulder’s best LASIK services. If you are having trouble viewing this message, it may be time to call one of them up, ditch the contact lenses and enjoy your right to perfect sight.

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE

Be a Client in our June-August Clinic 75% LESS THAN PRIVATE SESSIONS VISIT clinic.rolf.org and EMAIL your group choice to clinic@rolf.org or call 303-449-5903 x104 O F S T R U C T U R A L I N T E G R AT I O N

www.rolf.org • Boulder, Colorado 72 April 25, 2013

Release ~ Realign ~ Renew Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

WINNER: BEst ChIRopRaCtIC CaRE

2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007

Thank You Boulder County been an amazing ’s It t! or pp su d ue in nt co ...for your uly appreciate your tr e w d an u yo g in rv se experience looking forward re e’ W . w ne d an d ol th business, bo to many more years! !

We always have your back Thank you, The JOINT Boulder staff

Boulder 2525 Arapahoe Ave., Suite C2 303.440.8019

thejoint.com

WI

NN

ER

‘10

Best of Boulder

Best of Boulder

THorNToN 1281 e. 120th Ave., unit d 720.974.3492

BOULDER ROCK CLUB

CLIMB Voted Best Of Boulder for 9 years straight!

Indoor Climbing, Fitness Classes, Yoga, Youth Programs, Birthday Parties

Beginners to Experts... Young to Old...

Individuals to Groups... Everyone is Welcome!

Great Membership Options, First Time Visitor Specials

2829 Mapleton Ave. • www.boulderrockclub.com • 303.447.2804

Check out Boulder’s Newest

Natural Nail Bar & Spa

and enjoy some good clean fun!

FROM JLOUNGE WITH LOVE $10 OFF ANY SERVICE ON YOUR FIRST VISIT ENJOY ALL NATURAL TREATMENTS, RELAX AND LOUNGE! Mention Boulder Weekly to save on the offer above.

JLOUNGE NATURAL NAIL BAR AND SPA 3003 WALNUT ST. BOULDER, CO 80301 720-484-6669 WWW.JLOUNGESPA.COM

Located on Boulder’s historic downtown pedestrian mall, Peppercorn is a retail potpourri with an exciting array of kitchen, bath and home accessories from designers all over the world.

Environmental Moment

NOV. 6, 2012, LONGMONT CITIZENS PASS FRACKING BAN

T

he governor said they couldn’t do it. The oil and gas companies said they couldn’t do it. Industry trade groups like COGA went to unbelievable and even questionable lengths to stop them from doing it. A bunch of old crusty former Republican mayors said they shouldn’t do it. The industry hired consultants and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to try to buy the election to prevent them from doing it. But the people said no, no to fracking in their city, not now, not ever. They stood up to the unprecedented pressure being applied to them and they won. They stood up for their health, their children’s health and their property values. It was an amazing stand and it was this year’s best environmental moment for Boulder County and one of the best for the planet.

Thanks for voting us

Best Home Furnishings Best Kitchen supplies Best Gift shop

Massage

ST JULIEN HOTEL

900 Walnut St., 720-406-9696 Second Place: Boulder College of Massage Therapy Third Place: Divine Resonance Fourth Place: Massage Envy Fifth Place: Massage Specialists

H

1235 Pearl Street, Boulder 303.449.5847 www.peppercorn.com

U THAN K YO BOU LDE R f o r yo u r v o te s !

In b us i n o ve r 12 e s s ye a rs !

Thanks for supporting your local & independently owned pizza shop!

BEST DELIVERY & BEST LATE NIGHT FOOD! 659 30th Street 1325 Broadway 550 Grant Street 1401 W. Elizabeth Williams Village University Hill Plaza Denver Fort Collins Free Delivery 303-447-1133 Free Delivery Opening in our or dine-in only.

303-447-FAST (Carry No 303-777-3278 May 2013 Delivery) 74 April 25, 2013

Medical Facility

BOULDER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

FREE DELIVERY

303-447-FAST

ad your feet clamped in ski boots or logging bonus miles up peaks? Check out the St Julien Hotel’s Sole Delight, a rejuvenating reflexology massage just for your feet. Only have your lunch hour to spare a quick refresher? Sneak on down to the hotel and try out the To-the-Point massage, an ultimate stress reliever for those short on time. From head to toe, whatever your needs, the St Julien is prepared to pamper and soothe.

1100 Balsam Ave., 303-440-2273

FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL 4747 Arapahoe Ave., 720-854-7000 Second Place: Boulder Medical Center Third Place: Kaiser Permanente Fourth Place: Avista Adventist Hospital Fifth Place: Clinica

H

ere’s one category where we hope our readers cast their votes from experience, but very limited and positive experience.

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. When hospital trips are necessary, our readers say the best place to head is Boulder Community Hospital and its eastern sister, Foothills Community Hospital. BCH is a not-for-profit that pushes itself to stay current on medical technology — and, conveniently, offers what we’d consider Boulder-centric services like knee reconstruction and sports massages.

The hospital system withstood a nagging computer issue early in 2013, but our voters’ faith didn’t waver.

The second-place finisher, Boulder Medical Center, is a group of physicians covering dozens of specialties, from radiology to allergy.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Spectator Sport That’s Not Coming Back to Boulder

USA PRO CYCLING CHALLENGE www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com

W

ell, it was a good run while it lasted. While Aspen, Vail and Denver have held on to their spots as host cities for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge — a fierce bike race for cyclists hungry for mountain passes and craving time trials — Boulder, also known as the cycling capital of the free world, has not. The race will come close enough to make spectating feasible when the route passes through the host cities of Loveland and Fort Collins and finishes in Denver, we presume again for the individual time trial. But it’s hardly the same as cruising on your own two wheels down to Pearl Street or hiking up Flagstaff to watch those cyclists whip past. Sigh. We’ll certainly miss the feel of hometown heroes pedaling through town — and our portion of the 1 million attendees and estimated $99.6 million in economic impact the race has on the state of Colorado. It’s fine. We’ll play fair. We can share. This year.

Ten20

Nail Salon

TEN20

2005 Pearl St., 720-565-1020 Second Place: Finishing Touch Third Place: Nail Studio Fourth Place: Star Nails Fifth Place: Iris Nails

I

t’s no wonder that Boulder has chosen Ten20 as its favorite nail salon this year.

Amid walls adorned with nail polish in every hue, skin care products and ridiculously comfortable chairs, customers at Ten20 stumble upon cycling spandex. Yes, it’s true — the funky salon located in downtown Boulder has its very own women’s cycling team. The Ten20 cycling team is open to just about anyone — except men. But just because you can’t join the team doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the salon’s giant flatscreen TV and huge leather chairs. But you might have to be OK with watching Sex and the City reruns and the possibility that you’ll leave with toes that are a bit more sparkly than the ones you walked in with. Only in Boulder can a girl get a mani, pedi and bike shorts all in one stop.

MMJ Referral Service

Savor the Summer

Sweet memories await at the ymca Give your kids an unforgettable experience at a YMCA of Boulder Valley summer program. From our award-winning overnight, day and specialty camps to our sports and aquatics programs, we’re sure to have the perfect fit for your family.

HOLOS HEALTH 5377 Manhattan Circle, Ste. 204, 720-2733568 Second Place: Grassroots Medical Clinic Third Place: Healthy Choices Unlimited Fourth Place: Ageless Medicine

D

espite the passage of Amendment 64, retail marijuana stores haven’t popped up yet, and no one knows how long it will take the city to hammer out regulations for recreational pot shops. So get your red card.

(There is simply no other way to get weed in Boulder, as everyone knows. Marijuana was virtually nonexistent before Amendment 20 was passed, allowing medical marijuana in Colorado.) Dr. Joe Cohen at Holos Health is known for compassion and professionalism.

here are juSt a feW of our Summer offeringS campS • YMCA Camp Santa Maria Overnight Camp • Adventure Camp • Skateboarding Camp • Y Riders Cycling Camp

SportS • Tennis • Lacrosse • Soccer • Basketball • Flag Football • Softball/Baseball • Hockey • Figure Skating

aquaticS • Pool Fitness • Swim Training • Swim Lessons • Competitive Swim Team • Diving Lessons

ymca of boulder valley

register for summer programs at ymcabv.org mapleton center 2850 Mapleton Ave, Boulder 303-442-2778

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

voted beSt Summer c a m pS 2006-2012!

— boulder W

eekly

arapahoe center 2800 Dagny Way, Lafayette 303-664-5455

April 25, 2013 75

2801 Iris Ave.Boulder, CO

Thanks Boulder!

We think you’re pretty swell too!

MMJ Wellness Center

Susan France

THE DANDELION

845 Walnut St., 303-4594676 Second Place: The Farm/ Root Organic Third Place: Helping Hands Herbals Fourth Place: 14er Holistics Fifth Place: Boulder Medical Marijuana Dispensary

F

or medical marijuana store ambiance, you can’t beat The Dandelion. Even the name makes you think of something quaint, like making wishes while blowing on a dandelion’s whispy white top.

If you were wishing you could shop for legal marijuana in a cute, converted cottage sandwiched between a bar and an Indian restaurant, your prayers have been answered.

If you were hoping to see surprisingly massive jars behind the counter, they’ve got that covered, too. And the Brittney Bauer of The Dandelion in Boulder jars contain so much good medicine, apparently, that The Dandelion was robbed by a criminal armed with bear spray in January 2013. (Unfortunately, this is not a joke, despite the mention of both dandelions and bears. People needed medical treatment.)

Maybe when recreational marijuana regulations are finalized, you’ll see people enjoying marijuana on the Dandelion’s cute porch. Who knows? Or maybe they’ll be toking on the patio seating at the bar or restaurant on either side.

Pilates Studio

BOULDER BODYWORKS

3020 Carbon Place, Ste. 330, 303-444-2739 Second Place: Bolder Pilates Third Place: Colorado Athletic Club Fourth Place: Core Wisdom/North Boulder Pilates (tie)

I

f you’re hard-core about hardening your core, you already know Boulder Bodyworks is Boulder County’s best place for Pilates. Whether you’re looking for group classes or private instruction, recovering from an injury or trying to stay in shape, stopping in to Boulder Bodyworks offers a chance to work with the studio’s certified instructors.

Boulder Bodyworks also offers Pilates for Golfers classes to help reduce the chance of back injury from that surprisingly strenuous sport.The studio, along with second-place winner Bolder Pilates, owned and operated by Donna Rosen, specializes in pre- and post-natal training.

76 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

OMC

OPTIONS MEDICAL CENTER • BOULDER www.optionsmedicalcenter.com

BEST MEMBER BENEFITS IN BOULDER GET YOUR FIRST OUNCE FOR

$50.00

WHEN YOU SIGN UP WITH OPTIONS

GET YOUR FIRST 1/8th OF EVERY MONTH FOR

HALF PRICE

GET 7 GRAMS AT

HALF PRICE

ON YOUR BIRTHDAY MONTH

VETERANS GET FLOWER PURCHASES

5% OFF

PATIENTS OVER 55 GET FLOWER PURCHASES

5% OFF

HIGH PLANT COUNT PATIENTS GET FLOWER PURCHASES

10% OFF

MEMBERS OF OMC GET THE BEST PRICES IN BOULDER ON ALL PRODUCTS

Qualified MMJ Doctor Referrals:

Dr. Landes 303-521-2164 (Boulder) Holos Health 720-273-3568 (Boulder)

Hours: Monday - Friday 11am - 6:45pm • Saturday 11am - 6pm • Sunday 12pm - 4pm

1534 55th Street • Boulder, CO • 303.444.0861 • email: info@optionsmedicalcenter.com For medical marijuana patients only

IDEAL MARKET & TWIN PEAKS MALL

CRIT SERIES

PRESENTED BY WHOLE FOODS MARKET & NEWMARK MERRILL facebook.com/idealmarketboulder

@SanitasSports

1250 South Hover Street, Longmont, Colorado 80501 • Founded by Ideal Market/Whole Foods Market® and Sanitas Sports. The series supports youth from Boulder County through coaching by Sanitas Sports.

• A handling and skills clinic will be hosted each week by Elite and Pro athletes.

• Registration, located at the Ideal Market/Whole Foods tent, opens at 4:45 pm and closes 10 minutes prior to race.

EVERY THURSDAY FROM APRIL 18 - AUGUST 15* AT THE TWIN PEAKS MALL IN LONGMONT

Courtesy of Divine Resonance

Start

Category

Places

Time

Fee

B-Race * 5:30-6:00 pm

Women 4 Men 4-5 Jrs

3 3 3

30 min

free $15 free

3 3

50 min

$15 $5

Men P123 A-Race ** 6:10-7:00 pm Women P123 *points awarded 5,4,3,2,1 for overall series * all thursdays except July 4th and Aug. 22nd * proceeds to benefit Colorado developmental sports programs * must have current BRAC membership or a $5 fee will be enforced * Cat 3 and above juniors can race and additional race for an additional $5

COFFEES

Merch (top 3+primes)** Merch 3 deep daily*

* Parking at 1250 S. Hover Street Longmont, CO 80501. * BRAC/ Sanitas Sports to provide helmets, bikes, mentoring for any kids/adults with advance notice. Bikes, helmets, USA Cycling/ BRAC coaches on site each week for short free clinic before events start. * All racers must have a current USAC road license. 1-Day USAC licenses ($10) available only for Cat 5 men, Cat 4 women and juniors. BRAC membership strongly encouraged. * USAC annual road license available to purchase on premise. * Held under USAC Permit number: 2013-1824, all USAC Rules apply. * Gear Restrictions apply to all juniors (10-18). See USAC Rule 1M6 * Bike Restrictions apply to juniors 14 and under See USAC Rule 1M7 Points, 5 places deep, will be awarded each week to determine series places. * See website (sanitassports.com) for details on points and overall prize list. * EMT on site.

Cancellation of race due to weather pending will be posted to twitter, facebook, by 3:30pm or contact Barry Lee at: blee@SanitasSports.com 720-244-8228 phone MORE INFORMATION: SanitasSports.com

Divine Resonance

Cycling equipment donations accepted each week for Colorado youth sports program

Ski Resort

ELDORA MOUNTAIN RESORT

2861 Eldora Ski Road #140, 303-440-8700 Second Place: Vail Ski Resort Third Place: Winter Park Resort/Mary Jane Fourth Place: Copper Mountain Fifth Place: Breckenridge Ski Resort

C

olorado’s erratic weather patterns can sometimes make planning your “sick days” ahead of time next to impossible. That’s certainly one reason why the nearby Eldora Mountain Resort takes the cake for Boulder’s Best Ski Resort.

Located right outside Nederland, Eldora Mountain Resort is the closest ski resort to Boulder and is easily accessible by the RTD Ski-n-Ride. While it may be smaller than other popular Colorado resorts, Eldora offers a fun day on the slopes for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, as well as some solid runs through the trees for the advanced enthusiast.

Skin Care Services

DIVINE RESONANCE

1634 Walnut St. #111, 720-432-1108 Second Place: Six Persimmons Third Place: Dermatology Specialists of Boulder Fourth Place: Avanti Advanced Skin Care & Rejuvenation Center Fifth Place: Sensorielle

B

oulder is sunny, and Boulderites love their sun. But spending so much time frolicking about the Front Range can take a toll on one’s skin. Thus, having an organic skin care company could be just as important as eating organic food for Boulderites. Throw a little technology into the organic skin care mix, and you’ve got Boulder’s favorite skin saver: Divine Resonance. The organic skin care company is a place where East truly meets West. Nora Keahon, owner of Divine Resonance, pairs Western technology with more Eastern, holistic approaches to skin care.

Customized Ayurvedic skin treatments, LED light therapy, crystals and microdermabrasion are just a few of the East-meets-West therapies one can find at this little shop of skin saviors.

78 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Veranda Sun

Reader Comment Our readers say: “BW is real investigative journalism.”

“You have reporting that digs deep.”

“Hard-hitting environmental coverage.”

“In depth reporting on controversial topics.”

“Thoughtful exploration of important local issues.”

“It’s about where I live.”

Tanning Salon

VERANDA SUN

1670 30th St., 303-447-8844 Second Place: Tans To Go Third Place: At the Beach Fourth Place: Executive Tans Fifth Place: Polish

H

ere in Boulder we like things local. A convenient altitude of 5,430 feet and something like 300 sunny days each year gives Boulderites a geographical advantage when it comes to staying naturally tan. As for the other days of the year? Keep it local.

Veranda Sun opened in 1983 at 1670 30th St. and has been there ever since. The salon offers a variety of services, including multiple levels of tanning beds, mystic tans, airbrush tanning, teeth whitening and a hydration station. Not sure what a hydration station is?

Think Florida in a box: a tanning bed combined with a steam room. Veranda Sun has your tanning needs down to a science.

Veterinarian

HUMANE SOCIETY OF BOULDER VALLEY VETERINARY CLINIC

2323 55th St., 303-442-4030 Second Place: Alpine Hospital for Animals Third Place: Boulder Natural Animal Veterinary Hospital Fourth Place: Boulder Veterinary Hospital Fifth Place: Arapahoe Animal Hospital

W

hen it comes to the health of our animals, only the best will do. So where do Boulder pet owners go when they need to get Fluffy’s rabies shot or Ginger needs to be spayed?

The Humane Society of Boulder Valley Veterinary Clinic, that’s where. The clinic offers a full spectrum of services, from basic heartworm tests and vaccinations to acupuncture, dentistry and radiology. What’s really cool about being a Veterinary Clinic client is the online Pet Portal, where you can keep track of vaccines, medications and upcoming visits so your furry sidekick is always the picture of health. Karma bonus: Proceeds benefit the Humane Society.

voted BEST SKIN CARE

Massage and Skin Care Phenomenal Touch Massage “The Massage creates itself, organically unfolding, unwinding, swirling and undulating the body in a three dimensional water like dance.”

Best MassaGe

To see Phenomenal Touch video, go to www.divineresonance.com

THANK YOU BOULDER A Clean Slate

THE DIvINE RESONANCE

(acne clearing)

(anti-aging)

This organic skin treatment includes: Deep Pore Cleansing Extractions, High frequency, Lymphatic Enhancement Therapy, Omnilux Plus (Near Infra Red) Light Therapy, two organic enzymes, Colloidal Silver and Lavender Clay Mask, plant based Hyaluronic Acid with steam and vitamin C.

This organic skin treatment includes; organic products for sensitive skin, an organic vitamin C peel, a papaya Bromelain enzyme, Sapphire Microdermabrasion, and Omnilux Revive ( Red ) Light Therapy.

SKIN TREATMENT

SKIN TREATMENT

* both include Phenomenal Touch Massage and Big Sur Jade hot stones

*Introductory Rate 1 Hour for $80 or 1 Hour & 30 Minutes for $100 for either treatment

Best skin Care Nora Keahon L.M.T/L.E • 720-432-1108 1634 Walnut St., Ste. 111, Boulder • www.divineresonance.com

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 79

Corepower Yoga Studio

Yoga Studio

Martial Arts

COREPOWER YOGA STUDIO

BOULDER KARATE

645 27th Way, 303-497-9642 3280 28th St., 303-440-3930 1129 13th St., 303-440-8952 Second Place: Yoga Pod Third Place: Om Time Fourth Place: Little Yoga Studio Fifth Place: Studio Be Yoga

P

racticing yoga is the rare chance to swap the hectic day-to-day for the simplicity of your own breath. That’s why, no matter where you are in Boulder, a CorePower Yoga Studio’s haven of energy and focus is never too far away. Yogis in Boulder can’t get enough of the pumped-up classes taught at CorePower Yoga Studio’s three locations around Boulder. Enjoy practicing by candlelight in the Heated Power Yoga class, or healing through stretching in a CoreRestore session. Yoga Pod, our second-place winner, is known for providing exciting classes and a picturesque sanctuary at the base of the Flatirons.

1676 30th St., 303-442-4330 Second Place: Easton Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Third Place: Tran’s Martial Arts and Fitness Center Fourth Place: Boulder Quest Center Fifth Place: Boulder Aikikai Aikido Dojo

W

hile we have to admit that Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid taught us much of what Hollywood wanted us to know about martial arts, we’re certain that the people of Boulder have chosen wisely by selecting Boulder Karate yet again as our martial arts winner. Boulder Karate offers classes to students of all ages and skill levels, and prides itself on its five values: attitude, integrity, respect, self control and heart.

Each student takes one private lesson with the option of multiple group lessons per week, and Boulder Karate does not require a long-term contract to take classes. Our runner-up, Easton Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, offers specialized classes like cardio kickboxing, boxing conditioning and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Reader Comment “Boulder Weekly covers local events and issues, as well as regional or broader issues.”

80 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

THANK YOU BOULDER! Voted Boulder’s #1 Tanning Salon

1FREE TAN

FOR VOTING US BEST OF BOULDER

Super Beds • 1 per customer Must present coupon Expires 05-15-2013

30th & Arapahoe (Next to King Soopers) 303-447-8844

SPRING

....back into action

Spring is here. Why not use this time to renew yourself? If you are recovering from an injury and need help getting back to doing what you love to do, let us help. Call and see the difference our therapists can make!

Boulder: 303.447.2873

Longmont: 303.682.2440

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

www.medfit.net

mbf PHYSICAL THERAPY

+ SUPERVISED EXERCISE

April 25, 2013 81

Susan France

Bicycle Shop

UNIVERSITY BICYCLES

839 Pearl St., 303-444-4196 Second Place: Boulder Cycle Sport Third Place: Full Cycle Fourth Place: Bicycle Village Fifth Place: Community Cycles

I

t’s 75 degrees outside, sunny, minimal wind — you know, typical Boulder weather. You just ate blueberry oatmeal and half a grapefruit and you’re ready to conquer Four Mile Canyon on your brand new Bianchi. You go to clip in but your bike sinks an inch; you’ve got a flat. Never fear, University Bicycles is here!

Walk on down to the corner of Pearl and 9th and find a bike tube vending machine outside, just in case you got that flat at 7 a.m., and rows upon rows of rentals, commuter bikes, road bikes and custom builds. Whether you’ve been stoked to ride since you could walk or haven’t ridden a bike since before puberty, University Bicycles’ services and knowledgeable staff will get you pumped to pedal. What more could you ask for from Boulder’s best bike shop?

Skate Shop

META SKATEBOARDS

1505 Pearl St., #103, 303-443-1245

F

or nearly a decade, Meta Skateboards has been dedicated to building and supporting the skateboarding community in Boulder County.

If you’re new to town or just visiting, and you’re not sure of where the hot spots are for skateboarding and who to watch out for as your sliding down that rail, the good folks at Meta are more than willing to give you the lay of the land. They have great boards and everything you need to keep yours up and running.

Ryan Lenhart of University Bicycles

Annuals, perennials, vegetables, roses, herbs, and a friendly experienced staff to help you with all of your gardening needs. thAnks for All of your votes!

82 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

h

o e no n r t ab i o le n

m

13

‘

Best of Boulder

Thank you Boulder for all your votes

but we’re not that important.

While we think providing a stellar sleep experience is important, we have no delusions of grandeur- there are more important causes. Everyday, people in Boulder are working hard to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and clothe the hipsters, er, needy.

To show our appreciation for their dedication, we give 2% of our proceeds back to our community. With your help, we are supporting these organizations:

Locally Owned

homeless youth

women

families

environment

Family Operated Free Delivery, Haul Away & Recycle

Check out our multiple 5-star reviews on

2830 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder (Just east of 28th on Arapahoe)

303.440.0288

visit our showroom today to see why we are the best of boulder!

www.UrbanMattress.com

Susan France

younger. There’s no better place in town to get a used Subaru, the true delineator of Boulder street cred, and all used cars come with a warranty for repair that lasts 12,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.

Arts and Crafts Supplies

MCGUCKIN HARDWARE

2525 Arapahoe Ave., Unit D1, 303-4431822 Second Place: Michaels Third Place: Hobby Lobby Fourth Place: Meininger Fifth Place: Guiry’s Color Source

Bookstore

BOULDER BOOK STORE

1107 Pearl St., 303-447-2074 Second Place: Barnes & Noble Third Place: Bookworm Fourth Place: Trident Booksellers and Cafe Fifth Place: Red Letter Secondhand Books

W

e all know the green vests, right? You walk into McGuckin Hardware, and you are surrounded by them. It’s not just that this store has everything in the world, it’s that there is always a knowledgeable staffer in a green vest who is ready to point you in the direction of what you need. And when it comes to arts and crafts, this incredible store seems to always deliver the goods, whether it’s for your kid’s school project or your own hobby. We love this place so much that sometimes we go there for groceries and forget that they don’t sell milk. Yet. Auto Dealer — New

LARRY H. MILLER BOULDER TOYOTA 2465 48th Court, 888-699-0552 Second Place: Fisher Auto Third Place: Gebhardt BMW Fourth Place: Flatirons Imports Fifth Place: Valley Nissan

A

ny business owner will tell you how rare positive reviews are. And standup comedians have been telling us for 20 or 30 years how painful and frustrating it is to buy a car.

Those two facts make the reviews of this category’s top vote-getters all the more impressive. Customers of Larry H. Miller Boulder Toyota rave about the service at the dealership, including the “extremely courteous and helpful” staff — or, depending on who you ask, the “fantastic” or “great” staff. Buying from Gebhardt BMW, meanwhile, is the “Best car purchase ever!” and a trip to Fisher Auto is “amazing” and “excellent.” Standup comedians better find some new material.

A

Bernadette Tillis of McGuckin Hardware

Fastest $4 Million Profit

THE ONGOING DAILY CAMERA BUILDING REAL ESTATE SAGA

R

emember the Daily Camera building, that last, great, redevelopment opportunity near the Pearl Street Mall? Well, a funny thing happened on its way to getting redeveloped, namely, somebody made a cool $4 million without doing much of anything at all. Here’s the play: In 2009, a bunch of regional big hitters like Randy Nichols, Stephen Tebo, Richard Foy and the like were all bidding about $8 million to buy the building. Then suddenly, they all pulled back their bids at about the same time and walked away from the deal. Then, a year later, Karlin Real Estate of California bought the building for $9 million. Then, in 2012, just two years later, having never redeveloped a single brick, Karlin turns around and resells the Camera building for $13 million, a $4 million profit. The buyer, believe it or not, was Nichols Partnership, a company owned by Randy Nichols, who had pulled his $8 million dollar bid just a few years before. We don’t know if any of the other local developers are part of the Nichols’ deal, but Karlin made a lot of money in a short time by doing very, very, little. Seems like the Camera’s parent company got taken to the cleaners on this one.

Auto Dealer — Used

BLUE SPRUCE AUTO SALES

3200 28th St. #1, Boulder, 303-938-0580 Second Place: Flatirons Imports Third Place: Green Eyed Motors Fourth Place: Smooth Motors

O

ur readers have decided that Blue Spruce Auto Sales is the best place to replace your clunker with something 84 April 25, 2013

Reader Comment “Nothing tops Boulder Weekly for what is happening in and around Boulder, news and entertainment.”

s devoted supporters of the written word, we have to admit that this particular category is near and dear to our hearts. Bookstores are a refuge from bright screens, a place where reading is a tangible activity and where knowledge has an inky, woodland smell. But before we get too sappy about our love of print, we have to recognize our fabulous winner, Boulder Book Store. The city’s largest independent bookseller is a staple in the community, with its extensive selection of local authors and inviting ambiance. And Boulder Book Store’s friendly staff is always eager to help the avid readers find a title or simply welcome tourists exploring the Pearl Street Mall.

Camera/Video/Photofinishing

MIKE’S CAMERA

2500 Pearl St., 303-443-1715 Second Place: Photocraft Third Place: Costco / Target (tie) Fourth Place: Walgreens

O

nce upon a time, in a land far away, people took photos with something other than their phones. Actually, a lot of people still do take photos with increasingly affordable and accessible digital cameras designed to make just about anyone look like a pro. And they also still look at photos on something other than a computer screen.

So when you’ve got that National Geographicworthy image, or even just a fantastic moment captured between your new niece and your grandmother, and you’re ready to see it printed and framed in all its glory, you’ll want to take it to Mike’s Camera.

Their photofinishing tones and custom effects can add some flair, and they’ll print on a variety of surfaces, including canvas, metal and even make life-size wall clings. Load your photos online and pick them up when you get an email that they’re ready. What could be better than that?

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

10 ¢ Disposable Bag Fee at grocery stores

Begins JULY 1 www.Brought It Boulder.com

We’ll take care of it.

serious personal injury cases including:

Auto Accidents, GranuFlo, Wrongful Death, Dog Bite...

Criminal Defense, DUI, Cannabis Related Matters

phone: 303-825-2223 • fax: 303-825-2224 • email: jeremy@coloradojusticenow.com www.ColoradoJusticeNow.com • www.RosenthalLawOffices.com Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 85

A Boulder Boutique specializing in:

Susan France

• yoga / dance wear • fair trade / sustainable companies • organic / natural fabrics • organic guages & jewelry • gypsy / bohemian / burning man • visionary art & more

Locally Owned & Operated Supporting Over 80 Independent Artisans 2043 Broadway @ Pearl Street 303-442-2059

Bring in this ad and take

10% OFF any purchase!

Blue Spruce Auto Sales in Partnership with

Super Rupair

Marisa Buchsbaum of Pharmaca in Boulder

Auto Service/Repair

HOSHI MOTORS

2504 Spruce St., 303-449-6632 Second Place: Super Rupair Third Place: Boulder Bump Shop Fourth Place: Green Garage Fifth Place: Pellman’s

W

The BEST e c n e i r e p x E Car Buying ! y t n u o C r e d l in Bou 303-938-0580 Check Out Our New Location 3200 28th Street, Boulder 86 April 25, 2013

hen your car stops purring its way up the highway and the sound starts to take on a disconcerting clunk — or maybe you’re into, you know, preventive care and just want an oil change — you can turn your wheels toward Hoshi Motors, which has been fixing up cars in Boulder for almost 30 years. A born and bred Boulder favorite, Hoshi Motors specializes in the maintenance and repair of Hondas, Acuras, Toyotas and, of course, Subarus.

Super Rupair, which took second place this year, is an independent Subaru repair company that has been fixing up Boulder Subies since 1979.

Bath & Body Shop

PHARMACA INTEGRATIVE PHARMACY 1647 Pearl St., 303-442-5164 645 South Broadway, 303-867-3400 Second Place: Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary Third Place: Lush Fourth Place: Bath & Body Works Fifth Place: Sephora

P

harmaca isn’t your average pharmacy.

Helpful naturopaths wander the store offering words of wisdom. You may have

thought your recent skin issue needed some topical solution, but you end up leaving with a new diet plan or herbal supplement to help combat it. That’s because Pharmaca, while filling conventional prescriptions too, brings its customers a sense of holistic wellness.

Taking second place this year is Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary, where you can find every herb you can imagine, and can even mix your own herbal concoction, with help from attentive staff.

Adult Merchandise

FASCINATIONS

2560 28th St., 303-442-7309 Second Place: Pleasures Boutique

J

ournalism research does not have to be boring, mind-numbing work. Case in point: this blurb. Whoever said, “A picture is worth a thousand words” wasn’t researching Fascinations’ website. Trust us, it’s more like a thousand pictures are worth one word, “sexy.” And why not?

Sex is good, sex is fun, sex after dropping a few bucks at this year’s winner, Fascinations, is even more fun … or at least more interesting … or maybe a little daring, but only if that’s what you’re into.

These folks have it all when it comes to sex. They’ve got toys, bondage and fetish products, lingerie, lubricants, erotic books and videos and something called “electro sex.” Don’t know what that is? Might be time for a little research of your own.

Note: Research at second-place finisher Pleasures is also not mind-numbing.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Carpet/Flooring

ATLAS FLOORING

4920 28th St., 303-442-3221 Second Place: Carpet Exchange Third Place: Go Green Flooring Fourth Place: Boulder Stove & Flooring Fifth Place: Carpet Mill Outlet Flooring Stores

Politician Who Got His Start in Brewing

LONGMONT MAYOR DENNIS COOMBS

S

hocker, right? Did you actually think we were going to choose Gov. John Hickenlooper? These two brewpub owners are in the middle of a face-off over Longmont’s voter-approved fracking ban, and we happen to come down on the side of the little guy, local control and citizens’ rights to have a say in the health and safety of their communities. In the battle of politico brewers, Dennis Coombs wins hands down.

T

hese folks must be doing something right. They keep winning the Best of Boulder readers competition. Not only has Atlas Flooring been around for more than a half a century, it also boasts the largest selection of flooring on the Front Range.That might have something to do with its winning streak. So if it’s easier to follow the trails on your carpet than the ones in Rocky Mountain National Park, give these guys a call. Our readers say it’s the right thing to do.

Reader Comment “I like that the stories are always interesting and different from what I read in the Denver Post or Colorado Daily.”

Clothing Store — Children

ROCKY MOUNTAIN KIDS

2525 Arapahoe Ave. #H12A, 303-4472267 Second Place: Childish Things Third Place: Gymboree Fourth Place: Poppy Fifth Place: Savers

H

and-me-downs can’t last forever, and besides, one child’s tastes might not hit the spot for the next kid in line.

So when that younger sibling decides it’s time for his or her own garments, our readers know just where to go. Once again, Rocky Mountain Kids has taken top honors for keeping kids stylish and happy. Boasting a large shoe selection and a huge variety of apparel, RM Kids can provide for children from infancy through tweenhood, if that’s a word. Again taking second this year is Childish Things, the high-end consignment shop for children, women and mothers-to-be.

Locally Owned & Operated Serving South Boulder since 1972 Lawn & Garden • Tools • Plumbing Electrical • Paint & Sundries Special Orders

THANK YOU BOULDER!

Clothing Store — Men’s

RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT, INC. (REI)

1789 28th St., Boulder, 303-583-9970 Second Place: Patagonia Third Place: Men’s Wearhouse Fourth Place: Weekends Fifth Place: Starr’s

NOW OFFERING 3 WAYS TO SHOP

3 3 3

T

ake a look around Pearl Street Mall and you’ll notice an inescapable trend: Boulderites wear a ton of outdoor gear, and they wear it well. Outdoor sports are so ingrained into Boulder’s identity that the clothing blends into everyday life.

That’s why it’s no surprise that Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) nails down the men’s clothing category year after year. The sportswear at REI, surrounded by mountains of cool gear, is as functional as it is stylish, so you know that the button-down shirt you buy will work just as well in the backcountry as on the back patio of your favorite bar. Patagonia, with its prime Pearl Street location and top-notch gear, takes second.

IN STORE

LIKE US!

ON LINE CALL IN

303.499.7211 691 S. Broadway, Boulder www.tablemesahardware.com

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 87

Susan France

CD/Record Store

Computer Retail

ALBUMS ON THE HILL

APPLE RETAIL STORE

1128 13th Street, 303-447-0159 Second Place: Bart’s Music Shack Third Place: Absolute Vinyl

1755 29th St., 720-479-9451 Second Place: Best Buy Third Place: Mac Shack Fourth Place: Costco Fifth Place: CU Bookstore

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n this day and age, it’s a damn shame that most kids get their music downloaded from iTunes or some other Internet music provider. Back in our day (you whippersnappers) we had things like records and eight-tracks and cassettes and even things you might remember called CDs. There was just something about going down to your local record store, flipping through the new releases and the used albums, finding a gem, opening the liner notes, feeling the physical accompaniment to your music as you listened. Albums on the Hill can still give you that feeling. Don’t lose it.

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f your computer randomly, inexplicably turns off in the middle of your favorite episode of The Walking Dead, it might be time for a new computer. If Macintosh is your brand, the Apple Retail Store, this year’s winner for best computer retail store, is the place to go. Rows of chic gadgets and a knowledgeable staff can walk you through all your technology needs.

Not sure of your needs? Take a spin on one of their many computer models to test it out first. If a PC is your jive, stop by anyways, the Apple Store might change your mind.

Computer Repair

APPLE RETAIL STORE

Clothing Store — Used

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1813 Pearl St., 303-938-1924 Second Place: Rag’s Consignments Third Place: Savers Fourth Place: Common Threads Fifth Place: Boulder Humane Society Thrift Store

BUFFALO EXCHANGE

1755 29th St., 720-479-9451 Second Place: Mac Shack Third Place: Boulder Mac Repair Fourth Place: iSupportU Fifth Place: Boulder PC

cracked screen ain’t no thang for the winner of Boulder’s best computer repair: the Apple Retail Store.

Come at the right time and your tech may double as your technological therapist, listening to the tragic story of how you knocked over an open bottle of kombucha directly on top of your keyboard. Whatever your conundrum, the staff at Apple know what they are doing and understand the importance of a well-functioning machine.

Clothing Store — Women’s

ANTHROPOLOGIE

1805 29th St., 303-449-4575 Second Place: Urban Outfitters Third Place: Coldwater Creek Fourth Place: Umba Fifth Place: prAna

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here’s something whimsical about walking through the doors of Anthropologie. The women’s clothing store is like a storybook, and whether you choose to slip on a demure dress reminiscent of Ava Gardner or a tailored jacket that makes you feel a bit like Katharine Hepburn, there’s something nostalgic about Anthropologie’s clothes. And there’s something about the clothes that

88 April 25, 2013

Andy Schneidkraut, owner of Albums on the Hill

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Reader Comment “You [Boulder Weekly] address real issues that other media ignores. Outspoken truth-telling is essential to our well-being. Great work.”

Best Place to Get Supplies for a Love Letter

TWO HANDS PAPERIE

803 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-444-0124

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tell ya, the Broncos sure should trade up in the draft this year to get a cornerback, don’t you think? They might need to talk with the Dolphins in order to land… OK, gentlemen, now that there are no women left reading this, here’s what you gotta do if you need an old-fashioned adrenaline-shotto-the-heart in your relationship: Go to Two Hands Paperie, buy yourself some awesome rubber stamps and hand-crafted stationery, write the sweetest, most darling love letter you can, buy a metal seal and some wax, seal that thing up, and voilà, you have yourself a love letter straight out of Jane Austen. Pair this with a fancy dinner downtown, and, well — you can thank us later.

just brings out the giddy girl in each of us. From florals to polka dots and pastels, Anthropologie’s clothes are feminine yet effortlessly flattering. And in a town where women spend a lot of time

eep down, we all dream of finding something of great value for next to nothing. You know it’s true. We all want to be that dad who bought a broken-down $75 piano for his little girl only to find a Stradivarius inside. Or the lady who picked up a paint-splattered canvas out of a dumpster that turned out to be an original Pollack. Good news, treasure hunters. Our readers tell us that searching the shelves at this year’s winner, Buffalo Exchange, can give you that same feeling. It turns out that the stuff other people don’t want any more and sell to Buffalo Exchange to make some extra cash might just be the amazingly cool stuff you’ve been hoping to find for years. Who knew that hitting the racks at Buffalo Exchange could be more fun than a day of metal detecting?

That jeans jacket with the awesome rhinestones you find at BE might not be a Pollack, but it still feels pretty darn good to find it.

sporting yoga pants and down jackets, Anthropologie is a much-needed breath of fresh air.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Best Thrift Shop Around. It’s TRU. Open 10 am-5:30 pm Open 7 days a week

5565 Arapahoe Ave. Boulder, Colorado

303-604-5353 Trucare.org/thriftshop

MAY 2-5

BOULDER COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

in Longmont (Hover & Nelson Road)

SPRING SHOW & SALE

Thursday, May 2, 10am-8pm Friday, May 3, 10am-8pm Saturday, May 4, 10am-6pm Sunday, May 5, 10am-4pm

Pottery Demonstrations Daily

Learn more at: BoulderPottersGuild.com Daily drawings to win pottery.

BOULDER

PSYCHIC 303-444-4448

Palm Reading • Tarot Reading Psychic Reading • Crystal Energy Reading • Chakra Balancing Past Life Regressions • Love & Relationship Specialist Grand Opening Special Walk-Ins ccurate

100% A

Welcome

10 OFF First Reading

$

1645 Canyon Blvd. BOULDER • 733 Ken Pratt Blvd. LONGMONT Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 89

Thank You Boulder!

For Voting Us Best Hair Salon in Boulder County!

Reader Comment “Boulder Weekly is out of the ordinary, interesting.”

303-447-0880 1831 Pearl Street - Boulder Tue. - Fri. 9-7, Sat. 9-5, Sun & Mon. Closed www.twighairsalon.com

Costume Shop

THE RITZ

959 Walnut St., 303-443-2850 Second Place: Theatrical Costumes Etc. Third Place: Candy’s Vintage Clothing and Costumes Fourth Place: Goldmine Vintage Fifth Place: Savers

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High Quality New and Used Furniture at Great Prices!

oulder loves costume parties. The wackier the theme, the better. Sexy aquatic creatures? Easy. Robotic royalty?

Sure. No problem, if you visit this year’s winner, The Ritz. So don’t be caught unprepared. Costumes aren’t just for Halloween anymore.

Music fans dress up in outlandish costumes at concerts ranging from The String Cheese Incident to electronica shows. We recommend sequined shorts, especially if you have really hairy legs.

Whatever you choose, you don’t want to find yourself the only non-costumed member of your group. This especially applies if you’re riding to and from the show in any kind of party bus. If you don’t look like part of your group, they might leave without you. Basically, it’s much better to be the only costumed partier than the only one not in a costume. So, play it safe, and wear costumes to every social event you attend.

Dry Cleaner

ART CLEANERS

1715 15th St., 303-440-8600 Second Place: Boulder Cleaners Third Place: John’s Dry Cleaners Fourth Place: Environmental Cleaners Fifth Place: Dependable Cleaners

Thank You Boulder for Voting Us 3rd Best Furniture Store!

3550 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder 303-440-9011 www.UsedFurnitureBoulder.com 90 April 25, 2013

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e trust dry cleaners with our most precious, delicate fabrics. So when Art Cleaners is named the number one dry cleaner in Boulder, that win can probably be attributed to their practice of hard work and meticulous care. The company has seen Boulder’s fashion trends come

and go since 1921 (we can’t help but wonder how many shoulder pads and Members Only jackets the ’80s dumped on them), and in the last decade have implemented an environmentally friendly GreenEarth Cleaning system.Art Cleaners also provides an alterations service, and offers free pick up and delivery for their customers.

Eco-Friendly Business

PATAGONIA

1212 Pearl St., 720-479-2387 Second Place: Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary & Supply Third Place: Momentum Fourth Place: Only Natural Pet Store Fifth Place: ARES Thrift Store

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nce upon a time there was this rock climber named Yvon Chouinard.

And he didn’t like it when he couldn’t find the right piece of climbing gear he needed. So Yvon started making his own climbing gear, and it was good stuff and people bought it. Then he started thinking about the clothes climbers needed and he figured out that rugby shirts and other odd stuff you couldn’t get in the U.S. at the time was a pretty good fit, so he started importing and selling them under the name of one of his favorite mountain climbing regions, Patagonia. One thing led to another and Yvon made a ton of money. So he decided to make cool clothes for the rest of us. And then he made even more money. But here’s the best part, Yvon was a guy who loved the natural world, so he decided to use his fortune and influence to save the planet.

Not bad for a nomadic climbing blacksmith. Patagonia, like its founder, is dedicated to environmental issues from around the world. And its clothes are pretty great too.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Susan France

What Can A… Core Shamanic Practitioner…Certified Reiki Master/Teacher…

Certified Western Feng Shui Consultant…

Archetype Life Charter/Consultant…Whole Life Coach…

Do For You? The Healing of a Lifetime (Feel Better, Laugh More, Live Free of the Addiction and Dis-Ease) The Healing Peace

Free 30-Minute Consultation (Boulder Office/Phone) Visit: www.thehealingpeace.com or call 303-905-0042 Today!

Kristina L. Woodall, M.A., CRMT, CFSH

Kristina L. Woodall, M.A.. CRM, CFSC

Alexis Hemsted of Sturtz & Copeland

Farm

Flower Shop

MUNSON FARMS

STURTZ & COPELAND

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75th and Valmont Road, 415-298-1500 Second Place: Cure Organic Farm Third Place: Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy Fourth Place: Anderson Farms Fifth Place: Boulder Community Gardens hen Outstanding in the Field announced its July 2013 farm-totable dinner at Munson Farms, the company named Munson one of its favorite farms to work with out of the hundreds they visit each year, from California to Maine. The farm is as beloved by locals as it is by out-of-towners, winning the best farm title again this year. Bob Munson runs the farm with his sons, Chris and Mike, and keeps a busy schedule that sees the summer produce of tomatoes and leafy greens into a fall filled with squash and sweet corn — some of which is transformed into their homemade popcorn — replaced in cooler months with a pumpkin patch and Christmas trees. The season’s best is available at their farm stand at the corner of 75th Street and Valmont and at local farmers’ markets.

2851 Valmont Road, 303-442-6663 Second Place: Boulder Blooms Third Place: Fiori Flowers Fourth Place: Lafayette Florist Fifth Place: Fruehauf ’s ot an anniversary? Better stop by Sturtz & Copeland. Got a big date?

Better stop by. Heading to a dinner party with friends? How better to show your appreciation than with flowers? You came home at 4 a.m. a little wobbly and the best you could come up with was, “My cell phone was dead”? You definitely need to stop by Sturtz & Copeland as soon as they open and your head stops spinning. And you better have their helpful staff fix you up with a special, one-of-a-kind creation that says, “You’re special and I’m an idiot.” There are lots of reasons to give flowers, and our readers prefer Sturtz & Copeland for all those occasions.

East County Garden and Nursery Center

THE FLOWER BIN

1805 Nelson Road, Longmont, 303-772-3454

Thank You! For Voting Us “Best Jewelry Store”

Celebrating 66 years

as Boulder’s oldest family owned and operated jeweler

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his East County nursery has been serving the community for more than four decades. It’s big, it’s beautiful and it has everything anybody could possibly need or want to make their garden look great. But more importantly in today’s world of constant environmental change, The Flower Bin’s knowledgeable staff can guide you to just the right plants and products to suit your needs, whether it’s a dry year or not. And, even if your green thumb died sometime ago, the wise folks at The Flower Bin can coach you to success.

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

1402 Pearl St.

Downtown Boulder 303-443-1084 www.hurdlesjewelry.com April 25, 2013 91

THANK YOU AGAIN

for voting us

Boulder County’s

#1 Tattoo Studio!

Clutter Consignment

Furniture

CLUTTER CONSIGNMENT

1909 Ninth St., 303-386-3423 Second Place: Arhaus Third Place: No Place Like Home Fourth Place: American Furniture Warehouse Fifth Place: HW Home

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t seems fitting that Boulder would pick a consignment store as the best place to buy furniture. We pride ourselves on minimizing waste and reusing. What better way to avoid materialism and excess than picking up someone else’s castoffs? Who needs to keep up with the Joneses when you can find some gently used treasures another person was ready to part with? Clutter Consignment has a great selection, and voters agree that this is the place to go when you want to save a few bucks on that new (to you) dining room table or unload that sofa you’ve had for 10 years.

Gift Shop

THE PEPPERCORN

1235 Pearl St., 303-449-5847 Second Place: Bliss Third Place: Boulder Arts & Crafts Fourth Place: Jacque Michelle Fifth Place: Art Mart

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Bolder Ink

303.444.7380 • 2735 Iris Ave.

hen it’s your BFF’s birthday and you’re on the hunt for a honeycomb potholder or a double jigger, you always know where to go: The Peppercorn.

The longstanding Pearl Street kitchen-themed mega shop even makes gift-giving easy by allowing couples to add every pot, pan, knife, spoon and corkscrew on their wish lists to a registry. Just down the street is second-place winner Bliss, where Boulderites can find a gift for any occasion among the beautifully arranged, hand-picked and locally made treasures.

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Celebrating 18 Years 92 April 25, 2013

Reader Comment “Boulder Weekly presents news that others are afraid to (e.g., stand up to the corporations).”

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Best dive shop

table mesa shopping Center 303.499.8500

Learn to Scuba Dive Boulder’s only padi* 5 star training facility *(professional association of diving instructors)

The Peppercorn

Grocery Store

WHOLE FOODS MARKET

2905 Pearl St., 303-545-6611 2584 Baseline Road, 303-499-7636 303 Marshall Road, Superior, 720-2741415 Second Place: King Soopers Third Place: Sprouts Farmers Market Fourth Place: Alfalfa’s Market Fifth Place: Lucky’s Market

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veryone knows not to go grocery shopping hungry, lest you return with six times what you set out to buy. But for those times when you do, Whole Foods Market has a solution.

Showing up hungry to the expansive Pearl Street location no longer means walking out with four extra bags. After a quick trip through the store’s popular food court, shoppers can peruse the store’s aisles without their empty stomachs making all the calls.

Boulderites have once again chosen Whole Foods as the best grocery store. The chain’s focus on natural and organic products no doubt played a role, and there’s also the surprising selection, as Whole Foods stocks natural beauty products and offers a massage through Bodywork Bistro at its Pearl Street location.

Hardware

MCGUCKIN HARDWARE

2525 Arapahoe Ave., Unit D1, 303-4431822 Second Place: The Home Depot Third Place: Table Mesa Hardware Fourth Place: Lowe’s Home Improvement Fifth Place: Guiry’s Color Source

Convenient week end Classes

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K, there’s really no question about who is going to win in this category.

One time we brought a light bulb for a 1969 film projector into McGuckin Hardware and they totally had that puppy in stock.

Another time, when we lost a screw that was crucial to keeping our great-grandfather’s hatchet in place, they carried that too.

Simply put, if you can’t find it at McGuckin, it probably doesn’t exist. We are lucky to have such an amazing store in our midst.

Take advantage of it. Even if you are missing a spoke on your ancestor’s covered wagon wheel, they just might have it.

Home Furnishings

THE PEPPERCORN

1235 Pearl St., 303-449-5847 Second Place: Clutter Consignment Third Place: Concepts Furniture Fourth Place: American Furniture Warehouse Fifth Place: HW Home

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magine your dream home. Outside is a big, perfectly blue pool surrounded by a patio with a barbecue and comfy lounge chairs.

Just inside the house is a vast kitchen, with an island and a convection oven. A wine fridge lines one wall, adjacent to the bar stool-lined counter. Now imagine your dream home filled with all the beautiful furnishings you can find at The Peppercorn.

Yep, that vision is exactly what inspired Boulderites to give the Pearl Street shop top honors in the home furnishings category. Coming in second place is Clutter Consignment, where you can find hot items for a low price.

large indoor heated training pool low instruCtor to student ratios lifetime CertifiCation monthly esCorted dive trips to destinations around the world full serviCe travel agenCy in house large seleCtion of dive & snorkel gear wet suits for all water sports

www.weaversdive.com

Experience the Difference When You Bank with a Credit Union

Local & Not for Profit federally insured by ncua

Drum-Related Customer Service

THE DRUM SHOP

2095 30th St, Boulder, 303-402-0122

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ost Boulder drummers have a special place in their heart for Billy Hoke, owner of The Drum Shop. He seemingly knows everyone in town, and for good reason: His store is the first stop on any local drummer’s list should something go wrong. Bust a head the day of your gig? Billy’s got many options to replace it, and he’ll even put it on your drum for free and give it a quick tune with his handy torque drill. Catch him after hours before he leaves and give him a good enough sob story, and he’ll probably wait a few minutes just to help you out of your jam. His shop is a fixture of the music community, and for good reason.

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

ts:ent fi e en ll Paym

e Bnking and BMi s Nationwide h t oy ine Ba e AT

EnCjhecking, OnSl urcharge-Frheared Branch

E do nt S ,000 FRE • 28 enie Colora v s n e t o n i a s 0C at R r 16 ocation Gre Ove L Experience the 2800 Arapahoe Ave • Boulder Credit Union Difference FOR YOURSELF! 303.441.7800 • www.bmecu.org April 25, 2013 93

courtesy of St Julien Hotel & Spa

St Julien Hotel & Spa

Hot Tub/Jacuzzi

MR. POOL, INC.

2347 South St., Boulder, 303-443-0821 Second Place: Mountain Mist Spas Third Place: Heat Wave Stove & Spa Fourth Place: Quality Pools and Spas Fifth Place: IHT International Hot Tubs

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he immortal Big Punisher once declared, “I’m in the hot tub, poppin’ bubbly.” Want to know why the rapper was in the hot tub? Because hot tubs are a relaxing luxury item and status symbol, that’s why. Our readers think Mr. Pool, Inc. provides the best hot tubs around, and though you probably won’t be surrounded

by R&B singers and music execs should you get one, you’ll reap the same wonderful physical benefits Mr. Punisher was so excited about. So get a hot tub and some beverages, pour one out for Big Pun and make like you have a record deal.

Hotel

ST. JULIEN HOTEL & SPA

900 Walnut St., 720-406-9696 Second Place: Hotel Boulderado Third Place: Boulder Outlook Hotel & Suites Fourth Place: Chautauqua Fifth Place: Boulder Marriott 94 April 25, 2013

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ot friends or family coming into town? Recommend this year’s winner for best hotel, St. Julien Hotel & Spa, for posh rooms, luxurious common areas, fireplaces and armchairs. And that’s only the beginning.

Guests can pamper themselves in the 10,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, too. The Hotel Boulderado takes second place this year. It’s awesome, too, in a more historic way. Ask for help from the friendly staff, because otherwise you can get mixed up by the hotel’s separate wings. No, room 215 doesn’t necessarily have to be near room 216. Why? Because the Boulderado is historic, that’s why.

Hydroponic Store

WAY TO GROW

6395 Gunpark Drive, 303-473-4769 Second Place: Boulder Hydroponic Third Place: One Love Garden Supply Fourth Place: Candy Shop Hydroponics Fifth Place: Family Hydroponics

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o matter how green a thumb, it’s impossible to grow tomatoes in December — outside. For thriving thumbs that refuse to go dormant in the winter, Way to Grow can help set up the perfect, organic, indoor grow room. Even if you know nothing about gardening, Way to Grow can get you started on convert-

ing an unfinished basement into a thriving greenhouse or bring an overgrown, forgotten garden back to life.

Anyone can be a gardener with the right tools, and filling that toolbox starts with the supplies at Boulder’s best hydroponic store.

Independent Business

MCGUCKIN HARDWARE

2525 Arapahoe Ave., Unit D1, 303-443-1822 Second Place: Cured Third Place: Umba Fourth Place: Momentum/Alpine Auto Detailing (tie) Fifth Place: Alfalfa’s Market

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ure, you could go to Home Depot or Lowe’s, or another chain-owned hardware store. But why not keep your hard-earned dollars local, so that we can become more self-sufficient? McGuckin Hardware has built up a reputation for being a Boulder institution that has an incredibly comprehensive inventory of all things related to housewares, outdoor gear, electrical, plumbing, gardening — OK, we just started a list that we can’t finish. We’d leave something out. Support your local everything store. Runner-up Cured is one of our favorites as well. They have everything you need for that romantic picnic that tells your partner you are still as much in love as the day you met.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Tour the garden that sets the gold standard for bronzes.

Stroll our art galleries and outdoor sculpture garden and see why the Leanin’ Tree Museum of Western Art is considered the best western and wildlife museum in Colorado. Spring through fall is the ideal time to bring visitors to this acclaimed private exhibit.

· Check out our excellent ratings!

·

FREE ADMISSION & PARKING

Fu photo n for all ops ages!

250 paintings, 150 bronze sculptures Outdoor sculpture garden Card & gift shop Combine with a tour of nearby Celestial Seasonings Visit www.LeaninTreeMuseum.com

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·

Directions: Diagonal Highway #119 to 63rd Street, south to Longbow Drive and west to Leanin’ Tree.

6055 Longbow Drive, Boulder, CO M-F 8 to 5, Sat.-Sun. 10-5. 303-729-3440

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 95

Exiled Political Gadfly

SETH BRIGHAM

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ranted, Boulder has its share of gadflies who like to harass our city officials, and often it’s warranted, but only one of those activists actually got run out of town. Seth Brigham, who had the gall to question city council members about their inability to properly fill out their financial disclosure forms, got slapped with a restraining order that, thankfully, a judge struck down. When he went off his meds and displayed some inappropriate behavior, instead of treating this mentally unstable man with compassion, authorities arrested him and threw him in the hoosegow. If it happened to us, we’d relocate to Milwaukee too.

Jewelry Store

HURDLE’S JEWELRY

1402 Pearl St., 303-443-1084 Second Place: Walters and Hogsett Fine Jewelers Third Place: Boulder Arts and Crafts Gallery Fourth Place: Angie Star Jewelry Fifth Place: Cronin Jewelers

oulderites like their jewelry, like shopping local and like being socially conscious.

We suspect that’s why our readers picked Hurdle’s Jewelry as their favorite jewelry store again this year. It’s a great, locally owned business that has an excellent selection and doesn’t sell conflict diamonds. Can you say trifecta? Hurdle’s not only designs one-of-a-kind pieces for its customers, it also sells some of the top designer jewelry brands like Ritani, Scott Kay, Rebecca Overmann and Amali. So if you’re feeling the need to add a little bling to your life or someone else’s, our readers say that Hurdle’s is the place to go.

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Kitchen Supplies

THE PEPPERCORN

1235 Pearl St., 303-449-5847 Second Place: McGuckin Hardware Third Place: Sur La Table Fourth Place: Savory Spice Shop Fifth Place: Bed Bath & Beyond

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onsidering The Peppercorn started out as a cooking school and kitchen-supply store 36 years ago, it should come as no surprise that the now-booming shop is Boulder’s favorite kitchen outfitter. From mixers and juicers to spatulas and cookbooks, The Peppercorn has got you covered. Just about any item you need for cooking, baking, mixing, decorating or dining is available at the shop, which is also the go-to spot for hard-to-find specialty kitchen equipment and local flavorings. Our runner-up is McGuckin Hardware, which has an extensive selection of kitchen supplies, as well as everything else under the sun.

Reader Comment “My favorite thing about Boulder Weekly is that it just belongs to Boulder.”

96 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

DENVER MATTRESS

Is Honored To Be Voted...

THE BEST MATTRESS STORE IN BOULDER!

Denver Mattress and the stores at Furniture Row strive to give their customers a unique shopping experience. Each store has a Highly Trained Staff of Specialists, a Great Selection of the Latest Styles of Quality Merchandise, a 200% Guaranteed Lowest Price Pledge and Extended No Interest Financing Options, which all adds up to give you the Value you deserve. We may have over 330 stores in 31 different states, but we’re most proud of this one---right here in Boulder.

Where You Find Sleep.™ 1945 28th Street (28th & Walnut)

303.413.1314

DenverMattress.com

Susan France

Barbara Wilson, owner of Christina’s Luxuries

Law Firm

BERG HILL GREENLEAF & RUSCITTI 1712 Pearl St., 303-402-1600 Second Place: Hutchinson Black and Cook Third Place: Holland & Hart Fourth Place: Gard & Bond Fifth Place: Frascona Joiner Goodman & Greenstein

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hile many people would prefer to not become entangled in the law, our sure-fire winner, Berg Hill Greenleaf & Ruscitti, is the local firm you’d want hacking away at a daunting legal thicket. Berg Hill Greenleaf & Ruscitti is Boulder County’s largest local law firm, with 41 attorneys who represent clients across the country. They specialize in several areas, including business, criminal defense, the environment and water, litigation, and trusts and estates. Our second-place winner, Hutchinson Black and Cook, has a long history in Boulder (more than 100 years), and specializes in areas such as business, media, immigration, litigation and nonprofit organizations.

Lingerie

CHRISTINA’S LUXURIES

2425 Canyon Blvd., Ste. 100, 303-443-2421 Second Place: Victoria’s Secret Third Place: Fascinations Fourth Place: BoulderFields

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ne of the best ways to set yourself singing along to “I feel pretty! Oh so pretty!” is to start at the bottom layer of your clothes. You could, in theory, stash some lacy trim under your down parka in the depths of winter and feel a little extra special, even under your turtleneck. And there’s no better place to get your pretty things than Christina’s Luxuries. And it’s not all about your underthings. Stop in for fun swimwear or sleepwear, or to freshen up the rest of what your closet has to offer. You’ll feel pretty.

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Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Owned & Operated by former FUJI MOTORS employees!

SAME GREAT SERVICE, SAME GREAT PEOPLE, & AT THE SAME CONVENIENT LOCATION!

Hazel’s Beverage World

HigHest quality full service for aNy MaKe or MoDel, IncludIng hybrIds! WE SERVICE ALL DOMESTIC, EUROPEAN, & JAPANESE VEHICLES YOU NAME IT ... WE CAN FIX IT!

5% OFF

$29.99

parts Or LaBOr

OIL & FILtEr CHaNGE

Which ever is more

INCLUDING tOppING OFF aLL FLUIDs & sEttING tIrE prEssUrEs (Exclusions apply. Synthetic oil is more, only up to 5 quarts. Not valid with any other offer)

INCLUDEs MaJOr ENGINE Or traNsMIssION WOrK

(with coupon. Expires 9-30-13)

(with coupon. Expires 9-30-13)

1900 55th street, suite 102, Boulder (1 block north of arapahoe) 303.396.0555 • www.legacyautoBoulder.com email: legacyautoboulder@gmail com

Play. Stay. Sleep.

Eat. Repeat.

Doggie Play Care Small Pet Boarding Grooming

Liquor Store

HAZEL’S BEVERAGE WORLD 1955 28th St., 303-447-1955 Second Place: Liquor Mart Third Place: Superior Liquor Fourth Place: North Boulder Liquor Fifth Place: Boulder Wine Merchant

Loads of Outdoor & Indoor Fun!

Mattress

DENVER MATTRESS CO.

1945 28th St., 303-413-1314 Second Place: Verlo Mattress Co. Third Place: Urban Mattress Fourth Place: Boulder Furniture and Mattress Fifth Place: Mattress King

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ids, we recall the last time we bought a mattress, and it was awesome. After all, in what other shopping process can you go from store to store, repeatedly lie down on beds, and not have an employee give you the evil eye? Totally relaxing.

Everyone should try it, and make sure you make it last, trying lots of different stores and beds. But you will likely end up going with Denver Mattress, according to our readers. Usually, they are right. Roll on down to their 28th Street location and start getting horizontal. Nests are important. So find the right one.

Reader Comment “Your cover stories are always more appealing than the news covered by the mainstream media outlets.”

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

Voted Best Pet Care, Year After Year!

- Daily Camera & Colorado Daily

STAY FOR PE ND

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o you decide to grab a six-pack and you whip into Hazel’s Beverage World for your beer run. Your friends wait in the car. Thirty minutes later, they decide to go inside to get you. They find you standing in front of the beer selection with your mouth agape. One of them asks, “What’s taking so long?” That’s when you tell them that there are 78 glass doors with beer behind every one. Welcome to Hazel’s, where the amazing selection that includes more than 12,000 products has been known to derail the quick stop. Hazel’s is locally owned and calls itself a “Boulder Original.” And who can argue with a liquor store that boasts the state’s largest cooler? Our readers were virtually split between Hazel’s and frequent past winner Liquor Mart, which rolled in at a close second this year.

PLAY A

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7275 Valmont Rd - Boulder – 303.442.2602 7:30am - 6pm Everyday www.cottonwoodkennels.com • Kids programs from ages 4 and up!

• “Fantasy Horse Camp” Let your little girl’s imagination experience “The magic of unicorns, Pegasus and horse fairies with real horses!” 7 yrs & up Day Camp M-F

TRIPLE CREEK RANCH

Come ride with us!

• “Drill Team Horse Camp” Experience the thrill of the Drill! Riders create a dance like performance on horseback to music! 10 yrs & up Day Camp M-F • Lessons: Western and English 6 yrs & up • Lil’ Buckaroo Lessons 4 - 6yrs • Horse Workshops: 1 day & 2 day mini camps 6 yrs & up • Birthday-Day Parties: “Best party in the county!” see what everyone says!

• Paint a Dandy Party/Cowgirl up Party/Me, My Family and Best Friends Party ages 4-13

4255 Nelson Rd., Longmont www.triplecreek-ranch.com for detail information and sign up April 25, 2013 99

Courtesy of Robb’s Boulder Music

Robb’s Boulder Music

Moving Company

Music Store

Natural Foods

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

ROBB’S BOULDER MUSIC

WHOLE FOODS MARKET

520 Violet St., Golden, 303-344-9911 536 W. 67th St., Loveland, 970-686-6683 Second Place: Taylor Moving Third Place: Berg’s Small Moves Fourth Place: Boulder Valley Transfer Fifth Place: A Boulder Moving Co.

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2691 30th St., Boulder, 303-443-8448 Second Place: HB Woodsong’s Third Place: The Drum Shop Fourth Place: Wildwood Music Fifth Place: Miller Music

urveys routinely rank moving as one of the most stressful events in a person’s life, up there with enduring a death in the family, going through divorce or disarming a nuclear bomb on a nosediving plane. Fortunately, there’s a legion of Bruce Willises and Will Smiths ready to lend a hand.

For the fourth year in a row, readers picked Two Men and a Truck as their favorite moving stars. Maybe it’s the eye-catching logo, maybe it’s the national visibility, maybe it’s the high referral rate among past customers. Maybe it’s the snappy one-liners as they hoist a mattress, unload a couch and save the day again.

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ant to be a rock star? Many scores of Hendrixesin-training have passed through the doors of Robb’s Boulder Music throughout the years, wide eyes staring at the walls of Les Pauls and Fenders.

Acoustic guitar lovers have options galore, too, and for the gigging musician, Robb’s hosts luthiers — that’s a fancy word for a person who fixes stringed instruments — for both instruments and amps.

2905 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-545-6611 2584 Baseline Road, Boulder, 303-499-7636 303 Marshall Road, Superior, 720-274-1415 Second Place: Vitamin Cottage Third Place: Alfalfa’s Market Fourth Place: Sprouts Farmers Market Fifth Place: Lucky’s Market

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f you’ve ever braved the stretch of Pearl Street between 28th and 30th streets, especially between, oh, 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., you can’t be shocked by this result.

The turn lane to get into the Whole Foods Market/ Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage parking lot is always packed, Priuses and Subarus crawling about to get close to the door. As the joke rap song on YouTube says, it’s getting real in the Whole Foods parking lot.

Boulder loves its natural foods, and Whole Foods is always pushing the envelope on that front. That includes taking the sometimes-nebulous “natural” label and turning it into concrete steps, like Whole Foods’ announcement in March 2013 that it will be requiring labels on any products containing GMOs by 2018.

Reader Comment “I live here and you [Boulder Weekly] are our local spirit.”

100 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Todd Gullette

Susan Hart

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John McElveen

For 35 years we’ve helped find the perfect place for you and your family.

Julie Meko

Now we’ve found ours.

Ande Rice

Paul Roach

Lynn Ryan

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Proudly introducing our second conveniently located office.

1320 Pearl in the Heart of Downtown

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Jimmy Keith

www.BoulderCO.com • 303.449.7000 • 1.800.825.7000 • 2425 Canyon Blvd. #110 • 1320 Pearl St.

Thanks for voting us Best Real Estate Service in Boulder County year after year!

Thank you Boulder for voting us Best Lingerie Store

! n i a ag

New Business

HAZEL’S BEVERAGE WORLD

1955 28th St., 303-447-1955 Second Place: Image Bodybuilding Third Place: Lucky’s Bakehouse & Creamery Fourth Place: Under the Sun Eatery and Taphouse/Umba (tie) Fifth Place: Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place

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t’s no surprise that Hazel’s Beverage World won for best new business.

After all, Hazel’s may be new, but it already won this year as our reader’s choice for best liquor store. Maybe it’s the wide aisles or the football field-long beer case. Whatever it is, it is definitely working for Hazel’s. Congrats, giant liquor store, and the same to all of our Best of Boulder new business winners.

Anyone who has ever started a business knows that it is one of the most challenging and rewarding things you can do. Here’s to having the yarbles to follow your dreams.

Fair Trade

MOMENTUM

Lingerie, Swimwear & Apparel

Visit our website for a SPECIAL OFFER!

2425 Canyon • 303-443-2421 Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 12-5 • www.christinasluxuries.com 102 April 25, 2013

1625 Pearl St., 303-440-7744

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he only thing better than finding just the right gift is finding just the right gift and simultaneously improving the life of the person who created it. The fair trade movement is all about improving the quality of life for people living in poverty all over the world. Fair trade merchants sell the products these artisans make and then give them a much higher share of the profits than would normally be paid.

As a result, lives are changed for the good, including yours when you know you are supporting such a great cause. Fair trade is alive and well in Boulder, from coffee to clothing to art to jewelry and a wide variety of other handcrafted products. If you want to create a better world with your fair trade purchases, we can’t think of a better place than Momentum.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Reader Comment “Because Boulder Weekly is independent, I trust BW’s stories on local politics and the environment.”

Optical Store

ASPEN EYEWEAR

2525 Arapahoe Ave., 303-447-0210 Second Place: Boulder Vision Center Third Place: Envision Fourth Place: College Optical Fifth Place: Wink Optical

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nce upon a time, wearing glasses was actually considered a bit of a hardship.

Then something happened, and wearing glasses became cool. Now everybody from movie stars to top athletes are wearing glasses even when they have perfectly fine vision. Wearing glasses has become sophisticated and sleek — a sign of intelligence. Go figure. Aspen Eyewear has been helping Boulderites look chic for more than 20 years. Carrying more than 30 brands of frames, from Maui Jim to Kate Spade to Nike, you can rest assured that Aspen Eyewear will have you putting your best frame forward.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

THE BEST!

Sales • Rentals • Lessons • Repairs 35th Anniversary!!

Robb’s Boulder Music 2691 30th Street • 303.443.8448 www.bouldermusic.com

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 103

THANK YOU, BOULDER! We look forward to serving you in 2013.

Susan France

Community Classes Sample the classroom experience!

No prerequisite. Open to non-massage-therapists.

Herbology

May 4-5

Intro to Massage

June 15-16

Reflexology

Aug. 3-4

Vibrational Medicine Aug. 17-18 Intro to Massage

Aug. 17-18

Polarity Therapy

Oct. 12-13

Intro to Massage

Oct. 19-20

For Intro to Massage workshops, contact Admissions at 303-530-5933.

For other Community Classes, call 303-530-2100 ext 129.

To book a massage in the Clinic, call 303-530-2189.

Open House Dates May 16

June 13

July 18

Aug. 15

Sept. 19

Oct. 17

Nov. 14

All 5:30-7:00pm

303-530-2100 www.bcmt.org 104 April 25, 2013

Sarah Leone of REI

Outdoor Gear

RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT, INC. (REI) 1789 28th St., 303-583-9970 Second Place: Neptune Mountaineering Third Place: Boulder Army Store Fourth Place: Jax Mercantile Fifth Place: Patagonia

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o you love hiking? Camping? Climbing? Skiing? We’re shocked. You live in Boulder, and probably live for outdoor sports. So for your Chacos, or your Nalgene, or your puffy down jacket, head to Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI). They have staff to answer all your questions and point you in the right direction — which is good, because otherwise you might get lost in all the sections.

(They’re separated into outdoor activities that Boulder residents enjoy, so the sections go on almost endlessly.) They also have a community area with books and classes and, occasionally, live music. Also shocking. REI clearly doesn’t know its Boulder customers at all. If you become a member and shop there enough, which you probably already have, you get dividends at the end of the year. Yep, free money to spend on more outdoor gear. And if something you bought there rips or breaks, you can return it for a new one, no questions asked. Unless maybe you set it on fire, or botched a tie-dye job on it. (It happens. This is why we can’t have nice things.) Then they might ask questions. But if you can’t get a free replacement, they also have “garage sales” where gear is sold super cheap.

Reader Comment “Boulder Weekly is independent media, and has a unique approach to covering stories about local news/culture/events.”

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Boulder’s Online Deals Marketplace

Reader Comment The most popular reason in this year’s survey for why our readers love us: “Boulder Weekly is independent and locally owned.”

Pet Store

HUMANE SOCIETY OF BOULDER VALLEY 2323 55th St., 303-442-4030 Second Place: PetSmart Third Place: PC’s Pantry for Dogs & Cats Fourth Place: Only Natural Pet Store Fifth Place: Whole Pets

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t’s a testament to Boulder County’s animal shelter that voters chose the Humane Society of Boulder Valley as best pet store in the county.

With thousands of dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs (among other animals) coming through its doors each year, all of them hoping to find a loving home, the Humane Society offers the best for owners and pets alike. What sets the organization apart is its commitment to finding “forever” homes for the animals it adopts out by offering behavior classes and a veterinary clinic to ensure ongoing pet health.

Nanny State

CITY OF BOULDER

Visit BestofBoulderDeals.com to find great deals from your favorite Boulder businesses.

Buy gift certificates at up to 50% off.

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his was a no-brainer. Nearly every city and town in Boulder County looks like a more progressive bastion of independence and freedom than Boulder these days, thanks to a number of bizarre moves by City of Boulder officials over the last few years. Our taxpayer-funded and elected government in Boulder has been trying to crack down on bars even when there is no proof of any liquor law violations, require people to get permits to exercise their constitutionally protected right to protest, make life harder for the homeless by ticketing them for sleeping in town, over-regulate marijuana and even support CU’s heavy-handed, military-style effort to shut down our public university in order to squelch free speech on 4/20. What a difference a few years of misguided government can make. Please come back, Boulder. The world still needs what you once were.

Sign up for our e-newsletter for exclusive coupon codes direct to your email inbox.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 105

Susan France

Nick Panico of Mile High Pipes and Tobacco

Pipe Shop

MILE HIGH PIPES AND TOBACCO

1144 Pearl St., 303-443-7473 Second Place: The Fitter Third Place: Freaky’s Gift Tattoo & Body Piercing Tobacco Head Shop Fourth Place: Smoker Friendly Fifth Place: Helping Hands

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orget what you were looking for? Maybe it was something shiny and glass, and Mile High Pipes and Tobacco will help you figure it out. Maybe it’s just a tobacco pipe, maybe it’s a Roor “water pipe” with an ice catcher — no matter what, you can probably find it at Mile High.

Need a hat made of hemp? Runner-up The Fitter, located on the Hill, has accessories galore to complement that color-changing glass pipe you just had to have.

106 April 25, 2013

Real Estate Group

RE/MAX OF BOULDER, INC. Place to Create Your Own Sweater

SHUTTLES, SPINDLES & SKEINS 635 S. Broadway, Unit E, 303-494-1071

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o you woke up this morning and realized that you really wanted to knit a sweater. Of course, your first step is to start spinning wool into yarn. But then, after that first cup of coffee, you realized that you don’t know how to spin wool into yarn, and after another cup, you remember that you don’t know how to knit either. Don’t despair. Just get yourself over to Shuttles, Spindles & Skeins and they’ll take care of everything. They can teach you how to spin and knit as well as provide you with all the great materials you’ll need. Heck, while you’re there, you might as well take up weaving and any other number of crafts in which this store specializes. Whether it’s lessons or wool you need, this place has got you covered.

2425 Canyon Blvd., Ste. 110, 303-449-7000 Second Place: Wright Kingdom Real Estate Third Place: Pedal to Properties Fourth Place: Keller Williams Realty Fifth Place: Goodacre & Company Real Estate

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e don’t have to sing the praises of living in Boulder; everyone already knows how lucky we are with our Flatirons views, Chautauqua hiking trails, Boulder Creek, bike lanes, excellent schools, Pearl Street Mall nightlife, farm-to-table food options, friendly locals and even friendlier dogs — oops, we got a little carried away.

Our winner, RE/MAX of Boulder, Inc., is dedicated to helping would-be residents find the best home in our favorite city or in one of the many great Boulder-area communities.

The company also assists clients with choosing the right real estate agent and listings for properties that include houses, condos, foreclosures and land.

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Boulder County’s BEST Record Store

20% usedwithvinyl OFF this ad

lder! u o B t r o p p u s r you Thank you for

Call or text 303-447-0159 1128 13th St. Boulder

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 107

Boulder Running Company

Shoe Store

BOULDER RUNNING COMPANY 2775 Pearl St., 303-786-9255 Second Place: Pedestrian Shops Third Place: Two Sole Sisters Fourth Place: Shoe Fly Fifth Place: Brown’s Shoe Fit Company

HONDA SUBARU TOYOTA h i g h

t o u c h

a u t o

s e r v i c e

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his repeat winner for best shoe store is another one of those things that makes us think about why we love living in Boulder — where else in the world would a running shoe company take the lead as best shoe store? Of course, the Boulder Running Company didn’t just win on athletic appeal alone. The store stocks great running and walking shoes in addition to favored casual shoe brands. Its staff is available to help, and a free video gait analysis can assure you’re getting the right shoe on the right foot, and the left foot on the left — wait, no. There’s more to it than that.

And when you do get the appropriate shoes on your feet, you can join one of their weekly group runs to put them to the test.

Ski/Snowboard Shop

BOULDER SKI DEALS

2525 Arapahoe Ave., #E 10, 303-938-8799 Second Place: Christy Sports Third Place: Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) Fourth Place: Larry’s Bootfitting Fifth Place: Neptune Mountaineering

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eed a good wax job? Not that kind of wax job, the ski kind. If so, these guys have you covered. And while you’re dropping off the old slats for a tune-up, you might as well pick up a few things, like everything you can possibly imagine that has to do with snow sports. Boulder Ski Deals takes its name seriously, and carries pretty much everything and every brand you need to hit the slopes, from equipment to clothing to the best tune-ups in town. They also have a great kids program that lets you exchange gear annually as your little shredder grows. Our readers live to ski, so their opinion matters, and they say that BSD is the best around.

Painting by LauraMarshall.com

THANK YOU!!!

B e s t of o f Boulder B o u l d e r 2013 2012 Best

Reader Comment “BW tells me what’s going on in the food and music world.”

f o l s o m & s p r u c e • 3 0 3 . 4 4 9 . 6 6 3 2 • w w w. h o s h i m o t o r s . n e t 108 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

THANK YOU, BOULDER For VoTing us Your “BEsT TirE sHoP!”

We work hard every day to bring you the best brands at the best prices!

BoULder • 3215 28th st. • 303-440-6811 LonGMont • 379 s. Hover st. • 303-774-9869 LaFaYette • 740 Hway 287 n. • 303-248-5680 over 850 s tore s nationwide !

BEST OF BOULDER! RE FOTER E B AF

Susan France

LOCALLy OwnED AnD OpERATED

Licensed • Insured • professional • Affordable • Clean Decks in Colorado receive brutal punishment from the cold and snow of the winter and the extreme heat of the summer. This requires decks to be refinished every 2-4 years, so we know it has to be affordable.

Contact us for a free in-home estimate.

Ask about our green services.

303-443-DECK (3325) COLORADODECKMASTER.COM

Tattoo artist Mijo of Bolder Ink

Tattoo/Piercing Parlor

BOLDER INK

2735 Iris Ave., 303-444-7380 Second Place: Tribal Rites Third Place: Rising Tide Tattoo and Gallery Fourth Place: Claw and Talon Tattoo Fifth Place: Enchanted Ink Body Art Emporium

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attoos are too ubiquitous these days to be the shocking symbol of youthful rebellion they once were. Today, they are more popular than ever because they are an expression of one’s individualism. For tattoo lovers, their body is their canvas, and local ink-lovers think that Bolder Ink has the best artists around. It’s the oldest such shop in Boulder, and it has a sterling reputation among those in the know. Tribal Rites gets runner-up props for its piercing and tattoo operation on the Hill.

Stereo/Electronics

BEST BUY

1740 30th St., 303-938-2889 210 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont, 303-485-5939 Second Place: The Apple Store Third Place: Listen Up Fourth Place: Car Toys Fifth Place: Radio Shack

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emember when you got your first record player? OK, we’re dating ourselves here. How about cassette deck? CD player? And what are those newfangled things called? Oh yeah, iPods. Well, regardless of what generation you belong to, our voters agree that Best Buy has the newest technologies, best prices and a friendly staff to help you figure out how to work your new gadget, whether it’s a digital camera or a flat-screen TV. And speaking of iPods, our runner-up, The Apple Store, is a super-fun place to shop as well. It’s like a playground for grown-ups. Without the swing set.

110 April 25, 2013

Best of Boulder County ’13 Boulder Weekly

Thank You Boulder for Voting Us BEST Dry Cleaner!!!

• Locally owned Since 1921 • Friendly & Knowledgeable Staff • Full Service Dry Cleaning Laundry & Alterations • Free Pick-Up & Delivery Tire Store

Toy Store

DISCOUNT TIRE

GRANDRABBITS TOY SHOPPE

3215 28th St., 303-440-6811 Second Place: Barnsley Tire Co. Third Place: Big O Tires Fourth Place: The Tire Source Fifth Place: Peerless Tyre Co.

F

rom the looks of our voting, there is more to tires than just being black, round things hooked to the bottom of your car. This year’s winner, Discount Tire, apparently has a sizable following of fans who think that the company’s service is just as important as the products it sells. Words like “rotation” and “balance” were blended with “friendly” and “knowledgeable” so often it seemed to form a new sort of language that could have been applied as easily to dancers as tires. But we figured with a name like Discount Tire, there probably hasn’t been a good dance performance there in years. Second-place finisher Barnsley Tire Co. also had its share of kind words. So next time you need some new rubber, do what our readers do, dance your way on down to Discount Tire.

Tobacco Shop

SMOKER FRIENDLY

1620 30th St., Boulder, 303-449-7089 22 Highway 72, Nederland, 303-2589240 Second Place: Mile High Pipe & Tobacco Third Place: Johnny’s Cigar Bar Fourth Place: The Fitter Fifth Place: University Hill Market

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all it Game of Smokes. A power vacuum opened in this category with the departure of Eads News & Smoke Shop, a perennial winner that closed in 2012.

The throne abandoned, last year’s runners-up began a dramatic battle to capture the title of top tobacconist. We assume. In the end, the new king is Smoker Friendly, the regional chain that offers its own SF brand of cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco and accessories, as well as all of the national brands.

• 7 Convenient Locations ® ®

303.447.8700 • artcleaners.com

2525 Arapahoe Ave., 303-443-0780 Second Place: Into The Wind Third Place: PlayFair Fourth Place: Karliquin’s Game Knight Fifth Place: GameStop/Time Warp Comics (tie)

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ometimes it’s easy to forget that toy stores really are for kids, especially when anything giant, inflatable or equipped with lightning speed becomes a part of the equation. But the truth is, toy stores are for kids, and the kids are what it’s all about. Boulder’s own Grandrabbits Toy Shoppe has been putting kids first since 1977. And they don’t just stock the supplies to keep your favorite kids entertained and amused. For over 25 years, the toy store has been donating an average of $25,000 per year to Colorado schools.

The toy store also strives to support parents in raising global citizens and to make all children — regardless of national origins — a global priority.

Voted tHe BeSt drum SHoP in tHe knoWn uniVerSe Hand drumS, drum SetS and leSSonS for kidS of all ageS.

Video/DVD Rental

THE VIDEO STATION

1661 28th St., 303-440-4448 Second Place: Fascinations Third Place: Blockbuster

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ome video rental shops have endured the digital transition towards free entertainment. For the first-place winner, The Video Station, it could be because they’re an independent local business with an extensive selection. Although the Daily Camera reported in January that the Video Station was moving to East Boulder, an employee affirms that the Video Station is still in its 28th Street location, where it has been for 23 years.

You can find movies you can’t find elsewhere, either online or at other video rental stores. And The Video Station’s selection of documentaries is especially impressive.

2095 30th St. Boulder In Aspen Plaza

West side of 30th Street Between Pearl & Walnut

303.402.0122

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LuDWIg gRETSCH RoDgERS SonoR MAPEx ZILDjIAn

the Best Selection of djembes & ethnic Percussion in the rockies!

M-F 10-6 • Sat. 10-5 Sun. 11-4

Reader Comment “Reading Boulder Weekly truly feels local while having a ‘national legitimacy.’”

Boulder Weekly Best of Boulder County ’13

April 25, 2013 111

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