Boulder Weekly 06.05.2025

Pearl Street attack: What we know so far P. 9

CONTENTS 06.05.2025 Credit: Kirsten Cohen

10 19

06 OPINION

Medicaid asset limits force people into poverty BY JENN OCHS

09 COVER

Suspect charged with federal hate crime in Pearl Street attack

19 NIBBLES

A Boulder Farmers Market dining guide

BY JOHN LEHNDORFF

22 FILM Bring Her Back has plenty of scares but not enough answers

BY MICHAEL J. CASEY

BY BOULDER

INSIDE

WEEKLY STAFF

12 DE PA R TME NTS 10 MUSIC

Boulder’s Big Head Todd celebrate 40 years

11 FOUND

SOUNDS

Chaos is the score for Boulder’s bestelling vinyl

12 EVENTS Pride Month in Longmont

BOULDER WEEKLY

16

ASTROLOGY Find beauty in the mundane

17 SAVAGE LOVE

Old buns

23 ON

DRUGS

Recovery-friendly workplaces

ONLINE ONLY

•

Longmont moves to criminalize sitting, laying in public. bit. ly/LongmontSitLie

•

BoCo responds to ‘sanctuary jurisdiction’ list. bit.ly/ BoCoSanctuary JUNE 5, 2025

3

COMMENTARY JUNE 5, 2025 Volume 32, Number 42 PUBLISHER: Stewart Sallo

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Shay Castle ARTS EDITOR: Jezy J. Gray REPORTERS: Kaylee Harter, Tyler Hickman COVER: Tyler Hickman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Rob Brezsny, Bill Forman, Michael J. Casey, John Lehndorff, Jenn Ochs, Dan Savage, Liliana Tenney, Olivia Zarella

SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING: Kellie Robinson SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Matthew Fischer ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Simone Gonzalez, Austen Lopp SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER: Carter Ferryman MRS. BOULDER WEEKLY: Mari Nevar

PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Erik Wogen GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Chris Sawyer

CIRCULATION CIRCULATION MANAGER: Cal Winn CIRCULATION TEAM: Sue Butcher, Ken Rott, Chris Bauer

BUSINESS OFFICE BOOKKEEPER: Austen Lopp FOUNDER / CEO: Stewrt Sallo As Boulder County’s only independently owned newspaper, Boulder Weekly is dedicated to illuminating truth, advancing justice and protecting the First Amendment through ethical, no-holds-barred journalism and thought-provoking opinion writing. Free every Thursday since 1993, the Weekly also offers the county’s most comprehensive arts and entertainment coverage. Read the print version, or visit boulderweekly.com. Boulder Weekly does not accept unsolicited editorial submissions. If you’re interested in writing for the paper, please send queries to: editorial@ boulderweekly.com. Any materials sent to Boulder Weekly become the property of the newspaper.

BOULDER WEEKLY

1495 Canyon Boulevard, Suite CO 1, Boulder, CO 80302 Phone: 303.494.5511, FAX: 303.494.2585 editorial@boulderweekly.com www.boulderweekly.com

Boulder Weekly is published every Thursday. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. ©2025 Boulder Weekly, Inc., all rights reserved. Boulder Weekly welcomes your correspondence via email (letters@boulderweekly.com). Preference will be given to short letters (under 300 words) that deal with recent stories or local issues, and letters may be edited for style, length and libel. Letters should include your name, address and telephone number for verification. We do not publish anonymous letters or those signed with pseudonyms.

Letters become the property of Boulder Weekly and will be published on our website.

JUNE 5, 2025

5

OPINION

ASININE LIMITS Medicaid asset caps keep people in poverty

BY JENN OCHS

A

Presented by:

1300 BLOCK OF THE PEARL STREET MALL BEER GARDEN OPENS AT 5:30 PM

Performance Lineup

Produced by:

nyone who benefits from Medicaid is restricted by asset limits. To receive Medicaid, you are not allowed to have more than two grand a month in your bank account. If you go over $2,000 a month, your benefits will be taken away.

This is what many refer to as forced poverty. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the current poverty line is set at $15,650 annually, which breaks down to $1,304 per month. In order to receive life-saving medical care, I am forced to live in poverty.

To monitor this, Medicaid recipients must recertify their disability and financial status every year. I have to submit bank and savings statements along with the cost of any vehicle or property that I own every year. The only way to hold more than two grand of assets is to open a special needs trust or an able account.

An able account is like a regular checking account, but to qualify for an able account the holder must have acquired their disability by the age of 26.

I don’t qualify, as my disability occurred when I was 33. However, in 2026, the age requirement will increase to 46.

I have a special needs trust, as I’m divorced and received a settlement.

However, I must request to use any money held in the trust. I have a trust fund manager who controls how I use my money. Whatever is to be paid must be paid by the trust fund manager and not through me. The trust cannot pay for food or shelter, nor can I request cash from the trust.

When I die, any money left in the trust will go to the state of Colorado

Jenn Ochs lobbies against Medicaid cuts in Washington, D.C. for the 2025 Disability Policy Seminar. Courtesy: Jenn Ochs

and not to a beneficiary of my choosing.

This really angers me. I can’t have control over my own money. I can’t decide how to spend the money, and I have no control over my money after I die. My medical benefits are used as a weapon against me.

Being on Medicaid does not mean that you get free money. It requires a balancing act to stay within asset limits to continue receiving benefits.

Along with asset limits, Medicaid beneficiaries are also penalized for marrying. If two Medicaid beneficiaries were to marry, their asset limits increase from $2,000 to $3,000 total.

A disability decides how I can live my life. As if being disabled wasn’t hard enough.

It’s shocking to me that all these rules are not known by the general public. I think that’s why nothing has changed.

It’s easy to ignore things that aren’t clear.

People who receive Medicaid benefits are restricted by outdated rules. Instead of fighting to save Medicaid, we should be fighting to reform it.

Jenn Ochs lives in Boulder. She is a disability rights advocate, award-winning columnist and a graduate from Baylor University in Texas.

Supported by:

OPPOSE THESE CUTS? LET YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS KNOW.

BandsOnTheBricks.com 6

JUNE 5, 2025

Visit 5calls.org/issue/medicaid-cuts-budget-reconciliation for a script and contact info for your legislators. Forward this link to friends and family across the country so they can do the same.

BOULDER WEEKLY

NEWS

PEARL STREET ATTACK: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR Mohamed Sabry Soliman charged with attempted murder, hate crime

BY BOULDER WEEKLY STAFF

A

man accused of injuring 15 proIsrael demonstrators faces 16 counts of attempted murder and a federal hate crime charge after a June 1 attack in front of the Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl St., in Boulder.

The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, is also charged with two counts of use of an incendiary device and 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device. He is being held at the Boulder County Jail on a $10 million cash only bond. He faces a maximum sentence of 624 years for the attempted murder and incendiary device charges.

Local and federal officials have referred to the incident as a terrorist attack, though formal terrorism charges have not yet been filed.

“We moved swiftly to charge quickly, just to send a message to the community that no acts of anti-semitism are going to be tolerated and there are severe consequences,” said J. Bishop Grewell, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado.

“Just because there’s only one charge that has been made so far doesn’t mean that we’re not considering other charges.”

WHAT HAPPENED

The demonstration was being held by Run For Their Lives, a global organization advocating for the release of Israeli hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. The Boulder chapter of the group has been meeting weekly since late 2023.

Soliman selected the Boulder event after an online search, he told law enforcement, and dressed as a gardener carrying a box of flowers — underneath which were Molotov cocktails — “in order to get as close as possible to the group.”

BOULDER WEEKLY

Demonstrators had just stopped in front of the courthouse Sunday afternoon when Soliman reportedly launched two Molotov cocktails into the crowd.

Witnesses also heard him yell, “Free Palestine,” “how many children killed” and “end Zionist,” according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court.

Soliman told arresting officers he “wanted to kill all Zionist people” and would “do it again. … He stated that he had been planning the attack for a year and was waiting until after his daughter graduated to conduct the attack,” it reads.

Soliman told law enforcement the attack “had nothing to do with the Jewish community” but was specifically targeting “the Zionist group supporting the killings of people on his land (Palestine).”

A search of the scene revealed 16 additional Molotov cocktails — glass containers filled with gasoline and red rags — and a “backpack weed sprayer” also filled with gasoline. Soliman told officers “he did not spray the gas on anyone but himself because he had planned on dying,” according to the state arrest affidavit.

THREE STILL HOSPITALIZED

Victims ranged from 25 to 88 years old, according to a Boulder fire-rescue spokesperson. As of Wednesday, three were still hospitalized, according to a spokesperson for UC Health University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora.

Additional victims had injuries that were “more minor in nature,” Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said.

FAMILY OF SUSPECT DETAINED Soliman, a resident of Colorado Springs, came to the U.S. from Egypt in 2022 seeking asylum, according to media reports. His visa expired in 2023.

On Tuesday, June 3, Soliman’s wife and five children were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted to social media platform X, “We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it.”

Soliman told law enforcement “no one knew about his plans and he never talked to his wife and family about it,” according to an arrest affidavit.

Noem’s post and official communications from the department said the suspect was in the country illegally, but Denver-based immigration attorney Bryce Downer told CPR Soliman may have been “without status” but still legally in the U.S. if his asylum case was pending.

Administration officials declined to answer questions about the status of that petition or the immigration status of

INCREASED SECURITY

In response to the attacks, the Boulder Jewish Community Center (JCC) made changes to its upcoming Jewish Festival, being held in the same location as the attack Sunday, June 8.

A post on Downtown Boulder’s social media and attributed to the JCC said, “Based on the fact that Run For Their Lives was targeted, we want to center this event in furtherance of their cause, which is to bring awareness to the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, while making space to recognize the victims in our community.”

The post also referenced an “increased security presence.” In an email, the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center, which has a June 7 event planned at JCC’s East Boulder campus, said “enhanced security measures” were also being implemented at that location.

“The Boulder Police Department is fully aware of all upcoming events at the JCC for the next three weeks and is working closely with the JCC to ensure a secure environThe Boulder County Courthouse, pictured June 2, one day after an ment for all attendees,” the attack that injured 15 demonstrators. Credit: Tyler Hickman email states.

At a Monday press conference, Soliman’s family, according to reporting Redfearn said police presence in the city from The Colorado Sun. would be increased.

On Wednesday, June 4, a district judge “We want to ensure that people feel temporarily blocked deportation of comfortable and safe in this community, Soliman’s family, the Associated Press gathering and remembering what hapreported. pened as well as any other planned events that we have,” he said.

WHAT’S NEXT In a statement on the group’s Facebook Soliman appeared in court briefly on Monday, June 2. His head appeared to be page, Boulder Run For Their Lives organizer Rachel Amaru wrote, “We will conbandaged, but he responded to Judge tinue to stand in solidarity with the hostagNancy Salomone’s question about a proes. We will continue to say their names. tective order barring him from contacting We will walk again.” the victims. Charges will be formally filed Of the 251 hostages taken during the Thursday, June 5, at 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, 58 are Officials at a June 2 briefing said still being held, according to the United Soliman did not have any prior contacts Nations Office for the Coordination of with BPD and was not on the radar of Humanitarian Affairs. Some 1,195 Israelis the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. were killed. Israel’s subsequent military Authorities said they believe Soliman was acting alone and not part of a broad- action has killed 54,084 Palestinians as of May 28. er network.

JUNE 5, 2025

9

MUSIC

HOMETOWN HEROES

But that’s nothing compared to the group’s first Red Rocks gig at the Blues on the Rocks festival in 1991, where Albert King invited Mohr up onstage to play with him and his band.

“I was so nervous about that,” he recalls. “I was sort of self-taught with guitar and started out with a lot of bad habits and a lot of limitations. But he was really kind and encouraging to me.”

Boulder’s Big Head Todd and the Monsters celebrate 40 years at Red Rocks

HONORING THE PAST

BY BILL FORMAN

I

n a music industry marked by fleeting trends, one-hit wonders and ever-changing band lineups, Big Head Todd and the Monsters are a model of stability. With 40 years under their belt, the Boulder-born, Denverbased band has proven their staying power with a steady stream of albums, a touring schedule that now numbers more than 1,000 shows and a timeless sound that mixes rock with flavors of soul, blues and country.

“We consider ourselves a rock ’n’ roll band, which means we borrow from a lot of different types of music and traditions,” says frontman Todd Park Mohr.

The group has maintained the same core lineup — Mohr on vocals and guitar, Rob Squires on bass, and Brian Nevin on drums — since the beginning of their career. In 2003, the band welcomed keyboardist Jeremy Lawton, who they still call “the new guy,” expanding their sound while maintaining the chemistry that has defined their music for decades.

While the outfit has spent lots of time on the jam-band festival circuit, their recently released album, Her Way Out, is a concise and catchy collection of rock tunes suggesting early Tom Petty more than the Grateful Dead. Granted, Mohr’s solo on the track “Twice as Bright” does have a trace of the Dead’s Jerry Garcia to it, but more often than not, he favors shorter, more impactful solos that serve the songs rather than overshadowing them.

GOING DEEP

Mohr’s musical journey began with piano and saxophone before he 10

JUNE 5, 2025

Boulder-born favorites Big Head Todd and the Monsters perform two nights at Red Rocks, June 7-8, as part of their 40th anniversary tour. Credit: Jason Siegel

else’s shoes than reflecting on his own experiences.

“I’m not a writer who emotes about myself,” the 59-year-old musician says. “I just love writing from the particular point of view of a real person who’s trapped in a real situation, where there’s a clear story to be told and I do the best I can to tell it.”

A case in point on the new album is “Don’t Kill Me Tonight,” a song about sharpshooter Annie Oakley, who was known for performances in which she shot a cigarette out of her husband Frank Butler’s hand. Mohr looks at the story from Butler’s point of view: “Hey please don’t kill me tonight / Over something I might have said this morning / May your bullet see the light / Of my cigarette and send this crowd a-roaring / Annie I love you / I’d die for you.”

Mohr cites Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen as artists who’ve influenced his songwriting. He’s also deeply indebted to the blues tradition and its knack for double- and triple-entendres that add depth and complexity to seemingly simple Her Way Out by Big Head Todd and the Monsters was released phrases.

May 31, 2024. Courtesy: Big Records found his true calling with the guitar. His playing was influenced by great blues guitarists like Albert King, B.B. King and Albert Collins, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan, whom he says had a huge impact on his generation of players. “I got to see him twice and meet him once,” Mohr says with fanboy-like enthusiasm.

Mohr’s songwriting, meanwhile, leans more toward putting himself in someone

Another brush with blues stardom came when the band was recording their Beautiful World album with Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison producing. “He saw us play John Lee Hooker’s ‘Boom Boom’ live, and he kept insisting we put it on the record,” Mohr says. “We refused for a while, and then he said, ‘Well, what if I can get John Lee to come in and do it with you?’ And we were like, ‘Oh yeah, of course we will!’ And it became one of our most popular songs.”

It also brought them the distinction of being the only band in the known universe to have recorded both Hooker’s homicidal signature song and the ’70s yacht-rock ballad “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass — two offerings that could hardly be more different.

Mohr speaks passionately about the importance of honoring the past, rather than focusing solely on novelty or individual accomplishment. “It’s about celebrating the mentors and the tradition,” he says. “It’s less about, you know, ‘I’m the new guy, look at me and what I can do.”

Meanwhile, Big Head Todd and The Monsters show no signs of slowing down. Their current tour promises the kind of high-energy, soulful performances that have become the band’s hallmark.

And yes, if recent shows are any indication, they will play both “Boom Boom” and “Brandy.”

“We know a lot of songs,” Mohr says.

“And we’re good entertainers.”

ON THE BILL: Big Head Todd and the Monsters: 40th Anniversary. 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy. $62+ BOULDER WEEKLY

MUSIC

FOUND SOUNDS What’s in Boulder’s bag?

BY BOULDER WEEKLY STAFF

H

enry Miller once wrote: “Chaos is the score upon which reality is written.”

Judging from last month’s bestselling new vinyl releases at Paradise Found Records and Music (1646 Pearl St.), the fine people of Boulder have embraced this maxim.

Building bridges between generations, May’s unpredictable Top 10 ranges from the Boomer psychedelia of Pink Floyd to the divisive pop-metal of Gen Z favorite Sleep Token, the Millennial slacker rock of Car Seat Headrest and French electro pop of reunited ’90s act Stereolab. But what does it all mean? Maybe the chaos is the point.

1. MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD Welcome to the Family

2. PINK FLOYD Pink Floyd at Pompeii

3. SLEEP TOKEN Even in Arcadia

4. STEREOLAB Instant Holograms on Metal Film

5. CAR SEAT HEADREST The Scholars

— Jezy J. Gray, arts editor

STAFF PICK

Staggering between guitar-heavy rippers, tearful piano ballads and synth-drenched sidequests, Glory by Perfume Genius isn’t just a standout in the celebrated discography of critically lauded singer-songwriter Mike Hadreas — it’s also one of the best albums of the year. Keep an eye out for a Boulder Weekly interview with the charismatic frontman ahead of the band’s performance at Gothic Theatre on June 21.

For the complete Top 10, visit bit.ly/FoundSoundsMay25.

BOULDER WEEKLY

JUNE 5, 2025

11

EVENTS

e4

Wednesday, jun

FREE

velvet vinyl presents: stevie’s picks

5

Thursday, june

$20

Sicard hollow with

FEES INCL

UDED

tonewood string band

7 Saturday, june

$19

FEES INCL

Extra gold with sid williamson & the good faith

Sunday, june 8

UDED

$34

FEES INCL

David Lowery

UDED

Presented by 105.5 the colorado sound

e 11

Wednesday, jun

FREE

velvet vinyl X Bands on the bricks after parties: vinys by Bob Marley

thursday, june

Pride Month Events

12

Country Vinyl Night with Evan Holm

6

NOBO FIRST FRIDAY

6-9 p.m. Friday, June 6, NoBo Art District, 4929 Broadway, Boulder. Free Welcome summer and brighten up your Friday night at this monthly exhibition of Boulder creatives. Stop by the NoBo tent for a map and meander your way into artist studios and local galleries like East Window, Bus Stop Gallery and the NoBo Art Center while enjoying live music, wine, snacks and activities.

FREE

7

STITCHING WITH PRIDE

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 7, Longmont Yarn Shoppe, 454 Main St. Free If parties and parades aren’t your thing (or you’re just ready to take it down a stitch), the Longmont Yarn Shoppe is your place for a colorful and crafty pride celebration. Bring your current projects to knit, crochet and spin with fellow LGBTQIA+ folks and allies. “Let’s stitch together a more inclusive, colorful world — one loop at a time.”

7

LONGMONT PRIDE FESTIVAL 3:30-8 p.m. Saturday, June 7, Roosevelt Park, 700 Longs Peak Ave., Longmont. Free

Kick off Pride Month with Boulder County’s first pride festival of the season in Longmont. Stock up on glitter and head to the park for an afternoon of activities, community building and celebration, with performances from the Mile High Freedom Band, Elevated Circus, drag legend Miss Jessica and a host of other local queer icons.

$24

friday, june 13

Liver down the river with F E E S I N C L U D E D foggy memory boys presented by kgnu

e 18 wednesday, jun

velvet vinyl X Bands on the bricks after parties: vinys by r.l burnside

friday, june 20

Bear Hat with Mighty Holler

sunday, june 22

Candi Jenkins

FREE

$24

FEES INCL

UDED

$19

FEES INCL

UDED

7

BOULDER AIRPORT DAY e 25

Wednesday, jun

velvet vinyl X Bands on the bricks after parties: Studio 54: 70s disco vinyls

Thursday, june

26

Twisted Pine with Salomé Songbird

12

JUNE 5, 2025

FREE

$22

FEES INCL

UDED

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 7, Boulder Municipal Airport, 3327 Airport Road. Free

Enjoy experimental and vintage aircraft from the safety of the ground at this allday, family-friendly “celebration of flight.” Come early for a pancake breakfast; nab a burger if you’re still there for lunch. Pilots and aviation professionals will be on-hand to answer all your flying questions.

7

ROCK & REUSE: SUMMER PLANT AND GARDEN SALE

7

RAINBOW DISCO

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 7, Resource Central, 6400 Arapahoe Road, Boulder. Free

8 p.m. Saturday, June 7, Dickens Opera House, 302 Main St., Longmont. $10-$15

Get your garden rockin’ with the kickoff of Resource Central’s summer concert series where you can jam out while shopping for waterwise plants and reclaimed pots, planters and tools.

Gordo’s Red Tacos will be on scene for bites, and live glass blowing demos will bring the vibes.

Pride doesn’t have a bedtime in Longmont. Put on your dancing shoes and boogie down at the Dickens for the official Longmont Pride Festival afterparty. With pride cocktail specials, pop-up drag from Anastasia Krystals and DJ Disco Witch spinning queer pop anthems, this will be a night to remember.

BOULDER WEEKLY

EVENTS

7

8

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 7, Main Street, Louisville. Free

1-6 p.m. Sunday, June 8, Butterscotch Studios, 620 Kimbark St., Longmont. Donations accepted

SUMMERFEST

Louisville’s celebration welcoming summer has something for everyone. Start the day with a 5K accompanied by your furry four-legged friend (tickets $34: bit. ly/DogJogBW), then kick back with live music, a farmers market and more than 150 vendors. Families can find fun for the little ones in the kid zone, and auto enthusiasts can take a stroll through the vintage car show. Or, brave souls can put their competitive spirits (and stomachs) to the test at the spaghetti eating contest.

7–8

BALLET IN THE PARK

7 p.m. Saturday, June 7 and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 8, Glen Huntington Bandshell, 1212 Canyon, Boulder.

Pay what you can ($5 minimum) Celebrate the art of movement as Boulder Ballet presents a mixed-repertoire program featuring short works highlighting the company’s dynamic range.

Whether you’re a seasoned dance aficionado or a curious newcomer, this open-air tradition at the Boulder Bandshell is one you don’t want to miss.

BOULDER WEEKLY

BACKYARD PRIDE BAZAAR

One last reason to wear the rainbow — though you never need an excuse for that. Round out the weekend of Pride Longmont with some wholesome backyard fun, including kids activities, casual Japanese food from Kawaii Konbini and live music from local artists.

12

LAFAYETTE MUSIC FESTIVAL KICKOFF PARTY 6-9 p.m. Thursday, June 12, Acreage by Stem Ciders, 1380 Horizon Ave., Unit A, Lafayette. Free

Cut the ribbon on official ticket sales for Lafayette Music Festival during this kickoff party with a view at Acreage by Stem Ciders. Live music by The Ephinjis and a chance to win free passes are on the menu at this cider-soaked bash where the 2025 lineup of everyone’s favorite East County music fest will be revealed.

HELP WANTED

8

SAVING OUR HISTORY FILM FESTIVAL

4-8:30 p.m. Sunday, June 8, Chautauqua Auditorium, 100 Morning Glory Drive, Boulder. $21 Did you know Chautauqua was the site of the very first movie ever shown in Boulder? Now the 127-year-old building will host the first-ever film festival dedicated to historic preservation. Four documentaries explore the iconic Boulder Theater, gentrification in Martha’s Vineyard and the historic homes and colorful people of Cape Cod.

12

SPIN SESSIONS: DJ WORKSHOP WITH DANGER FOLEY

7-9 p.m. Thursday, June 12, Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl St. Suite V3A, Boulder. $19 Join this monthly gathering of women DJs for a hands-on lesson from a professional DJ, a chance to spin your own song and — best of all — a supportive crowd. “Whether you want to kick-start a new hobby or hone your craft,” organizers promise “a celebration of creativity, community, and empowerment.” Get ready to mix, mingle and make memories!

Radia, Inc. seeks Senior Program Engineer in Boulder, CO to lead coordination btwn engrg disciplines & pgm mgmt.

Sal: $129,938$161,000/year.

Apply @ www. jobpostingtoday. com Ref#37529 JUNE 5, 2025

13

LIVE MUSIC TH URSDAY, JUN E 5

S ATURDAY, J UN E 7

SICARD HOLLOW WITH TONEWOOD STRING BAND. 8 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $20

EXTRA GOLD WITH SID WILLIAMSON AND THE GOOD FAITH. 8 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $19

SAMMY RASH. 8 p.m. Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St., Denver. $25

WOMBO WITH MAINLAND BREAK AND SPLIFF TANK. 8 p.m. June 7, Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway, Denver. $23

PIG DESTROYER WITH CEPHALIC CARNAGE, AUTHOR & PUNISHER AND SEX PRISONER. 8 p.m. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood. $57 ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK (OMD). 8 p.m. Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Pl., Denver. $90+ THE RIVER ARKANSAS WITH LEASHY (ALYSIA KRAFT) AND TOMATO SOUP. 7 p.m. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway, Denver. $15 BW PICK OF THE WEEK BILLY WOODS. 7 p.m. Marquis Theatre, 2009 Larimer St., Denver. $35 BEE HUGGER SUMMER CONCERT SERIES. 6-9 p.m. The Bee Hugger Farm, 12590 Ute Hwy, Longmont. $20

FRID AY, JU N E 6

MOUSETRAPP. 6-9 p.m. Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free PLANET PARREO. 8 p.m. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $26

S UN DAY, J UN E 8 DAVID LOWERY. 8 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $34 BLONDSHELL WITH JAHNAH CAMILLE. 8 p.m. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood. $38 STORY AT BOULDERWEEKLY.COM

PAPAMO AND THE VIPERS. 6-9 p.m.

The Garden at Left Hand Brewing, 1245 Boston Ave., Longmont. Free

VULGARIAN WITH DEADGODS AND THRILLROT. 5 p.m. Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St., Denver. $19

FIDDLIN’ BROTHERS FAMILY FUN CONCERT. 6 p.m. Dickens Opera House, 302 Main St., Longmont. $20 adult / $10 child

DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 WITH COLFAX SPEED QUEEN. 7:30 p.m.

Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $43

ACE ENGFER: ALBUM RELEASE PARTY. 6-9 p.m. Wibby Brewing, 209 Emery St., Longmont. Free SIRONA ISLE. 5-8 p.m. The Passenger, 300 Main St., Longmont. Free AOXOMOXOA. 6-9 p.m. Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free JUNE 5, 2025

BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS WITH CHEAP TRICK AND CRACKER (NIGHT 1). 6 p.m.

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy. $62+ STORY ON P. 10

LIT SOCIETY WITH DOMINIC LALLI, BORAHM LEE, GARRETT SAYERS AND MORE. 8 p.m. Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl St., Suite V3A, Boulder. $24+

FIRST FRIDAY MOJAZZ TRIO. 6-8 p.m.

Abbott & Wallace Distilling, 350 Terry St., Suite 120, Longmont. Free

14

ZACK KEIM WITH KYLE SZALAY AND HAZELS. 5 p.m. Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St., Denver. $25

BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS WITH WARREN HAYNES BAND AND BILL MURRAY AND HIS BLOOD BROTHERS (NIGHT 2). 6 p.m.

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy. $62+

M ON DAY, J UN E 9 VERYGENTLY. 8 p.m. Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl St., Suite V3A, Boulder. $20+ BOULDER WEEKLY

LIVE MUSIC

ON THE BILL

Local folk quartet The River Arkansas bring their timetested brand of Colorado roots music to Denver’s Hi-Dive on June 5 with support from Leashy (Alysia Kraft) and Tomato Soup. The band performs on the heels of their latest album, Tin Years, released in March. Scan the QR code for a BW feature on the band’s Boulder-based fiddle player, Rachel Sliker, before you go. See listing for details.

LOLA KIRKE WITH CHLOE KIMES. 7 p.m. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway, Denver. $25 MEADOW MUSIC WITH JEFF AND PAIGE. 5:30 p.m. June 9, Chautauqua Park, 900 Baseline Road and 9th Street, Boulder. Free

T U ES D AY, J U NE 1 0 ELIZA & THE DELUSIONALS WITH GRACE GARDNER AND GARTENER. 7 p.m. Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St., Denver. $25 COLDPLAY WITH WILLOW AND ELYANN. 6 p.m. Empower Field at Mile High, 1701 Bryant St., Denver. $218+ PANCHIKO. 7 p.m. Summit, 1902 Blake St., Denver. $45 STICK FIGURE WITH STEPHEN MARLEY AND THE HIP ABDUCTION. 7:30 p.m. The Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. Denver. $109

W ED NE S D AY, J UNE 1 1 BROOMFIELD SUMMER CONCERTS: DJ WILLIAMS BAND WITH WRENN VAN BAND. 6:30 p.m. Anthem Community Park, 15663 Sheridan Pkwy, Broomfield. Free BOULDER WEEKLY

BLOC PARTY WITH BLONDE REDHEAD AND FAMILY DINNER. 6 p.m. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy. $50+ TROUSDALE WITH BEANE AND NIA ASHLEIGH. 8 p.m. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $36

T HUR SDAY, JUN E 12 TONY CRANK. 6-9 p.m. Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free COFRESI WITH ABLE GREY, PHILIA AND SNDY. 7 p.m. Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St., Denver. $24 JULIA WOLF. 6 p.m. Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St., Denver. $31 SÆRA FIØRA WITH LALO HART. 6-8:30 p.m. June 12, Trident Booksellers & Cafe, 940 Pearl St., Boulder. Free

Want more Boulder County events? Check out the complete listings online by scanning this QR code.

JUNE 5, 2025

15

ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): You have had resemblances to cactuses in recent days. It hasn’t always been pleasant and cheerful, but you have become pretty skilled at surviving, even thriving, despite an insufficiency of juicy experiences. Fortunately, the emotional fuel you had previously stored up has sustained you, keeping you resilient and reasonably fluid.

However, this situation will soon change. More succulence is on its way. Scarcity will end, and you will be blessed with an enhanced flow of lush feelings.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): I foresee abundance emerging from modest sources. I predict breakthroughs arising out of your loving attention to the details of the routine.

So please don’t get distracted by poignant meditations on what you feel is missing from your life.

Don’t fantasize about what you wish you could be doing instead of what you are actually doing.

Your real wealth lies in the small tasks that are right in front of you — even though they may not yet have revealed their full meaning or richness. I invite you and encourage you to be alert for grandeur in seemingly mundane intimate moments.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): It’s time for your Uncle Rob to offer you some fundamental advice for living. These tips are always worthy of your contemplation, but especially now. Ready? Being poised amidst uncertainty is a superpower. You may attract wonders and blessings if you can function well while dealing with contradictory feelings, unclear situations and incomplete answers. Don’t rush to artificial closure when patience with the unfinished state will serve you better. Be willing to address just part of a problem rather than trying to insist on total resolution. There’s no need to be worried or frustrated if some enigmas cannot yet be explained and resolved. Enjoy the mystery!

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Acclaimed Cancerian poet Lucille Clifton published 14 books and mothered six children. That heroism seems almost impossible. Having helped raise one child myself, I know how consuming it is to be a parent. Where did she find the time and energy to generate so much great literature?

Judging from the astrological omens, I suspect you now have access to high levels of productivity comparable to Clifton’s. Like her, you will also be able to gracefully juggle competing demands and navigate adeptly through different domains.

Here’s my favorite part: Your stellar efficiency will stem not from stressfully trying too hard but rather from good timing and a nimble touch.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): One of the seven wonders of the ancient world was the Colossus of Rhodes, located on a Greek island. Symbolizing power and triumph, it was a towering statue dedicated to the sun god Helios. The immediate motivation for its construction was the local people’s defeat of an invading army. I hereby authorize you to acquire or create your own personal version of an inspiring icon like the Colossus, Leo. It will symbolize the fact that the coming months will stimulate lavish expressions of your leonine power. It will help inspire you to showcase your talents and make bold moves. P.S. Be alert for chances to mobilize others with your leadership. Your natural brilliance will be a beacon.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s biggest structure built by living things. Lying beneath the Coral Sea off the east coast of Australia, it’s made by billions of small organisms, coral polyps, all working together to create a magnificent home for a vast diversity of life forms. Let’s make the Great Barrier Reef your symbol of power for the next 10 months, Virgo. I hope it inspires you to manage and harness the many details that together will generate a robust source of vitality for your tribe, family and community.

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JUNE 5, 2025

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): One of my favorite poets, Arthur Rimbaud, wrote all of his brilliant work before he became an adult.

I suspect that no matter what your age is, many of you Libras are now in an ultra-precocious phase with some resemblances to Rimbaud from age 16 to 21. The downside of this situation is that you may be too advanced for people to thoroughly understand you. You could be ahead of your time and too cool for even the trendsetters. I urge you to trust your farseeing visions and forward-looking intuitions even if others can’t appreciate them yet. What you bring to us from the future will benefit us all.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Blacksmiths still exist. They were more common in the past, but there are many 21st-century practitioners. It’s a demanding art, requiring intense heat to soften hard slabs of metal so they can be forged into intricate new shapes. The process requires both fire and finesse. I think you are currently in a phase when blacksmithing is an apt metaphor. You will need to artfully interweave passion and precision. Fiery ambition or intense feelings may arise, offering you raw energy for transformation. To harness it effectively, you must temper your approach with patience, restraint and detail-oriented focus.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): JeanPaul Sartre and Simon de Beauvoir were two feisty, independent, strong-minded French writers. Beauvoir was a trailblazing feminist, and Sartre was a Nobel Laureate. Though they never officially married, they were a couple for 51 years. Aside from their great solo accomplishments, they also gave us this gift: They proved that romantic love and intellectual equality could coexist, even thrive together, with the help of creative negotiation. I propose we make them your inspirational role models for now. The coming months will be a favorable time to deepen and refine your devotion to crafting satisfying, interesting intimate relationships.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Over 2,600 years ago, ancient Babylonian astronomers figured out the highly complex cycle that governs the recurrence of lunar and solar eclipses. It unfolds over a period of 18 years and 11 days. To analyze its full scope required many generations of researchers to carry out meticulous record-keeping with extreme patience.

Let’s make those Babylonian researchers your role models, Capricorn. In the coming months, I hope they inspire you to engage in careful observation and persistent investigation as you discover meaningful patterns. May they excite your quest to discern deep cycles and hidden rhythms.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): I invite you to try this visualization exercise, Aquarius: Picture a rosebud inside your body. It’s located in your solar plexus. Imagine it’s steadily and gently opening, filling your body with a sweet, blissful warmth, like a slow-motion orgasm that lasts and lasts. Feel the velvet red petals unfolding; inhale the soft radiance of succulent fragrance. As the rose fully blooms, you become aware of a gold ring at its center. Imagine yourself reaching inside and taking the ring with your right hand. Slip the ring onto your left ring finger and tell yourself, “I pledge to devote all my passionate intelligence to my own well-being. I promise to forever treat myself with tender loving respect. I vow to seek out high-quality beauty and truth as I fulfill my life’s mission.”

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): I foresee the arrival of a living fossil, Pisces. An influence you thought was gone may soon reappear.

Aspects of your past could prove relevant to your current situation. These might be neglected skills, seemingly defunct connections, or dormant dreams.

I hope you have fun integrating rediscovered resources and earmarking them for use in the future. P.S. Here’s a lesson worth treasuring: While the world has changed, a certain fundamental truth remains true and valuable to you.

BOULDER WEEKLY

SAVAGE LOVE

BY DAN SAVAGE

I’ve been a bottom since my youth.

Sadly, my youth is long gone, and I can’t be bothered anymore, so these days I often end up topping by default.

I am very bad at it. It takes an act of God to get me hard enough to get inside, and once I am inside, I cum in seconds.

What can I do solo to train myself to be slightly less useless at this?

— Often Limp Dude I posted your question to last month’s Struggle Session — where I respond to comments and invite my readers to give advice — and Jonathan, one of our superstar commenters, had some great advice for you: men of all ages can bottom, ED meds can help you get hard when you wanna top, and condoms can help you last longer by decreasing sensitivity.

“It’s also not fair to have bottoms go through their prep [if OLD knows he’s likely to fail],” Jonathan added.

My two cents: Consider investing in some high-quality silicone dildos, plugs in different shapes and sizes and a comfortable harness. Having the freedom to switch back and forth between your dick and your growing collection of toys will take the pressure off your dick, OLD. Lots of gay men enjoy toys and a not insignificant number of gay men actually prefer them. Succeeding with toys — instead of failing with dick — will do wonders for your confidence.

BOULDER WEEKLY

My girlfriend and I started to do butt play (her butt) about two months ago. Two weeks ago, shortly after anal sex, she caught a really bad flu (confirmed by a medical test). After her symptoms finally passed, we waited about a week, and then we were back to business, though this time with just the butt plug. A day later, her fever and fatigue were back.

Everyone’s talking these days about the importance of the body’s natural biome and healthy bacteria. I know that gut bacteria are obviously deeper in the intestine, but I’d imagine there’s got to be some “good bugs” in the ass, too, right? Basically, I’m wondering if she’s just been having a spate of bad luck with some coincidental timing, or if shoving stuff up your butt can actually weaken or damage your biome and kill your healthy bacteria.

She doesn’t use any chemical anal douches or anything (just shower water, thoroughly applied by hand), the butt plug is silicone (washed with soap and water), we use Sliquid Sassy (a waterbased lube), we never go A-to-V, and there’s no evidence we’re doing things too rough (i.e., some moderate soreness the day after but no blood).

— Biology Upends Naughty Shenanigans

HELP WANTED

TRAINING SPECIALIST to develop and deliver training programs using various techniques.

Create materials, assess training needs, and evaluate effectiveness.

Monitor and improve programs to meet organizational goals.

Mon – Frid 40Hrs/Wk. Requires a Bachelor’s degree/foreign equivalent in Business Admin., Business Management/ closely related area.

Salary: $46,696/yr. Mail resume to Elite Storage LLC, 1260 East South Boulder Rd Lafayette, CO 80026.

Boulder Bookstore

Loving Books for 50 Years 1107 Pearl Street • 303.447.2074 boulderbookstore.net

UPCOMING JUNE EVENTS

Your girlfriend’s gastrointestinal tract is 30 feet long — so, unless you’re hung like three consecutive horses and/ or you’re shopping for butt plugs in the “you’ve got to be kidding me” aisle of the sex shop, BUNS, you’re only playing with the last 6-10 inches. And the bacteria in your girlfriend’s rectum (good witch bacteria, bad witch bacteria) are on their way out, BUNS, not up, and douching and anal play can only hasten their departure.

I would chalk your girlfriend’s recent post-anal-play illnesses up to coincidence.

Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan. Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love

Find all our upcoming events at boulderbookstore.net/event JUNE 5, 2025

17

A taste of Japan in the heart of Colorado Where centuries of culinary excellence get a fresh touch. Sushi, modern Japanese, and hand-crafted cocktails.

B OULD E R

FORT C OLLINS

1136 Pearl Street Boulder, CO 80302 303-938-0330 JapangoBoulder

125 S. College Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-413-7436 JapangoFortCollins

JAPANG OSUSHI.C OM

NIBBLES

PAELLA, PIZZA AND A PERFECT PICNIC

BREAK OUT OF THE BOULDER BUBBLE AT FARMERS MARKETS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY

LONGMONT, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturdays, Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road.

More info: bcfm.org/markets/ longmont-farmers-market

Farmers market may be Boulder’s best brunch spot

LOUISVILLE, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturdays, 824 Front St. More info: realfarmersmarketco.com/ louisville-farmers-market

BY JOHN LEHNDORFF

S

itting on a shaded picnic bench last Saturday, I happily dug into my Boulder County Farmers Market favorite: a fiery plate of Amaizing Corn Tamales with green chile sauce. It’s been on the market menu for more than 35 years, according to owner Richard Convertito.

A gentle breeze wafted fat-slicked woodsmoke goodness my way from the nearby Rang Tang BBQ truck. The essence of pulled pork melded with the blossoming rose perfume from the patio garden next door at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse.

All around me, adults were laughing and kids were giggling.

Sometimes you are gifted with one of those rare moments of only-in-Boulder blissful gratitude. Perusing the ready-to-eat options at the food court and the booths, it

LAFAYETTE, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Left: Sunnyside egg over tamales with spicy green chile, quinoa and beans at Amaizing Corn Tamales.

Right: Rang Tang Craft Barbecue is at every Saturday and Wednesday market this season.

Credit: John Lehndorff

seemed obvious that the Boulder Farmers Market is one of the best destinations to enjoy an al fresco brunch.

There are two paths a market-goer can choose for brunch at the Saturday Market: dining in the food court or nibbling a picnic of artisan treats on a blanket in sunny Central Park.

I’ve always enjoyed the filled masa corn patties from Pupusas Familia, banh mi sandwiches at Savory Saigon and traditional breakfast at The Orange Tent. Tacos Del Norte dishes spot-on street tacos, and Rang Tang’s ribs with mac-n-cheese are my comfort go-to dishes. Casa Crobu offers a mini-calzone, and where else but this market can you dig into a bowl of savory breakfast rice and eggs like the ones Rice & Shine Paella serves from its giant flat pans?

Walking by this year’s booths along 13th Street was revelation: We Boulder market regulars are terribly spoiled. We take for granted the all-star roster of award-winning vendors that we get to visit.

To assemble a picnic brunch, I’d start by choosing from a lineup of artisan bread bakers we will not find together at any supermarket.

Pick a loaf from Breadworks, Dry Storage, Izzio Artisan Bakery or Carbs (like these 47 Bakery pretzels), charcuterie and a Hävenly’s gluten-free breads. Don’t cold bevy make a perfect farmers market picnic. Courtesy: miss the amazing 47 Bakery pret47 Bakery

BOULDER WEEKLY

zels or Bruna’s Brazilian Cheese Bread.

This market is a true carb lover’s heaven.

Next, pick up some first-class Colorado cheddar and cured salami from Colorado Farmhouse Cheese Company and Il Porcellino Salumi. To complete your fresh sandwich or charcuterie board, grab some greens, tomatoes and fruit from Black Cat Farm, Toohey & Sons, MASA or any of the other strictly local farms.

I like to dip crusty bread in either floral Boulder Valley Honey or extra virgin olive oil from the Healthy Harvest booth. It’s easy to amp up the flavor with Green Belly hot sauce, and Mountain Girl crunchy garlic dill pickles are an addictive must.

The market’s expansive cooling beverage options range from MOR Kombucha to Silver Canyon cold brew.

Dessert is challenging, but only because of the choices you’ll be forced into: Hinman fruit hand pies or Moon Raccoon’s superb buttery pastries? On this first visit of the season, my finale was a scoop of Best One Yet vegan ice cream.

Sundays, two blocks on Public Road between Cleveland Street and Geneseo Street. More info: lafayettefm.com/

ERIE, 5-8 p.m. Thursdays, Briggs Street between Wells and Moffatt.

More info: realfarmersmarketco. com/erie-farmers-market/

NEDERLAND, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

every other Sunday, 80 E. 2nd St. and 85 E. 1st St. More info: nederlandfarmersmarket.org

BOULDER FARMERS MARKET, 3:30-7:30 p.m.

Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, 13th Street & Canyon Blvd. More info: bcfm.org/markets/boulderfarmers-market

Top: Get your Saturday morning paella fix at Rice and Shine Paella. Above: Hot, cheesy and hand crafted pizza from Lenin’s Wood Fired Pizza.

Credits: John Lehndorff

JUNE 5, 2025

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NIBBLES LOCAL FOOD NEWS: YOTSUBA SUSHI OPENS

• Gifts for any cook • Fun and colorful kitchenware • Specialty foods, local and imported • Gadgets, cookware, and kitchen essentials • Louisville’s one-of-a-kind kitchen shop 728 Main Street • Louisville • 720.484.6825 www.SingingCookStore.com

Yotsuba Sushi is open at 5290 Arapahoe Ave. in Boulder, former location of BRU Handbuilt Ales & Eats, adjoining Sherpa Kitchen and Boulder Baked.

Happy 15th anniversary to Moxie Bread Co., opened in Louisville in 2015 by the late Andy Clark. The bakery has won numerous local and national awards for its artisan breads and pastries made with heirloom grains. Moxie Bread Co. now also has locations in Boulder and Lyons, and sells breads and freshly milled flour at the Longmont Farmers Market.

Coming soon: Foxglove Bar and Hideout, 107 1/2 S. Public Road, Lafayette.

Reopening soon (allegedly): Longmont’s beloved Winchell’s Donuts, 502 Main St. Boulder’s Moksha Chocolate is getting into the viral “White Lotus” groove with a dramatically spiced, Thai-inspired 70% cacao bar infused with fresh ginger, dehydrated lime and sea salt.

SUMMER ROADFOOD: MALASADAS IN WINDSOR

If you hit the road this summer, stop in at Ollie’s Malasadas, recently opened at 408 Main St. in Windsor. Malasadas are a highly craveable fried yeasted sweet bread from the Portuguese Azores served with various fillings and tossed in cinnamon sugar. Malasadas are always best eaten while hot.

CULINARY CALENDAR: WORLDS OF JEWISH CUISINE

The Lafayette Brew Fest is June 7 at 990 S. Public Road focuses on local breweries including Boulder Social, Cellar West, Fritz Family Brewers, Liquid Mechanics, Sanitas, The Post and Westbound & Down. lafayettecolorado.com Boulder’s annual Jewish Festival is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 8 on the Pearl Street Mall features an expanded lineup of diverse food vendors.

Visitors can sample fare from Bohemian Wurst Co., Boychik (Mediterranean), Fleishman’s Bagels and Deli, LB Kosher Grill (burgers), Mile High Tikka Express (Indian-Jewish fusion), Dino Mama’s Kitchen (matzo ball soup and challah), Community Table Kitchen, and Pint’s Peak Ice Cream.

Slow Food Boulder County hosts a pasta class and tasting June 11 with Pastificio, Boulder’s award-winning artisan heirloom pasta company. Tickets: slowfoodboulder.org

LAST CALL FOR BOULDER COUNTY FARM STANDS

To make sure that the Boulder Weekly’s annual guide to local roadside farm stands is complete, send detailed information including location, offering and contact by June 11 to nibbles@boulderweekly.com.

WORDS TO CHEW ON: SPEARS OF SPRING “Sometimes, it is better not to have what one wants than to have it. … Asparagus is best in the spring. My spring, not Chile’s spring. Is it necessary to eat something all year round, courtesy of shipping companies and frequent flyer miles?” – Denver food and wine writing legend Bill St. John

Courtesy: Black Cat Farm

John Lehndorff hosts Kitchen Table Talk with chef Dan Asher on KGNU. Lehndorff is also the Exhibit Historian for the Boulder Eats! Exhibit opening Nov. 15 at the Museum of Boulder.

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JUNE 5, 2025

BOULDER WEEKLY

FILM

FAMILIAR FRIGHTS ‘Bring Her Back’ has plenty of scares but not enough answers

BY MICHAEL J. CASEY

Nothing to see here, just a creepy kid (Jonah Wren Phillips) holding a house cat in an empty pool.

Courtesy: Ingvar Kenne/A24

W

hat greater hell could exist for a parent than the loss of a child? The lengths they would go to undo what has been done, the bargains they would cut, must be bottomless.

Pain that fathomable — even for those who haven’t experienced it — makes for good horror. It roots the supernatural in something real. And without the real, horror is just a bunch of spirits and spooks zooming around trying to make boogey out of nothing.

Which is where I’m at with Bring Her Back, the latest from Australian twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou.

Their previous effort, 2022’s Talk to Me, also dealt with crushing loss and paranormal assistance. It’s a modern horror classic, one that stands out for its exemplary sound design, supervised by Emma Bortignon. The sound of a knife picked up and the crunch of gravel underfoot raises the hair on the back of your neck more than any shock image could.

That focus and Bortignon’s work continue in Bring Her Back. You’ll first notice it when young Piper (Sora Wong) races through the house in search of a tool to help open a door. Piper has low vision —

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JUNE 5, 2025

she can make out only shapes — and guides herself via touch and sound. The Philippous and Bortignon use this tactility to alert the audience of Piper’s vulnerability and shift the focus from the visual to the aural. Not everything here should be understood through sight.

That theme continues throughout Bring Her Back. In one of the more unsettling moments in the movie, the appearance of a butcher knife sets the room on edge and creates instantaneous tension. But when the camera follows one character and leaves the other holding the knife off-camera, the ensuing sounds of bone on metal paint a truly horrific image in the mind.

These are the moments where Bring Her Back succeeds. And there are plenty of them. Unfortunately, there are just as many that don’t, particularly those that seem to exist for no reason beyond gratuity.

The story revolves around Piper and her 17-year-old brother, Andy (Billy Barratt). Both are orphaned when their dad dies suddenly — and maybe mysteriously — in the shower. The two are placed in the foster care of Laura (Sally

Hawkins), a quirky woman living with her stuffed dog, a house cat and another orphaned child. His name is Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), a selective mute with eyes so sinister only a Satanic priest would love them. I guess Andy hasn’t seen The Omen, because if he had, he and Piper would’ve hightailed it outta there quicker than you could say “demon child.”

Oliver and the stuffed dog aren’t the only unsettling things in this creepy cottage in the middle of the woods. Laura is a disturbing presence. A few years ago, she lost her daughter, Cathy (Mischa Heywood in flashback), who was also visually impaired. Laura refuses to accept that loss. If only Piper knew the extent of Laura’s refusal.

The rest of Bring Her Back plays out in the usual manner. Piper starts to come out of her shell and enjoy her time with Laura.

Laura gaslights Andy to drive him and Piper apart. Oliver does weirder and weirder things. Laura’s locked shed out back holds sinister secrets. So on and so forth.

It’s not formulaic, but it’s familiar. That’s good in some aspects, trying in others.

My questions fixate on the feral child Oliver. What narrative purpose does he

serve? If he’s here to creep the audience out by performing tasks of increasing disgust, mission accomplished. But if that’s all, then he’s also extraneous because Laura’s arc follows a similar pattern as she dives deeper into the occult. It’s a nice touch that she doesn’t have a big, dusty book of spells to consult but a garbled VHS tape. But where did she come across that tape? And when? Was it after Cathy passed, or had she always been this way?

Bring Her Back is not interested in answers and explanations. It aims to set the audience down an unsettling path and hope they find the boundaries along the way. Frankly, if the Philippous did manage to answer all my questions, Bring Her Back would be insufferable. It’s not. It’s swift and scary and contains enough excitement and unsettling imagery for an engaging time. But I still have questions.

ON SCREEN: Bring Her Back is now playing in theaters.

BOULDER WEEKLY

ON DRUGS

‘ONE DAY AT A TIME’ More Colorado workplaces are becoming safe places for employees in recovery

BY LILIANA TENNEY AND OLIVIA ZARELLA, THE CONVERSATION

A

t Odie B’s, a sandwich shop in Denver, recovery from drug and alcohol use is part of daily operations.

“Seventy percent of our staff is active in recovery,” Cliff Blauvelt, co-owner of Odie B’s, said in a video testimonial. “We try to provide a safe space where people can feel comfortable.”

Blauvelt has struggled with alcohol use for more than 20 years. He co-owns Odie B’s with his wife, Cara Blauvelt.

One employee, Molly, said working at Odie B’s helped her focus on sobriety and reconnect with her sense of purpose.

“I was burned out, I was working a lot of hours. … I started dry January, and after a few months I realized I needed to quit drinking,” she said in the same video testimonial. “Cara definitely helped with my sobriety journey, just reminding me one day at a time, and now, I have been sober for going on two years.”

Colorado is one of more than 30 states that have launched recovery-friendly workplace programs in recent years, part

BOULDER WEEKLY

of a growing effort to reframe how employers address addiction, mental health and recovery for the well-being of their employees and businesses.

Since 2021, our team the Centers for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health has developed and delivered recovery and mental health training to more than 8,000 Colorado employees. They represent more than 100 businesses in industries ranging from local government to construction companies and health care providers. Our training sessions focus on equipping individuals with an understanding of mental health and substance use disorders, explaining how to combat stigma and outlining how to navigate accommodations in the workplace.

use is significant. Colorado has lost more than 360 million work hours to opioid use over the past decade, according to the American Action Forum, a nonprofit that conducts economic analyses. That’s the equivalent of 173,000 full-time jobs for one year.

In 2017 alone, the cost of lost productivity due to opioid use disorder and fatal opioid overdose in Colorado was estimated to be $834 million.

Employers save an average of $8,500 per year for each employee in recovery,

provided funding to establish the Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative and the voluntary employer participation and certification program.

In early 2025, funding for the initiative was removed from the state budget due to a broader fiscal shortfall. The funding cut disrupted many of our planned activities, and we are currently relying on interim support from counties and state offices.

Small businesses remain a priority for our team, despite recent funding cuts.

Many lack human resources departments or formal wellness programs but are nonetheless deeply committed to helping their employees succeed.

A Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative participant, Absolute Caulking & Waterproofing of Colorado, THE TOLL OF ADDICTION employs 39 people. Absolute has In 2023, 1,865 Coloradans died from a championed recovery-friendly drug overdose, according to data from Sarah Deering, vice president of Absolute Caulking & Waterpolicies as something the busithe Colorado Department of Public proofing of Colorado, joined the Recovery Friendly Workplace ness values.

Health and Environment. That’s up Initiative. Courtesy: CU Anschutz Center for Health, Work and “This partnership saves us time about 65 deaths from the previous Environment and resources,” said Sarah year. Nationally, overdose deaths have according to the National Safety Council.

Deering, vice president of the company, more than doubled since 2015.

These savings come from lower health “which is invaluable for our small, familyIn high-risk industries, such as concare costs, reduced absenteeism and owned business.” struction and mining, where physically demanding work, long hours and job inse- decreased turnover. In other words, when curity are common, workers have some of employers retain and support workers Tenney and Zarella receive funding from through recovery rather than lose them to the highest rates of nonmedical opioid the National Institute for Occupational use. These workers are thus at a high risk untreated substance use, they see meaSafety and Health. surable benefits. of developing substance use disorders.

They also face other mental health This article is republished from The challenges. These same sectors face Conversation — an independent, nonprofA SHIFTING POLICY the highest suicide rates across all it newsroom featuring the work of acaLANDSCAPE occupations and nearly double that of demic experts — under a Creative In 2024, Colorado lawmakers passed a the general public.

Commons license. Read the original bill for supporting recovery and addressThe economic impact of substance article: bit.ly/4jqmYfs ing the opioid epidemic. The legislation

JUNE 5, 2025

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