Boulder Weekly 07.03.2025

Juggle & JuggleFlow & Flow

Locals find a home at Boulder ’s circus arts hub P.16

JULY 3, 2025

Volume 32, Number 46

PUBLISHER: Stewart Sallo

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Shay Castle

ARTS EDITOR: Jezy J. Gray

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Kaylee Harter, Tyler Hickman

COVER CREDIT: Stepan Davidovic

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Rob Brezsny, Michael J. Casey, Patty Graham, John Lehndorff, Jenn Ochs, Dan Savage, Toni Tresca, Gabby Vermeire

SALES AND MARKETING

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING: Kellie Robinson

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Matthew Fischer

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Austen Lopp

SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER: Carter Ferryman

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: Stewart 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. 1495 Canyon Boulevard, Suite CO 1, Boulder, CO 80302

Phone: 303.494.5511, FAX: 303.494.2585 editorial@boulderweekly.com 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 We do not publish anonymous letters or those signed with pseudonyms.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.

A CHANCE TO BELONG

Adaptive sports provide community thanks to volunteers

BY JENN OCHS

The last two months, I have highlighted issues that people with disabilities endure — specifically, the challenges accessing government benefits (“Medicaid asset limits keep people in poverty,” June 3) and threats to reduce spending on crucial services (“$880B in Medicaid cuts would devas-

tate the disability community,” May 5).

While these challenges are real and persistent, I want to spend some time talking about the benefits of having a disability. My favorite? Adaptive sports.

Expand Beyond, run by the City of Boulder’s parks and recreation department, recently started adaptive water skiing sessions for the season. When I did a tour of the program, I watched a double amputee wakeboard. Last week, I saw a blind man waterski. If you can hold on, you can waterski.

For $100, I bought a whole summer of skiing. Every Tuesday morning through

mid-August, I will be at the Boulder Reservoir.

You’ll also find me and other wheelchair users in the mountains, thanks to The Lockwood Foundation, and on horseback at Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center in Longmont.

I wrote about The Lockwood Foundation and Expand Beyond last year (“Outward bound,” June 24, 2024). So why am I telling you about them again? Because the one thing every adaptive activity needs is volunteers.

At Expand, volunteers provide and drive the boats and jet skis that pull participants across the water. They get us safely strapped in, teach us what to do and are there to provide rescues if needed.

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

OPINION

Volunteers lead and walk alongside the horses at Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center. They muck out the stalls in the barn, care for the horses and lead them to pasture. They work in the office, help fundraise and plan events.

A cadre of volunteers carried me to the summit of Mines Peak last year. The special chairs The Lockwood Foundation provides are all carried by volunteers, and the hikes are provided free of charge.

The nonprofit got its start because people who cared raised the $10,000 needed to buy its first TrailRider chair. Six years later, TLF has acquired a new location that will be used for equipment storage, volunteer training and a community center. It will open to the public in September.

through adaptive sports have been invaluable to me.

If you are able, please consider volunteering with one of these amazing organizations — or the many others that provide adaptive recreation like skiing and mountain biking. Go to thelockwoodfoundation.org, expandbeyondinc.com and ctrcinc.org/volunteer to learn more.

I’m constantly impressed with people who give their time and expertise to others. People who deal with disabilities are often isolated and restricted. The opportunity to participate in adaptive activities gives us a chance to belong to a community.

Starting water skiing this summer was a chance to get together with friends. I relished the feeling of belonging. In a world that can seem cold and lonely, the personal relationships forged

COLORADO LEADERS CAN SAVE LIVES

Rep. Joe Neguse should help pass the End Kidney Deaths Act

BY PATTY GRAHAM

Jenn Ochs lives in Boulder. She is a disability rights advocate, award-winning columnist and a graduate from Baylor University in Texas, where she realized Boulder is the best place to live.

for living donation, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and spread the word as a mentor that donating a kidney to a stranger is not just possible; it’s lifechanging, for the donor and the recipient.

Right now, I’m asking our leaders in Congress — Rep. Joe Neguse as well as Sen. Michael Bennet and Sen. John Hickenlooper — to co-sponsor and champion the End Kidney Deaths Act (H.R. 2687), a bill that will finally give living donors the support they deserve and patients on the waitlist the chance they need.

In 2017, I donated a kidney to a stranger. It wasn’t a dramatic decision, it just made sense: I had something someone else needed more than I did. Since then, I’ve become an advocate

Last session, Rep. Neguse made us all so proud by being one of the original cosponsors of the End Kidney Deaths Act. His early support showed true vision and compassion. That’s why we’re confused and frankly a bit discouraged that nearly half a year into the current session, he has not yet signed on

Ray, Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center’s youth rider of the year for 2025, got his parents and two older brothers to olunteer with the Longmont nonprofit. Courtesy: CTRC

TITLE

to cosponsor the bill again. People across Colorado who care deeply about solving the kidney crisis are hoping he’ll step up once more and help lead the way.

In Rep. Neguse’s district, 443 people are currently on dialysis. They die at an average rate of 22%. That means 97 Coloradans in our own communities are lost each year to kidney failure.

If a disaster killed 97 Coloradans, we would act immediately. We would mobilize to save the lives of those still in danger. We need to do the same now for those dying due to the kidney shortage.

The End Kidney Deaths Act is a 10-year pilot program that offers a refundable $10,000 per year tax credit for five years to those who donate a kidney to a stranger, a group known as non-directed donors. These donations are often used to start kidney transplant chains, where one gift can lead to dozens of people receiving kidneys. In the best-known chain, 70 people received transplants because of a single nondirected donor.

The policy will prioritize the people who have been waiting the longest for a kidney, people who otherwise may never receive one.

The need is staggering. More than 90,000 Americans are currently on the kidney transplant waitlist. If the End Kidney Deaths Act does not pass, half will die while waiting. Once the End Kidney Deaths Act passes, we will live in a country where no one dies on the kidney waitlist. Between 2010 and 2021, 100,000 people who qualified to be on that list died waiting.

We cannot rely on deceased donors to solve the problem. Fewer than 1% of deaths occur in a way that allows for organ recovery. Even if the system operated at its absolute best, we would still

fall short by tens of thousands of kidneys each year. The only realistic way to close that gap is by encouraging more living donors to step forward, especially those willing to give to strangers.

Over the past two decades, 400 people a year have made that choice. Since 2000, only 191 Coloradans have donated kidneys to strangers. These donors often face weeks of lost income, travel costs and stress.

The End Kidney Deaths Act acknowledges that reality. It says, if you’re willing to do something heroic and lifesaving, the government will step up and support you.

Tax credits are one of the most common tools Congress uses to promote socially beneficial behavior, from installing solar panels to adopting children. Providing compensation to kidney donors is long overdue, and it will save lives and money. Dialysis costs the federal government about $100,000 per person per year. Every successful transplant not only gives someone their life back; it also saves taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Rep. Neguse, Sen. Bennet and Sen. Hickenlooper understand the power of bold policy ideas. They know how to bring people together and get things done. With their leadership, this bill can move forward and change the course of kidney care in America.

There’s no time to wait. Every day, more than 25 people die for lack of a kidney. The End Kidney Deaths Act can change that. I hope our elected officials will rise to the moment once again and help lead the way.

Patty Graham is a registered nurse, educator, non-directed kidney donor, mentor for prospective donors and a Boulder resident.

Courtesy: End Kidney Deaths Act

Got something to say?

Send it to letters@boulderweekly.com

DON’T CRIMINALIZE POVERTY

Let’s put things in perspective: In less than six months, Boulder County has lost its only youth homeless shelter, reduced beds at its largest adult shelter, is in the process of shutting down its foster care program and cut millions of dollars in human services spending.

Now, Longmont City Council is considering making it unlawful to sit or lie in public.

If you are experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing your housing — regardless of age — our county and local officials are sending a clear message: You’re on your own, and they want you to keep moving.

The ordinance claims this is “needed for the protection of the health and safety of the public,” yet increasing access to housing and supportive services — solutions that truly protect health and safety — are not being prioritized. It’s immoral to criminalize survival when we lack the resources to help our most vulnerable.

We are all neighbors: 57% of us live paycheck to paycheck. That means we’re just one accident, one life-altering medical diagnosis or one layoff away from this draft ordinance possibly being used against us.

The answer here is not criminalization; it’s committing to local solutions that keep people housed and help them stay housed after experiencing homelessness.

This isn’t a problem we don’t know how to fix. It’s a question of whether we, as a community, want to solve it or criminalize it. Viable solutions are available, and we should start by listening to the people who have their boots on the ground.

We should increase our human services budget to truly meet the need in our community. We can expand eligibility for the Longmont CAReS program so more families can access sales and property tax rebates, and get help with rising utility costs. We need to raise the minimum wage in Longmont to help working families afford rent, keep food on the table and keep the lights on. What we don’t need is to ignore the plethora of knowl-

edge our local nonprofits can shine on this issue.

On a hopeful note, I was grateful to see the City Council delay their vote until August. Between then and now, I urge my neighbors to join me in letting our local elected officials know that they should vote against this measure, and invest their efforts in what makes Longmont great: its people.

Patrick

Dillon, Longmont

REJECT VIOLENCE, BUT UNDERSTAND IT

I have found some responses to the horrific fire assaults on the Pearl Street Mall to be very disheartening, including those by Phil Weiser, the attorney general of Colorado and candidate for governor. I received an email article from him in which he talked about the attack on peaceful protesters who were seeking to draw attention to the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas since its

word about the 56,000 civilian deaths, the bombing of hospitals, schools and refugee shelters, or the blockage of aid and food creating famine conditions. This is in no way to condone what happened on the mall, but an attempt to understand it.

We need leaders who are able to see both sides in all their complexity and history. Leaders who can help us break this devastating cycle of violence begetting violence. And, most importantly, leaders who can help us find some path forward to reconciliation and healing.

Ellen Stark, Boulder

COMPLEX ISSUES REQUIRE NUANCED THINKING

I am writing to comment on the opinion piece “When victimhood masks power” (June 26). Kudos to Micha K. Ben David for a fantastically written article. Like Ben David, I too believe that caring for the plight of Palestinians and standing for

October 2023 attack on Israel. Weiser described the Pearl Street assault as an antisemitic attack — with no reference to it as an emotional response by a disturbed Egyptian native concerned about what has been happening in bordering Gaza.

In neither Weiser’s article nor his interview on MSNBC was there any mention whatsoever of the plight of the Palestinian people. There was not one

the humane treatment of them does not imply that one is antisemitic. In fact, I believe it more accurately implies that one is anti-Israeli government.

In my view, the dualistic and black/ white thinking that so many seem to be controlled by regarding the Palestinian/ Israeli issue has been and continues to be the source of many of the problems our planet faces.

John Lazas, Boulder

LETTERS

CRITICAL CANNABIS REPORTS OVERDUE

I am writing in response to Anna Segur, (“Colorado teens aren’t smoking less pot,” June 17). We applaud her leadership and care for kids. To get the most accurate picture of teen cannabis use, looking beyond self-reported survey data to objective statistics as well as listening to kids and families is critical.

My organization, One Chance to Grow Up, and I have worked hard to ensure more data is collected and reported on youth impacts so the state and those of us living here can have a more complete picture.

This is why, back in 2013, we supported Senate Bill 283, which mandated that the Division of Criminal Justice in the Colorado Department of Public Safety study the impact of Amendment 64, including on law enforcement and youth and report back to the state legislature every two years.

This information will no doubt be insightful and help inform public policy decisions based on evidence. This is why we are concerned that the Department of Public Safety has not released this report as required by statute. The report, “Impacts of Marijuana Legalization in Colorado” is two years overdue. The last report was released in July 2021.

When contacted multiple times over the past year and a half, the department simply says the report “is under review.” Who is reviewing it, and why the slow roll? Now another report with the latest data is due.

We must have a better picture of what is happening to our kids when it comes to today’s new and radically different high-potency THC products.

This past legislative session, the cannabis industry sought to capitalize on this data vacuum and attempted to increase sales limits. The industry succeeded in reducing regulatory oversight, including a loosening of requirements for employee background checks, security monitoring of premises and record keeping.

The public and our lawmakers are now missing four important years of data. As concerned parents, we urge our legislators to insist on the release of the overdue 2023 report, and a timely 2025 report.

Rachel O’Bryan, Denver

Credit: Sagan Randall

GOV’T WATCH

What your local officials are up to this week

BY BOULDER WEEKLY STAFF

BOULDER CITY COUNCIL

On June 26, council voted on changes to open comment, the public forum held at the beginning of business meetings through which community members can speak on a topic of their choosing. The following changes were approved by a majority of council members in informal polling and will be brought back for formal adoption at a later date:

• 5:30 p.m. start time for open comment. The regular meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m., with a small break in between as time allows.

• Fixed length of 45 minutes for open comment. Currently, open comment is scheduled for one hour, but the city’s code only requires 45 minutes, City Attorney Theresa Tate said during Thursday’s meeting. As per the code, the number of potential speakers will still be limited to 20 people randomly selected from the total list of who signed up to speak. If 45 minutes passes without all the selected speakers being able to participate, those left out will be prioritized in the following meeting’s process.

• Speakers will alternate between in-person and virtual

• Open comment will be broadcast as audio only. Currently, in-person speakers are included in the meeting’s video broadcast, while community members participating remotely use audio only.

• Council members will each be given 30 seconds to respond to the content of open comment, directly after it concludes. The presiding officer can respond immediately to “hateful or dehumanizing language.” Council members have been limited to two minutes each for responses at the end of meetings.

• Council rejected placing restrictions on what topics community members can address during open comment. Council is on summer recess through July 18. There are two meetings sched-

uled this month: a July 24 special meeting with a review of the city’s manufactured housing strategy and a July 31 study session on the city’s water supply and wildfire hardening strategies

Special meetings do not include open comment. The next open comment session is scheduled for the Aug. meeting. It will be the first since May 15.

Also on June 26, council:

• Decided to move forward with only one city ballot measure for November’s election: a permanent extension of the Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety (CCRS) tax, a 0.3% sales tax that funds transportation, facilities, infrastructure and nonprofit grants, among other things. The tax was introduced in 2014 and extended twice in 2017 and 2021. It is currently set to expire in 2036.

An increase in property tax to pay for infrastructure projects and maintenance was also discussed, but council abandoned it after only 37.5% of respondents to an official poll said they would support it.

• Gave a tacit OK to the North 30th Street Preliminary Design proposal. The design was unanimously approved by Boulder’s Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) on June 23.

Council had an opportunity to “call up” or review the approval, but declined to do so, meaning the project will proceed unchanged.

Staff will complete the recommended preliminary design this summer. Final design for the 30th Street and Arapahoe Avenue intersection will begin in the fall.

The project is one of more than a dozen on Boulder’s Core Arterial Network, a subset of roadways where the majority of injury-causing car crashes occur. Since 2022, the city has been pursuing safety improvements to bike paths and on-street bike lanes, bus stops and pedestrian infrastructure.

LONGMONT CITY COUNCIL

On July 1, council:

• Held a study session to discuss changes to the eligibility requirements for the Longmont City Assistance and Rebate System (CAReS), the city’s

flagship income qualified assistance program. As of now, the city determines eligibility for CAReS based on residents’ cross qualifications for federal assistance programs like LEAP, SNAP and Medicaid.

Council directed city staff to draft an ordinance to create an additional pathway for qualification, where residents who prove they are at or below 50% Area Median Income for Boulder County would also be eligible for CAReS.

LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL

On July 1, council:

• Instructed staff to craft ballot language asking voters to approve a 20-year property tax increase to fund the construction of a new civic center and the renovation and expansion of the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center and the Parks and Public Works Service Center. The measure would add roughly $280 per year in property tax to the average Lafayette home, according to city estimates.

A vote to refer the question to voters is scheduled for Aug. 19.

• Received an update on sustainability work after the August 2024 adoption of a city Climate Action Plan (CAP). The plan focuses on seven key areas: energy, natural environment, community resilience, water, the circular economy, transportation and air quality.

In 2024, council passed a Universal

Recycling Ordinance. During an Earth Day Every Day event in April 2024, 24,000 pounds of hard-to-recycle materials were collected; that number rose to 28,000 pounds at the 2025 event.

Other accomplishments include distribution of 50 free HEPA air purifiers through a new pilot program that received 240 applicants, the collection of 28,000 pounds of hard-to-recycle materials and a redesign of the sustainability section of the city’s website to provide education and resources, including a real-time air quality monitor.

In 2025, the city hopes to complete expanded EV charging infrastructure for city vehicles and the public at the library, Fire Station #1 and Indian Peaks Golf Course clubhouse. Future plans include bike infrastructure improvements, a pollinator district designation, facility energy audits, and greenhouse gas accounting.

A CAP awareness campaign is planned for late summer or early fall.

• Recognized Lafayette resident Cameron Parker, who in May won the statewide Civics Bee organized by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce Foundation. He will represent Colorado at the national finals in Washington, D.C. in November.

All agenda items subject to change. Karen Norback and Ray Keener contributed reporting.

Lafayette resident Cameron Parker, center, will represent Colorado in the National Civics Bee later this year. Courtesy: City of Lafayette

BOCO, BRIEFLY

Local news at a glance

BY BOULDER WEEKLY STAFF

VICTIM OF PEARL STREET ATTACK DIES

Karen Diamond, a victim of the June 1 attack on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, died Monday of her injuries. She was 82.

tims identified by further investigation. There are now 29 victims, 13 of whom were physically injured.

Officials across the state offered their condolences, including Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who wrote on X: “This loss is deeply felt by the Boulder community and our entire state, particularly within our strong Jewish community. Karen was taken from us too soon, and we mourn her loss while remembering her life and the impact she had on those who loved her.”

In 2019, Diamond was awarded the Margaret Willard Award by University Women’s Club in Boulder, where she served as president and board chair. According to her bio on the organization’s website, Diamond volunteered for a number of community groups, including CU Boulder’s Conference on World Affairs, Historic Boulder, Bridge House, Chautauqua Music Festival and the Boulder Philharmonic.

“Karen was a cherished member of our community, someone whose warmth and generosity left a lasting impact on all who knew her,” Boulder Jewish Community Center Executive Director Jonathan Lev said in a public statement. “She will be deeply missed by her family, her friends, and our community.”

Her family, speaking through local law enforcement, asked for privacy.

“Our hearts are with the Diamond family during this incredibly difficult time,” Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a statement. “Our office will fight for justice for the victims, their loved ones, and the community.”

The DA’s office filed two additional charges of first degree murder and 66 new counts related to 14 additional vic-

At the state level, attacker Mohamed Soliman now faces two counts of first degree murder, 52 counts of attempted first degree murder, eight counts of first degree assault, 18 counts of attempted first degree assault, two counts of third degree assault, two counts of using an incendiary device, 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device and one count of animal cruelty, for a dog that was present and injured at the scene.

Soliman last month appeared in federal court, where he is facing 12 counts: nine hate crimes and three explosives charges. Prosecutors argued that Zionism qualifies as a national origin; during his arrest, Soliman said he targeted Zionists and hoped he “killed them all,” according to federal and state affidavits. Soliman pleaded not guilty to the hate crime charges. His next scheduled court appearance is a July 15 preliminary hearing.

PROPOSED NOAA BUDGET WOULD CLOSE 4 BOULDER LABS, CU’S CIRES CENTER

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) could close all four of its Boulder laboratories and CU Boulder’s Cooperative Institute for Research In Environmental Sciences (CIRES) under a proposed 2026 budget. The plan comes after the agency cut hundreds of jobs earlier this year.

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), which operates at Colorado State University, will also be eliminated.

The proposed budget is $4.5 billion, some 30% smaller than 2025’s spending plan, and comes with a 17% reduction in total jobs. The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research has been eliminated in its entirety from NOAA under the plan; some of its operations will be transferred to other offices, according to the budget document released by NOAA on Monday.

Four Boulder labs operate under that office at the David Skaggs Research Center: the Chemical Sciences Laboratory, the Global Monitoring Laboratory, the Global Systems Laboratory and the Physical Sciences Laboratory.

NOAA hosts the National Weather Service and is central to research on climate change, making it a target of the Trump administration. Project 2025, the policy roadmap written by conservative D.C. think-tank The Heritage Foundation, called for the “break up” of the agency and for its climate research arms to be “disbanded.”

It’s unclear how many jobs will be impacted in Boulder. CIRES employs more than 900 people in Boulder, according to the organization’s website.

BOULDER NONPROFIT FARM LOSES $100K GRANT

Boulder nonprofit educational farm Dharma’s Garden is attempting to raise $100,000 after a promised federal grant was pulled earlier this year.

In February, Dharma’s Garden was picked for a $100,000 grant funded through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The money was intended to pay for an apprenticeship program for teens and young adults ages

14-30 to learn about regenerative agriculture.

Then in May, the EPA announced it was canceling the grant, organizers wrote on a GoFundMe post.

“For our tiny nonprofit, the consequences have been enormous,” they wrote. As of Wednesday, the organization had raised $36,603 of its $100,000 goal.

SAFEWAY HIRING SCABS AMID STRIKE

Safeway is hiring temporary workers amid a labor strike impacting more than two dozen Colorado stores and a distribution center, including three locations in Boulder (3325 28th St.) and Longmont (1050 Ken Pratt Blvd. and 1632 Hover St.)

The strike began June 15. Talks between the company and the union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local (UFCW), stalled over the weekend, according to statements from both parties.

This is the second grocery store strike to impact Boulder County this year. In February, workers at Boulder and Louisville King Soopers conducted an 11-day work stoppage. UFCW resumed negotiations with King Soopers/City Market this week.

IN OTHER NEWS…

• Full Cycle, Boulder’s oldest continually operating bike shop, has sold to Dutchowned chain Mike’s Bikes. New owners shut down the shop’s bar and cafe and canceled its live music performances.

• CU Boulder has established a new fellowship for space policy and law. The professorship is funded by a $2.5 million endowment from Dale and Patricia Hatfield.

The Ann H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences building. Courtesy: CU Boulder

oulder nonprofit educational farm harma’s arden is hoping to raise $100,000 to restore an apprenticeship program after prom ised federal grant was pulled. Courtesy: Dharma’s Garden

Karen Diamond, 82, has died from her injuries after the June attack on oulder’s earl Street Mall. Courtesy: University Women’s Club

ADVICE

DEAR WHOLE FOODS DADDY

Your burning Boulder questions, asked and answered

BY GABBY VERMEIRE

We all have questions and need advice, but sometimes the pseudo therapy in the Instagram stories of astrology girlies doesn’t cut it. Or maybe the gate-keeping culture of adventure bros has you fearing the judgment that comes with revealing yourself as a newbie at anything. This monthly advice column exists to hold space for you and your Boulder queries (especially the uncool ones).

Where can I afford to stay in Boulder for a September wedding?

There are two words for people who invite their broke, out-of-state friends to their Boulder weddings, and they are: sick fucks. Not just because they are flaunting the fact that it’s possible to stick it out through the first “ick” to marriage; no, they are also purposefully disregarding the fact that you chose to spend your 20s pursuing broke nonprofit jobs and even broker climbers and now can’t even afford an East Boulder Airbnb that will give you chronic black mold issues for the next five years.

What to do on rainy days in BoCo?

6:30 a.m. Wake up without your alarm because being 30 is terrible. Actually, nothing is terrible, because the heavy early July rain on your roof means you can snuggle back into a furry dog and/or Hinge man and slip into a super-weird morning dream.

8:30 a.m. “Amsterdam” by Greg Isakov is playing as you sawftly depress the plunger of your french press because you are literally a twee rain fairy who will die if she wears anything besides loose, neutral tone linen and tea tree oil on her pressure points. The smell of the rain through the screen door is yummy and your roommate will fucking die if they try to shut the real door one more time.

There are two words to describe people who invite their broke, out-of-state friends to their Boulder weddings: sick fucks

Instagram (@laurensanchezbezos)

2 p.m. Have you ever chair-rotted by the west window of the metaphysical room of Boulder Bookstore with Outside Magazine and the OG Farmer’s Almanac whilst IT WAS RAINING??? You’re welcome.

Other rainy-day coded things: London Fogs and conversations with elderly strangers at the Trident, rainbows from the Whole Foods parking lot Insta stories, pondering the durability of Boulder’s floodplain infrastructure.

Will I ever know if I’m ready for marriage?

Hell no! Backing up, I know we’ve been led to believe there will be a moment when you just know, like the first time your partner lets you

poop while they’re in the shower and you realize that maybe you could poop in the same room as this strange roommate for the rest of your life. Or maybe you’re watching a cute boomer couple smooch as they take in the jazz/swing fusion musical stylings of Espresso! at Spruce Confections, still deeply in love after all these years. Actually, they’re swingers and have other spouses! That is fine too :)

Anyway, most of us barely know if we’re ready for the commitment of being a single person buying a Lucky’s rotisserie chicken, much less marriage. Don’t let that stop you from doing it though, because a fool’s confidence is all it takes to pop the question or make an impulse chicken purchase.

My BF has a porn addiction and refuses to get therapy. What do I do?

Remove this man’s access to the internet under the guise of EMF wave avoidance and God, this feels a little gross to joke about. If I were Dan Savage, I’d say you have two choices, one of which is an untenable way to live. So, you really only have one choice, and luckily for you it’s the best season to be single in Boulder.

What do I do with my ridiculously small boobs?

I won’t give you the “Omg all boobies are beautiful #bodypositivity #welovesmallboobs” spiel because I get it. Sydney Sweeny cultural zeitgeist aside, I understand wanting, or at least being curious about how it must feel, to have every eye in Gold Hill on you as your big naturals bounce around under a tight shirt to some slappin’ bluegrass tunes. That being said, here are some things to “do” with those precious lil’ things, because the smallest Palisade peaches are often the sweetest:

1. Stretch one of those headband things over ’em and call it a top. So cute!

2. Design a thesis for a Naropa poetry degree around a live reading of your poem about the sacred power of tiny breasts while holding the printed poem on a flat piece of paper over your bare chest only to reveal that it was printed directly on your flat, flat boobs the entire time.

Got a burning Boulder question? DM wholefoods_daddy on Instagram or email letters@boulderweekly.com with the subject line “Dear Whole Foods Daddy.”

Most of us barely know if we’re ready for the commitment of being single person buying Lucky’s rotisserie chicken, much less marriage. Courtesy: Lucky’s Market

FOUND SOUNDS

What’s in Boulder’s bag?

BY BOULDER WEEKLY STAFF

Summer is in full swing here on the Front Range, but we’re still searching for our next brat Lorde is perhaps a bit too onthe-nose, though you’ll find her new one at the top of last month’s ranking of the bestselling new vinyl releases from Boulder’s Paradise Found Records and Music (1646 Pearl St.) Turnstile makes a strong case at No. 2 with their latest slice of stadiumsized hardcore breakdowns and polished pop-rock singalongs. Or maybe the nasty, nihilistic drone-metal of Swans is your sound of the summer — in which case, we are reporting you to the authorities immediately.

Last December, Boulder Weekly arts editor Jezy J. Gray gave personalized playlists as holiday gifts to the staff. At the top of mine was “Force of Habit” by hip hop/rock fusion duo Paris, Texas , which exhaustively coursed through my headphones for weeks after. Then came the February release of They Found me with a Gun — a head banging EP spilling grimey metal riffs layered over big beats with guttural lyricism that’ll drag you beneath the surface of their cinematic discography with the rest of us.

— Tyler Hickman, reporter

UP IN THE AIR

Inside Boulder’s juggling community ahead of 19th annual festival

BY TONI TRESCA

Down a dirt road in rural North Boulder, jugglers gather every week at the Boulder Circus Center for a few hours of catching, dropping and camaraderie. Clubs arc through the air, beanbags hit the ground and people cheer when someone nails a new trick. This is the Boulder Juggling Club — free to join and a home base for everyone from world-record chasers to first-timers.

“People have this idea that you have to be a good juggler to go to the juggling club,” says Chris Jost, the group’s “de facto leader” who has been involved since 2016. “But I’m here to say that you don’t even need to juggle. All you have to do is show up and talk to people, and no one will think you’re weird, or at least not any weirder than the rest of us.”

Founded nearly two decades ago by a few passionate circus folk, the club meets weekly on Sundays from to p.m., and often hosts outdoor gatherings in local parks when the weather’s nice. What started as a training space for a niche hobby has grown into a social hub, creative outlet and emotional lifeline for dozens of Boulder residents.

“Jugglers are like the anti-gatekeepers. Every juggler wants so badly for more people to juggle,” said Percy Murray, who picked up juggling in January shortly after moving to the city from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “Jugglers provide a great sense of community. That’s one of the biggest reasons I keep coming back.”

The club also serves as the organizing force behind the Boulder Juggling Festival, which returns for its 19th year July 4-6. Hosted at three local venues, the weekend-long event features open jams, beginner workshops, juggling games and a Saturday night public show, all rooted in the same spirit of silliness that defines the group.

“Picture a gym full of hundreds of people throwing stuff at the same time,” said Nathan Albu, a mechanical engineer who’s been in the Boulder Juggling Group for two years. “It’s a wild spectacle when you first walk in, but surprisingly, it’s not intimidating because the culture is so friendly. You can talk to people, but if you just stand in the corner and do your own thing, that’s just as welcome.”

HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS HOBBY

What is it about juggling that hooks people? For many in the Boulder Juggling Club, it starts as curiosity but quickly spirals into something more like obsession.

“Juggling is very contagious,” Jost jokes. “For instance, we recently diagnosed Percy with juggler and, unfortunately, it’s terminal.”

For longtime members, that diagnosis rings true. “Once you catch the juggling bug, it becomes what you need,” says Bekah Smith, who made her living as a professional juggler for a decade through a combination of teaching and performing a one-woman circus show. “It becomes a part of your identity.”

The people most susceptible to catching it, club members say, are often the ones drawn to difficult things for the sheer joy of trying.

“Juggling is such a silly, almost useless skill, and not everyone wants to spend so much time learning something that doesn’t have practical value,” Smith says. “Juggling draws people who are prone to learning something just because it’s fun to learn new, challenging things.”

On any given night, seasoned performers pass clubs alongside newcomers still getting the hang of three-ball cascades. But the exchange of tricks isn’t the only support in the room. Smith often brings her infant son, Dasko, to practice, and shared that when she needed help after giving birth, the club showed up.

“From a community perspective, juggling saved my life,” Smith says. “I just had a baby, and I needed meals cooked for me for a few weeks, and a whole bunch of jugglers showed up and made meals for me.”

That kind of support is rare, especially for people in their 20s and 30s who often find themselves between life stages, past

school and not yet surrounded by family. For many, the juggling club offers a third space to go after work.

“This is what people used to get from church 50 or 60 years ago,” Albu says. “Having a place to go where it’s the same, consistent community, and they’re all welcoming is huge.”

‘A FAMILY REUNION’

That spirit of inclusion is at the core of the 19th annual Boulder Juggling Festival, taking place at the Boulder Circus Center, Shining Mountain Waldorf School and Junkyard Social Club. The weekend is a juggling homecoming for veterans and a welcoming entry point for the curious.

“You are seeing people of all ages and people from around the country,” Smith says. “All of my juggling uncles, aunts and grandparents will be there. It’s like a family reunion — but the kind you want to go to.

While there’s plenty of technical skill on display, the tone remains relaxed and egalitarian. No one is above anyone else, and that, Jost believes, is what makes it so powerful.

“I do think anyone can juggle,” he says. “But I’d also say 99% or more of jugglers thought they couldn’t do it initially. It is empowering to learn something you were convinced you could never do. Everything else is easy if the thing you thought was impossible becomes possible, and watching people realize that is a big part of why I love teaching juggling.”

“It’s kind of a beautiful metaphor for life, too,” Jost adds after a brief pause. “Juggling helps you realize you are never done learning and growing.”

ON STAGE: Boulder

Juggling Festival. July 4-6, Boulder Circus Center, 4747 26th St., Boulder, Shining Mountain Waldorf School, 999 Violet Ave., Boulder, and Junkyard Social Club, 2525 Frontier Ave. Suite A, Boulder. $20 per day for gym access $50 for full weekend gym access $25 for show tickets ($15 for children under 12) Full schedule: bit.ly/JugglingFestBW

Boulder Juggling Festival returns for its 19th year, July 4-6 at the Boulder Circus Center, Junkyard Social Club and Shining Mountain Waldorf School. Credit: Stepan Davidovic

THE ANIMATED LIFE

CU Boulder alum brings his passions together at Pixar

BY MICHAEL J. CASEY

When you see Elio this 4th of July weekend, hang around for the end credits and keep an eye out for the name Matthew Silas. He’s a CU Boulder grad, and he’s working for Pixar Animation Studios in layout.

“Layout is the department that comes after story,” Silas tells Boulder Weekly over the phone from Berkeley, California. “We’re basically involved in preparing the shots — the staging and the blocking — for the rest of the digital filmmaking pipeline.”

And he’s been doing it for 19 years. Silas started at Pixar as an intern on Cars (2006) and then professionally joined the studio for Wall-E (2008). Four years later, he became the layout lead for Brave, the position he holds on Elio, a sci-fi comedy about a young boy mistakenly abducted by aliens.

“With every film, I feel like we’re pushing on the limits of large-scale computer animation and finding new ways to do things that propel the art forward and remove creative constraints from our directors so they can push further and harder,” Silas says. “When you see Elio, you’ll see visuals that I don’t think you’ll have ever seen before.”

THE INTERSECTION OF ALL THINGS

“It’s funny,” Silas says. “Pixar is this crazy connection point between technology, filmmaking and the animation I loved as a kid.”

Born in California, raised and educated in Colorado, Silas studied at CU in the 1990s but decided against a direct path to filmmaking even if it was his ultimate destination.

“I really felt like filmmaking and storytelling required a knowledge of a lot more than just filmmaking, so I really tried to go broad and touch a lot of different areas,” he says. That’s how he wound up with a “crazy degree” of humanities, fine arts,

French and computer science.

Before the studies came the show:

The Ramblin’ Rod Show, which Silas watched while spending summers at his father’s home in Portland, Oregon.

“Ramblin’ Rod [Rodney Carl Andersen] was this guy who dressed up as a sea captain,” Silas explains. “His show was basically to interview the kids who came on and then play Warner Bros. cartoons.”

A light bulb went off while watching those Looney Tunes.

“It occurred to me that people were actually making those cartoons,” he recounts. That prompted a trip to the library, “grabbing every book I could about animation and trying to figure out how the heck it was done.”

Silas then started making his own animation. He was 12.

“I was taping pieces of paper to the back window like a light table so I could draw and sketch,” he says.

And those books weren’t just a guide of how-to but a revelation of who

“I was like: ‘Oh my gosh, there are all these people who are layout artists, and there’s a cameraperson, there’s a director, and there’s a writer, and there are people who do ink and paint, and there are people who do backgrounds,” he says. “There was this whole field of people who were working together to make these cartoons. And I thought, ‘That would be a lot of fun to figure out a way to work in that world.’”

So Silas created a studio in his Colorado basement: “I built my own light table, I got down there, and I started drawing.”

But the work of an animator, painstakingly reproducing image after image with slight variations to give the illusion of life and movement, isn’t a social activity.

“It was a lot of hours by myself,” he says. His friends weren’t interested in helping: “They didn’t really want to come down and paint cells or paint backgrounds or whatever.”

That loneliness led Silas to liveaction endeavors.

“I got into theater, and a lot of my theater friends were really interested in film, so we started making these short films,” he recounts. “We went up to Georgetown, Colorado, and made a 45-minute Western. I got my high school drama teacher to come and play the drunk mayor. And suddenly it was like,

‘Wow! This is awesome.’ Being with a bunch of people, pulling these things together, together, was great.”

INSIDE THE EMERYVILLE DREAM FACTORY

When Silas joined Pixar, his passions converged.

“This is like combining the pursuits in the basement, but I’m doing it with a whole bunch of people,” he says. “A great balance of the two.”

Founded in the 1970s, Pixar came to prominence in the 1990s and 2000s as the new benchmark for quality animation — a position it has maintained thanks to artists and technicians like Silas, not to mention the Pixar touch, which Silas identifies as a deep care for the “melting pot of storytelling.”

“Creating stories and characters who really connect with our audience,” he explains. “You can go from a whole crazy crew of interesting aliens in one film to a kid who is going through puberty and turns into a giant red panda, and it feels like every single one of our films is doing something interesting and fun and unique. I feel really grateful to work with the directors and storytellers we have.”

ON SCREEN: Elio is playing in theaters.

Elio and Gordon go for wild ride in Elio Courtesy: Pixar

Colorado-raised Matthew Silas started at Pixar as an intern on Cars in 2006. Courtesy: Pixar

RED, WHITE AND BOOM

Your guide to Front Range fireworks and drone shows

Whether you want to stick close to home or roam around the Front Range, here are four days of fireworks and drone shows to get you outside and looking toward the heavens.

JULY

3

BERTHOUD

5-9:30 p.m.

Food trucks, beer garden and games

Waggener Farm Park 1000 N. Berthoud Pkwy.

BRIGHTON

4-10 p.m.

Food, beer, live music and musical fireworks

Riverdale Regional Park 9755 Henderson Road

DENVER (INDY EVE)

5-9:30 p.m.

Night market, circus performers, music from Colorado Symphony brass percussion ensemble and drone show Civic Center Park 101 14th Ave.

ERIE

6-10 p.m.

Food trucks, vendors and fireworks

Erie Community Park

450 Powers St.

LAKEWOOD

5-10 p.m.

Live music, food, drinks and drone show

Belmar Downtown Lakewood 7337 W. Alaska Drive

JULY 4

ARVADA

6:30-10 p.m.

Food trucks and fireworks

Stenger Sports Complex 11200 W. 58th Ave.

AURORA

6-10 p.m.

Live music, craft vendors, food trucks, face painting and fireworks

Aurora Municipal Center 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy.

BRIGHTON

7-10 p.m.

Food trucks, live music and fireworks

Carmichael Park

650 E. Southern St.

COMMERCE CITY

5-10:30 p.m.

Block party, 4thFest and fireworks following Colorado Rapids v. Kansas City

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park 6000 Victory Way

COORS FIELD (DENVER)

6-11 p.m.

Fireworks following Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago White Sox 2001 Blake St.

FIRESTONE

10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Parade, vendor market, food trucks, live music and fireworks

Miners Park 170 Grant Ave.

LONGMONT

5-9:30 p.m.

All-ages street party, drone show and fireworks

Downtown Longmont 2nd Avenue between Kimbark and Collyer streets, Emery Street south of Kimbark Street, and 1st Avenue east of Main Street

NORTHGLENN

Noon to 9:30 p.m.

Car show, duck derby, live music and fireworks

E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park 11800 Community Center Drive

Drones and fireworks not your thing? Check out these firework-free celebrations. Find more July 4 events on p. 20

SUPERIOR

a.m. to noon

Parade and pancake festival

Superior Community Park 1350 Coalton Road

NIWOT

a.m. to noon

Pancake breakfast, bike decorating, concert and parade 2nd Avenue and Cottonwood Square

THORNTON

Noon to 9:30 p.m.

Beer garden, live music, parachute jump and fireworks

Carpenter Parks Field 11000 Colorado Blvd.

WESTMINSTER

4-10 p.m.

Live music, kids activities, food and beer vendors and fireworks

City Park

10455 Sheridan Blvd.

JULY 5

ELITCH GARDENS (DENVER)

p.m.

Fireworks show at park closing 2000 Elitch Circle

COORS FIELD (DENVER)

6-11 p.m.

Fireworks following Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago White Sox

2001 Blake St.

EVENTS

3 – 5

PHISH WEEKEND KICKOFF AND AFTERPARTY

3-5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Thursday, July 3 to Saturday, July 5, Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. Free

Turn your Phish experience into a Phish sandwich at Velvet Elk’s before and after parties running all weekend. Grab a to-go drink, pregame with live music from Studtmann Cunnane P.I., River Spell and Luke Hahn Zollo and come back to feed your post-show munchies with some Phish food. Afterparties on Friday and Saturday run until 2 a.m., so save some energy for the late night phishes.

3

– 5

FOLSOM PHISH WEEKEND

4-6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday, July 3 to Saturday, July 5, VisionQuest Brewery, 2510 47th Ave., Suite A2, Boulder. Free

Looking for more Phish pre- and afterparties? You’ll find it at VisionQuest, a funky little brewery in East Boulder. Enjoy live glass blowing, food trucks, merch and an art market before and after every show this weekend, plus the most eclectic mix of live music: butt rock, y’all-ternative, progressive jam metal, uncut funk and more.

4

JAMMY BUFFETT

2 p.m. Friday, July 4, Wibby Brewing, 209 Emery St., Longmont. $15+

Bust out your flip flops and tie-dye for this jam-and-float 4th of July extravaganza fusing the laid-back stylings of the late Jimmy Buffet with the one and only Grateful Dead. Knock back some awardwinning brews under the sun and drift away in the floating pool as you “let the jam carry you from Margaritaville to the edge of the cosmos.”

4

4TH OF JULY IN JAMESTOWN

8 a.m. to 12 a.m., Friday, July 4, Town Square Park, 117 Main St., Jamestown. Free

Get out of Boulder for a breath of fresh air (and away from the Phish frenzy) for the best day of the year in Jimtown. Start your morning with the pancake breakfast, jam out to an all-day lineup of live music. Stick around to immortalize yourself in the town photo or chop some wood in the town log splitting competition.

4

DONUT HOLE MILE

10 a.m. Friday, July 4, Colorado Tap House, 14982 W 69th Ave. Arvada. $6.30

Like a Beer Mile, but sweeter — and open to the whole family. Eat progressively more donut holes, without the assistance of a drink, at each quartermile marker (1 at 0.25, 2 at 0.5, etc.) for 10 total on this out-and-back 1-mile run/ walk starting and ending at Colorado Tap House. Keep them down or run a penalty lap. Top individual and team finishers get their name of the Wall of Champions! Registration required: bit.ly/DonutHoleMile

4

BOULDER SYMPHONY: 4TH OF JULY

7-9 p.m. Friday, July 4, Boulder Bandshell, 1212 Canyon Blvd. $15 adults | $7.50 youth under 16

Celebrate Independence Day during Boulder Symphony’s fifth annual July shindig at the iconic Boulder Bandshell. This evening of outdoor music includes cinematic scores like Jaws and Back to the Future, along with the work of groundbreaking composer Florence Price — plus food and libations from Rang Tang Craft Barbecue and Cocktail Caravan.

Phish pre-show w/ River Spell

Sweet lillies with elle michelle & brandywine

Phish pre-show

EVENTS

4 –

5

PHANART

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5, Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. Free

What started in 2004 as one man’s determination to create a historical record of Phish has now grown into a national event celebrating jam bands and their unrivaled fans. Join the legacy of music, art and community at this inclusive — no hate allowed! — two-day show of artists and vendors, just a 10-minute walk from Folsom Field on the iconic Uni Hill.

4 – 6

BOULDER JUGGLING FESTIVAL

July 4-6, various times and locations in Boulder. $20 per day for gym access | $50 for full weekend gym access | $25 for show tickets ($15 for children under 12) | Full schedule: bit.ly/JugglingFestBW

Learn the circus arts at this three-day festival dedicated to all things juggle and flow. Join workshops, watch demonstrations, participate in games and contests or party with fellow practitioners of juggling, spinning, unicycling and more. All skill levels welcome. Read our story on p. 16.

6

TINKERFAIR

11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, July 6, TinkerMill MakerSpace, 1840 Delaware Pl Unit A, Longmont. Free

This annual fundraiser supports Longmont’s nonprofit makerspace, keeping their resources — woodshop, laser cutter, ceramics, welding, 3D printers and more — free and open to all. The all-day fair will feature live demonstrations and live music, a silent auction, food from Casa Cortes and a vendor market.

6

LET’S TALK ABOUT PALESTINE

2:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 6, Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. Free ($10 suggested donation)

Boulder Nablus Sister City Project and Boulder Showing up for Racial Justice host this screening and panel discussion surrounding No Other Land, the Oscarwinning documentary from activist and filmmaker Basel Adra. The film documents the destruction of the Masafer Yatta community at the hands of Israel’s ongoing military campaign and occupation, which has killed upward of 54,000 Palestinians (including more than 15,000 children) since October 2023.

7 – 10

MURAL MAKING WITH PATRICK MAXCY

6-8:30 p.m. Monday, July 7 to Thursday, July 10, Thistle Community Gallery at the Bus Stop Apartments, 4871 Broadway, Boulder. $383

Are you a budding artist intimidated by taking your work from the canvas to the outside world? Join this four-day workshop with an experienced muralist to learn scaling, safety and everything else you need to know. Test your technique and Patrick’s tips in real time as you work collaboratively with other participants to create a finished mural.

9

INTRO TO OUTDOOR ROCK CLIMBING

6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, 2100 Flagstaff Road, Boulder. Free

Itching to try outdoor climbing, but afraid to be judged by dirtbag climbers with fingers the size of your biceps? Rope Wranglers is hosting the weekly meetup every Wednesday this summer, with free equipment, experienced climbers and a no judgement zone for beginners, Boulder newbies or anyone looking to make some friends.

LIVE MUSIC

THURSDAY, JULY 3

STUDTMANN CUNNANE P.I. 3 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. Free

TONY CRANK p.m. Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free

BOULDER OLD-TIME JAM

p.m. Trident Cafe, 940 Pearl St., Boulder. Free

PLANNING FOR BURIAL WITH VOLUNTEER CORONER, VERHOFFST AND PATIENCE, OPHELIA. p.m. Hi-Dive, S. Broadway, Denver. $19

HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD (NIGHT 1) 7:30 p.m. Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder. $23

VUDU SUNSHINE 7:30 p.m. Nissi’s, 1455 Coal Creek Drive, Unit T, Lafayette. Free

PHISH (NIGHT 1) 7:30 p.m. Folsom Field, 2400 Colorado Ave., Boulder. $110+ BW PICK OF THE WEEK

THE BAND FEEL WITH THE REGULAR. p.m. Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St., Denver. $21

GALACTIC WITH JELLY JOSEPH. 11:30 p.m. Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. $47

FLYING MOJITO BROS. 11:30 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $20

FRIDAY, JULY 4

JAMMY BUFFETT 2 p.m. Wibby Brewing, 209 Emery St., Longmont. $15

RIVER SPELL 3 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. Free

ANDY THORN & FRIENDS WITH AMMY HARRON AND JASON HICKS p.m. Chipeta Park, 254-306 Lakeview Drive, Nederland. Free

THE JOHN MCKAY BAND p.m. Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free

BOULDER SYMPHONY - JULY 4TH CELEBRATION. p.m. Boulder Bandshell, 1212 Canyon Blvd. $8

PHISH (NIGHT 2) 7:30 p.m. Folsom Field, 2400 Colorado Ave., Boulder. $110+

BW PICK OF THE WEEK

STEELY DEAD. 11:30 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $20

ARC DE SOLEIL. 11:30 p.m. Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. $28

SATURDAY, JULY 5

LUKE HAHN-ZOLLO WITH BRIAN ADAMS AND PAUL MURIN. 3 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. Free

RYAN CHRYS & THE ROUGH CUTS. p.m. Oskar Blues Grill and Brew, 303 Main St., Lyons. Free

QUELLS WITH LOS CRONIES, VIRGIL VIRGIL AND BIG DOOR p.m. Hi-Dive, S. Broadway, Denver. $12

PHISH (NIGHT 3). 7:30 p.m. Folsom Field, 2400 Colorado Ave., Boulder. $110+

BW PICK OF THE WEEK

MAGIC BEANS DO MAGIC WEENS (TRIBUTE TO WEEN) 11:30 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $20

SUNDAY, JULY 6

FRIENDS OF JAZZ JAM SESSION 1 p.m. Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road, Boulder. $12

LIVE MUSIC

ON THE BILL

Duh. It’s Phish. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you already know the iconic jam band is taking over the People’s Republic for a three-night run at CU Boulder’s Folsom Field. But did you know tickets are still available? And that we have tons of Phish pre- and afterparties listed in our event calendar on p. 20? Whether you’re a diehard Phan or just curious what all the commotion is about, this is going to be a weekend for the history books. See listing for details

LOCO UKULELE JAM. 2 p.m.

Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free

HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD (NIGHT 2).

6:30 p.m. Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder. $23

MONDAY, JULY 7

JEFF & PAIGE 5:30 p.m. Chautauqua Park, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder. Free

FRUITION WITH MADELINE HAWTHORNE p.m. eTown Hall, 1535 Spruce St., Boulder. $48

BOULDER CONCERT BAND p.m.

Harlow Patts Park/Viele Lake, 1360 Gillaspie Drive, Boulder. Free

TUESDAY, JULY 8

JACKSON & THE JANKS WITH THE MILK BLOSSOMS AND EL WELK p.m. Hi-Dive, S. Broadway, Denver. $12

FACE VOCAL BAND 7:30 p.m.

Nissi’s, 1455 Coal Creek Drive, Unit T, Lafayette. $35

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9

BANDS ON THE BRICKS p.m. 1300 Block of Pearl, Boulder. Free

MOORS & MCCUMBER p.m. Gold Hill Inn, 401 Main St., Boulder. $34

BRENDAN JAMES WITH STURTZ. 6:30 p.m. Anthem Community Park, 15663 Sheridan Pkwy., Broomfield. Free

TONGUEBYTE WITH IIES AND MACHETE MOUTH. p.m. Hi-Dive, S. Broadway, Denver. $12

BRUCE COCKBURN 7:30 p.m. Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder. $55

GRIFFIN WILLIAM SHERRY p.m. Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St., Denver. $23

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

ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Greek philosopher Socrates declared, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” That extreme statement is a foundational idea of Western philosophy. It’s hard to do! To be ceaselessly devoted to questioning yourself is a demanding assignment. But here’s the good news: I think you will find it extra liberating in the coming weeks. Blessings and luck will flow your way as you challenge your dogmas and expand your worldview. Your humble curiosity will attract just the influences you need.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Recently, I brought an amazing Taurus to your attention: the German polymath Athanasius Kircher, who lived from 1601 to 1680. Once again, I will draw on his life to provide guidance for you. Though he’s relatively unknown today, he was the Leonardo da Vinci of his age — a person with a vast range of interests. His many admirers called him “Master of a Hundred Arts.” He traveled extensively and wrote 40 books that covered a wide array of subjects. For years, he curated a “cabinet of curiosities” or “wonder-room” filled with interesting and mysterious objects. In the coming weeks, I invite you to be inspired by his way of being, Taurus. Be richly miscellaneous and wildly versatile.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): How does a person become a creative genius in their field? What must they do to become the best? In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell said that one way to accomplish these goals is to devote 10,000 hours to practicing and mastering your skill set. There’s some value in that theory, though the full truth is more nuanced. Determined, focused effort that’s guided by mentors and bolstered by good feedback is more crucial than simply logging hours. Having access to essential resources is another necessity. I bring these thoughts to your attention, Gemini, because I believe the coming months will be a favorable time to summon a high level of disciplined devotion as you expedite your journey toward mastery.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): There’s a story from West African tradition in which a potter listens to the raw material she has gathered from the earth. She waits for it to tell her what it wants to become. In this view, the potter is not a dictator but a midwife. I believe this is an excellent metaphor for you, Cancerian. Let’s imagine that you are both the potter and the clay. A new form is ready to emerge, but it won’t respond to force. You must attune to what wants to be born through you. Are you trying to shape your destiny too insistently, when it’s already confiding in you about its preferred shape? Surrender to the conversation.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Here’s my odd but ultimately rewarding invitation: Tune in to the nagging aches and itches that chafe at the bottom of your heart and in the back of your mind. For now, don’t try to scratch them or rub them. Simply observe them and feel them, with curiosity and reverence. Allow them to air their grievances and tell you their truths. Immerse yourself in the feelings they arouse. It may take 10 minutes, or it might take longer, but if you maintain this vigil, your aches and itches will ultimately provide you with smart guidance. They will teach you what questions you need to ask and how to go in quest for the healing answers.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Wise gardeners may plan their planting by the moon’s phases. Through study of the natural world, they understand that seeds sown at the ripe moment will flourish, while those planted at random times may be less hardy. In this spirit, I offer you the following counsel for the coming weeks: Your attention to timing will be a great asset. Before tinkering with projects or making commitments, assess the cycles at play in everything: the level of your life energy, the moods of others, and the tenor of the wider world. By aligning your moves with subtle rhythms, you will optimize your ability to get exactly what you want.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): In parts of Italy, grapevines were once trained not on wires or trellises, but on living trees, usually maples or poplars. The vines spiraled upward, drawing strength and structure from their tall allies. The practice kept grapes off the ground, improved air circulation and allowed for mixed land use, such as growing cereals between the rows of trees and vines. In the coming weeks, Libra, I advise you to be inspired by this phenomenon. Who or what is your living trellis? Rather than pushing forward on your own, align with influences that offer height, grounding and steady companionship. When you spiral upward together, your fruits will be sweeter and more robust.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Migratory monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles, guided by instincts and cues invisible to humans. They trust they will find what they need along the way. Like them, you may soon feel called to venture beyond your comfort zone — intellectually, socially or geographically. I advise you to rely on your curiosity and adaptability. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the journey will lead you to resources and help you hadn’t anticipated. The path may be crooked. The detours could be enigmatic. But if you are committed to enjoying the expansive exploration, you’ll get what you didn’t even know you needed.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Your assignment is to uncover hidden treasures. Use the metaphorical version of your peripheral vision to become aware of valuable stuff you are missing and resources you are neglecting. Here’s another way to imagine your task: There may be situations, relationships or opportunities that have not yet revealed their full power and glory. Now is a perfect moment to discern their pregnant potential. So dig deeper, Sagittarius — through reflection, research or conversation. Trust that your open-hearted, openminded probing will guide you to unexpected gems.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): The legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong said, “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.” What did he mean by that? That we shouldn’t try to use words to describe and understand this complex music? Countless jazz critics, scholars and musicians might disagree with that statement. They have written millions of words analyzing the nature of jazz. In that spirit, I am urging you to devote extra energy in the coming weeks to articulating clear ideas about your best mysteries. Relish the prospect of defining what is hard to define. You can still enjoy the raw experience even as you try to get closer to explaining it.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): In the Andean highlands, there’s a concept called ayni, a venerated principle of reciprocity. “Today for you, tomorrow for me,” it says. This isn’t a transactional deal. It’s a relational expansiveness. People help and support others not because they expect an immediate return. Rather, they trust that life will ultimately find ways to repay them. I suggest you explore this approach in the coming weeks, Aquarius. Experiment with giving freely, without expectation. Conversely, have blithe faith that you will receive what you need. Now is prime time to enhance and fine-tune your web of mutual nourishment.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): How often do I — your calm, sensible counselor — provide you with a carte blanche to indulge in exuberant gratification, a free pass for exciting adventures and a divine authorization to indulge in luxurious abundance and lavish pleasure? Not often, dear Pisces. So I advise you not to spend another minute wondering what to do next. As soon as possible, start claiming full possession of your extra blessings from the gods of joy and celebration and revelry. Here’s your meditation question: What are the best ways to express your lust for life?

Q: What advice do you have for young people who want to have an open conversation with their partners about changing aspects of their sex life to make it more pleasurable with out hurt feelings or awkwardness?

A: What’s more likely to lead to hurt feelings in the long run: a few awkward conversations now that hopefully will lead to better conversations (and sex) in the future? Or avoiding the awkwardness now and eventually reaching a point where the sex isn’t that great so you have it less-and-less until one of you cheats or leaves? Your choice.

Q: Dealing with cultural differences: My boyfriend is Italian and weirdly superstitious; at times, it’s anti-sci ence. Not sure what to do here

A: Keep your mouth shut, your legs open and get that EU passport.

Q: Do you like tighty-whities?

A: What’s not to like?

Q: We’re two late-blooming bi people in monogamous relationship. We have small children. Tips for exploring being bi?

A: Next time grandma babysits, say you’re going to the movies but go to a sex club, or a swingers party, or a mixed queer space, etc. Check it out. Meet some people. Maybe fuck. (Pro tip: Whoever isn’t driving should read the synopsis of the film you “saw” out loud in the car on your way home. You wanna be prepared to answer grandma’s questions.)

Q: Will semen damage your tooth enamel if you swallow and then sleep without brushing again?

A: Have you seen my teeth?

Q: Is it pee?

A: Who cares?

Q: My husband, trans man, died unexpectedly. How do respectfully dispose of his dicks?

A: First, I’m so sorry for your loss. I would put them in a box, tuck them away on a high shelf someplace, and let my heirs worry about what to do with them when my time comes. Again, so sorry for your loss.

SAVAGE LOVE

BY DAN SAVAGE

Q: can’t make plans the way did when was single because of my part ner’s anxiety. What do do?

A: Partnered people can’t make plans the way single people can — you have to take your partner into consideration, you have to check in with your partner, you can’t decide at the last minute to fly to Europe or disappear into a sex dungeon. But while you need to be considerate of your partner and their anxiety, you can’t let their anxiety control you. If you’re never allowed to do anything on your own, or see anyone on your own, or make plans on your own because it makes your partner anxious that’s not a partnership.

Q: hate it when my sub bites me as I’m fucking him, but he’s SO into it. want him to be happy! Do tell him?

A: If he’s your sub, you should be able to order him to knock it off. If you still wanna let him bite you once in a while because it makes him happy, folding his love for biting into your existing D/s dynamic shouldn’t be that hard. Identify something he hates but is willing to endure to please you — kind of like you’ve been willing to endure his biting — and punish him with that thing (flogging? tit clamps? piss?) as his punishment whenever he bites you. But make sure it’s not something he loves to endure, as that would incentivize the biting.

Q: Most overrated public sex location?

A: CPAC.

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

PHISH FOOD

Let the lyrics be your guide to BoCo food and drink

BY JOHN LEHNDORFF

The band Phish will take to Folsom Field for the first time on July 3-5 after years of “Phish Dick’s,” epic three-night stands at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.

True Phishheads know this July weekend is really a homecoming, since the band’s first big Boulder gig was playing Balch Fieldhouse next to the stadium in 1993.

The thousands of fans from across the nation who will turn Boulder tie-dyed may be searching for places to eat, sip and jam. For this kind convergence, we have created a guide to some of Boulder’s cooler taste destinations inspired by the many food and drink references tucked inside Phish song lyrics.

THE COFFEE CYCLE

“So have a cup of coffee and catch your breath” “Fee”

“Gonna take my bike out, gonna take my bike, gonna ride it slowly”

“Let Me Lie”

The Coffee Ride

2516 49th St., Boulder

Start your day off on the right bike path to one of Boulder’s only bike-up coffee windows, The Coffee Ride. The local roastery sources ethically grown beans and delivers the roasted beans by bike to Boulder homes and businesses. Coffee drinks and beans are available to go.

EAT WITH YOUR HANDS

“When we go out to eat, what do do?”

“You Enjoy Myself”

Ras Kassa’s Ethiopian Restaurant

802 S. Public Road, Lafayette

Forget the forks: Chill with a hands-on communal meal at the iconic Ras Kassa’s, off the beaten track in Lafayette. Heartwarming meals at this longtime bastion of Ethiopian cuisine involve grabbing bites of various stews, vegetables and salads using only pieces of spongy injera flatbread.

GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT TACOS

“Could you pass me a taco?” “Mull”

Tierra y Fuego Taqueria

4550 Broadway, Boulder

The Boulder area definitely doesn’t lack for sources of good tacos on Tuesdays and every other day of the week. Tucked away in far North Boulder, Tierra y Fuego dishes authentic Mexican street tacos in the full rainbow of flavors. Stuffings include chicken adobo with mango haba nero salsa, brisket with avocado salsa

and grilled shrimp topped with jalapeño cilantro crema. Our secret favorite, rajas con crema, is lots of roasted poblano chilies with crema.

SIMPLE PLEASURES: SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

“It’s Cadillac rainbows and lots of spaghetti and love meatballs so you better get ready.” “Halley’s Comet”

Gondolier Italian Eatery

4800 Baseline Road, Boulder and 1217 Main St., Longmont

The Gondolier is the kind of red-sauce Italian-American eatery beloved in every college town. Big plates of house-made, thick-cut spaghetti with spicy marinara and meatballs have kept this family eatery cooking since it opened in 1960. You can also get your meatballs tucked inside a hot sub with marinara and provolone and a side of spaghetti.

Lotus Moon

2770 Pearl St. Suite A, Boulder

It was love at first slurp when we sampled the pho at Lotus Moon, a family-owned Vietnamese plant-based restaurant. The surprisingly rich broth is filled with noodles, tender vegetables and shitake mushrooms. Big bowls are topped with five spice “beef” or fried tofu and sided with the classic herbs, chilies and lime as a garnish. Lotus Moon’s vegan banh mi sandwich is a big mouthful of flavor and crunch.

NEW ZEALAND-AMERICAN PIE

“Bake that pie and eat it with me.” “Roses are Free”

Tip

Top Savory Pies

105 N. Public Road, Lafayette

Another Lafayette roadside attraction worth finding is a tiny shop run by a native New Zealander who fills flaky butter pastry with first-class savory (and some sweet) fillings. The pie meals range from the popular ground beef and gravy and steak with

Courtesy: CU Boulder

Courtesy: The Coffee Ride

Courtesy: Ras Kassa’s Ethiopian Restaurant

Tierra Fuego Taqueria has the best tacos in town. Credit: John Lehndorff

Go vegan at Lotus Moon. Credit: John Lehndorff

Tip Top Savory Pies is worth the drive to Lafayette. Credit: John Lehndorff

NIBBLES

MILKSHAKES

COLD AND LONG

“I think saw you in an ice-cream parlor, drinking milkshakes cold and long.” “Five Years”

Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop 1203 Pearl St., Boulder Smack dab in the middle of the Pearl Street Mall is a shrine many Phishheads know well. This landmark Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop famously whips up tall milk shakes and scoops Phish Food, that dreamy fusion of chocolate ice cream, marshmallow and caramel swirls, and fudge fish.

Ben & Jerry’s is literally a cones-throw away from Boulder’s Haagen-Dazs shop, 1148 Pearl St.

Another cooling option is toppings heaven: Ripple Pure Frozen Yogurt, 1682 30th St. The shop is named after a favorite Grateful Dead tune.

IMMERSED IN CHOCOLATE

“Got nothing to eat but this half-melted Snickers.” “My Problem Right There”

Piece, Love & Chocolate

Company

805 Pearl St., Boulder “Immersive” is the description du jour for entertainment experiences ranging from Meow Wolf to Casa Bonita. We’ll take this Boulder West End shop where you walk into a cloud of cacao goodness wafting from all the chocolate bars, drinks, pastries and cakes. Front and center is a counter full of truffles — dark, milk and white chocolate-encased sweet fillings.

For maximum buzz, get a cup of silky sipping chocolate and a dark chocolate truffle.

OUR BEST CORN LIQUOR

“Now drank the last pull from my best corn liquor.” “My Problem Right There”

Boulder Spirits Distillery Tasting Rooms

5311 Western Ave. and 428 Pearl St., Boulder

Phishheads from certain Southern states might be horrified at the suggestion, but the truth is that some of the best bourbon in the world is made in Boulder. Head to the Boulder Spirits tasting rooms to sample the winner of the 2025 World Whiskies Award for World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon. Boulder Spirits’ bourbon is made with 51% corn, 44% malted barley and 5% rye.

OXYGEN

“Don’t deplete my oxygen for the guy who’s turning blue.” “Dog Face Boy”

Tonic Alchemy Lounge

2011 10th St. Boulder

Everybody gets a canula to stick in their nostrils at this quintessential high-altitude retreat. Tonic offers oxygen experiences with various infusions. For instance, mind-clearing Clarity is essential oil of basil, cardamom, rosemary, peppermint, ylang ylang and jasmine.

Guests can also sip on chocolate elixir, a yogini martini, organic fruit kefir or nigori sake. Before the second night at Folsom, some may need a Gecko Rockclimber tincture powered by red ginseng, astragalus, deer antler tips, rehmannia and licorice.

Needless to say, the soundtrack is ambient.

MORE BOULDER EATERIES AND BARS?

To find more great local places to eat and drink, check out the winners of the Boulder Weekly’s reader-voted 2025 Best of Boulder awards: bit.ly/4lvxWBH

John Lehndorff has written about food and music in Colorado since the late 1970s. Comments: nibbles @boulderweekly.com

Courtesy: Boulder Spirits

ON DRUGS

SESH AND SUPPER

Colorado’s first cannabis social club dishes classy apps, flights of pot and zero stigma

BY JOHN LEHNDORFF

We were deep into talking politics and music when I glanced at our table at Cirrus Social Club and noticed the tall glass bong sitting next to the caprese toast and a glass of sparkling water. I had to smile. The experience already seemed so normal that I’d forgotten for a few minutes that this was my first legal “sesh,” i.e., public cannabis consumption.

Open since April in Denver, Cirrus Social Club is one of the first business offering public consumption of cannabis in Colorado.

The lounge blew away any preconceptions I had about what a stoner eatery would look like. Leaving behind the hubbub of Colfax Avenue, we stepped into a well-appointed lobby you would expect at an upscale hotel or club. Gorgeous colordrenched art filled the walls under subdued lighting. A chandelier hung over the grand piano adorned with a huge bouquet of flowers.

We settled into comfortable seats in the middle of the large room. Cozy curtained side booths are available for shy first-timers. Since Cirrus is a dispensary, IDs get

checked a couple of times, but the guests we saw that Sunday afternoon were all well over 21.

The server, cutely named our “Flight Attendant,” did a great job introducing us to the concept and the menu of cannabis strains and ingestion options. She focused on gauging how experienced guests were with cannabis.

Guests can enjoy a bag inflated with their choice of smoke which they can

and sniff the manicured buds. He carefully ground and weighed it and filled the bowls.

For those who don’t want to inhale, edibles in gummy form are available, along with THC infusions for beverages. Newbies can also smoke L’eagle, a “beginners strain” with a low 10% THC. The reported appetite-enhancing effect of cannabis varies greatly from person to person, but Cirrus’ “Munchies & Bev”

inhale a little at a time — similar to sipping a cocktail. We chose a flight of three from the lineup of house strains and a changing menu of premium strains. Like a wine or whiskey list, the menu details the strain and its grower.

A lovely, classy ritual ensued as our Flight Attendant delivered our tall, waterfiltered bong with three bowls, a lighter and two personal mouthpieces. The resident budtender stopped by our table to show off our strains so we could admire

menu is clearly designed to hit you where your cravings live. It’s less a meal than a series of cool tastes to go with your sesh. How many adult lounges offer a buildyour-own artisan PB&J sandwich and a classic cherry-topped ice cream sundae?

We started with well-made caprese toast. Thick-sliced artisan Rebel Bread is topped with high-quality olive oil, fresh basil and tomato, milky fresh mozzarella with a balsamic reduction drizzle. I combined it with a creamy deviled egg.

The chosen strains proved effective, leaving me feeling nicely toasted, not obliterated or ready to nap. As a finisher, we ordered mugs of coffee and cinnamon sugar-coated churros toast with fresh whipped cream.

We appreciated the lack of boozy bar roar; no alcohol is served. And, unlike certain local concert venues, a cloud of second-hand smoke did not hang in the air since Cirrus Social Club is equipped with a powerful HVAC system.

The folks at Cirrus Social Club made it clear that safety is their primary focus, just as it is at every restaurant and bar that serves alcohol in Denver. Their recommendation: Use Uber and Lyft to get there. (Good advice even if you’re not partaking: Parking is hellish in that neighborhood even on a good day.)

Compared to the cost of a good dinner for two with cocktails, Cirrus Social Club is an affordable night out. It’s also the only dispensary in the state where you can sample a strain and then order a quarter ounce to take home.

We sat in that wonderfully comfortable space and knew that Cirrus is the future of cannabis consumption in Colorado. It’s just a matter of time before these social clubs are a part of mainstream life.

John Lehndorff is the food editor of the Boulder Weekly and former dining critic of the Rocky Mountain News.

CIRRUS SOCIAL CLUB. 3200 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, open Thursday through Sunday. Reservations: cirrussocialclub.com

Left: The interior of Cirrus Social Club, Colorado’s first public consumption business, is more like a swanky hotel than a smoker’s lounge. Credit: John Lehndorff; Right: Costs of a smoke-and-snack sesh at Cirrus were comparable to dinner with cocktails. Courtesy: Cirrus Social Club