Lensworth here. Let’s spin a holiday yarn worthy of the Boulderado. Boulder’s grand old hotel does many things well, but nothing signals the season quite like the arrival of its Christmas tree. For roughly thirty-five years, the Boulderado has welcomed a giant evergreen as the centerpiece of its holiday spirit. This is no ordinary tree. It comes from a New Mexico tree farm, chosen for symmetry, fullness, and the ability to look spectacular when dwarfed by nothing less than the five-story historic lobby. When the tree arrives, there is no dignified upright roll-in. Instead, the first sight guests often get is the pine giant lying on its side while decorators climb ladders to reach the top third. The top third is decorated while the tree is still on its side.   The lobby grandfather clock is placed in the lobby to set off the view of the tree behemoth. Once the higher branches are complete, the tree is carefully raised into position and secured. The lobby transforms instantly. Visitors look up from the vintage tile floor, past the balconies and original woodwork, and see the evergreen brushing against the stained glass ceiling. The next photo belongs here: the ladder and the decorators mid-process, capturing the old-school, elbow-grease approach that keeps the Boulderado grounded in its roots. The timing is no accident. The Boulderado prepares the tree just as the Thanksgiving buffet nears. It’s the unofficial kickoff to Boulder’s holiday season. Guests arriving for turkey, prime rib, and pumpkin pie get to witness the first glow of the lights reflecting off the stained glass. Insert your clock picture here, a nod to the timelessness of the lobby and its traditions. The finishing touch belongs at the end: a pair of sunset photos. They close the story in Lensworth fashion, setting the Boulderado’s brilliant interior against Boulder’s equally brilliant skies. That juxtaposition reminds us that the tree, the ceiling, the buffet, and the history all exist in one place that has been part of our town’s rhythm for well over a century.   Another Boulderado holiday begins. And as always, shared knowledge is power! Lenny Lensworth Frieling