Let’s take a moment to consider just how much it must suck to be an actor of Middle-Eastern ethnicity in Hollywood. You’ve spent a fortune on headshots, spent even more on acting classes, and you’re ready to tackle the big time. There’s just one problem, and I know you know what it is. Everybody wants you to play a terrorist. Maybe you’re apolitical, and you simply want to tackle some challenging material or star in a Marvel movie. Maybe you believe in representation, and you want to show that a person that originally has roots in the Middle East can play…well…anyone.* But... Read More

Taking a cold shower, unless it is a sweltering hot day, does not sound like a desirable practice. Research, however, shows that those who took a cold shower regularly, took fewer sick days than those who did not. A study from the Netherlands revealed that those who finished their daily showers with 30-, 60- or 90-second blasts of chilly water, were less likely to take a sick day at work. Cold water didn’t keep participants from being sick, but those who took cold showers (roughly 50 degrees Fahrenheit) experienced more mild symptoms and had more energy, which allowed them to power through work... Read More

Spring is in the air, and with warmer weather comes one of my favorite times of year: Farmer’s Market season! If you’ve never shopped at a farmer’s market before, you may not be as excited as I am. Luckily for you, I’m here to tell you why you should be! Get Seasonal The food you buy at farmer’s markets is fresh and local, so the selection changes based on what is ready to harvest. This is a great excuse to try new recipes and eat like our ancestors did. Variation is good for your body and keeps cooking exciting! Support Your Community Farmer’s markets specifically... Read More

I walked in on a spring evening when warm weather had just begun to pop it’s head out. The music was live. A shy young man stood hiding behind his equipment. He shyly glanced towards the audience, hopeful they would listen to him sing. His voice was loud, and his music accompanied his sound filling the speakers. The ambience of the restaurant felt busy and trendy with the live music, and yet the man behind the mic style remained a bit shy with his talent, as his head did little nods to see if anyone was listening. The awning of the restaurant will not lull you in. But shy talented musicians,... Read More

The Denver Nuggets were a mere 4.4 seconds from making the NBA Playoffs.  Nikola Jokic had the ball in his hands and a one-on-one opportunity.  But like a microcosm of the entire season, Jokic and the Nuggets came up just short.  With a 112-106 overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver will have to watch the playoffs from afar as the organization focuses on next year.  Here are five moves that can get us playoff bound in 2018-2019.   1. Do nothing. Okay, almost nothing.  Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Gary Harris made great strides this year.  Under Michael Malone, Denver... Read More

I’m writing this from the great state of Colorado. During my life, I’ve spent time in Texas, Washington, Connecticut, Maryland, and traveled through most of the United States. While I’ve enjoyed a lot of America, I’m partial to Colorado. Can you blame me? Our climate is pleasant with lots of sunny days. We have a wide variety of culinary delights. Outdoorsy activities like skiing, hiking, and rock climbing are close by and plentiful. There’s not much to complain about.* You know what I’m particularly fond of? Our state government frequently does smart stuff. One of my favorites is a... Read More

Americans are still getting fatter. Since 1999, adult obesity has increased from around 30% to almost 38% in 2014. Here are some eye-opening statistics about the health of American adults. About half of all adults get the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Only 3% of Americans meet the definition of a healthy lifestyle: Have a healthy body fat percentage (less than 20% for men and less than 30% for women) Meet exercise recommendations Are non-smokers Score in the top 40% on the Harvard Healthy Eating Index   Obesity is not just an issue for your health.  Obesity as a... Read More

1. Bolder Boulder When: May 28 Where: Downtown Boulder Price: Packages vary, see website for details Get your fitness on at the BolderBoulder annual Memorial Day 10K! This year the race turns 40 years old, so it’s a great time to come for the first time or return for a day of entertainment, exercise, and engagement with the community. Local businesses will be featured at the expo, live music and entertainment will greet you at the finish line; it’s easy to see why this world-recognized community event draws upwards of 50,000 participants each year! Learn more at: http://www.bolderboulder.com/ 2.... Read More

Bats are often portrayed as creatures of horror. They’re popular around Halloween and in Scooby Doo intros, and they don’t spring to mind as being cute or friendly, but Boulder has actually befriended the bat, and now they’re existence in our ecosystem is essential, and they’re proving to be quite a good friend to have. It’s common to see a bat around Colorado, especially in and around Boulder, given our location near to the flat irons, which are an excellent place to be if you are a bat. Though, bats might be more common than you think. 45% of all bat species in the US can be found in... Read More

The excitement of the Avalanche players was contagious as the crowd erupted and the final horn sounded.  With a 5-2 victory over St. Louis in the last game of the regular season, Colorado secured the eighth and final playoff spot in what has been a remarkable turn-around season.  One could forgive the doubters for being skeptical as the Avalanche were coming off a last place, 48-point season in 2016-2017. But now that our Colorado boys have made the playoffs, is there room on that bandwagon for one more?  Even if I admit that Saturday night’s game was the only one I watched all season? It’s... Read More

Let’s avoid all the parking hassle on Pearl St. and still find great ice cream. Heifer and the Hen on 5290 Arapahoe Ave, in Boulder is the place to find just that. Nestled in view of the mountains and perfectly placed for an after dinner options, sits the creamery. A nice young gentleman asked what we wanted and after serving the ice cream proceeded to tell us all the restaurants he was involved in, he worked next door at the Bru, at the ice cream parlor, and was even opening up his own food truck. He was obviously a food connoisseur with great taste, and a strong appetite for food and the culture... Read More

There are many ways to keep it together on the inside. Find ways to be silly, as you keep your sense of humor. Share silly things on your mind with friends and family, so your loved ones have permission to stay silly with you. Life doesn’t have to be serious. A grief counselor friend tells me all the time how silly humans get, when we are literally on our deathbed. It’s not the drugs! It’s the way we come to an understanding that we have been way to serious in our lives, or that our lives are short, so why not laugh. Don’t wait. Be silly now. Silly doesn’t mean you’re disrespectful... Read More

Too many movies take their time when they don’t really need to. For example, I read recently that the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War has a running time of two hours and thirty-six minutes. If you’re a fan of the MCU, that’s probably fine and dandy news. If you’re a casual filmgoer, nearly three hours of superhero shenanigans just might make you want to head for a desolate mountain cave and embrace a life as a hermit. I get it, a story is ultimately as long as it needs to be. Only that’s not always correct. I can think of a few movies I’ve seen over the last couple months that could... Read More

As a young adult, I taught multiple fitness classes and played recreational soccer.  At that time in my life that much physical activity was not only desired, it was a great way to expend my abundant energy.  As I’ve aged, I’ve noticed shifts in my physical activity levels and preferences. You may have noticed that, as you age, your interests have shifted as well. Changes in your activity level and interests are normal. As we age, there are some activities that become more difficult or risky.  For example, if you were a wrestler in your youth, you are not likely able to tolerate the physical... Read More

We as a culture are constantly on the move, and guidebooks or websites aren’t always something we have access to. Apps that help to facilitate our adventures in the great outdoors can be the difference between going and staying home, because they provide helpful information and a more user-friendly interface than old school maps. The problem is that there are hundreds of outdoor apps on the market: so which ones are really worth it? We’ve compiled some pros and cons of five of the most popular outdoor apps to help you be in the know. 1. AllTrails With a catalogue of over 50,000 trails in both... Read More

All I wanted was a warm, melt in your mouth, fresh outta the oven, homemade cookie. It was some twist of fate that I happened to walk into Boulder Baked 1911 Broadway in Boulder. Their cookies were the only thing I came for, and they were well worth every bite. I had been craving a warm cookie for months, but I am far too lazy to make any from scratch. Boulder Baked makes the cookies for you and finding this out was as if the cookie god had heard my prayers. I ordered a double chocolate chip and a peanut butter cookie. I noticed on their menu they had gluten free and vegan cookies, and they also... Read More

On its face, nostalgia isn’t always a bad thing. It can be comforting, the dwelling on people, events, and things in the past, a mental bubble bath that we can slip into with a content smile. Some researchers even believe in the powerful psychological benefits of nostalgia. Hell, the foundation of the Trump campaign and presidency is based in the belief of a better* America of decades ago. Nostalgia has some nasty traps, too. The obvious one is that bygone eras are only great if you happen to be a straight, white guy. For literally everyone else, it sucks pretty hard. Worse yet is that nostalgia... Read More

There’s a very strong connection between cardiovascular health—the health of your heart and circulatory system—and the health of your brain, so it makes sense that a longitudinal study of women indicated that those with the highest levels of cardiovascular fitness had an 88% lower risk for dementia. About 5.4 million people in the United States are estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. The Swedish study involved 191 women in Sweden, 38 to 60 years old, who completed an evaluation of their cardiovascular fitness. The women’s workload... Read More

While the saying “it’s about the journey, not the destination” is definitely a good one to take to heart, it’s not always 100% true; especially when the destination is a waterfall. We’ve found five waterfall hikes near Boulder that will really make you excited about the destination. 5. Alberta Falls Located in Rocky Mountain National Park, these falls are some of the easiest to reach at the end of a gently rolling 1.7-mile roundtrip loop. Take the kids for a picnic by these scenic falls, dip your feet in the snowmelt, and snap a selfie with the cascading water in the background. 4. Bridal... Read More

Like sipping a cold microbrew in the cheap seats at Coors Field, I can still taste the success of last year’s Colorado Rockies.  With a 87-75 record and our first playoff game in almost ten years, Spring couldn’t come soon enough.  I doubted the Monfort family, I didn’t want to “trust the process”, but the organization proved me wrong.  The 2018 Rockies brought almost everyone back and even opened up their wallet to sign the top reliever in baseball, Wade Davis, to a huge contract. Blake Street is booming, roof top bars are stocking up, kids are dusting off their gloves, but there’s... Read More