There is no better way to understand the meaning of Boulder, than to have observed through friendship, the year-long process of foreign exchange student, Matt Dempsey. Dempsey quickly transitioned from “outsider” to “insider,” making his stay here seem short, and his move back home, to Australia, difficult for all the lives he touched in his time here. Having participated in his “Bye Bye Boulder Bash” last week, Dempsey’s imprints on this town remain among us, as well as the impact Boulder has made on him. In the attempt to uncover the heart and core of Boulder, Dempsey’s... Read More

“Do you see what I see? “Do you hear what I hear? Do you know what I know? A song, a song, high above the trees With a voice as big as the sea.” -Adapted from the Christmas song, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” It’s holiday – “holy day”- time, where gratitude is abundant, generosity is expected and the cheerful spirits, endless. One could think an esteemed city like Boulder is expected to “go big,” in regards to its celebrations. Is that how holidays are done? I challenge you to look closer. Part of what makes Boulder best is the silent and unspoken encouragement... Read More

In lieu of the recent current events and with 2015 nearing its end, one might be asking how we can contribute to the maintenance of our safety. What does is mean to feel safe, emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually? What is the impact of one individual? What is our worth on this planet and how do we not get bogged down by the immensity of our capacity to destroy? How do we rise to do our part and respond, instead, with our hearts- to heal, to love, to resolve? Jordan Thomas, a twenty-year old Junior at CU Boulder, majoring in International Affairs, has been president of the Amnesty International... Read More

Art is usually classified as the end result of some creation, innovation, or production of something constructed from nothing. ArtParts Creative Reuse Center, a newly operating nonprofit in Boulder, located just off 28th street, is brilliant in the way it harbors the possibility of art before it is made. Using 100% donation based products, ArtParts is a home of ideas waiting to be thought of, an opportunity for sparks to fly and light bulbs to go off at the sight of a textile; this store is full of game changers, heaven to any type of artist, dreamer, engineer, assembler, student, crafter, innovator,... Read More

With the holiday season in full swing and Starbucks cup controversies aflame, it’s imperative we resort back to the roots of holiday cheer. What is the substance of holiday celebration? What gives us joy? For adults, perhaps it’s family time. For chefs, maybe it’s the abundant seasonal food opportunity. For children, it may be picking out, trying out, and receiving gifts. Regardless, the underlying theme, for any and all age groups, is a playful spirit; that is the gateway to all things grand. Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppe exudes all forms of the word “grand;” grand, meaning... Read More

There is no one bolder than Boulder resident, LGBTQ and mental health advocate, social and political activist, artist, and slam poet Andrea Gibson, who performed at CU’s Glenn Miller Ballroom on November 5th at 7pm. Gibson is nothing short of a warrior, and this homcoming stop on this tour was a gift to every listener in the audience. Embodying the strongest, bravest, and most courageous hearts that inhabit this city, Gibson left few with dry eyes by the end of the set, but left everyone with an opportunity to share free hugs afterwards. Gibson writes what people cannot say and stands as... Read More

Often, we resort our hopes for a better tomorrow on the up-and-coming generation. It may be an accurate and genuine wish, but there’s usually a question regarding how the change will happen and what it will look like, leaving space for us to ignore our own impacts. On October 20th at 5:30pm, the YWCA Community Center of Boulder hosted a “Reading to End Racism” event, targeted at elementary school kids as part of a philosophy and organization called “Raising Little Heroes.” There laid the evidence that will renew the hope we’ve projected onto kids to fill our gaps and fix our... Read More

eTown Hall, an eco-friendly event facility located on Spruce Street, hosted a highly essential Zero Waste Boulder event on Thursday, October 15th, to educate and discuss Boulder’s environmental goals and action steps to becoming a more sustainable community. In the past year, eTown has recycled 127,000 pounds worth of material and 6,800 pounds of compostable items. They have 246 solar panels on their roof to preserve energy use and help pair with other businesses to share their vision of being carbon netural. John “Digger” Pelàez, eTown Director of Operations, sees this mission as a... Read More

She walks onto the stage softly, slowly. She stalls, observing the stadium, an audience of eight thousand animals sitting before her in the crowd. “HOO-HOO-HOO HA-HA!” She speaks, “That is chimpanzee for, ‘hello.’ I bring into this space the voice of the animal.” Eighty-one year old Dr. Jane Goodall spoke at CU’s Coors Event Center on the evening of October 1st at 7:30pm. The largest lecture crowd to date, Dr. Goodall touches upon every prevalent topic of conversation happening today: air pollution, water polution, poverty, animal behavior and morality, Africa, Syria,... Read More

For someone who cannot see, Boulder’s Unseen Bean Coffee Shop owner of twelve years, Gerry Leary, has incredible vision. The art of Leary’s blind roasted coffee production stemmed from a San Fransciscan coffee shop decades ago, upon discovering the foreign noise of a coffee roaster. With greater insight, deep exploration and thorough tutorials, Leary resigned his profession in car mechanics to something he discovered requires merely “a timer and a thermometer to do this right” (Leary). Despite the vast population claiming one must see the color of the bean to produce good, proper... Read More