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Boulder Foothills Face Dangerous Downslope Winds Wednesday. Patio furniture may become airborne and visit your neighbors. Shingles may fly. Here's generally what we know. When the Mountains Exhale:…
Boulder Foothills Fa…
Boulder Foothills Face Dangerous Downslope Winds Wednesday. Patio furniture may become airborne and visit your neighbors. Shingles may fly. Here's generally what we know. When the Mountains Exhale: A Front Range Wind Story: There are days on the Colorado Front Range when the mountains seem to breathe out. Well, more like full blown sneezes. You feel it first as a whisper. Then a shove. Then a sustained push that rattles windows, bends trees, and reminds everyone along the foothills and plains that we live at the edge of something powerful. Wednesday is shaping up to be one of those days.…
Lenny Frieling
December 16, 2025
Face is ready for these holiday shows! Be prepared for a great treat. The holidays are back in Boulder, and Face Vocal Band is ready to ROCK THE HALLS! Feel the power of soaring vocals, bold harm…
Face is ready for th…
Face is ready for these holiday shows! Be prepared for a great treat. The holidays are back in Boulder, and Face Vocal Band is ready to ROCK THE HALLS! Feel the power of soaring vocals, bold harmonies, and reimagined Christmas classics like you’ve never heard them before. This is more than a concert, it’s an a cappella rock spectacular! Bring the crew and let’s light up the season! Together, Face is a Boulder-based a cappella Vocal Band. They've achieved international fame including headlining at Red Rocks. The Boulder-based group is currently doing their Rock The Halls holiday tour…
Lenny Frieling
December 16, 2025
We've recently been treated to shockingly bright and colorful sunsets and sunrises. Last night, 12-14, we were treated to a more subtle banding of red over a blue sky. In the interest of transparency …
We've recently been …
We've recently been treated to shockingly bright and colorful sunsets and sunrises. Last night, 12-14, we were treated to a more subtle banding of red over a blue sky. In the interest of transparency (pun intended) this sunset photo is slightly enhanced to bring out the banding in the red stripes which treated us. The air in front of the front range is known for dangerous flying. A band of updraft follows a band of downdraft and that pattern repeats. Pilots unaware of this phenomenon get caught in a downdraft without knowing that simply moving over can put them into a band of updraft. While …
Lenny Frieling
December 15, 2025
Lensworth here! Still buzzing with Jorma magic! What a show! Next to Boulder, 30 minutes up the road, at the iconic Paramount art deco theater, Jorma Kaukonen played as part of his 85th Birthday tour…
Lensworth here! Stil…
Lensworth here! Still buzzing with Jorma magic! What a show! Next to Boulder, 30 minutes up the road, at the iconic Paramount art deco theater, Jorma Kaukonen played as part of his 85th Birthday tour. Jorma , of Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, and so much more, stepped onto the famed stage and reminded everyone why his name sits so comfortably among the greats. He was joined by friends, including his long-time bass genius partner Jack Casady. Jorma was joined by a band that included fellow musicians who elevated the evening into something truly rare. Among them was Carlos Nakai, widel…
Lenny Frieling
December 14, 2025
Lensworth sunsets here! December Sunsets are always familiar and never the same. They are always uplifting and always shifting. When someone says "hey, look at this sunset," do NOT wait. They chang…
Lensworth sunsets he…
Lensworth sunsets here! December Sunsets are always familiar and never the same. They are always uplifting and always shifting. When someone says "hey, look at this sunset," do NOT wait. They change instant by instant and are part of the reason we need a camera within reach. Phones seem especially great for sunrise and sunset pictures. The lighting on computer screens is also especially good for these glowing photographs. December sunsets never get old. I’ve tried. I go out night after night thinking, “I’ve seen this one before.” And then the sky politely proves me wrong. Th…
Lenny Frieling
December 13, 2025
Let’s talk about that delicate dance between good cheer and good judgment. The holidays bring out the best in us: warmth, music, lights, friends, and the clink of glasses. They also bring out a clas…
Let’s talk about t…
Let’s talk about that delicate dance between good cheer and good judgment. The holidays bring out the best in us: warmth, music, lights, friends, and the clink of glasses. They also bring out a classic seasonal combo that has been tempting fate for generations. Entertainment and alcohol mix easily. Add a touch of cannabis to the blend, and suddenly New Year’s Eve earns its nickname of amateur's night all over again. The risks are real, and the good news is that they’re almost entirely avoidable with a little planning and a bit of Lensworth-style common sense. Start with the drinks we te…
Lenny Frieling
December 12, 2025
Today's Pic of the Day is the Moth Orchid. The genus name is derived from the Greek words phalaina (moth) and opsis (like), as the flowers resemble moths in flight. These orchids are popular housepla…
Today's Pic of the D…
Today's Pic of the Day is the Moth Orchid. The genus name is derived from the Greek words phalaina (moth) and opsis (like), as the flowers resemble moths in flight. These orchids are popular houseplants because they are relatively easy to grow indoors. Their blooms are known for being long-lasting, often for months with proper care. Phalaenopsis orchids are native to tropical and subtropical Asia and northeast Australia. They prefer bright, indirect light and require a special orchid growing medium rather than standard potting soil. The orchid in the image is a Phalaenopsis orc…
Lenny Frieling
December 12, 2025
Debi got Phlash when Debi was 8 years old, Phlash cost $0.25, and was about an inch and a quarter across. Debi has been in continuous companionship with Phlash since then. He is a member of the family…
Debi got Phlash when…
Debi got Phlash when Debi was 8 years old, Phlash cost $0.25, and was about an inch and a quarter across. Debi has been in continuous companionship with Phlash since then. He is a member of the family for decades more than me!!! I consulted with chatGPT AI to see just how old that really is. Here's the response. Guiness here we come. chatGPT: Good morning — and wow, Phlash at 66 years old is truly remarkable! 💚🐢 When it comes to red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans), documented lifespans can vary a lot, but here’s what records show: Oldest reliably recorded red-…
Lenny Frieling
December 11, 2025
Commonly called a "fern wall," the bank of clouds behind the foothills is actually a "Foehn" wall. The name Foehn (German: Föhn, pronounced [ˈføːn]) arose in the Alpine region. Originating from La…
Commonly called a "f…
Commonly called a "fern wall," the bank of clouds behind the foothills is actually a "Foehn" wall. The name Foehn (German: Föhn, pronounced [ˈføːn]) arose in the Alpine region. Originating from Latin (ventus) favonius, a mild west wind of which Favonius was the Roman personification When winds blow over elevated terrain, air forced upwards expands and cools due to the decrease in pressure with height. Since colder air can hold less water vapor, moisture condenses to form clouds and precipitates as rain or snow on the mountain's upwind slopes. The change of state from vapor to liquid water …
Lenny Frieling
December 11, 2025
Lensworth here.Some stories announce themselves the moment you see the expression on the protagonist’s face. This one belonged to a very wet, very unimpressed European starling who had just been plu…
Lensworth here.Some …
Lensworth here.Some stories announce themselves the moment you see the expression on the protagonist’s face. This one belonged to a very wet, very unimpressed European starling who had just been plucked from an accidental dip in a hot tub. If ever a bird mastered the art of the glare, this little survivor had it down cold. Most birds rescued from mishaps arrive looking confused, relieved, or soggy-but-grateful. Not this one. This starling radiated pure indignation. Soaked feathers slicked tight against its tiny frame, beak slightly open in what could only be described as a verbal complaint …
Lenny Frieling
December 10, 2025
Winter sunrises often look shockingly colorful – especially those intense reds glowing against the cold blue of a brightening sky – because several winter-specific conditions line up perfectly to …
Winter sunrises ofte…
Winter sunrises often look shockingly colorful – especially those intense reds glowing against the cold blue of a brightening sky – because several winter-specific conditions line up perfectly to paint the sky more dramatically than at other times of year. That's all fine, but WHY is it so??? Why winter sunrises explode with color: Lower sun angleIn winter the sun rises at a much shallower angle. Its light travels through more of the atmosphere before reaching your eyes. The longer the path, the more blue light gets scattered out, leaving behind deeper reds, pinks, and oranges. Cold, dr…
Lenny Frieling
December 10, 2025
Lensworth here next to Boulder, and what better way to spend a Colorado day than wandering through the warm, living wonderland that is the Broomfield Butterfly Pavilion? If there is one place where cu…
Lensworth here next …
Lensworth here next to Boulder, and what better way to spend a Colorado day than wandering through the warm, living wonderland that is the Broomfield Butterfly Pavilion? If there is one place where curiosity flutters louder than wings, it’s here – especially when the Pavilion is packed with kids. Their reactions are half the show, and sometimes the best part. Walk in the front doors and you can feel it instantly: the mix of humidity, excitement, and the quiet hum of thousands of delicate wings. Kids freeze mid-stride as a blue morpho coasts by, doing that slow, dramatic flap that looks …
Lenny Frieling
December 8, 2025
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.…
Lensworth here. Let�…
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 …
Lenny Frieling
November 27, 2025
Every now and then Boulder, you get to witness something that reaches past the everyday and lands squarely in the category of unforgettable. Spending time with the crew at the Birds of Prey raptor reh…
Every now and then B…
Every now and then Boulder, you get to witness something that reaches past the everyday and lands squarely in the category of unforgettable. Spending time with the crew at the Birds of Prey raptor rehabilitation center is one of those moments. And when the star of the day is a recovering eagle, held with calm confidence by Sigrid Ueblacker, it becomes something more than a visit. It becomes a reminder of our responsibility to the world we share. For those unfamiliar, Birds of Prey exists for one mission: to rescue, treat, rehabilitate, and, whenever possible, return injured raptors back to th…
Lenny Frieling
November 22, 2025
A Thanksgiving Temptation at the Hotel Boulderado Why the allure is real: The nitty gritty of the buffet! The Thanksgiving buffet runs from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day at the H…
A Thanksgiving Tempt…
A Thanksgiving Temptation at the Hotel Boulderado Why the allure is real: The nitty gritty of the buffet! The Thanksgiving buffet runs from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day at the Hotel Boulderado. The menu is VERY promising! Pricing: adult tickets are $85 (children 5-12 at $40, under 5 free) plus tax & service. Location: 2115 13th St., Boulder CO 80302. Hotel Boulderado The setting is beautiful: the so-called “historic mezzanine” dining under the hotel’s stained-glass ceiling, giving a sense of grandeur and comfort. Menu promise: a mix of T…
Lenny Frieling
November 21, 2025
Turkey is one of those remarkable Boulder foods that plays well with almost anything you pour into a glass. That’s why Thanksgiving wine talk is so much fun. There is no wrong answer. Whether you le…
Turkey is one of tho…
Turkey is one of those remarkable Boulder foods that plays well with almost anything you pour into a glass. That’s why Thanksgiving wine talk is so much fun. There is no wrong answer. Whether you lean red, white, rosé, or feel like sabering a bottle of Champagne just for the drama of it, turkey shrugs, smiles, and gets along with them all. Turkey is the friendly neighbor of the food world. The true magic is the plate itself. Turkey is mild. The gravy can be rich. Cranberries are sweet and tangy. Stuffing carries the herbs. Every bite is a different flavor, so one versatile wine tends to sh…
Lenny Frieling
November 19, 2025
Look Outside! It Snowed! It Snowed Concrete! One of the marvels of Boulder and the universe is the movement of the planets. As the earth circles the sun once a year, that thing we call "winter" retur…
Look Outside! It Sno…
Look Outside! It Snowed! It Snowed Concrete! One of the marvels of Boulder and the universe is the movement of the planets. As the earth circles the sun once a year, that thing we call "winter" returns once a year. With is, it snows in Boulder. Sometimes it snows a LOT in Boulder, especially during "up-slope" storms. STOP SHOVELING, BOULDER! It Is A Little Too Soon To Shovel Snow! But it won't last long. It is soon enough to find last year's snow shovel or to start up the snow blower, fill it with gas, and make sure the tire pressures are equal. Don't forget the oil! My mother was a great …
Lenny Frieling
November 16, 2025
Thanksgiving dinner begins long before the turkey meets the table. The first impressions come from the appetizers, those small, friendly promises that something wonderful is about to happen. In the sp…
Thanksgiving dinner …
Thanksgiving dinner begins long before the turkey meets the table. The first impressions come from the appetizers, those small, friendly promises that something wonderful is about to happen. In the spirit of keeping things quick, easy, classic, and a touch playful, here are starters that set the mood, satisfy the grazers, offer a bit of balance to turkey-only dining, and won’t overwhelm you or the feast to come.Avocado BoatsA modern nod to guacamole, but cleaner and faster. Slice ripe avocados in half, remove the pits, and fill each half with a spoonful of pico de gallo or diced tomato, onio…
Lenny Frieling
November 15, 2025
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