“Why do I love Boulder? Because it’s so diverse. You have rich white people dressed as rich white people, poor white people dressed as rich white people, rich white people dressed as poor white people, and poor white people dressed like poor white people.” The crowd that surrounds Sam Malcolm on Pearl Street Mall laughs and awkwardly observes the throng of people swarming by. Sam grew up on a Paiute reservation in Nevada. He came to Boulder in 2009 to pursue juggling and street performing. With torches in hands, Sam does death defying feats of juggling, and keeps the crowd laughing with... Read More

Keith didn’t think he was going to make it to the summit of the flatirons. He’s from Pennsylvania, but made the trip out to Boulder so he could visit a friend. Keith was worried that hiking mountains that are already a mile high would prove to be difficult. He was especially worried about getting altitude sickness and suffering through horrible headaches – which have been a problem for him in the past. After hearing stories from friends and family that have visited, he was expecting to be out of breath and in need of oxygen almost immediately. But, on the contrary, he found it much easier... Read More

Meet Amy Lynn Herman. She is a lover of crowds, resourceful creative and a bonafide foodie. An event professional by trade, she has a passion for creating experiences that inspire people to pursue their wildest dreams. Amy Lynn is a deep listener – clearly motivated by personal growth and authentic relationships. She is currently working on a place-making civic art project that uses a white-label app as its framework to create a network of dynamic social interactions.  Read More

With the holidays over, we figured we should refresh our minds with something different today. Boulder has a very interesting architectural history, especially the university campus. We will touch on some defining Boulder architectural projects which you have probably seen around town. Next time you’re out and about, maybe you’ll encounter some of these oh-so-Boulder building projects. The University Campus Of course we cannot skim Boulder’s architectural past without bringing up the University of Colorado campus. It began with the all-brick Old Main and soon grew into several... Read More

In the spirit of Halloween we are going to detail a few of the haunted places around Boulder. If you dread the macabre, or a haunting close to home is too much for you, there is still time to turn back. At 646 Pearl Street you’ll find the beautiful Arnett-Fullen house. The house was built in 1877 by Willamette Arnett, heir to Anthony Arnett, one of Boulder Land and Trust Company’s founders. Many admire the fusion of architectural styles the house displays. It incorporates Gothic, Victorian, and farmhouse aesthetics. It may also hold a few souls in its walls. Willamette Arnett burned... Read More

One of the most popular hiking trails in Boulder is Mount Sanitas, and like many hiking areas, Mount Sanitas gives hikers options for creating the perfect hike. It also, like many other local hiking trails is only a few minutes out of town, but gives one the illusion that he/she is out in the wilderness far away from city life. Because of the trail’s popularity, one will most likely encounter other hikers, making Sanitas a great option for those new to solo hiking. Here are some options when hiking Sanitas: The Loop – This is the most difficult of the options for it involves a steep ascent... Read More

CU Boulder has educated 18 astronauts. For some, their studies were for post-graduate research and others sought a Bachelor’s degree. All of these people were nestled in the shadow of the Flatirons preparing for the greatest journey an earthling can make. Though some never returned from the brink of the cosmos. The astronauts of CU Boulder in alphabetical order: Loren Acton, Patrick Baudry (CNES), Vance D. Brand, Scott Carpenter (Project Mercury), Kalapana Chawla (Columbia), Takeo Doi, Samuel T. Durrance, John Herrington, Richard Hieb, Marsha Ivins, John M. Lounge, George Nelson, Ellison... Read More

This title question, and the more general “Why a buffalo for a mascot?” answered below. Time to brush up on Buff history. Ralphie is the female buffalo mascot for CU Boulder. But why does this female buffalo sport a male name? And why did CU choose a bison mascot in the first place? The tradition began in 1934 when the university newspaper selected “Buffaloes” as the nickname for the university students. Three weeks later, a few students paid a rancher $25 to rent a bison calf and a cowboy to handle her. The calf had to be managed by all 4 students plus the ranch hand... Read More

You will learn how Boulder’s iconic Flatirons formed. Turns out, Boulder was once beachfront property. The Flatirons are Boulder’s favorite portion of the Fountain Formation, a geological formation of mostly red sandstone. This sandstone, more appropriately called “arkose” gets its color from the pinkish feldspar contained it it. This red rock makes up the Red Rocks of Morrison and the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The Fountain Formation stretches from Colorado Springs all the way to Wyoming. The reddish color is due to the concentration of feldspar in the sandstone,... Read More

For this edition of The Faces of Boulder we captured the essence of a CU-Boulder football game day. From frat parties, to families, to Folsom Field, the AboutBoulder team came together to create this special edition that shows CU team pride and a whole lot of Saturday fun. Enjoy the pictures, keep thinking about how you want to get involved with this project and above all, GO BUFFS!                                              Read More

One of the most common pieces of advice a Boulderite will give to a new resident is “Go check out the Dushanbe Teahouse,” but what’s so special about a teahouse? Well, ours was handcrafted in Tajikistan during the Cold War, and kindly shipped by our sister city of Dushanbe. The rebuilding of the teahouse in Boulder was an awesome accomplishment which nearly did not happen. The idea of a sister city or twin town developed from the Cold War following WWII. The point was to form legal and social bonds between disparate cultures, and even promote relationships between former enemies.... Read More

Josephine Antoine This fair Boulderite was beloved for her incredible rise to fame as a Metropolitan Opera star. After completing her education in Boulder, Antoine went on to earn a Master’s at the Julliard School of Music in NYC. Before her first national appearance, she received a telegram from the mayor of Boulder reading: “Every citizen sends you love and good wishes for your performance tomorrow.” She was a success, and sang the lead in 14 Metropolitan Opera productions. Her singing was featured on national radio stations, and she returned to Boulder to perform at the Colorado... Read More

You can find the same business models in all major cities, but the real interests of a community can only be unearthed by digging through their non-profit and/or nongovernmental organizations. Here are a few of Boulder’s which we felt touched on some key interests of this city as a whole. Boulder’s BCycle AboutBoulder has a 3 year history with BCycle, and for good reason. This NGO brought “bikeshare” to Boulder. They now have 39 stations around the city with a fleet of 275 bikes. Simply buy a pass and you’ll get access to unlimited 30-minute bike rental sessions until the pass expires.... Read More

FDGD is USA Today’s #5 Cultural festival in the country as of 2015. With a Facebook following around 12k and an annual turnout that consumes 50k in merchandise, 100 kegs, 100 cases of beer, and 9k in liquor drinks, things can get wild. We’re here to help you navigate the festival like a pro and get the most bang for any buck you spend. Many of the best events are free anyway! So why should this festival be on your bucket list? We asked a few people at 2016’s FDGD to find out: “I’m from Kansas and my buddies in Colorado said I had to cone this year. They told me... Read More

When oddly specific things become public problems, local legislation steps in to help. Today we will look at a few odds and ends Boulder city laws had to smooth out over the years. Hopefully we will boost today’s water cooler conversations. Nobody Owns Fifi Dogs in Boulder do not have “owners” according to any public ordinances. You can only be the “guardian” of a dog. This law requiring all public signage to call dog owners “guardians” is the result of animal rights activist calling for reform in the rhetoric surrounding pet relationships. It’s... Read More

We can’t say for sure if being in Boulder makes you a better or more successful person, but these celebrities from our fair city lend some credibility to the notion. And since we aren’t a gossip site, these won’t all be film and TV stars. We are showing you real people from Boulder who did, and are doing, interesting and popular things with their lives. 3OH!3 Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte make up the electronica group 3OH!3, which received national success with their song “Don’t Trust Me”. They gained even more attention when they collaborated with Ke$ha... Read More

I would like to start off my first assignment with a kind suggestion, be polite to your budtender. You never know, it might make that bag a little heavier. We are nice people, we have similar interests as you, we are stoked to live in Colorado, and we have a cool job so finding us in a good mood is common. We work in an industry where our customers bring in tons of positive energy and are happy to spend their money, where else do you find that? We enjoy talking to new people about the subtle differences in cannabis, the possibilities of cannabidiol (CBD), and we would love for you to ask every... Read More

As you may have heard, Boulder County’s most recent emergency warning systems test was Monday evening. Boulder’s flood season stretches from April through August, and that means the emergency warning systems need to be tested regularly. Flash floods are no joke, but neither are the 30+ sirens of Boulder County’s outdoor warning system. Following World War II most cities and towns in the United States incorporated siren alarm systems for civil defense. These were originally intended to warn civilians of impending air raids, hence the colloquial term “air raid sirens”.... Read More

  The summer might be coming to an end but that does not mean the fun has to. With endless art to explore and craft beer to taste, Boulder will be alive as ever this week. Wednesday 8/16 Think outside the box and join the Boulder International Fringe Festival for unhurried art, live music, performance art, and more. With multiple events at various locations around Boulder—from Trident Booksellers on Pearl st to Pine St Sanctuary, there will be surely something for everyone. For event information and ticket purchase click Here. Join Selasee & the Fafa Family in celebrating the last Bands... Read More

  Tuesday 8/1 Get out and move it tonight at 7pm for Boulder’s weekly Folk Dancing on the Plaza. Free to the public and located next to the Dushanbe Teahouse, join your community for some lighthearted all around fun. Wednesday 8/2 Seasonal and weekly favorites like the Boulder Farmers Market (4pm-8pm) and Bands on Bricks (5:30pm-9pm) will guarantee a pleasant midweek day and night. Friday 8/4 Today marks the start of Downtown Boulder’s Summer Sidewalk sale. Running from today though Sunday Aug. 6th, join local vendors and merchants for some amazing summer steals and deals. For more details... Read More