Meet Bongo the Balloon Man. Bongo is a self-taught balloon artist who has been creating masterful balloon animals for the youth of Boulder for over 31 years! You might recognize his familiar face from one of your recent strolls down the Pearl Street Mall as he has had his spot at the Peppercorn storefront for 28 years! Bongo, is a pillar of the Boulder community and epitomizes the culture of this city.  So, cheers to you Bongo and many more years of balloon animals to come.  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

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

Meet Matt.  Matt is a local artist who relocated to Boulder from Austin, Texas last March after a realization sparked a wave of inspiration for his artwork. Matt grew up in Corpus Christie, Texas with two brothers considerably older than himself, which played a crucial role in Matt’s initial plunge into the world of art. Because of the age gap, Matt and his brothers didn’t always have similar interests when he was younger.  So, when his brothers were out on the football field with their friends, Matt would head to the library or arcade to get lost in the world of Todd Mcfarlane’s horror-fantasy... Read More

Whether from your garden, the farmer’s market or the grocery store shelf, fall produce is fresh, seasonal and happening now!  Eating healthy may seem harder come fall, when your favorite summer produce dwindles and the choices seem fewer and, perhaps, unfamiliar. Take advantage of the opportunity and think outside the box in your fall food preparation. Most fall produce can be prepared in a number of tasty ways and all of the produce mentioned here is grown locally. Brussels sprouts are exceptionally rich in protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Sprouts are a good source... Read More

Giving back to a community doesn’t get any more direct than through charity work. It is the hopeful lifeblood, the generous driver of public strength, unity and happiness. Within Boulder there are more amazing charities than you can keep track of, and this week’s Boulder Benefactor has had a hand in many of them. Scott Walker is a Boulder native, the son of a CU professor, and community/charity organizer extraordinaire.  He has been on the board of the Boulder History Museum, served as both chair and co-chair of the Boulder Humane Society, and is currently involved with Boulder’s... 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

In the news yesterday, a UK based research team reported that a massive iceberg weighing more than one trillion tons broke off from western Antarctica. It is bigger than the state of Delaware, and surprisingly (and thankfully) scientists do not believe it will impact sea levels or coastal regions. The ice shelf was already floating before it broke off and therefore there will be no water displacement or sea level rise. Recently, students and professors at the University of Colorado, Boulder have been studying the effects of black carbon on ice and snow in ecosystems around the world. Black carbon... Read More

This week check out the rich harmonies and psychedelic rock sounds of Flash Mountain Flood and Kind Hearted Strangers; get in touch with your adventurous side and hop on one of the many trails at Chautauqua and Settler’s Park. Boulder is busy this week with perfect and endless summer activities, events, and local favorites. With a slow start to the week, check out some of the highlights for later this week here. Wednesday 7/12 Relax, the weekend is almost here; in the meantime why not spend the evening at Chautauqua’s viewing of the 1924 version of Peter Pan? Beginning at 7:30pm until 9:30pm,... Read More

Zach is working for YMCA of the Rockies for the summer. His focus for the YMCA of the Rockies is leadership training and the spiritual community. “I think you should be real with people and not keep secrets,” Zach says on how to live the best life.He currently attends Texas A&M and plans to major in mechanical engineering. Coming from Texas, “Boulder is a cool place, I really like all the small businesses around and can’t wait to check them out!” Zach wants to give a Shoutout to his sister Savannah, Taylor Swift, and Drake (but not the rapper.)  Read More

Monday June 12th Start the week off the right way and head to downtown Boulder’s Bandshell Boogie! Family friendly, casual, and a great place to meet members of the community, this weekly event takes place in Central Park Monday nights from 7:30pm-9pm and is free to attend. With music from across the board, ranging from funk to club to pop, Bandshell Boogie encourages self expression for all with various musical talents constantly providing new experiences. Get out and dance this summer, meet your neighbors, enjoy the long summer nights outside and moving. More information is available at Bandshell... Read More

In a recent study in Boulder, it was found that the city is leading the nation on gender equity. Currently, the national average for women’s wages are 84% of what men make. In Boulder the average is 88%. Boulder is obviously a special city, leading the nation in multiple avenues from preventative measures for climate change to progressive gender equality. This got me thinking about famous women in Boulder and the steps they have taken to catalyze change in their city and nation. If you were lucky enough to visit the Pioneers: Women Artists in Boulder exhibit last year at the Art Museum at... Read More

With the weather heating up and summer vacations vast approaching, this week in Boulder is filled to the brim with events and activities for everyone. Kicking off the week Boulder will host the famous Bolder Boulder 10K run, followed by music by DeadSet Colorado, Joe Johnson Music, and more. Monday will also mark the last day of the Boulder Creek Festival where you can enjoy music from Space Orphan, local foods and craft beer, and so much more. Here are a few of this week’s highlights to get you started: Monday 5/29 Bolder Boulder 10K run kicks off at 6:50am and will conclude around 11:45 am;... Read More

Kirt is a Colorado native, and has lived all around the State, but finds himself coming back to Boulder for multiple reasons. Six years ago he suffered a terrible brain injury, causing him to lose everything. He was living in a tent in Adams County for a while, then found a home with a lady in Lafayette for four and a half years. He started to seek out social security, and was able to get Social Security Disability Insurance in Boulder because of his brain injury. He also found that “people gave me all the help I needed in Boulder.” He is currently living on the streets, but plans... Read More

Meet Abby! Abby came to Boulder from New York for the fresh air and the healthy lifestyle Boulder cultivates; what’s kept her here are the many friends she’s made, the concerts, and her newfound independence. Abby contributes her individuality, independence, and grounded character to her experiences at boarding school, which she attended for five years in Connecticut. “It really made me independent and able to come to college so far away from home,” she says in response to one of the biggest lessons she learned while in boarding school. Currently, Abby attends CU; spending any possible... Read More

Moving to Colorado from Arkansas, Madii is a true to the bone theater gal. Not only has she been able to spend more time with her family, she has also fallen in love with the mountains, Denver, and the theater scene— which says “is not too big, but IS fabulous.” A seamstress by day, Madii spends her free time hiking with friends or out on the town at local pubs, restaurants, and markets. Through crafting and sewing Madii hopes to “help other people’s dreams and visions come true.” On Mother’s Day, Madii is most grateful for all her mom has sacrificed and “this blessed life she has... Read More

Meet Michael! Michael was working for the Avery Brewing Company helping people choose the perfect beer.  Everyone inside and outside the tent was laughing and having a great time, it easily seemed like one of the most fun jobs around. “The hardest part of working in a festival is trying not to indulge in all the fun things that are around you. Self-restraint, I would say.”  Read More

Recently, walking around Boulder and taking in the sites, I’ve noticed an ample amount of street art, most notably drawn/painted/stenciled by SMiLE, an anonymous Boulder artist. SMiLE’s repertoire ranges from portraits of Jack Kerouac and Brad Pitt, to a menagerie of animals, most especially cats. A little less than a year ago SMiLE had an exhibition in Boulder titled ‘Streets to Canvas’, and made a profound statement on the website promoting the event. SMiLE states, “Art has always been in the vanguard of the worlds changing consciousness, and Street Art is the contemporary form of this... Read More

The end of March is already here, and somehow it felt like it went by even quicker than February.  Before we say goodbye to March and head towards the springtime in April, let’s take a look at some last minute events to squeeze in before the month is out.   The Five “Mother Sauces” Cooking Class on March 28th will teach what the bases is for all great sauces.  Hosted at the Food Lab from 6-9pm for $79 per person, this class is the perfect first step for learning how to make any classic sauce on your own.  The five mother sauces being taught are Bechamel, Espagnole, Hollandaise,... Read More

It may be hard to believe there’s only two weeks left in March, although it has been feeling a lot like spring already. In the spirit of the changing season, here are three fresh events for the upcoming week.   Starting off on Tuesday the 21st from 6:30-8:30 is the Courage Club: Relationship addition.  This event, as the name suggests, focuses on improving a relationship in your life, but not just romantic ones.  They will help with relationships of all kinds, such as roommates, family, co-workers, and purely social ones.  This Club will teach you about how fear may be affecting you in... Read More