The Bolder Life: Movies, Music and More!

Last year, the Boulder International Film Festival brought heartthrob, James Franco to the streets of downtown Boulder —and although you definitely won’t be finding the famous actors attending this year’s festival on the cover of People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive issue, you get a chance to catch a glimpse of Will Flanders’ real-life doppelganger, and get the opportunity to chat with the man that taught Charlie Sheen how to win.

BIFF (Boulder International Film Festival) kicks off tonight at 6 p.m. with the Colorado Film Society’s Opening Night Gala, followed by three days of films, workshops and events including A Conversation with William H. Macy at 7:15 pm at the Boulder Theater on Friday, and A Conversation with Martin Sheen at the same location at 2:30 p.m. the following day.  Click here for a complete schedule of the festival. Ticket prices range from $10 to $25 and discounts for students are available.

If music is more your thing, then check out these popular live bands playing Boulder County venues this weekend. Kick off your Friday night with some rockin’ blues by crowd favorite, the Johnny O Band at Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids —or keep it mellow at Waterloo in Louisville with the sweet sounds of the Idlewhile Band as they keep you entertained with a unique blend of folk, pop, country and bluegrass music brought to you by a group of incredibly talented musicians.

If you’re like a very good friend of mine, reaching adulthood didn’t really phase that childhood obsession you had with trains. If this sounds like you, then check out the 15^th Annual Rails on the Rockies happening February 18-19 at the Conference Center in Estes Park. This working exhibit includes a variety of types of model trains roaring along model railroad rails. This is a kid-friendly event where children under the age of 12 get in for free, and can operate some of the model trains themselves! Admission is $5 per person and exhibit hours for the show run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

And if you’re just plain nuts, like most of the wacky members of the Lyons Polar Bear Club, then you’ll probably be jumping in the freezing February waters of the Boulder Reservoir this Saturday for the Boulder Polar Plunge! If you’re interested in “freezing for a reason”, then visit this info page, sign up a team and pledge a donation! Plungers are encouraged to dress in their craziest garb and all teams are eligible to win prizes and invited to get warm at the after party. The money raised for this event will benefit the Special Olympics of Colorado, and if you’re like me, and enjoy keeping your feet on dry land, then register yourself as a chicken, make your donation, put on your warmest down jacket and cheer on the those crazy people taking the Boulder Polar Plunge.