The Bolder Life: Fall Out of the Boulder Bubble

Sometimes, I feel like the “Boulder Bubble” actually physically exists. I get a little antsy, and my hearts beats a little faster when I approach Boulder city limits. I get lost in neighboring cities. It’s really quite ridiculous. But sometimes, venturing out of one’s comfort zone can lead to some pretty amazing places—places that might just be located just beyond your own backyard and are perfect for spending a fall dat.

Just a stone’s throw from Boulder lays the tiny town of Niwot, and my new favorite place to spend a weekend afternoon. With fall in full swing, the town, named after Arapaho tribal leader Chief Niwot, is a bustling hub for brunch lovers, and coffee sippers, sidewalk strollers and small town loving folks that enjoy a break from city life and the simplicity of small town living.

I recently fell in line with those folks on a crispy, sunny fall day that started with a trip to the Red Wagon Organic Farm (located a few miles south of Niwot), where I snagged some pretty perfect pumpkins straight off the vine. I found a short and chubby pumpkin perfect for carving the CU Buffs logo into to show my support for my team during this difficult, frustrating period of rebuilding…
After getting my farm fix, I moseyed over to Niwot for a private event in which I was able to taste a sampling of the cuisine being offered up by local restaurants. I tasted a roasted pumpkin spaetzle by Niwot Market’s chef, Justin Hirschfield that was nothing short of the perfect combination of creaminess and spices complete with toasted pumpkin seeds. I devoured a juicy Kobe beef slider with horseradish, Havarti cheese and arugula whipped up by the Garden Gate Café, and I cleared my sinuses after eating some flavorful French Vietnamese chicken wings from Trepedda’s. And perhaps the best part of meal was washing everything down with some expertly paired beers from Niwot’s newest craft beer hang out, Bootstrap Brewing.

I had paid Bootstrap a visit a few days after they opened and was pleasantly surprised by the quality product that first time brewery owners Steve and Leslie Kaczeus were pumping out. Now in their 4th month of existence, the crew at Bootstrap, which includes former Pumphouse Brewery brewer, Dave Mentus, has improved their initial line-up of beers and are successfully venturing into the creative specialty brews territory. Recent specialty/seasonal offerings include a merlot-aged Boomer Brown Ale, and Oktoberfestbier, a Mo-Mentus Fresh Hopped Imperial Amber, and my favorite— a pumpkin beer. It isn’t officially fall without a good ol’ pumpkin beer, and the Punkin’ Ale at Bootstrap will definitely hit the spot.

So tear through that Boulder bubble and spend a little time enjoying the remainder of fall in Niwot style.