Critics’ Picks: Entertainment

Most Boulder-centric event

Hanuman Festival

Hundreds of people come together to practice yoga and listen to new age-y music. Enough said.

Best gathering place

Chautauqua

You know it’s summer, when crowds flock to Chautauqua for some live music and picnics on the lawn.

Best place to escape

Planet Bluegrass

Every summer, we find hope and happiness as we trek up to Lyons and into the Planet Bluegrass compound for a few long weekends of music, sun, beer, dumplings and friends. 500 W Main St., Lyons

Best venue for intimate shows

Fox Theatre

There are shows I see elsewhere, during which I think, “I wish we are at the Fox.” It’s not a glamorous place, not shiny or fancy. But it’s a great venue to see the bands you really want to see, up-close, or bands you’ve never even heard of but that you will soon love. 1135 13th St., Boulder

Best connection to old-timey Boulder

Hotel Boulderado

There is something extraordinary about Colorado’s historic hotels: It’s partially the elegance, but mostly it’s how they so dutifully connect us to our past. The Boulderado sits strong and proud in the bustle of downtown Boulder, doing what it’s done for more than a century: sheltering us, wining and dining us, and giving us an anchor to this place we call home. 2115 13th St., Boulder

Best place to leave your dog

Cottonwood Kennels

It’s hard to say goodbye to your dog, whether it’s a two-day business trip to Denver or a two-week honeymoon in Fiji. But to make it easier, opt for Cottonwood Kennels, which can only be described as the most wonderful place for dogs. It could be the play groups or the heated floors or the fact that chickens and llamas share the grounds with the happy pack of dogs that stay here. 7275 Valmont Rd.,  Boulder

Best modern movie experience

AMC of Westminster

The AMC theater in the Westminster Promenade has the works: a café-like snack bar, serve-yourself sodas (you can add extra flavorings!), deluxe bathrooms and cozy seats. 10655 Westminster Blvd., Westminster