Shred or die.” That’s the saying Kyle Mendenhall, executive chef for the collection of The Kitchen Community restaurants, engraved on a silver tasting spoon—an heirloom from his grandmother.

I feel pretty confident giving an ingredient challenge to any chef with a utensil like that—which is how Mendenhall ended up with a Valentine’s Day-inspired ingredient,   not all too familiear to chefs in the land-locked state of Colorado: oysters.

It’s a solid base for so many Valentine’s Day dishes because of its sultry status as a popular aphrodisiac and the overall extravagance of the ingredient.

I called chef Mendenhall one afternoon to give him his challenge, and 24 hours later, I was sitting in the sun-filled, easy-going dining room of The Kitchen Boulder, savoring an elegant oyster quenelle. Champagne and heavy cream sauce. Topped with bits of red apple texture, blanaced by a touch of lemon. And then a complementary glass of Champagne to ease the rich, delicious dish.

By Mendenhall’s definition, a quenelle is “old school French cooking.” A mix of flour, butter, eggs, milk and fish, all mixed together and poached to create a delicate mousse perfect for anyone looking to discover what it truly means to indulge.

“When we serve oysters here, we serve them raw on the half-shell,” Mendenhall said when I asked him what elements made the dish challenging. “The real hard work is in sourcing the [ingredients], where they come from, and the quality of it,” which for Mendenhall, meant taking those quality, fresh ingredients that are the lifeline for The Kitchens’ rustic-style cooking and dressing them up to the nines. But it worked. The oyster juice added into the quenelle mixture and the whole oysters folded in created a strong, but not overpowering flavor for
the dish.

The quality ingredients used in any menu item, regardless of how it’s prepared, is what makes a delightful dining experience at any one of The Kitchen Community’s three downtown Boulder restaurants; but the possibility of a decadent dish such as chef Mendenhall’s oyster quenelles is what really makes it special. Then again, I’d expect nothing less from a chef with an engraved tasting spoon.

The Kitchen is located at 1039 Pearl St., Boulder. thekitchencommunity.com.  

The post Challenging Element: Oysters appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Finally—Valentine’s Day is over which means we can all hang our pink shirts back up in our closets, put the construction paper and glue sticks away until next year, and go back to focusing on all of the other awesome events happening in the area this week.

If your big Valentine’s Day gesture didn’t leave you completely broke, then you should definitely check out these upcoming events. From a big time film event, to live music, anniversary celebrations, shopping, and much more; here’s a few can’t-miss events happening this weekend!

Boulder International Film Festival
Thursday, February 14- Sunday, February 17
In its 9^th year, the Boulder International Film Festival is one of Boulder’s most beloved events. BIFF festivities kicked off last night and tickets are still on sale for a handful of films and events going for the duration of the festival. For a full schedule of events, click here.

Interstate Stash Express @ Spirit Hound Distillers
Saturday, February 16
One of my favorite local bands is playing at one of my favorite local distilleries. If you haven’t been to Spirit Hound Distillers in Lyons, this weekend is the perfect time for your first trip! They’re producing some killer products right now, and if you ask nicely, I’m sure they’ll give you a tour of the room where the magic happens… in handcrafted stills. Amazing. Check here for more info.

Tasty Weasel 4 Year Anniversary Party!
Saturday, February 16
It seems like just yesterday that the folks at Oskar Blues moved their brewery to Longmont and opened up one of the most popular tap rooms in the area. Help the local craft beer makers celebrate their 4-year anniversary with live music, food trucks, a special keg tapping, and skeeball. Oskar Blues knows how to celebrate an anniversary in style, so click here for more info, and don’t miss this event!

Downtown Boulder Mid-Winter Sidewalk Sale
Saturday, February 16-Monday, February 18
Shopping. Who doesn’t love shopping, especially on the quirky Pearl St. Mall in Boulder. Starting tomorrow, through Monday, participating businesses in downtown Boulder are offering ridiculous discounts—some as ridiculous at 75% off!  Click here for a full list of participating retailers and discounts offered.

The post The Bolder Life: Film, Parties, Shopping and More! appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The Estes Park Winter Festival is this weekend!

Tonight marks the kick-off of one of my favorite festivals in Colorado and with a weekend of beautiful weather ahead, you can be sure that I’ll be making the trip to beautiful Estes Park to sample some craft brews, taste some chili and mac & cheese, and listen to some live music.

Get cozy in the heated, indoor pavilion at the Stanley Park Fairgrounds for the Ceilidh Barn Dance from 7-midnight tonight and enjoy Folk and Irish music by Mulligan Stew, s’mores and hot cocoa for $4, Colorado micro-brews for $5 and $5 Colorado wine and distillery beverages all night. Sounds like a foot-stomping good time.

But Saturday and Sunday are the festival days when the real magic happens. Sample craft beer and wine from Colorado breweries and wineries as well as chili and mac & cheese by some of the best cooks around. Mac & cheese and beer are two of my favorite things.

And there’s live music. This year, the soulful, country-American fused band, Coyote Grace will be headlining the festival with a slew of other local performers jumping on the stage throughout the weekend.

Plus there’s plenty of fun stuff for the kids, like a petting zoo, tobogganing, and a giant snow globe.

Entry into Friday night’s shenanigans is free.

Daily cost for Saturday and/or Sunday is $5 for ages 4-9, $10 for ages 10 and up, and $30 for all you can taste wine and beer.

Click here for a full schedule of events as this perfectly hometowny festival at the entryway to the Rockies.

The post The Bolder Life: The Estes Park Winter Festival is this weekend! appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

When it comes to New Year’s Eve plans, I’ve pretty much done it all. I’ve done the house party bit. I’ve made reservations at absurdly over-priced restaurants. I’ve donned the little black dress and strappy heels and shivered my way through the cold, all for a glittery party hat and a complimentary glass of champagne at: an art gallery, a club, a bar, a hotel, a museum, my mother’s house… You name it and I’ve done it; which is why my previous plans for December 31, 2012 included sweat pants, fuzzy slippers and Ryan Seacrest. (Listen… don’t judge me.)

I was perfectly content with my asleep-before-midnight, leftovers-for-dinner, warm-socks-with-comfy-footwear NYE plans, until my friend told me about a local band playing a New Year’s Eve show at the Hi-Dive in Denver—he even sent over a few songs from the band’s debut album, A Royal Battle, to really seal the deal.

That band is the Strange Americans, and they rock; there’s no doubt about it. The 6-piece Denver band classify themselves as Americana—which to me translates to an authentic road band that blends old fashioned honky-tonk music with bits of rock-and-roll all topped off with meaningful lyrics that transcend multiple eras.

I’m a country girl, and this type of alt-country music is kind of my thing.

Listening to the Strange Americans downloadable album this week made me crave a night filled with cowboy boots and Jack Daniels—two things I’ve never worn or drank on New Year’s Eve. I’ve also never rung in a brand new year while dancing along to  live music—so you can see how I was so easily coerced out of my fuzzy slippers funk.

Lately this band has been getting a ton of buzz in the prestigious Denver music scene, and you can expect to hear a mix of music this NYE that will have you and your New Year’s date breaking it down on the dance floor and tightly shuffling along together for an intimate slow dance in between Jack Daniels breaks at the bar.

The guys that make up the band are incredibly talented and genuine and their strong harmonies and appearances by the eerily soulful B-3 electric organ, the harmonica and the mandolin really take their music from really good, to really great.

Tickets are only $8 and are still available for the Strange Americans (featuring Face Man and the Outlet) New Year’s Eve show at the Hi-Dive, but they’re going fast—so dust off your cowboy boots and click this link to buy yours now. Doors open at 8:30 p.m., show starts at 9:30 p.m.

And if you’re plagued by the thought of leaving the Boulder County bubble (I’m not judging), but you look good in cowboy boots, occasionally consume whiskey, and you’re sad that Boulder County doesn’t have a true honky-tonk venue, but you’re really intrigued to hear what a less weathered version of Lucero blended with the unique sounds of a band like the Lumineers resembles—then you’re in luck. The Strange Americans are playing at Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids in Longmont on Saturday, December 29^th. Show starts at 8:00 p.m.

I know, I know—you don’t even have to say it, I already know—and you’re welcome.

Have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve, y’all.

The post The Bolder Life: Ringing in the New Year with some Strange Americans appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Pecan pies, brownies, pumpkin pies, red and green cakes with sprinkles, and those tasty little sugar cookies—all cutesied up like Frosty the Snow Man or Jolly Old Saint Nick. Delicious. I’ve never been one to obsess about sweets, but I can guarantee that when I’m filling up my Christmas-themed plate with juicy turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, and sweet potatoes, topped with mounds of giant marshmallows—the imminent dessert course is always in the back of my mind.

Now baking during the holidays is hard. Baking in general is fairly difficult for me, so I’ve heeded the pleas from, well, pretty much anyone who has tried my baking recently, and I’ve started leaving the holiday baking in the capable hands of my favorite bakeries. Yep, the cat’s out of the bag folks, I’m a crummy baker—you can’t be good at everything. Lately, my go-to bakery that delivers a great product with the authenticity of a home-cooked treat is Sugar Bean Bakery. Sugar Bean is an up-and-coming bakery in the Denver Metro area and they’re serving up just about everything from create-your-own-flavor-combination cupcakes, to specialty cakes, to a slew of cookie, brownie and bar options. Sugar Bean is even whipping up breakfast treats like muffins, scones, coffee cakes and some delightfully gooey cinnamon rolls—all perfect items to have on hand for seasonal guests that will soon be filling your house. The New Year will bring a storefront location in Thorton for Peggy Seubert and Kyndra Aragon, the mother and daughter team that run the bakery, and while the ladies of Sugar Bean Bakery look forward to finishing up construction on their retail location, they continue to stay busy operating their business as real life Sugar Fairies. As long as you’re in the Front Range/Denver area, Sugar Bean will deliver your favorite sweets to you. Just place your order online, and it’s like magic. Before you know it, you’ll be accidently “breaking” sugar cookies (which are unfit to serve) and sneaking tiny bites of flaky crust off of the pecan pie. I’ve even been known to sneak a taste of Sugar Bean’s not-too-sweet frosting off of the side of a cake which usually leads to guilt and me doing my best Martha Stewart impression to try to cover up my crime which typically leads to me make a bigger mess out of the cake. Go ahead and laugh, but don’t act like it’s never happened to you.

So whether you’re a fantastic baker and short on time, or are in the business of pretending like you can actually baked edible goods, give Sugar Bean Bakery a call. They added the perfect touch of sweetness to my Thanksgiving and I’m sure they’ll make you the most popular person at your Christmas table—behind the person that brought the wine, of course!

*Sugar Bean Bakery will be taking orders for Christmas until December 23^rd.  

The post The Bolder Life: The Sweet Life appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

There’s a lot going on around the Boulder County area recently. CU’s football program is a disaster—which really isn’t new news, however head coach John Embree was released from his position last week, stirring up some more drama for the team. Mother Nature hates Christmas and is straight up boycotting the holiday by not producing any snow and keeping temps around the 60s. There’s a bunch of professional football players from Australia wandering around in fairly short shorts in Boulder as part of a 2-week high-altitude training.

So much going on. So let’s catch up a little. Here’s what you need to know to be in the know this week:
• It was just announced that G. Love & Special Sauce will be paying a trip to the Boulder Theater on Friday, March 15th. Tickets go on sale on December 14th, and will definitely sell-out quickly. Add it to your calendar.
• Spirit Hound Distillery in Lyons kicked off what they hope to be many, many more years of business last week and are serving up specialty drinks made with house-made vodka, gin and the very lethal Richardo’s Never Clear – Decaf Liquor. Stop into the cozy tasting room this weekend and check them out.
• Oskar Blues is opening yet another business. Seriously guys? We’re still reeling from the last announcement! Keep an eye out for the new CHUBurger burger joint to open in Longmont next year. OB is promising tasty burgers with grass-fed beef from their Hops and Heifers farm as well as frosty shakes made with craft beer.
• The CU Buffs football program is… what it is—but the Buff’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams are kicking butt! Both teams are riding high this week after defeating in-state nemesis, the CSU Rams. Tickets prices are increasing and aren’t as easy to come by this season, due to the success of both teams, so check their schedule here, and make sure you catch a game this season.
• Bingo is cool again—well, at least I think so. I’ll be at The Bingo Mine this Saturday with my collection of troll dolls and different colored dobbers trying to win some big bucks while spending some quality time with my family. Sure, you’re laughing now, but I’ll get the last laugh when I steal the $75 grand prize away from an elderly woman by winning a game of black out.

And that is what you need to know to be in the know.

The post The Bolder Life: In the Know appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

In Boulder, Christmas comes a little early for foodies, and if you haven’t already plotted out and participated in the first few days of First Bite Boulder, don’t worry—you still have time to fulfill your food fantasies.

First Bite Boulder continues through Saturday, and there’s still time to make reservations. The menu at John’s Restaurant is ridiculous. Laudisio’s is serving up some creamy gnocchi that’s to die for, and chances are you’ll love anything coming out of Colterra’s kitchen! Nearly 50 Boulder (and restaurants in neighboring cities) are participating in First Bite Boulder and offering up three-course menus for $26 per person. It’s really amazing. Be sure to make a reservation, like, yesterday—and ask about special wine pairings!

Other events happening in Boulder County this weekend:

Oskar Blues is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their bustling brewery with a huge party in the Oskar Blues Barn at their Lyons location—the place where is all started. The music line-up includes nationally touring singer-songwriter, the White Buffalo; the Lyons-based Interstate Stash Express, and singer-songwriter, Erik Oftedahl. The music alone is enough get you interested, but OB will also be serving up a collaboration beer with brewing brothers, Ska Brewing. Click here for more info.

Downtown Boulder is Switching on the Holidays on Sunday. Take a trip to the bricks a watch Boulder’s beloved Pearl Street light up the Christmas lights for the first time this season. Listen to the Boulder Chorale, do a little ice skating, and ask St. Nick if you landed yourself on the naughty or nice list this year. Throw in some hot chocolate and you’ll be the epitome of the Christmas Spirit.

Saturday, November 17th marks the last day of the Boulder County Farmers’ Markets. Get out the Boulder and Longmont locations, support local, and stock up on some fresh veggies and supplies for a Thanksgiving feast before it’s too late.

And be sure to do a ton of eating this weekend. Practice makes perfect, and no time like the present to bust out your stretchy eatin’ pants and do a trail run for the big day!

Happy Weekend-ing!

The post The Bolder Life: Weekend Love appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

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.

The post The Bolder Life: Fall Out of the Boulder Bubble appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Since the frozen yogurt boom of the 1980s, fro-yo shops have become a dime-a-dozen in the United States and seem to hold a pretty constant place in the hearts of Boulderites as shops dedicated to this frozen treat continue to pop up in local business developments and all around the streets of Boulder.

It seems like when it comes to frozen treats, frozen yogurt takes the cake…

But when Twirl opened up their doors in the spring of 2012, they didn’t just open up the doors to yet another frozen yogurt shop in Boulder, they opened up the doors of an inviting community gathering place and they opened up doors of opportunity to local students and teens as well.

Located just a few blocks northwest of Boulder High School, Twirl Boulder – Frozen Yogurt and Beyond, offers a selection self-serve, all-natural frozen yogurt with a kid-in-a-candy-store selection of organic toppings and unlike most other frozen yogurt shops, Twirl also offers lattes and other coffee drinks as well as filling food– for the people, by the people, in the form of comfort menu items like cheeseburger sliders and grilled cheese. Mmm… grilled cheese.

At Twirl, the fro-yo flavors, topping choices, menu items and just about every other decision in the shop are made by members of the Student Advisory Council, a group of students that work closely with the Twirl owners and staff to make Twirl a safe and fun environment, filled with their favorite food items and activities—you know, the kind of place that every parent hopes their kid heads to once the school bell rings.

The community concept of the shop stems from owners Ken and Robin Luff and was developed from a combination of their passion for helping and supporting their community, and the realization that their growing sons lacked a comfortable, fun—yet safe place that they could hang out at after school. The décor of the place is very student-friendly and includes the Purple Lounge which has a TV, X-Box games and a karaoke machine available for use by all and can also be reserved by not only students, but members of the community as well. And the best part? It’s free. Fun really is free at Twirl, and although they aren’t just giving out their fabulous frozen yogurt and food, they are offering super cheap meal deals for students and low prices for everyone else.

And if this place doesn’t already sound pretty awesome, Twirl’s street cred was elevated by making an appearance on a trip to Mt. Everest and the DNC in its short existence. The Twirl flag that made the trek up the highest mountain on earth is framed and proudly hangs in the Twirl lobby—and Robin, a proud Obama supporter, and a group of students hosting a DNC watch party at Twirl were featured on the big screen at the Democratic National Convention earlier this year.

If that isn’t cool, then I guess I just don’t know what cool is.

Stop by Twirl Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on the weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. And if you’re a student and interested in joining the Student Advisory Council, just stop in and chat with Robin. She’ll give you all the info that you need it’ll be a great excuse to pick up some tasty frozen yogurt.

The post The Bolder Life: Twirl brings tasty fro-yo to the Boulder community appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Boulder is a city run on innovation, creativity, forward-thinking and a collective desire to create a healthy and happy community for those who inhabit it.

This city has become a mecca for entrepreneurs that pave new paths and solidify Boulder as the ‘it’ place for start-ups and people with trailblazing attitudes.

It truly is amazing and inspiring, and this weekend brings an event back to Boulder that embodies and endorses that exact trailblazing/creative spirit that thrives in the area.

TEDxBoulder is back. This Saturday, September 22nd, TEDxBoulder returns to its digs at Macky Auditorium on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. This year’s theme is “Edges and Experiences” and the list of speakers scheduled for their 20 minutes of fame is top-notch and includes everyone from successful writers, to advertising folks, to firefighters and even a talk by TEDxBoulder organizer, Andrew Hyde. On top of the impressive collection of credentials and accolades attached to this year’s speakers, the third annual TEDxBoulder will also feature live musical performances by a grammy-winning singer songwriter whose work is featured in the hit movie Juno, and a 13-year-old singer songwriter that has already made a name for herself on the main stage at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Impressed yet? How ‘bout intrigued?

If you aren’t familiar with TED, then get familiar here and learn all about the origins and growth of this 28-year-old non-profit “devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading”. TEDx events, such as TEDxBoulder, are independently organized events by the community for the community and have become a melting pot for topics all across the board including but not limited to: technology, entertainment, and design.

Tickets for the main event are still on sale and available here. Doors open at 4 pm, show starts at 5 pm and the event is scheduled to run until 9 pm. Remaining tickets range from $25 to $35 in price depending on the seating location within the venue. No matter which section of the auditorium you end up in, you’ll still be rubbing elbows with somewhere around 2,000 TED enthusiasts throughout the evening.

Since you’ll already be in the area, I suggest an early evening dinner or late night cocktails at Café Aion, located just across the street from Macky Auditorium on the ever entertaining University Hill. You can find their menu here. The place is kind of to-die-for. Super charming, tasty food, and hand-crafted cocktails that will make you forget you’re sitting a stones throw from a campus that has repeatedly found its way on the list of  top ten party schools in the nation.

Don’t pass up this opportunity to get to know TED– you’ll be glad you did.

The post The Bolder Life: X marks the spot – TEDxBoulder returns for a third year appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

One year ago today, I was laid up, and severely drugged up, nestled in a fort of pillows and sipping on Cherry 7-Up at my parent’s house after having my third ACL/meniscus repair and my fifth knee surgery overall.

It was terrible.

It was the worst recovery that I’d ever experienced, and I can’t even express with words the type of depression that came with complete immobility and the loss of the active person that I had spent the past twenty-six years of my life as.

I was pretty devastated, and after spending a month on crutches, I spent a solid chunk of the rest of the year focusing on the little things, like walking, and completing deviating away from the activities that used to bring a giant smile over my face on a daily basis. I became a couch potato and a self-proclaimed work-a-holic. I started painting and writing more, and I made up every excuse in the book to remain a stationary object and avoid any situation that might once again result in a hospital stay.

I was scared, and I easily could have continued on that path without any cares—but the problem is—I live in Boulder. You can’t cross the street without dodging a cyclist or a runner or someone voluntarily walking home from work or the grocery store.

As soon as I got the doctor’s clearance to ease back in to being a functioning member of the fit Boulder society again, I jumped feet first back into everything. I woke up early on the weekends and went hiking. I bought a mountain bike, name her Liv, and collected some scrapes and bruises on the trails. I started playing softball again and I steered my road bike, Lilly, all over Boulder County. I found that part of me that had been lost for the past year, renewed the definition in my muscles and begged my lungs to help me through numerous heart-racing events.

After spending the last year moving mountains in my own way, it seemed fitting to finally end my summer by finally doing it for real. It was time partake in a timeless Colorado tradition by waking up before dawn and dragging myself up a 14er; and not just any 14er, but Long’s Peak—which at 14,259 feet towers over the Front Range. Go big or go home, right?

I hit the trailhead at 4 a.m., an hour behind the recommended start time, which meant that the trailhead parking lot was completely full, but parking was quickly found just down the road.

I couldn’t wait. I geared up, tightened the laces on my hiking boots, turned my head lamp on, took one last look at the trail map, and along with my best friend, took the first step of the 12 hour, 15-mile round trip climb to the summit. The complete darkness for the first two hours of the climb made the brilliant half-moon and blanket of starts even more spectacular.
Occasional breaks in the tree tops framed a scenic sky that stopped us in our tracks, mouths agape, appreciating life more than once. The first part of the climb was quiet, and so peaceful. The silence on the side of mountain at 4 a.m. is unlike anything else—it grabs your heart and squeezes it a little, but the steady sea of moving lights from headlamps along the mountainside make you feel completely safe—and like you’re part of something. Being part of something like that eases your worries and encourages your feet to keep moving forward.

Like clockwork, the sun greeted us with the most powerful performance that I’d ever seen. It chose a color of red that couldn’t even be found in a Crayola box to brush the sky with before taking its rightful place above us.
The next five hours were spent testing the strength of the new ligaments in my knee and pulling myself up and over rocks of just about every size. After a short break at the Keyhole to take in the view and catch our breaths, we made our way through the Narrows to the Trough (where I nearly found myself back at the bottom of the Trough at the hands of falling boulder) before eventually taking in the breathtaking view at the top.

My head has truly been in the clouds ever since.

Having my feet firmly planted on the ground just hasn’t been the same. I notice Long’s Peak all of the time now. I can feel it watching over me like we’re old friends.

Bluebird skies and perfect weather made this trip possible, and there’s still time for you to conquer this massive beast of a mountain before the weather makes  It’s definitely a challenge, and not anything to be taken lightly. It sounds silly, but it’s important to show some respect for the mountain and come prepared. Gloves, a hat, proper layers and my down jacket made the experience so much better for me.

So go move your own mountain. And if you’re not quite up for climbing a Class 3 14er right out of the gate, then check out this detailed list of other 14ers in Colorado.

The view from the top is something you will never, ever forget.

The post The Bolder Life: Moving Mountains appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

President Obama spoke on the CU Boulder campus on Sunday and made quite an impression on the large crowd that packed themselves together like sardines to hear some hopeful words about the future from the current president. Though Obama has obviously been making more headlines than usual lately, chalked up to the election season, he’s also making headlines for joining the 1,000,000 folks that are estimated to brew their own beer at home. In response to an online petition started on the whitehouse.gov website, the official recipes for two of Obama’s favorite homebrews were released. If there are there are three things you should know about the POTUS, it’s that he supports gay marriage, (which is awesome for my many friends that are truly waiting for equal rights), he’s really forgiving when people spill yogurt on his pants, and he really likes honey. Like, he really likes honey. Obama is putting honey from his wife’s White House garden in Brown Ales, Porters, and Blonde beers.

The word on the street is that although some people are skeptical about some of political promises Obama has made in his time, his homebrews really deliver. Even top U.S. Cicerones have deemed them tasty and avid homebrewers are busy scrambling to re-create the famous recipes.

The good news for us Boulder County folks is that we have a fantastic homebrew supply store right in our backyard.
The Hop to It! homebrew store has always been on my radar, but until my recent purchase of a homebrew kit from their shop, I haven’t really been inside. Now—like many other homebrewers, I’m addicted. While I wasn’t as well received or acknowledged in the store as my male counter-part homebrewers, I was still set up with a decent starter kit and sent on my merry way—encouraged to go forth and join the ranks of local homebrewers everywhere.

So whether you’re so inspired by the President’s homebrew antics, or simply looking to outdo his own personal homebrew, Hop to It! In Boulder is the place to go.

Here’s a print-out of the President’s recently released homebrews.

Print ‘em out. Take them by Hop to It! They’ll fix you up. You’ll be brewing like the President in no time.

C lick here for a link to the recipe and instructions for brewing up The White House Honey Brown, and The White House Honey Porter.

The post The Bolder Life: Everybody Homebrews… appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Dating. Is hard. And unlike a fine wine, it doesn’t get any better with age. Lately I’ve been hitting the dating scene a little harder than usual. I’m mostly in the market for a reliable date to be my plus one at the weddings of all of my engaged friends so I don’t have to deal with the awkward conversation that inevitably comes from the token single guy that gets assigned to sit next to me—the poor token single girl.

Dating takes a lot of patience. I curled my hair, put on deodorant, wore lipstick and only cursed three times on my last date—which I’d say was pretty successful on my end. Aside from watching my language, I also have to tone down the number of times I mention my adorable dog and work hard to stop treating a silent moment in the conversation as a challenge to see who can fill it first.

I might be a little ridiculous as a date, but when it comes to figuring out what to do on the perfect date, I’m not half-bad.

So this one’s dedicated to the token single people at the random guest table hidden in the back of wedding receptions everywhere. May these date ideas provide you with good conversation, and run just long enough to give you an out if you should need one!

Prospect Eats Food Truck Party
I used to be a picky eater, and would only order salad on dates (which can be justified but is kind of a no-no, girls). Now I’m just an indecisive eater and I freeze up when asked what kind of food I’m in the mood for. So—to avoid debating on which restaurant to go to, why not stop by the Prospect Food Truck party on Monday nights? Not only is there a variety of food and a little something for everyone, but it’s outdoors, and there’s live music. And if the date is going exceptionally poorly, there aren’t any walls to stop you from making a beeline for it when your date gets up to use the restroom.

Boulder Outdoor Cinema
This is one of my new favorite things to do in Boulder. Unfortunately, this Friday is the last time you can catch a movie in the parking lot behind the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Boulder. This Saturday’s flick is Pulp Fiction—which, unless you date hates Quentin Tarantino movies should work out fairly well and provide some good first date conversation. Grab some food to go from one of downtown Boulder’s tasty restaurants, a six-pack of some good craft beer or a bottle of wine and post up in the parking lot for dinner (and live music) before the show. Be sure to get there early, because the place fills up quickly, and don’t forget to bring your own chair. I mean, how embarrassing would it be if you had to sit on the ground…

Lyons Fork Beer Dinner
The Great American Beer Festival is coming up, and while I wouldn’t recommend attending the festival with a first date, for obvious reasons, I would recommend hitting up local beer events happening at breweries and beer bars near you. This year, the Lyons Fork is hosting a Maui Brewing beer dinner with 5-courses of amazing food expertly paired with craft brews from the Maui Brewing Co. Wear your cutest eating pants because no matter how polite and well-mannered you try to be, the food and beer at this event will be too good to leave sitting at the table.

Farmers’ Market Date
Yes, farmers’ market dates are a little cliché and borderline too cute, but if the date starts to go south, you can always use your newly purchased groceries as an excuse to go home. And if you go to the farmers’ market in old town Louisville, and the date doesn’t suck, you can always keep it going by heading over to Lucky Pie for a tasty cold beverage or make a trip to Sweet Cow if it’s not an appropriate hour to be drinking beer, or if desserts are just more you thing. Either way, farmers’ market dates are a good way to go.

The post The Bolder Life: The Dating Life appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Volunteering can be fun, and rewarding, and really good for chalking up a few points in the karma column. Becoming an avid volunteer is a lot like finding a good pair of shoes. Sometimes you have try on a few pairs until you find the right fit. And sometimes, the karmic rewards of your good deeds are immediate; like getting a free beer or meal for volunteering your time. Or getting an access pass to a fun festival, free of charge.

The Boulder area has a few fun festivals and events coming up that benefit local non-profit groups and will be a great opportunity to test the volunteer waters and rack up a few good citizen points.

I’ve listed a few upcoming volunteer opportunities below, but keep an eye out for volunteer needs at your favorite events. Couldn’t get festival tickets? Check the volunteer options. Can’t afford it? Check the volunteer options. Who knows, you might even get a free t-shirt out of it, and everyone loves a free t-shirt.

Truck It 2!! Food Truck Party!
August 24 | Gateway Fun Center
Yes! So Boulder jumped on the food truck party bandwagon a few months ago and are back for round two this Friday at the Gateway Fun Center Park in Boulder. Proceeds from all beer sales of this event will be donated to Parenting Place, so even buying a brew will get you a few karma points. However, if you won’t bonus karma points, sign up for the 7-10 p.m. volunteer shift and get your volunteer on while you assist the event organizers and support your community. Word on the street is there might be some instant karmic rewards for those who sign up…

USA Pro Cycling Challenge\
August 20-26th | Colorful Colorado
The USA Pro Challenge is underway and if you’re a huge cycling fan, or just want to see what all of the fuss is about, then sign up to volunteer as a course marshal or help out with other needs of this exciting local bike race. Even if you’re not interested in volunteering, but are intrigued about this race, check out this website. It’s a really fun way to stay up to date on all of the cycling action.

Boulder Creek Hometown Festival
September 1-3 | Downtown Boulder
Just as the Boulder Creek Festival welcomes summer to the Boulder area, the Boulder Creek Hometown Festival is a sign of summers end. This “homey”, local festival is filled with fun for the whole family and is a great way to bid summer farewell at the events beautiful downtown Boulder location. Like the Boulder Creek Fest, this festival draws in a lot of visitors, and volunteers are always needed. Sign up here, and do some good for the community. You were planning on going anyway, right? So why not donate a few hours of your time and help make this festival great.

The post The Bolder Life: Good deed, good karma appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Some people find happiness at the bottom of a giant bowl of triple fudge ice cream. Others define happiness by the amount of extra zeros on their paycheck. For me, happiness is a cool mountain breeze, the taste of a perfectly roasted marshmallow and the feeling you get when you reach the top of whatever mountain you’re trying to climb.

I love Colorado.

I can’t get enough. I load up my car with campfire grub, hiking and biking gear, and some good ol’ canned craft beer and head west on the weekends. Lately, “west” has meant a long and winding drive on I-70 to the Glenwood Springs area. I’m not sure what it is, but I seem to have found my summer in the red canyons of this sulfurous town.

Last weekend, I found myself soaked in water, helping guide a raft down the Shoshone rapids on the Colorado River. Two weekends ago I was on the seat of my mountain bike, Liv, cruising alongside the Colorado River and soaking in the beauty and stories of the majestic canyon walls.

Although it’s about a three-and-a-half hour drive from the Boulder area to Glenwood Springs, it’s totally worth it for a little weekend vacay. For those of you looking to blow the city limits and climb some mountains of your own, I suggest loading up a car and heading to the land of the hot springs. And while you’re there, you should probably check the following places out:

1.) The Hotel Colorado
Whether you’re staying at this (haunted) hotel or not, be sure to at least tour the main floor and check out all of the portraits and stories of the famous guests that have roamed the grounds before you. And while you’re there, grab a seat on the charming outdoor porch for a nice dinner or a wild west-themed cocktail from the bar. The smell of the fresh mountain air mixed with the old-timey, relaxing atmosphere found at dusk is a must-do for your mini-vacay.

2.) Hanging Lake
Nature’s first infinity pool. The trail head for this 1.2 mile hike is found just outside of Glenwood Springs and is well worth the 3 hour round trip hike. Pictures and words can’t even begin to capture the beauty of this National Landmark. After a steep hike through the canyons off of I-70 you are rewarded with a lake with water so clear, pictures taken from above the lake look as if they were shot underwater. It’s exceptional. And there’s also a waterfall—sprouting from the center of a canyon wall. It’s unbelievable. But get there early because the small parking lot at the trail head typically fills up by 8:30 a.m. and the trail becomes inundated with families and tourists willing their  sea-level lungs and shaky legs to get them a glimpse of this scenic wonder.

3.) Glenwood Hot Springs
I feel a little obligated to add this to the list since it’s kind of the main tourist attraction for this city. Swimming at this historic destination has been said to cure what ails you with at least fifteen minerals working in harmony to rejuvenate your mind and body. The Ute Indians were the first people to take advantage of Glenwood Springs healing waters, and now the pool stays jam-packed with visitors looking to gain the same benefits. As with most tourist attractions in this area, get there early to avoid battling major crowds.

4.) Rafting on the Colorado River
For the past twenty-seven years of my life, I’ve been more of a land-dweller and less of a water baby, so when I came across a Living Social deal for some beginner white water rafting offered by the Colorado Adventure Center, I jumped in head first. This is how I found myself sitting in the back of a raft cruising through the cool waters of the Colorado River last weekend. Although I did sign up for the beginner trip, I was hoping for a little more action and little more splashing coming from hardcore rapids and not the clumsy lady struggling to paddle in front of me. The company offers a few different options, including kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding, and this stretch of the river currently offers some of the best water for water babies in Colorado due to the lack of rain across the state.

5.) Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
As we were calmly coasting along an easy stretch of the river, our rafting guide pointed towards the sky to something swaying back and forth over the canyons edge. It turned out to be a swing, full of people that voluntarily got on the Glenwood Canyon Swing ride at the Caverns Adventure Park. Whoa. The hair on my arms stand up just thinking about hanging thousands of feet in the air over the side of a canyon. But if you’re the adventurous type, this ride is must-do. For others, like myself, that like to keep their feet on the ground, check out the cave tours. Not only is it an opportunity to learn the history of Glenwood, but you’ll get some exercise in and also get some killer views of the city as well.

6.) Four Mile Road Camping
On my first visit to Glenwood Springs, I stayed in a hotel and did a little late-night drinking at the Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co. (and other various watering holes around town) before I switched gears and moved on to camping at Turquoise Lake outside of Leadville on my way back to civilization. Last weekend, I arrived in Glenwood, seeking tips from locals on campsites semi-close to town. Turns out—there really aren’t any. But if you’re looking to spend some time in the great outdoors along with partaking in activities found inside of the Glenwood Springs city limits, camping off of Four Mile Road about 45 minutes outside of town is the place to go. Exploring a tip from our rafting guide, we made our way into the mountains and set up camp underneath a sky filled with stars… and an owl’s nest. You win some and you lose some. Nothing beats the way the sleepy sun highlighted every leaf, flower and blade of grass as it climbed its own mountains early the next morning.

**Mini Mountain Vacays are super fun! but traffic on I-70 isn’t! Be sure to plan accordingly and avoid eastbound 1-70 from noon-7:00 p.m. if you can.

The post The Bolder Life: Happiness Is… appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Sing it with me now!

In the words of Rebecca Black, it’s Friday, Friday, Friday—and I think we’re all pretty thankful for that.

With the weekend creeping up around the corner and the end of summer nearing, I’ve already entered warm-weather-is-ending panic mode which naturally mean that I have a Colorado weekend full of rafting, mountains, hiking, beer-drinking and camping planned. I’m leaving cell service behind and heading to the mountains to enjoy the rest of summer to the fullest! I was so excited about my weekend vacay that I’ve already packed up the car, grilled up some campfire grub and filled up the cooler—I—am ready to go. Which means my Friday night just freed up a little!
So I’m gonna paint the town red tonight! Well, I have an early morning, so I’ll probably paint the town more of a pretty pink color, but you get the idea. Here are three places you’ll probably find me this Friday, Friday, Friday…

Boulder Outdoor Cinema
The Boulder Outdoor Cinema exists, which is great, but ridiculous that I just figure out that there’s an outdoor theater in Boulder. Tonight, there’s a true classic showing at the Boulder Outdoor Theater which is located in the lot behind the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Jurassic Park is playing. I know. You just got so excited! Catch some tunes by 80’s cover band, the Goonies before the show, bring your own comfy seat and snacks, and enjoy a warm summer evening at the movies.

Avery Brewing Co.
At 5:00 p.m. today, Avery is tapping and servings up the 15%er, Mephistopheles. This tasty stout sounds like the perfect way to end the week!

Lucky’s Market Food Truck Friday
Comida and the Sweet Cow food trucks will be at Lucky’s Market from 5:30-7:30 p.m. tonight with live music by Holly and the Husbands on the Lucky’s Market patio. I’ve been craving some Comida comida lately, so you can bet I’ll be at this Friday night party.

The post The Bolder Life: Friday, Friday, Friday… appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Food trucks are all the rage in Boulder County these days. They’re everywhere. They set up shop in busy office parks during lunch and feed grateful and hungry patrons outside of restaurant-less breweries—they even make special appearances at weddings!

I love food trucks. And the variety and quality of food coming out of these mobile foodie joints continues to fascinate me every day. My favorite thing about food trucks in the Boulder County area, is the fact that they occasionally join forces to form one big, awesome, outdoor “restaurant” with a little something for everyone– including dessert.

I just love it.

So here’s the scoop. Whether they’re rolling solo or traveling in packs, here are a few tips on tracking down your favorite mini restaurant on the move.

1.)    Social Media. Let’s be real—even my pops and my grandma have a Facebook page these days. Follow your favorite food trucks on Facebook and Twitter to find out when they’ll be serving up some delicious grub near you.

2.)    Tap Rooms. I’ve eaten tacos from the Verde Truck at Upslope, grilled cheese from the Bone Wagon truck outside of the Oskar Blues brewery and pizza from the Ablaze food truck at Asher Brewing. Food trucks are also pulling up at Bootstrap Brewing in Niwot and Left Hand Brewing in Longmont. Food trucks and tap rooms are a match made in tasty heaven.

3.)    Prospect Eats. The original food truck meet-up. I was first introduced to the world of super friendly food trucks working in unison to provide the fair people of Boulder County with a variety of dinner options last summer when I dragged a friend of mine to a park in Prospect to find out what all of the buzz was about. I ate an appetizer from one truck, dinner from another, and I finished my meal off with a killer cupcake from the Tasterie Truck and some live music on a beautiful Colorado night. Find trucks like Top of the Hill Grill, the Salt Food Box, and the Heirloom Truck every Monday night through the end of September from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Prospect Park.

4.)     Lucky’s Market. Lucky’s recently started a little neighborhood gathering on Friday nights outside of their store where they feed hungry folks fresh food from the market and it’s also where you’re likely to find healthy food from the RollinGreens truck as well as tasty desserts from Louisville’s Sweet Cow Moo Mobile. It’s definitely worth checking out this event since some of the hottest local bands are playing there.

5.)    Vista Ridge Food Truck Party & Gunbarrel Commons Food Truck Party. Food trucks are in such high demand these days that they are throwing parties in local neighborhoods bringing a whole new meaning to “delivery food”. Check out the Vista Ridge Food Truck Party in Erie on Tuesday nights and stop by the Gunbarrel Commons Food Truck Party on Wednesday nights. Food trucks really are taking over the world—one neighborhood at a time.

6.) Truck It 2! Not too long ago, Boulder finally jumped on board with the whole food truck party idea and threw a giant bash complete with local craft beer and live music at the Gateway Fun Center in north Boulder. It was such a huge hit that round two is happening on August 24^thfrom 4-9 p.m. at the same location. Enjoy beer from Avery and Twisted Pine. Play a few rounds of putt putt or some volleyball, listen to some live music and nosh on food from the Sesame Seed Truck, Crock Spot and the Cheese Louise truck. The first Truck It! event in Boulder was packed, so bring two wheels or walk if you can, because parking will fill up fast!

The post The Bolder Life: Food Truck Roundup appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

I know, I know—every week in Colorado is the week of good beer.

But seriously—there are some great events going on the rest of this week, concocted and hosted by some of  your favorite local breweries.

Check out these interesting events, and don’t forget that tickets for the daddy of all beer events go on sale tomorrow! Get your Great American Beer Festival tickets here starting at 10:00 a.m. Tickets go fast, so don’t miss out!

Wednesday, August 1st | 6 p.m.
Book Signing of “Mountain Brew: A Guide to Colorado’s Breweries”
Twisted Pine Brewery Tap Room
Author Ed Sealove wrote a book about two of my favorite things: craft beer and Colorado. Ed will be signing copies of his book which is filled with all the info you need to know about every brewery in Colorado. Sealove spent two years touring breweries and this in-depth book is full of good info and  is the perfect gift for the beer lover in your life. Pick up a copy of the book and grab a brew in at the Twisted Pine tap room today.

Thursday, August 2nd | 5-9 p.m.
Live Music on the Patio
Boulder Beer
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The patio at Boulder Beer is the perfect place to catch some live tunes and to drink a Kinda Blue—which sadly, is a summer seasonal, and will be all gone soon. Catch some classic rock tunes by Little Friday tomorrow night, along with a giant plate of delicious nachos and cold beverage. And if you’re up for it, get there a little early and catch the brewery tour at 2:00 p.m. It’ll make you appreciate the beer in your glass on a whole new level!

Friday, August 3rd | 6-8 p.m.
“Tap into Painting”
Bootstrap Brewing
For years, women have been holding “Girls’ Night Out” at which they complain about their husbands, turn off their cell phones, and gossip about the other moms in the carpool circuit. It’s cool. And doing all of this while drinking wine and painting pictures of the mountains or fun flowers has become a super popular addition to the tradition. But let’s be real ladies, you’d much rather have a hoppy IPA in your hand than a dainty glass of Riesling. So check out this new event that pairs painting with a frosty brew at local breweries. Plus, if you haven’t been to Bootstrap Brewing in Niwot, now’s your chance to check it out. And you definitely want to check it out.

Saturday, August 4th |1-5 p.m.
Mile High Beer Festival
Ogden Theater
I’m just going to get straight to the point on this one since time is running out for you to grab tickets. The Mile High Beer Festival is going on this Saturday at the Ogden Theater in Denver, and there are only a handful of tickets left for the first session. I—have tickets for the second session, and can’t wait to sample brews from Firestone Walker, Avery and the Denver Beer Co. If you’re interested, VIP tickets are still available and tickets can be purchased here.

Sunday, August 5th | noon – 5 p.m.
Avery Brewing’s 19th Anniversary Party
The Avery Brewing Tap Room
Someone has a birthday coming up! Help Avery celebrate their 19th year in style at their brewery in east Boulder. Avery promises lots of delicious beer (some barrel-aged), live music, tasty barbecue and lots more. Avery events are always, always packed, so visit their websites and purchase your tickets today.

Monday, August 6th | 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Ladies Event
Upslope Brewing
So Upslope has recently kicked off a series of events for the ladies. This girls only event gives women the opportunity to samples some Upslope beers, get educated on different beer styles and snack on some tasty cheese plates from Boulder’s own, Cured. Tickets are a reasonable $15 and a portion of the proceeds for this event will be donated to the Wildlands Restoration Volunteers. Craft beer and a good cause… I don’t even have to say it.

The post The Bolder Life: A Week of Good Beer appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Shortly after The Bolder Life was born last summer, I got an email from the editor of Yellow Scene asking if I wanted to go to the Rocky Mountain Tea Festival at the Dushanbe Teahouse in Boulder.

“I can get you a media pass, if you’re up for it,” she said.

Although she had me a “media pass” (media passes are always just really fun things to have), I was so intrigued by the fact that I’d been living in Boulder for the past seven years and had never heard of anything like the Tea Festival, that I would have gone anyway.

I was in. My name was added to a list somewhere and I showed up on a bright summer day and took my seat in on the beautiful south patio seated just above a peaceful babbling creek in the heart of downtown Boulder’s bustling Farmers’ Market. The beyond-stunning hand-crafted Teahouse offered cool relief from the hot summer sun and I was quickly served a refreshing cup of tea as I waited for the first in a series of tea-tastic events to start.

Last year, my favorite event at the Rocky Mountain Tea Festival had to be the class hosted by Boulder herbalist, Brigitte Mars. Brigitte not only taught me which types of herbal teas offer the most benefits, but I also learned that if you’re living on a commune and your husband gets bit by a venomous snake, it’s totally cool to break out the vacuum cleaner and use it to suck the venom out. The more you know, right? It was an incredibly interesting session, to say the least, and full of samples of tasty teas.

This year marks the 13th year of the Rocky Mountain Tea Festival, and I’m most excited about the Tea and Cocktails class taught by Teahouse General Manager and exceptional cocktail-crafter, Kassi Tenborg. Kassi is mixing up a selection of tea-infused cocktails that pair perfectly with a warm summer afternoon and the serene décor of the Teahouse. Her Boulder Tangerine Bourbon Sour is kind of to-die-for, and she’s not only ready to show you how to make it during her four o’clock class on Saturday, but she’s also been generous enough to share the recipe!

Other popular classes include Cooking with Tea with Lenny Martinelli—the very passionate and energetic owner of the Dushanbe Teahouse and the rest of the Three Leaf Concepts restaurants.

And if you have a little princess (or prince) at home, be sure to take them to the Mommy and Me Princess Tea Party on Sunday, July 29th. Get your adorable on by dressing up in your Sunday best and enjoying a tea party fit for a princess complete with mini scones, cucumber sandwiches, and of course—tea. Reservations are required be sure to RSVP today!

Click here for a complete schedule and more information on the Rocky Mountain Tea Festival.

Boulder Tangerine Bourbon Sour
1 ½ oz Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1 oz Sour Mix
1 oz Boulder Tangerine Syrup
Rocks Glass
Add ice to rocks glass and add bourbon, sour mix and Boulder Tangerine Simple Syrup. Shake. Pour into rocks glass. Garnish with cherry and orange.

The post The Bolder Life: 13th Annual Rocky Mountain Tea Festival appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

I have this friend. We grew up together which is why he trusts me enough not to question me when I text him an address and tell him to meet me at a place he’s never heard of. He either has a really great GPS system or a really good sense of direction because he always shows. Without fail. He waits patiently as I ask a hundred questions about the beer list and he usually approves of whichever beer I finally settle on.

He’s not a total foodie, but he’s always game to try new beers which is why I dragged him along on my first trip to Bootstrap Brewing, the new nanobrewery located in Niwot.

For being only two weeks old, the tiny tasting room located behind the Niwot Tavern and Winot Coffee was pretty packed. The mastermind couple and owners of Bootstrap Brewing were still buzzing around close to the 8 p.m. closing time—chatting with customers and doing some quality control on their product. I was impressed, and a little surprised. Whether it’s the small town love from their community or the fact that they’re putting out some pretty decent beers, it’s pretty clear that this baby brewery has a pretty solid future.

The place is definitely quaint, to say the least. The tasting room has a comfortable, homey vibe and is equipped with fabulous garage-style door that open up creating a much bigger space, and although there isn’t a “patio” per se, there are some places to sit and enjoy your beer outside in the peace and quiet and soak up some of that small town feel that is Niwot, Colorado.

While there isn’t a ton of variety to the beer menu at this point in the game, Bootstrap does have some very palatable beers including two versions of an IPA and a delicious brown ale. (Ever since I tried my first beer, a One Nut (Leroy) Brown from Oskar Blues, I’ve been hooked ever since).

They also currently have a Flagstaff Amber on tap and they’re donating a portion of the proceeds from that beer to the Boulder Wildfire CO-OP. (I don’t even have to say it, you already know how much I love a good cause that involves good craft beer).

And even though this brewery is the new kid on the block, they’ve already figured out the genius of a good food truck/tap room pairing.

I can’t wait to see what their draft list will evolve into.

And if you’re not quite ready to make the trip to Niwot to check out this new gem of a brewery, then get to Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids on Friday night and check out one of the three Bootstrap brews they’ll be tapping at 4:30 p.m. Grab a pint of the IPA, the Flagstaff Amber or the Boomer Brown and help give BoCo’s newest brewery a friendly, neighborhood welcome!

The post The Bolder Life: Bootstrap Brewing appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

This week scrambled me up, cooked me in butter, added some salt and pepper and ate me for breakfast.

It’s probably been a pretty stressful week for everyone.

We’ve been glued to our TVs watching wildfires engulf our state. We’ve had cell phones cemented in our hands as we wait for news on loved ones and get word on our own homes. We’ve donated money to the Red Cross and we’ve pulled our cars off to the side of the road to make room for fire trucks with blaring sirens that are racing towards billowing clouds of smoke.

On top of all of that, it’s roasting out. I can’t remember the last time that I didn’t have to apply sunscreen and deodorant multiple times in one day. And of course we all (well most of us) have jobs, and we have to go to them on time and do work during the day. That is by far the most difficult part of the week.

I’ve been counting down the days ‘til the weekend and I’ve been trying to figure out the perfect cure for all of the stress and heat and craziness that have hijacked this week. And I think I’ve figured out just the thing.

Beer.

Come on, you live in Colorado, don’t act like you don’t use a cold, refreshing, craft beer as a reward/your salvation after a crazy week.

Here’s a list of places that you’ll probably find me enjoying a cold one and toasting to a small glimpse of sanity this weekend.

Cheers!

Oskar Blues Tasty Weasel Tap Room | Longmont
If breweries were like universities, Oskar Blues would be my alma mater. However, my tenure with this company didn’t include the awesome new patio they recently built as an addition to their tasting room. Stop by the brewery this weekend, grab a beer and catch a tour of the place and try to relax a little, huh?!

Bootstrap Brewing | Niwot
I’ve haven’t been yet, but I know that you should go here and check out this week-old nano-brewery. I had plans to go earlier this week, but a fire broke out in my ‘hood, and stuff happens. This place is getting warm welcome right now from the local beer scene and is definitely worth checking out.

Boulder Beer | Boulder
I’m a huge fan of Boulder Beer, and even though I stick to one seasonal beer here (Kinda Blue is the epitome of a summer beer), I still can’t think of a patio that I would rather be on at my worst, sitting in the cool shade and noshing on a plate of nachos. Go here. Make an afternoon out of it. 

Left Hand Brewing | Longmont
Left Hand is the place to be on June 29th to catch Grateful Dead cover band, the Dark Star Orchestra, and support the victims of the High Park fire while sipping on one of Left Hand’s tasting beers and snacking on some food. The place is gonna be packed. It’s kind of the place to be tomorrow night.

The post The Bolder Life: A Little Taste of Sanity appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

I don’t know about you, but temperatures in the triple digits really aren’t my thing.

Like, they really aren’t my thing.

Getting blasted by a wall of hot air every time I leave the house and having my face melted off before I even reach my car just isn’t my idea of a good time.

Above all, the worst thing to come out of this Colorado heat wave is the unbelievable damage being done to our scenic landscape. As of today, thirteen fires are burning in Colorado. Thirteen. There’s a fire ban covering most of the state and one look at the hazy and distorted backdrop to the west is enough of an advisory to adhere to the warnings and keep outdoor activities to a minimum.

So aside from getting your daily rain dance on outside, try mixing things up a little this week by keeping a low profile and checking out these indoor events that are not only friendly on your lungs… but equipped with air conditioning!

Climate Change on Earth and Other Planets – Featuring Bill Nye the Science Guy
Tuesday, June 26^th | 8:00 p.m. | The Boulder Theater | $10
Admit it—you totally used to watch Bill Nye the Science Guy. You were super impressed by the egg in the bottle trick—I know. Mr. Nye will be giving the keynote tonight and will be speaking along with a handful of presenters about climate change on earth and other planets. Check out everyone’s favorite scientist, get yourself up to speed on this controversial topic and escape the heat wave at the Boulder Theater tonight!

Ash Ganley Live and Girls Night Out!
Wednesday, June 27^th | 6-9 p.m. | Wine & Cheese
Ashy Ganley is kind of adorable, and the perfect local performer to play at a Ladies Night! Get your group of friends together, listen to Ash play a set list made up of his own songs along with other popular blues/rock music while you dine on (seriously) delicious cheese plates and sip on a refreshing glass of wine.

Garden Program With Ollin Farms
Friday, June 29^th | 11:00 a.m. | WOW Children’s Museum
Ollin Farms is one of my favorite local farms. They are constantly getting involved in the community and holding events to help encourage gardening and farming through the county. This Friday, the folks from Ollin Farms will be tending to the garden at the Children’s Museum in Lafayette were they’ll be giving pointers on successfully growing a garden of your own.

Dark Star & Cold Brews Fundraiser
Friday, June 29^th | 7-11:00 p.m. | Left Hand Brewing Tap House
If you’ve been feeling a little helpless lately due to the fact that there really isn’t much you can do to help extinguish the flames threatening so many different areas of Colorado, then I have the perfect event for you. Left Hand Brewing is throwing a fundraiser this Friday night to raise funds to support the Northern Colorado Chapter of the Red Cross and the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department, both of which are experiencing depleted resources due to the High Park fire in Fort Collins. The popular Grateful Dead tribute band, the Dark Star Orchestra, will be rocking the house with live music, and proceeds collected from ticket, beer, food and merchandise sales will help benefit those affected by this fire.

The post The Bolder Life: Heat Wave appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

It’s rare that I find myself in the middle of one of those perfect summer days; the kind of day that has a seemingly fake backdrop of fluffy white clouds floating in a never ending sky of blue. The kind of day that starts with the sounds of robins chatting outside your window in the morning and ends with a dramatic exit by the sun.

To me, the perfect summer day is an empty square on the calendar. Not having anywhere to be and not having to be anyone opens up a world of possibilities for the day!

Saturday proved to be the best day to experience my perfect summer day. My robin alarm clock went off around 7:00 a.m., and by 8:30 a.m. I was parking Lilly the Jeep at the Chautauqua trailhead. Along with my best friend and sister, I started up the Royal Arch trail and by 9:30 a.m., I was breathing in a stunning view of the city of Boulder (and beyond) and standing eye-level with the one of the famed Flatirons. Happiness. A slight breeze at the top of our trek and a series of photos taken under the picturesque arch that the trail got its name from rewarded us for reaching out destination.
By 10:00 a.m. we were back on the road and I was serenading my passengers with the sound of my starving stomach. A breakfast bagel at Moe’s quieted the growling and a quick cat nap gave my muscles a much needed rest.

Thrifting came next. I made a special trip to Longmont to ‘ohh’ and ‘ahh’ at the amazing vintage finds at Serendipity. If you’re one of those creative types or fancy vintage pieces, then I highly recommend that you make a trip to this store. The selection of well-maintained vintage furniture, historical pieces (they have a huge record collection!), antique jewelry and weathered picture frames are just waiting for you to fix them up, or leave them in all of their charming glory. I was busy looking for cool accessories and decorations for my sister’s upcoming wedding. A huge selection of hand-painted tea cups, lacey tablecloths and vintage wedding jewelry kept my brain spinning with fun ideas. This store is a little tricky to find, but once you get there, you’ll be happy you made the effort!

Dinner was a combination of bbq pork sliders, sweet potato fries, Belgian beers and sunshine on the patio of Rueben’s Burger Bistro.

I finished off my evening with a sweet, but not too sweet gluten-free beer on the patio at Shine Restaurant and Gathering Place.

Cool summer air, total relaxation, tired muscles and a delicious craft beer—what more could you ask for out of your perfect summer day?

Cheers to your perfect summer day!

The post The Bolder Life: The Perfect Summer Day appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

You heard me right—I said Burning Can, not Burning Man; and the action is all going down this weekend in my tiny hometown of Lyons, Colorado. Once again, Oskar Blues and the Lyons Outdoor Games are teaming up to throw a weekend bash filled with action, sports, beer, competition and live music.

Imagine this: a quaint little town, filled with some of your favorite hiking trails and restaurants in Boulder County. Now imagine that little town filled to the brim with craft beer aficionados, professional mountain bikers and kayakers, and hundreds of people, just like you, watching competitions, attending clinics, carving things with chainsaws, listening to live music, drinking really good beer from over 30 craft breweries, and let’s be honest—probably kicking themselves for not putting on sunscreen.

Oh, and did I mention there’s a 5K happening? Why wouldn’t there be a 5K race during an event where over 30 craft breweries are pouring beer samples. Makes total sense. Like peanut butter and jelly sense.

So here’s the deal—cancel your Saturday plans, because this is what your Saturday actually looks like.

Sleep in a little. You’re wise to rest up and it’s totally okay to grab a few more zzz’s.

If you’re one of those over achievers, you might want to stop by The Stone Cup and grab a light breakfast and a smoothie before you make your way over to Bohn Park for the Burning Can 5K run. Race starts at 11:30 a.m. and begins and ends right next to spot where the breweries have set up shop on. Register for the 5K race here.

If you’re not one of those people that have signed up and run every 5K within reasonable driving distance in the past four months, then you should grab some brunch, it’ll totally do the trick and set you up for success in your endeavors for the rest of the day. The Lyons Fork has quickly become everyone’s favorite spot to post up for some mid-morning grub—and since you’ll already be in Lyons, it just makes sense to give ‘em a try.

Now that you’re officially fueled—head on over to the St. Vrain River at noon and watch the Kayak Open Freestyle event. The Lyons Outdoor Games is a qualifying event for the U.S. Freestyle team, so you know the competitors are going to put on a show.

After checking out the kayaking action, head on over to Bohn Park around 1:00 p.m. and watch crazy people on BMX bikes do back-flips and defy gravity off of the dirt jumps at the Lyons Bike Park. This event is always a crowd favorite and runs until 4 p.m.

By this time, you’ve probably worked up a thirst, which means it’s time to head over to the Burning Can headquarters conveniently located in Bohn Park. Sample beers from a slew of local and out-of-state craft breweries and you’ll probably be hungry for a snack which isn’t a problem. Just grab a bite from one of the ten food trucks that will be hanging out at the event.

At this point, you’re having a blast. You’re probably dancing to some music by one of my favorite local bands, Interstate Stash Express, you still have a view of the crazy people jumping bikes over dirt hills, you just fell in love with beers from Golden Road Brewing from L.A. and Maui Brewing and you’ve visited the Upslope booth at least twice. It’s time to make a decision; either call it quits and head back to your camping spot in Meadow Park, or catch the free bus back to Boulder.

Or—keep the party going, and make your way to the Oskar Blues Party Barn (the original OB brewery), and catch some more live music, food and the Lyons Outdoor Awards ceremony.

Wow. At this point you’re pretty tired. You should probably plan ahead and cancel your Sunday plans as well.

The Lyons Outdoor Games run from Friday, June 8 to Sunday, June 10^th. Click here for a full Lyons Outdoor Games schedule. All proceeds from Burning Can will benefit the Lyons Park and Recreation Department and the Colorado Brewers Guild.

The post The Bolder Life: Burning Can Is Back appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

TGIF! Am I right? This week has been exceptionally long, and difficult. I’m so happy that’s it’s Friday and I’m counting down the minutes until I’m free for the weekend.

There’s a lot of awesome stuff going on this week. Like the Denver Chalk Art Festival going on June 2^nd and June 3^rd in and on Larimer Square. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, you can view artwork and stroll through a museum of chalk art created by over 200 artists. The artwork is absolutely phenomenal. It’ll make you want to run out and buy some chalk to start creating your own masterpieces on your driveway, or the sidewalk leading up to your house, or you neighbors house… This unique festival is definitely worth checking out. And did I mention it’s free? I didn’t? Oh, well this great festival is absolutely free of charge and worth twice as much.

If you’ve had just about enough of life the busy city life, then maybe you should slow things down a little with a day trip to Estes Park this weekend.  Bring your fishing pole, and your half-pints if you have any, because the Fishing Derby is open to fisherman of all ages, and the registration fee is only $4. Super cheap way to spend your Saturday. Registration starts on Saturday, June 2^nd at 6 a.m. and the actual event begins at 8 a.m.  So nice, peaceful, and relaxing– and prizes are handed out to the fisherman that catches the biggest fish!

If you’re looking for some high energy action this weekend, then check out Quemando on the patio at Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids tonight from 8:00 to 11:30 p.m. This popular local band always brings the energy, and the dance party, and will be playing to a packed patio tonight—so be sure to get there early, or call ahead to reserve a table in advance. Bring your dancing shoes and kick off your weekend with some salsa dancing, some craft beer, and some classic southern food with a an Oskar Blues twist!

And if you’re really looking to get your art on, then make the drive to Lyons this week for the Lyons Art Walk that runs on the 2^nd and 3^rd of June. Tour artists’ studios and listen to live music and live readings down by the river. According to the folks behind the Lyons Art Walk, art, is the L.A.W.—which means you’re for a seriously good time.

It’s (almost) the freaking weekend people. Have fun. Get a little crazy. You’ve earned it.

The post The Bolder Life: Weekend Plans appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

I’m a sucker for a quaint main street, filled with cozy restaurants tucked inside remolded historic houses shaded by giant oak trees and surrounded with sidewalk patios.

I love spending the afternoon browsing in cutesy antique stores and inhaling the musty scent of a used bookstore followed by a refreshing adult beverage at a good beer bar with more than ten beers on draft.

I’m a huge fan of small town festivals—especially ones that shut down streets and intersections in downtown. The kind with plenty of live music and street food where you’re bound to run into a handful of your closest acquaintances.

In summary: I love Louisville.

Louisville truly embodies everything that is good about a small town. There is always a tremendous amount of community involvement and pride and it’s most apparent when you visit the downtown area.

Plus, there’s always something going on in downtown Louisville. There always seems to be an excuse to throw a big event to entice people to wander the streets of their charming community.

Downtown Louisville is full of great events this summer starting with some art-centric and dining-centric events coming up this weekend followed by the kick-off of the Louisville Street Faire on June 15th! If I were you I would totally take my advice and check out these events. Maybe grab a bite at Huckleberry, or a beer a Lucky Pie. Take a stroll over to Front Steet and check out the quirky, vintage-inspired furniture and household items in Old Friends—I hear they’re open on Sundays now…

A little downtown Louisville loving is good for the soul.

Friday, June 1st | First Friday Art Walk | 6:00-9:00 p.m.
First Friday Art Walk action is back in downtown Louisville and will feature artwork by several artists at the Creative Framing Art Gallery, Creations Gallery – Gifts and Fine Art, the Anthony Grant Studio as well as the grand opening of Bella Frieda, a store featuring “clothing and folk art de Mexico”. Enjoy refreshments at the Anthony Grant Gallery and listen to live music while helping Creations Gallery celebrate their 3rd birthday. Click here for more Art Walk info including a First Friday Art Walk map.

Saturday, June 2nd | Taste of Louisville & Taste of Louisville Half Marathon and 5K run | Running Events Begin at 8:00 a.m. & Taste of Pearl Begins at 10 a.m.
Why wouldn’t you throw a half marathon and a taste of the best dining in your town on the same day? It’s really a win-win for everyone. Gather a ton of people downtown, throw an event that’s sure to work up an appetite, plan out a race course that passes just close enough to see and smell all of the vendor booths that will be set up in the street. Genius. Well played, downtown Louisville! Enjoy food served by local restaurants, check out craft booths, keep the kids occupied with kid-specific events and listen to music by The Low Flying Knobs, Back Pocket, I’m on Fire, 2 Dog Tuesday, The Whiskey Bottles and Highway 50—a band made up of Al Laughlin from the Sables and Brian Nevin from Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Get more info: here.

Saturday, June 2nd |Opening Day of Louisville Farmers’ Market | 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
As if there isn’t enough going on in downtown Louisville this weekend, why don’t we throw in the opening day of the Farmers’ Market! Located in the Steinbaugh Pavilion on Front Street, the Louisville Farmers’ Market features locally grown products and live music. Get inspired by the delicious food you sample at the Taste of Louisville, then head over to the Farmers’ Market and pick up some fresh food items to create a tasty meal of your own.

The post The Bolder Life: A Little Louisville Loving appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Last month, at the DrinkLocalWine Conference in Denver, Local Winos Media debuted a fun video of Oskar Blues Brewing founder, Dale Katechis, comparing his canned craft beer revolution to the booming wine business in Colorado. Katechis noted that members of the craft beer industry thought that he was “bat s*** crazy” when he decided to put good beer in a can—the same thought that Katechis had when he heard that people were trying to make good wine in Colorado.

Turns out, everyone was wrong.

Katechis built a brewing empire out of putting good beer in a can, and Colorado wineries are pumping out more and more popular wine each year.

The 2^nd Annual Colorado Urban Winefest is a celebration of the bat s*** crazy people and wineries that are behind the amazing wine coming from our fair state.

As part of Colorado Wine Week, the Colorado Urban Winefest runs from noon – 6 p.m. on June 9^th at the Denver Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $51.90 per person and include wine tastings, food for purchase by a slew of local food trucks, educational seminars and much more.

If you haven’t already purchased your tickets for this event—I, because I care about you, have put together five reasons to encourage you to get it in gear and make your reservation for this event today!

5 Boulder County Wineries Will Be There

Five of BoCo’s very own wineries will be serving up tastings of their popular wines at the Urban Winefest. Now I’ve attempted to hit five Boulder County wineries in one day, which sounds fairly easy but is definitely a logistical challenge. So make it easy on yourself and try wines from Redstone Meadery, Augustina’s Winery, Bookcliff Vineyards, Boulder Creek Winery and Settembre Cellars all in the same venue, on the same day. You’ll be glad you did.

It’s for a Good Cause

I’m all about events that involve drinking for a good cause. Proceeds for this event support Colorado Winemakers and grape growers through education and research. Find out more about CAVE, the Colorado Association for Viticulture and Enology here.

Keeping it Local

Move over Napa Valley, Colorado’s coming in hot! More and more sections dedicated to Colorado wines are popping up in liquor stores, a sure sign that Colorado folks are doing their part to support local. Show up and show your support for local businesses—they’ll be very happy you did.

Unlimited Samples

Enough said.

It’ll Get You out of the Boulder County Bubble

Boulder County folks have all been guilty at one point or another of becoming too attached to the Boulder County bubble. Here’s your chance to venture into the big city and fill your quota for Denver trips for the month. That way, next time your Denver friends ask you to name the last time you actually made a trip to Denver, you’ll have an actual comeback.

Click here for a complete list of participating Colorado wineries.

The post The Bolder Life: Top 5 Reasons to Attend the Colorado Urban Winefest appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

It comforts me to know that as I “grow and mature”, so does the age-old tradition of happy hour. When I was first introduced to the concept of happy hour as a wee twenty-one-year-old, I was introduced to alcohol that was cheap in every sense of the word. These days, even the fanciest of restaurants are blessing the adoring public with many o’ happy hour filled with drink specials and mini menus that offer less expensive small bites. Lately, I’ve been enjoying some classy hours of happiness at a few of my favorite places in North Boulder.

Growing up within the craft beer world, I always felt like I was cheating when I chose a girly cocktail or a nice glass of Syrah over my favorite IPA or Pilsner. But as time went on, and my employment with a local Boulder County brewery ended, I began to venture out into the world of classy adult cocktails. I started off slowly with Lemon Drop martinis, because let’s face it, it was the only drink that I actually understood at the time. Eventually, my tastebuds grew up and I started experimenting with other types of liquor besides my comforting typical choice of vodka. I tried drinks made with lavender-infused gin and blackberry whiskeys—drinks that are full of sophistication and class.

On a day-to-day basis, I have to dress and act like an adult for work purposes. (It’s a real drag). I get up on time, I drink viscous, unsweetened coffee, I put on high heels and red lipstick, and walk around in public acting like an adult. Part of the adult act is dining at local, foodie restaurants filled with complex foods and menu items in another language.

Lately, on the days that I’m the most adult-like—I hang out at my favorite north Boulder restaurants for happy hour.

Starting with Radda Trattoria. If you haven’t been to Mateo’s sister restaurant located across from the Boulder Community Hospital, then I highly recommend that you add this restaurant to your wish list. First of all, they have a south-facing patio with a spectacular view of the Flatirons. In my most adult-like attire, wearing sunglasses that are far too big for my face, I sipped on a refreshing bellini—a combination of crisp, bubbly prosecco poured over a sweet white peach puree. Enjoying the company of my best friend, I sipped my bellini like a grown-up and munched on a variety of happy hour items including French fries dusted with truffle oil and a delicious, warm flatbread topped with parmesan cheese and herbs. Happy hour at Radda runs every day from 3-6 pm.

If you really want to expand your classy drink knowledge, I would suggest paying a visit to north Boulder staple, The Hungry Toad. This establishment has a huge specialty drink list that includes fifteen martini variations to cater to the adult folk. When I’m feeling especially sassy, and sporting the reddest lipstick that I own, I saunter into The Hungry Toad and order up a Carmel Apple Martini. Nothing says sass-a-frass more than a woman wearing red lipstick, pretending to be an adult while sipping something out of a martini glass. You can off-set all of the sweetness and adultness by pairing your cutsey martini with one of the Toad’s twenty-two burger offerings. Seriously. Twenty-two. Happy hour runs from 3-6 p.m. on Monday-Friday, and can be enjoyed outside on the patio where you’ll have a prime seat to people watch the passerybys of north Boulder.

And lastly, it’s not a true north Boulder happy hour until you’ve paid a visit to the fine folks at Dagabi Cucina. I strongly suggest that you bring back-up and settle in for at least an hours worth of sampling tasty menu items from the long list of tapas offered at happy hour. Plus, if you’re interested in a good martini, the bar staff at Dagabi will set you up right. On my last happy hour visit to Dagabi, I ordered a glass of the house red wine during happy hour, and I liked it. I was surprised by the quality taste of the house wine that I paid $4 for. And the house white turned out to be a wonderful drink to compliment a meal composed of calamari, mussels, bruschetta and margherita pizza with. (Whoa—I know what you’re thinking and the answer is no. I did not consume all of that food myself—I had back-up). Although Dagabi’s happy hour is short, it’s totally worth it—so get there early and enjoy grown-up food for a discounted price from 5-6:30 p.m. every day of the week and all night on Tuesdays.

The post The Bolder Life: Classy Happy Hours appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Photo by Jenifer Harrington

Summer is officially here, and aside from a little rain, it’s been blue skies and perfect hiking weather in Boulder County for the past few weeks. Farmers’ Markets have once again become the most popular place for weekly grocery shopping trips and the number of cyclists on the road has tripled in past month. Ski racks have been replaced with bike racks and storage racks to hold camping gear and winter-friendly events have been replaced with outdoor festivals and picnics.

It’s finally appropriate to wear half the amount of clothing that you usually do and to leave work at noon only to return three hours later in your hiking boots, sporting a little extra sweat on your brow.

When it boils down to it—summer is really about three things: soaking up as much sunshine in the great outdoors as possible, enjoying the company of good friends, and indulging in enough seasonal food items to propel your active lifestyle.

Aside from slaving away throwing your own event sunshine, friends and good food-filled event—the next best option is to visit the source—and by source, I mean farm. With a handful of farms dotting the Boulder County landscape, it isn’t tough to find a way to enjoy an authentic farm-to-table dinner.

My favorite local farms to enjoy an expertly prepared, fresh bite—are at the quaint Lyons Farmette and at Longmont’s Olin Farm. Both places also serve as a venue for weddings and other private events, so you know the atmosphere at each place is going to be exceptional.

Invite your friends, get outside, breathe in the fresh Colorado summer air and gaze at a sky full of stars as you dine on menu items harvested from the same patch of group it’s prepared and served on.

Pretty cool.

So give your kitchen the night off, call up your friends, and enjoy a relaxing evening supporting your local farms and noshing on a menu based on seasonal local ingredients and grown and prepared with love.

Olin Farms is located at 8627 North 95^th Street. Farm-to-table dinners kick off of June 22^nd and run through August. Guests are welcome to bring their own libations and encouraged to make their reservations online.

The Lyons Farmette is located at 4121 Ute Highway, and offers a slew of farm-to-table dinners through the fall. Check out their upcoming May 24^th pizza dinner and check out their current calendar filled with dinners and classes at their gorgeous Lyons property.

The post The Bolder Life: Dining Under the Stars appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Next week is American Craft Beer week, which naturally means that Boulder County breweries have stocked their calendars full of events to help celebrate the culture and the community of craft beer. Craft beer lovers will be in hoppy/malty heaven this Monday, May 14 through Sunday, May 20, as local breweries offer up a little something for every pint-loving drinker. So grab your favorite koozie, your best beer-drinking buddy, some milk thistle to keep your liver happy and a print out of this blog post to help keep your Craft Beer schedule on point.

Cheers!

And a safe and happy Craft Beer Week for all!

Twisted Pine Brewing | Week Long Celebration |Monday, May 14^th – Sunday, May 20^th
Twisted Pine is so excited for Craft Beer Week, they’re throwing an event every night for seven days to truly celebrate in style. Ever participated in a frozen t-shirt contest? Me neither. Sounds chilly, and a little ‘naners—but if there’s beer involved—it probably means it’s going to be a good time. Along with the frozen t-shirt contest, Twisted Pine is also hosting a tapping of their Independence Ale along with $2 pints on Monday, musical trivia on Tuesday, a koozie give-away on Thursday, a performance by the popular local band, the Holden Young Trio, on Friday and on Sunday, Twisted Pine gives the gift of all day happy hour. Who doesn’t love a good all day happy hour?! Click here for a complete listing of events.

Avery Brewing Co. | Murray’s Cheese Pairing | Tuesday, May 15^th
I’m loving the special events that Avery is hosting in their delicious smelling Barrel-Aging Cellar. Just last month I attended a Sister Hood of the Hops Belgian beer tasting and got some education on the background of Belgian-style beers along with several tasty samples. For Craft Beer Week, Avery is throwing down a cheese and beer pairing event on Tuesday, a lesson in fermentation for anyone who’s interested in brewing beer on Monday, a screening of a film dedicated to women in the beer industry (put on my the Sisterhood of the Hops) on Wednesday and a special tapping on Friday. I pretty much have my heart (and stomach) set on the cheese pairing event which, at the tiny price of $8 per person for 5 tasters of Avery beers paired with my favorite food group, is straight up winning all around.

Oskar Blues Brewery | Hoe Down Throw Down @ The Blake Street Vault | Wednesday, May 16^th
I’m a small town girl with a fascination and appreciation for all things country—such as a good ol’ fashioned hoe down. Although local beer giant, Oskar Blues, doesn’t have too much going in at either one of their restaurants or at the brewery, they are throwing down some interesting events in Denver—such as a Hoe Down Throw Down at the Blake Street Vault. OB fans are encouraged to check out the Oskar Blues Beer Dinner at Freshcraft before moseying next door to The Blake Street Vault for a free show by extremely popular Colorado band, The Tusks of Elephant Revival. Tickets for the beer dinner are $35. Which is an excellent price for the quality of beers you are going to drink and the delicious food you’re going to put in your mouth. For a complete listing of Oskar Blues Craft Beer Week events going on around the nation, check here.

Left Hand Brewing | Left Hand/Firestone Walker Beer Dinner | Thursday, May 17^th
Left Hand Brewing recently emerged as a serious contender after years of silently building up their current beer empire. This is seriously great for Colorado folks. But what’s even better—Left Hand is teaming up with one of my favorite California breweries, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., for what I can only imagine will be an epic beer dinner at Highland Tap and Burger in Denver next Thursday. The theme of the dinner is “Distinctly American Style Beers” with a combination of brews from two of the hottest breweries on the scene, paired with a menu by Highland Tap and Burger chef, Eli Odell. This beer dinner caps out at 50 seats, so click here and purchase your ticket now!

Boulder Beer Co. | Innovation Celebration Tap Takeover | Saturday, May 19^th
Boulder Beer is keeping it local by hosting their Craft Beer Week events at the brewery next week—most exciting of which is the Innovation Celebration Tap Takeover happening on Saturday. Boulder Beer is loading their taps with a selection of their most innovative, small-batch and barrel-aged beers chosen by the brewers who made them. This event is for the true lover of the complex and unique brews coming out of the craft beer scene. The only tricky thing about this event, is that only 40 pints of each beer will be available, which means that you should show up early, and thirsty.

The post The Bolder Life: Guide to American Craft Beer Week appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

It’s almost that simple. If you’re drinking a beer at the Chips 4 Kids benefit Saturday night, you’ve already done your part to save the children—and by children, I mean at-risk youth—and by saved, I mean given them the opportunity to expand their horizons by experiencing and learning about the “natural beauty of Colorado from the seat of a mountain bike”.

Pretty cool.

I’m (for the most part) an adult, but the inner kid in me can’t think of a better way to gain confidence, meet friends and learn about the environment than taking a little break from life and catching some fresh Colorado air on the seat of a mountain bike.

The folks at Trips for Kids (Denver/Boulder) are in the (non-profit) business of putting smiles on kids’ faces. This organization is comprised completely of volunteer community members that believe that one great way to give back is to offer kids a whole new world and new appreciation for Mother Nature. Trips for Kids has over seventy chapters nationwide all which help at-risk kids by combining lessons in confidence building, achievement and environmental awareness through the development of practical skills, and the simple act of having fun.

So here’s the skinny:

Date: Saturday, April 28^th
Place: Boulder Indoor Cycling
Time: Doors open at 7:00 p.m. | Tables open ‘til 11:00 p.m.

So what exactly is the deal?

This event is jam-packed with fun things—like casino games—and the chance to win an awesome mountain bike. A $40 donation gets you into the event where you’ll enjoy pints of Boulder Beer and Avery Brewing beer, complimentary tastings from the Leopold Brothers Distillery, (fake) gambling at free tables with professional dealers, live jazz/swing music, live bike races on the Velodrome, a silent auction (see silent auction items here) and the chance to win some really fun prizes.

So throw on some nice threads, open your hearts and your wallets, and don’t miss this opportunity to put a smile on kids face while having some fun yourself!

The post The Bolder Life: Drink a beer, save the children appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

My ego, my calves and my liver are still a little sore from the beating I took this past weekend during the 6^th Annual Boulder Beer Pearl Street Scavenger Hunt. Aside from a tummy full of beer, other things I took away from this highly sought after event (tickets sold out in 8 minutes!) included: an appreciation for those used concert tickets that always end up in your wallet, a renewed love for the locals of the fair city of Boulder that spend more time eating in restaurants on Pearl Street than in their own dining rooms and come in handy when scavenging artwork from the inside of restaurant walls—and an appreciation for the awesome awkwardness that is the Pearl Street Mall.

If you’ve never participated in the Boulder Beer Scavenger Hunt, I highly recommend you look into it next year. Although my team, Team BFF (Beer Friends Forever), didn’t take away the grand prize of beer of a year, and lost out to team Purple Rain in the costume contest, I still had a blast running around downtown Boulder– playing games like corn hole, Pictionary and Memory at different bars and restaurants, and collecting awkward items… like rubber babies, golf tees and colored paper clips.

Although you’ll have to wait until next year for this beer-lover’s event to come around again, here’s a list of upcoming beer-centric events that should tide you over for a while.

2012 Samael’s Release and Vertical Tasting
Thursday, April 26^th | 6:30 p.m. | Avery Brewing Barrel Aging Cellar
I spent some time in the Avery Brewing Barrel Aging Cellar last week, and let me tell you, these guys take their aged beers seriously! Samael’s Oak Aged Ale is part of the “Demons of Ale” series and promises to demonize your pallet! $20 gets you: in the door, a vertical tasting of Samael’s paired with some tasty desserts.

Microbreweries for the Environment
Friday, April 27^th | 8:00 p.m. | The Boulder Theater
This much-loved Boulder event is back again, and ready to serve up craft beers from 20 Colorado microbreweries! Tickets are $25.75 in advance plus an additional $12 for unlimited tastings or $2 per pint of beer. Proceeds from this benefit will be awarded to a slew of local non-profit organizations and the who’s who of the local music scene will provide the entertainment for the evening.

Oskar Blues/Upslope Brewing Beer Dinner
Thursday, May 10^th | Time TBD | Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids & Solids
Oskar Blues and Upslope Brewing will be kicking off Craft Beer week on Thursday, May 10^th with a collaboration beer dinner held at Oskar Blues Liquids and Solids in Longmont. Food by OB, with Upslope Beer pairings sounds like the makings of one delicious beer dinner. Time and price are still TBD. Keep an eye on the Oblongbar Twitter page for more info.

Chocolate Lab for Lovers… of Craft Beer
Wednesday, May 16^th | 7:00 p.m. | Piece, Love & Chocolate
Beer and chocolate go together like peanut butter and jelly—and the chocolatiers at Piece, Love & Chocolate are holding a tasting class to show you why. Join “Madame Chocolat”, Chef Sarah Amorese and Jeff Mendel of Left Hand Brewing as they guide you on your way to a new appreciation for fine chocolate and craft beer—together as one. Tickets are $45 per person. Register here.

The post The Bolder Life: Beer, Please appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

As a freshman at the University of Colorado Boulder, I spent a good amount of time on the Hill. I got cheap tickets to relatively unknown bands at the Fox Theater. I devoured Illegal Pete’s burritos and sandwiches from that strange-smelling deli in the early morning hours. I bought Christmas and birthday gifts for the family at the CU Bookstore and I attended poetry readings at Burnt Toast for extra credit in almost every creative writing class that I ever took.

At eighteen years old, the University Hill was the place to be.

But, unfortunately, I’m not eighteen anymore—and for the past few years the Hill has represented a noisy place that is nearly impossible to maneuver in a car, filled with cheap food and plenty of PBR.

But the times, they are a-changing—and for every dive bar and pizza place found on the Hill, there’s a grown-up dining establishment to match.

Check out these three tasty reasons for the adult you to give the Hill another chance.

Café Aion | 1235 Pennsylvania Ave.
Olive Oil Poached Albacore Tuna, Crispy Duck Confit, Limoncello Spritzers and cloth hand towels in the restroom are all things that you wouldn’t expect to find in a restaurant located in the heart of a buzzing college town neighborhood. Café Aion has become a gathering place where the young and old foodies collide on the corner of one of the most beloved street corners in Boulder.

The No Name Bar | 1325 Broadway Ave.
“Seriously, this bar has no name”, said the straight-faced bouncer standing guard inside of the unlabeled door with the sketchy looking peep hole and the heavy door-knocker made of iron. This nameless bar is dressed in an elegant-looking wood paneling and filled with alcoholic beverages that would make any grown-up drool. Infused tequilas, classy cocktails and popular local craft beers stock the shelves of this small venue which offers live music almost every night of the weekend, and menu items by neighbor, Cosmos Pizza every night.

Innisfree Poetry Bookstore and Café | 1203 13^th St.
It feels like every time I walk by this quaint coffee shop it’s expanded. Although this bookstore/café is always filled with studious students, adults have been infiltrating the place lately—attending poetry readings, book clubs and sipping espresso out of tiny cups. Support Boulder’s poetry scene, and your local coffee shop at this popular Hill location.

The post The Bolder Life: The Hill Gets Classy appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Turns out, there are a lot of people in Boulder County that not only dig eating food, but also enjoying pairing their favorite menu items with tasty beverages. With a healthy population of breweries, distilleries and wineries in the area, there always seems to be an excuse to throw some sort of event to showcase how well popular local libations go with the culinary delights coming out of Boulder County’s restaurants.

The next few weeks are full of exciting collaborations by the best of the best of the local food and drink scene. Clear your busy schedules and make your reservations! You’ll be so happy you did.

Centro/Upslope Brewing Beer Dinner @ Upslope Brewing
Sunday, April 15^th | 5:30 p.m. | $50 per person
As of late, Upslope Brewing has been pounding the promotional pavement extremely hard with a slew of beer dinners at local restaurants including a special collaboration beer dinner with Boulder’s Centro Latin Kitchen and Refreshment Place to be held at the Upslope Brewery. If you’ve never experienced a beer dinner held in a brewery or a brewery tap room, then you definitely need to check this out. Fresh beer right from the source, great food, and the rustic aroma of craft beer beginnings—it doesn’t get much better than that!

Snout to Tail Dinner @ SALT the Bistro
Monday, April 16^th | 6:00 p.m. | $88 per person
SALT has been hogging the limelight lately with the introduction of their $9 Farm to Table Lunches and bar manager, Adrian Sutevski’s, big win at this year’s Boulder’s Best Mixology competition—which means locals have been chomping at the bit to get in on the unique food-focused dinner using several different parts of the pig. 8 courses. You heard me right—I said 8 courses, paired with 8 different beers. You should probably make your reservations now and fast until Monday.

Community Beer Social @ Terrior
Wednesday, April 18^th | 6:30 p.m. | $30 per person
I don’t make it to Longmont much, but I’ve been dying to check out some of the many community-involved events that happen at Terrior on a regular basis. Most importantly—events centered around beer. Terrior likes serving good beer, and even better, they like pairing it with delicious food and serving it to you. This month’s Community Beer Social features 3 beers from Schmaltz Brewing Co. in New York, paired with 3 delicious Terrior dishes. Only 15 seats are available for the event so make your reservation today!

Left Hand Brewing Beer Dinner @ Old Chicago Longmont
Thursday, April 19^th | 6:30 p.m. | $35 per person
Seriously?! This is happening. This event seemed a little odd to me at first, but it’s Longmont on Longmont action happening and it sounds like it’s going to be a pretty good time. $35 is a steal for anything paired with Left Hand beers; and—Bubba Love will be there. Bubba Love is hilarious. I promise you’ll leave this event with a stomach ache, and not from the food or beer. Bubba will keep you laughing all night with his many stories, and his passion and knowledge of craft beer will give you some homebrewed warm and fuzzies.

Cured-Boxcar-Pizzaria Basta-The Pinyon-Growe Foundation Pop-Up Dinner @ Cured
Monday, April 23^rd | 5:30 p.m. | $100 per person
Let’s see a raise of hands—who didn’t shed at least one tiny tear when Chef/Owner, Theo Adely, announced that the most popular place to find the best friend chicken in Boulder was jumping ship and looking for a Denver address. I know, right? A shame—but luckily for the Pinyon’s aficionados, Chef Theo is participating in a “Pop-Up Dinner” that includes a collaborative menu featuring food prepared by Chef Theo, Chef Kelly Whitaker of Pizzeria Basta, Chef Nathan Miller of the Tasterie Truck and of course, yummy items from the folks at Cured. The event is in support of the Growe Foundation and will also feature beer and wine pairings.

Bookcliff Vineyards Annual Spring Barrel Tasting featuring Erik Skokan of Black Cat Bistro
Friday, May 4^th & Saturday May 5^th | 6:30 p.m. |$70 per person
Many moons ago—okay—last summer, I took a trip to the Bookcliff Vineyard tasting room located in the same neighborhood as Upslope Brewing and Bradford Heap’s soon-to-be distillery venture. Chatting with the knowledgeable and friendly staff, and of course, sampling the delicious wine that is coming out of this place made me an instant fan. Bookcliff always has some sort of an event going on, but their upcoming Annual Spring Barrel Tasting is one that is not to be missed! Sample emerging wines in the winery followed by a 5 course dinner featuring cuisine by Erik Skokan of the Black Cat Bistro.

Odell Beer Dinner at Lucky Pie Louisville
Wednesday, April 25th | 6:30 p.m. |$55 per person
I love Lucky Pie. It’s not a secret. But I’ve also been digging on the Odell Myrcenary IPA which is included as one of the beer pairings in this delicious-sounding beer dinner. Crab fitters, pork loin carpaccio, and espresso panna cotta are just a few of the menu items you’ll be lucky enough to enjoy if you snag tickets to this beer dinner!

The post The Bolder Life: Perfect Pairings 2.0 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from living in as unique a place as Boulder—it’s that everybody is different. From the crazy clothes we wear, to the culinary delights that make our taste buds shimmy and shake, to the ways in which we seek out good health.

We’re all different.

I’m currently finishing up a mid-calf boot phase right now, but I’m still not sure how I feel about those awkward-looking barefoot running shoes. I can’t stand the taste or smell of chocolate, but I could eat an entire bag of black licorice. (Nom, nom, nom). Bikes make me happy, but yoga petrifies me.

Aside from fashion, one of the biggest avenues on which our personal taste shines through is in the tasty world of food and beverage. Some of us can name all of the ingredients used to make our favorite beers and some of us can pronounce (correctly) every menu item on Pizzeria Locale’s Italian inspired menu. Some of us are picky eaters and some of us prefer a cold PBR over a locally produced beer. (If this is you, I want you to know that I did just judge you a little. But only little, and I’m sorry).

It’s cool. Variety really is the spice of life.

Although I can’t name all of the ingredients in all of my favorite food and drink items, and prefer to point to things that I can’t pronounce in an attempt to stall until the waiter does the dirty work for me—I can tell you what makes my taste buds and my tummy happy.

Here’s what I’m digging on lately.

A cold Kinda Blue, straight from the source at Boulder Beer

Summer might be the only time that I can make decisions in a timely manner when it comes to ordering beer. I love the subtle wheat taste of this beer topped off with just the perfect hint of blueberry flavor. At a low 5.2% ABV, it’s the perfect beer for this half pint to enjoy a full pint and still be able to hold conversations with strangers at the bar. I’m warning you though, this is just a seasonal. I can’t be responsible for the heartbreak that you’re going to feel when you find out for the first time in the fall that there’s no more.

The Karen’s Special with Two Scoops of Turkey Salad and Extra Pickles at Café Food

In my opinion, Café Food is one of the most underrated lunch stops in Boulder. Tucked in that weird shopping center on the east side of Target, this “hole in the wall” is pumping out killer sandwiches, truly amazing soups, (you have to try the clam chowder), huge, freshly baked rolls that are served on the side of just about everything, and my favorite—the turkey salad with pickles. Chunks of turkey breast, roasted in house, and snuggled in mayonnaise and topped with diced up pickles. It’s so good—and it’s served with a side salad so it makes you feel pretty good about yourself. If you haven’t been, I highly suggest that you check this place out.

The Sausage, Egg and Cheddar Bagel at Big Daddy’s Bagels

It’s not a secret that I’m not much of a morning person. I loathe mornings. If for by some reason I have to wake up while it’s still dark out—you better hope you don’t have to see me until after noon. Like, that bad. But I’ll pull myself together pretty quickly if there’s something good in it for me. As of late, that something good has been the toasty, gooey, slightly greasy Sausage, Egg and Cheddar Bagel at Big Daddy’s. Be sure to wash it down with a strawberry and apple juice smoothie with a scoop of protein powder– it’ll make you feel better about the little drops of grease running down your chin.

Bhakti Chai (Usually consumed at Ozo Coffee house when I can find a seat!)
I promised someone last week that I would give up coffee. I’m a total liar. I’m laughing right at how ridiculous the very thought of giving up my favorite drink is to me. I gave it the ol’ college try and decided that I’m so much more fun and productive when I have a cup of caffeine in my hand. On my hour long hiatus from lattes, I got bold and curious and decided to order a Bhakti Chai. It was a good a decision. The spicy flavor surprised my taste buds so much that they melted under the pressure and gave up on boycotting anti-coffee drinks.

The post The Bolder Life: Variety is the Spice of Life appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

I love food of all different kinds of shapes, sizes, colors and tastes—which is why I feel so lucky to be living in such a unique and tasty foodie Mecca. But as much I like sampling new menus items and frequenting my favorite restaurants, I also like doing things like paying my bills and buying things like toilet paper, laundry detergent and socks. (I’m always losing socks). So I love it when my favorite restaurants offer up deals for the frugal foodie. Whether it’s a weekly special menu, a lunch deal or a killer happy hour, there are plenty of ways to sample a variety of the best local cuisine while still keeping your wallet full with sock fund money. (Seriously, tell me you can find matches for all of the socks in your sock drawer!)

SALT the Bistro | 1047 Pearl St. | Boulder
Farm to Table Lunch Menu
Monday  – Saturday | $9 per person
SALT is always one of the busiest restaurants in downtown Boulder, and it’s really no secret why. They’re preparing incredible food, fresh from the farm, and pairing their menu items with expertly designed cocktails. Even though most of the dinner entrees on SALT’s menu are pretty pricy, customers can still sample their delicious cooking by paying SALT a visit a lunch. For $9 per person, diners can choose a ½ sandwich, cup of soup or side and a “tiny treat” dessert from the Farm to Table Lunch Menu. When’s the last time you had a Roasted Pork Belly Rueben for under $10?

Dagabi Cucina | 3970 N. Broadway | Boulder
Tapas Happy Hour
Daily from 5-6:30 & all night on Tuesdays | $3-$7 Tapa Menu
It’s embarrassing how many times I’ve left work early just to catch the awesome happy hour that this North Boulder gem offers up on a weekly basis. A typical Dagabi happy hour for me involves great friends, a surprisingly delicious house red wine ($4), a table filled with a variety of tapas and a surprisingly low bill. I’ve been digging on the Pisto Manchego and the Steamed Mussels in a Tomato-Chili Broth lately, but you should probably make Dagbi Cucina your next happy hour destination so that you can pick which of their 33 happy hour tapas is your favorite.

Niwot Tavern |7960 Niwot Road | Niwot
Dinner for Two for $20
Tuesdays | $20 per two people
I’m still full from just thinking about the last time that I dined at this cozy, small-town restaurant on a Tuesday. For $20, two people can choose one appetizer (to share), a soup or salad and an entrée from Niwot Tavern’s “Two for $20 Tuesday” menu. I can still taste their creamy, spicy artichoke dip. (On the appetizer menu). Entrée selections include a crispy Eggplant Parmesan, Single Petit Filet of Beef, Fish and Chips, a tasty Asian Chicken salad and a few other items that are found on the Tavern’s much-loved dinner menu. Amazing deal, but I warn you, go hungry—because you will definitely leave this frugal foodie location with a full stomach and wallet.

Pizzeria Locale | 1730 Pearl St. | Boulder
Aperitivo Menu
Daily from 4:30—5:30 p.m. | $2-$5 Appetizer Menu
Who doesn’t love Pizzeria Locale? The East End eatery has been blowing foodie minds since it opened its doors two years ago. Most people walk out of this restaurant with a full stomach and an empty wallet—which is a shame, because the food that is coming out of this kitchen is good enough to leave me speechless—which is kind of a rarity. But have no fear, Pizzeria Locale is offering an Aperitivo (appetizer) menu composed of delicious small bite appetizers, and even a few of their tasty pizzas. Special pricing for select beer, wine and espresso are also offered.

Arugula | 2785 Iris Ave. | Boulder
Monday Night First Bite
Mondays | $26 per person
First Bite Boulder is a November thing, but the folks at Arugula chose to keep their special First Bite Menu pricing year-round. For $26 per person, every Monday, you get a three-course menu comprised of two appetizers and one main course. I’m not going to lie, I often dream of Arugula’s seared polenta. When a typical dinner entrée costs around $20, it definitely behooves you to check out this three-course frugal foodie deal.

Lucky Pie Louisville | 637 Front St. | Louisville
Happy Hour
Daily from 4-6 p.m. | $3-$5 Appetizer Menu
I love Lucky Pie. I make excuses to go to Louisville just so I can post up in the inviting LP bar area for a pint of good beer and a happy hour pizza (and other happy hour menu items). With 21 rotating tap handles and a healthy selection of good wines and creative cocktails, it’s hard not to find something to drink in this place. Pair one of those delicious drinks with a discount item from the happy hour menu and you, and your wallet are set.

Café Aion | 1235 Pennsylvania Ave. |Boulder
Neighborhood Night
Wednesdays |$35 per two people
Read this. Go here. Pay $35 for two people to share a family style Paella dish with an expertly paired bottle of wine. Now, I’m not a math person, but I know that $35, split between two people, for dinner and a bottle of wine… is a steal—and a tasty one at that. Go here. Trust me.

The post The Bolder Life: The Frugal Foodie appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Events are always sneaking up on me—like tiny ninjas, dressed in all black, creeping around in shadows and stuff. This is a shame, because some of the best, can’t-be-missed events sell out pretty far in advance. So in an effort to help you be proactive about your social life, I’ve put together a list of upcoming events that should seriously be on your radar. You should probably pull out your credit card right now and purchase tickets to at least one, if not all of these events—right… now.

The 6^th Annual Boulder Beer Scavenger Hunt
Tickets on Sale: April 6^th | Actual Event: April 21^st | Pearl Street Mall
Free beer for a year. That’s probably all that you really need to know to sell you on this annual, ridiculous event. Participants are encouraged to dress up for the costume contest, which was apparently won last year by team, “Go Home and Touch Yourself”—the crazier the costume, the better, and the more you’ll fit right in on the infamous Pearl Street Mall where you’ll search for items on this wacky scavenger hunt in hopes of winning the grand prize of beer for a year!

Taste of Pearl
Tickets on Sale: Now | Actual Event: April 22^nd | Pearl Street Mall
This event gives me the warm and fuzzies, and not just because there’s a lot of wine involved—there’s food from lots of amazing Boulder restaurants as well! Stroll in and out of participating shops on Pearl Street Mall where you’ll sample wine from 15 local wineries as well and food prepared by 15 of Boulder’s most beloved restaurants on this walking culinary tour. Plus, a portion of the proceeds will benefit Boulder’s own, Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA), which means you’ll also being doing something good for your community. (Warm and fuzzies, right?!)

Microbreweries for the Environment
Tickets on Sale: Now | Actual Event: April 27^th | Boulder Theater
I still have my cutesy, powder blue t-shirt that I was given several years ago during my first Microbreweries for the Environment event. Although the overall event has changed a little over the years, the premise is still the same. Go to the Boulder Theater, drink craft beer from over 20 local breweries, support the environmental initiatives of six local non-profits, listen to some live music, collect a commemorative glass and do it all again next year. Great event for locals interested in sustainability and craft beer. Click here for pricing and more info.

The post The Bolder Life: Tickets on Sale Now! appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

I live in Boulder, so naturally I’ve spent many summer days enjoying some of Colorado’s beautiful sunshine and the sound of the nearby creek on the patio at the Dunshanbe Teahouse. I’ve savored platefuls of colorful ceviche and refreshing mojitos at Aji. I’ve contemplated going strictly vegetarian while at Leaf. I’m like a regular on the Three Leaf Concepts circuit. But my mind, (and taste buds), were officially blown on my first visit Huckleberry—Three Leaf’s tiny gem of an eatery located in Old Town Louisville.

Nestled on the south end of Main Street in a historic, old home, Huckleberry pretty much embodies the word “quaint”. The restaurant/bakery’s interior looks and feels like I’d imagine my grandmother’s house would look like if my grandma lived on a farm, painted her dining room in beautiful pastel hues and hung homey folk art on the walls. It doesn’t hurt that you’re immediately greeted by delicious smells and a display cooler filled with some of the most inviting sweet treats I’ve ever seen.

Now I’ve heard phenomenal things about their breakfast and brunch service—but at seven o’clock at night, a girl needs dinner; and after consuming some not-so-delicious meals this week, my stomach needed some reassurance that good food still exists. Of course I didn’t dine at this Louisville treasure alone—ordering a variety of entrees as a party for one looks incredibly awkward. So I dragged my sister and her fiancé along so I could sample their dishes too.

After some serious decision making, I decided to go with the Trout Almondine topped with a luxurious lemon-amaretto cream sauce and served with roasted potatoes and green beans. This dish restored my faith in food giving me a rich meal with a lightness that left my stomach feeling the right amount of full. My sister, after initially having her on the sold-out Butter Nut Squash Ravioli decided to go with the Polenta Zucchini Parmesan. I’ve had some pretty good polenta in my time, but the flavor that Huckleberry packed into this perfectly cut circle of polenta was outstanding. When I asked my sister how her meal was, I was met with only silence—which the universal language for “sooo good”. My soon-to-be brother-in-law went with the classic comfort food, Chicken Pot Pie, baked and served in soft and flaky shell served with warm salad of greens on the side to add the health factor to the dish.

Our laid-back but attentive waiter offered us a selection of wonderful sounding desserts, which includes everything from old fashioned soda shop staples of Sundaes, Milkshakes and Root Beer Floats to a Strawberry Layer Cream Cake, a Triple Chocolate Layer Cake, a Lemon Curd Cake a variety of other baked goods made in-house.

I’m so glad I ventured east of 55^th street this evening. I’m counting down the days until I get to visit Huckleberry again. I’m planning on bringing several more guests next time because there’s no way that I’m going to be able to limit myself when it comes to sampling the breakfast/brunch menu at the Louisville restaurant that was voted “Best Brunch”… in Boulder.

Huckleberry is open seven days a week and is part of Three Leaf Concepts Restaurants that includes The Boulder Dunshanbe Teahouse, Aji Latin American Restaurant, Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant and Zucca Italian Ristorante. Three Leaf Concepts also runs the Three Leaf Farm in Louisville where they grow organic produce to supply their restaurants with.

The post The Bolder Life: Adventures in Huckleberry Dining appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The White Buffalo hails from Southern California, but his lyrics, sound and passion are straight out of a Johnny Cash performance circa the early 1960’s. You know the sound. That unique ability to combine sets of steam-rolling guitar and drum beats flawlessly along with songs laced with intimacy, cultural importance, and honestly. It’s rare to find an artist that sings the beer drinking songs with as much rawness and finesse as the love making songs.

Jake Smith, The White Buffalo, was born to write and play music. There’s no doubt about it.

Throw in some songs about life, a song that one fan in the crowd used as his wedding song, Matt Lynott on the drums and Tommy Andrews on the bass and you have the makings of a killer show at the Fox Theater on Saturday night.

With as many big name bands that play at the Fox Theater in Boulder, Colorado, it’s easy to forget what a small place the venue really is. It takes that special artist that truly appreciates music, life on the road, a couple of long-neck bottled beers and the high they get from performing to make a venue intimate. Watching the three unique and excited artists that make up the current White Buffalo road line-up having a total blast sharing their craft and challenging each other to play faster and perform better is even worth the drive from Colorado to California to see these guys play on their native turf.

The White Buffalo sounds like the incredibly talented love child of Johnny Cash and Eddie Vedder with the kind of impeccable yet soft and raw songwriting skills that will strike a chord with everyone from your whiskey drinking brother-in-law, to your sweet and gentle grandma who will be sure to find the soothing tones of Jake Smith’s voice loveable (and probably pretty attractive)—and his love and authenticity when it comes to music unrivaled.

Saturday’s live White Buffalo show at the Fox gave local Boulderites a taste of some of the White Buffalo’s most beloved songs along with a smattering of energetic, foot-stomping, wild west-loving tunes off of the newly released album, Once Upon a Time in the West.

Every pluck of the guitar string, every heart felt high note that surprisingly follows one of the Buffalo’s perfectly pitched low growls, every stomp of the foot, every smile that radiates from the bass player’s mouth and every shard of drumstick that’s sacrificed during the drummer’s remarkable performance made this show amazing. The White Buffalo and his band will continue their tour in Oregon followed by shows in Washington, Idaho and Utah before they make it home to their native Cali.

If you have the chance to see this guy play live—take it—and be sure to make enough noise to bring him out for an encore. You’ll get the chance to hear him cover Jimmy Webb’s, The Highway Man and you’ll see one of the most unforgettable live performances of your life. If you aren’t able to catch one of the White Buffalo’s shows on this tour—then I suggest you purchase one if not all of his albums here. His songs will quickly creep their way onto every playlist you’ve ever created and you’ll be stalking his YouTube channel and Facebook and Twitter pages to stay updated on new music releases and tour dates for your next opportunity to catch him live.

Once upon a time in the west, I fell in love with music again.

Until next time.

The post The Bolder Life: Once Upon a Time in the West appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

A bear walks into a bar and sits down.
He calls the bartender over and says, “I’d like a jack …………… and coke.”
The bartender says, “okay, but why the big pause?”
The bear looks down and says, “I dunno, I was born with them!”

This is the joke that I told my friend on one of the beautiful trails that weaves its way up Pikes Peak just after we’d discovered that we’d been separated from our group and had just spent the last hour hiking two miles in the wrong direction.

The group that we’d lost were participants in one of Love Hope Strength’s fundraising musical pilgrimages in which people get together to conquer massive mountains (literally), listen to some live music and raise awareness for cancer research. (Love Hope Strength is an amazing charity that is based out of Denver. Click here for more info about LHS and ways that you can offer your support).

On this crazy day, halfway to the top of Pikes Peak, I was introduced to one of my favorite musicians whose tunes can be found on pretty much every iPod playlist I’ve ever created.

The White Buffalo captures the essence of everything that is revered about a true musician and songwriter that creates and performs his own lyrics. Years after listening to him perform live for the first time the sound of his voice and his music still gives me the chills. A combination of songs from the heart sung with the perfect amount of power and soul to completely silence an entire venue. The White Buffalo represents a dying breed of musicians with livers of steel that live and die by the road and continuously produce underground music with a cult following of true fans that have had the pleasure of hearing the authentic tunes live.

This Saturday, The White Buffalo will pay a visit to the Fox Theatre in Boulder.

Show kicks off at 9:00 p.m. with some tunes by Danny Shafer and Christopher  Hawley followed by The White Buffalo’s seamless blend of old-school country with a touch of folk and rock n’ roll.

Tickets are $8 in advance and $12 at the door which is a steal for the killer show you’re going to see!

Not convinced yet? Then check out The White Buffalo’s YouTube channel and let his music speak for itself.

The post The Bolder Life: The White Buffalo Plays the Fox appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

I’ve been living under a rock. A giant rock. Like one of those rocks that Land Rover and Jeep dealerships use to give potential driver’s a taste of the power of their product.

I’ve thought about mixing bikes and booze before. I mean, bikes and booze are two staples of living the Bolder Life in Boulder County. But getting a group of your friends together to ride bikes and seek booze can be a little tricky. There’s the handful of your friends that (gasp!) don’t have bikes. Then there’s always the one friend that has a flat tire or can’t find their bike lock, and mass chaos ensues leaving the rest of the group scrambling.

Well, my friends, picture this—a sixteen-passenger bike that will take you and your friends on a tour of your favorite Boulder or Fort Collins bars for a booze cruise that you will likely never forget.

I was introduced to the MyHandleBar crew and the ridiculous concept of the sixteen-passenger bike this week when I ventured out on a cruise around downtown Boulder to three of the most popular restaurants in the area. Let me paint you a picture:

First Stop: After a solid group effort to power this mobile bar through the busy, traffic-filled streets of downtown Boulder, our group was delivered to the front steps of Salt the Bistro in the old Tom’s Tavern digs. We were escorted to the dark and moody lower level of the restaurant where we were met by head mixologist, Evan Faber, and recent Boulder’s Best Mixologist winner, Adrian Sutevski.  The duo walked us through two unique cocktails and through SALT’s vision and promise to produce the best beverages using as many local and in-house ingredients and as many understandable descriptions as possible. The cocktails were delicious and Evan and Adrian’s passion for mixology incredibly infectious. Don’t forget to bring your own vinyl and share some of your old school records with the passionate staff and grateful patrons that frequent the lower section of this stand-out Boulder restaurant.

Second Stop: The Dunshanbe Tea House is a landmark on the Boulder map. The history behind the Tea House is just as amazing as the interior and exterior of this beautifully crafted building. Up until this week, I had no idea that alcoholic beverages were served at the bar of this incredibly peaceful place that promotes relaxation and all-around happy thoughts. But they do. They serve a delicious cocktail infused with a tangerine tea made especially for the Tea House by Celestial Seasonings. The cocktail is light and refreshing and perfectly matches the serene setting in which it’s meant to be enjoyed in.

Third Stop: I would visit Aji on the East End, solely for their delicious ceviche and prime location for people watching. (The comfortable seats that run along Pearl Street provide some of the best people watching on the entire mall!) But Aji offered me something even better than the ceviche and the opportunity to see a tiny seventy-year-old man walking arm-in-arm with two attractive younger women—Pisco Sours. This South American drink is a wonderful accompaniment to Aji’s Latin-inspired menu. Order one on your next visit and be sure to check out Aji’s sister restaurant, Leaf, which is offering up a vegetarian menu right next door!

MyHandleBar is a sixteen-passenger bike that offers tours in Boulder and Fort Collins. Booze is not served on the bike, a minimum of two hours is required per trip and five of the sixteen seats do not require any peddling. Friday and Saturday rates are $180/hour. (That’s just $22.50 per person for a fun and safe ride around town!)Sunday-Thursday rates are $160/hour and Holiday rates are $200/hour. Visit the MyHandleBar website for more info and to book your tour today!

The post The Bolder Life: MyHandleBar Madness appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

You’ve seen the buttons with that cute, little red P on some of your favorite websites. You’re constantly viewing images of things that your friends have “pinned” running through their Facebook and Twitter feeds. You’ve thought about signing up, but you’re still not really sure what Pintrest is all about.

That’s okay. A lot of people still have no idea how to really utilize this photo-sharing website.

I like Pintrest. I’m a huge procrastinator, so websites that are frequently updated with pictures of food, pretty flowers, and shiny DIY projects definitely give me the platform that I need to maximize my procrastination.

Most of the time, I feel pretty inadequate while scrolling through the Pintrest reel. I mean, I don’t own a crockpot, I have no idea how to crochet, and the last time I was looking for a wedding dress I was five, and looking for some trouble in my mother’s closet. For those of you Pintrest users, you can see how this affects how I feel about the website.

So—even though some of my crafty and cutesy pinboards might be struggling, I’ve found some new ways to play with Pintrest that don’t involve any skill, yarn, high tech cooking gadgets or a wedding in the near future.

Tracking/Sharing Food & Libation Items from Your Favorite Dining Hubs
You Yelp, share food pics on Forkly and inform the world which craft beers you’re currently drinking and digging on Untapped. So why not share pictures and reviews of must-try menu items or beverages from your favorite local spots? You’re in the know, so let your friends know which meals and beverages that shouldn’t be missing out on next time they’re out on the town. Also, this is a great way to keep expanding your foodie, craft beer-nerd status as you can track which places/items you’ve already tried.

Create and Event Calendar
So you can never remember exactly which month Frozen Dead Guy Days is held, or whether Rocky Grass falls at the beginning of the summer or at the end. That’s okay. Create an Events Calendar board and start pinning website links of your must-see list of concerts, festivals and public shindigs going on in your ‘hood. I constantly come across events that I’m dying to check out, but with so many fun things happening locally, it’s hard to remember them all! Downtown Boulder, the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau and Colorado Tourism are a step above the rest in creating Pintrest pages that highlight local events, restaurants and things to do in the area.

Get More Out of Your Local Retail Shops
Ever wonder where your favorite local retail stores get their inspiration? Follow them on Pintrest to find out which other local retail stores that dig on and what inspires them to make awesome products for you. If you’re an athletic lady, definitely follow Skirt Sports. They’re a local company pumping out feminine workout clothes for the serious athlete who still likes to keep it a little on the sassy (yet on practical side). Skirt Sports isn’t only pinning pictures of their apparel, if you follow them, you’ll also get in the know about their favorite places to work out along with workout plans images of things that keep them motivated. Pretty cool. Utilize the Pintrest search button and search for your favorite people/businesses.

The post The Bolder Life: 3 Things You Probably Aren’t, But Should Be Using Pintrest For appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Although spring has just begun, I’m already feeling pretty exhausted by all of the awesomeness that this time of year has to offer.

Can we please talk about this 70-degree weather!

Amazing.

So amazing that I’ve spent every free hour of daylight soaking up the sunshine—hiking, biking taking up space on my favorite restaurant’s patios. It’s been a rough go. I struggled through my epic twenty-seventh birthday weekend. I’ve raced out of work to sneak in some time on my favorite trails. I came down with a case of spring fever. I ate my way through Denver Restaurant Week and now I’ve completely immersed myself in March Madness. (Go Buffs!) Sounds pretty rough, I know.

What I need is some good old fashioned R&R. I might even turn off my cell phone this weekend. (Yeah right). I’ll probably fall asleep at 9 o’clock every night and only eat frozen food from a box. (I can’t even be bothered to cook or clean this weekend—way too difficult).

When I need to rest and recharge, I usually pay a visit to three places—I highly recommend that you check them out:

Wonderland Lake Trailhead
This is my favorite place to go to get a little fresh air, some good scenery and a little peace of mind when a good 5-mile hike just isn’t in the cards. There’s no better place to relax and take in a deep breath than at this North Boulder trail. I typically park at the Foothills Trailhead and make my way around the 1.5 mile Wonderland Lake loop. The view of the Flatirons is absolutely stunning and I’m a pretty big fan of trails with lakes. Plus, this trail is a quick five minute drive to the Upslope Brewing Tap Room… I’m just saying.

Boulder Community Acupuncture
If I had a nickel for every time someone told me to “just relax”, I could buy my own acupuncture clinic. But since that’s not how the world works, I still leave my stress-relief in the more than capable hands of the ladies at Boulder Community Acupuncture. I always feel refreshed, relaxed and sometimes a little intoxicated after leaving an appointment. Plus, their sliding scale payment plan means that you pay what you can afford leaving your wallet relaxed and refreshed as well.

Itsera Martial Arts and Family Fitness
I can’t say enough good things about this little gym in Niwot. I started taking kickboxing classes here last month, and I’m kind of obsessed. There’s no better feeling than leaving a workout tired, sweaty and super relaxed. Itsera offers Kickboxing classes, Muay Thai classes and Boot Camp classes. The instructors are fantastic and you’re encouraged to go at your own pace. Plus, each class ends with a little meditation and a positive message for the week.

The post The Bolder Life: Some Good Old Fashioned R&R appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Oh Saint Patrick—most people have no idea why they drink Guinness, wear green, eat corned beef and cabbage and celebrate you every year on March 17th, but they always do!

I love Saint Patrick’s Day. The holiday falls a week after my birthday which naturally means that I spent my first Irish holiday of legal drinking age attempting to consume a green beer or a shot of Irish whiskey at every bar on the south side of Pearl St. from the West End Tavern to Conor O’Neills. Needless to say, I failed. My endeavors were short lived and Irish whiskey and anything colored with green food coloring are still a touchy subject to this day!

There are plenty of shenanigans happening locally this weekend to help you celebrate St. Patty’s day in a much less ridiculous manner. Find out which of your favorite local spots are throwing green-inspired celebrations this Saturday.

If you’re a die-hard when it comes to celebrating the holiday, then you should definitely spend your day at Conor O’Neills. The popular Irish pub kicks off an all day celebration with performances by Irish Dancers and bagpipers starting at 10:00 a.m. Obviously, Conor’s will be cooking up some killer Irish fare and offering drink specials on the best alcoholic beverages to come out of Ireland. Also—be sure to check out their website for their recipes for Irish Bread, Guinness Beer Bread and Stout Brownies.

Craving some Shepard’s Pie? How about some Corned Buffalo and Cabbage? The Old Louisville Inn is serving up some Irish grub with a twist at their 18^th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival. No cover. Tunes by Pat O’Kelly and the Highland Bagpipers, an Irish Sing-A-Long and a chance to win a 2012 Beach Cruiser! Enjoy drink specials on the patio and find out why OLI is a leader in local St. Patty’s Day celebrations!

If you haven’t discovered the Niwot Tavern yet then St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to check out this small town gem. $12 gets you a heaping plate of Corned Beef and Cabbage, Red Potatoes and Irish Soda Bread. Wash down Chef Dave’s expertly prepared Irish cuisine with specially priced Jameson shots, Boulevard Brewing Irish Ales and tasty Irish coffee.

Mike O’Shays in Longmont offers a traditional Irish menu all year long, but they’re serving up Corned Beef and Cabbage this Saturday along with Guinness Tenderloin Tips, Shepard’s Pie and Bangers and Mash. Also enjoy a selection of Irish beers along with some live tunes from the Fort Collins Pipe Band.

And if you’re a glutton for punishment, then start of your St. Patrick’s Day festivities a day early with “The Eve of Destruction Tour” on Friday presented by Left Hand Brewing. Hosted by favorite local brewery rep, Bubba Love, and his team of merry “blackberries in a jar” this event will definitely get you into the spirit of the Irish! Follow Bubba Love as he promotes the Nitro Milk Stout at nine different beer joints in Boulder County. Bubba also promises to serenade you with his favorite Irish drinking songs which I’m sure would even make Saint Patrick proud!

With all of the crazy St. Patty’s Day events going on this weekend, I sure hope the luck of the Irish is on your side when you wake up on Sunday morning!

“May the winds of fortune sail you,
May you sail a gentle sea.
May it always be the other guy
who says, “this drink’s on me.”

Cheers!

The post The Bolder Life: Luck of the Irish appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

This weekend marks the second anniversary of my twenty-fifth birthday and what better way to celebrate this momentous occasion than with a few of my favorite things.

Bikes, delicious craft beer and some warm weather barbequing. Throw in one awesome best friend (also celebrating a birthday), a slew of other bike-riding, beer-drinking folks and a good old fashioned barbeque and I truly do have the makings of a pretty awesome birthday.

I’m pretty excited, and I never get excited about birthdays.

It all started on the day of my tenth birthday party when my parents drove away from the Roller Rink, leaving me in the bathroom until they realized their error and came tearing back into the parking lot. They didn’t even have the decency to leave some of my birthday presents for me to play with to pass the time. I know, right? Pretty scarring. Then there was the time I got a triple chocolate, fudge-filled, oreo cake with chocolate ice cream for my birthday. Sounds delicious–for people that actually like chocolate.

So here I am. Giving the whole birthday shenanigans business another shot. I mean, you only turn twenty-five a handful of times!

Here are some of my tips for throwing a bikes, brews and barbeque shindig of your own:

Recon and Taste Testing

Luckily for me, I live within a quick bike ride to Avery Brewing, Boulder Beer Co., Redstone Meadery, and the wildcard stop on the tour—303 Vodka. Because I’m a really good person, care about others and want my friends to have a good time at my birthday shenanigans, I’ve done quite a bit of taste testing and spent my share of time scoping out the best local tasting rooms to stop at on the tour. Seriously—I’m a giver.

Two Wheels

My bike’s name is Lilly. We spend a lot of time together, so naturally I wanted to include her in my birthday festivities. However, I understand that not everyone has a working bike—or a bike period. Don’t let that deter you. If your friends can’t get in on the best and most responsible part of the action, then have them check out this site. B-Cycle exists in Boulder and Denver and offers the bike-less the chance to jump on two wheels for the day. The concept is so simple: sign up online, choose a bike from one of the conveniently placed B-Stations, participate in shenanigans, return the bike. Great idea and very reasonably priced.

Barbeque Dos

The hardest part about throwing a barbeque isn’t figuring out how to light the grill—it’s finding the right combination of alcoholic beverages to please each of your particular guests. Shake things up a bit by asking each of your guests to bring a six-pack of their favorite beer, or bottle of their favorite wine to share. Everyone gets a tasty beverage and a little variety– a win-win for all. And be sure to get all of your food prepping done earlier in the day. Marinate some chicken, prep your burger patties, cook up some cold pasta salad, a little strawberry spinach salad action, slice up some potato wedges for some grilling, whip up some yummy cupcakes—and you’re all set!

So happy biking, beer-drinking and barbequing to you, and happy birthday to me!

With blue skies and 60-degree weather, this weekend is the perfect time to get a little recon and taste tasting done for some of your upcoming celebration shenanigans!

The post The Bolder Life: Bikes, Brews and Barbeques appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Today—is beautiful. The sun is shining. The slight breeze is a welcome change from the terrible winds ripping through the area lately. Local restaurants and bars have their patios open and people all around the Boulder County area counting down the seconds until they can shut down their computers and soak up some happy hour sun.

I love spring. Spring means festival season is just around the corner and event calendars everywhere are brimming with awesome activities.

This week, Downtown Boulder’s calendar is packed with some great events that I had a tough time picking out my top 4—but like a true professional, I pulled through.

Here’s my list of events that you should definitely check out this week! Take a trip to downtown Boulder, park for free in the parking garages on Saturday and Sunday, save time for a cocktail or two, and have a wonderful, fun-filled week in Boulder!

Denver Restaurant Week
Participating Restaurants |Now through March 9^th
Restaurant Week… is almost over. And this is definitely an event that you shouldn’t miss. Some of Denver and Boulder County’s most popular restaurant are offering up 3 to 4-course menus for $26.40 per person. That’s an insane price for some of the specialty courses prepared by top local chefs. I have reservations at SALT tonight and I can’t wait get down on some Orange Buttermilk Panna Cotta. Come on, you know that sounds good! Check here for a list of participating restaurants and do no miss this special deal!

Beyond 127 Hours: An Evening with Aron Ralston
The Boulder Theater | Thursday, March 8^th
You saw 127 Hours. Your heart probably broke a little bit every time you saw poor James Franco screaming in agony. But what you probably didn’t know, is the main character of this award-winning film actually lives in Boulder. Aron Ralston is a Boulderite, an avid hiker and climber and a conservation activities for the wild lands of Utah and Colorado. Hear Aron’s story live and for free this Thursday at the Boulder Theater. The event is free but the extensive and adventurous stories that Aron has are priceless.

Food as Art bARTer Collective: Foodlore
BMoCA | March 8 & 9
Let’s be real, you consider yourself a foodie, and living in a shining culinary hub like Boulder County, I would consider you a foodie too. Which is why you should check out this unique event at Boulder’s beloved BMoCA. Send in a recipe with a special or personal story attached to it. Stories will be included in special food-centric performances done over two days at the museum. Check out installations, performances and events all centered around food and since there isn’t a charge for these events, you’ll still have money in your pocket to take your friends out for dinner to show off your exceptional foodie knowledge.

Boulder’s Best Mixologist Contest
BMoCA | Sunday, March 11
I’m sure you’ve heard some buzz about this special event going on in downtown Boulder. The art of cocktails is quickly becoming just as revered as the art of food, with several of Boulder’s most familiar bartenders competing in contest all over the state and the nation to show off their unique mixology skills. This mixology contest will bring the cream of the crop in mixologists into one room and for the price of $45.00 per person, you’ll have the opportunity to sample their special cocktails as they compete against each other for the coveted title of Boulder’s Best Mixologist. Vote on your favorite cocktail and see who takes this crown in this battle of the bartenders.

The post The Bolder Life: I Love Boulder in the Spring appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

There are a ton of strange and unique festivals that happen year-round in Colorado, but the Frozen Dead Guy Days Festival pretty much takes the cake!

For one weekend, every spring, Nederland throws an awesome party to celebrate life, death and the afterlife of one super famous dead guy who spends his days in a really cold Tuff Shed tucked in the hills of Nederland. I mean really, it doesn’t get much cooler than that. (Pun totally intended). This year, the highly anticipated festival is in new hands, but the traditions are  staying the same. Pay tribute to Grandpa Bredo, Nederland’s most popular resident, with a weekend filled with live music, craft beer, coffin races, polar plunges, tours of Grandpa Bredo’s resting place, costume contests, a parade of hearses, a cryogenic workshop, pancake breakfast, icy turkey bowling, brain freeze contest and a one of the shortest pub crawls you’ll ever attend! I mean really, it is a dead man’s party. Who could ask for more?

So here’s the skinny. A breakdown of events by day. And be sure to check out the list of bands performing at Dead Guys Days. They’re all pretty much to-die-for.

Get bundled up, grab your friends and don’t miss this awesomely ridiculous festival going on March 2-4^th!

Friday, March 2^nd

• Beer Tent featuring brews by Avery Brewing and Left Hand Brewing will be open from 3:00-8:00 p.m.
• Live Music starts at 3:00 p.m. with Mekanizm followed by Longest Day of the Year at from 4:45 – 6:00 p.m. and Fried Grease closing out the musical entertainment for the night.
• Take a tour of Tuff Shed where Grandpa Bredo resides between 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
• Opening Ceremony at 7:00 p.m. will feature the famous Skelton Dancers and the unveiling of a snow sculpture by Cool Hand Carvers.
• Finish the night at Grandpa’s Blue Ball and enter the Ice Queen and Grandpa look-a-like contest. Listen to tunes by Nederland’s own, The Big Blue Ball Band. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door and $10 to enter the costume contest.

Saturday, March 3^rd

• Pancake Breakfast from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Community Center
• Tours of Grandpa’s Tuff Shed run at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.
• Learn all about Cryogenics at a workshop being held at the Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center at 10:30 & 2:30 p.m.
• The Brain Freezer tent opens and starts selling Avery and Left Hand beers from 11:00 – 8:00 p.m. Catch tunes by the Acoustic Mining Company, Blackdog and the Psycho Horns, Bread and Circus, Smooth Money Gesture and Bread and Circus between 11:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Chipeta Park.
• Kort McCumber, the Jeff Brinkman Band, Lesley Kernochan, Jet Edison and Ground up will be playing in the Brain Freezer tent throughout the day. Click here for a complete schedule of music going on around town.
• Charity Polar Plunge happening from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. in Chipeta Park. $20 entry fee.
• Coffin Races. Watch teams race their coffins through an obstacle course full of mud, snow, playground slides and other ridiculousness from 2 – 3:30 p.m.
• Bowling with frozen turkeys from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
• Show off your tough skills at the Brain Freeze Contest from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
• And jump in on possibly the shortest Pub Crawl ever from 6:30 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Sunday, March 4^th

• If you didn’t get your fill of pancakes on Saturday, then stop by Pancake Breakfast at the Community Center and fuel up for the day.
• The awesome ReAnimate Yourself Beer Tent will be serving up Avery and Left Hand brews along with a stream of live music from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Click here for a complete list of Sunday live music.
• Test your salmon tossing skills at the Salmon Toss & Sunday Brunch at the Sundance Café from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• If you didn’t get hypothermia at the Polar Plunge on Saturday, then sign up for Snowy Beach Volleyball from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Chiptea Park. Eight teams. First come, first serve.
• If you believe in that Big Foot exists, like my darling father, God bless his heart—then don’t miss the Sasquatch Investigations talk at from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the lower level of the Shopping Center.
• And if you’re into yoga, then learn how to do the corpse pose at Tadasana Mountian Yoga. Drop in any time between noon and 1:00 p.m. for $5.00.
• Catch Turkey Bowling again from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. and enter the crazy Brain Freeze Contest from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
• The Cool Hand Ice Carving Demonstration from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. sounds pretty cool… contestants of the Newly “Dead” Game at 2:00 p.m. can find out just how well they know their partner’s last wishes.
• An Extreme Air Guitar Competition at 2:30 p.m. and a 3:00 p.m. Rocky Mountain Oyster Eating Competition at the First Street Pub put an end to the scheduled festival events for the day.
• The Closing Ceremony at 5:00 p.m. puts the nail in the coffin of this crazy weekend, and planning begins for next year!

The post The Bolder Life: It’s a Dead Man’s Party appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Okay.

So 5,280 reasons is pretty excessive—and incredibly time consuming for the author; but the fact of the matter is that Denver Restaurant Week starts this Sunday! It’s time to put a game plan together and get serious about making reservations at the participating restaurants that you are dying to indulge at.

If you aren’t familiar with the specific details behind this tasty, budget-friendly event—you better get familiar. Restaurant week embodies all that is good about being a food fanatic for the low price of $52.80 per couple or $26.40 per person. Starting February 25 – March 9^th, diners will enjoy multi-course meals composed of regular and specialty menu items brought to you by the creative minds behind many of the most successful eateries in the 303 area code. What’s even better is Restaurant Week is actually two weeks of dining fun! That means that you’ll have plenty of time to eat your way through the participating restaurants list while still leaving time to digest and sleep in between. I’m salivating just thinking about it.

Hundreds of local restaurants are participating in this food fest and a special web page created for the most organized and serious foodie allows diners to find participating restaurants by neighborhood and by cuisine. Do you love, love Italian? Awesome, because these restaurants love making Italian food. Can’t get enough sushi? That’s great, because these restaurants have plenty of sticky rice and raw fish to prepare your favorite rolls. Easy and convenient.

Not a fan of leaving the comfort of the Boulder County bubble? I don’t blame you, it’s nice here– and fortunately, you don’t have to leave the bubble to get in on the Restaurant Week fun. Check out this list of the Boulder County restaurants offering up delicious deals.

Personally—I can’t wait to try the Octopus Carpaccio and Gorgonzola Gnocchi at Arugula. And I’ve been itching to check out John’s Restaurant that has a Black Angus New York Strip Steak on their menu that alone is worth almost as much as the bill for two diners to enjoy a 3-course Restaurant Week meal!

And if you’re feeling adventurous and want to venture outside of Boulder County, check out Freshcraft in downtown Denver. The Sweetbreads will leave you speechless and their huge selection of craft beer will validate the trip alone.

Click here for a complete list of participating restaurants.

Break out the stretchy pants and anti-acids.

And remember that tax, gratuity and accompanying libations are not included.

The post The Bolder Life: 5,280 Reasons to Love Denver Restaurant Week appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Happy Mardi Gras, y’all!

Today is Fat Tuesday, and history and tradition state that today is the day to eat richer and indulge in your favorite fatty foods before tomorrow comes along and Ash Wednesday guilts everyone into giving up the things they love—like “sweets” and “gluten”.

Even though Colorado is a long way from the French Quarter, some of your favorite local restaurants and bars are celebrating Mardi Gras in style tonight! With menus filled with everything from crawfish, Andouille sausage and shrimp to frog legs, roasted hog and even alligator! Spend your gluttonous day indulging in some traditional N’awlins cuisine, sipping on Hurricanes, and stomping your feet along to the sounds of a washboard and some classic Zydeco music!

Check out these Boulder County locations tonight and get your Mardi Gras on Bourbon St. Style!

Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids
1555 S. Hover Rd. | Longmont | 7-10 pm
Oskar Blues is serving up traditional down-home cooking all year round, but you can always count on them go big for Mardi Gras. Get your purple, green and gold beads here and catch one of the best Bluesania Zydeco bands that will be sure to have you on your feet all night! Get your Whole Roasted Hog, Alligator, traditional Gumbo, Oysters on the half-shell, Hurricane’s, Abita Amber Ale, Zydeco music and face painting for the kids—here.

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
928 Pearl St. | Boulder
Two words: Crawfish. Boil. I love a good Cajun Crawfish Boil, and Jax Fish House knows just how to do ‘em right! Live gulf crawfish and shrimp, a little spicy Andouille sausage, some red skin potatoes, old bay seasoning, fresh lemon and a little bit of love. Jax is also serving up some crispy Bayou Frog Legs served with blackened aioli and house slaw along with some fried oyster and shaved tasso ham Po’ Boys. Cajun cuisine at its finest!

Lyons Fork
450 Main St. | Lyons | Dinner at 4 pm, Music at 7 pm
Join the Lyons Fork for Fat Tuesday and the last day of their Feasts of New Orleans! Food specials include:  Sausage Jambalaya, Trout Ponchetrain, Begnets and King Cakes. Live music starts at 7 pm with some collaborative blues by local boys, Ash Ganley and Terry Kishiyama. And while you’re there, celebrate National Margarita Day one day early with some tequila goodness whipped up by the friendly Fork bartenders.

Lucky Pie
637 Front St. | Louisville
Louisville gem, Lucky Pie is throwing a Fat Tuesday party filled with drink specials and a unique take on Cajun food. Order a Lucky Pie Cajun Pizza and wash it down with a $3 Polestar Pilsner or a $5 Sazerac! LP will also be serving up some Andouille and Chicken Gumbo along with their regular delicious menu and 21 tap handles of craft beer love.

The post The Bolder Life: Bourbon Street Meets BoCo appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

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.

The post The Bolder Life: Movies, Music and More! appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.