Restaurants

Overall EC

Winner: Sugarbeet

Sugarbeet is so damn good, we consider it the quintessential perfect restaurant. Billed as Modern American cuisine, every meal we’ve had there has been a ten. The service makes you feel like the only customer in the room, and the setting is cozy, intimate, and quietly exceptional.

Runner Up: Piripi

Overall Bldr

Winner: Salt

The culinary team here works under a three-pronged mantra: healthy, delicious, and sustainable. And they do that in an amazing location built in 1898 in downtown Boulder, filled with an electrical ambiance. After a great meal, you’ll walk out into the night and realize how lucky you were to be there.

Runner Up: Boulder Cork

Contemporary EC

Winner: 24 Carrot

Seasonal, innovative, and a touch of quirky. Repeat winner 24 Carrot embodies contemporary, fresh farm-to-table cuisine into crave-worthy dishes and clever cocktails, all served in a historic building that feels part speakeasy, part cozy neighborhood bistro.

Runner Up: Hickory & Ash

Contemporary B

Winner: Oak on 14th

Seasonal, innovative, and a touch of quirky. Repeat winner 24 Carrot embodies contemporary, fresh farm-to-table cuisine into crave-worthy dishes and clever cocktails, all served in a historic building that feels part speakeasy, part cozy neighborhood bistro.

Runner Up: River & Woods

Newcommer EC

Winner: Longmonter

Comfort food with purpose wins hearts fast. The Longmonter burst onto Main Street with crave-worthy mac and cheese, gourmet nostalgia, and playful charm, then added board games and seating, encouraging locals to linger after the last bite.

Runner Up: Red Cedar

Newcommer B

Winner: Cozobi Fonda Fina

Cozobi Fonda Fina feels like a place that’s just always been here. Everything about it (menu, service, decor, and especially the dishes) are polished, professional, and pack a flavor-filled punch. If they are this good already, other restaurants better step up their game.

Runner Up: Stella’s Cucina

Cheap Eats EC

Winner: Marco’s Hot Dogs & Tacos

Marco’s serves bacon-wrapped hot dogs piled like a ballpark feast and street-style tacos that hit every craving. Locals line up like it’s opening day because when the flavor’s this good, everyone wants a seat.

Runner Up: Eats and Sweets

Cheap Eats B

Winner: Cosmo’s Pizza

Cosmo’s Pizza started as a funky pizzeria on the Hill in Boulder known for its oversized slices and calzones. Since its beginnings in 2001, it has grown to six locations across Boulder, Denver, Lafayette, and Fort Collins. Known for late-night hours and New York–style pies, locals keep coming back for a cheap, satisfying bite.

Runner Up: Village Coffee Shop

Bread EC & B

Winner: Moxie Bread Co

Is it the crunch of the crust or the soft inside bursting with flavor? Maybe it’s their use of heirloom grains and fresh, unprocessed ingredients. It could be the stunning, southwestern-infused locale with a staff that couldn’t be more authentic. The real reason people come to Moxie is probably a little of it all.

Runner Up Bread EC: Babette’s

Runner Up Bread B: Dry Storage

Bakery EC

Winner: Button Rock Bakery

Button Rock Bakery is where you take your sweet tooth on a date. A repeat Best of the West winner, it’s famous for show-stopping cakes, playful details, and pastries so good they turn an ordinary day into a celebration.

Runner Up: Babette’s/Stacy’s Kitchen

Bakery B

Winner: Boulder Baked

You’ve had a chocolate chip cookie before, but you’ve never had one like this. The sweet treats offered by the culinary artisans here are of the “back in line” variety because as soon as you have one, you’ll be heading back in line for more.

Runner Up: Spruce Confections

Bagel EC & B

Winner: Moe’s Broadway Bagel

Moe’s Broadway Bagel doesn’t just win Best of the West, it owns it. Twenty years on, locals skip the debate and know the routine: chewy bagels, quick orders, and the quiet confidence of a place that never has to try too hard.

Runner Up: Big Daddy Bagels

BBQ EC

Winner: C’s BBQ

C’s BBQ isn’t just food, it’s a smoky spectacle. Tender ribs, brisket, and punchy house rubs turn Lafayette weekends into a pop-up block party your taste buds will RSVP to. Party deets: with Cherry’s Cheesecakes on Saturdays at the Lumberyards at Lafayette.

Runner Up: Wayne’s Smoke Shack

BBQ B

Winner: Big Daddy Food Truck

Big Daddy’s Texas BBQ has become Boulder’s go-to food truck for slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork, and Southern sides served with big portions and big flavor. With loyal followers who line up before it sells out and a vibe that feels more neighborhood pit stop than roadside stand, it’s BBQ done Boulder-style.

Runner Up: KT’s BBQ

Breakfast EC

Winner: Morning Glory

Morning Glory Café proves breakfast deserves applause. Legendary fried rice bowls, blueberry pancakes, and scratch-made goodness from local farms turn sleepy mornings into flavor-packed performances you’ll happily line up for.

Runner Up: Tangerine

Breakfast B

Winner: Tangerine

Remember the excitement of sliding into the kitchen and sitting down for breakfast when you were seven? There was an anticipation you wouldn’t have for any other meal. The adult-equivalent of that is heading into Tangerine for breakfast. Eggs, pancakes, bacon, beans — you’re about to be seven all over again.

Runner Up: Village Coffee Shop

Breakfast Burrito EC

Winner: Santiago’s

If you say you like breakfast burritos but you’ve never had one from Santiago’s, then you might not know what you’re talking about. That’s because their fresh, made from scratch burritos can redefine your morning. It’s why they’ve been named “Best of the West” for 25 years.

Runner Up: Santa Fe 2.0

Breakfast Burrito B

Winner: Santiago’s

It’s no wonder Santiago’s has swept this category every year. At just around $4 for the daily special, Santiago’s breakfast burritos are a morning fiesta: eggs, potatoes, award-winning green chile, a daily rotating meat, and gobs of cheese. Locals grab one… then five more to stock the fridge.

Runner Up: Blackbelly

Brunch EC

Winner: 24 Carrot

With so many choices for brunch, listen to the locals on this repeat multi-category winner. 24 Carrot turns brunch into a full-on celebration. Sweet potato benedicts, melt-in-your-mouth brisket hash, lemon-curd beignets, and cocktails that sparkle make every bite, sip, and moment feel like a sunny, flavor-packed party.

Runner Up: Morning Glory

Brunch B

Winner: Jill’s Restaurant & Bistro

Brunch is a bit of a magical meal and there’s really no one who does it any better. A good brunch offering hits the right harmony between griddle and grill. Jill’s offers a taste balance to give you a delightful and delicious start to the day or a mid-day meal surge.

Runner Up: Greenbriar Inn

Burger EC

Winner: Longs Peak Pub

Longs Peak Pub is a Boulder County original: no loud TVs, no frills, just legendary burgers, cold beer, and a bar where strangers become regulars. It’s old-school, no-nonsense, and exactly why locals keep coming back.

Runner Up: 99 Saloon

Burger B

Winner: The Sink

There’s a reason The Sink on the Hill is celebrating more than a century as a Boulder icon. Beyond the stories of Robert Redford, Anthony Bourdain, and Obama passing through, they put as much care into how they operate as what they serve. One hundred percent solar powered, composting, and paying fair wages only complement the legendary grass-fed burgers they’ve been serving for generations.

Runner Up: Mountain Sun

Greek EC & B

Winner: Kalita Grill

After becoming a favorite in Boulder, Kalita Grill expanded into Lafayette, where it was quickly embraced. Owner Armen Madoyan personally selects every ingredient, along with a thoughtfully curated wine selection. From hand-rolled dolma to house-made dishes, the food feels intentional, generous, and deeply personal.

Runner Up Greek EC: Pita Grill

Runner Up Greek B: Falafel King

Chinese EC

Winner: China Gourmet (Longmont)

China Gourmet is Longmont comfort food royalty. Massive menus, generous portions, and classic American Chinese favorites keep locals loyal. And those perfectly packed takeout boxes? Like little edible treasures you’ll fight over in the car.

Runner Up: Colorado Dumplings

Chinese B

Winner: Zoe Ma Ma

They don’t just have the best restaurant name in Boulder, Zoe Ma Ma also has an amazing “Oh maybe I want that” menu. From the braised beef soup noodle to their popular potstickers to the CPR dish, every menu item will make you reconsider your order because the next item on the list looks so good.

Runner Up: Ginger Pig

Coffee House EC

Winner: East Simpson Coffee Shop

East Simpson Coffee House is Lafayette’s living room. Coffee flows, pastries vanish, and strangers suddenly turn into your brunch BFFs. It’s the kind of place where lingering feels mandatory and deliciously justified.

Runner Up: Fox.Dog / Meco’s

Coffee House B

Winner: Boxcar Coffee

It’s not so much a coffee shop as it is a hub of the community. A place where people stop in the mornings so they can start their day with an authentic smile or run in to recharge in the middle of a chaotic Tuesday afternoon. And the fresh roasted coffee can’t be beat.

Runner Up: January Coffee

Gluten-Free EC

Winner: Morning Glory

Morning Glory Café proves gluten-free can be anything but boring. From hearty breakfast hashes to indulgent blueberry pancakes, celiac diners (and everyone else) eat worry-free, enjoying scratch-made dishes that feel like a treat, not a compromise.

Runner Up: TeoCali

Gluten-Free B

Winner: Zeal

Imagine you get to hang out in the kitchen of the coolest people you know, who just happen to be amazing cooks. Their locally-sourced, health-conscious, gluten-free meal options are crafted with inspiring flavors in a Boulder-centric style.

Runner Up: Sweet Sisters Bakery

Dessert EC

Winner: Button Rock Bakery

Button Rock Bakery turns dessert into a deliciously binding contract. Lavish cakes, outrageous pastries, and sweet creations so tempting make “just a bite” a hilarious lie and you’ll happily sign on for seconds, thirds, and then some.

Runner Up: Cherry’s Cheesecakes

Dessert B

Winner: Frasca

It’s not just locals who recognize how special the desserts at Frasca are, the restaurant has received multiple national awards. It’s not a “let’s go there tonight” stop, it’s a full experience that must be planned out, and when you do get there, the dessert will exceed your expectations.

Runner Up: Blackbelly

Colorado-Based Chain EC

Winner: Snarf’s Sandwiches

Since 1996, Snarf’s has grown from one Boulder shop to nearly 50 locations. Its oven-toasted sandwiches inspire serious loyalty like the sailor who landed at DIA, saw the logo, and made his ride wait, because Snarf’s comes first.

Runner Up: Santiago’s

Colorado-Based Chain B

Winner: Illegal Pete’s

When you have friends in from out of town and you want them to experience the vibe and people of Boulder, this is where you take them. And when they come back to town you bring them here again. And again because they have 90 million burrito combinations.

Runner Up: Snooze an AM Eatery

Green Chile EC

Winner: Santiago’s

Santiago’s green chile is the stuff of local legend: smoky, spicy, and unstoppable. Spoon it on breakfast burritos, fries, or straight from the bowl. Locals swear by it, and it’s been winning hearts and awards for over 25 years.

Runner Up: La Mariposa

Green Chile B

Winner: Efrain’s Boulder

This is a great place to get a great scratch-made meal and connect with neighbors. Running into a new friend here, you’ll want to see how they have been, but most of the conversation will settle around the green chiles, which is understandable.

Runner Up: Santo

Indian EC

Winner: Taj Mahal 3

For more than two decades, Taj Mahal 3 has been Louisville’s go-to for a proper Indian lunch buffet and reliably bold dinner plates. Family-owned and steady as ever, it’s where regulars load up on saag, tandoori, and biryani, dialing the heat exactly how they like it.

Runner Up: Flavor of India

Indian B

Winner: Jaipur

Jaipur is unique. With chefs earning world-class recognition and a late-night menu serving curry, masala, and naan until 3 a.m. They specialize in catering for any kind of event and offer a dining experience that earned this year’s Top Nod of Excellence. They are currently moving locations, but you can always stop at their sister restaurant, Taj Mahal 3 in Louisville.

Runner Up: Tiffins

Italian EC

Winner: Parma Trattoria

Parma is where handcrafted pasta twirls, wood-fired pizzas bubble, and sauces taste like your Nonna stayed up all night. It’s cozy, soulful, and so good you’ll consider skipping dinner tomorrow so you can enjoy seconds tonight.

Runner Up: Gondolier Italian Eatery

Italian B

Winner: Bacco Trattoria & Mozarella Bara

This place is more than its mozzarella bar (although, that’s pretty good too). Bacco Trattoria is a notable authentic Italian restaurant that is worth the trip across town to North Boulder. Come for the mozzarella bar and stay for the fresh herb butter, and the bolognese, and the lasagna, and the wine selection…

Runner Up: Pasta Jay’s

Mexican EC

Winner: TeoCalli

Teocalli Cocina makes you rethink tacos. Locals line up for carne asada that’s basically addictive; tempura-fried avocado; and salsas that hit all the right notes. It’s proof that fresh, bold Mexican cuisine always steals the show.

Runner Up: La Mariposa

Mexican B

Winner: Efrain’s Mexican of Boulder

A Boulder institution since 1998, Efrain’s is rooted in founder Efrain Gomez’s family recipes and bold Northern Chihuahua–style cuisine. After years in its original, funky space, the move into a modern dining room proved something rare: when the food is already perfect, the only thing to improve is the room it’s served in.

Runner Up: Santo’s

Patio EC

Winner: Stem Cider at Acreage

If Colorado had a backyard, it would be Acreage by Stem Ciders. Mountain views, sprawling lawns, kid-friendly wandering space, and house-made cider set the scene for family hangs that start with lunch and stretch through the golden hour.

Runner Up: Pumphouse

Patio B

Winner: Chautauqua Dining Hall

Since 1898, the Chautauqua has been a landmark favorite in Boulder County. The Dining Hall is managed by Three Leaf Catering, known for using ingredients from their own farm. You can get a full view of the Flatirons from the wraparound porch making it a perfect spot to have lunch or dinner after a hike on the local trails.

Runner Up: Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

Lunch EC

Winner: Stacy’s Kitchen

In just a couple of years, Stacy’s Kitchen has become beloved in Old Town Erie. Owner Stacy Gustafson opened the shop on her birthday in 2023, bringing hearty made-to-order sandwiches, fresh baked pies, and sweet treats rooted in lifelong love of food. Simple, affordable, and welcoming, it’s become the place locals go again and again.

Runner Up: Jeannot Patisserie

Lunch B

Winner: Avanti Food Hall

It’s one part European market and one part food truck park with seven rotating restaurants that specialize in food from around the world. It’s certainly no surprise that so many people call this their favorite. For the cherry on top, Avanti’s rooftop captures a picturesque view of the Flatirons.

Runner Up: Boulder Social

Sandwich EC & B

Winner: Snarf’s Sandwiches

Snarf’s Sandwiches reigns supreme, a consistent Best of the West winner since we began 25 years ago. Founder Jimmy Seidel remains the sole proprietor, building each shop with his own hands and his own money, even when funds were scarce. That dedication to the perfect sandwich has grown Snarf’s from a single Boulder shop into a multi-state favorite.

Runner Up Sandwich EC: Stacy’s Kitchen

Runner Up Sandwich B: Le Frigio

Seafood EC

Winner: Big Mac & Little Lu’s

Big Mac & Little Lu’s makes landlocked seafood dreams come true. With wild-caught fish, buttery lobster rolls, fresh oysters, and crave-worthy bisque, this spot delivers salty-air flavor without the airfare.

Runner Up Sandwich EC: 740 Front St.

Seafood B

Winner: Jax Fishhouse

Jax doesn’t care that Colorado is a land-locked state. They make sure that we get a taste of their famous crackjack oysters that’s only found on their menu. Since 1999, Jax Fish House has been prioritizing finding sustainable, responsibly sourced seafood in an effort to protect our oceans and bring the coast to the coast-less. Whether it’s the cioppino on Sundays, grilled swordfish, or gochujang cauliflower, Boulder’s top seafood house will satisfy you.

Runner Up: Spruce Farm & Fish

Pizza EC

Winner: Urban Field Pizza

Urban Field Pizza made a name for itself fast. In just a few years, the Longmont spot earned national recognition at the International Pizza Expo. With fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a willingness to push creative boundaries, it’s become a destination for pizza lovers and market wanderers alike.

Runner Up: Rosalee’s Pizzeria

Pizza B

Winner: The Sink

Buckle up. Thick ‘ugly crust’ on a Sinkza is essential to that Old Boulder dinner classic. The Sink on The Hill has been serving CU Boulder students for over 100 years, evident by the low ceilings signed by generations of alumni. Get a chance to sign it yourself on Pizza Tuesdays!

Runner Up: Cosmo’s Pizza

Steak EC

Winner: 740 Front St.

Steak at 740 Front is part of downtown Louisville’s rhythm. Housed in a restored 1904 saloon, it’s where locals go when they want a proper steak, a stiff drink, and a room that still feels rooted in the town’s past. Reliable, unfussy, and exactly what the night calls for.

Runner Up: Piripi

Steak B

Winner: Boulder Cork

As one of Boulder’s oldest restaurants and a repeat winner that can’t be toppled, Boulder Cork is an essential must-visit. Since 1969, the Cork has been serving a rotating menu that ranges from prime rib to their famous mud pie combined with a showcase of local art on brick walls that create an unforgettable experience.

Runner Up: Steakhouse 316

Sushi/Japanese EC

Winner: Sakura

A longtime Best of the West favorite, Sakura Japanese Restaurant has earned its reputation through consistency and craft. Rather than retire, the original owners passed the restaurant to their nephew, trained for years under master sushi chef Kho. From traditional sushi to tatami-style seating where shoes come off, Sakura remains as authentically Japanese as it gets.

Runner Up: Sumo Sushi

Sushi/Japanese B

Winner: Hapa Sushi

From Booty Call Rolls to Magic Mushrooms, Hapa Sushi will be sure to amaze you in their visual design and creative Japanese-Hawaiian cuisine. With DJ sets on the weekend, a full bar, and every day early bird happy hour, Hapa’s expanding menu and social energy produce a must-see location. 

Runner Up: Japango

Thai EC & B

Winner: Busaba

Busaba’s original Louisville location set the standard long before expansion. Bright curries, craveable noodles, and heat levels that actually mean something have built a fiercely loyal following. Scratch-made, vibrant, and unapologetically bold, it’s Thai food locals return to again and again, and a repeat Best Thai favorite since opening.

Runner Up Thai EC: Mana Thai

Runner Up Thai B: Aloy Thai

Vietnamese EC

Winner: Pho Cafe

Pho Café turns Vietnamese classics into a local legend. Rich broth, tender noodles, and banh mi that practically wink at you make every visit feel like a tasty little secret you’re thrilled to spill.

Runner Up: Saigon District One

Vietnamese B

Winner: Chez Thuy

This modest, unexpected, standalone restaurant on 28th is not just Vietnamese, but Thuy cuisine. Drawing locals and regulars alike, this place reveals a history lesson in its menu that combines passion with authenticity. The pho is hot, the Vietnamese coleslaw is tart, and Chez Thuy is expecting you there. 

Runner Up: Lotus Moon

Hot Dog EC

Winner: Marco’s Hot Dogs & Tacos

This is one of our favorite stops, and every new staff member gets taken to Marco’s Hot Dogs & Tacos. When the craving hits for Mexican hot dogs wrapped in bacon and topped with beans, mayonnaise, and whatever other goodies you want, we’ll drive across town. It’s a brick taco stand with outdoor seating, and once you’ve had the dogs, the long line makes perfect sense.

Runner Up: Costco

Hot Dog B

Winner: Mustard’s Last Stand

Mustard’s Last Stand is the last hot dog you’ll ever want. This place has been voted the best hot dogs in Denver and is in the Vienna Beef Hall of Fame because of their traditional Chicago-style dog that’s been bringing people to the back for over 45 years. Don’t forget the mustard on the classic! 

Runner Up: Freddie’s Hot Dog Stand

Taco EC

Winner: Taco’s Ay Ay Ay

Tacos Ay Ay Ay lives up to the drama in its name. Overflowing fillings, bold flavors, and a dash of Lafayette magic make every bite a tiny fiesta locals never want to end.

Runner Up: Teocali

Taco B

Winner: T/ACO

T/aco starts their mornings by milling their own corn so that it’s ready for the street tacos that night. Known for their surging hospitality, the staff go above and beyond to make sure every experience meets their high expectations. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find their rotating secret menu too.

Runner Up: McDevitt Taco Supply

Healthy Meal EC

Winner: Morning Glory

Being healthy at Morning Glory Café doesn’t mean sacrifice. Colorful bowls, inventive dishes, and fresh local ingredients make “good for you” taste downright irresistible.

Runner Up: Moxie Bread Co

Healthy Meal B

Winner: Zeal

There is a story in every dish, and Zeal tells a tale of how healthy and good come together.. Their philosophy is sustainable and clean food that actually is kind to you and the planet. No matter if you’re vegetarian, vegan, keto, or just a regular meat-lover, Zeal will have an option for you. 

Runner Up: Leaf

Chef EC

Winner: Hugo Meyer / Piripi

Chef Hugo Meyer doesn’t just run a kitchen, he choreographs it. Globetrotting experience, fearless flavor instincts, and a dash of mischief make Piripi the kind of restaurant you tell everyone about before dessert even arrives.

Runner Up: Sean Gafner / Roose, Jefes, 99 Saloon, Swaylos

Chef B

Winner: Hosea Rosenburg / Blackbelly

Starting with a food truck, a farm, and a catering business, Hosea Rosenberg evolved his aspirations into the Michelin Guide Green Star restaurant: Blackbelly. From New Mexico to CU Boulder to winning season five of Top Chef, Rosenberg opened his own restaurant and, recently, his own butcher shop in order to perfect cured meats. 

Runner Up: Bradford Heap / Salt

Chocolatier EC

Winner: Chocolaterie Stam

Chocolaterie Stam is Lafayette’s sweetest troublemaker. Bonbons, truffles, and hot chocolate so good it should come with a warning turns casual indulgence into a full-blown chocolate obsession.

Runner Up: Robin’s Chocolates

Chocolatier B

Winner: Piece, Love & Chocolate

This is the place you go if you have that craving. Chocolate, tiramisu, brownies, tarts, truffles…this boutique has just about everything. You can even take classes to get a peak into what goes on behind the curtain. 

Runner Up: Lift Chocolates

Drinks

Overall Bar EC

Winner: Erie Social Club

No longer a newcomer, Erie Social Club has become a fixture in town over the past five years. The interior sets the tone, with craft cocktails designed by in-house mixologists and a wine selection carefully curated by owner Nick. It’s a bar that feels intentional in every detail and it shows in the wins.

Runner Up: West Side Tavern

Overall Bar B

Winner: Bitter Bar

The staff’s welcome into this lamp-lit neighborhood nook is just as warm as the lighting feels. They offer your usuals along with unique inventions like “Strawberry Feels Forever.” The Beatle’s-themed cocktail features strawberry boba – the FIRST cocktail with boba we’ve seen – which only adds to the delight of this Boulder staple.

Runner Up: Velvet Elk Lounge

Brewery EC

Winner: Left Hand Brewery

Though it may have started with just Eric Wallace and a homebrew kit in Longmont, Left Hand Brewery has since swept the nation with their iconic nitros. While Left Hand is leaving their handprint across the country, they’re committed to shrinking their footprint, by investing in the most up-to-date energy and water conservation methods. 

Runner Up: Liquid Mechanics

Brewery B

Winner: Avery Brewing

In their list of 2025’s successes, along with being named World Beer Cup Gold Medalist, were the 5,000+ dogs they petted that year. Turns out, these pet enthusiasts are also pretty big nerds for the brewing process, offering tours to teach the public about the science of yeast and to show off their barrel-aging and burgeoning pilot programs. 

Runner Up: Mountain Sun

Bloody Mary EC & B

Winner: Lucile’s Creole Cafe

In a world of sweet breakfasts, Lucile’s dares to be savory. The Creole tradition of using your seafood dinner from the night before for breakfast lives on in dishes like the eggs pontchartrain – a fried trout adorned with poached eggs and sauce bernaise and is perfectly accompanied by their award-winning Bloody Mary (plus a beignet for your sweet tooth).

Runner Up EC: The Post

Runner Up B: The Buff

Happy Hour EC

Winner: Erie Social Club

Erie Social Club actually puts the happy into happy hour. In a space that’s swanky but approachable, hand-crafted cocktails and a curated wine selection come at happy hour prices. It’s become the kind of place locals plan their afternoons around, not something they squeeze in on the way home.

Runner Up: Walter Rhoades American Legion Post 111

Happy Hour B

Winner: The Dark Horse

The Dark Horse is pure Boulder lore. Toys cover the walls, beer flows freely, and owner Scott McCormick’s irreverent spirit still defines the room. CU watch parties and Pony Games are just part of the chaos. With redevelopment looming, locals are savoring every happy hour, hoping this icon isn’t done winning just yet.

Runner Up: Boulder Cork

Margarita EC

Winner: La Mariposa

The people of Longmont love the extensive options on their menu. They’ve got margarita inventions for every occasion,  “The Love a Rita” for Valentines Day, “Spicy Mezcalita” for Dio de los Muertos, and “Booze for Boobies,” a bright pink special that donates $3 with every order during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Runner Up: Teocalli Cocina

Margarita B

Winner: Efrain’s Mexican of Boulder

When you’ve got it, flaunt it, and that’s exactly what Efrain’s does with their titular “Boulder’s Best Margarita.” And if margaritas aren’t your speed, they’ve got green chili queso so good you can drink it with a straw. This family-owned Boulder landmark recently achieved board game status after being added to the Boulder Edition Monopoly. 

Runner Up: Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

Distillery EC

Dry Land Distillery

The glimmer of their custom-fabricated copper pot stills will draw you in from Longmont’s main drag, but their smokey Cactus spirits and warm atmosphere will keep you coming back for more. Dry Land Distillery’s cocktail program is a love letter to locally sourced ingredients, and the rugged Colorado landscape that makes it possible.

Runner-Up: Spirit Hounds

Distillery B

Vapor Distillery / Boulder Spirits Tasting Room

Boulder Spirits balances craft and presence. From their Longmont distillery, where everything is made on site, to their newer Pearl Street tasting room, the operation reflects a deep commitment to whiskey done right. Founded by Scottish-born Alastair Brogan, their single malts and bourbons honor tradition while firmly earning Boulder’s respect.

Runner-Up: Spirit Hounds

Bartender/Mixologist EC

24 Carrot Bistro – Jennifer Shillington & DJ

At 24 Carrot, the bar is as much a draw as the kitchen. Beverage Director Jennifer Shillington and bartender DJ Reimer have helped make the bistro an Erie icon, crafting cocktails that are thoughtful, seasonal, and perfectly matched to the menu. It’s a drinks program locals trust as much as the food, and what makes them a repeat winning duo.

Runner-Up: West Side Tavern

Bartender/Mixologist B

Bitter Bar

Since opening on Walnut Street in 2011, The Bitter Bar has carved out a Boulder cocktail cult with drinks made with passion, not pretense. Owner-operator James Lee built his following with precise classics and inventive concoctions, eventually buying the bar outright and keeping conversation and craftsmanship at the center of every pour.

Runner-Up: Jungle

Liquor Store EC

Wyatt’s Wet Goods

Italian wine? They’ve got it. French wine? Yep. California and everywhere in between. Wyatt’s Wet Goods stands out for its massive, thoughtfully organized selection of wine, whiskey, and just about anything else for your libatious delights. Curious and need help? The staff is as friendly as they are knowledgeable.

Runner-Up: Atlas Valley Purveyors

Liquor Store B

Hazel’s

Hazel’s feels like Boulder’s social hub for beverage lovers. With massive wine, beer, and spirits selections, friendly staff who actually geek out over your picks, and a vibe that turns shopping into a little adventure, it’s the place locals swing by on the way to dinner, a night in, or just because.

Runner-Up: Pettyjohn’s

Wine Shop EC

Atlas Valley Purveyors

Atlas Valley Purveyors makes wine shopping feel like a choose-your-own-adventure. Thoughtfully curated bottles, surprise gems, and staff who actually get your taste turn “just grabbing a bottle” into a very happy detour.

Runner-Up: Public Wine

Wine Shop B

Boulder Wine Merchant

Boulder Wine Merchant is the kind of place where a quick stop turns into a long, happy conversation. Smart curation, wildly knowledgeable staff, and bottles you won’t find everywhere make this a true Boulder original locals trust and love.

Runner-Up: West End Wine Shop

Winery EC

Taboche Winery

Taboche Winery keeps things refreshingly uncomplicated. Thoughtfully made wines, relaxed tastings, and a welcoming space let the bottles speak for themselves. As a newer presence in the local wine scene, Taboche has quickly built a following by focusing on what’s in the glass and letting people come back on their own terms.

Runner-Up: Snowy Peaks Winery

Winery B

BookCliff Vineyards

BookCliff Vineyards makes wine for people who actually want to talk about what’s in their glass. Bold choices, thoughtful craftsmanship, and bottles with something to say keep Boulder drinkers coming back for another opinionated pour.

Runner-Up: Vinnie Fera Winery

Entertainment

Fair or Festival EC

Lafayette Peach Festival

When the Lafayette Art and Antique Fair incorporated peach sales into its schedule, a new festival spun off. Since then, the organic Palisade orchards have transported thousands upon thousands of pounds of peaches to Lafayette. 2026 marks the 27th annual festival.

Runner-Up: Boulder County Fair

Fair or Festival B

Boulder Pride

Boulder Pride is equal parts celebration, visibility, and unapologetic joy. Thousands gather downtown for a day fueled by queer community, chosen family, live music, food trucks, and nearly 200 vendors all wrapped in color, resistance, and pride. It’s loud, loving, and unmistakably Boulder, and when it returns in 2026, you’ll want to be right in the middle of it.

Runner-Up: Boulder Creek Festival

Live Music Venue EC

Bricks on Main

When Bricks on Main opened in 2020, its flexible retail store accommodated locally-sourced retailers and their products in inconsistent market conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, it’s expanded into a multi-purpose venue, with frequent community music events and a full menu and bar. This first-time winner has left a lasting impression on the community.

Runner-Up: Muse Performing Center

Live Music Venue B

Chautauqua

Arrive in this scenic park in the warmer months and you can catch music events in the historic Chautauqua Auditorium, built in 1898 as a lofty and open venue. Arrive in the colder months, and you can enjoy more intimate shows in the park’s 1918 Community House. This repeat winner has something for everyone.

Runner-Up: Boulder Theatre

Gallery EC

Firehouse Art Center

One of the classes offered here is “Art of Possibility,” which is really a perfect way to describe what they bring to the community. They don’t just open our eyes to new artists, they make it possible for us to explore our own artistic nature.

Runner-Up: The Collective Community Arts Center

Gallery B

BMOCA

This repeat winner has been honoring the most significant contemporary art from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, among other places, since its founding in 1972. Located in a historic building next to Dushanbe Tea House, this dynamic venue brings the regional, national, and international art scene to Boulder.

Runner-Up: Art + Soul Gallery

This article previously misstated the location of BMoCA as on Pearl Street. It has been updated to reflect the correct location.

Museum EC

Longmont Museum

What better way to learn about local history and culture as a family than through programs, exhibits, performances, films, and activities for all ages in a dynamic building housing sprawling historical collections? That’s the kind of educational experience Longmont Museum has to offer.

Runner-Up: Louisville History Museum

Museum B

Museum of Boulder

The history of Boulder has come a long way since the organization of the Boulder Historical Society in 1944. The Museum of Boulder, developed by the society in 1945, reflects on the city’s roots by recognizing the diverse history of its community and starting conversations to lead the community forward.

Runner-Up: University of Colorado Museum of Natural History

Theater Company EC

Longmont Theatre Company

Housed in one of Main Street’s most elegant historic venues, Longmont Theatre Company has been part of the community since 1957. With renewed energy, the company is expanding its offerings, bringing in comedy, music, and other acts in addition to its award-winning theatrical productions.

Runner-Up: Theater Company of Lafayette

Theater Company B

Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company

Even as a national-award-winning group, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company prioritizes community. Their acronym has embraced multiple meanings over the years, Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, or simply “Betsy” after a member’s first theater teacher, all embracing local impact through theater.

Runner-Up: The Local Theater Company

Stage EC

Nissi’s

Here’s the thing about Nissi’s: it doesn’t matter who’s playing there. That’s because the acts are so expertly curated and the vibe of the venue so genuine, positive, and fun that on any given night, regardless of who’s on stage, you’re going to experience “the best night ever.”

Runner-Up: Steinbaugh Pavilion

Stage B

The Dairy Arts Center

The Dairy Arts Center is Boulder’s creative crossroads. On any given visit you might catch an indie film, stumble into a gallery opening, or end up at a performance you didn’t plan on but stay for anyway. It’s variety with purpose, and a hub the arts community truly uses.

Runner-Up: Bandshell

Arcade EC

Tilt! Pinball

You can hear it, right? The sound of the ball roaring down the chute. The slapping of the paddles. The laughter. The cheers. The stack of quarters toppling over. What you’re listening to are the sounds of a memorable night out at Tilt.

Runner-Up: Quarters

Arcade B

Press Play

Filled with vintage and contemporary games alike, this hole-in-the-wall arcade/bar combo hosts flat-screens and arcade machines, pool tables and pinball, poker tournaments and live DJs. Located on historic Pearl Street, Press Play is perfect for private family events or for casual evening hangouts.

Runner-Up: Gateway Fun Park

Pumpkin Patch EC

Cottonwood Farms

Cottonwood Farms is the kind of place childhood memories are made. Bob Condon’s farm turns fall into an experience — pumpkins, hayrides, animals, and mazes — then keeps the tradition going with Christmas trees come winter. It’s wholesome, hands-on, and deeply loved by local families.

Runner-Up: 7th Generation

Pumpkin Patch B

Munson’s Farms

A Boulder classic since 1976, Munson Farms has grown from a modest corn stand into a beloved family farm with more than 100 acres of produce, pumpkins, and seasonal fun. Each fall, locals and visitors alike wander the pumpkin patch, pick their own pumpkins, and soak up crisp autumn air against the foothills. It’s proof that some traditions only get better with time.

Runner-Up: Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch

Local Celebrity EC

FACE – Cody Qualls

Internationally iTunes-charting artist Cody Qualls has found countless ways to charm and captivate his audiences since the age of sixteen. Whether he’s performing original rock, pop, hip-hop, and R&B tracks with his group The Brand New Ancients or catchy acapella arrangements with the ensemble FACE, he constantly brings infectious joy to the stage.

Local Celebrity B

Coach Prime

In his days as the player “Prime Time,” he became the only athlete who has ever played in both the World Series and the Super Bowl. Now, in his role as “Coach Prime,” he’s elevated the University of Colorado Boulder Buffaloes in the college football world, with 15 team appearances on national television in 2025 alone.

Health & Beauty

Day Spa EC

Blue Skies Massage & Wellness

Blue Skies feels like a pause button in the middle of Longmont. Owner Emily Bauer brings international training and a hospitality-first mindset into a space that’s calm, modern, and quietly luxurious. Every detail, from the rooms to the treatments, is designed to help you exhale and stay awhile.

Runner-Up: 95th St. Salon

Day Spa B

St. Julien Spa

A repeat Best of the West winner, St. Julien Spa is more than treatment rooms, it’s a full-scale wellness destination tucked into one of Boulder’s most elegant hotels. Spread across 10,000 square feet, the spa offers personalized massages, signature facials, sauna, steam room, and a 50-foot lap pool with mountain views, creating an immersive escape that unfolds at its own unhurried pace.

Runner-Up: Dragontree

Facial EC

Blue Skies Massage & Wellness

Relax into the clouds and find your bliss at Blue Skies Massage & Wellness. In addition to customized facials and advanced treatments like microneedling, the studio offers therapeutic massages, body treatments, targeted enhancements, and an infrared sauna designed to support both skin health and overall balance.

Runner-Up: Sustainable Beauty Colorado

Facial B

St. Julien Spa

A facial at St. Julien Spa isn’t something you squeeze in, it’s something you settle into. Treatments are elevated by the surrounding experience: steam, sauna, quiet lounges, and the sense that time has slowed down. It’s skincare wrapped inside a full afternoon of indulgence, which is exactly why readers keep voting it best.

Runner-Up: Dragontree

Salon EC

Golden Ember Salon

Golden Ember Salon doesn’t just cut hair, it upgrades moods. Expert color, sharp cuts, and stylists who actually get you make every visit feel like a mini glow-up.

Runner-Up: Salon Picasso

Salon B

Twig Salon

Established in the Boulder area over 15 years ago, Twig Salon is a staple in Boulder’s cosmetics industry. Beauticians here are known to take time to fully understand your vision before executing it to a “T.” Clients praise the shop for its LGBTQ+-friendly atmosphere, excellent service, and good vibes.

Runner-Up: Voodoo Hair Lounge

Barber EC

Woodward Barbers

Woodward Barbers (Erie) secured Best Barber in East County by a landslide thanks to their meticulous cuts and shaves. Looking for precision and care for a range of services? Look no further. From dry scalp treatment to their “It’s Been a Minute” cut, this classic-style barbershop delivers.

Runner-Up: Deluxe Barbers

Barber B

Hennepin Barbers

Hennepin Barbers cuts no corners in making their customers comfortable, whether it be the welcoming atmosphere, amiable staff, or supple leather chairs lining the shop. This South Boulder salon is known for stark beard trims and sharp haircuts for all ages, tailored to their customers’ every preference.

Runner-Up: Brooklyn Barber Academy

Massage EC

Blue Skies Massage & Wellness

Massage at Blue Skies isn’t one-size-fits-all. Led by owner Emily Bauer, the team starts with a thoughtful assessment and tailors each session to how your body actually feels that day. Whether it’s deep tissue, aromatherapy, or restorative work, the focus is relief that lasts beyond the table.

Runner-Up: Almita Massage

Massage B

Moving Mountains Massage

A full-time practitioner for over 20 years, Jesse Locke CMT, has devoted his life to Coloradans’ relaxation. This six-time BOTW winner is known for his calming presence and personalized approach to massage therapy. Find lower blood pressure, faster recovery, and improved emotional well-being with MMM.

Runner-Up: St. Julien Spa

Manicure/Pedicure EC

Salon Picasso

Salon Picasso turns nails into show-stopping statements. Expert techs, a cozy vibe, and a flair for the bold make every mani feel like a tiny celebration.

Runner-Up: Allure Nail Bar

Manicure/Pedicure B

Contempo Nails

The calm, welcoming environment invites you to relax with the knowledge that you will be pampered. Contempo Nails prides itself on staff longevity in an industry with high turnover. Other than its wide range of self-care services, they are kid-friendly, so you can both have an afternoon off.

Runner-Up: J Lounge

Medi Spa (Medical Treatments) EC

Valar Aesthetics

Valar Aesthetics blends medical precision with an atmosphere that’s warm, relaxed, and filled with laughter. Under Dr. Bauer’s care, results stay natural and never overdone, a consistency that’s made Valar a repeat Best of the West favorite.

Runner-Up: Sunflower Spa

Medi Spa (Medical Treatments) B

Vasu Skin Solutions

Vasu Skin Solutions is where Boulder goes when it wants skin that actually looks amazing. With laser treatments, tailored facials, and a team that remembers your name and your skin goals, clients walk in curious and leave radiant.

Runner-Up: Rinnova

Chiropractor EC

Chiropractic Center of Erie & Longmont

This isn’t the first time Dr. Dave has earned the award for what we call the best hands around. Known for finding “the spot,” his work goes far beyond simple adjustments, pairing deep tissue and muscle work with techniques like dry needling to treat the whole body. It’s this approach that keeps readers voting him best year after year.

Runner-Up: Live Your Life Chiropractic

Chiropractor B

Swan Lake Chiropractic

Swan Lake has been a Boulder staple for over 40 years, reversing spinal compression, correcting posture, and encouraging prenatal health. Owner Dr. Virginia “Ginger” Lawrence has practiced for 30+ years, and after having her own daughter, provides excellent prenatal and pediatric care in addition to many superb spinal services.

Runner-Up: The Joint

Veterinarian EC

Erie Animal Hospital

Dr. Sally Towner opened Erie Animal Hospital in a small farmhouse in 2001 and has grown it into a full-service, AAHA-accredited, Fear Free, cat-friendly practice. Long known for compassionate, individualized care, from acupuncture and rehab to integrative medicine, Dr. Towner’s steady presence and personal touch make this more than a vet clinic; it’s a partner in every pet’s life.

Runner-Up: Longmont Small Animal Hospital

Veterinarian B

Arapahoe Animal Hospital

Serving Boulder since 1954, Arapahoe Animal Hospital has built decades of trust by staying steady while the industry changed around it. Clear communication, long-standing relationships, and independent care keep generations of pet owners coming back. Not because it’s flashy, but because of kind, consistent care.

Runner-Up: Indian Peaks Vet

Medical Center EC

Kerix Health (formerly Nextera)

Under founder Dr. Clint Flanagan, Kerix Health (formerly Nextera) champions a concierge-style approach that prioritizes patient relationships over volume. Board-certified and community-rooted, Flanagan’s model gives people time with their doctor and personalized care, a commitment that’s now expanding into other states.

Runner-Up: Strive Direct Health

Medical Center B

Crossroads Medical Center

Founded in 1998 by 2025’s BOTW Best Doctor Carl Moritz, Crossroads Medical Center is one of only a few remaining independently owned medical clinics in Boulder. CMC doesn’t rush appointments, giving patients the attention and personalized care they need.

Runner-Up: Clinica Family Health

Hospital EC

Good Samaritan Hospital

A past and present winner, Good Samaritan Hospital is a recipient of frequent accolades, including landing in America’s top 5% of hospitals in clinical performance (Healthgrades). From being an official Level II Trauma Center to providing highly acclaimed joint replacement, GSH’s patients are in trusted hands.

Runner-Up: Longmont United

Hospital B

Boulder Community Health

For many Boulder residents, Boulder Community Health isn’t a choice, it’s been the hospital for 100 years. As the city’s independent, nonprofit health system, BCH has spent a century serving the community across multiple campuses, quietly becoming part of nearly every family’s story along the way.

Dentist EC

Keene Smiles

Dr. Greg Keene is known for recommending only what’s needed, easing anxiety, and giving back, including donating dental services to patients born without teeth. With long-tenured staff and a genuinely warm office, this is dentistry grounded in skill, ethics, and care.

Runner-Up: Artistic Smiles

Dentist B

Boulder Dental Center

BDC boasts remarkable convenience by making care accessible with multiple locations across Boulder and accepting major dental insurance plans. Dr. Danny Abboud has been at the helm since 2010, upholding the clinic’s excellent 40-year-old reputation as a one-stop dental care provider for whatever ails the Boulderite.

Runner-Up: Boulder Smiles

Doctor EC

Shawn Otteman – BCH

Dr. Shawn Otteman of Boulder Community Health has 30+ years of experience in his field and exceptional reviews to show for it. A family medicine physician who truly listens, patients say he refuses to rush appointments and genuinely connects, even calling to check in.

Runner-Up: Brad Brown – Strive

Doctor B

Dr. Christa Ambrose – Clinica

Dr. Ambrose is the doctor all medical professionals should strive to emulate. She chose to work with Clinica because it aligns with her medical philosophy: treating underserved people and making healthcare widely accessible. Her holistic approach prioritizes proper care, education, and wellness through constant communication with patients.

Runner-Up: Dr. Dirk Dolbeare – Boulder Orthopedics

Sports

Bike Shop EC

Louisville Cyclery
Louisville Cyclery has been part of Boulder County’s biking life for nearly half a century, and it shows the moment you walk in. Walls layered with race art and memories, lovingly serviced used bikes, a giant wooden bear out front, and lounge chairs that invite you to stay awhile. People linger so much they added a coffee cart — because this isn’t just a shop, it’s where cyclists hang out.
Runner Up: NuLife Cycles

Bike Shop B

Community Cycles
Community Cycles isn’t just about bikes, it’s about keeping them in motion. Since 2005, this nonprofit shop has repaired, reused, and redistributed thousands of bikes, pairing sustainability with real community impact. The mission runs deep, the knowledge is solid, and every bike saved from the landfill gets another life on the road.
Runner Up: Mike’s Bikes

Ski Shop EC

Angles Sports
Tours, new & used equipment, rentals. They started in a garage, and now you can find them on Main Street. Angles Sports owner, Ryan, loves fishing and sliding down the slopes so much he is probably open to doing it with you.
Runner Up: Snow Hut

Ski Shop B

Crystal Ski
Since 1976, Crystal Ski has been Boulder’s pre-powder pilgrimage. Owner Justin grew up in the shop, literally starting in high school before taking the reins. That continuity shows in the fit, the tuning, and the loyal locals who won’t head to the mountain without stopping here first.
Runner Up: Boulder Sports Recycler

Sporting Goods EC

Jax Outdoor
Since 1965, when it began as an 18-year-old’s idea for a military surplus store, Jax has stood strong as a unique and attractive paragon of Colorado at its finest. It is a Northern Colorado classic, which can make a small-town feel significant. YS respects the bona fide GOATs when credit is due.
Runner Up: Play It Again Sports

Sporting Goods B

Play It Again Sports
Committed to reusable gear and strong community loyalty, Play It Again Sports not only offers amazing and affordable deals, it serves as a center for local sports. Partnering with school athletic programs and clubs alike, if you’re a serious athlete, you will feel welcome here and perhaps find your new home, let alone sports hub.
Runner Up: Neptune Mountaineering

Golf Course EC

Indian Peaks Golf Course
Indian Peaks Golf Course has earned its loyal following by doing the fundamentals exceptionally well. A beautifully maintained course, approachable atmosphere, and steady consistency keep golfers coming back year after year. As a landslide repeat Best of the West winner, it’s a place where locals know exactly what they’re getting. And that’s the point.
Runner Up: Fox Hill Club

Golf Course B

Flatirons Golf Course
“Where Everyone Feels at Home” is a fitting slogan for Flatirons Golf Course. The course feels like what the heart of Boulder has to offer at its best: a fun and memorable time with natural greenery and comfortable vibes. On the city’s east side, the family-friendly atmosphere encourages the community to create memories.
Runner Up: Lake Valley Golf

Gym EC

RUF Fitness
RUF Fitness is built around showing up for your workout and for each other. With structured training, a supportive community, and an environment that doesn’t feel performative, it’s a gym where progress feels personal. No hype, no intimidation — just people putting in the work together.
Runner Up: Warrior Challenge Arena

Gym B

Mountain’s Edge
Mountains’ Edge Fitness offers a stress-free, inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and motivated to make progress. Bringing warmth to the community without pretense or judgment, the point of this place is to support the goals of the community rather than hinder it. It focuses on what’s really significant with fitness; the thief of joy is comparison.
Runner Up: Movement

Rec Center EC

Bob Burger Rec Center
Bob Burger Rec Center is Lafayette’s all-in-one community hub. From the outdoor water park and aquatics center to youth camps, adult leagues, and senior programs, it’s where multiple generations cross paths every day. Practical, busy, and deeply woven into town life, it’s recreation the way a community actually uses it.
Runner Up: Erie Community Center

Rec Center B

East Boulder Rec Center
East Boulder Rec Center isn’t just a building, it’s where generations of Boulder families learned to swim, picked up a basketball, and logged early-morning laps. The amenities matter, but it’s the community EBRC has built that makes it a true local staple.
Runner Up: North Boulder Rec Center

Ski Resort (Day Trip)

Eldora
Eldora is Boulder’s ski hill. It’s close, familiar, and deeply woven into Front Range winters. Whether you’re sneaking in a few runs before work or introducing someone to their first turns, its proximity and no-frills accessibility make it a longtime local favorite. Fast to get to, easy to love, and rooted in community history, Eldora remains the go-to when you just want to ski and not sit in traffic.
Runner Up: Loveland

Ski Resort (Overnight)

Winter Park Resort
This Colorado classic ski resort is a must-try for anyone interested in skiing. With comfortable and challenging slopes alike, and so much history to explore. They have built an open community and culture that will sustain winter sports for years to come.
Runner Up: Steamboat

Climbing Gym B

Boulder Rock Club
Opened 1991, BRC is one of the trailblazing gyms of the early indoor-climbing movement. Today it is still embossed in Boulder’s climbing culture as a Sendaholic’s haven. Boasting ever-updating routes, a weight room, a Moon Board, and more, this is the spot for rookies and veterans of the sport.
Runner Up: The Spot

Climbing Gym EC

Longmont Climbing Collective
A relative newcomer, Longmont Climbing Collective wasted no time winning over its community. With an inclusive, low-ego vibe and routes that welcome beginners and challenge seasoned climbers, it’s less about conquering walls and more about building confidence, connection, and a place people genuinely want to return to.
Runner Up: The Spot

Martial Arts EC

Bennett’s Karate
With deep roots in the honor and tradition of Japanese karate, this repeat winner brings a global culture to Boulder County. Time and time again they prove their reputation by bringing out the best in martial artists in and out of the Dojo. Spend some time with their community and classes and become the master you are meant to be.
Runner Up: Tran’s Martial Arts

Martial Arts B

Easton Jiu-Jitsu
Easton Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai continue to build a strong martial arts community grounded in self-improvement and mastery. This is why they are a clear, principled winner in Colorado’s culture. This is an excellent home for those looking to add the discipline and inspiration of martial arts tradition. The opportunity can significantly improve your life.
Runner Up: Boulder Karate

Yoga Studio EC

Soul Tree Studio
Soul Tree Yoga Studio offers a beautiful, warm, open space filled with compassion, a strong community, and sense of enlightenment. With a tradition rooted in the Eight Limbs of ethical restraints, the professionals here do an excellent job of guiding students toward a spiritually aware and fulfilling life.
Runner Up: Louisville Community Yoga

Yoga Studio B

Yoga Pearl
Yoga Pearl is a professional, open environment with a strong, enlightening community. Their excellent workshops and training will equip you with the skills to control your mind, filling your life with awareness and peace. This is a natural and enlightened winner.
Runner Up: Boulder Bikram Yoga

Pilates Studio EC

Rocky Mountain Pilates and Yoga
Rocky Mountain Pilates and Yoga provides an exceptional, spacious, and wonderful atmosphere filled with enlightened hearts and a shared journey of health and fitness. This location hosts a supportive community that will help actualize your success. No wonder they have won time and time again.
Runner Up: Pilates 4 Bodies

Pilates Studio B

The Pilates Center
The Pilates Center has built its reputation quietly and carefully over decades. Known for thoughtful instruction and instructors who truly pay attention, this Boulder staple attracts clients who value depth over trends. It’s not flashy, it’s effective, consistent, and rooted in the kind of expertise that keeps people coming back.
Runner Up: Bolder Pilates

Home & Hood

Old Town EC

Erie Old Town
With architecture dating back over a century, Erie’s historic downtown creates a classic atmosphere for Colorado residents and visitors. Truly the heart of Erie, the famous farmer’s market and various businesses are a hub for Erie’s locals and visitors to experience the best of Colorado culture.
Runner Up: Lafayette

Old Town B

Mapleton Hill
The historic Mapleton Hill neighborhood enhances Boulder’s classic, timeless aesthetic. With architecture and vegetation that stand the test of time, YS honors those responsible for Boulder’s most classic vibes.
Runner Up: Niwot

Neighborhood EC

Old Town Louisville
Old Town Louisville isn’t manufactured charm, it’s lived-in. Brick buildings, independent shops, longtime locals, and newer neighbors all share the same sidewalks, patios, and conversations. It’s the kind of downtown where you run into someone you know, linger longer than planned, and remember why small towns still matter.
Runner Up: Old Town Lafayette

Neighborhood B

NOBO Boulder
The North Boulder Arts District is responsible for bringing art and inspiration to North Boulder. With their extensive community engagement, colorful murals, and support for artists of all kinds, they inspire the community through their calling.
Runner Up: Whittier

Furniture EC

Woodley’s Fine Furniture
Woodley’s isn’t just selling furniture — they’re helping people settle in. Family-owned and Colorado-rooted for generations, the Woodleys built a business on listening, guiding, and making sure what you bring home actually fits your life. It’s why customers return decade after decade, not just room after room.
Runner Up: American Furniture Warehouse

Furniture B

Forma Furniture
Forma Furniture offers high-quality furniture with professional customer service and prestigious craftsmanship. This first-place winner earned their position by expertly furnishing Colorado homes with “that’s gorgeous” pieces.
Runner Up: Arhaus

Home Furnishings EC

Danish Furnishings
Known for its European furniture, high-quality showroom, and patient customer service, Danish Furnishings brings a taste of global culture to Colorado. Their breadth of experience and expertise make them a deserving winner. One trip in and you will appreciate what they offer as well.
Runner Up: Hello! Home Furnishings

Home Furnishings B

Boulder Furniture Arts
For over 30 years, Boulder Furniture Arts’ handmade and simplistic designs have responsibly furnished many Colorado homes. Their high-quality local business models call to new and repeat customers while the helpful customer service creates a comfortable experience from start to finish.
Runner Up: Derpy Dragon Woodworking

Home Improvement EC

Jax Ranch
Jax Ranch carries the weight of Colorado history on its shelves. Born from a 1965 surplus store and grown into a Front Range institution, Jax has always served people who work with their hands and live close to the land. It’s not trend-driven retail — it’s generational knowledge, dependable gear, and Colorado know-how passed forward.
Runner Up: Budget Home Supply

Home Improvement B

McGuckin Hardware
Since 1955 McGuckin Hardware has been a prime example of the impact a local business can have. Their expert staff are ready to assist you in finding the right tools to help turn a broken part of the home or new idea into a completed project.
Runner Up: Home Depot

Landscaper EC

Outdoor Craftsman
Outdoor Craftsman looks at a yard and sees possibility. Their team blends design, ecology, and craftsmanship to create outdoor spaces that actually belong in Colorado — native plants, smart irrigation, and landscapes meant to thrive, not fight the climate. The result isn’t just prettier yards, but ones that make sense.
Runner Up: Wild Heritage Gardens and Design

Landscaper B

Native Edge Landscape
Native Edge Landscape is the architect of Boulder’s most fun and restful backyard days. Whether it’s a cozy autumn day by a combo firepit + fireplace on an organically stone-tiled porch or a summer night in a poolside lounge at a hotel, Native Edge builds Boulder’s best residential and commercial sceneries.
Runner Up: Matrix Gardens

Realtor EC

The Fowler Group
The Fowler Group is made up of two sisters who come from a sixty-year long family legacy of realtors serving the Front Range. With their elaborate and cinematic Instagram reels, Brie and Jillian showcase how your home can be the centerpiece of your next story.
Runner Up: Audrey Atkinson

Realtor B

Tom Cohen / Compass
Tom Cohen started selling homes in 1990. He loves working directly with his clients, often reminding them that “Online search is fun. But it won’t text back or high-five you at closing. That’s what I’m here for.”
Runner Up: Arn Rasker / Sotheby’s

Plumber EC & B

Colorado Green Plumbing (landslide)
Colorado Green Plumbing won this year by a landslide (and it certainly wasn’t caused by a faulty sewer line). Homeowners praise president Paul Lingenfelter for his friendliness, trustworthiness, and willingness to educate customers. On top of their award-winning plumbing, they also provide stellar HVAC and boiler services.
Runner Up EC: Around the Clog
Runner Up B: Bernie’s Plumbing

Contractor EC

Silver Contracting
During the 2020 pandemic, contractors everywhere faced a garage door shortage — except Silver Contracting, which handcrafted its own custom doors. Known for adaptive attitude, they also facilitate stress-free building and renovation experiences.
Runner Up: Koeppen Construction

Contractor B

Melton Build & Design
Melton shares its design knowledge freely in workshops, including the annual Sugary Structure Showdown, where the top team donates to a local organization.
Runner Up: Petra Custom Builders

Tree Service EC

Reinholt Tree Services
A small team of arborists keeping trees healthy and residents safe from hazards, with 24-hour emergency tree care.
Runner Up: St Vrain Arbor Care

Tree Service B

Berkelhammer Tree
Berkelhammer Tree has shaped Boulder County’s landscape for decades, prioritizing stewardship over shortcuts. Founder Fred Berkelhammer championed tree care methods that protect pollinators: “saving the trees without killing the bees.”
Boulder Tree Surgeon

Auto Repair EC

Louisville Tire and Auto
Since 1993, Louisville Tire and Auto has provided honest, top-notch service. Technicians sell only what you need and provide flawless service.
Runner Up: Stang Auto

Auto Repair B

Pellman Automotive
Family-owned, transparent, and ASE-certified mechanics, providing updates, photos, and videos throughout the repair process.
Runner Up: Hoshi Motors

Lawyer EC

Lyons-Gaddis
Lyons Gaddis shows up prepared and explains things clearly. For 50+ years, their attorneys have helped navigate complex situations with steadiness and plainspoken guidance.
Runner Up: Gstalder Law Firm

Lawyer B

Hutchinson, Black & Cook
A picture of legal excellence, HBC has been a Boulder standard for over a century, offering small-firm attention with big-firm standards.
Runner Up: Frascona Joiner Goodman & Greenstein

Bank or Credit Union Boulder County

Elevations Credit Union
Founded in 1952, member-owned, community-driven, emphasizing personalized service and financial education.
Runner Up: Premier Members Credit Union

Place to Buy A Car in Boulder County

Fisher Honda
Craig Fisher built a soft-spoken, no-pressure dealership approach locals recognize immediately.
Runner Up: Valley Subaru

NonProfit EC

Sister Carmen
Founded in the 1970s by Sister Carmen Ptacnik, providing goods and support to local families.
Runner Up: Community Food Share

NonProfit B

EFAA
Serving Boulder County for over 100 years, providing food, housing, education, and advocacy.
Runner Up: Rocky Mountain Equality

Politician

Joe Neguse
Congressman for Colorado’s 2nd District since 2018, focused on climate, public lands, and democracy protection.
Runner Up — Former Erie Mayor Justin Brooks

Artist EC

Angie Nordstrom
Boulder-area painter and muralist, combining expressive emotions with upbeat messages inspired by nature.
Runner Up: Kristi Arzola

Artist B

Phil Lewis
Print-driven pieces and clean, modern compositions, with exquisite kaleidoscopic imagery.
Runner Up: Sam Cikauskas

Marijuana Dispensary EC

Herbal Wellness
All-inclusive, tailored dispensary experience with attentive budtenders and loyalty programs.
Runner Up — Igadi

Marijuana Dispensary Boulder

The Farm
Premium yet welcoming dispensary with consistent flower quality and wide selection of concentrates.
Runner Up — Karing Kind

Glass EC

Hillcrest Glass
Since 1969, providing reliable residential and commercial glass services with precision and craftsmanship.

Glass B

Slade Glass Co
Modern sensibility with a long-standing presence in custom glass work since 1961.

Tattoo Shop EC

Inksmith
Friendly, clean, professional setting that makes getting a tattoo approachable for everyone.
Runner: Main Street Tattoo

Tattoo Shop B

Boulder Ink
One of Boulder’s oldest shops, balancing technical skill with personal expression, open daily.
Runner Up: Rising Tide Tattoo

Shopping

Shoe Store EC

Brown’s Shoe Store
How do we tell you Brown’s Shoes is the locals’ favorite when they’ve won all 26 years? That’s how.

Runner Up: Jax

Shoe Store B

Apocalypse
In Boulder, the answer to every “Where did you get those shoes?!” question is Apocalypse. You can complete any fit there with the incredible selection of shoes for a Saturday night along with everyday wear pairs.
Runner Up: Two Sole Sisters

Eyewear EC

The Optical Centre
For more than 50 years on Main Street, The Optical Centre has stayed locally owned, independent, and loved. They pair comprehensive eye care with a curated, timeless eyewear selection, plus the steady expertise of Dr. Jeff Berger. Longmont keeps choosing them, and it’s easy to see why.
Runner Up: Lafayette Eye Associates

Eyewear B

Envision Optical
There’s a special kind of walk you see from people when they leave Envision Optical. It’s confident, strong, almost a strut. It’s that walk you have when you’re feeling your best and looking great.
Runner Up: Tom’s Sportique Eyewear

Jewelry EC

Anspach’s Jewelry
You’re not just buying a necklace or a ring, you’re starting a story. And the jewelers at Anspach’s will make sure it’s one told with heart, thoughtfulness, sincerity, and history.
Runner Up: Eric Olson Master Jewelers

Jewelry B

Hurdles
At Hurdle’s you don’t shop as much as you wander, waiting for that perfect piece to speak to you. Jewelry is more than just an “accessory,” it’s an extension of your personality.
Runner Up: Schapell Jewelers

Fashion Boutique for Women EC

Snow Apparel
Snow Apparel is a cornucopia of timeless style. From showcasing local artisans to international masters, owner Snow White ensures every purchase makes an impact. She uplifts marginalized masterpieces while making customers look and feel triumphant in their new threads.
Runner Up: Ivy Rose

Fashion Boutique for Women B

Apocalypse
Shopping locally isn’t just a slogan; it’s the Apocalypse aesthetic. Madison Moorhead McCabe and Jed Bickford McCabe champion shoppers away from fast fashion, offering a haven to find better ends.
Runner Up: Jacque Michelle

Men’s Clothing EC

Acme Fine Goods
The Internet makes it easy to shop, but Acme Fine Goods makes it fun. Trying something on and falling in love is a tactile experience, leaving you feeling like the world’s best-dressed man.
Runner Up: Jax

Men’s Clothing B

Weekends
For men looking to reset their wardrobe or find a new favorite shirt, Weekends offers unmatched stylist passion and knowledge. You’ll leave not just looking good, but feeling good.
Runner Up: Canoe Club

Consignment Clothing EC

Found Underground
When it’s time for a style-swap, this is the place to go. You get new clothes while helping the environment, and your old favorites may resurface for someone else.
Runner Up — Fabulous Finds

Consignment Clothing B

Apocalypse
Beyond gently used women’s clothing, Apocalypse is the go-to for finding pieces that express “This is who I am.”
Runner Up: Rags Consignment

Shopping District/Center EC

Downtown Longmont
Restaurants, shops, art, and event venues abound, but the most important element: the people. Seeing neighbors and community members enjoying it all builds real community.
Runner Up: Downtown Lafayette

Shopping District/Center B

Pearl Street Mall
Shop for gifts, records, food, and tattoos — Pearl Street is Boulder as it’s meant to be.
Runner Up: 29th Street Mall

Bookstore EC

Read Queen
A revolutionary literary hub, offering book clubs, workshops, and discerning curation. Miss it at your own risk.
Runner Up: Barbed Wire Books

Bookstore B

Boulder Bookstore
The agora for late-night thinkers, with a library of awards since 1987.
Runner Up:Trident Booksellers

Florist EC

Lafayette Florist
For 75 years, Lafayette Florist has crafted flowers as personal messages, from welcoming neighbors to marking life milestones.
Runner Up: Longmont Florist

Florist B

Boulder Blooms
Kim Thielke’s studio-style approach ensures every arrangement feels personal, seasonal, and distinctly Boulder.
Runner Up: Sturtz & Copeland

Kid’s Store EC

Longmont Museum
A time machine with 17,000+ objects, creating cerebral and emotional connections with history.
Runner Up: Adorn Kids

Kid’s Store B

Grandrabbits
Almost 50 years of expanding kids’ imaginations with personal, fun shopping experiences.
Runner Up: Pitter Patter

Gift Shop EC

Vintrey
Vintage, handmade, and fair-trade gifts curated inside a 1900s home for a “hidden treasures” shopping feel.
Runner Up: Bricks on Main

Gift Shop B

Cedar and Hyde
Gifts that elicit “Oh Wow!” moments — housewarming, birthdays, or a treat for yourself.
Runner Up:Bliss

Natural Goods EC & B

Natural Grocers
Beyond healthy food, they provide wellness classes and a dedicated nutrition center, committed to community wellness.
Runner Up EC: Little Herbal Apothecary
Runner Up B: Nude Foods

Grocer EC

Sprouts
A shopper’s delight, filled with tasty and nutritious items. Be prepared for a bigger cart.
Runner Up: Natural Grocers

Grocer B

Lucky’s Market
Independently owned, locally sourced, and organic, offering the best of Boulder on its shelves.
Runner Up: Trader Joe’s

Pet Supply EC

Gigi & Co
Intentional selection of health-forward essentials and local brands, plus force-free training expertise.
Runner Up: Happy Beast

Pet Supply B

PCs Pantry
From a small house to a 30th Street facility, P.C.’s Pantry combines personal shopping with nearly 25 years of excellence.
Runner Up: Only Natural Pet Supplies

Consignment & ReUse Furniture EC

Fabulous Finds
Walk-in, drop-off, and mobile consignment options with a warm, local environment supporting organizations like The Inn Between and Habitat for Humanity.
Runner Up: Furn Consignment

Consignment & ReUse Furniture B

Goodwill
Colorado’s 45-location network, with the Boulder store winning readers’ hearts and providing convenient donation drop-offs.
Runner Up: Pig & Pearl

Record Store B

Paradise Found Records
When you buy a record in Boulder, you buy it at Paradise Found Records; which has curated one of the most extensive catalogs of vinyl in Boulder County. With 26 years of winning Best of the West Awards, Paradise Found Records remains unmatched for botomless crate digging. 
Runner Up: Beat Book Shop

Record Store EC

Absolute Vinyl
Epicenter of Boulder County’s analogue revival, with local music archives and audiophile gems.
Runner Up: Little Horse Louisville

Musical Instruments EC

Guitar Hut
Honest repairs and innovative instruments, avoiding pretentious vibes while offering tried-and-true gear.
Runner Up: Monkton Guitar

Musical Instruments B

HB Woodsongs
Founded in 1971, Boulder’s longest-running music store offers instruments, lessons, rentals, tuneups, and an online shop.
Runner Up: Boulder Drum Shop

Quilting/Sewing EC

The Presser Foot
A BERNINA dealer with 500+ years combined experience, crafting quality work and guiding customers to the right machine.
Runner Up: The Quilt Store

Quilting/Sewing B

Elfriede’s Fine Fabrics
Since 1974, offering distinctive textiles and guidance that keep generations of makers returning.
Runner Up: Sew-Bo

Education/Kids

Place to Play with the Kids EC

WOW! Children’s Museum
Since 1996, WOW! Children’s Museum has become a cornerstone for young ones under 12. Through their Play for All program and inclusive mission, WOW! ensures every child has a safe place to have fun. Who wouldn’t want to play in a restored fire-station?
Runner Up: Coal Creek Park

Place to Play with the Kids B

ABC Kids Climbing
For kids who don’t stay still, ABC Kids Climbing offers endless opportunities. Toddlers can learn in safe spaces while elite climbers train, and parents can join in at open gym sessions!
Runner Up: Gateway Park Fun Center

Private School EC

Dawson School
Founded in 1970, Dawson School pairs strong academics with real choice. With 80 electives and 16 AP courses, students build a path unique to them. College prep is intentional, personal, and student-centered.
Runner Up: Saint John the Baptist

Private School B

Boulder Country Day
Teachers at Boulder Country Day truly know their students. Serving preschool through 8th grade, BCD combines strong academics with hands-on learning in a close-knit community, helping students grow confident and articulate.
Runner Up: Boulder Valley Waldorf School

Public School EC

Centaurus High School
Centaurus High pairs academic opportunity with a supportive culture. From standout arts programs to CU Boulder-aligned college pathways, students are encouraged to shape their future in a community that shows up for them.
Runner Up: Niwot High School

Public School B

Fairview High School
Fairview High emphasizes challenge, engagement, and meaning. The honors program and dedicated faculty cultivate a positive learning experience, producing frequent National Merit Finalists.
Runner Up: Horizons K-8

Summer Camp EC

Colorado Mountain Ranch
With roots reaching back to 1925, Colorado Mountain Ranch encourages kids to get outdoors and connect with nature — something better than wifi.
Runner Up: YMCA Northern Colorado

Summer Camp B

Renaissance Adventures
Renaissance Adventures brings imagination to life through creative role-playing, castle-building, and playground adventures.
Runner Up: Square State Skate

Music School EC

School of Rock
Performance-based music education helps students conquer stage fright and build confidence before adulthood — all while having a rockstar experience.
Runner Up: Center for Musical Arts

Music School B

HB Woodsongs Teaching Studios
From beginners to professionals, HB Woodsongs fosters creativity through deep listening, guided exploration, and improvisation, creating a complete music ecosystem in Boulder.
Runner Up:Harmony Music House

The post Best of the West 2026 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The post Give Life Back to Organizations Threatened by the “Nonprofit Killer” Bill: 2025 Giving Guide appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 7th, 2025

Louisville, CO — Community Food Share is uniting music lovers and community supporters at its first-ever Roots & Rhythm Music Festival on July 12 at Left Hand Brewing Company.

This all-ages event blends live folk, funk, bluegrass, and soul with a powerful purpose: fighting local hunger. Every ticket supports Community Food Share’s hunger relief efforts in Boulder and Broomfield Counties.

Between sets, guests can enjoy craft beer, food from local vendors, and opportunities to learn how Community Food Share is addressing food insecurity, delivering over 30,000 pounds of food each day.

“This event is about more than music,” said Trevor Bosetti, Senior Marketing Manager at Community Food Share. “It’s about rhythm in the deeper sense. Things like finding common ground, moving together, and building a community where no one goes hungry. And while we’re at it, enjoying some live music.”

With local need on the rise, Community Food Share hopes Roots & Rhythm will inspire new supporters, spark lasting connections, and maybe even become an annual tradition.

What: Roots & Rhythm Music Festival

When: July 12th Where: The Garden at Left Hand Brewing

Tickets: communityfoodshare.org/rhythm

All proceeds benefit Community Food Share.

Whether you’re drawn by the tunes, the mission, or the beer, Roots & Rhythm is your chance to give back and have a great time doing it.

For any questions on the event, contact Community Food Share’s Events & Culture Engagement Manager, Nubia Saenz at nsaenz@communityfoodshare.org

The post Roots and Rhythm 2025 Music Festival Presented by Community Food Share appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

For many, the holidays are a joyous season. Family and friends coming together and reconnecting. Snow falling lightly in the backyard as fireplaces make warm homes warmer. Full cups and dinner tables, cold hearts grown three sizes. We look forward to the laughter and cheer, the chance to show those we love just how much we love them. But for many others, it is the hardest part of the year. The lights on the tree are not shining bright for so many. As the cold descends upon us, bringing with it the season of giving, remember that there are those fighting against the cold and that they need help. Please consider donating to these wonderful, powerful, necessary organizations.

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

These are dire times, there’s no denying it. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, a war on women and those able to give birth has been declared. Thankfully, Colorado is a state dedicated to upholding the rights that were stricken away on a federal level. Nevertheless, organizations such as Planned Parenthood need all the help they can get. Since 1916, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains has been dedicated to providing Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Southern Nevada with access to high-quality reproductive and sexual health care; medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education; and working to provide safe, legal access to abortion. Their action fund website lists and provides comprehensive information about the most important issues that Planned Parenthood is fighting to address. The first and foremost is abortion access. Additionally, they provide access to information regarding the bans, state attacks against abortion rights, Roe v. Wade, and why every American citizen regardless of gender needs to be informed and concerned about the issue. Birth control information is also available, as is information on health care equity which ensures that all people in this country, including immigrants, have access to sexual and reproductive health care. They also fight for sexual assault survivors to be protected by legislature. In this time of extreme turmoil, Planned Parenthood is both incredibly scrutinized, demonized, and threatened. Their cause is one of the most important in this country, and they could use your support.

Native American Rights Fund

Native Americans are one of the most disenfranchised groups in the country. The U.S. government has reneged on treaty after treaty promising reservations help with basic necessities such as obtaining food and employment. They have been beaten down time and time again by those who came to this land and stole it from them. The tragedy that the American government has rained down on them for centuries is nothing short of horrific. In 1970, attorney John Echohawk started the Native American Rights Fund, which provides legal representation for Native American tribes, groups, and individuals. Indian law is extremely complicated and constantly changing, so groups like NARF can help Native peoples navigate the increasingly difficult legal landscape. In its 50 years of service, NARF has become one the most visible and important Native American legal groups in the country and has become one of the most trusted consultants when it comes to creating policy surrounding Native rights. It is incredibly important that Native peoples have groups such as NARF fighting for them. When you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner and remember the old stories you were taught in grade school of the happy pilgrims and helpful Indians, think of the truth and that you can do something to help.

Out Boulder County

Out Boulder is BOCO’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. They are about celebrating the vibrancy of the queer community and the beauty of equality while also understanding and fighting against the very real issues that the community faces. Their work transcends sociological labels such as gender identity, race, and sexual orientation. Instead, they work to make our community more inclusive and more beautiful as a result. They provide LGBTQ+ training programs that seek to inform and spread awareness about the queer community, its values, its struggles, its importance in our world. They also provide access to mental health services; COVID vaccines; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) education; youth services; and volunteer opportunities. The organization is about uniting us all through our differences, celebrating them, reminding us all that no matter who you love, who you identify as, what color your skin is, we are all worthy of respect and a place in this world. Their reach is wide and ever growing, and you can help with that.

Growing Gardens

When one thinks of the holidays, one thinks of a bounty, a wealth of gorgeous food steaming in the cold air. Turkey in the center of the table and vibrant vegetables and sides surrounding it, knives and forks held expectantly, eagerly, the dog licking its lips under the table. As important as food is in our culture, many do not stop to think about where their food comes from. Growing Gardens seeks to change this. They manage over 400 sustainable urban farming plots across seven locations in BOCO. Each location grows sustainable food that can then be distributed to the community. They also have community gardens and sustainable agriculture classes focused on cooking, bees and goats, and gardening. Interestingly, they offer something known as “horticultural therapy,” which helps seniors and people with disabilities improve their cognitive and motor abilities. Food is on the mind come holiday season, and organizations such as Growing Gardens are working to reconnect us with our local food systems and fight food insecurity.

Boulder Jewish Community Center

The Boulder Jewish Community Center is dedicated to the celebration of culture, community, and inclusion. Their website lists their values as community, joy, care, respect, growth, and generosity. Through all their programs and activities, they uphold these values by providing safe places to learn and grow and feel at home. They have an early education school for kids and camps and afterschool programs for teens. For adults, they hold art classes, health and wellness education programs, celebrations of Jewish women, the Boulder Jewish Film Festival, even pickleball clinics. In addition, one of their core tenets is their dedication to sustainable living. Their Milk and Honey Farm has year-round programs that teach sustainable farming practices to all age groups and is run largely on solar energy. In the wake of Kanye West’s antisemitic tweets that have emboldened antisemites across the country, organizations such as the Boulder JCC are more important than ever. Antisemitism is a disease that must be fought with love and joy and unabashed celebration. The JCC is a light in our community, one that can be brightened this holiday season with your support, regardless of your religious beliefs.

Feet Forward

Perhaps the youngest and smallest organization on our list, Feet Forward isn’t any less deserving of your attention. Founder Jennifer Livovich fought her way out of homelessness and used her experiences to form Feet Forward, an organization that provides the unhoused with hot meals, haircuts, and opportunities to change their situations. It recognizes basic human needs like access to food, hygiene services, and generally being treated as humans. An unhoused person should not be any less worthy of respect and compassion. Feet Forward recognizes how important basic dignity is. Being on the street for an extended period of time can make a person hopeless. Feet Forward seeks to provide that hope, to allow unhoused individuals to recognize within themselves the ability to change their situation, to climb out of the darkness. The cold seasons are incredibly dangerous for the unhoused, with many freezing to death out there searching for warmth. As you sit around your tables with your families gathered in your warm homes, take a look out the window and know that you can do something to help.

Conscious Alliance

Conscious Alliance recognizes the power and impact of art. With the tagline Art That Feeds, they work with a large network of artists, musicians, food makers, and music fans to feed those facing food insecurity. They run food drives at major concerts such as Phish, STS9, Umphrey’s McGee, Goose, and many more. Each show, they partner with an artist who creates a poster that fans can get if they bring 20 cans of non-perishable food items or make a monetary donation. The donations are then distributed to Pine Ridge Native American Reservation, local schools, families in need, and more. By using this platform of music and art, Conscious Alliance is able to shine a light on an issue that many are fortunate enough to never have to think about. After the devastation of the Marshall Fires they worked to feed affected families and households that had lost everything. Around Thanksgiving, they distribute turkeys to Pine Ridge, a place known as a “food desert,” as well as to families in Boulder County and the surrounding areas that can’t afford a Thanksgiving meal. Each dollar donated can feed two kids, so any donation goes an incredibly long way.

Colorado Moms Demand Action

The cause is simple: Mothers are tired of their children being slaughtered. Gun violence is a uniquely American epidemic. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 531 mass shootings in America this year alone. One would think that the country’s population would seek out every single possibility to stop the senseless, preventable deaths of hundreds of our citizens, of our children. Moms Demand Action believes in this fight. Started in the wake of the Sandy Hook Massacre as a Facebook group by Shannon Watts, a mother of five, Moms Demand Action has developed into a full-fledged movement composed of mothers, fathers, students, families, concerned citizens, anyone who cares enough to work to prevent gun violence in America. With a chapter in every state and Washington D.C., they have grown to be one of the most visible and important groups in the fight against gun violence. This is a wound that has never been allowed to heal, constantly ripped open by news of yet another incident occurring almost daily. It’s especially fresh for the people of Boulder County after a shooter killed 10 people at the Table Mesa King Soopers in Boulder a little over a year ago. It is difficult to not become desensitized to it, its mindlessness, its frequency. It should not take what happened in Uvalde to reignite the conversation. Action has to happen now. These are the people keeping the conversation, the fight, alive.

Imagine!

Imagine! seeks to provide people with cognitive, physical, and developmental disabilities with opportunities to become involved with their communities. They divide their services between two distinct categories: Community Centered Board Services and Direct Support Services. CCB services are designed to be an access point for local towns and areas to receive entry into local, state, and federally funded programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. DSS are designed to integrate people with developmental, physical, and cognitive disabilities into their communities. These include employment services, educational and therapeutic services, recreation activities, living opportunities, and behavioral health services. Their work is dedicated to equity, inclusion, love, and compassion — values of the holiday season.

Community Food Share

Community Food Share is a Feeding America food bank serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties. They see themselves as just another friendly neighbor, the kind of neighbor that doesn’t really exist anymore, one that lives next door and bakes you a cake when you move in and watches your cat when you ask them to. While they deliver food to seniors, families, and anyone else who might need it, they also act as a sort of hub, a nucleus of organizations all dedicated to fighting hunger in their respective communities. Approximately 80% of the food they distribute is donated and 65% is distributed to larger agencies that then use it to help communities, while 25% is delivered directly. The holiday season is best spent with warm food and full bellies surrounded by love. Community Food Share works everyday to make that a reality right next door.

The post 2022 Giving Guide: Organizations that need more than thoughts and prayers appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Photo credit: Mark Cruz via Unsplash

It’s the high point of summer and the food is fresh. Community Food Share is holding its annual Farm to Fork dinner on August 20th at 5:30 at Whimsy Farm. Food prepared by Chris Royster of Flagstaff House will be top notch, all of it locally sourced and farm fresh. 63rd Street Farm in Boulder is also continuing its Thursday night music series. Upcoming performers  include Antonio Lopez and Caroline Hunter on September 1 and Megan Burtt and Joel Ansett on October 6.

In other Boulder County farm food news, Ollin Farms is continuing it’s Slow Saturday series with produce available as well as other farmer booths, hay rides, a cook book exchange and farm yoga. 

Boulder Social Club, in the old Ska Brewstillery and FATE space, is getting ready to open to the public. It’s the creator of Walnut Brewery and Rock Bottom founder Frank Day. In addition, Belotta Boulder opened on Broadway, and is offering elevated dishes from James Beard semifinalist Manny Barella as well as the groups behind Oak at Fourteenth and Corrida. At 29th Street Mall, ice cream lovers who have been wanting to try Grey Poupon or macaroni and cheese ice cream, will finally have their chance when New York-based Van Leeuwen opens this month.

Longmont has ice-cream news too, as Scrumptious reopened in Old Town. In addition, PeiWei To Go has put out it’s welcome mat in the former Great Harvest Bread Company space on Ken Pratt Blvd. On nearby Industrial Circle, it looks like the former Old Chicago building will finally be getting some new tenants as East Moon Asian Bistro and Kenny’s Tavern looks set to occupy the space. 

In the Prospect neighborhood,  Cave Girl Coffee was lauded for it’s ability to make food for anyone, regardless of dietary restrictions. They were recognized by the Colorado Celiac as the best donuts and cookies in Colorado. And a Longmont coffee and community collective, MECO Coffee, is spreading its wings. It will be opening a second location just off of Main Street in Louisville.

The post Food News | August 2022 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Craft pumpkin beer. Photo: depositphotos

• Happy October! Love it or hate it, if you’re a craft beer fan, one of the most notable of beer seasons – pumpkin beer season – is winding down. If you’re not a pumpkin beer fan, this will probably give you a sigh of relief. If you love them, though, you still have a couple of weeks to enjoy them in season or stock up. Here are two that are made right here in Boulder: Avery Rumpkin and Upslope’s Pumpkin Ale. Rumpkin is intense, with a 16.3% ABV that packs a punch, but it’s also smooth, aged in rum barrels. Upslope’s pumpkin ale isn’t barrel-aged and it’s got just about half the alcohol content of Avery’s, a relief to many of us, but it’s still smooth, interesting, and doesn’t overload with off-putting spice flavors.

• Mexican eatery Cantina Lunada has completed its move from the former Lafayette space to its new location on Ken Pratt Blvd. in the old Chuburger space in Longmont. While a small fire delayed their opening past when they would have liked, now they’ve put out the welcome mat. They’re continuing to offer the fresh-made, farm-to-table Southwest and Colorado dishes that customers in their previous location came to love.

• There’s a new area cafe and bakery called Pistachio. It’s located on Main Street in Longmont near Hwy 66 and just across from Three Margaritas. Also, keep your eye out for new pizza options in Lafayette. Ghost Box Pizza is launching by the end of the year from the same team that is behind Stem Ciders Acerage. You may have already had their pizza at the cidery just outside of town, but now you can enjoy it in a stand-alone restaurant.

• As the holiday season approaches, Community Food Share, celebrating its 40th anniversary, will be gearing up for seasonal food drives. Any business, individual, even a group of friends, who is looking to create their own local food drive can contact them to get organized.

• Ever consider the enormous amount of non-recyclable food and household products related trash that humans produce? Now it’s easier to do something about it. Nude Foods Market held a grand opening for its first brick-and-mortar zero-waste grocery store on Walnut Street in Boulder. They’re looking to do a part in offsetting nearly 1,704 pounds of trash produced by each American annually by being extremely selective about product choices, ranging from farming processes to product packaging.

• Now there’s another option for anyone with dietary restrictions who is tired of the same old snacking options. Boulder-based natural snack foods company, Quinn, is launching a vegan-friendly, corn, soy, dairy, and gluten-free cheese-filled, pretzel nugget.

The post Food News | October 2021 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

It’s officially the holiday season. As some of you are reading this, you’re probably already entertaining out of town in-laws and possibly some ex out-laws all while reading and testing recipes in hopes of not being the one that screws up the family’s traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Thanksgiving is hard work—for everyone. Whether you’re the one responsible for making enough edible food for the entire family, or you’re the smallest of the half-pints at the kids table with the biggest tummy ache from eating too much, Turkey Day definitely is not a piece of cake… or pie.

So why not eat out this year? Dining out on Thanksgiving is no longer reserved for cooking-impaired single parents or out-of-towners unable to make the trip home for the holidays. Dining out on Thanksgiving has become a trendy new tradition and several of Boulder County’s best dining establishments will be opening their doors this year and serving their take on a delicious, traditional Thanksgiving feast.

Check out this list of local restaurants serving turkey to the masses this week—and as I always say… make reservations! Trust me—your family will eventually forgive you if you burn a turkey, make inedible mashed potatoes and forget to buy booze for the meal, but they will not forgive you if they get stuck eating bags of chips and soda from the only convenience store still open on Thanksgiving day.

Peaceful Valley Ranch
475 Peaceful Valley Road | Lyons | 1-800-95-LODGE
Take the family to the mountains this year and dine on a traditional Thanksgiving dinner buffet at the scenic Peaceful Valley Ranch. Rent snowshoes, cross-country skis, or take a hike around the property grounds before or after your meal to help burn off that second piece of pumpkin pie while spending some quality time in the outdoors with the family.
Served buffet style from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
$24.95 Ages 13-54
$18.95 Ages 55 and older
$12.95 Ages 4-12 and Ages 3 and Under Eat Free

The St. Julien Hotel
900 Walnut St. | Boulder | 720-406-7399
Whether your family is the breakfast, brunch of dinner type on Thanksgiving, the St. Julien will have a meal ready for you. Early birds can catch breakfast from 6:30-9:30 a.m. The brunch type will dine from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., and the dinner folk can get together from 5:30 – 10 p.m. Enjoy live piano music by Ralph Sharon throughout the day, and be sure to bring your family and friends to listen to one of my personal favorite local musicians, George Nelson, at 6:30 p.m.  
Breakfast and Brunch served buffet style and choose your own three-course meal for dinner.
Breakfast and Brunch: $44.95/adult | $19.95/kids
Dinner: $49.95/adult | $19.95/kids

Colterra
210 Franklin St. | Niwot | 303-652-0777
Colterra’s dining room has all the same intimate charm as your own dining room and is the perfect place to take your out of town friends and family to sample some of Colorado’s locally grown food. Invite your guests to choose their own three-course menus from Colterra’s Thanksgiving inspired special menu and enjoy wine from Colterra’s extensive wine list.
Three-course menu: $45.00/adult
                                          $22.50/children 12 & under  
 

Black Cat: Farm-to-Table Bistro
1964 13^th St | Boulder | 303-444-5500
Join Black Cat for Thanksgiving this year with a thoughtful and tasty way to not only celebrate the holiday, but to help support your community as well. The owners of the Black Cat are opening their doors for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner where guests are invited to pay what they can for their meal or leave a little extra to help someone less fortunate. All proceeds from this special meal will be donated to Community Food Share.

The post The Bolder Life: Thanksgiving on the Town appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

According to the 2011 Boulder County Trends Report from the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, an estimated 42,000 of BoCo’s nearly 300,000 residents are living below the poverty line—and the financial crisis affecting the people that make up that statistic is never more apparent than during the holiday season.

With so much going on during this time of year, it’s really easy to forget about the true meaning of the holidays. The holiday season is about family and community—and remembering that there are less fortunate people in your very own city, just struggling to get by.

But the good news is—you can help. And help can come in so many different ways. Whether it’s donating your time, money, food, clothing, toys, bicycles and/or gifts—there are so many different opportunities to help.

 And with the help of the Volunteer Connection—I’ve made it incredibly easy for you to find the best way for you to offer your help for the holidays that is friendly on your own budget and schedule and incredibly appreciated by those 42,000 Boulder County residents that are in need of your help.

So start a new tradition. Get your family involved. Open your wallets and your hearts.

And have a wonderful holiday season.

Donate Your Time

• Attention Homes – Thanksgiving Dinner | November 24 |10 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Boulder
Help out by preparing a Thanksgiving dish and delivering it to the Attention Homes safe shelter for at-risk youth and teens —or volunteer your time and help cook, set up, serve, decorate or clean up on-site.

• OUR Center Holiday Food Basket Helpers | Weekday Mornings/Afternoons | Longmont
Help the OUR Center put together special holiday food bags for families and residents in the area in need of a meal.

• Gift Wrapping | Golden West Senior Center | Boulder
Become a pro a gift wrapping as you help members of the Golden West Senior Center wrap presents for their loved ones. Click here for a list of dates and times that volunteers are needed.

• Holiday Food Basket Program | EFAA | Weekdays from December 12 – 23 | Boulder
Help EFAA provide local families with all of the fixings for a holiday meal this year by helping: pack bags, deliver to homes and lead volunteer groups.

 Toys, Bikes, Books & Gift Donations

• Holiday Bike Program | Bicycle Longmont | Year Round | Longmont

Remember waking up on Christmas day to a bicycle from Santa and his elves? Help give that experience to a Boulder County child by donating to the Bicycle Longmont Holiday Bike program. Drop off a new or used kids bike at Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids, Oskar Blues Tasty Weasel Tap Room or the Left Hand Brewery Tap room and receive a free pint of beer. Tricycles, kids bikes and scooters are needed and Santa’s elves will be working hard to repair and renew all donated bikes just in time for Christmas.

• Share-A-Gift Annual Gift Drive | Thanksgiving Weekend- December 14 |BoCo
With locations set up at several Boulder Valley School District Schools, the Share-A-Gift Annual Gift Drive is the perfect way to get your kids involved in helping for the holidays. New and used toys, books, bikes and gifts are needed for Boulder County kids in need. Stay tuned to the Share-A-Gift website for updates on drop-off locations.

Food Donations
**Check your local grocery stores for deals and discounts on canned food and holiday meal items. Get your kids involved by having them help make a list of the brands and food items that are on sale to help stretch your grocery store dollar for your food donation.

• BCAP Food Bank | November 1- January 1 | Boulder & Longmont Locations
BCAP is in need of holiday food items including canned goods, 10 lb turkeys, pumpkin pie filling and gravy mix packets along with shampoo, laundry soap and other items needed year round for the food bank.

• Sister Carmen Community Center | Now – December 22 |  Lafayette
If you’re not sure which grocery store items to purchase for donations, just skip the searching and buy a few $10 or $15 King Soopers or Walmart gift cards to donate and allow recipients to purchase menu items for their own holiday meal.

• “Let’s Bag Hunger” Food Drive | November 13-23 | Community Food Share Click here for a list of items that the Community Food Share is in need of most, and drop the items off at participating local grocery stores. Click here for a complete list of participating drop-off locations.

Clothing Donations

• Socks and Mittens Drive | November 3- December 5 | Foothills United Way |Lafayette
Show off your knitting skills, or purchase new: socks, mittens, hats, scarves and any other items that will help keep men, women and children warm during the cold winter months. Drop donations off in the Foothills United Way Lobby at 1285 Cimarron Dr., Ste. 101, Lafayette.

• Boulder Outreach to the Homeless Overflow | Year Round | Boulder
Warm socks needed. Any cold weather gear is accepted. Please drop off donations at Mountain’s Edge Fitness Center.

Click here for the complete 2011 Volunteer Connections Volunteer Opportunity and Donations Guide including a detailed list of contact information for the above events.

The post The Bolder Life: Helping for the Holidays appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

I believe in the power of dinner to cure many modern ills. I know there are few expressions of love deeper than gathering family and friends for hand-made fare, for connection and conversation.

But at your Thanksgiving feast, how joyful could you be if one or two folks around the table weren’t allowed to eat anything but bread—no roast bird with gravy, no stuffing and no warm pecan pie à la mode?

Yet that’s exactly what happens every day. Hunger lives among us. We are surrounded by those who cannot afford enough, or healthful enough, food. It has been the case for years in our well-off region but the recession has morphed a problem into a crisis.
More than 40,000 residents in the area live at or below the poverty line, according to Community Food Share. Many more are on the brink, deciding whether to pay for heat or prescriptions or food. Most are families with small children. Many are seniors.

The invisible hungry and malnourished are your neighbors. You drive by them every day.  There is aid available but it’s not enough. Ultimately, the dilemma we must solve isn’t food insecurity, it’s poverty. But for now, let’s make sure everyone can eat good, nutritious food, not just calories.  
 
Here are ways you can help:

• Drop off bags of non-perishable food at grocery stores in Boulder, Louisville and Lafayette. Take your kids to the store, give them $10, and have them fill a bag.
• Have everyone in your class, at work, in church bring in all the pennies sitting in jars at home and donate them to a food bank.
• Volunteer for the annual food drive.
• Write a check in the largest amount you can afford. The vast majority of food distributed is bought, not donated.
• Instead of quickly forgotten gifts to friends and co-workers, donate money to a food program in their name.
• Visit communityfoodshare.org.
• Help in June and September when the spotlight isn’t on hunger but the need is still great. This isn’t about guilt, it’s about the meaning of “community.”  Do what you can and I guarantee that the meal you say grace before on Nov. 26 will be the most nourishing you’ve ever eaten.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.
 
{eatery update}
 
OPENINGS
Italian-born chef Mario Petit is dishing everything from stuffed manicotti to authentic thin-crust pizza at the new Mamma Mia Trattoria, 9008 W. 88th Ave. in Westminster. …Sprouts Farmers Market is open at 2950 Baseline Road near CU’s Williams Village towers. …Ed Behlmann’s 7 West Pizzeria & Pub opened in the former Left Hand Tap House space at 526 Main St. in Longmont. …The semi-legendary Neopolitan’s Italian Restaurant is reborn in Nederland at 1 E. First St.
 
NEWS
Radek Cerny’s L’Atelier is open for classy weekday lunch again serving roasted mussels, chicken BLT Panini and broiled salmon on creamy spinach. …Boulder Creek Winery took home a double gold medal for its 2006 Merlot from the American Wine Society and Denver’s Balistreri Vineyards won Best of Show at the Colorado Mountain Winefest for its 2008 Petite Sirah. …The new Top Restaurants diner survey from Zagat reveals that Denver diners (which includes the North Metro area) leave an average tip of 19.5 percent, among the highest in the nation. Boulder’s Frasca was among the five eateries rated tops for food. …Happy anniversary to Mike O’Shay’s Restaurant and Ale House in Longmont (28 years), Sushi Zanmai in Boulder (24 years), the Universal Product (bar) Code (35 years), and Jax Fish House (15 years). …In memoriam: Roni Sherb always reminded me of Christmas. For years she baked and sold marvelous holiday stolen, fruit-packed loaves coated in powdered sugar. She also operated Boulder Cheesecake. Roni passed away in September. The irrepressible Frank Finn also died in September. He and his late wife Barbara opened the landmark Gold Hill Inn in 1962, still operated by their sons Brian and Chris.
 
CLOSINGS
Sunflower Restaurant has closed at 1701 Pearl St., Boulder. The Scotch Corner Pub has closed at 1800 Broadway, Boulder.  Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza has closed at 1100 US 287 in Broomfield.
 
COMING SOON
Kevin Taylor Steak is scheduled to open in spring 2010 in the Aloft Hotel near the Broomfield Event Center.

CULINARY CALENDAR
The illustrious Boulder Farmers’ Market closed on Nov. 7 but it’s not really over until the Cornucopia of Local, an indoor/outdoor farmers’ market, 9am to 3pm Nov. 22 at the Boulder Outlook Hotel. For details and information, visit boulderfarmers.org. …Schedule your holiday tea time on the Mezzanine at the Hotel Boulderado. Reservations:  303.440.2880. …Make your reservations now for First Bite Boulder, which offers $26 fixed-price dinners Nov. 14–21 at dozens of restaurants including Arugula, Boulder Cork, Full Belly, Greenbriar Inn, Leaf, Q’s and Turley’s. Among the options is Mouco creamy Blu cheese gnocchi, Long Family Farm pork tenderloin with butternut squash, green beans, pear chutney, and toasted coconut semi freddo at Terroir Restaurant in Longmont. …If you’ve got an upcoming event, a quibble or question, let me know at: nibbles@yellowscene.com.
 
ON THE MENU
The best things I’ve tasted at North Metro area eateries in the past 30 days or so include: nearly perfect gnocchi with sweet butternut squash, toasted hazelnuts, baby arugula and salty shavings of grana padano cheese at Sugarbeet, 101 Pratt St., Longmont; invigorating Som Tum Salad with shredded green papaya, carrots, tomatoes, chiles, long beans, lime juice, peanuts, cilantro, shrimp and rice noodles at Suki Thai Noodle House, 675 30th St., Boulder; earthy buckwheat pancakes with real butter and maple syrup and a couple of eggs done right sunnyside up at the Original Pancake House, 2600 Canyon Blvd., Boulder.
 
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“I think the way to anybody’s heart is through their stomach. The way to my heart is through my stomach—with a really great bowl of spaghetti.” —Bravo’s Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi
 
“Everything you see I owe to spaghetti.” 
—Actress Sophia Loren

The post Nibbles: Feed Thy Neighbor appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Basic Needs
Boulder Shelter for the Homeless
4869 N. Broadway, Boulder, 303.442.4646
Provides safe shelter, food, support services for homeless adults in our community.

Conscious Alliance
2525 Arapahoe Ave., Suite E4-182, Boulder, 720.406.7871

Community Food Share
6363 Horizon Lane, Longmont, 303.652.3663
Improves the lives of the hungry by delivering nutritionally balanced meals each.

Emergency Family Assistance Organization
900 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, 303.442.3042
Provides community safety net for families who can’t meet their basic needs.

Flatirons Habitat for Humanity
2540 Frontier Ave., Boulder, 303.447.3787

Longmont Meals on Wheels
910 Longs Peak Ave., Longmont, 303.772.0540
Provides hot, nutritious meals for seniors and for individuals unable to prepare meals.

Louisville United Methodist Food Baskets
741 Jefferson St., Louisville, 303.666.8812
Delivers food baskets to low-income residents of Louisville and Lafayette.

Boulder County Meals on Wheels
1255 Centaur Village Drive, Lafayette, 303.665.0566
Provides home-delivered meals to the needy.

Outreach United Research Center
303 Atwood St., Longmont, 303.772.5529
Unifies resources to help people with short-term hardships meet basic needs.

Sister Carmen Community Center
701 W. Baseline Road, Lafayette, 303.665.4342
Offers non-discriminatory emergency assistance to area residents.

Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center
11968 Mineral Road, Longmont, 303.652.9131
Serves those with special needs through therapeutic riding and equine activities.

Health
Boulder County AIDS Project
2118 14th St., Boulder, 303.444.6121
Provides support, advocacy and education to those infected with or affected by HIV.

Clinica Campesina Family Health Services
1345 Plaza Court, Lafayette, 303.665.3036 x236
Serves as a medical and dental care provider for low-income families.

HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield
2594 Trailridge Drive, Suite A, Lafayette, 303.449.7740
Provides compassionate end-of-life care and education to our community.

Longmont Emergency Unit Inc
1010 Alta St., Longmont, 303.776.6180
Responds to emergencies 24 hours a day, including first aid, extrication and water rescue.

Sense of Security
P.O. Box 6098, Broomfield, 303.480.3558
Provides financial help and enhances quality of life for breast cancer patients.

Dental Aid Inc.
877 South Boulder Road, Louisville, 303.665.8828
Provides affordable oral care for low-income residents of Boulder and Broomfield counties.

Social Issues
Attention Homes
3080 Broadway Suite C, Boulder, 303.447.1206
Provides residential treatment and counseling to at-risk youth in a home-like environment.

El Comite de Longmont
455 Kimbark St., Longmont, 303.651.6125
Acts as a negotiating body for concerns brought forth by the Boulder County Latino community.

Empowerment International
2339 Santa Fe Drive, Longmont, 303.823.6495
Breaks the cycle of poverty and creates lasting change throughout Central America.

First Nations Development Institute
703 Third Ave., Suite B, Longmont, 303.774.7836
Works to restore native control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own.

Intercambio de Comunidades
2885 Aurora Ave. #36, Boulder, 303.996.0275
Builds bridges of understanding across cultures and creates a more integrated community.

Native American Rights Fund
1506 Broadway, Boulder, 303.447.8760
Defends the rights of Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide.

Safehouse Progressive Alliance
835 North St., Boulder, 303.449.8623, 24-hour Crisis Line: 303.444.2424
Provides safety to victims of domestic violence and strives to end violence against women.

Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley
P.O. Box 231, Longmont, 303.772.0432
Provides safety and support to women and children who are affected by domestic violence.

The Inn Between of Longmont Inc.
250 Kimbark St., Longmont, 303.684.0810
Offers transitional housing and services for the homeless to help them achieve self-sufficiency.

Education
Alternatives for Youth Inc.
24 9th Ave., Longmont, 303.776.8184
Provides services that promote social and academic success for youth and their families.

Boulder County Partners
1430 Nelson Road, Suite 206, Longmont, 303.772.1411
Helps in the lives of at-risk youth by building a positive self-image through mentoring.

Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center
6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster, 720.974.1864
Fosters an appreciation of butterflies while educating the public about conservation.

Center for Safe Schools and Communities
450 Tynan Court, Erie, 800.221.4125 x04
Helps disturbed students achieve academic and behavioral success.

Jared Polis Foundation
1725 Walnut St., Boulder, 303.442.1130
Encourages the community to be proactive by supporting education and technology.

Rocky Mountain Equi-Rhythm
7156 Johnson Circle, Niwot, 303.919.3946
Uses the healing power of the horse-human relationship to assist at-risk populations.

St.Vrain Valley Parenting Center
803 E. 3rd Ave., Longmont, 303.776.5348
Provides the building blocks for healthy families through education and support services.

WOW! Children’s Museum
110 N. Harrison Ave., Lafayette, 303.604.2424
Engages families in learning.

Project YES
104 West Baseline Road, Lafayette, 303.926.0306
Provides leadership opportunities for young people through the arts and service learning.

Animals
Birds of Prey Foundation
2290 South 104th St., Broomfield, 303.460.0674
Treats injured and orphaned wildlife, primarily raptors, such as eagles, hawks and owls.

Colorado Horse Rescue
10386 N. 65th St., Longmont, 720.494.1414
Provides emergency relief and care services for abused and neglected horses.

Creative Acres
P.O. Box 1143, Brighton, 303.659.4792
Offers a no-kill free-roam animal sanctuary and training center.

Humane Society of Boulder Valley
2323 55th St., Boulder, 303.442.4030 x655
Protects the lives of companion animals by promoting relationships between pets and people.

Knick O’ Time Horse Rescue & Rehabilitation
9993 N 65th St., Longmont, 303.359.2273
Rescues and finds new homes for abused and slaughter-bound horses and other equines.

Longmont Humane Society
9595 Nelson Road, Longmont, 303.772.1232
Prevents cruelty to animals, and strives to instill empathy and appreciation for animals.

Wild Animal Sanctuary
1946 WCR 53, Keenesburg, 303.536.0118
Rescues exotic wildlife and endangered species such as lions, tigers, bears and wolves.

Environment
Center for ReSource Conservation
1702 Walnut St., Boulder, 303.441.3278
Leads Colorado residents, businesses and governments towards a sustainable future.

The WILD Foundation
3025 47th St., Boulder, 303.442.8811
Works to protect wild places because wilderness areas provide essential benefits.

Western Resource Advocates
2260 Baseline Road, Boulder, 303.444.1188
Protects the West’s land, air and water.

The post Giving Guide appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.