Event Spotlight - Buffs Kickoff Weekend

Waking up this morning the mercury read about 47 degrees. As I looked outside I saw a swatch of yellow in the ash tree in the back. Autumn is on its way and so is that most American of American rituals - football season! All around the Front Range gridders are finishing up two-a-day practices and readying for a season that starts with sweltering heat and ends with snow.

Although Boulder is Mecca for the endurance athlete, football still commands great attention. Boulder High and Fairview begin their fall campaings this Thursday & Friday evenings, respectively, near Downtown at Boulder High's Recht Field. The CU Buffs also kick off their season against the Bobcats of Montana State this Saturday. This will be the beginning of a new era at CU. New head coach Dan Hawkins takes the reigns of a program that has had its share of adversity over the years. There is quite a bit of excitement on the Hill about the new coach and Athletic Director Mike Bohn. The optimism any preseason brings is palpable - everyone's record is 0-0 (zero and zero)!

Although the bulk of the excitement and action will be at Folsom Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Downtown Boulder will play a big part in launching the 2006 CU Buffs' season. Begin your Labor Day weekend by catching the following events on Friday, September 1st:

Colorado Daily's Welcome Back Edition Bash

A concert and festival (including a beer garden) celebrating the return of CU Boulder students and the first CU Home Game. Musicians Jonah Smith and James Hunter will perform, followed by the CU Band. September 1st, 4pm - 7:30pm, on Pearl Street Mall.

Buff Stampede on the Mall

Come march with your CU Marching Band, in front of the Courthouse every night before Game Day, at 7pm. Visit these restaurants for CU Band Specials: Juanita's, Pasta Jay's, Rhumba, Old Chicago, Lazy Dog, and BJ's Restaurant and Brewery.

While Downtown, check out the banners on the light poles. They highlight the wealth of talent and quality student athletes produced by CU over the years in all their men's and women's sports.

Downtown and the University of Colorado are two of the places that make Boulder such a special place. Downtown is excited about the upcoming CU Season and all the festivities in Downtown designed to celebrate it.

See you Downtown!

2006 University of Colorado Buffaloes Season Schedule

Sep 2nd, Montana State - Boulder 1:30 p.m.
Sep 9th, Colorado State - Denver (Invesco) 3:00 p.m.
Sep 16th, Arizona State - Boulder 5:00 p.m.
Sep 23rd, Georgia - Athens, GA TBA
Sep 30th, Missouri - Columbia, MO TBA
Oct 7th, Baylor - Boulder TBA
Oct 14th, Texas Tech - Boulder TBA
Oct 21st, Oklahoma, - Norman, OK TBA
Oct 28th, Kansas - Lawrence, KS TBA
Nov 4th, Kansas State - Boulder TBA
Nov 11th, Iowa State - Boulder TBA
Nov 24th, Nebraska - Lincoln, NE 1:30 p.m

Weekend Reminder

It's a busy weekend for us Downtown!

Friday, September 1st - First Friday!

• Welcome Back Edition Bash on the Mall
• Buff Stampede on the Mall
• First Friday in Downtown
• Bill Fisher Exhibit @ blinkgallery
• Visiting Artists @ Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery
• Cat Power @ the Boulder Theater
• Art Reception @ Christine Margurite Designs
• Pick of the Fringe! @ the Dairy Center
• BoulderDrag Show @ the Dairy Center
• Art Opening @ SmithKlein Gallery

Saturday, September 2nd - CU's First Game Day!

• Boulder Creek Hometown Fair
• Tailgate on the Terrace @ the St. Julien
• CU Game Day with West End Tavern & Banjo Billy

Event Spotlight- AVP

So the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball tour rolled into Boulder last weekend. It was a really cool weekend which kicked off Thursday with a sand court set up right in front of the courthouse. The court was awesome beacuse it was a regulation size and a few AVP players came down to play an exhibition match. I had to dodge a few mis-hits which rolled down Pearl Street, but it was a sight. Later in the evening, Sinjin Smith was there holding a clinic for kids and adults. It was neat to see such a famous player just hanging out and showing some skills.

I headed up to the reservoir on Saturday to see some of the tournament. I first tried to find my friend Amber who played college volleyball with me and who is part of the tour. Unfortunately, she lost so I completely missed her match! I caught the tail end of the quarter final match between Boulder favs Elaine Youngs and former Buff Rachel Wacholder. These two used to be teammates. The crowd was really into this match which made it really fun. Wacholder and her partner won the game just before the rain came. I also saw US National team member and Olympian Reid Priddy play. I love watching indoor players who transition to play outdoors. Envy of their incredible verticals I guess.

Though I missed Sunday due to my husband (I am blaming it on him), I heard it was great and the weather was really nice ( no rain like Saturday). US Olympic darlings Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh won the Women's event while the team of Metzger/ Lambert won the Men's.

So all in all , Boulder hosted another successful AVP tour stop. I cannot wait to see how they top the sand court on the mall next year.

Monday's Downtown Update - 8/28/06

Here it is, your Monday dose of Mall action!

Monday, August 28th

• Business Seminar @ Boulder Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday, August 29th

• Business Seminar @ Boulder Chamber of Commerce
  evenings with DIVAS @ outdoor DIVAS
• Mark Diamond & Andy Weyl @ RedFish
• Joey Porter Trio @ Rhumba Café Caribbean

Wednesday, August 30th

• Annual Tulip Bulb Giveaway
• Farmers' Market on 13th St
• Shooter Jennings @ Boulder Theater
• The Rude Boys @ RedFish

Thursday, August 31st

• Parting Glass @ One Boulder Plaza

Friday, September 1st - First Friday!

• Welcome Back Edition Bash on the Mall
• First Friday in Downtown Boulder
• Bill Fisher Exhibit @ blinkgallery
• Visiting Artists @ Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery
• Cat Power @ the Boulder Theater
• Art Reception @ Christine Margurite Designs
• Pick of the Fringe! @ the Dairy Center
• Drag Show @ the Dairy Center
• Art Opening @ SmithKlein Gallery

Saturday, September 2nd - First CU Buffs Game!

• CU Game Day with West End Tavern & Banjo Billy
• Boulder Creek Hometown Fair
• Farmers' Market on 13th St
• Tailgate on the Terrace @ the St. Julien

Sunday, September 3rd

• Quemando @ Rhumba Café Caribbean

Weekend Reminder - 8/25/06

Here it is, your weekend fun-stuff-to-do reminder:

Friday, August 25th

• Noon Tunes - the Stanleytones (Bluegrass)
• Soul Sacrifice @ RedFish Brewhouse
• Creating Heartfelt Connections seminar @ the Co-op
• Mountain Bike workshop @ outdoor DIVAS
• Boulder Bioneers @ the Boulder Co-op
• Music on the Mezz @ Hotel Boulderado

Saturday, August 26th

• anchor DIVAS @ outdoor DIVAS
• Invironments Opens New Showroom
• Community Yard Sale Fundraiser @ First United Methodist Church

Sunday, August 27th

• Sambadende @ Rhumba Café Caribbean

Weekend Spotlight - 8/25/06: Boulder Fringe Festival

So it's the Fringe Festival's last weekend in town! In case you're not sure what it's all about, here's the scoop:

The Boulder International Fringe Festival features 12 days, 70 artists, 14 downtown venues from Trident to the Dairy. This is its final weekend of fun, funny, intriguing and amazing theater, music, dance and visual arts. The Festival features artists from England to San Francisco, not to mention plenty of locals.

There are an ungodly number of performances you can see. When I say ungodly, think 28 Theater pieces, 6 Dance/Theater pieces, 7 Dance pieces, 12 Music pieces, 3 Films, and 9 Visual Art pieces. That's 65 shows with multiple times over the next three days. It staggers the mind. Or at least mine.

You can get descriptions, pictures, times and prices from the Festival's website, boulderfringe.com. So support local businesses, local artists, and local wackiness, and check it out!

Businesses to Look For

Along with all the events, there's a new opening!

• Invironments, an interior design and remodeling center, is opening a new showroom downtown at 1646 Pearl (between 16th & 17th) this Saturday, August 26th! Invironments provides a friendly, approachable and educational environment for guided design and assistance with technical know-how. Invironments style offers clients their choice of affordable, mid-range, custom and green cabinetry, modern furniture, and accessories at its one-stop design, remodeling, and retail showroom.

They had a pretty cool display up at the Sidewalk Sales and were giving away promotional packages. Who knows, maybe they'll do it again? In any case, the opening of their new showroom is worth looking into!

Monday's Downtown Update - 8/21/06

The Boulder Fringe Festival will be over next Monday the 28th, so don't miss out! There are shows all over downtown this week. You can get the exact listings on their website.

Tuesday, August 22nd:

• 8 Minute Dating Event @ Johnny's Cigar Bar
• Live music @ RedFish Brewhouse
• Live Music @ Rhumba Cafe Caribbean

Wednesday, August 23rd:

• Farmers Market on 13th St
• Live music @ RedFish Brewhouse

Thursday, August 24th:

• Sugar Loaf String Band @ One Boulder Plaza
  

Friday, August 25th:

• Noon Tunes - Stanleytones
• Foothills United Way's Day of Caring
• Heartfelt Connections seminar @ the Boulder Co-Op
  
• The Boulder Bioneers @ the Boulder Co-Op
• Music on the Mezz @ the Hotel Boulderado
• Mountain Bike Workship @ outdoor DIVAS
• Live music @ RedFish Brewhouse

Saturday, August 26th:

• Farmers Market on 13th St
• Heartfelt Connections seminar @ the Boulder Co-Op
• Invironments Opens New Showroom
• anchor DIVAS @ outdoor DIVAS

Sunday, August 27th:

• Heartfelt Connections seminar @ the Boulder Co-Op
• DIVAS rock out @ outdoor DIVAS
• Live Music @ Rhumba Cafe Caribbean
  

Weekend Update - 8/17/06

There are too many things going on right now to just mention Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so bear with me!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 17TH

• The Boulder Fringe Festival kicked off today. It's showing at The Trident, Boulder Public Library, Boulder Theater, the Boulder Co-op and The Dairy, to name just a few. So you really have no excuse. For specifics, check their website at boulderfringe.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18TH

• When it rains, it pours, right? There are no less than three different places you can see live music on Friday. The big one is, of course, Noon Tunes, from noon to 1:30, in front of the Courthouse. It's the Boulder Philharmonic, so get ready to dig some classical music! For the other two, check our Event Calendar!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19TH

• The Shakespeare Festival is still around, but not for long! Go! Go now!
• The Farmers' Market is business as usual.
• The Boulder Asian Festival kicks off its first day! For more details you can visit them online at bapaweb.org.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 20TH

• The Boulder Asian Festival's Day Two.
  
• More live music!

Not to mention all of the workshops, promotions, and other events downtown. You know where to go for the rest! And, if you haven't already, sign up for the newsletter and get all this information delivered to you!

Monday's Mall Update - 8/14/06

For those of you who didn't get the newsletter last Thursday, here's a quick spotlight on this week's events Downtown:

• If you can't wait for Wednesday's Bands on the Bricks, there are plenty of restaurants serving up live music Downtown on Tuesday night. Both Rhumba Cafe Caribbean and RedFish Brewhouse have local acts playing! For more information, check their webpages.
• It's the very last Bands on the Bricks this Wednesday August 16th. If you haven't been, go! If you've been going, go! It's the Legenday Nikators, so if you want a seat get there early early early; the phone has been ringing every ten minutes with people checking the times--which are, by the way, 7pm to 9pm. For some more information, check out our Bands on the Bricks page.
• The Farmers' Market is not just for Saturdays! This Wednesday from 4pm to 8pm--and every Wednesday from now till October, for that matter--the Market is open on 13th St.
• The 10th Annual Pearl Street Mile & Kids 800 is this Thursday August 17th, starting at 6pm. Nearly 700 people participated last year, so you can expect this year's to be just as fun.

For more details and more events (and I promise, there are more), check out the Event Calendar!