Lights...Camera...Don't Mess Up: The Shoot Out Boulder

The Boulder Shoot Out is back in town this weekend for some hot, fast-paced film-making action in this one of a kind festival. In a nutshell, the crazies that volunteer for this contest have 24 hours to shoot a seven minute video to showcase their film-making talent and speedy sense of work. But there’s a catch: to put the participant’s creativity to the test (because just plain film-making doesn’t cut it these days I guess) all videos must include 11 items to be announced just before the 24 hour count down. One of these items must be shown within the first 30 seconds and any five must be filmed in one location. And if that weren’t enough, all videos must be edited in-camera, meaning the film must be shot in sequence and presented as completely raw footage.

Now, if you’re artistically challenged like myself, there are great ways to experience The 24 hour Shoot Out Film Festival without ever touching a camera. The ten best videos will be presented at the Boulder Theater this Sunday at 1 p.m. Click here for tickets. Or, if you’d like to be a little more involved, head down to the courthouse today at 4 p.m. with a head shot and cell phone to be a “Shooting Star” and help the filmmakers complete their masterpieces.

The contest kicks off today in Downtown Boulder outside the courthouse at 6 p.m. (be there at 4 if you want to sign up as a shooting star or filmmaker). The Shoot Out Boulder will test the determination, imagination and ability to pull an all-nighter (thank you college!) in this fast-paced, muddle of a contest. Don’t miss the 6th annual Shoot Out 24 Hour Filmmaking Festival Boulder this weekend only!

-Claire Little

Football and Beer: Fall is Here!

Happy Autumn! The leaves are turning those lovely shades of mud, old banana and faded traffic cone, ski bums and snobros/bunnies everywhere are jittery with the anticipation of shredding the gnar and scarves will no longer leave you in a puddle on the bricks. Here at Downtown Boulder we are ringing in the new season with my personal favorite Fall pastime, football and beer.

If you can’t get enough of CU Football, join Dan Hawkins at Boulder Draft House for a live recording of the Dan Hawkins Radio Show with Dan himself, Mark Johnson and Larry Zimmer for football chat. Next show is Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. When we play Kansas for our next home game on October 17, be sure to “Catch the Ride” from West End Tavern to the stadium in Banjo Billy’s Bus. Click here to see the schedule.

Don’t have season tickets to see the Buffs? Don’t worry! You are guaranteed to find a flat screen showing the game at Boulder Draft House or Lazy Dog (or any other bar with a TV for that matter).

Not a fan of CU football (despite our stupendous season record)? Grab a seat at Lazy Dog and demand to see your game on one of their many TVs or check out the Boulder Draft House calendar to see if your game will be shown! If you’re a Steelers fan, join your fellow East-coasters at Juanita’s on game day. Wear your jersey and get a free taco every time they score a touchdown, win free giveaways, and enjoy drink specials. Click here for a schedule.

And speaking of drink specials…you do NOT want to miss all the great deals that Autumn has to offer. West End Tavern will be serving up game day specials, NFL Sunday specials ($3 Mama’s Little Yella Pills saw what!?), and for two weeks only samplings from The Great American Beer Festival for those of us that couldn’t get tickets! Get ‘em by the pint or shell out $20 for 4oz pours of all 12 beers. If you enjoy a good stout like me, make sure to join in Conor O’Neills’ 250th birthday party September 24 for Guinness including $2.50 Guinness all day and a live telecast in Dublin at 5 p.m. If you're not still full by September 26, head back to celebrate Conor O'Neills' 10 year anniversary! 1/2 priced pints all day, giveaways on the hour and 10% off your entire tab just for stopping by.

Autumn has finally arrived friends! Bust out the hats and head downtown for great beer and great football.


-Claire Little

(p.s. I realize I wrote a farewell post a couple weeks ago, but after finally making good with the fax machine, I realized I still need to master the copier. Wish me luck!)

People Still Use Fax Machines?: What I learned at DBI

In Boulder you can be classified as either one of two things: a student, or not a student. Not students are usually characterized by being tiny cute people with chubby cheeks or grown-up and married. Students will most likely be spotted donning a face that says “economy-eshnonomy...I’ll still find a job” and searching for cheap beer. Well Downtowners, I happen to be one such CU student. And when a student such as me finds themselves all worked up about facing graduation in the upcoming year, there is only one thing for us to do: Get an internship! An unpaid internship! A resume one-liner that says “Hey! Look at me! I’ve had real world experience (sort of)!” And through the magic that is Craigslist, I ended up at Downtown Boulder.

The school year is about to begin yet again (as you may have noticed the increase of traffic, the long lines at Target, and the occasional awkward parent-child duo strolling downtown) which means I will be far too busy reading (or renting the movie), writing (an hour before it’s due) and attending class (maybe) to continue this internship. That’s right folks, your favorite blogger/phone answerer is fleeing the nest onto bigger and better things. As this is my last blog for Downtown Boulder, I’d like to share with you all the valuable lessons I’ve learned.

1. People do actually still use fax machines.
Who knew? Of course, our machine really loved getting paper jams all the time and making loud noises for no apparent reason…but only when I was using it of course. I think it only took me about five or so tries to get it right.

2. Change is good…sometimes.
The first month of my internship was spent working on website system A. The rest were spent working with website system B, which, as it turned out, was quite a bit more difficult than system A so we decided that we would switch back a few weeks after I leave. So a sizable chunk of my time was spent getting to know, updating, and perfecting something this office will never use again.

3. Don’t let your boss leave you for a month for something silly like a wedding – something bad and scary will happen
Did I mention that while this little transition from website system A to B took place my boss was miraculously on the other side of the planet? And just when things start smoothing out, when I start feeling like I have a job and not an internship, he comes back and I get to change the tape dispenser.

4. Bagged lunches are for toddlers
But being 21 in an office means I basically am a toddler, so I guess it’s okay. PB&J for life!

5. NEVER press the “delete all” button.
Seriously. Not for any reason. Do not click it. This was a lesson I learned just last week, after months of the red-haired ball of sarcasm that is my boss telling me I needed to make an “intern mistake” to spice things up. The whole office happens to be chatting by my desk while I’m happily working away on a mundane task like any young person just entering the workforce will, and oops! There goes my office cred. You may recall our calendar being oddly blank and event-less for an entire weekend? You’re welcome.

Before my days of trying to be a real, functional person, I pretty much thought Boulder was about a 10 block radius consisting of campus and The Hill. Now, not only am I a walking Rolodex for Downtown Boulder, but I know that it can be quite easy to be a functional person, all you need is good music to keep you motivated, to-do lists to keep you working, and swag to keep you happy.

And expert skills with a fax machine.

- Claire Little

It all Started at The Rio...

Everyone loves a birthday in Boulder - and in August and September we get to celebrate Rio Grande's 20th! This juicy Downtown Boulder cantina is putting its party-throwing skills to work for their big 2-0 and want to give two lucky Rio lovers a trip to Guadalajara, Mexico. To win, all you have to do is tell a story. If you have the best story that starts with The Rio, good friends, good food and a few margaritas, send it in! Ultimately, The Rio recognizes that these stories are part of its own, and they're looking for the best story their 20 years has provided.

You have until the end of August to remember, transcribe and send in your tale of hilarity and good times. The all-expense paid trip for two to Guadalajara includes an extensive tequila tasting and tequila-making tour. And maybe your story doesn't get you a trip to Mexico, but it could still win you other great prizes right here in Downtown Boulder! Runner-up goodies include a cruiser bike, Rio gift bags, and a special place on the Rio wall for all to read and enjoy. Send in your story here!

On September 12th, join Rio Grande for a birthday fiesta with giveaways, a mariachi band, great TexMex and even better margaritas.

- Claire Little

Live Life on the Fringe: Boulder Fring Fest is Back in Town

Something wacky, weird and absolutely claptastic is returning to Boulder this week. That something is the 15th Annual Boulder International Fringe Festival. While the name is quite a mouthful, the program will leave you with of bevy-load options. In just 12 days, 70 artists will each be performing multiple shows in 14 of Boulder's favorite venues including Downtown Boulder's own Laughing Goat Coffeehouse, First United Methodist Church, The Dairy, BMoCA, Trident Cafe and b.side Lounge.

The shows will feature all forms of art 'on the fringe' including magic shows, various performance art pieces, puppetry, live music and more. All artists or troupes perform several times throughout the festival, and spectators can rate the shows at the Fringe Fest website. Make sure to check out the program for a full list of events and ticket prices.

For the Kids, stop into the First United Methodist Church for Gregg Tobo's Astonishing Magic Show, an old-time magic show exploring the power of Belief and the origins of destiny, or Comedy A La Carte with Denver-based comedy troupe Mile Hi-Larity delivering a fast-paced blend of improv and original sketch comedy at Trident Cafe. For something more adult, try Good Girls Don't, But I Do, playing at BMoCA, an innovative work incorporating texts, movement, and song in an exploration of what it means to be a woman in contemporary society. Be sure to check the ratings listed for each show (listed on the online program), as some many require adult supervision.

Tonight, don't miss the opening night bash at Naropa with one minute featurettes by all 70 artists and a silent auction of wines and other local goodies from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Fringe Fest is back once again delivering Boulder all its tasty, zany goodness. Make your plan of attack now!

- Claire Little

"Come Back Home" with the Northern Arapaho Tribe

This weekend (Aug. 7-8), as part of Boulder’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, join the Northern Arapaho Tribe for a “Coming Back Home” Gathering. Get in touch with Boulder's native roots, including food, arts and crafts, dancing, drumming and storytelling.

The festivities kicks-off on Friday with Downtown Boulder's Noon Tunes from 12 – 1:30 on the 1300 block of Pearl Street featuring the Sand Creek Band playing contemporary American Indian country and rock. Shortly after, grab the kids for a teepee building demonstration on the Courthouse lawn.

Saturday's (8/8) activities start with a 10 a.m. spiritual healing run/walk. The event, lead by tribal members, honors ancestors killed in the Sand Creek Massacre on November 29, 1864. Starting at Scott Carpenter Park and ending at Pearl Street, it is a spiritual dedication to the people who helped with the healing of the tribes after the Sand Creek Massacre. At 11 a.m. the official welcome ceremony gets underway with the state, city, county, university officials, Arapaho tribal members and color guard. Everyone is welcome to this ceremony. For the rest of the day, stroll down Pearl Street Mall and browse the many arts & crafts booths, munch on tasty traditional fry bread and delight in the drumming, dancing and storytelling performances.

Come celebrate Boulder’s 150th and our proud American Indian history in Downtown Boulder this weekend!

- Claire Little

West End Welcomes Two More Shops!

The West End got even more classy this week with the grand opening of Clutter Consignment and re-opening of long-time downtowner, Envision.


Envision, formerly located on Spruce Street, joins the exclusive West End club aside Bart's CD Cellar at 1011 Pearl Street. It brings The West End its only eye and eye-wear specialty shop that will just about blind you with its mod chandeliers and oodles of clean and miraculously fingerprint-free glass. Here you can get your eyes checked by the best of the best and invest in a sporty pair of Maui Jims or a saucy pair of Gucci specs. You will find just about everything you want at Envsion from fashion to function with the vibe and groove of Downtown Boulder's West End.


At Clutter, located at 1919 9th street, you'll find home furnishing consignment goodies from classic sofas to rad wall decor to a cow cookie jar. Much like Feather Thy Nest, Downtown Boulder's other home furnishings consignment store on The East End, Clutter on The West End offers up a selections you might find in the shelves of our local Salvation Army with loads more style and character. Like any consignment store, this one is sure to get better with age.

Check out the new additions to The West End: Envision and Clutter.

- Claire Little

The West End 3k Rumbles Though Downtown

There is this super-elite super-star society of thousands of people that call Boulder their home. Maybe you've heard their gentle steady footsteps passing you on the sidewalk, maybe you've seen them in nothing but shorts on the bike path, or waiting at a crosswalk like they have somewhere really important to be. Know what I'm talking about? Sure you do: runners.

They seem to swarm over boulder as often and as swift as all that cottonwood that somehow finds its way into your mouth or nose. If you tend to avoid certain areas or times of increased runner density, I have some advice for you: stay away from the West End tonight...runners are taking over. If you, however, enjoy seeing people jettison themselves forward in competition or doing so yourself, don't miss 5430 Sports' West End 3K tonight from 6 - 8 p.m.

The Annual West End 3K is a very fast-paced race by the tantalizing shops, restaurants and bars that the West End has to offer. Runners will suck air (or what little we have to offer) twice around down the West End of Pearl Street for a shot at the many awards up for grabs including over $3000 cold, hard, well-earned cash. The race is open to 800 racers total including wheelchair participants, kid's age groups (11 and under race 1500 meters) and walkers.

Plot out your sitting spot or check out the course here. Registration will be available for those last-minute sprinters at the start point between 4 and 5:45 p.m. for $20. This is a great event to watch and an even better one to race!

-Claire Little

That's How I Roll: Big Wheels Rally is Back in Town

"Because it's never too late to have a happy childhood."

What better to do with your Saturday then speed down the streets on your tricked-out, super fast and super fun...big wheel? Join The Almost-Annual Big Wheel Rally for some grown-up fun with little-kid toys. Drinking will be involved.

The ride starts at The Walrus for drink specials then at 6:30, test runs and tune ups will happen at the St. Julien. At 8:30 p.m., the rally officially gets underway at the Camera parking lot for some adrenaline-pumping, speed-or-die racing. For a full itinerary of the night, including which downtown bars will give you discounts, click here.

If you're in it to win it, www.bigwheelrally.com is a great resource for trike modifications so it doesn't break from all your adult (beer) weight. Costumes are encouraged to increase aerodynamics, create distractions for your opponents, or have shiny thing at which the spectators can marvel.

As ridiculous as this all may sound, The Almost-Annual Big Wheel Rally benefits some great causes. Registration fees and t-shirt sales all go directly to help support capital needs, continuing education for Saint Joseph's NICU staff and any special needs for the babies or families of the NICU.

Fool around for a good cause - register now!


- Claire Little

Tuesday Dance Night in Downtown Boulder

If you find yourself sitting at home on a Tuesday night just itching for Wednesday to roll around, listen up: Tuesday night is now dance night in Downtown Boulder!

The grooves begin with free Children's Folk Dancing on the Plaza beside The Dushanbe Teahouse. This event is open to tiny dancers of all ages and levels of experience, held from 6:15 - 7 p.m. Only two more classes scheduled for July on the 7th and the 21st, so don't miss it! Call 303 499-6363 for more information.

No tots? Try adult Folk Dancing Classes on the Plaza 7 - 8 p.m. Enjoy this wonderful Boulder outside dancing experience every Tuesday evening throughout the summer. Lots of free parking in the lots on 14th Street. Call 303 499-6363 for more.

Want something a little more exotic? Take a beginner's Belly Dancing Class at Hasma Design & Arts at 7:30 p.m. Learn to shimmy your stress away with this wonderful comprehensive exercise that teaches you grace and beauty while you get a great workout.

If you know you've already got the moves, then head down to The Foundry for 80's night. Enjoy classic beats from the leg warmer decade and outrageous costumes every Tuesday evening, year-round. If you're shy, booze it up with $3 well drinks and Sierra Nevada drafts until you're ready to hit that dance floor.

Finally, if you're in the mood for something a little more contemporary, try b.side Lounge's Breakin' and Eggs tonight and every other following Tuesday. It's Boulder's only exclusive all-breaks night and it's free! Bring your cardboard and baggy pants tonight at 9 p.m.

So get your groove on and ring in the middle of the week Boulder style with Tuesday's Dance Night Downtown. Have fun and boogie down!

- Claire Little

More Noon Tunes!

Noon Tunes is well underway this Summer and we've already had some great performances. See the videos below for clips from Beloved Invaders and The Cantrells.

Go to our website to see a full list of upcoming Noon Tunes performances! This Friday is Flexigrass w/ Pete Wernick.

- Claire Little

Say "Sesquincentennial Stroll" Five Times Really Fast.

For this year's July 4th and Boulder's 150th Birthday, the city of Boulder is celebrating with a Sesquicentennial Stroll. The day-long festivities include live music, tasty barbecue, arts and crafts, a bike parade and of course, fireworks.

The day begins at Chautauqua with an official welcome ceremony from 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. followed by the Colorado Music Festival Brass Band with an outside performance accompanied by delicious barbecue in the dining hall. In the spirit of creating a sustainable city, this event will be zero-waste.

From 1:30 - 5:30 you are invited to stroll to six city sights for entertainment, education and fun. Make your way over to the Columbia Cemetery for a "Stroll with the Spirits" from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Or if you're looking for something a little more lively, check out the Fourth of July Children's Bike Parade in Central Park from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. (be there early to decorate). If your in the mood for some dessert after your barbecue, head to the Boulder History Museum for a Boulder birthday cake 1 - 4:30 p.m. While you're snacking wander their "Only in Boulder" exhibit while your tots pan for gold and get artsy. If you're interested in a brief history lesson, make your way to the CU Heritage Center and their "Boulder and CU Through the Years" exhibit from 1 - 4:30 p.m. If you're looking to make your Independence Day a more global experience, stroll down to Pearl Street 3 - 5:30 p.m. to celebrate Boulder's many Sister City communities in Africa, Asia and Central America. Or if you're ready to just sit back and relax with food and friends, join the Bluegrass Concert at Central Park 2 - 5:30 p.m. to enjoy the great Summer sun.

At 8 p.m. make your way to Ralphie's Independence Day Blast at Folsom Stadium for Boulder's 150th Birthday Party, music, and fireworks until 10 p.m.

If you're planning on attending the Sesquicentennial Stroll, park for FREE in Downtown Boulder and taking the HOP to Chautauqua.

Have a happy Fourth!

-Claire Little

It's Monday...Let's Talk This Weekend

It's only Monday but this weekend is gearing up to be a spectacular mix of community events and great weather!

This Friday is Boulder's First Friday, where businesses celebrate the first Friday of each month. It all kicks off with Noon Tunes featuring Flexigrass with Pete Wernick from Noon to 1:30 p.m. Earthwood Gallery opens its July exhibit of Bob Rickard, fine metal artists, from 6 - 9 p.m. Ten20 will be offering a free polish change complete with M&Ms and Sex in the City all day. prAna will join in with an art show of oil painter Bridgid Lupetin. Boulder Theater continues its Beat the Heat Film Series with a showing of Dark Side of the Rainbow at 8 p.m. for a full list of First Friday events, see our events calendar.

If you're not too tuckered out from Friday's events, Downtown Boulder is celebrating Fourth of July (this Saturday) with quite a bang! Start it off with everyone's favorite Farmers' Market followed by a bluegrass concert in the bandshell. Centro, West End Tavern and The Blending Cellar are all hosting special July 4th events: Centro will have a tasty barbeque, West End Tavern will be offering specialty drinks like a pop rock cockatail and a free shuttle to the fireworks, and The Blending Cellar will celebrate with a red, white and sparkling flight. Boulder will also be celebrating its Sesquicentennial with a Sesquicentennial Stroll through several of our favorite historic landmarks. Check our blog on Thursday for more details on this event. And let's not forget the fireworks at Folsom Stadium (gates open 7 p.m.)!

Sunday is a day of recovery with some great live music held at Boulder Draft House, b.side Lounge, Boulder Theater and The Laughing Goat. See our events calendar for

From all of us at Downtown Boulder, we wish you a happy Fourth of July weekend!

- Claire Little

ZimFest 2009 is Here!

For over 18 years the Zimbabwean Music Festival has brought a weekend of African song and dance, workshops, art, film and much much more to Boulder! Over 500 people of all ages and skill levels will register for lessons and workshops on marimba, mbira, singing, dance, drum, hosho and more. Many others will attend the over 50 hours of concerts held at Boulder Theater, Boulder County Farmer's Market and Boulder's Central Park.

The evening concerts kick-off tonight at the Boulder Theater with youth talent featuring Kutandara Youth Ensembles, Shumba Youth Marimba and more. On Friday Aivani Masango's Pachedu and Julia Chigamba's Chinyakare Dance and Drum are headlining. Check out a video of Pachedu and Chinyakare. The evening concerts will wrap up on Saturday with Panjea and The Bongo Boys of Zimbabwe. For a full list of all performances at Boulder Theater click here.

That is certainly not all for ZimFest concerts however! Outdoor concerts will be held Today through Saturday in Boulder's Central Park from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

No tickets are necessary for the afternoon concerts, but you can get your evening tickets at www.bouldertheater.com or a 3-Day pass at www.2009.zimfest.org. For a payment of $15 at registration you can sign up for countless instrument, dancing and singing workshops. Also, if you're interested in African music and culture and have some extra time on your hands, click here to help out and volunteer.

For a complete list of the various and numerous activities including not only concerts but soccer games, art fairs and film screenings, see the festival guide. Don't miss the 2009 ZimFest hitting town TODAY!

-Claire Little

Noon Tunes: Tunes at Noon!

It's that time of the year again! Summer's here (sort of) and among other fantastic events, Downtown Boulder's Noon Tunes has begun! Every Friday this Summer come downtown and picnic on your lunch break with some of Boulder's best local bands in the background. Coming up this Friday is instrumental surf band The Beloved Invaders. Click here for a full list of bands playing in Downtown Boulder's Noon Tunes!

- Claire Little

Bikers and Peds Rebel! Parking Spaces Day This Friday!

It's Parking Spaces Day this Friday in Downtown Boulder! On June 12th East End businesses will transform 8x17 plots of grade-A storefront parking into community spaces. Take a mini-exercise class, work on your putting skills, relax and read a book, do some yoga or sit back and chat with other visitors in the variety of spaces the East End has to offer! Pedestrians and bikers can play parking spaces Bingo by downloading a card here and getting stamps along the way. Once filled, you can enter to win a slew of prizes at the end of the day.

As part of Walk & Bike Month, this event strives to promote a cleaner planet and brighter community. This day will help visualize a world-wide movement for replacing space for cars with space for humans. Parking Spaces Day dares to imagine a place where the 3,778 parking spaces in Downtown Boulder are no longer needed and can be transformed into free bike racks and community spaces for all.

Momentum, one of the many businesses participating this Friday, will be celebrating their 2nd birthday with cake, a massage chair and drawing for a $50 gift certificate at their space. During the day they will also be unveiling their life-size galimoto, a traditional Kenyan bicycle push toy, created from scrap in collaboration with Community Cycles. The Cup will also be participating by following the footsteps of Portland, Missouri and New York by offering bike corrals in an effort to reduce the number of bikes locked up to trees, benches or street signs. Joyful Furniture, another participant, will be holding a paint-your-own-park-bench activity in their 136 square feet. Other businesses participating will be Barrett Studio, Aji, Full Cycle, Urban Pearl and Violette.

Don't miss Walk & Bike Month's Parking Spaces Day in Downtown Boulder's East End from 10 a.m - 2 p.m. Friday June 12th. Also, Bike to Work Day is coming up June 24th! Register here!

-Claire Little

Bands...Bricks...Enough Said.

For ten glorious nights well-loved local bands will rock out on the 1300 block of Pearl Street for the masses. Join the 1,500+ people that swarm the bricks weekly to engage in eating, listening, dancing and general tomfoolery...all for free!

The 12th year of this quintessential Boulder Summer event kicks off TONIGHT with Funkiphino, a band that’s sure to get your feet tapping. Rock out to covers of the classics (think Bille Jean and Repect) with what Westword Magazine called The Best Funk Band. Sample their music and preview their shows here.

June will feature not only funk, but Latin-infused rock as well as soul-stirring blues. Soul Sacrifice on the 17th will play their saucy renditions of Santana favorites such as Oye Como Va and Black Magic Woman. On the 24th will be The Informants, voted Best Blues Band by Westword Magazine. Known as “Denver’s little secret”, this band features eclectic upbeat modern roots numbers with sex-kitten vocalist Kerry Pastine.

Ringing in the first day of July is The Champions. Performing the music of Journey, Heart, Boston, Stevie Nicks and many more, The Champions will rock you back to the 80s. On July 8th, The Fab-4 will recreate the sounds of The Beatles, and then Hazel Miller, Aretha's self-proclaimed soul sister will sing on the 15th. Homeslice, a vocal and horn musical powerhouse will then take the stage on the 22nd and the Legendary 4-Nikators will follow on the 29th with 60's and 70's Motown.

Wrapping up the series in August will be Chris Daniels & the Kings on the 5th, a horn band playing Funk/Jump Blues/Rock 'n Roll followed by Opie Gone Bad, an alternative rock/funk band on the 12th.

Don't miss the opening of Boulder's beloved concert series Bands on the Bricks TONIGHT from 7 - 9 p.m.!

-Claire Little

Find Your 60 Seconds of Fame at Boulder Outdoor Cinema

Love watching movies? Love making movies? Listen up! People Productions and Boulder Outdoor Cinema are teaming up for a summer of local and independent filmmaker love. Aspiring artists are encouraged to create a one minute video for the chance to have it viewed at the weekly Boulder Outdoor Cinema. At the end of the summer, the three best videos will be chosen for cool and handy prizes like a Flip HD video camera, a Blu-ray player, or a free membership to Boulder Digital Arts.

People Productions has been supporting the local film industry for over 25 years. They’ve brought your community everything from “Peacejam,” an award winning documentary featuring the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, to Nederland’s Frozen Dead Guy Days. They specialize in communications via videos and digital media for corporate, educational and non-profit clients around the world.

Entry forms and ALL contest submissions can be found at the contest website. Or check out Boulder Outdoor Cinema’s event schedule to see the chosen videos on the big screen!

Perhaps our favorite netflix contestants will grace us with a short?

Photo courtesy of Boulder Outdoor Cinema.

-Claire Little

May Flowers Bring June…Showers

We all know Boulder’s weather is a little wacky, but with all this rain splashing down on summer, just look on the bright side: at least it’s not 100 degrees (yet)! When the seasons do their switcheroo, sometimes it’s easy to forget how one might spend their day in such disagreeable weather. So when you’re staring out your window searching for the sun remember that there’s plenty to be done in Downtown Boulder – even on rainy days!

If your bike is rather ill-equipped for the rain like mine, hop on our town’s fantastic transportation system to get where you need to go. Order a warm breakfast and coffee at Foolish Craig’s, because who wants to eat a bowl of cereal and start the day off cold? Not me! With its cozy, inviting environment, it’s the perfect place to hide out and fill up for the day. If you’re lucky enough you’ll get a seat by the window and watch all the poor suckers that forgot their raincoats that morning.

After you’re fat and happy with something yummy like ‘A Bunch of Hooey’ or a ‘Tofu Scramble’, make a dash for the Pearl Street Mall. It’s time for some shopping and first on the list is Into the Wind! This store is the perfect place to soak up some cheer for any age. If the colors, toys, and games don’t put a smile on your face then abandon all hope and wait for the sun to come out. But if you’re a kid at heart,like me, this is the perfect stop on a rainy day.

Next up is Peppercorn. This store just oozes homey goodness - I can spend hours in here rain or shine. I always make an effort to throw some kind of gathering when it’s nasty outside and Peppercorn is the perfect place for planning the party. Here you can browse the cookbooks for a great rainy recipe, grab some drink mixers to warm your spirits, or wander amongst the cookware of your dreams.

Then head to Outdoor Divas for planning of a different sort. Here you can gear up for the next sunny day and outdoor adventure be it hiking, biking, fishing or swimming. For those who wouldn't consider themselves divas, head to Boulder Army Store, or for the tykes try Little Mountain Outfitters.

Ready for some downtime? Hit up the Boulder Book Store. With three stories of literary magic hopefully you can find something that sparks your interest. With a new paperback in hand, settle in at Bookend Cafe for a hot chocolate or just down the road at Trident for their famous cider.

If you can eventually pull yourself out of the book, wind down with a stroll down Boulder Creek Path. If you’ve never been down the path during rain, make a mental note to do so; the bikers are few, there won't be gaggles of dogs getting in your way, and the greenery and creek plump up for spectacular sounds and sights.

Back in the comfort of your own home, dry off, get warm, and although I’m sure you had a fabulous day in rainy Downtown Boulder, curse the rain and hope that tomorrow is one of Boulder's 300 days of sun.

- Claire Little

Help Boulder Filmmakers Make it Big! Vote!

If you were perusing the bricks last week you may have run into John Goldman and Anna Salim, two Boulder High Alumni, lugging around their camera equipment and crew. The two hit Downtown Boulder favorites such as Old Tibet, Boulder Book Store, and Boulder Theater to film a short promotional trailer for Goldman’s feature project Paul Sussman’s Eleven-Step Guide to Self-Actualization. Goldman (director/writer) and Salim (producer) entered their work in a Netflix and Film Independent contest for first-time filmmakers. Among 2,000 other aspiring filmmakers Goldman and Salim’s film has now made it through to the semifinals with nine other contestants.

From June 5th – June 10th the trailers with be posted online for the general public to whittle down to just five. The films of those five trailers will then be viewed and judged by a panel of accomplished filmmakers and industry executives chaired by actor Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men). Winners will receive a $150,000 cash production grant as well as filming resources for the total value of a $350,000 grand prize. The winning production will also be sold over Netflix.

Goldman remarks, “I’ve had a big crush on Netflix for years. My friends thought I was crazy, but I knew all those little red love letters were a two-way street. I’m so excited about this opportunity, I have to say, my queue runneth over.” Colorado has also expressed its pride in Goldman. The Colorado State Film Commissioner Kevin Shand adds that “this is just another example of the talented filmmakers we have here in Colorado.” Goldman is just one more person helping to put Downtown Boulder on the map.

Don’t forget to vote for your fellow Boulderites come June 5th!

- Claire Little