Boulder Entertainment

Boulder is considered a hub of cultural activity in this neck of the woods. The majority of the community is well-educated and encourages all manner of performing arts to attract visitors to their town. Boulder is particularly noted for its vibrant summer events, which include music, dance and Shakespeare festivals.

Eating out

The inhabitants of Boulder may have a preoccupation with fitness and health, but they still love to eat often and well. The 300-odd restaurants that keep the locals fed include a surprising range of ethnic varieties including Moroccan, Ethiopian and Nepalese cafs. In keeping with their outdoor lifestyles, many restaurants offer patio seating, especially along the Pearl Street Mall. Prices may seem rather high, but they reflect the quality and time involved in preparing the food. Most of the upscale restaurants are located downtown or in romantic settings in the foothills, but if you need something simple and informal, just head to The Hill, where a profusion of pizza parlours, burrito joints and small cafs cater to the university crowd.

Local cuisine

Because Boulder has such a hip, young community, the town attracts an impressive number of creative chefs who are intent on creating intimate, fusion restaurants. Theres a lot of California influence in Boulder, bringing cutting-edge coastal cuisine to the wide open Great Plains. Seasonal menus are popular in this town, focusing on locally-grown produce, which is often organic. Unusual meats such as elk, buffalo, venison and fresh mountain fish such as trout and salmon, can often be found on menus, usually accompanied by a mango chutney or chipotle cream sauce.

Theatre and music

The performing arts including music, dance and theatre thrive in this cultured and educated college town. The Nomad Theater and Upstart Crow Company are the towns two local production groups which have a solid following, but its the annual Colorado Shakespeare Festival which puts Boulder on the theatre map. The town also has a great live music scene. The local university students ensure that the hippest bands stop here while on tour to play at the Boulder Theater or the Fox Theater. The annual summertime Colorado Music Festival brings some of the finest classical ensembles to the outdoor setting at Chautauqua Park.

Shopping

The best shopping in town is along the Pearl Street Mall, where you can find a wide range of unique boutique shops and art galleries, mixed with bars and cafs. The pedestrian-only nature of Pearl Street Mall makes it a truly great browsing environment. For something more typically American, theres the massive Flat Iron Crossing mall, which has major department stores and 200 other shops. One of the more interesting and colourful things to do is visit the Boulder Farmers Market, which runs from April through October. Every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning, this incredible local market sells all kinds of goodies, from the edible to the floral, in a distinctly Boulder style.