Downtown Boulder Blog

Halloween is just around the corner, and downtown Boulder is getting ready for a big weekend! With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, next weekend brings a CU home game, the Golden Buffalo Marching Band and plenty of little trick-or-treaters. Here’s what to add to your calendar and how to get ready this week.

In my last blog, I shared some of the amazing spots downtown that I’ve been dying to try. Today I had an hour to kill for lunch, so I finally got to try some new ones!

Now that I’ve been interning with Downtown Boulder Partnership for just over a month, I’ve had the pleasure of trying new things and discovering places around downtown that I’ve never been to before!

The Sundance Film Festival has spent more than four decades in Park City, Utah. This January, that changes, and as I finish my senior year of college, I’ll get to experience the Festival’s first year right here in Boulder. I've heard the buzz about the Festival for years, but I never imagined I’d get to experience it in a place I call home.

This week, I’m focusing on the little things in life by finally trying places I’ve always been curious about but never quite made time for. This past weekend, I got the chance to check out two spots downtown that I’ve walked past countless times; places that have always caught my eye but somehow stayed on my “I’ll go eventually” list.

If you have a sweet tooth that you simply can’t ignore, you’re in the right place. I stand by the fact that it’s never too cold for ice cream, and downtown Boulder has some of the best spots to satisfy every kind of craving.

If you’re looking for new places to eat downtown, I’ve got you. Downtown Boulder is home to spots that have quickly become some of my favorite places to meet up with friends, relax, and treat myself to a great meal.

If you’ve ever wondered which Boulder restaurants keep me up at night in the best way, the list is live. Come see the dishes I’m saving for birthdays, graduations, and maybe my first real paycheck.

Downtown Boulder is constantly evolving, but did you know some local gems have held the charm of downtown for over 50 years? Take a stroll down memory lane with me as we explore the OG businesses that have helped shape Boulder’s character and community spirit.

Looking for midweek plans? Explore the Boulder Farmers’ Market—full of local eats, live music, and cool drinks. Come see what Wednesdays downtown are all about!

From sunrise yoga and mountaintop views to tropical cocktails and live music in the evening, here's your guide to spending every golden hour of the summer solstice in downtown Boulder.

The first few months of 2025 are flying by which means summer is approaching! If you’re like me, you’re already putting together a list of things you want to do. If you need a little inspo, I have some ideas to share with you. And if you can't wait until summer, I also provide ideas that are perfect for any season.

Did you know every day has its own National Holiday? March is just around the corner and the National Day Calendar is PACKED with unique festivities. Let's turn these celebrations into opportunities to show some Love for the Local. Here are a few fun ideas to make your March more enjoyable and community-focused.

This Monday, February 24th marks the inaugural Boulder Go Out to Lunch Day - making it the perfect excuse to ditch the desk lunch and treat yourself to a delicious mid-day meal. Join us every last Monday of the month to support downtown restaurants during lunchtime.

Feeling the love? So are we! Let’s dive into all things Valentine’s Day in downtown Boulder.

My name is Frankie Patton, and I’m more than excited to introduce myself as the spring Marketing and Communications Intern for the Downtown Boulder Partnership.

From strolling along the Pearl Street Mall to enjoy the festive lighting and celebrating winter-themed events to last minute gift shopping opportunities and booking dinner reservations - it’s the most wonderful time of the year to Love the Local!

Looking to go on a memorable date this summer? Whether it's platonic, romantic, or solo, Downtown Boulder provides the ambiance, supplies, and magic for you to enjoy a perfect date.

Follow along for some of my favorite things that I have done so far and what I am looking forward to checking off my summer bucket list…

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, join us in celebrating all day downtown!

Howdy, Downtown! My name is Katie, and I am delighted to be the spring marketing and communications Intern for the Downtown Boulder Partnership!

Looking to get out and about this winter season? Learn all about the amazing things to do downtown!

Learn about all the exciting things to do with your family downtown this weekend!

Enjoy all that downtown has to offer this fall!

Looking for a new place to dine downtown? We've got you covered! Here is a guide to downtown Boulder’s food carts to add to your summer to-do list!

Hi Downtown! My name is Rebecca Cordingley and I am the summer marketing intern for Downtown Boulder Partnership (DBP). I am so excited to share my experience here with you.

Time flies when you’re having fun! I can’t believe my internship experience with Downtown Boulder has come to an end.

Downtown Boulder is home to local businesses that have been serving Boulder for decades. Come celebrate the anniversaries of these historic businesses downtown this month!

Downtown Boulder is the place for foodies to be! Check out these creative, delicious vegetarian dishes from local businesses.

Boulder is having its first ever Aprés Ski Fest this Sunday (March 12)! Here is what to expect from this first-of-a-kind wintertime event!

Looking for ideas of how to spend your Valentine's Day? Downtown Boulder has the perfect dining and shopping options to sweep your special someone off their feet!

Come take a break with me from my studies as I explore shopping and dining in Downtown Boulder on a winter weekend. Bundle up and hit Pearl Street!

Hi, my name is Emma! I am a Junior at CU Boulder and am the Spring Marketing Intern for Downtown Boulder. I am so excited to explore downtown with you!

Soak up all downtown Boulder has to offer in 2023 with this list of 23 things to see, do and eat in the district. Cheers to the new year!

Fall is inarguably one of the best times of the year in Colorado. Here are three ways to enjoy all the autumn vibes downtown!

Each coffee shop in Boulder has a unique quirk or quality! I loved getting to explore all the downtown coffee shops this week!

Cinco de Mayo is a time to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage. Luckily downtown has many Mexican-inspired restaurants offering deals and specials for the holiday!

My Happy Places I've found while interning at the Downtown Boulder Partnership!

Downtown Boulder has so many historic businesses that have been with us for decades and have helped create the amazing culture we enjoy downtown.

Six new businesses to explore Downtown!

Whether you're looking for a quick bite or to sit down with friends, Downtown Boulder has so many affordable dining options that are perfect for college students!

Downtown Boulder offers great experiences for this Valentine's Day Weekend from creating your own special pottery to dining at newly renovated restaurants. Also, find out what restaurants have special menus only offered this weekend!

My name is Alex, I'm the new Spring Intern here at Downtown Boulder. I can't wait to explore downtown with you.

As we get closer to Thanksgiving, the thought of creating a meal might be stressful to some, but fear not! We have several restaurants downtown who want to share their love and joy of Thanksgiving prep with you. So find a place you love, relax with some food and drinks and have a great Thanksgiving!

Looking for some date night ideas? Ready to have a night out with your someone special? Well, you’re in luck because I have some ideas for everything from comedy shows and music to yoga and more.

We all like a good throw back to reminisce on our younger days, right? Well today, just in time for Throwback Thursday, I want to share a few of my personal favorite restaurants that I’ve either been going to since I was in elementary school when my dad worked at the Boulder Theater or that I discovered in high school.

Fall seems to pass fast here in Boulder, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t take your time to enjoy what downtown has to offer! Today, I have 5 recommendations for food and events for you to enjoy throughout October and November.

There are many places to grab a bite along the four blocks of the Pearl Street Mall and even more delicious places along the East and West End districts. Today, I’m sharing two of my favorites. The first place is an old favorite of mine ( I used to go there all the time in high school with my friends) and the other is a new-to-me place that I can see myself returning to again and again in the future.

Unfortunately, this will be the last time I’m writing to you as my summer internship wraps up. In the last few months, I’ve had a fantastic time trying new places around downtown Boulder and learning more about the awesome people that make up the Boulder community. I have been fortunate enough to pick up lots of real-world experience while getting to work in our beautiful downtown district. 

This week, I stopped by the delicious breakfast and lunch restaurant Organic Sandwich Co, on the East End. As someone who loves sandwiches and has seen the menu numerous times while walking around downtown, I was extremely excited to finally try one of their mouth watering creations.

This week I checked out the iconic Boulder breakfast and lunch spot, Foolish Craig’s. I had heard about Foolish Craig’s delicious crepes and locally famous Corned Beef Hash since arriving on campus last year, so I was excited to experience it in person!

Memorial Day weekend is one of the best times to get together with family and friends to enjoy beautiful weather and eat delicious food. I am excited to experience my first Memorial Day in Boulder because of the fantastic weather, scenery and food options that contribute to making downtown Boulder the perfect place to spend a long weekend!

I never thought the day would come, but I am sitting here writing my last blog as an intern with the Downtown Boulder Partnership! I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to share my perspective and experiences with downtown Boulder businesses with you all!

This week, I wanted to write an extra blog to feature some of the new places I got to try this semester that stood out to me! I thought it would be fun to go to all these places and capture my ventures on film, but there was a bit of a hiccup.

With warmer temperatures and blooming tulips, it has become more and more enticing to spend all day outside. One of the most fun ways to spend time outside is… you guessed it… on a rooftop! Downtown Boulder has a variety of rooftops and patios to choose from so you can sit outside and soak up the sun, all while enjoying great food and drinks.

As I’m sure many of us know, downtown Boulder got quite a bit of snow this past weekend. I am personally a big fan of snow days, but I know a lot of people dread them (along with the shoveling that accompanies them). I am here to give you a few ideas of how downtown Boulder can help you prepare for future snowy weekends so you have a little bit more fun, and to give you ideas of what to do once it gets warm again.

It is mid-March which means one of my favorite holidays is right around the corner… St. Patrick’s Day! I always love seeing people and towns turn green, with smiles on their faces. To me, St. Patrick's Day always marks the start of Spring, whether it be 10 degrees and snowing or 50 degrees and sunny. In this blog, I will give you ideas of ways to celebrate in either circumstance!

Now more than ever, random acts of kindness are standing out and making a mark. Today is 2021’s National Random Acts of Kindness day, so let’s take this opportunity to bring joy into a world that has gone through a lot recently.

I get to do a lot of fun things for my job. In addition to my most favorite thing, which is visiting businesses in downtown and catching up with staff or just saying hi, I have the opportunity to get creative with the ways we interact with our businesses and the general public.

Every person has their own way of celebrating holidays, Valentine’s Day included. This year, your traditional way of celebrating may need to be modified with covid-safe alternatives.

The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench in a lot of things. That being said, not all things that came from it are bad! We have been encouraged to dine through outdoor & pod eating, which is more fun than I would ever have guessed. 

Well - we made it...2020 is almost over and while January 1st won’t look all that different (hello pandemic), the metaphoric clean slate is MUCH needed after a tough year. 

I’m James Reynolds, a transplant from the East Coast now living in Boulder. I've spent the last 7 years studying, making, and eating pizza on the road to becoming a pizza expert.

Julie here - and I am back with news of my favorite holiday. That’s right - Thanksgiving! It is my favorite holiday for a few reasons - the turkey, the stuffing and the pie ;)

I’m Mariel Kramer, Events Coordinator with Downtown Boulder, and I’m very excited to be joining you all here in the blogosphere!
One of the best parts of my job is the opportunity to play an active role in building community in our public places by creating shared and inclusive experiences for locals and travelers alike.

Julia, DBP’s Administrative Assistant, here. Working from home can be an adjustment, so I thought I’d share a few ideas for how to break up weekday monotony you might be experiencing. First, good coffee can be key to productivity.

Everyone has cravings- chips, pretzels, caffeine- and for me, my cravings have always been sugary. Ice cream, doughnuts and churros are always at the top of my list, and no meal is complete without a little dessert to finish it off.

Boulder Weekly has rounded up the best Boulder cuisine for 2020 and the results are hard to argue with! Ranking everything from best veggie burger to the best fine dining, the list has both classic spots that you’re sure to recognize and some new contenders that’ll help you expand your foodie experience.

Summer is (and will forever be) my favorite season, and there is no better place to spend a summer day than strolling through downtown Boulder! Not only are there countless shops and restaurants to pop into, but nothing beats the sunshine and light breeze that accompany a Boulder summer.

This last Mothers Day weekend, I treated myself to a delicious meal as a part of “At Home with Frasca Hospitality Group” program recently launched by downtown’s Frasca and Pizzeria Alberico.

Tomorrow is a day that only comes once every four years: Leap Day! To me, Leap Day means an extra day to both get caught up on work and have some fun. These are two things that can easily be accomplished downtown.

It’s midterm season for this Buff and saying I’m stressed is would be the understatement of the year. But don’t worry, I take self care seriously. This week, I want to share how I go about taking care of myself.

I love Galentine’s Day where ladies celebrate ladies. Leslie Knope of the show Parks and Rec defines Galentine’s Day as a day to celebrate your lady friends and that it should be a national holiday. I could not agree more.

As we all know, this Sunday is one of the nation’s favorite annual events: Groundhog Day! Oh… not where you were expecting me to go with that one? Well, you’re right. I’m really here to talk about Super Bowl LIV which has a special place in my heart...

Happy *early* Thanksgiving folks! Do you still need last minute plans or ideas? Well I’ve got you covered! Downtown Boulder is full of turkey and Thanksgiving happenings between pick-up meals and reservations for dinner!

This week is HALLOWEEN! I have some news for you, downtown Boulder is full of EXCITING things for the holiday - be ready to pick and choose from a wide variety of Halloween parties...

With the start of October this week lots of new things are happening around downtown Boulder. One of these new and exciting things is the opening of Rosetta Hall. 

The trend of “brunching” has been lively over the past few years. From finding t-shirts that say “Brunch Squad,” “Viva la Brunch"....brunch seems to be everywhere. I happen to love brunch myself, and as an avid breakfast-food lover I have taken it upon myself to detail the best brunches in the downtown district!

Lately, Mother Nature has been giving Boulder some beautiful weather. Here’s a list of some notable patios downtown ideal for enjoying the outdoors with a delicious meal. 

For the past three months, I have had the pleasure of interning for the Downtown Boulder Partnership. I have learned so much about marketing, improved my writing skills, and have grown to love the downtown district even more. 

To help keep my wallet in check,  I’ve been trying to spend less on lunches. To help you out, I have put together a list of delicious places to get an affordable meal during your lunch break. 

I am someone that loves reality television, and one of my favorite shows to watch is The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. The finale is this week and I am so eager to see who Hannah will give the final rose to. To prepare for this monumental television event, you need to stop by some downtown Boulder shops to get some Bachelorette essentials. 

Soon my entire family will be in Colorado, and while I am so excited to see them, I am a little nervous about keeping them all entertained and happy. Luckily I live and work in an excellent area that truly has something for everyone!

I love spending my summers with kids because there are so many fun activities to do. This is my first summer in Boulder, and the opportunities for kids to play and learn are endless, making my job as a nanny substantially easier.

The weather in May is always unpredictable, yet instead of embracing it, I continue to be surprised and upset every year when I see rain and snow in the forecast. I am usually a morning person, but it has been really hard to leave my bed these past couple of weeks. Luckily, I am a coffee addict and I have a couple of go-to shops that feed my addiction to make my days much less groggy.

Lazy Sundays and brunch dates go together like champagne and orange juice, the perfect combination to kick off the start of a new week. With Easter Sunday coming in hot now’s the time to start booking those brunch reservations!

We all know that Boulder is a beautiful place, there’s no denying it, but if you look around town you’ll find that there are some ridiculously beautiful people who live here as well.

Here’s a fun fact about me that no one asked for, Mountain Sun Pub and Brewery was the first restaurant I ate at here in Boulder way back in the fall of 2014.

This time of the year always inspires me to step back and reflect on things that I am grateful for. This year especially I am grateful to the downtown Boulder community for curating an environment unlike anywhere else, some place that truly feels like home. I feel privileged to live in such an incredible community where there is something for everyone to enjoy, an abundance of delicious food and drink options, events that bring the community together, and a beautiful city to learn and create in. I want to highlight five things downtown that I am grateful for and embody the lively downtown community.

Downtown is the perfect place for my friends and I to have a girls’ day. We love to head downtown to explore the shops, soak up the beautiful weather, and enjoy delicious dining and drinks.

Growing up in Boulder is an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. One amazingly unique feature about downtown and the surrounding community is the emphasis on supporting local businesses. Downtown Boulder has an abundance of locally owned shops and restaurants that have established a loyal customer base and have helped encourage the idea of shopping and dining locally. The term “Love the Local” has been coined to inspire residents and visitors to shop and dine locally.

The East End of the Pearl Street Mall is home to diverse businesses, unique shops and delicious dining options. The East End offers a one-of-a-kind experience to downtown Boulder, something you don’t want to miss out. I wanted to highlight some of my favorite places on the East End, these awesome spots are surely some of downtown Boulders hidden gems!

Wintertime on the Pearl Street Mall is one of the most beautiful times of the year. The bricks dusted in snow and the sleepy atmosphere of the mall make for a scene that looks like it belongs on a postcard. While many believe the prime time to enjoy downtown Boulder is during the warmer seasons, winter offers many fun, cozy, indoor activities that everyone can enjoy.

One thing downtown Boulder is definitely known for is its eclectic dining scene. I feel so lucky to live in a place where restaurants offer fresh food from local farms, a variety of cuisine types, talented chefs and innovative restaurateurs who make dining downtown an exciting, special and memorable experience. I wanted to highlight my favorite places ranging from cozy breakfast spots, classic American pubs to elegant fine dining experiences and everything in between!

As I head into my senior year at CU I can’t help but to think about how excited and nervous all the incoming freshmen will be. I remember those days like it was only yesterday! Now that I’m getting older-ish I am ready to sprinkle my wisdom and knowledge onto the next generation of young Buffs.

The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse is one of Boulder’s most unique attractions. The story that lies behind the teahouse is one that symbolizes years of friendship between two cities on opposite sides of the globe. The teahouse was built by hand in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in 1987 and then was gifted to Boulder.

Pizza is probably my number one favorite food. I’m never not in the mood for pizza. Any kind of pizza, simple or gourmet, thin or thick crust, I will eat it! I guess I’m just a sucker for any food item that includes cheese and bread. I’ve scoped out some of my favorite pizza spots in downtown Boulder to review for all of you to try.

Everyone loves a delicious brunch, and when you’re in Downtown Boulder the brunch options are endless. It’s hard to narrow down on just a couple of restaurants, but I’ve chosen my top 3 all time favorites that can’t be missed.

In honor of it being Tuesday, I found it appropriate for my blog post this week to be centered around “Taco Tuesday”. Taco Tuesday is a popular event that happens in Boulder just each and every week, so might as well enjoy it right? The drink and food deals happening downtown are one’s that can’t be missed.

My name is Tyla, I’m currently a student at CU Boulder, and am your new eyes, ears, and voice of Downtown Boulder as the summer 2018 intern. As a Colorado native, Boulder has always been a big part of my life