Stepping Out in Boulder

Have you ever noticed how even a quick trip away can clear out your mental cobwebs and get your creative juices flowing? I have been In Boulder, CO for the last few days, seeing my beloved daughter and meeting with some very cool people and talking about raw food. Boulder is an extremely unique place. It was described to me yesterday as 6 square miles, and then there is the rest of the world. I have to agree. That said, I love Boulder. It is a very unique place with interesting people. Since I am traveling, and not in the kitchen, I thought I would share a few reasons why I love Boulder so much.

First of all, there is Pearl Street. It is a microcosm of the world. I remember my first stroll down Pearl, 7 years ago. Not only did I hear people speaking at least 5 different languages, the conversations were so interesting. One girl was telling her friend about growing up in a kibbutz with her parents. Another discussing shopping last weekend in Manhattan. You run the full spectrum here.

Yesterday, it was 80 degrees. The sun was out, bright and warm in the higher altitude. Last week they got a foot of snow. People were out doing their thing, expressing themselves and enjoying the day. It was homecoming weekend and I always get a kick out of seeing the parents with their kids.  It isn’t often that you can take a stroll and see a multitude of grown children walking side by side with their parents. It is interesting to see and how genetics can express itself through generations.

The shopping is plentiful and creative. I find more interesting things on Pearl than in the whole city of Minneapolis. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but not by much. Two Sole Sisters has a great collection of shoes and also an impressive business profile. In their words, “At Two Sole Sisters we believe everyone must participate philanthropically and therefore we dedicate a portion of our proceeds and resources to a wide variety of non-profit organizations. We host fund raising events and partner with local organizations to support our community.” Imagine if every business had that kind of dedication.

My favorite bookstore is on Pearl Street. Thankfully, my daughter reminded me that I am flying and might not want to stock up right at the moment.  The Boulder Bookstore is an amazing place. You enter into a labyrinth of floors and subject areas that seems to go on forever, each big enough to be a small bookstore in itself. It has an impressive collection of titles. I spend hours there just browsing the shelves and often come face to face with books that I can otherwise only find on line.

Pearl Street is one of Boulder’s gems. It is one of the many things that I love here. The shops, restaurants (which I haven’t even touched), and people watching are unparalleled. You can even talk to a statue on your way home. Pearl is great. That being said, I have just scratched the surface on why Boulder is such a cool place to hang.