A Boulder Favorite

And finally, where would boulder be without its 30H!3.  This group, has been arguably the most accomplished out of Boulder in quite some time.  It is best classified as rock/electronica/thrash, and their sound has been heard and loved by millions.  They are best known for their single “Don’t Trust Me” from their second album Want, which reached number seven on the billboard100.  They gained their fame after the 2008 Warped Tour in Denver, and they have been touring ever since! Listen here! 

Here us their "Don't Trust Me" music video

A Local Update

If you like original rock then the Casual Sinners is the group for you. Members include Derek Weiman on guitar and vocals, Nate Folsom on vocals Garrett Fullington on bass, and Ben Caraher on the drums.  Weinman is one of the most talented local musicians, with his career on the guitar starting at age 9 when he opened for Santana.  With a good amount of their own songs, they also play covers of Led Zeppelin, the Doors, Pink Floyd and many more classics. check out pictures on their facebook page! 

Here us a link to their Facebook page

Next is the Paper Bird is another Boulder Band worthy of our appreciation.  A total of fourteen members, vocalists Esme and Genny Patterson grew up in Boulder and attended Fairview high school.  They are two sisters with epoch harmony.  Other sounds include guitar, trumpet, trombone, banjo harmonica and upright bass.  Classified as bluegrass this group really establishes a sound anywhere they play.  Currently touring on the East coast, we simply can’t wait for these guys to come home!  

Here is a link to them throwing down at Old Main 







 

Lotus at the Boulder Theater

Lotus played at the Boulder Theater on April 16^th and I was bummed that I wasn’t able to go. A group of my friends went and said it was an amazing show. Lotus is a jam band that focuses on slow beats and melodic melodies, performed by guitar, bass, drums, percussion, and keyboard. They are often compared to the local Colorado favorite Sound Tribe Sector Nine (STS9). Beats Antique opened with a neat show of a belly dancer and animal masks. There was something like an hour long set change before Lotus came on, which irritated some people. Everyone said Lotus had really cool light effects, one especially that was like a kaleidoscope. The Boulder Theater has different levels, which made it good seeing live band. For some reason, there was also a really long break between two Lotus sets, the reason still unknown. It was really hot at the theater, but it was still a good time. 

A Lotus song called Ball of Energy

Two Sweet Boulder Bands

Music is the Movement!

If there is one thing Boulderites can be proud of, it is the ever-growing music movement.  Local bands such as the Motet and 30H!3 have taken flight and  there are multitudes of other musicians and bands that have given boulder its  acclaimed music scene.  From the Fox, to Boulder Theater to Chatauqua to the Lazy Dog to Conner Oniells, local performances of any and all genres can be heard almost any night of the week. 

Whiskey Blanket, a local boulder hip-hop band, played on April 24th, 2010 at the Boulder Theater along with Chali 2na of Jurassic 5.  With members Funny Biz, Sloppy Joe and Steakhouse, this group creates a truly unique sound.  They describe their sound as “an eclectic concoction of lush instrumentation, melodic intricacies and provocative lyrics over smooth and crunchy drum tracks with an analogue twist...or something along those lines.”  Sloppy Joe kills it on the violin while Funny Biz lays down some cello and beat-boxing, and the Steakhouse is the backbone of the group on the turn-tables. They are in the process of finishing up their third album, which will be released this Fall.

Here's a song called  Wake and Stretch

The Motet is another great Boulder great group that covers everything from Michael Jackson to Jazz, Funk, Salsa and Samba.  They really get the energy going and any performance of theirs will no doubt be a great show.  There are a total of nine members, so you can just imagine the sense of stage presence that they give off at each show.  This is the perfect band to listen to perform if you are wanting to dance all night long.  check out their Michael Jackson youtube video from Halloween at the Fox!

Here's a  little sample video

PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA!

Great deals on even tastier slices!

 

 Abo’s Pizza on the Hill and their new location on the west end of Pearl street! Quick crazy story you hear when you happen to work on Pearl from the bottled water delivery man: The guy who owns Abo’s Pizza on the hill was getting bored with pizza and tried to branch out and by having a go at the regular restaurant biz, so he opened up over on the pearl street’s west end.  He unfortunately wasn’t as successful as he hoped, so he transformed his restaurant back into what he knew best, a pizzeria!

Now for the good stuff:

You can go in late night, and believe me, it’s hoppin’ in there.  Lot’s of the loud college kid frat boy crowd, long line out the door, but totally worth it for a good slice and good beer.

2 bucks for a slice of cheese, or 3 for a one-topping slice, but don’t be afraid, they’re pretty good size.  Crust is the best part! Make sure to dip in some ranch or marinara sauce and you’re good to go! Delish!

Kicked Out!!

As the song I’ve got a feeling echoed through the car, everyone with me decided that “tonight’s gonna be a good night!” The final destination was The Walrus Saloon on the Pear Street Mall. This is a bar frequented by my group every week. The Walrus has one long bar and two side bars, pool tables, shuffle board, and a juke box. There is a dance floor-ish type area. For the truly toasted sorority girls there is the slightly elevated “stage” area.

From the second we got in line outside the bar something was wrong. A friend of mine was declined entry because the bouncer thought his New York driver’s license was a fake…. The guy was 23! He left with half of the group and headed to the Downer. As the rest of the group went into the Walrus, we abandoned our coats by the bouncer who told us that it was fine. Three of us girls went over to the bar to order a drink. The crowd put up a shoving match to decide who would order first. Once my girls and I made it to the front, we waited on the guy bartender, who I refer to now as Jack Off, to take our order. As he passed us over the first time we figured we didn’t make it to the front in time and we would just have to wait. The second time he passed us up we were frustrated but whatever. Twenty sober minutes later and three times of passing up our order brought out the worst in us. I yelled our order over the random girl standing next to us, who got there long after we did. Jack told me we had to wait our turn! What kind of nerve did this jerk have? I reminded him that he passed us up three times and we had been there for twenty minutes. He responded by telling me “Boo hoo I’ve been here for five hours.” My patience was gone! I shot back by saying that he’s getting paid to be there and he should just take our order already. Clearly that was a bad idea. Jack Off decided to tell me that I was drunk and I was going to get kicked out.

I spent twenty sober minutes at the bar for what, to get kicked out by a bartender on a power trip? No. In true rock star status the bouncer asked me what happened. As I explained the situation he got me a drink himself and told me that everyone hates Jack Off the bartender.

The Walrus Saloon is a bar to pass on until Jack Off is gone!

Martini Party!!

Cosmopolitan

Ingredients 1 oz Vodka, 1/2oz Triple Sec,

1/2 limeade mix

1/2oz Cranberry Juice

Instructions ice (shake) rocks

Servings 1

Glass Any

Strength Regular

Difficulty Easy

Long Island Iced Tea

Ingredients 1/2 ounce vodka

1/2 ounce gin

1/2 ounce light rum


1/4 ounce tequila


1/2 ounce triple sec


1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice -- or to taste


6 ounces cola -- or to fill



Instructions Fill a mixing glass with ice. Add liquors and lemon juice (but NOT the cola). Shake and strain into a collins glass filled with ice cubes. Fill with cola. Garnish with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint and serve with a straw and an iced tea spoon.


Servings 1

Glass Highball

Strength Regular

Difficulty Easy

Amaretto Limedrop

Ingredients 1 oz Vodka

1 oz Amaretto


fill margarita mix






Instructions ice (shake) rocks or up (for shots use 1/2 amount of mixes) Add 2 oz flavor mix or Schnapps for a Cherry, Peach, Blackberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, or Wildberry Amaretto Limedrop


Servings 1
Glass Shot (Pony)
Strength Regular
Difficulty Easy

AND BEST BURGER GOES TO…

Walnut Brewery gets my vote for their Hickory Burger.

Melted cheddar, smoked hickory bacon, and BBQ sauce. YUM!

I like to forgo the BBQ and ask for some honey mustard instead, with a side of mayo.

The real trick though is taking some of their coleslaw and putting on top of your burger….you won’t regret it, but remember, you heard it here first!

Here's a link to their website: http://www.walnutbrewery.com/

Half Fast Subs

Half Fast is another first-rate place to go drinking with some friends any time of the day.  It is crowded with college students looking for a good time. If you are looking for a buzz, order a long-island pitcher and if not you always have the option of beer, margaritas, or long-islands by the glass. The service at Half Fast is one of the restaurants only downfalls. However, it is excusable because the place is always packed and they come and find you in the restaurant to deliver your tasty sandwich. Half Fast offers one of Boulder’s biggest sandwich selections and is always a common place to go before heading to the Pearl Street bars. Their sandwiches are moderately priced and utterly delicious if you have the drunken munchies.  But, don’t get me wrong Half Fast is also a cool place to hang out during the day.  It has a large patio to enjoy a sandwich and maybe a beer on a sunny afternoon.  If you want somewhere to chill with fun college students, great sandwiches and drinks, Half Fast is the place to go!

Here is the link to the restaurant: Half Fast Subs

DESSERTS! DESSERTS! DESSERTS!

Here's a link to their cupcake page, but make sure to check out all of their other cute creations!

http://www.teeandcakes.com/cupcake/

The cutest and most creative cupcakes in town!

With Tea & Cakes daily specials you get to taste different variations of their adorable cupcakes everyday! But Thursdays remain to be my favorite day of the week.

Mmm! My personal favorite, the Chocolate Bacon cupcake.  A maple flavored cupcake with chocolate ganache and crispy bacon on top! :)

Other Thursday Specials:

    * Peanut Butter Crunch

    * Confetti

    * Coconut

    * Hostess

    * Strawberry Milkshake

                                           * Yellow with Fudge

                                           * Red Velvet 
                                           * Cookies n’ Cream

The prices are not as delicious when you wanna go big and get the dozen, but for a one cupcake personal splurge, it’s totally doable.

    * Single Mini..................................1.50

    * Single Regular..............................2.65

    * 1/2 Dozen Minis...........................9.00

    * 1/2 Dozen Regular........................15.00

    * Dozen Minis................................18.00

    * Dozen Regular.............................28.00

 

The Rio Grande

If you are looking for a cheap and easy way to grab a drink on a fabulous rooftop on a hot sunny day, The Rio is the place for you.  Their super strong margaritas are their biggest attraction.  Their flavors such as mango and strawberry are really refreshing and leave your palate wanting more! However, you are only allowed to have three because each margarita contains three shots of Tequila. The food there is acceptable but not the best Mexican food in Boulder. But, it is good enough and let’s admit you don’t just go there for the food. The service is prompt, and you are never left waiting for the bill. With the Rio’s fun atmosphere and reputable drinks you can never go wrong! 

Here is the link to the restaurant: The Rio Grande

Rusko at Cervantes

My friends and I went to go to see the UK dubstep artist Rusko on April 13^th at Cervantes in Denver. His music has a typical dubstep “womp” bass line that is mixed into original productions or mixes. Let me begin by saying Cervantes is my favorite venue to go to- it’s a really easy going place, the bouncers don’t hassle you, the crowd is always really cool, and they stay open past 2:00 AM. Rusko brought with him a wall, literally, of speakers that blasted away the house set. Although he was whom we all came for, Rusko was the opener for Major Lazer. He blew the crowd away, playing a most excellent set. Major Lazer was good as well, they’re not as much my style. Still, they threw down a dirty set. Zeno was okay- he’s so close to producing quality beats he just needs to work on things first. The one complaint I had was that Cervantes was way over packed and hot, so much that the ceiling was dripping with condensation. There were a lot of frat boys there too, but not enough to detract from our musical experience.

Here is a link to his song  Pro Nails

DRINK UP!

Easy drink recipes to get ready for your night out on the town!

 

THE TRADITIONAL WHISKEY SOUR: your gettin’ ready drink

2 measures whiskey (I go for some Jack D personally)

1 measure lemon juice

1 teaspoon simple syrup (tip: you can make your own by boiling down sugar and letting it cool)

Throw it all in a shaker and pour over ice.

If you’re a girly girl like me, feel free to add a cherry and slice of orange :)

SNEAKY DOG: your pour in your flask to go drink

2 measures vodka (throwing in another fruit flavor can sometimes be a good idea!)

1 measure cranberry juice

1 squirt lime juice

Now strap that to the inside of your leg and you’re ready to go!

  

COFFEE OOOLALA: your put me to sleep drink

2 measures Kahlua coffee flavored liqueur

1 measure Bailey’s Irish Crème flavored liqueur

1 measure butterscotch schnapps

Stir, and if you’re daring top with some whipped cream!

I prefer it over ice, but my mother insists it’s best as is.

 

The Buff

If you have ever been hung-over you know that all you want the next morning is a big plate of your favorite breakfast food and a killer Bloody Mary in your hand as quickly as possible.  And for those of you who would rather pass on breakfast they also give you several lunch options. The Buff is great on the weekends for students that have been partying all night or just for those who enjoy great food! With big portions (most plates fall around $10) and lots of choices, everyone will be able to find something they like. Attentive and courteous staff serves the food quickly, which is usually ideal for those of you who want to keep the buzz going. The Buff serves 99-cent Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas which, is great for poor college students. When you eat at The Buff everyone leaves feeling a little bit better!

Here is a link to the restaurant: The Buff

Habib Koite at the Boulder Theater

On April 8^th Habib Koite performed at the Boulder Theater. He is a musician from Mali, primarily guitar and vocals while his band Bamada plays an array of string and native African instruments. They started out playing a few lighter pieces before slapping together an energetic performance- involving the whole crowd- dancing into the night. It was a 21+ show, so the crowd was older and more mature and was a change of pace from the drug-fueled dance parties that frequent Boulder crowds. The only problem with the venue was that beers were six dollars apiece, but that is to be expected at any show, I guess. Koite sang in his native tongue Bambara, which is a beautiful mix of Swahili and French. This was a great show and I had a great time, and would highly recommend this energetic performance. 

Here is a link to his song Batoumambé

An Introduction

This blog was designed to give a student's perspective of the hopping nightlife in Boulder. We explore various eateries, music performances, and the bars around town- a sort of "best of". Feel free to leave comments, for they are all appreciated!