All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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This past Sunday, there was another change in a well known Niwot-based business. Mala Bo Fan, owner of Fan's Conoco gas station, sold the popular Cottonwood Square-based fueling stop. It will be the second local filling station for the new owner, Rajbar Dhillon, who also owns Hershey's gas station in Boulder. On her first day of non-ownership, Fan was still at the shop, helping brothers of the new owner to become acclimated to what was there. She showed a familiar exuberance, kindness and high e...
First Sip, a restaurant week-like event for mixologists and other beverage purveyors, is coming to Boulder April 28 to May 1. You may have noticed all of the social media chatter and advertising about it. There are classes, tastings and events that, together, are designed to introduce area residents to new drinks, expand their knowledge of what might be in their glass, expose them to delightful and challenging food-beverage pairings, or all of the above. A Niwot restaurant has fully embraced...
"I like stuff I can learn from," said Dawn Dunlap, a waitress at the Garden Gate Cafe who has been working at her job in Niwot for the past eight years. Before that, she had been a waitress in Lyons but she lost that job when the town flooded in 2013. "I love it here," she said, with a bright smile. "People in Niwot are so kind." We were sitting at an outside cafe table one recent afternoon, shortly after her 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. work-day had ended. She didn't look fatigued in the least. Talking abo...
Cimmini's was packed last Tuesday for the monthly Niwot Business Association meeting. It might have had something to do with the refreshments provided by the popular Italian restaurant, and it might have had something to do with the speaker for the evening. NBA president Eric Bergeson began by welcoming new NBA members, including Lisa Nesper with Cross Country Mortgage in Niwot Square and Kristin Dura with Una Vida in Cottonwood Square. Bergeson then shifted to announcements and a number of...
Cottonwood Square, the Niwot Sculpture Park, and Second Avenue were buzzing with activity at the First Friday Artwalk on the first day of April. Various businesses offered refreshments, and many hosted artists and musicians. While some displayed artwork–like The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop showcasing local illustrator Jessica Lanan–others, like Belle Terre, had creative art stations. Walking through the town, one could see people painting still lifes and landscapes, while local musicians per...
In celebration of 25 years, the Courier staff thought it would be fun to give a brief summary of articles from Volume 1, Issue Number 1 of the Left Hand Valley Courier, published April 1, 1997: - Niwot celebrated the recording of the town plat 122 years prior on March 30, 1875. - Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church added 5,000 square feet to its building. - Niwot High School was celebrating 25 years of educating local high school students. - Niwot Elementary School sent a team to Odyssey of...
Top of the mornin' to ya, laddies. I hope you're excited for Saint Patrick's Day, because a festival is coming up, known as Lucky Niwot Day. It will take place on March 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square. Among the lively festivi include live music, Irish dancing (outside of Blessings Day Spa at Cottonwood Square), a magic show and brunch at the Niwot Wheel Works, an Irish poetry reading and green tea service at Inkberry Books, free carriage rides (wait on second...
A second summer concert series and signs for Niwot's new public parking lot were just two of the pending issues before the advisory committee to the Niwot Local Improvement District at its monthly meeting on March 1. The group also met its likely future representative from the Niwot Community Association, heard a year-end revenue report from treasurer Bruce Rabeler, and put the finishing touches on its update to the Niwot five-year strategic plan. Treasurer's Report Boosted by robust earnings...
This is not an April Fool's "announcement.".... The Left Hand Valley Courier will mark 25 years of serving the Niwot-Gunbarrel community on Friday, April 1, with an Open House from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the courtyard outside the offices of Warren, Carlson & Moore, LLP, Attorneys located in Cottonwood Square. The community is invited to join the founders and current staff of the newspaper for a celebration outside the law office, where the staff meets once a week to plan each edition of the weekly newspaper. The Courier is the only independently...
On Feb. 26, the Italian restaurant Ciminini's (300 2nd Ave.) hosted a fundraising event for the Marshall Fire victims. Customers paid $25 per ticket to enjoy a lovely Saturday morning, while listening to a live cello performance. All food and drinks came with the ticket, which included the choice of pancakes, French toast, cottage cheese parfait with avocado toast, scrambled eggs, sausages and hams, a pastry basket, specialty coffee, and of course, hot cocoa. A silent auction was held at the...
Two years after the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns sent a shock through the local economy, Niwot isn't just back in business, it's booming. Over the past 12 months, shoppers, diners, and retailers have been flocking to Cottonwood Square and 2nd Avenue, driving sales tax revenues to all-time highs while driving the commercial vacancy rate to an all-time low. Part of this growth is due to an economy that is on the rebound from a slowdown in 2020, plus the easing of many pandemic restrictions....
The Niwot Gig held a grand opening Saturday, Feb. 19, at the newly remodeled space behind Fan's Chinese Restaurant in Cottonwood Square, with owners Martin Marks and Alana Marks on hand to welcome the community. They were joined by their soon-to-be 11-year-old daughter, Odette, an accomplished musician in her own right. Popcorn, pumpkin bread and poppy-seed bread were part of the celebration, along with coffee and hot chocolate from Winot Coffee to wash it down. Music director Martin Marks, who...
Kristian Dura is the future owner of a meditation/community center in Cottonwood Square. The name of her business is Una Vida, which translates to “one life” in Spanish. Dura came up with the name when she was working at a retreat center in Argentina. While she was living there, her coworkers would repeat their mantra: “your life, my life, one life.” Meaning, we all share the same human spirit no matter who we are or what background we come from. And so, Dura wanted to create a center (similar to the one in Argentina) where Front Range natives...
Many have dubbed America to be a melting pot of cultures that has coagulated into something unique. Other scholars argue that the country is more of a tapestry, where some cultures are maintained and others are transformed. For Francesca Ciancimino Howell, this tapestry metaphor seems more relevant–as an Irish-Italian-American, her unique heritage greatly inspired her academic studies. These studies, in turn, inspired her 2018 academic work "Food, Festival and Religion", which will be d...
Sarah Campbell has always had a passion for fashion and community. Over the years, she has tried on a variety of career hats. Locally, she participated in the Little Holiday Shops and even a previous iteration of The Little Shop. As of Jan. 1, 2022, she became The Little Shop's official owner and is thrilled about the reopening. "It's wonderful, and we just reopened two weeks ago," she said smiling. "We completely redid the flooring, [there's] a new coat of paint, new furniture [and] we've had...
After a strong start during the Après Ski weekend which raised $2,113 for families affected by the Marshall fire, Niwot's benefit events are continuing. A pair of events that combine dining and music are the next set of community fundraisers supporting the Small Town Big Heart Fire Relief Fund. "We've got a Niwot-wide goal of $100,000 and this is a great way to start," said Deb Fowler of DRF Real Estate, who is coordinating the events. Her total included amounts from the first weekend, but didn'...
Growing up in Skåne, Sweden, Martin Marks and his brother, Mike, loved music. "It can be life-changing or just something that brightens your day but without it, our lives are certainly empty," said Marks. Together, they started a band and began traveling the world, performing in Stockholm, Los Angeles, Boulder and more. Their music even extended to iconic venues like The Troubadour and reached as high as #2 on the MTV Nordic Top Five. Eventually, Marks settled in California and ran a music...
On Jan. 22, Dr. Patti Ashley hosted her bi-annual mandala workshop at Cottonwood Square in Niwot. Dr. Ashley specializes in child development, special education and psychology; she works as a psychotherapist, author, international speaker, and authenticity architect coach. Mandala is a form of artistic representation meant to unfold an individual’s inner thoughts and feelings through guided meditation. cultures, but is usually represented in geometric patterns. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung u...
On Jan. 29, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. the Niwot Business Association is hosting the second annual Après-Ski Pop-Up Celebration. Come to Downtown Niwot with your family and friends to enjoy all the frigid festivities, such as hot meals, horse-drawn carriage rides and live music performances. Restaurants and businesses will be serving special meals and selling merchandise for the occasion: Niwot Tavern will be serving chili; there will be a mulled wine tasting at Inkberry Books; other vendors will...
We're in the home stretch of the holiday shopping season, and for those of you with a few names left to check off your gift list, be sure to consider one of the dozens of unique items from the artists, growers and crafters that call Niwot and Gunbarrel home. Gas up and grab a gift When you fill 'er up at the Niwot Conoco in the Cottonwood Shopping Center, don't just drive off - go inside where you'll find a treasure trove of charming gifts for your loved ones. You'll be stunned by the corner of...
As 2021 draws to a close, we look ahead to 2022 with hopes for a big (and better) year. However, few people likely have the same definition of a Big Year as local author and birding expert, John Vanderpoel. In May, Vanderpoel published his book "Full Chase Mode: Big Year of Birding in North America" which follows the 365 days he spent chasing a birding record in 2011, in an endeavor known in the birding world as a "Big Year." For birders, doing a Big Year is a kind of bucket list project. For...
Boulder County is seeking applications for one opening on the Niwot Business Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee, a nine-member independent board that "prioritizes expenditures of the LID sales tax revenue," and makes recommendations to the county commissioners, who serve as the board of directors for the district. The Niwot LID was formed in 1992 and was authorized to collect a half-percent sales tax to pay for street, drainage and other improvements in Old Town, beginning in...
Grief is a difficult thing. On one hand, we're often told to go through the stages, heal and move on. But on the other hand, it's not clear how long those stages "should" last, and we can be pressured to feel as though the healing is complete before we're ready. What I love about Niwot resident Ellen Haswell's book, "A Little Book of Words for Those Who Grieve,'' is that the whole book takes you through the process, and while it's a short read, it feels like you can take your time. With only 59...
The seasonal festivities continued in Niwot on Dec. 4-5, with the first of two weekends of the Niwot Holiday Market, a shopping fair with more than 30 pop-up vendors in Cottonwood Square and on 2nd Avenue. Items on sale ranged from homemade lotions, to specialty foods, to clothing, and more. The fun continues on Dec. 11-12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit niwot.com/events....
Let the merriment begin! On Friday, Nov. 26, the 2021 holiday season officially got underway in Niwot with the 21st annual Enchanted Evening. Hundreds of revelers packed 2nd Avenue and Cottonwood Square, looking for bargains or just some festive fun. Click here to see more photos from Niwot's Enchanted Evening...
October 2021 marked the one year anniversary for the Little Shops at Niwot (7960 Niwot Rd., Suite D-15), a unique small business collaboration that began life last year as the Little Holiday Shops at Niwot. And though the storefront has rebranded and moved across the shopping center, the business, which functions as a type of co-op for local artists and vendors, has continued to see success. "When you think about it, there were a lot of pop-up vendors who lost their opportunity to do farmer's...
When it's time to purchase holiday gifts this year, you can always pull out your keyboard and order gifts from Amazon or purchase something from a chain retailer at the mall. But local stores here have a lot to offer. When you buy from area retailers you'll find gifts you can't get anywhere else in the world, and the money you spend stays in the community, something that's needed by many as they recover from the lingering impacts of the pandemic. Local food restaurants and purveyors Niwot and...
The 2021 holiday shopping season is just around the corner and, conveniently, you don't have to go much farther than that to start it off right. On Friday, Nov. 26, the Niwot Business association kicks off three weekends of downtown festivities with the 21st edition of Enchanted Evening, featuring Christmas traditions gone-by. "Niwot really comes alive during the holidays," NBA Vice President and event co-organizer Deborah Read Fowler said. "We're so excited for the tree lighting, Santa, the par...
As part of the effort to update the town's five-year strategic plan, the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee invited leaders from more than a dozen local community organizations to a round table discussion at the Left Hand Grange on Nov. 2 to discuss how to prioritize tax revenues over the coming years and encourage cooperation among the groups on community projects. Among the groups represented were the Niwot Business Association, Niwot Community Association, the Rotary Club of...
A crowd of almost 100 gathered at the intersection of Franklin Street and Second Avenue on Sunday, Nov. 7, to honor veterans of the U.S. armed forces, including some 44 veterans with local connections featured on banners hung throughout the Niwot business district. The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, under the direction of Debbie Benson, began with a selection of John Philip Sousa marches and other tunes, including Yankee Doodle Boy, Respect, The Thunderer, America, Stars &...
Niwot got a little spooky last Saturday, as costumed revelers of all ages flocked to Cottonwood Square and then filled 2nd Avenue for the town's Annual Great Pumpkin Party. Although nearby Longmont held its own parade at the same time, locals were eager to enjoy the local celebration, and did so with perfect weather. Moderate temperatures and blue skies set the tone with large red, gold and brown leaves still on many of Niwot's enormous trees or crunching underfoot. Beginning at the parking lot...
As Veterans Day 2021 approaches, the Niwot Community Association is once again honoring the local men and women who have served their country in the U.S. Armed Forces through the Veterans Banner Project. Earlier this month, nearly 50 full-color banners featuring the names, photographs, branch, and service years of military members past and present with local connections were installed along 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square where they will hang through Veterans Day. Behind each of these...
What has thousands of legs and puts on a disguise to invade downtown Niwot each October? The annual Great Pumpkin Party and Parade, a family-friendly celebration of all things fall and Halloween. "The people make it good," longtime Niwot realtor and event sponsor Pat Murphy said. "Seeing all of the costumes that everyone comes up with and working with all of the volunteers is my favorite part." The free festivities, sponsored by the Niwot Business Association with support from the Niwot Local...
A windy Saturday didn't dampen Niwot's Oktoberfest spirits. The weather did, however, cause tossed signs, fallen chairs outside of The Wheel House, and fewer people participating in outdoor activities during the Oct. 9 event. "It's been rough," said Eric Bergeson, owner of Wheel Works, The Wheel House, and the food truck La Musette. "Normally, Oktoberfest has a tent. We did our best. This morning at 8:30 a.m. we tried to put a tent out in front of our place and it just obviously wasn't working....
Work on a proposal to create a community garden space in Niwot is starting, Niwot Community Association board member Diane Zimmermann told NCA members at the Oct. 6 meeting. "The first step is to survey our NCA members to gauge interest and gather ideas, and then put together a community group made up of Niwot residents and NCA members interested in getting this project started," Zimmermann said. "We see so many Niwot residents with beautiful gardens and we could use their expert advice and...
In its first face-to-face meeting since March 2020, the Niwot Local Improvement District advisory committee heard a request to fund Niwot Holiday Magic, discussed the recent strategic planning meeting, and got an update on the public parking lot. It was also the first meeting for new business representative Keith Waters, who was appointed to a five-year term by the Boulder County Board of Commissioners last month. Waters is a professor at the CU College of Music and co-owner of Inkberry Books...
First Hole A hawk whistles as it lands on the giant cottonwood just behind the first tee. It's an appropriate send-off as I begin my final round at Haystack Mountain Golf Course. As always, there is something that takes my attention away from the little white ball when I'm here, whether it is the wildlife, peach and purple sunsets, stately trees or the tawny slopes of the odd bump on the horizon, Haystack Mountain itself. This late summer day is the last time I'll play the nine-hole course off...
NIwot's Fritz Family Brewers took home their first medal at the North American Beer Awards for their Export Lager, a Dortmunder. "The competition is a fairly large one, held in Idaho Falls every year," Fritz Family Brewing owner Cory Buenning said. "It's been around for about two decades and held in conjunction with a large beer festival that donates proceeds to the nonprofits." Buenning entered the competition with a brew that he's had an extensive history with. "It's a beer I've been brewing...
Silence and Respect. Thus reads the first trail sign greeting visitors at the Sand Creek Massacre National HIstoric Site. Thirty Niwot-area residents, both young and old, traveled to the site on Saturday, Sept. 25, by bus exactly 17 months after the original excursion was derailed by the pandemic. What originally started as two busloads of Niwotians dwindled to a little more than half a bus, due to COVID concerns and the difficulty of finding a rescheduled date that fit everyone's schedule, but...
Niwot Oktoberfest, a local tribute to the 211-year-old Bavarian volksfest, is coming to Cottonwood Square and 2nd Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 9. With activities ranging from inflatable horse races, to food tasting, to German dancing, there will be something there for everyone in the mood to celebrate the changing of the seasons, according to organizer Deborah Read Fowler of the Niwot Business Association. "It should be a really fun day," she said. "It's more interactive, and it's outside. A lot of...
On Sept. 17, Farow Restaurant (7916 Niwot Rd., Niwot) opened to the public, just a few months after announcing it was taking over the former Lucky Pie space in Cottonwood Square. So far, the community has welcomed the restaurant with nights of full parking lots and crowded dining rooms during both the soft launch and the first opening weekend. "We're feeling good about it," said co-owner Lisa Balcom during Farow's soft opening last week. "The last two days have gone well considering we're all...
The Niwot Community Association is now accepting applications for the 2021 Veterans Banner Project, a public tribute to locals who have served or are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Starting in October, full-color banners featuring a photo and service details of the honoree will be hung from lighting fixtures along 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square, where they will remain through Veterans Day. The NCA launched the banner project in 2019 as a way to recognize former or current service...
The Niwot Community Association will hold its annual Clean Up Day from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 18 in the parking lot at Niwot High School, 8989 Niwot Road, Niwot. Any NCA member can bring two free trash loads, with additional loads costing $25 each; non-members will pay $40 a load. Loads equal a standard size pickup truck at bed level. "We suggest that people come early, because once our collection dumpsters are full we will have to close up," event organizer John Barto told NCA...
A pair of bookstore readings this past weekend supported the mental health of some of Niwot's youngest residents. Both readings were less of a traditional presentation and more hands on, which worked out well for attendees. On Saturday Sept. 11, the Wandering Jellyfish on Second Avenue hosted a reading by Jessica Speer, author of the book "BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends): A Girl's Guide to Happy Friendships" which is available for purchase at the store. The reading started with Speer helping...
Visitors to Cottonwood Square were able to enjoy their brunch in style thanks to the Jazz Brunch on Saturday, Sept. 4. Sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) and with the work of co-champions Gene Hayworth and Keith Waters, the inaugural Niwot Jazz Festival was in full swing. "We've had a fantastic day. It's a good crowd and there's really such a wonderful community effort in putting the whole thing together. It's been a pleasure, and the music is fantastic," said Hayworth. The...
A lot of people may have gotten healthier over the summer and want to take their fitness to the next level. Or, they still may be struggling to take off their pandemic pounds. One of Cottonwood Square's newest businesses is here to help. RAKD has opened for one-on-one personal training appointments. As owner and head trainer Kevin Guidi said, it's not a traditional open gym membership; it's an individualized fitness studio. Clients can come in and be the only ones in the facility with a...
Sarah Cioni's new shop in Niwot, Belle Terre, hosted its first ever Flower Mart in Cottonwood Square on First Friday, Sept 3. Cioni was pleased that it went well, and reported that all the vendors were thrilled with the response from the community. Most were from Niwot, but Erie and Boulder were represented as well. Jannibird Farms, Fantasia Mosaics, Old Farm Niwot, Farmette Flowers, and Slupik Minifarm were all out in full color. Besides the flower arrangements and bunches of flowers...
Many Niwotians know Keith Waters as the co-owner of Inkberry Books, along with longtime partner Gene Hayworth. But underneath that mild mannered exterior lies the syncopated heart of a jazz connoisseur, who brings more than his fandom to the form. Now Waters is bringing the versatile genre back to town with the Niwot Jazz Festival, an all-day showcase of local, regional, and national talent, slated for Sept. 4. "Gene and I have now been part of the community for about three years, and it just...
The first Niwot Honey Bee Harvest Festival will take flight on Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring hives of fun activity around town. Look for flyers posted with the schedule of the day's activities. Niwot Business Association vice-president Deb Fowler and Niwot resident Victoria Keen have been very "beesy" organizing the festival since early 2021. Honey bees are not native to the United States and were brought over by the pilgrims, but they have long been a part of the Niwot area....
