All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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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....
"Service above self" is the motto of the Rotary Club International, and for Niwot Rotarian Thom Lynch, no one has embodied that more over the past 18 months than Tara Shaheen and Stacy Szydlek, co-owners of Niwot Tavern. On Aug. 5 at Rock & Rails, he presented the two with the club's third annual Community Achievement Award, given to members of the community "who have displayed a heart of service, dedication, and love for Niwot." "When they bought the Tavern in January 2020, they had big plans...
Whether it's pumpkins and costumes or lederhosen and beer that come to mind when the words "October celebration" are mentioned, the Niwot Business Association has it covered. At its virtual monthly meeting on Aug. 3, the Niwot Local Improvement District advisory committee approved two funding requests from the group for events that will bring back autumn-themed fun to 2nd Avenue and Cottonwood Square. The LID board also discussed the projected 2022 budget, and bid goodbye to longtime member...
A trip to the site of the Sand Creek Massacre site in southeastern Colorado is back on track – 17 months after the pandemic caused the original trip to be postponed. The trip, which was originally set for April 25, 2020, has now been rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25, with the bus leaving from Niwot Market at 8 a.m. The all-day excursion, organized by the Niwot United Methodist Church as part of its 150-year anniversary celebration, will take participants on a four-hour bus ride to the N...
It's been just over a year since Alivia Bell of Niwot Barber Shop was seriously injured while riding her bike in Longmont, but thanks to the support of her clients, neighbors, and friends in Niwot, the experienced stylist is now back behind the chair and doing what she does best. "I love cutting hair, it's my passion," Bell said from her cozy two-chair shop in Cottonwood Square, where she has been working for close to 15 years. "And I just love to be able to help serve in some way, to...
"Sheriff Joe" has a very different connotation in these parts than in Arizona. Joe Pelle has served as Boulder County Sheriff for over 18 years and is in what appears to be his final term, which expires in 2022. Pelle is a former Niwot resident, and his wife Stephanie Pelle worked in the Niwot Post Office for many years. As a result, many Niwot residents are on a first-name basis with the sheriff, which is comforting considering that the Boulder County Sheriff's Department is the law enforcement...
On July 14, across from the Niwot Market, friends and curious community members found themselves at Sarah Cioni's new shop Belle Terre. Some came to welcome her back to Niwot, others came for the free snacks and flowers, others came just to take a selfie with Marie Antoinette. "I'm so happy about the turnout, and I think her shop is amazing," said Sarah Smith, a friend and former colleague of Cioni's. There were quite a few people at the grand opening of the shop--it was packed with people...
Bert Steele doesn't consider himself a "car guy," but he definitely appreciates the classics. So when the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled many of Niwot's traditional summer events, including his famed Friday night dinners at the Market, he partnered with Pat Murphy and the Niwot Tavern to bring a socially distanced alternative to town, and the new tradition of Friday night car shows was born. Fast-forward a year and the cars and crowds are still coming to Niwot Market's parking lot in Cottonwood...
Since Lucky Pie closed its doors last August, many have been wondering what business might replace it. Finally, it looks like the community may have its answer. Area chefs Lisa and Patrick Balcom recently announced that, as early September, they will be opening a new restaurant in that Cottonwood Square space. The Balcom’s signed the lease for their restaurant, called Farow, on June 30. Speaking just a day later, they said they hoped to present a menu that focuses on the kinds of seasonal, a...
Niwot residents will soon have another reason to come together and celebrate. This September, the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA), through the efforts of Keith Waters and Gene Hayworth, will be launching its inaugural Niwot Jazz Festival. "There used to be a jazz festival and then it ended a couple years ago," said Hayworth. "My partner Keith [Waters] is a jazz piano player and he's always hoping to find venues... We thought, 'Why not bring [the festival] back?'" Hayworth explained that...
When talking about the return of the Why Not Niwot? juried art show and First Friday Art Walk, Anne Postle of Osmosis Art and Architecture said it best. "We are so excited to start it up again ... with the Art Walk and to feel like the town is having a rebirth." Postle, who is vice-president of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, was ecstatic about the community coming together and having the Why Not Niwot? juried art show, along with First Friday Art Walk, back on track. The NCAA, under the...
After a quiet summer in 2020, Niwotians were up early and ready for a festive Independence Day. The first post-pandemic fourth featured a fun run starting at Niwot High, a pancake breakfast at Niwot Market, a concert by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, and a patriotic motorcade led by Grand Marshal Chuck Klueber. See additional photos on page 6....
Unless you are an entomologist, these pictures taken in Niwot's Cottonwood Square on a warm June day, can only elicit one response – EEEEUUUUWWWW. Or at least that was my reaction. Wasps are a pain. Just ask my friend whose husband was repeatedly stung in the Achilles heel last summer as he mowed the lawn. Turns out the brickwork they installed the summer before provided the perfect environment for a wasp habitat. A few more choice words than EEEEUUUUWWWW were uttered though. All of this got m...
Known for the past 14 months for takeout and outdoor concerts that offered a safe outdoor community gathering spot during COVID-19, Niwot Tavern has officially reopened for sit down service indoors. On a hot Tuesday June 23rd at lunchtime, diners could finally enjoy the Tavern's menu at a solid wooden table with air conditioning. Lunch service was fairly crowded, with work colleagues, Niwot business owners and restaurant regulars stopping in to enjoy an indoor meal. "I saw that they posted on Fa...
