All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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The start of a new year typically brings a fresh effort to make better habits. People take part in fitness programs, eat healthier, and set lifestyle improvement goals. A community-wide New Year's focus on overall health, positive change and self-care? That's not so common, but it's taking place in Niwot. The effort, called Jump Start January, was organized by the same local group of business owners that meet weekly on Wednesdays at The Niwot Tavern. In response to pandemic-related challenges,...
The Christmas holidays may be a lower-key affair this year, so what you serve on your table can bring festivity back into the day. The pressure is on for cooks, and but you're not sure what to have to make your menu extra special, the answers could be closer than you think. The Niwot and Gunbarrel areas have their share of exceptionally talented chefs, mixologists, and even a world class cheese supplier. Some of them were willing to share their expertise so that your meal is everything you want...
Owners of Niwot Tavern are conducting their second annual coat drive to help the homeless as the holidays approach. The inside lobby, once filled with people, is currently filled with boxes of coats, hats, blankets and hygiene essentials, all to be donated to organizations with less support. "We try to deliver to places that don't get as many donations," co-owner Stacy Szydlek said. "A lot of the well-known shelters get overloaded with donations while the smaller ones are left without, so we do...
This wonderful Familiar Face suggestion was courtesy of co-owner of the Niwot Tavern, Tara Kpogoh-Narh. Kpogoh-Narh wrote, "Jennifer Morrison lives and breathes Niwot. She is a local who helps support everyone...small businesses in Boulder, Hygiene and Longmont. She's just amazing. She's always advertising for everyone. I'm sure you've seen her posts." The posts Kpogoh-Narh is referring to are on a public Facebook page called Nifty Niwot. Kpogoh-Narh added, "She brings Stacy [Szydlek, co-owner]...
Each Wednesday morning, small business owners gather in a side dining room at the Niwot Tavern to strategize about keeping their businesses healthy in the wake of the pandemic. Before mid-March, their meeting space was used for seating the Tavern's customers. By mid-November, as the restaurant has shifted to a take-out focused business model, it has become a storage space for restaurant supplies, baskets and holiday donations. During their meeting, participants sit six feet apart with their chai...
As Thanksgiving approaches, there's no shortage of advice on how to make the best turkey, what new sides to serve along with beloved family recipes, and what wines or cocktails to have. While information is available from a lot of sources, culinary talent from the Niwot Tavern and newly opened Niwot Wheel Works have their own suggestions. Read their thoughts as you plan your holiday meal. Suggestions for Thanksgiving meals Head chef Juan Reyes and Chef Hugo Ordiz have been in the kitchen at...
In a year when many well-loved group events have had to be canceled, it's refreshing to see the beginning of a new annual tradition: The Niwot Turkey Trot. Holding an event in light of rising Covid-19 numbers isn't something to be taken lightly. The event's organizing committee, a group of Niwot business owners, know this. They're doing everything they can to be careful. While the race, due to its nature, will be held outdoors, there are other things organizers are planning to keep things safe....
There have been more tricks than treats in 2020, and among the former is the hobbling of many local Halloween traditions, such as Niwot's Great Pumpkin Party. For many area families, finding an enjoyable but safe way to enjoy the popular holiday has been a matter of getting creative. For those in the mood to be social but distant, there are a few public celebrations organized with safety foremost in mind-from a trunk or treat in Cottonwood Square, to a virtual 5K benefit race organized by a...
In 2020, the public receives news from an enormous number of electronic as well as traditional sources. The information onslaught is relentless, can be frustratingly inaccurate, and isn't always able to portray what occurs in a localized area. Local journalists have an important role to fill in this kind of potentially confusing environment. Community newspapers such as the Left Hand Valley Courier tell stories about businesses, schools, parks, open spaces, neighborhoods, local infrastructure,...
At their virtual meeting on Sept. 1, the Niwot LID advisory committee members got a preview of what could prove to be a very busy fall around town, with funding requests for a slew of upcoming events as well as plans to preserve the Native American tree sculptures carved by the late artist Eddie Running Wolf. Treasurer's Report LID Treasurer Bruce Rabeler went first with an update on the district's finances, though there was nothing new to report on the revenue side, as the Colorado Department...
Local restaurants are hanging on thanks to an outpouring of support from the community, Boulder County grants, loans from the federal government and creative offerings. But the first yellow leaves of fall are creating fear for eateries that now depend on outdoor dining. "This is the really important piece; the community has kept us in business," said Michael Tomich, co-owner of Old Oak Coffeehouse in Old Town Niwot. "They have been incredibly supportive." "We have had an outpouring of support,"...
The Boulder Symphony recently announced a socially distanced concert to be held Sunday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center at 6007 Oreg Ave. in Boulder. The hour-long performance will feature the Takács Quartet, a grammy-award winning string quartet. The Boulder-based group is made up of violinists Edward Dusinberre and Harumi Rhodes, violist Richard O'Neill, and cellist András Fejér. Executive Director of the Boulder Symphony Andrew Krimm said he looks forward to hosting the qu...
It is a truth that food brings people together-family gatherings, casual business meetings, and first dates often occur with some sort of dining experience. Even pop-culture recognizes the level of importance of restaurants. Famously, in When Harry Met Sally, Marie (played by Carrie Fisher) said, "Restaurants are to people in the 80s what theatres were to people in the 60s." Dining out has become more complicated lately, especially in light of COVID. In response, the Niwot Business Association...
August has seen local Niwot businesses getting creative with their offerings. From socially distanced movie screenings to live music to car shows, there are more than a few reasons why you might want to swing through downtown Niwot this month. Car Show Fridays at Cottonwood Square From 5 to 8 p.m. every Friday in August, Cottonwood Square will be hosting a socially distanced car show. People are invited to bring their hot rods, classics, sports cars, motorcycles, and even their antiques out to...
Everyone should have the same starting point in life. That's what Oliver Fowler believes, and he's taking action to help make it happen. The 14-year-old Niwot resident is organizing a fundraising dinner to benefit the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, an organization that works for racial equality. "I'm just a kid and can't directly help," Fowler said. "But I think it would be cool if the funds I make from this event do go to people who can move our community, our country and our state forward." The...
Longmont resident Andrew Krimm was recently appointed as the new executive director for the Boulder Symphony. "Andrew brings the rare combination of business execution management experience and is an accomplished musician who has performed at the highest level," Boulder Symphony board chair Tony Santelli said in a recent press release. "In these unpredictable times, we need a captain who will help guide Boulder Symphony to the next level of artistic excellence and community engagement."...
From its shady locale in Cottonwood Square, the Niwot Tavern has been a popular local gathering spot for more than a decade-and-a-half, so when the 2020 coronavirus pandemic threw the lives of local residents into chaos, co-owners and longtime bartenders Tara Kpogoh-Narh and Stacy Szydlek quickly shifted their mission from helping local residents unwind to helping them get through a global health emergency. "It was the kids, when the schools shut down," Kpogoh-Narh said, explaining why she and...
When the state of Colorado issued its Safer at Home” guidelines allowing in-person dining at restaurants last week, Edward Vanegas was thrilled. He immediately went to the Next Door app to tell his Gunbarrel neighbors that his popular bistro Aperitivo and its "resort-like" patio would be open for dine-in service on Wednesday, May 27. However, his pronouncement would turn out to be only half-true, as bringing his small indoor space into compliance with the new regulations took more work than h...
There was much excitement in Niwot over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. In addition to many joyous graduation celebrations and a socially distanced jazz concert at Inkberry Books, there was also a music-themed fundraiser event at Niwot Tavern. In a collaborative effort with Community Food Share and Boulder Symphony, Tavern Co-Owners Tara Kpogoh-Narh and Stacy Szydlek hosted a special Take Out Family Dinner night on Saturday, May 23, with net proceeds benefiting the two nonprofits. As two music...
In April, the Niwot Business Association had record attendance for its first ever Zoom meeting, due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Amongst the lively discussions, Josh Morin from We Love Trees asked how we could help businesses circulate gift cards. NBA Vice President Deborah Read Fowler suggested a central location in Niwot Market, and owner Bert Steele instantly agreed. There, the idea was born, and Fowler volunteered to lead the project and bring the idea to life. "This is a...
Niwot Market has long been a staple of the Niwot community. But in recent weeks, with grocery stores and grocery store employees deemed essential during the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, the market has perhaps played an even more critical role in the community's new normal. At its heart, Niwot Market is a family affair. And this can be seen in the way the Steele family has stepped up to protect their employees and support their community in recent weeks-from implementing curbside pickup to install...
The coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdowns have taken a steep toll on Niwot businesses, and the path to recovery is still uncertain. But Eric Bergeson and the Niwot Business Association are working to get their members started on that path and hopefully back to a thriving downtown commercial district. "The NBA Executive Committee has been trying to respond to this and provide whatever assistance we can," said Bergeson, who was elected to his first term as NBA president in February. "We're...
Niwot businesses are staying nimble as each day brings new developments in the fight against the coronavirus. A new page on the business community's website, Niwot.com/COVID-19, has the latest information on when shops and restaurants are open and what services they are providing. The idea is to support the local economy by keeping potential customers in the loop, according to the town's economic development director, Catherine McHale. "I think we all have to get a little bit clever about how...
Who needs help? That's what some community members are asking, providing a bright spot amid the fear and uncertainty around the coronavirus. A Gunbarrel woman has offered to go grocery shopping or run errands for free for people who are older, have underlying illnesses or are afraid to go out in public for other reasons. "No judgment if someone is too scared to go shopping," said Rachel Isaacs, who posted her offer on Nextdoor, the social network that connects people with their neighbors and...
Local businesses and residents are feeling the impacts of COVID-19. The Niwot Inn took a big hit when a group of international business travelers canceled their gathering for later this month. The group of CEOs come from Europe, India and across the U.S., booking the entire Inn a couple of times a year for three to four days, according to co-owner Carissa Brandes. “Thousands of dollars, it’s very tough,” said Brandes. “We’ve noticed this March has been one of the slowest months we’ve had...
A big part of Niwot's charm lies in its unique retail and dining options, which consistently deliver an experience unlike any other in Boulder County. An oasis amidst the large neighboring cities of Boulder and Longmont, Niwot provides a tranquil haven for visitors who want to slow down and enjoy some retail or gourmet therapy at a relaxed pace. To help spread the word about the town's special offerings, and just in time for spring, the Niwot Business Association has launched the Shop Niwot...
When South Longmont resident Peter Bronski was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2007, the Italian-American author, who came from a New York family with a strong food background, didn't skip a beat. Peter Bronski and his wife Kelli Bronski, a graduate of Cornell University's prestigious School of Hotel Administration, with more than ten years of experience in the hospitality and restaurant business, started a gluten-free cooking blog, and shortly thereafter, published their first cookbook,...
Tony Santelli's titles over his lifetime have been progressively more impressive and a couple of characteristics have consistently defined Santelli's legacy in both his professional and volunteer careers – his strong leadership skills and his wonderful way with people. Those traits were highly prized during his 12 years as president of the Niwot Business Association. The first in his family to go to college, Santelli earned an electrical engineering degree. The majority of his work life was w...
Even if you're not sure who Robert Burns is, you've almost certainly heard one of his most famous poems. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my jo, for auld lang syne, we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne. The famous Scottish poet wrote Auld lang syne in 1788 based on "an old man's singing" and set it to a traditional Scottish song, creating what is now a classic and standard...
Tara Kpogoh-Narh said when the owners of the Niwot Tavern came to her to gauge her interest in buying the bar-restaurant, "I told them absolutely, mostly because it's my house and I've lived there for 14 years. I didn't want someone to come in and buy it from underneath me and take my house from me." As of the first day of the new decade, the Niwot Tavern is officially owned by a partnership of existing owner Tony Santelli, Kpogoh-Narh, and Stacy Szydlek. Kpogoh-Narh has been managing the...
Our community knows a thing or two about how to throw a party. We may be small, but we are lively, as seen by the turn out at each Rock & Rails, First Friday or Dancing Under the Stars event. This New Year's Eve, close out the decade in style with friends, family, and neighbors by attending any of these awesome events around Boulder County. This Dec. 31, The Niwot Tavern will host a celebration unlike any other. Join beloved bartenders Tara and Stacy as they pour sparkling glasses of champagne...
Niwot's annual window decorating contest, sponsored by Left Hand Animal Hospital, drew an unprecedented number of participants at Enchanted Evening on Nov. 29. With 23 businesses included in Old Town and Cottonwood Square, those attending the festival saw a wide array of themes: Santa's welcome home living room, gnomes welcoming visitors to Gniwot, even miniature superheroes celebrating a tiny terrarium version of Hanukkah. New participants in the contest this year, Classic Looks and Abo's...
Brigadoon Glen residents Martin and Kim Magill want to set the record straight about what they term "the commercialization in our backyard." "We're not harassers," Martin Magill said. "Nothing could be further from the truth." For more than a dozen years, the pair have lived on Haystack Golf Course's eastern edge, and argue that the increase in noise and traffic from weddings at the 53-year old Niwot landmark have threatened to destroy "the peace and quiet of this beautiful area we live in."...
Autumn ushers in more than scenic golden aspen groves and crisp fall evenings. Our locally loved Niwot coffee shops, bars, and restaurants have added delicious fall-themed flavors to their menus. From spiced treats to pumpkin-infused eats, here's the round up of area locales that have new fall surprises on their menus. The Old Oak, on 2nd Street, has a beautiful, hand-drawn menu announcing it's fall favorites. Warm coffee-based drinks are hand-crafted by the shop's experienced baristas and are...
This year's J.A.R.E.D. Foundation music festival, Remember in September, will take place Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. A far more spacious location than the first two event renditions, the outdoor venue on the southwest corner of the grounds will showcase two stages, more than a dozen bands, fun-in-the-sun activities, food trucks and drinks for all ages. Colorado's treasured acoustic group, Face Vocal Band, will be the attention-grabbing performance of the festival. The...
Niwot may be known for honoring its namesake with a great deal of left-handed this and left-handed that, but beginning Friday, July 19, even those among us with two left feet will be celebrating when they join in on the joyfulness of community dancing. You’ve heard of “Dancing in the Streets”, “Dancing with the Stars,” and “Dancing in the Moonlight”, and now...there’s “Dancing Under the Stars Niwot.” Event organizers, Catherine McHale and Tom Masterson want people to come on their own or with ki...
You can complain about it, but you just can’t change the weather. So why not make the most of the chill in the air by joining fellow whiners at the fifth annual Let’s Wine About Winter event in Niwot, 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23. Nearly 200 tickets have already been sold for the stroll from business-to-business occasion, but there’s always room for more merrymakers. Over 35 establishments, along 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square Shopping Center, will be serving up samples of wines, beers...
Niwot Tavern, owned by Tony Santelli, Gary Zarlengo, and Bob Russell, is celebrating its 14-year anniversary. “When I look back,” Santelli said, “little did I know that buying a tavern would be for me a life-changing event. Although we lived in Niwot eight years before I purchased the tavern, we really were not in any way connected to Niwot. Once I purchased the tavern that opened an entree of things. “To eventually get into the Niwot Business Association as the president and the Local Improve...
The turning of a page to a new year often signifies a time to improve our bodies, minds, and spirits. For those who have vowed to eat healthier to achieve their goals in 2019, there’s no need to swear off the pleasures of eating out. Niwot, Gunbarrel and South Longmont offer a medley of restaurants with healthy fare. Here’s a smattering of local establishments offering delicious ways to eat mindfully. Each eatery was asked for its philosophy on healthy food, what accommodations the kitchen is...
Serving food is what Regina Sidoti has been doing for as long as she can remember. Sidoti, 45, works at two restaurants in Niwot and a third restaurant in Longmont. You also can find her working concessions at Bronco games and other sporting events. Her can-do attitude and easy, outgoing smile are emblematic of her optimistic outlook. Sidoti is a very candid, genuine person who believes we all are more alike than not. She said, “There’s a little piece of you in every person.” That’s why it’s a...
To the Editor: It has become painfully apparent that the Boulder County Land Use Staff is biased. This bias has compromised the safety of our 2nd Avenue sidewalks for 25 years. Unfortunately, the Community Meeting on Monday night was not productive, and it soon became clear that the focus was an exercise designed to steal property rights from the commercial property owners subject to the moratorium. The Land Use Staff orchestrated the night to address only the predetermined topics that Land Use has identified as necessary to limit the rights...
The results for the Enchanted Evening Window Decorating Contest are in! There were about 150 votes total, and while the competition was amazing and colorful, the clear winner for the 2018 season is Niwot Tavern. This is the second year in a row that the Tavern has swept the votes, and they credit their amazing wins to their window designer and decorator, Tom Studholme, who can be contacted at 970-619-9456 for people who wish to use his skills for their holiday window displays. The second place w...
More than two dozen people stepped up to the microphone in the Boulder County Commissioners’ hearing room on Oct. 30 regarding a temporary halt of development in downtown Niwot. The commissioners could vote to maintain, modify or rescind the moratorium they initially approved on Sept. 20. Dale Case, Boulder County Land Use Director said his department’s recommendation was to uphold the six-month moratorium on development in the Niwot Rural Community District (NRCD), but with the exclusion of...
Two long-time Niwot health professionals are turning the page to new chapters in their lives. Dr. Leigh Charley relocated her chiropractic practice, Triad Wellness Center, to Niwot 11 years ago. She closed her office at the end of July. Dr. Felicia Santelli will be closing her natural health practice at the end of September. Her business, Santelli Healing Center, opened in Niwot 20 years ago. Leigh Charley Jamaica was home for Dr. Charley for 20 years and it’s where she raised her two c...
Tara Kpogoh-Narh is one of the welcoming faces you’ll see when you belly up to the bar at the Niwot Tavern. Her genuine caring and kindness along with her expertise in pouring the perfect draft brew or whipping up a well concocted cocktail hits on all the high notes for patrons of the pub. At her job, she offers hospitality, great drinks, excellent fare and a good ear. Learning about the people we regularly cross paths with is a way to find out what brought them to this place in their lives a...
Taking the pulse of commercial leasing within Niwot and Gunbarrel, there was a general consensus among local experts that the business environment is in a robust state overall. The recurring themes were that vacancy rates are low, and that brick and mortar retail businesses are harder to attract than businesses in the service and food sectors. Some prominent spaces on the market or soon to be on the market include locations on Second Avenue in Niwot, and within Cottonwood Square and Gunbarrel...
More than 400 ticket holders let the wind blow them around Niwot to enjoy wine, art, food, and the hospitality of Niwot businesses. Niwot’s fourth Wine about Winter event took place the afternoon of Saturday, Feb. 24. While the sun was shining brightly, the temperature was still wintery cold and the exuberant wind battered the event’s celebratory balloons. But, the strong breeze didn’t prevent the flow of happy mug-toting participants from moving from one warm welcoming location to anoth...
Niwot resident and independent filmmaker Dennis Hefter wrapped the shooting of his comedy, Army & Coop! in December. The script took two years to write and four weeks to shoot, and was filmed with an all-Colorado cast and crew using local venues, including Lefty’s Gourmet Pizza on Second Avenue. Most of the scenes were set at Mudrock’s Tap & Tavern in Louisville, where the story’s love triangle plays out, as well as the Karing Kind dispensary in Boulder and the Sports Stable in Superior, where...
Niwot’s 16th annual Enchanted Evening event on Friday, Nov. 25 will kick off this year’s season of light with plenty of fan favorites and a few added enticements. Promising a night of nostalgia, the event gathers together the old and the young for the singing of traditional yuletide songs, a tree lighting ceremony, a visit with a certain red-suited northerner, and a chance to check off some of the “naughty or nice” people on this year’s holiday shopping list. While hammers are busy pounding...
Niwot’s 16th annual Enchanted Evening event on Friday, Nov. 25 will kick off this year’s season of light with plenty of fan favorites and a few added enticements. Promising a night of nostalgia, the event gathers together the old and the young for the singing of traditional yuletide songs, a tree lighting ceremony, a visit with a certain red-suited northerner, and a chance to check off some of the “naughty or nice” people on this year’s holiday shopping list. While hammers are busy pounding...
