All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
On July 31, a perfect storm of food, friends, and fun came together at Whistle Stop Park for the inaugural Lobster Fest, a New England-style dinner party hosted by the Niwot Business Association.
The rain and chilly temperatures provided an authentic New England experience for the inaugural Lobster Fest, according to organizers.
Niwot isn't anywhere near the North Atlantic coast, but it was hard to tell the difference at the July 31 Lobster Fest at Whistle Stop Park. Between the freshly-caught seafood and the persistent drizzle, the reinvented Bash ended up with even more of an authentic New England vibe than the organizers could have hoped for.
"This weather is fantastic, it's like Nantucket comes to Niwot," Mary Coonce of the Niwot Business Association said of the soggy conditions.
Coonce led the charge to reboot the once-popular Niwot Lobster Bash, last held on 2nd Avenue in 2016. Teaming up with NBA vice-president Deborah Read Fowler and former NBA secretary Linda Klueber, she knew the community dinner would be popular, and was proved correct when all 200 tickets sold in just a few weeks.
"I knew a lot of people wanted it to come back, so I wasn't surprised," Coonce said.
The new version of the seafood soiree included cocktails, traditional side dishes, and dessert, courtesy of Spumoni Creamery. There was also a special menu and toy for kids, and all guests received a bib and souvenir glass. Topping it off was live music from local acts House Blend Band and Tim Stiles, plus a silent auction for Niwot Youth Sports featuring tempting items from local vendors, such as spa packages and gift cards.
The fresh lobsters came via Niwot resident Paul Packer, owner of Northeast Seafood Products, a Denver-based seafood distributor. A New England native, Packer also provided a quick cooking and "cracking" lesson to the crew of volunteer cooks, which definitely paid off, according to NBA volunteer Julie Stenz, owner of Blessing Spa.
"It was delicious," she said of the headlining dish. "By the end of the night, they had it down to a science. Nine minutes in the pot, two lobsters per pot."
Stenz said the weather didn't seem to dampen anyone's spirits, even if it dampened everything else.
"We came home absolutely soaked, but it was still fun. ...It was amazing how all of the Niwotians just hunkered down and held one another. And people were in good spirits, and understanding of the weather, and the organizers pivoted quickly."
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