It is with great sadness, and a sinking suspicion that I am not the first on the scene with the news, that I announce the passing of Cafe Play from the Hill.

Cafe Play was an excellent idea. To my knowledge it was Boulder’s only true LAN Cafe – there were computer stations you could rent time on to play World of Warcraft with your buddies – and it was certainly the only place you could rent time on a Wii, a Playstation, or an Xbox, and while away several hours playing the games of your choice on huge plasma-screen TVs. And of course it had wi-fi. The space was huge and comfortable, full of deep leather couches as well as office-style desks, and its walls featured the work of local artists. Plus there was live music on the patio all the time. Also coffee, tea, soda, Udi’s sandwiches, and at one time Global Chili offerings. And it was open laaaaate.

It was where I went when my own cable internet was on the blink. It was where I encouraged fellow Boulder NaNoWriMo participants to meet up for write-ins. And now it is gone, and I am a sad puppy.

Cafe Play, you will be missed.

(Oh, by the way, Lulu’s on the Hill is gone too. Has been since something like a month or two after their grand opening. It’s Album’s Bistro again, which is great for aficionados of Album’s, but not so great if you really liked Lulu’s. For what it’s worth, the first space they were in – the restaurant outlet in Steelyards – seems to be still available. Hint. Hint.)