It seemed like Boulder was bereft of record stores. Second Spin was long gone from the Hill, and just a few months ago Bart’s closed shop on the 11thish block of Pearl.

But the music plays on. Bart has reopened in a new location (and it’s really Bart at the helm again), and a new store had actually opened in January but so quietly you’d be excused if you didn’t know it. Both shops are a bit off the beaten path from a downtown Boulder perspective, but both are definitely worth the hike.

Head north on Broadway toward the area now known as “Uptown” and you’ll find Absolute Vinyl at 4474 N. Broadway. You can think of it as Broadway and Violet, but you have to go almost all the way to the north end of the long sunken parking lot on the northeast corner of that crossing.. Absolute Vinyl has a good collection of records, from the mundane to the highly collectible, as well as a small offering of used phonographs. At the same address is Little Horse Books, a truly eclectic collection of music-related books and magazine back-issues, local-interest books, classics, and undoubtedly more which this chronicler’s eyes missed upon the first visit.

Also, you’re not crazy. There really is no upstairs.

Phone: (303) 995-1519
Hours: 7 days a week, 11 AM to 6:30 PM

Bart Stinchcomb has returned to the music-store scene, opening Bart’s Music Shack at 236 Pearl Street. Do the math and you’ll realize this is no longer within reach of a brief lunch-break walk from downtown; so what? Take your bike instead. Or hop aboard the 206. When you see the small interior you will be amazed at how many records are on the shelves, in the boxes, on and under the tables, along with a rack of CDs and a shelf of DVDs just to round things out. And Bart tells us there will be more, lots more, in the months to come.

According to the Colorado Daily (linked at the beginning of this article), you should be on the lookout for a grand opening with live music at some unspecified date to come. Watch Bart’s Facebook page (linked in the previous paragraph) for announcements.

Phone: (303) 444-1760
Hours: 11-6 Tuesday through Sunday

I ventured out of downtown to experience the joy that is They Might Be Giants!

I’ve never been to concert in Denver since I moved here – how can that be? With such great venues and awesome talent coming through all the time?
I have no answer for you, but I have promoted the husband to the LMC – Live Music Coordinator for the family.

The show was awesome! Really how could They Might Be Giants not rock the house right? Everyone knows the songs, it makes everyone happy and everyone bounces!
I read up on the venue on Yelp and determine we needed to get there pretty much at Doors Open if we wanted front row, that we needed to park on Acoma – free after 6!, and that we should dine at Moe’s.

The timing was excellent – we got front row in the Balcony – i’m working my way up to being an oldster – so being body to body and standing for 4 hours is waaay past my threshold! The view from anywhere in the Gothic is amazing. I could see everything!

The cocktail waitress (is that description any more??) was on her game and right as we were debating who got to climb the stairs to the bar she arrived! Sweet!

This was a 16+ show. 16, really? That’s weird. Yet we still saw at least 3 gentleman toting around 1-3 children each. Really? By children i mean under 10. Really, children, at a grownup venue, on a school night, at a show that doesn’t really get going till 8:30 or 9pm? People really are stupid.

The venue did get a bit warm near the end.
The sounds was great and the venue was awesome! I’ll be looking for more things to see here!

Parking was good except there was no quick way to cut back to our car – so after sweating to death at the top, I got quite chilled making our way back… I know, i am a princess!

As for Moe’s…  All i can say – don’t bother.

Can’t wait for the next time TMBG passes through, on their current trend that would be 2024….  Then I’ll really be an oldster!

Again – another fun filled weekend!

So much to do, so little time!

Tonight at Barnum Park

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Tomorrow Night
at Skyline Park

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Saturday All Day:

Free Day of Museum of Art

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Saturday Morning:

2009 Neighborhood Conference

Mayor John Hickenlooper and City leaders will host neighborhood and community organizations in a day of community-wide networking and neighborhood leadership training on Saturday, Aug. 1, at Coors Field. For more details, read the press release here.
Or get another take on what will be going down here

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Saturday Afternoon:

Verso Cellars

Sunday Afternoon:

Avery Brewing Company – Anniversary Party!

SIXTEEN years in business and its time to celebrate! Join us and the rest of Boulder at the brewery for this annual summer event.  As always, we'll have dozens of styles of your favorite Avery Brews, a BIG pig roast (with vegetarian options too), vertical tasting and bands all day long!  Make your plans now.  

Featuring the sounds of 6 great bands: 

Felonius Smith Trio
Acoustic Hotfoot
Lost Alamos
Cari Minor & Ray Smith
Chris and Bardusco of Meniskus
The Alltunators

We like to travel around Colorado during the summer months, and over the past week I’ve been mapping our family’s summer plans. This weekend there are quite a few reasons to “get out of town” including:

Teva Mountain Games in Vail runs from June 5th to the 8th. This is “The country’s largest celebration of mountain sport, soul and culture.”

The 28th Breckenridge Festival of Film runs from June 5th to the 8th. “There is no Festival like Breckenridge. A large Indie presence, Colorado Premiers of Feature Films, up-close and personal with the stars but with a warmth and intimacy all its own… even if it snows in June!!! We’ve been doing this for 27 years. We’re Good At It”. Jeffrey Lyons

Boats, Blues & Bar-B-Que in Pueblo runs from June 6th to the 7th. “The highlight of the event is a full fledged Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned cook-off competition that is sure to please the seasoned BBQ connoisseur and first time taste tester alike!”

The Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest runs from June 6th to the 8th. “The International Chili Society holds its two chili competitions and tastings in Snowmass, while microbrewers face off in a prestigious summer ale competition with two brew sampling sessions for festival-goers, featuring 30 plus breweries. Fanny Hill rocks with hot music all weekend.”

The Telluride Jazz Festival runs from June 5th to the 8th. “Since 1977 Telluride’s majestic perch – high in the spectacular San Juan Mountains in Southwestern Colorado — has been the site of an annual cultural event produced by the Telluride Society for Jazz combining the finest of nature and art that ranks among the world’s most memorable music festivals.”

A Colorado Wines Festival in Manitou Springs is on June 7th (This is where we’ll be this weekend). “Twenty-two Colorado wineries will be pouring samples of the wines they produce. Live entertainment will be performed throughout the afternoon.”

If you can’t get out of town, don’t forget the People’s Fair is this weekend. Or check out the Denver Broncos Fan Fair at INVESCO. And on Sunday, June 8th, Hazel Miller is appearing at Hudson Gardens and Fiesta Aurora is at the Fletcher Plaza. If you’re looking for a fundraiser you can enjoy with the family, try Bring Out the Bags at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

Gosh, I know there’s so much more out there to do that I’ve mssed! Let us know…