All posts by Jesse Lennox

Boulder Events in October 2016

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art

October is always a moth filled with unique events in and around Boulder, and this year is no exception.  Here are just a few ideas for those looking to get out and do something unique this month.

City Events: A visual trip through Boulder’s history

For hundreds of years Boulder has been the inspiration to countless artists.  These visual artists have left a history of work that inspired the History of Visual Arts event to begin featuring these works as a means of storytelling and history.  Over 300 local artists’ work spanning the past 121 years will be on display all the way through January 15th, with work on display ranging from famous artists to unknown and even children.  The event is split into 50 smaller features, including 18 galleries, film screenings, and panels throughout Boulder and Longmont.  Every event is free and open to the public, so there’s no reason to miss any of the events that peak your interest.

 

Music: Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra: Opening Night, Cold War Kids, Cake

October is shaping up to be a great month for anyone looking to go out for night of live music.  For the orchestra fans out there, the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra’s opening night is happening on October 8th at 7:30 pm in Macky Auditorium on CU campus.  Tickets for the event range from $13-$35, and promises to bring classical music back into relevancy.  For those who are looking for a more modern show, the Cold War Kids playing at the Boulder Theater on October 10th is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for all fans of indie rock.  Tickets are still available for $25 if you purchase in advance, or $27 on the day of the event.  Cold War Kids are just a few days behind CAKE, also at the Boulder Theater, on the 14th and 15th.  (SOLD OUT)

Talks: The Nobel Lecture Series Fall 2016

Once again the Boulder Bookstore and University of Colorado at Boulder are hosting their annual Nobel Lecture Series.  The first event of the season is set to focus on the 1994 Nobel Prize for literature winner Kenzaburō Ōe.  Ōe’s short stories, novels, and essays have made him a very important figure in the contemporary literary scene in Japan.  His works often examine philosophical, social, and political issues through the unique lens of his culture.  His ideas on nuclear power and social non-conformism are particularly applicable to current issues in the world.  The event will be hosted by Assistant Professor David Atherton from the department of Asian languages and civilizations at CU Boulder on October 10th at 7pm in the Boulder Bookstore.  The event is free and open for everyone.

 

Film: Halloween screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show

What better way to celebrate Halloween night than with a live performance of the now not so cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Boulder theater.  The event is being put on by Colorado’s Elusive Ingredient, or CEI for short, who are the premier shadow cast of the Rocky Horror Picture show.  Starting their performances in 2000, CEI is a group recognized on a national scale and even hold the world record for the largest live Rocky showing at over 8,000 people.  The show is open for all ages at a $5 ticket price with doors opening at 7pm and the show starting at 8, so why not get in costume, toast some bread, bring a newspaper, and enjoy the show.

Boulder Farmland Sale to Longmont

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One of the most important aspects of Boulder Colorado is the greenbelt surrounding it.  This ring of protected nature keeps Boulder from growing too large, and allows easy and convenient access to nature that has enamored residents and visitors alike.  For these reasons it may seem concerning to hear that Boulder County commissioners have already given the go ahead to sell 129 acres of farmland to Longmont for over $2.1 million, but the details should put a lot of those worries to rest.

The 129 acres to be sold is located southwest of Colorado 66 and East County Line Road.  This area is largely comprised of the area known as Montgomery Farm, and a smaller section just north of Jim Hamm Nature area.  Another 72 acre plot of land owned by Trice property is also being considered as a future site Longmont would acquire.

The plans Longmont has set out for this land state that the 80 acres of Montgomery Farm would be used as the future site of a new community park.  The 49 acres north of the Jim Hamm Nature area are to be left undeveloped, and may even continue to be used for agricultural purposes.  Longmont’s development plans already have a plan for the Trice property as well.  Under the city’s comprehensive plan, it will be another possible site for a community park.

This farmland sale to Longmont was reviewed ear in September 2016 during a county commissioners’ meeting.  Janis Whisman, Longmont County’s Parks and Open Space real estate manager, along with commissioners Elise Jones, Deb Gardner, and Cindy Domenico approved Boulder County staff to move forward with the transaction.  However, it is still dependent on whether or not Boulder County receives a federal grant that would cover half the cost of the conservation easement purchase.  “Pending the time it takes to find out whether such a grant has been awarded, Boulder County would have a one-year option for the $2,703,335 conservation-easement purchase,” Janis Whisman said at the conclusion of the meeting.

Should that conservation-easement come through, it would serve to protect a gap in county-owned farmlands or cover private farmlands north of the highway in conservation easements.

According to Whisman, the city of Longmont still needs to accept the proposal to purchase the Montgomery farmland from Boulder.  If they decide to finalize the purchase as it appears now, Longmont would have 5 years to complete the $2,128,901 purchase.  While it looks like it will be some time before any noticeable change occurs, there doesn’t seem to be any reason for citizens of Boulder to fear losing ownership of this farmland.

Second Annual Boulder Green Home Tour

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It’s no secret that Boulder Colorado is home to some of the most environmentally friendly people in the country.  It is because of this high level of awareness and concern for our planet that the Boulder Green Home Tour is able to host their second year of annual self-guided tours of the most innovative green housing currently available.  This tour, hosted on September 24th, gives any ticket holder an opportunity to see many of these new energy efficient homes, ranging from traditional styles to multi-family projects.  All of these homes are selected not only because of their low impact on the environment, but also to demonstrate how homes built with energy efficient materials that utilize renewable energy can still be beautiful places to live.

One of the many allures of the tour is its self guided nature, meaning that attendees are free to choose which order they see the homes in, and how much time they want to spend in each one between the hours of 10am and 4pm.  This is an event you will want to see in person, because no interior photographs are allowed out of respect for the home’s owners.  There are expected to be 10-15 homes available for touring on the 24th.  After which there will not be another opportunity to see them again until next year.

The inspiration for the Boulder Green Home Tour was to bring together members of the community, architects, contractors, and vendors in an open dialog of new ideas and possibilities for future green homes.  To further facilitate these discussions and learning possibilities, the Boulder Green Home Tour also offers an evening of presentations the day before the tour begins as a free bonus to those who purchased tickets for the tour.  This year includes presentations on Green Building 101, Net Zero, and Passive House.  This smaller, more intimate, evening gives the public a rare opportunity to have in depth discussions with architects and contractors.  To not exclude those who are unable to attend this pre-event, there is also an open after party for all ticket holders.  This gives the attendees another chance to speak with members of the industry, as well as vote on which home will receive the People’s Choice Award.

In 2015, the first year the tour was held, over 450 visitors came to tour the 11 environmentally friendly homes on display.  All the work and effort done by Boulder Green Home to create such a successful first event paid off by bringing them more attention from sponsors and the public for the second annual tour.  For 2016 they are expecting anywhere between 200 and 500 attendees.  10% of every $15 dollar ticket sold will be donated to Flatirons Habitat for Humanity to further their projects in the Boulder community.

If you have any questions about Boulder Green Homes or real estate, please contact Adam Kroll.

Sakura Square Redevelopment Proposed

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Sakura Square in Denver Colorado has been home to many Japanese-American families and businesses for decades, and is now seeking a proposal to redevelop much of its downtown block to better serve and represent future generations.  This redevelopment would be done around some existing landmarks such as museums, martial arts studios, Japanese restaurants, and gardens.  The Tri-State Buddhist Temple would also remain where it is, but could potentially be getting a new building.  A special effort is being made to preserve well established businesses and locations, such as the Pacific Mercantile, which has been family owned and operated for over 70 years.  The owners of Sakura Square’s proposal specifically call for a “redevelopment outcome that reflects their sensitivity to sustainable and superior modern Japanese-influenced design and architecture. Quality over quantity is a focus.  When complete, the block should be a simple but iconic expression of Japanese community and culture and have a gracious presence in relationship to the street, neighborhood and community.”

The areas that would be renovated could give Sakura Square, and Denver as a whole, new office spaces, residential areas, and retail space.  This proposal comes from a night and day transformation of what Sakura Square was when first established.  As Sakura Square CEO Gary Yamashita said “When members of the temple first purchased the block 45 years ago, this area of Denver was literally Skid Row. It was bars and brothels.  We’ve had such good fortune that it’s probably some of the hottest real estate in Denver, right next to LoDo, right next to the ballpark, right next to the redevelopment in Arapahoe Square.”

The desire to keep the Square’s location in downtown Denver is more than just a monetary one, however.  Many families and businesses feel tied to that location, and have spoken out about selling the block and relocating the temple when considered in the past.  Sakura Square is the remnants of a much larger Japanese-American neighborhood that began close to 1900 when many Japanese came to Colorado as farmers.

“2016 is the 100th anniversary of the Denver Buddhist Temple. It hasn’t been at Sakura Square for all 100 years, but this is its 100th year,” Yamashita said. “We’re now looking at re-positioning ourselves for the next 100 years — Sakura Square and the temple. It’s looking into the future.”

The owners of Sakura Square have already put forth their request for developers to submit proposals for the redevelopment with a deadline set for October 19th.  From that point they will decide which proposals to pursue further and discuss more in depth plans.  Whatever the outcome, this will mark a big change in the heart of downtown Denver Colorado.