Love coffee? Ozo has one heck of a party for you on Valentine’s. February 13, 2011

What's not to love? Ozo comes to downtown...

Coffee hounds are going to have a lot to celebrate on Valentine’s Day. Now, as sad as it may be, coffee (one of the most favored nectars of the Gods) doesn’t get much play on Valentine’s. Somehow the folks at Hallmark made a huge oversight in their propaganda and forgot to include it with chocolate, champagne, candles and roses. This marketing snafu is currently being rectified on a local level by the fabulous people at Ozo coffee.

It’s no secret that many in the Boulder’s coffee scene have been holding their collective breath for the roaster and coffee shop’s expansion to 1015 Pearl Street. Fortunately, they don’t have much longer to wait and, even better, Ozo is planning to reward all those loyal coffee lovers with a little amore of their own. As the saying goes, good things are worth waiting for.

Not only will their newest location be open for business on Monday the 14th (doors to open at an undisclosed time), they will also be hosting a bash to celebrate four great years in Boulder! Everyone is invited. There’s sure to be a flood of amazing coffee, a snack van, and a lot of killer music provided by members of a popular band (who’s name I can’t announce officially) that you won’t want to miss. Come ready to get your funk on.

There’s a lot of love in coffee- from crafting, to pour, to taste buds and happy lips. So, help welcome Boulder’s largest coffee shop and the only café with a dedicated coffee pour-over bar.  Whether you’re feeling the love or just looking for a fun alternative to candle lit dinners, Ozo is happy to have you.

 

Where: 1015 Pearl Street (downtown)

When: Anytime between 6 and 11:30pm on February 14th –Valentine’s Day.

Open Up: local cafés offering a space for creativity November 30, 2010

Two of my favorite things: Music and Coffee

There are a lot of things in this world that give less than they take. There are more that slip in and out of cultures and are forgotten as the pendulum of time swings, but there are a few things that, though ever shifting, endure and continue to uplift and inspire. Music is one of them. It walks in many forms: funk, rock, blues, opera, bluegrass, rap, classical, heavy metal, folk, R&B, chant, choir, big band, soul … and so many more variations of emotion, poetry and storytelling balanced around a body of rhythm.

These days, technology has made it possible for just about anyone to share their creations, to record sounds and produce (hopefully) something that sounds like music to the ears. The internet is practically drooping with novice and established musicians trying to sell their personal brand of music. The download is the current reining king in the music world, but that doesn’t mean that the small café music scene is dead.

It’s true that small venues that actually pay unestablished artists are fewer and farther between, but there are still places where locals can at least share their creations or “road test” a new tune or two in Boulder. For those looking to support fresh material these shops offer a space and continue the open mic tradition. For those hungrily seaking a microphone and willing to open their hearts and minds to a room full of strangers, here’s where you can go around town:

The Cup: Monday 7-9 pm (open mic)
The Folsom Street Coffee Co: Thursday 5-7pm (open mic)
The Laughing Goat Coffee House: Monday 8-11 pm (poetry reading)
Rock N Soul Café: Monday 7 pm (open mic)

 

Here’s to music and those willing to push the envelope of creativity. May the beat keep right on going till the end of the world.

 

Start-ups and cafes and Boulder… oh my! October 10, 2010

It’s the era of the mobile office: a time with meetings seem to take place more often in coffee shops than in conference rooms. Go into any coffee shop and you are bound to overhear deals being made and ideas being born. The shift seems a natural one… cafés are comfortable; they marry community, style and comfort. Plus, who wouldn’t like great coffee with their daily dose of work discourse? –But why stop there?

As times change, cafes are in a position to prosper from and even help facilitate development of industry in their hometowns. Boulder may be somewhat of an anomaly, but as a hotbed of creative people, deep pockets and techies (not to be confused with Trekkies, though some are probably both) it offers some unique opportunities to marry innovation and business.  After all, Boulder is making itself known as a tech start-up mecca (with the bonus of mountains and environmental awareness) and people are taking notice. In April 2010 Business Week called Boulder “America’s Best Town for Startups”.

In fact, the number of people employed in technology in Boulder is second only to Silicon Valley (American Electronics Assn.).  For entrepreneurs and those in clean tech and green tech, Boulder offers many opportunities for mingling, idea sharing and company growth. Among them are 3 group events that all techies should know about.

The first two are, sadly, caffeine-free but do have beer and wine and are currently housed at Colorado University: The Boulder Green Tech Meetup –usually on the 2nd Thursday of the month and the New Tech Meetup –generally on the third Tuesday of the month. Both events have a similar format: with mingling, presentations and questions and answer time. They have thousands of members, and bring together an average of 150-200 people per meet.

The third group is another animal entirely. For those looking for a less formal gathering that also comes loaded with caffeine, then the Boulder Open Coffee Club will be an eye-opener (pun intended).  The Coffee Club is smaller, with 550 fans on Facebook, and averages 30-50 participants. It meets twice a month in a coffee shop. This club fills a real need for Boulder’s ever growing start-up community. The group is very informal, with no set format, and is more of a gathering point for techies than a demonstration of concept prowess. This group is all about providing a network, about bringing like-minded individuals together to discuss issues and ideas that interest them.

By hosting this growing group, The Cup (previous host site) and Atlas Purveyors (current host) help foster business in their town (something every city could use more of these days) and simultaneously build goodwill and clientele from the techie and start-up community. It’s a win-win and it isn’t surprising that ideas like this are raising eyebrows; word has it that next weeks meeting (Oct. 12th) will also be attended by reporters from Japanese TV and Fox. Of course, the real story isn’t just Boulder’s start-up industry; it’s the fact that cafes are a natural medium for fostering community and business… and that is good news for everyone.

Want to attend the next Boulder Open Coffee Club? The next meeting is THIS TUESDAY, October 12th at Atlas Purveyors on Pearl. The event starts at 8 am, but it’s best to get there early if you want a seat.

Not running the Bolder Boulder? Then here are the choice spots for a coffee AND watching the race. May 28, 2010

This weekend the Bolder Boulder Race is back for its 32nd year. The Bolder Boulder is the second largest race in the country and ready or not, Boulder will balloon in size to accommodate 50,000+racers and accompanying tourists this Memorial Day (Monday, May 31st). Roads will become a confusing jumble of blocked off streets till noon while sidewalk parties and live music take off everywhere along the race’s course… and beyond. In essence the whole town turns into a massive, Boulder-style bash. For half of the day there’s racing, beer stops, outdoor music, crazy outfits, water guns, and hip, outdoor fun. So don’t miss out on the racing or its many festivities but equally important, don’t skip another Boulder favorite: coffee!

There are several coffee shops situated right along the Bolder Boulder’s path and that mean’s plenty of options for your favorite caffeinated beverage, some conversation, and a LOT of people watching. The race starts at 7am with progressive waves of runners and ends with the international women’s and men’s pro races (pros start at 11:30am and close out the race at CU’s Folsom Field). For those visiting or living in Boulder who would like to watch the festivities literally running by while relaxing and sipping their favorite caffeinated beverage or for those who want to pick something up as they roam along the race’s path, here is a list of local coffee shops that are ideal stops:

Race Start
Vic’s Coffee* at 3348 28th St
Vic’s Coffee* at 2680 Broadway St
Pekoe Sipping House at 1225 Alpine Ave
Atlas Purveyors* at 1505 Pearl St
The Cup* at 1521 Pearl Street
The Laughing Goat* at 1709 Pearl Street
Folsom Street Coffee*  at 1795 Folsom Street
The Brewing Market* 2525 Arapahoe Avenue
Race End
* Coffee shops directly on the Bolder Boulder race path with outside seating.

Check out the race map here to plan out your own path along the festivities.
For more information on the Bolder Boulder go to their main web page.