Two-Wheel Bliss: For SoBo-ites, Cycles R Us
Apr 8th
By Brigitte Furst, 8z Broker and Ben Corbett, 8z Contributing Editor
There are good reasons why, year after year, Boulder continues to rank as the “Smartest City in America,” and one of those reasons is because many of us use the bicycle as our main form of transportation. Which is why, in turn, we were ranked #3 in Bicyclingmagazine’s 2010 “Top-50 Bicycle-Friendly Cities in the U.S.” With almost 100 linear miles of bikeways stretching across the city limits, our town is geared for gear-heads of any stripe.
There are good reasons why, year after year, Boulder continues to rank as the “Smartest City in America,” and one of those reasons is because many of us use the bicycle as our main form of transportation. Which is why, in turn, we were ranked #3 in Bicyclingmagazine’s 2010 “Top-50 Bicycle-Friendly Cities in the U.S.” With almost 100 linear miles of bikeways stretching across the city limits, our town is geared for gear-heads of any stripe.
Let’s do the math. When traffic is stacked up during that five o’clock crunch along 28th Street and Broadway, as motorists are burning up a precious 45 minutes crawling home, their two-wheeled brethren are clearing the same distance in an easy 10-15 minutes.
For South Boulderites, with a designated bike lane within five blocks of almost every household, you’re never more than a minute or two away from a literal smorgasbord of linked paths that lead to any part of the city. From SoBo’s southernmost Greenbriar Blvd., west to Kendall Dr., north and south on Broadway, and through the heart of the community on Gillaspie Dr., the widened streets are highlighted by marked bicycle lanes that lead to a network of non-motorist multi-use paths, making any destination in town a snap.
Click here for a detailed bicycle map highlighting every bike route stretching across South Boulder and the rest of the city’s splendorous terrain. Oh, and hey. Got a flat? Brakes need tweaked? This map’s got it all. On top of every bicycle shop speckled across the city, it features all the underpasses and bridges, even the nearest public restrooms and water fountains! Every Boulder cyclist should have one of these tucked under their seat springs.
Posted on 4.7.2011 / SoBo / 0 Comments
Boulder “Tree City USA” for 27th consecutive year
Apr 8th
Boulder “Tree City USA” for 27th consecutive year; offers Arbor Day activities
Frosted trees in Boulder
Boulder has been named “Tree City USA” for the 27th consecutive year by the National Arbor Day Foundation, in honor of the city’s commitment to community forestry.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department Urban Forestry unit celebrates the Arbor Day season with a children’s art exhibit and tree plantings, planned for April 11 through April 30.
In cooperation with the city’s Urban Forestry unit and Water Conservation office, the Center for Resource Conservation is offering a “Trees Across Boulder” online tree sale. Residents can learn more and order a tree at www.conservationcenter.org.
Activity schedule/photo opportunities:
Monday, April 11 through Friday, April 22
Children’s artwork celebrating Arbor Day will be on display in the Children’s Library at the Main Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. The artwork was created by fourth and fifth grade students from Jessica Bernstein’s class at High Peaks Elementary School. Library hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Monday, April 11 through Friday, May 20
Parks and Recreation will plant 520 trees into city parks, including 135 trees at East Boulder Community Park and 269 trees at Valmont City Park.
Monday, April 11 through Friday, May 20
· Parks and Recreation will plant more than 215 trees in street rights-of-way in both residential and commercial sites throughout the city.
Monday, April 11 through Friday, April 15
Parks and Recreation and Public Works Department-Transportation Division will plant more than 30 new trees along Broadway, between Pine Street and Iris Avenue. This is part of an in-fill street tree planting program and is follow-up work to the Broadway (Pine-Iris) Reconstruction Project.
Wednesday, April 13
9 to 10:30 a.m. – Students from the Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies and High Peaks Elementary School will be planting 12 trees in Aurora 7 Park (Aurora Avenue and 38th Street).
Monday, April 18 through Friday, April 22
· Parks and Recreation and Public Works Department-Transportation will be planting 83 trees in the Foothills Parkway center median between Baseline Road and Table Mesa. The City of Boulder received a $5,000 grant from The Mile Hi Million Program with the City of Denver to purchase the trees.
Thursday, April 21
9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Students from Alexander Dawson School will be planting 20 trees at Salberg Park (3045 19th Street) and Valmont Park (Valmont Avenue and Airport Road).
Saturday, April 30
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Volunteers from the Boulder Yamagata Sakura Project will be planting 30 Somai Yoshino cherry trees at Martin Park (36th Street and Eastman Ave.). The trees were donated by the Boulder Yamagata Sakura Project and will be planted along the Boulder Creek Path. The public is welcome.
For more information about these Arbor Day events, contact Shelly Ruspakka, Parks and Recreation, at 303-413-7214.
Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast announces next great band competition Get your applications in early
Apr 8th
Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast wants to give local bands a huge break at the biggest event of the summer. The annual 4th of July fireworks committee announced today that it will launch a YouTube band competition to choose this year’s opening act.
Bands can compete to entertain thousands of fans at the region’s best fireworks show. The contest is open to any band that performs an original song with a Boulder connection. The contest is open to all genres: rock, country, pop, hip-hop, rap or something new – just make sure it’s family friendly.
“Ralphie’s Independence Day is an iconic event in Boulder, and people love coming here to celebrate the 4th of July,” said Lew Kingdom of Wright Kingdom Real Estate, premier sponsor of the event. “This year we want to combine the biggest event of the summer with the ‘I Love Boulder’ campaign by inviting bands to join us in celebrating the cultural, traditional and happily unconventional characteristics of Boulder life. It’s an ideal theme for something we all love to attend.”
Boulders The Showmen 1966
The winning band, or bands, will open the fireworks celebration to an estimated crowd of up to 40,000 people when the gates open. Runners up will see their music videos displayed on the Jumbo Tron at Folsom Field.
To enter, contestants must submit a YouTube video of the band performing its song. Tribute bands playing another artist’s song will not be considered. Bands will be evaluated for musical ability and style; bonus points may be given for creativity.
Video submissions will be judged based on quality, a “Boulder connection”, and the number of YouTube views by June 6, 2011. Obviously, self promotion to generate YouTube views is allowed. Multiple music video entries by the same artist are permitted. The Ralphie’s Independence Day committee will make the final selection of band(s).
Submissions are due no later than noon on June 1, 2011. Bands must grant written permission to play the video at Folsom Field, on Boulder municipal television stations, and event/sponsor websites as a requirement for submission.
Ralphie’s Independence Day Great Band Competition guidelines:
To be considered for the YouTube music video contest and a chance to play at Folsom Field on July 4, submissions must be received by noon on June 1 and must include:
1) Band’s name, address and phone number
2) Band’s permission (copyright release) to air the music video at Folsom Field, on event/sponsor websites and City of Boulder communication platforms, including municipal channels 8 and 22
3) Songs must include the word “Boulder”.
4) YouTube tags must include: “Boulder Colorado”, “I Love Boulder”, “Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast”
5) Videos may not contain nudity, profanity, or depict illegal activity
6) Email a YouTube link for your music video along with band contact information to Cindy Schlager at Wright Kingdom Real Estate bands@wkre.com.
Finalists will be notified by June 10 and may be asked to perform a live audition.
Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast, at Folsom Field, will be held July 4. Gates open at 8 p.m.
Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast is hosted by the associates of Wright Kingdom Real Estate, the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) and the City of Boulder. Media Sponsors include the Daily Camera, and Boulder Channel 8.
For more information on this year’s event, go to www.boulder4thofjuly.com.
