Boulder Colorado CO Attractions, Event Highlights, Fun Stuff to Do in Boulder County | Boulder Magazine Events Online

By Lisa Truesdale

It’s a good thing Mary Miller didn’t marry a Bill, Bob, Bubba or Joe. If she had, Lafayette might be known for having a hokey name rather than for its quaint, historic downtown, vibrant arts scene and unique businesses. Luckily, the first name of Mary’s dearly departed husband—Lafayette—is one that sounds at once foreign and familiar, regal and rural.
    If Mary were here today, she’d still recognize her family home at 409 E. Cleveland St., one of a handful of Boulder County buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. She’d marvel at how her little coal-mining town of 1,815 residents has blossomed into a city of more than 25,000. But she’d know the people were attracted by many of the same things that prompted her to settle the town in 1888—wide-open spaces, gorgeous views and a down-home feel.
    “Old Town is where we walk to things, know our neighbors and work together to make our town a special place,” says Ted Lupberger, a local realtor and president of Lafayette Old Town Association. “It’s truly one of a kind.”
    Old Town packs a large amount of history, culture and activities into a small area, and much of it can be experienced on foot. Here is just a sampling of what you can find within a few blocks along South Public Road.

HISTORY

“To this day, I think Lafayette’s Old Town is still quaint, quirky, eclectic and charming.” — Vicki Trumbo, executive director, Lafayette Chamber

• Historic Walking Tour. Lafayette has 22 buildings on the local historic register, six of which are also on the National Register of Historic Places. Take an online interactive tour of historic buildings at www.cityoflafayette.com; then re-create the tour in person.
• Lafayette Miner’s Museum, 108 E. Simpson St. Built in the 1890s, this home was acquired by the Lafayette Historical Society in 1976 and turned into a museum. The collection features mining tools and equipment, vintage clothing, period furnishings, and a kitchen full of unusual household items. Don’t miss the “school room,” where descendants can search for school photos of their ancestors. Open year-round, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2-4 p.m. and other times by appointment.
• Ewing Farm and Bunkhouse, 1915 N. 95th St. Though not in easy walking distance from Old Town, the historic Ewing Farm, built in 1886, is definitely worth a visit. It’s now the headquarters and studio of the Book Arts League, an organization dedicated to preserving the arts of bookbinding, typography and letterpress printing. BAL holds classes and other events year-round, including an open house on Oct. 1 from 1-4 p.m.

CULTURAL ARTS

“We have an incredible cultural arts scene, with more than a dozen cultural arts organizations and businesses.” — Jenn Ooton, city of Lafayette Community Development Department

• Art Night Out. Third-Friday art walks (April-September) feature art exhibits, live music, and special pricing at restaurants and shops along Public Road. The final event of the season is Sept. 16, 6:30-9 p.m.
• Alley Art Amazin’. Old Town homeowners are jazzing up their neighborhoods by painting and decorating their fences and garages that face the alley. Sixteen projects are scheduled to be completed by October, with a public walkabout to celebrate. “The beauty of our project is that it’s a loosely organized, free-form endeavor,” says John Weise, the program’s coordinator. “This is hands-on, grassroots art-making.” Check www.oldtownlafayette.com for updated information on the walkabout, which wasn’t available at press time.
• Public art. Lafayette boasts numerous permanent art pieces, including “Sky Dance” at Festival Plaza and “Within Your Reach” at the library. Art on the Street, the county’s largest sculpture-on-loan program, features 16 temporary artworks along Public Road that will be on display until spring. Residents were able to vote for their favorite piece all summer, and the winner of this year’s People’s Choice Award is to be announced at Art Night Out on Sept. 16.
• Mary Miller Theater, 300 E. Simpson St. The historic building that once housed the First Congregational Church is now the venue for productions by the Theater Company of Lafayette. “Return to the Twilight Zone (Volume 8)” runs Oct. 21-Nov. 12. See www.tclstage.org for times and ticket info.
• Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts, 200 E. Baseline Road. This community music school merged in 2009 with the Colorado Music Festival that happens every summer. RMCMA offers classes and performances year-round. Check www.rmcma.org for upcoming classes and other events.
• WOW (World of Wonder) Children’s Museum, 110 N. Harrison Ave. This colorful place has educational interactive exhibits for children and families; admission is free for kids 15 months and under, and everyone else over age 12. Lafayette resident Bjorn Hill calls it “truly a hidden gem.”

 FAMILY FUN

“We’re changing the perception of our town. We want to keep that true ‘town’ feel that builds a tighter-knit community.” — Ted Lupberger, president, Lafayette Old Town Association

• Festival Plaza, corner of South Public Road and Chester Street. Old Town’s main gathering place is actually a series of four smaller, interconnected plazas. It’s the site of numerous special events year-round, including the Lafayette Farmers’ Market (Thursdays, 4-8 p.m. through Oct. 20) and the Peach Festival in August, and is the hub of activity during Art Night Out.
• Lafayette Days. On Sept. 17, Old Town revives a celebration that dates back more than 60 years. The event features a pancake breakfast, a kids’ parade, a carnival and other family activities at Festival Plaza. Proceeds benefit the Centaurus High School Marching Band, which was one of only 23 bands selected nationwide to travel to New York City in November to take part in the nationally televised “Band of Pride 10th Anniversary Tribute to 9/11.”
• Home for the Holidays. On Dec. 3 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Festival Plaza comes alive with holiday activities like old-fashioned caroling, visits with Santa and his reindeer, and hot chocolate.
• Lafayette Quaker Oatmeal Festival and 5k. Now in its 16th year, Lafayette’s signature festival on Jan. 14 includes an oatmeal breakfast with a huge toppings bar, a 5k run, an oatmeal baking contest, and a health fair with demonstrations and interactive displays.

RECREATION

“We’re extremely proud of the positive impact we’ve had on the lives of so many residents both young and old. We’ve grown right along with Lafayette, but much like the community itself, we still have that personal, welcoming, small-town atmosphere that really sets us apart.” — Debbie Wilmot, marketing/community relations manager, Bob L. Burger Recreation Center

• Bob L. Burger Recreation Center, 111 W. Baseline Road. For 20 years, this 47,000-square-foot rec center on 20 acres has been the go-to place for recreation, sports and fitness in Lafayette. A new state-of-the-art skatepark opened in 2010, and the recreation department regularly offers family events like bike rides, bird walks and fitness competitions.
• Waneka Lake Park, 1600 Caria Drive. This community park, less than 2 miles west of Old Town, offers a fitness trail, sports courts, picnic facilities, fishing, and a bird sanctuary with a viewing platform. The boathouse is open on weekends through Sept. 25 and rents whimsical, animal-shaped paddleboats

FOOD & DRINK

“When we first moved here, there wasn’t much variety with the restaurants. Now there are so many great places to eat, we never leave town.”
        — Cindy Martinez, Lafayette resident for 16 years

• Eats & Sweets, 401 S. Public Road. Eats & Sweets offers ice cream, create-your-own sandwiches and salads, and fresh, homemade baked goods. It uses many locally sourced, organic ingredients, and all desserts can be made gluten-free.
• Angelo’s Apeizza e Cucina, 300 S. Public Road. Brand-new restaurant calls itself a “neighborhood pizzeria” with East Coast–style pies, pasta, sandwiches and salads.
• Santiago’s, 104 N. Public Road. Try “the hottest green chile in town” at this mainstay Mexican restaurant that has 21 other locations in the metro area.
• Tutti, 103 S. Public Road. Billed as a “family-friendly American eatery,” Tutti offers a delightful twist—a Plexiglas-walled playroom called Klub Tutti, where kids can play video games and watch movies while their parents dine nearby in full view. All dishes are offered in three sizes, and kids can assemble their own pizzas. For those without children, the upstairs features a quieter dining room and bar.

SHOPPING

“We have a lot of artsy people and cool stores with eclectic things.” — Ted Lupberger

• pARTiculars, 401 South Public Road. Artist-owned cooperative gallery showcases unique, handcrafted gifts and décor, and offers art classes for all ages.
• Uniquely Natural Healing Arts & Gifts, 409-B South Public Road. Holistic health co-op has a retail section with handmade gifts, jewelry, artwork, handbags and more.
• Lafayette Collectibles & Flea Market, 130 E. Spaulding St. Rated one of the top flea markets in the country, this indoor venue offers something for everyone, ranging from 50-cent items to fine antiques and collectibles.
• Noble Treasures, 409 S. Public Road. A treasure trove of classic finds like antique furniture and vintage glassware. “They have amazing items in a really neat space,” says Bjorn Hill. “Every time I go in there, I’m reminded of my grandma’s house.”

Beyond Old Town

The city of Lafayette continues to branch out at an impressive clip, with new homes, shopping centers and business areas popping up in nearly every direction: South Boulder Road, Waneka Marketplace, Baseline Crossing, Black Diamond, Forest Park and Atlas Valley. “Each of these areas has provided our residents with even more dining and shopping opportunities,” says Vicki Trumbo, executive director of the Lafayette Chamber. Though there are too many unique restaurants and retailers to list here, we present this sampling of places to visit near North 95th Street and Arapahoe Road.

• YMCA of Boulder Valley, Arapahoe Center, 2800 Dagny Way. Health and fitness, sports, pool, ice rink, after-school classes and community programs.
• Super Mini Walnut Café, 2770 Arapahoe Road, #116. The Walnut Café’s third location, scheduled to be open by press time, with the same popular breakfast and lunch menu as the two Boulder locations.
• Zamparelli’s Italian Bistro, 2770 Arapahoe Road, #101. Brick-oven pizza, pasta, sandwiches and salads made with local ingredients when possible and paired with local brews.
• Atlas Valley Wine & Spirits, 2770 Arapahoe Road, #100. Family-owned store that strives to have the best selection of beer, wine an    d spirits in the area.
• Struttin’ Pup, 2850 Arapahoe Road, #110. A self-serve dog wash with several varieties of natural shampoos and all the accessories you need, plus grooming services for dogs and cats and an impressive selection of pet foods, treats, toys, leashes and clothing.
• Timbalier, 2770 Arapahoe Road, #106. Fine gifts, stationery, women’s accessories, jewelry and home décor, with a newly opened gallery space.
• The Purple Poppy, 2850 Arapahoe Road, #108. “Home décor and chick stuff galore,” like candles, jewelry, pottery, gourmet foods and baby items.
• What’s Cooking, 2770 Arapahoe Road, #112. Gadgets, cookware, dinnerware, gourmet foods and everything else you need in the kitchen, plus cooking classes held year-round except in summer.                             

Freelance writer Lisa Truesdale, who is also Boulder Magazine’s events editor, has previously written about the charms of Longmont, Louisville, Niwot and Lyons. She lives in Longmont with her family.

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