Lost in Loveland

And I’m not talking about the town or the ski resort.

That’s right, friends—for the last few months, I’ve been M.I.A. all because of a man. And, instead of my usual feelings of crippling commitment-phobia, I’m actually reveling in each and every moment (hence the lack of posts of late).

From here on out, I promise to devote a little more time to my Mavenly duties. Until then, here are two feel-good tidbits that you might enjoy:

1. The new man and I have the exact name—yes, seriously. If you’ve been a Boulder Maven reader for any length of time, you inevitably know my feelings about this particular thing (and no, it’s not the same guy). Looks like the universe was conspiring accordingly and the joke is officially on me. . .
2. As luck would have it, my wallet went missing on our very first date. After taking the usual precautions to cancel my credit cards, etc., two days later, I received a call at my office from a stranger who had found my wallet in the middle of Pearl Street with all of the contents in tact! Not only did he find my wallet, he drove to the address on my driver’s license (which was inevitably an old address) to try and return it to me. When he didn’t find me there, he found some information relating to my employer in my wallet and tracked me down at work. After all that, he personally delivered the wallet to me and refused to accept any money, lunch, coffee, or even treats for his dog in return. Just another example of why I absolutely love Boulder.

Here’s to pleasant surprises and never saying never. . .over and out for now.

This Little Piggy

After years of searching for the best pedicure in town–talk about a mission, friends!–this summer’s award goes to Ten20, located at 2005 Pearl Street. Ten20 is a nail and waxing spa that features pedicures in big comfy chairs, ever-flowing M&Ms, and all the chick-centric ambiance you can stand.

Their TenToes treatment keeps my little piggies looking polished for weeks (despite my running/biking obsession) and, thanks to their great selection of girly goodies, I recently added one of these little gems to the mix:

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Wax On, Wax Off

Delicioso

If you’ve never paid them a visit, I highly recommend spending an upcoming après at Aji.  I can’t vouch for their dinner menu, but I can tell you that their fresh & fruity drinks are a happy hour hit (not to mention their guacamole, ceviches, and empanadas!). Located at 1601 Pearl Street, they also benefit from convenient parking and easy access to downtown.

Already been to Aji? Check out their other restaurants Leaf, The Dushanbe Teahouse, or The Huckleberry.

PESTmart

I hate to be a hater, but who doesn’t recycle these days–especially in Boulder? I just visited Petsmart* and was told that they couldn’t recycle my receipt, because they don’t recycle paper (or anything else for that matter)!! Isn’t that illegal in this town?

Okay people, here’s an opportunity for you to take a stand in true Maven fashion. . .

Here’s their e-mail address: Petsmart Communications

And here’s an e-mail for you to send if you’re so inclined:

Dearest Petsmart,

I recently learned that your store in Boulder doesn’t recycle paper (or any other materials). What’s the reasoning behind such a decision? I can only imagine that your store disposes of thousands of cardboard boxes and a plethora of other recyclable items every week–is a landfill really the best place for these materials?

While business practices of this nature may be more cost efficient in the short term, in Boulder where there’s a high level of community-wide environmental awareness and plenty of competition in your industry, it seems like the long-term impact of such decisions will inevitably be negative.

Just a little feedback from a customer who’s willing to take the time.

All my best,

(I think you can take it from here, peeps!)

Now, what other businesses are slinking below the socially responsible radar?

*Before you call me a traitor: Petsmart carries a type of bone that Olive loves, but isn’t carried at my beloved PC’s Pantry!

Show Me Your Mov(i)es

The Boulder Outdoor Cinema is back for it’s 14th year in action and, as usual, they have some pretty good flicks on the schedule. Located just behind BMoCA at 1750 13th Street, you can catch them every Saturday at 9pm between now and August 29th.

Want to host your own Outdoor Cinema party? Click here to get in the know.

This Name is My Name . . .

During a recent visit to the Kitchen Upstairs, one of my girlfriends passed a guy my way (or fobbed the guy off on me, depending on your perspective), stating that we seemed to have several things in common. “Things” in common turned out to be the understatement of the year, as he and I actually have the exact_same_name . . . yes, seriously. (I won’t be mentioning “our” actual name, as this blog is written under my Boulder Maven pen name, but I’m sure you get the picture.) While he was smokin’ hot and we do actually have quite a bit in common, I’m frankly unwilling to even consider considering the idea of dating someone with the same name. Isn’t dating awkward enough already?

What’s your reaction? Can love cross all boundaries or are there some times when boundaries should actually be created?

Update 07/26: This is apparently more common than I expected–check out this article recently sent by a friend!

Bite Me

While the steady rain of late has resulted in low fire danger and a beautifully green landscape, it has also brought an unusual influx of mosquitoes. We’re talking swarms of mosquitoes, people, which are no laughing matter for those of us stereotypical Boulderites who partake in endless amounts of outdoor activities. (Since several cases of the West Nile Virus have already been reported, this is no joke for the rest of you either.) After being bombarded by the pesky pests on a recent trail run, I finally broke down and bought some toxic bug spray–the first time ever in almost 8 years of living here!

Luckily, Mary just introduced me to the Herbal Insect Repellent by Burt’s Bees. The formula is 100% natural and safe for kids, pets, and activity-obsessed adults alike. Find it at a plethora of stores around town and tell those bugs to buzz off for good. Now, if only this formula could repel certain men . . .

Love the Local

The Boulder County Farmers’ Market is in full swing and the getting is good! While the market has been open since April 4th, the full gamut of produce is finally available, which includes amazing cherries, peaches, and veggies galore. Combine the shopping and people watching with the yummy food court picks (Amaizing Corn Tamales and Pupusas are tied for my current favorites) and you have the perfect Saturday morning excursion.

Whether Saturday mornings from 8-2 or Wednesday evenings from 4-8, there’s no better time to get out there and love, love, love the local.

Three Decades Deep

Last weekend, I threw a party on the rooftop at Bácaro Venetian Taverna (at 921 Pearl Street) and I can’t say enough about the experience. It was an absolutely spectacular time and everything went off without even one hitch–thanks entirely to the staff at Bácaro.

Inese, their party-planner extraordinaire, helped me nail down all of the details, including all of the hors d’oeuvres and drinks for the event. (Their bruschetta, wood-fired pizzas, calamari, and grilled veggies were a huge hit!) And on party day, Corrado (the GM) helped ensure that everything stayed smooth.

Even when Mother Nature threw us a curve ball (by way of some brief thunderstorms), they gave us the entire rooftop (3/4 of which is covered) and called it a private party. Overall, the staff was amazingly well-organized and accommodating, the food was delicious, and the pricing was surprisingly reasonable.

Thanks to Bácaro (and 30 of my closest friends) for making this one of my best birthdays ever!

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Hit the Spot
Them Belly Full
A Perfect Ten

The Spin Cycle

Bike to Work Day 2009 is tomorrow–June 24th!

Please, please, please get yourself out there and bike, walk, scoot, skate, or just plain drag yourself to wherever you need to be tomorrow (just don’t use your car for help). Need a little extra incentive? How about fueling up with FREE breakfast at one of 40 Boulder-area restaurants? There are breakfast stops in many of the surrounding communities as well, so all you Lafayette, Lousiville, Longmont, Superior, and Denver peeps can start dusting off your bikes too.

To learn more about the event and to register (for free), visit the DRCOG website.

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Roll With It
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