DANCEFLOOR REVIVAL

Boulder Elks Lodge reopens for live music and more after major event center overhaul

BY JEZY J. GRAY

Spend enough time talking to people in Boulder’s arts and culture scene and you’ll hear a familiar complaint about a lack of accessible space. Showgoers regularly line up around the block for blockbuster touring acts at the Boulder and Fox theaters — but when it comes to smaller venues with rental fees appropriate for most local and emerging artists, with some notable exceptions, the pickings are slim to say the least.

Enter the Boulder Elks Lodge (3975 28th St.). A community cornerstone since the turn of the 20th century, the one-time hotspot for local live music and events had seen better days since getting walloped by a series of misfortunes in recent years: asbestos removal, roof repair and last summer’s flooding, to name just a few. But now this local mainstay is poised for a comeback after deep renovations to its 10,000 square-foot ballroom and dining area, reopening its doors to the general public for the first time in more than a decade.

“Opening the new event center at this time is a blessing for Boulder and local musicians,” says events and marketing coordinator Mark Woods, himself a musician and longtime Elks Lodge member who launched his natural foods brand Appleooz from its kitchen in 2013. “We want to be eclectic. We want to appeal to a variety of different audiences. … I mean,

LIVE MUSIC FRIDAYS!

Show starts at 7pm NO COVER Happy

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Dennis J Joyce, Deceased

Case No.: 2022PR645

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Boulder County, Colorado on or before June 9, 2023, or said claims may be forever barred.

ERIN JOYCE, Personal Representative

306 Casper Dr. Lafayette, Colorado 80026 we’re an older organization, but we’d really like to have younger music and younger people hanging out.”

Updates to the historic gathering place include a brand new 3,000 square-foot dancefloor, which Woods says is one of the largest in Boulder County. The handsome maple wood planks are spring-loaded like the Western honkey tonks of yore, providing just the right cushion for proper Front Range boot-scootin’.

“It doesn’t move, per se, but it eases the impact on the body,” Woods says of the new dancefloor — no small detail for the older clientele traditionally served by the local nonprofit. “When people dance on this, they will not want to get off.”

The public will get its first look at the new Boulder Elks Lodge during its grand reopening on Saturday, March 11. The evening will feature music from local mainstay Hazel Miller, once a fixture in the former concert hall whose singular blend of jazz, blues and R&B will mark an exciting new chapter in the story of a Boulder institution that’s been an important part of the community’s cultural life for more than a century.

Editor’s note: Don’t miss a careerspanning interview with Hazel Miller ahead of her inaugural performance at the newly renovated Elks Lodge in next week’s issue of Boulder Weekly

MARCH 1, 2023

MACKY AUDITORIUM

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime event as Ars Nova Singers presents VOCES8 in a delightful program entitled CHORAL DANCES

The world-renowned British vocal ensemble showcases acappella singing in a concert that juxtaposes Renaissance music with jazz and pop – a rare mix of the ethereal and angelic, along with pure foot-tapping fun.

Buy tickets at ArsNovaSingers.org

24

Paradise Found Listening Party

7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, Paradise Found Records and Music, 1646 Pearl St., Boulder. $10

Ready to discover your new favorite record? Drop by a vinyl listening party with fellow music freaks at Paradise Found Records and Music. This month’s event is focused on cover songs, with expert curators spinning inshop selections of your favorite artists covering their favorite artists. The admission price knocks $10 off your purchase.

24-26

OPEN SPACE: CURATED BY CU DANCE CONNECTION

7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, University Theatre Building, 261 University of Colorado, Boulder. $19

CU Boulder’s Department of Theatre & Dance presents a collection of “innovative, multisensory dance performances” taking place in and around the Charlotte York Irey Theatre. The shows will feature a variety of styles across a studentproduced and CU Connection-curated series. Get down to campus for an unforgettable weekend of movement.

25

STORY IN THE ROCKS: THE GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF BOULDER COUNTY

2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, Longmont Public Library, 409 Fourth Ave., Longmont. Free Boulder County’s jaw-dropping landscape is often the first point of discussion for anyone who’s been here. But did you know those rocks to the west go back nearly 2 billion years? Hop over to Longmont’s Public Library this Saturday afternoon for a free slideshow program on the geologic history of Boulder County — it’s free, informative and great for all ages.

25

Arvada Winterfest

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, McIlvoy Park, 5750 Upham St., Arvada. Free

Complete with cultural performances, carriage rides, numerous vendors, a beer garden, live ice sculpting and a pet parade (including a “pet ugly sweater contest”), Arvada’s Winterfest is an annual hit for the whole family. This Saturday, head to McIlvoy Park in Olde Town Arvada to learn, sample and enjoy a diverse array of arts, culture and entertainment.

“PAINT ME A STORY” WITH AUTHOR ELIZABETH EVERETT

10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, Color Me Mine, 1938 Pearl St., Suite 100, Boulder. $25

Join author Elizabeth Everett for an enriching experience at Color Me Mine on Saturday morning. She’ll be reading her new children’s book, This Is the Sun, and following story time, your little one can participate in a corresponding paint project. The recommended ages are 2-7 — make a memory out of this weekend and sign up now.

Winter Craft Beer Festival

1-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, Folsom Field, 2400 Colorado Ave., Boulder. $45

Tired of the same old fizzy yellow pilsner? Head to the Winter Craft Beer Festival this weekend at Folsom Field and leave “with your new favorite beer (or 10).” And that shouldn’t be very difficult — the fest will feature some of the best beers in Colorado, and the world. This year, 50+ breweries are setting up shop at this beer blowout that’s a must for any true hop head.

THE WEDGE LIVE: RESTORATIVE CONVERSATIONS ACROSS DIVIDES

2-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, The Nomad Playhouse, 1410 Quince Ave., Boulder. Free

In a world so divisive, communicating about controversial issues — especially with the ones you love — can be difficult, and sometimes damaging. To help navigate these issues in your own life, catch this live iteration of The Wedge, a popular six-part podcast from Spaceship Media and Colorado Public Radio. Come ready to listen, learn, talk and think.