Staff Picks BEST OF BOULDER

Best Vintage Store Apocalypse

1813 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-938-1924

When owner Madison Moorhead opened Apocalypse on Pearl Street with business and life partner Jed Bickford in 2021, she had two primary goals in mind: to promote more ecologically sustainable fashion, and to turn heads doing it. It’s only taken her two years to go above and beyond — Apocalypse has established itself as a hub for clothing circularity, and damn is it fun inside. The staff is passionate, welcoming and always decked out in stunning outfits. You can buy, sell or trade clothing with the wonderful staff inside a vibrant store with consistently great music, and leave smiling.

BEST BOULDER BODEGA UNIVERSITY HILL MARKET & DELI

1134 13th St., #7016, Boulder, 303-449-2923

The mark of a true bodega is its selection. University Hill Market & Deli, lovingly known as “Smelly Deli,” has everything you need. Aisles full of cereal, ramen, ice cream, self-care products, school supplies, tobacco, candy, and a full deli with traditional Middle Eastern desserts (try their delectable baklava) are just some of the things you can find inside this staple on the Hill.

BEST GUILTY PLEASURE MEAL ‘THE BOVA’S SPECIAL’ AT BOVA’S MARKET AND GRILL

1100 28th St., Unit 200, Boulder, 303-449-0874

Known more commonly as the “Brandon,” Bova’s glorious creation between two slices of bread has grown a cult following with college students for its deliciousness. Imagine this: melty grilled cheese coupled with chicken fingers and hot sauce, ranch, buffalo sauce, and Bova’s sauce. And for the true adventure seekers, ask for it with “mozz and tots” — the Bova’s crew will happily pile mozzarella sticks and tater tots onto the sandwich for you. The Bova’s Special is something you have to eat to believe, so give it a try next time you’re over on 28th street.

BEST VENDING MACHINE MIDTOWN HANDMADE (BY FETTLE & FIRE)

921 Kimbark St., Longmont

Vending machines are usually cutand-dry. It’s crunchy snacks, bagged candy or beverages. Fettle & Fire, a cozy ceramics workshop tucked away in Longmont, sees it as a chance to offer locally made crafts with Midtown Handmade, their 24/7/365 vending machine. Head over there any time of day, and one might find pins, magnets, letterpress cards, ceramic soap dishes, Fettle & Fire’s signature stoneware chimes, and even a mystery box, if you’re feeling adventurous. Punch in the corresponding code, and go home with a Colorado-made piece by a local artist.

Best New App Goodie Bag

goodiebag.co

When Boulder students Luke Siegert, Eddy Connors and Ethan Mills started Goodie Bag in January of 2023, they knew two things to be true: Boulder has a ton of great food, and lots of that food goes to waste. So they created a fast-growing app that partners with local eateries to sell the surplus food. And with a Goodie Bag, you’re getting a 50% (or better) discount with every purchase. The last two times we used it, we got six slices of pizza from Barchetta for $6, and a full chicken sandwich meal from The Post Chicken & Beer for $7. Indulge in our killer local food scene, combat food waste and save some money in the process.

BEST HIKE FOR BEGINNERS ANEMONE LOOP TRAIL, BOULDER

Silver: Mesa Trail, Boulder

Between Boulder Canyon and Mount Sanitas, the Anemone Loop Trail balances respectable views with moderate elevation (630 feet) and mileage (about four total, including feeder trails). Park at The People’s Crossing on the west end of Pearl Street to begin your journey through a grassland, past Boulder’s Red Rocks and up through the Ponderosa pines high above Eben G. Fine Park and Boulder Canyon. There’s more elevation gain on the front end, but it flattens out once you get about a mile in. At the top of the well-maintained trail, Anemone Point, you’ll be rewarded with 360 degree views of Boulder to the east, the tall peaks in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest to the west.

BEST “GETAWAY” MUSIC VENUE CARIBOU ROOM

55 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland, 303-258-3637

Want to feel transported without leaving Boulder County? Catch a show at the Caribou Room in Nederland, a state-of-the-art music venue just a quick drive into the mountains. This high-altitude hotspot has been satisfying even the pickiest concertgoer since 2016, thanks in part to the fact that it’s run by professional audio engineers, musicians and selfdescribed “music geeks” who understand the local community and know a thing or two about what makes for an unforgettable show. Whether you’re looking for an intimate sitdown performance or a high-energy evening of jams, Ned’s Caribou Room is the perfect place to get away without getting away.

Best Place To Grab A Panini While Visiting The Hospital Community Table Kitchen

5345 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, 720-287-0819

We discovered this off-the-radar eatery while getting a COVID vaccination at the Della Cava Family Medical Pavilion on Boulder’s Foothills Medical Campus. The stars of Community Table Kitchen’s lunch menu are the griddled paninis, including our favorite, the caprese, a mouth-pleasing layering of basil pesto, fresh mozzarella and heirloom tomato slices. The menu also includes soups, wraps, Vietnamese noodle salad, quiche, quesadillas and breakfast bagels. Don’t miss the house-made baked goods, especially the chewy oatmeal raisin cookies paired with a mug of Sherpa Chai. Enjoy it on the café’s sunny patio near the Boulder Creek path. What makes this fare especially satisfying is that Community Table Kitchen is a social enterprise business that helps adults transition from homelessness by training them in food service skills.

Best Soup Dumplings In A Boulder Parking Garage Flower Pepper Restaurant

2655 Broadway, Boulder, 720-381-1594

Most drivers buzzing by on Broadway never notice Flower Pepper or know about the authentic delights the family-run eatery serves. You can’t really blame the commuters since the tiny sliver of an eatery is cubbyholed into a nondescript former hospital parking structure. Those who figure out how to park and follow their noses to the front door are rewarded with some of the most satisfying Chinese homestyle food available in Boulder. This is where they find the legendary soup dumplings — tender dough bundles filled with hot savory broth. For summer, nothing beats cold Sichuan noodles in a spicy tahini-rich sauce with shredded carrots and cucumbers.