Boulder Weekly 02.27.2025 by Boulder Weekly

BRINGING COURT OUTDOORS P. 6

FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING P. 10

Cracked Cracked

Egg-flation hits Boulder County P. 27

GREETING THE GOAT BROS P. 20

FOOD

Appetizers/Tapas

Asian Fusion

Bagel

Bakery

BBQ

Breakfast/Brunch

Burger

Business Lunch

Catering

Chinese Restaurant

Donuts

Fine Dining Restaurant

Food Hall

Food Truck

Gluten-Free Menu

Ice Cream/ Frozen Yogurt

Indian/Nepalese

Restaurant

Italian Restaurant

Japanese Restaurant

Kid-Friendly Restaurant

Mexican Restaurant

New Restaurant

Niwot Restaurant

Overall Restaurant

Pancake/Waffle

Pizza

Place to eat outdoors

Place to go on a first date

Restaurant Dessert

Restaurant Service

Sandwich

Seafood

Sushi Restaurant

Take-out

Thai Restaurant

Veggie Burger

Wings

DRINKS

Bar

Beer selection

Cidery

Cocktails

Coffee Shop

Coffee Roaster

Craft Brewery

Distillery

Happy Hour

Margarita

Teahouse

Wine Selection

HOME & GARDEN

Arborist

Carpet/Flooring

Electrician

Florist

Furniture Store

Heating, Venting, and Air

Conditioning

Home Builder/Contractor

Home Finishing

Home Improvement

Hot Tub/Spa

Kitchen Supply Store

Landscaper

Mattress Store

Nursery/Garden Center

Painter

Pest Control

Plumber

Roofing Contractor

Solar Company

Lyons Restaurant

ENTERTAINMENT & CULTURE

Art Gallery

Bank/Financial Institution

Festival/Event

Live Jazz Venue

Museum

Music Venue

Non-Profit

Open Mic

Place to Dance

Place to Work Remote

Private School

Sports Bar

FITNESS & HEALTH

Acupuncture Clinic

Barber Shop

Chiropractor

Climbing/ Parkour Gym

Dance Studio

Day Spa

Dental Care

Golf Course

Gym/Fitness Center

Hair Salon

Hospital

Lasik Services

Martial Arts Massage

Medical Doctor

Nail Salon

Orthodontist

Physical Therapist

Pilates Studio

Tanning Salon

Urgent Care Center

Veterinary Care

Yoga Studio

RETAIL & SERVICES

Auto Dealer - New Auto Dealer - Used Auto Service/ Repair

Bicycle Shop

Bookstore

Car Wash

Clothing StoreChildren’s

Computer Repair

Dry Cleaner

Farm

Gift Store

Grocery Store

Hotel

Independent Business

Jewelry Store

Liquor Store

Music Store

Natural Foods Store

New Business

Optical Store

Pet Store

Real Estate Group

Shoe Store

Shopping Center

Stereo/Electronics

Storage Facility

Tattoo/Piercing Parlor

Tire Shop

Tobacco/Pipe Shop

Toy Store

Women-Owned Business

Clothing Store - Men’s Clothing Store - Used Clothing Store - Women’s

Credit: Nathan Poppe

COMMENTARY

OPINION

WARMTH IN THE WINTER

Mercy and justice shake hands at Boulder’s Community Court

BY TONY GLAROS

Location, location, location. This epithet fits in a swath of meditations beyond the estimated value of real estate.

In similar fashion, it also describes the mission of Boulder Community Court. Among the city’s unhoused population, there is a percentage that find themselves facing low-level criminal charges. Offenses range from illegal camping to trespassing and drinking and smoking weed in public.

For many participants, the thought of being ordered to appear in a brick-and-mortar courtroom can churn waves of anxiety. Matters only get more complicated upon learning that personal belongings and dogs — often their most loyal companions — are not permitted in the building.

Rather than subjecting these participants to what they perceive as a hostile atmosphere, Community Court meets people where they are. It convenes every Thursday morning, rain or shine, on the backside of the Penfield Tate Municipal building at Canyon and Broadway. There, along the cascading water of nearby Boulder Creek, esteemed Municipal Court Judge Jeff Cahn hears cases via Zoom. You didn’t have to score straight As in criminal procedure to sense the wisdom and affinity oozing from the screen. Could this be a snapshot of a hoped-for American criminal justice system? Or did I die in prison and wake up in Norway, where the emphasis is on the inherent dignity of each soul, the overarching need for rehabilitation, not punishment?

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

Volume 32, Number 28

PUBLISHER: Stewart Sallo

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Shay Castle

ARTS EDITOR: Jezy J. Gray

REPORTERS: Kaylee Harter, Tyler Hickman

FOOD EDITOR: John Lehndorff

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Rob Brezsny, Lucas A. Berenbrok, Michael J. Casey, Tony Glaros, Kelly Dean Hansen, Sophia Herbert, Michael Murphy, Dan Savage

SALES AND MARKETING

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING: Kellie Robinson

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Matthew Fischer

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Chris Allred, Austen Lopp

SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER: Carter Ferryman

MRS. BOULDER WEEKLY: Mari Nevar

PRODUCTION

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Erik Wogen

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Chris Sawyer

CIRCULATION

CIRCULATION MANAGER: Cal Winn

CIRCULATION TEAM: Sue Butcher, Ken Rott, Chris Bauer

BUSINESS OFFICE

BOOKKEEPER: Austen Lopp

FOUNDER / CEO: Stewart Sallo

As Boulder County’s only independently owned newspaper, Boulder Weekly is dedicated to illuminating truth, advancing justice and protecting the First Amendment through ethical, no-holds-barred journalism and thought-provoking opinion writing. Free every Thursday since 1993, the Weekly also offers the county’s most comprehensive arts and entertainment coverage. Read the print version, or visit boulderweekly.com. Boulder Weekly does not accept unsolicited editorial submissions. If you’re interested in writing for the paper, please send queries to: editorial@ boulderweekly.com. Any materials sent to Boulder Weekly become the property of the newspaper. 1495 Canyon Boulevard, Suite CO 1, Boulder, CO 80302

Phone: 303.494.5511, FAX: 303.494.2585 editorial@boulderweekly.com www.boulderweekly.com

Boulder Weekly welcomes your correspondence via email (letters@boulderweekly.com). Preference will be given to short letters (under 300 words) that deal with recent stories or local issues, and letters may be edited for style, length and libel. Letters should include your name, address and telephone number for verification. We do not publish anonymous letters or those signed with pseudonyms. Letters become the property of Boulder Weekly and will be published on our website.

“We take the court to them rather than take them to the Boulder Municipal Building,” said De’Von Kissick Kelly, the court administrator. While other cities like Austin and Spokane feature similar alternatives, “we’re the only one I’m aware of that is mobile and outside.”

Boulder Community Court’s enterprising roots go back to 2020. A $400,000 grant from the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance opened the door for the court to gather the basic tools that shaped a more grassroots, benevolent approach.

“When an individual becomes housed,” explained Kissick Kelly, “the number of citations that individual receives falls dramatically, a direct reflection of that individual’s improved stability.”

Walking across the grounds over several visits, I was impressed at how smoothly the operation flowed. One man I met was busy browsing through the racks of gently worn clothing, collected by faith-based Deacons’ Closet. If he stays “out of trouble,” he said, “the charges will be dismissed.” Staying clean will also improve his chances of regaining custody of his daughter, who lives with her aunt in Longmont.

As the overnight frost melted from the tangle of pathways, I spoke with Chris

Reynolds, the court’s supervisory city attorney. Reynolds, tall and athletic, belies the TV version of a legal eagle who pads the buffed halls with a sober gaze and briefcase stuffed with relevant documents. Flashing the boyish exuberance of a camp counselor I once knew, Reynolds, 40, strikes a calm and relaxed pose. His ease, much to my delight, was as contagious as the common cold.

“I believe people aren’t just defendants,” he said, as participants huddle with support staff to review the next steps involved in securing housing and jobs beyond serving as day laborers.

“People are people. We have an adversarial criminal justice system. We’ve got a lot of work to do to change the system. I feel we can do our part and lead by example.”

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

PARKING IS KEY TO PEARL STREET STRUGGLE

Your story in the Feb. 13 issue about the health of Pearl Street Mall (“Don’t call it a comeback”) seemed accurate. I was sad to read that the financial health of many good restaurants is precarious. It seems to me the city should be trying to get more visitors to the mall.

However, the story did not mention parking. Especially for visitors who drive there, this has not only been hard, but relatively recent changes have made it even harder.

Now, to park at an indoor lot, you have

to download an app to your phone, including both payment and car information. I have done this, as I’m in Boulder County.

OPINION

After regaining the Oval Office, President Trump didn’t waste time in signing a flurry of executive orders and crafting bills that pledge other reforms. On the campaign trail, he said the homeless cannot continue to block parks and sidewalks. He proposes a nationwide ban on urban camping, while directing people to programs that treat drug addiction and mental health. Homeless advocates claim that’s not the answer. The threat of ordering treatment and arrests only complicates the issue of finding apartments and jobs. However the issue plays out over the next four years, I will always remember the gracious and good-hearted people of Boulder’s Community Court. They provide a penetrable fortress against many of society’s ills and some muchneeded social nourishment for a time such as this.

If the allegorical Lady Justice would pull off her blindfold long enough to see the acts of loving forbearance showcased within this branch of government, I bet she would begin wildly clapping her scales together.

Tony Glaros, originally from Washington, DC, is a longtime reporter and teacher. He writes a weekly column for the Times-Call in Longmont.

I really believe that many visitors, especially if they are in a rental car, do NOT feel like adding an app to their phone just for a one-time visit! And having to read through the signs in the parking lots and/or looking up the long information on the website is a turn off.

Courtesy: City of Boulder

especially for infrequent tourists. These are the people who support restaurants, especially in summer.

HELP WANTED

The old-fashioned way of just taking a ticket and then paying a human being at the end of your stay is so MUCH easier,

Also, the city indoor lots are still free on weekends (yay!), except the parking app charges you a fee and then removes it. I can easily see this going haywire for some. Why can’t free simply be free??? – Steve Levin, Niwot

Network Engineer II sought by University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado to provide design and architecture guidance for computer and information networks, such as LAN, WAN, intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks to facilitate network orchestration and automation. For job details, rqmts & how to apply refer to: https://jobpost. works/0060sg/

Michele Rodriguez (center) waits to distribute winter hats to participants at Community Court on Feb. 13, 2025. Courtesy: City of Boulder

ABO’S PIZZA NIWOT

Fresh comes first at Abo’s. Everything is prepared daily, so whichever pie you choose is going to be tasty. Order off the menu or customize your pizza to your heart’s and stomach’s content. Why is Abo’s better?

“Definitely, it’s the ingredients!” The dough is fresher, and the sauce is some of the best I’ve tasted. And I’m from New York, I know the difference.”

300 SUNS BREWING

Located on the slope in downtown Longmont, 300 Suns Brewing offers a diverse selection of award-winning craft beers and bites in a friendly, hyper-local community gathering place. Recently, they celebrated their 11th anniversary with special beer releases, including Lane Hopper West Coast Pilsner, Margarita Gose, and Orange Cinnamon Roll Sour Ale. Swing by for Colorado Pint Day on March 5 and

The ovens start up at around 10 am and before lunchtime, hungry Abo-ites start coming in for a four-dollar slice (a meal in itself) or just give in and order a whole pie.”

Locally Owned & Operated

Abo’s Niwot 7960 Niwot Rd. Unit B5 303-652-0830

Abosniwot.com

their 12th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Sing-Along on March 17 from 6-9 PM, and grab a corned beef on rye and drink specials. The patio is dog-friendly and has heaters, so you can enjoy Colorado’s 300 days of sun year-round. Check out our food specials and rotating beer selection, and indulge your inner Longmontster!

300 Suns Brewing 335 1st Ave Unit C (720) 442-8292

300sunsbrewing.com

BLESSINGS DAY SPA

At Blessings, we provide an award-winning facial experience in our cozy spa. Our personalized treatments blend modern techniques with traditional practices, helping you feel radiant and relaxed.

Locally Owned and Operated, Voted Best Women Owned Business, Best Day Spa & Best Independent Business, Best of Boulder 2024.

We pride ourselves on upholding a no up-charging principle. This means you recieve everything your skin needs as part of your facial service, without surprise fees or hidden costs. We ensure that you get the best care without any extra charges.

Blessings Day Spa 240 2nd Ave, Niwot 303-652-0321

Niwotblessings.com

BRICKS ON MAIN

hop from hundreds of Colorado brands, listen to local music, join community events. From cool t-shirts and souvenirs

to food products, home goods, and everything in between...

471 Main Street, Longmont 720-600-2350

Www.bricksretail.com

BROWN’S SHOE FIT COMPANY

At Brown’s, we know feet. Our expert staff will measure your feet to ensure a proper comfortable fit. With a broad range of widths and sizes, we can serve even hard-to-fit customers. We also understand most common foot ailments,

such as plantar fasciitis, neuropathy, bunions, diabetic feet, over pronation, and just plain tired feet! We’ll help find the right shoes to make you happy.

373 Main Street, Longmont 303-776-2920 Www.brownslongmont.com

WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED

Locally woman-owned and operated, Wild Birds Unlimited Specializes in bringing people and nature together through the hobby of backyard bird feeding. We offer a wide variety of nature-related products and expert, local advice. Our store stocks the highest quality items made in the the USA with

OZO COFFEE

Oemphasis on eco-friendly products and recycled plastics. We source our unique gifts from Fair Trade companies and local artisans. We also have gift cards and last-minute gift ideas. Stop in and let us explain our mission to Save the Songbirds one backyard at a time!

1520 S. Hover Street, Suite D Longmont, CO 720-680-0551 www.wbu.com/longmont

ZO Coffee Company is a coffee roaster & retail operator based in Boulder, Colorado with Espresso Cafe locations in Boulder and Longmont, Colorado, Founded in 2007, OZO Coffee has based its growth

on core principles of service, quality, community, and sustainability. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our passion for coffee with you.

JUSTIN HARTMAN, OZO FOUNDER

1232-A S. Hover St. www.ozocoffee.com

BOCO’S NEWEST AFFORDABLE HOUSING STILL HAS OPEN UNITS

‘People make an assumption they won’t qualify’

BY KAYLEE HARTER

It’s been three months since the first tenants moved into Lafayette’s Willoughby Corner. The county’s newest affordable development offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units and boasts a community garden, dog park, playground, orchards, pickleball courts and easy access to bike trails.

All the units are below market-rate with utilities included and no pet fees.

But for a county with over 28,000 costburdened households — each spending more than a third of their income on rent — it might be surprising to learn that the Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA) is still working to fill about half of the 192 affordable units, including 51 units that aren’t up for lease yet and will be available beginning this spring.

It’s still early, and BCHA’s director of operations Amanda Guthrie says she doesn’t have any doubt they’ll be leased by this summer, but the housing authority is trying to get the word out about the homes.

“I think sometimes people self-screen and maybe screen themselves out,” she said. “We don’t want people to do that. We want them to apply no matter what, and let us help with that.”

A TRICKY MATCH

Guthrie says people often worry “they’re taking a spot away from someone who might need it more than them.”

In actuality, the units that are left can’t go to those with the highest level of financial need (in most cases, at least). That’s because Willoughby Corner and other affordable developments offer staggered pricing based on income; a certain number of apartments need to be leased

at the higher rates in order for the building to stay financially afloat.

At Willoughby Corner, only 16 of the multifamily units and 14 of the units for adults 55 and older — about 15% percent of the total available apartments can go to people with 30-40% of area median income (AMI). That’s about $30,700-40,900 for an individual or $43,800-58,400 for a family of four.

And Guthrie says those get snapped up quickly.

“It demonstrates the need that exists in the community for those lower area median rents and just how critical they are in terms of reaching people and serving the population,” she said.

The remaining units at Willoughby Corner can only go to those in the 60% AMI range.

In Boulder County, that’s $61,320 annual income for a household of one, $70,080 for a household of two, or $87,600 for a household of four. (The exception is

writing process, basically, they’re evaluating what low rents can be offered,” Guthrie said.

A one-bedroom unit in Willoughby Corner, for example, can range from $820 for someone with 30% AMI to $1640 for someone with 60% AMI.

“We’re trying to meet the needs of the community, but then we also need to make sure that we’re structuring the finances in a way that the property remains viable for the duration of the project.”

It’s a frustrating reality of financing affordable developments that can make for a tricky balancing act.

for folks with housing choice vouchers, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program that allows households to spend 30% of their income on rent with HUD covering the remainder — but waitlist times for the program are often five to 10 years, according to the county.)

“When you’re proposing an affordable housing deal, you need to get financing and get the tax credits … In that under-

vacancies — two developments in Longmont are in a similar boat.

The Spoke on Coffman has one-bedroom units the county is working to fill at 60% AMI. Casa de la Esperanza has three-bedroom units available; that development uses the USDA definition of low-income, which for Boulder is $72,350 for a one-person household and $82,700 for a two-person household.

Casa de la Esperanza was originally only open to households with agricultural workers as their head, but as Longmont’s landscape has shifted “BCHA has found it difficult to fill vacancies,” Guthrie said. As a result, through a USDA waiver granted last year, units at Casa de la Esperanza are now open to other households too, though ag workers are still prioritized.

‘VISIONS OF PUBLIC HOUSING’

The initial pre-application form is a “pretty quick and easy, low-risk way” to find out if you qualify for any of the available units at Willoughby Corner or elsewhere.

“You don’t have to do a bunch of paperwork to get that initial phone call,” she said. “There’s just a handful of questions. That early tech commitment is minimal.”

Guthrie and Williams suspect a stigma associated with affordable housing might be holding folks back from applying. But the stigma, they say, isn’t the reality.

“Some folks may have visions of public housing, and in Boulder County, those just don’t apply,” Williams said. “Boulder County Housing Authority’s affordable housing is literally some of the best-looking homes you’ll see in a community.”

Williams sees affordable developments as a key part of keeping Boulder County’s communities strong.

“It’s teachers, it’s firefighters, it’s the person who brings your food to you in the restaurant you love to go to, it’s the coffee shop that you go to.

“Sometimes I think housing, leasing and connecting people with the right units is a little bit like hitting a shot from half court,” Jim Williams, a BCHA spokesperson, said. “It has to be really in just the right AMI range, and so sometimes that can be a bit of a challenge.”

Willoughby Corner isn’t alone in its

“We’re losing housing affordability every day as housing prices continue to go up and stay up,” he said. “We see our role as an affordable housing provider is central there, and all of our partners that provide affordable housing, in offsetting what is really just getting more and more challenging for the people who are trying to live in this community and serve this community.”

Above: Peach Tree House at 955 Canterbury Drive. Credit: Tanya Jimenez | Below: Willoughby Corner illustration. HB&A/RS&H (bottom)

BOCO, BRIEFLY

Your

BY TYLER HICKMAN

CANDIDATES SEEK VACANT SD17 SEAT AFTER SEN. JAQUEZ LEWIS’ ABRUPT RESIGNATION

Democrats are lining up to announce their candidacy for Senate District 17, which includes Longmont, Lafayette, Erie and parts of Broomfield, after former Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis abruptly resigned Feb. 18 amid an ongoing ethics investigation.

A senate vacancy committee will convene March 18 at 6 p.m. to fill the seat. Until then, SD17 residents will be without representation.

As of Feb. 25, 10 candidates have filed a letter of intent to fill the office. This amount of candidates “is more than I’ve ever had,” said Karin Asensio, Colorado Democrats executive director. Because of how large the field is, the party plans to hold a town hall on March 13 for community members to ask candidates questions, according to Asensio.

Among the candidates are Erie Town Council member

Anil Pesaramelli, Longmont City Council member

former staffers, included allegations of wage theft, misuse and underreporting of campaign funds and abuse of power dynamics, among other claims.

In December, senate leaders barred the senator from having state-paid legislative aides in response to a series of complaints from former staffers, detailing instances of withholding wages, and using campaign funds to pay an aide for yard work and bartending for a party at her home, as reported by the Colorado Sun

“One of my responsibilities would be to look at what’s been worked on at this point at the state, and to offer whatever support I can add, relative to the efforts that are currently being made,” Salas said in a phone interview with Boulder Weekly.

“Whoever’s selected, I think the primary responsibility would be to look at the leadership,” Salas said. “Leadership is very

While previous state government experience can flatten the learning curve for those seeking office, Longmont Council member Yarbrough sees the vacancy as an opportunity to bring in an outside perspective.

“I understand that some committee members, maybe most of them, really want to get someone in who already knows about how the state is run,” Yarbrough said. But if the committee is looking for an elected official who is already engaging residents, “then they need someone who is actually already doing the work within [the] local community.”

In November, Sen. Jaquez Lewis was elected to her second four-year term. Whoever is selected as her replacement will serve until at least the January 2026 election.

Shiquita Yarbrough and long-time community advocate and former BVSD board member Peter Salas.

The seat became vacant last week when Sen. Jaquez Lewis announced her resignation hours before a Senate Ethics Committee meeting. During the meeting, the committee was set to reveal the senator had fabricated a support letter from a former aide, submitted in a response to an ethics complaint filed against her in January by several of her former aides.

The formal complaint, filed by the Political Workers Guild of Colorado on behalf of a group of Sen. Jaquez Lewis’

cognizant of what’s going on, and it’s taking actions.”

The new SD17 representative will have a narrow window to make an impact during this legislative session. The final of several deadlines to introduce senate bills for this legislative session was Jan. 31, and the current session is scheduled to adjourn May 7.

The candidate field also includes former policy advisors and aides, like Katie Wallace, a past policy advisor for U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, and Andrew Barton, a former legislative aide for SD15 Sen. Janice Marchman.

IN OTHER NEWS…

• Naropa University plans to sell its main campus to Chicago-based housing developer Core Spaces for an undisclosed amount, The Daily Camera reported.

The university announced in August it would be selling the campus at 2130 Arapahoe Ave. While the university cannot specify the dollar amount, the number agreed upon is “significant,” Naropa President Chuck Lief told Boulder Weekly in August 2024.

Core Spaces also developed the ōLiv Boulder apartments at 1750 15th

St. and the Hub on Campus complex at 770 28th St. coming in 2026. The sale is likely to be finalized in January 2027.

• Boulder County doesn’t think employees of Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA) and Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) should be included in the recently formed collective bargaining unit — and plans to challenge the decision in court.

The complaint “is not about challenging the union itself” but rather seeking clarity on whether BCHA and BCPH employees are subject to the Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act (COBCA), Senior Assistant County Attorney Olivia Lucas wrote in a Feb. 25 memo to commissioners. COBCA, passed in 2022, grants county employees collective bargaining rights.

• Boulder County is eyeing a $1.6 million purchase of land for open space, using funds awarded in a 2021 settlement with Denver Water to mitigate environmental impacts from the expansion of Gross Dam.

The Bearberry property, located near the intersection of Coal Creek Canyon Drive and Peak to Peak Highway, sits at roughly 80 acres, 20 of which lie in Gilpin County. The $12.5 million settlement with Denver Water provides $5.1 million for the purchase of property, conservation easements and trail corridors. Members of the public can weigh in on the purchase in-person or virtually during the Feb. 27 Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee meeting.

• Longmont will roll out speed and red light cameras throughout the city starting on March 16. The cameras are an initial step in the city’s Vision Zero program, which launched last fall. Cameras will be installed in residential neighborhoods, construction zones, school zones and on corridors the city has identified as high-risk areas due to frequent crashes and complaints from residents.

Using an automated vehicle identification system approved by city council in 2024, the cameras will enforce speed limits and traffic light infractions. Drivers will be fined $40 for speeding, $80 for speeding in construction zones and $75 for running red lights.

Kaylee Harter contributed reporting.

MUSIC

‘MY STUPID ASS IS ALWAYS SEARCHING’

John Ross of Wild Pink still hasn’t found what he’s looking for

BY JEZY J. GRAY

People who have visited the ancient and mysterious rock structures of Stonehenge sometimes compare it to a religious experience, a sacred conversation with our human ancestors echoing across millennia. But for John Ross, a few thousand miles from his Brooklyn home on a U.K. tour with his band Wild Pink, finding the awe took some doing.

“It’s very expensive, so we parked far away across these meadows past a military training base or something. It was a freezing day in November, and we were wandering through these fields with cowshit everywhere and cannon fire in the distance,” the 38-year-old frontman recalls. “We eventually made it, and it was incredible. But it was crazy how many fences there were around the park.”

This experience gave rise to “The Fences of Stonehenge,” the rollicking, wide-eyed first track on Wild Pink’s fifth studio album, Dulling the Horns. Raising the curtain with a warm simmer of studio chatter and tape hiss, the song quickly works itself into a lather of broad-shouldered heartland rock with loud-ashell guitars and a thundering drum kit that socks you square in the sternum.

Amid all this fist-pumping triumph, Ross finds himself in the mindset of that freezing trek to see a pile of rocks in the English countryside, once again let down by the sublime: “There’s a light that no one else can touch,” he sings on the opening bar. “When I saw it in your face, I thought it was a little much.”

‘A BIG RESET’

So goes the promise of Dulling the Horns: the miraculous and the mundane, contemplated with a shrug. Coupled with the record’s stripped-down brand of electric, arena-ready folk rock, recorded in Western Massachusetts with acclaimed engineer Justin Pizzoferrato, it adds up to the most direct statement of Wild Pink’s 10-year career — even if the takeaway is a moving target.

“These songs don’t set out to have a beginning, middle and end,” Ross tells Boulder Weekly ahead of his upcoming four-night run of Colorado shows with slacker-rock wunderkind MJ Lenderman, Feb. 26 through March 1. “I was chasing inspiration without second guessing so much.”

“It was a big reset for me,” he continues. “I feel like I started over a little bit on this record. [My previous album] ILYSM was hard for me to listen to, for a couple reasons, and it was very hard to play. I wanted material that worked with the band I had on tour — songs that were fun, with lyrics that were a little more real, or literal, or something. It’s more of a departure than a continuation.”

OOPS! ALL OPENERS. Check out more supporting acts coming to the Front Range, before they become next year’s next big thing.

One reason the last Wild Pink LP was a tough listen for Ross has to do with a cancer diagnosis and lymphatic surgery that cast a pall over the proceedings. On the other side of that life-changing health scare, he’s celebrating a clean bill of health after welcoming his first child into the world. Much like the vibrant patchwork of his songs, the sour and the sweet sit side by side.

“I very much wanted to move on from that time,” Ross says bluntly of those uncertain days. “Now I want to have more fun with what I’m doing.”

‘NOW

MORE THAN EVER’

With a new lease on life, Ross is leaning into the uncertainty that comes with a future of branching possibilities — for himself, his band and his growing family. It’s part and parcel for an artist whose creative restlessness has been a guiding star since Wild Pink crashed onto the scene a decade ago.

“Don’t know how many switches

I flipped / I flipped a switch and then the thing just don’t exist,” he sings with a scattered urgency. “But my stupid ass is always searching / Hoping for a pearl when I open up my fist.”

That sense of searching doesn’t just show up in the wry turns of phrase illuminating the many offshoots and alleyways of Dulling the Horns — you can hear it, too. Where predecessor ILYSM washed its open-hearted sentimentality with an ocean of digital sounds, the pared-back approach on Wild Pink’s latest collection rhymes with a broader effort to meet the magic of the world on its own terms.

“This record was about starting over and not having any answers. I am searching,” Ross says. “It’s strange to still feel that way 10 years in, but I probably feel it now more than ever.”

ON THE BILL:

MJ Lenderman with Wild Pink. 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. Sold out. Resale: $100+

Wild Pink takes the stage for a four-night run of Colorado shows with MJ Lenderman: Aggie Theatre in Fort Collins (Feb. 26), Fox Theatre in Boulder (Feb. 27), Bluebird Theater in Denver (Feb. 28) and The Black Sheep in Colorado Springs (March 1). Credit: Nathan Poppe

Dulling the Horns by Wild Pink was released Oct. 4, 2024. Courtesy: Fire Talk Records

NUNS, COURTESANS OR NOBILITY

Boulder Bach Festival ensemble rebrands with program of music by baroque women composers

BY KELLY DEAN HANSEN

To be a composer as a woman in the 17th and early 18th centuries, one had to fit a unique paradigm.

“They were either nuns, courtesans or nobility,” says Mina Gajić, artistic and executive director of COmpass REsonance (CORE), the former ensemble-in-residence of the Boulder Bach Festival.

Presenting its first event as an independent organization at the Dairy Arts Center on March 8, The Feminine Divine celebrates these undersung artists with music by women composers of the baroque era.

“Our program includes four of the most prominent such women from Italy and France,” Gajić says.

Five CORE musicians will present the repertoire, anchored by Minnesotabased harpsichordist Tami Morse, along with Denver soprano Sarah Moyer and CU-Boulder alum, mezzosoprano Claire McCahan.

Cellist Joseph Howe and CORE music director

Zachary Carrettin on violin complete the small ensemble.

tinual variations over a constantly repeated ground bass or harmony.

“It is a stunning piece that features surprising leaps across the fingerboard,” Gajić says. McCahan sings a dramatic, charismatic Caccini aria with “fiery vocal ornamentation.”

“We are opening with the famous prelude from J.S. Bach’s first cello suite,” Gajić says. “The most significant source for these suites is a manuscript by his wife Anna Magdalena Bach, and there has always been speculation that she may have written them.”

FROM VENICE TO VERSAILLES

Barbara Strozzi, one of the four composers featured in the upcoming CORE program, was born in Venice in 1619 to a famous poet father. She was extremely prolific, known for both her singing and composition.

Isabella Leonarda went a different route for a woman composer.

“She joined a convent at age 16 and, sheltered by the church, she was able to write without concerns of supporting herself,” Gajić says, noting that she was the first woman to write sonatas for violin, using a strikingly modern style of instrumental writing for the time. Carrettin and Morse play one of these.

Finally, the French court of Louis XIV is represented by Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, who was known as a virtuoso harpsichordist and prodigy, prolific in both vocal and instrumental music.

“We are doing a full harpsichord suite that will show Tami’s incredible skills and an aria, sung by

“She did all this without the patronage of the church or a noble house,” Gajić says. “Her father hired composers to teach her, essentially creating a school for a single student.”

Strozzi was a controversial figure and was accused of being a courtesan. The vast majority of her work consists of secular vocal pieces, three of which are on the program: two arias and a duet sung by Moyer and McCahan.

Francesca Caccini was employed by the Medici court in Florence. Carrettin plays her only instrumental work, a chaconne for solo violin, a form with con-

the official name of the nonprofit as of this year. The festival itself will return to its roots as an annual week-long event, presented by CORE, with its first iteration coming in March 2026.

The March 8 concert was originally billed as the third event of the BBF season before the rebrand was official. What is now the CORE season concludes April 6 and features the full string ensemble.

Another baroque woman composer is included on that program: the Milanese Maria Teresa Agnesi. “Her social standing allowed her an extraordinary education,” Gajić says. “She wrote at least four operas, and her portrait hangs at La Scala.”

CU alum Mara Riley, both a soprano and flutist, sings the first known Colorado performance of an Agnesi aria in a new edition produced by CORE. Riley will also sing an aria by Vivaldi.

The diverse program begins with the first live performance of Overture for a Changing World, composed by Carrettin during the COVID pandemic. Gajić performs as piano soloist in Ernest Bloch’s 1925 baroque-inspired Concerto Grosso No. 1 and J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. In the Bach work, she is joined by Riley on flute, showcasing her “double threat” musicianship.

Claire (McCahan), that shows Jacquet de La Guerre’s dedication to the dramatic hues of the French language,” Gajić says.

‘TRULY SERENDIPITOUS’

CORE made its debut as the Boulder Bach Festival (BBF) ensemble-in-residence in 2019, growing out of the organization’s fellowship artist initiative. Since then, the scope and vision of the conductorless, baroque-focused string orchestra has outgrown the original concept of the Bach Festival.

Though it will still organize the Boulder Bach Festival, COmpass REsonance is

Gajić says March 8 was always one of the organization’s concert dates and it was always going to be a program of baroque women composers, but she and her husband and musical partner Carrettin then realized the date was International Women’s Day.

“It was truly serendipitous, an unplanned perfect combination of things coming together.”

ON THE BILL: COmpass REsonance presents The Feminine Divine. 4 p.m. Saturday, March 8. Dairy Arts Center - Gordon Gamm Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. $35-$65

Mina Gajić, artistic and executive director of COmpass REsonance (CORE), the former ensemble-in-residence of the Boulder Bach Festival. Courtesy: COmpass REsonance

Left to right: Barbara Strozzi, Francesca Caccini, Isabella Leonarda and Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre. Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

THE CAT AND THE CRIME

Two first-time nominees to root for at this year’s Oscars

BY MICHAEL J. CASEY

You might not believe it, but the Academy Awards mean a lot. Sure, it’s nice to be nominated, but winning that 8.5-pound golden statue — designed by the great MGM art director Cedric Gibbons and, allegedly, modeled after a nude sketch of the Mexican filmmaker Emilio Fernández — opens a lot of doors. Particularly doors closed to filmmakers who’ve been on the scene but are still gaining recognition and acclaim. Yes, it’s exciting to see all those big names and follow which top-line movies walk with the hardware, but it’s always the down-ballot categories that catch my eye. And on March 2, I’ll be rooting extra hard for two to win at the 97th Academy Awards: Flow and Incident Flow, from filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis, is the first Latvian production to receive an Academy Award nomination. And since it’s a twofer, nominated in the Animated Feature Film and International Feature

Film categories, Flow has a good shot at winning Latvia’s first Oscar — an honor well deserved for this 85-minute, dialogue-free story of a dark gray cat trying to survive a biblical flood.

Flow provides little context as to when and where we are, but that isn’t the point. No humans appear in the movie — only the left-behind artifacts and structures are evidence of their existence as the waters rise and recede. That just leaves us with a handful of animals to watch as nature navigates Earth’s next step.

Zilbalodis wisely avoids anthropomorphizing the animals. But that doesn’t mean they are free from personality. There’s a bossy stork, a helpful capybara, a narcissistic ringtail lemur and an earnest but troublesome labrador retriever. Fascinatingly, the cat is the only one who resists any kind of simplistic description — fitting for a feline.

Animated with the open-source program Blender, Zilbalodis’ images are simultaneously basic and beautiful. And with no dialogue to get hung up on, your mind is free to wander this world and marvel along with the cat. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find a story of community in how the animals band together to stay alive. And how those tentative alli-

ances evaporate once basic instincts take over.

Flow is Zilbalodis’ second feature — his first, Away, is equally outstanding. Pay attention to the end credits to see just how much of a one-man band he is. They’ve already erected a statue of the cat in Latvia’s capital city of Riga. Imagine how happy they’ll be when Zilbalodis brings home a statue or two of his own.

SHOTS FIRED

I first saw Bill Morrison’s Incident at the Telluride Film Festival in 2023 and immediately fell under its spell. But where does a 30-minute documentary, composed entirely from preexisting surveillance footage — police body cams, closed circuit cameras and smartphones — live after its festival life? I had no idea then, but I knew it was strong enough that I had to include it on my top 10 of 2023, even if most couldn’t see it.

Now, it’s available to all thanks to The New Yorker’s documentary video series and has received a significant boost in attention thanks to its nomination for Documentary Short Film.

With Incident, Morrison compiles footage from a 2018 Chicago police shooting of a Black man, Harith “Snoop” Augustus, to

explore how quickly and harmfully narratives are constructed to explain away a split-second decision that shouldn’t have happened.

After the screening at Telluride, Morrison said he always wanted to tell a Rashômon-like story invoking the 1950 Japanese film where multiple eyewitness accounts don’t corroborate an incident but confound it.

That opportunity presented itself when friend and journalist, Jamie Kalven, reported on the killing of Augustus and gathered hours upon hours of footage from the Chicago Police Department. Using split screens and overlapping panels, Morrison reconstructs the moments leading up to the shooting and deconstructs the post-shooting narrative the police create to justify the killing while the community gathers to play the role of judgmental consciousness.

Incident is Morrison’s first Oscar nomination, a long time coming for an archival documentarian who has been innovating with found footage for more than a quartercentury now. Should he hoist the statue on Sunday, it will be a welcome sight.

ON SCREEN: The 97th Academy Awards are Sunday, March 2, on ABC. Flow is playing in limited release and streaming on Max. Incident is available to watch at thenewyorker.com.

The aftermath of a police shooting in the Oscar-nominated Incident Courtesy: Hypnotic Pictures.

A community forms amid a biblical flood in Latvia’s Oscar-nominated Flow Courtesy: Slideshow and Janus Films

WEST PEARL ART WALK

4-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, West Pearl Street,

Take in a little culture on your next Pearl Street stroll during this inaugural art crawl. Stops include The New Local, Smithklein Gallery and Tad Kline Photography, along with pop-up exhibitions by Noelle Miller and Allyson McDuffie at Wonder and Gemini (offering happy-hour drink prices from 4 p.m. to close).

THURSDAY NIGHT SOCIAL RUN

6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, Shoes and Brews, 63 S. Pratt Parkway, Longmont.

Lace up your drinking shoes and join your fellow runners and walkers for this weekly, all-paces social run at Shoes and Brews in Longmont. Jaunt down the out-and-back course along the St. Vrain greenway, and when you’re sick of running, head to the bar for a half-off pint and raffle. 28

ARTIST IN ACTION

5-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, Niwot Hall, 195 2nd Ave. Free

Join Niwot Hall artist-in-residence Bill Enyart for a live-painting demo at the town’s historic event space. You’ll get up close and personal with the creative process as Enyart takes you inside the brush strokes with a freewheeling discussion about his inspirations and techniques.

28 HOPE AND GRATITUDE PROJECT

6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, Coal Creek Park, 575 Kattell St., Erie. Free

28 JAMMIN’ MUSIC BINGO

7-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, Superior Community Center, 1500 Coalton Road. Free

This ain’t your grammy’s bingo — at this riff on the game, you can forget the numbers. Instead, you’ll hear a clip of a song and find it on your bingo card. Head to Superior Community Center this Friday for tunes, competitions and prizes.

1 GOAT BROS MEET & GREET

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1, Community Park, 1350 Coalton Road, Superior. Free

“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” Let the elementary and middle school kids of Erie bring a little light to the dark with handwritten messages of hope and gratitude on paper lanterns. This event, now in its fifth year, is sponsored by Soaring Heights PTO and the Town of Erie.

You may have noticed some new “neigh-baas” in town (good one, Town of Superior!) and this weekend is your chance to say hi. The 300 goats have been hard at work on fuel mitigation this winter, but they’re taking the day off Saturday to meet the community. Come ask questions or feed these furry laborers — it’s your one and only chance, as “all other days, the goats are busy working and not to be disturbed.”

1 WHISKEY WENCHES SPIRIT SOCIETY

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 1, Spirit Hound Lyons Tasting Room, 4196 Ute Hwy, Lyons. Free

Join the gals to craft a batch of Eleanor Gin — named for the 91-year-old local icon who has foraged juniper berries along the banks of the St. Vrain River for Spirit Hound since 2011. Distill on March 1, bottle on March 6 and then enjoy the fruits of your labor at a private March 9 tasting. Book your shift at bit. ly/SpiritHoundBW.

1 WORLD’S TINIEST MARDI GRAS PARADE

4-10 p.m. Saturday, March 1, Abbott & Wallace Distilling, 350 Terry St., Longmont. Free

Dress up and get down with a New Orleans jazz marching band at this pintsized parade. From Abbott & Wallace and the St. Vrain Cidery’s taprooms, march down the alleyway and up 4th Avenue in costume or atop a float prizes for the best of each. Postparade, enjoy the Otone Brass Band, King Cake, gumbo and hurricane drink specials.

1 SEED SWAP

1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 1, Louisville Public Library, 951 Spruce St. Free

Get ready for gardening season with this seed swap in Louisville. Bring your unopened packets, or seeds from your own homegrown cultivars, to share with your neighbors and build connections with your green thumb community. Be sure to peruse the native plant table for the perfect varieties to sow in your backyard bed.

2 OPEN SPACE STARGAZERS

6-8 p.m. Sunday, March 2, Aquarius Trailhead, 10000 Empire Road, Louisville. Free

Mercury, Venus and Mars take center stage during this “planets on parade” open space stargazing event for ages 10 and up at Aquarius Trailhead in Louisville. Organizers recommend bringing binoculars or a telescope, along with warm layers and a red astronomy flashlight if you’ve got one — but please leave the pups at home.

2 FETA MAKING CLASS AND FARM TOUR

1-3 p.m. Sunday, March 2, The Art of Cheese, 505 Weaver Park Road, Suite E, Longmont. $75

Grocery prices drying up your cheese budget? Start your journey to self-sufficient cheese mongering with this beginner’s feta-making class. Along with a tour of their goat farm, the class covers three cheese types: dry-salted, marinated and brined. The best part? You’ll head home with a jar of marinated feta and a love for the art of cheesemaking. Register here: bit.ly/FetaClassBW

3 BUGS AND BREWS

6-9 p.m. Monday, March 3, Wild Provisions Beer Project, 2209 Central Ave., Boulder. Free

Hang that gone fishin’ sign and head to Wild Provisions for a night of learning to tie your own flies. All skill levels are welcome and all supplies (plus one pint) are provided. The night will be capped off with a “loosely” judged competition with prizes for the best, worst and everything in between.

LIVE MUSIC

THURSDAY, FEB. 27

ERIC GOLDEN. 6 p.m. The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd., Westminster. Free

ONNIKA & THE OBSESSION 6 p.m. Bricks on Main, 471 Main St., Longmont. Free

NU BASS THEORY. 6 p.m. Trident Cafe, 940 Pearl St., Boulder. Free

REBECCA FOLSOM’S ‘THANKFUL THURSDAY BIRTHDAY BASH.’ 7 p.m.

Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl St., Suite V3A, Boulder. $22

ZOE BERMAN WITH NINA DE FREITAS 7 p.m. The Times Collaborative, 338 Main St., Longmont. $18

UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCE. 7:30 p.m. Nissi’s, 1455 Coal Creek Drive, Unit T, Lafayette. Free

THE LANGAN BAND WITH TONEWOOD STRING BAND

8 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $19

DANIEL DONATO’S COSMIC COUNTRY 8 p.m. Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. Sold out (resale $150+)

MJ LENDERMAN & THE WIND WITH WILD PINK. 8 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. Sold out (resale $100+) STORY ON P. 14

FRIDAY, FEB. 28

LUKE HAHN-ZOLLO & FRIENDS 6 p.m. Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free

TROUBLES BRAIDS 6 p.m. Bricks on Main, 471 Main St., Longmont. Free

THIRD TURN 6 p.m. Trident Cafe, 940 Pearl St., Boulder. Free

HUNTER JAMES & THE TITANIC. 6:30 p.m. Dickens Opera House, 300 Main St., Longmont. $18

AN EVENING WITH LARRY & JOE 7 p.m. eTown Hall, 1535 Spruce St., Boulder. $25

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK. 7:30 p.m. Macky Auditorium, 1595 Pleasant St., Boulder. $20

THE BROTHERS COMATOSE WITH TWO RUNNER 8 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $36

CHAMPAGNE DRIP WITH AHEE AND CANVAS 8 p.m. Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. $36

KING CARDINAL WITH HUNTER STONE. 8 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $19

MICKI BALDER & STURTZ. 8 p.m. Chautauqua Community House, 301 Morning Glory Drive, Boulder. $25

MATT FLAHERTY 9 p.m. Mountain Sun Pub, 1535 Pearl St., Boulder. Free

SATURDAY, MARCH 1

GROOVE HOLIDAY. 5:30 p.m. Left Hand Brewing, 1265 Boston Ave., Longmont. Free

JENN CLEARY 6 p.m. Zeal, 3101 Pearl Parkway, Boulder. Free

PLAYBACK 6 p.m. Bricks on Main, 471 Main St., Longmont. Free

LIZ LONGLEY. 6 p.m. Stone Cottage Studios, 1928 Pearl St., Boulder. $15

MUD & MARROW. 6 p.m. Trident Cafe, 940 Pearl St., Boulder. Free

LACK LAZULI. 6:30 p.m. Front Range Birding and Optics, 2425 Canyon Blvd., Suite B, Boulder. $5+

ATOMGA WITH B-LOVE EXPERIENCE 7 p.m. Caribou Room, 55 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland. $20

ROB MULLINS 7 p.m. Muse Performance Space, 200 E. South Boulder Road, Lafayette. $20

THE CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS (TBA) 7 p.m. eTown Hall, 1535 Spruce St., Boulder. $33

TUMBLEDOWN SHACK 7 p.m. Dickens Opera House, 300 Main St., Longmont. $18

THE ELOVATERS WITH MOON TAXI AND SURFER GIRL 7 p.m. Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $49

TRACE BUNDY 7:30 p.m. Nissi’s, 1455 Coal Creek Drive, Unit T, Lafayette. $35

REBIRTH BRASS BAND WITH JUICEBOX MARDI GRAS PARTY. 8 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $37

LIVE MUSIC

ON THE BILL

Boulder-based punk outfit Diva Cup share the stage with fellow locals The Galentines and Lina Corrales at Roots Music Project on March 1. Describing themselves as “a band that goes with the flow, period,” this high-energy, homegrown act performs on the heels of their debut EP, Sassy, out now on major streaming services via Boys Who Scissor. See listing for details

SHAWN CUNNANE 8 p.m. Longs Peak Pub, 600 Longs Peak Ave., Longmont. Free

THE GALENTINES WITH DIVA CUP AND LINA CORRALES.

8 p.m. Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl St., Suite V3A, Boulder. $17 BW PICK OF THE WEEK

THE JAUNTEE WITH SIMPLE SYRUP.

8 p.m. Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St., Denver. $24

EGGY WITH REID GENAUER. 8 p.m. Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. $37

BUFF FEST 2025 WITH RNGY, HAMI, LØU AND CHEETAH PRINT 9 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $15

SUNDAY, MARCH 2

FRIENDS OF JAZZ JAM SESSION.

1 p.m. Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road, Boulder. $12

LOCO UKULELE JAM 2 p.m. Bootstrap Brewing Company, 142 Pratt St., Longmont. Free

ROB PATE & FRIENDS 3 p.m. Spirit Hound, 4196 Ute Hwy., Lyons. Free

POWER OF R (R3) 5 p.m. Bricks on Main, 471 Main St., Longmont. Free

LETTUCE WITH THE COLORADO SYMPHONY 7 p.m. Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $66

POKEY LAFARGE WITH CICADA RHYTHM. 8 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $38

TOMMY RICHMAN WITH MYNAMEISNTJMACK AND PACO 8 p.m. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood. $37

TUESDAY, MARCH 4

FAT TUESDAY BEER AND BRASS 5 p.m. Wild Provisions Beer Project, 2209 Central Ave., Boulder. Free

THE SAINTS. 6 p.m. Bricks on Main, 471 Main St., Longmont. Free

ZIGGY ALBERTS 8 p.m. Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. $32

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5

MORPHEUS DREAMING 6 p.m. Rosalee’s Pizzeria, 461 Main St., Longmont. Free

VIC DILLAHAY WITH ERIC OTTEM. 7 p.m. Dry Land Distillers, 519 Main St., Longmont. Free

GLIXEN WITH SHE’S GREEN AND AFTER 7 p.m. Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway, Denver. $19

Want more Boulder County events? Check out the complete listings online by scanning this QR code.

Kelly Elizabeth Clark is hereby summoned to appear in case number 21DR30287. You are required to file your Response to the Verified Motion to Intervene and Request for Allocation of Parental Responsibilities (hereinafter referred to as “Verified Motion”) and Petition for Allocation of Parental Responsibilities (hereinafter referred to as “Petition”), within 35 days after the service of this summons upon you. Service of this summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the Verified Motion and Petition may be obtained from the clerk of the court.

ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Aries author Anne Lamott articulated a thought that’s perfect for you to hear right now: “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” I might amend her wisdom a bit to say “for a few hours” or “a couple of days.” Now is a rare time when a purposeful disconnection can lead you to deeper synchronization. A project or relationship will improve after a gentle reset. Your power mantra: “Renew yourself with quiet inaction.”

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Beavers are the engineers of the natural world. The dams they fabricate not only create shelters, but also benefit their entire ecosystem. The ponds and marshes they help shape provide rich habitats for many other species. Boosting biodiversity is their specialty. Their constructions also serve as natural filters, enhancing water quality downstream. Let’s make beavers your inspirational symbol for the coming weeks, Taurus. In their spirit, build what’s good for you with the intention of making it good for everyone whose life you touch. Ensure that your efforts will generate ripples that nourish your tribe and community.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): I predict you will soon have reason to celebrate a resounding success. You will claim a well-deserved reward. You may even shiver with amazement and gratification as you marvel at how many challenges you overcame to emerge triumphant. In my view, you will have every right to exude extra pride and radiance. I won’t complain if you flirt with a burst of egotism. In accordance with my spirituality, I will tell you, “Remember that this wonder you have spawned will live for a very long time.”

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): When you see the stars in the night sky, you’re looking at the ancient past. Light from those heavenly bodies may have taken as long as 4,000 years to reach us. So we are beholding them as they used to be, not as they are now. With that as your inspiration, I invite you to spend quality time gazing into your own personal past. Meditate on how your history is alive in you today, making its imprint on all you do and say. Say prayers and write messages to yourself in which you express your awe and appreciation for the epic myth that is your destiny.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): I mourn the growing climate calamity that is heating up our beloved planet. Among many other distortions, it has triggered yellow forsythias and blue gentians to blossom during winters in the Austrian Alps — an unprecedented event. At the same time, I am also able to marvel at the strange beauty of gorgeous flowers growing on the winter hills of ski resorts. My feelings are mixed — paradoxical and confusing — and that’s fine with me. I regard it as a sign of soulfulness. May you be so blessed, Leo: full of appreciation for your capacity to hold conflicting ideas, perspectives and feelings.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): The quietest place on earth is a room at Microsoft’s headquarters near Seattle. It’s made of six layers of steel and concrete, and its foundation includes vibration-dampening springs. Within it, you can hear your heartbeat, the swishing of your clothes and the hum of air molecules colliding. The silence is so eerily profound that many people become flummoxed while visiting. Here’s the moral of the story: While you Virgos are naturally inclined to favor order and precision, a modicum of noise and commotion in your life is often beneficial. Like background sounds that keep you oriented, minor wriggles and perturbations ensure you remain grounded. This will be extra important for you to acknowledge in the coming weeks.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): To make a Mobius strip, you give a half twist to a strip of paper and attach the ends. You have then created a surface with just one side and one edge. It’s a fun curiosity, but it also has practical applications. Using Mobius strips, engineers can design more efficient gears. Machinists make mechanical belts that are Mobius strips because they wear out less quickly. There are at least eight other concrete functions, as well. Let’s extrapolate from this to suggest that a similar theme might be arising in your life. What may seem like an interesting but impractical element could reveal its real-world value. You may find unexpected uses for playful features. One of your capacities has dimensions you have not yet explored, but are ready to.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Sandra Cisneros is a visionary writer with Sun and Mercury in Sagittarius. She is always in quest of the next big lesson and the next exciting adventure. But she also has the Moon, Venus and Saturn in Scorpio. Her sensitive attunement to the hidden and secret aspects of reality is substantial. She thrives on cultivating a profound understanding of her inner world. It took her years to master the art of fully expressing both these sides of her character. I bring this to your attention, Scorpio, because you’re primed to go in quest of experiences that will open your heart to novel amazements — even as you connect with previously unknown aspects of your deep self that resonate with those experiences.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): The Moeraki Boulders are spread along a beach in New Zealand. Many of the 50 big rocks are nearly perfect spheres and up to six feet in diameter, so they provide a stunning visual feast. Scientists know that they have steadily grown for the last 4 million years, accumulating ever-new layers of minerals. I propose we make them your symbols of power until July 1. In my astrological estimation, you are in a phase of laying long-term groundwork. What may seem to be a tedious accumulation of small, gradual victories is part of a grander undertaking. Like the Moeraki Boulders, your efforts will crystallize into an enduring foundation.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): A Japanese proverb says, “The bamboo that bends with the wind is stronger and more resilient than the oak tree that resists.” That’s true. When storms bluster, oak branches get broken and blown away. Bamboo may look delicate, but it is actually strong and capable of withstanding high winds. It flourishes by being flexible instead of rigid. That’s the approach I recommend to you, Capricorn. Challenges may emerge that inspire you to stay grounded by adapting. Your plans will become optimal as you adjust them. By trusting your natural resilience, you could find unexpected chances for interesting transformation. Your potency will lie in your ability to bend without breaking.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Seattle’s Space Needle serves as an observation tower. It’s 605 feet high. For years, there was a restaurant with a rotating floor at the top. In its early days, the movement was so brisk that some visitors got dizzy and nauseous. Engineers had to recalibrate the equipment so it was sufficiently leisurely to keep everyone comfortable. Your current situation resembles this story. The right elements are in place, but you need to adjust the timing and rhythm. If there are frustrating glitches, they are clues to the fine-tuning that needs to be done.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Octopuses have three hearts, each with a different function. Every one of their eight limbs contains a mini-brain, giving them nine in total. Is there any doubt, then, that they are the patron creature for you Pisceans? No other zodiac sign is more multifaceted than you. No other can operate with grace on so many different levels. I celebrate your complexity, dear Pisces, which enables you to draw such rich experiences into your life and manage such diverse challenges. These qualities will be working at a peak in the coming weeks. For inspiration, consider putting an image of an octopus in your environment.

SAVAGE LOVE

BY DAN SAVAGE

Q: I was in bed with a woman. She asked me — a straight man — what my kinks were. I answered. I asked her the same question. She said: “I want to watch a guy fuck fruit.”

I posted a note to my guy friends group chat and said, “This woman wants me to fuck a cantaloupe or something. Weird, right?” Instead of support, I got recipes and suggestions. Not one of them said, “We know you wouldn’t do something like that.” Why do my friends think I’d do that?

A: Because your friends — none of whom you’ve fucked — somehow got the impression that you’re a more generous and indulgent fuck than you actually are.

Q: Vanilla straight 25-year-old cis woman here whose boyfriend of almost six months just confessed that he’s into being peed on. I’m not doing it for him, and I don’t want anyone else peeing on him either. He’s agreed to give this up for me. Will that work?

A: Your boyfriend did not confess — kinks are not sins and consensual kink is not a crime — he disclosed his kinks before things got too serious, which was the right thing to do. If you’re repulsed by his kink and require monogamy, choosing to be with you means your boyfriend won’t get to act on his kink. But if being with you means being made to feel terrible about himself — if you’re going to heap disgust and shame on him — your boyfriend is eventually gonna choose being single (and not being made to feel terrible about himself all the time) over being with you. P.S. We don’t choose our kinks, our kinks choose us — and after a pitcher of beer, piss is just hot water.

Q: Do cis men — gay or not — ever use a Hitachi-style “wand” vibrator on the prostate, or is it too intense?

A: I’ve seen them do it with my very own eyes.

Q: If my boyfriend’s husband isn’t my type, should I feel OK declining a threesome request?

A: If your boyfriend and his husband were “we only play together” types, you would’ve had a threesome with them already. If fucking boyfriend’s husband wasn’t a requirement at the start, I don’t think you’re obligated to start fucking your boyfriend’s husband now.

Q: My wife and I are about to have our first threesome. It’s going to be me and her and this guy we found on Feeld who seems perfect. We’re taking all obvious precautions — everyone has tested, we’ve agreed that anyone can call a timeout, and we know (per your advice) that threesomes can briefly become twosomes and we’re OK with that. Anything else I should brace myself for?

A: Brace yourself for watching your wife kiss another man the way she kissed you when you first met. If that sounds traumatizing, you might not be ready for a threesome. If that sounds hot — if that sounds like it might inspire you and your wife to kiss each other the way you did when you first met — then you’re not just ready for your first threesome, you’re overdue.

Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan. Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love

A ta ste of Japan in the heart of Colorado

Whe re ce nturie s of culinary exce lle nce ge t a f re s h touch. S us hi, mode rn Japane s e, and hand-craf te d cock tails

IT AIN’T WOKE YOLKS, FOLKS

Breakfast is getting pricey as bird flu decimates flocks and plagues local cafes and bakeries

BY JOHN LEHNDORFF

For devoted egg heads, these are brutal times.

Empty shelves now sometimes greet them at Trader Joe’s, Costco, Whole Foods, King Soopers, Natural Grocers and other Boulder County supermarkets.

When eggs are available, the prices can fluctuate wildly, sometimes doubling per dozen compared to what they were a year ago. Some retailers are limiting egg purchases per visit.

Meanwhile, breakfast prices are rising across the country. The Georgia-based Waffle House chain added a 50-cent per egg surcharge to its menu in response to the “unprecedented rise in egg prices,” the company announced recently. In Boulder County, omelet, quiche and eggs benedict fans are suffering sticker shock.

According to owner and chef Alec Schuler, eggs are part of 90% of the menu items at Tangerine, his brunch restaurants in Boulder, Longmont and Lafayette.

“We use about 450 dozen eggs a week. Each dozen cost $6 more than it did a year ago. That’s about $2,500 extra a week,” Schuler says. “That’s why I’ve added an Egg Supply Fee — 4% to every bill at Tangerine. I’ll be happy to remove or reduce it when things improve.”

Moxie Bread Co. in Boulder, Louisville and Lyons relies on organic eggs for its baked goods and menu items, according to owner Pippa Clark.

“It’s very challenging. It is getting harder to source organic eggs, particularly at this time of year,” Clark says. “Egg prices are fluctuating incessantly, making it hard to manage food costs.”

For the owners of Boulder County’s cafes and bakeries, this

crisis comes on top of escalating prices for chocolate, coffee and labor.

“Only about 30% of what we make at Lucky’s Bakehouse doesn’t contain any eggs,” says Jennifer Mesinger, chef and founder of Lucky’s Bakehouse and Lucky’s Bakehouse Cafe.

“The ongoing impact of avian flu has made eggs harder to find, and the costs have skyrocketed,” she says. “But as bakers and cooks, we adapt.”

CAGE-FREE ISN’T THE CULPRIT

If you are looking to hard boil a villain, blame it on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), according to Bill Scebbi. His Brighton-based Colorado Egg Producers does not represent every farm in the state, but it has a lot of eggs in its basket.

“We represent five, large commercial farms in the state which produce about a billion eggs per year,” Scebbi says. “One farm alone is home to more than 2.3 million hens.”

That was before the avian influenza epidemic wiped out whole flocks.

“Farms have lost all their birds. And when we say ‘lost,’ we mean they had to

kill a million hens,” he says. “Once the farm gets this disease, it’s very virulent and the entire flock is slaughtered to help limit the spread.”

Despite a wave of social media comments, the crisis has nothing to do with HB20-1343, Colorado’s cage-free egg law, which went into effect in January.

“All of our farms met cage-free standards in 2024,” Scebbi says. “This problem is entirely caused by the avian flu.”

And don’t blame the farmers for the high prices, either.

“Eggs are a commodity,” he says. “Once the eggs are out there, farmers have no control over the pricing.”

“The egg industry is very complex,” Scebbi continues. “What you see in stores depends on suppliers, not farmers. The eggs you buy may be from Colorado, California, Utah or Idaho.”

HOW TO BEAT EGG-FLATION

Egg demand will rise as Easter approaches, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts prices will soar another 20% this year. But it’s not all doom and gloom.

In a pandemic-era flashback, shoppers are rediscovering eggs from local farmers, including Black Cat Farm and Cure Organic Farm in Boulder, 7th Generation Farm in Louisville and Rocky Mountain Milkhouse in Mead.

While we may not see $2-a-dozen eggs soon, Scebbi says he expects egg supplies to be back to normal by late summer, barring further calamities.

He has some simple consumer advice until then.

“Don’t run out. When you see eggs, buy them,” he says. “I’ve had eggs in my refrigerator 30 days. They do last a long time.”

Even when whole eggs aren’t available, hard-boiled eggs, liquid eggs and liquid egg whites are often on the shelf.

“Everyone should try to be a little bit understanding in the short term,” he says. “They’ll get their yolks soon enough.”

Who needs eggs?

Scan the QR code for substitution tips from pastry chef Jennifer Mesinger of Lucky’s Bakeshop.

Empty egg shelves seen recently at a local supermarket. Credit: John Lehndorff

• Gifts for any cook • Fun and colorful kitchenware

• Specialty foods, local and imported

• Gadgets, cookware, and kitchen essentials

• Louisville’s one-of-a-kind kitchen shop

728 Main Street • Louisville • 720.484.6825 www.SingingCookStore.com

NIBBLES

LOCAL FOOD NEWS: CU IS MEAT-FREE NO. 1

CU Boulder has been named the No. 1 institution for plant-based dining and sustainability in Human World for Animals’ (formerly Humane Society of the United States) 2025 College and University Protein Sustainability Scorecard. CU is the only university surveyed offering plant-based options on 50% of its menu.

Boulder Weekly’s annual Best of Boulder voting is now open. This is your opportunity to support your favorite Boulder eateries, cafes, bars and bakeries. Cast your ballot at vote.boulderweekly.com

CULINARY CALENDAR: PINTS AWAY

The 10th annual Colorado Pint Day on March 5 offers a special glass filled with your favorite brew at more than 215 breweries including local stops like Bearded Brewer, Beyond the Mountain, Gravity Brewing, Left Hand Brewing and Liquid Mechanics. One dollar of each pint glass sold goes back to the Colorado Brewers Guild, a nonprofit group helping craft breweries survive challenging times.

Rich Byers (Jill’s), Alex DeBernardis (Basta), Kevin Grossi (River and Woods), Hosea Rosenberg (Blackbelly) and Edwin Zoe (Zoe Ma Ma) are among the chefs offering film-centric fare at the 10th annual CineCHEF event March 13 in Boulder. Tickets: biff1.com/cinechef

WORDS TO CHEW ON: FINDING TRUE EGGS-TACY

“Oh, God above, if heaven has a taste, it must be an egg with butter and salt, and after the egg is there anything in the world lovelier than fresh warm bread and a mug of sweet golden tea?”

– From the novel Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

John Lehndorff is the Museum Historian for ‘Boulder Eats!: Food Traditions Along the Front Range,’ opening Nov. 24 at the Museum of Boulder.

Comments: Nibbles@BoulderWeekly.com

ON DRUGS

WHY COMMUNITY PHARMACIES ARE CLOSING

What to do if your neighborhood location shutters

BY SOPHIA HERBERT, LUCAS A. BERENBROK AND MICHAEL MURPHY THE CONVERSATION

Neighborhood pharmacies are rapidly shuttering.

Not long ago, Walgreens, one of the nation’s biggest pharmacy chains, announced plans to close 1,200 stores over the next three years. That’s part of a larger trend that has seen nearly 7,000 pharmacy locations close since 2019, with more expected in the coming years.

Many community pharmacies are struggling to stay open due to an overburdened workforce, shrinking reimbursement rates for prescription drugs and limited opportunities to bill insurers for services beyond dispensing medications.

REIMBURSEMENT RATE CUTS TO BLAME

There are many reasons for the closures, but the most important is reduced reimbursement for prescription drugs. Most community pharmacies operate under a business model centered on dispensing medications that relies on insurer reimbursements and cash payments from patients. Minor revenue comes from frontend sales of over-the-counter products and other items.

However, pharmacy benefit managers — companies that manage prescription drug benefits for insurers and employers

— have aggressively cut reimbursement rates in an effort to lower drug costs in recent years. As a result, pharmacists often have to dispense prescription drugs at very low margins or even at a loss. In some cases, pharmacists are forced to transfer prescriptions to other pharmacies willing to absorb the financial hit. Other times, pharmacists choose not to stock these drugs at all.

And it’s not just mom-and-pop operations feeling the pinch. Over the past four years, the three largest pharmacy chains have announced plans to close hundreds of stores nationwide. CVS kicked off the trend in 2021 by announcing plans to close 900 pharmacy locations. In late 2023, Rite Aid said that thousands of its stores would be at risk for closure due to bankruptcy. And late in 2024, Walgreens announced its plans to close 1,200 stores over the next three years.

To make matters worse, pharmacists, like many other health care providers, have been facing burnout due to high stress and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, pharmacy school enrollment has declined, worsening the workforce shortage just as an impending shortfall of primary care physicians looms.

WHAT TO ASK IF YOUR PHARMACY CLOSES

If your preferred pharmacy closes and you need to find another one, keep the following questions in mind:

What will happen to your old prescriptions? When a pharmacy closes, another pharmacy may buy its prescriptions. Ask your pharmacist if your prescriptions will be automatically transferred to a nearby pharmacy, and when this will occur.

What’s the staffing situation like at other pharmacies? This is an important factor in choosing a new pharmacy. What are the wait times? Can the team accommodate special situations like emergency refills or early refills before vacations? Does the pharmacist have a relationship with your primary care physician and your other prescribers?

Which pharmacies accept your insurance? A simple call to your insurer can help you understand where your prescriptions are covered at the lowest cost. And if you take a medication that’s not covered by insurance, or if you’re uninsured, you should ask if the pharmacy can help you by offering member pric-

ing or manufacturer coupons and discounts.

What are your accessibility needs? Pharmacies often offer services to make your care more accessible and convenient. These may include medication packaging services, drive-thru windows and home delivery. And if you’re considering switching to a mail-order pharmacy, you should ask if it has a pharmacist to answer questions by phone or during telehealth visits.

It’s best to have all your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy chain or location so that your pharmacist can perform a safety check with your complete medication list. Drug interactions can be dangerous.

Community pharmacies have been staples of neighborhoods for more than a century. Unfortunately, current trends in pharmacy closures pose real threats to public health. We hope lawmakers address the underlying systemic issues so more Americans don’t lose access to their medications, health services and pharmacists.

Sophia Herbert and Lucas A. Berenbrok are professors of pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh. Michael Murphy is an assistant professor of pharmacy practice and science at The Ohio State University.