MAKERS SERIES ACADEMY

Academy University Hill

The first location (Academy University Hill) opened in a historic building near Chautauqua Park, in what used to be a private girls’ school. The school, built in 1892, was one of the first buildings in that part of Boulder, built six years before the Chautauqua. Although it was a school, it feels homey, with 53 independent and assisted residences on more than three acres. The 125-year-old building is very close to Chautauqua Park (and the Colorado Music Festival and all those hiking trails). Academy University Hill also has its own historic chapel hall—a 3,500-squarefoot building glowing with stained glass. A relationship with the University of Colorado College of Music means residents get to attend about 160 musical events at their very own hall every year.

“Especially as they age and have mobility issues, they appreciate a great concert without having to step outside, and music is very beneficial to people as they age,” Berg says.

In addition, Academy University Hill has an outdoor dining space with a fish-filled stream, historic arches and mature landscaping.

“So many retirement communities end up on the outskirts of town, as opposed to in the middle of everything,” Berg says. “But this building and city block were among the first things in Boulder to be developed, and everything was built around it. It’s truly the heart and center of Boulder.”

Academy Bella Vista

Eighteen years ago, Academy opened a second, specialty location just a block off 28th Street and Colorado Avenue. This spot is small, with just 10 suites, and it’s surrounded by a secure fence. The reason: Academy Bella Vista is what’s known as a memory-care home, for people with memory or cognitive challenges who are at risk of fleeing and could be in danger if they exited the property.

Berg’s own mother-in-law inspired this property, after she left Academy in the middle of the night.

“We knew she wasn’t safe anymore, and we needed something smaller and home-like. We created this to fill that need,” he says.

Because some people with dementia need to walk a lot, Bella Vista has walking paths and gardens on its ¾-acre plot. Yet these paths are all safe and secure, with no risk of a resident getting out and getting lost.

Bella Vista feels like home because it is one: It’s a large ranch.

“That helps people feel more content and at peace,” Berg says.

Academy Mapleton Hill

The newest location used to be a hospital site (the Boulder Sanitarium, the Boulder Memorial Hospital and then the Boulder Community Hospital). But a massive renovation has transformed the former hospital into a home.

Beyond the amenities and the prime location, what makes Mapleton Hill stand out is its variety of residential options. It houses 91 independent residents, but with 45 different floor plans ranging from 1,200 square feet to more than 4,000 square feet.

“People are excited to move in, as opposed to regretting the need to move in,” Berg says.

Mapleton Hill also has assisted living, secure memory care suites and, for the first time, skilled nursing, the highest level of care, with nurses available 24/7. This allows people to stay at Mapleton as they age and as their needs change, and it also allows couples, friends and family members to all live together on the same 16 acres, even if they need different levels of care.

Indeed, more than the pool, hiking trails and movie theater, Berg says the most important feature of all the locations is the people living and working there.

“We have an amazing group of people who have lived extraordinary lives. That’s why I do what I do,” he says. “It’s a unique opportunity to rub elbows with people who have led amazing lives.”

Like one attorney. Berg says when they first tried to open Academy, the neighborhood filed a lawsuit to stop the development. The case went all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court, and the attorney who essentially saved Academy is now getting ready to move into the Mapleton Hill residences with her husband.

“There would be no Mapleton Hill if it weren’t for her helping us secure the original location in the courts,” Berg says. “So many people moving in were great contributors to the city.

Read More Online: travelboulder.com/boulders-best-hotel-lobbies/

It’s finally patio season, that magical time of year when every meal should be taken al fresco and every drink should be sipped under the sun. Luckily, Boulder County has loads of spots in which to soak up the glorious summer weather Colorado is known for. Here, some of the best patios and rooftops for all that outdoor eating and drinking.

Boulder County

Best patios

By Allyson Reedy

Rayback Collective

With its twinkling fairy lights, near-constant entertainment and stellar food truck line-up, the Rayback Collective is an enchanting place. Whether you go for the music, the food truck park, the beer, the live trivia or just to meet up with friends, it’s the community’s backyard gathering spot. Go forth and gather. 2775 Valmont Rd., Boulder therayback.com

Avanti Boulder

Overlooking Pearl Street, this food hall is one of our favorite spots for eating and drinking outside. The wraparound rooftop patio has so many nooks and crannies to relax in, not to mention a plethora of great food options. (New York pizza! Taiwanese buns! Costa Rican chicken!) The 20 draft beers, affordable wine list and tasty cocktails and mocktails make relaxing on the patio even more enjoyable. 1401 Pearl St., Boulder; boulder.avantifandb.com

Corrida

If your al fresco wish list includes a. incredible views of the Flatirons, b. top-notch dining and c. a roving gin-tonic cart, then boy do we have the spot for you! Corrida serves upscale Spanish cuisine out of a jaw-dropping setting atop the Pearl West building in downtown Boulder. Whether you opt for a seat inside twhe glassed-in fourth-floor dining room or go full-on open-air on the expansive patio, there’s not a bad seat to be had. 1023 Walnut St., Boulder; corridaboulder.com

Southern Sun Pub & Brewery

Like the beloved Mountain Sun only bigger, this south Boulder taproom boasts a 10-barrel brewery, books and board games aplenty and a substantial patio upon which to enjoy said beer and board games. Order a burger and a Colorado Kind Ale for the quintessential Sun experience. Also check out the spacious patio of sister restaurant Longs Peak Pub & Taphouse in downtown Longmont. 627 S. Broadway, Boulder; mountainsunpub.com/location/southern-sunpub-brewery/

Acreage by Stem Ciders

This isn’t just the best patio in Lafayette, this might be the best patio in all of Boulder County. The crew at Acreage by Stem Ciders picked its 12-acre location atop a Lafayette hilltop for the panoramic mountain views and, well, they picked mighty finely. Their wraparound deck is the place to be at sunset, and the solid menu, plus all the cider flights, just add to its appeal. Bonus: it’s open for lunch Wednesday through Sunday. 1380 Horizon Ave., Lafayette; acreageco.com

Centro

For prime Pearl Street people-watching, head to Centro’s classic patio, where even the dreariest of days feel like a trip to the Yucatan. The Colorado-inspired Mexican restaurant has been quenching Boulderites’ thirst for fresh-squeezed margaritas and palomas for more than 15 years, so yeah, it can be trusted to deliciously wet your whistle. 950 Pearl St., Boulder; centromexican.com

Farow

Sometimes you just need to eat a great meal on a great patio. Husband and wife chef/owners Patrick and Lisa Balcom aim for 90 percent of their ingredients to come from within 10 miles of their Niwot restaurant, which means that pretty much any of the small plates you pick are going to be hyperlocal. And you know the saying: parsnip latkes just taste better when eaten on a sunny patio with friends and family. (Or at least we think that should be a saying.) 7916 Niwot Rd., Niwot; farowrestaurant.com

The Roost

When The Roost opens its rooftop patio each season, it’s pretty much Longmont’s unofficial start to summer. And for good reason: both the mountain views and the menu offerings are hard to beat. Coconut daiquiris and margaritas go down easy, as do snacks like blistered shishito peppers, banging’ cauliflower, Thai pork tostadas and polenta bites.

526 Main St., Longmont; theroostlongmont.com

The Waterloo

Heading atop the Waterloo is basically a Louisville rite of passage. Since 2007, the Waterloo has been a Main Street mainstay. (Although it did move two doors down in the summer of 2018.) Its second-story patio is the place to order fiery bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers and towering plates of nachos and, of course, to wash it all down with a gin-spiked cucumber lemonade. 817 Main St., Louisville; waterloolouisville.com

Chautauqua Dining Hall

For charm, it’s hard to beat the Chautauqua Dining Hall. The 1898 Victorian house is nestled at the foot of the Flatirons, with a downright delightful wraparound porch that makes an ideal setting for sipping away an afternoon with a Sunshine Canyon cosmo or bluebell spritz. Or go early for brunch and feast on churro sopapillas and lamb benedict while gazing upon more natural beauty than you can shake a stick at. 900 Baseline Rd., Boulder; chautauqua.com