University of Colorado - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Long before Martha Stewart was teaching housewives to sew yoga tote bags, Boulderites were already reaping the benefits of the Hindu philosophy. When people were still frequenting McDonald’s and lighting up in restaurants, Boulder was snacking on tofu and banning smoking in public buildings. To outsiders, Boulder’s aspirations towards reaching utopia are comic, but for its inhabitants, it is simply a way of life. With lavish resorts such as Vail, Copper Mountain, and Aspen only a few hours away, one has to be reminded that taking full advantage of a ski season is viewed as a luxury, and not just a recreational sport. Those wanting to take a leisurely hike can choose from a number of different trails that range from dirt paths along the Boulder Creek to steep divides through the foothills. Yet, Boulder is more than just a modest town offering simple pleasures. The downtown Pearl Street Mall caters to city shoppers seeking the latest styles.

There are few methods to understanding Boulder, but ask any student, and they will provide you with countless ways to describe it. It is a place where people come to ski, but learn that invigoration can be sought beyond moguls and slopes. This is where people breathe a little better and still enjoy a booming business environment, where Starbucks is shunned, Shakespeare is a tradition, and finding parking is still a problem. A college town where local residents resent students for driving expensive SUVs, rioting, throwing parties, and renting a piece of their well-kept secret. It is a place that provides more bars, concerts, happy hours, and drink specials than most cities twice its size, but still blames the students for excessive alcoholism. Overall, Boulder is a town where students consider themselves lucky to spend four years.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Some people love the liberal... Some people love the liberal environment that encompasses Boulder, while others, like me, appreciate it, but often find it annoying. I drive an SUV here, and I’ll never forget the time when some hippie put a bumper sticker on my car that read ‘I don’t care about the air.’ I could have gotten really mad, but instead I just laughed. That’s the attitude you have to have in Boulder. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The campus is within close... The campus is within close proximity to most of the essentials. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

We are right at the foot of the... We are right at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, and there are always great places to go to. Skiing and snowboarding access is plentiful. Chataqua Park is beautiful! The Boulder Reservoir is as close to the beach as you’ll get out here, but it’s a fun place to hang out on a nice day. Denver has lots of entertainment to offer, especially Lower Downtown (LoDo). 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Boulder is open, calm, and scenic.... Boulder is open, calm, and scenic. But watch out for the low-income housing kids—they think they’re gangsters. Pearl Street Mall, FlatIron Crossing, and the Hill are all entertaining places to visit. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Complete college town if I’ve ever... Complete college town if I’ve ever seen one! College students everywhere! Parties everywhere! You will love it! 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Fun Facts about Boulder:
• Every year, Boulder pays its largest tribute to American veterans on Memorial Day by hosting the annual Bolder Boulder 10K road race. On this day, professional runners, together with walking patriots and wheelchair racers, gather throughout the streets to participate.
• The Colorado Shakespeare Festival presents four full-scale productions each summer on campus. Over the course of its 43 seasons, the highly anticipated event has received a number of awards and was even recognized as one of the top three Shakespeare festivals by Time magazine.
• The largest herbal tea manufacturer, Celestial Seasonings, is headquartered in Boulder on Sleepy Time Drive. Before Boulder’s harvest of wild herbs materialized into a manufacturer’s dream, herbal teas were regarded only for their medicinal purposes. Today Celestial Seasonings has revolutionized the tea industry by fashioning natural teas into delicious healthy beverages.
• Boulder has one of the largest per capita concentrations of Buddhists outside of Tibet.
• The Conference on World Affairs is held each year in Boulder. This acclaimed event attracts renowned representatives from multiple countries who debate current issues and concerns with student participants.
• Crocs, the shoe company, has it’s headquarters just off the diagonal highway. It all started when three Boulder-based founders decided to develop and market an innovative type of footwear.

Famous People from Colorado:
Tim Allen (Denver) – star of TV show Home Improvement
Jessica Biel (Boulder) – actress best known for playing character Mary Camden on 7th Heaven
Scott Carpenter (Boulder) – one of the original seven United States astronauts to orbit the Earth
Lon Chaney (Colorado Springs) – well-known “actor with a thousand faces,” starred in Phantom of the Opera and Hunchback of Notre Dame
Jack Dempsey (Manassa, close by) – champion heavyweight boxer
John Elway (Denver) – Bronco quarterback
Douglas Fairbanks (Denver) – actor and one of original founders of United Artist
Geoff and George Stults (Morrison) – best known for playing brothers on 7th heaven
Paul Whiteman (Denver) – jazz conductor

Local Slang:
Boulderite – someone who is from, and currently lives in, Boulder
Granola – hippie
Hill Rats – high school hoodlums who relentlessly infest the Hill area
The Res – the Boulder Reservoir
Marg – margarita; typically used when referring to the Rio Grande’s stiff margaritas

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Sara K. Jordan
Hometown: Littleton, CO
Major: International Affairs

Sara comes from a long line of journalists. Her grandfather was asked to be an anchorman for CBS, but he turned it down. His replacement was Walter Cronkite.

Contributing Author Internship

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