Tidbits from Colorado Springs/Old Colorado City

I went on a quasi-staycation a couple weeks ago to Colorado Springs and I thought I'd share some of the awesome places we went to.

First on our list is the Spurs and Lace Bed & Breakfast. This place is adorable. It's a pretty typical B&B but the hosts make all the difference. It is run by Leo and Joyce, who are just the cutest ever. Leo is an 80 year old do-it-yourselfer and former elementary school teacher. Joyce is his lovely wife, who met him when she was a guest and apparently never left!
We upgraded to the Mountain View room when Joyce told us it was available. And, surprise, it had a view of the mountains. Over our breakfast of juice, coffee, fruit, quiche, and some chocolatey baked delight we talked about the world. Leo shared his wisdom, gushed about his love Joyce, and read a joke from his folder.

The nice surprise about Spurs & Lace is that it's within walking distance from Old Colorado City, basically just a little stretch of downtown, which I didn't even know existed. If you've never been there just imagine if Estes Park and Lyons had a baby, it would be something like this street. With the off season rate, convenient location, and wonderful hosts it was quite the treat. It's just a few minutes drive from Manitou Springs and Garden of the Gods as well. Can't wait to go back!
Check out the virtual tour here: http://colorado-bnb.com/spursnlace

Also in Old Colorado City is Thunder & Buttons II. Goofy name, right? Here's the story:
In 1888 a rowdy, Colorado City resident named Prairie Dog O’Byrne (so named because of the prairie dog running in a wheel on the back of his wagon) purchased two bull elk and hitched them to his carriage. He named the elk Thunder and Buttons. O’Byrne and Laura Bell, another infamous West Side character from the red light district, would race the elk drawn carriage up and down Colorado Avenue and down into the heart of Colorado Springs – causing an upset to the gentry. O’Byrne spent most of his time carousing in the 21 saloons lining Colorado Avenue in what is now “Old Colorado City”.  

The food was amazing. We ordered the lettuce wrap appetizers- super fresh and flavorful, and the Schnitzel special. I'd never ordered schnitzel in a bar before so I wasn't sure what to expect. It was outstanding. This place is more than beer and burgers. As if that wasn't enough (we did SHARE though) for dessert we got the Chocolate Decadence--Pecan crust topped with chocolate ganache and caramel sauce. It's the best caramel sauce I've ever had. The crust was simple and perfect with the chocolate caramel combo.

Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area. They've got the standard bar fixings and TVs as well. 

http://www.thunderandbuttons.com/

Next on the list of favorites is Willy's Emporium.

They just so happened to have the grand opening of their new tea room when we were there! Willy's is named after a tiny dog who may or may not greet you from behind the counter. They have a variety of UK themed gifts and snacks, including frozen foods and candy. We tried the tea and crumpets AND the tea and biscuits both with cream and jam, along with a personal pot of Earl Grey and PG Tips. They are so friendly, and just so happen to like all my favorite shows. They really make you feel like you're having tea with your mates and I wanted to stay all day.

Tea party! http://willysemporium.com/About_Us.html

Now for the shopping...

I saw the name Funky Caravan on the front and I knew I had to go in. It's a modern gypsy mecca. There are tons of locally made crafts, funky art, lotions, and jewelry. I told the store owner that I think there's something in there that reminds me of almost everyone I know. I'd think that must be a pretty good compliment for any store...

It took me several turns of picking up and putting down before I could figure out what to finally get my mummy for her birthday! I finally decided on some hand creme for her that she "was practically swimming in" the other day. 

www.facebook.com/TheFunkyCaravan

To be continued....this is enough to chew on for right now!

Chicago Dog Challenge!

For Longmont being the "Chicago Colony" we certainly don't have many places that serve Chicago Dogs. While this is sad, we found 3 of them for the challenge anyway. If you know of any others, please share! 

Dog #1 - Abbondanza Pizzeria

 As you can see, we got ours fully loaded. I didn't expect the cucumber but it was a pleasant addition. Vienna dogs tend to be kinda skinny but the flavor is always good and it's all beef, so that's a plus. All fresh ingredients too. The celery salt and peppers are really what makes it a Chicago Dog and not just a hotdog with stuff.

Dog #2 - Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

 This was also a Vienna hotdog, the same as Abbondanza. It came out hot and the bun was toasted. It had a little less of the toppings but it made it easier to eat, I guess. At 64 cents more with less toppings it falls behind the other one but the lightly toasted bun was really nice. 

Dog #3 - Sonic

The menu says it's an all beef hotdog but I don't know what kind specifically. I've had these a few times and the bun is always a little mushy but it IS piled with lots of onions, peppers, and relish. At almost a DOLLAR less than Abbondanza this is the bargain option. 

The surprise we found with our Chicago Dog challenge is that they were ALL good! I didn't expect them to suck but I thought there would be more variation. So here's our breakdown: 

Dog #1 (3.9 on Jason's 5 star scale)

Pros: Local place, I already go there anyway. Lots of fresh toppings!

Cons: None really...though it costs more than our cheapest option, we try to frequent the local places over the chains when we can. 

Dog #2 (3.8 on Jason's 5 star scale)

Pros: Freddy's staff was very friendly, the dog was HOT, and the toasted bun was a pleasant addition. Drive-thru option is convenient. 

Cons: Most expensive option with not as many toppings. 

Dog #3 (4.0 on Jason's 5 star scale) 

Pros: Loaded with toppings, handy little box for car eating (which I wouldn't advise here...), cheapest option.

Cons: Soggy bun. 

Overall winner: Dog #1 from Abbondanza!
Same amount of dog but more and fresher toppings.

Bargain winner on the Jason scale: Dog #3 from Sonic
The Jason scale is decided largely on price which is why #3 got a higher point than #1. If price wasn't a factor the Abbondanza dog wins there too but since you get about the same amount of food, he felt this was a good value.

Wildcard winner: Dog #2 from Freddy's
The celery salt on the top had a little spice to it and the toasted bun made all the difference.

What do YOU want to see in Longmont?

I just wanted to share some of these things that I found in Casper, WY...a town with 30,000 LESS people than Longmont. We need to up our game. You belong in Longmont...if you like what we've got because we have a tough time welcoming new things.

 

Bugs & Daffy were kind of insane but the restaurant had classic cars, dinosaurs, palm trees...all kinds of awesome stuff. I desperately wanted to go. I can't imagine how packed with families it would be on a regular basis IF we had something like this in Longmont.

My honey is capable of sniffing out any comic or game store. We didn't look for it but there it was. We have a game store in Longmont but no comics. I hear people talk about the one we used to have all the time. They'd definitely visit a comic book store IF we had something like that in Longmont. Again.

This shop was awesome. Beads and jewelry makings, along with custom pieces from local artists. It was a small space full of treasures. A small space like this might last here IF we had something like this in Longmont. Again.

Last but not least...CDs and records. I know it's old fashioned and everything but I still love going to look at CDs. This specific store has been around a long time and is still rockin'. I'd definitely stop in and browse IF we had something like this in Longmont. 

My point here is that I think a lot of people think we can't sustain certain kinds of stores (partly because we haven't had them or because previous stores have closed) or that we'll just go to Boulder. I don't want to go to Boulder unless I have to or choose to. Give me some variety downtown. I know we're getting all kinds of new stuff and I hope it continues! If I could open a kid-friendly comic, music, bead store I'd be all over it. Anybody want to fund that? Eh? Well you know where to find me. 

Gift ideas to support our downtown businesses~

Here are some gift ideas for you, just in case you're struggling with your list. And the best part? You can get it all in, relatively, one place! These are just some of the places I'm familiar with but is by no means a comprehensive list.

Adorn Home & Gift Gallery- 4th & Coffman

• This is a great "mom" store. There's clever little knick-knacks, jewelry, birds, housewares, and assorted treasures. My favorite might be the Dammit Doll. It's a voodoo looking creation with wild hair that you can toss across the room when you have a dammit moment. Who couldn't use one of those any time of the year anyway?

Barbed Wire Books & Used Book Emporium

• Reasonably priced books are everyone's friend. Once you finish one you can return it for credit on your next pick. I give used books as gifts all the time and am happy to receive them as well. Barbed Wire also has more than books in there. Check out the jewelry, scarves, and lotion bars in the front.

Cheese Importers

• Create your own custom gift basket! Or just take some cheese to the holiday party. I like to take Danish cheese to the Danish side of the family when I visit. A little reminder of the old days I guess. Plus, grandpa will eat anything and cheese is delicious.

Classic Gold

• I just recently stopped in here for the first time. Much of the fanciness there isn't really something I'd be able to give for a Christmas present without a Powerball win but they have these awesome little earrings that I immediately thought would make a great gift for several people. They are light and delicate but bright and unique.

Discovery Egyptian Imports & Longmont Yarn Shoppe

• If you know anyone who likes Egyptian stuff then, hey, no-brainer. But there's something in there for anyone. Jewelry and trinkets galore, figurines, those little genie bottle things (I don't know what I'd use it for but they look like they'd hold a genie), and recently their ornaments were featured on the cover of the Smithsonian magazine! Awesome. Their prices are ridiculously reasonable so go get something shiny. And while you're there...head to the back for some yarn and yarn accessories. I mostly just touch everything because I have MORE than enough yarn for projects I haven't touched in a while.

Frames, Games & Things Unnamed

• So many games, so little time. My personal favorite is Shut the Box, a simple and potentially educational game. We've apparently been playing the easy way at La Vita Bella but I still love it. There's a chess game you can hang on the wall, a castle you can build yourself, a puzzle box to challenge the most smarty of smarty pants in your family. Techno is the thing these days but put down the screens and try these out. You won't regret it.

Muse Gallery

• We can't all afford gallery art for all our loved ones but  Muse has much more affordable prints available. They also have wonderful and unique jewelry for great prices.

Rabid Rabbits

• Lots of unique things here. Good for an artsy friend with eclectic tastes. Great jewelry and cards too.

Scrumptious

• This place is just too much fun! We've all been waiting and it's finally here, buffalo and all. Candy candy candy. Need stocking stuffers? Totally covered. They also have (only slightly disturbing) prints for sale. I personally want/need the Grumpy Cat one but there are a lot of characters to choose from. Look around and you'll keep seeing more as you go. It's not totally ice cream weather but the blue flavor tastes like Fruity Pebbles. No kiddin'. Yum.

Simply Bulk Market

• Go in before you start baking those delicious treats or pick up supplies for the holiday party. They have more than food in there too. They have soap and body products, cleaning supplies, pet food & treats, spices, trinkets, candles, candy, and more. I want a little of everything when I go in there. *Try the ginger snaps. You'll love em.*

Gift Cards

• Keep in mind local restaurants, coffee shops, and shops when buying gift cards. Most places offer gift cards and the LDDA offers gift cards for Downtown Longmont which are good at over 40 businesses. They can be ordered online here: http://downtownlongmont.com/dine-and-shop/downtown-gift-card

Aunt Alice's Kitchen

Honey and I visited old Alice last Saturday, mostly because we're indecisive and the only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted pie. It's close to home too, which is always a nice plus.
We'd been there a while back during the floods when our go-to Sunday breakfast (Sante Fe Burrito Company) was closed and were reasonably impressed. I'd been there a few times but for whatever reason it never jumps to mind when I go out. There's the local faithfuls who go ALL the time. That's a clue to the quality right there. As honey says, you know there's good food if it's full of old people.
Last visit we had breakfast, but this time we were in the mood for warm comfort food. I got the fried chicken with veggies, fries, salad, and a roll. Honey got the Big Daddy Burger. His exclamation was that this was one of the best burgers he's ever had. If I tell you that burgers are like food group of their own to us then you know it's a good recommendation!
I have to concur that the 1 bite I got was pretty darn terrific. It had that charbroiled taste that I love that's often missing from a good burger.
My chicken was also crunchy, hot, and exactly the homestyle fried chicken I've been searching for!
So, if you're one of the 5 people in Longmont who haven't made it to Aunt Alice's I'd say check it out! The food is grandma's kitchen kind of fare the staff is attentive and there's a variety of choices for a very reasonable price. Oh yeah and...pie. Tuesday & Saturday after 4 you can get a FREE slice of cream pie with a meal. We split a piece of chocolate and a piece of coconut. Both delicious.
They have other varieties for you to try too but who can resist free??

They have a senior menu and open at 5am.
If you want to throw your health and wellness concerns in to the wind there's a 96oz Big Daddy Burrito challenge. If you can eat it in an hour, it's free. We saw one guy try...he only got 15 minutes in and called it.

Photo borrowed from Yelp:

 

Arts Coalition of Erie- 1st Annual Photography Show

The Arts Coalition of Erie is excited to partner with the Town of Erie Open Spaces & Trails Advisory Board to hold their first juried Photography Show.
A highlight of this show is the spotlight on the beauty of the Open Spaces and Trails located within the Town of Erie. A special category has been added, both in color and B&W for this focus.

I was happy to attend the reception for this event this week and see some of my friend Lydia Folger's art hanging up beside some other awesome photos!

 

The Arts Coalition of Erie is in a cute little place near old town Erie, I believe...it was dark and I'm not very familiar with the area actually. The coalition was founded in 2008 by local artists and I'm sure it will continue to grow.
There were awards for color, black & white, and best in show. The judge said he was judging each photo on both technical and aesthetic merits. Our dear friend won 1st & 2nd in the black and white category, AND People's Choice for her photo "Adolescent Attitude." (I've nicknamed it "Moo-dy Cows" because I find myself too hilarious to resist.)

 

When not comoo-ning with nature Lydia works as a psychotherapist & counselor in Longmont and is generally delightful. :) Congrats Lydia!

Here are some of the other pieces in the photo contest and gallery:

 

 

 

 

http://artscoalitionoferie.org/

 

 

Beyond Longmont: Yorkshire Fish & Chips

This is a little place in Denver (take the Pecos exit off 36) called Yorkshire Fish & Chips. I went there reluctantly as I have a serious aversion to fish. However, I actually ate a piece of fish. Probably the most fish I've ever eaten at one time since this aversion has pretty much been a life long thing. I love the way fish is breaded and I always hope to find chicken done in this way but it's not very common. (Baker St. Pub in Boulder does it the way I like!)
But if you do actually LIKE fish and chips I can give this the highest recommendation possible for food I don't really eat. I know it doesn't sound like a good recommendation, but I promise it is!
I did get the chicken, which unfortunately was not breaded like the fish but still ok.
The coleslaw is good too and of course they have vinegar so you can do it up properly.
I'd actually try the fish again if we go back one of these days. Who knew...

 

http://www.denverfishandchips.com/index.htm