by Editorial Staff (Editorial@boulderweekly.com)

Spring is here. The birds are chirping, the prairie dogs are scurrying, and Boulderites everywhere are putting away their skis, boots and winter outdoor gear in anticipation of yet another great summer.

Soon, Boulder Farmers' Market will be in full swing. Thursday cruiser rides will once again take to the streets. Hikers will converge upon Chautauqua in full force, and Boulder Creek will yet again be filled to its banks with tubers, swimmers and kayakers.

In many ways, Boulder has changed over the past year. Crossroads Mall is a distant memory, and mixed-use housing and shops have taken over what will soon be Twenty Ninth Street. Hikers and climbers have said goodbye to some of their favorite trails and climbing spots and welcomed new ones, thanks to the new Open Space and Mountain Parks Visitor Master Plan. And there will be decidedly fewer Army Humvees roaming around Boulder, thanks to Boulder Valley School District's stricter military recruiting rules, enacted earlier this year.

While so much development and change is happening around us, there's still a lot that hasn't changed and that continues to define our fair city. Boulder still has one of the best-educated populaces in the country. We're wealthier than most American cities, ranked No. 7. On average, we continue to have more sunny days than just about any other city in the country. And open space, hiking trails and the Flatirons continue to make Boulder unique. Whether they know it or not, most Boulderites have fallen completely under the fabled curse of Chief Niwot: Once you come to Boulder, you can never leave—it's just too spectacular.

It's with all this in mind that we offer our 2006 Best of Boulder edition. Some things never change, and yet Boulder has so many new faces and businesses that it can't help but get better. When it's all said and done, the Best of Boulder is a compilation of all the things that make our city great—both old and new. We hope you enjoy our 2006 edition.

JEWELRY STORE
Reader & Staff pick: Angie Star
1807 Pearl St., 720-565-0288

Runner-up: Hurdle's Jewelry
Honorable Mention: Little Jewel

With locally owned businesses diminishing in Boulder, it's nice to know that all three of this year's BOB jewelry winners are owned and operated within the Republic of Boulder. Relative newbie to the jewelry scene is this year's reader and staff pick, Angie Starr. The store offers unique necklaces, bracelets and earrings for all ages. The handcrafted items are worth a peek, even for those who don't have jewelry penciled into their monthly budget. Runner-up Hurdle's Jewelry offers personable service and unique designs that have pleased customers for decades. Honorable mention Little Jewel offers a great selection of items in platinum, gold and sterling silver, including an extensive collection of wedding bands.

by Editorial Staff (Editorial@boulderweekly.com)

The Flatirons are rumbling. Pearl Street is quaking. The prairie dogs are scurrying deep into their burrows. Boulder is in the midst of a Richter Scale-smashing upheaval.

The signs are everywhere. The site of the once-sprawling Crossroads Mall is now a gigantic dirt-bike track, soon to become the bright, shiny Twenty Ninth Street. Downtown Boulder is now the proud home of a destination attracting international travelers—the glitzy St. Julien Hotel and Spa. Rumors abound that long-time landmarks like Penny Lane could soon be closing their doors for good. The evil nuclear monstrosity to the South, the plutonium-contaminated ruins of Rocky Flats, is going to be re-opened as a wildlife-filled hiking spot, the remaining plutonium contamination notwithstanding. And Boulder is scheduled to become a spoke on an ambitious light-rail system connecting it to communities all along the Front Range—that is, if anyone can figure out how to get from the transportation village to the train tracks.

Yes, Boulder is in transition. But will it end up an unrecognizable imitation of the past, a Colorado Madame Tussaud's, where all the waxy replicas of the Rainbow kids and techies and couch-burning college kids and poem-spewing hippies have a unsettling resemblance to That Which Once Was with something not quite right?

We don't think so. While we're sad to see some of our favorite Boulder people and places pass into memory, we know enough about this incredible place to know Boulder isn't Boulder because of a single storefront or smiling face—no matter how unique and magical that business or personality might be. There's no single ingredient, no easy definition, that explains why Boulder's a one-of-a-kind destination—the kind of place that lures people from all over the world and causes neighboring communities to fume with envy. The secret's in the amalgamation, the crazy fusion of breathtaking scenery; unusually far-sighted civic management; world-renown institutions of intellectual and cultural pre-eminence; an appreciation of all things healthy and natural; and a need to better not just our perfect little bubble, but the unfortunate territory that comprises what's referred to around these parts as "Beyond Boulder."

Sure, Boulder will look very different two, five, 10 years down the road. But it will still be Boulder. All of us will still wake up every day knowing that we are among the blessed few who can say they're living in one of the greatest places on Earth.

That's why our Best of Boulder County, now an annual fixture, never gets old. The best parts of this crazy locale—the headline-grabbers, the bistros, the boutiques, the top trends—just keep getting better. You, our readers, demonstrate as much, dutifully filling out survey after survey, letting us know what local institutions tickle your taste buds, draw you through their doors and make your days a little bit brighter. Compiled on the following pages, you'll find your favorite reasons—combined with a few of our own—why Boulder remains, now and forever, the blessed People's Republic. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

JEWELRY STORE
Reader & Staff Pick: Angie Star Jewelry
1807 Pearl St., 720-565-0288

Runner-up: Little Jewel
Honorable Mention: Hurdle's Jewelry & Master Goldsmiths (tie)

For some of the most unique jewelry pieces on Pearl Street, Boulder Weekly readers and staff pick Angie Star. While Angie Star has only been in business for two years, the store enjoys a wide range of clientele, from college students to sophisticated 50-somethings. The varied price range—from $20 to $200—keeps all customers happy and coming back for more. So, what's the secret to Angie Star's success? The store changes out its color palette monthly. This keeps the earrings, necklaces and bracelets fresh and exciting. For a fun summer look, check out one of Angie Star's belly chains, the perfect accessory for those who have been slaving away in abs class all winter.

Runner-up Little Jewel offers one of the largest jewelry selections on Pearl Street. The family-owned business has been around for 26 years. Honorable mention Hurdle's Jewelry, perhaps the oldest jewelry store in Boulder County, is a full-service jewelry store that offers custom designs and service with a smile. Master Goldsmiths, which tied this year for honorable mention, also offers unique designs with premium-cut diamonds and precious colored gemstones.

CATCH A RISING STARR

A portrait of three artists who design custom jewelry. Angie Starr specializes in handcrafted necklaces, custom bridal jewelry and original creations.