Sagrada Familia in Barcelona: Gaudi’s Unfinished Masterpiece

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Sagrada Familia in Barcelona: Gaudi’s Unfinished Masterpiece

Sagrada Familia, where to start? This astonishing piece of architectural perfection is Antonio Gaudi’s most prominent –yet still unfinished–project. I have lived in Barcelona for four months now, however I hadn’t actually gone inside Sagrada until last weekend. Within seconds of entering the church I was blown away. I couldn’t believe anything, a church for that matter, (which sadly become monotonous at times) could be so original, innovative and inspiring. The magnitude and the dimensions, the illumination and the uniqueness. This awe inspiring piece was something I had to write about without delay. It was so gratifying, so bright, so full of life, and it was unlike any church or building I had ever seen before. It was brilliant.

The Nativity Facade

The Passion Facade

The construction of Sagrada began in 1882. A year later, Gaudi became involved. Shortly after, this became Gaudi’s main project, changing the design considerably and instilling Gothic and Art Nouveau forms. He worked on it until his death in 1926 and since his passing, various architects have been brought in to carry out Gaudi’s original ideas and vision. With the completion of the spires Sagrada Familia will stand as the tallest church in the world.

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Decaf Drama

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Decaf Drama

This past weekend, I was asked about decaf coffee coincidentally on two separate occasions. Decaf coffee is a healthy alternative for some, although it often means compromising on taste. Despite getting a lot of harsh criticism from hardcore coffee addicts and elite aficionados, decaf is an attractive alternative for those who like the essential flavor and aroma of coffee but want to avoid the physical effects of caffeine. In my tasting experience, decaf drip coffee and decaf espresso are always inferior to their caffeinated counterparts. Although I drink regular coffee, my recent conversations about decaf prompted me to learn more about the process of decaffeination.

coffee-related, Lichtenstein-inspired street art. photo courtesy of Sean Davis.

Caffeine is an alkaloid or chemical compound found in certain plants including coffee. In coffee plants it works as a pesticide but for coffee drinkers it’s a stimulating drug. Caffeine quantity varies depending on bean variety, coffee processing, roasting methods, and brewing techniques. Decaffeinated coffee comes with a lot of drama attached to it. If you’re a decaf drinker, ignore the cultural stigma and focus on the actual decaffeinating process. It’s important for you to know how the caffeine was removed from your coffee because you …read more

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Faces of Boulder Photo of the Day!

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Faces of Boulder Photo of the Day!

Halloween Week has finally arrived! With Boulder being a town that celebrates Halloween on multiple days every year, this week will be a busy one for the Faces of Boulder so get your costumes ready! (Photo: Joseph Wirth)

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Competitor or Creator?

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Competitor or Creator?

“Remember that in the moment you begin to hurry you cease to be a creator and become a competitor; you drop back upon the old plane again.”

-Wallace D. Wattles

When we are young we begin measuring our own accomplishments against our peers. This competition forces us to do one of two things – attack or retreat. This is the old “fight or flight” adage that we are all accustomed to hearing. When we know we are being measured against others we develop a competitiveness, or a drive to beat others.

Economic competition, in a free-market, creates a culture of progress. Only the strongest survive. Businesses compete, driving prices down while quality and service increase. This means that consumers win. If a consumer is being taking advantage of, a competitor steps in and wins that business over – with either a better price, better service, or both.

Competition is great on a macro level. It provides a system of checks and balances. It ensures progress because if you (or your company) is not providing value, somebody else will. You have to improve to stay competitive (see what I did there?), or your business ends up with a big “For Sale” sign on the …read more

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Faces of Boulder: Homecoming Weekend

This is a blog post from Ari Pregen's Blog

Faces of Boulder: Homecoming Weekend

Danny John killin it this with his local Boulder band this weekend as they helped raise money for Amazon Rainforest protection. Photo: Travis Bildahl

CU Boulder’s 100th Homecoming game brought Boulder back to its roots and was a day to remember for both CU students, Alumni, and Boulder residents. Everyone in Boulder was reminded this weekend of why Boulder is such a great place to live in through the beautiful 80 degree weather and the great moments that made up this years homecoming weekend.

The following images come from Travis Bildahl and Joseph Wirth as they went from party to party on the hill area of Boulder this weekend. Hope you enjoy these pictures as much as we enjoyed game day!

Ben Deixler killing it on the keys! (Photo: Travis Bildahl)

(Photo: Travis Bildahl)

(Photo: Travis Bildahl)

(Photo: Travis Bildahl)

(Photo: Travis Bildahl)

(Photo: Travis Bildahl)

(Photo: Joseph WIrth)

(Photo: Joseph Wirth)

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Boosting Boulder Sustainability: Topics on the Ballot Include Municipal Internet and Fire Protection

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Boosting Boulder Sustainability: Topics on the Ballot Include Municipal Internet and Fire Protection

Boulder Weekly has put up a voter guide with info on all the different topics to vote on this year and the ballot is available to read and for use on Boulder County’s website.The Ballot in Boulder County has topics to vote on that if passed will not only benefit the individual but also strengthen the community as a whole. Mentioned below are some of the topics that have the potential to boost Boulder’s resilience in the long term against future threats.

GMO Labeling

Across the country, states are voting on GMO labeling that would help protect consumers’ rights to know what they are eating. If Prop 105 in Colorado passes, certain genetically modified foods will require labels starting July 1^st, 2016, informing people that what they are buying is genetically modified. The label would say “Produced with Genetic Engineering”. Europe has placed a ban on GMOs, and Colorado isn’t the only state voting on this topic. There are a lot of concerns of adverse health impacts from eating genetically modified produce. Also, the weeds that grow along side GMOs adapt to the super plants and become much larger and much more resilient. The mutated weeds then spread from farmland …read more

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Video Vault: Edge of Tomorrow Is Better Than Expected

This is a blog post from Ari Pregen's Blog

Video Vault: Edge of Tomorrow Is Better Than Expected

On principle, I’m against Tom Cruise. The couch-jumping, Xenu-praising freak gets way too much attention as is. But sort of like Kanye West, Tom Cruise offstage and Tom Cruise offstage are different beasts.

I thought this was going to be a dumb action movie, but the pre-release reviews were glowing. So I gave it a try.

(more…)

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8 Super Foods to Bring Out Your Inner Super Human

This is a blog post from Ari Pregen's Blog

8 Super Foods to Bring Out Your Inner Super Human

If you’re looking to eat right and feel great at the same time, there are some foods that you should consider adding to your menu. While there are plenty of healthy foods are out there that you can choose from, the foods listed in this article are some of my favorites. They are all super nutritious and will help you to maintain robust health and a strong physique. These foods will also enhance your body’s health from the inside to the outside!

Chia seeds – A powerhouse of vitamins and nutrients, chia seeds are also a great alternative to the more processed grains you may be faced with choosing. Seeds, by nature of their purpose, are almost always packed with nourishing vitamins and minerals that are essential for life and for your overall wellbeing. Chia seeds are also a fun additive to foods to make them more filling and wholesome. I add chia seeds to literally everything. In the morning I add them to my yogurt, in the afternoon I add them to my protein shake, and at night I add them to my dessert (which is almost always paleo of course). These seeds, which by themselves are generally flavorless, …read more

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Classroom Kitchens

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Classroom Kitchens

I firmly believe that if you are passionate about something, you can learn to do anything. For me, that calling was food. I grew up in a food-is-love household, making cookies with my mom when I was little and helping with dinner when I was older. I might not have been a great cook back then, but when I felt like cooking I did alright. Something changed along the way and I decided to go to culinary school and pursue the insane career of professional cook.

Nearly a decade later, I find myself more interested in cooking for my family than for four hundred brunch lovers. Feeding my family and friends is a family tradition, as it is for many others. And I’ve spoken with many fellow food-lovers that are interested in improving their technique and learn new recipes. So for those of you interested in stepping up your game, but without spending $40k to go a full term in the Culinary Institute of America, there are a few options here in Boulder that I’ll highlight over the next few months.

SLT Logo

First up is Sur La Table, a gourmet kitchen store located in the …read more

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The Fraidy Cat’s Guide to the Perfect Cat Eye

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The Fraidy Cat’s Guide to the Perfect Cat Eye

Last week I promised you last minute Halloween make-up tutorials. That’s out the window. Turns out I need more than a week to come up with lighting that doesn’t make me look like I’ve emerged from a nap beneath a highway offramp and truth be told, all I really wanted to tutorial was how to be a kitty cat. And we can still have that discussion. Basically, go grab some waterproof liquid black eyeliner and do this to your face.

BOOM. Halloween-ed.

With tutorials and felines on the brain I decided instead we could look into how to create the perfect cat eye. I know. I too am a fraidy cat when it comes to bold eyeliner. It feels a little cavalier. Kind of like doing your algebra homework in ink. What if you make a mistake!? What then!?

But! You can do it! Trust me.

By implementing these tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way it really isn’t so bad.

First, you want to pick your angle. Generally picking a 45 degree angle or less from the lateral corner of your eye works best. If you’re going for a more Amy Winehouse my-eyeballs-might-take-flight look, then you can …read more

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To Stay in the Bubble or Not – U.S. 36 Past and Future

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To Stay in the Bubble or Not – U.S. 36 Past and Future

Hey, has anyone out there wondered about the US 36 expansion project that leaves us sitting in traffic? What the heck are they doing out there? I heard a rumor it was getting turned into a toll road?

While sitting in traffic the other day, in the midst of the major rehab of US 36, I pondered this road I regularly use and decided to research some information about it.

In the early 1950, the Denver-Boulder Turnpike was promoted by business and university interests in Boulder because there was no direct route between Denver and Boulder. Initially, it was a 17.3-mile toll road stretching from Federal Boulevard (US 287) in Westminster to Baseline Road in Boulder. It opened on January 19, 1952 with a toll of $0.25.

Larry Dorsey, author of the Superior Historian, wrote a great article where he shares the entire history and culture surrounding life before and after 36. He shares how going to Denver used to be an all day affair. U.S. 36 cut 8 miles of dirt road off of a commuter’s trip to Denver. “Before the toll road was completed, motorists followed a course of primitive roads through Colorado farm land on their way to Denver. …read more

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Halloween Concerts!

This is a blog post from Ari Pregen's Blog

Halloween Concerts!

Halloween is always a fun time to dress up, pull pranks on one another, and eat more candy than you most likely would any other time of the year (well, maybe Christmas is in the running, too). While that is all fun and good for most people, some of us (like myself) are often in search of shows to go to on this most Hallowed Eve, which luckily for most people falls a week from tonight. There are a number of Halloween-themed concerts out there, and then some that appear to just be coincidence that they take place next Friday. Here is a short preview of the shows that may be your best bet for dressing up, and enjoying great artists at the same time.

The Motet is a funk/dance/electronic/disco band that hails from Colorado and has been gaining more and more notoriety s the years go by. This Halloween, they will be playing at the Boulder Theater located near the Pearl Street Mall. What is even more exciting is the fact that this local funk machine will be playing for not only one night, but two evenings next Thursday and Friday. The downside? It appears that Friday night may be …read more

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Boulder Giving, its about Community.

This is a blog post from Ari Pregen's Blog

Boulder Giving, its about Community.

Credit: nonprofitpeople.moster.com

Philanthropy is such a hot topic these days, from Mark Zuckerberg’s major contribution to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, to the #BoulderWin of GNIP and Twitter which will benefit all of Boulder County. But philanthropy is not just about monetary contributions, it’s about the time and effort that individuals put back into their community which makes everyone’s lives better.

According to the North American Dictionary, philanthropy is described as the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the donation of money to good causes. Honestly, I know that this is just the cusp of what philanthropy stands for.

I first got involved with nonprofits when my mother would help the Meals on Wheels program where we delivered meals to the elderly who are unable to provide for themselves. This act of compassion is so crucial for our society today. I feel this passion to make a difference on a daily basis but I am also aware that not everyone has the same form of commitment to serve. Whether you have a passion for education, animals or hunger there is always something you can do to make an impact in something you care about.

Well, now some …read more

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Weekday Specials and Events at Your Favorite Bars in Boulder

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Weekday Specials and Events at Your Favorite Bars in Boulder

via Explore Steamboat

Weekend, smeekend, you should treat yourself everyday of the week! Here are some weekday specials and events at your favorite bars in Boulder.

Monday

Brighten up your Monday with a trip to Press Play for Panic Hour. For one random hour, Press Play will be giving out free drinks AND free skee ball all for the sake of making the beginning of the week a little easier. If you’re looking for some good ol’ fashion fun, head over to The Walrus Saloon for their Weekly Rock and Roll Bingo starting at 10:30 p.m. Maybe you’re looking for some enigma in your life, and if so, the Sundown Saloon is the place to be for Mystery Can Monday. Just a dollar for one randomly selected can: it could be PBR, but it also could be one of Boulder’s many locally brewed beers.

Tuesday

It’s still early in the week and your job just seemed to drag on today. Why not de-stress with the infamous Trike Night at the Dark Horse. What’s better than racing around the bar on an almost indestructible three-wheeled bike? Oh I know, free beer that comes with every race! Looking for something to do in the great outdoors; well …read more

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Joyful Journaling – Create your own story

This is a blog post from Ari Pregen's Blog

Joyful Journaling – Create your own story

Yesterday the partial solar eclipse brought together hundreds of Boulder folk as they gathered to observe the event. Looking at the images and stories of happy observeres soaking up the late fall sunshine, it’s clear to see what a fascination we have with the skies. And it’s no accident – us humans have been observing the skies for a very, very long time, it’s in our nature.

Did you know though, that eclipses have long been understood to be a time of deeper connection to our spiritual nature? The days around solar eclipses and new moons are a perfect time to work with new intentions and commitments to ourselves. Whatever spiritual practice we have has an extra-powerful potential in these times.

Journaling is a simple and useful way to focus and harness our own capacity for making change in our lives.

If we are the heros and heroines of our own stories,

why not make them stories we love?

A journal is a place where we write our story. We talk to ourselves in our journals. We take time to pay attention to our needs and desires, to discover what is going on for us. We can gain …read more

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