Filth Is Beauty

This is a blog post from Ari Pregen's Blog

Filth Is Beauty

Recently a friend asked me my feelings on charcoal. That’s easy. Charcoal’s smell triggers cravings for hot dogs and watermelon and therefore is a lovely, lovely tease.

Apparently she meant charcoal as a beauty product.

I balked. Rubbing your body in charcoal? That seems as good an idea as bathing in mud. Which… while messy… and counterintuitive… happens to be a major luxury at spas worldwide. Interesting. Maybe gasoline fights really are next.

Ooh… except somehow that movie (Zoolander) came out in 2001… HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE. I feel old.

Serendipitously, charcoal touts anti-aging benefits! (I didn’t even PLAN that segue. I think charcoal just gets me.)

Anti-aging, teeth whitening, and pore clarifying, are all merits ascribed to charcoal. And I guess that makes sense. Charcoal operates like a magnet, luring out opposing ions and swathing itself in them so that when the charcoal is removed, the offending ions go out with it.

Charcoal is like nature’s Pied Piper. It plays it’s siren song and gets all the rats to leave the village, wherein siren song = adsorptive properties (yes, with a D), rats = grime/toxins, and village = your visage/body.

Emergency medicine used to recommend infusing charcoal into the …read more

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Happy Hour on the Hill: A Guide for the Thirsty CU Student

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Happy Hour on the Hill: A Guide for the Thirsty CU Student

After Freshman year, many students transition from living in the dorms to living in an old, brick house or apartment nestled in the Hill district of Boulder. This area, as Boulderites are well aware of, has become the home of CU students. It’s rare and often odd to catch site of a family strolling along the sidewalk of College Avenue. Regardless, this area is bustling with the young energy of students in their twenties. The shopping area on the Hill spans a mere block and a half, a small area for such a large student population, however 13^th Street is lined with restaurants and small shops. There are a plethora of sandwich shops and coffee shops: fast meals and a little caffeine to keep the busy CU student energized through finals week (or any week of the school year). Amongst these quick eateries are a handful of restaurants with some great happy hour specials.

The Sink is a funky restaurant and bar on the corner of 13^th and Pennsylvania with a lot of history. The restaurant is much like a labyrinth or maze, with low ceilings, dim light, and separate sections connected by narrow entryways. It is a laid-back spot with …read more

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Who Is Our President, Even? (The CU President That Is)

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Who Is Our President, Even? (The CU President That Is)

It’s strange to realize that after three years at he University of Colorado Boulder, I have very little knowledge of who Cu’s President is. Up until last semester, I had absolutely no idea who, or what our president’s name even was – and on that note, the only reason I do now is because I worked as a suite attendant in the Presidents suite during football season.

The President’s suite during the 2014 football season photographed by Cortney Ratashak

CU’s president, a kind, warm, and intelligent man, became the head of the University in 2008. Being head of CU encompasses more than just Boulder, though. He is the president of all four campuses: Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs and Anschutz. Since taking the reins of CU, Benson has succeeded in enhancing CU’s standing as one of the nation’s leading public universities, advancing the economy, health and culture of Colorado. Futhermore, during his time in office, CU’s research funding has soared to record levels, accumulating over 861 million from 2013-2014 alone. It’s safe to say that Benson has made a remarkable impact on CU as a whole.

Aside from being the head honcho at Boulder, Benson has much experience in a wide array of fields. …read more

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Using artificial intelligence to free us from Time Claustrophobia

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Using artificial intelligence to free us from Time Claustrophobia

Do you feel like there just isn’t enough time to spend time with those you love? Or maybe even feeling guilty enjoying that free time with your family because there is too much “stuff” to get done?!

Well, we’ve all seen in the movies how Iron Man’s assistant JARVIS not only helps him get out of a sticky situations, but also manage his life in an entirely intelligent way.

This type of technology is becoming a reality with a new app from a Boulder-based startup DaVinciTime.com who mission is to create intelligent software for ambitious people so they can be free of overwhelm to achieve their dreams in a balanced way.

How you might ask? Good question.

You see “to-do” lists have not kept up with the rest of our technology. The problem is they are “dumb” meaning there is no context, no way to react to a change in the real world. Even electronic to-do lists are just “dumb” digital information with no memory or reaction to changing circumstances.

Everyday we live our lives and spend our time (our most precious resource) and then just throw away that data by throwing our task lists in the trash never to be viewed again.

Eric James, Founder …read more

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For the Outdoors-Men (and Women) Who Have to Spend This Weekend Indoors

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For the Outdoors-Men (and Women) Who Have to Spend This Weekend Indoors

Wow. It is snowing. And has been snowing. And will continue to snow. I know there are the Boulderites with their intense training schedules who will brave the cold and snow to run up mountains or brave the disastrous, car wreck inducing ski resort traffic on I-70 to freeze their buns off on the slopes; there is still plenty to do indoors for the outdoors enthusiast on the rare weekend that Boulder doesn’t have pleasant weather. Here are some of my options this weekend.

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Planning

Trips as well as many outdoor activities take planning. Even if you are the most experienced backpacker, you may want to try a new route this spring/summer and you will need to plan out a few things.

• Backpacking Trip Plans: Where do you want to backpack once it warms up? Who would you like to come with you? When could you possibly go? How long could you go for? Would you be able to take off from work (employers usually prefer early notification)? What is your transportation method to get to the trailhead? Do you need a permit and how do you get one? What route do you want to take? How many miles are …read more
  

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A Boulder Start-up For The Yogi In Everyone

This is a blog post from Ari Pregen's Blog

A Boulder Start-up For The Yogi In Everyone

“Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.”

- B.K.S. Iyengar

Boulder, Colorado is one of the most brilliant cities in the United States for yogis. Peppered with studios and filled with world-renowned teachers, beginner and advanced yoga practitioners alike have it made. In the midst of all the wonderful array of studios in the foothills, one studio in particular has my heart and makes me feel at home; Boulder’s own, The Little Yoga Studio LLC. This studio is the perfect place for anyone looking to just come in, get on their mat, practice and just be! The studio is bright and clean, the staff welcoming and never once have I walked in and felt intimidated to be there. Each class and style of yoga offered is true to form—nothing else is promoted during class and as a result each time you come you are able to immerse deeper into your own personal practice. The studio is no muss, no fuss and the most affordable yoga Boulder has to offer, with drop-ins priced at just $10.

Founded by Boulder local Amy Benton, The …read more

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A Documentary Film for All Coffee Lovers

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A Documentary Film for All Coffee Lovers

Part love letter, part treatise A Film About Coffee is a beautiful documentary that explores the growing field of specialty coffee. It’s a short but comprehensive film that ebbs and flows from roastery to farm to café. With interviews from industry professionals around the world—including company owners, champion baristas, seasoned growers, and dedicated buyers—this food doc covers many bases to prove the importance of ethically sourced and skillfully crafted coffee.

By showing the hard work and passion it takes to make a great cup of coffee, A Film About Coffee asks viewers to consider coffee as more than just a commodity. As a loyal fan of specialty coffee, I totally loved this film! But I think it’s worth watching regardless of your feelings towards third wave coffee.

The documentary is available to buy or rent on Vimeo now. For a limited time, you can use the promo code STUMPTOWN for a discount off the rental price. If you’re not already enticed, watch the trailer below.

…read more

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Faces of Boulder- Pic of The Day

This is a blog post from Ari Pregen's Blog

Faces of Boulder- Pic of The Day

Meet Steven, who migrated to Boulder six months ago. Steven enjoys the variety of sweet hiking trails and the different international restaurants in town. This picture was taken at the open space in South Boulder. Also, he loves the abundance of book stores where he can always find something exciting!

…read more

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Stout Month at The Mountain Sun, or, an Afternoon in Boulder’s Most ‘Boulder’ Brewpub

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Stout Month at The Mountain Sun, or, an Afternoon in Boulder’s Most ‘Boulder’ Brewpub

I realize, writing an editorial about The Mountain Sun to Boulderites is much like a movie critic extolling the cinematic genius of Dr. Zhivago. I also realize that writing a piece on The Mountain Sun’s Stout Month to Boulderites is much like a music critic venturing to the Monterey Pop Festival, and saying the music was “pretty great.” Let’s face it: The Mountain Sun is a Boulder institution. Their yearly homage to dark and malty beer, Stout Month, has become a tradition for the denizens of Boulder since the celebration began 22 years ago. So, for anyone who has yet ventured to The Mountain Sun, or any of its sister stores (The Southern Sun, Under the Sun, Vine Street Pub, Longs Peak Pub), here’s the lowdown.

The brewpub is home to not only some classic beers, but also locally sourced ingredients to produce mouth-watering meals for meat-eaters, vegetarians and vegans alike. It’s one of the only suds-suppliers in town without a television, and in its place, a stack of books and board games. The place is decidedly Bohemian, with hand-painted and hand-chalked murals adorning the walls. Rustic and colorful rugs also cover the interior, …read more

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Faces of Boulder- Pic of The Day!

This is a blog post from Ari Pregen's Blog

Faces of Boulder- Pic of The Day!

Meet Rob, 20, a hard working cat who also can appreciate the finer things in life like art and music! You can catch Rob killing it at the original Salvaggio’s “Big Deli” location on 26th and Pearl St. Great food, great people. If you do get the opportunity to grab an infamous steak, egg, and cheese, Rob will encourage you to throw a hash brown on top while cracking a joke about how you can get free CU tuition by jumping in front of a Buff Bus!

…read more

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The Most Effective Beauty Product Ever Is Already In Your Home

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The Most Effective Beauty Product Ever Is Already In Your Home

Truly. Assuming your home is in the first world, which, if you’re spending your free time cruising internet beauty blogs, I think I can safely assume you’re not in extremis, you already have the greatest beauty product ever right there at home: water.

Most folks don’t drink nearly enough water. Coloradans probably skew the average with our ever present sport bottles, but even then we’re probably not consuming as much as we should. I may just be speaking for myself.

I’ll be honest. In the past, not drinking water was a deliberate time management strategy for me.

When I went through medical training I would literally (yes, literally) avoid water throughout an entire day to minimize my number of trips to the bathroom. As a resident I didn’t believe I had time to pee, ever, let alone pee every few hours.

If I made it through a twelve hour shift with one trip to the bathroom? Well, I’d just need to try harder. Think of all that time I wasted voiding my bladder!

The degree of dehydration I worked with is not unlike my big awkward glasses from childhood: yeah, it happened and I can acknowledge it, but I would not advise any human …read more

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No Name Bar: It’s as Inconspicuous as it Sounds

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No Name Bar: It’s as Inconspicuous as it Sounds

Tucked away in a small complex on the Hill, sandwiched between Dot’s Diner and Cosmo’s Pizza, lies is a hidden gem. The No Name Bar, connected to Cosmo’s Pizza is a hip, speakeasy-esque bar. Its entrance, a large, elegant wooden door, stands alone in a dark corner beneath a set of outdoor stairs. At first glance, it appears to lead nowhere—it lacks the typical outdoor lighting that announces a restaurant or bar’s presence. And, most peculiarly, it lacks a sign. Their business card matchbooks that line the bar neither have any contact information nor any name, marked with a simple ‘C’ to signify its partnership with Cosmo’s. With no website, and only a modest Facebook with once-daily posts about their upcoming events, the No Name bar is, to say the least, difficult to come across.

Furnished with three booths, large enough to squeeze you and seven of you friends (that is, if you like each other well enough), a wrap-around wooden bar and a handful of tall round tables, No Name is an intimate bar with elegant character. Typically, visitors come for a late-night beer or cocktail, however within the first few hours of opening, No Name offers an alluring happy …read more

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Why CU Is Better Than CSU (A Comprehensive List)

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Why CU Is Better Than CSU (A Comprehensive List)

The long established rivalry between the University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado State has, and will continue to be, a relevant one. I present an unbiased and comprehensive list as to why, once and for all, CU is on top.

1. Our mascot would win in a fight
   
   
   

   Photo Credit: keithseidel.com

   
   
   
   


2. The view, of course
   
   
   

   Photographed by Cortney Ratashak

   
   
   
   


3. Campus is modeled after Tuscany
   
   
   

   Photo Credit: centerbook.com

   
   
   
   


4. The city of Boulder itself
   
   
   

   Pearl Street, Photographed By Cortney Ratashak

   
   
   
   


5. We have a stadium that is actually on campus
   
   
   

   Folsom Stadium, Photographed by Cortney Ratashak

   
   
   
   


6. CU has a designated college area (the Hill)


7. Popular bands want to stop in Boulder
   
   
   

   The String Cheese Incident’s Free Concert on College Avenue (2014) Photographed by Cortney Ratashak

   
   
   
   


8. CU is ranked 182nd out of all world universities…CSU is ranked 441st. (top universities.com)


9. You get what you pay for
   
   
   

   Photo Credit: Flickr.com

   
   
   
   


10. Our parties are always, “one for the books”
    
    
    

    St.Patricks Day 2013, Photographed by Cortney Ratashak

    
    
    
    

…read more

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8 Easy Mountains to Summit Right in Your Backyard

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8 Easy Mountains to Summit Right in Your Backyard

Despite the occasional snow this winter, there has been many beautiful days for hiking. While you may not be ready for a winter Fourteener, I think you can definitely summit some of these super close beautiful mountains with amazing views. Just be sure to bring your crampons! Although some of these trails at the right time you may not need the crampons. My list gets progressively harder, so start at the top and climb your way up to the tops of those mountains first.

1. Bald Mountain, 1.5 miles one way: From Boulder, head west on Mapleton and on up about 7 miles on Sunshine Canyon. The small Boulder County Parks and Open Space parking lot will be on your left. This short hike is scenic and a quick trip to get to an amazing 360 degree peak view. You’ll see the skyline of Denver as well as the Continental Divide on a clear day. There is a option to take a shorter, steeper trail straight to the top too if you just want to get up there.

2. Sugarloaf Mountain, ~1 mile one way: It’s just a short drive up Canyon from Boulder (and a few …read more

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Faces of Boulder- Pic of The Day!

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Faces of Boulder- Pic of The Day!

Meet Micah, 22, grew up in Boulder and is about as calm and cool as they come. He enjoys the weather and the landscape in Boulder and spends his days jamming on pearl. What is most noteworthy about this sweet pic is Micah is using a saw and a violin bow! A surprisingly good jam you may find yourself enjoying on the way to your favorite happy hour!

…read more

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