#223 - Hotel Boulderado

​Beautiful Boulder in June 
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Don and I pulled up to the corner of 13th and Spruce, on Sunday afternoon. We lucked into free street parking and headed for the entrance.

​Since 1909

The 110 year old building was impressive. You've got to love the combined Italian Renaissance and Spanish Revival styles. I did, even if I'm not exactly sure what that means!

I'll bet the folks who attended the 1908 opening gala on New Year's Eve, were impressed. Then again, they might have been too busy socializing, like the crowd enjoying the Corner Bar.

Check In
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The inside was actually more stunning than the outside. We had a quick and easy check in, at a newer reception area. (not pictured) Then we headed into the spacious  open court area.

How to Capture?
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The open court lobby was impossible to capture in one photo. My picture shows off the stained glass, canopy ceiling and the spectacular stairway... that Don and I climbed many times!

Posing
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Don and I didn't manage to pull off any posing photos on the stairs, but these folks did.

Otis Elevator
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After checking in, the bellman took us to the original Otis elevator. He left our bags behind, since there was only room for the 3 of us. He closed the metal gate and there were a few loud clanks and clunks, before we reached the 5th floor.

Don and I headed to the room, while the bellman dashed down to retrieve our bags.

That was a fun elevator adventure, but we opted for the grand stairs the rest of the time.

 
Room 500
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Staying at the Boulderado was a splurge for us. We booked the cheapest, historic room we could get. But when we approached our door in the north corner of the top floor, Don and I grinned. It was right at the top of the grand stairs and it had its own mini hall. Sometimes we just luck out.

I Love Corner Rooms
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What a fabulous surprise to open the door to our lovely corner room. We had 6 windows, plus another in the bathroom. Later, when I looked up from the street, I could spot our room easily. The top vines looked like they were pointing 2 fingers at us!

I opened a side window and looked out. I could see the brown trim and the half pillars!

The bathroom was charming with its dresser-vanity and pleasant smelling Aveda products. The window had a pretty view, of  a church and mountains.

Lounging 
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Don and I didn't have a need for the desk, but we made good use of the marble sink, refrigerator and coffee maker, in the corner. 

We also made use of the sitting area and enjoyed a little snacking. It was nice to take in the Victorian decor... without the vintage smells, that usually come with older hotels. 

Back to the Lobby
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We definitely burned a few calories going up and down the stairs. We learned that the trip up was a lot easier if you paused to enjoy the view, now and then. (Boulder's elevation was part of the issue.)

I felt like I should make a speech, every time I got to the arched railing. But I was usually too winded, for projecting my voice to the crowds.

I wonder how many bouquets have been thrown?

​Sitting Areas

There were lots of decent sitting areas in the lobby. Bonus points for that. I wondered about the famous people who have enjoyed these areas. Louis Armstrong, Clarence Darrow and Helen Keller are some of the famous, past guests.

I found a number of unusual chairs. I would love to know the story behind the wooden chairs near the fireplace. I found no info, but they made me think of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Keeping Time and Making Calls
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I loved these reminders of the past. The classic grandfather clock and marble column, framed the 2 phones quite well!

Hmmm?
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It was after I snapped this photo of the vintage  floor tile, that I noticed the eerie geometric form, hidden in the design. I cringed a moment, then reminded myself that these tiles were placed, long before the 1930's. 

The swastika was a symbol of divinity and spirituality, in Indian religions, long before it became associated with hatred.

​Fire and Water
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There were other things we noticed while wandering, that were less worrisome. I had to grin when I noticed the fire extinguishers below the mirror, where you might expect to see some canes or umbrellas. The water fountain was quite a fun feature. I can't believe I didn't attempt a drink, of Pure Cold Water!

Happy Hour Time
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Don and I were especially excited to share a little of our Boulderado experience with our nephew and wife, who live in Boulder. We met them in the lobby at 4 and headed for the Corner Bar. It was actually crowded, unlike my photo. So we headed to the patio.

Perfect!
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It was pretty fabulous sitting outside, catching up over drinks. The air was perfect and the crowds were just lively enough. We had a good table for people watching. There was lots of activity since we were in the heart of downtown, just a block from Pearl Street.

Continuing the Fun
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Andy and Casey picked a delicious Nepali restaurant, a few blocks away for dinner. When we returned to the hotel, it was time to have another peek at the bar in the basement.

License No. 1 Liquor Bar
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​There were no passwords needed, but there was definitely a speakeasy feel, to bar in the basement. Luckily I had taken some photos earlier. The bar was hopping at 8 pm and my flash would have been obnoxious.

The basement was a maze of cozy rooms. Each one was different. I liked the shoeshine throne, in this one.

Serving Since 1909

Evidently this bar has one of the oldest liquor licenses in Boulder. The sign at the door announced, "Serving since 1909... Legally since 1969" 

It was easy to picture a little alcohol being served down here, during prohibition. 

It was a totally different experience exploring at 8:30 when the rooms were buzzing with guests. 

The only room that was bright enough to sneak a photo without a flash, was this one. We followed the sounds of flutes and violins and found this room, in the midst of an Irish music jam session.  We watched a while and wandered on. A solo guitarist performed in another room. We settled into a cozy, rounded booth and enjoyed for a while.

Not everyone was on vacation, so we finished up our wonderful reunion around 10. 

Morning at Boulderado

​In the morning I made use of the hotel's fitness room, then grabbed some coffee from the Boxcar window, before showering. 

Don and I were dressed and back down to the hotel's Spruce Farm & Fish Restaurant, to make use of our food voucher.

We sat in a sunny, enclosed area that had once been the hotel's porch. Don's omelet with bacon and goat cheese was pretty scrumptious. I ordered fresh fruit, knowing that's often a risky order. I was pleasantly surprised with every mouthwatering bite.  

What's Notable?
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I really didn't want to leave this hotel. People often say that about their vacations and hotels, but that's not usually me. I have a short attention span and I'm always giddy to move along.

This time, I felt like we needed a couple more days. I wanted to lounge more... enjoy more of the excellent food & drink... relax more in our comfy and luxurious room... visit more with our Andy and Casey! 

We obviously need to return.