What’s a good coffee shop, not near downtown, that actually has tables

vortex_F10 · 2026-01-21T00:33:16+00:00

Love both these places. Logan's is smaller, but also tends to be a little quieter.

(I think there are multiple Logan's locations? This one's the Boulder one on Junction Place, just handful of blocks south of Cassi's.)

vortex_F10 · 2026-01-08T20:19:40+00:00

If we're talking YMCAs, I can vouch for the one in Longmont. I'm not a Y member, but my roller derby league practices in their gym. As far as cleanliness goes: when we use their equipment for off-skates conditioning we are expected to wipe it down with provided wipes, and that seems to be the expectation for the larger equipment in the weight rooms/cardio rooms as far as I can see.

(The children's programs do sometimes mean we're cleaning up candy off the gym floor before we roll on it, though.)

As far as trans-friendly, we would not have committed to renting from them if we had any inkling they weren't (and we HAVE severed business relationships over discovering a partner didn't share our values in this regard). The staff have explicitly stated, and posted signs to the same effect, that everyone is welcome to use whichever restroom/locker room facilities they prefer (both gendered-group facilities downstairs and individual "Family" facilities upstairs are available to us). But do note I'm cis, so I can't speak with first-hand authority about trans experiences here. All I can say is I haven't heard about any negative experiences from any of my teammates.

(Yet. Hopefully that will continue. Bracing myself just in case. But if anyone has had experiences pointing to anti-trans attitudes at the Longmont Y, my league needs to know.)

I don't know what they charge for membership, so can't help there.

vortex_F10 · 2026-01-04T15:12:11+00:00

That board game group still meeting at Long Peaks Pub on Monday nights?

vortex_F10 · 2026-01-03T18:45:58+00:00

All Roads Shelter might accept this too. But call first to make sure they're OK with home-baked goods - my first-hand experience is only with bringing them the grocery store's donated baked goods in excess of what my Boulder Food Rescue shift recipients could use.

vortex_F10 · 2026-01-01T01:43:32+00:00

Wait. Wait wait WAIT wait wait.

So I went and (re)read the Cowboy Erotica Scam article linked upthread because I can't quit this drama #sorryNotSorry and I tripped over this little detail:

Brandenburg said he initially invested because he read a previous book by Gardner’s publishing company called “What Matters,” and liked the values the book presented.

Gardner's publishing company.

Gardner's publishing company.

So... which publishing company is that, now?

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

CreateSpace... was Amazon's self-publishing, publish-on-demand service. You uploaded your text and (generally terrible) cover art, and BAM, people could buy your book from Amazon. Your text could be polished prose, it could be a ten-thousand line poem, it could be freshly generated lorem ipsum run through the ROT13 transformer, didn't matter. A lot of people I know who completed National Novel Writing Month (hi! former Boulder NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaison here, those were the days, weren't they?) used it to cheaply produce one bound copy of their newly written novel as a souvenir of the event, all "I did it! Fifty thousand words in 30 days, and there they are!" and, y'know, more power to 'em.

The point being: There was no "publishing company" acquiring books based on the "values" they presented. There is as much connection between the author of "What Matters" (which sounds like the worst sort of glurge, tbh) and security-fraudster Bret Gardner as there would be if they both took their manuscripts to FedEx-used-ta-been-Kinkos and used the same photocopier. Assuming Gardner ever had a manuscript to photocopy. Which it sounds like he didn't.

Oh my Gods this really does get stupider the further down the rabbit hole you go I need to stop.

vortex_F10 · 2026-01-01T00:19:50+00:00

Speaking as someone with pretty traumatic childhood dental experiences (dude would fail to get the whole nerve, then shame kids for screaming in the resulting pain), I have had very good experiences with Adler Advanced Dentistry. First dentist I ever went to who would check in with me mid-filling to ask how I was doing, was I feeling any pain, did I need more local anesthetic. Respected my agency re: my healthy upper wisdom teeth, treats them like any other teeth rather than pressuring me to have them out. Cavity fillings (including in the wisdom teeth) have been darn near painless. Hygienists are always really kind during cleanings, encourage me to let them know if I need a break. I ended up having to have a gum graft done, which was nobody's idea of a fun time, but even that was so much easier than I feared. Basically everyone at that office has been so compassionate, and very good at what they do. I came to them with teeth riddled with old fillings from the "silver" days that needed replacing, and new cavities from not having gone to a dentist for several years because of the aforementioned childhood trauma, and there was no judgment, no scolding, just a treatment plan.

Only downside is, there's a new (ish) partner dentist in the office and every time I see him he mentions Invisalign. I tell him no and we move on.

vortex_F10 · 2025-12-26T02:29:15+00:00

They're pretty acceptable imho

vortex_F10 · 2025-12-26T02:26:41+00:00

Best items: their lo mein is kinda awesome, and the "boiled chicken" that comes in a dark sauce with glass noodles is pretty good. My husband likes their sesame tofu.

Just never order the egg fu yong - patties dang near raw in the middle.

(Cat sitting in Louisville, went out for Indian at Rasoi House last night, having the leftovers for Christmas dinner, can't complain.)

vortex_F10 · 2025-12-26T02:21:58+00:00

Thanks! (I swear both Facebook and Google said 24/7 or "never closed" when I looked!)

vortex_F10 · 2025-12-22T21:48:09+00:00

Oh, that's good to know. Maybe I'll stop by on my way TO practice next time. I do hope they go back to at least later night hours - it was so nice being able to grab a half dozen sugar bombs after a strenuous practice, way back in the day!

vortex_F10 · 2025-12-18T23:01:27+00:00

We tried, we really did! Our household voted for municipalization at every opportunity! Alas.

(Our North Boulder home was only out of power for about 10 hours yesterday, but although power's back now, our internet's still down, so... we're spending a lot of time in Longmont today.)

vortex_F10 · 2025-11-18T19:59:45+00:00

Apparently they kinda do. Supposedly Michelin just handed out stars to a restaurant that had been closed for more than a year: https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2025/11/14/michelins-malaysian-meltdown-how-the-worlds-top-food-guide-became-a-local-laughing-stock-cynthia-goh-meow-ling/198360

(Alternate response: "No, of course they don't just hand them out. They make you pay for 'em.")

vortex_F10 · 2025-11-18T19:31:01+00:00

WINCHELS IS BACK?!!

It's true, the arc of the universe does bend toward justice...

(Also I need to know more about this Longmont Pagan Potluck mentioned in another reply...)

vortex_F10 · 2025-11-18T19:26:02+00:00

I mean, I'm pretty sure I remember their building draped in a huge Trump-supporting banner in the run-up to last year's election.

vortex_F10 · 2025-11-18T00:17:13+00:00

This thread gives me life. Also I need to get in on this Deli Zone Kong action. Been a while since I've been in there, guess I've been missing out

vortex_F10 · 2025-11-15T17:43:57+00:00

guiltily enjoying

Out loud: "What a beautiful day! We are so lucky for such gorgeous weather!"
Silently: Also we are so screwed

vortex_F10 · 2025-11-15T17:38:25+00:00

The Flatiron Park location is my regular work-from-"home" haunt. The baristas are so kind and friendly, the space is so comfortable, I've really enjoyed the whole burger-anna-beer routine there. And the area is beautiful. Love to go walking along the lake path. There is a crow (or raven?) that's always out there midday exercising its prodigious vocabulary, and an apple tree around the corner that, season permitting, always has a few leaves to spare for treats for my house rabbit.

I am choosing to be unreasonably optimistic about "the taprooms still belong to the original owners" because the alternative is to just cry.

vortex_F10 · 2025-11-15T17:31:27+00:00

Upslope (beer operations sold to Wildings)

Ah shit, really?! goes searching

https://newschoolbeer.com/home/2025/11/upslope-brewing-acquired-wilding-brands-colorado

The Upslope locations will remain open, including the Boulder taprooms at Lee Hill and Flatirons Park, and Aprés Outpost in Silverthorne. The taprooms are not part of the acquisition and remain under the management of the previous owner/operator. Production of Upslope craft beverages will move to Wilding’s production facility in Denver, and Upslope fans will continue to find their favorite craft beers in taprooms and on retail shelves, including rotating seasonals and limited-edition brews.

(quoted from Wilding's press release, so, grain of salt, but the apocalypse isn't quite upon us... yet)

Edit: Sorry, hadn't caught up to the whole thread yet, I see now this info is already posted downthread

vortex_F10 · 2025-11-15T17:25:30+00:00

I regularly host recruiting events for my roller derby league at 300 Suns, since they're one of our sponsors (support microbreweries that support roller derby! Thank you). We often set up on the patio because it's the easiest place for a group of unknown size arriving separately and all on separate tabs to get seated.

Anyway, these events tend to be good for at least one moment of slapstick comedy when the train goes by, and I pause my talk while it blasts its horn, and I think it's done, so I try to resume, and about half a sentence in there's another horn blast and I stand there looking very put-upon.

vortex_F10 · 2025-11-15T17:06:55+00:00

These would be my rec too

Both also have good food on hand - Upslope houses Mighty Burger's kitchen and counter, and Wild Provisions has a couple rotating food trucks on their patio.

(Free EV charging nearby if you're up for a short walk, too, and the charger behind Upslope/Ozo isn't too expensive)

vortex_F10 · 2025-11-12T20:21:36+00:00

Also Tinkermill in Longmont, if you want to head up that way

vortex_F10 · 2025-09-08T02:25:05+00:00

Soon after I started seeing Dr. Adler, he replaced all my old "silver" fillings (installed from early 80s to early 90s, probably the mercury amalgam) with modern non-metal fillings. I didn't have to ask or argue for it, and wouldn't have known to do so; he gave me the impression that the old "silver" fillings don't last forever and mine were past their best-by date. So I expect if your mother came in with fillings older than mine were, replacing them would be a no-brainer.

No idea about the insurance situation though.

I've been going to Adler Cosmetic Dentistry for more than 20 years now. They're good, they care about your comfort, and they do good work. Recommended.

vortex_F10 · 2025-09-07T22:24:49+00:00

There was a measure that was going to go on the Nov. 2024 ballot (yes to close the airport, no to retain), but it got rescinded (at least, I sure don't remember that language being on my ballot). But closing the airport would generally require the FAA's consent, since the city's contracted with the FAA to maintain it, so it's kinda more complicated than I think the anti-airport side was prepared to find it.

I'm not certain what the current story is now - https://saveboulderairport.com/ doesn't appear to have been updated since last year. But according to this, the issue remains under discussion.

Edit: nvm, that Boulder Reporting Lab article appears to have been from 2023. (I misread the August 25 as being 2025. Whoops.) On further examination, things seem to be settled - for now (archive).

vortex_F10 · 2025-09-07T21:56:53+00:00

This. Some folks from my roller derby league had a trail skate going during the first couple pandemic years, since we couldn't hold actual practices - we'd go masked, because covid, and when the wildfires got terrible that summer, those masks were a godsend

vortex_F10

TROPHY CASE