Boulder Friday

We walk to Union Station shortly before noon.  The exterior is more impressive than the interior; even one decorated for the holidays.  The interior certainly can't compare to Union Station in D.C.

 

A great seafood lunch that begins with a sampling of west coast oysters is taken at a very good seafood restaurant, Stoic & Genuine, located in the train station. Without a reservation, we're seated at the "sushi bar". The head chef, the one in the white ball cap asks if we like salmon. Four pieces of a complimentary order of salmon belly, blood orange and micro greens are delicious.

 

Since there don't appear to be any easy public transportation options yet, we pick up a rental car after midday and start-out for Boulder, about an hour Northwest of Denver. During the drive the topography remains barren but becomes increasingly hilly.  Boulder is located at the foot of the first line of mountains. We get a good suite upgrade at the Boulder Marriott; not bad on the Government rate. It's on a low floor but we surmise the coaches of the BYU men's basketball and Missouri women's basketball team occupy the ones on the upper three floors. These teams are playing at Colorado on Saturday.

 

Centered on the Pearl Street pedestrian mall is a quaint old town of period buildings with interesting retail shops, coffee shops, bars and restaurants.  I believe this restaurant captures our idea of a soup offering.

 

There are numerous sculptures including this bronze elk.

Our first Boulder craft beer stop does not disappoint. Bartender Mike at West Flanders Brewing liberally provides samples with CJ settling on their porter, a type he usually doesn't prefer.  Carol has a spiced apple hard cider. Happy hour prices prevail. Two Belgium offerings await our next downtown visit.

 

Christmas time is always a pretty time to visit when towns decorate and light up.

 

A highly rated restaurant featuring cooking over an oak grill, Oak, captures us this evening.  With the exception of Carol's excellent grilled bass, the food is not up to the hype.  The restaurant is crowded and too pretentious for our likes. That would be oak grilled bone marrow with fire grilled home made bread shown.