Day 41 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Honey Bee Portrait

This life-sized portrait looks over the staircase at the top of the stairs on the fifth floor. The woman in the portrait is Miss Honey Bee, and this portrait was commissioned by her father in the 1930s for her debutante moment into society at the age of 18. For many years, Miss Honey Bee taught music lessons to many of Boulder's children. When it came time for Miss Honey Bee to move into a retirement facility, she was unable to take the portrait with her because of its sheer size. She offered it to several local organizations, including the Boulder History Museum and Historic Boulder, but no one had a place large enough to hang the painting. Luckily, Miss Honey Bee often took lunch in the Hotel Boulderado's dining room, and there was a large empty wall space located on the fifth floor. Miss Honey Bee graciously donated the portrait to the hotel.

Day 25 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Antique Organ

This is a Needham antique organ that lives on the 3rd floor of the Hotel Boulderado's Historic Section on the west side. Elias Needham was made famous for his invention of the upright organ, like the one you see here, that became popular in parlors. This particular organ came to the Hotel Boulderado thanks to our one-time owner, Winnie Hutson. Coincidentally, the organ was purchased in the same lot as the lobby grandfather clock we saw last week.

304

Our lobby has undergone a transformation since yesterday's post. Skeletons, vampires, and spider webs are everywhere, and there's even a disembodied hand coming out of the front desk. It can only mean one thing -- Halloween is fast approaching. Last year, the Slacker and Steve Radio Show from Alice 105.9 made a stop at the Hotel Boulderado on their Tour of Terror. Slacker and Steve each stayed in one of our alleged "haunted" rooms on the third floor. Click here to listen to the audio clip from the radio show.

While there have been reports of ghosts and paranormal activity all over the hotel in a variety of guest rooms, two of our suites in the historic section have seemed to be more active than the average room. Room 304 is a beautiful one-bedroom suite featuring a king bed and views of downtown Boulder. It also has a door leading to an open-air porch that connects to 302, making it one of the most popular and desirable rooms in the hotel. Many people stay in 304 without any problems or disturbances, but there have also been reports of people feeling uneasy, hearing strange noises, and other unexplained phenomenon.

304 and 302 will be open to the public this Friday as part of Historic Boulder's Ghost Walk/Ghost Talk this Friday between 7pm and 10pm. "Ghosts" will be on hand to share their stories of days past, refreshments will be served, and psychics will be available for personal readings. Visit Historic Boulder's website to learn more about this event and how to purchase tickets.

Happy 4th!

It's nearly the Fourth of July, and the Hotel Boulderado is being decorated inside and out with red, white, and blue bunting, thanks to our trusty Maintenance Department. There's lots going on this Fourth, with several events tying into Boulder's 150th anniversary. Here's a rundown of what you can do downtown and in Boulder this Independence Day.

• Visit the Chautauqua Auditorium for the official welcome ceremony to the Sesquicentennial Stroll at 11am, featuring the presentation of a National Historic Landmark Plaque. Special performances will highlight Boulder's artistic past and present. The Chautauqua Dining Hall will offer a barbecue on the green after the program in the auditorium concludes, and a brass band provided by the Colorado Music Festival will be there to keep the atmosphere lively.
• "Stroll with the Spirits" of Columbia Cemetery between 1:30pm and 4:30pm. Presented by Historic Boulder, you just might run into a figure from Boulder's past!
• There's a birthday party starting at 1:30pm for Boulder at the Boulder History Museum, complete with cake and children's activities. While you're there, check out the brand-new "Only in Boulder" exhibit.
• Learn about the relationship between Boulder and the University of Colorado at the CU Heritage Center, which will be hosting an open house from 1:30pm to 4:30pm as it presents "Boulder and CU Through the Years."
• Stop by the Central Park Band Shell for a bluegrass concert, with performances by the Boulder Accoustic Society and the Blue Canyon Boys. The concert kicks off at 2pm, and at 2:30 a Children's Bike Parade will take place, so get there early if you want to decorate your bike, stroller, or anything else with wheels.
• Celebrate Boulder's international ties with Boulder's Sister City communities at the Municipal Building Plaza. Learn about the projects, exchanges, and people behind our relationships with communities in Africa, Asia, and Central America from 2pm to 5:30pm.
• Ralphie's Independence Day Blast, a Boulder tradition for 41 years, concludes the day's festivities with bands, a birthday party, and fireworks from 8pm to 10pm at Folsom Field.