Videos from the Oral History Luncheon

Back in September of 2008, the Hotel Boulderado hosted a luncheon in our Spruce Room. We invited a variety of people from the community to come in, sit down, and share a memory of the Hotel Boulderado. Here's a rundown of who we talked to and what they had to say:

• Dee Demmon remembers dancing in the lobby and getting her spiked heels caught in the tile floor
• Sandy Hume recollects his impressions of the original stained-glass ceiling -- "It contained every color in heaven."
  
• Don Hume tells stories of his visits to the Boulderado as a young child
• Betty Chronic shares what led to her first visit to the Boulderado dining room
• Virginia Patterson's connections to Boulderado weddings and the old barber shop
• June Howard remembers what it was like running the hotel in the 1960s, with her husband, Ed
• Gwen Winterberger and her husband, Louis, ran the hotel in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and Gwen took some time to call us and share some memories
• Dick Dorman recalled his involvement with restoring the stained-glass ceiling
  
• Frank and Gina Day, our current owners, remember how their relationship with the Boulderado began
  
• Sidney Anderson, our current general manager, and his impact on the hotel
  
• Laurel McKown tells us how she was hired to restore, photograph, and catalog the Boulderado's extensive collection of antique furniture
• Sandy Hale shares the multitude of parties she threw at the hotel
  
• Mary Ann Mahoney recalls the opening of the North Wing and the new meetings market it served
• Silvia Pettem shares her experiences as the Hotel Boulderado historian
• Dan Corson remembers when the hotel was named a historic landmark
• Dorothy Sage recollects a memorable holiday tea at the Hotel Boulderado
  

Check out our collection of videos on our website!

Nutcracker Teas

Our first Nutcracker Tea of the season is tomorrow, and both teas (on the 12th and 19th) have been sold out for weeks. We team up with the Boulder Ballet, who brings in cast members from this year's production of the Nutcracker to mingle with tea guests and let children collect autographs and pose for photos. Ten dollars from each ticket goes right back to supporting the Boulder Ballet.

December at the Boulderado

It feels like just yesterday that I was filling y'all in on what was happening at the Hotel Boulderado in November, and now it's time to do the same for December! Rhonda is out in the lobby right now with our Maintenance Department, putting the final touches on our tree. This year's evergreen is a 28' white fir from New Mexico, and it's beautiful! If you are able to stop by the lobby over the next few weeks, you should definitely do so just to marvel at the tree's size. Kids especially get a kick out of it -- "It must be a hundred feet tall!" -- so bring them around once school breaks for the year. Here's what else we're cooking up this month:

• Holiday Tea series continues with Nutcracker Teas, Holiday Bazaar Teas, and carolers -- oh my!
• Our Christmas Day Buffet is filling up quickly! Many local families have made the Boulderado a part of their holiday tradition, and close to a third of the people who attend our buffets do so because they enjoyed on in the past. Thanksgiving sold out early this year, so if you are looking to book Christmas with us, call today!
• We were recently voted the #1 Place to Celebrate New Year's Eve in downtown Boulder! Find out why with our New Year's Eve Gala Ball. Later this month, I will be doing a blog post about the history and tradition related to this special night -- the official anniversary of the Boulderado's opening!
  

Whether you celebrate Christmas or Kwanzaa, Chanukah or nothing at all, we here at the Boulderado would like to take a moment to wish you the best the season has to offer -- warmth, joy, peace, and spending time with loved ones.

November at the Boulderado

November is another extraordinarily busy month at the Boulderado. Here's what's happening:

• Sunday, November 8th is our annual Bridal Show. If you plan on attending, there's still time to pre-register. Stop by to visit some of Colorado's top wedding vendors -- florists, bakers, and invitation makers galore! There's no charge for admission, and one lucky person will win $3000 off his or her Boulderado reception.
• Don't feel like cooking a big meal for Thanksgiving? Or maybe you just dread the thought of all those dishes? Either way, if you attend our Thanksgiving Buffet, we will do the hard work for you, letting you focus on the most important things about the holiday -- spending time with loved ones (and eating).
• Every year, the Boulderado hosts a Teddy Bear Tea which benefits The Children's Hospital. This year, it is being held on Saturday, November 28th. The Teddy Bear Tea is our most popular holiday tea, and just a few reservations are still open, so call today if you'd like to attend! Each child under the age of 12 who comes will take home a teddy bear with them.
  
• The Teddy Bear Tea also kicks off our holiday tea series. Every weekend and for a few weekdays leading up to Christmas, you can enjoy classic tea service on our Mezzanine.
  

Happy Birthday, Yuko!

Taking a moment today to wish our Sales Office Manager, Yuko Ishige, a very happy (and a bit early) birthday. Yuko is the glue that holds our office together, and whether she is preparing the sterling menus for a wedding reception, fielding dozens of phone calls from people looking to reserve space at a Holiday Tea or Seasonal Buffet, or cheering on the Rockies, she does everything with dedication and passion. Megan will be bringing in a chocolate cake for us to celebrate Yuko's birthday next week, since, as Yuko has said before, "I would bathe in chocolate if I could." (She's especially fond of the Triple Chocolate cupcakes at Tee and Cakes.) Happy Birthday, Yuko! Here's to a year full of fun, love, and chocolate!

Murdery Mystery and Holiday Tea Reservation Now Available

It's July 1st, which means that you can now make reservations for a couple of upcoming events at the Hotel Boulderado.

Our Murder Mystery Dinner series this October features fantastic performances by 'Til Death Do Us Party, an intriguing birthday murder mystery, and a menu carefully prepared by our Banquet Chef, Pete. Come to a show on October 9th, 23rd, or 30th, or make a whole night of it by pairing your tickets with an overnight accommodation. Tickets are $64 per person, and includes the performance, a buffet dinner, a drink (beer, wine, cocktail, or non-alcoholic) of your choice, tax, gratuity, and valet parking -- such a deal!

If you're looking for something special to do this holiday season, consider making reservations for one of our Holiday Teas. Enjoy classic tea service on our Mezzanine with a view of our super-tall Christmas tree in the lobby. There are three specialty teas being offered this year: the Teddy Bear Tea (November 28th), which benefits the Children's Hospital; two Nutcracker Teas (December 12th and 19th), in conjunction with and benefitting the Boulder Ballet; and three Holiday Bazaar Teas (December 6th, 13th, and 20th) where you can peruse and purchase wares from local artisans. Hurry up and make your reservations for these popular teas -- people started calling us this morning to reserve their seat!

Reservations for all our events can be made through our Sales Office by calling us at (303) 440-2880.

Happy Birthday, Belem!

Wishing a very happy birthday today to Belem Macedo, the Sous Chef in our Banquets department! Belem spends hours in the kitchens painstakingly preparing the food that is served at our events, and whether it's beef tenderloin for a bridal party, sandwiches for a conference, or scones and pastries for our Holiday Teas, every dish receives the same attentive concentration. Belem's friendly smile and infamous brightly-colored pants are a welcome part of the kitchen scene. Happy Birthday, Belem!