Stay
Overnight at the buzzy new Moxy Boulder, which opened this summer in the University Hill area by the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Design firm AvroKO took charge of the 189-room hotel’s interiors, drawing inspiration from rock formations, including the iconic Flatirons, while emphasizing a stylish collegiate vibe. Natural textures meet Colorado buff sandstone in the common areas, a sculpture by Berthoud-based artist Emmett Culligan graces the entry, and vintage Boulder concert posters add a splash of local color to the walls. Appealing to travelers and locals alike, the hotel includes an open-to-the-public, walk-through courtyard designed to embrace a variety of retail and restaurant offerings.
Shop
Follow the scent of sawdust to the showroom and workshop of local design and build company Boulder Furniture Arts, which has been handcrafting natural wonders since 1985. There, skilled makers select raw materials from Forest Stewardship Council-certified, sustainable tree farms all around the U.S. “Grain matching, centered elliptical and cathedral patterns, and beautifully balanced color are the signatures of Boulder Furniture Arts,” says co-owner and lead designer Hannah Rogal. “We’re welcoming new chair designs that defy gravity with cantilevers and steam-bent backs, and we’re rearranging the showroom for a dining table made from a colossal 250-year-old walnut tree.” Design aficionados will be sure to find—or give life to—the perfect piece for their latest project at this well-established spot.
Art
Get an eyeful of Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art’s group exhibition, “Smoke & Mirrors,” which examines the allure of optical illusions through a variety of media including light, liquid, glass and metal. By harnessing the power of reflective and transparent materials, the show distorts reality and plays with our perceptions in fascinating, disorienting and sometimes hypnotic ways. Participating artists include Sasha Alexandra, Joel Swanson, Doug Spencer, Drew Austin, Trey Duvall, Mary Ehrin, Amy Hoagland and Collin Parson. On December 7, visitors can even join a hands-on Mylar plant-making workshop led by Drew Austin and bring a winter bouquet of metallic plants and flowers to life.
Untitled (Detail), 2004, Mylar, Aluminum; Image Courtesy Of The Artist