Boulder, Colorado is a 20 minute drive from our home and is a frequent destination for us in the summer and winter. It's the home of the University of Colorado and my favorite town along the Front Range. Just west of the city are imposing slabs of sedimentary stone tilted up on the foothills, known as the Flatirons. The Flatirons are the backdrop for the University of Colorado and the city of Boulder.
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Twenty Ninth Street Mall and Pearl Street Mall are among our most regular stops in Boulder. Both have fabulous restaurants and fun shops. Pearl Street, however, is a bit more eclectic and eccentric, so that's where my husband and I found ourselves on the 4th of July. Pearl Street is a four block pedestrian mall, and is a favorite gathering place for a number of street performers, including musicians. The mall is filled with public art, including fountains and sculptures, and a variety of planted gardens...
(my grandson, Miles, mesmerized by performer in 2012)
The tree-lined, brick walkways are home to many shops, boutiques, galleries, cafes and restaurants. On the 4th we found ourselves sitting on the outdoor patio at our favorite restaurant on Pearl Street -- Trattoria on Pearl.
Trattoria has a wonderful lunch menu, but I especially appreciate the "Power Lunch" that is served on weekdays. Soup or salad, entree, and beverage for $10. You can choose between homemade pastas or delectable sandwiches for the entree. We've had all the entrees at one time or another, and they're all wonderful.
When we went on the 4th, they weren't serving the Power Lunch {holiday}, so we ordered from their regular lunch menu. I love the homemade bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar that they serve as you're getting settled. It's heavenly...
My husband and I decided we would each order something and split it between the two of us. I ordered the Insalata Caprese -- fresh sliced tomatoes, homemade mozzarella and fresh basil, topped with pesto, olive oil and balsamic vinegar...
My husband ordered the Deluxe Pizza -- artichokes, ham, kalamata olives, mozzarella cheese, red and green peppers and wild mushroom...
Both were fabulous. Lunch was under $25 {including tip}, and we left two pieces of pizza on the pan.
After lunch we walked along the mall and did a little shopping. My favorite store on Pearl Street is Peppercorn. It's a store with an array of kitchen, bath and home accessories.
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There's so much to do in Boulder, that I've just scratched the surface telling a little about Pearl Street. If you're going to visit Boulder, Pearl Street Mall is a must, but we'll have to revisit Boulder to tell you more about the town.
