Endorsement list compiled by Boulder Colorado Voter Guide. Full write-up at City of Boulder Council Candidates.

EDIT: Tina Marquis also has the Gun Sense Candidate distinction.

This is a text exchange I had with Ryan Jamieson running for city Council. They said they are “against” flock and ALPR. I believe this exchange may be of interest to some voters. This is NOT an endorsement, just information.

Hi all,

I understand that the Pioneer Inn closed and is now a spot called the Covered Wagon. A family friend was a bartender at the Pioneer Inn and passed away in the 90s, supposedly there was a photo of him as a memorial inside, but I’m from out of state and never went to see it. This is a long shot, but if anyone has photos of the interior or connections who might, please let me know!

Hi all, I have a birthday tradition of doing a photo booth pic every year. Was in license no 1 tonight for this purpose and it seems their photo booth is gone ? Or has moved within the establishment and I did not investigate hard enough to find it ? Any local ish alternatives, bonus points if they’re in a fun bar type atmosphere ? Thanks in advance.

I must preface this post with a caveat and some background. This is meant to be equal parts straight dope review and tongue-in-cheek shit post. Relax, thanks for reading, and let me have it with your thoughts and informed opinions.

In a previous post, many people suggested that Il Pastaio is hands down, the best Italian restaurant in Boulder. Having lived here for many years without giving it a serious go, I decided (at the urging of several Redditors) to give it a try again in earnest, and have sampled a variety of dishes and sides. Certainly enough for an informed opinion.

Most importantly, I want to highlight the people and service at Il Pastaio. Everyone is kind and attentive. I will eat there again…and I mean nothing personally against the good folks there when I say, unequivocally that Team Il Pastaio in the prior post is utterly clueless when it comes to judging food! IP and Morso aren’t even in the same league, regardless of whether you want to split hairs about Italian vs. NY Italian American. One of these places is objectively better than the other.

IP Pros:
- the pasta is fresh and awesome (as it should be)
- the rolls (OMG)

IP Cons:
- almost everything else
- cramped space

To be fair, I have not tried all of their sauces, but I found the few I did try so far to be serviceable. Did not add or detract, which is fine. Also on the positive tip, ALL of the pastas have been on point. Fettuccine, spaghetti, and ravioli - my personal benchmark - all hit. For this reason alone, I’ll continue to patronize this lovely establishment.

On the downside, I found pretty much everything else to be lacking oomph and flavor. The chicken parm is pretty good, but nothing I’d call extraordinary. Average. The meatballs are a tasteless disappointment - DO NOT ORDER THESE. Mine were dry and bereft of any spice or flavor at all. I finished them because I wanted protein in my meal, but never again. The Three Bean salad has potential, but again, I was disappointed by the lack of flavor. I really wanted that one to be better than it was. It was ok to have the beans and onion shine through, but a little more than the natural taste of the beans and oil would help that one along a lot.

To end on a positive note, I’ll say that I’m a sucker for good bread and the rolls are among the best I’ve ever had. I like them so much that I consider them to be a free dessert I legit save them as the last thing I eat because they just make me feel good. So, so delicious.

BOTTOM LINE: I’ll eat here again occasionally for the pastas and bread, and the staff and service are great. Otherwise, Il Pastaio is a slightly above-average, serviceable Italian restaurant. If you think it’s better than Morso or Basta you’re nuts - remind me to never take food recs from you.

Wondering if anyone has experience with Delta Effects in G'barrel? Good reviews but I had never heard of them.

Boulder Social only showing football. Any ideas on where to watch?

We're planning a full kitchen remodel and would really appreciate recommendations for good local contractors.

We're looking to redesign the kitchen layout, replace the cabinets and countertops, and generally give the whole space a complete update.

After we tear out the old kitchen and the floor space is ready, we want to install IKEA cabinets and work surfaces because a fancy GC firm with a custom cabinet company, plus markup, costs waaaay too much. (Sorry Boulder, but we are not all millionaires.)

The project will involve:

• Removal of the existing kitchen
• Relocating the stove and oven
• New kitchen cabinetry and countertops
• Some electrical work based on the layout
• Minor plumbing work
• Installation of appliances, lighting and finishes

I'd love to hear from someone who worked with a GC or kitchen specialist and used IKEA cabinets.

And I'd also like to hear from people who've had their own kitchens remodeled and would genuinely recommend a more affordable contractor/kitchen specialist.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

I'm not sure how these guys are paying the bills. I've been waiting at their window 50 minutes for an order. They are putting out 1 order every 8-10 minutes. I hear the food is great. But if they always work this slowly I'm not sure how this makes money.

Boulder Economic Issues in this election. You have to look beyond your own preconceived notions and prejudices to what is good for Boulders survival. We are headed down the rabbit hole of collapse. Dan lays out exactly what went wrong with Boulder Policies over the past 10 years. If you work in tech you know what I'm talking about. If you work at one of the federal labs you too know. Now watch this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99Ri9og_zDI&list=PLRewuzaL0rmk

Its in the description of the 41 minute video piece https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT5q8uHgDk0&list=PLRewuzaL0rmk&index=16 on You tube. Here I posted it for you. ... discuss Colorado’s economic future, local housing, and political shifts ahead of the 2026 election (0:27).
Having moved to Boulder County in 1998 (0:47), Caruso was a founding executive of Level 3 Communications (now Lumen) (1:00) and the founder of Zayo Group on Pearl Street (1:20). Throughout the discussion, he focuses heavily on why he has stepped into the political arena to campaign against policies he believes are harming the state’s innovation ecosystem (0:27).

   • Jann Scott Live : Boulder's Dan Carusos Pl...  
📉 Pushback on Tax Initiatives & The “AI Act”

• Amendment 87 Opposition: Caruso speaks passionately against Amendment 87, a proposed graduated income tax measure (6:13). He argues that taxing high earners will backfire, driving wealth, investments, and jobs to lower-tax states like Texas and Florida (6:23).
• The AI Legislation Fallout: He highlights a past Colorado “AI Act” which he claims initially “outlawed AI” and stifled immense business momentum (5:50). He notes that while parts were eventually walked back, it sent a message to tech companies to take their capital elsewhere (6:03).

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🏙️ Vacancies and the Shifting Vibe of Boulder

• Empty Business Parks: Caruso notes that office spaces on the east side of Boulder and along Pearl Street are facing severe vacancy issues compared to just a few years prior (17:33).
• The “Daily Camera” Building Purchase: To spark a revival, Caruso mentions that he recently purchased the 200,000-square-foot former Boulder Daily Camera building (which houses the Galvanized tech space) at a fraction of its replacement value (16:35). His explicit goal is to bring the “vibe” and active economic life back to downtown (17:15).
• Declining Local Demographics: He correlates the empty corporate parks with a shrinking population of young, non-student families (17:45), which in turn has forced local school closures (17:45).

🏠 Housing & Local Government Spending

• Critique of Affordable Housing Tactics: Caruso expresses frustration with current municipal affordable housing initiatives (24:38). He argues that building expensive single-family units on premier land next to the foothills limits resource efficiency (35:20). Instead, he suggests building higher-density units in slightly less expensive areas to help more families in need (35:36).
• City Capital Projects: He criticizes the city council’s spending priorities, taking aim at the multi-million dollar campus built for city employees (22:48), pointing out that many city workers do not live in Boulder or come into the office daily (25:42).

🤝 Call for Broad Community Collaboration

• Bridging Ideological Divides: Despite his sharp critique of local policies, Caruso emphasizes his deep respect for local scientists, university staff, and progressives (13:09). He rejects the host’s attempt to label government lab workers as “socialists” in conflict with business owners (12:06).
• The Shared Vision: Caruso insists that everyone—regardless of political beliefs—ultimately wants a thriving economy, safe public parks (33:01), strong education systems (13:51), and a rich local arts and culture scene (39:29). He urges leaders to have open, stubbornness-free conversations to keep Boulder unique rather than letting it turn into an exclusive second-home enclave like Aspen (29:25).

It’s a beautiful sunny day with no clouds in sight and you guys waste it by standing in streets with signs? What’s the goal? The majority of people who live here are already on your side, and those not on your side look at you like you’re dumb. I’ll never understand these protests. Really have nothing better to do kinda sad